Begin Again (George Weasley/Draco Malfoy)

One.

My father abandoned my mother when she was pregnant with me. She raised me on her own, and so far she's all that I have ever needed. For 13 years it's just been her and I together in our big, hidden Manor in London. My mother comes from what in the Wizarding World is called a Pureblood family. The only Pureblood family to be primarily in Hufflepuff House.
   
My mum always told me I looked like her, except for my eyes and my hair. That was all my dad, apparently. I've never met him. I didn't even know his name until Christmas time my first year at school. A friend of mine, Draco Malfoy, started asking me questions and I realized that I didn't know anything about him. So I asked my mum questions finally.
   
She told me his name was Remus Lupin, they dated when they were in school together, and according to her he was a good man. He was just absolutely terrified of being a father. He's a werewolf, you see, and because of this he thought he would curse me, but he didn't pass on his condition to me. She begged him to stay but he refused, so she didn't force him to stay. By the time my mother had figured that out she didn't didn't have any idea where he was to be able to tell him.
   
It never bothered me that I didn't have a dad in my life. My mum loved me enough for both of my parents. I had good friends. My friend Draco was an only child. We met right before we started at Hogwarts at Diagon Alley. He offered me a seat next to him and we ate ice cream together. He said my eyes matched a gemstone that his mother wore on a necklace called Axinite. He started calling me that as a nickname. I called him Moonstone, because it was the only other stone I thought of that matched his coloring.
   
I learned quickly that even though we were purebloods that we had different ideals. We were able to become friends as long as he did start talking like his father. He didn't think that Muggle Born students should be allowed in, but I knew he was just scared that they would do better than him. His father was a scary man, and I knew that. He told me about the act he has to put up around his friends. If he didn't, and word got out that he didn’t he'd be in trouble at home. He was a different person when he was with me. 
   
We sat in the back of the library together. Near the Restricted section where it was dimly lit. We did homework together. He told me that he really appreciated me helping him out with homework. And, and at the end of term back in June, he kissed me. It was unexpected, but I didn't not like it. I had a crush on him for a good moment so I was glad to know he liked me too.
   
Draco wasn't my only friend at school. When we got to school first year I had met a red-haired boy named Ron Weasley and a dark haired boy named Harry Potter on the train ride there. I knew who Harry was, everyone did. His parents were murdered when he was a baby by an evil wizard called Lord Voldemort. He was raised by his Muggle Aunt and Uncle.

Then there was Hermione Granger, a very smart girl in our year. We weren't friends straight away but we got there eventually. Then there were Ron's many siblings; his litter sister Ginny was starting her second year this year and she was a sweetheart. Not towards Ron though, but to everyone else she was super nice. And then there was Fred and George, Ron's older twin brother's. They were two years ahead of us.
   
My friendship with the twins started when I pranked them back in my first year. They were trying to get Ron, but got me instead. I got them back. They were impressed by my skills. Being an only child I never got to prank anyone before I met Fred and George. We kept it civil, most of the time. Ron says George is always asking about me. Ron thinks George has a crush on me, I think he's just trying to see if I've told Ron what my next prank was.
   
Then there were the girls in my dorm. In Hufflepuff House. There were five of us total. Sadie, Hannah, Amala, Jude, and I all occupied one of the dorms. We all became close pretty quickly. I was closest with Jude. She and I were Beaters together on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team.
   
So, as you can see, I had a good life with plenty of friends without my father.
   
It was almost time for me to go back to school. My mum and I got a room at the Leaky Cauldron for the night where the Weasley’s are staying, too. Hermione was with them, and we hugged each other so tight and I said hi to Ron as well. That was when Fred and George walked down the stairs. They look like they haven't had a haircut since before Christmas, and I’m probably right. I knew the twins were planning on growing their hair out, which they certainly have.
   
The twins both sit over at a table, and I overhear my mum say something about getting me some new robes, shirts, skirts, and pants for school because I was now too filled out and grown for my old ones now. I watch George shift in his seat as he hears her say this, too.
   
