Author's Note: Hello, welcome to Thursday. Here's the next chapter, much less tense than the previous one. My beta, Arnel, went through the chapter and while I was reviewing it I added another 600 words, so any mistakes you find, they're mine alone. For those who know about the problems with my father from this summer, I'm asking for well wishes and prayers. He is not doing well. I'm headed back tomorrow. Enjoy and please let me know what you think. MNF

Chapter 12:

Gwyraram (Welsh)/

To Turn Away (Modern English)

2 January 1996

Potter Cottage near Killarney

4:21 p.m.

Remus Lupin was used to pacing. On the nights of the full moon, especially when he was alone, he paced within whatever location he'd locked himself into. For hours he would walk along the perimeter, looking every bit the caged animal he was. Today he was pacing around the first floor of the cottage Harry owned. Around from the lounge to the conservatory through the entryway and the new school room to the kitchen and then back around. He was in the conservatory when he heard a voice.

"Remus dear, I don't think Harry would be pleased if you wore a hole into the Persian on the floor," the calming voice of Prudence Potter lilted through the air. "I went to the carpet maker myself to design the pattern and pick out the colours. It truly is a one of a kind, and to replace it today would cost a fair bit more than I paid. Why not sit down and tell me what has you so vexed?"

Remus looked at the refined woman, sitting so perfectly on her high back chair; she was a lady in all the best ways. He directed his own chair in front of the lone small frame on the small table in front of the window overlooking the garden behind them.

"I'm concerned about who will and who will not be joining us today. There are several of the students who have not made up their minds yet," he explained. "The trunks and other supplies for Hermione, Ginny, Luna and Neville arrived right away, only minutes after noon. I had their things moved into their rooms and arranged for their books for the new classes to be sent here. Susan and Hannah's things arrived around half three, and I was able to arrange for their needs as well. I'm not surprised Daphne's things aren't here yet; while I know her father supports her coming, it would be a difficult step for her. She would be the only former Slytherin."

"What house she is in should not matter," Prudence stated. "There was not this horrible animosity between the houses when I was at school. Of course, we cheered for our Quidditch team and attempted to earn points for our house, but no one would ever consider hexing another student outside of the classroom. How it disintegrated so is beyond my comprehension. Are there any other students who have not accepted Harry's invitation?"

"One other," Remus answered her. "Ginny's brother, Ron. He and Harry are best mates. I can't imagine why he wouldn't want to come as well."

"Is this perchance the lad Harry was speaking with Sirius about last night?"

"It is," Remus said sceptically, valiantly hiding his smile. "Were you eavesdropping, Lady Potter?"

"It is difficult not to hear conversations which are held within arm's distance of my frame. I had no where to go, so I pretended to doze," she explained. Remus finally chuckled at her. "May I offer a possible reasoning for Mr Ronald Weasley's hesitation in accepting the invitation, regardless of what his sister has chosen?"

"Please do," Remus replied. "I might have taught them for a year, but the teenage mind still perplexes."

"As it has for generations," Prudence added with a smile. "Mr Weasley has been young Harry's friend since the first, but he has always wanted the publicity which seems to follow my great-grandson where ere he goes. Perhaps Mr Weasley is considering the possibilities of what life at Hogwarts will be like if he is not in such a long shadow?"

"That is a possibility," Remus sadly agreed. "Although I hope it's not the case. I was thinking perhaps his moth-" he was interrupted by the front door opening and Maggie walking in.

"Remus, where ya be?" she yelled. Remus didn't get a chance to answer before she walked in. "Ah, dere ya are. Am I in time? Did I miss dem or dinna any of dem come?"

"You're early," Remus answered with a slight laugh. "I just wish I knew if Harry and Sirius were going to be back in time?"

"Dey won be," she replied. "De English Ministry is in lockdown, de Wizengamot is still in session. Albus Dumbledore has been taken inta custody. Harry and Sirius have worked dem up into a frenzy. I dinna know if dey be here at all before lights out. I only got de message as one of dere Aurors had a moment ta owl me."

"What they did needed to be done, but they have certainly made a mess," Remus commented as he looked at the mantle clock. "Only a few more minutes. Just waiting for replies from two more. Come on, we'll talk in the kitchen. Thank you, Lady Prudence, for your insight," he said to her portrait.

