A/N: Here it is, the next chappi! I hope you like it! And thanxs for the reviews. That really saved me from jumping off that bridge:) Enjoy and please let me know what you think!

Circle of friends

Remus followed Hope and the gentlemen into the kitchen. Kate had already put a pot on the stove and the water was boiling. Tiana was on the cupboard, fetching the pasta out of the closet.

"Okay, guys. I just change into something less furry. I be right back."

"May I come with you, Hope?"

Tiana climbed down the cupboard and looked at Hope with her puppy eyes. Hope smiled.

"Sure, cutie! How could anyone resist such eyes?"

"I can!" Kate said.

Hope laughed and went after Tiana, who was already running up the stairs. As Hope left, she winked at Remus again, beaming. Now that Remus was alone with Hope's friends, he started to feel awkward. He didn't knew these people! Well, he hardly knew her...

"Hey, Remus, would you like to help me with the plates?"

George was standing in front of him, holding six plates in his hands.

"Yes, sure."

"Great!"

George gave him the porcelain. They went into the living room and started to set the table. Suddenly, Remus heard a loud clunk coming from upstairs. Then another one. And one more clunk. The clunks followed in a quick rhythm. As Richard entered the kitchen, he recognised the sound and sighed.

„Their doing it again."

„Sure. You know Hope. She probably talked Tiana into it."

„Into what?" asked Remus.

„Jumping on the bed. It's kind of a tradition between them."

„Until she falls off."

Just after Richard had said this, a loud rumble was heard.

George laughed.

„Wow, that was at commandment! You're getting better and better!"

Richard grinned. While Remus was wondering about the two guys, Tiana came running down the stairs.

„George! I've won again!"

„You always do, honey!"

„She does not!"

Hope appeared in the living room, limping and rubbing her backside. Everyone, even Kate in the kitchen, laughed. Remus couldn't suppress a smile, either.

„Thank you very much for all your sympathy! I thought that at least you would feel pity for me, Remus! But you are no better than them!"

Remus' smile faded and he started to feel guilty. But then George put his arm around his shoulders.

„Well, it seems that our friend here isn't blinded by your lovely appearance. Good man!"

Blinded? No, he wasn't blinded by her appearance. He just was completely fascinated to her mysterious black eyes and her oh so lovely smile...

„Hey, do you wanna fight or do you want to help me here?" Kate shouted.

„Of course we want to help, Katie!" Hope answered. She stuck her tongue out at George, took Remus hand and led him into the kitchen. Remus tried to ignore the tickling in his hand. He was definitely too old for such feelings.

Chaos reigned the kitchen. Five people were working in there. Tiana was outside playing with the wolves. Remus cut the tomatoes into little pieces, pressed next to him was Hope, taking care of the mushrooms, George cut the paprika and Richard had been condemned to cut the onions while Kate was roasting the meat. Remus' heart always beat faster when Hope's arm or hip touched his body. Every time they collided, Remus excused and every time Hope told him with a smile not to worry.

Remus couldn't say that he disliked the situation. He liked being close to Hope, feeling her warmth and her soft skin. Mostly he liked that Hope didn't jumped back when they touched. But of course she just didn't do so because she didn't know about his 'condition'.

For the first time in a long while, Remus hated is 'illness'. He thought he had accepted lycanthropy, but since he had met her, he wanted to be healthy! He wanted to be normal! He wanted to be free! For her...

„Hey, there! It's crowded enough in here! Put those dark thoughts away."

Remus got goosebumps as he felt her breath so close to his ear. He looked into her friendly eyes and at once his heart felt lighter.

„How do you know what I'm thinking about?" he asked with a whispering voice.

She smiled at him. „I can see it in your eyes, Remus...And you slaughtered the poor tomato!"

Remus looked down at his hands. The tomato was reduced to a heap of red mush.

„Oh, I'm sorry!"

Hope laughed and leaned against him.

„It's all right. Better the tomato than me!"

„Hey, you turtledoves! Are you done?"

„Yes, Kate!"

Hope gave the brown-haired woman the mushrooms and the tomatoes. Then she turned back to Remus.

„Would you like to come with me and choose a whine?"

„Sure."

„Great."

As they were walking out of the kitchen, Remus heard Richard say:

„She lets HIM choose the whine? Wow, she must really like him!"

„You have no idea." George answered.

Remus couldn't wipe the stupid grin off his face until they reached the cellar.

„Choose one."
While Remus was going through the three small whine shelves, he felt Hopes eyes on him. She pretended to look for a bottle of whine, too, but he knew better. He knew because his eyes wandered to her, too. To her hair, which shone like pure gold in the weak light of the cellar. To her red full lips, which looked...delicious. And to her deep black eyes, which he knew somehow...

„Do you feel comfortable, Remus?"

Remus cleared his throat and focused again.

