The Wolf's Den [Remus Lupin]

2 - Home At Last

CW: Contains smoking marijuana

-Alula-

Finally. Back to the place I knew as home. The twists and turns, changing stairs, and more magic than I knew what to do with. "Now you write as often as you can, yes?"

My father's voice. Quivering more as we grew older, and as the war efforts grew stronger. "Yes father, of course. I promise," He smiled curtly and pulled me into a quick hug. I could see his cheekbones becoming more and more defined as the days went on.

"Father, do me a small favor this year while we're away?" He let out a chuckle.

"Yes my dear," He flattened out his coat to release the wrinkles my hug had created. "What is it?"

"Let Clinky feed you if you could. You'll disappear before the year's over, I worry."

He gave me a warm smile and picked up my trunk to put it on the train. "Ha, oh, dear. I'll be fine. You and your sister have fun this year, alright?"

I turned my attention to Gemini. She was promising my mother to write and be good before we left. Sadly we're already halfway finished with Hogwarts. The subtle switch between me and my sister was the one I dreaded every September. "Now, do be a proper young lady. And if I get one owl from Minerva, I'll be disconcerted." My mother. Not-so-secretly shamed me about how much of an embarrassment I could be to her reputation and the family name.

"Yes, Mother I promise. I'll be good." As more and more kids flooded the station I assumed it was time to go and there wasn't a single thing that I would miss this train for. "Now it's almost 11 o'clock, we must be off!" I called, "Gem, come on!"

I picked up my cat, Binx, before seeing the green robes in front of me as we boarded. "Bye mother, bye father!! We'll be home for Christmas!" I yelled to them and pushed Gemini into the car. "So, do you wanna sit together?"

She looked apologetically at me. "I'm sorry but Regulus, Emma, they're waiting for me." She handed me some money and smiled. "This is from father. He said he forgot to give you your share for the year."

"Oh, thanks! I totally forgot. So um.." I struggled to find the words. Things were becoming increasingly separate between us. "I'll find Henry, you go find Emma. Don't worry about it."

She gave me a quick hug and ran off to find the car her friends were in. I grabbed Binx and passed the many full cars trying to find Lily. When the train started its journey, the jolt threw me off balance and I dropped Binx. I heard him meow and run towards a car ahead of me.

"Binx, come back here!" I yelled standing back up and brushing off my robes. I saw a figure up ahead in the aisle lean down and pick up my little black fluff ball. "Oh thank you, he runs off quite easily."

"I'd run away from you if I were him." I locked eyes with her and instantly regretted opening up my mouth. Lucinda, Mulciber, and a couple of other older Slytherin students were behind her.

"Lucinda Talkalot, still not expelled I see." She smirked and ran a hand down Binx's back. He squirmed, jumped from her arms, dropped to the floor, and nuzzled my leg.

"Still not in St. Mungo's I see...is your mother waiting to see what side of the war you pick before committing you? I would've thought, the second you were sorted, their minds would be made up."

I leaned down and picked him up. "Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about your parents." Mulciber glared at me. "Something on your mind Mulciber? Oh no, of course not. That would mean you'd need to be capable of thinking for yourself." Binx purred. Of course, he would find my joke funny.

"What's a fourth-year like you doing over here in the fifth-year cars?" Lucinda questioned crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"First of all," a voice behind me started. "None of these cars are restricted by year so please, get a move on, will ya?" Henry. I smiled.