Hello my lovely readers!
I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting like I have. I just returned to school for the year, and moving all my stuff took up far more time than I imagined. Here is the next chapter, and I hope you enjoy!
PS: If any of you have any suggestions for how I might improve my writing style, I'm all ears!
-Addie
Unlike most Gryffindors, the last word one would use to describe Remus Lupin would be reckless.
Remus was strategic and calculating like a Slytherin, he was loyal like a Hufflepuff, he sought enlightenment like a Ravenclaw, but he was in Gryffindor because he was brave and fierce above all else.
Nothing, however, could have prepared him for the situation at Longbottom Manor.
It took a lot out of a werewolf to spy on other werewolves. Remus was lying, face-down, on the floor of his apartment after a week spent with the packs, when a glowing dog arrived on his windowsill.
Padfoot, he thought foggily, recognizing the Patronus. He waited in suspense for a few seconds before the dog opened its muzzle to release the message it carried.
"Moony, we need you at the Longbottoms. Tell no one, and come alone," came Sirius' voice, "...Oh! And bring some chocolate buttons, as well."
"Sirius!" came Lily's voice from the background as the patronus faded, "Now is not the time to dictate your bloody grocery list!" Remus smirked as the dog disappeared. The message was concerning, right up until the chocolate buttons.
He sighed and sat up, dusting himself off, not that it would have made a difference to his threadbare outfit. Recently, legislation had been passed making it increasingly difficult for werewolves to find employment, and Remus looked his budget.
Grabbing a bag of chocolate buttons from the counter, he turned on the spot, thinking of the Longbottoms' living room.
As soon as he felt the floor underneath his feet once more, he was accosted by Sirius, who wrapped him in a tight hug as if they hadn't seen each other in over a decade.
"Moony! Oh, gods, is it good to see you," his dark-haired friend pulled back the hug suddenly, with a mixture of desperation and concern, "You didn't tell anyone you were coming, did you?"
"Sirius, up until 20 seconds ago, I was laying on my apartment floor," Remus responded with an eye-roll. Then he caught sight of Lily and James over Sirius' shoulder, a witch sporting brown curls in between them on the sofa, "Er... hello."
She looked startled, as if she had seen a ghost. Probably my scars, Remus thought to himself, they are rather hideous. He tried for his warmest smile, but all his current energy levels could muster was a half-grimace. Nonetheless, she stood up, and walked slowly over to him, her steps careful, as if he might cut and run, but her face held a peculiar expression of awe.
"Hi. I'm Hermione," the girl began, her expression turned hopeful. Upon further examination, she looked as tired and beat-up as Remus felt, but strangest of all was her attire. She was wearing muggle cargo pants with a thick belt and boots, as if she were preparing for a hike, and she was covered in dirt, reminding Remus distinctly of the werewolves living in the packs. Stranger still, was that she was wearing Sirius' jacket. No one, not even the Marauders, were allowed to so much as touch the jacket, much less wear it.
She stuck out her hand, and Remus averted his eyes politely when the jacket opened, revealing a good portion of her stomach. She blushed, but kept her hand extended, and Remus took it.
"Remus," he introduced himself. Despite his lack of sleep, he was fully awake and engaged now, and caught James' eye with a questioning look.
"Right! Oh, right," James started, and he gestured to the armchair closest to him, for Remus to sit, "we have some news. Umm... I'm not sure where to start."
James looked to Lily, who spoke, "The short version is this: tonight Voldemort attacked us," Remus inhaled sharply, fighting the urge to launch into attack mode. Lily indicated the girl, who retook her place in between the Potters. "Maya here - what was the term you used before, Jamie?"
"Um, 'bloody roasted,' dear."
"Maya here bloody roasted him," Lily said with a strange look on her face, "He's dead."
Remus looked at the girl in shock. She was staring at her hands, folded in her lap, avoiding his gaze. He looked at Sirius for confirmation, who nodded.
"I-what-how-?" Remus had no idea what to say, "You?"
The girl looked up, her eyes flickering, as if daring him to argue. "Me."
"Wow."
Sirius chuckled, "Such eloquence. This is why we keep you around."
Remus barely heard him. He was still in a staring contest with the brunette witch.
James cleared his throat, "Also, our house is destroyed and we didn't want you to panic."
