Author's Note: I do not any of the Harry Potter characters. All original characters belong to me.
Chapter Four
Kiara:
It was late morning in the following day; Remus and I were talking in the guest room when we heard his mother answering the front door, after there was a knock on it.
"Good morning, Mrs Lupin," spoke a pleasant male tone.
"That's Professor Dumbledore!" said Remus with a curious frown, looking toward the open door. "I knew we would've been expecting your Sensei. Not him."
"Good morning, Professor Dumbledore," Sarah had replied.
"This is my good friend, Yoshi," says Professor Dumbledore. "Hamoto Yoshi, this is Sarah Lupin."
My face lit up when I heard his voice; "It is very good to meet you, Sarah-san."
Remus and I both went the stairs and make our way down them.
"Professor Dumbledore!" says Remus, when we got halfway down. I was behind him; "Yoshi-sama!"
Two men standing upon the doorstep. One was quite tall of about six foot, wearing deep purple robes. He had a long silver-white beard and just as long of hair to match, his nose looked like it had been broken in two places and his twinkling blue eyes were behind a pair of half-moon spectacles.
The other was Japanese, with short black hair, handsome rounded face with equally handsome and gentle set dark eyes. He was a head shorter than his companion, coming up to the other man's shoulders. He was wearing a black kimono that had white and red embroiled about the edging and a simple three pronged looking symbol in red and white over the left breast.
Master Yoshi smiled in return. "Kiara-chan," he acknowledged.
"May I ask why you are here?" Remus asks the Headmaster.
We had now reached the bottom of the stairs and approached the doorway.
"Indeed you can and I will answer that," said Dumbledore, not losing any of his pleasantness. "We have come to see your guest."
"Why have you come to see me?" I ask, mixed with curiosity and uncertainty. "I understand why Master Yoshi would be here, but …?"
"It shall be explained, Kiara," Master Yoshi replied.
"May we come in, Sarah?" Dumbledore asks Sarah.
Noticing that the two men were still standing on the doorstep, Sarah stepped aside. "Of course," she said.
"Thank you," said Dumbledore kindly. He entered the house. "It would be more comfortable if we sat down, there is much to discuss."
"Right this way, Professor," said Sarah, leading Master Yoshi and Professor Dumbledore to the living area.
Remus and I looked at each other. Both a little baffled. But, followed on through with Sarah, Dumbledore and Yoshi.
The living area was clearly the largest room of the house. I had seen the library like office, while it was big enough; it was obvious that this room was where most of the entertaining was held when it came to guests and family quality time. There were two dark chocolate brown three-seater couches facing each other with an ebony coffee table in between. Underneath was a large deep red rug that had a floral pattern around the edges and a larger floral pattern in the middle. The rug reached from the legs of the first two end tables – which were next to the two couches – to the hearth of the fireplace. There were two more end tables on the other side of each couch. There were also display cabinets and in various places around the walls, each containing framed photos and other decorative pieces.
Dumbledore and Master Yoshi were already seated on the couch to the left.
"How has your summer been so far, Remus?" Dumbledore asked, politely.
"Alright so far, sir," Remus replied, returning the same courteous tone of voice.
I knew that this elderly man, sitting before us, was very well respected. Also knowing that it was Albus Dumbledore, himself, who had offered my Master the roll of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in person.
"And how are you, Kiara?" Dumbledore asked.
"I will admit to being confused," I say in reply.
Dumbledore, still with a pleasant and understanding smile, nodded.
"Should I be present for this?" Remus asked.
"Well, you're going to help in explaining to Kiara on what is going to happen, so yes," answered Dumbledore.
Remus and I sat down on the other couch.
Sarah came in with a tray with a kettle, tea cups and saucers, milk jug and sugar bowl filling with sugar cubes.
"Thank you," said Dumbledore, when she set it down.
"I'll be in the next room," said Sarah.
"You don't need to leave on our account, this is your home," said Dumbledore.
"Oh, I know. But this is something Remus and Kiara should be discussed with by the Headmaster, himself," Sarah told him, "and also Kiara's guardian. Terence and I have already agreed with the arrangements we have spoken over with you and Yoshi."
With that understood, Sarah made her exit, leaving the us with Master Yoshi and Professor Dumbledore.
