Chapter 3 - The Missing Link
A young woman pulled the great oak door open with much difficulty, balancing her briefcase, purse, and cloak in her arms while trying to control the door itself. As she walked into the entrance hall, the door slammed shut behind her causing her to jump a bit at the sounds that echoed in the open space. The castle was eerily quiet as she looked around for any sign of life. She sighed as she realized that there was no one to greet her and she would have to find her way by herself.
Her stylish boots clicked down the hallway as she made her way instinctively to Dumbledore's office. She walked past the Great Hall and couldn't help but look in. There were about ten students playing chess and talking about strategies with Professor McGonagall. She smiled to herself and backed away from the door, continuing her trek down the hallway. Her shoulder length coppery blond hair was held in a twist by a clip that perfectly matched her boots and handbag. Small tendrils of hair that had escaped the meticulously placed twist framed her heart shaped face, accenting her green eyes. She stopped to move them out of her eyes, but realized that she didn't have a free hand to do so. With an aggravated sigh, she tried blowing them out of her face, but they just floated back into her eyes, giving her only a few seconds of relief. Giving up, she looked around the corridors. It had been fifteen years since she had walked the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A smile lit up her eyes as she suddenly recalled how much she had truly loved being there.
She continued down the corridor, looking at all of the moving pictures with interest. She hadn't seen a moving picture in ages and they had never failed to attract her attention. She instinctively stopped at a particular dark picture of the Forbidden Forest and watched the leaves moving in the trees and the scampering of animals she couldn't see on the forest ground. She closed her eyes at the memories that this painting conjured for her and leaned against the wall next to the portrait.
"Well, we were wondering when we would be seeing you again," Professor McGonagall broke her tranquil thoughts, but she smiled at the voice laced with emotion. She looked at the professor's face and was greeted by the type of a smile her grandmother would have given her.
"Hello, Professor McGonagall. How are you?" she asked as she almost went to hug the matronly woman. She stopped herself short, remembering where she was and just smiled affectionately at her.
"Very well, thank you Ms." but the professor was cut off before she could finish her sentence.
"Professor?" a student called down the hall as he jogged up to met her.
"Yes, Mr. Weasley?"
"You left this on the table. Didn't want you to lose it," he said as he handed over a book entitled Wizard's Chess: Your Move Or Mine? He looked up at the woman his professor was talking to and gawked.
"Thank you Mr. Weasley," the professor's voice held a finality to it and the student took the hint, leaving the two women to themselves.
"I'm actually really glad you found me, Professor. I've forgotten the way to Professor Dumbledore's office. Not that I would know the password anyway," the woman smiled.
"Oh no, you've found it quite well," the younger woman raised her eyebrows in question, but the professor just smiled slightly and raised her hand, "Strawberry Tart!" The portrait swung open to reveal the massive golden staircase that would lead straight to Dumbledore's office.
The young woman smiled at the professor, "Thank you. I'll have to remember that one." Professor McGonagall bid goodnight as the woman started the climb the stairs apprehensively.
'No turning back now,' she thought, 'you've already been spotted.' She stopped at the door to the office and placed her things next to it. She stared at the door for a long time, trying to calm her nerves and talk herself out of turning around and running away. Suddenly the door opened of its own accord.
"Come in," the voice sent her back years and she smiled, gingerly stepping over the threshold into the office. Dumbledore looked up at her from over his half-moon spectacles. He exhaled slowly as he rose and walked around his desk. He held out his arms into which she immediately flew.
"My sweet child, you've returned."
***
"Bloody potion." Harry mused with a furrowed brow. He was trying to make sure he would pass his next Potions test with flying colors. Hermione listened in amusement to his ramblings as she sat, reading her Arithmancy book in the plush chair across from Harry.
"Not like I can stop and brew a potion if someone's after me. 'Scuse me, Voldemort, can you put your wand down and give me ten minutes to brew up this quick potion? Thanks.' Honestly!" Harry had taken to talking out loud when he was frustrated, which gave Hermione a nice break from reading every once in a while.
"Problems Harry?" she asked without looking up from her book.
"No, I'm fine. I need to figure this out for myself," Harry answered, politely declining the implied offer for help.
Harry resumed his careful measurements and began slowly adding them to the base he had painstakingly created. It was at the precise moment that Ron chose to burst through the common room door.
