The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

43. Hello 1977

"The smell of Heaven!" Sirius walks into the kitchen, arms open as if trying to embrace the smell of the dinner as if it is an old friend. James just rolls his eyes at the boy, and shares his head at me. Sirius gives me an over-exaggerated wink, "Do I look good Novak?"

"Passable." I shrug, turning away from him to set the bowls on the table.
I am lying of course.
Never in my life have I seen someone pull off a dark green blazer and black bow tie together. I'm also jealous of his hair, which is both volumous and neat, an impossible feat for me.
I hate that boy.

"I think he looks quite dashing." Lily walks in, wearing a jumpsuit of a similar hue to Sirius' jacket.

"What about me?!" James pouts, tugging at his shirt collar.

Lily grins, "You're alright, I guess."

"You know what? You all just sort out your problems," I put my hands up in defeat, starting towards the door, "I'm going to get ready."

I can hear their voices in conversation as I climb the stairs, and laugh to myself as Sirius lets out an undignified screech. I quickly put on a skirt and blue long sleeved blouse, and braid my hair back, sticking in the last few stands of hair that are a little too short. A knock on the door makes me jump in fright, but I manage not to drop the eye-liner, "Come in."

"Sorry, came to get my tie." Remus sticks his head into the room before walking over to his suitcase in a rather shy manner.

I watch him out of the corner of the mirror on the wall as he rummages through his belongings, "What is it this time?"

"Sorry?"

"The pattern, I mean." I turn back to my makeup, praising the Heavens above for the straight line I just drew.
My best work yet. Usually it's horrible.

I hear Remus shuffle around the room behind me, "Plain navy this time, I'm afraid."

"Well plain suits all." I shrug, putting the most concentration I have ever mustered into doing the second eye. Content with my work, I turn back around to Remus, "Oh."

"Oh?" Remus repeats, clearly confused. He's wearing grey braces over a long-sleeved shirt whose arms he has rolled up.
Okay, what I'm trying to say is that he looks good.
Very good.

"Very fashionable." I smile, immediately turning towards the door to hide what I expect is a blush, because my face feels a few hundred degrees warmer, "Shall we go to dinner?"

*

I kept my head down for most of the meal, still feeling like my cheeks were red. The conversation was mostly on the other side of the table, thank Merlin.

"Shoes on!" Mrs Potter claps her hands, and the dirty plates begin to clean themselves up, "If you're not by the door in five minutes we're leaving you behind."

James rushed past me and up the stairs screaming something like 'I forgot the camera!'. I pass Miriam her boots before sitting on the steps to put my own on, fighting for a space on the steps with Sirius when he tries to push me off, "Don't you try it."

"I could easily push you off." Sirius sticks his tongue out at me as I get up to put my cloak on.

"You w-"

Mrs Potter ends our bickering with a very loud "JAMES FLEAMONT POTTER GET DOWN HERE NOW."

"Coming!" He bounds down the steps, making the house shake in the process. Once he gets his shoes on, we're once again ushered out of the house.

"Follow me, ducklings!" Mr Potter calls over his shoulder to us. Within thirty seconds of venturing outside, I realise one very important factor.
It's bloody freezing.