#shoutout to james for that INSANE way to propose

[sc0lippi]

JUST started rl:roots and i gotta say this level was a hit

[la-fille-en-aiguilles]

The Beautiful & Damned (1/7)

Female Reader x Young!Remus Lupin | Female Reader x Young!Sirius Black

Chapter 1 : The Golden Couple 

A/N: Those who have been following my chaotic writing for a while (a massive shoutout to you, beautiful people) know that I am an incoherent little shit, and for that, I truly apologise. I’m only starting to figure out my writing habits, and it turns out they’re more a “spur of a moment” kind of stories. In short, if I have an idea, I better type away before I get another one and move on.  This was originally planned to be a 7-part story (which is huge for me), and I promise I’ll keep them chapters coming as long as there are readers. Also, I absolutely love talking to people, not only about writing in general but also about the way they see the characters (in this case, the Marauders), so please feel free to hit up my inbox if you want to share anything at all. Also, the feedback is always appreciated. 

I truly hope you enjoy! 

During days like this, the Great Hall seemed to have a life of its own: laughter, exaggerated whispers and the clinging of forks against the fine porcelain echoed in its walls, giving the place a voice, vivacious and cheerful banter. The ceiling turned into a clear blue sky today, not a cloud in sight but infinite azure. Late October chill was kept at bay by the thick stain-glass windows while students were enjoying their Friday lunch and hot apple cider. 

You always thought lazy autumn days in Hogwarts were the best.

As you walked into the main gathering area, your heels clicking on the centuries old floors, you immediately felt the vagabond stares of the students settle on your frame. You weren’t particularly dressed up – for you, the weekend had started early – but no loose sweater and jeans could hide your delicious curves and legs that went on for days. Ignoring the feeling of being gazed at, you walked on, your eyes drifting around in search for your friends. Soft smile bloomed on your lips as you spotted Lily, Marlene and the incomplete Marauder gang at their usual spot. 

Throwing your long, thick hair out of your face and letting it fall in loose curls down your back, you strutted confidently to the Gryffindor table. Remus Lupin was the first to notice you. The corners of his lips curled upwards as he paused his mindless activity of cutting a toast for a moment. Noticing Moony’s stare, James turned his head in your direction, instantly beaming at you. 

“If that isn’t our Siren”, he spoke, as you approached the table. “You’re up early, considering the state in which Padfoot finally decided to show his dogface at four in the morning...”

“Oh stuff it Potter”, you chuckled, leaning over the table between him and Remus, reaching for the green grapes on Lupin’s plate. 

Popping one into your mouth, you shamelessly wiggled your way in between them as James groaned in protest. Remus gave you a chiding stare, but his bright hazel eyes were smiling. 

You bit your bottom lip innocently, slowly reaching for another grape. Young Lupin shook his head helplessly, pushing his plate towards you, inviting you to share his meal. You full-on grinned at him as you tousled his unruly hair with your fingers, quite relishing the silky feeling under your fingertips. 

“Just so I am mentally prepared,” Remus took a pitcher with the hot apple cider and served you a glass before filling his own. “For how much longer are you going to steal my food, Y/N?” he turned his upper body in your direction, his chest almost touching your shoulder. The veil of sleep still clouded his radiating eyes, framed with impossibly long eyelashes. You studied the hues of colour in his irises for a millisecond, not sure which shade dominated them all. 

Winking at him mischievously, you made a show of dipping one of your fingers into his chocolate cream desert. Once he sighed and shook his head again, you quickly licked the sticky sweetness off your skin. 

“For as long as you are going to have food, Rem, obviously”, you happily told him, taking the glass of cider he offered you. Gulping it down rather hastily, you switched your attention to Lily, Marlene and James, arguing about something quite animatedly.

“...For the last time, Potter,” Marlene gave James a poignant look, barely content with whatever he had proposed. “We can’t just show up at the Ravenclaw common room and pretend we’ve been invited! Especially after that prank you pulled last week!”

James looked both desperate and amused. For those who knew him, really knew him, it was clear that he either argued for the sake of arguing, not being all that interested in breaking into Ravenclaw’s quarters, or he stubbornly refused to let it go because the girl he was so madly in love with was watching his little performance. 

“Okay first of all, that trap wasn’t meant for that moron of a Ravenclaw prefect. Second of all, it wasn’t all that bad!” James defended all the more ardently, seeing Marlene roll her eyes. He switched his glance to Lily – the redhead didn’t look particularly convinced by his monologue either. “So what he spent hanging head down for a couple of hours? Didn’t kill him, right?” he searched for Moony’s eyes, begging for a word of support, after finding none in Marlene’s stern features and Lily’s judging bright green eyes. 

Remus gave Potter a sympathetic look, that of a person who wants to help but truly doesn’t know how. Still, the reassurance in his kind orbs gave James an illusion of hope. 

Until Lupin spoke, that is. 

“Right, Prongs. I don’t understand either, why would one be so royally pissed off after hanging a couple of them hours head down from the Astronomy Tower?” Remus feigned confusion, shrugging his shoulders. “And how dare he stutter now?”  

James threw both of his hands in the air – a confused and desperate gesture - looking at his pranking companion, whose idea the whole thing was to begin with. Getting no reaction from Moony, who remained utterly unfazed, James hid his eyes in a facepalm that came from the heart. 

