Chapter Twenty-One
They walked back to the house with enough time to meet Kendall's parents. Remus knew his father would be cross if they were late. Mary had said he would be back around three.
"Oh, I'm nervous," Kendall admitted as they turned a corner, the Lupin home coming into view.
"It'll be all right," he assured her. He hoped it would be.
They walked inside to find Remus' parents in the sitting room, the tea tray set up on the side table. John looked up from his paper when they walked in.
"They'll be here soon," John said, checking the clock above the fireplace. As though on cue, there was a knock on the door.
"Mary," John said getting to his feet. He nodded and she followed him to the front door. Kendall looked up at Remus as she sat down on the sofa. He placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. He watched as she took a deep breath. She reached for Remus' hand and he took hers, glad to have some part of her to touch Both listened in silence as the front door was opened.
"Good afternoon," Mary said in a gracious tone. "Welcome to our home."
"Thank you," Kendall's mother said in a stiff voice.
"Please come in," John told them, sounding uncomfortable.
There was the sound of footsteps and the closing of the front door. Seconds later, Kendall's parents appeared, John and Mary Lupin just behind them.
"Oh, Kendall, dear," Mrs. Cole said, hurrying over to her daughter with outstretched arms. Kendall got to her feet, allowing her mother to embrace her.
"We're so glad you're all right," Mr. Cole said, placing his palm against Kendall's cheek.
"I'm perfectly fine," Kendall said in an exasperated voice.
"Thank you for looking after her," Mr. Cole said as Mrs. Cole looked Kendall over, as though trying to ascertain whether her daughter had really been taken care of.
"Oh, it was no trouble," Mary said genuinely. "We're very happy to have her."
"Won't you have a seat?" John asked. He'd already resumed his.
"We couldn't possibly stay, we just came to collect our daughter," Mrs. Cole said. She'd now taken hold of Kendall's hand.
"I'm not coming with you," Kendall said sternly, pulling her hand out of her mother's grasp. She moved away, taking Remus' hand once again. Both her parents looked affronted by her statement.
"You're coming home with us," Mr. Cole said in a firm voice.
"Not unless you take back everything you said. About Remus. About us," Kendall ordered, tightening her grip on Remus' hand. Remus felt as though he were watching the hole scene unfold from behind a glass wall, as only an onlooker.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cole, please, have some tea and we can discuss this rationally," Mary said in a persuasive voice.
"There's nothing to discuss," Mr. Cole said. "We will not allow our daughter to fraternize with a-"
"A what, Mr. Cole?" John Lupin asked, rising to his feet. He looked angrier than Remus had ever seen him before. "I suggest you choose your words carefully, sir."
Mr. Cole clenched his hands into fists. "I know what he is," he said with a nod toward Remus. "I've seen what his kind can do."
"His kind?" Kendall asked. Letting go of Remus' hand, she stepped toward her father. "Remus would never hurt anyone."
"Accidents happen," Mrs. Cole interjected. "How else would he be like this?"
"It may interest you to know that the attack on my son was no accident, Mrs. Cole," John said, crossing the room to stand by the fireplace. "I ran into some trouble after acquiring inside information about a group known as the Death Eaters. So they sent a mercenary to exact revenge on me. A werewolf-you may know him, Mr. Cole-by the name of Fenrir Greyback. As punishment for my folly, Greyback attacked the person I hold most dear. Remus was only a boy, just six years old. So, don't you dare blame my son for my mistake."
The room was silent for a few uncomfortable moments. Remus had never heard his father give such detail on the subject of his attack. John had turned away, his eyes staring into the fire grate. Kendall put her hand on Remus' arm, tears in her eyes.
"This doesn't change what he is," Mr. Cole said.
"No, it doesn't," Remus said, finally finding his voice. They all looked at him. "But you're acting as though I had a choice in the matter. I can't change what's happened. What I do know is that I love your daughter, Mr. Cole. And she loves me."
"You're just children," Mr. Cole told Remus. "You're not old enough to understand." He looked at them, shaking his head.
"Surely you don't approve," Mrs. Cole said, addressing John and Mary.
"All I know, Mrs. Cole", Mary began firmly, "is that your daughter makes my son very happy. And she seems to feel the same way. I think that's worth something."
