Moon Lit Knight

Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. Aurora, though, is my invention, along with a few miscellaneous items and ideas.

Thanks for reading my first attempt at fan fiction!

Chapter 1: School Begins

Above Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry the skies were inky and ill-tempered, clouds rolled menacingly around, and the trees of the Forest tossed and groaned against the wind that whipped their branches. Inside the school, though, it was a different story, for today was the start of another school year. In approximately four hours the halls would once again bustle with the hubbub of students as they made their way into the Great Hall for the start -of- year feast. The house-elves had been busy the night before, for the school practically shone with cleanliness. Fires crackled in all the house common rooms, the great hall was alive with candles, and the colours of Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor waved merrily from high above.

All throughout the school teachers were busy preparing last minute lessons and anti headache potions in preparation for a new year that was sure to be filled with problems, as well as those rare satisfying moments when the students actually seemed to absorb something that was taught to them. There had been only two changes to the teaching staff this year. In a move that would be very popular with some students, and not so popular with others, Professor Remus J. Lupin had been brought back as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. The other new position was that of Charms professor, a position that had been filled by Aurora L. Knightly. Charms had formally been taught by Professor Flitwick, who had been teaching for 45 consecutive years. This year, though, the Professor had decided to take a leave of absence, and if you happened to visit the sunny shores of the south of France, you might just see him lounging by the sea, enjoying The Witch and the Warlock, Leticia D'adams newest serial romance.

Back at Hogwarts, with longing thoughts of the warm beach of France, Professor Knightly was surveying her classroom, and dictating last minute notes to her Dicta-Quill.

"Ask Professor Snape for use of Charms and the Dark Arts ...no, scratch that, he might be offended if I think he still is interested in the Dark Arts (the filthy Death Eater...no no don't write that down). Ask Professor Lupin for Charms and the Dark Arts...no no scratch that, too. Apparently he hasn't worked in two years, so it's unlikely he's bought it...buy Charms and the Dark Arts myself from Flourish and Blotts. Ummm what else?...Oh yes, talk to Remus about what days he needs me to sub for him...but what do I say? 'Remus, what days this month are you turning into a werewolf and need me to teach for you?' No no, you stupid quill don't write that down, I really should have bought that new Write-O-Quill when I had the chance."

Aurora's quill was saved from further abuse by the sound of the door opening. Aurora turned towards the door and was pleased to see Madam Pomfrey's comforting figure walking across the room.

"Madam Pomfrey," she said, with a smile on her face, "I thought you'd be busy stocking up on last minute cures for the Weasley twins many products."

Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes heavenward, "There aren't enough potions and cures on this earth to keep up with what those to will invent next."

Aurora laughed, "Well if any one can keep up with them it's you."

"Sometimes I'm feel I'm getting too old for this job, I have to admit that when Professor Flitwick went gallivanting off to France it tempted me just a bit. But," she added with a severe look at Aurora, "this year I have two special cases to look after. Between you and Professor Lupin I won't have time to think of any fun in the sun. You know you forgot to take your medicine this morning, don't you?"

Aurora shifted uncomfortably, "Well...yes I did forgot. "

Noticing Madam Pomfrey's skeptical look, she hurried to explain.

"All right, I didn't forget, I just didn't want to take it. Have you tasted that awful mixture?" she said, scrunching up her nose dramatically, "it makes a Dragon Breath cooler taste like Butterbear."

"I know, dear" nodded Madam Pomfrey understandably," but you simply must take it. Your seizures and hallucinations cannot be controlled without it. Perhaps I can talk to Severus about making it more pleasant."

Aurora thought this was very unlikely. Snape was not known for making anything more pleasant.

"One other thing, Aurora, the children should be arriving in about two hours, so I would suggest you get tidied up and come down to the Great Hall for the staff meeting. Dumbledore has some important announcements to make"

"Great Merlin, I need a Rememberall," said Aurora glancing at her watch, "the last time I looked I had four hours to get ready! I had better go tame this hair of mine, and change my robes."

Bidding Madam Pomfrey goodbye, the new Professor of Charms waved her wand towards her quill, which flew to the desk in a sulky manner and lodged itself in a drawer, along with the rather messy list that it had made. Casting one last look around her classroom, Aurora hurried across the room and out the door

Professor Knightly hurried down the hall and up the main staircase of Hogwarts, brushing her hand against the smooth surface of the mahogany stairway and trying to remember which way to go. After a week back at the school she had attended for seven years, Aurora was still having a hard time finding her way around. Not known for her amazing sense of direction, Aurora had relied mostly upon her friends during her school years to help her find her way around the, admittedly, confusing corridors, towers and staircases of Hogwarts. Now that she was a teacher, Aurora felt it would be silly to ask for directions, and so far this week she had relied upon leaving little trails for herself, a trick she had learned in Muggle Studies when they had read Hansel and Gretel. Today, though, there was a problem. Aurora was sure she had left a trail of small gold disks hidden on the route from her room to her classroom, now they seemed to have all disappeared. Curses, the one day I'm in a hurry and I can't find the blasted trail. Hearing footsteps coming up the corridor behind her, Aurora hurriedly said "Appearus" and a Daily Prophet appeared in her hand. Trying to appear nonchalant, she leaned against the wall and concentrated on reading the paper.

