Remus Lupin

While Zephyr wasn’t in any way a quidditch professional and wasn’t even the slightest bit more interested in the match even after serving as the commentator for it, he did think that he at least knew a little more about the sport considering that he’d been corrected a few times for getting the terms wrong. In a way, it was like when he first showed up in England, needing to learn new words for things he thought he already knew, like biscuits for cookies and flat for apartment, but Zephyr doubted that knowing quidditch terminology was going to come in nearly as handy since possibly the only person it would help him converse with was Anson. It really was too bad that his team lost and Zephyr wouldn’t be surprised if he was off moping somewhere considering just how dedicated to the sport he seemed to be, his love for it bordering on obsessive.

At least their loss meant that Zephyr didn’t feel the slightest bit apologetic for not wanting to hang out after the match - instead he could go back to the hotel room and enjoy being around his boyfriend while in France. As strange as it was to be without Katie, he knew that she was being cared for at home by people that would make sure she was safe, so there wasn’t anything to stop them from doing whatever they wanted and Zephyr grinned when he opened the door and immediately saw Remus looking ready to get out and enjoy the city. “Yeah, sure, I was way more popular than the actual sports stars, everyone wanted to meet the guy who couldn’t tell a Plimper’s pass from a Polsky ploy.” Which weren’t the right terms, it was a Plumpton pass and Porskoff ploy, which just further highlighted that quidditch wasn’t his game.

Reaching out to grab Remus’ wrist and tug him closer, Zephyr leaned in to kiss him briefly before pulling away to go for his bag. “Just let me change shirts and we can head out, I have no idea what I got on this one.” Something from the quidditch celebrations, that much was certain, but he didn’t care to question it. Dropping the old shirt on a chair, Zephyr grabbed a clean one and tugged it on quickly, not bothering with his appearance beyond that and quickly returning to Remus’ side. “Do me a favor and let’s not talk about sports for the rest of the trip, I’m not enough of a jock for this shit. Tell me about your day instead, did you charm anyone into giving you tourist recommendations? Pick up any ideas on where you want to head first?”

If it weren’t for his most recent employment, Remus wouldn’t even be at the quidditch game. He never attended the ones back in England, never really blinked or had an interest during the ones at school, and always turned a deaf ear to Sirius or James who went on about teams and players. Remus wouldn’t have stepped foot in France to see a quidditch match if it weren’t for the translating job but he was happy that Zephyr also came along. It felt odd listening to Zephyr’s voice over the stadium and not seeing him. He doubted the audience in the stands knew who the commentator was or how much said commentator had about the same interest in quidditch as Remus did. 

The only thing he looked forward to during the game was the end which finalized his conversations with prospectors. He knew French but not well enough to keep it going for a few days. Some games lasted days, weeks, sometimes months but Remus didn’t want to be there if it was longer than the promised couple of hours. The winning team was shouting on the field and the fans were echoing their praises while Remus slipped off and away from the crowds. The end of the game meant he could also see Zephyr and explore France which he was eager to scout. “At least you didn’t mess up any plays and appeased the people. You did better than Julius Ceaser at least. And me. I messed up too many words to probably have no reasonable connections after this.”

Remushappily leaned into the kiss and smiled into the space where Zephyr had been as he left to change. His eyes followed his boyfriend with a dumb grin, trying not to seem to coy at watching him strip out of the shirt. It was nothing he hadn’t seen before but each time, Remus felt his heart stutter in his chest. He flipped through a book placed on the side table about quidditch, idly looking at it for a distraction until Zephyr emerged dressed. “I would rather my eyes burn than talk about quidditch or talk about quidditch in French. Between pretending to care about the sport and pretending to care about French ambassadors, I did talk to Fawley who mentioned a chocolate cafe and a nice restaurant around the corner from here. You ready to not talk about sports for once today and drink chocolate mimosas?”

Xiomara would have come back sooner, but since the full moon, she needed an extra day to recover. She wasn’t that good at changing yet, and since the Dark Lord had wished her away for quite some time, she didn’t have people around her to control her or help her. She was okay with that, during her time in England, or even from the moment she had turned, she knew that her journey would indeed be lonely most of the time. Tristan wasn’t always going to be there for her. Which was perhaps why she joined the dark side. It was her way of rebelling, her way of telling, that in the end, everyone has to be for themselves. No matter what. She was a bit bruised herself, but thankfully, she had somehow managed to keep her bruises away from her face. The bruises remained mostly on her body, a few on her arms, but all was hidden with a long sleeve jumper. 

