In-Laws and The Gargoyle
Chapter 44
Saturday, May 24
A faint pop heard in the quiet streets of a little town somewhere on the outskirts of Hampshire preceded a lone man, who walked up the road in the late afternoon, dressed casually in Muggle clothes.
He put his hands in his pockets, trying to tamp down the anxiety that welled inside him. He was going to visit Dora's parents after all.
He felt annoyed with himself for feeling nervous. It was only a simple tea that Andromeda had invited him to through Tonks.
He walked up the driveway of the small, vaguely familiar cottage and knocked twice before he stood back, waiting.
A couple of seconds passed and he tapped his feet unconsciously before he noticed his own behaviour and stopped himself.
It wasn't like they were going to be his in-laws.
The door clamoured open and a woman in her mid-forties stood on the other side. Her soft, light-brown hair was pulled into a bun and she was wearing a flowery apron over her purple robes.
The corners of her eyes crinkled in happiness as she smiled in greeting, "Sirius!"
Sirius hastily remembered his manners and leaned forward to kiss his cousin's cheek. "It's good to see you, Andy."
Andromeda was beaming as she pulled him into a proper hug. "You look better than I expected. Come in, Ted's here too."
Sirius found himself ushered into the drawing room that looked quite different from the last time he had been here. A set of chintz sofas surrounded the empty fireplace and a pot of aspidistra stood next to a delicate table on the side which led to a hallway that Sirius knew connected the dining area beyond.
There were far less wizarding photographs here than in Potter Manor, whose walls were so full of them that Harry and Sirius had had to take some of them down just so they didn't get creeped out at night. Sirius supposed that Andy did not have any pictures of her side of the family (that she would want to remember anyway) and Ted's family were Muggles. Only about a handful on the mantelpiece showed a happy family of three or Dora through the years.
Ted Tonks was sat on the sofa, reading the Quibbler. He stood up on Sirius' arrival and offered his hand to shake.
"Sirius! It's been so long since we met. What was it, twenty years ago?" said the fair-haired, big-bellied man jocularly.
"Seventeen, but I might be mistaken," said Sirius, returning the smile. He had only met the man once before when he had visited Andy just out of Hogwarts and immediately liked him.
"Ah well, time flies when we least expect it," said Ted. "Sit down, sit down. How have you been doing? I must say, freedom suits you a lot better than Azkaban."
"I'm doing quite better than I expected myself," said Sirius truthfully. "I finally have my godson with me and one of my best friends too. I can't complain."
"Harry Potter," said Ted simply, shaking his head. "It has to be quite a responsibility having him as your godson. Can't seem to stay out of the newspapers, that lad. Dora tells me a lot about him."
"They do get along rather well, especially since Dora stayed over at our house for the holidays."
At that moment, Ted asked Andy to get some tea for them and she smirked at Sirius before leaving to the kitchen. Sirius was quite puzzled, but the reason for Andy's amusement became apparent in the next few minutes.
"Ah yes," continued Ted as if there had been no interruption. "Dora says the place is delightful, but she hasn't given us a clue where it is. Always says it's a secret."
"It is," said Sirius simply, carefully avoiding the subject of the Fidelius Charm. It wouldn't do if Sirius told them that he was the Secret Keeper. Even though he trusted Ted and Andy, anybody could use that information.
"Well, I understand the need for secrecy. Your godson attracts a lot of trouble even when he's in Hogwarts and under Albus Dumbledore to boot."
Sirius couldn't have agreed more.
Ted glanced at him furtively. "Has Dora talked to you at all about her uh… engagement?"
"Of course," said Sirius. "Remus is my best mate. I'd have been gutted if I wasn't in the know."
"Your best mate. Right," said Ted, coughing uncomfortably. When Andy came back with a pot of tea and biscuits, Ted hastily looked at Andy with a pointed expression.
Sirius watched back and forth between them when Andy finally sighed. "What's the point in beating around the bush, Ted?"
