What is Family For
Cleo Vadir
Willow Lupin climbed the ladder that led to a round door. It read, "Professor Trelawney, Divination." Willow opened the door, the strong smell of sweet perfume filled her nostrils. She found that everyone had already taken their seats. She walked over and joined Kalli Damia, her cousin, at a small round table.
"Hello Dears," Professor Trelawney began in a misty voice, "Today we will be doing a full review of Tea Leaves." Everyone in class gave a series of low groans, fully voicing their dismay. "First, please come up single file to get a tea cup, Neville dear, you will remember to take one of the blue ones. After you have you cup I will pour you a glass of tea, you will drink all of the tea until all you have left is the tea leaves." She continued in her airy manner, the warmth of the room and the sweet perfume was starting to affect everyone. Willow looked around, Lavender and Pavarti, her other roommates, had their seats very close to Professor Trelawney. Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas where at a small table in the back, and Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were at the table next to them. Other Gryffindor students were scattered around the room. "You then turn over your tea cups onto your saucers, then you lets the tea leaves drip onto your saucer, then you and your partner switch and read each others tea leaves."
"Sounds easy enough." Willow whispered to Kalli.
"Yeah, Tea Leaves is the first time Trelawney predicted Harry's death," Ron said in a hushed voice from the next table. "You know, four years ago! She has been predicting it every class since too, Old Bat. Wouldn't know a death omen if it bit her in the bum." Ron exclaimed. Kalli and Willow giggled aloud as Harry rolled his eyes and gave a slight grin.
After everyone in the class had gotten back to their seats, and Neville had already dropped three glasses, they all began to follow the instructions. After Kalli and Willow had both turned over their teacups, Kalli began to read Willow's tea leaves first.
"What do you see?" Willow asked excitedly.
"I see, I see..." Kalli began, then let out a little giggle. "I see you are going to be in a foul mood tonight."
"What's so funny about that?" Willow asked seriously. Kalli just grinned at her, attempting to hold back laughter. "What...Oh Bugger! Tonight is the, oh bloody buggery, tonight is the full moon!"
Harry, obviously overhearing their conversation asked, "So, what's so bad about that? Uncle Remus isn't here, we don't have to worry about anything."
"That's not entirely true." Willow began quietly. Harry and Ron's mouths both hung opened.
"Uh...But you told Snape..." Harry trailed off.
"Harry, honestly, how good of an idea do you think it woulda been to tell Snape that Willow, Remus Lupin's daughter was half werewolf, he would have failed her for sure." Kalli cut in.
"True, true." Ron added. "So, what happens to you on the full moon?"
"Well, first off, it only lasts one night." She began hesitantly. "And what happens is, my hair gets a little thicker. My teeth get a little pointy, and I get a little irritable. Nothing like my Father, but still."
"So it's like PMS?" Ron asked seriously. Kalli, Harry and Willow all giggled at the question.
"Ron, what girls teeth do you know that get pointy during PMS?" Willow asked.
"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed.
"Has Hermione ever bitten you?" Kalli asked jokingly.
"I don't wanna talk about it." Ron said seriously. Kalli and Willow couldn't help but laugh out loud at this.
"Okay Ron, no problem!" Willow choked through her laughter.
Professor Trelawney came over to Kalli and Willow table, looked at Willow saucer, and gasped.
"What is it?" Willow asked, only half wanting to hear the answer.
"I see, I see…" She began in the mistiest voice any of them had ever heard. "I see a werewolf in your tea leaves. What is your name again dear?" They all giggled slightly.
"Willow Lupin" She stated.
"Remus Lupin's daughter?"
"Nah, she's his wife, doesn't she look like his daughter?" Ron said in a smart tone. Then Professor Trelawney shot him a look that showed her immediate dislike in him.
"Ah, yes, I knew that, just try not to let The Eye ruin normal conversations that's all. But yes, that would be it, your father, but beware dear, be very careful, I see havoc in store for you tonight." Professor Trelawney said, then pivoted and walked to her winged armchair and sat down.
