Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters.
A/N: I am glad that my faithful readers liked the last chapter. It was a bit of a stray from my norm but I liked it. In fact I liked it so much that I have started to write a new fic in a first person p.o.v. It is another RL/OC and if you are interested in it check it out. I also was wondering if you would be interested in reading a Neoma spin off story I have been thinking about set around her 5th year. Let me know in your reviews and I will see about that one. Anyway, this was the original chapter 12 and now it is chapter 13. I hope you like it.
Chapter 13 – The Hospital
Remus entered Dumbledore's office and did not sit down when Dumbledore asked him to. He instead paced around the room. "Albus, we can't send her off with relatives she doesn't even have. If Rebekah does not ...return," that word seemed to cause him pain as he forced himself to say it, "then I think it is only fair she stay with me. She knows the truth and I am sure she will want to stay with me rather than some stuffy old witch."
All of this met almost no reaction from Dumbledore. He sat calmly and spoke in a soothing voice that was almost never raised, "Does she know everything, Remus?"
Remus stopped pacing and let out a soft sigh. "Well, she doesn't know everything, but I am sure it will not matter. I will tell her, when the time comes." Dumbledore looked at Remus with concern in his eyes. "I will tell her," he said in response to the concerning gaze directed his way.
"Remus, I hate to even consider this or even bring it to your attention, but did you ever think that she might not react in the most desired way? Not all people are as understanding as me."
Remus finally sat down in one the chairs at the desk. "I had entertained that thought, but Neoma was raised by Rebekah. I can not even imagine Rebekah instilling prejudices of that nature into her. I would imagine that she taught her to be understanding of people with my condition."
"I am sure you are right, Remus, but I don't want you to get your hopes up incase an outside force has instilled views of that nature into her," the concerning look never left Dumbledore's eyes. "Just be ready for any reaction. For all we know Jonathan could hav-"
Dumbledore never finished that sentence because at that moment The Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge entered the office. "Albus, Jonathan Anders has been found. We have him at St. Mungo's right now. He was injured but not too badly. He requests his daughter's presence. I told him I would talk to you about letting her go to him because of the circumstances," Fudge seemed to bounce on his heels as he spoke.
Remus arched an eyebrow at Dumbledore at the mention of Jonathan requesting the presence of a daughter he knew was not his. "Is there any word on the whereabouts of Mrs. Anders?" Remus asked turning to better look at Fudge.
"No, Mr. Anders says they were attacked and taken hostage. He has no idea who by though. Nor does he have any idea where they took his wife."
Dumbledore looked at his desk for a brief moment as he thought of a way to handle this situation as to not upset Remus. "I think if we are to have a student leave the school we should have her be chaperoned. I will personally see to this and so will Professor Lupin. We have both been pillars of support for Neoma through this difficult time and our presence may help her," he said with a subtle wink in Remus' direction.
"Well, I suppose no one will object to that. Mr. Anders wishes Neoma's presence immediately though," he said turning on his heels and exiting the office. He was followed by Dumbledore who stopped outside the office and began talking to Fudge as Remus went to the Gryffindor Common room to fetch Neoma.
"What is this all about?" she asked as they walked down the halls at a leisurely pace that Remus had set.
"Well, Jonathan has been found. They have him at St. Mungo's and he wants to see you," he replied. "More exactly he requested the presence of his 'daughter'."
"But you're my father aren't you?" Neoma's face twisted in confusion, and Remus smiled at the fact that she had acknowledge him as her father.
"Well, yes, but there are only five people who know that," he said stopping and looking down at her. "I want to take you."
She looked up at him not understanding the statement he had just made. He noticed the look of confusion in her eyes and knew he had to explain himself for what he just blurted out. "Neoma, there is a chance that your mother may not be found," he said biting his lip trying not to let the thought seep into his mind.
"I know that," she said still with confusion gripping her face, but now it was mingled with sadness.
"If that does happen then I don't want to send you back to Jonathan. I want to take you with me. I want you to live with me instead, but only if you would want to."
Neoma's face was still shadowed in sadness, but a small smile spread on her face. "I would like to live with you." Remus' joy was brief because he knew what he must do next.
"I am glad to hear that, but I have to tell you something before you decide," he said taking a deep breath. "Neoma I am a werewolf."
