The Wolf's Den [Remus Lupin]

20 - Dragons

CW: Contains smoking marijuana and shows abuse

-Alula-

I woke up shivering. My window was blowing all of the papers on my desk on the floor and into the trash bin. I had been writing my apology to the Mulcibers and fallen asleep, knocking over my ink bottle and ruining the parchment.

I checked the clock. It was five in the morning. I'd have to ask someone to clean it in the morning. I rewrote my apology half asleep and changed before tucking myself into bed. After tossing and turning for the remainder of the night, Clinky woke me. "Mistress needs her children up!" She shook me.

"Clinky go away," I groaned and turned my head to the wall but she shook me more ferociously.

"Young madam must get up! My mistress has been asking for her for hours!" Her voice reached an octave I could barely hear. "Mistress has been asking and asking but madam won't wake up!"

"Okay, okay! Fine, I'm up, what?!" I yelled.

"Clinky is sorry, madam." She bowed and I waved at her.

"It's fine, it's fine. What does she want?"

She gripped the bottom of her ripped pillowcase and twisted it in her hands. "Mistress is not saying for what. Mistress says she wants the young mistress downstairs at once, is all!"

I quickly started to wake up, sitting up in bed and running a hand over my face. "Okay...alright. I'm up. I...can you do me a favor?" I asked, glancing toward the door.

"Anything madam!" She squeaked, her ears bouncing with every word.

"Can you clean up that ink? I spilled it last night and–" Before I could finish my sentence she snapped and the ink disappeared. "Thanks."

"Anything else, miss?"

"No, I think—" a yawn interrupted my sentence. "—I think that's all." I stretched out my arms and felt a strain on the arm Finn had grabbed last night. "Just tell her I'm coming down."

"B-b-but my mistress says not to return without the young mistress!" She started to hit her face. "Bad Clinky! Clinky shouldn't be disobeying! Bad! Bad!"

"Ok! Ok! Clinky stop, you haven't been bad!" I grabbed her hands and carefully took them away from her eyes. "It's okay. Just, let me get changed and we can go down together."

"Mm..." she muttered to herself in a hushed tone while I changed into a day dress I knew my mother would approve of. After looking at the clock I could see it was only 6 in the morning. No wonder I felt like I hadn't slept.

We descended the steps together and Clinky led me to the kitchen. Mother was sitting with Binx in her lap, scratching behind his ears and petting his belly. He could've looked comfortable if she wasn't holding him so tightly. "Mistress, Clinky's brought down young mistress Alula, as the mistress asked." She quivered.

"Yes?" I asked, half asleep.

"Lovely morning, isn't it, darling?"

"Hm, yeah, I guess so." I went to sit down to have a piece of toast that was on the table.

"Don't sit," she commanded.

I stayed standing and saw my mother's wand rise to point at me. I braced for another Unforgivable Curse. "That corset is too loose, Alula." With a flick of her wand, she tightened it causing me to gasp. "Now, Clinky?" She nodded and bowed low.

"My mistress?" She asked.

"Go upstairs and fetch me Alula's apology letter." She did as she was told and returned with the letter and an envelope.