"Don't you ever knock?" Severus tried to look stern but there was no malice in his voice.

Dierna grinned unrepentantly, "Nope, besides, it's not my fault if you told me how to get around the wards on these rooms, if you didn't want me in here..."

"Alright, that's enough," Severus interrupted her, "now what is it that you want?"

Dierna made herself comfortable on the couch, knowing that her father was trying to rush her and it would only irritate him more, "did you still want me for today or do I actually get a weekend off?" Dierna referred to the project she was supposed to be helping him with. But, so far, he hadn't told her what it was they were working on.

Dierna found it increasingly annoying that she was blindly following orders regarding this project; she desperately wanted to know what she was working on. Before her father had a chance to answer Dierna asked him another question, "and when are you going to tell me what it is you're working on? I want to know."

Severus sighed, "Dierna, I don't have time to explain it to you right now, besides, I don't even know all the details. But I promise I will explain everything to you eventually, be patient for just a little while longer child," he looked away from her, "it will have to wait till after I have a little talk with Eric," he muttered under his breath.

"So, does that mean I'm free today?" Dierna asked hopefully.

"No..." Severus picked up a few sheets of paper that were lying on an end table, "there are a few things I need you to know before we can go any farther on this project." He handed her one of the sheets of paper, "that is the list of theories and ingredients I need you to know about and the books to find them in, they are all in the restricted section." He held out the second slip of paper, but drew it back again when Dierna reached for it, "this is a pass to the restricted section of the library, you will use it only to research what is on the list I gave you, if you abuse it you will find yourself in a world of trouble, understood?"

"Yes sir," Dierna replied as she took the pass.

"And don't even think about wasting your time trying to figure out what this project concerns while you're researching, I can guarantee you that it isn't listed in any book in the school library."

Dierna cocked her head to the side as she looked up at her father, "is it because it is too dangerous or something that is completely new and isn't published yet?"

Severus regarded her inquisitive expression for a moment before answering, "It is extremely dangerous and it involves knowledge that was supposedly lost a long time ago."

Remus, Kalliope, and Sophia apparated into Hogsmead. Sophia was absolutely captivated with her surroundings and immediately bombarded her companions with a continuous string of questions. Kalliope rolled her eyes at Remus, indicating that until Sophia became a bit more accustomed to the wizarding world this is what they could expect. Although Kalliope had never been to Britain before she had spent a good deal of time in a wizarding community close to the temple, therefore she had a good idea of what to expect.

Kalliope turned to face her young charge when she realized that she hadn't caught any of the questions the girl was throwing at her. "Slow down child, there will be time enough later for all those questions. Right now we need to get to the school."

"But... but... I want to... can't we look around I little first?" Sophia kept turning around so that she could take in everything, "please Kalliope, please..."

"Not now little one, but I promise that you will get a chance to explore later," Kalliope calmly replied.

Seeing that Sophia was ready to protest again Remus jumped in, "You'll have a lot to see when we get to Hogwarts, it will give you more than enough to explore until we have time to come back to Hogsmead."

This distracted Sophia from her fascination with the town and she started a new line of questioning about Hogwarts. Remus patiently answered her questions as they walked towards the school. Since the distance wasn't that far Remus decided it would be better if they walked back from Hogsmead. He had a feeling that both of the women needed time to readjust and it gave him a chance to answer all Sophia's questions, although it didn't look like they were ever going to end.

Kalliope listened with a detached interest as Sophia continued to rattle off questions which Remus was answering with the infinite amount of patience Kalliope remembered from the last time she had been with Remus. He had been so wonderful, so understanding, so kind... she was glad to see that those qualities she had treasured in him had not changed over the years.

There had been a time when she thought he would stay with her and that she would be his forever. She had been young then and grieving, he had seemed like the answer to her prayers and it was the first and only time she had considered giving herself freely to a man. She had been hurt so many times in the past. As she watched Remus interacting with her overzealous charge she felt her heart twist. She wondered if she was still willing to give up the only life she had ever known for a man, no matter how wonderful he seemed to be.
"Now where did these flowers come from?" Meg asked her sister-in-law with a less than innocent expression. "Did Harry send them?"

"Yes," Ginny nodded and lightly traced her fingers over the silky petals of the crimson roses with a sad smile and a look of regret clearly marked on her face.

"So, why the sad face?" Meg pressed.

