firebolting:

Written as a companion piece to this story, which I suggest you read first because it’s quite brilliant, really.

one.

The first time he asks her is in second year, on a dare from Sirius. It takes him hours the day before (and even a tip from a very suspicious, but nevertheless helpful, Professor McGonagall) to Transfigure the bits of parchment and string into something that even remotely resembles a ring. Even though he manages to get the texture somewhat right, he’s unsatisfied with the colour but it’s not until the already antsy Sirius drops his books and says Good enough! that he finally gives up. He spends the night crafting his speech and even Remus can’t help being amused as he peppers him with questions about euphemisms for things that could be otherwise even more wildly inappropriate.

The next morning, he marches up to her in the Great Hall and drops dramatically to one knee. The smirk grows even wider on his face when her face turns a red that nearly matches her hair, but he manages to finish his speech without cracking. Feeling very pleased with himself, he’s just about to launch into his closing arguments when she finishes her toast very calmly and stalks off on him mid-sentence. He calls after her, I’ll take that as a Maybe! but he’s sure she is fuming too hard to hear. Either that, or Sirius’ barking laughter echoing in the Hall drowns him out.

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