That’s when we start on our mission to find Harry. We heard he blew up his Aunt into a human balloon, whether it was on purpose or an accident we didn’t know just yet, but we do know he didn’t get kicked out of Hogwarts so that’s good. Tom, the barman and owner of the Leaky Cauldron, told us he checked out already, but how? Where was he going to stay tonight? We needed to find him. We started at Madam Malkin’s, because I needed new robes for school, but Harry wasn’t there. Then we went to Flourish and Blotts, thinking maybe he was getting his books, but he wasn’t there either. It wasn’t until we were all at the ice cream shop that we found Harry.
   
He was staring at the newest broom, the Firebolt, through the window. Ron was very excited to see his friend. “Harry! HARRY!” he called and then Harry walked over to us and joined us at our table. “Finally!” Ron breathed. He then told Harry all the places we just were while looking for him, Harry tells us he bought all of his school things last week. Ron was showing off his new wand, since his old one was now done. It’s 14 inches, Willow wood, containing one Unicorn tail-hair.
   
Hermione had bought herself more books than necessary, I knew we were taking Ancient Runes and Arithmancy together this year, but she had gotten far too many books. When she mentioned her mum and dad gave her some money to buy herself a birthday present, Ron made fun of her for buying books, which she just shrugged off like she normally did when Ron made comments like that.
   
She said then that she actually wanted an owl, so we headed to the pet shop to do so. We passed the twins outside of the joke shop, and George noticed us walking past through the window and was staring again. Ron mentioned he wanted to get Scabbers something because he hasn’t been eating much and was getting thinner than usual. Hermione ended up not getting an owl, but a big, fluffy orange cat called Crookshanks. He and Scabbers hissed at each other, Ron didn’t like it at all.
   
We headed back to the Leaky Cauldron then, and we found Mr. Weasley reading a copy of the Daily Prophet at a table. He was most delighted to see Harry. There was a photo of Sirius Black on the cover. I sigh out loud, “So they still haven’t caught him, then?” I asked.
   
“No,” says Mr. Weasley. “They’ve pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far.”
   
Just then my mum and Mrs. Weasley entered followed by the twins, newly selected Gryffindor Head Boy Percy, and Ginny. They were all holding bags of their newly purchased items. Mrs. Weasley gushed about how Percy was the second Head Boy in their family after Bill.
   
“And last,” said Fred.
   
“I don’t doubt that,” says Mrs. Weasley, “I noticed that they didn’t make you two Prefects.”
   
“Why would we want to be Prefects for?” Asks George, sitting across from me at the table, “It would take the fun out of life.”
   
Ginny giggled.
   
“Think of the example you’re setting for your sister,” scoffed Mrs. Weasley.
   
“Ginny’s got other brother’s to look up to, Mother,” said Percy, loftily, “I’m going to go change for dinner.”
   
With that he retreated up the stairs.
   
“We tried to shut him in a pyramid while we were visiting Bill in Egypt,” says George then, “But mum wouldn’t let us.”
 
   
The ministry lent us some cars for our ride over to King’s Cross station that next morning. There was only one thing I was looking forward to going back to school, and that was seeing Draco again. He and I have grown even closer over the summer with all of the letters we have been wiring back and forth. I was so ready to see him in person again now that we’re closer.
   
It was raining and very foggy this morning as we arrived at King’s Cross, and we huddled together to make sure we didn’t lose anyone. Mr. Weasley takes Harry aside as we start to make our way to the train. I enter the train and tell Ron and Hermione I will see them at school and go find my Hufflepuff friends that I haven’t seen since last term back in June.
   
I saw Draco as I was passing through the corridor of the train. He gave me a small smile that I returned to him. My friends were so happy to see me, just like I was to see them. Jude had her little sister, Lollie, sitting next to her. She was in her first year this year. She kept her nose in a book for most of the train ride. Almost halfway through the trip, the train just started to slow down until it was at a full stop. Looking out of the window we knew we couldn’t be at school already by now.
   
The windows started to freeze over, and the entire track looked like it was covered in ice. “Dementors,” I say standing up. “It can’t be. Why are Dementors on the train?”
   
I exited the booth just in time to see a jet of light come from a cabin and I ran over to it. Harry is on the ground, unconscious. An older man, who is probably between the ages of my mum and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, is now propping him up as he begins to come to. “What happened?” I ask, “Was it a Dementor?”
   
“It was,” says the older man, “He will be just fine. He just needs some chocolate.”
   
