Chapter 21

The week passed by in a blur and soon, it was September 1. Remus and I brought Grace to the train station and got her trunk loaded onto the train. I had to say goodbye to my baby for the second time.

It was easier going through the barrier this time, and the platform wasn't as overwhelming. Perhaps by the time Grace got to her seventh year, I'd be blasé about this whole magic thing.

'Okay now, Gracie, make sure you write as soon as you get there.' I knelt down in front of her, surprised to find her now towering over me. Where did my little girl go? She was already twelve, and acted much older.

'Krista, she'll be fine,' Remus said with a smile.

I shot a look up at him and wondered why on Earth I had invited him to come along. He was going to laugh at me, mock me even, though it did make it feel like everything was back to normal.

He hadn't spoken at all about our encounter in June, when he told me what he was, and I never wanted to bring it up.

'I'll be fine, Mum. I made it through last year, didn't I? And there won't even be dementors this year.' She was happy, smiling even and once again, I was the terrified one.

'Okay. Make sure you write though, even if it's not as soon as you get there. You know how I worry.'

'Just don't turn into Grandma. She worries way too much.'

Rolling my eyes, I stood up and kissed the top of her head. 'Okay missy, get on the train and write me… sometime soon. I love you.'

'Love you too, Mum. Bye, Professor Lupin.' Grace waved, hoisted her bag on her shoulder, picked up her cat carrier and headed for the door. She met up with two tall redheads and together, they walked onto the train.

'Who are they?' I asked Remus, knowing he would know.

'The Weasley twins. Their younger brother, Ron, is friends with Harry. They're good boys. If I remember correctly, Grace and Kaitlyn sat with them on the train at the beginning of last year as well.'

I pursed my lips and raised an eyebrow. 'I'm sure they're good boys, but they look much older than her.'

'They're four years older…'

I cut my eyes over at him and glared. 'Four… years… older? They're sixteen! She has no business being…'

'Krista, calm down,'he whispered, shushing me with a look. 'Better to have her sit with them than some of the other students.'

Sixteen! Sixteen year old boys had no business being around my twelve year old daughter. Twelve and Sixteen! 'Fine. But I want to meet them the next time they come home.'

'Yes, ma'am,' he said, trying to cover a smile. 'I'll find some way to make that happen. Now come on, wave to your daughter and let's get out of here.' He glanced around warily, and I took note of some people giving him a glare. Must be the werewolf thing.

'Sure,' I said, slipping my hand into his.

Raising my other hand, I waved to Grace as the train pulled away from the platform and out of the tunnel. She was gone, once again. Would I ever get used to this feeling?

Grace's POV

'Love you too, Mum! Bye, Professor Lupin!' I called as I headed toward the train. I shifted my purse on my shoulder and adjusted my grasp on the cat's carrier. Off for year two!

'Hey there, munchkin,' a voice said from behind me.

'It looks like a little firstie, George.'

I raised an eyebrow and turned around, 'really? That's the best you've got?'

'Do you hear something, Fred? It sounds like a little child or something, maybe a toddler?' They both had grins on their faces and I couldn't help but smile back. Maybe Kaitlyn and I could sit with them again this year. Make it a tradition of sorts.

Rolling my eyes, I stepped up onto the steps and headed down the long hallway. 'Grace, down here,' one of the twins said, waving me towards them.

'There you are,' Kaitlyn said, appearing in the doorway next to me. 'I saw your Mum and Professor Lupin, but they said you were already on the train.'

'Sorry, I was just looking for you as well. Come on, Fred and George saved us a seat.'

'The Weasley twins? Really?'

'Well yeah. We did sit with them last year.'

Kaitlyn didn't look so sure. 'Yeah, but that was last year. We didn't have much of a choice. There weren't any other compartments available.'

'Well, maybe they liked us. I know I like them and I'd rather sit with someone I already know than strangers again this year.'

She frowned, but nodded. 'Okay. Maybe we can find Tommy somewhere between here and their compartment.'

We didn't find Tommy, but he found us about twenty minutes after the train had started to move. The three of us sat on one side of the compartment while Fred, George and Lee sat on the other.

The boys played Exploding Snap while Kaitlyn and I talked about our summers. She had gone on holiday to America with her aunt for a few weeks. Nothing I did could compare to that, so I didn't even try.

I wished I could tell her about Sirius and about meeting him for the first time, but Mum and Professor Lupin said I couldn't. Not until the Ministry cleared him. I couldn't even tell her that he was my father.

'Did you all do anything fun over the break?' I asked the boys, hoping to keep my mind off of my own problems.

'Dad got tickets to see the Quidditch World Cup.'

'Really?' Tommy asked, his eyes opened wide. 'I caught the game on the wireless. It was pretty amazing. Who would have thought Krum would catch the snitch but Ireland would win?'

'Well,' George started, but Fred shushed him. I frowned at them, wondering what George was about to say, but I knew I wouldn't get an answer. 'Well, let's change into robes, shall we? We should be arriving soon.'

Kaitlyn and I gathered up our things and headed out of the compartment toward the bathroom. 'What do you think George was going to say?' She asked, after we had changed and we were heading back. She had her muggle clothes nicely folded and was holding them tightly to her chest. I on the other hand, had balled them p with the intent of shoving them into my pack.

'I don't know. I am a bit curious though.' I shrugged as we walked up to the compartment. I slid the door open and followed Kaitlyn inside.

Outside, rain plastered the windows and when I finally stepped off the train, I was soaked within moments. I tried to cover Astra's cage with a small blanket to keep out the rain, but it was a useless effort. She hissed from inside and I felt so bad.