"Harry!" he all but screamed, startling Harry so much that he poured all of his ingredients into the base at once, causing a small explosion and a ruined potion. Harry looked up at Ron with an indignant sigh. A bright purple haze was wafting up from the scorched table, which was saturated by the dull dark green liquid that was once Harry's potion. The haze rose all the way up to cover Harry's torso as he hung his head in defeat.
Hermione raised her book over her mouth to cover her smirk, but her eyes betrayed her as Harry looked up at her from his place on the floor. She gave him a sympathetic look but her chuckle did not go unnoticed.
"Yes, Ron?" Harry said, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples.
Ron shot a quick glance at Hermione, debating if he should share his news in her presence. Harry and Hermione both amused themselves with Ron's internal struggle.
"Would you like me to leave the room, Ron?" Hermione teased, "Is this a guy thing?" She had long ago got used to having two male best friends. She knew they needed their time to talk just as much as she treasured her time with Ginny. But it never stopped her from teasing them.
"You'll find out anyway, so you might as well stay," Ron shrugged.
"Gee, thanks, Ron. I appreciate it," Hermione rolled her eyes at him, but put her book down nonetheless. Ron smiled mockingly at her as he sat down and collected his thoughts. A dreamy look came over his face; a look that Harry had seen a few times before. That was Ron's I'm-so-in-love-but-know- nothing-about-her look.
"I was on my way back when I saw her. Professor McGonagall had forgotten her Wizard's Chess book in the Great Hall, so I was bringing it back to her. She was in the hallway talking to someone," Ron trailed off into his own head.
"Who?" Hermione prompted. Ron visibly shook his head and looked at Harry and Hermione like he had forgotten they were in the room.
"I don't know who she is."
"You don't know?" Harry asked, waving his wand over the table, cleaning the mess that his ruined potion had caused. He then leaned back against the wall behind him, stretching his legs to their fullest length. He pushed his need to work on the potion aside for a small break.
"They were talking outside of Dumbledore's office. She's beautiful. It sounded as if she's American." Ron was rambling. He was so engrossed in talking he didn't even notice his sister had climbed through the portrait hole. Harry did though; he always knew when Ginny walked into a room. He lost his concentration in Ron's story as he gazed up at Ginny who smiled back at him and waved to Hermione, rolling her eyes at her brother. She silently accepted Harry's outstretched arms as an invitation and sat between Harry's legs, leaning back into his hard chest. This was her favorite place to be, and Harry didn't quite mind it either. He wrapped his arms around her middle and rested his chin on the top of her head, bringing himself back to what Ron was talking about.
".I think she's older. University age, at least," Ron finally concluded.
"University age?" Ginny said in a teasing tone that only a younger sister could get away with. She felt Harry smile into her hair and saw Hermione raise her eyebrows playfully, trying not to snicker.
"Yes, University age. When did you get here?" Ron quipped.
"About halfway through your diatribe about this mystery girl," Hermione answered for Ginny, standing up and stretching, "Dinner's soon, we should head down there."
Everyone agreed, but Ron and Ginny had to drop their things off before they could go, leaving Harry and Hermione alone in the common room. Harry was too intrigued to keep to himself.
"You don't mind when Ron talks about other girls?" he asked, knowing Hermione would understand what he was talking about even though they had never talked about it with each other. Hermione turned and looked at Harry in surprise. Her surprise melted into a warm smile.
"I know it's nothing, Harry. He gets silly little crushes all the time. Nothing ever happens. If he actually went out with someone, yes I would be very jealous, but." Hermione trailed off as she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. She winked at Harry and he knew the conversation was over.
***
"I was hoping to get a chance to look around. Reacquaint myself with the building." she trailed off as Dumbledore watched her intently, knowing exactly what she would be looking for.
"He doesn't know about you," Dumbledore's voice held a certain amount of warning to it.
"I figured as much, but I would still like to see him. Even if he doesn't see me," she winked at Dumbledore and he couldn't help but chuckle. She hadn't changed a bit.
"Go ahead, you're a professor at this school now! You can go anywhere you want to." Dumbledore was introspective as he thought about the woman she had become. She looked away from him as she heard the commotion of the students outside his door, realizing that it was dinnertime and the perfect time to survey the students.
