Shrieking Shack

Location: Outside the Shrieking Shack
Date: October 1975
Status: Incomplete

Private


Marlene looked around absent mindedly as she walked through the crowded street, wrapping her cloak tighter around her body to keep the cool wind away. Dora had already found Sirius and they were both gone to do God only knows what. As for herself, she was still looking around for Remus and she couldn't help but wonder if she had only imagined him asking her to go to Hogsmeade with him. They had both agreed to meet there, though he hadn't specified where exactly, and now she just didn't know where to look. She was actually surprised that he hadn't been with Sirius, she had figured that she and Dora could simply go together and then meet up with both guys before going their separate way if that's what they wanted to do, but apparently she had been wrong since Remus was nowhere to be found. Maybe he wasn't feeling all that well and had decided to stay behind? She had noticed over the last few weeks that, sometimes, he look almost ill and so pale and tired. It worried her a lot, but what was there she could do when he never answered to her questions directly? She wasn't one to ask much anyway, and after being turned down the first time she had quickly understood that whatever the matter was, it was not something he wanted to talk about.

Walking slowly in the crisp autumn air, she made her way to the only place she knew wouldn't be packed. She was almost regretting coming at all... she usually enjoyed those trip to Hogsmeade a lot, but she wasn't usually alone, and the idea of spending the whole day without anybody made her a bit sad - unless it was simply the fact that she wasn't spending the day with Dora, though she was very happy for her friend, and she was the one who had urged her to go with Sirius and not worry about her. It was as if everything was changing now, and there was no going back. The simple thought of change depressed her slightly.

As she reached the Shrieking Shack, she shook her head slightly. She was being stupid. If Remus had told her he'd come, then he would, or else he would have told her otherwise before. He wasn't the kind of person who said things and then changed his mind without giving any notice of it. She was simply impatient and silly, and also nervous. She had the feeling today really was a day full of changes, though she hadn't figured yet if these changes were bad or good, and she strongly hoped for the latter.

Remus hadn't meant to be late, in fact he was rather unhappy that he was. If only because he knew that it would cause Marlene undue worry. Peter had needed help with something, and Remus was never one to say no to his friends, even if it was at his own expense. Huffing out a small sigh between his lips, he brushed shaggy brown hair from his eyes as they searched the landscape for the Ravenclaw. Spotting her, he was rather relieved, though he felt on edge at the location they were in. Why he had chosen to meet her at the shrieking shack, he would never know. Perhaps subconsciously he wanted to tell her, as he didn't think there could be any sort of relationship with such a big secret between them.

Honestly though, the thought, as much as it was appealing, was also rather frightening. Remus had never had any sort of romantic relationship. He had crushes, but they'd always been unrequited. It also scared him that he might tell her his secret... what would she do? scream and call him a monster? He shuddered, thinking of such a scenario. Maybe he was thinking too much on it, perhaps he should just let things progress as they did. "Hello Marlene," he greeted as he got closer to her, his voice slightly out of breath, his cheeks red from exertion, and the dark circles that were usually found below his eyes was less prominent today, the full moon having been a few weeks back. A warm smile curved his lips.

Marlene looked up at him, a wide smile gracing her features as her eyes met his, a light blush reddening her cheeks. She felt stupid to have thought he wouldn't come - when didn't he keep his word? But the simple fact that her heartbeat quickened when she saw him prooved that she was not in her best state of mind when it came to him. Actually, it was as if most of the time she was intoxicated by his mere presence, let alone his scent and close proximity. However, it was nothing compared to what his eyes did to her. They often made her feel dizzy and lightheaded, just like now. She forced herself to look away before her knees weakened to a point where she knew they wouldn't support her anymore.

"Hello Remus," she said, smiling lightly as she looked down, twirling her necklace around her fingers. "Are you alright?" she asked, not able to restrain the question.

She was curious as to why he was late, and also concerned. She really hoped it was nothing bad. It was plain and obvious to everyone she knew that she had fallen for him - Dora kept on teasing her on the matter, as did most of her other Ravenclaw friends, and she was pretty sure even Remus' friends had noticed... the only one who didn't seem to know was him, unless he just didn't feel the same way.

Her smile caused his smile to widen a bit further, and a tender feeling to bloom in his chest. At her question, he shook his head. "I'm alright, Peter needed some help with something. I'm sorry if I kept you waiting very long," he said, expression apologetic.

"I.." he paused considering what to say, "What would you like to do?" he didn't have much money, couldn't really afford much because of it. Remus resisted the urge to fidget. Sirius probably would have been laughing at him, if he saw how awkward he was being.

"It's alright," she said, smiling at him. She couldn't really admit how anxious she had been all the while she was waiting for him to arrive, so she simply brushed it off. Did it really matter anyway? She restrained a small sigh and smiled instead, looking back up at him and meeting his eyes again, her knees weakening and threatening to stop supporting her as her heartbeat quickened lightly.

When he asked if there was anything she wanted to do, she shrugged lightly. She hadn't brought much money with her, and she didn't have anything to buy anyway - she wasn't the kind of person who enjoyed spending time in a shop if she didn't have anything to get from it, especially when the said shops were crowded to a point where it was hard to do anything but stand still. Besides, even though she wouldn't admit it outloud, she'd rather spend the day with him only, and there wasn't much possibilities of that anywhere else.

"I don't know really," she said finally. "I don't really feel like going somewhere where I won't even be able to hear myself think."

