Chapter 2:
Skylar, Nicholas and Leon were all lying on their backs, their heads together, and staring up at the high ceilinged roof that they had in the library. A giant crystal chandelier hovered above them as the roof was covered in carvings. The library had the highest ceiling, and therefore the highest walls within the entire house, even bigger than the ballroom. The ceiling was grooved and painted with gold leaf lining the patterns in the ceiling. The walls were all lined with high shelves, all of which were covered in books, many fraying and falling apart, while some shone and were very new. There was a platform that ran along half way up the walls and all around the room, creating a balcony, as a total of four ladders were leaned against the shelves, two on the ground floor on either side of the room, and two on the platform on the adjacent walls. The very top of the shelves held old antique ornaments. The tops of the tall windows were decorated with old wands and staffs. Within the middle of the room there was a set of comfy plush couches and armchairs, and around that a few tables with chairs.
The three children were lying on one of the two large rugs that covered the wooden floor, the couches around them.
"I forgot what this was like…" Leon muttered, breaking the silence.
"You mean the boredom?" Skylar asked.
"I don't remember ever spending so long in this house before." Nick agreed.
The large double oak doors to the library opened and Leon and Skylar turned their heads while Nick rose his from the floor to see who'd entered.
It was their mother, tall, pale, beautiful with hazel eyes like caramel and curly auburn hair like her daughter's.
"Gosh, I was wondering why it was all so quiet, what are you three doing?" She asked.
"Wasting away." The three responded in unison.
Dominique rose an eyebrow at her children.
"The Weasleys have gone to Egypt and we have nothing to do." Leon said simply.
Due to the prize money Mr. Weasley had won through the Daily Prophet, the Weasley parents had decided to use the money to go to Egypt to visit Bill. Even Charlie had agreed to accompany them, and so all nine Weasleys were reunited.
There had been a picture of them all in the Daily Prophet not two days ago. All nine of the Weasleys had been waving furiously out at the onlookers, standing in front of a large pyramid. Plump little Mrs. Weasley; tall, balding Mr. Weasley; six sons; and one daughter, all (though the black-and-white picture didn't show it) with flaming-red hair. Right in the middle of the picture was Ron, tall and gangling, with his pet rat, Scabbers, on his shoulder and his arm around his little sister, Ginny.
"It's been three days and we're bored." Skylar confessed. "And they're gone for an entire month. What are we supposed to do? We've spent the last five years jumping between our house and theirs!" Skylar slumped dramatically. "Life may as well be meaningless." She placed a hand over her eyes as her brother's snickered at her dramatics.
Dominique chuckled herself at her daughter. "And before that you spent how many years with just the three of you?" She asked with a smile.
"I can't even remember." Nick admitted as he propped his chin into his palm, held up by his elbow on the rug, having turned over to lie on his stomach.
"Well, then, I guess you'll be more than grateful to learn we have a visitor." Dominique smiled.
The two younger siblings sat up in interest as Nick rose an eyebrow.
"Who?"
Dominique turned and left the room, causing her children to share confused looks, only to then get up and follow.
They moved to the main sitting room off the foyer, where they heard voices as their mother took a seat. Their father was already inside and as they turned the corner they saw he was joined by another man.
Skylar beamed. "Remus!" And she ran forward to throw her arms around the man, who quickly put his cup of tea down in order to receive it.
The man, Remus Lupin, held a pale face with premature lines, and light brown hair that, though he was only young still, was streaked with grey. The robes he wore were shabby and patched.
"What a pleasant surprise." Nick said as he chuckled at his sister. Leon moved forward to shake the man's hand as Skylar released him.
"We haven't seen you in forever!" Skylar said, scolding him. "In fact I don't think I've seen you since I turned eleven!"
"Well, I have come to visit, but you've all been at school." Remus confessed. Despite the fact that he was sitting down, the height of his knees as he sat on the couch said he was quite tall, standing at about six feet. "I did come for Christmas."
The three children turned to their parents surprised, they'd never heard about that?
"We didn't want you all to be upset for missing him." Dominique smiled.
"I'd rather know he was all right and came for a visit." Skylar admitted.
"It's no matter Sky, you'll be seeing me much more often this year." Remus said smiling.
The three children looked confused.
"How?" Nick asked as he was leaning on the back of one of the arm chairs, while Leon sat between his parents and Skylar took the empty seat beside Remus. "We'll be at school."
The three adults smiled.
"You three remember how Lucius Malfoy was kicked off the board of governors for the school?" Dominique asked
"Of course." The three responded instantly.
"Well, someone had to fill that seat, and the governors decided to offer it to your father." Their mother turned to smile at him.
Skylar grinned. "That's amazing!"
"Yeah, we own the school instead of Draco." Leon said before he cackled slightly.
"Now, now Leon." Nathaniel warned as Nick snickered too. "Well, as I now hold an important stand on the decisions of Hogwarts, I went to Dumbledore and we had a chat about the Defence Against the Dark Arts post. As all three of you know, it's vacant again."
"Yeah because Lockhart was an idiot and tried to perform a big spell with a broken wand." Skylar said snickering.
Gilderoy Lockhart had been the previous Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Concerned with nothing but his fame, his smile and his hair, he for all his classes read through his books, all of which encountered amazing tales in which villagers and people were saved. Lockhart however didn't seem to be able to accomplish anything himself, he spent most of the year making mistakes, like releasing pixies in class, removing bones from Harry's arm and forcing dwarfs to act like cupids. As it turned out, Harry, Ron and Skylar discovered Lockhart was a fake, and had stolen the stories from other witches and wizards, erasing their memories of completing the act after he had learned every detail of it. He tried to erase the three's memories as well, only he tired to use Ron's broken wand to do it and the spell backfired. Lockhart had been dismissed on the basis that he now had no idea who he was himself, let alone how to teach a subject.
