professor | r. lupin

❘༻Midnight Release༺❘

A thin layer of snow had covered the grass and trees in the Tilren village. The sun was now behind thick clouds and it had no intention of breaking through them for a long time. Leta Periculum hid her hands deep in her pockets and put the scarf over her mouth. Just yesterday she was still in a short sleeved shirt and a skirt. Tilren was a small village located on the Hampton Mountain, surrounded by endless meadows with two roads going through them. They lead to the bottom of the mountain, right to the Okwell village and Niaham lake. Each day Leta went home from work, she would admire the lake from the mountain. She wanted to get married there. It wasn't because of the view. It was because of the memories she had attached to them. She was hoping the day would come soon.

Leta finally reached the hut at the end of the village. She rushed inside and huffed while closing the door. She kicked her shoes in the corner of the hallway, then hung her jacket and removed her scarf. Her hands were red from the freezing air.

"Sirius?" She called, then peeked into the living room.

The fire was lit, meaning that Sirius Black came home before her this time. She was grateful for that. Her eyes scanned the small living room connected to the kitchen. Two empty plates were on the coffee table, waiting for the two of them. Leta sat down on the carpet near the fireplace, putting her hands close to it and warming up her frozen fingers. The front door opened, then closed.

"Sirius?" The girl called again.

"Yes, my love?"

Leta's heart always melted at his nicknames. The man placed a kiss on top of her head, then hurriedly collected the plates. He still had his jacket and scarf on and Leta stood up, confused with the sudden hurry.

"Aren't we going to eat?"

"We are, pet. Just not here."

A pout appeared on her lips, similar to the one her sister had when she was dissatisfied. Rose and Leta grew up separately, yet some of their actions were so similar. "Then where?"

Instead of answering, Sirius used a spell to put out the fire, then helped her get dressed. She hated when he did that. He would just refuse to tell her the most simple things, just to watch her reaction.

"Sirius!"

"Come on, bubs. You'll see." The man stretched out his hand for her to take. Leta squinted her eyes, then shoved her hands in her pockets and left the little hut. Sirius chuckled at her face, then locked the doors behind them. "This way, love."

He pointed towards the nearby hut. The hut where Nymphadora Tonks, Donna Macks and Julian Carnald lived. The hut was slightly bigger and the little family often gathered there for meals. "Why are we going to Dora's? They didn't mention anything."

Sirius made a shushing sound, then opened the door of the hut. He didn't need to knock. Family is always welcome. The man let his girlfriend enter first, then shut the door behind them. Leta could sense the smoke in the air, which meant only one thing. She hurriedly took her jacket off, then rushed into the living room. Her lips stretched out in a big smile and her hands flew towards the man.

"Remus!"

The hazel eyed man returned the hug, then looked over her shoulder at his friend. Sirius smiled as a greeting, then went on to pour himself a glass of wine.

"How have you been?" Remus asked, taking a seat again. Leta sat down next to him, then looked around the room. Nymphadora wasn't around. The tension between the two of them was still very much visible and none of them dared to even crack a joke about it. Not even Sirius.

"Oh, I'm great! Stuck with an idiot, as usual, but it's going well."

"You fucked this idiot twice today!"