Little Lupin

Four: Books and a Job Offer

"I found them!" sang Remus, carrying a box down from the attic. He brought it into the dining room where Alyssa sat, eating a sandwich.

"Found what?" she asked.

"Remember when I said we would get you some books more geared towards your age? Well, I found my books from when I was younger in the attic."

"Oh, thank you!"

"No problem," he said, smiling.

The past few days, he had made lots of progress with getting Alyssa to open up more and boost her confidence. They still had a long way to go, but she was far different from the scared, skeletal girl that showed up on his doorstep about a week ago. Since she was now being fed properly, her cheeks weren't as hollow, but she was still very small and skinny for her age. In time, that would change.

After lunch, Alyssa rummaged through the box. Most of them were muggle authors (Remus's mother wanted him well-versed in muggle literature), but there were some wizarding titles, including an old copy of Tales of Beedle the Bard. In true Lupin fashion, she quickly got lost in book after book. When she wasn't reading, Remus was telling her more stories about Hogwarts, or they were playing games. Little by little, he found out more about her past and what that harpy of a woman had done to his cub.

"Who's Sirius Black?" Alyssa asked her father one morning during breakfast. Remus was reading the newspaper and she had caught a glimpse of the headline proclaiming that Black had escaped Azkaban. Remus sighed. How could she tell a six-year-old that there was a mass murderer on the loose? The poor girl had already been through enough. As though she were reading his thoughts, she added. "You don't have to sugar coat it. I may be young, but I understand a lot more than you might think," she said self-assuredly. This confidence surprised Remus, but he decided that giving her a basic explanation wouldn't hurt. If anything, it would put her on guard not to do anything stupid like go looking for him.

"Okay. A long time ago, almost twelve years, Black killed thirteen people. One was a wizard, the rest were innocent muggle bystanders. He was put into Azkaban for his crimes and he just escaped a few days ago."

"And Azkaban is the wizard prison?"

"Correct."

"Thanks for telling me," she said quietly. He just nodded, once again getting lost in thought.

One day in late August, the two were relaxing on the couch, both reading, when there was a knock at the door.

"Stay here, Alyssa."

Alyssa nodded, hoping it wasn't Black, or, God forbid, her mother. But something about the polite knock told her it was neither.

"Professor Dumbledore! What a surprise, come in!" Remus said, side-stepping to let his old headmaster in.

"Why, thank you, Remus. I must say, you look well."

"Well, thank you very much. I've been feeling a lot better lately."

"Oh?" asked Dumbledore, blue eyes twinkling. "May I ask why?"

Remus motioned for Dumbledore to follow him into the living room. "Alyssa, there is somebody I would like you to meet. This is Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts. Professor, this is Alyssa."

"Hello, young one," Dumbledore greeted.

"Hi," she responded, giving a tiny wave.

The two wizards retreated into the foyer to speak in private.

"Professor, I assume you aren't here just to visit. Am I correct?"

"Never one to beat around the bush, were you, Remus? No, you would be correct. I need a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and you were among the top contenders for the job."

"Me? But, sir, you must know what I am and my condition-"

"Don't think I haven't forgotten. We are prepared to make accommodations should you accept this job offer. My options are running out, Remus. Nobody wants to take the job, after what happened the past two years."

"Alright, say I take the job, what are these 'accommodations'?"

"Our very own Potions master has agreed to brew you an endless supply of Wolfsbane potion for your transformations. The Shrieking Shack and the Whomping Willow are still there so no students or staff will come across you during the full moon. Nobody need know of your condition."

"That sounds great, but what about Alyssa? I know professors don't usually have children with them while they teach."

"You mean Alyssa is-"

"Mine? Yeah, she's my daughter."

"I take it that you only found out about her recently?"

"She ran away from her mother's house about three weeks ago and showed up here, thin and pale. I've been doing the best I can to take care of her with what I have."

"I'm sure you've done a fine job, Remus. She can, by all means, come with you. She will be better protected inside the castle, should her mother try to take her back. Who is her mother, by the way?"

"Remember Kathryn Shaw?"

"Yes, I do. I hate to think of what she did to make Alyssa run away."

"I know most of it, but I don't think she would appreciate it if I told anyone."

"I understand. Does this mean you'll take the post of Defense professor?" Dumbledore asked.

"I'd be honored."

"Wonderful. In that case, see you on September 1st, Professor Lupin," he said with a chuckle, and with a pop, he was gone.

When Remus came back to the living room, Alyssa was looking at him questioningly.

"Professor Dumbledore has hired me to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He says I can take you with me."

"We're going to live at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, cub."

"When do we go?"

"September 1st."

"That's only a week away!"

"I know. Since the full moon is the night before, we'll take the Hogwarts Express so we can rest on the way. Well, more me than you. My transformations always take a lot out of me."

"I hate it! I hate that your transformations hurt you so badly! I hate the stupid moon! We should get rid of it!"

Remus laughed loudly at that as he recalled a very similar conversation he and the other marauders had while slightly drunk. James suggested that they get rid of it by blowing it up. Ah, good times.

"What, do you want to blow it up?" he said, still laughing, which elicited a giggle from the girl. "I'll tell you what: Why don't you figure out how we can do that while I make dinner?" he joked. Alyssa laughed again and went back to reading (and possibly plotting ways to blow the moon up).

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Any ideas on how to get rid of the moon, guys? Lol. Thanks for reading!