Family Ties

Family Ties

"Ron!" Hermione Granger said. "That was one of the most horrible jokes I've ever heard!"

Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Gypsy Stone sat in the drawing room of number twelve Grimmauld Place. Ron had just told a rather nasty joke that seemed to entertain bother males, but Hermione glared at Ron furiously and Gypsy punched her boyfriend in the shoulder. "Harry, don't laugh at that! All you men do is take advantage of women. Honestly."

"Oh, c'mon Gyp! You know it was funny! You just have to--" He stopped quickly as Gyp gave him a glare that could kill.

"Oh Gypsy. You always spoil our fun," Ron said, trying to hold back fits of laughter.

"Tell those jokes when we're not in here. Then you can have all your laughs," Gypsy replied, brushing a lock of dark hair out of her gold-brown eyes.

The door to the drawing room opened and an old house elf entered the room, looking around at the occupants in malevolent way. "Traitors in Mistress's house...she would not like that."

"Kreacher!" Gypsy exclaimed angrily. "Gah! Do you always have to just...appear like that?"

"Kreacher is sorry," Kreacher said, bowing. "Kreacher would never be sorry to a pig like you," he muttered furiously under his breath.

"So sorry. Didn't catch that last statement," said Gyp calmly.

Kreacher didn't answer her but muttered angrily. Gypsy smiled. "Yes. That's what I thought. Now do you think since you're up here you could get us all some Butterbeer?"

Kreacher shook his head and stared up at her evilly. "Kreacher is cleaning. He his very busy and doesn't have time to be sent on silly errands."

"Okay, fine. I'll get them myself. Stupid excuse for a house elf," Gypsy said, got up, and left the room to Hermione's reproaches about being kind to house elf even if it was Kreacher.

Gyp turned the corner to the kitchen and was startled to hear voices debating fiercely.

"She's not ready Remus!" Molly Weasley yelled.

Gypsy walked closer towards the door, debating whether to stay or go.

"What do you mean she's not ready?!" Sirius Black said, sounding quite angry.

Gypsy hadn't heard a retort from her former professor, so she could only guess he was standing against the wall choosing not to take part in the argument, even though it seemed to be about him and some girl.

"I've know Gyp ever since her first year," Kharana Rivercross said quietly. "She's just like her mother, Molly and I personally think she's been ready for a long time. Heck, she has a right to know."

They're talking about me. Gypsy thought. What am I ready for? Without thinking about interrupting something she burst into the room.

"I want my daughter back Molly! Surely you understand that!" Remus burst out angrily, not noticing Gypsy had come in.

Gypsy stood stock-still and stared from Remus to Molly and back again. "Excuse me?"

Molly stuttered, Remus blinked, Sirius cleared his throat, and Khar muttered, "Uh oh..."

The sight would normally been quite funny to Gyp, but the situation was so serious that she hardly noticed. "Er...I'm sorry if I interrupted anything. I'll just, um, get some Butterbeers and be on my merry way..." She edged towards the cupboard, her brain working furiously to process Remus's last statement.

Remus, ignoring Molly's protests, stopped Gypsy. "Wait a moment, Gypsy."

"Yes, Professor Lupin? I told Harry, Ron, and Hermione I'd just be a minute," Gypsy said.

Remus cleared his throat. "You don't have to call me Professor Lupin."

"Why not?" Gyp asked, sounding slightly suspicious.

"Erm...well...you remember the law they passed a few years ago, about half-breeds and wizards not getting married?" Remus asked, looking nervous.

"Yeah," Gypsy said, leaning against the wall and crossing her arms across her chest.

"Well, your mother and I were married before that law was passed," Remus said, rushing through the sentence.

"So you two were married. But my Mum had me with my real father."

"Who was me."

Gypsy stood stunned. Remus...her father? No, it wasn't like that... Why had no one told her? She had lived the better part of her life with the Weasley's, as her father was Molly's brother. "I've been living at my aunt's house for nine years and I had a father, but no one bothered to tell me??"

"I wanted to tell you Gypsy! Really I did! Especially when I was at Hogwarts! We just thought--"

"Just thought what?" Gypsy asked Remus angrily. "That I was to young to know that I had a father? And that my father was a werewolf?"