The older man’s eyes are on me then, and he keeps them there for a good moment, looking at me intently. Ron’s voice rings out, “Oh Adelaide, it was terrifying.”
   
“Adelaide, this is Professor Lupin, Professor Lupin this is Adelaide Fawley.”
   
Professor Lupin. I repeat the name in my head. Not my father, Remus Lupin. It couldn’t be him.
   
We both stare at each other, either I was looking at my dad or someone related to him. Either way, I was looking at a family member of mine that I have never met before. Harry makes a noise, indicating that he was awake and the train begins to move again.
   
“Nice to meet you, Miss. Fawley,” he says standing up now, “Excuse me, I should go hunt down the trolley witch and get this young man some chocolate. He’s going to need it,” I watch him, frozen in place, as he walks right past me. Hermione is giving me a curious look, but I just walk away heading back to my friends looking and feeling shaken.
   
When we arrived at school, I knew I would find out who this Lupin guy really was, because Dumbledore always introduces new professors by their first names. We watched the sorting, and we all cheered for Jude’s little sister Lollie when she was sorted into Ravenclaw. Sixth Year Cedric Diggory, as usual, was sitting across from us, greeting the first years as they came to the table. After the sorting, Professor Dumbledore started his speech.
   
“Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few announcements to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast.” He paused for a moment to clear his throat, “As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business. They are stationed at every entrance of the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises – or even invisibility cloaks. It’s not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to our Prefects and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors.
   
“On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.” This was it. The moment of truth for me. “Most of you know him already, but our very own gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid has agreed to take over Care of Magical Creatures on top of his gamekeeping duties,” he motioned an arm over to the man who may or may not be my father, “And, I introduce Remus Lupin as our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.”
   
He had said those two words. Remus Lupin.
   
Ringing in my ears takes over all sound, my stomach is in knots. My brain starts to come back to reality as I hear someone saying my name. It was Cedric. His icy blue eyes on me and worry evident in his tone. “Adelaide, are you okay? You look like you’re going to be sick.”
   
I shake my head, “I’m fine,” I assure him, but it’s a lie.
   
When the food comes out, I begin to fill my plate, but it’s no use, I am not hungry. I couldn’t tell if my mum was going to be happy or furious at this news when I told her who my newest Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor is. Maybe she already knows? Maybe he reached out to her and told her, but asked her not to tell me? I had no idea, and it was making my head spin.
   
I tell Jude I was going to the bathroom, and I didn’t know Jude was following me until I was already in the bathroom. Tears had started to form in my eyes by the time I noticed her. “Adelaide, what’s the matter?” She asks, softly.
   
There was no use in me lying to her telling her that I was fine, when I was obviously not fine. So, I decide to trust her. “Professor Lupin is my father.”
   
She stares at me intently. She knew I never knew my dad, but I have also mentioned that I didn’t know his name multiple times before. “I thought you didn’t know your father.”
   
“I don’t,” I tell her, “I don’t know him at all.”
   
“Yes,” she says, “But I thought that you didn’t even know his name.”
   
I cross my arms over my chest, leaning against one of the sinks, “I asked my mum what his name was a long time ago, actually.”
   
“Oh,” she says, softly, taking in the news, “Did you even know that he was going to be here this year?”
   
“No,” I answered, shaking my head. “I had no idea, and I don’t think my mum did either, because she would have prepared me.”
   
“I’m sorry, Adelaide,” she says, hugging me then. “You should eat something, you’ll feel better if you eat something.”
   
“I’m not sure if I will, but I guess it could be worth a try.” I say sheepishly and shrug at her. We head back to the Great Hall then. Where they had already started the second course. I ate despite my stomach threatening to reject every bite, and I did feel a little bit better after I ate.
   
I tried my hardest not to look over at the staff table, but my eyes did wander over there a few times. I didn’t catch eyes with my father though, not even once. Once we were all situated in the common room for the night, Professor Sprout came in there, which was an odd thing for her to do.
   
She found me, and passed on a message to me, “If you wish to, Professor Lupin would like to see you in his office straight away,” she told me, “and don’t worry, we’ve already cleared it with Dumbledore so you won’t be in trouble for being out of the common room this late, no matter what Filch may say.”
   
“O-okay,” I say, nodding to her, she walks away from us then, leaving the common room.
   
