Chapter 2: Childhood
1969-1971
(1969. Christmas Eve.)
In the small dimly lit bedroom, the two children sat in their usual spots. Emily was reading silently on her maroon colored bed, her back against her head rest as she calmly turned a page to her novel. Every once and a while she would give a slight smile or laugh at whatever she was reading, but other than that, she was silent. Remus on the other hand was perched against the window sill seat, his back leaning against the side as he gazed blankly at the back lawn before him. His eyes lazily followed the various figures below, who milled around aimlessly. They appeared to move with little to no destination in mind.
It was Christmas Eve at the Fiddo's. The normally bland landscape of Emily's back lawn had been charmed with various spells to both have a heated dome around the back patio, and multiple gold floating orbs of light to illuminate the area. Snow still softly fell, and yet the cold did not reach those on the ground. Additionally, there were enchanted deer flying about as an equally enchanted Santa dropped wizard Christmas crackers on unsuspecting guests. There were close to 70 people on the property, experiencing lots of social interaction at this festive party, and Emily was quite adamant at not being person number 71.
"Em, I still can't believe your family is so massive. I have like three cousins at most." Remus had to refrain from pressing his face against the window to watch the children below him who were throwing about something they won from the Christmas cracker.
"It's not like I'm particularly close to any of 'em. They're all pricks anyways." Emily off handedly replied, before quickly adding "o'er at least most 'em are."
Laughing quietly Remus smugly looked at Emily before continuing with "O'really? I though that one cousin Penelope was your favorite. Ya know, the one that spilled the whole plat'er of mash and gravy, onto that cute little blue dress you were wearing last Easter?"
"You shut up Remus John." Emily replied warningly, still looking at her novel.
"Perhaps James Potter is your best mate, the one that when you were six he started your hair on fire and you were forced to cut the rest of it at your chin? It took you agesss to grow out your hair. You looked like a boy." Remus was now fully looking at Emily, still smirking, he watched as she looked up from her book to scowl at him.
"Remus, if you really know anything you'd know that-"
Cutting her off quickly, Remus gave a barking laugh and responded with "Yea, yea I know. James is only an old family friend, not a cousin. Is miss grim the solem doing a'right there?"
"What did you just call me?"
"You heard me correctly. What's got you in such a mood? It's Christmas Eve!" Remus put down the book he was holding, and walked across the room to join Emily on her bed.
"I hate them all, and they all hate me. That's it. I don't want to be in the company of those" trailing off for a moment, she finished her sentence with "those absolute pricks." And with a short huff, she turned back to her book, pretending to read, as well as pretending to not notice the questioning stare Remus was giving her.
"That's pretty strong language, with little to no data backin' up your statements." Still not breaking his gaze from her, Remus snatched the book from Emily's hands and placed it behind him. Not even moving, Emily looked up at him with her signature glare.
"What do you suppose I do now? You've taken my book from me and I've just explained why I don' want to go to the party." Crossing her arms, Emily avoided Remus's stare again, as she glared to the ground on her left.
"Your reason was dumb. Your whole family doesn't hate you, and even if they did your dad would just fire 'em all from the ministry 'nyway. There's a lot of people out there who hate us, but the ones downstairs wouldn't likely be here if they truly disliked you. Why don't we go down stairs and at least get some food?" Hopping from the bed, Remus leaned against the end of it, waiting for Emily to move.
Remus quickly added, "most of the people down there don't even know of our illness anyways."
"I suppose. Remus, you make it sound like my Pa is the Prime Minister. He's just head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement." Emily attempted to jokingly use her most posh language as she straightens up and to slid off her bed.
Before moving to the door, Emily heard a soft nock as the door knob jingled violently.
"Emmy, can I come in pleaseeeeee?" Behind the closed-door Emily's seven year old sister whined, her voice reaching shrill octaves that only a seven year old could master.
Giving a sigh of annoyance, Emily quickly crossed the room, and unlocked her door.
"What do ya want Lisa?"
"I wanted to play with yous and Rem."
