Chapter 1: The Meeting
Harry's life had never been ordinary. From the time he was placed at number four Privet drive he had been through much more than most men had experienced during their lifetime. He had battled the man who murdered his parents, met a godfather who perished too soon after, and had realized he may not survive Voldemort's return. There had been some good in his life though. The Weasleys always treated him as if he were an extra son, Ron was his best mate, and Hermione stuck by him even when he was being thick. It was now, after Dumbledore left him on Ron's doorstep did he think of these things. How life may have turned out normal for him if he had not been born as Harry James Potter, but then again he wasn't sure if he would pick a life of normalcy over the life he had been given.
He was sure that he would have loved to have been able to grow up in his parents love but if he had that chance he often was tortured with the thought that he wouldn't have ever picked Ron or Hermione to be by his side. His attitude might have turned out different and they may have found themselves opposite of each other instead of sewn together. He would never know and that calmed him as well as enraged him. His parents deserved to be alive, just like Sirius did. The door to the burrow opened and Ron stood behind it, a broad grin spread across his face. He was holding some sort of meat pie with several bites taken out of the side.
"Dumbledore didn't stay?" said Ron with a look of unmistakeable relief. Ron always looked sort of nervous around him even though Dumbledore had seen them more often than most of his professors. Harry knew that he was only comfortable with the headmaster because he had often told Harry things no one else would aside from his godfather. He trusted Harry and Harry depended on him in return.
"No, he said he had buisness to attend to." Harry said, picking up his trunk and broom as Ron reached for Hedwig's cage.
"Ah well, fair warning, we are a bit full at the moment. Lupin, Tonks, and a few other aurors are here, as well as someone one who might shock you. Fleur just left thank goodness." Ron said casually.
"If you say Snape, I'll just spend the evening in the garden and why was she here?" Harry asked.
"Bill...well the two of them are getting hitched. And it isn't Snape...Lupin's got a goddaughter."
Harry dropped his broomstick on the cement. Ron quickly packed all of Harry's things into the house before shutting the door and leaving the pair of them outside. Harry had never heard Lupin mention once he was relatively close to having some sort of family and yet here stashed away somewhere was a girl who he was supposed to be taking a watch over. Harry finally looked directly at Ron who seemed to have some kind of answers for Harry's battery of questions that would soon ensue.
"She's been here off and on all Holiday. Both her Mum and Aunt are Aurors who have been working overtime. Lupin of course has been working profusely as well and apparently what ever family member her sister is with she doesn't care for which is her only other relative I might add. Mum told me, which was odd because she never tells me anything. She had that look though...like she was lying about something. Anyways, Mum told her Mum that it was absolutely nonsense that they kept bouncing her from house to house so she was to stay here. Ginny has been absolutely in heaven with a new friend...Hermione keeps muttering that she looks familiar." Ron explained in one breath. It was too much information for Harry to process, yet he did seem to catch on something that Ron hadn't disclosed.
"What about her dad? Is he an auror too?"
"He was a muggle who died in the last war with You-Know-Who. She told me that. I have one other thing to add which is completely weird to me. She's coming to Hogwarts this year...She and her sister... and she is our age. She got sorted yesterday when McGonagal showed up on our doorstep. Mind you, she was less than thrilled to learn my essay only had my name printed on it. Another Gryffindor was born by the way."
The door opened and Hermione looked out at the both of them standing in the dark. Her face softened as she looked at Harry but she quickly snapped out of it and glared straight at Ron.
"Stop gossiping and get in here." She hissed as she slammed the door.
"What did you do to Hermione now?" Harry asked as they both collective their selves to walk inside.
"Took her potions assignment and copied a bit of it. She is now complaining that she'll have to re write the entire thing...Harry we all know I need all the help I can get." Ron replied innocently. Harry laughed and followed Ron into the Kitchen.
It looked as if Mrs. Weasley had conducted a new charm that extended the space of the room. The once tinier wooden table stretch on to seat another ten to fifteen people depending on their size. The stove and other kitchen ware were tucked away in a corner and several lights had been added. Meat Pies adorned plates in the middle section the table and as Mrs. Weasley bustled over to greet Harry, she had two tucked neatly in her hands.
"Good to have you home, eat these dear...looks as though you haven't had a proper feeding in weeks. I'll sort you out." Mrs. Weasley commented as she appraised him.
Harry looked on at the crowd. Tonks was seated next to a woman with Raven colored hair that clung to her back like a water fall. She looked to be the same age as Tonks, her steel grey eyes looking down at a piece of Parchment under her finger tips. Ron nudged Harry so he would turn to look slightly down the table where Lupin sat. He was greyer than before, his robes improved ten time in quality however. Next to him was a girl whose hair was a rich chocolate-red that was braided over her right shoulder. He couldn't see her eyes exactly until she lifted her head and there they were. Emerald... so penetrating that harry had trouble focusing. Her face was soft, lips tinted a ruby red that looked completely natural and although he was certain they had never met before, she did look stunningly like someone he could have known.
"Oh...Lupin..." The woman next to Tonks mumbled. "You didn't tell me..."
"I showed you a picture." Lupin muttered back as if he was done with the subject.
"But in person..." she kept up.
"Scarlett please. Harry is reminded of his parents too much as it is. Let him have peace." Lupin snapped.
"Remus I understand you've had a rough week but your tone is harsh enough. Let me remind you who brews that potion all month. I'm sorry Harry dear, forgive me for being insensitive. I'm Scar, auror at the ministery, order member...all that good stuff." She said sweetly after she chewed Lupin's head off. Lupin scowled and wrote something down quickly as he gathered his parchment up. The girl next to him looked worried as he left the table and tapped Harry on the shoulder, motioning for him to follow along. Harry obliged as he quickly waved to Scar, hoping that his lack of a return in greetings wouldn't make him look like a prat.
