Chocolate Covered Strawberries [Remus Lupin]

𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗

"Do you like it?"

"I do." Jasmine smiled.

She knew he had picked it. The same title was written on a notebook he gifted her last Christmas so she could write down all her recipes. It was only fitting the store had the same name.

"I think it's homely. It'll attract a lot of customers." Lily smiled at the sign.

Jasmine, Remus, Sirius, James, Lily and Peter collectively admired the sign for a few more minutes before they headed inside. The shop had a glass door and a big glass window at the front wall so when it would up and running, passers-by would be able to see inside. The space of the store was just big enough for a counter with glass panels, where everything Jasmine would bake would sit, at the far wall and a few small tables with two chairs each around the shop for anyone who would want to sit and eat in peace right there. Of course, the space was empty at the moment, apart from a few random boxes and a dusty round table.

"Oh, I thought it was already open for business," said James disappointedly.

"I haven't had much time to get it ready ever since I bought it. I will soon though, hopefully." Jasmine took another look around, imagining how she wanted to touch up the place.

"There's also a flat above it, right?"

Jasmine nodded. "This is where I will live and work for an indefinite amount of time."

It wasn't that she wasn't excited about it. She was and she knew she'll be able to do something she loves on a daily basis instead of some boring Ministry job. It was just hard to wrap her head around the amount of work she will have. She always thought that baking the muggle way was her thing, but with the amount of pastries she'll have to sell, she wasn't so sure anymore if it will be possible. And everyone was aware that desserts lost that special something when they were made with magic and not just human hands.

A crack followed by soft thumps sounded above their heads. "I think someone broke into your apartment," said Peter with alarm woven into his voice.

Jasmine chuckled softly. "That's just my uncle. We'll share the flat as it is too big to live there by myself. Whereas I am in charge of furnishing the bakery, he's in charge of the flat."

After she said that she glanced at Remus, who didn't wish to meet her eyes. Jasmine's first and obvious option for a living companion was her boyfriend but to her utter surprise, he declined the offer. His excuse ran along the lines of Diagon Alley not being safe for a werewolf, to which Jasmine counteracted with the fact that he wasn't a werewolf most of the time, Remus argued he'd be more comfortable living with his parents until he figured out what he'll do with himself after Hogwarts, Jasmine offered him to help her with the bakery and so they went on back and forth and back and forth.

So then Jasmine ended up living with Smirnitsky. To which she didn't oppose, it was much more convenient to bond with the only family member left in the same household. She just hoped he wasn't a messy one.

"Jasmine!" Came a distant shout from behind a closed back door of the bakery. Smirnitsky burst through said door a moment later. "Jasmine! Oh, there you lot are, I knew I heard the right voices." He smiled at the whole group.

"Is there something you need?" asked Jasmine.

Smirnitsky cleared his throat, eyes slowly looking at each individual in the room. "Actually this is perfect timing with all of you in one room because there is something you need to know. Dumbledore has tasked me to search for talented wizards and witches and ask them to join the Order of the Phoenix. And as the former professor I am very aware you lot were the brightest of your year, especially in the Defence against the Dark Arts class. So, what do you say, eh?"

"Order of the Phoenix?" Confusion spread through the group.

"Well," Smirnitsky had to clear his throat again because of what followed, "as you are all probably aware, dark times are coming to the Wizarding World. Word travelled fast through Hogwarts this year of certain students being members of Death Eaters and well now Dumbledore formed an order of witches and wizards to fight those on the wrong side. But most importantly protect the ones on the right side."

The group looked upon one another, trying to decide whether they were in or not. James had a familiar glint in his eyes, the same one that wanted him to become an Auror. Sirius was right by his side. Lily was more reluctant, although one shared glance with Jasmine and they both silently agreed. If Jasmine wanted to risk it, so did Remus. And if all of them were in, Peter really didn't have a choice.

"What do you say?" Smirnitsky prompted again.

Remus, James, Peter, Sirius, Jasmine and Lily all knew that they would become official members of the Order.

But what will actually happen they were unaware of.

Peter thought he'd remain great friends with his beloved Marauders.

Sirius thought he would always be a free man.

James and Lily thought they would happily be married, bear a child in this world and live happily ever after.

And lastly, Remus and Jasmine thought their love could conquer all and their relationship could survive the First Wizarding War. 

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