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It had been a hard night for Remus Lupin. The full moon in itself was never a pleasant time, and longed for when it would be over and it would be around a month until he had to deal with the unpleasantries once more. Sure, the best thing would be to never experience it again, but it seemed highly unlikely that someone would come up with a cure for lycanthropy any time soon. No, that would mean his luck would turn, and he was pretty sure that he was generally not a lucky guy. 

But while the full moon and the actual turning into a werewolf thing was pretty much hell on earth, he did like the feeling of it being over. Well, the disinfecting his wounds after attacking himself all night did hurt like a bitch, but after that, it felt like pure relief. Like the feeling of getting to sit down and drink a cup of water after running a mile. 

It felt very good to sit at the Gryffindor table at breakfast the morning after, because it no longer felt difficult to force himself to chew his toast and he no longer felt like gagging when he drank pumpkin juice, which sometimes happened in the days leading up to the full moon. Being a werewolf was just great. 

"Hey, Remus," James spoke up warily from seat across from him. He sounded strangely serious, which made his three closest friends all look at him weirdly. "Last night... In the Shrieking Shack... were you alone?"

Remus frowned. James was known to ask some stupid questions once in a while, but that must be some sort of record of stupidity. "Of course I was. It's not really the big social scene you think it is."

The Potter boy rolled his eyes at the sarcasm. "That's not what I meant. I was just wondering. I just- I've been thinking-"

"Uh oh, dangerous territory," Sirius muttered with a smug grin on his face. "Whatever it is, I'm in. Who are we pranking?"

"No one," James answered, but furrowed his brows and tilted his head as he realized how weird that sounded coming from him. "Well, probably someone. I don't know who yet. But that's not what I'm talking about."

"Then what are you talking about?" Peter asked, having lost track of the conversation by now.

James glanced around to make sure nobody was listening in on their conversation. He leaned over the table so he was closer to Remus and Peter. Sirius followed suit to hear better. "So, we all know Lee, right?"

Sirius nodded, though he noted in the corner of his eye that Remus clenched his jaw and warily glanced up from his plate just at the mention of the Hufflepuff girl. "Yeah, she's cool."

"She said hi to me once so I like her," Peter said with a smile, definitely not noticing the reaction of the werewolf next to him. 

"The bare minimum," Sirius smirked, patting Peter's arm from the other side of the table. "Love it. What a saint."

Remus did his best to keep his face as neutral as possible, but was not convincing to his best friends at all. He looked at James with a stern look as he held tightly onto his glass of juice. "You're not pranking her, are you?"

"I literally just said that this is not about pranking, Remus, calm down," James rolled his eyes, physically waving him off. He then turned strangely serious once again. "No, I just have a theory. I think she might be a werewolf."

At this, Remus glanced around wildly to make sure nobody was listening. He leaned forth to get closer to James and hissed at him with an angry look in his eyes. "That's ludicrous."

"It makes sense, doesn't it?" James did not back up, having spent the last day thinking about the theory, ever since his conversation with Lee by the lake. "I mean, wouldn't that explain why you keep feeling so drawn to her-"

The werewolf squeezed his eyes shut in annoyance. "I don't-"

"Shut up, yes, you do," the Potter boy snapped. He wasn't going to bother with listening to Remus pretend he didn't care about this girl. "Maybe it's the pack mentality thing, like she's the only other werewolf so you feel drawn to make a pack. And, well, she looked a bit sick yesterday."

"No, she looked gorgeous yesterday. I mean, she's always super pretty, but yesterday? Wow," Sirius disagreed, raising his eyebrows as if he was impressed with her. He snickered a bit when Remus glared at him heatedly. "It was just an observation, Lupin, calm your saggy tits."

James looked at Sirius as if he was insane. He had literally been so worried about Lee that he had asked her if she needed the Hospital Wing. He wouldn't have done that if she looked as great as he said. "No, she literally looked awful. Like, sick and tired and everything."

"And you're supposed to be charming?" Peter muttered to himself, wondering why girls (other than Lily, of course) seemed to like James. Must have been because of Quidditch.

"Shut it, Peter." James noticed that Remus had, once again, started ignoring them. Probably because he didn't want to talk about Lee, which had been a normal trend throughout the past week at school. "Remus, back me up."

"I'm not getting involved," he stated as he shoved a piece of toast in his mouth. Once he swallowed it, he couldn't help himself and looked at his friend in annoyance. "But she's not a werewolf, that would be stupid."

James gasped dramatically as he put his hand on the left side of his chest, above his heart. "Are you calling me stupid?"

"Yes," Remus told him blankly before taking another bite of his breakfast. He didn't bother to elaborate. 

