The Unnerving Bet (Marauders' era)

[harrypotterfan:)]

((hey hey.....you see we should read something like this more often.....ahem people out there....))

[LordBlaZe]

((i can't write romance, lol, and i dont like it either but this is coming along nicely. A bit predictable but still nicely))

[N.Black1753]

((oh man.....I feel bad for you....what about us.....what about our needs.....LOL.....joking.....just finish writing soon ;D ))

lmao WHAT ABOUT OUR NEEDS" that's jokes. Anyways, d**n this is something that JK herself would've wrote, it's so detailed and perfect. I'm more of an action loving guy but this is pretty good. Keep it up!

((Wow, thanks a lot...it's really a compliment, saying that this is something JK herself would've wrote. Wow. I feel...honored. Thanks a lot! You know, I think you're one of my first guy readers, LordBlaZe...))

The more she looked at herself in the mirror before her, the more Nadia felt uncomfortable. It wasn’t the matter of being in an evening gown, but the thought of spending four hours with a man whose name she could not ask, a delightful tidbit of which Lily had just informed her, that was behind her unease. “If it wasn’t James planning this,” said Nadia, “I would be highly suspicious of it all.”

Lily laughed. “What, you mean you’re not already on your guard?”

Sighing, Nadia donned the silver and black mask that she’d been holding in her hand. “I’m forever on my guard, Lily. James and his ways just don’t faze me like they used to.”

“I know what you mean,” said Lily, sporting a grin. “After all-”

“You married him,” Nadia finished. “Right?”

Lily snickered, and the snickering quickly turned into a very infectious fit of giggles. Nadia discovered herself unable to stave off some chuckling of her own. She closed her eyes and shook her head: on the whole, it was a mistake on her part. If Nadia had not shut her eyes, she would’ve seen a still-giggling Lily wordlessly wave her wand in her direction; so was the charm that would shatter one Remus Lupin’s illusions of fun at midnight. “Come on,” Lily bade Nadia aloud, “we’d best be off.”

“If we must,” relented Nadia, turning with a pitiful expression to face Lily. “You’re absolutely sure that you can’t modify their memories and let me stay here?”

“I am,” Lily answered, smirking. Just to be certain that her quarry didn’t make a last-ditch escape attempt, Lily got a firm hold on Nadia’s right arm, one which made Nadia wince. “I simply can’t let you have wasted all that time getting ready!” She dragged Nadia toward the living room, so they could use the fireplace instead of Apparition.

“That’s a matter of opinion,” huffed Nadia under her breath.

“What’s that?”

Silently cursing Lily’s hearing, Nadia cleared her throat. “I said I agree, I hate wasting time.”

“I thought so.” Lily hoisted Nadia’s jar of Floo powder off the mantel and at its owner. No, thought Nadia as she took a handful of Floo powder in her hand, there’ll be no escaping tonight.

--------

“And don’t you think of giving us the slip,” James ordered Remus for the fifth time since he’d arrived at Sirius and Remus’s humble abode, Peter in tow. By now, Remus had given up all hope of getting out of Le Masque before midnight. “And you can’t-”

“Ask her name,” Remus and Sirius both tiredly recited as the clock struck eight, Sirius impatiently adding, “Yes, Mummy, I think he gets it. Might we leave now?”

Eyeing Remus as if Remus was clearly still contemplating a disappearing act, James conceded, “All right, let’s go,” four small words that, little did he know, would ruin Remus’s night and possibly life as he knew it.

((That was for you two! And so ends chapter two...third chapter, the actual date, coming soon...))

[N.Black1753]

((Just wanted to add that, as I said before, the next part may take a while. I haven't had a single moment to write today, but I'm almost finished with chapter three...almost. So, as soon as I finish that, you'll have the first part. School is MURDER. Blegh. Your comments mean a lot! Thanks!))

[LordBlaZe]

lol thxs...short chapter but good. Keep it up, oh and check out my fan fiction. I always like having good writers comment it. It's called, Rise of Lestrange.

