Summary: This takes place in the summer holidays between fifth and sixth
year. The story starts a bit over a week after the beginning of summer
holidays. Harry is back at the Dursleys' and the Weasleys and Hermione are
at 12 Grimmauld Place already. There are OotP spoilers and I'm attempting
to keep as many of the small *and not so small* details in cannon with JKR.
Disclaimer: I didn't create Harry Potter, nor any characters, places or things in the Harry Potter books. The great JK Rowling did. Nor do I own Harry Potter nor any characters, places or things in the Harry Potter books. Warner Bros. do. But I did create Mira Montrose, and I do own her. JKR, WB, if, by some freak chance you're reading this, please don't sue me. I don't have much to give you.
Chapter One: Going Home
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
After what you last wrote to me, although I can hardly believe it, I must accept the truth and realize that it's finally time. It's time to face my skeletons, my past, my future. I realize that, after what's happened, I owe Remus and Harry the truth. I'm coming home.
I'm in France at the moment. It will take me a few days to sort out everything here, so I should be back in England in about three or four days' time.
Is it OK if I see you first? Maybe I could spend the night at Hogwarts before seeing anyone else? I'd very much like to see you, first. By the way, I accept your offer.
I will see you soon,
Mira Montrose
After writing this, and sending it with her owl, Mira spent the next few days sorting out her affairs, although everyone she spoke to thought that she looked rather down, like she was carrying an extra burden.
Mira was a witch approaching her forties, with light brown hair and piercing-blue eyes. She had been travelling the world for the past 15 years, learning to defend herself and putting her knowledge into practise. But, of course, in order to effectively defend yourself against your enemy, you must know your enemy.
Mira may have looked like she was carrying an extra burden, but that is because she was carrying an extra burden. But it's not what she learned over the past 15 years that was troubling her, but why she started learning it in the first place, and the thought of facing it and dealing with it that burdened on her mind and heart. But let's not digress from the story too much.
Four days after writing her letter, she arrived at Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore greeted her at the entrance. "Welcome back," he said with a sad smile, and embraced her as a father does to his youngest adult daughter who moves back home.
"Thank you," said Mira.
"I see that, despite your work over the years, you still look as wonderful as ever. Well, you must be exhausted after all that travelling, let us have some dinner."
"That would be wonderful. Can we have dinner at the Gryffindor table? Just like old times."
"Of course. Dinner will be on the Gryffindor table," Dumbledore smiled.
Mira left her trunk with 10 keyholes in the Entrance Hall, along with her owl in its birdcage, and walked with Dumbledore into the Great Hall.
"Wow," she murmured. "It's just as I remember it.'
"Some things never change," replied Dumbledore.
They sat down at opposite sides of the Gryffindor table, close to the teachers' table, where two golden plates, goblets and sets of cutlery lay waiting for them. Almost as soon as they sat down, food appeared on the table and they began to eat while reminiscing Mira's days as a student at Hogwarts.
"You know," said Mira. "I met Lily on the Hogwarts Express, all those years ago in our first year. She was so nervous, she had no idea what was going to happen to her, but she was so nice, and we became friends soon after."
"You two never could be separated."
During the dessert of custard tart, Mira asked Dumbledore, "How are Remus and Harry?"
"Both of them saw it happen. Remus is taking it better than I imagined he would, although he's constantly asking me to give him more work, and if he has some time off, he looks lost and out of place. But I think seeing you will cheer him up considerably."
"And Harry?"
Dumbledore sighed deeply. "Harry's dealing with Sirius' death in his own way, although he has been speaking to Arabella Figg lately. I think he's glad that, this time, he has some contact with the wizarding world. But it can offer him little comfort."
Mira and Dumbledore fell silent as the empty dessert dishes disappeared and were replaced with cups of coffee. They sat there for a few minutes, sipping their drinks, until Mira put her cup down, looked at it, and noticed droplets of water were falling onto the table. "I miss her so much," she whispered through her tears. "She was the best thing that ever happened to me. After she was killed, I couldn't bear to stay where everything reminded me of her."
