Hi readers! Funny story about this chapter, the most updated proof-read version of this chapter somehow got deleted so I had to go back and do it all over again (cries) but not to worry it is up and running. Thank you for all the views this story has received. I hope you all are having a lovely holiday.
Hope you enjoy!
oOo
"For the most part I don't mind it, I find it to actually be a useful skill to have, but there are times it's just so strong I almost get a bit of a headache. I don't know how you do it."
"I'm used to it after so many years that I hardly even notice it anymore, it's just a normal part of my every day. I almost forget that not everyone's sense of smell isn't so keen as mine, ours," Remus corrected himself.
It was late afternoon in Shell Cottage, and Remus and Luna had settled in the living room after lunch in the kitchen with Fleur. Bill was at work and Fleur was out shopping for groceries, leaving Remus and Luna alone to talk a little and prepare for what was to come that night of the full moon.
Currently, the two were going over some of the passages in the book Remus had lent Luna. Luna, being the good Ravenclaw she was, practically devoured the book the night Remus leant it to her. As off in the clouds she may have seemed to the rest of her classmates, Luna loved learning and she sat now curled on the carpet as she listened raptly to Remus who had long ago abandoned his seat on the couch and joined her on the floor after she refused to sit on the couch, claiming she thought better when sitting cross-legged, a trait Remus remembered from her second year.
It had been decided that Remus would spend the majority of the day at Shell Cottage before the full moon that night to offer support and advice as well as to help with the preparing. At lunch, Remus had confirmed Luna's suspicion that lack of hunger was a common symptom in the days leading up to the full moon before he urged her to eat reminding her that she would need her strength for the night. Luna did not comment on how Remus too more picked at his food than actually consume any.
Now they were discussing more long-term symptoms that Luna would be living with every day of her life, the two prominent ones being her now incredible sense of smell and hearing. The hearing, although much better, was harder to tune into and Luna had to draw real effort to tap into. The smell however was like a slap to the face, constantly plaguing her for better or for worse.
"So you can tame it," Luna asked, referring to her smelling sense.
Remus thought about this for a second, "I suppose, you sort of learn to build tolerance to certain smells that are strong even without werewolf senses, and you learn to tune in more when you recognize familiar scents."
"Like other people's scents," Luna asked. "I've been trying to catch onto that, like with Bill and Fleur. I can smell them now in a way I hadn't before."
Remus nodded, "Yes, you'll learn to recognize the scent signature of those who are around you often. What can you tell me about Fleur's smell? Just to see how trained your sense has gotten in the past two months."
Luna thought about it for a moment, her eyes closed as she responded, "Fleur smells like blue starlets, citrus, almonds, and sugary."
Luna opened her eyes to see Remus staring at her with an impressed expression as he chuckled, "Very good. I have a feeling you'll be able to tame your scent in no time Luna. You're right, Fleur always smells like blue starlets and sugar, the citrus and almonds is from her perfume though. I wouldn't be surprised if you learn soon to distinguish artificial scent from natural odors soon. What does Bill smell like to you?"
Luna didn't think for nearly as long before she responded, "Bill smells like smoke from a campfire and some sort of tree, though I'm not sure which."
"That would be pine," Remus informed her and Luna grinned.
"Do people always smell the same? Does it ever change with time?"
"Sometimes, though in my experience smell tends to stay the same. Only younger children all tend to have a certain lingering baby smell on them before they grow into a signature scent."
"What do I smell like," Luna asked then, startling Remus a little though he wasn't sure why.
Remus stared into the bright blue eyes of Luna staring patiently at him before he responded, hesitating though he already knew the answer. "You smell like eucalyptus and mandarin oranges, especially on your fingers, and there's a hint of jam and chocolate as well."
Remus ignored the slight blush he saw on Luna's cheeks, who seemed to ponder this before she asked, "Some places smell stronger than others?"
Remus shrugged, "Some people do. Bill smells pretty even all over from what I can tell, but I've noticed Fleur smells more strongly along her forearms."
