The Waiting Game▬RL 1

Eyes Wide

Renee Potter made her way down to the Hufflepuff common room. Her heart was racing. Unfortunately for her, the day wasn't over. "Ren!" Two boys simultaneously called out. The corner they reached at the same time was suddenly crowded. The girl stood befuddled, her head turning to face the other. She looked back and forth.

"Yes?" She asked. Remus glared at Matthew over her shoulder. He was wrong. Renee going with Matthew was possibly worse than her going with Sirius or Snape. His heart tightened, watching her look to Wilson longer than to himself.

"Could I talk to you alone?" Matthew asked urgently. His hand reached toward her, waiting for her to grab it. She nodded before looking back at Remus. His hands made their way into his jean pockets. Ren ignored the outstretched arm.

"Course. I'll be right back." She followed him down the hallway he came up, before stopping and turning to each other.

"Pretend you're not trying to listen in..." Remus whispered, scuffing his shoes on the stone floor. "This is stupid. This whole idea was stupid." He huffed before racing up to Gryffindor Tower. A sullen look upon his face. His long strides got him there quickly, muttering the password and ignoring The Lady.

"Moony! What did she say?" James jumped up from the couch he'd been lying on. He marched toward his friend. Eyes wide with joy. Potter always had the best intentions. He had thought that if Remus asked her, she wouldn't even hesitate to say yes. Especially after he had let her know about how the werewolf felt.

"I didn't ask Prongs." Remus climbed the stairs two at a time.

"Why?" The shorter boy cried out. "Now she could say yes to anyone. Like Matthew." He hoped that would encourage him. Remus turned to him with a disgusted face.

"James, she's already going with him." A cigarette lay between his fingers and he lit it with his wand. Potter already opened the window. His nose scrunched as the smoke filled the space around them. As much as he didn't like it, Remus often had one when he was upset. Seemed like his lungs were made of steel.

"Oh... well... We'll just go together! Both of us don't have dates. And I'd be one lucky guy to have you with me." James passed him the ashtray before patting him on the back. "What are you wearing? I want to match." He sniggered.

✿

"Renny? What are you doing here?" Sirius asked as Renee stood outside the boys' dorm. She pushed past him, smiling.

"Well, I'm getting ready with Lily and Marlene so I figured I'd stop in." She had her makeup done, light gold eyeshadow and a thin layer of pink lip gloss. Her eyelashes were thicker and her cheeks a bit rosy. Remus thought she was breathtaking. "Who're you going with Siri?"

"Fourth year Gryffindor Mary MacDonald. But I could always save you a dance, Ren." He winked, being pushed onto his bed by James. Nearly falling to the ground.

"And I am going with this beautiful beast! I hope I can walk in the morning." James clapped his hand on Remus' shoulder. Who winced at his joke. Werewolf jokes were often made at his expense. He didn't mind most of the time.

"Oh, you two didn't get dates? Y'know you could've asked more than Lily?" She sat next to Sirius on the bed while looking up at her brother.

"This is a choice, dear sister. I feel bad for everyone else. Not going with one of us. Plus, we couldn't go stag." James earned a quiet laugh from Peter.

"Okay, well... I'll see you boys down there." She left the room giving her brother an odd look. She let the door close slowly, keeping her eyes trained on Remus.

"Do you think she's jealous?" Sirius quietly shut up his best friend by tackling him to the ground. Remus shook his head in disbelief making his way to the bathroom to shower.

The fifth-year boys stood in the common room; it was practically empty. Save for the Prewett twins. Peter stayed up in the dorm, having not been invited yet again. The rest stayed behind with Sirius to await Mary's arrival. Remus and James, of course, had other intentions of staying with their friend. But it was unspoken. "We must leave Potter." The melodic voice of Lily Evans called from the stairway. Soon after clacking of shoes was heard descending. Lily's hair was wound beautifully atop her head. A silk forest green dress clung to her body. "Hello, boys." She greeted waiting at the bottom. Winking openly at Remus.

"Hello, Evans," James replied, his breath hitching a bit. There wasn't any clacking to warn them of Renee's arrival. She just appeared graciously behind the redhead. Her baby blue dress was tight-fitting at the top, seemingly made of lace. The skirt of the dress ended above her knees. Her hair was down neatly with her curls perfected.

"Ren—" Remus started.

"Renee! You look beautiful. Shall we?" Fabian extended his hand to hers. Remus felt his chest tighten for the hundredth time this month.

"Thank you, you look good too. Hello Gideon." The other brother smiled and nodded to her. The two boys' jaws dropped (Sirius and James). Remus however, seemed indifferent.

"Lily, is it alright if I join you? My date is in Hufflepuff as well. Figured we could walk together." Gideon asked politely as they walked toward the portrait hole.

"Fabian Prewett!" James exclaimed after the group left the common room.

"Yeah Rem, I think you're done for. Fabe is amazing." Sirius mentioned as he peeked up the girls' stairway. Still awaiting his date's arrival.

"Fabian Prewett." The messy-haired boy said again quieter. Remus just stared at the portrait. His expression now was unreadable. "Fabian."

"I get it Prongs, I'm in big trouble if we don't do something tonight." He uttered sharing a look of approval with Sirius. Black had it all planned out. But they had been expecting Wilson as their target. Poor Fabian, they didn't have anything against him. Quite a good guy. James and Sirius brought up the plan in the dorm the other day. Finished with having a grumpy wolf.