we are a low word count, any level of experience rp set in harry's 3rd year at hogwarts. students and adults alike are welcome! given we are set fairly early in the series, everything that happens from this point on will be up to us! perhaps sirius black will be cleared and peter arrested, or perhaps something darker lurks in the shadows...
Post by Rose Ameile Hunter on Jul 28, 2018 1:48:16 GMT
An hour later...
The owl flew through the window of Hunter Manor, dropping the letter on the coffee table.
"Dear, there's a letter for you," came a soft feminine voice.
"Coming," gruffed another voice, male. The man entered the living room, picking up the letter and feeding the owl a treat from the fireplace, the man looked at the letter, 'Lyall Lupin' was written across the envelope, his brow raised. Who..? He opened the letter, pulling out the included parchment and began to read.
He read the letter three times in quick succession, not sure if he was reading what he was actually reading. "Ameile," he whispered, holding the letter out to her as well.
The woman, Ameile, set down the latest letter from her daughter, to take the proffered letter and read it, and read it again. The information included wasn't necessarily news, as their daughter kept them updated anyway. But the fact that the letter existed... "He's written to us."
Lyall nodded, "do... do you think..."
"Rose certainly does work fast," Ameile said, laughing softly. "Shall I respond to him?"
Lyall nodded and Ameile pulled her wand from her robes, "Expecto Patronum!"
Before them, a sleek she-wolf formed, knowing eyes looking upon its caster. With a smile, Ameile spoke to the Patronus.
Remus,
Your father and I would like to have a chat. Please give us a call via floo at your earliest convenience.
He had sent his letters only an hour prior. Honestly, he hadn’t expected a response from either of them quickly, so when the patronus bounded into his office and he saw the she-wolf he literally jumped up from his desk almost having a heart attack. He heard the message and slowly his heart stopped freaking out. He bit his lower lip, wondering if he was ready to talk to them essentially face to face, even if it was just a call. A letter was easy, he didn’t have to face them and worry about his emotions getting in the way – he could always read it over to make sure it had the message he wanted.
Remus took several minutes and then sucked it up, heading to the fireplace in his quarters which was behind a passage from his office. He set the fire and then… took a deep breath and began the call.
Post by Rose Ameile Hunter on Jul 28, 2018 3:35:55 GMT
Ameile looked to her husband, "do you think it was too presumptuous?"
Lyall shook his head, looking at the fireplace. They were both sat before it when it sprung to life Ameile jumped slightly. "Remus.."
His face appeared in the fire and Lyall gave a friendly smile, "Hello son."
Ameile was silent, trying to get a good look of her step-sons' face through the fire. It was difficult, but he looked much... healthier. She sighed softly, it seemed whatever Rose had been doing, had worked.
Lyall put a hand on his wife's shoulder to calm her before looking back at Remus. "So, a lady huh. Fortunately, your situation is very similar to how Amelie's and I's relationship started out, so if you don't mind, I'll let her explain and she could possibly help you out. Ameile?"
She nodded, shifting slightly, looking at Remus, "it was back when I first met your father. I had just accepted the mission from Dumbledore to spy on the Death Eaters... Unlike Severus, I was one of the lower on the rung member, they knew of my job in the ministry, so in turn, they used me for that. I was constantly in-and-out of the Ministry; one day, I had to pay a visit of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, where I ran into your father. Dumbledore had asked me to retrieve a file on Fenrir Greyback.
Over the next several months, I had somehow ended up returning there more frequently, other reports, and such, but your father was always there to greet me. It was almost as if he had figured out when I would show up next. He would have a hot cup of tea ready for me."
She smiled softly.
"It soon became apparent what was happening, I was falling in love with him - but, as you know, what I am; I wasn't sure if it was because of that, or if he truly felt the same. Regardless, we went back and forth. Problem is, Death Eaters were everywhere at the time, and one of them witnessed us, acting a little too friendly towards each other.
I tried to push your father away, I was too dangerous. What would happen if they came after him in retaliation for me? But, he didn't care. He said he would rather the moments of having me in his life than to be without. I'm sure this lovely young woman to has stolen your heart has said some similar things. From what I hear from Rose is that she's an Auror as well?"
A bright smile appeared on her face, "first is, to be honest, and upfront with her, second, is to find a balance. I'm sure she feels as strongly for you as you do for her. Sit down and have an actual conversation with her, relationships are all about compromise - balance, like I said - sometimes it comes naturally to people; but Remus, you have been controlling what you do in your life on your own for so long, so I believe it will take some effort on your part, I am one-hundred percent certain she will work with you. She sounds like an intelligent woman who's found her happiness, and she just wants you to see that, and to make you happy as well. Once the two of you have worked out your differences, it will be much easier for you to focus."
