Don't Care
Summary: Remus tells Mr. Gold a bit more about himself. Mr. Gold offers him a deal for his services and he's not supposed to care if what he asks of Remus is a hard choice to make.
Warnings: A few swear words and a bit of an angsty Remus.
Disclaimer: I had a peanut butter sandwich for dinner last night...If I owned these characters, books, TV shows...I'd have eaten a steak last night. Heh It's all good though...peanut butter is scrumptious. In other words, they aren't mine.
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Remus looked out the window as the trees whizzed past. He rested his elbow on the door's handle and chewed his fingernails while he became lost in his own thoughts. He shivered slightly and pulled his robes closer to his trembling body with his free hand. Mr. Gold glanced over at his latest acquaintance and asked, "Are you cold?"
Remus was far too lost in his thoughts to hear him and Mr. Gold cleared his throat to speak a bit louder, "Remus?"
"I'm sorry?" Remus asked as he turned his head to look at him.
"Are you cold?"
"A little, Sir. It's quite a different climate here."
Mr. Gold smiled and nodded as he reached to turn the heat on in the car a little more. He looked at the young man for a brief moment before concentrating on the road, "You are a very respectful young man."
"Thank you, Mr. Gold. I was raised that way."
"Do you have your parents still? Family?"
"I don't. They passed away a few years ago. I have no family."
"No one? No friends?"
Remus turned his face to look at Mr. Gold as he stopped the car in front of the Pawn Shop. Mr. Gold looked at him and saw something else in his eyes. It was more than desperation. The look was something he wasn't sure what to name it. He grabbed his cane, "I'll be back in a moment. I'm going to grab a bag and close shop for the rest of the day. We would be better suited to continue our arrangement at my estate, Remus."
"Yes, Sir."
Mr. Gold went into his shop and retrieved his bag full of the empty vials and burners to make potions along with another bag that held more advanced equipment for his experiments. He couldn't brew them without magic and he had hoped that somehow he could with Remus' help. The look in the young man's eyes when he asked that question was heartbreaking. He hesitated for a moment as he thought of Remus' expression. He didn't look old in the slightest. It struck his fatherly senses to nearly the concept of protecting Remus. His face was more that of a young boy with scars across his features and a tinge of grey hair speckled in his light brown hair. The bright blue eyes were both aged and young. It was like taking youth and wisdom, mixing them together to develop a potion. Mr. Gold sighed for a moment as he shook his head: he wasn't supposed to care or love. He held the bags in his free hand while he went outside to lock up and turn the "Closed" sign. He sat in the car and put his cane beside Remus' leg, giving him a faint smile before starting the car.
"How old are you?"
"I turned 24 this past March."
"You're still quite young. How did you get the scars on your face?"
Remus looked at Mr. Gold for a moment and smiled, "Rose bushes."
"Right. Do you have a tendency of attacking them?"
Remus smirked and nodded, "At times. Some days of the month are worse than others."
"You can stay at my estate until we get your...problem sorted out. I will try to help you."
"Why?"
"Why what, dearie?"
"I'm a stranger and obviously have little to nothing."
"I think you have more than you realize."
Mr. Gold parked his car in the driveway to his estate and they stepped out of the vehicle. Mr. Gold attempted to get both of the bags and hold himself up with his cane. Remus watched him struggling to carry his belongings and rushed over to help him. "I can help you with those, Sir."
"You don't have to, Remus."
"It's the least I can do," Remus smiled humbly and Mr. Gold nodded his thanks.
As they entered the house, Mr. Gold led Remus into the sitting room and to a small table in the corner to have a seat. He stared at him as Remus had a habit of wringing his hands together continually. Mr. Gold leaned his cane against the wall and rested his elbows on the surface of the table as he leaned forward.
"Now, we are very much alone. Why don't you tell me where you come from?"
Remus felt his pulse quickening. He had so much fear if he could truthfully trust this man. He closed his eyes tightly as he took in a deep breath, "I am a Wizard. I come from the British Isles, as we've discussed already, and I have no idea what that bean was that brought me here. I'm confused as to why I can't use my magic here. I saw that you used a little with that woman in the diner so I am under the conclusion some does exist here. I tried to use a disapparate spell to return to my home but I couldn't."
"That is true. The world you are in right now is very weak in magic. If you were to cross the boundary, I'd imagine you could use the magic you are naturally born with."
"But there is a possibility of some being used?"
"Well, why don't you try and use a simple spell?"
Remus nodded and looked at Mr. Gold carefully as he withdrew his wand from his robes. He saw a piece of paper laying on the table and pointed his wand at it. Making the proper movements, he said with confidence "Wingardium Leviosa!" The two men watched as the paper rose from the table and Remus floated it back down to the table gently.
"Small spells work. The bigger ones do not," Remus noted.
"It certainly appears so. I wonder if you have any other magical equipment on you, boy?"
"Well, all I have is what you see on me. My clothes, the wand, and this ring I have," he said as he held up his right hand and pointed to his ring finger.
"What is the ring made of?"
"It's made from the Hogwarts Castle. It's a school I went to as a boy with my-" Remus clenched his jaw and lowered his eyes.
"I see. And this castle was magical?"
Remus' words caught in his throat and he only could force himself to nod. Mr. Gold saw the apprehensive manner he conducted himself in. He knew he shouldn't ask and he'd damn himself later for it but, "What happened, Remus?"
"Not much to say really. I graduated at a time when my world was going through a war. My friends and I were a part of a group to resist the dark ones. I am the only one that survived of the Marauders when it was all over. I've been alone since."
"Marauders?"
"It's what we named ourselves."