Remus looked slightly hurt at her tone. "I really wanted to tell you."

"I'm sure," Gypsy said, and spun towards Molly, Khar, and Sirius. "And all of you knew too? Aunt Molly, you've known since I came to you? And Khar, you've known since you met me in my first year! Sirius, you could've told me in the Shrieking Shack! But no, no one bothered to tell me, the one who it would effect the most!"

She turned on her heel and made to leave the kitchen, but Khar caught her shoulder. "Look, c'mon. I know how you feel. I've been through this sort of thing. You just have to, well, get over the fact that no one told you."

Gyp wrenched her shoulder out of Khar's hand. "Get over it?! How can you expect me to get over this? I had a father for all these years...no one told me.... You've never been through this, Khar! Something like it, but not this! Oh, and Dad," she puts mocking emphasis on the last word. "I doubt I'll be living with you for a while." She stormed from the kitchen and ran to the room she shared with Hermione and Ginny, slamming the door behind her.

Sirius looked after Gypsy, then at Khar. "No one told her I'm her uncle."

"Shut up!" Khar said, and whacked him in the head.

Remus stared at the door Gypsy just left through, and then sank to the floor, his head in his hands. "It wasn't supposed to go like this...not like this...."

Khar walked to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Moony. She behaved like any normal teenager would've."

"I know," Remus moaned through his hands. "But I didn't want to believe she'd be like that even if I knew it was coming. I should've told her...it's my fault..."

"It's not your fault," Khar said firmly. "She'll come 'round. I promise."

Gypsy lay on the bed in her room, looking out of the window. No one told me Remus was my dad...I never knew...But Remus is my father...Dad, man that word sounds nice...I have a dad again... Gypsy drifted of to sleep, the fading light of the sun falling across her face.

It was almost eight o'clock when Gyp woke up again. She groaned and rolled over, but then remembered the afternoon's events and sat bolt upright. She needed to go apologize to her father. She really did want to live with him.

Gyp jumped off her bed and catapulted herself down the stairs. She heard the familiar noises of dinner being finished and strode into the kitchen.

"Gypsy makes an appearance!" Fred exclaimed as he put his dishes in the sink.

"Shut up, Fred," Gyp said, walking towards Remus.

Remus turned around upon Gypsy entrance into the kitchen. "Gyp, I--"

"Dad, wait. I'm...I'm..." Gypsy started to sob. "I'm soooo sorry!! I didn't mean to hurt you...I just...I just was so startled and angry that no one had told me!" She cried bitterly into her father's chest.

Remus looked slightly alarmed, but recovered himself and wrapped his arms around his daughter. "It's okay. Really."

Gyp looked up at Remus. "You don't hate me do you? Will you still take me if I wanted to stay with you?"

Remus smiled. "Of course I don't hate you and yes, I would love to have you come live with me!"

All the sadness disappeared from Gypsy's eyes. "Really? Are you serious?"

"No, but he is," Remus said, pointing at Sirius.

"Look, now. No using my name in puns!" Sirius said. "Remus, that was corny."

"I can't help it."

"Ooh, Remus. Be glad that you don't have to give her 'The Talk'! Man...the birds and the bees from a teacher," Khar said.

Gyp shuddered. "Eee...Fred and George told me that years ago..."

Molly looked at Fred and George. "Oh really?"

"We're going to go play Quidditch...byee!" Fred and George disappeared outside.

Harry walked over to Gyp and kissed her. Gypsy smiled. "Is there anything else that I need to know?"

"I'm you're uncle. Your mum was my twin," Sirius said, laughing.

Gyp looked stunned then laughed. "So, I'm related to you."
Harry kissed Gyp again and whispered into her ear, "You wanna go play a game of strip Exploding Snap?"

"I heard that," Remus said casually.

"What?" Gypsy asked. "We just wanted to play Exploding Snap."

"Exploding Snap, yes. Strip Exploding Snap, absolutely not. Having me as a father is a double-edged sword, Gypsy my dear," Remus said.

Gypsy muttered something inaudible. Harry pulled her into a hug and muttered into her ear, "Can you wait till we get back to school to play?"

"Of course," Gyp muttered back.

Remus hadn't heard, but Khar had and she snickered.