Lachesism; Remus Lupin

IV

Gwendolyn Rosier walked back to her dormitory with a smile on her face, of course, the smile was from her conversation with Remus. She has started to grow quite fond of him, and she was glad that it was a piece of her life that was completely hers.

    "You look quite chipper for someone who just got back from the library," Eleanor raised her eyebrows, a smirk residing on her face.

    "What can I say?" Gwen mused, "Knowledge is entertaining."

    "Gwen lying?" Lyra laughed, "I didn't think I'd ever see the day."

    Luckily for Gwendolyn, the conversation ended there. She would hope no one would question her, and she hoped that this would stay as her little secret. For the time being, she was in the clear.

    "So, Gwenny," Lyra threw herself onto the bed next to Gwen, resting her chin in her palm, "Why don't you and Regulus start dating?"

    "Because we both agreed to spend the rest of our time at Hogwarts without any worries," Gwen answered, hoping to avoid the topic.

    "It's clear he's in love with you," Eleanor perked up, "And, you'll be married soon enough. You should spend your youth with him, you know? Make memories."

    "We already have memories," Gwendolyn pulled out her sketchbook in hopes to drown out the current conversation her best friends had sprouted. Thankfully, it worked.

    Eleanor and Lyra were accustomed to Gwen's lack of social interest. She preferred the quiet, and they usually abided by it. They respected their friend, and they liked to know their friend was content with her drawings.

    The two walked out of the room, leaving Gwen to her lonesome. They were most likely off to hang out with the older Slytherins, but Gwen didn't mind. She decided she would take the time to head to her little willow tree.

    However, Gwen wasn't the only one who was seeking peace that day, as Regulus sat under the willow tree as well.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Gwen said, pulling Regulus out of his silence.

    "Just enjoying the peace for a while," Regulus slid over to allow Gwen to sit next to him, "Evan is too rowdy for me this early in the morning."

    "At least you didn't have to grow up with it," Gwen smiled, "But, anyways, is something wrong?"

    "No, nothing is wrong," Regulus was lying, but Gwendolyn couldn't tell. Regulus was a good liar, he had to learn how to with a family like his. Regulus was sad, but he wouldn't tell anyone. He would be selfish if he acted on it, and he refused to be selfish and disrupt Gwendolyn's freedom.

    "Promise?" Gwendolyn held up her pinky, offering it to Regulus.

    "Promise," Regulus intertwined his own pinky with hers, allowing himself to make a false promise.

    As much as Gwendolyn hated the idea of her future being taken away from her, she was happy that it would be spent with someone like Regulus. She knew that he would take care of her, and she would learn to love him as his wife.

    Gwen laid her head in Regulus's lap, looking up towards the sky. She crossed her ankles and placed her hands over her stomach. Regulus wouldn't lie and say that this didn't give him butterflies, but the butterflies were from the happiness and peace that Gwen had on display.

    The pair spent the rest of the morning like this, laying on the grass and looking at the clouds. But, eventually Gwen decided that she wanted to head back to the library.

    She entered the mostly empty library and made her way to their table, seeing the tall boy engrossed in a book.

    "What are you reading?" Gwendolyn asked, sitting down in her usual seat.

    "Oh, it's a muggle book," Remus showed off the cover of his book, "A Wrinkle in Time."

    "Never read it, though I only have read a few muggle books," Gwendolyn answered, "Pride and Prejudice is an amazing novel, but I had to hide it under my pillow every night so that no one would see it."

Remus shook his head, "You had to hide a muggle book?"

    Gwen nodded, a small frown etched on her face, "My family doesn't really appreciate muggles."

    "And, you do?" Remus had a boyish smile on his face.

    "I appreciate everyone and everything," Gwen responded, "Everything deserves to be appreciated."

    "I don't want to upset you," Remus sat up in his seat, setting his novel down completely, "But, why do you stay if you oppose everything your family is about?"

    "Because they're still my family," Gwen pushed her hair behind her ears, "And, I wouldn't be able to live without Evan. He's my other half, and I love him too much to leave him. Plus, I have horses back home, and I couldn't leave them either."

    "Take Evan with you, I'm sure he would go anywhere that you do," Remus replied, "Bring the horses, too, live on a farm or something."

    "I've always been more of a cottage person," Gwen smiled, trying to avoid the conversation altogether.

    "You shouldn't have to hide who you really are around family," Remus frowned, "Family is supposed to appreciate who you are, and they're supposed to encourage you to be unique."

    "Maybe to muggles," Gwen had a deep feeling of sorrow etched out in her chest, she wished it was as easy as Remus made it out to be.

    "You're getting married after leaving Hogwarts," Remus stared into her eyes, trying to gauge any reaction.

    Gwen was surprised that he knew this, "Yes, I am."

    "You're okay with people choosing who you are to spend the rest of your life with? Have children with?" Remus mused, hoping to get through to Gwen in some way, shape, or form.

    "It is not ideal, but it is the way my life goes," Gwen began sketching in her book, hoping to fall away from the conversation.

"Gwendolyn, you aren't like them," Remus was visibly frustrated, "You're kind, you're funny, you're amazing, and you're beautiful. You are too sweet to play into their world."

    "I'm not like them, I know that," Gwen shrugged, continuing to draw a butterfly.

    "Please, Gwendolyn," Remus was basically begging at this point, "Leave, you can stay with me. I promise I'll take care of you, and I'll buy you as many horses as you want. We can live in a beautiful cottage in the countryside. I've never met anyone like you, and I am intrigued by you and everything you are. Please, don't let them choose your destiny."

    Gwen's heart broke at his words, and she wouldn't lie and say that it didn't have any weight, "I can't, Remus. I'm a Rosier, and that will always be my destiny."

    "Destiny is for fools," Remus had a blank look on his face, "But, if that's how you want to live your life, I can't do anything."

    Gwen nodded, "Thank you."

    "But, you can at least live before you let destiny take over completely," Remus spoke with a tone of clarity, "Fall in love with me before you lose yourself to destiny."