It was humiliating to him to be asking for help. He felt useless and lost, but he had always prided himself on his ability to understand – understand people and concepts, but this one was one he couldn’t seem to grasp. To have to call up his parents to ask for advice when he was a 33-year-old man, acting like he was 16 again, it was amazingly embarrassing. But it wasn’t like he could ask his sister, not that she would likely even know what to do either – they were the only ones he felt he could turn to, the only ones who would understand and be able to help him.
“But you’re not – well yes you are a different kind of being in a way, but… How do I even deserve happiness? I’m soulless, evil, deserving nothing but death.” Oof. He pulled that one out. Quoting his own father with the thing that made Greyback angry and attack his son. Regardless, that had stuck out in his head for his entire life. That and as he had said in his letter, he was still angry at his father – and he was still angry at Amelie too, but even more so his father. “You don’t kill people every month because of what you are, Mother –“ He paused realizing he hadn’t called her by her name. He swallowed and looked to the side of the fireplace and then back at the pair of them.
“She’s an Auror. If anyone found out what I was, they would force me into the registration, I could wind up going to Azkaban, constantly watched, everyone hating me because of it. And then she would get in trouble with her work for not taking me in and knowing it. She could lose her job, everything she’s worked for. I feel guilty every time we’re together… I – I don’t want to drag her down with me.”
Remus sighed, his hands back in his office clenching. Luckily, he had asked Dumbledore just moments before to keep this fire from being monitored by the ministry, and he agreed so he could speak freely without discovery. “I was dumb. I – I… Father, you know how when Mother died –“ Referring to the muggle mother here, obviously seeing as Amelie hadn’t died yet, “She… gave me her ring. I just tossed it in my desk, I didn’t want to think about it. But – I wrote a note to her, Dora, the girl I love, and when she opens it she’s going to find that ring and a proposal and I –“
“I love her so, and I would love if I could but – but with what I am – I –“ He took in a deep breath. “It could possibly bring her happiness. For some reason she seems to relish in being with a poor man, unable to provide for her. But in the end, I know it would just cause her pain. She shouldn’t sacrifice her life, her job, everything for me. I couldn’t – I couldn’t ask that of her, but I did. I was dreaming. I can’t have children with what I am. I can’t… fall in love. I can’t keep lying to myself and thinking it’s alright to lead her on like this.”
Post by Rose Ameile Hunter on Jul 28, 2018 19:54:21 GMT
A guilty look overcame Lyall and Ameile sighed.
"I know you're disappointed with us for not protecting Rose," Ameile said softly, "and I'm sure that situation hasn't helped you either."
She wanted to reach out and hold him, guilt was racking up in her.
"I'm not dangerous in the same, sense, no. But my line of work does put people in danger constantly. It was my fault that Rose was attacked, I had no business being at home alone with her. It was my fault Fenrir was sent. Like I said, I got caught, they knew who I was with.
I mourn every moment. I put my family in danger every minute I breathe. If anyone found out who I am, I would be executed on the spot, or worse, sent to Azkaban.
And yet, I fell in love with your father. We had a beautiful baby girl.
Would it have been smarter for me to have not created a life with your father? Should I have been more steadfast in pushing him away? Yes. I put you, your sister and your father in danger every day that I'm with them, Rose getting attacked proves that much is true.
But your father doesn't care. Rose does not blame me, she most certainly does not blame you, for what she is now. I'm sure you know this.
Love is a magical, powerful thing. It causes us to rethink what is important to us."
Ameile sighed softly, "I insisted constantly that I shouldn't do this, shouldn't get involved. But your father would have none of it. He, like I know Dora will, won't give up until they know they hope is all gone.
And Remus, you gave that note to her was you giving her your hope. I can see it in your eyes, that hope, it's the same hope that Rose has, that she can have some normalcy in her life.
You deserve happiness because you are a good person, the lycanthropy does not make you, you, Remus. Yes, it is apart of you, but it's how to choose your life because of it that makes you. Your Dora sees the person beyond the affliction, and loves him, loves you, loves all of you, despite it. You need to take a moment and just listen to her. She just wants you, your Dora.
You deserve love, properly, because it's been denied from you for so long. Your sister was the first step in that to show you that you can be loved, that you deserve it, that you deserve happiness. It breaks my heart that you were denied it for so long - I had wanted to help to mend that broken heart-"
Tears shone in her eyes, "because you shouldn't think that you are undeserving of love or being able to have someone love you. - the fact that you do think that is just the cowardly prejudices of the Ministry. Yes, there are bad werewolves out there that do the wrong things, but you are nothing like them. You are nothing like Greyback. You have never been and you never were.
