Grace didn't say anything as they walked to Remus' office. She had sat down on the chair that was opposite of his own at his desk as he closed the door. There was shuffling and tinkering noises, then she saw a familiar mug placed in front of her on his desk. She had picked that mug out when she was six from a muggle store. It was a birthday present that her mother had purchased for her to give to Remus. The design had long worn off, and there was a small chip on the rim of the glass, but he still used it every day. She took the mug and held it in her hands, it was hot, and she smiled at the smell of hot chocolate.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked gently, sitting on the edge of the desk. Grace took a sip of the hot drink instead of answering him. "Gracie, talk to me…please," he pleaded, giving her a look.
"Why didn't she just leave me with Aunt Molly or with you?" Grace asked sullenly.
"Your aunt and uncle had seven of their own children, and I wasn't in a place to take care of you," he answered.
"So she did try to get rid of me?" She asked, and Remus grimaced, realizing what he unknowingly admitted to. "I wish she did…" she whispered. Remus' heart broke at her small voice, and he crouched down.
"Don't," he whispered. "Don'teverthink that-"
"It's the truth isn't it?" She asked angrily. "She never wanted me did she? I've always been in the way of her living her life! Shehatesme! She's only kept me because you and aunt Molly wouldn't let her get rid of me!" Grace's voice cracked and she clenched her eyes closed as the tears started falling. She felt the mug being pulled from her hands, and then warm arms wrap around her. She clutched onto Remus and cried heavily on his shoulder.
"Shh," he whispered soothingly, running a hand up and down her back.
"Why didn't he take me with him?" she cried into his shoulder, and Remus' heart broke.
"Hey," he whispered softly, pulling away from her and holding her went cheeks in his hands. "If your father had taken you with him… I wouldn't have you in my life, now would I? We wouldn't have each other," he told her and she sniffled. "And you, my beautiful little niffler," he teased, and she cracked a small smile. "You are the light of my life. I may not be your father, but I love you as if you weremydaughter, you know that don't you?" he asked her. Grace nodded with a small smile.
"I love you too," she whispered. Remus stood up and held out his arms.
"Come here," she smiled and stood up, wrapping her arms around him and he held her tightly, resting his cheek on the top of her head. "Do you remember why I started calling you little niffler?" Remus asked.
"Because I kept stealing your jumpers like a niffler steals shiny things," she answered, feeling her lips turn up into a smile. Remus chuckled and kissed the top of her head before pulling away.
"Because you kept stealing my jumpers," he nodded. He stepped away, and held up a finger before going into his trunk. "I remember, that this one was your favorite," he said as he held up an old, faded, grey cardigan and she smiled at the sight of it. He's had it for as long as she could remember, it was one that her mother hated and would always ask him to change if he wore it. Grace thought that was probably one of the reasons she liked it so much. Unbuttoning the jumper, he draped it over her shoulders, giving her a fond look. "I think it's time that I finally hand this down to you."
"But… you love this jumper," she muttered unsurely, fiddling with the hem.
"I do but… I want you to have it," He told her, giving her a sad smile. "Your father gave me that jumper," Grace looked up at him with wide eyes. Remus never talked about her father, never mentioned him, never brought him up,nothing. "It was a Christmas present, the Christmas right before you were born. He told me I needed a new jumper to wear for when I would baby sit my niece."
"He gave you a jumper to baby sit me?" She asked confused; Remus chuckled and shook his head.
"Your parents wouldn't tell any of us what you were, they kept it a tight-lipped secret," Remus smiled, as he thought about the memory. "His present was telling me that you were a girl, and…and telling me that I was going to be an uncle, including me in your life in that way…"
"I thought…I always thought you were just Mum's friend who happened to know my dad…" she said, looking at him confused.
"I was friends with your mother in school," Remus nodded. "But your father was one of my best friends, and I want you to have something that he gave me."
"Really?" She asked and he nodded.
"Now, why don't I show you the way to the kitchens, and get a little treat?" he offered, and a smile broke out on her face and she nodded. "Good," he smiled and wiped her cheeks dry. "No more tears?"
"No more tears," she shook her head, then took the mug from his desk. "Can't let hot chocolate go to waste," she added and Remus laughed.
"No, no, that's a crime," he teased. He opened his office door and the two began their journey.
