Visit to the Lupin Household Ⅳ

Feeling the judgmental gaze of the three Slytherin youths, Lyall Lupin feels the urge to retreat to the safety of the kitchen. He is thankfully saved by the arrival of his wife. "I made a small lunch for everyone!" Hope announced bringing out a platter of sandwiches, a platter of cookies with a pot of tea as an accompaniment.

"We are simply famished, Mrs. Lupin," Terry sincerely said. "Your presence could not have come at a better time."

"Oh, you," Hope grinned happily at the flattery. "Such a tongue on you, Terry Greengrass."

"I only aim to please, madam," Terry said as he continued to flatter Hope Lupin.

Silvia looked on in amusement while Remus leaned over to say, "I thought it was a joke when you said Terry would end up seducing my mum."

"Once she sees his babysitting skills," Rowan muttered from the edge of her mouth, "your dad won't have a fighting chance."

Remus coughs to cover his laugh, his shoulders shake as he leans down to hide his face in his hands. Red-faced and gasping, he tries to his face straight. He miserably failed and instead looked rather strange with twisting lips that threatened to burst into laughter again.

With a spring in her step, Hope hands out platters of food and pours a good old cuppa of tea for everyone before grabbing a chair and sitting down with her husband. "I know it's a simple meal, but I didn't want to ruin any dinner plans that you all might be having later in the evening."

"Not all, madam, your insight is most sincerely appreciated," Terry unaffectedly said as he took a delicate bite of his ham and cheese sandwich. He took another upon finding the sandwich is rather delectable.

Hope beamed at Terry clearly won over by the young man, while Lyall was most decidedly not.

Rowan hid her amusement. Terry looked like an angel. It's what made it so difficult to believe that he could hide the heart of a sly demon. Though in retrospect, a Veela is a predator by nature. It shouldn't be that surprising.

After lunch, they all thank Mrs. Lupin, before Remus drags his friends outside lest his mother decide to make Terry an honorary son. Once outside and out of earshot, Terry grins triumphantly at Remus. "I told you I could charm your mother."

"More like become my new stepfather," Remus drily countered causing Terry to sputter indignantly at the thought.

Silvia chortles at the remark causing Terry to smile with relief. Even though Silvia had been doing much better as of late, he still worried now that she was back home at Flint Manor for the summer holidays. It had been a good idea to take her out.

Leaving Terry and Remus bickering in good-natured jest, Silvia takes Rowan by the crock of the arm and pulls her back so the two of them can converse in private. "I could feel you peeking at me, Rowan, when you thought, I wasn't watching. Not very subtle at all on your part, I must say."

"True enough," Rowan ruefully shrugged at being caught. "I had been worried," she pointedly emphasized, "moreover, your letters haven't exactly been forthcoming."

"Sorry about that," Silvia quietly admitted. "I didn't think home would feel quite so empty without my father's presence." A sad smile graced her face. "I'm doing better now," she turned to gaze lovingly at Terry. "And as you well know, Terry has never left my side."

The midnight-indigo eyes of Rowan widen at seeing the genuine display of affection of Silvia toward Terry. Not that she hadn't been aware they liked each other, but it seemed their relationship had deepened and grown into love. It made her glad to see their marriage would be one out of love.

"Well, I doubt Terry very well could go and leave behind, Silvia, being as besotted as he is," Rowan gently teased.

A dainty flush crept up Silvia's face causing her eyelashes to rapidly flutter. Her bluish-gray eyes are flustered and dart away. "You've become such a tease, Rowan," she accused her friend without anger.

"Well, blame Terry," Rowan roguishly retorted. "T'was not in my nature."

Silvia shakes her head causing her dark sleek hair to lazily sway. Changing the subject, she says, "Tiffany writes that Sirius is doing much better now," she sneaked a sly peek. "I assume someone gave him a stern talking too?"

"Perhaps."

 Seeing that Rowan neither confirmed nor denied her words, Silvia dropped the subject. "Terry and I visited Bethanie in Baths in the past week," she recounted. "She looks much better, especially Spurgeon and Esmond. We can tell that their guardian, their Great-Uncle Adelmar Fawley truly cares for them."

The unspoken message lingers in the air as Rowan understands exactly what Silvia is hinting at. The belated parents of Bethanie and her brothers were belittling parents to their children in every aspect mentally, emotionally, and physically.

"Baths is rather warm this time of year," Silvia blithely recounted, "but the hot spring waters are only good to use in the early morning or late evenings when the temperature is cool. We even went out to the wizarding market that is run by a sizeable community of wizards from Bel Paese (Italy)."

"Bethanie had mentioned that she was seeking to buy Regulus a gift," Rowan pensively remarked. "I assume that between the three of you, she found a suitable gift."

"We did," Silvia wistfully smiled in remembrance and began to recount their trip to Baths. The two of them continued to chat and settled under the shade of the cool tree to get out of the sun. Terry and Remus did as well and joined them in conversation.

From one of the windows of the stone farmhouse, Lyall Lupin gazes out at the four youths, while his wife, Hope enjoys a cuppa of tea. "Sit down, Lyall, it is most unbecoming of you," she sighed in exasperation. "Remus is with his friends, let them be."

With great reluctance, Lyall Lupin sits down next to his wife. "We already had this conversation, Lyall. I am not going to repeat myself," Hope firmly said gazing at her husband dead in the eye.

"I know," Lyall responded without meeting the gaze of his wife.

"Good," Hope drained the last bit of her tea. "Besides, the three of them are good friends to Remus. They genuinely paid attention to Remus and did not speak over him nor persuaded him otherwise if they disagreed on the subject."

"I know," Lyall admitted out loud in disgruntlement. He didn't like being proven wrong on a subject he was so confident in. His brief time with the three Slytherin youths had revealed their cleverness and slyness but also their good heartedness. He would have to work to change his views on Slytherins not just for his family's sake but his own. He did not like feeling guilt or shame. Yet he did.