White Death

by Frini

Former Hary Potter and the White Death. The past returns to Hogwarts on Harry's fith year. New teacher, holder of many secrets, new students, romance, danger and discoveries. ATTENTION! This fic has the older characters as its focus. 7 books spoilers.

13. Blood on the Moon

Chapter 13

Blood on the Moon

Moira's eyes were fixed on Snape's figure, standing near the wall. His eyes were also on her but his face bore a deep frown, clearly rejecting what Abigail had just said. Time seemed to be still as the few teachers and students that were at the scene felt the tension between the Potion Master and the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Their eyes were not blinking as they stared into each other. Anyone who knew them enough could think they were reading each other's mind...or worse. Thunder rumbled outside.

This can't be happening was everything that Moira could think of. They were so close last night, she revealed secrets to him, she had confessed she had fallen in love with him, she had...he had kissed her. Moira's heart felt really small in her chest. Was that part of the plan? Moira's lips parted at the thought and she started to fell her face get very hot. Feeling Abby shake in her arms made her turn her attention toward her cousin. She shut her eyes as she held her cousin against her. This can't be happening. This can't be true.

"This is absurd" Snape muttered as if he was talking about a paper he was grading.

"Is it?" Sirius said out loud, turning to face Snape.

"Sirius, don't" Lupin asked but Sirius ignored him, moving closer to Snape.

"Given your history I wouldn't be too surprised" Sirius said.

"That is enough!" McGonagall said as she got herself between the two wizards. Noticing that both were ready to pull their wands at each other, the Deputy Headmistress had to make a stand "I am not having students listen to such nonsense" she said in a lower voice.

Both wizards were staring at each other, not daring to blink. Snape had abandoned his blank expression and pure anger was dripping from his eyes. He was standing tall behind McGonagall as the witch tried to lead Sirius away from him.

"You come near her and I swear I'll kill you" Sirius said as he was pushed back by McGonagall

"Remind me again how you were voted innocent?" Snape said calmly.

"You son of a…" Sirius started to move toward Snape.

"STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU" Chloe cried as she got to her feet. Chloe's thin face was very pale, making her look extremely tired, but her eyes showed much more than that: her family was falling apart and the two teachers weren't helping. Silence surrounded the people present, making Sirius turn away from Snape. "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is the one responsible for this. Unless you work for him I suggest you shut up and help us"

Sirius' eyes found Moira's but hers were locked with someone else's. Her face still held a blank expression but Sirius saw how troubled her eyes were. He moved toward her, helping her and Abby get back to their feet. The blond witch was still shaking a lot.

"Get her to her room" Moira said in barely more than a whisper. She then looked around to the few shocked faces that belonged to the students. Her eyes set on them. "Ten points from each of you if you don't go back to your doings" she said in her dangerously smooth voice. In a flash, there was not one student in sight. "I suggest that from now on if any of us get hurt, they be treated in their own rooms. The students are under enough stress to see their professors fall like flies"

"But that won't be necessary, Moira" Chloe said "I mean, after we strength up the barriers tonight, we'll be safe again"

Moira turned to her aunt. Her big almond shaped eyes were cold, the lashes were darker. Chloe saw her sister in them.

"You don't know him like I do" Moira whispered "Tend to Abby, aunt Chloe"

Chloe turned to the teachers.

"Minerva will you please find the Headmaster and tell him what happened? It would also be a good idea to find my son and husband. They might have felt something too"

"We'll find them" Sinistra said and Sprout nodded. The two teachers left immediately toward the staircases, McGonagall by their side.

"Remus, will you find Poppy and have her come take a look at Abby?" Chloe asked as she moved down the corridor with her daughter being supported by Sirius. Lupin didn't need to be asked twice.

Moira half smiled to herself as she watched them leave. They were so worried with Abigail's health they didn't notice she had been left alone with Snape. Ironic and yet Moira couldn't bring herself to laugh at the situation. It hurt too much. The corridor became silent after a few moments and the only noise was the heavy raindrops falling over Hogwarts.

"Care to explain?" Moira asked, breaking the silence. Her tone wasn't dangerous or imperative. She was talking to him as if he was one of her students who did something he wasn't supposed to. He wouldn't have that, not even after what happened between them only hours before.

Doing what he did best, Snape snorted at her and turned his back to her, walking toward his dungeons.

"Don't you walk away from me!" Moira spat as she moved to block his way. Raising her head so that her eyes could find his, her voice dropped down to a whisper "I want to know, Snape. I want to know if he ordered you to kill me"

Snape insides froze. He wanted to answer that question but by doing so he would be admitting to a whole lot of things he didn't want to. He wanted to tell her that it was true, that Voldemort had asked him to end her life, he wanted to tell her he didn't obey his orders fifteen years ago, when he had left the Death Eaters. He wanted to tell her everything but he couldn't. To speak his mind was to give in to her again and he feared that this time he wouldn't be able to resist the urge inside of him…the voice that had always whispered but now was screaming to him, ordering him to claim her once and for all…to protect her with his life and to never let her go. Telling her he once had orders to stop her heart from beating and that he didn't follow them was admitting his own heart still held some warmth and that wouldn't be wise, not while dealing with the Dark Lord. No, Moira was a weakness and Severus Snape was not a weak man.

"I think the scar you carry answers the question" he whispered in the coldest voice. Moira's lips parted "You are not the average witch, Craine. You are too...precious to him to be handed over to a Death Eater"

Moira's lips curled and an enormous urge to slap his face came over her, but she didn't move. He was right. Although she had only survived Voldemort's curse because he was already weak, Moira knew that if he was coming to kill her, he would do it himself, but having Snape say it hurt much more.

"Don't call me that" Moira whispered between clenched teeth, backing up from him "Don't call me precious" she turned away from him. Moira took a few steps and raised her head, letting out a sigh "Why did she see that then?"

Before Snape could answer he heard Moira gasp. Her back tensed up and her hands moved to her chest, as if she had been hit by an arrow. She turned to him, her eyes wide with terror, hands over her heart. Snape moved toward her but she took a step back, taking her wand from her sleeve in a very fast move and pointing at Snape's chest. Moira's hand was trembling and her breathing was becoming heavy.

"Stay away from me" she gasped just as another wave of pain took hold of her, making her left shoulder blade sting "Was that all part of the plan, Snape?" Moira whispered not taking her eyes away from him as he took small steps toward her. "Because if it was, you are even lower than he is" she hissed before gasping again. As Snape took another step toward her, Moira raised her wand at him, her other hand still on her chest.

"If I wanted to kill you I would have easily done so last night" he said, his eyes locked in hers.

Moira's lips parted and Snape wasn't sure if she was going to talk back at him or curse him. He didn't get to find out.

"MOIRA! MOIRA!" Sirius' strong voice echoed in the stone corridors.

Moira dashed as fast as she could toward him, not caring that Snape was following her down the corridors. As she ran toward Sirius' cries, the pain got terribly strong, making it very difficult for her to breathe. The dark haired witch went down the steps in a hurry, finding Sirius and Chloe trying to hold Abby down. Abigail's eyes weren't they normal blue but pearly white and she was shaking, trying to get free of Sirius and Chloe. Snape stopped in the doorway , shock on his face.

"What happ..." Moira started to speak but fell silent as she heard the hissing sounds coming out of Abby's heart shaped lips.

For one moment, Sirius thought Moira was going to faint. Her lips were extremely pale and her breathing was coming in gasps. He didn't understand what Abby was saying but recognized the language. It was Parseltongue. As soon as Moira got there, Abby stopped shaking and became very still. Slowly, she looked at Moira, her pearly white eyes on her cousin's brown ones. An evil smile appeared in the corner of Abby's lips, making Chloe put her hand on her mouth in order not to scream. Pain was evident in her eyes. Moira took a step back, putting her hands on the railing behind her for support.

Abby looked at her for quite sometime, than hissed something to her. Sirius and Chloe looked up at her, waiting for Moira to do something but the witch was too much in shock. Abby let go a cold laugh and Moira gasped again. Sirius could see her shaking and hear her trying to control her breathing. Then, Moira's face changed. Her eyes got colder and in barely more than a whisper, Moira hissed back. Slowly a very strong frown took hold of Abby's face. In response, Moira threw herself at Abby gripping her face with both hands and looking straight into the girl's pale eyes.

"Let her go" she demanded, "It's not her you want"

"You are running out of time...precious" Abigail said in an extremely cold voice

Then, as strong as it had started, Moira gasped out loud and Abby fell unconscious in Sirius's arms.

"Abby! Abby!" Chloe called as tears flooded her face. Her breathing was coming in gasps "Oh, Merlin, Abby...please wake up"

"What..." Lupin said as he arrived at the scene with Poppy by his side "Abby...Abby" he flung himself at the blond witch, taking her into his arms.

Moira pulled herself up again, her back still hurting and the word "precious" echoing in her mind.

"Please, do something" Chloe pleaded, her face wet with tears.

"Follow me" Poppy said urgently as Lupin got up, holding Abby in his arms, followed closely by Chloe. They vanished in one of the corridors, leaving a heaving Moira and a confused Sirius behind. Snape was observing the scene that had just played out in front of him. His lips parted and a frown took hold of his face.

"Moira...what..." Sirius started.

"We have to put the barriers up now" Moira whispered, cutting him off. She looked up and her eyes found Snape "He is too close"

Sirius nodded, got back on his feet and turned around only to find Snape behind them.

"You" he hissed as he strode up the stairs, toward the Potion's Master.

"Sirius, don't" Moira demanded as she tried to hold him back, to no avail. Sirius was too strong for her to handle and too angry "It wasn't him…Sirius" Moira pleaded as she followed Sirius up the stairs.

"Dumbledore might think you've reformed but I know better. You are working for Voldemort"

"I don't have to listen to this" Snape murmured with contempt as he turned his back on Black and started walking away "Don't blame me for Mrs. Dumbledore's weakness"

"That was more than a vision and you know it" Moira said as she walked up the stairs, passing Sirius. Snape stopped in mid step "You know it because you felt it too"

Snape turned to her, pure hatred in his eyes.

"I felt nothing" he hissed, making Moira's chest feel empty. He turned to Sirius "Craine has just communicated in Parseltongue with the Dark Lord and you still think I am the problem in this equation? I thought dogs were supposed to be smart animals."

Sirius strode toward Snape, becoming inches away from him. Moira saw that both wizards were already gripping their wands.

"I don't care what happens, Snivellus, you touch Moira and I will kill you"

"Too late for that isn't it?" Snape hissed back. Sirius' fist connected with Snape's face so fast the Potions Master didn't have the time to duck out of the way.

Losing his balance and smacking his back against the wall, Snape's nose began to bleed. His pale hand was stained with crimson as he looked at it. Anger took hold of him as he took off his wand and pointed it between Sirius' eyes. Sirius had already his wand raised at Snape, a look of compete loathing in his eyes.

