Danny would have liked to have said that he'd had a good night's sleep in the first bed that he had slept in since he had left his hometown, but truthfully, it had been pretty awful. The morning sun was just beginning to crest over the foggy moor, but Danny turned from its crimson rays. A rogue spring dug into his shoulder as he shifted around.

It wasn't the well-used mattress that had kept him awake, but rather his churning thoughts. Last night, he had said some things, private things. Heck, he had broken down in front of a total stranger - a wizard no less! It was this unsurety that kept him tossing and turning throughout the night.

A part of him was thinking he should just leave. Admittedly, trusting Lupin at the bar had been a spur of the moment decision that had stemmed mostly from desperation. The dry clothes and warm bed were nice, but wizards had time and time again proven they couldn't be trusted. It was a mistake to have come here.

Another part of him wanted to stay. He was… exhausted. His muscles were tired, his emotions were spent. He was tired of running.

The previous night, Lupin had promised that he would teach him defense, and Dannyneededthat knowledge. He felt weak and pathetic. He was tired of it all.

And… it was nice not to be alone…

His stomach growled, demanding his attention. Danny sighed and stood up silently. He was unsure whether he was staying or leaving, but there was no use prolonging the start of his morning. The grindylow in the tank next to his bed hissed threateningly. Danny hissed back and left the room.

The house that Lupin had left him in was not much to write home about, not that he had a home to write to anyway. It was small, with bags of soil and gardening tools strewn about. He hadn't gotten much of a look outside, but he could tell there was a large garden in the back.

Across the street sat Lupin's run down cottage. It was old and beginning to fall to disrepair from neglect. Apparently, Remus' father had owned the house before him. The property was not far from town, but far enough that Lupin's father had thought it would be safe if Lupin's cycle was not contained well enough. There was a shed in the back that Danny surmised was a part of that plan as well. He crept into the kitchen, the creaking floorboards giving away his presence.

There was an old lady who was midbite when she spotted Danny. She was incredibly short with glasses and a bun of grey hair. They took each other in and stared awkwardly. A frown slowly grew on the lady's face and Danny was ready to be anywhere else but in the small kitchen.

"Did Remus bring you here?" she asked.

"Y-Yeah," Danny answered cautiously. The lady tsked.

"That no-good lazy miscreant decides to go and procreate without even thinking of the harm it'd do to our village," she grumbled.

Danny was taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"Out with it," the lady ordered with a stern face. "What are your symptoms?"

"S-Symptoms?" Danny asked. This whole situation was only becoming more confusing.

"You expect me to believe that during a full moon you have no side effects to your father's ailments? I wasn't born yesterday," the lady scoffed.

Danny looked around wildly, not sure what to make of it. Remus had mentioned that his neighbor was a bit eccentric, but he didn't expect her to be so surly. He spotted her wand poking out of her apron pocket and took a nervous step back.

Unperturbed, the lady leaned in closer, pinning Danny with a no-nonsense look. "You listen here, boy, if there's so much as a petal of asphodel out of place in my garden, I'll go straight to that cobbled house your father calls a home and wring the neck of that rambunctious man until I receive proper recompense."

Danny wanted to laugh or run. Definitely run. His legs weren't cooperating.

"The mandrakes are still scared to death from his last rampage! Refuse to repot, every time. You tell that man I am still waiting for compensation!"

Geez, the guy couldn't catch a break. Lupin was in for it when he came over. Werewolf or not.

"In fact," The lady continued as an idea bloomed on her face. "You can start now." She grabbed Danny's collar and dragged him outside. Stunned, Danny stumbled behind her. Out front, there was a packed cart full of odd plants and herbs ready for transport. He was unsure of what to do until a small bundle was thrust into his arms. He uncovered the cloth and found a loaf of sourdough. He paused and looked up at the lady who had already turned and was strapping a basket onto the cart. "You'll need your strength today," she grumped as a way of explanation.

"Thanks," Danny mumbled, taking a bite. The bread wasn't fresh and had a tough crust, but it didn't matter. It could have been the fact he hadn't had much to eat in days, or the spontaneous gesture of kindness, but the bread was delicious. It was a struggle not to eat it all with one bite.

"Thank you, ma'am," the lady corrected. "Or Mrs. Caddick." She finished tying off all the loose straps and grabbed the end of the cart. "Once you finish with that," she nodded to the bread, "you'll push the cart the rest of the way." Mrs. Caddick began pushing the cart down the road. Danny was still trying to wrap his head on the turn of events. He looked across the road at Remus' cottage. Where was he?

