Every wolf needs a moon
By Talia-Rose
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter so don't sue me. This story is set during the Marauders time at Hogwarts. How many subjects do you take at Hogwarts? I couldn't remember so I decided to make it six like you do in senior (grade eleven and twelve in Australia) at high school.
Chapter Six: News of a visit.
Throwing a pillow across the room at Sonya, Sirius laughed at her expression of annoyance. "Lighten up Wolfie, you look like you're going to start crying."
She sniffled at him, "That's because I am if I don't finish this essay soon. I can't believe Professor Michalski gave us this much homework!"
The picture-door opened and Lily walked in, her face lit up by a large smile. She threw herself down on one of the couches and looked at Sonya sitting at the table. "You know, I just heard that there's going to be a group of students and two professors visiting Hogwarts from another school."
"Lily, can you help me with my potions essay? Remus is in the library working on his charms homework and I daren't ask Sirius because he'd probably make me fail even more than I already am." Sonya over at her friend in desperation.
"Sonya, did you hear a single word of what I said?"
"Yes, you said that there's going to be a visit made by some students from another school. No doubt they want to come and see what they're not mission out on."
Sirius laughed again, "She's close to crying over that essay Evans, just help her all ready and then you can tell us this news."
Getting up again, Lily walked over to the table and sat down to read over what Sonya had written so far. She pointed out a couple of mistakes before coming to the conclusion. "Sonya, this is a great essay! I don't know what you're so worked up about. Just write a couple more paragraphs about the virtues of the potion and then write a really good paragraph concluding the essay."
"But it doesn't seem right to me Lily! It doesn't make sense, not one jolt of it." She snapped, rubbing her eyes.
"You're just really tired Sonya, that's why it's getting to you… I mean, it is pretty late. But I don't know why you're so worried, tomorrow's Saturday and you have the weekend to finish all your homework. Besides, you're already finished your transfiguration essay, your herbology homework and your DADA homework. All you have left really is charms, this potions essay and history of magic but the history essay will be easy, even for you." The red haired girl rolled her eyes and took the quill from Sonya's hand before making eye contact with Sirius. "You need to relax Sonya."
Yawning, she rubbed her eyes again. "If you insist Madam Evans. Now what was this news you were bursting with when you came in? Which school is sending students to see Hogwarts?"
Helping her friend stand up, Lily guided her over to the couch where Sirius was sitting and got her to sit down next to him. "You just relax there and let Black give you a massage and I'll tell you all about this news I have."
"Hmm…." Sonya closed her eyes to listen to Lily while Sirius gently massaged her shoulders.
"Well, you know how all the professors have been acting really funny this last week? Yes. I was told today by Professor McGonagall to tell you that Professor Dumbledore wants to see you tomorrow morning after breakfast about the visit that a group of students escorted by two of their professors are going to be making. They will be spending a week here starting tomorrow night." Lily told them.
Sirius arched an eyebrow. "Sounds like fun. What school are they from?"
She shook her head for a moment before poking a finger at Sonya. "I don't know which school but if Professor Dumbledore wants to talk to her about it, we can only assume that they are from Saint Luthors."
"Doesn't sound to me like something my old school would be doing. Saint Luthors is very careful about things like that because of… things." The blond girl murmured.
"Well, I promised Professor McGonagall that I would tell you to be at the Headmasters tower tomorrow morning and I have, so I'm going to go to bed." Shooting a look at Sirius, she stood up. "Don't let her do any more school work tonight Sirius Black and tell Remus that when he gets in."
"Tell me what?" Remus and James appeared at the doorway, both looking tired and worn out.
"Sonya isn't to do any more school work tonight. She's really tired and I don't want her making herself sick from over doing it."
James dropped himself down on a couch, "Why do you come join us Evans? We've got some food from the kitchens and we're going to pig out."
She sniffled, looking down at him. "I don't think so Potter. Honestly, I don't know why Sonya has been hanging around with you guys so much. She's better off away from you."
"Our Wolfie is a smart girl, Evans. She knows who she should be hanging around with." He replied, looking unfazed by the dislike that Lily had showing in her eyes.
Snorting, Lily spun about on her heels and grabbed up her things and Sonya's from the table before heading up the stairs to the dormitories. When she was gone, Remus plonked himself down beside Sonya and Sirius who was grinning madly at the look on his friends face.
