‘Why in the world did she say that?’ Remus thought hurriedly, ‘She doesn’t even look like she wants to go with me! She turns EVERYONE down,’ then it clicked in his brain. That was the difference here. Neither of them wanted to go with each other.

‘Two negatives make a positive,’ He thought bitterly, but he kept his face calm. After all it looked like Marylyn might start crying.

“I would love to go with you,” He said, trying to sound sincere. He was trying to be sincere, but it’s harder to lie to yourself than it is to lie to someone else.

But instead of looking cheerful, like Remus had thought she would, she looked like Remus had just stabbed her with a knife.

“I meat you at the three broomsticks at noon, okay?” She said, not looking him in the face.

“Uh,” Remus said, completely taken aback. He had never seen someone look so sad before, so regretful, “Yeah that’s sounds great. See you then,” He said trying to sound cheerful. However it seemed he just deepened the wound as she nodded her head and swiftly left.

Sirius passed her as she left and he looked horror struck.

“My god what did you say to her?” Sirius hissed, sitting across from Remus. Remus’s eyes watched Marylyn leave and he was certain he could hear the dreadful sound of the door shut echo through the whole library. Remus stayed silent for another moment.

“You’ve got me on a date with a complete and utter psychopath,” Remus said threw gritted teeth, slamming his book shut and throwing it carelessly into his bag, and he stomped out of the library. It took all of his self control not to slam the library door.

Sirius’s face stayed blank for a moment, thunderstruck. Then slowly a smile formed onto his face as he leaned triumphantly back in his seat.


Marylyn took a deep breath as she opened the doors of the three broomsticks. More lead.

She couldn’t believe she had dared to do this, but she did. She had accepted an invitation he was forced to make to go on a date that neither of them wanted to be on. Yes, that settled it. She had completely lost it.

Of course she had considered standing him up. She wouldn’t meet him, and he’d sit in here for an hour waiting for her. Then he could go back to the school and spread rumors about the terrible person she was. But no one would believe she had accepted his invitation. No poor Remus Lupin would have to suffer through their date and people would have to witness it. No one would ever ask her out again after this.

She was early, unsurprisingly. She had very little concept of time but she was only a few minutes early. Therefore, it surprised her greatly to see Remus Lupin, already sitting there, waiting for her, two drinks sitting on the table, untouched.

She slipped into the seat across from him.

“I assume this is mine,” She said, lifting up the glass, and waving it slightly. Remus merely nodded. She looked suspicious at the glass.

“I’m not going to poison you,” Remus reassured her. In a way it comforted Marylyn. It was nice to know she was not in danger of poison.

“Although,” Marylyn said, thinking out loud, “I hardly think you would say you were poisoning me if you were.” She took a sip of her drink. Remus raised his eyebrows.

“Well, I do believe you just walked into my hypothetical trap,” Remus said, also taking a sip of his drink.

“I don’t think you’re an idiot Mr. Lupin. And only an idiot would poison my drink in a restaurant filled with people like this,” Marylyn said gesturing around. Remus chuckled, lightly.

“I thought maybe you were just giving me the benefit of the doubt,” He admitted, taking another sip of his butter beer.

“I am,” Marylyn said coolly, “I’m assuming you’re not an idiot.” Remus laughed.

“Well thanks.” He said smiling. Marylyn liked that he was smiling. It’s hard smiling around someone who doesn’t smile back. And it’s hard to smile when no one smiles at you.

Marylyn shrugged.

“I suppose you’re entitled to poison it,” She added thoughtfully, “You paid for it.” Remus laughed again.

“You’re funny,” Remus said after a moment. Marylyn raised her eyebrows.

“You sound surprised?” Marylyn asked, making sure she hadn’t misheard.

“Well, it’s just,” Remus said slowly, carefully picking his words, “It’s just that, you don’t ask like a very happy person,” Remus flinched at his own harsh sounded words. Marylyn nodded, making sure he knew he wasn’t being rude, nor was he completely making up his statement.

“I just don’t feel the need to smile ridiculously like an idiot,” Marylyn gestured around the restaurant again. When Remus took a closer look he realized that she wasn’t making it up. All the people in the restaurant were smiling, all looking slightly fake and plastered.

“I guess we do look like idiots,” Remus said softly, smiling a little. Marylyn shook her head.

“I do believe we have established that you are not an idiot,” Marylyn said seriously, sipping her butter beer. There was silence for a moment as Marylyn observed Remus.

“You know,” She began thoughtfully, speaking slowly, “I think you might make me smile.” She was more speaking aloud than anything else. Remus smiled.

“I think I just might,” Remus said, hopefully. Hope and happiness flashed across Marylyn’s face, slowly forming into a soft quaint smile.

Marylyn had always tried to crush hope, because it seemed to lead to sadness and broken hearts. It was ironic that it also leads to smiles. The thought made Marylyn dare to laugh. Her laugh matched her smile, soft, light and quaint. Remus grinned happily along with her.