Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters.
A/N: There was something in the air that night; the stars were bright, Fernando; they were shining there for you and me, for liberty, Fernando. I have been sitting here in my room with my notebook and listening to Abba (don't ask me why I am in a mood) and thinking about what I am doing with this story. Though I know where I'm going next, for some reason I have been trying to put it in words and it doesn't end up formulating the way I want it to. Now I have a killer headache and am forcing myself to continue with this before I get so far behind I can't finish. So here we go...
Chapter 10 – Whereabouts Unknown
Remus jerked his head up off of his desk. It was dark all around him. The candles around the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom had burnt out leaving it pitch black. He rubbed his stiff neck as he searched around the room for an indication of the time. He figured it must have been late by the fact that no light shone in through the windows. He rose out of the chair at his desk and stretched. As he arched his back he wondered how long he had been sleeping in that position at his desk. He gathered his things and brought them to his office before making his way to Dumbledore's office.
"Remus, what exactly can I do for you?" Dumbledore looked up from the parchment he was scratching out a quill across to see the somewhat worried look on the face of the man who had just entered his office.
Remus took a seat in one of the chairs that sat opposite of Dumbledore at the desk. "I was just wondering, sir, if you had heard any word of the return of Mrs. Anders? She was supposed to return after making a trip home with Mr. Anders."
Dumbledore placed his quill in a small inkpot. "I haven't seen her or Mr. Anders since he left my office to go retrieve her from your classroom, I do believe. They were supposed to take their daughter home for the holidays."
"Well some...revelations came up in my classroom and she was supposed to return here." Remus tried to remain cryptic. He didn't want to have to explain to Dumbledore what his situation with Rebekah was.
"I am sorry, Remus, but if I am to help you find out Mrs. Anders whereabouts I will need you to elaborate on these revelations."
Remus knew the wise older wizard would see right through him. He went into the story beginning at with his schoolboy crush and telling him about what had happened that first night when Dumbledore had left his house and he had wandered to her abode. He told him about the fact that he had broke it off with her but still kept in touch with her and then about Jonathan walking in on them in the classroom, but he left out the fact that young Neoma Anders was indeed Neoma Lupin.
"Well, Remus, I think we may very well have an extremely jealous husband in this whole situation. I would never have thought you to be the kind of man to get yourself in a situation like this, but surprises are thrown at you every day aren't they. I will use the floo network to go to the Anders residence and see if she is still there. I think it would be better if I go on my own seeing as you will not be on good terms with Mr. Anders. In the mean time I think you can handle the task of going to the Gryffindor common room and seeing if you can find their daughter. I am curious as to if they took her with them or not." Dumbledore stood and made his way to the fireplace in the corner of his office.
"Thank you so much Albus. I do appreciate this." Remus rose and made his was towards the door.
"I will meet you back here when you are finished Remus, and try not to make that young girl worry if she is still here." He then threw some floo powder into the fireplace and stepped in as Remus walked down the spiral staircase that led out of the office.
Remus entered the Gryffindor common room to some wide eyes and odd looks. He paid no mind to the reactions as he knew just how odd it was to have a teacher in the common room. He noticed Harry and Ron playing a game of Exploding Snap while Hermione sat reading a large book. It is just amazing how like his father he is. He closed in on the area that Harry and company were spending their evening. "Excuse me Harry, Hermione, Ron." He nodded to each of them as he said their names. "I was wondering if you all could help me locate a second year student named Neoma Anders."
Hermione placed her book down on the table and stood up quickly. "She is in the girl's dorms. I'll go get her." She rushed up a set of stairs.
"This place hasn't changed very much at all." Remus took a seat next to Harry. "That was my favourite place to sit and read while I was attending Hogwarts." He pointed to the seat that Hermione had been seated at.
"You were in Gryffindor?" Harry and Ron asked almost in unison.
"Why of coarse I was. What other house would I have been in?" Remus smiled smugly at the shared reaction to bit of information he had let them in on.
The sound of footsteps came from the stairs that led to the girl's dorms as Hermione emerged followed by Neoma. "Here she is Professor."
"Thank you Hermione. Neoma I think you should come with me." He led the young girl out of the common room and they made their way to Dumbledore's office. "Do you have any idea why your mother hasn't returned yet?" Neoma shook her head and they continued on their way without another word.
When they arrived inside Dumbledore was waiting for them. "Neoma I must inform you that I was at your house and there has been no indication as to the whereabouts of you parents since they left the castle this afternoon. I am sure there is nothing to worry about but you should know. They will probably show up in the next few days to take you home but I will be unable to allow you to travel to Kings Cross without knowing they will be there to collect you." Neoma's eyes grew wide with fear. Remus wanted to take his daughter in his arms and comfort her but refrained for she did not know him as her father. "If you could step outside for just a second so I could talk in private to Professor Lupin we will call you back in as soon as we are finished."
"What did you find?" Remus asked once Neoma was out of the room.