[harrypotterfan:)]

((Just wanted to add that, as I said before, the next part may take a while. I haven't had a single moment to write today, but I'm almost finished with chapter three...almost. So, as soon as I finish that, you'll have the first part. School is MURDER. Blegh. Your comments mean a lot! Thanks!))

((LOL....well continue....I loved the ending, ' "All right, let's go," four small words that, little did he know,would ruin Remus's night and possibly lifeas he kenw it.'))

[N.Black1753]

((Well, everyone, here is the first part of chapter three. Hope you like it.))

She’d faced down hardened criminals, come up against creatures more than three times her size, and escaped death once at the hands of Lord Voldemort himself, but Nadia had never been as nervous as the moment when a masked James stepped out of the fireplace. All that Nadia could really be sure of tonight was the fact that Le Masque was located in France, not England; besides that, Nadia knew her name, enough French to get by for the night, and that James Potter was a right git for forcing her to spend her Saturday night with a man she didn’t know. The last item on her list caused her to snicker, unheard by Lily thanks to the loud, pulsating music echoing around them.

“Hey, you!” shouted James, who was wearing a large grin as he led a man dressed in green robes and a black mask up to Nadia. Lily giggled and waved at the man in green. Apparently they know each other, Nadia warily observed as the man smiled back at Lily, glad to see that the stranger seemed just as skittish about the whole affair as Nadia was.

“My name’s not ‘you’!” Nadia shouted in return. Sirius—who appeared, Nadia noted, quite sharp in robes of navy blue and a matching mask—joined their little group, Peter following close behind him. “Someone’s looking handsome,” she complimented her best friend.

He jumped as if he hadn’t recognized her until that moment. Taking Nadia’s hand, Sirius kissed it and replied, “And you, my dear, are simply ravishing-”

“Knock it off, Padfoot,” James said, exasperatedly whacking Sirius over the back of the head, “she’s not your date. This-” He pushed Sirius out of the way and gave the green-robed guy a nudge. “-is her date.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Out of habit, Nadia cordially extended her hand to him. The stranger, to Nadia’s amazement, bowed low and brushed his lips against her knuckles. She shivered involuntarily.

“I believe the pleasure is mine,” he said, straightening and gazing intensely into her eyes. “And how are you, fair lady?”

“Doing well,” Nadia nodded her head to him, all thoughts of calling James a right git for getting her out of her apartment and to this club having completely dissipated. “And you?”

Giving her a charming smile, he responded, “Wondering if you’d care to dance with me.” Still holding Nadia’s hand, he spun her around and pulled her to him. “Will you?”

Nadia raised an eyebrow. Whoever this man was underneath his mask, he either felt confident because of the cloth covering his visage or was just naturally as domineering as Nadia was. She found herself impressed beyond words, whatever the case. “Yes,” said Nadia finally, a smile parting her lips, “I will.”

“Excuse us,” the stranger said to their friends. He steered Nadia through the crowd until they blended in with the other masked dancers. Inclining his head to Nadia since there was no room for another gentlemanly bow, he smoothly placed his left hand on her waist, using his right hand to grasp her left one. “Now.” His voice, reflected Nadia as she draped her free arm over his shoulder, sounded rather hypnotic. Perhaps it was simply because their faces were now inches apart. “What, since we can’t use our real names,” he inquired cordially, “can I call you?” They began to rotate slowly on the spot to the slow music now flowing mournfully around them.

Silently racking her brain for something clever, Nadia took a few seconds before she decided, “Artemis.”

“Ah.” He smiled. “The Greek goddess of the moon…” He paused, frowning for some reason unknown to Nadia. “And hunting,” he finished, regarding her curiously. “Any personal significance?”

“I hunt down criminals for the Ministry,” Nadia informed him, certain that the statement was quite vague, “as part of my job.”

“You’re an Auror?” guessed the stranger.

She smirked. “Not quite.” Before he could question her any further, however, Nadia asked, “And what would you like to be called?”

“Romulus.” His answer was casual, but quicker than Nadia had been expecting; he had obviously thought it over in advance.

