Disclaimer – I don't own them, wish I did at times but hey a girl can dream. Anything you recognize belongs to J.K. Rowlings, anything you don't is mine.

Author's note - I would love any feedback I can get, so PLEASE review or email me at web_chick_18@hotmail.com. Thanks. =) Due to some computer problems over Winter Break beats computer with a sledge hammer for the inconvenience  I wasn't able to upload the chapters I had written so I'm uploading 2 or 3 today. After this it might be a while again before I am able to write more as I am almost in the midst of Finals for the semester. Thanks

Chapter 6

            The day before Halloween was the first school allowed visit to Hogsmede of the school year. The week before Kalila had, at Cian's urging, agreed to help chaperone the trip. Breakfast found her grumpy, but not at anyone in particular.  Earlier in the week she had forgiven Dumbledore, Remus and Cian and was looking forward to the trip to Hogsmede in Remus' company. Unlike the students and the other teachers Kalila was not wearing robes, she was in jeans and a sweater with her long hair braided and the braids wrapped around her head.

            The sun shone off the dew as the group of teachers and students walked along the path leading to the gates of Hogworts and then to Hogsmede. Just as they reached the gates leading to the grounds beyond Hogworts Kalila was surprised by the appearance of Cian. Curious she waved the group on and waited for him.

            "What's wrong Cian? I though you were looking forward to a day of peace and quiet and uninterrupted time to yourself."

            "You cannot go into Hogsmede today Kalila, trouble awaits you there."

            "What sort of trouble Cian? Surely I can handle it."

            "Your Father and Brother are waiting upon you Kalila."

            "Father and Arturo here, hmmmm that is curious. Oh well, I already agreed to help chaperone today so I have to go to Hogsmede. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll miss me in the crowd."

            "Not very likely Kalila, but maybe. Either way it looks like my day of quiet solitude is over."

            "I'm sorry Cian."

            "Don't fret about it Kalila."

            Together they walked to Hogsmede where they found Remus waiting and beside him the ones they had hoped to avoid. Sighing and fighting the urges to turn and run or disappear Kalila gave in to the inevitable and walked over. Cian meanwhile was growling and looked ready to take large bites out of two of the three people standing before him.

            "Kalila why didn't you mention that you were meeting your Father and Brother here today?"

            "growlingBecause she didn't know, and further neither did I."

            Kalila was paying no attention to the conversation instead she was studying the men before her. Of the three her father Rafael was the Tallest, Arturo was the best dressed, but it was Remus who she truly looked at. To her he was the best looking of  the group. While she saw the weariness in him, the full moon had padded just two days before, she noticed his somewhat shabby robes and the lines of age on his face, it truly didn't matter to her. Next to her Father and Brother most wouldn't have given him a second glance, but then she wasn't most people.

            "Father, Arturo why are you here? Better yet what do you want from me?"

            "Kalila let me handle this!"

            "It's time I fought my own battle Cian, I have hid for too long."

            "Not really."

            "Now what do the two of you want?"

            "You need to return to the Isles Kalila, your leadership is starting to be questioned."

            "I wonder why?"

            "Kalila don't you dare take that insolent tone with me, what ever else you may think of me I am your father and deserver some respect because of that!"

            "You lost my respect the day your actions took my mother from me! And don't bother worrying about my leadership being questioned, I am one of the Sisterhood and I am my mother's daughter that is enough in the eyes of people and council. If it wasn't I would have felt the call and I haven't. Now what is your real reason for being here?"

            "Rafael and I have worried about you Kalila, we haven't heard a word from you in a great while."

            "Oh please!"

            Without another word Kalila turned and walked into the crowded streets of Hogsmede quickly becoming lost in the masses of people. Arturo wheeled just as quickly and tried to follow her but soon lost her in the crowd. With a last growl and snap of his jaws in Rafael's direction Cian soon disappeared into the crowd as well. With a strange look Remus turned to look at the man who had been his friend even though he had become a Werewolf.

            "I hesitate to say this, but it seems like you have changed a great deal since we were in school together. The man I knew would not have raised such a response from a creature such as Cian. What has happened to you Rafael, what has made you so different?"

            "The war happened Remus. I was an Auror and the things I saw have stayed with me. If not for Fae I might have gone completely insane. But she found me and decided I was the perfect father figure for her son and dragged me back to the Isles. We fell in love and then Kalila came into existence. Fae and I were happy in the Isles raising our children and then Voldemort returned casting a shadow over all. We were prepared for anything but that. He hated the people of the Isles and Fae for fighting against him so he began the task of trying to break the wards that protect the Isles. Finally he broke the outer most wards and Death Eaters were sent to continue the process. Fae took Kalila and went to deal with them; I followed to try to help, but ended up distracting Fae for a second and getting her killed. Kalila had never forgiven me and because I am close to her brother she dislikes me all the more."

            "You sound so matter of fact about it Rafael, I would think you would feel more. I still grieve over the loss of my brother."

            " I still grieve for Fae Remus and I long to know our daughter. She had avoided me for twelve years; over half her life she is only twenty! I don't know how to get her to listen to me. She looks upon both her brother and I with distain every time we come near her. I don't know what to do, before there was no harm in watching and staying away, but now the Isles are alive with people doubting her ability to lead them. They need her there but she only returns when the council calls."

            "How long has there been doubt in her abilities?"

            "For a few years, Arturo and I have been trying to reassure the people but with Kalila elsewhere it hasn't worked. She was eight when she became the ruler of the Isles and I worried that this might happen."

