Disclaimer: I own Remus Lupin. And I'm a lobster with opposable thumbs if you believe that.

Wednesday, October 1983

It seemed that the weather worsened day by day. The sky streaked with haze and it looked to soon rain. That didn't stop the cars zooming past for work, or the businessmen striding over a walk with a paper in hand, coffee in the other while trying to speak on the phone at the same time; not as impressive as some you saw holding up an umbrella, hailing a cab, holding their coffee, rolling up their paper, and speaking on their phone. But it seemed that the fact that it was the middle of the week was what kept the working class going; 'twas almost the weekend, and that was good enough for them.

Remus's lethargic state after coping from the recent Full Moon had now passed, and he was free to stride amongst the crowds without a cane, a limp, or a wince. Happy with his reinstated well-being, or well enough at least, he strode out of his house and out through the mostly quiet and sometimes abandoned part of the city he lived within. He came to see that he felt far more relaxed the rest of the day if he strolled in the morning, as he had been doing for the past few days. So he came to the conclusion upon making a habit of it. He passed the flats of the neighborhood, the street crossings, and the crowds of pedestrians; walking left when others went right, slowed his pace down when others sped up, and walked against the groups of people instead of with them. The cool wind brushed over the middle-aged man's face, nipping at his pallid nose and ears until they turned a light crimson shade as he walked opposing the gale, head turned downwards a bit.

His overused brown shoes took him back towards his park again. With the same little spots of overgrown weeds by the gateway, the same messy gravel, and the same partially cracked walk in front of it. Down the path, past the quarreling squirrels, around the bend, and away from the elderly bench-dwellers he went. It was apparent that all the children were anticipating the time whence all the leaves floated down from the trees, creating piles that were easily pounce-able. When you raked up all the fallen foliage into piles just to grab them in handfuls and toss them high into the air, amusingly twirling amongst them when they soared back downwards to be askew on the lawn again. That was the love of Fall, so it seemed.

Stretching his lean arms out lazily, Remus plopped down onto his usual bench, which greeted him with a light creaking noise as he rested upon it. His soft eyes raked the skies above for nothing really in particular, or so he subconsciously thought, while his feet tapped softly on the lush green grass beneath him. He didn't mind the cold air particularly this day, for his spot was of great comfort. He looked fixatedly at the rusting metal of the arm rest as if it was of fascination before crossing his arms over his chest. It was strange, but he felt like speaking with someone again. True, he wasn't technically talking to anyone when that bird was around, but at least it was something. It helped him get things off his chest, and relaxed him.

And with brown eyes that have the seeming of a demon that is dreaming, like clockwork the listening blackbird swooped down to a halt beside Remus on the bench.

He chuckled softly at the sight. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you actually wanted to listen to my stories." He hadn't given the bird any food, so why would it return so avidly?

Stifling a yawn behind a hand, he turned his head to look at the rest of the park. "I must be a blasted fool to be talking to a bird-" But when his gaze returned to look beside him, the friendly blackbird was absent of place.

Instead there was a woman seated there, with long glistening black hair and brown eyes, hands folded on her lap as she looked back at him.

Remus nearly jumped in surprise. "Er...you weren't...I was just...there was a bird here.." The woman merely nodded. "Yes...I was the bird."

"You were the bird?" He repeated, confused. "An Animagi?"

"Yeah...I can turn into a blackbird. I often fly 'round the park here when I get bored every morning...which is often, let me assure you." She looked just a bit younger than Remus, and spoke rather casually.

"...were you the same bird I've.." He continued, trailing off after thinking about how much he had talked to an animal about things. Well, not really an animal, he supposed.

"Yes, the very same bird you spoke to for the past couple of days." Upon seeing his uneasy expression, she turned to look at him again. "Oh...I'm sorry if I intruded on your privacy or...or something like that. I just was curious about you is all. And when you spoke to me, you sounded so...so..."

"Pathetic?" Remus finished for her, sitting rigidly in his spot. "Foolish? Wondering why I'd tell my life story to a bird?"

"No...no, of course not. Not pathetic just..." She sighed, not being able to finish her thoughts. "I'm sorry. Really, I am. I should've at least showed you I was an actual person earlier.."

After an awkward pause, in which songbirds twittered softly above in the trees, Remus gave her another sideways glance. "Goes to show you how you're not safe to speak out loud to anything..." He was vexed by meeting this new Witch, and how odd a meeting it was. But he also thought how good it felt to have someone to speak to.

"Again, I'm sorry." She replied quietly, looking downwards for a moment. "Here, why don't we start over...I'm Nimisha." The woman extended her hand in Remus's direction slowly.

He hesitantly looked down at her hand before finally taking it, shaking it lightly in greeting. "I'm Remus."

Fin

Well...that's it. Not too grand and jazzed up, I know. But I'd love reviews. Even if they're to be filled with criticism.