Lisa: dances I got my drivers license, I got my drivers license.
Heather: it seemed like just yesterday you were like fourteen and putting that first chapter in 'From beginning to End'.
Lisa: Yeah... now I can go to the mall whenever I please...
Heather: yeah...
Lisa: yeah... but anyway me and Heather are both going to Steph birthday party all weekend.
Steph: YAY PARTEH!!!!
Lisa: Yes, so I won't be writing all that weekend, I hope I finish this in time but if I don't that's why.
Steph: PARTEH!!!
Lisa: Shut up, but anyway that's all for now, enjoy this chapter!
Reprise: Part One
Laura was sitting in her room in her and Heather's apartment. Things were dull, even she could see that. It was two weeks after Alice and Frank got engaged and so far nothing new. Voldemort hadn't made any new moves on them, he hadn't attacked anyone recently, and they were all worried it was because something big was coming.
It was fairly late at night, or early that morning actually, she was sitting on her bed letting the light from the crescent moon outside mix with that of the oil lamp in the room. She was flipping though old pictures of them in school. As much as she was happy to be out of the uniform all the time she couldn't help but feel sad she would never wear it again, she did after all wear it for seven years. But she would never abandon her Gryffindor blood. Her bed sheets were even gold and scarlet.
One picture she found interesting, Heather must have taken it because her head was in the very corner while the rest of them, meaning Andy, Lily and herself, were posing.
Thinking back she remembered when it was taken, they were in their dorm room. Thinking up a prank for the boys, Andy had her tie around her head, Lily had her shirt on backwards and she had her socks uneven and a shoe on her head. Heather was just making a face. That's what happens in a prank dry spell.
It was when they made, or she made, everyone sing. She didn't mean it honestly, she tried aiming for just the boys but she just screwed up a little. Then a thought came to her mind. She grinned and picked up a hand written spell book they made in seventh year that she kept under her bed. Flipping through it she struggled to remember the spell she needed. Upon finding it on page 409 she read it and decided that just a few alteration of it would fit her liking perfectly.
If this all went according to plan, the spell would take effect at one o'clock the next day, or that day... depends on how you look at it.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
It was early afternoon in the household for Remus Lupin and Andromeda Volk. Remus was being left alone for the day, James and Sirius were in Auror training until around five, Laura and Heather were at their ministry jobs, Peter was at his job, and Lily and Andy were getting ready for their jobs at the . Lily had managed to get Andy a muggle waitressing job with her where no one would discriminate. As much as Andy would rather have the bartending job she for one was not yet old enough, stupid muggle rules, she thought, Remus had yet to get a job; he did though have an interview later.
Right now Andy was running around the house getting her things ready. Lily was standing in the doorway, her pale blue and black skirt uniform on along with an apron. Her shoes were simple, cheep good for being on your feet all day taking orders and her hair was pulled back. She watched as Andy zipped up her high, nearly flat healed, she wasn't stupid, boots and threw on, what Lily thought, was useless and pointless trinkets. Andy argued and said it was as much a part of her as her hair and nails. All this time Remus sat at the table grinning at the display.
"Are you ready yet?" Lily asked. "We have to be there in five minutes we're going to be late, usually I'd have left five minutes ago." Lily was the only one to have a driver's license, or an official one, the ones Andy and Sirius had to drive the bike didn't cont.
"Lily, I'm a witch so I think I'll Apparate." Andy said braiding her hair behind her hair.
"It's a muggle community, someone might see you and then the ministry will get involved for you using magic in front of muggles and then because you're a werewolf it'll be ten times worse and then they'll deport you or something." Lily babbled making Andy roll her eyes.
"Please, they can't punish me for something they don't know happened." Andy said standing up and grabbing her coat off the chair by the door.
Lily looked up and saw the clock on the wall chime announcing it was one o'clock. "See! Look we're late!"
Andy grinned. "We're not late if we Apparate. It takes two seconds, not long at all." She stopped talking when she noticed she drug out the all in a long note.
Lily's eyes widened and she began to sing in a lovely high voice as soft music started playing.
Lily
Did you just sing?
Tell me that it was a momentary thing...
Wait...
Am I singing too?
Andy
This is no good
Who's casting the spell?
But then again who could?
Lily
We made this spell up
We made it up for the boys
Only one of us can cast it
The music started to get a more upbeat tone as Andy's temper starting rising.
Andy
Well it wasn't me
Was it you
What did you do?
