Moony, Is It True The Muggle Queen Eats Swans With a Doctor In Space?
“I’m sorry Professor, could you say that again?”
“I said Mr Potter, that it is perfectly reasonable to be concerned about the welfare of your son. Don’t make me repeat myself again.” McGonagall responded, sitting at her desk and looking down her glasses at the students in front of her.
“So you believe us?”
“Of course I do, I can clearly see the resemblance.” She met Harry with a warm smile, “He’s certainly yours. Now on to more important matters, I think it’s best we try to obscure their identities. You don’t want to go interfering with time too much, the repercussions of something like this could be devastating for all involved, if we don’t manage it now.” She quirked her eyebrow at the boys.
“Well Professor, I would like my son to remain known as Draco Black. I will speak to Mother, we could certainly arrange a story as to who he is.” Sirius was the traditional, arrogant, pureblood heir from the second they stepped foot into the office. It made Remus nervous seeing his friend like this, a stark reminder that, despite the laughs and ridiculous adventures they have shared since they met aged eleven, he was still the son to an ancient and noble family.
Remus looked over to his daughter, standing on her own by the professor’s desk. He watched the girl, in complete awe of her independence.
“And what about you, Miss Granger? I understand your position, what would you like to do?” The Professor rose from her desk and made her way over to the girl.
“Pr-Mr Lupin has offered to let me pose as his cousin. I accept, if that’s alright?” Hermione turned to Remus, who was trying to not look too eager. Not trusting his voice, he just nodded his head in agreement. “I understand your family is Welsh, does that mean I should have a Welsh name? I don’t think I know many, my friends usually just call me ‘Mione…”
Remus was lost in the girl, his girl, as she rambled on and on. Just like he does when he’s nervous. She’s absolutely bonkers, she is. Worrying about if she needs a Welsh name, not that she’s stuck back in time. Not that she’s got no certain way of returning to her own. What if there is no way she can return home… His blood run cold.
“Mione could work, Professor. I knew a girl called Meinwen, met her at church… she went by Wennie, but I think ‘Mione sounds much better myself. It’s not great, or that common, but I don’t suppose Hermione is, and it is the closest thing to your name…sort of.” Remus for the second time that day found his mouth moving before the rest of him caught up.
“It sounds nice, and it’s certainly close enough.” Hermione shot a dazzling smile over to her father.
“That’s very kind of you Mr Lupin, twenty points to Gryffindor for your generosity.”
“Ah that’s no bother professor, I imagine most people would do the same.” Remus’ cheeks tinted pink and he stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets. He caught eyes with Sirius, who had a thick crease between his brows and looked like he had a thousand thoughts running though his head, all at once.
“Harry, what do you say? Any names take your fancy?” James asked his son, who smiled and shook his head in return. “Oh come on son, you need to help me out. I can’t just give you a name, you might hate it. Do you hate your name? Professor can you choose one?” He pleaded, running his hand through his messy hair.
“Certainly not, Mr Potter! Mr Lupin, could you help your friend? You seem to have a talent for naming children.”
Remus, who was still locked in some sort of stare off with Sirius, watched as his friend’s face softened, that bright twinkle took over his eyes and a smile played on the corner of his lips.
“Oh well, I don’t know about a talent, Professor.” Remus started, he finally broke off his attention from Sirius, instead directed it towards Harry, with a small mischievous smile playing on his own lips.
“How does Paul sound to you, Harry?”
The younger Potter beamed, the elder ground his jaw.
“Like Paul McCartney? The Beatles are really popular at the moment, aren’t they?”
“They’re having a bit of comeback.” Remus replied, a grin blossoming over his face.
“A comeback? You’re younger than I thought then, Dad.”
Sirius snorted, James muttered something that sounded much like “Cheeky bastard” under his breath.
“Sounds good Remus, can I call you that here?” Harry grinned back, Remus knew he was going to have a lot of fun, winding James up with his mini me.
“Of course you can, Paul.”
