Chapter Two
The next morning, I got up and dressed early and made my way downstairs to the kitchen for some tea. Remus Lupin was alone in the room, reading the Daily Prophet, and he nodded at me as I made myself a cup of tea and sat at the other end of the table.
I cleared my throat before speaking. "I, uh, looked through the summer work Dumbledore left, and there are a few books I need. What are the chances I can go into Diagon Alley and pick them up? I only have like four weeks to finish the work."
The corners of his lips turned up and he looked over at me. "I would think that you could borrow those books from Ron or Hermione."
"Yes, but I like to write in my books. And I'm messy – very messy. I like to eat while I study, crumbs everywhere."
The kitchen door opened and Mrs. Weasley hustled in, carrying a fistful of parchment. "The Hogwarts letters have arrived." She set down an envelope and three rolls of parchment in front of me. "And there are three letters for you, dear. There's a tawny owl that's rather irate waiting for a response as well."
The tawny would be Theo's owl, Artemis. She could be extremely persistent when her owner demanded an answer. I opened the parchment that had Theo's handwriting scrawled on the front first. In the letter, Theo demanded an explanation for why I wouldn't be visiting until the week before the school year started and expressed concern for me, and finished by saying that Artemis wouldn't leave wherever she found me until she had a response. I tore through the other two letters, which were both from Draco, and he expressed similar sentiments as Theo.
"I'll be back. I have to respond to Theo or Artemis will start pecking at people."
I darted back upstairs and wrote out a quick response to Theo and Draco, telling them I'd write more later but that for now, I was okay and safe, and I'd definitely see them in three weeks. When I returned to the kitchen, it was full, and I asked Mrs. Weasley where the owls were so that I could send off my responses.
"Fred, could you show Tessa to the bedroom that the owls come in while I finish up breakfast?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she turned to one of the twins, and I hesitated, because I didn't think that was Fred. Fred had a cluster of freckles to the right of his left eyebrow, and the twin she was talking to didn't have that.
"I'm George, mum, and –" the boy started, but his twin cut in.
"I'll take her." Fred said as he jumped up with a smile.
I snatched a piece of bacon off the plate on the table and followed up him back upstairs, lamenting how damn tall this house was.
"Writing to your dad?" Fred asked as he opened a door and ushered me in.
"No, Theo and Draco. Theo's having a fit, apparently."
Artemis flocked to me immediately, landing on a chest of drawers beside me and tittering loudly.
"Yes, I know, your daddy is angry with me, but here is his response." I cooed to her quietly. "And then you take the other to Draco, but there's a good chance they'll be together." I broke off a piece of bacon and fed it to her before attaching both responses to her leg. I'd kept them short. Artemis hooted softly and I ran my fingers across her back before feeding her another bit of bacon. "Alright, now go on."
I shoved the last bit of bacon in my mouth and turned back to Fred, who was watching Artemis dart out of the open window.
"Theo Nott and Draco Malfoy, huh?"
"Mhm." I nodded and headed out of the door and down the stairs. I was hungry and ready for breakfast.
"So, you're Snape's daughter and you regularly write to Nott and Malfoy? And Nott knows you well enough to have a fit over your wellbeing?" Fred was following me down the stairs, a few steps behind me.
"Draco, Theo, and Blaise are my best friends. We've known each other since we were kids."
He didn't respond as we reentered the kitchen, and chatter stopped as all eyes landed on me. I swallowed hard, straightened my back, and smiled. Maybe I'd get more with sugar than I would with a stick.
"Come sit by me." Fred said, so I followed him over to the two empty chairs beside his twin, and then took the one that was between him and George as Fred took the other.
"I'm Tessa, by the way." I said to the table, looking down at the other teenagers at the table. Lupin wasn't here this morning, but Black and another man who had to Mr. Weasley were seated with us.
Hermione smiled slightly and introduced herself, then Ginny and Ron when they didn't speak. I had a feeling that Fred had already told them who my father was, either last night or this morning, and they weren't in the mood to be friendly to the daughter of their most hated professor.
"Well, it's very nice to have you here, Tessa. We hope you'll be comfortable and let us know if you need anything." Mr. Weasley said nicely.
I nodded and made myself a cup of coffee, and then Mrs. Weasley started sending plates of food to the table with magic. I waited to start filling my plate until after everyone else had, pulling over two waffles and some sausage and potatoes. Fred passed me the maple syrup after he put some on his waffles, but I was scanning the table to see if… yes! They had it.
"The strawberry syrup – could you pass that to me, please?" I asked quietly, and he reached one of his long arms across the table and set it in front of my plate. I bounced happily in my seat and then drowned my waffles in the sticky sweet syrup. I loved strawberries – the smell, the taste. Anything with strawberries was my thing.
I devoured the waffles, potatoes, and sausage, and then looked up to consider a second helping, and noticed that a few of the others were tossing glances my way. I swallowed a mouthful of coffee and said, "What'd I do?"
"You could give Ron a run for his money. I've never seen anyone else eat like him, especially a girl." Ginny said with a laugh, and I bristled. If she kept talking, I wouldn't have the opportunity to keep up being nice.
"Is that a problem?" I asked, and I wasn't able to keep the ice out of my voice. I shifted slightly, my left hand reaching over to rest on my wand in its holster.
