A/N Thanks everyone for reviewing! I reckon I'm nearly done here…this chapter's short but sweet. i.e nothing happens it's pure fluff. Well, the endings kinda funny…
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"What are you thinking about Lils?"
"Oh…nothing," she replied vaguely.
They were sitting together in Madam Pudifoots, a place which made James want to seriously vomit, but which was the place in Hogsmeade where they could be sure to be alone. Or away from their friends at least, (and Sirius' crude jokes). Looking around James tried his best not to cringe, and said;
"It's not nothing. What's up?"
"I'm just thinking about…well, life. What d'you think I should be? Auror or Healer?"
James considered the question as he played with her outstretched hand and gazed out of the window. He saw a group of first years coming out from Honeyduke's, chatting animatedly…and behind them a cloaked figure, heading down an alleyway…carrying a large parcel wrapped in brown paper. Odd.
"James?" Lily pressed.
"Uh…" he responded thickly. "Healer, no question."
"Oh, really? Why?"
"Well, it's you all over isn't it?" he said. "I mean, you're passionate, driven, caring, you get people…and you love helping. It'd be like your calling in life."
She stared at their cupped hands and tried to wish away the blush rising in her cheeks.
"You are so cheesy, Potter."
"Ah, you love it," he grinned.
"And this has nothing to do with the fact that being an Auror would put me in even more danger?"
"Nothing whatsoever. You're tough, I know you can look after yourself," James insisted.
"Good," she replied, the corners of her mouth twitching.
"What about me then? Quidditch or Auror?"
"Well…" Lily considered it, eyes darting to his Quidditch toned arms…down to his extremely well built chest and stomach…in the heat of summer he was only wearing a t-shirt…did she really want to kiss goodbye to that? He caught her looking and smirked maliciously.
"Aha, see something you like?"
"Wha--" she started, flushing. "Err, I—just, well, hypothetically, would you still do Quidditch as a hobby? On a regular basis?"
"Absolutely," he winked. "So, Auror then?"
"You would never have chosen Quidditch," she stated. "You love being the hero."
"Well that's true," he nodded. "Still…putting my life on the lines day after day, won't you be worried about me?"
"Well, apparently I'm a healer so I can patch you up after work."
"Mmmm good thinking," he replied lazily, kissing her on the cheek.
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Some hours later, Remus was gazing wistfully at his plate of pork chops, golden roast potatoes and gravy, wondering why on earth it didn't seem appetising, when he felt someone sit down beside him. Someone who, judging by the smell he often associated with honeysuckle and freshly cut grass, was Lizzy.
"We have to talk," she said casually, reaching out for a plate of chops.
"Now?" he groaned.
"No, I'm starving."
"After dinner then?" he asked her.
"Yep."
"Can't wait."
"Awesome."
There was a minute's silence as Lizzy demolished several potatoes and tried her best to ignore the feeling that her heart might literally jump out of her skin any second.
"Why aren't you eating anything?" she asked, noticing how he was playing with his food rather than consuming it, and looking thoroughly fed up.
"Because I'm so in love with you I can't think straight, let alone eat," he turned to look at her as his cutlery clattered to the floor. Eye to eye. Grey to blue. Soul to soul.
Stunned beyond belief, she blinked at him several times, before saying as evenly as she could; "Dinner can wait," and dragging him by the wrist out of the hall and into the warm summer air outside. There she glared at him, crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes. She was going to get to the bottom of this.
"What?" she asked simply.
"I thought it was pretty clear," he replied, scratching his head awkwardly for want of something better to do.
"And so, you just decided to come out with it?"
"Well, if I was going to give you an honest answer to your question," he said reasonably, with an airy hand gesture which did not reflect his true state of mind.
"Okay then truth-boy, answer me this," she said, heating up a little. Who did he think he was just telling her he loved her as if it was nothing? After ignoring her for weeks, giving her no reason, no explanation, he decides to proclaim his undying love for her over a plate of pork chops? What was he playing at? "Why are you ignoring me?"
"I'm not ignoring you," he said quietly.
"I'm not in the mood, Remus. Tell me why," she demanded, pacing the grass in front of him.
