The rest of the Christmas holidays sped by, including the New Years' Ball that James' parents held. It was beautiful, in the ballroom at Potter Manor which was decorated more beautifully than the Great Hall was for the Yule Ball. Everyone looked great as well, Hermione and Lily in the ball gowns that were brought for them, and the boys in their best robes. They all danced all night, the girls getting to dance with all of the boys at least once, and hugging each other at midnight, wishing everyone a 'Happy New Year' (obviously Sirius and Hermione, and James and Lily shared a kiss at midnight as well). The food was amazing also.
Then school started again, four days later, on the fifth of January, and it was back to studying for all of them. But Hermione could tell that Remus was distracted, and it wasn't hard to tell what, or rather whom, he was distracted about. Severus.
She found him in the Room of Requirement on the evening of the second day of classes. He was sitting on an armchair, staring into the fire in the fireplace in front of him. There were tears leaking out of his eyes but he didn't seem to notice. She sat in the empty armchair next to him and looked at him, watching him stare into the fire sadly.
"What's the matter, Remus?" She asked quietly, but he heard her, and he turned to look at her, rubbing the tears away now that he had realised they were there.
"Nothing." He replied nervously.
"Don't lie to me, Remus. You've been distracted since Christmas. And I know you have feelings for Severus, he also has feelings for you. So why don't you do something about it?"
"Why would he want me?" He asked miserably, letting another tear fall.
"Why wouldn't he want you, Remus? You're kind, and caring, and funny, and intelligent. You're a beautiful person, Remus, inside and out. You deserve to be happy, and so does he. So pull yourself together and ask him out, for all of our sakes."
"But I'm dangerous. And if people find out he's dating a werewolf he will be vilified as well. And I won't be able to get any decent job when I'm older because people don't like werewolves, so how am I supposed to do anything useful? I'm dangerous, and no one should love me."
"Remus, you are not dangerous. Sure, you turn into a wolf one night a month, but you have the wolfsbane now so you can control yourself. And all of those people that don't understand that werewolves are only dangerous in their human forms if they want to be are idiots. You aren't dangerous, Moony, you are one of the greatest men I have ever met. You're so kind, and caring, and funny. You know, in the future, I was the only one who worked out that you were a werewolf. But I didn't care, because you were a great man. You were the best Defence teacher we had ever had, you were kind and funny. You became like a father figure to Harry and I couldn't help but thank you for that because he needed someone like you in his life, other than Mr Weasley. You deserve to be happy, Remus. You are not dangerous. And anyone who can't see that is an idiot."
"But what about if we have children? They'll be werewolves, I know they will, and I don't want to pass this curse on. I don't want my children to be in pain every month because of me. I know Severus is a bearer, I smelt it on him the first time I saw him. I can't risk getting him pregnant…"
"Remus, you and I both know that the only way to become a werewolf is to be bitten by one. Any child that you have will not be a werewolf. So if you do get Severus pregnant then you will be a wonderful father, and I know this because you were a wonderful father figure to Harry. I also know this because you are kind, and caring, and loving, and funny. And because you wouldn't be worrying about your children being werewolves if you weren't going to be a good father. And you aren't going to be alone in anything, Remus, you'll have Severus, and me, and everyone else. You also know that we are trying to come up with a cure for you. And I don't know how long it's going to take but we're researching super hard, and we've found some things that may work, we just need to put them into a potion for you. We won't stop trying until we've cured you, Remus. And I don't care how many times I have to repeat all of this to you, I will repeat it to you until you believe me." Hermione practically preached. "Be with him, Remus. You both deserve to be happy."
Remus nodded, wanting to believe that she was right.
…
The next day, after classes ended, Remus asked Severus to join him in the Room of Requirement. Severus agreed and followed the werewolf to the Room. When they entered they saw that it had taken the form of a clearing in the Forrest at night time, their were what seemed to be fairy lights hanging between the trees circling them, making the place all the more romantic than just having the stars in the sky. They stood in the middle of the clearing, facing each other nervously.
"What did you want to speak to me about, Remus?" Severus asked gently.
"I, uh…" Remus didn't know how to say what he wanted to say. "Severus, I have had feelings for you since the moment I met you. But I was scared, you see. I was scared because of what I am, I didn't think I deserved to be with someone, anyone really, let alone you. I am dangerous, and I didn't want you to be caught up in that. I didn't even think it was possible for you to have feelings for me, because of what I am, and I know what you are. I could smell it on you the moment we met. I was scared that if we got together, I would get you pregnant, and then our children would be werewolves, and I didn't want to put you or our children through that pain. I was too dangerous for you. So I tried to distance myself from you, I tried not to think about you. But the feelings kept getting stronger and stronger, and every time someone, even my friends, hurt you it felt like my heart was breaking. And I couldn't help you, no matter how much I wanted to, because I was too dangerous for you. You deserve someone so much better than me. Someone who isn't dangerous, and can give you everything you want, because I know that I won't be able to as it will be hard for me to keep a job. And I keep telling myself this, but still the feelings keep getting stronger, and no matter how much I try to ignore them, I can't. I can't ignore them because I love you, and I can't imagine my life without you in it. So, what I'm trying to say is, will you be my boyfriend?" Remus asked, his nervousness clear in his voice.
Severus looked shocked for about a second before leaning up and pressing his lips to Remus' in a passionate kiss, wrapping his arms around the taller boys' neck. Remus kissed back, wrapping his arms around Severus' waist.
"Is that a yes?" Remus asked as they pulled apart.
"Obviously." Severus replied, causing them both to laugh slightly. "I love you, too. And you're not dangerous. You're the most amazing guy I know. And our children will be lucky to have you as their daddy. And they won't be werewolves. And we're going to cure you. And all I need is you, I don't need anything else."
"Okay."
…
Remus stepped into the Gryffindor Common Room later that night to find James, Lily, Sirius and Hermione all sitting in front of the fire, waiting up for him. It was nearly midnight, him and Severus had spent hours in the Room of Requirement talking and getting to know each other better, the House Elves provided them with food and drink so they didn't have to leave for dinner.
As soon as the door closed behind him they all shot up and turned to look at him expectantly. He smiled brightly at them and nodded, causing them all to whoop with joy and run over to embrace him. All of them congratulating him on finally getting the guy he wanted.
"I told you he wouldn't care. I told you he wanted you." Hermione whispered before pulling back from their hug.
"Thank you, for getting through to me." He replied quietly to her, and she nodded with a happy smile on her face.
They celebrated for about another half an hour before heading up to the boys' dormitory to get some rest. All of them happy.