Chapter 29: A Short Reunion

Life was funny, Calamity supposed. She never thought she'd be back at the Hogs Head Inn, never thought she'd be waiting to meet Remus Lupin, and she certainly never thought she'd be drinking a fire whiskey to calm her nerves in preparation for said meeting. But here she was, doing all of those things.

Calamity pulled out the letter from Remus once again and quickly skimmed for the date, time, and location of their meeting. She checked her watch again. No, she was right: he was late. She stood and moved outside, looking around expectantly and blowing some warm air on her hands. It was definitely colder than Costa Rica, that was for sure.

A clatter made her turn. A trash bin's lid spun for a moment before hitting the floor dramatically. There was nothing there, but she had the strange prickling sensation that she was being watched.

Calamity?"
Calamity turned to see Remus Lupin- older and with more gray hair, but the same kind brown eyes she had remembered from St. Mungo's all those years ago. Calamity hugged him. He was a git, but twelve years was a long time without speaking or seeing one another. After a few seconds Calamity felt Remus wrap his arms around her as well, burying his chin into her neck.

"It's been too long," he said in a voice that quivered.
She pulled back to look at him as he rubbed the mist from his eyes.
"It's been a sentimental year so far," Remus explained. He motioned inside. "Shall we? I see my favorite seat by the window is open."

Once seated they ordered tea.
"How's Hogwarts," Calamity asked.
"Interesting," Remus said. Calamity raised an eyebrow and he laughed. "Teaching Defense Against he Dark Arts is a dream and I enjoy all of the students, but it's strange being back at Hogwarts after so long. Seeing all the places I use to be, but now alone. I heard you were back from Dumbledore and couldn't help myself. It's been so long. What brings you back to England?"
"I was visiting Christopher, you remember him? But then I decided to look into a few projects out here. There is a great internship in Dublin that I'm applying to. I sent in my application just yesterday," said Calamity. Remus looked skeptically at her over his mug.
"You think there is something else," she asked.
"I find it coincidental that you are here after Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban."
"I heard about that," Calamity said nonchalantly. "Dumbledore stopped by America the beautiful."
"I heard about that," Remus replied. "What else have you heard?"
"Nothing except that these dementors are making everyone miserable in Hogsmeade. Aberforth mentioned yesterday that business is down. What's Dumbledore thinking having them around here?"
"Not him, the minister," Remus said. He took another sip. "I suppose you didn't hear that Black got into Hogwarts in October."

"No," gasped Calamity, but she felt a thrill of excitement. Of course he did, but why? "Why is he trying to get into Hogwarts?"

"I heard he's after Harry."

The thrill disappeared instantly. "Be serious, Remus."
"I am," said Remus looking at her with a stern expression. "I know you don't believe he betrayed the Potters, but you have to admit it's strange he'd want to get into Hogwarts, unless it's true that he's after Harry. And if that's true, then it's also probably true that he betrayed the Potters."
"So you wanted to meet in order to continue a fight from twelve years ago," Calamity said coolly. Remus' face softened.
"No," Remus said. "No, I'm sorry. I just want you to know that he was at Hogwarts and he might be around here and that you need to be careful."
"You sound like Dumbledore and Christopher," Calamity said exasperated. "Sirius has no reason to reach out to me. We haven't had contact in twelve years- same as me and you."
"About that," Remus said. He pulled out a check from his pocket and placed it before her on the table. It had Remus' usual writing spelling out her own name with an absurd amount on it.

"What's that for," Calamity asked. She smirked at him, "Trying to bribe me into spilling something I don't know? You know I'm not that kind of girl."
Remus rolled his eyes but chuckled despite himself. "No, no, nothing so scandalous. I owe you this."
"How?"
"Calamity, really? Just take it?"
"I'm not taking a mysterious check for no reason. You can't possibly afford such a generous gift on a Professor salary and I don't need it since I inherited my father's money when he disappeared."
"Here's the thing," Remus said, though he was still looking at Calamity like he couldn't believe he had to explain this to her. "After you left and James and Peter died I worked a lot of side jobs that didn't pay much. It got pretty bad, but then one day an owl came with a message to check my vault at Gringotts. I thought it was ridiculous, but I did it. What do I find? A small bunch of galleons. Then a year later I get another owl with the same message and I find more galleons. For twelve years now I've been getting these owls once a year and I just happened to have gotten one last month. I intend to pay back the person who has been assisting me from afar all these years."
"Wow," said Calamity her eyes wide. "Quite an experience. So who do you think it was."
"You, Calamity. I think it was you."

