The Muggle's Return

Chapter One: The End...

"Remus!", she screamed into the night.

"No! Get back in the house!", he had called back, then the others were on him.

The group moved together as one unit. Watching them fall down on their prey was like watching waves crash against the beach.

She could hear Remus' cries of anguish and could finally take no more. Blythe broke free of her two captors and rushed forward. She dove headlong into the fray and groped around until she could feel tattered cloth. Then with all her might, she started hauling him out and away from his would-be killers. If only she knew then the war that would start because of her bold actions.

She didn't get far away before she found herself and Remus surrounded.

"Return him to us, Muggle.", one hissed at her.

"Never!", Blythe screeched back defiantly. She dropped to her knees unashamed and wrapped her arms around her beloved. "If you want him, you take us both." Her voice was firm and steady, her eyes lacked tears, and a scowl was in place rather than fear.

A hush fell over the small crowd, then one member took a step back. The others looked at each other, a whisper floated among them, then one by one they began to disappear. The last to leave was the first to have retreated. Cold, black eyes stared at Blythe from behind a hideous white mask, then they too were gone.

It had been a little over three years since Blythe left with Remus. They found themselves a small, rickety house with little more than a garden for a yard. Remus had placed a charm on their little abode in order to make the interior larger than it should be. Each of them had their own rooms, but they spent most of their time together.

The past two weeks Blythe had been nursing Remus back to health and thinking of safer days when they were at Hogwarts. When she wasn't by his side she was going through a few things she'd kept from the school. She pulled out the anonymous letters from time to time and pondered over them.

One night Remus happened into the living room while she was going through those letters. "It still bothers you that you don't know who sent them, doesn't it."

Blythe looked up and nodded.

"Well, whomever it was, I don't think they want to be known. There's no point puzzling over it, m'dear."

She smiled up and him and patted a spot next to her on the couch. "I know, but I'd still like to figure it out. I've been wondering about a few things ever since we left Hogwarts behind."

He slowly made his way over to her and sat down. Many of his wounds were still fresh and he'd be covered in scars by the time he was healed. He smiled gently as Blythe traced her fingers along a few marks on his face. Despite how tender his injuries were, her touch never seemed to hurt. "I owe you a great deal. It'll take me at least two lifetimes to pay you back for all you've done for me."

"You owe me nothing, Remus. It's payment enough when I can see you're happy."

Remus looked her over carefully as though studying every line on her face. She'd changed in the past three years, gotten older somehow. There were soft wrinkles where there'd been none before, yet she still remained youthful to him. He lifted his hand and clasped hers tightly in it with a sigh. "Do you know who those people were, Blythe?"

"Those were people? They seemed more like monsters to me.", she spoke in a bitter tone.

"They were Death Eaters."

Blythe nodded in understanding. Remus had explained a few things to her while they were together, and Voldemort's followers were some of those few. "So those are the infamous Muggle hunters. I'm amazed they didn't take both our lives."

"So am I. I don't think they were prepared to face a Muggle with a temper. You showed no fear against them, which isn't common. Instead of being concerned about your own safety, you chose to protect me. I doubt very much they were ready for that."

"And I doubt they'll stay away from us." Blythe didn't finish the statement. She knew that Remus would catch the undertone of what she meant.

He nodded in response and held her hand tightly. "We'll deal with that when the time comes, and we'll deal with it together. For now, though, I'd like to forget what happened."

Blythe grinned at him with understanding in her eyes, then released herself from his grasp and stood up. "You should get back to bed, dear. You still need to heal yourself up."

"You're the boss." He winked up at her. Remus rose shakily from the couch and allowed himself to be steadied by Blythe.

When she was certain he had fallen asleep again, she returned to what she was doing in the living room. She set aside the anonymous letters with a sigh. "Perhaps I should send an owl to Albus." Her eyes shifted to the bedroom door for a second. "I can't protect you from Death Eaters, love. I might be older, wiser and a bit more mature than when we met, but I'm still just a Muggle. My temper certainly won't keep them at bay, even if it caught them off guard once." Having made her decision, she grabbed up some paper and a pen, then started writing out a letter.

'Dear Albus,

I know it's been some time since last I was able to write, and I do hate doing this when I haven't been able to keep in touch, but I have a favour to ask you.

Recently Remus was attacked by Death Eaters. I somehow managed to keep them from killing him, but I doubt I'll be so lucky in the future if they return. I'm not expecting an army of Wizards to come to our aide or anything of the like, but I was hoping it might be possible for us to return to Hogwarts for a short time.

Please respond as soon as you're able.

Sincerely, Blythe Farrah'

She rose from the floor and approached a wooden perch that was set in a corner of the room. The owl that currently slept there appeared to be as old as the stars. His feathers were battered and he was obviously weather worn, but he was the most loyal and responsible creature Blythe had ever known. She lightly brushed her fingertips along the owl's beak. He responded immediately and looked at her with a soft hoot.