Ginny shrugged her shoulders "Well, it's just that instead of sending flowers..."

"He could have brought them himself," Meg finished for her friend.

Ginny nodded as a tear fell from her face and landed on the one of the crimson roses where it rolled down the petals into the center of the bloom. "I want him back Meg, but I feel like he's lost to me."

"Don't give up that easily Ginny. The fact that he sent you flowers must be some indication that he still cares."

Ginny smiled at her friend, "I know, it's just that some days are just harder than others." She tried to shake off the feeling of despair; it wouldn't do her any good to dwell on the negative "how is my brother treating you these days?"

Meg grinned, "very good, he's home this weekend and he even managed to come home for a few hours several evenings last week. He says he doesn't feel right leaving me and the kids alone like this."

"Is Charlie looking after the kids today?" Ginny asked.

Meg blushed, "actually your mum is, she wanted to give me and Charlie and chance to be alone together, and that's kind of hard to come by with five kids running around."

"So why aren't you with my brother now?"

Meg's hand flew up to her mouth as she gasped, "I completely forgot, I was supposed to meet him back at our house almost a half hour ago."

Ginny laughed, "Don't worry about it, if I know my brother he will be here any minute looking for you." This statement was almost promptly followed by a knock on the door that went unanswered as Charlie let himself in.

"Where have you been hiding my wife?" Charlie asked good naturedly, although there were signs of concern on his face.

"I don't know what you're talking about Charlie, I haven't seen Meg all day," Ginny replied, her eyes wide with fake innocence.

"That's not funny little sister," Charlie teased as he picked Ginny up off the floor moving her out of his way so that he could get to his wife.

Ginny watched her brother and his wife with tears in her eyes. Their love for each other was so obvious, it was like what she and Harry used to have. As she blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears from spilling over she decided to sit down and write to her husband as soon as she could.

Dierna pulled yet another volume off the bookshelf and began flipping through it. She had found what her father had told her to in a very short amount of time and was now looking through books for her own enjoyment while keeping an eye out for Madame Pince, who had been watching her like a hawk.

Most of the information she was supposed to be looking for involved potions that required human blood and the theories behind the power of sacrificial blood. It was incredibly interesting and some of the potions and theories that were presented were absolutely amazing. It seemed that the power of sacrificial blood could be used to enhance almost any potion and could have fantastic results. It was all rather creepy and she was now looking for something a bit less morbid.

She flipped through a large 17th century book, enjoying the way the smooth vellum pages felt as she turned them. She thought that the old binding jobs were like artwork, so much more fascinating than a simple book with paper pages.

She continued to turn the pages, waiting to see if anything caught her interest. Her eyes fell on one page and widened at what she saw. The potion was by no means complicated, Dierna knew that it was well within her abilities to create it, she was sure it had to be the purpose of the potion that had landed this book in the restricted section.

She looked down the list of required ingredients: mistletoe, pennyroyal, mandrake root, wormwood, white willow bark, occamy feathers, and salamander blood. She figured that the occamy feathers and the mandrake root she could very easily get from her father's personal supply without him missing them and all the other ingredients were openly available to students.

She carefully copied down the instructions to the potion, noting that it involved a simple process that would not take long to make. She smiled to herself; it had the potential to come in very handy, especially if she had her way...

Sophia gazed wide eyed up at the towering height of Hogwarts. She moved a bit closer to Kalliope, "it's so big..." she whispered.

"A little different than what you're used to isn't it," Remus smiled at Sophia's reaction, it reminded him strongly of the way new first years looked the first time they saw Hogwarts.

"Yeah," Sophia barely managed to breathe out. She pulled her cloak closer around her and shivered, she decided that she definitely did not like Britain's weather. This was far to cold for her liking.

"So, this is home?" Kalliope asked as she fixed Remus with her dark brown gaze.

Remus gave her a half smile, "it's the closest thing I've got. But I have several very good friends here, almost like family."

Kalliope continued to look at Remus, her gaze was penetrating. She had heard the longing in his voice when he mentioned family.

"What is it, are you using your priestess powers to read my mind?" Remus half jokingly asked Kalliope.

Kalliope raised an eyebrow at him and answered in a low voice that held all the authority of a senior priestess, "you keep much hidden wizard, and yet you once chided me for doing the same thing. Why do you try to hide?"

