CHPT. 2

With a crack Medea and Remus apparated outside the entrance to Hogwarts. Without a word they entered and made their way to the phoenix statue. "Drooble's Best Bubble Gum," Remus said. Medea smiled fondly at the candy password. "Not much changes here, then," she said half laughing. Remus looked old and haggard as he answered her "You have no idea, but I gave my word that Dumbledore would be the one to explain things to you."

The pit in Medea's stomach grew the closer to the office she climbed *what could have happened to make them so secretive?* her heart was in her throat "Harry hasn't been.been." Remus stopped climbing and grabbed her hand "OH NO, Medea, I'm sorry, I didn't think.Harry's fine." Medea let out a deep sigh of relief and stopped at the door.

Before they could knock, Dumbledore's familiar voice came through, "Come in." They did and were met by the headmaster's somber face, Medea instantly knew something horrible had happened. Medea bowed her head to her teacher and mentor, "Professor Dumbledore, sir." "My name is Albus, Medea my child" Medea ducked her head again, blushing, "As you wish Prof.I mean, Albus." Dumbledore smiled slightly and motioned for them to be seated.

"Medea, what I am about to tell you won't be easy for you to withstand, but I know you are strong enough to," Albus said, "not long ago, indeed only a few months, there was a battle with Voldemort." Medea nodded, "Yes, Remus has told me of the past five years.is it, is it true that Sirius is free?" Remus bowed his head, but Albus Dumbledore kept his blue gaze on Medea's amber one, "Yes Medea, however, he was killed by Bellatrix LeStrange during the battle."

It took some time before Medea's mind to wrap itself around this revelation, the tears stung her eyes and ran down her cheeks but she never tried to hide them. Medea Potter held her head up and refused to be ashamed of her tears, tears that were for a man she had been in love with since she was eleven years old. For the rest of the debriefing Medea listened in silence, taking in every word, but to grieved to respond. When Remus and Dumbledore stood, so did she. The headmaster squeezed her shoulder gently as she left. When she and Remus reached the hallway he turned to her, "We'll be staying in the school tonight, and tomorrow we'll meet everyone else. I know it's all so sudden but time is of the essence. Get some rest tonight, much needs to sink in, goodnight Goldie." He hugged her and left her in a bedroom.

Medea stumbled to the bed and sank into it. Tears started flowing anew, and without bidding, sobs racked her body, escaping her throat. She buried her face in the bed so she wouldn't wake the castle with her cries of anguish. Finally, she cried herself into a fretful sleep, fraught with dreams of Sirius.