The Last Summer Rose

The Last Summer Rose

Chapter 1: Rough Water

Remus shivered under the thin cloth of the silvery Invisibility Cloak as he walked slowly. He knew he shouldn't be seen out in the greenhouses in the dead of night, especially with Filch prowling the grounds more so now than ever before due to the increase of both Muggle and wizard attacks in the world outside Hogwarts. But Sirius had assured him that the Dream Charm would work, and Remus had full faith in Sirius' charming ability. If he could pull off Anamagi transformations, he could execute perfectly projecting a dream into someone else's mind. What he doubted was whether the recipient of the Dream Charm would show up. Unlike Remus, she was a very serious fifth-year Ravenclaw Prefect, and very rule abiding; she was the last person that you would expect to see out after curfew. Remus however, had a little reputation for rule breaking and had to plan his nighttime missions in stealth and secrecy. He had been caught all too many times sneaking into the kitchen for a tin of ginger biscuits or a bar of semi-sweet chocolate. Absorbed in his thoughts about the person he was to meet, he bumped straight into the shapely form of Meredith Lyvver. Jumping back alarmed, Remus prayed that she had not noticed. But it seemed that Meredith too was lost in her thoughts, with her head down, watching her feet trudge in the snow that magically fell from the glass ceilings. Remus breathed a sigh of relief at his fortune and looked lovingly at her. A wave of de-ja-vu hit him as he remembered when they had first met.

Meredith had grown into her magical powers late, being from an all Muggle family and thus, started Hogwarts in what would be her second year. Her family was a very well to do family, they lived in the heart of London, and the family of three went to America every summer. When returning from one of these trips, an owl had attacked her airplane window, and under her meal tray later that day, there laid the Hogwarts letter. Dumbledore, who came to her personally, and explained the magical world just a little, seemed to think that she should be accepted due to her brilliance in whatever she did, normal or magical, but many school governors, including Paris Malfoy wanted her out. The case was taken all the way to the Wizengamot, and she had finally been accepted into Hogwarts on the basis that she was a true witch, much to the disgust of Malfoy and his cronies. He could remember her exact words when he was at the Ministry with his parents to be checked if his condition had gotten any worse.

The bright lights had blinded him as Remus stepped out of the elevator. The Department of Magical Creatures was on this floor, right next to the Wizengamot. The heavy oak doors suddenly opened, and Remus could see a frightened but excited girl being ushered out by her parents, utter fear written on both their faces, and a whole crowd of reporters following her, along with the angry faces of the court. The camera flashed so often that it seemed like day inside, while the fake windows portrayed a stormy day. Dumbledore was behind all of them, of course, ushering them out with an angry and commanding voice, all the while beckoning Meredith's parents to stay and discuss her enrollment at the school. The crowd had left the floor by its various means, stairs, elevator, Apparition, and Remus' parents had finally thought it was mildly safe to leave him alone without harm, and left him in the hall while they went and conferred with the head of the Werewolf Department, Robert Thylacin about little Remus' future. Remus had been told to sit down quietly and to come in when he was called, so he sat gloomily on a wooden bench. The girl who was the fascination of all the reporters and court walked up to him, hands behind her back, and a shy look on her pretty face.

"You...erm...you go that Hogwarts School, don't you?" Remus looked up at her and felt compelled to answer those large, pleading brown eyes, framed by the most delicate locks of brown hair. She was pleasing to look at, and she would obviously be an outsider at Hogwarts, and Remus warmed up to her immediately, though he felt nervous and intimidated by her questionable presence. Pale and scarred hands began sweating, and Remus brought them up to tug at a stiff white collar beneath his robes in lack of a better thing to do.

"Yeah, it's nice. I'm a third-year there." He could feel the tension break as she smiled, and he smiled too, relief flooding through him. He might be shy or easily intimidated, but at least he had good social skills and the ability to get away with most anything.

"I'll be starting there as a second year. My name's Meredith Lyvver, by the way." She held out her thin, delicate hand, and Remus shook it carefully. The easiness that she contained in her rushed through her hand to Remus, and he instantly felt comfortable with her. As long as I'm touching her, that is. He nodded, and then started as Dumbledore strode in commandingly in to have a talk with the Muggle family and their daughter. He gave a knowing nod to Remus, and Remus bowed his head a little. Meredith's voice brought him back from the far reaches of Dumbledore's gaze. "It was nice seeing you, err..."

"Remus. Remus Lupin" He shot a smile at her, and she sent her easygoing one right back.

"Okay Remus, please stop bumping into me. I know it's you." Remus jumped back as he heard her laughing voice come out of nowhere, then realized that he had bumped into her again while listening to his feet crunching in the snow. He smiled at her sleuthing skills, took his cloak off and let it fall to the ground. Underneath it, he was wearing a loose, slightly see-through white shirt, and black jeans. Not exactly appropriate clothing for a mid-December night. She, on the other hand was wearing a light brown fur-lined coat that ended above her knees, tight white jeans, and a pink toboggan cap, with her mass of brown hair spilling all over the place. "That cloak might make you invisible, but it doesn't make you blind, does it?" She obviously knew about the cloak, Remus remembered a lesson in fifth -year about the cloaks, and Meredith was smart enough to spot one. Remus grinned at her unfailing sense of humor, and then took a deep breath. He was nervous and jumpy, but he simple had to do it. It was to confess now or never, and it was better now than never, he wanted her so much-

"Err...Meredith. You do know why I'm here right?" The words came out in a rush and he could feel his palms sweating again, as they did anytime he was near her. Damn. He was really, really nervous. Mr. Remus Lupin-with-the-highest-pain-threshold-anyone-could-have-thought-possible was nervous. This was not a good sign. He let out the breath he was unconsciously holding when she nodded, and then she held out her smooth hand. Wow, he thought inwardly. Not bad for a first try at the whole romance thing. Remus took it automatically, his gentlemanly reflexes taking over, and the two of them started walking slowly around the greenhouses, Meredith pressing her curvy body against his to transfer some body heat. Remus simply loved the way that they fit together, like pieces of a puzzle, and he considered draping his lanky arm over her slender shoulder, but decided it would be to bold of a move.

