A/N: Please remember to leave your wonderful comments!
Remus had his head down, chipped handle of a wooden broom in his hands as he swept to and fro, clearing the remaining crumbs of bread from the otherwise spotless floor.
He had immediately volunteered to clean the mess, knowing it was the least he could do to atone for his outburst. But a few of the younger employees sniggered at his eagerness, no doubt assuming the newest hire was trying to kiss arse in front of the boss.
He didn't care though - he was going to finish his shift, thank Terrance and then leave Tinsley's Tally, never to return.
He couldn't risk another bout of accidental magic like that. Especially since whatever had triggered his magic to lash out was as much of a mystery to him as it was to the confounded Muggles.
The wizard kept glancing furtively at the front doors, half expecting to see a team of Obliviators charging through, wands raised and ready to clear the memories of the entire staff.
"No, no - It's best we just leave it. If it happens again, we'll call Health and Safety."
He could hear Terrance over his shoulder, tapping the top of his balding head as though a few good whacks might help him figure out what had caused the ruckus.
"Need any help, Remus?"
Lupin's heart skipped several beats at the sound of the familiar voice. He wanted to melt at the smooth lilting of her accent around his name and set fire to his trousers at the same time for letting himself become so affected by a pretty stranger.
"N-No I'm alright, thank you," he mumbled unsteadily, olive green eyes never leaving the floor.
Either not hearing him or simply not caring, Neoma picked up the empty blue crates which previously held green and silver bags of garlic toast, and began stacking them on top of each other.
"I wonder what made the pita bags explode like that...maybe they were fermenting," she pondered aloud, wiping her hands on the front of her black trousers before picking up a bag of shredded bread. "Or maybe it was magic," she added, smiling wryly.
Remus gulped.
"There's no such thing as magic," he offered weakly, eyes still locked on the ground.
The woman snorted indelicately and he nearly choked on his own laughter.
"Of course there is - just because we can't see it or understand it, doesn't mean it's not real."
Definitely a Ravenclaw.
He smiled at the floor and tried to picture Neoma in the blue and bronze of Rowena's house...a sudden flutter in his stomach at the thought of her in a Hogwarts uniform.
Clearing his head with a shake, Remus nonchalantly began sweeping as far away from the woman as possible.
"Oi, Loopy, you missed a spot there!" June (who looked like a raccoon from this distance) called out, earning a few chortles from the two boys who stood beside her. But to the young girl's disappointment, Remus smiled widely at hearing his old school nickname used so naturally. He nearly expected to see Peeves the Poltergeist floating in front of him.
"I don't see what's so funny," the Irish teen challenged, suddenly smacking on her gum once more.
"Well, maybe if you cleared that crap off your eyes you'd have better chance," Remus offered calmly, still sweeping fastidiously and smiling politely as though he had just made a remark about the weather.
June's pointy face remained stoic for a moment, then to his slight surprise, it split into a wide grin. "You're funny - maybe not so borin' as I first thaught."
"You honour me," he replied sarcastically, not caring in the slightest what she thought of him.
"Oi - Mark! She's bending over!
One of the young boys who had been standing near June suddenly jabbed his mate in the arm, pure joy radiating off of the pair as they directed their gaze behind Remus.
The wizard's face grew hot, a sudden inexplicable anger coursing through his veins as he turned to look at what had so readily captured their attention.
Neoma was bent over at the waist, innocently examining a package of dessert, no doubt wondering if it could be salvaged - her backside hanging in the air.
It was less than 48 hours until the full moon and he could feel himself slowly slipping. The wolf inside him, far too close to the surface at this point, was torn between wanting join them in gawking at her shapely arse and tearing the two teens in half for looking at her.
He could see Mark fanning himself, lips pursed in a silent whistle as his red headed friend laughed loudly. June made a face of disgust and stormed away.
Lupin could feel himself sweating, trying so very hard not to beat them over the head with the broom he held in his white knuckled fist.
Slowly, he made his way closer to Neoma, successfully blocking her from the lewd audience she'd unknowingly attracted.
She heard his footsteps approaching and - to his great relief - straightened up. Her diamond shaped face was bright as she flashed a smile in his direction that nearly made him stumble.
But her expression faltered when she saw the dark look on his face, her chocolate coloured eyes suddenly honing in on Mark and his ginger friend who were still ogling at her.
Remus wanted to do something to save her from the embarrassment, but to his utter incredulity she gave her eyes an enormous roll before standing pin straight, jutting her chest and backside out in the process.
"Like what you see?" She asked with a voice like poisoned honey, going so far as to teach up and free her hair from the plastic Baker's net. The three boys stood in transfixed silence as they watched her chestnut coloured tresses fall down to her waist in a tumble of soft curls.
The two teens gaped at her, unsure of how to handle being called out and egged on.
When they failed to respond, Neoma's expression became scathing, her eyes flashing dangerously with anger. "That's right, you pre-pubescent shits, If I catch you staring at my arse again I'll rip your little knobs off!"
She flipped them an incredibly rude gesture before turning around in a huff, simultaneously reaching up to tie her hair in a messy bun.
Remus didn't know what to be more in awe of - the picturesque shape of her face, framed by snaking tendrils of brown, or her colourful vocabulary.
