Okay so, I feel that none are deserving enough of Remus' pure awesomeness sometimes so, I have made someone up for him. I know OC stories generally aren't for everyone so I understand if you want to turn back now.

This is a Marauder's era story, but you will notice that Peter isn't in it. That's because I can't be bothered with a character that turns out to be such a little ….. rat! Ha ha yeah, anyways J.K. owns all the characters except Gracie she is all me!

I hope you all like her and enjoy!

EDIT: apparently this needs to be said... this is not a pure Het story, there is a couple that turns out to be gay, it is not graphic, they dont'even officially get togehter in this story until the epilogue but if this really bothers you then just dont' read it because I'm not going to sit here and read your hate mail.

Hestia's Kindness

Chapter 1

Close Encounters of the Awkward Kind

'My name is Grace Leafling; I'm in my sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I'm 5'7 which is taller than half the girls in my year surprisingly; I have short curly brown hair I like to ruffle when bored, and baby blue eyes. Sometimes I think my eyes are the only thing I have going for me. People constantly tell me they are beautiful, so at least I have that.

Yeah, I have self esteem issues, I have no one to blame but myself, I'm slightly overweight due to an extreme dislike for anything involving exercise. I prefer to spend my time reading books on Greek mythology or American superhero comics and when I'm home I like to watch old black and white horror films. I guess that makes me weird though, not girlie enough for most of the boys around here.

I like to believe I'm fun and cute and Lily even says I have an irritating habit of being overly nice and accepting of people, she's right of course. But anyway, I guess the nerdy quality is a turn off for some, this of course means in the romance department, I'm hopeless. Unlike most girls my age, I have yet to even snog a boy, I've had boyfriends…. Two to be exact, but they were never serious because we were young and I have grand illusions of romance. I've kissed a boy, but the kisses never last more than a few brief seconds because of my… how shall I put this gently to myself… oh yes crazy.

Wow, I'm totally pathetic; maybe that's why my only friend is now spending all her time with her new boyfriend instead of me.

Don't get me wrong, I truly am happy for her. Despite the last six years of skirting around each other, James and Lilly are perfect for each other. I just wish she would remember the girl that finally told her if she didn't agree to a date I would hex her a new face! But, alas she has not. She spends every moment she's not doing school work off with the Marauders to do Merlin only knows what! She only talks to me when she needs advice. I have a great knack for giving dating and romance advice, but not taking it. I guess it's one of the, those who can't do, teach!

Anyways, those boys are trouble with a capital 'T', but sometimes I wish I was one of them. I wish I was fun and exciting… and noticeable.

Grace… stop that, this is why you don't have a boyfriend! Your self esteem issues are not going to get you snogged! Now shut up and study like a good girl, the faster you do that, the faster you can read that new mythology book or maybe go out in the rain!

Yeah, inner monologue is right! I have to stop being stupid about myself. If I acted like I was pretty maybe others would believe me… are boys that thick?... I sure hope so!

So now I go back to my work, I have to learn this wordless invisibility spell before Friday, and its Wednesday. You would think this would give me enough time, but I'm terrible with wordless spells. You tell me I can speak it and I can do any spell you ask, but wordless and I'm…. useless. Ha ha, that rhymed!

Wow…. Yeah, my point exactly. Suddenly I feel a weight in my lap. I look down to see two very big green eyes staring up at me.

"Hello Salem, just the cat I wanted to see. You have to help me learn this charm." Salem looks at me blinks once then shakes his head at me and scampers off. "Some familiar you turned out to be!" He's already gone up to sleep on my bed.

Okay, this is pointless, I can't concentrate anymore, and my own familiar won't even help me. And it's raining outside, and I freaking love the rain. So, at this point I'm going to go run upstairs and get my rain jacket and galoshes. I take two steps at a time and pull my clothes on in record time.

It's never taken me more than 15 minutes to get ready for classes; I'm always last one out of bed, but first to leave the dorm, story of my life. But I digress; there is rain waiting to be run through and puddles waiting to be splashed in.

