Thursday 15th April 1982

Remus and Tonks' Flat, 14:30

Remus lay back on the chair and closed his eyes. He had a thumping headache but that wasn't why he was resting. Well, it wasn't the only reason why he was resting. No, he was taking advantage of the rare opportunity of Teddy actually napping for a change. He'd been fighting his nap for the past week or so, running them, all ragged. Which would be fine, that was a normal thing for children as they got older, if it wasn't for the fact that the boy needed that nap. He and Dora had, unfortunately, discovered, that if he went without his nap in the early afternoon then he got unbearably cranky and difficult by five o'clock, if not before. Because he was tired but didn't want to go to sleep. Couldn't seem to go to sleep. Not without a fight, anyway. Something Remus didn't understand because surely if you were tired you would just go to sleep. It was as easy as that. Of course. toddlers weren't exactly the most logical beings in the world. And yes, they had been tempted to use a sleeping charm on him. No, they hadn't actually fallen to that level. Yet. It was getting tempting though. Were sleeping charms really that bad for children?

At least he was sleeping now and hopefully would remain that way for at least another hour. That would give him a chance to relax and hopefully get rid of this headache. Well, that and the three glasses of water he had in front of him. He really wasn't that good at keeping himself hydrated so this headache could have been caused by that. On that note, he took two big swings of water.

"Cold," he hissed to himself, wincing as the ice-cold water hit the back of his throat.

Well, that's what he got for casting a cooling charm on it. He thought back to a few days ago. When he had seen Sirius. For the second time. In Azkaban. Because he had gone back a second time. And he was likely to go back a third. And then a fourth. However, many it would be until his trial. Whenever that was going to be. Of it was going to happen. Just because Banbridge had all the paperwork in order didn't mean that it was going to be put through any time soon or at all, for that matter.

No, he had to think positive, Sirius was going to have a trial, for better or for worse. Je just really hoped that it wasn't going to make things worse.

Remus didn't know how he felt about Sirius having a trial. Which was horrible because, obviously, no one should just be thrown in prison without a trial but it was just... what was going to come up? They all wanted the truth but what was the truth? That's what scared him. What really happened that night? Except, for, well, the obvious. Remus didn't know if he wanted to know. He'd barely processed what he thought he knew; he didn't want to process yet more things.

Except, that wasn't fair to Sirius. He knew that. They all knew that. Remus was just... well, he didn't know what he was anymore or what he thought. Everything was all jumbled up and bits of it didn't even make sense.

Of course, he didn't believe that he'd killed James and Lily, that was just something that he wouldn't do. Couldn't do. But what about Peter? What was that all about? Had asked himself that question time and time again and he still didn't have a logical answer for that nor did he think he would. He supposed he could ask Sirius but did he actually want to know the answer?

His head throbbed again. Urgh. He pushed himself up and went rummaging around their medicine cabinet in the bathroom (was the medicine cabinet ever anywhere else?). He wasn't going to be able to push through this, he needed a headache reliever potion.

St Mungo's 18:30

Chryssie rubbed at her eyes, in an effort to get rid of some of the tiredness and to see if the action made what was written in front of her clearer. It did neither of these things. In fact, she briefly saw double so technically it made it worse. It didn't help that she barely understood what was written down in the first place - between the handwriting and the actual words that she'd never come across before.

Would it really hurt for the Wizarding World to use typewriters? That way she wouldn't waste so much time trying to decipher people's handwriting. Apparently, no Healer could write clearly, something they shared with doctors if she remembered correctly. Not that clear writing would help her with words she blatantly didn't understand but it would be a start!

Why did she want to become a Healer again? The days were so, so long and she still had way too much to learn. Even Dora had graduated from her training and was now an actual Auror. She, on the other hand, was still very much a Trainee Healer. And would be for at least another two years. Two years! That was so long. So much more to learn. She didn't think that her brain would be able to stand it. There was no way there was enough space in there for another two years of learning. Her head ached even thinking about it. No, Wait. That was just another headache coming on. Great. Because she didn't have enough of those.

She closed her eyes and massaged her temple. It didn't really work but it felt like she was doing something to relieve it.

"Bad time?" A gruff voice asked making her nearly jump out of her skin.

"Auror Moody?" She managed to get out, standing up straighter and blinking rapidly in an attempt to look not as tired as she was actually feeling.

