Withered Promises (Sign It Series; BOOK 3)

Chapter 1

Madeline Lupin was not one to spy.

Okay, maybe that was a lie. Madeline Lupin was one hundred percent one to spy; feeding off of drama like a bird feeds on worms, which was how she found herself in the situation she found herself in.

Her grandfather had left to get some food a few minutes earlier, leaving the twelve year old to fend for herself until her father returned. The full moon had been the night before, the 28th of August, and Remus had yet to return to the house he shared with his father and daughter. Maddy, of course, was anxious about her father's late arrival, but Lyall had assured his granddaughter that Remus would be fine; he always was.

She sat on the top step, reading a book, her wand at her side in case any unwanted visitors decided to show up and she needed to show them who was boss. She had her leather jacket perched on her lap, as if afraid she'd lose it if she let go despite the blistering heat.

She stood up when she heard the door crack open and her father's signature call not echo through the abandoned house. She put her book down on the step, grabbing her wand, slipping it in her pocket, and throwing the jacket over her shoulder. When the door came into view, she found herself staring at Tonks.

Maddy could still see the slightly pale scratch across her scalp line from when she was knocked out in the battle a few months before, more prominent due to her dark hair. Her eyes were so light blue that they were almost see-through, like a fragile porcelain doll.

Tonks' hair lightened slightly when she saw Maddy and her lips drew into a small, pained smile. "Hey, Maddy. Love the t-shirt." Her words lacked the usual enthusiasm that Maddy had come to expect from the metamorphmagus.

Maddy glanced down at her outfit, taking in the cropped 'Weird Girls' shirt she had stolen from Ginny when she had visited the Weasley's at the beginning of the summer. Thank you, Maddy signed, slightly awkwardly due to the jacket draped over her arm.

Tonks cracked her knuckles, looking around the empty house. "Is Remus not home?"

Maddy shook her head.

"What about your grandfather?"

Maddy shook her head again.

"Would you mind if I waited?"

Maddy shook her head for a third time. Would you like tea? Asked Maddy.

Tonks contemplated for a moment before nodding, "No milk and two scoops of sugar, please."

Maddy gave a thumbs up before walking into the kitchen.

She took the jacket and set it on the back of the high chair beside the island and pulled out the tea kettle. She filled up the tea kettle with water from the sink and placed it on the stove top. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she watched the tea kettle. Tea was the only thing she knew how to make, having taught herself over the summer to be able to make her father a cup when he was too tired to make his own. The first few times had been disastrous, ending in similar ways to her potions escapades that made her grateful Simon wasn't around, but by the beginning of August, she had managed to successfully boil water.

Once the kettle whistle, she quickly removed it from the heat and made the tea how Tonks had asked. Stirring the sugar in softly as she walked, she made her way to the sitting room where Tonks was waiting.

Before she got there, however, she heard a familiar voice call out. "I'm—" Remus Lupin's voice stopped so abruptly, Maddy almost thought he was hexed until he spoke again. "Oh, Tonks, I didn't know you were here."

Maddy could clearly see the confused and shocked look etched on her father's face, maybe mixed with a slight lovesickness that always came when he talked about Tonks.