Alright, I'll just say this before starting with the fic:

Reviewers have been telling me throughout this story that they enjoy the babble that's usually in this space before the story starts…

While I'm glad I'm making with the funny, I was a little hurt when one person mentioned that they enjoyed the babble more than the fic…

::sniff sniff::  Hence, I shall now try to condense my babble…

::snort::  It's probably a snowball's chance in hell, but what the heck, ya know? 

I'll just say this:  I'M SO SORRY I TOOK SO LONG WITH THIS CHAPTER!!!  I mean, here I was, hoping that I would have gotten Chapter 7 all nice and uploaded after I finished my Chemistry exam…

That was back in January…

Urgh…

I PROMISE THAT THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS WILL BE ALL NICE AND LONG-ISH!!!! 

Soooo…With that out of the way…ON WITH ZE FIC!!!!

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CHAPTER SEVEN

::STILL A HUMUNGOUSLY LONG FLASHBACK, FOLKS::

Remus's POV

Remus had NOT been having a good morning. 

After being woken up by the squawking of his Muggle alarm clock at 9 AM—too early for his taste—he had smashed it before rolling over and going back to sleep.

…Or, he would have fallen back asleep if he hadn't rolled over too fast.  And tumbled off his oh-so-short-and-narrow bed.  Onto the cold wooden floor.  Stark naked.  After a quick "ARRRRGHHH!!!  COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!", he had then reconsidered sleeping commando ever again.

He still wasn't sure.  After all, his wolfy self—though no longer able to manifest itself physically—enjoyed sleeping sans clothing.  Which meant that HE had grown to enjoy sleeping sans clothing…

Of course, a certain woman from long ago had also enjoyed seeing his enjoyment at sleeping sans clothing…Which always led to further enjoyment.

Remus sighed.  And now, with painful memories flooding his head once again—as well as an uncomfortable, slightly painful pressure stemming from his nether regions—his morning just got even worse.

It didn't help that tonight would be a full moon, either. 

And so the former werewolf walked gingerly—so as not to make that pleasant, throbbing ache REALLY uncomfortable—across his still-cold wooden floor into his bathroom to go about his morning routine.  Which now included relieving that…tension…

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Luckily, his day might prove to get better.  Marginally.  But it was a start.  After all, when was this time of the month ever happy-go-lucky? 

But over the past five years, these three days of each month had been actually bearable.  It was rather…freeing, not having to see yourself furry anymore.

"And it's all thanks to Severus and Hermione," Remus said aloud to his reflection in the Muggle hallway mirror.  He paused.  "Granted, it's amazing they managed to discover the cure without poisoning each other…But that's beside the point…"

Yes, it was true.  Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts, and Hermione Granger, former Gryffindor Know-it-All.  Together, in the same room, (somehow managing not to commit homicide, no less) they had concocted the potion that allowed Remus to be completely human.  He was finally normal.  Human.  No longer cursed with the affliction that had plagued him for over 30 years.  No longer having werewolf blood in his veins.  Or having to hear that animalistic side of him wanting him to come out and play—

Well…almost…

The potion still had a couple kinks it had to work out.  It allowed him free reign as a human during full moons, that much was correct.  However, the wolf was still there.  Deep, deep, DEEP inside, but still there.  It did not have any control whatsoever over him, but it was as much a part of him as every other dark secret he kept hidden.  It just couldn't come out anymore.

Not that that made it any easier for his already-burdened mind and soul. 

Looking away from his reflection before he decided to punch it out (the mirror HAD done no wrong), he whispered, "I'm still a monster, even without the vehicle that kept me as a creature of the night…"  He sighed, shook his head, and walked out the door of his shabby apartment.  He had a job interview at 11 to go to, and he sure as hell didn't want to be late.

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"…I see here that you are a werewolf," a male voice sneered.

Remus gritted his teeth, but replied, "Former, sir."

"Is that even possible?"

