Disclaimer: I don't own anything, well 'cept the names that follow: Dan, Cameron, Tris, Amber, Max, Hans, (that includes his mother and friend) The Werewolf Council (grumble, grumble), Sam, and June. My friend Clear Shadow owns the following: Serena, The twins, and Serena's pets. Everything else not listed here belongs to JK Rowling. Thank you for the reviews I've already received. And for those who haven't please read and review! Danke!
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"Hans didn't ask to be vhat he vas. It was fate that a promising young vizard like Hans would be bitten and become a verewolf. Perhaps Hans vas being shown his true calling. It was Hans's dream that verewolf and wizard could co-exist in all parts of the vorld not just Germany. Hans vas the youngest to ever become a representative he made his country and his family proud. Hans came from a long line of vizards and vitches. A proud line of Ministry members, representatives, judges, and Quidditch players." Cameron held Amber's hand with his left and clutched his necklace with his right. He looked around and easily spotted Hans's mother who was sitting nearest the grave marker. "For those of you who knew Hans best, he vas determined to see the end of all that threatened the vay we all live. He did vell in school, graduating top in his year at SilberneHolzerne (SilverWood) (authors note its just like Hogwarts only in Germany,) School. Despite his monthly absences from classes, Hans excelled in all of his subjects, favoring Magical Creatures to all, as he loved to vork with the magical animals found around the vorld. Hans also played some Quidditch during his school years, excelling as a Keeper. Upon completion of school, Hans proposed to his girlfriend and fellow classmate Loran, they vhere to be married this coming month. After proposing Hans joined the German Verewolf Council, he vas not ashamed of what he vas, instead he embraced it seeing it as a vay to help all. Despite vhat his country planned to do, vhich vas aid England in anyway besides fighting the Dark Lord, Hans took his place with the English Verewolves to help them defeat this evil. Hans died doing what he vanted to do, fight evil." The man paused "Hans was like a brother too me, he vas there to help anyone who asked for it, he helped me out of more situations then I care to recount. And for his services to his country and too the var, according to British tradition, is awarded the Order Of Merlin First class and following German tradition is held as a high ranking wizard to forever be in our hearts and memories. Thank you." The man stepped away from the marker and knelt down at the grave. "Auf wiedersehen mein freund." He said and threw a handful of dirt into the grave." Others began stepping forward also throwing in handfuls of dirt, until only Cameron, Amber, and Han's mother remained. The women stepped up too Cameron and looked up into his face.
"Are you Cameron Lupin?" she asked Cameron took a deep breath and nodded.
"Yes ma'am, Mrs. Wagner?"
"You vere the one that vas vith my son vhen he vas killed?" Cameron could feel his heart pick up speed and it felt as if it was about to beat right out of his chest.
"Yes." He replied Amber held his hand tight and he gave it a gentle squeeze. Mrs. Wagner looked about to cry again when she pulled Cameron's head down to her level and kissed his cheek. Cameron stared at her in shock.
"Don't be a stranger you and your wife are velcome in my home anytime. You helped Hans to do vhat he vanted to do and I am so proud of him. I'm glad he had good friends vith him." She paused and looked from Amber to Cameron "treasure every moment you have together. Don't vaste a moment of your life, if you dwell on the past your future cannot exist." Again she hugged Cameron and kissed his cheek then she turned to Amber and hugged her also "you have a good man there, and remember what I said, don't vaste anything in your life, its all precious it all deserves to shine." And with that Mrs. Wagner disapperated from sight. Amber turned to Cameron and looked into his brown eyes.
"I love you." She said
"I love you too." He said and held her close staring at the grave of his friend. And for a moment Cameron wondered, he wondered how many more would die before things where at peace? How many more families would be torn apart? How many more couples would lose one another too death?
Hours later Cameron and Amber returned to the house that had once belonged to Cameron's grandparents.
"I'll put on some coffee." Amber said heading into the kitchen. Cameron looked at the pictures all around the room, pictures of him as a child, pictures of his father and uncle when they where children. Mrs. Wagner was right, life was too short, and he had to do what he had been planning since he left school.
"Hey Amber," Cameron called "forget the coffee, lets apparate over to Hogsmeade and get some butterbeer." Amber came into the living room, she nodded.
"Ok." And with that the two where gone.
