CHAPTER EIGHT- The Reunion
Obviously what I had told Ron cheered him up. He wasn't playing chess every waking non-schooling moment. And it was then when he saw the poster for this year's Fall Ball.
"Damn, another one?" He asked.
"Yep." I said, deeply into my book.
"Damn, damn, double-"
"Ron! Quit that!" Hermione snapped.
Ron blinked at her and sat next to me. "Whatcha reading?" He asked, looking over my shoulder.
"Hairy Snout, Human Heart." I replied, holding up the cover. "Its really sad. its by an anonymous author about his battle with lycanthropy." I said, sniffling slightly.
"With what?" He asked.
"It means he was a werewolf." Hermione explained.
"It is so sad." I said and shut it, wiping my eyes. "you should read it."
"Where'd you get it? Library?" Ron asked.
"I guess its there but Remus lent me this copy." I said, putting the book in my backpack.
"Hmm." Harry said.
"Hi Harry!" A bunch of girls giggled as they passed us.
"Ah the fun's already began." I smirked as Harry got a dark look over his face.
"Shut up."
"Why don't we go to the library?" Hermione suggested.
"Let's not and say we did." Ron said.
Hermione scowled at him. "How about we go visit Hagrid?" I asked so we got our stuff and headed to the front doors.
Almost every girl we passed giggled and waved at Harry who was desperately trying to ignore them. "Honestly." Hermione said as it happened for the zillionth time.
"Jealous?" Harry asked rather bitterly.
Hermione was in quite a bad mood by the time we got outside. "Wait, Harry, we're supposed to have-well, YOU are supposed to have a teacher with you." Hermione said as we got out on the front steps.
"I'll be fine." Harry said and we crossed across the grounds to Hagrid's Hut.
"Who is it?" He asked after we knocked on the door.
"It's us." Harry called.
"Just a moment." He said and a few minutes later, he opened the door.
"Peggy! Hi, hi, hi!" His huge boarhound, Fang, greeted me. He leapt onto me, knocking me to the ground and began licking my face. I laughed and somehow managed to push him off.
"Dog drool all over my face." I giggled and went to his sink to wash it off.
"I bin wonderin' when you'd come visit me." He said as the others sat down.
"Its been a busy two weeks." Harry said as he poured them tea. I finished washing my face and sat down.
"What have you been up to besides teaching?" Ron asked.
"Oh, nothin'." Hagrid said quietly.
"He's been acting weird!" Fang informed me, putting his head on my leg. I scratched behind his ear but pretended not to hear him. I didn't really want anyone to know I was a Canismouth. Actually, I was more of a Mammaliamouth, which means I had the ability to talk to any mammal, but dogs came in the clearest. I could perfectly understand every word they said and I couldn't block them out like I could other mammals so I called myself a Canismouth.
So while Ron, Harry, Hermione and Hagrid conversed, Fang continued on. "He keeps muttering stuff to himself and pacing in circles when he should be asleep. And the other day." Fang seemed to nearly be in tears. "he. he forgot to feed me dinner!"
I hardly thought this was that bad but Fang was a dog and to dogs it was the worst thing in the world if their human ignored them, or forgot to feed them. To them it was like stabbing a knife in their poor hearts. I gave Fang some treacle fudge Hagrid gave me.
"Mmmgmpmlmalmlmglmpgmlgm." Fang continued.
I scratched him behind the ears and tuned back into the conversation. ". strange happening luckily." Harry finished.
"That's... good..." Hagrid said slowly.
"What? What is it?" Harry demanded.
"Its not that important... its jus'... bin seeing some more snakes..."
"More snakes?" Harry asked nervously.
"Yeah... not like last year. These look more like they're huntin' in the Ferbidden Forest. I saw one draggin couple o' mice back to the castle like there's a nest there or sumthin." Hagrid said.
"I'll have to check it out." Harry said slowly.
"Mmhmahlmlm aaahhh better." Fang said, finally getting his jaw unstuck.
"What teacher did yeh get to take yeh over here?" Hagrid asked.
"Er, um... McGonagall." Harry lied. I rolled my eyes and turned down to Fang who was licking my hand. "McGonagall?" Hagrid asked.
"Yeah." Harry said.
Ron and Hermione rolled their eyes then looked as Fang went over to them. Fang put his paws on Ron's legs and licked his chin. "McGonagall, hmm." Hagrid said slowly. "Don' see 'er."
"Yeah she, uh, left... before we knocked on the door." Harry said.
Hagrid was peering out the window. "Its gettin' dark. I better take yeh four back to the castle."
"Okay then." Hermione said, pushing Fang from her.
Hagrid took us across the grounds and back into the castle where Peeves, the poltergeist, was waiting with his arms full of balloons. "Go away, Peeves." We all said.
Peeves blew a raspberry and threw the balloons at us. I pulled out my wand and pointed. "Reverso!" The balloons turned and chased Peeves down the hall.
"Nice one, Peg." Ron said, grinning.
"Thanks."
"See ya Hagrid!" We called and headed to the common room.
"Was it just me, or was Hagrid acting odd?" Hermione asked.
"It wasn't just you." Ron assured her. Hermione, in turn, said nothing. She was still angry over the fact Ron got thirteen O.W.Ls and was hardly speaking to him.
"Hi Harry!" A bunch of girls passing giggled, waving to him.
Harry continued walking straight ahead, ignoring them. He glared at Ron who had started snickering. "Shut up."
"Are you going to ask anyone?" He asked.
"I dunno..." Harry said with a shrug.
"What about Cho Chang?" Ron asked.
Harry went beet red. "Shut up. Who're you going to ask?"
"I dunno." Ron replied with a shrug.
"Are you going?" I asked Hermione.
"No." She said with a slight smile.
"What're you grinning at?" I asked.
"I'll tell you later."
"Peggy... perchance you'd like to go with me?" Ron asked, rather hopefully.
"I don't know..." I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "I dunno if I want to go..."
Ron looked quite crestfallen. "Er... well, okay..."
I smiled. "Okay, okay. I'll go with you." And Ron cheered up considerably.
*** (Remus's point of view)
I watched out the window at Harry and his friends being led back into the castle by Hagrid. After they disappeared in, I went back to my desk and sat down. I looked over the pile of homework paper and sighed heavily.
I glanced up at a knock on my door. "Who is it?"
