Silvia and the Rising Moon [EDITING]

5. Aunt Lita's House

     Aunt Lolita Lupin Einrich was eight years younger than her brother, Lyall. She was a staunch pureblood who married young to another pureblood, a German wizard named Gustav Einrich, thus making her legally affiliated with the most notable wizarding family in all of Germany. They had one daughter, Blaire, a chubby girl with jet black hair, blue eyes, and a cleft lip. She was six weeks younger than Silvia but at least three inches taller. Silvia didn't care to meet the lot of them.
     It was four in the morning on Thursday when Silvia was suddenly dragged from her bed to go to Aunt Lita's. They left without giving her a chance to say goodbye to Remus. She cried the second that she and her father apparated at the front gates of the Einrich estate. That's when the horrible feeling hit her once again that she would be away from her mother and her brother for what would feel like an eternity. She sobbed and Lyall held her close to his chest, cradling her in his arms.
     That's when he appeared, a tall man with jet black hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to glow in the light of the waning moon. His shining mustache twitched as he commanded the assistance of a house elf that trailed behind him. It twitched once more as he muttered "alohomora" and the front gates dropped all that magically bound them. Then, he shoved the timid elf forward. She shook as she struggled to quickly push the door open for Silvia and her father.
     The man stood upright, pleased at his well trained elf. "Umbree, go inside and prepare a pot of tea and bring three clean teacups for our guests," he spoke in a thick German accent. What he had said was hardly understandable to Silvia's English ears.
     "Yes, master. Right away, master." Umbree, a rugged elf with big, floppy ears proclaimed as she scampered away.
     The man continued to stare at Lyall and Silvia. "Welcome, my dear guests. Please, come in. It's good to finally see you again, Lyall, after all of these years." He pulled Lyall close as the two shook hands. "It's a shame that my dear Lita refused to have your family over." His voice dropped to a murmur."It's an even bigger shame that someone as smart as you would destroy your family name by breeding with some muggle."
     Lyall held his tongue begrudgingly. He placed Silvia on her feet and patted her on the back. "Let's go, sweetheart," he said as he followed Gustav Einrich down a stone path leading to the estate. She held on tightly to his arm as they walked, residual tears sliding down her face.
     The two stepped through grand ebony doors and into a large entry room which revealed wide marble stairs and ebony railings. To the left sat the parlor. Umbree the house elf was already leaning over a tray of empty teacups, pouring boiling hot water into them. She dropped a sugar cube and a mint leaf into each of them before gracelessly dismissing herself.
     "Have a seat, but, please, be mindful of the delicate rug," Gustav explained, motioning toward the hippogriff skin pelt placed in the center of the room. "Please, my fine guests, feel free to view my accomplishments. Many of my finds are from Bulgaria and Romania. I am very distinguished there."
     Lyall nodded respectfully, but stared only at the hippogriff skin. Silvia looked around the room slowly at the magical creatures whose skins hung from the walls and or sat stuffed on the fine parlor tables. She placed herself in a large leather armchair. A stuffed bandicoot sat on the table beside her. She scooted away from it as quickly as possible.
     "Impressive, yes?" Gustav asked her as she glared apprehensively at the little creature. It stood with one leg up, as if taking a step forward. It's dark eyes stared blankly into the distance. "Caught that one in Aussie. I travel there quite often as well. The ladies love going on vacation with me," he said, motioning upstairs where his wife and daughter slept.
     Silvia looked away and shook her head. Gustav frowned.
     "If that doesn't impress you, my dear, I know what certainly will. This is one of my first finds. Caught him in Germany when I was only sixteen. It's really what inspired me to do this professionally. Take a look, child, it's right behind you."
     Silvia turned slowly, worried about what she might find. Suddenly, she realized why her father stared only at the hippogriff skin on the floor. She looked on in horror at what hung before her.
     The skin of a werewolf.
     She suddenly remembered the feeling of Remus sniffing her as she sobbed in the tunnel. She heard him growl and scamper away.
     A chill ran down her spine as she looked into the werewolf's frozen eye.
     She remembered finding Remus not long after, in a bush nearby.
     This skin before her was once a person, once a child. Maybe even once a brother to a girl like her.
     Within seconds, she started screaming in total horror. Tears streamed down her face. It felt as though her throat would burn away and her tears would permanently plaster her face. Lyall stood watching, speechless, as she threw herself from the parlor chair and onto the hippogriff skin. That's where she buried her face, consequently destroying its sleek feathers.
     Lita Lupin Einrich hurried down the elegant marble stairs wearing a silk robe. "Oh, Gus!" She screamed, "what on earth is that awful sound?"
     Silvia made a low, loud, guttural sound now. Her face was smashed in the hippogriff skin.
     "The girl is apparently afraid of dead werewolves!" Gustav said, angrily, pulling the hippogriff skin out from under Silvia's body. "She also trashed one of my finest skins! Was zur hölle?"
     "Gustav! Be kind! She's just a girl," Lita said. She crouched down next to Silvia, who was now laying on her side as tears dripped off of her nose. "Her poor brother is sick, they don't even know what's wrong with him, but they want her here so she's safe. Can't you just understand, Gus? She's upset and scared. Not every child finds joy in looking at dead animals!" She picked up Silvia and held her carefully in her arms.
     "Sohn einer hündin," Gustav said under his breath. "Have Umbree send her to bed. I'll send Herr Lupin on his way."
     "That won't be necessary, Gus," she responded quickly. "I'd like to see my brother after all these years. You can fetch Umbree and have her send my niece to bed. Off you go as well," Lita demanded.
     Gustav obliged reluctantly, calling for the house elf. He stormed away, stomping aggressively up the cold staircase.
     Suddenly free of his stupor, Lyall knelt down and kissed his daughter on the cheek apologetically. "I'll be back here on Saturday for the trial, darling. In the meanwhile, be good for your aunt and uncle. Get some sleep. Remus will be all better when you get back, I promise. I love you."
     "Love you too," she said softly before following Umbree the house elf, who guided her carefully up the marble stairs to her bedroom.