Chapter 821 - Start of Winter Holidays (2/2)
Any time any of the Prefect's got a break they retreated to the safety of the Prefect's train compartment including Rowan, who spent her time dozing off. She wasn't the only one as Remus and Lily did too. They had dark circles under their eyes as the Gryffindor's had the great idea to have a party before the holidays as Professor Babbling had approved the shindig as the Gryffindor's total grades had been the highest they had been in years! It wasn't the fact that the party went until midnight but rather try putting to bed sugar-high eleven and twelve years old! It simply did not go well at all. To make matters worse, when the brats woke up, they woke up perk and fresh-eyed with renewed endless bouts of energy! It simply was not fair!
At long last, the Hogwarts Express finally pulled out into the station. Normally, Rowan and Severus were one of the first off, but as Prefect's they had to traverse the train to ensure that everyone got off with their things. Finally, only the Prefects were left on the Hogwarts Express, before getting off. Platform 9 ¾'s is empty of its usual crowd with only the families of the Hogwarts Prefect's still remaining behind.
David Goldstein, Olivia Branstone, and Pandora Ravine are the first Prefect's to exit the Hogwarts Express. The remaining Perfect's are the last to emerge with Remus Lupin being in the lead. Grabbing his trunk from the platform, he turns towards his friends.
”Maybe, I will see you both at the presentation ball, if not, good luck!” Remus happily called out to Rowan and Severus, before hurrying towards his waiting parents in the nearby distance.
Rowan easily recognized Lyall Lupin; a shy, clever man that appeared to be mild-mannered but hid a fierce temper. He resembled Remus with russet hair and gleaming, clever eyes. That and well, Rowan had met the wizard in her second year at Hogwarts.
Standing next to Lyall Lupin, Hope Lupin (nee Howell) was a beautiful welsh woman with brown hair and warm golden flecked eyes like that of her son. Although there was something strange about her causing Remus to skid to a halt before his parents. Remus let out a loud squawk causing his friends, who were gathering their trunks to all turn and stare at him.
Remus visibly gestures at his mother with his hand in shock. Hope Lupin's normally smooth stomach is instead rather round, perturbing stomach. ”When did that happen?” He squawked in shock.
Hope smiles impishly at her son and dramatically replies, ”I suppose if you must know, Remus, it was around the middle of July.”
”By Godric's sword, EW, MUM!!” Remus violently shudders in revulsion and tries not to gag. The thought of his parents, ick, doing that made him turn a bit green around the gills.
”You'll have a little brother named Romulus around April,” Lyall warmly explained to his son, before gently touching his wife's belly. The couple had despaired of ever having any more children, but with Remus now cured and older, they thought adding an addition to the family. It was something they had never thought possible before but now was a distinct possibility. They didn't want a very large family, but one more child would be warmly welcomed into their home.
It was something that Remus had never imagined in a hundred years nor had Rowan. It was a stark reminder to Rowan that things had changed. It was a wonderous and terrible thing to learn as it seemed to only increase the already impossibly high stakes.