I slowly made my way to Professor Lupin’s office. I was about to be alone in a room with my father for the first time in my entire life. To say that I was nervous would have been a total understatement. I knocked on the office door, just beyond it sat my father, who was waiting for me. He calls for me to enter, so I do.
   
“Hi,” I say walking into the room, closing the door behind me. “Professor Sprout said that you wanted to see me, Professor Lupin?”
   
“Ah, yes indeed, Miss. Fawley,” He says motioning to the seat in front of his desk, “please, have a seat.”
   
“Okay,” I say, and I make my way over to his desk and sit in the seat. What was I doing here? I shouldn’t have come. My heart is pounding against my ribcage.
   
“So,” he begins, folding his hands in front of him, “I don’t want to keep you too late, and I would have had this conversation with you on the train if Harry hadn’t fainted. But I just want to talk to you about some things. Starting, I guess, with do you know who I am or do you need me to tell you?”
   
“I know,” I say nodding, “You’re Remus Lupin, my father.”
   
“Ah,” he says, nodding and looking down at his hands and then back to me. My mum was right, we do have the exact same eyes and hair color. “I see your mother has told you more than I wished of her to. It’s alright, I knew she would. I knew Delilah would be too good natured of a mother to be able to resist the curious questions that you were bound to have as you got older. So, tell me what else you know about me.”
   
I begin to rattle everything off that my mum has ever told me about him, “Well, I know according to my mum you were a good man. I know you were friends with Sirius Black, a man named Peter Pettigrew, and also the Potters, and that you met my mum through Lily. I know you loved Defense Against the Dark Arts. I know you were terrified to be a father, which caused you to leave us. I know you helped Dumbledore fight against Lord Voldemort. I just learned your name about two years ago, and she also told me that you’re a werewolf.”
   
He nods, that was what he was trying to find out. He didn’t care that I knew he was friends with the Potters or that I knew that he liked Defense Against the Dark Arts class, he wanted to know if I knew about his condition. I should have known that’s what he really wanted.
   
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell anyone,” I assure him. “My mum explained everything about werewolves to me, and I know you’re only truly dangerous once a month. The rest of the time you’re just a normal human being, but not everyone thinks that way, so I won’t say anything.”
   
“I appreciate that,” he says, giving me a smile, “You are a lot like your mother, which I guess is account for the fact that she raised you by herself.”
   
“I’m not a werewolf like you are,” I say, kind of blurting it out. I figured that he might also want to know that, too. “My mum said that was a big concern of yours – that I would be like you – but I’m not.”
   
He nods his head again, “Well, that’s wonderful to hear.” The kettle that was over the fireplace begins to whistle. He stands out of his seat and walks over to the fireplace, taking the kettle by the handle. “I know it’s getting late, but would you like some tea?” He asks, walking the kettle over to where he had the cups ready.
   
“Um,” I say, “Yes, sure, thank you.”
   
He makes two glasses and walks them over to the desk, placing mine in front of me. He folds his hands in front of him again. “Now, I know that I can in no way shape or form make up for the last 13 years of your life, but, if given the chance, I would like to start being a part of your life, if you allow me to do as much.”
   
“Oh,” I say, looking down at my own hands now. “Really?”
   
“Of course,” he says, nodding and smiling. “If you’d like to speak to your mother about it first, go ahead. You two can figure it out together if you’d like. I don’t mind waiting for an answer, even though I’m sure Delilah will tell you that it’s up to you and what you want to do. I understand this is a big decision, but just know that I would like to get to know you and that I would like to be in your life from this day forward, Adelaide.”
   
“Um,” I say, sipping the hot tea now, “I think I would like to talk to my mum about it first. I’ll send my owl out tonight, and I know she will reply right away.”
   
“That’s not a problem at all,” he says, smiling at me again. He had a very kind, welcoming smile. I liked it. It almost made me feel kind of safe. He picks up his cup of tea then and takes a sip, and with that smile back on his face again, he says, “So, tell me a little bit more about yourself, Adelaide.”

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Here's part one!

I wrote this story a long time ago. I figured it was time I shared it.

Her mom, Delilah, isn't a cannon character to the HP Universe. I just want to make that known. I made her up for the story

-Emily Winchester.