I don't own Harry Potter.
##
Ch. 20: A Little Something...
##
"Remus..."
"Oh...five more minutes, Aya," Remus groaned. "Please?"
"Excuse me? Remus, get up."
The voice was definitely not Aya's.
Remus' eyes shot open in a flash. Uh, oh...
"Uh...Mum, I can explain," he stuttered, sitting up.
"Sure, you can," Liz hissed. She grabbed him by the ear and half-dragged, half-marched him out of the room.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow! Mum, not the ear! Wait, not the face, either! Owch!"
Aya twiddled her thumbs in embarrassment as she sat on the edge of the bed. "I told him we were bound to get in trouble," she muttered, then stood up to get ready.
##
"Come on, Liz, flooing is loads faster than the car," Isaac argued from where he stood by the fireplace. Liz stamped her foot.
"I am not flooing, and that's final!" she cried, throwing up her hands.
"Alright, then no ham, and no you-know-what-for-you-know-who," Isaac sang.
Liz sighed. "You're all so cruel. First my youngest embarrasses me, then my eldest disobeys me, and now my own husband betrays me!"
"Oh, come off it, Mum, you'll be fine," Remus reasoned.
"No punished son of mine better be siding with his father," Liz hissed. Remus quickly resumed his silence as Aya bit back a laugh.
"Have you ever done this before?" Thomas asked Aya. "Flooing, that is."
"Um...once," she answered with a grimace. She had to be rushed to the hospital that night, and she had barely been conscious to really understand what was going on, not that she had cared. Aya shivered involuntarily...she had wanted to die that night.
"Okay, so, everyone ready?" Isaac asked, ignoring his wife's protest. "Alright, then, Liz, you can go first."
"What? Why?"
"So you won't run away, of course," he answered with a smile. Then, gingerly taking her by the arm, he led, or, more exact, dragged her into the fireplace and crammed the Floo Powder into her unwilling palm. "Just close your eyes, alright dear? Now, don't cry, you'll be fine."
"I hate you," Liz sniffed as she turned her hand. "Diagon Alley!"
She screamed as the green flames enveloped her in a flash. Then, she was gone. Aya's eyes widened.
"Um...I think...I think I would...rather stay right here, if you don't mind," she said hoarsely.
"Come on, Aya, you can do it. Here, you can go next," Remus said as he led her by the hand.
"No, no, I'm fine right here! Remus, let go! Remus, please let go!" Aya cried. "I only did this once, and I was little, but I don't think I really liked it, so if you don't mind, I want to stay!"
"Sorry, Aya, but you're going," Remus replied as he placed the Floo Powder in her hand. "Just say 'Diagon Alley' loud and clear and you'll be fine."
Aya bit her lip, but did as she was told, closing her eyes tight against the roar of the flames. It would be horrible if someone new to this got lost somewhere they didn't know.
##
"You owe me big time for that!" Liz was yelling at her husband as the five of them walked down Diagon Alley together. "I nearly died!"
"Now, now, Liz, be reasonable! Ow! Do you have to hit me like that?" Isaac retorted, massaging his arm.
Remus sighed, then wrapped his arms around Aya's waist. "So, where do you wanna go?" he asked cheerily. "And did I tell you I'm really glad you're still using Lily's shoes?"
"For the last time, Remus, yes," Aya said with a laugh, then kissed him on the cheek. "Oh, I should go to Gringott's first...I need to make a withdrawal."
"I'll come with you, then," Remus said, eyeing his parents. "Mum, Dad, we're going to Gringott's."
"Don't get lost, dear. We'll be around," Liz called, then resumed her yelling at Isaac.
##
"What do you want?" the rather foul-tempered little goblin asked as he leaned over the table. He licked his lips and glared at Remus and Aya, daring them to exist. "Come on, I haven't got all day."
"Um...may I make a withdrawal?" Aya asked.
"It's a bank, isn't it? What name?" the goblin answered gruffly.
"For Centaria, if you please," she replied sweetly.
