Part two - meeting with the past.
"What's wrong with you, Padfoot, you seem a bit distant."
Remus poked his friend in the ribs; Sirius looked over and shook his head.
"Oh, nothing, just thinking about something Harry said to me this
morning."
"Oh, must have been something big, you've been totally quiet
and that's completely out of character for you."
"He asked me about Jenn."
Sirius looked at his friend; the expression on Remus's face went
from confusion then to shock with a little bit of sadness thrown in for
good measure.
Sirius stood up and walked a bit further along the track that led to The
Burrow. He could see in the distance the kids flying around on their brooms
playing Quidditch. The day was very sunny and the heat could be felt;
it started to make Sirius uncomfortable.
"So what did you tell him?" Remus finally spoke.
"The truth, as I knew it, which, as you know, is pretty bare, that
she was working for the Ministry and hasn't been seen for eighteen
years."
Remus nodded. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it, thinking again.
"What do you think brought this up? Harry hasn't spoken about
her before. How did he even find out about her?"
"He said he saw her in a dream. Said something about Lily showing
him a picture of her in a photo album."
"Strange, I don't remember Lily ever doing that. Must have
been when he was really young."
Sirius threw the stick he was carrying; he watched it sail across the
green grass.
"Moony, why do I get the feeling it was done on purpose; that Harry
was meant to know about Jenn at this time?"
Remus looked at his friend.
"I know it sounds strange, old man, but you remember how she was
at school."
"Yes, I do, but she's never met Harry, and the way the dream
sounds it might just be a repressed memory of sorts."
Sirius shrugged. He noticed they where standing outside the front gate
of The Burrow, so he crouched down and changed back in to his Animagus
form and looked at Remus.
"Well, Snuffles, I'm sure we will find out why it happened
now, sooner or later."
"Hey, Professor Lupin, did you enjoy your walk?"
Hermione Granger ran over to the gate smiling at Remus, then gave Snuffles
a pat on the head, which earned her a lick on the hand.
"Yes, we did Hermione, thank you for asking. So what are the boys
up to? Still flying around like mad men?"
Hermione sighed and nodded her head. "Yeah, they've been at
it since you left after breakfast."
"So, Hermione, are you all ready for school? I know the letters
haven't arrived yet."
Remus walked slowly beside the young girl as they headed towards the yard
that the boys where playing Quidditch in.
"Oh, I sure am. I'm looking forward to this year, and being
made a Prefect was the most exciting part of this year. Oh, and finding
out that you'd be back teaching again; now that was the most surprising."
"Yes, I thought you three would be most surprised, and after the
Headmaster asked me back to teach Defence against the Dark Arts, then
telling me that I'd be spending a few days with the Weasleys was
a very great way to start of the new school year."
Remus laughed as he saw Sirius bound off in front of them and pounce on
Harry as he jumped off his broomstick.
"Get off, Snuffles," Harry laughed as Sirius started to lick
his face.
"It's a shame you won't be joining us for the train
ride to Hogwarts, Professor." Hermione laughed as Sirius began licking
Ron's face now, his big tail waving madly as the redhead laughed
and tried to push him off.
"As much as I would have loved to take the train ride again, Hermione,
Professor Dumbledore requested our presence a few days before school starts;
I think to get a few things ready."
"Oh, look, Harry, the mail is in," Ron called to Harry as
he saw Hedwig and Pig flying over the roof of the house and through an
open window in the kitchen.
***
A pair of brown eyes scanned its surroundings; they looked from left to
right, taking in everything that was put in front of them. They twinkled
like little crystals in the sun.
The eyes saw the hustle and bustle of the old shopping area known as Diagon
Alley, blurs of colour walking past, witches and wizards smiling and laughing,
gossiping and shopping.
The stark grayness of the lanes, the sounds of owls hooting in the familiar
shop, the laughter of children as they spoke in hushed whispers and loud
voices about school and Quidditch.
"Raven Star."
Her gaze settled on a woman walking towards her the person was a tall
older woman in a green robe.
"Ah, Raven Star, there you are."
"Ah, so I am. It's good to see you, Minerva. I hope I haven't
kept you waiting?"
"Oh, no, not at all, my dear, you're right on time, let's
go to get some lunch, shall we?"
McGonagall smiled at Raven Star.
Raven Star was a tall woman of at least six foot; she had long, flowing
brown hair which was tied back at the nape of her neck with a leather
cord. She was dressed in robes of a dark blue colour, the same as the
night sky, which were covered with tiny gold and silver stars.
Walking down the lane, McGonagall studied the younger woman walking with
her.
It had been a long time since either had seen the other and, what Minerva
could tell, the years had been harsh on the lovely young witch.
McGonagall noticed deeply etched worry lines in her face; it also seemed
the make up she was wearing didn't hide the black bags under her
eyes nor the scar line that creeped down from under her fringe.
