Chapter 7
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vi
Silver Girl
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2132 hours
15 August 1978
Hog’s Head Inn
Hogsmeade
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Remus rolled up his shirtsleeves, his nearing transformation numbing him to the chilly autumn air. But the fact that he was three days away from full moon had spiked his body temperature up. Still, He shivered as he thought of his transformation. He would never get used to it.
“Pretty exciting, don’t you think?” Sirius took the empty seat beside him, patting his back in greeting.
“I guess,” he stirred his drink, watching as the ice whirled around the glass, “We’re really doing this, Pads.”
“We are,” Sirius ordered himself a glass of Firewhiskey.
Both young men sat idly in their own thoughts while waiting for their other friends. They’d all decided to join the Order once they graduated, and the moment Dumbledore contacted them, they’d accepted.
“ Don’t you think we’re too young to join?”
There was some merit in what Peter said. He knew Sirius had thought of it, too. But in the end, it all fell to deaf ears. They all had their own reason to fight; including him. His reason was pretty obvious. He was a bloody werewolf. He wasn’t stupid. He knew how prominent that was against the wizard that had packs of werewolves behind him. He wouldn’t lie. The prospect of being forced to join the savage packs scared him. He scratched the scar Greyback had left him subconsciously.
“I got a flat for myself.”
Sirius’ voice pulled him back from his contemplation. He took a sip of his malt before he asked, “Yeah? Where?”
“Somewhere in Muggle London. Planning to check it out tomorrow.”
“For a perfect ancient and noble Pureblood family, you Blacks sure love your Muggle homes and goods.”
“Tell me about it. Late uncle Alphard was cool, though. He was the one who got me into bikes,” he smiled at the passing lady.
Remus hummed and said, “How’s Elvendork? Still trying to fix it yourself?”
Sirius looked at him incredulously, “Of course!”
“Why can’t you just use Magic? Like a proper wizard?”
“It’s more than that, Moony. It’s the sweat that counts. Not the flicks!” James answered for Sirius as he sat beside him.
“What flicks?” Lily interrupted as she hugged Remus. “How are you feeling, Remus?”
“Moony is angry and hungry,” James cooed at Remus then turned to his girlfriend to answer, “The flicks, love—” He took out his wand and waved it by flicking his wrist “—Flick, flick, motherfuー”
Lily swatted the back of his head before he could finish his sentence.
“Where’s Wormtail?” Remus lifted his glass up for refill.
“Said he gotta stop somewhere,” Sirius told him after pecking Lily’s cheek, “You better finish that refill fast, Moony. It’s almost time for our debut!”
Remus smirked behind his glass. He could hear his friends’ heartbeats as his senses heightened; matching his wolf. “Relax, mate. We still have to wait for Wormtail.”
“I’m here!” Peter shouted from the door.
Remus turned to him with a very wide toothy grin and it made Peter laughed.
“You smelled it!” He deduced happily as he walked to their group.
Remus stood up and chortled heartily, accepting the bag from Peter that he knew filled with chocolates impatiently. “You’re an angel.”
Peter waved him off but Remus saw his ears reddening when the boys teased him. He looked at their small group and felt grateful, very much, for these people who’d never abandoned him for his lycanthropy.
The meeting was short. It was mostly just to introduce the new members, young and freshly graduated from Hogwarts. An excited smile cemented on their faces when Dumbledore called out their names one by one.
“James Potter.”
“Lily Evans.”
“Peter Pettigrew.”
“Remus Lupin.”
“Sirius Black.”
Dumbledore looked at them with his twinkling eyes, something akin to his joy and pride to have his students courageously joined the small resistance group. “That is all for tonight meeting,” he announced. “And for our newest member,” he smiled at them pleasingly, “welcome to the Order of The Phoenix.”
They stood up to leave when Dumbledore called him, “Mr. Lupin, can you please stay for a while? I have something to discuss.”
