Author's Note: I do not own. Happy? (But I would like to!) ;-}
My last chapter had some laughs, but I'm trying to write this as a serious story. Since I was so mean as to not update for a few months, I thought I'd write a couple of chapters. I promise to try to keep up with writing more.
Emily and James, thanks for the reviews on chapter 4 already!!
Chapter 5
A few days had passed since Molly had been able to talk with Remus. She did notice, however, that he appeared to be in a better state of mind. He did not seem to be as tired and even sat in the living room to relax instead of trying to disappear from sight. Molly had just finished washing the dishes and sat down at the table to have a cup of coffee. The house of the Order of the Phoenix was quiet tonight. The kids had been sent to Hogwarts, some of the members were out on missions, and the rest were getting some much-deserved rest. She was worried about Harry and her children, but the fact that Dumbledore was at the school watching them lessened her fears. She felt a draft from the doorway and looked up to see Remus entering from the chill outside.
"Remus, come in here and get something hot to drink." She quickly pulled another mug from the cabinets and filled it with coffee.
Remus smiled at her as he sat down at the table and reached for the hot liquid. "It's one of those days, the cold settles into your bones. Thanks Molly."
They sipped at their drinks comfortably. The house had become lonely since the kids had left, and Molly had noticed more than anyone had. She welcomed the idea of friendly company, and the hope of more of his sad tale.
"Did you know she glowed when she walked into a room?" Remus looked up at her and smiled, "There were times when it upset her to have attention like she did. What bothered her most were the guys who wanted to be the Crian son-in-law, and it was always the Slytherins."
"I thought she was to marry Lucius shortly after graduation?" Molly looked confused.
"That was decided after Christmas during her seventh year." Remus tightened his grip on his coffee cup. "Gala and I had officially started seeing each other the summer before our seventh year. Her father was never home, and her mother wanted her to be happy. Lady Crian never told her husband about us."
"At least someone in her family cared about her," Molly shook her head.
"Gala was not happy when she came back to school from the holidays..."
*~*~*
The library door slammed shut. Every student looked up at the racket trying to see what was going on. The librarian quickly stormed over to someone and began to whisper in harsh sounding tones.
"Get out of my way and do not bother me with your petty complaints." The students stifled their laughter and a girl moved past the shocked librarian. Gala made her way back to the stacks of old books; glaring daggers at anyone who dared to meet her harsh gaze. She found Remus in the potions part of the library with a large, but concerned smile on his face.
"Dare I ask how your Christmas was?"
"We need to go somewhere we can talk privately without having to worry about being overheard." Gala pulled the book from his hands and put it on the shelf next to her. When she looked back at him, Remus could see the tears threatening to spill down her face. "Now Remus."
Without another word, Remus handed her a handkerchief and led the way out of the library. She followed willingly, sniffing occasionally. He climbed the tower stairs leading to the Gryffindor common room and waited outside the portrait of the Fat Lady for her to catch up. As soon as she did, he muttered the password and led her into the common room. There was a hush as the Gryffindor and Slytherin entered through the portrait.
"She's alright," Remus looked around, daring anyone to challenge him. He grabbed her hand and led her up to his room. When he got to the landing he heard his friends inside laughing about something.
"My friends are in here, but it's the safest place for us to speak privately." Remus opened the door slightly and looked in.
James sat on the floor playing with the stolen snitch while arguing with Sirius who was reading from a book of quidditch plays. Peter sat in a large, over stuffed chair eating candy.
"Padfoot!" James yelled, "Padfoot, tell him the Bulgarians have the better team this year."
"Get real Prongs, Padfoot knows better." Sirius shoot back starting another argument excluding Remus and Peter.
"Guys," Remus rolled his eyes. "Guys!" Remus said louder.
The group of teens looked at him.
"Can you excuse us for a minute?" Remus said quieter.
"Who's us?"
Remus pushed open the door showing his friends his company.
