Chapter 1
This story starts in the Hebrides, on the Isle of North Uist at the beginning of Remus Lupin’s workday. There are a few things I’d like to clear up with you. Uist is a group of six islands off the coast of West Scotland, and North Uist is only one of them. It’s where James and Lily Potter’s farm is.
South Uist is the other island we’ll be visiting throughout our time together. North and South Uist are linked by causeways, making the commute a bit less complicated for us. The Outer Hebrides are mostly regarded for being cold, beautiful, and difficult to get to, which is probably why Remus chose them in the first place. Other distinct features of the Hebrides are the windy roads and very changeable weather.
Anyway, the farm, Stagwood, (where we will spend most of our time) a mile or so inland is only a cottage, a barn, a chicken coop, an unused dog shed, and about forty acres of land—twenty-five for sheep, and the rest for pines.
Let’s start there.
Remus had been working on the farm for just over two years now. It was small… well, smaller than the one at home, and quiet… though it hadn’t always been. In the summer, Remus got to Stagwood just as the sun was coming up. Even in July the air still held a fierce chill, but the sun glowed gold over trees and fields, setting the tips of leaves and blades of grass aflame.
The first thing that'd catch his eye - and probably the property's most distinct feature was the house. A bungalow with white plaster walls, a dark slate roof and a bright blue door came into view from a mile off. It was only when Remus pulled up the drive that he’d be able to make out the matching blue window panes and the battered hanging baskets. The winds and rain are harsh, remember, so quite a few of the slate slabs, adorned in a generous coating of moss and lichen were lopsided, and one was sat in the gutter. That needed sorting.
Remus would then park the jeep on the gravel next to the house and step out. If there'd just been a bad rain, which wasn't uncommon, he'd squint, turning away from the sun and grab his cane from the boot - complimentary of Lily Evans.
She was from Aberdeen, but had opened a physiotherapy clinic in Stornaway with Angela after she graduated as a Band 5, having since moved to a Band 6. Angela, her manager, is an entirely different enigma that we’ll have to get onto later.
Remus had gone to Lily about his hip a few years ago.
This was while she’d been rehabilitating a 23-year-old James Potter. He’d fallen off the Stagwood Barn roof onto the concrete patio (idiot) and by some miracle had only fractured his collarbone.
Angela had sent Lily to do a Falls Assessment of James’ property, which is very standard for most of their patients. Most of their patients, of course, being elderly people suffering from osteoporosis. This was a request that in hindsight, was Angela meddling in Lily’s love life. Lily had dictated that the biggest risk to James’ safety was James and recommended he hire someone with actual land management experience, Remus. James had dictated that he needed to ask Lily to dinner at every opportunity with incredibly obvious gestures that she just took as an enthusiastic thanks for the treatment.
Eventually, James did just ask properly, which put Angela out of her misery. The two had been living together since the spring.
Remus knew James had grown up in London. Private schooler, Russel group uni, all the works. It had bothered Remus for a bit, but James was harmless, and Remus trusted Lily's judgement. She was without a single bad bone in her whole body. That was something Remus would die knowing was true.
Lily was infuriatingly bright and kind, and James clung to her. Remus ended up coming round to James in the end.
It seemed ridiculous that a London boy would run a farm, nevermind in Uist. But James had the money to start it up. Maybe he had just brought Remus on to teach him the works, but Remus had never left. He didn't want to.
In the beginning, and in the politest of terms, James had known fuck-all.
It was better now at least.
It seemed the three had found their rhythm. Remus still managed the sheep, and James everything else.
Remus liked to make himself scarce. In the mornings before Remus got in, James would drive the eggs, and very occasionally wool or poultry up to the market and would usually be back to find Remus hidden in the sheep pen checking on everyone. James would dawdle around if Remus was in the mood to entertain some light conversation, claiming he was checking the fencing nearby, but James wasn't the subtlest of characters.
Remus usually made James lunch before taking some food to the dog bed in the hall.
“Come on, Padfoot. That’s plenty beauty sleep for you.” Remus scratched the top of the collie’s head, and she huffed in annoyance before yawning.
Padfoot was supposedly a sheepdog, but she woke up at noon if Remus was lucky. She had a pretty black coat, though apparently, she was a nightmare at the groomers, so maintenance was a challenge. She could herd sheep exceptionally well, so well Remus had almost considered her for the North Uist dog show, but what Padfoot had in talent, she made up tenfold in cheek and fuss.
When James had first bought her, Remus had done his best to encourage the softie to keep Padfoot outside. Padfoot wouldn’t sleep outside, James soon found out, and when Padfoot didn’t sleep, no one was allowed to sleep. These days she slept in the hall. She wouldn’t let anyone feed her, walk her or listen to anyone who sent her to bed barring Remus, and she never let anyone bathe her. Thankfully she enjoyed playing with the hose.
Remus would usually take a walk around the grounds to check on the sheep after he’d had lunch. Sometimes James would catch him on his walk back to the house. He used to approach Remus and try and force some small talk, but these days he’d settled down to a wave and a grin.
Remus then took his jeep and headed back to his cottage that lived on South Uist. A shy little thing with an old green door. On Thursdays (bi-weekly) he put one of the bins out. Then he’d make himself dinner, usually pasta, curry or a sandwich, they generated the least washing up. Then he’d grab his textbooks and start reading.
He used to read all sorts, but in January, he’d stumbled across a book on mechanical engineering. Just a small one. Remus had been raised on a farm, he knew how to fix up the jeep and tractor. He’d been alright at maths in school, but would never have time to pursue an actual career in it, so it was a nice way to keep his brain warm. The hobby would fade after a few more weeks in his routine, Remus was sure.
Then he'd get ready for bed and do his best to get a few hours in before dawn. It was a neat schedule, and he liked it.
Then one morning, came the boy in leather.
Remus had been elbow deep in sheep wool - sheering Dolly down for the upcoming summer that morning when he’d heard the clammer at the front of the house - laughing from James… and a guest. The disturbance had even woken Padfoot, who was barking excitedly.
Remus liked quiet, he liked to be left to it. He wasn't interested in whatever James was up to unless it involved the farm.
The buzz of excitement fizzed in his veins, and when Remus heard the back door open, he couldn't bear it. His newfound curiosity got the better of him and he peered over his shoulder, still holding Dolly in place.
James stepped out first, eyes alight with pride. Remus could see Lily's bright hair from inside the house as she ushered a tall silhouette out the door. Remus let go of the shears and wiped his hands down his thighs then stood.
“REMUS! COME HERE A MINUTE!” James called jovially.
Remus sighed but appreciated the excuse. He closed the pen behind him before walking up.
A man stepped out.
Fucking hell.
“This is Remus, he's taught me the ropes. Remus, this is Sirius.”
Remus swallowed and nodded dumbly. Words didn't form.
“Alright, mate?”
He had the same accent as James, but it twisted his gut. When Sirius cocked his head to the side curiously, his dark hair spilt onto one shoulder. Remus glanced at Lily for help. She gave him an amused smile.
“Remus is shy and doesn't like to be bothered, come on.”
“Look at you, Lils, been here five minutes and you're already sending me home.”
“Oh sod off, Sirius. Come on, I'll show you town.”
Sirius smiled and nodded. Then glanced at Remus absentmindedly. “Sorry to bother.” He grinned.
Remus shook his head.
“You're alright.”