Chapter 2- Getting to Know You
"I don't know about that Arthur." Remus considered what Arthur had said. He agreed with his first statement. Seeing Rosemary shrug off hexes was disconcerting for *him*; it would probably make Cornelius Fudge pop a blood vessel. Remus was not sure he agreed with Arthur's second idea.
"I don't know that involving her with the Order is the right thing to do. She's still a Muggle. How would she defend herself?"
"That's just the point Remus, she doesn't need to. What hex could they possibly use against her? You saw her in there; *nothing* affects her." Arthur tugged at his collar nervously, "I'm not saying that we should send her into combat but she can see through concealment charms that we can't. She can hear things through silencing charms. I'm just saying that maybe she could keep her eyes and ears open and tell us what she sees. That's all."
Remus shook his head, still not convinced. "I think we need to know a lot more about her 'difference' as you say, before we put her at risk. Have you asked her about any of this yet?"
"No, not yet. I wanted to talk to Dumbledore first."
"When do you plan to do that?" Remus asked.
"I don't know. I've been tossing this problem around in my head all summer. I suppose Albus ought to know soon." Arthur cast a furtive glance towards the house, "We should get back."
``````
"So, have you two worked out all of the problems of wizarding kind?" Molly teased as Arthur and Remus returned from their 'walk'.
"Almost dear" Arthur retorted, "Just a few minor details left to work out."
Arthur and Remus sat down at the table. Remus was still thinking about what Arthur had said. He sat back in his chair and looked at the Muggle sitting across from him, sizing her up. He wanted to know more.
"Rosemary, how long have you had your abilities?" Remus asked.
"As long as I can remember." she responded
Remus continued his hopefully subtle interrogation. "It must have been interesting being privy to things that other Muggles weren't"
" I suppose interesting is one word you could use to describe the experience. Agonizing and awful also describe the situation accurately."
For the second time in less than an hour Remus had planted his foot firmly into his mouth. He wondered if it was possible to literally die of embarrassment. "Again, I'm sorry. I seem to have a knack for bringing up bad memories today."
"Remus, please." she raised her hand signaling him to stop talking, "It was a reasonable question. Let me explain. I didn't know that I was different as a child. I thought everyone could see and hear the things that I could. I was wrong. At first my parents fluffed it off as an overactive imagination. As I got older I would point out homes and animals to them that they couldn't see. When I refused to play in the yard anymore because I was afraid of the garden gnomes my parents took me to a psychiatrist. They diagnosed me with childhood schizophrenia when I was seven years old. I was put on medications which were supposed to take my 'hallucinations' away but since they weren't hallucinations at all, the medication didn't work but it did make me very sick."
Molly put a supportive arm around Rosemary. She wondered out loud how Muggles could be so ignorant.
"Because we go to great pains at the Ministry to see to it that they are kept ignorant Molly." Arthur hung his head as if he, in some small way, was responsible for Rosemary's pain.
Remus listened with his eyes closed and his hands steepled in front of his face. While the causes of their childhood pain were very different, much of her story was striking a very familiar cord with him.
"Then the stays in hospital started with all of their barbaric treatments. I finally managed to free myself from the system by pretending that I couldn't see magical things anymore. It took a long time for me to learn what was magical and what was Muggle but I managed. Once I started pretending things got easier for me except that getting work was difficult. When employers would see that much of my education came from the finest mental treatment facilities in Britain they would pass in hiring me. It was as if I had NUTTER, DO NOT HIRE tattooed across my forehead.
"Oh Gods!" Remus groaned
Rosemary was surprised at the depth of his reaction. "Remus, it's OK.I don't understand.. what's wrong?" She looked to Arthur and Molly for clarification. It didn't bother her anymore. She was at a loss to know why it bothered him so much.
With that Remus rolled up his sleeve and showed her the number that was tattooed on his arm. Arthur was clearly distraught and Molly was biting her bottom lip and misting over.
"What is that Remus?" Rosemary asked treading very carefully.
"It's MY tattoo that says 'Nutter, do not hire'".
He wasn't angry with her at all but she had unintentionally struck a very deep nerve.
An awkward silence hung over the kitchen. Rosemary was sorry that the mood had become so distressed. She felt that she was responsible. Somebody *had* to say something.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Rosemary asked Remus
Remus looked up at her and considered her question. Did he want to talk about it? His Lycanthropy was not something that he usually discussed with people he just met. Still, he had shown her his tattoo. 'What was up with that?' He wondered. He didn't even show that tattoo to his closest friends and and now here he was rolling up his sleeve for a stranger. 'Oh well, no one made me do it', he thought and finally spoke, "I suppose I should explain."
"Do you know what a werewolf is?" he asked her.
"Only what I have seen on Muggle movies" she replied.
"Then you don't know."
"Educate me." she said.
"It's really quite simple," Remus sighed, "during the nights of the full moon I turn into a wolf."
"An evil monster wolf or just a plain wolf?" Rosemary asked trying not to sound too stupid.
