Chapter 7- Those hormonal years
I"Claire," He started, he calls me that now, we're friends more then relatives. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can." I smiled. He looked rather awkward, playing with the neckline of the jumper he was wearing. Which may I add was too big, a bit like the one that Lily never took off when she was in school.
"Well... you... um..." He was having trouble wording it. "You're a girl right?"
"Last time I checked I was." I laughed lightly.
"Well..."
"You want to know, how you would tell if a certain girl you liked, liked you back. Maybe a Miss Ginny Weasley?" He looked at me shocked, I had hit the nail right on the head. "And also how her brother who also happens to be your best friend would react at the news, if you successfully managed to woo her?"
He just nodded startled.
"Well let me say, that from what I have seen, Ginny is very keen on you. At meal times she will make sure she says hi if she does not sit with you, Ron and Hermione. And when she does sit with you three, she will draw all her attention to you. Ron always gives you sideways glances and sly grins when you and Ginny are together. I think the trick would be wooing Ginny. If you do it right you will please both her and her brother."
So we discussed what to do.
And our plan would be taking place on Christmas morning.
Harry was staying at school like usual, as was I. And the Weasly's had to as well because they didn't fancy staying at Fred and George's new place and Molly and Arthur were going to visit Charlie.
I had written to them to explain who I was and thanked them for looking after Harry in the past.
Finally for me, too soon for Harry, Christmas day dawned on us. I
I couldn't believe it was Christmas already. I'd never looked a foreword to Christmas particularly. mainly because I'd never really had anyone to share it with. This year I had Claire and we were starting to get close.
To be honest in a way I felt sorry for her. The only person she had left was me. Or so I thought. A couple of days ago, I found a letter on her desk. And I know I shouldn't really have done this, but I read it. Curiosity got the better for me.
It had been from Remus Lupin, my fathers old school mate. It said that he still loved her, and that he would give anything to have her again. How he wished for this reason more then any that he had never become a werewolf. Then next to it was a reply. One which hadn't been sent. I picked it up and read. Obviously Auntie Claire returned his feelings. They just didn't know what to do about it.
I took the reply and I attached it to a note that I had written to Remus.
Dear Remus,
If you love Claire so much, why aren't you here now?
Sure you're a werewolf, but you've never stopped loving her. That proves something right?
She told me that she's never really had any long time boyfriends, she seemed to leave out your relationship. Does this not tell you that she's waiting for you also?
This is the reply to your last letter that has been sitting on her desk for a while now. Read it and think about what you want to do.
Do you want to be miserable for the rest of your life? Or do you want to go around your obstacles and be happy?
Yours
Harry. J. Potter
Then once I had done that I had to work out my own love life. On Christmas Eve I had a good chat with Claire, who persuaded me to go for it. So when I got back to my dorm that night I pulled Ron over to have a word with him.
"A'right Harry?" He said with a grin, when I entered. I gave him a wary smile.
"IwanaaskGinnyout." I spat out in one long sentence, I concentrated on nothing but the floor.
"Wassat mate? Didn't catch it." Ron said and for some reason I swear he was grinning more widely.
"Recently, I have been feeling something for someone, and I really would quite like to ask her out on a date to Hogsmeade or something sometime..." I started twiddling my thumbs, bringing my eye line up to Ron's nose, where I was concentrating on a black smudge. He raised his eyebrows.
"And whom would that be?" He asked smirking.
"its Ginny." I choked out.
"FINALLY!" He screeched. !"You two have been driving me nuts, It's so obvious you like each other!"
"You're not mad... Wait did you say she likes me?" She liked me?
"Blatantly. Anyway mate, I'm thinking, if anyone's gonna date her, then who better then my best mate. But understand me now. If you hurt her, you will not only have me to answer to, but Fred, George, Bill and Charlie too!" I smiled relieved for the first time that night.
"I wouldn't dream of hurting her."
Now I just have to put my plan into action.
I didn't sleep that night. I was too busy worrying about rejection. And when I did sleep it was fitfully. Ron had to chuck a pillow at me to shut me up.
"Harry don't worry!" He whispered loudly. "It's just Ginny."
"Whasup?" Dean Thomas asked groggily.
"Harry's gonna ask my sister out tomorrow and he's worried." Ron teased me, the idiot!
"Don't worry mate she went out with me didn't she? You can't be any worse." Dean smirked. Both Ron and myself glared at him. He soon shut up.
Christmas morning I slowly opened my presents procrastinating as much as I could. I just got the usual bits and bobs. Claire had gotten me 17 years of Christmas presents to make up for missing all those years worth.
Finally Ron dragged me down the stairs (Still in my pyjama's I may add.) And there she was at the bottom, sitting on a big armchair in the common room playing exploding snap with Hermione.
"'mione, want to go and get some breakfast?" Ron said as he got down there.
"Ron, can't you see I'm in the middle of a game here. And please call me HERmione."
"HERmione." Ron stressed giving her an evil eye and tilting his head towards me. "I have something I need to tell you."
