WAITING FOR MAGIC
Chapter Two
By Alicia Jennings
~
And the battle's just begun
There's many lost, but tell me who has won
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters
Torn apart
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
"Bloody Sunday", U2
-
Remus Lupin glared at the tall, fat pile of forms that awaited him. Being a Commander had it's upsides and it's DEFINITE downsides. Drawing forth a quill from his oak desk, he got to work.
So much had happened over the past two months. So much. And it still hurt to think of his goddaughter. She'd been so young....
Remus shook his head. *Moony, thinking about what might have been isn't going to help. It just isn't. Here you are, an army Commander, and if your troops knew you still cried over Lily and James' deaths that happened twenty years ago....*
A wet spot appeared on the sheet in front of him, blurring the ink and making the paper bubble. He hurriedly tried to pat it dry, but no use. The ink was indistinguishable. He swore.
*Aha!* went his conscience. *There's something that you shouldn't be doing.*
"Like hell I shouldn't."
*Remus...*
"Shut up."
*Listening to me every once in a while is helpful, you know. I am smart.*
"And annoying. Shut up."
*Stupid dolt.*
"That's not nice. I'm not a dolt."
*Yes you are.....Remus is a dolt, Remus is a dolt...*
"Well, you're a smart a-" Remus clamped his mouth shut. "You're a smart aleck."
*You were gonna say something else...*
"Of course I was."
*But you stopped...I'm starting to do my job...*
-
-
The doorbell sounded again. Sirius stood, with the sharp knife still poised over his heaving chest. He ignored the annoying bell, and drew the knife back.
The bell sounded for a third time.
"Oh my God....what am I doing?" Sirius whispered to himself. "What would Annie say?" The thought jarred his senses back into reality harshly. Sirius shook, and laid the knife down, drying his face with his sleeve, and made his way toward the door on unsteady legs. The photo album still lay forgotten on the floor where it had fallen, open to the page of he and Annie's wedding pictures.
"Who is it?" he croaked.
"Brennah Marisse," came the answer. "I'm lost."
He fumbled with the chain, wishing he were in something other than pajamas and a robe and that his hair was combed. Slowly, he opened the door.
A very soaked young lady stood on his doorstep, looking much like a drowned rat. She was in her mid-twenties, he could assume, and had long brown hair. She had enourmous green eyes, rimmed with brown lashes, and wasn't really that tall. Her attire consisted of simple green robes and black shoes, and her figure was more solid than willowy.
"Can I help you?" Sirius asked, realizing that his voice sounded horrible.
Her enourmous green eyes got even bigger. "Sirius...ach, my Lord.....Sirius..." She drew a hand to her wide-open mouth.
Sirius' dark, cold eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" he asked harshly, "And how do you know me?"
She blushed deeply. "Ah - uh - well, I mean, who doesn' know the infamou' Sirius Black?" she stuttered, clasping her hands. "An' I'm Brennah Marisse. Th' new Music teacher a' Hogwarts."
Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Music?"
Brennah smiled. "Ah, aye! Dumbledore asked if I may be able to teach a class, an' I o' course said yes. Um, if I may, Mr. Black....coul' I step insi' from th' rain? I am drenched, if I do say so meself."
"Oh, yes, of course....come in," said Sirius, holding the door back to let in the mysterious young lady.
*Of all the wierd happenings.....maybe there is a God in heaven....*
_
After doing mounds of shopping with Hermione and exchanging another long, lengthy kiss, Harry returned home, barging in the front door.
"SIR-I-US! I'm HOOOOOOOOOOME!" He slipped off his light cloak and hung it on a peg by the door, feeling unusually cold for the summer evening. To his surprise, he heard a woman's laughter as Sirius yelled.
"Harry! Come in the parlor! There's someone I want you to meet!"
Harry's eyebrows shot up into his hair. *Surely....* he thought, *Sirius hasn't found him another woman. Has he? Oh God...* Forcing his curious eyebrows back down, Harry stepped in the room, bracing himself for whatever waited there by closing his eyes and clenching his fists.
"Harry?" Sirius asked bemusedly, "Would you like to open your eyes so you'll avoid the plant sitting directly in your path?"
Harry opened one emerald eye, then the other, and flushed red in absolute embarassment. Sure enough, had he continued on with his eyes closed, he would have walked straight into the large ficus tree that sat beside the bookcase. But then his eyes focused on another peculiar sight, indeed.
A young woman about his age, maybe a few years older, sat on the couch, in Sirius' old bathrobe. She was wet, but so was he from the heavy rain outside. Long brown hair framed her face, and she had green eyes.
Harry couldn't help it. His mouth formed a very round "O" and his eyebrows, once again, shot up. "Wha....but......huh?" Harry crossed his arms, slowly shaking his head and the "O" still formed on his mouth.
"It's nay wha' it looks like," said the woman, her accent hinting at Irish heritage. "I go' lost, and this was th' first house I saw. Saints preserve us if this rain storm hangs aroun' any longer, eh? Ach, th' farmer's crops probably need it, though, eh?"
"Ah...." Harry began, his face showing no signs of going back to normal, "Have we met, miss?"
She chuckled. "Ach, I am so rude! Forgive me, then. I am Brennah Marisse, th' new music teacher a' Hogwarts." Brennah held out her hand, and Harry shook it, perplexed.
"But Dumbledore didn't say anything at the last staff meeting...."
"He wouldn'," said Brennah, grinning. "He isn' the sort tha' likes warning ahead o' time, now is he? No, Dumbledore loves surprises, eh?"
Harry nodded his head, his confusion still showing through. Brennah's eyes captivated him....they were a different color, but they reminded him strangely of somone...he just couldn't place who.
