CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
↳ snogging and galleons

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Unlike her friends, Elara had already heard the news that her father was resigning when she went to see him the day after. She was absolute appalled at the outcome. "Do you really have to go?" Elara absolutely hated the outcome of tonight. Yes, her dad was free, but her other dad's secret was now exposed for a petty reason. Remus Lupin continued packing his items as Elara sat on a desk swinging her legs back and forth. "Like I'm sure not many people care," she tried to offer, but she had a hunch some people would be appalled with it. You see, Hogwarts wasn't the most tolerant. Some people were complete utter toerags, who acted like paper cuts were the death of them.

"Yes, Moons, sadly I do have to leave," Remus sighed. "I doubt anyone would want a monster teaching their children, especially after tonight," he shuttered slightly. He couldn't help but drift back to his constant fears of whether he could've bitten one of them. That would always be an afterthought of his. He couldn't help but wonder if Elara thought any different of him now, but the way her eyes swam with the same love and hope as they always did reminded Remus that she, even after witnessing his transformation, viewed him as her papa and nothing more than that. Not some monster, he knew she would never view him as a monster.

There were many fears he had. What if he bite them? What if he is forced to carry the burden of plaguing another child's life with an affliction that brought shame and prejudice?

If there was one thing Remus Lupin would never want to do, it would be being the reason someone goes through pain each month for all eternity.

Elara,winching slightly when he called himself a monster, frowned, stood up and walked over to him. Remus Lupin always tried to be strong for his little girl. For years on end, he tried being the strongest person in her life, but his lonesome nights filled with empty beds and tears reminded Remus John Lupin that he would never be the strongest person in the world. However, his view on if he's strong was very different from Elara's. She absolutely admired him and thought so much of him and absolutely loved him. "Papa, you aren't a monster,"

He cracked a short, tears eyed smile at her, still looking down at his text books he was packing up. "Haven't you seen me?" His voice cracked into many shards of broken hope she he looked at his daughter. She grabbed onto his text book, it shook in his grasp as his voice broke like a thousand shards of glass, piercing her heart painfully. She tried piecing those shards back together, but they shook and hit her painfully.

She breathed in, then out. He needed to hear the truth. "Yes, you are a werewolf," she started slowly. "But, just because you're a werewolf doesn't make you a monster," she placed the book down into the suitcase. "A monster is someone who causes pain to others with evil intend. You choose to cause yourself pain instead of others," she looked up at him with a smile, reaching her small hand up to wipe a single tear cascading down his cheek. For all eternity, Elara would truly define someone a monster if they choose to cause pain. Being a monster is something that others label you as because you are appearing scary. A true monster makes the choice to afflict fear, her papa would never do such a thing. "Are you sure I can't hex Snape?"

"Yes, Moons, I'm sure you can't,"

She whined out, dramatically slouching as she stood up. "What about I just hex his hair pink like I did to Malfoy?" Her father cracked a smile, shook his head at his daughter and continued packing away his belongings. Even in the situation he was in, being unemployed again and possibly unable to financially support both him and his child, he could still smile at the same Elara Lily Lupin she always was.

The marauders map was still sat open on the table. Elara's brown eyes followed the map carefully, tracing all the details perfectly as she watched the names move around. "Are you sure I can't have this?"

"Quite sure," Remus called out.

The girl huffed, crossing her arms as she continued watching the marauders map carefully, her eyes etching the whole map as the little names moved around gracefully. Sometimes, she'd see groups prancing around the whole of Hogwarts, other times she'd see duos and even some people alone. She saw Luna's name etched, standing alone like she assumed it always did. One name, however, she never expected to see etched away from others is Harry's. He was nearing by, Elara could tell. "Harry's coming papa," she called out. Remus looked over her shoulder, sighing and shaking his head,

Finally, the doors of the solemn classroom hurried open, the frantic boy stepping in. Remus merely smiled and pointed to the piece of parchment that stood in front of Elara. "I saw you coming,"

Harry breathed in and out, catching his breath. Elara assumed he must've been running. "Hello Harry," she waved at him politely.