Lily
It wasn't me
Why would I do it?
Remus
Perhaps it was Heather
She would know whether
It was her or Laura
He sang in a soft tenor as he watched in amusement, he honestly didn't care if he sang or not.
Andy
It was Laura I bet!
She knows I'd get upset
It was her last time
And it's her this time
It has to be
Lily
We'll discuss it in a few
But you know you're new
You can't afford to be late for work
Andy
I don't give a crap!
I'm gonna kill that little sap!
Remus
Andy, love, just go to work
We can't afford you to be sacked
Later you can kill her
Later you can
But for now just go to work
Andy
Fine I'll go to work
But I hope she knows
I hope she knows
That I'm gonna kill her
Lily began speaking once again. "You won't really kill her will you?"
The evil manic grin dropped from Andy's face and a small smile appeared as she crossed her arms. "It's a joke." She said laughing slightly and then her smile dropped to a frown and she spoke in deadpan. "I do that."
With that there was a crack and the two girls Apparated to their work. The music stopped and Remus was left alone in the room. The only one left on the whole floor.
He looked up and saw it was just after one, his interview was at one thirty and he knew he would be walking. He always did. He made his way over to the room and grabbed his robe, he grimaced at the sight. It was defiantly not job interview worthy but it was all he had. He pulled them on and walked out the front door locking it behind him and then he proceeded to walked down the hall and to his interview.
After the interview he planned on visiting Charlotte in St. Mungo's. He was actually beginning to get worried she would become a permanent resident there. They knew what was wrong, but they didn't know how to fix it. She often went in seizures or her heart would act up. She was given a potion every hour while she was awake. It seemed to all die down as she slept and the risk went away for a short amount of time. But she was still on heavy watch with the healers.
He truly prayed that he didn't start singing in the interview. But as he walked outside and saw the busy people he noticed that if he did, it probably wouldn't be a problem. Everyone was singing like it was completely natural in their every day lives. Laura must have altered the spell, so now everyone sang, magical and muggle people alike. Remus couldn't help but laugh, this really bought him back to when they were in school.
He arrived at the building about five minutes before his interview. Luckily he managed to avoid all the singing and dancing around him so he couldn't get wrapped up in it and be late. He walked in and walked over to the receptionist.
"Hello, I'm, uh, here for my interview." He said to her and she looked down at her papers.
"Oh, yes, Mister... Lupin? Is it?" She asked looking up over her gem in crested glasses.
"Yes, that's right." He said.
"Okay, well, please take a seat over there; he'll be with you shortly." She smiled and motioned to the seat.
Remus gave her a small smile and nodded, he walked over to a vacant seat next to another man who was apparently also going for the job. He didn't look like he had money but the set of robes he was wearing were far nicer then Remus's.
The man went up before Remus in a couple minutes. Ten minutes hadn't even passed when the man walked out a nervous look on his face. A couple seconds later his name was called.
He stood up and walked over to the door; he opened it and walked in the room trying not to show his nervousness. The man motioned for him to have a seat. He complied and the man tapped his wand to a piece of paper that had the previous mans resume on it and the resume changed to that of Remus's.
"Hello, Mr. Lupin, I'm Joshua Epps, I'll be your interviewer." He said absent mindedly as he read the paper. "Says here you graduated Hogwarts in the top ten of your class, is that true?"
"Yes it is." Remus replied.
"What house were you in?"
"Gryffindor, Sir."
Mr. Epps smiled. "Always a good sign; Your best class?"
"Defense Against the Dark Arts." Remus said proudly.
"Really? I always liked that class too. But anyway back to this resume of yours its impressive, you seem to have a lot of useful skills." He said and turned the paper over. "Why exactly do you want this job?" He asked.
"Well, I'm currently living with my girlfriend and her income can't pay for everything." Remus said offering a slight smile that the man returned. "Besides I saw this and it looked like something I could be good at."
"According to your resume you would be." He read it over a little more. "You seem to of had a lot of jobs in your life, could you explain why?"
Remus bit his lip; he didn't want to spill the fact that he was a werewolf and always got fired if the man didn't ask. He was only required to answer truthfully if he was asked. He quickly came up with a quick lie, he was always good at that, but it was proved in the past not quite good enough for his three best friends. "Oh well, you see my father left when I was a kid so I had to work when I was home from school. I could never seem to find one that would keep me only in the summer."
