Hope of the Phoenix (16/?)
Rating: Pg 13
Pairing: Remus/ Petunia
Disclaimer: All characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing them for a bit, no infringement intended.
A/N: Here's another chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 16: A Flurry of Interviews
As she had found before Christmas, Petunia's days went by a lot more quickly when she was organizing international conferences. Even with the staff that Dumbledore had provided – house elves from the Hogwarts kitchens- the months passed in a blur. Remus was still working closely with her, but they had very little time to pursue their relationship. They stole minutes together between meetings and conferences and interviews.
Petunia was so busy that she was amazed to find that it was nearly May. She was even more amazed to find that they had a weekend off. They had no interviews to attend, or messages to broadcast, and they didn't have to prepare for any in the imminent future. She and Remus decided to celebrate with a picnic, determined to enjoy their day off in the beautiful spring sunshine.
It was lovely. One of the nicest days Petunia had had in a long time. It was nice not to have to talk about the war, or death, or anything unpleasant, but to sit with Remus, and pretend to herself that she was eighteen again, that Lily and James were still alive, that she and Remus had not fought, that she had not spent twenty years hating him...
All the same, those years had had an effect on both of them. She remembered the first time, when they were both eighteen, they could not keeps their hands of each other, now, nearly forty, after nearly four months of being together again, they had not even progressed past holding hands!
It was a beautiful afternoon. Molly had conjured them a basket of delicious treats – Petunia knew know how her friend managed with so many children, she had magic. Petunia tried to imagine herself with seven Dudleys, and shivered, the grocer's bill would have been astronomical!
The afternoon was spent in quiet conversation, with the cicadas providing a muted accompaniment, in conjunction with the distant hum of a lawn mower. Petunia nestled up beside Remus, content to just enjoy the serenity of the afternoon.
The sun was beginning to set by the time they began to walk back towards Grimmauld Place, staining the sky with a tableau of colour – rose, and peach, and aquamarine. Maybe it was just that she had seldom been as happy, but Petunia thought the sky had never looked more beautiful.
She shivered in the cool evening breeze; partly out of cold, and partly to tempt Remus to put his arm around her. She felt a flash of warmth as he wrapped one arm around her waist, far more than could be attributed to his body heat. They paused in a copse of trees not too far from the dingy entrance to Grimmauld Place – the last green space in that part of London - talking again, trying to get in a few more moments before they reemerged into the bustle of life at Headquarters.
Petunia was looking deep into Remus eyes, when suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, his lips were on hers. She fell into the kiss, not caring that they were on a public street in the heart of London, and that nosy housewives, like she used to be, were probably glaring at them through the window. If Vernon could see them ... Oh my, she thought in a sudden panic, Vernon would have been furious. She was kissing a wizard, one of them!
Petunia stumbled back, breaking off the kiss, tears streaming down her face. She managed to gasp out that she was sorry before she fled back towards Grimmauld Place, her mind racing ahead of her body.
She ignored Molly's greeting and Percy and Tonk's concerned looks and bolted up the stairs, and locked herself in her bedroom. She threw herself onto her bed; out of breath. She felt horrified with herself. She hadn't even been widowed a year! She could imagine the look on Vernon's face, the horrible shade of magenta it would turn if he ever found out what she had done. She whimpered, thinking of how Vernon had always tried to protect her; from Hagrid and his pink umbrella, from Mr. Weasley... how he had died trying to save their son. He had died for them, and she was kissing another man, one he would have hated, when he hadn't been dead for more than eight months...
Downstairs, Molly, Percy and Tonks watched in amazement as Remus walked silently into the house, and as he too walked up the stairs to his bedroom. From the decided slump to his shoulders it was clear that he was very upset. They looked at each other, then Molly said, in a cheerful voice that did not match the worry in her eyes,
"I think its time for tea. I'll bring some up to Petunia dear, no thank you Tonks, I don't need your help, and Percy, why don't you bring some up to Remus. They must have had a long day, and there's nothing like a cup of tea for that! Right, lets get to it!"
With the assurance of a general leading her troops into battle, Molly conjured two tea sets, and led the way determinedly up the stairs.