He turned to everyone and shrugged at their questioning look.
“We’ll be at the bar,” Sirius said before Dumbledore closed the door with a wave of his hand.
It was only the two of them in the room, and not knowing where to sit, he settled to stand across the table, facing the Headmaster.
“Are you doing all right, Mr. lupin? It is three days away from full moon, if I counted correctly,” Dumbledore began.
“I’m good, Professor. Nothing I’ve never face before,” he answered with a small smile, trying his best to mask his anxiety.
The older man studied him for a moment before he nodded, as if he approved whatever it was he assessed. “I have a proposition for you, Mr. Lupin.”
Remus straightened his back, looking at his old Headmaster earnestly. This is it.
“I want you to keep an eye on this young lady here,” he slid a picture of a young woman across the table.
Remus took it and asked, “Who is she, Professor?”
“Just someone that needs to be looked after. I’ve written down her name and her current address at the back of the photograph.”
His eyes were darting left to right, reading said name and address before he looked at Dumbledore again. “Why?”
“That, Mr. Lupin, is only for me to know.” Dumbledore looked at him back as if he was challenging him to defy his order.
He didn’t like it. He trusted Dumbledore. The man had allowed him to finish Hogwarts despite his lycanthropy. But his counterpart, the wolf, urged him to challenge, to question and defy.
Remus swallowed down the instinct.
“Why me?” He asked instead.
“Because your senses are the sharpest,” his eyes shone with mirth.
It wasn’t funny. He felt used. But to not use his ability during war was stupid. So he kept his anger at bay. This is Dumbledore, he told himself, he knows what he’s doing.
“Of course. When should I start?” He tucked the photo into his pocket.
“Tomorrow. And I need you to report to me everyday.” He waved towards the door and the clicking sound told them the door was now unlocked.
“I will do my best,” he bowed his head curtly.
“And I will appreciate it very much.”
He was about to step out of the meeting room when Dumbledore once again stopped him.
“Oh, and, Mr. Lupin. Keep in mind that this matter is only between the two of us.”
He caught a wisp of his friends’ laughter.
“A mission, you could say, for the Order.”
His ears perked at the word mission. His very own first mission. For the Order. And Dumbledore trusted him to carry it. Surely his friends would understand why he couldn’t tell them, right? He took pride to be the first one among them who was appointed a mission. Remus couldn’t hide his pleased grin. “Of course, Professor.”
“For the greater good,” Dumbledore muttered before Remus closed the door behind him.
“What was that all about?” Peter was the first one to question him once he seated beside Lily.
“Nothing important. He was just asking about my living situation, you know, where I transform and all that stuff,” he shrugged.
“That’s very thoughtful of him. Are you sure you’ll be alright changing at your family cottage?” Lily rubbed his back soothingly.
“Yeah. Dad had warded the place pretty good before. It should be okay.”
“And we’ll be there with you!” James ruffled his sandy-blonde hair from across the table. “We’ll be with you till your fur turns grey!”
Remus slapped his hand and told him to fuck off.
“Oh, James! Tell them about the crazy girl! The one that got taken away by the ministry!” Lily said excitedly, looking over at James.
“Oh, yeah! The screamer with massive silvery hair!” James snapped his finger in exclamation.
Remus’ hand instinctively reached to his pocket at James and Lily’s description. An image of a young woman appeared in front of his head. She had silver hair, alright. But he still wasn’t sure of the eyes.
“Did you catch the colour of her eyes?”
Remus hid his shock perfectly, looking at Sirius with raised eyebrows instead. Sirius shrugged his shoulder and repeated his question again. It seemed like everyone had met her one way or another except for him and Peter.
“Brown,” Lily answered confidently.
“Are you sure? Both eyes?” Sirius asked again.
