Chocolate Covered Strawberries [Remus Lupin]

𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗

Jasmine looked at Gabe, who let out a deep breath. He put on a brave face and gestured with his head for her to follow him. Jasmine watched Sirius as she walked the short way and he mouthed the words it's okay.

But it wasn't, nothing about this was okay. Jasmine didn't like all the eyes that were suddenly on her as her father brought all the attention to the centre. She felt like a peacock on display.

"First of all I want to express how grateful I am for all of you coming here to celebrate young love and the union of these two important families," Mr Pearson started his speech, "and secondly, leaning on the previous point, it was already hard to gather you all here today so I can't imagine everyone will be able to come again in a week or so and because we don't want to postpone this engagement for much more time, I happily announce that you have come to the actual ceremony today."

A couple of gasps were heard across the room in the sense of admiration and entertainment. Jasmine widened her eyes, her expression matching the one on Sirius by the wall. She looked at Gabriel, who looked like he had no idea either. By looking at everyone else in the room, it was clear this was a surprise to all. Well, all except Mr Pearson.

"I see all the looks of disbelief on your faces, but it's all true. We have the young couple, we have the guests, the catering, I even invited the officiant–"

"Stop!"

Another set of gasps travelled across the room, this time in a shocking manner.

"What are you –?"

William stood his ground, clenched his fists and continued speaking. "This is wrong! Why is everyone here just following along with everything he says and makes up? Don't you see? It's another of his ploys and I've had enough."

"You're walking on dangerous grounds, William." Mr Pearson's tone lowered from the one, which was pretty happy before.

"I don't care," William continued, "why do we keep coming back to the same rituals, to the same stupid traditions? It's time to move on from forcing your children to marry. I understand most of you didn't have a choice but why must you force it onto your children? Although, you married out of love, haven't you Dad?"

Mr Pearson was speechless, but his face portrayed pure anger. "So why don't you let Jasmine choose one for herself? You are so impatient and I only wonder what you'll force me to do when you see fit."

"You're marrying a good pureblood girl when the time comes." Mr Pearson spoke as if that was a well-known fact.

"No! I won't! Because I'm –" William's voice cracked at the end. He cleared his throat and flickered his eyes across the room, fear slowly washing over his face.

"No," Jasmine whispered to herself, watching her cousin trying to stand up for her.

"You're what?" Mr Pearson asked with a desperate sigh.

William's face contorted in anger. "I'm –"

Jasmine pushed her glass of champagne to Gabriel, who nearly dropped it because of the sudden movement. She hurried to William, grabbing his upper arms so she showed her back to everyone else, but only William could see her face.

"Don't say it, Will," she whispered, "don't out yourself in front of everyone else just to prove him a point. He won't understand it anyway. It isn't worth it."

William stared at her, motionless. He opened his mouth, wanting to protest but closed it soon. He ended with an appreciative nod and then gently moved Jasmine out of the way.

"Why don't you rather tell everyone here why my real parents are dead?" He still wasn't done with exposing Mr Pearson in some way or another.

Mr Pearson sighed again, clear on his face that he was done with William's acts. He opened his mouth to answer, but he didn't really need to.