Chapter Seventeen
Sunday mornings are quieter these days
And when do I get back the time we wasted?
Molly and Remus sat opposite each other at the kitchen table. There were two cups of tea in front of them, but they were stone cold. Neither person was speaking. How long had they waited, now?
Molly had arrived at Remus’s minutes after the news had. She clutched her clock; the hands of all her family pointed to ‘Mortal Peril’. Arthur had managed to send out a Patronus, but its message was brief and uninformative. They knew the kids were alive, and they knew there had been attacks at the World Cup. That was all.
“It’s not fair, they’re just children!” Molly whispered into her mug. Remus had never heard her speak so quietly; it was more frightening than shouting. “Everything we sacrificed - it was meant to stop this from happening again.”
Remus reached across the table and held her hand. He felt sick with anxiety. It was a feeling they’d both felt a hundred times before, but it never got easier. They just had to wait.
*
Padfoot,
Don’t worry - he’s safe. Everyone’s fine, Arthur got them all out. Death Eaters at the Cup, and it’s true about the Dark Mark, although no one died. House is being watched - for ‘protection’ apparently. Don’t respond for a while. I’ll let you know when.
Moony
*
Harry woke up to the familiar sound of Professor Lupin slamming cupboards, and knew it meant that he was in one of his moods. He wouldn’t say anything, but he was taking something out on the kitchen. Harry couldn’t help smiling, comparing it to the Dursley’s where a single slammed door would have got him locked in his room for a week. It was worlds apart from his home here, where every dark cloud was allowed to rain fully and dissipate.
He knew exactly why Lupin was banging cupboards. Since the attack, the Ministry had introduced stringent measures around who could enter Diagon Alley, under the pretence of security measures. The ban included hags, vampires, and of course werewolves - despite the fact that no one fitting these descriptions had been involved in the attacks. It also included former Death Eaters, but there was exemption for any who were now involved with the Ministry. Which was most of them.
Eloise had waded straight into a campaign against the new rules, but in the meantime, it meant that Remus could no longer go with Harry to get his school supplies from Diagon Alley. It was another experience they would be missing out on having together.
Remus knew he shouldn’t complain, given how much Sirius was missing, but still, it was with a slightly glum expression that he opened the door to Hermione and her family, who had arranged to escort Harry in his place.
Remus made tea the muggle way, trying to limit how jarring the experience would be for Hermione’s parents. The lengthy process gave him time to check himself, and attempt to be more friendly. When he returned to the room, the discussion had turned to house elves.
“It’s slavery, that’s what it is!” Said Hermione. “At the World Cup, Winky wasn’t even able to run and hide, it’s so horrible! Oh - Professor, did you ever find out what happened to Winky? It was terrible the way Crouch just fired her on the spot. Not that I want her working for that horrible man…”
“I spoke to Eloise, and we’ve sorted her employment - yes, paid - at Hogwarts, with Dobby in fact. I believe the two of them are old friends.” Remus smiled. Hermione had written to him straight after the World Cup, demanding justice for Winky.
He addressed Hermione’s parents. “It’s thanks to your daughter that we were able to locate and help out Winky. The world needs more witches - ” He checked himself. “ - well. More people, all round, like Hermione.”
Mrs. Granger replied “Our Hermione’s always had a strong sense of justice, ever since she was a small child. We couldn’t be prouder.” She squeezed her daughter’s shoulder. “And we’re grateful to teachers like you, who Hermione speaks so highly of.”
Remus glanced away uneasily. Their use of present tense made him wonder whether Hermione had explained that he’d had to leave, or why.
Hermione quickly moved the subject back to Winky, confirming his suspicions. “What will she be doing at Hogwarts, exactly?”
“Working in the kitchen, I believe.” Remus felt a little guilty, remembering how he used to sneak down to those kitchens for food after dark with James, Sirius and Peter. None of the elves there had been free in those days.
“Are all the elves being paid at Hogwarts?” This time it was Harry who was asking.
Remus sighed. “It’s a tricky one. Technically, the majority of the elves at Hogwarts belong to the school. Dumbledore, to his credit, has offered them all freedom and wages, but uptake has been slow to say the least. Dobby’s been a great asset to our campaign, but er, the other elves regard him as rather eccentric, I’m afraid.”