I know I'm just your step-mother, Remus, but I think of you as my own. I always have. Please consider this, coming from someone who loves you and cares for you just as any mother would. Don't let the world tell you that you can't. That is what isn't right. You following your heart, falling in love if anyone deserves it it's you; it's you and any other werewolf who has been told they can't.
It's possible for you to find... to have happiness. We want to give you that hope. Stop letting the world tell you can't. Because you can."
"You're a role model to Rose, you know," came the voice of Lyall. "You're the only one who could possibly understand what she goes through. But at the same time, she looks up to you. This world of unhappiness that you want to condemn yourself to; would you wish the same for Rose? She suffers the same as you, in fear of the world that in fear of her. Regardless of how 'contained' it is. Most of the world will see her as dangerous and untrustworthy. It's time for that to change, Rose wants the world change, she knows it's not going to happen overnight, or anytime soon... but she wants you to stand with her.
You have two choices, Remus, keep living in the world that has told you that you can't; or fight for the world where you can. Rose will stand beside you. Your Dora will stand beside you. And I'm sure there are plenty of others who stand beside you as well. Who knows you as you."
For a few moments he considered ending the call abruptly – hearing things he didn’t want to hear, but he told himself he needed to hear them. It had been ages since he had last heard their voices and while he might not want to hear what they had to say, he knew they were right.
“What… is important to me…” He shook his head, “What’s important to me is Rose. And Dora and… protecting them. Protecting them from myself. Protecting them from pain. Protecting Dora from becoming like me, and Rose from thinking like me.”
Fight huh? He remembered back during the good old days – with James and Sirius and Peter. Remus had really just thought after school he’d live a quiet life, but James had given him a similar speech on fighting for freedoms and fighting to protect those they loved. Could he really bring about a world where Rose could live happily and freely? Or was that just idealism that would be crushed like his idea of having friends and actually be happy in his life with those friends?
Remus abruptly pulled his head from the fire, extinguishing the flames and running a hand over his face. After several moments he grabbed a bit of the floo powder and was whisked away by the flames.
He arrived in the manor, probably much to their surprise and quickly walked up to both of them and pulled them into his arms, bowing his head and quietly crying into their shoulders. “I want this pain to go away. I want this – this beast inside of me to… stop threatening those I love. I want to live a normal life, but – but –“
Post by Rose Ameile Hunter on Jul 28, 2018 23:53:13 GMT
The call ended abruptly and Ameile sighed, thinking that was the end of that, but the fire came to life again and Remus stepped through and pulled them into his arms. Lyall held on tightly as Ameile put her hand on the back of his head.
"Remus, my darling son. I know it's been hard. There's... there's no making it go away completely, yet but..." She cups his face in her hands, brushing the tears away. "Your darling sister has the solution that will help. I don't know if she's had the chance to fully explain how it works, but if you've been taking your wolfbane as you needed to since you began teaching; once you put on that watch, you will only need one bottle, right before the full moon. No more, no less. That's it. The two weeks worth that you're used to will last your months. It will help. Please trust us."
Remus tensed up slightly when she asked him to trust them, which they could likely feel as he embraced them. He didn’t let he pair of them go, not yet. It’d been so long since he had hugged his parents.
“I can’t. I can’t do that. What if I lose the ability to get the potion? What then? What if a war breaks out and I can’t get ahold of the ingredients or anyone who can make it?” Remus’s voice was hoarse, a sound very few people had ever heard. He was a private man and crying in front of people wasn’t normal for him.
Post by Rose Ameile Hunter on Jul 29, 2018 1:17:17 GMT
"At Beauxbatons, it was regulation for Rose to be announced as a werewolf, it was also regulation for her to learn how to brew the wolfsbane." Ameile smiled softly. "Severus does it on occasion when Rose gets behind in her school work, but it's been her this entire time. She hasn't told you because she knows how you are. But you will always have someone. She's been attempting to teach Dora too, she's been telling me, as well."
Lyall put his hand on Remus' shoulder, "I know that you don't want people to worry over you and you don't want to accept help from them, but your sister is a force to be reckoned with. She doesn't want to lose you again. To anything, including yourself. She had been planning this since after she had her breakdown. This was part of her resolve - 'I won't let him suffer anymore' she told us.
She even words the odd job or two... or three. She's spent the last two summers in Diagon Alley, rotating through the shops. We'd barely see her a couple of times a week.