"You smell like plums and early morning fresh air, and blades of grass, and something else I can't quite put my finger on," Luna offered, despite Remus not having asked her to describe his scent. Remus shifted a little in his seat, unsure of how he felt as he realized this was the first time someone had told him what he smells like. Bill had mentioned once that he smelled like fruit and earth, but Bill's sense of smell wasn't nearly attuned to that of a full werewolf.
Remus couldn't quite explain why he felt suddenly uncomfortable discussing each other's scents and tried to change the subject by asking Luna if she had gotten much sleep. When she'd said no as he suspected he told her that was another symptom leading up to the moon and that she'd more than likely crash afterward.
"Is that why you were here so late two nights ago," Luna asked, and Remus fought the urge to not curse out loud at the younger girl's insistence on making him uncomfortable.
"Yes, I couldn't sleep, though it may have also had something to do with the fact that I felt bad about the other night," Remus decided to admit honestly.
Luna smiled warmly at him, that adorable blush thankfully having cleared from her cheekbones and ignoring the whining coming from his wolf as she assured him, "That's all already been forgotten Remus."
Remus pondered for a moment if it had been a good idea insisting Luna call him by his name when they heard the sound of the floo going off, announcing Fleur's return.
"I'll bring you potions next month that will help with the sleeping. Your system will eat through them pretty quickly so you won't get a full night's rest, but you'll be able to sneak in at least a couple hours," Remus explained to Luna, telling himself he wasn't changing the subject as Luna walked in, trying his best not to feel like he was covering something up.
Luna frowned at him but then turned her attention to Fleur asking how the shopping had gone before offering to help put the groceries away. Remus excused himself to the bathroom to splash water on himself before joining them to help.
oOo
Luna sighed and closed her eyes as she sank deeper into the flower-scented water, allowing the smell to soothe her senses. Remus was right. A hot bath would definitely help her muscles relax. Remus was currently outside with Fleur and Bill who had arrived from work early to help with setting up protective wards around a good portion of the beach where she and Remus would be turning in just a few hours.
Luna tried not to think of that quite yet though and lifted her hands to her pert nose to sniff, trying to catch a scent of the mandarin oranges Remus was talking about. She could only get a small hint of it though. Was it possible that as a werewolf one couldn't catch her own scent as well as she did others? She would have to ask Remus about that.
He's curious, her wolf murmured in her mind, and Luna couldn't help but agree, opening her eyes to frown silently at her hand, noting the shadows on them from the candles Fleur had set out.
Granted, Luna didn't know Remus very well, her experiences with him being mostly limited to having him as a professor years ago in her second year. She knew he was smart and kind as well as patient with his students. She thought he must be very brave considering he came from Gryffindor, his participation in Order of the Phoenix and the final battle laying testament to that. She knew Harry really loved and looked up to him, and that he was apparently once best friends with Harry's father and godfather, Stubby Boardman.
Other than, Luna's closest encounters with Remus included the day he'd carried her at the final battle, cementing in her mind the kindness that Remus Lupin possessed. She knew he was a great friend to those close to him, as shown by his guidance and friendship he offered to Bill and later Fleur. From his frequent visits to Shell Cottage Luna had had opportunity to learn more about him and was better able to recognize his witty, sometimes dry humor. He was helpful, always offering to help Fleur in the kitchen when Bill sometimes forgot. He was quiet but not hesitant to voice his opinion in a respectful but firm manner. He had an almost barking laughter he released only sparingly. More often than not Luna could catch moments his eyes clouded over and she thought he looked quite sad.
He was a good man, of that Luna was sure, but what she wasn't all that sure of was whether or not he liked her.
He seemed to be uncomfortable at time with her when they were alone in a way he wasn't when they were with Bill and Fleur. He was a great conversationalist, with a lot to share and Luna liked that about him, never being bored in his company. But she also noticed how sometimes he averted looking into her eyes or muttered his responses to her. He sometimes fidgeted and Luna was willing to bet he sometimes just wanted to leave the room, though Luna was unsure what she had done or said wrong.
