A Trip Around the World

January had come and gone, though the snow remained. Valentines day was just around the corner and in every corridor you could find girls happily giggling.

One snowy Saturday the Marauders and the girls sat in the common room, drinking hot chocolate.

Remus kissed Melissa's cheek, while he whispered sweet nothings into her ear.

"Aww, rainbow, you're so sweet," Melissa said, laughing. Their strange nicknames, oddly enough, had stuck.

James and Sirius, raised their eyebrows, but said nothing.

"I love you, sunshine," Remus gushed purposely. After all the comments from James and Sirius, he decided it was time to get them back. Melissa wholeheartedly agreed to help.

"I love you too, rainbow," Melissa said, nuzzling his nose. James and Sirius made gagging noises.

"What's with the new nicknames?" James asked, looking from Melissa to Remus.

"What's wrong with them?" Remus asked, looking at James.

"They are so…so…un-like you guys," Sirius said. "Rainbow? Sunshine? What's wrong with you?"

James and Sirius leaned forward and felt their foreheads.

"Nope, no fever here," James said after feeling Remus' head.

"No fever here either, mate," Sirius said. Melissa and Remus suddenly burst out laughing.

"Did we miss something?" James asked, looking at Lily. She shook her head, smiling.

"Why would you want rainbow? How about something manly like thunder?" Sirius suggested.

"No…I think I like rainbow," Remus said, smiling.

Ariel yawned and leaned her head on Sirius' arm.

"I'm tired," she said. Sirius put an arm around her.

"It's only 7 o'clock," he said, smiling.

"Oh well."

Melissa curled up next to Remus and leaned her head on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead, and she smiled.

Suddenly Lily jumped up.

"You guys need to come upstairs! I have to tell you something!" she said. Melissa and Ariel got up and they already started holding a whispered conversation. Unexpectedly they burst into a fit of giggles and ran up the stairs.

"What do you reckon they are going to talk about?" Sirius asked, looking over at the staircase.

"Dunno," James said, shrugging. "Maybe Valentines day. All their girlish fantasies."

"I still don't know what I'm doing for Valentines Day," Sirius said, frowning. "I can't think of anything."

"Me either," James said, looking over at Remus. "Hey, Moony, did you?"

Remus shook his head. "No."

"This isn't like Christmas right? When you wouldn't tell us," Sirius said, looking suspiciously at Remus.

"No, Padfoot. I really haven't thought of anything," Remus said, laughing. James looked over at Sirius with a smirk on his face.

"Hey, Padfoot, are you pondering what I'm pondering?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Exactly what I said. Are you pondering what I'm pondering?" he asked again.

"Stop! You're turning into Moony!" Sirius said, shielding his eyes dramatically. James and Remus stared blankly at their friend.

"Well…um…are you thinking what I'm thinking?" James asked.

"Why didn't you just say so!?" Sirius said, sighing exasperatedly. "But no, Prongs, I haven't got the slightest idea of what is in that head of yours."

James cried out in frustration. "Oh forget you!"

"Come on, Prongs, you don't want to forget dear old me," Sirius said, smiling.

"You're right. I would want to erase you completely from my memory," James said, aggravated.

"You wouldn't do that," Sirius said, laughing.

"Watch me," James said, narrowing his eyes.

"Anyway," Remus said loudly as Sirius sank lower in his chair under James' glare. "So what were you pondering, Prongs?"

"I don't remember, I forgot because of YOUR nonsense!" James said, pointing accusingly at Sirius.

"My nonsense!?" Sirius said, pointing at himself.

"Yes your nonsense!" James yelled.

"Stop it! You're acting like wild dogs!" shouted an annoyed Remus, thinking of nothing better to say.

"I think you're the wild dog, Moony," Sirius said, smirking.

"I take offense to that!" Remus said, standing up abruptly.

"Oh well," James said, shrugging.

Steaming mad, Remus, Sirius, and James all got into fighting positions.

"What are you guys doing?" Melissa asked, walking into the common room.

"He called me nonsense!" James yelled, pointing at Sirius.

"You called me nonsense first!" Sirius shot back in defense. "And he wanted to erase me from his memory!"

"They called me a wild dog!" Remus shouted, pointing at each of them. Melissa stared at them with an utter confused and disbelieving face.

"Okay, I'm going to leave now," Melissa said, backing away slowly and up the stairs.