As they made their way down the corridors on the ground level, they had passed Professor Flitwick, who had stopped them.
"Hello Remus," He greeted with a smile. "Miss Black,"
"Hello Filius," Remus had greeted in return.
"Hi, Professor Flitwick," Grace smiled politely at her small Professor.
"Miss Black, Professor Lupin here has told me how talented you are at singing," He started, and Grace's cheeks flushed.
"Well, I-"
"I hope you're planning on auditioning for the Frog Choir this year," he continued, and Grace's cheeks turned a darker shade of pink.
"I – er… well, I was thinking about it – "
"Oh, splendid! Auditions will be on Sunday at ten, in the music room on the fifth floor! We'll be starting with vocal scales, then we'll have individual auditions. You may audition with whatever piece you are most comfortable with singing acapella."
"O-okay," she nodded and Professor Flitwick smiled happily at her.
"I'll see you in class Miss Black, see you later Remus," Professor Flitwick nodded before leaving. Grace turned to look at Remus with narrowed eyes, but he simply stuffed his hands in his pockets and continued on down the hall.
"You knew I wasn't going to audition didn't you?"
"I haven't the foggiest idea of what you're talking about," he replied, feigning innocence but she just scowled at the back of his head as she followed him. The scowl faded into a small smile, and she ran to catch up to him.
The next couple of days went by quickly and uneventful. Grace was grateful that her friends didn't bring up her boggart, or asked questions. The same couldn't be said for the Slytherins, as they had teased her and brought it up any chance they got.
It was now Sunday morning, and Grace was humming as she jotted down in her Divination notebook. She had taken up reviewing and interpreting her tea leaves in the morning at breakfast. Of course, Hermione had something to say about it and how Grace was wasting her time with it, that her intelligence was better used somewhere else like Ancient Runes. Grace didn'tdislikethe subject of Ancient Runes, but it was too boxy for her liking.
"What are you humming?" Harry asked, making her jump and look at him with wide eyes. He laughed as he sat beside her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
"You didn't scare me," she muttered, her cheeks turning red. "Just…surprised me is all."
"What do your tea leaves tell you today?" He asked, changing the subject as he piled sausage and eggs on his plate. Her cheeks burned even more as she held up her cup.
"This," she pointed to a small rectangular figure at the top of her cup, "looks like an envelope, and that means good news. This one here," she pointed to a shape just below it to the right of the rectangle, "looks like a basket. A basket could mean a treat, or award, or some kind of recognition," she continued. Harry nodded as he took a bite of his toast. He didn't really care about tea leaves, he just wanted to listen to Grace talk. He thought Divination was ridiculous, easy and he didn't put any effort into it, but he liked how Grace's face shined when she would talk about it. "This means success," she continued, pointing to a circle that was beside the other two. "Since all three are together close to the top of the cup, it means that I'm going to receive good news today, and that I'll be rewarded or recognized for my success."
"What 'bout those," Harry asked, pointing to the leaves in the middle and bottom of the cup. Grace's face flushed and she quickly set her cup down.
"Oh it's nothing-"
"No, come on, tell me," he nudged her with his elbow.
"Well… it's funny, this one," she sighed in defeat and pointed to the heart near the bottom of her cup. "It's – "
"A heart," Harry said, looking at her and her cheeks went darker.
"Yes, a heart…well it's funny because well… it's been in my cup every day, and usually in the same spot."
"That's not normal?"
"No," she shook her head, frowning. Her neck was feeling really hot under Harry's eyes. "A heart means-"
"Love," he said, and she looked at him again with wide eyes, and a red face.
"What?" she asked, her voice a little higher than normal.
"A heart, means love, right? I don't need the book to tell me that," he answered with a shrug and she nodded, and let out the breath she was holding. Her heart was racing in her chest, and her face and neck felt hot. She didn't know why she was feeling embarrassed that Harry saw that she had a heart in her cup, it didn't matter. "I didn't know you – er – liked anyone," he continued awkwardly.
"I don't," she shook her head, and ignored that weird fluttery feeling in her stomach. "But apparently the tea thinks I do, because it's in the spot that means it's in the sort of distant future."
"I thought you said that you weren't interested in dating, said that you were too young," Harry teased, and her heart raced again and that obnoxious fluttering feeling grew stronger.