He was kind to her though, that was completely irrefutable. The man was willing to guide her and be of support to her for Merlin's sake. Luna could remember occasions in her second year where his surprise and confusion were clearly evident after she'd made mention of what people considered to be oddities, but he never treated her ill for it and listened to what she had to say. Even before he'd learned of his secret he had always treated her with kindness and respect, listening attentively to whatever she said and not just brushing her off during conversations with Bill and Fleur, despite how much younger she was.
Luna wondered just how old Remus was. He had lovely skin, still firm and clear disregarding the smattering of scars, but his graying hair and the bags underneath his eyes gave away that he must be in his mid-thirties, more than likely even in his early thirties. He was thin but strong, and incredibly tall, a contradiction to his unassuming nature. Luna could see why Tonks had fallen in love with him.
Luna was just wondering if her thoughts were straying to dangerous territory when she heard a knock on the door and then Fleur's voice, "Luna? It's almost time."
That quickly drew Luna from her thoughts as she felt the nervousness settle in her chest and stomach. "I'll be out in a minute," Luna called back.
She listened to Fleur walk away before she got up and drained the tub, using her wand to cast a quick drying spell and then reaching for the bathrobe Fleur had left for her. Remus had suggested earlier she use her worst clothes on the nights she turned because there were only so many repairing spells clothing could take, and Luna had decided on a bathrobe.
She slipped it on and looked at herself once in the mirror before stepping outside and downstairs where Fleur was waiting for her with a kind and encouraging smile.
Luna made no comment but was silently grateful as Fleur slipped her hand in hers as the two women walked down the sandy grass to the beach where Remus and Bill were waiting. As they approached Luna watched Remus paced as Bill spoke to him. Remus, as Luna figured she should expect, turned to see Fleur and Luna walking down far earlier than most people might, their presence given away to him by either their smell or noise.
Luna noticed it took her many more steps to get closer before she could catch a whiff of Bill and Remus' scent.
"Is everything ready," Fleur asked.
Bill nodded, "We've set up the wards, they just have to be activated. You and I will be able to go in and out as we please but once they're activated Remus and Luna won't be able to leave until daybreak."
Luna noticed how his legs twitched, a trait a little unusual for Bill, and she wondered if he felt any of the moon's effects despite being only half-werewolf.
All four were silent for a moment, the sky around them an orange hue, an uncomfortable reminder that Bill and Fleur would have to go inside soon.
Both had wanted to stay outside, just behind the wards to watch after Remus and Luna, to make sure they would be alright. Remus however had thought, considering Luna wouldn't have any wolfsbane in her, nearby human presence would make Luna antsy and more likely to hurt herself or him, so it was best if the young couple stayed indoors away from them.
"Well, I guess we'll be going inside now," Fleur said quietly.
Luna smiled at Fleur, her face now the one offering encouragement. Fleur's eyes filled with tears and she stepped forward to wrap Luna in a hug that almost made her eyes go misty as well.
"We'll be close Luna, and Remus will watch after you," Fleur whispered into her ear. Luna nodded and looked over Fleur's should at Remus who was staring at them sympathetically.
Bill gave Luna short hug and then laid his hand on Remus' shoulder for a moment before joining Fleur as they made their way back up to the cottage.
Remus and Luna were left behind on the sandy beach, barefoot, waiting for the sun to completely set.
Luna took a moment a take in what Remus was wearing. He was in grey sweats, so old they were nearly white from so many washes. He had a maroon shirt hanging from his shoulders, the material threadbare and sporting a small hole just above his hipbone. It almost made him look younger than he actually was. Luna was only used to seeing Remus in a cardigan or a casual suit or robes. She didn't think she had ever seen the light skin of his upper arms, smattered with a few scars, much less his bare feet.
"How are you feeling," Remus asked then, distracting Luna from her thoughts about Remus' skin.
Luna turned her attention to the growing anxiety in her chest. Luna's anxiety was making Luna even more anxious because she wasn't the type of person to feel anxious. Her limbs felt jittery, and her mind was running a mile a minute. Watching the setting sun was only making her feel even more nervous and made her want to pace. She felt restless.
