Ad Infinitum (Remus Lupin X Reader)

I • Initium Novum

I • Initium Novum • New Beginning

I woke up to the sound of children laughing outside my door.

"Hush! It's early yet," I heard a woman scold. "Come on before we're late."

I blinked tiredly and looked around, taking in the sight of my room at the Leaky Cauldron. The morning light was shining through the window, casting the room in the warm orange hues of the early morning sun. It couldn't have been much past eight in the morning.

"Merlin!" I exclaimed, my tiredness vanishing as I realized the time. I threw myself out of bed and began to gather my things up as quickly as I could, shoving my belongings in my suitcase messily. "Oh God, this can't be happening," I muttered as I struggled to pull a pair of jeans on.

I stumbled down the staircase with my trunk still half unzipped, my hair messy from sleep.

"Hi, good morning," I said quickly as I approached the front desk. "I have to check out."

"What was your room number?" the woman, Ethel, asked.

"Room six," I said, anxiously watching her.

"Your key?"

I handed her the key quickly, watching as she looked at me, unimpressed.

"In a rush, Miss Y/L/N?"

"I'm sorry, Ethel, I'm just running a bit late," I said.

"You should never be late on the first day of a job," she said and shook her head.

"Yes, I know," I said. "That's why I'm in a rush."

"It'll be ten galleons," Ethel said.

I nodded and fished them from my pocket, dropping them into her hand.

"Thanks so much," I said and smiled before rushing out of the building.

I left Diagon Alley through the archway behind the Leaky Cauldron and jogged through the early-morning crowd through muttered apologies. I struggled to maneuver my suitcase through the groups of people. By the time I arrived at King's Cross, I was sweaty despite the cool weather and I had jostled dozens of people with my luggage.

As I reached the station, I looked around. In my letter, I had been told to find Platform 9 3/4, but as I looked around, I saw nothing. I wanted to cry as I realized that I was practically destined to be late.

Destinare, to make firm.

"Hey," I said to a man working at the station. "I'm looking for Platform 9-"

"And three quarters?" he asked, glaring at me. "Yeah, yeah, real funny, kid. Run along."

I opened my mouth to argue before obeying and stepping away from the man, who shook his head and scoffed.

Looking around, I felt the last bit of hope drain out of my chest. I knew that it had seemed to be too good to be true: a job at Hogwarts. I had always dreamed of being a teacher, but I had been struggling to find employment. It seemed like I had written to every wizarding school across the globe, even Ilvermorny, which, contrary to what I had expected, gave its alumni no special treatment when it came to hiring. When I got a letter back from the headmaster of Hogwarts offering me a position as a teacher's assistant, I was hesitant. It wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but it was the best that I could get.

"Right then. Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry," I heard a man say. I watched as the man casually walked over to a wall before platforms nine and ten and leaned against the wall. I gasped as they fell through the wall.