Remus fought the urge to reach across the man's shiny oak desk and strangle him to death.  "Yes, sir."  'Don't you read the papers, you stupid excuse for a human?' Remus thought.  He sighed inwardly.  It was always the same thing, over and over.  He would go to a job interview, and at first, the meeting would go along swell.  But then the employer would open up his portfolio, and see the little blurb at the bottom of the last page, and change his mind about giving him the job.  It never failed.  But, he hoped that would have changed, what with the new Muggle/Wizard relations that had been going on for the past five years. 

That was yet another thing that amazed him.  When Voldemort had come to power during Harry's 4th year, he had immediately unleashed a reign of terror upon both the wizarding and Muggle worlds.  Those Muggles that weren't as naïve as the rest finally realized that a change needed to be made concerning their relationship with the wizarding world.  And so everything changed: Muggles—at least in England—now knew about wizards and Voldemort and the Great War.

Naturally, Voldemort's rule hadn't lasted too long after that.  He was finally defeated in the summer before Harry's 7th year.  On the boy's birthday, actually.  What a present THAT was…

Muggles had accepted the wizarding world with surprising ease.  Of course, Remus suspected that was merely because it was everything they had always fantasized about, and more.  Wizards and witches were marrying Muggles all over the place, and life seemed good.

But, there were still prejudices lying around.  Especially concerning werewolves, and other creatures deemed 'dangerous to the human race'.  Even if he wasn't a werewolf anymore, there was that tiny fear inside humans' hearts that screamed, "HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH!!!  RUN AWAY!!!"  And many listened to it.

So, looking at the Muggle sitting before him, lounging in his plush leather chair, and staring at him with slight disgust and a glimmer of fear in those beady little eyes, Remus understood one fact.

He wasn't going to get the job.

As the man opened his mouth—most likely to say yet another rejection—he was interrupted by a light knocking on his door.  He looked mildly annoyed, but turned around and said, "Come in," with a pseudo-pleasant voice.

A young man, probably no older than 25, strolled in through the door behind the employer's desk.  "Uncle Richard, we need to go now if we don't want to miss the party."

The man in question snapped at his supposed nephew, "Can't you see I'm busy here, Dean?  Leave, and don't come back for another 15 minutes.  I still have two more interviews to sit through."  'Uncle Richard' turned back around to look at Remus, and conveniently missed the one-fingered salute his nephew shot him.  Remus grinned at the young man, who smiled back before frowning.  'Dean' walked up to him, and blurted out, "PROFESSOR LUPIN??!!!!"

Remus blinked once.  Twice.  Then took a long, hard look at the man whose eyes were about ready to pop out of his head. 

"…Dean…Dean Thomas?"

"Yes, sir!  That's me…Wow, it's been a while…How have you been?  What are you doing here in my uncle's office?"  The former Gryffindor would've babbled some more to his old Professor if said uncle hadn't interrupted him.

"Wait a minute, Dean…You KNOW this werewolf?"

"Former, Uncle Richie…And yes, I do…He was my DADA teacher during my 3rd and 6th years at Hogwarts!  The best damn DADA teacher the school's ever had, in fact!  Which is why I'm wondering what you're doing here—"

"I decided to take a sabbatical after Voldemort's fall…As well as to adjust to no longer being a werewolf…Speaking of which, would you mind not telling anyone I was here, Mr. Thomas?"

"Call me Dean, Professor…And I promise I won't tell anyone…I understand your need for seclusion, what with all that happened to you after the cure…"

Remus winced, preferring not to remember all the werewolves that had hounded him, Severus, and Hermione…As well as those damned reporters…It had been hell, and he was forever glad for going into hiding.  Severus and Hermione, however, weren't so fortunate.  To this day, they were still hassled for information.  Not like they'd give any, of course…

"Thank you, Dean."

"No problem, Professor."

"Please, Dean, I'm not a teacher anymore…You may call me Remus now…You are an adult, after all."

"Erm…" Dean sputtered, "Sure…Remus…But you still haven't explained why you'd want this job.  Surely the Muggle world would have offered something more…worthy of your talents?"

