That precise moment was when I realised that I couldn't possibly live without Remus Lupin.
"Moony", I asked cautiously, "What does Faolan mean? You came up with it so quickly. Had you been thinking about it for a while?"
He tensed in my arms. I looked up at him, his gaze bore into mine, sending a new wave of goosebumps up my arms.
"Yeah, I had been. Amy…it means 'little wolf' in Irish" he squeezed my arm gently. My father had always called me Little Wolf. I was completely speechless.
"You said in our second year that one day you would tell me what memory you use to conjure a patronus. Is today the day?" I asked gently, holding back tears. He considered this for a moment.
"It depends".
"On what?" I frowned, expecting something noble like 'the outcome of the war'.
"On how you take this."
I didn't get a chance to ask what 'this' was because Remus Lupin pushed my long chocolate hair out of my face and brought his lips to mine. Too stunned to move, he began to pull away, fearing rejection. My lips curved into a grin and I kissed him back fiercely, a two year crush fuelling my passion. My arms snaked around his neck and his somehow found their way to my waist where they rested contently.
He eventually pulled back to gasp for air.
"That went well", he commented, flashing me a rare glimpse of the trademark Marauder grin that usually only appeared on James and Sirius. I blushed.
"My memory was of you. Just of you as a person. Going about your everyday business, smiling, laughing studying it didn't matter what you were doing. Being around you made me happy I guess", he admitted, bowing his head slightly out of embarrassment. Without thinking I planted a kiss on his mouth.
"Remus Lupin you are the nicest, kindest person I have ever met", I declared, flinging myself back into his arms. I noticed my watch. "Shit! We'd better get back to class!"
"Em, Amy?"
"Yes Moony."
"D'you wanna come to Hogsmeade with me?" He asked nervously.
"Of course I do", I grinned, "But you have to break it to James and Sirius". Since my bad break-up with Ravenclaw Liam Donovan in fifth year, the two raven haired boys had taken it upon themselves to be my personal boyfriend bodyguards despite my protests. Remus winced in anticipation of the 'older brother' lecture about 'don't touch my sister' that he was sure to endure later that evening.
"Deal".
I had predicted the Marauder's reaction but nothing could have prepared me for the girl's celebration. I was instantly smothered in a big group hug. Emmeline Vance merely said 'congratulations' before returning to her study. She was the most distant out of all of us, spending more time with Ravenclaws than the Lions. She had pale skin, brown shoulder length hair and intelligent brown eyes.
Marlene McKinnon instantly began rooting through our trunks for a suitable outfit. She was the fashion mad one in our group. She had long blonde hair, eyes the colour of the sea and a figure that left every guy drooling and every girl green with envy.
"What to choose?" She pondered aloud.
"Nothing too revealing, it's bloody September after all", I said quickly. This quickly censored out almost everything belonging to Marlene herself.
Lily and Alice were still enthusing on how cute a couple Remus and I would be.
"Oooh, imagine the children!" Lily said.
"With Remus' gorgeous hair and Amy's stunning eyes", Alice added.
"Hey Al, paws off, you've a boyfriend of your own", I said mockingly. Alice Summers was a small tomboyish girl with jet black hair in a pixie cut and huge sapphire eyes framed by inky black eyelashes.
"Oh and Lily, how's 'Potter' these days?" I added casually, preparing myself for an explosion. Lily narrowed her emerald green eyes. Her temperament matched her long waving fiery red hair. Although she was probably the smartest person in the school, she was liable to combust at the mention of the J word. J standing for James of course. But funnily enough, this time she didn't launch into the usual long and tedious speech. She didn't even groan in despair at the sound of his name.
"I've got it!" Marlene exclaimed.
"Got what?" I frowned.
"Your outfit. Duh."
Marlene had picked out a pair of my own grey skinny jeans which she paired with a long blue top of Lily's and her own short black spiky heeled boots. Emmeline glanced at the outfit and carelessly tossed me a set of blue robes which she no doubt bought to blend in with her Ravenclaw friends. I was touched by the rare act of kindness from the usually aloof girl.
"Thanks Emmeline." She waved a dismissive hand.
"No bother."
Marlene demanded permission to do my hair for me. She untangled the knots and left it in soft curls that tumbled to my waist. Lily then applied subtle makeup, outlining my eyes and painting my lips.
"You'd better not smudge this too much", she warned.
"I can't guarantee that", I laughed.
Gryffindor common room was a hive of activity as it always was prior to a Hogsmeade visit. The girls hugged me goodbye, leaving me to the Marauders. James and Sirius insisted on standing on either side of me to 'intimidate' Remus.
Remus himself soon arrived.
"Are you ready to go?" He asked me.
"Hold on!" barked Sirius.
"Yes, we've to lay down a few rules…um not that you are to 'lay down' at any point", James waffled.
"Yeah, rule one: no 'laying down'", Peter piped up. We ignored him, it was irritating when he copied James.
"Rule two: no holding hands", Sirius continues, oblivious to our intertwined fingers.
"Rule number three: no snogging", James added.
"Finally and most importantly, rule number four: no baby-making", Sirius listed, shooting Remus with a warning glare. Remus and I spluttered."But if you happen to breach that one, I call dibs on Godfather!"
"Okay, whatever, we're going", I shrugged, recovering from my sudden coughing fit.
"Hey! Violation of rule number two!" Sirius roared, pointing at our joined hands with a look of disgust written on his face.
"Maybe we can let them off for that one mate", James whispered loudly to Sirius, "after all, holding hands doesn't get someone pregnant." I blushed. Remus dragged me away whilst they were occupied, seemingly oblivious to the nature of their conversation. Or perhaps he just didn't want to mention it.
We began the short walk to Hogsmeade. It was a strange transition from best friends to going on a date. I was unsure as to how to act.
Luckily the tension was broken when the white cottage of Madame Puddifoot's came into view. The door and windows were pink and framed by frilly curtains. Moony saw where my gaze was resting and visibly shivered. He gulped.
"Do you want to go there?" He asked courteously.
"Merlin no, it''s horrible there!" I exclaimed, pulling a face, "I was hoping to restock in Zonko's."
"See that's what I love about you", he grinned, pulling me in for a kiss and successfully breaching rule number three. Zonko's was packed with Hogwarts protégé pranksters. I began filling Remus' willing arms with dungbombs and also purchased a realistic fake mouse which we could use to distract Mrs. Norris without putting Wormtail's life at risk. I parted with eight galleons to pay for the lot.
"Fancy a butterbeer?" I asked.
"Sure, but I need to go to Honeyduke's too, I'm out of chocolate!"
"Poor Moony can't function without his chocolate fix for the day!" I teased, tweaking his cheek.
"Yup. My name is Remus Lupin and aside from being a werewolf, I'm a chocoholic", he said seriously, his face poker straight. I laughed.
"Well come on then, last one there has to tell James and Sirius where to shove their 'rules'!" With that, I raced past him.
"Cheater!" He roared.
The chase was on.
Author's note: I know it may seem as though they began dating too early but bear in mind that I have already written over 78,000 words in this series and I couldn't wait any longer! Please review!
