Blowing Smoke

The room of requirement was full of witches and wizards, all from varying houses and all stained with the smell of fire whiskey. It wasn't common for all the houses to be unified for a weekend, especially when the notorious head boy James Potter planned it. Despite his undying bias towards his own house, he extended invitations to Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.

In the crowd of bodies, Remus looked on as James and Sirius sang in drunken merriment on one of the tables. Swaying back and forth, catching each other from falling onto an innocent group of Ravenclaws. Though Remus loved to watch his best friends enjoy themselves, and would often partake in a few glasses of fire whiskey himself, he was craving a cigarette.

Turning to his left, he shouted in Peter’s ear, “I’m gonna go have a smoke.”

Peter just gave him a questionable smile and nodded as he danced to the blaring music that filled the ever-changing room.

Unfortunately for Remus, the party fell a couple of days after the full moon and he was left to push through the crowd with every bump and shove sending waves of pain through his aching muscles.

Finally reaching the corridor Remus lets out a sigh of relief, finally a moment of silence.

The route to the astronomy tower wasn’t too far from the room of requirement but the threat of Filch finding him roaming the halls loomed over his head. Lurking around each corner he finally reached the winding spiral staircase that led to his favorite spot to smoke.

Usually at this hour, the astronomy tower is empty, except for the occasional couple making out away from prying eyes.

His favorite thing about the tower was the sweet smell of fresh air whistling through the open walls but this time it was replaced with a pungent sour scent. He could smell it at the bottom of the stairs. Determined to figure out this mystery aroma he started his climb, unknowing that at the top he would be met with a pleasant but unfamiliar face.

Reaching the crest of the staircase he could see a dark-haired girl dangling her feet over the edge, a pillar of smoke floating above her. Surly the skunky smell was coming from whatever was causing the smoke.

Trying to keep his presence secret he crept onto the plateau of the astronomy tower. He silently listened to the girl as she let out a gentle hum, clearly in good spirits. He didn’t want to interrupt her, as it was her smoking spot too, but as he turned to leave the wood railing betrayed him with an ugly creak. The girl whipped her head around in seconds.

“Hello? Is anyone there,” she said.

Remus let out a sigh. He had been caught.

“Sorry I didn’t know this spot was taken,” he said stepping into the light of the moon, “I’ll leave you-”

“No stay!” she said cutting him off, “I’m almost done anyway.”

As he approached he saw her features clearer. Her piercing hazel eyes seemed to glow in the evening light and the air blew her hair perfectly behind her ears. Remus was at a standstill as he took in her features. This might be the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. But how was this the first time he’d seen her in Hogwarts? Surly they have a class together.

“Come sit,” she smiled patting the spot next to her.

He hobbled over letting out a groan as he lowered himself next to her. The girl's eyes gave Remus a questioning look but decided to stay silent about his obvious pain.

“Merlin, what is that smell?” he asked scrunching his nose.

Now that he was next to her his senses were overtaken with the scent.

“Sorry I can put it out,” she said going to snuff the flame.

“No, no it’s okay,” Remus spoke quickly. “I just have never smelled something so…”

“So stinky?” the girl laughed.

He chuckled agreeing with her.

“Remus,” he said holding out his hand.

“Amelia.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a beat until Remus reached for the pack of cigarettes inside his jacket.

“Those things will kill you, ya know,” Amelia said and she took another puff from her mystery substances.

“And whatever your smoking won't?” Remus countered flicking his lighter.

“This is my herbal remedy,” she smirked. “Grew it myself.”

Remus had a puzzled look on his face which clued Amelia in on the fact he truly didn’t know what she was doing.

“The Muggles call it weed,” Amelia admitted. “Depending on the flower I grow it gives you different benefits.”

Remus took a drag of his cigarette.

“This particular strain makes my head a little loopy,” Amelia laughed.

Remus was infatuated with the smile that crept onto her face, definitely caused by this mysterious plant that Amelia grew. She must be a Hufflepuff if she has a green thumb.

“But I also have one that rids you of pain,” she said nudging his arm slightly.

Remus’s ears perk up at Amelia’s words.

“Interesting,” he quips. “And what can I do to acquire this special plant?”

“I might have some extra lying around my dorm,” Amelia giggles.

A red blush comes across both of the young wizards' faces as Amelia's playful nudge turns into a resting position against Remus as the effects of her joint are starting to hit.

“Sorry,” she giggled again.

“It’s alright,” Remus smiled noticing the whites of her eyes tinted red.

For the first time since joining Amelia, he’s noticing how intoxicated she is. Whether it be the fire whiskey or the greenery she's ingesting.

“I think I should get back to the party. My friends will be wondering where I am,” she laughs using Remus’s shoulder to push herself up.

