Remus was determined to win Kendra back. And as Valentines Day dawned, he vowed to make this day one she would never forget.

He had heard that Sirius planned on taking Melissa to the kitchens and skipping that day's classes in favour of food and favourable company, and that James was going to escort Lily to The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade and was also going to skip their classes. So he wanted to do something different, that neither of them was going to do.

Hogsmeade was out obviously, and so was the kitchens, but the spot by the lake was free… as was the Room of Requirement.

As the day dawned bright and sunny, he knew he wanted to take her on a picnic by the lake. That was, if he could convince her to come. He wasn't sure that he could.

Kendra awoke to the sunlight streaming in through the window in the girls' dormitory and realized with a jolt that it was Valentines Day. She thought of Remus. Would he do something special for her? She quite hoped he would, but he must hate her now. What had she thought, that if she pushed away everyone around her Chloe would come back?

They were halfway through eating breakfast when the owls came. A large, tawny owl flew straight to Kendra and delivered her a bouquet of flowers with a note attached. Lily and Mel cooed and they peered over her shoulder as she opened the envelope and began to read the note.

Dear Kendra,

I love you and I always have. Please forgive me for getting angry with you, as I was still getting to terms with Chloe's death and I did not think of anyone's feelings but myself. I am sorry that I took this out on you as I had no right to do so. Please give me another chance and meet me at the tree by the lake at one for a picnic.

Yours always,

Remus.

Lily squealed and squeezed Kendra's shoulders encouragingly, "Go for it, tiger!" she whispered into her friend's ear, offering her their friendship back fully.

Kendra looked her in the eyes and nodded, a contented smile growing on her face, "Thanks Lily," she said simply.

"What about me?" Mel whined, pouting, "Don't you forget about me, KJ!"

The friends exchanged hugs and were all extremely pleased to be back together.

"So you're going to go, right?" Mel said, looking expectantly at Kendra.

"I guess," Kendra replied, musing.

Just then, the boys walked into the Great Hall. Mel laughed as she saw Sirius' custom made T-shirt that read 'Whipped by Melissa Anderson.' He smirked at her expression and handed her a bunch of bright yellow tulips from behind his back. "Meet me in the common room after breakfast," he said, bowing to her gallantly, "Wear something nice."

She laughed, "Wear something nice? Are you insinuating something there, Sirius?"

He shook his head as the others laughed. "I think for once he wasn't," Remus remarked jokingly, starting another round of laughter within the group. Sirius pouted, but gradually he couldn't help the broad smile that lit up his face.

Remus looked at Kendra carefully. She was laughing - something he hadn't seen her do in a long while. Did that mean she would meet him? Was she finally ready to give him another chance? She noticed him looking at her and smiled at him cautiously. He smiled back at her freely.

Lily snuck a look at James, who winked at her in turn, "Hey Lily?" he asked, for the benefit of the others, "Will you go to Hogsmeade with me today?"

She smiled, "I guess it wouldn't hurt," she said mock-grudgingly.

There was a stunned silence. Finally, Sirius said, "Wow. I thought I'd never see the day where Lily Evans agreed to go out with James Potter! So, Prongs, you finally got her!"

James glared at him, "It's only one date! And don't talk about Lily that way!"

"What way?" Sirius asked him, perplexed.

"Like she's a piece of meat! Or a trophy or something that I've finally won!"

Sirius grimaced, "Sorry mate," he said apologetically, "It's just I've been so on edge lately, what with the whole"- here he let his eyes rest meaningfully on Kendra- "thing."

James nodded understandingly, "Yeah I know. Hopefully it'll all end today though."

xXoXx

"Hey beautiful," came Sirius' voice from behind where Mel was sitting, perched on one of the armchairs in the Gryffindor common room. She smiled broadly and replied with, "Hello handsome."

"Ready to go, darling?" he asked casually, leaning over to kiss her.

"Uh-huh," she murmured, responding to his kiss.

He took her to the kitchens, where he tickled the pear in the painting and the hidden door swung open.

"The kitchens?" she said loftily, "Really, Sirius. I had expected something more kinky!"

He smirked in reply, "Love you too, Melissa. But if you really want to-"

She shushed him with a kiss.

They spent the rest of the day in the kitchens, talking, eating, playing cards and other fun things.

It was approaching night as Sirius became increasingly nervous. Melissa had noticed this and didn't understand why.

Finally, she decided to ask him upfront, "Sirius, what's wrong? Why are you acting so edgy? Have I done something wrong?"

He shifted, "No Mel, you haven't done anything wrong. In fact"- he said, deciding to go for it- "You've done a lot of things right. You see, I love you. I'm absolutely smitten with you. I'm whipped"- he said, gesturing to his T-shirt- "And although you might argue that because I'm only sixteen I don't know what love is. Well I do. Love is knowing who your soulmate is - the one who you always want to be with - and love is acting on that and living your life with them. I believe I'm ready for this step, and I understand if you aren't and if you don't want to do this. I know it's really early, but I know you're the one for me, Melissa. I know it. And I would hate to die tomorrow and die knowing that I didn't do this when I had the chance. So Melissa, will you marry me?"