"STOP IT!" Moira yelled, but before she could get herself between the two men, a flash of red light hit Sirius on his chest, making him fly backwards. But before Sirius had been hit, a flash of orange light had left his wand and hit Snape, making him fly the opposite direction.

"Stop it!" Moira pleaded as she saw Sirius struggling to get up and Snape coming toward him. It was Moira's turn to pull her wand at Snape, making the Potion Master frown at her.

"Put a leash on him, Craine" Snape said as he came to a halt, taking a handkerchief out of his frock-coat pocket "Or he'll be turned into soap"

"Get out" Moira whispered between clenched teeth, her eyes locked in Snape's "Get out before I do something I'll regret"

"I thought you already had" Snape said before turning on his heels and leaving, his black robes framing his steps.

Moira turned to Sirius, trying as best as she could to control her temper. She put her wand back up her sleeve and as she reached for his arm to help him up, Sirius moved away from her.

"I can manage" he said coldly.

"Sirius..." Moira called as she stood up as well.

"We have to put the barriers up" he said without looking at Moira.

For a few moments, Moira stood there, in shock as she saw what was left of her world start to crumble. Too much was happening too fast. "You are running out of time" Abby had said, but it wasn't her. Fifteen long years without looking at him in the face, she thought time had erased the fear she felt when under his gaze. She was wrong. Voldemort was strong, she could feel it, and this time luck wasn't on her side as before. To make matters worse, Halloween was approaching. The rain stopped outside.

"I felt nothing" The words stabbed her heart.Snape only made things worse. The way Sirius moved away from her touch, refusing to look at her. He had never done that before, not even when he found out about her engagement. Moira sighed as she lowered her head to the floor, thinking about so many things her head started to throb. She knew it was a mistake...as soon as she returned Snape's kiss, Moira knew it would only make things worse, but she couldn't find it in her the strength to push him away. Gladly, he did it for her. Gladly he didn't feel anything. How can someone hate and love a person at the same time? Everything she feared, that she has been hiding from for so long was coming back to her...all at once.

"Bee in your bonnet, Mrs. Craine?" a feminine voice asked, making Moira turn quickly on her heels. The pale figure of the Gray Lady was beside her with a very worried look on her face "Sorry if I scared you"

"You didn't" Moira replied quickly "I was just...thinking"

The Gray Lady nodded thoughtfully, waiting for Moira to continue but the witch fell silent.

"I see...thinking is good in times like this" the ghost continued with her soft voice "Makes us see things clearer"

Moira frowned as she looked at the Gray Lady.

"What do you mean?" Moira asked.

"He's afraid, dear. Even I can see it" Moira's frown intensified "He tries to hide it but it is clear in his actions. Severus Snape is afraid to lose you, Mrs. Craine"

Moira's lips parted and only one word came out.

"What?" she breathed.

"The past is vivid in these hallways, Mrs. Craine and I can see it happening again. Severus acted like this only once, it was long ago and his fears did come true then" Moira couldn't bring herself to breathe "He did lose you"

"You're wrong" Moira muttered, anger in her eyes.

How could this woman, a dead one actually, simply come out of the shadows and start feeding her hope? Hating Snape would make things so much easier. Having his indifference hurt a lot but it was safer, it was easier As much as she tried not to, as much as she hated her self for it, Moira would always love him, but the mere thought that he could return the affection... that he could love her...

"Why are you doing this?" Moira asked, her strict tone back in place.

"Because the both of you have been alone for far too long. And because I also believe love is strength and not weakness. You will need all the strength you can in order to get through this" the Gray Lady said calmly.

"There is no strength in lies" Moira spat as she turned on her heels and strode away.

"Only because he didn't say it doesn't mean he is not feeling it" the Gray Lady whispered as she watched Moira's figure vanish around a corridor "Live the life I didn't get to live"

The storm had passed and the sky was turning a light tone of purple when Professor McGonagall's voice echoed in the corridors, demanding the students to stay in their common rooms until further notice. Every time that warning was given, it meant the school was in trouble. That was not news for the students and staff of Hogwarts. After the horrible events of Hogsmeade, the Hogwarts inhabitants had one certainty: it wouldn't take long for really bad things to start happening. The Dark times were upon them again and their fate rested in a teenage boy's hands.

"HARRY!" Ron yelled as he saw his friend scream, grip his forehead and fall down the stairs of the boys' dormitory.

Harry went tumbling down the steps until he reached the cold floor of the common room. In a flash, Ron was by his side, his hand under his friend's head. Harry's glasses broke on his fall and pieces were stuck to his skin.

"Don't move Harry" Ron said as he thought about what he had to do… where was Hermione when he needed her?

"What's going on?" Megan Malfoy asked as she looked down from the girl's dormitory. As soon as she saw Harry laying on his back with a bloody face and mumbling something, she widened her gray eyes and came running down the stairs, kneeling down beside Harry "Don't open your eyes" she instructed as she carefully removed pieces of glass from Harry's face "What happened?"

"Voldemort" Harry whispered, trying to get up but unable to do so "It wasn't just him".

"What do you mean?" Ron asked, his voice showing fear.

"He is not alone" Harry said "Someone is…oh…I think I'm going to…"

"Accio!" Megan Malfoy commanded and a trashcan came floating toward her. It arrived just in time for Harry to feel sick and put the bin to a good use. "Stay with him" Megan said as she moved to get up "I'll go get someone"

"No, Megan" Harry said, catching Megan's wrist "Take my cloak. Find Professor Lupin"

"I'll go get it" Ron said as he dashed upstairs returning briefly with Harry's invisibility cloak. Megan put it over her head and dashed out of the common room. She didn't know why she was acting the way she was, why she was following Potter's orders. All Megan Malfoy could think of was that she feared worse things were going to happen. And worse of all, that her family was probably involved. She remembered Professor Lupin talking to her about family and now… now she had to find him. All of this rushed through her head in the small distance between Harry's fallen body and the portrait hole.

As Megan left the portrait hole, her body collided with a very hard surface, making her fall on the floor. As she looked up, she saw the face of Sirius Black looking at her.

"Harry?" he asked as he pulled the cloak over Megan's head.

"He's inside, professor" Megan said as she appeared from under the cloak "He asked me to go get Professor Lupin"

Without another word, Sirius went inside the common room, pulling Megan along with him.

"Harry!" Sirius exclaimed as he saw his godson lying on the floor, his face bloody from the glass of his eye glasses "What happened?" he asked as he kneeled down on the floor.

"Sirius... it was Voldemort" the students that now flooded the room shuddered at the name. Harry noticed and his voice dropped down to a whisper "He is not working alone". He looked at Sirius, noticing that his godfather was doing some really fast thinking "I need to find Professor Lupin"

"Why, Harry?" Sirius asked, coming back to reality "Why Remus?" he asked, his eyes filled with worry.

Harry looked into his godfather's eyes. He could trust him. No matter what happens, Harry knew he could trust Sirius.

"Because he's next"

"Poppy said Abby is stable and out of danger" Lupin said as he walked out of Abby's room. He didn't sound convinced though. "She is going to be all right. Chloe and Aberforth are with her"

Sophie nodded as her hands massaged Nicholas' shoulders. Lupin sat down on the floor outside Abby's door. He loosened his tie and un-cuffed the wrists of his shirt. His head still throbbed and his face was dripping with cold sweat.

"Where's Henry?" Nicholas asked in a hoarse voice.

"With Professor Flitwick" Sophie replied "Oddly enough he was the only one who calmed him down. Do you think I should go get him?" she asked with a worried expression in her face.

"No, no. Flitwick won't let anything happen to him. He probably has already put a thousand protective charms over Henry. I think that it is a better thing for him not to be near us right now"

"Why do you say that?" asked Lupin, as he finished rolling up his sleeves.

"I don't know but as far as I can tell we have all been a target, Remus. First Henry then Moira and now Abby. I'm just waiting for my turn"

"Please don't say that" Sophie said. Nicholas pulled his wife into his arms "Nothing is going to happen to us. Not anymore" she whispered as she buried her face in his neck.

Just as Sophie finished her sentence, Dumbledore appeared. Worry was clear on his face, but his blue eyes still held their familiar twinkle.

"I'm afraid we cannot wait any longer" Dumbledore said in his deep and calm voice "We must put up the barriers now"

Lupin looked at Nicholas. Both men stood up.

"Stay with her" Nicholas said before kissing his wife's lips "Keep safe"

Sophie nodded as her heart grew very small. It was as if she was saying good-bye, as if her husband was going to war. Before she could say what she was feeling, Dumbledore, Lupin and Nicholas left for the grounds.

"Please... keep him safe" Sophie whispered before entering Abby's room.

Sirius ran as fast as he could to his own office, gathered the four house swords and dashed out again. He knew the staff should be getting ready to put the barriers up so he moved to the grounds as fast as he could. He could see the flames of the torches on the outside. Night had approached fast.

"REMUS!" Sirius screamed as he ran toward the huddle of teachers "REMUS!"

"What is it?" Lupin asked as he turned to his friend, running to meet him, his eyes wide and his heart already racing with worry "Is Abby all right?"

"You're next" Sirius said as he came to a halt before Lupin "Harry saw it. He said Voldemort is not working alone and that you are next"

"Hang on a second. He said what?" Nicholas said as he moved to stand beside Lupin as other teachers did.

Moira had moved closer as well to hear what was been said. The teachers were frowning but too much in shock to say anything. Snape didn't move from where he was standing, in the opposite direction of Moira.

"He said Voldemort is not acting alone?" Moira asked as she looked at Sirius

"And I am next?" Lupin whispered "How come?"

"I told you. I warned you all but you wouldn't listen" Trelawney started to speak "It's her!" she pointed her bony finger at Moira "All of this started when she came along"

"Oh, shut your pie hole!" Moira replied, losing her patience "Before I shut it for you"

"That is enough" Dumbledore said in his low and firm voice, making the two witches fall silent "Please, Sirius, try to explain how all of this happened" Dumbledore said in his calm voice.

"She is right" Sirius whispered making Moira turn to him with a look of complete disbelief on her face "It all started when you got back"

"That is out of line Sirius..." Lupin started but Sirius cut him off.

"Sybill is right Remus. Harry said he's not working alone" Sirius narrowed his eyes at Moira "Who else could do a better job than his own bride"

Moira's heart skipped a beat as she heard the words leave Sirius's lips.

"Take it back!" Nicholas said as he strode forward "She is not his bride anymore. Take it back, Sirius"

"Why? I am telling the truth and you all know it. The only surprise was that the Dark Lord is now sharing her" he looked at Snape, who was nothing short of fuming.

In a second, Moira's hand collided with Sirius's face. The teachers held their breath as the sound of the slap echoed in the now dark grounds.

"Go to hell" Moira whispered between clenched teeth.

