Sunday, April 12 – 12:00 pm

 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Liam stood outside The Silver Goblet waiting.  It was noon according to his watch, but he didn't see the old man anywhere.  No, not 'old man'.  He is Mr. Lupin - Rory's father.  Liam was willing to be as polite and understanding as he possibly could with Lupin for Roarke's sake.  He wasn't going to cause any trouble and was determined to win the man over.  Getting on badly with the old man was no way to impress his daughter, Liam reasoned. 

He looked up at the sign making sure he had the right place.  The Silver Goblet - that's what Lupin had said.  Liam chuckled to himself at the irony of the situation.  He had to give Lupin credit for his sense of humor.  Two werewolves meeting in a place named for an object neither of them could touch.  He was certain he had the location correct, and he distinctly remembered Lupin saying noon.  So where was he?

Liam decided to wait inside.  If Lupin didn't show up, at least then Liam would be able to  enjoy his lunch.  He opened the heavy door and glanced around the room. A man in the far corner caught his eye and waved at him.  It was Remus Lupin.  Liam forced a smile and headed over to the table. 

"Sorry I'm late," he said even though he knew he wasn't.  There was no need to tell Lupin he had been waiting outside for the past few minutes.  Lupin would just say Liam should have been smart enough to come inside.

"It's no problem," Lupin responded mildly.  "I'm usually early.  My wife teases me about it even.  She says my idea of on time is actually ten minutes early."  He motioned to the chair opposite him.  "Please, sit down."

Liam took in the details of Remus' face.  Now that he knew Roarke was his daughter, he couldn't help but notice the similarities between sthe two.  And it wasn't difficult to conclude that the eyes looked better on Roarke.  Lupin' eyes were deeper set than Roarke's were, and it didn't help matters that Remus had dark circles under his eyes.  Then again, so did Liam. 

A house elf came to the table and Liam ordered a butterbeer.  Remus ordered tea.  Liam gave himself a mental kick.  He should have waited for Lupin to order first, that way he would have known to order something simple. 

"Now then, how have things been?"             Remus asked.

"Good," Liam replied.

Remus raised his eyebrows at him.  "And your transformation?"

Liam with held the smart comment on the tip of his tongue.  "It was worse than what I expected, this month, I must admit.  But then, the moon was at Perigee," Liam pointed out.

"One of the reason's I made this appointment to meet with you to see how you fared.  The Perigree moon is always the roughest."

The comment struck Liam the wrong way, but the house elf had returned to the table with their drinks.  Liam waited for him to leave before he said anything.  Remus took a sip of his tea casually while Liam just glared at him.  "I'm sorry, but did you just say you purposefully wanted to see how I was after the perigee moon?

"Yes, why?"

Again, Liam had to bite his tongue.  "I just wondered why you didn't give me any warning about it.  I mean, seeing as how you are my guide though all this, shouldn't you have told me what to expect?'

"Sometimes it is better to not know.  If I had told you to expect the worst pain you would ever feel, you might have panicked and that would have made matters worse.  You'll find the wolf is very sensitive to your emotional state."

"But you could have at least told me what perigee was."

Remus looked slightly taken aback.  "I assume by the fact that you're using the term that you know what it means."

"I had never even heard the word until Rory explained about it yesterday after finding me in a heap on the kitchen floor.."

"Rory?"

Liam shut his mouth quickly.  Had he really just said her name?  He promised her that he wouldn't mention her to her father, and here he just did.  Thankfully, he had referred to her as Rory, not Roarke.  Maybe Lupin wouldn't make the connection.

"Who is Rory?"

"Just… a friend of mine."  Liam took a drink of his butterbeer and avoided Lupin's eyes. 

"Someone from your building?"

Liam pursed his lips.  Naturally Lupin would think the only people I get along with are other inmates under ministry supervision.  "No," he replied dryly. 

"What was he doing in your flat yesterday?  I hazard to guess that you were in no condition for company."

Liam needed to change the topic.  "Can we just not talk about it?  I don't think it's any of your business anyway."

"Actually it is.  You see Liam, I'm not just here to make sure that you take care of yourself, but I'm to teach you how to keep those around you out of danger.  If you had a guest in your flat during the full moon..."