"Well, even if she is, it's frankly none of our business," Sirius said, shrugging. "So I suggest that we move on and talk about actually interesting things. Like the idea of throwing a back to school party this weekend now that the full moon's done with and Remus won't be a buzzkill."

"Thanks for that, mate," Remus muttered sarcastically. 

"Anytime," Sirius grinned at him. "I mean, come on, we're fifth years now so it's officially time for us to take up the mantle of being great at throwing parties. And I'm pretty sure one of the seventh years has a rather large stash of firewhiskey in his dorm and is easily bribed. Saturday?"

"I'm in," Peter said immediately. Parties were always an opportunity to get cool, which he really wanted to try out some time soon. 

Remus welcome an opportunity to not have to think for once. His head had been so crowded with thoughts ever since he walked onto the platform to the Hogwarts Express, ever since he saw her. Any distraction would be great. "Fine, why not? I think it'd be fun."

"Great idea, Sirius," James praised him with a big grin, patting his shoulder. The smile faded into a smirk as he cast a quick glance towards Remus. "And I know exactly who to invite."

"James, what are you-?" Remus started, only to watch as he jumped up from his seat and started walking towards another table. He cringed where he sat and tried to hide his face in his hands. "Oh no."

James did not care that he was obviously embarrassing his friend as he took a seat next to a familiar blonde with a yellow tie around her neck. "Lee, glad to have caught you. How you doing?"

Lee glanced at him, wondering what he was doing and why he was looking like a madman. Fabian sat next to her and looked equally confused as to why he was there. "I'm eating breakfast. You didn't really have to do much catching."

James sent her a faux pleading look. "Don't wreck my ego, please, Beaumont."

"Don't think that's possible," Fabian snickered to himself at his own joke. Lee did the same, but still elbowed him for being rude. Still funny though. 

"Anyway," James said, completely ignoring the redheaded boy. He wasn't the mission he had given to himself. It was a very particular reason he had gone over to the Hufflepuff table. He wouldn't be caught dead doing it otherwise. "We're having a party on Saturday in Gryffindor Tower and you are lucky enough to be on the very exclusive guest list."

Lee glanced at Fabian for a moment, as if she was unsure of what to say and needed help. He did not help at all and she had to deal with an expectant James on her own. "Oh, I don't know if that's a good idea-"

James cut her off, as he was not the type of guy to take no for an answer. Especially when he was looking for some answers on his own. "Come on, it'll be fun and you can get to meet some new people. Everybody who's somebody will be there."

This only confused Lee, who was trying to translate the sentence in her head to make it make sense. "I want to be somebody?"

"You definitely do." James pointed at her with a big grin, feeling like maybe he was already convincing her. He thought it was going to be harder, seeing as she'd seemed rather reserved the last week they'd been at school.

"Lee, he's got a point. It won't hurt to have some fun," Fabian pointed out, giving her a stern look. After a few moments of what looked like internal debate, Lee sighed and shrugged, which made the redhead smile widely as he looked at James. "We'll both be there. Saturday?"

James definitely did not expect Fabian to accept the invitation for himself as well. He narrowed his eyes at the pair, noticing how closely they sat, how well they seemed to know each other already. He was starting to wonder if there was something there. "Eh, yeah. See you there."

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Remus had a plan on how to get through the party. He was going to get absolutely wasted. And by wasted, he didn't mean the kind where you take a couple of shots and get lost in the party mood. No, he was betting on remembering a thing the next day and just letting go and blacking out. 

James and Sirius had wholeheartedly supported this idea. They'd even managed to get him a bottle of firewhiskey that was just his own, nobody to share it with. They couldn't wait to see him get as drunk as Sirius (and sometimes James) usually did, when Remus (and usually James) would take care of him. Peter would try sometimes, too, but chicken out before taking more than three shots. 

Gryffindor Tower was packed. The common room in particular was filled to the brim with fifth years and up (a couple of fourth years had managed to sneak in, but they were rare and far between), who were standing close to one another, drinking, perhaps even snogging. Remus prefered the drinking. 

Part of him wondered if it was safe to have so many people close to another, in case there was an accident or a wand would backfire. Then he reminded himself that was supposed to be drunk and not worry about stuff. To compensate for this responsible thought, he took two shots. 

The music was blaring, and it was obviously some indie rock choice that only Sirius knew (how he found out about this kind of music, Remus would never understand) and he somehow found himself letting go of his inhibitions. 

He was slurring along with the lyrics of a song he'd never heard before, which made the lyrics sound even more slurred than if it was just because he was drunk. Sirius and James both had their arms around his shoulders, getting increasingly drunk as well. 

