Running With Wolves

Chapter 23: Dedicated Denial

Chapter 23: Dedicated Denial

Remus sat across the common room at a table loaded with books and parchment. His hand shuffled along his latest essay. He rubbed a finger across his brow, pushing his hair out of his eyes. Remus ran the quill over his bottom lip, deep in thought. Sirius watched him, pulling a strand of hair through his fingers.

"It's rude to stare, you know." Lily plopped herself down in the chair across from Sirius. Sirius snapped his gaze away.

"What are you on about?" He said. Lily tossed her hair over her shoulder, crossing her arms.

"You can't tell me you think you're being subtle?"

"I'm not staring at Remus."

"Ah, now you've just gone and admitted it."

"What? No, I haven't. I mean—,"

"I never said anything about Remus."

"So, what? How does that have anything to do with it?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "You look like James when he's staring at me."

"I do not." Sirius gave her a smile his hoped looked cocky and self-assured, instead of one inch from throwing up. Something about the look in Lily's eyes told him he hadn't succeeded. He looked down at the desk.

"You know, it's all right to admit you have a crush."

"You think I have a crush? On Remus? Best friend since our first year?" Lily shrugged, the corners of her mouth turning up. "Mhmm, alright, you're mad."

"You're in denial."

"I don't have a crush on Lupin. I'll prove it."

"Oh?"

Sirius quirked his eyebrows at her. "Oi, Daphne!" Sirius yelled across the common room at a dark-haired seventh year girl. She looked up, brushing her curls behind her ear. Sirius grinned, "How about you and me, next Hogsmeade weekend?"

A large crash caused both of them to look around. Remus stood at his table. A stack of books had fallen on the floor. His ink bottle was upended over his essay. He looked at Sirius, eyes wide.

Daphne smiled pityingly at Remus, her mouth scrunching up and her eyebrows raising. Sirius immediately regretted his choice of girls. She looked back at Sirius, biting her lip like she was trying to be seductive.

"Yeah, alright. It's a date." Sirius turned back to Lily.

"There, see? I have a date. With a perfectly ordinary girl."

"You think asking a girl on a date is proof? Please. You're pathetic, Black."

"Whatever you say, Evans. But I don't have a crush on Remus."

At that moment, the very person in question rushed passed, head bent, all his books clutched to his chest. Sirius watched him leave up the dormitory staircase. He thought about following, but then Lily cleared her throat loudly.

"Shut your mouth, Black, unless you want to catch flies." Sirius snapped his mouth shut; his stomach flipped over. Lily gave him a pointed look.

"Hey, Sirius, ready for practice? James interrupted, his broom over his shoulder and his glasses askew. "Hey Lily." He ruffled up his hair. Lily rolled her eyes and began taking books and parchment out of her bag, setting up a nice work station around herself.

"What were you two talking about? James asked when they were on the other side of the portrait hole. His hand had gone subconsciously back into his hair again.