A/N: First of all, to all the readers who have been here since the beginning...THANK YOU! Each and every one of you is appreciated. In my long break from fanfiction, I lived a lot. Some good things happened, some bad things happened but that's life beyond a computer screen, right? I'm 20 years old now! Hope you like this.

'No one said we were victims honey

No one said we had to keep the things we get

And there ain't no regrets

And all our friends, they moved to Hollywood

But we ain't that desperate yet, oh no ain't nothing like the real thing'

--Cradlesong by Rob Thomas

"He could take you away from everything that hurts," he said. "He could make you new again. I could never give you what he could...he's the golden boy."

"Gold, silver, bronze...I don't bloody care. I won't marry him."

"He's a good man."

"He is not for me," she said, toying with an apple in one and her wand in the other. "How many times must I tell you?"

"He had you, didn't he? Maybe just once or maybe more but he definitely had you."

"No one has me," was the defiant response.

"He laid with you."

"Maybe he did, maybe he didn't," she said, in a singsong voice. "But you did too so who are you to complain?"

"You tricked him."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because you can."

"Hmmm...well I really only have eyes for you, but I am not so high on the pedestal now am I?"

He rolled over on his back and watched the way she leaned on her elbows. He wasn't so sure if this was the same girl he met when they were eleven or not. He wanted to know if he would ever be able to truly figure her out. He wanted to know that some things never change. "You lost the pedestal years ago! I suppose when I caught you in the broom closet with John. Your face was so red."

"I've disappointed you."

"Well, sometimes...but it's human nature, isn't it?"

"I suppose."

"Have you done loads of bad things?"

"Yes!" She laughed and elbowed him in the side. "But don't tell anyone!"

"Cindy tried to kiss me in the corridor," he reported plainly.

"She's pretty with her blond hair and fake smiles."

"Do I sense some jealousy?"

"She's everything I'm not but I don't care who you kiss, you know."

"You never answer my questions."

"Remus," she said, looking at him dead in the eyes, "I have never been jealous of anyone in my life and least of all Cindy. She's fluff. You're blowing smoke."

"You think I could never have another girl?"

"We spend all of our time arguing. There are other ways to pass the time," the glint in her eyes was not lost on him.

"Did you write to your Mother yet?"

"Yes but there is never much to tell her. Everything is the same. I feel like nothing ever happens. I told her I did well on my exams and that I have been eating her fruit cakes...which is a lie, they are like rocks but I cannot tell her that. She asked if anyone has been trying to court me and I wrote back 'not really' because I am not quite sure what courting means. I've never had that."

"That's all?"

"Oh and she asked about you. I said you are just the same Remus and the only person who gives a damn about me here."

"My Mother said I ought to ask you to marry me before some other bloke does."

"Hmmm," she said, clearly entertaining the thought. "Your Mother is a smart woman."

"Not as smart as my Father."

"You don't think women are as clever as men, do you? Maybe that is why we can never marry!"

"Some women are clever but most are dull."

"True," she agreed, biting into her apple. Both of them were on their backs in the grass, looking up at a sky that looked like it would produce thunderstorms any moment. She rested her head on his shoulder. "When did we get so old?"

"We are barely seventeen!"

"My question stands."

"Oh, does it? I don't see any legs."

"Very funny," she replied sarcastically. "Please just answer."

"I don't know. Life moves the fastest when you don't think it's moving at all."

"I feel like an old woman sometimes," she said in a whisper. "I'm too old for these kid things."

"Lily Marie, sometimes you make me tie your shoes and you can't fall asleep until you've had your biscuits...you are anything but old."

"I told you never to repeat that I'm bad at tying knots and that I need the aroma of biscuits before I can sleep!"

"You're in safe company," he said with a knowing smile. She smiled back.

"I am, aren't I?"

"You are. You've lost weight," he said, prodding her stomach which was revealed when her white shirt came up in the breeze. She made no motion to pull it back down.

"Trying not to. It's exams."

"Since when do you care about your marks?"

"Well, I am trying to grow up!"

"You're lovely just as you are."

"Thanks," she said, planting a kiss on his cheek.

He stood up and leaned over to give her a hand. Instead of taking his hand to get up from the grass, she yanked him back down beside her. "We should get going," he said.

She laughed, "it's not night yet!"

He nodded his head in agreement and pulled her on top of him, kissing her until they were both covered in grass stains and her eye makeup was smeared and then until the grass stains were no longer visible because their clothes were no longer on. "You're the golden one," she whispered. "Not me and not James. It's always been you."