"Centaria, is it? Just got a deposit from your former guardian," the goblin said with a cold laugh. "I guess I'll have to get an assistant for you, then. Wait here."
##
"Holy crap!" Remus yelled as they exited the bank. He was waving his arms around. "You're loaded? And you don't even have any shoes?"
Embarrassed, Aya tried to still the rather wonderful clink of coins in her pocket. "Oh, please don't say that.... and it's a rather long story."
"But...but...but..."
"Okay, long story short, Umbridge was my guardian, but she did it...rather...illegally, so she was kind enough to let me...um...chat with her about it, so now my parent's will is restored and I get my inheritance as was promised, and Dumbledore's my new guardian," she answered breathlessly.
Remus' jaw dropped. "Okay...and...this makes sense...how? What, did your parents, like, have awesome jobs, or were famous or something?"
"Something along those lines...now, then, I need to buy your family some gifts. Any suggestions?" she asked. "Remus, hey! Focus!"
##
"I hope your mum will like that china teapot," Aya whispered as she made her way out of the store.
"Oh, yeah, definitely," Remus replied with a grin. "It's great, because I got her a nice china set, but I accidentally broke the teapot, so this is great!"
"And that poetry book that gives you suggestions seems a bit fun for your dad, too," Aya replied with a giggle. "I can't believe you got me to get that. And don't ever offer to pay for half of these presents again! These are my gifts for your family, silly!"
"I know, I know," Remus said with a sigh. "Well, can we at least get you some warm clothes now?"
"Not until I get Thomas something," Aya replied with a laugh. Remus sighed, but obeyed. "Remus! Look at that dragon in the window of that shop!"
"Is...is that real?" Remus breathed as he made his way towards the window. "That thing is moving."
"No, it's a toy, silly. Oh, and it's the size of a little puppy! This is perfect! Come on, Remus, I want to get it for Thomas!" Aya pleaded.
"That thing? In the house? Or more importantly, in my brother's hands? Are you insane?"
Aya stuck out her lower lip. "Please, Remus? It's perfect! Please?"
Remus sighed. "Alright."
"Yay!" she cried, and sprinted into the store. Remus waited a while before he entered into the large crowd of panicked shoppers. The shop was stuffy and hot as Remus pushed his way through the crowd to find his black-haired girl leaning against the front desk as the store clerk, his eyes red from lack of sleep, carried out her purchase.
"That'll be fifteen galleons, miss," the clerk yelled over the din.
Aya rummaged through her pocket and drew out a handful of money and placed it on the counter. As she sorted through it, something blue sparkled, catching Remus' eye. Quickly, but carefully, he reached for it and drew it close to his face.
"Wow," he breathed.
It was a sparkling blue, circular gem with a gold back, which was then supported by a silver chain that was broken just before the clasp. The entire necklace sparkled with its own light.
"Is this yours?" he whispered in her ear as he returned it to her.
Blushing, she placed it back in her pocket and didn't answer. Instead, she finished her purchase, accepted the bag, even as the stuffed dragon poked its head out, and motioned for Remus to follow her out of the store.
"Is it yours?" he asked again once they were outside. He kicked at the snow.
She blushed again and nodded. "It was my mother's..."
"It's broken...the chain, that is," he pointed out.
"I know...I must've broken it sometime ago," she said with a shrug. "I need to hide these from you family."
"Just put it all in one bag and I'll tell them we got you some warmer clothes, which we're doing right now, correct?"
She sighed. "What do you want for Christmas?"
"You," he replied, kissing her.
##
"That was quite fun!" Isaac said as he led his shaking wife carefully to the couch. "Oh, it wasn't that bad the second time, was it, Liz? Flooing is fun!"
"Easy...for...you...to...say..." she replied shakily as she set her purchases down and surrendered to the comforts of the couch.
"Aya's bag moved again!" Thomas yelled, pointing at Aya's bag. "I wanna see what it is!"
"Aya, come on, before he sees!" Remus cried, grabbing the poor girl by the hand and racing off down to the guest room.
