"Come now, Arthur. You don't expect me to believe that, do you?"
"No," Ben admitted with a small shake of his head. "I don't. But it's true. And that's not all. He's trying to come back."
"Stop it, Arthur." Lupin's voice was gentle rather than dismissive. "Those are the sort of ghost stories grandmothers tell their grandchildren to keep them out of trouble."
"If that's what helps you sleep at night, Remus." Ben leaned back in his chair. "But he's moving. Last year he was inside Hogwarts, possessing Quirrell and trying to get his hands on the Philosopher's Stone. If it hadn't been for Harry Potter, he'd have come back then and there."
Lupin looked at him as though he were seeing a stranger.
"The Philosopher's Stone, hidden away in Hogwarts? Arthur, that's the sort of tale people come up with after one too many pints. And even if it were true, Harry Potter is just a child."
"But he's already stopped him once before, hasn't he?" Ben replied evenly. "Why is it so hard to believe he stopped him again?"
Lupin looked unconvinced, but before he could answer, Ben pressed on.
"And this year the Chamber of Secrets was opened again. Students were attacked."
"It was all blown out of proportion." Lupin shook his head. "Rita Skeeter made it sound as though Hogwarts was under siege, but it was just a cat that got petrified. Dumbledore has already explained what happened..."
"You believe everything that comes out of that man's mouth?"
"If it hadn't been for my nephew, Hogwarts would've seen death again, just as it did fifty years ago, the last time Tom Riddle walked those corridors."
Lupin frowned.
"Your nephew?" Lupin repeated. "You've met him?"
"Yeah." Ben smiled fondly. "I've crossed paths with most of my family over the years without them ever realising it, but Benedict..." He gave a small shake of his head. "That lad's far too clever for his own good. Saw straight through my disguise."
He chuckled. "Good-looking too. Must take after his uncle."
The corner of Lupin's mouth twitched. "That's your source? A child?"
"He's not just a child." Ben leaned back in his chair. "He's a Seer."
"A Seer?" Lupin gave a small, disbelieving shake of his head. "Arthur... now you're putting your faith in prophecies? I'd trust Albus over any prophecy."
"You would, wouldn't you?" Ben replied with a knowing smile. "After all, he's kept your little secret all these years. But even Dumbledore couldn't hide the truth from my nephew."
Lupin didn't answer immediately; he'd been wondering how Arthur had known about him being a werewolf.
Ben continued before he could conclude.
"I know I'm never going to convince you."
"No," Lupin admitted. "Because if Voldemort really were returning, Albus would've told us."
"Oh yeah..." Ben rubbed at his chin thoughtfully. "I'd almost forgotten about your little club. The Order of the Phoenix, wasn't it? Not quite as secret as you lot seem to think."
Lupin's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"It's all right, Remus." Ben raised a hand dismissively. "I trust Dumbledore, too."
That seemed to catch Lupin even more off guard.
"You do?"
"I trust him to tell people exactly what they need to know, exactly when he decides they need to know it."
Lupin slowly rose from his chair, looking more weary than angry.
"I don't think that's fair."
"Maybe not." Ben shrugged. "Or maybe I'm right. Either way, you don't have to take my word for it."
Lupin frowned but said nothing.
"The next time you see Dumbledore, ask him yourself. Ask him whether he really believes Voldemort is gone."
Ben's eyes met Lupin's through the carved eyeholes of the squid mask.
"Then watch his face before he answers."
The conversation seemed to have reached its natural end. Lupin looked as though he wanted to say something else, but thought better of it. There wasn't much either of them could add without souring the mood further.
"Right then." Ben clapped his hands together lightly, his tone becoming noticeably lighter. "I think we've spent quite enough time discussing dead men, Dark Lords, and the end of the world."
He leaned back in his chair with a faint smile.
"So," he said, "how about we get back to why you came here? Are you still looking for a job?"
Lupin let out a weary sigh as he rose from his chair.
"I think... it's probably best if I leave."
He gave Ben a small, apologetic nod before turning towards the door.
"I'll pay you sixty Galleons a month."
Lupin's step faltered almost imperceptibly, but only for a moment. Then he carried on towards the door.
'Still as stubbornly upright as ever,' Ben thought, unable to suppress a smile beneath the squid mask. 'The man's pockets may be empty, but his pride certainly isn't.'
"And all the Wolfsbane Potion you'll ever need."
That stopped Lupin in his tracks.
Ben's smile widened ever so slightly beneath the mask.
'There you are.'
For several long seconds, Lupin remained where he was before, slowly turning back to face him.
"What's the catch?"
"No catch." Ben gave a small shrug. "I need someone reliable to keep this place running while I'm away. Tom's a good lad, but he's about as intimidating as an overcooked Yorkshire pudding."
Lupin folded his arms, his expression unconvinced.
"Don't insult my intelligence, Arthur. Hogwarts doesn't pay its professors sixty Galleons a month. Why would a pub?"
"Because I know what you're worth." Ben shrugged. "I'm not here most of the time, and I need someone who can keep this place from falling apart, stop the occasional disagreement before people start hurling curses, and keep his ears open. You're one of the few people I'd trust to do all three."
"Keep my ears open?" Lupin asked. "For what?"
"Anything unusual. Knockturn Alley has a habit of hearing tomorrow's news before the Ministry does."
Lupin considered that for a few moments before giving a slow nod.
"Is that all?"
"Not quite." Ben hesitated briefly. "If you come across any werewolves looking for honest work, send them my way."
Lupin frowned.
"Why?"
"Because every werewolf earning an honest wage is one less joining Fenrir Greyback." Ben leaned back in his chair, giving Remus a moment to think about it before continuing. "They don't have to fight for me. Frankly, I'd rather they never had to fight at all. I just don't want them ending up in Greyback's pack because nobody else was willing to give them a chance."
Remus remained thoughtful, not quite buying Arthur's goodwill.
"And if you hear something useful to the Order," Ben continued, "Pass it on too. I've no interest in keeping useful information from people trying to stop Voldemort."
He gave a small shrug.
"I'm paying you to be yourself, Remus. If you think there's some grand scheme behind that, you're welcome to keep looking."
At this point, Ben was rather glad he'd put the mask back on, because the man was infuriatingly decent.
'Then again... can't really blame Remus Lupin for being suspicious of such generosity.'
Lupin searched the eyeholes of the squid mask for a long moment, as though trying to decide whether Arthur had finally lost his mind or simply knew something no one else knew. In the end, he merely gave a slow nod.
"...I'll think about it."
"I'd be disappointed if you didn't."
He turned and made his way towards the door, pausing with his hand on the handle.
"You know," he said without looking back, "the Order of the Phoenix was disbanded years ago. You don't have to worry about me passing information to them."
"I know," Arthur said with a tone that made Lupin glance back over his shoulder.
"But it won't be for much longer."
To be Continued...