"How?" Remus asked simply, thinking one-word questions were best.
Hermione ran a hand through her hair, "Er... fiendfyre?"
Remus blinked, "Merlin and Morgana, you didn't half-arse it, did you?"
Despite herself, Hermione snorted at that, "No, I definitely full-arsed it."
James nodded seriously, "She was knackered for about an hour after."
The witch rolled her eyes, "That's the last time I'll be swooning in your presence, Potter."
"Oi!" James exclaimed in mock outrage, "I'll have you know I had witches swooning left and right in my day!"
"I seem to recall the only one swooning in our relationship was you, Jamie," Lily observed evenly.
Sirius leaned forward and winked, "Don't worry, babes, I'll have you swooning on command in no time."
Remus groaned at the throbbing in his head, fingers going to his temples, "The next person who uses that verb will find themselves swooning, but permanently!"
Sirius grimaced at his friend's pain, "Sorry, Moons, we forgot it was your time of the month!" He went to chuckle, but clapped his hand over his mouth, eyes wide.
Remus opened his eyes expecting to see either confusion or horror etched onto the brunette's face, but instead found only a soft expression on the newcomer's face. Odd reaction, but it didn't seem like his secret was blown. He chose to glare at Sirius instead, "Some of us haven't slept since last week, Padfoot."
As if on cue, the newcomer yawned, "I'd really fancy a kip, myself. Is there somewhere I could stay?"
Sirius jumped right in, "You're welcome to stay with me- in the spare room, I mean."
It was Lily who spoke up, "We should all get some rest, anyway," her voice broke, and tears welled in the corners of her eyes, "Jamie... our house... we can't go back!"
Sirius took one of Lily's hands, "Why do you think I put that undetectable extension charm up? You should all stay with me." He sent Remus a sharp look, "All of you."
Suddenly, Hermione jumped up, as if shocked. "Wards!"
James looked up, "What about them?"
"We have to set up wards! NOW!" She looked around at the group, as if expecting them to understand the urgency she was feeling. She sighed, realizing they weren't on the same page. "Honestly, can't you feel these crumbling?"
"Maya, no one can feel warding charms," Sirius' brow furrowed as he looked at the girl, "The whole point is that they're undetectable until you try and cross one."
Hermione groaned, looking up at the ceiling as if glaring at the heavens, "Why me? Just...what I would give to be normal," she looked back at Sirius, her hair sparking in irritation. "Obviously, I can feel them. I need to fix them before we leave."
"I'm sorry, but are you casually dropping the information that you can detect undetectable magic?" Remus cut in, a few moments behind. This was a lot for even someone of his capacity to take in.
"Well... yes."
"Damn," Remus felt it was best not to argue at this juncture.
Hermione began to explain, "I've actually made a lot of progress in the last couple of months involving ward polarity and specificity, using a combination of traditional Celtic runes and Native American warding techniques-"
This was where Remus' inner bookworm made its appearance. "Were you using the Sioux or Apache methods? What were you using to balance the side-effects of isotropism?"
Lily wouldn't be left out. "Did that majorly complicate the wand movements in casting?"
Actually, since Native Americans didn't traditionally use wands at all, it simplified the wandwork signific-"
"Okay, save your smart-arse convention for later," Sirius spoke over the chattering, "Can you improve the wards or not?" Hermione sighed in response.
"As I was saying," she shot a pointed look in Sirius' direction, "I recently had a breakthrough in isolating the curse associated with the Dark Mark. Anyone attempting to get through my wards would be killed on contact."
The tension in the room was palpable.
"You can create a lethal barrier for Death Eaters?!" Sirius shouted, only to be shushed by Lily, who gestured to the ceiling, indicating the babies above.
Hermione smirked a little. "Not around anything more than a few acres, but yes. I can also ward moving targets, such as people. Someone branded with the Dark Mark fires on you, they would be met with their own spell, ten-fold. As for physical assault, I'm relatively confident the Marked assailant would be blown across the room, at least, upon touching any one of you."
If they had been speechless before, her audience was shocked now.
"So I'll just go do that, then? Sirius, can you hear me?"
He carded his hands through his hair, and managed to nod. Hermione, satisfied, went to leave the room, only to be followed closely by Sirius.
"Can I watch?"