Her father's little flat in London was quaint and quiet. There were many overgrown vining plants out front and a variety of monkshood that she imagined is beautiful and bright in the early fall. She assumed he liked keeping a supply of the plant nearby, and it broke her heart in a bittersweet way.
He turned the key on the wooden door that held many thick scratches and worn sections. There's simply no way he transformed in the middle of London, so she made it a point to inquire about the door's… decoration, when the opportunity presented itself.
When the door opened to the inside, Emeline was immediately immersed in the scent of leather, his Belgian chocolate, and rain. She pulled her coat tighter around her and followed him inside. He shut and locked the door behind her and she took a moment to take in the whole house. It looked like his little flat boasted a bedroom and small office, with a living space that was larger than both. The kitchen was open to the living space and small but plenty of room for one person to be preparing food. The flat was very organized and clean. Emeline couldn't help but chuckle under her breath at the thought of the tornado of her clutter moving in. Saffron perched restfully on her shoulder and seemed peaceful as she browsed the home. Her eyes were drawn to so many books and drawings that she was easily getting lost in the art of her father's flat and was astounded at how easily she felt at home here. It was essentially his office in home-form, with a bit more charm. He had a small wooden desk in the corner that held old envelopes bearing what she recognized as her mother's handwriting. Perhaps she had heard her cry out the other night, after all.
"Well? I can take you back to Hogwarts to spend the holiday if you'd like."
Emeline was broken from her reverie and turned quickly to see her dad still standing by the front door, observing her as she appeared to be scrutinizing his entire home.
"No!" She responded quickly and Remus chuckled. "I love it, I'd like to stay."
"Flattery doesn't work on me, Emeline." He responded, still with a smirk on his face as he set their bags down at the entry and removed his heavy cloak. He extended a hand to take hers and she offered it quickly, still looking around as he hung them both.
"I don't lie. My mother instilled that in me pertinently my entire life. Which is ironic considering she was involved in the biggest lie of my life."
"Em," he looked down on her sternly. "Don't speak about your mother that way. If she hadn't acted accordingly, you'd be an orphan now or worse."
She could see the shift in his eyes. She could only assume that in picturing the worst, it brought him to this very moment in time, picturing it all over again.
"You're not dangerous." She cut off his train of thought quickly and he snapped his attention back to the present moment, gripping his hands together tightly.
"I can be."
"You won't be."
"It takes one mistake."
"Which won't happen." Emeline crossed her arms and stared blankly at him.
"What if-"
"-I go back to school? Or what if you quit and let us enjoy a holiday together before you worry about a moon that is three weeks away?"
"I only want what's best for you."
"This is what's best for me. We need eachother. Please."
He pulled her into a tight hug and nodded.
"Please just listen to me. Promise me you won't ignore what I say, especially in the time approaching a moon."
"I promise."
•
Supper was lively that evening after they'd glossed over their first disagreement. Emeline hadn't expected her father to care for cooking so much and he hadn't expected her to make the best hot chocolate he'd ever had, which was saying quite a bit. Regardless, there they sat, mulling over the first term of courses, more old journals and some highlights from Emeline's childhood which Remus listened to intently with shimmering eyes. Saffron had already found a favorite windowsill here, as well, and the rain mixed with the smallest semblance of snow was falling gently outside.
"Winter is my favorite time of year." Emeline mused as she stared at the dark sky.
"I've always enjoyed winter. Perhaps fall slightly more." He offered back, hands folded with his elbows rested on the table. He rested his chin against his hands and sighed quietly.
"I've noticed you're close to the golden trio despite difference in house. How did that come to be?"
"There wasn't really one single moment I can place. We met on the train first year and hit it off so well that we just.. kept catching up throughout terms. They're good friends. I don't have many in my own house. Well, one. But she's moved onto Beauxbatons since her parents relocated to France. The letters just stopped after awhile." She responded, trailing off after that train of thought.
"I know you read a little, but James and I were quite close. Nothing compared to Sirius and I as far as having a bestfriend, but the three of us were inseparable together back then. Peter sort of weaseled his way in."
