A/N: I totally made up anything dealing with Grecian cuisine.
The table was quiet except for the small sounds of flatware hitting china as everyone began eating. Poppy was the first to speak. "Filius, how long will you be in Romania?" she asked brightly.
The little man beamed. "Three weeks. My travel group and I will start in Bucharest and then we'll head in a Northwestern pattern. We'll be making almost a circular tour of the country before ending in Constanta near the Black Sea." He turned his eyes to Pomona Sprout. "Are you still heading to Greece Pomona?"
"Oh yes, I'm practically giddy at the thought." Sprout tittered. "Windell and I are going to the island of Mykonos for our twenty year anniversary. There's a witch who runs a small Inn with whom we've been corresponding for quite some time. I'll be gone for two weeks but then I must get back because I'll have a harvest of Winking Ivy coming due."
"Mykonos is lovely." Catalina spoke. "If you have any free time with nothing planned you should visit Ikaria," her pronunciation was perfect. "They have a lovely drink called Macespilia."
Sprout was interested. "Really? I've never heard of it. What's in it?"
Cat took a sip of her water. "It's normally served in a glass that's been kept in the freezer, so it's very cold. It has crushed pomegranate, cherries, and fermented grapes. It's almost wine-like, but quite different. I've only ever had it on Ikaria."
"You've been to Greece then?" Minerva asked, glad the woman had offered up information. "Have you visited much of the islands?"
Cat couldn't speak as her mouth was full, but Lyss spoke for her. "Mama was born in Greece; Corfu." The girl sounded proud.
"I was born in Corfu, and growing up we went all over Greece. I didn't go to the States until I was fifteen, but even after that I visited several more times. I still have some family living in various parts."
"Well, I will try to make it a point to visit Ikaria." Sprout grinned. "That drink sounds heavenly."
"Pomegranates are very symbolic there. You'll find several cities will not use the fruit at all, but Ikaria uses them in many dishes."
The dinner conversation continued to surround the upcoming trips both Filius Flitwick and Pomona Sprout would be taking that summer. Flitwick assured Lyss that when he returned from Romania he would begin working with her on low level charms. Minerva informed the group that Hermione had owled saying that she and her friends were willing to help tutor Lyss as well. Minerva was very careful to include Ophelia in their plans, worried that the girl would feel left out. Instead the girl seemed pleased for her sister, and there was no hint of jealousy when she spoke. She simply told them she'd try whatever they wanted.
After dinner everyone went their separate ways and the Barrons headed up to their chamber after taking Judd outside for a brief walk. Lyss had decided she would read through one of her new books for beginning magic, and the other two women made their own reading selections. Ophelia laughed as she saw Judd curling up into a ball on the end of the couch. "Mama, did you put Judd up there?" she giggled.
Catalina noticed the pup and grinned. "No, how about you Lyss?"
"Nope. I could tell he wanted up there though."
Ophelia looked at the puppy with a thoughtful expression. He was too little to jump up there. She wondered how he'd managed it. Then she shrugged it off as she took her spot to read. It wasn't long before all three headed to their rooms to go to sleep for the night.
&
Catalina woke up and looked at the clock next to her bed. It was an odd timepiece. Instead of numbers it read Two Hours Before Breakfast. Shaking her head slightly she arose and took a quick shower. After pulling her hair back in a quick braid she dressed in denim shorts and a faded coral colored ribbed tank top. She slipped into a pair of flip flops and headed to the living room. Ophelia was already dressed and sitting on the couch with her book. The girl looked up as her mother entered.
"Morning Mama. Lyss is still sleeping like the dead. I was about to take Judd out. Wanna come with me?"
Cat nodded her assent and left word with Teensy that they were taking the pup outside. She followed Ophelia as the girl remembered the way out from the day before. They began to walk as the pup ran and played around their feet.
Up in the castle Snape was in the middle of listening to Lucius as he read an editorial from the Daily Prophet. The blonde man was furious and it brought a smirk to Snape's face. Obviously whoever had written into the paper had taken it as their mission to blast the Ministry of Magic for allowing former Death Eaters and known Werewolves to teach at Hogwarts.
