p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'lucida grande', 'lucida sans unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.286em; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"A/N: A couple big time skips in this chapter!/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'lucida grande', 'lucida sans unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"I'm not certain how I feel about this chapter but I enjoyed writing the end bit of this chapter, we get to see the angry side of Remus. The next chapter will be Angst and PTSD heavy as Remus and Sirius get reunited and Our dear werewolf loses his shit at Sirius' treatment of Seren, so keep your eyes peeled!br /br /_/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'lucida grande', 'lucida sans unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" align="center"May 28sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup, 1994/p
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p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The months quickly passed, the remnants of winter finally fading into spring as June approached. All anyone wanted to do was curl up on the grass and relax, unfortunately, with exam just around the corner that wasn't an option./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Tucked away in a corner of the library was where Remus found Seren hiding, he didn't even need to sneak up on her as she poured over several different books, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "I found you." her head whipped around so fast he thought it might fly clean off her shoulders, dark hair slapping him in the face, "REMUS!" she shouted, earning a sharp hiss from Madame Pince at the front desk and a deep chuckle from the man behind her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""That wasn't funny." She slapped his arm in retaliation, "Working hard?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""One of us has to." She quipped, earning a curious look from Remus, "bold today, are we?" he smirked, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes, "And here I came to see if you'd like to take a walk around the grounds, enjoy the nice weather." Seren's eyes fell back to the stacks of books on the table, "A walk through the grounds?" it did sound like a nice break from all the studying and it would give her a reprieve from Pince's stern looks./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Since February Remus and Seren had been considerably closer, the 7sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup year, soon to be graduate, found herself meeting him after dinner in the great hall to walk with him back to his office where she would often spend the weekends before retreating back to her room. If anyone outside of staff asked about their sudden closeness Lupin put rumors to rest by reminding his students that Seren had missed two years of schooling and he was tutoring her in preparation for her N.E.W.T's./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"No one had any reason to pry./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""So, how has your studying been going?" Remus asked as they rounded the corner and stepped out into the stone courtyard, "You know…you ask that a lot." Seren smiled, jumping over a gap in the cobblestones. "Well, as your teacher it's my job to ensure you're succeeding…" his hand found a lock of her hair and gave it a light tug as they rounded another corner and meandered down the grassy slope, "But as your mate…" a shiver ran down her spine as he leant down by her ear, "It's also my job to make sure you're enjoying yourself."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You…" the full moon had been just four days ago, and much like the last few, had been full of nothing but pure bliss. The hand that had tugged her hair gently dropped to catch hers, entwining their fingers as if they were a couple of love struck teenagers…which was the case for one of them at least./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Me?" Seren only continued to smile, shaking her head, "Nothing. she leaned up and quickly pecked his cheek, "I love you." he liked the new, open, Seren. Since her internship had ended and things seemed to have calmed down with Sirius' break ins she seemed considerably calmer and more at ease./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""This way." A soft tug at her hand encouraged her to follow him towards the whomping willow, "There's somewhere I want to take you." she looked apprehensively at the tree, "I knew you'd be the death of me." he gave her a bewildered look, "What?" her eyes flicked to the tree and, following her gaze, his returned it with a gentle smile, pressing a small notch at the base of the trunk and stilling the tree. "How did you…?" Remus only gave her a knowing look as he pulled her towards a hidden tunnel entrance, "The last of my secrets I want to share with you." the tunnel was dark with a musty smell that made several images flood into her mind, A soft squeeze to her hand from Remus snapped her out of it, "This is nothing like that, love." The only one who had ever been hurt here was himself./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He pushed up on the trap door in the floor, climbing up first before helping her into the shabby old shack of a home, "It's not much, but this is where I used to spend all of my transformations."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Seren took in the dilapidated building as he pulled her along, "You didn't have to bring me here, I know it's not a happy place."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm sharing it with you span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"because/span it's not a happy place, this was my prison every month for seven years." she tilted her head at the revelation, "but you had your friends with you, didn't you?" he opened the door to a dusty bedroom, "I still come here from time to time to reflect." Seren looked at the covered furniture, her fingers brushing some dust into the air, "But why share this with me now, so close to the end of the year?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Like I said, it's my final secret, now I have nothing more hidden from you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""An open book." She smiled, murky jade eyes drifting to look out the dirty old window, "An open book." He replied, strolling towards her, "well…almost…" he tilted her head up so their eyes met, "There's one thing I've not been courageous enough to ask you, but I'll save that until after your exams are over."/p
