Chapter 8: Reunion…

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Harry paced up and down the empty Hogwarts hall he had been left to stand in. 'Something was definitely wrong. Dumbledore wouldn't suspend the rest of the current school month unless he was sure something was going to happen…not because of an infestation of Alztic insects that had taken over the school.' Harry reasoned with himself but stopped when he saw Ron appear along with Hermione from the end of the hall. His frown was reflected in each of their faces and he knew he wasn't the only one to think something was up.

"I heard there taking us to a safe house…do you think 'you know who' is planning something?" Hermione whispered.

"When isn't he?" Ron scowled but quieted when they saw Vadania appear along with a majestic wolf. McGonagall, Tonks, and Lupin led the way. The wolf padded up to Harry and he stooped down to pet the wolfs' head.

"Are you all ready to go children?" McGonagall asked and they nodded.

"But you do realize Professor, we are hardly children anymore." Ron said puffing out his chest as he spoke up.

"Of course Mr. Weasley, I do realize this but it's always hard to accept that amongst us adults." McGonagall said and Vadania stood silently an amused smile on her face.

"Are you alright Professor?" Hermione asked and Vadania blinked.

"Why wouldn't I be?" She grinned. "Now lets hurry along." She advised and the teens nodded. Lupin and Tonks brightened up the long trip with jokes and shape shifting that had the teens forgetting their initial questions.

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"Oh my! What is this place?" Hermione gasped as they stood in front of an impossibly large and elaborately designed mansion-like home. "It looks like a castle!"

"This is Dumbledore's summer home." Vadania voiced. "There are gardens at the East end connected the greenhouse, a large bathroom on each floor along with several actually master bedrooms and nineteen guest rooms. There are three kitchens stocked with food and a reading area within. There is only one large dining area and an astronomer's tower to gaze up at the night sky." Vadania finished and blushed as the teens stared at her in shock. "Uh…dad's a nut about large open places. They are relaxing and I think he thought it would amuse me."

"Dad!" Harry, Hermione, and Ron said in unison and Vadania nodded. "We thought he only raised you!"

"Well he adopted me when I was a small child and raised me. I thought you should know now since well, were in his home." Vadania said leading the way through the large front door and they soon found Dumbledore waiting for them in the receiving area.

"Welcome to my home." He invited, his eyes twinkling behind his half moon glasses. "I will not be staying long for I have matters to attend to. To insure your safety I have kept a large secret from you all. I hope that you can understand the necessity and that I had the best interests of your persons in mind. And I hope that you, Harry, will forgive me." Dumbledore said his demeanor proud but silently pleading. Harry looked at him questioningly and clearing his throat Sirius walked into the room and stood a couple feet from Harry.

"Hey sport…did you really think they could take this dog down?" He questioned and Harry stared at him in disbelief.

"Sirius?" he questioned moving cautiously forward. He nodded unable to speak and Harry jumped into his arms. "You're alive!" Harry cried and Sirius nodded again.

"Yes Harry…I am alive, and I'm keeping you with me and never letting you go back to those ignorant whelps you lived with." He said, emotion showing clearly and Harry nodded. He pulled away and turned to regard the professors and Headmaster.

"Thank you all…but…I still don't feel I can completely forgive you all for keeping this a secret. Which doesn't mean that I hate you, but I am disappointed that you wouldn't trust to tell me." He said evenly and Vadania's brow rose.

'He took that well, I half expected a tantrum." She thought curiously.

'You're not the only one Vadania.' Snapes' thoughts drifted into her mind and she felt her heart skip when he walked into the room. He sat in a nearby chair and sneered at Harry.

"Well it seems Mr. Potter has learned a bit." Snape voiced and Harry scowled.

"I was beginning to wonder what rock you where going to crawl out from under." Sirius grinned and Snape sneered.

"Same as yours."

"Snake, hook-nosed, grease ball."

"Mutt, toilet-breathed, pompous fool." Vadania rolled her eyes as they continued and cleared her throat.