Luna watched Remus who seemed to focus all his focus and attention on Luna, probably to distract from his own anxiety. She could tell by the stiff way Remus was holding himself that he was anxious as well, which although she appreciated, did nothing to soothe Luna's nerves. If this is how Remus felt with wolfsbane, she already knew her night was going to be a lot more painful.
"How do you do it," Luna cried suddenly. "Every month for-for how long?"
Remus' mouth quipped into a quick smile that made Luna think again of how long he could look, "Most of my life. Thirty two years."
Luna gaped at Remus, her mouth hanging open, "Thirty-two? Merlin, how old are you?"
Remus' eyebrows raised in surprise at the uncharacteristic outburst, "Thirty seven"
"I thought you were thirty-two, thirty-four tops," Luna admitted, still a little shocked, though she thought this might be just her brain exaggerating in an attempt to distract her.
It seemed it worked for Remus at least who barked out laughter, "Well I'm flattered but no. I'll be thirty-eight in April."
Luna thought about this for a moment, feeling her heart get heavier when she realized Remus was only five when he was turned.
"You were only a child," Luna murmured softly.
Remus said nothing to that, but he didn't have to as whatever he would have said would have been interrupted anyway by the painful twinge Luna felt in her thigh.
"Remus," Luna gasped, staring up at him. He had a wince on his face that let Luna know he had felt it too.
"I know."
She hadn't noticed the sun had already gone down. She felt it again, this time on her arm.
"It's going to hurt," Luna whimpered.
"Yes."
She was barely cognizant of her rising panic and she didn't know what to do with herself, flapping her hands in nervousness.
Then Remus was standing right in front of her, his hands heavy on her thin shoulders as he tried to calm her. "Luna, Luna look at me. I'm going to be right beside you."
Luna nodded, trying to focus on the two freckles Remus had beneath his left eye right next to the bridge of his nose, but then the real pain started and the freckles got lost in the wrinkles of pain caused by Remus' wince.
And it began.
oOo
Remus focused his breathing, trying to count backwards in his head from a hundred, relishing in the softness of the sand. He didn't think he'd ever turned while on a beach.
Get up, get up, get up.
Just give me a minute, Remus wanted to growl back at his wolf. I'm still recovering from this pain, caused by you I might add.
Stop whining. Get up, get up, get up! She'll be up soon!
Remus opened his eyes finally and slowly eased his sore muscles into getting up onto all fours, carefully shaking the sand off his fur. Once he was steady enough to move he looked over to the small file of white fur lying nearby amongst a pile of shredded bathrobe, Luna in her wolf form. Remus couldn't help but think her coat looked nice. Human hair color didn't always translate to wolf fur but apparently for Luna it did. It suited her.
Fur looks soft.
Remus ignored that observation and paced away to lay down, keeping an eye on Luna who slept soundly on, her body exhausted from the pain of the change.
His wolf was anxious to wake her up but Remus quieted the voice down.
It was a couple of hours before Luna's wolf form began to stir, Remus sitting up to attention. Luna stirred and twitched before her eyes finally opened and she stilled, taking in her surroundings. She sat up when she saw Remus and stared at him for a few good moments, but as Remus suspected, he didn't hold her attention for long.
Instead Luna's nose twitched and she began to sniff the air, her head turning to the cottage up ahead. Luna whined and began to head that way but was pushed back by the barrier. Remus watched as she whined louder, testing the boundaries of the wards he and Bill had set up. Soon Luna was running in circles along the boundaries, howling louder and louder.
Remus watched her for as long as he could, waiting for her to get tired out, but Luna was a young wolf with plenty of energy. Once he saw Luna wasn't going to give up anytime soon and thought she might begin to hurt herself soon if she couldn't hurt anyone around her, Remus thought it was time to redirect her.
Remus got up and began stalking Luna before he ran and pounced, Luna's wolf form falling down onto the edge of the ocean water wetting both their fur wet. Luna growled at him but Remus quickly shut that down by closing his jaw around Luna's throat. It wasn't enough to hurt her, but it was enough to show who was in charge, and Luna's whine told him she was beginning to understand that he was much bigger and stronger than her, the clear alpha to their two-wolf pack. When Luna finally quieted down he released her and waited for Luna to finally whine again but this time rolling onto her back, revealing her soft pink belly to Remus.
