Chapter Thirty-Eight
Load of Rubbish
Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in
Show me how big your brave is
(Brave - Sara Bareilles)June 24th, 1975"My dad wants to take me camping for the next few weeks," Remus said as he held
Mia's hand, helping her off of the train with a smile.
He had slept for six hours of the ride, just as he said he needed, and he looked well
rested for it. Mia had sat in her seat during the trip back to King's Cross Station with
Remus's feet in her lap, which forced James, Sirius, and Peter to sit on one side of the
compartment together. She finished reading a book on ancient runes that Remus had
bought her, while James and Peter played a game of Exploding Snap—which Remus slept
through soundly—and Sirius flipped through an old subscription of a Muggle motorcycle
magazine.
"Owl me when you get home then. I'll start brewing the potion the minute I get to
the manor, and you can come and take it home with you. Or," Mia offered with a smile,
"take it at our house. We could set up some strong wards in the orchards by the river. You
wouldn't be stuck in a―"
"I'm used to cages. And I wouldn't want to risk being so close to you." He pulled
her gently into his arms and kissed her temple. She could feel him relax a bit as her arms
wrapped around his waist. His soft chuckle was quiet, but she felt the vibrations in his
chest. "But I will absolutely take you up on that potion again."
"James! Mia!"
"It's my parents. Come on!" Mia tugged on Remus's hand. "You'll have to come to
our place first anyway since you skipped your Portkey," she insisted and watched as Remus
winced. "Already forgot about that, did you?"