Complex Languages

4- The Language of Abandonment

The Lupins sat around the dining room table playing the board game Clue. Because Faith was a mystery novelist it was her most cherished game, and she typically won.

"Miss Scarlet killed Mr. Boddy in the conservatory with the candlestick," Faith accused. When no one could prove her incorrect she peeked inside the envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL. "Yes! I -" The doorbell chimed, preventing what was sure to be a lecture pertaining to how she came to the conclusion. She merely attempted to assist the others in becoming improved players, however, it tended to put them to sleep.

John opened the door and gasped, "Albus! To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"

"Good news, I am glad to say." A tall man with a long white beard and even longer silver hair stepped inside. He removed his star-studded cloak and inspected the other three shocked Lupins serenely over half-moon spectacles. "Hello, my name is Professor Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts."

"I know who you are. You discovered the twelve uses of dragon blood, defeated the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, and-" Remus blushed and immediately closed his mouth once Dumbledore chuckled amiably.

"Hogwarts? That's where Dad went to school," ten-year-old Romulous commented.

"It is," John agreed, closing the entranceway. "I thought Dippet was the principal."

"Armando saw fit to retire and, though the ministry wanted me as minister, I was only too happy to accept when he offered me his former position."

"That's wonderful," congratulated John sincerely. He enlightened his family: "He taught Transfiguration, and was always my favourite teacher." Next, he returned his attention to the visitor. "Why tell us this?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Aren't your children turning eleven in a few weeks, old enough to be admitted to places of magical learning?"

"Indeed, but Romulous doesn't have gifts of that sort, and Remus..." John's voice trailed off uncomfortably. "Remus wouldn't be accepted."

"I am well aware of Remus' condition. Have I or have I not acquired a promotion that gives me the power to make exceptions to unfair rules?"

"You mean, he could go?" John had whispered his question with reverence akin to someone who had seen an angel and was afraid it would disappear if he spoke too loudly.

"Of course not!" Faith exclaimed. "Who would take care of him? My baby needs me."

Eliminating the argument that threatened to ensue between Mr. And Mrs. Lupin, Dumbledore asked Remus calmly, "What do you want?"

Remus blinked. Clearly, he was not consulted often. Romulous was the only the only one in the household that seemed to believe he wasn't too weak to make his own decisions. "It would be nice to be around other kids that can do what I can, but I definitely do NOT want to go if I might hurt someone."

"Within five minutes you've demonstrated a keen mind and a concern for others above your own desires. It would be a shame to let that go to waste." Dumbledore smiled at everyone present. "It just so happens that I've, rather cleverly I must admit, devised a way for Remus to transform at school without endangering the other pupils in the least."

Romulous excused himself whilst the wizened warlock commenced explaining something about an aggressive tree and tunnels into a hog's mead village or whatever. He went outside and swung listlessly from the old tire.

"Romulous?" A streak of gold headed towards him from across the street. Sapphire. Why was she coming over again? He did not particularly mind; yet it perplexed him that she seemed to prefer the Lupins to her own relatives. "How're you?" When she quit running the sunlight did not reflect as blindingly off of her ridiculously long hair. Sure, it was lovely, yet Romulous could not understand why anybody would want to brush all of that everyday.

"Been better," he muttered.

"Oh?" she prompted.

"I can't go into detail about it."

"Just give me an overview, then. Or talk to Remus. He's a sweetie; I bet he'd help." She had become best friends with the twins, though it was remarks like that caused him to be under the impression that she favoured Remus a bit, and she deserved to know something if Remus was leaving.

"Rem is probably going to boarding school."

"Without you?"

"Yeah. He's got some special permission."

"Like a scholarship?"

"Sort-of."

"But you're both good students, and nice chaps. The only real difference is that he's a poet and you're an athlete. Why wouldn't they take both of you?" After he shook his head, refusing to answer, she said, "Are you upset? I certainly don't want him to go."

That was a significant issue: Did Romulous want him gone? Like Remus, he was not an envious individual. However, it would be nice to have more attention from his parents and teachers, and even Sapphire. Upon entering pre-teen years, Romulous was beginning to notice just how pretty she was.

Succeeding this, Romulous considered how he and Remus studied together. The way that when he confessed that he enjoyed dancing Remus had listened, not laughed. In fact, he replied that liked dancing also. It had filled him up with an even better feeling than when he'd been throwing a ball inside and broken a vase, and Remus had told Faith and John that his powers had gotten out of hand, which saved both of them from punishment. Plus, there were times when they would sneak downstairs at night and heat up hot chocolate, and watch rated PG-13 that their parents forbid them from viewing. Both had a strange obsession with chocolate that no one else comprehended...

"I don't want him to go either." Romulous covered his face with his hands, yet he did not cry in front of her. Or Remus. Or anyone. He refused to divulge the depth of his pain to a single soul because if Remus obtained the information he might not go. Romulous would not allow his better half to sacrifice his dreams for him.