"Well, I don't know, just a plain wolf I suppose." Remus had clearly never considered that comparison. "All wolves are dangerous but I'm more dangerous because if I bite someone and they live they could become like me."
"And being like you is bad because...?"
"Because I turn into a wolf every month!" he was becoming impatient with her lack of understanding.
"Rosemary," Arthur quietly interrupted, "The Ministry does terrible things to werewolves. The social prejudices against them are substantial."
"It sounds to me like the problem here isn't with werewolves, it's with the Ministry." Rosemary observed. "I mean how bloody awful can you be if they have to brand you to make sure that they don't mistake you for a good man."
"Here, Here" said Arthur
"Quite right" added Molly
"I guess you wouldn't be too worried about me biting you. Nothing would happen, right?" Remus asked, partly to lighten the mood and partly because he really wanted to know.
"Oh, something would definitely happen if you bit me" Rosemary answered giving Remus her most charming smile, "I'd kick your canine arse from here to kingdom come."
Molly play acted at being scandalized and Arthur rolled his eyes. Remus laughed out loud. He liked this woman's style. He debated with himself for a moment and then decided to take a chance.
"Rosemary, do you have any plans for today?"
"Nothing pressing. Why do you ask?" she answered.
"Well, I was just .um.wondering if...maybe ..if .um"
'Good Gods man, pull yourself together' Remus thought to himself. 'You're a thirty-eight year old man, not a fifth year student.' 'OK, lets try this again'
"I was wondering if you would like to go to Hogsmeade with me today?"
"I don't know." "Molly, do I want to go to a town I never heard of with a man I just met?"
"I really don't see how you can dear." Molly answered
Remus looked at Molly as if she had grown a second head. "Molly" he said through his teeth and a very forced smile "what are you talking about?"
"How did you plan to get her to Scotland Remus?" Molly answered with an unspoken 'you idiot' at the end.
"I figured we'd Apperate"
"I can't Apperate " Rosemary stated.
"I know YOU can't Apperate, but I can Apperate the both of us." Remus said with increasing dread. This was not going smoothly at all.
"No, Remus, you don't understand. I REALLY can't Apperate. I can't floo or use a portkey either. I'm a human magic repellant, remember?"
That made sense. Remus was greatly relieved that it wasn't him that was being rejected, just his mode of transportation. Remus took a deep breath and thought for a moment about how he could salvage the situation. He broke into a satisfied grin and asked his new friend.
"Have you ever been to Diagon Alley?"
"I don't know about that Arthur." Remus considered what Arthur had said. He agreed with his first statement. Seeing Rosemary shrug off hexes was disconcerting for *him*; it would probably make Cornelius Fudge pop a blood vessel. Remus was not sure he agreed with Arthur's second idea.
"I don't know that involving her with the Order is the right thing to do. She's still a Muggle. How would she defend herself?"
"That's just the point Remus, she doesn't need to. What hex could they possibly use against her? You saw her in there; *nothing* affects her." Arthur tugged at his collar nervously, "I'm not saying that we should send her into combat but she can see through concealment charms that we can't. She can hear things through silencing charms. I'm just saying that maybe she could keep her eyes and ears open and tell us what she sees. That's all."
Remus shook his head, still not convinced. "I think we need to know a lot more about her 'difference' as you say, before we put her at risk. Have you asked her about any of this yet?"
"No, not yet. I wanted to talk to Dumbledore first."
"When do you plan to do that?" Remus asked.
"I don't know. I've been tossing this problem around in my head all summer. I suppose Albus ought to know soon." Arthur cast a furtive glance towards the house, "We should get back."
``````
"So, have you two worked out all of the problems of wizarding kind?" Molly teased as Arthur and Remus returned from their 'walk'.
"Almost dear" Arthur retorted, "Just a few minor details left to work out."
Arthur and Remus sat down at the table. Remus was still thinking about what Arthur had said. He sat back in his chair and looked at the Muggle sitting across from him, sizing her up. He wanted to know more.
"Rosemary, how long have you had your abilities?" Remus asked.
"As long as I can remember." she responded
Remus continued his hopefully subtle interrogation. "It must have been interesting being privy to things that other Muggles weren't"
" I suppose interesting is one word you could use to describe the experience. Agonizing and awful also describe the situation accurately."
For the second time in less than an hour Remus had planted his foot firmly into his mouth. He wondered if it was possible to literally die of embarrassment. "Again, I'm sorry. I seem to have a knack for bringing up bad memories today."
"Remus, please." she raised her hand signaling him to stop talking, "It was a reasonable question. Let me explain. I didn't know that I was different as a child. I thought everyone could see and hear the things that I could. I was wrong. At first my parents fluffed it off as an overactive imagination. As I got older I would point out homes and animals to them that they couldn't see. When I refused to play in the yard anymore because I was afraid of the garden gnomes my parents took me to a psychiatrist. They diagnosed me with childhood schizophrenia when I was seven years old. I was put on medications which were supposed to take my 'hallucinations' away but since they weren't hallucinations at all, the medication didn't work but it did make me very sick."