“Yes, I’m very sure, Sirius. She has round eyes and the dark brown contrasted with her pale skin and silver hair strikingly. I remember it vividly. It’s hard to miss.” She paused for a moment. “It was quite disturbing ー her scream. It was painful and sad andー” she shivered at her memory, “ーit wasー”
“Guilt,” James completed her sentence.
“Yes. She kept mouthing ‘I’m sorry’ to me from the fireplace.”
“And you’re sure you don’t know her?” Peter asked.
“I would remember her. Hard to forget.” Lily answered.
Remus listened to the conversation intensely, trying to remember every detail. He was sure that it was Hermione Granger; her silver eye could easily be magicked. He just needed to figure out what had happened and why the ministry was involved.
“She could be a Muggleborn,” Peter mused as he sipped on his Brandy, “You know that group I get pot from? They all have big, messy hair in strange colours. She could be one of them.”
“Did she wear big sunglasses and a bright dress?” Sirius asked playfully, amused by Peter’s idea. “We should visit soon. Just to investigate.”
It didn’t sound likely to Remus. Dumbledore wouldn’t have him watching someone interested in growing Muggle plants.
“She didn’t,” Lily answered then turned to Peter, cutting their childish discussion, “I don’t know, Peter. She didn’t strike me as a hippie.” Her eyes widened once she saw the time. “I have to go now! Petunia asked me to accompany her for her wedding shopping!”
“Bye!” They yelled to each other.
“Staying, Moony?” Sirius asked him once the couple left.
“‘Course.”
“Atta boy!” Peter exclaimed as he topped his glass.
Remus smiled at his friend, but he couldn’t stop the uneasiness that he felt for hiding the mission from his best mates. His pocket suddenly weight a tons.
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2034 hours
23 August 1978
Hard Rock Cafe
Piccadilly, London
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It has been a week since Remus started spying on Hermione Granger, including his transformation day. Dumbledore had gave him two days off from stalking her. It was morbid but he managed.
He was surprised when he’d went to the address that Dumbledore had provided. It was the Tonks residency. Without wasting any time, he’d apparated to Sirius’ new flat, at the same night, and interrogated him subtly if he knew anyone with silver hair in his family.
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2302 hours
20 August 1978
Sirius’ Flat
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Sirius looked at him funnily and howled in laughter at him out loud. “Oh, Remus, my friend. Have you seen my father? He’s as old as Hogwarts and still no sight of grey hair.” He wheezed as he whipped his ebony hair dramatically. “We are called Black for a reason.”
Remus rolled his eyes. “Narcissa’s blonde.”
“Yeah. Andy’s brown, and Bella’s black. Thanks to their Rosier gene.” Sirius paused for a moment. “Well, Narcissa’s blond hair is the closest to silver, if that helps.”
“Nah. The siblings are hot though, you have to admit,” Remus commented offhandedly, recalling their faces from Sirius’ family album.
“Mate, take that back. They’re my cousins!” He looked horrified.
Remus hit his fist sideways on his palm, mimicking the sound of two bodies hitting during sex. “Me and them.”
“Get laid, you fucked up wolf!”
It was Remus’ turn to howl in laughter. It was short-lived though when he noticed the Black heir quieted for a moment before he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. Remus gave him a questioning look.
“I already did my own research into my family heritage if there was a silver-haired member, you see,” he said sheepishly.
“Why?”
Sirius covered his face with both his hands and answered, “The nurse, Moony! I’d be crushed if she was one of my cousin!”
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He had forgotten about the nurse, or Sirius’ nurse, as they called her. He had told them about the eventful night in detail once they were settled in Gryffindor Boys Dorm. Detail entailed his praises for the nurse, of her hair, of her knowing, vague answers, and of her eyes. One silver, one brown.
“I swear on Merlin’s magic, mates. She had the most mesmerising eyes I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”
They had to listen on and on of how perfect his treasured petite nurse was before he had actually started with the story. According to him, she was somehow an acquaintance of Albus Dumbledore. They were calling each other by their first names, kissing knuckles and exchanging fond smiles, and the Headmaster had even went as far as inviting her to stay at Hogwarts longer. Remus knew it now. The offer was just so she could be under his scrutiny directly instead of asking a werewolf as her chaperon. Hidden chaperon.
