Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The song "You and I" is by Michael Buble and I do not, in any way, own it.

Let Me Be Your Downfall
Chapter Two: You and I

It's true I've really found someone like you
Will it stay - the love you feel for me?
Will you say that you will be by my side
To see me through until my life is through?

"Now, would someone please come to the front and draw the ancient symbols of peace…," Professor Brooks was saying to her Ancient Runes class.

Jamie, who was seated near the back of the room, couldn't help but wonder what this had anything to do with the impending Auror training she was going to hopefully be partaking in only a year. She didn't exactly understand how a NEWT Ancient Runes class was going to help her when she was neck to neck with some Death Eater throwing a random Unforgivable at her.

Seated in the desk in front of her was Remus and beside her was Lauren. Lauren was leaning on her shoulder, her elbow nearly sliding off the desktop and her eyes had been fluttering since nearly the beginning of the class. Getting sick of having to poke her to wake her up, she welcomed the folded paper bird that drifted onto her desk.

Are you getting any of this? was written on the paper in a loopy sort of hand writing that Jamie recognized as Sirius's.

I stopped paying attention ages ago. I'm hoping Remus is paying attention so I can copy his homework, I mean notes.

A snort escaped from the desk behind Jamie, causing Professor Brooks to spin around from the front of the room. Not being able to recognize who the culprit was, she eyed the class with a warning look, then turned back to face the blackboard. "Now, as I was saying…"

Oops.

Nice one. Do you want something in particular or are you just trying to induce the wrath of Professor Brooks?

A snore came from next to Jamie, so she elbowed Lauren swiftly, causing her to jump and look around. Once she realized where she was, she shot Jamie a death look.

"I was sleeping on purpose," Lauren muttered, returning to the position she had been in just moments prior, not noticing the flying paper.

Trying to make Remus jealous.

Although Sirius couldn't see it, Jamie raised an eyebrow at the paper and glanced forward at Remus, who was taking notes like there was no tomorrow.

Now, why would you want to do something like that?

It's my job to keep him on his feet.

Well, that's incredibly thoughtful of you.

What can I say? I'm a gentleman.

Before Jamie could write a response to Sirius about her doubting the fact he was as gentlemanly as he was claiming, Professor Brooks turned to address the entire class once more.

"Now, seeing as the end of class is almost here, I want to announce an ongoing assignment that will be starting today and won't end until the start of the Christmas holiday," she began, pointing her wand at the board so it erased everything. Jamie noticed Remus sit up quickly and sigh, flinging his quill down onto his desk, obviously not getting all of the notes from the board. "There will be no other assignments during this time, only quizzes and exams."

Professor Brooks paused for a moment, allowing the class to take this information in and for a few people to murmur excitedly about not having any other homework. The other students, however, looked at the professor warily, knowing how her mind worked.

"This will be a partner project," Professor Brooks continued, beginning to pace at the front of the class. "Your partner will be selected at random. All you must do is write each other letters in Ancient Runes. You are free to tell each other who you are, but I, personally, would rather enjoy the anonymity. You are free to write about whatever you want, so long as it is in Ancient Runes. Any questions?"

"How much of our grade will this be worth?" Lily asked from the opposite side of.

"A fair portion, Mr. Potter, since, as I said, there will be no other assignments," Professor Brooks answered.

"If it's anonymous," Sirius asked slyly, "how will you know if we've done the assignment?"

"Always looking for the way out, aren't we, Mr. Black?" Professor Brooks asked, her lips pursed disapprovingly. "I will be checking papers before class. Any other questions? Good - class is dismissed."

As Jamie gathered her parchment and quills, Remus spun around in his seat to address her. "Do you need my notes?"

"Of course," Jamie responded, sliding her things into her bag. "Why break tradition now?"

"What's that?" Remus asked, reaching for the paper bird, but Jamie snatched it up before he could grab it.

"Sirius and I were writing notes," Jamie put simply, stuffing the bird into her bag along with her other things. "Do you have class right now?"

"Arithmancy," he answered, smiling apologetically. "Want to meet me out at the tree after dinner?"

Jamie nodded and stood up straight to accept a quick kiss from him before he hurried off to his next class.