In Hogsmeade's Three Broomsticks, Cameron and Amber sat together normally the place was filled with wizards, witches, and other assorted creatures, but tonight it was near empty. Cameron reached into his coat pocket and felt the box that contained his mothers engagement ring, his father had left it too Remus to give to Cameron when he was old enough. The door to Three Broomsticks flew open bringing in snow and a group of cloaked figures.
"Hey Cameron," said one of the figures, Cameron recognized that voice, it was Ron Weasley. "How you been?" Ron removed his cloak and pulled up a chair. The others followed in suit, Harry Potter, Cho Chang, Hermione Granger, Dan, and Tris.
"Hi Cameron Amber." Hermione said, her and Amber hugged, while Cameron gave a wave. He hadn't wanted an audience though he was really glad too see everyone. The others all pulled up chairs and sat down. Madam Rosmerta looked up at the gang that had just entered and grinned.
"Oh no not all of you, I'm having a dejavu feeling again."
"Yup all of us!" Dan said grinning as he threw an arm around Tris. "Come on Rosmerta you love us. I know you do, and I know ya've missed 'aving us 'round all the time. 'Ow 'bout a round of butterbeer, on me."
"You don't think he means literally does he?" Harry whispered to Cameron who grinned and laughed.
"Naw he'd enjoy that too much." Tris said
"Damn right I would." Dan said.
"Hey Cameron we heard about your friend Hans." Hermione said. Cameron looked at Dan and Tris, had they told the whole world. "I'm so sorry, he sounded like a good person."
"He was you would've liked him Hermione, he reminded me a lot of you." Cameron said as Rosmerta brought the eight brimming mugs of Butterbeer.
"Well then" Dan said seriously "may I propose a toast to 'is memory. May 'e be forever a key to 'elp ensure our victory."
"I'll drink to that." Ron said
"Me too." Cameron agreed.
"Then too, 'ans" Dan said raising his glass.
"Too Hans." The others said as they clicked their mugs together.
"So Cameron," Dan whispered "'ave you asked 'er yet?" Cameron looked at his friend.
"I was about to do just that when you guys showed up." Dan went red
"Ye well, I figred you guys might want some company."
"And what gave you the idea we'd be here?"
"We checked yer 'ouse and you weren't there, so we figured this was the next place too look."
"Sometimes I worry about you." Cameron said
"Yeah I do too, which reminds me, there was another reason I needed to talk to you about."
"What?"
"I'm goin back to the Bats." Dan said sipping some of his drink.
"What about the war?"
"That's it, Fudge doesn't think that we need to be worryin 'bout it at the moment and wants us too get on with our lives fer the time bein." Cameron was shocked
"After all that work getting into the Ministry to talk to them about letting us join? After Hans loses his life? What am I supposed to tell the Council, I'm do back there in three days to tell them any news."
"'Ey don't shoot the messenger, I'm jus' relying the message. Me dad told me, look I'm as shocked as you. But what else can we do?" Cameron didn't answer he didn't know what too say. "Anyways, go fer it Cameron, that's why I brought everyone."
"Dan you didn't tell them did you?"
"No, I jus' said that we should be with you an' Amber. Look Cameron I liked 'im too 'e was cool definitely would've fit in perfectly at 'ogwarts with us." Dan looked at Tris and sighed, "we definitely lucked out didn't we?" he said nodding towards Amber and Tris "we got two girls 'ere who don't care that we're supposed to fore fill some loony prophecy set up thousands of years ago. They don't care that your 'alf werewolf, they don't care that me families rich. Or that both our families are ancient. They care only 'bout us, accordin to me parents that's a rare thing true love. I mean look at yer uncle and Serena, who would've ever thought that a werewolf and a siren would fall in love, let alone 'ave kids." Dan made a face, and Cameron chuckled, his young cousins loved Dan. "Why should we care that the Ministry of Magic is once again makin the biggest mistake of their lives. I say live while we can." Cameron gave a nod
"I guess so."
"Ya guess so? Cameron the girl you've been eyeing since our third year whose been eyeing you since firs', is sitting there waiting for you to ask 'er." Dan looked at Cameron "oh don't be givin me those innocent 'I didn't know eyes' you know girls 'ave been eyeing you since our firs' year. Even Fifth year when you started goin grey, they were still turnin 'eads too glance at ya. Yet through all that yer eyes 'ave been fer one girl and one girl only, that girl the girl yer livin with now. Now will jus' ask 'er befere I lose me bloody mind?" Cameron took a deep breath and gave a nod.