The man nodded and didn't push the subject any further but his next question made Remus wish he had pushed it. "Now, do you have any medical conditions that could prevent you from working?" He asked. It seemed to be an absent minded question as if he had to ask it a lot and it held no real meaning to him anymore.
Remus shifted in his seat and hesitated answering. Mr. Epps seemed to notice and he looked up at him. "Well, Mr. Lupin?"
"Well... I... I do." Remus said and this caught his attention.
"It would be?"
"I'm a... I'm a werewolf... Sir." Remus said.
The man stopped what he was doing right away and looked up at him. "Wh – what...?" he asked thinking he may have heard wrong.
"I'm a werewolf." Remus said with more confidence.
"I see." Mr. Epps said, his while demeanor had changed, he was no longer good hearted and warm towards him. He was cold and hard, his voice didn't have a laugh in it only ice cold words. He had taken his hands off the table and even though he tried to be quiet about it he had scotched his chair back a couple inches. Remus suppressed rolling his eyes, this guy was acting like he would dive over the table and rip out his throat. "Well, I uh, I think that's all for now." He stood up and inched back as Remus stood as well. "We'll call you."
Remus inwardly scoffed and resisted laughing out loud, they wouldn't call him. "Yes, sure, thank you for your time, Mr. Epps." He said trying to be polite about it.
Remus walked out of the room and glanced at the secretary, she had her clip board over her mouth to try and hide her shocked look. She must have been listening in. He walked past her and he heard the wheels on her chair roll away.
He sighed and walked out the front door he didn't need any of that anyway, he didn't want the job if when he was there everyone would cringe. While these thoughts buzzed through his head a soft beat started up. He knew what was coming and there was nothing he could do to stop so why not just go with it?
Remus
They think I'm a monster
A dark and evil creature
They think I'll tear their throats out
But they don't know me
They only see what they think they know
But what they know is all exaggerated lies
A big web of lies
And I'm trapped in the middle
Can't really blame them
So many people spread the lies of my kind
Can so many people be that wrong?
Is there truth to what they say...?
Am I stereotype
Am I doing more harm then good
When people see me can they tell what I am
What I become
But they think I'm a monster
A dark being born to kill
A filthy dirty street rat!
A worthless piece of crap!
As Remus walked he kicked an idle can on the sidewalk in anger as he continued on his way to St. Mungo's.
But they don't know me
They don't know what I could be
Given the chance they will see
I'll open my own doors I'll find my own key!
They don't know me!
They can't see past their hatred and loathing
They can't see the boy I am
The boy who just needs a chance
A chance to show the world
I'm more then a monster
A chance to do all I've wanted
All I need is a chance!
I'll show them what they don't see
What they'll never know
That a werewolf is more then a monster once a month
He's a man at heart
They might not see my heart
But it's true, they're right
I may be a dark creature
But hell if I'm an evil being
He reached an active Floo Network and threw the power in and called out St. Mungo's. He stepped out into the crowed main lobby and continued to sing.
I'm not evil
I'm not a monster
Someday they'll see that
Someday they'll know
The music started building and becoming loud and demanding as Remus started finishing his song.
I'll show them
I'll show them
I'll show them all
I'm more then a werewolf!
Remus cleared his throat and jumped off the bench as he began to walk over to his sister's room. All the healers knew him by now; he was there almost every other day. Remus walked up the stairs and narrowly avoided getting wrapped into another song with a few healers. He did however play back up in one on his way up there about healing potions and counter curses. That made him a little late.
He knocked softly on the door and opened it when she gave him the okay to come in. He noticed her smiling in the bed. Over the weeks she was here he had helped her personalize her room, pictures of him, his mother and sister. Much to his dislike she had a picture of her and their Dad; apparently he made a point to come by when Remus or the rest of his family wouldn't be there.
"You don't have to knock you know." She said moving over and patting the bed next to her signaling for him to sit down next to her.
"I know, but it's a reflex." He said and sat down.
"So, how did you're interview go?" Charlotte asked.
"Eh..." Remus sighed and looked down at his hands on his lap. "Don't ask, please."
"Oh, I'm sure it wasn't that bad."
"It was trust me," Remus said.
Charlotte nodded and moved her head down so she could look him in the eyes. "Remus, everything's going to turn out fine, okay? Trust me; I'll always be there to help you out. You're my baby brother, it's my job."
Remus smiled. "Yeah, I know, I guess I can always get a muggle job right?"
"Yeah," she said and patted his back.
Remus sat up straight and got a cheerful face back on. "So, how have you been?"