She removed her apron and sat on the sofa beside her husband, looking up at Sirius. "I'm sure you aren't too surprised why we invited you, Sirius. We needed to have a word with you about our daughter's choice of fiancé."
"Remus?" asked Sirius with a frown. He already had an inkling of an idea on where this conversation was heading. "What about him?"
"He's not exactly what we had in mind when we came to know Dora was seeing someone," said Andromeda. Ted carefully avoided Sirius' eyes.
Sirius successfully kept his annoyance in check. "If this is about Remus not having a steady job—"
"That's not what concerns us, son," interrupted Ted, gently taking hold of his wife's hand. "We wouldn't dream of holding Dora back from loving someone who isn't earning much. 'Dromeda here would never have married me if it were so."
"I wasn't exactly well-off when I told my parents I wanted to marry you either. I was disowned faster than I could say your name," said Andromeda, looking at Ted affectionately. "The point we're trying to make is," continued Andy, turning towards Sirius, "we didn't really expect he would be a werewolf."
"I never took you to be the biased one, Andy," said Sirius, with a flicker of disappointment. "Have you even met Remus?"
"Of course, I have," said Andy unabashedly. "He's nothing short of a gentleman. I wouldn't have even cared that he's quite older than Nymphadora if only he weren't a werewolf. Sirius, is my daughter safe with him?"
The dread was evident in her tone and Sirius tried to reassure her as best as he could.
"Remus always makes sure to stay far away from everyone during the full moons. He would never hurt Dora as a werewolf. I can vouch for that, Andy."
After a moment of hesitation, Andy said, "I will take your word, Sirius."
"That clears everything up then," said Ted cheerfully, clapping his hands together, but when his wife still looked sullen, he became exasperated. "What now?"
"I'm still having reservations," said Andy with disquiet. "For one, how will they support themselves? What would happen if they were to have a child? I've never heard of a werewolf marrying and having children of their own before."
"But that isn't something that I can help you with," said Sirius. "It will be Remus and Dora's decision if they even plan on having children. If it bothers you so, I suggest you discuss this with your daughter, not me."
Andromeda grimaced at the thought while Ted chuckled, "Dora can be very stubborn when she's set her mind on something."
"I blame it on you," grumbled Andromeda but Ted laughed, "Dear, it's entirely from your side of the family."
"You're right on this count, Ted," said an amused Sirius.
"But she never makes a decision without thinking about it properly," said Andromeda, still looking thoughtful and pointedly refraining from joining in their amusement. "She took seven months to decide she was going to go into the Auror program and she's only excelled despite—" Andromeda cut off abruptly but Sirius could clearly hear the unspoken 'despite our expectations.'
"Then you'll have to trust that she knows who she's giving her heart to and accept it," said Ted to Andy, who nodded grudgingly.
"Excellent!" exclaimed Ted, relieved that the discussion was over. He eased into his chair comfortably and turned back to Sirius. "So, what have you been up to, Sirius? It's been almost a year since you were cleared."
"I've been in the Order of course," said Sirius matter-of-factly. "What better place to be than on the front lines of a war?"
"I'm not quite sure most people would agree with that," said Andy. "We'll be lucky if our entire family survives this war, unharmed and whole."
Her voice cracked at the end of the sentence and Sirius looked in alarm as tears pooled in her eyes.
"Dromeda, don't fret. Dora will be fine, we all will," said Ted hastily, putting an arm around her shoulder to comfort her.
"I'm worried for her," said Andy. "Bella won't be so forgiving now that she knows Nymphadora's in the Order."
When Sirius looked quite puzzled, Ted explained to him, "Dromeda's sister had an eye on Dora the last time around when she was only a little girl. Threatened my wife saying that she would kill her if she ever decided to fight back."
Sirius growled in anger, "She said that, did she? That bitch!"
"Is it so wrong I just want my family safe?" said Andy, wiping her tears. "Who cares about the war as long as we're together?"
Sirius gave his cousin a sharp look. "There are kids just out of Hogwarts who've joined the Order too. It's not because they are being forced to. It isn't even because they don't have a family to go back to either. Somebody has to stand up and fight or we risk a life of slavery for us all."
