I Can See You

A Slytherin's Pride & A Gryffindor's Wish

Remus neatly printed the last few words of the Potions essay, put aside his parchment and quill, and stole a look at the girl seated opposite him. Natasha was chewing the end of her quill, face screwed up in concentration.

"Need help?" he offered.

She shook her head sullenly and returned her attention to her History assignment. Remus watched as she scratched a few lines and then crossed them out. Wordlessly, he slipped out of his chair and disappeared behind some bookshelves. When he returned to their table a couple of minutes later, she had crumpled the earlier parchment and started scribbling on a new one.

She looked up and wrinkled her nose as he flipped through a dusty book. "Where did you go?"

"Here," he found the page he was looking for and slid the book over to her. "There's something in there you can use."

Natasha frowned, obviously displeased. "I can do my assignment on my own."

"I know...I just wanted to help."

"I don't need a Gry -" she stopped in mid-sentence when hurt flickered in his eyes. "Sorry," she muttered as she thrust the book under her nose and forced herself to start reading.

"Look, Natasha, I don't mean -"

"You were just being nice. I shouldn't have snapped at you," she said with her violet eyes glued determinedly to the open page, as another frown crept into her pretty face. "I just don't want to feel as though I'm making use of you."

"Making use of me? All I did was to pass you a book. It's not as though I'm writing your essay for you, right? And besides," he grinned, "the faster we get schoolwork out of the way, the sooner we can go for a little walk outside."

His efforts were rewarded with a smile from the blonde. "Give me an hour. I should be done by then. Why don't we meet at the Entrance Hall at four?"

"I can stay here and keep you company."

"You'll just distract me and then I'll take double the time. Besides," she pointed to his completed Potions essay, "you've had enough schoolwork for the day."

He lifted a brow. "You're sure?"

"Of course I'm sure!"

"Oh, cold-blooded woman!" he muttered playfully.

"Lovesick man!"

"Is that what you call your affectionate boyfriend?"

She stifled a giggle. "Should it be my handsome knight-in-shiny-armour?"

"That's better." Remus cast a quick glance around the library to make sure no one was watching them. Then, he quickly bent over and gave Natasha a peck on her cheek.

She smiled at him fondly. "Now you're really distracting me. Scoot!"

He feigned a wounded look as he made his way out of his library, suppressing a sudden crazy urge to whistle a joyful tune.

*

"Lils, are you sure you don't want to reconsider?" James asked in his most charming voice.

"I've told you! I've promised to go with my dorm mates," the redhead replied with amusement.

"I can always let Briana know there has been a change of plans."

"No, Potter. There's no change, and it'll do you good to get that drilled into your thick skull."

"It's James," he reminded. "You lost the bet last term and you've to call me James. No more Potter!"

"James," Lily obliged, pretending to do so grudgingly.

He beamed at her. "So will you -"

"No," she said firmly and walked away, leaving him staring after her.

"Prongs!"

James turned and came face-to-face with Remus.

"Tough luck again?" the werewolf inclined his head in the direction where Lily headed.

"She's opening up to me. I'm sure of that," the Gryffindor Chaser replied with confidence. "She's not as cold as she's used to be."

The werewolf smiled in a way he hoped was encouraging. He knew how much his friend liked Lily.

"So what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Natasha?" James asked.

"We're meeting later at four. She's working on her History assignment and didn't want me to help."

"Slytherin's pride," James said knowingly.

"What?"

"Pride will not allow a Slytherin to accept help from someone else, much less when the offer of help comes from a Gryffindor. We're supposed to be enemies, remember?

"But she doesn't care for those house rivalries."

"She may not mind dating a Gryffindor, but that doesn't mean she's not a Slytherin at heart. Offers of unsolicited assistance probably make a Slytherin feel insulted."

"Really?" Remus never thought about this. "Perhaps that's why she sounded so upset just now."

"You two had an argument?"

"Thank Merlin, no. We've agreed not to have fights."

"That's great," James muttered before adding as an afterthought, "You know, for someone with your brains, you seem a little clueless when it comes to what women want."

Remus raised his brows. "I didn't know you could read Lily's mind!" he teased. "But seriously, I don't have much...you know...experience. And I really want this to work."

"Fallen hard, huh?"

Remus fell silent for a moment and then said, "Thanks, Prongs."

The latter looked slightly embarrassed. "It's nothing. I just voiced out my take on Slytherins."

"I'm not just referring to that." Remus shuffled his feet. "You're the only one who truly accept Natasha and made the effort to -"

"That's not true. Padfoot and Wormtail -"

"They still refer to her as 'Natasha Strauss', 'Strauss' or 'that woman'," Remus pointed out glumly. "Wormtail...well...he doesn't even look at her in the eye...and I can tell there's strong mutual dislike between Padfoot and Natasha. The strange thing is, when I first started seeing Natasha, Padfoot was the most supportive one."

James chuckled. "Give them time, Moony. They'll all come around and then we can be one big happy family."

It was the other boy's turn to chuckle. "Is Lily part of this happy family too?"

"Of course! It'll not be long before she joins us. I can feel it in my bones."

"Good luck," Remus gave his friend a friendly slap on his shoulder before he went on his way to the Entrance Hall.

*

Natasha was ten minutes late. "Sorry," she told Remus for a second time that afternoon, as she slipped a hand into his.

"Finished your work?"

"Yup. I even added two extra inches for Binns."

"Good girl." He reached out to pat the top of her head and she slapped his hand away laughingly.

Remus suddenly turned serious as they left the castle and drew closer to the lake. "I want to apologise for what happened in the library just now. I didn't mean to insult you or anything."

