The Untold Story
Chapter 16: Family Gatherings and Other Awkward Situations
December 18, 1971
"Finally! We're almost home!" James said as he stretched.
"It's only Winter Break." Remus reminded James.
"And don't forget, we still have the second half of term." Peter added.
"We're here. Home sweet home." Sirius mumbled gloomily. The three stared at Sirius who looked sullenly out the window. He turned around and stared at his friends who looked back at him with concern. He cracked a weak smile.
"Do you want to come over to my house? I am sure my parents wouldn't object." James asked. He paused briefly before looking at Remus and Peter, "You both are welcome to come over too."
"No, thank you. I am going to spend this break with mom and dad in the country." Remus replied with a slight smile.
"Mother and I just spend the holidays together but I'll ask if I can come over for a day or two." Peter responded with a hopeful look.
"Are you kidding?! Skip the Black Family Gala...it would be a dream but alas it shall never be true." Sirius said with a sneer.
The other boys ignored Sirius's mood. James had termed Black's lapses into pureblood culture 'The Black Plague.' It was better not to irritate Sirius further during that mood.
As the Hogwarts Express came to a smooth stop, the boys picked up their bags and headed towards the door.
"Pete!" A tired looking blonde woman yelled taking hold of her son and giving him a firm hug.
"Those are my parents, over there by the lamp post." Remus said to James and Sirius pointing out a middle-aged man with his arm around a brown-haired woman with kind eyes. He then waved to them calling out "Mum! Dad!"
In the meantime, James parents had also made their way over to him and were giving him a quick hug. Sirius tried to squash his jealousy as he stood alone with his bags. Of course his parents didn't come; he wasn't even sure what he was expecting...a 'Welcome Home' party, he thought bitterly.
"Ah, you must be Sirius. James has told us a lot about you." Charlus Potter said extending his arm out to give Sirius a firm handshake.
"Lord Potter. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."
"Call me Charlus, boy. Lord Potter makes me feel like the old man that I am."
"Cassie has told me all about you. She is a little upset you aren't in great Slytherin house of our forefathers. I concur with her of course." Dorea Potter nee Black stated slightly glaring at her son who brushed it off with his casual arrogance.
"Sure, mum. But Sirius is a Gryffindor, through and through." James replied grinning at Sirius.
Lady Potter then turned away to acquaint herself with Peter's mum as Lord Potter chatted away with Remus's parents.
"Who will you be going home with?" Lady Potter asked turning back to looked down concernedly at Sirius.
"I don't know, madam."
"Dorea."
"I guess that would be us, Lady Potter." Andy interrupted the conversation. "I am Andromeda Black and this is Narcissa Black." she further introduced as she and Narcissa gave a formal curtsy.
"You are Pollux's grandchildren. I saw you when you were merely newborns. It's a shame that your mother restricts your time with Pollux. He loves you girls dearly."
"Yes madam. Will we being seeing you at the Black Ball, this year?"
"No, Charlus isn't much of a party man and I host the Potter Family Dinner."
Andromeda nodded her head giving a slight smile to Dorea Potter. "We shall head out then."
"Bye, mates. I'll see you next year, if I am still alive." Sirius solemnly stated.
Andy gave him a small whack on the head. "Ignore him. I'll make sure he comes back in one piece." Andy said trying to alleviate the concerning looks his friends gave him. She grabbed Sirius's arm and they both walked out of Platform 9 ¾ with Narcissa following behind.
Remus looked out the windows as his parents drove to their home in Tinworth. They had only moved their, about six months ago, and Remus was pleasantly surprised to be going back to the same home. Due to his condition, the family moved often. Remus, however, loved Tinworth and was glad to be going back to the same village. The villagers were of a more liberal and mixed well with their muggle neighbors. People in Tinworth lived far apart to afford each other privacy but were also the kind and friendly sort. Also, the ocean air calmed Remus and the beast within him.
"You have lost some weight. Are you eating well?" Hope Lupin rounded on him as soon as they entered the house.
"Mum...I eat..." Remus futilely attempted to protest.
"Sure, I totally see that. A growing boy needs to eat and don't you worry I will fatten you up before you go back to school." Hope Lupin paused as she peeked in the refrigerator, "How about some lightly roasted beef?"
Remus gave a casual shrug before sheepishly replying "Yeah. Mum, can I also have brownies?"
His mum gave a dazzling smile before giving a warm hug. "Of course, Johnny."
"Mum! I hate it when you call me that." Remus protested.
"Sure sweetie but you take after your grandfather and you remind me of him. Afterall, he is your namesake." As Remus headed to his bedroom, his mother called after him "Freshen up, Johnny! You need to tell me all about Hogwarts and your friends."
Peter sighed as his mother dragged him to their rickety slightly unstable flat on top an Antiques store. The owner was an elderly widowed man who rarely ventured out of his house, located a few blocks away from the store. Instead, Mr. Robert Reynolds, had given his mother complete control of the day-to-day runnings of the store. He mostly looked over financial details to ensure he had enough to keep the store open. Much to Peter and Mary Pettigrew's dismay, Mr. Reynolds kindness was barely enough to keep a roof over their heads. Mould-on-the-Wold was not the centre of any great happenings and therefore few visitors ever entered into the rare antiques store.