"We could go into hiding," suggested Andy desperately. "We would be safe."
"James and Lily went into hiding thinking they were safe too," said Sirius quietly. "We just aren't anymore."
Ted bowed his head in silence and Andy stared out the window, collecting her thoughts, before she shook her head. "Sometimes, I wish Nymphadora was still a child so that I could ground her if she went out of line. I think she's too rebellious for her own good."
Andy's lips turned upward in a small smirk when she looked up at him. "I don't think even any child of your own, if you ever had one, would be as rebellious as she is."
"I don't know about my own, but Harry is enough of a troublemaker without even trying. He doesn't just toe the line; he jumps right across to the other side," said Sirius, rubbing his hand across his face. "It's a nightmare to think I should be the one advising or reprimanding him when I know full well I'm a hypocrite for even trying to act the responsible godfather."
Ted chuckled good-naturedly, "But that's what being a parent is all about!"
Sirius blinked at his words and Ted laughed. "You think you shouldn't reprimand your godson because you've made the same mistakes when you were his age? That's what makes you the right person for the job."
When Sirius still looked uncomprehending, Andy explained with a smile, "It doesn't make you a hypocrite if you reprimand your godson for the same things you've done when you were younger. It simply means you've grown up and learnt from them enough to know what is right and what is not."
"It still feels like it though," muttered Sirius, wondering why he suddenly felt so relieved.
He spent the next half hour listening to Andy and Ted talk about their trials in raising their Metamorphmagus daughter with a side of parenting lessons for his unsuspecting self.
oOo
Thursday, June 12
Remus walked along the familiar street leading up to Hogwarts, with a slight bounce in his steps that was not visible to the untrained eye. Dumbledore had summoned him again as he had been doing whenever he intended to leave the school for wherever it was that he was going. Remus didn't mind the small favour that he was doing him – he got to be with Dora as an added bonus while they protected the school in his absence.
He strode at a leisurely pace, and in the distance, he could see two figures standing beside the tall iron gates that guarded the school.
When he got closer, he could see Dora properly, looking beautiful as always in black robes tonight. Her hair too was a muted brown to keep from attracting too much attention during their guard duty.
The other Auror, Proudfoot, lit his wand and spoke gruffly, "Who's there?"
"It is I, Remus Lupin," he announced himself and then added, "You look beautiful today, Dora."
Dora grinned and the next moment, she had sprinted into his arms and captured his lips in a kiss.
His heart was pounding as he responded in kind, his hands weaving behind her back without conscious thought.
The loud clearing of a throat made them break apart, but Remus was already feeling hot around his neck. "You know I'm not too fond of kissing in front of others," whispered Remus.
Dora laughed. "I think I've been quite successful in breaking you out of that habit. Besides, we're due to be married! I'm not afraid to show the world how much I love you."
Remus could not possibly imagine a good response to those heart-warming words so he simply smiled.
"You need to ask him the security question, Tonks," interrupted Proudfoot's annoying voice.
Dora grinned up at Remus. "Oh, it's him alright. I'm sure I know my fiancé's kiss better than anyone else."
Proudfoot looked at Remus with poorly hidden distaste – as usual. Remus knew from Dora that he had been fancying her for quite a while. He would have been a decent bloke if only he weren't prejudiced towards Muggleborns. Werewolves were worse in his opinion, but he kept from outright proclamations of his prejudice unlike others, for which Remus was grateful.
It didn't stop him from feeling very protective of Dora though and he gently took hold of her hand. Dora beamed at him approvingly when another figure was visible walking towards them.
It turned out to be Mad-Eye Moody, who was also going to be joining in their watch. After their routine security checks, they spotted a lamplight bobbing along the driveway leading up to the school. The silhouette came closer, revealing the stern face of Minerva McGonagall.
"Good evening, Remus, Nymphadora, Alastor," she said and with a tap of her wand the gates opened, creaking noisily.