"She's Slytherin!" Sirius jumped up. "Pad, er, Remus, you can do better than a slimy snake!" Sirius looked at her closer, "Wait a second, I know her from somewhere."
"I," Gala spoke angrily to Sirius without blinking, "would like to tell him the bad news if you don't mind."
Remus looked between his friends and his girlfriend. "We need to talk, please guys." He paused, "I told you I was seeing someone in a different house."
James, Sirius and Peter looked at him as if he had transfigured himself into a griffin. Gala looked around the room and settled on Peter. He was staring at her with a look of hunger before he quickly dropped his gaze. She glared defiantly at his turned face, which was coloring red. James and Peter stood up and exited the room, but not without questioning looks.
"If she doesn't tell you, I will." Sirius glared at Gala while speaking to Remus. Remus looked between his girlfriend and best friend confused about what was being said between their silent fight. Sirius left, slamming the door closed behind him.
"I'm guessing you'll tell me about that?" Remus turned to look at Gala.
Gala sat down on the couch facing the fireplace while Remus cast a silencing charm over the room so no one would hear what they were talking about. He joined her seconds later. Gala's eyes began to water again. Remus opened his arms and wrapped her into a tight embrace.
"Daddy was home over the holiday," she looked up at him. "I'm sorry we didn't spend Christmas together."
Remus held Gala against him, brushing her hair away from her face. "That's okay, did you still get my package?"
Gala looked up and smiled through her tears. She held up her left hand showing Remus the promise ring he had picked out for her at one of the shops from Diagon Alley. The small red stone glittered against Gala's lightly tanned skin. It wasn't the most expensive ring there, but it had caught his attention right away. It somehow seemed to be the perfect ring for Gala.
"So," he was hesitant to bring the subject up, "what's so important?" Right away, Remus was sorry he had brought the subject up. Gala's green eyes filled with tears again. His first reaction was to hold her tighter and try to make her feel better.
Gala wiped at the tears on her face "Daddy did something... horrible."
Remus tensed and then anger took its place, "what did he say to you?"
"He, he" Gala was trying to control herself, but was failing, "Daddy sold me!" Gala began to cry into Remus's handkerchief. Remus sat silently holding her in shock. "Remus?"
"What do you mean, he sold you?" Remus looked at her with confusion.
"He sold his heir," Gala said the word with disgust, "to the highest, most pure-blooded, evil wizard he could."
Remus looked at her shocked, "He sold you?"
"I am to be married three years after graduation." Gala looked into his face trying to determine what he was thinking.
"He sold you into marriage?!" Remus nearly screamed.
"That's not the worst of it, Remus," Gala shook "he sold me to Lucius Malfoy!"
*~*~*
"Remus, may I see your picture again?"
He smiled openly, handing her the worn photo. "She always wore it on her ring finger on her left hand. She didn't worry about her father noticing, she said he never noticed anything about her."
The young couple in the picture smiled up at her and waved. Molly looked closely at the picture of Gala trying to focus on the slender hand. The picture couple laughed at her attempts. Young Remus whispered into Gala's ear and she held out her left hand proudly. Molly could just see that Gala wore two rings on her ring finger. Molly watched the couple a few minutes longer, they were so happy, and this was just a photo of what had been.
Molly dabbed at the tears in the corner of her eyes. "Poor Gala, she must have been furious."
"Furious?" Remus looked up from his mug briefly; "she was crushed. Gala knew her father wasn't happy with her, but she always thought she mattered to him, even in the slightest way. When he did that she finally knew she wasn't of importance to him, she was simply a materialistic possession he sold."
They sat in silence for several minutes. Molly thought over what she had been told. 'Poor Gala, she had such a sad life, and just when she thinks she has found happiness, that evil father of hers ruins it.'
Remus watched Molly's expressions change.
"Molly." Remus met her gaze; "Remember there is more to the story than that."
Molly looked up expectantly, "What did you plan to do?"
"The only thing we could." Remus smiled secretively. "We made plans to leave Hogwarts directly after the graduation ceremonies..."
