Chapter 20: All around us…

Her head…her head was only thing that was pounding.

She thought if she untied her hair, it would go away or at least eased up a bit, but it didn't work. And now she could feel two bumps forming on top of her head.

But that wasn't the only thing, but her back began to hurt and started to feel uncomfortable.

Then it came to her…

This wasn't an ordinary spell that sneaky old bastard used on her, it had to do with her blood line, if not one, then it had to been both.

"Oh dear Merlin, where's my friends when I need them?"

"So if that will all right with the rest of you, Hogwarts Brethren will be a special guest by the quad-wizards tournament, but under any circumcises, they will not participate what so ever in any of the matches."

The two Eastern Schools, one that hold all men and the other all women, nodded slowly as they agreed to the plan as the other three Western hemisphere heads nodded as Dumbledore adjourned the small meeting and watched them get up and started to gather the information that was given to them.

The all-girls school headmistress was the one to leave first and then it was two siblings that were left.

"Headmaster…"

"Please dreary, call me Dumbledore."

Ali's eye involuntary twitched as she held back her anger before the older man, "Yes, Dumbledore, can I ask you a quick question?"

"Please do so."

"Thank you. My question is, what kind of spell did you place upon my perfect pupil?"

The sparkle in his blue eyes instantly died as Dumbledore began to notice the physical appearance on Espinoza's facial features. And he also took note about the man behind also changing but he was keeping a close eye on his sister. Where they the same kind or of the same clan?

"Dumbledore?"

"Yes! Ah, well, I did feel something coming off of your student and I had a fear it would be something dreadful if it would came out and lash out on both of them."

Ali didn't buy it of one moment as she made herself change her features back to normal, as if she was physically telling the old coot that she believes him.

"Oh my, you sense it too! I thought I was the only one? But I'm happy that you caught it just in time before it had the chance to strike."

The sparkle began to return to Dumbledore eyes he grabbed another lemon drop before leaning back into his chair and lacing his fingers together.

"I hope my answer fits to your question Ms. Espinoza."

"Oh yes sir, good day to you!"

"And to the both of you."

Both siblings quickly bowed their heads as they left the office.

Once they were far enough away from the gargoyle, Ali took a deep breath in and began to talk, "For some reason, I just don't believe him…"

"Same here sister, but for now we have to play his little game before we start investigating."

"Yes, you are right. And for now, give warning to your boys and while I tell mine, as I start looking for a counter spell of some sort but before I do that, I must check up on her."

They both gave each other a quick glance before they broke out into a run; the bother went one direction, towards his students and the sister went to the other, hoping that it's not too late to reverse the spell.

The jumbles of scents made her confused in the first place, it's like one moment, she was sure that she was heading in the right direction but when she turned the corner, she was back right where she started.

A loud and pitiful whine escaped her as she sat on her hind legs and then crossed her two front paws and placed her head down, as her two bright blue eyes were darting back and forth as the numerous hallways before her.

"Oh Aura, I am so sorry…I have fai…"

"Hey! You there!"

Her ears and head perked up as she caught sight a black shaggy dog trotting towards her.

"Now what fabulous pieces of specimen like you are doing all alone?"

Mary knew she was in her human form, her face would be bright red but thankfully, she was still in her animagus form.

"If you must know, I need to locate the grand hall."

"May I ask why?"

"Again, if you really must know, a dear friend of mine was cursed as she was standing beside her betrothed."

The black dog before had already a grin on the side of his face but for some reason after she explained herself, the grin broke into a full smile, showing the rows of pearly and sharp teeth.

"Oh please don't tell me it's that girl who is forced to spend her miserable days with Sevell…"

Her limit of this bastard and his cocky attitude has pushed her over the edge, and now it's talking down about someone that is somewhat a new friend to her.

"ENOUGH! I've had enough!" she started to force her body back to her original state, "I will not stand for this idiotic and I am not…"

"You not what?"

Mary made herself blind as she took in the person standing before her. Then it donned her, she remembered who this person was.

"Nothing, but keep in mind, I attack first then answer questions later."

Mary didn't say anything as she roughly bumped shoulders with Sirius and then started to take on a new direction towards the main hall.

"Well that's wonderful to know, but don't you still would like to know the directions towards the main hall?"

The sound of feet stopped the right the moment he said that.

"Keep on going forward and then take the third door to the left and head down the stair well and it should be straight ahead!"

