Supporting a Large Family

At first, when Anton had risked his life dragging Lupin around to find a goblin to treat his illness, he had hoped to have someone to rely on in the future.

After all, whether in Wizarding society or Muggle society, it was simply too difficult for a child who looked ten years old to live alone.

Yet now, he stared strangely at the whole bunch of people on the plank.

A cold little girl who was a Blood Curse Orc afflicted with blood magic—and a young lady from a Pureblood family.

A middle-aged Werewolf who was supposedly above average in strength but had been bugged by the Cruciatus Curse and remained weak.

A Goblin who had lived for centuries and now lay there, his life or death unknown.

A semi-transparent Headless Wizard ghost holding his own head, hoping Anton could help make him a body in the future.

And a Viper, a full twelve feet long, locked in an iron cage.

Yes, he had found Nagini too.

Good heavens!

He had only wanted someone to rely on.

But fate had played a huge joke on him.

Not only had it given him no one to rely on, it had sent him five people who needed to rely on him!

His tiny, frail ten-year-old shoulders~

This was really too hard~

Too hard!!!

At such a young age, he already had to support such a huge family?

"Fate really is an interesting, mischievous little bitch." Anton grinned brilliantly. With a flick of his wand, an arrow of light appeared in midair, swayed once, and pointed southeast. "Destination: France. Move out!"

A rope tied to the tail of the Flying Broomstick connected it to the plank.

They traveled onward over the deep sea.

The Old Wizard drifted above the plank, singing an ancient, rugged Proverb Ballad toward the hazy glow where sea and sky met.

"O brave reformer, he emerged from the mist."

"Morning dew dampened the hem of his clothes."

"Birds sang for his arrival."

"Wildflowers by the roadside swayed their bodies and danced for him."

"He walked on with a smile, light trailing behind him..."

Pedro and Lupin lay side by side. Nagini flicked her tongue from inside the iron cage, while Anna hugged her legs, rested her chin on her knees, tilted her head at Anton, and smiled sweetly.

Time flew by.

Winter snow drifted down, quietly blanketing the streets of London, Britain.

In northwest London lay Grimmauld Place, twenty minutes from King's Cross Station.

At 11 Grimmauld Place, Chada Information Consulting Company welcomed another busy day at noon, when the warm sun melted the snow.

"Oh, damn it, when is the United States headquarters going to assign us a new manager? Everything is a mess." A young blonde woman in a beige-blue wool coat and gold-rimmed glasses looked at the chaotic documents on her desk and complained.

Beautiful women always received kinder treatment from their office colleagues. A young male employee with thinning hair and a slight potbelly leaned his upper body over, as though that could bring him a little closer.

"Ilsa, you probably don't know this, but our new manager has already arrived."

His words immediately drew everyone's attention, and the young man looked even more pleased with himself. "I heard he was transferred from France."

"Unbelievable!" Ilsa's face was full of resistance. "Why transfer someone from France? Even if the United States headquarters didn't have a suitable candidate, couldn't they find one in Britain?"

The young man spread his hands. "Although we all know that, in the future—oh, no, in just two years—information consulting companies will be all over the streets, right now, apart from those specializing in civil engineering and construction, ours is the only company in all of London."

"It's hard to find a suitable candidate. What, should we hire a detective as our manager?"

Everyone burst out laughing.

Ilsa curled her lips and shook her shoulders. "I wouldn't mind having Sherlock Holmes as my Shopkeeper."

At that moment, a male employee who looked to be around thirty and had been reading the newspaper across from Ilsa set it down. He had the dark green eyes Ilsa liked, as well as a healthy, muscular physique that filled out his shirt handsomely.

"I asked colleagues in France. Our new Shopkeeper is British."

"Really?" Ilsa looked delighted. "Gerber, I mean, how is that possible?"

Thus, everyone's attention shifted away from the young man and focused on Gerber.

Gerber elegantly picked up his coffee cup and took a sip. Seeing everyone watching him expectantly, especially the anxious look in Ilsa's eyes, he gave a mysterious smile. "Apparently, he's a Briton living in France. After working at the French branch, his outstanding abilities caught headquarters' attention, and he was specifically assigned to Britain to oversee operations."

"Yes, that is indeed the case." An exceptionally refined gentleman stood in the office doorway.

He elegantly removed his hat, revealing slicked-back golden hair with practically every strand impeccably groomed. The hazy yellow light shone upon it, giving off an air of elegance.

This gentleman's face bore wrinkles carved by hardship, yet they were softened by a shrewd, radiant smile that made people instinctively feel he was wise.

"My name is Remus John Lupin. It is an honor to become your colleague."