"Doctor."
"Doctor who?"
"That's right!" Sirius said, laughing as he opened the door.
"Hey Padfoot." I said rather wearily.
"Hey Moony, you look tired."
"I am." I said, watching him as he flopped onto a chair.
"But, it's only a first quarter moon. You're usually never tired for a few more days." Sirius said, looking rather worried.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm fine." I assured him.
"Good." He said, brushing back some hair.
"Is there something you wanted?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to join me in a nighttime marauding." He said with a grin.
"Sorry, Padfoot. I don't feel like it."
"Okay, Remus. What is up with you lately? You're like... totally turning into an old man!" Sirius said, leaning forward. "Dumbledore is more active then you!"
"Dumbledore is more active then everyone." I reminded him.
"Oh yeah!" Sirius said with a grin. "Crazy old nutter. So, what's wrong?"
"Do you ever wondered what happened to the others?" I asked.
Sirius's face fell slightly. "Oh... is that what's wrong?"
"I was just... you know, wondering what ever happened to the others." I said.
"You mean, what ever happened to Sapphire." He said slowly. I scowled and he sighed. "Remus..."
"Sirius, I just... you know... wonder." I said, sitting back in my chair and looking at my huge framed photo of the Marauders. "I wonder if they ever wonder about us."
"Don't worry, little buddy. I've always wondered about you." Sirius said and I burst into laughter.
"Oh shut up, Padfoot, unless you want to be turned into a tadpole."
"I wouldn't mind."
"And I'm sure you wouldn't." I said with a smile. I glanced back up at the photo.
"Remus... why don't you ask Albus? He knows like... everything. He might know where she is." Sirius suggested.
"Why don't you ask about Pixie then?"
Sirius scowled. "Because-well-that's not the point!" I sat back in my chair, arms folded. "Remus... I don't... I don't-"
"You don't want to get back in touch with her in case she's married and has kids." I said.
Sirius scowled again. "Well-" He sputtered out "that's the only reason you don't want to find out about Sapphire!" He demanded.
"You're right," I said and straightened the papers on my desk, "and I'm man enough to admit it."
"That's it, moon-boy, I'm leaving." He snapped and left.
Shaking my head, I began reading the homework, trying with all my might not to look back up at Sapphire.
*** (Jasmine's point of view)
"What?" I asked in shock.
"I can't find them anywhere." Jason replied, floating over to me.
I stared at him. "Well... they might of just... not come...?"
"Jasmine, I think something happened to them." Jason said, eyes wide.
"They're dead. What can happen to dead people?" I demanded rather bitterly.
"Well a while ago, one of our ghosts was petrified." He said with a shrug.
"Nearly Headless Nick, yeah I know..." I stared at the ghost a moment then shook my head. Jason Weasley, a dead relative of Ron's, had just informed me that for the longest time, my parent's spirits had been missing.
"Want me to keep looking?"
"Only if you want, Jason." I said.
Jason nodded and floated off. I turned back to the mirror and stared at my reflection. After fixing my hair, I went down the stairs and into the common room where my brother and the others were arriving back from who knows where.
"Where you going, Jasmine?" Harry asked.
"Somewhere. Where were you?"
"Visiting Hagrid. You're meeting Malfoy. Aren't you?" Harry asked.
"Maybe, maybe not." I said and left the common room. I went through the corridors till I got to the empty classroom Draco and I always met in. He was waiting for me, holding a yellow acacia. When we had been forbidden to see each other, that had been our flower since it meant 'secret love'.
"Hello." He said, eyes lighting up as I shut the door behind me.
"Hi." I said. He walked over and kissed my forehead.
"Are we going to the dance?"
"If you want." I said.
"Ofcourse I want."
"Then we will." I said and giggled as he kissed my cheek.
"I've missed you."
"You saw me in Potions class earlier." I giggled as he wrapped his arms tightly around me.
"I still have missed you."
I smiled and leaned against him. "And I have missed you..."
***
"Okay, the whole world has gone nutters." Ron said as he, Harry, Hermione, Jasmine and Peggy walked down the corridors that Friday.
"Why is that?" Jasmine asked.
"It seems a lot of the teachers are acting so weird." Ron said with a shrug.
"Enlighten us with what you mean." Hermione said.
"Hi Harry!" A bunch of girls giggled.
"Well... McGonagall's been really contented. A lot happier then she was last year when she was happy." With this, Ron and Peggy cast glances at each other, wondering if McGonagall's mysterious man was starting up with trying to win her over again. "then, Snape's been meaner then ever-"
"Three of his old enemies are teaching here, Ron." Harry pointed out.
"True... but have you noticed THEM? Well, not Emerin, but Sirius's been acting weird... and Remus has been acting... er..." Ron trailed off, "well. pardon the pun but Remus has been acting... moony."
"Yeah... you know, the three of them haven't been doing real big tricks or pranks lately." Harry said.
"You can ask them what's up right now. Here the two come." Peggy said. They looked up as Sirius and Remus walked down the hall, whispering in low voices to each other.
"Hi guys." Harry said.
The two stopped and looked up. "Hi kids." They chorused.
It may of just been Harry, but he seemed to think Remus looked more tired then normal. But that could have to do with the fact it was going to be a full moon pretty soon. "What's up?" Harry asked.
"Not much." Sirius said with a shrug.
"You look like you could do with a nap." Harry informed Remus.
"Told you I wouldn't be the only noticing." Sirius snapped at Remus who shrugged.
"Its okay. I'm fine."
"Remus I don't want you getting sick, not with a full moon coming up." Jasmine said.
"I'm fine, Jasmine." Remus assured his goddaughter.
"Remus." Jasmine said, folding her arms.
"I'm fine!" He insisted.
"Maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey."
"I'm f- Sirius stop laughing." Remus growled as Sirius began laughing.
"Sorry its just funny." Sirius snickered.
"Jasmine, honey, I'm fine."
"No you're not."
"SIRIUS!" Remus yelled, smacking Sirius upside the head after he said that.
"Remus what's wrong?" Jasmine asked nervously.
Remus turned back to her. "Its nothing, really. I've just been... tired."
"Remus Lupin, if something is wrong with you bloody well better tell me!" Jasmine shrieked.
"Jasmine I am FINE. It is nothing bad! The only serious problem have is a Sirius problem." Remus said, glaring at Sirius who gave an innocent look.