"Well come on now. We haven't got all day," Mrs. Caddick shouted behind her. Danny must have looked extremely lost, since she showed the slightest sign of pity. "Remus is out for the morning. Said he won't be back until lunch." Under her breath she grumbled. "Could have mentioned the child he had stowed away in my house…"

Though, dulled from the gift of breakfast, Danny's nerves were still there. Should he just leave? He looked down at the bread. Remus had vouched for her, and Mrs. Caddick was kind enough. She also didn't think that Danny was anything other than a wizard, which gave him something to hide behind. Unsure of what to do, Danny hesitantly followed Mrs. Caddick down the road.

"Are we going to where there are other wizards?" Danny asked nervously.

"If we're lucky," Mrs. Caddick replied. Seeing Danny's unsurety, she rolled her eyes. "Don't be difficult, you've seen how the town is."

Danny had trouble swallowing his bite. "Can't say that I have."

"Well you'll find wizardkind and mugglekind alike there," she said in a matter of fact tone, oblivious to the fact that Danny wasn't thrilled at the idea. "So be on your best behavior andnomagic."

Should be easy enough, Danny thought sarcastically. His core was still unhappy with the outcome of the previous night and he had no other forms of magic. Mrs. Caddick spotted him eating his last bite and handed over the cart. It was heavy, but bearable. Danny continued onward.

The heavy mist felt different with a full stomach and dry clothes. The cold did not seep through him as quickly, and the wet air cooled his face. The wall of cobbled stone he walked next to had lost the battle of time as long reeds of grass grew over the crumpled bits. The grass was a rich emerald, eager at the coming new season. Small buds of bold crocuses scattered through the grass testing their fate with the early spring air. It was beautiful.

Danny sighed sadly to himself. He didn't want to see the beauty around him, so kept his head down as he walked. The cheerful view was only making him more depressed.

It was a little more than a mile before they reached the town. It was small, with only a few shops in the square and a church at the end of the road. Danny walked the cart up to a fountain in the center. It was still off for the winter, but he could imagine water falling from its tiered bowls.

Mrs. Caddick was quick to direct Danny. He parked the cart in front of the fountain. Together they unloaded the wares and set the cart up for customers. Danny thought they were nearly finished when Mrs. Caddick dropped a large bucket in front of him. Inside, it looked like writhing black slugs with a bloom of leaves at one end. They were the ugliest plants he had ever seen. If they could even be called plants.

Danny looked at the bucket with mild disgust. His sight was blocked when a pair of gloves were thrown his way. They were unusual. It was durable and flexible, with scales lining the exterior. He slipped the pair on as his eyes returned back to the grotesque bucket. "What is that?" he asked.

"Bubotubers, boy, pay attention," Mrs. Caddick scowled. "The bubotubers I pruned this morning will be sent to the ministry to feed the trolls. Their pus will need to be collected before that."

"Pus?" Danny grimaced.

She ignored him and picked a bubotuber up with her gloved hands and squeezed the black part until a large glob of a yellowish greenish substance oozed out. She then collected the liquid, which could only have been called pus, in a bottle. To finish the task, she corked the bottle.

Looking up from her work, she scowled. "What are you doing just standing around? There's work to be done! Get! Get!"

He was ushered to a short stool before he could get in a word edgewise. A bottle and a bubotuber were thrust into his hands. Danny was still trying to find out how he got himself into this mess, when the lady said, "Well, go on now, we haven't got all day."

This is all Remus' fault, Danny concluded with a tight smile and morbid resignation. He leaned away as he squeezed the plant until it gave a tiny pop. He watched the liquid trickle down with disgusted fascination.

"That was… oddly satisfying," Danny stated, bottling the liquid.

"Wonderful," she deadpanned. "You can place the bottles here and the spent bubotubers in that bucket there."

She sat on a much taller stool by the cart and began crushing a sort of bean with the flat end of a knife. Danny did as she said and grabbed the next bubotuber. He looked around the square as people milled about. A question grew that he couldn't ignore. "What are you going to do if someone who doesn't have magic sees us?"

Mrs. Caddick snorted. "You're peeling spuds and my cart is filled to the brim with liverwurst."

"Oh," Danny went back to work, but curiosity got the better of him. "What would happen if someone had a craving for liverwurst and wanted to buy some from your cart?"

Mrs. Caddick shrugged. "A simple charm will make them remember something they need to do. It's mutually beneficial if you ask me."

Danny paused. "I guess that makes sense…"

The pair continued to work through the morning. Occasionally, a customer would stop by to peruse the cart's wares. It was slow going until a woman with an owl on her shoulder eagerly walked up to the stand.

"Hello, Mags! Will the bubotuber pus be available today?" she asked, pointing to Danny's bucket.