"No running!" Liz called wearily as Thomas raced after them. She sighed and lay back.
"You look tired," Isaac mused as he sat down next to her and began to massage her shoulders. "What did Aya buy, do you know?"
"She refused to say, even when she asked if I would go with her to another shop," Liz replied with a laugh. "A very sweet girl, that Aya. She seemed to know exactly what to get Remus."
"What did she get him?"
"I've been sworn to secrecy," Liz giggled. "But I am glad I convinced her to get some good clothes for herself."
"So that's why you took forever," Isaac laughed. "Even Remus got back sooner than you two did. And I swear, the boys and I almost were going to get another sundae from Fortescue's a piece!"
"Good thing I showed up when I did, then," Liz said with a sigh. "I still can't believe that girl doesn't have any shoes of her own. Those shoes she wore today and yesterday are Lily Evans' shoes! Remus tells me Aya's been through the mill and back, the poor thing. Family murdered on her five-year birthday, bitten, abused...damn!"
Liz sniffled and wiped at her eye.
##
"Remus, Aya, are you two hungry at all?" Liz asked as she opened the door a crack and poked her head through. They shook their heads. "Alright, then...and Remus?"
"Yeah, Mum?" Remus answered.
"No funny business from you, and be in your own bed tonight young man," she hissed dangerously.
##
"I'm telling you," Aya whispered, "your mum is going to slaughter us when she finds out tomorrow."
"When? Don't you mean if?" Remus whispered back as he snuggled against her, kissing her neck. She giggled, glad she could see him in the moonlight. "About four more days to Christmas! Are you excited?"
Aya shrugged. "Dunno...it was rather fun buying presents today, though," she whispered with a smile.
"It was, wasn't it?" Remus replied, thinking of the little package he had hidden under his bed for her. "I can't wait..."
"Huh?"
"Nothing!" he said quickly, blushing. "I didn't say anything...did I say anything?"
"Um...no...you didn't...at least, I didn't think you did...did you?"
Heart pounding, he decided to silence her with a kiss.
"Mm...hey!" she gasped, pushing him away with a giggle. "You're hiding something, aren't you?"
"No, of course not!" he answered.
"Alright, keep your secrets, then," she said with a laugh. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "But I am glad to be here with you."
"Yes, you actually get a Christmas for once!" he whispered in her ear with a smile. "And you get to try my Mum's ambrosia...and her ham...and mashed potatoes...and apple pie..."
"Don't you dare start drooling, Remus!" Aya laughed.
"Keep it quiet down there! Remus, you better not be in Aya's room!"
Remus winced. "No, Mum, I'm safe and sound in my own room, thank you! I'm just...reading aloud!"
"She's not going to buy that one, Remus," Aya whispered.
"Yeah, she will," he answered coolly.
"I don't buy that for one minute, buster!" Liz called from her bedroom. "This is wearing down on my reading experience!"
"Sorry, Mum! I'll read to myself, I promise!"
"Just be quiet, you idiot," Liz cried. Honestly, the boy is getting out of hand with that girl, and I don't care if they are in love...well, yes, I do. "Oh, never mind..."
"Did you say something, dear?" Isaac asked with a yawn.
"No," Liz replied with a sigh. Isaac, nodding, yawned and returned to his slumber. Liz looked to the ceiling for aid in her predicament, then, finding nothing better to do, closed her book.
As this happened, Remus resorted to the decision of slumber as well. Kissing Aya, he snuggled against her and fell asleep. Aya sighed and found she couldn't sleep at all. Smiling, she looked out the window.
$%$%$
Sorry it took so long to update and stuff...I have to finish my summer reading, and I'm sorry to say...well, not for me, but I'm GOING TO HAWAII! So, I won't be able to update for quite a while...a week, or so. I'm going to try to put in one more chapter if I can finish all my summer reading, or find time, or whatever. I'm really sorry, but, hey! Hawaii is calling my name! Yay! I love you all, and will remember you under the sunny skies of Oahu...plus with the beach, and those waves...fun...
