Bethany stepped into Diagon Alley with the smile still on her face. All around her were witches and wizards bustling round. Here and there she could see people she recognised from school, but didn't bother to say hello to them. They'd never remember her. There were children running round, carrying parcels, and wearing large grins. Bethany was prepared to lay money on these children being the newest additions to Hogwart's in September.

Walking towards Gringott's Bank, Bethany ran her shopping list through her mind, trying to work out how much money she'd need. But all thoughts were thrown out of her head when she saw an old friend.

"Lupin!! I had no idea you were back in England!"

"Bethy, you look stunning!" Lupin gave a long sweeping bow and planted a wet kiss on her hand.

"Yuk! Was all that slobber really necessary?!" Bethany grabbed Lupin's robe and wiped her hand dry on it. "Now, give me a hug, you daft bugger!"

Lupin accompanied Bethany into Gringott's - company she was grateful for, even after all these years the goblins who ran the bank still gave her the creeps - and then they wandered around Diagon Alley together, each purchasing what they had gone there for. Lupin was about to head back to The Leaky Cauldron, when Bethany held him back.

"I still need some things. From Knockturn Alley. Would you come with me, it's getting late and I don't want to be alone down there after dark?"

"And you were training to be an Auror? How on earth did a big scaredy-cat like you make it?" Lupin's grin faded as Bethany suddenly looked drawn and empty. "Oh, hun! Baby? You know I was joking. I'm sorry, truly." Lupin's voice trailed off into nothing. The tears that had started to form in Bethany's eyes were rolling down her face, to her obvious irritation.

"I'm fine Remus, really," she wiped her face with her sleeve and swore quietly. "It's just that I've not thought about it for a while, and I now have makeup down my face and on my robes. Looks like we're going to the pub so I can fix my face!"

Colour returned to Lupin's face at the evidence of Bethany being alright. In a total state of misery she never cared about her makeup or robes. She was going to be fine. With a shared grin, the pair linked arms and strolled back down towards The Leaky Cauldron.

Two hours later, Bethany and Lupin were both feeling well fed and were enjoying large tankards of mead. The conversation had covered a wide range of subjects, from the new racing brooms, to what happened to their old friends, and enemies. Bethany was telling Lupin what had happened in the last two years, as he had been out of touch while he was abroad.

"Did you hear about that little snake Draco? Oh my gods, you're gonna love this. The stupid little creep wasn't quite right in the head after his father was given the Kiss - not that he was right to start with! Anyway, he was trying to create a potion of some kind - we never found out what he was attempting - and it all went horribly wrong. He near enough blew himself to bits! He's been in St Mungo's for the last year, they still haven't finished putting him back together and, according to Neville, they might not. Apparently, he refuses to tell anyone what he was using, so no- one can completely counter it. Then, there's Pansy."

"Hang on Bethy," Lupin interrupted her in mid-flow of gossip, an act he knew from previous experience could be dangerous. Bethany stopped mid- sentence looking less than amused. "Tell, me about Neville. I want to hear about the people I care for first, then we can have a laugh at the expense of others."

Bethany's face creased into an easy smile, and with a slight nod she changed her story telling angle. "Fair enough. Neville is now a fully qualified healer at St Mungo's. You know he was always really good with Herbology, and it turned out that it was Snape that made him useless at Potions. Neville's being tipped to be running the place in a couple of years, his Grandmother's so proud. I saw her in February and all she could do was praise him. She's even saying that he's achieved as much if not more than his father - I thought Neville was going to explode himself at that one! And Ginny's just given birth to their second child, a little girl called Rosie. we should try to visit them while we're in London.

"I doubt there's anything I can tell you about Harry, Hermione and Ron you don't know. Ron's playing Keeper for Puddlemere United. Hermione and Harry are still with the Order, and running round being Aurors the rest of the time. Hermione's currently dating Justin - the guy Harry set the snake on in the second year? - we'll see how long this one lasts! Harry, well he keeps saying he's happy on his own, but I know he's jealous of Neville. And probably Ron soon as well. Please tell me they've told you this, but Ron finally proposed to Luna."

"You're right, I knew all of that. There have been no new developments with any of them then? Have you told them about your new job yet?"

"No new develop. hey, who told you about my job? I only found out officially myself this morning."

"I can't reveal my sources. wait, wait," Bethany had launched herself on top of Lupin and was attempting to tickle the information out of him. "Dumbledore told me. He's been discussing it with me for months."

Out of breath, Bethany sat back in her armchair. "Why was he talking to you about it? I mean, I'm pretty sure I know why he gave me the job. I'm sure my experiences and talent for the subject were all considered, but I think he basically wants to keep an eye on me. He knows I've been becoming a bit isolated recently, especially after I stopped going to counselling." Bethany couldn't bring herself to look Lupin in the eye after that confession, so she stared into the flames, the patterns the flames helping to clear her mind, as usual, and show her some answers.

"Dumbledore told me you'd stopped going to the hospital, that's why he's asked me to return to Hogwart's as well. I'm going to be the second Defence teacher." Now it was Lupin's turn to stare into the flames. She was going to kill him for this.

"No he didn't. He told you I was going to be there, and you asked if there was room for two Defence teachers. You're just too easy to read these days Lupin." Bethany looked up from the flames to look at Lupin. "It's fine. I'm glad you're going to be there with me, I could do with the company. But, I think that this is the time to go to bed, as Tom looks to be trying to get rid of us!"

Lupin looked behind him, and sure enough there was Tom the barman, sat on a barstool looking very impatient with the two final customers between him and his bed.