"I already have some here on my cart," Mrs. Caddick stated. She gestured to the box they were in.

The woman eyed the bottle Danny was corking. "I need an undiluted supply."

Mrs. Caddick raised a brow but didn't comment on the peculiar order. "You heard her, boy, hand her your bottle." She turned toward her patron. "This'll cost extra, Anne."

"That won't be a problem, Mags, thanks." The woman paid and walked a couple steps away from the cart. She uncorked the bottle and pulled out an envelope. This piqued Danny's curiosity and he began to watch the woman pour the contents in the envelope. As she was securing the mail to the owl, Danny could just barely make out the recipient's name.

"Who's Hermione Granger?" Danny asked, the name ringing a bell.

"Just a no-name muggle pretending to be a witch." She released the owl. It flew up expertly, knowing the way to go.

Mrs. Caddick looked irritated. "You know, undiluted pus can give a person welts the size of an occamy egg."

Dannny looked down at his gloved hands, suddenly grateful he was given them. He then looked at the owl flying away with alarm.

"Believe me, Mags, this one deserves it."

"Mmm…" Mrs. Caddick was unconvinced. She eyed the woman, unimpressed.

"Anne, you got it. Excellent!" Another witch walked toward the cart. In her hands was a magazine that was folded open to an article. "I couldn't find any itching potion in the apothecary, so I sent my letter without one. I think my words will get the point across."

Danny spotted the stupid face of none other than Harry Potter in the spotlight of the article. Danny frowned at his smiling face and began to read the article. A quick scan was enough to jog his memory as he now recognized his brother's best friend. "You've got beef with a fourteen year old?" he asked, turning to the group.

"Now really!" Mrs. Caddick exclaimed, standing, even though it did nothing to help her stature.

The woman scowled. "She should know her place! The filthy mudblood!"

"Out!" Mrs. Caddick cried, despite the fact that they were already outside. "I will not tolerate such language near my cart! And if I hear word that you caused lasting harm, you best not be seen near my cart again! So help me!"

The women looked affronted. She stuck her nose up in the air and said, "Perhaps I need to reconsider where I buy my ingredients." The pair turned and stalked away.

Mrs. Caddick sat back down in a huff. "'Filthy mudbloods'," she scoffed. "Filthy purists, more like." She sat grumbling to herself then turned to a wide-eyed Danny. "You got something to say?" she asked irritably. "You werewolf-boy some pureblood fanatic, too?" Danny shook his head. "Good, get back to work."

"I'm not a werewolf," Danny grumbled, but did as she said.

"That's what they all say." There was no use arguing.

"Danny?"

Relief flooded him and Danny gave the man the most accusatory and pleading glare Lupin had ever seen.

"What are you doing here?" the man asked. "Popping bubotubers no less!"

"He's doing what you should have done after you wrecked my farm," Mrs. Caddick stated stubbornly, though there was no bite in her tone.

"Mrs. Caddick, I was a boy. That was years ago," Lupin reasoned with a crooked smile.

"My mandrakes have not forgotten, Remus," she retorted.

"Unless you have miracle plants, the ones I had frightened should be dead from old age by now," he countered evenly. crossed her arms but did not argue his point.

Danny took off his gloves and placed them on the cart. "This… wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be," he admitted to both himself and Mrs. Caddick. He began to walk back with Lupin.

"Boy."

"It's Danny," Danny turned right as a sack of something was tossed his way.

He lifted the sack. "What is it?"

"Liverwurst," she stated. Danny looked in the bag which contained, not liverwurst, but a few potatoes.

"Thanks."

"Mmhmm, Dinner's at six." She turned to Lupin. "Boy's got a good head on his shoulders."

A smile grew on Lupin's face.

"He also looks nothing like you. You should get a paternity spell done."

Lupin's smile faltered as confusion bloomed. He looked at Danny for answers.

"Come on, Dad," Danny stated sarcastically, pulling the man by his arm. He let go suddenly with a wince. "I tried to tell her otherwise, but you know her better than I."

Lupin stumbled behind and barked out a laugh. "Stubborn as a hippogriff," he agreed.

"Where were you?" Danny accused.

"I had a prior commitment this morning that I could not ignore." Lupin sighed with frustration. "Though I might as well have missed it. No one wants to hire a werewolf." He looked down at Danny's sack of potatoes. "Here, we can have lunch under the tree there and discuss further." There was a table beneath the tree not too far from Mrs. Caddick's cart. Lupin pulled out a sack of his own and showed its contents to Danny. "A token of gratitude from Agnus. She butchered one of her pigs to celebrate Ugdor's return." He took Danny's sack and slightly hesitated before reaching into his coat pocket. "I'm going to cook the meat and potatoes using magic," he warned. "It'll be discreet enough so the muggles won't notice." There were more pedestrians milling around due to the lunch hour. Danny nodded and stiffened as he watched the man wave his wand. The packs instantly began to steam from the heat.

