Once again - I do not own any of the characters from the Harry Potter series. (I can wish though) Please Read and Review!!
Chapter 2
Remus sat in the shade of the beech tree by the lake his nose buried deep into his book on Potions. The subject held a lot of promise to his, personal problem. He was so involved in his reading of one of the potions Remus failed to notice the girl sit down next to him. Only when Remus felt someone reading over his shoulder did he turn around and found himself face to face with startled green eyes.
"I was just curious as to what you were reading." Came the soft-spoken reply.
Remus drew himself back from the eyes to get a better look at who he was talking to. "Gala Crian from Slytherin, right? What can I do for you?"
"How come you're not afraid of the big bad Slytherin?" Gala demanded.
"Cause you couldn't scare a muggle if you tried." Remus eyed at the girl casually.
"That's not true, muggles are scared of their own creations." Gala stated making herself even more comfortably close to him. She stretched out her long legs in front of her and leaned back on her elbows. "So this Slytherin doesn't scare you?"
"No, she actually doesn't seem to be the Slytherin kind." Remus looked sideways at her.
"I'm not." Gala almost growled, "Father bought Slytherin house for me. I was not allowed to take part in the sorting ceremony."
"So you actually don't know which house you should belong to?" Remus's full attention was riveted on their discussion, his forgotten book placed beside him in the grass.
"Nope, and I will probably never know," she smiled slyly at him, "unless someone helps me get to the Sorting Hat."
Remus looked at her amazed, "What makes you think I can do that?"
"Why not? You and your friends seem to have the run of Hogwarts, and I know there is a secret to it. I'm just not sure what it is otherwise I would have done it by now." Gala turned to look him in the eye, "Please, I will find a way to pay you back. I want to know what house I truly belong to."
Remus looked at her for a few minutes before he realized he was staring at her. He turned his eyes quickly to the lake blushing slightly "I'm not sure if I can get us into Dumbledore's office or not, that is going to be tricky."
"Oh," Gala's face fell.
Remus looked over at her again and noticed she was trying to hide her disappointment, "Let me see what I can do, don't give up so quick." Gala smiled at him warmly. "Besides," he continued, "you don't act like a Slytherin, I'm kind of curious myself."
It was getting later, and the two students decided to head back towards the school. Remus helped Gala up and then turned back to the school. Gala looked down and picked up his Potions book putting it under her arm. Remus seemed to be deep in thought when she walked up beside him and was muttering under his breath.
"So is your friend planning on kicking Ravenclaw's tail feathers tomorrow?" Gala tried to bring up more conversation.
"Hmm?" Remus seemed to ask, but still deep in thought.
"Quidditch. Game. Tomorrow." Gala tugged on his sleeve.
"No, I don't play." Remus answered absently.
" I know that! Your friend Potter, oh, never mind." Gala rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry, but you made an interesting point," Remus apologized.
It was Gala's turn to be confused, "What, about tomorrow?"
"The game! Everyone will be there, we could do it then!" Remus began walking faster.
"Remus wait up! I can't walk that fast!" Gala was jogging to keep up with him.
Remus turned quickly catching her by the shoulders, "Meet me at the top of the main stair case just after the game starts, but be sure no one becomes suspicious."
Remus turned leaving Gala standing near the entranceway. She watched his retreating back go up the stairs and head presumably towards his common room.
"Boys." Gala shook her head and turned towards the dungeons.
~ * ~ * ~
Gala checked her watch again, the hands had not moved. She could hear the screams of the students in the stands at the game.
"Why aren't you at the game?" A voice behind her questioned.
Gala whirled around and looked down the hall. She did a complete circle looking for anyone in the area, but didn't see movement anywhere. Suddenly a hand was on her shoulder, Gala jumped and let out a squeal.
"Sorry, I meant it as a joke," Remus appeared out of nowhere.
"Wha, how, how did you do that?" Her anger forgotten.
"I borrowed a friend's cloak."
"Wow," Gala looked over the cloak, "these are rare! Do I get to try it out to?"
"Of course, that's how we're getting there." Remus shook the cloak and rested it on his forearm, "Are you ready to try this?"
Gala nodded her head and the two students began to walk down the corridor. They moved a few feet apart so not to draw attention to themselves if anyone should see them, Remus leading the way. They stopped and threw the cape over themselves several minutes later.
"Sorry, but we're going to have to get a little closer." Remus blushed as he wrapped his arm around Gala to keep them hidden together under the cape. Thank Merlin she can't see my face. Remus could feel the heat of his face.
