The Truth About Remus

Chapter Sixteen

Remus, our families and I were sitting in my living room, waiting for the arrival of Bill and his father. My ring was safely secured on a chain around my neck, tucked under my robes – Remus and I agreed that we didn't want to spill the beans before it was time.

The six of us jumped when we saw Bill stumble out of the fireplace, followed closely by his father.

"After this, I am never traveling by floo again," he groaned.

It was obvious that Bill had been through the ringer one too many times. My parents stood up to greet our guests.

"Good afternoon," dad said to Mr. Weasley, "I am Joseph Willow, and this is my wife Katrina Willow."

Mr. Weasley smiled and shook my dad's hand, "Arthur Weasley – it's a pleasure to meet you. Please, excuse my mess. That was my third time through floo."

"We understand perfectly," mum said, "I would like you to meet our neighbors, Edgar and Christina Lupin."

Again, a greeting was exchanged and then Arthur turned to Remus and I.

"Anistasia Willow and Remus Lupin, it is a pleasure to finally meet you both. Bill has told us – Molly and I, that is – how much he enjoys your friendship."

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," I replied.

"Well," he said enthusiastically, "if you two are ready to go, just hop in and yell 'The Burrow'. Bill, if you will, go first and show them how it is done."

Bill nodded, took some floo powder from his pocket, tossed it into the fire and said nauseously, "The Burrow!"

He was gone in an instant. After kisses and hugs, Remus was off next. Mr. Weasley took my trunk, and after a few good byes, I threw powder into the fireplace and called, 'The Burrow!"

I felt the pleasant warmth of the green flames licking my body and watched as I spun around through the floo network. I saw fireplaces come and go as the hot wind and ash swirled around me. Finally, I was spit out onto the floor of a den.

"There, there," a motherly voice said as the occupant of the voice helped me up and dusted me off, "Quite a ride, wasn't it? Bill got awfully sick on that last trip – I told Arthur not to let him go ---"

Her talking was interrupted by Mr. Weasley himself stumbling out of the fireplace with my trunk.

"Did any of the kids get lost, Molly," he asked the woman dusting me off.

"No, all of them arrived just fine – that Lily was a bit shaken up, however, poor dear…"

I laughed, "Lily is Muggle born. She must have never traveled by floo before."

Mrs. Weasley looked up at me as though she had just noticed me, "Hello dear, I am Molly Weasley. You must be Anistasia, yes, Remus mentioned that you were on your way. Arthur, would you be so kind as to show Anistasia where she will be sleeping? Everyone is in Bill's room."

Mr. Weasley nodded, showed me the room that I would be sharing with Lily and Crystal, and then took me to Bill's room.

"Try to keep it down, guys," Mr. Weasley said before leaving, "Percy is still napping."

"Yes, dad," Bill said and smiled at me as I took a seat next to Remus.

I looked around and noticed that everyone was accounted for, plus one. A red head was sitting between Lily and Bill.

The boy must have noticed my confused expression because he said, "I am Charlie, Bill's brother."

I nodded and smiled, "Nice to meet you."

"Charlie is a year younger than I am, so he will be starting at Hogwarts next year," Bill informed me, "Percy is my youngest brother. He is nearly five months old now."

"Awl, I can't wait to see him. I love babies," I exclaimed.

Charlie laughed, "Percy is not a baby…he is a monster! When mum isn't looking, he pulls my hair…mum says that I should cut it if I didn't want it pulled, but I think Percy just hates me. He cries every time I play with him."

Crystal shook her head and changed the subject, "How have all of your holidays been?"

"Since you asked, you tell first," Remus said.

"Oh, it wasn't too different than what usually goes on at my house. Lots of family came over, we visit…my relatives give me tons of money because I am the oldest child in the family. We eat and open presents…my best gift this year was a sterling silver Luna scope. Hmmm…that's about all that's worth telling…alright James, your turn!"

We went around and told each other about out best gifts, funniest moments and highlights. Finally, I was called on by Lily to tell my story.

"Well…" I began, but I was interrupted by Sirius.

"Wow…Ani, that is a nice ring," he exclaimed, reaching over and taking the ring that was around my neck into his hands.

I gasped. It must have fallen out of my shirt when I bent over. I looked at Remus as everyone's attention was suddenly directed toward my ring.

"Where did you get that," Lily asked and then gasped, "Wait a minute…that is the ring I saw Remus buying in the jewelry store in Hogsmeade…"

I sighed and sat back up. The ring slipped out of Sirius' hands and I took the chain off of my neck. Remus took the chain out of my hand, slipped the ring off of it and took my right hand in his. I heard gasping and giggling from everyone as Remus looked into my eyes and placed the ring on my ring finger. We kissed each other, and I turned to the group.