"I've been there, Moira, for thirteen long years" Sirius whispered back, his eyes filled with loathing.

"Yes, and I helped to get you out" she hissed "Why are you saying these things when you know they are not true?" Moira said, trying not to lose her temper, trying not to cry "Why are you doing this, Sirius?"

"Because I will not stand to be betrayed again" he spat "The both of you are in this together" he looked from Moira to Snape "I really expected that from Snape but never from you"

"Of all people, why would I hurt Remus, Sirius?" Moira asked, trying to regain her posture "Why would I hurt him or Abby?" she took one step forward, looking into the depths of Sirius' eyes "You know I would never betray you"

"I don't know. Your choices are a real mystery to me" Sirius said as he looked at Snape again.

"That is enough!" echoed Dumbledore once more "I will not have this, not here, not now, and not between the two of you" he turned to Sirius "I trust my daughter, Sirius as I trust you. If you cannot do the same I suggest you don't take part in this"

Sirius dropped the swords on the floor and turned on his heels, making his way up to the castle. Moira made a move to follow him but Remus caught her hand.

"Let him go. I'll talk to him after we finish this" he whispered. Moira felt Remus squeeze her hand in his before he let it go.

They both moved to the huddle of teachers as Dumbledore started to give directions of what was going to happen. She had to fight very hard not to run after Sirius, to explain to him what actually happened. She couldn't have him doubting her and yet she knew there was nothing she could do to make it better… not now anyway. Moira had to focus on the task at hand. Protecting the castle and its dwellers was her duty. She would deal with Sirius later.

It has been centuries since the school barriers had to be replaced and none of the teachers present had done it before. As instructed, the Professors got the potions, spell books and other items that were going to be needed. It didn't take long for the teachers to be spread over the grounds, covering from the lake to the forest, from the ground floor to the highest tower. In front of the stairs that lead to the school doors, Dumbledore conjured a stone altar where a large spell book was opened. The book had a dark leather cover and appeared to be at least a thousand years old. The long fingers of the Headmaster traveled the pages, looking for the right one.

"Don't start without me" Aberforth said as he came out of the castle, moving toward Dumbledore.

"You should be with your daughter, brother" Albus said as he saw his younger brother approach.

"I want to get the bastard who did this" he looked around at some very uncomfortable faces "Well...let's make some magic"

Dumbledore nodded and exchanged looks with his daughter. Moira blinked and laid the swords on the stone altar. Beside them there was a small pot holding a clear liquid that looked like water. Slowly Severus Snape, Aberforth Dumbledore, Remus Lupin and Nicholas Dumbledore approached the altar. Dumbledore began to read.

"For thousands of years we offered knowledge.

For thousands of years we offered protection

Now under attack we conjure the founders

To strengthen the bonds between now and then"

As she heard her father stop reading, Moira took the Hufflepuff sword in her hands.

"Helga Hufflepuff" Moira said as she handed the sword to her uncle. Moira then dipped the tip of her long fingers in the potion and traced a line across Aberforth's forehead. "Godric Gryffindor" Lupin came forward and she repeated the ritual "Rowena Ravenclaw" Nicholas came forward and she handed him the sword, earning an encouraging grin back "And Salazar Slytherin" Moira handed Snape the sword and carefully traced the line of liquid on his forehead, trying to ignore his gaze upon her.

As soon as she had finished handing the swords, she walked toward Hagrid, who handed her a crossbow and arrows. Then, she mounted Mavros, and galloped on the back of the raven black horse into the Dark Forest. After only a few moments, Moira had vanished and the sounds of Mavros' hoofs were far away. As the founders were called, Hogwarts barriers had to weaken before getting stronger and it was up to Moira to control the evil inside the Dark Forest. One more reason for Dumbledore to worry.

The wind began to change as the four men holding the swords - their house swords - spread over the grounds. Snape moved to the edge of the forest, Nicholas moved down hill to the edge of the lake, Lupin moved to the cliff side and Aberforth to the rose garden on the far back of the school. The storm had passed and the night became extremely quiet. The moon was shinning; it wouldn't be long before it turned to full. Lupin looked up and saw a red circle around the moon.

"Blood on the moon" he whispered to himself as he waited "Trouble is coming"

McGonagall was at the top of the Astronomy tower, shivering, and waiting. All the teachers were anxiously waiting but not knowing for what. They soon found out when a cold wind started blowing and whispering started to spread everywhere, as if a thousand people were muttering something at once.

"Voices of the past" Sinistra whispered as Snape and Nicholas buried the blades of the swords in the ground.

"Voices of the future" Flitwick breathed as he held Henry's little hand. On the outside, Lupin and Aberforth stabbed the ground before them.

"It's started" Sophie Dumbledore whispered as she peeked from a window in Abigail's room.

A scream echoed inside the forest and a flash of blue light escaped the treetops and appeared in the pitch-black sky.

"They're here" Dumbledore said.

Four gray figures appeared before the Headmaster. A tall man dressed in warrior garments appeared out of thin air. He had strong features and dark eyes, but an honest smile on his face. After him a short woman with chubby cheeks and a sweet smile appeared. She held a bouquet of flowers in her hands. Following her another tall man came to appear. He was in many ways different from the first one, and yet similar. The man had almond shaped clear eyes, and was dressed in a long and elegant robe. Last came a thin woman wearing a very long and elegant dress. Dumbledore blinked as the woman with long hair and a book in her arms looked a lot like his niece.

"The founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I bid you welcome" Dumbledore said as he bowed politely as the four figures moved closer to him.

"Why welcome us if we never left?" the short woman asked with a smile.

"Indeed" Dumbledore whispered as he smiled at Helga.

"Why did you call upon us?" the tall man with cold eyes asked.

"We need your help. The school is under attack" Dumbledore said.

"Don't tell me it is a basilisk?" the man wearing the warrior garment said with a smile earning a snort from the other man "Come on Salazar, last time it was your fault. The chamber has been closed has it not?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"I still can't believe you did that, Salazar. A child died" the woman holding the flowers said.

"Knowledge can't be deprived from those who seek it. Even if they don't have pure blood in their veins" the other woman resembling Abby spoke.

"It is done" Salazar replied briskly "The basilisk is gone. End of story" he turned his cold eyes to Dumbledore "Moving on"

"This time the attacks are coming not from within but from outside" Dumbledore explained "We need your help to strengthen the barriers around the school and protect the ones inside it"

"We'll help" the tall woman replied without hesitation.

"I am not so sure this will work, Rowena" Salazar replied moving his gaze from the woman to Dumbledore "You see, evil is inside the school. I felt it as soon as I got here" he turned to the man in the armor "So did you Godric"

Godric Gryffindor turned to Dumbledore. Another scream echoed from inside the forest, making Snape turn on his heels and look back into the forest.

"Yes... odd" the figure of Godric looked from Snape to Dumbledore "You fear for her but the evil I feel is not coming from your descendent but another's"

"Whose?" Dumbledore asked, puzzled.

"An ancient evil" Salazar whispered as he softly sniffed the air "Hidden in the school but not in a chamber, Godric" he added, looking at the man out of the corner of his eye.

"No, not in a chamber" Rowena said "So much anger and yet I can't locate it. It is in the air"

"We'll help, but we can't purge it" Helga said as she approached Dumbledore "We can prevent it from connecting with the outside, but not purge the one within"

"Or the one outside" Godric added as he walked around the grounds as if remembering his time in Hogwarts "The Dark Lord is stronger. His presence here is great"

"Indeed…" Rowenas's eyes lost in thought as her face became extremely sad "Oh, one of mine has fallen into shadow" she said, her voice bearing great sorrow.

"One of mine is fighting light" Salazar said almost with disgust.

"One of mine is still to return" Helga said smiling.

"A few of mine are in discord" Godric said, his voice heavy with worry. He turned to Dumbledore "If defenses from the inside fall, Headmaster, the outside will take control"

"I understand" Dumbledore said as he approached the four founders "Will the barriers help keep the students and staff safe?"

"Hogwarts will be safer but not impenetrable" Salazar said as he walked around, looking into the woods as another scream echoed.

"She is valiant" Godric said as he looked at Dumbledore.

"But she will fall" Salazar concluded.

Dumbledore became very pale but kept his posture. He felt a cold touch on his shoulder. As he turned around, he saw Rowena smiling sadly at him.

"I am sorry, Albus" she said sweetly.

"We'll help, but you will have to fight the evil within. It is up to the boy to fight the one on the outside" Godric said as he returned to stand next to the Founders "Sir" he looked at Salazar "Ladies" and the four Hogwarts founders took their places next to the ones representing them.

"May I?" Rowena asked Nicholas, who nodded. With a swift movement, the ghostly figure pulled the Ravenclaw sword from the ground, as did the other founders with their respective swords.

Pointing toward the night sky, the four founders started to speak.

"Courage, intelligence, loyalty and determination

Have once before founded the school

Now in time of darkness we return

To protect and guard the age and youth"

In ancient languages the four founders started to chant. Slowly, the wind increased as a cloak of what looked like ice started to cover the school grounds. From the lake to the forest, from the cliffs to the gardens, from the ground to the highest tower, icy night embraced Hogwarts.

"Look" Ginny said as she pointed at the window at the Gryffindor tower "We are covered in ice"

Harry had put on his glasses, fixed by Hermione, and moved to the window. His face was already healing, thanks to a solution Megan had brewed.

"Wait a second" George said as he waved his wand and conjured a few binoculars to the students "You might have to wash your face after using them. They leave black spots around the eyes" George explained.

"Brilliant huh?" Fred asked as he elbowed Ron.

Narrowing his eyes at the distant figures, Harry's jaw fell.

"Is that who I think it is?" Ron asked as he looked down.

"Godric Gryffindor" Hermione whispered joining the boys "I can't believe it! The four founders are here and I am stuck in the common room!"

Megan moved to another window, narrowing her eyes at the edge of the forest. There, beside Professor Snape stood a tall figure Megan had seen only in books.

"Salazar" she whispered in awe.

"Wow" Neville said as he looked out the window "What is this thing?"

"The barriers are getting stronger" Hermione answered "We are safe again"

Harry felt sick to his stomach. He knew that probably for the first time, Hermione was wrong. They could be safer, but not completely safe. Did Sirius find Lupin?

"What are those lights?" Fred asked as he looked at the Dark Forest. Flashes of colored light escaped the treetops.

"Spells" Ginny replied "That can't be good"

The professors gathered again on the ground floor as the icy cover disappeared. Minerva McGonagall was shivering to the bone as was Sinistra, Sprout, Hooch and pretty much every teacher involved in the spell. Snape, Lupin, Nicholas and Aberforth also made their way up to where Dumbledore was. The founders put the swords back into the stone altar and took a step back. The wind had stopped blowing so fiercely.

"Good luck Albus Dumbeldore" Helga said before vanishing.

"Take care" Rowena whispered before following Helga.

