AN: Stumbled across this perfect quote from Bob Marley. I love these two idiots. If you have any quotes, lyrics, etc. that you think describe Rose and Remus or Rose and Severus or fit the theme of this story please leave them in a review!

Chapter 16

You may not be her first, her last, or her only.
She loved before she may love again.
But if she loves you now, what else matters?
She's not perfect—you aren't either,
and the two of you may never be perfect together
but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice,
and admit to being human and making mistakes,
hold onto her and give her the most you can…
Smile when she makes you happy,
let her know when she makes you mad,
and miss her when she's not there.

- Bob Marley

"How is Harry holding up," Ava asked tentatively as Rose leaned against the bookcase while her friend browsed the potions section of Flourish and Blots.

"He's doing as well as can be expected. That article Skeeter wrote didn't do him any favors though. People already think he submitted his name for attention, idiots," Rose answered with an irritable huff. The pair had begun to cautiously write one another, and Harry kept assuring her that he was fine. Reading between the lines of the letters she'd received from Draco, however, it seemed that Harry was getting a lot of shit from the other students at Hogwarts.

"I don't understand how she can get away with writing about people like that. In the muggle world she'd get brought up on slander charges in a second," Ava said, pulling a book from the shelf. Rose nodded as though she understood what her friend was saying and nonchalantly glanced around the shop.

"I saw him go in the back a couple of minutes ago," Ava said, giving Rose a knowing look. Rose's face colored very slightly.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said with a forced casualness. Ava rolled her eyes.

"Are you two… seeing each other then," she asked quietly.

"Just as friends," Rose replied automatically, trying not to think too hard about the kisses she and Remus had shared at their last encounter on Halloween. She wasn't really sure those had counted though. They'd been more the outpouring of mutual grief and the seeking of comfort than anything romantic. Well… perhaps not the second one, but still.

"Right…" Ava said skeptically.

"What? We can be friends," she replied defensively. "People do it all the time."

Ava made a noncommittal noise and went back to perusing the book in her hand. She'd been the one to invite Rose on the outing after Rose had told her that she was going to be finishing up her potions N.E.W.T. Ava had been delighted to hear it as Rose's decision to drop potions halfway through the N.E.W.T. level had always rubbed the Ravenclaw's perfectionism the wrong way.

"Shouldn't you be looking for your textbooks instead of playing with your hair," Ava asked. Rose immediately stopped fidgeting with her curls, turned around, and began locating her books, trying to ignore the giggle that came from her friend's direction. Pulling out a copy of Advanced Potion Making, Rose put it under her arm and sniffed haughtily at Ava.

"Ready?"

Ava nodded, concealing a grin behind her long fingers, and the pair made their way to the register. Rose watched over the man's shoulder at the rain outside the shop splashing heavily against the cobblestone street. She grimaced at the sight. It had just begun to rain when Ava and Rose had walked to Diagon Alley from Damien's clinic. Ava had been doing a consultation with him for upper body transfiguration, and the pair decided to go shopping afterwards before heading back to the Asare's for dinner.

A figure came into view outside, and Rose watched the woman rush down the alley, hood pulled up against the rain. She stumbled over the uneven cobblestones, and Rose thought she was going to fall, but she managed to find her footing just in time. The woman hurried over to the bookstore and slid through the entrance, dripping onto the carpeted floor. Waving her wand at herself, she was quickly dry again, and pulled down her hood to reveal vividly pink hair. Nymphadora Tonks looked straight across the room at Rose and grinned.

"Wotcher," she said in a friendly tone, walking across the store towards her. Rose stiffened a bit at her familiarity and gave the woman an uneasy smile. Ava was looking at the pink-haired woman with a mixture of confusion and obvious admiration for her bright hair.

"I tried to catch you at Angevin's place, but they said I'd just missed you," she said to Rose. "Do you have a second to talk… in an official capacity."

Rose's eyes flickered down to the auror's robes she was wearing, and she nodded slowly.

"Sorry, Ava, this might take a minute. I can meet you at Sam's," Rose said to her friend whose curiosity had turned to concern.

"Are you sure? I'm happy to wait," she said.

"I'll be fine," Rose reassured her.

"You got anywhere we can talk privately," Tonks asked the cashier who pointed them towards the back of the store. Rose followed the auror through the door labeled 'Staff Only' and folded her arms over her chest.

