Chapter 6: New Discoveries.

Then.

"Thank you so much, really." Rose sighed. "Why did you drag me in here? I don't want to see him, I won't feel comfortable."

"I don't care." Lily shrugged. "James invited me and I don't want to go alone."

"You and James seem pretty close." The brown haired witch smirked.

"Yeah." Lily grinned. "I think I really like him. I think he actually changed."

"It's quite possible." Rose stopped next to a small building. The building was very dirty and looked quite scary. It stood in a dark corner of Diagon alley and looked quite deserted. The street was pretty quiet as it was Christmas day and the two witches had no one to ask for directions.

"Well, we need number 15." Lily looked around her, searching for the building's number.

The sound of a window opening startled them and they looked up. James Potter's head appeared from one of the windows of the third floor. "Hey, you guys, it's over here." He called.

"We're coming up!" Lily waved her hand to him and grinned.

"Wipe that stupid grin, will you?" Rose smirked and followed Lily up the stairs. They walked inside a small apartment that looked like it's been cleaned lately. It had a living room and a kitchen and another door that led to a bathroom. James welcomed them at the door, grinning wildly at Lily.

"Merry Christmas!" He hugged them both briefly and then led them inside. Rose sat on the couch and observed her surroundings, Sirius walked in, carrying bottles of butter beer and smirking at the sight of James and Lily kissing. Sitting next to Rose, he sighed dramatically. "Who would have guessed those two will end up together?"

Rose smiled. "Hey, Sirius, Merry Christmas."

"Hey, Rose, I bet you wonder where Remus is, right?"

"Playing matchmaker?" Rose smirked at him and he smiled.

"Do you like my place?" He changed the subject, offering her a bottle of butterbeer.

"How come you live alone?" She opened the bottle and looked around her.

"My family hates me." He answered and Rose saw a glint of sadness in his eyes, it passed a moment later and his brown eyes returned to normal.

"Why?" She asked.

"My family thinks that being a pure blood is all that matters and I hate it. My parents hated the fact that I made friends with James because they think the Potter's are blood traitors and when they heard Remus is my friend…" Sirius laughed bitterly. "I can still hear my mother's screaming. After that I ran to James and when I turned seventeen in August I bought this place."

"It has a great location." Rose nodded and Sirius laughed again.

"Yeah, I know the building looks horrible…so, I heard you're father doesn't like you very much either." He added gently, secretly wanting to hear her story as well.

"My father hates werewolves." She said, her voice hard and distant. "Lately I discovered surprising details on my family and I decided that I won't be a part of it anymore."

"And Remus?" he asked.

"What about him? How could he even look at me now that he knows that my family kills werewolves every full moon?"

Sirius observed his surroundings, James and Lily were standing next to the window and Remus was still in the kitchen. He sat closer to Rose and talked slowly.

"Let me tell you something about Remus." He said. "I love him dearly and he is an amazing friend and I know for sure that he has a crush on you for a long time now. You fascinate him." He paused for a moment and then continued, looking directly in her eyes. "Remus likes to be liked. That's one of the reasons he agreed to talk to me after the Snape incident two months ago. If I were in his shoes I wouldn't give me a second chance like that."

"The Snape incident?" She raised her eyebrows.

"It's a long story and I was an idiot. I nearly got Snape killed and I almost turned Remus to a killer." Sirius looked down.

"Likes to be liked?"

"Just talk to him. He doesn't really understand you…and he wants to."

Rose sighed. "I guess I would talk to him eventually." Sirius grinned and pointed at the direction of the kitchen.

"He's making coffee; he had a rough full moon two days ago."

Rose smiled a little and then got up and walked over to the kitchen. When she got there she found Remus sitting with his back to her, drinking a cup of coffee. He wore old blue robes that looked shabby and over used. His shoulders were slumped and even when she stood behind him she could see how tired he was.

She entered the kitchen and walked quietly towards him. Hesitating for a moment, she reached out and touched his shoulder lightly.

"Rose." He stated quietly, not bothering to look up from his coffee.

"You heard me?" she asked and sat across from him.