"Okay..." Jasmine said, still looking doubtful.
"We better get going. We only have five more minutes before they go off." Sirius said, checking his watch.
"Yeah. See you kids!" Remus said and they walked off.
"I don't even want to know what is going to be going off." Harry muttered.
*** (Peggy's point of view)
Saturday, the Gryffindor Sixth year girls were using the Hogsmeade trip to look at dress robes. I didn't want to but the others convinced me.
Jasmine, Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, Hermione, Rose Jacobson and I went into the Robes shop. If Amy Robinson had been here she'd be forcing me to try on a million dress robes.
Amy had been killed but hardly anyone knew that. Everyone thought she just transferred out of Hogwarts. After I had convinced Harry and Hermione that I wasn't in the cave, they told me that some guy in a Animagus hawk form killed her for she was a servant for Voldemort.
"Look at this!" Parvati said and held up blood red dress robes to herself.
"You'd look nice in those." Lavender said, glancing at darker red dress robes.
"I think I'll go to the Three Broomsticks." I said, inching from the clothes.
"No you will not." Jasmine said.
I sighed heavily and looked at Hermione. "What are you doing here? You're not going to the dance."
"Yes I am." She said.
"I thought you weren't." I said, frowning.
"Oh..." Hermione giggled. "I am."
"With who?" Lavender asked.
"You'll see."
"Oh these will look great on me! Then again anything does." Rose said, grabbing deep, deep yellow dress robes.
I rolled my eyes and sat back in a chair watching the girls go through robes. "Peggy! Here!" Jasmine held up dark forest green dress robes.
"No."
"You need to get some dress robes!" Lavender said.
"My old ones are fine."
"Peggy."
"Okay fine! I'll get the stupid dress robes." I grumbled. I found my size and bought it then went to the Three Broomsticks where Harry and Ron were.
"You look happy." Harry said.
"The girls made me buy some dress roes." I said, dropping the package and sighing. Ron pushed a Butterbeer over to me. "Thanks. Did you know Hermione is going to the dance?"
"She is? I thought she wasn't." Ron said.
"Me, too. I thought she wasn't..." I shrugged and sipped the Butterbeer. "and she won't tell me who she's going with."
"Hey Peggy, look! That woman looks a little like you." Harry said as a woman came in.
I stared at her. She had red-brown hair, my color, that waved down a little past her shoulders. She was tall and lanky but with more curves. Her eyes were a sparkling deep brown, though, and her features not as sharp. She was wearing tight jeans and a gray sweatshirt with a hood and kangaroo pouch.
"Oh my gosh." I whispered and leapt up. "That's my AUNT!" I shrieked.
"Peggy?!" My aunt whirled around in surprise. "Peggy! What are you doing here?"
"Hanging around. What are YOU doing here?" I asked.
"Looking for some old friends." She said and looked at Harry and Ron. "Hello."
"You look familiar." Harry said.
"So do you." My aunt said with a smile.
"What... old friends are you looking for?" Harry asked slowly.
"Oh... just friends." She said with a shrug, her slender shoulders rising and falling.
"Why don't you sit down?" I asked.
"Okay, sure. Maybe for a moment." She said and sat down at the table. She ordered a beer and sipped it after Madame Rosmerta brought it. "Hogsmeade visit, hmm? I remember those."
"You look so familiar..." Harry said, peering at her.
"Hello? She and Peggy look a lot alike." Ron said.
Harry shook his head. "I dunno... you just seem familiar..."
"Well so do you." My aunt said with a vague smile.
"Aunt Trixie... what are you doing here?" I asked, watching as she chugged down the last of her beer.
"I told you," she said, wiping her mouth off, "looking for old friends. Professor Albus Dumbledore got in contact with me."
"What about your work in Africa?" I asked.
"It can wait."
"My aunt is a magizoologist." I explained.
"I was doing some extensive research on Fwoopers." She said, ordering another beer.
"Fwoopers?" Harry and Ron asked.
"Brilliantly colored birds, gorgeous but if you listen to their songs for too long it'll drive you insane." My aunt explained, wiping a hand off on her jeans. "Not much is known about the way they raise their babies in the wild. For the longest of time, nobody thought they did. They thought that the Fwoopers just laid their eggs and abandoned them in the nest because that's what they do in captivity. But-" My aunts eyes sparkled as she pulled a bunch of stuff from her backpack. "I have found proof they don't."
They were mostly photos. There was a Fwooper mother with her wing around three little ones. "They're pretty." I said.
"Gorgeous. Me and my partner are trying to figure out why they abandon the babies in captivity. My theory is Fwoopers know if their babies are going to be safe or not. In the wild the babies, ofcourse, wouldn't so they protect them till they're older but in the captivity ofcourse they would be safe." My aunt took a deep breath and chugged some more beer. "But that's just my theory. Here." She dropped a bunch of colored quills on the table. "You can have these."
"Thanks." I said and we each picked one from the rainbow array. My aunt put the rest back in her backpack along with the photos and papers.
"Then I got a letter from Albus and I decided to come back to England for a little visit."
"What did the letter say?" I asked.
"Nothing, really. I have a question." Trixie turned to Harry. "Is it true that Sirius Black is innocent?"
"Yes." Harry said.
My aunt sat back in her chair, rubbing her chin. "Imagine that. And his victim, Peter Pettigrew, was the real killer?"
"Yeah." Ron said.
"I wonder... that's amazing. Its just... well I knew them in school. Peter never seemed to be the type who would be the faster at dueling..."
"You knew Sirius and Peter?" Harry asked and sat forward slightly. "Then you would of known my parents."
"I did. That's why I said you were so familiar." My aunt said with a smile.
"Oh. I thought that was because-"
"You are Harry Potter. Well actually that IS why you were familiar but that's not the point." My aunt said with a laugh and chugged the rest of her beer and slammed the glass down. "Anyway, I got to go."
"Will I see you again?" I asked.
"Yeah, I might be sticking around. I can do a lot of my research from the things I got." My aunt said, wiping her mouth off and standing up.
"Oh, can't we visit a while longer? I haven't seen you in two years." I said.
My aunt laughed and rested her hand on my head. "Oh all right. Why don't we go to Honeydukes? I could do with a bit of chocolate."
"Cool." Ron said so we got our things and went to the candy store.