I can't run from the room fast enough! My long legs get me the portrait hole, but I'm surprised that as I step through, something makes me fall back…. Did I forget to mention I'm also very clumsy, I fall quiet frequently; I have amazing balance from years of catching myself before face planting into the ground! This time is not my fault though! I look up laughing at myself as I always do when on my butt because of a stupid spill. My laugh has just caught in my throat as my eyes suddenly come into contact with honey brown ones.

It's Lupin, I've had a huge crush on Lupin all year. Lily loves James of course, but she says Remus is secretly her favorite Marauder on the friend scale. I know why too. He's intelligent, kind, and gorgeous. I look down at the ground my short hair is covering my red face after I realize I have been starring into his eyes for an awkwardly long period of time. I look back but not up into his eyes. He's holding out his hand to help me up, I can't help but take it. I don't like being rude or anything of the sort. I once apologized to my dad for being sick with the flu because it meant I wanted to sleep instead of watch a movie with him. He wasn't mad at all of course, but again, I hate disappointing people!

What's going on again? Oh right I'm supposed to be taking his hand so he can help me up. I finally take it and he pulls me up with surprising strength. I brush myself off and begin to apologize again for my spill to the ground.

"Hey, my fault entirely, shouldn't have been waiting outside the door. But, if you don't mind me asking, why were you sprinting out in the first place?"

I can feel my cheeks heat up again. My answer of course now will sound stupid because my once intelligent brain chooses now to malfunction.

"It's raining." Yes Grace! That is a perfectly good response when the other person hasn't been listening to your crazy thoughts of the past 30 minutes. He is now giving me that adorable sideways smile of his.

"I noticed, but why does this event make you run through doors?"

"Oh… right, I like the rain, I was going to go… er, play in it." His smile widens to a full one that spreads across his tan handsome face.

"Play in the rain huh?" He squints at me, the crooked smile is back. He leans in towards me as if inspecting a tiny smudge on my nose. I lean back as he leans in. "You're Lily's friend Grace, right?"

…. Oh yes, Lily's friend. He would only know of me because of Lily… duh! I'm usually the quiet girl who sits in a corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to because I don't want to seem rude. Wow, smooth. "Yeah, that's me."

His smile broadens. "She speaks very highly of you, says you're very sweet, and endearingly nerdy."

I hold my breath thank you Lily... at least for the first part. I'll remind myself to thank her for that next time she isn't snogging James' face off! The second part… not so sure about. I know Sirius probably finds my nerdyness highly amusing, he likes thin girls with short skirts and little personality beyond the flip of their perfect hair. I'm guessing Lupin is more sensible then that… although he is a teenage boy… right I'm supposed to be responding!

"Yeah sounds about right. She forgot to mention that the kindness goes overboard and that I am, well, as you've seen firsthand… clumsy."

"You know, now that you mention that she has said something to that effect before. But the compliments heavily outweigh those slight misfortunes." He has a very amused expression on him.

"Well Lily is one to for kindness herself."

"That she is."

"So… If you don't mind me asking, why were you loitering out front the common room for?"

"Sirius."

"Oh, yes, of course." I can only clear my throat awkwardly. "What are you and Sirius off to do? Something Marauder related I'm sure." He looks slightly stunned at my knowledge of their little club.

"How do you know about that?" I lean in toward him as Remus did a few moments ago.

"Oh yes Lupin, I know everything. People like Sirius like to think that people like me don't hear things. People like me are so quiet; it must be because we have shoty hearing or something like that. I know more about the goings on of this entire school, then even Sirius and James do." Remus looks thoroughly impressed, but also slightly weary.

"Anything else you might know that we wouldn't want you to know?"

"I know all your nick names, although you're not really discreet about them. But, for arguments sake, what would you do about it if I did know other things."

"It depends on if you wanted to tell anyone or not." I smile; he looks to be amused, I know that he seems to be seriously considering taking rash action. I sigh at that look. Anything to make sure his friends stay safe; it's noble I can appreciate that. I take a big leap and look into his eyes again and place a hand on his arm.

