The March full moon went exceptionally well. Remus truly had no complaints this time. What made it even better was Aurora spending the entire next morning with him, her presence instantly lifting his spirits. With her by his side, it felt like any lingering exhaustion faded into the background. Shortly after, Easter arrived. This year, the students were given the choice to stay at Hogwarts, and although many decided to go home, the castle still buzzed with those who remained.
Remus particularly remembered Easter Sunday morning, a moment etched in his mind. He was deep in conversation with Aurora in his office when a knock on the door startled them both, breaking the warm, quiet rhythm of their exchange.
"How are you, Harry?" Remus greeted cheerfully as Harry stepped inside, his usual calm demeanor masking the flicker of curiosity about the boy's unexpected visit.
"Good morning, Professor Lupin," Harry replied politely. His gaze shifted briefly. "Professor Moonridge," he added with a nod in her direction. There was a hint of hesitation in his voice as he continued, "I... I just wanted to ask something, but if you're busy—"
"Ask away, Harry," Remus encouraged with a gentle smile.
The boy shuffled his feet slightly before speaking. "I was just wondering, because... what if the matter of my legal guardianship isn't resolved by the end of the school year? I know that these court cases can take a while."
Remus felt his breath hitch slightly, and his eyes instinctively darted to Aurora, searching her gaze for some kind of guidance or reassurance. His heart sank with the weight of the boy's question, a painful reminder that the arrangement allowing Harry to stay under his care was only temporary. The Ministry had made an exception solely because they were at Hogwarts.
Aurora stepped in, her tone light but comforting. "You know, Harry," she began with a soft smile, "we can always be homeless together. Two heads are better than one," she teased, attempting to lift the boy's spirits.
Harry blinked, caught off guard by her unexpected humor. "You still haven't found a place to rent?" Remus asked, his concern slipping through his otherwise composed demeanor.
Aurora shrugged casually. "I haven't had time to look for anything."
Harry looked surprised, his brows furrowing. "You don't live with Lucrecia, Professor?"
The unexpected question hung in the air for a moment. Aurora exchanged a quick glance with Remus, both amused and unsure of how to answer.
"Harry, you can't say anything to Lucrecia," Aurora warned, her voice low but firm. "My parents, and she, don't know I don't have a home."
Harry frowned, his concern evident. "But... is everything okay, Professor?" he asked, his tone tentative, as though afraid of prying too deeply.
Aurora forced a nod, but the gesture felt shallow and unconvincing even to herself. She averted her gaze, unable to meet Harry's worried eyes. The truth weighed heavily on her: nothing was okay. She had broken up with the man she loved, lost the sense of stability she once clung to, and now she was facing an uncertain future without a roof over her head. To top it off, Harry's own situation loomed in her mind, leaving her fraught with anxiety.
"You know," Remus said, breaking the tense silence with a soft yet earnest tone, "if things don't change, the three of us might just end up in one house together."
Aurora managed a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Remus, thanks for the offer, but I can manage. I'll stay at the Leaky Cauldron until I find something."
Remus's expression darkened, his protective nature surfacing. "No way," he said flatly, his voice brooking no argument.
Aurora opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, Harry hesitated and then spoke. "Professor," he began, his voice quiet and unsure, "has a trial date been set? Or... or will I have to be there too?"
Remus's gaze softened as he turned to Harry, his concern shifting to the boy. "A trial date has been tentatively set for June 16th," he said, his voice measured and reassuring. "I'll do everything I can to make sure you don't have to be there, Harry. But..." He hesitated, his words carrying a weight he didn't want to place on the boy's shoulders. "...the final decision isn't mine to make."
Harry's hands fidgeted with the hem of his robes, his shoulders tense. After a moment, he looked up, his voice barely above a whisper. "And... would it be possible for me to stay with you, Professor?"
"We'll see, Harry"
Aurora entered her office right after classes ended. Her day had been an absolute disaster. She hadn't slept a wink, had drowned her coffee in too much sugar, found out Lucrecia had earned yet another detention, and had a pointless argument with Remus over something insignificant at dinner. And just to top it all off, her period decided to show up uninvited. She couldn't imagine it getting any worse.
At first, she didn't notice the two letters on her desk, too overwhelmed by the mess in her head. She slumped into her chair, fighting the urge to scream in frustration. Then, as if on cue, the envelopes caught her eye. She turned toward them, her heart sinking as her hand reached out instinctively. When her gaze landed on the names on the front, she felt a cold wave of unease settle over her. She knew something was wrong.
Without thinking too much, she immediately reached for the one written by her ex.
Aurora,
I know it's been months since we last spoke, and I deeply regret not reaching out sooner. I'm sorry for the delay in writing to you. After you moved out, I was lost. I didn't know where to find you, and honestly, I hesitated to go to your parents' house for a long time. I knew you too well to think you'd go back to them. I thought you might have gone to the Leaky Cauldron, and I was right, but when I asked Tom, he told me you had left some time ago. No one seemed to know where you had gone, and I wasn't surprised. You had always kept to yourself, but I couldn't help but hope that someone might have seen you.
When I finally realized you had disappeared without a trace, I gathered the courage to visit your parents. You hadn't told them we'd broken up, and I could see how shocked and hurt they were when I arrived and asked if they knew where you were. I told them everything, and I saw how devastated your mother was. It was clear that she was struggling with both the breakup and the reasons behind it. I know things got messy, and I can't deny that it hurt me, too, especially when you thought I was unfaithful to you. But please know, I don't blame you for that—I understand how emotions ran high.