"See what you've done?" Remus said, looking at his so-called friends.

"I remember what I was pondering!" James yelled suddenly.

"What James?" Remus asked, sighing.

"I overheard Sluggy, and there's going to be a pop quiz tomorrow!" James said happily.

"Why didn't you tell me before!?" Remus said, jumping up.

"Because he made me forget," James said, sticking his tongue out childishly at Sirius.

Remus shook his head in the stupidity of his friends and himself, and ran upstairs to study.

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Valentine's Day arrived that Monday. Melissa woke up earlier than usual and smiled as a rose loomed over her head. She yawned sleepily and reached up.

She held it in her hand and smiled at it.

Melissa wasn't sure what to do for Remus in the morning so she wrote him a letter that was currently floating above his head.

Melissa heard a yawn and turned to Ariel, who was sitting up and stretching. She, like Melissa, had a flower floating above her head

"What do you think they're going to do?" Ariel asked, smiling. Melissa shrugged.

"We can only wonder," Lily said, sitting up and taking her flower. "They either did this together or they think alike."

Ariel and Melissa laughed.

"Too bad we have classes today," Melissa said, frowning.

"Yeah…well that makes us look forward to nighttime," Ariel said, getting out of bed. The girls got dressed and quickly went downstairs to the common room.

"Hey they're not here," Lily said. Melissa grinned wickedly.

"Well…let's go wake them up then," she said. They all nodded their heads, evil smiles on their faces. They crept up the stairs quietly.

"Okay…" Lily whispered. "Are we doing this at the same time?"

"I'm sure it will be funnier that way," Ariel said, walking over to Sirius' bed.

Melissa walked over to Remus' bed and pulled back the curtains slowly. His usual snore sounded and his arms were wrapped around his pillow. She smiled and leaned down.

"Remus…wake up," she whispered near his ear. He grunted and flipped over, his face buried in the pillow. She laughed quietly. "Remus wake up."

"Go away," he mumbled sleepily, swatting at the air. Melissa looked away and saw that neither Ariel nor Lily could wake them up either.

"Well Sirius is a very heavy sleeper, but you would think that at the sound of Lily's voice James would wake up," Ariel whispered, laughing.

Melissa turned back to Remus who was mumbling nothings in his sleep.

"Remus…Remus wake up," Melissa said a little louder.

"One more hour," he said, realizing it was her and getting rid of the snappishness.

"No, Remus," Melissa said, smiling. "You need to get up now."

"A half hour?"

"No."

"Fifteen minutes?"

"No."

"Five minutes?"

"No, Remus…"

"Oh come on. You don't expect me to say one minute do you?" Remus said, turning over so he was facing her.

"I thought you were supposed to be a morning person," Melissa said, laughing.

"I usually am," Remus said, yawning and rubbing his eyes. "I was up late last night…"

"Why?" Melissa asked. A look of sudden realization crossed over Remus' face.

"Happy Valentines Day!" he said suddenly, kissing her. Melissa started laughing.

"Happy Valentines Day to you too," she said. "Want to tell me why you were up late?"

"Not really." Remus smiled. "You'll see later."

Everyone got dressed and ready and headed to breakfast. Throughout the halls were giggling and dazed girls, looking completely ridiculous in the Marauders opinion.

Melissa thought that James' idea was very cute. Every class Lily would get a piece of candy with a note why he loved her. It was rather sweet in an ironic way.

Although everyone was in the Valentine's Day spirit, their teachers were not. With an exception of one or two, any 'love nonsense' as they called it was not tolerated.

When the day was over and they had finished dinner Remus took her hand.

"Come on, I want to show you something," he said, smiling. Melissa smiled as she followed him. They walked all the way to the Room of Requirement, though when they reached it he stopped and put his back to the door. He went to open his mouth to say something, but she already knew what he was going to say.

"Remus, I'm sure I'll love it," she said reassuringly. Remus smiled slightly and kissed her forehead.

"Can I go in now?" she asked, smirking.

"Why of course you can," Remus said, pushing the door open. She was just about to walk in when Remus covered her eyes.

"Wait. Where do you want to go first? Paris, Bermuda, Italy, or Greece?" he whispered to her.

"What?" she asked, laughing.

"Where do you want to go?" he repeated, a small smile on his face.