Satisfied, Remus snorted and walked away to settle back on the still warm patch of sand he had been lying on earlier. Luna lay back on her belly and watched him, snorting. Remus laid his head down and closed his eyes, ready to rest for the remainder of the night and certain now that Luna knew he was in charge, she would not try to get far now that it was clear he was leader.
Then Luna whined.
Remus opened one eye to watch Luna staring at him with her ear perked, whining softly and breathing out what could almost be thought of as sighs. When he opened both eyes she stood to attention and went low on her front legs, her tail high in the air and wagging wildly. She barked once, happily.
She wants to play, his wolf realized happily and trying to force him to stand to attention as well.
If he could he would groan.
I'm too old for this.
Play play play!
Luna whined again and got closer to roll on the floor in front of him, begging.
Remus wanted to sigh and supposed Luna wanting to play was better than her wanting to bite the closest human to her.
Remus snorted and then stood.
The moment he did Luna sprang up and began frolicking around him, jumping closer to him and then back playfully. Remus watched her as she did this and when Luna began to whine thinking he wasn't going to play after her after all, he pounced.
Luna, and internally Remus' wolf, howled with happiness as they wrestled playfully, taking turns running and pouncing after each other. Pretty soon, Remus wasn't simply humoring her but actually began to have fun himself. The last time he had played as a wolf was over two years ago at Grimmauld Place's backyard with Sirius. Remus had played with the other Marauders in his Hogwarts years after they learned to become anamagi to join him, but as Wolfsbane had not yet been invented, those nights were a complete blank to him. Remus had spent time with other wolves on missions for Dumbledore, but there had been no time or familiarity for playfulness during those times.
Remus had to take frequent resting breaks, reminding himself of his age, glaring at Luna who seemed to have an abundance of energy and could barely contain herself as she waited for Remus to regain his energy.
As it became closer to the breaking of dawn, Luna began to tire out as well and she lay before Remus, her head resting on her front paws. Thankful for the rest, knowing they would need their energy for the dawn, Remus flopped down and closed his eyes to sleep.
oOo
Remus opened his eyes and groaned, the soreness of his muscles undeniable. The early morning beach air wasn't any help either, torturing his old, tired bones and creating a breakout of gooseflesh on his skin.
Slowly Remus eased himself into sitting up, and let his eyes wander to his surroundings. He quickly looked down at his hands when he caught sight of Luna's naked form sleeping soundly only a couple yards away.
Luckily, her back was to him and Remus didn't really see much, but he was still unprepared for seeing so much skin from his former student. Logically, he knew he should have been prepared, and it was obvious he should have expected it, but it still caught him off guard. As Remus reprimanded himself for seeing Luna's naked back, a thought occurred to him, and slowly he let his eyes wander back to Luna, forcing him to restrict his eyes only to her back.
On her side he could see the darker tone of her original bite mark on her side, but aside from that her skin was completely clean. Not a trace of other bite marks or scratches.
Remus' keen nose then caught a whiff of Bill and Fleur. He looked up and sure enough the pair of them were coming down from the cottage, each with what looked to be clothes in their hands. Remus wouldn't doubt that they had been up all night watching them through the cottage windows, waiting until dawn when they woke up to go down to them.
When they reached the sand Fleur immediately went to Luna and Bill to Remus. Remus nodded in thanks to Bill, taking an extra shirt and sweat from the younger man as his pair were currently torn to shreds. Remus could instantly tell upon putting on the clothes that they were of much richer quality than his own, but he still mourned the worn and comfortable texture of his own clothes.
"How are you cherie," Fleur's cooing reached his ears and he turned to see Luna had awoken already and been slipped into a cotton purple night dress.
Remus watched as Luna nodded and said quietly, "Sore, but okay I think."
"Let's go inside, I've already made breakfast," Fleur said, helping a stiff Luna stand.