Mr. Gold searched his eyes and saw the fake smile when their eyes met. He breathed in before he continued, "Why do you want to go back to where you're alone?"
"I'm not sure, to be honest. I have a few people that remember me. My old Headmaster and an Auror. An auror is someone who fights the dark ones for a career, I guess you'd say. They visit me sometimes. I suppose hope keeps me going. My two friends who were killed by a curse. James and Lily had a son named Harry. He's only four now. I want to at least try to live long enough to see him. Perhaps help him remember his parents."
"He's but a child, then."
"Very much so. His parents were the beautiful, intelligent people. I was close to James since I was eleven with our other two friends. Peter and... Well, I was great friends with them is all. We each took a stone from the passageway of the Castle and had our nicknames engraved on the band. The stone is what the jeweler set for us. I chose gold because it's nice."
"Who was the other friend?"
Remus clenched his jaw and stood up to look out the window. He clasped his hands together as he watched a pair of birds flying, "He was called Sirius Black. He wasn't what I thought he was. I-I don't think I ever saw-It's in the past. I'm sorry, Sir."
"I can help you I think. I remember some of my own world but it may be difficult to break the barrier to allow you to go back. I can brew a potion to break it for a short time. It won't be a permanent break in the barrier but long enough to do what you were speaking of earlier."
"You said it'd cost me something. All I have on me is that which I hold dear to my heart."
"Tell me. Why is it that you want to go back to a place that causes so much pain? I see it in your eyes. I've lived long enough to recognize a broken heart."
"For a number of reasons, Sir. If I don't go back, I fear I may cause even more pain. Here, I could cause harm to others. I belong there, in my world. Alone."
"You're not afraid of being alone, boy?"
"There are things worse than being alone."
"How can one so young know such things?"
Remus turned around and looked at Mr. Gold dead in the eye, "How can one so old not?"
"If I help you, I will require something as payment. All magic comes with a price."
"And what is your price?"
"I can use your ring to extract magical properties. I will need them to break a curse at a later date. When the time is right."
"How long will your potion work?"
"Thirty minutes at the most. It will allow you to walk out of the barrier in order to disapparate back to your land."
"What curse is it that you wish to break?"
"That, dearie, is my business."
"All I have left of my friends is this ring. You wish to take it from me?"
"It is what I require to brew the potion."
"And do you need this specific ring to make that potion?"
"No, I need it for another potion. For a rainy day, you see."
Remus turned his back to Mr. Gold and leaned over to place his hands on a desk. He bowed his head and stared down at his ring. The last thing he had of the Marauders. Filch had taken the map long ago and who knew where the invisibility cloak was. He couldn't stay here either because while he could do a simple levitation spell, he would never be able to conjure the proper wards for the werewolf transformation next week. He felt a small tear falling from his eyes and tried to steady his voice, "How long will it take to make the potion?"
"Normally but a few days. In this world, it could take up to a week."
"Can you do it faster than that? I need to be gone by next week."
"It's possible if I am left in solitude and no distractions. Is there a reason why?"
"I already feel as if I have my life in your hands, Mr. Gold."
"So, we have a deal? Your ring and my potion?"
"If you can ensure I will be out of this town and back in my world by November 8th, we do. Otherwise, I will have to find an alternative," Remus said as he kept his back turned. He whispered to himself, "And a dungeon with quadruple reinforced stone."
"What was that?"
"I need to be gone by the eighth."
"No, no dearie. You said something else." Mr. Gold stood up and walked behind the younger man. "Turn around, please."
Remus slowly turned to look in Mr. Gold's eyes and lifted his hand to graze his finger over one of the scars on his face. He saw the scar running down his neck. He narrowed his eyes slightly. Remus flinched away from the touch.
"What are you doing, Mr. Gold?"
"I think there's more to your tale."
"Sir, please-"
"Remus. You need to tell me everything."
"You already want to take the very last thing of any remembrance I have of them. You know enough."
Mr. Gold watched as another tear fell out of the young man's eyes. I'm not supposed to care. Remus arched his neck, making the scars even more visible to his eyes. They were faint pink but if one looked close enough, they could be seen.
"You didn't get those scars from a rosebush, lad."
Remus groaned and removed his robes, standing in front of Mr. Gold in his black button down shirt and black jeans. He fumbled his fingers to the top button and unclasped them to show his chest.
"No, I didn't. Nor that one or that one. I have a disease that needs to be contained. If it's not, then a lot of people will be harmed. I have got to leave before that time."
"Werewolf..."
Remus sighed, "Yes, werewolf. Monster. Dark Creature. The thing that can't be loved. A monster that no one can ever love! All I ask is to get me out of here soon. If it takes my ring to make that happen..." Remus tried to pull the ring off his finger but his hands were trembling. "Bloody hell!"
Mr. Gold put his hand on Remus' and said gently, "Not now, boy. Just calm down for a moment, all right?"
Remus ran from the room and went to the front door. Mr. Gold walked as quickly as he could to Remus to stop him from running away but the young man had swung the front door open and was already outside. He started buttoning his shirt back up and held his right hand close to his heart as he walked quickly. He lowered his head and wiped his tears away while he heard Mr. Gold's voice yelling, "Remus! Come back inside! Remus Lupin!"
He turned around and grabbed his cane and car keys as he groaned, "Bloody hell!" He moved quickly out of the house and locked the door to chase the young man down. I am NOT supposed to care. I don't care. Don't care.
TBC~~
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A/N: Thank you so much for the follows and the comment from HawthornShadow. This chapter was brought to you by the happiness I felt from the reviews. See? Reviews are quite useful! Much love and hope you enjoyed this one.
