Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. The use of its characters, locations, and universe in general are merely a lend. I only own the plot (and the dialogue).
A.N.: Another boring day… No, just kidding. This time, I decided to continue writing this. It's sort of relaxing, having Lily and Remus just talk about their lives (especially if it involves rather amusing circumstances). I think I'll do that every time I feel the need to space out.
Anyway, this one takes place… Shall we say, around our darling Professor's birthday? And the setting (again, not described) shall be his private quarters at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Marauders and partners in crime and life are planning a celebration for the werewolf's birthday, and Lily decides to come rather early in the morning to have a spot of tea (or coffee). It is tradition, after all.
Talks Over Coffee Mugs
March 10 1991.
"You know, I probably should warn I'm not very happy with you at the moment."
"Why ever would that be? I've just decided to surprise you with our traditional coffee and tea—"
"How can it be a surprise if it's tradition?"
"That's beside the point. And don't interrupt me, Remus. As I was saying, I come all the way over here to surprise you for your birthday – and you have no idea how much trouble I had when I told Harry he couldn't come with me, the boy is absolutely crazy to see Hogwarts—"
"Incidentally, whatever happened to your son? And my baby goddaughter, for that same matter?"
"I've left them at my sister's."
"Are you serious?"
"No, I'm Lily. But no, of course I'm not serious. I think we've already established that even if Petunia would ever be capable of taking care of a child, I'd never let one of my children with her."
"It's good to see you've got some good judgement left, then. And you really have to stop with the name puns."
"I can't help it. Too much time living with James. Anyway, Arabella's been a darling and is taking care of them till we're ready for lunch."
"Really? Are you sure it will be quite all right? After all, Harry is quite prone to magical accidents, and little Holly is already showing signs as well."
"She may be a squib, but 'Bella knows what she's doing. Her Kneazle breeds are awfully smart as well."
"You're letting her experimental felines into the house?"
"Only a couple of them. And after all, I do have to deal with Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs every now and then. What can a half-cat-half-Kneazle do I haven't seen so far?"
"True enough. And since you mentioned them, I'm sure my dear friends are planning something ghastly as a birthday surprise as well?"
"Well, of course. You know them. Except for Marlene. She's stuck with some last minute paperwork at St. Mungo's. You know how these Healers are. And as I was saying before, I come here especially for your birthday, thinking you'd enjoy my company and instead you tell me you're quite mad at me?"
"What I actually said was that I'm not very happy at the moment. But you know, I might come as far as to say I hate you right now, Lily."
"No, you don't! You love me. Now tell me whatever put you in this foul a mood that has you saying me such horrible lies."
"Honestly, you and Sirius surely are in this together."
"What's happened, darling? And what do Sirius and I have done? Come on now, I'm quite curious to know what is it this time."
"So you'd have nothing to say if I mentioned a certain someone has been acting with very inappropriate behaviour inside these very walls?"
"Oh Remus, please. I really don't need to know what happens in my ex-boyfriend's bedroom!"
"That's not what I meant!"
"Well, then do explain properly, otherwise I'll just keep taking every opportunity you give me to take a rise out of you."
"You know, your middle name really shouldn't be Angelica. There's nothing angelic about that smirk of yours right now."
"I know. But you were saying why you were mad at me. Let's see if there's reason to it."
"Humph. What I meant is that since the beginning of term in January, a certain student has been sort of… well, flirting with me, apparently."
"A student! Don't tell me—"
"Indeed. Ms. Nymphadora Tonks."
"What! Oh my!"
"Lily, this isn't funny. Really, it isn't. Come on, now. Can we please be mature about this? We are grown-ups, after all. Oh stop laughing, you madwoman!"
"Oh I'm sorry! Well, not really. I can't help it! Oh, but you're right. It's not funny."
"Thank you."
"It's hilarious!"
"Argh! You're hopeless."
"Then again, so are you."
"Yes, but right now you've overcome even the likes of me, a Marauder no less!"
"Well, you just come out and state a student of yours is bloody fancying you. What am I supposed to do but laugh at your supposed predicament?"
"Let's see. You could not laugh and help me!"
"All right, all right. Don't get your knickers in a twist. Merlin! Now what seems to be the problem?"
"Haven't you heard a word I've said? She's a student! And she's—she's unabashedly flirting with me, for Merlin's sake!"
"Oh, how I wish I was a student here again just to witness that. Ooh, has she ever done something 'inappropriate' in front of others? Now that I think of it, I do seem to own a visit to dear Severus…"
"Lily darling, you know I don't mind you plotting evil plans to laugh at my expense – with Severus Snape's company, no less – but do you think you can spare me just a moment before you go running down to the dungeons?"