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p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" align="center"June 16th, 1994/p
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p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Exam week had quickly come and gone and it seemed everyone at Hogwarts was finally able to relax, 5sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup years had gotten their OWL'S back already and many were celebrating passing with flying colors./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Seren, who had opted to sit in since missing hers, heard a tapping on her bedroom window as a ministry owl held her grades. She felt a nervous lump in her throat and was unable to open them, instead she stuffed them into her robe pocket, left her room and headed for the only person she trusted to look over the results./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Winding up the moving staircases, through the corridors and into the familiar dim lit hallway she knocked on the giant oak door and waited for Remus to answer when the door swung open and a very disheveled Remus looked down at her, "You look like shit." She informed him bluntly, "What an astute observation…" there was a bland look on his face as he stepped aside, he could practically feel the anxiety radiating off of her, "Your results came today?" she held up not one, but two envelopes, "I was too nervous to open them." Closing the door behind her she noticed the fire was already going, "Rough day?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Practical's for years 1-4…" he replied tiredly, slipping into his usual armchair. Seren noticed the odd piece of parchment on his desk, "I know that map…The Weasley twins used to use it to sneak around the castle." This Piqued Remus' interest, "I wasn't aware you were acquainted with the Weasleys." She curled into the plush armchair beside him as he held the envelopes, "I think everyone knows the twins…you'd be daft if you didn't given all the pranks they pull." Remus chuckled, "Yes well, their proclivity for mischief nearly rivals myself and my old friends. Let's open these shall we?" he waved her test results and Seren looked at him with nervous anticipation, "I'm sure you did fine, I watched you in the practical's."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I didn't know you were there!" she shouted, giving him an annoyed look, "Where were you hiding?" it was no secret N.E.W.T's were closed to everyone but Hogwarts staff so they could see their efforts in the field. He slid his finger along the envelope's seal, peeling the wax seal back and fishing out the first sheet of paper as his eyes scanned the paper, flicking up to look at her and pretending to be grim to tease her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""For your O.W.L's…" she felt her stomach sink at his grim expression, " Seren Price, I am pleased to inform you that your ordinary wizarding levels are…" a wide smile stretched across his face, "Potions, Outstanding. For Charms...Outstanding, for Transfigurations…" his slow pace was killing her, "Exceeds expectations. For Herbology…Exceeds expectations, for History of Magic, Outstanding."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""That leaves Astronomy and Your class…" her stomach was in knots as he continued to read, "For Astronomy…Exceeds expectations and for Defense against the dark arts…" he leaned forward in his chair, "We are pleased to grant you the level Outstanding."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"With her O.W.L.'s out of the way she felt one weight lift from her as her eyes flicked to the unopened envelope./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Are you sure you don't want to open this one?" she shook her head, watching him shrug and open the second envelope, pulling out two sheets of parchment./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Two?" Remus flipped the parchments containing her grades forward to scan the second sheets contents, "It's from Rufus Scrimgeour." Seren's eyebrows knit together in confusion, she reached for it but Remus held it just out of her reach, "Ah, grades first." He teased, lightly tugging a strand of her hair within his reach./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I swear…you have a hair pulling kink."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I have more than that." He replied with a sultry smirk, relishing in the deep blush that flooded her cheeks as he unfolded the front piece of parchment again, "For potions…" even Remus looked amazed, "Outstanding. high praise from our resident potions master indeed." He commended, "For transfigurations, Exceeds expectations. for Charms, Outstanding." Seren looked at him now "And your verdict?