Mrs. Cole looked as though she didn't have a ready response.
"I do feel the same way," Kendall said, her arms wrapping around Remus' middle. He smiled at her, rubbing her back gently. She looked up at Remus adoringly. "I love him," she stated, looking over at her parents. "Please try to understand."
Both her parents looked appalled by their daughter's statement.
"We can't accept this," Mr. Cole said finally.
"You must," Kendall said passionately. "This is what I've chosen."
"You're not old enough to know what you want," Mrs. Cole said.
John Lupin turned his back to the fireplace, his eyes steely as he gazed at the Coles.
"I think they are," he said. "But you must decide whether or not this is worth losing your daughter over. She's made her choice." John paused glancing at Remus. "And you must make yours. But are you perfectly certain about what you're doing?" Remus swallowed, knowing his father's last sentence was meant for him as well.
The Coles looked at each other, both unsure what they should say or do. After a few seconds of silence, the husband spoke.
"We simply can't condone this", Kendall, he said, looking rather sad all of a sudden.
"What are you saying?" Kendall asked, her arms slackening around Remus.
"Are you really going to throw away what may be your last chance to make peace with your daughter?" John asked, shock on his face.
Mrs. Cole looked at her husband, tears filling her eyes. "Perhaps we could just-"
"Surely you can't want this, Mr. Cole," Mary said. "To lose your daughter, your only child?"
"Of course not," he said quickly.
"Then let us be together!" Kendall begged. Mr. Cole looked away from his daughter's imploring eyes.
"All right," Mrs. Cole said after a few moments. Mr. Cole looked as though he was about to protest. "No," she said, stopping him. "I will not let this take our daughter away."
She turned to Remus and Kendall. "We won't keep you apart-won't try to. We love you, Kendall, and we will support you in this decision."
"Oh, mother, thank you!" Kendall cried, letting go of Remus to embrace her mother. "That means so much! Dad?" Kendall asked, looking over her mother's shoulder at her father.
Mr. Cole looked as though he had a bad taste in his mouth, but he sighed in resignation. "All right," he said.
"Thank you!" Kendall threw her arms around him, pecking his cheek before pulling away.
Remus looked at his own parents, both of whom look rather shocked by the sudden turnaround of the Coles.
"Perhaps some tea?" Mary suggested.
"That would be lovely," Mrs. Cole said, taking a seat. Her husband sat beside her and Kendall rejoined Remus, who had sat on the arm of the nearest chair.
Remus had no idea what the conversation even was as Kendall helped his mother serve the tea and then they proceeded to drink and eat some sandwiches Mary had prepared. He was too surprised by the events that had just occurred, along with his preoccupation about what his father had said
Are you perfectly certain about what you're doing? Was he? He honestly wasn't sure.
After the earlier drama, the afternoon passed quickly. Soon, the tea was gone, the food had been eaten, and the Coles, including Kendall, were ready to leave.
"We'll show you out," Mary said, as the entire group got to their feet.
"I'll be out in a minute," Kendall told her parents. They nodded, blank expressions on their faces, before allowing John and Mary to walk them out of the room. Kendall waited until the front door closed before she spoke.
"Well, that went better than I expected," she said lightly, loosely wrapping her arms around Remus.
"I agree," he said in a preoccupied manner.
"What is it?" Kendall asked, spotting his disinterest immediately.
"It's just-they still don't seem very pleased," he said, looking toward the door. "None of them do."
Kendall pressed her lips together, looking slightly annoyed. "At least they're not going to keep us apart," she said quickly. "Aren't you happy that we can be together?" she asked, looking away from him.
"Of course I am," he said, realizing he'd hurt her feelings. He kissed her forehead gently. "Of course, love."
She smiled slightly, meeting his eyes once again. "So am I," she said sweetly.
"You should probably go though," Remus said, smoothing down her hair. "They're waiting for you."
Kendall sighed, but nodded. "I'll write you," she said, intertwining her fingers with his. He smiled at her before leaning down to kiss her quickly.
"See you at school," he told her. She gave his hand a quick squeeze before hurrying out after her parents, the echo of 'Are you sure you know what you're doing?' repeating in Remus' head.