cherry wine ( remus lupin )

5.17; icarian

"I don't think first-years should eat in here." Sitting next to Thomas, and Clara who was sitting on the other end of the table, as she was trying to hold a conversation with Amos. "It took me a second longer, to get into the Great Hall; bloody hell, I was here first they should get second."

Thomas gently pressed his lips to the side of Arabella's head, his hand resting comfortably on her thigh as they sat close together. His touch was soft but familiar, a gesture that hinted at an intimacy growing between them. Clara, sitting nearby, watched the scene unfold with a quiet unease. She couldn't deny the knot forming in her stomach at the sight of the two of them so close.

Though she couldn't quite pinpoint why, the idea of Thomas and Arabella together unsettled her. It wasn't her place to interfere or speak up—she knew that much. But a part of her, hidden beneath layers of acceptance, still wished she had a reason to. "They were in the line first, Honey" Thomas mentioned.

"And I was first one earth," Clara had shut Arabella up by sliding the pie from one side of the table to the other side. "Such a lady." While she was eating her meal and engaging in lively conversation with the others at the table, her attention momentarily wandered.

As laughter and chatter filled the air, her eyes subtly drifted beyond the immediate group. Not far in the distance, she noticed the boys gathered together, their familiar faces clear enough for her to recognize. Her gaze lingered on them for a moment before settling on Remus, who was deep in conversation with the others.

The way he spoke, his gestures animated yet calm, caught her eye. She found herself stealing glances at him, curious about what had captivated his attention so completely. "Dung bombs, all over Charm." Sirius pointed excitedly towards Remus who was writing this down for them. He didn't say anything and just shook his head.

"You don't even go to Charms and Potions." James pointed out, and Remus pointed towards him.

"I'll be there, for that day." Sirius glared a little.

"Thomas is in that class," Remus mentioned looking in his book, moving his quill around.

For a moment, James just glanced at Peter who didn't say anything. "Bella is also in that clas-s." Peter stepped in, Remus just turned to the boy closing his book.

Sighing; "I need to get ready for tonight."

Back at the Hufflepuff table, they seemed to be in some kind of deep conversation. "Everyone moved passed the article, father said they shouldn't be releasing things like that inside of the daily prophet." Said Thomas talking about the werewolf article that everyone acted like didn't happen before they had gone on Holiday break.

"You're father also said; how did the quote go again." Arabella looked at the floating candles that were above their head. "She's like a cinnamon stick with cigarettes, and I don't even smoke."

"He says that about a lot of people."

Taking a sip from her goblet. "He wouldn't say it about Bob Dylan."

"Who?" She remained silent, turning toward him with her lips gently pressed together, her expression soft yet telling. A quiet smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she quickly ducked her head, directing her focus back to her food, hoping to hide the emotions stirring inside her.

But Clara noticed it immediately—her friend's subtle shift in demeanour, the way her smile seemed to hold more meaning than words could convey. Clara's eyes lingered, her stare full of understanding. It was obvious, to those who truly knew her, that something deep within her still longed for Remus.

The glances, the quiet smiles, the way her mood shifted at the mere thought of him—it was all a reflection of how much she missed him. It wasn't just in her expression; it was in the unspoken moments, the way her heart seemed to speak louder than she ever could.