"Iam! That doesn't…that doesn't mean I can't like someone, though, right?" she asked, and Harry shrugged, taking another bite of his toast. "Whatever, they're just silly tea leaves, they don't mean anything do they," she huffed, closing her Divination book and picking up a sausage from her plate.
"I know you like them," Harry said in a quiet voice, giving her a small smile. "So if you like them, they aren't silly. Maybe you're just reading too much into them."
"You're right," she took a deep breath, hoping to calm her racing heart. "I should be focusing on auditions anyway, not tea leaves."
"Auditions?" Ron asked as he sat across from them, and started piling food on his plate. Hermione's lips curled in distaste as she sat beside Ron. "What auditions?" he asked, then stuffed some sausage in his mouth.
"Honestly, Ron, have some manners," Hermione hissed in disgust as she started buttering her own toast.
"Uh…I'm auditioning for the Frog Choir," Grace answered nervously.
"You are?!" Neville exclaimed happily as he sat on her other side. "Trevor is one of the toads in the choir, and he's quite picky. Martha Jennings used to handle him, but she finished last year," he told her. "Trevor really likes you, so I'm sure that he'll let you hold him for practices and concerts-"
"I haven't even been chosen yet, Neville," Grace cut him off, but Neville waved her off.
"You will," he assured her with a smile. "And if for some reason Professor Flitwick doesn't choose you, then well… I'll have to tell him that Trevor can't be in it unless you're holding him," he nodded and Grace couldn't help but smile as she felt warmth in her chest. Toads weren't her favorite animal, it mostly had to do with an incident with Fred and George more than it had to do with their slimy, textured, skin; but she liked Trevor.
"Thanks, Neville," she whispered, and he beamed at her.
"When are auditions?" Hermione asked, looking up from her Ancient Runes book.
"Oh, er… at ten," Grace answered.
"That early?" Hermione asked, surprised and Grace nodded. "I would've thought it would be in the afternoon."
"Yeah, me too but there's orchestra auditions in the afternoon. Those take longer to get through than the choir ones, I'm sure," she shrugged. "You know, because of all the instruments…"
"Do you know what you're singing? Did Professor Flitwick set a piece?"
"Oh, er, no he didn't select anything," Grace shook her head, and started fiddling with the sleeves of the old jumper that Remus had given her. "But I know what I'm singing-"
"Is it Latin? I know they do a lot of Latin," Hermione asked but Grace shook her head. "Oh it must be a popular wizarding song then! Who is it? Is it Celestina Warbeck? Or the Weird Sisters? Oh! You're doing something from Spellbound!? You'd do amazing with one of their songs!"
"Let the girl answer, Hermione," Ron huffed, nudging the girl with his elbow. Hermione's cheeks turned pink as she relaxed.
"Sorry," She sighed, leaning forward on the table.
"It's alright," Grace told her. "I'm not doing anything from any of those… I'm actually doing a muggle song," this surprised everyone around her, Hermione especially as her eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline.
"Really?!" She asked excitedly. "What song?!"
"Oh er, it's just a song I learned in muggle primary school," Grace answered with a shrug. "I really liked it a lot, and it's one that I play often at home. I figured it would be a safe choice."
"But what is it?" Hermione pressed, but Grace shook her head.
"I don't want to spoil it," she answered; but really, she didn't want to say the title out loud for the off chance that another student was around listening and also auditioning. She didn't want someone to use her song, even though she knew the chances of that happening were slim.
"Well, I for one can't wait to watch the auditions," Hermione said with a nod. "I wonder how similar and different they are from muggle auditions."
"Wait, what?" Grace blinked at Hermione, her face going pale. "What do you meanwatchthe auditions?"
"Well, we're going to watch them," Hermione answered.
"Why?"
"To support you, you dolt," Ron rolled his eyes at her. Grace's face turned bright pink.
"Yeah," Harry spoke up, nodding his head. "Just like how we'll be there for every performance the Frog Choir has-"
"We'reallthere for every Frog Choir performance because they take place in the Great Hall," Grace cut him off, dryly.
"Yeah, but this time we're actually going tolook forwardto them," Ron replied, then hissed when Hermione elbowed him roughly in the side. "Oi!" Grace didn't let Ron's words bother her, instead she started laughing.