Bill looked to Remus who nodded his permission for Bill to step away from him and go to Luna's other side to help her up to the cottage.
Luna stopped before him, forcing Fleur and Bill to pause too.
"Remus," Luna said quietly, her eyes filled with a warmth Remus was still getting used to being directed at him from anyone.
Remus nodded and so did Luna before she let Bill and Fleur continue to assist her up to the cottage.
Remus waited a moment to collect himself before following.
Once in the kitchen, Remus could think of little else besides the food set before him and immediately set to work stuffing his mouth with the toast, eggs, ham, and sausages Fleur had prepared. Luna too was eating her food like it was her last day on earth and Remus quietly laughed to himself having never seen her eat so much in one sitting, knowing it was the effects of the turn after the full moon making her this ravenous.
Fleur and Bill watched amusedly and sat quietly and patiently drinking their coffee with tired eyes for Remus and Luna to slow down.
Finally Remus was full enough to slow down and eat at a more leisurely pace, switching to sip his orange juice. Luna ate ravenously for a few more minutes before she too began to calm, watching her plate in wonder of how much she had eaten.
"Another wolf symptom," she asked, looking somewhat sheepishly at him from under her eyelashes.
Remus nodded with a small smile, "It'll be like that for the next two days or so. All you'll do is sleep and eat."
Luna nodded, and true to his word he could see Luna's eyes grow heavy as she asked, "So how was I? Not too much trouble was I?"
Remus smiled sleepily, "You did beautifully."
Remus hoped that Bill and Fleur thought nothing of his comment and that they would not notice the slight blush to his cheeks. Remus tried to ignore how pleased he felt with himself and focused instead on Bill who spoke.
"He's right Luna, your wolf form is beautiful, especially with that white fur. You looked so strong, and energetic, though I don't know how much Remus liked that," Bill laughed, Fleur's laughter joining in.
Luna's face became questioning, her eyes darting to Remus, "What do you mean?"
"You're quite playful as a wolf, Luna," Fleur explained. "Remus on the other hand seems to be the type to be more content dozing."
"Am I," Luna asked in an apologetic tone, her eyes searching Remus' face who just shook his head and laughed.
"It's fine Luna. You're a young wolf so it makes sense you would have so much energy. It's good. It forces me to get some exercise."
Bill and Fleur laughed, and Luna who searched his grinning face for a moment more chuckled softly as well.
They finished their breakfast and Luna looked like she was about to fall asleep on the table. Remus too was feeling the exhaustion beginning to overwhelm him and he stood with a yawn, "I should head back now."
"Remus if you're tired you can take our bed for a few hours," Fleur offered.
"Yea mate, you look so tired I don't know if you even have the apparate," Bill offered.
Remus shook his head, "Thanks but you two have been up all night as well. Besides, I wasn't kidding when I said all Luna is going to do for the next few days is sleep. Once I'm out I'll be that way for at least twelve hours and then you'd be wishing you'd never offered up your bed."
"If you're sure," Bill said slowly.
"Use the floo at least," Fleur offered. "Save your energy."
Remus nodded and said his goodbyes before heading to the living room. Remus was just about to dip his hand into the floo powder when Luna stopped him.
"Remus, wait."
Remus paused and turned to see Luna drowned in her night dress staring up at him almost shyly. Remus gulped down the knot in his throat and waited for her to speak.
He almost thought Luna had gone off into a daze of some sort and was about to turn back to the fireplace when Luna came at him and threw herself onto his chest the way she had nights ago at Flourish and Blotts.
Remus was assaulted with the smell of her as she tucked her head onto his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Thank you," she whispered quietly.
When Luna did not let go Remus murmured quietly, "I'm not sure how much help I was. You were still in much pain after all."
"I know," Luna spoke, still quietly, and Remus wondered why they were whispering. "But there was someone waiting with me before and after the pain. I was alone before, but now I have Bill and Fleur...and you."
Remus knew he had yet to hug Luna back, mostly due to his uncomfortableness, and though he wanted to return her hug after her words, he was in too much shock, his senses on overdrive.