"OK already I'll ask her." He whispered. He stood up and tapped Amber on the shoulder. "Amber can I talk too you?"
"Sure." She replied looking at Hermione, Tris, and Cho curiously. Cameron walked her a little bit from the group and took another deep breath. "Cameron what are you doing your acting strange."
"Yeah I know and I'm sorry." He said, he glanced at Dan, Ron, and Harry who all nodded and Dan gave him thumbs up. Taking one last deep breath Cameron knelt on the floor on one knee and took Amber's hand in his own. She knew what was coming Cameron could see it in her eyes she was obviously holding back tears. "Amber," Cameron started to say he reached into his pocket and pulled out the box why was he so nervous all of a sudden. "Amber will you marry me?" he finally said and opened the box, inside sat nestled in its hold was June Lupin's ring, a small diamond which had belonged to Cameron's grandmother. Amber started into Cameron's eyes for what seemed like forever, Cameron could feel everyone watching the couple but all he saw was Amber.
"Of course I will. I love you." Amber finally said she fell into Cameron's arms and kissed him. Cameron held her tight as he sighed with relief. Too him the worse part of this was over. Standing back up the two once again kissed Cameron held her close to him and for the first time since Hans's death, Cameron felt content and happy. He could faintly hear cheering coming from their friends and others in the pub, but all Cameron cared about was in his arms.
"Well." Dan said, "I believe this calls fer another toast!" Cameron felt his ears going red. Rosmerta smiled and brought over another round of butterbeers taking one for herself this time.
"You know" she said "I remember when you two were just little Third Years when you first came in here." She had tears in her eyes "and now your engaged? You kids all grew up too quickly." She paused "what ever happened to the children who'd come in here every Hogsmeade visit asking for a round of Butterbeer." She looked at Dan. "Oh there's one." She patted Dan on the head "at least you haven't changed much. Your just like your father." Dan grinned and looked at Cameron.
"Thanks Rosmerta, I think." He paused "Well now that Cameron finally proposed to Amber."
"What do you mean finally?" Amber said leaning into Cameron as he held her tight. She looked at him "how long have you been waiting for this?"
"Since third year?" Dan said softly then yelped as the table shook. Someone presumably either Tris or Hermione had kicked him. Ron and Harry grinned and tried not to laugh.
"He's right though." Cameron said softly "I've loved you since I first met you, even before we met I'd see you in the halls and wanted to talk to you, but I could never get up enough courage to go up too you. It didn't help any that you were always surrounded by girls." He said looking over at Cho who blushed. "But now" Cameron paused thinking, "no, no cross that remark, your still surrounded by girls!" everyone laughed. "I swear you all travel in packs or something."
"Aint it the truth." Dan said grinning wide, Ron and Harry also grinned and nodded.
"Anyways." Dan said, "As I was saying now that Romeo has finally proposed to Amber, I say another toast is in order." He raised his glass in the air "To me best friend Cameron, may 'im and Amber live long and 'appy together and please let them never ask me too baby-sit." Again everyone laughed.
"How about we just make it simple?" Hermione said
"Yeah." Ron replied "Too Cameron and Amber."
"Cameron and Amber" the group said loudly and tapped their glasses together." Cameron looked at Amber the light in her olive eyes danced with tears. He moved closer to her and pressed his lips too hers. "I love you." He said a beat later.
"I love you too."
"Too us then?"
"Too us." Cameron didn't hear his friends talking; everything seemed so perfect, almost too perfect. And Cameron knew it was, his job was far from over. His father was still trapped in a Death Eaters camp, Cameron knew he was the only one who could save him. He would have to go back for him.
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So Clear Shadow I told you it was gonna be long. And I'm still not done with the thing. Anyways, hope you enjoyed that chapter Amber and Cameron are so cute. *grins* Cameron's blushing!!!! Anywho, as you exit please leave a review, yeah look to the left of the screen yup right below this, there you go, that's where you can leave a review! It would be greatly appreciated. And for those who have been reviewing. I thank you and say till the next chapter! *Bows and leaves*