"Now, you know I'm not one to say how sickeningly perfect a relationship is," Lauren began, putting her bag over her shoulder and following Jamie out of the room, "but since we're the only ones to hear it and I know you'll never repeat it - "

"Two hours later…," Jamie interrupted impatiently.

"Do you want to hear what I have to say or not?" Lauren asked.

"Not tremendously, but I'm sure you're going to tell me either way," Jamie replied.

"Thanks for waiting," Lily said irritably, stepping in between the two girls. "What did I miss?"

"Lauren is about to give up her dignity or something just as horrible," Jamie joked, batting her eyes at Lauren. "Please, go on."

"Nope, you missed your chance," Lauren taunted, shrugging her shoulders. "Too bad for you."

"Right," Lily put in, glancing down at her class schedule. "Damn, I have Muggle Studies now. I was hoping I'd be finished for the day. You would not believe how much homework I've managed to get - and classes hardly started!"

"Wow, is Lily Evans complaining about a full course load?" Lauren asked with a sarcastic bite to her tone. "I think we told you back when you signed up for all those classes not to complain once you were in over your head."

Lily made a face at Lauren as Jamie asked, "Why are you taking Muggle Studies? You're Muggle-born, Lily."

"Like I've forgotten," Lily scoffed. "I can't walk by a Slytherin without them reminding me. I've taken it since it was first offered, so I figured I should just finish off the course."

"I think James mentioned taking that," Lauren commented, scrunching her forehead trying to remember.

"Wonderful," Lily sighed in despair. "Save me a place at dinner, alright?"

Jamie and Lauren nodded in agreement as Lily waved over her shoulder to bid them goodbye as she turned down a different corridor. The other two quickly found their way up to the Gryffindor common room, their feet easily following the route that they had struggled to learn seven years earlier.

Making their way through the portrait entrance, everything was as it normally was - including two Marauders putting some first years to good use. Curious, Jamie and Lauren approached Sirius and Peter, not entirely sure as to what was going on. The two boys were seated in separate armchairs, Sirius's wand in hand. Before him was a first year boy, laughing uncontrollably to the point of falling to his knees. The group of first years surrounding them looked warily upon the situation, as though wondering what they might have gotten themselves into.

"What are you doing?" Lauren asked directly.

"Demonstrating," Sirius answered simply, not taking his eyes off the boy.

"Demonstrating what?" Lauren pushed.

"We're practicing for our Charms NEWTS," Peter said smartly, then added in a very unsure tone, "At least, that's what Sirius said."

"Sirius, leave the boy alone before he wets himself," Jamie scolded. Surprisingly, Sirius lifted his wand and turned his gaze to Jamie for a moment. "What?" she demanded.

"Nothing," Sirius said, visibly shaking, as though trying to forget something. He straightened up and grinned widely. "Who's next?"

Much to Lauren and Jamie's dismay, a girl jumped forward and said, "Oh, me!"

"Love, are you - " Jamie started, trying to warn the girl.

"Don't listen to her," Sirius interrupted. "What's your favorite color?"

"Purple," the girl answered without so much as skipping a beat.

Before Jamie could stop him, Sirius lifted his wand to the girl and said, "Coloropunicus."

"Oh, bloody hell, Sirius," Jamie groaned, while Lauren clapped along with the rest of the crowd. The girl shrieked when she caught her reflection in the full size mirror behind Sirius and Peter, then grinned wildly while turning to face her fellow first years.

"Thank you, thank you," Sirius said, getting to his feet and bowing at his admirers. "But, that will be all for today. Please go about your business."

"Aren't you going to change her back?" Jamie asked as the now purple girl ran to show the rest of her friends.

"It'll fade away eventually," Sirius said, watching the girl. "I think."

"That's assuring," Jamie rolled her eyes.

"Really, you sound more and more like Moony every day," Sirius noted, moving over to one of the couches and leaving Peter to gab with Lauren.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Jamie demanded, following him. "And, for that matter, what was with those notes in Ancient Runes?'

"I was bored," Sirius shrugged, putting out a Quidditch book from his bag. "You were probably the only other person awake in the classroom."

