More // A Remus Lupin Story

5 Ash

"Ashlynn, honestly. Just listen to us," Narcissa begged. I crossed my arms, turning over on my bed so that I was facing the wall. I could almost hear Severus rolling his eyes. 

"Ash, please. You're behaving like a child," he grumbled, causing me to sit up and glare at him. 

"Me? Me? I'm the one behaving like a child? You're the one trying to tell me I can't talk to someone, as if you are my parents!" I shouted, getting up and pacing around the room. 

"Well, what are we supposed to do? You're being unreasonable, think about it," Lucious reasoned, looking at Regulus to explain. He did so without looking up from his book. 

"Ashlynn. Think about it. I know you aren't daft," He muttered, looking up at me when he got no response. Rolling his eyes, he continued. 

"Let me break it down for you. They don't like us. We definitely don't like them. How could a relationship-of any kind- work when both your friends and his are always fighting? You would never be able to hang out with him without his friends being cruel to you," He spoke slowly; it was like he was trying to calm a raging animal. I threw my hands up in the air in frustration. 

"Fine. Whatever. So I won't talk to him. Not that it will stop his friends from hating me. Are you all happy now?" I snapped, falling back onto my bed as my friends smiled and chorused "Yes" and "Great", leaving the room. I sighed, picking up my sketchbook. I loved drawing, and it provided a release as I could channel my feelings onto the paper. I began to sketch, not really aware of anything that was going on around me. You can probably imagine my surprise when I heard Regulus speak up. 

"You don't actually plan on staying away from him, do you?" he asked, still flipping through his book. I jumped, nearly falling off of my bed. 

"Christ, Regulus; You scared me," I breathed, recovering as he looked up. 

"Sorry. Answer the question," He said dismissively. I rolled my eyes. 

"It's times like these when I wonder why you're my best friend, of all people," I drawled. 

"Ash," He warned, and I raised a brow. 

"Pushy. But no, I don't. Far from it, actually. There's something about him that..."

"Pulls you in? I can tell," He finished for me. I lay back, continuing to sketch. 

"Yeah...that. He's mysterious, and draws me in. I just...I've never had a friend that's outside of the Slytherin house. They all hate me, for some reason. It's refreshing and exciting to have this new friend in the outside world, I guess," I explained. Regulus nodded. 

"Well, as much as I hate to say this, I support you. If that Lupin boy makes you happy, then I'll help you. I'll see what I can do," He comforted me. I looked at him, curious. 

"How do you plan on doing that, exactly?" I inquired, raising a brow. At this, he grimaced. 

"You're lucky you're my closest friend. I hate doing this, but I'm going to see if I can get my brother to talk to me. We might be able to work out an alliance of sorts," He thought aloud. I smiled. 

"Such a strategist you are," I teased; this caused him to punch my shoulder lightly. 

I was genuinely happy to have Regulus in my life, as well as the others. Despite what everyone said, they were great people once you got to know them. Well, as great as teenagers could be. They were actually very similar to the Marauders; although they were less interested in pranking and more interested in board games, as odd as that may sound. Many nights were spent in the Slytherin common room with us huddled around a board; I had discovered a hidden stash of muggle games in a closet, and battleship was a personal favorite of Regulus and I. It was times like these when I didn't care what others said, as long as I had my four friends. 

I just hoped that this new camaraderie between Remus and I could stand the ongoing war between our friend groups.