~ It's in your hand, follow my plan

Don't waiver to the left, don't waiver to the right. ~

***

A few days earlier, the three boys were crowded around Sirius intent on hearing the brilliant plan he had promised to share with them. There had been pin drop silence in the dorm as they waited for him to speak up. The silence had been successfully preserved because only that once James Potter was also very eager to know what could finally release him from the curse of the love of his life believing he was with someone else.

But now when Remus accounted his conversation with Felicity to the remaining of the gang, the whole plan seemed to be crumbling apart.

Sirius was the one listening with utmost disappointment on his face He couldn't believe that such a fool proof plan as the one they had come up with could get sniffed out by the target. "All you had to do, Moony, was to befriend her and ask her out to Hogsmeade so that we could have had a chance to let Lily know that you two were dating and James was still going stag."

Remus who had been quite flustered with the whole plan even before it had been put to action, scowled more visibly than ever, "bugs me why you didn't do it yourself if it was this easy as you're making it seem. After all, you're Sirius Black, the master of flirting and making girls putty in your hands."

James agreed with him on that point, "now that you've pointed it out, yes it does seem weird. Padfoot, why didn't you go to ask Latvia out instead of Rem?

"What? Nope, absolutely not," he shook his head dramatically, "I don't want my good looks to be ruined which she might do so by punching me in the face afterwards."

A smile threatened to break on his face, but Remus did his best to hide it, "yeah, so you chickened out and sent me to be punched. How sweet."

Peter, who had kept silent so far observing the scenario, joined in, "but you didn't get punched now, did you?"

"Exactly. That's why I sent you, Moony. I knew you were safe from getting punched or physically hurt in any way possible. In case of an annoying smirkface like me she would go for the kill but obviously she just had to take pity on you."

"Oh, so now you mean to say that I look like a cute little lost kitty who someone like Latvia would immediately take pity on and become fond of."

Remus's remark set James and Peter laughing but Sirius seemed to be thinking something else as his characteristic smirk was visible, "not really... Because you look cuter than any lost kitty existing in the entire world at the moment."

"I'm still not flattered," he replied vaguely.

In the end it was James who held his hands up to withdraw the argument, "okay will you two kindly stop? Some of us are having trouble catching up."

Remus nodded, "fine, but what should I do now? I screwed up and I no longer want to keep screwing things up so you better forget about the plan altogether."

Sirius looked at him as if horrified and James's good mood evaporated at the thought of Lily still believing that he and Felicity were a couple. However at such a time of dire need, Peter came to the rescue, "why the hell are you three making such a big deal out of it? You screwed up, so what? I trust you all do know what to do after you've screwed something up."

"What do we do is the question at the moment, Pete. If we had known we wouldn't be sitting here like that," came the agitated reply.

Peter was shaking his head like a grandmother does after her grandchild has spilled all the soup and asks what to do next, "you apologize, silly."

"Ah... Why hadn't I thought of it before?" Sirius sat up regaining his usual fervency, "that's excellent, Wormy! Of course, apologizing is the best option."

Peter had a wide smile on his face at being able to help his friends, no matter how small the task was. He himself was surprised at their absentmindedness for one second but shook the thought off nevertheless. What mattered most was that he had saved the day.

The three of them were now eagerly looking at Remus as if expecting him to say something.

"Alright, fine. I... I'll apologize."

"And befriend her," James added.

"And ask her out to Hogsmeade," Sirius joined in.

"And try to save yourself from being killed," Peter ended at a hilarious note.

Remus sighed in defeat. He knew he would have to do as they said. "But you are aware, right, that I'm not going to actually date her? We're just... We'd just be going as friends."

"Better forget about that, Moons, by the time you have asked her out the whole school would know you two are dating, thanks to our live broadcasting," Sirius remarked with a playful glint in his eyes.

He looked a bit skeptical at that but made up his mind because obviously, one against three was not a good option, "what do I get in return?"

At that question, James immediately spoke up, "a box of the limited edition Honeydukes Every Flavored Chocolate which they are getting out this Christmas."

James knew full well that the offer was too tempting for Rem to turn down. And as expected after a few minutes of him weighing down the pros and cons, the answer finally came out in a yes.

***

Dreading the outcomes yet hoping for the best, Remus stepped in the library knowing that he would probably find Felicity inside. After a short while of looking through the rows and rows of book shelves, he found her sitting alone in one of the chairs by the window, engrossed in a book.

He knew if she was just as passionate about books as he was, then he better not even try to disturb her. But then thoughts of the chocolate box seeped in his brain and he decided to give it a shot.

He knew it wasn't one of his very best days, so obviously there could be no loss in it getting slightly more awkward.

So he silently went over to where she was and stood by, patiently waiting for her to notice his presence. Soon enough her head snapped up in his direction and seeing him a weary look crossed her face, "now what, Lupin?"

"I am sorry," he began trying to stick close to what he had rehearsed earlier with his friends, "I apologize for my behavior in class. And for whatever that might have made you so angry."

She looked at him straight in the eyes as if assessing his reaction. Then when she was satisfied that there was absolutely no catch behind his words, she nodded, "sit down."

A few days earlier Remus would have laughed off the thought of someone like her be so intimidating to a six foot Prefect but now he knew it better to think so otherwise and thus he did as he was told.

"You know what, I feel sorry for you now," she spoke a lot calmer than before, "but I do appreciate that you apologized even though it wasn't necessary."

Remus internally sighed in relief, "I kinda had to."

She laughed at the remark and he looked at her quite surprised as to what she might have fond so funny, "I'm getting the feeling that Potter must have set this impression on all of you that I am some sort of banshee who would devour you alive if you go against me. Trust me, that isn't the case."

"There was no need for him to set any impression. We have been eye witnesses on many accounts."

She nodded again, a slight smile still lingering on her face. It seemed as if the company of books had somehow calmed her down and thus she was in a much better mood than usual. And Remus was definitely thanking his unbelievable luck for that improvement.

"I'm sorry too for being so harsh on you today," she resumed, "it's just that teaching your friend has honestly messed up my life and more so my sleeping schedule. And not getting sufficient sleep gives me a persistent headache plus bad mood."

He understood the condition all too well. It was quite similar to how he felt a week before full moon. Grabbing the opportunity, he spoke, "so how about we make it up to each other? We could go to Hogsmeade this weekend and I'm sure it would set things right." As if remembering something, he added suddenly, "as friends, of course."

She gave him that clear judging look once again but reverted her gaze almost immediately, "the idea is not that bad. I guess a little change would help and Hogsmeade is always a good option."

Remus was not expecting her to agree so soon but now that she had, he knew was one big step closer to his box of chocolates. "So, uh... We could be friends, right?"

A slow smile spread on her face as she extended her hand, "you're lucky today because yes, I agree."

He smiled in return, "alright then. See you soon, Latvia."

"You can call me Felicity," she replied, "though I honestly don't know why I'm being so generous this once. And see you soon too, Remus."

It was now getting a little too much for him to take in. First the good mood, then the immediate agreement and now the first name basis. Something in Remus's head ticked off as if sensing the person before him probably had a bigger scheme up her sleeve.

"Fine. Thank you, Felicity," he left the library after the task completion. And even though he was glad that he had secured the objective with far less trouble than he had initially expected, still he couldn't help but think it was all too easy to be believable.

Shaking all the negative thoughts off, he made his was quickly to the common room where the other three were waiting for him to spill the beans on his meeting with Felicity Latvia.

***