"If you are trying to be discreet it won't work with you in those clothes," he gazed at her attire; a professional camel colored suit with a baby blue collar shirt for a splash of color. She laughed.
"No, I suppose you're right. I'll stick out like a sore thumb won't I?" Dumbledore blinked at her, and she blushed at her blatant Americanism. "Guess I shouldn't talk either." Dumbledore grinned at her and walked over to the standing armor. As he opened it, she noticed the molting bird to the left of Dumbledore's desk.
"Fawks," she breathed. At the mention of his name, the phoenix lifted his head slightly and looked at her. "He remembers me," she said with an air of reverence in her voice.
"Fawks never forgets," Dumbledore said softly, handing her a professor's robe. She slipped her arms into the cloth and clasped it around her, hiding her colorful outfit with the black garment.
"It doesn't match my shoes," she mumbled, looking down at her dark brown- heeled boots. Dumbledore shook his head with a smile on his face as she straightened her posture.
"Bet you never thought you'd see me in one of these, did you?" Dumbledore just smiled, leaving her question unanswered.
Silently, she headed toward the door.
"Thank you, Professor. For everything," she said, her eyes bright as she left his office.
***
Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table as the food appeared. As they ate, they talked about everything from Quidditch to Wizard's Chess to Potions class. Which, in turn, led to the topic of Muggle Studies.
"They wouldn't hire a plain Muggle, Ron. They have to find someone who can do magic also," Ginny stated after Ron had suggested they hire someone from London.
"Yeah, they would have to find someone who could defend themselves against us," Harry grinned wickedly.
They all looked up at the head table, professors and Hagrid filling up all the chairs but one.
"I wonder when they are going to find someone," Hermione mused, "I'm getting a little tired of having Snape for two classes." Ginny adamantly shook her head in agreement, her eyes wide as if Snape had called on her to answer something. "Besides, the man is a genius when it comes to Potions, but he knows next to nothing about Muggles."
"That class must be full of fluff for you, Hermione," Ron said, "What could a pure blood wizard possibly teach you about Muggles?" Ron had a point.
"I take it more to see how the Wizarding world views Muggle life. It's really fascinating."
"I'm sure," Ron rolled his eyes.
"Like you ever took any class for the learning potential!" Hermione's eyes flashed dangerously.
"Hermione, I wasn't trying to start something, but." he trailed off, not really having any kind of an answer for Hermione's challenge.
"You never try to start things, Ron! You just do!" Hermione's voice had risen so that the entire Gryffindor table was looking in their direction.
"If you didn't harp on every little thing I say, I wouldn't start things!"
"And if you thought before you spoke, I wouldn't harp on every thing you say!"
Ron grumbled fiercely and rose quickly from the table. Hermione did the same.
"You know, I would have thought that growing up with six other siblings, you would have learned to fight fairly by now!"
"What are you talking about? What do you know about fighting?" All of the Great Hall was now watching their spectacle. Harry and Ginny were torn between trying not to laugh, and diving for cover under the table.
"I know plenty about fighting and I know that you DO NOT walk away from a fight!"
"Who's walking?
"You are!"
"Hermione, I am standing. Not walking."
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"You were about to walk," Hermione sat down in a huff. Ron's red face softened as he sat down next to her.
"Yeah, I was." Hermione gaped at him and he shrugged, "What can I say? You're always right, Hermione."
Harry thought Hermione might slap Ron for that comment, but his tone had been nothing but respectful. The Great Hall lost interest in them after Hermione and Ron had stopped screaming at each other, leaving them to enjoy the rest of their dinner in peace, without the prying eyes of others.
***
"He looks exactly like his father," she whispered under her breath as watched him eating his dinner with his friends. She was relieved to know he was in Gryffindor, though she hadn't really expected anything less. It was a family tradition. She had been just thinking this when Ron and Hermione started yelling at each other. She laughed in spite of herself. It was obvious that those two had it bad for each other but were way to stubborn to admit it. Watching Harry, she noticed the pretty girl next to him and deduced that it had to be Ginny Weasley. She roved her eyes over Ginny, mentally sizing her up and finally smiled. It did not go unnoticed that Ginny quite resembled Harry's mother.
