Chapter 12


The next week, they all got the packets in the mail as promised. As soon as she got it, Kayla ran over to Jason's house so that they could read it together. She knew that their other friends would teleport there, too.

When he opened the door, Jason wasn't at all surprised to see Kayla waiting on his doorstep. After all, the other musketeers had already shown up and they were just waiting on Kayla to open and read their information packets.

They would be leaving for London the day after their last final exam. All 18 kids would be flying on an airplane together along with one chaperone that would stay with them until the start of term. And that adult was…

"My mother!" Kayla shrieked. Of course, she meant Hope although no one but her closest friends knew that she was her mother. So the principle must have other reasons for wanting Hope with them. Kayla was so shocked that she didn't even realize that she had called Hope her mother for the first time ever. Her friends just stared at her but didn't say anything about it.

"Um…"Jason hesitated, "She probably just wanted to make sure y-we are okay before we get to school."

"Yeah…I guess you're right…let's just see what else is in here."

"Okay…um…once we get there we go to a place called Diagon Alley where we can get all the stuff we need and stay until term starts. We have to catch the Hogwart's Express on September the 1st. Oh, and Dumbledore is sending us a guide to see that we make it to the school okay. But is doesn't say who. That is interesting…"

"Probably just because he hasn't decided who to send yet," James said logically.

"Yeah, sure…" Jason agreed, still unsure.

Soon, everyone had left because they all needed to go home and study for their quickly approaching finals.  Before they knew it, it was May 10, and they were getting ready to leave for the airport where they would meet up with the other 12 students going.  They were flying out of the airport near Kayla and Jason so they were being driven by Hope and would join their friends there.

They were all instructed to wear comfortable clothes since it would be a long flight.  Kayla was wearing her favorite pair of jeans with a leather belt, a purple t-shirt, and a large, soft, gray sweatshirt over it all.  She was wearing a pair of sketcher's platform flip-flops that made her 4 inches taller.  She was still shorter than Jason though.  As they got out of the car, she couldn't help but notice how good he looked in his faded blue jeans, t-shirt with the GAP logo on it, and a flannel shirt over it.  He walked over to her and kissed her quickly before putting one arm around her waist.  With their free hands, they grabbed their rolling suitcases and walked after Hope.

As they stood on-line to check their luggage, they met up with the other 16 students going on the trip.  While they waited for the rest to finish, 2 blond haired girls walked up to them and started to talk to Jason, completely ignoring Kayla.  They were both wearing very short skirts and extremely low cut, tight shirts.  "Hi," one said.  "I'm Chrissie, and this is Melissa."

Jason didn't even blink.  It was as if he didn't even notice them.  "You must be mistaking me for someone else.  I don't know you, and I don't want to know you, so please go away."  He turned around, pulling Kayla closer, and walked off in the other direction.  The two blonds just stared at him as if they didn't realize that they had been rejected, which they probably didn't.  After a few moments, they turned and huffed off.

After what seemed like forever, everyone's suitcases had been checked, and they were ready to go to their gate and wait for their flight to board.  As they sat in the waiting area, the 6 musketeers sat on the floor and got out a deck of cards and began to play a variation of euchre they had created that 6 of them could play.  Kayla leaned her head on Jason's shoulder as they played the game.

Shortly their flight was called, and they got up to board.  As it turned out, their seats were all near each other so they could talk, but most of them didn't feel like it.  Kayla buried her nose in a book, the twins slept, and the guys all watched the in-flight movie.  Two books, three movies, and many hours later, the pilots came on the speaker to announce that they would be landing soon.  The group of exchange students all became very excited and couldn't wait until they got into London.  Hope had promised that once they dropped their stuff off at Diagon Alley, she would take them shopping, and surprisingly, even the guys wanted to go.

They made it through customs and baggage claim without any mishaps and were standing around waiting for Hope while she tried to find their guide.  As the students stood there, a man walked up to them and asked, "By chance are you the group of exchange students from Bridgeton?"

Kayla looked into his eyes and replied, "Yep that's us.  Our chaperone walked off over there but should be back soon."  At the same time she sent a silent message to her mother, I think our guide is here.  You might want to come back.