“Mr Potter, it’s time for your rounds almost, would you mind showing the children to your dormitory. I will make arrangements for them tomorrow, but it is far too late now and I won’t be disturbing younger students at this time of night.” McGonagall turned to enter her private study. “I’ll floo your father now, and let him know of your situation. Mr Black and Mr Lupin will stay here for a moment, if that’s ok with you two?”
“Of course, Professor.” “That’s fine.” The two boys responded in unison. Sirius turned to his son and hurriedly whispered in his ear, he seemed a bit irritated but nodded to whatever was being said. Sirius patted the boy’s shoulder and smiled, “I’ll see you up there soon, take my bed, ok? And you behave yourself.”
“Yes father.” Draco drawled as he joined James and Harry.
Hermione stopped at Remus, as she made her own way over to the group. “Thank you so much, Mr- Remus. I really appreciate your help, it’s quite scary, I don’t really have my parents here, but I might be allowed to find them… I’ll speak to Professor McGonagall about it. If I find them, I’ll get out of your hair then.”
Remus forced a smile to the girl, “Yeah, I mean it’s no problem at all, and if you don’t find them, then you’ve got us. We’ll look after you. Oh, and take my bed yeah? It’s the tidy one. Me and Sir will figure something out when we get back.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh stop, it’s no problem.”
James left with the kids in tow, Harry interrogating his father on the quidditch teams, Hermione running off a thousand questions on which classes are best, Draco was silent.
The heavy door slammed shut behind them, leaving the two boys remaining.
“She’s yours, isn’t she?”
“I don’t know what you’re on about.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Remus.”
Remus turned to face his friend, tears stinging his eyes, Sirius swooped him into a tight hug.
“Are you going to tell her, Moon?”
Remus sniffed and shook his head.
“I-I Can’t.” He choked. “S-Shes adopted, I don’t know why, and I can’t risk anything happening to her. She’s my little girl. This feels insane, I’m fifteen and only known her two fucking seconds, and I would already die for her. That sounds crazy, doesn’t it? What’s wrong with me?”
Sirius pulled back and took Remus’ chin, tilting his face up. “You’ve become a father Moon, it’s going to be a shock. Me, you and Jamie are all in the same boat, ok? We’ll get through this, and I promise you, we will figure out what happened with Hermione and sort it. But you need to do your bit, that means you can not spend all your time staring at the girl and jumping to her every need. People will start talking, and the last thing we want is a rumour going around that you fancy her.”
Remus took in Sirius’ eyes, stormy grey and full of concern. He inhaled a deep breath, drinking in his scent. He was determined to commit every sensation to his memory, he never wanted to forget what it was like to be the centre of Sirius Black’s attention. The feel of how gently he held his face, thumb pad stroking his chin. If only he moved it up, he could accidentally brush his lip, if he liked. Remus’ stomach dropped. What the hell has got into you? He’s your mate Ray, your friend. You’ve got a girlfriend. A gorgeous, stunning, sexy girlfriend. Why am I looking at Sir like this? Why is he looking back at me like-
The boys jumped apart to the sound of the lock clicking open to the Professors study.
“Mr Lupin, if you could enter please?” McGonagall called from the room.
The following two weeks passed in a flurry, James had come into his own since his younger brother Paul had unexpectedly turned up. Not that many people would question him on where this secret brother came from, but if they did he had a story whipped up ready, about how his poor baby brother was taken ill after a quidditch injury. His mother had only just come to terms that Paul was fit and well enough to go to school.
Conveniently, she had also decided that there was no reason for Paul to not play quidditch, much to the delight of James and Sirius. Remus was also pleased with the news, mini Potter was a Seeker, which meant there would be no more death defying antics for him.
Sirius took Draco to visit Narcissa, first thing in the morning, after they arrived. They both returned to the boy’s dormitory no less than an hour after they left, Draco stoney faced, Sirius hot with fury. He transfigured a bed for Draco to stay in, and the others asked no questions.
