Unraveled
Chapter Fifteen: Madame Ringsu
Sirius was nearly frantic. He had to find Fiona soon and he was starting to see possibilities of what could happen to her. Nell was driving as safely as possible, but she was a nervous wreck. Draco was scanning around him, trying to not pay attention to Nell's nearly reckless driving.
Everything came to a screeching halt, when Nell slammed on her brakes. Draco felt his body lurch forward. He glared at the back of her head and stifled a round of curses from his lips. "Fiona went off by herself a couple days ago before you arrived. She must be at the park. It's the closest place to the school," said Nell.
"Let's get out at the park and look for her," said Draco. Sirius barked to give an answer. Nell steered the car and parked it. Draco opened his door as Nell quickly got out of the door, but Sirius used his paws and got out of the car by himself.
Sirius ran forward using his nose to snuff for Fiona. He knew her scent. It was like mints mixed with roses. He snuffed the air, trying to catch her scent. Where could she be?, he thought anxiously. He saw the playground and ran into it.
He skidded into a halt when he saw her sitting on the swing. Her bag was sitting on the sand. Sirius slowly made his way over to her, sensing that she was upset. He stopped next to her on the swing. She paid no attention to him, so he pressed his cold, wet nose against her leg. Slowly, she turned her head to face him.
"Leave me alone," she whispered, returning to her point of interest, her feet. Sirius barked at her. "Just leave me alone," she cried as a sob escaped.
"Fiona! There you are," said Nell. The three of them had split up, so Draco was at another part of the park. "Honey, you know you don't leave the school without permission. What if something happened?"
"It doesn't matter. You try to play by the rules and look what happens," whispered Fiona.
"I know you don't want to move again. I know. I don't want to either, but we've got no choice," pleaded Nell.
"I never asked for any of this. And I didn't ask to be born," said Fiona. "Why did they have me, if this world was going to be so awful?"
"The world is an awful place. If it's not V-Voldemort, then it's someone or something else," said Nell as she forced herself to say Voldemort's name. She looked towards Sirius for help.
"I don't care anymore! I don't want to do any of this! I don't want to be a witch or learn any magic! He knows magic! I don't want to be anything like him!" screamed Fiona as she started crying. Her sobs were breaking her father's heart. Sirius took the risk and transformed back into his human form. He wrapped his arms around his crying child. He let her cry, not paying attention to anyone else in the world.
Draco had appeared after Fiona started yelling. He stopped next to Nell. "Let's give them some privacy," whispered Nell as she pushed Draco towards some picnic tables that were a little further away from the swings.
"I don't want to learn magic. I don't want to hurt anyone," cried Fiona. Sirius didn't try to hush her like he would normally do when someone cried. She needed to cry. "I want Mommy."
"I want your mother, too," agreed Sirius. "I'm not very good at this."
"I'm not very good at magic either."
"Your mother also learned magic. It's what you make of it. That's true with any other skill you acquire," said Sirius soothingly.
"What if I never learn anything? I don't even have a wand," sobbed Fiona.
"We'll get you one soon. I'm sure your teacher is planning it," assured Sirius. "Not everything is easy to learn or do when you're first starting. Remember what it was first like when you were learning how to play the violin?"
Fiona nodded as she wiped the tears with the back of her hand. Sirius rubbed her shoulder. "I wasn't very good. I wanted to stop playing. I think Mom had ear plugs to block me out until I got better."
"Did you give up?"
"You know I didn't. I couldn't. Mom wouldn't let me. I even tried hiding the violin inside the piano and at Aunt Nell's house."
Sirius smiled. "You can't do that with your wand," he warned her. "How am I doing?" he asked her.
Fiona looked into his eyes, her dimples showing. "Better than I expected," she finally answered after a moment's silence.
"What did your mother do after the talking?" asked Sirius.
"Hmm…we had something to eat. And she kissed me on the cheek," replied Fiona with a shrug. Sirius pretended to search his pockets. "I don't have any food on me. Sorry," he said.
"Are you mad at me for leaving school?" she asked nervously.