"Of course, dear. Anything for you."
"As I was saying, this is completely inappropriate. And unacceptable. Yet so far she's only done it in relatively private situations. Oddly enough, there always seems to be a friend or colleague of hers close at hand. Charlie Weasley more than often."
"Is that one of Molly's boys? Oh they're such a joy."
"You say that because you don't actually have to teach them."
"Is that a challenge?"
"Not unless you want it to be. But before you take it over your head and march to the Headmaster's office requesting a teaching position here, would you please, please help me?"
"All right, no funny business anymore, I promise. Let's deal with this rationally. First, let me ask you: Do you, by any chance, reciprocate?"
"What kind of a question is that?"
"The kind that you should answer if you truly would like my help."
"Of course I don't reciprocate!"
"There's no need to shout. I don't see why not. Sirius has shown me pictures since our last talk about her. She's quite pretty (and I should say about your type). And a Metamorphmagus too! That's quite rare."
"Have you been drinking firewhiskey? Did happy hour start sooner today, by any chance? Or have you simply gone completely mental? Are you suggesting that I should date my student!"
"All I'm saying is that as of July she will no longer be your student. You shouldn't let such things get in the way of a possibly good relationship with someone you like."
"I'll ignore what you just said. Now. How can I tell her this is just wrong, and yet not hurt her feelings?"
"Hmm. All right. Clearly, you refuse to be sensible. But I'll answer you nonetheless. Ask her to talk for a moment after class, or call her to your office after classes, and explain in a mature and reasonable way that the two of you together in Hogwarts is very impractical. Stress that you are positively flattered, but this situation makes you uncomfortable, and pupil-teacher relationships are always a very delicate issue."
"Hum. That's very… reasonable, I think."
"Yes. And think like this: If she truly likes you, she wouldn't want you to be in any kind of trouble, right?"
"Are you implying I should make her feel guilty?"
"If anything else fails, then yes."
"Why would it fail?"
"Because she is Andromeda Black's daughter, who defied her entire pureblood family and society to be with the one she loved. Also, Ted Tonks is her father, and remember he didn't let himself be intimidated by the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. Or of Malfoy. Lestrange. Nott. Avery. Rosier. Well, you get the gist of it."
"You do have a point there, as stubbornness is quite a trademark of the Blacks and their descendents—"
"As we should know after years with Sirius."
"But I don't really think this is quite an issue. I'm sure this is just a bit of adolescent fancying. A tiny crush. Nothing terribly serious, of course."
"Then why were you so distressed when you told me about it?"
"…"
"Remus, all jokes aside now. I love you and I want you to be happy. But when are you going to let yourself be happy?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what I mean. You know that. You liked me when we were first here in Hogwarts, as students, and yet you did nothing about it. Even though I didn't know that, I knew I liked you. So I had to gather all my Gryffindor courage to ask you out."
"Yes, but we've been through this already. I would never do anything—"
"Because of James. I know. Before me, you never did anything about Christina Young either. And afterwards, it took a lot of planning from the boys to get you and Marlene together. I know because they told me."
"I was merely a schoolboy. You can't possibly hold that against me."
"All right. We're adults now. Even Peter has come out of his shell, and has grown up. Did you know he is bringing that Muggle girl he met to the party? He finally told her he's a wizard. Imagine, little Pete, showing such courage!"
"What's your point, Lily?"
"You once said that maybe you're destined to be a Dumbledore. I'm starting to think that's what you really wish, seeing as you don't do anything to stop it. When was the last time you went out on a date? How long has it been since you took the post for Defence and nearly closed yourself from the world outside?"
"I didn't close myself inside this castle. I do this because it's my profession, and I love it."
"I know. And I understand. But I can also sense you are… rather scared."
"Scared of what?"
"I don't know. Scared of falling in love again. Of trusting someone with your life. Of having someone else's life entrusted to you, perhaps."
"Lily…"
"I know you hate talking about it, Remus, but the lycanthrope is part of your life. You can't just cast aside your dreams of a family of your own because of fear. I remember when we were young and we used to talk of the future. You aspired something else, something other than this that nevertheless is still your dream. You made something you thought impossible to be true. You are a Professor in Hogwarts, and a very prestigious one. Why can't you do the same with the rest? What stops you?"