"Not bad, Harry. Not bad at all," she voiced her opinion out loud.
"Fancy meeting you here," said a voice she would have recognized anywhere. She turned her attention away from the Great Hall and found herself face to face with Remus Lupin.
"Remus!" she exclaimed, as she threw her arms around her neck. Remus hugged her tightly.
"It' so good to see you. Let me look at you," Remus said as he held her at arms length, "You look like hell," he said, giving her a disapproving look.
"I do not," she said quietly, knowing he was right.
"You are all skin and bones, you have shadows under your eyes," Remus was about to continue when he noticed a sparkle in her eyes.
"That's just because you know what I used to look like," she smirked. Remus smiled.
"I know. All too well, I know." A tension filled the air around them, as Remus' smile faded.
"I suppose you know all about them," she said, gesturing to the four Gryffindors.
"Four of my favorite students, but you didn't hear me say that," the smile was back on his handsome face and the tension was gone.
"Tell me why they are your favorite?" she asked as she leaned against the wall of her hiding spot behind the curtains that flanked the head table.
"They all work extremely hard, they are good to each other. They remind me of." Remus trailed off, hoping she would get his point.
"The Marauders," she finished for him.
He smiled wanly. "Yes, the Marauders."
She noticed the look that swept over Remus' face and her shoulders sank. "I'm sorry." Her voice was full of reverence and concern.
"I should be going." Remus stopped short, knowing this wasn't the time or place for that conversation. He knew she would understand that he wanted to talk to her about it, just not now. She didn't disappoint him.
"I'll come by and visit soon so we can catch up," she smiled at him fondly and he knew she would be true to her word. He pulled her into another hug and gently stroked her hair in the way a brother would do.
"Welcome back, I've missed you," he pulled away, kissed her cheek and left her before she had the chance to reply. Noticing a tear in his eye, she smiled sadly, but felt reassured that he was there.
She shook herself out of her thoughts to find the great hall emptying and thought it best to get out of her hiding spot before she was caught. It would be a great opportunity to walk to grounds and familiarize herself with the castle again. As she rounded a corner, still caught in her thoughts, she ran smack into Hermione.
"I am so sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going," she apologized profusely to Hermione, checking to make sure she hadn't done any damage to the girl. Hermione straightened her robes and looked up at the woman smiling.
"That's quite all right." Hermione trailed off, noticing how familiar her eyes were.
Ron was overcome with emotion. His dream girl was even prettier than he remembered.
Ginny felt Harry groping for her hand between the over abundant folds of both their robes. She looked up at him with a puzzled expression on her face when he found her hand and grasped it tightly. He was staring at the woman.
"Are you all right?" Ginny whispered to him inconspicuously.
"She looks so familiar to me." he whispered back, not finishing his thought.
The young woman turned her attention from Hermione to look at Harry. She put a hand over her mouth slowly and exhaled a breath she hadn't even known she'd been holding.
"Harry Potter," she said as she held out her hand, her eyes shining with pride. Harry shook her hand awkwardly with his free one, still clinging to Ginny with the other. He noticed the woman's robes as he began to speak.
"I'm sorry, Professor, I didn't catch your name," his voice was very professional as he spoke.
"Of course you didn't. I'm sorry. I'm Ivy Evans."
At the sound of her name, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny all gasped. Harry had never liked that sound, but what he liked even less was that he was at a complete loss for who Ivy Evans was.
"Ivy Evans?" Hermione squeaked in disbelief.
"As I live and breathe." Ron gasped.
Ginny stuttered her words, which she had a tendency of doing when she was nervous, "I.I thought that you had.that you were." when she had a hard time finishing her sentence, Harry took over.
"I'm sorry Professor Evans, I don't seem to recognize you like they do," Harry smiled slightly.
"I didn't expect you to," Ivy's smile was one of complete sincerity, "What they know and you don't is that I'm your aunt, Harry."
A/N: Wow.and another chapter down and I am wiser for the wear. Thank you to Jilly for being wicked cool and toughing it out with me! I appreciate your willingness to work with me. To Dell, Riv, Erin, and Missy.my day would not be complete if I didn't get to have a dirty mind with you all! To the rest of the Tower clan and my friends from I'm Too Old.thanks! You keep my faith alive that I'm not a freaky old woman!
