Belle
“Atta boy, Moony!” Sirius grabs his shoulder startling Remus away from what he was doing, or who he was doing. Remus pulls away from the flushed witch and grins at Sirius then grabs him in a tight hug. Remus hugs James in a similar way then takes a moment to look me up and down.
I stand in between James and Sirius. James is my cousin whom I’ve lived with since I was 10 and Sirius moved in with us this summer. We spent the summer goofing around the lake we lived near.
I rolled my eyes at the boys in front of me before settling my gaze on Remus. He was taller and his shoulders were wider but other than that he looked the same to me.
“Belle,” he nods at me, softening his smile to a smirk. He pushed his sandy brown hair out of his face and I could see his lips were red and swollen from snogging that girl who was standing behind him, gazing up at him with heart eyes. My hands clenched into fists.
“Remus,” I greet him tightly and turn to James. “Let's get going I don’t want to share a compartment with a group of first years again. Why are they always sticky?”
Sirius laughs at my comment and puts his arm around my shoulder leading me to the train. James follows behind us and shouts back at Remus, “Wrap it up, Moony!”
I roll my eyes. I don’t mind Remus, in fact, I respect him the most out of my brother’s friends. But there was something about him that made me nervous. I didn’t know how to explain it and I certainly wouldn’t show it outwardly but I think it’s something like fear–no, intimidation.
We had a sort of unspoken competition between us that was really not well defined. Once Remus made a comment about how ‘Some subjects just require more work and I needn’t feel ashamed for getting a dreadful on the first Ancient Runes exam.’ So I pulled all Outstandings for the following exams. I knew Remus had done poorly on the next exam and waited until we were surrounding the fireplace in the common room to bring it up.
“You know Remus, you never told me how you did on yesterday's Runes exam.” I look at him innocently, barely concealing my smirk. His eyes were tired and he seemed exhausted, which meant his fuse was short–good. He didn’t even look up from his book when he said, “That’s because I didn’t tell you.” I needed to get a rise out of him; I had been fuming for weeks since his little comment. So, in my most condescending tone, I said, “That's too bad. You know– you needn’t feel ashamed. Perhaps just try harder next time?” I watched his hands tighten on his book and his eyes darken but he didn’t reply. James and Sirius ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ at Remus and I sat back feeling euphorically triumphant.
That’s how it went. We knew how to get underneath each other’s skin. But over the summer I realized that Remus had the ultimate way to get under my skin, by giving other women his attention. I saw him snogging Adelaide Downing last year and I can still feel my body light on fire with rage when I remember that. He knows that it enrages me and he loves watching my attempts to contain the beast inside myself. I don't even know why I have this compulsive need to occupy his mind but, truthfully, I try not to think about it.
We found a compartment and I sprawled across one of the seats in an effort to make the compartment seem more full. I pull out my book and settle in for the ride. James takes my trunk and settles our things in the compartments above us then says, “Remus has turned into quite the player since last year. He’s worse than you, Pads.”
Sirius gasps and swoons, “You wound me Prongs. I’ve experienced a grand trauma indeed this summer. I've been a fragile boy but fear not–” he leans back in his seat, “your lovely cousin kept me plenty of company this summer.” James hits him upside the head.
“I told you, I don’t like that joke.” Then he looks at me, “Stay away from Padfoot, B.”
I scoff, hating it went he does the ‘big brother’ thing. Remus opens the compartment and I get an idea.
“Careful James, I’m kinda a sucker for the forbidden romance trope.” I wink at Sirius and James gags. Remus pushes my legs off the seat so he can sit next to me. Sirius feigns concern and exclaims, “Moony be careful with my beloved. I’m the only one who’s allowed to touch her like that–” James hits him again and Sirius laughs, “Alright I’ll knock it off, for now.”
He winks at me and I laugh, “Do you have a death wish, Siri?”
“I’d do anything to see that smile on your face, love” I blush not because I like Sirius that way but because nobody really compliments me like that.
I can feel that Remus is shaking and he pulls me up roughly. “We have to change, go find Evans.” It’s the beginning of the ride and I am tempted to argue with him but I do miss the girls so I go out into the hall to find them. I look through the compartments and find Lily, Alice and someone I don’t recognize chatting in a compartment. I slip in and look at Lily and Alice, “mind if I join?”
“B!” They shout and embrace me in a hug.
“I missed you girls.” I hug then back then turn to the new girl. She had dark hair and hazel eyes. “Hello, I’m Belle but I prefer B.”
The girl smiles and extends her hand to say, “Pleasure to meet you, I’m Rose.”
We continue to chat idly as the train chugs along. I found out that Rose was Alice’s cousin from the states who moved here for ‘a change,’ whatever that means. We arrive to the carriage drop-off and are about to close the door of the carriage when a large hand grips the railing. I look over and meet Remus’s stare and he says, “You left this on the train.” He thrusts my copy of Nancy Drew: The Secret in the Old Attic into my hands. Then he turns and walks away like I was an inconvenience. I feel like a child again when he treats me like that and my heart aches momentarily. Then I turn back to the girls giving them a ‘Can you believe this guy?’ look as we all break into laughter. Then I huff, “I don’t know what he’s pissy about. Merlin– he’s practically glued to my brother. Next time have him give it back! He doesn’t need to treat me like a bothersome child– he’s a child! I just–”
I look around at everyone for community in my frustration but they all avert their eyes and give each other a look. I know what they think and I shut it down like I always do, “Oh stop it!” We laugh again and ride toward the Castle.