If he had known that she wanted to be somewhere quiet, he would have brought a lunch with him. As it was they could still do so and he mentioned it, "We could get a light meal from the three broomsticks, if you'd like, and then come back..?" it ended with a questioning lilt, as if he were leaving it up to her to decide. "or if you aren't hungry, we could just sit here for awhile," he said motioning with his hands to the bench that someone had placed nearby. He wasn't quite sure why someone would do so, considering everyone thought the place was haunted...

She looked at him thoughtfully. She wasn't really hungry but maybe he was... she didn't want to force him to do anything either, she knew many people weren't comfortable with this place and the Three Broomstick probably wouldn't be that bad of a place to go to... she supposed. She looked up at him and gave a small smile, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"I'm not really hungry but if you are I don't mind, we can go if you want to," she said, smiling.

Anyway, even if they did stay alone, what would she say? It's not as if she was the kind of girl to make the first move. She shook her head lightly to herself and grinned lightly, her eyes meeting his again but it seemed like this time, her knees had had enough. They gave away and she had to hold on to his shoulders to keep herself from falling, blushing deeply when she attempted to stand correctly again.

"We don't have to go right now," he said in response. It wasn't as if they were in any hurry, and to tell the truth Remus didn't quite feel up to being around a large group of people. The press of them sometimes made him irritable, though he would never quite show it beyond the tenseness he sometimes displayed.

His arms came up in reflex as she grabbed on to his shoulders. "Are you alright?" he asked, eyes upon hers, concern there, but also fondness.

Marlene felt her heartbeat quicken as his arms came around her waist. She knew it was simply a reflex but her whole being seemed to be affected by his close proximity. She stood up straight again, knowing she probably should have taken her hands off his shoulders now, but somehow her body didn't seem to go along with her thoughts. She was able to stand but her whole body felt limp, as though she was going to collapse any minute if she let go of him.

"I... I'm fine," she said weakly, trying to keep her eyes away from his without succeeding.

When her eyes connected with his again she felt a shiver run down her body and bit her bottom lip lightly, unable to look away.

Remus couldn't quite look away either, and he realized he should probably move away and let her stand on her own.. but he couldn't seem to do that. He licked his lips in a nervous fashion, before soft words escaped him. "Marlene, I really like you." and now he knew if Sirius was hiding in his vicinity under a certain cloak, his position would have been given away with laughter. It wasnt' the most smooth of lines, and his cheeks turned red. It had kind of just slipped out, but he was almost glad that they had, and he was no longer tormented by whether or not he should say anything at all.

Marlene's cheek turned a very deep shade of red as her knees threatened to give away once more, forcing her to lightly tighten her hold on his shoulders. Her heart was beating so fast and hard that she felt as though it was about to explode inside of her, her eyes shining strangely as she kept on looking at him as though she was under some kind of spell that made it impossible for her to break eye contact or to pull away from his hold. Being there, close to him, his arms around her, felt so great, so soft and just... so perfect. She wanted to stay like this forever. She opened her mouth slightly to say something, no words coming out at first.

"I really like you too..." she said shyly when she finally managed to speak, biting her bottom lip.

She simply kept on looking at him, almost nervous though so relieved. She couldn't quite believe that he did like her and yet she had never been so happy in her whole life. She just felt like being even closer to him and kissing him until she was no longer able to breathe, but her body wouldn't respond to anything, as though she was frozen on the spot.

He smiled though the blush didn't leave his face. "Is it okay if I kiss you?" he asked, she still hadn't moved away, and he seemed incapable of doing so.

Remus' people skills were not all that great, and so he was always second guessing himself on whether or not his own actions were appropriate. He had found that while it was embarassing to ask someone if what he was doing alright, it at least let him know, and he would remember the next time.

Marlene tried to say yes but somehow this time words really wouldn't come to her ; she simply couldn't talk anymore, she was simply lost into his eyes, biting her bottom lip lightly as she found that, if she couldn't talk anymore, she was at least still able to move. She nodded her head nervously, blood creeping up to her cheeks. She felt so warm now in spite of the cold autumn air, she could have taken off her coat and she would have felt just fine. She knew that if Dora had been there, she would have simply pushed her onto him, or she would be lost in a giggle fit right there and then. She even admitted to herself in her mind that she probably looked rather pathetic right now, but she simply couldn't help it. She drew in a long breath as she looked at him with expectant eyes, not too sure of what to do.

"It's more than okay," she managed to say finally in a small voice, blushing an even deeper shade of red as the words left her mouth.

and they kissed, finally, the end.

Remus felt as if he needed to take a deep breath, and his hands were cold, the way that they went when he was extremely anxious about something. Funny, that this would almost scare him more than the hours before the transformation.

"Okay," he said softly, leaning forward and tilting his head just so to kiss her upon the lips.

Marlene felt as though she was glowing from the inside as his lips touched her, softer that she'd imagined. Shyly, gently, she answered to the kiss, her arms sneaking up to wrap themselves around his neck as she stood on her tiptoes to pull herself slightly closer. On the outside, she was shy, calm, unexperienced as she was being kissed for the very first time, but on the inside, hundreds of emotions were rushing through her whole body, clashing together in complete chaos, fire rushing through her veins instead of blood, her feelings impossible to describe with words, only with actions which she didn't dare doing. However, just being there, in Remus' arms, finally kissing him, made her feel as though she would never be hurt again. She felt safer than ever before, just as if he could make all the bad things that'd ever happened to her go away and disappear with a simple gesture.