Chapter 34° Real this time
oOoOoOo
It was Saturday.
Hogsmeade-day.
And the day of Amelia and Remus' first official date.
Fate seemed to mean well with Amelia and Remus, because the day was really fantastic. The sun shone down on the world from high above and warmed it under its blanket of light. All the white clouds were hidden in the sky to give the Hogwarts students the chance to have a nice weekend. And it did. Everyone was outside, be it in the garden, by the lake or in the magical village. Their faces were filled with deep and honest smiles that wouldn't go away anytime soon. A happy laugh could be heard from all sides and the castle just seemed to be filled with joy.
Remus was waiting by the courtyard, where he asked Lia to meet him at 2pm. It was currently 1:45pm, because Remus was way too nervous to stay in his dorm for another five minutes. He had been pacing around the dorm ever since his eyes opened this morning. He had been talking without any pause, breaking down everything that could go wrong that day. And to be honest, those examples were absolute shit.
,,What if she doesn't like what I'm wearing."
,,She has just been to hogsmeade once, what if she secretly hated it?"
,,Maybe she'll not show up, because she finally realized that I'm a monster."
,,I can't remember any of the conversation topics we've talked about."
It was absolutely hilarious. And it took the boys everything not to burst out laughing, because they knew if they did Remus would completely lose his mind and stay in this dorm for the rest of the year. So they tried to calm him down with soothing things. Things that they were absolutely sure of.
,,Remus, she'll love it. You told us yourself how much she seemed to enjoy herself last time."
,,Calm down, Moony. Everything will be fine."
,,You have so many things in common, you'll find something to talk about.
,,Rem, you are worse than every dumb girl I have ever been to a date with. Merlins beard, calm your guts." Ok, well, maybe that line of Sirius' was not the most encouraging, but it somehow was true. And all of them knew that in silence.
Ripping him out of his thoughts, Remus shrieked as he felt a soft hand lay on his shoulder.
He turned around only to be captured by a dark and warm pair of eyes that made his heart race. He could get lost in them over and over again.
After a moment of shock, he looked Amelia up and down. She was wearing an emerald green knit sweater and a grey plaid skirt, that rose up until the mettle of her thighs, paired with black, slightly see-through tights. Her hair was curled into big waves and fell over her shoulders like a curtain that would just open up for Remus. Like the curtain inside her, that she knew had already fallen down. She looked absolutely stunning. This time it was easy to admit that to himself. Because he knew that she was beautiful and Remus was able to admit so to himself and to her
,,You look amazing, Amelia."
However, Remus had not been the only one to look at his opponent. Amelia had been looking at him too. Really looking at him. His caramel colored hair was slightly tousled, making him look even better. He was wearing his casual brown knit sweater with a pair of looser jeans and a pair of black boots. His face was taken by a loving smile and his eyes were shining ever so brightly. And Amelia was smitten. She knew she was but seeing him like this didn't improve the situation one bit.
,,You do look really handsome yourself, if I do say so myself." Seeing his smile widen and his cheeks flushing, Lia was sure her heart skipped a beat and a soft smile took over her lips as well.
Gathering all his courage, Remus took her hand in his and intertwined their fingers. Looking down at her, he stepped forward. ,,Come one. I told you I'd show you the rest of hogsmeade and I'd like to keep that promise."
He did, Lia thought and squeezed his hand lovingly, smiling to herself. He did promise.
Flashback:
,,Thank you for today. I truly had a lot of fun." Lia said, smiling up at him.
And Remus smiled back, a thought rising up his head. And without thinking about it for too long, he just said it aloud. ,,Me too. Maybe we can repeat that someday and then I'll show you the rest of hogsmeade."
That caught Lia off guard. He wants to go to hogsmeade again?, she thought surprised. With me? Outside of class?
,,Maybe." she said vague, too confused to say something else.
oOoOoOo
,,So, do you, by any chance, have a book recommendation for me this time?" Remus asked as him and Lia entered the first of two bookstores they had been planing to go to this day. ,,Last time I gave you mine."
A heavy warmth spread through her whole body when she heard these words. She looked up to see the wide and dreamy smile of Remus, allowing herself to believe that it was meant for only her. And it made her heart race.
It was the certainty that someone was truly interested in her thoughts and opinion. Especially when it was something she's really interested in.
In this case books and stories and everything that can be hid in paper. Everything that can be hid in one world, one life, one soul. Everything that she once thought were just empty words. But after living a life that some would call a tragedy, a drama and a strake of fate, Amelia learned to worship words and their meanings, as well as the feelings that might stand behind them.
And knowing that someone like Remus, who is also quite passionate about books and these stories, would want her opinion and matter on this meant a lot to her. After a time in which she felt like no-one wanted and needed her, convincing her that she didn't wanted and needed anyone as well, being proven wrong was a turn. Usually being proven wrong was something you wouldn't like or enjoy, but this time it felt like a treasure and pure victory of heart.
She felt alive again.
Standing up on her tiptoes, Amelia placed both her hands on Remus' shoulders and leaned forward. She turned her head to the side and placed a light kiss on his cheek. She couldn't say out loud how much he and the things he did meant to her, so she wanted to try and show him.
Wha- Remus couldn't believe it. He simply couldn't. He was already spreading his lips apart, wanting to ask what was wrong when Lias hands touched his shoulders only to be stopped by the sudden feeling of skin against his own. It just happened.
Closing his eyes, Remus let his body relax against her's and leant into her touch, closing his eyes in the process. His skin stared to tingle and goosebumps rose up his arms underneath his sleeves. His face heat up and the heart in his chest was singing a song of his own. A song of love.
