The Things That Happen In The Night - Wolfstar

Chapter Seventeen: Hogsmeade

Marlene's behavior left the boys and I very confused. After she left we headed back to the common room and Remus convinced James and I not to confront Marlene about it. Today is Sunday and we have our first Hogsmeade weekend. The boys and I are all planning on going together as usual. I was sitting alone at the Gryffindor table at breakfast, waiting for my three friends to join me when someone else walked up.

"Soooo...how's it going with Remus?" Lily asked as she took a seat next to me. She's been checking in periodically but honestly nothing has really changed between Remus and I. "Just the same as usual," I say with a sigh. Lily grabs a muffin from the tray in the middle of the table," how about you ask him out on a date today? It's the perfect time!" I shake my head hastily"no way! And besides we already have plans with Peter and James."

"I can distract them and besides if Remus says no to the date you can play it off saying you didn't mean it as a date," Lily says before taking a bite out of her muffin. "What do you mean? How am I supposed to ask him on a date but not ask him on a date? That doesn't make sense!" I was starting to get a little stressed out. I knew she was right about it being time to make a move but I just didn't know how. "That's not what I bloody meant. Just ask him out to The Three Broomsticks but just ask in a casual way that doesn't sound like you mean it as a date."

"Then how's that a date?" I ask her confused. "Well yeah it might not exactly be a date but at least you get some alone time with Remus. The only time you seem to get with him is when Peter and James are around." I nod my head, thinking to myself. How would I even ask him? "How about this. I'll distract James and Peter around lunchtime and then you ask him?" Lily proposes with a smile.

I sigh," you must really want this if you're willing to deal with James." Lily nods before saying,"it's about time you two get together, just don't waste this opportunity." Before I can reply Lily is gone.

~*~

Remus, Peter, James and I headed down to Hogsmeade with the majority of the school right after breakfast. We spent the morning mostly in Zonkos, for James and I, and in Honeydukes, requested by Peter. Remus tagged along, not really interested in the places we went, but enjoyed his time with us all the same."Padfoot, look!" James cried out pointing to Lily who was sitting on a bench in plain sight. I realized that it must be around lunchtime. James took off after Lily and Lily jumped up and ran once she saw James coming, but I could tell she hesitated slightly. "Are we gonna follow?" Peter asked looking at where James was chasing after Lily.

"I'm surprised you aren't already, you're always helping him catch that girl," I say trying to push Peter to follow him. Peter takes the cue to leave and Remus and I are left alone. "You're not going with?" Remus asked in a surprised tone. I shrug my shoulders,"nah, I'm actually a bit thirsty. Want to get a drink?" I ask, trying to sound casual. Remus nods and we head to The Three Broomsticks.

We sit down at a table in the corner and a wizard comes over and takes our order. Honestly, I'm not really thirsty but I'm not about to turn down this time to spend with Remus. "I'll take a butterbeer please,"Remus says to the wizard and I order the same. We awkwardly sit for a while before speaking. At least it was awkward for me. I knew this wasn't technically a date since I didn't specifically ask but it still felt like one. Remus broke the silence,"Padfoot?" I looked up at him as he continued,"what exactly happened here that night?" I sat confused for a moment before I realized what he was asking. "You mean the full moon when we came here? I thought you said you remembered?" I grabbed a chunk of my hair, twirling it between my fingers. "Well, I remember most of it I think but some parts are foggy. I don't know what happened after I started chasing Marlene," Remus clarified. I nodded thinking for a moment before speaking," that's all you did really. We were able to stop you before anyone got hurt and I wiped their memories," I stated cautiously trying not to make Remus feel bad.  It's been almost a month since the incident and I had hoped Remus had put this behind him.

Remus nodded before asking," who else was there? With Marlene I mean?" I wanted to change the subject. This conversation was only making Remus feel bad. "Alice and another guy," I say trying not to give Remus anything to carry the conversation on with. There was a pause in our conversation but fortunately the awkward silence with interrupted by the wizard carrying our drinks. "Here you are lads. Enjoy." I quickly picked up my butterbeer and took a drink trying to ignore the tension between Remus and I. After the wizard left Remus spoke up again," I don't mean to pry and you don't have to answer but what happened between you and Marlene?" Remus took a sip of his drink, keeping his eyes on me. We locked eyes for a minute before I spoke up,"I guess I just realized that we shouldn't be together. I don't love her and all we ever do is lie to each other. I don't want a relationship like that."

Remus nodded and I sighed taking a big drink. "Well, it's good that it's over then. You deserve someone to treat you better. I'm going to the loo real quick then we'll order something a bit stronger," Remus said getting up and leaving to the restroom. It was only a minute before Remus' seat was taken. Lily sat across from me and smiled,"how's it going." I shrugged my shoulders,"could be better. How did you get away from James?"

"That's not important. Remus will be out in a minute. Now is your time to make a move. I just heard Remus say he's going to order something stronger. I say drink up and it'll boost your confidence," Lily stated as she looked behind her to make sure Remus wasn't back yet. "But what if-" I stopped short as I caught sight of Lily staring across the room. Marlene sat at the bar with another boy who I recognized as a Slytherin in our year taking shots of what I guessed was firewhiskey. "I told her not to drink!" Lily said under her breath angrily. "She always drinks," I stated thinking that Lily should know this.

"Well, yes but... it's just. She really needs to stop!" I eyed Lily suspiciously. "Something's going on with her isn't there?" Lily's eyes go wide and she quickly shakes her head,"no!" She says a little too quickly. "What's going on? What do you know?" Lily shakes her head again, not budging. "Lily! Tell me," I half shout at her. She turns to face me again as she states,"I can't tell you, I promised Marlene I wouldn't. She said she's been trying to tell you but you keep pushing her off. If you want to know you're going to have to go talk to her." I quickly get up, determined to get an answer out of Marlene but Lily pushes me back into my chair. "You're on a date! You can't just get up and leave!" I sit back and wait for Remus as Lily disappears.

"I got you some firewhiskey," Remus says as he sits back down and hands me an entire bottle of firewhiskey. I raise my eyebrows at him. Usually he tries to keep me away from alcohol. "Thanks, but why are you suddenly giving me alcohol after five years of trying to keep me away from it?" I'm not complaining at all, it's just not normal. "You can use it and besides it's only you I have to keep in check today," I nod my head and take a sip from the bottle.

Lily was right, the alcohol did help my confidence and I was surprised to see Remus take the bottle and drink too. Remus and I were a bit drunk before we realized it was nearly eight. "Shit we need to get back to the castle. We're supposed to be back by now." Remus gets up and tries to help me stand. I have the feeling that he thinks I'm drunker than I am. I grab his hand and he pulls me too hard and I go flying into him. Remus stumbles back and lands halfway on an empty table and I land on top of him. I start laughing and Remus joins with me. Remus and I fall the rest of the way off the table and onto the floor. I lay on Remus for a while before sitting up,"moonyyy, you did that on purpose." Remus laughs but it quickly turns into a groan as I move slightly. I look down and realize I'm straddling Remus. I feel my face get red as I quickly get up. Remus follows my lead and soon we are on our way up to the castle.