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dragonhideboots ([info]dragonhideboots) wrote in [info]wished,
@ 2010-03-04 13:50:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:!1998: 03, bill weasley, harry potter, remus lupin

Remus visits Shell Cottage
Who:  Bill, Remus (eventually Harry, maybe Ron/Hermione/Luna/Fleur)
What: Catching up
Where: Shell Cottage
When: Evening, after dinner
Rating/Warning: Likely PG


Bill sat on a rock at the cliff's edge outside his home, cigarette in hand, watching as the smoke trailed out towards the sea. It was, perhaps, his worst habit but he kept it as one guilty indulgence. The last of the butt was nearly gone and he snuffed it out on the ground and reached for the pouch in his back pocket, carefully pouring out some of the herbal tobacco and rolling another fag before putting it in his lips and lighting it.

It was chilly outside in the crisp March air, but he'd needed a little escape from the house and a place to sort out his thoughts. Plus, Lupin was due to arrive soon and Bill wanted to catch him before he had a chance to speak with Harry, both to fill him in on the week and to ask a few questions. Bill liked Remus a lot but with Dumbledore gone and Remus now the Order's somewhat-replacement when it came to leadership, Bill'd noticed the increased strain on Lupin. With a kid on the way and Fenrir's pack always a threat, Bill couldn't find good reason to feel angry at Remus for being absent lately, but at the same time, this was exactly when they needed Lupin around. Bill was glad he'd managed to contact him and arrange a visit.

Pulling his scarf and coat tighter, he took a long drag from his cigarette and sat back on the rock, waiting.



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[info]wolfylupin
2010-03-06 07:57 am UTC (link)
Remus took a bit longer to get away than he intended. It was likely paranoia on his part, but he didn't like to travel directly anywhere for fear of being tracked. On his own, he was just one man - werewolf - and not of great importance to the Death Eaters. But he was known to have close ties to Harry, and to be a member of the Order, which made him perhaps a higher priority for the Death Eaters than he would have been otherwise.

So he took roundabout routes and stayed as far beneath notice as possible. He'd thought he saw someone sniffing about the cheap flat he was currently staying at - he only went back to his own cottage for Moons - so he took a random floo and loitered around diagon for a bit after that before finally apparating close to Shell and walking over.

He spotted Bill outside and tucked his hands into the pockets of his somewhat threadbare coat, walking over to smile a greeting at the other man. Bill was a bit younger than he was, but not enough that he felt like he was an old man amongst the kids, as he sometimes did with the others. "Avoiding the crowd?" Remus asked, glancing back toward the lights of the cottage behind them. It was a full house for the small space.

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[info]dragonhideboots
2010-03-06 06:49 pm UTC (link)
Bill looked up with a half-smile.

"Maybe a little," he said, flicking some ash from the end of his cigarette. "Just getting some space to think. And I wanted to catch you before you got inside and everyone swarmed."

He extended a hand to shake Remus' warmly.

"It's been much too long. I think some congrats are long overdue, on the kid," he said. "We saw Tonks the other day. She looks great."

He reached for the pouch of tobacco.

"Fancy one?" he asked. "Nasty habit of mine but it gives me a reason to escape out here. Tell me if you're too cold and we can sneak into the study."

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[info]wolfylupin
2010-03-07 05:50 am UTC (link)
Remus shook his hand in return and dropped down to sit on another rock, coat gathered around him. He smiled. "If you can spare it, then sure," he agreed. It was a habit Remus had indulged in more when he was young than he did now, but he didn't turn down a smoke, now and then.

He shook his head. "I'm all right out here for a bit. How are they all? Or Fleur and you doing with it, too?" Having a, from all reports, rather difficult goblin and a handful of always-in-trouble teenagers suddenly dropped on your front step couldn't be easy to deal with. Though Remus knew Fleur was quite capable of handling whatever was thrown at her, and Bill and her were both dedicated to helping the Order wherever possible. Even if it meant overcrowding their home.

He looked a little uncomfortable at the congratulations. "Thanks, mate. She does though. It suits her, even if she likely doesn't think so."