„Yes. You're friends are very nice. And little Tiana is just lovely."

„Yeah, she's an angel! Most times!"

„Just like you", Remus thought.

„They like you, too, Remus."

„Are you sure?"

„Yes."

Suddenly, Remus common insecurity took over:

„Why?"

„Cause I like you."

Remus swallowed hard. Why was it suddenly so hot in here?

„Why?" he asked again, blushing. He really had to think before he spoke, or he would always make a fool of himself, just like now.

But instead of laughing at him, Hope did something that made his heart beat faster:

Her eyes took a strange expression. Remus wasn't experienced enough to recognise it as deep longing. She placed a hand softly on his cheek and time froze again. For a split second, Remus thought he heard a fire cracking and saw her hair moving in a non-existing wind. Her voice seemed far away as she spoke.

„You will understand when time has come, Remus."

For a few heartbeats they drowned in each others eyes. Then Hope sighed and let her hand drop to her side. And the moment was gone...

She looked sad and Remus was wondering why. To banish the awkward silence, he pulled out one of the bottles.

„How about this one?"

Hope shrieked out of her thoughts.

„Yes! That's a good choice! Let's go back to the others."

„All right."

As they reached the living room, Remus had to smile at what he saw: Richard danced with Tiana around the living room and was singing grotesquely out of tune to the „Queen"-song „Bicycle race". Remus liked „Queen". It was the only wizards-band who ever had success- or even tried to have success- in the muggle world.

Hope sighed, than smiled at Remus.

„I told you it would be fun."

Remus smiled back at her.

She gave Remus her bottle and asked him to open it up, while she went into the kitchen to help Kate. Remus did as he was told and then watched Richard and the little girl again. Richard sang the text to „Killer-Queen" now. And he was enjoying himself. As did Tiana, who was jumping up and down and could just hardly breath because she was laughing so hard. Remus couldn't help but laugh, too. It was just then when Hope and Kate entered the room, bringing the spaghetti and the sauce. George followed with a basket filled with bread.

„Richard, turn the music down and take a seat. And Tiana, go wash your hands" Kate said.

„Hey, why musn't Richard wash his hands?"

„Because he wasn't outside."

„But he touched my hands!"

Kate sighed. Remus was impressed by Tianas quick mind. To prevent further discussions, Richard went into the kitchen with Kate's daughter and washed his hands, too.

Dinner was quite uneventful. The pasta was excellent and the whine was delicious. There were many conversations and Remus was never left out. All of Hopes friends seemed interested in his opinion. He felt as a part of the groups. He was happy.

There was much laughing, too. For example, as Hope dripped some sauce on her top and tried to clean it without letting anyone see it. But Tiana did, giggled and said:

„Mum, Hope has a stain on her top!"

Hope glared at her little friend.

„Traitor!"

Both the girls stuck their tongue out. But then Hope winked at Tiana, and the girl smiled.

„Is Leviyah pregnant already, Hope?" Kate asked while wiping away the stain on Hopes top. Hope shook her head.

„No, unfortunately not. She wasn't in heat this month yet."

„How long are you trying it now?"

„About seven months."

„Is this a long time? Have you checked her? Maybe there's something wrong with her. Or with Fenrir."

„They are both alright. I guess Fenrir just wasn't...eager enough yet."

Everyone laughed.

„What about Mr. Lembach?" Richard asked, „Is he impatient already?"

„No, Mr. Lembach is very understanding."

„Who is Mr. Lembach?" Remus asked.

„He's a German biologist and he's trying to bring back the wolves to Germany. They nearly died out there. I brought him three sons of Lupa already. And Mr. Lembach cares really good for them. He loves these creatures just as much as I do."

„So you sell him the wolves?"

„No! I could never do that! They are creatures and not things! And Mr. Lembach sees it the same way. He's always very grateful when I bring him one of my babies. He always carries it too far."

„He fancies her!" George said grinning.

„He does not!" Hope said.

„You should see the looks he gives her!"

„George! He is maried and father of two children! Stop it!"

„Cow!"

„Homo!"

Everyone laughed except Remus and Tiana. The girl looked at Remus questioningly. He just shrugged his shoulders, smiling.

Remus and Hope were in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes. They did in silence. But it wasn't one of those awkward silences, where you're looking at the ground and thinking desperately about what to say. It was a pleasant silence, where one enjoys the presence of the other. Sometimes they looked at each other when Hope gave him a cleaned plate. They smiled when their hands touched accidentally.

„It was a very nice evening, Hope."

„I'm glad you enjoyed yourself tonight, Remus. I hope my friends aren't too crazy for you."
„No, they're wonderful. And funny."

„Yes, they are. I love them. Friends are very important in life."