"Pig and potatoes, we're living like lords," Danny muttered to ease his tension. He took his share. "No job, but at least we won't starve."

"That's the spirit," Lupin smiled. Danny's heart sank. There was no point in acknowledging the pun that Lupin wouldn't even understand he had made.

Danny sighed as loneliness bloomed. He missed his friends.

"I meant to introduce the two of you earlier, but you didn't seem very frightened of Mrs. Caddick," Lupin commented, also noting Danny's more subtle reaction to his display of magic.

"I was at first," Danny replied, attempting to make a roast taco with the potato halves as the tortilla. "But her forced labor was a bit desensitizing," he said honestly. Thinking back, she hadn't even touched her wand. "She, er, doesn't like you very much."

"Understandable," Lupin said honestly. "I grew up before wolfsbane was invented."

"Wolfsbane is the potion that keeps your wolf-form tame?" Danny asked. He had heard of it enough times at this point.

Lupin hummed in agreement and the pair ate in a comfortable silence. The food wasn't bad, and it reminded Danny of when he and Jazz would have to scrounge for food in the kitchen that hadn't been reanimated. An ache in his core formed as he finished his potato roast taco.

"You know, if no wizard would hire you, you could always get a normal job," Danny said, attempting to alleviate the ache with a new thought.That's right, focus on Remus's problems. Lupin looked over in confusion so he added, "You know, with no magic involved? You could try working for McDonalds; at least then you'll get a free meal afterward. And no one would ask where you've been during the full moon either. My friend, Val-" Danny paused as the ache grew stronger.

He resisted the urge to shove it back down. It hadn't worked before and he knew it wouldn't work now. Denying it had only made it worse. What had Remus said the night before?

Acknowledge your grief.

"Your friend, Val…" Lupin coaxed Danny out of his thoughts.

"Yeah… she said that people call in sick even when they're not sick. She did it all the time to fight gh-thugs. Thugs. Right, she was kind of a vigilante." She probably didn't even know she used to moonlight as a ghost hunter now. He winced violently.

At this point, Lupin was catching on. "Focus on the memory of your friend, not of what happened to her," he advised.

"Easier said than done," Danny retorted between grit teeth. He took a steadying breath. "Besides, you can always request leave and give the excuse of needing to take care of your sick grandmother or something."

"Grandmothers are becoming a common excuse with us," Lupin noted with amusement. He mulled the idea in his head. "How would I apply?"

"Send in a resume, I think?" Lupin gave him a puzzled look. "How do you not -right. Wizard. Look, I can help you write one." He began picking at the wooden table. His core was already flaring, there was no use holding back now. And… maybe Lupin was right. Talking about memories could help. "Jazz… she made me write one every year after my brother and I tried to convince our neighbors to let us cut their grass." It used to be a cheerful memory. Why did it feel so sad now? "We had brought out our scissors and everything."

"It's a lovely memory," Lupin beamed. "Not sure why someone would decide to cut their grass. I'm guessing 'scissors' are not the best practice in lawn cutting?"

"No," agreed Danny with a ghost of a smile. It hurt, but he continued. Some part of him needed it. "I was seven and my parents never cut their lawn. How could I have known?"

Lupin finished his food with a satisfied sigh. "Well, let's give this resume a shot. I think I might have parchment and a quill somewhere in here." He began rifling through his pack.

Danny shook his head. "You'll want it typed. That'll be more professional." Lupin looked at him with confusion. Danny withheld a sigh. It was like teaching a child the inner workings of the world. "I think I saw a library down the road. We could give it a shot."

With a destination in mind, the pair began walking.

Danny's core throbbed pitifully, but there was something else drumming with the same frequency.

"This… talking about them… it was nice… Thanks." It might not have healed his core, but it was something that Danny was starting to realize the human half of him needed.

"Of course," Lupin replied. They reached the end of the road and stood in front of the library. "I have to admit, I've lived here for 30 years and have never been inside."

"There's no time like the present," Danny said. He pulled open the door to the small house, but stopped mid motion and looked back at Remus. "You do have a non-wizard ID, right?"

Lupin reached into his back pocket. "Will this work?"

Danny eyed the passport with approval and continued inside. He weaved through the cramped shelving to the back of the library, while Lupin took his time taking in the place he had passed several times but never ventured. It was much different than Hogwarts Library. The shelves were more of a hodge podge collection of newer and more colorful books. He picked one at random and joined Danny at the computer stations. Setting the book aside, he watched Danny navigate through the technology with wonder. Danny glanced at the man and sighed. It was going to be a long afternoon.