"Unfortunately, there weren't any Wanted ads for former DADA teachers," Remus said dryly. 

"That's a damn shame," Dean declared, shaking his head.

Richard Thomas, who had been watching the conversation with growing confusion, scowled.  "If the both of you are QUITE finished.  Mr. Lupin, I'm sure you realize that I'm still conducting a job interview.  Which, I might add, won't end so well if you continue dawdling with my nephew like this."

Remus looked at him coolly, his light blue eyes staring him down.  "Well, Mr. Thomas, once I realized that you wouldn't give me this job anyway due to your obvious AND pathetic prejudice, I no longer cared how I'd do on this interview."  He stood up, and walked over to the door behind the man.  Before he pulled the door shut, he took out his wand, muttered, "Accio portfolio!", caught the flying stack of paper, stared once again at Richard Thomas, and closed the door.

Dean Thomas blinked, before grinning and sauntered out the door.  "Looks like he told YOU, Uncle Richie."

"Shut up, Dean…And STOP CALLING ME UNCLE RICHIE!!!"

But the young man didn't hear him.

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Now, Dean Thomas was pretty young.  A former Chaser in his final two years at Hogwarts, as well as a minor league soccer player, he considered himself pretty athletic, too. 

But, damn, Remus Lupin sure knew how to walk fast.  Dean had to sprint to keep up with his angry strides.  "Must be the werewolf in him," Dean muttered. 

"I HEARD THAT, MR. THOMAS!!!"  Remus had stopped to turn around and glare at his former student. 

Dean arched an eyebrow as he finally caught up to him.  "My uncle must have really pissed you off, huh, sir?"

Remus sighed, and ran his hand through his slightly graying hair.  "He was only the catalyst…I've been having a bad morning…And NO, I don't want to talk about it."

Dean grinned slightly.  "Sure thing, sir."  He respected Remus, especially ever since the War, when the Professor saved dozens of lives (including his own) while fighting with a silver bullet in his wand hand.  Needless to say, the man was good at what he did, even when near death.

They decided to have lunch together at a nearby outdoor café.  As they ate, they discussed what had happened in their lives.  Remus told Dean all the jobs he'd had ever since he'd retreated into the Muggle world. 

A spitting out of a soda.  "YOU WERE A JANITOR??!!!"

"…Yes."

True, some were rather humiliating, but they paid the rent. 

Dean told him about his engagement to his childhood sweetheart, who had turned out to be a Squib.  They were getting married in the fall.

"Can I see a picture of her, Dean?"

"Sure." A pause as he took out his wallet.

"She's beautiful." 

"Don't I know it…Would you believe that she's a distant cousin of Filch?"

A spewing out of a hot chocolate.  "WHAT??!!!!!"

After over an hour and a half talking, Dean looked at his ex-Professor, and stated bluntly, "You need a job."

Remus blinked, momentarily choking on his moccachino.  "Yes, I know that."

"Why don't you try coming back to Hogwarts again?  I mean, I've been writing to Hermione lately for advice on certain Transfiguration techniques—since she's McGonagall's assistant and all—and she tells me that the school REALLY needs another DADA teacher."

"No one's managed to keep it for more than a year?"

Dean laughed.  "Nope.  You're the only one that lasted two years…Even if they weren't one after the other…I think you should ask Dumbledore for the job.  He would hire you in a second."

Remus frowned into his chocolate milk.  "I don't know, Dean…I've been content living in the Muggle world for the past five years—"

"Moving around from job to job, struggling to make ends meet, nonetheless," Dean pointed out.  He smirked when Remus glared at him.

Remus frowned, his eyebrows knitted in thought.  "I'll consider it," he finally said.  He took out his wallet, withdrew money to pay for the lunch, and set it on the table.  "I must be going now, Dean."

Dean checked his watch.  "Yeah, me too.  I have a match at 3:30."

They looked at each other, and shook hands. 

"It was great seeing you again, Professor Lupin."

Remus smiled at the respect in his voice.  "And it was a pleasure meeting one of my fellow Gryffindors, Mr. Thomas."

