"I'm under a Marauder's Oath to do as much damage as possible in my best friend's
stead." James shrugged his shoulders and then patted Remus on the back. "Don't worry,
my perfect, pristine prefect. I'll do it when you're not looking. Your virtuous reputation
will remain intact."
"Unfortunately, so will yours," Remus said with a wry grin. "If Lily sees you spiking
the punch, you're going to wake up with missing bollocks."
"If I wake up next to Evans, I'm willing to risk that," James said, waggling his
eyebrows before leaving the common room with the bottle tucked in his robes.
Remus chuckled. "Is it sad that I almost hope he succeeds? Poor Lily."
"He won't succeed. Not yet."
He smiled and nuzzled the side of her neck, leaving a trail of soft kisses along her
skin that felt like fire in his wake. "You really do look lovely."
Mia whimpered under his touch, certain that she would be a pile of ashes come
morning. When his lips touched her pulse point she felt the firewhisky in her belly ignite
while, at the same time, Remus breathed in deep and let out a vibrating growl against her
skin that only made the flames burn hotter. Her cheeks flushed when she realised he
had smelled her.
"Do you want to skip the dance?" She could feel Remus's movements still, and she
knew he was trying to collect himself and calm down.
His eyes flashed gold as he swallowed. "No. You... looking like you do, smelling like
you do... I'm going to need a few cups of James's special punch to dull a few of my more
primal senses." He leant in and kissed her cheek before taking her hand and grinning. "Plus,
I want the whole of Hogwarts to see how pretty my witch is."
When they arrived in the Great Hall, Mia smiled at the decorative pumpkins that
lined the walls. As usual, there were candles lit above them, hovering mid-air. Though the
Weird Sisters were not in attendance—or born yet, for all Mia knew—there was a nice
instrumental band playing in the corner of the room.
Before she even had a chance to wonder about being asked, Remus swept her out
on the dance floor, wrapping her in his arms and swaying to the music. She laughed at his