Chapter Three - Secret Crushes and other enlightment
Bitte sehr , der dritte Teil . Ja , bis jetzt war noch nicht sehr viel Sirius/Remus , aber das kommt noch *promise* Ich mag Harriet nicht sonderlich , vielleicht merkt mans *tropf* Aber da sie leider dazu gehoert , muss ich es wohl mit ihr aushalten ... Ihr Nachname passt *fies grins und der armen Harriet den nachnamen auf die Stirn stempel* Muahahahah !
As she ran down the stairs leading to the Gryffindor common room , Harriet Vane impatiently brushed back her blonde hair . She knew she was quite late for her meeting with Remus , because she had spent too much time in the sleeping room , trying out various hairstyles in front of the mirror and not noticing that her watch was going wrong . She grabbed her copy of Defence Against The Dark Arts - A Guide for Intermediate , Volume 5 and pushed aside the painting of the Fat Lady .
At the end of the corridor , her friend Anice came towards her , looking extremly tense .
" Hold it right there , Harriet ! Where were you during lunch ? I turned down Lily because I thought you would want to sit next to me and then you don't show up . Lily's really hurt and thinks I did it on purpose , do you know how bad I feel because of that ? You are going to tell her that it's actually your fault and that you told me to save you a seat , ok ? She won't believe me , I thought ."
Harriet nodded absentminded , glanced at her watch , which was now working properly , and went on down the corridor .
" Hey ! Where are you going ? Lily's in the common room and that's the other way ! Harriet , didn't you listen ? Stay here !"
The blonde girl stopped and shrugged : " I'm sorry , Anice , but I don't have time to apologise to Lily ! Remus is waiting for me and I'm already terribly late ! Tell her it's all my fault and I'll explain later ."
Anice face cleared and she broke into a broad , knowing grin . With a provoking tone she said : " Ohhh , a date with Remus ! I see ... Well , then Lily and I forgive you everything . Now go get him , tiger ! And tell me when the wedding date is , okay ? Bye ."
Harriets face turned to a soft rose color and the girl quickly turned around and dashed off . Anice was her best friend and of course she knew perfectly well that Harriet had a major crush on Remus . Now Harriet had found a way to spend some time with Remus , it seemed only a matter of time. A week ago she had asked him if he could help her with all sorts of homework . Today , he was only showing her how to deflex a Whaizcorn curse , but she didn't mind if Anice called it a date . Plus she was deeply hoping her relation with Remus would expand over the homework help . Harriet had liked Remus for a whole while now , but she had never shown it openly because she knew Remus was very shy . But that was one of the things she liked about him too : he behaved decent and civil around other people. But with his four friends , he was one of the worst troublemakers in Hogwarts . Harriet also liked his laugh very much . She liked pretty much everything about him .
But she had never been able to lead things on and so their meetings always stayed homework help , not more . Harriet was a very determined girl . If she wanted something , she would get it . Today she was determined to make her move . As she stepped into the peaceful library she immediatly saw her so called date and will-be-boyfriend .
Remus was sitting at one of the tables next to a window and staring out on the lake . His face looked thoughtful , a bit melancholic . He wondered if Sirius was still mad at him as he heard someone clearing his throat loudly next to him . As he looked up startled , he saw a blonde girl with bright blue eyes and a rueful face . " I am sooo sorry !"
Remus raised his head . " Huh ? ... Hello Harriet . Why are you sorry , what's the matter ?"
Harriet turned slightly pink and stuttered : " Oh ... you didn't ..? Wheren't you wai ... oh nothing . I'm here , that's important ."
She settled down on a chair next to Remus and went through her mental notes again : Smile at him, start a conversation quickly , listen to what he says , don't talk about other boys . Harriet smiled and cocked her head towards the window . " I feel ready for some Divination . I bet I can guess what you're thinking ! You were just thinking that today's a beautiful day and that no one should be couped up inside with this lovely weather , right ? That's what I'm thinking anyways .. "
Remus nodded slowly and politely answered : " Yes , you're right . It is lovely weather ."
Inside , he was actually thinking about what he could do to make Sirius forgive him again . Maybe he could buy him a new bag ? But he would have to go to Hogsmeade for that and the next trip was ...
" So , shall we start with this stupid curse ?"
Harriets voice brought him back from his thoughts .
" Oh , yes. I'm sorry , I guess I'm a bit absentminded today . I'll try only focusing for you ."
Harriets smile increased instantly , he was focusing on her ! She opened her book and moved over to his side so they could both read . But Remus just couldn't concentrate on Ibrahim Whaizcorn , a medieavel warlock who first pre-formed the Whaizcorn curse . He couldn't help it , his thoughts kept drifting to Sirius and the things he had said this afternoon .
Sirius had always been easily annoyed . He tended to explode quickly and always had problems controlling his temper , but he had never shouted at Remus like that before . In the past few days Sirius had behaved a bit unusual in class , but Remus had not worried much about that . Everybody behaved strange when you had to mix goat intestines with dried nettle roots . What he did worry about was Sirius behavior towards him personally .
All week long , he had positivly avoided being alone with Remus , not meeting his eyes and not joining in their usual jokes . As he glanced at Harriets eager face next to him , he deeply wondered what was wrong with him that his best friend reacted to him like that . Sirius meant very much to Remus , more than he could say , and this behavior really hurt him . But maybe it was all his fault ...