"That's not what happened.  Rory didn't show up until the next day." Liam spat outsnarled in frustration.  "As my personal life is none of your business, can we just forget I ever mentioned it and move on?"

"No, we can't."

The house elf interrupted them. "Are sirs ready to order?'  The creature looked from Liam to Lupin and back again. Liam took the opportunity to change the subject.

"Do you have beets?" he asked the house elf.

"Oh, yes, sir.  Lots of beets."

"Then I'll take a burger, medium rare.  And load it up with beets."

The elf looked confused at the request.  "Sir is wanting his beets on his burger?"

"Yup."

"And for you, sir?"

"What's the soup today?"

Liam repressed a laugh.

"We is not making soup today, sir, only stew."

"Then I'll have that."

Once the elf was gone, Liam laughed.  "What is it with you people and soup?" Liam asked without thinking.  "First vegetable and now stew?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Nothing," Liam said, taken aback that he had almost given it way yet again.  He was not accustomed to having to hide anything, ever.

"Now then, is this Rory person someone you are physically drawn to?" Lupin's tone was even and measured.

Liam frowned darkly at Remus  "Are you still on about that?"

"Well, if you're starting to date then you need to be careful!"

"Careful?"  Is he really going where I think he's going?  "Don't tell me this is going to become a talk about safe sex.  I know that I can't pass this curse on through sex.  I'm not infectious or anything.  So don't tell me that I…"

"I'm not worried so much about your prospective partners as I am about you, Liam.  YOU have to be careful?"

"Why?"

"Because casual sex is not an option for you anymore."

"Now hang on!  I don't appreciate you assuming I just sleep with every one I meet.  I'm not like that.  Nor do I think you need to tell me about how to behave when I'm alone with someone.  I've done just fine without your advice, Old Man."

"Other than this Rory person, have you been with anyone since you were bitten."  Lupin's tone was almost annoyingly calm and matter of fact.

"I'm not answering that."

"Fine.  I just think you need to realize that homosexual couples bond the same way heterosexual couples do.  So don't think you can get out of it."

"What?" Liam said in utter confusion.  "Are you making a pass at me?"

Remus looked just as confused as Liam.  "Heavens, no!  I am married!"

"Then why are you talking about homosexuals?"

Remus became visibly paler.  "Because…well because you and Rory.  Isn't he the one you desire to be with?"

"Rory is a she.  I am not….I like girls, okay?"

"She?  But Rory is a boy's name."

Rorake really is just like her father

"Are you telling me you had a woman in your apartment?"

"Don't sound so surprised.  It's not as if it's the first time I've ever had a woman spend the night."

"She spent the night?  Oh dear."  Lupin sipped his tea again.  "Liam, I had hoped that you would have read up on some of this.  You have so much to learn about lycanthropy before you make a rash decision like making love to anyone."

"I never said I made love to her!"

"I know you didn't," Lupin said pointedly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean that had you actually made love to this Rory person, you would not be sitting here talking about them as if it were just a one night stand!  You are a werewolf, Liam.  You can't just go around flirting with whomever you please.  There are differences that you probably aren't even aware of yet!"

"And I suppose you're going to tell me."

"For the sake of argument let's just assume you haven't done anything yet.  Maybe just a quick kiss after dinner.  Can you remember Rory's scent?"

"What?"

"The scent.  Can you remember it?" 

The conversation had taken a decided turn for the worse.  Liam shifted uncomfortably and tried to think of a way to get out of this conversation.  He was not about to tell the old man that he knew Roarke's scent.

"I'll take that as a yes.   She…" Remus said emphasizing the pronoun just a bit.  "… was in your apartment – can you pick up her scent on the pieces of furniture she sat on?  Or how about the way she breathes…or her heart beat…did you pick up on any of that?"

Liam looked away, unwilling to admit that the old man was right.

"Your senses are heightened, Liam.  And I dare say, the closer you get to a partner, the harder it is to maintain an appropriate distance."

"Yeah, but that goes for anyone.  The more you get to know someone, the more they grow on you.  I don't see how my being a werewolf really changes anything."

"You will when you really kiss her."