"So you made friends?" his mother questioned once they were inside the house.
"Yes, mum." Peter said politely.
"Well, I hope you can keep them." Mary Pettigrew retorted with a snort. "Now, grab some turnips and start to cut them. We are going to be eating turnip soup."
"Turnip soup….again." Peter dejectedly muttered.
"Yes well, this isn't Hogwarts with hundreds of house elves to fulfill your every whim and command. We don't even have a man in this house and you should be thankful that we at least have something to eat. Get those turnips and get to work, young man!"
"Yes, mum." Peter nodded quietly as he grabbed some turnips and started to cut them muggle-style. They worked in their usual quite candance for a while with neither of them interacting with each other much. "Mum, James invited me over to his house for the holidays. Would it be okay if I went a day or two?"
"No. The Potters are a much higher and well-respected family. I will not having you going there and cursing their family time with your presence."
"Oh." Peter said with a wince. The last few months, his friends had told him over and over again that he was a strong and loved wizard. They made him feel as if he was worthy of existence, but he guess that did not change his mother's opinion of him. Not that he blamed her. How could she truly love a son as cursed as him? Nobody could. Peter had no doubt that his mother loved him but just not completely. He had only bought her pain…
His mother interrupted his pitiful thoughts with a wrapped goody bag that she placed next to him. With a sigh, she said, "I got you black licorice wands. I know they are your favorite. Think of them as an early Christmas present…"
"Thanks mum!" Peter said gratefully before pulling out a wand and chewing on it. At least he had some black licorice to get him through two weeks of turnips.
During Dinner in the Lupin Household…
Hope Lupin put platter of roast beef and freshly baked brownies on the dinner table. "Lyall darling! Johnny! Dinner is ready." she called cheerfully, her Welsh accent becoming more pronounced. After her boys took their seats at the dinner table she questioned, "How is Hogwarts?"
"It's amazing, mum!" Remus replied stuffing roast beef into his mouth. "The Great Hall is always filled with food during eating times and any food one can wish for is there. There are moving staircases and castle is huge. I doubt I can explore all of during my time there."
"Now, now, chew, swallow and then talk, Johnny!" his mother said sharply with a light glare. "And your classes?"
"Classes are good. DADA and Transfiguration seem to be the most interesting. Potions is a pain; Peter and I are pants at it. Flying is very fun! Maybe, I can even join the Quidditch Team, next year!" Remus hopefully exclaimed.
"Remus, son, you are too sick to be on the Quidditch Team." Lyall Lupin stated quietly engaging himself in a conversation with his son for the first time that day.
"Lyal darling, he may make it on the team and a reserve can fill for him. We didn't expect our boy to attend Hogwarts but here he is learning to be a wizard. Our son is special." she said calmly placing her palm on her husband's hand.
"You mean he isn't normal. Hope, he can never truly be a wizard. He will not be accepted…" Lyal frustratedly stated.
"I have friends." Remus stated slightly shaking with anger.
"They will not be your friends when they realize that you are a danger to them. If they find out you are a WEREWOLF, then you will be expelled from Hogwarts!" Lyall Lupin yelled raising up to stand on his two feet and slamming his closed right fist on the dining table.
Remus's eyes filled with tears as he rushed to his room and slammed the door shut.
"Lyall, that was inappropriate! Our son is a human like you and me. Not a beast." Hope Lupin stated fire burning in her eyes.
Lyall fell sluggishly to his chair. He rested his forehead on his arms and muttered, "I am only trying to protect him. It was I who cursed him with a fate worse than death."
His wife pulled his face close to her hers and stared into his eyes, "If our son was dead, so would I." She paused before sighing and continuing, "You are a good man, darling. Don't blame yourself for that monster...it was an accident, but that doesn't make Johnny any less of a boy. You mark my words, our boy will make history." She gave him a quick kiss before taking the tray of brownies and knocking on Remus's door, "Johnny love, have some brownies!"
"I am not hungry!" a muffled voice yelled.
She rolled her eyes before opening the door and walking in. Placing her warm hands on Remus's forehead she leaned to give him a hug. "Chocolate makes everything feel better. Here, try a piece." she said offering him a brownie. "Your father is only trying his best to protect you and he is right in his own way. Life isn't always fair or easy but your grandpa always said that to keep going all we need is hope. And today I shall add to his infinite wisdom: All you need is bit of chocolate, courage, love and hope."
Remus gave her a small smile and rested his head in her lap. She lovingly combed through his hair with her deft fingers. "Johnny, you have all of those: these yummy brownies, gryffindor's famed bravery, your parents' never-ending love and of course hope is always holding you in her womb. I expect that you, young man, will never give up on life and will just keep living until you become immortal." she stated with firm conviction before pressing a kiss on his forehead.
"Mum, I love you…and I promise to always keep going...but what if they find out I'm a…" Remus said with yawns punctuating his words.
She pressed her finger to his lips. "You are just as human as the rest of us."
Remus did not respond for he was fast asleep in his mother's lap.
AN: geekymom Thanks for reviewing!