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Remus gave her another sly look, "For defense against the dark arts, Seren price, I give you an Outstanding." He laughed at the sudden loud cheer she let out as she left out of the chair to hug him tightly. "Congratulations, Seren." He wrapped one arm around her, chuckling at her exuberance, "But we still have Scrimgeour's letter." Seren barely sobered, taking a seat on the arm of his chair as he began to read, "Dear Ms. Price," He began, his eyes skimming the letter, "Well…at least he stopped referring to me as 'beast'"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""We in the department of magical law enforcement were quite pleased with the skill you displayed in your internship and the blueprints you sent to the division of magical artifacts for your inventions so it is with span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"great /spanpleasure that we extend to you…" he scanned the letter over a second time to be sure he was reading correctly, " It is with great pleasure that we extend to you the offer for the position of Auror within the department of magical law enforcement. Sincerely…Rufus Scrimgeour, head of the Department for magical law enforcement." Remus looked absolutely astounded and Seren looked at a loss for words/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""They…hired me?" the feeling of being lifted settled in as she felt herself spinning before being gently set back on her feet with a beaming Remus staring down at her, "You did it, and I am span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"so/span proud of you." she had opened her mouth to respond to his praise but he quickly cut her off with a kiss./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You…" she started but he cut her off with another kiss, threading his fingers through her hair, "Remus…" she whispered when he pulled back again, nothing but love in his eyes. It dawned on her now that this marked more than just the end of her education…it meant no more hiding. Once she walked across the stage at the end of the month…they were both free./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I think this is cause for celebration?" Remus grinned cheekily and she wondered what he meant as he moved to his desk and pulled out two bottles of Butterbeer from the Three broomsticks, relieved to not see the horrid fire whiskey from the Hogshead./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I recall your reaction to Ogden's so I thought something more palatable." Remus passed her a bottle as she sat back in her chair and tipped the bottle back, a smile stretching across her face again, "Something on your mind?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I…" her smile never faltered, "My life has turned around so much in just under a year, I was rescued, fell in love with a wonderful man, successfully navigated AND graduated school…" her cheeks tinged light pink again, "I found my home…"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"There was no need to rush back to her room now that results were in so Seren and Remus spent most of the evening just talking about plans for the one things she hadn't given a lot of thought into./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You'll be coming back to Yorkshire with me from Kings cross?" Setting the bottle of Butterbeer aside she gave a small nod, "Yes, but I was recently informed by Dumbledore that mum's personal effects have been kept for me to go through…if possible I'd like to swing by?" Remus' face sobered, "Of course, we can Apparate from kings cross, stay there for a few days so you can go through things."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He watched the painfully slow nod; she'd gone so quickly from exuberant to Somber./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But we still have a week until the ceremony, so no sad faces." She felt his hand entangle with hers, her favorite gentle smile clear on his face, "We can be sad later. For now I think you should head back to your room and get some rest."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She knew he was right, "Will you walk back with me?" Remus stopped with the bottle halfway to his lips, "As much as I would love to, I still have some exams to grade for my 6sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup year students, but tell you what, tomorrow night I am all yours."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Tomorrow night, then." She admired that he was dedicated to his students, getting on her toes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek as he opened the door for her./p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.12px; background-color: #ffffff;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The walk back to her room was quiet, the muttering of the portraits lining the walls the only real noise as she meandered down the moving staircases, stopping to wave at the portrait of a little girl who had waved to her first./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Once next Friday arrived she would say goodbye to Hogwarts, she would start a job with the ministry, much to her surprise, she had thought Scrimgeour hated her…the fact he personally had offered her the job was shocking and certainly interesting given the ministry's stance on werewolves…perhaps he had seen something useful or maybe Dumbledore had interfered, still intent on getting her to spy for him, and if that were the case she would find a way to get out of it, her safety was her top priority now and she had no further need for involvement with Albus Dumbledore, regardless of whether he'd lead the charge to rescue her. Dumbledore was a man with far too many secrets and Seren would have no part in his long winded chess match with Voldemort./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Rounding the corner to her room she noticed the door was slightly ajar, Perhaps Harry had come to see her about something, Maybe even Hermione given that the news of Buckbeak's trial had spread like wildfire around the castle. Drawing her wand she inched towards the door, pushing it open a bit further, her room was seemingly untouched, though her books and papers on her desk looked as if someone had shuffled through them./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hello, is someone in here?" the room was eerily silent but she left the door open incase she had to run, "I'm armed." She announced to what she hoped was an empty room, her eyes flicking to the mirror in the corner before looking towards the small, attached bathroom, there was fresh dirt pilled near the frame. Someone had certainly been here./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You're certainly a clever one. Thought you'd be gone a bit longer." Seren whipped around so fast she thought her neck might snap, a shadowy figure was tucked between her bookshelf and the spare armchair, "Pity."