Calamity put on an expression of surprise. "Outlandish! I can assure you I haven't had contact with you for twelve years."
"Calamity-"
"Besides, whoever it was probably doesn't want to be paid back, otherwise they would have sent you a bill or signed their name on the owl."
"Calamity-"
"It could be any number of people from the Order or from school. You're much more popular than you realize, Remus. People adore you! I mean, James and Sirius helped you out after Hogwarts and I imagine they would want you to be able to live and thrive even if you have a monthly issue."
Remus watched her as she took another sip from her tea.
"If it was me, of course I'd take your money. But, it wasn't me so I can't help you."
"You can't? You're sure?"
"No," she said firmly. She took the check and ripped it into four. "You'll just have to keep looking."

They sat in silence for a few moments as Calamity looked out the window. Remus cleared his throat and stood. "My free periods almost over so I better start heading back, would you like to join?"

Calamity beamed standing and putting her coat back on. Outside the wind blew passed them and for a moment Calamity looked back at the alleyway. The prickling on the back of her neck had returned.

"You okay," Remus asked.
"Just cold," Calamity said cheerfully. Remus pulled his own coat closer, then wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I reckon if Black was around here than this would make him show himself, eh?"
Calamity laughed.
"Calamity,"Remus said loudly to the empty streets of Hogsmeade. "I had a lovely date! So glad we rekindled after all these years! I always love seeing ex-girlfriends."
Calamity nudged him playfully. "I never knew you fancied me Remus, I feel just like I'm sixteen all over again."
"Well, just let me know if you wake up with white hair, will you," Remus said. He mussed up her hair for effect.

"What are you planning for Christmas break," asked Calamity.
Remus shrugged.
"I'm going to Andromeda and Ted's, if you're interested in joining."
"I'll think about it," Remus said. "It's nice of them to invite you."
"I think they're worried about me," Calamity said. "Apparently all of London thinks Sirius Black will come and find me. Even that Minister! Fudge, right? He met me at the airport in the strangest muggle attire. I almost didn't get through customs. Imagine the muggle seeing that guy in the loudest neon shirt I've seen."
Remus laughed and Calamity had the impression he had not done so with a friend in some time.

They reached the end of the town, where Hogwarts ground started and Remus looked her over again. "You'll tell me if anything happens?"
"I'll tell you if anything out of the ordinary happens."
"For your safety," Remus reminded her. "And for Harry's safety? He's Lily and James' son."
"That's a low blow," Calamity said with a frown. "I know who he is."
"He looks just like James, like a carbon copy, except those eyes are still as green as Lily's. You should come to the school sometime. Maybe sit in a class. I'll even let you guest lecture on medical defense against the dark arts."

Calamity smiled. "Next time."
"The Library certainly seems odd without your book fortress."
"Next time," Calamity repeated. They hugged again.

On her way back she hummed to herself, taking in her surroundings. The dementors presence seemed farther away than before. She stopped by the bookstore, tracing the binding of the book and debating if she needed a new one. She decided to wait and made her way back to the Hogs Head where she chatted with Aberforth for a bit. Finally, she decided she would take a nap. She walked up the stairs to her room, feeling the afternoon drowsiness coming over her. Her foot hit something and she looked on the floor was a worn rectangle- a book with faded writing: Best of Western Poets of the 19th century.

Calamity stared at it, the sound of blood pumping in her ears as she bent down to pick it up. A few pages fell out, worn to the point of collapse. She hadn't seen this book since she handed it over to Sirius but, he could be...

She looked around. The corridor was empty. She hurried inside the room. The window was latched and closed. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She opened the cover of the book. There was messy and hurried writing on the inside cover. She looked closer to read.

When You Are Old by William Butler Yeats

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,

And nodding by the fire, take down this book,

And slowly read, and dream of the soft look

Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,

And loved your beauty with love false or true,

But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,

And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,

Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled

And paced upon the mountains overhead

And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

Calamity squinted closer to see the tiny writing beneath the poem, feeling her face flush and her heart pound.

Missing you always -S.O.B.

A/N: Review! Don't forget to review