Chapter Three: R. J. Lupin and the Sorting

Confused, I turned, eyes narrowed, to find the tall, lean source giving me an unnerving look.

This tall, Adonis-like boy was perched on a bench with a book hanging limply between his index fingers and I took I'm the other occupants of the carriage. One was squat and nervous-looking. Adonis - NOT Sirius- was tall and lean, with shabby-looking robes and sandy blond hair. He had amber eyes and scars all over his face.

I blinked, stunned, and he had a similar look on his face. James and Sirius looked between the two of us but I was only vaguely aware of them. I was drawn in by the boy's amber eyes – they were so similar to my familys' that it was uncanny. I would have immediately pegged him for a vampire, but he smelled like…

Werewolf, I mouthed, my eyebrows high on my forehead in surprise. His eyes widened as he read my lips and instantly grabbed my arm, dragging me away from the others. Lily called after me as I was dragged past her compartment but James intercepted her and told her not to worry. He then proceeded to ask her to Hogsmeade – the nearby village, you see – and I heard a resounding smack echo through the corridor. I laughed to myself – James would have to work on his style to get Lily.

Instead of worrying about James' awful pick-up lines, I focused on the boy who was leading me to an empty compartment. I looked around at the condition of it, wrinkling my nose in disgust. There were candy wrappers and clothes strewn around – it looked like a messy boy's bedroom.

I looked up at him as he practically shoved me into a seat, taking the plush cushions across from me. I waited patiently to gather his thoughts – he had a look of complete anxiety splayed across his face – and studied him.

He was handsome, that much was obvious. The scars made him ruggedly handsome and he looked older than sixteen. If I had seen him out in public, I would have pegged him for mid-twenties. Then again, I didn't look my age either… but that was for a different reason entirely. There was a certain draw to him for me and I wasn't sure if that happened to everyone else, but I couldn't stop staring at him. It was strange – that had never happened before.

His amber eyes slid up my form and focused directly on my onyx ones. His brow was furrowed in concern and he cleared his throat, a slight blush on his face, "How did you know?"

Finding the blush on him an endearing contrast to the ruggedness of the scars, I smiled politely, "It's rather obvious."

A scowl settled on his features and he practically pleaded, "How? You don't understand… no one can know about this. If it's so obvious…"

"It's rather obvious to me," I stated, tilting my head to the side, "I'm sure the only other ones who know are your friends? Sirius and James? And that little boy with you? It's not obvious to the others on the train, I assure you."

The boy's features froze and his eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to figure out how I knew what he was. He cocked his head to the side and inquired, perplexed, "What are you?"

"A half-breed, if you will," I answered, shrugging slightly, "do I have a different scent about me? One different from your friends? Different from humans?"

"You ask a lot of questions," he commented dryly, before hanging his head slightly, "you smell very sweet. Much sweeter than other girls. Why? What kind of half-breed are you?"

"Have you ever met a vampire?" I questioned, before laughing slightly, "I do ask a lot of questions, don't I? It helps me be vague when I have to."

"You're a vampire?" he inquired skeptically, "how do you go out in the sun? And why aren't your eyes a different color? You don't have fangs, do you? You're wearing a cross necklace; I thought vampires couldn't wear crosses?"

"Now who's asking a lot of questions?" I teased, before smiling and settling back in my seat, though I had to avoid wrappers and dirty socks to do so, "I didn't say I was a full vampire, did I?"

" 'Half-breed'," he quoted, an intrigued look entering his amber eyes, "you're half-vampire? I didn't know that could happen." He seemed to relax slightly – he knew that he had to trust me with his secret just as much as I had to trust him with mine, and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.

I smiled slightly, gesturing to myself, "Obviously it can. And to answer your questions from before: Half – my father was a vampire, but I've never met him. My mother died when she was giving birth to me because… well, let's just say vampire births aren't pretty. I walk out the door. Sunlight doesn't kill vampires, but we still can't go out in it. I inherited my mother's eyes. No, I don't have fangs. I just have a very strong jaw. Vampires can wear crosses – we have one in my house. Any other questions?" I didn't say it condescendingly or rudely, I was slightly intrigued at his genuine interest in me and my kind.