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[info]dragonhideboots
2010-03-08 05:28 am UTC (link)
"Of course I can," said Bill, rolling out another cigarette and handing it to Remus, offering the tip of his wand to light it.

"Everyone is okay, I think," he said. "It's certainly crowded but I've managed to expand the study enough to fit some camp beds and we've got the boys in there. Hermione and Luna have the guest room, and Griphook seems happy with the armchair in the den, so we are getting along fine."

He puffed a ring of smoke and shook his head a little.

"But I wanted to talk to you about a few things. You know Harry better than me and I don't feel like we have the type of relationship where I could ask him about it. I figured I'd run it by you first and see what you thought. Harry...well, they were aided in the escape from Grimmauld, as you know. I've overheard Harry talking to the others, and he's expressed this idea to me too...he thinks that whomever aided them in the escape was Polyjuiced and he thinks he got a glance of them as they changed back seconds before they escaped. He is convinced it was Snape, Remus. He thinks that Severus Snape rescued them."

Cigarette nearly burned out, he tossed it off the cliff to the sea.

"I mentioned it to Hestia...thought that maybe all the stress was, I don't know, maybe making him see things? You knew Snape. What do you think?"

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[info]wolfylupin
2010-03-08 03:29 pm UTC (link)
Remus took the cigarette, lighting it and then taking a slow drag, savoring it. Maybe he ought to not let it be quite so rare an indulgence. He suspected it was more a matter of habit than a real physical effect so quickly, but it still seemed to help settle his nerves a little.

He chuckled at the ring of smoke. "Never managed the trick of that." He pursed his lips. "Has the goblin said much? Is he one that you knew from the bank at all, before all of this?" he asked curiously.

He grimaced a little. "I saw that," he confessed. "I've known Severus a long time. We all never got on, but it was more a product of the company I kept, to begin with. Even after all that happened, I think Harry's mother held out hope for him being a decent man. . . but after Dumbledore, and Snape's actions. . . I can't even begin to make sense of what is going on. I do know that Harry has been through a lot, and been doubted every step of the way, and though his perception of what he saw was sometimes not focused on the whole picture - he's usually right."

Remus took a drag from the lit cigarette. "It could be making him see things. Or it could be something they WANTED him to see. It wouldn't be the first time The Dark Lord thought to use Harry's own perceptions against him." That had been what led to the battle where Sirius fell, after all. "Or. . . perhaps there's something in all of this we're not seeing. Albus trusted Snape. Right until the end. And Albus kept so many secrets. Perhaps there's a reason we don't see." Remus snorted then and shrugged. "Though old prejudices don' really want to believe that there can be an ulterior motive that isn't entirely selfish to anything Severus Snape does." Remus might have been more tolerant of him than James or Sirius, and Snape had provided him with his potions at Hogwarts - but there was no love lost between them.

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[info]dragonhideboots
2010-03-08 07:38 pm UTC (link)
"Mmh," Bill agreed. "You're right. I shouldn't doubt him. I didn't mind Snape when I was at school. He was still fairly new to teaching and I suppose he tolerated me because I did well in his class and he didn't have Fred and George to contend with and spoil the family name yet."

"Who knows," Bill said, rubbing his hands together. "I suggested to Harry that he talk to you about it. Maybe it'll make more sense if you work through it with him."

"As for Griphook, I knew him from the bank, yes," Bill added. "Not a bad goblin; got along with the Wizarding employees better than most of his kind. Still, there's a mess of cultural differences that make relations strained. He is quite an important contact and I intend to work with him to try to do some outreach at the bank to prevent the other goblins from being swayed by offers from the other side. Still, it's going to be difficult."

"And speaking of swayed by offers to the other side...how's work going with Fenrir's lot? If you ever need a hand, I'm happy to help. I know it's not really my place, but even setting up a small fund at Gringotts or something...anything I can do, I'm happy to try."

