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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Chapter 51. Third Year. The Man Who Cried Wolf. Christmas Day, 1973. Remus's odd late-night conversation with Philomena had caused him to re-evaluate his anxieties about girlfriends. His ability to comfort her had stirred no particular feelings of chivalry or affection, only a mild sense of relief that he'd got her to stop crying. He definitely had no desire to get that close to any other girl.
He thought about Narcissa for the first time in a while. Remus had secretly thought Narcissa was the most beautiful girl he knew, before she'd dyed her hair anyway. She had a regal sharpness which appealed to him on some base level. But even she was made foolish by love, risking her own life, in fact.
The sight of Philomena sobbing in her nightie only cemented in Remus's mind the revelation that love and relationships were not worth the misery. He had enough pain in his life. Let Sirius and James work it out for themselves. But for the time being, Remus felt very intelligent for having come to this realization so early in life. He had probably saved himself a lot of needless stress.
Christmas morning was as wonderful as it had been the year before.
Chapter 2: What reflections does Remus have on love and relationships?
Even Philomena perked up once she saw the gifts under the tree with her name on them. Remus was able to enjoy the immense satisfaction of handing out his own presents, and Sirius and the potters were all suitably pleased and thanked him profusely.
He himself received a chess set from the Potters, which was perhaps the most expensive thing Remus had ever owned, and bought just for him, not secondhand. Along with the usual assortment sweets and practical jokes from the Marauders, it was a very good haul. Sirius looked a bit nonplussed at breakfast, as everyone else wolfed down their smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. "'Sup with you?'
James asked, mouthful. Sirius shrugged. "'Nothing from Andromeda,' he said quietly. "'I didn't think I'd get presents or anything. Now she's got the baby, but I thought maybe a card. I sent her one.' James swallowed and patted his friend's shoulder. Owl might just be flying late. You know how the post is this time of year.
James had received a brand new broom for Christmas, and as soon as breakfast was finished with, all three boys headed straight outside to test it. Sirius had his own broom with him, and Mr. Potter suggested with an arched eyebrow that Remus take James's old one. Yeah, have it if you want, Moony, James nodded enthusiastically. To keep. Thanks.
Remus took it, unable to say no in front of James' parents. Goodness knew what he was supposed to do with it over the summer. Try explaining that one to Matron. James and Sirius spent the rest of the morning showing off, and Remus spent it hovering, just skimming the ground with his toes, trying to read his book and look like he was enjoying the broom.
He hoped Peter had received his gifts from them and wasn't having too bad of a time with his own family. They were called in by the potter's house-elf, Gully, who was dressed in a festive tea towel and had a sprig of holly tucked behind one ear.
it was almost lunch time and the house smelled deliciously of roast beef with all the trimmings upstairs washed and changed the lot of you mrs potter shook her wooden spoon at them i've had goalie set your things out they washed and dressed quickly stomachs growling as the wonderful smells from the kitchen wafted up the stairs
Just as they began to make their way down, there was the telltale crack of apparition outside the front door. Sirius tensed again, and Remus, one step behind him on the staircase, gripped his shoulder in a way that he hoped was comforting. Sirius turned around and looked Remus in the eye, giving him a gentle smile of appreciation. It was quite unserious-like, but it felt good.
The bell rang and they both turned back to it, James running forward to open the door. A couple stood in the entranceway, a young man and a woman holding a bundle in her arms. He had a mop of fair curly hair and was rather stalkily billed. She was taller and more slender. As they stepped into the light of the hallway, Remus sucked in his breath.
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Chapter 3: How does Christmas morning unfold for Remus and his friends?
Only the Gryffindors toasted. Andromeda narrowed her eyes at Sirius. Think so, little cousin? Try marrying a non-relative. I'll have to, Sirius responded, as Gully cleared away the plates and Mrs. Potter fetched in the Christmas pudding. After Sissy's wedding, there aren't any black women left. There's Dora. Excuse me, Ted said, protectively covering his daughter's ears.
Could we please get her through her first Christmas before arranging a betrothal?
Chapter 4: What gifts do Remus and his friends receive on Christmas?
I'm teasing, Andromeda leaned over to kiss them both. Dora can marry anyone she likes when she's old enough, and I can say with absolute certainty that it won't be anyone at this table. Everyone laughed again. Remus eyed Darius furtively. He was looking just as merry as Mr. Potter, his face glowing red from the fire whiskey he'd been knocking back.
