welcome readers to my first rem/siri fic. hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except Ny, Ravyn, and the handfull of other random characters.
Warning: this is a yaoi fic meaning that there will be Remus/Sirius. btw this is the only chapter where Ny will be a prominent character. For the rest she will merely melt into the back round. now be on your way and read!
Chapter 1
Remus felt the droplets pounding his back. He could feel every one of them individually striking his neck. He shook his hair trying to get the water out of it and failing. He sighed and turned back to get the trunk his father was handing him. His mother had rushed in to get a trolley. Remus finally pulled all of things under the shelter of King's Cross when he saw his mother coming towards him with the trolley. Selene smiled as saw her son trying to dry his hair. "It was one of the last ones there," she said.
"Thank goodness," Aaron Lupin stated with a sigh. They helped Remus load his things on the trolley.
"Now remember," Aaron whispered in his son's ear, "Just calmly walk through the barrier and make sure no muggles are looking too closely." Remus nodded staring straightforward.
"Shall I go first?" he heard his mother ask. She spoke normally. He wished she wouldn't speak so loudly. It was not relaxing in this situation. Having been isolated for so long in his house he was especially tense now. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to the count of 10. He felt himself run into something soft yet hard. He opened his eyes startled. Remus looked up into the warm brown eyes of a very tall man.
"Sorry about that," Remus muttered under his breath. "It's alright," the man replied and went back to talking to someone in what sounded like Russian.
Remus came to the wall of bricks that was the entrance to Platform 9¾. He saw his mother walk ahead of him and watched her disappear. "Go ahead," he heard his father say in his ear. Remus swallowed and walked forward and saw the Hogwarts Express waiting to have the students board and leave. He was in a bit of awe being the first time seeing this train. He turned around hugged his mother and father goodbye and dragged his stuff to the waiting train.
He heard the whistle blow and the rushing sounds of students getting on as he started down the compartments. The first three cars had no place for him. No place for a werewolf, he thought bitterly. In the 4th car he finally found a near empty compartment.
There was only one occupant, a wavy brown haired girl. "May I sit in here?" he asked. She looked up at him with a pair of green eyes. She smiled and nodded. He hauled all of his stuff into the compartment and stored it in the rack.
"Hello, my name is Nyceta Chrysaetos," Nyceta said extending her hand with a smile. Remus smiled back and shook her hand.
"Remus Lupin, nice to meet you." Chrysaetos. He thought, Where have I heard that name before?
She tilted her head, "Looks like you just got out of a pool with your clothes on. Here, dry yourself off." She went into her bag and brought out a towel and handed it to Remus. Her took it and she went beck to drying her own hair. He gently dabbed his face first then went to his honey brown locks. "Do you live around London?" Nyceta asked him. Remus thought for a second.
"I live near the west side, on the out skirts. I live in a mostly forestry area. What about you?" He looked up at her to see her staring out the window at the shrinking station.
"I live near the northern end of the city, but my father owns a house in Russia. That's where he's from. I think you bumped into him in the station," she laughed lightly.
The sound reminded him a bit of the owls in Diagon Alley. He had wanted to have an owl, but his parents didn't want to get him one when he could just use a school owl. He had really wanted the handsome Great Grey. Very quiet bird, but Remus could see the power in the bird's amber eyes. Kind of reminded Remus of himself and the powerful beast within.
A loud screech shook him out of his thoughts. "Oh I'm sorry Dic!" Nyceta exclaimed and took the snowy owl out of the cage. "I forgot to dry you off," she cooed as she stroked a black towel over Dic's pure white feathers. The contrast was startling.
The towel also brought to light the ring on her finger. It was silver with engravings all around a smooth emerald gem. That through him off for a sec. Why didn't it burn me when I shook her hand? The silver should've burned me. I could've sworn I felt it. His mind was reeling. He was slowly brought out his thoughts with soft singing. He looked up and saw Nyceta singing a gentle melody to her owl. Dic looked nearly asleep. He must've been decently dried off because Nyceta placed him on a rail in the compartment. "What is that ring for, Nyceta?" Remus asked, his curiosity getting to him.
"Oh, this," Nyceta said looking down at it. "This was my mother's. My father gave it to her as an engagement ring. He says he got it in Russia from a friend. My mutti gave it to me just before she died. Now it's just my sister and my father at home. He home schools her for now. He's hoping she can come to Hogwarts."
"Well if I can she must be able to," Remus whispered to himself.
"What did you say?"
Remus shook his head, "Nothing, Nyceta."
She looked at him and smiled sadly, "Just call me Ny, Remus." He looked up smiled and nodded. She had asked him to call her by a nickname. This was definitely a step forward in his social life, which had been practically nonexistent for most of his time. They spent the next hour sharing each other's pasts. He learned that her sister was named Alba and was two years younger than Ny. He also figured out why the name Chrysaetos had rung a bell, her father was a fairly well known wine maker and he was a pureblood, which got him very 'powerful' clientele.
