If you've been directed here from "Chess," skip to the story. If you haven't, well, reading Chess isn't vital to understanding this, so I'll just say the gist of what's needed to know.
Lavender was turned into a werewolf at the battle of Hogwarts by Greyback. While all the others repeated their last year at Hogwarts she dropped out and began campaigning for werewolf rights. She got the Wolfsbane potion to be sold commercially, got rid of Umbridge's legislation saying they couldn't work, helped set up support teams. The Ministry even considered replacing the Werewolf Registry with her plans. The last time we saw her she was glowing, enthusiastic and bubbly, ready to take on the world, walking away from the Burren with a slightly baffled Krum in tow (if you really want to know, you had best read the other story.)
Also, Ron and Harry are training to be Aurors, Hermione is in Healer School, Ron and Hermione are engaged, Dean and Luna are together.
Please read to the bottom of the first chapter before you put it down as a lost cause. And then review.
Oh, and the reason Roisin is here is because I met her on holidays and I needed a random character so in she goes.
Oh and yes, this is probably going to turn out extremely girly, I'm sorry to any uncamp guys.
She sniffed the room.
It smelt of the lilies in the corner, that smelt fresh and white, of the concoction used to clean the carpet, of dusty curtains, both grey. There was the smell of her desk, new parchment and strongly scented ink, the two merging to give a deep rich chocolate. There was the girl seated in front of her. She smelt of deodorant covering over sweat and grime, clearly, this close to full moon, she did not feel like washing, a nameless, greasy colour tinged with the red of adrenaline that her temper gave off. Then there was herself, shampoo, lip gloss, perfume, coffee, and the scent that for a while, had had no name, the smell that was as old as centuries. Lavender, with a touch of russet brown.
She looked down at the papers in front of her and attempted to concentrate on the words.
"So, Roisin," she said to the girl who had arrived half an hour late to her forty five minute session.
"It's Roisin," said the girl, pronouncing it Row-sheen instead of Ruh-sheen. "There's an effing fada on the O. The last I too."
Lavender neither knew nor cared what a fada was but asked anyway out of politeness.
"It's an accent, you know."
Lavender squinted at the papers again. "I don't see it."
"Course not, that was written on a Muggle computer wasn't it?"
"But I did Muggle Studies for a year and I'm pretty sure that computers can do accents."
"Yeah, but me da couldn't be bothered to put it in."
Lavender suddenly questioned why she was having this conversation and changed the subject.
"Look, you know why you're here." she said simply to her client. "You're a werewolf. Nothing's going to change that."
"So if nothing's going to change it, then why am I here?"
"Because I found you on a list in the Registry and thought I had better check you out. I'm trying to make life easier for you."
"Yeah, how?"
"Well, getting you a job for instance. Wait, now I remember, your name wasn't down in the Hogwarts archive, were you home-schooled?"
Roisin snorted. "Not likely. Sure, didn't they send me off to France the first chance they got."
"So you were in Beauxbatons?"
"No I lived under a rock for seven years."
Lavender ignored the sarcasm. She was too tired for it. So she tried "So, you speak French?"
"Listen, are you seriously mentally challenged? Yes, of course I speak French."
"So how about going into foreign relations? I'm sure we could find you a place." said Lavender and flicked through a pile.
"No. Dan wants to stay in London. I'm not even allowed to go home! If it wasn't for the fact that me aunt lets them stay, I'd never even get a whiff of mam and da. Sure, and don't I have to stay with her and all at full moon?"
"Who's Dan?"
"My boyfriend. Put two and two together why don't you?" said Roisin, folding her arms and looking away.
"Why do you have to stay at your aunt's at full moon?"
"'Cause he doesn't want a wild animal in the house, that's why."
"Okay, the first thing I want you to do is break up with him."
"What?"
"I'll find you someone better. How about Marco, he was in here before you, half-Italian, and you know the reputation they have."
"Why would I break up with Dan?"
"Because if he can't accept who you are, he isn't worth it, trust me. Look," she said pulling a piece of scrap parchment out and scribbling on it. "Here's Marco's address, send him an owl, okay? And now, if you don't mind," the church bells outside chimed five, and she pulled on her coat. "I've got things to do."
And she Disapparated, leaving Roisin looking sufficiently bewildered.
--
Diagon Alley is heaven if you like interesting smells, but hell if you're a werewolf trying to concentrate. Especially if you're standing outside the apothecary. The separate scents of everyone in the crowd begged for attention, and were overwhelmed by the heavy aromas of the potions inside.
She stepped inside holding her breath and let down her collar. It was warm in here in any case, certainly compared to the brisk October air outside.
Lavender went down the first aisle and picked up a cramp potion. No need to suffer unnecessarily. Then she went further into the shop, twisting this way and that, to the specialist remedies. She scanned the shelves. It was not there. She swore under her breath and went to the counter.