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Seren was white as a sheet as the disheveled, dirty form of Sirius Black stepped into her line of sight, "Moony always did have a thing for broken things."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""S-Stay back!" She aimed her wand for his face, "Now, now, Seren I'm not here to hurt you…but I can't have you blabbing that you've seen me, not when I'm so close."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""H-how did you know—" Sirius lurched forward, snatching her wrist and quickly disarming her, wand clattering to the floor./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I know plenty about you, Seren Greyback." He kicked her wand away from her, spinning her quickly to pin her arms behind her back, his other hand catching her throat, "Your father ruined my best friends life." He tilted her head up, "I would never hurt Remus."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""because you span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"love him./span" he chided with a sick girlish impression, "I could make you forget all about him with the simple flick of your own wand." his grip on her neck tightened, "He can do better than you…he span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"deserves /spanbetter than you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""He'll...find..." she wheezed as he continued to squeeze her throat, splotches of white clouding her vision as he began to move to the door, "Please…" Seren wheezed as Sirius drug her towards the open door of her bedroom. Her hazy vision landing on her wand, sticking just far enough out from under her bed. Her head began to swim as she did her best to focus,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""S-S-Stupefy…" she wheezed as his hand moved from her neck to her mouth, "I think it's time for you to go to sleep." His hand cut off her air supply as her vision started to go black./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Sleep now, little wolf." She had no idea what he'd done to her as the world finally faded to black, tossing her body over his shoulder as he made his way out of the castle, down the slopes and back through the tunnel to the Shrieking shack./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Back up at the castle stormy blue eyes watched the map in anger…if he'd noticed the moving footsteps sooner perhaps he could have gotten to her, he could have stopped Sirius from taking her, but to go now would raise suspicions when the castle was still on high alert./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His eyes focused on the now unmoving dot located at the far right corner of the map./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Former friend or not, if Sirius black harmed a hair on Seren's head, Remus vowed to murder him with his own two hands./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'lucida grande', 'lucida sans unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"I'm not certain how I feel about this chapter but I enjoyed writing the end bit of this chapter, we get to see the angry side of Remus. The next chapter will be Angst and PTSD heavy as Remus and Sirius get reunited and Our dear werewolf loses his shit at Sirius' treatment of Seren, so keep your eyes peeled!br /br /_/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'lucida grande', 'lucida sans unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" align="center"May 28sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup, 1994/p
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p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The months quickly passed, the remnants of winter finally fading into spring as June approached. All anyone wanted to do was curl up on the grass and relax, unfortunately, with exam just around the corner that wasn't an option./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Tucked away in a corner of the library was where Remus found Seren hiding, he didn't even need to sneak up on her as she poured over several different books, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "I found you." her head whipped around so fast he thought it might fly clean off her shoulders, dark hair slapping him in the face, "REMUS!" she shouted, earning a sharp hiss from Madame Pince at the front desk and a deep chuckle from the man behind her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""That wasn't funny." She slapped his arm in retaliation, "Working hard?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""One of us has to." She quipped, earning a curious look from Remus, "bold today, are we?" he smirked, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes, "And here I came to see if you'd like to take a walk around the grounds, enjoy the nice weather." Seren's eyes fell back to the stacks of books on the table, "A walk through the grounds?" it did sound like a nice break from all the studying and it would give her a reprieve from Pince's stern looks./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Since February Remus and Seren had been considerably closer, the 7sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup year, soon to be graduate, found herself meeting him after dinner in the great hall to walk with him back to his office where she would often spend the weekends before retreating back to her room. If anyone outside of staff asked about their sudden closeness Lupin put rumors to rest by reminding his students that Seren had missed two years of schooling and he was tutoring her in preparation for her N.E.W.T's./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"No one had any reason to pry./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""So, how has your studying been going?" Remus asked as they rounded the corner and stepped out into the stone courtyard, "You know…you ask that a lot." Seren smiled, jumping over a gap in the cobblestones. "Well, as your teacher it's my job to ensure you're succeeding…" his hand found a lock of her hair and gave it a light tug as they rounded another corner and meandered down the grassy slope, "But as your mate…" a shiver ran down her spine as he leant down by her ear, "It's also my job to make sure you're enjoying yourself."