Sheep in Wolves Skin
Here is the next chapter because I got excited about posting it lol. I just couldn't wait. Finally Nukpana meets the other Lovegood's XD
Disclaimer: don't own Harry Potter just the OCs.
Chapter 2: The Lovegood's
"You're cousin should have been here thirty minutes ago.. Do you think she's alright Luna? Should I owl Mrs. Woodsong?" Xenophilious asked his daughter as he read over an article he was working on for the Quibbler. His bushy gray eyebrows knitted in concern while he jotted down a few finishing touches to the article about befriending a werewolf in its natural state. Xenophilious and Luna were waiting in the kitchen for Nukpana to show up in the fireplace.
There was a very long silent pause before the sound of chewing came from the girl in question as she spoke." Oh Father don't worry yourself so. I am sure she is fine unless the floo nargles got to her first. They are pesky little creatures. " Luna said dreamily while nibbling on a lemon cookie.
"Mistress is ruining her appetite.."There house elf Flower complained. He was still in the kitchen making dinner, he growled and grumbled more to himself. Flower found his masters daughter way to dingy and care free for his liking. It angered the elf that luna even had the nerve to eat the cookies he just made before dinner was finished.
"I hope so, if not I am going to contact her grandmother... I give her five more minutes..." Xenophilious waved his daughter and flower off while he finished the last few words to the paper.
Just then the fireplace finally boomed and the whole kitchen shook violently. Xenophilious and Luna looked over at the fireplace as Nukpana finally arrived. The Indian girl was an awkward sight to behold. she was hunched over shaking violently with her eyes shut tight and her long arms wrapped around the bird cage. Xenophilious couldn't help but smile with peace of mind that Nukpana finally arrived despite her venerable appearance. "Better late than ever my dear. It's okay child, you can open your eyes now." Xenophilious chuckled to himself getting up from his seat along with Luna to greet the girl.
"Oh thank Mother Earth I made it to the right house." Nukpana complained. She stood up blinking her red eyes rapidly. She took a good look at her relatives with a timid smile on her face. Nukpana did not expect them to be dressed so differently, with many colors, almost like bohemian hippies that inhabited Arizona the few times she went with her parents when they were still alive. It made Nukpana feel better seeing the smiles and love in there beautiful gray eyes, none of it was fake or false. The Indian girl felt so much better that she would be staying with kind and gentle people. They seemed to be very welcoming and excited. Nukpana finally walked out of the fireplace with the bird cage in hand towards her uncle and cousin.
"Welcome to our humble estate Nukpana. I'm glad you made it safely. My name is Xenophilious but you can just call me Uncle Xeno. It is a pleasure to finally meet you after all these years. The last time I saw you you were two." Xenophilious chuckled pulling Nukpana into a quick hug.
"It's nice to finally meet you too uncle Xeno. My father would always talk about you and you're wonderful adventures at Hogwarts." Nukpana said, looking almost sad at his absence. She really missed her dad Jeffry with all her heart.
"Yes Jeffry was a great man, always full of surprises. After all he was a Ravenclaw just as I. We did so much traveling together before he got married to turtle dove in Massachusetts, wait I mean Howi... Did I get your mothers name right?" Xenophilious asked while he was reminiscing of his youth. He didn't realize he used Howi's English name translation by accident.
"Yes her name was Howi Woodsong of the Wampanoag tribe. But she would have been okay with turtle dove too.." Nukpana chuckled bitterly. The Indian girl really missed her mother at the moment when she was mentioned.
"Interesting. What is the meaning of your name if you don't mind me asking? It's probably just as lovely as your mothers." Xenophilious insisted nonchalantly.
Nukpana stiffened at the mention of her name. The Indian girl literally hated her name with an undying passion. The name itself labeled her as a monster and an undesirable in her own tribe. Nukpana was born on Halloween night during a blood moon, that was considered a horrible omen to the tribe hence the name. The only thing that saved Nukpana was her grandmothers position as the tribes shaman and the fact that she would be next in line for the position and the only one.
Weighing her opinions, Nukpana decided to just get it over with and answer her uncles question before he looked into it himself. After all the man was family and Nukpana hated lying. She was silent for a moment before making intense eye contact with her confused looking relatives before speaking. "My.. My name means evil one..." Nukpana stated bluntly with shame coating her voice. She waited a moment for some type of rejection but received none.
"Ohh well... Hmmm..Despite the meaning it is a lovely name. I can honestly see the good nature in you child. I am sure you are far from evil as the name suggests. A name cannot simply define who you are Nukpana. You define who you want to be."Xenophilious chuckled with a genuine grin and a small pat to Nukpana's shoulder. Luna smiled as well at her fathers words of kindness.
"If it makes you feel any better I'll call you Eva." Luna finally spoke up. Her voice was soothing to Nukpana's nerves making her feel better." Sure that's okay with me. I think I like it.. " Nukpana giggled. She really liked her cousins nickname suggestion.