Lupin squinted in frustration at the computer. After Danny had set up an email account and pulled up a blank document, Remus had taken over the reins and began filling out what he could. It wasn't easy. Several of his former jobs could not be translated into muggle fields. He had to manage the verbage to make sure it didn't raise any eyebrows. Lupin looked over at Danny who was content to sit back and let the man work. He had picked up the book Lupin had placed next to the computer and was looking at it with a pensive expression.

"Have you readOthellobefore?" Lupin asked, looking for a break himself.

"No," Danny replied. "It just reminds me of a teacher I had."

"Was he a…" Lupin read the name, "Sir William Shakespeare supporter?"

"Yeah." His eyes were looking past the book. "He loved reading so much that he'd cursed using book titles." His eyes lit from the memory. "Shakespeare was his favorite."

"What was your teacher's name?"

"Mr. Lancer," Danny said. "He was the only adult who really cared. He didn't know my situation, but knew something was up. Tried to keep me on track, despite everyone else telling him I didn't care or was too lazy."

"He sounds like he was a good teacher," Lupin supplied.

"He's still probably a good teacher," Danny stated. "Just helping other kids." A note of sadness took hold.

Lupin gave him a searching look before coming to a decision. "Read the book," he suggested. "It'd be a way to honor his memory."

Danny looked up at Lupin with an unreadable expression before turning to the computer.

"'Educator' is good. Will Mr. Dumbledore be able to vouch for you to muggles?"

Lupin turned back to his work as well. "I would like to think so. He's sympathetic to lycanthropes, and, though I didn't leave on the best of terms, I think he'd help."

"Then let's keep him as a reference and hope they don't try to find the school's phone number. You should keep your bussing job too. Tells them you've worked in the food industry before." Danny scanned the document. "You need more interests. It gives you a personality. So, besides saving reckless teens from monsters and giants from tyrants, what do you like to do for fun?"

Lupin's smile faltered. Often his free time was spent just trying to get by. He looked back at his resume. What could he put down?

Danny saw his struggle. "I didn't have much either. Let's just put down something easy like you're into gardening. Mrs. Caddick would approve." He gave it one last look over. "Alright. This looks good. Let's submit this to their website and be done." He clicked a few times and a blaring red and yellow home page popped up.

"What am I signing up for?" Lupin asked with a fragile smile.

"Beggars can't be choosers," Danny stated, clicking the submit button. He turned to Lupin. "Now, we wait for them to email us back."

Lupin let out a breath of air. "That could take a couple of days."

Danny glanced at the book before giving Lupin a firm look. "Will you teach me about the defense against magic now?"

"I don't see why not. Let's see if Mrs. Caddick is finished here and we'll help her carry her cart back."

Danny hummed in agreement and stood. After a second glance, he picked the book up and hesitantly held it out to Lupin. "Could you also check this out for me? Your ID will work better than mine."

Lupin's gaze softened. "Sure."

"I've read the Hogwarts spell books up to year 3," Danny said stiffly as they moved to Mrs. Caddick's backyard. The woman herself was deep in the yard, working on feeding her chinese chopping cabbages. He took a seat on the wooden steps leading to the back door of the kitchen.

"That's a good start," Lupin replied behind the pile of books in his hand. He set three of them aside and handed the top one to Danny.

"Defensive Magical Theory," Danny read out loud. He opened the book to a random page. "Chapter 34: Non-retaliation and Negotiation?" He looked up at Lupin with disbelief.

"It always helps to try to reason with your opponent first," he offered halfheartedly.

"Yeah I'll remember that when they're trying to blast my head off," Danny scoffed.

Lupin gave him a crooked smile. "While I disapprove of the methods he suggests in order to protect yourself, Slinkhard does a decent job in describing the theory behind each jinx and counter-jinx. Since you know your unique biology best, I figured knowing how the spells work would be a good start in figuring out what you can protect yourself with since casting a counter-jinx is out of the question. Feel free to skip the parts that are useless." He pulled out his wand. "As for our practical use, we'll start with the basics. Have you heard of the disarming charm?"

Danny nodded, bracing himself. "Expelliarmus, right?"

"Precisely." Lupin pointed his wand at a wooden table. It was transfigured to a wooden man with a wand pointed at Lupin. He waved his wand again, saying, "Expelliarmus!"

The wand flew out of the figure's hand and into Lupin's. Lupin looked over at Danny who had tensed at the display. "Depending on the power behind the spell, you can even send the opponent flying."

