After twenty minutes of awkward hellos and handshakes, a flurry of names and faces he had already forgotten and an embarrassing trip over an uneven patch of tiles, Remus was eager to head home.
Smoothing out the creased apron over his chest impatiently, he glanced at the tattered wrist watch that hung, one size too big, off his arm.
2:48
Still three hours before he could run off towards the shrubbery behind the store and apparate to Lupin Cottage - a tumbledown, semi-derelict building that sat on an enormous stretch of land, surrounded by nothing save an immense forest and a thin, winding river for miles on each side. Not to mention Ministry grade Muggle Repelling and Protection Charms.
It wasn't much, but it was home.
Remus pictured his deep blue, moth eaten sofa with a wistful smile as It called out to him, urging him to waste away within its warm confines along with good book and a hot cup of tea.
But alas - books and tea would do little to satisfy his near constant hunger.
"Ah yes," said Terrance suddenly, as though he could read minds. "If you're ever peckish go ahead and help yourself to some fruit - just don't eat it out in the open, mind you."
Terrance tossed a bright green apple in Lupin's direction, which was gratefully caught and tucked into the front pouch of his brand new smock before they strolled past the neatly stacked pyramids of Granny Smiths, oranges and melons.
"Let's see, what else…" Terry clapped his hands together and began rubbing them under his nose as though trying to start a fire. "Oh, June! Come here a bit, would you?"
The scatterbrained man (now completely distracted) called over to a small figure who had slipped out from the aisle ahead. By the way her shoulders slumped at the sound of her name, Remus expected she had hoped to sneak past them unnoticed.
A young girl with blonde hair came trudging towards them, her blue eyes nearly invisible under the jet black shadow which had been inexpertly smeared across her lids. She had a small, pointed face and was loudly smacking a piece of gum between her teeth as she pulled up in front of the two men, hands placed on her hips.
"June, this is Remus, our new shelf stocker!" Tinsley declared proudly, brandishing the slightly smiling wizard towards her as though announcing the Minister for Magic himself.
June was far less impressed by him.
She gave him a quick look over, eyes lingering on the patchwork clearly visible on his trousers before raising a thin eyebrow up at him in distaste. A bright pink bubble blew out from between her lips and popped loudly.
Lupin simply smiled at her and held out his hand. He was used to being treated like the walking plague, so anything short of running and screaming was fine in his books.
The young Muggle stared at his hand, one of the few places on his body that was not ravaged by scars, and blew another pink bubble in reply. "Charmed," she said through a thick Irish accent, even though she sounded anything but.
Remus shrugged and pocketed his greeting, not bothered in the slightest by the girl's attitude - he didn't blame her for not wanting to touch him.
Terrance however, looked mortified. He gave June a reproachful look. "This young lass," he started, adding an emphasis on her blatant lack of maturity, "is one of our cashiers…"
But at that moment a familiar, wonderful aroma filled the wizard's nostrils and the two people in front of him ceased to exist. He turned his nose up to sniff the air like a dog who had just caught scent of its favourite treat, stomach rumbling in response.
Cinnamon… nutmeg…a dash of cloves
It was unmistakable; apple pie.
Half expecting to see his mother with her warm smile and purple flowered apron rounding a corner with his favourite Sunday night dessert, Remus frantically searched the store for the source of the smell. But the longer he looked, the more painfully the aroma tugged at his heartstrings. Visions of his parents together swam before his eyes, of their warm embrace and kind smiles. Memories of home, friends and family - of happier times filled his head like a swirling school of fish. But what once brought him great joy, now only served as a stark reminder that he was completely and utterly alone.
His green eyes prematurely gave up their search for the pastry, but just as he turned his head, his eyes caught on something.
A short ways from the wall of packaged breads where Terrance had first offered him the job, was an open style kitchen with a massive display of confectionery out front. A large brick oven with blindingly polished door handles covered the entire back wall (no doubt also the source of the pie) and a white granite counter surrounded the rest of the small space.
However, what held Remus' gaze was not the inordinate amount of chocolates on display, or the rainbow coloured macarons teetering on fancy pedestals, but the woman who currently stood in the middle of the kitchen.
She was...extraordinary.
Lupin felt an involuntary sigh escape his lips as he watched her work; she was rolling out a thick slab of dough as though it were the most important job in the world, her dark brows furrowing intensely as she bobbed up and down, kneading the pastry. A tendril of soft brown hair had escaped her hairnet and she blew out of the corner of her mouth to keep it from her eyes, wrinkling her nose as the rogue curl tickled her sun-kissed skin.
She suddenly stopped her rhythmic pressing, stepped back from the counter and stretched her arms over her head. The action inadvertently drawing his gaze to her well defined breasts...
"Remus? Remus!"
Terry's voice was like a bucket of ice water, making Lupin jump a foot in the air as though he had been voicing his indecent thoughts aloud. He turned to acknowledge the pair before him with red, glowing ears.
Terrance seemed concerned, but June stared at him as though he were mental. She followed his gaze over to the bakery, blue eyes flicking back onto him like a whip as they narrowed shrewdly in understanding. "Looks like he'd rather be chatting with someone else."
Tinsley snapped his head over, spotted the woman and broke out into a huge grin. "Oh yes!" He squeaked with excitement, nearly jumping out of his well polished shoes. "Come, come - Almost forgot to show you my favourite part of the store!"
June's eyes nearly rolled into the back of her head.
Remus would have smiled at the balding Muggle who was now halfway towards the kitchen, but he could feel his heart beating faster with trepidation - he didn't want to be introduced to her. She would take one look at him and see him for the disgrace that he was.
"You daft or something?" June's Irish accent broke through his internal debate as she watched him remain motionless, staring after Terry with a pained look on his face. "You're supposed to follow 'im; little miss perfect won' leave her kitchen for the likes of you."