"Old Bat, what a fraud." Ron exclaimed.
* * *
"I am so hungry I could eat a hippogriff!" Ron exclaimed to the group, which consisted of Harry, Kalli, Hermione, and Willow. "So can we please hurry to the Great Hall."
"We are walking as fast as we can Ron, would you like us to run?" Hermione said sarcastically.
"That would be nice." Ron said, eyeing Hermione to see whether Hermione was going to be hit or not. She just rolled her eyes and mutter something where the words "boys!" and "Honestly" were audible.
"So I take it you are eating with us again huh Herm?" Ron asked.
"Yes, and don't call me Herm, you know I hate that." Hermione said in a disapproving voice.
"No problem Herm." Ron said, obviously trying to get under her skin.
They all took their seats, this time Hermione was throw into the mix, Kalli still sat next to Harry, and Willow beside Harry and Ron, and Hermione was on the other side of Ron. The Roast beef and potatoes appeared on their golden plates, and pumpkin juice in their golden goblets. They all stuffed their mouths and then began to talk.
"So Ron, you decided to stop drooling over Willow for long enough to eat I see." Hermione said so it was plainly audible to Willow.
"Oh Bugger Hermione, just because no one likes you doesn't mean you have to go making everyone miserable!" Ron exclaimed.
Hermione pick up her goblet of pumpkin juice, held it over Ron's lap, and poured the full glass onto his lap.
"You bloody bugger git!" Ron exclaimed, immediately standing up and looking at where she had poured the juice. Everyone was loudly giggling, and staring at Ron.
"You did deserve that Ron." Harry explained.
"It doesn't bloody matter!" Ron practically shouted.
"Couldn't hold it could you Weasley?" Said the all to familiar drawl of Draco Malfoy. Willow took him to be quite handsome, he had blonde hair and thin face. "The bathroom is right down the hall too."
"Sod off Malfoy." Harry said, Ron was visible shaking with anger and his ears were pink from embarrassment and fury.
"Oh, but I was having so much fun. Who is this, a new student?" Draco said eyeing Willow.
"My name is Willow Lupin, and yours?" Willow said coolly.
"Draco, Draco Malfoy. Lupin you say, too bad such a beautiful girl as your self has such a good-for-nothing for a father." Draco said, checking out Willow the entire time.
"Don't talk about my father that way, ever." Willow scowled at Malfoy.
"I'm sorry, far be it from me to get on your bad side." He said as he walked away.
"Oh my lord, Malfoy apologized!" Kalli exclaimed. "I have never seen him do that for anyone."
"What can I say, I have the touch." Willow stated, making everyone laugh.
"Okay, out with it, what is your secret?"
"Easy, it's only four steps. Bat the eyes, flip the hair, shake the hips, walk away." Willow said with a grin on her face. And both of the girls giggled. Hermione then turned to Ron and started batting her eyes.
"Is there something in your eye Hermione?" He asked dumbly, this made all of them roar up in laughter, except Ron, almost causing a scene.
"So Willow, what are you going to do about tonight?" Harry asked seriously after everyone had calmed down.
"Tonight?" Hermione asked when Ron cut her off.
"Yeah, are you going to come out of your dormitory?" Ron asked.
"Well, I can animagi with you." Kalli said.
"We really have to learn to do that dude!" Ron said to Harry.
"Why would you need to animagi, what's tonight, someone tell me!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Fine, I will tell you, but no one else." Willow began. "I'm, well, I'm…half werewolf, nothing like my dad, but things happen to me, and I have never been around people before when it is a full moon."
"Uh…Okay, I wasn't expecting that." Hermione stated.
"That's it, decision made, I'm gonna animagi tonight, and we will get Lavender and Pavarti to leave, and Hermione, if you want to leave, you can too." Kalli stated authoritatively.
"I'm tellin' you, its not that bad, Hermione, you can stay, but I don't want to tell Lavender and Pavarti just yet." Willow told them.
