Disclaimer: Similar situations and certain characters are copyright of J.K.
Rowling and Warner Brothers. Moeris and a few random characters are solely
my property.
Author's Note: I've been wanting to start a chaptered fic for a long time now. This is only the beginning, and I hope to make several more additions. I hope you enjoy the fic and please send a review - good or bad. (
Chapter 1 Problem in the Pridesmeare Pub
Hate, anger, despair, and loneliness had torn apart his soul. It had only been a year since Lily and James and poor little defenseless Peter had died. He hated him. Sirius that is. He really thought he did, for he couldn't tell if the hate was real since only himself and never had placed the hate on anyone else before. But Sirius could make him hate now. iHe/i took away everything he had to live for. Now there was nothing else. No family. No friends. No life purpose. All I have is this mangy pub.
Remus Lupin had never been a drinker. He just never cared for the stuff. Plus, it tasted too strong for his own good. The only reason he ever spent time in the pub was because.well, there wasn't really much a reason at all. He just didn't know what to do with himself. He just sat there and sulked most of the time, pretending to drink his ale. Always keeping to his secluded manner, always hunched over the counter and scrunched up as if he had no room to breathe even. But there was never anyone there blocking his space. He always sat alone. Alone. He only knew the one word.
It was another one of those days; the type of day when he'd just sit speechless and practically motionless in the Pridesmeare Pub. The full moon was four days away and his entire body seemed about ten times heavier than normal. He knew he looked bad and he could plainly feel the pain in his churning stomach rebounding on his face. The bartender kept shooting anxious glances at him every time he walked by, but seemed to decide against actually confronting Remus, who looked especially feverish but agitated as if he might explode at any minute.
There were very few people in the pub this late at night. There never were very many to begin with. The single auburn-haired waitress was silently sweeping in the corner, a couple sat whispering in hushed voices near the window, and an older but muscular man similar to a motorcyclist that he had seen in a magazine Sirius had once showed him, sat sipping his drink quietly in the corner. Why do I keep thinking about him? The door must have opened since the rarely tinkling bell on the door rang and someone walked in.
Remus hardly noticed when the newcomer sat down next to him. He was so used to being alone and isolated as he was. He did notice whoever it was, however, when he leaned back from his hunched over position in order to begin coughing. When he leaned back though he nearly slipped off his seat because the young, weary-looking boy next to him was so unexpected to see.
He strategically stifled his coughs and turned his back towards the stranger. If there was anyone in the pub, he would just avoid them and most regulars learned to ignore his presence just as he ignored them. This boy was violating his personal space. But how was he to know? He had never been here, and from what little he saw of him while peeking under his arm, the boy looked absolutely exhausted. He was dangerously thin, with dark-brown hair and a pale complexion. The look upon his long face showed more than exhaustion though. It was like looking at his reflection! This young boy, probably about fifteen, was Remus's own face, but not hard and fixed like now and instead fearful and concealing.
Remus couldn't stand it. Who was he?
"Who are you?" The simple question came out much harsher than he had expected. He seldom spoke to anyone so his voice didn't have much training. There were a few passerbies here and there and then Dumbledore visited occasionally, but after all he'd been through, he didn't care to speak to anybody.
"Why do you care?" answered the boy just as roughly. He eyed Remus with eyes that were just as dark as his. They showed a miserable darkness -just like Remus's.
He's just like Sirius! No, no one can be as bad as he can.. "Just curious is all," he said slyly, similar to when he had interrogated the Ravenclaw girls to figure out who their new Chaser was - to the benefit of James. The memories were overwhelming so he chose to forget the thought and he remembered his manners instead. He cleared his throat and stuck out his hand in greeting trying to be a bit more polite. "Remus Lupin. And you may be?"
The young boy beside him seemed to be contemplating some big decision. His suspicious mood didn't change as he hesitated even in shaking Remus's hand in return, which was done quite tightly for being so skinny. "Moeris is all."
"Only a first name?" he asked curiously. Moeris clearly didn't want to say any more but continued on fiercely as he brushed his drooping hair off his face.
"If you must know, it's Moeris Coan."
At this, Remus immediately cut off his twisted attempted smile. Cana Coan was his own mother. "Who was your mother, Moeris?" he said desperately, nearly shouting. The bartender glanced up at the sudden noise from his direction but only shook his head and continued drying the glasses.
