It sounds so cliché, but life really does throw you curveballs. Here's one: After fourteen years of never knowing who my father was and always dreaming that he was Johnny Depp, my mother decides to send me away to live with him. My father, not Johnny Depp, though that would be nice.

So upon hearing this bit of news, I asked what my dad's like and, more importantly, who he was. Remus J. Lupin, former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts Schools for Witchcraft and Wizardry, one of my school's rivals. I attend- or rather- I attended Ratchell Academy for the Young Witches and Wizards in California but am now transferring to Scotland's Hogwarts. I don't see the reason behind this. I mean, Remus doesn't teach there anymore. When I told this to Mom, she replied with, "Location, Lorelai. Location." Asking what that was supposed to mean, I found out that Remus lives in England, not California.

Now, here I am, packing. I threw most of my clothes into a duffle bag (I ran out of room) and grabbed my trunk full of school supplies. With my sooty owl, Becks (named after my favorite soccer player, David Beckham) perched upon my shoulder, I set off to tell my mom that I was ready to leave.

Poor Mom. Through all of this mess, she never once told me why she was sending me off. As I watched her start the car, I smiled sadly. I'm going to miss her so much. Her crazy antics, her boundless energy, her insane obsession with the Darkness- just her.

"Lorelai, let's go. We're off to see the wizard!" She giggled. "Hey, your father's a wizard."

"Well, where else do you think I get my amazing talents?"

You see, my mom's a Muggle; she's non-magic. But I love her nonetheless.

Once we arrived at the airport, my mom got our tickets and we settled into our seats. About twenty hours later, we had arrived at the Birmingham International Airport. We rented a car and began the three hour drive to Remus's house. About half an hour into the trip, I cautiously asked Mom why I was leaving.

"Lorelai..." She sighed. "Your dad sent an owl a few weeks ago, saying that he felt it was time for you and him to meet. Seeing as to how he and I don't get along, I thought it'd be better if you go alone."

"So, you're just going to drop me on his doorstep and leave?"

"Of course not! I'm going to lightly set you down, ring the doorbell, and then leave. Maybe, if you get lucky, I'll leave a note with your name, age, and allergies."

I let out an aggravated sigh. Now was not a good time for her sarcasm. "Mom, be serious. I don't see why I have to live with him if all he wants to do is meet me."

"You know what? I'll tell you why. Because I want you to. I am tired with all of this magic and Ratchell stuff! I don't know about any of this and I feel as though you should have at least one parent who can help you with your homework and make things explode by pointing a wand at it. Remus went to Hogwarts, he taught there, for God's sake! He knows what to do! I don't. You need him, Lor."

I frowned, defeated. "Is he a good guy?"

"The greatest."

"Then why'd you leave him?"

"Because I couldn't let myself fall in love with him. He's not like most men. He's special and I didn't want to hurt him."

I felt as if she wasn't telling me something but I didn't push the subject anymore. I just sat back in my seat and enjoyed the ride through the beautiful forest land. The huge trees shaded the dirt road that Mom drove down, and the red berries on the bushes added color to the otherwise dark and dense scenery. I watched a mother doe frolicking around with her young fawn before dozing off.

"Lor... Lorelai, we're here. Remus has already taken your bags into the house and I'm about to leave."

I opened my eyes and my mother's sad face was just inches from mine. There was something else hidden in her sad blue eyes but I couldn't quite read it. Worry, maybe? I don't know.

"I'm gonna miss you, babe." She brushed a kiss on my forehead.

"I'll miss you, too, Mom. I love you."

"Right back at ya." She smiled. "Call me."

"I will."

I exited the vehicle and watched my mom drive off, unaware of the man standing next to me.

"She's a remarkable woman."

I quickly turned to see the tall man, also watching Mom's retreating vehicle, now just a dot in the woods. I studied his face: the two long scars stretching from his left temple all the way to his right cheek, his amber eyes, and the undefined emotion that settled behind the twinkle in them.

"I guess you know who I am," I finally said, interrupting the oddly comfortable silence that had settled between us.

"Lorelai Nicole Kelsey."

"And you're Remus J. Lupin. What's the 'J' stand for?"

He smiled, looking down at me. "I never tell."

"Aw, come on. Please?"

"You're as persistent as your mother. Come on, I'll introduce you to everyone."

"Everyone? Who else lives here?"

"Just a few others. Tina didn't tell you?"

"She didn't tell me much."

He froze, every muscle in his body tense. I began to wonder if I had said something wrong before he turned to me again, a small frown creasing his otherwise wrinkle-free face.

"Well... sit down, please."

I sat down next to him on the front porch step and waited for him to continue. He was silent for a minute, picking at his frayed jacket cuffs.

"Um... your mother said nothing about my... my status?"

"I don't think so," I said slowly.

"All right, well... this is extremely awkward." A soft chuckle escaped his lips. "Okay. I am... a, um, a werewolf."

Werewolf? My father's a werewolf... does that mean...?

"Am I one, too?"

"Dear Lord, I hope not." He glanced at me, his amber eyes momentarily meeting my own green ones. "Have you ever come in contact with the full moons light?'

"Yes."

"Did anything happen?"

"No."

He let out a sigh of relief and an almost boyish grin spread across his face. "Good, good. Well, now that we've got that settled-."

"Remus, my good friend, a letter's just arrived from Albus." A clean- shaven man joined us on the porch. His scraggly black hair looked as though someone had tried to run a comb through it but was unsuccessful and his brown eyes were haunted.

"Oh, hello," he said, smiling at me. He looked really familiar.

"Sirius, this is my daughter, Lorelai. Lor, this is my good friend, Sirius Black."

My eyes widened in fear. This was the same man that the whole wizarding world was looking for. He was a murderer!

"Oh, my God!" I jumped up and attempted to run after my mother's car that was now miles away but Remus caught me with one arm around my waist.

"I know what you're thinking," he stated, laughing. "He's innocent."

"Says who?" I tried escaping his grasp but finally gave up, defeated. Those scrawny arms were false advertisement.

"Says the Ministry of Magic."

"Oh." I looked down but haltingly raised my eyes to meet Sirius's. "Sorry."

"Not a problem."

"So, would you like to see your room?"

Up until now I hadn't really looked at the house. Now that I did, I was totally amazed. It didn't look like a normal, well-kept home. In fact, it looked like it was falling apart. The red paint was chipping from the shutters and the shutters themselves were falling off their hinges.

Cautiously, I entered the house and stared in awe at the boy- rather, the legend- in front of me.

"Harry Potter," I breathed.