"What is there to be discussed?" I ask, admittedly a little curious.
"About your attendance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, amongst a few other things," said Dumbledore.
I stare at him for a moment. "I'm not an enrolled student to the school. I always thought that I would be assisting you with your classes, Sensei," I say, my voice not betraying the confusion on my face.
"You will be assisting me with my classes, Kiara," Yoshi assured. "Only not all of the time."
"What do you mean?"
"Your Sensei and I have agreed that it would be best for you to attend classes at Hogwarts," Dumbledore began, as he picked up the kettle and poured the tea into the teacups.
"This isn't because of us meeting is it?" Remus couldn't help asking. It was clear that he was quite uncomfortable, almost afraid that he might be struck down by Master Yoshi.
"No," said Master Yoshi, shaking his head. "Your Headmaster and I have been discussing it over a long period of time. Before my accepting the role as a teacher to your school, I really did believe that you, Kiara, have been away from your family long enough. I have already written a letter to your brother, explaining the decision. He is quite pleased by this news. As, while your parents may not have been prepared to raise you, with your condition, your brother had been asking since, what would have been your first year five years ago, when you would start attending his school, along side him."
"Your brother goes to Hogwarts, too?" Remus asks me straight out, a little surprised by this small notice.
"Yes, he does," I answer.
"Would I know him?"
I hesitate on this for a moment. "I'd say you probably would know him," I choosing my words carefully, before returning to Master Yoshi and Professor Dumbledore; "So, part of the reason for my attendance would be so I can be closer to my brother?" I go to confirm.
"That is correct, Kiara," says Master Yoshi, kindly.
"I am also worried about your brother, Kiara," the Headmaster said. "I do not know if you might help him, or not. Also, after what has happened between you and Mr Lupin, it would be dangerous to keep you apart for too long."
Remus had lowered his head, while I looked at the sixteen-year-old sitting next to me.
"This will mean that you must decide on what you wish to do in terms of living together in the future," Master Yoshi explained. He was not at all showing any form of grudge or prejudice, not even a hint of disappointment. I could still see the love and affection this man had shown me since I was six years old. As well as the understanding he had always displayed with my condition. "Here in England, or in Japan, or … wherever you may end up."
There was a moments silence.
"So what happens now?" Remus asked, after lifting his head to look at Dumbledore and Yoshi.
"You, Kiara, will be staying here," Master Yoshi answered, looking at me. "However I will be coming by in a few days. Your parents" now looking at Remus "have kindly allowed me to come by every few days."
Remus couldn't stop the surprise on his face. "Oh! I wasn't made aware of that."
Yoshi smiled kindly, as I asked why.
"You, Kiara, are still training in the art of Ninjitsu," he explains. "Even with the events of the past couple of nights and you not with me as a full time assistant with my teaching at Hogwarts, you are still my student, as well as my adopted daughter. Do not worry, Remus, I was made aware of your friends staying. If you and your friends like, I could teach you alongside Kiara."
"Really?" said Remus, still a little confused, yet eager to learn this Ninjitsu, he's heard so much from me.
"Now that has been discussed and sorted," said Dumbledore, rising from his seat. "I believe it is time to make our move."
Yoshi, Remus and I all rose from our places and started on our way toward the door.
"I will be by in a few weeks time," the elderly wizard added, after he reached the front door, placing his hand on the knob. He looked back at us. "I will also suggest that you send a message to your brother, Kiara. He would wish to know what has happened."
My eyes widened a little at this suggestion.
"I'll get around to it ..." I say as graciously as possible.
"While I will see you on Friday," says Master Yoshi, giving me a warm hug. "I believe a certain young rat will be most pleased to see you."
A big smile spread on my lips, as they parted from our hug. "See you soon and keep well, Sensei," she say.
"And you also, daughter," Master Yoshi replied.
Though I knew I wasn't his biologically, he had called me daughter after six months of taking me under his wing.
Remus and I watched as Dumbledore and Master Yoshi departed through the front door, closing it behind them.
"I will admit," Remus started to say, "I thought I was going to be in deep trouble."
"Not the only one," I admitted.
We both turned and walked down the hall and into the kitchen and dining area, where Sarah was folding clean sheets at the dining table.