"You can just call me Lupin. I prefer working in a relaxed atmosphere."

Lupin pointed at the empty spot at the company's front desk. "Look, our receptionist has resigned again, leaving the position vacant? It seems we have a lot to do."

A Shopkeeper who looked so energetic, kind, gentle, wise, and shrewd immediately earned the approval of most people in this company within such an emerging industry.

Everyone stood and applauded his arrival.

Lupin clearly lived up to expectations. He glanced at the watch hanging from his chest. "As I'm new here, I hope everyone will come to my office for a one-on-one conversation, so we can get to know each other better."

"We have twenty outstanding employees. If we move quickly, perhaps we can finish before the end of the workday?"

He phrased it as a question, but his decisive manner instantly won everyone's trust.

"Mr. Gerber, as the company accountant, I hope you will be the first. All right?"

"Of course, Shopkeeper." Gerber readily agreed.

Gerber did not notice that Miss Ilsa across from him was frowning at the Shopkeeper.

The new manager, Lupin, was witty and mild-mannered. He also possessed a shrewd mind. Every employee who emerged from their conversation further reinforced this impression.

"Great! I was always worried our company would be shut down by headquarters." The bald young man who had spoken first was practically glowing as he excitedly said to Ilsa, "After all, under our previous Shopkeeper, our performance had never been very good."

Ilsa forced a twitch of her lips. "I... is that so? Then that's really wonderful."

Finally, ten minutes before the end of the workday, it was the last person's turn—Miss Ilsa.

Her hands were clenched tightly, her fingers turning slightly white from the force, and she rose quickly to her feet.

Gerber across from her smiled faintly. "Ilsa, don't worry. The Shopkeeper is broad-minded. He's a magnanimous person and won't mind an accidental offense."

As he spoke, he winked. "Of course, we should also be careful not to offend him, right?"

Ilsa seemed not to hear him. In a daze, she walked into the Shopkeeper's office.

Bang!

The thick wooden door to the manager's office was slammed shut, and everyone in the main office exchanged looks.

When Ilsa entered, Lupin was holding a cup of coffee, one hand in his trouser pocket, quietly gazing at a stretch of ruins outside the window.

As though there were something in the ruins located between 11 Grimmauld Place and 13 Grimmauld Place.

"Lupin!" Ilsa snarled coldly under her breath, gritting her teeth.

She grabbed Lupin by the collar. "Listen, you are not welcome here. I want you to leave immediately."

Lupin was clearly startled. He looked at her in surprise. "Miss Ilsa, what are you doing?"

Ilsa sneered and moved her face closer. "Remus John Lupin, I know you!"

"If you don't want things to turn ugly, leave this company immediately!"

Lupin's expression cooled. Frowning slightly, he shoved Ilsa away and calmly adjusted his tie. "I am quite certain I have never met you before, Miss Ilsa. Have you mistaken me for someone else?"

Ilsa looked furious. She glanced out the window and thrust out her chest. "Tonight is the Full Moon Night! Listen, either you leave with dignity, or I'll call the Ministry of Magic!"

"The... Ministry of Magic?" Lupin seemed to have heard something hilarious and laughed. "Miss Ilsa, it isn't April Fool's Day. Did you nap during work and wake up muddled?"

His expression darkened. "I do not want to hear any more childish, ridiculous nonsense about magic. This is an information consulting company, not a children's playground!"

Ilsa stared down at him. "How ridiculous."

With that, she flung open the office door and looked at all her colleagues before loudly announcing, "Perhaps we should hold a welcome party—at dinner tonight. What do you say?"

There was no shortage of men in the office eager to curry favor with her. As a few of them began cheering, everyone joined in.

Ilsa turned to Lupin and gave a disdainful laugh. "So, Manager, do you dare come? Tonight is the Full Moon Night!"

Lupin smiled calmly. "I don't know what you are up to, but I hope that after this dinner, you will sincerely apologize to me. After all, you are an exceptionally capable information processor. I'm giving you this chance."

Ilsa did not appreciate the gesture and turned to leave.

Behind her, By the window, Lupin smiled faintly. He took another sip of coffee from his cup, then frowned.

"The Polyjuice Potion tastes disgusting!"

Rowling's setup for Lupin being poor and down on his luck was that, because he was a Werewolf, he could not find paid work. But the absurd thing was that when Lupin became a professor and was exposed as a Werewolf, all the parents were utterly shocked. So, as Britain's only magic school, the number of professors there could practically be counted on one hand. Why didn't those who knew Lupin was a Werewolf and refused to offer him work come forward and say something? ...This issue nearly drove me insane while plotting the story.