Disclaimer: See the first 4 chapters.
Thank you for your reviews!
To flamers: I don't take kindly to flames so back off, if you know what's good for you.
Hey, this is not the last chapter so stay tuned. The chapter towards the end of the whole story would be dark, and you are going to hate me for it but that's how the story goes. But Remus will be happy in the end, you will see why.
Chapter 10: A talk with Professor Dumbledore and the Proposal
The next morning, Remus woke up and saw an owl, tapping Alexandra's bedroom window impatiently. He carefully got out of the bed without waking Alexandra up and went to the window.
"Thanks." He whispered to the owl and looked at envelope that it had in its claws.
Professor Remus Lupin
Well, this was certainly not a letter from Harry or Sirius. He turned the letter around and saw the Hogwarts seal. He raised his eyebrows and opened it.
Dear Professor Lupin,
You are required to attend a staff meeting this late morning at Hogwarts, 11am. Please be punctual.
Your sincerely,
Professor M. McGonagall
"Oh no." Remus thought. He looked at the butterfly-shape clock on the wall. 10.30am. He folded the letter half, and then a quarter, and then he continued to fold it until he couldn't fold it anymore. "Just when I thought I could protect Alexandra throughout the whole summer..." He muttered to himself. He sighed, went to Alexandra' side of the bed, kneeled down and whispered: "Alex? Alex, wake up."
"Hm?" Alexandra opened her eyes. "What?"
"Listen, I have to go back to Hogwarts for a staff meeting. I need to apparate to Hogsmeade train station right now so that I can make it in time for it. Will you be safe by yourself here?" He asked in concern.
Alexandra nodded. "Don't worry. He won't come here."
"Why?"
"He doesn't know my address."
***
"Remus, why are you wearing Muggle clothes?" Snape said in disgust in Dumbledore's office, looking at Remus in his dark blue shirt, black jeans and black boots. All the teachers were here and all were wearing robes except for Hagrid and Remus. Sirius was not around since Remus would tell him everything when he got back the day before the holidays ended.
"None of your business." Remus snapped, who was too busily thinking about Alexandra. Sure, Tim didn't know her address but he would find out sooner or later. "He is an lunatic." He muttered.
"What?" Snape growled.
"I'm not talking about you." Remus said.
As Dumbledore giving the teachers' timetables, Remus' thoughts drifted back to Alexandra again. What was he going to do about her so that she could be perfectly protected?
"Hello! Earth to Remus Lupin, have you forgotten who she is?" A voice in his mind scolded. "She's your girlfriend, for Merlin's sake! Marry her and she can be with you forever!"
Marry her?
He had never thought of getting married before!
Was he ready to settle down?
***
"All right, dismiss." Dumbledore said cheerfully when he finished in the late afternoon and the teachers stood up, but stayed around to discuss their timetables.
"If there are 12 or more students in Gryffindor this year, I am going to be sick." Snape mumbled.
"Great, most o' the third years are taking my lessons." Hagrid said happily.
"Must be blind." Snape said unmercifully.
"Ah, shut up, Snape." Hagrid snapped.
Madam Hooch looked at her timetable and counted. "48 new students? That means more students for the 1st year's flying lesson! Great! The more the merrier!" She said happily.
"Excuse me, Professor Dumbledore but can we talk?" Remus asked when the teachers left.
Professor Dumbledore gave a glance at Professor McGonagall, who was rolling up her parchment. Professor McGonagall gathered the rest of her things, walked to Dumbledore and said shortly: "I will be in my office." She kissed Dumbledore's cheek lightly, stopped beside Remus long enough to say: "See you on 1st September." She smiled at him and left the office.
"Sit down, Remus." Dumbledore said kindly, sitting down on his chair behind his desk.
Remus sat down on the chair across Dumbledore and didn't say anything.
"Is there something you wish to tell me?" Dumbledore asked.
"Hm, yeah." Remus said. "I mean, yes." He said quickly, changing his tone.
"You can stick to the word "Yeah" if you want to." Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Thank you, sir." Remus said. "It's like this.....err...I don't know where to start...."
"Is there something wrong between you and Miss Skipper?" Dumbledore asked in concern.
Remus shook his head quickly. "No, we are going along just fine..err, Professor, what do you think of me?"
Dumbledore leaned back on his chair. "Well, you are a capable wizard, perceptive, even-tempered, thoughtful, introspective, and you concern about others' safety rather than yourself." He smiled.
"Am I that good?" Remus asked uncertainly.
"What's more, I often hear students saying that you are kind and humorous. You are the most popular teacher in Hogwarts, completely the opposite of Severus."
