Arranging a Trade

[Kris Lupin]

Kris held onto the necklace Sirius had gave her, "I just don't understand why he flirted with someone else when he told me he loved me and gave me this necklace." She felt confused about him, "What if he had really been with that girl when I was being kidnapped? And only helped me out of guilt?" She looked at the strawberries but couldn't eat anymore of them.

[Remus Lupin]

Rupert wasn't really quite prepared to offer her relationship advice. He still barely knew his daughter after she'd been raised by someone else for so long. And he'd never had to deal with adolescent relationship issues at all. Still, he tried his best. "Well, Kris, I don't know how to tell you this, but guys... guys are jerks. Sirius is very young, and he's just getting used to the idea of going out with girls at all... a part of him can't help but look around and wonder what else is out there that he might be missing. He still cares enough to try and help you, so that has to mean something. And the fact that he thought about whether you'd have something to eat... he does care about you. But you're going to have to talk to him and see where things really stand. Try not to worry until you do that."

[Kris Lupin]

Kris nodded, "H-how long am I going to get to stay with you before having to go back?" She asked to change the subject. She bit her lower lip and tried to keep her mind off Sirius, she stared at the strawberries and finally picked another up and placed it in her mouth to eat.

[Remus Lupin]

"Well, you do have to go back to school," Rupert replied. "I want to make sure you get a proper education. But you can stay with me for the rest of the weekend, if that will make you feel better. But I think you need to have that talk with Sirius as soon as possible. The longer you put it off, the harder it's going to be."

[Kris Lupin]

"I know... I.. I just think I should wait until I feel the time is right..." Kris said quietly looking at the table. She wondered if Sirius really cared about her or if she was just a girl to him.

[Remus Lupin]

Rupert smiled at her, and reached across the table to pat her hand lightly. "Well, good luck," he said. "I know it's not easy, but I think everything will work out for you. If it turns out that he's not the right guy for you, I know it will hurt, but you'll be better off for knowing it. And you can talk to me anytime you're upset, OK? I may have been a lousy father to you so far, but I want to make it up to you."

[Kris Lupin]

Kris nodded, she was glad he was in her life again. "It was her fault he found us... she said she had made a deal with him..." She bit her lower lip as she rubbed her wrist absentmindedly. She wished it had never happened, she wished it had been her and not Remus.

[Remus Lupin]

The abrupt change of subject left Rupert confused for a moment. "It was her fault? What do you mean? Are you talking about something Norah did? Tell me what she said to you."

[Kris Lupin]

"She told Greyback where we lived.. she said she made a deal with him just so she could have me..." Kris said hugging herself, "She said he was suppose to leave me alone and only turn Remus."

[Sirius Black]

Jun 19, 2008 13:24:13 GMT -5 James Potter said:

James gave a quite chuckle. "That's just the way they are," he replied. "They have to make things hard for us. Other than that, I wish I knew some other answer to that question." James started to eat some of his ice cream. He knew that Sirius should say something to Kris about Amy, but he wasn't sure what to tell him to say.

Sirius was lost in thought as he ate his ice cream. It had already been a long day, and he was anxious to get back to school. He was going to have to talk to Kris, and probably to Amy as well. He just wasn't sure what he was going to say to either of them. He knew he was going to have to make a choice, but the very idea of it depressed him.

He sat, swirling the melted remains of his ice cream around in the little cup, trying to figure out what to do. "We should probably get back soon," he commented with a yawn.

[Remus Lupin]

(I'd like to end this thread soon, so the boys can get back to school.)

Remus nodded and glanced over at Kris and his father. "I don't think Kris is quite ready to go yet," he said. "Nevermind that we were the ones who saved her, she doesn't seem to want anything to do with us. She'd rather talk to Dad." He frowned deeply. Unlike Kris, he had heard what his father had said to Norah about Kris. Having been a werewolf longer than Kris, his hearing was a lot stronger. For some reason, hearing his father say that he would do anything to make up for what Kris had been through only managed to make him angrier. Yes, he was happy for Kris, but it didn't change the fact that his father had lied to him for most of his life, letting him believe he didn't have a sister. Now, seeing them bonding while he was left out, he actually felt sort of... jealous. It was like he was the burden, the problem child. It probably would have been better if his parents had kept Kris and sent him away instead.

Back at the other table, Rupert gasped at hearing that Norah had made a deal with Greyback. "She what?" he repeated angrily. "You mean to tell me she was in on it all along? This was all her fault? That little... I can't believe I was so stupid... Can you ever forgive me for sending you off with her?"

[Kris Lupin]

(ok)

Kris shrugged, "I think I'm getting closer to being able to but I don't think I can right now." She bit her lower lip as she looked at the table, she started feeling bad that she was there talking to her dad and not the others. She tried and failed to hold back a yawn, she hadn't slept much while being tied up.

[Remus Lupin]

Rupert saw her yawn and realized it was time to get the kids back to the school. "We really should be going in a bit," he said. "Do you want to stay with me for the weekend, or would you rather go back to the school?"

[Kris Lupin]

"I want to stay with you." Kris said as she rubbed her eyes, she knew she should have that talk with Sirius but she didn't want to leave her father yet.

[Remus Lupin]

Rupert nodded. "OK. I'll stay in Hogsmeade for the weekend and you can stay with me. But on Monday morning, you'll have to go back to school, OK? I don't want you to miss any classes." He stood up and held out his hand to her to help her up.

[Kris Lupin]

Kris took her father's hand then stood up, she wanted to forgive up but she wasn't sure if she could. She glanced over at her brother then Sirius, she wondered what they were talking about. She didn't like not being able to trust Sirius but she just had a feeling he had been with that girl when she was being kidnapped.

[Remus Lupin]

Rupert led Kris over to where the boys were sitting. "Are you boys just about ready to go back to Hogsmeade? I can apparate with two of you at a time, and come back and get the rest. I don't want you to have to take the Knight Bus back."

[Sirius Black]

Sirius shoved aside the remains of his ice cream. "Yeah, we're ready to go," he said, speaking for the others. It's already been a long day for us, since we had to go out before everyone got up." He looked at Kris worriedly. He could tell that she was still upset and distrustful of him, and he hoped he'd have time to talk to her when they got back to the school.

[Kris Lupin]

Kris kept her eyes on the floor as she waited to leave, she held onto her father's hand scared that she might get taken away again. She bit her lower lip as she wondered how Remus was feeling with all this. She wanted to forgove her father for everything but she couldn't, not just yet anyway.

[Remus Lupin]

Remus got up quietly, not looking at anyone. He was still in a bad mood, and he didn't even entirely understand why. He followed his father as he moved out of the ice cream shop and into the main part of Diagon Alley.

Rupert looked at Remus, noticing the rather sullen expression on the boy's face. Apparently, his son had still not forgiven him, and the thought of it bothered him. What could he ever do to make things up to him? Sighing, he looked around at all the children. "Kris and Remus, I'd like for you two to go first. I want to be sure the both of you are safe and far away from Norah. OK?" He took Kris's hand and moved to take Remus's as well.

Remus scowled openly at his father for a minute, then reluctantly let him take his hand. "Let's just get this over with," he grumbled.

Rupert sighed, then forced himself to concentrate on the apparation. With a loud POP, they disappeared and reappeared in Hogsmeade. "OK, you two," he said. "Wait right here. "I'll be back with the others in a minute." Then he apparated again.