Chapter 6

"A true friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart."

~ Attributed to Heather Pryor

Thursday evening, Civia had been called to Albus' office, and asked to rejoin the Order of the Phoenix—to which she eagerly agreed—and had been told that there was a meeting Friday, here in Hogwarts, in the Room of Requirement, at precisely nine o'clock.

However, on her way the next day, she had been rushing to the top floor from the dungeons, when she heard two pairs of shouting and yelling, as well as several bangs…

Everyone fell respectfully silent as Albus stood, his piercing gaze flicking over all present. His eyebrows contracted.

"Where is she?" asked Minerva, beside him, quietly. "She's not one to be late…"

To the Deputy Headmistress' left, the Potions Master snorted doubtfully. Trust the chit to be late, of course.

Then the door was hastily opened, and the slip of a Potions Mistress hurried in, cheeks aflame.

"I'm sorry, Albus," she hastily explained as she headed to an empty seat. "Two students started to duel in the sixth floor corridor. One's arm was broken and the other had been hexed spectacularly. I had to get them to Poppy…"

"Civia?" one interrupted, surprised.

"Oh, er—hello, Remus," she said, but was still nervous under the gaze of all the Order—save Snape, who was rolling his.

A spiky pink-haired young woman in a Weird Sisters shirt and heavily patched jeans—giving her a look similar to a muggle rocker look—had been blowing a bubble with Droobles Best Blowing Gum which popped in her surprise as she sat up in curiosity. "Civia P—you're Civia Potter?"

Again, said witch's face reddened a most potent shade. "Unfortunately."

"Civia returned from the muggle world at my request, Nymphadora," Albus explained, and the Potions Mistress noted the wince at her first name. "While Severus took the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Civia acquiesced to my offer of the Potions post."

Remus gave her a startled look. Of all the 'Marauders', Civia liked him the best. "I thought you planned on never really coming back to the wizarding world."

Her face tightened, causing brackets to form around her pursed lips. "Times change," she muttered. "Voldemort came back, though I did not hear about it until after the skirmish in the Ministry."

Her main reason did not pass from her lips, though it hung in the air.

Harry is in danger.

Small a sentence as it was, it changed the world in comparison with the longest sentiments.

After the meeting ended, many members stayed, all chatting and socializing.

It was awkward at first, seeing as she didn't know half of them, but Remus quickly drummed up a conversation with her, which the woman Albus had called Nymphadora joined curious

"I'm Tonks," she introduced herself. "It's my surname, but I prefer it to Nymphadora."

Civia had laughed. "I understand. I don't really care for my name either. My brother was simply James, and I was stuck with Civia. You'd think my mother would name me something simple too."

"So you're really Harry's aunt?" the Metamorphmagus asked.

She felt her face redden before she hesitantly replied, "Yes—James's sister."

"And you're the new Potions Mistress here?" Remus inquired curiously.

Civia nodded. "Yes, I am. I replaced Professor Snape."

Tonks grinned. "Bet the kids like you more."

She chuckled. "You could say that. I guess I'm much less intimidating in comparison—not to mention I lowered the bar to get into the NEWT class…"

They continued on, thankfully not touching the subject of Civia's family again. She liked Tonks—the Metamorphmagus was hilarious! Remus was very much the same as she last saw of him. She also couldn't help but notice how the two acted around each other—they were obviously attracted to each other.

Civia sighed to herself. Almost everyone she knew was married or was seeing someone. Why did it feel like she was the only one without a partner?