She thought her life was over – but fate gave her another chance, in a world of magic. Now, running around Hogwarts with James Potter and his friends, she's about to make choices that will change the future in ways she never thought possible…

Marauder's Phase

CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE

I Live With Facing My Destiny

The world had ended…so why was life still going on?

Remus and I were in the hotel room at the Bali Rani. We'd been given free accommodation and access to the hotel facilities – Sirius and James too – but it wasn't enough.

"There was nothing you could've done." I whispered, touching the side of his face. "She told us to go…you listened to her…"

"I know…" Remus said, his voice cracking.

I wrapped my arms around him in a comforting hug. I was sitting beside him on the bed, and trying not to cry, because Remus was upset enough as it was.

"They liked you, you know," Remus whispered, and I closed my eyes because the words hurt. "They really did…"

"They shouldn't have," I said, my voice shaking. "I'm dangerous for you to be around. Look at what happened…because of me…your parents are…they…" I suddenly let go of him and backed away, standing up. "I'm sorry…you're upset…I'll come back later." I promised, before turning and hurrying out of the room, without looking back.

***

Out in the hotel grounds, I debated drowning myself in the pool or not. But, with Ministry wizards watching me from behind the trees (well, not really, but it felt like it) I wouldn't get away with it.

Not that I would want to, but I felt horrible. Remus parents were dead – all because I'd panicked and hadn't thought things through. The Death Eaters had some kind of tracker on me, the Ministry couldn't take it off me, and Remus' parents were dead.

Because of me.

I was ridden with guilt. There was no other word for it.

"Oh God…" I whispered, and promptly collapsed to my knees and began to sob.

High above glittered the crescent moon.

***

I don't know how long I cried for, but suddenly my head snapped up. A strong feeling of dread overcame me, and my heart seemed to stop.

"Remus." I whispered.

I pushed myself off the ground, running back the way I had come. I didn't know what was wrong…but something was.

"Remus!" I gasped.

***

The door was locked. No trouble. I took out my wand. "Alohamora!"

The door burst open and I hurried across the threshold.

There, right before my eyes, was a black cloak, attempting to smother Remus.

A Lethifold.

I yelled again – I could hear people running – and I realised I had to dredge up a happy memory, despite everything that had happened. I had to save Remus, make it up to him somehow.

'Remus wishes I'd said to him that one day we could have sex…Remus and me…Remus and me…'

All other thoughts left my mind.

I raised my wand.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!!!!" I shouted.

And from my wand burst forth a silvery-blue-white creature, which immediately galloped toward the Lethifold, lifted it off Remus with its antlers.

With a gasp I hurried to Remus, who was half conscious and half not, and gathered him in my arms. Together we watched my Patronus chase the Lethifold from the room, as dozens of other wizards crashed into the room. My pocket watch swung across my neck, nearly hitting Remus in the eye as I wrapped my arms around him. I was shaking.

My Patronus turned back to me, regarding me with silvery eyes.

"I thought you were Prongs' at first…" Remus whispered. "But…White Fang…that is…"

"I know." I whispered, gazing at my beautiful Patronus for the first time ever. "I know. They're the same."

***

"I can't stay here," I snapped, ten minutes later. "Not when there are Lethifolds and God knows what! I will not stay here!"

"You can't Apparate, Ems," Sirius said patiently. "The Death Eaters..."

"Yes, I know," I sighed. "So…we should book a flight?"

"Already done." Dromeda said tiredly. "We'll need to be returning home for the…funeral…"

James, Sirius, Remus and I nodded.

***

We were sitting in Remus room, all of us. Septimus was asleep, curled around a warm kettle.

"So we're not sleeping tonight?" Sirius asked.

The rest of us nodded.

"And we're definitely not mentioning the deaths?" Sirius went on.

"Absolutely not." Remus replied, and I nodded firmly in agreement.

"And we're cool with not being so serious tonight?" Sirius continued.

"What's the point, Padfoot?" James asked.

Sirius grinned. "Let's play Strip Poker!"

The rest of us gaped at him.

He was grinning at me.

"Is that just an excuse to see me naked, Sirius Black!?" I exclaimed.

He smirked. "It's only fair."

I sighed, and stood up. "You leave me no choice." I began.

Sirius' eyes lit up. "You're going to..?"
"No!" I snapped, and pointed my wand at him. "Obscuro!" A blindfold slipped over Sirius' eyes. "I'm going to have a shower." And I stalked into the room next door – my room – to have a shower.

***

No One's P.O.V:

Sirius, Remus and James sat on the bed, watching Fox Tel.

"Man, that werewolf ain't got nothing on you." Sirius told Remus.

"Yeah, but there are ten of them." James reminded them.

"Well I wouldn't know." Grumbled a still blindfolded Sirius.

"That one has the same last name as you, Padfoot." Remus said.

"Yup." Sirius nodded.

"Hey," Emma voice suddenly called from next-door. "Someone…a towel…I need a towel…there isn't one in here…guys..?"

Sirius and Remus both sat bolt upright, and then Remus said: "You can't go Padfoot, you can't see!"

"No way I'm letting you go!" Sirius growled.

James tore his eyes away from the brown-haired girl running through the woods on the TV. "Hey, hang on, calm down Padfoot, Moony didn't mean anything by it."

Sirius' eyes were behind the blindfold but, if they hadn't been, then his two best friends would've seen the eyes narrow. A low growl slipped from between his lips.

James looked alarmed. "Calm down…" He said again.

Remus sighed, and then hurried into the bathroom to get a towel, trying to ignore what Sirius had just said, but his heart was pounding. Did Sirius know..?

At the door to Emma's bathroom, Remus knocked.

The door opened slightly and Emma's hand shot out, and took the towel.

"Thanks." She said, just as there was a fizzle from somewhere above, and then the lights went out.

Remus hadn't been expecting that, and didn't let go of the towel when Emma took it. So, when she pulled on the towel, Remus came too and, before he knew what was happening, he was on the ground, with Emma and part of the towel beneath him.

Their lips met, just as the lights came back on.

Remus was in total shock.

Emma's eyes were wide, and there was a blush across her face…

But neither of them was moving.

Moving back just slightly, Remus whispered: "E-Emma?"

"Remus…" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Remus gulped. Then he said: "You know…you're not as dangerous for me…as I am for you…"

Her eyes glittered. "I like dangerous…my Remus…"

Their lips met again.

"Hey, are you guys okay?" Sirius' voice came from the other room.

Emma and Remus both winced, and, reluctantly, Remus got up.

Emma fixed her towel before Remus helped her to her feet.

Remus looked at her, admiring the way the towel clung to her body, her dripping wet hair, the scar on her neck. "Let's not…"

"Tell Sirius?" She nodded. "Agreed."