"I think what you said was that you were trying to, and I quote, 'make Remus jealous,'" Jamie pressed, sitting next to Sirius on the scarlet couch. "Why would you want to do that?"

"I was just joking around," Sirius answered evenly, not lifting his gaze from his book. "I'm kind of infamous for my amazing sense of humor."

"That and your ability to shove your tongue down a girl's throat," Jamie muttered, fully aware that Sirius could hear her.

"Look, Jamie, I've changed a lot since then," Sirius said angrily, trying to control himself.

"Oh, I could totally tell, what with you turning girls purple," Jamie replied. "Sirius, let me get this straight. Things have been over between us for a long time."

"Is that why we stopped snogging between classes?" Sirius asked dumbly.

"So stop flirting with me," Jamie finished, getting to her feet, forcing him to look her in the eye. "I can't deal with it anymore - it's too hard."

"Fine," Sirius agreed, looking back down at his book to show that this discussion was over.

"Fine," Jamie replied, spinning on her heel.

'All going to plan," Sirius grinned as he watched Jamie fume away. 'This is too easy.'

"Lily," James called down the hallway after their Muggle Studies class. "Lily!"

"Why is he talking to me?" Lily muttered under her breath, pretending not to hear him as she rushed toward the Great Hall.

"Lily, wait up!" he called one more time, making Lily take pity and whirling around. James was obviously much closer to her than she had suspected, because he slammed into her, causing her bag to fly off her shoulder, spewing her books, parchment, and quills to fly across the hall.

"I'm sorry!" James apologized, falling to his knees to start collecting the supplies. "I'm so sorry, Lily!"

"It's fine," Lily said in an exasperated voice, landing next to him. "It's nothing big."

"I'm still sorry," James repeated one last time. "I didn't mean to - "

"Don't think of it," Lily reassured, taking a stack of parchment from him and putting it back into her bag. "Forgive and forget and all."

James smiled at Lily and, for some reason unknown to her, she smiled back. After a few seconds, Lily became terribly aware of her setting and rose to her feet.

"So, did you need anything?" Lily asked James as she motioned for them to start walking toward the Great Hall.

"Not particularly," James admitted, his face flushing slightly. "I just wanted to walk with you, you know, since we were going to the same place and all."

"Oh, I see," Lily replied, glancing away from him, then back as they entered the Hall. "That was quite thoughtful of you."

James couldn't help but beam as he sat down next to Sirius, Lily on his other side. Sirius raised an eyebrow at James, who didn't notice since he was still in his own little world. Sirius exchanged a look with Remus, who shrugged and continued scooping potatoes onto his plate.

"Have any of you seen Jaclyn today?" Remus asked, looking around the table and noting that she and Jamie were the only ones not present and accounted for.

"Can't say I have," Sirius answered, waving a hand in front of James's face to bring him back to the world. "Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering," Remus shrugged.

"Concerned?" Sirius pushed.

"I wouldn't say that," Remus replied, taking his Arithmancy book out of his bag and balancing it on the table so he could read it.

Defeated, Sirius dropped the subject and joined in a conversation Peter was having with Lauren about Quidditch. Before long, he noticed Jamie walk into the Hall with Jaclyn, butterflies filling his stomach - something he'd never admit aloud to anyone, even James. He hated having to cause the earlier argument with her, but he needed to know if she was still interested. The look of death he received from her when she sat next to Remus, though, almost made him think otherwise.

"Remus," Jamie began quietly, trying not to have anyone else hear, although she knew she was failing miserably. "Do you think we could take this to go and sit outside?"

Remus glanced up at her from his book and looked as though he was going to protest, but nodded nonetheless. "Sure," he agreed, putting his book back into his bag and snatching up an apple. "See you all later."

There was a chorus of goodbyes as the two left the table. As they passed the Slytherin table, a few howls escaped from the crowd, causing Remus to speed up. Jamie hurried forward to grab his hand to comfort him, but he pulled away until they reached outside. When he slowed up, Jamie realized that his face was beat red. They walked in silence until they reached a tall beech tree next to the Lake on the grounds.

"I'm sorry, Remus," Jamie said, taking her robes off and putting them on the grass so she could sit on them.