"Strength, to all of you" Godric said before disappearing.

"You'll need it" Salazar whispered before departing.

Once again, Hogwarts fell silent. Dumbledore was relieved. He felt the magic around the school, knowing for certain that the protection was back in place and yet his heart was not settled. Slytherin's words echoed in his ears.

"What happens next?" Nicholas asked breaking the silence.

"We prepare for the worst" Lupin replied "Evil is still inside the school"

"Evil is everywhere" a feminine voice replied. Moira came out of the forest holding her hand to her face. Her pale face was the only thing that made her presence noticeable since her black garments and Mavors' black fur made them almost one with Night itself. She came down from Mavros and moved toward the huddle of teachers.

"What happened to you?" Sprout asked as she saw a deep cut on Moira's right cheek. Blood was dripping from it.

"A bloody raven came straight at me" Moira said as she put the bow and remaining arrows on the floor "So... I take it the barriers are up again" she said casually, taking a handkerchief from her father's hand and pressing it against her skin. They nodded at her. Moira looked from one face to the other and her chest tightened. She knew better than to think they feared her in any way, but she also knew something was wrong. A student had already acted on Voldemort's behalf; why not think the same of his ex- bride?

"Well, vampires got a bit vengeful about what we did with them but I handled them fine" Moira continued, trying to ignore the awkwardness "Had to kill a few spiders though. Sorry Hagrid" Moira said, looking back at Hagrid who was standing at the edge of the forest "Aragog is fine though"

"I'll go take a look at him" Hagrid said as he took his crossbow and entered the forest with Fang at his heels.

"Those screams... what were they?" Nicholas asked.

"Banshee" she turned to Lupin "I wanted to capture her for our class but she was screaming way too much for my liking" Moira said as she pressed her hand to the wound "Damn bird" she muttered.

"Whose Banshee was it?" Lupin asked, his big and clear eyes on Moira's.

A gloomy silence fell over the teachers. A Banshee serves one family for all eternity and when someone in that family is near death, the banshee screams. After Abby's vision of Moira's death and Harry's of Lupin's not so bright future, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers weren't very happy to see a Banshee walking around school grounds. Maybe the job was jinxed after all.

"I don't know" Moira said softly as she looked around "So... can we go back to our school year?"

"Yes" Dumbledore hoarse voice spoke, not being able to tell her what else was spoken during the encounter with the Founders.

"Good" Moira said before moving away from the huddle and going toward the castle, acting as if nothing had happened.

The teachers followed, chatting about what had happened. None but Dumbledore had heard what Salazar Slytherin had said. The Headmaster followed the teachers into the castle with a heavy heart. Aberforth and Lupin made their way up to Abby's room as did Nicholas. Snape disappeared into his classroom without a word to anyone. The other teachers went to get some dinner and Moira moved to her own room.

"Are you alright Albus?" Minerva asked, joining the Headmaster by the front steps to the castle.

"As far as I'll ever be, Minerva" he whispered.

"Are you thinking about what Sirius said?" she asked as they walked into the castle.

"Indeed... about that and many things" he turned to McGonagall "I fear the worst is yet to come"

"We'll be ready, Albus" she said "We'll be ready"

Dumbledore smiled sympathetically at her and turned, moving to his office.

Hogwarts slept better that night. All but a few stirred in bed. Lupin, unable to find Sirius to talk about what had happened, moved to his room and took a sleeping potion and another medicinal one. The headache was too strong now and his fever was getting higher. Moira took a long bath and applied a potion to the cut on her cheek. Unable to sleep, she got dressed again and left her room into the direction of another. Harry was so tired he fell asleep without realizing it, right there, in an armchair in the common room. Snape's bedroom stayed untouched. Aberforth slept heavily as his wife watched over his daughter. Nicholas got Henry back from Flitwick and put him to sleep between him and Sophie. Henry fell asleep fast as did his mother, but Nicholas stayed up for a while longer, his hand lost in Sophie's hair and his eyes admiring his sleeping family. Dumbledore spent the night in the company of a bottle of the finest red wine and an old portrait. In a golden frame, his late wife smiled up to him.

"I really wish you were here" the Headmaster whispered to the portrait.

The children slept fine, worried but feeling much safer than before. For four years many have heard stories about what had happened to Harry Potter while in Hogwarts but now it was different. The Boy Who Lived was not the only one suffering the consequences anymore and the students were very worried. After strengthening the barriers, the little hearts that dwelled in Hogwarts were at ease, knowing for a fact that nothing evil could come their way once they had the teachers to protect them.

It was almost dawn when a soft knock on the door woke Chloe up. The door to Abigail's room opened a crack and Moira's head popped inside.

"Can I come in?" she whispered and her aunt nodded "How is she?" Moira asked as she approached Abby's bed, her long midnight blue robes framing her steps.

"She hasn't woken up since" Chloe said tiredly "Poppy said she will recover fine but..."

Moira held her aunt's hands in hers.

"Abby is very sensitive, aunt. The effects of curses are harder on her" Moira whispered, looking at her cousin inert body "Remember when we were younger and Nicholas hexed her with a simple silencing spell? Abby couldn't speak for three days. She'll take her time but she'll recover…I'm sure of it"

The usual flush Abigail had on her cheeks was gone, making her look extremely pale. Her long, blond hair was fanned on the pillow and the light blue sheets covered her from toe to chest. Moira couldn't help but worry about her cousin. She knew that the magic performed on her was too strong, that she would recover, but seeing her like this, and knowing that her heart had been broken as well just made everything feel worse.

"How could this happen?" Chloe asked in a hoarse voice, indicating she was going to cry again.

"I don't know" Moira turned to her aunt "But I'll find out"

Chloe's eyes were red from crying. She squeezed Moira's hand in her as she looked in the depths of her chocolate brown eyes. Moira saw worry in her aunt's eyes, not only for Abby but for her. It has been a long time since Moira had seen a mother's look been set upon her and she silently thanked her aunt for that.

"What is going to happen, Moira?" Chloe asked "What is going to happen to you, and Abby?"

"Nothing" Moira whispered "Abby will be just fine. And you don't have to worry about me. Snape can't hurt me, aunt Chloe"

"Then why are your eyes saying otherwise?" Chloe whispered.

Moira looked away from her aunt, moving to sit by Abby's bedside.

"It is not like that" Moira said not looking at her aunt "Too much has happened in one single weekend. I'm a bit overwhelmed that's all"

"And Halloween is drawing near" Chloe said. Moira's eyes found her aunts' "I can't say I am not worried"

"I have everything planned out, aunt Chloe" Moira said, her tone of voice colder than before "My isolation will be complete and no one will be hurt in the process" Silence filled the room again. The soft sound of Abigail's breathing was hypnotic. Chloe pulled a chair and sat down next to Moira, facing her niece.

"I want you to know I trust you completely, Moira. As I trusted my sister" Chloe said.

This was it… it was time to talk about what has been going on and no better person than her aunt. She knew he asked her for secrecy, but something like this in a time such as this couldn't be kept inside.

"I met Ethan Leery" Chloe's face became even paler than before as surprise and fear took hold of her features "He said my mother hurt you… how?"

Chloe couldn't bring herself to speak. Her eyes started to shine as tears started to take hold of them. Chloe got up from her chair and moved away from Moira, giving her back to her.

"She didn't mean to… she lost control for a moment" Chloe mumbled under her breath.

"That won't happen again" Moira's voice whispered behind her.

Chloe turned to her. Her eyes showed much more years than they held.

"You fear too much, Moira. That was your mother's mistake and is also yours" she said coldly as she approached Moira once more, taking back a seat beside her "You see, the key to control this type of magic, or any actually, is not to fear it, but to embrace it. If you're scared of your powers, you won't be able to control them. Let them wash over you, Moira… by opening to them you will be able to know them, to control them" Moira was speechless "Ethan taught your mother that, but she didn't listen" Chloe's thin hand cupped Moira's face "Don't be as stubborn as she was, Moira. You can do this. You are a Craine woman before you are a Dumbledore. You can do anything"

"What if they take hold of me" Moira breathed "What if I…"

"Change sides?" Chloe concluded and Moira nodded softly "You control your magic, Moira and not the other way around. Dark Magic is in your blood as it was in your mothers, but the choice of how to use it is yours and yours alone"

Moira embraced her aunt tightly. The room fell silent again as the two generations held each other. After a ghastly weekend, Moira had found something safe to count on.

"He can't hurt you anymore, child" Chloe whispered as she held Moira "Tom is gone. He's gone, Moira"

"Sirius thinks I am working with Voldemort" Moira whispered back "He thinks Snape and me are working with him"

Chloe parted the embrace and looked at Moira's eyes.

"Severus is loyal to your father as are you. I don't know what gave Sirius that idea, but it is just rubbish"

Moira's thought traveled quickly to a few hours ago. She knew exactly what made Sirius act the way he did. She felt awful but she could deal with that later. First, there was her cousin to look after and a friend to protect.

"Well… it is late. Why don't you go to bed? You do have classes to teach in the morning" Chloe said.

"I can't sleep. You go to bed, aunt Chloe. I'll stay with Abby" Moira said, earning a sweet smile in return.

"Are you sure?" she asked and Moira nodded "All right, call me if… when she awakes".

Chloe walked toward the sleeping Abigail and kissed her forehead softly. She repeated the gesture on Moira and moved toward the door.

"Things have a way of working themselves out, Moira. You'll see" Chloe said before leaving and closing the door behind her.

Moira let the silence in the room wash over her for a moment. There was so much going on at once she had thought she was going to explode. But then, her aunt made things look like they were actually going to turn out fine. That was Chloe's magic, the ability to bring hope to the most deserted places. Dumbledore's daughter sighed heavily as she accommodated her body on the armchair beside her cousin's bedside. Abby was still, breathing softly and stable. Moira's eyes traveled to her cousin's face as she remembered what had happened to her. Slowly, Moira took one of Abby's hands in hers. Abby's hand was warm in contrast to Moira's cool ones. The dark-haired witch moved closer to her cousin and shut her eyes.

"Wake up cousin" she barely whispered "We need you here" she opened her eyes "Remus needs you"

Hogwarts' halls were alive with chatting as the Monday morning approached. Feeling safer than before, the students walked around the halls without a care in the world, unaware that evil was still inside the school.

"Don't alarm them" McGonagall told the staff inside the Teachers' Lounge "Act as if everything is back to normal but instruct them to still be alert of anything unusual"

"I am sorry Minerva, but in Hogwarts, everything is unusual" Nicholas said with a grin.

"You know what I mean" McGonagall tossed back and the professors filled the corridors as well.

The Great Hall was filled with students as breakfast was being served. Hogwarts did feel safer, and the students felt it... all but a few.

"I don't like this" Harry said as he sat to eat his breakfast.

"Me neither. Jam and bacon just don't work for me" Ron replied as he looked at the food before him.