"Anything interesting in the rag today?" said a pleasant voice.

"Wha? Oh, Remus, it's you. Uh, yes quite an interesting article on those exploding toilets. I'm sure Arthur will have his hands full."

Standing in front of her, Professor Lupin looked over the top of the paper, "Yes, especially since the date on your paper is July 2nd, he'll have to do some rather fancy time-travelling, as well as mind-wiping. "

Oh, blast, got the stupid date wrong on the paper! "Well, I'm sure he's up to the task." said Aurora, cringing inwardly.

"Aurora," said Lupin, a smile faintly visible on his pale face, "are you by any chance lost again?"

"Well as a matter of fact, Remus," replied Aurora, who by now was smiling herself, " I am."

"Ah ha, I thought perhaps after Severus took away your trail you'd have a hard time finding your way back to your room."

"He took it away! But how did he even know about it!"

"Well, it seems he saw you leaving gold disks all around the place at around 3 am this morning."

"Oh Merlin, and I suppose he's enjoyed telling this around the staff room."

"Well...yes."

"Oh well," said Aurora bracingly, "at least now I can ask for directions, seeing as everyone knows of my slight er problem. You'd think after all this time I'd know my way around this place."

"Not to worry," said Professor Lupin kindly, "how about if I show you to your room? Our meeting with Dumbledore is in an hour."

They moved down the hallway together, towards the high tower which housed all the moving staircases. Aurora hurried to catch up with Remus as he jumped onto a staircase that was quickly moving towards the other side of the room.

Professor Lupin looked down at her, and for the umpteenth time Aurora noticed how tired he looked, not just physically, but as though he has lost part of himself. Well he's lost everything...James...Sirius...

"So, he said, "at all nervous about your first day as Professor Knightly?"

Auror couldn't help smiling, teaching was certainly going to be a change from chasing dark wizards and witches across the globe.

"Yes a little, I just hope I can remember what old Flitwick taught me! I had a habit of cramming rather badly for my OWLS and NEWTS."

"I think we all did," laughed Remus.

"Well here we are," said Aurora, finally recognizing the picture that concealed her room, "I don't think I can get lost between here and the bathtub."

"Speaking of which, I better go clean up myself," replied Lupin, running a hand over his chin, "Can't let the children think we werewolves are always covered in hair."

"See you at the feast then."

"Yes...and try not to get lost," added Lupin drily.

Aurora watched as Remus strolled down the stairs that led away from her apartment, his shabby robes trailing along the marble floor.

Muttering "Purple horned toads" Aurora prepared to step into her apartment, but was stopped by a voice.

"Rather kind, isn't he?"

"I beg your pardon?" Aurora was not accustomed to portraits engaging in idle chit-chat.

"Lupin" said the small old witch that guarded her entrance, "he's rather kind...and was once quite pleasant to look at, too...some say he still is..."

"Well, yes, I suppose...Look, would you mind just letting me in, I'm in rather a hurry."

"Whatever you say, dear. Didn't mean to upset you."

The portrait swung open, revealing a cozy apartment decorated in what Wizard World Monthly would call "classic magical elegance infused with the style of a modern witch." Stepping through the portrait revealed a round room with a fireplace on one wall, and which was lined with books on the other walls. A ladder leaned against one wall, and when stepped upon would float gently up to the second row of bookshelves which were housed around a floating path that wound its way around the upper rim of the room. Back down on the floor a large, plush forest-coloured corduroy chair and ottoman lay in front of the fireplace, and flung across the chair was a cream coloured blanket. Along the wall to the left of the fireplace and chair were three large windows that looked out on the lake and Quidditch field. Under them sat a liver shaped desk which housed quills, parchment, a small cauldron and various books. Behind the corduroy chair was a small table with various knobs on it, labeled "drink" "food" "clothing" and "other." The room was lit with many candles that floated around the room, as well as silver candelabras that sat on the table and desk. On the upper level small round balls glowed against the book cases, flying around like slow moving fireflies.

Aurora stepped into her room, flinging her cloak towards the coat stand, which deftly flung out one of its hooks in time to catch the garment before it fell on the floor. She stepped out of her shoes onto the quickly warming rug and walked across to the knobbed table. Pulling the knob labeled "drink" she spoke the word "Butterbear" and one appeared in front of her. Taking a sip Aurora smiled happily as the warm liquid slid down her throat, then remembering the other knob she had to pull, she grimaced and tugged "other." A greenish liquid with bubbling red blobs in it appeared. Aurora plugged her nose and downed her medicine in one large gulp. "Well," she gasped, taking a large sip of Butterbear, "that should kept Pomfrey happy."