Her eyes widened. But they were only sixteen! How could he know he loved her? And did she know that she loved him back?

Yes, she decided. She loved him back and she always had, right from the beginning. They were perfect for each other; as she had once said, they matched.

"Yes!" she cried ecstatically, throwing her arms around him spontaneously.

"Mmm," he murmured softly, his arms encircling her waist, "I love you, Mel."

"I love you too, Sirius," she replied, knowing full well that she meant it.

He reached into his pocket and brought out a black box. She gasped, knowing what was in it, "Oh Sirius…"

He opened the box to reveal a gorgeous gold band with a single diamond on it. He carefully slipped it onto her trembling fingers.

"So this is it," he remarked wonderingly, pushing a few stray strands of hair off her face with care, "Marriage. Well, engagement really, but y'know."

"Yeah," she replied, awestruck, "It's so sudden. I mean, we're only in sixth year!"

"You don't have to," he said quickly, "If it's too soon."

She sighed, "No, it feels right. Do you know what I mean? But thanks."

"I do," he said softly, smiling at her, "I'm in love."

xXoXx

Lily and James had used his invisibility cloak and the map, which she had known about since the day they had used them to get into the Slytherin common room, to get into Hogsmeade through the secret passage concealed in the statue of a one eyed witch. This had taken them to Honeydukes, and from there they had gone on to The Three Broomsticks after buying a few lollies.

"I wonder how Sirius' date is going," James said thoughtfully, sipping his butterbeer while looking at Lily happily.

She nodded, "I hope they're having fun," she said truthfully.

"He was going to propose to her," he remarked, watching her reaction. He laughed as she spluttered into her glass and coughed wildly.

"He- he was?!" she asked incredulously.

"Yes," James confirmed emphatically, "Do you think she'll say yes?"

Lily nodded, "Yeah. She loves him. But is he going to stay with her, because he hasn't exactly had the best history of staying with girls?"

"Remus gave him an ultimatum last night when he told us. If he cheats on her, we won't exactly be very friendly."

It was her turn to laugh, "Remus can be very forceful when he wants to be."

"Emphasis on 'when he wants to be,'" James said jokingly, referring to the many times when Remus had been extremely lenient on their pranks and had joined in on multiple occasions.

They spent their whole day in Hogsmeade, wandering round the many shops once they grew tired of The Three Broomsticks. They had a few stolen kisses along the way, but were holding out for the hope that Remus could get Kendra to cave in.

xXoXx

Kendra had spent half of her day in class without her friends, so she was pleased to have a distraction from all the schoolwork and exam study she had been doing. She had been waiting outside by the lake since quarter to one, and so she was glad yet nervous when she saw Remus' figure making its way over to where she was sitting.

"I'm sorry," he began slowly, determined not to screw this up, "You weren't ready to hear those things and I thrust them on you. I feel really bad, but I can't live without you, KJ! I hate being so close to you and knowing you're not mine to hold and kiss and I hate the way you look at me without love or care in your eyes. I want you back, Kendra."

She frowned. She wasn't ready to hear those things, what was that supposed to mean? He had been lying! She knew he loved her, but did she really love him back, or was what she felt for him only friendly affection? She didn't think she was ready to take him back, especially if he was going to shift all the blame on her.

"I don't like where you're going with this," she remarked coolly, regarding him coldly out of the corners of her eyes, "It was your fault, not mine. You made up all this crap about me needing to get over Chloe's death ten days after it happened! I will never be able to get over her death and you know it! For Merlin's sake, Lupin, I was her best friend! Please leave and come back when you're mature enough to accept at least part of the blame for what you said that day!" She was shouting now, and was standing up.

His demeanour slumped dejectedly now, "Don't call me that, Kendra," he pleaded with the air of one who knows he is defeated, "I call you by your first name, so why can't you call me by mine?"

"Because I'm not in love with you," she said quietly, looking at the ground.

His breath caught in his throat, "Say that again," he said hoarsely, not believing his ears.

"I don't love you, Lupin," she repeated harshly, before turning and striding quickly towards the castle.

He stayed there for a long time, staring at the spot where she had been and not having a clue what he had done wrong.

"But I love you, Kendra," he breathed finally, before he too stood up and walked back to the castle. He, however, walked back in defeat.

Hello all!

This was such a sad but happy chapter to write, what with the whole Mel/Sirius marriage thing that I hope didn't come too early and how Kendra pushed Remus away... again! I mean honestly! This is Remus we're talking about here - he's so cute!

Thanks,

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