The house elf returned to the table, bringing the conversation to a dead stop.   He set the plates of food on the table carefully.  Once he was gone, Liam took a bite of his burger and, with his mouth full, said, "So, what you're trying to say is that I'll be stuck forever with the next woman I sleep with."

"Liam, you are oversimplifying things.  And I don't appreciate that you are not taking this seriously," Remus began. "Becoming involved with someone should be the last thing on your mind right now.  There is so much you still have to learn about living with your condition yourself!"

"I believe that's my decision, Mr. Lupin," Liam said, a dangerous edge in his voice.

Lupin pressed a hand to the bridge of his nose as if massaging a dull ache throbbing right behind his eyes., but continued in the same, irritatingly placid tone.  "Liam, I am only trying to guide you through, to help—" 

Liam cut Lupin off with a harsh laugh, and Lupin finally gave up on the subject.  "Fine, then.  Go ahead and do whatever you want to do.  You are an adult and can make your own decisions.  Just know that if you come to me in a few weeks complaining that the person you have chosen to mate with is now refusing you, I will have little sympathy."  Liam bit back a retort with a supreme amount of effort and they ate in an angry silence for several more minutes.

Lupin took a bite of his stew.  "My real purpose this afternoon is to talk to you about your testimony."

"I thought I wouldn't be testifying until they had Oliver in custody?"

"Precisely."  Lupin said, but Liam only looked at him in confusion.  "Didn't you get a letter from the Ministry of Magic?"

"No.  Why?"  Liam asked. 

Lupin reached under the table for his tattered, old brief case.  He pulled out a letter and closed the case again.  "Here, look at this."

Liam opened the letter and read:

Dear Mr. Lupin,

It is our understanding that you have been assigned by Mr. Williams, Administrator of the Werewolf Registry of the Department for the Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures, Beast Division, to assist Mr. Liam Zetter, the werewolf allegedly attacked and bitten by one Mr. Oliver Kent, to function within the bounds of the law and learning to manage his new status.  This letter is to inform you that Mr. Kent is now in the custody of the criminal ward at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.  Mr. Kent is facing multiple charges related to two attacks during the full moon.  A trial is set for the 20th day of May..

Mr. Zetter is to be present at said hearing, where he will be required to provide testimony regarding the circumstances surrounding and giving rise to the attack on him allegedly committed by Mr. Kent.  You are requested to aid and assist Mr. Zetter in obtaining counsel if any is needed in his preparation for said trial.  As such, Mr. Zetter should be advised of his legal rights and obligations of an individual with his lycanthropic condition, pursuant to British Magical Law, Statute 246 section 32. 

Please notify the Werewolf Capture Unit by owl at least five days prior to the hearing of any special arrangements, assistance, or security that may be required, or if you experience any difficulty in obtaining legal advice.  However, if you are unable to locate a solicitor willing to work with Mr. Zetter due to his condition, you are instructed to assist Mr. Zetter as best you can yourself.  Mr. Williams will no doubt be willing to provide you with all necessary legal references.

With best regards,

Dorcus Dowerby

Werewolf Capture Unit

Ministry of Magic

Liam read the letter again, not sure he caught the full meaning the first time.  Questions flooded his mind in a jumbled mess.  He opened his mouth and asked the first one that managed to make it's way out.  "Multiple charges related to two attacks?  What are they on about?"

"Mr. Kent try to attack some Muggle children while the moon was at perigee."

Liam shuddered.  "Tried?"

"He was unsuccessful as their father spotted him and used a Muggle shot gun against him.  That is why he is in St. Mungo's."

Liam looked over the letter again.  "Locate a solicitor willing to work…like that's going to happen.  I suppose this means I have to rely on you to help me navigate the court system. This place is barbaric!"  He tossed the letter down on the table and sat back, hard, in anger.

"I assure you, Liam, I don't relish the prospect any more than you."  Lupin pocketed the letter and took another bite of his stew.  "However, you are in luck.  I happen to be acquainted with a very fine solicitor who does not have issues working with werewolves."

Liam scowled at him, fighting back the desire to make a snide comment about the kind of lawyers Lupin must know.  "Who?"

