Good Company
“I was beginning to get excited that you all weren’t going to make it in time for dinner,” sighs a blonde girl once Remus and his roommates make it to the Great Hall.
“In your dreams, Marlene,” Sirius retaliated, flipping her off.
A girl with shoulder-length, gorgeous curls and a flirty smile looks over at Remus. “Is this the new roommate?”
James, sitting next to him, places a hand on his shoulder. “Yes, he is! This is Remus.”
“Remus Lupin,” he smiles, offering her a wave.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Mary Macdonald. This is Marlene McKinnon,” she points to the blonde girl, then to the redhead sitting across from him next to Sirius, “and that is Lily Evans.”
The girl, Lily, gives a shy smile. “Hi, Remus.”
He catches James’ slight frown before he pulls his hand off Remus, turning to have a quiet conversation with Sirius. Remus smiles right back at Lily.
Marlene leans up, setting her elbows on the table to look at him, “So, why did you transfer here? We hardly get new kids in Lower Sixth.”
He shrugs. “I hated every other school I’ve been to,” he pauses, grabbing his plate to pile on some food that was finally placed at their table, “my dad offered to let me come here, and it seemed nice enough.”
Marlene hums around her spoonful of mashed potatoes, waiting only long enough to swallow before responding. “Makes sense. Most of us are here because it’s where our parents went.”
Mary turns to him, “Not me though, or Lils.” She takes a sip of water, keeping her eyes on him. "Marls is right, though. It's not often we get new kids here, especially not cute boys."
“You wound me, Mary!” cries out Sirius, throwing a hand over his heart. “We only broke up three weeks ago and you’ve already moved on!” Mary leans across the table to flick her manicured fingers at his forehead. “Ow! Why must you be so-”
“Cut it, Sirius. We broke up amicably and you know it,” she berates, rolling her eyes fondly.
Sirius’ grey eyes find him. Since when could eyes be that color? "Don’t listen to her. She’s just bitter she can’t go out with the most gorgeous bloke in school.” James snorts, causing Sirius to turn to him, “Oh, did you have something to add, James?” he cocks an eyebrow at his friend.
“Well, I’m not sure I would say you’re the most gorgeous-”
Sirius throws a piece of cornbread at him, “You’re a liar and you know it!”
A huff comes from the redhead across the table, drawing Remus’ attention away from the most gorgeous head of hair he had ever seen. “They always have to be the center of attention,” she says under her breath, placing her fork down. “So, Remus. Tell us about yourself.”
He shrugs, “I’m not sure there’s much to say.”
“Nonsense. There’s got to be some story to you.”
He thinks for a moment. “I’m Welsh.”
Mary bumps his shoulder with her own. “The accent kind of gave that one away, handsome.”
He ducks his head to hide the slight blush now blooming on his face. “I love music? Oh, and books.”
Lily smiles at him. “I love to read too! What’s your favorite?”
Remus doesn’t even have to think before he blurts it out. “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
She brightens, “I love that one! Mine is Jane Eyre.”
“I just finished that one last month! Bronte is a remarkable writer.”
“She is!” she gushes.
"So you love music?” comes to him through the smooth voice of the boy next to her.
Remus turns to Sirius, “I do, yes.”
He raises a questionable eyebrow, “Yeah? Who’s your favorite?”
“The Beatles.”
Sirius slams a hand on the table, earning a huff from Lily. “Wrong! You’re so wrong! It’s obviously Queen!”
“The Beatles are more influential-”
“But Queen is so much better!” Sirius all but pouts.
“Agree to disagree,” he declares, not wanting to say that he hasn’t listened to Queen’s newest album, A Night at the Opera, and scandalizing Sirius further.
Sirius shakes his head at him, but there’s no malice in it. “I’ll change your mind.”
I hope you try. “Do your best, Black.”
Sirius smiles at him, and God he’s charming. “Planning to.”