𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐀 // Remus Lupin

(𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟐) questions and snowball fights

Her feet landed in the Leaky Cauldron pub and she noticed her aunt was already standing at the bar waiting to order.

"Thought you'd got lost there" Melissa called as she raised her eyebrows, "do you want a butterbeer... or they have some festive specials here"

"Butterbeer is fine" Athena replied simply as the barman walked over.

"I'll have a butterbeer and a brandy please" Melissa smiled as she rummaged in her pocket for some change.

"Could you maybe... not drink today?" Athena asked quietly and her aunt looked at her rather sympathetically. Melissa had always had an alcohol problem for as long as Athena could remember. Henry always tried to put a stop to it and Athena knew the festive spirit would be ruined if she came back to the house drunk.

"Make that a butterbeer and a gillywater then please" Melissa corrected and Athena felt slightly better as they took the glasses and headed over to a table in the corner.

"So how have you been Athena?" The woman asked as she took a sip of her water and seemed immediately disappointed by its bleak taste.

"I'm fine... schools stressful but other than that—"

"I heard you joined the order" Melissa interrupted looking around to see that no one was listening in, "personally I think you're too young"

"I'll be eighteen soon" Athena frowned, "anyway it wasn't exactly my choice"

"No I suppose not" Melissa mused, "never understood this war in the first place"
Melissa had gone to Hogwarts just like her older brother but having been raised by muggles there were always certain parts of the wizarding world she didn't understand.

She'd been in Slytherin when she attended the school but since leaving hadn't delved into any magical occupations.

"What have you been doing?" Athena asked desperate to not have to explain the wizarding war to her gossiping aunt.

"Oh you know me" Melissa rolled her eyes, "been spending a lot of time in Tenerife, been to the Bahamas (it's lovely there you can swim with pigs), in the summer I went to Grand Canaria and I've only just gotten back from Canada where I saw the most amazing snow storm".

Athena was sure that a lot of this was fabricated. Melissa loved to tell stories of grand holidays and one time affairs but there was never any proof that she'd travelled further than the Scottish border. Nevertheless Athena pretended to be interested as she sipped on her butter beer and zoned out from the world.

"So enough about my relationships" Melissa stated about twenty minutes after the beginning of her ramble. Athena hadn't even been aware that her aunt was talking about relationships as she placed her drink down and stared at her in confusion

"What about you Athena?" She smiled, "any boys on the go?"

"Well um... yes I suppose so" Athena murmured feeling slightly uncomfortable by Melissa's keen gaze.

"Pray tell" Melissa smiled,

"You've met him" Athena shrugged, "Remus"

"Oh the boy at Christmas last year... gosh you two have been friends for donkeys... how sweet, ah well he's slightly peaky got a few scars—"

"Melissa" Athena cut across her aunt not wanting her to delve into judgment about Remus,

"Sorry dear" Melissa smiled, "he's very polite and I'm sure you two are very happy"

"Yeah we are" Athena nodded. As she looked back to her aunt something struck her mind that she hadn't realised before. Melissa was an addict.

"Aunt Melissa" Athena started slow, "can I ask your advice on something?"