He watches her sway a little then find her footing.

“Are you sure you should be walking back alone?” He asks.

“Don't worry I do this all the time,” Amelia said patting his hair gently. “Maybe I’ll see you back in there.”

And with that, she was gone.

***

Remus reentered the party mind swimming. He couldn't stop thinking about Amelia. The slight lean into his arm, the heat that radiated from her body, her inebriated giggles, though he had only met her for a short time he wanted to be in her presence again.

She said she was going to the party Remus thought as he tried to do a visual sweep over the many bobbing heads and flailing arms. The sheer amount of people at the party should make it almost impossible to find Amelia again but unknowing to Remus she’s already spotted him and is on her way over.

She can see him craning his neck to see people’s faces and a disappointed scrunch of his nose as he fails to find the person he’s looking for. A small part of her hopes he’s looking for her.
Swaying between bodies and using her small frame as an advantage, she easily ducks underneath arms until she’s directly behind the giant boy.

Tapping his shoulder, “Remus.”

He spins around instantly his confusion replaced with ease as he realizes who it was.

Just as Remus was about to say something he’s pushed to the side by none other than his fellow marauder Sirius Black.

Sirius isn’t shy around anyone and by the looks of it, he and Amelia seem to be close friends.

“Lia! You made it,” Sirius shouts as he picks the small girl up and spins her in circles.

Remus looks to both of them as they converse with the utmost enthusiasm.

“Remus you know Lia?” Sirius asks realizing his best friend was standing next to him.

“We just met actually,” He says. “At the astronomy tower.”

Sirius and Amelia share a mischievous glance.

“I’m sorry- Padfoot, how do you know Amelia?” Remus asks.

“She’s my herbology partner!” Sirius says wrapping an arm around Amelia’s shoulder.

Remus lets out an internal sigh of relief. He was secretly hoping she was not one of Sirius’s many flings.

“I’ve been wanting to introduce you too for some time now,” Sirius smirked, bringing Amelia and Remus close. “Merlin Moony, she introduced me to this muggle drug- what is it darling?”

“Weed,” Amelia laughed.

“Right! Anyway, I think it could really help with your furry prob-” Sirius started but was cut short by a hard punch to the shoulder.

Amelia noticed the boys's interaction. It seems the two boys shared a secret, one that she wouldn’t pry upon. Not yet at least.

Interrupting the boys’s hushed bickering, “Remus you should stop by the greenhouse tomorrow. If you not wickedly hungover that is.”

His name slid off her tongue like butter and suddenly he hoped she would never stop saying it. She smiled at him and it felt like he was seeing a new, beautiful, side to his dreary world.

“Yeah. I’d like that,” Remus said.

It didn’t go unnoticed to Sirius that both of his friends were practically eye fucking in front of his face.
“Well, I think that’s my cue-” Sirius started.

Remus and Amelia grabbed his arms pulling Sirius back to the middle before he could escape. The two were almost scared to be left alone together, afraid of where the night would possibly take them.

“How about you two,” Sirius pointed between them. “Go find a seat and I’ll go get us all drinks.”

“Yeah, alright Pads,” Remus uttered still gazing at Amelia.

Sirius rolled his eyes as he pried his arms from their grasp and pushed them toward one of the empty sofas. Though the drinks were his means of escape he planned to never return to the couple. Spotting James by the drink table ogling over Lily Evans on the dance floor, he makes his way over to his brother.

“Mate, Moony’s got a proper crush,” Sirius laughs.

James whips his head in the direction of Sirius's line of sight. Seeing Remus and Amelia chatting away on the plush sofa.

“Finally,” James smirks.

***

The next day Amelia tended to her little garden. Making sure her lilies were the perfect shade of white and her Gillyweed was effectively propagating in the glass viles she nicked from the potions supply closet.

“Amelia?” Remus said leaning in through the crack of the greenhouse door.

The girl was in her own world and she hummed to her many tables of plants. Remus took note of the familiar tune, the same one from last night.

Remus fully entered the greenhouse hoping to get the girl's attention once more, “Amelia?”

This time she perked up from her small forest, “Remus! I didn’t hear you come in!”

He took a step closer, “what’s that tune you keep singing?”

She looked puzzled, “Oh! It’s just something my mom sings around the house. Don’t you know singing to your plants helps them grow.”

“Interesting,” Remus said inching his way closer to Amelia.

The boy had never really held an interest in Herbology he preferred Defense Against the Dark Arts or Potions but seeing Amelia so enthralled by her plants piqued his interest.

“So this whole greenhouse is yours?” he asked.