Danny pushed past his nerves. "What do wizard's do to protect themselves from the spell?"

"It depends on the strength of the spell. If the spell is weak, a tighter grip is all you need. For stronger spells, a shield charm will block the attack."

"I can create shields," Danny said suddenly.

"Quite impressive ones, if memory serves me correctly," Lupin agreed. "Let's give it a try then," He returned the wand to the dummy. "Place a shield around the statue and we'll see if that will block the charm."

Danny reached into his core and winced as it riled with pain.Not now,he thought stubbornly.

"Perhaps it's too early to try using your powers," Lupin commented as he walked over. "You are still healing after all."

Danny frowned. "I heal fast. The chimera's bite is just a scab at this point. See?"

"Danny, I'm not talking about the injuries you've sustained from the chimera." Lupin gave him a look before pointing at Danny's chest. "I'm talking about whatever is going on in there."

"There's nothing wrong," Danny snapped defensively.

Unconvinced, Lupin gave him an unimpressed look. "Denying it will not help you heal. Nor will it help you improve your defenses." He crossed his arms and waited.

Danny took a steadying breath. Lupin was right. This wouldn't work if he didn't cooperate, and heneededto do this. "It's broken right now… because of what happened. It will heal eventually, I think." Clockwork had implied as much. "But right now I think it only releases my powers when I'm using it to protect others."

Lupin blinked. "You were driven to help the children," he realized. "And the villagers from Ugdor." He looked down at Danny. "With the chimera…"

"I thought fighting anything would help… but it's strictly to protect," Danny offered.

"Hmmm… that does complicate things." Lupin began to pace.

"It just needs to heal," Danny said more to convince himself than Lupin. "The Box Ghost could use his powers on things other than boxes. Once my core heals I'll be able to use mine for other things too."

Lupin stopped and gave him a bemused look. Danny frowned at him. "What?"

"Do you have an obsession?" Lupin asked.

Danny quickly stood. "What are you implying?" he asked threateningly. Had he said too much?

"That's not possible," Lupin stated slowly. The man was thinking hard, and Danny didn't like it. "A ghost core can only be found in beings who….." He gave Danny a disbelieving look. "Are you… dead?"

Danny took a step back on the porch. The friendly air that had surrounded them all afternoon was gone. He knew…. Oh God, he knew… What had he done?

Lupin took a step forward.

"Stay back!" Danny yelled fearfully.

"It's okay, Danny," Lupin held his hands up non-threateningly. He opened his mouth to continue but was cut off when a large sack was thrown into his stomach.

"Alright you lollygaggers, supper won't cook itself," Mrs. Caddick stated. She walked between the pair and gave Lupin a stern look. "Go add that fertilizer to the hellebore andwatchthe dittany this time. Can't have you trampling through my livelihood." With the unfortunate timing, Lupin couldn't hold back his indignant look. "Don't complain," she barked back.

She didn't wait for a reply and threw another bag at Danny. He jumped when a cabbage head fell out as he caught it. "Is that a chomping cabbage?" he asked in a shrill voice. He could not stop his skittish reaction.

"Don't be ridiculous, they're for the cabbage stew," she snapped. "Now those need a good washing before chopping." Seeing his reluctance, she grabbed his elbow and dragged Danny inside. He numbly followed until he was directed to the sink. There, he peered out the window and watched Remus begrudgingly walk off toward the garden.

While the view brought him a sliver of relief, he didn't relax. "Mrs. Caddick, I don't think I should stay," Danny began, not caring that he was voicing his concerns while looking out the window.

"Nonsense," Mrs. Caddick retorted. She handed Danny a knife. "Once the cabbages are washed, they can be chopped for the stew. Go on now." His gaze moved to the object and took comfort in the weapon's sharp blade. He looked around for Mrs. Caddick's wand, but winced inwardly at the action. The woman hadn't shown him any hostility.

Swallowing thickly, Danny began to wash the cabbage quickly. He'd do this last task for the woman and be done. He owed her that much at least. Mrs. Caddick did not seem to sense his urgency and slowly milled about around a giant pot. Occasionally she'd take Danny's chopped cabbage and add it to the stew. She'd take a sip and add a few spices.

Right as Danny started his last cabbage, Lupin came inside, sporting a few new holes and dirty marks on his ratty coat. Danny stopped chopping and watched him warily with the knife in his hand. Lupin eyed the knife then turned to Mrs. Caddick. "Your venomous tentacula has more of a temper than I remember."

"They just don't like you," Mrs. Caddick replied bluntly. "You have that look about you."

Lupin's lips twitched. "Or maybe you've been telling them not to trust me."