"Or ever!" Kalli added, "They can't keep their mouths shut!"
Draco Malfoy, who was hiding and listening in to every word they said, had a malevolent grin on his face. He crept away and rushed to the Slytherin's Head of House, Professor Snape.
* * *
"But Albus!" Snape exclaimed. "Who do you know who wasn't their children going to school with a werewolf?"
"Half werewolf." Professor Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster at Hogwarts, stated coolly as he pushed his half moon glasses higher on his nose.
"It doesn't matter," Snape roared, "She is a danger to herself and the rest of the school, I think she should be expelled immediately!"
"And that Severus, is exactly why you aren't Headmaster." Dumbledore said, visible enjoying himself.
"If I have to I will take this up with the Ministry myself Albus, don't tempt me." Snape growled.
"Good, while you are doing that up can ask for a job there as well." Dumbledore said coolly.
Snape gave a heavy sigh and stormed out of the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore gave a quick chuckle then also left his office.
* * *
"Willow?" Willow spun around to see a Professor, her hair in a tight bun and a pair of rectangular glasses high on her nose.
"Yes?" Willow answered.
"I am Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster, would like to see you." She said, beckoning Willow to follow her. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Kalli all stood there for a moment to think of what Dumbledore would want with Willow.
"Well looks like Dumbledore has another favorite now, huh Harry?" Ron said nodding at Harry.
"Sod off Ron." Harry said through a grin.
* * *
"Miss Lupin," Dumbledore began before Willow cut him off.
"Please Sir, call me Willow." She said sweetly.
"Willow, yes, I was a good friend of your father" he began, "I hired him here, in what would have been your third year. I must tell you Willow, it is impressive that you had the knowledge to be about to skip right to sixth year."
"Home schooling Professor." Willow explained. "My mother taught me everything I know, got a little frustrated though when I proved to be better at it than her."
Dumbledore gave a large warm grin and continued. "Anyway, as I was saying, I hired your father here, so I have no problem with werewolves, none at all. But there are certain precautions we must take for everyone's safety."
"Yes sir." Willow said gloomily, thinking that in her first week at Hogwarts she would already be expelled. "When do I need to leave by?"
"Leave? My dear child, who said anything about leaving?" Dumbledore said astoundedly.
"I don't have to leave?" Willow said excitedly.
"Of course not, but as I said we need to take special precautions. Did your father ever tell you of the Whomping Willow?" He asked.
"Yes, just a few weeks again, and of the house the passage leads to, and everything." Willow said confused.
"Well, I'm going to give you access to that, when the full moon is out of course, would that be good? You can stay there with you cousin. She can animagi correct?" Dumbledore asked.
"Uh…" Willow said in shock, not knowing that Dumbledore knew that her cousin could animagi. "Yeah, into a kitten."
"Smashing, she will be small enough to creep under the Willow's branches, oh that's funny, Whomping Willow, and your Willow, that is hilarious!" He said giggling and trailing off the subject. "But anyway she can go under the branches and push the knot for you, sound good?"
"Oh, yes sir!" Willow said, so overjoyed that she could stay that she found herself hugging Dumbledore.
"Oh, well dear, let's run along now, shall we?" He suggested.
"Yes sir, and thank you again."
"Oh, and dear, be sure not to abuse you animagi power, leopards can be dangerous, just be a good kitty, okay?" Dumbledore added.
Willow stood there with her mouth wide opened, looked at Dumbledore with his half moon glasses and extremely long whitish silver hair and stammered, "Uh…yeas sir." The quickly walked out of his office and headed back to the Gryffindor common room. She came up to the painting of the fat lady and stated the Gryffindor password. "Fluffer Nutter" Then walked over to Kalli, Ron, Hermione, and Harry.
"He, he knows." Willow stated to Kalli in a shaky voice.
"Who knows?" Kalli asked.
"Professor Dumbledore." Willow answered.
