Extraordinary

On her way upstairs, she stopped suddenly. Reversing back down them and into the living room where Remus had gone back to dosing. She stood for a second debating whether to ask about it.

Deciding to ask, she opened her mouth to speak when Remus held a hand up to her- telling her to shush- and got out of his chair. He stayed for a moment, looking thoughtful, before setting off towards a cupboard. From this cupboard, he pulled out two small dusty boxes that looked as if they had been in there for a decade (which it had).

He sat back in his chair and held them out for her to take. Hesitantly, she took the boxes from him and stared at them for longer than was considered normal. After a good minute or so of studying the boxes, she murmured a thank you to Remus and started back towards her room.

Once in her room (the one with the door that was painted and drawn on by a younger Em), she sat in the middle of it and placed the boxes on the floor. Picking up the larger one, she turned it over and noticed a note on the bottom: 'I hope you like it, Sweetheart. - Moony'. Upon opening it, she noticed a silver chain laid on a velvet cushion. At even intervals, a loop in the chain would be larger. These were most likely to hang a charm from.

Then opening the second box from Sirius, she found five charms. Presumably to put on the bracelet. A paw print, a flower, a stag, a moon and a star. Clipping each onto the given loops and then the bracelet onto her wrist, she shook it to straighten the charms. She smiled brightly looking at the charms resting against her skin.

She then picked up the boxes and placed them in a larger box, the same box she kept anything to do with Sirius. She missed him greatly, or the memory of him at least.

***

The months leading up to her Hogwarts letter arriving seemed to slink on by, the full moons not going unnoticed.

This was not the first full moon Em had experienced with Remus, the first that she could remember was when she was three.

The night had not ended well. Little three-year-old Em approached the wolf, who had left the forest around the cottage and entered the garden, with an outstretched hand. Having seen large 'dogs' before and they were all friendly so this one should be too, right?

Moony swiped at her, trying to get her away. Blood ran down her cheeks from the fresh scratches across her nose. She cried but she tried so hard to be quiet as to not startle it into attacking again. She went back inside and covered her face with a pillow to soak up the blood and her sobs. She shook with the force of them as she lay on the sofa. The beast carefully came into the house and hunkered down next to the girl. He gently pulled the pillow from her face and licked at her face, apologising and trying to help.

She leant forward and hugged him, crying into his fur not unlike when she laughed into Padfoot's. There they stayed until the two woke with the sun.

Remus seeing what he'd done quickly treated her face all the while apologising profusely and holding back his own tears. He knew these scars would be with her forever, he knew she couldn't stay. He was writing a letter to Dumbledore about putting her somewhere else when the child climbed into his lap. She wrapped her little arms around his middle and said:

"It's okay Uncle Remmy, you didn't mean to hurt me..."

The tears he was holding back were forced out by the girl's words. He looked from her to the letter on the table and blinked away the tears in his eyes. He laughed before hugging her back and placing her on the floor. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the parchment he was writing on.

"Incendio," he said causing the letter to catch fire and become a pile of ash.

This child was his to love and if she wanted to stay, she would.

As I was saying... The months leading to her getting her letter, apart from the full moons, went by unnoticed.

On a warm July morning in a cottage in Yorkshire, Em and Remus were having breakfast. The familiar fluttering of wings and tapping of talons on the window alerted them to a rather stern looking owl with a letter attached to its leg. A hopeful look on Em's face, she takes the letter and gives the owl a piece of toast from her plate.

Turning it over she saw what she had been hoping to see, the Hogwarts crest.

"Remus! This is it! My letter!" she shouted excitedly.

Before ripping it open, she turned it over to make sure it definitely was for her.

Ms. E. Lupin
The room with the colourful door
Cottage in the forest
Sheffield
Yorkshire

Confusion coloured her expression. She had never been referred to as Emeelia Lupin before. Continuing opening her letter, she ripped off the wax seal and pulled out the letters within the envelope.

Gripping the first page she smiled wider as she read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms. Lupin,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

She passed it to Remus as she read the second page:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

- The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
- A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
- Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
- A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
- One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
- Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
- The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

- 1 wand
- 1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
- 1 set glass or crystal phials
- 1 telescope
- 1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK

Her smile turned to a frown upon reading the last part, no brooms? She was excited for everything, of course, but flying and Quidditch was near the top of that list.

