CHAPTER SIX Timely Distractions

Ophelia Lupin sat across from Jamie Crewe, one of the most handsome boys she had ever seen, in one of the most elegant restaurants she had ever set foot in, and all she could think about was school.

However, unlike most other students in August who were facing the prospect of returning to school, she was actually looking forward to going back.

She had spent the afternoon shopping with Becca, letting her pick out a more sophisticated wardrobe for her.

Ophelia sipped her wine, after Jamie had convinced the maitre'd that she was of age.

"How was Talia?" he asked politely. "I heard she was pretty smashed last night."

"I don't know what has a hold of her." she shrugged. "Not to be rude; but before we met Ian, she had never touched a drink. And now..."

"I wouldn't think on it. That's how some people are the first while. I'm sure it will pass." he answered confidently. "Besides, how many hangovers can one person endure?"

"What time is your train to Scotland?"

"Five fifteen in the morning." he said. "And yours?"

"Oh, well, we leave for London the day after next." she replied, nervously tugging at her black shirt. "Are you nervous about starting term at college?"

Jamie forced a smile. "Nah. At least I'm trying not to think about it. I have a few mates that are going, so that should make it a bit easier."

"Yes, that usually does."

After a brief silence, Jamie cleared his throat.

"I've never asked the name of your school."

Ophelia paled. "Er... it's not important, I doubt you would have heard of it before now." glancing at her watch, she realised it was about time for them to leave.

Jamie payed the cheque and walked Ophelia to the door.

"Becca has your address and everything?"

She nodded. "Yes, and yours as well I suppose?"

"Yep." he said simply.

"Well, good night then." Ophelia smiled, ducking into the house.

She dropped her things onto the hallway table and walked aimlessly through the halls. "Rem?" she called.

Wandering into the kitchen, she helped herself to a pomegranate.

"I don't know how to make her understand that this is serious. She doesn't seem to care at all."

Ophelia put down the fruit and walked towards the hushed voices, which seemed to be coming from her father's study.

"She just hasn't grasped the magnitude of it all. She would rather spend time with those Muggles than learn how to master her talents."

The voices were talking about her, Ophelia was sure about it. They were becoming louder and more persistent. She threw open the door to the study, Noah and Helena sitting beside one another, deep in discussion. They looked up at once, realising they had been caught.

"You were.. talking about me just now, weren't you?" Ophelia demanded.

"Your mother and I are concerned that you're taking this... Seeing matter rather lightly." explained Noah.

"Excuse me?" she replied, her eyes brimming with tears. She could feel years of repressed anger boiling to the surface. "You think I'm taking this lightly?"

"It's just that you have been spending your time with Muggles." Helena repeated.

"I've... been trying to get my mind off the fact that I'm a freak by hanging out with people who don't even know our world even exists."

"You're not a frea--"

"You don't think I've heard of Seers before this summer? They're frauds!" cried Ophelia, her voice getting louder. "They're laughingstocks! No wizard in his right mind would take one seriously! You think I'm going to change that?"

Noah tried reasoning with his daughter, "If you would only learn to control it then it would be of some use to you."

Remus stepped cautiously into the room. "I heard yelling..." he looked to his sister for some explanation. "Is everything alright?"

"No one's yelling, Rem--"

"I am yelling, Helena!" Ophelia hissed, as Remus took her hand. "Did you expect me to just start taking direction from the two of you after not answering to anyone for the past eight years? You finished with me... with both of us, long ago. You've moved on and so have we! We...we humoured you by coming back and pretending that everything was perfect, that we were this perfect pure-blood family. But we're not, and I don't think we ever were!"

"There are things that even now you cannot understand." said Helena, rather calmly. "But we have had reasons for acting like we have. Someday, hopefully, you'll be able to understand them."

"I don't even care anymore. Whatever your reason was... I just don't care."

Ophelia turned on her heel and left the study, with Remus trailing slightly behind.

Once they were safely in her room, did he venture to ask what had just happened.

"Have you ever had a moment where you wished you were a Black?" she smirked.

"That bad, huh?"

"Let's go." she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We can exchange our train tickets and leave. Please... I can't spend another night here."

Remus nodded and brought her into a hug. "You don't have to convince me; my trunk's already packed."

