Hey, Remus!

The corridor of Number 12 Grimmauld Place felt colder than usual as Maria — or Mary Scamander, as everyone in the Order now knew her — adjusted the hood of her borrowed cloak. Her fingers fidgeted with the fabric, tugging at the edges as if the motion might keep her grounded. She was about to embark on her first mission with the Advance Guard: escorting Harry Potter to the Order's headquarters. Simple enough, she thought. Just fly, don't die. Easy, right?
Tonks caught her nervous fiddling and shot her a reassuring grin, her bubblegum-pink hair contrasting sharply with the somber surroundings.
"Nervous?" Tonks asked, leaning casually against the doorframe.
Maria gave a shaky laugh.
"Terrified, actually."
"Good! Means you've got your head on straight."
That earned another laugh from Maria, though she wasn't sure if Tonks was joking or serious. Probably both. Her gaze drifted to the rest of the group preparing for the mission. Kingsley Shacklebolt stood tall and imposing near the door, checking his wand. Moody — or Mad-Eye, as everyone called him — muttered to himself while adjusting his enchanted eye, which spun wildly in its socket. And then there was Remus Lupin, standing quietly by the window, his expression calm and unreadable. He looked every bit the steady presence she'd come to admire...  and, if she were being honest with herself, more than admire.
Maria's heart fluttered as she glanced at him. She wondered if he was nervous about her first mission. Probably not. He always seemed so unshakable, like nothing could surprise him. She, on the other hand, felt like a walking bundle of nerves wrapped in an oversized cloak.
"Right, listen up!" Moody barked, snapping Maria out of her thoughts. "We're escorting Potter from Privet Drive to here. This isn't a stroll in the park. Death Eaters could be anywhere, and we can't afford mistakes. Constant vigilance!"
Maria jumped slightly at his booming voice.
Tonks nudged her with an elbow.
"He's all bark, really."
Maria smiled weakly.
Moody's magical eye swiveled toward Maria.
"Scamander. Stick close to Shacklebolt. No heroics."
"Noted," Maria mumbled, suddenly feeling very small under Moody's scrutinizing gaze.
As the group began to move, Remus drifted to her side. His presence, quiet and steady, immediately calmed some of her nerves.
"You'll be fine," he said softly.
Maria glanced up at him, her heart doing that ridiculous flutter again.
"What if I mess up?"
Remus's lips curved into a small smile.
"Then you'll learn."
Maria snorted.
"That's very comforting."
"I thought so." His smile grew just a fraction, a glimmer of warmth in his usually serious expression. "Just stick close to Kingsley, and if anything happens, remember what we practiced."
"You mean the part where I scream and run?"
Remus chuckled, a soft sound that made her stomach flip.
"No, the part where you don't scream and run."
Before Maria could respond, Moody barked another command, and the group began disapparating in pairs. Maria felt a strong hand on her shoulder: Kingsley's.
"Ready?" he asked, his deep voice steady.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Maria replied, her voice steadier than she felt.
With a crack, they disapparated.
They landed smoothly near Privet Drive, the quiet suburban street bathed in moonlight. Maria stumbled slightly but managed to stay on her feet. Kingsley surveyed the area with a practiced eye.
"Stay alert," he murmured. "Eyes everywhere."
Maria nodded, swallowing her nerves.
"Right. Eyes everywhere."
The group moved toward Number 4. There he was: Harry Potter, standing at the top of the stairs with his wand raised, silhouetted against the dim light of the landing.
Maria's heart thudded painfully in her chest. His appearance was both familiar and utterly unexpected. The messy black hair, the scar on his forehead, the slightly awkward stance. He looked so much like the Harry from the films she had watched countless times. But there were striking differences too. He was thinner, the scar was diferente, his posture more wary. And his eyes were bright green, vivid.
Harry squinted down at them, lowering his wand slightly but not relaxing. His suspicion was palpable.
"Lower your wand, boy, before you take someone's eye out," came Moody's gruff voice, cutting through the tension.
Harry's expression flickered with recognition.
"Professor Moody?" he asked uncertainly.
"I don't know so much about 'Professor,'" Moody growled. "Never got round to much teaching, did I? Get down here. We want to see you properly."
Still wary, Harry descended the stairs cautiously, his wand still in hand. Maria watched him with wide eyes, feeling like she was in the middle of a surreal dream. This was Harry. The real Harry.
And he was looking directly at her.
