Chapter One: Diving in Head First
"Lillith, I think it's finally time that I go back to Hogwarts," My father told me one night in the summer before my fifth year. We were sitting in our living room, my father reading his latest Defense Against the Dark Arts text, and I reading One Thousands and One Morally Questionable Spells, Potions, and Charms.
"Okay, Dad," I said, barely blinking. He had taught at Hogwarts while I was in my second year at Beauxbatons, and he'd thought of going back again more than once. I was just glad he'd finally mustered up the courage to go back when the world now knew he was a werewolf.
"I mean for you to come alone this time," He said.
The teacup in my hand dropped to the floor and broke into three pieces, and my book followed it, smashing the three pieces into even smaller ones. "Are you sure? I mean, right after Uncle Sirius's death? Harry can't be in the best state," I said.
"I think he'll need this now more than ever, Lillith. I think it's time the two of you meet."
September First…
"Dad? Dad!" I yelled downstairs. "Dad, I can't find my Potions text anywhere, and my dragon's hide gloves are missing too! How am I going to fit all of my clothes in the Godforsaken trunk, anyway? DAD!" I yelled.
"Ow. Lillith, do you thinking you could be a little louder? I think Voldemort missed what you were saying," He commented dryly. He handed over my Potions text, and my battered looking dragon's hide gloves. "Anji was playing with them," he said, referring to my owl.
"Uh-oh. I knew I was forgetting something," I said, and laughed. I whistled for the owl in question, and with a hoot, he came sailing into my room, into his cage, and looked at me patiently, waiting for me to shut the cage. He nipped affectionately at me as I did.
"I guess you'll just have to but new ones in Hogsmeade. Now, Lillith, are you sure you've got everything? Because I can't send it to you if you do. I'll be at Hogwarts, too," He reminded me.
"I know, Dad. It's not like I'm deficient," I said, smiling. "Can we go now? Please? I don't want to miss the Hogwarts Express."
"You won't, Lill. We have an hour to get there, that's more than enough time, and then some so you can socialize before you get sorted."
"What if I'm not in Gryffindor?" I asked, starting to feel nervousness and dread creep into my excitement for the first time. "What if I'm put in Slytherin?" I asked, gasping at the possibility.
He chuckled. "I doubt that will happen. And if it does... I'll love you just the same," He replied.
"I think being Gryffindor's longest, meanest, bloodiest rival would put a damper on family relations," I quipped.
"I need you to promise me something before we leave," Remus said. "And if you can't make me this promise, I'll have to send you off to Beauxbatons as usual."
"Anything, Dad. Anything," I said. I'd been waiting far too long for the day I'd finally meet Harry. Dad had talked to me about him for years, and about Lily and James Potter.
"You have to promise me that you'll keep up to the same standards as you did in Beauxbatons. And that you won't slack off just because I'm one of your teachers. I won't go easy on you," He warned me.
"I know, Dad." As if he could ever be easy on me. I loved my father dearly, and he loved me. He'd raised me alone, as my mother had died a little over four months after giving birth to me. He'd always given me everything I could need, materially, as well as emotionally, and more. I hadn't made it easy on him either, I'd been a difficult baby, and a tricky kid to raise. I was overly curious, adventurous, and always pushed the limit. I'd given Dad a hard time. Now he paid me back. When I pushed, he pushed back. He pushed for better behavior, he pushed for better grades, for more concentration, for more focus, for more determinations. He loved me and wanted the best for me, and sometimes was a pain in my ass because of it.
"I'm nervous, Dad. My stomach won't stop jumping around. Maybe I should just go to Beauxbatons instead. This can wait a year. I'm not ready, I'm not... I'm a... train wreck," I finished.
"You can do this," He promised. "We aren't even going to tell Harry until he's gotten more comfortable, okay? That might take a while. So don't be nervous, not yet."
"Okay," I said. I sat down on my bed, taking deep breaths. "I can do this."
"You've got everything in your trunk?" He asked. I groaned, looking over at the trunk, still open because it was piled far too high to close. My father looked over at it and laughed. He raised his wand and pointed to my trunk. "Reducto!"
"Thanks, Dad," I said, as the clothes inside shrunk to fit into my trunk. I started to throw my shoes on top of the clothes in rapid succession until I cleared my shoes rack, and then snapped the lid of my trunk shut. "I'm ready," I said.
"Are you? Are you ready to meet Harry? Lillith," He said, "Are you ready to meet your brother?"
"Yes."