"It's you and Rem, not yous. And we were just about to go down stairs for some food. How about leading us through the maze mum put up, and eatin' with us?" Emily didn't usually speak to her sister with such a harsh tone, so as she spoke her voice began to soften as she finished her request.
Completely oblivious to her older sisters mood, Lisa nodded enthusiastically responding with a quick 'yea' before turning around and darting down the hallway with Emily and Remus in tow.
When the three had finally found themselves in the dining room that was all set up with food, they glanced hungrily at the table before them. Quickly grabbing a red plate, Emily began to pile various steaks, and other meat dishes onto it. Additionally, she added her favorite vegetables as well, just to keep a healthy balance like her mum always harps on her for.
The hum of voices around her kept their constant drone, as nobody seemed to notice the three picking about the food.
"ya know ze food isn' goin' enywhere." A quiet, song like voice from behind Remus spoke. Turning slowly Remus came face to face with one of Emilys French cousins.
"We know Chloe. How are you today?" Emily asked while walking over to the punch table, with Remus, Lisa and now Chloe in tow.
"Very good. My mother says I musn't speak with you an' your friend. I asked zer why, but ze never gave ze a real answer." Chloe questioned aloud to the two, but continued to look around as she spoke of the nights activities.
Glancing are Remus, Emily's eyebrows rose as she gave him an 'I-told-you-so" look, before walking, and again directing the group to the small hallway across from her kitchen, so that they could all sit on the bench and enjoy their dinners.
"Well I wouldn't have a clue as to why Aunt Clara would tell you that either." Feigning obliviousness, Emily began to hungrily pick at the ham on her plate.
"Well, Emilia, your mummy 'ells us 'ou go to muggle primary school?" playing with the frills on her skirt, Chloe absent mindedly asked questions similar to the one previously stated. Possibly in the way that children do, she seemed rather distracted by the environment. To this, both Remus and Emilia took it with stride by responding with awfully vague answers and quick glances at each other. None of which, Chloe seemed to catch as she rambled on about her very own home schooling.
After all of the children had finished their eating, Lisa had found herself in the company of her other cousins, as she too joined in on the outside festivities. Chloe was discretely carted off by her older brother at some point as well. By now Remus and Emily found themselves alone once again. With no one else paying them much attention, they partook in one of their favorite hobbies; wizard watching.
While their bodies stayed stationed in the hallway that over saw the large living room and kitchen, their eyes trailed from group to group. With as many people as there was, the area didn't appear to be remotely cramped or claustrophobic. Must be magic, or perhaps well-designed home renovations. Every once and a while loud laughs would interrupt the constant monotone hum of voices.
Christmas music played softly from an enchanted record player in the corner. Classics like 'White Christmas' and 'A Witch under the Mistletoe' echoed around the room, as the different melodies sounded just below the voices of the guests.
It was calm, and neither of the two children seemed to mind that they sat less than a few yards from the activities, but were not remotely included.
"Remus I'm going to try to find my grandmum, she's been pretty ill lately and I want to see if she showed up." Suddenly standing, Emily lent a hand to Remus, pulling him to her side.
The two disposed of their dishes before wandering around the various rooms. Eventually they made it to the back patio, which had many tables pushed to the outskirts of the brick ground. With the well-lit area, Emily soon found her granny, seated not too far from the exit of the house.
The woman was incredibly short, her back pushing against the soft chair as she smiled lazily at the teenagers and adults dancing in the middle of the dance floor. Almost not noticing the two children at first, Emily gave a slight cough before tentatively speaking.
"Hello Grandmum. How're you tonight?"
"Oh Emilia! Come into the light, I did not see you!" Exclaiming happily, the older woman gently guided Emily in front of her. Giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, she examined Emily intensely.
"Granny I've missed you" Emily's voice wasn't much more of a whisper, but her granny smiled, pulling Emily closer to her chair.
"I've missed you too Emilia. I was wondering when you would make an appearance tonight. You almost missed out on your Christmas gift." With a twinkling eye, Emily's grandmum produced a small package out of thin air,-well actually it was summoned out of her bag, but magic has a way of appearing even more magical then it already is.
