Author Note: Well to my astonishment, my muse finally showed back up, and when I went to check back if it wanted to work on this story or the other one, this one popped in my mind. To further my amazement, I had this chapter almost completely renovated already! LOL! So, I finished this one and here it is. I really hope you guys like it!
"You have to tell me something." She had followed him outside. They were just a few feet from the little door of the tinkering shack Mr. Weasley kept his muggle artifacts in, but failed to actually shadow it's doorstep and walk in.
"I don't have to tell you anything, Rose." He pointed a bony finger in her face that she ignored so eloquently.
"Don't put that finger in my face, Mr. Lupin. You know why I had to make the choices that I did. Why didn't you come to his defense?"
"A werewolf with a baby? Are you mad?"
"You could have brought him to me. I would have cared for him. He would have been protected under the same charm."
"You have lost your mind, woman! Your husband would have never allowed him to live. He would have given his location up with the first sign of a Cruciatus."
"How dare you? He would never. You should know better than to accuse him of such things," Rose said as the tears began to stream down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry…I…I don't know what I'm saying," he broke off and sat down. The previous evening's events and this argument were making him weaker.
"I know you don't. I know that he deserted me and you hate him for that, but there were extenuating circumstances." Her demeanor changed rapidly. She became soft and slightly resigned.
He narrowed his eyes. "Why did you come back?"
Rose wasn't sure what to say. She could trust Remus with the truth, but it would be her head and possibly the premature beginning of the war. She has spent the last fifteen years keeping her secrets. She couldn't allow for friendship to destroy the plans that were laid in motion so long ago.
"I cannot tell you now, but please know that you will be told in due time. Very soon, I'm sure. Trust me, Remus."
Remus sat there gazing up at her, unsure what to think of her. They say in relative silence for a while longer watching Ron and Harry practice.
Ron had kept the snitch out of Harry's reach five times until Harry made a similar dive to his first match. He caught it and threw at Ron laughing.
"Hey! That could have hit me in the eye," the ginger haired boy said with a huff.
"I'd be more worried about that bludger behind you." Harry pointed just as Ron turned around and ducked. It missed him by mere inches.
Ron watched the bludger fly off in the distance. "Let's go back inside. It's getting dark anyways."
Harry landed beside Ron, and put a hand on his shoulder. "You're not concentrating. What's the problem?"
Ron sighed and shook his head. "Not right now. We have company." He pointed to Remus and Rose.
The boys slowly entered the house with a last glance at the two adults.
"It's about time. The two of you have been out there for hours. Time to eat some lunch," Mrs. Weasley said as she gathered the plates and cups.
"Seems like we just ate," Harry said as he pulled out his chair.
Ron looked at Harry with the most contemptuous glare. "Are you mad? I'm famished!"
After they ate, they retired to the living room where they met Hermione and Ginny. The four of them played Exploding Snap for the remainder of the evening.
The next morning found everyone in a bustle.
It was raining. Fleur was crying. Mrs. Weasley's hair was turning gray right before everyone's eyes. Bill had his hands full to console the present Mrs. Weasley and future Mrs. Weasley at the same time. Mr. Weasley had to step into the office for a few minutes. Hermione and Ginny were using Stitching charms to make last minute alterations on all the dresses. This wedding will happen, bloody rain or no. At least, that's what Molly Weasley said this morning.
"I don't want to get married in zee rain, Bill!"
"We will figure something out, my flower," he said. That was his nickname for her since fleur meant flower in French. Fleur considered herself his budding rose, about to mature and blossom into a new beauty. That is, until the one who donned that name came lazily into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Rose," Remus said politely to abolish any ideas there was anything wrong between them.
"Remus." She nodded and sat at the opposite end of the table, avoiding the glare he gave her and the stares from Ron and Harry.
"I spoke to Professor McGonagall late last night after the rain started, Molly. She said she would be delighted to send over Professor Flitwick to help charm the clouds out of the sky, or at least make a nice bubble for us to hold the ceremony in. After that, we can dry the ground and start decorating," Remus said.
"Oh, that would be 'eavenly, Remus. Merci," said Fleur. Bill shot Remus a 'Thank Merlin for you' look, and helped Fleur over to the girls to try on the dress again. "But you cannot see me in zee dress, so get out!" Bill retreated with a sneaky smile.
The "Bubble" charm Flitwick had performed did the trick. It was as if a giant glass dome shielded them from the rain. Charlie, George, Fred, and Ron had taken their wands and drew intricate flowers all over the surface. Not so much their idea as it was Ginny's, who (since not yet 17) couldn't do it herself. She didn't much care for Fleur, but she wanted Bill to be happy.
The reception was charming, but still large. Almost everyone was there. Hagrid found Charlie, who brought pictures of Norbert back with him. Harry was sure he saw Hagrid cry and kiss the pictures from time to time. Hermione and Ron danced together, although they still say they weren't together. Harry sought out Ginny. He thought she was absolutely lovely tonight. He glanced in her direction, remembering when he saw her walk down the aisle. For some reason, the baby blue of her dress didn't register. It looked white to Harry. Pure, virgin white. "Odd," he thought. He asked her for a waltz which she gladly accepted and when the dance was over, she kissed him on the cheek with a slight blush that complimented her light auburn locks. Ron watched with close attention to where Harry kept his hands when they danced together. Friend or no friend, he would protect his baby sister. Harry found his 'I'm watching you' glare quite amusing, and when the night was over, held his hands in the air as if to prove his innocence.
The night trailed off with a few departures here and there. Hagrid managed to beg Charlie to keep the pictures of Norbert before he left. Bill and Fleur had been Apparated to France with her family for an hour. Ron and Hermione had danced one last dance, as did Harry and Ginny with Ron eyeing them more than his dance partner.
