IV. Meet Mister Robards
The jingling of coins in her bag made her fervently thankful that she had worked the summer job at the Leaky Cauldron for the past four years. Initially, it had been at Mr. Patil's encouragement. Tom was reluctant to take her at such a young age, but the Patils convinced him to at least take her on as a dishwasher for the first year or so. Lavender often stayed with the Patil family during the past summers, and the Patils encouraged her to save up for her future and be independent. They saw Lavender, deep down, was a hard-worker, unlike their daughters, who preferred to pass their time shopping and reading, respectively. And although the circumstances had changed, Lavender still was glad for their help. Lavender smiled slightly, though she didn't know how much longer those carefully saved summer wages would last. It was better than nothing, at least.
Now, Lavender had another job to do. It was now time to gather all her belongings from her mother's house. Things were not pleasant the last time she visited. Lavender decided it was time to close that page of her life. If her family found out who she was, they would only loathe her presence even more. Her family did not know she was a werewolf, as Lavender told Hermione otherwise. She paused by a window of a small town shop to fix her chestnut-coloured hair and touch up her make-up. It would do no good to show off the new imperfections on her face. Lavender straightened out her Muggle clothes, an unusually modest pair of jeans and turtleneck. Only semi-satisfied with her appearance, Lavender slipped into the small alleyway next to the store and Apparated. It was now or never.
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The Brown residence could be described as comfortable. The two-story brick home possessed a well-tended flower garden – the envy of the neighbours, really – and ivy crawled leisurely down the muted brown walls of the house. Even in the dry summer, the lawn was a lush green from the daily watering. Lavender hesitated from where she stood. It appeared that her mother had fared well since she had left. This certainly wasn't the house she had once inhabited. There was a great contrast between the rough, uncared look Lavender grew up with and this new manicured look. Lavender bit her lip nervously and forced herself to walk up the car park and the side walk, to the front door. The endeavour wasn't supposed to be this difficult. All Lavender wanted to do was nip in, grab some of her old things, and leave. She pressed the doorbell with resolve she didn't quite feel.
There was a quick shuffle of footsteps. A small hand pushed the curtain away from the small, glass side-window to see who it was. The door burst open and an exuberant, curly-haired girl threw herself at Lavender. Lavender winced as the ten-year-old squeezed her middle. Slowly, she extricated herself from the smaller girl's grasp and smiled slightly. "Hullo, Rosie, how are you doing?"
"Why don't you ever write to me anymore? It has been three years since you wrote me a letter!" This was Lavender's younger sister. Rose Brown was only six years old when Lavender was thrown out of the house after her third year at Hogwarts. The two were close, and she felt a slight twinge of regret of not having written. Of course, the reason why she did not was clear, besides the fact there had been a war going on.
"Your mother wouldn't have allowed," Lavender said tersely, crossing her arms. "I did, for at least a year after, but it seems like your dear mum intercepted them. Don't blame me, Rosie… you know I wouldn't forget you." Lavender's pretty features softened. Rosie was a passionate child, a bit like Lavender herself when she was young. Those were the days. Lavender sighed inwardly. Since when had she been so jaded?
"She is your mother, too!" Rose sounded confused and indignant.
"Rose, darling, you have to understand me." How was she going explain this to her ten-year-old sister? "Mum didn't like the fact I was… was different. That's why she wanted me to leave. I think you were at day school when it happened…" Lavender remembered the day perfectly. She had come home from the ice cream parlour during the early summer after her third year only to find her trunk outside with a note saying "DON'T COME BACK." It was harsh, but Lavender should have seen it coming… Mrs. Brown always cared about looks and Lavender was a blemish – and a reminder of her dead husband. Lavender recalled Parvati's chatter about the Knight Bus, hailed it, and went to the only place she knew she would be welcome: the Patil home. The rest was history.
"But Lavender, I'm d—"
A deep, male voice interrupted Rose's statement. "Rosie, sweetie? Who is it?" Suddenly, a tall, well-built man strode around the corner. Lavender, true to her ingrained fashion sense, noted the impressive quality of his linen shirt and slacks. A frown crossed the tanned man's face. "Who are you?"
"This is my sister, Lavender, Daddy!" Rose stood next to her sister and gripped her hand. Lavender hadn't realised she was shaking.
"Rosie, you don't have a sister, sweets," the man said slowly. "Now, really, who are you?"
Lavender faltered. She didn't expect to have all of her erased so completely. She also didn't expect a new father. "My name is Lavender Brown. I am Rose's sister, and I am sorry that my dear mother failed to tell you about me," Lavender continued as politely as she could. The young woman almost wanted to laugh out of pity for this new member of the household.
He frowned again. "Myrtle! Come down here for a minute!" he called up the stairs.
