'Not about the retreat,' Lupin started slowly. 'How long had you been working for Jacob Ison?'
'Ever since I left school,' she replied automatically. 'I thought you would've remembered that.'
'You forgot to give me a name,' Lupin said smiling.
'I got accepted! I'm in! I'm in!' Selene was jumping around the room in joy before she grabbed Lupin in a fierce hug. He was startled at the unexpectedness of her mood, but was happy to receive her hug.
'Accepted into what?' he asked after she released him and was again jumping around the room.
'Some big magical research company. They work in conjunction with St Mungo's, researching cures and antidotes and stuff like that. I can't remember what they're called. St Mungo's sent me the letter.'
'Congratulations, Selene,' said Lupin happily. She hugged him again, this time longer and more gently.
'Thank you,' she whispered in his ear.
He saw Selene smile and knew she was having the same memory.
'I never did see you after that.' He tried to make the statement sound casual.
'My position at Jacob Ison's was full time. When I tried to look you up, I couldn't find you. I suppose we just drifted apart.' Her voice faded as she said it. They both were leaning on the balcony rail, almost close enough for their elbows to be touching.
'You never told me,' she said abruptly.
'About being a werewolf?' Lupin asked nervously.
'No,' she said softly and looked into his eyes. Hers were still as blue as he could remember. 'Where you went all those times.' She smiled. 'You said you would.'
He smiled back and looked out at the houses again. 'It was the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade. I was the ghost and demon that all the people in Hogsmeade were scared of. I made all the noise. I went there was it was nearly a full moon. There's a knot on the Whomping Williow that you press and it kind of freezes. There's a gap in the roots which is the entrance to a tunnel which leads to the Shrieking Shack.'
She tilted her head and gazed at him. 'Was it lonely?'
He looked back at her as he shook his head. 'I had Sirius and James. They learnt how to become Animagi and kept me company.'
'Wow,' she breathed, impressed. 'You really had good friends, didn't you?'
He nodded. 'Yeah, I was lucky.'
'But what about Peter?'
Lupin looked at her sharply and she dropped her gaze like she'd been stung. 'I'm sorry, was that the wrong thing to ask?' she inquired apologetically.
'No,' Lupin said thoughtfully. 'Look, is there a more private place we can talk?'
She nodded quickly. 'My office. Come, I'll show you.'
Selene led him to a room that held a desk covered in paper to one side with a padded chair and a couch near the window. They sat on the couch, again, almost touching but not.
'Why did you need the privacy?' she asked once they were properly seated and comfortable.
Lupin took a deep breath. He wouldn't make the same mistake twice. 'I should have told you what I was a long time ago Selene. I should have shared my secret with you. I didn't trust you enough. But I want to make up for that by telling you about Peter.' And he launched into the story of his past year at Hogwarts. She listened intently, smiling when he mentioned Harry, looking surprised when he explained about Sirius, covering her mouth in shock at the truth about Peter. When he finished, Selene was crying, for joy over Sirius and in grief over James and Lily. Lupin gathered her up close and didn't let go, even when she stopped. There they sat, Selene's head rest on Lupin's shoulder with her arms around his torso, Lupin with one arm around her shoulders and his head resting on hers. He spoke first this time.
'Are you okay?'
'Yeah,' Selene said in a small voice, comforted by his closeness. 'There's something I want to tell you,' she said determinedly as she pulled back from him, looking into his eyes.
He looked back expectantly, smiling at her tone.