"Joasta Coan. Actually, if you want the truth, sir." Moeris turned slightly redder and sweatier than he already was. "I kinda need you help.'
This statement was completely absurd. "You? Need me?" he jerked out, beginning to smile. "Why would you need my help?" He chuckled freely to himself. "No one cares for me." I'm starting to sound like Sirius. "First of all, this means you're related to me right? I haven't spoken to any of my distant family since I was. what, six?" He trailed off mindlessly mainly speaking to himself. This was all so crazy.
Moeris avoided his eyes purposely, peering at the rather uninteresting painting of fruits on the wall across from him. "I have this problem, and, how should I say this?" He was clearly struggling to make his point. "I know something about you and I found out from my Mum a long time ago. Actually, I was eavesdropping." he trailed off fearing giving away too much information because of his babbling.
Remus went completely rigid. He knows?! There was still hope. He could mean anything, he assured himself. But this is just too crazy.
"You're nuts, kid," he spat out, "and I don't know what you're talking about," he insisted. "I can't help you with any problems since I have my own to deal with." He dug hastily into his pocket and found his last money. Three knuts clanged on the counter and he completely missed the bartender yelling at him because he was already pacing home on the muddy dirt path heading west.
Though Moeris was frail, he somehow managed to catch up with Remus after a few minutes. "Sir, - couldn't you - just - listen?" he panted. He finally caught up so much that he was jogging alongside him. Remus turned to him and stopped abruptly because he couldn't run anymore, sick as he was.
"What?" he panted back, finally giving in. "I assure you that I have no secrets." What does he have to do with me? Poking around my business.
Moeris learned in closer and whispered timidly but strongly, "Except that you're a werewolf."
Remus went ghost white. He straightened up, trying to look insulted. Unfortunately he only managed an anxious pose. His life was so screwed up already so he didn't care what would happen anymore. "Well, I can't deny the statement," he replied, not sure if he should be telling him this. What does it matter now? Why can't they just find me and kill me, this monster, and never have to deal with me again?
Moeris chose to scan the starry sky over facing his acquaintance. "I can't deny it either."
Remus didn't know what to say - or do for that matter. He just stood there beside Moeris and watched as he scuffed his feet in the mud. Moeris didn't look up.
Moeris looked up frightened. "That's why I need your help."
Author's Note: I've been wanting to start a chaptered fic for a long time now. This is only the beginning, and I hope to make several more additions. I hope you enjoy the fic and please send a review - good or bad. (
Chapter 1 Problem in the Pridesmeare Pub
Hate, anger, despair, and loneliness had torn apart his soul. It had only been a year since Lily and James and poor little defenseless Peter had died. He hated him. Sirius that is. He really thought he did, for he couldn't tell if the hate was real since only himself and never had placed the hate on anyone else before. But Sirius could make him hate now. iHe/i took away everything he had to live for. Now there was nothing else. No family. No friends. No life purpose. All I have is this mangy pub.
Remus Lupin had never been a drinker. He just never cared for the stuff. Plus, it tasted too strong for his own good. The only reason he ever spent time in the pub was because.well, there wasn't really much a reason at all. He just didn't know what to do with himself. He just sat there and sulked most of the time, pretending to drink his ale. Always keeping to his secluded manner, always hunched over the counter and scrunched up as if he had no room to breathe even. But there was never anyone there blocking his space. He always sat alone. Alone. He only knew the one word.
It was another one of those days; the type of day when he'd just sit speechless and practically motionless in the Pridesmeare Pub. The full moon was four days away and his entire body seemed about ten times heavier than normal. He knew he looked bad and he could plainly feel the pain in his churning stomach rebounding on his face. The bartender kept shooting anxious glances at him every time he walked by, but seemed to decide against actually confronting Remus, who looked especially feverish but agitated as if he might explode at any minute.
There were very few people in the pub this late at night. There never were very many to begin with. The single auburn-haired waitress was silently sweeping in the corner, a couple sat whispering in hushed voices near the window, and an older but muscular man similar to a motorcyclist that he had seen in a magazine Sirius had once showed him, sat sipping his drink quietly in the corner. Why do I keep thinking about him? The door must have opened since the rarely tinkling bell on the door rang and someone walked in.
Remus hardly noticed when the newcomer sat down next to him. He was so used to being alone and isolated as he was. He did notice whoever it was, however, when he leaned back from his hunched over position in order to begin coughing. When he leaned back though he nearly slipped off his seat because the young, weary-looking boy next to him was so unexpected to see.