As she came back, she had to report back to the pack leader, who in return told her about everything she had missed. Xiomara couldn’t say she was happy about it.  After all, it had been her all that time before that was trying to figure everything about Remus. It had been her with the extra information, and now they had completely ruined it, in her eyes. Yet, she couldn’t say anything about what she felt to them. Instead, she left them as they were and found herself on the way to the hospital. 

It was strange, in times of war, there were so many wounded, and the nurses barely noticed strangers roaming about. It didn’t take her long to find which room he was in and gently knocked on his door. “You’ve looked worse too.” She said as she entered the room, and closed the door behind them. “I’ve heard you’ve been looking for me? Funny, as I have been looking for you too.” She offered him a soft smile as she sat down in the chair next to his bed. She winced slightly, as she somehow managed to get a bruise on her butt. 

There was an unexplainable soreness that Remus felt deeply when he woke up in a bed that wasn’t his. For many reasons, he didn’t trust the hands of the hospital, but he does trust the hands of Emmeline. If the wounds were deep and serious enough for him to be here then he had to trust her judgment. The reason he was there was also slightly uncomfortable and wondered what Emmeline had told them. He knew he was on record for being a werewolf but he doubted it was an everyday thing that a werewolf walked into a hospital with infected wounds from other wolves. It wasn’t exactly the situation that screamed medical attention. The days leading up to the moon, Remus had been nervous about being around the others and should have heeded advice not to even go. But he knew if he missed this one it would only raise more questions which meant more suspicions which he couldn’t afford. 

Remus had shifted his weight back against the pillows in adjustment when he saw Xiomara saunter in. It was possibly the name on the bottom of his list that he wanted to see in the room and his body stilled at the recognition. “No thanks to you and your friends,” Remus countered easily, not caring about being battered up anymore. They were around other people and his bruises understood that there was probably not going to be another attack as severe as the last. 

“I doubt our reasons are the same,” Remus said, not thinking that he could really move out of the bed. When she sat down, Remus sat up straighter, his full attention on her. He didn’t trust her nor the vulnerableness of the state he was in. If this was just about getting a certain amount of potions then Remus hoped Emmeline would be in more haste. “Yes, I was asking around for you. In hopes to avoid you. Our last conversation didn’t go so well. Last night really defined it.”

siriuslyxpadfoot‌:

Sirius grinned, finding it funny that the married guy of their group–well, established married guy when Sirius was now the only one single on paper–would complain about putting the couple first. “I suppose we do deserve a little time to revel in it,” he said, glancing at both with a bit of mischief in his eyes. “We’ll need to be careful, though. Can’t let Remus come back in less than one piece, or the mister might be a bit cross with us.”

He may have been single on paper, but Sirius knew that seventeen-year-old would have rolled his eyes hard to realize how quickly his smile turned fond upon hearing Juniper’s name. He might have called it dopey instead. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate seeing him. Gotta take the fun nights while you can.” The definition of fun was changing so quickly. He was equally happy to stay in nowadays, and he knew that would only increase when the baby arrived. 

Sirius gestured to the bartender, knowing they were going to need a toast fairly quickly from the sound of things. “Your single status was once legendary,” Sirius agreed with a slight jab in Remus’ direction to let him know he was kidding. “I’m happy for you. I’m glad everything’s worked out because you guys are good together.”

@mxdnight-marauder​

When Remus mentioned that he had never envisioned himself getting married, James thought about it, and supposed that he had never pictured it for the man either. Though he was almost certain that it was for a different reason than whatever Remus himself could have come up with. He had only meant that it never seemed like something that Remus wanted, though he supposed that was because Remus had shot the idea down before entertaining it. He was glad though, at the very least, that his friend had changed his mind. 

“The mister was quite cross after my stag night, so I could only imagine,” James teased, remembering how straight forward Zephyr had been when helping him fix Peter’s flat. The memory hurt a bit to think about, considering that the three of them were sitting there while it should have been four, now. It seemed oddly bizzarre how much things had changed since James and Lily’s wedding. Now one of his friends was also married, and another as good as. While he doubted that Sirius and Juniper would be jumping to make their relationship document-official any time soon. they were having a child together, and James knew how much they meant to one another to split up now. 

