➪ ULTRAMARINE ➪

"SORRY ABOUT HIM."

Loki turned away from watching Sirius and Lucy head off, waving Remus off with a smile, replying with, "Don't worry about it. It is Sirius, after all. I'm sure he does it a lot."

Remus hummed, even though he knew he wasn't honest. His eyes flicked to the girl beside him. She was catching snowflakes in her gloved hands.

"Having fun?" He chuckled after watching her for a moment.

"Yep, " Loki admitted without a second thought. Remus's grin stayed as she turned to him. "It must be a good day if it's snowing like this."

"You think snow is lucky?" Remus cocked his head.

"Only on special occasions, " she answered with a smile. Her green eyes turned back to the white flakes. "And I think this qualifies as one."

"Oh?" The boy's eyes widened. He hadn't expected that answer from her. He opened his mouth, a question on the tip of his tongue, but decided against it and closed it again.

"Madame Padifoot's got a full house, " Loki giggled. Her eyes stared straight ahead at the packed establishment. "I feel sorry for her. But I'm glad I don't like it."

"You don't?" Remus frowned.

"Not really, " Loki shrugged. "It reminds me of home: the noise, the people, the smell. And it's always packed with couples. Just looking at it now makes me feel lonely." The girl let out a sigh.

"But you have me," Remus smiled, nudging her with his arm in an attempt to cheer her up. Loki turned to him and smiled softly.

"You know what I mean," she retorted. She looked back and stared at the shop for a moment longer before gazing somewhere else.

"You said it reminds you of your home?" Remus spoke, following after her.

"Yeah, " she nodded. "My dad's away a lot, so I usually spend time with my aunt. She lives next to a shop that's kind of like the muggle version of Madame Padifoot's. My brother and I sometimes used to visit." Her tone turned painful.

"Your brother?" Remus frowned. He couldn't recall anything about Loki having a brother. "What brother?"

"Oh." Loki turned to him, her green eyes wide with realisation. "I forgot you didn't know." Her gaze averted to her shoes as she began fiddling with her hands.

"Does he go here?"

Loki nodded. "Seventh Year. Ravenclaw." She informed him. It was clear to Remus she didn't want to speak any more.

"You know what?" Remus grabbed her hand. Loki looked up with fearful eyes, but he grinned at her. "Let's go raid Honeydukes and then we can get some Butterbeer."

"Oh--okay, " Loki squeaked.

➪

"I TOLD YOU."

"Remus Lupin, I believe I owe you an apology," Loki giggled, handing back the chocolate frog card.

The pair sat beside each other in a booth in The Three Broomsticks going through the lollies they had bought. They were already halfway through their second Butterbeer, and neither seemed to slow down. So far, their outing together seemed to go smoothly. They were unbothered, even by James when they saw him conversing animatedly with Peter.

"I guess I could forgive you, just this once," Remus grinned, picking up his Elaine the Enchantress card. "I guess you were right about the snow being lucky."

"Of course," Loki smiled, picking up her Butterbeer and taking a sip.

Remus mirrored her expression, and the two sat in comfortable silence for a moment. They maintained eye contact before Loki turned away with red painting her cheeks. Remus chuckled in amusement at her, turning his gaze away to sip his own Butterbeer.

"Moony, I've come to steal your girl!" Both Remus and Loki whipped their heads to the source of the shout. Sirius stood at the end of the table, grinning wildly. Remus rolled his eyes at his best friend. "Oh, come on. I told you I would do it!"

"I thought you were joking," Remus sighed. "And you can't steal her."

"Stealing's illegal," Loki muttered, more to herself than anyone, but Remus still heard. He quickly hid his laughter with a loud cough. Sirius's face contorted to an expression of confusion as he looked between the pair.

"Okay," he frowned. "Well, Princess!" He directed his attention to the girl who just stared wide-eyed at him. "Come with me?" He offered his hand to her, a half-grin on his lips.

Loki hesitated, her eyes flicking from the boy beside her to the one in front of her. She looked down at the table and shook her head. Sirius raised a brow.

"Come sit," she spoke, patting the place beside her. Sirius shot Remus a look, silently asking about an explanation.

Remus shrugged, a smirk tugging the corner of his lips as he gestured to the empty place beside Loki as well. "Yeah, Padfoot, come sit." His tone wasn't mocking but sounded completely serious.

Sirius halted himself. He contemplated accepting; then weighing the pros and cons, something he had never done, he shrugged and joined the pair. He slid smoothly into the booth, stopping right next to Loki. 

She looked up at him, smiling that he decided to stay. She couldn't deny that both of the boys so close to her made her heart rate pick up. She silently prayed that it wasn't loud enough for either to hear. She was sure, however, that they could see her trembling hands. Whether it was from excitement or nerves, Loki couldn't tell.

"So," Sirius spoke up, swinging his arm over the girl's shoulder. "Did anything exciting happen without me? Actually, don't answer that, I know nothing did." He grinned cockily. "Bet you missed me though, didn't you, Princess?"

"Want something to drink, Sirius?" Remus spoke up, hoping to change the topic to something else. "Or to eat?"

"I guess if you're offering," Sirius shrugged. "Not old enough for Firewhisky yet--" he sent Loki a wink "--so Butterbeer will have to do."

"One Butterbeer it is," Remus gave the boy a tight-lipped smile as he clambered out of the booth.

"Thanks mate!" Sirius called after his friend. He ran his free hand through his hair before turning to Loki. "You two seem cozy," he wiggled his eyebrows.

"Jealous?" Loki asked as small burst confidence spread through her body. Sirius stared at her in shock for a moment before bursting out laughing.

"Maybe," he admitted. His response slightly rattled Loki. "James has been talking, you know?" He shifted, and suddenly the previous topic was gone. The girl cocked her head. "He was wondering whether this thing today with you and Remus was a date. I was wondering the same thing." His questioning gaze found hers.

Loki stilled, all the hairs on her body standing on end as the question stirred in her head. "Wait, no! I--no! It's not a date! Not a date at all! Where'd he get that? No!" She jumped away from him, her elbow hitting her Butterbeer in the process.

"Woah!" He jumped forward, grabbing the jug before it could spill.

The action left Sirius and Loki close to one another, their faces inches apart. Loki's breath hitched when she realised, the heat spreading right to her face. Sirius only smiled. He let go of the jug, his eyes flicking away for just a moment to make sure it wouldn't spill before he gazed at the girl. He scanned her face, his eyes lingering somewhere for a moment too long, then right back into her green eyes.

"Go on a date with me," he breathed with a chuckle.

"Okay," Loki squeaked, her mind unable to comprehend what she'd just agreed to.

"Goddammit, Sirius," Remus cursed, pulling the pair's attention to the boy.

➪ AUTHOR'S NOTE ➪

:)