Remus laughed a dry laugh. "You should know better." He mocked and her eyes widened, tears forming in them.

"I should go." She got up but he rose from his chair with surprising speed and grabbed her wrist.

"I'm sorry." He apologized. "I didn't mean to say that, please stay. I just…I read something in History of Magic book and…" he trailed off when she sat again, sighing.

"I read that too. I was naive and a foolish little girl. I've been taught to hate part humans, especially werewolves, for all my life and then during the summer…" she looked away from him. "I saw my family name in the History of Magic book. I was amazed at the thought that we were famous and then I read on and discovered that my grandfather legislated a decree that allowed everyone to haunt werewolves at any form. And then he made every werewolf to register at the ministry. I never knew that…" She broke into sobs and Remus reached out and held her hand, he wanted to do more…he wanted to envelope her in his arms and never let go but he also needed to hear more. She stopped talking for a moment and then continued, still crying.

"One day, I went to the forest where I knew for sure I could find one of them. And I did…I found an old, tired man who was so kind to me…even after I told him I was a Haunter. He told me about the night my father killed his wife…his mate and then I understood everything…before I went to Hogwarts I tried to confront with my father but he wouldn't listen to me. And then he sent Umbridge to make sure I wasn't doing anything stupid like making friends with you. He knew about you…"

Remus nodded. "I'm listed in the ministry."

"And when he taught about werewolves and told all those lies…I just snapped. It's my fault he poisoned you with the silver."

"But you healed me." Remus caressed the back of her hand with his thumb.

"Yes…I only discovered I can do this about a year ago. Madam Pompfry is teaching me."

"Look at me." He asked softly and she raised her eyes to meet his. "Thank you for healing me and thank you for standing up with me against Umbridge. That was very brave."

"It wasn't brave…" she wiped the tears from her face.

"Of course it was. You are very brave, standing up against your family."

"I guess." She shrugged, still holding his gaze.

"How did you know?" He asked. "Did you check the lunar chart or did you notice that I was ill every time the moon was full?"

"Neither." She smiled a little and Remus looked surprised.

"Then, how?"

She stood up and he followed her. Facing him she caressed his cheek lightly. "It's hard; to detect a werewolf in his human form, but you were extremely easy to pick up. It's in the way you walk…smoothly, slowly…like a wolf…you walk with a pack of friends who look up to you and your eyes…" she hesitated for a moment. "They are charming, enchanting, almost too deep…"

They were extremely close to each other. Remus could easily smell her sweet scent and felt his heart beating faster then ever. They stared at each other for some time until Remus lowered his head and kissed her gently. Rose wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth slightly allowing him to explore even further. Remus enveloped her waist and pulled her firmly against his body.

He moaned softly when he felt her tongue caressing his own. He kissed other girls before but this felt so much better. He caressed her back slowly and smiled when she shuddered and held him even more tightly.

Rose sighed when he broke the kiss and leaned her head against his shoulder. His kiss sent shivers all around her body and it felt like she was on fire. She breathed hard and then pulled him for another kiss. He smiled to her mouth and she caressed his back causing him to groan. Now they were smiling and kissing, teasing each other, oblivious to the world around them and to the very giggling Nimphadora Tonks who was pulled out from the kitchen by a grinning Sirius.

Today.

The blond haired wizard examined the parchment carefully. For him it contained much more information then the writer of this parchment will ever know. It pointed a dangerous progress towards healing. And that healing will destroy him.

Sneaking his way out of Azkaban was hard but he managed to convince Fudge that he was under the Imperious curse again and so he was out and he allowed himself to become extremely involved with the management of a certain wizarding hospital. He was, of course, one of the board members and was determined to cut the budget of the hospitalization departments. In order to do so, he needed reports on the patients that were occupying the beds.

In a matter of minutes he found two very disturbing details. Rose Lupin managed to survive the attack on her house and was progressing rapidly towards overcoming the 'Cage curse'. Those new facts raised new questions which the most important of them was: Who got her out of the burning house?

Lucius Malfoy reached out and grabbed his cloak and wand. He needed to visit a certain patient in St. Mungo's hospital.