Author's Note: Thank you MargretLilyPotter and Schatje for your reviews! I decided they were enough to get me to post this chapter. I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: This is me, owning nothing.

They had spent hours arguing, but Lupin finally gave up. Harry could not be persuaded, however much Lupin sensed that he wanted to be.

Sighing, he stood up.

"I must go, Harry," he said, disappointed that he'd be leaving alone. "Are you sure you won't come with me."

Harry looked very much like he would like to go with him. That expression, however, passed and he replied tiredly, "I'm sorry, Remus. I can't."

Accepting his words with a silent nod, Lupin nevertheless decided to try a different tactic. He had noticed Harry's expression,

"That's a shame, Harry. You can call on me anytime. I really must go now, though." His eyes shone with hope as he continued, "Tonks will be waiting."

Harry's head shot up at the familiar name.

"Tonks?"

"Yes," Lupin replied, feigning surprise that this got Harry's attention. "We got married."

As Lupin had predicted, Harry became confused once more. He couldn't help remembering Tonks and missing her. He wanted more than ever to go back. But his resolution held, barely.

"That's really fantastic," Harry said, his mouth dry. "Congratulations."

He couldn't help the hollow feeling in his stomach. How many things like this had he missed?

"Thank you," Lupin said. Deciding to push the advantage he knew he had gained, he ploughed ahead. "She's probably not missing me much right now, though." Harry looked at him. "I bet she's too caught up in the excitement."

"Excitement?" Harry croaked.

"Didn't I tell you?" Lupin asked, raising his eyebrows. After seeing a small shake of Harry's head he went on. "Ron and Hermione just got engaged."

Harry froze.

His two best friends were getting married. Though he tried to block them, thoughts and memories of them flooded his mind. He grew suddenly sad as he realized that he had missed thousands of new memories over the years.

One look at Harry's face told Lupin that he had planted the seed. Smiling, he bid Harry good-bye once more and walked out the door.

xxxxxxxxxx

When Lupin finally arrived at his house, day was dawning. Barely managing to keep his eyes open, he stumbled into the kitchen where he found Tonks reading the Prophet. Seeing him, she quickly got up and ran to him.

"Bit of a late night, then?" she asked mischievously as she kissed him.

He pulled her closer with a wolfish grin.

Tonks was slightly dazed when they came up for air, and she clumsily made her way back to her seat, grinning widely.

After several sips of coffee she had collected herself enough to inquire about what happened at work. His hand slipped of the counter, though she didn't notice.

Several thoughts raced through his head.

She's my wife. I should tell her.

I shouldn't tell anyone

It's Tonks! She's his friend!

He doesn't want anyone to know.

"Nothing Earth-shattering," he said. It wasn't a lie.

xxxxxxxxxx

Several months had passed since that day. Wedding plans were in full swing, and the big day for Ron and Hermione was fast approaching.

Their imminent nuptials caused much excitement.

Hermione had become so hysterical when she lost the seating chart they had spent, quite literally, weeks planning that she shredded the dress she had selected. No one wanted to tell her that the caterer had cancelled.

Ron had stopped coming out of his room when Fred and George started ambushing him whenever they saw him to discuss his bachelor party. When forced to leave the safety of his bed he walked around with his eyes widened and peeked around corners before proceeding ahead. No one wanted to tell him what the twins had planned.

To calm them, Cheering Charms were administered to each of them about once a week, twice when bad things happened, which was shockingly frequently. They were now a very happy couple.

Ginny, on the other hand, had been becoming progressively more melancholy every day. No one knew exactly what was bothering her—Hermione guessed, but said nothing—and everyone was too busy to find out.

Remus had been more thoughtful since that night, but tried to make it appear as though nothing was amiss.

Tonks, who could read him like a book, became steadily more suspicious every day, though she had no idea what had caused the change in her husband. She did know, though, that it had happened that night.

In Liverpool, Harry thought about his old life every day. Lupin's visit had released in avalanche of memories Harry didn't know he had. Every single thing served as a reminder of the life he had once lived. But he was able to control himself. He wouldn't go back. He couldn't.

He had reckoned, of course, without Lupin's plan.

xxxxxxxxxx

One March morning, Harry woke up at an unusually early time. As he slowly faded into consciousness, he became aware of a tapping sound. Looking drowsily around, he saw a shape outside his window.

Wishing the children would let him sleep, he turned over and shut his eyes. But the tapping persisted.

Grunting, he slowly stood up and walked towards the window, where the tapping had reached a frenzied state. Eyeing it suspiciously, Harry opened the window.

Before he could react, an owl shot into the room and landed on his bed, where it hooted importantly.

Bewildered, Harry cautiously approached the owl. It appeared to him to be crazed.

The owl didn't, in fact, attack Harry, but stuck out its leg, displaying a very nice white envelope.

Amazed, he took it from the owl. Having successfully delivered the letter, the owl hooted happily and soared out the window.

After watching it go, Harry looked down at the envelope. Turning it over, he saw his name in loopy, gold writing. Frowning slightly, he opened it.

Inside was a piece of creamy white parchment. Harry read it and froze.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Granger

request the pleasure of your company

at the marriage of their daughter

Hermione Jane

and

Mr. Ronald Weasley

On Saturday morning, April the fifteenth

at ten o'clock

12 Basing Street

London

He didn't know how long he stared at the letter. Though their marriage had been in his thoughts for months, invitations made it so much more real. For the first time he realized that he would miss one of the most important events of his friends' lives.

It was only then Harry noticed another piece of paper in the envelope.

Taking it out, he recognized Lupin's handwriting.

Just in case.

Author's Note: The leaps and bounds will occur in the next chapter. I really promise this time. I just wanted to get this one up.

Just a hint: Reviewing makes the author update faster!