DISCLAIMER: I don't own ANYTHING. Well.I do, but nothing related to Harry
Potter
Oh yeah and I'm sorry about how useless my French is
Chapter 1
Remus Lupin lightly tossed the book he had been reading onto the grubby glass table and pushed the light brown hair flecked with grey out of his tired eyes. He hadn't really been reading it anyway, his mind kept drifting back to three weeks ago. The veil, Sirius' surprise, the look on Harry's face as his godfather fell to his death. He shook his head as if that would rid the terrible thoughts constantly drifting across it.
It was just then; a small figure fell through his table.
"Ouch, oh - damn, my new robes." She got up and shook some of the broken glass from her mangled garments. She stood in the hole in the centre of the table where the glass had been. Grimacing, she lifted a leg to put it over the side of the broken table, but misjudged the distance and tripped over, the wooden remains of Remus' coffee table collapsing on top of her.
A slight smile crossed Lupin's face. "Morning Tonks."
Tonks got up for the second time and shook herself free of debris. "Morning Remus, s-sorry about the table, mis-apparated."
He grinned. "It's ok - I suppose you did me a favour. It clashed with some of the décor."
"What décor?"
"Well, that hair for a start." He indicated the purple and pink spikes that seemed to have accumulated on top of Tonks' head.
"Oh - that" She blushed and her hair turned to a dark red. "I was just experimenting. Anyway-" She collapsed into an armchair, knocking over a pile of paper in the process. "Oh - sorry, I'll just-"
"NO! I - I mean don't worry."
"Anyway," Tonks began again, "I just came to see if you were alright with the job Dumbledore gave you. I mean I know babysitting Harry for a year isn't very exciting or anything, but, believe me - it's important. After - you know, Harry needs you."
Remus shook his head. "No - you know I'm not very good at playing dad - I tried to be - you know - an adult-figure in his third year, and I was useless at that."
"Well he doesn't seem to think so. All you have to do is be there for him when he needs you. He's been through a lot lately and, you know, his troubles are multiplied a hundred fold by the teenage hormones circulating his body." A slight smile crossed her lips. "You know how he's been prone to little outbursts recently."
"Really?" Said Remus grinning too. "I can't say I'd noticed."
"Oh and Emmeline told me to tell you that your accommodation has been sorted." Her smile turned into a huge grin. "It's near the school - Hogsmeade in fact. The room above Zonko's."
"Above Zonko's? Sirius'd be so jealous."
At the mention of Sirius the atmosphere in the room turned. Lupin's eyes fell and his skin paled. Memories flooded back to him.
"Remus?" Said Tonks quietly. "Erm - Moony?"
Remus' head snapped up, fire in his once-calm eyes. "Did you just call me-"
A loud crack cut him off and Dumbledore appeared. He brushed the dust off his robes and, noticing the ex-table, said, "Ah, Nymphadora, I see you've arrived." He pointed his wand at the table. "Reparo." The pieces of glass shot back up and reformed the tabletop as if it was a film being played backwards. He beamed at the two slumped on the chairs. "I came to tell you - your sister has moved from her teaching post at Beuxbatons to fill ours at Hogwarts. She has also consented to join the order and will keep a close eye on Harry when Remus can't be there." With a mutter and a crack he disappeared again.
Tonks had gone a funny shade of purple, which clashed with her red hair, giving her the appearance of a half-ripe plum.
Trying to look more confused than amused, Lupin furrowed his brow. "I didn't know you had a sister."
"She is not my sister. She is simply the by-product of some hideous love affair my father had ten or so years before I was born. She is the reason my parents constantly bickered all the way through my childhood. She is the name that's always dragged up every time they row. She-"
"Ok - ok. I take it you don't like her then."
"Like her? LIKE HER? SHE RUINED MY LIFE - IF IT WEREN'T FOR HER MY PARENTS WOULD STILL BE TOGETHER! IF MY DAD HAD HAD THE BLOODY SELF- DISCIPLINE TO KEEP HIS-"
"Alright! Alright."
The colour in Tonks' face lightened slightly. "The point is - my dad had an affair. Years before I was born with some French cow. And if she hadn't been conceived all would probably have been forgotten. But no - Clarisse." She adopted a mock French accent. "I will ruin people's lives. I will dest'roy people's marriages. I will swan around at Beuxbatons zen toddle over to 'ogwarts to irritate ma soeur."
"She sounds horrible - what's she like? As a person I mean."