"Hmmm…Paris," she said. Remus took his hand off of her eyes and she walked inside.

Melissa gasped as she walked in. The room was set exactly to look like Paris. There on the wall she could see the Eiffel Tower, lights, and other buildings. And to top the beautiful setting there was a table with French food.

"Remus! This is amazing!" she said, turning around and hugging him. He smiled. "How did you…?"

"Ahh, a man never tells his romantic secrets," he said with a terrible French accent that made her laugh. "Shall we eat, mademoiselle?"

"Yes, monsieur," she said, trying her best not to laugh. "You and I are both horrible are accents."

"Oh well…we can try," Remus said, flashing her a smile. He held out her chair for her and then he sat down also. "Didn't you take a language in your muggle school though?"

She laughed. "Yeah I did, I was never good at it though. Just not my thing I guess."

Remus smiled. She looked around the room and then back at him. His head was slightly tilted and he was watching her.

"Remus, you didn't need to do all of this for me," she said. Remus reached across the table and took her hand in his.

"I wanted to," he said. She smiled.

"How did you do it?" She looked around. "It's beautiful."

"I already established I wouldn't tell you," he said, smiling. "Plus this isn't everything."

Melissa raised an eyebrow at him. He just continued to smile at her.

"Remus, what do you mean 'this isn't everything'?"

"Exactly what I said," Remus said. He ran his thumb across her hand.

After they had finished eating and talked for a bit Remus stood up.

"Where are we off to now?" he asked, taking her hand.

"I want you to pick," Melissa said, standing up and kissing him.

"How about Italy," he said.

"Sounds good to me," Melissa said, nuzzling her nose with his.

The night had been the most amazing night Melissa had ever experienced. Remus was extremely sweet, as usual, and they had a lot of fun.

Melissa stood up suddenly and took Remus' hand.

"Will you dance with me?" she asked quietly. The last place they went was Bermuda, and Remus had made it where they were on a beach at sunset.

Remus stood up and she leaned into him. He put one arm around her waist and the other took her hand. She leaned her head on his chest and sighed contently.

Instead of dancing to no music as they had last time, music started to play. Melissa smiled against him and he laughed quietly. He slowly swayed them back and forth.

"Love is all that I can give to you," Remus said quietly with the song. Melissa looked up at him and smiled. "L is for the way you look at me. O is for the only one I see. V is very, very, extraordinary. E is even more than anyone that you adore…"

"Love is more than just a game for two. Two in love can make it. Take my heart and please don't break it. Love was made for me and you," Melissa finished.

Suddenly they both started to laugh.

"How cliché," Melissa said, leaning her head on Remus' chest again as the song continued. "Though it was very sweet."

Remus smiled.

All too soon the wonderful night ended. Remus cleaned up the Room of Requirement with a swish of his wand, and he and Melissa left.

"Thank you, Remus," Melissa said, leaning her head on his shoulder. Remus slipped his arm around her waist.

"I should thank you too," he said quietly. Melissa smiled.

The cool night air blew in from the slightly opened windows, while silence etched itself throughout the empty corridor. Remus kept Melissa close to him as they walked, and kept looking around.

"What are you doing?" she asked, laughing.

"Just making sure…" he said.

"It's not like you can smell anything with your werewolf senses." She snorted with laughter. Remus looked at her with an amused face.

"How do you know I don't have any? I very well could, and I do. My smell and hearing is much better than yours," he said. She started laughing again.

"Gee thanks," she said. Remus soon joined in her laughter. "Wait…what were you making sure of though?"

"Any unwanted company," he said, a dark looking passing over his face.

When they got back to the common room it was dark and silent.

"Is it really that late?" Melissa asked, stepping into the empty room.

"Probably," Remus said, taking out his wand and lighting the grate.

"That's okay," she said, smiling. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Glad you think so," he said, chuckling. Melissa leaned her forehead against his chin. "I wish I could come back with you…" His voice was silent and slightly unsettling.

Melissa moved back and stared up at him. Remus' amber eyes were glowing from the flames, while his hair fell neatly to his forehead as it always did. His face was set in a soft gaze, yet his eyes were serious.

"I wouldn't ask you to leave all of this…" Melissa gestured around her. "More importantly your friends. I couldn't do that."

"We'd see them again," he said softly.

Melissa turned away from him. They had never discussed this alternative idea before, and it was making a strange guilt form in the pit of her stomach.

