Remus didn't like listening to other people's business. That surely wasn't the intention when he went out for a smoke by himself. He was just trying to avoid Sirius. Still hurt to see him with those lost puppy's eyes. Looking guilty and sorry for himself. Remus still loved him even if he wanted to kill him at the same time.
However, Dorcas Meadowes was screaming to the phone and anyone with a pair of ears could have heard her. Remus caught things like: "You don't understand!", "You don't even know her!", "But I love her!", "This is my life, mum!", "I really don't want to discuss with you!" and all of those mixed with her heartbreaking sobs.
Remus didn't know Dorcas very well. She was a beautiful popular girl. She was also dating Marlene. And sometimes the girl hang out with their group. She had been nice with Remus when he spent time with the girls. But definitely more quiet than Mary, Lily and even Marlene. Remus also knew Marlene and Dorcas seemed very happy together.
Dorcas seemed like a girl who had everything solved in her life. Perfect life and all. Money to buy her anything. Beauty. Always surrounded by people.
But Remus guessed that didn't buy happiness.
Dorcas ended up the phone call with a burst of tears, that made Remus want to do something to end it. He just stood there.
Remus should've just said something. Dorcas hadn't noticed him.
Dorcas jumped scared and her tears stopped. At least Remus managed to do that. They were alone in the main patio. It was late at night. Remus guessed Dorcas expected to be alone.
"Oh" Dorcas seemed embarrassed, wiping out her tears "Yeah, sorry Remus" she sniffed
"Did you hear what I was saying?"
Remus blushed "No!" He exclaimed "I mean, I didn't mean to... You were... You were kind of screaming, so..."
Dorcas relaxed "Yeah, you are right. Sorry" she sighed "That was my mother" she gestured to her phone.
Remus didn't want to sound intrusive. He just wanted to know if the girl was okay and leave. But Dorcas began talking.
"We used to get along, you know? She used to be my best friend... I didn't have friends before coming here"
Dorcas took a seat on the fountain in the middle and Remus took it as an invitation to do the same. He did it awkwardly. Trying not to invade her space.
"Really?" Remus cleared his throat. "You seem like the type of person to make friends easily"
Dorcas smiled melancholicaly "No," she sighed "People at Hogwarts were nice to me and included me because I was new and Nick's step sister"
Yeah, the popularity of Nicolas Mulciber was undeniable around school. One of his friends' sworn enemy, besides Snape. And Marlene used to say that the only unfortunate thing about her perfect girlfriend was that her mother married Mulciber's dad. And that she was a Slytherin. But it was Sirius who said that.
"You have lots of friends" Remus replied.
"Only because of Nick" Dorcas twisted her mouth "I don't think I would have managed to be anyone's friend on my own. I'm kind of shy..."
Remus would have thought anyone was shy except for Dorcas.
"Anyway, my friends are nice on their way" Dorcas continued. Remus bit his tongue. He, himself, didn't like some attitudes of those friends. They seemed too pretentious and hallow "But everything changed when I started dating Marlene"
Because they were homophobic? Remus wanted to ask. He didn't.
"They don't seem to like Marlene, ha?"
Dorcas groaned with her face in her hands.
"This rivalry between houses! It is stupid if you ask me"
Remus agreed. He had been at Hogwarts only for a year so he wasn't hyped with the idea of Gryffindor being superior. But his friends seemed to have prejudice of all Slytherins. Always talking shit about them.
Dorcas pursed her lips "I know your friends don't like me either"
"They do!" Remus lied. He had heard Mary saying things about this girl. Even Sirius.
"Don't lie to me, Remus" Dorcas snorted "I know you talk about me and how Marlene doesn't deserve someone like me"
Remus blinked "They are just overprotective of Marlene"
"Our friend groups just won't get along. We are rivals in every way. They detest each other" Dorcas complained with tears in her eyes "And my mother thinks Marlene has corrupted me somehow. That this is just a phase and I will find a nice bloke to marry one day"
"I don't like blokes, Remus!"
Dorcas groaned "Mother says I am changing and this is not who I am..." And Dorcas began crying "I haven't felt so much myself before..."
Remus pulled her in the second Dorcas started sobbing, putting his arm around her. She placed her head on his shoulder.
"I haven't felt this way for anyone, Remus" Dorcas said between sobs "I love Marlene. I love her"
It wasn't fair, Remus thought. There had been other Slytherin - Gryffindor couples. But straight couples. Not gay ones. Of course people in this stupid school were against them.
It was brave what these girls were doing. They had been trying to make their friend groups get along ever since they started dating, stop the prejudice there was around and just trying to be together despite the comments.
It wasn't like his thing with Sirius. Not only Sirius wanted to keep their thing a secret but he would deny he was into blokes at all. It didn't matter anyway. Sirius didn't feel the same. He had said Remus ruined everything when he confessed his feelings for him. Sirius would never defend whatever feelings he had for Remus like Dorcas was doing for Marlene. To her friends, to her mother. She was going against everyone and everything she knew because of who she was and who she loved.
"They don't know you" Remus said, making Dorcas stop crying.
"What?" She sniffed and wiped her tears.
"My friends" Remus explained "They don't know you. But they would if they'd actually do..."
Dorcas was looking at him like she couldn't believe him. Blinking hard.
"You are brave, Dorcas. Braver than any Gryffindor and loyal as well. And I think Marlene is lucky to have you"
To have someone that screamed openly how they love her. Not like Remus.
Dorcas blushed slightly and smiled.
"It must be nice to have found what you guys have..."
Dorcas looked at him curiously.
"You deserve better than him, Remus. You know?"
Remus was surprised. It was like she was reading his mind.
"I know about your thing with Black"
Shit! This girl was clever, alright. Remus didn't know what to say.
"Don't worry. I am the only one that figured it out. Lily, Marlene and Mary think you have an unreciprocated crush on him. They feel sorry for you, actually"
Remus swallowed. He thought he was being subtle about it. Of course after confessing he was into blokes people would notice how much he stared at Sirius.
"I was clever to see how Black looks at you as well"
Remus frowned "He doesn't feel the same way about me anyway"
"Are you sure about that?"
"He said it" Remus replied "He said he regretted being with me"
Dorcas twisted her mouth, as if she felt sorry for him.
"Alecto had been obsessed with your friend for years, thinking that they somehow had a chance" Dorcas said "And he is an arsehole for that" she rolled her eyes "But I haven't seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you"
It couldn't be true. How could this girl notice something like that? How could she see something that Sirius wasn't ready to admit?
"I don't know..." Remus shook his head. He didn't want to get his hopes up again.
"Anyway, you do deserve someone who is open about his feelings for you" Dorcas said sympathetically. She smiled.
He liked her. Remus was still getting used to being friends with girls. He didn't get along with girls well until he came to Hogwarts. And he loved Mary, Marlene, and Lily especially. But these girls sometimes were too loud for him. Dorcas was quiet and reflexive as well. She didn't pressure him. She just was.
That made Dorcas giggle. She looked pretty like that.
"If Marlene and you love each other and you make each other happy, then people around will have to understand that and support you. The rest can actually fuck off" he said "And don't worry about my friends. They are good people. And they will learn to love you as well" he shrugged "You are one of us now"
"A Gryffindor?" Dorcas asked.
"Queer and an underdog" Remus clarified "We all are... Maybe except for James. But he takes care of all of us"
"Thank you, Remus" she said "Truly"
Remus smiled back "You're welcome"
Remus put an arm around her pulling her closer and Dorcas let him. She placed her head on his shoulder. And they stayed there, giving each other company silently.
