#remus001

"Knock, knock!” said Edgar, which was a relentlessly cheerful entrance for someone who’d already knocked on the door and been let in. 

As far as he was concerned, it was all fair game before he was over the threshold – and, if he was being honest, he was already burned out on the beginning stages of small talk after a long week of did you see the news? and crazy weather today, huh? at the Ministry of Magic. It was just the first few minutes of breaking the ice to get through anyway; he’d always gotten along with Remus Lupin at school, admired him even, and he was glad to see him again. 

“Nice place, my man! Ready to fortify it against break-ins, blasting curses and...I can do some rock-through-the-window prevention, too, they actually made us take a refresher lesson on that last week, believe it or not.” 

Damocles’ plan for the day was to read a copy of the study Gwendolyn gave him about a new plant that he was curious about. It wasn’t an ingredient for the wolfsbane potion that he was still attempting to perfect, nor was it a possible substitute for one. Damocles was simply curious. There’s no reason for him not to have other interests. And what kind of a potioneer would he be if he didn’t enjoy learning more about potion ingredients? 

So Damocles brewed himself a nice pot of coffee and filled up his mug before settling at his desk with the study in his hand. The potioneer found it to be a very interesting read. He was also impressed with the way Gwendolyn wrote as she was informative and yet never boring. He was nearing the end when he heard someone knock at his door. It took a couple of knocks more for him to completely tear his eyes away from the paper. Damocles found a bookmark in the form of a dried leaf from a medicinal plant. 

When Damocles finally opened the door, he was met with a face he knew the name to even though they might not be able to say the same. “Hi,” he greeted. “Come in.” Damocles opened the door wide and lead him to the anteroom. “What can I do for you, son?” 

Félix was running out of time for apartment hunting. He told his landlord that he will be leaving his flat before he even found a new one he can move to. Time was of the essence. So he won’t appear suspicious, he knew he had to join the multitude of tenants leaving the flat in fear of their life. Even if that meant risking the possibility of being homeless for a while. To ensure that doesn't happen, he allotted his entire day for scouring Diagon Alley and its adjacent streets for a place he can move to.

Immediately, he knew that he wouldn't have a chance to find one along the main area of Diagon Alley. Any place with vacancies, no doubt Félix won’t be able to afford. After a few no’s and I’m sorry’s, Félix was nearing the part of Diagon Alley that he didn’t like visiting often. But beggars can’t be choosers. He kept his eyes peeled for any notices about vacancies or wanted roommates when he saw a sign that rang a bell.

The Cackling Stump. If Félix recalls correctly, that’s where Remus works. Maybe he could help him. He entered the bar with a wary expression in his face. Wasting no time at all, he looked for Remus amongst the bar's patrons and made a beeline towards him.. “Hey, do you have a minute?”

If a wizard needed to purchase anything from the magical variety, Diagon Alley has always been the place to be. From wands and self-stirring cauldrons to strands of Abraxan hair and Hands of Glory. All you’ll have to do is find the right shop. Unfortunately, finding the perfect non-magical gift for a muggle in Diagon Alley was proving to be quite hard. Even finding a perfectly normal bouquet with no flowers that only bloom at midnight or that’s specifically used as a potion ingredient turned out to be a challenge.

His search landed him in the seedier parts of Diagon Alley. He was nearing two hours of perusing and window shopping when his stomach finally grumbled. Luckily, he spotted what looked like a pub just around the corner. He was hesitant at first but he couldn’t ignore his stomach complaining. 

Inside, it was immediately apparent to him that he wasn’t the usual patron of the place. And the people present knew it too judging by the looks some of them gave them. Isaac reminded himself that he was a fully capable adult wizard, a hit-wizard-in-training in fact, and has no need to feel intimidated. Still, it was a relief to see that one of the bartenders looked somewhat close his age and visibly less... sordid compared to the other people. “Can I ask..er... what you guys offer here?”

Famished, missing dinner, run down from the day’s school lessons, James was having quite the day. Having promised Hagrid he would stop by for a visit had him missing the meal for a good cause. But his stomach rumbled so aggressively, munching on a couple of sugar quills wouldn’t do the trick. Still on the first floor, he crossed the open corridor. Tickling the pear, watching the fruit giggle, and morph into the entrance. Lanky height had him ducking under the entrance slightly, clearing the space. Moving to the only empty table kept in the Kitchens, seeing it was occupied. “Do you ever stop eating?” James asked, amusement breaking through, as he sat down next to one of his best mates. He certainly hoped he wouldn’t--he knew how much Remus benefited from it. “Did you miss dinner too?” He asked, tucking his bag under the table, as one of the House Elves brought him a plate overstacked with food.

She had considered making the call over Floo, but that seemed cold. And perhaps James would want some of his things anyway. This was, after all, all he had left now, the possessions he’d left at his childhood home now burned to the ground along with the rest. Remus could help with that, he’d know what was here.

Lily felt the uncomfortable tug of Apparition in her stomach, letting herself directly into the flat as she had done so often in the past. She hadn’t been here in a while, she and James essentially playing at marriage in her own flat for the past weeks. Remembering that happiness now felt painful, even if she knew he was alright. 

“Remus?” she called out, hoping her friend was home. She wasn’t sure she had the energy to seek him out elsewhere, and besides, she wanted to return to the hospital. “It’s Lily,” she added, probably unnecessarily, given all the years they’d known each other, but possibly she was putting off the moment of explanation. Her voice didn’t waver, but her eyes were reddened and skin pale, all indicators that something was wrong. 

Ted made his way to the base of Gryffindor Tower where he had agreed to meet Remus. There was a test coming up soon in Potions and he wanted to get in some extra study time. Remus was one of Ted’s favorite study partners, mostly because the two of them actually studied when they were together. When Ted tried to study with Edgar or Frank, it was so easy to distract one another. And when Ted met with Andromeda for study sessions, he was even more distracted. “Hey mate, want to head down to the library?” 

When the day comes, Lily’s busy playing with the cat and almost misses their meeting entirely. She’d been planning on walking, but after seeing the time, she decides to apparate. She arrives only a few minutes late, bustling in with an embarrassed flush on her cheeks. She spots him in a back corner, looking as delightfully put together as he always does. She heads over, smiling brightly. 

“Hello, Remus! How are you?”