I'm not upset, Aurora. I've forgiven you for everything, and I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me for not being there when you needed me the most.
It was your mother who finally told me where you might be.
Aurora, if you're open to it, would you meet me in London when you can? I've thought a lot about us, and I wish we could find a way to start over.
Yours,
Elliot Blackwood
Aurora,
Why did you lie to me and your father for so many months? I don't understand why you kept this from us. I'm so disappointed, Aurora. Elliot is a good man, he was a great partner to you. How could you think he was cheating on you, especially after everything you shared? He didn't deserve that doubt, and I don't understand why you didn't trust him. And why didn't you come to us when you moved out? You've always been so strong and independent, but this is different. You didn't let us help, and that hurts. Child, you were homeless for so long and didn't say anything?! I had no idea you were going through something so serious. You know there will always be a place for you in our house, no matter what happens. You are our daughter, our sunshine, our treasure. If I had known, I would never have let you live in the Leaky Cauldron. It's just not the place for you.
As soon as the school year ends, I want you home with all your things. I can't bear the thought of you still living on your own, struggling like this. You don't have to face everything alone. You can come back, and we'll sort it out. You can't live in a bar your whole life! I want you to be safe, comfortable, and surrounded by love.
Moreover, Lucrecia wrote me in a letter that she feels you and one of the professors seem really close. There are rumors that you are together, and I need to know the truth. What's going on with you, Aurora? Why haven't you told me anything about it? If this is true, I need to understand why you've kept it a secret. And how could you find a new man so soon after breaking up with Elliot? I know how much you loved him, and I'm sure you still do. It doesn't make sense to me. I just want to know where your heart is, and what's going on in your life right now.
Aurora, as soon as you get home, we'll have a serious talk. No more hiding things from me. I just want to understand and make sure you're okay. Please don't shut me out any longer.
Your mom.
Aurora couldn't believe what her ex-boyfriend had done. Was he the one who accused her of suspecting him of cheating? Merlin, she had seen him have sex with that woman with her own eyes, witnessed the whole thing—how could he twist the situation like this? And now he dared to tell her that she had made it all up? No, this was some fucking joke, a cruel joke, and she wasn't laughing.
She couldn't take it any longer. This day had been too overwhelming for her, every moment stacking on top of the last until she felt like she was suffocating under the weight of it all. She had to let off steam, to release all the frustration, the anger, and the hurt that had been building inside her. She started screaming. Out loud. She didn't care if anyone heard her, if anyone saw her breaking down in the middle of her office. She just needed it now, needed to release everything that had been trapped inside her for far too long.
And then she kicked the stacks of books standing nearby with her foot, the sound of the impact sharp and satisfying. She didn't stop there. Her sobs grew louder as she collapsed to the floor, curling up at the feet of her desk. She howled at the top of her lungs, the pain coming out in raw, desperate cries. So many months had passed since she broke up with Elliot, and only now did she realize that she hadn't truly processed it, hadn't fully allowed herself to grieve. It was as if a dam had finally burst, and all the emotions she'd been holding back for so long came rushing out at once.
"Professor Moonridge?" asked the voice of the boy who had just entered her office without an invitation.
It was Harry.
Aurora didn't care about anything at that moment, though. She was still crying uncontrollably, her chest heaving with every sob, not paying attention to the world around her. She couldn't bring herself to stop, couldn't pull herself together, and she didn't even notice when Harry managed to run out of her office. He returned only a few minutes later, this time with Remus by his side.
The man was almost immediately at her side, kneeling in front of her with concern etched across his face, his eyes soft and filled with understanding.
"Harry, get out of here. Leave us alone," Lupin said, his voice gentle but firm, as though he had seen something like this before and knew what Aurora needed.
"But Professor Moonridge..." Harry began, his voice filled with confusion and concern, but Remus interrupted him with a calm authority.
"I'll take care of her, now get out. This is not the place for you."
"But..." Harry hesitated, his brow furrowing in worry.
"I promise I'll do everything to make her feel better. Get out." Remus said, his voice softer now but still resolute.
Harry reluctantly left her office, closing the door behind him with a soft click. The sound of the door shutting left the room eerily quiet, but Aurora was still crying loudly, her sobs echoing in the silence.
"Aurora?" Remus asked gently, his voice reaching out to her through the storm of her emotions. "Aurora, look at me."
She didn't. She couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze, couldn't find the strength to stop crying.
"Aurora, please." His voice cracked slightly, a note of desperation creeping in as he gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
The man took her face in his hands, his touch warm and steady, trying to get her to look at him, to focus on something other than the pain that consumed her.
"Rory, please, look at me."
He used the diminutive form of her name. No one did that. No one but him. It was a soft plea, a tender connection that made her heart tighten, and for a moment, she couldn't ignore it.
Her gaze met his for a moment, just a fleeting second, but she quickly looked away, the vulnerability in her eyes too much to bear. Remus, not knowing what else to do, simply sat down next to her, close enough that their sides touched. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace, offering her a sense of safety, even if only for a moment.
"Scream, cry, if you need it," he whispered into her hair, his voice steady and comforting. "No matter what happened, I'm here, Rory, okay? I won't leave you."
He held her close, waiting patiently for the storm inside her to subside, knowing that all she needed was time and space to let everything out. He wouldn't leave her alone. Not now. Not ever.