He told her pretty much all of his life leaving out the fact that he wasn't totally human.
They started talking about what they thought Hogwarts was going to be like when their compartment door was thrown open and two dark haired boys rushed in.
"Don't mind us, just hiding from the fury of a demon." One of the boys said hurriedly as he tried to hide in the trolley rack. The other saw that there wasn't room and crouched down on the floor next to Remus' feet. He and Ny looked down slightly curious as to who the intruders were. Ny stood up wanting to get a better look at the longhaired boy on the floor when the door was thrown open a second time in less than a minute. A red head stood at the entrance breathing heavily. Ny looked her calmly in the eye.
"Can I help you?" She asked steadily.
"Have you seen two boys run down this corridor?" Ny put a finger to her chin and pretended like she was actually trying to remember.
"No, can't say that I have." Remus was amazed at her acting skills. "I've just been talking to Remus here and we didn't see anybody." Remus nodded his head unable to say anything while he saw the care she took to make sure the boy on the floor was hidden from view.
"Well, if you see them tell them that Lily Evans is going to kill them." She turned her back and retraced her steps down the corridor.
"Is she gone?" asked the boy in the rack. Ny turned around the look at the boy in the eye.
"Yes she is. Now why in bloody hell would she be looking for you two?" She shifted her gaze to the boy on the floor that was standing up.
"Beats me all we did was charm her cat to sing like a banshee while hopping with her paws in cute little socks. She can be crazy about her pets I swear. Isn't that right James?"
"Bleedin' mental is more like it. I'm James Potter by the way, and this is Sirius Black."
"Nyceta Chrysaetos, not really all that nice to meet either of you."
"Oh, well. We Blacks were never very pleasant people any ways," Sirius said as he plopped himself down on the seat next to Remus. "I guess we'll just have to stay here until we get to the school. Get the trunks James m'boy."
James took out his wand pulled back his sleeves very dramatically then said, "Accio trunks." They heard a loud banging coming down the corridor from the front of the car then there was the sound of the trunks hitting the door, like dogs begging to be let in. Nyceta opened the door and they rushed in and lay at James' feet. He placed them in the rack and sat down in the empty seat next to Nyceta.
"Ugh, I hate when my hair gets all wet. Now it's going to frizz up and it's gonna look like I have an afro. Not what I need," Sirius stated disgustedly as he pulled a lock of his hair forward to study it. The other occupants had no warning as to the action Sirius would take to dry his hair. They were soon berated with a flurry of water droplets as Sirius shook his head forcefully. The shout, "Sirius stop it!" was heard from a very startled James.
Sirius kept at it until a pair of talons were sunk into his head. He yelped and pulled the offending creature off of him and threw it away from himself. A very ruffled Dic landed in Nyceta's lap and screeched at Sirius. "Bloody hell what's wrong with that thing!" Sirius exclaimed checking the damage done to his precious head.
"Well, he was sleeping, he had just gotten dried off, and he hates water. You should know better than to annoy a sleeping bird." Nyceta explained as Sirius was still fruitlessly trying to access the ruin of his scalp. "Oh, for Merlin's sake come here," Nyceta ordered and he obliged switching seats with James. "Come on, you wuss. Dic didn't even break the skin. Absolutely no damage whatsoever, you vain dummkopf." Sirius looked at her curiously. "A dummkopf is basically an idiot," she answered his unasked question.
The rest of the trip went fairly uneventful until the time came to change into their robes. "We're not going to change in the corridor! That's not right!" James exclaimed.
"Yeah! There's no way I'm showing this perfect temple to the student body!" Sirius added.
"You don't need to bleeding change in the corridor! Just wait 'til we're done!" Ny yelled back.
"How come Remus gets to stay in there and we don't?" Sirius whined.
"Cause he's not an annoying knabe! Now get out!" Ny shouted as she pushed them out of the compartment and locked the door. "Jerks," she muttered under her breath as she unfolded her robes. Remus took off his sweatshirt and laid it on the seat. When he put on his robes he turned around and saw Ny closing the door with James and Sirius inside. They were already taking off their outer layers by the time Remus made to open the door.
"Don't!" Sirius said just noticing that Remus was about to open the door. Sirius stopped him by grabbing his hand and removing it from the handle.
"Why? Do you really not mind me being here?" Remus asked. "We don't give a dragon's tail if you're here or not," James answered over his shoulder as he buttoned up his robe.
"Then why did you both get so upset when Ny kicked you out?" Remus questioned tilting his head to the side.