"He doesn't mean that!" Hermione spat "Honestly Ron, you can't be that thick"

"I AM NOT" Ron spat back.

"Then stop acting otherwise" Hermione tossed and turned to Harry "Did you see anything else, Harry?"

"No… but I feel it. Something is not right, but I don't know what it is" Harry got up "I have to talk to Sirius" and he left the Hall.

"Come back before second period!" Hermione warned "I am not lending you my History of Magic notes again!" Hermione turned to Ron, who was eating in silence… toast with jam but not bacon. The girl sighed as she slid over closer to him.

"I'm sorry" she whispered "I guess I am a bit shaken up with all that has been going on"

Ron shrugged his shoulders. Hermione would have been very angry at his behavior have not his ears started to go red. That indicated he was either mad or embarrassed and Hermione bet the second option was the truest.

"So… Halloween is getting near" Hermione said casually and saw Ron get even redder.

"Oh yes, but don't worry Hermione" Ginny said as she sat across from her brother "Ron is learning how to dance. I'm helping him"

"YOU PROMISED!" Ron snapped.

"Well… I take it back. It's just too much fun for me to keep it to myself" Ginny said as she started to laugh.

"Harry, wait up" Ron yelled as he got up and ran out of the hall, his face redder than a tomato.

"Boys…" Hermione whispered, her heart beating hard against her chest.

The Slytherin common room was really quiet as the students had left for breakfast. Draco Malfoy walked around, an odd frown over his gray eyes. Looking in the rooms he seemed not to be able to find whatever he was looking for. The tall boy sat down in the couch and sighed heavily, putting his feet up. Draco closed his eyes, listening to distant chatting. The common room was silent around him, something that pleased him since he didn't sleep during the night; Crabbe and Goyle snored too loudly. Draco opened his eyes again as he took noticed of the piece of parchment inside of his robes. Taking the note from the inside pocket, the Malfoy heir opened it carefully, remembering what it said. It was a letter from his father, telling him things were about to change and instructing him to stay out of Iago's way for the time being. Malfoy senior didn't say why, but by the order he was giving Draco, Iago was doing something important and he hated that. Draco crumpled the paper in his hand and threw it in the trash can. Pointing his wand at the parchment, Draco set fire to the evidence as his big gray eyes watched the flames consume his father's words.

He knew that things were about to change… it was obvious. First Dumbledore's daughter had come back from years of hiding. He had heard talks at Malfoy Manor about how Death Eaters and the Ministry were still looking for her. His father had laughed at the situation for he knew Moira could incinerate them all with a wave of her hand if she so wished. He had heard his mother talk of her as well, saying it was no use to go looking for her. Women like Moira have to be lured out of hiding, not dragged out, she had said.

"Just like a snake" Draco whispered into the empty common room.

Well, Dumbledore's daughter was out of her shell now, and it was only a matter of time before things really changed. He only wandered what was Iago place in all of it. Draco waited while his father took care of things, but Iago was playing beside his father, Liam. Hate and envy took hold of Draco, two feelings he was often accustomed to feel. It was only a matter of time before Iago took his place in Slytherin, and although he was suppose to help the boy, Draco didn't fell like it at all.

The door to the common room opened and quick steps were heard. Draco turned to the door and found the very object of his hatred looking straight at him. Iago's light brown eyes shone differently… they were darker and there was a certain hunger in them. Draco frowned as he saw the boy move fast toward his room, holding something inside of his cloak. Draco followed. When Draco got to the room, Iago had just locked his trunk with a bunch of spells the blond wizard had never heard before. He turned to Draco slowly, looking calmer and quite satisfied with himself. Not wanting to show his curiosity, Draco looked at Iago, his face showing indifference. Iago ignored him completely as he turned to the wooden box containing his Potion's supplies and searched for something.

"What do you want?" Iago asked coldly as he found a little bottle he was apparently looking for.

"Nothing much" Draco replied "Just wanted to know if you caught all the action"

Iago turned his head sharply toward Draco, narrowing his eyes at him.

"What do you mean?" he asked as the tip of his long finger took a few drops of the potion to his lips.

"The founders of the school were here, a Dumbledore was hurt and apparently, Professor Snape is going to kill Professor Craine" Draco told Iago almost yawning.

An evil smile appeared on Iago's lips.

"I knew about the founders but not about Professor Snape… interesting" Iago said as he put back the vial into his box and moved to stand up "And what does she think about it?"

"She doesn't believe it of course" Draco said almost laughing, going out of the room, Iago at his heels.

"She doesn't, does she?" Iago said more to himself "We'll have to wait and see, then" the boy replied as they left the common room, Draco frowning at him "Tell me more about the hurt Dumbledore" Iago whispered as the entrance to the Slytherin common room closed behind them.

Abby opened her eyes slowly, looking at the ceiling, trying to focus. Her body ached all over, feeling as if she had been hit by the Hogwarts Express. Before she could wake up properly, everything came back to her. Her talk with Lupin and all that was said and left unsaid between them, the premonition of Snape's hand around Moira's neck, of her pleading for him to let go. Then darkness and hissing and an almost indescribable pain, making her want to be dead so she wouldn't feel it anymore. The way Moira looked at her when she was not herself but the Dark Lord. Unable to contain all of these feelings, Abby started to sob uncontrollably.

Moira, who was asleep in the chair next to her bed, woke up startled, wand in hand. As she saw her cousin awake and in tears, Moira moved to sit on the bed next to Abigail.

"Abby…Abby, it's alright" Moira said as she held her cousin's face in her hands "It's alright, you're safe"

Abby embraced Moira as more tears left her eyes. She was sobbing so hard, her body was shaking. Moira held her protectively, running her hand through her hair, trying to calm her down.

"I am so sorry" Abby said between sobs "I am so sorry"

"There's nothing to be sorry for" Moira replied.

"I hated you so much" Abby gasped "So much…"

Moira fell silent as Abby started to calm down. She knew this had nothing to do with the premonition or the possession but with something that happened before.

"I couldn't believe when I saw…when he told me…" Abby whispered.

"Shhh…don't think about this now, cousin" Moira replied.

Abby parted the embrace and looked into her cousin's tired eyes.

"You know?" Abby asked, her face wet with tears.

Moira licked her lips with the tip of her tongue as her eyes widened a bit. She had slipped and now there was no going back.

"Sirius told me…accidentally" Moira said softly.

"Sirius also knows?" Abby asked "Does the whole school knows that my boyfriend is in love with my cousin?"

Moira's heart skipped a beat. That was not what Sirius had told her… not exactly. He told her Remus had doubts about that but not that he was in love with her. Remus can't be in love with her… he just can't.

"Nobody else knows about what happened between the two of you. And he is not in love with me" Moira whispered.

Abby stared at her cousin. She had never seen Moira looking so… uncomfortable. Abby started to feel sick as she a horrible thought took hold of her mind. Of course she wanted Remus to be happy, even if not with her, but seeing the way Moira was acting… she couldn't bear to think about them together. It was too close for her… too hurtful.

"Make him happy, will you?" Abby said before trying to get up from her bed.

"What?" Moira whispered as she moved to try and help her cousin up "Why are you saying this. You know I'm not in love with him, Abby"

Abby turned her face to Moira, her big blue eyes still shinning with tears.

"You're not?" the blond witch asked.

"Remus is very dear to me, Abby, but not in that way" Moira said as she sat her cousin down on her bed again "He loves you so much… so very much" Moira said as more tears escaped her cousin's eyes "It was just an infatuation, that's all. You're the real thing, sweetheart"

"I am?" Abby breathed and Moira nodded.

"When Vol…when you fainted last night, after… you know… Remus became so worried. He brought you here in his arms, scared to death" Moira felt relieved when a slight smile took hold of Abby's lips "I think you should talk things through. Don't let him get away like this"

Abby looked at her cousin's big brown eyes. She looked so tired, so worried. Abby could feel Moira was hurting inside but couldn't figure out why. One thing she knew for certain: Moira wasn't lying to her.

"I'll go talk to him today" Abby whispered.

Moira smiled relieved and yet something else made its presence known in her heart: envy. Remus was a great friend and a wonderful man as Abby was a great woman and both of them deserved to be together. But Moira felt envious… for the first time she wanted something she couldn't have… love, companionship. Then a certain scene played out in her mind's eye: a confession and a kiss... a passionate and intense kiss that could... would never happen again. Moira sighed heavily as she pushed the thought in the back of her mind. There was much to do and feeling sorry for herself wasn't going to help.

"Go be happy" Moira told Abby as she got up from the bed, smoothing her dress and getting her formal posture back "Are you going to be alright while I go get your mother?" Moira asked but Abby was motionless. Moira knew exactly why. Slowly, she sat down again, this time in front of her cousin "He's gone, Abigail" Abby's blue eyes found Moira's dark ones "He can't hurt you anymore"

"I can still... feel him" Abby said as a few tears escaped her eyes "What happened to me, Moira?"

"It was a sort of Personus curse. A kind of possession, but he wasn't strong enough to go though with it"

"How could this happen here, in Hogwarts?" Abby asked, looking for the answer inside her cousin's eyes.

"I don't know, but I'll find out" Moira took Abby's hands in hers "Take a long hot bath, get dressed and go get your werewolf back. Let me worry about my ex" and she got up again.

"Please don't talk like that" Abby mumbled.

"The past has a funny way of catching up with us, Abby" Moira said, her voice smooth and low "I decided to face it instead of running away from it. You can't expect me to see my family get hurt and do nothing" Moira turned and moved to the door "After Halloween, I'll end this relationship once and for all" she turned to Abby, her eyes cold "I have to take my life back, Abby"

Abigail nodded as she watched her cousin leave her room. She knew Moira was right, she knew what had to be done, but she couldn't keep the vision she had had out of her mind. Abby stood up with a bit of difficulty and moved to the bathroom. As she stood over the sink, she looked up and saw her reflection. So very different from Moira and yet so alike.

"You can do this Moira. And I'll help you" Abby whispered to herself.

Harry knocked on the door to Sirius' classroom but heard nothing inside.

"Harry, wait up!" Ron said reaching him "Do you mind? I don't want to be left alone with Hermione"

Harry frowned at Ron.

"What? Why?"

"Well... it's complicated" the redhead said as his ears started to go red again. Harry noticed the change in Ron's color and smiled.

"Oh... that complicated. I see" he turned to the door and knocked again, choosing not to pursue the subject further.

"That's strange. Fred and George have his class next period. Sirius should be here already" Ron said, frowning.

Harry opened the door slowly, peeking his head inside. The room was quiet and cold, reminding him of Snape's Dungeons, located right next door. Harry and Ron entered the classroom and walked around, but found nothing. On the wall, each in a separate glass cage, were the four house swords. Harry stopped in front of the Gryffindor one, the same sword he used to kill the basilisk in his second year was used again by Godric Gryffindor himself just last night. Both wizards made Hogwarts safer with that sword.