The students made their way down a large hall filled with portraits and large windows. Remus pulled Gala to one side quickly causing her to fall into him. He blushed again, and pointed to the end of the hallway were a large gargoyle was moving to one side allowing a doorway to open. Professor Dumbledore walked out closely followed by Professor Flitwick. The two were deep in conversation, but stopped just outside the door. Remus and Gala moved quickly trying to get in the door before it closed. Luckily, Professor Dumbledore stood just barely inside the door so that it could not close until he moved a little farther away. As soon as they were in, Professor Dumbledore moved further down the hall with Professor Flitwick with a wide smile.
Remus removed the cape after the door was closed behind them. They looked around and found the only way to go was up the stairs in front of them. Remus started up the stairs followed closely by Gala. The stairway wound up and into itself leaving the students standing in a doorway looking into a large study. Gala and Remus looked around in awe and walked in staying close together. Vials of potions and odd devices stood on tabletops around the room. And the books! Books lined the shelves everywhere they could see. The room held a comfortable and homey feeling for as large as it was. Gala walked to the nearest bookshelf and began to investigate the ancient volumes there.
"Fawkes must be away," Remus stated absently standing next to a large golden perch.
"Who is Fawkes?"
"Headmaster's phoenix." Remus grinned at her surprised expression.
Wow. Gala thought beginning to look for the worn Sorting Hat.
"Ms. Crian, Mr. Lupin." A raspy voice sang causing both students to jump and look around. "I was wondering when you would be coming to me." Gala and Remus followed the voice to a large bookcase behind Dumbledore's desk. The old hat sat in a roomy section of the bookcase within easy reach.
Gala looked eagerly at the hat, "I was wondering."
"Yes," the wise hat interrupted, "I will tell you which house you belong to."
Gala glanced at Remus quickly with a large grin before gently lifting the hat and placing it on her hair. Her expression changed immediately and she appeared to be deep in thought. Remus watched for several long seconds before he noticed the smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"Gryffindor!" The hat suddenly erupted.
Gala jumped at Remus suddenly wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "I knew I wasn't a slimy back stabbing serpent!" Gala giggled, "My father would be furious!" She failed to recognize the crimson shade of Remus's face as she carefully replaced the hat on the shelf with a smile. "Thank you."
"Ms. Crian, Mr. Lupin," and the wide old hat fell silent.
~*~*~
Gala and Remus walked along the shoreline of the pond on the Hogwart's grounds. Gala was deep in thought, while Remus casually walked beside her. He could tell she was deeply troubled about what had happened.
"It's not fair." Gala broke the silence angrily. "I should be in a house where people respect each other and care for one another, but no, Father had to go and be ridiculous about things and demanded I be put in Slytherin." She stopped suddenly and sat down moodily on the grass. "Instead I am stuck in a house I detest, with people who suck up to me because, I am a Crian with loads of money and a father who is power hungry!" Remus sat down with her, listening to her intently as she expelled her anger. "Did you know that? He's crazy, all he cares about is his money and reputation. Merlin forbid his heir, and that's all I am, get accepted into a house people respect instead of fear!" She breathed heavily trying to hold back the threatening tears. She looked up to meet Remus's steady gaze, "I don't even have any friends I feel I can trust. In my own house yet!" The threatening tears started to slide down her cheeks. "I hate it here."
"Don't say that. Look at all you're learning. From what I know of you, you are intelligent, very popular, and you turned down a chance at the Slytherin quidditch team. Besides, you do have friends here."
Gala wiped the tears from her face, "Name one that is a true friend to me."
"Well, me, I guess. I think you would make a great friend." Remus looked at her.
Gala looked up at Remus to see if he was kidding her. She held his gaze strongly refusing to look away until she saw what she wanted to. She smiled thoughtfully at him, "Yeah I guess you and I could get along. Slytherin house is already unhappy with me for talking to other houses. At least other houses have manners." She turned to face Remus with a large smile; "I'm not a Slytherin!" Gala jumped at Remus again and hugged him.
~*~*~*~
Molly sighed contently, "So that is how you met. What a wonderful story, did you two have secret meetings? Did you start dating right away?" Molly was bursting with questions, and she wanted answers to them all. When she looked up from her cooking she regretted asking the questions.
Remus sat with his shoulders hunched slightly and his head in his hands. His eyes were staring intently at the fire now banked to heat the drafty kitchen. He appeared to be far away and in deep thought.
Poor man, Molly thought sadly, probably thinking about Gala. Such a shame, I believe they must have been happy.
"I think I will go and lie down." Remus stood and headed towards the door. "I didn't sleep well last night." Just before he went through the doorway he turned back to Molly, "lets finish another time."
"I'm always here to lend an ear when you want to talk." Molly answered him.
"Thank you Molly, we will continue another time. I'm sure you would like to know the end." Remus smiled before leaving the kitchen and Molly in the silence of the morning.