"No matter how appealing that sounds, I don't think it's best…for you," she said slowly, looking back up at him.

"Why not? I know we would be able to get through it," he said. "Melissa…I can't go on knowing that I won't see you for twenty-seven years. I can't do it."

Her mouth opened slightly in shock. "Twenty-seven…"

"Years," Remus finished for her.

"I know," she said quietly. "Remus I…I don't know what to say."

"It's not your fault." He waved it off as if they were discussing the weather.

Look what I've done…she thought, staring at the distressed young man in front of her. Curse me and my bloody feelings.

"Don't say that. It is my fault," she said, the guilt growing. Her stomach was aching and her heart was going out to him. Though there was nothing she could do to ease it. No matter what, she would be leaving and he would have to stay behind.

"Listen to me," Remus said, taking her face in his hands. "I wouldn't go back and change a thing. You're the best thing that's happened to me in a long time. If I have to wait twenty-seven years to be with you again than I'll bloody do it!"

Melissa smiled slightly. "I love you…more than you'll ever know I think…"

Remus shook his head, his own smile on his face. "You're wrong, again. I know that you love me and I love you. That's all we need to know to get through this. Okay?"

She nodded her head. He leaned down and kissed her softly, though all feelings were put into that simple kiss. He went to move back but she put her hands on his wrists.

"Stay with me…" she pleaded quietly.

Remus, without even thinking twice, leaned down and kissed her again.

"Let's go to the Room of Requirement," he said suddenly.

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Melissa woke up the next morning to a blinding light. She squinted and reached for her alarm clock. Her hand fumbled around for a moment before she realized it wasn't there. A light snore filled the room and she felt a protective arm around her.

"Oh yeah," she said, a goofy smile appearing on her face.

The night before had been amazing. The wonderful dinner, spending time with him, a very touching statement, and when she didn't think it could get any better…it did.

Melissa was actually quite surprised he had done that, after all he was Remus. He moved slightly, his fingers lightly brushing her stomach. She stifled a giggle as he continued to sleep.

"Is it really morning?" he mumbled all of a sudden.

"Yes," she said, laughing. Remus grinned, remembering last night.

James and Sirius are going to have a field day if they find out…he thought, suppressing a groan. Scratch that…WHEN they find out.

"Hmmm…we have a test today," Remus mused, nuzzling his face into her soft hair.

"Shoot! We have classes today!" she yelled, jumping out of bed suddenly, bringing the sheet with her.

Melissa ran around the room grabbing her clothes. He just watched her with an amused look. She stopped and looked at him. "What?"

"Nothing," he said, laughing.

"No, you're laughing at me," she said, glaring playfully at him. She threw her clothes on the bed and leaned down to him. "Now that's not very nice."

"Right, but neither was taking my sheet away," he said, pulling it off her with one swift motion. She squealed and jumped under the covers.

"That wasn't nice," she said, laughing.

"You took it away first, I was merely just taking it back," he said, smiling.

She lightly swatted his arm. "Well it still wasn't nice."

"I'm sorry," he said, leaning his head against hers. "Do forgive me?" he looked at her with Sirius approved puppy-dog eyes.

Melissa kissed his nose. "How could I not?"

Remus grinned. She laid her head on his chest and sighed.

"I don't care if we have a test today. I want to stay here."

"Me too," he said, smiling. He idly stroked her hair, while humming to himself.

Melissa looked up at him. "What are you thinking about?"

"Now?" he chuckled.

"Yes now," she said, smiling.

"I don't know. A lot of things, I guess." He raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"No. What are you thinking about, Remus. I'm curious to know." Her eyes searched his for an answer.

"Are you referring to last night?" he asked. She nodded her head. "You're not regretting…"

"No!" Melissa said quickly, causing herself to blush. "No…that's not what I meant. I wanted to know what you thought…"

"Well it's nothing negative, my dear," Remus said. "Far from it."

"Er…okay."

Remus laughed. "You would think I would be the shy one in this…well…situation."

Melissa laughed also.

She yawned and snuggled under the covers. "As much as I would like to stay here we have classes today, and I'm afraid we must go."

"Yes, we must," Remus said, sighing also. Melissa smiled up at him.

Remus' hair was slightly tousled from sleeping, and he had a ridiculous, almost drunk looking, grin on his face. She had to giggle at how cute he looked.

