Yule Ball (Young!Remus lupin x reader)
request: not really a request acutally, just something i wrote at litteramly 3am
Summary: Remus Lupin asked Y/N to the Yule Ball with the help of his friends, but his night took a sour turn when he turned to alcohol to mask his nerves, leading to a misunderstanding with Y/N.
Warning: Alcohol, a bit of angst, happy ending, marauders era
Hogwarts Castle was alive with anticipation as the Yule Ball approached. Snowflakes danced outside the tall, arched windows, blanketing the grounds in pristine white. Inside, students buzzed with excitement, discussing dresses, dates, and the music that would soon fill the Great Hall. Remus Lupin, however, found himself lost in thought, his gaze drifting to a girl across the room.
“Oi, Moony!” Sirius’s voice broke through his reverie. “Stop daydreaming and join us! We’ve got a plan!”
Remus blinked, pulled from his thoughts of Y/N—the girl who had captivated his attention for months. He turned to see Sirius, James, and Peter huddled together, their faces alight with mischief. “What plan?” he asked hesitantly, a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach.
“Simple! You need to ask her to the Ball!” James exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “We’ll help you out.”
Remus’s heart raced at the thought. “What if she says no?” he murmured, his voice barely audible.
“Don’t be a prat,” Sirius chided, slapping him on the back. “You won’t know until you try. Besides, you’ve got us.”
With a deep breath, Remus nodded. “Alright. I’ll do it.”
“Good! We’ll be right here, cheering you on,” Peter piped up, a nervous grin spreading across his face.
The four of them made their way to the common room, where Y/N sat, her laughter ringing out as she chatted with her friends. Remus’s palms grew sweaty, and his heart pounded in his chest.
“Just go for it!” James whispered, nudging him forward.
With a final nod of encouragement from his friends, Remus approached Y/N, trying to ignore the fluttering in his stomach. “Um, hey, Y/N?”
She looked up, her smile brightening the dimly lit room. “Hey, Remus! What’s up?”
“Would you, um, would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?” he blurted, his cheeks flushing.
For a moment, time seemed to stretch. Y/N’s eyes widened, and then she broke into a grin. “I’d love to!”
Relief washed over him, followed by a wave of excitement. “Great! I mean, awesome!”
As the evening of the Ball approached, Remus’s excitement began to wane, replaced by nerves. His friends had concocted a plan to help him “relax” before the big night.
“Just one drink, Moony,” Sirius insisted, pouring a golden liquid into a glass. “It’ll loosen you up. You can’t go in all shy and awkward.”
“Yeah, it’s just a little fun,” Peter added, his eyes hopeful.
Remus hesitated, glancing at the glass. “I don’t know, guys. I’m not sure…”
“Just trust us. We want you to have a good time,” James urged, nudging the glass closer.
With a resigned sigh, Remus took the glass and downed it in one gulp. The warmth spread through him, igniting an unexpected confidence. “Okay, maybe just one more.”
Hours later, the Great Hall was transformed into a winter wonderland, sparkling with twinkling lights and shimmering decorations. Remus entered with his friends, feeling a bit unsteady but exhilarated. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on Y/N, who looked breathtaking in a deep blue gown that flowed around her like liquid silk.
“Hey, Y/N!” he called out, striding over with an exaggerated swagger that felt foreign to him.
“Remus!” she greeted, her face lighting up. “You look… different.”
“Different good, I hope?” he shot back, grinning widely.
“Definitely,” she laughed, though her eyes narrowed slightly, as if sensing something was off.
The music began to play, and Remus took her hand, leading her to the dance floor. As they began to sway together, he felt a rush of energy coursing through him, emboldened by the alcohol. He spun her around, his laughter echoing around them.
“Wow, you’re really getting into it,” Y/N said, her smile bright but her expression shifting to confusion.
“Yeah, just letting loose!” he said with a wink, channeling his inner Sirius.
But as the night wore on, Remus’s bravado started to falter. He could feel Y/N’s energy diminish, her laughter softening, as if she were withdrawing.
“Remus…” she began, her brow furrowing slightly. “Are you alright? You seem a bit… off.”
“I’m great!” he exclaimed, perhaps a little too loudly. “Just having a blast!”
She raised an eyebrow, her expression shifting from amusement to concern. “Are you sure? You smell like—”
“Like what?” he interrupted, laughing too hard to be convincing.
“Like alcohol,” she finished, her tone now serious.
His laughter faded, replaced by a creeping sense of dread. “Oh, uh… maybe just a bit?” He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to regain his composure.
Y/N’s smile faltered, and in that moment, Remus saw the truth in her eyes: she was disappointed. “You didn’t drink to get through the night, did you?”
“No! I mean, yes, but…” He struggled for words, the reality of the situation crashing down on him. “I just wanted to enjoy the night, Y/N. I thought it’d help.”
Her expression hardened, and she took a step back. “I thought you wanted to be here with me, not as someone else.”
Remus felt a pang of regret, realizing how his friends’ well-meaning intentions had backfired. “I do want to be here with you! I just… I didn’t want to mess up.”
“Then why not just be yourself?” she asked, her voice softening but still laced with disappointment.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his heart racing. “I thought if I was more confident—”
“More like Sirius?” she interjected, crossing her arms. “That’s not you, Remus.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat. She was right; he’d let the alcohol transform him into someone he wasn’t. “Can we just—”
“I think I need to go,” she interrupted, her voice steady yet strained.
“Y/N, wait—” he called after her, but she was already weaving through the crowd, her figure disappearing into the throng of students.
Frustration bubbled inside him as he turned to find his friends, who were still reveling in the dance. “What were you thinking?” he shouted, his voice rising above the music.
“Hey, Moony! You were fantastic!” Sirius cheered, oblivious to the storm brewing in his friend’s heart.
“Fantastic? I just ruined everything!” Remus snapped, his fists clenching at his sides. “She thinks I used alcohol to get through the night!”
“Wait, you did?” James asked, genuine confusion in his eyes. “I thought you were just having fun.”
“Fun? I was trying to impress her, not be a drunken fool!” Remus shot back, pushing through the crowd toward the exit.
“Moony, wait! We were just trying to help!” Peter called after him, but Remus didn’t stop. He stormed back to the Gryffindor common room, his emotions swirling like the snow outside.
Inside the cozy space, he paced, anger and regret twisting in his gut. How could he have let himself be swayed by his friends? The night he had looked forward to for weeks had turned into a disaster.
The door creaked open, and a moment later, Y/N stepped inside, her eyes searching the room. Relief and dread washed over him simultaneously.
“Y/N…” he began, but she held up a hand to stop him.
“I just wanted to say… I’m sorry for leaving like that. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just—” She took a breath, her voice steadying. “I wanted to enjoy the night with you, not this… version of you.”
“I know,” he admitted, feeling the weight of her disappointment. “I messed up. I thought maybe if I was more confident, I could be someone you’d like.”
Y/N stepped closer, her expression softening. “I like you, Remus. But I like the real you, not this… flirty facade.”
“I’m sorry,” he repeated, his voice earnest. “I promise, I’ll be myself next time.”
She smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing. “Next time?”
“Definitely. If you’ll still have me,” he said, hope creeping into his voice.
“Of course,” she said, her smile widening. “But just be you, alright?”
“Deal,” he replied, relief flooding through him.
As they stood together in the warm glow of the common room, Remus felt the connection between them grow stronger. The Yule Ball hadn’t gone as planned, but it had led him to something better: a chance to truly be himself with her.
Outside, the snow continued to fall, blanketing the ground in silence, as if in agreement with the promise of a new beginning.