"Because we like to be difficult. And it was funny to see her pissed off like that," Sirius responded stuffing his clothes unceremoniously into his trunk. As he straightened up Nyceta opened the door and walked inside.
They all sat down and James chose that moment to start up a conversation. "So…… What house do you all think you're going to get into?"
"Damned Slytherin." Sirius responded flatly staring out the window at the rain still coming down heavily.
"Don't look so optimistic, Black." Nyceta said, her voice humming with sarcasm. He turned to look at her fiercely.
"Don't talk to me like I have a choice. I'm a Black. We always get into Slytherin. I'm going against almost two centuries of Black blood if I even dare to hope to get into another house. Who are you to talk to me like that when you don't even know me. Or my family."
"But you still have a choice," Remus spoke up timidly looking down at his hands. Sirius turned to look at him, still fuming. Remus continued, "Just because you have their last name and pure blood running in your veins, doesn't mean your future is already mapped out for you. Who says you don't have a choice?"
"Lupin, you apparently have never had a family like mine. The minute I'm born I'm being bred to be a proud pureblood looking down on those who do not meet my expectations. To be cruel and torturing all those that deify me. 'Who says I don't have a choice?' My parents." Sirius spit out vehemently.
"Yes… but who is the fool that believes them?" Remus asked innocently and calm. "You dare call a Black a fool? You would be killed if any of my line learned what you just called me."
"Yes I do dare. Who says you're above any of us? Above an insult? Do you really believe all that your parents have told you about the world?"
All of the anger left Sirius when he heard that. Do I really believe them? Have I ever? He already knew the answer. The defiant voice had always been shifting just beneath his conscious thoughts, now this boy had finally made him listen. "No." He voiced. "No I don't believe them."
When the train stopped in Hogmeade Station there was a half-hearted rush to get out. The heavy rain had lightened to a drizzle but one would still get wet I f they ventured out into it. The three boys made their out into the crowded corridor. Ny stepped out soon after getting in front of another girl.
James was just about to get off when, due to the rain and wind, the boy behind him slipped and fell, pushing James face first into the mud. Sirius broke out into loud laughter drawing even more attention to James and the boy desperately trying to get off James and gather his own things.
"Oh for the love of God," the girl behind Ny muttered. "Scorgify." She said pointing her wand at James whose robes went instantly clean. She then walked away toward the boats and a large man calling to all of the first years. They all started heading that way and got into the little boats. Sirius, Remus, James, and, to James' disgust, the boy who had knocked into him. Once everyone was in a boat they started off across the water.
When they finally reached the small chamber beneath the school and on the water they all got out. The three boys could hardly have a conversation due to all the twittering around them. They were all quieted when they saw a strict looking woman enter.
"You will all follow me." And they did. They finally stopped again in front of two large wooden doors. "Now, my first years, I welcome you to Hogwarts." She pushed them open and a great applause was heard as all heads inside turned toward the entering students. The all stopped in a single file line as the student body was quieted and the woman took out a hat and lay it on a three-legged stool. I rip near the bottom opened and it began to sing.
"Welcome students
To a new year
Filled with headaches laughter
And tears
Perhaps you shall go to Gryffindor
Bravest of all
First to sing and take up arms
After hearing the call
Maybe to dear old Hufflepuff
You shall go
Caring most of loyalty
It will be so
Or perhaps to wisest Ravenclaw
Treating knowledge with highest care
Then you will roost
With masters of the air
But never forget cunning Slytherin
Always plotting plans
Always keeping a sharp eye
For additions to his clan
So don't be scared
And walk right up
And put me on
You nervous pup
I'll look into you mind
Don't put up a fight
I'll place you well
And I won't bite"
The song was well received as the tables clapped loudly. When everything was back and settled down again, the woman took about a roll of parchment and began reading off the names. After two students were ruled into Hufflepuff and one to Gryffindor. A name rang across the hall getting applause from the farthest table to the right.
"Black, Sirius." He stepped forward carefully checking his reactions to the Slytherins. He placed the hat upon his head.
Ah, another Black. How many have I sorted now?
I'm not another Black, my name is Sirius.
So then Sirius where would you like to go?
This was a strange phenomenon. Whispers were heard throughout the hall. No one expected it this long to sort a Black. Just last year when Narcissa had been sorted the hat had just been brushing the top of her head when he shouted 'Slytherin'. How was this Black any different.
Just when Professor McGonagall decided to say something the hall was silenced with a shout of "Gryffindor!" No one dared to move. It was perfectly quiet as Sirius took the hat off, set it gently on its stool, walked over to the Gryffindor table, and sat down.
Finally, a shout of "Go Sirius!" and enthusiastic clapping from James broke the silence. A few Gryffindors were the first clap then soon their whole table and a few people from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw clapped too. Most of the first years joined in, as they were yet to be biased from the sorting. The only ones in shock or too angry to clap were the Slytherins. Narcissa had a grimace as though something of great disgust was beneath her nose.
