Sorry it took so long, but I got a bit of writer's block. WARNING: The third and fourth paragraph in this chapie are slightly gruesome, a warning for those with extremely weak stomachs. PS. No action this chapie, sorry, but it's going to be sentimental. (YAY) Lot's of LenxRemus. PSS: long chapie, please review. Note: I'm changing the two year teaching training course to a one year training course. I want to get a lot of RxL romance in here, so it's pretty long.
Ch.26, Tragedy, Classes and Questions
Back in Headquarters, Mrs.Potter was getting very worried about her oldest son being late coming back from a mission. It had been hours, and Dumbledore was five seconds away from telling people to go looking for them, when the entire mission team port keyed into the middle of the room.
As people stood up in shock, and Dumbledore asking for an explanation, James was squished by his mother's bone crushing hug.
"Forget talking now, can't any of you see that Len needs medical attention!" Remus shouted angrily. Everyone's heads turned towards the normally calm Remus. Then, they saw the blood pouring from Len's side. She had gone unconscious.
Madam Pomfrey rushed over to her and examined Len's side, which was covered in blood. "I can't heal this here, and we can't take her to Saint Mungos. Professor-(she turns to Dumbledore) we have to-"
"Go." Dumbledore intercepted.
Remus stood up. "I'm com-"
"Yes yes Mr.Lupin we all know how stuburn you are, you can come."
Suddenly, all of Len's friends wanted to come. Madame Pomfrey refused profusely. She said it would already be strange enough with just two people there. So she, Remus, and a-on-a-stretcher-Len went to Hogwarts.
After all the arguing was done, Moody explained what had happened. None of the people there were able to sleep, so they waited for Madame Pomfrey to come back and tell them if Len would be okay or not.
The team realized that an entire day had passed in their absence. It was nearing midnight and even though none of them had eaten in a really long time, none of them really felt like eating. It was 1 am when the downcast doctor came back into the room. Lily had fallen asleep on James' shoulder, and he gently shook her awake, knowing that she wouldn't want to miss the report on her best friend.
The warden was bombarded with questions.
"Is she okay?"
"What kind of cutting curse was it?"
"Is she conscious?"
"Well this is going to take some explaining. We know what the curse was, it was the Badwoundious Openous curse. (sorry, couldn't think of anything creative) which means that her wound will stay open for a very long time, and won't stop bleeding until the wound heals. No, I'm afraid she isn't conscious, and due to the immense loss of blood she has suffered... we don't know... what the future holds." she finished gravely.
The rest of the group stared at her. They had learned about that curse in Auror class, and it was usually used by dark wizards who wanted their victims to suffer greatly before they died. They all started demanding to be allowed to see her.
"Under the circumstances, I suppose you may visit her." she said, and the way she said it did not go unnoticed by Len's friends.
The moment they arrived in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts, they rushed over to the only bed occupied, with the curtains around whoever it was. They stepped inside to find the area inside the curtains had been magically enlarged.
Remus sat on a chair beside the bed, looking deathly pale. His eyes never leaved Len's closed ones, and he didn't even seem to acknowledge the fact that his friends had entered.
Len had been cleaned up. Her hair was still in it's braid, but the only thing that covered her up were the sheets. But that didn't hide the large amount of bandages that were soaked with blood wrapped around her torso. Remus was holding one of her hands.
Remus knew his friends were hoping for some sort of an explanation. He opened his mouth, but no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't make full sentences.
"Doc said...cut really bad...m-might not make it..." he stuttered. He never took his eyes away from where her's were closed. He could almost feel their gasps of horror, and looks of despair.
James conjured up some chairs, and they all sat down. Remus was right beside Len, and Lily and Melissa were at the other side of the bed. James sat beside Remus, and Sirius at the foot of the bed.
None of them said a word. Time passed, and it was morning. Madame Pomfrey rushed in and shooed them out, telling them that she needed a change in bandages. Luckily it was a class day, so not many students came into the wing. When they asked who was behind the hangings, they were told 'someone who does not wish to be disturbed.'
The others all took a sick day from their classes/jobs and stayed with their still unconscious friend. When Madame Pomfrey came in, she looked at the sad sight before her. Just like a pack of animals, when one of their own was injured or hurt, they all stood by them. Even though she hated to admit it, this was one good thing to come from this. It showed Voldemort that they would always be there for each other. It showed him that they would stay united, no matter how hard the times.
