A lovely holiday had passed in the Lupin flat, complete with the smallest tree Emeline had ever seen and an exchange of books wrapped in parchment paper that each of them were all too eager to begin reading in front of the fire immediately. It seemed as though the holiday passed so quickly, that Emeline was left in disbelief when the day of the moon finally arrived. She opened her eyes slowly to the sunlight peering in from her father's window. She was cozied in bed with her book still cracked open beside her. She'd insisted that at least on the eve before the moon, he take the bed, but this entire holiday he had taken the couch and not dreamed of allowing her such a discomfort. She slowly pushed herself up in bed, taking a deep breath and readying herself for whatever the day was to bring. She pulled at the sleeve of the sweater Molly had knitted her last year after George mentioned their friendship and the golden trio's liking to her. She spent a few moments in that hesitation before standing and deciding to bite the bullet. Pulling her hair into a loose ponytail, she headed quietly for the living room.

She smelled breakfast already in the works and walked into the room as cheerfully as possible, catching sight of her father whose back was turned to her at the stove top.

"Goodmorning, doomsday!"

Remus forced a laugh and turned to face her, but he certainly already looked worse for the wear. She smiled kindly and stepped where she could fit in the little kitchen.

"Are you hungry?"

She glanced at the stovetop and nodded. "Yes, but is there anything on the offering that isn't just meat?"

His laugh was stronger this time and he handed her a plate. "Toast and jam. There's coffee in the bronze kettle."

She handed the plate back to him and grinned. "I'll take bacon too, thanks."

Remus rolled his eyes and turned back to cooking as Emeline poured her coffee.

An uncomfortable silence settled around them until Remus began to hum. A tune that Emeline recognized from her childhood.

"My mother used to sing me that song." She blurted out, reminiscing.

"I'm sure she would. The morning I was forced to leave, they allowed me five minutes to say goodbye. I wrapped what I thought would be an entire lifetime in singing you that song; it's what my mother used to sing to me."

Emeline noted how abrupt his answers were as he approached the moon. Though his response was genuine and thoughtful, his delivery was quick and somewhat curt. He easily lost his patience the day before and for a few days after.

Though tears stung at the back of her eyes, Emeline chose not to respond further and waited for Remus to take his seat across from her, handing over her plate.

They ate in silence as the morning sun faded to grey and storm clouds erupted. Finding comfort in the rain, Emeline was left to her thoughts until Saffron pecked on the kitchen window. Remus attempted to stand quickly, but it was met with a grimace and deep breath.

"I've got her!"

Emeline sprung to her feet and all but skipped to the owl. She opened the window quick, soaking the counter, and to her surprise Remus sighed in frustration. With a flick of his wand, he dried it.

"I could've taken care of that. What did you expect?"

He chose not to answer and took the last sip of his coffee as Emeline excitedly ripped open the letter. It was exactly who she expected it to be from. Though, she was not expecting such a quick response.

E,

It's great to hear that things are going well. It's business as usual here: boring aside from our pranks and I have a tantalizingly handsome new jumper. Looking forward to heading back and seeing you again to hear about everything in person. Take care of yourself tonight. I expect a morning owl.

George

Emeline's face was flushed slightly red and a large grin was plastered across it. Remus cocked an eyebrow at her, his first wave of frustration quickly subsiding. He wouldn't dare pester her, though he was curious. Emeline must have had that intuition because when she looked up and found his eyes on her, she dropped the edge of her ponytail she was involuntarily toying with and continued into a deeper shade of red on her cheeks.

"Um, a letter. From a friend." She rolled her eyes and held up the letter in an attempt to look unfazed. Remus nodded, amused.

"Ah. I gathered as much. Must be a lovely friend." A quick swish of his wand once more now cleared the table and as the dishes floated around him, he rested a hand over his crossed knee.

"I'm good friends with George." She divulged, a tinge of guilt for sharing her father's secret so easily, creeping up.

"George?" Remus asked, surprised. "The Weasley twin? He's two years older than you."

"Right. Yeah. Well, we've always just hit it off." She shrugged, folded the letter and moved to walk into the living room. She wasn't sure how Remus got up with such ease now, but he followed quickly behind her.

"Hit it off how?"

"Whoa," she turned on her heel face to face with her father. "Calm down, doomsday. We're just friends."

A new feeling was bubbling up inside Remus, but he couldn't place it.

Emeline also couldn't place what exactly he was doing but she felt for sure she was being trailed by a lost dog. Or perhaps a scent hound.

"Just friends." He agreed, offering her his belief. "Right then. Great."

"You're acting odd. Odder than your moon moods. I'm off to get dressed."

She slunk away from him as Remus stood, left in the living room, dumbfounded. He followed a train of thought far back into the past and could finally place his feeling.

It was instinctual and animalistic in light of the moon.

It was what he felt as he handed over his tiny daughter, never to see her again.

A desperate desire to protect her.

•

Emeline glanced up from her reading as her father paced back and forth in front of the couch. She had been quite comfortable the entire afternoon with a cozy blanket, a mug of hot chocolate, and already halfway through her novel. Her father on the other hand, well, this had been him the better half of the afternoon into evening.

"Dad, a hole has opened up in the floor."

Pacing.

"Dad, a dementor is in the kitchen."

Pacing.

"Dad, a league of centaurs has just overtaken our home."

Pacing.

"Dad, I'm leaving for a bit."

Remus snapped his attention to his daughter and stopped pacing abruptly. Panic coated his face and a new paleness was overcoming him.

"You can't leave so close to the moon, Em."

"Hey, relax," she stood quickly, throwing the novel onto the couch behind her. Her father looked weaker now and clammy. "I was just joking. You weren't answering me."

"Oh." His response was sad. "Right, I'm sorry, I -"

He clenched his jaw and one hand, releasing it slowly. His eyes looked frantic. Emeline tugged on his sleeve.

"Hey, I think it's time."

"Right. I'll show you."

Emeline followed her father into the basement, illuminated by candle light in her hand and lumos once more from his wand. He didn't speak to her again until he had safely bolted the cellar door behind him.

"I've been taking my potion all week. I'll know you. Which means I'll know if you stay."

She shook her head. "I w-won't. I won't come down here. Like you said."

"No matter what you hear."

"Right."

"No matter what you feel."

She swallowed thickly.

He reached out a hand to her which she quickly grabbed. She wore her heart on her sleeve and she oftentimes let it lead her.

Remus didn't like it one bit in regard to his condition.

"No matter how you feel." He repeated sternly.

"R-right. No matter how I feel."

Remus' jaw clenched and he dropped her hand abruptly.

"Lock the basement. Lock the bedroom. Leave."

"Dad-"

"-EMELINE!"

His eyes changed as she bolted for the basement door.

With her last ounce of bravery, she glanced back once more. All she caught in the darkness were long claws grasping the bars of the cell.

Assurance that she was leaving was Remus' last peaceful thought.