„Yes" Remus said with a low vice. He hadn't much friends. Of course he had many colleagues, who respected and accepted him, but he didn't see them as friends. Only Sirius was left from his old friends at school. But Sirius had his own problems at the moment and wasn't easy to talk to. Just as he was starting to drown in these dark thoughts again, Hope pushed his side.

"It's not important that you have many friends, Remus. It's just important that you have friends you can count on. And that they love you just as you are and for who you are."

"You're right, Hope" he smiled.

He knew that he could trust Sirius with his life. And that he loved him, even his inner werwolf.

"'Course I am. I have wisdom beyond my years." She grinned and rubbed Remus' back.

"Wisdom beyond your years? Wasn't it you who jumped on her bed a few hours ago like a little child?"

"Who asked you, George? And why are you pester us all the time?"

George, who was standing in the doorway, entered the kitchen, pulled his arm around Hopes shoulder and pressed her against him.

"Someone has to protect Remus, before you pounce at him."

Hope blushed furiously and punched George hard into the ribs.

"You're so bad, George! Why do you have to embarass me all the time?"

"'Cause I love you, honey!"

"Then stop loving me!"

"Never ever, cutie!" George kissed Hopes forehead and let go of her. He slapped Remus' back and left again.

Now there was an awkward silence. Hope was still red in her face and looked at her shoes. Remus cheeks felt hot, too. He didn't know what to say. Or what to do. Well, he had an idea what he could do, but that made his cheeks feel even hotter...

Hope cleared her throat, grabbed the plates and put them into the cupboard.

"I'm sorry, Remus."

"About what?"

"You know...if you feel...pressed...or forced...you don't have to be with me, if you don't want to...I mean...you know."

As he looked in her eyes, which shone with insecurity and fear, he did something which was very untypical for him:

He placed a hand over hers and stroke it gently with his thumb. He wasn't even aware he was doing it.

"Hope, I would lie if I would say that your behaviour is quite...surprising. I'm not used to this kind of...attention. Especially not from young beautiful women", Remus and Hope both turned red by those words, "but I...well...I'm quite honored you're interested in me."

They shared another look, where Remus could see hope rising in her eyes. She wore a soft smile on her lips and again he drowned in the dephts of her eyes. Without knowing, he drifted closer to her, between her legs. His arms laid on her back and one of his hands wandered into her silky hair. Hope's face was so close to Remus' that he could feel her hot breath on his chin. He could feel her heartbeat. And, mysteriously enough, his heart was beating in the same rhythm. And for one magic second, he understood. He understood her knowing smile, all the things she was trying to tell him, why she felt so familiar to him...

"Wow! Who is pouncing who here?"

Remus and Hope jumped at the same time. Richard and George were standing in the doorway, grinning like complete jerks. Well, actually Remus felt like a complete at the moment. He jumped at least two feet away from Hope. And his head felt hotter than any tea kettle he had ever touched. Surprisingly, as he looked at Hope, her cheeks weren't red at all. She smiled brighter than ever and climbed down the cupboard. She just looked at him with sparkling eyes. But Remus was too embarrased at the moment to keep the feelings he had a minute ago. He just wanted to get out of there. This had been enough huminilation for one evening.

"Well, it's late. I better get going."

"Hey! We were just kidding. You don't have to leave. Just ignore us. We're like this all the time." Richard really seemed to feel sorry about his comment.

"It's okay. It was a nice evening, but I really have to go. A friend of mine is surely waiting for me."

"I lead you to the door then."

Hope glared at Richard and George.

"It was very nice to meet you, guys."

"It was nice to meet you, too, Remus" Richard said and shook his hand.

"You're sure you're not mad with us?" George asked while shaking Remus' hand.

"I'm sure. Good bye, George" Remus said, smiling. His cheeks still felt warm.

He went into the living room and said goodbye to Kate and Tiana, who was lying on the couch, nearly sleeping.

Then he went to the door, where Hope was waiting for him. She smiled.

"It was nice to have you here, Remus."

"Thanks for dinner."

"Anytime. I hope you had some fun tonight. Besides the huminilation."

Remus laughed. "I had."

"Good."

They smiled at each other.

Remus was thinking about what to say. Should he ask her for a date? Although it was surely not a good idea, because of this whole wizard/werwolf-stuff. But wouldn't it be rude to say nothing at all?

Hope must have read his thoughts again, because she smiled this 'I-know-your-fate-smile' again, wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear:

"Let fate decide, Remus."

He looked into her eyes.

"You're really into this fate-thing, aren't you?"

Hope laughed soflty.

"Yes. And you will be, too."

Remus looked at her questioningly. But she wouldn't answer his silent question. Instead she let her hand stroke his brown-grey hair.

"See you soon, Remus."

Remus smiled, althouh he was a little frightened at her confidence.

"See you, Hope."

And with that he left, scared that he would never see her again.