Melissa and Remus got dressed and reluctantly left the Room of Requirement, knowing what would await them if James and Sirius found out. Breakfast was almost over when they arrived.

"Hey," they said, sitting down. They grabbed toast and eggs while everyone looked at them.

Sirius suddenly smirked. "You did it…didn't you?"

"What, Padfoot?" Remus said innocently, looking up at his friend.

"You did it…" Sirius' smirk widened. Remus raised an eyebrow.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Remus said.

"Yes you do, you stud!" Sirius said, elbowing Remus. James looked up from his oatmeal.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"Moony did it…for real," Sirius said, wiggling his eyebrows. James looked confused for a moment and then a grin formed on his face.

"Bloody brilliant! I knew you had it in you!" he said, slapping Remus' shoulder.

"Hey, Lissy, I know you…" Sirius said in a singsong voice.

"Don't, Sirius," Melissa said, putting up a hand to silence him. He pouted.

"Why can't I bother you guys about it? Just for one day?" he said.

"No!" Melissa and Remus said in unison.

"Just drop it," Remus said, slightly peeved. He knew this was going to happen. That was the first…well second thing he thought about when he woke up. Although he had to admit he was expecting it from them.

"We've been waiting for this day, Moony!" James whined. "Why can't we celebrate?"

"Because! My love life is not for you to go parading around and celebrating!" Remus said, a little too loudly than planned.

The whole Gryffindor table looked over at him.

"Go back to what you were doing please," Remus said, shaking from anger and embarrassment. "Nothing to see here…"

"Except an embarrassed werewolf who just lost his vir…" James whispered so only he, Sirius, Melissa, and Remus could hear. Though Remus had other plans, and covered James' mouth quickly.

"You could've stopped ages ago. Must you keep going?" Remus asked, forcing a smile.

"Yes," James and Sirius said, smirking.

By the end of breakfast Sirius and James had been thinking up remarks. There was a different comment for each class. Potions was by far the worst.

"Ahh yes, chemistry, the combining of chemicals. Sometimes when you put two wrong chemicals together it goes 'Bang'!"

"Speaking of bang, Padfoot… Moony ba-"

"PRONGS!"

Remus collapsed back on the couch. The common room was scattered with students who were either studying, or just hanging out. He didn't really mind that they were all there; anyone was better than James and Sirius at the moment. His hand covered his eyes while he tried to relax.

"How're you holding, darling?" Melissa asked, smiling and sitting next to him. Remus slid his fingers apart so he could look at her.

"Fine, I guess. What about you?"

Ariel and Lily hadn't been any better. Although the embarrassing comments were left out, they still pestered her about it.

"We should go into hiding," he said, chuckling.

"Maybe we should," she said, squeezing herself between the couch and Remus.

"Or maybe sound barriers. That way we couldn't hear any of the stupid things they say," he suggested, grinning at the wonderful idea. She laughed.

"We could think of brilliant ideas all night, but let's face it. None of them are doable."

He frowned. "Why not?"

"Because…how are we going to get a sound barrier?" she asked, still laughing.

"Well if it isn't the two lovedogs," Sirius said, plopping himself in a chair by the couch.

"Lovedogs?" Remus asked, removing his hand from his eyes.

"Well yeah. You can't be birds," he said as if it were obvious.

"Why not?" Melissa asked. Sirius looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to them, when he found none he spoke.

"Hello! Werewolf…werewolf's mate…geez you guys are dumb," Sirius said, rolling his eyes.

"Will this all stop tomorrow?" Remus asked hopefully. Sirius put his finger to his chin in mock thought.

"Umm…no," he said. Remus groaned. "You're not regretting what you did now, are you, Moony?"

"No," Remus said, smiling inwardly. That had been happening quite often that day.

"Fine. I'll stop," Sirius said, standing up and stretching. "I do have to give you props though, Moony. You did do it. I guess that counts for something."

"Thanks, Sirius. That's real nice of you," Remus said, sarcasm dripping from every word. Of course Sirius didn't notice and he climbed up the stairs to the boys dorm.

A/N- Wow, big chapter! I have to give credit to my friend Michelle, for helping me with that complete bunch of silly nonsense in the beginning (Ignore the irony). Well anyway, it finally happened. Please Review!!!!