Returning the smile, Harry greeted her and then directed his attention onto Remus more frantically. "I just saw Hagrid," he told him. "And he said you'd resigned. It's not true, is it?"

"Unfortunately," Elara crossed her arms, frowning slightly. Remus, however just shook his head and rolled his eyes. He knew Elara wasn't going to just let it happen. She was Elara, always arguing otherwise.

"I'm afraid it is," Remus sighed, opening his drawers and emptying it solemnly with a slight frown.

"Why?" said Harry. "The Ministry of Magic don't think you were helping Sirius, do they?"

Getting up, Remus went and closed the door, turning towards Harry and providing an answer, "No. Professor Dumbledore managed to convince Fudge that I was trying to save your lives." He sighed, shaking his head. "That was the final straw for Severus. I think the loss of the Order of Merlin hit him hard. So he - er - accidentally-"

Elara coughed, "purposely," she coughed again.

Remus eyed Elara, who had her hands raised in defence. She wasn't wrong, he had to give her that. "-let slip that I am a werewolf this morning at breakfast." He finally finished.

"You're not leaving just because of that!" Harry gasped out in shock, pure disbelief. Severus Snape really was a foul man, Elara despised him. This, him purposely exposing her papa, made her hatred increase by a tenfold. Sometimes, she wondered how such a loathing could manifest in such a cruel man. How is it that a man can be filled with such abhorrence? It seemed so impossible. Sure, Elara could hold grudges ( her favourite one being that Cedric had Lois steal her chocolate ) but she could never keep that grudge forever. How is it that Severus Snape managed to maintain such a hatred for a group of reckless teenage boys?

Smiling sardonically, Remus elaborated on. "This time tomorrow, the owls will start arriving from parents... They will not want a werewolf teaching their children, Harry. And after last night, I see their point. I could have bitten any of you... That must never happen again." Elara could tell he was beating himself up over this one mistake. She always hated how he could hold things against himself. It was one of his major flaws, self fear.

From the look on Harry's face, Elara could tell he wasn't at all pleased. Every year seemed to be a repeating process, running through Professors carelessly. She really hoped, deep down, that this year would end the curse with the position. Teaching made her Papa happy, more happy than he usually was and now he wasn't teaching anymore. He'd be trapped in taking poor muggle jobs and sometimes spending nights not eating so that Elara could get a decent meal. "You're the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had!" Harry told the werewolf. "Don't go!"

"Harry," Elara smiled and shook her head. "Papa's too stubborn, whether you like it or not, he's resigning all because he's too selfless for his own good,"

Remus simply shook his head and didn't speak at all. He carried on emptying his drawers. Then, while Harry was trying to think of a good argument to make him stay, Remus sighed, "From what the headmaster told me this morning, you saved a lot of lives last night, Harry. If I'm proud of anything I've done this year, it's how much you've learned... Tell me about your Patronus."

"How d'you know about that?" queried Harry, distracted for a moment.

"What else could have driven the Dementors back?" Remus smirked and then also added on, "Elara also told me,"

As Harry told the whole event, which was extremely similar to what Elara had told, Remus felt a swell of pride form as he heard what Harry had accomplished. What Harry accomplished from the lessons he had with him. All the nights spent with constant collapses and the chocolate wrapped being discarded away from constant use. All of that effort, actually put into something meaningful. "Yes, your father was always a stag when he transformed," Remus sighed, almost feeling sorrowful at all the waves of emotion crashing over him as he thought back to those days. The memories of his secret being exposed to his friends and their unconditional care despite his affliction. How he planned to isolate himself, yet the thre- two boys were stubborn and wanted to be his friend. How the love of his life and close friend were willing to risk nearly everything just so he didn't have to go through the atrocities of overwhelming pain every month in a cold, damp shack. "You guessed right... that's why we called him Prongs."