##
Ch. 20: A Little Something...
##
"Remus..."
"Oh...five more minutes, Aya," Remus groaned. "Please?"
"Excuse me? Remus, get up."
The voice was definitely not Aya's.
Remus' eyes shot open in a flash. Uh, oh...
"Uh...Mum, I can explain," he stuttered, sitting up.
"Sure, you can," Liz hissed. She grabbed him by the ear and half-dragged, half-marched him out of the room.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow! Mum, not the ear! Wait, not the face, either! Owch!"
Aya twiddled her thumbs in embarrassment as she sat on the edge of the bed. "I told him we were bound to get in trouble," she muttered, then stood up to get ready.
##
"Come on, Liz, flooing is loads faster than the car," Isaac argued from where he stood by the fireplace. Liz stamped her foot.
"I am not flooing, and that's final!" she cried, throwing up her hands.
"Alright, then no ham, and no you-know-what-for-you-know-who," Isaac sang.
Liz sighed. "You're all so cruel. First my youngest embarrasses me, then my eldest disobeys me, and now my own husband betrays me!"
"Oh, come off it, Mum, you'll be fine," Remus reasoned.
"No punished son of mine better be siding with his father," Liz hissed. Remus quickly resumed his silence as Aya bit back a laugh.
"Have you ever done this before?" Thomas asked Aya. "Flooing, that is."
"Um...once," she answered with a grimace. She had to be rushed to the hospital that night, and she had barely been conscious to really understand what was going on, not that she had cared. Aya shivered involuntarily...she had wanted to die that night.
"Okay, so, everyone ready?" Isaac asked, ignoring his wife's protest. "Alright, then, Liz, you can go first."
"What? Why?"
"So you won't run away, of course," he answered with a smile. Then, gingerly taking her by the arm, he led, or, more exact, dragged her into the fireplace and crammed the Floo Powder into her unwilling palm. "Just close your eyes, alright dear? Now, don't cry, you'll be fine."
"I hate you," Liz sniffed as she turned her hand. "Diagon Alley!"
She screamed as the green flames enveloped her in a flash. Then, she was gone. Aya's eyes widened.
"Um...I think...I think I would...rather stay right here, if you don't mind," she said hoarsely.
"Come on, Aya, you can do it. Here, you can go next," Remus said as he led her by the hand.
"No, no, I'm fine right here! Remus, let go! Remus, please let go!" Aya cried. "I only did this once, and I was little, but I don't think I really liked it, so if you don't mind, I want to stay!"
"Sorry, Aya, but you're going," Remus replied as he placed the Floo Powder in her hand. "Just say 'Diagon Alley' loud and clear and you'll be fine."
Aya bit her lip, but did as she was told, closing her eyes tight against the roar of the flames. It would be horrible if someone new to this got lost somewhere they didn't know.
##
"You owe me big time for that!" Liz was yelling at her husband as the five of them walked down Diagon Alley together. "I nearly died!"
"Now, now, Liz, be reasonable! Ow! Do you have to hit me like that?" Isaac retorted, massaging his arm.
Remus sighed, then wrapped his arms around Aya's waist. "So, where do you wanna go?" he asked cheerily. "And did I tell you I'm really glad you're still using Lily's shoes?"
"For the last time, Remus, yes," Aya said with a laugh, then kissed him on the cheek. "Oh, I should go to Gringott's first...I need to make a withdrawal."
"I'll come with you, then," Remus said, eyeing his parents. "Mum, Dad, we're going to Gringott's."
"Don't get lost, dear. We'll be around," Liz called, then resumed her yelling at Isaac.
##
"What do you want?" the rather foul-tempered little goblin asked as he leaned over the table. He licked his lips and glared at Remus and Aya, daring them to exist. "Come on, I haven't got all day."
"Um...may I make a withdrawal?" Aya asked.
"It's a bank, isn't it? What name?" the goblin answered gruffly.
"For Centaria, if you please," she replied sweetly.