“I’ll second that,” James added with a smirk. Zephyr was exactly what Remus had needed at a time that while it may have seemed otherwise, couldn’t have been more perfect. From the looks of it, the same could be said oppositely. “Though I still think you’re fairly crazy for getting engaged and married in the same day,” he added with a playful smirk. “If you do decide to have an official ceremony when things look a bit calmer, you better let us know.” The bartender that Sirius had waved down returned shortly with drinks, to which James slid them to each of his mate’s. 

Raising his glass, James thought for a moment about what to say. “I propose a toast is in order. To Remus and Zephyr, may the two of you revel in each other’s happiness and comfort, and never take that for granted.”

@remuslxpns​

The timeline in which everything happened only made sense to Remus. For the past year now, Remus had no expectations of relationships and romance, thinking it was nuanced and not going to happen for him. He kept people at an arms distance as it was and the moment he felt he was a burden itching at his mind, he let go. It was a hideous habit but he never wished to disappoint anyone. 

“Oh, yes he told me about how shit of a liar you are. He knew about Peter and I’m sure he knew about Sirius after seeing dog hair on our arm chair. Not exactly subtle,” Remus added with a grin, making a slight jab at his friends. At least that bachelor evening, Remus had the benefit of walking across the hall to his bed and not waking until Zephyr came from Peter’s flat. The night barred a fondness that he didn’t deeply appreciate until recently with Peter’s late death. “I’m not going to change because I have a ring on my finger. I’ve been practically married to the man since we had our first drink together.”

It didn’t seem like a far off idea to get married in the same day but he did feel a twist of guilt at seeing his friends' reactions. “Of course. Once this is all over we will have the best party and drink like we’re still fifteen.” Remus raised his own drink to join the others and smiled at the toast. “Thank you. At least there’s a few good things coming out of a time like this.”

“They do.” Odette nodded. “I don’t always know why, but they do.” Initially, after the packs had split, Odette had wished to run away, to leave, hide by herself. It was what she was used to, what she had always done, but something in her decided to stay. And she was glad she did. “Okay.” She agreed. “But if it ever gets too expensive, please, please let me know.”

“And how is that going? The work at the school, I mean.” Odette asked, somewhat grateful for the chance to ask a relatively normal question. “It’s one thing to keep a bunch of kids alive, I can’t imagine being responsible for teaching them.” She joked. “I’m still not sure how I feel about it. I don’t really know what it is that puts me off, but there’s just… something. But the younger ones, I’ve heard them talk. And if that’s what they want, well, I’m the only one who’s able to help them find it.”

“Because you bring hope and optimist and normalize this...this thing. You make them feel normal. I think that’s important at that age. Doing it by yourself and not knowing anyone like you is a struggle,” Remus admitted with reassurance. Odette was a kind person and Remus was still surprised at how nice she was compared to other werewolves he had met. It didn’t matter what she was that determined her personality but the others had been pretentious or aggressive.

“I was recently introduced to a saying, ‘sometimes good things fall apart so better things fall into place’, and I like to think of that when I hear of ill fortune. It’s not a sentiment I’ve ever expressed to anyone suffering because I don’t want to sound glib, as if I’m undermining their pain, but I think it’s good to hope that things will get better.” Which was an improvement over his previous mindset where Alaric focused only on the loss and wondered just how many times things could fall apart before people grew too tired to continue to pick up the pieces. Sometimes learning to let go of those pieces and move on was a valuable thing in it’s own right, but Alaric didn’t think he was any sort of expert to decide just which path someone should choose.

But how strange it was to think of just how far they’d come since that first meeting on the night bus, both of them accompanied by someone that had been taken, either by death or azkaban. Now they both had new people in their lives and it sounded like Remus had more than one. “If having a cat and a child is what it takes to be in a legitimate relationship, you’re more valid than I am,” Alaric commented, not sure Romulus could work a double role even if Pandora did refer to him as their child. It soon wouldn’t matter with the baby on the way, but Alaric felt a comfort and belong regardless, his days since marrying and moving to Hogsmeade filled with happiness.