"Oh, right.  Well, I am to be your guide until you catch the train to Hogwarts.  Well, actually, I have a partner who will help, but he can't be here right now because of a reason that I don't want to explain in public since some people might overhear and panic."

Just then Hope walked up and smiled at the man.  "Why, hello there.  My name is Hope Forest.  I am the chaperone for the students and who might you be?"  She asked it as nonchalantly as possible, but Kayla and her friends knew that she was trying to see if he was a threat.

"Um…my name is Remus Lupin.  We should probably get into the magical cars Dumbledore provided before I explain any further."  They all did as they were instructed.  There were 3 stretch limousines waiting for them outside.  Each grade level piled into a different limo, Remus and Hope in the one with the 6 musketeers.

"I guess I should explain a little bit while we are in the cars since no one can overhear us in here.  First of all, you should know that I am a werewolf.  I won't hurt any of you and I hope you aren't afraid of me.  Dumbledore sent me because he knew he could trust me.  He also knew he could trust my partner.  My friend's name is Sirius Black.  He was charged with being a supporter of Voldemort and of murdering his best friend and his best friend's wife.  However, he is completely innocent.  He was sent to wizard prison but he managed to escape since he has the ability to turn into a large black dog.  He couldn't come, because someone would have recognized him as a man and he would have been captured and dogs aren't allowed in airports.  Please believe me when I say that he is innocent."

He looked so pathetic that Kayla couldn't help but put her hand on his arm and tell him that everything would be okay.  "That's okay, Remus.  We believe you."

"Dumbledore mentioned that you had a secret, too.  One that not everyone was to know.  But, he said that you should tell me that way I can help guard it."

The teenagers all looked at Hope, obviously expecting her to tell the story.  She looked straight into Remus' eyes and started to speak quietly.  "Remus," she began, "were the names of the people that Sirius was charged with murdering Lily and James Potter?"  At his shocked nod of affirmation, she continued, "Did you know James' brother at all?"

"How did you know he had a brother?"

"When Charles was sent to America he went to Bridgeton, a year ahead of me.  We soon started going out and were deeply in love with each other.  But, to make a long story short, he turned bad, but after I was already pregnant with his child.  I ran off without telling him because he had a vision that his blood would be his downfall.  For this reason, he had his close friend Voldemort try to kill his nephew Harry.  He didn't know about my daughter.  My daughter who happens to be right in front of you."  She nodded towards Kayla.  "She is his cousin and in as much danger as he if her father finds out about her.  She is the one who will defeat her father.  Can you not tell how much she looks like her father and uncle?"

Remus made a silent 'Oh' with his mouth as the limos pulled up in front of a nondescript building.  On a sign out front it said "Leaky Cauldron."  Apparently, this was the inn where they were going to be staying.  "All right everyone," Remus shouted over the chatter of 18 students and 1 adult.  "3 people per room, no, I repeat no, mixed gender rooms.  I expect you all to sort yourselves out so I don't have to do it."

As they walked into the empty tavern (it was about 10 o'clock in the morning), a large black dog padded over to them and seemed very interested in the way Kayla smelled (her leg you dingbats!).  They all marched up to their rooms, dragging their luggage behind them.  Hope followed the 3 'triplets' into their room, and the dog followed her.

Once the door closed, the dog transformed into a man and before the girls could get over the shock, he stalked up to Kayla and pointed a finger in her face and growled, "Okay, who are you, and why do you smell like Harry?"

Remus quietly opened the door and saw what Sirius was doing.  "If you would calm down a moment, they would probably explain it to you."  Sirius didn't move his gaze from Kayla's.

Her eye's started to change to their icy green color and she snapped, "I'm his cousin."

"That is not possible," Sirius spat.

Before either Hope or Remus could intervene, Kayla responded, "Are you sure? How well did you know Charles Potter?"

Sirius took a step back and sneered. "Do you really expect me to believe that you are the daughter of Harry's long lost uncle? So tell me the truth. Who are you and why do you smell like my godson? I won't let you leave and join the rest at Hogwarts until you answer my question."

This time, Hope reacted faster than her furious daughter did. "Look," she said hotly, "I don't know you, and I don't know who you think you are. But, she is who she says she is. If you don't believe that, fine. But you won't be able to stop her from going." She added silently to Kayla, Love, maybe we ought to show him that he can't stop you. Teleport into the guys' room. They won't mind.