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You…" the full moon had been just four days ago, and much like the last few, had been full of nothing but pure bliss. The hand that had tugged her hair gently dropped to catch hers, entwining their fingers as if they were a couple of love struck teenagers…which was the case for one of them at least./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Me?" Seren only continued to smile, shaking her head, "Nothing. she leaned up and quickly pecked his cheek, "I love you." he liked the new, open, Seren. Since her internship had ended and things seemed to have calmed down with Sirius' break ins she seemed considerably calmer and more at ease./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""This way." A soft tug at her hand encouraged her to follow him towards the whomping willow, "There's somewhere I want to take you." she looked apprehensively at the tree, "I knew you'd be the death of me." he gave her a bewildered look, "What?" her eyes flicked to the tree and, following her gaze, his returned it with a gentle smile, pressing a small notch at the base of the trunk and stilling the tree. "How did you…?" Remus only gave her a knowing look as he pulled her towards a hidden tunnel entrance, "The last of my secrets I want to share with you." the tunnel was dark with a musty smell that made several images flood into her mind, A soft squeeze to her hand from Remus snapped her out of it, "This is nothing like that, love." The only one who had ever been hurt here was himself./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He pushed up on the trap door in the floor, climbing up first before helping her into the shabby old shack of a home, "It's not much, but this is where I used to spend all of my transformations."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Seren took in the dilapidated building as he pulled her along, "You didn't have to bring me here, I know it's not a happy place."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm sharing it with you span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"because/span it's not a happy place, this was my prison every month for seven years." she tilted her head at the revelation, "but you had your friends with you, didn't you?" he opened the door to a dusty bedroom, "I still come here from time to time to reflect." Seren looked at the covered furniture, her fingers brushing some dust into the air, "But why share this with me now, so close to the end of the year?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Like I said, it's my final secret, now I have nothing more hidden from you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""An open book." She smiled, murky jade eyes drifting to look out the dirty old window, "An open book." He replied, strolling towards her, "well…almost…" he tilted her head up so their eyes met, "There's one thing I've not been courageous enough to ask you, but I'll save that until after your exams are over."/p
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p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" align="center"June 16th, 1994/p
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p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Exam week had quickly come and gone and it seemed everyone at Hogwarts was finally able to relax, 5sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup years had gotten their OWL'S back already and many were celebrating passing with flying colors./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Seren, who had opted to sit in since missing hers, heard a tapping on her bedroom window as a ministry owl held her grades. She felt a nervous lump in her throat and was unable to open them, instead she stuffed them into her robe pocket, left her room and headed for the only person she trusted to look over the results./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Winding up the moving staircases, through the corridors and into the familiar dim lit hallway she knocked on the giant oak door and waited for Remus to answer when the door swung open and a very disheveled Remus looked down at her, "You look like shit." She informed him bluntly, "What an astute observation…" there was a bland look on his face as he stepped aside, he could practically feel the anxiety radiating off of her, "Your results came today?" she held up not one, but two envelopes, "I was too nervous to open them." Closing the door behind her she noticed the fire was already going, "Rough day?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Practical's for years 1-4…" he replied tiredly, slipping into his usual armchair. Seren noticed the odd piece of parchment on his desk, "I know that map…The Weasley twins used to use it to sneak around the castle." This Piqued Remus' interest, "I wasn't aware you were acquainted with the Weasleys." She curled into the plush armchair beside him as he held the envelopes, "I think everyone knows the twins…you'd be daft if you didn't given all the pranks they pull." Remus chuckled, "Yes well, their proclivity for mischief nearly rivals myself and my old friends. Let's open these shall we?" he waved her test results and Seren looked at him with nervous anticipation, "I'm sure you did fine, I watched you in the practical's."