"I will always be here for you, dear boy" she said with a slight bow of her head. Even as a teen, Remus had enjoyed the company of Lady Prudence's portrait. Grandma Freddie had taken a shine to Sirius, but the older woman and Remus had discovered their many commonalities.

Remus put a gentle hand on Maggie's back and led her from the room. "What was dat about?" she asked as they were exiting.

"Just some insight into the mind of a young man," he explained.

"And ya, havin' been one, dinna figure it for yaself?"

"Didn't even have a clue, Maggie dear," he stated and they laughed as they entered the kitchen. "We've got at least six coming along this time. Harry's already made a list of who he'd like to invite in a few weeks, depending on how things are going at Hogwarts. We're either going to need to use Stargazer's Summit or find a new place if he invites any more. I just wonder if it will work if we're on British soil."

"Don worry 'bout it," Maggie told him, covering his hand with hers. "It'll all work out. Ya can come use me parents' house. Dere's plenny room. Bits of da castle ain been used in generations."

"Thanks, Maggie," Remus replied. "This is bound to be an interesting experiment. There are still some kinks we haven't worked out." He was thinking of the full moon nights, although Sirius assured him he had an idea.

A whooshing sound in the entryway caught Maggie's attention. "What was that?"

"Someone else's trunk arrived. I wonder if it was Daphne or Ron?" Remus wondered aloud, the first to make it out to the entrance area for the cottage. He looked at the trunk and was pleased to read the initials 'D.G.' in elegant script across the lid of the case. A lovely black owl with the most yellow of eyes was in its cage next to the trunk. "I'm so glad Daphne has chosen to come. I think it will be good for all of them. Every house is represented this way."

"Wait, did ya say ya dinna get Ron's tings?" Maggie inquired. Remus pulled his pocket watch for the time, smiled and spoke:

"Not yet, and the kids will be here…now." Right on time there was a clattering heard in the back garden, and the duo of adults went out through the new classroom to the garden to greet their new charges. Not one of them landed upright; it was a good thing the snow was gone but the soil frozen.

"Ow," Ginny said. "My bum ended up on the toe of your boot, Hermione."

"Sorry, Ginny. At least I was wearing the rounded end ones, rather than the pointed ones," the older girl apologised.

"Point taken," the young red-head answered and everyone started laughing. "Wait, where's my brother? Did he screw up the Portkey?" She was getting to her feet, as was everyone else, Neville demonstrating his manners by helping the young women to their feet.

"Miss Weasley," Remus spoke and she looked at him surprised. "Ginny. Must remember we can and should use first names here," he said mostly to himself, which caused Maggie to snigger. "Ginny, Ron never sent his things. I don't believe he's coming."

"What a stupid git. This is an awesome opportunity, especially since Hogwarts is missing half its teaching staff now. Professor Snape was escorted off the property," she told them. Neither Remus nor Maggie suppressed their smiles.

"Come on inside," Maggie suggested. "I'll take ya on a tour of da house." The kids dutifully followed, talking amongst themselves about what had happened at Hogwarts today. Remus was held in rapt attention.

"Professor Trelawney was relieved of her teaching duties, although she will continue to live in the castle and help Professor McGonagall in some way," Hermione took up the story after they'd discussed their dislike of Snape for a good ten or fifteen minutes. Everyone shared, save Daphne, who remained silent.

"It took the other ghosts to drive Binns from his classroom. They've given him a new one on the unused part of the third floor. I doubt he'll notice if the students come or not," Neville explained next.

"Hagrid is going to work with a proper professor for Care of Magical Creatures," Susan spoke up. "He's knowledgeable, but just not a particularly fine lecturer. He also doesn't realise he's putting his students at risk most of the time." Remus nodded in response to her observations. They all loved the half-giant, but he really wasn't professor material.

"With Umbridge gone as well, the only professors left are McGonagall, Flitwick, Sinistra, Vector, Sprout and Babbling. Umbridge had run off the last Muggle Studies teacher the first week of classes and never replaced her," Ginny finished up.

"Professor McGonagall, well, I guess she's headmistress McGonagall now," Neville spoke up; "whatever her official title, she was forced to suspend classes for at least two weeks to find a teaching staff."

"Can you imagine what's going to happen in that castle in the next two weeks?" Daphne asked, finally joining in with the others. "No coursework to keep the students from getting bored and weather which will keep most inside. They should just assign everyone detention in the Great Hall. I thought it was too chaotic before." Remus and Maggie shared a look, happy to hear the former Slytherin speak. They had been discussing her the night before, concerned about her relationship to the others.