Lily was the first to speak. To her, her voice sounded hoarse, but that's what happens when you don't talk for about a day. "I remember one time when we had just gotten to Hogwarts. I had just found myself an empty compartment. Then Melissa came in."
Melissa smiled slightly and continued the story. "We started talking, but then Len knocked on our door. She said that she couldn't find an empty compartment, and asked if we could share."
Lily continued. "Of course we let her, and we all hit it off. On our way off the train, she had trouble getting her trunk down off the rack. (slight smile) She told us her mom was a worrywart and made her overpack. So, we all, after putting our trunks in the carriage of course, hauled her trunk down, and after that she was barely able to carry it."
Melissa smiled too. "Then someone comes along and tries to kick us out of our carriage. After the fact, we found out he was Lucious Malfoy."
"But we also found out just how loyal our little friend could be. She had barely known us for a day and was already standing up for us. She said no, and then Malfoy called Len and I mudbloods. Of course we had no idea what it meant, so she practically ignored it."
"That was when he got really angry. He called some of his cronies, and tried to force us out. You see, we learned a lot about her that day, including her rare temper." Melissa said with a grin.
"As she got older she learned to control it more but... well you saw what happened in Hogsmead. Anyway Melissa and I made to move out, because we didn't relish getting beaten to a pulp on the first day. But Len stayed on her seat and said no."
"That day we learned what an excellent liar she was. Just as cronie one made to punch her, she looked above his head and pretended to see someone. She shouted and waved 'Ooooh, Professor, I was wondering about the-' and that was when he scampered off like the bug he is, not wanting a detention on the first day." Melissa said, laughing a little.
"I just thought of something." Lily said about ten minutes later. All heads, minus Remus' turned to her.
"If Len could talk right now, I think I know exactly what she would say." Lily said.
"Aside from 'get me out of the Hospital Wing, I fine and don't need to be here'" Remus said. Everyone chuckled at this.
"After that. She would tell us off for acting as if... as if she were already dead." Lily said quietly. Everyone fell quiet.
Remus thought for a moment. Then he realized that Lily was right. Len would tell them all to look at the bright side, and if they couldn't find one to make one up and convince themselves of it. He smiled as he thought this.
"She wouldn't want us to be sulking. She'd want us to live our lives, and look at the bright side. Or, in this case, make one up and convince ourselves of it." he said with a chuckle.
James thought for a moment. Then he stood up, and asked, "I'm going to creep down to the kitchens, anybody want to eat something?" Four heads nodded in agreement.
So James left with Sirius, who wanted to go for old times sake. Melissa decided that she should mail an owl to their Order friends who were waiting to hear about Len's condition.
When they returned, Madame Pomfrey came in and told them nicely but forcefully to go home for a few hours and get some rest. Of course they all refused, but then Madame Pomfrey told them it was Dumbledore's orders. He had temporarily taken the charm off the Hospital Wing that didn't allow apparation, so if she woke up they could come immediately. The group tried hard not to notice the emphasis on the word if.
Remus bit his lip as he apparated to the appartment that he and Len shared. To him it seemed empty, and desolate. By habit he walked into the room that they shared. He found that he couldn't stay there, so he went into the living room... that they shared.
It just wasn't home without her. The way she laughs and her mock scolds. Remus couldn't get her off of his mind. If she really did... go, then he didn't know what he would do.
He glanced at some pictures on the coffee table in front of him. He saw a picture of a Hogsmead trip a few days after Lily had got her parent's death notice. But Lily was laughing her head off in the moving picture. So were Len, Melissa, Sirius and James. He himself had taken the picture, and taken her by surprise. She could always cheer anyone up, even in the hardest of times. He jumped up, startled by the sound of his friends apparating right in front of him.
"Sheesh, you guys want to give me a heart attack?" Remus play-scolded.
"Don't say that Moony! It makes you sound old. Besides, we thought you could use some company." James said nicely, sitting down next to his friend on the sofa.
Remus smiled gratefully. "It's just not the same without her here. It seemed like it was just yesterday that we had just gotten out of James' house, and we had our first dinner here." he trailed off.
Everyone stayed silent for a while. At about midnight they all left him alone with reassurances of seeing her tomorrow. They told him to get some sleep. Which he tried to do, but found his dreams were plagued with screams that sounded oddly like Len's.
