Seeing his expression shift, Veronica's mood brightened. Oh yes, he wants us to try!
However, while his expression was answer enough for her, he was prevented from saying anything when hearing the garden gate open.
"Man, that was really hard work."
"Oh, it's Unca Padfoot!" Harry shouted when seeing Sirius enter the garden, only being stopped from jumping up to hug him by the water in the pool.
"Oh, Sirius... eh, you look pretty worn. Has something happened?" Thomas asked, wondering since it was a Saturday and thus Sirius didn't have to commute for his probation time on the force.
"You could say that. Remember yesterday was the full moon?" That made them realize why Sirius could be so tired. "You have a free chair? I really need to sit down first."
Pulling up another deck chair for him, Sirius almost fell into it and then gladly accepted the cold lemonade Veronica offered to him, downing almost half the glass before he was fit to tell them more. "Thanks, I really needed that." He then lowered his volume so no one could hear. "Well, as I said, last night was the full moon and you know what happens with Remus then."
They both knew of course. About a year ago, Remus had felt he needed to be open about his lycanthropy to them. They both had been a bit unnerved at first, but then felt that while the wolf was indeed very dangerous, it only happened at specific dates and then Remus himself was making sure no one would get hurt. They had been more angry at how he was treated due to a sickness that had been given to him by a psychopath by intent.
"It was worse than usual?" Veronica asked, having heard some tales of how painful it could be to Remus.
"The worst in a long time. The wolf clearly was unhappy and I had my paws full to keep him occupied, lest he starts to hurt Remus. This is why I'm so tired - it had been a long night and I got little sleep. Remus is still in bed, I don't think he'll get up for the whole day. We're already dreading that this night will be more of the same," Sirius explained.
"This is horrible. Hasn't anyone ever tried to ease the suffering of these poor people? I mean, it sounds like the sickness has been known for centuries," Veronica asked, still wondering how Remus had managed to live with it for next to 20 years.
Sirius gave off a humorless laugh. "Are you joking? As soon as someone gets infected, they are no longer seen as human. The law classifies them as beasts and their lives are made as crappy as possible. Remus had to hide it so he could even get an education."
"This is..." Thomas was trying to find words for it, but failed. "Do these people even have an ounce of logic in them?"
"No, of course not." Sirius shook his head. "That general policy is only driving these people to crime and making them hate magical society. The psychopath who infected Remus? He's the product of these idiotic policies, felt that he should create as many as possible to pay back society for their crappy treatment of werewolves."
That was a disturbing thought in itself.
Thomas then gave the still oblivious Harry a look. "Perhaps we should discuss such things in private in the future," he said quietly. "After all, Harry is starting to grow old enough to start remember what we are talking about. No need to court trouble."
"Perhaps that should go for the garden as well," Veronica added, pointing out that someone else could have listened in, had they been too loud. "All that whispering would look suspicious to anyone watching us."
While their neighbors probably would have dismissed it as nonsense had they heard any of their conversation, they should start to become more careful with where they talk about such things. They had become somewhat lax - a bad habit they would have to stop as soon as possible.
...in the Evans home, October 5th...
Thank all goodness these episodes are rare at his current age, otherwise people would ask questions, Veronica thought after making sure that Harry was asleep in bed.
Harry's episodes of accidental magic were thankfully very rare, though there had been one or two close calls ever since they had taken him in. They also knew that once Harry would grow older, there would be more of these coming. She was just glad Remus had been at home, and he was capable of quickly undoing the damage done before anyone could witness it. Having adult wizards close by while raising a magical child did have its advantages.
I honestly have no idea what went through his head when it happened. Poor ' cat. Thank goodness for Remus; no way I would have tolerated officials from that Ministry showing up.
She'd already had enough excitement after getting the test results from her doctor, so Harry's magical episode had made the day a bit too exciting for her tastes. She yet had to share the news, having waited until the right moment where she could be alone with Thomas. Now looked to be a good moment to share the good news.
Walking down the stairs, she saw her husband having put his attention to the television, eagerly watching the sports news about the recent results in the Football League First Division. I should have remembered that it was a football evening. Great...
Knowing that if she wanted to get anything done, she would have to get her husband away from the television set. "Thomas, darling?"
"Uh, yes?" he asked distractedly.
Veronica knew she had to be more direct. "I have something important to share with you."
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