“That is an accurate description, I’ll be honest.” Harry smiled.
When it was time for them all to leave, Remus saw them off, a big fake smile plastered on his face.
He felt the same a week later, waving Harry goodbye on the platform. He watched him through the steamy train window, laughing and chatting with his friends. Years ago, he’d stood in this exact spot himself, alone and unsure, and watched Harry’s dad marching through the crowds, full of easy confidence. He’d wanted so badly to be like him, but years of social stigma had made him wary, and when James had approached him, he’d snapped like a wild animal. It had taken a long time for Remus to feel comfortable around his peers. He hadn’t liked Sirius, not at first anyway. He’d seemed like an arrogant prick, and thinking back, it was quite a valid perception. The problem was, Remus started to like that about the boy.
Remus surveyed all the other parents at the station. He noticed a few looking at him with emotions ranging from mildly wary to openly hostile, and was preparing to quietly leave early when he caught the eye of a woman he instantly recognised as Frank Longbottom’s mother. She held his gaze shrewdly, and gave a small nod to him. Remus fought the urge to look away, painfully conscious that it should have been Frank and Alice accompanying their child. He looked round desperately, as if he could conjure up old members of the Order of the Phoenix, willing the lives they should be living into existence. But he was alone.
He felt an arm on his, and turned to see Molly and Arthur Weasley standing beside him. They smiled at him, and Molly threaded an arm through his, squeezing his hand gently. He remembered her brothers from the Phoenix, and knew she was thinking of their absence too. The three of them stood together, aware that their presence here had never been promised. The engine started puffing out steam as it glided out of the station, pulling their children away from them. All they could do was stand together, and watch them leave.
When he got back, the flat felt too big and too empty. He began a letter to Sirius.
Padfoot,
H. back at school, Ministry’s eased off. He’ll be safe with Mad-Eye
M
He didn’t mention his anxieties, or his loneliness. It would be unfair to complain.
About an hour later, he was still sunk into his sofa, a strong sense of inertia holding him down, when his depression was broken by a sudden movement over on his coffee table. A pawn on his old chess set had just moved itself, for the first time in 13 years. He grinned, Sirius. They’d set up a spell back in school so that they could continue their games while they were home for the holidays. But as far as he was aware, Sirius’s board was still in the lower drawer, underneath its twin set. He frowned, wondering how Sirius had managed to play, but his thoughts were answered by the arrival of a small owl on his windowsill.
Moony,
In case you’re wondering, I got Harry to liberate my old chess set before he left and send it to me. I had a feeling you’d still have it, guess I was right. Fancy a game?
Your move.
Remus smiled, and sat up. It was just a chess game, but it helped.
*
Moony,
I can’t BELIEVE he’s doing the Tournament! Did you help him with this?? Bloody brilliant. Prongs would be proud.
Padfoot
Padfoot,
No I certainly did not!! If you had even an ounce of sense you would know H would NEVER sign up for this. Clearly something bad is happening. It’s frankly UNBELIEVABLE that he hasn’t been released from this and I am FUCKING DONE with stupid wizarding laws!!!!
Under NO circumstances should you be encouraging this or feel anything except concerned.
M.
Dear Fun Sponge,
Tremendously sorry to have upset you. I definitely don’t think H looked cool at ALL outmaneuvering a Hungarian whatsit on a bloody broom. Did not cheer at all when he won the first task.
P
Dear Padfoot,
Fuck you.
From Moony
Remus looked back through the recent letters. They’d started out tiptoeing around each other, pushing through stilted and tepid waters. Now they were remembering how to dance. As annoying as Sirius was, it was a relief to settle into teasing and bickering, where they felt most at home together. He remembered Sirius’s meltdown in the forest, and saw how fragile these easy moments were now. He kept the letters carefully folded inside his book.
He wondered if he was overreacting about the Tournament. Maybe Harry had simply been entered as a joke. Miles away, somewhere remote and secret, Sirius was leant against Buckbeak, wondering the exact opposite.