Chapter 2
Remus sat in the shade of the beech tree by the lake his nose buried deep into his book on Potions. The subject held a lot of promise to his, personal problem. He was so involved in his reading of one of the potions Remus failed to notice the girl sit down next to him. Only when Remus felt someone reading over his shoulder did he turn around and found himself face to face with startled green eyes.
"I was just curious as to what you were reading." Came the soft-spoken reply.
Remus drew himself back from the eyes to get a better look at who he was talking to. "Gala Crian from Slytherin, right? What can I do for you?"
"How come you're not afraid of the big bad Slytherin?" Gala demanded.
"Cause you couldn't scare a muggle if you tried." Remus eyed at the girl casually.
"That's not true, muggles are scared of their own creations." Gala stated making herself even more comfortably close to him. She stretched out her long legs in front of her and leaned back on her elbows. "So this Slytherin doesn't scare you?"
"No, she actually doesn't seem to be the Slytherin kind." Remus looked sideways at her.
"I'm not." Gala almost growled, "Father bought Slytherin house for me. I was not allowed to take part in the sorting ceremony."
"So you actually don't know which house you should belong to?" Remus's full attention was riveted on their discussion, his forgotten book placed beside him in the grass.
"Nope, and I will probably never know," she smiled slyly at him, "unless someone helps me get to the Sorting Hat."
Remus looked at her amazed, "What makes you think I can do that?"
"Why not? You and your friends seem to have the run of Hogwarts, and I know there is a secret to it. I'm just not sure what it is otherwise I would have done it by now." Gala turned to look him in the eye, "Please, I will find a way to pay you back. I want to know what house I truly belong to."
Remus looked at her for a few minutes before he realized he was staring at her. He turned his eyes quickly to the lake blushing slightly "I'm not sure if I can get us into Dumbledore's office or not, that is going to be tricky."
"Oh," Gala's face fell.
Remus looked over at her again and noticed she was trying to hide her disappointment, "Let me see what I can do, don't give up so quick." Gala smiled at him warmly. "Besides," he continued, "you don't act like a Slytherin, I'm kind of curious myself."
It was getting later, and the two students decided to head back towards the school. Remus helped Gala up and then turned back to the school. Gala looked down and picked up his Potions book putting it under her arm. Remus seemed to be deep in thought when she walked up beside him and was muttering under his breath.
"So is your friend planning on kicking Ravenclaw's tail feathers tomorrow?" Gala tried to bring up more conversation.
"Hmm?" Remus seemed to ask, but still deep in thought.
"Quidditch. Game. Tomorrow." Gala tugged on his sleeve.
"No, I don't play." Remus answered absently.
" I know that! Your friend Potter, oh, never mind." Gala rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry, but you made an interesting point," Remus apologized.
It was Gala's turn to be confused, "What, about tomorrow?"
"The game! Everyone will be there, we could do it then!" Remus began walking faster.
"Remus wait up! I can't walk that fast!" Gala was jogging to keep up with him.
Remus turned quickly catching her by the shoulders, "Meet me at the top of the main stair case just after the game starts, but be sure no one becomes suspicious."
Remus turned leaving Gala standing near the entranceway. She watched his retreating back go up the stairs and head presumably towards his common room.
"Boys." Gala shook her head and turned towards the dungeons.
~ * ~ * ~
Gala checked her watch again, the hands had not moved. She could hear the screams of the students in the stands at the game.
"Why aren't you at the game?" A voice behind her questioned.
Gala whirled around and looked down the hall. She did a complete circle looking for anyone in the area, but didn't see movement anywhere. Suddenly a hand was on her shoulder, Gala jumped and let out a squeal.
"Sorry, I meant it as a joke," Remus appeared out of nowhere.
"Wha, how, how did you do that?" Her anger forgotten.
"I borrowed a friend's cloak."
"Wow," Gala looked over the cloak, "these are rare! Do I get to try it out to?"
"Of course, that's how we're getting there." Remus shook the cloak and rested it on his forearm, "Are you ready to try this?"
Gala nodded her head and the two students began to walk down the corridor. They moved a few feet apart so not to draw attention to themselves if anyone should see them, Remus leading the way. They stopped and threw the cape over themselves several minutes later.
"Sorry, but we're going to have to get a little closer." Remus blushed as he wrapped his arm around Gala to keep them hidden together under the cape. Thank Merlin she can't see my face. Remus could feel the heat of his face.