Tonks coloured again and shrugged. "She always lived with her mother in France. But when I did see her she was a right little schnock." She brushed a stray hair angrily out of her eyes. "But if she tries one thing, que Dieu me vienne en aide, I'll ram her teeth so far down her throat she'll have to stick a toothbrush up her backside to clean them."
Remus cocked his head to one side. "You're quite good at French."
"I know."
The train pulled slowly and noisily into the station, and as soon as it had drawn to a halt, a stampede of students flocked off.
"Firs' years this way!" Called a familiar voice. "Firs' year - oh! All righ' there, professor? Blimey, ain't seen you in a while!"
Lupin forced a smile as he waded his way through the crowd, trying to ignore the looks he was getting, particularly the ones from Slytherin. "Fine." He muttered, barely audibly. "Seen Harry?"
"No, not-"
"LUPIN!" Suddenly screamed two voices and Remus was nearly knocked off his feet by Hermione, Ron and, oddly, Neville.
"Hi Hermione, Ron.Neville. How are you all?"
"Oh!" Said Hermione. "Great! My parents brought me a brand new book that I read over the holidays. 'A guide to the most significant magical innovations of our time.' Can you believe - it has a whole section dedicated to the solving of the 1437 goblin cataclysms? I mean, not even 'Dorothy Guillieme's encyclopaedia of magical adversities' goes into that sort of detail. It says-"
"Yeah." Interrupted Ron. "Fascinating. But if you haven't noticed, everyone's going."
"Right." Said Lupin. "Where's Harry? We'd better be-"
"Mph." Said Neville suddenly.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh." Explained Ron to Lupin. "He ate one of Fred's jaw-locker toffees. He's only been able to grunt all journey. His own fault of course. Honestly Neville, you should know by now not to eat anything you find in our house. Either the twins have tampered with it, or mum's cooked it."
Remus grinned, took out his wand and muttered something under his breath. Neville's mouth snapped back open. "Now." He repeated. "Where's Harry?"
Everyone's faces fell. "There." Whispered Hermione, jerking her head along the platform.
And there, Harry stood. Staring into the air as if it were the most interesting thing there. "Harry?" Called Ron uncertainly. Harry jerked suddenly like he'd just been woken up. "We're going."
"Mm." Said Harry distractedly, and dawdled vaguely in their direction.
"You three go on ahead." Hissed Lupin and walked slowly over to meet Harry who was coming towards them.
Harry muttered something that sounded vaguely like 'hi' and carried on not paying much attention.
Remus pulled his cloak tighter round his body as a sudden blast of autumn chill froze his already weary self. "I realize how you must be feeling Harry, but you need to know that there are a lot of people who want to help you and put in the right direction because they care Harry. If you ever feel you need to tell anyone anything I'm there for you so don't hesitate to confide in me. Do you understand Harry? I want you to talk to me, I want to help."
Harry nodded, but didn't seem too convinced. Eventually, him and Lupin approached the remaining carriage containing Hermione, Ron and Neville. "I'll join you." Said Remus off-handedly.
The carriage set off slowly, trundling aspirated up the narrow path that led through Hogsmeade to Hogwarts.
"So." Said Hermione, attempting to break the consuming silence. "How are you Lupin? Umm.Remus?"
"I'm ok I suppose.considering."
A sudden chill crept up the backs of the inhabitants of the carriage.
"Sirius." Said Harry. All heads turned to him, it was the first time he'd spoken anything comprehensible.
The carriage fell silent again. They were now entering Hogsmeade.
"Umm." Began Hermione taking another stab at conversation. ".Moony.?"
Remus' face shot at her like a bullet from a gun. "WHAT did you just call me?" His eyes flashed menacingly.
"I.err.isn't that.what the marauders used to - to call you?"
"The marauders are DEAD Hermione, DEAD you get it? Deceased, departed, no more, six feet under the bloody ground, GET it? And besides, the marauders were just a stupid, childish little game that four stupid, childish little boys used to play. Understand? If you want me Harry, Dumbledore'll tell you where I'm staying. Goodbye." And with that he threw open the door and leapt from the moving carriage.
"Well." Said Hermione indignantly. "What was all that about?"
Ron shrugged. "Dunno, must be mating season or something."
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So.what do you think???? Review!!! Only nothing nasty!
Here's my VERY ROUGH French phrase - thing. I'm useless at French - I just think they're cool!
Ma soeur - my sister Schnock - fathead / blockhead / whatever Que Dieu me vienne en aide - so help me God
Oh yeah and I'm English so I'm sorry if there are phrases you don't understand
PS I don't mean to offend anyone. If I have - IM SORRY!