"Plenty; but just one for now," he grinned slightly, "what's your name?"

I laughed, extending my warm hand to him and smiling, "Grace Cullen. But you can call me Gracie. I prefer that to anything else. And you? What's your name?"

"Remus Lupin," he answered, smiling a sweet, genuine smile, accepting my tiny hand in his massive one, "nice to meet you, Gracie." The skin on his neck was beginning to burn and I had to swallow the sudden urge to take a taste of his blood.

I bit my lip, quelling the urge, and smiled softly in response, "You as well, Remus."

He stood suddenly, his eyes running over me again, "You need to get changed before we get there. I'm sorry; I didn't mean to just drag you away from Sirius and James. I just needed to be sure." He offered me his hand and pulled me to my feet, "You won't say anything, will you?"

"Of course not," I answered, leading him out of the compartment and back to the bathroom area so I could change, "I would be signing my own death warrant if I did – I tell, you tell. Thank you, by the way for the counter curse for James and Sirius' prank. I looked like a Gryffindor lion had puked on me." His mouth turned up at the end slightly, rubbing the back of his neck, as we reached the others, who hadn't left the spot, though Lily had moved as far away from James as she possibly could. His smile merged into a frown in response to Sirius's approving smirk.

"Way to go, Moony," he stated when he left my side and returned to his friends, though I could hear every word, "bet you had a good snog, didn't you?"

Snog? Oh right – England, I thought, amused, watching the two to see Remus's reaction, and Moony? If that wasn't obvious... I wonder if the girls know about him being a werewolf…

"Shut up, Padfoot," Remus growled, embarrassed, sending me an apologetic look. Sirius followed his gaze and stated, perplexed, "Honestly, Moons, she can't hear us."

Remus just rolled his eyes in response and continued to give me an apologetic look. His neck grew scarlet again and I had to turn and engage Lily in a conversation before the urge to jump him and bite him overwhelmed me.

REMUSREMUSREMUSREMUS

I hopped off of the steam engine and waved at my new friends as I approached an enormous, heavy-set man with a bushy beard. They waved in response, though Sirius and James had scheming looks on their faces. I rolled my eyes and laughed – they could never prank a Cullen. I spotted Severus on my way to Hagrid – the bushy-haired giant, that is – and waved to him, smiling slightly.

He raised a cool eyebrow but his dark eyes were glittering in the dim light of the train station. He glanced around slightly, checking either if anyone was around to see him, or if he was the one I was really waving to, before raising his hand and sending a short wave in response.

I approached Hagrid and beamed, "Hello. I'm Grace – I suppose Professor Dumbledore told you to expect me?"

Hagrid chuckled slightly, "He did. Nice ta meet ya, Grace! I'm 'Agrid, the groundskeeper. I'm takin' ya te' the castle and yeh'll get sorted inside."

"Thank you, Hagrid," I smiled slightly, accepting his hand as he helped me into a boat with several young first year boys.

They eyed me in awe, as though I wasn't real – which, technically, I supposed I wasn't supposed to be. And then began the contests to see who could impress me the most. I watched them silently, amused as they tried to one-up their friends. They dared each other to reach down into the water, tempting the giant squid.

I raised an eyebrow, thoroughly enjoying their little dares, and laughing to myself – if only they knew how old I actually was. They would be scrambling to get out of the boat, if it wasn't for their fear of the squid.

I decided to ignore them, mean as that sounds. I didn't want them to think I was actually encouraging any of their actions. I leaned back in my seat at the back of the boat and allowed my fingers to skim the top of the water, enjoying the feeling of the cool, dark water. The boys stared at me, fear etched on their round faces.

Mischief caused me to push their buttons even farther; I jerked my arm deeper into the water, a look of terror spreading across my face. The boys gasped and I plunged my arm in the water, my eyes wide.

I hopped out of the boat when it reached the shore, gliding away from the boys with an amused smirk on my face. Emmett would love that one. I would have pretended like I was dragged in the water if I didn't have to go in front of the entire castle in a few minutes.

I could hear the boys whispering hurriedly about how brave and cool I was for not letting the squid get me.