"Let's forget the fact that we turned the back on the Dark Lord and risked our lives to protect these children and protect the wizarding world and Muggle world as a whole. And of course we must forget the fact that every time we were called to his side there was the possibility he could read our duplicity and kill us." Lucius was fuming. "And of course never mind that Lupin put his life on the line in the Order, and lost his wife."
Snape's eyebrows rose, Lucius was incredibly angry if he even defended Lupin. "Why do you even read that drivel? The majority of the information in there is one-sided and slanted." His eyes were drawn immediately to the sight of Ophelia and Catalina Barron as they came into view and his words trailed off.
"What are you looking at?" Lucius snapped and moved to join Snape. Then he saw the women. "Oh." The girl was slightly shorter, and slimmer than her mother, but Lucius's eyes were caught on the mother. Catalina Barron had golden skin and rounded hips even more emphasized by the clinging material of her top and shorts. She'd pulled her hair back leaving her neckline bare. He pulled his eyes away reluctantly and noticed that Snape too was staring. A flash of anger filled him before he realized that Severus was looking towards the girl who'd just bent down to take a stick from her little dog. Lucius grinned for only an instant. "I do wonder what happened to them that caused Poppy to practically burst into tears when examining them…" he made sure to keep his voice soft and questioning.
Snape scowled and dragged his eyes away from Ophelia. "I don't know…well, not all of it. You saw the father though, did he look like a man in control of his facilities? When they first stumbled into The Caudron they looked as if someone had taken a thick stick to them. Especially the mother. All three were frightened…more terrified really, and as soon as Remus and I approached they shrunk back from us."
"I'm surprised you didn't use Legilimency on them."
Snape met Lucius's gaze. "I did. I could only pick up small bits…the woman, Catalina, she has very strong mental barriers."
"Occlumency?"
"No. Not the same at all. I can't explain it." Snape murmured turning back to follow the women with his eyes. "But you heard the young one, Lysistrata. You heard her tell me to stay out of their heads."
Lucius returned his gaze to the women knowing that Snape was not paying attention. "Yes. I thought it was a threat, but perhaps it wasn't. Perhaps whatever barriers this woman has the other girl has as well. What is quite astonishing is that the girl, who's had no training whatsoever in magic was able to discern what you were doing."
"Indeed."
&
Abraham Barron had plastered the streets of London with photos of his missing wife and daughters. He hadn't wanted to. He hadn't wanted to give them any kind of warning of where he was. He figured that would make them run, but Simon told him it was probable they'd already run. There was no sign of them, and when they'd gone up to the last place they'd stayed at the evidence that they'd already been and gone had been undeniable. He'd sent people to Greece to check, but he didn't think she'd go there. She knew he'd look there. Abraham was starting to lose his cool. He'd warned her. She hadn't heeded his warnings and now she would be severely punished when he did find her. Oh, and he would find her… her and his two daughters. He'd promised Simon Ophelia's hand in marriage, and he would follow through on that promise. As for Lysistrata, well, he wasn't quite sure what he'd be doing with her yet, but she was his property, and by damned he would use her as he saw fit. He just had to find them…
&
Lysistrata woke up in her beautiful room with a smile on her face. Everything inside of her told her that their lives had changed for the better. Not one ounce of dread roamed inside of her. Even her anger was buried down instead of riding fiercely at the forefront where it normally lay. She took her time getting out of bed and readying herself for the day. The wacky clock on her wall told her she had forty five minutes until breakfast.
Once she was ready, she stepped out into the hall and headed for the stairs. There was a popping noise as she descended, and she was quickly coming to learn that was the noise when the house-elf appeared. Teensy waited at the bottom of the stairs.
"Morning Miss Lyssy." The elf squeaked. "Miss Cats and Miss Phelia are outside with the little fairykin pup."
"Thank you Teensy. I'm going to head to breakfast."
"Teensy noticed that Miss Lyssy made her bed. That's Teensy's job." the little elf moped slightly.
"Um, I'm sorry? Our Mama has always expected us to pick up after ourselves." Lyss said by way of explanation. She'd never had anyone upset with her for cleaning up before.
"Teensy will do the laundry while yous is gone." the little elf narrowed her eyes. It seemed that she would have to be quick and make the beds before her charges were gone for the day.
Feeling chastised Lyss could only nod and continue out the door into the corridor. It didn't take long for her to get to the Great Hall and she was pleased with herself that she remembered how to get there. Her family hadn't arrived yet, but most of the others had, including Professor Malfoy. Lyss took her seat and waited quietly, suddenly feeling quite shy.