"The best gift I received this Christmas was true love," I said.

"We are getting married," Remus informed them.

The group's reaction to this was just as we expected it to be – Bill was in awe, Lily and Crystal squealed and James and Sirius ambushed Remus with punches and slaps on the back (equipped with manly growls).

"Have you set a date for the wedding," Lily asked when things had died down a bit.

"Yeah – December 2 of next year," I told her with a huge smile, "The ceremony is going to take place at Hogwarts."

"Why wait so long," Bill asked suddenly, "I bet you could hold the ceremony a couple days before school starts again."

"You mean, like, January 8," Crystal asked.

"Yeah," Bill exclaimed, "You have the place, the people, the House Elves to make food…all you need is dresses and rings."

Remus looked at me, "Bill is totally right – why wait? We are ready – lets have the ceremony earlier than January 8th, though. Lets have a New Year's celebration that will be remembered forever."

I stared at him in awe, "Remus, do you have any idea what you are saying? We aren't even seventeen yet – barely even sixteen! We are still in school and now is not the time to get married!"

"Anytime is a good time to get married," Remus argued, "You won't be seventeen on December 2. We will still be in school…do you honestly think that an extra eleven months will help us prepare or is it just eleven months less that we are married?"

"We have our whole lives to be married," I exclaimed, "Really, Remus, you are being ridiculous! This is new to us and I don't blame you for being excited, but I think that this excitement is clouding your judgment."

"Why should my judgment be clouded? I want this more than anything in the world – I would think that you wanted it, too! I am not being ridiculous you are just being scared!"

"You are right! I am scared! This is all happening too fast!"

"Too fast," Remus asked, "I think that our life together couldn't come quickly enough! You know what I think? I think that you don't really want this – you just said that you wanted to because you didn't want to hurt me."

The room was silent. I looked around at everyone for the first time. They were looking everywhere but at Remus and I. When I stood and walked over to Remus, they all looked up. Remus stood to meet me.

"You know that I wouldn't do anything that I absolutely didn't want to do," I said in barely a whisper, "I love you and when I said that I wanted to marry you, I meant it. From what I just heard from you, it sounds to me like you aren't as ready for this as you think you are."

I turned to leave, but Remus took hold of my arm.

"Don't leave, please Ani," he begged, "You are right. This is new to us and I can see why you would be scared, because I am, too…though, I know that I have never been so sure of anything in my entire life."

I turned and looked up at him. A tear fell down my cheek and Remus wrapped his strong arms around me as I sunk into his embrace.

"Lets do it, Remus," I told him, "Lets ring in the New Year with a bang."

Remus held me out at arm's length, "Are you serious? Do you mean it?"

I nodded, "We have got a busy few days ahead of us."

Diagon Alley during the holidays has got to be the prettiest place ever – even prettier than Hogwarts. Crystal, Lily, mum, godmum and I were in the bridal shop, looking for my dress.

"What about this one," Crystal asked, pulling one out.

I examined it and then shook my head, "I need a longer train – I want it about seven to ten feet long."

She put the dress away and we continued looking as I bumped into my mum. She hugged me.

"My baby is growing up," she said, "Already getting married…"

"Awl, mum," I exclaimed.

"Both of our babies are growing up," godmum informed us, hugging both mum and me, "I am so proud of you and Remus. You have always been a daughter to me, and it is so great to have you and Remus finally get together."

Before I could reply, I heard Lily yell, "Ani! I think I have found you a dress!"

Mum, godmum and I walked over to Lily and I took in a deep breath. The long, white dress was embroidered with sequin roses at the top. The waistline dipped into a point in the front and the lower half of the dress was silk. On the back, the dress tied up and the train was long – nine feet.

"Its beautiful," I exclaimed.

"Go! Try it on," Lily insisted, shoving it into my hands.

A few minutes later, I had mum and godmum in tears as I stood on the fitting stand, having some of the seams pulled in.

"What do you want the bride's maids' dresses to be," Crystal asked, "I can go look for them."

"I want a deep, red dress for Lily and a navy dress for you. The waistlines have to be dropped and pointed like mine as the arms of your Hogwarts Houses can be sewn on. I would like mum and godmum to find matching dresses, but I don't think that they are paying attention to a thing that I am saying."

Crystal and Lily laughed as Crystal left to find the dresses.

"You are one beautiful bride," Lily told me, "I hope that I am this pretty on my wedding day."

I laughed, "You don't have to hope – you will be."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath – I couldn't believe that this was really happening. It was stunning.