Without sparing so much as a glance at the indignant teenager, he decided to follow after his manager amidst the bitter muttering that came from behind him.
The son of Lyall Lupin barely took five long strides before he was right behind Tinsley, his bald patch gleaming like a beacon under the white lights as the intoxicating smell of fresh pie became stronger and stronger with every step. His heart pounding faster and faster as they approached her…
Turn around. Tuck your miserable tail between your legs and run. She doesn't want to look at a monster like you...
"Working hard, or hardly working, eh Neoma?"
Nee-oh-ma.
Remus' stomach lurched at the sound of her name. He swished it around his head like a glass of fine sherry, letting each syllable coat his thoughts with its sweet aftertaste.
The girl stopped working, the faintest trace of a frown tugging at the corner of her mouth as she set down the enormous rolling pin in her flour caked hand.
She looked up, dark eyes absorbing the pair as a contemplative expression settled on her dusky features.
She eyed him curiously and Lupin felt sick under her gaze.
Smile. Wave at her. No! Don't get too friendly...Merlin - Do something!
He wanted to play it cool and flash her a grin but instead remained nonplussed, gaping at her like an idiot.
"Terrance, what can I help you with?" She asked politely, her attention had returned to the small store owner who was leaning against the pristine glass cooler, beaming down at the cakes and pies that littered the shelves like an expectant child.
"Neoma dear, I would like to introduce you to someone very special."
Lupin stared in abject horror as Terry built up the introduction. He could see her smile fondly at the man, but her eyes looked fatigued, as though Terry were an old nut whose ramblings she'd been forced to sit through one too many times.
"Hmm, and who could that be?" Her smooth, deep voice - although very English - had a strong American accent, as though she'd spent several years abroad.
"None other than this strapping young lad…"
Oh God, please stop.
He reached over and pulled a grey faced, stumbling wizard towards the counter.
"...Remus Lupin, our very new shelf stocker!"
Standing this close to her was like staring into the Sun. Her beauty was nearly blinding and he couldn't tell if he was actually squinting or if the adrenaline coursing through his body was simply clouding his vision.
Her honey coloured skin was flawless and warm, vividly bringing to attention her thick, hickory tinted brows which arched slightly over the most beautiful pair of chocolate brown eyes the man had ever seen. Her nose was buttoned and sat close above a pair of heart shaped lips which were now upturned as she offered him a weak smile.
But Remus barely noticed - he wanted to duck behind the counter and hide, feeling more and more like an animal under her steady gaze. But the seconds ticked by in silence and Remus could only imagine what she saw before her; a pallid, sallow faced bean pole with greying hair and more disfigurements than she could count.
Like June, Neoma gave the quivering man a quick once over. But unlike the other girl, her almond shaped eyes flitted carelessly over his shabby clothing, instead lingering on the massive scar that stretched diagonally across his now scarlet face.
He caught her staring and ducked his head in shame, and she immediately looked away as a shroud of awkward silence settled over them.
Of course she would notice his imperfections first, they were disgusting and horrible - just like him.
Just turn and bolt out the door, you can find another job elsewhere.
But before he could make a move, Neoma wiped her palms on the front of her dirty red smock and extended a hand in greeting.
"Very nice to meet you, Lupin."
She was smiling a bit too wide - although careful not to show her teeth, he noticed - obviously still feeling guilty for her previous scrutiny.
"Please, call me Remus," the man blurted breathlessly, a near hysterical tone to his voice
The girl smiled again and nodded once, "Remus," she confirmed, her hand still hanging in the air before him.
He could feel something deep inside him begin to bubble and spark, slowly working through his limbs until it felt like he would give off electricity.
Was this excitement? Desire? Happiness? He didn't know, but there was another force working just as hard within him, and that was the crushing weight of self-loathing and guilt.
He didn't want to mar her outstretched palm with his hands which would soon be huge, hairy paws clawing at his own skin.
"Do they not shake hands where you're from?" Neoma asked facetiously, raising a feathery brow.
Remus felt his ears grow hot all over again, a goofy grin involuntarily spreading across his face as he threw caution to the wind. The strange feeling of electricity was growing stronger and stronger within him as he carefully clasped her hand in his.
CRASH - BANG - WHOOSH!
Everyone jumped in unison at the commotion, turning around in disbelief to see bags of pita breads exploding in every direction, crates of garlic toast tumbling down the shelves and packages of profiteroles zooming across the bakery.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" Terrance squealed. "What the bloody hell is going on?!"
Remus immediately realized what was happening and took a deep, calming breath, forcing the crackling magic back down into the depths of his being.
Instantly the animated foods fell to the floor as though a dozen invisible strings holding them had been cut.
Like the calm before a storm, a deafening silence filled the entire store followed by a stampede of footsteps and frantic yelling.
Lupin was grey faced and shaking, the single piece of plain toast he'd eaten for breakfast suddenly threatening to reappear.
He turned with utter remorse towards the dumbfounded store owner as though the wreckage before them had spelled out his name. But then he remembered - with a wave of overwhelming relief- that he was in the presence of Muggles. Whatever had happened was just as likely be blamed on him as it was on the rest of the staff.
But just what the hell had he done?
Remus dared to steal a glance at the woman responsible for his accidental outburst of magic.
Neoma looked just as gobsmacked as Terrance - her pretty, brown eyes wide as dinner plates as she scanned the aftermath, her small mouth hanging open in awe.
Before he could ask if she was alright, a mob of store employees and straggling shoppers appeared and began gasping or murmuring vague questions.
Remus ran a shaky hand through his sandy hair, trying to take control of his emotions, and now definitely wishing he could go home.