Remus thought that Kalliope had all the bearing of a regal queen, even though she was several inches shorter than him he felt like she was looking down at him. She could be rather unsettling at times, "I don't know..."

"You may not know but the goddess does, and she allows me to use her eyes."

"And can her eyes show you what is hidden in my heart?"

"No, but you can."

Remus felt a twinge of regret, he and Kalliope had shared so much with each other years before, and when he was with her that time seemed to fade away. But he still held back. He didn't want to hurt this woman, she had changed his life.

"Can we go in now?" Sophia burst in on their conversation, "it's really cold."

Remus chuckled, "it's only the beginning of November; wait till winter really sets in."

"You mean it will get colder than this?!" Sophia's mouth hung open in shock.

Remus only laughed harder, "I think you'll love the snow," he teased as he winked at her.

Sophia didn't reply, the thought of snow combined with the fact that they had just entered the castle had finally rendered her speechless. She slipped over to Kalliope's side and timidly reached for the priestess' hand. All of the new experiences were starting to wear her down.

Kalliope gave the girl's hand a reassuring squeeze, "are you alright little one?"

Sophia nodded mutely as she gazed around the large entry way with enormous eyes.

Remus was thankful that there wasn't anyone else around, he had a feeling that Sophia probably couldn't handle too much more right now, but he also knew that Kalliope would want to get right to work. "Why don't I show you ladies to your rooms and then we can start the necessary introductions," he spoke as he made his way up a staircase towards a hallway that held guest rooms leaving no room for argument.

Kalliope followed Remus' brisk pace, her mind working quickly. There was so much she needed to know about the situation she was now in. The first thing she wanted to do was see the girl that was having the visions, and she debated over what she should do with Sophia while she was seeing to that. She didn't want to leave her ward alone in a strange place, but she needed to work one on one with the girl she was supposed to help.

"Look," Sophia, tugged on Kalliope's sleeve dragging the priestess away from her thoughts, "the pictures move..." her voice was a low whisper that was filled with wonder. "How do they do that?"

"Their magic here is a bit different than the magic we use in the temple, I'm sure if you ask Remus later he can explain it to you," Kalliope answered, knowing that Remus was listening to the exchange and that he would be more than happy to answer more of Sophia's questions.

"Here we are," Remus said as he opened a large, ornately carved, ebony door. He led Kalliope and Sophia into a large sitting room that was decorated with a definite feminine feel.

Kalliope smiled, the atmosphere of the school was definitely different than that of the temple. The dark wood furniture on the hard wood floor and deep rose brocade fabrics that decorated this room were a far cry from the cool marble floors and light airy atmosphere of the temple. The very little she had seen of the castle pleased her though; it was very beautiful in its own way, although the cold would take some getting used to.

Remus had been carrying both Kalliope and Sophia's belongings, which he couldn't help noticing there were very few of, and he set them down on the couch. "Through that door," he said indicating another dark wood door, "is your bedroom Kalliope, the entrance to Sophia's room is through yours"

Kalliope nodded in satisfaction at the arrangement, "thank you Remus. Now, I want to meet this girl that you brought me here to help."

Remus smiled, "you don't waste any time do you?"

"There may not be time to waste," Kalliope retorted. "Now, as soon as I find a way to keep this one entertained for awhile..." she nodded in Sophia's direction.

"Well, why doesn't she come with us for now, if nothing better presents itself I'll take her on a tour of the school while you work," Remus suggested.

"I think that should work," Kalliope replied as she gave the werewolf a brilliant smile.
Nick, Kamen, and William were in the middle of a rather heated discussion over quidditch tactics.

"I don't care guys, that is an incredibly dangerous move and as much as I want to win I'm not comfortable using it," Nick did not like being ganged up on like this.

"Come on Nick, it's not that dangerous for us!" Kamen exclaimed.

"But it is for your sister," Nick pointed out.

"Yeah, but she'll agree to do it if we ask her to," William inserted smoothly.

"I still don't like it..."

"I think it would come in very handy when we play Slytherin, at least think about it Nick," Kamen pushed. He and William had come up with a brilliant move that they would love to use; the fact that it was dangerous didn't faze them at all.

"Hey William! I want to talk to you for a minute," Sirius called as he came towards the three boys from the other end of the hallway.

"Bloody hell..." William muttered, "What does he want and why does he think I care?"