“Here’s your hamburger, sir.” The waiter’s voice woke him up from his stupor.
He said his thanks and started eating when he heard a woman shriek, followed by a slam on the table. He turned to look with his burger still in his mouth.
“Again? Just that? Just snog?”
The brown-haired lady, seated facing him, was obviously the one who did the shrieking and slamming. He snickered when he saw the lady she was talking to, back facing him, pulling her silvery hair frustratedly. He turned his body back, focusing on his just arrived smoothie but angling his body so he could see them from the corner of his eye.
“I’m not ready to fuck him or to fuck anyone as a matter of fact, thank you very much!”
He almost choked on his big gulp of smoothie.
“You’re missing out, sweetheart,” Andromeda shook her head.
“He understands.”
“Oh, love. You’re so in deep,” Andromeda chuckled, “Will he join us for dinner tonight?”
“I’m not sure. He told me he has three trials today.”
“Ah. The glamorous life of Wizengamot!”
Remus nodded his head as he chewed his burger, noting the information in his head. He smirked as he thought about Sirius finding out the love of his life was dating someone else. A Wizengamot just like his father.
The witches began laughing, their chairs scraping the floor as they got up.
He looked over to see Andromeda helping Hermione into her shirt, noticing her T-shirt as the same one Sirius loved to wear.
“The concert is in two weeks, Andy. I’m all prepared.”
“Can’t believe you agreed to go with him. It’s in America! Traveling that far just to see Fleetwood Mac,” Andromeda huffed. “He’s mad!”
“He’s your husband.”
“I know. Is Tiberius going?”
“No! I told him to just focus on his trials. It’ll be awkward if he was.”
Andromeda laughed and snaked her arm around Hermione’s as they left, “Oh, Hermione. You resemble your namesake so much with those pink cheeks.”
Slurping his last drop of smoothie, Remus put the exact amount of his bill on the table and counted to twenty before he continued tailing her, grinning in excitement as he left the restaurant. After days of following the witch, finally today he had something to tell Dumbledore.
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2303 hours
23 August 1978
Headmaster Office
Hogwarts
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“Tiberius?” Dumbledore leaned forward in unabashed excitement. “Tiberius Ogden of Wizengamot?”
“They didn’t say his last name, but they did mention his Wizengamot position,” Remus said proudly.
“Interesting,” he leaned back into his seat and stroked his white beard. “Anything else worth a mention, Mr. Lupin?”
Remus eagerly answered, “Yes, Professor. They talked about a visit to America for a concert.”
Dumbledore didn’t seem to like the idea of her being out of the country. For a moment, Remus thought he looked furious,but he was just unsurprisingly good at hiding it.
“Follow her closely, Remus.”
Remus, on the other hand, didn’t bother to hide his surprised face when he was addressed by his first name.
“Yes, professor,” he agreed instantly, getting caught off guard.
“To America. I’ll have the portkey ready at once, along with enough expenses.” Dumbledore summoned a parchment and let his quill did the writing. “Any other news?”
Feeling intimidated, he cleared his throat before he answered, “Nothing else, professor.”
Dumbledore looked at him and Remus let out a relief sigh as he saw the twinkles in his eyes returned.
“Then, my child, do not let your time be taken by an old man,” he chuckled, “I’ll owl you when everything’s ready, Mr. Lupin. Have a good night.”
He nodded and left the Headmaster's office. His mind was in turbulence, curious to know the reason behind Dumbledore’s obsession with Sirius’ nurse. He wasn’t sure whether it was a good decision to blindly agree to his order, he wasn’t sure whether it was right to follow the woman without knowing the reason. Remus shook his head. This is Dumbledore, he reminded himself, he knows what he’s doing.