"Where can he be?" Ron asked as they looked around the room.

"I think I know" Harry turned to Ron "Come on"

Lupin got to his office and tiredly threw his body over his couch. Thankful he had the first period free, the young werewolf sighed heavily as he let the silence in the room wash over him. He had fallen asleep after he had taken the potion, but his dreams were a mess, making him wake up a thousand times more tired than before. They were a succession of scenes of past and present that didn't make any sense and he couldn't remember them all to tell them to Dumbledore, to get some explanation. It was probably the full moon approaching, but his symptoms were never this strong before.

As he closed his eyes again, and as he drifted off to sleep, Abby appeared in his mind. Not like she was now, but when he had first set eyes upon her. It was the day before start of term on Diagon Alley. Hundreds of wizards everywhere, getting from one shop to the other, looking for school supplies. Him, Sirius, James and Peter had gotten to Diagon Alley together but went in different directions. Peter went to Olivanders since he had gotten his wand to explode during vacation. Remus had never understood how he did it… neither of them did. James went to the sport shop, looking for the latest broomstick model and Sirius, well Sirius was going to follow James into the store had he not being stopped by a group of girls.

Remus moved into the packed Flourish and Blotts as he stared down at the list of books he had to get. He walked for a while as he got the books he needed and it was down to the very last one when a hand got the book at the same time as his did.

"Oh, sorry" the girl said as she let go of the last edition of the book they were looking for "You got to it first. Here" she handed the book back.

Remus couldn't bring himself to speak. The girl was so beautiful he could have sworn she had come out of a fairytale. She was tall but not as much as he was, and in order to look at him, she had raised her head up, looking into his eyes. Slim, she had a very pale skin and yet on her cheeks there was a slight touch of blush, giving the impression she was a porcelain doll. Her hair hang down to her lower back, in blond curls over the lilac robe she was wearing. And her eyes…she had the sky in her eyes.

"Are you alright?" the girl asked and Remus realized he had been staring at her for quite some time.

"Er...I...I'm sorry...hum...here" he handed her the book "You take it"

"Are you sure? This is the last one" she asked and Lupin nodded "Thank you" she said as she stared into his eyes, her own not blinking " How rude of me…what is your name?"

"My…name...it's…I'm Remus Lupin" he said, blushing as he stuttered. Why wasn't he good with girls as James and Sirius were?

"Oh…I heard of you" the girl said, blushing a bit.

"You have?" Remus forgot how to breathe " How come?"

"I told her" another girl said as she came down a flight of stairs that took to the second floor of the bookshop, a few books in her arms as well. This girl wore a black cloak with the Gryffindor crest over her garments. Her face was also pale but had very light freckles over her nose and under her eyes; her hair was held back in a long auburn braid. Lupin knew this girl and his heart started to beat hard against his chest as he saw her deep chocolate brown eyes come over to him "I believe you met my cousin, Remus"

"Your cousin?" he asked as he looked from one to the other…they were so different.

"This is Abigail" Moira said as she joined the two.

"Moira told me all about you" Abigail said with the sweetest smile on her lips.

"She did?" Remus said, looking from one girl to the other "I didn't know there was something to tell…" Lupin said as he ran out of things to say. He had been crushing on Moira for so long, had befriended her, but never thought she would talk of him to anyone else, let alone to her beautiful cousin.

"That's for us to know and for you to wonder" Moira replied with a sly smile as she handed Lupin a book "Here, I had gotten one for her as they were running out. You can have it"

Lupin got the book and for a moment, his hand touched Moira's, giving him the sensation that he was going to explode.

"Moira" another feminine voice called, but it was lower and smoother "There you are" a tall witch said as she found the three teenagers. The woman was dressed in a deep green dress and her dark hair was tied up in an elegant bun. Remus knew who she was and noted that as she walked toward them, a few wizards and witches looked her way, following her movements with their eyes in a mixture of fear and respect "Hello Remus" she said as she turned her eyes to him.

"Hello Mrs. Dumbledore" Lupin replied as he looked into the almond shaped eyes of Moira's mother. She, like her daughter, had light freckles under her eyes and the color of the richest chocolate inside them.

"Have you got everything, dear?" the woman asked Moira, who nodded "Good. Abigail, your mother is waiting for you by the cashier"

"Thanks aunt Tsarina" Abigail said and turned to Lupin "I guess I'll see you in school. It was nice meeting you" and she left.

"I'll go get these paid for" Tsarina said as she picked Moira's books in her arms "What do you say we go get something to eat afterward?" Moira nodded with a smile "Will you join us Remus?"

"Oh…I…" Lupin stuttered as the two women looked at him.

"He'd be delighted" a masculine voice said behind him "Can I come with?"

"Of course you can Sirius" Tsarina said with a soft smile "I'll meet you all in the ice cream parlor" and left to join her sister and Abigail by the cashier.

Sirius put one arm over Lupin's shoulder and another over Moira's, hanging his weight in between them.

"So, your cousin got transferred? Nice…"Sirius said with a sly smile as he looked at Abigail.

"Yes and you better keep your hands off of her or her brother will kill you" Moira said as she tried to free her braid from under Sirius' arm.

Lupin swallowed down hard but said nothing.

"Do you think they'll be sorted into Gryffindor?" Sirius asked as he led the two out of the bookshop.

"I don't know" Moira said as they reached the outside "Their parents were Hufflepuffs, but Nicholas and Abigail are more the scholar type. My guess is Ravenclaw".

"Anything but Slytherin" Sirius said and noted the disapproving glance Moira was giving him "You mother is an exception to the rule, Moira" Sirius said trying to make emends "Anyway, I heard Nicholas is great at Quidditch and we sure could use him in our team" he said as he waved to James.

"When you have Potter why do you need anyone else?" Moira mumbled as she watched James come toward them.

"There you are" James said, completely ignoring Moira's presence "They got the new Stardust, Sirius" he said, his eyes shinning "You have to come see this. I am so getting this broomstick. Slytherin won't stand a chance. No offense" he directed the last part to Moira without looking at her.

"In case you haven't noticed, Potter, I am a Gryffindor" Moira said firmly as she looked at James' eyes.

"I never thought I was going to say this, but that old hat has been making mistakes" James replied as he looked at Moira.

"What is that supposed to mean, Potter?" Moira asked as she took one step toward him

"You know what it means" James said in a very low voice "The only thing you got on your side is your last name, Moira"

Moira's face got very red and as she reached for her wand, Sirius stood between them. Lupin took Moira's arm and kept her back.

"Okay, let's cool down shall we?" Sirius said as he kept James behind him "We break the underage rule and there's no more fun to be had, so let's just go" he turned to James "GO Prongs…walk away" Sirius turned and pushed James in the direction of the sports shop, followed closely by Peter.

"Are you coming, Remus?" Peter asked as he turned.

"You go on ahead," Lupin replied as he stayed put, watching his friends walk away. He really hated the way James acted toward Moira. As Lupin looked around, Moira had already started her way up to the parlor, head raised high although her eyes were warm with anger. He really had to talk to James about that. They were all on the same house and she had known Sirius all her life. That had to count for something.

"So…" Lupin started as he caught up with Moira " I heard you tried out for the team. Chaser right?"

"I didn't make it" Moira said abruptly.

"Well, Sara is graduating this year. You could try out for her place next year" Lupin said as they made their way into the ice cream parlor.

"I don't think so" Moira said as she sat down by one of the tables on the outside "I'll take the stands" she looked at Lupin "I don't think Potter and I belong in the same team" she said as she sat down. She looked over at Lupin and found his eyes looking at her. When she found them, Lupin moved his gaze away "How come you never tried out? Sirius told me you fly very well" Moira asked, as she tried to forget about stupid James Potter.

Remus nodded as he thought about it. He wasn't that much in love with Quidditch, but how was he going to explain that there was going to be matches he wouldn't be able to play.. .matches scheduled during the full moon. Lupin looked over at Moira. She was watching Peter, Sirius and James talking by the window of the sport's shop. He couldn't make out what they were saying but Sirius was talking to James, and gesticulated a lot. James didn't have a happy face on and Lupin knew they were arguing about James behavior toward Moira. Peter watched them very closely, standing behind James, his back against the shop's window.

"You and James don't get along very well do you?" Lupin asked already knowing the answer.

"I have nothing against James" Moira said, turning her eyes to Lupin "But he seems to think otherwise"

"James despises Dark Magic" Lupin said softly and almost regretted doing so when Moira's eyes lit up with anger again.

"And I despise prejudice men" she said without raising her voice, something that Lupin found to be much more dangerous "Only because I know it doesn't mean I am going to use it" her eyes traveled to the three young men again "That is no excuse to say those things" Moira said firmly, but Lupin saw sadness in her eyes.

"He's a good friend but sometimes he forgets that words can hurt"

"I'm not hurt" Moira said firmly as she looked at Lupin, her eyes saying otherwise "James Potter is selfish and closed minded and I don't care what he thinks" Moira said, her face starting to get hot "Do we really have to talk about him?"

"About who?" Abby asked as she took a seat at their table. Lupin found his heart starting to race again.

"Nobody" Moira muttered "So how do you like Diagon Alley?" she asked her cousin in a completely different tone.

"Very much!" Abby said with a sweet smile "In France the shops were bigger but here it's much more cozy" she reached down into one of the bags she had filled with the school supplies and took a book out "I found all sorts of interesting books. Do you know they have a whole section on Seers?" she asked as her eyes shone.

"Abby is a Seer, Remus" Moira said as Abigail blushed a bit.

"Wow, that is very... rare" he said as his eyes found hers. Oddly enough his stomach appeared to be missing inside of him.

"I thought you had a Divination class" Abby said, sounding a bit disappointed.

"A class yes, a true Seer as a teacher, no" Moira said as her lips curled into an evil smile.

"What did you do?" Abby asked Moira but since her cousin was just laughing under her breath, she turned to Lupin "What did she do?"

"Oh..."Lupin looked from Abby to Moira, unsure if he could tell "Well... Moira put some thoughts in Professor's Trelawney's head"

Moira laughed out loud, making Remus smile at the sound.

"I can't believe you did this" Abby sounded outraged "You are the Headmaster's daughter, Moira, you should be more respectful of your professors"

"Oh, you are so going to be sorted into Ravenclaw" Moira said as she turned her eyes to Abby "Besides, the woman doesn't know her vision was a made up one and no one knows about it... well, a few do, but they won't tell" she looked at Lupin "And I am respectful to my professors, Abigail. I just don't consider her one"

Abby snorted as Moira rolled her eyes at her.

"Anyway, as I was saying. They have this great section on Seers and a huge one on werewolves too. The most interesting creatures" Abby said as she looked through the book "I hope we get to study them".

Lupin shifted uncomfortable in his seat.

