Remus Lupin had given up on finding a job within the Wizarding World and had taken up part time employment in a muggle public library. He had been saddened when the son of one of his best friends, Harry Potter, had been sent insane through the connection he had to Voldemort. When news of his death came a few weeks previously he had been almost relieved. He knew something about loosing one's mind and not being able to control ones actions because Remus was a werewolf. Roughly once a month he would be forced to transform into an animal. The recent development of wolfsbane potion allowed him to keep his mind whilst in the animal's body, but he could remember the years of transformations without it when he truly became insane with wolfish bloodlust for a few hours every lunar month. Harry had been a powerful wizard, he had mastered the patronus charm at thirteen, and so his ability to cause damage while out of his mind had been immense. Remus had secretly hoped that the healers would never bring him back to his senses because then he would have to deal with what he had done. Now that could no longer happen he could grieve properly for the loss of the young man and trust that he was better off in the next adventure.
Remus had been taken completely by surprise to find that he was a beneficiary in Harry's will. Minerva McGonagall, the deputy-headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, had been its executor. There had been three main legacies, to the Weasley family, Hermione Granger and Remus himself, as well as some allocation of items of sentimental value. When Minerva had explained things to Remus she had added that Harry hoped 'he'd be sure he spent some of it on dog biscuits.' To an outsider it would have been even more evidence that Harry's mental state had never been too good, but if you knew that Harry's godfather and Remus's best friend, Sirius Black, was an escaped convict (innocent) and on the run using his dog animagus form as cover, then the inference was obvious. Harry could hardly name the man in his will. Remus had hoped to get back some of the photographs of Harry's parents that he had sent Hagrid when he had been compiling an album for Harry, but when he asked Minerva she explained that it had been allocated to someone else.
"A close friend," she said vaguely. "I'm particularly instructed not to divulge his name, but it is not someone I know. Had there been any items of value going to him I would question the validity of the will, but since it was just personal items and a small amount of galleons I have not done so."
Remus questioned her further and found out that the jumpers that Molly Weasley had knitted for Harry as Christmas presents had gone to the same mysterious wizard, as had Harry's collection of chocolate frog cards, his owl Hedwig, and his firebolt broomstick. His invisibility cloak had gone to Ronald Weasley, his best friend. Given how rare invisibility cloaks were had the stranger been able to fix the will it was unlikely he would have passed up on the opportunity to get one.
Shortly after Harry's death, Severus Snape had killed Voldemort for the time being and the activities of the Order of the Phoenix were scaled back. No longer being required to go on missions by the Order, Remus had once again tried to enter the general workforce. The money from Harry enabled him to manage on a part time job, particularly when taken together with being able to live rent free in Sirius's house because 'having a werewolf in residence would drive my dear old mum nuts' as Sirius had put it, but really due to Sirius having to hide out there and not wanting to be alone in the place. So Remus had found this job in a library. It was pretty mindless since nobody really asked him about the books they just wanted to check them in and out and use the public computers to look things up on the internet.
Today Remus watched as a red headed man entered the muggle library. He was a head shorter than Remus himself but of about the same age and build; 'would make an ideal seeker,' he thought. The man spent a few minutes browsing the shelves and then approached Remus at the help desk.
"I'm looking for a novel," he stated. "I'm keen on the supernatural and a friend of mine recommended a book about vampires - I think it was called 'Draculate' or something, but I can't remember the author's name."
"I think you want 'Dracula'" replied Remus. "It's by Bram Stoker. I'll just have a look to see if we have it,"
"Thanks"
Remus looked the book up on the database and was able to direct the man to the relevant shelf. The next day the man returned with the book. Remus was working on the returns desk and took it from him.
"Did you like it?" he asked.
"It was entertaining, I guess," replied the red head. "If a bit odd, but not as bad as Lockhart's 'Voyages with Vampires,'"
"You've read Lockhart?"
"After a moment of insanity I ended up with his complete works."
"I didn't make it past the third page of 'Wanderings with Werewolves.' What sort of information on vampires were you after?"
"Well…" The man's reply was interrupted by a loud clearing of the throat from the person behind him. A queue had formed.
"Look," said Remus. "I'm due a cigarette break in half an hour. If you're still around then you could join me and I could point you towards the relevant books."
"Thanks, I'll let you get on." As Remus dealt with the other library patrons his mind was on the red head. The man's accent suggested he was English and judging by his age he should have been a contemporary of Remus at Hogwarts, but Remus did not recognize him. He could be a squib, yet the man had known that Remus was a wizard, so he must have recognized him, unless he could see magical auras. Voldemort might be gone but Moody would still recommend 'Constant Vigilance.' As he had only two days before when the Order had met to discuss the man who had been spotted looking up and down the street and enquiring about how to find number twelve, that had been a red head. Remus had to be careful around a strange wizard, and yet he could not picture a Death Eater using a muggle library. When it was time for his break he made eye contact with the wizard and gestured to the door. Once outside they went to stand around the side of the building.
"I don't actually smoke," explained Remus. "But everyone else gets cigarette breaks so I thought I should too. Anyway, my name's Remus Lupin."
"I'm David."
"David?"
"Yeah, just David. I had another name at some point but these days it's just David."
"I don't recognize you from Hogwarts."
"I wasn't at Hogwarts with you."
"So how…?"
"Did I know you were a wizard? You knew who Lockhart was, with the name 'Remus' on your badge I thought you might. I'm curious; why are you working in the muggle world?" He frowned, "You're not an auror are you? I haven't broken your cover?"
Remus laughed bitterly, "No, don't worry, I'm not an auror. I'm just a bit fed up with the Wizarding World at the moment so I thought I would spend some time in the muggle one. What about you? I don't think many wizards spend time in muggle libraries."
"I was raised by muggles; I'm sort of rediscovering my heritage. I do odd jobs here and there until I build up enough money for a few months and then I throw myself into my research. Sometimes I hit a brick wall and escape for a bit with a muggle novel."
"So you're not actually looking for information on vampires?"
"No, I'm afraid I got you to waste your break under false pretences. I've already read most of what's in the British Library on vampires. I've met a few too. Do you read 'Beastly Advances?"
"I have a lifetime subscription. Wait a minute, the article about vampire hierarchies in the last issue; that was by a 'David.'"
"Yeah, that was mine."
"I forgive the false pretences. It is a pleasure to meet you, but as much as I am enjoying our conversation, I need to get back to work. Perhaps we could continue some time?"
"It's been nice meeting you. I'll give you my mobile number; if you can handle a library computer I'm sure you can use a phone. I'm afraid owls other than my own can't reach me because I travel a lot. Give me a call some time." David pulled a business card out of his pocket and handed it over.
He apparated away as Remus looked at the card. There was a photograph of a dragon on one side. The dragon was breathing fire and then David walked into shot and the dragon calmed down and David approached him and scratched him behind his ear. It was all highly improbable. On the other side were simply the words 'David - Problem Solver' with a telephone number below. Despite what Moody's opinion would be Remus knew that he would be calling David from a telephone box on his way home to Grimmauld Place. He definitely wanted to get to know him better.