"Er... who's she?" he asked, his gaze settling on Maria. His eyes lingered, a mix of curiosity and confusion etched on his face.
Maria froze. Her heart leapt to her throat, and her mind scrambled for something to say. This was the Boy Who Lived. The child who had survived Voldemort's curse. The boy who was destined to defeat the Dark Lord. And he was asking about her.
She stepped forward awkwardly, her cloak slipping slightly off her shoulder.
"Hi, I'm Maria..."
"Mary Scamander," Moody interrupted brusquely, cutting her off before she could finish. "No time for introductions. We're moving."
Harry's brow furrowed, but he nodded, accepting Moody's sharp tone without question. He glanced back at Maria as they all turned to head down the street, clearly still curious.
Maria trailed beside him, her nerves jangling. She kept glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, marveling at the sheer reality of him. This wasn't Daniel Radcliffe. This was Harry James Potter. His presence was somehow larger than life... and yet, he looked so young. So tired.
As they walked, Harry leaned in slightly.
"Are you really a Scamander?" he asked, his voice low but polite.
Maria blinked, caught off guard by the question.
"Sort of," she replied with a small, self-deprecating smile. "It's... complicated."
Harry nodded slowly, as if he was used to complicated answers.
Maria couldn't help but study him more closely. The lightning-bolt scar stood out starkly against his pale skin. His green eyes, so unlike Daniel's blue ones, were impossibly bright, as if they glowed with their own inner light. But beyond the physical details, it was the wariness in his expression that struck her.
"You're really him," Maria blurted before she could stop herself.
Harry frowned, glancing at her.
"Er... yeah. Last time I checked."
"I... I didn't mean..." Maria stammered, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. "I just meant... It's strange, seeing you in real life." She winced at her own words. "I mean, obviously you're real, I just..."
Harry's lips quirked in a small, curious smile.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
"Not exactly," Maria admitted, her voice soft.
Harry studied her for a moment, then shrugged.
"Well, you're not the strangest thing I've seen these last years."
Maria couldn't help but laugh, the tension in her chest easing slightly. The real Harry was different from the one in her head... but he was also exactly who he needed to be.
As they continued walking, Tonks fell into step on Maria's other side, shooting her a conspiratorial grin.
"Bit surreal, isn't it?"
Maria nodded, grateful for the understanding.
"You have no idea."
"Oh, I think I do." Tonks winked.
Once they reached the spot where their brooms were hidden, Maria found herself standing beside Harry again. He was looking at the sky, lost in thought.
"May I ask what you're thinking about?" she asked quietly.
Harry glanced at her, startled by the question. He hesitated, then shrugged.
"I guess I'm just... trying to figure out why there are so many of you. I mean, not that I'm not grateful, but..."
"Wondering why you're so important?"
Harry's gaze sharpened.
"I know why I'm important. I just... It's weird having so many people care."
Maria nodded slowly.
"It's not just about you, though. It's about everything you represent."
Harry looked at her, tilting his head slightly.
"And what do I represent?"
"Hope," Maria said softly. "Even if you don't want to be, you're a symbol of hope. And people will do crazy things to keep hope alive."
For a moment, they stood in silence. Then Harry smiled. Just a little.
"You sound like Dumbledore."
Maria chuckled.
"That's probably the nicest thing anyone's said to me all day."
Harry's smile widened slightly, and for the first time, Maria saw a glimpse of the boy he used to be. Before the prophecy, before the war. A boy who just wanted to be seen for who he really was.
"I think you'll do all right, Miss Scamander," Harry said quietly, his voice thoughtful.
Maria's heart fluttered at his words.
"Mary, please. And thanks, Harry. That means more than you know."
As they mounted their brooms, Maria couldn't shake the feeling that something monumental had just happened. She was no longer just an outsider, a spectator in someone else's story. She was here. She was part of it.
She glanced down at her broom, which was hovering obediently beside her. Remus had enchanted it to respond to her movements.
"Just think of where you want to go, and the broom will do the rest," he had said with that calm, reassuring smile she loved. It was a small kindness, but it meant the world to her. She wasn't a witch. She didn't know how to fly. Yet here she was, about to take to the skies alongside some of the most powerful witches and wizards she'd ever read about.
Maria placed a hand on the smooth handle, feeling the magic thrumming beneath her fingers. She could do this. Harry, already astride his own broom, gave her a curious look.
"You ready?"