Remus was pacing his room, back and forth, back and forth. He should have known better than to try and start again with Petunia. She'd hurt him twenty years ago, and she hurt him now. Probably remembered he was a werewolf. Saw the monster in his eyes, most likely, or else she realized he was poor, that he couldn't give her all the things that Vernon Dursley, Mr. Director of Grunnings, had.
He was startled out of his musings by a timid rap on the door, and the sight of a pair of horn-rimmed glasses, red hair and a tea tray. Percy.
"Professor," said the young man quietly, "Mum suggested you might like some tea."
Remus tried to straighten up, to look like nothing was the matter. "Yes, thank you Percy," he said in the most controlled voice he could manage. "Just leave the tray here, would you?" He hoped that the boy would get the hint and leave. Then again, he thought sourly, as Percy came into the room, closed the door behind him, and, setting down the tea tray, sat on a chair across from Remus, Percy Weasley had never been that quick on the uptake.
"What happened, Professor?" Percy asked quietly.
Remus narrowed his lips, in an eerily accurate impression of Professor McGonagall, and said coldly, "I would really rather not discuss it, if you don't mind, Percy. Thank you for the tea." His tone made it clear that he wanted Percy to leave. Remembering how the young man had been at Hogwarts, he expected him to jump up and leave, apologizing for his rudeness.
Percy, however, did not apologize – he didn't even leave the room. He gave a small, wry smile, and, settling himself even further in the chair, said, "I realize that, Professor, but Mum will have my head if I leave the room without helping "dear Professor Lupin" with whatever is making him unhappy, so spill."
Meanwhile, Petunia was crying on Molly's shoulder. She had told the whole story, between sobs, knowing that Molly would understand. She had been married for a long period of time as well, though her husband was still alive.
Molly listened quietly to her friend's story. She tried to imagine how she would feel, if Arthur had been murdered, and she had met up with an old boyfriend. When Petunia had stopped crying, she said quietly,
"I don't think Vernon would be angry with you for dating someone again, dear. I never met your husband, but even from what Harry and Arthur have told me, it's clear that he loved you very, very much. And I think he would want you to be happy."
"But he hated magic! He wouldn't have approved of Remus..."
"No, dear, he wouldn't have. But then, he wouldn't have approved of your being friends with me, or with Percy and Tonks, he wouldn't have approved of your patching things up with Harry, or with you being a member of the Order and fighting You-Know-Who. But they are all worthwhile things to do. I think, dear, that you need to just accept the fact that Vernon wouldn't have approved. But know, dear, that he loved you and would have wanted you to be happy, even if that happiness meant that you were doing things he wouldn't have approved of. Harry told me that he allowed him to stay with you, when he wanted him out of the house, because you said it should happen. And if he was willing to accept that, I think he would have accepted this as well. Just do what your heart tells you, dear. I know I haven't seen either you or Remus happier than you have been the last few months."
Percy had listened to Remus' curt description of what had happened in silence, including his bitter rant about how she was probably disgusted that he was a werewolf, or that he was poor.
When Remus was quiet once more, staring out the window moodily, Percy finally ventured a comment. "I don't think you're right about why she ran away. She certainly wasn't upset about your being a werewolf. She was just talking to me the other day, about trying to find a safe way for her to be with you during the transformations. She certainly wasn't frightened or disgusted about that. And I don't think the money has anything to do with it, either. She has enough money from what her husband left her to support herself in the lifestyle she's accustomed to for the rest of her life, she told me."
"What do you think it was then?" Remus asked quietly, trying to make the question seem like a problem in class, and not something that affected him so deeply. He couldn't believe he was talking about this at all, let alone with Percy. He had never let anyone, except for Sirius, and James, and Peter, see what he was feeling – not even Lily and Petunia, and now, to be talking it over with Percy, Junior Assistant to the Minister for Magic!
"Well," said the junior assistant calmly, "I think she was worried about her husband. He's only been dead for eight months, and she was married to him for twenty years. She did love him, you know, and you don't get over something like that right away, even if you do fall in love again."
Remus gave a bitter little laugh. Love. Petunia didn't love him. Who would?
"She does," came Percy's calm voice, breaking through his thoughts once more. I'm her friend. I didn't know her before, of course, but just since she started dating you, she's been incredibly happy. Don't let her fears take that away, or I think both of you will regret it."
Leaving the tea tray on the table, Percy left the room, its occupant gazing out the window at the moon, so near to the full.