The school’s motto ‘Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon’, was sage advice, well at least where the Black family were concerned. The boys learnt early on in their friendship, that it would not do anyone any good to probe into the affairs of that family, no matter how much they wanted to help their friend. “Best to let them fight it out within, I say. Never do you want to get into any kind family business with that lot, their loyalty to each other knows no bounds.” Was what Lyall would always tell Remus, any time he turned to his father for advice on the matter.
Most evenings Sirius and Draco would sit together, on one of their beds, closing the drapes and casting a Muffilato. “What do you s’pose they’re talking about in there? That’s every night for the past week they’ve done that. I know they like their privacy, but we are his mates after all.” Peter blurted one night, as they got ready for bed.
“I don’t know Pete, something must’ve happened with Narcissa though. Poor Draco looks dreadful. Did I tell you that I saw Regulus talking to Sirius the other day, down by the potions classroom?” James asked, settling into bed with a copy of the Muggle Studies textbook ‘The History and Advancements of Muggle Society in Britain’.
“Bloody hell, it must be bad then.” Said Peter, sitting on top of his covers, also opening up his copy of the book.
The curtains were pulled back sharply from around Sirius’ bed and Draco padded over to his own, quickly settling under the covers.
“Hey Moony, is it true that only the muggle Queen of England is allowed to eat swans?” James called over, trying to ease the tension in the room.
“You must be joking! Muggle studies, and this is the kind of shit they’re teaching you?” Remus snapped back.
A small snort came from Draco’s bed.
“Come on Moony, be a good sport. Is it true of false?” James teased.
“True, but I don’t think she does eat them, just that she is the only one permitted to do it.”
“Hey, Hey Moony, is it true that Muggles have to watch the Queen on the TV box at Christmas?” Pete now joined in.
“No, you’re not forced to, and you’re fine just calling it the TV.”
“Oi Moony, Is it true the muggle King Henry killed his wife because she looked like a horse?”
“No, he divorced that one, he killed one for shagging her brother though. Well, Gar says she did.”
“Moony? Did a Muggle really go to the moon in a blue Telephone Box?”
Remus sighed, “You’re taking the piss now, I’m going to sleep.” He cast a Nox and sunk under his duvet.
“Hey Moony, is it true the Muggles fought a war over the colour of Roses?” James loudly whispered.
“Oh, fuck off will you! Do I look like the fucking Encyclopaedia Britannica?” Remus growled, slamming the curtains shut around his bed.
Sirius looked up from the novel he was reading, glaring at his other two roommates. “You know he gets snappy around this sort of time, and yet you still continued on goading him. Think yourself lucky he left it where he did.” He said, turning his attention back to the book.
“You really coddle that boy you know! You go silly over him.” Said James, laying his own book on the bedside table and turning off his lamp.
“I do not! I’ve told him that he has to take it as good as he gives, but you know how he gets around now. He’s stressed enough as it is, he doesn’t need you two imbeciles keeping him up, with your tomfoolery!” And with that Sirius’ own drapes crashed shut.
James rolled his eyes, he turned on his side to face Peter’s bed, “He doesn’t need you two imbeciles, and your tomfoolery” he put on a ridiculous, pompous voice, as Peter snickered at him. “Honestly, sometimes the pair of them act like a couple of nancies!” James huffed as he pointed his wand at the lights, switching them off.
“Yeah, like an old married couple! If it wasn’t for Mary and Remus necking off all over the castle, and Sirius having a son with Narcissa, then I think I would believe they really were.” Pete joined in, clearly amused at the thought.
No one saw Remus until History of Magic the next morning, he took off from their room at dawn, in a sulk. History was the only lesson that Sirius and Remus shared without the others, and although they would never admit it, they rather enjoyed the calm and quiet as the old Professor rattled on.
“Sorry about last night Sir, I shouldn’t have snapped like that. They were only having a laugh.” Remus mumbled, pulling out his parchment already littered with notes he made over the summer holidays.
