Chapter Two
The Reunion

Order of the Phoenix Taskforce – Hogwarts Military Academy – Scotland - 2059

Colonel Romulus Lupin-Black (Retired), one time Commanding Officer of the Order of the Phoenix Taskforce – Auror Division, looked around the room that once had been his office. The annual Order Reunion was soon to take place. The Colonel had mixed feelings about this sort of thing. Nice to see old friends of course, but odd to see them so changed.

Caligula Malfoy came across the room towards the Colonel, firewhiskey bottle in his hand. Strange to think that he, a Malfoy, was now in command of the Order. A bit stiff and formal Caligula, thought the Colonel, not realising how much he himself had mellowed over the years. Still, Caligula would learn – if he lived. In the Order you encountered problems that weren't in anyone's rule book.

Malfoy refilled the Colonel's glass.

"Can't have our guest of honour running dry," he slightly slurred.

Malfoy raised his glass

"To civilian life!" he toasted.

"Hear, hear," said Romulus. "You know, I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to this reunion; the chance to meet old friends again."

Colonel Malfoy put down his glass. "There's a couple of chap's we've been trying to get a hold of for ages. A couple of mysterious fellows. They used to be your Unpaid Scientific Advisers."

Romulus smiled, "Ah, The Scar"

"That's right. The Scar!" announced Colonel Malfoy.

Romulus smiled reminiscently. "Wonderful chaps, all of them."

Malfoy looked curiously at him. "Them? More than one, was there?" he queried

"Well, yes," said Romulus.

To his relief they were interrupted by a knock at the door.

Malfoy opened the door

"Yes?" he said to the junior auror that was standing there.

"Excuse me, sir, Sorry to interrupt but someone has arrived," she said to her commanding officer.

"I am not expecting anyone. Who is it?" demanded Colonel Malfoy.

There was a tinge of desperation in the young woman's voice "I don't know sir. He insists on seeing Colonel Lupin-Black." The young woman turned to the unknown person but she was brushed aside like yesterday's rubbish, she yelled after the man "Sir you are not allowed in there."

"What?" said a familiar voice indignantly. "Me? Not allowed? I am allowed everywhere. Just get out of the way, will you? Thank you!"

The office door was flung open and a slightly tall figure popped inside eluding the grasp of the auror. The newcomer looked swiftly round the room.

"Romulus!" he cried as he rushed across to the two military officers and shook hands warmly.

"Good heavens," said Romulus, "is it really you?"

"For once I have been able to steer my time turner correctly, and well here I am," said the intruder.

Colonel Malfoy caught the junior auror's eye. "It is alright, Longbottom."

"Yes sir," said young Violet Longbottom woodenly and withdrew.

Malfoy studied the newcomer curiously. He saw an odd-looking tall fellow in a slightly out of date black robe set with rather baggy check trousers underneath. Untidy black hair hung in a fringe over his forehead and his dark forest green eyes seemed humorous and sad a the same time.

The man looked hopefully up at Romulus.

"I am not too late, am I?" he said.

"What for?"

"Your speech, as guest of honour," he replied.

Colonel Malfoy looked at him in astonishment.

"How did you know that the Colonel would be here?" asked the confused Caligula.

"I read it in The Times."

"Impossible, the reporter is still here."

"Tomorrow's Times," said the visitor witheringly. He turned to Romulus. "Who is this fellow?" he continued.

"Colonel Caligula Malfoy. My Replacement," replied Romulus.

The Stranger sniffed. "Mine was rather unpromising too!" he said glancing at Colonel Malfoy

"Hmmm a Malfoy, who are you parents sir?" asked the stranger.

"My parents are Lord Draco and Lady Hermione Malfoy, of Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire," stated Caligula. "Why did you ask that sir?"

"Ah I thought I could see a resemblance to Mione. Please tell your parents that H say's hello, they will know who it is," said the man to the confused Colonel.