A young woman pulled the great oak door open with much difficulty, balancing her briefcase, purse, and cloak in her arms while trying to control the door itself. As she walked into the entrance hall, the door slammed shut behind her causing her to jump a bit at the sounds that echoed in the open space. The castle was eerily quiet as she looked around for any sign of life. She sighed as she realized that there was no one to greet her and she would have to find her way by herself.
Her stylish boots clicked down the hallway as she made her way instinctively to Dumbledore's office. She walked past the Great Hall and couldn't help but look in. There were about ten students playing chess and talking about strategies with Professor McGonagall. She smiled to herself and backed away from the door, continuing her trek down the hallway. Her shoulder length coppery blond hair was held in a twist by a clip that perfectly matched her boots and handbag. Small tendrils of hair that had escaped the meticulously placed twist framed her heart shaped face, accenting her green eyes. She stopped to move them out of her eyes, but realized that she didn't have a free hand to do so. With an aggravated sigh, she tried blowing them out of her face, but they just floated back into her eyes, giving her only a few seconds of relief. Giving up, she looked around the corridors. It had been fifteen years since she had walked the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A smile lit up her eyes as she suddenly recalled how much she had truly loved being there.
She continued down the corridor, looking at all of the moving pictures with interest. She hadn't seen a moving picture in ages and they had never failed to attract her attention. She instinctively stopped at a particular dark picture of the Forbidden Forest and watched the leaves moving in the trees and the scampering of animals she couldn't see on the forest ground. She closed her eyes at the memories that this painting conjured for her and leaned against the wall next to the portrait.
"Well, we were wondering when we would be seeing you again," Professor McGonagall broke her tranquil thoughts, but she smiled at the voice laced with emotion. She looked at the professor's face and was greeted by the type of a smile her grandmother would have given her.
"Hello, Professor McGonagall. How are you?" she asked as she almost went to hug the matronly woman. She stopped herself short, remembering where she was and just smiled affectionately at her.
"Very well, thank you Ms." but the professor was cut off before she could finish her sentence.
"Professor?" a student called down the hall as he jogged up to met her.
"Yes, Mr. Weasley?"
"You left this on the table. Didn't want you to lose it," he said as he handed over a book entitled Wizard's Chess: Your Move Or Mine? He looked up at the woman his professor was talking to and gawked.
"Thank you Mr. Weasley," the professor's voice held a finality to it and the student took the hint, leaving the two women to themselves.
"I'm actually really glad you found me, Professor. I've forgotten the way to Professor Dumbledore's office. Not that I would know the password anyway," the woman smiled.
"Oh no, you've found it quite well," the younger woman raised her eyebrows in question, but the professor just smiled slightly and raised her hand, "Strawberry Tart!" The portrait swung open to reveal the massive golden staircase that would lead straight to Dumbledore's office.
The young woman smiled at the professor, "Thank you. I'll have to remember that one." Professor McGonagall bid goodnight as the woman started the climb the stairs apprehensively.
'No turning back now,' she thought, 'you've already been spotted.' She stopped at the door to the office and placed her things next to it. She stared at the door for a long time, trying to calm her nerves and talk herself out of turning around and running away. Suddenly the door opened of its own accord.
"Come in," the voice sent her back years and she smiled, gingerly stepping over the threshold into the office. Dumbledore looked up at her from over his half-moon spectacles. He exhaled slowly as he rose and walked around his desk. He held out his arms into which she immediately flew.
"My sweet child, you've returned."
***
"Bloody potion." Harry mused with a furrowed brow. He was trying to make sure he would pass his next Potions test with flying colors. Hermione listened in amusement to his ramblings as she sat, reading her Arithmancy book in the plush chair across from Harry.
"Not like I can stop and brew a potion if someone's after me. 'Scuse me, Voldemort, can you put your wand down and give me ten minutes to brew up this quick potion? Thanks.' Honestly!" Harry had taken to talking out loud when he was frustrated, which gave Hermione a nice break from reading every once in a while.
"Problems Harry?" she asked without looking up from her book.
"No, I'm fine. I need to figure this out for myself," Harry answered, politely declining the implied offer for help.
Harry resumed his careful measurements and began slowly adding them to the base he had painstakingly created. It was at the precise moment that Ron chose to burst through the common room door.