"There was no one there and it seemed as if there was a struggle. I do not know what to think at this point Remus, but I will contact the Ministry and see if they can help in anyway." He said in a more serious tone than the one he had used when Neoma was in the room.
"I think there is something else I should tell you." Remus took a seat as he decided it was best that Dumbledore knew what he was about to tell him. "I am Neoma's father."
Dumbledore seemed to not react to this statement. He just looked at Remus the same way he had before. "Well, do you think that she should be informed of this?"
"Before Rebekah...I mean Mrs. Anders left with Mr. Anders we had decided that she would know that I was her father, but I don't know if I should do it without her mother. Now I think she should know so she knows I am here for her."
"Do what you think is right Remus." Dumbledore kept his advice simple possibly because he knew that Remus had already made up his mind on the subject. Remus stood and exited the office descending the spiral staircase finding a very spooked Neoma.
"It will be alright Neoma I am sure your mother will come for you. She would never leave you. You always have me if you need anything." Remus put his hand on her shoulder and looked into her sparkling blue eyes that reminded him of her mother's eyes. "Do you remember how your mother told you that you had your father's nose and you said you didn't see it?" He watched Neoma nod. He felt this would be the easiest way to tell her. "Well, that was because you didn't really know whose nose you had. It isn't Jonathan Anders' nose you have it is my nose. I am your real father Neoma, and before your mother and Jonathan left we had decided that upon your mother's return you and her would come and live with me because I am you father."
Remus watched confusion and disbelief wash over Neoma's face. "Why are you telling me this?" her voice was so soft that Remus almost didn't hear her.
"I am telling you because it is the truth, and I want you to know you can come to me if you need because I will be here for you. I love you Neoma." He tried to hug her but she pulled away violently. "Neoma what is wrong?"
"You are a liar!" her voice was shrill and cold as her words stung Remus. Neoma had turned tears running down her cheeks as she ran back to the common room.
Remus stood in disbelief. Why did I tell her? What was I thinking? Did I think she was going to embrace me and start calling me daddy? I may have lost her because of my foolishness before I even had her, and now I have no idea where Rebekah is. What am I going to do now?
A/N: Ok so that is chapter 10. It is sort of a cliff hanger because if Jonathan took her where did he take her without Neoma and there has been a struggle. Why? Can't say yet. You have to read the next chapter to find out. I still have a massive headache so I am not proof reading this like I normally do. Hope you think it makes sense and you think it is good. I'm going to go drive a railroad spike through my head now. See you next chapter.
A/N: There was something in the air that night; the stars were bright, Fernando; they were shining there for you and me, for liberty, Fernando. I have been sitting here in my room with my notebook and listening to Abba (don't ask me why I am in a mood) and thinking about what I am doing with this story. Though I know where I'm going next, for some reason I have been trying to put it in words and it doesn't end up formulating the way I want it to. Now I have a killer headache and am forcing myself to continue with this before I get so far behind I can't finish. So here we go...
Chapter 10 – Whereabouts Unknown
Remus jerked his head up off of his desk. It was dark all around him. The candles around the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom had burnt out leaving it pitch black. He rubbed his stiff neck as he searched around the room for an indication of the time. He figured it must have been late by the fact that no light shone in through the windows. He rose out of the chair at his desk and stretched. As he arched his back he wondered how long he had been sleeping in that position at his desk. He gathered his things and brought them to his office before making his way to Dumbledore's office.
"Remus, what exactly can I do for you?" Dumbledore looked up from the parchment he was scratching out a quill across to see the somewhat worried look on the face of the man who had just entered his office.
Remus took a seat in one of the chairs that sat opposite of Dumbledore at the desk. "I was just wondering, sir, if you had heard any word of the return of Mrs. Anders? She was supposed to return after making a trip home with Mr. Anders."
Dumbledore placed his quill in a small inkpot. "I haven't seen her or Mr. Anders since he left my office to go retrieve her from your classroom, I do believe. They were supposed to take their daughter home for the holidays."
"Well some...revelations came up in my classroom and she was supposed to return here." Remus tried to remain cryptic. He didn't want to have to explain to Dumbledore what his situation with Rebekah was.
"I am sorry, Remus, but if I am to help you find out Mrs. Anders whereabouts I will need you to elaborate on these revelations."
Remus knew the wise older wizard would see right through him. He went into the story beginning at with his schoolboy crush and telling him about what had happened that first night when Dumbledore had left his house and he had wandered to her abode. He told him about the fact that he had broke it off with her but still kept in touch with her and then about Jonathan walking in on them in the classroom, but he left out the fact that young Neoma Anders was indeed Neoma Lupin.
"Well, Remus, I think we may very well have an extremely jealous husband in this whole situation. I would never have thought you to be the kind of man to get yourself in a situation like this, but surprises are thrown at you every day aren't they. I will use the floo network to go to the Anders residence and see if she is still there. I think it would be better if I go on my own seeing as you will not be on good terms with Mr. Anders. In the mean time I think you can handle the task of going to the Gryffindor common room and seeing if you can find their daughter. I am curious as to if they took her with them or not." Dumbledore stood and made his way to the fireplace in the corner of his office.
