Chapter 186 - Post War - Summer 1995 - Grant

Grant tells Remus he's leaving for Brighton and that Remus needs to be with Sirius for the war ahead, breaking Remus's heart but knowing it's necessary for everyone. Over the following weeks, Remus and Sirius work on rebuilding the Order while living together in tense awkwardness, struggling to communicate but unable to be apart. They attend a full moon together for the first time in over a decade, and Sirius suggests they move to Grimmauld Place to make it the new Order headquarters. On their last night in the Soho flat, they finally reconnect emotionally and physically, choosing love over hate and beginning their relationship again before moving to Grimmauld Place together the next morning.

From Sirius's perspective, he struggles with severe PTSD from Azkaban while trying to readjust to the flat he once shared with Remus, unable to stop watching television to quiet his traumatic thoughts. He resents Grant's presence and cheerfulness while feeling inadequate and damaged. Grant confronts Sirius and tells him he's leaving, explaining that Sirius needs to be truly present for Remus and love him properly as a real person, not as a ghost haunted by the past. When Remus returns home, he discovers Grant is leaving and goes into the kitchen for a private conversation.

Grant receives a dream job offer in Brighton and realizes this is his sign to leave, knowing that Remus and Sirius belong together despite the pain it causes him. He reflects on loving Remus for twenty years and understanding that he was only ever keeping Remus safe for Sirius's return. Grant confronts Sirius directly, telling him he must properly take care of Remus and be a real person for him, not just a ghost or a dog. Grant packs his belongings and prepares to say goodbye when Remus returns home.

umbledore's patronus arrives warning that Sirius is coming to the flat after Voldemort's return at the Triwizard Tournament. Sirius arrives severely traumatized from Azkaban, and the Order of the Phoenix is reforming. Grant tactfully leaves to get Chinese food while Remus and Sirius navigate their first real conversation in over a decade, with Sirius struggling with PTSD, memory issues, and constant need for companionship. They argue about rejoining the war effort, with Remus reluctant after losing everyone last time while Sirius insists they owe it to Lily and James, creating extreme tension in the cramped flat with Grant still living there.

Remus returns from his first year teaching at Hogwarts, struggling with memories the castle stirred up and reconnecting with McGonagall, Flitwick, and Madam Pomfrey. He teaches Harry's classes and deals with Snape's hostility while taking Wolfsbane Potion monthly. During the events at the Shrieking Shack, Remus discovers the truth through legilimency—Peter Pettigrew was the real traitor and Sirius is innocent, but in the chaos of the full moon transformation both Peter and Sirius escape. Remus returns home to Grant and explains everything, realizing he should have trusted Sirius all along.

A Hogwarts owl arrives with a message that Dumbledore will visit that afternoon. Dumbledore reveals that Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban, making him the first person ever to do so. He offers Remus a teaching position at Hogwarts as Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, citing both the newly-discovered Wolfsbane Potion and the need to protect Remus from Sirius. Dumbledore also mentions that Harry Potter will be in his third year. On September 1st, Remus says a painful goodbye to Grant and departs for Hogwarts, leaving behind their life together in Soho.

On Remus's thirty-first birthday, Grant takes him to his first gay bar in Soho. Remus is nervous but gradually relaxes and even holds Grant's hand publicly for the first time. In the bathroom, Remus encounters another werewolf who tries to seduce him and cryptically mentions that Voldemort may still be alive and gathering strength. Remus resists the advances and rushes home with Grant. The chapter ends with Remus learning he's dyslexic and discovering that the word-blindness he's struggled with his whole life has a name.

Mary invites Remus to her daughter Rachel Marlene's christening in Croydon. Remus attends alone since Grant refuses to enter a church due to his traumatic religious upbringing. At the christening, Mary and Remus catch up and discuss how Snape got a teaching position at Hogwarts despite his Death Eater past, and they realize Harry Potter will be starting Hogwarts the following year. When Remus returns home, Grant expresses hurt that after nine years together, Remus still hasn't fully introduced him to his wizarding friends or brought him into that part of his life.

Grant convinces Remus to go Christmas shopping on Oxford Street to see the lights. While shopping, they run into Christopher Barley again, who is now with his wife Åsa and young son Henrik. Remus is confused since he'd previously seen Christopher coming out of a gay sauna, realizing Christopher is living a closeted life. Grant discusses Section 28 and his activism against anti-LGBTQ legislation. They return home and have a cozy evening by the fire, discussing Greek mythology and the story of Odysseus and Calypso.

Remus gets editing work for UCL and enjoys marking exam papers for local schools while Grant thrives in his social work career. During one of his walks through London museums, Remus bumps into his former Hogwarts classmate Christopher Barley outside a gay sauna in Soho. They have coffee and catch up, with Christopher mentioning that he fled to Sweden during the war and discussing Sirius's crimes. Christopher propositions Remus to come to his flat, but Remus declines and hurries home to Grant, feeling grateful for what he has.