"What can I help you with," Rose asked, trying not to come off sounding too guarded. She suspected what this was about and knew Tonks wasn't going to like her answer.

"We've received an anonymous tipoff that Fenrir Greyback may have come to the office at St. Mungo's where you've been collecting research," Tonks said, and Rose felt her heart sinking as her suspicions were confirmed. "Greyback has been wanted by the auror's office for decades. If there's anything you can tell me about his whereabouts or activities, it would be very helpful."

"Look… Nymphadora, was it?"

"Just Tonks is fine," the auror corrected with a wrinkling of her nose.

"Tonks. I really want to help," Rose began, running her hand through her hair. "But our research depends on our reputation for anonymity. If our clients were to learn that I gave any information on them to the ministry, we'd be finished."

"You'd be helping a lot of people by telling me," Tonks pressed, a look of frustration on her face. Rose had no doubt she'd received a similar response from Gina at Angevin's labs before coming to find her personally.

"Our research will help a lot of people too," Rose replied instantly.

"Will you at least let us station some aurors on site for your protecti—"

"No," Rose exclaimed a bit too forcefully. Tonks raised her eyebrows at the outburst. "I'm sorry, I really appreciate what you're trying to do, but the Ministry can't get involved in our research."

The two stared at each other for a long moment, Rose with a lingering feeling of guilt, and Tonks with a look of obvious irritation on her face.

"I really am sorry," Rose said again, and she meant it. Greyback deserved to be thrown into the deepest hell imaginable, but Rose's hands were tied. No werewolf would ever contribute to their research again if word got out that she'd had dealings with aurors. There was just too much mistrust between werewolves and the Ministry—and for good reason.

"Just… be careful," Tonks said at last.

"I can handle myself," Rose said immediately.

"I'd expect nothing less from any cousin of mine," Tonks grinned. Rose gave her a cautious smile.

"See you around then, Rose," she said, stepping towards the door.

"Yeah, see you," Rose replied. She let out a long breath after Tonks left before glancing around the room. "Are we going to do this now or later, Remus?"

She winced when he stepped out from behind a bookcase, his scars standing out starkly on his white face. She'd really been hoping to be wrong about him still being back here. The tension in his body was unmistakable—his fists were clenched so tight that his knuckles had turned a vivid white. His blue eyes looked her over with a mixture of concern and anger.

"Why didn't you tell me that Greyback has been lurking around your clinic," he asked tensely.

"No one said he was," Rose replied instantly, her own body just as rigid as his own. She didn't miss the flash of irritation on his face.

"Rose, I'm serious," he said, taking a few long strides towards her so that she had to look up at him. "Greyback is dangerous."

"You don't think I know that?"

"No," he snapped. "I think you think you know that. You have no idea what he's capable of."

Remus made a motion with one hand as if to rub his left shoulder but stopped halfway through it. Rose caught his hand in her own and looked up at him seriously.

"You're right," she conceded. "I don't get it. Not really. But what do you want me to do? I'm not in any real danger, not… not with the Malfoy and Dolohov names behind me."

Remus winced at this statement but didn't dispute it.

"Why not take that woman up on her offer of protection? You wouldn't have to tell them anything and if he came snooping around you wouldn't be there alone," he pressed. Rose looked him straight in the eye and gave him a sad smile.

"Remus… it's hard enough to get volunteers as it is. Can you honestly tell me you'd go anywhere there were aurors hanging around and admit to being a werewolf," she asked pleadingly? Remus' gaze softened but only the barest amount. "Trust me… please?"

Remus closed his eyes and leaned his forehead down until it touched her own, holding her hand to his chest tightly. He took a couple long breaths before his eyes opened again, and he stared into hers with a tired expression.

"I do trust you," he answered. "I don't trust Greyback."

It was the last conversation they had for weeks. Now that November had turned the weather cold and rainy, Rose had been unable to sit outside at the café across from Flourish and Blots. If the pair were to continue seeing each other, they'd no longer be able to maintain the illusion that they were just happening to run into one another. It was an illusion she wasn't sure Remus was ready to break just yet.

"Got a lot on your mind?"