“Yes, I am. It’s a sad thing.” Sad that they were on the run, sad they hadn’t been caught, let Remus make his own conclusions, although personally Alaric thought Prewett was being framed and that the loneliness had grown too heavy for Austen to take. “She mentioned that to me, actually. Our cat, originally her cat, is named Romulus and she wrote to me when she found a Remus to complete the set, I swear I could feel her delight through the note. Pandora isn’t due until the spring, so we’re only halfway there, but it sounds like you’ve been enjoying parenthood for a while. Is it terrifying when you first get started? And as stressful and tiring as they say?”

Remus could understand what Alaric was saying. Sometimes there were silver linings in miserable acts but it was hard to hope for anything better now. The only reason he was still fighting was to see the end of this not because he was doing it for his own pride. Remus wanted everyone to be safe and be rid of the darkness spreading around the places he loved like a disease. It was hard to swallow that this was a reality but it was harder to know there were people behind those masks during this to others. Inflicting the misery on innocents for the purpose of power. Remus often wondered if there was anyone who would surprise him at being a death eater but he then thought he might be numb to that now. He only nodded and hummed in agreement, glancing at the destruction and construction of other shops in comparison. Everything was a little broken and not entirely ready to be fixed. 

He gave a half-smile at Alaric, thinking that he didn’t know what validated a relationship until he was with Zephyr. “I wouldn’t trust me with anything nearing the subject of relationship advice. Unfortunately, I haven’t had enough practice until about a year ago and before that I was just a mindless soul not knowing what a relationship was. I’m glad to have a cat who actually likes me and a daughter who loves me.” Both had been different at coming into his life. When they adopted the cat, they knew what they were after a conversation. Katie had been another conversation that Remus had to accept because his love for Zephyr outweighed everything else. He didn’t care about marriage or a ring on his finger but did wonder if that would happen to him. 

Remus did miss seeing Austen and Fabian around and anytime he remembered where he was and what he was doing at Hogwarts, he remembered the man. It was his position first. They said the position was cursed and no one stayed a full term and Remus wondered what would happen to him to leave. He loved what he was doing and could see the students actually learning from him but he didn’t know what else to do. “Oh, really? That’s perfectly ironic,” Remus chuckled at the thought. He already thought Pandora was the most eccentric professor and didn’t know he had left such an impression on her. “I’m happy that she’s happy to meet me. Well, Katie has only been in my life since last April and not her full life but it’s been good. I never thought it possible for me to be a dad but life has a funny way of proving you wrong. I don’t know about newborns but even if you do get stressed or tired, seeing her happy makes up for it all.”

“You are a strange man.” Tristan said slowly, but he thought he knew what he meant. The Death eaters. It felt dangerous to admit to knowing that Xiomara was involved in anything, but this man made it clear that he knew Xiomara was involved in something, or at least expected it, and he made it sound like Xiomara was searching for him, which was worrisome for someone, but he didn’t know which. “I do not know you, but…” Slowly, Tristan blinked twice and wondered how many terrorists he’d talked to without even realizing. “I know my sister.” Even if Tristan hadn’t joined her, Tristan knew she was part of the war and he wasn’t going to turn a blind eye to that - he couldn’t, not when it was his own failure to protect her that caused the situation that led them to the war. “If it involves her, I want to know.”

There was an intentional threat that Remus had caught on to the last time he had been around the other wolves. They weren’t like the group he was used to with Odette. The most minimal disagreement could turn into a bloodbath in a snap. There wasn’t any blood spilt but Remus was smart enough to see the assumptions and the context that there might be if he continued to disobey their wishes. “Yeah, well so do I,” Remus said although he trusted his definition of knowing Xiomara was different than her brother’s impression on her. He normally wasn’t common to show his true colors to someone he barely knew but he needed to get a message to Xiomara. “She persuaded the...the others to come after me because I’m-I’m taking the potion. Wolfsbane. Something they are highly opposed to. I’m not looking to become someone’s Sunday brunch but if you could...try and tell her to stop. Or do something besides spending her time tracking me.”

“Shockingly the third out of four I don’t think I really could imagine myself without siblings. Although we do agree on something, I never imagined I would be able to have a child, or be married.” If he was being particularly honest he hadn’t really thought of the future after he had to leave Maria in Paris. He didn’t really think he’d be in a position to care about someone as much as he did for her. 