"No, but you did have me worried. Don't do that again," he answered as he kissed her on the cheek. "Why don't we get out of here? There's no point in staying out here." He straightened out his back and offered his hand, which she took.
"Don't expect too much," warned Fiona as she dropped his and to go and pick up her bag. Sirius smiled again. It didn't matter. He got to hold her and kiss on the cheek.
Nell and Draco were sitting on the picnic benches. They weren't talking to each other. Nell grinned when Sirius and Fiona walked back. "Well, we'll drop you off at school again," she said happily.
"No, he said I didn't have to," argued Fiona.
Nell looked at Sirius, who nodded in agreement with Fiona. "Fine. What do we do now? Your teacher's not around, so we can't have lessons until later," she said.
"Speak for yourselves, I've still got work to do," said Draco. "Now that we've found her, why don't we just go back?"
"You be quiet you inbred snob," said Fiona.
"'Inbred?'" asked Draco with a raised eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you said that you were a pure blood before. That's what pure blood translates to," replied Fiona with a cheeky grin.
"You little brat!" bellowed Draco. He had his wand in his pocket and drew it.
"Stop!" ordered Nell.
"She started it!" fired back Draco.
Sirius stepped in front of Fiona just as Draco drew his wand, not knowing whether he should laugh at Draco or scold Fiona. "Now, I'm asking you not to think of her father, but think of the other members of her family. Other members that you may not want to upset by hurting her," warned Nell.
"ARGH!" spat Draco as he shoved his wand into his pocket. He couldn't hex or curse her. He did the next best thing: he glared past Sirius to her. Fiona pulled down one of her eye lids and stuck out her tongue.
"Oh, Fiona, act your age," said Nell with a sigh.
"But, I am," said Fiona.
"Let's go and visit my mother," said Nell.
"You have a mother?" asked Draco.
"Well, she wasn't spawned out of some unholy cocoon like you. Or created in some lab by a mad scientist," answered Fiona.
"Stop that," said Nell. "I won't have any childish arguing in the car." They all walked. The hawk that was in the tree took off for the sky as soon as they reached the car.
Draco glared at Fiona as he opened the door to let himself in, but she stepped passed him and got through the door before him. His jaw clutched. "Stay on your side of the car," he said as he slammed the door closed.
"I will, if you will," said Fiona.
"Be quiet both of you," said Nell as she rubbed her temples. "And you're no help," she added to the black dog that took a seat at the passenger side next to her. He gave her a strange look that made her think that he was mocking her.
Nell drove them to a beautiful two story townhouse with hedges in the front. The windows were tall and shiny. Nell smiled as she parked the car in the garage. There was a woman gardening who reminded Draco of his grandmother.
"Nell? What are you doing here? I thought you were at the clinic," said the woman as she walked up to them. She embraced Nell and walked up to Fiona, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Mom, let me introduce you," said Nell.
The woman stopped in front of Draco with a smile on her face. "Yes, it's about time. Who is this handsome young man?' she asked.
"Draco Malfoy, this is my mother, Laura Lawson. Mom, this Draco Malfoy," introduced Nell proudly.
"Hello, Mrs. Lawson," said Draco with a slight bow.
"My goodness an English boy," said Laura delightedly. "Are you dating Fiona?"
Fiona nearly choked on nothing, while Sirius barked. Draco turned red at the tips of his ears. "No," replied Draco roughly.
"Oh," said Mrs. Lawson, but it sounded like she didn't believe them. "And who is this?" she asked as she walked up to the dog. She held her hand out and Sirius shook hands with her.
"Why don't we go inside and explain everything?" suggested Nell.
"Fine. We can have some pumpkin fizz and some homemade cauldron cakes," agreed Mrs. Lawson.
"Wait, how did you know that he was a well…um…like us, Mrs. Lawson?" asked Fiona.
"I've heard of his family before," said Mrs. Lawson as she ushered everyone into the house.