Amelia smiled finally giving her full attention to the boy, “Professor Sprout noticed how much time I was spending in here and decided to make some space for me.”

“That’s very kind of her.”

“Isn’t it.”

Amelia's eyes scanned over Remus’s face, finally seeing it in the light of day. Freckles littered his skin accenting his beautifully structured jaw. He had a large scar over the bridge of his nose some of the skin still red and raised. It wasn’t ugly though, not through her eyes. It was an extension of him, she only hoped to know how he received such a gift.

While she was admiring Remus’s various features, he was doing the same to her. Her hair was wavy cascading over her shoulder, he wanted nothing more than to twirl his fingers through it. He imagined it smelt of raspberry or pear. She had a small mole on her right cheek bone drawing people into her wide doe eyes.

In their trance, they failed to notice the baby Mandrake pot teetering on the edge of the table. Only snapping out of it when the pot shattered on the ground sending a piercing shriek through the air.

“Remus, grab that pot off the wall,” Amelia directed moving to scoop up the screaming root. “There's some soil under the potting bench.”

Trying to cover his ears somewhat, Remus haphazardly threw enough soil to make the Mandrake happy in its new home. Without hesitation, Amelia urgently placed the root in the dirt using the rest of the potting soil to silence the wailing baby.

Both Remus and Amelia let out a sigh of relief.

“Sorry I don’t know how that hap-”

“It’s alright,” Remus cut her off. “We're a good team.”

Amelia blushed, “Yeah I guess we are.”

Both leaned down to clean up the dirt and ceramic shards but managed to knock heads instead.

“Sorry,” Remus laughed shyly holding his head.

“No that was my fault.”

They were both blushing profusely as they examined each other's bumps not realizing the proximity of their figures. It was a millisecond but Amelia saw Remus’s eyes flick down to her mouth and back up again. She knew he wouldn’t do anything, his reputation as the most respectable marauder holding strong. Besides, they had just met the day before. That didn’t stop her from letting her hand trace up his arm as she went to stand.

“So Sirius mentioned that you have chronic aches and pains?” Amelia said bringing the conversation back to why he was there in the first place.

“Um yeah,” Remus said standing up, his 6’2 frame towering over her. “It’s kinda just all over but some days are better than others.”

She nodded, heading over to her many drawers that lined the back wall of greenhouse 4.

She came back with a salve and two joints packed tight with flower.

“This is salve I made from the Dittany plant, it should provide relief when used topically,” she said placing the tin in his palm.

“Thank you.”

“And these will relax your body and ease your mind,” she says gently handing over the perfectly rolled joints.

“Will these make me loopy?” Remus mocked.

She smirked up at him, “A little. We can revisit other types of effects after you try these.”

“So I just smoke them?”

“Yeah, don’t go too crazy, but Sirius will know how much to do.”

“Sirius?” Remus says puzzled.

“He likes the loopy ones,” Amelia joked nudging Remus.

He blushed harder at her touch.

“Thank you. I’ll- I’ll let you know how it goes,” he said kindly.

“I should go… the boys will be expecting me back,” Remus said.

“Of course,” Amelia nodded.

Slowly backing towards the door of the greenhouse Remus was trying to think of something to say but in the process back into the corner of the table.

“Oh! Remus, are you okay?”

“All good,” He hissed

He continued to back into another table, less harsh this time.

“This is embarrassing,” He muttered.

“Maybe turn around,” Amelia laughed.

“Right. Yes. Sorry, I’ll go now.”

“Bye,” She waved.

Remus finally reached the door, “Right. Urhm bye.”

***

The whole walk back to the common room Remus was kicking himself. That was the most embarrassing thing he’s ever done and in front of Amelia no less.

Approaching the Fat Lady he uttered the word ‘balderdash’ revealing the opening to Gryffindor's common room. The room was alight with many students. Some finishing up their studies and others laughing by the fireplace. He trudged up the stairs to the boys' dormitory, already hearing the wailing and laughter from his friends.

Opening the door revealed Sirius and James dressed to the nines with their house ties wrapped around their foreheads poorly singing Bowie to Peter. Upon opening the door Sirius jumped down from his bed slinking over to Remus singing into his hairbrush. Remus simply rolled his eyes and flopped down on his bed.

“Moony where have you been,” Pete asked.

“Can’t you tell Wormy!” Sirius shrieked. “He’s got dirt all over his hands.”

James decided to join in now, “Were you with Amelia?”

“And what if I was.”

“She's cute mate,” James said.

Remus sighed staring up at the wooden beams of their dormitory.

Suddenly the combined voices of all three boys rang throughout the room, “Moony and Amelia sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-”

“Oh buggar off,” Remus huffed throwing a pillow at the three Marauders.