remus lupin enthusiast

Isobel and Lavinia started making their way to the Abbey to visit Matthew early that morning, right after breakfast.

They'd found him in the library with Mary, picking books that Mary was pilling on his lap, and he was trying to hold steady. They were so engrossed with the task, they didn't notice them walk in.

Matthew had his eyes trained on Mary, who was inspecting the spines of more books, and he sighed "If we're going to move the entire library to my room we'll need more man power"

Mary didn't even look at him, as she picked another book and dropped it on his pile "You can manage. And besides, you're going through them like you're a man on a quest."

"A quest to alleviate boredom, yes."

She rolled her eyes, turning to look at him now, "You'd be less bored if you ever left the house."

He turned his face away from her, refusing to meet her eyes as he laughed darkly "And go where? And how?"

"We could at least try to go to the village. Just once. It wouldn't kill you, you know."

"No thank you. I get enough pity here, I don't need more of it for the sake of a walk. Or a roll, more like it. Unless you or... anyone else, are that eager to get rid of me."

Isobel saw a shadow pass across Mary's face, almost too quick to notice, and watched as Mary turned to face Matthew fully. He stared up at her with some defiance, as if he also knew that something was coming. Mary had opened her mouth to speak, but Lavinia chose that moment to say hello. Isobel watched as whatever staredown was going on between them was broken, as they both turned to gree them.

Lavinia moved to take her place behind Matthew, to wheel him to the seating area. Isobel stood back, still watching as Mary's shoulders dropped, ever so slightly, and she let out a long breath, unceremoniously dropping the books she was still holding back on the shelf.

"Are you all right dear?"

Mary looked up startled, as if she'd forgotten Isobel was still there. Her features back to their usual mask of politeness "Oh, yes, Isobel, thank you, I'm fine."

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After they took their seats, Isobel and Lavinia on one sofa, Mary across from them, and Matthew facing them from his chair, the quiet seemed to overwhelm the room.

Isobel quickly decided to get the conversation going "So, what are your plans for the day?" she asked Lavinia.

The girl seemed to appreciate Isobel's strive for keeping their spirits up, and responded as brightly as she could "Well, the weather does look nice. I thought I could take Matthew to the gardens at least. We should get some sun while we can, don't you think?"

Isobel smiled back, if a bit sadly. "I do, it's a lovely idea."

There had been a frosty silence from their other two companions while tea had been served, and both of them hardly spoke a word throughout the visit, Isobel and Lavinia doing most of the work to keep the conversation going, even if Mary had been as polite as ever when spoken to.

She seemed however to have come to a decision now. Because she turned to look at Matthew quite intensely as she spoke "Isn't it just, Matthew. Don't you agree?"

Matthew's gaze was as impassive as Isobel had ever seen it, and she had seen a lot of it in the months since his injury. "What do you mean?"

"I'm just asking. Do you want to go to the gardens today?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Mary lifted her shoulders, ever so slightly, as if to appear indifferent, but her gaze was steady "I don't know. You seemed so set against the outdoors earlier."

Matthew seemed to start getting annoyed, shifting on his chair in discomfort, as much as he could "I hardly think being pushed to the gardens is the same as being paraded around the village."

"We don't have enough trumpets for a parade. And you still haven't answered my question."

"It's a ridiculous question."

"Is it?"

Matthew shook his head, leaning closer to Mary "What exactly do you want from me?"

There was an obvious tension rising, one that must have been building for a few days at least, and Isobel saw Lavinia lean towards Matthew, probably to sooth him. Isobel put her hand on her arm, shaking her head. She rather hoped she knew what Mary was trying to do here, and she wouldn't let anyone stop her.

"I want you to stop being so pitiful. You're begining to sound like Edith. And I want you to tell us what you want to do."

"Pardon me for not being a ray of sunshine, stuck in this chair all day."

"We can get you another one if you don't like it."

Matthew seemed to come out of his posed indifference then, and responded angrily "Stop being flippant Mary, you know what I mean!"

Mary was unfazed, and she insisted "I'll be as flippant as I want until you give me an answer."

"I won't argue with you."

"That's a first. Let me get my diary, it's worth a mention."

"You don't keep a diary."

"That's beside the point. I'm tired of talking around the subject, just answer my question."

"Stop pushing me."

"Matthew, do you want to go out in the gardens today, or not?"

"I want to not be treated like a child for once! There. Is that what you want to hear? I don't need anyone's input and can decide on how I want to spend my time. And if I want to spend my day reading, I'll spend my day reading." The entire speech came out of him like an explosion, his anger making Lavinia jump while

Isobel let out a long breath, feeling somewhat relieved. She wanted to cry herself, seeing her son so upset, his eyes swimming. But he seemed to have needed it, the tension that had been filled the room to the brims suddenly dissipated.

Mary had dropped the mask of indifference she'd been hiding behind throughout the exchange, and her eyes softened with more love and care than Isobel had ever seen on any face, even as her voice remained as cool and unaffected as ever.

"Fine, then pick a book from the pile after tea. There's plenty of places to read in the house."

His answer, when it came, was finally calm again. And with some humour. "How would you know? You never read in here."

"Perhaps, but I'm not you."

Matthew chuckled, if a bit darkly "Thank God for that at least."

They finished their tea in relative peace, and Lavinia got up, saying she'd brought some of her needlework with her, and Matthew agreed they could sit in the small library, where he could read.

Isobel was following Lavinia out the room, but she turned and paused, as she saw Mary place her hand on Matthew's shoulder, in quiet comfort. She almost got up to make her own way to the door, but Matthew quickly grabbed her hand, stalling her movement.

"I..."

"Hush. Go. Read."

"I've read this one before."

"It will be easier to navigate then."

"Mary..."

They just looked at each, something understood and unspoken passing between them, as Matthew brought her hand to his lips, and dropped an almost reverent kiss on her knuckles.