Draco gave Fiona a look that told her he was surprised as well. They all came into a nicely decorated living room. She saw the pictures on the mantel and tables. They were pictures of Nell growing up along with pictures of Thalia and her. Dr. Lawson had once declared that he was Fiona's grandfather. He and Mrs. Lawson spent one weekend in Virginia before staying with Fiona for the weekend. He taught her how to fish, while she taught her how to sew. A picture sat on the mantel that showed Fiona when she was six-years-old, proudly holding a fish that she had caught with Dr. Lawson. He was smiling proudly. There was a picture of Thalia holding Fiona when she was a year old with the Lawsons. It looked like a family portrait to many.
"You said you knew my family, Mrs. Lawson?" asked Draco.
"Not exactly, I know your mother's family. Narcissa was the daughter of a friend of mine. I attended Beauxbaton for one year on an exchanged program. Your grandmother, Adrienne, is a friend of mine. I haven't heard from her in ages, but the last time I spoke with her was years ago. It was right before your mother married your father. She was so worried about your mother," said Mrs. Lawson. "You do have your mother's hair color. It's the same as your grandmother's," she added.
"She was right," whispered Draco. "I don't know how my mother is doing. She went to go visit my grandmother on the last week of August just before I had to go back to school. She left so suddenly that she didn't even say goodbye."
Mrs. Lawson frowned. "Why don't you call her here?" she suggested.
"She doesn't know that I'm not at school. I'm here under my Headmaster's orders," answered Draco with a shake of his head. "I was told that I shouldn't make any contact with anyone other than Professor Dumbledore."
"I could call your grandmother for you. Just to say hello," said Mrs. Lawson thoughtfully.
"Mom, it's time for me to explain everything," announced Nell nervously. Mrs. Lawson looked at her daughter with a raised eyebrow. She recognized that tone in her voice. Nell gulped and explained everything as simply as possible without any interruptions from anyone. She did leave out some less important details.
"I see," said Mrs. Lawson, taking a glance at the black, shaggy dog. He transformed back to his human form. "Hello, Mr. Black. I've been looking forward to meeting you for quite some time, and so has my husband," said the elder woman calmly.
"Hello, Mrs. Lawson. Thank you very much for what you've done for my wife and daughter," said Sirius with a slight nod.
"What happens now?" she asked. "Will you be taking her away from the only life she's ever known?"
Fiona cast a look at her father. His jaw was clutched as his steel, blue eyes focused on Mrs. Lawson. She was trying to measure him, not just as a man, but as a father. Dr. Lawson, who was practically in all the pictures in the room, was the ideal father. "That life has already been taken from her by Voldemort," replied Sirius softly. His eyes softened when Fiona looked at him, but the tension in his jaw didn't loosen in the slightest.
"Why don't you two go outside and have a look at the backyard?" suggested Nell to Draco and Fiona.
"Okay," said Fiona, wanting to escape the tension in the room. Draco allowed her to go through the kitchen first. Neither looked back at the adults as they retreated from the room.
*
Hogwarts buzzed with news. The new substitute teachers were making their debuts that day. The students were looking forward to meeting them. Professor Snape had departed already and his office remained locked until the substitute arrived. Most of the students were elated that Professor Snape was gone, except the Slytherins. Their house was behind on points because their Quidditch team's replacement for seeker wasn't as good as Draco Malfoy.
The first class to have the new substitute for Potions was Harry's with the disgruntled Slytherins. Their head of house was gone, and the replacement was going to be the new substitute for Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Everyone was seated near their work stations with their cauldrons and embers waiting to blaze at any moment. All eyes were on the doorway to the classroom. "I wonder where the teacher is?" asked Ron in a whisper.
"Great. I'm never going to do well on the O.W.L.s, if even the teacher doesn't show up on time," complained Hermione also in a whisper.
"The teacher's not late. We're all early," said Harry, more loudly than everyone else.
"'ello, class. My apologizes for being late," said a familiar female voice with a French accent. All eyes in the room widened in surprise.
"My name is Fleur Delacour. Zome of you may remember me from my last visit to 'Ogwarts," said Fleur Delacour pleasantly. She had a nervous smile on her face. This was the first class she ever taught in her life.