"You know. The society, our lives, the people…"
"I've endured almost as much prejudice as you have. I barely knew the world of magic and some just felt in the right to say I was a disgrace, that I was filthy, unworthy, scum. I was pushed down each and every day. But I fought against it. I rose higher than those who belittled me. We defied the society when a pureblood heir such as James chose to marry me. A mudblood. And even nowadays, when my essays and experiments on Charms and Potions are highly renowned, I still have to face the narrow-mindedness of some individuals. But I'd never let that stop me from reaching my goals."
"That's because you are brave."
"And so are you. You need do know when to fight, Remus. This is your time. If not now, then when?"
"…"
"…"
"My, you've made me speechless twice today! It must be a record."
"Heh. I didn't know what else to say either. It's a very trying job, to convince one Remus Lupin."
"But you've done a good job, I think. All right. Perhaps you are right. I should stop all this nonsense."
"I couldn't agree more."
"No more lethargy!"
"Wonderful!"
"I'll ask Aurora out next weekend."
"Excel—What! Who?"
"Aurora. Sinistra. Who teaches Astronomy."
"Oh Merlin…"
"What's the matter?"
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, darling. Or else the ire of a scary and potentially murderous Potions Master should fall over you."
"Are you telling me she and Severus—"
"Are something of an item, yes. Or at least it's what I've gathered from his rather cryptic messages the last few times we met."
"I'd rather not risk a conflict with my already turbulent relationship with Severus. Perhaps Emmeline would like to do something. Have you heard from her?"
"Em Vance? Last I heard she was going out with Myron Wagtail, you know the vocalist from the Weird Sisters, that new band that's all over the place."
"What? But didn't he just graduate the other day?"
"You're loosing track of time, it was about two years ago. Though she is nearly seven years his senior, if that's what you're actually asking. It was most romantic, or so I heard. She went to one of the concerts, and then he asked her to go out. He said he remembered her from his Hogwarts days, when he was a first-year and he had told his friends he'd one day go out with her, even though she was already a very popular seventh-year."
"That is actually a very nice story. Sort of like you and James."
"Hardly the same, darling."
"He did vow he'd go out with you in almost the same fashion. The only difference is that you're not seven years his senior. But I remember he actually said he'd marry you and only you, once in our fifth year."
"Was that the day you got drunk with firewhiskey for the first time?"
"I think so. Oh well. Then it's settled. I have the worse luck ever regarding women."
"I thought that was Peter's claim."
"Well, ever since he met Ms. Thomasina Lewis, his luck has changed, hasn't it?"
"Darling Tommy. She really seems to be a lovely girl. I do hope they'll stay together for good."
"He owns a magical joke shop. She's a Muggle psychologist. Where could it go wrong?"
"Yes, they are a very unlikely pair. But he's dated Merlin knows how many witches in all these years, and none of those relationships worked out. She might be just what he needed."
"True. For many years Peter has lived under the shadow of James and Sirius—"
"And yours."
"Well. Okay. But Tommy is an outsider. She would know nothing about the Marauders unless the stories we should tell her."
"Precisely. And she seems genuinely fascinated for the whole magical thing, from what Peter's told me. He took her to the shop the other day. She really admires him and his work."
"Then there's no reason those two shouldn't work."
"I do hope so. Well, will you look at that? Remus Lupin, a hopeless romantic."
"I don't know if I should feel pleased or offended. I've always been a closeted romantic."
"Please. James is a closeted romantic. You're out and about your romantic ways ever since we were what? Fifteen?"
"About that."
"And yet for the last several years you've sort of lost your romantic aura."
"Romantic aura? I'm going to keep that in mind to tease you in later coffee sessions. But you should see I wouldn't feel very romantic if my own love life is not going quite well."
"I should say non-existent, actually."
"Don't push it."
"Well, it is the truth. Maybe I should talk to darling Nymphadora about you…"
"I already said don't push it, Lily!"
"Oh relax! You're awfully easy to tease. And so fun to do it too."
"What can I say? It's a curse."
"For me, it's more like a gift. That's why I always come back to talk to you."
"Well, thank you. I thought it was because you liked my coffee."
"That too. And now that we're actually done with it, we should go. They should be expecting us by now."
"Oh yes. I bet they are."
"Must you sound so wary? They are your friends! You know they wouldn't do anything you wouldn't like."
"They are my friends. That's precisely why I'm expecting something I'm not going to like."
"Okay. I'm not going to argue with that. After all, I don't even know what's the surprise. You might be right."
"Is that supposed to be comforting?"
"Actually, the coffee was. And the talk."
"And it was. It really was. Thank you, Lily."
"You're welcomed, darling. Happy birthday, Remus."
A.N.: Thank you for reading, and to the ones who reviewed. You rock my world!