"Centaria, is it? Just got a deposit from your former guardian," the goblin said with a cold laugh. "I guess I'll have to get an assistant for you, then. Wait here."
##
"Holy crap!" Remus yelled as they exited the bank. He was waving his arms around. "You're loaded? And you don't even have any shoes?"
Embarrassed, Aya tried to still the rather wonderful clink of coins in her pocket. "Oh, please don't say that.... and it's a rather long story."
"But...but...but..."
"Okay, long story short, Umbridge was my guardian, but she did it...rather...illegally, so she was kind enough to let me...um...chat with her about it, so now my parent's will is restored and I get my inheritance as was promised, and Dumbledore's my new guardian," she answered breathlessly.
Remus' jaw dropped. "Okay...and...this makes sense...how? What, did your parents, like, have awesome jobs, or were famous or something?"
"Something along those lines...now, then, I need to buy your family some gifts. Any suggestions?" she asked. "Remus, hey! Focus!"
##
"I hope your mum will like that china teapot," Aya whispered as she made her way out of the store.
"Oh, yeah, definitely," Remus replied with a grin. "It's great, because I got her a nice china set, but I accidentally broke the teapot, so this is great!"
"And that poetry book that gives you suggestions seems a bit fun for your dad, too," Aya replied with a giggle. "I can't believe you got me to get that. And don't ever offer to pay for half of these presents again! These are my gifts for your family, silly!"
"I know, I know," Remus said with a sigh. "Well, can we at least get you some warm clothes now?"
"Not until I get Thomas something," Aya replied with a laugh. Remus sighed, but obeyed. "Remus! Look at that dragon in the window of that shop!"
"Is...is that real?" Remus breathed as he made his way towards the window. "That thing is moving."
"No, it's a toy, silly. Oh, and it's the size of a little puppy! This is perfect! Come on, Remus, I want to get it for Thomas!" Aya pleaded.
"That thing? In the house? Or more importantly, in my brother's hands? Are you insane?"
Aya stuck out her lower lip. "Please, Remus? It's perfect! Please?"
Remus sighed. "Alright."
"Yay!" she cried, and sprinted into the store. Remus waited a while before he entered into the large crowd of panicked shoppers. The shop was stuffy and hot as Remus pushed his way through the crowd to find his black-haired girl leaning against the front desk as the store clerk, his eyes red from lack of sleep, carried out her purchase.
"That'll be fifteen galleons, miss," the clerk yelled over the din.
Aya rummaged through her pocket and drew out a handful of money and placed it on the counter. As she sorted through it, something blue sparkled, catching Remus' eye. Quickly, but carefully, he reached for it and drew it close to his face.
"Wow," he breathed.
It was a sparkling blue, circular gem with a gold back, which was then supported by a silver chain that was broken just before the clasp. The entire necklace sparkled with its own light.
"Is this yours?" he whispered in her ear as he returned it to her.
Blushing, she placed it back in her pocket and didn't answer. Instead, she finished her purchase, accepted the bag, even as the stuffed dragon poked its head out, and motioned for Remus to follow her out of the store.
"Is it yours?" he asked again once they were outside. He kicked at the snow.
She blushed again and nodded. "It was my mother's..."
"It's broken...the chain, that is," he pointed out.
"I know...I must've broken it sometime ago," she said with a shrug. "I need to hide these from you family."
"Just put it all in one bag and I'll tell them we got you some warmer clothes, which we're doing right now, correct?"
She sighed. "What do you want for Christmas?"
"You," he replied, kissing her.
##
"That was quite fun!" Isaac said as he led his shaking wife carefully to the couch. "Oh, it wasn't that bad the second time, was it, Liz? Flooing is fun!"
"Easy...for...you...to...say..." she replied shakily as she set her purchases down and surrendered to the comforts of the couch.
"Aya's bag moved again!" Thomas yelled, pointing at Aya's bag. "I wanna see what it is!"
"Aya, come on, before he sees!" Remus cried, grabbing the poor girl by the hand and racing off down to the guest room.
