Chapter 1 (Set Pre-OoP)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original Harry Potter stuff, but actually created the character Misty Witte (and her parents)!
Snape and Tonks started walking towards the door to leave. I told the rest of the guests that I would be right back. My small house was managing to hold the Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, Sirius, Mad-Eye, Lupin, and myself. Tonks and Snape decided to not stay the night and go home, and Lupin followed us to the door to say goodbye.
"Are you sure you can't stay for the night?" I asked Tonks and Snape.
"Yea, sorry Wits. We should get home," Tonks replied.
"At least take some food! We have so much left over!"
"Alright, if you insist-"
"No, I think we're capable of getting our own food," Snape growled, as he put his arm around Tonks, "Let's go, Dora." Tonks gave me an apologetic look and they turned to leave. They walked down the lane and Apparated with a pop. I turned to Lupin and asked, "Do you understand that?"
"No, I do not see the attraction," he quietly replied, "You know, Tonks wasn't drinking tonight. Do you think she's…?"
"No, I don't think she's pregnant. She would've told me. Did you notice how he called her 'Dora' and she didn't even react?"
"She never let me call her that…"
"Oh, crap. Sorry, I forgot you dated her. Well she certainly seems head-over-heels for him."
"It's alright. We grew apart after a while. And yes, she does," he said and made a face; I laughed.
"Colloportus," I whispered and the door locked. I turned to walk back to the party, but Lupin grabbed my arm.
"You're amazing," he said.
"What? I just locked the-" I couldn't finish my sentence because, at that moment, he kissed me. Sirius walked into the hall and said, "Moony, you dog." I felt Lupin smirk, but he continued kissing me. After what felt like forever, I heard Sirius, the Weasley kids, Harry and Hermione singing "Moony and Misty sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G" The rest of the adults were staring at us, all smirking. The song eventually ended, and Sirius said, "It took you guys long enough."
I laughed aloud and replied, "Padfoot, like you never snogged in public?" Everyone replied with a hearty laugh.
"That's not what I meant!" Sirius said, "It was kind of obvious you guys pined for each other!"
"Yea," said Hermione through suppressed giggles, "I was wondering when you'd ask her out, Lupin." Lupin turned bright red, and I grabbed his hand to calm him.
"Well I think this is just great! Nice catch Moony!" Sirius said this and was welcomed by many laughs.
"Well everyone, let's get to bed," Molly said.
Fred and George replied to that by yelling, "Yea! Give the lovebirds some time alone!" Molly ushered everyone out of the hall and walked over to me. She gave me a hug and said quietly, "Congratulations, Wits."
Lupin and I walked hand-in-hand to the living room and sat in front of the fire. On the couch, I laid my head on his shoulder and he stroked my long, blonde hair.
"Misty, why do people call you 'Wits'?" Lupin asked.
"Oh Lupin, it's just something Tonks started back in Hogwarts when we roomed together. She hated her first name, and then came up with Wits from Witte."
"Well, you do have a good wit…"
"I thought it was more because I'm a smart-ass," I said and laughed, "Remus?"
"Yes?"
"It feels weird calling you Lupin, now."
"Same with you, Misty," he said as I snuggled closer. We dozed off and woke up in the early morning.
"Morning," I said with a yawn.
"Hello, darling," Remus replied.
"Remus?"
"Hmm?" He seemed to be lost in thought. I looked into his eyes and he stared back.
"I love you," I whispered. He stared into my eyes and then looked away.
"What? Do you not love me?"
"No, no. I do truly love you. But, we can't be together; I don't want to hurt you." I stood up with tears of rage in my eyes.
"You changed your mind for Tonks! Why not me?" I yelled and turned away. He grabbed my arm, turned me around, and took my hands.
"Because you mean so much more," he whispered and leaned in to kiss me. I pulled away and ran out of the room. I was blinded by tears and rage. I ran down the hall toward the bedrooms and heard Remus coming after me. I hit something solid. It was Sirius.
"Wits? Misty? What's wrong? I heard yelling," Sirius asked. I just shook my head and cried into his shoulder. I heard Remus walk up and try to take me in his arms but I just stood between the men.