“I had heard that. Sounds like a shame, he seemed like a caring professor but sometimes there’s not much choice.” He gave a small smile at the idea and said, “ I can’t say I’m big on planning to far into the future myself either. I also think you can probably teach her classic literature at any age.” 

He chuckled slightly and said, “I think she’s mostly imitating what Levi’s been teaching her, but she does like to pet the fur in the book. I suggest perhaps putting your stash on a higher level if you can. Or there’s these little hook things that I use to keep some of the cabinets shut, but I’d have to confess it’s more because Levi pulls on them to hard and sometimes topples the dishes.” It was mostly a joke, and he couldn’t help the grin that spread on his face. 

Remus could arguably not be anymore the same as the other man. For years, he had denied himself from any relationships just for the purpose of keeping them out of his life for the better. It only took an American with a broad smile and easy words to render all that hard work to be redundant. “I’ve only met Levi once or twice before becoming coworkers with him, but he only speaks highly of you. I didn’t think I would be with anyone let alone with a lifelong partner and a daughter but many things have happened in a year's time.”

He had spent hours in those woods, combing through any information that might lead to where Fabian was. If the rumors were true, Remus hoped no one found an ounce of a lead to leave the poor man and his wife in peace for once. “I can’t wait to read to her where she will retain information and the words. I grew up on books. Fascinating things and I hope she can do the same. Or find something interesting to her. She has a knack for finger painting.”

“That isn’t a terrible idea and I would love to have some of my happily earned chocolate back in my own hands.” Remus had not put that many preventions into the new house for Katie and their own benefit but she seemed well behaved and not at all mischievous. There were days where Remus would fall asleep and instead of expecting to see a mess, he would find her napping beside him. “I’m usually the one breaking things in the kitchen and everywhere else in the house. Perhaps it should be Katie being the one raising me.”

“Do I need to know you to give you gifts?” Cas replied immediately, smiling brilliantly. It wasn’t exactly a secret to Cas just who he was talking to - the supposed curse on the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was well known and it was quite possible that Remus Lupin was the youngest professor in the School’s history, but Cas was only taking a guess at that. Even if it wasn’t for the notoriety awarded to the man for the questionable job placement he possessed, Cas also would have known him as a werewolf. Not just any werewolf, of course, but the one that Cas ended up playing a rather panic inducing game of tag with a few months ago.

While he thought werewolves were supposed to remember everything that happened to them while they were transformed, Cas wasn’t sure about that anymore than he was certain that Remus wasn’t just testing him to see what Cas might remember and have seen that night. “But maybe we’ve crossed paths and I was memorable enough to leave an impression. In which case, I’m flattered and my name is Cas.” More like Lupin had wanted to leave an impression on him with his teeth, but Cas did have enough sense of propriety not to chat about someone leaving teeth marks in his skin before at least buying them a drink. Really, he did have some class.

“Well...no, I suppose not. It does help a little though,” Remus replied hesitantly, only now meeting the man’s eyes. The man looked ironically familiar but nothing in his mind could determine how he knew the man standing before him. This man was surely not in the Order or anywhere that Remus had worked prior unless he was a customer or simply a passerby. Remus took a bite out of the chocolate regardless and didn’t taste any residue of poisons or the likes and continued eating. 

He couldn’t help but get the impression that the man knew more than he was letting on which was enough for Remus to turn his whole attention to the man. A faint smile curved at his lips and he nodded. “Perhaps we have. I have the worse memory and it is probably my fault that I’m forgetting things. Nice to meet you and if not again. Remus Lupin,” he introduced properly. “Guess we aren’t strangers anymore. So where is that I met you since you seem to know more than I do.”

“And I carefully considered all of it.” Lily retorts, shaking her head at the blatentness of the lie. She could easily be described as hard-headed. And that quality was certainly more prevalent back at hogwarts. The boys had actually whittled some of that away from her over the past few years. “I did it out of sheer pity for James in the first place,” again, lie.