Molly put a supportive arm around Rosemary. She wondered out loud how Muggles could be so ignorant.
"Because we go to great pains at the Ministry to see to it that they are kept ignorant Molly." Arthur hung his head as if he, in some small way, was responsible for Rosemary's pain.
Remus listened with his eyes closed and his hands steepled in front of his face. While the causes of their childhood pain were very different, much of her story was striking a very familiar cord with him.
"Then the stays in hospital started with all of their barbaric treatments. I finally managed to free myself from the system by pretending that I couldn't see magical things anymore. It took a long time for me to learn what was magical and what was Muggle but I managed. Once I started pretending things got easier for me except that getting work was difficult. When employers would see that much of my education came from the finest mental treatment facilities in Britain they would pass in hiring me. It was as if I had NUTTER, DO NOT HIRE tattooed across my forehead.
"Oh Gods!" Remus groaned
Rosemary was surprised at the depth of his reaction. "Remus, it's OK.I don't understand.. what's wrong?" She looked to Arthur and Molly for clarification. It didn't bother her anymore. She was at a loss to know why it bothered him so much.
With that Remus rolled up his sleeve and showed her the number that was tattooed on his arm. Arthur was clearly distraught and Molly was biting her bottom lip and misting over.
"What is that Remus?" Rosemary asked treading very carefully.
"It's MY tattoo that says 'Nutter, do not hire'".
He wasn't angry with her at all but she had unintentionally struck a very deep nerve.
An awkward silence hung over the kitchen. Rosemary was sorry that the mood had become so distressed. She felt that she was responsible. Somebody *had* to say something.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Rosemary asked Remus
Remus looked up at her and considered her question. Did he want to talk about it? His Lycanthropy was not something that he usually discussed with people he just met. Still, he had shown her his tattoo. 'What was up with that?' He wondered. He didn't even show that tattoo to his closest friends and and now here he was rolling up his sleeve for a stranger. 'Oh well, no one made me do it', he thought and finally spoke, "I suppose I should explain."
"Do you know what a werewolf is?" he asked her.
"Only what I have seen on Muggle movies" she replied.
"Then you don't know."
"Educate me." she said.
"It's really quite simple," Remus sighed, "during the nights of the full moon I turn into a wolf."
"An evil monster wolf or just a plain wolf?" Rosemary asked trying not to sound too stupid.
"Well, I don't know, just a plain wolf I suppose." Remus had clearly never considered that comparison. "All wolves are dangerous but I'm more dangerous because if I bite someone and they live they could become like me."
"And being like you is bad because...?"
"Because I turn into a wolf every month!" he was becoming impatient with her lack of understanding.
"Rosemary," Arthur quietly interrupted, "The Ministry does terrible things to werewolves. The social prejudices against them are substantial."
"It sounds to me like the problem here isn't with werewolves, it's with the Ministry." Rosemary observed. "I mean how bloody awful can you be if they have to brand you to make sure that they don't mistake you for a good man."
"Here, Here" said Arthur
"Quite right" added Molly
"I guess you wouldn't be too worried about me biting you. Nothing would happen, right?" Remus asked, partly to lighten the mood and partly because he really wanted to know.
"Oh, something would definitely happen if you bit me" Rosemary answered giving Remus her most charming smile, "I'd kick your canine arse from here to kingdom come."
Molly play acted at being scandalized and Arthur rolled his eyes. Remus laughed out loud. He liked this woman's style. He debated with himself for a moment and then decided to take a chance.
"Rosemary, do you have any plans for today?"
"Nothing pressing. Why do you ask?" she answered.
"Well, I was just .um.wondering if...maybe ..if .um"
'Good Gods man, pull yourself together' Remus thought to himself. 'You're a thirty-eight year old man, not a fifth year student.' 'OK, lets try this again'
"I was wondering if you would like to go to Hogsmeade with me today?"
"I don't know." "Molly, do I want to go to a town I never heard of with a man I just met?"
"I really don't see how you can dear." Molly answered
Remus looked at Molly as if she had grown a second head. "Molly" he said through his teeth and a very forced smile "what are you talking about?"
"How did you plan to get her to Scotland Remus?" Molly answered with an unspoken 'you idiot' at the end.
"I figured we'd Apperate"
"I can't Apperate " Rosemary stated.
"I know YOU can't Apperate, but I can Apperate the both of us." Remus said with increasing dread. This was not going smoothly at all.
"No, Remus, you don't understand. I REALLY can't Apperate. I can't floo or use a portkey either. I'm a human magic repellant, remember?"
That made sense. Remus was greatly relieved that it wasn't him that was being rejected, just his mode of transportation. Remus took a deep breath and thought for a moment about how he could salvage the situation. He broke into a satisfied grin and asked his new friend.
"Have you ever been to Diagon Alley?"