In the morning he woke up feeling as if he hadn't slept a wink. He rolled over, hoping to see Len there and hoping it had all been a horrible dream. She wasn't; it hadn't been. He got up and got dressed. He walked into the kitchen and got himself some quick oatmeal. Right after he finished eating, he apparated out, glad it was a Saturday.
When the rest of the group arrived at the Hospital Wing, they weren't surprised to see Remus already there, gazing at Len. Even though it was six am.
A few hours later, the group had been reminiscing about Len when James and Sirius realized how little to eat he probably had had. So they dragged him off to the kitchens, using James' old invisibility cloak. He protested but then realized that Len was unlikely to wake up soon. He sulked off with his friends.
Melissa left to use the bathroom, leaving Lily with their injured friend. Lily sat beside her, not really thinking anything. She then almost had a heart attack when Len's finger moved. Just a twitch.
"Madame Pomfrey!" she shouted. Said person practically ran over. Melissa had heard from the door where she now was, and hurried over too.
"What happened?" MP (Guess who that is) said anxiously. Lily told her.
"Are you sure you weren't just seeing things?" MP asked. Lily said no, slightly offended.
They heard a loud clang as Remus dropped the food he was holding when he saw the crowd hovering over Len. He was over there is a second, dropped cans of food completely forgotten.
"What happened? Is she okay?" he asked quickly, but got shushed by all three women. He was about to think about how rude that was, when he saw her head move and her eyes flutter, then close, flutter, close, and flutter open again.
She moaned, and opened her eyes fully. "R-Remus...what happened?" But then was cut off by Remus kissing her.
When he broke away, he said, "Oh Len I thought I was going to lose you! Thank goodness you're alive!" he said, confusing Len even more.
She tried to sit up. "What h-ahhh." she cried through clutched teeth at the pain in her side. Remus gave her hand a squeeze and explained about how she had gotten hit by the curse. How she had gone unconscious from lack of blood and that she had been like that for almost two days. Then the sound of more dropping food was heard as James and Sirius saw that Len was awake. They had assumed that after being unconscious for almost two days because of being hit with a deadly curse, one probably wouldn't wake up.
But then they were all shooed from the area as Len had to have a full examination, just to make sure she was okay. Remus left reluctantly, with her reassuring him that he could come right back in as soon as she was done.
After they were let back in, which seemed like forever to the group, they all entered to see Len with one of her classic annoyed scowls on her face.
"She said I have to stay in here for a week!" Len complained, then got confused as to why they all burst out laughing.
"What's so funny? I hate hospitals!"
"I guess we've just missed you sweetie." Remus said, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.
Then they all laughed again as Len commented that she was hungry. So then Madam Pomfrey came over with a tray of food, and walked away. So she didn't see Len's look of disgust. (Has anyone ever had hospital food? It's disgusting.)
Then Remus, James and Sirius went off to the kitchens to get some 'food that won't make me barf' for Len. Lily sat down in Remus' vacant seat.
"He was really worried about you Len." Lily said seriously.
"Why? It's just a cut."
"No Len, you were hit with the Badwoundious Openous curse. You... weren't expected to wake up." Melissa said sitting down on the other side of the bed.
Her expression darkened. "R-really?"
"Yeah. In fact, Madam Pomfrey is contacting Dumbledore right now to try and figure out why all of a sudden you're better." Lily said. But then their little chat stopped as Remus came in the door, very cheerful and with arms full of real food.
After they all ate, Len started complaining about being stuck in a hospital. This made everyone snicker when they heard her arguing with Madam Pomfrey. Who went back to her office looking very flustered.
When they went back to Len, she was looking very pleased with herself. They asked her why.
"Because she said that I'll only have to stay for a few more days, after a little... convincing." she said with a huge smile. The group cheered.
A few days passed, and the group visited Len everyday after their jobs/classes. On the first day Remus wasn't there because it was a full moon, but he told Lily and Melissa that he just had to work overtime because of the time he missed.
So when Len could walk again, she was let out of the HW and allowed to come back home. Madam Pomfrey gave her a note saying to her teaching teacher that Len was very sick and was in hospital. Of course she wouldn't be going back for at least a week, but she said it gave her time to study for exams.
The week passed, and Len could go back to her classes. But it was the weekend now, so Len had some planning to do.