The only replay Sirius got was the sound of nails clicking on the floor. Then it hit him…what is really going on? The Marauders side of him came up at the last moment before he revered back into his animal side and started to follow Mary.

"Excuse me love! Wait up!"

Bellatrix held the now shrunken book in her hand as she started to push some of the younger houses around and out of her way.

She felt some of the younger ones glare at her but she just shot them a look that they backed down.

After a moment, she began back on her mission to see what was going on to Severus betrothed.

A password passed under her breath as the door way opened and quickly closed as her other foot went in.

A simple and sweet smile passed through her face as she raised her hand to knock…

But when she so, a loud and booming roar vibrated the heavy wooden door and part of the room.

Bellatrix felt her heart freeze and as chills went up and down her spine as her body froze as it was.

A few moments ago…

Her brown eyes kept on darting around the massive collection of hallways; her heart was speeding up as her eyes and right thumb started to twitch in frustration.

Usually was the calmest out of the group but right at this moment…she felt like a first year all over again…

A growl came from the back of her throat as she slammed her fist to the wall next her. A startled squeak came from somewhere behind her as she looked up and caught sight of the boy from earlier, the one with werewolf sent but now…the sent was very weak, almost if he or something is trying to hide it…

But why?

"I'm deeply sorry, I caught you at a wrong time, see you…"

"Wait! I need some help!"

Something changed in his eyes for a moment as he locked eyes with her.

"I know you understand what my cousin said this morning and this is the perfect time to get back on his good side…"

He was silent for a while as his shifted from side to side for a moment but then he took in a deep sigh and opened his mouth to speak.

"What do I need to do?"

Maria took in another deep breath in though her nose but still the smell of too many scents filled her senses.

"Too many people went down this hallway but I need help locating a few places."

Another shiver visibly ran though his body but this one wasn't of fear.

"Where do you need to go?"

"The main hall where we all got together."

"Okay, just followed me and I'll take you there."

"Thank you…"she hesitated for a moment before she thought about the next thing, "My name is Maria…Maria-Lynn Falcon"

"Remus John Lupin and your last name, is it spelled like the bird?"

"Yes!"

Remus let out a sigh before turning around began to walk towards the direction on the main hall.

"Sorry…"

"What for?"

"About earlier, my friends embarrassed you and your other friend like that."

A simple smile graced her lips as her heart fluttered twice but then she quickly shooed it off and caught up with his long and un-even strides."

"That's all right…"

"No it isn't! You are the only one that I practically meet face to face without one of us trying to throw dagger looks at one another!"

Another blow to her stone like heart!

"Yeah, it's just like I'm so used to having to see my clan time after time; it's like were the only ones that are alive…"

Remus kept his head down as he quickly turned down another hallway.

"I picked up on your sent just now…"

"Really?"

"Yes, but there is something wrong with it?"

"Oh?"

"Yes, I can smell some kind of magic going around you, almost trapping you? Why is that?"

A look of fear quickly passed though Remus features but he picked up his pace kept on walking.

"What did it…"

A gasp passed through her lips as his face passed by the morning sun, allowing all the visible scars to come out more."

"What the fuck?"

The British wolf-teen frozen in his tracks as the American she-wolf roughly grabbed his chin and forced it shine more into the sun.

"Who the fuck did this to you?"

Embarrassed about his inner self, Remus gently got hold of her wrist and pulled it down.

Her other hand shot up as she quickly maneuvered so that now she was holding his wrist.

Maria hand grabbed hold at the end of his sleeve and pushed it up. She just stood there in shock as her mind began to absorb the numerous scars going up and down his arm.

Not needed to guess that his other arm and other part of his body had the same results.

She looked up, her eyes locked with his as tears began to pool at the bottom of her eyes, "Why? Why did you do this to yourself?"

"I had to…"

"Why!"

"I just did! I was always been by myself, the man, that monster, who made me this way, was never around to give me guidance, but he always expected me to keep running to him!"

"God Remus, I'm so sorry, I didn't know…"

"That's quite all right, you're seventh person how now knows something about me."

Maria let out a soft laugh as pulled out her hanker shift and started to wipe away the unshed tears from her eyes.

"Well since it would only be fair, let me tell you about my clan and my family member that you meet just a few hours ago."

Whatever happened just a few moments ago, was all lifted off as a werewolf who was born into the life she has always knew, was talking freely to another werewolf who was brought into the same world as hers but under another impression.

Hum, how odd…no reviews for chapter 19…review for this one please!