"Harry!" he all but screamed, startling Harry so much that he poured all of his ingredients into the base at once, causing a small explosion and a ruined potion. Harry looked up at Ron with an indignant sigh. A bright purple haze was wafting up from the scorched table, which was saturated by the dull dark green liquid that was once Harry's potion. The haze rose all the way up to cover Harry's torso as he hung his head in defeat.
Hermione raised her book over her mouth to cover her smirk, but her eyes betrayed her as Harry looked up at her from his place on the floor. She gave him a sympathetic look but her chuckle did not go unnoticed.
"Yes, Ron?" Harry said, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples.
Ron shot a quick glance at Hermione, debating if he should share his news in her presence. Harry and Hermione both amused themselves with Ron's internal struggle.
"Would you like me to leave the room, Ron?" Hermione teased, "Is this a guy thing?" She had long ago got used to having two male best friends. She knew they needed their time to talk just as much as she treasured her time with Ginny. But it never stopped her from teasing them.
"You'll find out anyway, so you might as well stay," Ron shrugged.
"Gee, thanks, Ron. I appreciate it," Hermione rolled her eyes at him, but put her book down nonetheless. Ron smiled mockingly at her as he sat down and collected his thoughts. A dreamy look came over his face; a look that Harry had seen a few times before. That was Ron's I'm-so-in-love-but-know- nothing-about-her look.
"I was on my way back when I saw her. Professor McGonagall had forgotten her Wizard's Chess book in the Great Hall, so I was bringing it back to her. She was in the hallway talking to someone," Ron trailed off into his own head.
"Who?" Hermione prompted. Ron visibly shook his head and looked at Harry and Hermione like he had forgotten they were in the room.
"I don't know who she is."
"You don't know?" Harry asked, waving his wand over the table, cleaning the mess that his ruined potion had caused. He then leaned back against the wall behind him, stretching his legs to their fullest length. He pushed his need to work on the potion aside for a small break.
"They were talking outside of Dumbledore's office. She's beautiful. It sounded as if she's American." Ron was rambling. He was so engrossed in talking he didn't even notice his sister had climbed through the portrait hole. Harry did though; he always knew when Ginny walked into a room. He lost his concentration in Ron's story as he gazed up at Ginny who smiled back at him and waved to Hermione, rolling her eyes at her brother. She silently accepted Harry's outstretched arms as an invitation and sat between Harry's legs, leaning back into his hard chest. This was her favorite place to be, and Harry didn't quite mind it either. He wrapped his arms around her middle and rested his chin on the top of her head, bringing himself back to what Ron was talking about.
".I think she's older. University age, at least," Ron finally concluded.
"University age?" Ginny said in a teasing tone that only a younger sister could get away with. She felt Harry smile into her hair and saw Hermione raise her eyebrows playfully, trying not to snicker.
"Yes, University age. When did you get here?" Ron quipped.
"About halfway through your diatribe about this mystery girl," Hermione answered for Ginny, standing up and stretching, "Dinner's soon, we should head down there."
Everyone agreed, but Ron and Ginny had to drop their things off before they could go, leaving Harry and Hermione alone in the common room. Harry was too intrigued to keep to himself.
"You don't mind when Ron talks about other girls?" he asked, knowing Hermione would understand what he was talking about even though they had never talked about it with each other. Hermione turned and looked at Harry in surprise. Her surprise melted into a warm smile.
"I know it's nothing, Harry. He gets silly little crushes all the time. Nothing ever happens. If he actually went out with someone, yes I would be very jealous, but." Hermione trailed off as she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. She winked at Harry and he knew the conversation was over.
***
"I was hoping to get a chance to look around. Reacquaint myself with the building." she trailed off as Dumbledore watched her intently, knowing exactly what she would be looking for.
"He doesn't know about you," Dumbledore's voice held a certain amount of warning to it.
"I figured as much, but I would still like to see him. Even if he doesn't see me," she winked at Dumbledore and he couldn't help but chuckle. She hadn't changed a bit.
"Go ahead, you're a professor at this school now! You can go anywhere you want to." Dumbledore was introspective as he thought about the woman she had become. She looked away from him as she heard the commotion of the students outside his door, realizing that it was dinnertime and the perfect time to survey the students.