“So other than the heartbroken students, how is good ole’ hoggywarts treating you?” It was amusing seeing Remus as a teacher. It oddly suited him, even though he was only a few years out of being a student himself. She was also somewhat relieved he was there. He was safer in the walls of hogwarts than he was out-and-about in any other place. Lily couldn’t stand the thought of losing anymore friends. 

She simply nodded as remus repeated back to her, laughing as he pulled her into a hug. “James is very excited. I shrank all his quidditch gear down to tell him, which he didn’t put two and two together until I told him but…” Lily shrugged excitedly. “A few weeks back. I wanted to tell you right away, Remus, I really did. But I wanted you to hear it from me and you were just getting into the swing of things here.” 

“Oh, sure. That boy during fourth year was a nightmare and you must have known it,” Remus commented confidently with a playful roll of his eyes skyward. The only relationship he had during school was with Dorcas and had only lasted a handful of months before it was broken up through mutual intentions. “Oh, spare me the dramatics. You liked him. Was it his quidditch uniform that did it for you or his weird sickly stares he would give you during classes?”

Remus crossed his arms and released a severe sigh. “For the most part it’s a lot of adjustments. I know what I’m teaching and what to say but...there’s a disconnect. How can I tell these children that they will have to choose a side when this is all over? I don’t want to be damned to do that to them.” It made him want to fight more just so this wouldn’t be hanging over their heads upon graduating. “Dumbledore is ironically kind and worried about me. The other professors are fine as well. The only person I’ve ever taught is Katie how to use Welsh words correctly and all those tutoring sessions at schools for others.”

They were all becoming their own persons in their own lives and Remus had to remind himself of that. He was already with someone he considered to be his soulmate and had a daughter with him. He couldn’t have expected any of this and was happy for James and Lily who had suffered enough on their wedding day. He smiled at knowing it took a few more suggestions before James understood what the shoes meant.“Oh, no need to apologize. I completely understand. I’m just so happy for the both of you. I just can’t believe this-this is so great for you. You’re going to be the best mother.”

Odette nodded. Truthfully, she didn’t know anyone in this country that she would be willing to trust with such a secret, other werewolves not included, but she supposed that seeing as Remus had lived in the U.K his whole life, he likely had friends, people he could trust.

Odette winced. She knew Remus had been turned young. Younger than many of the children she looked after, she was willing to wager, and that experience in and of itself would be more painful than Odette was wanting to imagine. “Are you sure? Because, you know, coming into summer, I’m sure the pack would be able to cope without me more. I could pick up more shifts?” Odette suggested. She was very certain about not being seen as a charity case, even though logically she knew that wasn’t Remus’s intention. “I just, I can’t imagine it. I just don’t know what it would be like.”

It was hard to imagine him trusting another werewolf when he grew up without the presence of anyone like him. It was a lot to adapt to when he broached Fenrir’s pack almost a year ago, but he couldn’t have seen himself genuinely liking any of them until Odette.

“You are trying to avoid them?” Tristan asked, wondering if he had misunderstood what the other was trying to say. It was a frequent problem he experienced, but if this guy was looking for Xiomara, he didn’t seem very enthused about finding her or about being found himself. It was a very odd thing and truthfully, as he looked the other man over, Tristan had to say that he didn’t look at all like the type of person that he usually worried about Xiomara spending her time around. How odd. “Xiomara is loud when she shows up and insistent when she wants something. If she wants to find you, she will find you. Who else is looking?” He didn’t expect the other to actually answer that question, but at least he hadn’t asked what Xiomara wanted with him yet. Although that would likely be his next question until Tristan actually managed to get in touch with Xiomara.

There was no true way of saying that there was a pack of werewolves who were frustrated enough with him to lash out. Remus could understand being bristled by the idea of werewolves but the humans they nestled inside were just as dangerous sometimes. He was aware of their intentions and knew that he should have been more careful but he didn’t need this on his conscious. If he could tell Xiomara’s brother about it perhaps he could get an idea of where she was so he wasn’t around. “Oh, I’m aware of how loud she can be. Well, that’s not...not very comforting, really.” Remus knew that she was intent on finding him but technically just had it confirmed again. “The others. The others in the-if you know what I’m alluding to blink twice or something so I’m not talking out of my ass here. I don’t know if she’s mentioned me, but I’m Remus.”