One day while Remus was out doing something or another, she invited the rest of the group to plan Remus' birthday party. They decided it should just be the seven of them with maybe a few Order members.
On the actual day, Lily got them all over to her house. James and Sirius were out distracting Remus, so the girls could get the decorations set up.
The house was magnificent. Streamers were hung everywhere and in the sitting room presents were scattered on the floor. Len was baking Remus' favourite kind of cake, and Lily and Melissa were charming things to float around.
Then a few Order members arrived and they all waited for Remus to arrive. They came in, Remus unsuspecting and laughing with James and Sirius about some prank they pulled on the grouchy owner of Flourish and Blotts.
The boys brought him in to the sitting room, where everyone was hiding in the blind spot beside the door. Remus stopped at the pile of presents in front of him.
"Guys..." he asked slowly while people behind him are desperately trying not to laugh.
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY REMUS!"
He jumped and almost fell back from turning to see who it was. But at this moment his laughing-herself-crazy girlfriend jumped forward and got a picture of this. She hated to blackmail Remus, and would only use it if the Marauders challenged the Birds again.
"Happy birthday Remmy!" Len said, smiling even more at the scowl from the use of his pet name.
"If you call me that again, I'm going to start calling you Lenny." he said, smiling at her.
"You wouldn't!" she said in mock horror.
"Yes I would!"
"No you wouldn't because I got a picture of you being surprised!" she said and shrieked and ran around the sofa to avoid Remus trying to tickle her.
This ended up in an all out tickle war, in which everyone tickled or hit each other with pillows. This stopped in about ten minutes.
"Thanks a lot you guys." Remus said, sitting with Len on the sofa.
Then, everyone snickered as James' stomach let out a loud rumble. He blushed, and even more at Lily's next sentence.
"Aww, is my little Jamie hungry?"
Now it wasn't just snickers, it was full-out laughter. Then, Len whispered something in Remus' ear that made him smile and look like a five year old.
"Now as I just told Remus, he is the birthday man so he gets his first choice of cake!" Len said, walking into the kitchen and bringing out a very large cake. It also had many little candles on it.
As Remus blew out the candles, he blushed and everyone except Len laughed as only one candle was left. Then, Lily just had to bring up something that made them both blush even more.
"You know, at Len's seventeenth birthday she also had only one candle left. I wonder what co-incidence that could be..." Lily said in a teasing tone.
After getting some cake, and an eating contest between Sirius and Benji Fenwick for Remus' ammusement, and getting a quick non-nausea potion for them because of the rich cake, the girls regretted their mistake to let Sirius and James pick the games.
They enlarged a twister mat, and set Moody in charge of the spinner. The people on the mat were: James, Sirius, Remus, Benji, Lily, Melissa, Len and Marlene.
However, Moody soon said that there was some sort of jynx on the spinner, although that was quite obvious by the position of the couples.
Then a large tripping chain started. Sirius purposely tripped Melissa so she landed on top of him, but then Melissa's arm knocked Benji's, who leg tripped Len, whose foot tripped Remus so he landed on top of her, and Remus' hand tripped Lily's leg so she landed on James.
And during all this ruckus, Marlene slipped away and grabbed a camera. She came back and got a few pictures of them trying to get up, then them trying to come after her, then them falling again, and the cycle went like that for a while. But then she had to leave for more film.
So when everyone had finally gotten up, without a trace of even a smile on Moody's face. So then they started their hunt for Marlene, who was hiding with the film.
They all liked the idea of having a picture like that, but it was funner to make them think that. So they split up, just like their old games to find Marlene. They searched the house from top to bottom, though really only Benji was looking, as all the couples were soon... distracted.
They found her, but then had to tickle her for information. She had Dissolutioned the camera film, and the group didn't know where. So she soon told them that she wasn't ticklish.
The group gave up looking, and settled down to opening presents. Remus was very happy with what he got, and thanked everyone.
So then everyone headed home, with Remus very happy not to have an empty home again.
Months passed, and Len graduated her teaching class. It was a few days before September, and Len received a letter. She showed it to Remus, while jumping for joy.
Dear Miss Candel,
I am writing to inform you that our old Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is retiring in October due to stress. I am aware that this is very short notice, but would you be interested in over taking the teaching position? Details may be discussed at a later date. Please reply as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonnalge
Deputy Headmistress.
