Chapter 28


*Remus age 8, Becky age 7*

"What do bunnies eat," Becky asked as she continued to look through the bushes behind her house. She and Remus had been chasing after a small brown rabbit for hours.

"Carrots and lettuce, I think," Remus replied shouldering his butterfly net.

"So that would make you a bunny," Becky said with a cheeky grin.

"I am not a bunny," Remus playfully shouted bringing his butterfly net down on Becky's head, effectively catching her as if she was the creature they were after.

"You're more of a bunny than I am," Becky giggled as she tried to untangle herself from the net's nylon webbing.

Remus stood next to his friend, not lifting a finger to help his friend remove the offending material. "If I'm a bunny, than you must be a bug because only bugs couldn't get out of that net."

Becky scoffed finally able to pull the net off of her head. "Well, you're just a furry little problem, aren't you, Rem?"

"I am not," Remus stated placing his hands on his hips. "You're a girl so you have more fur on top of your head than I do."

"At least I don't only eat food that bunnies do," Becky said mimicking Remus' stance.

"Well...well...you're a butt-flower," Remus said.

"What's a butt-flower," Becky genuinely asked.

"You," Remus shouted as he began to run away from Becky.

Becky spent little time debating whether or not she should chase after him because within seconds, she too had begun running.

"Get back here you 'furry little problem," Becky shouted as their game of chase pursued and their task of catching an actual rabbit was forgotten.


*Current Time: About Two Months After the Break Up*

A couple of months had passed since Remus and Becky had broken things off. The two of them would still talk off and on, but it was nothing compared to how they used to speak to each other.

The grounds were now layered in white and the students of Hogwarts were practically bouncing with excitement about the holiday break starting. Many of them were rushing around the castle doing last minute errands before the train left the next day.

Becky on the other hand, was taking residence in the library having packed all of her belongings the previous day. Becky spent most of her free time in the library doing research on possible reasons for Remus' mood changes. She had hardly moved from her spot since she got out of class a few hours previous.

"You know if you don't move soon, you might become part of the decor."

Becky looked up from her book to see a dark haired figure with glasses standing above her.

"Oh, hello, James," Becky said returning to her literary world.

"Don't sound too excited now," James chuckled reaching over to prop up the cover of the book Becky was reading. "What book has gotten you so entranced? Normally girls choose me over books."

"I'm not most girls, James," Becky said attempted to slap the Head Boy's hands away from her book.

"Obviously not," James replied with a smirk. "Most girls wouldn't be able to keep their pretty little lips shut while dating a Marauder. They would want the entire school to know they landed on of the most popular men in school."

Becky looked up from the book and looked at James. "How is it that you are able to fit through doorways with that enormous ego of yours?"

"I'm just stating the truth, love," James winked causing Becky to roll her eyes. "Now stop avoiding my question."

"You asked a question?"

"Do you not pay any attention to me at all, Rebecca?"

"Not usually."

"You have been spending too much time with Lily," James huffed. He crossed his arms over his chest and gave Becky his best pouting face.

"It seems you have been spending a lot of quality time with Lily as well," Becky said returning to her book. She was actually able to read about a half a page before James interrupted her again.

"So what are your plans over the holiday?"

Becky sighed. "Nothing much. Just spending the holidays with my mum mostly."

"Well, I'm going over to Remus' for a few days," James gave Becky a cheeky smile, "I'm sure he would be beyond thrilled if you came over."

"I'm sure he would," Becky replied sarcastically finally closing her book unintentionally revealing the title 'Magic Conditions and Medical Marvels' to James.

"Okay, now I have to know. What is with the books? I have hardly seen you these past two months because you have locked yourself in the library going through book after book," James said quickly grabbing the book off of the table before Becky could hide it in her bag. "I know for a fact that this stuff is not sixth year work."

"I'm just interested in the stuff," Becky said with a shrug. She really didn't feel like explaining to James why she was looking for answers in magical medical books. Then again, she thought, he might be able to give some valuable information about Remus, him being a Marauder.

"Do you know of any conditions that alter a person mood and change their personality?"

James nearly choked with surprise at Becky's question. "W-what? Why would you assume I would know something about that?"

"Well, you're a seventh year, you're very knowledgeable," Becky began to list.

"Oh, do go on," James said letting his face melt into a smirk. "You know if you are trying to deflate my ego, you are doing a pretty lousy job."

"Usually I can get information out of Remus if I complement him," Becky mumbled.

"What was that about Remus," James wondered out loud. He moved in closer to Becky hoping that by making her feel uncomfortable by his proximity that she would repeat what she had just said.