Heading towards the front door of the Leaky Caldron, Raven Star held open
the door for the older witch and they both entered.
"So tell me, Raven Star, are you looking forward to working at Hogwarts
this term?" McGonagall asked as they sat down at a table.
They both ordered lunch and a drink. Raven Star shuffled in her seat.
It was hard to be just sitting around all these people, her instincts
were running mad. Looking up as the waitress bought over there drinks,
Raven Star sighed.
"Oh, very much so. It's been so long since I was there, and I'm sure
nothing has changed much in that time." Raven Star smiled at the
older woman, and sipping her drink. "I just wish I didn't have to
come back to a real world with so much pain."
Raven Star's eyes lowered slightly. She could feel the grief she had been
suppressing try to take control again.
Minerva looked at Raven Star. The all over toughness she had been displaying
and the look of utter control slipped away, leaving a very lost and uncertain
picture.
"Oh, there, there my dear, at least you have people who understand
your pain, looking after you. I know for certain Albus was pleased you
agreed to take over Madam Trelawney's teaching schedule this term.
It was a shock to us all when she just up and stated at the end of last
year she was going on a holiday."
Raven Star laughed, having heard many of the stories about that certain
Professor and her strange habit of predicting a death each and every school
year.
Raven Star stabbed her fork into the salad in front of her, chewing on
the fresh greens; she started to feel a bit more "right".
It had been a long month and with everything running through her head,
this little bit of normalcy was nice for a change.
"Tell me, Raven Star, how much of what's been happening since you've
been away have you caught up on?"
Taking another sip of her drink, Raven Star looked into the kind eyes
of the older witch and smiled brightly.
"Well, Minerva, for starters, you don't have to be so formal with
my name. Star is what I am so used to being called that saying Raven Star
makes me feel like I'm in trouble," Star laughed.
Minerva tutted at that comment, but did not say a word.
"And I've been busily reading anything I could get my hands on about
what has been happening in the wizarding world over the last month I've
been back in it."
"Everything has really been happening from what I can tell. It's
about time I was back in it and doing my bit." She shook her head.
"I don't understand why it has taken them so long to get me
involved; I'm sure it couldn't have been all Albus's
doing?"
"You're right; I'm not sure why Albus chose now to get
in contact with you. If anything, it should have been at the start of
all this trouble." Minerva sipped her drink.
"Well, I know that man has his reasons, and ..." Star whispered
softly, "the Order has its reasons also. I just hope I don't
make a fool of myself. I've never taught before, I don't know
how I'll react around the students."
Star stopped and blinked then whispered softly. "I will see him when
I'm at Hogwarts, I know that for sure; I know he is there at the moment."
This comment was not a surprise and made Minerva nod her head. She knew
who Star was referring to and she only hoped that the person they were
both talking about was ready for the more interesting bit of news to follow.
"You will do just fine; Star, no matter what happens. Albus trusts
you and nothing that could go wrong will, and anyways, my dear, it's
not like you can't look after yourself."
"True."
After a few good hours of laughing and story telling on Minerva's side,
Star felt that she had made the right decision in returning to Hogwarts
as a teacher. For the best part she had enjoyed her time there as a student,
so she knew no matter what, she would enjoy herself.
"Oh, Star? How will you be arriving at Hogwarts? Albus needs to know
because the school year starts next week," the older lady asked.
"Well, I was thinking of taking the train. I haven't been on the
Express for so long and it will give me a good chance to suss out the
students and just get a good feel for being a teacher this time."
Star rose from her seat. "My presence on the train is sure to give
the students something to whisper about, wondering who I could be."
Holding the door open for the older witch, Star followed her out into
Diagon Alley and, together, they set off to do some shopping for the new
school term.
***
"You're sure you'll be ok, Harry?" Sirius looked
over at his godson with a hint of concern.
"I'll be fine, Sirius, I've got Ron and Hermione to
look out for me, and we're only going shopping for our school supplies."
"Ok, well, I'd better be going. I know Remus doesn't
want to be late, something about a meeting with Dumbledore as soon as
we get to Hogwarts."
Sirius hugged Harry and then turned into his usual Animagus form of a
big black dog, ran down the stairs and out the front door, meeting up
with the rest of the group as they said there goodbyes to Remus.
"See you at school, kids," Remus waved then, crouching down,
he took hold of Snuffles and disappeared with a pop.
"Is everything ok, Harry? Sirius seemed a little concerned about
something." Hermione looked at her friend.
"I'm not sure, Mione, after I told him about my dream, he
went a little quiet. I'm not sure why."
"Hermione, Harry! Mum said to say hurry up, we're heading
to London to get our stuff," Ron called his friends over.
The two friends nodded and hurried over to where Mrs. Weasley and Ron
where standing in the living room.
Chapter three