Throwing the remaining books into his case, he closed the desk drawers, for the last time, turned towards Harry, holding out the Invisibility Cloak. Elara mentally cheered that they had the cloak back, she really hoped Harry wouldn't lose it or give it to anyone. "Here - I brought this from the Shrieking Shack last night," he said, handing Harry back the Invisibility Cloak. "And..." He hesitated, then held out the Marauder's Map. Deep down, he knew he wanted to keep it. He wanted to tap on it and say the wrong passcode and read his best mate's banter and smile. But, Remus Lupin knew he couldn't use it properly, not unless he was at Hogwarts and, well, right now he was packing up to leave. "I am no longer your teacher, so I don't feel guilty about giving you back this as well. It's no use to me, and I daresay you, definitely my Elara, Ron, and Hermione will find uses for it."

Groaning, Elara threw her head back dramatically. "You told me I couldn't have it!" She sighed, pointing a finger accusingly at the werewolf. Remus only grinned at her and she scoffed, rolling her eyes at him.

"You told me Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs would've wanted to lure me out of school... you said they'd have thought it was funny." If Elara was drinking water, she would've spat it out right then and there. He was 100% correct, The Marauders, her childhood night time story characters, would definitely do that for pure enjoyment.

"I have no hesitation in saying that James would have been highly disappointed if his son had never found any of the secret passages out of the castle." He turned towards Elara. "And I'd be mildly disappointed if my daughter hadn't either,"

"Give me a month and I'll easily memorise the whole map," she crossed her arms over her chest with a sly smirk.

"I don't doubt you at all, Moons," Remus looked at her fondly. Soon enough, there was a knock on the door and simultaneously, everyone turned to see Professor Dumbledore."Your carriage is at the gates, Remus," he told the werewolf.

"Thank You, Headmaster." He picked up his old, tattered suitcase with the peeling sticker and also carried his empty Grindylow tank in his other hand. "Moons, I'll see you soon," he bent down and she kissed him on the cheek and gave him an awkward side hug, just like they'd always do. "I love you," he whispered softly.

Elara smiled. "I love you more,"

And with that, Remus Lupin parted ways with his career at Hogwarts.

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With the revelation that Remus Lupin, Elara's papa, was a werewolf, the Hufflepuff expected a lot of things. She knew there'd be a lot of negative reactions, considering just how prejudiced people were. In a way, she wished they weren't so judgemental. Being a werewolf wasn't something to be frowned upon at all, Elara wished other people thought the same and normalised the affliction. Cheerfully skipping down the halls, the small third year Hufflepuff brushed away all the looks she received. She couldn't care less. It didn't matter at all because Elara Lily Lupin was proud to be Remus Lupin's daughter and no amount of public humiliation would make her ashamed.

One thing she definitely expected was Draco Malfoy's taunting. She knew he'd take the absolute piss out of her and she didn't really react that much. "No wonder you're so dirty, living with a pathetic half breed,"

Quick witted and extremely snarky, Elara smirked at him. "Werewolves aren't considered half breeds, they're just people afflicted with lycanthropy so maybe you need to watch your mouth before I sock you,"

However that didn't stop Draco's taunting. From her 'hideous' appearance, to her own parent, he found a lot of things to mock. It didn't bother her though, she was proud to be the daughter of a werewolf, this mockery wouldn't shatter that pride. However, Elara never expected someone to speak up for her. "Fuck off will you Draco," with wide eyes, Elara saw Ethan's whole friendship group act as a barcade between her and the Slytherin. "Bloody hell mate, who the fuck cares if Professor Lupin's a werewolf? He's like the best teacher we've had and a far better person than you'll ever be," Ethan took out his wand and pointed it at him. "I would hex you, but I know she's far more capable,"

Elara sighed and grabbed onto Ethan to make sure he kept his wand lowered. "Ethan, he's a pompous bitch, don't waste your energy on him," Draco watched her closely, looking for any lies and when he turned away, he never expected Elara to hex him a wolf tail and Ethan to hex his hair pink.

"My father will hear about this," and with that, the bleach blonde boy scattered away, clutching his wolf tail as he ran furiously away, ignoring all the laughter that echoed in the corridors.

