Disclaimerness: Heehee, I forgot to put one on the first chapter... This'll make up for it. lol. I'm not making any money off this, nor doI own anything except the really bad plot. Yay.
A/N: I'm back from Alabama and am too tanned for my own good! I'm glad so many people like this so far. But what I have written now is so...random. Still have no real plot thing. Oh well...

Moonlight and Starlight

Chapter Two
I'm Engaged

They said goodbye to each other at Platform Nine and Three Quarters, planning to get together sometime soon to discuss wedding plans and hang out. Peter left first, spotting his siblings across the platform. James's parents appeared next, and James eagerly told his parents that he had already proposed to Lily. Mrs. and Mr. Potter seemed ecstatic; Lily let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. James told her he didn't know what she was worried about, his parents had grown extremely fond of her over the past two years.

Sirius and Remus parted compliantly, though Remus dearly wished that Sirius would be with him when he dropped the news to his parents about the engagement. Sirius and James Disapparated with James's parents – Sirius always spent the summers at James's house.

"Remy!" Remus heard his mother call to him from somewhere in the crowd. She appeared from in between a group of third years, smiling exuberantly.

"Hello mother," Remus smiled, lips tight. The smile on her face didn't waver at Remus's grim greeting.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" she asked him, taking his trunk in her own hand, worried.

"Nothing. I'm just, a bit shocked, that's all."

"Of course dear," London Lupin nodded knowingly. "Last day of term ever, I understand. You can still Apparate to the house, right?"

Remus nodded and the two Disapparated with a crack.

oooOOooo

Remus was greeted with the familiar sight of his family sitting room. Everything looked slightly unfamiliar as he hadn't come back for the Easter holidays on account of studying for his N.E.W.T.s. But it was his same old house, small and cramped but still tidy and comfortable.

"Your father's working late," Mrs. Lupin explained, bustling into the kitchen. "Someone called in sick, so he's filling in for him." His mother sighed. "Always willing to do extra work, Jack is. Sometimes I'm afraid he'll overexert himself or something."

"Um, mum?" Remus said cautiously, following her into the kitchen. "I have to tell you something."

"Yes sweetheart, what is it?" his mother asked flippantly.

"Mum, I'm engaged."

London froze for a moment, hand halfway towards the cupboard, but she immediately beamed and turned back to her son. "Oh, really? And who's the lucky girl?"

"Er...it's not exactly...um... It's Sirius," Remus managed to reply, fiddling with the ring around his neck.

"Sirius?" Mrs. Lupin repeated.

"Yeah, he, uh, proposed to me before we got on the train. I said yes," Remus explained, as though that was the reason why.

Mrs. Lupin's eyes filled with tears. "Oh, my goodness!" she exclaimed. "My little baby's getting married!" She rushed over to him and surrounded him in a tight hug. "Married, already..."

"You aren't mad?" Remus asked tentatively, a little shocked.

"Mad? Of course not, darling," Mrs. Lupin gushed. "It's not like I could have stopped you, now could I? Though, I did think grandchildren would have been nice, but I suppose I'll have to do without them." She smiled radiantly around the room. "Do you have a date planned?"

"Er, not really...we haven't had much time to discuss it yet, we were going to do that later," Remus told her. "You see, James and Lily are getting married sometime soon too and — "

"Jamsies's getting married too?" she exclaimed. "My, everyone's growing up so fast. Little Jamsie..."

Remus chuckled. He'd have to keep that nickname in mind for when James got on his nerves. "Yeah. So...you're not going to kick me out?"

"Kick you out? Never dear, never."

Remus sighed in relief.

"Your father, on the other hand..."

Remus stopped dead. He had almost forgotten about his father. He wasn't as lenient with his son as his mother was...

oooOOooo

Lily and James's mother were already sitting in the living room, books and magazines spread out on the floor between them.

"Now, I think a shade of pink somewhat like this would do wonderfully," Lily said, pointing to a picture.

Carol Potter leaned over, and shook her head. "No, that would clash terribly with your hair, it'd do no good in a dress..."

Lily frowned, but immediately perked up as she flipped a page. "Oh, we can use this instead, perhaps and use the pink in the bridesmaids dresses..."

"About the date, Lily," Mrs. Potter prompted. "Have you thought — "

"I was thinking about the beginning of July — "

"July? You think we can get this together so soon?"

"At this rate, I'm sure we can," Lily said firmly.

"And have you and my son discussed anything about children yet? Oh, it'd be so sweet to be called grandma by some cute little three year olds! I was thinking perhaps one of each?"

