Hello again! This is the quickest I have ever updated a story. Thanks to all my readers for the hits that you give me each time you view my chapters. AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO TATIANA K! She is still the only one to have reviewed this story. Please, if you like what you read (and since this is the third chapter I am guessing you must like it at least a little to be reading this), leave a review. It is really encouraging to authors. Makes us want to write more chapter even quicker. *wink* If you get my drift. Another huge thanks to Annabella Black for being my beta. I hope you guys all enjoy the chapter. I'll give you a hint as to what happens . . . it is the moment several of you have probably been waiting for. :)
"Where would we walk?
Where would we run? . . .
Someday I'll be
Part of your world"
"Part of Your World" by Disney
Chapter Three:
A loud whistled vibrated against the walls of the Sarazin household. "Oh, shh," Aggie ordered pointing her wand at the tea pot. "Pesky thing," she ran a hand through her honey curls which held no evidence of the deep slumber she had just awoken from. The sun had risen on another day.
Each day, Aggie counted her blessings. The Wizarding world was on the brink of war, and she prayed that the battle never came near her family. With dark brown eyes, she watched the tea pot levitate itself where three cups holding tea bags waited to be filled. "Good morning." She turned to see Elaine roll into the kitchen already dressed and hair twisted into a bun.
"Good morning," Aggie replied. She took a tea cup now filled with simmering tea and placed it in her sister's hands. Elaine slowly brought the tea bag out of her cup, but, before it touched the saucer, it levitated away from her and disappeared. "Thank you," the younger woman spoke smiling a gentle smile before bringing the cup to her lips.
With a flick of Aggie's wrist, breakfast began preparing itself. Pots and pans flew from the cabinets. Ingredients broke out of the pantry and began mixing themselves.
A small squeak emitted from Aggie's mouth as two thick hands gripped her waist. "Well, someone is on edge this morning," Seyton mused not taking his hands from his wife's body.
"I wouldn't be on edge if it wasn't for someone-" She shot a pointed glance to her husband who still stood behind her. "- taking pleasure in startling me."
They were interrupted by a small burrowing owl swooping through a window that had been opened just far enough for it to fit through and plopped itself on the bar next to Aggie and Seyton. The Daily Prophet and two envelopes hung from its beak. Aggie took the mail, while Seyton took three copper coins from the pocket of his robes. Suddenly, Aggie's eyes widened. "Wait!" She exclaimed.
Her sister and husband looked at her as though she had sprouted a third head.
She recomposed herself then stated in a cool tone, "I have a letter I need sent. I will be back in a moment." She quickly excused herself from their company and vanished down a hallway towards her husband's study.
Seyton's attention turned to the spread of breakfast. Warm steam rose from each plate. "Pardon me, Elaine," he said placing the three coins back in his pocket and moving past his sister-in-law to the dark stairs leading to Valerie and Abigail's chambers. The small owl hooted after the wizard, upset at the delay in his payment. Elaine wheeled herself to the bar where the owl was perched. With slow movements, she raised her hand to gently stoke its breast. "I bet you have seen the entire world," she mused looking the bird up and down. Before her thoughts had a chance to wonder, Aggie glided back into the room a sealed envelope in her hand.
"Have you paid him yet, dear?" She asked after placing the letter in his beak.
"Not yet, sweetheart." As he spoke, he removed the coins from his pocket and placed them in the small pouch around the bird's foot. Immediately, the owl spread its wings and soared out the window.
Elaine's cool green gaze followed it until it ventured beyond her sight. She could do little to hold back the longing in her heart. Had that very same owl delivered mail to a man with milky blue eyes? She wondered. The clatter of the plates setting themselves a little too roughly upon the dining table startled her from her thoughts.
"Breakfast is served," Seyton called looking into the blackness that led to his daughters' rooms. A moment of nothingness passed by, he had just opened his mouth when two groans flowed from the within the black hole. "We are coming."