My last chapter had some laughs, but I'm trying to write this as a serious story. Since I was so mean as to not update for a few months, I thought I'd write a couple of chapters. I promise to try to keep up with writing more.
Emily and James, thanks for the reviews on chapter 4 already!!
Chapter 5
A few days had passed since Molly had been able to talk with Remus. She did notice, however, that he appeared to be in a better state of mind. He did not seem to be as tired and even sat in the living room to relax instead of trying to disappear from sight. Molly had just finished washing the dishes and sat down at the table to have a cup of coffee. The house of the Order of the Phoenix was quiet tonight. The kids had been sent to Hogwarts, some of the members were out on missions, and the rest were getting some much-deserved rest. She was worried about Harry and her children, but the fact that Dumbledore was at the school watching them lessened her fears. She felt a draft from the doorway and looked up to see Remus entering from the chill outside.
"Remus, come in here and get something hot to drink." She quickly pulled another mug from the cabinets and filled it with coffee.
Remus smiled at her as he sat down at the table and reached for the hot liquid. "It's one of those days, the cold settles into your bones. Thanks Molly."
They sipped at their drinks comfortably. The house had become lonely since the kids had left, and Molly had noticed more than anyone had. She welcomed the idea of friendly company, and the hope of more of his sad tale.
"Did you know she glowed when she walked into a room?" Remus looked up at her and smiled, "There were times when it upset her to have attention like she did. What bothered her most were the guys who wanted to be the Crian son-in-law, and it was always the Slytherins."
"I thought she was to marry Lucius shortly after graduation?" Molly looked confused.
"That was decided after Christmas during her seventh year." Remus tightened his grip on his coffee cup. "Gala and I had officially started seeing each other the summer before our seventh year. Her father was never home, and her mother wanted her to be happy. Lady Crian never told her husband about us."
"At least someone in her family cared about her," Molly shook her head.
"Gala was not happy when she came back to school from the holidays..."
*~*~*
The library door slammed shut. Every student looked up at the racket trying to see what was going on. The librarian quickly stormed over to someone and began to whisper in harsh sounding tones.
"Get out of my way and do not bother me with your petty complaints." The students stifled their laughter and a girl moved past the shocked librarian. Gala made her way back to the stacks of old books; glaring daggers at anyone who dared to meet her harsh gaze. She found Remus in the potions part of the library with a large, but concerned smile on his face.
"Dare I ask how your Christmas was?"
"We need to go somewhere we can talk privately without having to worry about being overheard." Gala pulled the book from his hands and put it on the shelf next to her. When she looked back at him, Remus could see the tears threatening to spill down her face. "Now Remus."
Without another word, Remus handed her a handkerchief and led the way out of the library. She followed willingly, sniffing occasionally. He climbed the tower stairs leading to the Gryffindor common room and waited outside the portrait of the Fat Lady for her to catch up. As soon as she did, he muttered the password and led her into the common room. There was a hush as the Gryffindor and Slytherin entered through the portrait.
"She's alright," Remus looked around, daring anyone to challenge him. He grabbed her hand and led her up to his room. When he got to the landing he heard his friends inside laughing about something.
"My friends are in here, but it's the safest place for us to speak privately." Remus opened the door slightly and looked in.
James sat on the floor playing with the stolen snitch while arguing with Sirius who was reading from a book of quidditch plays. Peter sat in a large, over stuffed chair eating candy.
"Padfoot!" James yelled, "Padfoot, tell him the Bulgarians have the better team this year."
"Get real Prongs, Padfoot knows better." Sirius shoot back starting another argument excluding Remus and Peter.
"Guys," Remus rolled his eyes. "Guys!" Remus said louder.
The group of teens looked at him.
"Can you excuse us for a minute?" Remus said quieter.
"Who's us?"
Remus pushed open the door showing his friends his company.
