Remus Lupin X Reader [reciprocated interest]
WARNINGS: pure fluff—you might die of fluff but you’ll enjoy it
"Oh bloody hell," you muttered as yet another loose sacramento green thread was torn from your school uniform.
"What's wrong Y/n?" Andromeda Black asked, catching up to you as you both hurried towards the potions classroom.
"My uniform seems to hate me," you grumbled.
"Ah, well chin-up it could be worse, at least Professor Slughorn doesn't hate you," Andromeda smiled.
"He probably will if we're any later to class," you laughed.
With that the pair of you took off to join the rest of your house, along with the sixth year Gryffindors, in the potions classroom.
"Ahem," Professor Slughorn cleared his throat, "Listen up everyone, today we will be attempting to brew an advanced potion, Veritaserum, which is more commonly known as 'truth serum'. Can anyone here tell me an ingredient that's used to brew Veritaserum?"
Almost immediately the hand of a Gryffindor shot into the air, and without waiting for Slughorn to call on them they shouted, "Jobberknoll feathers!!"
You shook your head in annoyance as Slughorn awarded the student with 10 house points. It wasn't that you had anything against clever people, but it completely irked you when others acted obnoxiously.
It felt like you were ready to hex someone as the same boisterous student began loudly explaining how one of their very, very distant ancestors had originally created the veritaserum potion. Leaning your head down on the table in front of you you attempted to drown out their voice, which must have worked because a few moments later you were awoken by Andromeda.
"Merlin's Beard, did I fall asleep?" you yawned.
"Yes," Andromeda shook her head, "long enough for Slughorn to hand out the instructions and assign our partners,".
Your next question was answered for you as Severus Snape sat down next to you, his arms full of various ingredients. Andromeda sent a smile your way before she went in search of her partner.
"Alright Severus, where do we start?" you asked, examining one of the dried plants he had collected.
"Well--" he began, but was quickly interrupted as you looked up from the plant you had been analyzing.
"Holy Severus, it's good to be proud of our house colours but isn't green hair a bit much??" you gaped as you took in his rapidly colour changing locks.
A clamorous noise caught your ear and you turned to see James Potter and Sirius Black two tables down from you, dying of laughter. Rolling your eyes, you began rubbing your temples, a prank from those two specific marauders was to be expected almost every day. You were all for having a good laugh, but it got to be very tiresome when your classes were continuously interrupted.
After Slughorn got after James and Sirius he sent James, who had pulled the prank, along with Severous, who was too furious to continue the assignment, out of the classroom.
'Great' you thought, 'now I get to make an advanced potion without any help, gee thanks Potter, you've outdone yourself,'.
Letting out a sigh you sat back down at your table and began going over the instructions on how to brew verasium.
"Y/n L/n," Slughorn called your name.
"Um, yea?" you put down the instructions to look at the Professor.
"Since we had that slight incident, you and Remus Lupin have both been left without partners, so if you'd like I'll pair the two of you together. Remus said he would be fine either way so it's your choice."
As soon as the name 'Remus Lupin' left Slughorn's mouth your entire body simply froze. Okay, yes, you had a reputation for dating loads of hot, Slytherin bad-boys but in reality you had only ever dated two guys, yes they were both Slytherins but that was besides the point. The relationships had only lasted around 2 months and nothing had ever really resulted from them, except your 'astounding reputation' with men. After your last relationship had ended, you had found yourself wanting more than just going out with a classified 'hot' guy. You wanted someone genuine, someone who would care for, and love you, and someone that you could care for, and love in return. And so, your sight wandered from your fellow Slytherins towards the Gryffindors, specifically to a tall, handsome, slightly awkward, man named Remus Lupin.
"Y/n?" Slughorn's questioning voice brought you back to reality.
"What? Oh wait ya, partners sounds good to me," you responded, doing your best to play it cool.
"Wonderful!" Slughorn clapped his hands together.
A short moment later you watched as Remus stood up from his table and began making his way towards you. You felt completely confused as the fluttering feeling of butterflies filled your stomach. This wasn't you, you were Y/n L/n, no matter the guy, the male species did not make you nervous;but yet you couldn't deny the way your heart was already racing as Remus sat in the seat next to you.
