First Day (Closed)

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Here he was again. Back within the familiar and somewhat comforting walls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Remus received the news that he was going to be working here again, it filled him with joy. That and Remus had always felt at home in the schools Library and so he felt that being the Liberian was the perfect job for him. Even though the werewolf had his own share of problems, it still felt wonderful to be back. Today was his first day, so naturally he was a little nervous but at the same time excited about it all. Even though unfortunately, he couldn't get his old position back. The werewolf was content in the fact that he at least had some form of income. Which alone put his mind at rest.  

Morning had just come over Hogwarts and with it a warm day. Remus had awakened early to make sure that he had everything ready for his first day. The familiar walk down to the library felt a little odd for Remus but he was happy none the less. A small smile played on his lips, as he stepped inside of the Library and glanced around him. Having spent a lot of time in here as a former student, Lupin knew the layout well. Dressed today in a casual pair of brown trousers, a loose white shirt and a loose jumper. Remus took in a deep breath before looking around him, instantly the sound of students caught his attention. A sound that he had missed at heart. Some of his best memories had come from the inside of these very walls. Pulling his wand out of his pocket, Remus flicked it lightly at a near by stack of books which flew up in to the air before rushing off and putting themselves on their correct shelves.

The faint smell of ink filled his nostrils as he moved passed a near by set of students. A smell, which made Remus, feel more relaxed, even though his mind was in other places. But one fear still lingered in the back of Remus’s mind even now. His condition. What would the student’s parents think of that? A monster being around their children? A few of the many questions that went across Remus’s mind, when he had taken the job. Remus of course knew that it came with a risk but in the end, had a feeling that in the long term it would help out. Laughter was what caught his attention next, which instantly made Remus pause on the spot and look around by a near by bookcase.

”Could you please keep the noise down? There are other students who are working.”

Remus said politely to the small group of Gryffindors behind the case. Instantly one of the group members nodded back to him, which made Remus nod back and smile in approval. So far, so good right? Once again he flicked his wand and placed another set of books on the nearby shelves before continuing his walks around the Library. The job didn’t seem so bad, if anything it was quite peaceful. Soon enough, Remus returned to his desk at the front and took a seat behind it. If he was honest, he did find it a bit odd to be sat where Madam Pince had once sat. Something felt strange about it but at the same time good. The place was so quiet, but that was what Remus liked about it so much. The Library had been a place where he could think things over calm down and try to work out all the emotions he was going through.

A voice though soon pulled him away from his deep thoughts, which made the werewolf blink and look away from the window. How long had he been in that state? Why didn’t he realise what he was doing? Did it look unprofessional of him? Calm down Lupin.
 
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It was a laugh… He, Oliver Marcas Wood could not find a book in the library?! Admitted, it was some time till he last had set a foot into it and even as a student he had not been extremely studious, but… this was a book about Quidditch! And everyone knowing him only a little must know that he had everything concerning Quidditch mapped out like the back of his hand! But the book he looked for, a certain compilation about Flying Maneuvers you could also use in a game and which he had wanted to present to his eagerly learning First Years, was nowhere to be seen. It wasn’t with the Quidditch department, yet it was also not in the general area. Had someone taken it maybe? But he knew it would look extremely odd to scout every table now to see if one certain student had it lying there and was needing it for Merlin knew what. Maybe he should just try and come back tomorrow? But no… that would put him in severe time pressure before the actual class, and who knew, maybe it would not be there tomorrow either. The best way, like always, was just to ask.

Asking someone about something of course required you to admit that you were ignorant of some fact and no one liked to do that. The old Oliver probably would have tried to conceal that fact, especially when it came to his all-time favourite subject, Quidditch and Flying in general. But maybe that was also a part of the learning process, admitting that you were dependant on others in some aspects. It certainly was part of a maturing process to not feel ashamed to ask for assistance when you really needed it. So he would go to the librarian and ask about the whereabouts of the book. If anyone should know, it would be her—no, him! That was another thing Oliver was only slowly getting used to. After all, he had only been informed in the staff room this very morning that the new librarian was to be Remus Lupin, his old DADA teacher that had gotten him through his NEWT level in excellent shape. Even though he had not much else than Quidditch on his mind back then, he had still been relieved to not have to go through graduation with someone like Quirrel or Lockhart at his side.

Hmm… would Lupin be able to help him then, if this was only his first day? You couldn’t expect miracles from a man after all. But the asking part was always the wiser in the end, and so he made his way quietly towards the librarian’s desk – only to find his old professor deep in thoughts, looking out of the window as if he was seeing into a different world. At first, Oliver just waited politely, not wanting to intrude, but as the seconds trickled by, he began to shuffle uncomfortably and finally cleared his throat. “Um… Mr. Lupin? I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I’m looking for a particular book, and can’t find it anywhere. Could you maybe help me with that?”

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Why was this suddenly all bothering him so much? Did he really have that much playing on his mind? Clearly. Remus had found himself so deep in his thoughts, that he hadn’t noticed anyone come in to the Library. An open copy of The Daily Prophet lay beside him, a student having obviously left it behind. But Remus hadn’t noticed it just yet. This seemed to be normal for the werewolf at the moment, going off in to a trance world and being buried inside of his own thoughts. His emotions all over the place, feeling like a never-ending roller coaster. So many thoughts were jamming themselves in to his mind all at once, that it was giving Remus a bit of a headache.
So much in fact, he didn’t even acknowledge that Oliver had made his way over towards his desk or that the young man was actually seeking his attention.

But when a voice snapped him away from his thoughts, Remus quickly snapped his attention back in front of him. He blinked a few times as he registered where he was and what he was doing, before he spotted Oliver. The werewolf raised an eyebrow briefly, before a small smile came across his lips. Good old Oliver Wood, a face that Remus couldn’t forget. Talented in Quidditch if Remus remembered rightly and quite intelligent as well. Warmth filled Remus’s cheeks as he cleared his throat, straightened himself up and attempted to look at least professional. That was clearly failing so it would seem. Finally, after a few brief moments and getting comfortable he finally spoke.

”Hello Oliver. Please none of that Mr Lupin rubbish please feel free to call me Remus. That’s quite all right, I do apologise my mind was elsewhere. What can I do for you?”

Remus replied politely as he placed his hands together, his eyes flicking away briefly to the open paper beside him. He soon looked back up to Oliver and nodded as the other mentioned about a book. Well, that was his job and so he was going to help Oliver as best he could. Remus might have not been in the Library in a while, but he knew the place like the back of his hand. What subject did Oliver want? Quidditch most likely? That sounded about right. The werewolf continued to listen before leaning forward a bit more in his chair. If he could help a student at least once today, then he felt that he has at least done his job.

”I should be able to help yes. What book are you looking for in particular? If anything I could tell or show you the correct part of the Library that it is placed. That or if we have it available. “

Remus added in a soft tone, as he watched a student walk passed behind Oliver and gave Remus a light wave. He returned the wave before looking down to the open paper and quickly shutting it. That was the last thing he wanted to see today, why? Well, that was a bit of a soft subject right now. Upon waking up this morning, Remus had been reading about various articles in the paper. When one about werewolves came up though, he found that he couldn’t move on. How long would it be until he ended up in something like that? Only time would tell.

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It was moments like these when it finally sunk in for Oliver how much things had changed for him. That a former teacher would offer his first name to him was something he could only slowly grasp and felt a bit uneasy about. First name base indicated a level of equality, and he had only been out of school for a few years. Then again, it was less peculiar with Mr. Lupin, who had, after all, only been his teacher for a year. He knew he would die a little inside if he ever was offered to call Professor McGonagall by her first name. Minerva… no, that just rubbed wrong!
Though Oliver would have to get used to it, he knew that very well, and he probably would after some time. He was growing up, he was no longer a student, and he also was not a Quidditch Player anymore with no attachment to Hogwarts. Hogwarts had called him again, and there were consequences for it.

“Alright, Remus”, he acceded to the offer, smiling hesitantly, but with a certain warmness in his eyes that showed he was only unsure, not averse to the offer. Besides, it would have been extremely rude to decline the man this wish, and if Oliver was anything, he did not like to be considered rude, never wanting to give into a temper, always striving to be fair. Now he could not so much execute true sportmanship on the pitch anymore, he would doubly do so in real life. “It might take some time to get used to, though, so excuse me if I make any lapses in the beginning. I hope your new job suits you well, and I hope the students won’t be impertinent towards you.” Madame Pince had ruled the library with her very special way of an iron fist that could be dealt out in so much as a glance, so he wondered how Remus would do in this environment, what sort of librarian he would be.

“I’m searching for a book on Flying Maneuvres”, he explained then, cocking his head to recall the exact title. “By Ezrael Thoroughhead… ‘Loop and Drop – a guide to basic and advanced Flying Tricks’ I think it was called. I searched on the supposed shelf already, but maybe it was put elsewhere now…?”

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Remus watched Oliver’s reaction carefully, before listening as the other replied to his words. His smile soon dropped a little as he watched Oliver. He hadn’t offended the other man had he? Because if so that certainly hadn’t been Remus’s intention at all. A light blush came over the werewolf’s cheeks briefly before he cleared his throat. Nice going Lupin. Brushing that thought to one side briefly, Remus continued to listen to what Oliver said. When the title of the book reached his ears, instantly his mind began to produce a mental map layout of the Library they currently stood in. Now that was a bit unusual, he could have sworn he saw that book earlier today. So, where had it gone to now? Perhaps a student had misplaced it? That sounded about right, oh well, Remus was sure he could hunt it down for Oliver.

“Ah yes, I think I saw that book earlier today. Odd that it has gone missing, perhaps another student may have moved it. I shall have a look for you Oliver. Also, thank you for your kind words and I do apologise if I have made you feel uncomfortable in anyway. I can understand why it might make you feel uncomfortable. “

Remus replied shooting Oliver a friendly smile, before standing and thinking over where the book might be. His expression turned to a mild frown as moved from behind the desk, and then he walked over towards Oliver. Hands slipping in to his trouser pockets purely out of habit as he did so. Remus gave his head a light nod in gesture for Oliver to follow, before making his way towards the correct section of where the book would normally be. Why did it not surprise him that Oliver was looking for a book on flying? Not that it was a bad thing, if anything Remus had been expecting something like that.

“How have you been Oliver? I hope life is treating you well. I have heard good things about you.”

The werewolf offered kindly as he turned down a particular aisle, gently brushed by a student before coming to a stop. His hand moved up to rub at his chin lightly, as his eyes flicked along the shelves in search of the book. That was before he pulled out his wand and gave it a light flick, soon enough a book came flying towards him which the werewolf caught in his hands. Remus checked over the book briefly, before shaking his head and returning it to the shelf. Nearly the correct one but not quite. This certainly was confusing.

“Strange. I’m afraid another student might have the book Oliver. However, if I do see it I shall let you know. Also, in reply about the students, they seem fine so far.”

Lupin added with an air of confusion to his tone as he looked over to Oliver briefly, then back to the shelf and continued to search for the book.

“I think I might know one other place it could have been put. But if it is there, I will be very surprised.”