That and the man kind of had that air about him That he wouldn't allow for slouching or anything other than you at your most alert. Kind of like Professor McGonagall at Hogwarts.

"Aye, you're Evans. A Healer now."

That was a statement, not a question but she nodded anyway.

"A Trainee one anyway," she felt like she had to point out.

"Good enough."

She gave him a confused look but followed him off to the side when he crooked a finger at her. She took the opportunity to remind herself of one of a Healer's golden rules, you don't unnecessarily draw attention to a patient's injuries. It made them self-conscious, defensive and it was just rude to stare like that. Anyway, she was supposed to be looking at people in the eye, not the nose.

They were in a little alcove that was just out of the way enough that no one would realise they were here. She sometimes hid in here when she wanted a breather.

"I need my follow up check-up," he grunted at her and waved his hand at his face. "For all this."

'All this' being the result of the raid he and Marlene and other Aurors had been involved him, him coming off the worst. Chryssie could remember all the Healers that had had to swarm around him when he's been brought in. None of his injuries had been simple. They weren't just cuts and burns from debris or cutting charms, they were cuts and burns from curses. Curses that actually blew a chunk out of his nose, in fact. That was the most visible injury. She noticed that the burns seemed to be finally healing, they didn't think they would properly when they discharged him but they were starting to form that shiny scar tissue. Hopefully they would scar over properly and fade with time. There were even some further procedures that they could do to reduce even that now that it looked like the curses had been countered properly. Hopefully. Apparently, they hadn't been your standard way of casting them which was pretty par for the course for Death Eaters unfortunately. On the plus side, they knew this and their curse breaking department had been on the case.

"I can just grab Healer Michaels and-"

She had turned around to look for her boss for today but she was spun back by a hand grabbing her arm.

"None of that. I don't want no fuss."

"But-"

"Can you do my check up or not?"

"Yes, but surely you'd want-"

"Then do it," he said in a tone that he was obviously used to being obeyed.

And, it worked because Chryssie found her feet moving to the nearest exam room.

"Are you sure-" she began with a last-ditch attempt and Moody gave her this look. "I'll get right on it then."

"Good." He got himself comfortable on an exam table. "I don't want to be wasting any more time."

"You do know that I'll take longer because I'm not a full-blown Healer, right?"

"Just get on with it."

"Getting on with it."

Saturday 17th April 1982

Azkaban, 09:30

He didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing that Marlene came. That was a horrible thought, wasn't it? Because of course he wanted to see the person who he loved. Of course, he did. Even though both of them had been on edge and she had been kind of cagey. But who wouldn't be if you were visiting someone in Azkaban of all places? Of course, things wouldn't exactly be cosy and normal.

The problem was that it had made the effects of the Dementors worse. He had thought he'd got kind of used to it, as much as you could any. And, of course, there was that trick that he had. But the effects still seemed to be a lot stronger even when he was a dog now. He didn't like it when the effects were strong. And since he'd gotten used to the slightest weaker feeling, the more manageable feeling, when he was a dog, the sudden stronger effect took a toll on him.

Let's put it this way, he really hated being sick. Especially when the toilet in the cell didn't really flush properly and the smell really hung around. It was not a pleasant smell. Granted, in wasn't the worst smell around here, which was saying something. He never thought that he'd ever say that the smell of vomit wasn't that bad but oh how times changed.

Marlene. Marlene was a better thought than dried vomit and screaming. He both wanted and didn't want to see her again.

He didn't want her to see him like this. Couldn't let her see him like this. But je missed her. Of course, he missed her. He loved her. Which meant that He had almost told her not to come back. Told her to go away. But he just couldn't. The words died in his throat as soon as he tried to say them.

You see, she was real. Something, someone to anchor him to the outside world. More so than Remus because Marlene meant Cassie. His daughter. His little girl. Who now had a criminal for a father, how pathetic was that?

Cassie would be two soon, wouldn't she? Was her birthday coming up? He wasn't sure of the days anymore and it wasn't like Dementors were going to inform him. Ha. But Cassie's birthday. It was... it was in July. He searched his memory and nodded. Yes. July. That memory hadn't been taken away from him. Not yet, anyway. July and Cassie would be two. Not that that meant anything when he didn't know what day it was. He was going to have to ask Banbridge when he came again. He was coming once a week now.