"Ohh," she said slowly. "OHHH! Ok Ginny please would you excuse us?"
"Certainly." Ginny replied. "Maybe Harry could join me instead?" She smiled at me and I melted. I heard Ron start laughing as Hermione pushed him out of the portrait hole.
I took my seat opposite Ginny.
"Weirdo's." I laughed motioning my head towards where Ron and Hermione had just been. Ginny giggled. "So... um, thank you for the present, the er sweets." I said looking up from the game we weren't really paying any attention to. She looked a little sad, so I added. "I have got you a present, I just wanted to give it to you in person." She smiled sweetly.
"I didn't want to say anything, I thought you had forgotten."
"But firstly I want to give you this." I handed her a single red rose. "Ginny, over the years I have, as you know, had a very rough time. Ron and Hermione have always been there for me. There're my best mates, my brother and sister if you would. But this year, this year I've needed more then just friendship. In fact I think I have neglected my friendship a little. I found that someone else has been there for me more then anyone else and the more I find out about her, the more I like about her. What I'm trying to say Ginny, is thank you for being there for me this year, and maybe if you want, I mean I would really like to take you out on a date somewhere, perhaps on the next Hogsmeade trip?" I couldn't believe I had just said that, and to Ginny of all people. That was our master plan- to just tell her what I felt.
After what seemed like an eternity Ginny looked up at me and answered.
"Well, what would Ron say?" She said.
"I, I um asked him if he was ok with it and he said he was. In fact he was encouraging me to ask you, that's why he was so weird this morning." I replied nervously.
"Well then I'd love to go out with you some time Harry. To be honest I've liked you for ages. I was just scared my brother would give you hell." She smiled at me and smelt her rose.
"Oh here, I wasn't to sure what to get you." I handed her a small package. Ginny unwrapped it quickly revealing a cat sized brown fluffy bear. He had a stripy blue and green tee- shirt on.
"It's not much." I said quickly trying my hardest not to blush.
"I love it. I know I will call him Harry!" She grinned making me blush even more.
"Shall we go down to breakfast?" I asked standing up and awkwardly attempted to take her hand. She smiled and took her hand away.
"No no no, you Mr, are still in your pyjama's." I looked down at myself and blushed the most I had done so far.
"I'll be one second." I said quickly running up to the boy's dorms. When I came back down She had taken "Harry the bear" up to her dorms, but I was pleased to say that she was still holding her rose in one hand and smiling dreamily.
I took her hand and together we headed down to breakfast talking about this and that. To my surprise we were talking as freely as before, with out one awkward moment.
IOn Christmas morning I awoke and found one present at the foot of my bed. I read the note, which laid on top of it.
Dear auntie Claire,
Thank you so much for your help so far. It is so much better now that I have someone who is actually here for me in person. And now that I am over the initial shock, I am really grateful of your presence and completely understand why you weren't there before.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Love
Harry.
The note meant allot more to me then the box of chocolates, which he had given me. That would go into my trunk waiting to cheer me up again on a rainy day.
I was a little upset that Remus hadn't even sent me a card. I had sent him a card and a set of bottle of his favourite wizarding wine, he always commented on how sweet it was and how much he had loved it. Personally I couldn't taste the difference, but I suppose that was the wolf in him taking over.
Obviously I didn't really mean as much to him as he had said. In fact he had always made an effort with Christmas presents before. What was so different this year?
Was it that now I had Harry he didn't feel the need to talk to me, he no longer had the burden of keeping me company?
Well who knew.
When I got into the great hall for breakfast I saw Harry enter hand in hand with Ginny Weasley. She was holding the small red rose I had given to Harry to give to her and when Harry saw me he gave me a big thumbs up.
I smiled, he had gotten his girl. And I looked at them and they seemed to just fit. It was like when I first saw James and Lily TOGETHER, Lily had been scared of the storm and James had comforted her by giving her his old teddy. They had not needed to kiss or hug or anything to show how well they fitted together, they were just there in each other's presence, knowing what the other needed. I saw all that in one glance at Lily and James and now I saw the same thing in James' son.
That day, as there were so few people who had stayed behind during the holidays- 5 Gryffindore, 1 Slytherin, no Hufflepuff and 3 Ravenclaw. I decided I would spend the morning with my nephew and his friends.
It was cute to see them. Hermione and Ron were arguing of course, it started with something about "another annoying work planner" and only Merlin knows what it ended with.
Dean Thomas had left to meet some girl he was going out with from Ravenclaw, and Harry and Ginny were smiling over something or another.
They engaged me in a game of exploding snap after a while, and then we just all sat around talking. I would tell them what it used to be like in Hogwarts, how Harry's dad and Sirius pretty much ruled the halls. How the would throw parties and sneak off to Hogsmeade. Then how when Lily came along, she straightened him out a bit. I told them all of the pranks, which my brother had done, and the ones which Lily and myself played on them. Everyone and then I would go to mention either Peter or Remus, then I would stop myself as they were still sore topics.