"God I haven't been here for years..." My aunt said, looking around the store. "Cocoa!"
"Trixie?" Cocoa Black, a black woman who built amazing chocolate models, whirled around.
"Hey Cocoa! Long time no see."
"Right back at you. Heard you were doing some animal stuff in Africa?"
"Yep." My aunt said cheerfully.
"You know each other?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, Cocoa was a Seventh year when I went to school. Started work here in my Third year." Trixie said with a smile.
"I remember you and your girl gang gave us quite a few raids." Cocoa giggled.
"Oh yeah. We were always trying to outdo the Marauders." My aunt said.
"That was my dads gang!" Harry said.
"I know... the Marauders... his gang and my gang, the Shamrocks, were rival gangs in school. Well, I say 'my' gang... it was really a four-way gang. Which is why we were named the Shamrocks." My aunt explained with a smile.
"Hi guys, I thought I saw you come in." Jasmine said as she and Hermione appeared, carrying packages.
"Hi guys." We replied.
"This is my Aunt Trixie." I said.
My aunt smiled at Jasmine. "You look like your mother."
"I've been told." Jasmine said with a smile. After we bought a bunch of candy, we went outside.
"Well, I better get going. I-" My aunt stopped talking and walking.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I..." Trixie trailed off. I followed her gaze and saw Sirius, Remus and Emerin, They were bent over something in Emerin's arms (that looked like a lot like a firecracker) and walking.
Harry noticed what she was looking at, too, because he glanced at her and asked, "Those the old friends you were looking for?"
My aunt didn't reply. She stood stock still, staring at them. "Oh God." She finally whispered.
The three were still walking then looked up. "Hey kids." They said then froze.
They stared at my aunt who stared straight back. "Oh my God." Emerin whispered.
No one moved, no one spoke, and hardly anyone breathed. "Pixie?" Sirius finally asked.
My aunt shoved her hands in her kangaroo pouch and tossed back her hair. "Hello Padfoot."
*** (Harry's point of view)
I looked at them in confusion then realized where I had seen Peggy's aunt. She was one of the girls in Remus's photo.
"PIXIE?!" Sirius repeated.
Trixie smiled at him. "Nice to see you again, Padfoot."
"Hey Trixie." Remus and Emerin said.
"Hi guys."
"Is it really you?" Sirius whispered.
"Last time I checked."
Sirius walked slowly forward till he was pretty close to Trixie. "Oh my God Trixie."
"Can you say anything else?" She asked and Sirius laughed.
"I just... I can't believe its... why are you here?"
"I got a letter."
"Remus!" Sirius screamed, whirling towards Remus.
"Oh, put the finger of blame on me?! I didn't do it!"
"Liar!"
"Sirius, Remus didn't write me it was Albus Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore? But how could he of... REMUS!" Sirius then tackled Remus and the two rolled on the road, wrestling.
"I didn't do anything!"
"Yes you did I saw you!"
"BOYS!" Trixie screamed. "C'mon, Ember, help me." The two girls grabbed Sirius and Remus and pulled them apart.
"Will you two ever grow up?" Emerin asked.
"He started it." Both chorused, pointing at each other.
Emerin and Trixie burst into laughter. "They'll never change. Will they?" Trixie asked.
"God forbid." Emerin shaking her head. "Wait... Remus, you said that that photo was of the old gang... but you, Miss er... uh..."
"Just call me Trixie."
"But Trixie just told me that your gang and the one she was in were rival gangs." I said.
"They were... but you know, we eventually joined in... what was it, our Fifth year?" Trixie asked.
"Fourth." Emerin explained.
"So we became one big gang. Oh, we continued our little quartets and fought that way but we were still joined as one." Remus explained.
"Quartets? I thought there were nine of you in that photo..." I said.
"There were. Mac didn't really belong to any gang but was a friend to us all. He joined when we all became one gang." Trixie said.
Sirius was too busy staring at her to notice anything else. "God, Trixie, I can't believe you're back."
"Believe it." Trixie said with a smile.
"How long are you staying?" Emerin asked.
"Dunno... depends what all I can get out from the information I gathered... I'll probably have to return to Africa in a few weeks. Five. maybe six." Trixie said.
"You can't stay longer?" Sirius asked, rather hopefully.
"No. My place is in Africa-"
"Your place is with us, Pixie." Emerin growled.
"Well what about the others? Sapphire and Mac? I don't see them here." Trixie said rather harshly.
"Maybe we should find them, then." Emerin snapped back.
"You go ahead." Trixie said and turned to Peggy, kissing her forehead. "I'll see you later. It was nice seeing you again." She informed the others before whisking off.
"Trixie, wait!" Sirius yelled, running after her.
"Yes?" She asked, turning.
"You can't leave... not yet..." He begged, holding her hands tightly.
"I'm sorry, Sirius... the past is behind us..." She said, pulling her hands away from him and walking off.
Sirius stood there, unmoving, watching her leave. "Is he okay?" I asked Remus who was looking pretty shaken too.
"Damn you, Trixie! You'll realize your place is here!" Emerin was shrieking, jumping up and down and looking more like an imp then ever.
"Sirius will be fine..." Remus said, an odd look on his face.
"Remus?" Jasmine asked.
"Its a long story." Remus said quietly, shaking his head. "Sirius?" He called.
"How could she do that...?" Sirius whispered, turning. His face was white and he looked extremely upset. "How could she just... turn her back on us?"
"She's still upset..." Remus said and looked at Emerin who was still shrieking. He grabbed her arm.
"That little... ugh! I can't believe...!! She'll be back."
"I hope so..." Remus mumbled, forgetting we were there, "for Sirius's sake."
"Remus..." Emerin said and nodded at us.
"Er-right we better get going..." Remus pulled Sirius's arm and the three left.
"That was weird." Hermione said.
"Its obvious." Peggy said.
"What is?" Ron asked.
"Sirius is keen on your aunt, isn't he?" Jasmine asked Peggy who nodded.
"Yeah. I'm guessing they liked each other... maybe were dating when... you know, everything happened." Peggy said.
"Maybe... but why was Remus so distraught?" Ron asked. By now I had gotten used to his... actually intellectual words.
"I dunno... we'll figure it out later." Peggy mumbled.
"Let's go back to Hogwarts." Jasmine suggested.
"Good idea." Hermione said so we began walking back to the castle, the days events pouring through my mind.