"I've got to be off soon but I need a word before I go." Lupin said hastily, checking his watch.
"Yeah sure, go on." Harry replied just as quickly.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay Harry. I know how fond of Sirius you were, and that the two of you got on extremely well."
"I'm holding up, and you?"
"Me? Harry, don't worry about me...I just..."
"Professor...er...Lupin. Don't think I've forgotten that you were my dad and Sirius's mate. I know it has to be rough to be one of the last..." He said awkwardly.
"Yes, well, I miss them. Always have and always will. Now just keep a level head while you are here Harry. The Burrow is a safe house for you but please keep as close to this house as possible if you do go outside. There will be increased guard on you...Just don't do anything that might find you in trouble. Now I have to go." Lupin said, giving Harry a quick hug and walking toward the exit.
"I didn't know you had a goddaugher. How come you never mentioned it?" Harry found himself asking almost at once.
"No one ever asked. Oh...give her this won't you?" He said, and disappeared into the night.
Harry took the envelop into the Kitchen and placed it on the table next to her before finding Ron to sit by. She didn't open it at all but tucked it in her pocket, listening intently on the discussion between Hermione and Ginny. Harry looked at Tonks who stirred her soup with a spoon, completely ignoring that Scarlett and Mrs. Weasley were having any sort of conversation with her. Her hair was no longer it's loud bubble gum pink color, but was reduced to a mousy brown. She looked as though someone had demolished her favorite Cat, all the light and laughter from her face thoroughly drained away. Harry had never seen her in this state, well not at least in the few meetings he had with her. She was boisterous and playful, not a dull withering flower. He made a motion to speak to her but instead Scarlett placed her hand on Tonks shoulder and with that she was to her feet.
"We better leave too Molly. Thank you for letting us lot meet here tonight. We'll be doing the rest of that at headquarters...I'll see you soon Liv...ne faites pas votre père plus désagréable qu'il ne l'est déjà. Je t'aime." Scarlett quickly said to the girl in unmistakable perfect French.
"Je n'ai jamais fait. Il me traite comme un bébé. Je ne suis pas. Nous avons tous deux le savent. Dites-lui que je l'aime si jamais il cesser d'agir comme un vieil homme." the girl said back.
Scarlett giggled and left with Tonks in toe, who stopped to hug Harry briefly before she left. Harry was confused already about Lupin's goddaughter. He hadn't seen her speak a word of English since he arrived and he had no clue how Lupin knew came to know anyone from France. Harry followed Ron's lead as he scooted down to be closer to his sister and the everyone else while Mrs. Weasley vacated the room. Ginny finally gave up on what ever she was arguing with Hermione about and placed her hands on the table, chipping away at what looked like nail polish.
"Does she know English?" Harry whispered to Ron.
"Yes. I know perfect English." The girl responded, grinning broadly.
"Oh. Well...then..." Harry couldn't think of what to say. It was hard to form a sentence around her because he felt sort of intimidated. It wasn't that she looked burly or manly. It was quite opposite actually. She was blindingly beautiful but the way she held a room seemed to sense that she was a lot stronger than her appearance revealed. She leaned forward and stretched out her hand, offering it to Harry. He shook it twice then let go, blushing in the midst of it all. He felt like an absolute fool.
"I only know French because I went to the Beauxbatons Academy. That and my mother is a native of France but she went to Hogwarts. Don't worry though, I barely speak it." she offered.
"Olivia is teaching me French during Term..." Ginny said fondly.
"That is right...I should go find that order form I lost in your room. Maybe I could find a handy translator for you..." Olivia slid out from the table and walked away, Ginny following behind quietly. The trio was finally alone at last. Harry looked at Hermione who seemed to be inching closer to him. Her hair was a lot straighter than normal and he detected a faint trace of what seemed to be...it couldn't possibly be...makeup.
"Stop ogling. Ginny did it this morning." Hermione muttered,
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Heavens knows. What about you then? Mrs. Weasley mentioned Dumbledore was dropping you off." Hermione said, quick to change the subject.
"Well, we went to get a new professor for Hogwarts." Harry started unsure of where to begin.
"Why did he take you to do that?" Ron asked.
"Because he wouldn't take the job...until he realized I'd be there." Harry replied awkwardly.
"Who is he?" Hermione inquired.
"Professor Slunghorn. Dumbledore said he had a fondness of wizards who were famous...He seemed a but dodgy to me but if Dumbledore needs him that badly it must be for a reason." Harry said thoughtfully.
"I've heard of him. He was the potions professor, way before Snape landed the job. Wonder if that means..." Hermione thought aloud.
"If Snape ever becomes the defense teacher I'll quit school like Fred and George and help them along in their business." Ron said with a disgusted look.
Harry agreed. Snape would have the greatest opportunity to make Harry suffer if he was filling that post. He'd make sure that Harry would scramble at his greatest subject without more than a twinge of guilt. To think that his only ticket to being mildly successful in the wizarding world might be interrupted by a greasy haired git who hated Harry with every inch of his entire being, made Harry grimace. Perhaps Slughorn would fill a different post, perhaps Harry would be in the clear. That night Harry was wide awake with some kind of sickness at the edge of his stomach. He tossed countless times and finally when the sun was about to peak out from it's bedroom, did his eyelids flutter to a close and a nightmare ensued.