"If you are trying to be discreet it won't work with you in those clothes," he gazed at her attire; a professional camel colored suit with a baby blue collar shirt for a splash of color. She laughed.
"No, I suppose you're right. I'll stick out like a sore thumb won't I?" Dumbledore blinked at her, and she blushed at her blatant Americanism. "Guess I shouldn't talk either." Dumbledore grinned at her and walked over to the standing armor. As he opened it, she noticed the molting bird to the left of Dumbledore's desk.
"Fawks," she breathed. At the mention of his name, the phoenix lifted his head slightly and looked at her. "He remembers me," she said with an air of reverence in her voice.
"Fawks never forgets," Dumbledore said softly, handing her a professor's robe. She slipped her arms into the cloth and clasped it around her, hiding her colorful outfit with the black garment.
"It doesn't match my shoes," she mumbled, looking down at her dark brown- heeled boots. Dumbledore shook his head with a smile on his face as she straightened her posture.
"Bet you never thought you'd see me in one of these, did you?" Dumbledore just smiled, leaving her question unanswered.
Silently, she headed toward the door.
"Thank you, Professor. For everything," she said, her eyes bright as she left his office.
***
Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table as the food appeared. As they ate, they talked about everything from Quidditch to Wizard's Chess to Potions class. Which, in turn, led to the topic of Muggle Studies.
"They wouldn't hire a plain Muggle, Ron. They have to find someone who can do magic also," Ginny stated after Ron had suggested they hire someone from London.
"Yeah, they would have to find someone who could defend themselves against us," Harry grinned wickedly.
They all looked up at the head table, professors and Hagrid filling up all the chairs but one.
"I wonder when they are going to find someone," Hermione mused, "I'm getting a little tired of having Snape for two classes." Ginny adamantly shook her head in agreement, her eyes wide as if Snape had called on her to answer something. "Besides, the man is a genius when it comes to Potions, but he knows next to nothing about Muggles."
"That class must be full of fluff for you, Hermione," Ron said, "What could a pure blood wizard possibly teach you about Muggles?" Ron had a point.
"I take it more to see how the Wizarding world views Muggle life. It's really fascinating."
"I'm sure," Ron rolled his eyes.
"Like you ever took any class for the learning potential!" Hermione's eyes flashed dangerously.
"Hermione, I wasn't trying to start something, but." he trailed off, not really having any kind of an answer for Hermione's challenge.
"You never try to start things, Ron! You just do!" Hermione's voice had risen so that the entire Gryffindor table was looking in their direction.
"If you didn't harp on every little thing I say, I wouldn't start things!"
"And if you thought before you spoke, I wouldn't harp on every thing you say!"
Ron grumbled fiercely and rose quickly from the table. Hermione did the same.
"You know, I would have thought that growing up with six other siblings, you would have learned to fight fairly by now!"
"What are you talking about? What do you know about fighting?" All of the Great Hall was now watching their spectacle. Harry and Ginny were torn between trying not to laugh, and diving for cover under the table.
"I know plenty about fighting and I know that you DO NOT walk away from a fight!"
"Who's walking?
"You are!"
"Hermione, I am standing. Not walking."
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"You were about to walk," Hermione sat down in a huff. Ron's red face softened as he sat down next to her.
"Yeah, I was." Hermione gaped at him and he shrugged, "What can I say? You're always right, Hermione."
Harry thought Hermione might slap Ron for that comment, but his tone had been nothing but respectful. The Great Hall lost interest in them after Hermione and Ron had stopped screaming at each other, leaving them to enjoy the rest of their dinner in peace, without the prying eyes of others.
***
"He looks exactly like his father," she whispered under her breath as watched him eating his dinner with his friends. She was relieved to know he was in Gryffindor, though she hadn't really expected anything less. It was a family tradition. She had been just thinking this when Ron and Hermione started yelling at each other. She laughed in spite of herself. It was obvious that those two had it bad for each other but were way to stubborn to admit it. Watching Harry, she noticed the pretty girl next to him and deduced that it had to be Ginny Weasley. She roved her eyes over Ginny, mentally sizing her up and finally smiled. It did not go unnoticed that Ginny quite resembled Harry's mother.