Remus couldn't help but blushed a little. "Professor.....do you think I should ask, um, Alexandra to marry me?"
Dumbledore leaned forward, put his hands together and thought deeply. "No." he said finally.
Remus raised his eyebrows.
Dumbledore grinned. "Just kidding. Anyway, the question is, do you think you should?"
Remus went silent for a while before he started talking: "Do you think marriage can work between a Muggle and a wizard?"
"Is that's why you are hesitating?" Dumbledore asked.
"I guess." Remus mumbled.
"Did Mr. Finnigan ever tell you that his father is a Muggle and mother is a witch?" Dumbledore asked.
Remus shook his head. "No, he didn't tell me."
"And he had a nasty shock when he found out. But they are still together, happily, I might add." Dumbledore said.
"But Voldemort's parents...." Remus started.
"Voldemort's parents are a different case." Dumbledore interrupted. "True love has no boundaries. When a marriage works, it's wonderful. But both partners have to be clear about what they expect to get out of the marriage, and what they are willing to put into it. Yes, marriage is romantic. But it takes hard work to keep it that way. Because the real romance is in spending your life with someone you respect and trust." Dumbledore leaned forward and looked into Remus' eyes. "Do you think you are ready to have that kind of life?"
Remus didn't respond.
"I can't exactly tell you if you should. It's your choice. If you think you are responsible enough, which I think you are, and love, respect and trust her, which I assume you do, go ahead and propose."
Remus smiled. "I think I will." He said and stood up. "Thank you for answering my question."
"I didn't answer your question. Like I said, it's your choice." Dumbledore said.
***
Alexandra was writing something at her desk in her room when the doorbell rang. She stopped writing and listened. The doorbell rang again. "Remus? Is that you at the door?"
The doorbell continued to ring.
Alexandra put down her pen with a puzzled frown on her face. "Can't you just apparate?" She mumbled and went downstairs. She went to the door, opened the door and saw no one. Instead, she saw a letter on the floor mat that says: "To Miss Alexandra Skipper." She picked it up and turned it over. No return address. She closed the door, opened the envelope and took out the paper.
The first thing she saw was a picture of white, bloody figure with a face without its skin, big, cold blank eyes, long black straight hair in the mid air of an ordinary living room, staring at her.
Alexandra gave a bloodcurdling scream and dropped in a dead faint.
***
"Alex! I'm....." Remus said cheerfully when he apparated back to Alexandra's living room later. "Oh Merlin!" He cried when he saw Alexandra lying on the floor. Remus rushed to her, kneeled down and carried her head to his lap. "Alex? Alex, wake up! Don't scare me, Alex!" He said in panic.
"Hm?" Alexandra said weakly and opened her eyes slowly. She looked at Remus, sat up quickly and said: "Remus, it was horrible! It ...."
"Calm down, Alex, please!" Remus said.
Alexandra shut up and breathed heavily.
"Now let's sit on the sofa." He said and picked the picture, which its face down and was lying nearby.
Alexandra's eyes widened and screamed: "Get that thing away from me!" She said hysterically, drew her knees to her chest and covered her face.
"Huh?" Remus said and turned the picture over. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.
"Looks like the female version of the Bloody Baron." He managed to say and took the envelope to see if there were any more things inside. Sure enough, there was a piece of note.
He took out the note and read.
Scared you, didn't I? I got your address from the professor at the university, you can't get away from me, and you are mine forever after 18th of June, our graduation day.
Tim, your future husband
Remus scowled and crashed the letter into a tight ball. He aimed and threw the ball into the dustbin and put his hand on Alexandra's shoulder. Alexandra didn't move away from him. Remus took her into his arms and rocked her gently. "It's okay, Alex, I am here."
"He's crazy." Alexandra said without removing her hands.
"We have to get away from this place." Remus whispered. "Alex, why don't you go back to the wizarding world with me?"
Alexandra removed her hands. "You mean...."
Remus took her hand and kissed it. "Go back with me and be my wife. And we can live in peace forever."
"Are you serious?" Alexandra whispered.
"Of course I am. I'm truly, madly, deeply in love with you, how can I not be serious about this?" Remus asked.
Alexandra blinked her eyes, which were now filled with tears. "I don't know what to say....."
"Say yes then." Remus whispered.
Alexandra smiled. "Yes."
Remus grinned mischievously. "Hey, isn't that mean my kids are going to be half-bloods?"
"Now you are going way too far in the future!" Alexandra said, punched him playfully.
Stay tuned for the next chapter for Alexandra's tour in Diagon Alley! (Thank you, Dadaiiro for the idea!)