He strategically stifled his coughs and turned his back towards the stranger. If there was anyone in the pub, he would just avoid them and most regulars learned to ignore his presence just as he ignored them. This boy was violating his personal space. But how was he to know? He had never been here, and from what little he saw of him while peeking under his arm, the boy looked absolutely exhausted. He was dangerously thin, with dark-brown hair and a pale complexion. The look upon his long face showed more than exhaustion though. It was like looking at his reflection! This young boy, probably about fifteen, was Remus's own face, but not hard and fixed like now and instead fearful and concealing.
Remus couldn't stand it. Who was he?
"Who are you?" The simple question came out much harsher than he had expected. He seldom spoke to anyone so his voice didn't have much training. There were a few passerbies here and there and then Dumbledore visited occasionally, but after all he'd been through, he didn't care to speak to anybody.
"Why do you care?" answered the boy just as roughly. He eyed Remus with eyes that were just as dark as his. They showed a miserable darkness -just like Remus's.
He's just like Sirius! No, no one can be as bad as he can.. "Just curious is all," he said slyly, similar to when he had interrogated the Ravenclaw girls to figure out who their new Chaser was - to the benefit of James. The memories were overwhelming so he chose to forget the thought and he remembered his manners instead. He cleared his throat and stuck out his hand in greeting trying to be a bit more polite. "Remus Lupin. And you may be?"
The young boy beside him seemed to be contemplating some big decision. His suspicious mood didn't change as he hesitated even in shaking Remus's hand in return, which was done quite tightly for being so skinny. "Moeris is all."
"Only a first name?" he asked curiously. Moeris clearly didn't want to say any more but continued on fiercely as he brushed his drooping hair off his face.
"If you must know, it's Moeris Coan."
At this, Remus immediately cut off his twisted attempted smile. Cana Coan was his own mother. "Who was your mother, Moeris?" he said desperately, nearly shouting. The bartender glanced up at the sudden noise from his direction but only shook his head and continued drying the glasses.
"Joasta Coan. Actually, if you want the truth, sir." Moeris turned slightly redder and sweatier than he already was. "I kinda need you help.'
This statement was completely absurd. "You? Need me?" he jerked out, beginning to smile. "Why would you need my help?" He chuckled freely to himself. "No one cares for me." I'm starting to sound like Sirius. "First of all, this means you're related to me right? I haven't spoken to any of my distant family since I was. what, six?" He trailed off mindlessly mainly speaking to himself. This was all so crazy.
Moeris avoided his eyes purposely, peering at the rather uninteresting painting of fruits on the wall across from him. "I have this problem, and, how should I say this?" He was clearly struggling to make his point. "I know something about you and I found out from my Mum a long time ago. Actually, I was eavesdropping." he trailed off fearing giving away too much information because of his babbling.
Remus went completely rigid. He knows?! There was still hope. He could mean anything, he assured himself. But this is just too crazy.
"You're nuts, kid," he spat out, "and I don't know what you're talking about," he insisted. "I can't help you with any problems since I have my own to deal with." He dug hastily into his pocket and found his last money. Three knuts clanged on the counter and he completely missed the bartender yelling at him because he was already pacing home on the muddy dirt path heading west.
Though Moeris was frail, he somehow managed to catch up with Remus after a few minutes. "Sir, - couldn't you - just - listen?" he panted. He finally caught up so much that he was jogging alongside him. Remus turned to him and stopped abruptly because he couldn't run anymore, sick as he was.
"What?" he panted back, finally giving in. "I assure you that I have no secrets." What does he have to do with me? Poking around my business.
Moeris learned in closer and whispered timidly but strongly, "Except that you're a werewolf."
Remus went ghost white. He straightened up, trying to look insulted. Unfortunately he only managed an anxious pose. His life was so screwed up already so he didn't care what would happen anymore. "Well, I can't deny the statement," he replied, not sure if he should be telling him this. What does it matter now? Why can't they just find me and kill me, this monster, and never have to deal with me again?
Moeris chose to scan the starry sky over facing his acquaintance. "I can't deny it either."
Remus didn't know what to say - or do for that matter. He just stood there beside Moeris and watched as he scuffed his feet in the mud. Moeris didn't look up.
Moeris looked up frightened. "That's why I need your help."