Harry had of course heard most of my stories, but he never missed a chance to hear it again. The boy had never known what it was like to have a parent. Just like the way James and myself had never really had a real parent.
The highlight of the morning for everyone had to be when Ron and Hermione started rowing again...
"I can't believe that you would say that Ron!" Hermione started. "House elves deserve just as much in the terms of rights as wizards do."
"It's just a saying. No need to have a Hippogriff over it." Ron said standing up. Hermione stood up to face him squarely.
"Well it's saying's like that which make wizards think they can degrade and misuse house elves in the long run!" She said getting heated. It didn't help that Ron was a good few inches taller then her.
"Look 'mione I'm not going to stop using a saying which I've been using all my..."
"Guys!" Harry said.
"WHAT?" They both shouted turning their heads away from on another. "You have to stop fighting." He said.
"Yeah, come on you two. It's Christmas." I added.
"Plus," Ginny said smiling evilly. "You're standing under the mistletoe." We all looked up and sure enough it was up there. Ron gave the offending plant a glare.
"It's unlucky not to kiss." I said grinning. Both parties flushed. and Ron gave Hermione a quick peck on the cheek. Needless to say neither made much noise through the whole of Christmas dinner. Although as we were all sitting round one table for dinner, because so few were left, I did hear Ginny whisper to Harry;
"I knew that mistletoe would shut them up." I had to laugh to myself. She had the mind of a marauder.
James'd be proud! As the evening drew on, I left the company of my student and my co-workers to retire to my room.
For some reason Harry was reluctant to let me go. He kept stalling me and looking at the clock.
I had no idea why.
I made my way slowly up to my room, it had been not a bad Christmas, I actually had someone this year to spend it with. But for some reason I still didn't feel whole or content.
I soon found the reason why.
I went and sat in my office and pulled out the letter, which Remus had written me all that time ago. I looked around for the reply that I had written, wondering if maybe I should send it? But I suppose the fact that I couldn't find it was a sign.
After hearing the sound of an owl, I decided that I was hearing things and decided to retire to my bedroom for the night. Another Christmas over. But it wasn't over at all was it?
And Ginny most certainly wasn't the only candidate for a new set of Marauders.
Like father like son.
Cheeky rascal.
I entered my bedroom. It was completely black. I raised my wand to light the torches, but the a lit before I had even said the spell.
I turned around taking in my new surrounding.
Over the floor Red and white rose petals where everywhere.
The walls were not bright red with white hearts.
And my bed was decorated like a Christmas tree.
On the ceiling was a single piece of mistletoe, and standing under it; Pale but smiling brightly was Remus Lupin.
My heart soared.
"Oh gosh!" I said completely gob smacked. I looked into Remus' longing eyes. "I... We can't." I said as I turned around.
"WAIT!" Remus lunged foreword and grabbed my arm. "Yes you can." He said gently. I turned and looked at him again.
"How do you know I can.. or or if I even want to?"
He pulled a piece of parchment out of his pocket and read;
"Remus,
Your last letter was sweet, but it can't happen remember, you broke up with me all those years ago. Truth be told I wish you hadn't, sure there would have been obstacles but I loved you, we could have lived past them. I still love you. However hard I've tried to get past you I have never been able to.
Wish you were here holding me,
Claire Potter xxx"
"How did you get that?" I gasped. I was certain I hadn't sent it.
"Harry found it. Don't blame him, he could see you were unhappy and was just trying to fix things."
"He's been going through my things?" I said softly to myself.
"Is it not true then?" Remus tried desperately. I looked up at him.
"Of course it's true Remus. I wouldn't have written something like that if I hadn't meant It."
"So why didn't you send it? I have been waiting for a reply to that message for about 2 months now. And I had almost given up hope before I got Harry's message."
"I would've, I was just scared. Seems I owe Harry more then I should be angry." I smiled shyly.
"Claire," Remus started taking my hand gently and leading me under the mistletoe with him. "I am still very much in love with you." He finished.
"I love you too Remus." I replied looking deep into his eyes.
"Will you be mine again?" He asked prying deep into her soul.
"Of course I will." I whispered as I leaned in and kissed him with all the yearning and pent up angst, which had, been building over the years since we parted.
That night was magical.
It was the best Christmas, which I had ever known.
The morning of Boxing Day I woke up with the white glow of the sun shining on the magical white snow outside.
My beautiful room seemed to give off a wonderful aura, which it had never before given me.
And for some reason I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach, which made me feel indescribably happy. It seemed to be the reverse of a Dementor- I felt as though I could never be unhappy again.
And of course the reason for that was the man lying next to me asleep, yet subconsciously with his arm around me.
He made me feel so happy even just lying next to me. And knowing that we had re-instated what we had once, I felt like I had been reawaken.
"Morning Princess." Remus greeted me having finally awoken. The light from the window shone across his face He looked slightly less tired and worn from transformations when he smiled.
