A Kiss in the Moonlight

A Moonlit Kiss

"Hello Morgan, Allison, how lovely to see you!"

Remus Lupin began to creep away from his parents as they greeted their friends, praying they wouldn't notice. He hated adult parties, especially adult Christmas parties. This particular party, hosted by his father's law firm at a posh hotel, was no fun at all. Remus hadn't seen another kid even close to his age, and instead had to put up with all his father's co-workers pinching his cheeks and asking him what he'd asked Santa Claus for Christmas. Remus just rolled his eyes at them. He was almost ten years old. He didn't believe in Santa Claus anymore.

Escaping the notice of his parents, Remus ventured around the expansive banquet hall, heading towards the large glass doors at the rear of the room. They lead out onto a terrace, and Remus could see snowflakes glinting in the moonlight. Remus loved the snow, and wanted to go play in it, even if he did have to play alone.

Remus made it to the doorway, and paused for a moment to glance back at his mum and dad, still chatting up their friends. He had good ten minutes before either realized he was gone. With a grin he darted out the door and away from the few couples outside having a smoke. This particular hotel backed on to an expansive forest, and Remus was eager to check it out. As they'd drove up to the entrance, the forest had looked to mysterious and spooky to ignore. Remus liked mysterious and spooky things. He insisted his mum buy him mystery books, and liked to sneak up late at night to watch scary movies on TV. He guessed that was one reason he didn't have a lot of friends at school - ever since he'd told them all a ghost story at David Hampton's birthday party, no one wanted to hang out with short and skinny Remus. That and sometimes funny stuff seemed to happen when Remus was around. Like floating schoolbooks or the instant mending of torn trousers. But Remus didn't care if he was "different" and no one liked him. He didn't need them anyway. All Remus needed was books and the occasional play in the snow.

The wind was biting as Remus snuck away from the protection of the hotel walls. Snowflakes were falling heavily now, sticking in his light brown hair and stinging his cheeks. The forest loomed just before him, creaking and groaning as it shifted in the wind. Remus kicked up a pile of flakes and watched it flutter back to earth with glee. Everything was very dark over here, away from the chandelier light of the hall. Shadows seemed to stretch forever in the soft blue moonlight. Remus looked up; sure enough it was a full moon that was peering through the thick grey storm clouds.

Remus bent down and formed himself a perfect snowball. After much consideration, he wound up and tossed it towards the woods. It hit the nearest tree with a soft thump, shattering on impact.

"Not bad." A voice seemed to carry on the wind, coming from all sides.

Remus whirled around, searching for the visitor. "Who's there?" He was not easily frightened.

"Look who it is."

Remus clenched his fists, ready for anything. Did he recognize that voice?

"Why don't you just come out?" he called.

A figure emerged from the swirling snowflakes, black hair nearly covered in the white flecks. "Remus Lupin?"

Remus took a step closer. "Daniel?"

The boy nodded, dark eyes fixed on Remus. He offered a small smile. "Never thought I'd see you again."

Remus dropped his eyes to the ground, momentarily embarrassed. Daniel Green was the son of his father's boss. Two years older, he was tall and intelligent, and had been Remus' only real friend for many years. He liked scary stuff nearly as much as Remus did.

"My dad didn't think we should stay friends," Remus muttered.

"At least he didn't tell my dad." Daniel laughed. The sound was sharp and clear, carrying on the wind.

Remus stole a glance upwards. Last year he and Daniel had, well... playing doctor is what Remus supposed it was called. At the time he'd just been curious, just wanted to look. It's not like they'd kissed or anything.

"Well, I, uh..." Remus knew what his father would say if he saw them together. He would get "The Lecture" about how boys go with girls, not with other boys. Remus knew that, but nothing his father said seemed to change how he felt when he looked at Daniel. Like something exciting was about to happen. Like he was suddenly really nervous and didn't know why.

"Wanna have a snowball fight? This stuff is perfect," Daniel asked, testing the snow with a bare hand.

Remus nodded, unable to resist. He still had a few more minutes anyway.

Daniel scooped up some snow and began forming a ball. Remus hastily darted away, moving closer to the dense forest so he could find some cover. He started frantically forming snowballs, and soon he and Daniel were racing in between trees and snow drifts, laughing as they seemed to hit everything but each other. Daniel managed to land one in Remus' hair, but Remus got him back by hitting him in the stomach.

Remus darted behind a tree, trying to catch his breath. They were part way into the forest now, the hotel windows only slightly visible through thick trees.

"Where are you?" Daniel was calling.

Remus held his breath, wadding up a giant mound of snow. Daniel was getting closer...

A rustling in a nearby bush stole Remus' attention for a moment. He glanced into the darkness, his heart suddenly pounding. A twig snapped to his left, and he nearly dropped the snow all together. He took a small step towards the noise, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever wildlife he'd disturbed.

"There you are!" Daniel leaped around the tree and pinned Remus to the bark, shoving a handful of snow in his face.

Remus coughed and sputtered, shivering as the snow trickled down his shirt.

"Got you," Daniel cackled, still holding Remus down so he couldn't fight back. With his other hand, Daniel dumped Remus' snow to the ground, leaving him unarmed.

"You win," Remus said.

But Daniel didn't move. He suddenly seemed dangerously close, his body nearly right against Remus. Remus wanted to tell him about the noise, that they should try and catch whatever was hiding nearby, but the words caught in his throat. Daniel's smile had faded, and his face was suddenly very close.

"Dan..." But Remus was silenced by Daniel's cold lips being pressed to his own. They were rough and chapped, but somehow felt electric. Daniel pulled away seconds later, jumping back from the tree. Their eyes met and both boys started to say something but thought better of it. Somewhere nearby Remus' swore he heard something breathing, but he shook it off as his imagination.

Daniel licked his lips, and looked at the ground. "I better go back."

Before Remus could respond, Daniel was racing through the trees towards the hotel.

Remus leaned his head against the coarse bark, closing his eyes. He knew he should get back too, but somehow his feet weren't listening. His heart was still thundering in his ears, his mind moving non-stop. His father had told him it was wrong to think about boys as more than friends. Wrong to kiss or touch or do anything with them. But that hadn't felt wrong, not in the same way lying to his mum or cheating on a test did. It had been exciting. Not right or wrong. Just confusing.

Remus pushed himself away from the tree and turned to go back to the hotel. That was when he heard the growl. It made every hair on his body stand on end, every muscle tighten up. Something had been watching Remus all right. Hunting him. And now it was about to attack.

Just as his body kicked into gear, and he began to run, so did whatever thing was behind him. He let out a strangled scream at the sound of its feet close behind him, and absolutely wailed as it leapt up and landed on him from behind. Remus stole a glance over his shoulder as he struggled against the massive beast, and immediately wished he hadn't. Whatever it was, it was huge. Bigger than any dog Remus had ever seen, it was all fangs and claws, and horrifying beady eyes.

"Help!" Was all Remus managed before the beast sunk it's snapping jaws into his shoulder, causing his entire body to convulse with pain. He tried in vain to fight back, but he couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't even move. And just like that, as quickly as it had appeared, the beast ran off. Remus could see people moving towards him through the falling snow. There were so many of them, all shapeless shadows making silent noise. Remus began to black out, wondering if his mum and dad were there to help him. Wondering if Daniel knew what had happened. As Remus closed his eyes and dropped his head into the snow, he wondered if he'd ever wake up to thank Daniel for his very first kiss.