"I said nothing of any consequence," Becky muttered. She was beginning to turn red from how close James' face was from hers. If anyone were to see them, they might get the wrong idea.

"Come on, Rebecca. You can tell me anything. I don't bite like some people," James quietly laughed at his own joke.

Becky couldn't say anything. She tried to tell James to give her some breathing room, but still his proximity made her nervous.

James continued to press forward, whispering in Becky's ear. "I'm sure you've let Remus closer than this. It shouldn't make much of a difference..."

"Remus and I have known each other forever. So of course I wouldn't be as nervous with him being close to me," Becky blurted out.

James immediately pulled away. His eyes were wide and the smirk from his lips disappeared. "What?"

Becky realized too late what she had just said. "What?"

"You just said that you and Remus have..."

"No I didn't."

"Yes, you did." James smile returned. "I just wanted you to admit that you and Remus were dating. I never thought that you would actually be the Becky."

Becky just continued to stare at James as he continued to ramble. "I mean it makes sense now that I think about it. The way Remus would act around you, the fact that you were outside Florish and Blots the first day I met you, and not to mention your name being Rebecca. Why didn't I see it before?"

"James we have to go. The train will be arriving tomorrow and I don't feel like being woken up at four in the morning when you actually start packing." Remus had come up behind the two. He tried his best to be nonchalant around Becky.

James looked between the two and broke out into an even wider grin, if that was possible.

Remus looked at his friend with sceptical eyes. When James was grinning like a mad man, it was never a good sign. "What has gotten in to you? Did Lily actually agree to see you over the holiday?"

"No, not yet," James quickly replied waving his hand in the air as if dismissing the Lily comment. "Becky, here, was just telling me some interesting details regarding your childhood. Very, very, interesting...isn't that right, Becky?"

"I have to go," Becky muttered and tried to leave. However, James caught Becky by the elbow keeping the girl in place.

"You know," Remus questioned James.

"Yes, and thank Merlin, too," James said still holding onto Becky. "Because now it makes much more sense why you became so distraught and why you stopped mentioning Becky's name. Who else knows?"

"Peter," Becky answered. "He found out after Remus and I had our first date in Hogsmead."

"Becky," Remus hissed.

"Oh, shut up, Remus," Becky snapped. "He already knows. There's no point in hiding it from him any longer."

"He wasn't supposed to find out, Rebecca," Remus said sending a glare in Becky's direction.

"Well, if you didn't keep such a tight lid on your stupid secrets than we wouldn't be having this problem, now would we," Becky questioned with an edge to her voice.

"I'm not the only one who has been keeping secrets," Remus snapped.

"Don't get mad at me," Becky scoffed pulling her arm out of James' grasp. "At least my secret doesn't affect our friendship."

James stepped between the two angry friends. "I have no idea what is going on, but I do know that the two of you need to move this little 'love fest' outside."

Madam Prince was quickly making her way over to the trio. Her face was contorted into a mask of displeasure at the disruption of her haven of silence. James was able to pull his friends out of the library before Madam Prince had the pleasure of kicking them out.

"I can't believe I am the one saying this," James began as soon as they were in the hall. "But the two of you need to stop acting like children and get over these petty differences. I hardly know you Becky, but I can see that this fight is taking a toll on you just as much as it is on Remus."

"I'm just trying to figure things out," Becky said pulling her bag higher up on her shoulder. "For right now, I'm tired. I'm sure I will see you both on the train tomorrow."

With that, Becky left the two Gryffindors standing in the hall staring after her.

"I still can't believe I didn't figure it out before," James said breaking the silence. "Becky was here this whole time and I never noticed. Why didn't you want us to know about her?"

Remus turned towards James. "Because I haven't told her about me being a werewolf and I didn't want one of you to accidently let it slip."

"You've never told her," James gasped out. "That would explain why she was asking me questions about reason for changes in mood and how that can be related to magic."

"It's complicated," Remus sighed. "Our mums promised they would let me tell Becky when I was ready, but now I fear I waited too long. From now on, no matter if and when I tell her it's going to end in her not talking to me."

"But she's not talking to you now," James pointed out. "How could matters get any worse?"

"Let's just say because I have waited so long to tell her, 'my furry little problem' is now a 'furry big problem.'"


A/N: Happy Easter everyone. I felt the need to add something in the flashback about bunnies.

This isn't as long as I had anticipated it would be, but I do hope James finding out about Becky makes up for it (at least a little bit). This chapter is also supposed to show James' growth in maturity...sort of ;-)

Thanks to everyone reading and reviewing this story! It really makes my day knowing that people appreciate this story as much as they do!

Always,
orangezauber