The package was simply covered by the previous weeks daily prophet, and some twine. It's weight and rectangular shape resembled a book. Emily couldn't help but smile as her grandmum gently placed the object in her two hands.
Pausing for only just a moment Emily, fumbled with the knot, her small fingers having trouble to grasp the twine enough. Finally, Emily was able to pull the package to pieces, letting the paper fall to her feet. As her impeccable Sherlock-like skills would have it, there was indeed a book left in her hands. It had a well-designed black and silver cover, with various swirls and highlights encircling the words In Libro de Librius, obviously being something worth many galleons.
For a moment Emily shyly smiled, running her fingers over the carvings on the cover, before slowly opening large book. Emily however gave a small look of confusion as she was faced with aged, blank parchment pages before her.
"Granny is this a journal?" Emily questioned, looking up to the mischievous smile that she had come to know quite well in her childhood.
Without taking a moment pause her grandmum began to speak.
"No Emilia. It's something much more exciting. This is a very special book of mine. It was created by my father himself, quite a few years ago. This singular book contains all the books in the Fiddo library." Ignoring Emily's questioning look, her grandmum closed the book in Emilia's hand and placed her hand on the cover.
"I request the The Tales of Beedle the Bard, property of the Fiddo Library." Before her words had even finished leaving her mouth, the book before the three began to transfigure itself. A familiar hum of magic surrounded the object as the cover both changed shape and color in order to conform to the classic novel.
Allowing Emily and Remus a few moments to look over the book and feel it between their hands, Emily's grandma continued talking.
"This isn't the original book from the library. It is however sort of a directory if you will. If you request a book, and it is of the property of the Fiddo library it will transfigure quickly to what you want. If you close it though it will go back to its original state and have blank pages. Only a true Fiddo can request from the family library." Pausing again to think, Emily's grandmum only had one more comment to make.
"A good trick to this book, is to simply ask for the Fiddo Library Directory, and it should have all of the library's books categorized. Once you come of age and receive a wand, that will make it even easier to find a book that you want. Any questions, love?" Looking excitedly, Emily's grandmum grinned at the sudden expression on Emily's face.
Emily wasn't used to such a thoughtful and valuable gift. Peering at the object in her hands she felt her eyes begin to water as she smiled wistfully at her hands. Looking up slowly, to the kind eyes of her old granny, Emilia gave a full out grin.
"Thank you granny. This means the world to me, and I promise that I'll take good care of this book."
The rest of the night was spent quietly at her grandmums side. Both Remus and Emily took turns looking at all the different kind of novels that Emily could request.
Before they knew it, the hours had flown by in what felt like an instant, and the familiar popping noises of the guests apparating away, began to fill the air with increasing frequency. Emily's eyes became heavier and heavier as she leaned on Remus's shoulder, and before she had even realized it, she had drifted off into the most content sleep that she had had in a long while.
(1970. April 1st.)
Emily was beyond mad. She was fuming at the ears (metaphorically speaking, her magic wasn't that advanced quite yet). In all of her 9 years of living, she had never even imagined the horror that she had just had to go through.
Her hair was electric blue. Not a beautiful baby blue, or a nice turquoise. It was electric blue, in the way that lightning bolts appear in the sky during particularly violent stormy nights. It was ugly, to the point that her stomach churned every time she caught a glimpse of herself in any reflection. Emily took her sopping wet self -she had just showered you see- from the upstairs hallway, to the family finished cellar. The place that she knew her dear friend was hiding.
"Remus JoHN LUPIN!" Her voice continually rose in both volume and frequency as she yelled for her mischievous friend.
As she rounded the corner of the tile floor, her foot landing harshly on the floor of the cellar, below the last step of the stair case, Emily's eyes tightened into small slits.
"I know you're down here." Her voice was dangerously low, and her hands were in fists.