A petite figure came into view. "Yes, Ryan?" She came down the stairs. Myrtle Brown was small and slender – one of those women who enjoyed to exercise and tan excessively and obsessively. "What's the problem?" Her voice now possessed an unnatural coyness. Lavender wanted to gag. Myrtle Brown's eyes flicked to the doorway and widened. Immediately, the woman's façade dropped. "What are you doing here?"
"Myrtle, who is she?" Ryan asked, now very confused.
"Just… a distant relative," Myrtle fumbled.
"I thought you said you had none?"
Rosie watched the exchange, shocked that her mother was denying her sister's existence. Lavender felt bad for exposing this side of their mother to her younger sibling. The younger girl interrupted next, her cheeks flushed. "Mum! She is your daughter! What is wrong with you? First, you kicked her out and then you're denying she's yours? Mum!"
"You sent your own daughter away?" Ryan frowned once more. "Myrtle… why didn't you tell me?"
Myrtle sent a hesitant glance towards her new husband before shrugging resignedly. "It wasn't important. She is a … freak, anyway," she commented nastily, giving Lavender a hard glare. Lavender stood her ground and held Rose's hand tighter. "What do you want, anyway? You aren't getting any money here."
"I wasn't planning on it," Lavender returned stonily, gritting her teeth. "I just wanted to grab some of my old things before I settle down. I'm out of school, you know." Rose looked admiringly at her older sister.
"What makes you think I have your old things?" Myrtle snapped. "Just leave, you freak, with your tarot and magic and insanity," she sputtered. Ryan gave his wife a long, hard look.
"The Myrtle I know wouldn't act so cruel," he said finally. "I remember a box in the basement with your name on it, now that I think about it. If that's all that you want, I'll gladly go get it for you." Lavender let out a breath, and nodded. She felt an inkling of fondness for Ryan already. It seemed like he was a nice man; it explained why everything was suddenly so neat and clean. Ryan gave her a short smile before heading into the back of the house.
Myrtle clenched her fists, as if restraining herself from punching her very own daughter. "Everything was so… so… wonderful before you came. You ruined it all, now. What am I going to tell Ryan?"
Lavender felt no sympathy for her. "If it was meant to be it'll work out," she said with a sage shrug. It was almost as if she were advising someone like Pansy Parkinson with love help. "It's not my fault things turned out like this, Mum. You're the one who saw me as a reminder of Dad."
"And, Mum!" Rosie piped up. "I think you will have to tell Daddy about it anyway because look!" She squeezed her eyes shut in concentration. The pair of shoes on the rug next to them rose a few inches in the air. Rose opened her eyes proudly. Lavender felt a new surge of hope, and beamed. Myrtle blanched. "You can't throw me out, right?" Rosie questioned, with some worry.
"I mean, what will Ryan think?" Lavender chimed in. Just then, Ryan came back to the front with a medium-sized box in his arms. He set it on the floor. Myrtle just stared at him and ran up the stairs, shoulders trembling. 'Good riddance,' Lavender thought.
"I'll just keep it here, Lavender," he said with a quick nod, watching Myrtle run up the stairs. When his wife was out of sight, Ryan gave her a surprisingly large grin. "Hullo, Lavender. My name is Ryan Robards. I'm sure you have heard of my father, Gawain?" Lavender just gaped. Son of the head of the Auror Office? She wanted to faint. "Good work during the War. I would have contacted you at St. Mungo's if I had known you Myrtle's daughter." He frowned. "She really isn't that bad, Myrtle. Just insecure. I was first sent here to check on Rosie here, for Underage Magic. On accident, I met Myrtle, and what can I say? Love at first sight." He grinned happily once more before becoming sober.
Rosie again was once again shocked. "Are you… are you like my real Dad and Lavender?" she asked.
Ryan nodded with a gentle smile. "Yes, honey. And you are too."
"Are you really a police officer?" Rosie questioned thoughtfully.
Lavender thought for a minute. "You're an Auror, then. A magical police officer," she explained to Rose. "Were you… were you there?" Lavender enquired, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot. She was asking about Hogwarts. Ryan paused and sent another glance upstairs.
Rose's blue eyes widened curiously. "There? Where?!"
"Rose, dear, check on your Mum," her stepfather said softly. "And clean your room, while you are at it. It's been getting awfully untidy." Rose made a sound of protest, but Mr. Robards gave her a warning look. "Don't worry. You'll find out everything in due time." Crushed, Rose headed up the stairs and looked pleadingly at Lavender. Lavender merely shook her head. Ryan made a motion towards the inside of the house. "It's stifling out there; come in. I'll fix you a cuppa." Lavender acquiesced and followed the older man into the neat house. It was bright looking place now, with wide bay windows and modern furniture. She went to the dining table and perched awkwardly at the front of the wooden seat as Robards made himself comfortable with utensils. Living with a Muggle wife, it seemed, had led him to prepare tea the 'normal' way.
