Remus slept in the next day, and he found himself once again sitting in the common room watching people soon after getting up. It felt good to be able to be lazy, which is something Remus hadn’t had the luxury of since he was a child.
Tilly brought him some tea, toast, and jam since he had requested a simple breakfast the night before. “We have someone we would like you to speak to when you are done eating. Unlike the other people that come and go from our pub, he helps people for a living. Blenkin and Albus thought talking to him would help you more then just talking to the other lost souls wondering around here. Let me know when you are done eating, and I’ll bring him by.
Remus wondered about the “extra” help he was receiving. It seemed that Albus Dumbledore was stepping in to help, and that made him very curious about the man he was to talk to. Talking to Arthur and William the previous day had distracted him for a while, but he still had not had the opportunity to see his everyday life without his friends in it. Knowing Dumbledore the help from this mystery man would help him adjust to life without his friends.
When Remus was done eating, he waved Tilly down. “Thank you for the breakfast. It was exactly what I needed today. That jam was excellent! I’m ready for my visitor.”
“I made the jam myself. It is a mixture of different berries. I’ll go get Blenkin. They’ll be here in a few minutes.” Tilly took the tray and went back to her rounds.
A few minutes later, Blenkin came out of a back room with a jolly faced man with black hair following behind him. “Remus, this is Declan Hurst. Albus spoke to you about why Remus is here, so I’ll let the two of you talk.” Blenkin walked over to the counter and started wiping down trays.
Bright green eyes stared out of Declan’s laughing face. “It must be strange to know people have been talking about you when you aren’t around. I will tell you that Albus was worried sick when you took off from your cottage the way you did. He was worried he would lose you too. He was hurt badly by the deaths in recent months, though he deals with things in his own way. He knows war will have its casualties, but that doesn’t make it any easier for him.”
“I never even stopped to think that others would be upset about Lily, James, and Peter’s deaths. I was too busy mourning their loss myself. Do you know what happened to Harry? I just remembered him last night. I know Albus told me he somehow survived and that is what destroyed Voldemort.” Remus almost laughed when he heard a few gasps from the tables nearest him. The Marauders had never avoided using Voldemort’s name since that showed he was worthy of fear.
“Harry will be living with his Muggle aunt.” Declan informed Remus. “Dumbledore thought he would be better off away from the wizarding world. He will be famous, and this way he will have a chance of growing up normal. I don’t know if it was the best choice, but Albus usually has his reasons. Getting him to explain all of them doesn’t happen too often.”
“I know what you mean. He always gives you the information he thinks you need, and no more.” Tears formed in Remus’ eyes as he remembered what Sirius had done. “The part that I can’t understand is Sirius betraying us like that. He had always raged against his family, and in the end he ended up just like them. I guess that genetics won out over his adoptive family. By giving away Lily and James’ location, he destroyed all that the Order of the Phoenix stood for. He turned against all that I would have told you he believed in. Peter was just the final straw!”
Remus rested his head in his hands as he tried to collect himself.
Declan studied his bowed head. Compassion filled his face as he looked at this suffering individual. Time was what Remus needed. Declan would give his advice, but only when Remus was ready to hear it.
Tears were still streaming down Remus’ face when he looked up at Declan again. “Of the four of us, I should have been the first to die. My life is cursed, and happiness is a fleeting thing for me. It has been since I was bitten as a young child. Most of the happiness that I’ve had came from James, Sirius, Peter, and Lily. I have no clue where it will come from now. My friends have made my curse more livable, in ways no one else will ever be able to imagine or understand. When I went off to school, I tried to distance myself from everyone. Sirius would have none of that, and James soon joined him. Peter was always more of a follower. Before I knew it, I was having fun regardless of how I tried to distance myself. I managed to keep the fact I was a werewolf a secret for almost three years, but finally James figured it out. He really was too smart for his own good sometimes. After that, they did everything in their power to make the times around the full moon as easy for me as they could.” Remus paused and seemed to be thinking hard. “Kids at that age are supposed to condemn what they don’t understand, but they learned all they could about my condition and made it into a learning experience. They would never let anyone say anything bad against werewolves in their presence, even before it was released after my graduation that I was one. They all stood for werewolves rights. It was very touching, even though it has done little good. Now they are all gone, and I’m alone. I don’t know how to move on without them. They have filled my life for ten years. I don’t really remember my life with out them.”