"Padfoot, you'd best get your hands of Moony's girl." Potter chuckled, stretching out on the couch he was on.
Sonya mumbled something that none of them understood, her eyes only half open and they could all tell she was fast falling asleep. Squeezing her shoulders a last time, Sirius hugged her and stood up, managing to move her so that she was resting against Remus. Nodding to James, Sirius followed Lily's example and headed up the stairs to the boys dormitories. Getting up, James bounded off after his best friend, leaving Remus to look after Sonya in the barely lit common room.
Remus rearranged his position and pulled Sonya against his chest in a more comfortable position. She curled up, burying her face in his robes and he was sure that she was purring softly. Wrapping his arms around her, Remus leant his head back and drifted off to sleep as well, hoping that no one would come and disturb them.
In the morning, Sirius and James made sure that they woke up early so that they could go down and see if Remus and Sonya were still in the common room. When they got down there, neither were in sight and when asked, the other Gryffindor students didn't know what James and Sirius were talking about. Heading back up to their dorm, they discovered that Remus was sitting on his bed, working avidly on his potions essay.
"Well, what happened after we left you two last night?" James asked, grinning.
Remus arched an eyebrow in confusion. "I have no idea what you are talking about James. Nothing happened."
The two boys exchanged looks and Sirius leant forward. "So nothing happened between you and Sonya Delcot? Nothing at all?"
"Nothing at all Padfoot. She was asleep even as you two left and I soon followed that path. We both slept until about five this morning when Sonya was woken up by a nightmare…. She's started having them again. That's why she's been so tired lately." He finished his essay and stood up.
"Did she say when she started getting the dreams again? We should tell Professor Dumbledore about them because he might be able to do something. She can't go on having them anymore." Padfoot looked extremely worried and not at all his usual self.
Shrugging, Remus headed for the stairs, "Wolfie promised me that she would tell Dumbledore about them when she saw him today. She said that you would know why she was seeing him, Sirius."
"Oh yes! That! Apparently, there's going to be a group of students from another school visiting Hogwarts for a week. Lily Evans told us that she suspects that the students are from Saint Luthors and that's why Dumbledore wants to see Sonya."
James, Sirius and Remus walked through the castle to the great hall where they found Sonya munching on a piece of toast, her eyelids drooping. Sirius leant over her shoulder and kissed her cheek while pinching the toast from her hand. Sitting across from her, Lily and Janie looked scandalized but he ignored them and sat down to one side of Sonya while Remus sat on the other. James shrugged halfheartedly and grinned at Lily while sitting down beside Sirius.
"Good morning Evans. Fancy seeing you up this early." He piled up a plate of food, refusing to notice her look of annoyance.
"Me up this early? Rather, I should be saying that because you're up earlier than you are normally even if there's Quidditch on." She muttered, turning to talk to Janie.
Sonya yawned, leaning against Remus while she buttered herself another slice of toast, "Black, you really are rude. You stole my toast! And James Potter, leave Lily alone because she's kind of stressed at the moment."
"Stressed? Yes, that's a good way to describe it. I'm stressed like I am for a week every month." Lily rolled her eyes. "Don't forget Sonya Delcot, you have to go and see Professor Dumbledore."
She grinned, "I won't forget Lily. It's a bit hard not to when you keep reminding me about it. Now Remus, will you come with me because I want to talk to the headmaster about something else as well."
Holding up a muffin for her try, Sirius arched an eyebrow at Remus, "You mean the dreams don't you Wolfie?"
Janie and Lily perked up and Lily spoke, "Have you been having your nightmares again Sonya?"
Taking a bite from the muffin, she nodded, "They started again last week. I can't help but wonder if they're stress related."
"Well, you have been hanging around with those boys so I'm not surprised that you're stressed." Janie hissed, glaring at Sirius and James.
Remus snaked an arm around her waist and tickled her gently to get a giggle. "I'll come with you to see Professor Dumbledore. However, I hope you'll agree that Sirius and James should most definitely not come with us."
"Certainly. I can cope with that easily." She smiled at him, finishing her toast and taking a sip from her glass of milk.