"Moony," inquired Em, passing the list to her godfather. "Why aren't we allowed our own brooms?"

He looked at the equipment she would need and nodded absentmindedly before laughing when realising just why they weren't allowed brooms.

"That would be because of James," Remus replied. That had been a rather...hectic day.

She looked pleadingly at him.

"Let's just say more than one person stayed in the hospital wing for a week," chuckled Remus.

Satisfied with his answer she asked him when they would go to Diagon Alley.

"Hopefully tomorrow? When do you want to go, Em?"

She nodded in agreement. Tomorrow was fine.

"Why're you so quiet, Little Moon?" he asked worriedly.

"They called me Emeelia Lupin"

It took a moment for him to realise the mistake in the statement.

"Does that bother you?"

"No," she shook her head and took a moment to think, "I've just never been called that before and... I quite like it."

He smiled discreetly and got up from his position at the table. Picking up our plates and entering the kitchen he shouted back to her,

"We already have most of the books you'll need so you can pick out something else."

Before heading to their shared bookshelf, she pushed her chair under and grabbed her letter so she'd know which books she needed to find. After picking them out she headed back to her room to read them all. She may be the Marauder's child but she's Mini Moony. She may have tried to show she's a little bit of everyone by copying some features from people - Lily's freckles, messy hair from James, Remus’ kindness and bad jokes from Sirius.

She placed a record on her player, placing the needle carefully so it would play her favourite song. 'Patience' by Guns and Roses came from the device causing her to whistle along to its intro.

There she stayed all day. Well, until Remus called her down for dinner.

***

"The Weasleys'll meet us there Remus!" Em shouted, hopping about the room trying to keep her balance while pulling on a shoe.

Her godfather walked into the room and held his arm out which she glared at and continued to put on her shoe. He sighed at her stubbornness, she never just sits down to put her shoes on and she never accepts help.

When the pair were ready they stood at the fireplace. Remus gestured for her to go first, such a gentleman. Em took a handful of Floo powder, ducked as she stepped into the fireplace and said, loudly and clearly, "Diagon Alley!"

She disappeared into the plume of fire and smoke. The feeling of spinning was never a nice one and always made the girl feel as if she would vomit. Soon enough, though, she stepped out of the grate and into the bustling crowd of people in the alley. She obediently waited for Remus as much as she wanted to wander.

A hand on her shoulder let her know that Remus was here. He came closer so she could hear, it was a really bad idea to come on a weekend just after school letters were delivered, "We'll go to Gringotts first, come on."

He grabbed her hand tightly as to not lose her in the flock of families here with their children. She didn't have the time or the height to see all the shops at the moment so she just kept her head down and followed Remus.

Once in the bank, which was almost silent in stark contrast to the street outside, they walked to a goblin and asked for access to their vault. Em wasn't really paying attention until they were being ushered into a cart. It didn't look at all safe but Remus looked calm so it should be fine, right?

Wrong. Once they were in, there should've been a 'hands and legs inside the cart at all times' speech or at least seat belts, it sped up to a breakneck speed. Em's hair, previously in a ponytail, was whipping behind her with her bobble long forgotten. Remus' previously calm expression had become one of fear but exhilarated fear. A look you would see on a person who had decided to ride the largest rollercoaster at the park and immediately regretted it.

The cart made a horrible screech against the rails as it came to a stop before a vault. The already quite pale Remus looked white as a sheet as he got out of the deathtrap followed by an equally ill-looking Em. The two stood in front of the large vault door as the goblin opened it to reveal small stacks of coins. A few maybe fifteen sickles and two galleons. He took the lot. Em gasped at the amount, she knew they were poor but this was... How had he afforded presents for her every year?

He saw the look on her face and shook his head. "I never needed to use it for myself, I always save what we have for your birthday and Christmas."

She spent the ride back thinking about every present, every book, every piece of clothing she's ever gotten from him. She always had new, nice clothes and never went hungry. Remus always wore shabby clothes and ate small amounts. He always gave what he had for her and she felt guilty about that. Still thinking, she was led out of the building by him.

Only when they bumped into... "Dumbledore, I didn't expect to see you here," Remus said with astonishment.