"Oh Len that's wonderful!" Remus said, giving Len a kiss.
"I know! Oh I've got to write back right away!" she said, jumping up from the couch for a quill and some parchment. She wrote:
Dear Professor McGonnagle,
I'm sorry to hear that Professor Darikson is retiring, but I would be most pleased to take his place.
Sincerely,
Len Candel
She sent it off with her owl right away, after letting Remus read it of course. Then, she was just about to finish her breakfast when Lily's head popped in the fire.
"I hate Floo powder... Anyway, how are you guys?"
"Wonderful! I just accepted a job offer for Hogwarts' DADA teacher!" Len said, sitting down by the fire.
"Really?"
"Really!"
"That's wonderful!"
"I know!"
"I got to go tell Mel! Back in a sec!"
Remus laughed at the 20 second conversation she just had. She turned to him with a mock indignant look.
"And what, Mr.Lupin is so funny?"she said.
"Just the fact that I've never seen a twenty second conversation."
"Really? The girls and I have them all the time." she said, suddenly curious.
But then Lily and Melissa popped into the living room. Then, they both shrieked and gave Len a bone crushing hug.
"Uh, girls, I think when Len turns blue that means she needs air." Remus said with a smile. Len was indeed turning blue.
They released her, and demanded to see the letter. She handed it to them, and got another bone-crusher.
But by then James and Sirius were wondering where their girlfriends had gone, and they saw them crushing Len.
"Uh, Moony, any idea why Len is being squeezed to death?" Sirius said with a smile.
But by then Len was getting a little tired of these hugs, so she pointed to the window and said, "Oh look! That may be the same owl I got from Hogwarts!"
This got the girls to let go, and rush to the window to see the owl. While they were looking around and asking where the owl was, Len ran to the kitchen, the boys were turning red from not laughing.
When the girls turned around, they scowled at the shaking boys. Then, they looked to where Len was once.
"Did she just lie to us?" Lily asked.
"I think she did." Melissa said.
They both paused for a moment, and then, "LEN GET BACK HERE!" they both shouted, ignored their rolling-on-the-floor-in-laughter boyfriends/friends.
The girls eventually found her, and agreed not to give her any more crushers. Meanwhile, Remus was explaining what had happened. When the girls marched Len back into the living room, James and Sirius congratulated her.
After a congratulatory lunch, because by the time the girls had done everything it was that time, Len got another letter from Hogwarts asking what book she wanted set.
"Hmm... well I've always though that Defense for Defenders Volumes 1-3 would be good for teaching. Say... vol. 1 for first to third years, vol.2 for fourth and fifth years, and vol.3 for the sixth and seventh." Len said, telling the others as she scribbled on a piece of parchment.
"You really have this all thought out, don't you?" Remus asked, a smile on his face.
Len smiled back. "I've imagined teaching for years. Now, I actually get to do it!" she said happily.
So a few months passed, and then Len set out for her first teaching lesson, very nervous.
So how do you like it so far? The next part of this story is going to be told from the view of the Junior Marauders. check earlier chapies if you don't remember. Ha! I bet I really got you thinking that this would be all for this chapter! Well to bad for you, there's lots to come!
As students filled up the Great Hall, they looked to the Head Table to see who their new teacher would be. Personally, Zach, Cody and Rob were thrilled at the prospect of a new and un-suspecting teacher to prank. They were quite proud of being part of convincing their old Prof. to retire. So, when they entered the hall, they were as perplexed as everyone else to see the chair empty.
Dumbledore stood up. Silence fell in the hall. "Now I can see that our new Defense-"
Then, he stopped and looked at the side door, to where a blushing Len was standing.
"Sorry I'm late Professor!" Len said, trying to act cheerful when she had just set a bad example.
"That's quite all right Professor Candel. Please, sit down." Dumbledore said, gesturing to a vacant seat.
The Junior Marauders (JM) stared. They recognized her as the girlfriend of one of their mentors. Meanwhile, other people from the year that still remembered her were whispering like crazy. But the people who didn't recognize her just whispered as the rumor about her going to Hogwarts a few years earlier spread.
Len sat down, and waited while Dumbledore gave a speech about how she would be taking over. Meanwhile, the JM started talking.
"Remember her? She was Remus Lupin's girlfriend!" Rob said.
"Do you think she still is?" Cody asked.
