Yes…it had been long.
So long that she had forgotten what most of the place looked like.
Accalia felt like a first-year, staring, and greeting the many paintings.
"I see you've come early," a gentle voice said.
"I thought it was the more…professional thing to do, Albus." Accalia replied.
Dumbledore chuckled. "You were always the modest one, Accalia. Welcome back."
Accalia sighed. " I suppose some things will never change…Take mind, I still detest my name."
Dumbledore looked at her over his half-moon glasses. His gaze was melancholic; however, his eyes twinkled, as they always did.
"Do you still have your grudge against your father?" he asked sadly.
"I prefer not to speak of him," Accalia said calmly.
However, her calm demeanor didn't meet her eyes.
Dumbledore noticed that she was no longer the young Accalia Mason that he knew. She was gone. The years must have tainted her somehow. She was now as unreadable as escapee Sirius Black.
''I would like to see my office, please. I'd want to be organized and unpacked before the students arrive."
Dumbledore smiled. "Very well. Come this way."
~ Part Two
'Do you still have your grudge against your father?'
'Yes, I do.' Accalia thought, rather angrily. She was not directing her anger at Dumbledore, who'd merely asked a question. But the mentioning of her father made her very blood boil, and since of his past predicaments, she was ashamed of receiving the name that he gave her before leaving.
She unpacked robes, placing them neatly in a closet. Other paraphernalia was place in various places, adding a sort of feminine homely look. After putting most of her knick-knacks away, Accalia felt strangely pleased with herself.
Arranging mountains of books was tiring, but soon she discovered a dusty book. Her photo album that she started in the second year.
Accalia thought that she had gotten rid of this long ago.
Perhaps not.
She opened it, and the first picture contained her and Lilly. Accalia had shoulder-length hair at the time, but let it grow soon after. Also, 'Lilly' was smiling and hugging 'Accalia' in the photo, which looked flabbergasted. They both waved merrily (although photo 'Accalia' looked rather reluctant) up at her from the photo, and Accalia smiled, and waved back. She knew it was useless waving at a picture taking so long ago, but still…
The next couple pictures were dated in the 3rd year, where Lilly and Accalia started to hang with the Marauders.
Some were of Sirius and James. Sirius had a somewhat cocky grin about him, but Accalia had thought it to be very humorous at the time. James too had a cocky grin, and both were back to back with their arms crossed, looking at the camera.
She had a couple of Remus, with his usual tired face and eyes, but with a small smile. In the old days, strands of Remus' brown hair started to gray. Accalia often asked him if he was stressed, but he'd say no. Even without the shadows under his eyes, Accalia still thought he was lying.
At least an hour had passed. Accalia was still peering intently at the many pictures, when…
Knock Knock
"Come in."
Minerva McGonagall, with her emerald robes, came in. Although she had her usual stern look on her face, she was a bit teary-eyed. "I thought Albus' hopes were a bit up," McGonagall said, her voice shaky. "I said that it was hopeless to find a ghost. But he did…"
"Sorry that I haven't been writing." Accalia apologized. "I've been…well you know. So much has happened."
"Indeed…" McGonagall took her handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. "Times have been hard these last years. Of course Albus told you about what happened in the letter. About…"
"Voldemort? Yes, he has. But is it true, Minerva? Is he really back?"
McGonagall nodded. "I'm afraid so." She said sadly, dabbing her eyes again. "Peter Pettigrew helped him…"
Accalia stared. Did she hear her right?
"Minerva, no offense, but Peter? Didn't Sirius kill him?"
McGonagall sighed. "Yes, quite the setup…first spying, then framing Sirius."
"Peter was never that bright to begin with. How could he have done this?" Accalia said furiously.
"Or so we thought, Accalia." McGonagall said, her eyes moving over the book in Accalia's hands. "By the way, what's that in your hands?"
Accalia knew that McGonagall changed the subject intentionally to avoid any more questions or misunderstandings. Yes, at these times, such things had to be.
"Just a photo album," she answered.
McGonagall looked curious, but said, "Well, if you wish to have dinner, come down to the Great Hall with me."
"I'm sorry, but looking at these pictures has distracted me from unpacking. Perhaps next time."
McGonagall nodded, though seemed to be slightly disappointed. "Very well. Goodbye for now." And with that she closed the door with a soft click.
Accalia, now once again engrossed, stacked, folded, until late hours of the night.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Remus!"
Young Remus Lupin turned to see Accalia Mason. He did not know, at the time, that Accalia was her real name. At the Sorting, she was referred to be as 'Lia'. Thus not a soul except Dumbledore and Lilly knew her name and real meaning behind it.
At least for now…
"You know that assignment for Defense against the Dark Arts, right?" she asked, and Remus nodded. "Can you help me with it? You seemed to know a lot about the incident of Japan. It was in 1600 B.C, right?"
She asked him many questions and he answered.
Accalia smiled, "Thanks. I really appreciate it." She walked off with redhead Lilly Evans.
Moments later, Remus found himself in a headlock.
"Ahh… ickle Moony gots a girlfriend." Sirius Black said teasingly in his ear. Remus turned a shade of pink, disgruntled by Sirius' comment.
"Lay off, Padfoot," said James Potter, with Peter by his side.
"And YOU." Sirius said, pointing a finger at James, while still keeping a struggling Remus in the headlock, "I see the way Prongs looks at Evans."
"Gerroff, Sirius," Remus said, his pink shade replaced with blue.
"Oh! Sorry Moony," Sirius said, letting go of Remus. He gasped for breath, the color returning to his face.
"Soooo, why were you talking to Lia anyway?" James asked.
Sirius looked like he wanted an answer too. "Moony has gotten really friendly with silver-haired Lia. Is there something we don't know?"
Remus rubbed his neck. "She needed help with the assignment for Defense against the Dark Arts. Nothing more."
Sirius shot a glance at James, who merely coughed in reply.
"Why couldn't she just ask Lilly? Surely Lilly would of known," Sirius asked.
"I don't know." Remus said, looking at Peter for backup, who just stood there watching. He looked just as confused as Remus felt.
"Sure Moony. We believe you." Sirius teased.