Luna did not seem to mind however, and held him in her embrace for a moment longer before letting him go and smiling sleepily at him before making her way upstairs to her room.
Remus released a shaky breath and then finally flooed to his small apartment, crashing onto his bed and welcoming sleep to erase his racing thoughts.
He knew what he was thinking, the feelings the young Lovegood was provoking in him, but he hoped the next few days of near constant sleep would wipe them away before he completely repulsed himself.
oOo
Luna entered Flourish and Blotts, her eyes searching the store for a tall and familiar figure that she hadn't seen in over a week.
Remus had been right. For three days after the full moon all Luna had done was sleep, only waking up every half day to eat her weight in food and then crash back to her bed for more sleep. After those days had passed she had spent most of the next few days lazing around, taken advantage of sunbathing the last few rays of the summer before the weather began to get colder with the coming of September.
This was one of those pleasantly warm days when Luna had realized Remus hadn't visited them in a while. When she had mentioned it to Bill and Fleur they had just shrugged saying he must be busy at work with last minute shoppers for the start of term. Logically, Luna knew that was a valid reason, but she still couldn't help but think that September 1st was days ago and most children were probably away already, so Remus really shouldn't be all that busy.
Though why she was keeping tabs on Remus she had no idea.
Finally, she spotted him come out from one of the halls created by the tall bookshelves and he smiled politely in greeting to her. Luna noted that he didn't look too surprised to see her and she figured he had probably smelled her once she came in. She walked over to him and caught his scent too before she stood before him and smiled when he said her name.
"How are you? Looking for some books," Remus asked.
Luna nodded, having previously thought of that as an excuse, despite the fact that searching for excuses to come to Flourish and Blotts whenever she pleased was completely silly.
"Yea, I've just started some of my term homework and it seems I've been in need of some books to write my papers. I don't suppose Flourish and Blotts offers some sort of renting offers?"
"We do actually offer a renting membership for a fee. I can help you find those books and then get you started on the application for you."
"That would be great, thank you," Luna said genuinely, passing him the slip of parchment on which she had written the titles of the books she would need.
"Not a problem," Remus assured her, and began to lead her through the aisles.
They made some polite conversation about the bookshop and how busy it had been until a few days ago and about Luna's seventh year school subjects and Fleur returning to work. Soon Remus was handing her the paperwork she would need to fill out to rent books from Flourish and Blotts and Luna could feel her time slipping away and so she decided to just come out with it.
"When are you coming to dinner?"
"When," Remus asked as if confused, though it was a perfectly normal question Fleur asked him all the time.
"I've missed you," Luna told him sincerely, though she hadn't planned to say those exact words no matter how true they were.
"You've missed me," Remus asked and Luna wondered if he would stop repeating what she was saying.
"I hadn't realized until you weren't there how much I like having you at shell cottage with me and Bill and Fleur and you haven't been around in a while. It doesn't seem to feel complete without you there."
"Really," Remus asked, his cheeks reddening in a way Luna thought quite pleasing to the eye.
"Yes," Luna assured him. "Bill and Fleur adore you, it's clear whenever you visit how pleased they are to have you near. I think Bill sees you as a sort of pseudo-brother, and so does Fleur, I know. They enjoy your company...and so do I."
"Luna," Remus warned slowly, looking embarrassed and uncomfortable the way he sometimes did when around Luna, but this time there was a small smile quipped at the corners of his mouth.
Thinking this was a good sign, Luna went on, "I really enjoyed all of us together at dinner, and the conversations we've had, and I've missed having you around. And i still have so many questions about all this."
Remus' smile seemed to freeze in a very odd way before he cleared his throat and then smiled politely at her. "Ask Fleur to let me know if dinner this Thursday works for her."
Luna grinned at that, "I will."
Remus then slid Luna's books across the counter to her, "I'll see you then."
Luna felt it a bit odd Remus seemed to have just dismissed her when there clearly wasn't much work to do at the shop.
Luna was much too pleased however with the prospect of Remus coming over for dinner that she hardly noticed and took her books before skipping out of the shop.
oOo