Chocolate Covered Strawberries [Remus Lupin]

𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗

Chapter one hundred seventeen; The end

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Jasmine smoothed out her black dress with a frown on her features. Having to attend the dinner that was supposed to celebrate her own engagement on such short notice gave her no time to pick out a possibly ugly dress to wear. So, the only option left was the short black dress she wore to the Halloween ball they hosted this school year.

It used to be woven with happy memories, dancing with Remus in the quiet Library and enjoying her time at the ball with all her friends. Now she stood in the same dress in the corner of her old childhood living room, with a glass of champagne in her hands, watching all the pureblood families starting to gather. The dress was washed off of all its happiness and it left a sting.

Her father was animatedly welcoming all their guests, gesturing for them to take a glass of champagne from the platter of one of the many elves' hands. Jasmine pitied the small hardworking elves, she knew Tinker and Tasha were in the kitchen but she was forbidden to see them. She spotted Sirius on the opposite side of the room, leaning with his back on the wall leisurely, also drinking champagne. He gave her a curt nod and raised his glass. She wanted nothing more than to go over and stand next to him, chat about anything. They were instructed not to, by Isla. And that was the only instruction they got.

Just stand there and look pretty.

The only person she was allowed to talk to was –

"Gabe." Jasmine sighed with some sort of relief as he appeared next to her.

Gabriel was wearing a black suit with a white shirt underneath, matching the aesthetic with Jasmine. They were dressed as if they were attending a funeral and not something they should have been celebrating. However, the whole pureblood community tended to lean towards black outfits most of the time.

"Hi. How are you holding up?" He asked worriedly.

"I'm miserable. Look at him." Jasmine gestured to her own father.

She couldn't make out if he was faking the smiles he showed to the guests or if he was really this happy to marry off his daughter. This engagement caused him as much trouble as it did to Jasmine, Gabriel and the lot as they tried to get rid of it and Mr Pearson fought back. But presumably his happiness today was real, there was nothing more satisfying for a wizard in this world than to successfully continue his pureblood line.

"Where are your parents?" Jasmine curiously looked around trying to spot them.

Gabriel cleared his throat with a strain. "They didn't come. Mum worried and fought herself to illness and had to go to St Mungo's Hospital. Dad's with her and since there's a hospital involved I guess your father didn't fess about them not being here."

"Poor Talisa." Jasmine frowned.

"Not to worry. Today it will all be over." Gabriel gently nudged Jasmine's arm.

Jasmine scoffed. "We said that already, many times. It never turned out our way, though, did it?"

She gave up on believing anyone who said it would be over. They tried so many times and every time her father beat them in this battle. Although Jasmine refused to give in to the future he set for her all the way to the end, at this point, in her old childhood living room, she could already imagine having to marry the man standing next to her. She didn't believe it, but apparently, it was always inevitable.

"There they are!" A voice called out loudly from the middle of the room. Jasmine and Gabriel both looked at Mr Pearson, who had his arms outstretched. "Our almost newlyweds. Come here, come to the middle so everyone can see you."