Rating: Pg 13
Pairing: Remus/ Petunia
Disclaimer: All characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing them for a bit, no infringement intended.
A/N: Here's another chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 16: A Flurry of Interviews
As she had found before Christmas, Petunia's days went by a lot more quickly when she was organizing international conferences. Even with the staff that Dumbledore had provided – house elves from the Hogwarts kitchens- the months passed in a blur. Remus was still working closely with her, but they had very little time to pursue their relationship. They stole minutes together between meetings and conferences and interviews.
Petunia was so busy that she was amazed to find that it was nearly May. She was even more amazed to find that they had a weekend off. They had no interviews to attend, or messages to broadcast, and they didn't have to prepare for any in the imminent future. She and Remus decided to celebrate with a picnic, determined to enjoy their day off in the beautiful spring sunshine.
It was lovely. One of the nicest days Petunia had had in a long time. It was nice not to have to talk about the war, or death, or anything unpleasant, but to sit with Remus, and pretend to herself that she was eighteen again, that Lily and James were still alive, that she and Remus had not fought, that she had not spent twenty years hating him...
All the same, those years had had an effect on both of them. She remembered the first time, when they were both eighteen, they could not keeps their hands of each other, now, nearly forty, after nearly four months of being together again, they had not even progressed past holding hands!
It was a beautiful afternoon. Molly had conjured them a basket of delicious treats – Petunia knew know how her friend managed with so many children, she had magic. Petunia tried to imagine herself with seven Dudleys, and shivered, the grocer's bill would have been astronomical!
The afternoon was spent in quiet conversation, with the cicadas providing a muted accompaniment, in conjunction with the distant hum of a lawn mower. Petunia nestled up beside Remus, content to just enjoy the serenity of the afternoon.
The sun was beginning to set by the time they began to walk back towards Grimmauld Place, staining the sky with a tableau of colour – rose, and peach, and aquamarine. Maybe it was just that she had seldom been as happy, but Petunia thought the sky had never looked more beautiful.
She shivered in the cool evening breeze; partly out of cold, and partly to tempt Remus to put his arm around her. She felt a flash of warmth as he wrapped one arm around her waist, far more than could be attributed to his body heat. They paused in a copse of trees not too far from the dingy entrance to Grimmauld Place – the last green space in that part of London - talking again, trying to get in a few more moments before they reemerged into the bustle of life at Headquarters.
Petunia was looking deep into Remus eyes, when suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, his lips were on hers. She fell into the kiss, not caring that they were on a public street in the heart of London, and that nosy housewives, like she used to be, were probably glaring at them through the window. If Vernon could see them ... Oh my, she thought in a sudden panic, Vernon would have been furious. She was kissing a wizard, one of them!
Petunia stumbled back, breaking off the kiss, tears streaming down her face. She managed to gasp out that she was sorry before she fled back towards Grimmauld Place, her mind racing ahead of her body.
She ignored Molly's greeting and Percy and Tonk's concerned looks and bolted up the stairs, and locked herself in her bedroom. She threw herself onto her bed; out of breath. She felt horrified with herself. She hadn't even been widowed a year! She could imagine the look on Vernon's face, the horrible shade of magenta it would turn if he ever found out what she had done. She whimpered, thinking of how Vernon had always tried to protect her; from Hagrid and his pink umbrella, from Mr. Weasley... how he had died trying to save their son. He had died for them, and she was kissing another man, one he would have hated, when he hadn't been dead for more than eight months...
Downstairs, Molly, Percy and Tonks watched in amazement as Remus walked silently into the house, and as he too walked up the stairs to his bedroom. From the decided slump to his shoulders it was clear that he was very upset. They looked at each other, then Molly said, in a cheerful voice that did not match the worry in her eyes,
"I think its time for tea. I'll bring some up to Petunia dear, no thank you Tonks, I don't need your help, and Percy, why don't you bring some up to Remus. They must have had a long day, and there's nothing like a cup of tea for that! Right, lets get to it!"
With the assurance of a general leading her troops into battle, Molly conjured two tea sets, and led the way determinedly up the stairs.