But Remus froze, though he couldn't for the life of him understand why, as the portrait hole leading to the common room opened for the fiftieth time that night, except this time it was different. He should have realized immediately, considering he'd felt that way for a week and half already, but he was too drunk to understand why. 

"Oi, you okay?" James asked, though his words were almost unintelligible due to how much he'd already been drinking.

Remus gave him a quick thumbs up, but it was like the effect of the alcohol was slightly fading. Partly because he hadn't had a drink in a half hour now (they had been dancing and screaming lyrics for a surprisingly long amount of time) but also because there was something around that seemed to wake him up. "Yeah, I'm good."

James suddenly stumbled, which he rarely did when he was sober as he was surprisingly suave as he walked. Remus had a feeling he'd gotten enough to drink as he steadied him, laughing as he did his best to hold him. "You've obviously had enough."

He grabbed his arm and basically threw him onto a half-empty couch where a couple of seventh-years were snogging each other's brains out. They looked pretty annoyed at Remus as they were interrupted. He gave them a thumbs-up before returning to the crowd of party-goers.

He was backing up, not looking at his surroundings at all, which was usually very unlike him. The alcohol still had some influence on him. He was sure James was going to be okay, he probably annoying the snogging couple. He was very good at being annoying. 

It was as if something was drawing him in the direction he was heading, and his body was unable to stop even his mind was pretty sure there was no reason to continue walking. He could stay there and dance or have fun. 

Instead, he found himself bumping into someone. Two someones actually. He turned around in surprise when he realized he'd accidentally bumped shoulders with Fabian Prewett, easily recognizable by his red hair and perpetual smile. "Oi, alright there, Remus?"

Remus couldn't find it within him to answer due to the blonde girl standing at his side. Lee was looking at him strangely as she stood frozen in place, similarily to the he was standing. She looked very pretty, he noticed. She was wearing a dress and she'd allowed her shoulder-length hair to flow free. It suited her. 

"Hello?" Fabian asked, glancing between them as he realized he'd lost both their attention. They seemed to be staring at each other, though neither of them thought much of it in the moment. Sure, he'd noticed the way Lee'd been looking at the Gryffindor for the last week, but he hadn't thought much of it. Now he was beginning to wonder if there was more to it than her just finding him attractive. 

Lily suddenly ran up from nowhere, having seen the Lupin boy in the crowd. She had been looking for him for the past few minutes to discuss something with him. "Remus! There you are!"

Remus turned his head to look at her, which broke both him and Lee out of their slight trance. He didn't say anything though, he looked at her with a slight smile, as if his voice was failing him. He cast another glance at Lee at this thought. It seemed to happen a lot when he was around her. 

"Oh, hi Lee, hi Fabian," Lily greeted the two Hufflepuffs when she noticed they were standing there. She didn't look very drunk, but she was even more friendly than usual (which was strange because she was usually very friendly). "Are you having fun?"

Lee tried her best not to briefly look at Remus, but failed as she answered softly. "Yes." 

"That's great!" the redheaded Gryffindor girl exclaimed, grinning so widely it looked like her cheeks were going to hurt the next day. She put her hand on Remus's shoulder, shaking it slightly. "Now, I'm going to have to steal this one away. We've got some prefect business to discuss. Do you mind?"

Lee didn't answer. Fabian thought it was weird that Lee didn't answer. "Go ahead," he said, looking at her with a slight frown. 

As Lily dragged Remus away, Lee couldn't help but watch him curiously. She couldn't help but think about the way he'd been looking at her, the same way she was looking at him. Did that mean he felt it, too? Whatever it was. It would make her feel a lot less like a weirdo, at least. 

Fabian let out a disbeliving laugh as the two Gryffindors left their line of sight. Sure, he had noticed that Lee was rather reserved around most people, but that was a new level. "What was that?"

"Nothing," she denied, shaking herself out of whatever state Remus Lupin had put her in. She turned to him with a smile. "Where's Gideon? I was hoping he was here?"

"He's right here, Lee," someone said from behind her. She jumped in shock as she saw Gideon himself standing right behind her with a chesire grin on his face. "Good to see you both decided to show up and be a bit fun. Now you, Frenchie, are going to let loose and dance with me."

Lee knew immediately that it wouldn't be a good idea, and looked like she was trying to find the best way possible to decline. "Oh, I don't-"

"Look, I know you're scared of all those creeps and shit, but you know I'm no creep, right? You can dance with me and it'll be okay," Gideon assured her. He was an observing person, after all. And it was rather obvious the way she eyed most boys with distrust. She didn't have that look in her eye with him and Fabian, though. Not really with Sirius and James either, he'd noticed.