Not waiting for their daughters, Aggie positioned herself at one end of the table, and Seyton took the opposite. Wordless, Elaine rolled to her usual gap at the table alongside her sister. That was when Abigail and Valerie finally joined the rest of the family. Both were still dressed in their pajamas and hair tousled. Neither of them spoke a word as they each grabbed a piece of toast and began spreading it with their favorite jellies; Abigail loved grape, Valerie would never settle for anything but peach. Gradually, Seyton and Elaine joined in partaking of the delicious food before them. Seyton's tea, which he had not grabbed earlier, floated with the tea bag already removed to his place setting.
"Elaine," Aggie spoke in a gentle voice that still caused the younger woman to jump slightly.
She turned to her sister. A questioning expression stamped on her face that was nearly void of any lines.
"You're not eating." It was both a statement and a question.
Elaine dared not look in her elder sister's eyes. She feared she would see the concern that always plagued their muddy depths. "Lost in my own world again," Elaine stated before she began to slowly fill her plate.
The rest of the family, including the teen witches to everyone's shock, bantered in small talk. However, Elaine's full focus was on her plate. She delicately cut and chewed each morsel as she had been taught at a young age. Pureblood children were raised to have impeccable etiquette both at the dining table and in the social circles. Eventually, her food could no longer hold her attention. A pleasant laugh filled the air. She turned to Aggie whom she knew was the culprit, laughing to one of Seyton's jokes she guessed. I owe her so much, Elaine thought studying her sister but for a moment before returning to her breakfast. She dared not ponder how things might have been if her sister had not the compassionate and loving heart that beat strong beneath her bosom. Green eyes wondered to the delicate black banded watch strapped round her wrist.
"I'm afraid it is time that I take my leave," Elaine stated dabbing her mouth with her napkin.
"What time do you get off today?" Aggie inquired resting her utensils on the rim of her half-eaten plate.
"Two." Elaine rolled back from the table. "I will be home to help with dinner."
"Alright," her sister simply stated. "Please, be careful, and floo home if anything seems awry."
"I know. I promise that I will be careful." She wheeled herself before the fireplace and pushed up the small ramp that had been installed for her usage. With a small handful of floo powder, she positioned her chair to once again face her family. Only Aggie watched her as she dropped the dust and spoke in a firm clear voice, "Diagon Alley."
With a loud thud and surrounded by green flames, Elaine shot into the hearth of Flourish and Blotts. Soot covered her entity. "It's about time you go here!" Elaine finished dusting herself and gazed at the old witch standing before her. She was an exceedingly thin woman which, when combined with her age, made her appear frail. She was the prime example of the old saying; don't judge a book by its cover. "We just received new shipment," she stated in a hoarse, raspy voice. "You are to take inventory of all of it and store it in the back room."
"Yes, Ms. Bottoms," Elaine replied with a bow of her head. Her voice came out as even and polite as ever. With her lips stretched in a small smile, she rolled past her boss to the back of the shop where new deliveries were held. I wish just one day she would have some reason to be glad and smile, Elaine thought entering a small room with boxes and crates staked until they threatened to reach the ceiling. Lying atop the nearest box was a stack of parchment and quill. Listed was every book and the quantity of each they were to have received.
"Sir Oswald Elfington's Guide to Mermaids and Other Creatures of the Deep," she read the first title on the list. Immediately, the boxes from the stack nearest her began to dance. One box near the floor shot from its place and levitated before her. Lifting its lid, she found the book she had been looking for. After checking her list, she counted the number of copies and checked it from the list. Over the next couple of hours, this pattern repeated itself over and over until every item on her list had been checked and the room was full of empty boxes. "Finally finished."
A look of triumph played on the squib's face. Three years ago, no matter how enchanted everything in the shop was, it would not obey her words. She had feared that in addition to never being capable of casting spells that even enchanted objects would ignore her. Thankfully, things have changed, she thought as she wheeled from the room. As she had checked each item from the list, they had automatically stacked themselves in a storage room waiting for shelf space to become available.
