Beauty and the Beast (Remus Lupin)

66.

"Ok, sign your name here." The ministry employee pointed out.

Rose signed her name onto the marriage license, right near Remus's. Tonks was standing behind the two celebrating in silence.

Though they were not looking at her, they both already knew she was close to jumping up through the the roof. In fact, when they went to get her, she nearly ran miles to the Ministry.

"Ok. You two are married!" The woman said, "now last thing. You've provided all your information, you have your witness, now names. Rosalie Belle, are you to take Lupin or no?"

Rose was not remotely paying attention to the ministry employee whose name she had forgotten. Instead, she was trying her hardest to not be sick all over the woman's office. She told Remus yes. Yes and that was all. Nothing more could've been said.

Four days after that, and here they are. Married.

But in those four days, Fred had completely ignored her. So what's he going to do next once he finds out she had gotten married in secret? That's what she was thinking.

All this shame got to her at that moment. Again, this was what she wanted.

She wanted Remus to be her husband. But at the cost of losing her best friend? All of it finally
caught up to her and is making her unable to focus on anything more.

"Darling? Are you alright?" Remus asked.

Rose quickly snapped out of her thoughts, "I'm sorry. I'm just feeling a bit unwell at the moment."

"No worries!" The woman smiled, "so, last name? You can also hyphen."

"No need. Lupin is fine."

~

The three of them got out of the Ministry and still,
even with the excitement, Rose felt drained.

"What's wrong? Do you need to go to St. Mungos? Or do you want to go to the burrow?" Remus asked.

Before Rose could answer, she saw the most
familiar witch ever pass by. The one with the curly blonde hair whose always wearing the most awful green attire, and a bug like hat.

"What's wrong?" Tonks asked.

Rose spoke is disgust, "Rita Skeeter. That's what's wrong. Come on, let's go before she-" But the bug hat woman came by.

"Rosalie? Right? The one back in the triwizard tournament? Oh, how could I forget!" Rita said.

"It is a bit strange for you to forget. After all, you did say I got with Krum, then Cedric, then Ron, oh and Fred."

Rita passed by Roses remarks, "So, what brings you here?"

"Why would I tell you?"

"Readers might be interested. Depending on how good the gossip is...I can pay handsomely."

"No thank you. Besides, you'll be busy with the ass kissers who buy the lies about Dumbledore. Now good day to you." She turned to Tonks and Remus, "let's go."

"I find out everything!" Rita called out.

~

Rose got to the burrow and saw Charlie out front with Bill. With everything going on, she seemed to have forgotten his arrival.

"There you are!" Charlie hugged her, "butter beer?"

Rose shook her head, still feeling a bit ill, "No, I'm gonna lay down for a bit actually. Happy to see you again, though." She smiled before walking in.

"You don't look so well." Ron said as he sat on the couch with Harry.

"What's wrong?" Harry turned to face her.

"A bit under the weather. Where is everyone?" Rose sat down besides Harry.

"Mum, Ginny, Fleur and her family went to fix Gabrielles dress. Hermiones upstairs, Fred and George passed by and Dad got called in." Ron answered, "but if you go up, she may be in the shower."

"Thanks." Rose quickly went up the stairs.

Sure enough, Hermione was in the shower. But Rose needed to talk to someone who knew. "Hermione," Rose knocked on the door, "I'm coming in. I won't look."

Before Hermione had time to answer, Rose was already in, closed the toilet and took a seat.

"Ok...What's wrong?" Hermione asked.

"Remus and I got married." Rose blurted out.

It was almost like a bandaid, the faster she said it, the easier the weight got lifted off her shoulders. But that moment didn't last long because Hermione had dropped something, "You got married?!"

"Shhh!" Rose warned, "Ron and Harry are just downstairs!"

"Sorry!" She lowered her voice now, "how was it?"

"It was...It was..." Rose didn't know how it was. Sure, it was finally nice to tie the knot with the only man she's ever loved. But the secrecy killed her up inside. No one knew besides Tonks and now, Hermione. The twins only knew of the engagement.

Oh, and now the thought of Harry got added on. Rose felt so much shame for being with Sirius longer that it was hard to talk to Harry for a long time.

Every time she looked at him, she remembered all the time she stole from him. And now lying to everyone was too much.

"Nice..." Rose finally said, "Tonks was our witness. I would've asked you but...With the horcuxes and everything, you need to rest for when you three leave."

Hermione turned off the water and grabbed her towel, "Either way, I only really know you. Sure Remus was our teacher and all, but Tonks got to be in the Order. Plus she is your cousin after all." She opened the shower curtain and stepped out to the bathmat, "you don't look so well."

"Thanks for reminding me." Rose said, "Oh, guess who we ran into."

Hermione walked to the sink, "who?"

"You're best friend, Rita Skeeter." Rose teased.

Hermione nearly dropped her toothbrush, "No way! Did she bother you?"

"Just seeing her annoys me. But it's the same thing over and over again. She just wants the news and to spread rumors and lies. I don't even know why she'd bother with me while she's got that Dumbledore book coming out."

"Either way, be careful." Hermione started brushing her teeth, "she just needs the money. Now, tell me what's really wrong."

Rose closed her eyes and sighed at her racing thoughts. Where to begin? She didn't know. There was so much she was hiding. "Fred was really upset..." Was all that came out.

"Mhm." Hermione spit in the sink, "and he's your best friend and losing him would be like a death sentence to you because you've always been close to him especially more so now than ever." She started brushing her teeth again.

At that moment, Rose remembered about how observant Hermione is.

"Well aren't you one to talk...Anyways, yes but not that dramatic. I tell him everything and didn't tell him about the engagement and now that I'm married, how would you feel if you were in his shoes?" Rose asked.

Hermione finished brushing her teeth, "I was...A bit with Ron and Lavender...But I would want to be talked to about it. He would never dare tell anyone about your secret, he's always been that way."

Rose nodded in agreement. He had always been this way. And even now that he was upset with her, he still never told anyone.

"But don't tell Ron anything. He blew it that you and Remus got together." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Well...I'm going to take a quick nap. I might feel better afterwards." Rose stood up.

"Take a rest on my bed, get off that floor for once."

"Thank you." Rose smiled before leaving towards Ginnys room.