Thank you for your reviews!
To flamers: I don't take kindly to flames so back off, if you know what's good for you.
Hey, this is not the last chapter so stay tuned. The chapter towards the end of the whole story would be dark, and you are going to hate me for it but that's how the story goes. But Remus will be happy in the end, you will see why.
Chapter 10: A talk with Professor Dumbledore and the Proposal
The next morning, Remus woke up and saw an owl, tapping Alexandra's bedroom window impatiently. He carefully got out of the bed without waking Alexandra up and went to the window.
"Thanks." He whispered to the owl and looked at envelope that it had in its claws.
Professor Remus Lupin
Well, this was certainly not a letter from Harry or Sirius. He turned the letter around and saw the Hogwarts seal. He raised his eyebrows and opened it.
Dear Professor Lupin,
You are required to attend a staff meeting this late morning at Hogwarts, 11am. Please be punctual.
Your sincerely,
Professor M. McGonagall
"Oh no." Remus thought. He looked at the butterfly-shape clock on the wall. 10.30am. He folded the letter half, and then a quarter, and then he continued to fold it until he couldn't fold it anymore. "Just when I thought I could protect Alexandra throughout the whole summer..." He muttered to himself. He sighed, went to Alexandra' side of the bed, kneeled down and whispered: "Alex? Alex, wake up."
"Hm?" Alexandra opened her eyes. "What?"
"Listen, I have to go back to Hogwarts for a staff meeting. I need to apparate to Hogsmeade train station right now so that I can make it in time for it. Will you be safe by yourself here?" He asked in concern.
Alexandra nodded. "Don't worry. He won't come here."
"Why?"
"He doesn't know my address."
***
"Remus, why are you wearing Muggle clothes?" Snape said in disgust in Dumbledore's office, looking at Remus in his dark blue shirt, black jeans and black boots. All the teachers were here and all were wearing robes except for Hagrid and Remus. Sirius was not around since Remus would tell him everything when he got back the day before the holidays ended.
"None of your business." Remus snapped, who was too busily thinking about Alexandra. Sure, Tim didn't know her address but he would find out sooner or later. "He is an lunatic." He muttered.
"What?" Snape growled.
"I'm not talking about you." Remus said.
As Dumbledore giving the teachers' timetables, Remus' thoughts drifted back to Alexandra again. What was he going to do about her so that she could be perfectly protected?
"Hello! Earth to Remus Lupin, have you forgotten who she is?" A voice in his mind scolded. "She's your girlfriend, for Merlin's sake! Marry her and she can be with you forever!"
Marry her?
He had never thought of getting married before!
Was he ready to settle down?
***
"All right, dismiss." Dumbledore said cheerfully when he finished in the late afternoon and the teachers stood up, but stayed around to discuss their timetables.
"If there are 12 or more students in Gryffindor this year, I am going to be sick." Snape mumbled.
"Great, most o' the third years are taking my lessons." Hagrid said happily.
"Must be blind." Snape said unmercifully.
"Ah, shut up, Snape." Hagrid snapped.
Madam Hooch looked at her timetable and counted. "48 new students? That means more students for the 1st year's flying lesson! Great! The more the merrier!" She said happily.
"Excuse me, Professor Dumbledore but can we talk?" Remus asked when the teachers left.
Professor Dumbledore gave a glance at Professor McGonagall, who was rolling up her parchment. Professor McGonagall gathered the rest of her things, walked to Dumbledore and said shortly: "I will be in my office." She kissed Dumbledore's cheek lightly, stopped beside Remus long enough to say: "See you on 1st September." She smiled at him and left the office.
"Sit down, Remus." Dumbledore said kindly, sitting down on his chair behind his desk.
Remus sat down on the chair across Dumbledore and didn't say anything.
"Is there something you wish to tell me?" Dumbledore asked.
"Hm, yeah." Remus said. "I mean, yes." He said quickly, changing his tone.
"You can stick to the word "Yeah" if you want to." Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Thank you, sir." Remus said. "It's like this.....err...I don't know where to start...."
"Is there something wrong between you and Miss Skipper?" Dumbledore asked in concern.
Remus shook his head quickly. "No, we are going along just fine..err, Professor, what do you think of me?"
Dumbledore leaned back on his chair. "Well, you are a capable wizard, perceptive, even-tempered, thoughtful, introspective, and you concern about others' safety rather than yourself." He smiled.
"Am I that good?" Remus asked uncertainly.
"What's more, I often hear students saying that you are kind and humorous. You are the most popular teacher in Hogwarts, completely the opposite of Severus."