"Thank you so much Albus. I do appreciate this." Remus rose and made his was towards the door.
"I will meet you back here when you are finished Remus, and try not to make that young girl worry if she is still here." He then threw some floo powder into the fireplace and stepped in as Remus walked down the spiral staircase that led out of the office.
Remus entered the Gryffindor common room to some wide eyes and odd looks. He paid no mind to the reactions as he knew just how odd it was to have a teacher in the common room. He noticed Harry and Ron playing a game of Exploding Snap while Hermione sat reading a large book. It is just amazing how like his father he is. He closed in on the area that Harry and company were spending their evening. "Excuse me Harry, Hermione, Ron." He nodded to each of them as he said their names. "I was wondering if you all could help me locate a second year student named Neoma Anders."
Hermione placed her book down on the table and stood up quickly. "She is in the girl's dorms. I'll go get her." She rushed up a set of stairs.
"This place hasn't changed very much at all." Remus took a seat next to Harry. "That was my favourite place to sit and read while I was attending Hogwarts." He pointed to the seat that Hermione had been seated at.
"You were in Gryffindor?" Harry and Ron asked almost in unison.
"Why of coarse I was. What other house would I have been in?" Remus smiled smugly at the shared reaction to bit of information he had let them in on.
The sound of footsteps came from the stairs that led to the girl's dorms as Hermione emerged followed by Neoma. "Here she is Professor."
"Thank you Hermione. Neoma I think you should come with me." He led the young girl out of the common room and they made their way to Dumbledore's office. "Do you have any idea why your mother hasn't returned yet?" Neoma shook her head and they continued on their way without another word.
When they arrived inside Dumbledore was waiting for them. "Neoma I must inform you that I was at your house and there has been no indication as to the whereabouts of you parents since they left the castle this afternoon. I am sure there is nothing to worry about but you should know. They will probably show up in the next few days to take you home but I will be unable to allow you to travel to Kings Cross without knowing they will be there to collect you." Neoma's eyes grew wide with fear. Remus wanted to take his daughter in his arms and comfort her but refrained for she did not know him as her father. "If you could step outside for just a second so I could talk in private to Professor Lupin we will call you back in as soon as we are finished."
"What did you find?" Remus asked once Neoma was out of the room.
"There was no one there and it seemed as if there was a struggle. I do not know what to think at this point Remus, but I will contact the Ministry and see if they can help in anyway." He said in a more serious tone than the one he had used when Neoma was in the room.
"I think there is something else I should tell you." Remus took a seat as he decided it was best that Dumbledore knew what he was about to tell him. "I am Neoma's father."
Dumbledore seemed to not react to this statement. He just looked at Remus the same way he had before. "Well, do you think that she should be informed of this?"
"Before Rebekah...I mean Mrs. Anders left with Mr. Anders we had decided that she would know that I was her father, but I don't know if I should do it without her mother. Now I think she should know so she knows I am here for her."
"Do what you think is right Remus." Dumbledore kept his advice simple possibly because he knew that Remus had already made up his mind on the subject. Remus stood and exited the office descending the spiral staircase finding a very spooked Neoma.
"It will be alright Neoma I am sure your mother will come for you. She would never leave you. You always have me if you need anything." Remus put his hand on her shoulder and looked into her sparkling blue eyes that reminded him of her mother's eyes. "Do you remember how your mother told you that you had your father's nose and you said you didn't see it?" He watched Neoma nod. He felt this would be the easiest way to tell her. "Well, that was because you didn't really know whose nose you had. It isn't Jonathan Anders' nose you have it is my nose. I am your real father Neoma, and before your mother and Jonathan left we had decided that upon your mother's return you and her would come and live with me because I am you father."
Remus watched confusion and disbelief wash over Neoma's face. "Why are you telling me this?" her voice was so soft that Remus almost didn't hear her.
"I am telling you because it is the truth, and I want you to know you can come to me if you need because I will be here for you. I love you Neoma." He tried to hug her but she pulled away violently. "Neoma what is wrong?"
"You are a liar!" her voice was shrill and cold as her words stung Remus. Neoma had turned tears running down her cheeks as she ran back to the common room.
Remus stood in disbelief. Why did I tell her? What was I thinking? Did I think she was going to embrace me and start calling me daddy? I may have lost her because of my foolishness before I even had her, and now I have no idea where Rebekah is. What am I going to do now?
A/N: Ok so that is chapter 10. It is sort of a cliff hanger because if Jonathan took her where did he take her without Neoma and there has been a struggle. Why? Can't say yet. You have to read the next chapter to find out. I still have a massive headache so I am not proof reading this like I normally do. Hope you think it makes sense and you think it is good. I'm going to go drive a railroad spike through my head now. See you next chapter.