Assuming that “Romulus” was testing her intellect when he didn’t say more, Nadia remarked, “Roman legend…one of the founding twins of Rome who was raised by a wolf. How interesting, that you should choose the name of the twin who dueled with his brother and lived.”

“Indeed,” Romulus agreed, visibly pleased by her response. “And to think, I had you pinned as just a pretty face.”

Laughing lightly, Nadia retorted, “You may yet find yourself wrong on that, as well.”

He looked at her for a heartbeat before a smile lit his face all the way to his eyes. “I don’t think so.” Spinning her around with one hand, Romulus said into her ear, “If your lips are any hint, of course.”

“Oh, is that so?” Nadia said once she faced him again, smirking. Mockingly, she said, “And to think, I had you pinned as a guy with James’s manners.”

Clearly not offended in the least, Romulus chuckled. “And was this before or after I spoke to you, fair goddess?” He dipped her toward the ground and drew her even closer.

“Before,” she admitted, feeling a little guilty. Nadia regained her dignity by skeptically asking, “Fair goddess?”

“What would you prefer?” Romulus gave her an innocent, questioning gaze. “A goddess’s name should be revered, almost never spoken. Perhaps ‘your Worship’?” She shook her head at the escalating levels of flattery that Romulus was showering on her. For a second, Nadia was reminded of Sirius, and considered asking if Romulus had learned his smooth-talking from her best friend. “Yes,” he pressed her to answer, “would that do?”

“Yes!” Nadia astonished herself by loudly replying. Romulus threw his head back and let out a bark of a laugh; Nadia snickered.

“Your Worship-” Nadia heartily laughed at this. “-I believe I like you.”

Smiling in a way that only Sirius had ever caused her to do in the past, Nadia countered, “You’re not so bad yourself.”

“I am glad to hear it,” Romulus thanked Nadia, his eyes glowing warmly as he watched her. Now that she thought on the matter, Nadia couldn’t recall ever meeting a more charming guy in the past few years. She’d always had her nose in a book at Hogwarts, a fact Sirius still pointed out to anyone who cared to listen; romance hadn’t really been on Nadia’s plane of awareness during her school years. Of course, she wasn’t about to let Romulus know any of that. Admit the bare minimum: that was Nadia’s philosophy. “Your Worship, it would seem tonight is looking up.”

“Just what I was thinking.”

They laughed.

[harrypotterfan:)]

((OMG...the suspense.....I loved this post especially....Remus does have a way with the ladies huh?LOL....loved it when Sirius came in and James smacked him.....just vizualizing it cracked me up))

[Ginny Weasly]

You are a wonderful writer, keep it up.
I don't always like romance stories, because some people make them too romantic. But your's is just right.

Awesome job!

[harrypotterfan:)]

((keep on writing....I can't wait.....LOL))

[LordBlaZe]

nicely done ;)

[dobby888]

it's awesome!!!

[N.Black1753]

((Wow! :o So many readers! Thank you! The last part of "chapter three" is from Remus's point of view...again, I will forewarn you that school has started for me and I will not be able to finish the next chapter for a while, seeing as school is MURDER. Actually, I'm still in the planning stage, because I carefully planned this chapter, and was rather pleased with the result, so I am taking my time with chapter four. Thanks for reading, I hope you all enjoy this!))

At two minutes to midnight, Le Masque’s atmosphere seemed to have been electrified, and Remus could certainly attest to the electricity. He and the mysterious Artemis had been dancing for nearly three hours on end. Remus’s feet had been complaining since the end of the first hour, but Artemis’s every smile let him ignore their protests. His fingers were itching to rip her mask off and reveal the woman beneath, and Remus was sorely tempted to let them have their way. On the other hand, midnight meant that Artemis would see his face; the knowledge made Remus so nervous that he jumped when Artemis said, “It’s almost midnight.”