"Moony, what's wrong?" Remus didn't respond; I don't think he knew how to.
"H-he said we can't be together, but he still l-loves me," I choked out.
"Who says that?" Sirius asked angrily.
"Me. But Misty, I don't want you to get hurt," Remus said as he took my hands, "I love you more than you could ever imagine. I'd do anything for you. But sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the ones you love; us not being together is mine."
"BUT YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND FOR TONKS!" I yelled this, and Sirius was just staring at Remus. The rest of the house was starting to come into the hall and watch the proceedings.
"I KNOW! BUT I LOVE YOU MORE THAN I EVER DID HER! I CAN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HURTING YOU! IT WOULD KILL ME! IT WOULD HURT ME MORE THAN ANYONE COULD THINK!"
"Ooh, a lover's quarrel-" Fred began to say, but a look from Mrs. Weasley made him break off.
"I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE A WEREWOLF! I'LL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU, NO MATTER WHAT!" At this point tears were pouring down my face, my voice was going hoarse, and I wanted to hide.
"Remus, what's wrong with me?"
"N-nothing, darling," he said teary-eyed as he caressed my face.
"I-I don't care if I get hurt; I just never want to leave you."
"I'm sorry; I love you," he said and walked out the door. I crumpled to the ground and would not move. I felt ten pairs of eyes on me as Ginny and Hermione tried to help me up. I wouldn't budge; I felt as if my heart was shattered. Mad-eye, Sirius, and Harry went after Remus. Finally, Molly got me up and led me to my room. She sat with me and held me as I stared blankly at the wall.
"Dear, you're probably starving; you've sat here all morning. I'll go fix you something and you come to the kitchen when you feel like it."
"No, that's alright Molly, thank you," I said, my voice barely audible. I walked out of the room and to the kitchen where I found all of the children sitting around the table, minus Harry, with coffee in their hands. Fred got up to pour me some, and Ginny gave me her seat. We all sipped our drinks in silence; I think they were still mulling over what they saw.
"Wits, he does truly love you," Hermione said quietly, "He wouldn't have left if he didn't." I answered her statement with more silence.
"Hermione's right, Wits," Ginny said.
Molly walked in and announced that the Hogwarts letters were here. She passed them out, and said that they should go to Diagon Alley today.
"Well, go get ready, you lot," she ordered, "Wits, would you like to come with us? We'll need some more people from the Order to escort everyone."
"What about Harry?"
"He's with Mad-Eye and Sirius; he'll be fine; I'll just leave them a note for when they get back."
"Alright, I'll go get ready." Two hours later, we were standing in front of my fireplace with handfuls of Floo Powder.
"Okay, so you all know how this works, right? Do I really need to give the speech? Just remember to speak clearly and not say 'Diagonally,' " I said with a look at Harry, who smirked. I went first to wait for everyone and we were all assembled outside of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Molly went off with Fred, George, and Ginny to buy everyone's books while I took Hermione and Ron to get other supplies.
"Whoa, a Firebolt," I said as we walked by a Quidditch shop.
"You know, Harry will probably let you take his for a ride when we get back to your place," Ron said.
"That'd be nice. So do either of you play?"
"I don't, maybe because I don't really understand it," Hermione replied. I looked at Ron quizzically.
"She understands the game, but not why we love it so much," he said, "I'm thinking of trying out for Gryffindor's Keeper, now that Oliver Wood got taken on by Puddlemere United."
"That'd be great! I'd love to come watch a match!"
"So did you play?"
"Yea, I was a Chaser. The Falmouth Falcons wanted to take me on for about 650 of 700 possible fouls I'd committed. I turned them down, though, and became an Auror."
"Wow, you must've been good. Yea, they're a really dirty team; I wouldn't want to play for them. Bad reputation." After he finished the sentence, Harry walked up to us escorted by Sirius, acting as Snuffles. Sirius led me to an empty alley, where he changed back to a human.
"We couldn't find him. I'm sorry. We checked everywhere we could think of. Do you know where he could be?"
"Yes, that jerk." Sirius looked at me.
"Snape's house," I said bitterly, and Apparated.