"Jess, your peeking! I told you to keep your eyes closed!"

"I am not! Look, my hands are over my eyes, see?"

Even though she wasn't looking, she could picture him in her head as his laughter rang through out the empty room. He was doing something evil...he had the sort of laugh that was both excited and knowing of a secret.

"Are you done yet?"

"Not yet...give me just a few more moments and I'll be...just about...okay, I'm done, you can open them."

She took her hands away from her eyes, her mouth dropping open. There before her, was the biggest surprise she had ever gotten in her whole life. He had set up not only a cake and treats for her birthday, but beside the cake was a gift wrapped in dark green paper.

"How...how did you know it was my birthday?" She stared at him, unable to keep the shock out of her voice. She watched him, and his happy little smile. He was proud he had been able to surprise her like this. Her eyes followed as his hand moved to run through his black hair, pushing stray pieces away behind his ear. She got up from the chair she was in and went to him, unable to think of something worth saying...it was so sweet of him to surprise her that way.

He opened his mouth, the words were coming, she knew they were...she could feel it. He was going to tell her what she had been waiting to hear him say...he was going to tell her those three words.

He disappeared suddenly and screams of pain and torment filled her head. Instantly, she woke up and in a jerk of pain, fell from her seat on the train. She lay on the floor of the compartment, hands over her face as she stayed perfectly still in order to calm her heaving chest. It wasn't fair...he had been taken away from her, just like -

"Heya Jesse."

Her head turned at once to where the voice came from, a look of total surprise covering her face. It took her only a moment to recognize that face...that old, tired looking face. She couldn't help but feel sorrow...it had once been a happy one.

"Remus?" She started to get up, setting herself back in her seat.

"The one and only. I hope you don't mind me assuming I'd be welcomed here."

"Oh no...its fine. I am actually rather glad. How have things been?"

He shrugged his answer before bringing in words. "The usual. Not too bad, not to good, you know? I'm sure you've heard things?"

"Yes...I've heard some things."

"You've heard all about it then?"

"Yes...I have. That is why Dumbledore called for me I suppose."

"I would assume so."

Their conversation stopped once the train began to stop. They had arrived at Hogwarts...her fate had been sealed. After a slight nod to each other, she got up, took her bag and got off the train. She was excited about seeing a sorting, it had been so long since her last one. She was going to go with the flow of students, but then Hagrid's shouting caught her attention. She had been assigned to be his teaching aid this year, but in reality, it was just a spot to stick her so she would be close to the school if any action started up. Remus had been walking beside her, and when they neared the doors to the entrance hall of the castle, he started speaking again.

"Do you think they'll give you a hard time?"

She gave a bored sigh as she reponded to him. "Most likely. You know bad feelings die hard with the Ministry."

"Indeed...I know best of many."

She opened her mouth to say something else when she was pulled aside by a man. He took out a paper that stated information on him and his business at Hogwarts, and once he had given her enough time to view it, he began talking.

"Jessica Escanlar, the Ministry of Magic has many rules they have been trying to enforce upon you, but until present time, we have been unable to locate you."

She gave the man an amused smirk before speaking. "Oh damn, and to think I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever find me."

"Please do not speak until asked to, Miss. Escanlar." His statement shocked her a bit...no one had ever told her to remain silent before.

"Excuse me?"

"I ask that you coorperate with us, or I will have to ensure your help."

She didn't answer him, she simply crossed her arms over her chest and watched him.

"Now...the gloves and choker you had been required to wear, will remain. They will be taken and all spells will be renewed. Due to safety reasons and concern of parents, you will live and remain in the offered home of Hagrid. If your behaivor remains well for a certain period of time, some requirements may be eased a bit," he paused for a moment as he checked over a few things on a paper he held. "Also, you will be tracked at all times, and if entry to the castle is made, you have been forwarned that the choker will begin to grow smaller, slowly strangling you until you are removed. Is all this clear?"

She had nothing to say to the man, for she was too busy staring in disbelief at him. They partically made it impossible for her to do anything at Hogwarts. Her silence didn't seem to matter him, for in a moment, he began to speak again.

"Good. A few last things are...the gloves you are required to wear will not allow you to use magic with your hands, and your wand will be further kept from you until it is seen you are responsible enough to wield it."

After he spoke of her wand, she found her voice and spoke up.

"But that isn't fair! How can you allow criminals to walk around with wands and more freedom than someone who has never been accused of doing anything wrong?! How do you expect me t-"

His hand went up to interupt her. "Hagrid is waiting for you at the hut. Please hand in what was requested."

She turned in protest, but everyone else had gone inside and she was left alone to face her demon. "Fine."

She took off the choker and gloves she had on and handed it to him, watching as he took out his wand and placed a spell on each item before handing them back to her to put on. She had given up on resisting...there was no clear point to it anymore, so without word, she placed the items back on and waited to be spoken to again.

The man looked her up and down, smiled oddly and waved his hand, "You may go now." She had been at Hogwarts no more than five minutes and already she wanted to go home.