Remus was fiddling with a few books placed near the till when she walked in. This was crucial, because when the bell of the door rung and she slithered past the entrance of the shop, he was able to see the smile die on Liam's face.

It was like watching a flower wilt, or the sun disappear behind the horizon. It meant something when an untroubled person like Liam Alderman was left frowning. A tragedy that should have never come to pass.

He wasn't sure why, at first, but when she came up to the front desk, her dark skin and upturned nose familiar, the seeds of suspicion had been planted. Then, as she opened her mouth and said, "Hello, Liam," Remus was inexplicably aware of who was standing in front of him.

Liam's mum.

He hadn't expected her to look so similar to him. They both had small, upturned nose and their hair was the same shade of brown. They were both tall and thin. The differences lied in their eyes. Where Liam's were warm and exciting, Mrs Alderman's looked like they could sour milk. It was hard to believe this was the woman who had given birth to his friend.

Liam replied in kind.

"Hello, mum. I didn't know you would be coming for a visit."

"I hadn't planned on it," she said, her eyes straying to the scratched surface of the counter. Remus got the feeling that she wasn't very fond of the bookshop. "Your dad decided one of us needed to check up on your progress here and we didn't need him breaking a hip."

Under different circumstances, Remus might have laughed. But under the threat of her noticing him, he kept quiet, still straightening out a few books.

"Lovely. Do you want me to—"

"No," she said, cutting Liam off, "you stay here. I just want to have a look around."

True to her word, she turned around and marched away. He and Liam both watched as she turned into an aisle and cut off their view of her. After she was gone, he dared to approach Liam, who looked like he might cave in on himself.

"Are you alright?"

His response was delayed.

"I'm fine," he whispered. "She just usually doesn't come to the shop. She's always been against it, ever since dad purchased it from the previous owner, Godwin Bennett. It kinda threw me for a loop to see her walk through the door."

"How long do you think she'll stay for?"

"I'm not sure. Dad'll want her to look through the stock and possibly even any transactions I've made on his behalf." Just who the hell were his parents? "I know," said Liam, and Remus didn't realise he had said that out loud. "My dad's a nutter. Mum, too, really. I'm just glad she's here and not him. He'd have probably made everyone leave in his search for anything wrong with the place."

"That's terrifying," Remus admitted.

"Try living with them." He bit his lip for a second. "Um, do you mind taking over for a minute? I need a break."

Liam disappeared into the back and Remus manned the till. He worried that Liam's mum would show up and demand to know who he was and why he was by the till, but it was better than seeing that look on Liam's face. He hadn't seen his friend so cowed before. It was like everything he feared had been summed up into one person, and that was Mrs Alderman.

He had just finished up with a customer when she came striding over to him, her face set in a disapproving frown.

"Who are you?" She demanded, her voice both accusing and mistrustful.

The corners of Remus' lips rose in what he hoped was a smile.

"My name's Remus Lupin. Your son hired me a few months ago."

She dragged her gaze over him, her eyes taking in his shabby jumper and scars, surely. She focused for a moment on a particularly vicious scar on his neck. It had faded to silver, and was almost barely visible, but he could see her judgements being made before his very eyes.

"So you're the new employee? I thought my Liam had better taste."

"Liam—"

"That's Mister Alderman to you." Her eyes slid behind him. "I'm going to have a talk with him. Do not interrupt us."

And with that, she went into the back room, the faint scent of citrus lingering where she stood.

The faint sound of yelling alerted Remus of what might have been going on a few metres from him.

Before he could make his way into the back room, the haughty figure of Mrs Alderman came barrelling towards him. He didn't think as he tossed himself out of her way, in fear that she would go right through him in her haste.

She passed, but it didn't even seem as if she noticed him. She was out of the door before he could blink. Remus and the customers watched her leave.

His eyes straying from the rattling door, he spared them all a glance. He made a split second decision. "I'm sorry to announce this, but the shop is closing early today. Will you all please exit." Without too much fuss, everyone left and he was met with an empty shop. Well, almost empty.

He needed to check on Liam.

The few steps it took felt like a mile each; each step a mountain. He couldn't get to Liam fast enough.

He found him sitting solemnly on the couch. His back was arched and his arms were folded. Remus knocked, and his head jerked up from where it had been hanging in front of himself.

"Remus?" His asked with such sadness it made something in him shrivel up. He tried his best to grin.

"The one and only."

He didn't wait for any indication before sitting closely next to him. Closer than he usually would. He didn't think it was the time for shyness. His brain seemed to go back on itself, however, and he found his arms hovering over Liam's shoulder.

Was that okay? Or was it too much?

Liam took that decision out of his hands, and leaned his head on Remus' bony shoulder. A hand came up and pulled Remus' arm to settle warmly around his neck.

"Is this okay?" He felt Liam's eye roll.

"You wouldn't be here if it wasn't," he said matter-of-factly. He wiggled himself closer to Remus' body, curling into his side. The rush of emotion he felt, tenderness and affection and what the hell is happening, hit him like a truck. But beyond all of that, he could feel the hurt rolling off Liam in waves.

"What happened?"

It took him a moment to find his voice.

"After she came in, she inspected the room. All the while ignoring me like I was a part of the decor. Then, after nit-picking everything, she started going on about the 'horrible state' of the shop. She even mentioned you, said that you're a bad look for the business and—"

He squeezed his arm.

"—and that I should fire you. And if I don't, knowing her, she'll do it herself."

Remus' world cracked.

"But obviously I'd never do that!" Shouted Liam as he sat up abruptly. "You're one of the best things to happen to me. I'll just convince my dad before she can do any real damage. I'll buy him a bottle of his favourite cognac, he's a sucker for that stuff."

His mind could barely wrap around what was being said. When his ears caught the word me, he almost keeled over. Liam didn't even seem to realise he'd said it, still rambling on about his dad's taste in liquor and how he could convince him. Remus just blinked. His thoughts a hurricane, and at the centre of the chaos, one word.

Me.

The words were out of his mouth before he could even think of the implications.

"Go to dinner with me."

"W-What?"

"Go to dinner with me," he repeated, thought this time, his voice wavered. He persevered anyway, the light in Liam's eyes, a dim thing when he first walked in, brightening. "We already have lunch every Friday, and I sent everyone home, so what's the big deal?"

"Wait." He manoeuvred himself to properly face Remus. "Why did you send everyone home?"

"Because your mum literally just shouted at you in front of everyone and I wasn't about to leave the shop unattended while I checked up on you."

Liam stared. Then, out of nowhere, he jumped up and started grabbing things from the desk. Remus didn't move, still a little dazed from the lack of distance just a moment ago. Liam turned to him, a smile lighting up his face.

"Well. Dinner?"

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a/n: okay so my quota has been fulfilled. promise to hit u all w an update tmr. kisses!! eat well and drink cleanly