"So is mine. Let's go get Tal."

He shook his head. "She's out with Ian and Becca."

Ophelia thought for a moment, then stood up. "She won't mind being here an extra day, I'll leave her a note. But I have to leave. Now."

She squished the clothes that now littered her floor into the trunk, along with her new school things. She then coaxed Bel into her wicker basket and sent Gwahir to stay with James.

No more than ten minutes after the match had ended, Remus and Ophelia were in a taxicab, Noah and Helena still believing they were steaming upstairs.

As fate would have it, they were able to board a Sleeper bound for London, and fell fast asleep upon crawling into their bunks.

Ophelia awoke to the unfamiliar jostle of the train, and soon remembered the events of the early morning. She shuffled to the dining car and ordered some dry toast- the most appealing thing on the menu - for Remus, as she wasn't feeling very hungry.

When she returned, her brother was sitting up, wrapped in a thick navy sweater. He eyed the toast with a laugh.

"That's my reward for running away with you?"

She set the plate down in front of him. "It was that or bran cereal. I don't rightly know what that is, but it didn't sound very appealing."

Remus quickly polished away the toast and collapsed back onto the bed. "Er.. what exactly are we going to do when we get to London? The Hogwarts Express doesn't leave until the day after next."

Ophelia bit her lip. "Well, you see I hadn't really thought about that..."

"We could stay with James." he suggested.

She couldn't understand why, but for some reason or another, she didn't want to see her friends just yet. "You could. I think I'll go stay at the Leaky Cauldron, or something."

"No, I'm not leaving you alone. We'll both stay at the Leaky Cauldron."

But when they arrived at King's Cross a few hours later, they were pleasantly surprised to find their Uncle Adolphus waiting for them.

"Uncle Dolph!" cried Ophelia, running over and tackling him in a hug.

"There's my favourite nephew and niece!" he laughed, his booming voice frightening several passerby. "You gave quite a scare to my little brother! Congratulations."

"How did you know we would be here?" asked Remus, as Adolphus led them out of the station and to a secluded area of shrubs. "Did you use a Seeking spell?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Give me more credit than that. I've spent enough time around you both to know how you think."

"Are you taking us to your house?" grinned Ophelia.

"I am." he replied, withdrawing a soup can from within his robes. "And I will bring you back here in two day's time."

The three wizards placed a hand on the Portkey and were immediately transported to his home in the heart of the city.

"Did they tell you why we left?" she asked, as they were gathered around the dining room table for a proper meal.

"I've known for quite some time that you were a Seer, if that's what you're implying." Adolphus smirked. "I don't think they went about it in the right way, as they usually do."

"How would you have handled it?"

"Differently."

"And that is why I'd rather you were our father." said Remus.

"Well," he began, "We have two days at our disposal before I have to drop you off at King's Cross, what would you like to do?"

"Visit James."

Ophelia looked over to her brother who then started blushing like mad. "Remus, you don't have to stay with me. I'm with Dolph, I'll be fine."

"Just come with me. I know they miss you as much as much as me." he answered.

"Of course they do, probably more." she giggled. "Only I'm not sure if I'm ready to.. face them."

Remus nodded. "Alright, well if you're sure you won't mind.."

"Yes, go."

He soon after left the room, leaving Adolphus and Ophelia sitting across from each other.

"Alright," he smiled. "Let me have it."

She sighed. "Why did I start having premonitions right after they told me I was a Seer? Was it just timing?"

Adolphus leaned his chair back onto two legs, figuring out how exactly to word his response. "I believe that once you were aware of your.. abilities, you mind was more open to such things as premonitions. Has your telepathy increased as well?" She nodded in reply. "Then that is your answer."

"If I really worked at it, how long before I can control it?"

"I can't say for sure." he shrugged. "A few months, years."

She nodded. "Right."

Adolphus stood up and stretched. "I'm going for a nap." He kissed his niece's forehead. "We'll talk tomorrow."

"'Night Uncle Dolph. Thank you."

Once he left, Ophelia milled about the house for a bit before cracking her Standard Book of Spells: Grade Five.

When Remus returned in the early hours of the morning, he found his sister sleeping in the den, her book resting on her chest. She had already gotten more than halfway through, he saw, as he threw her over his shoulder and carried her to the guest room.