A/N: A little more of Peter, but not much.

sarahmichellegellarfan1: Thanks, as always! I'll probably be updating every few days at most, but I'll definitely try to keep a steady rhythm.

dearmaggie: As always, your reviews are extremely thorough, thoughtful, and really meaningful - thank you so much. I felt really terrible killing off Belby since I loved his character, but yeah, he was always meant to pave the way for Rowan. I'm glad that Peter's character is growing on you. He's so difficult to flesh out - cowardice is a very hard trait to understand I think, especially when it's mixed with good intentions. As for Rowan and Remus, there's some lightness in this chapter. I'm throwing a wrench in there soon though, so I hope you find it interesting! Also, I totally love Wes Anderson films and am so pleased that you appreciate my profile image thing.

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Chapter 22: Of the Coming Orange Spring

Remus had insisted that Rowan spend the night in his flat after she showed up there in her strange panic, and she had tiredly consented. She pulled on the familiar t-shirt and sweatpants and was wrapped gently beneath his covers. He held her against him tightly throughout the night, and Rowan was strangely thankful for it because it meant that she wouldn't have to see his face, which filled her with guilt.

When she woke the next morning, he smiled warmly, and though it sent a dull ache through her, she was filled with a strange feeling of resolution. He wasn't hers – no, but she was still his, even if he didn't need or want her, and she was determined to be his greatest defender, whether it was in the face of their friends or enemies. As she left his apartment, a slow burning filled her stomach, and she knew she finally had the motivation to move forward.

She confronted the rest of the Marauders about it after, and they all accepted her anger and fury with guilty resignation. James had looked righteous with indignation – he had been the only one to not believe any suspicions of Remus, and Rowan felt fiercely proud of her childhood friend's loyalty.

"It would be the height of dishonor to suspect one's friends," he'd told her quietly, fervently, in their moments alone. She'd never felt closer to him.

They hadn't apologized to Remus though, and Rowan wasn't sure if it would be wise to tell him anyway. He didn't exactly need to know that his friends had suspected him – after all, what good would it do for him to know? He was already so on edge, so guilt-ridden with everything else that informing him of his best friends' disloyalty would only crush him. The last thing Rowan wanted was for him to lose all hope in the people he loved most.

Emmeline Vance and Arthur Weasley, however, apologized profusely to Rowan, and though she was unable to forgive them for the time being, she knew she'd move past it eventually. She tried to not let it affect the way that she worked with the Order, but many of their guilty looks told her that more than a few of them had suspected Remus as well. She appreciated the steady and objective Kingsley Shacklebolt and Alastor Moody more than ever and insisted on only being teamed with them for the next few missions, which Dumbledore fortunately granted.

A few nights after their discovery of Isaiah Jones' treachery, the Aurors arrested the man. He'd fought furiously against them, but under the influence of Moody's most potent Veritaserum, the truth came spilling out. The ambush against them had been because of his doing, and he had been greatly rewarded for Edgar and Wisteria's deaths by the Dark Lord. Rowan, Remus, James, and Sirius had insisted on being present for his questioning, and when it all finally came into the light, Rowan's arm ached. The crazed smile on Jones' face as they pulled up his sleeve to reveal his Dark Mark haunted her for days.

But he hadn't been able to tell them anything about Belby's murder. Igor Karkaroff still refused to yield the name of the Death Eater who had burned down the apothecary, and Rowan was sure that if she were to meet him face to face, she might actually kill the man. She confided her dark feelings to James with fear, and he held her tightly, whispering that she was still a good person and that he would fight beside her and didn't she know how inspiring her light was to them all? She thought bitterly of how ironic it was that he spoke the same words that she had thought towards Remus when he had also been lost in his darkness.

The mystery of Belby's murderer remained, and though a deep part of Rowan roared with the need to reap revenge on his killer, she remained patient. One day, she would find the terrible man that left her mentor-less, and even if her darkness consumed her, he would know the pain that Damocles Belby had suffered tenfold.

Rowan sat at her family's table with her parents and Alfred feeling quite anxious. Her parents had invited her home for dinner one night at the beginning of March, and Rowan had a terrible feeling in her gut. It wasn't often that Richard ate dinner at home with his family, and he'd been stiff and jerky all evening. She watched him from the corner of her eye with suspicion throughout dinner, and when Carole and Alfred stood from the table quietly, leaving Rowan and Richard alone, she knew he was going to give her bad news.

"Karkaroff is pleading diplomatic immunity. The Bulgarians are trying to bring him home," he said darkly.

Rowan dropped her fork and stared at her father in cold disbelief.

"What? He assisted in a murder! They can't just do that!" she cried indignantly. Her anger came surging forward, bursting from her chest. She wanted to kill that man, to bring him to his knees in pain. He deserved to live out his life in Azkaban – could it really end like this?

"They can," Richard said sullenly. "We're doing all we can to keep him here and get a conviction or at least get him to give us some names, but it isn't looking good. I don't know how long we'll be able to hold the Bulgarians off."

Rowan's hands clenched almost painfully. They trembled with fury. How could this be happening? How could the government allow this? Weren't they supposed to be bringing these evil men to justice?

"Isn't there anything you can do?" she asked desperately. Her eyes searched her father's face beseechingly.

Richard looked at his daughter with pity. "I don't know, Winnie, but I can promise that I'm trying as hard as I can," he said.

Rowan nodded but was filled with guilt. She gazed at her father, who suddenly looked very old and tired. Most men would have retired by his age, but he'd continued working, even in these dark days. She hadn't seen him much since Belby's passing, and Carole said that he'd been working almost constantly. She suddenly was filled with an overwhelming love for her father as she realized that he must have been fighting for Karkaroff's conviction this entire time.

