The Waiting Game▬RL 1

Thank Merlin

"Renee! You can't just pretend like nothing happened!" Dorcas yelled at her friend, catching up to her in the hallway. The Potter girl's face was flushed beet red and she was out of breath. Her hand catches someone else's as they continue walking briskly to class.

"Yeah Renee, you can't just pretend Meadowes didn't just catch us in the broom closet; which I'd like to point out that Ren dragged me in there!" Matthew Wilson laughed as he made dramatic gestures with his free hand. The other rubbed soothing circles on her own.

"Babes, Matty, we must get to our exam. So, how about we pause this conversation and chat about it later? Yeah?" The brunette looked at both of them as they nodded and rushed to McGonagall's classroom. She dropped Wilson's hand quickly, entering the area and finding her seat.

✿

"That exam wasn't too hard? Now was it, little sister?" James' arm swung around her shoulders. Catching her by surprise. Ever since coming back from the break the twins had been distant. Of course, Renee understood. James didn't want Remus to feel left out or uncomfortable. The taller boy had been avoiding her like she had Dragon Pox. Even went as far as switching patrol partners with Lily. Her weekly patrols had never been so boring. Lily Evans was nice and all, but Remus had always found a way to make it fun. She just hoped that next year they could go back to being friends.

"It was alright, was it your last one as well?" Her brother eagerly nodded.

"Now I just got to win tonight at the game and everything will be perfect. You're coming right?" James looked expectantly at her.

"Oh, I have plans. But I'll try and rearrange them." She thought of her plans. They did not outweigh supporting her brother's last Quidditch match of the season. Especially since she had not attended all of them. Matthew would just have to accompany her.

"You better, I want to see red and gold! None of that yellow shit!" He called out while walking away with Peter.

Gryffindor VS Hufflepuff, of course. One of the handful of matches she decided to watch had to be against her own house. And she had to wear the opposing house's colours. That's fine. She wrapped her scarf nicely around Matthew's neck as they stood waiting for the game to begin. "Are you coming to the party after?" Evans asked, turning towards the couple.

"Of course, we are!" Dorcas leaned forward from the other side of Wilson. Lily jumped in surprise, not noticing her there. "Got to celebrate with my girlfriend, when she wins!" She raised her hands, doing a little dance in celebration. Thank Merlin they weren't in the Hufflepuff-centered stands. The Gryffindors around her cheered at the enthusiasm.

"So... when did you two get together?" Renee choked on her saliva, not expecting the question. Lily just smiled innocently.

"Oh! No... we aren't... that way." She fumbled over her words; Lily leant back laughing. Probably at her and not at her own mistake. That's when she spotted Remus a couple of people away from the redhead. His own eyes stared back at her. He looked away quickly, back at the game that had just started.

"Not that I don't want to be." Matthew implied a bit of tone that Renee didn't appreciate. She sent a glare towards the boy and pulled her hand out of his.

"Okay, sorry... didn't mean to open that can of worms." Lily let out a few more giggles, trying to control her amusement.

"I don't know what you mean by 'can of worms' but okay. Let's just watch Jamie and Siri." Within ten minutes Renee was jumping up and down, calling out James' name when he scored. He was the most talented Chaser on the Gryffindor team.

They had won. Gryffindor for the first time in eight years won the Quidditch Cup. They launched themselves up in points for the house cup as well. Everyone was ecstatic. Well, Renee's mood wasn't ecstatic, but she wasn't upset. She was content. Happy for Sirius and her brother's win. And just happy her friends were happy. It was peaceful, sitting around the Gryffindor common room, watching all of them. Laughing, teasing, and dancing. The perfect end to year five. Weird to think she'd hardly see these people for a few months. All except James and Sirius. Dorcas had insisted on staying for a bit at Potter Manor as well.

Looking to her left, she made eye contact with Matthew Wilson. He was in a conversation with Mary MacDonald. Renee didn't think she'd shake Matthew off this summer as well. Not that she wanted to. Things were easy with him. They were friends who liked to kiss each other. Kind of like Dorcas and her in their fourth year. Renee could see this becoming more. She liked that he didn't push the relationship further. They were both figuring themselves out.

Remus couldn't help but watch the very simple interaction between Matthew and Renee. They were only looking at each other from across the room. He shouldn't think too much of it. That was until the boy looked at Remus before making his way to the girl. They shared a few short words before he ushered her out of the common room. Hand on her lower back. Wilson spared one last glance at Remus before the portrait shut. That boy is no good.

"Ren, let's go back to your dorm. All your friends are here. We could have some alone time." He was right, her other two roommates were at the party. Even though Hufflepuff lost they still celebrated Gryffindor's win.

"Okay." She nodded lightly, leading the way to the basement. Once they entered her dorm, he immediately kissed her. Trapped against the door, she raised her hands to his hand. Pulling him closer. His lips landed on her neck as he whispered to her.

"You're so beautiful. I like you, Renee." Her breath hitched as his hand came up to the hem of her shirt. With the fastest reflex, she pulled his grip away from her shirt.

"Um... I'm not ready to go that far." She stuttered, intertwining their fingers.

"Oh, I thought you liked me. I got the wrong idea." Matthew backed away from her, his head held high.

"I do like you, but I'm not ready for that step." Renee moved forward, holding his chin in her hand. He leant into her touch, leaving a chaste kiss on her palm.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to force you into anything. It's just when you look like that, I can't help myself." Renny didn't know how to respond to that. Was it her fault that he felt that way?

"Maybe, I'll see you tomorrow." Matthew left in a huff. Leaving Renee feeling conflicted.