Chapitre 1204: Visit to the Lupin Household Ⅱ

It was past noon when Rowan floo'd to the Lupin home. She emerged in a farmhouse in the country. The plaster is smooth white, and the wood support beams are sturdy, polished, and dust-free. Much of the home is cozy with tartan throw rugs and floral decorations to liven the home.

Waiting patiently for her to arrive is a tall, thin young man with russet hair and his hands in his pocket. "Hey Rowan," Remus flashed a glistening white smile at his friend.

"Remus," Rowan returned the smile, "your home is quite lovely," she said as she glanced around. There are still muggle pictures of Remus with his family along with enchanted moving photos and a more recent addition of a bundled infant held up to the camera.

"Thanks," Remus said before falling silent at hearing the muffled voices of his parents wafting downstairs. "What say, we head outside for a bit?"

"That will be just fine by me," Rowan swiftly agreed not wanting to hear the ongoing discussion of the Lupin couple.

The air is relatively warm but not as bad due to the cool shade offered by rows of trees. From the outside of the house, the stonework is visible with red tiles as large patches of ivy creep up the sides of the stone farmhouse. There are fields surrounding the home with a small creek on the edge of the property. The two of them walk over to the edge of the creek.

Taking off their shoes and socks, Remus and Rowan dip their feet into the cool creek water as they sit underneath a tree. The two of them sit at ease in silence. Neither feel they have to speak to fill the silence.

After some time, Rowan says, "So, how are you doing?"

Remus sheepishly runs a hand through his russet hair. "As good as I can be," he admitted, "it still hurts at times." He added after a pause, "I really did like her." He left unsaid the part that he still liked Mary MacDonald.

"That you did," Rowan murmured in agreement and leaned back against her hands. "So, have you visited Peter yet?"

"They're staying with Mrs. Pettigrew now that his cousin has moved out," Remus shuddered. "I've been over several times and Mrs. Pettigrew dotes on Quyen like no other. I would make light of it, but Quyen is absolutely blossoming under her care. I don't think Quyen's parents were the affectionate type.

"That would be an understatement," Rowan deadpanned.

"Though Peter did ask me to be the godfather of his child," Remus wryly added. "Just because I'm the responsible one among the marauder's that doesn't mean I am ready to have that kind of role and responsibility thrust upon me."

"You worry too much, Remus," Rowan easily retorted. "You're just supposed to show up with gifts and spend some time with the kid during the holidays."

"Right," Remus appeared rather unconvinced. "We both know it would be much more than that if anything were to go wrong, Rowan."

"Sheesh, such a worrier, this one," Rowan rolled her eyes. "When did you become so cynical, Remus?"

"After my soul was sucked dry by the responsibilities of being the Gryffindor Prefect," Remus darkly murmured. "I can tell you right now, if I end up as Head Boy, I am not going back to Hogwarts to finish our 7th year!"

"So dramatic," Rowan murmured, "I would say Sirius rolled off on you, but he was much too busy playing quidditch these past years. The blame likely lays with Terry."

In a very Terry-like fashion, Remus cocks his head to the side and smiles.

Visibly shuddering, Rowan screeches, "Ug. Don't do that!"

Chuckling Remus shakes his head causing his eyes to glint with a touch of gold in the light. Still amused, he says, "Sirius invited me to visit his family next week."

Rowan makes a wary expression. "Well, just make sure to act all proper-like with his family."

"My dad is a pureblood and a Ministry official, Rowan," Remus shrugged. "I know how to behave myself. And besides, I was tutored by the best," he left unspoken by who, but they all knew it was Terry.

With a mischievous grin, Remus impishly added, "Besides I invited Terry and Sylvia over as well."

Rowan stared wide-eyed at Remus in surprise as Remus pulled his feet out of the creek. "We ought to head back," Remus dried his feet on the grass. "We wouldn't want Mum to be seduced by Terry."

"I was under the distinct impression that your father did not favor Slytherin," Rowan subtly remarked as she dried her with a non-verbal spell or the use of a wand. She winced slightly but the pain was bearable, more like a prick of a needle. Uncomfortable but bearable.

"Naturally," Remus cheekily answered, "the visit of the three of you ought to ruffle his feathers."

At that moment, Rowan realized a series of facts. Firstly, Remus is petty as hell and passive-aggressive, to say the least. Secondly, it was far too late to save Remus. He had without a doubt been corrupted by Terry. Lastly, she didn't know if to be impressed or disturbed by that realization.

Heading back across the grassy plain, the two of them return to the Lupin home. The two of them enter the farmhouse only to find the father of Remus waiting for them. Remus gestures at Rowan to come and sit next to him.

Having met Lyall Lupin during one of Professor Kettleburn's lectures on Ghoul Studies during her second year, Rowan found that Lyall Lupin looked much better than before. He still greatly resembled his son, Remus, both tall and thin with russet-colored hair. The two of them are mild-mannered, yet Lyall Lupin has more of a defiant sparkle rather than a gleam like Remus did in his eyes. She had to admit that Lyall Lupin looked a great deal younger than before now that he didn't have to worry about the Lycanthropy of Remus.

"Mr. Lupin," Rowan courteously bowed before sitting down next to Remus. "Thank you for having me today."

Lyall Lupin did not speak but merely nodded his head in acknowledgement electing to remain silent.

"A belated congratulations on your promotion within the Department for Regulations and Control of Magical Creatures on becoming the head of the branch of Non-Human Spirituous Apparitions. It was a rather delayed promotion that should have occurred earlier to a world-renowned authority on the subject," Rowan graciously said.

Remus pointedly gazes at his dad to respond. Lyall Lupin takes the hint and says, "I thank you for your kind words and overly generous praise, Miss Prince."

Thankfully before they can fall into an awkward silence, the flames in the fireplace turn a sickly green. Emerging from the floo hearth first is a thin young woman with sharp features. Her blue-gray eyes searched the room before relaxing upon recognizing her two friends. Tugging her dark sleek hair behind an earlobe, Silvia Flint moves to the side.

The flames roar green, and a much more flamboyant manner emerges from the fireplace a delicate-looking slender young man with floppy hair. Terry Greengrass's hazel eyes immediately take in the scene. Without being promoted, he offers a basket filled with goodies such as a bottle of fine elf-wine to Lyall Lupin.

"I and my betrothed are most delighted to have been invited to the Lupin home," Terry graciously offered the basket to the older wizard. "We are most pleased to be permitted to meet with our dear friend in common, Remus."

At the sound of voices, Hope Lupin emerged from the kitchen and blinked in surprise. "You did not say more friends would be joining you, Remus!"

"Sorry mum, I forgot," Remus innocently shrugged. He raised his hand over his heart in a solemn pledge. "I promise it's just the two of them."

Seeing the gift basket, Hope approaches to take it in hand. Terry elegantly first kisses the back of Hope Lupin's hand. "It is aboustely a pleasure to make your charming acquaintance, Mrs. Lupin," causing Hope to be charmed with the young man.

"Oh you," Hope flushed in delight as she accepted the gift basket.

Rowan refrains from rolling her eyes as Remus holds back a smirk at his father's stone-like expression.