"Not bad, Harry. Not bad at all," she voiced her opinion out loud.
"Fancy meeting you here," said a voice she would have recognized anywhere. She turned her attention away from the Great Hall and found herself face to face with Remus Lupin.
"Remus!" she exclaimed, as she threw her arms around her neck. Remus hugged her tightly.
"It' so good to see you. Let me look at you," Remus said as he held her at arms length, "You look like hell," he said, giving her a disapproving look.
"I do not," she said quietly, knowing he was right.
"You are all skin and bones, you have shadows under your eyes," Remus was about to continue when he noticed a sparkle in her eyes.
"That's just because you know what I used to look like," she smirked. Remus smiled.
"I know. All too well, I know." A tension filled the air around them, as Remus' smile faded.
"I suppose you know all about them," she said, gesturing to the four Gryffindors.
"Four of my favorite students, but you didn't hear me say that," the smile was back on his handsome face and the tension was gone.
"Tell me why they are your favorite?" she asked as she leaned against the wall of her hiding spot behind the curtains that flanked the head table.
"They all work extremely hard, they are good to each other. They remind me of." Remus trailed off, hoping she would get his point.
"The Marauders," she finished for him.
He smiled wanly. "Yes, the Marauders."
She noticed the look that swept over Remus' face and her shoulders sank. "I'm sorry." Her voice was full of reverence and concern.
"I should be going." Remus stopped short, knowing this wasn't the time or place for that conversation. He knew she would understand that he wanted to talk to her about it, just not now. She didn't disappoint him.
"I'll come by and visit soon so we can catch up," she smiled at him fondly and he knew she would be true to her word. He pulled her into another hug and gently stroked her hair in the way a brother would do.
"Welcome back, I've missed you," he pulled away, kissed her cheek and left her before she had the chance to reply. Noticing a tear in his eye, she smiled sadly, but felt reassured that he was there.
She shook herself out of her thoughts to find the great hall emptying and thought it best to get out of her hiding spot before she was caught. It would be a great opportunity to walk to grounds and familiarize herself with the castle again. As she rounded a corner, still caught in her thoughts, she ran smack into Hermione.
"I am so sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going," she apologized profusely to Hermione, checking to make sure she hadn't done any damage to the girl. Hermione straightened her robes and looked up at the woman smiling.
"That's quite all right." Hermione trailed off, noticing how familiar her eyes were.
Ron was overcome with emotion. His dream girl was even prettier than he remembered.
Ginny felt Harry groping for her hand between the over abundant folds of both their robes. She looked up at him with a puzzled expression on her face when he found her hand and grasped it tightly. He was staring at the woman.
"Are you all right?" Ginny whispered to him inconspicuously.
"She looks so familiar to me." he whispered back, not finishing his thought.
The young woman turned her attention from Hermione to look at Harry. She put a hand over her mouth slowly and exhaled a breath she hadn't even known she'd been holding.
"Harry Potter," she said as she held out her hand, her eyes shining with pride. Harry shook her hand awkwardly with his free one, still clinging to Ginny with the other. He noticed the woman's robes as he began to speak.
"I'm sorry, Professor, I didn't catch your name," his voice was very professional as he spoke.
"Of course you didn't. I'm sorry. I'm Ivy Evans."
At the sound of her name, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny all gasped. Harry had never liked that sound, but what he liked even less was that he was at a complete loss for who Ivy Evans was.
"Ivy Evans?" Hermione squeaked in disbelief.
"As I live and breathe." Ron gasped.
Ginny stuttered her words, which she had a tendency of doing when she was nervous, "I.I thought that you had.that you were." when she had a hard time finishing her sentence, Harry took over.
"I'm sorry Professor Evans, I don't seem to recognize you like they do," Harry smiled slightly.
"I didn't expect you to," Ivy's smile was one of complete sincerity, "What they know and you don't is that I'm your aunt, Harry."
A/N: Wow.and another chapter down and I am wiser for the wear. Thank you to Jilly for being wicked cool and toughing it out with me! I appreciate your willingness to work with me. To Dell, Riv, Erin, and Missy.my day would not be complete if I didn't get to have a dirty mind with you all! To the rest of the Tower clan and my friends from I'm Too Old.thanks! You keep my faith alive that I'm not a freaky old woman!