Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Story being Betaed by: Ms. Marauder-Cullen

Grain of Gold Sand

Chapter 13

The Dance

~*~

Remus kissed Hermione gently on the lips while their friends walked into the Great Hall before them. Ellen, John and Albus walked down the hall. The headmaster stopped the couple and told them to watch Remus and Hermione.

"You're missing something, love." Remus said and pulled out a slender box. She opened it and inside was a snowflake charm bracelet. She smiled. Remus pulled it out and clasped it around her right wrist.

"Thank you, love." Hermione said, running her fingers through his hair. He nuzzled her and kissed her neck. He held out his hand and they went into the Great Hall.

~*~

"Remus is always giving her small things." Albus said with a twinkle in his eye. "He made her bracelet out of real snowflakes." Ellen and John smiled. "Well, shall we go and join in on the fun?"

They walked into the Great Hall. John looked around the hall. He'd never been any of the Hogwarts festivals.

The Great Hall was decorated with four large Christmas trees that had fairy lights, and holly. The house tables had been replaced with round ones except for the one long table that held the refreshments.

The enchanted ceiling was starry, with falling snow. The floor had a snow like substance that made the floor look it was covered in snow, but was easy to walk on.

Minerva smiled when she saw Ellen and John. She went over and warmly greeted the couple. John kissed the deputy on the cheek. The professor excused herself from the Lupin's, mumbling under her breath about stopping two students before a fight broke out.

~*~

The group found a table near the wall. Remus helped Hermione into a chair and kissed her neck. He took his seat next to his mate. James helped Lily to her seat and he sat down next his girlfriend. Sirius helped Ginny and took a seat next her.

"Ah, Wormtail do you want me to help you to your seat." Sirius said trying to hold a laugh. He nodded at James. They helped him into a chair.

The group laughed when the boys gave him a kiss on the cheek. Peter batted his eyes at them and puckered his lips up at James and Sirius. The girls laughed at the Marauder. They sat back down next to their dates.

The students got quiet when Professor Dumbledore stood up at the front of the Great Hall. "I would like to welcome you all to the Christmas Ball. Let the fun begin!" He walked over to Minerva and led her out onto the dance floor.

The students slowly stood up and lead their dates onto the dance floor. John kissed Ellen's hand and lead her out onto the floor.

Remus helped Hermione from her seat. She smiled and took her mate's hand. He spun her out onto the dance floor. He took her right hand in his and rested his other hand on her waist. She smiled and rested her left hand on his shoulder. Remus gracefully lead Hermione around the floor.

"My father taught ball room dancing for many years." He answered her unasked question. "I never told anyone about that." He smiled and spun her out and back in.

"I have a secret. I took classes during the summer and than began teaching it two years ago."

Sirius and James whistled at the couple. Remus only winked at the boys. He jerked his head for them to join them on the floor. They nodded and led their dates onto the floor.

"Nice moves Moony." James told him.

"That's nothing Prongs." He whispered and winked at his fellow marauder. James only laughed and spun Lily around the room. "Not bad, mate."

"Must they compete against each other in everything?" Hermione asked Lily. The red head nodded. She laughed as Remus led her away from the couple.

John smiled at his son and daughter-in-law. He noted that she was indeed a very beautiful young woman. Ellen said that she was extremely smart, just Remus's type. She excepted and loved him despite him being a werewolf. John was just happy that his only son was happy. He could tell and wished them the best of luck.

Ellen followed her husband's gaze and smiled. "So, you've spotted Hermione? She's a very lovely young woman, dear. Just speak to her and you'll see."

The song changed to another slow song, because over the years that Professor Dumbledore has been headmaster he learned that the students danced more with slow songs than more up beat songs. So he and Minerva decided to put on mainly slow songs for the students to dance to.

"May I cut in?" John asked his son. Remus looked to his right and was shocked to see his father.

Remus smiled at the man and knew this was the best time for him to meet Hermione. "Of course you may." He gently kissed Hermione's hand and father and son switched dance partners.

"Hello my dear. I'm John Lupin." He introduced himself with smile.