"You don't have to bring him up," Emeline cut off, knowing enough about their history to not want to hear Peter's name ever again. "The traitor got what he deserved already."
"I appreciate your belief in my theory, Em. But the truth is I may never truly know what happened that night. It is the second greatest heartbreak of my life. The friends I speak of are all dead, be it physically or metaphorically."
Emeline nodded and figured it best to change the subject. Her dad easily fell into distraught thought patterns and she found it difficult to pull him out when he thought too deeply. She couldn't blame him, but she certainly didn't want to ruin their first evening on holiday, in what would be her new home.
"Where are all the decorations?" She asked abruptly.
"Decorations?"
"You know…baubles, Christmas tree, 'Santa's coming to town' on the front door; Holiday decorations."
"I-well, I've never decorated."
"Never decorated? For Christmas?"
"I take it you have." Remus grinned, taking another sip of hot chocolate. "But no, not I, dear. I'm sorry to disappoint."
"Ofcourse I have! My mother always decorated for the entire month. It was grand and we usually hosted a party or two. She was in love with Christmas."
"Ofcourse, seeing that the greatest news of our lives came that day. I remember the grandeur of their decor. That year was exceptional, though it may be what stunted my ability to do it alone. I'm happy to hear your mother put on that beautiful display for you growing up."
"It certainly was beautiful." She quieted for a moment as he watched her. Finally, she met his eyes. "Do you think you'd be willing?"
"Whatever you'd like, Emeline. I do have an old box full in the basement, but I must warn you, there's no tree."
"We will choose one tomorrow." She resolved, standing. "In the meantime, show me this box."
•
The basement wasn't as warm as the rest of the flat. It became evident to Emeline that this is where he must transform since there was a portion that resembled a cell that could easily be locked from the inside. Emeline could've sworn she saw a tinge of blood against the candlelight she held flickering. Remus blew out the candle and whispered 'lumos' in the opposite direction, beckoning her that way.
Chills were still overtaking her body as she absorbed the isolation of this room. She desperately wanted to leave.
"Em?"
"I- uh, I'm sorry, I - "
"-I can get the box," he spoke patiently. "If you'd like to go back upstairs."
His face was slightly forlorn and Emeline shook her head.
"No, I can help you. It was my idea. I just wasn't prepared, er, expecti -"
"-Emeline Mara, please. You don't need to explain yourself to me. Go upstairs and I'll bring it up."
"I'm fine, really."
"Em-"
"-dad stop!"
Under the light of lumos they stared at one another blankly.
"You called me dad." He spoke softly, taking a seat on an old footlocker after wiping a cloud of dust away.
"You know my middle name." She whispered before taking a seat next to him, watching small particles of dust floating around his wand's glow. "I need to know what happens, dad. All of it. I will listen to you, but not blindly."
"I lock the basement door and the cell door here. I've never had any issues, however I do hear other animals outside some moons. I know they can sense it."
Emeline nodded encouragingly for him to continue as he looked down at her, one arm around her shoulder, and noted that other animals were responsible for the site of his door.
"And at Hogwarts… I use the Shrieking Shack. As I did all throughout school."
"The shack?" Emeline's brows furrowed into confusion. "But the shack is.. the most haunted place in… all of Britain…"
Remus smiled at that processing look again, offering her the same confidence to continue. He nodded, urging her on as her eyes widened.
"It's haunted because of you. Because of the noise."
"Precisely."
"So it isn't haunted at all."
"Don't get any ideas," he chuckled. "But no, it isn't."
"Are you hurt everytime? Was mom ever there with you? Did your friends follow you? How do you lock the shack? You said Madame Pomfrey cares for you, but ho-"
"-slow down, child. Let's start with a question at a time." He interjected as he raised his hand for her silence.
She nodded and hung on his every word as usual as she listened to him take care to finally explain this gruesome process to her. She presumed he left out the worst key details on purpose, but the isolation itself made Emeline's stomach churn.
When she was finally satisfied with all of his answers, some serious and some trivial, they agreed it was enough knowledge for one evening and to set back to their task at hand: decorating their home fit for Christmas.
As unconventional of a pair and holiday it was.