2
The Beginning
Doe had written to tell Lily about the apartment and she was beyond thrilled. She got back from France next week, and was moving in then.
As for Doe, she couldn't wait to move in. She had spent every day since securing the apartment, packing up everything she owned. She managed to contain the number of boxes she had, bringing only what she knew she would miss. She had told her mother she was moving out a few days ago during a very awkward conversation in the kitchen. She didn't even respond. She acted like she hadn't even heard her. She claimed she had an appointment today, but Doe suspected it was because she didn't want to be around her while I was leaving. She hadn't even asked for the address. It was like she no longer cared.
Doe tried not to think about.
Remus was coming over today to help her move into the apartment. She couldn't wait to see him. They had talked on the phone, and written, but it had been three weeks since she'd actually seen him.
When she heard a knock on the door downstairs, she quickly apparated in front of it and wrenched it open.
Remus was standing there smiling broadly. He looked the way he always did, eternally happy. There was something about Remus' face that always filled Doe with an unmeasurable amount of joy. He had been such a part of her life for so long that looking at Remus' face felt like home to her.
" Doe" he said happily, his face breaking into a wide smile
She didn't answer. Instead she threw her arms around his neck pulling him into a hug. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her there, lifting her off the ground slightly.
" I see someone's missed me" He said with a laugh.
" More than you know" she said pulling him inside and closed the door.
" I really missed you" he whispered in her ear.
She smiled, " Oh did you?".
He grinned, " I did".
He stopped for a moment and looked around the room he was standing in house, " You know, I've never been here before".
Doe realized then that Remus had never been here before. He had only ever seen her in Hogwarts, a place that was filled with happy memories for her. Her home seemed darker now with Remus looking at her in it.
She shrugged, " It's not really home anymore" she said softly.
Remus frowned at her. He was also good at know how she was feeling.
" But that's okay, I have a new place now" Doe said half excitedly.
" Oh yes, I forgot I am looking at the new owner of her own apartment" Remus said with a smile.
Doe grinned taking the key out of her pocket to show him.
" Alright, well put me to work" Remus said, " I'm ready to move boxes".
Doe brought him upstairs and they each grabbed a box and apparated into the living room of her apartment.
Doe put down the boxes and gave Remus a tour of the place.
" So what do you think?" She asked after she showed him all of it.
" I like it a lot, I can see you living here" he said looking around the living room.
Doe smiled, " Me too".
They went back and forth, apparating from her house to the apartment, moving boxes, until they got back to her house and retrieved the last two boxes.
She looked around her room. It was almost empty now. It finally looked the way she felt about it.
Surprisingly, She didn't feel bad about leaving.
" You okay?" Remus asked as she took a final look around the room.
She nodded, " Yeah, I'm ready to go".
She left a note on the kitchen table for her mom, it read:
Mom,
I moved. I'm sorry but I needed to go.
-Doe
She knew it harsh but she doubted her mom would even care. She pretended to care for her but they both knew that it would be a relief for her not to have Doe in her life anymore.
Remus and Doe apparated to the new apartment and placed the final boxes in her room. They sat down on the edge of her bed.
" This is so weird" she said looking around her new room.
" Good weird" Remus said squeezing her hand.
She leaned up to kiss him, and he pulled her closer to him. They shifted so that he was on top of her and pulled themselves closer to each other.
Being apart for so long had made them desperate for eachother.
Remus kissed her neck and she held onto him so tightly it seemed like she would never let him go.
" You know," Remus said a little while later, " I think I'm going to really like you living here".
She laughed. She was curled up next to him, her head on his chest. The blankets pulled up around them.
He bent down slightly to kiss the top of her head, but he was frowning slightly.
" Rem what's wrong?" Doe asked, " did you not want too.." she trailed off.
He shook his head through laughter, " No, that was great. I promise you"
" Then what's wrong?" She asked as she ran her hand across his arm.
" I just don't want things to change between us, you know now that we're not at Hogwarts and were starting our real lives" he said quietly.
" They won't" She told him sternly, " I love you, Remus Lupin. That is not going to change"
A small smile spread across his face. She reached up to kiss him again, " There is no one else I would rather be here with right now" She told him.
Remus ran his hands across her shoulder, " I love you so much, Doe".
" I love you too, Remus" She said and curled up back against him.