This month’s full moon was a particularly difficult one. It had left her feeling extra exhausted and drained, and she had had to take a day off of work, which she never did. Even on her most miserable days around the full moon she suffered through it. It was better than the alternative of her boss realizing what she was. She had been fired enough times for what she was to not have any doubts that her boss would do the same thing that all the other ones had done. It didn’t matter how nice her current boss was, she knew that he would be the same as all the other ones when it came down to it. 

It was already evening when Wendy finally forced herself out of bed. She was suddenly starving and she didn’t have much food in her flat so she decided to go to the Leaky Cauldron. She tried to not eat there very often, but the food was cheaper than most of the other places in Diagon Alley, so she could swing it. It felt good to get out of her flat, even for a little while, and when she arrived at the Leaky Cauldron she noticed that it was busier than usual. 

Walking towards the bar, she bumped into someone. “Oh! I’m so sorry,” she apologized, looking up, she met Remus Lupin’s gaze, and her heart immediately started to race. She knew that he was a werewolf like her, had heard that he was working at the Ministry, somehow. Did he know what she was? She backed away slightly. “I um, i’m sorry,” she mumbled. 

It wasn’t much, but it was a damn sight more than what he’d had before. There was enough money left in his vault to see him through for a while, he’d never been a frivolous spender, and the Ministry was compensating him for his ‘information’ so he had security, a roof over his head, a bed, a damn bed. Despite that the first thing he’d bought had been a hamster cage complete with a wheel, water bottle and bedding. He’d spent the better part of the last five years as a rat, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to sleep comfortably as a human anymore. 

He kitted out the cage, luxury compared to what he’d endured, and had just finished setting it up under the bed when there was a soft knock at the door. He frowned, spiked of fear jabbing at his heart, and made for the door. He wasn’t a fool; there were plenty of people from both sides of the finished war who’d want him gone, these first few months would likely be just as dangerous as his time on the run. 

Luckily, his place was warded, and there was a peephole. Creeping with a stealth he’d harnessed over the years, Peter reached the door and his breath caught at the man on the other side; no matter how man years passed he’d recognise that scarred visage. Letting out his breath, he lowered his wand and unlatched the door. 

He swallowed, pulled it open, and was face to face with Remus for the first time in half a decade. 

“Hello Mooney.” he whispered.