"Yes," said Dumbledore heavily. "Your relationship was unique. I only ever saw a stronger bond than yours and Lily's in twins, although your personalities were so different."
"I never allowed myself to mourn for her," she said. "I always made sure I had plenty to do when I worked, and I was so exhausted that all I did when I was by myself was sleep.
"And now Sirius is gone, too. I desperately wanted to talk to him again. There were so many things I wanted to say to him that I couldn't put in writing. I wanted to thank him for shelving his pride when Lily and James started dating." She dried her tears and asked Dumbledore, "Would it be OK if I had a couple of days to sort my feelings out before I see everyone?"
Dumbledore surveyed her over those half-moon spectacles with his piercing-blue eyes. At last, he said, "If I were to allow you a couple of days to yourself, what would you honestly do?"
"I would probably leave for another 15 years."
"Running away will only get you so far. You must face up to your demons and fears eventually, and if you leave it for too long, you may never have the chance to resolve them."
"I know, I know, Professor," said Mira, sadly. "But it's just so difficult sometimes."
"Were you expecting it to be easy?"
Silence fell once more. At last, Dumbledore said, "Are you going to tell Remus everything?"
Mira nodded.
"And Harry?"
Again, Mira nodded.
Dumbledore sighed. "It's for the best. Well, I think it's time for bed. You must be exhausted."
They got up and went into the Entrance Hall. Mira's trunk and owl had already been taken up to her room. Dumbledore led her upstairs to her room. He then slowly and wearily made his way to his office. When he was inside, he reached for a pinch of some powder in a pot on top of the mantelpiece of the fireplace, threw it into the fire, and said, "Dobby, please come to my office."
Dobby appeared in Dumbledore's office almost instantly, and he looked slightly scared. Dumbledore went to his desk and sat down. He looked at Dobby the house elf and said, "There is a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. She is spending tonight at Hogwarts. I would like you and a few other house elves to guard her door throughout the night. Make sure she does not leave her room. And do not allow yourselves to be seen. Please report back to me at 6 o'clock in the morning in here, unless she attempts to leave beforehand."
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore, sir," squeaked Dobby, and he disappeared.
Disclaimer: I didn't create Harry Potter, nor any characters, places or things in the Harry Potter books. The great JK Rowling did. Nor do I own Harry Potter nor any characters, places or things in the Harry Potter books. Warner Bros. do. But I did create Mira Montrose, and I do own her. JKR, WB, if, by some freak chance you're reading this, please don't sue me. I don't have much to give you.
Chapter One: Going Home
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
After what you last wrote to me, although I can hardly believe it, I must accept the truth and realize that it's finally time. It's time to face my skeletons, my past, my future. I realize that, after what's happened, I owe Remus and Harry the truth. I'm coming home.
I'm in France at the moment. It will take me a few days to sort out everything here, so I should be back in England in about three or four days' time.
Is it OK if I see you first? Maybe I could spend the night at Hogwarts before seeing anyone else? I'd very much like to see you, first. By the way, I accept your offer.
I will see you soon,
Mira Montrose
After writing this, and sending it with her owl, Mira spent the next few days sorting out her affairs, although everyone she spoke to thought that she looked rather down, like she was carrying an extra burden.
Mira was a witch approaching her forties, with light brown hair and piercing-blue eyes. She had been travelling the world for the past 15 years, learning to defend herself and putting her knowledge into practise. But, of course, in order to effectively defend yourself against your enemy, you must know your enemy.
Mira may have looked like she was carrying an extra burden, but that is because she was carrying an extra burden. But it's not what she learned over the past 15 years that was troubling her, but why she started learning it in the first place, and the thought of facing it and dealing with it that burdened on her mind and heart. But let's not digress from the story too much.
Four days after writing her letter, she arrived at Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore greeted her at the entrance. "Welcome back," he said with a sad smile, and embraced her as a father does to his youngest adult daughter who moves back home.
"Thank you," said Mira.