Not even attempting to hide, Remus fell off the couch to her right. Laughing with such a hearty laugh, his hands were on his stomach while he rolled around the floor hysterically. Emily was not humored in the slightest. That was until she noticed Remus's pink painted toe nails.
Slowly the corners of her mouth began to twitch, and she too pointed and gave a short snort at the sight before her.
"I suppose this in only fair. How long is it supposed to last for Remus?" Twirling a patch of hair in her hands she looked at him, anxiously awaiting an answer. Her anger had completely disappeared by now.
"Less than an hour. My mum bought it for me. Don't be ridiculous Emily, you act as if I'd permanently dye your hair for an April first prank."
"I wouldn't put it past ya."
"I'm hurt."
"Your nails will be pink for a week."
"You're the only person I see outside of school, I don't suppose you actually think you've won this year."
"Touché."
And so their April 1st tradition was to continue for many years to come.
(1970. May 16th.)
Today was Emilia's birthday. She was turning 10. Most years she would be bouncing off the walls in childish excitement. And yet, today was one of the worst days of her young life. Of course, not worse than the night she was transformed, today sure did take the cake on most other life events. Her granny had passed on the night before, and Emilia seldom felt as lost as she did in this afternoon alone.
Fiddling with the hem of her black dress she sat many seats behind the other guests at the memorial service she was at. Her toes dangled a few inches from the ground as she slowly swung them back and forth. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and Emily was absolutely not happy with that fact.
It's not that Emilia didn't care for the events that were unfolding before her. She cared so much it hurt deep within her chest… but as death is handled by most, Emilia's mind began to wander as she quickly tuned out both the service and the actual burial of her beloved granny.
It wasn't until she had taken the hands of her parents, and the uncomfortable sucking feeling of apparition had washed over herself before she had truly become present. The smell of her grandmum's manor over took Emily's senses. She smelled lavender perfume and fresh baked snickerdoodles as she always did.
Glancing around the living room that all of the guests had gathered, Emily was cramped into the corner with her mum, dad and sister.
The guests all dressed in black whispered quietly amongst themselves. Their words were lost to the environment before Emily's mind could even register talking.
Completely numb, Emily ignored the glares that she received as person after person exited the study that the Ministry official of the Distribution of the Will, obviously sat.
Hours had passed by quickly, and as the crowds of people began to wane, Emily's father took Lisa home. It wasn't until only a handful of relatives were left that Emily slowly picked up on the surrounding conversations.
"I don't know why that thing is here. Mum couldn't have possibly left the manor and funds to it, or any of those people anyways."
"I'm not sure Bethany. So far the word is that nobody has received anything substantial thus far. Diana got the second property, but that's merely a property on the coast. Nothing really all too amazin' if you ask me."
"Well sisters, consider the fact that we are the closest relatives, that is why our names are almost last. Perhaps we will be the luckiest of the lot and at least get the key to the 'Gotts vault." A third voice tentatively chimed in.
Emily was well aware of what the conversation was about, and whom the conversation was about, but being as observant as always, she only sat silently at her mother's side. Pretending to not hear a stitch of what was being said less than 2 yards from her.
"The Fiddo branch of Michael, Jane, and Emilia, you are summoned to the main study on your right." A voice softly chimed above them, alerting the two remaining Fiddo's to head onward.
Ignoring the blatant glares of her two aunts and their respective pureblood husbands, Emilia and her mum walked with as much dignity as they could muster. Heading past the childish group, they approached the study.
Not a moment later the doors swung open and Emilia's third aunt exited with a huff. Pushing past the two, Emilia and her mum entered the study, the doors closing on the shrill yells that were erupting behind them.
With a soft clicking noise, the sounds from outside of the study room ceased, turning slowly, Emily's mum walked to the chair across from the big wooden desk, with young Emilia in tow.
"Evening Mrs. Fiddo, you two may sit." Gesturing at the two chairs that they were already standing by, he waited for them to situate themselves before continuing.