"How did it go?" she asked us.
"We are now going to have a new student at Hogwarts," Remus answered, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Also, I didn't know that we were going to have a Professor visiting us over the rest of the holidays."
Sarah continued her folding. She wasn't using magic, preferring to go Muggle, as she found it therapeutic – she told me so the other day. "Yoshi is Kiara's guardian," she went on to say, placing the neatly folded sheet upon the pile of already folded sheets, making a pile of five. "Would seem silly if we were to keep them apart, even with the circumstances."
"Must you keep reminding us?" Remus muttered.
"Sorry, but it is very much the truth," Sarah said quite matter-of-factly. "I am also likely to get you to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow. Not only do you need to get your school things, but I need you to get a few things for me as well, if you do not mind."
"Of course, Mum," said Remus, he turns to me, "Would you like to join me?"
"Sure."
"Your father will arrange to have the Floo ready for you in the morning. Also, can you please take these sheets and put them away, please."
Remus took the pile of five sheets and went to do as asked. Leaving me with Sarah alone. There was some silence for almost half a minute.
"Are you sure my Master and I are not imposing?" I went to ask, my voice rather worried.
"Not at all," Sarah answered, taking a sheet in order to start folding it. I took the other end to help her, by which Sarah gratefully said, "Thank you." Before continuing what she was already saying; "While Terence and I didn't see these past few days coming, we accepted all the same. At least this time is different."
"Different? How?"
Sarah must have realised that she said something she shouldn't have. Her cheeks went flushed all of a sudden and she said with a slight gasp. "I can continue here, Kiara, you go and find Remus."
This caught me by surprise, but could read very well that Sarah just wasn't going to give any more. Still quite confused, I went to find Remus, who was just reaching the bottom of the stairs.
Catching the expression on my face, Remus asked if I was okay.
"Yeah!" I said a bit too quickly. "I'm fine!"
"Are you sure?"
I looked back into the kitchen and dining area, where I could just see Sarah. Sarah was now sitting down, folding forgotten, face in her hands.
"I think you better go talk to your Mother," I say with concern. "I don't know what happened, but – "
Remus shot straight past me and went straight to where his mother was. I followed slowly, stopping at the doorway. I watched Remus round the table to where his mother was and knelt down, trying to get her to look at him. Sarah lowered her hands, I saw the tear stained red face, as the woman faced her son. Without even needing to say anything, Remus rose just enough to place his arms around his mother.
"It's okay, Mum!" I hear him saying in a slightly cracked voice. "It's okay!"
I take a step backward, before turning and made my way back up the hall. I knew that this was a private moment that I wasn't to be apart of yet. I opened the front door, stepped out on to the verandah and closed it again softly. I sit upon the top step of three that led out to a yellow gravelled front pathway that stopped a good ten metres up, vanishing into grass. The grass led another six or so metres right into the forest, just like the rest of the surrounding grassy flats. Only the front of the house seemed to be closer to the forest than the back and sides.
Unsure of how long I had been sitting on the step for, I eventually heard the door open and close behind me. Turning slightly to see Remus had emerged.
"Is she all right?" I ask with worry.
"She's settled down and is upstairs resting," was his answer, as he sat down to my right.
I study him. He was looking right at the ground just after the third and final step. His shoulders were a little hunched, his face mixed with sadness, anger and grief. I could see that he, too, had shed a few tears.
"I understand if you do not wish to talk about it, now," I worded carefully. "But I am willing to listen when you are."
Remus turned to face me, a look of appreciation came into the mix of the other emotions he was displaying. "Thanks," he said simply.
It was unclear on just how long we sat on the step for. But Remus really did value the company I was giving him. Even if there were no word exchanged. It wasn't until they saw Remus's father, Terence, apparating at the start of the gravel pathway when we did make a move.
Terence could see instantly the expressions on his son's face, when he came closer. There was no need for an explanation. Like a silent understanding between them, Terence patted Remus upon his shoulder, before putting his arm across the back of his son's shoulders.
"Let's go inside," he said, in a simple voice.
Terence looked over at me, as we make our way to the door. I catch the gratefulness in his eyes. I give a simple and humble nod, before following him and Remus inside.