"He knows what?" Kalli asked timidly.
"Everything!" Willow exclaimed. "He knows I'm half werewolf, he knows I can animagi into a leopard,"
Ron cut her off immediately, "You can what?" He asked loudly.
"I can animagi into a leopard, but that's not important now."
"That is so cool!" Ron shouted and Hermione just rolled her eyes. "Just like Kalli can animagi into a kitten."
"That's the other thing." Willow began, "He knows that too, I didn't tell him, but he knows."
"What did he say?" Kalli asked, much more alarmed.
"He said to be careful."
"What, that's all!" Ron exclaimed.
"I told you Dumbledore was cool." Harry said in an I-told-you-so voice.
"Well excuse me Mr. Potter, I don't go to his office for tea and crumpets every day." Ron said sarcastically.
"You just jealous." Hermione said to Ron.
"You can just sod off Hermione." Ron said barely addressing her.
* * *
The next day in late afternoon, after all lessons were done, Ron and Willow were cuddling on an armchair together, reading a book. Willow only showed a strong liking for Ron when Hermione wasn't around, not wanting to offend her, or make her too mad or jealous. It was more than obvious that Hermione liked Ron. Kalli sat in a chair across from theirs. Hermione and Harry walked in and before anyone knew it Willow had flicked her wand, she was in Kalli's spot on the armchair, and Kalli was in Ron's arms. Both Ron and Kalli were very stunned by this, and didn't know what had just happened.
"So Ron, now you're stealing my girlfriend huh?" Harry said then quickly gasped and cupped his hands over his mouth then said, "I mean, er, my friend, my friend that's a girl, yeah that on." He then hung his head down, realizing how non-convincing this was.
"Awww, widdle 'Arry has a girlfriend, how cute!" Ron said in a voice that you would use to talk to a baby. "Harry and Kalli kissing in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-" he was immediately cut off by Kalli's hand on his mouth shutting him up. Everyone started giggling and Kalli didn't say a word about it.
Then out of no where Willow flicked her wand again and Harry was put in Ron's spot holding Kalli. Then in the same moment, Ron was put in her lap. "Oh bugger, this isn't right." She flicked her wand again and she was on Ron's lap. "Much better."
Everyone sat there, mouths opened for a while then harry piped up, "Where did u learn that?"
"From my Mum." She answered as if everyone should have known that. "She taught me everything I know, really got to her when I got better at it than her, me dad's blood I guess. People always saying what an incredible wizard he is and was. He could animagi by the age of thirteen. Kalli you learned at what, nine?"
"Yeah, nine" Kalli answered.
"I learned at ten, learned to Apparate and Disapparate at five though." Willow added.
"There is no way!" Ron exclaimed, "My brother, Percy, he is eighteen and he just learned. Besides, you can't you don't have you license."
"Wanna bet." Willow said with a grin on her face. She then disapparated up to her dormitory then almost immediately apparated back, right in front of them. "Here, this is my license."
She handed Ron a piece of plastic like material with a smiling and moving picture of her on it. It was indeed an Apparation license.
"Well I say…" Ron said as everyone looked over his shoulder at it. Just then Willow's owl, Featherbrain, flew into the common room window. It was a fluffy light gray, dark gray, and black tawny. He landed gently on her shoulder as she stood up, and affectionately nibbled her ear. She untied the roll of parchment from the large owl's foot.
"It's from Pop." Willow said excitedly.
The letter read:
Dearest daughter,
I must let you know, Lucious Malfoy and Severus Snape are teaming up to get you expelled for who you are, but mainly for who I am. I'm coming to Hogwarts as soon as possible to help you handle this, tell Kalli I'm coming. I will be arriving at noon on Friday. Please hang in there until I arrive. I heard Ol' Dumbledore is letting you use the Whomping Willow, we will talk more in person, see you soon love.
Love
Your Dad, Remus
"Dad's coming!" Willow exclaimed.
