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CHAPTER FIFTY ONE
the beautiful and the damned
JAMES FUSSED OVER his hair as he tried to wrangle it into a less frizzy state than normal. Littering the counter of the 7th year boy's bathroom sink was all of his sacred after shower products. The ones he only used for special occasions. Moisturizers, aftershaves and hair mousse tops were scattered everywhere as their bottle's contents were squeezed.
"Lord, it smells like money in here," Remus droned as he drudged into the bathroom. His eyes inspected the labels and the reflecting gold on each of the bottles. With engravings and names in French that he could only pronounce if he really tried, he could smell the amount of galleons that was sunk into each of those bottles. His eyes darted around James's set up more, bouncing along the creams that looked softer than anything on his bed back home. Even his robe looked soft. James could give Betty a life that Remus never could. "All of this for my sister?"
James scoffed. "Don't act like you think this is even enough for her." A half moon smiled formed on his face though with nerves lacing it. "Just want to be good about this, you know?"
Remus curtly nodded as he chewed the inside of his cheek, still observing the scene. He went about his business quickly in one of the toilet stalls before coming back out. James had managed to comb his hair into a style like James Dean's with a few escapees in the front, giving it the boyish character that would never seem to leave James, much to everyone's chagrin and luck. James finished meticulously combing and stated cleaning up. With a wave of his wand, all of the potions, lotions and mousses were stopped once more and arranged neatly in his trunk. He didn't notice Remus lingering as he walked out of the bathroom in a daze. Remus could hear Sirius patting James on the back and poking at his hair, making James groan. Remus snuck out and joined them in their bedroom.
"Never seen you put this much effort in mate," Sirius teased, "Lord, how much product do you have in your hair?"
"Not as much as you on a daily basis," James shot back.
Sirius only laughed. "This beauty is all natural baby. No potions necessary." He grinned as his hair glinted slightly silver in the sinking sunlight. "But I guess if you have the hots for a girl, that all goes out the window—"
"Still my sister," Remus interrupted loudly with arms crossed over his chest. Both boys turn to face him. Sirius only groaned. James forced a remorseful smile onto his face.
"You know, wow, my brother dating Remus's sister," Sirius marveled, "really keeping it in the family."
"God, is Regulus going on a date too? She's a busy girl," Remus shot back. Sirius's face was awash with concern as James's edged a shade whiter with every word that Remus spoke. Carefully, Sirius pushed himself off of his bed and walked over to Remus. He took him by the elbow and gently led him to the door of the room. At first, Remus resisted, but then he relented. At the same time, Peter entered.