"His name is Sirius Black.  I spoke to him before I arrived here to be certain he has time to help with your testimony.  He was quite anxious to meet you and has tomorrow evening free.  He's invited us over to his home office to discuss the case.  I trust you are available?"

"No, I'm not," Liam said without hesitation.

Remus looked surprised.  "You have something more important that discussing what will be required of you to obtain your freedom?"

"I wouldn't word it like that, but it is important to me."

Lupin wasn't going to give in this time.  "Mr. Black is a very busy person.  He is an excellent barrister and will be providing you with his assistance at no charge.  You won't get another offer like this, Liam.  I highly suggest that your consider your priorities on this matter and reschedule your plans."

Liam thought about the options; an actual date with Roarke, or sitting around talking about his freedom with a couple of old yobbos.  The first was certainly more appealing, but he knew he had no choice but to take the second option.  "I'll work something out.  Where and what time do I meet Mr. Black?"

"We'll meet after dinner at 7:30.  I understand that you are unable to use the floo and are restricted from Apparating.  I'll be by your flat around 7:15 to take you to Mr.  Black's home."

"Cheers," Liam said, hiding his disappointment in the fact that he wouldn't be able to see Roarke.  He was also concerned that Lupin might show up at the same time Roarke did.  He would just have to do what he could to keep them apart.  "Do I need to bring anything?"

"Just yourself.  We'll work on your look later."

"My look?  What do you mean?"

Lupin sized him up and down.  "Oh you know, your hair and your robes.  When the date of the hearing is closer, we'll pick out something decent for you to wear and get you a trim."

Liam lost his resolve to try and make a good impression. "Yeah, sure.  And while we're at it, let's get you a new wardrobe and a good dye job on that hair."

Lupin stopped eating and gave Liam a piercing look.  "Listen, I am doing this to help you.  I won't force you to accept my help, but I assure you that the Ministry will find a reason to keep you in this country under supervision forever if you aren't well prepared.    This requires you to behave a certain way and look a certain way.  I will do everything in my power to make sure you have what you need to convince them to let you return to Australia.  But you need to trust me on a few things."

Liam looked away, slightly ashamed.  "Fine.  But you're not cutting my hair just so I can be a show pony."

"We'll see."

The two men ate in stony silence for a while.  Liam was overcome with the feeling that he was a trapped animal.  "Can't we just ask them to move the court date up?  Like you said, the sooner the better."

"No we can't.  May 20th is the new moon.  The Ministry is hardly willing to have three of us in the same room at the same time without taking precautions."

"But it seems so far off!"

"I'm not pleased with the date either, if you must know.   That happens to be my daughter's birthday."

Liam stopped chewing his burger.  May 20th is Roarke's birthday?  "Really," he managed to say.  There was something he had been wondering about Rory for a while now, and it wasn't something that women generally enjoyed discussion.  Perhaps he could get it out of Lupin.  "How old is your daughter?"

"She'll be seventeen."

Liam choked on his food.  Good GOD!  She's sixteen?  "That's er…that's young."

Lupin chuckled slightly.  "It makes me feel old.  Annie is my youngest you see."

Youngest.  Rory mentioned a younger sister.  That means Rory is a bit older.  Acting very aloof as if he were just making small talk, Liam asked, "And how old is your other daughter?"

"How did you know I had another daughter?"

Liam's eyes went wide.  "I didn't.  I just…you know…you said she was the youngest.  That means you have others right?"

Lupin smiled slightly.  "Yes, I have one son and two daughters.  My eldest, Malcolm, is twenty-two.  Now that makes me feel really old."

That puts Rory somewhere between seventeen and twenty-three.  I can handle that.

"And, to save you the trouble of asking, Roarke, my middle child, will be nineteen in June."

Liam's stomached did a flip-flop.  Lupin had just said her name.  He said it differently than Liam said it.  The vowel sound in the middle was much more sing-song like when Lupin said it, and the "K" was softer.  But he got what he needed and more.  Roarke was eighteen.  That was young, but not too young.  And her birthday was in June, which is good to know as girls rarely appreciate it when a man forgets their birthday.

The house elf returned to the table with a bill.  Lupin picked it up casually and looked it over.  "I'll get this one, Liam, as I asked you here today."  Lupin paid for the food, and the lunch ended in silence.