"She's Slytherin!" Sirius jumped up. "Pad, er, Remus, you can do better than a slimy snake!" Sirius looked at her closer, "Wait a second, I know her from somewhere."
"I," Gala spoke angrily to Sirius without blinking, "would like to tell him the bad news if you don't mind."
Remus looked between his friends and his girlfriend. "We need to talk, please guys." He paused, "I told you I was seeing someone in a different house."
James, Sirius and Peter looked at him as if he had transfigured himself into a griffin. Gala looked around the room and settled on Peter. He was staring at her with a look of hunger before he quickly dropped his gaze. She glared defiantly at his turned face, which was coloring red. James and Peter stood up and exited the room, but not without questioning looks.
"If she doesn't tell you, I will." Sirius glared at Gala while speaking to Remus. Remus looked between his girlfriend and best friend confused about what was being said between their silent fight. Sirius left, slamming the door closed behind him.
"I'm guessing you'll tell me about that?" Remus turned to look at Gala.
Gala sat down on the couch facing the fireplace while Remus cast a silencing charm over the room so no one would hear what they were talking about. He joined her seconds later. Gala's eyes began to water again. Remus opened his arms and wrapped her into a tight embrace.
"Daddy was home over the holiday," she looked up at him. "I'm sorry we didn't spend Christmas together."
Remus held Gala against him, brushing her hair away from her face. "That's okay, did you still get my package?"
Gala looked up and smiled through her tears. She held up her left hand showing Remus the promise ring he had picked out for her at one of the shops from Diagon Alley. The small red stone glittered against Gala's lightly tanned skin. It wasn't the most expensive ring there, but it had caught his attention right away. It somehow seemed to be the perfect ring for Gala.
"So," he was hesitant to bring the subject up, "what's so important?" Right away, Remus was sorry he had brought the subject up. Gala's green eyes filled with tears again. His first reaction was to hold her tighter and try to make her feel better.
Gala wiped at the tears on her face "Daddy did something... horrible."
Remus tensed and then anger took its place, "what did he say to you?"
"He, he" Gala was trying to control herself, but was failing, "Daddy sold me!" Gala began to cry into Remus's handkerchief. Remus sat silently holding her in shock. "Remus?"
"What do you mean, he sold you?" Remus looked at her with confusion.
"He sold his heir," Gala said the word with disgust, "to the highest, most pure-blooded, evil wizard he could."
Remus looked at her shocked, "He sold you?"
"I am to be married three years after graduation." Gala looked into his face trying to determine what he was thinking.
"He sold you into marriage?!" Remus nearly screamed.
"That's not the worst of it, Remus," Gala shook "he sold me to Lucius Malfoy!"
*~*~*
"Remus, may I see your picture again?"
He smiled openly, handing her the worn photo. "She always wore it on her ring finger on her left hand. She didn't worry about her father noticing, she said he never noticed anything about her."
The young couple in the picture smiled up at her and waved. Molly looked closely at the picture of Gala trying to focus on the slender hand. The picture couple laughed at her attempts. Young Remus whispered into Gala's ear and she held out her left hand proudly. Molly could just see that Gala wore two rings on her ring finger. Molly watched the couple a few minutes longer, they were so happy, and this was just a photo of what had been.
Molly dabbed at the tears in the corner of her eyes. "Poor Gala, she must have been furious."
"Furious?" Remus looked up from his mug briefly; "she was crushed. Gala knew her father wasn't happy with her, but she always thought she mattered to him, even in the slightest way. When he did that she finally knew she wasn't of importance to him, she was simply a materialistic possession he sold."
They sat in silence for several minutes. Molly thought over what she had been told. 'Poor Gala, she had such a sad life, and just when she thinks she has found happiness, that evil father of hers ruins it.'
Remus watched Molly's expressions change.
"Molly." Remus met her gaze; "Remember there is more to the story than that."
Molly looked up expectantly, "What did you plan to do?"
"The only thing we could." Remus smiled secretively. "We made plans to leave Hogwarts directly after the graduation ceremonies..."