Humming a familiar tune, Elaine moved through the closely spaced bookshelves to the first desk. There Ms. Bottoms sat in a well cushioned chair behind dark blue desk that was in desperate need of another coat of paint. "The entire inventory has been properly checked in and stored," Elaine informed her.
"Then, you can take these." The old witch plopped a rather heavy stack of books onto Elaine's lap. "Put them in their proper places."
Wordless, Elaine nodded her head and ventured back into the multiple aisles of books. A quiet tune followed her as she did her work. "What would I give to live where you are," she spoke in a hushed whisper as she slid a book into its proper place.
Time passed slowly. A small bell above the door rang each time a customer would either enter or leave. To Elaine, it was her constant anchor to the physical world, pulling her from her thoughts. Book after book, she returned them to their appropriate home. Each time she returned to Ms. Bottoms, a new stack was dropped upon her, and the younger woman would leave with her pleasant smile never faltering. She was glad to have such busy work. She knew the title and place of every item contained in the numerous shelves filling the store.
Once again nearing the back of the store, Elaine slid a book in its place and glanced at the next one in her lap. Introduction to Basic Charms was scrolled across its cover in silver letters. Creeping, excited green eyes glanced to either end of the aisle. No one was in sight. She opened the cover like it was Christmas morning. Her thoughts tumbled to when she was a child and would gather all her sister's old school books into her room and read them cover to cover.
The bell chimed as a customer entered the store. Again, she looked to the front but could not see the door from where she sat. Elaine listened for a moment then returned her attention to the book open in her lap. Once again lost in a world she had never known, she began humming.
"Elaine!" Ms. Bottom's voice called as her footsteps drew nearer.
Elaine shut the book and moved to the end of the aisle just as her employer reached her. "Yes?" She spoke wondering how long she had been sitting there and if Ms. Bottoms had called her name more than once.
"Stop humming and continue the task assigned to you," the elder woman barked.
As Elaine looked up at her, she noticed a shift in her eyes and her face become considerably kinder.
"I'm sorry, sir," the shop owner apologized placing a hand against her chest and bowing her head. "Is there something I can help you with?"
The younger woman swiveled to face the opposing end of the aisle where a man stood. Her heart quickened and seemed to drop into the pit of her stomach. How had she not felt his presence before?
"Actually, I was already being assisted." He gestured to Elaine.
Her pulse beat loudly within her mind. I have fallen into one of my dreams again, she thought to herself.
"My mistake," Ms. Bottoms stated obvious displeasure in her voice. With that, the elderly woman walked away.
Elaine slowly studied the man before her, taking in every detail and forcing it into her mind. He was dressed in loose, ill-fitted clothing and was taller than the average man for the tip of his head was near the top of the bookshelves. As soon as her eyes met his, she felt herself willingly drowning in their murky blue depths. How she longed to run to him, as she had in her dreams. But even at such a sight, her legs refused to move. The urge pulsed through them, but the muscles, she feared, would never respond.
Remus Lupin walked towards her shoving his hands in his pockets as he spoke, "I am aware that I have aged but hurt to think that you do not recognize me." He joked.
Elaine smiled to herself. Joking at a moment like this must be a trait he picked up with the Marauders. "It's not that," she spoke quietly, her eyes never leaving his own. "I have dreamed of seeing you again in many different ways. It never played out like this." Pale pink lips stretched into a small smile. "You have changed, though."
"Yes, and you don't seem to have aged a day," he countered.
Unfamiliar warmth spread across her face. All she wanted was to reach out and grab him. She clasped her hands atop the books in her lap. "There is nothing one can say in answer to a compliment," Elaine spoke thinking back to their summers spent together lounging wherever they pleased. He would always seem to have a new novel in his hands. One of his favorites was Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.
"I always feel that they have not said enough," Remus completed the quote of one of his favorite writers.