"Hello Mr. Lupin." She leaned forward, "Hermione Granger-Lupin." She pulled back and John let out a small chuckle. He knew the way she whispered her last name that no one knew about the rare marking.

John looked at her right shoulder and saw the eternity and marriage marks through her shire part of her gown. Ellen had told him to look but don't touch the mark. He looked up and smiled. "You make my son very happy dear and please, call me John. Welcome to the family, sweetheart."

Hermione's bright brown eyes shined brightly at her father-in-law. "Thank you. It means a lot to me. The hair piece is beautiful. Thank you."

~*~

The night wore on with friends switching every so often to dance with each other. James finally got Peter out on the dance floor with Hermione. She tried her hardest not to laugh at her friend, but the poor guy couldn't dance if his life depended on it.

Remus stood up, gave her wolfish grin, and walked over to the headmaster. He whispered in his ear. Albus pulled back and his eyes shined brightly at the young man.

Remus walked over to his mate and held out his hand. "Let's have a little fun." He said. She saw the wolf shift in his eyes.

He led her out to the floor. The music began to play. John smiled at Ellen and laughed. "The tango. Why am I not surprised? It's been two years since he danced the tango. Shall we join in on the fun?" she laughed and John led her out onto the dance floor.

The student that were on the floor moved off to give the two couples room. They stood around and watched. James looked at Lily in shock. He didn't know Moony could really dance. And he means really dance! Or his father!

"Well, I'll be Merlin." Minerva said in surprise. "I had no idea that Remus Lupin could dance."

"Ah, John was in fact a ball room teacher before he got sick for the first time." Minerva smiled. "I fear the cancer has returned."

"Not after five years in remission." Albus sighed heavily and nodded.

~*~

The Marauders, Lily and Ginny stood close enough to Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall to hear about their best friend's dad being sick. They looked at each other with worry.

"Guys, this isn't good." Sirius whispered. "Mr. Lupin is like, in his early 50s' and the older you are the harder it is to fight."

"We'll just keep it our selves for now." Peter said. "Then if something happens or if he needs us we'll tell him."

They realized since they all made that pack not to join the dark wizard that Peter had slowly came out of his quiet stage. He was great with advice and understood many things and thought things through before he took action. That really surprised them all.

~*~

Remus and John gracefully bowed out to Hermione and Ellen. They students and professors cheered for the couples. Sirius and James whistled that their friend. The couples led their dates off the dance floor.

John walked up to his son and daughter-in-law. He kissed her cheek. He pulled Remus over to the side and took out some wizard's money. "I will not have my son and daughter-in-law going around without a wedding band." he said, holding out the pouch of money.

"Dad, I can't except it. You need that for…treatment." Remus whispered, and led him to a nearby table.

They sat down. "Son, I'm beyond treatment. Your mother doesn't know. Please don't tell her." Remus exhaled a shaky breath. "Take it son and get yourself and that lovely wife of yours some wedding bands." John looked at Ellen and Hermione who were quietly talking. "You love her, don't you son?"

"I loved her at first sight. Now I understood why James kept on asking Lily out." John chuckled at his son. "I'll take it only because you want me to. I'll respect your wishes."

John pulled Remus into a hug and pulled back. "You've turned into a good man Remus John Lupin." John said gently.

Remus helped his father from his seat knowing that he had little energy left. They went back over to the women. "Come along we'll walk to the gates." Remus said gently. They nodded.

~*~

Remus wrapped his robe around Hermione's shoulders. They walked to the gate. John kissed Hermione on the forehead. Ellen kissed Hermione on the forehead and pulled her into the hug.

Remus quickly took his father into a hug and inhaled his scent. "The Alpha always protects his pack and I'll do as expected."

"Don't you worry about me son." John said, pulling back. "You take care of that lovely wife of yours."

Remus pulled his mother into a tight, loving hug and inhaled her scent. "Take care of him and don't forget about yourself." He pulled back and kissed her forehead.

He stepped away pulling Hermione into his arms and watched them vanish with a pop. They returned slowly to the Gryffindor tower.

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Sirius's Sister: I want to thank you for the idea. I actually was thinking about that a few days ago, but I always love my readers input in my stories. So if any of you have any ideas send them my way. I'll try to put them into the story!