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[info]wolfylupin
2010-03-10 10:28 am UTC (link)
"You were also Head Boy, and a good student, yes? That did help him tolerate you, I'm sure," Remus reminded him with a wry smile. "Severus did usually respect intelligence, at least." Though not enough to overlook more obnoxious qualities, as in the case of James and Sirius, or objectionable company, as in the case of Hermione.

"It might. I plan to speak to him tonight, assuming he's not asleep and exhausted. I can't imagine this has been easy for any of them."

Remus grimaced a little. "Goblins are notoriously prickly to get along with. I can't say I envy you trying. But you seem to manage better than most. Hopefully you can make some headway."

He shook his head. "Nowhere," he admitted, sounding rueful. "The few who were willing to listen have mostly all been gotten to by Fenrir, or someone else. They were fairly explicit about me not coming back on pain of some very unpleasant consequences. I doubt they'll be swayed by any account - the other side has a lot more money to bribe with than we do."

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[info]dragonhideboots
2010-03-11 05:56 am UTC (link)
"Yes, ruined everything for the other Weasley boys, save Percy," Bill said with a laugh. "Once the first one was Head-Boy, mum was on about all the rest."

He thought quietly for a moment.

"The goblins certainly have access to a great deal of money, or at least things of value. Do you think Fenrir could be bought? Or any of them? If I managed to strike an alliance with some of the key goblins, there could be something worth trying. Most people don't know that Gringotts' initial funds were made up of goblin treasure and there is a large stake in both the interest earned and the treasures it holds that only the goblins control. Payment back later would be a bitch but if we win this, we could provide the goblins freedoms they've now been denied. It'd be a hard bargain to drive, but it could be worth it."

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[info]wolfylupin
2010-03-14 05:34 am UTC (link)
"Lofty standard to set," Remus agreed with a laugh. "But your brothers all seem to do well for themselves." The twins and their business were clearly thriving, and Charlie had done well in Romania before returning here. Percy, whatever his issues with the family, had obviously carved out a niche for himself at the Ministry, whatever they might think of that niche. Ron and Ginny would both do well, once this mess was over and they were out of school, Remus was sure.

"Fenrir? No. He doesn't need to be bought. They can offer him a chance to hunt and kill, and that's all that he needs." Remus shrugged, grimacing at thought of the wolf. "But the others? Perhaps. It's not easy to survive when you can't hold down a job. Money, survival, a place to stay and food - they're genuine concerns, and getting harder for werewolves all the time. If they can promise security, then they might be able to stay them."

Remus pursed his lips thoughtfully, taking another puff from the cigarette and then shrugging. "It might be worth a try. If we lose. . . then repayment wouldn't really be a concern. If we won, we should be able to work out some solution. Do you think you can convince them?"

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[info]dragonhideboots
2010-03-15 01:33 am UTC (link)
"If there weren't so many other issues, I'd try to work to open some sort of safe house," Bill mused. "It's not fair, any of it. If I hadn't gone into curse-breaking right out of school I think I'd've enjoyed advocacy work. I did a bit before I graduated...letter writing and that sort of thing. Not to say that I really know what I'm doing, but I feel like if I have the means to help others then I should."

"So," he said, toying with the edge of his scarf. "If security is the ultimate reward, then a monetary incentive might be worth looking into, yes. I'll bring it up with the goblins. We'll see where it goes from there. If I got the money secured, you'd help me get the word out?"

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[info]wolfylupin
2010-03-15 06:10 am UTC (link)
"You're already doing enough here, Bill. This is as safe as we can get, and you're taking in those we most need to protect." He smiled a little. "Though with that attitude, I'd imagine you must get on very well with Hermione. She's quite eloquent on the subject of advocacy for elves and goblins and other maligned groups," he told Bill. "You're a good man. It must run in the family."

Remus nodded. "That I can likely do. The majority of them aren't very kindly disposed toward me, but there are a few on the fringes that i can speak to, and they can spread word from there." Remus smiled ruefully. "You don't realize how many of us there are until you start trying to track us down." He stubbed out the cigarette, blowing out the last puff of air.

