"When will I be able to see him? It only lasts as long as the full moon lasts, right?"
"Correct. Why are you in such a rush to see Lupin anyway?"
"He figures Lupin can tell him things about Sirius . . .tell him why his mother never left more about him than the clue in his last name."
"Probably because of his wretched table manners," Tonks said, smiling as she blew her nose. "I don't even know . . . you're right about seeking out Lupin . . .he's likely to know more than the rest of us do."
"So like I said before, when can I see him?"
"I think I could take you over there now, if it's truly as urgent as you make it seem."
"Are you foolish woman? He's not right! He's not in his right frame of mind right now! Oh yeah, I'm sure he wants to talk . . .after he gobbles you up whole!"
"As creepy as Mad-Eye makes it, he's right, Tonks. You'd be a fool to disturb Lupin while he's in this state. If you go, I'll go with you."
"Ah, you leave us with no choice then," Fred said, dusting off his sweater in an elegant fashion. "We'll go too."
"No you won't! I can see you two jerking a bone in his face or something . . . you two aren't right. No way, not on Merlin's beard." Moody growled.
"Can we go?" Harry asked, pointing to Hermione and Ron.
"Well . . .I suppose it's of no harm . . ." Tonks said hesitantly.
"Hold on, Ronny-boo-boo-head gets to go and we can't?" Fred said stomping his foot on the ground.
"That's injustice!" George chimed in.
"That's sense. Now come along you all, we don't want to get there too late . . . he'll be apt to be more moody than he already is." Shacklebolt said calmly.
"The order!"
Scipio and the others landed in a small apartment flat, dimly lit with candles all around. It gave the apartment a spooky appearance and Ron suddenly wished he'd stayed home."
"What are you all doing here?" A voice said from behind them all.
Everyone jumped and turned their wands in the air at the unexpected guest . . .Ron's mother Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh Molly, it's just you. We have a visitor for Moon- I mean, Lupin."
"A guest? Where? Sirius? Is that you? In Merlin's name!"
"That is Scipio, Sirius's son. . . but that is another story best told when we're out of here. Can you take Scipio up to Lupin's room?"
"It can be arranged . . . you've gotten here at a good time, he woke up just a few moments ago. He's in a bit of a mood now-"
"MOLLY! WHERE IS MY DINNER? I WANT MY DINNER!" a scratchy voice growled from the top of the stairs.
"That is no way to speak to me, Lupin! Get some manners. . . you have a guest."
"To eat?"
Scipio gulped heavily. Ron and Hermione made their way closer to the fireplace.
"No, Sirius's son."
Suddenly, the voice got very silent. In a more gentle tone, Lupin called out.
"Sirius's son? Sirius has no son."
"Yes he does, apparently, and he has some questions for you to answer."
"I see. Bring him up, Molly. Don't open the door at all. . . I'll talk to him from behind it."
"We weren't planning on opening your door anyway."
"We? Who else is here?"
"Shacklebolt, Tonks, Moody, Ron, Hermione and Harry."
"Send the rest of them home. Keep Harry here with me and the boy."
Harry gulped and looked nervously at Scipio, who was turning white with fear, even with his dark tan. Mrs. Weasley led them up the steps to a large steel door with a slot opening on it. A sign had been put up that said "It's that time of month again . . .not like that, you sicko." Unsure of what to say, Scipio knocked on the door and waited.
"Hello Harry and-"
"Scipio."
"Scipio . . .that's a nice name . . .is it Italian?"
"I think so, I'm really unsure."
"Hmm. . . you came here to ask me some questions about your dad. The reason I asked Harry to stay is because some of the things you may be seeking he may know better than even I do. Now, I'll need a bit of information on you first, Scipio . . . something to work with, my memory isn't that sharp, but names can help trigger a memory or two. What's your mother's name?"
"Millicent Dickinson."
There was a pause and then Lupin's voice grew very soft.
"I remember Millicent. She and Sirius went out during their seventh year of Hogwarts. I remember we used to call her Millie. She was a very secretive person . . .even James and I wondered how she'd gotten to be with Sirius. Tall brunette with shocking blue eyes. . ."
