Remus Lupin cursed under his breath as he left the welfare services office, clumping up the paperwork they'd given him and throwing it in a bin on his way out the door. He limped down the stairs and sat on the bottom step, pausing to rub his knees. He rocked himself slightly, eyes closed, and breathed deeply.

His stomach growled loudly and he sighed, his eyes damp with frustrated tears he was holding back.

Able to work, they said. Do not qualify. 

Funny because for somebody able to work, he sure as hell couldn't find any.

He swept his hand over his eyes and stood up, looking about the street, unsure where to go or what to do. He loped down the sidewalk aimlessly, head hung low, his hips bothering him something awful, as well as his knees.

He found his way into a particular park in East London, to a particular bench, where he could see the old flat, the window over the kitchen sink reflecting the summer sky. He stared at the building. God, how he longed for the old days when he and Sirius lived in that flat - what he wouldn't give to have even a single night more to spend as happy as they'd been back then. He remembered it desperately, and closed his eyes.

"Remus?"

He opened his eyes and found himself blinking up through sunlight into the face of Nymphadora Tonks. Her hair was knotted up on top of her head into two hot pink buns, her eyes bright with surprise to see him. She smiled. "Wotcher!" 

"Hey Tonks," Remus answered.

Her eyes took him in, running over his form and then coming up to meet his eyes. She slipped onto the bench next to him. "Fancy meeting you here, eh?"

"Just thought I'd take a walk about the old neighborhood," he answered.

"Feelin' nostalgic, yeah?"

Remus nodded. "What are you doing about this part of town?" he asked, "And on a work day?" 

"Oh, I'm off from the Ministry today and tomorrow!" Tonks replied, "I'm working the World Cup security this weekend and the new department head is a right old codger --"

"You're used to Mad-Eye Moody and you're saying someone's a codger?" laughed Remus, "Goodness."

"It's Barty Crouch," Tonks answered. "He's always been a tosser but he got moved sideways back into Magical Law Enforcement after Moody retired and it's been absolute chaos in the department. Oi, Remus - Moody was always on about vigilance and popping off doing drills and wanting things done by the book and being loud and demanding and such but he always meant it all in a good natured way, you know? Even when he was mad, he wasn't. Well Crouch... oh-ho-ho, not Crouch. Crouch the Grouch, that's what everyone's been calling him behind his back and it's a right good fit."

Remus couldn't help but chuckle at Crouch the Grouch and shook his head.

"Anyways, I'm glad to have it off, Cha-Cha's coming to town for the Cup - his whole family's going, so he's going with them, and I'm mighty excited because I haven't seen him in forever. You remember Charlie Weasley, don't you, Remus?"

"Of course. Red hair, freckles. Loves dragons."

"Ah, you got him pegged on that last one. Before that you could've been describing any one of the Weasleys," Tonks laughed.

"How is Charlie?"

"Oh he's in his element, that's for certain. He works for Florean Fortescue, the Florean Fortescue who owns the dragon facilities in Albania, that is." She paused, "Hey we're about to go meet up and get some lunch. Did you want to come? I'm sure Cha-Cha would be alright with it if you came? It'd be a right treat for me to have my two favorite people to talk to at the same time!" Tonks grinned brightly.

Remus smiled, "I couldn't crash your date, Tonks."

"Oh it is not a date," she replied, shaking her head. "Just friends."

"You know what I mean," Remus answered.

"Please? I'd love to talk some more."

Remus shook his head. He didn't have money to go out for lunch with her, whether he wanted to or not. "I already ate." And of course his stomach chose that moment to give her most almighty growl, as though reacting to the lie vengefully.

Tonks tilted her head to one side, and her eyes took in the holes in his tweed jacket and the wheeled suitcase that sat beside the bench, his worn out old briefcase balanced on top, and the worn out loafers on his feet. She smiled and said, "My treat, of course. So what if you ate already? Get a dessert. You can't say no to a free pie."

Remus hesitated. He literally could not afford to pass up the chance for food, whatever bad he felt taking a hand-out from anyone, not to mention from Tonks.

"C'mon, it'll be brilliant! I'm sure that Cha-Cha would be delighted to catch up with you."

"Alright," Remus ceded, "But if you lot end up wanting to break off from me, don't be afraid to tell me so. I know what a spoiler having an adult about can be. Don't think you'll hurt this old man's feelings if you tell me off."

