A/N: Errr... Still has help from Smack.
Chapter 31: Proof, Disappointment, and BerlinI sat in a garden alone, surrounded with flowers and exotic bushes. The air was crisp and clean but it felt wrong because it was too strong. The flower's scent and the untainted air were fake. I knew I was dreaming. One type of flower caught my eye. Baby blue irises. They looked exactly like those that sat on the kitchen counter in my previous dream. I leaned over to them and breathed in. 'The scent of my mum . . .' I thought.
"Those remind me of you, Emily." I turned around and saw my mother. She wore a wide smile, and her hands were behind her back. Her eyes were closed, and herbrown hair was down and curled down a little past her shoulder. 'Absolutely beautiful.'
"Why?" I questioned, smiling back.
"They're the same color as your eyes and are natural beauties, like you." I giggled and hugged her. Suddenly, I felt her body go tense and her eyes seemed to roll back into her head.
"Mum?" I said, keeping my hold on her. "Mum?" Her body grew very heavy and I began to feel the pressure. I held on tighter, biting my lip and attempted to get some kind of movement from her. I could hear laughter. It was echoing in the small garden and was full of pride and accomplishment, though it was something strained, as if the person was forcing it. "Mummy? Come on! Wake up!" I lost my grip, and she fell to the ground, limp. Her mouth, which seconds before had a wonderful smile, was now wide open and the only parts of the eyes that showed was the whites.
When I thought it couldn't get any worse, the laughter ceased and my mother's body began to decay. Her skin quickly turned black,herhair went flat, and the eye sockets were empty. All that was left was a dilapidated skeleton and adirty floral print dress. I screamed but nothing came out, it was like I was put on mute. I turned my back to the corpse, letting the tears fall down my cheeks as I covered my mouth.
o.O
I awoke with a start. Pomfrey wasn't in the room and everyone appeared to be sleeping still. Feeling icky, and angry, I decided that I needed a shower, since I hadn't had one in a while. It was still early so I made up my mind to escape the Infirmary and run back to the Gryffindor tower to take care of my hygiene needs before the "rush." The images of my dream kept comingback to me, and I tried hard to make them stop. I didn't have any desire to mingle this morning so I did what I had to do and left the tower with the intention of going to breakfast. It was my intention. Remember that.
"Emi! Good morning! I was just going to go check on you," Nephiro greeted, popping around a corner.
"You know, I really wish you'd stop doing that. Now that I . . . know what you're capable of, I'm not sure I feel safe," I told her. She smiled in reply. "Why are you so cheerful this morning? Did my brother give you something shiny?"
She glared. "Remember how you just said you don't feel safe? Well, keep saying things like that and you won't be." With that, she turned away. "Oh second thought, I don't give a shit how you're doing. Sorry for thinking I cared." And she started walking away. I sighed, immediately feeling bad for snapping at her.
Something in the way she reacted struck me as not quite normal Nephiro behavior. "Wait, I'm sorry Nephiro. I'm having a rough morning. I've been having bad dreams again."
Nephiro turned around and gave me a very direct look. It made me uncomfortable. Finally, she nodded to herself. "All right. It's already forgotten. Come on, let's go to breakfast." 'She is a strange duck . . .'
"Right . . ." I answered and I put on a fake grin, erasing my mum's dead body out of my head. We walked down to the Great Hall silently, but for some reason it was a good silence. I felt happy around Nep now. It was weird how we ended up friends when at one point we tried to kill each other.
"Emi, gimme a second, I'll meet you in there," she said as we approached the giant doors. More odd behavior, but I let it slide.
"Alright." I opened the door without looking back at her. The few people that were at the tables glanced at me, but went back to their breakfast, except one person: Draco. A smile was spread across his face and his gray eyes were lit up like Christmas lights.
"Emi!" he cried happily, like Nephiro did earlier. He got to his feet and practically ran to me. The hug was so hard and forceful that it took my breath away temporarily. "I haven't seen you in like three days!" Draco kissed my cheek and continued to hug me. I felt safe in his arms, and for a brief moment it seemed like something in my life was right.
"Nice to see you too . . ." Just as I said that, gasps and shrieks of terror erupted from the room. Draco seemed suddenly tense.
"Uh . . . uh . . ."
"Draco, honey, what's wrong?" I let go of him and turned around. Loping toward us was a full-grown lioness. It was beautiful and somehow . . . familiar. It gave us a glance, stared at Draco, and roared. He nearly wet himself.
