Retrospection

“Sounds like the Ministry officials are arriving, sir.”

“It’s about bloody time. The entire Accidental Magic Reversal Department would’ve had time to have assembled by now. Mind you, with all the Muggles that saw that indecorous bludger they’re probably all needed.”

“If I had known that Thaddecus Rhodes was thinking of bringing an experimental Bludger out of his lab and into my pub, I wouldn’t have let him through the front door.”

“It’s not your fault, Tom.”

“How is she doing?”

“Oh, I think she’ll be fine, although that bump might remain for the rest of the week.”

“I probably should get back to my other patrons. If there’s anything else you need, Mr. Lupin, don’t hesitate to call.”

“Thank you, Tom.”

Accidental What Department? I must still be dreaming, Susy thought, stretching her arms above her head as she heard a door close. The voices had been familiar, yet she couldn’t put her finger on where she had heard them before. But she could easily attribute her inability to think to her pounding headache. Susy combed her fingers through her hair and found a Everest-size bump. She groaned and slowly opened her eyes.

“Where am I?” she said aloud as she sat up and allowed her eyes to adjust to the candlelit room.

A man answered emerging from the shadows, “One of the private parlors of the Leaky Cauldron.”

“The Leaky…where?”

Setting a candelabra on a nearby table, he sat down next to her. “Here,” he said taking her face in his hands. “Look at me.”

He has nice eyes—sad, but nice, she thought. Gray, like the sky before it snows.

“Well, I don’t think you have a concussion,” he said releasing her face. “But to be sure, how many fingers am I holding up?”

“Four.”

“And my name is?”

“Good question,” Susy paused, trying to remember if he had introduced himself when she had hit him with her car. “I don’t believe you ever told me.”

“That Bludger must have hit harder than I thought.” His gray eyes scanned her face again as he gingerly reached to feel the lump on her head. “Perhaps I should have Tom summon a Healer. You might be suffering from some sort of temporary amnesia.”

“First,” she huffed, “there’s nothing temporaryabout it. I’ve had amnesia for four years. And second, what on earth is a Bludger?”

“What? Four years—but then—” This was clearly not what he had been expecting. He stood up from the sofa and backed away from her as if he had happened upon a ghost.

A thought flickered crossed her mind. “Sir, do you know me? I mean, besides the time I nearly killed you with my car, have you seen me before?”

“I don't quite know,” he said, looking at her like she had handed him a single puzzle piece and asked him to tell her what picture the puzzle formed. “The resemblance is amazing. I’d say that you were the twin sister of someone I knew well a few years ago, if I didn’t know better.” Her momentary glimpse of hope vanished and she scarcely noticed him pause as if unsure of how to proceed. “A Bludger is a ball used in a… sporting game, Miss?”

“Blake. Susy Blake.”

“My name is Remus Lupin,” he said extending his hand.

“It’s a pleasure. Was her name Autumn?”

“I…er…how…how did you know her name?” He seemed startled hearing that name.

“Outside when you warned me to watch out for that ball, you called me Autumn,” she explained.

“I’d forgotten about that. Her middle name was, yes.”

“What happened to her?” The evident pain in his eyes told her that she should have held her tongue. “I’m sorry. It’s not my place.”

“It’s alright. She died nearly four years ago.” He walked over to the window, lost in his own thoughts.

“I’m so sorry.” He appeared tired and worn out, almost as if he was just recovering from a long fight with the flu. And although his apparel had changed since that snowy night in Salt Lake, she wondered when he had last had a decent meal. Susy felt she should say something—anything—to take his mind off its frequent track of melancholy memories. “Is that why you’ve been following me? Because you thought I was her?”

“What? I—no. No, I wasn’t following you.”

Raising an eyebrow in disbelief, she ticked off the occurrences on her fingers. “The Salt Lake Times, Emigration Canyon, my hotel and now here; it couldn’t have all been coincidence.”

He laughed nervously, “You’re quite perceptive, but it is apparently only by—fate that we’ve been brought together.” Apparently feeling he owed her more of an explanation for his behavior, he continued. “You must understand that I was not feeling well when I saw you in Salt Lake. I assumed that you were only a delusion brought about by the fever, so I left. I haven’t stayed at any hotels recently, so you must have been mistaken in that regard. And this,” he motioned to the room around him, “happens to be one of the best places to catch up on any news that I might have missed while I was in America. I assure you, I was as surprised as you were when I walked outside to find you there.”

“And the canyon?”