"To the Fiddo family, I'd like to give me sincerest condolences. Your family member Antionette Fiddo, was beloved to many in the wizarding community, and her life will be greatly celebrated. To continue, I am Mr. Hyde. I assume you know as to why you are here? If not, it would seem that the late Mrs. Fiddo has left you some inheritance, in her passing." For a moment, Mr. Hyde rummaged through a pile of papers, quickly extracting the part of the will that pertained to Jane and Emilia Fiddo.
Clearing his throat he began to speak. "Now I'd assume you'd rather not want this whole roll of parchment read to you, today has been very long I am sure for you, and if you have no objections, might I just read down to the bare bones what you are to receive? You will be given a copy of your part of the will upon leaving."
Straight to the point, the two woman nodded curtly.
"The first thing that is to be left to Mrs. Jane and Mr. Michael Fiddo, is one of the vaults in Gringotts, vault 224. A vault that has one third of your mum's money invested in it, along with some of her family heirlooms." Quickly handing Emily's mother a rather ancient looking key he continued.
"In addition, the very same type of vault with the other two thirds of Antionette Fiddo's money and family heirlooms is to be left to Emilia Fiddo. In accordance to the underaged galleon laws, you will no have access to this vault until after your 11th birthday. Both the key and your wand is required to enter said vault." Again, handing an even more antient looking key to Emilia's mother, the two looked absolutely gobsmacked by the items they were receiving. With their hearts in their throats, they didn't expect much more, yet more inheritance continued to come.
Giving a short cough yet again, the man continued. "Emilia, your grandmother has expressed in vast detail, that you would be receiving this small family chest, inside you will find that every possible book that you might want to read. This is a collection that has been passed down from the Fiddo blood line, for many years." In that moment Emilia became increasingly aware that her grandmum had left the most important give she could give in her after life. It was the family library that her Christmas gift was connected too. Smiling a small solemn smile, she took the small chest from the man before her. It was almost weightless as she held it to her very own chest, close to her beating heart.
Again, the two-woman thought this was the last thing that would be left to them.
Adding on to his previous statement the man quickly spoke yet again. "You do not need a key for this trunk, it only opens for those it has been passed down to. Only you it will open for." He quickly added on, stopping her from playing with the box. She instead let it rest on her lap, while she waited for the man to finish.
"Again, to Emilia Fiddo, your grandmother has left you two last things. These white gloves, and this mirror. Though neither of them possess any magical abilities, your grandmother has expressed that she intended for these to be handed to you."
For what seemed like almost the millionth time, she was surprised to be left with these two objects that held so much sentimental meanings to herself. She remembered quite fondly as a child, dressing in these rather posh outfits, consisting of a dress, sizes bigger than her, a fake crown, and those white gloves. Her grandmum and her, well really Emily, would pretend to be the queen of England, while her grandmum would go along with this small game. Losing herself in her memories, she wasn't aware that the man had continued to talk.
"... However, since the mirror is technically a family heirloom from the Kass family, one that has an old bloodline also, these gloves and hand mirror, have been put away into your vault. Additionally, the property has been left in the name of your family branch. Various paperwork will proceed this day, in order to switch the names over. Now that I have talked to each Fiddo in turn that will receive any inheritance. I believe it is time for me to take my leave. Oh one last thing, Harry Birthday and Good night, Miss. Emilia Fiddo."
"Goodnight Mr. Hyde" The mother and daughter both whispered in unison. Completely lost by the absolute fortune they had just received.
That night, when Emilia's mother had apparated her home, it was quite the surprise when she found a kitten sitting on her bed in a basket. A pink bow was tied above it, on the handle. Emily had quickly run to her parent's rooms, thanking them multiple time, then showing Lisa the kitten. Before drifting off into a fitful sleep, Emily thought of how her birthday might of not of started off the greatest, but it ended slightly better than she would have imagined at the beginning of the day.
A/N: There is more to follow on Remus's and Emilia's childhood before Hogwarts. Approximately one more chapters worth, of about the similar length. I hope you enjoyed. I continually edit when I re read so if you find notable mistakes go ahead and inform me of them. I do most of my writing late at night for whatever reason anyways.