Remus began to move up, feeling the pain in his sides and chest. It traveled throughout his body and he hated every moment of it. The door opened and it drew his attention away from his pain and towards the person, thankful for a distraction. It wasn’t a medic or healer that he was expecting and his lips pulled into a tired smile. “I’ve looked better, I know. I won’t be here long hopefully. Would you believe me if it was just a scratch that led me here?”

Edith hated feeling helpless, especially when it came across in how she presented herself. Normally she was bubbly and bright and optimistic, but now she was weighed down by her worries and stress. Talking to Remus would be a good distraction, though. Even if she hadn’t anticipated talking to anyone that day. She had almost forgotten that he had gotten a position working back at Hogwarts, to which her eyes widened a bit. “Oh right! How is that going? Dear, I hope the students are alright…” Edith had only just graduated, and it wasn’t too long ago that Remus himself had. She could remember her classmates’ reactions to the war, the differing opinions and talk. 

How ignorant they had been to ever assume they were completely untouchable while there. It was easy to assume that a great deal of people had let that go to their heads, assuming it would carry over once they left. Sadly, that wasn’t the case. “Sometimes I forget that we were there not that long ago. It feels sort of like an eternity has passed since then,” she laughed, shaking her head. “You think so? I suppose you’re right…” Her present however wasn’t all that bright, considering the circumstances. “I hope your present is looking better than mine at the moment. What say?”

There was nothing natural about becoming a professor, the profession being the farthest thing from his mind. In all honesty, he didn’t have any endearing practices he wanted to explore after graduation and picked up any job that came forward. The least cunning had been working for Fenrir and doing tasks under his daily prophet work and assisting him around the cabin in the woods. Fenrir had explained it as an internship with benefits and Remus personally described it as some personal inferno. The teaching, however, was going unexpectedly well. “It’s good for the most part. I’m teaching the years three and under. It’s odd seeing them where I sat a few years before.”

Remus wouldn’t consider himself that brilliant at classes, but while being good at most classes besides two, he had become prefect somehow. There had been so much that had changed besides physical matters. Remus had internally grown and he blamed it mostly on the war for aging him against his will. “Yes, well. Stressful events can do that to a person. Time can be such a mess sometimes. It can either feel like no time has passed while to other people it feels like a decade. I favor the latter. I find little meanings in what I can...it’s mostly dragging from the war but then there’s little curves of happiness. I wonder what this will all feel like when it’s all over. How are you doing? How’s your family?”

“You’re advice was probably more sage than you believe it to be. You’ve had a lot of experience, for example,” Lily motioned to herself. Remus had a long history of being Lily’s best friend. Of course that included all of the heart aches and breaks Lily so gladly pushed herself into during her time of Hogwarts. Although she’d never admit it outloud, Lily had her romantic streak for sure. 

“But, most importantly, did her excuse work?” 

Lily was not an alcoholic by any means. But that wasn’t to say she never drank. In fact Lily practically always had a drink or two- particularly when she was out. She was a young adult after all. Part of her kinda believed the hardest part of this whole thing would be going a whole 9 months without a single glass of wine or a pint of butterbeer. Perhaps she was overdramatic, but she did live with James Potter so. Lily wasn’t surprised Remus had noticed right away, “actually,” She met Remus with a sheepish smile, “That kind of has to do with my news.” 

Somehow, it felt stranger telling Remus than it had telling James. This was her best friend and it felt all to recent that this part of life was merely a joke between the two of them. Or a far off future daydream, at least. Those allnighters in the gryffindor common room, laughing and crying and studying. They felt like everything life was meant to be; the pinnacle of importance; every little thing was do or die. Now Remus had Zephyr and Katie and she didn’t know a better way to introduce anything but- “Remus, I’m Pregnant”  

Remus knew he wasn’t the best at giving advice and while he had the years on him for relationship advice, he was still experiencing new things every time. It wasn’t that long ago he and Zephyr had their first fight. Remus raised his head and gave a sharp chuckle. “I believe I cautioned you severely about James before you started dating. He’s much better than those other ones, I’ll admit that. You were good with your own advice too.”