Rose jumped and looked up at the man whose nails she was trimming. He gave her a very small smile—the effect of which was somewhat ruined by the angry red scars that had recently been added to his face. It was the same man who had run out of the room the day Greyback had visited. She wondered if he'd been the one to tip off the aurors and if the scars were courtesy of Greyback. Rose returned his smile cautiously.

"Something like that," she admitted. "You're looking better this month."

It was true. Despite the scars, the man seemed more alert, his ruddy-brown skin less chalky, and his eyes less exhausted.

"The money's been helping with food," he said simply, and Rose felt distinct discomfort. For fifteen years now, she'd never had to want for any material comforts. But she could still remember the days at the orphanage. Of going to bed curled in on herself from hunger pangs on days she'd been denied meals because she'd made something strange happen again.

"In a few months we're going to be asking for volunteers to stay during the week of the full moon and let us collect samples after they've transformed. It's going to pay a lot better… if you're interested," Rose said casually, after they had finished. The man looked a bit pale at this idea, and she didn't blame him.

"I'll… think about it," he said noncommittally before leaving. Rose was carefully organizing the vials she'd just filled when the door opened once again. Turning around, her jaw dropped in surprise.

"Remus? What are you doing here," she whispered? He gave her a sheepish grin, standing awkwardly in the doorway as though not certain himself.

"I thought since you were too stubborn to let an auror keep an eye on you, that you might let a werewolf do it," he replied, running a hand through his shaggy brown hair. Rose did her best to give him an annoyed look but was sure that a smile still tugged traitorously at the side of her mouth.

"Don't you think this might put you in danger," she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. Remus shrugged.

"Then we can both be worried for each other," he said simply as if this made everything fair. Rose snorted.

"As long as it doesn't interfere with what I'm doing… I suppose I can tolerate a lap dog," she smirked.

"You think you're so clever," Remus replied sardonically, losing some of the stiffness in his shoulders.

"I am clever," Rose said with a grin, sitting back into the chair and gesturing Remus over. "And funny."

"Of course," he acquiesced, walking forward and sitting next to her. Rose could immediately sense the tension in his body.

"I don't have to take any samples from you, Remus," she said, realizing how nervous he was. "No one will know."

"I might as well contribute while I'm here," he said with a shrug, trying to casually play off his unease.

"Are you sure," she asked, giving him a piercing stare. He nodded again, forcing his body to relax.

"I'm sure," he said.

After spitting into the first vials, she handed him, Remus watched Rose while she worked. He found it somewhat amusing to watch the normally proud young woman do such a mundane task as trim his nails. He could tell by the slight wrinkling of her nose that it wasn't her favorite activity either. Oddly, this show of distaste on her part helped him relax more. There had been women in the past who had professed their love for him after learning of his condition when really what they felt for him was pity and a desire to take care of him. It was a reaction he had come to hate. He wanted a person to love him for who he was, not because he was a werewolf. Remus knew just how dangerous werewolves could be and disliked those who sentimentalized them just as much as those who misunderstood the condition.

He had been afraid last year when Rose became interested in lycanthropy that her feelings for him were coming from that same place of wanting to fix a broken man. But time and time again she had proved that assumption wrong. Rose rarely humored his dark moods and never pressed him to talk about lycanthropy with her or his experiences as a werewolf. She'd never even asked him for his opinion on the article she'd written on lycanthropy. He'd avoided reading it for months because he didn't want to read some overly sentimental argument for why werewolves were really such sweet innocent misunderstood creatures. Remus had finally gotten around to reading it over the summer in the hopes that it might help him get over his lingering desire for her. But to his surprise, none of those sentiments that were so repugnant to him were a part of Rose's argument. Her interest in studying lycanthropy seemed to spring from a genuine excitement around the challenge it presented to the field of transfiguration.

Remus could feel his cheeks warm when Rose leaned close to him to take enamel scrapings. He could smell the fresh flowery scents of her shampoo and was sorely tempted to reach out and tuck a loose curl behind her ear. The thought of her this close to so many others made his stomach roil with jealousy. This in turn brought out the feelings of guilt that so often accompanied his thoughts of her lately. Who was he to be jealous after all? Friends should not be jealous of friends.

'Is that what you are,' asked a snide voice in his head. 'Friends?'

'Yes,' he answered firmly, even as Rose leaned back in her seat and smiled at him, the dazzling warmth of it causing his breath to catch traitorously in his throat.