A.N—I decided to skip ahead in time, so please don't get confused or anything. I wrote this entirely differently, and I like it better this way.

Disclaimer—Nope.

OoOoO

Chapter Twenty Five
Clearing the Air

Belle stood on the platform ready to board the Hogwarts express, her trunk already on the train and her family already gone. Belle hadn't really spoken to Remus since their hook up on the night of her brothers wedding, which had been over a month ago now. That didn't mean that she hadn't thought about him, gone to bed every night with him on her mind, her very dreams haunted by his presence.

He'd sent her letters. Almost everyday since the wedding and she'd ignored them all. Half she hadn't even opened. She was just too ashamed of how she had acted to face him. She didn't remember everything that had happened on that night, but she was fairly sure that Remus had told her that he loved her. She was scared about what he would do when he saw her today, because she knew that without a doubt that he would come and find her no matter where she hid.

"Hey there, Tink." Lily chimed as she walked over to Belle, giving her a hug.

"How are you feeling?" Mary asked, her gorgeous face worried. Belle heaved in a nervous breath that rattled a little bit.

"Nervous. I don't know what to expect." she replied. Mary rubbed her shoulder supportively. James was suddenly there, his arm around Lily. She smiled up at him and raised up on her tip-toes to kiss him lightly. He blushed a bit and pushed his glasses up his nose.

"How are you, beautiful?"

"Oh, I'm great, thanks for asking, James." Mary gushed with a wink. Lily laughed and James gave her a hug.

"I missed you girls." he said honestly before turning to embrace Belle.

"Where is he?" she whispered, sounding terrified.

"He's coming with Sirius." he replied in a hushed tone, stepping back, his hand grabbing Lily's immediately. "You still have time to run for it, you know."

Belle nodded, noticing that her hands were shaking. "That makes me look like a coward, if I run."

James frowned at her in sympathy.

"PRONGS!" Sirius's bellow cut over the chatter of the families around them and suddenly she saw him shoving through the bodies blocking his path, Peter literally right behind him. Together they both broke into excited runs, stopping in front of the girls and James, who were all grinning at their antics. Following much more casually was Remus. Belle's breathing hitched as they locked eyes and he walked slowly and deliberately towards her.

Sirius picked her up in a bone crushing hug, winking at her before turning to Mary, whom he hugged, looking a little stiff and awkward as he did so. Belle hugged Peter then stood up straight as a fire poker as she watched Remus get closer and closer. He looked handsome as usual in a white singlet, a red flannel shirt on top which was open and flapping in the slight breeze. He wore black jeans and converses, his brown hair tousled perfectly. His expression remained calm and smooth, like a statue.

Belle took a breath and took a couple of steps forward. "Listen, I know that running out like that was totally stupid and I was acting like such a cheap slag but I just want you to know that—"

Remus kept walking straight at her, waving a dismissive hand as he said, "Peace, I will stop your mouth."

Belle only had a second to register the fact he'd quoted Shakespeare before he took her face in his hands, lowered his head and kissed her full on the mouth. The familiar spark ignited and she responded immediately, kissing him back and winding her arms around his shoulders, one of her hands twining in his hair. After a long moment he pulled back and put his forehead against hers.

"Go out with me?" Remus asked.

"Oh yeah." Belle replied with a grin. "Definitely."

Remus grinned hugely, winding his arms around her waist and spinning her around in a circle, kissing her more passionately than before.

"OI!"

Remus put her back on the floor and turned to see Sirius grimacing at them. Belle blushed bright red and hid her face in Remus's chest.

"Could you be any more disgusting? I mean, can you please just...just hold it in, or something?" Sirius asked weakly. Mary, James and Lily laughed while Sirius turned away, climbing onto the train while muttering things under his breath. The others soon followed, giving Remus and Belle some space to talk.

Remus chuckled and looked down at Belle, tipping her chin up to look into her eyes. "I'm so sorry for everything. I'm sorry I couldn't look past my nose and see the wonderful person that you are all those years ago. I'm sorry that I put you through so much hell and I'm sorry for the way I treated you at your brothers wedding. Truth is I don't just want your body, I want you. All of you. The good and the bad. If you can forgive me, I'll make it up to you in any way I can."

"I'll forgive you if you forgive me for running out on you like some cheap slut that night." she replied. Remus smiled at her softly, pressing a quick kiss to her lips before pulling her close.

"Nothing to forgive." he replied.

"Are we done with the apologies?" she asked. Remus laughed.

"Yeah, I think so. From now on, we tell each other everything." he said, meeting her gaze. "Agreed?"

Belle nodded, hesitating. "Agreed."