Swallowing Stormclouds

Chapter 9

"Remus" I say, my voice muffled against his chest. "What are you doing here?"

"Farther, mother, what brings you to Hogwarts?" Draco also inquires of his parents. Remus sighs a deep sigh, but offers no explanation of his presence.

"Aria dear, welcome to the family." Lucius beams, he smile both charming and creepy at the same time. I feel bile rising in my throat and I look up to Remus. He closes his eyes for a second as if praying that this is all a dream.

"Ari love, I'm sorry I can't do anything for you, not until you come of age." I look at him, puzzled.

"Your mother, she anointed Narcissa your legal guardian when she gave birth to you, should anything happen to her, thus I am also part of that agreement as Narcissa's husband." The room spins and I grab onto Remus's arm to steady myself. He catches me and places an around my shoulder. I cling to him, afraid to let go.

"What does this all mean?" Draco finally breaks the silence that had befallen the room.

"Do try and use the wits I blessed you with." Lucius says dryly directed at his only son. Draco shrinks back a bit at his father's sharp tongue. "This means, that come summer break Aria will be returning to the manor with us." Lucius finishes off.

A sob rises out of my mouth. "Remus say this isn't true. Please." Remus simply looks down at me, his bottom lip trembling slightly. He hugs me to him again and I fight the urge to start balling right here in front of everyone.

"I'm afraid it is true Miss Seraphine." Interjected a sharp, shrill voice. Umbridge. I seethe in my mind. What a toad of a women.

"Where's Dumbledore? He'd never make me leave with these people." I spit.

"Now now." Lucius drawls. "Is that any way to refer to your new guardians?" he laughs a short laugh, it seemed forced and ugly. "That blood traitor has fled. No one knows where he is, he can't very well protect you from the shadows can he, not unless he wants to give himself in and he clearly cares about himself far more than his students."

I frown. That doesn't make sense. Where could he be? "Ari listen to me, I'm not allowed to take you back with me this summer, not any summer until you're of age and can decide for yourself where you want to go, but you will always have a home with me, you know that right." I nod, teeth clenched, not trusting my words.

"Oh blah blah, stop prolonging this and be on your way, matter of fact, I don't understand why you are even here, you have no relation to Aria and therefore have no reason to be present." I swallow back a colourful retort.

"Might I have a moment alone with my God Farther" I request through gritted teeth.

"mmm, no." Came Umbridge's short reply. "As Lucius pointed out you have no reason to be here and therefore are dismissed." She finished, aiming her response towards Remus.

"I just want a short farewell." Remus spoke, almost pleading.

"Absolutely not. Please be on your way Mr Lupin. An unsupervised visit with an underage witch with whom you have no relation to is not allowed." Umbridge's shrill voice pierced our ears and I felt sorry for Remus whose sensitive ears must be feeling tortured.

"Them I shall supervise." Came a calm and collected new voice. I turned to the doorway and saw a dishevelled McGonagall standing rigidly. Her demeanour screamed anger and she was still in her sleeping gown. "And speaking of inappropriate, holding an audience with a member of my house without my presence is completely immoral." She took a long stare at both the adult Malfoy's and then Umbridge. "Remus, you may say your farewell to Aria in my office. As her house leader I am more than qualified to act as an appropriate and legal authoritative figure." And with that McGonagall turned on her heel and walked out of the door. I didn't stop to think and followed suit. My hand held firmly in Remus's.