Becoming Lupin's Boss

The joy of Christmas seemed like only yesterday, but in the blink of an eye, it was 1982. Nearly half a year had passed since Evita had vowed to make money, yet her progress had grown slower and slower.

After her initial burst of effort and passion, her instinct to take it easy had gained the upper hand. If she wasn't feeling up to it today, she would study tomorrow. If she wanted to sleep today, she would make potions tomorrow...

Although her study of charms had continued in an orderly fashion, her work on potions had clearly fallen behind. Improving and innovating had always been far harder than following instructions by the book, and Evita felt as though her brain cells were dying in droves every day.

At last, she gave herself a thorough scolding and steeled herself to set a deadline. After all, that was humanity's greatest source of productivity.

"Well," Evita said when she came to Lily's house. Though hesitant, she spoke in a soft voice. "I'd like to ask Remus for a favor."

After observing him for half a year, Evita was sure Remus Lupin was a reliable person, even though he didn't visit her or Lily's family as often as Sirius did.

"Has something happened? Is there anything you need help with?" Lily asked with concern.

"I want to buy a shop in Diagon Alley and sell some things," Evita said. "So I need an... acting manager?"

She nodded as if agreeing with herself. "Yes, an acting manager."

"You'll have to speak to Remus about that yourself," Lily said. "We can't say yes for him."

Evita nodded. "I understand."

James also said, "Moony is easy enough to talk to, of course, but..."

The easy, cheerful atmosphere vanished. Evita spoke calmly. "I'm easy to talk to too."

So Sirius contacted Lupin for her, and the two of them soon met.

For the occasion, Evita had changed into a serious-looking black outfit to make herself look more dependable. Thankfully, Lily and the other two hadn't dismissed what she said as a child's nonsense.

Lupin sat across from her, listening gently.

"First, I need to buy a shop with at least two floors," Evita said, picturing it. "I've already asked around, and I have enough Galleons to buy even twenty shops. Then I want to sell some entertaining potions, or gadgets, or food."

She pushed a sheet of paper across to him and asked in an imitation of an adult's voice, "Would you be willing to be the manager, Remus?"

Lupin looked down and read the paper carefully. The pay was high, and the work sounded very easy. To a Werewolf who suffered discrimination and lived in hardship, it was a sweet pie within arm's reach.

But he couldn't deceive a child for its sake, especially one who barely knew him and was only acting out of kindness.

Lupin's expression remained gentle. "Evita, actually, I..."

Evita cut him off. "I know. My eyes and nose both work very well, especially when it comes to this. But I don't think we need to worry about that, because I'm capable enough to guarantee it. I don't think you could beat a Wampus Cat, could you?"

"Wait," Lupin said in shock. "Is this... I mean, is this real?"

A sleek, six-legged leopard appeared almost out of thin air and lay across Evita, baring its teeth. The girl's amethyst eyes sparkled, and she lifted her chin before continuing, "Our shop will only be open for eight hours during the day... Hmm, are the other shops in Diagon Alley open for the same hours?"

The girl was clearly much livelier around friends. "Actually, flexible hours would work too. For example... you could do all the work at once and then take the rest of the year off!"

Lupin stared blankly for a moment, then smiled. "Thank you."

Evita blinked. "Don't think too much about it. Just do your job well... Besides, all I really have is the idea of opening a shop."

"I'll take care of the rest," Lupin agreed. "Don't worry."

"Yay!" Evita cheered, bringing out a little red owl. "You can use it to write to me."

"I believe you won't do anything to harm other people because of your condition, right?"

Lupin nodded silently and watched the girl skip away, the braid Lily had done for her swinging behind her head.

After Evita left, James and Sirius came in and each patted Lupin on the shoulder.

Lupin recovered from how moved he had been and smiled at his close friends.

James sighed. "Back then-well, when I first met her—I thought she'd be a typical genius with a mature mind. But yesterday, when Lily was teaching her to make a potion, she popped a fig into her mouth while Lily wasn't looking."

"Luckily, it was a fig she ate," Sirius said. "Otherwise, we wouldn't have known how to save her."

"It was the same when I taught her to ride a broom," James continued. "Her head is full of strange ideas. She even wanted to stand on the broom while flying. Luckily, she's quite talented, so she didn't fall off."

"Yesterday she asked me how to use nonverbal magic," Sirius said, clearly having something to share as well. "I demonstrated it for her. She learned quickly, but something was very wrong."

He said in shock, "I never knew anyone whose first reaction after learning a spell was to use it on themselves."

"Oh, right," Sirius added. "She also said her dream was to fly in the sky every day."

Lupin listened with a smile, his speech slowing a little. "I've already agreed."

"She really is a very kind child."

"And..." His gaze went blank. "The four of us probably couldn't take her on even if we joined forces."

James said, "What? Moony, I'll admit Evita is exceptionally talented, but our combined ages are almost nine times hers!"

"I'd like to believe you," Sirius said, equally shocked, "but I think you must have gone mad. Yesterday she burst into my house and not only tried to shake the Galleons out of the Niffler's pouch, but also held the Niffler down and made it apologize to me. Then she tripped over her own feet on the way out. After seeing that, I can't believe you."

"Sirius!" Speak of the devil: Evita came screaming through the door, clutching a Niffler. "I swear! I really don't know what mutation it's undergone. I taught it better! Normal Nifflers are supposed to bring gold coins back to their owners, but every Niffler I raise is a first-rate, evil money grubber like this! Their love of money is so pure!"

She grabbed the Niffler by its feet and shook it frantically over the table, spilling Galleons, Silver Sickles, and even some shiny silverware and jewelry out of it. Then she hurriedly ran off again.

Sirius spread his hands. "See?"

Lupin said, "..."

Just like that, all his feelings of sentiment and shock were gone.