They smiled at each other, and walked their separate ways, both having lighter hearts from seeing a familiar face.

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After his run-in with his former student, Remus's day had taken a turn for the better.  He decided to enter the Wizarding world for the first time in half a decade. 

It was one of the warmest welcomes he'd ever received in his life.  Everyone at the Leaky Cauldron seemed genuinely happy to see him.  If he hadn't insisted on maintaining that stoic façade, he would have cried.

Luckily, he didn't.  He hadn't changed THAT much. 

Once he owled Dumbledore about the DADA job using one of the Leaky Cauldron's post owls, his mood only seemed to get brighter.  He had the strange sense that if he got the job, all would be right again.

As he sat by the bar, talking to good old Tom (still toothless, he added silently to himself) and whistling to himself, he glanced at his watch.  And promptly did a double take.  "6:00??!!!  I spent FOUR hours at the Leaky Cauldron??!!!"  He paused, blushing as everyone turned to look at the tired looking man sitting at the bar.  He added quietly, "Well, I guess that makes sense…I DID have five years to catch up with…"

He shrugged, and after saying good-bye to everyone at the bar, he merely Apparated home.   

And found someone boiling water for tea in his kitchen.

And sucking on Lemon Drops.

That someone turned around, blue eyes twinkling merrily.  "Remus, my boy, it's been a long time since I last laid eyes on you…You're looking much better now, too!  I was worried about how you'd make it on your own…But you did!  I'm proud of you, Remus."

Remus blinked.  A dozen times.  He stuttered while trying to pick his jaw up off the floor.  "Prof-profes-Professor!"

The man smiled behind his beard.  "Really, Remus, we've known each other almost 30 years.  At least call me Albus."

Remus continued staring at Dumbledore.  As the seconds ticked by, he noticed that his staring was starting to make his old mentor slightly uncomfortable.  'Well, maybe not uncomfortable…after all, just how much CAN a person see behind Albus's beard, anyway?  Those crinkled eyes…he probably ate a Lemon Drop too quickly…' Remus thought.

"Actually, yes, a Lemon Drop did go down the wrong pipe just now…But I'm better now."  Albus laughed as Remus's jaw continued to sink to the floor.

"Albus, I've said it before, and I'll say it again: You should really reconsider going into the psychic hotline business."

Albus chuckled and shot back, "Unfortunately, I don't have the Jamaican accent that's required."

Both smiled at each other fondly.  One remembered a scared little boy with huge blue eyes who wanted to become a Gryffindor.  The other recalled a brown-bearded man who had taken him in when no other wizarding school would accept his kind, while offering Lemon Drops by the barrelful.  Good memories.

The comfortable staring contest was broken by the sound of the tea kettle whistling.

"Well then," said Albus, "shall we have a little evening tea, my friend?"

"It would be my pleasure, Albus."

A comfortable silence as respective teas were being sipped…and spit out since they were too hot.

"…Albus, just why is this tea pink?"

"It's a new brand from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.  They turn all the hair on your body the tea's color, and it lasts for about six hours.  The green mint one tastes the best, but I ran out before coming here."

"…Ah."  There was about fifteen minutes of straight-out laughing hysterically from Remus as he noticed Albus's beard turn cotton-candy pink.

Albus merely smiled indulgently, happy to see Remus laugh.  He looked as if he hadn't done so in the longest time.  He watched Remus wipe the tears of laughter from his eyes, and finally decided to get to the main issue.

"Remus, you probably know why I'm here."

Remus took a moment to answer, but was smiling, his voice hoarse.  "Of course.  I'm just surprised that you actually came here to answer my owl, much less do it so quickly."

"Well, I'm just a desperate old Headmaster searching frantically for a teacher before term starts."

"Professor, it doesn't start for another three months."

"I'm aware of that.  I just wanted to give my new—though you aren't exactly new—DADA Professor enough time to adjust to the wizarding world again."

"So…Despite it all, you're giving me the job?" Remus asked, hope in his eyes.

