Chapter 3: Introductions
Remus Lupin jumped up and embraced Mira in a big hug. "Why didn't you tell me when you were coming back?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise. Professor Dumbledore was the only person I told," she replied, smiling.
"I'm very sorry to interrupt, but could I introduce you to everyone else?"
"Of course, Professor, my apologies."
"Not to worry, not to worry," he said, pleasantly. "This is Molly and Arthur Weasley."
Professor Dumbledore pointed to a short, plump woman with flaming-red hair and her balding husband with horn-rimmed glasses. Mira shook their hands and said to Arthur, "I hear you have a fascination with muggles, Arthur. I've found out a fair bit about them over the years. Some of the things they've invented! It would make you laugh!"
Arthur Weasley's eyes lit up. "Really? Well I must buy you a drink sometime and you can tell me all about them."
Mira smiled. Professor Dumbledore continued.
"These are their sons, Bill, who you've met; Charlie and Fred and George."
"Ah, the famous, or should I say infamous, Fred and George Weasley. At last I get to meet you. I've heard a great many things about you two. Apparently your antics rival the great James Potter and Sirius Black! The pranks I've been told you've pulled and the tricks you've invented! And your exit from Hogwarts last year! And I hear you've started your own joke shop! I can't wait to see your products!"
Fred and George beamed. She shook hands with the twins and Bill and Charlie.
"Nymphadora Tonks, who prefers to be called Tonks -"
"With a first name like mine, who wouldn't?"
"This is Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mundungus Fletcher is that pile of rags sleeping in the corner, and you know, of course, Alastor Moody, Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall."
Now it was Mira's turn to be wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Not only was Snape in the Order, but the Alastor Moody she knew had changed. and drastically. He had a chunk missing from his nose, horrible scars on his face, she could see a wooden leg underneath the bottom of his robes, and he had a huge fake eye!
"Alastor Moody? What happened to you?"
"Battle wounds," he growled. "Been hunting down Death Eaters over the years. Could have used your help, too. Best trainee Auror we'd seen for years."
"What, and end up looking like you?"
Moody grunted.
"And Professor McGonagall! How are you?"
"Good, thank you, Mira. How have your travels been?"
"Oh, you know, it had its ups and downs."
"If we can begin," said Snape.
"Sure thing, Severus," replied Mira, with a suspicious look.
Everyone sat down and Mira found a seat next to Lupin.
Remus Lupin jumped up and embraced Mira in a big hug. "Why didn't you tell me when you were coming back?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise. Professor Dumbledore was the only person I told," she replied, smiling.
"I'm very sorry to interrupt, but could I introduce you to everyone else?"
"Of course, Professor, my apologies."
"Not to worry, not to worry," he said, pleasantly. "This is Molly and Arthur Weasley."
Professor Dumbledore pointed to a short, plump woman with flaming-red hair and her balding husband with horn-rimmed glasses. Mira shook their hands and said to Arthur, "I hear you have a fascination with muggles, Arthur. I've found out a fair bit about them over the years. Some of the things they've invented! It would make you laugh!"
Arthur Weasley's eyes lit up. "Really? Well I must buy you a drink sometime and you can tell me all about them."
Mira smiled. Professor Dumbledore continued.
"These are their sons, Bill, who you've met; Charlie and Fred and George."
"Ah, the famous, or should I say infamous, Fred and George Weasley. At last I get to meet you. I've heard a great many things about you two. Apparently your antics rival the great James Potter and Sirius Black! The pranks I've been told you've pulled and the tricks you've invented! And your exit from Hogwarts last year! And I hear you've started your own joke shop! I can't wait to see your products!"
Fred and George beamed. She shook hands with the twins and Bill and Charlie.
"Nymphadora Tonks, who prefers to be called Tonks -"
"With a first name like mine, who wouldn't?"
"This is Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mundungus Fletcher is that pile of rags sleeping in the corner, and you know, of course, Alastor Moody, Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall."
Now it was Mira's turn to be wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Not only was Snape in the Order, but the Alastor Moody she knew had changed. and drastically. He had a chunk missing from his nose, horrible scars on his face, she could see a wooden leg underneath the bottom of his robes, and he had a huge fake eye!
"Alastor Moody? What happened to you?"
"Battle wounds," he growled. "Been hunting down Death Eaters over the years. Could have used your help, too. Best trainee Auror we'd seen for years."
"What, and end up looking like you?"
Moody grunted.
"And Professor McGonagall! How are you?"
"Good, thank you, Mira. How have your travels been?"
"Oh, you know, it had its ups and downs."
"If we can begin," said Snape.
"Sure thing, Severus," replied Mira, with a suspicious look.
Everyone sat down and Mira found a seat next to Lupin.