Changing Forms

Chapter 8 -

Surprises in the Garden

Nymphadora had since cheered up, only a little. Just enough to make people think that nothing was wrong. Clumsy she might have been, though she was a great actress. She'd spent her evenings gardening, reading, and catching up with her friends—whenever she could. Most of her time was devoted to being an Auror and also a very involved member of the Order of the Phoenix. She was surprised, however, to find that she had not run into Remus since she left his house that night about two weeks ago. She chose to think of this as purely coincidental. Remus didn't seem to be the type to avoid someone for a childish reason. But the thing was, it wasn't childish. On the contrary, it was a very adult issue. Nymphadora had found herself almost falling in love with someone for the first time, only to have her heart shattered.

She wasn't about to give up, but at the same time, wasn't about to go sprout sonnets to Remus. She minded her own business. She thought of what she'd do, what she'd say, how she'd act when she finally ran into Remus. She thought maybe she'd act like nothing happened. But of course, Remus being himself, would probably have a talk with her. She thought about the silent treatment, only speaking to him in small phrases like "yes" and "no". Part of her wanted to walk straight up to him and give him a nice slapping. And another wanted to just look him in the eyes with a pained look and walk away in the hopes that maybe it would make him feel a little guilt. She knew he felt something that night. It was obvious; the way a few tears silently fell down his face, the way he was so gentle with her, his attention to the smallest details, how his breath matched hers, his smiles at awkward moments. It was so beautiful that night, learning the way both of their bodies functioned. Of course they knew, but each has their own touch.

On one particular Sunday morning, Nymphadora was busy pulling weeds, throwing gnomes and planting flowers for the next season when she was surprised. She heard someone talking to her, and what she heard wasn't exactly nice.

"Hey, mind not throwing the grub?"

Nymphadora sat up on her knees and looked around. "What…?"

And out of the corner of her eye, she saw a giant ferret coming out of a holly bush. He had a very disgruntled look on his face. "You heard me, you're ruinin' the pickin's!"

Nymphadora smiled. She had a Jarvey in her garden! She'd always wanted one. She thought they were cute, even though they did shout obscenities at you. "I'll stop throwing the gnomes, if that's what you're wanting me to do."

"Bloody right," the Jarvey said, and slinked off to chase a gnome that had gained his bearings.

"Wotcher, what a cute blighter," she said, slightly giggling.

"Good to hear you laughing," a voice came from behind her. Nymphadora turned around, hair pulled up, falling in all different places. She wiped away a bit of sweat with her gardening gloves.

"Remus…" she said, a sinking feeling in her stomach. Blimey, what do I say? "Wotcher, it's a surprise, you being here…" She stood, slightly nervous and walked over to him, tripping over a rock. She stumbled, but caught herself in time, saving herself from less than total embarrassment. "Got to get my bearings I guess."

They exchanged a look for a brief moment, neither of them speaking. Remus took it upon himself to be the one to break the silence. "I have a message from Dumbledore," he said, handing her a letter.

"Why not by owl?" she said, suddenly realizing the rudeness in her question. "Oh, I'm sorry, I mean… Is it that important?"

"I wouldn't know." He said. "You can be the one to tell me after you read it."

Nymphadora snapped out of it and took off her gardening gloves and put them under her arm.

Nymphadora,

As you may well know, Harry's 6th year in school is drawing closer. And as the threat of Voldemort is drawing more and more dangerous, I feel the need to place you onornear to the school grounds. I will mostly likely place you, if you are willing, in Hogsmeade, on the second floor of the Three Broomsticks with Madame Rosmerta. She has very kindly agreed to let out a room to you.

Please send your word as soon as possible with Remus, who I have entrusted this letter to. If you agree to this task, I look forward to seeing you and expect you to be present in Hogsmeade the first day of the new term.

PS – I have cleared this with Rufus Scrimgeour, and he will recognize this act as a Ministry assignment.

Nymphadora looked up at Remus. "Ah, he's asked me to live atop the Three Broomsticks for Harry's 6th year in Hogwarts."

Remus looked sideways at a Jarvey playing with a gnome before the inevitable killing. "Understandable. And this has been approved by Srimgeour?"

"It says it has," she said, holding up the letter. "I'm to send my answer with you. I'll just come inside to write up my reply." She stepped onto her porch and awkwardly turned back to Remus. "Come inside," she said. She realized that Remus had not been inside her house for a very long time, and then again realized that soon she would not be able to return to her house. Well, there goes my gardening…

She walked to a desk near the fireplace and took a small piece of parchment and wrote out a simple answer with her Fwooper quill, a present to her from her mother. She sealed it and turned to Remus, handing it to him quickly, avoiding his eyes and touch.

"Well, I…" Nymphadora said at length.

"I'd better go, I guess," Remus said, brandishing the letter. He hesitated for a moment, looking on Nymphadora's face. He longed to drop the letter, wrap his arms around her and make her pain go away. The pain he could see in her overworked eyes, her frizzy hair—which he noticed had not changed since the morning she left his house.

He tightened his mouth in a sort of smile and disapparated out of her house, leaving her standing in her house. Nymphadora was left in her large, inherited house, looking at all the precious things on the wall. The ticking of strange clocks, the slight humming of her dwarfed, purple Puffskien (compliments of Fred and George Weasley). She had a beautiful house. But she knew she'd have to lock it up with charms, leave it for a while. She'd been alone in that large house for quite some time. She had only been a functioning adult for a short while, but it seemed like an eternity.

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Thanks again for the comments guys! I'll try to dish out some more updates to make up for the lack thereof. WeasleyWife, you continue to humble me! I think our reading each others stories like this is quite fun!