CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

SHE'S BACK

'When life leaves you high and dry,

I'll be at your door tonight,

When you need help,

If you need help…'

The next day Wendy returned in time for classes with the alibi of being ill with a sickness she caught in Hogsmeade. Various students wished her well and asked how she was doing…with good reason. Wendy looked positively bleak. Dark circles rimmed her eyes and her face was much paler than usual. Almost grey.

At the end of classes, it was time for Wendy to approach each of her teachers and explain her new condition. A feat that would be unnecessarily difficult for her alone. Remus recognized that, even if she didn't. Wendy was always quite prideful and Remus knew that that would prevent her from admitting that she needed his assistance. He refused to let her do this alone. Even Remus couldn't imagine doing this alone.

"Who are we talking with first?" Remus asked.

Wendy turned her weary eyes up to him, a blank expression on her face.

"Remus, I really ought to go alone."

Remus shook his head, aiming a chiding look her way.

"You're not doing this alone. I can't imagine even me doing this alone, Wendy. I'm coming with you. Don't argue."

Wendy smiled softly and shook her head. Remus tucked his hand in Wendy's hair and pulled her face to his, planting a gentle kiss on her lips.

"Alright, who's first?"

"Slughorn," sighed Wendy.

Remus grimaced and nodded at her. His eyes were full of understanding. Slughorn would be hard. He adored Wendy and Remus…Wendy a little bit more. This was obviously because she was just as clever as Remus and not a werewolf. Now, his opinion of her would be lowered, not that she cared.

"Good idea. Get the worst out of the way first."

She laughed softly and began heading towards the staircase entrance that led to the dungeons. A loud whistle sounded causing Remus to cringe. He looked over his shoulder to see Sirius and James a few yards off wearing very stern expressions. Sirius gestured for Remus to come over with his finger.

"Be right back," Remus groaned.

He traipsed over to the two of them, an exasperated expression on his face.

"Can I help you both?"

"You better not be wussing out of proposing tonight, m-"

"Sh!" hissed Remus, glancing behind him to see if Wendy had heard.

To his relief, she hadn't.

"Remus, are you still pr-"

"Sh! Sh! Shhhh! Sh!" he repeated waving his hands in their faces.

James and Sirius shrugged, seeing his point. They leaned in, furrowing their brows in concentration.

"Are you?" inquired Sirius.

Remus nodded slowly. Sirius and James scrutinized Remus. Their eyes were narrowed in speculation. Slowly, grins began to spread on their faces. Sirius firmly placed a hand on Remus' shoulder. James shoved his hands in his pockets and shook his head, smiling brightly.

"She'll say yes, mate. Trust me."

"Thank you, James. Now if you'll excuse me."

Explaining to each of her teachers proved to be quite easy. Slughorn was quite disappointed but still allowed her to attend the Slug Club with some reluctance. Flitwick didn't seem to mind; he simply shook her hand and apologized. Apologies seemed to be a common factor in all of her explanations. Well, except for McGonagall. Of course she apologized, but it didn't end there. No. Unlike most of the teachers who stopped at their apologies and condolences McGonagall began to derive plans. Plans not only as to how she would turn in her homework late, but plans as to how she could obtain the Wolfsbane potion before it was even completed and ordering her to take all of Remus's advice.

"What was the worst part?" asked Remus as they made the trek up the now deserted moving staircase.

He glanced over Wendy, her eyes glazed. After a few seconds, a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"Slughorn. I have a feeling he'll kick me out of the Slug Club."

Remus laughed heartily causing her smile to broaden. He almost asked her what seriously the worst part was, but realized that was not a good idea. Remus knew her too well now. When she wanted to avoid a topic, Wendy would cover it with humor. Instead he switched to worrying about what would occur within the next hour or so. Proposing to Wendy. What would she say? He used to be so sure but with each step that brought him closer to the Common Room, he began to doubt Wendy's answer more and more.

Why would she say yes now? Sure, Wendy needed Remus now more than ever, but would she see it that way? Would she see it that way? Or would she see it at rewarding the man who was responsible for changing her life forever…for the worst.

"Are you alright?" Wendy asked quietly.

Part of him wanted to reassure her that he was, but part of him wanted to drop on one knee right there in the desolate staircase and ask her for her hand. So he chose the latter.