"Oh, quit with the self-moping, my friend.  It suits you too well.  Was there ever a doubt that I would give you the job?  You're the most capable man for the job, and deep down, you know it!"  He looked sternly across his silver-rimmed glasses at the worn-looking young man, and smiled as Remus cringed under his scrutiny.

"…Yes, sir."

"Good.  Now then," Albus stood up, burgundy velvet robes rustling, "I expect you tomorrow morning at ten o'clock in my office.  We'll reintroduce you to everyone.  Expect lots of sweets."

"Will do.  Good night, Albus, and thank you."

"It was my pleasure, Remus, old friend.  And don't forget that!"  On that final note, Albus Dumbledore Disapparated.

Remus smiled to himself as he got up to clean the tea cups.  He had almost forgotten the way Albus never failed to cheer him up.  "And that damned pink beard…" he muttered, shaking his head in amusement.  "Good ol' Albus."

He went into his tiny kitchen, and washed the cups manually, whistling an old tune to himself.  He was content.

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It was rather sad to note that, despite being a former werewolf, and thus an ex-creature-of-the-night, Remus Lupin couldn't keep his eyes open past nine o'clock.  He had always chalked it up to the fatigue of going through his monthly transformations, but even now, he was no night owl. 

However, he slept lightly. 

Extremely. 

As in, a mere pin dropped on the floor could have him bolting awake and looking frantically around for an intruder.  It was probably the predator in him that was always on its toes, and this time was no different.

Although, he wouldn't be surprised if someone in a coma in China had heard that scream.

He grabbed his wand off his nightstand and quickly changed into a pair of torn jeans and a white long-sleeved shirt.  Grabbing socks and shoes, he hurriedly put them on as he ran out the door, wand in his teeth.  He looked about ready to hex someone, and hex them good.

Imagine his surprise when he saw, in front of his neighbor's sidewalk, a young man.  With bright blue hair.  And standing there nonchalantly, as if he hadn't just screamed his bloody head off.  Because he knew it had to be him.  No one else would be caught dead at midnight in the heart of London, unless they had a death wish.  But apparently, he wasn't dead.  Yet.

As the young man continued to stand there, as if pondering something, Remus silently stepped up behind him, and tapped him on the shoulder.

The young man jumped, and turned around.  Remus was immediately struck by his sharp green eyes.  They somehow suited the shocking blue hair, in a way.  There was also something…not quite right with the man.  Something…darker behind those pools of emerald.  

"Are you alright, sir?" Remus asked politely.  After all, it was nice to be polite.  Even if the man had woken him at midnight screaming.  He wondered if the young man wasn't a homicidal maniac.  'Nah…he looks so…small, to be a murderer…or nuts…although I STILL can't pinpoint what's so familiar about…him…wait a second…'

While Remus was pondering his own thoughts, the man grinned sheepishly, and replied, "I believe I'm fine now that I got that out of my system, sir.  Thank…you…"

They looked at each other, realizing at the exact same time, of just what they were really looking at. 

Remus had met another werewolf.  Who was human-looking.  On the FULL moon.

But he knew what happened when werewolves met each other in the same territory.  He knew he needed to run.  NOW.  The wolf that had lain dormant in him for so long had finally stirred slightly.  And it wanted blood.  Remus wouldn't let it.  He'd have to die first.

As Remus stared to slowly back away, the young man stammered, "But…You…Full moon…"  And the young man crouched over in pain, gasping for breath.  Despite the life-and-death situation, Remus couldn't help but feel sorry for the man.  He knew that pain all too well, after all.  It had haunted him for 30 years, and seeing it from an outsider's view only made him truly aware of the pain the man was going through.  The man's inner wolf was fighting with him.  And amazingly, the small young man was hanging on.  Unfortunately, strength wouldn't stop the inevitable.  Once it started, it made sure that it made it to the finish.  Remus knew that he had to run.  His mind was screaming at him, 'RUN, YOU BLOODY BASTARD!!  PICK UP THOSE FUCKING FEET AND MOVE!!!!!' 