“Don’t apologise Moony, they were being a pair of pillocks. I know they’ve been gossiping about my situation, and yet they have the gall to sit there and call us a pair of old hags!” Sirius fumed, while Remus struggled to keep a straight face. “Honestly, I thought having Paul around would’ve had more a positive impact on Jamie, but if anything it’s made him worse. I’ve been run ragged going back and forth between Draco and Cissa. The poor boy is distraught that his mother can’t even bring herself to look at him, and it is certainly all my fault!” He continued ranting, so fast that Remus was sure his face will go blue at some point, from the lack of oxygen.
“What’s the problem between Cissa and Draco then?” Remus asked in hushed tones, flipping both of their textbooks to the next page.
“Cissa is having a complete breakdown, everything is very permanent now that our child has arrived. I thought maybe she would dote on him, that he would take her mind off everything else going on. Instead, it’s made everything worse, and naturally my son is a mummy’s boy. So every night we spend an hour or two talking, about whatever he likes, sometimes he cries a bit…and then we eat cake.” Sirius broke a small smile, Remus’ heart fluttered as he saw the starlight in his eyes shine.
“Well, it comforts me that at least one of us is a decent parent.” Remus quipped, looking away from his friend and around the room, not at anything in particular.
“Yes, I’ve noticed that you have given Mione quite the wide berth. Is that why you’re glued to Mary’s lips these days?”
“You did say that people might start talking, if I carried on acting the way I was towards Mione. Gar said that getting lost in a woman can be healing for the soul.”
“Right, and how is that working out for you?” Sirius cocked his eyebrow.
“It’s alrigh’, well, I mean, it’s not having maybe the complete effect I was hoping for. It’s awkward actually, she keeps trying to toss me off all the time. Is that normal?” Remus felt his cheeks warm, as his word vomit continued. “I guess it is actually, sorry, I just don’t know who to talk to about it all. Gar will just tell me to think with my wand, James and Pete are out of the question. Could ask Gill…”
“Do you want her to… toss you off?” The last words sounding very alien to Sirius’ aristocratic drawl.
“Not really, I don’t really feel up to any of it, truth be told. She’s really cracking, she’s stunning! I know she’s well out of my league like, but I just don’t want that right now. I’ve got too much on my mind.” Remus began picking at the end of the sleeves of his cardigan, his face and neck completely flushed. “It’s not that I don’t get horny though, because I do, I really do..”
Sirius sighed and placed a hand on his friends shoulder. “I’m sure you do Moon, no one’s saying you don’t. Just have an honest discussion with her, if she’s a decent person then she will accept your choice, if not then she’s no good for you.”
“It’s scary, y’know. You sound just like a dad. Who would’ve thought, eh?”
The two lads turned their focus back to the lesson, Professor Binns was droning on about the Goblin Rebellions of 1612.
“And it was in the village of Hogsmede that the Goblin rebels gathered. Now, it is a contentious issue, as to which Inn they used as their headquarters. Many believe…” The ghost blathered on, over the soft snores coming from some his students.
Remus was annotating his notes, when he saw a familiar script dancing across the bottom of the page.
Did you find out if Hermione will be joining us tomorrow night?
He turned to look at his friend, who seemed to be very skilled at acting nonchalant.
Yeah she won’t be! Thank God! Almost cried when Minnie told me
He heard Sirius exhale beside him.
That’s brilliant news! How did she manage to find that out?
Common sense Sir, what kind of maniac would let a pair of muggles adopt a bloody werewolf?
Merlin, we really are a couple of prats, aren’t we?
Remus huffed out a laugh, as the words vanished from his parchment.
The rest of the day flew by and Remus felt the usual fog of fatigue smother him, as it always did the day before a full moon. He was dragged to dinner by his brother, “You need to keep your energy up now, Ray. Don’t want you getting yourself into any trouble tomorrow.”
They sat at the end of a Ravenclaw bench, soon joined by Gil. “Gaz, be a dear will you, and swap seats with me?” He pouted across the table to his friend.