"A Dream Charm, eh? Pretty clever. You wouldn't tell me you wanted to talk to me, so you showed me. Now, what did you drag me down here to talk about? It must have been important for two prefects to risk being caught outside." Remus sighed dejectedly. He was hoping that they would skirt the matter for another couple of minutes, talking about Quidditch or something, so he could formulate a game plan. It seemed that she didn't feel like beating around the bush. Sirius had told him to take it naturally; too many things could screw up if he had a plan. She wouldn't follow the script, and then he would be in hot water. He was a newbie at romance, and he wanted as much of an advantage as he could get. If she didn't feel like wasting her time, then he wouldn't either.

"I really like you Meredith. Not like I'm friends with Lily Evans or that like, but you know, something a bit more special." The start had been slowly, as Remus held back, but once he started, it all came out in a rush. He also knew he had screwed up when he mentioned Lily. Never mention another girl, ever, especially if it's only your first time in the Game of Love. It causes chaos and mass destruction, James' exact words. Remus felt Meredith relax against him a little, her hips bumping his, and hope filled him that she might just say yes, or at least agree with him. They were just made for each other.

"I like you too Remus. But what's not to like about Remus Lupin. Devilish smile, good in studies, chivalrous, the whole lot. But you've always been special to me. You kind of showed me the way here, I guess..." Remus felt alive internally. This eased his pain so much. He didn't have to woo her or shower her with gifts to be in her good books, she already felt something special for him. People told him that he could have any girl he wanted, if he set his mind to it. Sure, he could anyone, but would anyone have him? The special bond that ran between them would help Remus reveal himself to Meredith later on. Nothing could have been better. Now, he thought. Don't ask her out, or anything; just peck her on the cheek or something. Bold, daring. Something to imply that you want to be with her, now ever, forever, never never...

"But you know who I really like?" Her voice came out like a football flying out of the goal. Remus froze. It shouldn't have gone like this, she was supposed to like him, she had confessed. Were her feelings for him not enough? Was all this for nothing? In her eyes, was he no one? Remus shook his head, and took the bold move. Well, not the bold move, but something to make her change her mind and love him, love him especially. Her wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed her closer to him, compelling her to tell him more. He desperately wanted to beat the life out of this mystery rival.

"That Sirius Black, there's not a girl that doesn't want him. I've been dying to ask him out for ages." Her voice drifted dreamily into the frigid air. Remus was jut recovering from shock, but hearing that he stopped dead in his tracks, the cold wind suddenly seeming unbearable. His blood dropped to the temperature in the room, and he shriveled away when Meredith spoke of another man like that. She was his! How could she have done this to him? Didn't he mean anything special to her at all? He suddenly noticed her eyes on him, pleading him for his opinion. How could he not to respond to those beautiful eyes?

"He's well, nice, I guess. He's in my year, and well, to be frank I think he's your type." Remus had to hold himself in check to stop the tears from coming out, like water bursting from a dam. It was true, opposites attract, and the two of them were complete opposites. He had to admit it to himself. And here he was thinking Meredith fancied him! What girl would do this to him? He had too many things in common with her to ever be with her. But of all people in Hogwarts to like, why Sirius? If it were Malfoy or some Slytherin, Remus would have no problem beating the living shit out of them. But Sirius, of all people Sirius. The first person he had shared his transformation with, the only Marauder that truly knew what he wanted, only Sirius would cuddle up with him into the bed at night, his closest friend. It was true. Remus and Meredith simply weren't meant to be together. Just friends. Plus, she needed a guy like Sirius, to bring her other side out, her wild other side that no one rarely saw, other than Remus. If he really loved Meredith, Remus would want her to be happy. The next words were choked out, forced by Remus' kinder side.

"I think you should ask him out. You two would be nice together." Meredith turned to Remus, her eyes glistening and awash with tears of happiness. There was a swelling inside of Remus; he had made those eyes shine with happiness. But he also knew, giving her to Sirius that those same eyes could fill with betrayal and once again it would be his doing. She flung her arms around him, and her soft lips pressed against his cheeks in gratitude. But Remus did not feel it. He was collapsing inside. The only girl he had liked, the only girl that could have accepted him for who he was, she liked Sirius.

"Thanks so much Remus. I think I will ask him out. I'm so glad that I have a friend like you." She turned to run out of the greenhouse in happiness and sheer joy when Remus felt the need to speak up.

"Meredith, I only want you to be happy, and if this does, then well...yeah." She nodded and then turned and left. He watched her retreating figure for a while then sat down on a rock dejectedly. How had the Dream Charm gone so wrong that she barely wanted to talk to him? He felt miserable, alone, betrayed. How could Sirius have done this to him? His shoulders slumped and he reached for the cloak, which lay on the ground, grabbed and ran up to Gryffindor Tower, barely seeing where he was going, his eyes blurring so much with tears and his mind overflowing with questions to attack Sirius with.