"Why don't you go and have something to drink, Proudfoot? I'm sure you would not mind a break," said McGonagall crisply, looking at the man.
Remus knew from experience that this was so that Dumbledore could leave the castle unhindered in the space of those ten minutes before the Auror returned.
Proudfoot seemed relieved by the dismissal and left without a backward glance. He was already aware that Remus and Moody were here for additional protection. The Minister didn't care for Dumbledore's frequent absences anymore. Remus knew this was because of Harry's conversation with Scrimgeour, and the Aurors around Hogwarts were always grateful when they could take a break from guard duty. It was terribly boring, Remus had to admit.
Minerva led them back inside Hogwarts, informing them of their positions for rounds. Mad-Eye was stationed with Professor McGonagall herself on the West side of the castle. Remus and Dora would take the East.
They departed together towards the greenhouses with their wands at the ready.
"Are you okay after our visit with Mum and Dad?" asked Dora, referring to the day they had spent in Andromeda and Ted Tonks' house two nights ago.
"I see no reason to be otherwise," said Remus neutrally.
"That's a load of dragon dung, Remus," said Dora simply. "Mum was out of line when she asked all those unnecessary questions."
"As she's your mother, I wouldn't fault her for her words. They were rather important questions," said Remus.
"I told her not to talk about it, but no," said Dora, dragging out the last word. "She just had to be the typical mother-in-law with you, didn't she? Why does she care if we plan to have children or not?"
"She should," supplied Remus.
"You're not helping your own case, you know," said Dora, rolling her eyes, and Remus chuckled.
"I've told her we don't plan to have children soon, if ever," continued Dora. "What did she expect? You're a werewolf and I'm an Auror. I don't plan on having any and I'm sure you don't want any either."
Oh, how Remus wished he could! But that was one joy of life that Remus had to throw out the window ever since he realized the full effects of being a werewolf.
It pained him to think he would take it away from Dora too, no matter how many times Dora had assured him they didn't need to have children to be a family.
Remus hummed noncommittally before saying, "Are you completely certain about that, Dora? It would get awfully boring, just the two of us."
"I don't see how that could ever be possible," said Dora with an impish grin. "You know, Nicholas Flamel lived to the ripe old age of six hundred and sixty seven along with his wife. If we lived even for a quarter of that, I'm certain we would never be a boring, old couple."
Remus smirked and in a rare moment of boldness, he tugged her clenched hand towards him and she fell into his arms. He kissed her passionately and she kissed him back, pushing him with her hands on his chest backwards and inside the greenhouse. In her eagerness, she knocked over a potted plant that fell to the floor with a loud crash and broke into a million pieces.
The jarring sound in the silent night was enough to bring them back to their senses.
"Uh-oh," said Dora, looking flushed and sporting bright red hair.
Remus grimaced. "We're supposed to be patrolling, remember?"
"Right," said Dora hastily. Remus pulled out his wand and waved, causing the pot to repair itself and they hurried out of the greenhouse to resume watch.
It wasn't the ideal date, but it was still a day spent in each other's company to be considered as one.
oOo
Hestia was on full alert, keeping her eyes peeled on the entrance to The Gargoyle. If she had just seen what she thought she'd seen…
There was a faint pop behind her and she turned towards him, sighing in relief.
Sirius, however, looked cross. "I just left an hour ago. You better have a good reason–"
"There are four Death Eaters inside there," she interrupted urgently, pointing at the old building at the end of the street with its blackened windows.
Sirius' eyes widened as he looked at the building once before turning to her again. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am! There was Travers, Greyback, and two more people along with them."
"Blimey!" exclaimed Sirius. "We have to get inside and fast."
"What?" blurted Hestia, taken aback by his sudden plan. "We can't take on four Death Eaters at once!"
"We're not going to fight them," explained Sirius. "We'll just need to know what they're up to. Oh bollocks, I don't have any Polyjuice on me!"
"I have some," said Hestia. "We'll need to get some Muggles' hair though. But is this really the best thing to do? Going inside?"