Gareth sighed, but rose from his seat and swapped, without a word. Gil took the seat next to Remus and began piling his plate, staring at the Gryffindor bench, specifically where the quidditch team were sat holding their first meeting of the year. Remus followed his eye line, it was directed to where the two beaters of the team were sat, Sirius and Fabian Prewett, suddenly it made total sense to him why Gil wanted to sit there. The boys gazed for a moment, or two.
Sirius looked up and caught them staring, the corner of his mouth twitched and he shot them a wink. Gilly’s face brightened, he stirred the tea spoon in his cup and pulled it out, raised it to his mouth and sucked on the end of it, his eyes never leaving Sirius. Remus felt his stomach knot as he watched his friends flirt. Are they flirting? No, Gil is though, he thought to himself. Sirius’ mouth twitched again, and his checks dusted a light pink, he pouted his lips and he…he blew a small kiss across the room.
The knot in Remus’ stomach pulled harder, so hard he felt sick and he could actually feel the blood drain out of his face. Gilly, he made Sir blush! How? How does sucking on a spoon-oh, OH. But he blew a kiss, a fucking kiss! What is he playing at? Remus spiralled in his thoughts, the main question that kept beating him up was why was he so bothered? Sirius was well known to be a tease, why should it surprise him that he doesn’t discriminate? He was pulled out of his thoughts when he felt an arm around his waist and lips touching his ear.
“Don’t you worry sweetheart, he’s still all yours.”
“Oi Gil, get you hands off my brother, will you? Ray, you give him and inch and he’ll take fucking a mile, I tell you now.” Gareth tutted, pouring his own cup of tea.
“Ah Gaz, a mile is far too much, even for me… a few more inches should be enough to do the job.” Gilly winked, taking a bite from the end of his sausage.
Remus choked on his pumpkin juice, and Gareth belted out a chuckle “Oh come on now, you’re going to put Ray off his dinner. He’s got his big day tomorrow.”
“Yes, it’s Saturday tomorrow, might be worth coming straight up to our room after you’re finished. We’ll transfigure you a bed and then we can read Hope’s letter first thing before you sleep? Please Remus, please.” Gilly pleaded, pouting his lower lip.
“Fine, I’ll come straight up. Should be there for about eight. Only if you two promise not to sneak a peek before I get there.” Remus said, picking at the food on his plate.
“I promise! Thank you!” Gil grabbed his arm, face beaming.
“I told you, give that man an inch. Anyway, what’s so important about this week’s episode? You know what’s going to happen.” Asked Gareth, leaning back and looking up the hall for someone.
"Oh, come on now, Gar. It’s the last episode of the Zygon story, and they have the Dr stuck in their spaceship- ”
“At the bottom of Loch Ness, may I add.” Gil butted in
“Yes! Under Loch Ness, which means that The Doctor and Sarah Jane have been within a twenty mile radius of where we are now-”
“Ray, You do know that Dr Who is a TV show. Time Lords aren’t real.” Gareth taunted, as he waved down Hermione, who had just entered the hall.
“Fuck off Gar, of course I know it’s bloody Tom Baker in a scarf and not time travelling alien!” Remus stabbed a few chips on plate with a fork and stuffed them into his mouth.
“Of course, Tom Baker is the doctor in 1975. You know about it then?” Hermione slipped into her seat, dumping a stack of books on the table.
“We’re halfbloods Mione, of course we know about it.” Gareth smiled, pouring a cup of tea for his niece. “Thought you wouldn’t mind sitting with us, it’s the Gryffindor quidditch meeting today, and I think Draco’s spending some time with his uncle. Makes it more convincing that he’s Narcissa’s brother if he’s spending time with the family.”
“Do you like it as well, hen?” Gil asked, passing a plate of potatoes over to her.
“I do quite enjoy it, but I’ve never seen many Tom Baker episodes, he’s the fourth?” She asked, with a small furrow in her brow that made Remus’ heart swell.
