And There Were Always Two... - oc x r. lupin & oc x s. black

-19 -

Ashley stared at Remus. He was wearing a light blue button-up and dark jeans, and he wore them well.

"Merlin," James exclaimed. "The Curron twins do clean up well!"

Ashley frowned, but Mavis had already jabbed him in the stomach with her fist. James doubled over and clutched his ribs. Ashley glanced at her sister, who was staring at Sirius.

"Happy Birthday, kiddo," Mavis told Sirius.

"Kiddo?" he asked, raising a brow. "I'm older than you."

"But not more mature," she said, flicking his shoulder and brushing past him.

Ashley watched Sirius follow her like a dog.

She looked back at Remus.

"I'm... gonna go," James said, speeding away.

Peter followed after him, and the pair were left alone.

Ashley looked around at the flashing lights, pounding music, and a crowd of awkwardly dancing teenagers.

"Umm... what exactly am I supposed to do here?" she asked, cringing.

Remus smiled. "I dunno, socialise?"

Ashley scrunched up her face in disgust, and he laughed at her.

"You know what? Sirius can enjoy his party without me," Remus admitted and took Ashley's hand. "What do you say we go to my dorm?"

"I usually leave these kinds of remarks to Mavis, but what exactly do you propose we do there?"

Remus flushed red and let go of her hand.

"I just thought we'd get away from the noise," he mumbled.

Ashley bit her lip to keep from smiling.

"I was just joking," she said, slipping her hand into his again. "Let's go."

"You little rascal," he scolded her as they raced up the stairs. "Got me questioning my own motives!"

She playfully slapped his shoulder.

They collapsed on Remus' bed again. Ashley kicked off her shoes and curled up. Remus grinned at her and snatched off her glass. She reached after them but he was already off the bed.

"Give them back!" she giggled.

Remus put them on, smirking at her. She chased him into the bathroom where he glanced at himself in the mirror, and then posed at her. He brushed back his hair and winked.

"Now don't I look dashing?"

"I wouldn't know," Ashley grumbled defensively, crossing her arms over her chest. "All I can see is a bloody blur!"

This wasn't true. She could see Remus well enough to know he looked quite handsome in her silver-wire glasses. He looked like a young professor.

"You poor near-sighted thing," he cooed. "I guess you'll just have to look at me closer."

Ashley walked straight up to him and looked up at his face from half an inch away. He was looking down at her with a smug smile. She noticed straight away how mesmerizingly green his eyes were, pine with dashes of gold and brown flecks.

"Oh, I see it now," she mumbled.

She rose to her tiptoes and kissed him, having to grab onto his shoulders to stop herself from losing balance. This kiss lasted longer than the others, but they both broke it when they needed air.

Remus looked giddy, so Ashley took the chance and snatched her glasses off him. She skipped back into the dorm, with Remus at her heels. He tackled her onto his bed as she laughed.