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I didn't know you were there!" she shouted, giving him an annoyed look, "Where were you hiding?" it was no secret N.E.W.T's were closed to everyone but Hogwarts staff so they could see their efforts in the field. He slid his finger along the envelope's seal, peeling the wax seal back and fishing out the first sheet of paper as his eyes scanned the paper, flicking up to look at her and pretending to be grim to tease her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""For your O.W.L's…" she felt her stomach sink at his grim expression, " Seren Price, I am pleased to inform you that your ordinary wizarding levels are…" a wide smile stretched across his face, "Potions, Outstanding. For Charms...Outstanding, for Transfigurations…" his slow pace was killing her, "Exceeds expectations. For Herbology…Exceeds expectations, for History of Magic, Outstanding."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""That leaves Astronomy and Your class…" her stomach was in knots as he continued to read, "For Astronomy…Exceeds expectations and for Defense against the dark arts…" he leaned forward in his chair, "We are pleased to grant you the level Outstanding."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"With her O.W.L.'s out of the way she felt one weight lift from her as her eyes flicked to the unopened envelope./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Are you sure you don't want to open this one?" she shook her head, watching him shrug and open the second envelope, pulling out two sheets of parchment./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Two?" Remus flipped the parchments containing her grades forward to scan the second sheets contents, "It's from Rufus Scrimgeour." Seren's eyebrows knit together in confusion, she reached for it but Remus held it just out of her reach, "Ah, grades first." He teased, lightly tugging a strand of her hair within his reach./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I swear…you have a hair pulling kink."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I have more than that." He replied with a sultry smirk, relishing in the deep blush that flooded her cheeks as he unfolded the front piece of parchment again, "For potions…" even Remus looked amazed, "Outstanding. high praise from our resident potions master indeed." He commended, "For transfigurations, Exceeds expectations. for Charms, Outstanding." Seren looked at him now "And your verdict?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Remus gave her another sly look, "For defense against the dark arts, Seren price, I give you an Outstanding." He laughed at the sudden loud cheer she let out as she left out of the chair to hug him tightly. "Congratulations, Seren." He wrapped one arm around her, chuckling at her exuberance, "But we still have Scrimgeour's letter." Seren barely sobered, taking a seat on the arm of his chair as he began to read, "Dear Ms. Price," He began, his eyes skimming the letter, "Well…at least he stopped referring to me as 'beast'"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""We in the department of magical law enforcement were quite pleased with the skill you displayed in your internship and the blueprints you sent to the division of magical artifacts for your inventions so it is with span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"great /spanpleasure that we extend to you…" he scanned the letter over a second time to be sure he was reading correctly, " It is with great pleasure that we extend to you the offer for the position of Auror within the department of magical law enforcement. Sincerely…Rufus Scrimgeour, head of the Department for magical law enforcement." Remus looked absolutely astounded and Seren looked at a loss for words/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""They…hired me?" the feeling of being lifted settled in as she felt herself spinning before being gently set back on her feet with a beaming Remus staring down at her, "You did it, and I am span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"so/span proud of you." she had opened her mouth to respond to his praise but he quickly cut her off with a kiss./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You…" she started but he cut her off with another kiss, threading his fingers through her hair, "Remus…" she whispered when he pulled back again, nothing but love in his eyes. It dawned on her now that this marked more than just the end of her education…it meant no more hiding. Once she walked across the stage at the end of the month…they were both free./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I think this is cause for celebration?" Remus grinned cheekily and she wondered what he meant as he moved to his desk and pulled out two bottles of Butterbeer from the Three broomsticks, relieved to not see the horrid fire whiskey from the Hogshead./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I recall your reaction to Ogden's so I thought something more palatable." Remus passed her a bottle as she sat back in her chair and tipped the bottle back, a smile stretching across her face again, "Something on your mind?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I…" her smile never faltered, "My life has turned around so much in just under a year, I was rescued, fell in love with a wonderful man, successfully navigated AND graduated school…" her cheeks tinged light pink again, "I found my home…"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"There was no need to rush back to her room now that results were in so Seren and Remus spent most of the evening just talking about plans for the one things she hadn't given a lot of thought into./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You'll be coming back to Yorkshire with me from Kings cross?" Setting the bottle of Butterbeer aside she gave a small nod, "Yes, but I was recently informed by Dumbledore that mum's personal effects have been kept for me to go through…if possible I'd like to swing by?" Remus' face sobered, "Of course, we can Apparate from kings cross, stay there for a few days so you can go through things."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He watched the painfully slow nod; she'd gone so quickly from exuberant to Somber./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But we still have a week until the ceremony, so no sad faces." She felt his hand entangle with hers, her favorite gentle smile clear on his face, "We can be sad later. For now I think you should head back to your room and get some rest."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She knew he was right, "Will you walk back with me?" Remus stopped with the bottle halfway to his lips, "As much as I would love to, I still have some exams to grade for my 6sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup year students, but tell you what, tomorrow night I am all yours."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Tomorrow night, then." She admired that he was dedicated to his students, getting on her toes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek as he opened the door for her./p
