Shakespeare ❆ Sirius Black [1]

Chapter Ninety Nine

"This feels wrong." Camille said with an amused giggle as she turned to Remus to show off the first warm thing she had managed to pull on. It was Nadia's Gryffindor jumper.

"I think it suits you." Remus chuckled as he took in her appearance. Of course, to him she always looked beautiful, but seeing her in Gryffindor colours made his heart skip a beat or two. Although, he had to agree, it was slightly unusual. He was so used to her black and yellow colours.

"Well it's good for tonight. If we get caught at least I'll blend in." She observed, pulling her hair out of the collar as she accepted the jumper as a source of warmth for the night. Remus chuckled at her words before taking a step forward. Her hair was still stuck underneath the jumper, and he didn't know what pushed him to do it, but he gently moved his hands to move it aside.

What he wasn't expecting was to get stuck like that, looking down into her captivating eyes which gave him a slightly surprised look. If he had been sober, Remus would've instantly pulled away. But instead, he did the complete opposite. He let his heart lead as he put his hand on her cheek, leaning down slowly, giving her a chance to pull away.

However, as Camille realized what was happening. She didn't pull away. Instead her hands moved to the back of Remus' neck, bringing him closer and letting their lips connect in a soft kiss.

And it felt so right.

The memory continued to play in Remus' mind for the next couple of days. It wasn't right. He shouldn't have done that. What was he thinking?! Nothing could ever happen between him and Camille, no matter how much he wished for that not to be the case. But he wasn't right for her. Camille was a kind and gentle person, someone good. She deserved better than him.

He gave out a long sigh as he walked through the halls. It wasn't curfew yet, but he had gotten to his Prefect duties slightly early. He needed some time to himself, to clear his mind and try thinking of something other than the Hufflepuff girl. But it seemed that fate had other plans for him. Unaware of where he was walking, stuck in his thoughts, Remus found himself stopping in front of the staircase leading to the Hufflepuff basement as he almost ran into another person.

"Oh, Camille... Uhhh, sorry." He awkwardly apologized once both of them managed to regain their balance. This definitely wasn't a situation Remus wished to find himself in.

"It's alright, it actually works in my favour because I've been wanting to talk to you." She said, knowing this was the best chance she would get. He had no excuse to run away. "I feel like you've been avoiding me for the last couple of days and I just wanted to know if everything's alright?" She asked politely.

What Remus wasn't aware of was that she downplayed the question and her observations. She knew he was avoiding her and she could pin point the exact moment it started. The morning after his birthday party; after their kiss. And she wanted to know why.

"Camille, now might not be the best time..." Remus tried to avoid having this conversation, but he should've known she wouldn't let him off that easily.

"Remus, if you have something to say, then say it. I'm a big girl, I can take it." She interrupted him, her arms crossing over her chest as she gave him a pointed look. Camille had a pretty good idea of what he would say, and while a part of her didn't want to hear it, she knew they couldn't continue on with this awkward avoiding technique.

"It's just... The night of my party. I don't want you to get the wrong idea Camille. That kiss... It shouldn't have happened." Remus started, awkwardly mumbling his words as he tried to say them as gently as possible. "I'm not the right person for you Camille, you deserve better."

"And you're confident in this decision?" Camille asked, and Remus wondered whether he was seeing a spark of anger in her.

"Yes." He did not waver. He knew he was doing the right thing.

"In this decision you made in my place while it actually concerns me?" She added on. Yes, that was anger he had seen. But he could understand it.

"Camille, you don't know everything, trust me. This is what's best." Remus spoke with a frown on his face. He wished he could tell her, maybe then she'd realize he was right. But he couldn't. He wasn't brave enough.

"Remus I won't push you to tell me whatever it is that is holding you back. Your secrets are yours to keep. But ask yourself one thing, are you so sure I'd turn you away because of it?" Camille asked gently, but before he could answer, she turned away from him and continued heading down the stairs.

Camille didn't know what to feel. She felt so much at once. She felt angry that he was just making this decision on his own. She felt hurt that he didn't want to give her a chance; to give them a chance. But she also understood... He was wrong, but she understood.

Not wanting to go straight to the Hufflepuff Common Room, or even her dorm room, Camille made her way to the next best option; one where she knew she could get some peace and calm down. She made her way through the portrait of the fruit bowl, and to her usual corner of the kitchens. But instead of finding it empty, Camille spotted Peter, munching on what was left over from the cake she had made for the birthday party.

"Hey Pete." She greeted him with a smile. Perhaps she was hoping to be alone, but she wasn't about to tell him to leave.

"Hey Millie." The boy greeted her with a full mouth, waiting to swallow his food before continuing to talk. "What are you doing here, it's almost curfew? Are you planning on making something?" He asked excitedly, as if he wasn't already eating cake and was starving.

"Not tonight Pete, I'm sorry." Camille said in a low voice as she sat down on the counter beside him.

"Are you okay?" He asked with a small frown on his face. It was unusual for her to be so quiet and he noticed the sad look on her face.

"Yeah, I'm... I'm fine." Camille mumbled, but she was lying. And it was like saying that one thing finally broke the damn, and the tears started to flow down her cheeks.

"Hey, hey, come here." Peter said gently, pulling her into a gentle hug as she cried. "It's gonna be okay Millie, it'll be okay."

-----

And you all got so happy about them kissing... Hehehe
- 13th September, 2019