Fabian obviously agreed with Gideon, he also wanted her to get out of her shell more. He elbowed her lightly. "Come on, I thought we were leaving Céline in France and getting Lee over here. It seems like the kind of thing Lee would do."

Lee thought she owed them the chance to get her out of her shell for a few minutes at least, after how nice they'd been to her. They were the only friends she'd really made yet. Maybe it wouldn't hurt so much to dance. "Fine. For one song and then I'm back to buzzkill Céline."

"You're not a buzzkill," the younger Prewett brother denied, looking surprised that she'd gotten that conclusion from their conversation. "Just not as fun. Still fun, though."

"Come on, I love this song." As the song changed, Gideon had grabbed her hand without another thought and dragged her to the middle of the dance floor. He started spinning her around with no warning, making her laugh loudly. 

He used her hands to drag her back and forth, trying to get her to get some of her own moves out. He was sure she had more than she would admit. Him and his brother had spent the last week trying to get the real Lee out, not the quiet front she presented. Judging by how loud she was laughing, he thought he was getting closer. 

Remus tried not to look at her as she danced, but it seemed impossible to do so. Lily had run off after seeing Marlene snogging a boy she was definitely not supposed to be snogging, which left him on his own. And when he was on his own, his gaze inevitably traveled towards Lee. 

As she danced, she was truly shining. He barely even noticed that Gideon Prewett was dancing with her, seemingly flirting too, but he couldn't be sure. It didn't even matter at that moment. All that mattered seemed to be Lee. 

"You look creepy," Peter said, walking up next to him with a drink in his hand that he definitely didn't mix on his own (he was a hopeless bartender, which they learned that summer). 

"You've been staring, too," Remus snapped at him without meaning to. He wasn't even sure if it was true, but he couldn't stand there and be the creep on his own. He hated the feeling of being the creep. 

He seemed to have been right as the Pettigrew boy shrunk a bit and looked embarrassed, though he still looked Remus defiantly in the eye. "I can't help myself. Neither can you. Neither can anyone. "

The werewolf found himself frowning at this, but as he looked at the room, he couldn't help but notice that him and Peter weren't the only ones who'd found themselves staring at Lee as she danced the night away. Most of the boys had, a few of the girls as well. Only a few didn't seem to be affected. 

What was weirdest was the look on Sirius's face, Remus thought. He was gaping, as if he'd suddenly had an epiphany. It couldn't be that he'd just realized that Lee was hot, because he'd mentioned that several times before. So what it was, he didn't know. 

Only a moment later, Lee seemed to notice the crowd that had stopped their partying and were instead only watching her. Even Gideon had stopped dancing to look at her. She froze up and glanced around the room, obviously uncomfortable. The minute she stopped, most of the party seemed to go on as normal, though a few still eyed her hungrily. 

She averted her eyes and carefully walked over to a corner on her own, avoiding everyone stare. Even Remus's. 

The blonde found herself walking to the only couch that seemed to have a free seat. She quickly slumped down on it without looking, and was surprised to find that she had sat upon something hard as someone cried out. "Ow! I'm lying here!"

"James? Oh, I'm sorry," Lee quickly apologized, realizing she'd sat down on his feet as he was lying down there. She stood up immediately and offered her hand to help him sit up. He graciously accepted it as he groaned. He didn't seem to be in pain as much as he was drunk. 

"Oh, it's fine," the dark-haired boy waved her off, straighening his glasses across his nose as he looked at her with a confused look. "Have you been here long?"

" A little while," she told him carefully, eyeing her in the same strange fashion she had the night before. "Are you alright?"

"Peachy. That means good," James quickly explained after remembering that she was French and still struggled a bit with some English words. He blinked and suddenly he seemed to notice how uncomfortable she'd looked. "You?"

She still looked at him weirdly, like she was studying him or something. It was a bit weird, but it wasn't like she looked angry or something so James was fine with it. "I'm fine. You really didn't see that I had come in?"

He shrugged, wondering why she was pushing it. "No, sorry."

"Don't be. It's fine." Lee genuinely smiled as she pushed her hair forth to hide her face a bit from the rest of the party, who seemed to gravitate to where they were sitting. She'd rather just talk to James. "So, how are you and Lily?"

As expected, he brightened up immediately at the mention of the girl he had a crush on. Lee watched with interest as he babbled on about her. "Oh, you have no idea. Did you see how pretty she looked yesterday when she-?"

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A/N: Okay, so it's going to be a lot of fun to see Lee break out of her shell, because she's obviously still pretty reserved. She's only been at the school for a bit more than a week, but we'll be getting there after a while and you guys can truly get to know her character who I love.