"Oh just wonderful, this whole singing this is killing me though, a Medi witch can rarely come in to check on me without bursting into song and then including me." She said leaning back on the many pillows behind her.
He laughed and joined her on the pillows. "I know what you mean; I was in song the whole way here."
"What kind of evil wizard cats this?" She pouted.
"Witch, if I may be more exact. I believe I know the main suspect."
"Do you now? Could I have her name so I can kill her?" Charlotte asked sitting up on her elbows.
"No... I think she has enough people after her head on a silver platter for now." The smiled went away form his face and he became serious. 'But, really, how are you? Like, medically?"
She sighed. "Rem, I don't know... The healers don't know how much more my body can take..."
Remus shifted his seat so he was facing her completely and he began signing.
Remus
No, you're gonna be okay
What exactly did they say?
Charlotte
Remus I don't know
Please, don't be worried
The healers are doing all they can but...
Remus
You're gonna be okay
There must be a way
Charlotte
No please there isn't
You have to face it
These could be my final days...
Remus
No their not
You said you'd be there
You said you'd be there for me
Charlotte
And I will
I'll always be with you as long as you remember me
Remus
But you're gonna be okay
Charlotte
Accept it, please
My life is in its final days
Unless a miracle is found
I don't know how much longer I'll last
And I'd rather be dead
Then in this dread
Sitting here on this bed
All alone and sad
Remus
But I'm here
Charlotte
As much as I love you
You can't be here all the time
I'm just a leech
Taking you from your life
Remus
I have no life for you to take me from
Charlotte
Yes, you do
You have more then you know
Accept it
Embrace it
Show the world all you can do
Show them what you can be
Show them what they can't see
Find your own door and open it with your own key...
She drug out the final note in beautiful soprano voice, worthy for an opera. Remus bit his bottom lip, he just got reunited with his sister, and he didn't want her to go so soon.
Rather then saying anything more he just leaned his head on her shoulder and she placed her head on his. They sat like this in silence for the rest of the visit.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
At the ministry James and Sirius were in the cafeteria for their fifteen minute break during their training. They sat there with candy bars form the nearby machine in silence. Both of them were exhausted from their training, they were working extra hard to try and get to the top of their class even though they didn't have too far to go.
As they sat there each of them picking at the others candy two girls walked up to them. They looked up and saw that it was Heather and Laura, apparently on their breaks. Both of them held trays of food.
"Hey guys." Heather said sitting down and picking at the food on her plate with a fork. "What's up?"
"Ugghhh..." James moaned and put his head down on the table.
"Is that what you're eating for lunch?" Laura asked appalled. "That is not healthy at all."
"I don't care, its sugar and at the moment I need sugar." Sirius said and took another bit of his chocolate bar. "Shame, Remy isn't here, this would make his day."
"Didn't Remus have an interview today?" Laura asked.
"Yup, fingers crossed, eh?" James replied and crossed his fingers on the hand not holding the candy bar.
"Oh I hope he gets it." Laura said. "I'm worried about them, how are they paying rent? How are they buying food?" She exclaimed. "Andy just started last week, what was their income before!?"
"You know Remus had little personal jobs for people." Heather said. "He made money doing that, even if it wasn't much. Remember both of them know how to stretch a dollar." She said focusing most of her attention on the tray in front of her.
Laura nodded but looked worried none the less. "Yeah... I know... but how long can they really stretch one?" She asked.
Heather sighed, "Don't worry, they'll manage they always do."
James looked up and saw a boy walking over to their table. He was tall with black hair and a muscular build. He smiled when he saw James looked. "Hey, mind if I sit?" he asked.
"Come on," Sirius said and moved over a couple inches closer to James to give him more room. "So what brings you over here?"
"Eh, nothing to do." Chris yawned and put his arms on the table. He looked up at the girls and a grin spread across his face. "Hello again." He said to Heather.
Heather gave a lopsided grin and James raised an eyebrow. "You two know one another?" he asked.
"I'd say he knows my toilet more then me." Heather said. "Remember when I left the bar early that one night and left you and Andy there alone?"
Sirius looked grim. "How could I forget?" He replied.
"Well I found this jerk there drinking more then he could handle," She jutted her thumb in Chris's general direction, "bought him back home. He got well acquainted with my toilet that night." She said.
"So you didn't go home and have wild crazy sex like me and Andy thought." Sirius said. "You just bought home a little lost puppy."
"I am not a little lost puppy." Chris protested.