But he couldn't make his feet move fast enough.  They were still slowly backing up, as if even they were mesmerized by the scene. 

The man looked as if he was finally giving up.  Remus couldn't blame him.  A human can only take the pain for so long before giving in.  But, as the man lifted his head up, he gasped out in a guttural voice, "Run."

And the man howled. 

It was THIS scream that prompted Remus into action.  He swiftly turned around and made to sprint towards his apartment door.  It was only twenty feet away. 

They would be the longest twenty feet in his life. 

As he ran those crucial feet, he didn't stop to turn around when he heard the wolf growl.  He couldn't afford to.  His life depended on it. 

'Ten feet…COME ON, YOU'RE ALMOST THERE!!!'

It was as if time had slowed to a crawl.  He could feel every square inch of his feet hitting the stone walkway leading to his door.  His heartbeat had tripled, thundering in his sensitive ears.  'BADUMBADUMBADUMBADUMBADUMBADUM…'  His mind was as alert as it could be, and it pointed out to him one important fact.

He still had his wand.  And he damn well knew how to use it.  He sure as hell wouldn't leave the werewolf to prowl the London streets and infect everyone.  The man he knew was inside that wolf would never recover once he realized what he had done.  And Remus wasn't going to let that happen.  Not to another one.

He quickly made a veer to the right, inwardly relieved when he saw that the werewolf had leaped, attempting to pounce on the spot he had just occupied.  The wolf slammed into the porch railing, snapping the metal like a twig.  It looked disoriented for a moment, before turning its head to gaze at Remus.  Amber eyes flashed, and a snarling mouth opened to growl, revealing white razors. 

Its confusion didn't last long.  It slowly got up while Remus frenetically searched for his wand.  By the time he grabbed it out of his left sleeve, and pointed it at the wolf, it was already preparing to leap.

In the loudest voice he had ever used in his life, he screamed with all his might, "IMPEDIMENTA!!!!!!!!!!" 

The wolf's pounce slowed down dramatically, and Remus struggled to jump out of the way before it could fall right on top of him.

He almost succeeded.  It caught him in the side instead. 

He grunted as he fell, nearly crushing his wand in the process.  As he turned to look at the wolf lying still, he breathed a sigh of relief. 

With a muttered, "Mobilicorpus," he floated the seemingly unconscious werewolf through his left-open apartment door.  A flick of his wand slammed the door shut, and he quickly went into his living room to dump the body onto his sofa. 

Once he did, he looked down at the wolf.  And decided to cast the Homorphus Charm to turn him back into a human.

As he watched the wolf whimper in pain, bones shifting, hair fading to white skin, Remus couldn't help but stare in sympathy.  The charm had never been placed on him, but he could only imagine how much it hurt.  'It can't feel like the normal morphing back into human form, because it's forced upon the body…I'm sorry, Mr—'

He paused.  After saving the man, he didn't even know his name.

He shook his head, "I'll ask him in the morning…Right now I have to clean him up."

A quick scan determined that the stranger only had a few mild scrapes and bruises from the collision with the railing.  Nothing that a few Healing Charms couldn't fix. 

Once the man looked as good as new, and tucked in with old blankets from the closet, Remus plodded tiredly to his bedroom.

"Today's…been a bad day," Remus concluded as he finally sank down into his bed once again.  He yawned loudly, and promptly fell asleep, fully clothed, with the full moon glowing from his window.

He failed to notice the small slash in his left arm sleeve.  It was bleeding.

TO BE CONTINUED…Mwahaha…

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            ::mega-smirk::  Was that long enough for you?  It sure as heck was for me…::wipes brow::  I think that was the longest chapter I've ever written in my life…GO ME!

            :)

            So, tell me what you thought…'Cause the flashback ain't over yet!  We still have to deal with 'The Morning After'…And it promises to be a doozy…

            Oh, and don't worry…Willow, Sevvie, and all the rest will be coming soon…This fic threatens to be long, anyway…:)

            REVIEW!!!  DON'T FORGET!!!!!