Chapter One

Shit Blows Up

The late afternoon sun filtered in through the open window, flooding the little room with light. A soft breeze sent the sweet scents of summer drifting through the whole house. Dust mites danced merrily through the air to the sound of a blackbird singing in a tree outside. I lay stretched out on the floor of the cramped living room, letting the summer sun warm my skin. The pages of the book lying open in front of me practically glowed in the sunlight. The words of 'The Night Circus' swam before my eyes, creasing my senses and ensnaring my imagination. To me, there if no finer way to spend a summers day. My eyelids felt heavy, dragging themselves shut as the words on the page washed over me. I sighed, content, as the days warmth held me, dragging me under...

A door shut loudly, waking me with a start. I sat bolt upright, confusion sweeping over me. I frowned at the clock on the mantle piece. It couldn't be half five already? Could it? Where had the day gone? I must have slept for at least an hour. I quickly marked my page and stood up. My necked ached from bending over the book all day. I stretched, feeling my muscles coming back to life. My eyes flickered around the room, as I tried to remember what I had intended to do today. The room was lined with shelves, packed to the brim with books of all different shapes and sizes. The focal point of the room was a large, stone fireplace. Roughly chopped logs sat pilled in the heath, waiting for winter to arrive. The mantle piece was cluttered with photos and strange trinkets. Large squashy chairs surrounded the health and an old oak coffee table held centre stage. A large dining table sat at the opposite end of the room, surrounded by heavy chairs. Three doors led out off of the room. All from the same side. One to the kitchen, one to the basement and one to the front hallway. A large piano stood next to the basement door, a sideboard sat on the opposite side. I loved this room. It wasn't much, but it was home.

"Kay?" Remus called from the front hall. Well who else? I thought sarcastically, but wisely, held my tongue.

"In here" I called back, still frowning at the room. I turned to see my godfather standing in the doorway. He loosened his tie and looked at me.

"I am beat" he complained, pretending to yawn, rather dramatically. I smirked at him and rolled my eyes

"Yes, I imagine looking for a job is absolutely back breaking stuff" I teased, scooping up my book and heading into the little kitchen.

"It really is" he agreed lightly as he followed me through. We might joke about it, but only because the seriousness of the situation is so worrisome. Remus 'unemployment was beginning to be a major issue. It has become so difficult for him to find work in our world, that he is being forced to look for it in the muggle one. Stupid fucking prejudices. But he can't hold down any muggle jobs. They don't appreciate him disappearing once a month, sometimes for days at a time, with no explanation. He was forever losing jobs and having to start again. But this time, it had been almost four months since he last had work, the longest period ever. And our resources where running out. The situation isn't helped by his bloody pride. He won't take so much as a Knut from me, it is ridiculous, I sighed quietly, as he flopped into a kitchen chair, and unfolded a copy of 'The Daily Prophet'. I reluctantly pulled myself back to the present, pushing the unpleasant thoughts form my mind.

"What do you want for dinner?" I asked, to distract myself.

We sat in a comfortable silence, eating our meal. Remus smirking in a slightly smug way, as he eats. He has been like this ever since he walked in the door. I frown at him. He wasn't usually so coy. The two of us had a sort of unspoken agreement. Complete honesty with each other. It had always been this way, well, with one small exception. I hadn't learnt about the existence of the little brother, Harry, until two years ago...

"Kayleigh, get up. I need to talk to you" my god father shouted up the stairs. I cursed under my breath and swung my legs out of bed. I stumbled out of my room and across the hall into the bathroom. After reliving myself, I filled up the sink and splashed the cold water onto my face, trying to wake myself up, and then, rather reluctantly, headed downstairs.

I was surprised to find Remus pacing around the living room, the summer sun warming the room. I frowned at the serious look on my god father's face. Remus was known for being calm and cool headed. I don't think I had ever seen him like that before. I had a very ominous feeling about all this…

"What's up? What have I done?" I asked curiously. Remus chuckled under his breath and rolled his eyes.

"You haven't done anything. It's kind of what I have, well haven't, done." He said regretfully.

"Well that's cleared things up" I muttered sarcastically. He gave me a slightly dirty look and sighed before taking a deep breath and looking me in the eye

"There are things I haven't told you Kayleigh. Things I wish I could off but that haven't been allowed to. Now you have to hear me out okay? You can get mad at me later but for now, you need to listen to me."

"Okay" I said cautiously. Frowning at his unusual behavior. We told each other everything. Always had done. At least I thought that we had.

"Kayleigh…you have a brother"

I was so mad at him; I had ignored him for nearly three weeks. I eventually forgave him, but I have never trusted him quiet the same way again. Since that day, I have made it my mission to read everything in the house, scorer every document, listen to every conversation that took place with me out of the room, generally learn everything I could. I admit, I did feel kind of guilty for snooping, but I just couldn't be sure that he wasn't hiding something else from me. Besides, what he doesn't know can't hurt him. And what else is there to do during full moons?

He looked up then, and the smug little smile grew more pronounced. He looked away and carried on eating his Cottage Pie. I glared it him then.

"All right, spill!" I demanded, dropping my fork. He just looked up smirked at me, and tapped the side of his nose, before returning to his dinner. My glare deepened, as I crossed my arms across my chest "oh, you are so hiding something. You…urgh. You know I hate it when you don't tell me things! Just stop looking so bloody smug and tel-" I broke off mid sentence. The glare slipped off my face and was replaced with a frown. Remus' head shot up, it wasn't like me to just sop, especially when I was building up a full head of steam.

"What's the matter kid?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. A strange feeling had blossomed in my chest. A feeling I knew only too well. A feeling that meant only one thing…

"Harry's in trouble" I said softly