He sighed and gazed at the night sky tiredly. He wasn’t even sure whether it was a good night or not.
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1758 hours
30 August 1978
Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge,USA
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“I’m so glad I picked up the paper!” Sirius yelled excitedly over the loud music and screams.
“I’m so glad you’re fucking rich!” Peter yelled back.
“I’m so fucking tired!” Was Remus’ yell.
Finally managed to leave the mob of people, the trio sat on the grass and took off their shirt. Remus though, ashamed of his scars, had a white plain singlet under his shirt. It was soaking with sweat.
He pushed his sweaty fringe back and cringe when all they had with them at the moment was warm beer. He needed cold drinks. Out of options, he drank it with grimace, ignoring the mess Sirius and Peter made as they did shotguns. His eyes roamed the mob and settled on the person he had been following around the whole day.
Hermione was laughing and jumping with Ted never leaving her side. Watching her every day, he noticed how cautious she was. Even seeing Ted’s close proximate now he could tell he was protecting her, the loud surroundings didn’t do with her state. She flinched and got surprised easily. Her hand constantly hovered over her forearm, where he assumed her wand was.
“Chug chug chug chug!”
Remus turned to his friends and laughed at their antics. It was easy to trick them ー Sirius to be exact ー into this. Sirius was always ready for Muggle adventures.
All he did was lay the paper with the concert’s poster on the table ー in Sirius’ sight ー and hummed Fleetwood Mac’s song and said something like: “Imagine if we’re at their concert. It’s gonna be crazy rad.”
And Sirius would have picked the paper up and told them: “Let’s fucking do it!”
Of course, the fact that Sirius loved this band as much as Ted helped a lot, too.
“No!”
Peter’s scream snapped him back to reality. Without any noticed, the shotgunned beer can hit Remus on his forehead and its sharp shard left a cut.
“Moony!” Peter and Sirius chorused together.
“Hang on, Moony! I got this,” Sirius took out his wand and Peter quickly grabbed it from his hand. His eyes wide looking at their surrounding.
“Padfoot, relax! We’re in the open!” Peter whispered loudly and grabbed his discarded shirt to wipe Remus’ blood off.
“Shit! Fuck, shit! I’m so sorry, Moony. I wasー I didn’tー”
“Sirius?”
The three marauders looked up to meet Ted’s happy face.
This is not good. Remus ignored their greeting exchanges. He didn’t have time for pleasantries. He needed to know the whereabouts of a certain witch.
“And it cut his forehead?” Ted’s voice pulled him back to the group. He squatted down and studied Remus’ bleeding forehead. “This can be fix easily.”
“But we can’t use magic,” Peter said.
Ted looked at him with mischief glinted in his eyes. “It’s not about can or can not. It’s about getting caught or not.” He proceeded with putting his thumb onto the cut.
Remus prayed he could be done with it as soon as possible. He just wanted to leave, wanted to avoid any unplanned meeting.
“Wormtail! Moony!” Sirius shrieked and nudged both men with his elbows.
If he was trying to be subtle, he didn’t do it well. Remus followed his eyes and felt all blood left his face. Fuck fuck fuck.
“Ted? Where are you?!” Hermione’s voice boomed.
“Here, love!” Ted answered without taking his eyes off Remus.
Hermione turned to their group and grinned when she saw Ted but halted in her step when she saw him, Remus, there. She furrowed her eyebrows, looking at him warily and calculatingly with her hand on her right forearm, ready to seize her wand any time. He swore on his magic he saw her hair crackle red with electricity.
“Hey, Hermione!” Sirius called her.
Remus sent his best insult to Sirius telepathically. This wasn’t how it supposed to be. He should have stayed hidden, at least longer than this.
“You’re a nurse, or were, whichever. Can you please fix him up?” Sirius looked at her bashfully.
Peter nudged Remus from the side, “That’s her? Sirius’ nurse?”