"Do you two really think you both should be exchanging such 'pleasantries' in front of growing teens?" It was Snape's turn to sneer and Sirius scowled. "Now let me show you to your rooms."

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Vadania sat in the kitchen a tub of ice cream open as she placed it onto cones. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat as they walked in and she gave them each a cone.

"How are you all adjusting?" Vadania asked curiously and they burst out talking all at once.

"We've only explored almost half-!"

"-And there's still so much to see-!"

"Not to mention the whole library of books!" Vadania nodded with Hermione and laughed.

"Yes this place is large." She agreed. Harry peered at her.

"Professor…how did your adoption happen? What happened to your parents?" Harry asked softly and Vadania served herself a bowl of ice cream.

"They were killed." She said simply and Harry nearly dropped his cone.

"Why?" He sputtered while Ron and Hermione gaped.

"Because they loved each other when they shouldn't have. Because they were different…unique. They were killed by a mob of ignorant fools when Dumbledore saved me from the same fate.

"Did you want revenge?" Harry asked and Vadania nodded.

"Well of course. But if they hadn't loved me or made me, then I wouldn't have met Dumbledore, who's been a great father mind you, or any of you." 'Or Snape.' She said leaving the last to herself and added Maraschino cherries and sprinkles. "Sometimes you just have to accept what happened to appreciate the now." She added and waved the teens off. "Enough of this talk. I'll share the rest with you another time. Maybe even my personal secret. Go finish exploring." She ordered lightly. Garou trailed in after they had left and Vadania sat gazing at the wolf as she levitated the carton back into the freezer. "Go and make sure you watch them and guard them." She instructed the wolf with a gentle pat. It whined and hurried off. Vadania turned and with a blank look she began to eat the ice cream. She swung around startled when a hand dropped onto her shoulder.

"Are you alright Professor?" Lupin asked curiously and she nodded surprised. "Snape and I just finished our rounds, placing the words and protective charms around the house." Lupin explained and Vadania nodded.

"I'm sorry I didn't hear you or Severus come in. I was lost in my own thoughts…would you both like ice cream?" She asked as Snape sat next to her.

"No thank you…" Lupin said brow rising when Snape took Vadania's bowl instead and began to eat from it. "Isn't it to late to eat ice cream…I mean it is winter." Lupin pointed out and Vadania stuck out her tongue in response.

"Actually ice cream can be eaten during any time of the year. It's just promoted more during the summer." Vadania huffed and scowled when she noticed Snape had nearly finished the whole bowl. "Severus! Don't eat the whole bowl!" She said and he sneered as he pushed the bowl back to her. She finished it off and washed it. "Well I'm going to place more wards and charms into some hidden passageways. Play nicely boys." Vadania said disappearing into the hallway. Snape and Lupin stared at one another before Lupin broke into a mischievous smile.

"So Snape…how are things? Something is different about you…but you look the same…act like the same asshole." Lupin commented and Snape's eyes narrowed.

"Shut your muzzle werewolf. Before I devise a plan to do so permanently." Snape sneered. Lupin moved to respond but was interrupted by a large crash. Both jumped to there feet and headed quickly into the hall to find three guilty looking teens staring down at a broken vase. Garou's ears perked up and her tail swished as she ambled up to Snape and nudged his hand for a brief pat. Snape did so automatically as he gave the teens a cold look and with a wave of his wand the vase was repaired. They began to fidget under his gaze.

"You are all guest in Dumbledore's home. Do not be, as you are, dunderheads and behave. Tomorrow you WILL be receiving lessons from the professors so that you continue your studies. Now all of you should prepare for your families arrival and then GO TO BED." Snape ordered and they nodded with a faint scowl on Run's face at the mention of lessons.

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End of this chapter…pretty darn short actually.

I've been rereading these chapters and I've noticed there's a lot of grammatical errors and spelling. Forgive me lol. I didn't notice even while rereading before posting. Next chapter will be up soon.