The students made their way down a large hall filled with portraits and large windows. Remus pulled Gala to one side quickly causing her to fall into him. He blushed again, and pointed to the end of the hallway were a large gargoyle was moving to one side allowing a doorway to open. Professor Dumbledore walked out closely followed by Professor Flitwick. The two were deep in conversation, but stopped just outside the door. Remus and Gala moved quickly trying to get in the door before it closed. Luckily, Professor Dumbledore stood just barely inside the door so that it could not close until he moved a little farther away. As soon as they were in, Professor Dumbledore moved further down the hall with Professor Flitwick with a wide smile.
Remus removed the cape after the door was closed behind them. They looked around and found the only way to go was up the stairs in front of them. Remus started up the stairs followed closely by Gala. The stairway wound up and into itself leaving the students standing in a doorway looking into a large study. Gala and Remus looked around in awe and walked in staying close together. Vials of potions and odd devices stood on tabletops around the room. And the books! Books lined the shelves everywhere they could see. The room held a comfortable and homey feeling for as large as it was. Gala walked to the nearest bookshelf and began to investigate the ancient volumes there.
"Fawkes must be away," Remus stated absently standing next to a large golden perch.
"Who is Fawkes?"
"Headmaster's phoenix." Remus grinned at her surprised expression.
Wow. Gala thought beginning to look for the worn Sorting Hat.
"Ms. Crian, Mr. Lupin." A raspy voice sang causing both students to jump and look around. "I was wondering when you would be coming to me." Gala and Remus followed the voice to a large bookcase behind Dumbledore's desk. The old hat sat in a roomy section of the bookcase within easy reach.
Gala looked eagerly at the hat, "I was wondering."
"Yes," the wise hat interrupted, "I will tell you which house you belong to."
Gala glanced at Remus quickly with a large grin before gently lifting the hat and placing it on her hair. Her expression changed immediately and she appeared to be deep in thought. Remus watched for several long seconds before he noticed the smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"Gryffindor!" The hat suddenly erupted.
Gala jumped at Remus suddenly wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "I knew I wasn't a slimy back stabbing serpent!" Gala giggled, "My father would be furious!" She failed to recognize the crimson shade of Remus's face as she carefully replaced the hat on the shelf with a smile. "Thank you."
"Ms. Crian, Mr. Lupin," and the wide old hat fell silent.
~*~*~
Gala and Remus walked along the shoreline of the pond on the Hogwart's grounds. Gala was deep in thought, while Remus casually walked beside her. He could tell she was deeply troubled about what had happened.
"It's not fair." Gala broke the silence angrily. "I should be in a house where people respect each other and care for one another, but no, Father had to go and be ridiculous about things and demanded I be put in Slytherin." She stopped suddenly and sat down moodily on the grass. "Instead I am stuck in a house I detest, with people who suck up to me because, I am a Crian with loads of money and a father who is power hungry!" Remus sat down with her, listening to her intently as she expelled her anger. "Did you know that? He's crazy, all he cares about is his money and reputation. Merlin forbid his heir, and that's all I am, get accepted into a house people respect instead of fear!" She breathed heavily trying to hold back the threatening tears. She looked up to meet Remus's steady gaze, "I don't even have any friends I feel I can trust. In my own house yet!" The threatening tears started to slide down her cheeks. "I hate it here."
"Don't say that. Look at all you're learning. From what I know of you, you are intelligent, very popular, and you turned down a chance at the Slytherin quidditch team. Besides, you do have friends here."
Gala wiped the tears from her face, "Name one that is a true friend to me."
"Well, me, I guess. I think you would make a great friend." Remus looked at her.
Gala looked up at Remus to see if he was kidding her. She held his gaze strongly refusing to look away until she saw what she wanted to. She smiled thoughtfully at him, "Yeah I guess you and I could get along. Slytherin house is already unhappy with me for talking to other houses. At least other houses have manners." She turned to face Remus with a large smile; "I'm not a Slytherin!" Gala jumped at Remus again and hugged him.
~*~*~*~
Molly sighed contently, "So that is how you met. What a wonderful story, did you two have secret meetings? Did you start dating right away?" Molly was bursting with questions, and she wanted answers to them all. When she looked up from her cooking she regretted asking the questions.
Remus sat with his shoulders hunched slightly and his head in his hands. His eyes were staring intently at the fire now banked to heat the drafty kitchen. He appeared to be far away and in deep thought.
Poor man, Molly thought sadly, probably thinking about Gala. Such a shame, I believe they must have been happy.
"I think I will go and lie down." Remus stood and headed towards the door. "I didn't sleep well last night." Just before he went through the doorway he turned back to Molly, "lets finish another time."
"I'm always here to lend an ear when you want to talk." Molly answered him.
"Thank you Molly, we will continue another time. I'm sure you would like to know the end." Remus smiled before leaving the kitchen and Molly in the silence of the morning.