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p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The walk back to her room was quiet, the muttering of the portraits lining the walls the only real noise as she meandered down the moving staircases, stopping to wave at the portrait of a little girl who had waved to her first./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Once next Friday arrived she would say goodbye to Hogwarts, she would start a job with the ministry, much to her surprise, she had thought Scrimgeour hated her…the fact he personally had offered her the job was shocking and certainly interesting given the ministry's stance on werewolves…perhaps he had seen something useful or maybe Dumbledore had interfered, still intent on getting her to spy for him, and if that were the case she would find a way to get out of it, her safety was her top priority now and she had no further need for involvement with Albus Dumbledore, regardless of whether he'd lead the charge to rescue her. Dumbledore was a man with far too many secrets and Seren would have no part in his long winded chess match with Voldemort./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Rounding the corner to her room she noticed the door was slightly ajar, Perhaps Harry had come to see her about something, Maybe even Hermione given that the news of Buckbeak's trial had spread like wildfire around the castle. Drawing her wand she inched towards the door, pushing it open a bit further, her room was seemingly untouched, though her books and papers on her desk looked as if someone had shuffled through them./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hello, is someone in here?" the room was eerily silent but she left the door open incase she had to run, "I'm armed." She announced to what she hoped was an empty room, her eyes flicking to the mirror in the corner before looking towards the small, attached bathroom, there was fresh dirt pilled near the frame. Someone had certainly been here./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You're certainly a clever one. Thought you'd be gone a bit longer." Seren whipped around so fast she thought her neck might snap, a shadowy figure was tucked between her bookshelf and the spare armchair, "Pity."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Seren was white as a sheet as the disheveled, dirty form of Sirius Black stepped into her line of sight, "Moony always did have a thing for broken things."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""S-Stay back!" She aimed her wand for his face, "Now, now, Seren I'm not here to hurt you…but I can't have you blabbing that you've seen me, not when I'm so close."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""H-how did you know—" Sirius lurched forward, snatching her wrist and quickly disarming her, wand clattering to the floor./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I know plenty about you, Seren Greyback." He kicked her wand away from her, spinning her quickly to pin her arms behind her back, his other hand catching her throat, "Your father ruined my best friends life." He tilted her head up, "I would never hurt Remus."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""because you span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"love him./span" he chided with a sick girlish impression, "I could make you forget all about him with the simple flick of your own wand." his grip on her neck tightened, "He can do better than you…he span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"deserves /spanbetter than you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""He'll...find..." she wheezed as he continued to squeeze her throat, splotches of white clouding her vision as he began to move to the door, "Please…" Seren wheezed as Sirius drug her towards the open door of her bedroom. Her hazy vision landing on her wand, sticking just far enough out from under her bed. Her head began to swim as she did her best to focus,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""S-S-Stupefy…" she wheezed as his hand moved from her neck to her mouth, "I think it's time for you to go to sleep." His hand cut off her air supply as her vision started to go black./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Sleep now, little wolf." She had no idea what he'd done to her as the world finally faded to black, tossing her body over his shoulder as he made his way out of the castle, down the slopes and back through the tunnel to the Shrieking shack./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Back up at the castle stormy blue eyes watched the map in anger…if he'd noticed the moving footsteps sooner perhaps he could have gotten to her, he could have stopped Sirius from taking her, but to go now would raise suspicions when the castle was still on high alert./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His eyes focused on the now unmoving dot located at the far right corner of the map./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Former friend or not, if Sirius black harmed a hair on Seren's head, Remus vowed to murder him with his own two hands./p