Obviously what I had told Ron cheered him up. He wasn't playing chess every waking non-schooling moment. And it was then when he saw the poster for this year's Fall Ball.
"Damn, another one?" He asked.
"Yep." I said, deeply into my book.
"Damn, damn, double-"
"Ron! Quit that!" Hermione snapped.
Ron blinked at her and sat next to me. "Whatcha reading?" He asked, looking over my shoulder.
"Hairy Snout, Human Heart." I replied, holding up the cover. "Its really sad. its by an anonymous author about his battle with lycanthropy." I said, sniffling slightly.
"With what?" He asked.
"It means he was a werewolf." Hermione explained.
"It is so sad." I said and shut it, wiping my eyes. "you should read it."
"Where'd you get it? Library?" Ron asked.
"I guess its there but Remus lent me this copy." I said, putting the book in my backpack.
"Hmm." Harry said.
"Hi Harry!" A bunch of girls giggled as they passed us.
"Ah the fun's already began." I smirked as Harry got a dark look over his face.
"Shut up."
"Why don't we go to the library?" Hermione suggested.
"Let's not and say we did." Ron said.
Hermione scowled at him. "How about we go visit Hagrid?" I asked so we got our stuff and headed to the front doors.
Almost every girl we passed giggled and waved at Harry who was desperately trying to ignore them. "Honestly." Hermione said as it happened for the zillionth time.
"Jealous?" Harry asked rather bitterly.
Hermione was in quite a bad mood by the time we got outside. "Wait, Harry, we're supposed to have-well, YOU are supposed to have a teacher with you." Hermione said as we got out on the front steps.
"I'll be fine." Harry said and we crossed across the grounds to Hagrid's Hut.
"Who is it?" He asked after we knocked on the door.
"It's us." Harry called.
"Just a moment." He said and a few minutes later, he opened the door.
"Peggy! Hi, hi, hi!" His huge boarhound, Fang, greeted me. He leapt onto me, knocking me to the ground and began licking my face. I laughed and somehow managed to push him off.
"Dog drool all over my face." I giggled and went to his sink to wash it off.
"I bin wonderin' when you'd come visit me." He said as the others sat down.
"Its been a busy two weeks." Harry said as he poured them tea. I finished washing my face and sat down.
"What have you been up to besides teaching?" Ron asked.
"Oh, nothin'." Hagrid said quietly.
"He's been acting weird!" Fang informed me, putting his head on my leg. I scratched behind his ear but pretended not to hear him. I didn't really want anyone to know I was a Canismouth. Actually, I was more of a Mammaliamouth, which means I had the ability to talk to any mammal, but dogs came in the clearest. I could perfectly understand every word they said and I couldn't block them out like I could other mammals so I called myself a Canismouth.
So while Ron, Harry, Hermione and Hagrid conversed, Fang continued on. "He keeps muttering stuff to himself and pacing in circles when he should be asleep. And the other day." Fang seemed to nearly be in tears. "he. he forgot to feed me dinner!"
I hardly thought this was that bad but Fang was a dog and to dogs it was the worst thing in the world if their human ignored them, or forgot to feed them. To them it was like stabbing a knife in their poor hearts. I gave Fang some treacle fudge Hagrid gave me.
"Mmmgmpmlmalmlmglmpgmlgm." Fang continued.
I scratched him behind the ears and tuned back into the conversation. ". strange happening luckily." Harry finished.
"That's... good..." Hagrid said slowly.
"What? What is it?" Harry demanded.
"Its not that important... its jus'... bin seeing some more snakes..."
"More snakes?" Harry asked nervously.
"Yeah... not like last year. These look more like they're huntin' in the Ferbidden Forest. I saw one draggin couple o' mice back to the castle like there's a nest there or sumthin." Hagrid said.
"I'll have to check it out." Harry said slowly.
"Mmhmahlmlm aaahhh better." Fang said, finally getting his jaw unstuck.
"What teacher did yeh get to take yeh over here?" Hagrid asked.
"Er, um... McGonagall." Harry lied. I rolled my eyes and turned down to Fang who was licking my hand. "McGonagall?" Hagrid asked.
"Yeah." Harry said.
Ron and Hermione rolled their eyes then looked as Fang went over to them. Fang put his paws on Ron's legs and licked his chin. "McGonagall, hmm." Hagrid said slowly. "Don' see 'er."
"Yeah she, uh, left... before we knocked on the door." Harry said.
Hagrid was peering out the window. "Its gettin' dark. I better take yeh four back to the castle."
"Okay then." Hermione said, pushing Fang from her.
Hagrid took us across the grounds and back into the castle where Peeves, the poltergeist, was waiting with his arms full of balloons. "Go away, Peeves." We all said.
Peeves blew a raspberry and threw the balloons at us. I pulled out my wand and pointed. "Reverso!" The balloons turned and chased Peeves down the hall.
"Nice one, Peg." Ron said, grinning.
"Thanks."
"See ya Hagrid!" We called and headed to the common room.
"Was it just me, or was Hagrid acting odd?" Hermione asked.
"It wasn't just you." Ron assured her. Hermione, in turn, said nothing. She was still angry over the fact Ron got thirteen O.W.Ls and was hardly speaking to him.
"Hi Harry!" A bunch of girls passing giggled, waving to him.
Harry continued walking straight ahead, ignoring them. He glared at Ron who had started snickering. "Shut up."
"Are you going to ask anyone?" He asked.
"I dunno..." Harry said with a shrug.
"What about Cho Chang?" Ron asked.
Harry went beet red. "Shut up. Who're you going to ask?"
"I dunno." Ron replied with a shrug.
"Are you going?" I asked Hermione.
"No." She said with a slight smile.
"What're you grinning at?" I asked.
"I'll tell you later."
"Peggy... perchance you'd like to go with me?" Ron asked, rather hopefully.
"I don't know..." I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "I dunno if I want to go..."
Ron looked quite crestfallen. "Er... well, okay..."
I smiled. "Okay, okay. I'll go with you." And Ron cheered up considerably.
*** (Remus's point of view)
I watched out the window at Harry and his friends being led back into the castle by Hagrid. After they disappeared in, I went back to my desk and sat down. I looked over the pile of homework paper and sighed heavily.
I glanced up at a knock on my door. "Who is it?"
"Doctor."