When all had settled down again the next student was called up and also placed in Gryffindor. Then Professor McGonagall called for, "Chrysaetos, Nyceta." Ny walked calmly up and gently placed the old hat on her head. After a total of four seconds the hat yelled out "Ravenclaw!"
The second table to the right burst into applause and she walked over and sat her self near the end of the table closest to the teachers. "Corvus, Ravyn." A girl who most definitely looked suited for Slytherin stepped froward and roughly placed the hat upon her head. There was a short pause until "Ravenclaw!" She stood stiffly and removed the hat as if it were defiling her head and put it back on the stool before walking over and sitting next to Ny.
Remus waited anxiously for his name to be called. Finally it was. Remus walked forward slightly nervous. Two hundred and thirty six butterflies broke from their cocoons and took flight in his stomach.
When he sat down the motion awoke eleven serpents, who soon went after the butterflies. Remus felt like throwing up, but he didn't. He held it in and focused on the hat's voice in his ear.
Welcome to Hogwarts Remus Lupin.
Hello…Sorting Hat.
I see a great deprivation of knowledge in you, and a great depth of wisdom. You seem almost perfect for Ravenclaw, but what is this strange presence in your mind Mr. Lupin?
That would most likely be the wolf, sir.
Well, this being is apparently refusing to go to Ravenclaw. Perhaps he has already found a pack. What say you Mr. Lupin?
Remus yanked off the hat quickly off of his head just as the hat shouted "Gryffindor!" He set it down and walked slightly shaken to sit by Sirius. He swung an arm over Remus' shoulder. "Congratulations Remus! Welcome to Gryffindor Table! You will be eating here three times a day for the next nine months. Please keep all elbows of the wood and refrain from throwing up!" Remus laughed gratefully at Sirius' joke. It relieved him and put the hat's last words to the back of his mind, where he prayed they would stay.
The two stayed quiet until James joined them and smiled happily. He sat opposite Remus and Sirius next to Peter Pettigrew, the boy who ran into James on the train. They all looked up as one of the first years were sorted.
Sirius had a look of disgust as the name "Snape, Severus" was called. James leaned over and asked Sirius looked so pissed. "Because," he began, "That slimy git is pure inbred Slytherin and a total prick whenever we met in my childhood." James looked back at the boy who had just gotten named a Slytherin by the hat and was gliding over to them. He bore Sirius' look. Any foe of Sirius' was a foe of his.
As the last student's were sorted Snape finally sensed someone staring at him. He looked to see two Gryffindor boys glaring death to him. He glared right back. More at Black than the boy sitting next to him. Snape worked back in his memory trying to remember that boy's name. Potter. It came to him. James Potter.
Dumbledore stood to a hushed hall. "I have a few announcements to make so I beg that you would try to pay attention, if you feel that the aches of your stomachs or that certain others in your house are too great a distration please go ahead and focus on that. Now, I would like to remind all students that the Forbidden Forest is, obviously, forbidden. Also, there is a new addition to our grounds. A beautiful Whomping Willow, please do try and avoid going near it as it is properly named and will beat you to the point that you will not be recognizable. And finally, there is to be no magic in the hallways. Now, dig in!"
Suddenly the dishes filled with food and there was a mad scramble at every table for people's favorite dishes. Time flew by until dinner and dessert were over and no one wanted anything other than a nice soft warm bed. Dumbledore stood up again. "Now everyone off to bed, and first years, follow your prefects."
There was a great scraping of chairs as everyone stood up and hurried off to find their dormitories. "Gryffindor first years, please follow me!" A boy with chocolate brown hair and blue eyes shouted. He along with another prefect began leading the first years out of the hall and in to the main entrance then off to one of the many staircases.
Remus was so tired he was surprised to find that he got all the way to the portrait hole without tipping, falling, going unconscious, or getting lost.
Finally when everyone got in he followed James up to the boys' dormitories and to their room. Remus was now faced with a dilemma. Where should he sleep?
Two of the beds were right next to the window and two were farther away. Remus didn't want to make any choices that might lead to his friends' discovery of his secret. His decision was made for him.
Peter went for the bed farthest away mumbling something about Winsle Pixies that can walk through glass and attack you.
Sirius chose the bed closest to one of the windows saying ho w he liked to look at his star.
James chose the bed second farthest from the muttering something about a fear of heights.
Remus sighed and fell onto his bed with out even changing. He felt the near full moon's light on him and that combined with his full stomach and exhaustion made it not even the calls of his friend's could rouse him. What a great way to start off the new school year. Was his last thought before he fell into a deep slumber.