Yorkshire, England

June 22

Remus Lupin stood glaring at the neatly stacked rows of tinned beans in utter despair. The lacklustre cans wrapped in brilliant blue packaging promised "great quality and great taste," but the penniless wizard knew better.

He could almost taste the metallic legumes, drowning in cheap tomato sauce as he flung three cans into his basket with disdain.

Mentally tallying up his bill, Remus trudged towards the bakery. The faint hum of the harsh fluorescent lights were broken only by the sound of his worn out loafers tracking across the tile.

He fingered the handful of loose change in the darned pocket of his trousers and sighed loudly, wondering if he'd have enough to spare for a toffee.

It had been over three months since his last source of income, and money was tight - more so than usual if that were even possible - which was why he found himself shopping at a Muggle grocer's. One galleon was barely enough for a couple of chocolate frogs in Diagon Alley, but here he could get a weeks worth of beans on toast for the same amount.

He knew he shouldn't be complaining, but at this point, Remus was ready to give up a working limb for a proper scrap of food - or better yet, a proper wage.

Perhaps he would take another look at the Ministry's job board tomorrow; get his name back in the queue. A small voice at the back of his head told him it wouldn't make a difference since they'd never hire someone - no - something like him.

Sighing through his nose while trying his best not to stare at the tantalizing array of fresh meat, Lupin finally made it to the wall of packaged breads at the back of the store.

His olive green eyes did a quick scan of the bright yellow price tags, climbing ever higher until he found the cheapest brand nestled securely on the topmost shelf.

Thankful for his tall build, he reached up and plucked a single loaf from its perch with ease, watching as a small cloud of dust danced in the air at the disturbance.

"I reckon you wouldn't even need a stool to reach those crates up there."

The voice almost made Remus jump out of his skin as he turned on the man, nearly snarling.

A small, slightly balding Muggle adorned in a bright red apron was standing before him, blue eyes studying the wizard up and down with sudden interest.

"You wouldn't fancy a job here, would you?"

Tinsley's Tally

June 25

Remus shifted uncomfortably, his arse sore from sitting on an unevenly padded chair in the tiny, air conditioned office of the store owner.

Numerous awards and certificates were strewn across the stark white walls, and what he had been unable to squeeze upon the alabaster drywall was shoved into a large pile in the corner.

Each award was decorated with the same man; small, slightly balding and positively beaming out from under a pair of thick, black spectacles.

The same man who now sat in front of Remus, rattling off the code of conduct as though it were something he rehearsed in his sleep.

Terrance Tinsley, owner of Tinsley's Tally, had graciously offered Remus work as a shelf stocker - a position which in reality, the Hogwarts graduate was far too overqualified for.

But he didn't care. He would finally be able to buy fresh food! Fresh fruit, vegetables and sweets!

Even fresh meat…

The prospect nearly made him dizzy with excitement.

"Any questions?" Terry asked politely, turning his round face up towards Remus.

The tall, ungainly wizard shook his head confidently as though he had been listening and tried to shift his weight in the chair once more, eager to start his new job.

A muscle in his back tightened painfully in protest at the movement and Lupin stiffly sank back into the chair, conceding defeat to his aching joints.

Despite only being 26, Remus knew his body was deteriorating at a much faster rate than he cared to admit. Something which was rather common among those who shared his...affliction.

"Excellent! Welcome aboard!"

Tinsley reached over to shake Remus' hand in congratulations. His blue eyes shining with genuine warmth as he gave his newest employee a satisfied look over.

"Much obliged, Terrance," Lupin responded earnestly.

I wonder how eager he'd be to take that hand if he knew what it belonged to.

The sneering voice that appeared a week before the full moon now seemed to be whispering into his ear, trying to lure the beast from its slumber…

Remus gave himself a slight shake.

"Ah! Almost forgot!" the man snapped his fingers before he dove into a cardboard bin next to his desk. The sound of crinkling cellophane filling the air as he pulled out a bright red smock sealed neatly in a clear plastic bag. Smiling widely, Terry tossed the pristine garment over to Remus who caught it with ease.

"Don't forget, that's your uniform, and you wear it proudly! Now let's go show off my new recruit to the rest of the team!"

Lupin blanched at the thought of being paraded around the tiny grocery store, forcing introductions with Muggles he would invariably do his best to avoid.

Terrance seemed to sense his reservations, but smiled toothily at him. "I promise, they won't bite."

The small Muggle turned swiftly on his heel and marched out the door, but had Terry stayed just a moment longer, he would have seen the blood drain from Remus' face at his poor choice of words