"Awesome!" Ron and Harry cried at the same time.
"This is smashing, Uncle Remus is coming!" Kalli said enthusiastically.
"Cool." Hermione said, also excited.
* * *
"You don't know anything Willow!" Hermione exclaimed. When they heard yelling, Kalli and Harry both ran down to the empty common room, everyone was already asleep. They found Ron, Willow and Hermione all there. Hermione was yelling so loudly that the room was almost shaking.
"Hermione, you like Ron, its okay." Willow said coolly.
"I most certainly do not!" Hermione yelled. "Ron is just a bumbling git."
Harry took as seat next to Ron and asked what was going on. "I don't know but they seem to be fighting over me, this is cool!" Ron said gleefully as he shrugged and continued to watch the girls.
"You are just a Bloody Buggery Werewolf!" Hermione yelled yet again, and everyone gasped in.
"A bloody buggery what?" Willow asked coolly.
"You heard me." Hermione growled.
"That's what I thought." Willow said, then with a flick of her wand, Hermione was a gerbil. She just sat there for a second then let out a series of loud squeaks that very much resembled Hermione when she is in person and in a foul mood.
"Smashing!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry and Kalli were just completely awe struck. Ron looked down at the furiously squeaking gerbil and said, "So I'm a bumbling git huh? Oh Crookshanks." He called Hermione's rodent hating cat, Hermione then let out a very loud and high pitched squeak then ran as fast as she could and hid under a couch.
"Turn her back, fun is fun, but I think she learned a lesson." Harry said through a broad grin. Willow suddenly got a very evil grin on her face, which with her pointed teeth, looked even worst, as Kalli picked up Crookshanks.
"Alright, no problem." Then with another flick of her wand Hermione was back to normal, but with one problem, she was still under the couch.
"Ouch." Hermione groaned in a low voice.
"Willow." Kalli said disapprovingly. Willow then lifted the couch with her wand so it levitated ten feet in the air, then just after Hermione moved from under it, she let it fall.
"Willow, tonight is a full moon, you are a little more deviant when the moon is full, and you are deviant enough as is, so from now on, you and I are definitely going to the Whomping Willow on full moons.
Willow just smiled and gave Hermione and apologetic look, then headed off to her dormitory.
"That was so cool!" Ron exclaimed, Hermione turned to him, her hair completely tousled and her face very red. She gave him a look that could melt stone, then she too ran up to her dormitory. Everyone else soon followed.
* * *
"Papa!" Willow squealed.
"Hi darling, how are you?" Remus asked his daughter.
"Smashing daddy, how are you, aren't you tired?" Willow asked concern in her voice.
"I'm a little wiped out, but I'll be fine." He reassured her.
"So what is going on? The Ministry is trying to have me expelled?"
"No, Lucious Malfoy is trying to have you expelled. Snape too, but that's a whole 'nother story." He said shaking his head slightly.
"So I see you have fallen into a good crowd dear." Remus said looking over to Harry, Kalli, Ron, and Hermione. "Kalli dear, how are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine uncle, you know, you could have told me about Willow."
"I know, but I thought it better that you two meet on your own terms." Remus stated. "So Kalli, are you going to animagi with Willow and keep her company?"
"Of course." She said as if there was no other choice. "After last night, we are definitely going under the Whomping Willow."
Willow began to blush when her father asked, "What happened."
"She turned me into a gerbil." Hermione stated loudly, as if still mad about it. Remus gave out a loud chuckle and everyone else laughed as well, even Hermione herself cracked a small smile.
"A gerbil huh?" Remus said through laughs as he looked at his daughter.
"Yeah," Willow said with a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
"Your lucky she didn't animagi into a leopard and chase you for a while." Remus said while broadly grinning.
"I was going to but I can't animagi when it is a full moon." Willow responded.
"Oh Yeah." Remus said with a thoughtful look on his face. "So, Kalli, are you going to push the knot on the Willow?"
"Uh-huh, We already talked about that." Kalli replied.