Neoma now understood her mother's feelings to people who were werewolves. She always said how unfairly they were treated and that the laws made no sense. She never understood why her mother would care so much till this moment. If her mother could love someone who was said to be a monster then she could also. "I still want to live with you."
Remus smiled wildly at this. "Your mother raised you well."
When they all arrived at the hospital Remus was positively beaming even as Jonathan's face went red with anger. "What is he doing here?" he spat venom in his voice.
"We felt that Neoma should have a few chaperones on this trip and so we came along," Dumbledore calmly explained.
"I don't want him near my daughter!" Jonathan's face was almost purple.
"What is wrong with Professor Lupin?" Fudge was looking back and forth from the man who was full of livid rage and the man whom the rage was directed toward who greeted it with a smile.
"Nothing is wrong with Professor Lupin," Neoma interjected quickly before Jonathan could say anything else. She then turned to Jonathan, "Hello," she said without conviction. She didn't understand why she wasn't ecstatic to see the man she called her father for twelve years, yet she was still happy and she knew it was because of Remus.
Fudge pulled Dumbledore and Remus away to inquire about Jonathan's reaction to Remus. "What was that all about?" he said with narrowed eyes.
"We have no idea," Dumbledore with a simple smile.
It was then that Jonathan's voice rang out again. "What are you talking about? Who told you such lies?" The three turned back to see Jonathan sitting up and his darting from Remus to Neoma
"They aren't lies," she said softly, "It is the truth, and you know it."
"Know what?" Fudge said looking at the small girl.
"He knows," she said, "and he can not make me leave school because of it."
"What is this about leaving school?" Dumbledore said narrowing his gaze on Jonathan as Neoma spoke.
"He told me he wanted to take me away from school now. He wants me to leave and go back home with him. I don't want to leave school and he can't make me," he voice now was straining with emotion.
"He can take you out of school if he wishes, Neoma, he is your father," said Fudge placing his hand on her shoulder.
"But he isn't. He's not my father, he is just the man who I called father because I didn't know the truth," she almost yelled as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"My dear girl if he isn't your father then who is?" Fudge still out of the loop tried to disprove her thinking she was just upset by the threat of leaving school.
"He is my father," she said pointing to Remus who had stepped back, unable to watch Neoma cry and unwilling to comfort her in front of Jonathan and Fudge.
"My dear girl that is impossible. Your mother and father have been happily married for years. There is no way that this man could be your father," Fudge looked back at Remus who had his eyes closed. He covered his mouth with his hand trying to stop himself from yelling at Fudge and calling him daft.
"It isn't impossible, it is true. He told me what happened. Ask him yourself and he will tell you," she waited for Remus to interject and tell them everything was the truth that she was his daughter and he had an affair with Rebekah and that he wanted her to live with him but he remained silent, his eyes still closed tightly. "Tell them. Please tell them. Tell them that you're my father. Tell them what happened," she began crying now at Remus' silence. "Please tell them, daddy."
Remus' eyes shot open as the words that small voice had just uttered registered in his mind. "Neoma," he was speechless as he looked into her pleading eyes. He searched his mind for words that made sense, and finally was able to speak again. "It's true. It is all true. She is my daughter," he directed his words at Fudge but never looked away from her.
"This is preposterous." Fudge was not about to believe what was going on around him. "There is no way that you are this girl's father."
"There is a very possible way for him to be her father, but I doubt we are in the company of someone who that should hear the details of the how," Dumbledore said to Fudge indicating Neoma. "I am sure that Neoma's father would want her to remain at Hogwarts," he said and Remus nodded.
"But Neoma I love you," was all that Jonathan could say to the whole ordeal. She didn't say anything to him as she rushed out of the room.
"Neoma wait," Remus called after her and followed her out of the room. "Are you ok?" he asked as he walked up to her. She was standing in the corner of the waiting room and he could tell by her shaking shoulders that she was crying. "Do you want me to get you anything?"
She just turned and latched onto him. It was the first time she had hugged him and he returned the hug without conviction.
Neoma dried her tears as Dumbledore walked out of Jonathan's room. "I want my mum," she said to Remus.
"I know you do and so do I, but we don't know how to find her," Remus said not noticing Dumbledore standing behind them.
"I don't think that is entirely true," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.