Chapter 3-Lupin's Mission

Hogwarts Castle, Feb. 5th, 1982. 2:00 am

Remus Lupin stormed down the cold stone corridor of Hogwarts castle in the darkest of moods. He'd received a very vague owl from Dumbledore an hour ago. He wanted to see him on something VERY important. Remus had no idea what it was, but he feared it would be about Voldemort. It hadn't been four months since his entire world had been ripped from him. While everyone else was celebrating the fall of the dark lord and singing little Harry's praises, he'd been left to mourn; alone. Peter was dead, James and Lily were dead, and Sirius was rotting in Azkaban. He hated Sirius! He'd betrayed them all. They should have known though, should they? He was a Black for Christ's sake! One cousin was in Azkaban with him, the other's husband had bought their way out and his brother was dead at his own master's hand. Damn him: Damn them all! He'd loved him like a brother and look what it got him! He was once again alone in this world. Only this time, Lily wasn't there to befriend him and bring a pseudo-family into his life.

He'd reached the gargoyle guarding the headmaster's office. Now what sweet had the old man used this time? It was always some sort of inane muggle treat.

"Kit Kat?" nothing happened.

"Aero!" still nothing.

He could have sworn it was a British candy bar. He pulled the letter from his tattered robes. And with a roll of his eyes, he spoke the password.

"Yorkie."

He stepped onto the revolving stairs that would carry him to the Leader of the Order. The war was, to most people, over; but not to the order. They weren't buying it. Not yet anyway. There were too many of those bastard Death Eaters that had bought or lied their way out. He didn't trust Snape either; even though Dumbledore did. He still didn't know why he trusted that creep. There was nothing to be done about it though. Albus knew best: Right? That was a laugh. If James and Lily had listened to him, they wouldn't have had a damn secret keeper. They just would have disappeared. Lily was a muggle-born. She'd have helped James and they could have hid in the muggle world. It was apparently working for Nephiri Riddle. There hadn't been a single shred of her existence left in the wizarding world. No one, even her husband could find her. Remus was, in a way, grateful for that. He knew she'd made mistakes, but Nephiri wasn't a bad person. From what he remembered, she was just beautiful; outside and in. She just loved people, accepted them for who they were and looked for the good in them. That had been her crowning glory, and her damnation.

The stairs had stopped and he was at Dumbledore's office door. At least now he'd find out what the old man wanted. He rapped lightly on the door and heard Albus rise from behind his desk and call to him.

"Remus, come in, come in."

Remus opened the door and watched as Albus rounded his big old desk. It was laden with paper work and maps, whirring contraptions and of course, a candy dish sat on the corner, full to the rim with lemon drops.

"How are you, my boy? I haven't heard from you in a while. Is everything alright?" Albus asked in his usually chipper voice, blue eyes sparkling. He picked up the dish and offered Remus a candy with a smile.

"No, thank you." He refused the candy while rounding one of the pair of over stuffed armchairs that sat on the opposite side of Albus' desk.

"Is this what was so important you called me out of bed at one in the morning? I'm fine Albus; now what is this all about?" Remus asked in as respectful a voice as he could muster at 2:00 am.

Albus put the dish back on the corner of the desk, not taking his customary candy for himself. He plopped down in the other chair with a heavy heart. This was the reaction he had expected, and yet he still longed for this young man's happiness. He leaned forward in the chair, placing his chin in his hand and his elbow on his knee.

"Nephiri's been found, Remus. She's in America and I'm having a hard time tracking her. The last apparition was in to an ally. There was another apparition soon after and then some other kind of charm use. I need you to go search the place and see what you can find."

Remus sat open mouthed, staring at the leader of the Order. She'd been found? How had that happened? She'd been hiding for three years. He'd never expected to ever hear her name again.

"What do you mean found, Albus? I didn't know we were looking for her."

Albus sighed and started the explanation he knew was long over due. Really he should have had Remus looking for her too, but he just hadn't had the heart to take him from his grieving process.

"We haven't been, Remus. I've had a lock on her magic use, hoping she'd slip one day. Apparently she has, but the pattern suggests trouble. She'd been apparating for an hour before it stopped about ten minutes ago. I called for you as soon as she apparated the first time. She's in real danger, I'm afraid. I think Lucius has figured out that one of the ways they can bring Riddle back is with little Aeris' blood. There are other methods but they are trickier and require an enemy's blood and little Harry is safe for now; and they wouldn't come after me outright, not now."

Albus studied the face of the man in front of him. He needed Remus to understand the gravity of the situation. If the Death Eaters got a hold of Nephiri and her daughter, they could very well resurrect the Dark Lord and then he'd be able to wreak havoc until Harry was ready. The prophecy would be fulfilled, Albus knew that, but he needed to give Harry all the time he could.

"Remus? You'll need to go in a hurry. I've prepared a port key. I'd have sent Severus, but I thought you a better choice. She won't see you as so much as a threat. I don't know if she knows of Tom's demise; but she will know he'll want his daughter and that if he knew where she was, he'd send his Death Eaters. Will you go?"

Albus almost held his breath as he waited for Remus' answer.

Remus sat, completely shocked. All this time, he'd been so sure that hiding in the muggle world was so fool proof, and here Albus was telling him that it wasn't, and that the person he thought had fooled everyone was in serious trouble. His look of bewilderment turned to one of determination. He'd find her, and he'd help her. He might not have been able to help Lily and her child, but he'd save this one!

"I'll go. Where in America is she?"

Albus stood with a relieved sigh. He felt vindicated in believing in this young man. He walked to the desk and picked up the Coke can he'd charmed into a port key. As he handed in to the now determined young man in front of him, he felt a sense of pride. This young man wouldn't let him down. He'd find Nephiri and Aeris and bring them to safety. Nephiri Riddle might not like having to live within the walls of Hogwarts for a while, but she'd have to do it for her and her daughter's safety.

Little did Albus know that in less that 30 minutes time, Remus would be returning to Hogwarts. Not the conquering hero he expected, but bearing the body of Nephiri Riddle, and with a new self-appointed mission of finding Aeris Riddle and keeping her safe.

Author's Notes:

Thank you so much for the reviews I have gotten! I never really understood how important they would be to me. I felt kinda down when I only got the tried and true review of my wonderful friend LittleTigger. Read her story and review it too, I guarantee you'll love it! I had to break this into two chapters. Aeris has decided it wasn't the correct time for her to make her debut. Little brat! I'll have a talk with her and see if it doesn't help.

Little Tigger

Your help, support and advice is so appreciated. I wouldn't have had the gumption to do this without you. Thank you! What did you think of my Albus? He's more like a caring father to the Maurauders than a general. I just didn't have the heart to make him hard.

HAHAHA

Much more Severus banter to come. Only it's with my lead. You'll like his snarkieness, I promise.

Me

Voldie is a jerk, but I plan on showing him as more human than evil incarnate.

Mandrin

Thank you for your kind words. I like Voldie too. If this goes well, I think I'll do a prequel with He and Nephiri. Would you be interested?

Niamh O'Leary

I noticed you put me on you author alert so I'll write to you too, just because it got my spirits up that someone was interested in reading more. Thank you, hope to actually hear from you now though! HINT HINT!