Disclaimer : Apart from Selene all of this belongs to J.K.Rowling.
Thanks again to Eruthiel, my Beta.
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It had been a busy four years since Selene had been handed over in to the care of her godfather. A sudden change over in clan leader's with her mother's family had meant she was obliged to leave the hidden sanctuary quickly. Bregolien, the new chief held no love for 'filthy half-breeds' and for her own safety her aunt had taken her to stay in the Wizarding World.
Not that the Wizarding World was any kinder. Just because her father was the supposed murderer of the Potters didn't mean she was inherently evil. She had never even met the man and people acted like she was going to become the next Dark Lady. This prejudice meant she had refused her invitation to Hogwarts , preferring to stay at home and be tutored by her godfather.
A shrill timer pulled Selene out of her thoughts and she carefully yanked the sausages off the grill, easing them onto a plate and blowing on her singed fingers. Placing the two breakfasts on the kitchen table, she stuck her head through the bead curtain and yelled,
"Moony, breakfast! Now!" and laughed as she heard as she heard the muffled thump and groan that meant her godfather was awake.
Five minutes later a bleary eyed and tousle haired Remus Lupin appeared in the kitchen and immediately downed the mug of coffee that was left on the table. Then, slightly more awake, he began to eat his breakfast, ignoring his god-daughter who was sarcastically commenting behind her copy of the Daily Prophet.
"Oh hello Selene, how are you? Thank you ever so much for my breakfast Selene. How lucky I am to have such a thoughtful god-daughter. . ."
"Alright, alright! I get your point. Thank you for my breakfast, Selene," Remus snorted as Selene smiled sweetly at him.
"See, that wasn't so hard now was it?"
There was a few moments silence as Remus finished eating and Selene carried on reading. Suddenly, Selene swore and let the newspaper fall to the table, dropping her head into her hands. Remus looked up and grabbed the newspaper, paling as he read the headline.
"Another attack at Hogwarts," he said quietly.
"I wonder how long it will be before the blame is pinned on me?" Selene asked bitterly.
Remus ignored Selene's comment in favour of reading the article aloud. Selene listened silently, having only read the title before stopping.
"The two new victims of petrification are second year Hufflepuff, Justin Finch-Fletchly and the ghost of Gryffindor, Sir Nicolas …. That's impossible, no spell can harm a ghost," Remus exclaimed.
"What?" Selene pulled her head out of her arms.
Remus scanned back through the passage and then read out, "Sir Nicolas, also known as Nearly Headless Nick was found with the latest victim and is unresponsive. Obviously this is the work of Dark magic and, again, there is nothing that can be done until …" Remus trailed off as Selene raced out of the room.
Bemused he cleared away the breakfast plates, turning from the counter just in time to catch his god-daughter as she ran into the room with a large stack of books. She wobbled dangerously in his arms before he steadied her and she flashed him a grateful smile before sinking into a chair. Picking up the top tome, she began to read, occasionally making notes on a scrap piece of parchment. Remus walked over and reading the title of 'Dark and Dangerous Animals' turned to Selene.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Shh, Moony. Reading," was the only reply he got.
Shrugging he sat down next to her, summoning the article he was planning to submit to the 'Defence Association' and started to write. About half an hour later his enhanced hearing caught the sound of the Floo starting and he put his quill down. Selene was so engrossed, however, that she didn't notice until an old wrinkled face appeared in the fire.
She fell off her chair in a flurry of parchment and landed with a startled squeak under the table. Remus laughed at his god-daughter's misfortune and then knelt in front of the fireplace and greeted the aged Headmaster warmly.
"Good morning, Headmaster," he said peering into the flames.
"Good morning, Remus. I apologise for interrupting but I didn't know you had a guest,"
"It's alright. Selene doesn't mind," Remus looked around for his charge but she was still under the table, muttering about insane wizards and fireplaces.
Albus Dumbledore coughed and carried on.
"Anyway Remus, I guess you've heard about the attacks and as a Dark Arts specialist we'd appreciate your opinion. Would you be able to visit?"
"I'll be right over Headmaster," Remus replied.
The old wizard nodded and disappeared from the flames. Remus stood up and turned to collect some supplies, only to find Selene sitting dejectedly on the floor. Quietly he sat down next to her and pulled her onto his lap.
"Hey cub. What's wrong?" he whispered and Selene shook her head.
"It's nothing,"
"Cub,"
" He ignored me," Selene's voice was so quiet Remus almost missed it. "The great Albus Dumbledore, leader of the light, ignored me because of my father.
"He didn't mean to I'm sure,"
Selene snorted at her god-father's deep set belief on the Hogwarts Headmaster and then sighed.
"I just thought… this is the man famous for giving second chances. He didn't even give me a first,"
Remus squeezed his god-daughter tightly and she took a deep shuddering breath before fixing a false smile onto her face. She stood up gracefully and then offered her hand to Remus, helping him to his feet.
Remus suddenly realised he was keeping the Headmaster waiting and began racing around the house looking for the books he needed. Just as he put the last book into he bag, Selene placed another into his arms.
"Dark and Dangerous Animals?" he asked and Selene shrugged.
"No spell can harm a ghost. Maybe it was something else,"
Hefting the heavy book into his bag, Remus took a pinch of Floo powder and threw it into the flames. Selene stepped forward and hugged her god-father tightly, calling out.
"Back by midnight, Cinderella!" Just as he stepped into the green fire and disappeared.