I am hanging my head in shame that it has taken me this long to update. I'm sure most of you have forgotten what the hell is going on! Sorry.
Chapter 18
"You slept with her?" Peter inquired in disbelief as the Marauders sat in front of the Gryffindor common room fire.
Sirius looked at James with twinkle in his eye and started fanning his face dramatically "Oh Prongs. Our little boy is all grown up now. He's a man. Next thing you know he's going to be off to university then married with two and half kids and a mortgage." He said in a high pitched American woman accent.
James smiled and laughed before replying in a deep rumbling patronizing tone "You did use protection didn't you son? You know, in this day and age the last thing you need is to..."
"Alright alright. Shove off." Remus said with a roll of his eyes.
"Seriously mate. I'm glad everything worked out for you." James said as he clapped him on the back.
"Yeah, Aurora's great. You'll be happy. You'll be disgusting." Sirius replied.
"We're in love." Remus told them without embarrassment.
James and Sirius erupted into whoops and hollers while Peter squeaked excitedly for a moment before interrupting.
"I'm in love too. With Shelda." He said, obviously unhappy at being excluded from the conversation.
The three of them just turned to stare at him with controlled annoyance and then simultaneously said "It's Sheba." leaving Peter to look sufficiently disgraced.
"I told you she wouldn't run off. You just have to give people a chance." James said.
"I know. I should have listened. You all give me hope that I won't be ridiculed for the rest of my life." Remus said honestly. "Between you guys and her."
"Now enough of this sentimental crap. I've got to get down to the lake to meet her. Homework you know." He added with a wink.
"Later. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Sirius told him with a laugh.
"Well that narrows it down doesn't it." James shot back.
"Oh and darling? Don't forget to use protection." Sirius said in the girly voice.
Remus turned around and gave them a mock glare and an obscene finger gesture before climbing through the portrait hole and heading down to the lake.
When he got there he found Aurora was already there. Sitting in her usual spot on the ground, staring out over the inky depths of the lake that were reflected in the light of the new moon.
He approached quietly and stopped to watch her tentatively for a moment. He couldn't help but notice that she seemed to be doing some heavy duty thinking. Remus stood there for a few minutes just observing before he started toward her again.
In his attention to her he failed to watch where he was walking and ended up stumbling over a tree root. He hit the ground with a loud oof and watched guiltily as Aurora whipped her head around to find source of the commotion.
When her eyes met his she broke into a smile and was off the ground and standing next to him in a flash.
"Remus, what on earth are you doing?" She asked with a giggle as she offered her hand.
He took it uncomfortably and allowed her to help him up. Not the most masculine or graceful of entrances, he thought dolefully.
"I was, err..." He trailed off as he watched her eyebrows raise questioningly. "Dammit, I was watching you and tripped."
"Watching me? Why?" She inquired curiously.
Remus stared at her incredulously a moment before answering "You really don't know how beautiful and wonderful you are, do you?"
He smiled softly as she blushed an endearing shade of scarlet. She opened her mouth to argue but he silenced her with a kiss.
"Flattery will get you everywhere." Aurora said dazedly when he finally released her.
"It's not flattery, it's truth." He replied as he clasped her hand and led her back over to the edge of the lake.
They did their best to work on the Astronomy project but they kept staring or just smiling stupidly at each other. At one point Remus felt as if he were going to be lost in the depth of her deep blue eyes until a crunching on the grass caught his ears.
"Sinistra is coming." He said and focused back on the telescope.
"How do you know?" Aurora asked quizzically.
"Werewolf ears and smelling senses are much more sensitive than humans." He explained quietly.
"Oh, well that makes sense." She answered as signs of his condition began clicking into place.
Sure enough, five minutes later Sinistra came trooping by to check on them.
"How's it going Mr Lupin?" The professor asked.
"Great. Really making some excellent progress." He answered truthfully.
"I must say, you really have improved beyond measure. I was worried about you for a bit but I see your partner must have got on your back about your lack of help." Sinistra said.
"Oh, I did Professor. I told him to quit being lazy because I wasn't going to do all the work. But he's much easier to work with now." Aurora said with a twinkling smile.
Remus looked at her with a smile before turning back to Sinistra.
"Good Miss Moon. That is why you have partners, to share the load with. Well good night to you then." She replied before wandering off.
"Brat." He said jokingly when they were alone again.
Aurora stared at him a moment with indecision in her eyes before speaking. Asking the question she'd been burning to ask.
"Why did you snap at me that morning in the prefect bathroom?" She asked as nonchalantly as she could.
He bit his lip, still ashamed of the way he'd shouted at her.
"Because I didn't want to like you. And I'd been up all night thinking about you so I decided to take an early morning bath to take my mind off of you and there you were. The one place I thought I could get away from you. And not only were you there, you were clad in only a towel. It was torture."
She smiled at the irony. "That's why I was in there too. I couldn't quit thinking about you."
"Well, we're quick on the uptake aren't we." He laughed.
"Yep. Nothing but quick study." She agreed as she stretched out on the ground.
Remus followed suit and pulled her close so her head was pillowed on his arm. He followed her eyes to the starry sky and for the first time since receiving the bite he actually looked at it, appreciated it's beauty, depth and mystery. He found he was infinitely grateful to her for that. It made him feel closer to human than he had in a long time.
"I'm sorry I hurt you Aurora." He said softly as he trailed a finger down her healing cheek.
"The only thing that hurt was you not trusting in me enough to tell me." She whispered back as she met his grey eyes.
"I do trust you. Implicitly. You've made me want to see the stars again. I can't tell you how long it's been since I've just looked. You did that for me and I appreciate it. Thank you." Remus said before tugging her closer for a kiss.
"I'm glad." She answered.
"Will you tell me a story that constellation over there tells?" He asked as he pointed to a bright cluster directly above them.
"Of course. That's Lupus. You'll be especially interested in that one. It's a she-wolf." She smiled.
He listened with enraptured attention and wondered how he had muddled along all this time without her.
Don't forget to review! Any kind is very appreciated! Sorry for the hideous dealy...again.