"Speaking of chaos, detentions and coursework, why don't settle down and I can go over some rules and such with you," Remus spoke and the teens all filed into the classroom. Remus, being the gentleman he is, put a hand on Maggie's back to guide her.

"Hey, what's going on here," Sirius' booming voice surprised the pair as they came into the house. "You making moves on my mate?" He offered his hand to Maggie. She happily took it and he pulled her up into his arms.

"Never, me love," she answered. "Yer de one who stole me heart." For her kind answer, Sirius rewarded her with a kiss.

"Always gets the girl," Remus jokingly muttered in the background. "Where's Harry?"

"Kingsley cornered him as we were attempting to leave," Sirius explained. "Wanted to tell him about what happened when the Aurors approached the Muggle police about his abuse."

"How'd he take it?" the werewolf asked.

"About as well as you'd expect him to take it," the old dog answered. All three adults filed into the classroom behind the kids.

"Sirius, where's Harry?" Ginny asked as they were settling down.

"He's still at the Ministry. He should be here anytime now." There weren't desks in rows in this room, rather a few were scattered along the edges; most of the seating came from chairs, couches and large pillows arranged so they faced a blackboard at the front. Remus sat on a stool so he was a little higher than the kids. He began going over the general information as Maggie and Sirius slipped from the room to make tea and to begin supper.

The first matter was sleeping arrangements. The girls were excited to find out they'd have the entire second floor of the house to themselves. Their mirth lasted until they also learned there was only one loo for all six of them. Hermione suggested they make up a schedule for mornings and evenings to avoid everyone assuming they can shower at seven.

Neville was pleased to be sharing a bedroom with Harry, even more so when he learned there was a private loo for the master suite. Several of the girls were jealous, but Remus reminded them that it would be a disaster within a day or so because that's just how boys were at that age.

"Okay, here's something which might be a change for some of you; everyone will have household chores. There will be daily activities, such as helping cook a meal or clean up from one and then there will also be weekly chores involving larger tasks such as dusting or laundry," Remus explained. He counted to ten and the first of the remarks was heard.

"Wait, there aren't any house-elves?" Susan asked.

"I don't know how to cook," Daphne admitted. "I don't know the first thing about laundry either. Food and clean clothes just appear at my house."

"My Gran wouldn't let me clean. She said she was afraid I'd break things," Neville sadly said. Luna wrapped her arm around his shoulders and gave him a squeeze.

"I've had to do chores my whole life," Ginny admitted. "It will be so much easier to do the laundry without so many messy boys! Compared to Charlie, Ron and the twins, Neville and Harry are downright neat. The only thing I won't do is pluck pants out of trouser legs. That is your personal responsibility." The girls made sounds of revulsion and Sirius must have said something, as Maggie slapped him on the head.

"Okay, okay," Remus said in an attempt to regain control of the conversation. "Harry, Sirius and I discussed this, and we think it's important for everybody to pitch in around the house. It's a small place, so the amount of work will be minimal. As for the cooking, food generally tastes better when you've had a hand in it. One of us will be able to help you along the first few times you're doing something new in the kitchen or in general. Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Sirius, Maggie and I have all been doing these things for years." Voices mumbled their agreement and relief they wouldn't be alone when they began a new task.

"The best news for all of you is magic will be allowed to help you with your tasks," he told them and there was a prattle of thankful words and sounds. "Unlike in the UK, underage magic is allowed while at home, or while doing school work. The only thing you may not do is magic in public places and especially not where there are Muggles."

"I dinna want ta bring any of ya in," Maggie interrupted, "but I will if I must." She and Sirius brought the tea in.

"Everyone, please excuse my poor manners. For those who don't know, meet Maggie O'Lachlan, Superior-Level Auror with the Irish Ministry and Sirius' lady friend. You'll see her around a lot," Remus explained and there were many hellos.

"She and Sirius bring up another point: full-frontal snogging or more is forbidden in common areas of the house." Everyone laughed, except Sirius who glared and Maggie who blushed and hid her face behind her hands.