Potter
Oh yeah and I'm sorry about how useless my French is
Chapter 1
Remus Lupin lightly tossed the book he had been reading onto the grubby glass table and pushed the light brown hair flecked with grey out of his tired eyes. He hadn't really been reading it anyway, his mind kept drifting back to three weeks ago. The veil, Sirius' surprise, the look on Harry's face as his godfather fell to his death. He shook his head as if that would rid the terrible thoughts constantly drifting across it.
It was just then; a small figure fell through his table.
"Ouch, oh - damn, my new robes." She got up and shook some of the broken glass from her mangled garments. She stood in the hole in the centre of the table where the glass had been. Grimacing, she lifted a leg to put it over the side of the broken table, but misjudged the distance and tripped over, the wooden remains of Remus' coffee table collapsing on top of her.
A slight smile crossed Lupin's face. "Morning Tonks."
Tonks got up for the second time and shook herself free of debris. "Morning Remus, s-sorry about the table, mis-apparated."
He grinned. "It's ok - I suppose you did me a favour. It clashed with some of the décor."
"What décor?"
"Well, that hair for a start." He indicated the purple and pink spikes that seemed to have accumulated on top of Tonks' head.
"Oh - that" She blushed and her hair turned to a dark red. "I was just experimenting. Anyway-" She collapsed into an armchair, knocking over a pile of paper in the process. "Oh - sorry, I'll just-"
"NO! I - I mean don't worry."
"Anyway," Tonks began again, "I just came to see if you were alright with the job Dumbledore gave you. I mean I know babysitting Harry for a year isn't very exciting or anything, but, believe me - it's important. After - you know, Harry needs you."
Remus shook his head. "No - you know I'm not very good at playing dad - I tried to be - you know - an adult-figure in his third year, and I was useless at that."
"Well he doesn't seem to think so. All you have to do is be there for him when he needs you. He's been through a lot lately and, you know, his troubles are multiplied a hundred fold by the teenage hormones circulating his body." A slight smile crossed her lips. "You know how he's been prone to little outbursts recently."
"Really?" Said Remus grinning too. "I can't say I'd noticed."
"Oh and Emmeline told me to tell you that your accommodation has been sorted." Her smile turned into a huge grin. "It's near the school - Hogsmeade in fact. The room above Zonko's."
"Above Zonko's? Sirius'd be so jealous."
At the mention of Sirius the atmosphere in the room turned. Lupin's eyes fell and his skin paled. Memories flooded back to him.
"Remus?" Said Tonks quietly. "Erm - Moony?"
Remus' head snapped up, fire in his once-calm eyes. "Did you just call me-"
A loud crack cut him off and Dumbledore appeared. He brushed the dust off his robes and, noticing the ex-table, said, "Ah, Nymphadora, I see you've arrived." He pointed his wand at the table. "Reparo." The pieces of glass shot back up and reformed the tabletop as if it was a film being played backwards. He beamed at the two slumped on the chairs. "I came to tell you - your sister has moved from her teaching post at Beuxbatons to fill ours at Hogwarts. She has also consented to join the order and will keep a close eye on Harry when Remus can't be there." With a mutter and a crack he disappeared again.
Tonks had gone a funny shade of purple, which clashed with her red hair, giving her the appearance of a half-ripe plum.
Trying to look more confused than amused, Lupin furrowed his brow. "I didn't know you had a sister."
"She is not my sister. She is simply the by-product of some hideous love affair my father had ten or so years before I was born. She is the reason my parents constantly bickered all the way through my childhood. She is the name that's always dragged up every time they row. She-"
"Ok - ok. I take it you don't like her then."
"Like her? LIKE HER? SHE RUINED MY LIFE - IF IT WEREN'T FOR HER MY PARENTS WOULD STILL BE TOGETHER! IF MY DAD HAD HAD THE BLOODY SELF- DISCIPLINE TO KEEP HIS-"
"Alright! Alright."
The colour in Tonks' face lightened slightly. "The point is - my dad had an affair. Years before I was born with some French cow. And if she hadn't been conceived all would probably have been forgotten. But no - Clarisse." She adopted a mock French accent. "I will ruin people's lives. I will dest'roy people's marriages. I will swan around at Beuxbatons zen toddle over to 'ogwarts to irritate ma soeur."
"She sounds horrible - what's she like? As a person I mean."