"Morning sleepy head." I replied, a childish smile flickered upon my mouth. He rolled over and hugged me tightly.
"I've missed you." He breathed quietly. I hugged him back and just took in his aroma. Then I dragged him up and out of bed to get dressed. I had been awake for a good hour and was starving.
"Harry, you've been grinning like a maniac all morning. What is wrong with you?" Ginny asked me.
"Just I have the most wonderful girl in the whole entire world." I tried my hardest to lie.
"As much as I'd like to believe that Mister Potter, I know it's not true. Now spit it out." Just then Ron and Hermione came to join us at the breakfast table. I poked my tongue out playfully to Ginny (she just slapped me softly in retaliation.)
"Good morning you two!" I beamed merrily, actually breaking up their argument for once. They seemed to have gotten over their "Mistletoe incident" from the day before.
"Whats wrong with him?" Ron asked his sister. She replied with a shrug. Just then the doors of the great hall opened again and I started laughing. They all looked at me with puzzled faces then turned to the door.
"What is Professor Lupin doing here?" Hermione asked.
"And why's Professor Potter holding his hand?"
I smiled and looked at my aunt face, I had only known her for a short period of time but I could tell from her expression that this was the happiest she had been in years.
We walked into the hall hand in hand and I took a place opposite my nephew- I would be needing a word. Remus sat next to me, very closely next to me. I smiled at him and he turned to greet the head master.
"Thank you once more for letting me come to stay."
"Remus you should know by now to call me Albus, and of course it's my pleasure. Especially if it means the happiness of two of my former pupils, and staff members." He turned to me and winked. I blushed at receiving such a thing from the headmaster. Remus took the hand of mine which was nearest and I began eating with the other (it proved quite difficult as I am right handed and I had to use my left hand)
Harry turned his head towards me smirking.
"So what is going on here?" He asked innocently.
"You know very well what is going on young man." I shot back.
"Why are you holding hands with professor Lupin Auntie Claire?" He tried to ask sincerely, but instead looked as though he would wet himself with laughter. Just as James would have done.
All of Harry's friends looked between the pair of us, and Remus who was laughing merrily.
"So you're telling me it wasn't you who sent Remus an owl telling him that I still loved him and so on? You didn't arrange for his whole appearance?" Harry turned brick red with laughter. "You know Harry, it is UN polite to go through someone else's belongings and read their mail." I commented dryly.
"It's not my fault, I was just looking for the answers to the test you were going to give us first week back." He said seriously. My mouth opened wide with shock, until he burst out once more, almost in tears with laughter. "I'm just joking, I actually just went to get the parchment you asked me to from your office when I was... in ... detention (he looked around warily at the people listening to him) and I saw a letter spread out in front of me, I would have left it if I hadn't seen the words Yours always Remus. J. Lupin. I caught my attention, so I grabbed it and another note lying next to it." I shot him a small glare. "What I was curious about my little auntie, wanted to make sure she wasn't being mistreated or anything." He looked at Remus and they both shared a look of amusement.
"Curiosity killed the cat." I said. "Bt I suppose you can be forgiven as good has come of it. Ow and I knew you weren't looking for the answers to my test as they were pretty easy to find and had you even looked at one word there, you would have been covered head to toe in gorilla hair." He looked at me quizzically. "Anti cheating charm- James taught it to me." I smiled lightly.
"So you and professor Lupin are a couple now?" Hermione Granger asked curiously.
Remus looked at me lovingly then addressed the children for the first time, "I believe we are Miss Granger." He smiled.
Remus went home just before the school came back. And of course when the school did come back the news of our relationship spread like wild fire.
But did I care? Not one bit.
As far as I was concerned I had the two most important things in the world close to me.
And to think I almost didn't live to see this. I believe the saying is that things often have to get worse before they can get better.
And for the rest of the year I wrote Remus, occasionally getting a visit from him.
On Valentines Day he sent me a box of red and white roses. Being the charmer he always was.
I had taught Harry so many things, he was progressing fabulously. We had even uncovered a few more powers of his own, which he had. Whether they had been transformed from the dark lord or not we were uncertain of.
And last year he had final mastered Oclummency.
And every night I decided I would say a prayer for him. One for Harry, hoping he would always stay safe. One for Remus to help him through the injustices which I know he suffers. One for James and Lily hoping they are happy together, somehow knowing they are above watching down. And finally I say one for myself, asking to be a better person. One, which I ask for forgiveness of any sins, I have made in the past.
And for a while my life stayed neutral, well actually I think I would be daring enough to say that it was at a constant positive. No matter what I did I stayed in a constant high. Sending and receiving a letter from Remus each day. Talking to Harry every day. I was confident that Harry would receive a good NEWT in his defence against the dark arts.
I even offered him extra tuition in his potions, as apparently he still wasn't getting on to well with professor Snape.
Alas life couldn't get much better.
And it was not until the end of the year,
Not until Harry had taken his NEWTS,
Not until Harry's graduation that that bubble finally burst...