“Yup, fourth doctor. He’s my favourite one so far though… you should come and join us. Mam sends a letter every Saturday night with the story and pictures of the aliens. She uses Da’s quick scribe from work, not that he minds, much. But maybe not this week, it’s the last one of this story so they’ll just be tying the ends up… but next week you should.” Remus found his mouth was running autopilot once again with the girl, he just couldn’t help himself. He wasn’t sure if it just how father’s acted around their children, wanting to give them the world, everything they could possibly desire. Or, if it was a pang of guilt, knowing he’s going to let her down in the future, he wants to make up for it now she’s here with him.
“They do say he’s the best one. So, you’re halfblood’s then? not that it matters to me much, but I don’t really know many…or I don’t think I do. Everyone’s all a bit funny about their blood status where I’m from.” Said Hermione.
“We all are, actually. Although I admit, being a halfblood is probably bottom of the list of issues people have with me.” Gilderoy smirked, Hermione gave him a puzzled look. “I’m a queer sweetheart. Every lad in this school is terrified I’m going to lure them into a dark corner and make them one too.” He began to laugh.
“No Gil. They’re scared you’re going to trap them and screech ABBA songs in their ears, honestly Mione love, you should see him when he’s had a drink. And let’s face it Gil, no one’s that bothered by you and your tempting ways, it’s just you have bad taste in men is all.” Gareth said, taking his pick from the deserts that had appeared on the table.
“Yeah Gilly, I’m with Gar on this one. You need to try someone else now, he’s made it clear he’s not going to take you home to meet the family any time soon.” Remus joined, picking cauldron cakes for himself and Hermione, She of course got the best of the plate.
Gilly brushed off the two brothers, instead turning his full attention to Hermione, like she was the only person in the room with him. “So Mione, dear, you’ve been raised a muggle born I hear?”
“Oh yes, my parents -the one’s who adopted me, they’re dentists. They sent me off to primary school when I was younger, so it was quite a change coming here actually. They weren’t really too keen on me being a witch, not that it really comes as surprise. They adopted me as a bit of charity case, their own children had already grown up.” Remus watched his daughter quickly gather herself before she continued. “Then the grandchildren started popping out, and after a few incidents at Hogwarts they decided it would be best I put out some enquiries as to who my real parents are.”
Gareth put his arm around his niece and Gilly reached out to take her hand.
“Grown up’s can be such horrible bastards hen, my father is. He’s a muggle too, he hates my guts, loves my siblings. They’re all squibs you see, and they all fancy the correct sex and they all go to university to get proper jobs.” Said Gilderoy, giving her hand a squeeze. “If it wasn’t for this wonderful family, I wouldn’t have somewhere to run away to every holiday.”
“Yeah well, not all of us have these terrible parents now, isn’t that right Ray?” Gareth added, giving the girl a big squeeze in his arm.
Remus glared at his brother, he could feel warm tears threatening his eyes. He took a sweeping look around the hall, trying to find anything to draw his mind away from his failure to protect this precious girl sitting across from him. His eyes locked with a pair of shining silver ones across the room. As quickly as they met, they parted ways, Sirius turning back into a whispered conversation with Fabian.
“Well, back to screeching ABBA for a moment, what’s the plan for our party this year Gaz?” Gilly said, helping himself to a second pudding.
“Same as always I think. Get the gramophone out, a few records, a few drinkies… What do you say Ray, you and your mates finally joining us this year?” Gareth asked, trying to grab his brother’s attention back.
“And Ray, you have to sing for me, for my birthday. Have you heard him sing Mione? He sounds like an Angel, will you do us Tom Jones, like you did for Cerys’ birthday?” Gilly leant into Remus, and Hermione giggled as he dramatically batted his eyelashes.
“Maybe, only if Gar sings with me I s’pose.” Remus muttered.
“Oh, I sing every year I have you know. Mione love, how about you come and bring your friends as well, you’re a Lupin after all now.”