"It's not your fault," Remus replied shortly, obviously not wanting to talk about it as he leaned back against the tree. Despite the fact so few people knew that he was actually a werewolf, he knew of the rumors that had floated around Hogwarts since the beginning of his monthly disappearances. Many people saw it as only coincidental - after all, why would Dumbledore allow a werewolf into Hogwarts.

After a few uncomfortable moments, Jamie asked, "Why are you wearing your glasses?" Normally he did a morning charm on his eyes to correct his vision for the day.

"I was too tired," Remus answered, sinking his teeth into the apple. "Full moon in less than a week."

Jamie had noticed that the moon cycles did have more of a toll on him than just a monthly transformation. Remus hadn't told her until almost a year and a half into their relationship out of fear of her judging him. She had started to have suspicions, though, when she accidentally overheard James and Sirius muttering about a "late-night adventure for Moony" when Remus had been gone once.

"Is everything alright?" Jamie asked, remembering that it had been his idea in the first place to meet outside.

Remus hesitated for a moment and then shook his head. "No, I don't think so."

"What's up?" Jamie asked.

"Jamie, I've been doing a lot of thinking," he began slowly, as though he was weighing each of his words. "We've been together for almost two years now, right?"

"Two years October 3rd," Jamie put in.

"Yes," Remus nodded. "You've been through so much with me and have accepted me when so many haven't in the past." He paused, closing his eyes in thought. "I - I - Jamie, I love you."

"Oh, Remus, you know I love you, too," Jamie replied, her brow still furrowed showing concern. They had been exchanging "I love you's" for what felt like forever and she didn't understand.

"I know we're only seventeen, but I can't imagine myself with anyone but you," Remus continued, putting a hand on her cheek. He hesitated again, and then gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, I'm not very good at this sort of thing and I've never done it before."

"Okay?" Jamie questioned, putting her hand on his hand. "Take your time, love."

"It's just, you're the constant in my life, Jamie," Remus explained. "Ever since we've been together, my transformations have been less severe, my life has been infinitely better. And, well," he straightened up, pulling his silver ring off of his thumb and holding it up for her to see. "I'd really like it if you'd marry me."

Jamie's jaw dropped, Muggle cartoon style. "Are you serious? This isn't a joke?"

"Does it look like I'm joking?" Remus asked, a small smile on his face. "Jamie, I love you and I can't see me with anyone but you."

Jamie blinked a few times before grinning widely. "Of course I'll marry you, love."

Remus put the ring onto Jamie's left hand ring finger. When he saw that it was far too large, he tapped it with his wand while muttering, "Substrictus." After it shrunk to properly fit her finger, he looked into her eyes and said, "Until I can afford something sparkly."

"It's perfect," Jamie insisted, looking at her hand. Then, looking into his speckled gold brown eyes with her own dark green, her mouth split into a mischievous grin.

"What?" Remus asked, still unable to believe that she had accepted.

Jamie got to her knees and straddled Remus's lap. "Now, if we're going to do this," she said, looking deep into his eyes, "we need to level with how hard it's going to be."

"I know, Jamie," Remus nodded, swiping a lock of her hair behind her ear. "I've been thinking about this since the beginning of the summer holiday. But, I think that if anyone can do it, it's us."

Jamie put her hands on Remus's face and lowered her mouth onto his. Remus deepened the kiss without hesitation, his hands wandering up and down her back. Jamie buried her hands within Remus's light brown hair, his mouth trailing to the place on her neck that he knew would make her sigh in pleasure. When she did, Jamie forced herself to back away, her face just inches from his own.

"Remus Lupin, I love you so much," Jamie said just one more time, even though she knew he knew.

"Jamie Williams-soon-to-be-Lupin," Remus grinned, kissing her softly. "I love you even more."

Author's Note: I found this chapter to be particularly boring, but it had to be written. Please bear with me, alright? It'll heat up, as I'm sure you noticed come the end..
La Mariposa: Of course I know you liked it. But, sometimes we all need a little reinforcing. :)

allweknowisfalling: Well, certainly gave you some more drama! I hope you enjoy it!