You tried desperately not to burst out laughing as you watched the entire happening. Remus winking at you once he knew Prongs wasn’t watching was the last drop. Throwing your head back, you let out a loud laugh. 

That would have probably made everyone turn their attention to you, if they hadn’t been following your every move already, from the moment you walked in. 

Regaining your breath, you bit you lip, mindlessly resting your head on Moony’s shoulder. For a moment there, you could swear you felt him stiffen, but the sensation was so short-lived, you might have imagined it. 

Meanwhile, James mumbled something about Remus being a traitor before turning away dramatically and stuffing his mouth full of fried eggs. 

“I honestly don’t even like that Prefect McGillan,” Lily suddenly stated. “He’s a snob and an arrogant know-it-all”, she stole a quick glance at the back of James’ head, thinking nobody would notice. “And maybe he deserved a small knock off his pedestal...”

“Lily Evans!...” Both you and Remus gasped in unison, all smiles now. Hearing the other’s voice, you exchanged mischievous glances, your eyes sparkling with secret knowledge. “Are you saying James here did something right for once?” Moony suggested, giving you a quick wink. 

“Godric no!” the redhead blurted out immediately, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink. “No one deserves to be treated like that... It’s just… I guess it must be true then. Karma works in its mysterious ways...”

Remus threw you a meaningful glance, and you bit hard on your bottom lip, fighting to hide an emerging smile. You could bet ten galleons Potter was beaming like an idiot that very second and would tell and re-tell Lily’s reaction to Padfoot once that last had finished nursing his head-splitting hangover.

“Well I work in my own mysterious ways, as well” you chirped, taking a sip of your hot cider - Remus must have served you another glass without you noticing, “And my name ain’t Karma”.

Everyone’s eyes were on you now, even James turned back to face you with an expectant stare.

“Pads and I are both invited to that party”, you simply confined, “I don’t see why we cannot bring plus... four?” 

Prongs threw his head back, puffing his lips at your last words (“Brilliant!”); Remus just kept looking at you, with what you could only pin down as admiration lighting up his face. 

“So that’s settled then,” with a wide smile, Marlene served herself a spoonful of strawberries. “With you and Black being the guests of honour, no one will ever dream of kicking us out.”

You rolled your eyes, small grin still ghosting over your lips. 

“Please,” you said, stuffing two more grapes into your mouth. “They just want a couple of bottles of firewhisky, and they think Sirius and I are the only ones who know where to get some.”

Watching you smile at some stupid-ass comment James threw your way, and laugh out loud at his face after a witty comeback you shot at him, all that Remus could think about was no. No, oh Godric no, you were so wrong, and so oblivious. Firewhisky wasn’t the reason everyone wanted you to sit next to them during every Quidditch game. Or dance along them on the makeshift dancefloor. Or walk by their side on your trip to Hogsmeade. It was so much simpler than that. It was you. You and your magnetic, celestial kind of beauty. Divine. That’s the first word that came to mind when people first saw you. 

Your beauty was the power that could fix everything that was wrong with the world, but Sweet Merlin, was it merciless. You were dazzling, and it was an agony to comprehend your exquisiteness in a glance. With eyes that held captive for eternity, with smell so enthralling it drove insane, with legs that wizards ought to write books about, your presence in a room promised so much, yet allowed for so little. 

A queen with a little bit of savage. That’s who you were. Queen, building a kingdom worthy of her magnificence, with a king to match. You and Sirius mingled well indeed – an exquisite siren and the hottest and the baddest debauchee in Hogwarts. The Golden Couple, although as far as Remus knew, you were just friends. Everyone felt special as soon as you two walked into a room, because you graced them with your presence. No one could resist your charms. Everyone enjoyed bathing in your glow, devouring it, getting drunk on it...

“Remus?” he nearly jumped, feeling your soft breath hit his neck. “You’re coming too, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” he rattled without thinking, turning your way sharply. His breath caught in his throat as his eyes met yours, so dangerously close. 

“Good”, you smiled at him contentedly. “Thanks for wanting to share your Charms notes with me, Lils,” you gave the redhead a grateful look, already rising on your feet. “I’m going to go get Pads to move his lazy ass – we have firewhisky to stock on. I’ll see you lot tonight then, yeah?”

Remus released the breath he didn’t know he was holding as he watched you walk back to the Grand Hall’s entrance. His heartbeats matched the echo of your steps, as he bit the inside of his cheek till it bled. The floors were your runway as you walked, your hips swinging deliciously, your perfume still keeping him entranced. 

He needed to learn how to breathe again. 

“I thought you were going to have a go at that Wolfsbane potion tonight, Moony,” Remus heard James whisper, his every word laced with an understanding Lupin hated to acknowledge. 

“Not anymore,” Remus uttered, his eyes still fixed on the heavy doors, the ghost of your silhouette a fixture in Moony’s feverish mind, your voice still softly ringing in his ears… 

Accio Chapter 2: No, Definitely

My Beautiful Tags (I am tagging the people who have previously showed interest in my Remus Lupin story - please, please let me know if you don’t want me to tag you in this! Much Love!): @zakthedrak, @marauder–harder, @davros2004, @firefurr, @heyjess-marie, @kapolisradomthoughts