"We haven't seen hide or tail of a single Death Eater in this place for months. Whatever they're here for, they're definitely up to something."
Hestia was inclined to agree, but it did not mean she had to feel good about this. She did not fancy being trapped in a building full of Death Eaters. While she had been frozen in her anxiety, Sirius had Disillusioned himself and snuck out of the alleyway.
It was a little more than five minutes later that he appeared again.
Wordlessly, she took out two vials from her pocket and Sirius added the hairs to both of them.
"The one on your left hand is yours," said Sirius, taking the other for himself.
"Yours looks better though," remarked Hestia, eyeing the pale blue solution of his vial. Hers was an olive green and she looked at it with distaste.
"You're welcome to trade if you don't mind being stuck as a bloke for the next hour," said Sirius.
Grimacing, Hestia threw back the vial as did Sirius. A minute later, in their place stood a young man with rather thick eyebrows and a sharp nose and a woman with olive skin and brown hair.
Sirius tugged on her sleeve and started walking out of the alleyway.
"Wait a minute! We need a plan," hissed Hestia in a voice much higher than her own.
Sirius turned back towards her. "We don't need a plan. We'll simply get inside, act like regular customers, and try to hear something that might be useful—"
"And leave before anything worse happens," finished Hestia.
"Exactly! Now, come on!"
Reluctantly, Hestia followed Sirius to the ugly gargoyle standing guard beside the black door. Sirius leaned closer to the gargoyle and whispered the password, "Antra Praedonum?"
The gargoyle blinked once and the door creaked open slowly of its own accord, revealing a narrow, dark corridor at the end of which was another door. The muffled sounds of people chattering amplified when Sirius pushed the door open.
It was a very old-fashioned tavern with an oak-beamed ceiling and a rough stone floor. There was a large fireplace in one corner that occasionally spouted wizards or witches who came in using the Floo. Though the place was spacious, it was poorly lit with only a few candelabras throwing flickering shadows on the walls, which were adorned with mounted heads of antelopes, hogs, and even a Welsh dragon.
Hestia and Sirius navigated the maze of rickety chairs towards the table near the corner where it was apparent the Death Eaters were seated. It amazed Hestia that no one was giving them a second glance, even though a corner of the wall was dedicated to 'Wanted' posters with their same faces. Clearly, too many people used this place for shady business to care about turning in a Death Eater.
Sirius indicated a table that was just behind the Death Eaters and they slid into it without drawing too much attention.
The barmaid behind the counter was a pale woman who seemed to be in her forties. She had dirty blonde hair and was wearing dark green robes that revealed her ample bosom a little too much to be tasteful. She was serving up a crowd of rowdy warlocks – some were groping her which the woman did not seem to mind at all. In fact, she was enjoying the attention.
Sirius was busy keeping an eye on the Death Eaters, who were drinking and chatting leisurely. Hestia caught a few sentences, but it only seemed that they were joking crudely about someone and nothing remotely like a plan of attack.
The barmaid came up to their table after a couple of minutes. "You seem new 'round here. How did you find my pub?"
"A friend recommended it to us," said Sirius smoothly.
"How charming," the woman trilled, placing a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Paulopabita, the barmaid of this wonderful tavern on this side of Upper Flagley. What can I get you lovebirds?"
Hestia frowned at the woman, but she was oblivious as she had eyes only for Sirius, who asked, "What have you got?"
"Let's see. I have the usual – Campbell's Finest Old Whiskey. A barrel full of Simison's Steaming Stout just delivered today and I also have my very own Fishy Green Ale."
"Isn't there anything without alcohol?" asked Hestia and Paulopabita turned to look at her properly.
"Without alcohol?" she repeated in surprise, trying to contain a snigger. "Why would you come to a pub if you're not drinking?"
Before Hestia could retort, Sirius interrupted, "She didn't want to come here but I insisted. You see, darling, I've heard this place is brilliant. And the barmaid even more so."
The woman giggled, "Alright, handsome. I think I could whip up a Daisyroot Draught for your lady friend just because you asked nicely. And what will you be drinking?"