“It did in a way. At least she was honest and perhaps too honest about the details and I mostly agreed to have her leave. I was only a few minutes late but I solely blame it on her. I wouldn’t use that excuse on my professor but I suppose times are changing.” Remus met Lily with an amused grin before glancing around. It was still late afternoon and the sun was starting to set and he recognized the number of patrons in here when there often tons more. It was mostly the war’s doing for the decline of attendance he assumed. Remus snapped his attention back to Lily when she mentioned news.

Everything else in his mind faded and he hoped that this was good news. He wondered if they were moving or going on a vacation because Godric knows they needed it. When she mentioned she was pregnant, he stilled and his eyes widened immediately. “You’re-you’re pregnant-you’re going-” The words escaped him before he stood up and moved to embrace her. “Bloody hell, Lily. This is amazing-I’m so happy for you-was James good about it? Tell me everything-well not everything, obviously. When did you-when did you find out-Gods this is great.”

“It’s not poison, it’s just a piece of chocolate. Can’t a guy ever make a nice gesture without someone questioning their motives?” Considering it was Cas, they really shouldn’t accept any action that came across as anything but self-serving without a great deal of skepticism. Even this, waving around a piece of candy in his hands, wasn’t entirely about being nice. “I had two pieces and the nice thing to do is share, right? So go on, take the last one.” 

A lie again, because of course it was. There had only ever been one piece to begin with, but Cas didn’t eat chocolate, so that wasn’t a problem. He was happy to get rid of it and yes, he could have thrown it away, but why do that if he could give it a purpose? He’d read once somewhere that if you wanted someone to like you, then you should ask to borrow a pencil. It was a simple favor that anyone could grant and it made them like you because you’d needed them or were indebted to them, something like that. It wasn’t quite the same principle, but Cas figured that giving gifts was still a good way to endear someone to you.

The streets of Hogsmeade were growing more familiar with each passing day that Remus spent there. There was a difference between visiting it as a student than as a professor and resident. With the weekend being stretched since one of his classes released early, he nestled himself outside of a cafe and intrigued by the book in front of him. It only took a man coming up to him and offering him chocolate that took him away from his reverie. 

Remus blinked at the chocolate and then glanced up at the man offering it. There was something familiar about him that he couldn’t place a finger on. It was almost frustrating when things like that happened, not knowing if the other man expected him to say his name that Remus had completely blanked on. “Oh, yeah,” Remus said finally, blinking again and taking the chocolate from him. “Uh, thanks I guess.” He had finished his own chocolate croissant only minutes before and wasn’t going to ignore more chocolate. “I’m sorry but you look a little familiar. Do we know each other?”

“That is true, although I doubt my parents knew that. They named one of my brothers Verne so I think they just wanted to sound French. My little sister is named Maria. I think they wanted us to sound French.”

Which he supposed Maria and him were. He wasn’t ever quite sure about Verne, but he never wanted to bring it up. His mind slipped to his siblings for a second before the other started talking again. 

“Ah - I heard the other professor went on the run correct?” Marcus nodded slightly and gave a slight smile. “Well you will have a few years at least before you have little Katie there. I’m sure she’ll be delighted to have her father as a professor.” 

He chuckled and, “In my experience Millie likes to bite anything that gets near her mouth, but I think it’s because she’s interested in all those creatures Levi shows her in books when he’s home.” He laughed outright now. “No I don’t know where she gets well behaved from. Levi and I certainly aren’t very well behaved. I’m sure she’ll get your good traits.” 

“I believe my life would be completely different if my parents had another child. I couldn’t imagine a sister or a brother. To be fair, I never thought my life would lead me to have a child of my own. At least I have a few takeaways of how to be a parent from my own.” 

Remus knew the reason behind them not trying again. They had too much time dedicated to Remus, something that he had felt internally guilty for. He would get more parental guidance from his mother rather than his father. 

“Fabian Prewett, yes.” Remus knew that Fabian wasn’t dead and was hopefully living another successful life with Austen. They deserved the small amount of peace that the war had carved out of them. “Nine more years until that happens. We will see where life takes me and my career. I’ve already been trying to teach her stuff. I don’t know what the age should be before she has a connection to Dickons.”

He couldn’t help but release a small laugh that Millie was recreating a creature she saw in a book. “Katie is too young to have an interest in things. I know that will change in a few months. She does a few finger painting that we put on the fridge. She loves to eat and help bake with Zephyr. I know for a fact she has been into my stash of sweets once or twice.”