Harry thought for a moment. He'd seen a picture of her somewhere before. In his parent's wedding album.
"I have a picture of her in my Mum and Dad's wedding album. . . I remember her now, the same eyes as Scipio. If I'm not mistaken, in that picture, she stood with Sirius beside her."
"Wedding day . . .yes, that's it! The last time Sirius ever saw Millie was on your parent's wedding day, Harry! Sirius spent a very long time searching for her. . . she was never seen or heard from again."
"You mean my Mum is the one who ran off?"
"Oh yes. Sirius was devastated she left. I think he had wanted to marry her one day."
"That's odd. . .wait a moment, I have a hypothesis." Scipio said, scratching his chin.
"Okay, shoot." Lupin said.
"What if my mom ran away because she found out she was pregnant?"
"Why would she run away then? Wouldn't she be apt to ask Sirius to marry her?" Harry asked confused.
"Maybe. . .but what if she didn't want him to know he had a son?"
"You mean, keep your birth hidden?" Lupin asked puzzled.
"Exactly."
"It still doesn't make much since. I can't see a woman running away, knowing she's pregnant with a child from a man she knows loved her. It doesn't make since."
"Wait a moment. . .Millie got a prophecy before she left . . .she'd been having strange dreams and she wanted to know what they meant." Lupin said dreamily.
"What was it?" Harry and Scipio asked in unison.
"I don't know, she never said. Didn't even tell Sirius . . ."
"That's got to be the reason why, then . . .it's got to be whatever was in that prophecy . . .it scared her away from Sirius." Harry said, now scratching his chin too.
"Then we've got to find it." Scipio said, sliding his back down the door.
"Where could we find it?" Harry asked.
"The Department of Mysteries?" Scipio asked. "Your country has one too, right?"
"We have one, but I don't think it'd be there, Scipio. More extreme prophecies go to the Department of Mysteries. You'd probably have to seek out the person who gave your mother the prophecy."
"How would I do that? Aren't there a lot of fortune tellers and whatnot all around London, not to mention, the world."
"We'll do a hunt. Sure there are a lot of people who claim to have the sight, but there are a registered list of individuals who have been certified. I could do that while you both are at school."
"You'll have to keep me informed at all times, Lupin. I feel as if my life depends upon this prophecy."
"That's not a good sign, Scipio." Lupin said wearily from behind the door.
"Well then, I'd better find out what it said then, huh? Come on Harry, I need to be getting home. Thanks Mr. Lupin for your help."
"Just call me Lupin, Harry does anyway. But that's because he has no manners."
"Whatever. Let's go home, Scip. I'll go with you home." Harry said, walking down the steps with Scipio not too far behind.
Harry and Scipio went into the fireplace and called out "Malfoy Manor." They landed with a huge thud in the gigantic fireplace, where Draco stood waiting.
"Draco, sorry I've been so long, I was-"
"You should really pay attention to the friends you make, Scipio. You don't want to be hanging around Potter these days, especially with the rise of Voldemort at hand."
Scipio shuddered. Obviously in Kikiader, they didn't speak of Voldemort's name either, Harry thought to himself.
"I'll be leaving now. I just wanted to make sure Scipio got home safely."
"No worries Potter, he's in my hands now. Now get out of my fireplace before I call the police."
"I hear you Malfoy. I'm leaving." But before he actually did leave, he called out to Scipio.
"I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express. If you want, I'll save you a seat."
Then he disappeared.
"What was all that about?" Narcissa said, coming into the hallway.
"Nothing mother. Scipio's home."
"Oh good. I was worried- oh, never mind. Get to bed, the both of you. I want you to get into the habit of sleeping at a decent hour. I don't expect to send any howlers to Hogwarts this year, do you hear me, Draco?"
"Alright mother . . .I'm going to bed."
Scipio stood alone staring at the empty fireplace where Harry once stood. Would he take Harry at his offer? Would he ever find out why his mother had kept his father in the dark? Would he ever leave Malfoy Manor? At least he could answer one of these questions, he'd be leaving for Hogwarts in a week's time.