She's determined to help you. She's heartbroken you haven't let her, but she's convinced you'll come around eventually.
I was a coward, Remus. Rose has shown me that, shown me I could've done so much more for you - and I didn't. Afraid of what they would've said at the Ministry. I was a fool, and I'm sorry. Though I know apologies will never fix it. She's doing what I couldn't, Remus... and so much more.
She's going to be very influential in the near future, I can just tell. She's working so hard, for you, herself, and all those afflicted."
She was going through so much work for him. So much work for the brother who had abandoned her. Remus, himself, was never a good potioneer, and he didn’t have access to the potion as it hadn’t been made yet when he was at school. He had looked up the recipe before, but he never had the chance to try to brew it – he wouldn’t waste so many ingredients worth so much money on something to make him feel better. Yet here his sister was, continuing to care for him, despite everything he had done.
Remus pulled back from the embrace and looked at the two, his eyes red from the tears. He used his arm to rub away the rest of the moisture on his face and sniffed. “She shouldn’t waste so much of her time and money on me. How can I – How can I… live knowing I’m dependent on another? What if – what if, god forbid, something happens to her? I can’t brew it myself. I can’t afford it myself. What if I lose everyone I care about again? I’ll be alone and unable to care for myself.”
Post by Rose Ameile Hunter on Jul 29, 2018 2:28:44 GMT
Lyall chuckled softly, "son, I dare you to try and tell her that. See what happens."
He shook his head, "she can teach you how to brew it too if that's your worry. As for the ingredients - well, that's a bridge we'll need to cross when it comes to it; as for living with it - think about it this way; if the situation was reversed, wouldn't you do everything in your power too? To see her live life to it's fullest, as she deserves as well? She feels exactly that. The world has been too cruel to you, she's doing everything she can to change that."
Ameile touches his cheek with a hand, "and as for losing everyone, you care about. It's going to take a lot fo that to happen, but you can always, count on Rose. We love you, but Rose... well, I'm sure you've seen it for yourself."
"She'll lead you through the darkness, Remus," intoned Lyall. "If you'll just allow her to do so."
They had a point. More than a point really. Several points. Remus tensed up a bit when Amelie touched his cheek, quickly pulling away and looking away. He ran a hand down his face along the largest one, and then looked back at them.
“You can’t tell her this happened. It’ll… just get her hopes up. And then I’ll let her down again because…” He shook his head and turned around. “Thank you. And – And I’m sorry I can’t stick around. You… did good raising her. She’s… a good kid.” Unlike him. Worst son of the year award.
Post by Rose Ameile Hunter on Jul 29, 2018 3:17:12 GMT
"Of course son," Lyall nodded and they stepped away.
Ameile smiled, shaking her head, "I'm glad you made the decision to come to see us. You look well. Don't forget to eat. And sleep well."
They watched as he went back through the fire, and her hand slipped into her Lyall's, she looked towards them. "Do you think?"
"I can only hope."
* * *
Once Remus stepped back into his office, he'll find Rose standing there, having just jumped half a foot into the air as the fire came to life again.
"Oh! Sorry. I - I just got out of dinner. Just... wanted to let you know that Elias and I made it back safe. Can't be too careful these days... killer on the loose, you know?"
She smiled apologetically. "Didn't know you'd gone out... out; you left your door open. I didn't want to just close it and leave. You'd think someone's been in here. All that jazz."
She hesitated, "well, anyway." She turned to leave. "Sleep well."
Remus looked at them before he went back into the fire, but he didn’t say goodbye. He just. Gave them a half grin, half frown. The flames licked at him as he walked through the fire into the one in his office. He looked at Rose and nearly jumped out of his skin, and then saw a new stack of essays likely whisked to his desk from a certain substitute teacher.
“Oh, no its okay. I just – I had to do something important.” He took a seat at his desk and looked up at Rose, “You can stay if you want. I just have some essays to look over. Severus sent them, I told him I wanted to check them over after he marked them. He can be biased sometimes and its for my class.” Remus smiled. He didn’t even know what the essays were over – thought if Severus stuck to the curriculum it should be over hinkypunks.
Post by Rose Ameile Hunter on Jul 29, 2018 23:36:27 GMT
She turned back, frowning.
Severus sent them.
She wrinkled her nose a moment. "Ah... that must be from when he subbed."
She sighed, "fair warning, he's being a git again. And Hermione Granger might be more trouble than she's worth now."
She plopped down in the chair. "Mine's hilarious," she said with half a grin. "I talked about how much of a git he is and how he should properly take care of his hair."
