A/N: You know what? I was going to try to update quickly, but I didn't. I'm sorry.

Chapter Six- Asking Isn't the Hard Part

"Should I ask her, or should I not?" James huffed, falling back onto his bed. "I've finally gained her friendship. What if that's all she'll ever want from me? I don't think I could stand it too long."

"Jim," Sirius said, in a solemn tone, "you're going to drive yourself crazy. You've already driven me crazy."

"Short ride, eh?" Remus said from his perch at the end of his bed.

"Shut up. James, what I'm trying to say is, ask her. You've been civil with her for almost a year. It's time to take action."

"You're right," James sighed, sitting up in bed. "When's the first Hogsmeade trip?"

"Halloween," Remus answered.

"I'll ask her to go to Hogsmeade with me," James said, his voice alive with fierce determination.

"Thank goodness!" Sirius cried. "Now, maybe he'll quit moping like a pansy!"

"Hey!" Sirius and James then engaged in a massive pillow fight, occasionally resulting in shin-kicking and tickle wars. This resulted in the four boys neglecting their guest.

"Honestly, you bunch of apes," Roselyn huffed, grimacing as James's foot connected with Sirius's elbow.

"What are you doing up here?" Peter asked.

"My cousin was wondering where her study partner's gone to, as they have an appointment." Sirius's movements ceased as Rose's message reached him. Startling James, he sprang from the mess of limbs and pillows, quickly grabbing his book from his trunk and hurrying towards the door.

"Thanks, Rosie," Sirius panted, planting a brotherly kiss on her cheek before he bolted out the door.

"Sirius and Josie have a study date?" James asked incredulously.

"Yes," Roselyn said. "To study, of course." She sat down on Sirius's vacated bed and watched as James attempted to clear up the remaining mess.

"James is going to ask Lily to go to Hogsmeade with him," Peter whispered slyly, if not a bit overdramatically.

"Great. Now she'll quit asking when I think he'll do it," Rose whispered back playfully.

"She asks you?" James cried, sitting up suddenly and crawling over towards the young woman perched proudly on his best friend's bed.

"All the time," Roselyn answered. "'Do you think HE will ask me to go to Hogsmeade?' 'Do you think HE will still like me?' Honestly, James, all the time."

The Marauders one dorm mate, Frederick chose that moment to enter. He quickly took in the scene- James on the floor, Roselyn on Sirius's bed, the mess of pillows on the floor, and Peter looking like he would soon explode if he didn't let his laughter escape him. "What on earth did I miss?"

"Nothing of importance," Roselyn said, waving of the mess. "Just this lot acting like a bunch of wild animals."

"I'll believe it," Frederick said. "Well, I'll be back in the Common Room. Can I talk to you after dinner, Roselyn?"

"Certainly," she replied. Frederick then made his exit, closing the dormitory door quietly.

"He fancies you," James teased.

"Ha bloody ha, Potter," Roselyn said, moving and settling herself by Remus, who had immersed himself in a book.

"You'll have beautiful children," Remus said quietly. Roselyn raised her eyebrows at this, looking quite amused by Remus's prediction.

"Not that my children wouldn't be beautiful," Roselyn joked, "but I don't know about Frederick's. I met his father over the summer." Roselyn pretended to shudder, earning a small laugh from Remus. "What are you reading?"

"Tragsfiguration. Fish are just too hard to change into wooden objects."

"Not really. I mean, look at Potter."

"I can hear, you know," James sniffed, pretending, no doubt, to be hurt. "Where's Lily?"

"She's doing homework in the girls' dorm. You won't see her for a bit," Roselyn said, making herself comfortable. She laid down beside Remus, laying her head on his legs and using him as a pillow.

"Little Freddy has competition," James snickered, making his way out of the room to wait for Lily, with Peter in tow.

"Where did you get...this?" Remus asked, running his fingers along a bruise near her collar, his eyes never needing to stray from his book.

"I've told you before, Remus," Roselyn sighed.

"And I didn't believe you then, either."

"Some people need to get secrets," Roselyn snapped. "I'm sure even you know that."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Remus asked, setting his book aside.

"Take one guess, Remus," Roselyn replied, sitting up from her position. "You can't keep secrets forever."

"What do you know?" Remus asked, every part of him dreading the answer. Roselyn looked at him sadly, causing Remus to close his eyes, if only to shut that look out. He already knew the answer, and knew how much of a change this made. He could feel the bed shift, and for a moment thought she was moving away. That is, until he felt warm hands cupping his face.

"Open your eyes," Roselyn whispered. Remus sighed and hung his head, but didn't dare comply. "Please, Remus."

That did it, and Remus opened his eyes to find himself gazing into the purest silver. His shoulders sagged as he read the answer clearly now. She knew.

"I know you're a werewolf, Remus," Roselyn whispered.

"I know," Remus said, almost choking on his words. "But how did you find out?"

"I worked at the Werewolf Registry for most of my summer. At least, before I was fired for falling asleep with someone in the break room." This earned a slight laugh from the stressed werewolf. "I saw your file. I must admit that I was shocked, but it all fit together. In the end, you're a horrible liar, Remus Lupin, but I was just stupid."

"How do you get that?" Remus asked, still marveling in the warm hands that held his face so softly.

"Well, either your family has a contagious virus that randomly bounces from relative to relative, and that you also suffer the effects from, or you're a werewolf. The second one may sound less likely, but it all fits together in the end."

"Bad excuses, hm?" Remus asked.

"No. I'd say you still have the rest of the school fooled."

"I wouldn't say that," Remus spat bitterly, taking Roselyn by surprise for a moment.

"What do you mean?" Roselyn asked, moving away from him before stretching out on the bed, pulling him down beside her. Roselyn was shocked, and even slightly angry, as she heard of Sirius's "prank" last year against Snape.

"I can understand if you don't want me around or-"

"Stop right there," Roselyn snapped, this time scaring Remus slightly with the fire blazing in her eyes. "I'm still here, aren't I? For goodness' sakes, Remus, I had my head pretty well in your lap."

"So you're not afraid?" Remus whispered.

"The only thing I'm afraid of is that post-bite picture I saw of you in your file," Roselyn said.

"Amazing woman," Remus whispered.

"Hello, Lily," James said, stopping the redhead as she bounded down the stairs from her dormitory.

"Hi, James," she said, a smile gracing her lips.

"I-well-I...hmm..."

"James?" Lily asked, worried by his inability to speak comprehensible English.

"Will you go with me to Hogsmeade this Halloween?" James mumbled, quickly, and in one breath, before quickly inhaling again and holding it in anticipation. Lily found his antics adorable, and despite the tomato red color she had now turned, she was happy beyond belief.

"Why not?" she asked in reply. The breath James was holding immediately flew out, his jaw dropping perilously low.

"You-you...Really?"

"Yes."

"Well. I guess I'll see you then."

Lily then left a speechless James in the middle of the Common Room, as she made her way, most likely, to the library.

"I don't know what the problem was," Peter said from his perch in one of the high-backed armchairs. "You've asked her out loads of times."

"This time there was actually a chance she'd say yes," James said, a truly giddy smile gracing his lips.

Gwen Brown chose this moment to hop-skip-and-bounce down the stairwell, nearly bowling James over. "Hey, Gwen," James said.

"Hey, James," Gwen replied.

"Are you going with someone to Hogsmeade?"

"No. Why?"

"Go with Peter."

"Oh. Are you sure he wants to?" Gwen asked excitedly, turning redder than Lily had.

"I'm positive."

"Alright, then," Gwen said, pretty near glowing.

"Two Marauders down," James muttered, "two to go."