Please, I thought, laughing, that squid doesn't have anything on me…

REMUSREMUSREMUSREMUS

Sirius and James leaned toward Remus, surprised yet triumphant looks on their faces. Remus gave them a questioning look, a nonchalant eyebrow raised.

"You've been looking for Cullen for the last fifteen minutes, Moons," James explained with a laugh, his hazel eyes sparkling, "what happened on the train anyway?"

"You looked like you were gonna snog the life out of her and tear her head off at the same time, mate," Sirius chuckled, casting a random wink at a group of sixth year girls. They giggled and he chuckled, turning back to his friends.

"She knows what I am," Remus answered, his amber eyes flickering about the Great Hall in search for her again.

Sirius and James looked at him, stunned and outraged. Sirius jumped to his feet and scowled, "I'm gonna kill her…"

"She's not going to say anything to anybody," Remus assured his friend, yanking Sirius back down to his seat, "she promised me. She can't anyway…"

"Why can't she?" James inquired, frowning, "and how did she find out? We just met her…"

"It's a long story and she has to be the one to tell you," Remus answered, rolling his eyes slightly, "but she did figure it out."

"Is she… like you?" Sirius inquired, his voice a low whisper, looking around to see who might overhear them.

"No," Remus answered, before pausing thoughtfully, "well, in a way, I suppose…" He noticed his friends' confused, concerned looks and stated with a grin, "I'll ask her if I can tell you. Really; it's not my place to say."

The Great Hall's doors opened suddenly and they all stopped talking, sitting up. Remus's eyes snapped over to the first years, searching the crowd for the tiny Gracie Cullen. He found her, scanning the area with a slightly amused smile. He caught her eye and felt his face heating up as he grinned at her.

REMUSREMUSREMUSREMUS

I smiled at Remus, that unexplainable draw to him intensifying tenfold as his eyes studied me from his spot among the crowd. I bit my lip slightly – I could smell him from here and his blood was awfully tempting. I didn't quite understand that either. I would have to write to Carlisle or Esme about that. Carlisle understood everything about vampires and a bit about half-vampires.

I blinked, turning my attention to the front of the room, where Professor McGonagall – she introduced herself to me and told me to keep an eye out for the 'Marauders' and that she hoped I would be an excellent student in her classes – was standing with a ratty old hat.

The hat made quick work of the first years in front of me, until I was the only one left. I felt all eyes on me as McGonagall called me to the front, explaining, "Grace Cullen has decided to join our family here at Hogwarts this year. She will be a seventh year and I hope you're all very welcoming to her."

I scanned the crowd, sitting on the stool. I met Remus's gaze again and smiled at him and his friends as the hat was lowered onto my head.

Oh dear… we've never had one of your kind here before

I'll take that as a compliment, I thought, laughing in my head. The hat was certainly entertaining.

It is, it is! Hmm, let's see… your mother attended before you. She was very smart, very brave. Your father, though you do not know him, seems to have given you a darker side.

Do you know who my father was? I inquired, surprised, nearly falling off of the stool.

Of course I do – it's here in your mind, though you cannot remember it yourself, my dear. You come from a dangerous family, which will make it hard to keep friends without lying to them…

Maybe you aren't so funny…, I thought, raising an eyebrow, my family would never hurt my friends… and any friend of mine would just have to be understanding… Remus is…

Ah yes, Master Lupin… well, I have made my decision…

Be my guest, I replied, my heart racing nervously.

"RAVENCLAW!" I blinked away the bright light as the hat was removed from my vision. The Ravenclaw table was clapping excitedly, while all other tables seemed disappointed. I looked over to the Gryffindor table, where James and Sirius were talking to Remus, who seemed extremely upset. Severus looked equally disappointed while Lily gave me shrugs.

I quickly strode over to the Ravenclaw table. A few people – Hailie Dartmoore, Amos Diggory, Edward Davies, Xenophelius Lovegood, his girlfriend Lola Carter, and a few others – welcomed me to the table with friendly smiles.

Again, my eyes strayed over to the Gryffindor table and I met Remus's intense gaze. He mouthed 'I need to talk to you'. I nodded and smiled, before turning to the meal before me and digging in.

Frowning, I glanced up at the front, where McGonagall was putting the hat away. I would have to get that hat if I wanted to find out who my father was…

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