"Okay…how I feel…about you? Well, see…it can't happen, with us--"
"Watch yourself; you're starting to sound like Lily. But look what happened with her and James, the happy couple! Yeah, Lily came to her senses and went after him, and d'you know why? Because nothing matters when two people care about each other that much! Let's get our priorities right, shall we? We're in the middle of the war and I can see no good reason why you and I can't just--"
"I'm a werewolf!"
She stopped pacing and wheeled around to face him. He was watching her with the expression of a man who was so…so trapped. So isolated by his own grief…so much in pain. It took her anger away faster than she could've thought possible.
"Yeah, I'm a werewolf," he said again, more quietly. "There's your reason."
Giving her one last look of sorrow, he forced himself to leave. All he wanted was to take her in his arms, look after her, kiss her, do all number of things to her in fact…but his fate had been decided long ago, and he couldn't ask anyone he loved to risk themselves like that for him. He couldn't ask it of anyone to lead the sort of life he could give them. And so he walked the line. The tight rope he was constantly trying to balance on…back up the stone steps, wrenching open the door and blinking back the tears…until he felt her hand enclose his and bring him back to her.
"Remus…" she said gently. "I know."
He gulped, his eyes growing wide. "What?"
"I know you're a werewolf…" she said, leading him back over to the beech tree. He followed like a man possessed…
"How?"
"Does it matter?"
He shook his head slowly. "Well then...why did you ask me why I was ignoring you? If you already knew?"
"Because I didn't honestly think you were stupid enough to think that was a problem," she replied fondly.
"You think it's a stupid problem?" he asked, flabbergasted. "Let me tell you…it's not like anything you can imagine—stupid…how can—you just don't understand…" he ran a hand through his hair agitatedly. And in that moment, she launched herself at him, kissing him like she'd never kissed anyone before. Taken completely by surprise he kissed her back, unable to resist when they were that close…he couldn't pull away from that. He let his hands roam her body, let his tongue explore her mouth, let her take him to places he'd never imagined…
"Yeah I think it's pretty stupid," she said breathlessly when they had broken apart.
"I think I get it now," he whispered back.
"Good," she smiled, tracing a finger down his cheek, over his jaw line, over his lips. "The wolf's not you. You're you. And I may not understand this thing, but I understand you…you should…think of me as your kite string."
"Kite string?" he repeated.
"I'll always be here to tether you down," she grinned.
"I really kinda love you," he pushed a fallen piece of hair out of her eyes and pulled her in for a hug.
"I know. I kinda love you too," she murmured into his chest.
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"Okay, ready Evans?"
"Ready."
James opened his transfiguration text book to page three hundred and forty-two, and began skim reading the first few paragraphs. It was now a week before the NEWTs; it was time to get serious.
"What is the incantation for the transfiguration of a shoe lace into a ringworm?"
"Lubricus animatus," she replied quickly.
"What is the wand movement?"
"Diagonal slash from left to right."
"How many stages are there in the transformation to become an animagus?" he asked her with a smirk.
"Fifteen to twenty depending on how skilled the witch or wizard performing them is," she reeled off.
"Took me fourteen," he winked.
"Potter!"
"Okay, okay. Turning animals into water goblets, what's the incantation?"
"Ferreverto," she replied, rolling her eyes. "That's fourth year stuff!"
"Just warming you up. What's the incantation for the reversal spell?"
She stiffened, biting her lip as she tried to remember.
"Oh! Oh! Recurrare!"
He smiled at her before conjuring a water goblet out of thin air to land between them. They were sitting cross legged opposite one another in a secluded corner of the library.
"Show me," he smirked.
She performed the spell perfectly.
"Ah look, the student becomes the master!" she beamed as she watched the rat which had been transfigured scamper across the floor and underneath a nearby bookshelf.
"I told you we could study together! I think I'm a brilliant teacher--" he exclaimed.
"Enough revision for now," she interrupted, crawling over to him on her hands and knees to press her lips to his. He responded very enthusiastically, scooping her onto his lap and deepening the kiss, a hand running down her side…
"I have just one more question for you," he whispered into her ear.
"What's that then?" she smiled.
"Will…" he kissed her forehead. "You…" he kissed her cheek. "Marry…" he kissed her nose. "Me?" he kissed her lips.
"WHAT!"
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A/N cliffieeeee. Haha I just love that – "WHAT!" - Thanks for reading! Review! Pleeeeeeeeease.