"Oh, we will" Moira said as she narrowed her eyes at Lupin "Werewolves are quite interesting. Did you know they have a particular scent?" she asked Abby. Lupin's eyes widened in his face.

"Really?" Abby asked, her own extraordinary blue eyes shinning "I didn't know that".

"Oh yes. Very interesting because the smell is very unique to them and it can't be sensed by humans"

"Can you smell it?" Abby asked and turned to Lupin "Moira has the most exquisite sense of smell" she said smiling. Lupin was frozen, his eyes glued on Moira's.

"I believe I can" Moira whispered as Lupin felt his heart stop beating "But I will only know for sure when I meet a werewolf" she turned to Abby "When I do, I'll let you know what he smells like" Abby smiled broadly at her.

"Well, all this talk got me thirsty. I'll go get the ice creams" Abigail smiled at Moira as she stood up "What flavor would you like?"

"None for me, thank you" Lupin replied in his hoarse voice and Abby turned her eyes to Moira.

"Surprise me" Moira said as she widened her eyes a bit and followed Abby's figure until she got into the shop. Then Moira turned to Lupin, who was very pale "Relax, I won't tell anyone"

"How long have you known?" Lupin asked, feeling his throat go very dry.

"Since the very first time I saw you" Moira replied as the tip of her long finger touched the tip of her nose "Never fails"

"I just didn't know that apart from a freak I also stunk" Lupin said a little broken hearted.

Moira smiled softly as she lowered her eyes to her lap.

"You smell like violets" she said softly as her eyes met his again "And I don't think you're a freak" Lupin smiled at her in return, blushing as he did so "I guess we all have our little special sides. Pity a few don't understand that" she looked over at the three boys coming over.

"They all know of my... condition" Lupin said "They are good friends, Moira"

"Yes they are" Moira muttered before standing up "Stay and have my ice cream will you. Abby is bringing it for you anyway" she said as she left.

In a few more moments, Peter, James and Sirius were at the table with Remus, rambling about the new broomstick. When Abby got back from inside, he introduced her to the boys and blushed as Abby handed him a cup of chocolate ice cream: his favorite.

Harry got back to the Common room and got his dad's invisibility cloak. Ron didn't understand what he was doing under the cloak in broad daylight, but not asking questions, he vanished with his friend under it, walking carefully not to run into anyone going and coming from classes. Harry and Ron made their way out of the castle and toward the Whooping Willow. As they froze the tree's movements and got inside, Harry stopped.

"Listen" he whispered as he heard loud noises coming from inside the Shrieking Shack.

"What do you reckon that is, Harry?" Ron asked as he heard the loud noises get even louder as they approached.

"I think we just found Sirius" Harry whispered as he opened the door.

The boys entered the room slowly, the invisibility cloak already hanging on Harry's arm. Ron looked around as his jaw fell opened: the shack was never a tidy place but the little furniture that it had was shattered to pieces. There were pieces of wood that had once been a chair lying around, and only one piece of furniture was still intact: the bed in which Sirius was now sitting on, his back turned to the boys.

Sighing heavily, Sirius passed his hands through his hair. Harry could see he had injured them during his destruction of the room. Harry cleaned his throat softly making Sirius turn his head toward them in a very fast movement, as if waiting to see someone else standing there.

"What are the two of you doing here?" Sirius asked as he moved to the boys "Is everything alright?"

"That is what we came to find out" Harry said as he looked into the tired eyes of his godfather "What happened to you?"

"Er...well...stress, that's all" Sirius said as he looked around the room.

"Well...did you find Professor Lupin?" Harry asked as he noted how uncomfortable Sirius was feeling.

"Yes I did. I already warned him of what you saw, Harry" Sirius said, his voice being controlled not to be raised at the wrong person.

"Did you tell him Voldemort is not working alone?" Harry asked.

"Yes... I told him and all of the staff. I am surprised Dumbledore hasn't called you to his office until now" Sirius said "Or perhaps I do" he trailed off.

"Well... the barriers are up again, right? That means we don't have to worry" Ron said and Sirius nodded "See, Harry. There is nothing wrong around here"

Sirius turned to Harry and walked toward them, lowering his posture until him and his godson were at eye level.

"Why, did you feel something else?" Sirius asked.

"I don't know. I feel as if something is out of place... it's weird" Harry trailed off "maybe I should go talk to Dumbledore" he said and Sirius nodded.

"You should. Maybe he has some answers for you" Sirius said, feeling a bit bad about his behavior during the night before. Maybe if he had taken part during the spell he could help his godson, protect him some how. But something had made him change his mind… Moira…no, not only her but her and Snape. Sirius closed his eyes as his hand turned into fists.

"Are you alright, Sirius?" Harry asked.

Sirius looked at Harry. What was he supposed to tell him? That two of his teachers were conspiring against him? That the thought of Moira and Snape together made him want to kill them both? No… he could never hurt Moira… but Snape… he could hurt Snape. Harry took a step closer, making Sirius blink and focus his attention on his godson.

"What is it, Sirius?" Harry asked, worry in his emerald green eyes.

"Nothing" Sirius muttered "Nothing for you to worry about" he pulled Harry close into an embrace. He would die before anything happened to him. Sirius broke the embrace and placed his hands on Harry's shoulders, looking him in the eye "Promise me you two won't come back to the Shack"

"Why?" Ron asked as he stepped closer.

"Because the barriers only work on school ground and the Shack is not part of it. You're not safe here" he turned to Harry "Promise me Harry"

"I promise" Harry whispered, his eyes holding truth.

"Make sure he stays true to this promise, Ron. Harry is too like James and I know he'll break the rules if he needs to" Sirius said as Ron nodded "Now go to class. I should give you detention for being out of bounds, but hey… you already have too much on your mind" Sirius said, forcing a smile.

Harry and Ron turned to leave and as Ron vanished in the darkness of the corridor that led to the Whopping Willow, Harry turned once more, catching Sirius looking at him.

"We'll be alright, Harry" Sirius said "We'll be alright"

Harry nodded with a smile and left. Time stretched as Sirius walked inside the dark Shrieking Shack. The windows were all boarded up allowing only a few streaks of light to enter the room. Like a caged animal, he paced back and forth, thinking about everything that had happened, and nothing made sense in his mind. He hated Moira so much his chest hurt. Another chair flew at the wall, becoming splinters as it fell on the floor. How could she do it? She was Dumbledore's daughter, she was… Sirius growled as he overturned a table. What if Snape seduced her in order to get her to do Voldemort's work? Anger grew inside his heart as he thought about it. Snivellus was not going to get away with that.

Tired, Sirius sat back down on the side of the bed, his back to the door of the room. He rested his face in his injured hands and closed his eyes. Silence washed over him as a swift breeze made its presence known. Someone came into the Shack. He could hear the very dim steps and a sound of fabric on the ground. Harry under his invisibility cloak again. He turned to the entrance of the room as he heard the person step inside.

"I thought I told you not to come here Har…" Sirius stopped as his eyes found Moira standing by the door to the room. Without taking his eyes away from hers, Sirius noted the cut on her ivory skin, and the lack of sleep under her eyes. Moira looked extremely tired and yet her eyes showed so much more than lack of sleep. Sirius remembered what had happened and before he could let himself worry about her, his eyes turned cold again "What are you doing here?" Sirius hissed behind clenched teeth.

"We need to talk, Sirius" Moira said softly.

"I don't have anything to say to you" Sirius said as he turned his back to Moira.

"But I do" Moira replied in a very smooth voice.

Sirius turned away from her again. He was not going to stand being betrayed again. He could hear Moira walking toward him. He could hear the soft steps and the whooshing sound of the hem of her dress on the floor. Sirius closed his eyes as the he smelt her perfume closer to him and with it came every piece of memory that they had shared, every laughter, every fight, including the worse of them all… last night's.

"Sirius…" she breathed and was taken by surprise as Sirius threw another chair, the last remaining one, against the wall in front of him. Moira gasped as she covered her face with her arms, splinters flying her way.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!" he yelled at her.

"Sirius, please" Moira whispered as she uncovered her face and looked at him "Just listen to me"

"NO!" he yelled as he walked passed her "Nothing you say will undo what you did" he spat.

"And I don't want it to" she said back, making Sirius stop in mid step "I didn't do anything wrong… not in the way you think I did" she whispered to his back "Please… just listen to me"

"I don't know you anymore" Sirius whispered, still holding his back to her.

"Yes, you do" she said, her tone soft "You know you do"

Sirius remained silent and Moira took the moment to her advantage.

"Right after Harry was attacked in Hogsmeade, To…Voldemort got inside my head and Snape saw it too" Moira said, controlling her breathing and getting all the strength she could to tell him what she'd been hiding for so long "He saw what had happened fifteen years ago, in Godric's Hollow. After the murders of James and Lily and before you got to the house"

Sirius turned to Moira slowly, frowning as she undid the buttons on the back of her dress.

"I was there that night. After Voldemort killed my mother, I knew he would go after Harry, but I got there too late" Moira turned "But just in time to finish what Harry had started" Moira's back was exposed, down to her corset "It's over my left shoulder blade" she said as Sirius stared at her pale skin in contrast with the dark color of her dress and corset.

Sirius's hand moved to Moira's back slowly, uncertain. As he pulled the fabric of her dress down to her shoulder, his lips parted and his eyes widened: on her ivory skin, right bellow her left shoulder blade rested the very same lighting bolt scar Harry Potter carried on his forehead.

As Moira felt Sirius's hand move away, she turned to him.

"Is this proof enough for you?" she asked as her eyes found his "How could I be a traitor if I was ready to give up my life to save Harry's?" Sirius's looked into Moira's eyes, now glittering with tears that refused to fall.

"How?" Sirius managed to whisper as Moira pointed her wand to the back of her dress and buttoned it up again.

"I refused to put Harry down and Voldemort hit again, but I turned and blocked the curse. He was already too weak to kill me" Moira whispered back "But strong enough to banish me from every single person I loved" she looked up at Sirius "I never worked with him, Sirius, not even when I was under a spell. I am not about to start now"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Sirius asked, his face still cold.

Moira stared at him in disbelief.

"I can't believe you still don't believe me" she spat at him.

"If this is true, why didn't you tell me, why have you kept this hidden for so long?" Sirius asked.

"Because I am already target enough" Moira said, her eyes angry "Sending this type of information to Azkaban was not an option"

"You know there were other ways" Sirius replied.