'Come on,' Tommy said, and Kaitlyn and I followed him toward the horseless carriages. We climbed into one with a couple of Ravenclaws, leaving Fred, George and Lee to get on their own carriage.

The ride from the station to the castle was long, cold and wet, and couldn't have finished any sooner. We jumped out of the carriage and dashed into the entrance. Our extra things were left in the entrance hall and we headed in the Great Hall for the feast. 'I am starved' exclaimed Tommy as we followed the trail of people. 'I hope there isn't a pile of first years this year.'

'Me too,' I agreed, seeing Kaitlyn nod her agreement as well. 'Where shall we sit?'

Kaitlyn led us to the Gryffindor table and up toward the front, near the teacher's table. They sat about a dozen chairs from the end and waited for the Sorting Ceremony.

Then, finally, the hat sang it's song and Professor McGonagall began calling names. Gryffindor gained another ten students, including Dennis Creevey, Colin's (a third year) younger brother.

Professor Dumbledore stood and walked to the podium. 'I have only two words to say,' Professor Dumbledore said, 'tuck in.'

Food appeared on the table in front of us and within a moment, most of the boys had already piled their plates, including Tommy. 'Don't we have a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher yet this year?' Kaitlyn asked, and I looked up at the table in surprise. 'There's no one there.'

'Maybe they couldn't get someone,' Dean Thomas said from the other side of Tommy. 'They haven't been able to keep anyone.'

I turned and looked up at the table. 'I miss Professor Lupin,' I said softly before shaking my head and turning back to my plate.

'You're lucky there's a feast at all tonight, you know,' Nearly Headless Nick said from a little ways down the table. I liked Nick all right, as long as you didn't ask him to explain why he was nearly headless. 'There was some trouble in the kitchens earlier.'

Shifting on my seat, I glanced around Kaitlyn to see Harry, Ron and Hermione talking. 'What happened?'

'Peeves,' Nick said with a shake of his head. He went on to explain the problem, of course, how could it be anything but Peeves. Man, I missed this place!

'He terrified the house-elves out of their wits…'

Something tipped over and soon, the lovely white tablecloth was being stained orange with pumpkin juice. 'There are house-elves, here? Here at Hogwarts?' Hermione had nearly jumped out of her seat in anger.

'Hermione, what's wrong?' I asked, wiping my lips on my napkin. Why was she going on about house-elves? Furthermore, what were house-elves?

'Kait, what are house-elves?' Sometimes, it really sucked to be muggleborn.

She chewed the food in her mouth and took a sip of juice before answering. 'Servants. Some of the richer, pureblood families have them. They are bound to a family until they are given clothes and set free.'

'Slave labour made this dinner,' Hermione said loudly, dropping her napkin onto her plate.

I caught Ginny's eye and we both shook our heads. Leave it to Hermione.

A few minutes later, Professor Dumbledore stood and made his way back to the podium. 'And now that you are all fed and water, I have a few start of term announcements.

'Mr Filch has asked me to remind you of the list of banned items. A complete list is posted outside his office door and includes some four hundred and seventy items.' The corners of his mouth twitched and he struggled not to smile. 'I also need to remind you that the forest is off-limits to all, and Hogsmeade Village is off-limits to any student under third year.

'It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year.'

Students all around me began gasping and a quick look over to Fred, George and Harry showed the look of shock on their faces. Some of the boys in my year were upset, and rightfully so. It was the first year we could try out for the team.

'This is due to an even that will begin in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teacher's time and energy. But I am sure you will enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts…'

A loud crash of thunder crashed through the Hall and the front doors banged open. A man stood in the doorway and after a moment, he began limping toward the front. A loud knocking echoed through the hall on every other step and with another flash of lighting, he reached the head table.

'Ah yes. May I introduce our new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody,' Professor Dumbledore said brightly. The only two people in the entire hall to clap were Professor Dumbledore and Hagrid.

Moody made his way to the empty chair and Professor Dumbledore turned back to the captive audience of students.'And where was I? Ah yes, we have the honour this year as hosting the Triwizard Tournament.'

'You're joking,' one of the Weasley twins said loudly, causing everyone to laugh, including the Headmaster.

'I assure you, Mr Weasley, I am not joking.' He went on to explain the Tournament and after listening to it, I was terrified. People actually wanted to volunteer for this? Not me, that was for sure.

'And now, it is time for us all to head off to bed for our studies wait in the morning. Chop, chop!'

There was loud chatter as students stood and shuffled around, making their way out of the Great Hall and up to their dormitories. 'Does anyone know the password?' Tommy asked, glancing at us.

'Not a clue,' I replied. 'Let's fine a Prefect and get it.'

Kaitlyn found one, Ryan Westrup, and got the password, treacle, and the three of us headed to our dormitories.

The common room was the same as it had been last year, and I smiled when I stepped through the portrait hole and inside. Our trunks and belongings were already in our room, and Astra was curled up on the foot of my bed. 'I'm so glad to be back,' I said softly, sitting on my four-poster bed.

'Me too,' Kaitlyn agreed, 'but I think it's time to sleep. I'm exhausted and who knows what our timetable is going to look like in the morning. G'night, Grace.'

'G'night, Kaitlyn,' I replied and lay back on the bed, still in my clothes.

So far, the year hadn't started off as exciting as last, which was a good thing. No dementors, no Sirius Black trying to break into the school… Where was he?

Is it strange that I wanted to write him? I wish I knew where he was, so that I could. That shouldn't be odd, should it? I should be able to write my own father if I wanted, right?

I never reached an answer. I was asleep before I even had a moment to think about it.

AN: Thank you to the people who reviewed the previous chapter! And to those who have added this story to an alert or favorite list. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! First day of class is in the next one and it's definitely entertaining!