Remus couldn't find the strength to go immediately home to the cottage.
Deflated and, frankly, pissed: he decided to make a stop to the pub that Sirius and Emeline had wandered to.
He put in an order for their cheapest ale and shed his jacket as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Though Emeline was ninety percent expecting this, he simply couldn't muster the words to tell her that she truly couldn't (or perhaps, shouldn't) be returning to Hogwarts.
Sure, there were other schools, but Hogwarts was home.
He could just see it now: Emeline attempting Beauxbatons with Calliope finding out she was just as detestable as her father now.
He groaned in mental anguish as the waitress dropped a full mug in front of him.
"Can I get you something else?" She asked curiously.
"No, no. My apologies." He handed off the cash for his drink and sipped it eagerly, still turning all the words he could come up with in his brain before settling on the best ones.
The bold face, no bush-beating, truth.
•
"Welcome back, daddio!" Sirius grinned, clapping him on the back and taking his coat.
Emeline bounded in the room when she heard Sirius and her face fell slightly.
It had nothing to do with Remus' face and everything to do with the smell.
He ended on two drinks; two lightweight, quick drinks.
And she could've smelled him from miles away.
"That bad, huh?" She smiled sadly, moving to hug him.
"I'm sorry, Emma." He kissed the top of her head and sighed as they headed for the couch, all three of them sitting one right after the other and falling into a comfortable silence before Remus spoke again.
"Hogwarts just isn't safe with that… bird heading it. She seemed like she was getting my point, and truth be told, she did offer for you to finish term. However, she's shown me some unsettling paperwork."
Emeline quirked an eyebrow at him, her curiosity piqued.
"Well, go on."
"Anti-werewolf legislation. If the ministry signs off on this, it will make it damn near impossible for werewolves to hold down jobs. Merlin, it's been practically impossible already for me! And forget school prejudice- with that hag in charge, you don't stand a chance. She said so herself that you may not even be welcomed back next term."
Emeline snorted. "Welcome is an exaggeration in any stretch with her. I figured as much. This isn't your fault." She stared up at him kindly, but all he could do was shake his head.
"I want to keep telling you that you can do whatever you dream of doing, darling. And I will. But you're going to have to break your back to do it, and for that hostility, I could never be sorry enough."
Emeline wasn't sure what to respond and leaned her head into his shoulder.
"Why don't we pop on some lunch and see if we can one up your dad in Gobstones, finally?" Sirius asked excitedly, cutting the tension with as much joy as he could manage.
Emeline swallowed and nodded with a convincing smile.
Any old observer would've thought she was fine; they may have even thought that she didn't care about school to begin with.
But Remus knew better.
Rather, he felt better: the aching pit deep in his stomach.
The pit of not belonging.
•
When evening rolled around that night, there was a knock on the front door and Emeline ran to open it, knowing full well it was -
"Tonks! I didn't think you were going to show up!"
She laughed and pulled Emeline in for a hug.
"I had to come see how that meeting went, now didn't I? What have we? A Hufflepuff still, or shall we order some blue dresses?"
Emeline snickered and slammed the door behind her as they walked into the kitchen, past Sirius who was having, what was so far, a two hour long siesta.
"Technically I'd be allowed to finish term. Off the cuff, dad doesn't trust the old bi…bird." She turned her head to pour some coffee with an eye roll. "Dad's still on a language ban. I'd like to call her many other colorful things, none of which have to do with pink."
Tonks laughed as she took the coffee offered to her. It had slowly become tradition for her and Emeline to waste the night away chatting when she didn't have work the next day, so the coffee was appreciated despite it being evening.
"Anyway, get this: they're enlisting new legislation."
Tonks waited expectantly and Emeline grinned.
"A complete werewolf ban, practically! Jobs are going to be all but nonexistent and school is going to be hard to achieve with the open prejudice and accessible registry paperwork."
Tonks' eyes widened, then narrowed in amusement.
"Merlin, that sounds terrifying… why are you smiling?"
Emeline shrugged mischievously.
"Well, doesn't bother me. I have a job, as of…" she peaked at her watch, an old tattered one of Remus' he insisted she wear amidst her habitual tardiness. "Thirty minutes ago." She finished cheerfully, humming that tune they always hummed as she handed Tonks a chocolate croissant.
"Back up, I've obviously missed something here." She answered back, buttering her pastry.
"You haven't. I haven't announced it yet. Sirius is asleep and dad is," she quirked an eyebrow as she glanced around. "Well, you know, I actually don't know where he wandered off to. I was immersed in my owl alerting me of this new prospect!" She took a seat next to Tonks who laughed once more and motioned for her to continue.
"Well, go on. Don't make me beg it out of you, Merlin's sake!"
"George has asked me to work at the joke shop with them! They're opening the storefront in two months."
Tonks' mouth dropped open.
"No way, that's bloody brilliant!"
"In'it?" She grinned, drizzling honey atop her own chocolate croissant. Tonks turned up her nose at that and Emeline chuckled.
"Take it up with dad, he taught me this. I thought it was gross at first, too. Anyway, I'm thrilled!"
"Thrilled about what?"
"Yes, Emeline, what?" Tonks reiterated as she stood to greet Remus with a kiss on the cheek.
"I, well…" she wrung her hands nervously, much like how he did when he was on edge. "I…"
He laughed slightly, his brows furrowed and confused as he rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Emma, what is it?" He searched her eyes, imploring her to continue as he chuckled again. "Am I that scar-"
"- George has asked me to work with them at the joke shop and I've agreed." She glanced down at her shoes, her hands behind her back as she awaited his response.
For some reason, she pictured him not taking well to this news. There were many reasons for this thought, but she had no time to ruminate on them as he squeezed her shoulder once more.
When she looked up, her had his other hand around Tonks' waist and they were both looking down at her, positively beaming.
"Darling, that's wonderful!"
"I know it's dumb, I just - wait, what?"
Tonks smiled and glanced up at Remus whose face was so sweetly proud.
"I'm happy for you; I hope this can help with that spark of yours. It's been missing for some time." He finished softly, moving his hand to rest on her cheek. "I'd just like to believe this doesn't stop you trying to become a healer. You will be so good, Emeline."
She shook her head gently, moving his hand from her face.
"Theres a big difference between dreams and reality, you know? It might not be my first choice, but at least I'm alive."
Remus didn't have a chance to respond before Emeline turned to head for the living room. Tonks remained silent next to him as they watched her browse the bookshelf, selecting a novel quickly and heading to the bedroom. She shut the door softly behind her and Remus turned to Tonks, completely lost.
"She'll be alright," she encouraged quickly. "She's a teenager and she's sensitive about all of this. I'm sure she'll come to her senses. But, what about you?" Tonks ran her hands along Remus' arms and stared up at him with adoration, patiently awaiting his response.
He looked down at her for a long time, emotion flashing across his face. He was tender and thoughtful; typically patient, and his eyes were kind.
She could tell he couldn't find the words, but his softness around her said it all.
"You know I don't care about these bloody legislators, don't you?"
He nodded wordlessly, moving his hands to her waist.
"And you know I still want to be with you even if your only job is keeping my cousin in line, don't you?"
He smiled in response and pulled her closer.
"And you do know that we're all going to be just fine, don't you?"
"I hope so." He replied strongly, his tone almost begging.
"I know so." She whispered, moving on tip toe to kiss him.
Author's Note: A bit more filler to come and then to the Department of Mysteries As always, thank you for reading!