"We could ask her. But anyway we can't prank her! She would tell the Marauders!" Zach, who was like the equivalent to James, said. The boys still idolized them, especially after they saw in the school records how many detentions they had got.
They continued talking, until it was the almost time for class. They hurried on right after Cody (Sirius equivalent) finished eating. They had their first class for DADA, and they didn't (surprisingly) want to miss it.
When they got in, they (surprisingly) took seats at the front of the class. They took out their books, quill, parchment and wands. Everyone knew that when a new teacher arrives, they are sort of obligated to tell a little about their teaching habits.
So, when Len came in, the class fell silent from it's whispers at once. She put something on her desk, and turned to face the class.
"Now I don't know what you're expecting, but I realize that I'll have to earn you're respect. I have no problem with that. But I still remember what it was like to be a student, so I know the classic excuses for being late and such. I don't like to give out homework, but I will. Those who misbehave (the JM lean forward) will simply be given extra homework. I don't think making a student miss something like Quidditch is a way of convincing them not to cause trouble. Now if you'll turn to page..." Len said, trying to sound confident.
The JM were all smiling. An easy going teacher who they know, who doesn't believe in detentions, and doesn't enjoy giving homework. This was a dream come true!
Surprising the class, the JM actually behaved in all of Len's classes. But later on that day after lunch, they got in trouble for tossing Dungbombs in the library. Meanwhile Len just happened to run into Filch escorting the three to his office.
"Hello Argus, how are you?" she asked innocently.
Filch scowled. In his mind, she was still a student. "Just escorting these three troublemakers to my office, to see what I can get Professor Dumbledore to make them do..." he went on evilly.
Len pretended to just notice the three miserable looking kids. "Oh I was just looking for you three! (she turns to Filch) I was trying to find them so I can give them all the piles of homework that they missed for missing class today. I only let that pass because Cody here ate too much and got sick. They all visited him in the HW. Isn't that sweet? (Filch looks disgusted. Kids look hopeful and confused) Anyway why don't I take them off you're hands Argus, it'll take a while to go through their homework." Len lied perfectly.
At the thought of piles of homework, Filch looked down, calculating the possibilities. Just as he was doing this, Len gave the kids a quick wink, telling them to play along.
"And how about for the Dungbomb incident, they clean up my classroom too? These children can be so messy." Len said.
"(Peeves starts bouncing around.) Very well. And if you see the Bloody Baron, be sure to tell him that Peeves is up to no good."
Len looks at the kids, and tells them (in a very stern sounding voice) to come with her. They flinch at this, thinking that maybe she would mess up her classroom then make them clean it or something.
When they turned to corner, Len turned to face them. "Do you really think I'd make you do something like that? Besides, my classroom is already clean. I may be you're teacher now, so you can't tell anyone that I got you out of trouble okay?"
They nodded, but then Filch turned the corner. Before she went into stern teacher mode, she risked a quick wink at the boys.
"And for that one Mitchel, you boys get to clean my office too! Now come along." Len said, ushering the boys around the corner in the direction of her office.
"Now I have one piece of advise for you boys. Don't get caught. I won't get you out of trouble anymore. I'll have to have a talk with the others. Now go, before Filch comes in expecting to see you working!" she said once they reached their office. They left, very confused.
"What was that all about?" Cody asked.
"I think she just got us out of trouble." Rob said.
"What do you think she meant by 'I'll have to have a talk with the others'? though?" Zach asked.
"Duh! It means she is still with Remus Lupin! She's going to tell on us!" Rob said.
All three boys moaned. They still idolized the Marauders as the best troublemakers. Having them hear they got caught was... bad.
But at their next lesson, which was later in the week, they entered the class. They sat at the back, not wanting Professor Candel to get in trouble for favouring them, even though it was obvious.
But when Len came into the classroom, she wasn't alone. The boys gasped as James Potter, leader of the original Marauders, came in behind her.
"Now I'm sure all of you who aren't blind have noticed that we have a guest today. This is James Potter, and he is an Auror in training. Some of you may remember him from way back when he was at this school." Len teased.
"Hey! We were in the same year!" James protested.
"Anyway," Len said, completely ignoring James, "he is here to talk about some of the simpler jynxes that he sometimes uses. Now, I have time to mark these seventh year questions." Len said, holding up a small pile of papers. She flashed James a teasing smile, while he gave her a plain the-only-reason-I'm-here-is-because-my-girlfriend-is-you're-best-friend.
