Inimicus- Charlie Weasley

16

{November 1993}
Fifth year

It isn't that Charlie Weasley did not want to be nosey. He just didn't care about anything but himself, his family and friends. But adding Hope Black to the mix changed everything. He now cares for her more than anything.

Charlie personally went looking for Mrs. Macmillan and Professor Lupin to tell them he knew where she was. Of course they accepted this help and followed after him no questions asked.

When they reached the stone circle, what Charlie didn't expect was to find is Archie already sitting with Hope-comforting her. This alone angered him. It should have been him.

"Hope?" Mrs. Macmillan spoke distracting the two teens who were sitting in the ground against one of the rocks.

While Hope sighed heavily attempting to make it obvious that she did not want to speak to either of them, Archie stood up in a panic, unsure on what to do or say.

"Can we have a moment alone with Ms. Black, Mr.Williams?"

"Of course professor." Archie nodded. He quickly gave Hope a small smile before he began walking off accompanied by Charlie. There wasn't an ounce of doubt in him, he knew Charlie was going to question him once again. And like Hope, he is tired of his bullshit.

Meanwhile, Hope managed to stand up when her mother and Remus moved closer towards her. "I don't want him here." She admitted not once looking over at them.

"Hope, I really-" Mrs. Macmillan began.

"I said I don't want him here." She repeated.

Rasalas MacMillan sighed as she glanced at her former lover. Right then and there Remus knew she was telling him to leave. Rasalas was choosing her daughter over him all over again and although it hurt- he knew why. To his own daughter, to Hope, he was a nobody. That's the only reason he walked away. He wasn't going to argue when he knows he would lose.

As soon as he was gone, Rasalas turned to her daughter. "This was not how I wanted to tell you. Your father and I-"

"He is not my father." Hope cut him off.

Rasalas only sighed and corrected herself. "Henry and I wanted to wait until the break." The woman began and this alone left Hope frowning as she glanced over at her mother. When she referred to her father- she didn't realize she was talking about her stepfather Henry. Merlin he's the only man she will call father, Hope loves him and just like she would for her mother, she would give up her life for him. "Hope, we wanted to talk to you about it first. Hope I did not know he was going to be here."

"Were you ever going to tell me who he was?"

"Hope, there's things you don't understand."

"I would If you tell em! That's the thing,  you won't tell me!" Hope snapped. "Mom, I am not a little kid anymore. You can't keep hiding things. Because then I find out by others, or like this. It should have been you telling me!"

"I know- I just wanted to wait until you become of age. I wanted to tell you and let you decide if you wanted to get to know him, if you wanted him in your life. I wanted it to be your choice and I was going to stand by whatever you decided. Hope, I never suspected that he would become a professor."

"But he is and now I look like an idiot."

"You do not, Hope." Rasalas walked over to her daughter full of guilt. Her expression said it all. The mother delicate reach for her daughter's face trying to get her to look her in the eye. "Listen to me. You are my daughter, and i failed you and I'm am sorry about that."

Hope sighed. "Mom, you did not fail me." Hope sighed. "Mom, what was so wrong with me knowing? What would have happened? What would it have coast?"

"Everything." Rasalas admitted. "Hope there are still things you do not know about Remus. Things that I'm sure one day he would want to tell you. And if I told you, you would ask and I wouldn't know what to say. Let me put it this way. Your father stayed away because of who he is, and I resented him for that. All he wanted was to keep you safe as did I. I couldn't let Evan nor his family, or mine know that you were not his daughter. There war was bad and I only survived because I kept this secret with me for years. I stayed loyal to my husband."

"So you faked everything and lived a miserable life for me?" Hope asked. "That makes me feel worse."

"No." Rasalas admitted. "I did not fake it my love for Evan. Hope we all have flaws. I had a choice, and at the time I felt like I did not. I chose with my heart. I chose to marry Evan because I did feel loved. When I married him, I cared deeply for him. But it was months into our marriage that I realized I did love him."

"Did you ever love my fath-Remus?" Hope corrected herself.

Rasalas thought for a while. She had thought of this many times, knowing that perhaps one day Hope would ask. At the time she knew she never wanted to lie to her daughter. She wanted to tell her the truth and the whole truth just as she has been doing. But now, she was scared to admit it. Perhaps because Remus was now going to be back in her life whether she wanted it or not.

"I thought I did, but I realized it wasn't love. At least I don't think it was. If you asked him I'm sure he would tell you a different answer. Remus and I had been seeing each other for a couple of months. I had asked him to be my boyfriend."

"What!" Hope smiled at this. The thought of her mother being brave enough to do this amazed her. It wasn't even the first because she's heard the story of how her mother and her father Henry got together. It was Raslalas who made the first move because Henry was too afraid. Especially since she had lost her husband- he did not want to rush her or know when it would be the right time.

"Frankly we didn't even last a month together. Everything went to chaos the moment he found out I was with child."

"But why?"

"As I said before, he will have to be the one to tell you."

"Mom?" Hope gave a really a really look.

"I'm not changing my mind. Remus will talk to you when he is ready. It's his secret." Rasalas paused as she glanced over at her daughter who still had an annoyed expression. "Hope?"

"Yes."

"Just do one thing for me."

"Anything."

"When Remus finally does tell you, I want you to keep an open mind. No matter what. Regardless of everything, he still a good man, do you understand me?"

"I'll try." Hope admitted. This left her over thinking everything. What could he possibly have to tell her? What would make her think of him differently than she already does.  "Mom?"

"Yes?"

"I missed you." Hope admitted as she pulled her tightly into a hug. "I missed you a lot."

"As did I." Rasalas held her tighter as tears formed in her eyes.

While the two stood there holding tightly, two people showed up. Only one them ran and joined the group hug and this made Rasala tear up more and she held her children tighter.

Young Regulus had never been so happy to see his mother. She was the only one that understood the expectations he should be holding as a Slytherin, and they always left him stressed. He hated having to pretend. Regulus wasn't rude, he didn't judge or have a bad bone in his body. He just didn't state his opinions he didn't agree with anyone in his house. Especially not his cousin Draco who he has fought too many times in the common room. And due to the two being family and in the same house, not to mention Snape was always protecting Regulus, Draco despised his cousin. Outsiders did not know the truth. They assumed they were close family.