"Oh where are my manners today?This is your cousin Luna she's around the same age as you Nukpana. Luna will be more then willing to show you the guest room. That room will be yours for the taking when you two come home for Christmas and spring break." Xenophilious butted in pointing his long index finger at Luna.
"Nice to finally meet you Eva. Let me show you around the house." Luna said excitedly.
"Thank you so much... Because holding this cage is making me tired..." Nukpana stated. Her fingers were getting red from the thin metal wires.
"Oh no..let me carry that for you.." Luna insisted taking the cage from Nukpana. Without warning hawk screeched with anger at its new holder nipping at Luna's fingers with its sharp hook like beak. Luna surprisingly ignored the birds horrid attitude scaring Nukpana some. She couldn't understand why Luna wasn't crying or screaming back at the bird.
"Luna the hawk is biting you! Are you sure you want to hold it?"Nukpana asked with concern. She was scared the hawk was going to bite a finger clean off as blood dripped off of Luna's right ring finger.
" nooo it's not biting me... It's giving me love nibbles.. The nargles are just making it a little upset is all.." Luna said dreamily while she still held the cage. Nukpana just shook her head not understanding her cousins logic.
Luna ended up giving Nukpana a quick tour around the house showing her the bathroom, bedrooms, garden, and even the attic. She was even nice enough to introduced Nukpana to the house elves and friendly ghosts. Even though the house elves were a bizarre custom as in America house elves were not used. The closest thing Nukpana could compare it to was the pukwudgies that guarded Ilvermorny. The Indian girl made friends with the beasts when no other students were willing too. Nukpana preferred the friendship of magical creatures then she did a witch or wizard any day. They seemed to understand her struggle of finding her self worth in life.
Once the two were done Nukpana took snowflake out of her medicine bag placing the baby bird on her shoulder while she washed up, and went back to the kitchen to eat dinner with Xenophilious and Luna. Dinner was pretty silent until Luna decided to try breaking the ice.
"How was your floo trip?" Luna asked." You seemed to be distressed when you first arrived. Did the Nargles get into your mind?"
Nukpana rolled her eyes inwardly, she finally discovered her cousins personality and odd side, but never the less she continued on."Ummm no I really don't know what nargles have to do with any of this. Well I hate using the floo to be honest. I always end up at the wrong destination no matter what I do. This time I ended up in someone guys living room. I think he said his name was Vincent Crabbe.. Or something like that.."Nukpana spoke before taking a bite of her chicken salad.
Xenophilious's eyes grew to the size of tea cups as he literally spit some of his wine out at the mention of Vincent's name." You flooed to Crabbe manner!?"
"Ahhhh yeah... Why do you know him?"Nukpana questioned. The Indian girls curiosity got the best of her. Snowflake just made a weird sound at Xenophilious's shouting making Luna giggle. It still confused Nukpana on how Luna could be so chill and happy in serious conversations.
"That's worse then dancing with the devil girl! The Crabbe's are a nasty bunch of pure blood extremists ... They burnt down my cousins manner for helping muggleborns. Please say he didn't hurt you? If he did I'm reporting him to the ministry." Xenophilious asked with concern in his gray eyes. He really didn't like the Crabbe's, especially the threats and insults thrown at the Quibbler.
"No he didn't lay a single finger on me uncle Xeno.. Even though he did ask me for my name repeatedly, but I was to nervous to reply. If I may ask what does blood purity have to do with any of this?"Nukpana asked confused.
"Well he who shall not be named is back.. He is pushing all that crazy blood purity nonsense into the Wizarding population. Most of the pure blood families and clans are willingly allying with him and killing muggleborns and muggles alike. I'm afraid the Crabbe clan is no different. I'm just very glad and relieved that Vincent didn't hurt or kill you..." Xenophilious explained.
"Oh goodness.. Thank Mother Earth that he didn't hurt me... I know in the newspaper it's been talking about he shell not be named for a few weeks now... I didn't think it was this bad over here..."Nukpana said awkwardly. In Massachusetts the Wizarding population did not give a shit about blood purity or muggleborns. Everyone was pretty much treated the same and at times Wizards and witches married into muggle families who were accepting and willing to keep the magic a secret. Everyone lived free and fair lives in America with little to no problems unlike Wizarding Europe and Asian countries.
In all honesty Nukpana couldn't see Vincent as a monster or a cold blooded killer. The boy looked completely normal and dare she say it even cute with those dimples on his chubby cheeks when he spoke asking her questions. In the end Nukpana decided to take Xenophilious's warning. Aponi would sometimes tell her that people and animals that were attractive on the outside could be lot of trouble and danger on the inside.
Well next chapter will finally have the golden trio lol. As for Xenophilious's warning... Well we will see if Nukpana listens haha XD until next chapter..