Fifth Year - Young Remus Lupin x Reader | ✅

The Hogwarts Castle

[Your POV]

I genuinely couldn't believe that Sirius and James had done that. I tried to find Lily but I couldn't find her anywhere, so I just sat with the rest of the Gryffindors, watching the first years get sorted.

Sirius gave me a half smile across from where I was siting, but I kept my nose up in the air and turned my head the other way. It baffled me how they have yet to understand that girls, particularly Lily, don't like being lied to.

Just as "Torren, Jessica" got sorted into Hufflepuff, I spotted Lily from across the hall. She had a very red nose and clutched a tissue. It looked like she had been crying for hours. I felt like I had somehow betrayed her!

"Hey, I'm sorry for what happened, Lil, I really didn't know James Potter was that much of an arsehole - " I began to explain, but she cut me off.

"It's not your fault, really," she said as she got comfortable in her chair, "it's just that I feel like I'm an object. It's always 'damn Lily, you're so hot,' but never anything simple and sweet, like 'your hair smells really nice.'" Lily sniffed as she blew into her tissue.

I sighed and hugged Lily. She had a point - my best friend, the feminist. "Well, I think your hair smells great." I smiled.

"I second that," said Remus Lupin's voice. He half smiled at Lily before taking a seat behind us. "James and Sirius are gits, really, I'm sorry they upset you." Remus said, solemnly.

"Oh, Moony," Lily sighed as she draped her arms across his neck, "you've always been the most genuine one."

Things got really uncomfortable. I couldn't explain why, but I felt a jolt of jealousy when I saw Lily holding Remus like that. He looked uncomfortable, too, patting her head awkwardly.

I cleared my throat and Lily let go of Remus. Thankfully, it was time for the feast, as Dumbledore announced, and we were all escorted to the Great Hall.

I ended up beside Sirius and James (ha! Just my luck) and I could tell they were remorseful for what happened. They tried to mouth "I'm sorry," while Dumbledore was reciting his annual "Back to Hogwarts" pre-feast speech, and I mouthed back that I wasn't the one they should be apologizing to.

- time skip -

After dinner, Dumbledore announced the Prefects from each house.

"...and finally, the Prefects of Gryffindor house are.."

"Remus Lupin and *Armione Gangre!"
The whole hall was filled with cheers and screams.

I looked over James' shoulder and smiled widely at Remus. My eyes followed him as he walked up and got his badge.

He totally deserved this, I thought to myself, but I really thought Lily was going to be a Prefect!

- time skip -

It'd been a pretty restless day, so I decided to stay in the Gryffindor common room, just reading and taking time to myself.

A minute later, I heard voices. James's, Sirius's, Peter's and Remus's, to be exact.

I looked up from my book. Remus smiled and waved to me while Peter gave me a small, crooked smile. James and Sirius, on the other hand, stopped dead in their tracks.

Silence.

"Look," James started out slowly, "it wasn't right what we did to you guys."

Sirius chimed in. "Yeah, I'm sorry about the whole flirting fiasco. You did look really nice today, though."

I stared. I knew they meant well, and James just wanted a chance to talk with the girl he's liked for years.

I cleared my throat. "Well, um, I forgive you, but Lily said she was mad because you treat her like an object. You're not gentle with her." I slammed my book shut, for effect.

James winced. "I know, I know, I'll apologize to Lily tomorrow, if - if she still wants to, uh, acknowledge my existence."

I could tell that he was actually sorry, and, well, I felt for him. "She will, don't worry, I'll tell her." I half smiled.

James had looked as if Christmas had come early. "Thanks so, so much! You're the best mate, (Y/N), I owe you one," and flashed a rare, genuine James smile.

"Well, I'm off for the night. Goodnight, tossers," I said as I headed for my dormitory.

"ONLY JAMES IS A TOSSER," yelled Peter from a distance, followed by "SO IS SIRIUS!" from James.

Heh, gits, I thought to myself as I snuggled up in my four poster bed.

[*I made her up (along with "Torren, Jessica") sound familiar? ;)]