"Remus." His name tasted like decadent chocolate on her lips. There are so many things I want to tell you, she screamed inside. Emotions threatened to bubble over her dark brown lashes. If I cry now, she reasoned, he will fear that he has hurt me or made me remember a past I wish I could forget.
He looked nowhere but her eyes, waiting for her to speak.
How wrong he would be, she thought shaking her head. "How did you find me?" She finally asked.
"Yesterday, I attended Dumbledore's funeral," he began.
"Agatha!" The woman exclaimed before clamping a hand over her mouth. If Ms. Bottoms found out Remus was there to socialize not shop, she would literally push him out the door. "That . . . that witch! I cannot believe she kept this from me." Her voice was incredibly calmer when she spoke again. "Nevertheless, it is good to see you." Elaine found it impossible to stop the tug at her lips that continued to plant a smile on her face. Sitting before him, she felt the same butterflies she had as a young girl.
"I received a letter from your sister this morning," he spoke. "She said that I could find you here."
Peeking behind him, Elaine caught the hunched figured of Ms. Bottoms passing by. Her eyes bore into the younger woman's. The darkness in them left no doubt as to their meaning. Elaine's gaze quickly dropped to the books in her lap.
"Are you alright?" Remus asked trying to see her eyes once again.
"Yes, I'm fine. It's just that I should be getting back to work." She tucked a nonexistent stand of hair behind her ear.
Words began sprouting out of the werewolf's mouth like garden gnomes. "When can I see you again?"
Her heart skipped a beat. He wanted to see her again and soon by the tone of his voice. "Well, I don't get off for another couple of hours," she started.
"May I wait for you?"
Ever the gentleman, she thought, asking if he could wait for her. Of course, she wanted to scream, but all she could muster was a nod.
Next thing she knew, she was watching Remus's retreating form as he vanished towards the front of the shop. It was not until she heard the familiar ding of the bell signaling the door had opened and shut that she had been holding her breath.
Immediately, Elaine jumped back to work. She stacked every book Ms. Bottoms gave her with Remus never leaving her thoughts.
I can't believe after all this time, she spoke to herself, and we have found each other. How could Aggie not tell me they had met at Hogwarts? I must not forget to question her in regard to her actions when I return home. Neither can I forget to hug her until she begs for release. After twenty-one years, we can be together like we always dreamed of.
Pausing in her work, Elaine touched the right collar of her robes where the memory of their last meeting was hidden. Calmness soothed her skin like a smooth current making her sigh. The tension, worry, sadness, and pain that had evolved inside her was finally beginning to slowly melt away.
At long last, the thin strapped watch wrapped around Elaine's wrist struck two o'clock. All of her duties had been performed to the fullest. "Goodbye, Ms. Bottoms," she cheerfully said wheeling past the elder witch still seated at her desk. Not waiting for a reply, she pushed open the door to the shop. Her eyes found him immediately.
No one knew if he had sensed she was there or if it had been the sound of the door closing that had caused him to turn, unsure as to whether the door had shut at that point, and look up at her. His hands were clasped behind his back, ever proper and gentlemanly.
Gazing up at Elaine, Remus felt his breath vanish from the confines of his chest. She still had an effect on him that words could not describe. Her dark evergreen eyes shined at him. Neither moved. Perhaps they feared if they did, the moment would melt away like a dream. But this is no dream, Remus thought to himself.
As though hearing his thoughts, pale, pink, perfectly shaped lips spread into a full smile. White teeth shone like she was on the verge of laughter, and a small dimple formed in the right-hand corner of her mouth. It was the first true and unguided smile he had seen or she had allowed herself to indulge in over twenty years. Somehow, in that simple gesture, the war that was threatening to consume both the muggle and wizard world seemed farther away.
So, how did you like it? I promise there is more to come in the next chapter, which I hope to have up in maybe another week. Once again please leave a review. Did you like it? Did you not like it? Are you excited to see more? Hope you all stick around to see what happens next.