Stepping back slowly, Lia showed him her most loving smile. ,,I, for one, am a great fan of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott but I would imagine that you already red it, considering that you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice. But a book pretty different from those, that I also really enjoyed would be Out Of The Silent Planet by C.S Lewis. To be honest I'm a huge fan of his books and his style of writing."
,,C.S Lewis it is then." Remus said, taking her hand once again and pulling her further into the store with a smile. ,,I do have read The Chronicles Of Narnia before and I really loved it I must say. However, I never really looked up any of his other books so I'm excited to do so now. By the recommendation of someone with really good taste."
The feeling that took all over Amelias body was absolutely engaging and addicting.
And this time she was sure.
It was love.
oOoOoOo
,,Remember the last time we've been here? It was this exact table if I recall correctly." Lia said in thought, as she took a sip of her butterbeer.
They've been wandering around the village quite a while, visiting another bookstore and exploring honey dukes together, both of them buying chocolate and other sweets.
,,So chocolate is a common werewolf-thing? Interesting." Lia had said as soon as she saw Remus holding four large bars of his favorite chocolate.
Scrunching his brows in confusion Remus said: ,,I guess so. What makes you think that?"
,,My uncle always eats chocolate as well." she laughs. ,,Whenever I'm around him he has chocolate with him or in near him."
And Lia might not have noticed, but this meant a lot to Remus. She talked about it like it was the most normal thing ever. Like being a werewolf was nothing special and nothing bad. Nothing dangerous and nothing to be ashamed of.
Remus realized and allowed himself to believe that she didn't care. That this was normal to her. That he was normal to her. Because that's all he ever wanted. To be normal.
,,Yeah, I believe it was. But I still can't believe that it was your first butterbeer that day."
,,Me neither to be honest. I should've tried it way earlier, it tasted amazing."
,,I guess I should be honored then. Being the one who brought you to the village for the first time and bought you your first butterbeer." he said and then winked at her only half as a joke. ,, And of course honored to be the one who see that adorable reaction for the first time. The enthusiasm on your face was incredible."
Blushing deeply, Amelia cocked her head up and gave Remus a mystic yet proud smile of her own. ,,You definitely should, Lupin."
,,Oh, with the last name again I see. Interesting, Grey." Remus played along, smiling at her.
,,Don't worry, Remmy-" she laughed. ,,Only joking of course."
Raising an eyebrow, Remus leaned forward on the table and rested his elbows own it. ,,Remmy? That's a new one."
Amelias cheeks started heating up madly but she couldn't help but lean forward as well, waiting for his opinion on it.
,,I like it."
,,Thank merlin." Releasing her breath, Lia looked straight into his eyes again.
,,So, if I am Remmy now, you'll be Elia."
,,Okay" Amelia said raising her hand playfully, introducing herself like it was the first time they met. ,,Elia."
Laughing heartily, Remus shook it softly. ,,Remmy."
Looking behind Remus, Amelia couldn't help but focus on a certain couple that she knew just too well. A couple that she had been waiting to see together quite a while now.
,,I KNEW IT!" She whisper-yelled triumphantly, throwing up her hand. ,,I KNEW IT!"
,,Wha-" That caught Remus off guard, not understanding what she was meaning until he followed the look of her eyes and spotted Laurie and Jaden sitting at another booth.
Kissing.
Kissing!
His hand was resting on her cheek freckled cheek while she had her fingers wrapped in his dreads. Smiling into the kiss Laurie cocked her head upwards to be able to reach his lips. And even from afar some would be able to see the slight color of pink that was covering Jays cheeks. It was an adorable scene for Lia to see her best friends in.
,,Can't say I'm surprised, to be honest." Remus smiled at Lias excitement and love that shattered her eyes into diamonds. ,,Jaden was not particularly too discrete with his flirting."
,,I have been waiting for this so long. Jay has been in love with her for years but she never noticed. I can't believe it." She shrieked at she clapped her hands quickly and slightly jumped up and down.
Remus laughed heartily at her and took her hand firmly in his. ,,Shhhh- otherwise they'll hear you."
,,Damn right they should. How are they on a date and nobody told me about it?"
And again Remus couldn't help but laugh at the girl in front of him. The girl with the kindest heart, the most beautiful smile and the deepest soul.
A soul that was matching his in a way that made their hearts beat as one.
oOoOoOo
,,Thank you for this date, Remus. I loved it." Amelia said as both of them stood in from of her portrait. The moon rose up its way up into the sky again while the darkness arose and Remus insisted on bringing her to her portrait hole again, making sure she gets there safe. Just like he did the last time.
,,Nothing to thank me for." he said, smiling down at the girl. ,,I'm glad that you said yes in the first place."
,,Of course I have."
A silence spread between the two in which they just looked at each other, smiling heartily. No-one said anything, they just looked.
Watched.
Thought.
Felt.
Stepping forward slowly, closer and closer to Lia until he was just a breath away from her, Remus looked into her eyes. However, he couldn't help but let his gaze wander down to her lips. Those rosy lips of hers that he had already been admiring multiple times. He had already felt them on his cheeks, as she shyly kissed it but Remus couldn't help but wonder how it would feel to touch them with his own.
And so he spoke his mind breathy. ,,Can I kiss you?"
The race of Amelia's heart picked up as she heard those words. She knew that she had already looked down at his lips as well, feeling the urge to kiss them but she would have never expected Remus to say it out loud. She did want to kiss him. She wanted him to kiss her.
,,Yes."
And he did.
Those three but important letters were everything it took for Remus to place his hands on her hips and leaning down to connect her lips with his own.
Feeling her breath hitch against the skin of his cheek.
Leaning into the soft touch of his hands.
Tasting the slight taste of butterbeer off her lips.
Breathing in the scent of chocolate that surrounded him.
Sensing her hand connect with the fabric of his sweater.
Noticing the way his body felt against hers.
It was absolutely everything.