"Doctor who?"
"That's right!" Sirius said, laughing as he opened the door.
"Hey Padfoot." I said rather wearily.
"Hey Moony, you look tired."
"I am." I said, watching him as he flopped onto a chair.
"But, it's only a first quarter moon. You're usually never tired for a few more days." Sirius said, looking rather worried.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm fine." I assured him.
"Good." He said, brushing back some hair.
"Is there something you wanted?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to join me in a nighttime marauding." He said with a grin.
"Sorry, Padfoot. I don't feel like it."
"Okay, Remus. What is up with you lately? You're like... totally turning into an old man!" Sirius said, leaning forward. "Dumbledore is more active then you!"
"Dumbledore is more active then everyone." I reminded him.
"Oh yeah!" Sirius said with a grin. "Crazy old nutter. So, what's wrong?"
"Do you ever wondered what happened to the others?" I asked.
Sirius's face fell slightly. "Oh... is that what's wrong?"
"I was just... you know, wondering what ever happened to the others." I said.
"You mean, what ever happened to Sapphire." He said slowly. I scowled and he sighed. "Remus..."
"Sirius, I just... you know... wonder." I said, sitting back in my chair and looking at my huge framed photo of the Marauders. "I wonder if they ever wonder about us."
"Don't worry, little buddy. I've always wondered about you." Sirius said and I burst into laughter.
"Oh shut up, Padfoot, unless you want to be turned into a tadpole."
"I wouldn't mind."
"And I'm sure you wouldn't." I said with a smile. I glanced back up at the photo.
"Remus... why don't you ask Albus? He knows like... everything. He might know where she is." Sirius suggested.
"Why don't you ask about Pixie then?"
Sirius scowled. "Because-well-that's not the point!" I sat back in my chair, arms folded. "Remus... I don't... I don't-"
"You don't want to get back in touch with her in case she's married and has kids." I said.
Sirius scowled again. "Well-" He sputtered out "that's the only reason you don't want to find out about Sapphire!" He demanded.
"You're right," I said and straightened the papers on my desk, "and I'm man enough to admit it."
"That's it, moon-boy, I'm leaving." He snapped and left.
Shaking my head, I began reading the homework, trying with all my might not to look back up at Sapphire.
*** (Jasmine's point of view)
"What?" I asked in shock.
"I can't find them anywhere." Jason replied, floating over to me.
I stared at him. "Well... they might of just... not come...?"
"Jasmine, I think something happened to them." Jason said, eyes wide.
"They're dead. What can happen to dead people?" I demanded rather bitterly.
"Well a while ago, one of our ghosts was petrified." He said with a shrug.
"Nearly Headless Nick, yeah I know..." I stared at the ghost a moment then shook my head. Jason Weasley, a dead relative of Ron's, had just informed me that for the longest time, my parent's spirits had been missing.
"Want me to keep looking?"
"Only if you want, Jason." I said.
Jason nodded and floated off. I turned back to the mirror and stared at my reflection. After fixing my hair, I went down the stairs and into the common room where my brother and the others were arriving back from who knows where.
"Where you going, Jasmine?" Harry asked.
"Somewhere. Where were you?"
"Visiting Hagrid. You're meeting Malfoy. Aren't you?" Harry asked.
"Maybe, maybe not." I said and left the common room. I went through the corridors till I got to the empty classroom Draco and I always met in. He was waiting for me, holding a yellow acacia. When we had been forbidden to see each other, that had been our flower since it meant 'secret love'.
"Hello." He said, eyes lighting up as I shut the door behind me.
"Hi." I said. He walked over and kissed my forehead.
"Are we going to the dance?"
"If you want." I said.
"Ofcourse I want."
"Then we will." I said and giggled as he kissed my cheek.
"I've missed you."
"You saw me in Potions class earlier." I giggled as he wrapped his arms tightly around me.
"I still have missed you."
I smiled and leaned against him. "And I have missed you..."
***
"Okay, the whole world has gone nutters." Ron said as he, Harry, Hermione, Jasmine and Peggy walked down the corridors that Friday.
"Why is that?" Jasmine asked.
"It seems a lot of the teachers are acting so weird." Ron said with a shrug.
"Enlighten us with what you mean." Hermione said.
"Hi Harry!" A bunch of girls giggled.
"Well... McGonagall's been really contented. A lot happier then she was last year when she was happy." With this, Ron and Peggy cast glances at each other, wondering if McGonagall's mysterious man was starting up with trying to win her over again. "then, Snape's been meaner then ever-"
"Three of his old enemies are teaching here, Ron." Harry pointed out.
"True... but have you noticed THEM? Well, not Emerin, but Sirius's been acting weird... and Remus has been acting... er..." Ron trailed off, "well. pardon the pun but Remus has been acting... moony."
"Yeah... you know, the three of them haven't been doing real big tricks or pranks lately." Harry said.
"You can ask them what's up right now. Here the two come." Peggy said. They looked up as Sirius and Remus walked down the hall, whispering in low voices to each other.
"Hi guys." Harry said.
The two stopped and looked up. "Hi kids." They chorused.
It may of just been Harry, but he seemed to think Remus looked more tired then normal. But that could have to do with the fact it was going to be a full moon pretty soon. "What's up?" Harry asked.
"Not much." Sirius said with a shrug.
"You look like you could do with a nap." Harry informed Remus.
"Told you I wouldn't be the only noticing." Sirius snapped at Remus who shrugged.
"Its okay. I'm fine."
"Remus I don't want you getting sick, not with a full moon coming up." Jasmine said.
"I'm fine, Jasmine." Remus assured his goddaughter.
"Remus." Jasmine said, folding her arms.
"I'm fine!" He insisted.
"Maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey."
"I'm f- Sirius stop laughing." Remus growled as Sirius began laughing.
"Sorry its just funny." Sirius snickered.
"Jasmine, honey, I'm fine."
"No you're not."
"SIRIUS!" Remus yelled, smacking Sirius upside the head after he said that.
"Remus what's wrong?" Jasmine asked nervously.
Remus turned back to her. "Its nothing, really. I've just been... tired."
"Remus Lupin, if something is wrong with you bloody well better tell me!" Jasmine shrieked.
"Jasmine I am FINE. It is nothing bad! The only serious problem have is a Sirius problem." Remus said, glaring at Sirius who gave an innocent look.