Mrs. Caddick hummed. "I would never," she said unconvincingly. Lupin's gaze finally landed on Danny's cautious one.

"Mrs. Caddick, Danny and I had a misunderstanding before you returned. I'd like to finish our discussion before the evening progresses."

Mrs. Caddick looked over at Danny and lowered her frown. "Did you finally tell him that he's not yours?"

"I already knew that," Danny replied with a surly tone. He stiffened further when Lupin pulled out his wand.

"Can you hold onto this for me until we are finished?" Lupin asked Mrs. Caddick calmly.

"The only use it'll do for me is stirring," she grumped, but grabbed the wand anyway.

"Please don't," Lupin replied thinly. He gave Danny a meaningful look and walked outside. Danny stared at the wand.

"Any wizard can use another's wand. Why is this one useless to you?" Danny asked.

"Any witch that has enough magic can wield anothers," Mrs. Caddick corrected in a grim tone.

"You don't have magic?" Danny asked. Mrs. Caddick didn't respond. "But… That can't be right. You work with wizards and grow magic plants. You even have a wand."

She sent him a glare before returning to the stew. "The wand has an empty core, boy. I only have it so that business doesn't slow. Squibs come from magic families, but do not have enough themselves." Her tone was final, ending the conversation.

Danny looked lost. While the new information was interesting, it didn't help him decide on what to do next. He wanted to leave out the front and avoid Lupin altogether. Cut his losses to fight another day.

When?A voice in the back of his mind asked. He couldn't fight and that was the whole issue.

"You don't have to follow him out, you know," Mrs. Caddick stated suddenly. She was stirring the stew but looked at Danny when she felt his gaze.

"You look like you've been through it, boy, and that's no compliment," she stated. "Whatever you are." Danny stiffened with alarm. "Werewolf or not, if you're looking for shelter, you've got it here." She looked out the back door. "If you're looking for protection… Remus' will give you your best shot at it. Ministry be damned."

Her firm look didn't falter. From their interactions, Danny could tell that the woman didn't hand out compliments freely. Her high praise must have been hard-earned. "I thought you didn't like him."

"That'll be our secret," she retorted. She went back to her cooking, leaving Danny to his thoughts.

Danny took one last glance at the wand on the counter. Jazz had told him years ago that he was in over his head and he should seek help. She wanted him to tell someone. Someone who knew and would help him through. It was too late to help Jazz now, but maybe it wasn't too late for him. He mustered his strength and walked outside.

Lupin was looking out into the twilight sky. The remainder of the sun's glow waned as the first pinpricks of starlight shone. Lupin took it all in as his breath clouded from the brisk air. Danny wondered if the man came out at dusk often to take solace in the rise of a moon that was no longer full. The waning quarter loomed low over the eastern horizon. It was the reminder of the man's gruesome nature that gave Danny courage to take a cautious step forward.

"I didn't mean to frighten you," Lupin offered as Danny approached.

"It's fine," Danny mumbled, crossing his arms. "I'm not dead… just," he took a deep breath. "halfway there."

"A hybrid of a corporeal ghost," Lupin breathed, finally looking down at him.

Danny felt no joy at the man's awe. "The last time a wizard found out they killed my family and tried to force me to ministry."

Lupin let the information sink in. He turned back to the horizon. "Then we'll make sure no one else finds out."

"Will you still help me?" Danny asked stiffly.

"Nothing's changed, Danny," Lupin replied.

The tension left his shoulders.

"If I can't make a shield, I could try dodging it. I'm pretty fast," Danny offered, with a bit of hope in his voice.

Lupin gave him a smile. "I'd love to try that out, but I don't think Mrs. Caddick will leave us be for much longer."

Danny nodded and looked back at the house. "Are squibs treated the same as werewolves?" he asked.

Lupin leaned back in thought. "There are no laws against squibs. They need to be registered, but they are free to live their lives how they wish. Some, like Mrs. Caddick, choose to stay in the wizarding world, while others choose to live amongst the muggles."

"I'd probably choose to live with muggles," Danny grumbled.

"It'd certainly be the easier of the two choices," Lupin agreed. "But there's something to be said of those who decide to shoulder the weight and plow through a community that doesn't want them, wouldn't you say?"

"Yeah."

"Come, let's go inside before another sack is thrown our way," Lupin joked.

Together the pair walked back into the warm kitchen.

The air was crisp as it gently blew through Harry's hair. Hues of green blended together as the emerald hills rolled by underneath him. He was in the sky, following an eagle owl with a note attached to his foot. The view was pleasant and warm, as was the hand holding his. He looked down at the gloved hand and slowly followed it up to its owner.