"I see that, despite your work over the years, you still look as wonderful as ever. Well, you must be exhausted after all that travelling, let us have some dinner."
"That would be wonderful. Can we have dinner at the Gryffindor table? Just like old times."
"Of course. Dinner will be on the Gryffindor table," Dumbledore smiled.
Mira left her trunk with 10 keyholes in the Entrance Hall, along with her owl in its birdcage, and walked with Dumbledore into the Great Hall.
"Wow," she murmured. "It's just as I remember it.'
"Some things never change," replied Dumbledore.
They sat down at opposite sides of the Gryffindor table, close to the teachers' table, where two golden plates, goblets and sets of cutlery lay waiting for them. Almost as soon as they sat down, food appeared on the table and they began to eat while reminiscing Mira's days as a student at Hogwarts.
"You know," said Mira. "I met Lily on the Hogwarts Express, all those years ago in our first year. She was so nervous, she had no idea what was going to happen to her, but she was so nice, and we became friends soon after."
"You two never could be separated."
During the dessert of custard tart, Mira asked Dumbledore, "How are Remus and Harry?"
"Both of them saw it happen. Remus is taking it better than I imagined he would, although he's constantly asking me to give him more work, and if he has some time off, he looks lost and out of place. But I think seeing you will cheer him up considerably."
"And Harry?"
Dumbledore sighed deeply. "Harry's dealing with Sirius' death in his own way, although he has been speaking to Arabella Figg lately. I think he's glad that, this time, he has some contact with the wizarding world. But it can offer him little comfort."
Mira and Dumbledore fell silent as the empty dessert dishes disappeared and were replaced with cups of coffee. They sat there for a few minutes, sipping their drinks, until Mira put her cup down, looked at it, and noticed droplets of water were falling onto the table. "I miss her so much," she whispered through her tears. "She was the best thing that ever happened to me. After she was killed, I couldn't bear to stay where everything reminded me of her."
"Yes," said Dumbledore heavily. "Your relationship was unique. I only ever saw a stronger bond than yours and Lily's in twins, although your personalities were so different."
"I never allowed myself to mourn for her," she said. "I always made sure I had plenty to do when I worked, and I was so exhausted that all I did when I was by myself was sleep.
"And now Sirius is gone, too. I desperately wanted to talk to him again. There were so many things I wanted to say to him that I couldn't put in writing. I wanted to thank him for shelving his pride when Lily and James started dating." She dried her tears and asked Dumbledore, "Would it be OK if I had a couple of days to sort my feelings out before I see everyone?"
Dumbledore surveyed her over those half-moon spectacles with his piercing-blue eyes. At last, he said, "If I were to allow you a couple of days to yourself, what would you honestly do?"
"I would probably leave for another 15 years."
"Running away will only get you so far. You must face up to your demons and fears eventually, and if you leave it for too long, you may never have the chance to resolve them."
"I know, I know, Professor," said Mira, sadly. "But it's just so difficult sometimes."
"Were you expecting it to be easy?"
Silence fell once more. At last, Dumbledore said, "Are you going to tell Remus everything?"
Mira nodded.
"And Harry?"
Again, Mira nodded.
Dumbledore sighed. "It's for the best. Well, I think it's time for bed. You must be exhausted."
They got up and went into the Entrance Hall. Mira's trunk and owl had already been taken up to her room. Dumbledore led her upstairs to her room. He then slowly and wearily made his way to his office. When he was inside, he reached for a pinch of some powder in a pot on top of the mantelpiece of the fireplace, threw it into the fire, and said, "Dobby, please come to my office."
Dobby appeared in Dumbledore's office almost instantly, and he looked slightly scared. Dumbledore went to his desk and sat down. He looked at Dobby the house elf and said, "There is a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. She is spending tonight at Hogwarts. I would like you and a few other house elves to guard her door throughout the night. Make sure she does not leave her room. And do not allow yourselves to be seen. Please report back to me at 6 o'clock in the morning in here, unless she attempts to leave beforehand."
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore, sir," squeaked Dobby, and he disappeared.