"Ouch, Ron! That was my foot!"
"Sorry, Hermione," he said. He looked back up at Harry and Ginny, but they had disappeared.
On the outside of the bubble, dripping wet with rain, the two escapees stood arm in arm.
"Do you think he will come looking for us?"
"If I know my brother, yes." Ginny reached around Harry's neck. "I don't care if he does. I'm tired of sneaking around with you, Harry. I want everyone to know that I'm as happy as Fleur and Bill. We can't hide it much longer." She noticed his wince. "What? You don't want to tell anyone?"
"Oh, no. It's not that. Just thought that if Ron found out about us, you will never be a mother, if you get my point." Ginny broke out with almost hysterical laughter, and then reached her hands to cradle Harry's face.
She looked at those bright green eyes in which she loved to get lost. "You are the Boy Who Lived. I don't think Ron can touch you." And she tiptoed to meet his lips gently with her own.
The two love birds, startled, looked up. Remus had accidentally intruded on their private time. "Sorry. Thought this part of the garden would be love free. Excuse me." He gave them a sly little smirk and began to turn around.
"Remus, wait. I needed to talk to you," Harry said. He looked over to Ginny. "Could you wait for me in the study?"
"Sure," she replied as she tipped up and gave him a quick peck. She stopped at Remus and gave him a quick hug and went inside.
"Am I to take it there will be another Weasley wedding soon?" Lupin smirked at Harry again.
"If there is, it's Ron and Hermione's. I have too much to do." Harry walked over to a covered bench to get out of the rain and motioned for Remus to join him.
"So, what is it you needed to talk to me about?"
"Who is Rose?"
Remus found it best to put it bluntly. "A close friend."
A little perturbed by his vague answer, Harry pressed on. "I have all night. School doesn't start until 9 am tomorrow. I think I can manage an anti-dozing spell to make it through a few classes." Remus held back a laugh. "He's so much like James," Lupin thought.
"How does she know about you? Why is she here all of a sudden?"
"Sirius and I appeared all of a sudden and you didn't question us."
"If I remember correctly, we did," Harry lightly snorted.
"Ah yes. The Shrieking Shack. I'm still surprised Severus didn't have you expelled for that." Remus laughed lightly. "Well, best to start at the beginning isn't it."
The library was almost empty. Rosemary was rechecking her Potions homework for the third time. She looked around to see the others in the room. "Mostly typical," she thought. "Except for him." She was staring at a dark figure staring back at her.
Sirius shot out of the chair, and started to walk towards her when the library door flung open. The Quidditch star, James, had his tall friend, Remus Lupin, in his arms, giving him support. James glanced at Sirius and Peter, who was reading across the way, and then noticed Rosemary looking up from her parchment.
"Um, just stopped to tell you I'm taking him to the hospital wing." He looked back at Rosemary and went out the door.
Sirius and Peter threw each other knowing glances, and proceeded to follow. Rosemary looked over her shoulder to make sure they were gone, and then pulled out a small calendar from the back of her book. Today was circled in red with a small inscription, "Full Moon Tonight!"
Rosemary stood up and gathered her things. She stopped by the Slytherin common room to drop off her books. She had watched James and Sirius carry Remus down the steps towards the Great Hall. "That isn't the way to the hospital wing," she thought. She clutched her cloak around her neck tighter and proceeded to the Entrance Hall, where she caught a glimpse of the three of them, this time through a window. They were approaching the Whomping Willow. She followed. She managed to keep herself hidden, thanks to her Slytherin ways. She saw the three boys leave the tree, and she went into the tunnel. She found herself face to face with Remus, not yet changed.
She took a step towards him. He warned to leave, but she did not move.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Your friends have abandoned you. What if you need help?"
"What are you going on about?" Remus began to scratch at the fur erupting from his skin.
"I think you know. If your friends won't be here with you, then perhaps I should stay."
"Get out! I don't need anything from a Slytherin spy."
She turned from him and conjured up a pedestal. "I'm no spy. As a matter of fact, I am a friend."
"No friend of mine," he growled.
She smiled sweetly. "No, not yet. However you might want to ask Sirius who I am."
Remus began to double over from the pain of the initial stages of transformation. His teeth gritted together as he spoke. "Who are you?"
"Rosemary. Rosemary Black." As her words lingered in the air, her body morphed into a majestic raven black phoenix that perched on the pedestal and watched in fascination as Remus changed before her fiery red eyes.
"ROSEMARY BLACK!"
Remus' hand shot up to Harry's mouth and covered it quickly. He managed to look around to see who heard the outburst. To his relief, noone was around.
"You must be quiet, Harry. If anyone finds out who she is, it could be detrimental."
Harry looked at Remus with utmost curiosity. "Why is she here?"
Remus sighed, "I have no idea. But from what she told me, it isn't something we need to take foolish chances on, so in the future, I would ask that use a bit more decorum. Understood?"
Harry nodded as the elder male stood and began to go back inside to join in the evening festivities. Dinner, to be exact. Mrs. Weasley didn't mind having a lavish reception then following up with an equally lavish spread on the dinner table. Her boys would eat it.
"Remus, there's one other thing."
Lupin's head cocked to the side and his eyes narrowed awaiting for the young man to continue.
"How was she related to Sirius? Malfoy's mother and aunt were Blacks. The whole line is no good. The only good thing that came from it died at the Ministry two years ago. What is she to him…to us?"
Remus looked up to the kitchen window where he saw Rosemary standing by the kitchen sink with a yellow and white hand towel in one hand and a stack of wet dishes to her left. He turned back to Harry.
"I'll tell you what she told me, Harry. She's a friend." He clapped Harry one the shoulder as his long lanky legs carried him back into the sweet aroma of the house.