Remus couldn't help but blushed a little. "Professor.....do you think I should ask, um, Alexandra to marry me?"
Dumbledore leaned forward, put his hands together and thought deeply. "No." he said finally.
Remus raised his eyebrows.
Dumbledore grinned. "Just kidding. Anyway, the question is, do you think you should?"
Remus went silent for a while before he started talking: "Do you think marriage can work between a Muggle and a wizard?"
"Is that's why you are hesitating?" Dumbledore asked.
"I guess." Remus mumbled.
"Did Mr. Finnigan ever tell you that his father is a Muggle and mother is a witch?" Dumbledore asked.
Remus shook his head. "No, he didn't tell me."
"And he had a nasty shock when he found out. But they are still together, happily, I might add." Dumbledore said.
"But Voldemort's parents...." Remus started.
"Voldemort's parents are a different case." Dumbledore interrupted. "True love has no boundaries. When a marriage works, it's wonderful. But both partners have to be clear about what they expect to get out of the marriage, and what they are willing to put into it. Yes, marriage is romantic. But it takes hard work to keep it that way. Because the real romance is in spending your life with someone you respect and trust." Dumbledore leaned forward and looked into Remus' eyes. "Do you think you are ready to have that kind of life?"
Remus didn't respond.
"I can't exactly tell you if you should. It's your choice. If you think you are responsible enough, which I think you are, and love, respect and trust her, which I assume you do, go ahead and propose."
Remus smiled. "I think I will." He said and stood up. "Thank you for answering my question."
"I didn't answer your question. Like I said, it's your choice." Dumbledore said.
***
Alexandra was writing something at her desk in her room when the doorbell rang. She stopped writing and listened. The doorbell rang again. "Remus? Is that you at the door?"
The doorbell continued to ring.
Alexandra put down her pen with a puzzled frown on her face. "Can't you just apparate?" She mumbled and went downstairs. She went to the door, opened the door and saw no one. Instead, she saw a letter on the floor mat that says: "To Miss Alexandra Skipper." She picked it up and turned it over. No return address. She closed the door, opened the envelope and took out the paper.
The first thing she saw was a picture of white, bloody figure with a face without its skin, big, cold blank eyes, long black straight hair in the mid air of an ordinary living room, staring at her.
Alexandra gave a bloodcurdling scream and dropped in a dead faint.
***
"Alex! I'm....." Remus said cheerfully when he apparated back to Alexandra's living room later. "Oh Merlin!" He cried when he saw Alexandra lying on the floor. Remus rushed to her, kneeled down and carried her head to his lap. "Alex? Alex, wake up! Don't scare me, Alex!" He said in panic.
"Hm?" Alexandra said weakly and opened her eyes slowly. She looked at Remus, sat up quickly and said: "Remus, it was horrible! It ...."
"Calm down, Alex, please!" Remus said.
Alexandra shut up and breathed heavily.
"Now let's sit on the sofa." He said and picked the picture, which its face down and was lying nearby.
Alexandra's eyes widened and screamed: "Get that thing away from me!" She said hysterically, drew her knees to her chest and covered her face.
"Huh?" Remus said and turned the picture over. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.
"Looks like the female version of the Bloody Baron." He managed to say and took the envelope to see if there were any more things inside. Sure enough, there was a piece of note.
He took out the note and read.
Scared you, didn't I? I got your address from the professor at the university, you can't get away from me, and you are mine forever after 18th of June, our graduation day.
Tim, your future husband
Remus scowled and crashed the letter into a tight ball. He aimed and threw the ball into the dustbin and put his hand on Alexandra's shoulder. Alexandra didn't move away from him. Remus took her into his arms and rocked her gently. "It's okay, Alex, I am here."
"He's crazy." Alexandra said without removing her hands.
"We have to get away from this place." Remus whispered. "Alex, why don't you go back to the wizarding world with me?"
Alexandra removed her hands. "You mean...."
Remus took her hand and kissed it. "Go back with me and be my wife. And we can live in peace forever."
"Are you serious?" Alexandra whispered.
"Of course I am. I'm truly, madly, deeply in love with you, how can I not be serious about this?" Remus asked.
Alexandra blinked her eyes, which were now filled with tears. "I don't know what to say....."
"Say yes then." Remus whispered.
Alexandra smiled. "Yes."
Remus grinned mischievously. "Hey, isn't that mean my kids are going to be half-bloods?"
"Now you are going way too far in the future!" Alexandra said, punched him playfully.
Stay tuned for the next chapter for Alexandra's tour in Diagon Alley! (Thank you, Dadaiiro for the idea!)