"Okay..." Jasmine said, still looking doubtful.
"We better get going. We only have five more minutes before they go off." Sirius said, checking his watch.
"Yeah. See you kids!" Remus said and they walked off.
"I don't even want to know what is going to be going off." Harry muttered.
*** (Peggy's point of view)
Saturday, the Gryffindor Sixth year girls were using the Hogsmeade trip to look at dress robes. I didn't want to but the others convinced me.
Jasmine, Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, Hermione, Rose Jacobson and I went into the Robes shop. If Amy Robinson had been here she'd be forcing me to try on a million dress robes.
Amy had been killed but hardly anyone knew that. Everyone thought she just transferred out of Hogwarts. After I had convinced Harry and Hermione that I wasn't in the cave, they told me that some guy in a Animagus hawk form killed her for she was a servant for Voldemort.
"Look at this!" Parvati said and held up blood red dress robes to herself.
"You'd look nice in those." Lavender said, glancing at darker red dress robes.
"I think I'll go to the Three Broomsticks." I said, inching from the clothes.
"No you will not." Jasmine said.
I sighed heavily and looked at Hermione. "What are you doing here? You're not going to the dance."
"Yes I am." She said.
"I thought you weren't." I said, frowning.
"Oh..." Hermione giggled. "I am."
"With who?" Lavender asked.
"You'll see."
"Oh these will look great on me! Then again anything does." Rose said, grabbing deep, deep yellow dress robes.
I rolled my eyes and sat back in a chair watching the girls go through robes. "Peggy! Here!" Jasmine held up dark forest green dress robes.
"No."
"You need to get some dress robes!" Lavender said.
"My old ones are fine."
"Peggy."
"Okay fine! I'll get the stupid dress robes." I grumbled. I found my size and bought it then went to the Three Broomsticks where Harry and Ron were.
"You look happy." Harry said.
"The girls made me buy some dress roes." I said, dropping the package and sighing. Ron pushed a Butterbeer over to me. "Thanks. Did you know Hermione is going to the dance?"
"She is? I thought she wasn't." Ron said.
"Me, too. I thought she wasn't..." I shrugged and sipped the Butterbeer. "and she won't tell me who she's going with."
"Hey Peggy, look! That woman looks a little like you." Harry said as a woman came in.
I stared at her. She had red-brown hair, my color, that waved down a little past her shoulders. She was tall and lanky but with more curves. Her eyes were a sparkling deep brown, though, and her features not as sharp. She was wearing tight jeans and a gray sweatshirt with a hood and kangaroo pouch.
"Oh my gosh." I whispered and leapt up. "That's my AUNT!" I shrieked.
"Peggy?!" My aunt whirled around in surprise. "Peggy! What are you doing here?"
"Hanging around. What are YOU doing here?" I asked.
"Looking for some old friends." She said and looked at Harry and Ron. "Hello."
"You look familiar." Harry said.
"So do you." My aunt said with a smile.
"What... old friends are you looking for?" Harry asked slowly.
"Oh... just friends." She said with a shrug, her slender shoulders rising and falling.
"Why don't you sit down?" I asked.
"Okay, sure. Maybe for a moment." She said and sat down at the table. She ordered a beer and sipped it after Madame Rosmerta brought it. "Hogsmeade visit, hmm? I remember those."
"You look so familiar..." Harry said, peering at her.
"Hello? She and Peggy look a lot alike." Ron said.
Harry shook his head. "I dunno... you just seem familiar..."
"Well so do you." My aunt said with a vague smile.
"Aunt Trixie... what are you doing here?" I asked, watching as she chugged down the last of her beer.
"I told you," she said, wiping her mouth off, "looking for old friends. Professor Albus Dumbledore got in contact with me."
"What about your work in Africa?" I asked.
"It can wait."
"My aunt is a magizoologist." I explained.
"I was doing some extensive research on Fwoopers." She said, ordering another beer.
"Fwoopers?" Harry and Ron asked.
"Brilliantly colored birds, gorgeous but if you listen to their songs for too long it'll drive you insane." My aunt explained, wiping a hand off on her jeans. "Not much is known about the way they raise their babies in the wild. For the longest of time, nobody thought they did. They thought that the Fwoopers just laid their eggs and abandoned them in the nest because that's what they do in captivity. But-" My aunts eyes sparkled as she pulled a bunch of stuff from her backpack. "I have found proof they don't."
They were mostly photos. There was a Fwooper mother with her wing around three little ones. "They're pretty." I said.
"Gorgeous. Me and my partner are trying to figure out why they abandon the babies in captivity. My theory is Fwoopers know if their babies are going to be safe or not. In the wild the babies, ofcourse, wouldn't so they protect them till they're older but in the captivity ofcourse they would be safe." My aunt took a deep breath and chugged some more beer. "But that's just my theory. Here." She dropped a bunch of colored quills on the table. "You can have these."
"Thanks." I said and we each picked one from the rainbow array. My aunt put the rest back in her backpack along with the photos and papers.
"Then I got a letter from Albus and I decided to come back to England for a little visit."
"What did the letter say?" I asked.
"Nothing, really. I have a question." Trixie turned to Harry. "Is it true that Sirius Black is innocent?"
"Yes." Harry said.
My aunt sat back in her chair, rubbing her chin. "Imagine that. And his victim, Peter Pettigrew, was the real killer?"
"Yeah." Ron said.
"I wonder... that's amazing. Its just... well I knew them in school. Peter never seemed to be the type who would be the faster at dueling..."
"You knew Sirius and Peter?" Harry asked and sat forward slightly. "Then you would of known my parents."
"I did. That's why I said you were so familiar." My aunt said with a smile.
"Oh. I thought that was because-"
"You are Harry Potter. Well actually that IS why you were familiar but that's not the point." My aunt said with a laugh and chugged the rest of her beer and slammed the glass down. "Anyway, I got to go."
"Will I see you again?" I asked.
"Yeah, I might be sticking around. I can do a lot of my research from the things I got." My aunt said, wiping her mouth off and standing up.
"Oh, can't we visit a while longer? I haven't seen you in two years." I said.
My aunt laughed and rested her hand on my head. "Oh all right. Why don't we go to Honeydukes? I could do with a bit of chocolate."
"Cool." Ron said so we got our things and went to the candy store.
"God I haven't been here for years..." My aunt said, looking around the store. "Cocoa!"