"Why are you here?" Harry asked, startled. He tried to pull away, but the hand tightened. "Where are we going?"

The clouds grew thicker and the pleasant feel to the air was gone. Phantom gave him no acknowledgement, but stared after the bird with a grim expression. A chill rose as the bird began to land. Phantom followed its course without hesitation. The owl flew into an open window on the second floor of a rundown manor. Upon entry, Phantom released Harry.

"Why did you bring me here?" Harry asked.

Phantom didn't spare Harry a glance. Instead, he looked intently across the room.

Harry glared. "Talk to me!"

"You are in luck, Wormtail," a cold, high-pitched voice said, as if to answer him. "Very fortunate, indeed. Your blunder did not ruin everything. He is dead."

Harry shivered, the dream still fresh in his mind. The worn marble steps ascended, sliding against the stone walls with the ease of centuries of use. As Harry grew closer to his destination, he heard voices arguing in the distance.

"What kind of explosion are you talking about?"

"The kind that leaves one dead, Alastor," the irritated voice of Cornelius Fudge said.

"Were there traces of magic?" Dumbledore's old tired voice asked.

There was a hesitation. "No one suspects foul play. There's no sign of magical involvement. It was just a terrible accident."

"Not that anyone would consider otherwise, seeing how the only witnesses had been issued the memory charm," McGonagall's stern voice chimed.

"A complaint that I will make sure the president of MACUSA hears," Fudge offered halfheartedly.

Harry could barely make out McGonagall's next comment. "Albus, you have to tell him."

"Telling the boy is just what they want," Moody's gruff voice argued. "He'll lose his nerve right before the third task."

"I agree, Alastor," Fudge commented. He must have realized he was agreeing with a questionably sane man since he hastily added, "Getting through the third task will be tricky. Hogwarts can't lose another chance at victory."

McGonagall saw through the man's sputters. "The triwizard tournament is not your betting playground, minister," she scolded.

"Having Potter leave campus might be what they want," Snape interjected.

"He can't stay here when-"

"There is no 'they', Severus," Fudge snapped, clearly frustrated with the way the conversation was going.

"Minister, you have to consider the fact that all the disappearances that the ministry is experiencing could all be connected," Dumbledore stated evenly.

"But that's, well, that's preposterous," Fudge stated a bit flustered. "Bertha's disappearance was months ago. And, well, everyone knew how clumsy the girl could be. Probably got herself lost. She should turn up any day."

"You've been saying that for months, minister," Alastor countered. "There's no sign of her."

"She could have had an accident!"

"An accident would leave a body."

Silence fell at the grim statement. "The Unspeakables," Fudge suddenly spoke up. "They were on secret business from the Department of Mysteries. Dangerous work, the Department of Mysteries. They could have fallen in a different realm for all we know."

"The department released a statement saying the pair went on holiday a week before their disappearance was made known," Snape disagreed.

"Barty!" Fudge snapped. "You've seen him yourself, Albus. Slowly losing his mind, that one. The deeds of his past were finally catching up with him, that's all! You know his history as much as I do. He probably offed himself."

"Again, where's the body?" Alastor asked stubbornly.

"Then he wandered away! You said he was found just past the Beauxbaton carriages? Have you thought that Madame Maxime might have a role in this?" His voice lowered. "Youdoknow what she is?"

"Only a capable headmistress and a great dancer," Dumbledore replied calmly.

It sounded like Fudge faltered, though Harry couldn't see through the double doors of Dumbledore's office. "They're not all harmless like Hagrid." A pause. "Though, harmless is not quite the word I would place on that monster-loving-"

"I would end the discussion, Minister." Moody's voice cut in suddenly.

"Now now, Alastor, I will speak my mind. Albus, I know you have more of a leniency when it comes to… outsiders. I'm still receiving owls from that stunt you pulled with the flyers- Now don't go denying it, I know you had a hand in it. But accidents like this need to be handled with an objective view, and objectively, giants, however friendly they appear, are naturally violent creatures."

"There's no reason to suspect that Madame Maxime had a part in this," Dumbledore's voice stated firmly.

"You can har-"

"Headmaster," Moody interjected, "It appears that Potter would like a word with you."

All voices stopped and the door was opened.

To Mr. Remus Lupin:

We have accepted your application and would like to move forward with the hiring process. Would you be able to meet for an onsite interview, Wednesday at 9:00am? Please respond using this email.

I look forward to making your acquaintance,

Patricia McCafferty

Store Manager

A/N -I hope you liked this chapter, it was probably the most difficult one to write yet. I actually scrapped the whole thing and rewrote it because everything was feeling forced and it wasn't working. This version is a lot better.