Silence is Deafening

Chapter 2

"Come on Lizzie, we really have to be going now." said a quiet but stern voice. I was pulled out of my dreamless sleep, opening my bleary eyes. "Can't it wait until tomorrow?" I groaned, pulling myself into a sitting position anyway. Remus chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. "I'm afraid not." he said, rubbing his eyes himself. He turned on his heel and left, leaving me to question why I had to have a nightmare last night, because I was exhausted.

"Tea?" Remus called from the kitchen.

"Please!" I shouted, hunting around my room for a cloak and tried to smooth my curly hair against my head. It did no good, and I scooped it up into a low ponytail.

I quickly tucked my wand into my cloak pocket, brushed my teeth and headed downstairs. Remus smiled at me and pushed the mug of tea toward me. I took a small sip, my face contorting at the temperature.

"Now, I have a list of your school things here. Let's see here...Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5. Yes, yes. Potion Making for Advanced Years...I was always rubbish at potions. Defense Against Dark Artistry, Grade 5...very good spells to know. Now, these don't look too hard to find." Remus said, speaking more to himself than to me. I was staring out of the window now, starting to feel a growing anxiety over the upcoming school year. I didn't really know too many students who went to Hogwarts.

Of course I had met a few. Remus was apart of the Order of the Phoenix, which was a group of elite witches and wizards that opposed You Know Who's reign and protected people from him. My parents were also very avid Order members, and I've frequently heard their names come up in hushed conversation between Remus and other members.

I had met all of the Weasley family, as they were very prominent in the Order. In fact, Ginny Weasley and I seemed to get along very well anytime we see each other. I had only met their friend, Hermione Granger once in passing, but I think she had her nose buried so deeply in a book she would hardly remember me. Then there was Harry Potter, probably the most notable Hogwarts student that I knew, was a very nice and short of shy boy. I had met him a few times over holidays, and I knew that his parents and my parents were very good friends. My father, Edmund, had been in Gryffindor with his father, and they were quite fond of each other. Dad and Remus were always the closest, while James was closest to Sirius. 

Sirius. My heart gave a painful squeeze. He had been killed just a few months ago. He was one of my parents' friends, and I was particularly drawn to his protective nature. He was so kind to me anytime he met me, and would frequently tell me that my parents would be proud of my high marks at Ilvermorny.

He had been murdered, by none other than Bellatrix herself. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Bellatrix was the root of so much pain for so many people. My parents, the Longbottoms, Sirius...she was the cause. I bit my lip in anger.

"What is it?" Remus questioned quietly, obviously noticing my sadness and anger that seemed to flare up out of no where.

"I was just thinking about...Sirius. I- I won't be able to see him this year. I don't even remember the last time I did see him. Last Christmas, perhaps? I don't know." I shrugged, suddenly paying very close attention to stirring my tea.

"I do know. I miss him terribly, as well. He was...a very great man." Remus stated simply, before clearing his throat. I observed him turn away rather quickly, and mentally decided not to bring up Sirius again. "I'm ready to go whenever you are." I said, hopping up from the small table I had been sat at. I quickly drank a few hearty sips of my tea, cringing as it burned it's way down. Remus turned back to me, his eyes a tad bit red, and smiled. "Excellent. I stopped at Gringotts last week and withdrew some money for you from your vault. I hope that's alright. It should be enough to cover your school things, and some weekends at Hogsmeade." He said, a twinkle in his eye. I looked at him with a questioning look. "Hogs--what?" I said, cocking my head to the side. "Hogsmeade. I forgot I have never taken you there. It is a small wizard-only town right outside of Hogwarts. The school allows some older students to spend weekends there, and there's quite a bit of joke shops, sweets and food to last you. It's very pleasant there, I believe you'll enjoy yourself." Remus said. I nodded as he fastened the bag of coins to his waist.

"We will have to go by Floo Powder. We could apparate, but I don't want to take any chances until you become a bit more skilled with it. Now, come along. We don't want to be late. I believe that Arthur and Molly are in Diagon Alley today, too." Remus said thoughtfully. My stomach calmed at the possibility of seeing Ginny. I didn't know if I would call her a friend, per say, but she was the closest thing I had to one here. Part of me wishes I would have started out at Hogwarts, so that I didn't have to be the new student so late in my schooling. However, my parents made their wishes very clear: I was not to attend Hogwarts unless it was more safe than Ilvermorny. Remus had obviously made the decision that it was, and I still didn't fully understand why.

We stepped into the rather large fireplace, and Remus fumbled with the powder bag. "Take hold of my arm, Lizzie. I'd like for us to end up at the same place." He said, smiling at an inside joke in his head. I quickly looped my arm in his, wondering where else I could end up if I didn't. The possibilities were quite endless, in the wizarding world.

"Now, we should end up close to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. Remember--we must get your school things first before buying any non-necessities." Remus warned, and I rolled my eyes significantly.

"Remus, I'm 15. You don't need to tell me that. I know!" I laughed, patting his arm patronizingly. He looked at me sternly, which only made me giggle more. I knew when Remus was being serious and stern, and those were the times that I would shut up and listen to him. This was not one of those times.

Remus cleared his throat and took out a large handful of powder.

"Diagon Alley!" He cried, throwing the powder down at our feet, and we spun rapidly, disappearing from our small home.