"Trixie?" Cocoa Black, a black woman who built amazing chocolate models, whirled around.
"Hey Cocoa! Long time no see."
"Right back at you. Heard you were doing some animal stuff in Africa?"
"Yep." My aunt said cheerfully.
"You know each other?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, Cocoa was a Seventh year when I went to school. Started work here in my Third year." Trixie said with a smile.
"I remember you and your girl gang gave us quite a few raids." Cocoa giggled.
"Oh yeah. We were always trying to outdo the Marauders." My aunt said.
"That was my dads gang!" Harry said.
"I know... the Marauders... his gang and my gang, the Shamrocks, were rival gangs in school. Well, I say 'my' gang... it was really a four-way gang. Which is why we were named the Shamrocks." My aunt explained with a smile.
"Hi guys, I thought I saw you come in." Jasmine said as she and Hermione appeared, carrying packages.
"Hi guys." We replied.
"This is my Aunt Trixie." I said.
My aunt smiled at Jasmine. "You look like your mother."
"I've been told." Jasmine said with a smile. After we bought a bunch of candy, we went outside.
"Well, I better get going. I-" My aunt stopped talking and walking.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I..." Trixie trailed off. I followed her gaze and saw Sirius, Remus and Emerin, They were bent over something in Emerin's arms (that looked like a lot like a firecracker) and walking.
Harry noticed what she was looking at, too, because he glanced at her and asked, "Those the old friends you were looking for?"
My aunt didn't reply. She stood stock still, staring at them. "Oh God." She finally whispered.
The three were still walking then looked up. "Hey kids." They said then froze.
They stared at my aunt who stared straight back. "Oh my God." Emerin whispered.
No one moved, no one spoke, and hardly anyone breathed. "Pixie?" Sirius finally asked.
My aunt shoved her hands in her kangaroo pouch and tossed back her hair. "Hello Padfoot."
*** (Harry's point of view)
I looked at them in confusion then realized where I had seen Peggy's aunt. She was one of the girls in Remus's photo.
"PIXIE?!" Sirius repeated.
Trixie smiled at him. "Nice to see you again, Padfoot."
"Hey Trixie." Remus and Emerin said.
"Hi guys."
"Is it really you?" Sirius whispered.
"Last time I checked."
Sirius walked slowly forward till he was pretty close to Trixie. "Oh my God Trixie."
"Can you say anything else?" She asked and Sirius laughed.
"I just... I can't believe its... why are you here?"
"I got a letter."
"Remus!" Sirius screamed, whirling towards Remus.
"Oh, put the finger of blame on me?! I didn't do it!"
"Liar!"
"Sirius, Remus didn't write me it was Albus Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore? But how could he of... REMUS!" Sirius then tackled Remus and the two rolled on the road, wrestling.
"I didn't do anything!"
"Yes you did I saw you!"
"BOYS!" Trixie screamed. "C'mon, Ember, help me." The two girls grabbed Sirius and Remus and pulled them apart.
"Will you two ever grow up?" Emerin asked.
"He started it." Both chorused, pointing at each other.
Emerin and Trixie burst into laughter. "They'll never change. Will they?" Trixie asked.
"God forbid." Emerin shaking her head. "Wait... Remus, you said that that photo was of the old gang... but you, Miss er... uh..."
"Just call me Trixie."
"But Trixie just told me that your gang and the one she was in were rival gangs." I said.
"They were... but you know, we eventually joined in... what was it, our Fifth year?" Trixie asked.
"Fourth." Emerin explained.
"So we became one big gang. Oh, we continued our little quartets and fought that way but we were still joined as one." Remus explained.
"Quartets? I thought there were nine of you in that photo..." I said.
"There were. Mac didn't really belong to any gang but was a friend to us all. He joined when we all became one gang." Trixie said.
Sirius was too busy staring at her to notice anything else. "God, Trixie, I can't believe you're back."
"Believe it." Trixie said with a smile.
"How long are you staying?" Emerin asked.
"Dunno... depends what all I can get out from the information I gathered... I'll probably have to return to Africa in a few weeks. Five. maybe six." Trixie said.
"You can't stay longer?" Sirius asked, rather hopefully.
"No. My place is in Africa-"
"Your place is with us, Pixie." Emerin growled.
"Well what about the others? Sapphire and Mac? I don't see them here." Trixie said rather harshly.
"Maybe we should find them, then." Emerin snapped back.
"You go ahead." Trixie said and turned to Peggy, kissing her forehead. "I'll see you later. It was nice seeing you again." She informed the others before whisking off.
"Trixie, wait!" Sirius yelled, running after her.
"Yes?" She asked, turning.
"You can't leave... not yet..." He begged, holding her hands tightly.
"I'm sorry, Sirius... the past is behind us..." She said, pulling her hands away from him and walking off.
Sirius stood there, unmoving, watching her leave. "Is he okay?" I asked Remus who was looking pretty shaken too.
"Damn you, Trixie! You'll realize your place is here!" Emerin was shrieking, jumping up and down and looking more like an imp then ever.
"Sirius will be fine..." Remus said, an odd look on his face.
"Remus?" Jasmine asked.
"Its a long story." Remus said quietly, shaking his head. "Sirius?" He called.
"How could she do that...?" Sirius whispered, turning. His face was white and he looked extremely upset. "How could she just... turn her back on us?"
"She's still upset..." Remus said and looked at Emerin who was still shrieking. He grabbed her arm.
"That little... ugh! I can't believe...!! She'll be back."
"I hope so..." Remus mumbled, forgetting we were there, "for Sirius's sake."
"Remus..." Emerin said and nodded at us.
"Er-right we better get going..." Remus pulled Sirius's arm and the three left.
"That was weird." Hermione said.
"Its obvious." Peggy said.
"What is?" Ron asked.
"Sirius is keen on your aunt, isn't he?" Jasmine asked Peggy who nodded.
"Yeah. I'm guessing they liked each other... maybe were dating when... you know, everything happened." Peggy said.
"Maybe... but why was Remus so distraught?" Ron asked. By now I had gotten used to his... actually intellectual words.
"I dunno... we'll figure it out later." Peggy mumbled.
"Let's go back to Hogwarts." Jasmine suggested.
"Good idea." Hermione said so we began walking back to the castle, the days events pouring through my mind.