"Who am I going to tell? The only friend I have is dating your mate James. I honestly wouldn't know who to tell if I wanted to… which I don't, I like knowing that I know things no one else ever will, makes me feel special." His genuine smile is back.

And that's when Sirius climbs through, and that is my queue to leave. "Well I'll leave you to that then." I don't think Sirius would approve of one of his best mates speaking to shy nerdy girls like me. "Rain, it's beckoning to me, large puddles and chilly air!" He looks slightly disappointed.

"Oh yes of course, sorry to keep you! Maybe I'll see you later?" Dare I say he sounds slightly hopeful? I hope so!

"Yeah, I'm going to have to warm up in front of the fire after my little escapade."

"You like water and fire? Odd combination isn't it?"

"What can I say; I'm the odd love child of Poseidon and Hestia." His face scrunches up in a cute way that I can only assume means he's searching his brain for my reference. Sirius just looks brooding. Remus' face suddenly dawns in realization.

"Ahh, Greek gods, god of water, and goddess of the hearth and home if I'm not mistaken, nice choices." I can't help it; my face breaks with a wide smile.

"That'd be them, although I like to think I have a little Hephaestus in me too." My heart is fluttering it is threatening to beat out of my chest or explode so I decide to wink cutely and scamper off. Although it looks more like I had a fit and tumbled to my death I'm sure.

As I walk down the hall I look over my shoulder to see Sirius giving Remus a very dirty look as he talks animatedly with his arms flailing around. He is not happy Lupin was talking to me. I can't help but laugh a little to myself. The look on his face if he had heard what we had been talking about would have been utterly priceless, probably would have gotten me oblitiated though.

After I'm safely out of eye sight I take off as fast as my legs will carry me and don't stop till I am crashing through the doors and my feet make a splashing sound. I look up and heavy rain drops splatter my face. My breathing evens out and my heart slows. I make a lap around the lake splashing; in every puddle I encounter humming 'Singing in the Rain' to myself. I make two laps around the lake, making sure to wave at the squid as I pass him. He waves back of course. I am now thoroughly soaked thru, which means it's time to start heading back to common room with a pleasant freeze settling over me.

I take my time getting back, it's not like anyone will be waiting for me, and I love walking the halls. I wave to all the suits of armor as I walk past them, and say hi to each portrait. Finally I see the picture of the Fat Lady and say the password. She swings open without giving me a second look and I hop through.

I run up to the dorm and change into warm clothes, grabbing one of my books on the way out. I walk down to the common room and place myself in front of the fireplace and begin to read my book. I lay with my stomach on the old carpet with my legs swinging back and forth above me. I'm just getting into my book when I feel someone sit down in front of me.

I look up from my page slowly, who could possibly be sitting this close to me? I know for a fact Lily and James had plans tonight. To my great amusement… and astonishment it's Lupin.

"Did you enjoy your romp in the rain?" I can't help but smirk at him as I move into a sitting position.

"I did, walked around the lake, said hi to the squid, splashed around. It was an overall very enjoyable way to spend my afternoon when I should have been trying to do a wordless invisibility charm."

"Ahh yes those are tricky." He's doing that crooked smile thing again… it drives me crazy. "So, what are you reading?" He leans over to look at the page I was reading.

"It's a book on werewolves." He eyes flick to mine, he looks worried which surprises me.

"Oh… why werewolves?"

"I think they are bloody brilliant!" His features display a look of confusion. I sigh as if this is a regular thing I have to explain. "Once a month, only on the full moon, regular people turn into these super powerful dark creatures. Then, within a few days of the full moon they are back to being regular normal people."

"But, aren't you frightened of them, don't you think once they are human they can still be dangerous?" He looks legitimately curious at my response.

"Well, this book says that when they turn back into men they still retain some of their strength, so they might hurt someone without realizing it. I think that's probably true, but it doesn't make them bad people, just more careful if anything."

"You seem to have given this quiet a bit of thought."

I shrug, what else am I supposed to do with my time once I've finished studying? "I take myself for one of those girls that would unknowingly fall in love with one, and then when he tells me, instead of being all horrified I start laughing."