"Have you gotten the chance to start?" Remus's low voice pulled you from your disoriented thoughts.
"Um, no I was just looking over the instructions," you replied, keeping your gaze at the table in front of you.
"Alright, well I'll go grab a cauldron and we can start heating up the essence of comfrey if you'd like?"
"Yeah that sounds good," you smiled, lifting your eyes to meet his.
It was a good thing he turned away before you found yourself lost in his eyes, a deep brown so warm and compelling. Taking the time you had with him gone you composed yourself, mentally telling yourself to smarten up, after all there was no way anything could actually happen with him, right?
Seconds later Remus returned, cauldron in hand, "Here Y/n," he handed it to you.
"HE KNOWS MY NAME!!!!! YES YES YES YES YES"
You nodded in appreciation as you took it from his hand and placed it on the burner.
"So, does it work if I cut up the jobberknoll feathers and you can collect the juice from the mallowsweet ? That way it should be boiling by the time we need to stir in the rose oil." You suggested.
"Yes, that sounds perfect," he smiled softly at you, reaching across for the mallowsweet.
"Oh here," you grabbed the jar and held it out for him. The butterflies in your stomach went completely frantic as his fingers brushed over yours. You felt your face heat up, your mind once again in a state of confusion at how such a small and subtle action had you feeling so wonderfully overwhelmed. Looking up you were surprised to see Remus had turned slightly away, but the red tinge of blush he was attempting to hide was still markedly visible.
I couldn't do anything but admire Y/n as I listened to her orchestrate a way to make our potion, her eyes crinkling together as she carefully thought out a plan. I simply smiled and agreed to what she had thought up, glad that she was more than willing to work together. Doing my part I reached across for the ingredient that I needed but, before I could get it, she grabbed it and held it out for me. My hand brushed against hers' as I took it from her, and immediately I felt my face heating up. Turning away I tried to hide my reaction, I absolutely could not let her see the way she made me feel, especially because there was no possible way she would ever feel the same.
I had fancied Y/n L/n since last year when we had potions class together, but during that time she had been with another Slytherin. I had her as my partner in that class, sitting right across from me, so close, yet so far away. Watching someone else go out with her had been an awful experience, and even though the relationship had only lasted a short while I had never built up the courage to ask her out. With her being a Slytherin, and I a Gryffindor, it just seemed like a relationship that would be destined for disaster.
My mind continued wandering as I began using a knife to squeeze the juice out of the mallowsweet.
Cutting up the jobberknoll feathers had taken you less time than you thought it would, and so you waited patiently for the mixture in the cauldron to boil. Stealing a glance at Remus you saw he was still collecting juice. His features were concentrated as he purposefully kept at his work. His chocolate-coloured hair was tousled in a way that suited him perfectly, and you longed to know what it felt like to run your hands through it. His pale lips were slightly parted, so perfect, so kissable, so close. At that moment you realised you had unconsciously moved closer to him, your body almost pressed up against his.
"Um, Y/n? What are you doing?" Remus asked, looking startled.
"I was just uh, making sure the mallowsweet was ripe enough," you jumbled, taking a step back.
"Oh," he nodded, his features relaxed, "Is it?"
"Yes, definitely ripe," you mentally cursed yourself for being so dumb.
"Uh hey I just finished getting the juice, am I good to add it in?" Remus asked, smiling.
"Yes for sure, it just says to stir continuously as you pour," you stated, reading the instructions.
"Alright, do you think you could stir and I'll pour?" He suggested.
You nodded in response and moved over to the cauldron, grabbing the spoon that laid next to it as you waited for Remus. Startled, you jumped slightly as Remus reached his arms around you, positioning himself so he was behind you, an arm on either side of you, holding out the bowl with the juice so he could easily pour it in the cauldron. This left you trapped between his body and the counter, but you were without complaint. If it had been anyone else except Remus you might have suspected ulterior motives, but everything was innocent with Remus, surely he wasn't aware of how his body was almost pressed up against yours.