I"Claire," He started, he calls me that now, we're friends more then relatives. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can." I smiled. He looked rather awkward, playing with the neckline of the jumper he was wearing. Which may I add was too big, a bit like the one that Lily never took off when she was in school.
"Well... you... um..." He was having trouble wording it. "You're a girl right?"
"Last time I checked I was." I laughed lightly.
"Well..."
"You want to know, how you would tell if a certain girl you liked, liked you back. Maybe a Miss Ginny Weasley?" He looked at me shocked, I had hit the nail right on the head. "And also how her brother who also happens to be your best friend would react at the news, if you successfully managed to woo her?"
He just nodded startled.
"Well let me say, that from what I have seen, Ginny is very keen on you. At meal times she will make sure she says hi if she does not sit with you, Ron and Hermione. And when she does sit with you three, she will draw all her attention to you. Ron always gives you sideways glances and sly grins when you and Ginny are together. I think the trick would be wooing Ginny. If you do it right you will please both her and her brother."
So we discussed what to do.
And our plan would be taking place on Christmas morning.
Harry was staying at school like usual, as was I. And the Weasly's had to as well because they didn't fancy staying at Fred and George's new place and Molly and Arthur were going to visit Charlie.
I had written to them to explain who I was and thanked them for looking after Harry in the past.
Finally for me, too soon for Harry, Christmas day dawned on us. I
I couldn't believe it was Christmas already. I'd never looked a foreword to Christmas particularly. mainly because I'd never really had anyone to share it with. This year I had Claire and we were starting to get close.
To be honest in a way I felt sorry for her. The only person she had left was me. Or so I thought. A couple of days ago, I found a letter on her desk. And I know I shouldn't really have done this, but I read it. Curiosity got the better for me.
It had been from Remus Lupin, my fathers old school mate. It said that he still loved her, and that he would give anything to have her again. How he wished for this reason more then any that he had never become a werewolf. Then next to it was a reply. One which hadn't been sent. I picked it up and read. Obviously Auntie Claire returned his feelings. They just didn't know what to do about it.
I took the reply and I attached it to a note that I had written to Remus.
Dear Remus,
If you love Claire so much, why aren't you here now?
Sure you're a werewolf, but you've never stopped loving her. That proves something right?
She told me that she's never really had any long time boyfriends, she seemed to leave out your relationship. Does this not tell you that she's waiting for you also?
This is the reply to your last letter that has been sitting on her desk for a while now. Read it and think about what you want to do.
Do you want to be miserable for the rest of your life? Or do you want to go around your obstacles and be happy?
Yours
Harry. J. Potter
Then once I had done that I had to work out my own love life. On Christmas Eve I had a good chat with Claire, who persuaded me to go for it. So when I got back to my dorm that night I pulled Ron over to have a word with him.
"A'right Harry?" He said with a grin, when I entered. I gave him a wary smile.
"IwanaaskGinnyout." I spat out in one long sentence, I concentrated on nothing but the floor.
"Wassat mate? Didn't catch it." Ron said and for some reason I swear he was grinning more widely.
"Recently, I have been feeling something for someone, and I really would quite like to ask her out on a date to Hogsmeade or something sometime..." I started twiddling my thumbs, bringing my eye line up to Ron's nose, where I was concentrating on a black smudge. He raised his eyebrows.
"And whom would that be?" He asked smirking.
"its Ginny." I choked out.
"FINALLY!" He screeched. !"You two have been driving me nuts, It's so obvious you like each other!"
"You're not mad... Wait did you say she likes me?" She liked me?
"Blatantly. Anyway mate, I'm thinking, if anyone's gonna date her, then who better then my best mate. But understand me now. If you hurt her, you will not only have me to answer to, but Fred, George, Bill and Charlie too!" I smiled relieved for the first time that night.
"I wouldn't dream of hurting her."
Now I just have to put my plan into action.
I didn't sleep that night. I was too busy worrying about rejection. And when I did sleep it was fitfully. Ron had to chuck a pillow at me to shut me up.
"Harry don't worry!" He whispered loudly. "It's just Ginny."
"Whasup?" Dean Thomas asked groggily.
"Harry's gonna ask my sister out tomorrow and he's worried." Ron teased me, the idiot!
"Don't worry mate she went out with me didn't she? You can't be any worse." Dean smirked. Both Ron and myself glared at him. He soon shut up.
Christmas morning I slowly opened my presents procrastinating as much as I could. I just got the usual bits and bobs. Claire had gotten me 17 years of Christmas presents to make up for missing all those years worth.
Finally Ron dragged me down the stairs (Still in my pyjama's I may add.) And there she was at the bottom, sitting on a big armchair in the common room playing exploding snap with Hermione.
"'mione, want to go and get some breakfast?" Ron said as he got down there.
"Ron, can't you see I'm in the middle of a game here. And please call me HERmione."
"HERmione." Ron stressed giving her an evil eye and tilting his head towards me. "I have something I need to tell you."
