Chapter 14. Lupin
"Wait, what's your name?"
Adrian Wesson froze for a moment when he heard Lupin give his name.
Although many details from Harry Potter had grown hazy, he still had some impression of Lupin.
Seemed… he was a werewolf, wasn't he?
Seeing Adrian's reaction, Lupin tensed at once. His eyes dropped, as if instinctively trying to avoid the other man's gaze.
"My name is Remus Lupin, sir," he repeated.
"Oh, all right, Mr Lupin." Adrian, noticing Lupin's triggered response, patted his shoulder. "No need to be nervous, sir. When would you be free to come and help me? I think it'd be best before September—by then I'll be very busy…"
Hearing Adrian's answer, Lupin paused, then let out a faint sigh of relief.
It seemed the other man hadn't recognised who he was, nor noticed his rather furry condition.
He stole a look at Adrian's expression and, once he was sure the man simply wanted to hire someone and wasn't probing him, his taut shoulders eased a little.
"Within two months?" he murmured after a moment's thought. "My time's fairly free at present; I can start whenever."
Adrian nodded, satisfied.
He didn't care whether the man before him was a werewolf, a dog-man, or a cat-man. In the original story, Remus Lupin was an excellent wizard—that was enough.
Adrian had no wish for an ignoramus to ruin his plantation.
So long as his herbs and plants received proper care, hiring a werewolf was no big deal.
Adrian fished a dark card from his pocket and handed it to Lupin. "This is the address."
Lupin took the card and glanced down.
The material felt unusual to the touch—like treated bark. In elegant script it read: No. 17, Privet Drive. Sunshine, Daisies and Sweet Cream Potted Plants. Proprietor: Adrian Wesson.
"'Sunshine, Daisies and Sweet Cream'?" Lupin softly repeated the name on the card, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"That's right. A good name, isn't it?" Adrian chuckled.
Lupin didn't quite think so, but he still nodded in front of his future boss and tucked the card carefully into his pocket.
"Then shall we say tomorrow afternoon?" he looked up and asked.
"No problem." Adrian held out his hand. "I hope you won't regret taking this job."
…
The next day, Lupin arrived punctually at the address Adrian had given him.
Although the location was in a Muggle residential neighbourhood, there was nothing strange about that.
Many wizards chose to hide among Muggle dwellings to keep their identities concealed.
When Lupin reached the shop door, he knew at a glance he'd found his workplace.
A small notice hung on the door. As he approached, a line of words floated up across it:
Remus Lupin, please enter here.
Plainly, this was the place.
He pushed the door; the shop bell chimed brightly.
Lupin paused just inside, his gaze sweeping swiftly over the entire shop.
The light was gentle; the air was fresh with earth and greenery. Wooden shelves held all manner of potted plants—some common in the Muggle world, some from the magical one.
A normal shop, Lupin thought with a small, private nod.
"You finally made it, Mr Lupin."
Adrian's voice came from behind the counter. He was lounging in a chair, waiting for his new hire to arrive.
At the sound, Lupin drew back his gaze and looked over to the counter. Adrian was watching him with an easy smile, as if he'd been expecting him for some time.
Seeing Lupin at the door, Adrian beckoned. "Come in, sir."
Lupin stepped closer, approaching the counter.
He let his eyes pass over the shop once more, confirming it truly was an ordinary business.
"Well then, boss," Lupin said, stopping and lifting an eyebrow, "what exactly will my work be?"
"Very simple." Adrian rose from the chair, walked round the counter, and moved to the centre of the shop. "Take care of these plants, keep them healthy, and help tend the shop."
As he spoke, he casually lifted a pot bearing a plant of tiny golden leaves. "For example, this one—have a look. This is a pot of Two-eared Grass. Do you know how to care for it?"
Lupin frowned slightly and bent to examine the plant.
"Two-eared Grass usually needs no special care. It's very adaptable; unless the conditions are extreme, it's hard to kill." He paused. "But… I've never seen golden Two-eared Grass."
Adrian nodded, satisfied. It seemed the wizard before him knew something about herbs.
"Excellent, Mr Lupin. Don't doubt it—it is Two-eared Grass. The colour's mutated a bit, perhaps, but trust me: it's Two-eared Grass." Having finished, Adrian put the pot back on the shelf.
Watching him set the pot down, Lupin mused for a moment. "So that's my job? Sounds easy."
"Of course." Adrian folded his arms and leaned against the counter with a mysterious smile. "But that's only the basics."
Lupin arched an eyebrow. "What else?"
"Did you think I'd hire a wizard just to water and prune ordinary plants?" Adrian shrugged. "That would be a terrible waste."
Lupin's curiosity, already piqued by Adrian's words the day before, sharpened. Adrian had said he had a very large plantation; that, no doubt, was where the real work lay.
"Mhm." Adrian's smile deepened, and he turned towards the back of the shop. "Come with me, Mr Lupin. We've herbs that aren't so suitable for display out front. I'll show you the real job."
Adrian pushed open the door behind the counter that led to the plantation, and gestured invitingly.
Lupin hesitated a moment, then stepped through.
This time, Adrian had set the entrance in the middle of a lawn. As soon as Lupin entered, he saw three glasshouses spaced around him, and at the centre, the Tree of Wisdom.
Adrian had contrived a small disguise for it. The Tree had drawn in its soft green light, now appearing to be nothing more than an ordinary oak.
Adrian led the way across the grass towards the most distant glasshouse.
"This place is… much larger than I imagined," Lupin said as he walked, looking around.
Adrian chuckled and glanced back at him. "Naturally."
At the glasshouse door, Lupin looked up. A large Roman numeral "III" was set above it.
Adrian stepped forward and knocked. Almost at once, the door was pulled open from within.
"Welcome to Glasshouse Three, Mr Lupin," Adrian said, stepping aside to let him pass. "This is where we'll be working from now on."
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium