Dreadful Day...Drinks Needed. [Closed-Addie]

[Remus Lupin]

It was hard to find employment for Remus Lupin.

No one wanted to hire a werewolf. No in their right mind should. Everyone turned down his applications and only when he got an interview, it was all luck and he never got the job.

Today Remus had an interview with Gringotts Wizard Bank and like all places he wanted to work at, they got his hopes high with an interview which, as usual, he made a complete fool of himself.

The interview had been late in the day, near six pm and Remus dressed in his best clothes. But five minutes into the interview, Remus knew he wasn't going to get the job. Turns out the man hadn't read the part where it said 'WEREWOLF'.

After the interview, Remus went down the road to the Leaky Cauldron. He needed a drink, especially after such a dreadful interview. Tom was at the bar as usual and someone was passed out at the back, as usual. Things in Diagon Alley were like clock work.

Remus took a spot on a bar stool, Tom handed Remus a Firewhiskey and in exchange, Remus gave him a few sickles. He took a deep sip from the drink and noticed the doors of the girls room open. A young woman made her way to the bar and to Remus' surprise, she sat on the stool next to him. Remus glanced at the bar: all the spots but one were taken. Most people at the bar were wizards, with the exception of a few witches who were gossiping. Looking at the man who sat beside the empty stool, Remus didn't blame the woman for taking the seat beside him. That man looked drunk, depressed and hygienically challenged.

Deciding to make conversation for the sake of it, Remus passed the bowl of Licorice Snaps to the girl and introduced himself. "Remus Lupin. Friends call me Moony..." he said and paused, "Were you in Gryffindor until a few years ago? You look familiar."

[Adriana Bell-Black]

Too many times Adriana found herself walking down the streets of Diagon Alley alone, with neither her daughter nor fiancée to keep her company. With Regulus working at Hogwarts and Katie wanting to spend all her time with Sirius or the Potters, Adriana began to find things to do as her presence wouldn’t be needed.

Having visited Quality Quidditch Supplies, Gringotts, Madam Malkins and the Apothecary, Adriana made her way to the one place where she might be alone yet surrounded by people-The Leaky Cauldron.

Stepping into the crowded pub, she noted that there weren’t any familiar spaces, and even less available seating. A few seats scattered about, most generally next to gossiping women or drunken wizards, neither of which she wanted to be accompanied by. Sighing in relief she noted an empty stool at the bar, which she plopped herself into as she ordered a gilly water.

Seeing a bowl of Licorice snaps come into view, Adriana raised her head to look at the offering hand. A bright smile lit her face at the worn, but familiar face. Happily taking a Licorice snap from the bowl, she plopped it in her mouth savoring the intake of sugar. "Adriana Bell. Friends call me Addie amongst other things..." she said teased by mimicking his introduction, "Indeed I was in Gryffindor Remus Lupin, I was two years behind you. Although with all the time that’s past I wouldn’t have recognized myself either." She said just a bright as her smile.

[Remus Lupin]

Happy to see that the woman took one of the Licorice Snap's, Remus took one for himself as well. Remus grinned, familiar with humour after having two great friends who loved to joke around. "Ha ha," Remus said with a sarcastic laugh. "I could bore you with the story of how I got my nickname." Remus said, hoping Addie would get the hint behind it, how some of his greatest mates would say he didn't get the nickname because of his wolfish alter-ego but because of some story involving him having no pants.

Remus smiled, happy to see that she wasn't bothered by the fact he had forgotten who she was. The name clicked for Remus. He knew she looked familiar but he didn't know that this was Adriana. "You'd be Regulus Black's fiancée, right?" he asked, rather intrigued. So this was the future wife of Padfoot's brother. I expected a Slytherin, thought Moony. "I'm not a total stalker type of person, I don't know your house and relationship with Regulus because I like follow you or anything," Remus said, hearing the words he had spoke a moment before and found them a little creppy and so now he was trying to defend himself. "It's just...his brother has mentioned you. And Regulus." finished Remus.

He could not resist from taking another sip from his Firewhiskey, glad to have something to loosen him up from all his stress from the day. Remus smiled as the drink slid down his throat and took another Licorice Snap.

[Adriana Bell-Black]

Adriana grinned at his sarcasm; despite his boyish behavior his sarcasm gave away his maturity. "Oh I bet," Said Adriana with a calculating look. "Given who your friends were, I know your name has nothing to do with a hidden desire to flash your rear constantly as Sirius is not called Padfoot because he likes feminine products on his feet." She said looking pointedly at him. Sirius never gave away any of his friends secrets, but after showing Adriana his animagus form she assumed that he didn’t do something like that on his own.

Adriana blushed as Remus referred to her as Regulus’s Fiancée, she was still getting used to the term and truthfully she didn’t think many people knew. "Yes I am." Taking another licorice snap she munched on it quickly while he seemed to be in thought, ‘probably thinking that Regulus would have married a Slytherin or something of that sort’. "It’s perfectly alright, we went to Hogwarts with some of the Wizarding world’s best gossipers, and it was bound to get around somehow. Not to mention we have friends in common." Giggling at his attempt to correct himself she shook her head smiling brightly. "I already told you its perfectly fine. I’m sure Sirius has, he’s like a bloody proud father." She said with a laugh. “Although I didn’t know you spoke to Regulus’s, but that’s good though. No house grudges I suppose.” She said mildly intrigued as to why those two were talking after many years of house rivalry.

Seeing Remus continue to drink what smelled like Firewhisky, she gave him a sympathetic smile. “What’s got you drinking something so strong this early in the morning?” She said softly, not wanting to maybe upset him, or make him think she was trying to gossip.

[Remus Lupin]

With her words, Remus couldn't help but worry if Adriana had never believed the fake stories the Marauder's used to cover the truth behind their nicknames. She may not believe those lies but there was no way she knew the truth, or believed it. There was no possibility others knew of his secret. Only the Professor's, Marauders, Lily and Snape had ever known the truth when he was at school. Remus grinned. "You've heard the wrong stories," Remus said, trying to cover for his mates. "I'm Moony because once my pants fell in front of this girl I liked and she got the whole view...Padfoot is Pads because he has he weirdest feet in the world...like a dogs, padded, you know?" Remus said and grinned. There also was stories for Prongs and Wormtail but he didn't bother to say them.

Remus reached and took another sip of his drink. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see that Adriana was blushing at the mention of Regulus. Remus laughed at how she referred to Hogwarts gossip. "Rumours do spread around there like spitfire. I'm not sure if everyone in the wizarding world knows just yet though," Remus said and took a licorice snap to munch on. "Good. I didn't want to seem like a weirdo." he said and rolled his eyes. "Pads has talked like a proud father...he's excited and very happy for the both of you," Remus said and added, "As am I. Congratulations."

Had Regulus mentioned how he talked to Remus the other day in Diagon Alley to Adriana? Must've. "I've never been big on house rivalry. I was the 'nice and peaceful' Marauder." Remus explained. "Grudges aren't healthy either, I don't like to harbour that much bad energy. Plus, Regulus is Sirius' brother...why wouldn't I talk to him?" Remus asked rhetorically and took a licorice snap.

"It's not too early, nearly dinnertime. It's never to early for a Marauder to start drinking," Remus said defensively. Remus couldn't help but sigh and look down at his drink. "Long day so far. Just had an interview at Gringrott's as a liaison between the Ministry and goblins...once again, I've got a," Remus said and took a pause to change his voice into a much deeper voice, imitating the man who interviewed him. "'I'm sorry Mr Lupin, we just can't have you working for us.'" Moony said, with equal contempt in his voice as the man had. Remus sighed and took a drink from his Firewhiskey. After a good sip, he set it down and announced the truth to Adriana. "I've been out of school for four years now...I haven't had a job more than a month and I've only had three jobs. I'm the world's worst employee."

[Adriana Bell-Black]

Adriana raised an eyebrow as he moved to correct her and her assumptions about their nick names. "Have I now?" She asked skeptically, she noticed his demeanor completely change, so she didn’t push the subject. "He does have funny feet, his laugh is much like a dog’s too. Although I’m sure the girl was a lot happier than you were with your pants down." She remarked teasingly.

Following Remus’s example she drank more of her gilly water, letting the liquid cool her throat. "Probably, Rita Skeeter hasn’t gotten word yet, then I’d give it about a day or two. Merlin that woman hated me in Hogwarts." She said with an eye roll, remembering the foul things Rita used to write about in the school newspapers and her infamous ability to gossip. "Even if you were, Sirius beats you in that department, you are safe." she said with a grin. "Yeah, I’m happy things have managed to turn around, he is much like one of my very own big brothers. I don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t given his blessing." Laying a hand tentatively on his shoulder, she smiled brightly at him "Thank you. Naturally when I manage to sit Regulus down long enough to finish the invitations, you will be receiving one, so keep you calendar open." She teased.

She nodded in agreement, remembering that he indeed was the passive one out of the mischievous four. "No they’re not. Well it was only recently when the two even spoke to each other civilly, neither of them did it for me back when we were at Hogwarts, so I’m happy with the current arrangements." She said all too happily, remembering the times when she had to split herself between the two because they couldn’t stand each others presence.

"Yes just like its never to early to rot your liver," She chided in a motherly tone. "Well they are bloody mad, any company should be more than happy to have you working for them, you’re a bloody brilliant wizard and you can’t let them make you think other wise.” She said passionately, somewhat disgusted at how the ministry and other companies were doing they’re recruitment. "Well, I have yet to hold my first, and the circumstances we faced didn’t help either. But chin up, something will come up and if not I’ll personally go with you and hex everyone into oblivion and we can take over the ministry or something like that." She said almost seriously, but more trying to lighten the mood, she truly hated those who had recently come into power and their methods.