Elara sighed, laughing as she turned to Ethan, eyes wide with gratitude. "Thanks," she breathed out as she looked up at him.

Nervously, the boy shook his messy coloured hair and gave the smaller girl a smile. "You're my friend any time,"

She placed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Ethan, I'm - erm - sorry for - erm - embarrassing you when you asked me out,"

"Well - erm - you aren't entitled to returning my feelings," he gave her a kind smile. She couldn't help but admire how well spoken he was, she expected him to at least not even talk to her anymore, yet now he was helping her. "And like it worked out in the end, I shot my shots and it turned out someone does like me back," she had no clue who he was talking about, but she hoped the two of them were happy.

"Oh that's good then," he looked at her bashfully. "I better be off, Minnie'll be on my arse soon when she deals with that bastard," she turned towards all the boys. "See you all later then," and cheerfully, she wandered away, still receiving some stares from some people. But what did she really expect? She had just hexed a boy in the corridors and had a werewolf father. By the time she had skipped down to the Hufflepuff common rooms, did the knock to the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff ( something she had miraculously memorised ) and entered the common room. What Elara didn't expect to see was all her friends, except Gaia and Lois, sitting on the chairs, arms crossed and looking sternly at her. Even Wisteria was trying to look serious ( she was doing an awful job at it ). "Uh - hey?"

"'Hey'?" Cedric spluttered out slowly. "ELARA LILY LUPIN WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"

Apparently 'Assisting your dad in escaping from a snog that would leave him soulless' was not a suitable answer.

"Bed empty! No note! You could have died!" Morgan seemed quite tired of his boyfriend, leaning and kissing him on the lips so he'd shut up. However, once they broke away, Cedric continued, "Wait, you helped other parent? So he is innocent?"

"Technically?" Elara placed her hands on her waist. "I'll tell you all the details later, alright?" He nodded, however Wisteria looked puzzled for a moment. "What's wrong Wis?"

"I-Is-Is O-o-ot-other p-pa-parent a d-dog?" She questioned Elara. Elara furrowed her eye brows, confused on how Wisteria knew. "M-me a-a-and To-tommy u-u-u-us-us-usually visit a d-d-d-d-dog s-s-sometimes," Wisteria Ambrosia was 100% being truthful. You see, she happened to stumble upon Snuffles when she was out sitting in the courtyard with Thomas Farkles. She had an odd feeling, but when she saw how starved the dog was, she ended up giving him some of her toast. Nevertheless, she always found that dog suspicious, her suspicions being clarified when she saw that dog paddling on the campus the night Sirius Black was captured.

"Oh," Elara mumbled out. It seemed evident everyone sometimes forget how intellectual Wisteria was. Her stutter, a common mocking point, seemed to act like a shield for her intelligence, only the worthy could see it. Elara admired the twelve year old girl. She was, by frankly, one of the most intellectually advanced she had ever met. She observed, took in and admired, almost as simultaneous as breathing was to the human body. Looking around, Elara noticed the absence of two girls. "Where's Lois and Gaia?" She asked.

Everyone shrugged. "They went to Lois' room, said they needed something," Daphne quipped, offering a sly smirk as though she was plotting something carefully. "Why don't you go and find them?"

And so Elara did. Wandering up the way to their room, she carefully walked towards their door, peering down in confusion when she saw a yellow tie on it. What did that mean? She couldn't hear much in the room, not that she cared. So, grasping onto the door handle, Elara opened the door to a rather... sinister sight.

Lois and Gaia were both sitting on a bed, shirts long forgotten, discarded on the floor and wearing just their skirts and bras as they snogged on Lois' bed. The two were deeply immersed with each other, Gaia grasping onto Lois' long braided hair as Lois trailed kisses down her neck. The girl immediately moaned out, her breathe quirking as desirable pleasure erupted. They would've continued, perusing their deepest emotions further, if it wasn't for Elara shrieking out. "OH MY GOD PUT A BLOODY SHIRT ON-" the two, blushing madly and instantly covering their chests, turned away from another as they scampered to the ground, looking for their shirts.