Remus sipped a glass of water and then took the handkerchief that Declan offered him. Somehow talking to this stranger really was making him feel better. Declan had a way of looking at you as if you deserved all the love in the world.
Declan studied Remus for a while, and let him collect himself. “What it comes down to, is you believe you are unlovable because of your curse. That isn’t the case. You didn’t do anything to bring the curse onto yourself; it is just something with which you have to live. Albus gave me some information on your character; he told me you are a kind hearted man who is very giving and caring. You are deserving of love, and I hope that someday you actually learn to believe that. Blenkin has also told me about how you have helped two other lost souls here at the pub. Helping them was optional, yet you seemed happy to have been able to help. That reveals a lot about your soul. You still have one.”
Remus moved as if to protest against what Declan was saying, but Declan stopped him before he could get a word in. “If you wonder how I know about love, I work in the Department of Mysteries. The room where love is studied chose me to work there. Few others know as much about love and all its different types as I do. You don’t help others because you expect something back. You help them because you thrive on helping them. I know your dream is to teach others. Do what you can to follow that dream! People who are caring and loving as you make some of the best teachers, because you have the patience to help those who are struggling with the subject.”
Remus took in what Declan was saying to him. He made a lot of sense, but he still couldn’t see himself as worthy of love. There must be some reason that he was the one Marauder still alive. Harry was still out there, and perhaps he could at least help Harry know his parents one day. James would appreciate Remus keeping his memory alive. From what Remus had heard about Lily’s sister, she would never tell Harry about his father and probably little good about his mother. Only time would tell if Remus’ assumptions would prove to be accurate.
“Thank you for your faith in me. I don’t know if I truly deserve such faith, but I’m honored to have received it.” Remus smiled at Declan. “I guess Albus has the same faith in me, or he wouldn’t have sent me such help. I’ll be alright in time. I just have to get used to not having any of my school friends around anymore.” Remus paused to wipe some more tears from his eyes. “I have developed a few plans for the future; I just have to find the finances to follow through. That isn’t easy for people with my condition.”
“I am available to you anytime you need a friend. I didn’t go to school with you, but you can come to me if you need to talk or just a shoulder to lean on. I thrive on being there for those in need.” Declan shook Remus’ hand and stood to leave. He reached under his cloak and pulled out a navy wool scarf. “Oh, I almost forgot; my wife Binne sent this scarf along for you. She loves to make things for people. She heard about you running off without your cloak and would have sent a new one for you, but didn’t have the time to get it stitched. This scarf has a warming charm on it, so should keep you warm enough to get you home.”
“Give her my thanks, I appreciate you taking the time to come and visit me. I do feel better after talking with you.” Remus stood to say his good byes with a smile on his face.
Declan walked through the pub, giving smiles and encouragement as he went. One lady talked to him for a few minutes and was smiling as he walked away. He truly was a caring and loving man. The Love room chose him wisely.
When Remus looked out the window, he noticed that the day was mostly gone. Blenkin brought him a tray with some roasted meat and potatoes. Remus ate with abandon, and followed it up with a pot of tea.
Tilly brought him some chocolate cake for dessert. “I hope that this will be a great end to the meal. Chocolate always makes me feel better after a long and tiring day.”
“Thank you, Tilly. I find that chocolate helps in most circumstances also.” After taking a bit, Remus raised his hand to stop Tilly from walking away. “Are there any books around that I could borrow for the night? I feel like reading something light and whimsical.”
“I have just the book for you. I’ll leave it in your room.” Tilly smiled as she walked away.
Remus finished his cake and walked back up to his room. He found a book of Muggle fairytales lying on the bed. He sat in the arm chair and opened the book. It opened straight to a story called Cinderella. Remus read the story through and love the happy ending. He wished a love that strong were in his future.
Laying the book on his stand, he washed up and found himself under the warm blankets. Dreams of true love filled his sleep that night.