"Exactly, you need a new teacher and I suggested someone for Dumbledore to try out. Previous student, very gifted, was a Prefect during his time at Hogwarts, model citizen and quite the role model." Nathaniel smirked.
"You mean you're going to be our new teacher?" Skylar asked turning to Remus. "Seriously?"
"Well, it took a bit of convincing, given my nature. The other governors were not completely on board and many of the other teachers disagreed," Remus confessed.
"But between Dumbledore and I we managed to persuade them all to allow it, though there will have to be measures in place." Nathaniel admitted.
"And you three are not to go blabbing about Remus all right." Dominique warned her children.
"Never." The three chorused.
"But Remus, you are aware that the teachers haven't lasted three terms so far?" Skylar admitted to him. "Lots of people think the position is cursed."
"Well, I'll try my best to resist such a curse." Remus smiled and Skylar grinned back.
"So what are you going to teach us? Are you going to come to the train with us? Are you staying until school begins again?" Leon asked, bombarding the man with questions.
"I will only stay if your mother is able to acquire some potion ingredients for me, otherwise I will be retreating." Remus confessed.
"Don't underestimate me Mooney," Dominique said with a wink. Remus smiled back at her. "I'll get the ingredients and make the potion for you, we would love for you to stay after all."
"And if you're still worried we do have a basement that's sure to hold you otherwise." Nathaniel smirked.
"You're too excited about locking him up." Skylar scolded her father, earning a laugh from everyone else.
"Well, you better be prepared Remus, after last year, no one knows anything." Nick confessed. "Lockhart was useless and I feel bad for those who had to take their OWLs with him."
OWLs were Ordinary Wizarding Examinations which were taking at Hogwarts in the fifth year. Certain grades had to be met for certain subjects in order for the student to continue those subjects into the final two years.
"Speaking of OWLs, you're doing yours this year right?" Leon thought, looking at his brother.
Nick's expression fell. "Thanks for the reminder."
"He'll be fine," Remus assured, "with such bright parents I doubt you've got much to worry about." Nathaniel and Dominique smirked, the man rolling his eyes in amusement.
"If you need a study schedule though, I know a bushy-haired, overly organised third year who could make you one." Skylar smirked. "Of course she's going to have to create one herself, mum, did I tell you that Hermione signed up for all the extra elective classes?" She asked.
"No?" Dominique asked looking surprised.
"Yeah, she's doing the seven core subjects, plus five electives." Skylar nodded.
"How's she going to manage that? There's only enough room in the timetable for thirteen classes?" Dominique confessed.
"Don't worry, Professor McGonagall's spoken to the Governors and Dumbledore about it, she has an idea." Nathaniel assured.
"Like what?" Nick questioned confused.
"Never you mind, but I suggest you don't bother her, she's bitten off more than she can chew if you ask me." Nathaniel confessed.
"I'll say." Skylar agreed before she beamed and turned back to Remus. "You'll get to meet Harry!"
"He looks just like James." Nathaniel nodded. "Apparently quite the trouble maker as well, though it seems the Weasley twins are matching James and Sirius' mischief."
"But he has Lily's eyes." Dominique smiled.
"I look forward to meeting him anyway." Remus confessed with a nod.
At that moment Midori ran into the room. Midori was the Rosenwald's house elf, with a large head, wide brown eyes and very large ears that resembled that of a bat, she stood no higher than any of the children's waists.
"Letter Master, of great urgency." She said to Nathaniel, holding a letter in her hands.
Nathaniel's forehead furrowed and he took it from the elf, who backed away bowing. Everyone watched as Nathaniel removed the seal of the Ministry and pulled out the letter inside. He read through it and his face paled as he did.
"Remus," he muttered and he handed the man the letter. Remus read through it and his expression became set as if in stone as well. He looked at Nathaniel who shared his glance before getting to his feet.
"Remus can we leave you here with the kids for a while?" He asked as Remus handed Dominique the letter. She read through it and her expression turned grave before she began to get to her feet.
"Midori, bring us our coats and shoes please." She said and the elf, who'd been standing by the door, nodded and hurried into the foyer to prepare them.
"Of course." Remus nodded. "But be careful."
The three children watched confused as their parents took their coats, pulled on their shoes and moved for the doorway. Stepping outside there was a pop as both disapparated before the door had even been closed by Midori.
All three children turned to Remus.
"What happened?" Leon questioned.
Skylar was watching Remus and he turned to look down at her. She gasped in surprise and her eyes widened.
"It seems one of the high security prisoners at Azkaban as escaped." Remus confessed.
The boys looked shocked.
"Escaped?" Leon questioned.
"No one escapes from Azkaban. The guards turn them weak and its on an island!" Nick said.
"That's why the Ministry is calling everyone back in." Remus admitted. "Your father, being the head of the Auror office, is going to have to work rather hard to catch them. Your mother as well."
"But people don't escape Azkaban…" Nick said again.
"How'd they do it?" Leon questioned.
"No one knows, his cell was just empty." Remus confessed.
"Who was it that escaped?" Nick wondered.
Remus was silent for a minute as Skylar was frowning, looking sorry for her parents as she glanced at the door they'd vanished through.
"Sirius Black."