"El, it's not what-"

"Lara, please calm down-"

However Elara's response shocked them both into thundering silence. "CEDRIC YOU OWE ME SOME GALLEONS!" The two teens, blushing madly and hair messed up, turned to each other with a confused look, stood up off the bed, put their shoes on and hurried to follow where Elara had run off to. The Lupin girl had already ran down stairs, running towards Cedric and exclaiming how much he owed her.

Morgan was laughing his arse off at the whole scene, especially when Lois and Gaia came down stairs. "Nice hickey sis," Wisteria looked beyond confused and Morgan made a mental note to not elaborate until she was thirteen.

"Oh sod off, you tosspot," Lois brushed him off. She directed her attention onto Elara and Cedric. "Did you two seriously bet on us?"

Elara shrugged. "Obviously,"

For a moment, they were silence. No one spoke and everyone anticipated in the chilling silence. Finally, in her sickly sweet voice, Gaia spoke, "we are going to kill you," Elara and Cedric turned to each other in terror, Cedric jumping up and running, holding Elara's hand as the two of them ran out of the common room, Gaia and Lois on their tail.

Morgan, Daphne and Wisteria were also running, Wisteria behind held up by Morgan who ran up the staircase, following his boyfriend and sister, hoping his boyfriend would make it out alive. The whole group ran throughout the corridors, Elara and Cedric at the front and the two girls who were chasing them trialing behind them. In all the commotion, Minerva McGonagall, who was enjoying a nice cup of some Earl Grey Tea, heard the shrieks and stepped out her office, tilting her head. "MISS LUPIN! MR DIGGORY! STOP RUNNING THIS INSTANT! MR HOLIN, CONTROL YOUR SISTER AND PUT MISS AMBROSIA DOWN!" However, Minnie simply couldn't deduct any house points at all. This was far too amusing.

"WE SHAN'T MINNIE!" Elara called out as the pair ran. That's how everything always remained. It would always be them all in this together. It would always be Cedric Diggory, Lois Holin, Morgan Holin, Gaia Everlong, Wisteria Ambrosia, Daphne Scamander and Elara Lupin. They were a group, platonic soulmates written in the stars to always meet.

They were family, a chaotic family and nothing, not even death would take away their bond. Because, even when death has taken its claim, your love and feelings for the people you love will always be more powerful.

END OF ACT ONE

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AHHHHHHHHH IM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW- LITERALLY I FINISHED POA AND IM SO PROUD OF MYSELF- ALSO THANK YOU ALL FOR 13K- THAT MEANS ALOT TO ME.

Sorry for the lack of elmione in this chapter. This act isn't dedicated to Elmione, it's about Elara and who she is so yes, there won't always be elmione.

LETS TALK ABOUT ETHAN HERE- I LOVE HIM PLS- HE DESERVES THE WORLD- ALSO I DECIDED TO STAY AWAY FROM THE "IF A GIRL DOESN'T LIKE ME, THEN I HATE HER" THING WITH HIM BECAUSE HE IS THE TEMPLATE FOR RESTORING HOPE WITH MEN-
also like he's slightly based on an irl who I had a crush on before I came out to him as lesbian and the whole him being friends even after he asked her out is based on that whole thing I experienced.

his face claim is Lucas Lynggaard Tonnesen btw

ALSO GAIA AND LOIS- I'm sorry if what i wrote was explicit. Firstly, Lois and Gaia are sixteen and while they weren't having sex, they were expressing intimacy which I won't write for Elara and Hermione for a while.

Also please like never expect me to write any smut in this fic- I'm like fifteen so like no I will not write sexy scenes because I'm a
✨🐸 child and a virgin 🐸✨

Now, the next act will be the summer segment, a few chapter or so about Elara's summer before gof- this is a more of a filler but like I want to write soft elmione letters ( basically love letters but they're both awkward bitches ), her whole group having fun and the Lupin-Black experience.

THANK YOU ALL SO SO MUCH FOR READING

I LOVE YOU ALL MWAH