Tonks coloured again and shrugged. "She always lived with her mother in France. But when I did see her she was a right little schnock." She brushed a stray hair angrily out of her eyes. "But if she tries one thing, que Dieu me vienne en aide, I'll ram her teeth so far down her throat she'll have to stick a toothbrush up her backside to clean them."
Remus cocked his head to one side. "You're quite good at French."
"I know."
The train pulled slowly and noisily into the station, and as soon as it had drawn to a halt, a stampede of students flocked off.
"Firs' years this way!" Called a familiar voice. "Firs' year - oh! All righ' there, professor? Blimey, ain't seen you in a while!"
Lupin forced a smile as he waded his way through the crowd, trying to ignore the looks he was getting, particularly the ones from Slytherin. "Fine." He muttered, barely audibly. "Seen Harry?"
"No, not-"
"LUPIN!" Suddenly screamed two voices and Remus was nearly knocked off his feet by Hermione, Ron and, oddly, Neville.
"Hi Hermione, Ron.Neville. How are you all?"
"Oh!" Said Hermione. "Great! My parents brought me a brand new book that I read over the holidays. 'A guide to the most significant magical innovations of our time.' Can you believe - it has a whole section dedicated to the solving of the 1437 goblin cataclysms? I mean, not even 'Dorothy Guillieme's encyclopaedia of magical adversities' goes into that sort of detail. It says-"
"Yeah." Interrupted Ron. "Fascinating. But if you haven't noticed, everyone's going."
"Right." Said Lupin. "Where's Harry? We'd better be-"
"Mph." Said Neville suddenly.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh." Explained Ron to Lupin. "He ate one of Fred's jaw-locker toffees. He's only been able to grunt all journey. His own fault of course. Honestly Neville, you should know by now not to eat anything you find in our house. Either the twins have tampered with it, or mum's cooked it."
Remus grinned, took out his wand and muttered something under his breath. Neville's mouth snapped back open. "Now." He repeated. "Where's Harry?"
Everyone's faces fell. "There." Whispered Hermione, jerking her head along the platform.
And there, Harry stood. Staring into the air as if it were the most interesting thing there. "Harry?" Called Ron uncertainly. Harry jerked suddenly like he'd just been woken up. "We're going."
"Mm." Said Harry distractedly, and dawdled vaguely in their direction.
"You three go on ahead." Hissed Lupin and walked slowly over to meet Harry who was coming towards them.
Harry muttered something that sounded vaguely like 'hi' and carried on not paying much attention.
Remus pulled his cloak tighter round his body as a sudden blast of autumn chill froze his already weary self. "I realize how you must be feeling Harry, but you need to know that there are a lot of people who want to help you and put in the right direction because they care Harry. If you ever feel you need to tell anyone anything I'm there for you so don't hesitate to confide in me. Do you understand Harry? I want you to talk to me, I want to help."
Harry nodded, but didn't seem too convinced. Eventually, him and Lupin approached the remaining carriage containing Hermione, Ron and Neville. "I'll join you." Said Remus off-handedly.
The carriage set off slowly, trundling aspirated up the narrow path that led through Hogsmeade to Hogwarts.
"So." Said Hermione, attempting to break the consuming silence. "How are you Lupin? Umm.Remus?"
"I'm ok I suppose.considering."
A sudden chill crept up the backs of the inhabitants of the carriage.
"Sirius." Said Harry. All heads turned to him, it was the first time he'd spoken anything comprehensible.
The carriage fell silent again. They were now entering Hogsmeade.
"Umm." Began Hermione taking another stab at conversation. ".Moony.?"
Remus' face shot at her like a bullet from a gun. "WHAT did you just call me?" His eyes flashed menacingly.
"I.err.isn't that.what the marauders used to - to call you?"
"The marauders are DEAD Hermione, DEAD you get it? Deceased, departed, no more, six feet under the bloody ground, GET it? And besides, the marauders were just a stupid, childish little game that four stupid, childish little boys used to play. Understand? If you want me Harry, Dumbledore'll tell you where I'm staying. Goodbye." And with that he threw open the door and leapt from the moving carriage.
"Well." Said Hermione indignantly. "What was all that about?"
Ron shrugged. "Dunno, must be mating season or something."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
So.what do you think???? Review!!! Only nothing nasty!
Here's my VERY ROUGH French phrase - thing. I'm useless at French - I just think they're cool!
Ma soeur - my sister Schnock - fathead / blockhead / whatever Que Dieu me vienne en aide - so help me God
Oh yeah and I'm English so I'm sorry if there are phrases you don't understand
PS I don't mean to offend anyone. If I have - IM SORRY!