Hastily, Romulus took the newcomer's arm. "Come along Uncle Harry, we'll just go for a stroll around the grounds," He looked apologetically at Caligula.

"Excuse us for a moment. I am awfully sorry about this," Romulus says as he urged the newcomer to the door.

The other man stopped on the threshold and glanced around the office. "You have had the place redecorated, haven't you. I don't like it!" he remarked.

"Come on Uncle Harry," said Romulus and dragged him away.

As they went out, the junior auror came back into the room. "Is everything alright sir?" she asks her commanding officer.

"What the blazes is going on, Violet? Who was that strange man?" He bellowed.

Violet answered, "That was The Scar."

Harry Snape and Romulus Lupin-Black strolled through the formal grounds of Hogwarts Military Academy talking animatedly. To Romulus, this was his Uncle Harry, his godfather.

Romulus was about twenty years Harry's junior as his parents didn't get together until Harry was nearly finished school.

Harry and Romulus were second generation Marauders. The original Marauders were made up of Harry's father Severus Snape, Romulus's parents Cumulus Black and Remus Lupin. To round out this little group was Narcissa Black, Cumulus' cousin, Lucius Malfoy and James Potter, who was a spy for the Dark Lord and had Severus and his family murdered, only Harry survived. All of the Marauders were unregistered animagi except for Remus, as he was a Werewolf. Severus was a lion called Simba, Cumulus was a black poodle called Padfoot. Remus went by the nickname of Moony, Narcissa was a black wolf called shadow, Lucius was a hooded cobra named stretch and James was a rat and was given the name Wormtail. After the attack on Godric's Hollow, Harry was found in the rubble alive by Lucius and was taken to live with him and Narcissa and their new born son Draco. He lived there under the guise of Salazar Malfoy, Draco's twin, until he was of an age when he could be told of what happened to his parents. But all that was in the past, right now he was here to see his godson retire and to celebrate his career.

"Scar, do you remember when you helped me in the muggle underground in London, when that zombie albino sasquatch had me cornered," reminisced Romulus.

"What about when we rescued your mother from the clutches of that madman Potter?" said Harry as his eyes glazed over remembering.

They were discussing these adventures and more as they strolled round the stiffly formal gardens with their neatly raked gravel paths and flowers that seemed to be standing at attention.

"Yes indeed, Scar," Romulus was saying. "Sasquatch, Wormtail, we've seen some times...."

"And Voldemort! Don't forget Voldemort!"

"As if I could,"

Looking at his time turner Scar/Harry came to a halt.

"Romulus, I think it's time for me to say goodbye. I really shouldn't be here at all. I am not exactly breaking the laws of time, but I am bending them a little." Scar/Harry laughs as he shakes his godson's hand.

"You never did bother very much about rules, Scar, not as I remember," laughed his Godson. Romulus noticed that Harry was staring fixedly at something over his shoulder.

"What's the matter Uncle Scar?" Rom pleaded

Harry pointed "Look!"

Romulus turned. A crystal pyramid was tumbling down the path towards them.

"What is that thing?" screamed Romulus.

"I think our past is catching up to us Romulus, or maybe it is our future. Come on, run!" yelled Scar.

They began bearing down the road. The pyramid tumbled after them at a terrifying speed. Harry ran faster, Romulus panting along after him.

"Dammit, Scar, I am too old for this sort of thing." He puffed.

"Hurry Romy! We must get inside before it's too late."

Harry turned a corner, and found himself on a cul-de-sac; the path ended in a high wall. He turned and bumped into Romulus and the pyramid was upon them. It swallowed them up. For a moment their distorted faces could be seen inside it, then the pyramid tumbled rapidly into the distance and disappeared.

The scarlet-gloved hand of the player took two more pieces from the ivory box; a tiny figure in an out of date robe and baggy pants and a military looking man with a neat moustache. The rake pushed the two pieces out onto the board.

The player returned to the scrying pool.

The game was now underway.

But there was more, much more, to be done.