Once the pudding was extinguished, served, and eaten, crackers pulled and terrible jokes read out, the party adjourned to the living room. Mrs. Potter, Philomena, and Andromeda went upstairs to change into their party dresses. Mr. Potter smoked his pipe, and Ted settled Dora down for a nap.
The boys settled into a game of snap, before Darius and Mr. Potter wrangled everyone into a round of charades. Remus had never played charades before, let alone magical charades, which involved a lot of red and gold sparks, though that may just have been high spirits. In the evening, more guests began to arrive, and the house was soon full of music, laughter, and pleasant chatter.
Andromeda and Sirius appointed themselves DJs, rifling through their combined record collections and alternating blasting Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody and I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day by Wizard.
They're actually called wizard, though, Sirius kept telling everyone earnestly.
And just listen to it. Even Philomena forgot her melancholy for a few hours, getting up and moving to the music along with James, who was just about the same height as her and had no clue how to dance, but was pretty chuffed when she took his hand and showed him how to twist. Quite sure he would not be missed, Remus slipped between the throngs of people in search of Darius.
There must have been a hundred witches and wizards in attendance, some of them teachers at Hogwarts, who Remus did everything to avoid. He heard at least three people murmur that Dumbledore was there somewhere. They're both blacks, you know, he heard one witch whispering to her friend as they watched Andromeda and Sirius giggling hysterically by the record player.
She's run off and had a baby with that Tonks chap, and the boy, well, he was the heir, but I've heard Orion is planning to contest it as soon as their younger boy is of age. Quite the little Hellraiser from what I've heard. He can't be any worse than Orion was. I went to school with him. Nasty, vicious kid. Sirius is a ray of sunshine compared to Orion.
And don't get me started on that bitch Walpurga. Shhh, the first witch said nervously. You never know who's listening these days, even at the potter's. Well, what's he doing here at all, I'd like to know. He's chums with the Potter boy. You know what Effie and Monty are like. They've taken in the Pettigrew's eldest, too. She's over there. Yes, I heard about that.
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Chapter 5: How does Remus feel about the arrival of new guests during Christmas dinner?
But he liked his own way, and he was seen as a bit of an extremist in those days. Wanted an overhaul of the werewolf registry, better identification and tracking measures. We just didn't have the manpower for it, and resources were better spent elsewhere. And Lupin. He'd been working with dark creatures for so many years, he thought he saw werewolves everywhere.
Always saw danger where there clearly wasn't any. Honestly, we all thought he was an eccentric. We couldn't have known. When they brought Gray back in, I was there. I saw him, and I don't mind telling you, none of us thought he was a threat. Clearly drunk, confused, a vagrant, that's what we thought. And when Lupin went off on one of his rants about werewolves, well, we didn't think twice.
You let Greyback go, Remus said stonily. Darius looked very sorry for himself now, almost weepy. He nodded. We let him go. Of course now. Now we know. If only we'd listened. Lyle killed himself just after that, didn't even want to hear the committee's apology. He sighed and looked at Remus again. I've always wondered what drove him to it, you know.
Some say it was the guilt, not being able to stop Greyback. I wouldn't have thought he was the type, and to abandon his family like that, I mean, you couldn't have been much more than a baby. Five, Remus said. I was five. Yes, well, Darius shifted uncomfortably, looking morosely down at his empty glass. I have my own little theory about what happened. What if Greyback came after him, eh?
We know how dangerous he is now, we know he hates wizards more than anything else, and your father said some very unpleasant things. So what I wonder is, did Greyback go back and get him? Did he bite him? If that's what happened, then I must say I don't blame Lyle at all. Only good beast's a dead beast. Mm, Remus replied, feeling very hot and a bit dizzy. And Greyback?
Last I heard, he's in league with you-know-who. Darius shook his head. And the damned irony of it all is that we need your father more than ever. Still, he smiled at Remus kindly. Don't think he died in vain, dear boy. We did end up implementing a lot of his reforms, particularly where half-breeds are concerned. Can't escape the registry now, no sir. He slammed his wizened old fist down.
Excuse me, Remus turned quickly. He had heard enough. I hear Mrs. Potter calling. He slipped back into the crowd of merrymakers, the music still blaring as Sirius and Andromeda led everyone in chorus.
So here it is, Merry Christmas. Everybody's having fun. It's real. Listen to the future.
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