He leaned back against a damp wall and closed his eyes in an attempt to shut his surroundings out.

It didn't work.

Sunday 18th April 1982

Remus and Dora's Flat, 11:00

"Never thought I'd see you just lazing around."

Remus fell off the couch at the sudden voice, wand out and a spell on his lips. Thank Merlin for his enhanced senses or his apparent guest would have their arm sliced open. As it was, he managed to see that the person wasn't a threat fairly quickly. She did look quite shaken, however, though her wand was also out. Her hand was shaking.

It took him another second to actually process who had just interrupted him. Connie! It was Connie! His cousin! On his mother's side. His cousin! She was here! Wait, what was she doing here?

"What are you doing here!"

They hadn't seen each other since... well, since his early years at Hogwarts? Had she come over to him or had his family gone over to her? He couldn't remember. So much had happened since. A war, for one.

"I wanted to visit so here I am," she said with a shrug. "Well, I wanted to see you and even though your family was supposed to be the one to come over next it looked like that was not happening."

"We kind of got busy over here," he reminded her.

"All the more reason to visit or even stay with us."

Remus didn't even bother rolling his eyes.

"But let's get back to you just lazing around," she said accusingly. "I never thought I would see the day."

"It's hard for me to get a job in the magical world," he reminded her.

It was just a fact, nothing to get worked up over unfortunately. On the plus side, he had a few tutoring jobs lined up - parents scared for their children's exams - so those were going to be good.

A series of emotions, none of them good, flitted across her face. Surprise, shock, annoyance, anger.

"I forgot how different it was over here."

"Yeah," he sighed.

The rules in Italy were different. Not even the actual, legal ones but the societal ones. There wasn't technically any laws against hiring a werewolf in the UK but there wasn't any protecting them either. Definitely not any protecting them. Merlin, you were more likely to get arrested for some brute force charge or something over here if people knew you were a werewolf. And that was the least of your worries. Not like in Italy. Perks of having the founder of your capital city being raised by a wolf, he supposed. They had a much favourable view on them over there.

"It is so backwards over here," she said, scrunching up her nose in distaste.

"Better than America," he said defensively. "They have them tagged over there."

"Only in some states, I believe. But even the ones who don't have a similar view to over here. It is ridiculous."

Remus couldn't exactly disagree. Because it was. But he just had to live with it, there was nothing he could do. He couldn't exactly change the opinion of a whole country overnight.

"In Italy you get help and there's anti-discrimination laws," she complained.

Which all sounded well and good but that wasn't the UK, was it? No. In the UK they were just a step up from hinting werewolves for sport. There may be laws protecting them but they were met with so much derision. Remus shook his head; it was sometimes just better not to think of these things.

"You're an Italian citizen, you know?" She said suddenly.

"Yeah?"

"Through your mother, have you talked to her recently?"

"I know that and no. Not since she returned to Italy during the War."

His father had refused to leave. Saying he wasn't going to a foreign country where he didn't understand the language. Which, of course, started an argument because that's what his mother had done. Thankfully, he had already moved out at this stage and had heard it second hand from both his parents. His mother had wanted him to come with her but he couldn't. He just couldn't leave his friends. Which started another fight though this time between him and her. They hadn't really been in contact since. Just the odd letter reassuring the other that they were alive, pretty much. His mother had returned to Italy, if that hadn't been obvious. Separated from his father. He didn't think they had divorced yet. He hoped that they would have told him if that was the case.

He didn't like talking about it much. Why do you think he never went home? He would always just think of all the fights that had happened and he and his father, well, it wasn't like they didn't get along, that was a bit harsh but they had definitely grown apart. Remus always felt like he had disappointed him somehow which was ridiculous but that's how he felt.

He was taken out of his thought by Connie suddenly tapping on his nose. He scrunched up his nose (he hated that feeling) and grabbed her wrist to stop her.

"Stop that."

"You were the one that wasn't listening."

"I was."

"Yeah?" She raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips. "What was the last thing I said then?"

"Something about me having Italian citizenship."

Connie shook her head. "That wasn't the only thing I said."

He sighed heavily.

"What else did you say?"

She matched with a sigh of her own.

"Jobs, Remus. I was talking about jobs."