"No, no problem." Fred said from beside me, and I saw him lean forward out of the corner of my eye. "Right, Gin?"
She shrugged, but kept her eyes on me, a challenge in them. Just like fucking Pansy.
"I'm going into Diagon Alley to pick up everyone's school things, Tessa, and I'd like for you to come with me so that we can get you fitted for your school uniforms." Mrs. Weasley said, breaking the tension.
"Sure. Today?"
"Harry will be arriving tonight, and we're expecting Professor Snape as well, so I'd like to go tomorrow. We'll continue cleaning today and then get you your school things tomorrow."
I nodded. I wish I had known that twenty minutes ago when I'd sent that letter to Draco, but maybe Artemis would be back today, and I could arrange a meeting with at least one of the guys tomorrow. And I was hopeful that I'd get to see my dad tonight, make sure that he was okay with my own eyes.
I helped clean up the breakfast mess and then followed everyone upstairs to where they were cleaning out a sitting room. This place was a mess, dusty and dank, and I had a feeling I'd be counting down the days until I got to the Manor. I stuck with Fred for most of the day considering he seemed to be the friendliest, though Hermione was a close second. At lunch, we bonded over our shared academic interests, and she promised to help me make sure I wasn't going to overlook any summer work. We took turns taking showers before dinner, which was a quiet affair that included Lupin. I was doing dishes with Fred, joking around, when my father walked in.
"Dad!" I launched myself into him, wrapping my arms around his waist, and his hands came around to hug me back lightly.
"Upstairs, Theresa." He said quietly, and then he was ushering me up the stairs and into a room off the hallway, closing the door behind us.
"You sent Dumbledore to pick me up from the train station?" I asked immediately as I watched him ward the door, muttering multiple silencing charms and anti-intrusion wards. "And then send me here to stay with Black and Lupin and the Weasley horde? Seriously?"
He turned on me with a glare. "I didn't have a choice, Theresa. Dumbledore wanted you here, I wanted you at the Manor with the Malfoys. I don't know why, but there's something he isn't telling me, so I need you to be very careful, do you understand?"
I brought my thumb up to my mouth and started chewing on it. He was scaring me a little; my father never admitted that he didn't know everything about a situation.
"Stop that." He commanded, and I dropped my hand, grasping them together in front of me. "Distance yourself, do not tell them anything."
I felt the gentle push of Legilimency against my consciousness and I slammed my Occlumency walls down hard.
He crossed his arms across his chest and grimaced. "Stay away from Fred Weasley."
I clenched my hands and shifted on my feet, breaking eye contact. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You've been here barely twenty-four hours, Theresa, and already you've got Fred Weasley after you. He is not as skilled at Occlumency as you."
"He likes me?" The words squeaked out and I hated how my heart jumped at the thought.
"Discipline and distance. Stay away from the Weasley boy." He repeated darkly, and I sighed, nodding. Dad stepped forward and handed me a bag of gold. "This should cover your school expenses. Is there anything you want from the house?"
"No, I have everything I need." I looked up at him, clearing my throat. "Are you okay? And Uncle Lucius? Is he… are they hurting either of you?"
His eyes softened, something I rarely witnessed, and he pulled me into a one armed hug, dropping a kiss onto the top of my head. "I'm fine, Tess, and so is Lucius. Everything is fine."
"Okay." I said quietly, and then he pulled away.
"Lucius said the boys wanted me to give you this. It's Goblin made, some Malfoy family heirloom." He pulled a silver ring out of his pocket and placed it in my hand before dismantling the wards and opening the door.
A parade of people was walking past, one of which was a man that was limping. A brilliant blue magical eye twirled in the eye socket, pinning on me as he walked past. Harry Potter walked past last, and the glare he shot my father was enough to make me angry on principle. I knew there was no love lost between them, and that my dad wasn't absolved of his part in the animosity, but he was my dad, and I'd always take his side.
"Go on upstairs, and I'll see you in three weeks to take you to the Manor. Remember what I said." He put his hand on my shoulder and turned me to the stairs, watching as I started up them.
"Love you." I said quietly, and he nodded before turning with a flick of his robes and heading down the stairs to the basement kitchen. We didn't say I love you a lot, so I wasn't surprised that he hadn't reciprocated, but I still would've liked to hear it because of the circumstances. I slid the ring onto the ring finger of my right hand, my thoughts turning to Draco, and continued up the stairs, but I stumbled and fell onto the landing of the second floor when I heard Draco's voice in my head.
Tessa, are you there?
Are you in my head?!
I'm always in your head because you're obsessed with me.
I rolled my eyes and got to my feet, dusting my hands off.
How, exactly, are you in my head? What are these rings?
They've been sitting in a glass case in the library for as long as I can remember, but father mentioned them as a way to communicate. He's being secretive about where you are, so are you okay?
I told you I was fine in my letter, and I'm still okay. I can't tell you where I am, but it's fine. We're going into Diagon Alley tomorrow – can you or one of the others meet me?
We'll be there. All you have to do to get my attention is think about me really hard, okay? If you need anything, and I mean anything, you call.
I smiled as I opened my bedroom door and stepped inside. Okay, I will. Goodnight.
'Night.
A/N: The rings were inspired by the Seelie rings in Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series.