"Huh?" She looked lost for a moment before comprehending his words. Then she squeezed his hand. "Don't make a big deal over it, okay? You were just being sweet and thoughtful. And there I was, being a brat." After a moment's pause, she added, "I promise that if I need help, I'll ask. But I want to do my work myself, if I can. I hate acting like a damsel in distress."

"Right," he agreed, throwing an arm over her shoulder and pulling her closer. Then he remembered his conversation with James. "Natasha?"

"Hmm?"

"You know...it just occurred to me that...er..."

"Yes?"

"I was chatting with James a while ago while waiting for you..."

"And?"

"I was telling him that I hope Sirius and Peter can be...well...friendlier towards you."

She understood his unspoken words. "And vice versa?"

He nodded.

"Does it mean a lot to you that the three of us get along?"

The same nod again.

"Fine," she said casually. "I'll do my part and be nice to them."

Remus blinked. That's it? That's all it takes to convince her? Now if only he can do the same with the two Marauders...

"Do you want anything from Hogsmeade?"

It took him a second to snap out of his reverie. "Hogsmeade? No."

"Are you sure? You can't go, so...I can run the errands or do some shopping for you. How about something from Honeydukes? Zonko's? Dervish and Banges? Or I can get you some butterbeer?"

He suppressed a smile. "You're not thinking of smuggling the drink into Hogwarts, are you?."

She shrugged.

"Thanks, but no thanks. There's nothing I need from Hogsmeade."

"I'll see you on Saturday night then? I'll let -"

"Let's meet on Sunday instead." He noticed her puzzled look and hastily added, "I'm not sure how long my stuff will take and I don't want you to wait up. Anyway, I'll see you at breakfast on Saturday morning?"

Thankfully, she did not protest. Instead, she fell silent as they reached the lake. When she finally spoke again, her words were unexpected. "I don't think we can keep up with our daily meetings. I need to be home for the Christmas break."

"So do I. We can still make -"

She shook her head grimly. "My father owled me yesterday. He has several visits lined up over the holidays. I'm not sure if I can sneak away to meet up."

He was tempted to ask about these 'visits' but he stopped himself in time. If she wanted him to know, she would tell him without prompting. "I'll send you an owl everyday," he promised and the girl brightened immediately. He smiled affectionately at her and added, "just to make sure you don't forget about your lovesick boyfriend and run off with some new guy."

"New guy?" She gave a mirthless laugh. "I think I've met most of those who try to fawn on my father. And those so-called Death Eaters and Death Eater-wannabes."

So these are the visits the senior Strauss has lined up, Remus thought, casting a concerned glance at his girlfriend.

She snuggled closer. "I'll send you an owl everyday too. And I'll miss you like crazy."

"Me too," he admitted, without much cheer. "I'll be counting down the days till we meet on the train platform in September."

*

Breakfast on Saturday morning was a noisy affair. The students, from third year and up, were chattering excitedly about the visit to Hogsmeade. It was no different at the Slytherin table, where students were grouped together, discussing their plans for the day. Halfway through the meal and Pamela's little speech about some new beautifying cream, Natasha slipped out of her seat and approached the Gryffindor table.

"Hey, Natasha!" James called brightly as soon as he caught sight of the girl.

"Hi James," she hesitated and added, "Hi Sirius, Peter."

Sirius raised an eyebrow and bit back a sarcastic remark, while Peter shakily returned the greeting.

Remus beamed proudly at his girlfriend as he stood up to offer his seat.

She gave a little frown. Making an effort to be nice to his friends is one thing. But sitting at the Gryffindor table is another! She would not be the disgrace or even traitor of Slytherin!

"What's the matter, Strauss? Gryffindors are too lowly for the high-and-mighty princess?" Sirius taunted, before catching a glare from Remus.

"What's with this 'Strauss' business? 'Natasha' is such a lovely name. We should use that more often," James diffused the tension in the air and earned a grateful look from the Slytherin.

"And my fair lady certainly has no hang-ups about Gryffindors. In fact, her favourite guy happens to be one himself. Isn't that right?" Remus winked at his girlfriend.

She smiled weakly in return. "Can we go somewhere else and talk?"

Remus immediately bade his fellow Marauders goodbye and briskly led her away.

"Thanks for the effort," he whispered as they made out of the Great Hall.

"Well, now you can't blame me for not trying," she hissed.

*

Kathleen watched Natasha approached the Gryffindors, and took in how the latter had flinched at something Sirius said. Whatever it was, it couldn't be anything good, she thought as she felt a surge of sympathy towards her best friend. Natasha had always been proud and almost arrogant. It did not help that she usually got what she wanted. But there had been a change in the girl ever since she started dating Remus Lupin. She had lowered the guard that used to be perpetually and firmly put in place, a guard set up to protect herself. Kathleen only hoped that Natasha would have no reason to regret the vulnerabilities she allowed herself to have.

As her thoughts slowly drifted back to the present, Kathleen realised with a start that she was looking directly into a familiar pair of dark eyes. She hastily pulled her gaze away, thankful that the distance between the tables would have prevented him from noticing the reddening of her cheeks.

*

"Oi, Padfoot! Did you hear what I said?" James jabbed a sharp elbow at Sirius.

"About how to corner Lily later?" Sirius ventured a guess and was relieved that he was right. As James went on scheming with Peter in hushed whispers, Sirius' thoughts returned to the Slytherin seated at the opposite end of the room. How could he drive into her stubborn head that he was not what she thought? What must he do to redeem himself? Was it too late to make amends? Was there a need to? Did he even want to try?

True, Kathleen Curtis had above-average looks. She was what one might even call 'pretty' or 'charming'. But the Slytherin was not strikingly beautiful. Unlike her haughty friend Natasha Strauss. And unlike some of the girls Sirius was used to dating.

So why couldn't he tear his eyes away from her?

***