We didn't hold its interest very long. After effectively scarring the populace, it rotated and headed for the faculty table. It walked past the still shocked teachers and paused by McGonagall. The teacher and the lioness' eyes locked for a moment before it showed its teeth and then proceeded. It stopped next to Dumbledore, who had a cross between anger and amusement on his face. He hesitantly pet its neck and it purred happily. I watched, partly amazed, and feeling sort of stupid. I feel that I should know this strange creature.
"Sorry about that. This is. . . my pet lion. She's quite harmless. Say hi to the nice people, Berlin," he said. The lioness, which had stopped purring and was now glaring at the head master, roared in response.
"Berlin?" McGonagall asked.
"Yes, I like Germany," he answered.
"And Egypt, too, apparently," she said.
"No. Egypt is nice, but there's too much sand." I had to laugh at Dumbledore's last comment. He was an odd man, probably going more senile every minute.
"Berlin" let out another roar, this one more fiercely; I jumped in response. The lioness gracefully jumped onto the staff table, slinking down into a pounce position. She fixed her round amber eyes on me and I didn't feel scared. Well, that was until she leaped down and raced toward me. I screamed and covered my head with my arms. Someone grappled me and pushed me to the side and we toppled to the floor. Opening my eyes again, I noticed Draco lying on top of me and the end of the lion's tail disappear out the door.
My attention went back to professors; McGonagall has gone very pale, Dumbledore was holding back something –whether it was laughter or rage I couldn't tell, Snape wore a dazed look in his eyes and Hagrid was cowering in the corner muttering to himself.
Draco's sudden shift in weight brought me back to my current situation. 'A lion almost ran me over . . . And Draco's on top of me," I thought, taking no action to remove him.
"Well, now, don't you two look comfy," Nephiro's voice said. "God, Emi, I leave for one second and you're already on the floor with someone. I can't take you anywhere!" I felt my cheeks go red and Draco rolled off me quickly. He sort of had an embarrassed but scared expression on his face, along with the brilliant pink skin he just acquired. It was kind of cute. Nephiro cleared her throat and I sprang to my feet.
"Nep! You just missed the –" I began.
"Lion. Yeah, I know, I saw it leaving the school." She sighed. "I miss Egypt." I gave her a puzzled glance. "I have a better idea. Screw breakfast. Come." She turned around and exited the Hall. I shrugged when Draco questioned it and followed her. Nephiro was half way down the corridor when I spotted her. She kept walking even after I call out to her.
"Seriously, Emi," she said after I loomed close. "When I say 'come' I don't mean leave in 30 seconds." I wanted to slap her but past experiences told me not to.
"Where are we going?"
"Our favorite professor's office."
"Err . . . Snape's not there."
She gave me a sidelong glance that said volumes. "I was referring to Lupin, you know your extra credit friend?" Slapping urge still there . . .
"Why may I ask? We have all ourinformation now," I replied.
"To pay our respects. He's resigning," she said without a hint of humor. I gave it a second so this new information could sink into my brain.
"He's what?" I asked, knowing I didn't want to know. I had just started liking Lupin and he goes and pulls a stunt like this. Someone needs to teach him some manners. "That's royally unfair . . ."
"Well, he doesn't have a choice. It's only a matter of time before people start sending complaints in and coming to the gate with pitchforks. He IS a werewolf, after all," she responded matter-of-factly. Her new tone reminded me of Hermione when she corrected me in Charms. "It's sad but there's nothing we can do."
We reached the office door and noticed it was slightly a jar; neither of us seemed to want to push it open. The sounds of packing were drifting our way and I felt sadness in my stomach . . . or maybe that was hunger. 'Royally unfair. . .' I contemplated. Nep gave a small sigh and gently pushed it open.
Professor Lupin was sitting at his desk, placing things in a box. He didn't even notice that we were standing there. His face had small cuts and he appeared very haggard.
"Professor Lupin?" I said quietly.
"Yes. Oh, Emi. Nephiro. Nice to see you." He sounded distracted and unlike himself.
We glanced at each other and I noticed Nephiro looked a little guilty. "Err . . . We heard you resigned and, well, I, at least, wanted to say sorry about . . . that. . . and . . . err . . . stuff. You are kinda cool so it sucks that you're leaving," Nephiro said. I wanted to hug her now. It's probably the nicest thing I've ever heard come out of her mouth and it clearly caused her pain.
"Really Professor. You're the best teacher here. I actually passed this course without cheating and stayed awake . . . well, most of the time . . . you can't leave –it's unfair to the students. Think of the students!"
