Chapter 4 A whole new light
Nymphadora, waited as patiently as a five year old could wait. She dreaded this, the waiting. Five years have no patience but it still dinner came sooner then she would have liked. Molly, the head chief, came in the dining hall with two bowls of steaming beef stew and dinner rolls. She laid the food on the table and looked around the room for the second person, that was suppose to be there.
"Dear, where is the new tutor?" A worried expression forming on her brow.
'I don't know, nor do I care!' was the answer she wanted to give but she settled for,
"I haven't seen him since the carriage left. Maybe he is busy unpacking." I can only hope, she added silently in her head.
But her prayers were never answered for the next moment, who entered but the subject of their discussion.
"Sorry, I got a bit lost. I apologize." He said with a small bow and presided to walk over and take a sit at the table. As he sat down, Molly excused herself. Oh, why hadn't she stayed?
Nymphadora couldn't even look at him. She just stared at her stew, wishing to disappear. Being very hunger though, that only lasted for a moment and she picked up her spoon and began to eat. It was delicious…as always.
They ate in with no words being exchanged, small slurps only breaking the silence rarely. As you all well know it is very hard for a little girl to stay quiet for long. So against her better judgment Nymphadora broke the silence.
"I hope you know, I don't like you in the least and am going to make sure you leave…soon." and with a last minute thought added, "Whether you like it or not."
Nymphadora looked directly into his eyes as she spoke, hoping to prove her point. He didn't seem fazed by what she said but he did slowly but down his spoon. Nymphadora waited for a explosion, one always followed after she made comments like that to her new guardians. She was told what a naughty girl she was and sent to bed with no dessert but it was worth it.
"What had I done to make you dislike me?"
It was a fair enough question, so it deserved a answer.
"You made my mother and father go away and I dislike anyone who does that."
"I think it would be lovely if your parents would have stayed. They seemed nice and I know they would rather be here, then at the castle. I didn't make them leave and I am sorry that you feel so. I only hope that the two of us can be friends."
Friends.
The word seemed to linger in the air, no one had wanted to be her friend before. Maybe he was lying so that she would obey him faster, but something about him made Nymphadora trust what he said. He seemed a lot different then people that had come before him. Maybe it was his age or the way he looked so sincerely at her, like he really meant what he said. Nymphadora Tonks decided that she was going to give him a chance. It might be a mistake but children can change there options very fast. Nymphadora gave him a genuine smile. He gave her one back.
"What's your name again?"
"Remus Lupin"
"Can I call you Lupin? I never liked using the word 'professor' or 'tutor'. If we are going to be friends, no titles. Just call me Nymphadora. I like you now. I'm going to give you a chance. Only one though, so you better watch your step, Lupin." She gave him another smile and started to rip her roll and stick the small chucks in her stew. She was satisfied with her speech, having hopeful conveyed how serious she was about him only getting one chance.
"Well, Nymphadora I am glad to hear that we are friends now. I never liked being disliked. May I ask you what teaching you have had so far."
"Well," Nymphadora said in between sipping her stew, "I can't read at all and I know some history. None of my tutors stayed long enough to really teach me anything and what they did teach me I tried to forget."
"While we are going to have to change that won't we?"
"I guess…"
"Is there something you want to start with first?"
Nymphadora's mind wondered to the book under her pillow.
"I want to read."
"Seems like a reasonable place to start. Anything else?"
"Umm, I really don't know. Maybe talk about far away countries or…can you teach me how to dance?"
"No dancing yet. I can teach you about the world, some geography would be good then. Just start you off with the basics I think but first you need to learn how to read."
"Ok, but don't make it boring. I hate boring stuff, I fall asleep."
Nymphadora watched as Lupin let out a small laugh. She got her first good look at him while he did. Shaggy brown hair that semi covered his light gray eyes. He had a scar over his left eye and another scar one below it. Why hadn't see noticed that before? He looked like every other ten year old but Lupin seemed to have a tired look about him. Nymphadora had no idea why though, it was probably just the carriage ride there.
Then Nymphadora remembered what her father had said.
"Why were you raised at the Imperial Court? Where are your mom and dad?"
The next moment after asking, Nymphadora wished she hadn't. Lupin got a sad look on his face. It broke her heart. She hadn't meant to hurt her new friend's feelings, now he wasn't going to like her.
"My parents left me there when I was three or so. I don't really remember them."
That was all he said and that was all she wanted to hear. Sure her parents left her for months at a time with strangers but they had never just abandoned her. Nymphadora felt a new kinship with the boy sitting across from her at the table. Nymphadora was seeing him in a whole new light and she rather liked it.
OWARI
Hope I didn't disappoint. I think I have been writing too much my eyes are starting to give me double vision, why can't I ever find my glasses when I need them? Till next time!