"Smashing, you know, you are named after that tree." Remus said to Willow.
"Great named after a bloody tree." Willow said jokingly and everyone laughed.
"I'm going to go talk to Dumbledore, see all of you later." Remus said as he got up and left through the painting.
* * *
"So I heard you turned Granger into a Gerbil last night did you." Draco Malfoy said as he slid into a vacant chair by Willow. "Good to know you're on the right side of the fence when it comes to those Mudbloods. Makes up for the whole werewolf thing." He said flashing her a smile and trying to be charming.
"So you're the one that told Snape?" She asked angrily.
"I didn't mean to, I was making conversation with him. And it just slipped out. Believe me, with me on your side, you won't be expelled, my father listens to my every word." He said proudly.
"Well Draco, seems like I have a new friend." She said sweetly to him. All of the others mouths gaped opened, not believing what they were hearing.
"I'll talk to you latta then." He said, smiling broadly as he walked off, and for the first time he was not accompanied by his thugs Crabbe or Goyle.
"What on earth was that?" Ron asked, very alarmed.
"What is the point of buggery lil gits like that if you don't use them?" Willow pointed out. Everyone smiled and giggled then started to eat breakfast. Willow got up and walked over to Hermione. "I'm really sorry about last night Hermione, that wasn't me, I know you don't like me, but that, in the common room, wasn't me. So I just wanted to say I'm sorry." Willow wasn't sure if what she said fell on deaf ears, but she hope Hermione was listening to her.
* * *
"All right, draw your wand!" Severus Snape screamed at Remus Lupin.
"Severus, I'm not getting into a duel with you." Remus replied.
"What's going on here gentlemen?" They hear the voice of Cornelius Fudge, the Head of the Ministry.
"Uh..." Snape stammered, "Absolutely nothing Minister, Mr. Lupin and I are just having a disagreement, that's all."
"Yeah, that's what it looks like all right." Dumbledore said in a sardonic voice. "Severus, drop your wand."
"But, Professor, a werewolf, at Hogwarts!" Snape screamed. "It's unthinkable!"
"Severus, it isn't he first time." Dumbledore said, showing pure delight at Snape's expense. "If you don't remember, which I'm sure you do, Mr. Lupin here was one as well." He said with a slight chuckle. "And it won't be the last."
"I've discussed it with the Ministry, and we all agree that it is quite alright for Miss Lupin to stay here." Mr. Fudge added.
"But she turned a student into a gerbil!" Snape roared.
"Was anyone hurt?" Fudge questioned.
"Well, no, but!" Snape protested.
"Then there isn't a problem here." Dumbledore said forcefully. "Everyone is excused." He said as he glared at Snape. Severus Snape stormed out of the room in a rage. Dumbledore smiled at Remus, then left the room with Fudge.
"That went smashingly." He thought as he walked down the long corridor to the Great Hall.
* * *
"What the..." Kalli's voice trailed off as she looked up at the Professor's Table. "What is Uncle Remus doing up there?" With that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Willow all looked at the long table in front of them.
"Uh...I dunno, I'll go see." Willow offered as she got up and headed to go talk to her father. They all watched her, she talked to Remus for about five minutes. When she came back, she had on a very broad grin.
"What?" Harry asked. However, all Willow did was smile until everyone in unison asked, "What?"
"Dumbledore offered Dad the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, and he took it!" She said excitedly.
"No way! That is so cool!" Ron yelled.
"Uncle Remus is back?" Kalli asked.
"Uh-huh, it's true." Willow said, still beaming.
"When does he start?" Harry inquired.
"Next week, Dad and I are going to go to the shrieking shack on the full moon, and Kalli if you wanna come you can too." Willow continued.
"I'd love too, I still can't believe Uncle Remus is here." Kalli answered.
"But see, I knew Dad was coming all along." Willow said matter-of-factly.
"And how would you know that?" Ron asked.
"Animal Instincts." Willow replied.