"You aren't an old man, Remus," Tonks said. She stood up, "C'mon, let's go, we can head Cha-Cha off and get some drinks. I have to hear all you've been up to since last month... I got used to seeing you everyday at Hogwarts, I've been having Remus Lupin withdrawals! Driving my flatmate crazy."

"Why's that?"

"Worrying about you and about Sirius. Oh she doesn't know of course who I'm on about, she's cool if she did know, but I didn't tell her exactly. She's a muggle so I can't tell her too much on it anyway."

"You have a muggle flatmate?"

"Yeah! Living in London is right expensive!" she exclaimed, "If it wasn't for the commute, I'd pop off and get a place somewhere cheaper. Well, i say that, but I likely wouldn't. There's too much to do and too much excitement about London to dream of leaving."

"Yes, loads of dirt and graffiti."

"I find the graffiti rather romantic."

Remus couldn't really argue that, whatever his attitude had sounded like. He actually rather enjoyed graffiti quite a lot. It always reminded him that beautiful things can be broken down to ruin, and someone can come along and see them as a canvas to make something new.

Remus's gait was much slower than he knew Tonks' natural one to be, but she matched his and when he stumbled, she caught his hand and pulled him back to her, keeping him steady. "If I had a knut for every time I did that --" Tonks laughed.

"If only the universe really paid for the things we say that about," Remus said.

"Right? None of us would ever have to work again."

Remus said, "Be great for those of us who can't."

Tonks, who hadn't let go of his hand yet from catching him, squeezed her fingers around his. They were quiet a moment, and they crossed the road. When they got to the sidewalk, Tonks let go of his hand and sprang ahead, reaching for the handle to the door of the old curry shop. "I know you like this place. It's always been my favorite because of Sirius."

Remus felt emotions well up in him. He paused, looking up at the window over his head and then nodded and stepped through the door wit her. A string of bells had jangled when Tonks pushed open the door, and inside the place smelled deeply of spices. The decor in the place had improved considerably, glass lamps and strings of cloth elephants and little bells hung everywhere and each table had a glowing bright orange cloth with a teal glass and brass plated lantern on it.

"Welcome in, take a seat, we be with you in a moment!" the old man behind the counter had aged, but he was much the same as he'd always been, and Remus wondered if the man would recognize him also.

Tonks and Remus both instinctively went to the same booth they'd always sat at back in the day and Remus sat on the side with chairs that pulled up because sliding across a booth was terribly hard to do with bad knees and an even worse hip - he'd always preferred the chairs anyway, and Sirius had always preferred laying across the booth seat, which may have been why Tonks sat in the chair next to him instead of sliding into the seat - that's where she'd always sat, too.

Tonks folded the napkins into origami as she sat, chattering, but Remus's mind was far off - a month in the past, to be exact.

His hand writing had been neat and clear on the parchment when he wrote his letter of resignation. "I, Remus John Lupin, here by officially offer my resignation from the position of professor of defensive magical theory at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, effective immediately, on this the 27th of June, 1994." He'd read it over twice, then nodded and sealed it with a bit of wax pressed with his thumb for lack of a better signet. 

He had delivered it personally.

Dumbledore looked up from the parchment at Remus, who stood before his desk in his office, staring, waiting for Dumbledore to finish reading the long-winded explanation that went on from there, detailing the finer points of his purpose for resigning. Dumbledore didn't read all that. He lowered the parchment. "Mister Lupin," he began, but Remus stopped him, holding up his palm.

"I'm not changing my mind, Dumbledore. I already know what you're going to say about the odds of me being picked up by the chasers out there compared to here... I know all about it. You've presented your case and I reviewed my options and this is the conclusion that I've come to." Remus paused, then added, "I am sorry. I just simply cannot chance there being another incident like June 23rd. It was too close of a call."

Dumbledore rubbed his beard. "I am sorely disappointed in you, Mr. Lupin."

"I'm sorry, what?" Remus asked, confused.

"Giving in to the expectations," Dumbledore replied, "Caving to the whims of a few parents --"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Have you not received the owls? Oh of course not, you've not been to breakfast in the Great Hall, that actually explains the sacks of them that I've received from the elves... I haven't had time to go through them all and see which are addressed to you and which are to me, but suffice to say... there's a great deal of them..." he waved his palm at a row of bags of unopened letters, the corners of the envelopes jutting out from the top. He waved his wand and one of them flew into his hand and he cleared his throat, opening the envelope and withdrawing the letter inside. 

