STARS | r. lupin (1)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

ALTHEA AND REMUS ONLY CROSSED paths a few times in the days after their kiss. In the Great Hall for lunch, where they chatted as they normally would, and in passing in the hallways, where they cast each other small smiles. It did not explain why in the world his friends would approach her about it on her way to breakfast.

"So," Peter started, catching up with Althea, "We heard that you and Remus-"

"Kissed, yes." Althea replied uninterestedly.

"And there's a trip to-" Sirius stepped in.

"Hogsmeade this weekend, that's right." she suppressed a smile.

"Er, and Moony was thinking of-" James put a hand on her shoulder to slow her down.

"If Remus wants to ask me, he should do it himself." she suggested. "Though I bet he doesn't know that you three are talking to me, does he?"

"We just figured we'd give you a push in the right direction." Peter smiled sheepishly.

"That's what I thought." she chuckled, "Now-"

"Thea!" Remus called from behind her. Sirius cursed. "Pads? Prongs? Wormy? What are you doing here?"

"Just talking to Althea here." Sirius put an elbow on Althea's shoulder and leaned on her. She rolled her brown eyes and pushed it off.

"About the Hogsmeade trip this weekend." She said innocently. Remus mumbled something under his breath.

"We just thought that we could-" James started, but Remus cut him off.

"Ask her out for me?" he crossed his arms. His friends fumbled nervously. "Just go grab breakfast. I'll be with you in a bit." he grumbled. The boys wandered off, muttering amongst themselves.

"I guess you wanted to talk to me alone?" she smiled and cocked her head to the side.

"Erm-- yes, I did." he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?"

She pretended to hesitate. "Alright. Meet you by the entrance at eleven on Saturday?"

"Yeah! Um, definitely." he beamed, "I guess I should catch up with the others."

"I guess so." she smiled and watched as he walked off into the Great Hall.

*

Althea stepped out of the bathroom in yet another new outfit. "How about this one?"

Caroline tilted her head to the side. "I guess."

"It's been half an hour, just pick already!" Reina yelled.

"I'm just really nervous." Althea sat on her bed, resting her elbows on her knees and her head in the palms of her hands.

Aubrey sighed, putting down the cards she was holding from her game with Yasmin. "Would it help if I picked it out for you?"

"Yes, please!" Althea nodded enthusiastically. Aubrey walked over to her dresser and opened the drawers, throwing out a couple of old T-shirts, carefully picking up the finer clothing, and placing it on Althea's bed.

"Just for context, casual or not?" she asked, still rummaging through the drawers.

"We're going to Hogsmeade, so relatively casual." Althea replied, approaching the bed and picking up one of the items Aubrey had picked out. "Aubrey, this is lingerie."