“I—my car broke down. I was walking to a friend’s home to spend the night when you—er, ran into me. The impact must have momentarily caused me to believe that I was speaking with her. As I’ve said before, you do look very much like my fian—my friend. Then the moon—there was a wolf coming so I ran to confuse it, giving you time to hurry to safety.”

He was withholding something from her—something big. But as much as she wished to know what it was, she knew it would not be appropriate to ask.

“Now, Miss Blake, may I ask what you are doing in London when you appear to be from Salt Lake?”

“I’m here on business for the Salt Lake Times with my employer,” she answered as he brought over a goblet with a foul smelling liquid from a table in the corner of the room.

“Here. Drink this. It should help with your headache.”

“Are you sure? I’d much rather just have a couple of aspirin.”

“Drink it. I promise it’s not poisonous. Healer’s—or rather, doctor’s orders.” She grimaced and quickly swallowed the concoction with her nose pinched in the vain attempt to avoid the stench. As he took the goblet from her she noticed that her headache was gone. Fast acting stuff, she thought as he returned from the corner table.

“Well, I suppose I should call a cab,” she said at the exact moment he said, “May I walk you back to your hotel?”

“Yes”

“What?”

She blushed as he smiled.

“Perhaps a taxi would be less strenuous,” he offered.

“No. I wouldn’t mind walking back with someone who knew the way.”

“No. You probably should get back quickly. I’m sure there’s someone waiting there for you.”

“Oh my gosh! What time is it?” Instinctively grabbing her wrist she looked at her watch. “Six o’clock! I’ve got to go!” But she stood up too fast and lost her balance.

He caught her in time to prevent her falling. “Why don’t you sit here and let me go summon a taxi for you?” She nodded and Lupin left quietly smiling to himself.

She felt sorry for him, a man who had lost someone he appeared to be deeply in love with, and she only wished there was something she could do for him. “Oh, for goodness sake,” she said aloud. “You don’t even know this man.” Although usy had to admit that she wouldn’t mind getting to know him better. The thought crossed her mind that he might hold the key to her past. But then reality sunk in. “Oh, wake up, you silly girl. He is not going to walk up to you with your memories on a silver platter. This is real life—not a fairy tale.” She realized that for all she knew, he could be some escaped convict on the run from the law. She knew that it would be better to be distant and safe than be too personal and wind up dead. But her mind had trouble accepting the idea that he could be dangerous. It’s almost as if I’ve met him somewhere before, but where? she thought. And he thought he knew me. Could I really look so similar to this Autumn that he would confuse us? And he’s hiding something from me—but what?

She was fastening on her sandal and wondering if she had only imagined that the leather strap had torn when he reentered the parlor. “Miss Blake, your taxi will be here soon. Perhaps we should go outside to wait for it.” He offered her a hand in standing up and offered to carry her packages.

It had been a warm day and it seemed that the heat would continue into the evening. “Is it always this hot in April?” she asked on their way outside.

“It’s better than snow,” he replied.

“That’s true,” she said smiling, imagining what type of bizarre weather Salt Lake City would be having today.

“So, Miss Blake, what do you do at the Salt Lake Times?”

“I’m a journalist.” Well, at least she tried to be.

“Really,” he looked impressed. “So, what kind of business brings a journalist to England?”

“I’m writing the biography of my employer. I don’t know much yet, but I suppose her family is from around here. I’m guessing that’s why we’re here and not doing this in Salt Lake. And what type of business are you in, Mr. Lupin?”

“Well, the last paid position I had was as a professor at a private school.”

“Really?” It was her turn to be impressed. “I can almost picture you as a teacher. Why did you stop?”

But she never got a reply, because the taxi had just pulled up. Lupin moved over to open the door for her. As she sat down in the back seat, she thought she should say good-bye or thank him for his kindness, but he spoke first.

“Have dinner with me.”

“What?”

“Friday night. You and me. I’d like to talk.”

“I don’t even know you.”

“Just say yes—please.”

She had concluded earlier that he didn’t seem to be a dangerous murderer, and as long as they dined somewhere public and she was back early, what harm could come to her? It would certainly give her the opportunity to find out more about him and why he seemed so familiar to her. “Yes.”

He smiled. It was worth anything to see the dramatic change to his face brought about by that smile. She hoped she would see it again.

“Good bye.” He closed the door and turned away.

She rolled down the window. “What time? Where?”

“Seven. I’ll pick you up in the lobby of your hotel.”

Then the taxi took off down the street.


A/N: Thank you for being so patient. Adding the final touches to this chapter took much longer than I had originally planned. With student teaching coming to an end in a a few weeks, I will, hopefully, be able to get chapter seven posted before the New Year.