FIC:The moon on a clear night (part 1) Title: The moon on a clear night (part 1) Rating: PG (this part) Genre: romance, a bit of mystery Word Count: ~900 words Notes: I needed an idea for the decade challenge and azure_rosa gave me “an old flame” as a prompt. Then the story decided that one part is not going to be enough so this will continue next month. ;) Also not betad. Please, point out the mistakes if you spot any!
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Remus was working in a little bookshop late in the evening. There were probably not going to be any more customers tonight so he was going to close up soon. He did not own the shop, it belonged to an old witch called Edith, who was currently in Saint Mungo’s after she had slip in the stairs and injured herself. The two of them were the only workers. Remus had assured he could handle running the shop by himself for some weeks; it was small enough for one person to take care of although it was better if there were two. The days were long and sometimes even busy, but Remus really had no one to go home to and he was content with his life here. He would not have to run the shop on his own for long anymore, because Edith was going to be back from the hospital in a few days time. In any case it felt good to earn some money like a real person.
The bell above the outdoor rang, and somebody came in. Remus was under the counter sorting out the books that came in earlier today and called out to the customer to announce his presence in the shop. He had to sort out some of these before he left the shop for the night. The problem was that some of them were extremely dark magic and as such handling them was sometimes impossibly hard.
When Remus put his hand in the box to take out one, the book bit him and as he startled he knocked his head on the corner of the counter.
“Ouch,” Remus said aloud and stood up holding his head. When he raised his eyes from the bleeding finger, he saw for the first time the person who had walked in.
It was Severus Snape who was looking him with curious expression on his face.
Oh great. Remus had dust in his hair and clothes, his eyes were watering and head hurt from its meeting with the table corner and his finger felt like it might yet give him a blood poisoning. One really didn’t want to meet an old lover in that state.
“Hi,” Remus said. Saying hello was usually a good way to start a conversation. He tried to get some of the dust off his hair with the hand that was not bleeding.
“Let me look at your finger,” Severus said and took Remus’ hand to examine the damage. He pulled out his wand and moved it over the wound and sighed. “There’s no poison in the wound. You’re very lucky.”
Then Severus healed the finger and let Remus’ hand go. Remus had not moved his eyes from Severus’ face.
“What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“I heard rumours,” Severus said simply.
“You don’t usually listen to rumours if I remember correctly,” Remus answered and looked a Severus suspiciously. “And what kind of rumours did you hear?”
“I heard there is a small bookshop with all the Dark Arts books you can hope for and there is a man who knows almost everything about werewolves working there. I had to check.”
Remus blinked.
“So. Was there actually a reason you were looking for me or is this just a courtesy call?”
“I need a book. A particular book.”
Severus’ gaze was wandering around the room but Remus could not have turned his eyes away from the man even if he had wanted to.
“And you think you can find it here?” Remus asked. He was still not sure what Severus wanted from him.
“It’s possible. I believe you have a very good stock of werewolf related books?” Severus asked.
“You know it. They’re back here. Or you could just ask me for any information you need?”
“I have... I’ve been following a lead,” Severus said. “You of course are aware that there is no lycanthropy among some nations at all?”
Remus shrugged.
“Of course not. If they have never met a person infected with lycanthropy there couldn’t have been any werewolves walking among those people.”
“But surely you know there are legends and myths of ‘wolf-men’ told even within those communities?”
“What are you getting at, Severus?”
“Listen to me. I know this might be farfetched and I don’t want you to get your hopes up, but I think I have found the ingredient that has prevented those people from infecting with lycanthropy. I’ve been out of the country collecting some possible ingredients….”
Remus was stunned and looked at Severus like he had grown an extra-head.
“You must understand that even if I found the right ingredient it doesn’t mean that you, or any other person who is already a werewolf, could be cured. There’s no cure for lycanthropy.”
“But you mean that there could be a way of preventing anyone else from infecting?” Remus said feebly. It felt almost impossible to even hope for, but if Severus had been researching it….
“Yes. Now, here’s the name of the book I’m looking for.”
“Oh. Right,” Remus said. “You’re of course free to say longer and do more research, but do you mind if I close the shop from other customers? It’s getting late.”
“No, of course not.”
“I’ll be back with you in a sec.”
Remus went to close the shop and tried his best not to think what all of this would yet lead to.