"Dear Mr. Lupin, -- Ah, see, this one was for you. -- I think it is disgusting that you accepted the job at Hogwarts, knowing what you are and what danger you put our children in. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, taking a job that a normal wizard might hold in your place. Our children deserve a proper education from a properly trained member of their own species...." 

Dumbledore paused here. "She goes on that way for sometime, but you get the idea." He waved his wand and the letter returned itself to the sack. "Mine have the same sentiments as that, mostly." He chuckled, "Although there have been several who call me a crackpot old fool and recommend exactly where I can shove my policies... and various other objects." He smiled up at Remus.

Remus had felt rather sick at this, and a lot worse about - well, everything. He stared at his loafers, biting his lips.

Dumbledore let him stand for several moments before finally saying, "But I think all of these people can take their letters and do likewise."

Remus looked up.

"I refuse your letter of resignation, Mr. Lupin." He paused. "I want you at this school for a reason, good sir, and you and I both know that your qualifications are much higher than most candidates that I would otherwise place in the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position - and you're a far cry better than those I've had in the past. Honestly, at this point, being a werewolf, you've beaten several of the past flash in the pan professors I've hired." Dumbledore leaned forward. "Seems the position may just be cursed." Something like amusement twinkled at the edge of his mouth.

Remus started to shake his head and Dumbledore quickly added, "There are many benefits to being a teacher at Hogwarts Remus, things that, if I were you, I should consider before considering resigning. Many of these benefits go away if you leave this school."

Remus raised an eyebrow, "How do you mean?"

"Well, room and board, for one, and rathe delectable meals three times a a day - or more, should you need more." He ticked these off his fingers as he spoke, "You've also got my protection here, Remus, protection from the Ministry and their officials. Protection from violent attack. There are many violent attacks made on families of known werewolves, you know. People who think they can do better to protect themselves from werewolves than the Ministry. And of course there is the required quarantine of all registered werewolves." Dumbledore paused. "You - you've been to register, I suppose by now?"

Remus hesitated, "Not yet."

Dumbledore said, "Oh well. Once you do, you may understand better the hold that they have on you, and how the chasers will come after you if you do not attend their.... accommodations."

Remus felt a shiver in his spine at this, and he hesitated. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I can extend my protection only so far, Mr. Lupin," Dumbledore replied. "And my focus must be on the grounds of this school. Especially in a time like this, when the prophecies are being filled as they are... with Peter Pettigrew having returned to Voldemort, his rising is now imminent, and I must do what I must do to prepare. Protection beyond this campus cannot be guaranteed."

"I see." Remus wasn't sure what he thought about these words - about what Dumbledore was implying. So he tested it a bit. "Well, likewise," he murmured, "My loyalties must lie in alignment to what I deem most important as well, just as you clearly deem this school more important - as Headmaster of course you would. I must prioritize finding my husband - finding Sirius - and making sure that he is safe. Especially if we are in a time of preparation for the imminent return of Voldemort." His eyes met Dumbledore's. "It is, therefore, all the more reason to hand in my resignation."

Dumbledore saw the challenge in Remus's eyes. He could see it in Dumbledore's face that he recognized the determination he saw. Something very cold came into Albus Dumbledore's eyes then, and the sparkle that Remus had always rather admired seemed to... go out. "Very well," Dumbledore said, "Since we've both declared our loyalties..." he paused, looked Remus in the eyes, and said, "I wish you only luck in all of your endeavors, Mr. Lupin. Hogwarts will always be your home."

Remus had left feeling rather... disturbed. 

Now, here it was a month later, and just as Dumbledore had said, Remus was rather missing the benefits that being a Professor at Hogwarts would have afforded him.

Like food, for example.

He was stirred from his thoughts, in fact, by menus being laid out on the table and he looked up, realizing that they'd been joined by a young waitress - one of the owner's daughters, who had been so small when the Marauders used to come to this place, years ago, now sixteen and on holiday from school she was old enough to work a few hours taking orders, he realized, and he wondered at the fact that once upon a time she'd sat on a corner booth coloring pictures on the birthday she shared with Sirius Black.

The bells at the door jangled and Tonks choked on her drink, made a funny squealing sound, slammed her mug down so violently it sloshed onto the table, and her chair wrenched back across the tile as she leaped up and ran across the room. 

Remus looked up to see Charlie Weasley, small framed but still somehow muscular in the same lean way that James Potter always had been, but with a more toned and distinctively trained way. Charlie's biceps were what Remus may call sculpted and his shoulders held squared in a way that told him that the boy was a great deal stronger than his lanky form gave him credit for. He was incredibly tanned, his hair a flaming red color, and he had so many freckles on his face that  it was hard to tell where one freckle dot ended and the next began - all features brought out by sunlight.

