HOWL & HALLOW

Prologue

disclaimer: this story is mostly based off of the films (not the books) for brevity, convenience, and accessibility.

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"We're what?" Asena asked, certain that she had misheard him.

Sitting at the arm chair by the fire place, her father sat on the small ottoman in front of her, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He looked exhausted.

"I know it's a lot, darling, but you'll come to love it, I promise," Remus said, offering her a weak smile.

She furrowed her eyebrows in disbelief. Remus had never wanted to move. She had lived in this little cottage just about her whole life, and she had never been led to expect a life outside of France. She had never expected Dad to want to leave Lozère, let alone go all the way to Britain.

"Why now?" Asena asked, just above a whisper. Her eyes were wide in confusion as she asked the question. "Dad, you haven't even left Lozère in... what, ten years?" she asked. For all her life, her Dad had practically been an agoraphobe. He hardly went into town to speak to people, too consumed by shame and fear of himself. He hadn't been employed by someone else since before Asena was born, due to his condition getting in the way.

Remus sighed, looking down.

"Trust me, Darling, it's going to be quite an adjustment for us both," he said, shaking his head. Asena could sense the nerves radiating off of him. "But... and old friend of mine needs me for a job," he added, looking up at her.

She raised her eyebrows, tilting her head slightly, as if to say, and?

"I know what you're thinking, Sena, but listen..." he sighed. He looked away from her again, trying to find the right words, before deciding it was best to just speak. "The farm.... isn't going to be enough for much longer." He peered into her eyes, ensuring that she was following. "Soon we'll be living off of hardly anything, and I can't do that to you. Besides..." He extended a hand, placing it over his daughter's. "I've been getting restless here, and I know you've been even more."

Asena's shoulders dropped. She had no idea her father had been struggling with money. She felt a heaviness in her stomach. How could she not have known? Remus had such a hard time going to town, hardly any of the muggles in the village even knew we sold crops. Of course Remus didn't have enough of a customer base to support them both. Not to mention the one thing she had learned in school, which was that Wolfsbane Potion was one of the most expensive in the world, whether to buy it or to brew it.

She rubbed her eyes, nodding.

"What about Beauxbatons?" she asked, returning her gaze to him. "Does this mean I'll have to go—"

"We, darling—" Remus interrupted, "—will be at Hogwarts. Yes."

She only furrowed her brows at him.

"Dumbledore is looking for a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," he said.

A moment of silence passed as Asena absorbed the information.

"But Dad, how will you manage?" she finally managed to ask. He cracked a tiny smile at her.

"The same way you do, darling," he said. "The same way I always have. I was once a student too, you know. At Hogwarts, nonetheless. It's you who will have to learn your way around." He had a knowing look in his eyes, as he peered at her through his eyebrows.

She huffed, leaning back into the chair hard.  Her arms folded against her chest, her chin falling down.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" she muttered, with a frown.

Remus sighed, reaching a hand onto her knee. Asena watched the crackling fire beside her. Her head felt like it was spinning, as she tried to understand what she was feeling. In reality, she wasn't completely against the idea of moving. She did have a curiosity for the world beyond Lozère and the Pyrénées. But at the same time, it had been so difficult for her to make friends at Beauxbatons, and it had taken her so long to figure out how to cope with her condition there. And now she had to start all over again, as a third year?

"Darling?" Remus said, bringing her back to the conversation. She turned to him, seeing his eyebrows slightly raised in concern, but also in a way that had a glimmer of hope on his face. His hand still rested on her knee "I'll be right there with you. I'll show you everything you need to know."

He leaned back, crossing his arms.

"Besides..." a slight grin showed on his face. "...there's actually someone there I'm excited for you to meet. I think you two will get along. From what I've heard."

When Asena only gave him silence, he stood up quietly, sensing she needed time. Looking down at her, he smiled briefly.

"You're going to love it, darling. I promise," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder one more time, before leaving her to her thoughts.

When Remus had retreated to his room, Asena just sighed, leaning her head back.

It was settled, then. She'd just finished her second year at Beauxbaton's Academy, and would soon start her first at Hogwarts.

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