"I am thinking of the students. And their parents that will want my job, if not my head. You two don't understand. I'm a werewolf –a monster! –that's not the best way to earn friends," he said.
"If you put it that way –" I started.
"Thanks for the support it doesn't matter. I'm quitting. I have to."
"No, you don't understand, Professor. Don't think I can't relate to the monster thing. You forgot my heritage," Nephiro replied. I was somewhat lost but he obviously got it.
"It's a slightly different situation."
"True, but don't say I don't understand."
"Um . . . I don't know what you two are talking about but I'm going to miss you, Lupin. I'll never see you again," I cried. I wasastonished that I even said those words out loud.
"Sure you will. You'll be seeing me a lot. I'm your godfather. You'll be living with me from now on." My jaw dropped, not in surprise but in horror. 'I am doomed. I can barely stand sitting in a classroom with him, how am I supposed to live with him? Happy family? How can it be a happy family if I live with a creepy werewolf? Liars! All of them!' I silently screamed. 'Remember howyour aunt wants to kill you?' My thoughts turned to the letter I received weeks beforehand and I shuddered. 'Yeah . . . OK. I guess I could live . . . Anything is better than Mildred.'
"Are you serious?" I inquired breathlessly. He nodded. I got that strange hugging sensation again, and I pulled Nephiro into a hug. "I'm free!"
"Err . . . super? Could ya let me go now before I kill you? Yeah. Thanks." I let go and smiled. Even though Lupin scares me in a non-scary way, it's way better than the living with that rotten, abusive wretch. Free! Freefreefree! Lupin was staring down at desk.
"Harry is coming . . ." he told us, not sounding too thrilled. We gave him our "We're sorry" faces and sat down on one of the desks.
Harry walked into the room, seeming confused. He asked the same questions we did, and then some. I, on the other hand, managed to get Miketsu to play patty-cake with me. Ya know, to entertain us while Potty-boy was present. It was mildly amusing. I didn't pay any attention to him, so when Nephiro started talking again, I was surprised.
"Did Potty-boy leave?" I asked.
"Yes, the stupid twit. At least we have proof," she muttered angrily. I raised an eyebrow. 'What is she talking about?' "We have proof . . . We have proof!!!"
"What are you talking about" I demanded.
"The omninoculars! I used them when I was out last night! It won't have everything, but it should show Pettigrew!" she explained, nearly bouncing with excitement.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Go get them!" I ordered, and surprisingly she listened. Nephiro left me alone with my new guardian.
"So . . . I live in a flat in the Czech Republic. Prague to be exact," he informed me, watching a bird fly past the window.
"Why Prague?"
"Why not?" he answered. There was a moment of silence until he continued. "You'll be riding the Hogwarts Express back to London, I'll pick you up there." Lupin closed his last suitcase. I glanced around the nearly empty room. It was depressing.
"I should be going . . ." he murmured, just as Nephiro burst back in.
"I found them!" she exclaimed, placing what might have been my omninoculars on a desk.
"Uh . . . Nephiro, parts of them are . . . missing. And there are bite marks on them. Why are there bite marks on my omninoculars?" I asked, trying to stay calm.
"How else was I supposed to carry them?" she responded.
"Gee, I don't know. With your HANDS!!!" I cracked.HANHANjfhsfjkh
"Err . . . well . . ." She looked uncomfortable and placed a hand behind her head. A look of understanding seized Lupin's face, but I didn't bother to think about it. 'Today sucks.' "That was how I was carrying them until, err, I dropped them and your dad took them. Weird stuff happened. I'll get them fixed for you. Promise." She sounded almost nervous.
"It doesn't matter Miketsu! That'd wipe outall the saved stuff." She stayed quiet. I sat down again and started to bang my head against the table. "Why –does –every –thing –we –do –get –screwed –up!?!?" I yelled in between bangs. I wanted to rip someone's head off.
"Calm down Emi!" Lupin said, trying to stop me from damaging my head further.
"Noo! Today has sucked! And the last hope of proof is broken. Everything we have done has led up to this and it's been pointless!!!" Nephiro covered my mouth.
"Quiet, you'll wake up all of China," she whispered and released me; I continued ranting as if she had never spoken.
"I mean, how would you feel? Huh? What if you worked you ass off all year long to teach students and they all failed the exam? Wouldn't you be a WEE BIT PISSED!?" Nephiro ushered me out of the classroom.
"Bye Professor, see you in London."
A/N: Nephiro is tres cool. Love her... on second thought... don't.