one; PROTECT THOSE

In the heart of London, a woman with dark hair stood angled in the shadows of an alley and when onlookers peered cautiously into the dark as they passed, they thought to themselves that she may have just been a trick of the light scaring them away from the desolate cobblestone alleyway.

The redolence of smoke in the shadow of the alley was strong and it came from the woman who stood just at the edge, against the graffiti coloured brick with her leather-clad boot propped up against it as she idly rolled a cigarette between her tattooed fingers, gazing at her surroundings with bored eyes.

The Summer air was humid which had led her to pull her thick hair away from her face and into a messy bun atop her head and she had long since pulled her coat off and it now lay over her arm, concealing the lime green work attire, that she had been holding since she had clocked off from the view of nosey shoppers passing the alley, though not a soul noticed the woman in the shadow.

As a large cat streaked across the dingy path, she brought the cigarette to her lips once more and inhaled the remnant of it, relishing in the small sting of her throat as she watched a figure pause at the end of the alley for a moment and then quickly enter it before she exhaled and watched the smoke swirl around her as she flicked the ash to the concrete.

"Lennon Winslow?" The man inquired once he stopped a foot from her, eyeing the woman as she dropped the cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it beneath the sole of her boot before she nodded at him.

"That's my name." She confirmed as she pushed her body from the wall so she was standing straight, professional even, as she closed the distance between them and raised her hand, "And yours?"

"Remus Lupin." He responded as he took her outstretched hand and shook it with a friendly grin before he let go and allowed his hand to fall back to his side.

"The Defence Professor?" She asked as her head cocked to the side, enhancing her curiosity.

"Former Professor." He corrected, unsure of how she knew he had been a teacher, "I didn't teach you, did I?"

Lennon shook her head with a smile, "No, but you taught my sister and because of Lockheart, she failed her Defence O.W.L and then had to retake the class." She told him with a sweet smile, "Because of you, she got an O on her exam and she spoke very highly of you in her letters. If you ask me, you should absolutely still be teaching."

Remus smiled rather bashfully at her words.

"I'm really glad to hear that." He spoke with as his eyes sparkled happily before his expression quickly became rather confused, "There were no students in any of my classes with your surname."

"Uh, unfortunately, Winslow is my married name." Lennon spoke with a bitter smile, "My sister was in her sixth year when you were teaching but she was taking your fifth-year class for her O.W.L re-testing."

"Ah, Prudence." Remus realised after a moment, "She was exceptionally determined in her studies."

"She's always been that way." She answered with a proud smile before she shook her head to clear her thoughts, "Anyway, I know that you are not here to reminisce about your former students so what exactly is this meeting about?"

Remus nodded quickly as he straightened and gestured for the young woman to follow him as he began to walk further through the alley before the exited at the other end and he did not begin to speak until the two were a block and a half away from the alley they had met in, quite a large distance away from the hospital.

"Obviously, by now you've heard the rumours about Lord Voldemort's return to power, do you believe them?" When he noticed the woman nod twice to both his statements, he quickly continued but not before glancing around quickly for eavesdroppers, "Well, during his last height of power, Professor Dumbledore recruited witches and wizards into a group called the Order of the Phoenix."

Lennon stared at the older man in surprise for a moment.

"I thought that was just a rumour." She exclaimed as she thought back to such a time when there were whispers of a resistance gathering to fight against the Death Eater's, alongside her mother and father's hushed whispers when they thought she and Prudence were in another world whilst playing with their dolls together.

Remus slowly shook head and Lennon could feel the pain behind his eyes due to whatever it was he was clearly remembering.

"It was very real." He responded heavily, "It didn't go all that well, the Order of the Phoenix wasn't all that prepared the last time Voldemort was at large and though we have much less manpower this time around, we are more prepared than before and that is why I am here because Professor Dumbledore would like for you to join the ranks."

They were turning a corner onto the next street when Lennon stopped in her tracks, staring at the man in surprise as he walked ahead a few more paces before he stopped and turned, quickly spotting her and walking back to where she was still stood.

"Watch it, lady." A man huffed as he shoved passed but Lennon didn't throw a witty response at the man much like she usually would, because she was utterly surprised by the former professor's words.

"He wants me?" She asked incredulously.

Remus chuckled at the almost comical look on her face, "Yes."

"And I am going to assume that this will be dangerous." She commented as she slowly began to feel movements in her legs once more and began to walk slowly, the werewolf keeping up with her pace swiftly.

"I won't lie to you, it will absolutely be dangerous." Remus responded as they came to a stop beside another alley, the two blending into the shadows quite easily, "I'm unsure whether or not that sways any potential decision."

Lennon nodded slowly to indicate that she had heard him as she gazed out at the unsuspecting muggles who went about their usual days, not noticing the two in the shadow of the alley discussing plans of a rebel group, clearly defiant of the Ministry of Magic and definitely against He Who Must Not Be Named's grand scheme.

She admired both their innocence and ignorance of magical dwellings.

"It won't." She answered, "Because, I've already decided."

Remus made a noise of surprise in the back of his throat at her how quickly she had reached an apparent decision, "Which is?"

"I'm in."

Remus looked utterly surprised by her words, but also rather relieved that she hadn't run straight for the Ministry to blab about the secret movement.

"Really?" He asked rather hesitantly.

"Were you expecting a different answer?" She inquired, her lip curling upward into a smirk as she gazed up at him.

Remus shook his head with a smile, "No, I just didn't know you'd make a decision so quickly."

"I was ten when the war ended last time, I remember what the world was like back when he was at large, my little sister was four and my brother was barely a newborn so they don't remember it as I do." Lennon told the man who listened intently, "My father is a muggle and his family is so large that I can barely keep track, I remember how stressed and scared my mother was because my father couldn't do magic and he was married to a witch at the height of the muggle murders. I don't want to live in that type of world again, I don't want to be scared for my family members who aren't magical, and I certainly don't want anyone who doesn't remember the first time to know what that world looked like, at least if I can help it."

Remus gazed at the woman, surprised about the amount of compassion that she seemed to have towards others and he felt a deep sense of respect for the woman, "That's a good answer."

"Why me, though?" Lennon finally asked.

"Aside from your stellar exam scores and your background as a Mediwitch?" The older man questioned with a grin.

"Aside from that." She quipped.

"Nymphadora Tonks recommended you."

Lennon made a noise of surprise as she recalled her old friend from Hufflepuff in the year below her at Hogwarts who was able to change their appearance at will.

"I always loved them." She responded brightly causing Remus to chuckle, the sparkle in his eyes returning.

"Now, there is a meeting tomorrow." He told her and his voice lowered significantly as two women, one with a stroller, passed them at quite a close range, "Somebody from the Order will come to collect you and take you to Headquarters."

Lennon nodded her understanding.

"Sounds like a plan." She responded as she played with a piece of fraying string on her coat, "I'm living with my sister at the moment, I assume you'll need an address."

"Probably a good idea." Remus chuckled.

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at this point in time, lennon and remus are my ultimate brOTP for this story, alongside lennon and sirius and the dynamic is going to be amazing.

thanks for reading!

~r