One of the advantages of telepathy was that it could be used at the same time as normal speech.  So, Kayla timed her disappearance for the exact moment Hope finished her scold that way it had more of an impact.  Her only regret as she appeared in the guys' room was that she wasn't there to see Sirius' face when she disappeared.  She knew that Hope was trying to prove that Sirius couldn't hold her anywhere against her will.

Jason, Jake, and James didn't even blink when she appeared in their room.  It wasn't like she hadn't seen them in pj's before.  She sat on Jason's bed and started to imagine what was going on in her room.  Then she started to crack up.  She lied down on her back so that her legs were dangling over the edge of the bed and her head was resting on Jason's stomach.

James and Jake, who were lying face down on the bed and leaning over the edge playing cards looked up and her quizzically.  She quickly explained what had happened and soon they were all laughing.  Since there were four of them, they began a quick game of euchre to pass the time until Hope called Kayla back.

*                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *

Back in the girls' room, Sirius was staring in disbelief at the spot where Kayla teleported from.  Actually, Remus was looking shocked as well.  Sirius whipped around and glared at Hope.  "How did she do that?" he demanded to know.  "In the states isn't it illegal to apperate?  And isn't she not allowed to do magic?"

"No, there are no rules like that.  And you had better remember it.  Now, I will tell you how she is related to Harry if you would just calm down and listen before you jump to conclusions."  Then, for the 2nd time that day, Hope explained Kayla's connection to Harry.

Sirius listened to Hope's story with growing shock.  However, he didn't think it was possible for someone to make up a story that detailed and thorough.  As his suspicion dropped, he started to examine the three women left in the room.  Keri and Tori were quite obviously twins.  They didn't impress him much.  It was Hope who interested him more.  For some reason, he couldn't keep his eyes off of her. He wasn't sure yet, but he would figure it out.

"So, I decided to come and keep them all out of trouble until September," Hope concluded.

"Well, if they all can do that, they will be pretty unbeatable here.  I wouldn't advise showing your powers to the Hogwarts students, though.  They might get jealous.  Besides the fact that you can't apperate onto Hogwarts grounds."

"Apperate?  What is that?" Tori asked, looking up from the book she was reading.

"Kayla just apperated out of here," Sirius explained as if it were obvious.

"No she didn't.  She teleported," Tori teleported.

"Is there really a difference?" Sirius wanted to know.

"Yes," Hope responded promptly.  "While they are similar, they aren't the same thing.  Teleporting is much safer, for instance.  No chance of getting splinched.  It is a form of telekinesis where you move your own body.  Charles explained that apperating was like using a spell to transport yourself somewhere else.  In teleportation, you imagine yourself as disconnected from your body…and I can't really go into the details.  You would have to ask an expert in order to determine the difference.  I just know that they are different."

Sirius turned to the twins and suggested, "Why don't you go get Kayla?"

The girls just looked at each other, then at Hope, and then back.  Large grins spread on their faces.  They knew that Sirius expected them to leave, but it was their room, after all.  And, besides, they wanted to show off their powers too.  In unison they sent a message to Kayla, Hey, Kayla, you can come back now.  Teleport in again.  You can see his face this time that way. the broke the connection, but not after they heard her mental laughter.

Sirius was glaring at the twins, who he thought were lazy, when Kayla appeared with a pop right in front of him.  She looked at him and started to crack up.  The twins saw his expression and also started to laugh.  When Hope saw his look of bafflement, she, too, began to laugh.  Soon, the four of them were giggling uncontrollably on the bed.

When they got their laughter under control, Sirius wanted to know how Kayla knew to come back when she did.  "It is really quite simple," Kayla answered.  "We all have a really strong telepathy gift with each other.  They just told me mind-to-mind that I should come back."

Sirius made a silent 'oh' with his mouth and looked around for Remus to support him.  Only, Remus had slipped unobtrusively out of the room and left to go and check on all of the other rooms to make sure they were settled in.  After all, although Sirius was his partner, Remus was by far and above way more responsible.  Let Sirius argue with the girls.  He would go and check on people and he would stay in one piece.