Author's Note: Thank you all so much for reading my work! It means so much and encourages me to keep going seeing the hits! I love this story, it is so close to my heart and I have so much to go still. This chapter is a little glimpse of some of this practice with Emeline's new skill. I think it's the sweetest thing, but it will come in handy as things turn darker after the last task. Enjoy, and please review!

"I cant believe another term is nearly over." George mused, running his fingers through Emeline's hair as she sunk into his lap, lying against him on a small loveseat in the Gryffindor common room. They were alone for the time being, the trio having gone to bed and Fred out gallivanting with Angelina again.

"I know, me either." Emeline murmured back, her eyes slightly heavy with sleep. "Did you ever hear about your Potions paper?"

"I actually passed, do you bloody believe that?" He asked excited.

Emeline laughed and the vibration against his chest made him smile. It felt blissful, here with her.

"That's amazing, George. Especially coming from Snape."

"Tell me about it."

Emeline tilted her head to glance up at him and he kissed her forehead lightly.

"Anxious to see how the last task pans out?" He asked as she leaned back and closed her eyes.

"Very. I do feel bad not cheering on my own house, but I know Harry's got this in the bag."

"I'm sure." George agreed. "It's going to be interesting."

They were both silent for a moment, which was comfortable and easy, before George continued.

"I've been wanting to ask if you'd like to visit this summer. Anytime, really, just be nice to see each other before another year goes by. You know my parents love you, they've already mentioned it, but the idea was in my brain first I assure you. They wanted your dad over for dinner or something."

"That sounds lovely." She yawned. "Ofcourse I would."

"Excellent." He let out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding. "I'm looking forward to it."

She didn't respond any further, having fallen peacefully asleep against him.

•

Time was passing quickly at Hogwarts and with some calm ebbing into the castle (other than excited chatter surrounding the final task and end of year), it was easy to focus on her studies and plans for the summer. Emeline had soared much higher in her marks than she even expected with applying herself extra. Remus was incredibly proud, even if there were a few exams still that were a total miss.

She finally felt like life was beginning to settle. It had been a very long time since she had any trace of "normal" in her life. Though she could not completely relate to Harry by any means, she did understand the desperate hurt of parental loss. She was very grateful to have Remus and the more she got to know him, the more interesting she found him.

She knew it was not typical for a teenager to be so accepting of an involved parent, but he was all she had left (which is what she tried to encourage in Harry, with Sirius. They loved each other and she wished things could be different).

She was very alike Remus in many more ways than she thought initially. While her father would likely never be as outgoing or oblivious as she could be, they both adored reading, chocolate and debates. They enjoyed the outdoors (save for the moon in Remus' case), were very kind to people (who deserved it, anyway, Emeline believed), and could be withdrawn when fear or lack of confidence crept up.

Despite a difference in being generally outgoing, though, her dad could be mischievous and very funny. It was a side she had seen in brief flashes during class last year, but at home (especially with Sirius), it was a whole new playing field. She loved seeing him joyful, immersed in the present, and especially loved sharing pranks and music with him.

Yes, she was settling in quite well to her new life.

Though, her mind still wandered to her mother from time to time.

Florence was already dead a year when Remus approached Emeline last term. She spent a year alone, staying in between various friend's homes while working through her grief. She had a firm handle on her emotions when Remus divulged the truth, though knowing now what great love they had, it seemed to sting all over again.

They were meant to be a proper family.

Sometimes, there were just things a mother had in her touch and Emeline certainly wished she could see what life was like with a mother and father; perhaps a sibling or two. She shook her head and freed herself of pointless thoughts.

She figured she absorbed so much of Remus' personality and love because she had never had a father around. Despite it not being motherly attention, it was attention she had craved her entire life. To be protected, wanted and her heart held by someone other than her mother; by the father she thought never existed, or never wanted her.

At the beginning, it was hard to fathom why he wouldn't have told her sooner, but she understood fast his reasons. Remus was very protective over the fear he held that was having a child to have potentially passed Lycanthrope to, or being stigmatized by society because of him. Emeline could sense that he didn't share everything with her, and she couldn't blame him, but the scratch on the surface was simply that he struggled with an inner disease much worse than a wolf: he struggled with the fear of her being ashamed and certainly a small amount of pride.

In the end, his love and desire for connection with her won out, (with Dumbledore's insistent prompting), and she was glad it did. She hadn't a clue how hard it must have been for him to watch her from the sidelines, knowing desperately how much he already loved her, but unsure if he could ever be enough.

Perhaps that was why she tried to assure him in every little way, that he was.

As Emeline sat at the window seat, looking at the moon in a fresh phase and much less menacing, she thought to attempt a little honing of this new skill they'd uncovered. She closed her textbooks and let her eyes flutter shut afterwards, calming herself as much as she could, just like Remus had taught her through her panic attacks. It was a little difficult to calm her fears without him, but he had given her useful tools for trying. No one had ever been able to calm her that way. With him, she was beginning to stop fearing… well, fear.

She felt an emotion swell in her heart: pride.

Proud of you.

She could hear it in her spirit.

He must feel it, and in their little cottage, sitting on the edge of his bed, he did: calm.

He knew she was calming herself of her typical nerves, and from the peace he felt, she was doing quite well.

Love you. He heard it deep in his soul and held a hand to his heart.

Love you, pup.

She grinned.

She wondered if he was tired, and tried to focus hard on that question.

He chuckled as he felt a spark of curiosity, looking at the moon out his window. One of the times in the month it could be viewed as beautiful to him.

Still awake.

She felt the energy and smiled again, happy he was feeling stronger and calm.

Her eyes began to close and she leaned against the pillow on the window seat, covering herself with the cloak of her father's he'd left with her after the second task.

When sleepiness overtook him unexpectedly, he yawned and tried to focus, too.

Goodnight, darling.

Sound asleep, she heard his voice in her dreams.