Chapter 10

Albus, Enola, and the cats were back in the small room at the Leaky Cauldron. After a few days, Albus had to go to attend to business and reluctantly left Enola after making her promise not to talk to strangers. Enola agreed not to. He left the next day, leaving Enola with some money to go buy herself food when she needed to.

Enola honestly didn't mind. She knew that whoever Albus was this "wizarding world", he was important and needed. Enola decided to try and teach herself how to read; considering there were so many books in that room and she was bored. Though she was an intelligent girl, she couldn't get more than words like "the", "a", and "cat". exasperated, she decided to go get some lunch downstairs. Alem opted to go with. Alida was hunting mice that she had discovered and trusted Alem to take care of Mother.

Though she was literally hopping down the stairs with the book in her arms, glasses tilting dangerously, no one seemed to notice her and this contented Enola, who ordered a sandwich and sat down to attempt to read again. After about 30 minutes and a whole sandwich, frustrated Enola slammed to book shut, again. Nothing was making sense and then the author threw numbers into the writing, confusing Enola further. She knew her numbers up to 100 (since she had to understand money values and everything she ever bought was under that amount) but what 2.0e-2 and .003 meant was beyond her. Looking around, she studied everyone around her. At least that was something she could understand.

No one was really there that day. A few stragglers, moseying on in for some mid-day snack or drink. One or two sketchy characters, nothing out of the usual. Actually, most of these were regulars; no one new to study. Enola was about to give up and go back upstairs but Alem, surprisingly, started walking the opposite way.

"Alem, what are you doing?" Enola asked gently. She watched as her cat continued walking, stride filled with purpose.

Across the room, a lanky, older male sat at a table, eating some chocolate while drinking tea. Enola had missed him due to the fact that he was hidden from the angle Enola had been at. He was reading a think book and was rather into it. There were some visible scars on him. His clothes were messy and he looked like he hadn't slept for days. Alem, since he was a cat, wasn't phased by this rather put-offish look. He leapt on the table and sat in front of the man. Enola watched a little ways away, curious but too cautious to approach.

It was several long minutes before the man noticed the cat's presence. Once he did, he smiled.

"Well 'ello there."

Remus Lupin reached and pet the black cat's head gently. He continued to pet Alem, without noticing Enola standing about 2 feet away now.

"His name's Alem."

Remus jumped slightly and looked at where the small, soft voice had come from. The little girl attached to it surprised him. Having not brushed her hair as often as she should, it was in its natural state; that wavy, wildness. But that wasn't what startled Remus. No, it was her intense look. It was familiar and seemed to look right into him. It kinda reminded him of James' serious look, something rarely seen until the darker times. Shaking that sad thought out of his head, he smiled at the girl.

"You must be his owner. He seems to want something." Remus hinted, wanting the girl to speak for her own. Remus had always loved and wanted children, but there were too many factors that possessed him not to. Even if he got past those factors, he'd have to find a girl who'd love him; something he thought was impossible.

"I'm Enola," Enola hesitated but continued, "Dumbledore. Enola Dumbledore."

The name still felt funny on her tongue and she immediately discovered the effect that it had on people when she said it. Remus' eyes widened slightly before relaxing. He had heard of this new girl a slight bit from the rumors circulating the teachers of Hogwarts and his colleagues but that didn't calm the initial shock. So this was the girl who fought the Death Eaters. There was something humorous about that. She was so small...

"Ah, right. I'm Remus, Remus Lupin. Would you like to sit down?"

Enola climbed into the seat across from him. Since she didn't say anything, Remus decided to continue reading. Kids were funny that way. They could only stand their curiosity for so long. Remus had wanted to teach but thought that was a long dead dream.

"I want you to teach me."

Nevermind. Maybe not dead.

"Teach you?"

"Yeah," Enola said, "Teach me to read, write and how to do that thing with numbers, I think..."

Remus laughed kindly, "Math?"

"Yeah! That thing!" Enola said excitedly and louder than usual. She realized immediately that she was getting too hyper about this. She blushed slightly and said, "Sorry. See, I've never gone to school before and I want to be able to do stuff that even normal people can do. You know, the ones without magic?"

"Muggles is what is the common term used in the Wizarding World. Now, this doesn't mean I'm saying no, but why me? I'm a bit confused on what compels you to choice me when I look so..."

"Shady?" Enola offered, tilting her head to one side, like a dog. Remus smiled, reminded of Sirius. He again shook off the memories and nodded.

"Well," Enola started, "I trust Alem's instincts and he knew I was struggling with trying to teach myself how to read. If he trusts you, I trust you."

Remus looked startled for a minute before hiding it with a confused smile.

"Well ok, would you like to start now?"

Enola smiled as she nodded.

As Remus began teaching Enola, he would often try to figure out why her phrase had struck him as so... familiar and it seemed to touch something inside him. More memories, Remus decided by the end of the alphabet.

Enola was a fast learner.

After a few hours, she had memorized the alphabet and what each letter sounded Enola was a natural student, Remus' teaching made the work go by even faster. I would have made a good teacher after all, I suppose. He thought though writing seemed to be difficult for Enola. Remus was able to teach Enola how to hold the quill and even then, Remus could tell Enola disliked holding it. Enola's hand felt cramped, unnatural in the position. Enola started attempting to write her name on a napkin. Remus had the alphabet written out on a different one. Her 'e' was backwards and she mixed up the 'b' and the 'd' when writing 'Dumbledore'. Remus smiled softly.

"That's not right," Enola said pouting slightly. This shouldn't be so difficult. If you can speak the language, writing it should be just as easy as talking. Enola thought, frown deepening.

"Aw, don't worry, Enola. It will come more naturally if you keep practicing," Remus replied, writing down the correct way to write her name on a different napkin. Once he was finished, he looked at the time. Realizing it was almost dinner time now, he sighed. He had become rather reluctant to leave the girl but he had work to complete. The full moon was coming in a week.

"Well we've done some good work today but I've got to go now."

Enola hid a frown as she answered, "Oh ok... Could you come back soon? I haven't learned any of that thing with numbers, math..."

Remus smiled.

"How about tomorrow? Same time?"

Enola nodded and both parted ways.