"Are you out of the Wolfsbane potion?" she asked sweetly, knowing full well this was not the case.
The assistant looked shocked. "No, we keep it in the back, so as not to cause alarm."
She swore again mentally. Obviously her work was going to waste. "Could I have a bottle please?"
"S-sure." He hurried into the back room and came out with a bottle in a paper bag which he placed on the counter at arms length.
She put the other bottle in the bag as well, and threw the gold down on the table. "I don't bite you know." she said as she turned her back and walked out into the street.
She was making her way towards the Leaky Cauldron in a daze when someone bumped into her. She dropped the bag and winced and fell to her knees as she heard the breaking of glass and saw the liquid seeping out. She knelt there on the cobbles for what seemed an eternity, the people passing her by, staring at the mess on the floor until a voice said "Lavender?"
She looked up to see a figure. It was a familiar one, a familiar freckled face and flame red hair.
"Ron?" she asked.
"Yeah," he replied kneeling down in front of her. "What happened?"
"Some idiot walked into me and I dropped the bottle." she said, utterly miserable.
"Oh." said Ron looking at the mess. "Well, we can't really get the potion back, should we go get another bottle?"
"No, I only had enough for one." Not strictly true, her spare money had gone to the cramp potion, also on the floor, but thought he would not appreciate her tendering this piece of information. "It was Wolfsbane."
"Oh." he said again quietly. Then "Why don't you come back with me? Hermione has loads of ingredients from Healer School, I bet she could make you some. Or, I mean, I have a never-ending source of gold. It's called Harry."
She gave a weak smile. "No, I couldn't ask him to buy me it." she said shaking her head.
"Well then Hermione will make it for you. She'd probably cheer at the thought."
"I couldn't possibly-"
"Come back for dinner at least." he said, determined. "We're still at my parents at the moment, until Ginny finishes school, you know, and the four of us will get somewhere for until we're all finished training and everything. Anyway, Mum would be thrilled to have you over."
It was the idea that anybody might be thrilled to have her that won her over. That, and the prospect of seeing people from Hogwarts, reminders of happier times.
"Well, if it's no trouble."
"Of course it's not."
He pulled her up off the wet ground and grasped her hand. She just had time to think how warm and comforting his fingers were before he Apparated them both back to the Burrow.
--
There was much hugging and kissing on her arrival. She remembered her last visit to this house. She had not been as nearly as glad to be there as she was now. The familiar faces of her three Hogwarts friends, especially that of Hermione were great comforts. For Hermione had been one of her protectors all those years, and though they may have fallen out a few times as they got older, it was only what was to be expected.
Mrs. Weasley was indeed happy to see her. Mrs. Weasley, it must be said, was happy to see any guest for dinner, and was glowing as she served Lavender a huge plate of roast beef, potatoes, carrots, peas and Yorkshire pudding all smothered in thick gravy, followed by a massive helping of rhubarb and custard. Lavender felt full, almost content.
Then she and the other three moved into the living room and sat down. Hermione sent flames into the grate.
"So." she said.
Lavender smiled, usually she had no trouble filling silences. Not today though.
"Oh yeah." said Ron, remembering his words earlier. "'Mione, since Lavender's too polite to ask, are you able to make the Wolfsbane potion?"
Hermione did a double take. "I thought you could buy it in town."
"You can," continued Ron. "But she broke the bottle and then had a nervous breakdown. Oh I forgot to mention that. I found her sitting on the ground in Diagon Alley."
Lavender blushed as she felt the others' gaze on her.
"Bad day?" asked Hermione sympathetically.
Lavender nodded. "Like you wouldn't believe."
"I thought you liked your work?" asked Harry and Ron elbowing him did not escape Lavender's notice. She decided to overlook the lack of tact and answered truthfully.
"It's hard work that doesn't pay the rent."
"What?" asked Hermione softly. Lavender met her eyes.
"I have to come up with the money in two days or I'm evicted. I only had enough for the potion, and I can't go without it."
Two potions, she thought. But the extra four Sickles wouldn't have made much difference.
"Do your parents not give you anything?" asked Ron, frowning.
Tears pricked to Lavender's eyes. "They cut me off when they found out that…"
She saw Ron's ears turn red. Then he said "Then come and stay here."
"Oh no, no I couldn't Ron I-"
"Why not? You hate us that much?"
"No but I wouldn't want to intrude-"
Ron laughed at her "Intrude? I don't think so. Mum?" he shouted.
Mrs. Weasley put her head round the door. "Yes dear?"
"Can Lavender come and live with us?"
"Yes of course." she said without hesitation. "Why don't you go help her pack?" She went back into the kitchen.
Ron sat back, rubbed his hands together and smirked. His ears paled again.
"Sorted." he said.