~
Ron rolled his eyes at the report he'd written. It was almost as boring as Percy's cauldron-bottom report, only this one was about the way that twigs on broomsticks should be a regulated 18 inches long. To be frank, he didn't care. *And to be honest,* he thought, *I should be greatful for this job. I got a quick promotion to Vice Director because of Dad's connections.*
There was a rap at the door. "Mr. Weasley?"
"Come in, Miss Brown."
Yes indeed, Ron's own secretary was none other than Lavender Brown. She was only taking it as a summer job, but Ron still enjoyed having her around. Her good looks and sweet charm made his days at a boring desk job brighter.
Lavender stepped in, looking professional in a black blazer, knee-length black skirt, and heels. "Mr. Weasley, you have a board meeting at two this afternoon, and the Minister would also like to have a word with you."
"Fudge?" Ron asked, in complete confusion.
"The last I checked, he was still Minister," said Lavender, grinning. "I'm not sure what it's all about. And also, Harry Potter needed a word with you."
"Harry? What'd the old bean want?"
"Not sure on that either, Mr. Weasley. Is there anything you need?"
Ron jumped at his chance. "Yes, actually, Miss Brown, I do need something. I need for you to accompany me to lunch today."
Lavender gaped. "Um...really, sir?"
Ron rolled his eyes, groaning. "Yes. And don't do the whole "sir" business."
"I'm required to, sir. Ahh - I mean....." Lavender stuttered. "I -"
"Yes or no?" said Ron, now the one grinning.
"Ah - uh -yes!" Lavender smiled. "Um...there was something I needed to be doing....ahh....the coffee! Yes, I needed to see to the coffee...." Lavender stepped out of the office, still flustered, and Ron laughed while he withdrew some parchment.
-
Harry -
Finally got the nerve to ask "Miss Brown" out to lunch.
Miss Brown, speaking of her, said that you needed to speak with me. Why don't you come up tomorrow around 10am? We'll have tea. You can bring your fiancee if you like.
Regards,
Ron Weasley
Vice-Director of the Department of Magical Games and Sports
-
Tying the pre-signed stationary to his owl's leg, Ron knew he'd get an earful for the title at the bottom of the parchment.
~
"Commander Lupin! Someone here to see you, sir!" The officer stood at attention.
"Who is it, Jonston?" asked Remus tiredly, shuffling papers around on his desk.
"Not sure, sir, she said that she was an old school friend." Jonston still stood at attention, which annoyed Remus.
"At ease, Jonston. Did you run all the tests that I told you to on that evidence we found?"
"Yes, sir. The results will be in this afternoon, sir."
"Good. Dismissed. Tell my visitor to come in." Remus hurriedly tried to straighten his desk, shoving papers into stacks and drawers.
Jonston stood at attention as a woman Remus' age stepped in. "The lady here to see you, sir."
"THANK you, Jonston, you are dismissed," said Remus, and the officer took a hint and closed the door.
The lady had red hair, in curls and under a hat. Her dress and shoes had a twenties-era style to them, and the aura that surrounded her was one of self-posession and dignity. A total stranger could have sensed her persona. "Remus Lupin. It's been....ach! A very long time."
"I agree, Sarah-Anne...?" Remus let the name trail off, realizing that the didn't know she'd married or not. After school, they'd lost touch. He stood, escorting her to a chair in front of his desk.
"O'Riley. I'm a widow. My husban' died a few years ago." Sarah-Anne adjusted her skirt, pulling it over her knees as she sat down. "A severe case o' rheumatic fever."
Remus shook his head as he sat in the chair beside her. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were married."
"Not many o' me ol' friends did," she answered lightly.
Remus folded his hands. "I'm assuming you heard about Paralee's daughter and Sirius."
Sarah-Anne sighed, nodding sadly. "Yes. It was all over th' papers. A poor way ta find out, but tha's me fault. I should've stayed in touch wi' you all. It's a shame I didn't get to see Paralee's lil' lass grow up."
"She was beautiful, Sare," said Remus, using his old nickname for his high school love. "Absolutely beautiful. Long black hair....and Paralee's blue eyes. Looked exactly like Paralee, except she didn't have the blonde hair."
"Our goddaughter," whispered Sarah-Anne. "Saints perserve us, Remus, wha' ever happened between you and me?"
Remus shook his head, and they embraced. All of the anxieties and worries and ponderings about each other that had haunted them for fifteen years came to the surfaces. They were too overcome to speak for a moment. Then Remus choked out, "I'm not sure, Sare....I'm just not sure."
Sarah-Anne drew back. "Remus...where's Sirius?"
"Living in the country, a little ways out from London, with Harry. Since Annie's death, he's been...well....suicidal, depressed..not himself. So Harry put off the wedding plans and went to live with him. And from what I've heard, it's been quite stressful."
"I'm sure tha's the truth," Sarah-Anne murmurred. "Remus?"
"Yes?"
"Can we go see him?" Her eyes were pleading.
"When?"
"Now."
-
The room was dark. That's how its' inhabitant liked it. The room was bare too, as its' inhabitant was too enveloped in books to make use of furniture. A small bed was on the south wall, and a shabby desk stood in the corner. At the desk, a candle was burning as the scholar read aloud.
"Spirits shall come down to earth
With others reunite.
Lovers lost will love again
While others are overtaken in strife.
One must return to the heavens while
One must remain on earth
'Tis a hard decision, so make provisions
For a war of love and hate to be birthed."
The inhabitant placed the book on the table again. "It is beginning now," came a whisper from the mysterious figure. "It is beginning now."
-
A/N-
I'm extremely sorry for taking so long to write this, and I'm sorry this is more of a in-between chapter, but it sets the stage for things about to happen. REVIEW! Please, at least ten!
Love from Alicia Marie Jennings