It didn't take long for her mother and sister to join them, and breakfast was served with everyone murmuring between themselves comfortably.
"There should be an extra chair." Cat spoke drawing everyone's attention. They looked around themselves and were befuddled. No one was missing.
"Everyone's here dear." Minerva murmured.
Cat met the Headmistress's gaze. "We really do need another chair and place setting." Then she smiled at the older woman with an almost bitter tilt to her lips.
"Excellent! I'd hoped I'd find you here Father!" A young man's voice boomed from the doorway. Turning to look at the visitor they found a young wiry man with a muscular frame entering. He had the same light hair and eyes of Lucius Malfoy. He was a handsome youth and smiled cheerfully at the room's occupants.
"Hubba hubba." Lyss managed under breath drawing a snicker from her sister, and an amused raised eyebrow from Lucius.
Lucius looked between his son and Cat. Somehow the woman had known that Draco would be joining them. Minerva had already transfigured a chair and place setting for the boy even through her surprise. "Draco, you're home early." He managed as his son took the seat next to him.
Draco hadn't even paid attention to everyone in the dining hall once he'd seen his father and god-father. "Yes, Blaise seems to have fallen in love…again, so I came home." Draco rolled his eyes. "This one is a little witch from Spain…"Finally it seemed that Draco noticed the three new people at the table. "Oh, er, hello. Sorry for my rudeness."
"Draco, these three lovely ladies are Catalina Barron, and her daughters Ophelia and Lysistrata." Lucius introduced. "Lysistrata is going to be a sixth year student, and Catalina is going to take care of Teddy Lupin during the day. Ophelia is going to be attending some classes, but we haven't decided which classes as of yet."
Draco's eyes had widened. "Um, pardon, but am I to understand that Mrs. Barron and Miss Barron are…well, that they're Muggles?"
Ophelia grinned. "Yep."
"Sort of." Lucius allowed. After all, they weren't quite Muggles were they? Plain Muggles couldn't foresee things, and in most instances Centaurs didn't know of Muggles individual existences.
It seemed that Draco didn't know what to say. "Well, um, might I ask what school you went to previously?" he asked Lyssy.
"West Lincoln in Santa Monica is the last school I actually attended. Mom has been teaching us since we left Cali though." she offered.
"So then, this is your first magical school?"
"Uh huh." she nodded. "I met a girl yesterday that said she'd come up and help me get caught up though."
"Yes, that would be Miss Granger." Lucius spoke again.
"Oh, that would make sense, she's very intelligent. I suppose that means the others will come with her." he murmured. "Well, I'll probably be spending time with them, so if you need any assistance I would surely help you."
"Thanks." Lyss blushed slightly at the attention from the good looking boy. "Are you all friends then?"
Draco laughed a little. "Now we are, but we weren't always. Just in the past year. Surprised a lot of people actually." Draco suddenly frowned. "Headmistres, where are the ghosts?"
"Ghosts?" Ophelia's mouth dropped open.
"Don't worry yourself dear, they're perfectly harmless." Minerva assured the girl. "They went to some party at Stonehenge. Nick talked them into it."
"All of them?" Draco was startled. "Even The Bloody Baron?"
"Oh yes, even him. I must say it's been nice and peaceful around here without Peeves." she sighed.
"You'll like the ghosts…for the most part." Draco told the girls. "They talk to you, and are pretty funny. Only Peeves harasses people. And in one of the girl's bathroom's there's a ghost of a girl who died here years and years ago because of You-Know-Who."
"No. I don't know who." Lyss frowned in confusion.
Ophelia looked at Snape. "That's the master of the Death Eaters. Isn't it? Lord Voldemort?"
Draco turned his attention to her. "You know of him?"
"Only barely." she told him.
"When I was growing up that's what everyone referred to him as because it was thought that if you spoke his name it gave him more power and he could come back. He did come back, several times, but not because anyone said his name. Potter killed him for good last year."
"That thin boy with the wild brown hair?" Cat spoke. "He killed someone?"
"Hard to believe isn't it?" Lucius asked in his light, solicitous voice. "Harry Potter, a seventeen year old boy killed the most evil wizard in the world. A teenager saved all of us."
