Chapter 2 – The Future Mrs R. J. Lupin. (Of Werewolves and Wives)
The next four days passed at an agonisingly slow pace for Remus.
His friends tried to distract him as best they could, but his mind was never far from Elke.
He wondered what her voice sounded like, what her favourite food was, what she would think of him.
"Moonyyyyyyyy!" Sirius whined for what must have been the eighth time that morning, "You're getting that glassy-eyed look again. Stop worrying so much!"
"Pads is right, Rem." James appeared with a plate full of pancakes, placing them in front of the pale werewolf, "Breathe. She'll love you."
"You don't know that." Remus replied quietly, glaring unblinkingly at the pancakes, the smell of which were making his stomach flip.
He was in no mood for food.
"Sure we do!" Sirius quipped, stealing the plate from Remus and taking an over-sized mouthful, "Always said you were the best of our bunch."
"It's nearly time to go." Peter piped up, pointing the groups attention to the clock that was ticking closer and closer to 9am.
"I can't-" Remus' mouth was instantly dry.
"You can, and you will." James pulled him to his feet.
"Yeah Moony, don't want to leave the girl waiting." Sirius winked as he straightened Remus' collar.
James had leant Remus one of his suits to stop his friend fretting over what to wear.
It sat a little short at the ankles, but otherwise it was a good fit.
"Good luck, Moony." Peter smiled. James and Sirius nodded in agreement.
"Ok." Remus whispered. With one last worried look at his friends, he turned on the spot and with a faint 'pop' he was gone.
"Four galleons says he vomits on her shoes." Sirius chuckled.
"Eight says he feints." Peter agreed.
~~~~~~~~
Remus arrived at the Ministry of Magic, and was slightly shocked at the sheer number of other werewolves gathered in the Atrium.
There must have been nearly five hundred people looking angrily around the room.
Remus thought to himself about how now would be a fantastic opportunity for the Ministry to make a noticeable dent in the lycan population, but shrugged it off as anxious paranoia.
He moved closer to the group, his eyes scanning the crowd for Elke.
He had her photograph tightly grasped in his left hand.
It was slightly worn at the edges from the countless times he'd fished it out of his pocket over the last few days.
As he glanced down at the pretty girl in the frame, he suddenly realised that Elke would have a photograph of him.
His stomach flipped and he gulped.
Remus doubted that she would be as eager to meet her shabby husband-to-be.
What would happen if she just didn't turn up?
He began to panic at the thought of being rejected before he'd even met the girl.
Perhaps he should have skipped his second coffee that morning.
Remus' panicked gaze scanned the crowd again, locking with a dull brown pair that he would prefer to have never seen again.
Greyback was there.
Of course he was there.
An uncomfortable jolt ran along the scar in Remus' waist, reminding him of the last time he'd seen those eyes.
Greyback smirked and looked away. Scanning the crowd for more of his victims, no doubt.
Remus watched as Greyback's face broke in to an eerie grin.
Following the monster's eyeline, Remus saw her.
Elke.
His heart stopped it's erratic beating for a moment, then returned with a new-found force.
Her eyes flitted from face to face in the crowd, lips moving silently as she searched for him.
She wore tight black jeans and a forest-green jacket that looked to be several sizes too large for her.
In her hand was a small piece of paper, which Remus assumed was her picture of him.
Remus stood rooted to the spot. Any moment she would see him.
What would he say to her?
The girl suddenly drew her wand.
Remus managed to tear his eyes away from her to see what had triggered her sudden scowl.
Greyback had been making his way toward her, but stopped and smirked at the wand aimed at his face.
Snapping out of his trance, Remus moved closer to Elke.
It was obvious that she didn't care for Greyback's company.
"Elke," Fenrir purred, "I was beginning to wonder if you'd be joining us."
"You would do wise to back off, Greyback." She growled.
Even from a distance, Greyback towered over her, but she held her ground.
"You sound so much like you father-"
A blue beam shot from Elke's wand, wrapping around Fenrir's face and silencing him as he clawed at it.
An ugly scowl appeared on Greyback's face as he launched himself at Elke, who flung him back with a flourish of her wand.
Fenrir jumped to his feet and snarled – yes, actually snarled.
A circle of onlookers had gathered around, intrigued by what looked like a one-sided duel.
Several Ministry officials shoved forcibly past Remus to stand between Elke and Greyback, obviously not wanting a blood-bath to break out.
"I've caught you once, little girl." Greyback jeered, his eyes flicking to the scar that was visible where her jacket had slipped off of her shoulder.
Elke didn't flinch.
"I don't make the same mistakes twice." Her voice was quiet, but held a feeling of authority that demanded attention.
Fenrir sneered at her.
"Stay away from me, Greyback." She finished, lowering her wand and returning her eyes to searching for Remus.
He pushed his way passed a few interested onlookers and she spotted him.
Those eyes took his breath away and seemed to freeze him to the spot.
She glanced down at the photo once more before walking towards him.
He noticed a slight limp in her left leg.
"You're Remus then?" She asked, her eyes flicking across his face.
"I- yes." His voice cracked slightly as he extended his hand.
She looked at it for a moment before finally shaking it.