Potter looked upset, "Hey! How come we can't come with you to see Dumbledore but Remus can? It's not like he knows any more about your nightmares than Evans does or we do."
"Is that what you think Prongs? Well, if it's going to cause an argument, I'll go on my own." Sonya put her glass down after draining it and stood up, walking out of the great hall.
They all looked at each other in shock. It wasn't like Sonya to just storm out like that, not even when she was angry. Remus moved to get up and go after her but Lily told him not to. She said that it was better if he left her alone for the moment.
When she reached Professor Dumbledore's tower, it was open for her to go up. She couldn't understand why it was open already but when she made it to the top and the old wizard was waiting for her, he told her why.
"Now Sonya, I suppose Miss Evans told you about the group of students from another school coming to visit Hogwarts?" Dumbledore looked at her from over his glasses, shuffling several sheets of paper.
She stood beside the bird stand and stroked the phoenix that was there. "Yes. She even thinks that they're from Saint Luthors and that's why you want to talk to me."
"She would be right. I need your help, Miss Delcot. The Saint Luthors students will need someone they know to show them around Hogwarts and believe me, you will know them. There are eight of them coming here with a certain Professor Sliskovitch as their supervising teacher. I believe that your good friends Nathan Delcot and Andre Dupont are going to be among them."
'Andre and Nathan are coming to Hogwarts!' "Of course Professor Dumbledore. Where will they be sleeping while they're here?" The phoenix rubbed his beak against her hand, ruffling his feathers.
He stood up and walked over to Sonya, "Each of our four houses will look after two of the Saint Luthors kids. If you like, Gryffindor can host Nathan and Andre?"
Sonya nodded, "That would be good. I haven't seen my friends for months and I do miss them. This is a lovely phoenix, Sir, what's his name?"
"His name is Fawkes and you'd best stay away from him. I know how you end up with more animals added to your list." The Professor smiled at her sadly. "And I believe that the young Remus Lupin has much in common with your friends Nathan and Andre."
"You don't have to worry about my adding phoenix to my list of animals. Magical animals are different to normal ones… they are harder to become and they have to actually give of themselves. And you end up linked to the original animal." Her blue eyes glittered.
Professor Dumbledore inclined his head and returned to his desk. "Now they will be arriving before dinner tonight and I hope that you will be in the great hall with me to welcome them."
She paused, considering her position at the moment. "Professor, there's something else. I've been having really bad nightmares. They had stopped for a while but last week they started again."
"Nightmares? What kind of nightmares do you mean Sonya?"
"I don't remember what they're about except that there's always this man in the shadows asking me to join him. Telling me that he will kill all those I love if I don't join him. And there's always pain. When I wake up I feel like I've been running all night and I'm totally drained of energy. But Sir, these nightmares, they're always there when I fall asleep and they're starting to effect my schoolwork. I don't find school easy at the best of times and generally I hang on to good grades by my teeth in most of my classes but these dreams are killing me and I'm terrified of going to bed at night." Sonya shuffled her feet, staring down at the ground.
Fawkes hopped from his stand to her shoulder and nuzzled into her neck. The Professor studied her, his shinning eyes not reflecting the worry he felt in regards to her nightmares. He just prayed that the uprising Dark Lord wasn't the one responsible for them. If Voldemort knew about her powers, it was understandable that he would want her as one of his followers. After all, Animagi were unusual but those like Sonya Delcot were the rarest ones possible. She was the last in a long line of Animagi who had been born with the gift and it was something that had was now shunned, even in the Delcot family.
Getting up again, Dumbledore walked over to a set of shelves and lifted a small crystal pendant from one. Returning to Sonya, he lifted her hand and placed it on her palm. "Wear this a night when you go to bed. It will shield your mind from dark dreams and outside influence."
"Outside influence? What do you think is causing these dreams Sir?" She asked, closing her fist around the crystal.
Shooing her out of his office, Professor Dumbledore smiled faintly. "Never you mind. I was just telling you what the crystal protected against. Remember, wear it when you go to sleep."
"I won't forget Sir. When you're having nightmares like I am, you don't forget things that will protect against them." Sonya stopped. "Wait, do you want your phoenix back?"
The bird hopped onto his wrist and Sonya stroked Fawkes's head one last time before disappearing off down the stairs.