Hermione's jaw had dropped and she took one look at Ron. He looked mesmerized by Fleur already. Harry looked surprised, but not mesmerized.
"Well, your profezzor haz left zome instructionz for me, zo let'z begin," said Fleur as she walked to the blackboard and started to write on it.
Hermione looked stunned because she didn't expect her to be a serious teacher. The sound of rustling parchment paper and quills touching paper filled the room as Fleur Delacour explained how to brew the latest potion they would need for the upcoming O.W.Ls. Even Harry didn't get the distracted because of all the notes that Fleur made them take.
At the end of class, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were off to the next class, Defense Against the Dark Arts. "Wow! That was great!" declared Ron.
"I think I have a writer's cramp," complained Seamus as he twisted his wrist to get the blood flowing again.
"That was an excellent lesson," agreed Hermione. She really was impressed. "And her English actually sounds better."
"Thank you," said Fleur from behind them.
"Uh?" said Harry.
"I must go zee Professor Dumbledore. It's good to zee you, 'Arry. 'Ow are you doing ziz year?" she asked him as they all walked together.
"Fine," replied Harry. He knew that Ron and Hermione didn't think so, but they didn't say anything.
"Zis iz where I go off," said Fleur as she went towards Professor Dumbledore's office.
"What next Viktor Krum?" said Ron out loud as soon as she was out of ear shot.
"No, besides Viktor is still playing Quidditch in Belgium. He wrote and told me in his last letter. The other substitute teacher is a woman, too," said Hermione.
"When did he write you again?" demanded Ron.
"Um…just a few days ago. I still have to answer him back," said Hermione hurriedly as her ears went bright red. She started walking faster than Harry and Ron.
"Slow down and answer me," demanded Ron as he walked faster to catch up with her.
Harry shook his head, but walked faster as well. Ron and Hermione were already starting to argue when they entered the classroom. The woman standing there was about the same age as Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, and Sirius Black. She turned around and her eyes seemed to brighten as Harry came in.
"Come in everyone. Let's all have a seat," said the woman. Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their seats at the front, center of the room. She smiled at all of them.
"Hello, my name is Arabella Figg," announced the young woman.
Harry's mind flood with familiarity. He looked at Ron and Hermione because he had told them about the people who were part of the "Old Crowd" and this woman was mentioned. He also recognized the last name, "Figg." She didn't look like the old lady in the Dursley's neighborhood who had acted as Harry's protection when he was there for the summer.
"I am here to substitute for both Professor Snape, as the head of his house, and for Professor Lupin when he is indisposed each month," said Professor Figg. "We are headed for a serious time in the wizarding world. A time that may spill over once again into to the Muggle world."
Everyone knew about what had happened to Cedric Diggory. Most of the time, the students were even afraid to talk about it. Most wanted to pretend that nothing in the outside world could harm them, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione knew better. The year had been very uneventful for Harry so far.
The woman was tall. Her hair was dark blond and her eyes were stormy gray. She looked at everyone in the room. "I believe that this is the most important class right now. Professor Dumbledore has ordered me here under these circumstances. Some of you know what is to come. And I am sure that Professor Lupin has taught you some important things in his own subtle way. I, however, am not that subtle. I know that last year you had traitor in your midst. I trained under the real Alastor Moody."
Arabella Figg appeared to be a very calm woman. Her voice was soft spoken and her eyes were like steel. Her eyes were the only things that indicated any strength in her lithe form. She looked almost like the banshee that the boggart on Harry's third year transformed to, when it came to Seamus. She also seemed to have Severus Snape's harshness and bluntness.
Hermione's hand shot up into the air, nearly clipping Harry's glasses. "Yes, miss?" asked Professor Figg with a nod.
"Granger, Professor Figg. That means that you're an Auror," said Hermione.
"That's correct, Miss Granger. I will be showing you the ropes of being an Auror. How to detect dark magic along with Professor Lupin, of course. Please put away your books. They are of no use for this course. They are terribly out of date. Please take out some parchment paper," ordered Professor Figg.
Harry looked up again at her. She gave him the slightest of smiles. Again, Harry didn't get distracted.