“That sounds wonderful, thank you Gareth!” Hermione grinned.
“Don’t mention it, it is both our birthdays after all, in fact mine’s the 29th. Gil is the 6th October, so we have the party usually in between, like this year we’re having on the 3rd, so two weeks tomorrow.”
“Do a lot of people have parties…I mean in my time, parties aren’t allowed in dormitories. I’ve certainly not heard of anyone having one.”
“No one’s allowed a party, but no one ever stops us. All Lupins have to have a birthday party though, that’s my one rule. We’re famed for it, so when’s yours?” Asked Gareth.
“19th of September- "
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Remus interrupted her.
“Well, it looks like you’ll be getting a cake too. I’ll send mam an owl now, there’s enough time to get that all sorted.” Gareth added, summoning some fresh parchment and a quill from his robe pocket.
“Oh you really don’t have to-”
“What cake do you like?” Remus butted in, once again.
“I don’t really mind-”
“What cake?”
“Chocolate is my favourite, but isn’t that very expensi-”
“Gar, she’ll have chocolate.” Remus slipped his brother the galleon from his pocket. “She’ll have chocolate and say to mam that there should be enough for Sir’s present in there too, ok?”
“Sounds good to me, c’mon Gil. We’ve still got five bloody inches to write for Transfiguration.” Gareth kicked Gilderoy under the table as a prompt to leave his brother and niece to have a moment.
“Remus, you really didn’t have to do that.” Hermione pulled a galleon from her own pocket to give him.
“Don’t be so silly Mione, put your money away now.”
“You’ve been ever so kind to me, thank you so much. It probably sounds creepy, what I’m about to say, but sometimes I hope I find out your family are my family. You’re such brilliant people.”
“You know what they say love, you should be careful what you wish for.” Remus could feel that comforting hum of magic now it was just him and his girl. “How are you settling in? No ones causing you any trouble?”
“No, it’s been rather surprising actually to see how… different the world was compared to where I’m from. It’s much nicer here.”
“Christ, don’t tell me any more about your time then.” Remus joked, weakly.
“It’s not that bad, it’s only that people are much more bothered about your blood status and the sorts.”
“Don’t be fooled, that does still matter here. Sirius is engaged to his cousin, not by choice, only because he is considered the most suitable match for her. And Gilly, the lad he’s been seeing for the last year is too scared to even tell his family about them, quite the bunch of bigots that family. Status matters, but unless your mixing in those circles it won’t affect you much. How’re your lessons?”
“Oh, they’re fantastic. I much prefer potions here, my teacher’s not as nice Slughorn. I could comfortably do all twelve OWL’s if I do stay here, the timetable is perfect.”
“Twelve OWL’s? You’ll be giving that Crouch boy a run for his money, he’s the only one so far that’s managed to make it into the second year of studying all subjects…that’s Ravenclaw for you. My brother started the same way, but he dropped Muggle Studies, it was driving him mad by the second term.” Remus poured them both another cup of tea and summoned a few chocolate biscuits he spotted on a table further down. “Right, we’re going to have one last cup and then I’m afraid I’m going to have to head off to bed. I’m exhausted, tell you the truth, not been able to get myself to sleep much.”
Hermione took one of the biscuits, she opened her mouth like she was about to say something, but shrugged it off and stuffed the chocolate coated treat in there instead. Remus enjoyed the quiet, sitting at dinner with his daughter, feeling that buzz of their magic together envelop him, like a warm hug.
“These are so delicious, we don’t have these at school, or maybe we do and I’ve not had them yet.” She pondered, taking a sip from her cup.
“Have my one as well then, lovely.” Remus offered her his biscuit, Hermione hesitated. “Honestly, I’ll regret it tonight if I eat anymore, please just take it.” He pushed it into her hand.
“Thank you Remus, you really have been ever so kind to me.”
“Mione, do me a favour and stop thanking me for everything I do.” There’s so much more I could’ve done.