Tru tread the halls alone, staring at the portraits surrounding her. They looked down at her curiously, occasionally bidding hello, to which she would nod in reply. The silence surrounding her when their hellos were made was pleasent. The serenity of her lonely walk hovered around her like the wind. Her footsteps could not even be heard upon the carpeted floors.

Hogwarts' halls lead to places no one had ever found before outside of it. Places where you could learn to fly, speak so many languages at once, and talk to fairies and other "mythical" creatures. Tru walked her way up to the North tower of Hogwarts and observed the grounds. It was nearing late afternoon. She had earlier gone to visit Draco but he had been in a deep slumber and she decided not to wake him.

She heard of the incident that happened when Pansy Parkinson and Gregory Berns earlier that day. She felt some sort of pride toward Draco. And it made her smile. She stared up at the sky for a long time, sitting upon the wall and looking around her. The wind swirled her senses and she closed her eyes, and spread her arms. She stood on the wall and let the wind whoosh past her, as though she were flying.

Remus paced around the entrance hall, waiting for Ellina. He didn't want to look so nervous, but he couldn't HELP but be so. His footsteps echoed across the hall, they were the only noise that could so far reach his delicate ears. He paced for such a long time it seemed as thought thirty or more years had gone by until finally he heard someone walking down the stairs.

The person in question could not be seen. His eyes tried to adjust, thinking perhaps his eyes were just betraying him in some sort of way. Finally he could see her walking toward him, that smile upon her face that made him feel jumpy. "Hello, Remus, ready to go now?"

"Yah. I...I- I'm ready."

"Where are we gonna go?"

"Oh...just around the grounds. Where I go mostly all of the time. Just around basically nothing special."

Ellina smiled and took his arm. Remus smiled widely and they proceeded to the grounds.

The grounds were not silent, but the serenity of them hung in the air so thickly they could feel it. The wind rustling through the trees was the music that flowed in their minds as they walked silently, their feet crunching on the ground beneath them. Remus kept sparing glances at Ellina. She was so beautiful. Her long red hair rested gently on her shoulders, blissfully billowing behind her on occasion with the wind. Her eyes observing the beauty of the grounds around her. She looked at him and smiled.

"So, Remus, tell me about yourself, your subject must be FASCINATING to teach."

Remus blushed.

"It's an interesting subject and the students are always eager to learn it."

"That's wonderful. I bet they're so eager because you teach it as though you are teaching them the back of your hand. I've seen your teaching methods. They're wonderful!"

"Thank you very much Miss McGonnagall."

"Please, Remus, call me Ellina, we may be colleagues but we can be friends to."

Remus smiled widely at this comment.

"All right...Ellina."

"So tell me, do you have a wife? Kids?"

"Er...I have a daughter, perhaps you've met her in class...her name is Tru."

Ellina contemplated for a moment.

"Tru Lupin...AH yes, she's a lovely young lady. I just met her today did she JUST start at Hogwarts?"

"Oh no she's been here since first year, she's just been in the Hospital Wing for two weeks."

"Oh...is she all right?"

"Yes I'm sure that she will be fine."

"Why was she in there for so long?"

"She fell ill, but she's doing much better."

"What about the wife? What's her name?"

Remus paused as they sat down by the lake. He hadn't spoken of his wife ever since she left. It was mighty awkward for him to speak of her now. Especially to someone who he was just accquainted with. But as he looked into those eyes of hers he felt he could trust her.

"Her name was Olivia. She is no longer with us. She left us when Tru was only two years old. She hasn't contacted us ever since."

Ellina's face was shocked.

"Oh...oh Remus I'm sorry I didn't mean-"

"No, no everyone else knows you were bound to find out eventually. But to be honest, I don't mind."

"But her leaving you and your daughter...and never talking to either of you for fourteen years? Why ever would she do such a thing?"

Remus gulped.

"I um...I have a condition which has passed down to my daughter that I told her about and she ceased to be faithful to me. And that just proved we weren't in love."

"What condition would be so serious as to make a wife leave her husband and child for so long?"

"Well...do you promise not to run away if I tell you?"

Ellina's look was very serious. They got up and began walking again. She continued to stare at him and he looked at the ground.

"I promise, Remus."

Remus sighed deeply and looked at her.

"I...well...my family has a history of werewolves that has been passed down to me and my daughter, it's a difficult burden and my daughter sadly had the first full moon two weeks ago. I've had to tell all of the staff so that if she gets sick to send her to me."

Ellina's look never changed. She never stopped or ran away.

"Remus, I find nothing wrong with that."

Remus stopped and she stood in front of him. The look in her eyes was deep, so deep he couldn't exactly see, but a glimpse was all he could muster of it. Was it pity? No...understanding perhaps...

"Remus, there are many people with the same condition who don't take any circumstances to stay safe during the full moon and you obviously have some remedy for it."

"Yes...Professor Snape actually has made a calmer potion for my daughter and I."

"Remus I don't understand why your wife would leave you when she knows that you're not a murderous soul but a gentle and kind one who obviously would do anything for his family. And that is something very admirable. And I completely understand."

Remus looked up into her eyes again. They stayed in that gaze for the longest time. The smiles never left their faces until.

"Professors.."

They had somehow found their way right back to the front door of Hogwarts and Professor Dumbledore there stood, his eyes twinkling and that smile broad on his lips. They snapped out of their stupor and walked up the steps. "Hello Headmaster." Remus said. Dumbledore smiled at him. "It is almost time for dinner in the great hall. I expect you're going Remus?"

Remus nodded and looked at Ellina, who looked away quickly, blushing. Remus walked back up the steps after Dumbledore.

"Remus?"

Remus turned to find Ellina smiling at him and stopping in front of him.

"Same time tomorrow?" she asked him. Her eyes never leaving his.

Remus stuttered for a moment. "Erm...yes. Same time..."

"Every day? Perhaps?"

"YES...if...if-if you'd like.."

Ellina smiled and walked ahead to the Great Hall, Remus sighing and staring after her. His heart racing, and as he walked it felt like he was actually floating, for the first time in 14 years.