She stood noisily and stumbled over to her father, who looked startled at her sudden movement, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders fiercely. He hesitantly placed his hands on her back and then held her tightly. She hadn't felt so close to him in years.

"I love you, Dad," she whispered.

His embrace tightened. "I love you too, Winnie," he said.

Remus' twentieth birthday arrived, and the Marauders and company decided to take the time to celebrate together and appreciate the momentary peace. Rowan knew that they were still feeling guilty about suspecting their mate, but she appreciated their gesture all the same. After all that they'd gone through over the past year, Remus certainly deserved a bit of happiness and appreciation.

Remus was surprised and confused by the sudden outpouring of affection from his friends, but he accepted it sheepishly all the same. Rowan saw the look of gratitude on his face and was reminded of the expression he so often wore in their earlier days at Hogwarts and was filled with happiness. She wondered, if given the chance, would she tell her awkward fourteen year-old self to move on before her feelings became too heavy? Would it have even changed anything?

They gathered in the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade like their old days in school and drank merrily. Lily and Mina had gotten him a chocolate cake, and James, Sirius, and Peter insisted on screeching what sounded like Belby's old augurey Alexander's unpleasant cries for food, though they insisted that it was a happy birthday song. It was a joyous night, one of the brightest they'd had in months, and Rowan couldn't remember being happier in a long time.

Remus sat at the table with his friends and couldn't help but feel extremely grateful to be alive. Lily and Sirius were chatting animatedly about a new Muggle motorbike that Sirius had been eyeing while Rowan and James were attempting to teach Mina a game that they had played as kids involving the tabletop, their fingers, and a few Knuts. The brunette looked thoroughly frustrated, and the other two were laughing riotously at their friend's confusion, drumming on the table in a strange rhythm that no one else seemed to understand. Even Remus could see that the game didn't make much sense to anyone else but the two childhood friends.

Peter was sitting next to him quietly, and he realized that he hadn't spoken much to him over the past few weeks. Peter had been rather withdrawn and quiet – at least, more so than usual. He observed him silently and noted that his gaze was fixed on Rowan and Mina. There was a strange expression there that he'd never seen on Peter's face before – was it longing?

He felt something stir in the back of his mind, but he pushed it away. After all, this was Peter – honest, gentle Peter. He would never try to make a move on either woman.

"Hey, Wormy, what's up?" he asked, calling the other man from his daze.

Peter jumped slightly and turned to look at Remus, slight embarrassment on his face. Remus smiled warmly at him. It's okay. Peter blushed slightly but smiled back at his friend.

"Oh, sorry, Moony. I was lost in thought. I'm doing okay. How're you?" he asked.

"I'm all right. I just realized we haven't really caught up in a while. Anything exciting happen at work recently?" he asked curiously.

Remus had been surprised when Peter had told them about his job as a hex breaker at Gringotts, but the smaller man had seemed to enjoy his job very much and had demonstrated an unusual proclivity towards it. He would tell them stories about strange items and characters showing up at the bank, and they all marveled at the young man's surprising talent for storytelling and puzzle solving. Remus particularly enjoyed hearing about a strange box with teeth from Romania that sang siren songs, luring in its listeners and then biting their hands off as they reached in. Peter had to remove the teeth with an impressively complex incantation, and after, the box returned to normal, though a strange humming had continued from the disembodied teeth.

Peter's face lit up. "Yes!" he squeaked. "Someone actually brought in a large mirror the other day that she claims shows something different for each person that looks into it. She said she found it in some ancient ruins in Greece. I haven't been able to take a look at it yet, but it looks absolutely fascinating. I'm really excited to see what it does, though I might have to brush up on my Greek magical history first," he rambled happily.

Remus smiled broadly at his friend's enthusiasm. Peter had never shown much excitement for school as boys, and the sight of him with so much passion was endearing. He just hoped he could have as much luck in his profession.

"And what about in the dating department? Sirius says there's someone you're interested in," he said teasingly. "How'd you meet her?"

Peter blushed, and Remus thought for a moment that he stole a glance toward Mina and Rowan again, who were giggling over a secret joke with their heads huddled closely, but he must have imagined it. Peter smiled warmly.

"Yeah, she's actually the one who brought the mirror in. She's a treasure hunter, so I see her sometimes for work when she thinks that one of her finds has a curse or hex on it," he said bashfully. "I haven't known her for long though, so I'm not sure if I should ask her out yet."

Remus smiled. "Well, I hope it goes well. She'd be a fool to not say yes," he said genuinely.

Peter grinned.

After saying goodbye to their friends with each Disapparating for their respective homes, Rowan and Remus walked leisurely down Rowan's street. The night had a few clouds, but the air felt light. Rowan breathed deeply and savored the cool breeze. It was still cold, but she could tell spring was coming. She hoped it would bring good things with it.

"What're you thinking about?" Remus asked.

Rowan kept her gaze upward towards the sky. The moon was strangely orange, and she wondered if the glowing field in Hungary was reflecting the color back in response. She felt strangely calm.

"Just thinking about spring. I have a good feeling," she said languorously. "I think I'd like to start playing my violin again. It's been a long time."

Remus smiled brightly at her. "I'd like to hear you play if you decide to pick it up again," he said fondly.

She turned and smiled gently. She wanted to memorize the color of his eyes and the tone of their sheen in the night glow.

"Definitely," she said brightly.