"Peter Pan." After a beat, Hermione nervously asked, "Professor? Do you promise
to write back to me?"
"I promise."
The green flames erupted from the fireplace and a tired Remus stepped into his
small living room. Leaving Hogwarts had been difficult and he had not even completely
processed everything that happened over the past twenty-four hours. A day ago, he had
been certain that Sirius was, at least partially, responsible for the deaths of Lily and James.
A day ago, he had been certain that Peter was dead. Now everything had changed.
"Got sacked, I take it?"
Remus jumped a foot in the air, startled into a scream.
"When did you get so jumpy?" Sirius asked from his place on the long sofa, his legs
stretched out to the end, and his hands resting behind his head.
"What...? Where... ?" Remus gaped at the sight of his friend in his living room.
On his sofa. Still unbathed and lying on his sofa. "How the hell did you get in here?"
Sirius rolled his eyes. "You use the same security wards that we used to put up on
our flat. Constant vigilance, Moony."
"How did you take them down?" Remus questioned, wide-eyed. "You don't have a
wand. Did you steal a wand?"
"Please." Sirius scoffed, offended. "I could take down our old wards wandlessly,
wordlessly, and in my sleep if I wanted to. Don't worry, Aurors have already been here,"
he assured him. "I staked out the place until I saw them leave. Moody's still a cranky old
bastard. Overheard that he's retiring, though. Brought my cousin along for the ride. Can't
believe little Tonks is an Auror."
Remus paled at the mention of the girl he had not seen in almost a year. Inside, the
wolf felt the never-ending itch that only ever dissipated in her general proximity. He did
his best to hide his reaction to Sirius's words. "Did anyone see you?"
"I'm still here, aren't I?"
"Do you want some tea?" Remus offered as he walked into the kitchen. "I don't
have much in the way of food, but I think I left behind a few things."