So James went on, purposely monotonusly just to annoy Len, and soon about half of her class was asleep. He smiled at her, and she scowled. She then, to the JM's interest, held up her wand and made it make a loud bang. The class woke with a start.
"And that is what happens when you fall asleep in my class. Now I'm going to give you some homework, and those who were listening to Mr.Boring over here should be able to do it in about ten minutes. Class dismissed. Oh, and (insert last names of JM's) please stay after class." Len finished, smiling over-sweetly at James.
Len sat back down at her desk and continued to mark papers, even when the three came up.
"Um, ma'am, didn't you want to see us?" Rob asked.
"Hm? I'm sorry boys, I don't remember (she winks) telling anyone to do that. Why don't you go get some lunch?" Len said in the same over-sweet voice.
As the boys turned to leave, very confused, they came face to face with James.
"Hi boys, how are you?" he said cheerfully.
"Uh... good." Zach answered, wondering at being treated like a good friend.
"Listen boys, Len told me that you got caught the other day. Well don't worry about it, the Marauders and I got caught plenty of times before we made this" he said as he pulled out a piece of parchment.
"Since we don't go here anymore, we don't need it. We thought it may help you get caught less." James said.
At their very confused faces, he added, "It's a map of Hogwarts. You tap it with you're wand and say 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.'" and he did so. He watched their faces as they saw lines spread out on the map.
"Wow..." Rob said.
"When you're done with it, you tap it with you're wand and say 'Mischief Managed!'. Every single secret passageway in and out of the school is on here. We used it to hide from Filch many times. It also lets you see where people are." James instructed, pointing to where they were.
He handed it to the boys, but then Zach looked cautiously at Len.
"Don't worry. Hey Len! (Len looks up) did you hear anything?" James asked.
She smiled. "Nope, I've been temporarily deaf for the past ten minutes."
The boys' faces lit up, but then James pointed to a dot on the map. "Hide it, quickly! McGonnagle is coming this way!"
Zach put it carefully in his pocket and turned to James. By the time McGonnagle came in, he was acting like they had asked him a question.
Months passed. There was a large Order celebration on Len's birthday. At one point, many hadn't believed she'd make it, so the party was big. Plus Melissa lost her part of the bet. (Check earlier chapies)
Christmas came and went, with only a few missions for the group. When they arrived at a hall rented by the Order for the New Years party, Len told the other girls something.
"The other day he just left, said he was going shopping, and comes back with no shopping! Has that ever happened to any of you?" Len asked, slightly worried.
"Len, how could you think something like that? Maybe Remus just bought you a gift, and didn't want you to see it?" Marlene said.
Len smiled. "You're right. I'm just over-reacting. Oh, who made the triple chocolate cookies?" she asked, and headed over to the table.
Lily. Melissa and Marlene looked at each other for a moment, then, at the exact same time, they shouted, "Ten galleons on tonight!"
Len was taking a walk around a nice little garden. She looked up at the moon, which was a crescent-far from being full. It was a perfectly cloudless night, and all the stars were visible. She sat down on a bench, and looked at the stars. That is, until a pair of hands covered her eyes.
"Guess who?" a voice said from behind her.
Len pretended to think. This made the person chuckle, and take his hands away. He sat down beside her, and they both gazed up at the stars for a few minutes.
"Two years." he said.
"Two wonderful years." Len corrected.
"Listen, Len, I've been thinking. And I've wanted to do this for a while, but I'm just to chicken." he said with a smile.
Len looked at him curiously. "And what would that be?" and she was right- she didn't have a clue.
"Erm..." he wasn't usually this nervous, Len thought.
"Well?" Len asked softly.
He bit his lip and reached into his pocket. What he took out was to small to see when he covered it with his hand.
"I love you Len, more than anything or anyone in the world. When you got hit with that curse last summer- I felt that if you really did die, that my life would never be the same. (he gets down on one knee and hears Len gasp) I will always love you. Lenilah Candel, will you start the new year as my fiance? Len, will you marry me?" he asked, hopefully. He held a gorgeous diamond ring in his hand.
Len felt tears in her eyes. "Of course I will marry you Remus Lupin!" she said joyfully as she flung her arms around him.
Okay, that really is it for this chapie. Please review, this is my longest chapter yet! I'm so happy!