"No running!" Liz called wearily as Thomas raced after them. She sighed and lay back.
"You look tired," Isaac mused as he sat down next to her and began to massage her shoulders. "What did Aya buy, do you know?"
"She refused to say, even when she asked if I would go with her to another shop," Liz replied with a laugh. "A very sweet girl, that Aya. She seemed to know exactly what to get Remus."
"What did she get him?"
"I've been sworn to secrecy," Liz giggled. "But I am glad I convinced her to get some good clothes for herself."
"So that's why you took forever," Isaac laughed. "Even Remus got back sooner than you two did. And I swear, the boys and I almost were going to get another sundae from Fortescue's a piece!"
"Good thing I showed up when I did, then," Liz said with a sigh. "I still can't believe that girl doesn't have any shoes of her own. Those shoes she wore today and yesterday are Lily Evans' shoes! Remus tells me Aya's been through the mill and back, the poor thing. Family murdered on her five-year birthday, bitten, abused...damn!"
Liz sniffled and wiped at her eye.
##
"Remus, Aya, are you two hungry at all?" Liz asked as she opened the door a crack and poked her head through. They shook their heads. "Alright, then...and Remus?"
"Yeah, Mum?" Remus answered.
"No funny business from you, and be in your own bed tonight young man," she hissed dangerously.
##
"I'm telling you," Aya whispered, "your mum is going to slaughter us when she finds out tomorrow."
"When? Don't you mean if?" Remus whispered back as he snuggled against her, kissing her neck. She giggled, glad she could see him in the moonlight. "About four more days to Christmas! Are you excited?"
Aya shrugged. "Dunno...it was rather fun buying presents today, though," she whispered with a smile.
"It was, wasn't it?" Remus replied, thinking of the little package he had hidden under his bed for her. "I can't wait..."
"Huh?"
"Nothing!" he said quickly, blushing. "I didn't say anything...did I say anything?"
"Um...no...you didn't...at least, I didn't think you did...did you?"
Heart pounding, he decided to silence her with a kiss.
"Mm...hey!" she gasped, pushing him away with a giggle. "You're hiding something, aren't you?"
"No, of course not!" he answered.
"Alright, keep your secrets, then," she said with a laugh. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "But I am glad to be here with you."
"Yes, you actually get a Christmas for once!" he whispered in her ear with a smile. "And you get to try my Mum's ambrosia...and her ham...and mashed potatoes...and apple pie..."
"Don't you dare start drooling, Remus!" Aya laughed.
"Keep it quiet down there! Remus, you better not be in Aya's room!"
Remus winced. "No, Mum, I'm safe and sound in my own room, thank you! I'm just...reading aloud!"
"She's not going to buy that one, Remus," Aya whispered.
"Yeah, she will," he answered coolly.
"I don't buy that for one minute, buster!" Liz called from her bedroom. "This is wearing down on my reading experience!"
"Sorry, Mum! I'll read to myself, I promise!"
"Just be quiet, you idiot," Liz cried. Honestly, the boy is getting out of hand with that girl, and I don't care if they are in love...well, yes, I do. "Oh, never mind..."
"Did you say something, dear?" Isaac asked with a yawn.
"No," Liz replied with a sigh. Isaac, nodding, yawned and returned to his slumber. Liz looked to the ceiling for aid in her predicament, then, finding nothing better to do, closed her book.
As this happened, Remus resorted to the decision of slumber as well. Kissing Aya, he snuggled against her and fell asleep. Aya sighed and found she couldn't sleep at all. Smiling, she looked out the window.
$%$%$
Sorry it took so long to update and stuff...I have to finish my summer reading, and I'm sorry to say...well, not for me, but I'm GOING TO HAWAII! So, I won't be able to update for quite a while...a week, or so. I'm going to try to put in one more chapter if I can finish all my summer reading, or find time, or whatever. I'm really sorry, but, hey! Hawaii is calling my name! Yay! I love you all, and will remember you under the sunny skies of Oahu...plus with the beach, and those waves...fun...