Maria nodded, gripping the handle tighter.
"Yeah. Let's go."
As the group rose into the air, Maria's broom lifted gently beneath her, moving as if it were an extension of her will. The night air rushed past her face, cool and exhilarating. She glanced around at the others (Harry, Remus, Kingsley, Tonks, Moody...) and for the first time, she didn't feel like an imposter tagging along on someone else's adventure.
She was flying. She was part of the mission. And she was ready to see where the journey would take her.
The group took off on broomsticks, flying over the countryside. Maria gripped her broom tightly, her knuckles white. The wind rushed past her ears, and she focused on keeping up.
"Don't fall," she whispered to herself. "Don't fall..."
Kingsley flew beside her, his presence reassuring. Moody took the lead, barking instructions periodically.
"Stay close! Don't drift!"
Maria struggled to keep up, but she was doing better than she expected. She risked a glance at Remus, who flew a little ahead, looking graceful and confident. Her heart swelled with admiration... and a bit of swooning. Suddenly, dark shapes appeared in the sky.
"Death Eaters!" Kingsley shouted.
Maria's heart stopped. Her mind raced: this wasn't fanfiction. This was real.
Maria gritted her teeth, dodging and weaving to avoid the spells, her heart pounding in her chest. Her enchanted broom moved fluidly beneath her, following her instincts. But she barely noticed the broom now. Her focus was locked on the dark figure swooping toward them: a Death Eater, wand raised, curse on his lips.
Without thinking, Maria raised her hand.
"Protego!"
A shimmering shield erupted in front of her, deflecting the incoming curse with a crackle of magic. The spell ricocheted into the night, bursting harmlessly in the distance.
Maria's eyes widened in shock. She had cast a shield charm.
It wasn't supposed to be possible. She wasn't a witch. She didn't have a wand. And yet, here she was, magic surging from her fingertips as naturally as if she'd been doing it her whole life.
"Nicely done!" Remus called out, his voice steady but filled with quiet pride.
Maria barely heard him. Her mind raced. Magic. She had magic. In this world, at least, she was something more than she'd ever believed herself to be.
The realization sent a shiver down her spine. Not of fear, but of possibility. Maybe that was why she'd been pulled into this world. Maybe there was more to her presence here than anyone had realized. Another curse streaked past her, snapping her out of her thoughts. She glanced toward Remus, who gave her an encouraging nod before turning back to the battle. Her heart steadied. Her grip on the broom tightened. She wasn't powerless. Not here. She could do this. And for the first time since arriving in this strange new world, Maria wasn't just following along. She was fighting. She was protecting. She was part of the magic.
Maria barely had time to process it before another curse streaked past her. Her breathing was ragged, but she focused on what she'd been taught. She fired back, aiming to disarm rather than injure.
The fight was chaotic, but the Advance Guard held their ground. Finally, the Death Eaters retreated, disappearing into the night.
They reached Grimmauld Place safely, though everyone was battered and shaken. Harry was whisked inside by Moody and Kingsley, while Maria lingered in the entryway, catching her breath.
Remus approached quietly, his eyes soft with concern.
"You did well," he said.
Maria looked up at him, her heart still racing.
"I was terrified."
"So was I," he admitted. "But you didn't let it stop you."
Their eyes met, the unspoken bond between them growing stronger.
Tonks bounced over, giving Maria a thumbs-up. "First mission, and you didn't die. I'd call that a win."
Maria grinned.
"Low bar, but I'll take it."
Kingsley clapped her on the shoulder.
"Not bad for your first time out."
Moody, however, was less generous.
"You need to work on your flight technique. Sloppy in the turns."
Maria nodded, biting back a retort.
"I'll keep that in mind, thanks."
"Constant vigilance!" Moody barked before stomping off.
Maria leaned toward Remus, muttering,
"If I had a Galleon for every time he says that..."
Remus chuckled.
"You'd be rich."
Later, as the others debriefed in the kitchen, Maria found a quiet corner to sit. Her head spun with everything that had happened.
Remus joined her, sitting close but not too close.
"You're really part of this now," he said.
Maria nodded, tracing the edge of her cloak.
"Yeah. I guess I am."
They sat in companionable silence, the weight of the mission lingering in the air. For the first time, Maria felt like she truly belonged. And as she looked at Remus — his quiet strength, his gentle humor —, she knew she was exactly where she was meant to be. For however long she could stay.