            "Then what took you so long Rafael? You should have told her in the beginning not now!"

            "How? She hasn't wanted to be near me since her mother's death! A friend at the ministry had to tell me when she became an Auror and then all I could do was send her a more powerful wand and a set of robes with protection charms ingrained in them. I often wonder what she did with them."

            "She kept them. As for the rest I'm sorry for you my friend but perhaps you should have tried harder to rebuild the relationship that the loss of you wife shattered; now it maybe to late. Now come, if we are to continue this conversation it must be somewhere where I can observe the students."

            Saying so Remus began mingling with those on the streets of Hogsmede, calling out greetings and well wishes here and there; not looking back to see if Rafael was following. He stopped first to pay a visit to Fred and George to congratulate them on the births of their children, twins much to the dismay of their wives, and to warn the students on the punishment for having a forbidden object inside the school grounds. Next the bookstore and Apothecary's shop to pick up some orders; his final stop being the Three Broomsticks for some Butter Beer. He was just starting his Butter Beer when Rafael sat down beside him.

            "Since you got my tale of woe earlier why don't you tell me what's been going on with you."

            "They still haven't found a cure, but the Wolfsbane potion does its job well. As for everything else, there isn't much to tell, I teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogworts."

            "Remus, some things never change, you never were one to talk about yourself. I guess I'll just have to ask you questions then. What did you do before Hogworts? Are you involved with anyone?"

            "Before Hogworts I wandered doing what good where I could. And no I am not involved with anyone for the moment, but that could change."

            And so there conversation continued in this manner, Rafael asking and Remus answering over Butter Beer in the Three Broomsticks, observing the visiting students. Kalila meanwhile had found a sanctuary in the Bookstore where she had run into Herimone Granger, literally.

            "bump Oops, I am so sorry I should have been more careful."

            "smile Don't worry about it, I tend to run into people and objects in here quite often.  I've seen you at Hogworts, but I'm afraid I haven't had the time to say hello; I'm Herimone Granger, the Charms Professor."

             "Kalila Decigo, the Wandless Magic Teacher."

            "Wait, Kalila Decigo… I thought you were an Auror or at least working for the ministry. You were once partnered with my friend Harry and he mentioned you to me, said you were amazing, that you were the youngest person to become an Auror in wizading history."

            "You mean Harry Potter?" At Herimone's nod she went on, "He mentioned you quite a lot, he was very impressed that you had become a Charms Teacher. I had a lot of fun working with him, he was constantly telling me stories about your time at Hogworts."

            "How odd is this? We both know Harry and work at the same school and yet haven't met before this?"

            "Not so odd, Hogworts is a rather large place and it is hard to get to know someone when they are working themselves to death in the privacy of their rooms as I was a week ago."

            Chatting Kalila and Herimone made their way to the front of the store to pay for their purchases, before heading out the door and towards the Three Broomsticks for a Butter Beer.

            By the time they reached the Three Broomsticks their bank accounts were hurting and their hands full of bags and such. Before they could enter the Three Broomsticks a large shape stepped into their path.

            "And just where have you been Kalila? You lost Arturo moments after you walked into the crowd. I have spent my time searching for you, it is not possible to track an individual in crowds like this!"

            "I'm sorry Cian, I ran into Herimone and we've been shopping since. Speaking of which, Herimone this is Cian, Lord of the Hell Hounds. Cian this is Herimone Granger, Hogworts' Charms Professor. Turns out we have a mutual friend or two."

            "A pleasure to meet you Herimone. If you don't mind me asking what friends do you share?"

            "Oh no one really; Harry Potter, the entire Weasly family, Lana and of course everyone at Hogworts."

            "Of course. Ah well, it's good to see you smiling Kalila you do it so rarely, perhaps good came from today after all. But alas it is time to herd the young ones back to Hogworts, so the town may recover."

            "My how time flies. I though I still had time to introduce Kalila to Butter Beer. Guess it shall have to wait till later. It was a pleasure to meet you Cian and I'll see you back at Hogworts Kalila."

            With a wave Herimone was off to begin gathering up the students for the trek back. Leaving Kalila and Cian standing before the Three Broomsticks. They were still standing there moments later when Remus, Rafael and Arturo emerged.

            "Still here Rafael I would have thought that you would understand your daughter's feelings and leave her be. As for you Arturo, you should decide where your loyalties lie; with your sister and Queen or with the man who caused your mother's death. Think carefully Arturo for soon you shall have to decide."

            "You sound so sure Cian but how can you possibly know my future?"

            "He doesn't or he would know that we have been invited to stay at Hogworts for the time being. I can only hope that out of this some good will come. Perhaps Kalila, you and I can resolve what lies between us."

            "And Perhaps not, I have little time to listen to tales of falsehood told by the man who caused my mother's death and nearly my own. I have no time for those who don not understand the ways of the Isles and my people. Now if you'll excuse me I have duties to attend to."

            Spinning on her heel Kalila joined the mass of students exiting Hogsmede, leaving behind four stunned figures. In the time each had known her, none of them had heard her speak in that tone. It had been icy and lofty and had shown both her dislike for her father and the fact that she had been a Queen for most of her life. For that instant she had shown just how much her mother's death had tainted her outlook upon life. For all that Remus wished to see Rafael and Kalila make peace that brief glance into Kalila's soul shook him and made him wonder if pushing Kalila was a good idea, even for a good cause.

            Remus was right beside Cian as he barreled down the path after Kalila, leaving Rafael and Arturo to find their own way to the castle.