The staircase slowly shifted towards the seventh floor landing, but Remus did not. He froze in his steps. Wendy continued upwards, then stopped noticing Remus was no longer beside her. She turned around and looked down at him curiously. The expression on his face was one that she had not yet witnessed. It was scared and happy and exultant and petrified and eager all at once.

"What's wrong, Remus?" she asked quietly.

A small smile broke out on his face as he finally found the courage to say the question he'd been waiting so long to ask. Looking at her warm eyes he saw a future. A wife. A family. Dancing with her in their kitchen to their wedding song. His fingers brushed the small box within his pocket and he sighed, eyes looking at her with soft longing. He removed the box and watched as Wendy's eyes widened to three times their usual size.

"Wh-what's that?"

Remus cautiously dropped to one knee as the staircase continued to shift. Wendy's breathing quickened and found herself trembling.

"Remus, what's happening?"

He opened the box and revealed the antique wedding ring that had long awaited its place on her finger.

"Wendy Withers, I've put you through hell. I delved into your personal life the first night we met and offended you. I've taken out my anger on moons on you. I've worried you and led you into darkness." He leaned in and lowered his voice so the paintings would not hear. "I mean now you are a bloody werewolf and it's my fault."

Wendy opened her mouth to protest, but Remus cut her off before she could utter a word.

"I can't take back any of that. I hate it but I can't. All I can do now, is be there for you. Take care of you and make sure I keep you out of trouble. Our track record for staying out of trouble is against us, love, but I'm sure that together we can manage."

Wendy's eyes flickered back and forth between Remus and the ring. She was dumbfounded. He was really proposing. Right here, right now. Proposing to her.

"This was what I was trying to do that night that Greyback bit you. I was trying to pull a James and do some elaborate, beautiful proposal," he laughed in spite of himself.

Wendy couldn't help but laugh back, albeit through tears.

"So, here I am, Wendy Withers. A young werewolf with no money or fortune to offer. Just a whole lot of love for this werewolf girl before me. This stunningly beautiful, kindhearted, hot-tempered, ball-busting, courageous, snarky, sarcastic girl who I have fallen so madly in love with."

Remus felt the heavy pit in his stomach lighten as he became surer of her answer. Tears were streaming down her face and he could immediately see the old Wendy emerge. The lighthearted, sweet and funny Wendy shining through this broken girl.

"I used to think that we had a lot against us, Wendy. We don't though. More than we did a week ago, sure. It's not as big as you'd think though. Yeah, we're werewolves. It's painful and we get discriminated against and we'll have to be low key and conceiving is not a good option, but we'll manage. We'll handle the pain together, we'll laugh at those who spit on us, we'll be secret keepers together, we'll adopt if we want and we WILL be happy. I'll take care of you if ever have a fit and I'll take care of us as best I can on full moons. As long as we're together, we will be happy."

Wendy nodded and took a step down so she was only one step above Remus.

"So, Wendy? What do you say? Will you marry me?"

When this question comes, women immediately say yes, except Wendy. Her chest heaved up and down in surprise and a wide smile was on her face. Remus raised his brows and cocked his head, signaling her to answer. Finally, she released a laugh, tears continuing to pour out of her eyes.

"Yes. Of course! Yes!" she sobbed.

Remus stood and removed the ring from the box. He took her hand and tenderly slid the ring onto her delicate finger. The both admired its soft glint in the dim lighting of the torches that illuminated the staircases.

Ignoring all the aches in her body, Wendy threw herself into Remus' arms crying into his shoulder.

A series of joyful cries and applause erupted from behind Wendy. On the seventh floor landing stood James, Lily, Peter and Sirius. Wendy's face turned bright red as she turned from Remus and observed her friends. Remus smiled more than he ever had in his entire life.

"Congratulations you randy wolves!" Sirius bellowed.

"Sirius, hush!" hissed Lily.

None of the squabbling mattered. Wendy Withers had just told Remus Lupin she would marry him. THAT was what mattered.

*Sorry for being so slow on the update. Got caught up in a lot of things and needed a break from this fic. Anyway, the next chapter or the chapter after will be the last for this story. I haven't decided. I'm sad to end it, but alas, there will be many more! Read my other fics if you like this one and of course review!*