Tonks leaped up into Charlie's arms without warning, flinging herself at him with a shriek. His reflexes were such that he caught her before she landed and he laughed as his hands clapped about her waist and gently put her down.

"CHA-CHA!" she cried, and she kissed him.

Remus shifted in his seat uneasily and looked down into his mug.

"DORY!" Charlie answered. He laughed, "You look like you've got scoops of ice cream on your head."

"It's the cool look right now," she answered, "Aren't they just adorable?"

"They look like horn protrusions on an adolescent Firewing," Charlie answered, then continued, "Firewings specifically have larger horn protrusions than those of their fellow horned variants of dragon, due to the bluntness of their horns. The protrusions grow larger as the horns are not sharp enough to pierce the skin during their growth and it takes longer for them to emerge and can be much more painful and bloody for the dragon. Some trainers in Japan actually cut the protrusion skin when the horns begin to grow, to help them avoid the process, but it's not particularly recommended as their horns aren't protected during vital formation periods.... We don't cut the protrusions at our facility, but we do have a bloke that gives his Firewing massages!"

"Very cool. Come here, look who I found in the park," Tonks said, taking Charlie's hand and leading him over to their booth.

"You found someone at a park?" Charlie asked, trotting along behind Tonks as she dragged him. His eyes landed on Remus Lupin and he stopped dead in his tracks, staring at Remus in surprise. Charlie's eyes showed an expression of panic and he looked at Tonks, then back at Remus a moment. "Hullo," he said to Remus, then to Tonks, "Um. Can we... can we talk a second? Alone? Just a second, of course," he added this last bit to Remus.

Tonks tilted her head. "Oh Cha-Cha, don't be such a dweeb. Whatever you have to say you can say in front of Remus!" She pushed him gently into the seat of the booth and sat down next to Remus, then, noticing her spilled drink, she swore, "Well damn it. I need napkins. Hold on." She got back up and fluttered away to the counter.

Charlie looked at Remus with wide eyes.

"Are you alright, Charlie?" Remus asked.

Clearly, Charlie must have been reading the Daily Prophet... must know all about how some of the media was calling him, Remus, Sirius Black's personal werewolf, though there was a lack of evidence to connect him to the whereabouts of Black currently, meaning they couldn't arrest him, making him a highly dangerous wizarding criminal with no grounds for collection.

But Charlie surprised Remus. He leaned forward, "Little bit late, aren't you?"

"Late?"

"What do you mean by it? Getting her hopes up like this?"

"What are you on about?"

"Don't be stupid," Charlie hissed. "You know how she feels about you!"

Remus flushed. "That is in the past. She and I have become very good friends, Charlie. Just friends."

Charlie scoffed, "Yeah alright. She has fire in her eyes like an Andipodean Opaleye when she looks at you and you think it's just good friends. So either you're blind or you know better!"

Remus grappled for words - he didn't see anything like that in Tonks's face, but honestly he hadn't been looking for it, either, he just had assumed that she'd gotten over him ages ago. They'd been working together a year now off and on, when she was positioned at Hogwarts and it never occurred to him that Tonks might've been hoping for something different than the friendship he'd come to value between them. After all, she'd always only talked about Sirius with him, and Sirius was, as Tonks knew, his husband. Even if there had been a shot in hell before - which there hadn't really, he was far too old and broken down for her, of course - there wouldn't be now that Sirius was back. Or at least free, since to be back one had to be present and Sirius was not present.

"Here we go!" Tonks came back with fistfuls of napkins that she spread over her spilled drink quickly, sopping it up. She looked between Charlie and Remus. "So, wotcher on about while I was gone?" she smiled.

"Andipodean Opaleyes," Charlie answered smoothly. "They're kiwi dragons, from New Zealand that is. Sometimes they migrate as far as southern Australia but it's rare and they're not seen anywhere else in the world." He looked Remus in the eyes squarely. "They're very endangered and they're extremely precious so we have to be very, very, very careful not to hurt them because if they get hurt then... then I'd be right pissed about it and make whoever hurt them really sorry."

Remus flushed.

Tonks laughed, "Charlie Weasley, solving the world's endangered dragon problems single handedly!" She smiled. "I love you, Cha-Cha."

"I love you too, Tonks," he said, but his eyes never left Remus's.