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[info]dragonhideboots
2010-03-22 03:50 am UTC (link)
"Right," Bill nodded, folding his arms in front of himself, feeling chilled. "Hermione's a good kid. I suspect sometimes that Ron fancies her quite a bit. When this thing ends, I wouldn't be surprised if we add her to the ever-expanding Weasley brood; that is, if Ron ever gains some more common sense regarding the fairer sex."

He laughed.

"Well, I'll talk to Griphook and see what I can do. I'd really like to help you out if I can;you're a good bloke, Lupin. What do you say we head inside and I'll break out some brandy, and then you can talk to Harry if he's still awake. I imagine he probably is; I told him you'd be coming tonight."

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[info]wolfylupin
2010-03-22 04:42 am UTC (link)
Remus chuckled. "He's young, and the three of them have had more pressure than most. I'm sure he'll figure it out eventually." His mouth quirked in a smile. "and if not, Hermione will probably eventually give him some kind of instruction manual." Her confidence likely wasn't at its strongest when it came to Ron and romance, but Hermione wouldn't just wait for forever, Remus was fairly sure. She'd be too frustrated and would do something about it. She was usually proactive.

He smiled and stood, offering Bill a hand up. "I appreciate it, Bill. You're a good sort too. But then, that seems to run in the family. I'll see if Harry's up for a chat. And a brandy would be brilliant."

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[info]dragonhideboots
2010-03-22 05:21 am UTC (link)
"I don't doubt it," said Bill, taking Remus' arm and springing to his feet before leading the way back to the cottage with brightly-lit windows and the warm air of a place that wasn't particularly fancy but was homey and inviting all the same. "I imagine love life is low on the priority list for those three right now any way."

He opened the back door of the cottage for Lupin and snuck into the study, retrieving the brandy and two snifters, pouring glasses for the both of them.

"Make yourself comfortable," he said, gesturing to one of the large leather chairs. "I'll run and find Harry if you'd like. Better to get you two chatting now before the rest of the house gets wind you're here and wants to spend hours talking your ear off."

He flashed Lupin a grin.

"Be right back."

Glass in hand, he peeked out into the den and called Harry's name.

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[info]wolfylupin
2010-03-23 03:53 am UTC (link)
Remus snorted. "Do you remember when YOU were seventeen? No matter what goes on - they'll always find time for love life angst. Harry's father managed to wear down the girl he loved in he middle of a war. Ron and Hermione will manage something. I'd lay wagers on it." And he had nothing to wager, but that wasn't the point.

He nodded a thank you at Bill once they got inside, careful to move quietly so he didn't wake anyone, dropping down in the leather chair with a sigh as Bill went to hunt for Harry.

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[info]sonofastag
2010-03-23 04:01 am UTC (link)
Harry had been avoiding Ron and Hermione, trying to give them some space, which left him sitting and talking to Luna for a while. Harry usually found Luna to be an oddly soothing presence, but his guilt over her father made that a little harder to feel, and Harry eventually settled down, letting her nod off to sleep while he flipped through the children's book Hermione had made endless notes in, not seeing anything they hadn't already looked at dozens of times, but doing it anyway.

He looked up as he heard Bill call him though, looking over toward Luna and then slipping out of his seat and walking over to Bill, giving him a slightly wan smile. "Something wrong?" he asked.

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[info]dragonhideboots
2010-03-23 04:08 am UTC (link)
"No, it's okay," Bill said reassuringly. "Remus is here if you want to talk with him."

He nodded towards the study. "He's in there. If you're not up for it now, I'm sure he'd come another day. I can fix a cup of tea and bring it in for you if you want to talk now, and then it should be off to bed for everyone."

He glanced down at his own cup and added, "Or there's brandy. I suppose you're old enough for it now."

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[info]sonofastag
2010-03-23 04:21 am UTC (link)
"Oh," Harry looked a little relieved - most news these days were of the bad sort, after all. He smiled. "Brandy would be brilliant. So long as you never tell your mum. Or Hermione." He wouldn't get knackered or anything, but a drink would be nice.

He followed Bill out to where Remus sat. The werewolf stood when Harry entered, standing with the awkward uncertainty of someone who didn't know if he should hug or no.