He smiled and said, "For those who cannot afford everything they need, Hogwarts shall always provide." He then handed Remus a small pouch and nodded at the two before apparating away.

"Did he just...?"

"Ten galleons! That's enough for your wand, robes and... everything else!" he said excitedly waving his hands about and shaking Em.

She laughed at his little outburst of energy.

"Alright, I'm going to set you free for a little bit. Don't go to Ollivanders, Flourish and Blotts, Eeylops or the Menagerie without me, okay? I want to be there for that, getting your wand is so important and I need to be there for all of us. Go on then! Have fun," he shouted over the noise of the street, handing her the pouch and shooing her away.

Taking the pouch, she ran straight for 'Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions' to get the boring things over and done with.

Pushing the door open, she was immediately greeted by a witch who ushered her towards a small podium and asked: "Hogwarts, dear?"

"Yes ma'am," Em replied politely.

She looked at the person on her right and recognised him as soon as she saw his hair.

"Ron!" she exclaimed excitedly. If Ron's here then so are the twins.

"Oh hi Em. You got your letter too, then?"

"Yeah, I owled your mum. She said she'd meet me."

"Yeah, she mentioned that... Fred and George are in Gambol and Japes by the way," he said just as the witch was done with him. He stepped down, paid her and turned back towards the lavender-haired girl.

"See ya, Ron."

"Bye Em."

Now, with no one to talk to she stood in silence while the witch finished pinning the robes around her.

"There, dear. You can come back later for them or I can owl them." the witch said kindly.

"Could you owl them please?" Em replied quickly. She really just wanted to finish this interaction.

After being asked her name she was allowed to leave. She headed straight for Gambol and Japes to find the twins.

Pushing her way through the people, she reached the window of the shop and saw the two red-heads staring at a new product on display. She sneaked up behind the pair and clapped them on the back.

"Hi boys!" she said loudly and chuckled when they jumped.

"Hi, Em!"

"Have you seen the new product?" Fred said, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder.

"It looks wicked," they finished together.

"No, what is it?" she said, now peering at it with the two.

"It's a bar of chocolate-"

"But when you take a bite-"

"It shocks you."

"Brilliant," she said in awe. How many times would this work on Moony?

After looking at the price tag, she put it to the back of her mind. Instead thinking if Hogwarts allowed part-time jobs or something to make some money because she really, and I mean really, wanted this joke.

The three got all the boring things they needed together before they split and Em went to meet Moony at Fortescue's.

"Did you get everything?"

"Yeah. All the boring stuff... Can we go for books now?" said Em, her face lighting up at the thought of new books.

"Okay, books. There's only a few we don't have at home but you can pick another two."

"Thank you!" she squealed and took his hand. Skipping and dragging him to Flourish and Blotts.

The ding-a-ling (yes, very technical I know) of the small bell above the door was heard as the two walked in. Emeelia headed straight upstairs, where all the interesting books are.

She ran her hand along the spines but having to stop because there was a person in the way. A girl, about her age, with very bushy brown hair, almost making her perfectly pointed at the top. She looked like Crystal Tipps from that one old cartoon. She was in the way of the books that Em wanted to look at so she interrupted the girls gazing.

"I'm sorry but can I get a book from there," asked Em as polite as she could be when being deprived of books.

"Oh, sorry," she replied, moving out of Em's way.

Em was browsing the interesting titles when Crystal Tipps spoke again.

"Are you going to Hogwarts? I'm Hermione Granger." She asked sticking her hand towards Emeelia.

Not being completely deserted of manners she took her hand, "I'm Emeelia," she paused. "Emeelia Lupin and yes, I am going to Hogwarts."

Crystal Tipps - no - Hermione went back to talking about something or other but Em paid no attention. She seemed bossy and stook up, someone to avoid. Emeelia pushed her hair out of her eyes and picked up a book, 'Legilimency and Occlumency for the open-minded'. Em heard a gasp come from the girl beside her.

"I love your hair, is it natural or did you-" she had only just noticed.

"Yes, it's natural. No, I won't show you more. Goodbye." she sighed and left the girl to her books.