"Take this to Albus Dumbledore of Hogwarts as quickly as you can, Vasilis." Once the owl took the letter in his beak, Blythe took up a thick glove, put it on and held out her arm. Vasilis hopped from his perch and clutched her hand in his talons. Though he was old, he was still quite strong and his talons were razor sharp. She walked to a window and opened it. The tawny bird flew out silently and went on his way.

In the days that passed, Remus' injuries were healing quickly. All that remained from some of them were a few faint scars that would disappear in time. Blythe made sure he got plenty of bed rest so his body could restore itself quicker. She brought him his meals, and when he felt a little more energetic, she allowed him to walk around the house for a few minutes. A week later, he was finally out of bed.

As they were sitting on the couch watching television (Blythe had insisted on getting one, and Remus couldn't argue since he wanted to know what it was like), Vasilis pecked on the window with a letter tied to his leg.

"I was beginning to wonder where he'd gotten to.", Remus chuckled. "It's not the same here without that owl raising a fuss."

Blythe smiled calmly and opened the widow to retrieve the letter as the bird swept in and took up his spot on the perch.

"Who's it from, dear?"

"It's from Hogwarts.", she answered simply as she opened the envelope. Her eyes flitted over the note and she smiled again. "We've been invited back to Hogwarts to visit for awhile. I think we should go."

"Don't you like it here with me?", Remus teased.

"You know I do, but after what's happened recently, I don't think we should stay here right now. What happens if the Death Eaters return? You haven't the strength to fend them off, and I haven't the magic. We'd be asking them to kill us if they come back."

"What makes you so sure they will?"

Blythe looked at her lover with a grave expression. She'd grown quite a bit in the years that passed. She wasn't the flimsy, carefree girl she used to be. "It was obvious to me they were pretty intent on killing that night. If nothing else, they'll want to finish the job they started."

Two days later they were at Platform 9 and 3/4 waiting for the Hogwarts Express to pull into the station. They arrived early to avoid a crowd.

"Do you really think all this precaution is necessary, Blythe?"

"Do you want to be questioned by those who haven't forgotten you? Of course it's necessary, for your own safety, Remus darling. I don't want to have to bite off anyone's head for looking down at you.", she replied.

He sighed and shook his head with a soft smile. "Oh alright. Seems we've somehow managed to switch roles. I remember a time when I was the overprotective one."

Blythe laughed quietly and patted his shoulder. "There was a time when I was a very light headed woman too, but things change."

When the train finally pulled in and came to a stop, Blythe and Remus climbed aboard and took a cabin near the caboose. She laughed when she looked around. "I remember the first time I ever saw this train. I didn't have the 'luxury' of riding inside. I didn't want to be noticed, so I climbed up the back and sat on top until it pulled up to the Hogwarts station."

"So that's how you got there! You hitched the train!" Remus laughed lightheartedly. "I always wondered how you managed to sneak on and get a cabin without being noticed."

"Now you know." She smiled at him, then turned her eyes to the window. People were beginning to file onto the platform and into the train. Thankfully Blythe had the window seat, and it was unlikely that anyone would immediately recognize her. Physically she'd changed as well. She had crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, soft laugh lines around her mouth, and a few various other wrinkles in her face. Even though she was only 31 years old, her age was beginning to show. She had also cut her hair in the recent past. The long tresses she used to bear were getting too hard to manage, especially with so little time. It wasn't short by any means, but it wasn't past her shoulders either. She held down two jobs in the Muggle World, and Remus had work of his own doing odd jobs here and there. He even had his own profession of being a private teacher now, which seemed to please him. They both had to take a temporary leave of absence in order to leave for Hogwarts.

After about half an hour's wait, the train slowly began to lurch forward. They were finally on their way. Blythe wondered if anything had changed in their absence. Though it had only been a little over three years since last she'd seen the castle and it's occupants, she knew as well as anyone that much can happen in such little time. And they'd been almost completely cut off from the Wizarding World since their departure. Very few people ever owled them, especially now that so many knew Remus' most guarded secret. The Weasleys kept in touch as often as possible, but with so many children to contend with, it was difficult for them to write. Albus, of course, sent the occasional letter as well to check up on things, but it was still rare to hear from anyone of that world.

As for Muggles, well, Blythe would sooner avoid them if possible than go out of her way to associate with them. She'd distanced herself as much as possible from that world too, feeling she didn't quite belong there either. Though she never mentioned anything to Remus about it, she actually felt like she didn't truly belong in either place. She was no Witch, and therefore shouldn't be in the Wizarding World, and yet she had friends there and didn't quite feel right among other Muggles. Sometimes it felt so lonely, but she always had one thing to keep her sane and happy. Remus Lupin.