selenophobia [r. lupin.]

four.

"I don't want to lose you now.  I'm looking right at the other half of me"

***R.J.L.***

Dinner ended rather quickly for myself as I had to tidy up my living space before my guest of the night came in. A single glass of wine that I bought from The Three Broomsticks earlier today sat on my desktop between two empty glasses. The sounds of Etta James' voice filled the room as the record spun clockwise on its player. Hm, is that too much? It's too much. I'm turning it off.

"Dream A Little Dream of me, eh?" I jumped at the sound of another voice in the room with me. Turning around, I saw that Selena already invited herself into the room, her hands behind her back and that same soft grin on her face. "Didn't know you liked Etta."

I shrug. "You don't think it's too much? I can turn it off," I offer as I shift over to the record player.

She shook her head, a few more loose strands falling to frame her face. "No, Remus, it's perfect," she beamed, looking around the room before her eyes widened slightly and she turned back to face me. "Oh, I'm sorry. I came a tad bit early, didn't I?" she sounded almost apologetic.

No, 'Lena. I was honestly hoping you'd be here earlier than intended, anyways.

"The more time we spend together, the merrier," I sent a smile her way, and she mirrored my expression. I moved to the desk and grabbed a glass, beginning to pour the crimson liquid into it. "Tell me when," I tell her.

She took a step closer to me, watching as I filled her glass three-quarters of the way. "When," she spoke sweetly, her green eyes flickering up to meet my own as she took the glass from my hand. Her gentle fingers brushed against my own, and I couldn't stop the heat from rising to my cheeks, so I distracted myself from it by filling my own glass halfway as she spoke, "Mm, this wine is really good. I haven't drunk in a while."

I screw the top on the bottle and place it on the corner of my desk as I lean against the mahogany wood. "Courtesy of Madam Rosmerta herself. She told me to tell you hello, by the way," I speak, bringing my glass up to my lips and taking a sip.

A giggle escaped her lips. "Love that woman, always so hardworking," she took a sip of her wine as well. "I didn't know you liked wine either," she pointed out.

Setting my glass down, I place my palms on the desk to lean back a bit more. Blimey, it's strong. I'm already feeling a bit warmer, but I can't tell if it's because of the alcohol or because of Selena's close proximity. "It was between this and firewhiskey, and I don't know about you, but I'm not necessarily in the mood to take shots," I bicker, gaining a laugh from her.

"Alright, you got me there," another sip from her pretty mouth, "I haven't taken shots like we used to since...well, since we were all together in the Gryffindor Common Room," her words were starting to slur. She was feeling the effects, as well.

Something about wizard alcohol—it gets you drunker quicker.

I bring my glass to my lips once more, taking a bigger sip than my previous ones. I nodded. "The same goes for me as well. That last night with all of us was one to remember," I recalled.

That was my favorite memory of the many from school that I shared with her. She was drunk, I was drunk, hell, everyone was drunk. An empty liquor bottle lay on the ground as we had our own little goodbye party. Wormtail had just gone up for bed, Padfoot and Prongs were dancing on a table together while Lily watched them in a fit of giggles, and Selena and I lightheartedly waltzed around them like we were in a ballroom. The way she clasped my hand so tightly and rested her palm on my chest as I held her close and spun her around...it never left my mind.