She seemed so demure and ladylike. Even her features were soft and delicate, not a single sharp angle on her entire profile; the razor's edge apparently hidden behind her heart shaped lips.
"Fucking wankers, the lot of them," She added for good measure as the two boys eventually chortled at her reaction, but there was a definite hint of scarlet which stained their youthful cheeks.
Lupin couldn't control the small smile that crept across his face - clearly he had misjudged her.
"These look alright to you?" She asked, already seeming to have forgotten the incident as she held up a package of profiteroles that were slightly crumpled at the corners.
Remus fought with everything he was worth not to stare at her breasts and looked down to examine the desserts, which she held annoyingly close to her chest.
He gave a tight nod and returned to his ever faithful broom, going over a spotless patch of tile.
"Hmm, never mind. Unless - does that look like a rip to you?" Neoma, trying to be polite and include the newest employee in conversation, was utterly oblivious to the devastating effect she was having on the poor man she had sidled far too close beside.
Remus immediately stiffened as she stepped into his personal bubble, his entire body going numb as he watched her blow a loose strand of hair from her cheek.
He tried desperately to snort out her scent, but it was too late.
The sweet smell of licorice and vanilla blended deliciously over the musky backdrop of crushed violets and green ivy. It was a complex, mouth watering scent and he had a debilitating need to stand there and drown in it.
"Are you alright?" She asked slowly. She was a full two heads shorter than he was, and had turned her lightly freckled face up to stare him straight in the eye. "You look like you're about to be sick."
Pull yourself together.
"I'm fine - just hungry." He replied with a much steadier tone than he thought himself capable of. He felt a twinge of guilt for lying to her, but in all fairness he was always hungry.
"You haven't taken a break yet?"
"Uh - no. But that's fine, really -"
"Piss off, you must be starving! Let's go, I'll show you the staff room."
Remus was neck deep in ecstasy and utter panic. He wanted to follow her but didn't trust himself. He was supposed to be keeping his distance...just in case.
In case what? She falls for you? Get over yourself; they'll find a cure for lycanthropy before she fancies you.
"Really I'd rather finish up here," he stated solemnly, gesturing towards the few rogue crumbs on the floor. It was his last ditch attempt to avoid being forced into a small room with her, not to mention a chance to save whatever dignity he had left as the only food in his possession was the green apple Terrance had tossed at him earlier.
Neoma looked surprised at having her offer rejected, her feathery brows furrowing for a split second before she smiled at him again. "Terry finally found a hard worker," she praised. "I'll be sure to tell him."
Lupin's face flushed scarlet and he tried ducking his head to conceal his embarrassment, but then his lupine sense of smell was overwhelmed by the slow, acrid burn of something left in the oven too long.
"Is something burning?" He asked innocently, turning towards her.
"Shit! My pies!" Neoma gasped, flying towards her tiny workspace in a streak of black and red.
Finally free from her presence, Remus felt his entire body sag in relief, not realizing just how tense he'd been. Releasing his tight grip on the broom handle, he flexed his aching fingers methodically.
"Foolish, don't you think? To let a pretty girl like that eat lunch alone?"
Jumping at the strange voice, Lupin turned to find a rail thin woman in her fifties, black hair streaked with a lustrous shade of grey which matched her expensive looking pea coat, standing several feet behind him.
She was examining Remus strangely, as though he were an exotic animal caged in a zoo.
His initial reaction was to tell her to mind her own goddamn business but instead he shrugged. "I'm bad news. She doesn't want to get caught up with the likes of me," he offered, trying to put on his best impression of a troublemaker. The words were definitely true, but they still made his heart sink and he hoped it wouldn't show on his face.
"I think you should let her make that decision on her own," the woman replied sagely, smoothing out the nonexistent wrinkles in her coat.
"I think you don't know what you're talking about," Lupin grumbled, turning away from her.
"You know, taking risks can be a good thing sometimes."
"I'm sorry, can I help you find something or...?" Remus trailed off, unable to cloak the irritation in his deep voice as he rounded on the strange woman once more.
He noticed her arms were empty - no shopping basket in sight.
His heart sank. The Ministry had sent an Oblivator after all.
He watched the rigid woman smirk slightly before reaching into her pocket. She was going to draw her wand…
"My son wants me to bring these home for him," she said with an air of amusement as she pulled out a small, neatly folded piece of paper.
Remus nearly laughed out loud with relief.
He made his way over, hoping to help her find the items on her list, but no sooner had he taken two steps than he noticed her shrink away from him.
"Er… perhaps you can tell me what you're looking for?" The man offered instead, stopping in his tracks.
"Uh, yes. Yes, that'll do." Her thin lipped visage was slightly perturbed, as though he had genuinely frightened her by walking over with a helpful smile.
She rattled off her list and after a moment of recollection, Lupin pointed her towards the produce section.
She nodded at him curtly and spun on the heel of her well polished pumps towards aisle seven.
As he watched after her, there was an odd, creeping sensation of pin pricks slowly biting at his temples, as though an invisible hand were trying to pluck out his thoughts with a needle.
Shaking his head slightly, he went back to sweeping with a strange feeling of unease in the pit of his stomach.