JULIET {remus lupin}

NINETY FOUR

July, '91

On her return to London, Juliet was met by a very excitable James Roberts, he took her on the underground, and she allowed him to think that she had never been on it before, since he was so eager to show her. She had, of course, travelled on it with Remus and Sirius, many years ago, and she bit her tongue to distract herself as she remembered laughing at the pair as they tried to work out the maps. Roberts was in higher spirits than she had ever seen him in, immediately, as soon as her bags were back in the flat, he took her out for a drink and sat opposite her grinning from ear to ear.

"Work going well?" She asked, genuinely confused.

"Yeah, great." He smiled, wider.

"Er- did the Holyhead Harpies win a match that I am unaware of?"

He shook his head, "they lost, actually. But still, nevermind."

Juliet stared at him in utter confusion, "well, I know you're not just this happy to see me, Roberts."

He laughed and clinked his wine glass against hers, saying "cheers!" 

"James Roberts, what in Salazar's name is going on with you?"

He excitedly went to speak but then restrained himself, "no, you first. School. How is it? How was the final term, how were your students' OWLs and NEWTs. Getting on with Severus any better? How is Sybil?"

"School is good," she smiled, noticing how he was jogging his knee under the table. "Everyone in my NEWT class did exceptionally well. OWLs were good too, I got four Outstandings. And no, Severus and I still lack a friendship, it's nice to have some familiarity, though. Sybil is good, thank you. Now please, what is wrong with you, you're like a hyper child."

He grinned, she had stayed at Hogwarts in Easter and so he had not seen the witch since Christmas, he hadn't told her about bumping into Remus, about her. About Annie.

"I think I might be falling in love."

Juliet cocked her head to one side and smiled, "well, that's a relief, I thought you were into me."

James Roberts snorted, "for the record, I was, for a while. But no."

Juliet laughed, "who is she?"

He sighed, unsure how to broach the topic of her being Remus' friend slash ex-girlfriend.

"She's a muggle."

"Merlin," Juliet said, leaning back in her chair. "How'd she take it?"

The wizard shifted, "I haven't told her."

Juliet's eyes widened, "James, you have to."

"I know, I know," he sighed. "It's just-"

"She won't care, if she loves you, she won't care."

"No," he sighed. "I very much doubt she would. I just don't know if it's my place to tell her."

"Why wouldn't it be?"

He hesitated, "I'm not really sure how to tell you this, and I'm so incredibly sorry if you feel this puts you in an awkward position, and if I loved her any less than I do I wouldn't be in this situation."

The witch raised an eyebrow, utterly confused.

"I met her through Lupin."

"Remus?" She asked quietly.

"Remember Maximus told us he lived with a muggle up north, or he was with one?"

"She's the muggle?" Juliet muttered.