Remus was determined to make this day better. However, as soon as he descended the stairs, he found Abbyagil reading a History book and realised he didn't know what to do. He was entirely lost with both of them. Abby was not reading the book as much as she pretended. She turned the pages like a robot to increase her cover. In reality, what the girl wanted was to know, to know everything. Since she was little, the girl had had an inferiority complex. The way for her to fight it was to know everything. Not knowing something was impossible for her, and in her head, it could lead to severe consequences. Remus had been very fond of it. It was a pleasure to teach her something. Her eyelids had always opened at one go and then blinked during the period she understood the information. Her curiosity had grown in every domain. Nowadays, Remus was concerned. He had understood that not knowing and suffering were synonyms in her mind.
Indeed, the young girl thought the knowledge was a duty. She didn't have a choice. She couldn't do a lot of magic these days. Thus, the least she could do was learn as much as possible. The actual problem was all the information she didn't know, all the ones she couldn't. She thought that someone was refusing to tell her, that someone blocked her from obtaining the knowledge, that someone judged her as not worthy. That someone was her, but she didn't know that. She certainly thought of her as an inferior person. She was so sure that people thought of her that way. Remus saw this inferiority complex in action more than once, but one time, the crisis had been more intense. The girl had been ten for a day and couldn't understand why she couldn't go to Hogwarts while she knew the entire programs of the first and second year in potions and charms. The little girl had a bit of difficulty with transfiguration. So, one evening, she asked Remus to teach her an unforgivable spell. He had taught her how to read and write, but clearly, he couldn't teach her one of those spells. Remus refused as sternly as he could so did her parents. The thing was that Abbygail thought they didn't want to teach her because she was handicapped. Since that day, she had searched every book she had found for the spell that would allow her disease to be invisible to everyone else. She didn't explain the reason to anyone. Remus would have told her that it didn't make any sense. If she wanted to learn those spells and others she should go to Hogwarts, but to go there she would have to not use this spell. Obviously, each time she reflected on it, she saw the illogical part of her reasoning. But she had become accustomed to this irrational thinking, and especially she had forgotten the bad looks and the rude questions.
Remus was so sure that she had read this book called " A History of Magic", the most known historical book, a thousand times. She could recite it. He knew she was perplexed about Harry and his morning, and not knowing what and why. He could tell her, but that would betray the little of Harry's trust he had given him this morning. That was too precious. And She didn't tell Harry anything so it was unfair in Remus' mind to tell. Remus naively wanted both of his children to tell each other in the same discussion. He was going to offer this idea when the black fireplace changed to an emerald green. It's the way two men entered the house, one with his famous white beard and one with his usual black robe.
The young girl stopped her reading and looked up to Remus to ask him with her eyes why. He shrugged once again that day, but this time she knew that he was as lost as her. She was not reassured. Remus should know, Remus knew everything, because if he didn't know...
Her thoughts were stopped by the greatest wizard of all time. " Remus, Severus and I wouldn't refuse some tea and some sweets." Remus hated the way the man could scold him and expose his poor capacity to receive people while being nice. Remus was so lost that day, his morning discussion with Harry, his worry for Abbygail, and having those men in his living room with no doubt some bad news. He was Harry's guardian for just a week and it was already finished. The time he took to choose what he was going to do. Abbygail came back with tea, the rest of the biscuits, and some cream for her tea. Tea without creme had always been tasteless for the girl, who had received a lot of remarks since her childhood. They are the only remarks she received since she used the spell.
"Thank you, Miss Bennett. Hogwarts still misses you. Think it through this year. You could pass your OWLS at the ministry and begin your sixth year with Mister Potter." Remus studied the face of his almost niece. For the first time, she seemed to really think about it. She didn't answer but all hope was not lost. Remus always had a lot of hope for others. "Besides, where is this boy?"
"Harry is in his room, doing his homework. I'm going to bring him back"
"At least, a good point for the wolf!" The first time Severus talked it was about Harry. Remus was not surprised and was not offended by being called wolf. That was what he was, a wolf, a monster. " Thank you, Severus." The potion teacher didn't like Remus, he was one of his enemies. He wasn't the worst of the four Marauders. But he was close to Lily, she might have whined about him a lot of times after the incident. He appreciated that contrary to everyone else, who avoided him, feared him or on the contrary looked at him as if he was nothing other than a stupid death eater. Remus was always perfectly calm when he answered Severus' mean comments. He admired his calmness and goodness. Severus had succeeded in killing the only woman he had ever loved. Both of them could have been friends, both of them loved to learn. Severus knew his want for revenge was childish, but the other man had wanted to kill him.
Without a Sound, Harry descended the stairs with all the discretion he had. That was pretty good, but the old wizards had a good view! " Harry, my boy. How are you?"
"Very good, Professor." Even if Harry was calm again and the dark circles under his eyes had reduced, the boy didn't know how to lie. Dumbledore smiled back. He was not 'very good', but saying it could mean that he was on the right track. At least for Albus, because Remus didn't want him to fall into the denial phase. The worst phase for those who are around. The anger, he could deal with it, even if James's son could be as stubborn as his father. Even Severus seemed surprised at seeing Harry this way. Abbygail was happy to not be the centre of attention anymore.
"We are here for a critical reason, since the capture of Lucius Malfoy at the ministry.." The simple words on this subject made Harry sad and unable to understand another word of the discussion. Thankfully for him, Remus and Abby were focused on following the conversation. " Severus has succeeded in making Lucius' son join us. Thus, we are looking for a Home for Draco. We prefer to make sure of his loyalty before showing him Grimmaud Place, so we thought of here."
"So If I understood correctly, you don't want to risk Sirius' home but for Remus' you don't have any hesitation." Harry's anger came back in full force. His mind had came back to the discussion at hearing Draco's name. " As I was saying, before Mister Potter stopped me, we are sure about Draco's loyalty but we don't want more risks than necessary."
"So, put a death eater's son in the same house as the boy who lived, who is moreover his worst enemy, is not taking a risk for you?" Surprisingly it was Abby who answered. "Miss Bennett, those childish fights have to stop. It's the perfect moment to do so."
"Albus, I'm not sure, it's the perfect time." Remus didn't need to say that Harry was still fragile, it was clear on his face. Seeing Draco again, whose father was here when Siris died would be complicated for Harry, for him too by the way. But he saw Albus' eyes sparkle, he knew he had lost the fight. He had a last chance. "Severus?"
"Lupin, I'm against it as you are, but I had discussed it all day without success. So can we please agree soon to allow us to settle in rapidly?"
"Us?"
"I'm not going to let my godson's life be in the hands of two Griffindors." Both Gryffindors looked between them with no hope. They are both going to live with their Hogwarts nemesis. " So it's perfect! And for next Sunday, Remus do not worry anymore about Molly, severus will be here." Yes, Remus would not worry anymore about letting Harry with the Weasleys and that he may not want to come back. He would let him with Severus, he may not find him alive.
With some more words let Albus eat two or three more biscuits. The two men left. The two Slytherins would come back next Saturday. The three of them had seven days to make a plan to survive this summer.
"We should talk!" Abby said she was the least concerned by this news. But she loved the family-like relationship they had for the last few days and didn't want it to change. Harry had become a brother to her. She didn't want this old fool to change his family. It was time for her intelligence to come save the things she believed in.
