Chapter 18: Return to Hogwarts/Epilogue

"You're wearing muggle clothes." Lily commented when she met up with James on the platform to head back to their seventh year at Hogwarts. He was in a tank top that showed off his soulmate tattoo, something she was pleased to see.

"It's too warm to wear wizarding robes." James kissed her quickly.

"Are you ready to greet the prefects?" Lily asked him. "You're going to make the girls jealous with your tan."

"None of them have their name on my arm." James flexed his right arm slightly.

"You're ridiculous."

"We'll take your stuff on the train for you so that you can meet up with us later." Sirius volunteered. "You too Moony, we'll take your things."

"Thanks mate." Remus passed him his trunk. James loaded his through the door of the train while Peter took Lily's things from her.

"We'll see you after the meeting." James nodded at his friends and pulled on Lily's hand to guide her to the front car.

"Anything special either of you have planned for our last year at Hogwarts?" Lily asked them as they pushed through the crowd of students.

"Nothing special yet, the excitement happened in sixth year." Remus laughed.

"I'll agree to that." She poked James in the side and he tightened his hand around hers.

"This year we'll have to focus on our studies, future jobs, and relationships." He replied.

"I hope you mean more than romantic relationships." Remus commented. "Otherwise your relationship will be the only one that improves over the next year."

"I'll improve my relationship with you Remus." Lily smiled at him.

"Lily's my new favorite."

"Damn," James chuckled and opened the door to the first train car.

They stepped into the open space. They looked around to find that a few prefects were already congregated there, including Severus Snape.

"What up with that shirt Potter?" A sixth year Gryffindor called over to them.

"It's a muggle shirt, I thought it suited me." James pulled at the hem.

"I love it." Lily pat his right arm.

"You're not even a prefect." A Ravenclaw piped in.

"Head Boy." James flicked the badge attached to his tank top.

"You, head boy?" The new Gryffindor prefect in Lily's place asked.

"Me, surprisingly." He laughed and turned to look out the window at the crowded platform.

Severus looked up from his textbook and watched James turn, revealing his right bicep and the tattoo on it. Lily Josephine Evans. Lily organized some papers she had put in one of her pockets and he saw her right wrist—uncovered. James Fleamont Potter. He felt his heart shatter.

-oOo-

"Lily," Severus' hand closed around Lily's at the close of the meeting. James turned around, but after meeting Severus' gaze, he stepped away to allow them a private conversation.

"What do you want?" Lily asked. She sounded tired.

"I was surprised to see you and Potter showing off your soulmate tattoo's during the meeting. Potter looked positively muggle."

"We went shopping at a muggle mall." Lily laughed, momentarily forgetting who she was talking to.

"I wanted to apologize again, for not being a better friend."

"There's one thing I want to know, Severus." She paused and he nodded for her to continue. "Are you still willing to fight for a man who says that I shouldn't exist?"

He swallowed. "It's the only thing I know right now."

"Sure." She was quiet. "I'm sorry it had to end this way, I did care for you when we were kids. Perhaps we can be friends again in the future if you know something else."

Lily turned and walked out the door. James had waited for her on the other side and he took her hand, walking down the train with her by his side.

Epilogue

The Order members, new and old, gathered around the large table in Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Voldemort was back, thanks to Peter Pettigrew, and they now had to find a way to get rid of him a second time. Remus sat next to Sirius at the large table. After showing Sirius his tattoo, he had worried that the mysterious Nymphadora Tonks would show up, but she had yet to make an appearance. He was content with being friends, understanding that sometimes-true love goes unrequited—but other kinds are more important. His love for his godson, Harry Potter, while completely platonic, was a good example. Sirius concerned himself with the safety of the fifteen-year-old more than anyone else did.

Once the new order had gathered, Dumbledore asked everyone to go in a circle and introduce themselves. He wanted to make sure that they knew who they could trust in a sour situation. Sirius decided that no matter how dire it was, he would never trust Severus Snape. He listened politely as they went around, anxious for his turn. His thoughts of jokes he could make left his head when a woman with bubblegum pink hair stood up.

"I'm Nymphadora Tonks, but I prefer my surname only. I don't know what my parents were thinking when they named me." She laughed.

Sirius' eyes were the size of dinner plates. Remus felt the tattoo on his ankle burn as he came in contact with his soulmate for the first time. His mouth was open. Tonks turned her body slightly to look around the room and they spotted the soulmate tattoo on her right forearm. Remus John Lupin was engraved there, complete with a prowling wolf. Sirius knuckles turned white as he clutched the edge of the kitchen table. Remus bumped his foot with his as a sign to calm down. He was attracting attention.

The introductions continued. When it was Remus' turn, he avoided looking anywhere near Tonks so that he couldn't see her reaction.

"Remus Lupin," he introduced politely. Tonks gasped. He ignored her. "I am the werewolf that Dumbledore has told you about."

The group nodded politely. They looked at Sirius as Remus took his seat, curious as to why his eyes were locked on someone who had already introduced themselves.

"Sirius Black, owner of our temporary headquarters." He jerked his head. Several people murmured their thanks and ignored his stiff movements.

Once the main meeting was over, the members stayed to talk to one another on a personal level. Sirius and Remus were chatting with Molly and Arthur when Tonks approached. She tapped Remus on the arm and he turned, immediately wishing he hadn't responded.

"Hello," he greeted. Sirius tried to concentrate harder on his own conversation.

"I'm Tonks. It's a pleasure to meet you." She held out a hand. Remus took it.

"Remus."

"I don't know if you noticed, but I have your name on my tattoo." Tonks pointed to it. Remus decided that she was a forward woman; he liked it, more than if she had tried to hide it.

"I did notice that." He smiled.

"I wanted to know if maybe you have my name too. If not I understand, unrequited love happens." She quickly amended.

"I do." He lifted his pant leg slightly to show her the mark on his ankle. "I don't expect anything. I'm sure that a werewolf is less than desirable in a mate."

"I thought it was cool." She told him. Remus' eyes widened in surprise.

"Would you mind if I ever called you 'Dora'?" He asked curiously. She turned pink.

"Not at all."