Silence is Deafening

Chapter 27

I was going crazy. It had been exactly 26 days, 11 hours and 31 minutes since I first arrived at the Tonks' house, and I was going crazy. It wasn't Ted or Andromeda's fault, they were lovely. Andromeda and I spent many nights by the fire, talking about everything and nothing at the same time. She really was starting to feel like family to me.

Everything changed one Sunday afternoon when I received a letter from Remus. It was short and urgent.

Lizzie,

Need to go to another house. Can't write it in letter, they're being intercepted.

House of Red.

Leave immediately.

Remus

I read over the letter 7 times. Red? House of Red? What was he on about?

Andromeda stood at the kitchen island, watching me with worry.

"I don't know where Remus is talking about, 'House of Red'. Or why he needs me to leave immediately." I said slowly, my eyes never leaving the paper.

Our house wasn't a red color. It was more of a dullish brown. The bricks on our house were chipping, no one in their right mind would call it red.

House of Red.

It wasn't a color of the house. Remus would've written it as the "red house". Who was 'Red'?

Then it hit me. The Weasley's were red. All of them had the same fiery ginger hair. Remus had to mean their house, and he knew I would understand his little riddle.

When I looked up at Andromeda, she was exchanging a look with Ted. Her eyes were filled with anxiety.

"It's happening tonight, Ted. We need to be ready." she said lowly, and my ears pricked up.

"What's happening tonight?" I asked, and Andromeda snapped her head toward me. She smiled, as if she had forgotten I was there.

"Nothing, Lizzie! Don't worry!" She said, a little breathless. I looked at her in confusion, but Ted cut into my train of thought.

"Well, Elizabeth. Do you know where you out to go?" he asked.

"The Burrow. The Weasley's house. Remus...he asked me to leave immediately..." I trailed off as Ted looked urgently at the clock.

"Then you must go at once, Elizabeth. Go, pack your things. I'll prepare the floo for you." He said, clearing the hallway for me. I looked at them both nervously, wondering what was so urgent that I didn't know about. It made me uneasy as I walked quickly back to the room I was staying in. I had my trunk packed in a matter of minutes and was back in the kitchen. Ted and Andromeda were standing by the fireplace, both of them looking at me with worried eyes. I walked over to it slowly.

"Will...will I be coming back?" I asked nervously, looking at the pair of them.

"I don't think so. Not before you go back to school, at least." Andromeda said sadly.

Although I had spent the last few weeks feeling bored and isolated, there was a feeling of sadness inside me at the prospect of leaving the Tonks'. They had been so nice to me, so accommodating to someone they barely knew. I hugged them both, quickly and jerkily.

"Right. Thank you both, for everything." I said stiffly, not able to meet Andromeda's eyes. She sniffled and nodded at me.

"Be safe, Elizabeth. We will see you very soon, I do hope." Ted said, resting his hand on my back as he helped me into the fireplace. I wrapped my arm tightly around Squidge's cage, grabbed my trunk in my left hand and stood up straight. Ted handed me a handful of floo powder and I cleared my throat.