Beauty and the Beast (Remus Lupin)

87.

Rose was downstairs cleaning up when she heard people running down the stairs. Looking up, she found Remus running down with Tonks right behind him. Rose wasn't sure if she should ask what's wrong or how Tonks managed to run perfectly.

But before she could decide on what she wanted to ask, they had already started to yell.

"Rose!" The both yelled in unison, "Lightninghasstruck!" They spoke together and way too fast for Rose to understand.

She patted down a throw pillow, "What?"

"Lightning. Has. Struck." Remus broke down the words, "It also struck at Gringotts."

Rose was in such shock that she didn't even notice her jaw nearly dropped to the floor. "Ok, slow down. It struck in Gringotts? THE Gringotts?"

"YES!" Tonks said.

"Even helped a dragon escape from underneath." Remus added.

Tonks lowered her voice to normal now, "We have to go to Hogs Head so we can get into the castle."

"Ok, great. When do we leave?" Rose asked.

"We?" Remus questioned, "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean, Remus. I'm going with you two."

"And Obi?"

"He's perfectly fine with Andromeda. But it's all hands on deck, isn't it?"

"If you weren't a mother then yes. But seriously speaking, someone needs to stay with Obi just in case."

"Tonks, please leave the room..." Rose crossed her arms.

"I'll just...I'll just wait by the front door." Tonks lowered her head and left.

"Rose, we're not going to discuss this right now." Remus said.

"This is the only time to discuss this! Remus it's foolish! He'll need everyone!" Rose tried her best to stay just as calm as he was, but she couldn't.

"Like I said, he would've needed everyone if you weren't a mother."

"And you're a father. What makes you any different?"

"Nothing, nothing makes us different. But he needs you and I promised I'd protect you two. So just in case something does happen then-"

She cut him off, "Just in case what happens?"

With that, he went silent. Rose didn't want to think of any of the possibilities that could happen by him going to Hogwarts, let alone Hogs Head. But if he went without her then she wouldn't be able to know anything till she sees him again...even if that was to happen.

Remus went on about a precaution that something could happen. Meaning, if he died then Obi would still have her.

But that meant nothing if Remus wasn't there.

"Listen...I'm fighting to make sure Obi doesn't have to live through this hell like we've been doing. You and I both know that life isn't exactly fair to us. If that's the case here then...Obi needs you. Please, Ro. I don't want to argue. I'll be alright...I promise." He rested his hands on her shoulders.

"That's a pretty big promise..." Rose looked up at him.

"I love you."

"...I love you too."

They shared one last kiss and he was off with Tonks.

Rose stood in the room with her hands still crossed at her chest. They were both gone. Gone, and she couldn't believe it. But that's because she told herself not to.

Then, Andromeda came downstairs with the baby monitor, "They left?"

Rose snapped out of her thoughts and looked towards her, "Yeah...Just about a minute ago or so."

"I'm terrified too." Andromeda's eyes got watery, "She's all I have left."

"I don't know how you can do it. See her off everyday to go to a rather dangerous job."

"I don't know how I do it either. I worry all day, everyday until she's right in front of me. Until I can see, with my own eyes, that she's alright. Till that happens, I'm a nervous wreck. I prefer her to work than this. This is... This is just asking for death if you don't know what you're doing. But they're both doing what they have to do."

"And us?"

"I'm doing my job by holding everything together."

"And me? I can't just sit here all night waiting for the moment they come home. I can't mentally do that to myself. That's my husband out there for Merlin's sake! That's Oberon's father! And what did he do? He's running into a warzone expecting me to sit around and wait." Rose spoke so fast that she tried to catch her breath when she was done.

"I know how it is. That's my life everyday. Dora and I...We're all we have left." She shrugged sadly.

"He's all I have left too. My grandparents are long gone, my mother is dead, my father is...dead too..." She sat down, "When Sirius died, Remus and I were there for each other. When my father went missing...Remus was there...He was always there and if something happens again and he's not there then-" She stopped before tears could stream down her face.

"Go."

Rose looked up at Andromeda, "What?"

"Go. Go fight and protect Obi's future. That's what mothers do after all, they protect their children. And wives, they go after their husbands to make sure they don't do anything reckless. So you go. I'll stay with Obi. We're safe here."

Rose stood up, "I can't do that to you. It's too much to ask for."

"It's just enough. I love that boy, I love my daughter, I love Remus, and I love you. But there will be no more love to give if you don't go out and fight for it. I promise you, I will look over your son as if he's my own. And if you know anything about me, then you'll know I NEVER break my promises. So go get ready."

Rose ran upstairs and straight to her room. She threw off her sweats and tank top across the room as she grabbed pants, a shirt and a jacket. Rose was getting ready so quickly, she didn't even notice that she was sitting down putting on her shoes.

She stood up, grabbed her wand and took one final look around. Making sure she didn't forget anything, she went down the hall to Oberon's room.

He was fast asleep in his crib when she got in.

Tears formed as she looked down at her son. She was preparing herself for her departure from him. Already, Remus was gone. Now she'd be leaving him too.

"I'll be back..." She whispered as she tried not to cry, "I promise." She leaned over and kissed his forehead, "I love you..."

She forced herself out the room and walked downstairs, "Thank you..." Rose hugged Andromeda tightly, "I'll be back in the morning..."

"Be safe."

Rose parted ways and smiled to show she was alright, "Always."

Then, she left out the house and walked across the yard to the end of the enchantments. Looking around, she saw no one was around, it was almost midnight. She stepped out and immediately apparated inside of Hog's Head.