*
The afternoon at the Lawson house went by quickly. Draco and Fiona were getting into small spats here and there, driving Nell crazy in the process. Mrs. Lawson spent her time talking to Sirius and observing him. There was no denying that Sirius loved Fiona very much. His eyes always softened when he looked at her. It was a look that Mrs. Lawson was too familiar with. Dr. Lawson always had that look when he saw Nell. Some time during the afternoon, Mrs. Lawson left to call Draco's grandmother via the fireplace in the den.
"We'll all go to that Chinese restaurant that Fiona likes before we get moving towards England," said Nell.
"Yummy," said Fiona with a smile.
"Is it a Muggle place?" asked Draco.
"Yes, but there are private dining rooms there. We can just order that there be no service once the food is served," said Nell.
"I'll bring some cheesecake for dessert," said Mrs. Lawson.
"With strawberries?" asked Fiona, hopefully. Mrs. Lawson always grew strawberries, even when they were out of season with magic. Fiona had found out when they talked about it.
"Of course," replied Mrs. Lawson with a nod.
"Thanks, Nana," said Fiona, dropping some formality and calling Mrs. Lawson what she normally did.
"Oh, you don't know the story about Fiona's obsession with my cheesecake, do you, Sirius?" asked Mrs. Lawson. Sirius shook his head. Fiona shook her head frantically.
"You're not going to tell that story again, are you?" pleaded Fiona.
"I want to hear. If it embarrasses her, I want to hear it," said Draco.
"Well, you see Fiona was about three. My husband and I visited Virginia and I made my cheesecake. We all went to the backyard of the Nell's house there after dinner with dessert and coffee. Tea, for Thalia, of course. Fiona was just walking back and forth between all of us. We all sort of got distracted when we were talking and the next thing that happened was very funny. Fiona had managed to take the bite of cheesecake that was on my husband's fork, catching all of us by surprise. She wouldn't let go. It was so adorable. Of course, Thalia had a fit and told her that it was bad manners," said Mrs. Lawson with a laugh.
"I told my dad that he had caught the very rare and very cute Fiona Fish. Her dimples were showing. My dad started calling her "Fiona Fish" after that," concluded Nell as she started laughing.
"Oh, this is just humiliating! That was ten years ago," sighed Fiona.
Sirius started laughing. It was a genuine laugh, which sounded like a bark. "Oh, I almost forgot. Fiona started to do the fish lips whenever Dad called her 'Fiona Fish,'" added Nell as she puckered her lips to demonstrate.
"Thanks a lot," mumbled Fiona as she covered her face.
Draco was laughing and pointing at her. "Now, I know what to call you, Fiona Fish."
"Call me that again and I'll knock you on your bony behind," warned Fiona.
"Don't get your fins out of joint," he said with a smirk.
Before Fiona could respond, the door bell rang. "Go to your neutral corners. This round is over," said Nell as she stood up to answer the door and Sirius transformed.
"Hello," said Ryu Ran at the door. With him was a small woman who was dressed in a Chinese dress. She was very beautiful.
"Mom, this is Sensei Ryu Ran. And someone I don't know," said Nell with a smile.
"My name is Madame Ringsu Ling," said the woman with a respectful bow. "May we enter your illustrious home?"
"Of course," said Mrs. Lawson.
"Greetings. You must be Ran-san's students," said the woman as she smiled at Draco and Fiona, both looking stunned at the stranger.
"And you must be the young mistress' father," she said to Sirius who was still a dog. Sirius transformed back.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I am a wand maker from the oldest wand making company on the West Coast of America. Ran-san said that you require a wand," said Madame Ringsu to Fiona, who nodded feebly.
"I have crafted the perfect wand for you," she went on to say as she drew out a black lacquer box with cranes painted on it. She slid the box open and on a velvet cushion was a wand painted with black lacquer. It had small cravings and painted flowers on it. It was not like the plain Ollivanders' wands. It didn't look too ornate or plain.
"This is made from rosewood with a phoenix feather core and it's eight inches long," said Madame Ringsu. "Are you left or right handed?"
