AN: sigh I'm not even sure if I want to write an author's note for this chapter… I'm a total idiot and I'm sorry to all of you who have been reading this. Not only have I not updated since the beginning of the school year, but I've also had this chapter done for months now without even realizing that I hadn't posted it. I have chapter three finished and am posting that as well, and it's six pages so hopefully it'll make it up to you guys. I know I've been neglecting this story, but I plan to work on it more. I'll give my explanation for my horribleness in ignoring this story in chapter three's author note. I give you guys full permission to flame me over this horrible mistake. I'm kicking myself about it too. R&R please.
Chapter 2: One Month, Two Days, and Seven Hours Later
The next month went by in a blur of packing, phone calls, explaining, teaching, and working. Actually, all that could just be wrapped up into working. It was a lot of work. After that night my parents passed on the news of my coming to England for the summer, and someone had gotten the number out of them (probably Grandma). I had to continue to answer many questions, and after many hints of coming to get me early, I ended up putting protection charms around my home, warding off any magical beings other than myself and Dora. We had made arrangements to stay at the Leaky Cauldron, I having refused to be a burden to any of my family members. When they argued, I reminded them that I would be right outside of Diagon Alley, and within walking distance from Uncle George's shop. After this they agreed that it would be okay, so long as I stayed with some family member for most of each day, preferably at Grandma and Grandpa's house, where all the action usually took place. I agreed to this, and so our terms had been set.
Nymphadora was becoming more and more crazy each day, asking questions, trying to help pack, which resulted in making the packing go slower yet, and even trying to cook dinner, which almost caught the kitchen on fire. After that I started carrying my wand around again, worried that she might somehow do something like that again, even if I had banned her from ever cooking again until she was a fourth year.
Now, at nine o'clock in the morning, on June 24th, Dora and I were finally going to be going to London, England, via portkey. I was unsure what to expect when we arrived, and I was going crazy with anticipation. I hadn't been assigned anything to do for work while away, so I had no excuse to avoid the family, and I would have to hear many speeches scolding me for going away. Everyone would be trying to make up for lost time with Nymphadora, and I feared they might spoil her. Grandma would, and Mum would too. After all, Dora was Mum's only grandchild, and Grandma's only great-grandchild as of yet. I had probably missed a lot of things. From what I had heard, my cousin James had married right out of Hogwarts to this longtime girlfriend, Lydia Boot. Lydia was now eight months pregnant, and expecting a little girl. I still couldn't quite imagine my 12 year old cousin suddenly being 20, married and almost a father.
Dora was bouncing around the house, looking for anything we might have missed, like she had been doing since five o'clock.
"Nymphadora Adelaide Lupin, will you sit down?" I sighed finally, "We'll be leaving soon enough, and your making me dizzy with all your running." As I said this I had to stop my own pacing and sit down, instantly feeling on edge at the loss of movement.
She sighed and sat down beside me. The moment she touched the couch, she tried to get on her feet again to go grab something, or check to make sure she had it, and I grabbed her arm, holding her in place. "Sweetie, you haven't forgotten anything. If you had, you would have found it and packed it by now."
She nodded and slowly settled back, leaning into the soft cushions of the couch. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was five till nine. I gave a mighty sigh and got up, walked to the fireplace mantle, and picked up a pocket watch, which was our portkey. I grabbed our bags, shrunk them, and slipped them into my purse, shutting it securely so the shrunk suitcases wouldn't be lost on the way. I gave Dora a smile, and beckoned her towards me. She hurried to my side, and I explained to her how a portkey worked. She was fascinated, and was eager to go. I glanced at my watch and saw that we had ten seconds.
"Grab on, Dora, quick!" I ordered, and just as her fingers touched the golden lid we were off, spinning away from our home, and back into my past, a world I had hoped to never go back to.
We landed in the Leaky Cauldron, Dora falling over as her feet hit solid land. I smiled down at her softly and leaned down helping her up. "How'd you like the ride?"
She looked slightly dazed, "It was… dizzy." She replied, and I laughed, putting my arm around her shoulders as I guided her over to Tom, the innkeeper. We caught up for a little bit, until Nymph became too restless, and then he brought us to our room. The room was small, just two rooms, a bedroom with two beds, a bathroom, and a kitchen/living room, but it was like home to me. Dora was busy looking at everything, and gave a shriek of surprise when a mirror she had looked into had commented on how unruly her hair was. I laughed and moved up next to her, fixing her hair, and satisfying the mirror, for the time being.
"When do I get to meet my daddy?" Nymphadora questioned after having finished looking at the whole room. I glanced over my shoulder to see her looking out a window that showed the streets of Muggle London.
"Well, we first need to see my family. I don't know where your father is, so I'll need to ask them." I explained.
"Oh…" she said, sounding slightly disappointed at not getting to meet her father right away. I sighed and moved over to her, pulling her into a hug.
"I know you want to meet him, Dora, but you're just going to have to wait a little longer. As much as you're looking forward to it, I'm not at all that enthusiastic." I said softly to her.
She pulled back, "Why don't you want to see Daddy?" she asked.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "He and I… well we had a fight before I left, and I'm not very keen on pulling up those buried memories."
"What was the fight about?"
I gave her a soft smile, "That's not important. What is important is that you see your father, which you will. Just give Mummy a little more time, okay?" Liar. It is very important. He cheated on you! A part of me screamed, but I ignored that part.
The little girl nodded, "Okay, I'll wait."
I smiled larger and pulled her into another hug, "Thank you baby."
I could only pray that the rest of my family would be willing to wait, and that they hadn't slipped up to Teddy about Dora just yet.