Attempting to focus back on reality, you watched as Remus began pouring the mixture into the cauldron. He poured too quickly and some of the juice ended up splashing out and onto the rim of the bowl. Instinctively, he reached forward to wipe it up, causing him to take another step closer to you. Your face turned a violent shade of crimson as you felt his body flush against your own. Remus seemed unbothered as he did not take a step back, but continued to wipe up the spilled juice.
"My bad," he spoke the words right next to your ear, so close that you felt his breath on your neck, causing your entire body to shudder.
"It's okay," your words coming out as a whisper.
He began pouring again, painstakingly slow, as he was careful not to spill. Remembering your job you began stirring, watching closely as the potion began changing colour. Remus was also interested in the reaction as he leaned forward, the side of his face only inches away from the right side of yours. It was impossible for you not to turn your head, your eyes gazing up at him, resting your head slightly on his chest as his body enveloped yours. You were positively overwhelmed with the scent of dark tea, cedar, and cinnamon as you allowed yourself to get lost in the moment, lost in him.
The sound of gentle humming awoke you from your short time of bliss, and you opened your eyes to find Remus had finished with the pouring. You stood yourself up and turned to gaze up at him, he met your gaze, nervously biting the inside of his cheek.
"Are we done?" You asked quietly, intently hoping that the answer would be no.
"Ya, I think we are finished," he replied softly.
He removed his arms from resting on the counter on either side of you and took a small step back. You nodded, as once again feelings of nervousness filled your body. Remus slowly raised a hand up, brushing alongside your face as he tucked a stray hair behind your ear. Slowly he brought his hand back, tracing your jawline with his fingertips, his fingers bent so you felt the cold metal of his ring slightly touch your neck. Your body once again shuddered as shivers travelled down your spine.
"You're beautiful y/n," he whispered,"
His words must have come as much of a shock to him as they did to you, as his eyes widened and immediately he took a step back.
" I-, oh I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me…" a look of almost fear registered on his face before he turned to get away.
"Remus wait," you reached out and grasped his hand, pulling him back to you.
"You think I'm beautiful?" You asked, somewhat smugly.
He fiddled with his ring, glancing up to meet your gaze, "Yes, of course,"
Any smugness you felt disappeared as you realized the genuineness of his compliment. This was a man who could meet and surpass any woman's standards, and here he was, calling you beautiful.
His nervousness seemed to grow as you continued to stare, wide eyed, at him in silence.
Breaking the silence you stepped closer to him, reaching up to cup the side of his face in your hand, "Well I think you're handsome," you smiled shyly.
The most adorable grin spread across his face as he leant his forehead against yours. The contact filling your body with the utter feeling of pure joy.
"Professor Slughorn is staring at us,"
Immediately you separated yourself from Remus, a blush covering your face as you turned to the professor.
"I was very sure we were brewing veritaserum today, not amortentia," Slughorn grinned.
"I, well, ours is done," you answered, trying to regain your composure.
The professor merely kept grinning as he made his way over to the cauldron, peering inside for a few seconds before checking off some boxes on his clipboard.
"Very well done you two, you're free to go do any homework you may have, or properly snog in the library, whatever suits," he winked at the both of you.
It was Remus's turn to blush now as you couldn't help but laugh.
"The second option sounds good to me," you grinned, gently tugging Remus closer by his tie.
With a newfound confidence he leant down and whispered in your ear , "I was thinking somewhere more secluded."
You nearly gasped as you looked up to tell whether or not he was joking, but his face was completely earnest.
"I mean, if you'd like I'd want to take you on a proper date, but I mean it's alright if you don't want to, I don't know if you feel the same way as I do or…"
"Oh shut up," you smiled, pulling him closer and pressing your lips against his. Immediately he began kissing you back, cautiously at first, but gradually more amorous as he found his confidence. Slowly, he broke the kiss off, not wanting to end up not being able to stop in the middle of your potions classroom.You pulled back to see him completely beaming at you, his eyes sparkling as he leaned forward to kiss your forehead.
"Go out with me," he murmured against your forehead.