"Okay, everyone, enough taking the mikey out of them," Remus said, getting the meeting back to its point. "After the first offence of public affections, you'll need to put a sickle into the snogging jar. We'll do something fun with the money when we have enough. Likewise, if someone of the opposite sex is in your room, the door needs to be open. I know it puts a damper on things, but until we know how things are going to work here with all of us, let's keep the relationships more innocent than not," Remus said staring at Sirius.

"While Sirius and Maggie share a bedroom when she's here, feel free to collect from him when he forgets the rules, which he'll do often," Remus teased his best mate. Sirius flipped him the bird, which caused Remus to point out the other jar on the table. "There's also a swear jar, which he will contribute to heavily as well."

"Bloody hell, you trying to take away my settlement from the Ministry?" Sirius complained and everyone laughed. Maggie handed him the swear jar and he just dumped in several galleons. "Should cover me for a while." The laughter grew.

"What's so funny?" Harry asked from the doorway, looking rather ragged.

"Sirius already had to add funds to the swear jar. He's pre-paid for a week or so," Hermione explained. Harry looked to his godfather and smirked. He walked over and sat at Ginny's feet, since all the chairs were taken. He was still in his Wizengamot robes, which were quite rumpled. She ran her fingers through his hair, which soothed Harry greatly.

Remus returned to the rules, many of them common sense: clean up a mess if you made it; meals are at specific times and if you won't make it, make sure someone knows; be prepared to leave on time for classes at the Irish Academy.

Harry helped Remus explain that the hours from eight to eleven were study time. All three adults, as well as the portraits of Harry's family were available to help with most core subjects as well as several specialisations. "Here's the thing," he said, "if you don't have revisions to do between eight and eleven, you can do some quiet activity: have a quiet conversation, play chess, read, whatever. What you can't do is disrupt the rest of us. We are going to be much more responsible for what we learn and how we learn. Remus, Sirius and Maggie are rearranging their lives to give us this chance. I don't want us to do anything which would sabotage it."

"Well spoken, Lord Potter," Maggie complimented him. She then took over, explaining how the Irish Magical Academy was different from Hogwarts. "Only some of da students live at de Academy," she explained. " 'ose are either de young ones who need more help or de ones at de end of dere studies and ready for de International exams. Unlike de UK or France, da Irish Academy dinna say ya need to study for seven years. If yar done in six, then ya can take de exams; if ya need eight anna haf, ya take it. Ya just canna go over ten." No one was more excited about this possibility than Hermione, who was taking fervent notes.

"Alsa, students fourteen an older can have tutors," she explained. "If ya know yar ahead in a subject, like Remus was in Runes and languages, or yar want to study sometin specific, like Neville an his healin' plants, ya can work with a tutor. We have already arranged for some, but they won start for another few weeks. Ya will understand better after ya go to classes next Monday. Tomorra, we'll head to Dublin so ya can see the campus, get yar jumpers and de Heads will work wit ya ta build da schedule ya need."

"So, we won't always be in classes together?" Hermione asked.

"Dat's right," Maggie replied. "It all depends on where yar strengths and weaknesses lay. Ya'll understand better tomorra, I promise." As if perfectly timed, the alarm went off in the kitchen, and the group moved to the new magically created dining room.

Different people helped set the table, while others went to the kitchen to get the lamb stew, roasted parsnips and freshly baked soda bread, compliments of Maggie's Mum and Grandmum. There were also some oatmeal and raisin biscuits and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

"Since we feel like a family here," Hermione said, "would anyone mind if we said grace before we eat?"

"I think that's a great idea, Hermione," Harry replied from the seat next to her. He took her hand in his and around the table they each held the hand of those next to them. "Why don't you say it tonight?"

"Sure," she said before bowing her head. "For the hands which prepared it, and for those about to receive it, Lord bless this food. Amen."

"Short and simple, best kind of blessing. Come now, let's dig in. I helped with the stew." Sirius said.

"Are we sure it's edible?" Harry asked. "I seem to remember some eggs a while back -"

"Careful what you say there, Pup. You're on dinner duty tomorrow night."

Laughter, conversation and happiness went around the table same as the food. Unbeknownst to anyone, James and Lily had slipped into the portrait of a path in the woods. They sat together on a stump, enjoying seeing their friends warmly sharing a meal with their son and his friends. Remus caught the small pair while he was looking around the room. He gave them a crooked smile, one which James returned, while Lily wiped a tear from her eye. He had a good feeling about the year to come.