Remus was pacing his room, back and forth, back and forth. He should have known better than to try and start again with Petunia. She'd hurt him twenty years ago, and she hurt him now. Probably remembered he was a werewolf. Saw the monster in his eyes, most likely, or else she realized he was poor, that he couldn't give her all the things that Vernon Dursley, Mr. Director of Grunnings, had.
He was startled out of his musings by a timid rap on the door, and the sight of a pair of horn-rimmed glasses, red hair and a tea tray. Percy.
"Professor," said the young man quietly, "Mum suggested you might like some tea."
Remus tried to straighten up, to look like nothing was the matter. "Yes, thank you Percy," he said in the most controlled voice he could manage. "Just leave the tray here, would you?" He hoped that the boy would get the hint and leave. Then again, he thought sourly, as Percy came into the room, closed the door behind him, and, setting down the tea tray, sat on a chair across from Remus, Percy Weasley had never been that quick on the uptake.
"What happened, Professor?" Percy asked quietly.
Remus narrowed his lips, in an eerily accurate impression of Professor McGonagall, and said coldly, "I would really rather not discuss it, if you don't mind, Percy. Thank you for the tea." His tone made it clear that he wanted Percy to leave. Remembering how the young man had been at Hogwarts, he expected him to jump up and leave, apologizing for his rudeness.
Percy, however, did not apologize – he didn't even leave the room. He gave a small, wry smile, and, settling himself even further in the chair, said, "I realize that, Professor, but Mum will have my head if I leave the room without helping "dear Professor Lupin" with whatever is making him unhappy, so spill."
Meanwhile, Petunia was crying on Molly's shoulder. She had told the whole story, between sobs, knowing that Molly would understand. She had been married for a long period of time as well, though her husband was still alive.
Molly listened quietly to her friend's story. She tried to imagine how she would feel, if Arthur had been murdered, and she had met up with an old boyfriend. When Petunia had stopped crying, she said quietly,
"I don't think Vernon would be angry with you for dating someone again, dear. I never met your husband, but even from what Harry and Arthur have told me, it's clear that he loved you very, very much. And I think he would want you to be happy."
"But he hated magic! He wouldn't have approved of Remus..."
"No, dear, he wouldn't have. But then, he wouldn't have approved of your being friends with me, or with Percy and Tonks, he wouldn't have approved of your patching things up with Harry, or with you being a member of the Order and fighting You-Know-Who. But they are all worthwhile things to do. I think, dear, that you need to just accept the fact that Vernon wouldn't have approved. But know, dear, that he loved you and would have wanted you to be happy, even if that happiness meant that you were doing things he wouldn't have approved of. Harry told me that he allowed him to stay with you, when he wanted him out of the house, because you said it should happen. And if he was willing to accept that, I think he would have accepted this as well. Just do what your heart tells you, dear. I know I haven't seen either you or Remus happier than you have been the last few months."
Percy had listened to Remus' curt description of what had happened in silence, including his bitter rant about how she was probably disgusted that he was a werewolf, or that he was poor.
When Remus was quiet once more, staring out the window moodily, Percy finally ventured a comment. "I don't think you're right about why she ran away. She certainly wasn't upset about your being a werewolf. She was just talking to me the other day, about trying to find a safe way for her to be with you during the transformations. She certainly wasn't frightened or disgusted about that. And I don't think the money has anything to do with it, either. She has enough money from what her husband left her to support herself in the lifestyle she's accustomed to for the rest of her life, she told me."
"What do you think it was then?" Remus asked quietly, trying to make the question seem like a problem in class, and not something that affected him so deeply. He couldn't believe he was talking about this at all, let alone with Percy. He had never let anyone, except for Sirius, and James, and Peter, see what he was feeling – not even Lily and Petunia, and now, to be talking it over with Percy, Junior Assistant to the Minister for Magic!
"Well," said the junior assistant calmly, "I think she was worried about her husband. He's only been dead for eight months, and she was married to him for twenty years. She did love him, you know, and you don't get over something like that right away, even if you do fall in love again."
Remus gave a bitter little laugh. Love. Petunia didn't love him. Who would?
"She does," came Percy's calm voice, breaking through his thoughts once more. I'm her friend. I didn't know her before, of course, but just since she started dating you, she's been incredibly happy. Don't let her fears take that away, or I think both of you will regret it."
Leaving the tea tray on the table, Percy left the room, its occupant gazing out the window at the moon, so near to the full.