CW// brief, slightly graphic depictions of a dead body
***
Remus was the only one who could find the village, since he was the only werewolf in the group of volunteers. Emmeline and Imogen had already moved away in the days following the meeting, returning back into hiding, though in a considerably more pleasant area than the small, dark rooms they'd been confined to for most of their childhood.
"What's going to happen to them?" Remus asked, just after the meeting had ended and everyone else had trailed out of the pub. "They can't exactly ever attend Hogwarts or anything like that." The prospects for their future were even slimmer than his had ever been, and the thought made him rather upset considering how much potential they both had. They were brilliant witches, after all, and it seemed a waste to keep they confined to a single area.
"I expect they'll remain in the village," replied Selene. "Unless they can be sure to keep themselves protected at all times with the right charms... there are other people in these villages, people who will happily teach the girls what they need or offer them jobs." Selene patted Remus on the back with an assuring smile. "It's a simple life, but at least they're able to live it... it could always be worse."
"What about me?" he continued. "I'm nearly seventeen... seventh year has already started and I doubt I'll pass my NEWTs now. I have no idea what I'm gonna do next."
"Oh, you'll figure something out. Dumbledore has said you can return to Hogwarts if you'd like, maybe try to sit the NEWTs or just wait out the end of the year... are you sure you don't want to go back?" Remus shook his head.
"Nah... I don't see the point." What would a few more months at Hogwarts do for his future? Besides, he had no intention of facing up to Snape and the rest of the Slytherins. He was still at risk of being threatened or harassed by them thanks to Sirius's "Prank", so he was better off just staying on the down low with the True Order. "Although, Merlin knows I can't live with dad forever, so I'm going to have to find some sort of job... is it alright if I come back to the pub?"
"Actually, I was thinking of doing you one better," replied Selene with a knowing glint in her eye that Remus never knew whether to trust or not. "You see, Rosie and I, we've... we've decided to move in together."
"That's brilliant!"
"Yeah, it is! I'm bloody excited, but... well, I'm going to move into her place, in London. It's bigger, you know, so it'll be better for us."
"You're not going to live above the pub?" Selene shook her head.
"I mean, with the floo network, it won't exactly be hard to commute back and forth, but it would still be better to have someone keeping an eye on it when I'm not around."
"Well, Sirius is still working here, isn't he?"
"Only weekends, and he doesn't live here." Selene crossed her arms to her chest and lay back against the wall. "No, what I'm thinking is... would you like my flat?" Remus blinked in surprise.
"You're... giving me your flat?"
"Yeah, if you'd like it. I mean, don't get me wrong, if you can find yourself a proper wage then I'd quite like some rent to be paid, but consider it a familial discount. You also have to agree to tending the pub to give me a damn break sometimes."
"Yeah, yes! Yes, I'll do all that!" Remus couldn't believe it... the flat was tiny, barely more than a studio, but he already loved it. He didn't need a big space, he just needed his own space, and the idea of living above the pub was practically a dream come true.
"I'll also trust you won't wreck it during full moons, but there'll be places for you to go to transform... I mean, now that we're re-housing all these werewolves, I'm sure you can join a few of them each full moon if you'd like." As usual, it sounded too good to be true, but Remus decided to let himself feel excited for it this time, because this didn't feel like blind hope. This felt more like a fresh start. A new leaf. Whatever you wanted to call it, Remus was ready to end the last chapter of his old life for good.
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Boys Will Be Bugs
Fanfiction[REUPLOAD] Remus Lupin has more than one secret, and there's no way of knowing who he can trust. All he has are his parents, but they can't protect him when he goes off to Hogwarts. But then Remus meets a boy and his two other friends, and soon real...