“Sirius’ nurse?” Ted joined them.
“Yeah. He’s been gushing about her since May. Wouldn’t shut his mouth,” Peter snickered when they all caught the faint blush creeping on Sirius’ cheeks.
“Ted? Do you mind if I check the cut?”
Fucking hell.
Hermione moved his fringe away from the cut and smiled when she looked up at Sirius, “This is just a small cut, Mr. Black.” She put her thumb over the cut lightly, and slowly, Remus felt cold and itchy as his cut mended back together.
“See? No more cut. Good as new,” she accepted Sirius’ offered hand to stand and chuckled when Sirius stuttered his thanks.
“Oh, and by the way, you’ve met Remus. But,” he pulled Peter closer to him, “have you met Peter Pettigrew?”
“Hello, Miss Hermione. I’ve heard so much about you,” Peter greeted her, stretching his hand out for a shake.
Remus watched them closely, noting hoe Hermione just stared blankly at Peter until he fidgeted and finally, after she nodded her head as though she had make up a decision, she accepted his hand with a soft smile.
“Hello, Mr, Pettigrew. I hope they’re all good stories ,” she said, eyeing Sirius suspiciously.
“And this is Ted Tonks, Andromeda’s husband,” Sirius ignored her, but he blushed more under her gaze, as he introduced Ted to him and Peter.
“Remus,” he introduced himself and shook Ted’s hand firmly. “We stayed at one of the nearest hotel here. Why don’t you join us for dinner?”
“I’m afraid we have to decline the offer. ‘Mione here promised to cook us dinner tonight. My beautiful wife is expecting us.” Ted smiled at him apologetically. “But, you’re all invited to join if you want to! I’m sure ‘Dromeda won’t mind.” He turned to Sirius. “Especially if it was her favourite cousin. Our ickle Sirius.”
“Not in front of her,” Sirius murmured.
While they were making fun of Sirius, Remus could tell Hermione wasn’t happy with the idea, but he thought otherwise. He thought it was brilliant. He should have thought of it earlier. It was easier to keep an eye on her as a friend instead of a stalker. Silently, he wished Merlin blessed Sirius’ soul for this opportunity.
“Ted, we have to catch a portkey,” she interrupted them. “Sorry, boys. But we really have to leave now.”
“No worries,” Sirius assured. “See you around?”
She moved closer to Sirius and placed her hand on his arm, “See you around,” she paused, “Sirius.”
Remus shared his amusement with Peter, seeing Sirius’ face blushed in an alarming speed.
“Holy shit!” Peter mouthed to him.
“Fucking whipped!” Remus mouthed back.
“Yeah. Okay. Yeah,” Sirius stammered.
Once they’ve left, the trio sat on the grass, enjoying Fleetwood Mac’s encore with their cooled beers ー thanks to Hermione’s wandless magic.
“You know,” Peter sipped his beer, “she’s actually Remus’ nurse. Not Sirius’.”
Sirius punched his arm.
“She’s fixed Remus twice! But never you,” Peter sang. “She’s good with magic, too. Controlled. And Wandless at that,” he continued.
Sirius and Remus hummed their agreement.
“She’s my nurse,” Sirius claimed.
She’s suspicious, Remus added in his head. He wondered how to convince them to go home tonight so he could continue with his given task. Remus rolled his eyes inwardly when the answer was so simple.
“And she’s cooking the Tonks dinner tonight. Imagine if she’s good at it, too.”
Sirius lightened up. “Let’s take the invitation!” He jumped up excitedly and pulled the other two up. “Come on! Pack your stuff! We’re leaving now!”
“Lover boy,” Peter mumbled, grinning at Sirius. “Remind me to tell this to James.”
Remus laughed. He tried his best to push down his guilt of using Sirius’ infatuation for Hermione to achieve his own mission. Dumbledore knows, he calmed himself, he knows what he’s doing.