location: diagon alley
status: open!
after the holiday rush, the narrow street of shops looks nearly abandoned and different. remus had thought of getting out of his house for the day with teddy as it was the weekend and he needed some distraction instead of being in the house. there was a stack of papers and books he still needed to go through, but that could be saved for another day. it was fine to postpone his work if he actually knew he would return to it. he held teddy’s hand in his, walking along the street and glancing at the shops. teddy had insisted on going to the weasley joke shop and remus had complied but now a quack kept coming from the shoes that teddy now wore that were slowly getting more annoying and making remus irritable. he suggested taking a break to get off their feet and also so remus could stop hearing that insistent sound.
“uh, one please,” he said when someone came over with water and gave it to teddy. the tiredness seemed to pull at him once he sat down and his face fell for a moment, knowing he had his hands tied. teddy asked for a slice of pie and remus knew how much money he had and didn’t have, knowing he would have payments due by the end of the month. “not today, alright? we can do something at home later.” the assurance didn’t seem to diffuse teddy’s need for pie and pouted. there were days that being a father was hard and he knew that it was made harder with a war going on and not being to tell teddy everything he could. “one then…” remus caved in and walked to the front. “sorry, i dont mean to bother you but would you-do you think you could cut some pie out? i dont have the money on me now but i promise to pay you back.”
Ernie had to find a good cake to bring to his parent’s for the following day. It was their weekly brunch after all. Really, he’d need to go see Hannah once he had it. They had to do something about Susan and decide what it was they were even wearing tomorrow to see his parents. Not matching wasn’t an option. He might also do some good by telling Hannah why a cake was so important but she would find out the news sooner or later. Or, sooner, when his mother decided to inform Hannah that she had picked out their wedding date already.
Tapping his fingers on the counter as he dwelled on when it was he would let his know that Hannah was his platonic wife, not romantic one, Ernie was drawn in by the conversation next to him. So someone could get service in here. Ridiculous. He had been standing by the counter for ages and now someone in such a shabby jacket cut in front of him. It wasn’t until he heard the voice of the neglected older man that Ernie realized who he was insulting in his head. “Professor Lupin!”
Bustling his way over, Ernie sidled up to the side and put some galleons down on the counter. “He’ll take the whole pie, please. No need to cut just one slice. Professor Lupin, how are you?” Not well if he was begging for a slice of pie. And in front of his son no less. How sad. “What’s Teddy’s favorite flavor? Pumpkin? Or would he rather have a cheesecake?” It was out of the goodness of his own heart, and perhaps a rather strong admiration for the best defense teacher he had ever had, that Ernie covered the pie. And, if he happened to know why a fellow Order member couldn’t spare a knut that didn’t hurt.
