Lupin had been seriously considering the opportunity in Romania. A few months ago, he had sent a letter to the Dragon Reserve, candidly including not only his teaching experience at Hogwarts but also his status as a Werewolf. To his surprise, their response had been neither a rejection nor a demand for a reduced salary—a condition he had grown accustod to. Instead, they offered him an interview.
The only stipulation was that he needed a recomndation letter from Dumbledore or at least two Hogwarts professors, serving as a testant to his qualifications and character. Lupin understood this request. Compared to the obstacles he had faced in the past, it seed almost trivial. In fact, it felt like an incredible opportunity. The Dragon Reserve appeared to be one of the few places willing to offer him a fair chance at a normal job.
Yet, his thoughts kept shifting between the prospect of work and concerns about Harry.
Kyle, watching Lupin’s inner turmoil play out on his face, finally spoke up. “I have an idea that would let you stay here without worrying about money. Would you like to hear it?”
“You have an idea?” Lupin asked, startled. He knew Kyle was clever—it had been Kyle’s ingenuity that helped clear Sirius’s na. Perhaps he truly had a solution.
“Well, I could lend you so Galleons,” Kyle offered.
Lupin sighed, his initial hope fading. “Lend Galleons? No, I can’t take money from a student.”
“But you’re not a professor anymore,” Kyle pointed out.
“Still, I really can’t. It’s not just the principle—I wouldn’t be able to pay it back,” Lupin said, shaking his head with a bitter smile.
“That’s not true,” Kyle said confidently, gesturing toward the Shrieking Shack. “You already have a solution right in front of you.”
“What?” Lupin looked at him, confused.
Kyle pointed to the dilapidated building. “Sirius just said he wants to leave the Shrieking Shack in your hands, right? This is the only wizarding village in the area, and it’s right next to Hogwarts. Any kind of shop here would be profitable.”
Lupin frowned. “But Sirius bought it. If he wants to open a shop, the earnings would be his, and rightly so. I’d be happy to help, but I wouldn’t take a single Knut.”
“What if you went in as a co-owner?” Kyle suggested. “I could lend you 2,500 Galleons, and you could give it to Sirius as your share of the investnt. That would make it a joint property. I’m sure he wouldn’t say no.”
Lupin looked taken aback. “That’s… true, but wait—how much did you say?”
“2,500 Galleons,” Kyle repeated, puzzled. “Half of 5,000. Isn’t that right?”
“I know the math, but… how on earth do you have that kind of money?” Lupin asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“It’s not that much,” Kyle said, scratching his head. “I’m not sure exactly how much I have, but it’s definitely enough. We made a lot of money at the Quidditch World Cup, and even after splitting it six ways, I had nearly a thousand Galleons. Add in the Triwizard Tournant prize, and I’ve still got plenty left.”
He paused, thinking aloud. “If I’m short, I could figure sothing out. Maybe sell so Basilisk skin to Snape, though that’s risky. He knows about the Basilisk, and I doubt he’d pay fairly. But it wouldn’t matter—I’ll have the championship prize in a few months, so I wouldn’t even need to go that far.”
Lupin, still dazed, tried to process Kyle’s explanation. He had known Kyle was well-off—he’d seen the boy’s spending habits last year on the train. But two or three thousand Galleons? That was beyond what he had imagined. It wasn’t just a little money—it was a fortune.
“Kyle, how old are you?” Lupin asked absently, his tone tinged with disbelief.
“Fifteen,” Kyle replied. “Just old enough to et the Age Line for the Goblet of Fire.”
Lupin’s expression grew even more bewildered. Kyle was fifteen and had sohow earned more than two thousand Galleons. At fifteen, Lupin had been preoccupied with helping Jas and Sirius cover up their rule-breaking antics. The contrast was staggering.
“But…” Lupin began, only to be cut off.
“This is the best solution,” Kyle interjected. “It lets you keep an eye on Harry, which I think you want to do. And the 2,500 Galleons aren’t a gift. You’ll have to pay them back. If you’re serious about taking care of Harry, you’ll need to establish yourself with so property.”
Lupin hesitated, frowning as he mulled over the idea. The practicality of it appealed to him, but the thought of taking such a large sum—even as a loan—made him uneasy. He stood motionless, lost in thought, until Sirius and Harry erged from the Shrieking Shack.
At last, Lupin made up his mind. “Fine. But I will pay you interest. If you refuse, I’d rather not take it at all.”
Kyle grinned. “Why would I refuse money being offered to ? It’s settled, then.”
“Good,” Lupin said with a nod, though his expression remained solemn.
“Wait here,” Kyle said. He set down his suitcase, opened it, and stepped inside.
Lupin instinctively took a step back, the mory of Kyle’s suitcase bringing back a mont of vivid unease. He recalled how, during a full moon last year, Kyle had pulled out Devil’s Snare to subdue him as a Werewolf. The encounter had left him bedridden in the Hospital Wing for days.
Glancing toward Sirius, Lupin narrowed his eyes accusingly.
“What’s that look for?” Sirius asked, bewildered as he erged from the Shack. “I haven’t done anything! By the way, where’s Kyle?”
“In the suitcase,” Lupin replied irritably. “And don’t make any comnts, or I might just hex you for good asure.”
Sirius muttered sothing under his breath, looking thoroughly confused.
A few minutes later, Kyle reappeared, carrying a smaller suitcase in one hand and a squirming, squawking Niffler in the other. He wrestled the creature back into the suitcase with considerable difficulty.
“It’s all here, just as you asked,” Kyle said, handing Lupin the smaller suitcase. “Do you want to double-check?”
“No need,” Lupin replied, though he couldn’t resist opening the case.
Inside was a fortune—a suitcase full of golden Galleons, courtesy of an Undetectable Extension Charm. Lupin’s hands trembled as he nearly dropped the case, his doubts dissolving at the sight.
“You’ve been carrying all this around with you?” Lupin asked incredulously. “Why not leave it at Gringotts?”
“Why would I pay Goblins to keep my gold for ?” Kyle said matter-of-factly. “They’ve got a dragon guarding hundreds of vaults. I’ve got a dragon guarding one suitcase. Which sounds safer to you?”
He grinned. “The only problem is this little guy.” He pointed at the Niffler. “Its pockets are unbelievable. It’s stolen over a thousand Galleons from the dragon’s hoard, one coin at a ti. I just happened to catch it red-handed this ti.”
“What are you even talking about? And what is that?” Sirius asked, stepping closer.
Lupin took a deep breath, closed the suitcase, and turned toward Sirius. “Follow . We need to talk.”
“Can’t we talk here? Harry and Kyle aren’t outsiders,” Sirius protested.
“No. Co with ,” Lupin insisted, his tone brooking no argunt.
“Fine,” Sirius grumbled, trailing behind as Lupin led him back into the Shrieking Shack.
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