"It could be worse," Kamen observed.

"How could it be any worse than that?"

"He could be your real father," Kamen stated dryly as he rolled his eyes.

William grinned, "You're right, as bad as it is that he's marrying my mother I don't think I could stand him really being my dad."

"What are you guys up to?" Sirius asked, smiling, as he came up.

"Just discussing some quidditch tactics," Nick replied amiably as he watched the grin quickly fade from William's face.

"Really, do you have anything spectacular planned for the season? I can't wait to see you guys in action at the next game, the team looks great this year," Sirius looked to his future step-son, hoping that his efforts might just pay off this time.

"Why don't you guys go ahead, I'll catch up with you later," William said with ill concealed disgust in his tone.

Sirius felt his spirits drop a bit at the reception he was getting, so as soon as Kamen and Nick took off he tried again, "how is practice going?"

"Fine."

"Have you talked to your mother recently? We've been making more plans for the wedding; I think everything is about set now."

"She mentioned that."

"Willow seems really excited about it."

"She's four, everything excites her."

Sirius tried another tactic, "I was kind of hoping you might be excited about it too."

"Not really," William replied moodily.

"Why not William? I mean, all Willow can talk about is how excited she is and how she can't wait for me to be her daddy..."

"You will never be our father," William cut him off coldly. He couldn't stand this man who had come into his mother's life. He could easily ignore how happy his mother had seemed recently, he was resolved to never like Sirius.

Sirius was too shocked to say anything for a moment. He knew that William hadn't made any effort towards accepting him, but he honestly hadn't expected to encounter this kind of animosity. "I'm sorry you feel that way."

"Yeah, I bet you are," sarcasm dripped from William's voice.

"Why can't you accept me William? I love your mother very much, and I want to truly be a part of your family. Your sister is more than willing to accept me, why can't you?" The pain was evident in Sirius' voice.

"Because I..."

"Hey Padfoot! I want you to meet a friend of mine," Remus approached William and Sirius, with Kalliope and Sophia following close behind.

"I want to continue this discussion later," Sirius told William. He only got a shrug and a disgusted look in reply. He shifted his attention back to Remus, "Hey Moony, I didn't expect you to be back this soon."

Remus grinned, "Well, things went a little smoother than I was planning on. I'd like you to meet the priestess, and chief oracle of the temple of the earth mother, and a very good friend of mine, this is Kalliope. Kalliope, this is my oldest and closest friend, Sirius Black."

Sirius took Kalliope's hand in his and raised it to his lips, "it's a pleasure to meet you Kalliope."

"I can't wait to see if all the stories I've heard about you are true Sirius Black, Lupy tells some fascinating stories."

"We'll have to compare notes sometime," Sirius replied as he shot a murderous glance at Remus, "I would love to hear what Moony has told you about me."

"There will be time enough to share stories later," Remus cut in, "Sirius, this is Sophia, she's Kalliope's ward."

"Another Greek beauty," Sirius replied as he took the girl's hand in his own and raised it to his lips, causing her to giggle and blush slightly.

"We're going to find Minerva and the Snapes, want to come along Padfoot?"

"Sure, I would love to," Sirius was glad that things seemed to be moving along so fast. Hopefully some solutions would start appearing soon.

Remus thought for a moment, "William, would you do us a favor and show Sophia around for a little bit?"

"Sure," William replied. He figured that Kamen and Nick wouldn't mind if he didn't catch up with them for awhile, plus it would get him away from Sirius.

"Alright then, we'll find you two later, have fun and stay out of trouble," Remus said with a smile as he, Sirius, and Kalliope left.

"So Sophia," William turned to face the red-haired novice priestess, "how much of the school have you seen so far?"

"Not much, William," she liked the sound of his name; it was different than anything she had ever heard before growing up in the temple. "We haven't been here long; all I've seen is our rooms and a few hallways."

"Well, then why don't we start with a few of the class rooms and the Gryffindor common room that is if you don't mind meeting a few more people?"

"I don't mind... and where are you taking me?"

William smiled, "the Gryffindor common room..." he went on to explain about the different school houses and other various school information, rather liking the way Sophia hung on his every word.

quick authoress' note: yay!!! I got my first review here at fanfiction.net (I'm now very excited)

thank you sevsnapesgirl2!

please keep the reviews coming, I love hearing from people