"Ohh," she said slowly. "OHHH! Ok Ginny please would you excuse us?"
"Certainly." Ginny replied. "Maybe Harry could join me instead?" She smiled at me and I melted. I heard Ron start laughing as Hermione pushed him out of the portrait hole.
I took my seat opposite Ginny.
"Weirdo's." I laughed motioning my head towards where Ron and Hermione had just been. Ginny giggled. "So... um, thank you for the present, the er sweets." I said looking up from the game we weren't really paying any attention to. She looked a little sad, so I added. "I have got you a present, I just wanted to give it to you in person." She smiled sweetly.
"I didn't want to say anything, I thought you had forgotten."
"But firstly I want to give you this." I handed her a single red rose. "Ginny, over the years I have, as you know, had a very rough time. Ron and Hermione have always been there for me. There're my best mates, my brother and sister if you would. But this year, this year I've needed more then just friendship. In fact I think I have neglected my friendship a little. I found that someone else has been there for me more then anyone else and the more I find out about her, the more I like about her. What I'm trying to say Ginny, is thank you for being there for me this year, and maybe if you want, I mean I would really like to take you out on a date somewhere, perhaps on the next Hogsmeade trip?" I couldn't believe I had just said that, and to Ginny of all people. That was our master plan- to just tell her what I felt.
After what seemed like an eternity Ginny looked up at me and answered.
"Well, what would Ron say?" She said.
"I, I um asked him if he was ok with it and he said he was. In fact he was encouraging me to ask you, that's why he was so weird this morning." I replied nervously.
"Well then I'd love to go out with you some time Harry. To be honest I've liked you for ages. I was just scared my brother would give you hell." She smiled at me and smelt her rose.
"Oh here, I wasn't to sure what to get you." I handed her a small package. Ginny unwrapped it quickly revealing a cat sized brown fluffy bear. He had a stripy blue and green tee- shirt on.
"It's not much." I said quickly trying my hardest not to blush.
"I love it. I know I will call him Harry!" She grinned making me blush even more.
"Shall we go down to breakfast?" I asked standing up and awkwardly attempted to take her hand. She smiled and took her hand away.
"No no no, you Mr, are still in your pyjama's." I looked down at myself and blushed the most I had done so far.
"I'll be one second." I said quickly running up to the boy's dorms. When I came back down She had taken "Harry the bear" up to her dorms, but I was pleased to say that she was still holding her rose in one hand and smiling dreamily.
I took her hand and together we headed down to breakfast talking about this and that. To my surprise we were talking as freely as before, with out one awkward moment.
IOn Christmas morning I awoke and found one present at the foot of my bed. I read the note, which laid on top of it.
Dear auntie Claire,
Thank you so much for your help so far. It is so much better now that I have someone who is actually here for me in person. And now that I am over the initial shock, I am really grateful of your presence and completely understand why you weren't there before.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Love
Harry.
The note meant allot more to me then the box of chocolates, which he had given me. That would go into my trunk waiting to cheer me up again on a rainy day.
I was a little upset that Remus hadn't even sent me a card. I had sent him a card and a set of bottle of his favourite wizarding wine, he always commented on how sweet it was and how much he had loved it. Personally I couldn't taste the difference, but I suppose that was the wolf in him taking over.
Obviously I didn't really mean as much to him as he had said. In fact he had always made an effort with Christmas presents before. What was so different this year?
Was it that now I had Harry he didn't feel the need to talk to me, he no longer had the burden of keeping me company?
Well who knew.
When I got into the great hall for breakfast I saw Harry enter hand in hand with Ginny Weasley. She was holding the small red rose I had given to Harry to give to her and when Harry saw me he gave me a big thumbs up.
I smiled, he had gotten his girl. And I looked at them and they seemed to just fit. It was like when I first saw James and Lily TOGETHER, Lily had been scared of the storm and James had comforted her by giving her his old teddy. They had not needed to kiss or hug or anything to show how well they fitted together, they were just there in each other's presence, knowing what the other needed. I saw all that in one glance at Lily and James and now I saw the same thing in James' son.
That day, as there were so few people who had stayed behind during the holidays- 5 Gryffindore, 1 Slytherin, no Hufflepuff and 3 Ravenclaw. I decided I would spend the morning with my nephew and his friends.
It was cute to see them. Hermione and Ron were arguing of course, it started with something about "another annoying work planner" and only Merlin knows what it ended with.
Dean Thomas had left to meet some girl he was going out with from Ravenclaw, and Harry and Ginny were smiling over something or another.
They engaged me in a game of exploding snap after a while, and then we just all sat around talking. I would tell them what it used to be like in Hogwarts, how Harry's dad and Sirius pretty much ruled the halls. How the would throw parties and sneak off to Hogsmeade. Then how when Lily came along, she straightened him out a bit. I told them all of the pranks, which my brother had done, and the ones which Lily and myself played on them. Everyone and then I would go to mention either Peter or Remus, then I would stop myself as they were still sore topics.