Harry solved it or him, stepping forward to wrap his arms around Remus in a quick hug. "It's good to see you," he greeted.

Remus hugged back, and then let go. "Better to see you, as you were the one we nearly lost. Again."

Harry smiled, a but wry and a little bitter. "Yeah well, not anything new at this point, is it. And I found something out at least, while I was there. We got Griphook, who has some information. And I found out about Snape."

Remus looked from Harry to Bill, considering that. "You're sure you saw him?"

"I've TAKEN polyjuice. I've seen it fade from myself, from Ron, from Crouch - I know what I saw. It was Snape. Sod if I knew why - but he sprang us." He hesitated, and then confessed what he hadn't told the others. "I think he was rescuing us right before You-Know-Who got there. My scar was hurting worse and worse. I think he got us out before He got there."

Remus sat back down as Harry perched on one of the other chairs. "I believe you. . . so the question becomes why. Severus must have some purpose we're not seeing."

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[info]dragonhideboots
2010-03-23 04:26 am UTC (link)
Bill poured a glass of brandy, a little less full than his and Remus', and set it on the table next to Harry before taking the third chair in the room and tucking his legs up.

"Does McGonagall know what you saw?" Bill asked Harry. "If anyone would know about Snape, I'd think it'd be her if Remus didn't and no one else in the Order does."

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[info]sonofastag
2010-03-23 04:57 am UTC (link)
Harry lifted the glass, waving it vaguely in Bill's directions. "Cheers," he offered by way of thanks, and then leaned back, taking a sip, nose wrinkling a little. Harry had a drink now and then, but he wasn't exactly used to that first burn of it.

He shook his head. "I didn't tell anyone that bit yet. Hardly anyone believed me as it was, I didn't want to give them a reason to think I might have been losing it," Harry explained.

"No one thinks you're losing it, Harry. We know how much you've been through, and trust your judgment. If you say you saw Snape, then you did."

Harry looked a little grateful, and nodded. "You think I should tell McGonagall?" he asked.

Remus nodded in agreement with Bill. "Minerva is the closest we have to knowing how Albus' mind was working. She may see things the rest of us miss. I think it's best you tell her everything." Though Remus doubted Harry would. Harry had learned not to trust adults early on, and had never shaken that - with good reason, given how many had failed him over the years.

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[info]dragonhideboots
2010-03-23 05:06 am UTC (link)
"Exactly," Bill said. "She'd be the only one who'd know what Severus is up to if the rest of us don't, especially you, Remus. Perhaps it's some sort of repentance; I'm not sure."

He took a rather large sip of his brandy and looked towards the door.

"If you prefer, I can leave you two to chat in private. I'm sure you're got a good deal to catch up on. I don't mind owling McGonagall if you'd like, Harry. I think I was a favorite of hers during my Hogwarts days, or at least I hope I was. She probably wouldn't mind an update, but if you want, you can certainly contact her instead."

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[info]sonofastag
2010-03-23 07:48 pm UTC (link)
"I've known Severus for years. He's even helped me, at times. But I can't say I ever understood him," Remus admitted. "Albus seemed to see things no one else ever did. But then, my opinion was colored in early by the company I kept. And so was his." Since James and Sirius had been less than glowing fans of Snape, and Snape had felt the same about them.

Harry scowled. "Whatever it is, it happened. I just wish I had some clue why. I'm tired of never sussing things out until it's too late to do anything."

Remus made a sympathetic sound. "We'll figure it out," he promised, though they had no real assurance of that.

Harry's expression said he knew it, and he took another sip of the brandy. He looked over at Bill and smiled. "Yeah, that'd be great. If you want to Owl her for me. I can write something too, but I wanted to figure out what to say first, I guess." He wouldn't mind a chance to talk to just Remus, either, though Harry didn't want to chase Bill out of his own living room.

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[info]dragonhideboots
2010-03-24 09:25 pm UTC (link)
"Great," Bill said, clapping his hands together. "I'll get on that, then. Give a shout if you two need anything. I'll be in the kitchen."

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