"Why would you laugh?"

"Because they would probably tell me with the thought of me getting upset, but in reality… I think it would just make me like them more."

"Why would you like them more? Once a month they turn into monsters." I gave him a curious look; it was as if he was trying to convince me not to like them, while he himself hoped I would just continue proving him wrong.

"So, we all turn into monsters sometimes, and most people have the option of controlling it if they want to. We shouldn't shun people for something they can't help about themselves. Lily wouldn't tell me to stop being clumsy, it's something I can't help it would be pointless, it won't just suddenly go away because she told it to!" His face breaks in a huge grin that surprises me.

"You're an extremely interesting person to talk to."

"Thanks? I guess… I don't know, is that good or bad?"

"Oh it is defiantly good." I nod with a big smile. "So, what else does your book say?"

"Well I was just reading about the mating traditions."

"Oh? And what have you learned?"

"It's fascinating really, this book covers lore from all over and then narrows it down to what is most likely true. So apparently when they find their mate, they can mark them so that when they turn into werewolves they won't harm them. Usually they bite their mate while they are in human form so the other person won't turn into a werewolf themselves. This claims most people have their mates bite them someplace easily hidden with clothing." I look back up at him and he's starring at me intently. I can feel myself blush. "I think I would want the bite mark on my neck, could hide it if I needed to, but show it off the rest of the time."

"You would want to show off your boyfriend was a werewolf?"

My face scrunches up. "Werewolves mate for life, their instinct show them their almost perfect match so that they can be together till death. Why wouldn't I show off that my husband will love me till the day I die. That is something that people rarely find, it would be a gift, not something to hide from people."

"What if your friends stopped talking to you because of it?"

"I like to think I would have friends that would be accepting of people like that. I told you, it's not like it's something they can control. "

He blinked at me with his honey brown eyes, I felt like I could swim in those eyes. They were looking at me as if they had never looked upon anything so fascinating.

"What else does it say about mating?"

"Well you can supposedly feel your mate's emotions. If the other person is sad, then you suddenly feel a slight pang of sadness yourself. And, if the people are soul mates, which are rare in general, then they can sometimes hear each other's thoughts if they want to. It doesn't even matter how far away they are from each other. They could be on opposite ends of the world and talk to each other like they are in the same room."

"Wow, I didn't even know that." I look at him funny, that sounded like he thought it was something he should just know automatically.

"I wouldn't mind being a werewolf's mate. Sounds romantic in a way, I have a few more days to wait though."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, both people have to be of age. I don't turn 17 till October 31st. I have a week to go." Remus shook his head slightly and gulped. I think I'm making him nervous, well that's unsettling, no wonder I only have Lily.

"Well, I think I'm going to go try and practice my wordless invisibility charms again… if I can find Salem."

"Who is Salem?"

"Oh he's my black cat familiar."

"A Witch with a black cat named Salem, could you be more of a stereotype?" We both start laughing.

"Yeah well he's not much of a familiar, ran away earlier when I told him I needed his help with the spell." I lean in as if to tell him some big secret. "I'm utter rubbish at wordless spells. I can learn spells in a moment if I can speak, but if not… well let's just say it's going to be a long year."

"I'm not bad with wordless spells, I could help you sometime… if you want." My face heats up and I probably look like an owl with my eyes wide.

I'm stammering…. That's attractive. "That would be great actually. He nods making his fringe swing in front of his eyes. I have an overwhelming urge to brush it behind his ear. He does it instead.

"So you're a cat person who likes werewolves? Shouldn't you be strictly one or the other?"

"I don't like dogs; Ididn't say anything about wolves did I?" He snickers at me.

"No I suppose you didn't" He smiles down at me a few seconds, he's looking me over. I suddenly feel extremely self-conscious. "Well I'm off to bed, Sirius wore me out." He winks at me and stands up walking over to his dorm.

I'll be updating almost every thurs. of course not next since it's thanks giving so it will probably be sooner! Basically whenever I have internet I will grace you with a new chapter!