"You were that night." Heather said staring at him.
The next table over a few of the ministry employees began singing about work and Laura grinned as she watched them sing.
"I wonder who cast that bloody spell..." Sirius wondered allowed. "We all got sucked into one during our training; it's just not right to watch Mad-Eye Moody sing!" He exclaimed.
"I wonder," Laura said taking a sip of her drink.
"But anyway, how is Auror training going for you guys? Other then your lovely number, which by the way I heard part of it." Heather said grinning at them.
Sirius
Tiresome
James
Exhausting
Sirius
Boring
James
Hard
Chris
Pointless
Sirius, James, Chris
We get there early
We leave there late
We come and cast spells
At each other all day
Sirius
Offense
James
Defense
Chris
It's sickening
"You're an Auror?" Heather asked and looked to Chris with a confused look on.
Chris leaned over and wiggled his eyebrows and nodded. "You like that?" he asked.
Heather shook her head as the song continued on.
James
We have no lives
We live them here
Sirius
Haven't been to the bar
In sixty years
Haven't taken home a girl
And more
James
I can't remember the last time
We played a prank
On the landlord
He's probably wondering where we are!
Chris
We have no free time
We have no fun
It's all work, work, work, till the job is done
Sirius, James, Chris
Just kill us we beg of you
Kill us please
Being an Auror's no fun and games
It looks cool but its pain
We miss our fun
We miss the ladies
We miss the dates
We miss the parties
I can't wait until I'm an Auror!
Then we can control the world
Then we'll be done with the training
And work a normal job
Sirius
I can't wait to be an Auror!
James
Then our lives can be fun and games!
Chris
I can't wait to be an Auror!
Sirius, James, Chris
We can't wait to be Aurors
Then our lives can be fun and games!
The boys sang up reaching notes that put the women to shame and ended on top of the lunch table they were once sitting at. The girls continued to sit there and watch them with black expressions.
Finally Heather broke the silence and looked at Chris. "You can't sing for shit, can you?" She asked him bluntly.
He shook his head and returned to his seat at the table across form her. "Nope." He replied.
"It's like a chicken beating itself with a cat." She said.
"Well you sing better then Peter, very good thing he's not here." Sirius said. "Now that sounds like a cat in pain beating itself with a roster shagging a hen while riding across the lake clawing the giant squid."
"Oh he's not that horrible." Laura defended him.
"Yes, he is." James said taking the side of Sirius.
"Gonna have to agree with them, Lar." Heather said. "Speaking of Peter have you guys seen him lately?" She asked.
"No, but I know he got a new job," James said. "Working for his uncle I believe, pure blood git he is, but he makes money so I'm sure Wormtail just took it for that reason. Besides he is a pure blood himself, I'm sure his uncle likes him well enough."
"Being pure blood is over rated." Chris stated.
"You're not?" Heather asked.
"No, my mum's a muggle born, dad's a half blood, you?"
She shook her head. "No, magic's been in my family for the longest time but none of us are pure bloods, we're mutts." She concluded.
"Fair enough." He replied.
"Come on guys, we better head back, don't want Mad-Eye on our backs anymore then he already is." James said getting up from his seat on the chair. They really didn't need Mad-Eye on them anymore then he already was for being in the Order. It often got a little scary at times.
"Alright, see you later." Laura said waving goodbye to the boys.
They all bid their goodbyes behind their backs with a wave as they walked away and back to the Auror training area. Heather looked over to Laura as she stood up as well. "Come on, we better go back too, I have paperwork to fill out with some smart ass guy who decided to try and tame a Grindylow."
"Yeah, I got stuff to do too." She replied and the two girls began walking away back to their jobs.
Lisa: Don't worry guys, everyone else gets involved in the next chapter for some singing. Lily and Andy, Peter, Laura and Heather, they all get their hand. Ya know there's only so much I can put in more chapter without it being to long... Like this one.
Heather: It wasn't that long
Lisa: Sixteen pages...
Heather: (shrug)
Lisa: But I have something to announce, Chris is not my character I stole him from Heather's story. So if you ever want more of him, or more Andy and Laura and Heather by another name go check out her story! It's Zoids! I knew nothing of Zoids until I read her story!
Heather: YES! But the story is currently on hiatus and will probably be rewritten somewhere down the line.
Lisa: Si, and I hope she does cuz I like it. (hint hint Heather). By the way if you do get an urge to read it her names LunarDog.
Heather: PUBLICITY!