“That it is, your Worship,” Remus replied slowly, breathing a sigh of relief when his voice didn’t crack. Artemis smiled at him. Merlin! he thought, swallowing a small moan. Did she know what sort of effect she was having on him? Remus felt as helpless as an ice cube in the summer sun each time Artemis flashed that smile of hers. He rested his masked forehead against Artemis’s, adding, “The moment we’ve both been anticipating, I think.”

“You’re aware of what happens when you assume, I hope?” she teased, smirking as she rubbed her nose against his. Remus had to bite his tongue to keep himself from groaning, despite the fact that her skin and his hadn’t actually touched. “No,” said Artemis with a laugh, “I have been wondering who you are, however much I hate giving James Potter a reason to say he told me so.” She glanced at James, who was keeping a close watch on them while he danced with Lily just a few feet away.

Remus smiled wanly at that. “I know what you mean.” He was about to say more when his eyes caught on Artemis’s lips; he’d been staring at those lips for the better part of the evening, wondering to himself how they might feel against his, how they’d taste…

“Romulus?” Coming back to reality, Remus realized that his mouth was slightly hanging open. Artemis gently pushed his jaw upward with a grin that made him melt on the inside all over again. “Silly.”

He couldn’t take much more. Without a word, Remus’s hand moved toward the edge of Artemis’s mask, and she silently reached out for his. A clock began to strike midnight, and Remus impulsively leaned closer as they slowly pulled off each other’s masks; he was going to kiss her. Just before their lips met, though, Remus recognized the unmasked face staring back at him: it was Nadia. Crying out in alarm, Remus jumped back as if a hex had hit him and dropped Nadia’s mask. How had he not figured this out before? How had her scratchy voice not tipped him off? Remus wasn’t sure. What if she had James charm me to not recognize her? Remus thought, fuming instantly. “You!” He felt sick, and why shouldn’t he? He had almost kissed her, Nadia! “You did this!”

Much to Remus’s disappointment, Nadia truly looked as surprised as he was. “It wasn’t me, Lupin,” she said, laughing breathlessly with a sidelong look at his mask in her hand, “though I should’ve-“

"Then it was James,” Remus cut Nadia off angrily. He turned on the spot and Disapparated back to his and Sirius’s apartment, his breath becoming shorter once the sensation that came with Apparition wore off. You should’ve expected something like this! Remus scolded himself.

Seconds later, Lily, James, and Sirius appeared around him with a simultaneous CRACK! “Moony, mate,” James began, “what happened?”

“What happened?” Remus reiterated incredulously. “What the bloody hell happened? You set me up with her, that-“

“Hey,” interrupted Sirius, a warning tone in his voice. “Watch what you call Nadia.”

Huffing, he was on the brink of telling Sirius that, Nadia’s best friend though Sirius was or not, Remus would call her whatever he d**n well pleased. “Witch,” Remus corrected himself begrudgingly. “Is that how you were planning to win? And who did what so I wouldn’t recognize her voice? Who?”

James and Lily, both bearing guilty expressions, raised their hands. “Sorry,” said Lily, “I charmed her voice so you wouldn’t know.”

“And I charmed you so she wouldn’t recognize you in a mask,” James admitted, “but Remus, you were having a good time with her!”

That was the bit that really made Remus seethe: until they’d taken off each other’s masks, he had been having fun. “Don’t remind me,” Remus snapped. He stalked off down the hallway to his bedroom, his robes billowing out behind him as he went. There was no doubt in Remus’s mind that he had ever had a worse night in his entire life. He launched himself onto his bed and sighed, clutching handfuls of his own hair in frustration. While Remus wanted to forget everything about the past few hours, his mind taunted him with the clear memory of her heady, entrancing scent; the thought of her powerful smile; and the ghost of the sensation of her body against his. “Stop it,” he moaned, turning over on his side. Nadia Ramsden would have to be avoided like the plague, more so than ever.

[Ginny Weasly]

Wonderful.
This deserves a bump.
Great job.

(FYI to newer users on HPFF, bumps were used as a way to say you liked a story and wanted more.)

[N.Black1753]

((Aww, thank you! I'll be carefully planning out the next chapter so it'll turn out just as good.))