Lavender had missed these comforting sounds of home during her stay at the hospital and relaxed easily. She studied the Auror in front of her. It wasn't difficult to see why her mother had fallen for the man. He moved with surety and ease. Robards smiled easily and the crow's feet in the corners of his eyes proved he did so often. His chocolate-brown hair was brushed liberally with steel grey, especially near the temples. Like Rosie, Ryan had perpetually alert, blue eyes. 'In fact,' Lavender mused, 'He looks like he could be Rosie's real father.' Lavender, on the other hand, resembled more her mother.
After a few minutes, Ryan offered her a steaming cup of tea and sat down across from her with one of his own. Finally, Robards returned Lavender's question with an appropriate answer. "Yes, I was at Hogwarts," Mr. Robards replied shortly. "I told Myrtle I was on an extended trip for my station and was able to join for the final surge. I believe, by then, you were out of the battle. Neville Longbottom pulled out Gryffindor's Sword from the Sorting Hat and destroyed You-Know-Who's snake friend. Harry Potter used the Elder Wand, a very powerful wand, and defeated You-Know-Who," he summarised. Although Robards was allowed to say Voldemort's name, the habit remained due to the former Taboo.
Lavender soaked up the information. Maybe Neville, with his turn of personality, would prove to be a better Potions brewer than herself. It was time to bring up the next order of business. "So… so you also know about me," Lavender muttered under her breath. "I'm sure you have read the Prophet article detailing Greyback's victims."
"Yes, I have, and frankly, if I had been smart enough to realise that you were Myrtle's daughter I would have visited you at St. Mungo's," he informed. The Auror looked very serious. "Now, Lavender, I was raised in a family with an open mind. I know what you are now is not your fault. You are no Fenrir Greyback just because he bit you. It is going to be difficult for you, though, getting a job…" Robards trailed off. "Anyway, feel free to owl us when you need. If you want to contact Rosie, it would be better for you to send the letter through me." Lavender understood what went unsaid. 'Otherwise Myrtle will literally have a heart attack.'
Again, as she often had during the past few days, Lavender felt a rush of gratefulness to her new stepfather. He really did seem like a good man. And whether or not she wanted to admit it, it would certainly help her mother. Lavender stood up after a few moments. "I better get going, though, before Mum finds out I'm still here," she said a bit ruefully. "And I better head to the Leaky Cauldron before Tom gives away all the rooms. Thank you for everything." Lavender wondered if she was getting repetitive.
The Auror smiled understandingly. "No need, Lavender. You're one of the family, whether you like it or not." He escorted her to the door. The young woman struggled to lift the box Ryan had brought upstairs for her. Robards grinned. "Let me help you out, there." The man murmured a quick Shrinking spell, thus making the box small enough to fit in Lavender's pocket.
Lavender stepped out once more into the hot, dry sun. "Bye, then," she called out, walking down the sidewalk. Ryan waved in return before closing the door. The seventeen-year-old smiled to herself. 'Well, that went better than planned,' she thought, elated. There was hope for something, after all.
Walking towards a thick clump of trees in the neighbour's yard, the petite witch couldn't help but smirk to herself. There was hope for everyone except for her mother, though. Lavender couldn't wait until her mum discovered she ran into the arms of the embodiment of the magic she had so feverishly tried to avoid. Oh, the irony!
Then, Lavender closed her eyes, imagined the familiar front of the Leaky Cauldron, and Apparated.
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Author's Note: Wow, okay, this chapter turned out very differently than what I imagined. (Original thought was to have a new Muggle father in the picture, to have Myrtle to be harsher rather than pathetic and unsure, and Lavender to leave the Brown residence in tears. Then I was amused at the thought – what if Rosie had magical accidents too, but learned how to control it better than most kids? That would be a nice surprise for Myrtle. And then – oh, it would be funny for Myrtle to have married a wizard again, when all she wanted was normalcy… Ha. Anyway.) I'm sorry if the end half of the chapter lagged a little; I wanted to fill in some blanks. Lavender is going to try to get a flat (apartment) the next chapter, as well as find Seamus to thank him. Yes, he saved her, but how will things be now that Lavender is a werewolf? Also, I would like to thank everyone for the kind reviews because it really makes writing this story such a joy! Until the next chapter!
(Oh, to those voracious readers – I strongly recommend the books Shantaram and The Spaces Between Us. Both are very strongly written. The latter book is is a bit sad and depressing, though, but beautiful.)