Out in the hallway, James Potter fainted.

oooOOooo

Dinner at the Lupin household was uncharacteristically subdued. Remus ate in silence, staring at his plate. While Mrs. Lupin kept glancing at the clock, waiting for her husband to return from the Ministry.

Around seven thirty,

"London? Remus? I'm home!" a voice called from the front hall.

"We're just finishing up dinner," Mrs. Lupin called back. Remus was hastily trying to finish his plate.

He was too late. Jack Lupin walked into the kitchen, looking slightly disgruntled and weary. "Sorry I wasn't there to pick you up at the train, Remus," he said, crossing to the table and sitting down. Remus was clumsily tipping whatever was left on his plate into the disposal and setting the plate and cutlery in the sink. "Double shift at the office."

"That's alright dad," Remus informed him, heading towards the stairs. He had almost made it to the doorway when Mr. Lupin inquired,

"What's that 'round your neck?"

Remus froze. He had been hoping to avoid this conversation for another day at least. "Nothing," he mumbled, mentally hitting himself for not taking his necklace off earlier.

"It's not nothing. Come 'ere, let me see it," Mr. Lupin said, inclining his head forwards. Remus sighed and slunk over. He didn't object as his father tugged the chain out from under his shirt, inspecting the engagement ring closely. "What's this, then?"

"Remus's getting married," his mother answered quickly, before Remus could say anything nasty.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "To who?"

"Sirius Black," Remus responded hoarsely.

"Black?" Mr. Lupin repeated, almost as Mrs. Lupin had done.

"Yes, Black. He proposed to me before we got home. Now, I'd like it if you let go of my ring, please, so I can go to my room." Remus tugged it out of his father's relaxed grip.

Mr. Lupin's face had gone an ashen color. "Now you see here, young man — If you think we're going to let you get married so young to some long-haired hippie freak — "

Remus's eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare call Sirius a hippie freak," he snarled. "Once I get the papers from the Registry, we're getting married, and you're not going to stop us." And with that he turned on his heel and stomped out of the kitchen.

oooOOooo

Later that evening, Remus tiptoed quietly down the stairs. He felt bad about talking back to his father like that at dinner, and while he wasn't going to change his mind, he could at least apologize. At the bottom of the stairs, he heard his parents whispering heatedly in the sitting room.

Remus paused, leaning closer to the doorway to hear.

"London, you can't be siding with him!" His father's voice was infuriated.

"I've already told you, I have nothing against the two of them," his mother replied, exasperated. "What have you got against Sirius that's so horrible?"

"Well, first off, he's a guy."

"So are you."

"But I'm married to you. A woman. That's the way it ought to be."

"Oh, don't be silly dear. Times are changing. I think it's sweet."

"Really? You think our son being a gay werewolf is sweet. Do you know what sort of problems he's going to have? Just being a werewolf was bad enough, but marrying a man?"

"Honesty, Jack, it's not like he's going to introduce himself like, "Hello, my name is Remus Lupin, and I'm married to a guy, oh, and am a werewolf. Nice to meet you." If that's all, then I think this conversation is over."

"You've seen him! His ears are pierced multiple times! He wears eyeliner! And girls' jeans!"

"So do I."

"That's because you're a girl!" Mr. Lupin sounded close to hysteria.

"Really, I don't think it makes a difference," Mrs. Lupin shrugged. "You've seen what muggles are wearing. It works for them. Perhaps it's just a phase. If it is, fine. If not, well, he looks good like that."

Remus could tell by the wheezing noises that his dad was speechless. "Y-you think a punk like that looks good?"

"That's what I said. Jack, this conversation is pointless. I'm behind Remus and Sirius one hundred percent. They're made for each other, regardless of looks or gender or other problems, Jack, and if you can't see it, then that is your fault."

Mr. Lupin tried to interrupt her, but London was on a roll.

"I mean, even look at this. Remus is a werewolf, he transforms by the moon. His name is even taken from the muggle legend about two boys raised by a wolf. Sirius is the dog star; the brightest star in the sky. Stars come out with the moon. They bloom together, grow stronger together. It's like Sirius was meant to be there, protecting Remus. They just go together. Moonlight and starlight."

There was silence. Remus turned away, sneaking back up the stairs, any thoughts of apologizing forgotten.

Moonlight and starlight. They bloom together.

Remus's heart was racing.

TBC...

FEAR THE SAP! Argh, I am so cliched. Go Remus's mommy. Did you see how I was so creative in thinking up first names for his parents? Haha. Review by clicking purple button!