With only one book in her hands, she quickly found another. 'The do's and don'ts of spell making'. Interesting enough. She rejoined Moony at the counter and placed them down. Her hair going red at the roots. Moony sent a furtive glance at the girl worried at why she was slightly mad.

After paying they were on their way to Ollivanders.

"Little Moon, you were mad? Why?"

"Frustrated, not mad Moons. There was a girl who just wouldn't stop talking," she explained. This eased him, almost made him laugh. She was becoming a mixture of the Marauders. He silently wished McGonagall good luck.

They got to Ollivanders which was completely empty. Surprising, considering the commotion outside.

The sliding of a ladder on rails was heard and a head peeked around the corner. "Ah, Miss Lupin. I was wondering when I would get to see you. I remember your wand, Mr Lupin. And your friends, of course, the Marauders, were you not." he said, sliding about on that ladder of his.

"Yes, we were, sir."

Ollivander placed the boxes he had collected on the desk and then commanded: "Your wand arm, Miss Lupin."

She held up her left arm and a magical tape measure measured every possible measurement it possibly could. He watched it carefully before looking at the boxes. He discarded two of the five and unboxed one.

"Here," he said, placing a rather rough looking wand in her hand. "Alder, twelve and a half inches, unicorn hair, fairly springy."

It became apparent, this was not the wand for her. When she waved it, it sent an electrical current through the air, making everyone's hair stand on end. Carefully placing it back on the counter, Ollivander gave her the second wand in his line up.

An intricate piece of work with leaves carved into the handle. Upon the first swish, it was discovered this one wasn't right either. The papers on his desk set ablaze and flew about the place as if a gust of wind had blown through the shop.

The final wand, an elegant one, made of laurel wood with a spiralling pattern that tightened the closer it got to the handle. Fourteen inches, it fit nicely in her hand. Unyielding, a loyal wand and powerful with a dragon heartstring core. When in her hand her arm felt a tingle, a gentle and pleasant tingle. When she waved it, it did what she wanted it to do, undo the damage she'd caused. The papers restored themselves and placed themselves neatly back on his desk.

She smiled and looked back at Remus who gave her a thumbs up in a fatherly way.

"Thank you, Mr Ollivander."

"No, thank you, Miss Lupin. Do you know how long it's taken me to find a witch or wizard this wand likes? This wand is from when my father owned the shop!" he chuckled.

She placed seven galleons on the desk only to have him give her back five of them.

"A discount, as a thank you for taking the wand."

"Thank you so much, sir!" she replied gleefully. Grabbing Remus' hand and skipping out of the wand shop.

"Now, do you want an owl or a different pet?" Remus inquired.

"Can we look in the Menagerie and then Eelops?"

"Of course, Little Moon."

So there they headed. The Magical Menagerie. With a lot of animals comes a lot of...mess. And smell. Entering the shop proved to be something not many dared to do seeing how little customers they had. The smell was so thick and disgusting, Em was contemplating asking Remus to cast a bubblehead charm on her. Ignoring the smell, though hard of a task it was, they managed to do it and browse the selection of animals the shop offered.

Seeing a sign labelled 'Reduced', the two went to see what animals they could get for cheap and why they were cheap.

As soon as Em saw the owl-sized bat hanging upside down in its cage, she knew she didn't want anything else. And it was only five galleons! She got closer to read the notice on its cage: 'We found him hung from our sign, he's not infected or cursed, but he is reduced.'

"Remus can I have the bat?" she begged, making an adorable face trying to be as convincing as possible. Remus had never liked bats, according to him they're menacing sky-squirrels.

"Alright."

That was easier than expected.

She told the man at the counter and he went on a long spiel about taking care of it and upon noticing that she wasn't paying attention he just grunted and said he'd owl Remus the details.

"Do you think it could carry mail?" she asked, completely serious.

"I know it can."

How he knew, she didn't ask. She was just happy that she had a bat as a pet.

On their way out of the shop and after taking a deep breath of fresh air, Remus asked: "What're you going to call it?"

"Owl because it's easier just to say 'I'll Owl you' than 'I'll bat you'" she replied with a straight face.

Remus burst into laughter and didn't stop laughing until they'd Flooed back home. Once back, Em told Remus that she was going to 'Owl' Molly to apologise for not meeting up with her.

He was giggling about that for a while after too.