Defeated

"Yes, I do think Rob would do that. He took Eli hostage tonight at the graduation ceremony, and I firmly believe he's done something with Eli's 4 year old daughter, which is why Eli went along with everything Rob and Jen told him to do. And with Abbey, he has more motive than you think. My father managed to get the ministry to confiscate all of Rob's wizarding money in England and it was put into an account for Abbey and me. Rob is outraged that I have, well, a lot more money that he ever wanted to consider losing. And believe me, it is enough of a sum that he would like it back. He would take Abbey in a heartbeat to try to force my father and me to return that cash to him. And it would be almost all about the cash. The other thing with Rob is that he would not want his child to grow up with the ethics of a Lupin. He'd want to warp Abbey's little mind and make him as evil as he and Jen are.

"As far as Brian goes, well, it didn't start out that he was working for money. He was working for a cause. Okay. Here's the real truth. For decades, wizarding children have been stolen by dark arts practitioners and sold to the highest muggle bidder to increase that muggle's wealth and power. The wizard children are only taught the spells that they need to do their owner's bidding. It's a cruel and horrible practice. Brian has dedicated his life to make sure that those kids are rescued and returned safely to their parents. That's what he really does. My father runs a huge international rescue organization to stop the human trafficking of wizard children. He put Brian as his second in command in the organization because of his skills and his dedication to children. It was my father who recruited him and insisted on paying him. Brian does little else with his life but protect other people, by his own choice. That's part of the reason he is so well off. He is working 99% of the time and doesn't have time to spend anythign he makes. But you don't ever dare tell anyone about the organization or what Brian really does. Not ever."

"Rob doesn't understand the meaning of love, I've decided. I thought he did, but if he did, he's forgotten that all now. I keep hoping I wake up and find out that it was all a bad dream and that he really is as wonderful as he used to be, but I know that isn't going to happen. So the only thing I can do now is to protect Abbey from him, no matter what it takes.

"But Brian? No," Khaat smiled, "It's never been like that. Brian is more like, well, my big brother. I honestly don't see him with a girl simply because he's never willing to take any time off his job for a relationship. I hope someday he does take time for love because he deserves it. But I don't think he would ever see me in that way. He and I grew up together and we spent a lot of time playing together on the farm. He and I were very blessed to have a lot of time camping in the woods at the farm. " She smiled, "It was a lot of fun. And we both learned a lot from Remus. What I wouldn't give for one more of those nights camping under the stars with Uncle Remus! You would have really liked him, you know. And he would have loved you.

"Ted is a good man," Khaat said. "I don't know much about him, but I liked him. I haven't seen him except that one time. I don't really know where he's been or what he's been up to. I guess I've been a bit out of touch, with work and Abbey. Remus would have liked how Ted turned out, though, I think. And I'm positive he would have liked you," she smiled. "I think a part of me will always miss Remus. You know, I know there's no use in me telling you not to be sad. Sadness is a part of life, but I hope someday you can learn to try to keep the sadness a bit more in balance with the joy. There truly are bigger and better things in life than that. "

'Thanks. I wouldn't have it any other way than for me to be here for you--except, if I could be here for you a bit more consistantly than I have been. Hogwarts has put some distance between us out of necessity, I know. But I'm looking forward to you spending the summer with me.

"You know, I do have Remus's wizarding portrait so, if you ever do want to get a sense of who he was, you can always have a conversation with the portrait. I do. It makes me feel closer to him. Sometimes he even has good advice for me. And he always, always loves me. It's not quite the same, but yet, its better than nothing at all. "

"You need to talk to my mother," Khaat said thoughtfully after a moment. "There.. might be a way. It's not perfect because no one can bring back the dead. Not really. However--there might be a way you can see them again. She will understand what you want when you talk to her. I know its not the same as being able to see and touch and talk to the ones you love, but, its the next best thing. Especially when you don't even have any wizarding photographs to look back on. It's worth a thought, anyway." Khaat sipped on her drink. "This really is very good. My mother would like this a lot. I'll have to remember it."