"Both," said Fiona.
"Then, let us see," urged Madame Ringsu. Her doe brown eyes seemed to dance slightly. She handed the wand to Fiona.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" asked Fiona dubiously.
"Whatever you want," said Madame Ringsu with a wave of both her hands. Fiona closed her hands and felt the energy flow from her fingertips to the wand. The room brightened up with a faint white glow. Fiona opened her eyes.
"How did you know that it would work?" asked Nell.
"My family has been making wands for as long as Ollivanders. Our home offices are in Beijing, but we opened the first wand shop in San Francisco's Whispering Footsteps Cove, so I've been making wands for many years. We have it down to an art," explained Madame Ringsu.
"Wow!" exclaimed Fiona happily. "I got a wand!"
"Great. Now she can hex me," muttered Draco.
"I don't know how, but I'll learn," promised Fiona with a grin.
"And Mr. Black. I have also taken the liberty, as ordered by Professor Dumbledore, to arm you," said Madame Ringsu, turning her attention to Sirius.
"What?" asked Sirius, surprised. She handed him the other wand that was still in the box. It was plain and painted with reddish brown paint. "It has a unicorn hair core and is made out of redwood, and it's ten inches long. There are three hairs," said Madame Ringsu.
"Thank you," said Sirius with a smile. "How much for the wands?" he asked.
"It comes to thirty-five galleons. It would have been more, but Ran-san was able to provide a Phoenix feather. As you know, they aren't that easy to come by," said Madame Ringsu.
"Thank Professor Dumbledore and his phoenix, Fawkes," said Master Ran.
"Here you go, thirty-five galleons," said Sirius as he handed Madame Ringsu the money. Draco watched the gold change hands. People weren't lying when they said that the Blacks were a wealthy family.
"Is that gold? That's what wizards' use for money?" asked Fiona in amazement.
"Yes. You have a vault that your mother left to you. It doesn't have much, but there's some," replied Nell.
"It's fairly simple. There are galleons, that's the gold, they're worth seventeen silver sickles, and twenty-nine bronze knuts to one sickle," added Mrs. Lawson.
"So that makes 493 knuts to one gold galleon," said Fiona almost automatically.
"How did you do that?" asked Draco, amazed at her ability to crunch numbers so fast.
She shrugged. "That means that the wands come to 17255. It's only multiplication. But what I don't know is how much non-magic money goes to wizards' money. It's very expensive."
"That's right," said Sirius. "And there's quite a bit of money in my vault that I don't really use."
"Oh," said Fiona in a small voice. "But, I don't need your money. How do I get into my vault?"
"I have the key at home," replied Nell.
"Great, may I please have my key?" asked Fiona without taking her eyes off her father. Sirius had the feeling that she wasn't going to take any of his money, but he knew that Thalia didn't really save a lot.
"Yes, I'll get more tea. Come with me, Draco," said Mrs. Lawson. Draco stood up to go with her. He wasn't sure why.
"I've never really made tea before," he admitted when he got inside the kitchen.
"It doesn't matter. I wanted to tell you what your grandmother said in private," said Mrs. Lawson as she kept her voice low.
"What did Grand-mère had to say?" asked Draco.
"She was very concerned. She hasn't heard from your mother in weeks. Months. Your mother wasn't there. She's tried contacting her, but your house elf keeps saying that she's not available," answered Mrs. Lawson.
"But…that doesn't make any sense. My mother left just a week before I went off to Hogwarts. My father told me so," Draco whispered the last part. His face paled over.
"Oh, no," he whispered.
AN: It took a while to come up with what kind of wand that Fiona would use. In this case, the wand is made for her, not the wand selecting it's owner. Yes, there are now three wands with feathers from Fawkes. And before any one whines, yes, Fleur and Arabella are important to the plot. I didn't just throw them in for kicks. Assume the worst with Mrs. Malfoy. On another note, pardon me for any errors in Fleur Delacour's speech. I tried. I really did. Fiona's birthday is March 15th. So, she's a Pisces like Ron, so she's really "Fiona Fish."
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Some other people own it, but not me.