"I think I'll have a pint of your Ale this evening," said Sirius distractedly looking elsewhere and the woman impossibly blushed. She leaned on the table closer to him, thoroughly catching Sirius off-guard and she whispered, "You might find it tastes better than you expect."
She left with her hips swaying, leaving a completely shocked Sirius staring at her retreating form. Hestia glanced at Sirius with her lips pressed together to keep from laughing out loud. "You walked right into that one."
Sirius shook his head. "Let's not get distracted."
They spent the next few minutes in silence, listening intently to the snippets of conversation from the Death Eaters' table.
"—have information from the Dark Lord that it is tonight," grunted Travers. "We must rally our forces at once."
"Our forces? What forces?" came a hoarse voice that Sirius identified as Gibbon.
Hestia could see Greyback moving his mouth in reply, "I'm hungering for young human flesh. We don't need any more forces—"
"Unless you're having the Dark Mark, you better keep your mouth shut," hissed another voice and Sirius mouthed the word 'Yaxley,' identifying the man.
"The Dark Lord has given us permission to invite the Carrows," said Travers. "And we can rely on Rowle and Selwyn to aid us tonight."
Yaxley leaned closer and was speaking in a very low voice, pointing at Gibbon, but they could not hear what they were speaking in the din surrounding them.
Hestia could see Travers nodding when Paulopabita arrived with their drinks.
"One Daisyroot Draught for you," said the woman shortly, placing the pale, fizzing drink next to Hestia. "And one of my famous Fishy Green Ale for you, love," said the barmaid with a pointed smirk at Sirius before placing the bright green, foaming ale in front of him. She left with a cheeky wink and both Hestia and Sirius stared at the drink.
"You don't think she would drug me or something, do you?" asked Sirius uncertainly.
"Wouldn't put it past that tart," muttered Hestia.
After eyeing the Ale warily for a few more seconds, Sirius took a tentative sip and then a large swig.
"That's the bee's knees, that is!" proclaimed Sirius heartily and before he could take another swig, Hestia had to remind him, "Do try not to get knackered. Death Eaters behind you, remember."
"It isn't that strong," said Sirius, but he nevertheless placed the mug back on the table.
A few moments later, Yaxley and Gibbon got up and walked past them, headed towards the back of the tavern.
Sirius stood up in a move to follow them and Hestia grabbed his hand, hissing, "What are you doing?"
"I'll be back in a moment. You keep an eye on them," said Sirius, jerking his head in the direction of the Death Eaters seated behind him.
Hestia's eyes widened. "Wait a—"
But Sirius quickly left and Hestia wondered what in Merlin's name she was doing here.
Travers and Greyback were drinking and she took the time to look around herself properly, sipping her mild, floral tasting drink. There were lots of people with their hoods up or covering their face in some fashion. Hestia felt oddly exposed sitting there alone. She wished she could have some alcohol to calm her jumpy nerves.
The table in the middle of the tavern was the most crowded and everyone burst into raucous laughter occasionally. There were couples in the shadows with their bodies entwined together, doing things that made Hestia avert her eyes.
Paulopabita was seated on a table around which there were two pale-looking men drinking flagons of… was that blood?
A trickle of fear slid down Hestia's back as she became aware now that they were real vampires, if the way they hungrily stared at Paulopabita with blood dripping down their lips was any clue. Either that woman was immeasurably brave or awfully stupid to not be scared at all. In fact, she seemed to be chatting to them pleasantly.
Hestia's stomach was twisting itself into knots. Perhaps, she should have followed Sirius to the back too. She wanted nothing more than to get out of here.
She gasped when someone else slid into Sirius' vacated chair and her heart quite literally jumped to her throat.
It was Fenrir Greyback.
oOo
A/N: The delightful drinks are actually available in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. If only I could go there one day...
Thank you to evadnekapaneos for beta'ing this chapter and also for the suggestion for the password which means Robber's Den in Latin. Very apt!