Harry had of course heard most of my stories, but he never missed a chance to hear it again. The boy had never known what it was like to have a parent. Just like the way James and myself had never really had a real parent.
The highlight of the morning for everyone had to be when Ron and Hermione started rowing again...
"I can't believe that you would say that Ron!" Hermione started. "House elves deserve just as much in the terms of rights as wizards do."
"It's just a saying. No need to have a Hippogriff over it." Ron said standing up. Hermione stood up to face him squarely.
"Well it's saying's like that which make wizards think they can degrade and misuse house elves in the long run!" She said getting heated. It didn't help that Ron was a good few inches taller then her.
"Look 'mione I'm not going to stop using a saying which I've been using all my..."
"Guys!" Harry said.
"WHAT?" They both shouted turning their heads away from on another. "You have to stop fighting." He said.
"Yeah, come on you two. It's Christmas." I added.
"Plus," Ginny said smiling evilly. "You're standing under the mistletoe." We all looked up and sure enough it was up there. Ron gave the offending plant a glare.
"It's unlucky not to kiss." I said grinning. Both parties flushed. and Ron gave Hermione a quick peck on the cheek. Needless to say neither made much noise through the whole of Christmas dinner. Although as we were all sitting round one table for dinner, because so few were left, I did hear Ginny whisper to Harry;
"I knew that mistletoe would shut them up." I had to laugh to myself. She had the mind of a marauder.
James'd be proud! As the evening drew on, I left the company of my student and my co-workers to retire to my room.
For some reason Harry was reluctant to let me go. He kept stalling me and looking at the clock.
I had no idea why.
I made my way slowly up to my room, it had been not a bad Christmas, I actually had someone this year to spend it with. But for some reason I still didn't feel whole or content.
I soon found the reason why.
I went and sat in my office and pulled out the letter, which Remus had written me all that time ago. I looked around for the reply that I had written, wondering if maybe I should send it? But I suppose the fact that I couldn't find it was a sign.
After hearing the sound of an owl, I decided that I was hearing things and decided to retire to my bedroom for the night. Another Christmas over. But it wasn't over at all was it?
And Ginny most certainly wasn't the only candidate for a new set of Marauders.
Like father like son.
Cheeky rascal.
I entered my bedroom. It was completely black. I raised my wand to light the torches, but the a lit before I had even said the spell.
I turned around taking in my new surrounding.
Over the floor Red and white rose petals where everywhere.
The walls were not bright red with white hearts.
And my bed was decorated like a Christmas tree.
On the ceiling was a single piece of mistletoe, and standing under it; Pale but smiling brightly was Remus Lupin.
My heart soared.
"Oh gosh!" I said completely gob smacked. I looked into Remus' longing eyes. "I... We can't." I said as I turned around.
"WAIT!" Remus lunged foreword and grabbed my arm. "Yes you can." He said gently. I turned and looked at him again.
"How do you know I can.. or or if I even want to?"
He pulled a piece of parchment out of his pocket and read;
"Remus,
Your last letter was sweet, but it can't happen remember, you broke up with me all those years ago. Truth be told I wish you hadn't, sure there would have been obstacles but I loved you, we could have lived past them. I still love you. However hard I've tried to get past you I have never been able to.
Wish you were here holding me,
Claire Potter xxx"
"How did you get that?" I gasped. I was certain I hadn't sent it.
"Harry found it. Don't blame him, he could see you were unhappy and was just trying to fix things."
"He's been going through my things?" I said softly to myself.
"Is it not true then?" Remus tried desperately. I looked up at him.
"Of course it's true Remus. I wouldn't have written something like that if I hadn't meant It."
"So why didn't you send it? I have been waiting for a reply to that message for about 2 months now. And I had almost given up hope before I got Harry's message."
"I would've, I was just scared. Seems I owe Harry more then I should be angry." I smiled shyly.
"Claire," Remus started taking my hand gently and leading me under the mistletoe with him. "I am still very much in love with you." He finished.
"I love you too Remus." I replied looking deep into his eyes.
"Will you be mine again?" He asked prying deep into her soul.
"Of course I will." I whispered as I leaned in and kissed him with all the yearning and pent up angst, which had, been building over the years since we parted.
That night was magical.
It was the best Christmas, which I had ever known.
The morning of Boxing Day I woke up with the white glow of the sun shining on the magical white snow outside.
My beautiful room seemed to give off a wonderful aura, which it had never before given me.
And for some reason I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach, which made me feel indescribably happy. It seemed to be the reverse of a Dementor- I felt as though I could never be unhappy again.
And of course the reason for that was the man lying next to me asleep, yet subconsciously with his arm around me.
He made me feel so happy even just lying next to me. And knowing that we had re-instated what we had once, I felt like I had been reawaken.
"Morning Princess." Remus greeted me having finally awoken. The light from the window shone across his face He looked slightly less tired and worn from transformations when he smiled.
