Remus Lupin One-shots

State of Grace

I was not one to go to dances. Or quidditch games (unless my friends were playing). Or parties. Or school activities. I just didn't like being in such a crowded room with all the yelling and music and the limited space. I would much rather be in the common room or one of my friend's dorms with them and only them. Especially Remus. He and I had a lot in common and I was sure that when they announced the Yule ball, he would stay back with me while Sirius went and got drunk while listening to James complain about how Lily had rejected his offer to be her date for the night. Turns out, I was wrong. As soon as we heard about the dance, Remus turned to me and asked me if I would go with him as a friend. Of course, going as friends made me a little disappointed (it was pretty clear to me by now that I definitely wanted to be more than friends with the boy that stayed back to read books with me rather than go to a noisy quidditch game), but I was even more disappointed that he wanted to go. I had thought we could have another night alone in his dorm, discussing the latest books we had read and joking around. However I still didn't want to give up a night of hanging out with my favourite gryffindor, so I accepted.

~Remus' P.O.V.~

He hadn't meant to do it. He had meant to ask her to the ball, but not just as friends. It had come out that way as he had been nervous and was afraid that this wasn't a good idea. Now Sirius was glaring at him from the other side of the table as Y/N continued to eat after accepting Remus' offer.

"Can I talk to you for a minute, Moony? Alone?"

"Sure." He replied and stood to walk out of the great hall along side his friend.

As soon as they were out the doors, Sirius hit Remus from the back of the head.

"Ow!"

"What the bloody hell was that?"

"What?"

"Asking Y/N/N to the ball as friends?"

"I was nervous."

"Go in there and tell her that you don't just want to go as friends." Sirius told him, pointing at the door.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I'll get nervous again and who knows what'll slip out when I don't have any other options. I'll end up telling her I don't want to go at all."

"Well, you don't."

"Why are you reminding me? You're the one who's making me go."

"Because you should."

"You already told me that. Now, are you going to hit me again or something? Why are we still out here?"

"Because you refuse to tell Y/N/N how you feel about her."

"I will. After the dance, I swear."

"Fine." Sirius groaned and turned around, reentering the great hall with Remus right behind him.

~Y/N's P.O.V.~

The night of the ball came quicker than I expected it to and I still hadn't found a way to get out of going without making it seem like I was ditching Remus. Lily and Alice had practically forced me into my dress and then did my hair and makeup for me, which they had done up way too much for my liking.

"Y/N, come on. It starts in twenty minutes and the guys are waiting for us downstairs." Alice said, trying to pull me off my bed.

"But I don't want to go." I said stubbornly.

"Too late for that now." Lily told me, "Besides, you're going with Remus! I thought you'd be happy."

"He asked me to go as his friend. Not that I'm not happy he asked me, but that still doesn't change the fact that I don't want to go to the fucking dance."