"Morning sleepy head." I replied, a childish smile flickered upon my mouth. He rolled over and hugged me tightly.
"I've missed you." He breathed quietly. I hugged him back and just took in his aroma. Then I dragged him up and out of bed to get dressed. I had been awake for a good hour and was starving.
"Harry, you've been grinning like a maniac all morning. What is wrong with you?" Ginny asked me.
"Just I have the most wonderful girl in the whole entire world." I tried my hardest to lie.
"As much as I'd like to believe that Mister Potter, I know it's not true. Now spit it out." Just then Ron and Hermione came to join us at the breakfast table. I poked my tongue out playfully to Ginny (she just slapped me softly in retaliation.)
"Good morning you two!" I beamed merrily, actually breaking up their argument for once. They seemed to have gotten over their "Mistletoe incident" from the day before.
"Whats wrong with him?" Ron asked his sister. She replied with a shrug. Just then the doors of the great hall opened again and I started laughing. They all looked at me with puzzled faces then turned to the door.
"What is Professor Lupin doing here?" Hermione asked.
"And why's Professor Potter holding his hand?"
I smiled and looked at my aunt face, I had only known her for a short period of time but I could tell from her expression that this was the happiest she had been in years.
We walked into the hall hand in hand and I took a place opposite my nephew- I would be needing a word. Remus sat next to me, very closely next to me. I smiled at him and he turned to greet the head master.
"Thank you once more for letting me come to stay."
"Remus you should know by now to call me Albus, and of course it's my pleasure. Especially if it means the happiness of two of my former pupils, and staff members." He turned to me and winked. I blushed at receiving such a thing from the headmaster. Remus took the hand of mine which was nearest and I began eating with the other (it proved quite difficult as I am right handed and I had to use my left hand)
Harry turned his head towards me smirking.
"So what is going on here?" He asked innocently.
"You know very well what is going on young man." I shot back.
"Why are you holding hands with professor Lupin Auntie Claire?" He tried to ask sincerely, but instead looked as though he would wet himself with laughter. Just as James would have done.
All of Harry's friends looked between the pair of us, and Remus who was laughing merrily.
"So you're telling me it wasn't you who sent Remus an owl telling him that I still loved him and so on? You didn't arrange for his whole appearance?" Harry turned brick red with laughter. "You know Harry, it is UN polite to go through someone else's belongings and read their mail." I commented dryly.
"It's not my fault, I was just looking for the answers to the test you were going to give us first week back." He said seriously. My mouth opened wide with shock, until he burst out once more, almost in tears with laughter. "I'm just joking, I actually just went to get the parchment you asked me to from your office when I was... in ... detention (he looked around warily at the people listening to him) and I saw a letter spread out in front of me, I would have left it if I hadn't seen the words Yours always Remus. J. Lupin. I caught my attention, so I grabbed it and another note lying next to it." I shot him a small glare. "What I was curious about my little auntie, wanted to make sure she wasn't being mistreated or anything." He looked at Remus and they both shared a look of amusement.
"Curiosity killed the cat." I said. "Bt I suppose you can be forgiven as good has come of it. Ow and I knew you weren't looking for the answers to my test as they were pretty easy to find and had you even looked at one word there, you would have been covered head to toe in gorilla hair." He looked at me quizzically. "Anti cheating charm- James taught it to me." I smiled lightly.
"So you and professor Lupin are a couple now?" Hermione Granger asked curiously.
Remus looked at me lovingly then addressed the children for the first time, "I believe we are Miss Granger." He smiled.
Remus went home just before the school came back. And of course when the school did come back the news of our relationship spread like wild fire.
But did I care? Not one bit.
As far as I was concerned I had the two most important things in the world close to me.
And to think I almost didn't live to see this. I believe the saying is that things often have to get worse before they can get better.
And for the rest of the year I wrote Remus, occasionally getting a visit from him.
On Valentines Day he sent me a box of red and white roses. Being the charmer he always was.
I had taught Harry so many things, he was progressing fabulously. We had even uncovered a few more powers of his own, which he had. Whether they had been transformed from the dark lord or not we were uncertain of.
And last year he had final mastered Oclummency.
And every night I decided I would say a prayer for him. One for Harry, hoping he would always stay safe. One for Remus to help him through the injustices which I know he suffers. One for James and Lily hoping they are happy together, somehow knowing they are above watching down. And finally I say one for myself, asking to be a better person. One, which I ask for forgiveness of any sins, I have made in the past.
And for a while my life stayed neutral, well actually I think I would be daring enough to say that it was at a constant positive. No matter what I did I stayed in a constant high. Sending and receiving a letter from Remus each day. Talking to Harry every day. I was confident that Harry would receive a good NEWT in his defence against the dark arts.
I even offered him extra tuition in his potions, as apparently he still wasn't getting on to well with professor Snape.
Alas life couldn't get much better.
And it was not until the end of the year,
Not until Harry had taken his NEWTS,
Not until Harry's graduation that that bubble finally burst...