"NO THERE WEREN'T!" Moira yelled at him "You try being betrayed by the person you were in love with, you try having the one you handed your heart to, kill your family and come after you" Moira threw at him as tears Sirius had never seen fall, fled her eyes "My life ended that day, Sirius and I am very sorry indeed I could not tell you all about it. When he tries to kill me again, because I am sure he will, I'll be sure to let you know all the sordid details"

Without delay, Moira turned and moved toward the exit, marching out of the Shack and leaving Sirius behind, his mind and heart racing. Sirius Black had been through a lot of things, seen a lot of things, and he thought he was prepared for whatever trick Voldemort or anyone else could pull. Sirius Black had been wrong. That lighting bolt scar was very true, so were the words that had left Moira's lips. What was he? Twelve years old again? Sirius passed his hand through his hair as he tried to organize his thoughts. He could see now that Moira could never betray him; could never even think about hurting Remus. He hated himself for saying the horrible things to her, in front of all the staff, but if he didn't know what else to do. Then, as he saw not the powerful witch, but the heartbroken woman in front of him, Sirius realized what Voldemort did that night.

"He didn't aim for Harry the second time" Sirius said looking to where Moira had been standing "He aimed for your heart"

Moira walked as fast as she could toward her classroom, silently thanking that there was still some time left before the first period ended. The dark haired witch moved fast, whipping the tears from her face with the sleeve of her robes and cursing herself for losing control of her emotions again.

She went into her classroom and closed the door behind her, moving toward her office, not noticing the door between hers and Lupin's classroom was opened. Moira went into her office and closed the door behind her. Leaning against it, Moira rested her forehead against the door, closing her eyes and trying to focus. A few moments passed and her breathing was coming back to normal when she felt a presence behind her. Moira shot her eyes opened and turned; Severus Snape was on the other side of the room, staring at her. Her eyes found his under the curtain of raven black hair.

Moira simply let her head fall as her shoulders did the same. The witch sighed heavily.

"I am very sorry but I don't think I can fight anymore today" she said as she leaned her back against the door, her hand on the doorknob behind her.

"That is not why I am here" Snape said in his baritone voice.

Moira raised her eyes at him, waiting to hear the rest. She was so tired of playing games, of pretending she could deal with her feelings. That was it: truce. There was way too much in her mind for her to keep lying to herself about Snape. She loved him and he didn't return the affection. No more hiding. She was going to get over him sooner or later, she had to. As Snape started his way toward her in slow and careful steps, Moira started to feel her heart beat faster. She pinched the bridge of her nose as she tried with all of her might to cling to her decision.

"Then say what is it that you want and leave. I have a class in ten minutes" Moira tossed at him, pretending not to feel her knees getting weaker as his eyes searched for hers.

To Snape' despair he could explain why he couldn't sleep during the night, why he couldn't bear to stay alone inside his chambers. He knew the reason why he felt so repulsed by what Abigail had seen in her vision, why jealousy had stricken him so hard when he had argued with Moira and Black and most of all, he was afraid of the motive that took him to this room when he simply came to take Wolfsbane to Lupin. He knew the reason to all of this and they were all the same: Moira. There was no way he could deny her any longer and they both knew it.

"You've been crying" he said as he reached her.

"It happens when I can't stand pain. It's a human thing, I'm not sure you would understand" Moira replied dryly.

"Been talking to Black haven't you" Snape said, his eyes empty of emotion. Moira was so wrong… so very wrong.

"I believe my life is not your business" Moira said looking straight into his eyes "If you came here just to make me miserable again, you really shouldn't bother. I have hit rock bottom already" Moira turned the knob but Snape pushed the door closed, making Moira have to press her back against it in order not to fall into his arms.

"Please don't do this" Moira whispered as she looked down, unable to look at his eyes "Not again"

Moira could feel his touch before Snape's hand actually reached her skin. His long fingers cupped her face, raising her eyes to meet his. He saw defeat in them. She had always been a warrior, even when she was younger and that was one of the things that made him feel for her. Always at arms reach but unobtainable, Moira was the very definition of everything Severus always wanted but could never have. He had to lose her, to be kept away from her for fourteen years to realize how much he needed her, how much he…

"Please" Moira whispered "You know I never begged for anything in my life, but I am now. Please don't kiss me again" Moira put her hand over his "Please…I can't take this anymore"

"Neither can I" Snape whispered and took her into his arms, kissing her passionately.

Snape felt her struggle slightly against him, but it didn't take long before she melted into him. One of his arms crossed her back while the other surrounded her waist, pulling her closer to him. Moira's hands gripped Snape's upper arms, as he deepened the kiss. He could feel the taste of her tears on his lips.

Severus knew he was making the wrong decision, that he was putting not only his life but Moira's in danger, as he also knew he wouldn't stand to stay away from her any longer. He denied her all of his life but that kiss changed everything. Abigail's vision changed everything. He knew Voldemort had plans for him and that they included Moira, and thus, just like Tsarina had told him so long ago; he had to find something to fight for, to keep him honest to his choice. The reason for all of it was in his arms.

The sound of the bell made Moira break their kiss abruptly. Out of breath and very pale Moira's eyes were in Snape's. Her knees were still weak and her lips still tasted of him. She looked at him, waiting for an explanation, waiting to hear this kiss, like the previous one, shouldn't have happened that it was a mistake, an impulse. Snape parted his lips and Moira waited for the worse.

"Breathe, Craine" Snape whispered and Moira let out the breath she had unconsciously been holding.

"Why?" Moira breathed, her eyes glittering with a mixture of pain and anger "Why if I begged you not to?" Snape kept quiet and his silence only angered her more. How could he be so selfish? "I am tired of your games, Severus!" she snapped and as his name left her lips, her fingertips touched them, as if reprimanding them for being so careless. Snape's eyes found Moira's as a frown took hold of his face "I'm sorry" Moira whispered "It won't happen again" she moved away from him "Like everything else between us"

Snape followed Moira and caught her arm, turning her to face him.

"Say it again" Snape breathed as he stood inches away from Moira's face once more. He pulled her closer, her eyes showing how confused she was "Say it again, Craine or I will walk out of here"

"Severus" Moira whispered more to herself than to the man standing in front of her. Before she knew it, Moira was in his arms again, tasting the lips of the man she had loved her whole life. Ever since she could remember, Moira and Snape have been close, but not as close as she wished and the desire to touch him, to hold him, to taste him had always haunted her dreams. Now the dreams had become reality as once more she had been swept of her feet by the man she thought she would never have. Although they both knew it was dangerous and insane for them to be together, it felt right. They were not only worthy opponents; they were a match.

The sound of the kids filling her classroom reached her ears but Moira didn't care. Slowly, they broke the kiss, but he still had his arms around her, their faces against each other.

"We can't do this" Moira said, her eyes closed as she felt the tip of his nose against her neck.

"No, we can't" he replied by her ear, sending shivers down her spine "But do you want to?" Moira opened her eyes "Is it still true what you told me in my classroom?"

Moira looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of mockery and found none.

"Yes" she whispered. Snape reached closer and kissed her softly on her lips.

"We'll find a way" he whispered before letting go of her and walking toward her fireplace. He took a handful of floo powder from the mantelpiece and went into the fireplace. Before he threw the powder on the grate, his eyes found Moira's one more time and he was certain that he had made the right choice.

"Don't play with me, Snape" Moira said as she looked at him still uncertain "Not like this"

"I wouldn't" Snape said. He stared at her for a while, and though his face didn't show his feelings, they were there and very much alive. The look she was giving him was everything he needed to keep going. Her eyes were usually cold but now they showed warmth and softness. No one had ever looked upon him like that and he never wanted them to… not if the person wasn't Moira. Snape blinked and said "Dungeons" making him vanish in a green flame.

Moira stood there, facing the fireplace, in silence. Then she braced herself and touched her lips, smiling at herself. She had never felt like this before, like she had forgotten how to breathe, as if there was nothing in the world she couldn't do. Her father had been right all along; love is strength and it was real. She was so convinced nothing would ever happen between them, that she would have to mourn her feelings toward Snape and bury them down inside of her, but she had been wrong. Maybe things did have a way of turning right again.

"Severus" Moira whispered into the empty room as the thought of him made her smile.

A knock on the door, made her snap out of her thoughts.

"Yes" she called and the door opened. Lupin's face appeared.

"Are you all right?" he asked and Moira nodded her face blank of expression.

"I'll be out in a second." She said as she got up and smoothed her dress and robes, fixing the loose strands of hair "You on the other hand..."

"I don't feel quite good. Do you mind if we teach together? The kids do have lots of questions about what has been happening"

"Not at all" Moira replied "Take care of the wall and I'll be right out"

With a nod, Lupin left. Moira put her teacher posture back in place before she headed out to her classroom. She knew better than to let it show that something was happening, also because she didn't know exactly what was happening between her and the Potion's Master. All she knew was that it was far better than to keep hiding her feelings and that was enough for her.

Moira walked out of her office to find her classroom merged with Lupins. Dozens of curious faces were looking their way as she made her way toward her desk, where Lupin was leaning in front of. On they went, explaining what they could to the students about the spells performed and about the founders' presence. Many were interested in what happened to Abigail as many were curious about what happened in Hogsmeade. Remus and Moira told them what they could without letting too much information out. Then, both teachers taught a few protective spells and counter curses to make them feel safer.

During the practical part of the class, the students were divided into pairs and taught the spells they needed in order to protect themselves. Both Moira and Lupin knew they would need much more than just the Protego charm to block the attacks, but they weren't ready for the more difficult ones and teaching them what they could would raise confidence in them. They all needed a bit of confidence to cope with everything that had been going on. As the kids were pulled to their feet again – some simply flew across the room, landing on the conjured pillows on the other side – and went back to their seats to receive the last announcements, Moira looked over at Lupin and worry came back to her heart. He looked extremely tired and his hair line was wet with cold sweat. Moira's nostrils moved a bit as she captured Lupin's usual violet scent mingled with something else she couldn't identify.

"The barriers are up again, so you shouldn't worry" Lupin said, his voice hoarser than usual "Anything odd happens, you go to one of the teachers without hesitation, understand?" and the class nodded.

Ginny Weasley's hand went up in the air, her hair kind of messy from practicing the spells.

"Yes Miss Weasley" Moira said as she looked at the red haired girl.

"What about Hogsmeade. Will it be safe to go back?" Ginny asked and many students nodded and murmured, showing that was one of their worries as well.

"The Ministry will be assigning more Aurors to the village so I don't see why you can't go back" Moira replied as the bell rang to the end of class "Don't forget. Next class, we want a parchment on the Personus curse and one on White Death. One for each or you will lose points" Moira said as the students left the classroom, complaining under their breaths about the quantity of homework they had to do.

"Both of those curses are sixth year material" Lupin said as he sat in one of the students' chairs.

"With everything that has been going on they better know what is coming their way" Moira replied as she studied Lupin "That's it. I am taking you to see Poppy" she said as she got his arm "Come on"

"I'll be fine, really" Lupin said, remaining on his seat "I guess stress got the best of me these last few days" he looked at Moira "Full moon today"

"I know…I'll be there" she replied softly "I am really glad we don't need to use the Shack anymore; Sirius destroyed it" Moira said as her hand traveled to Lupin's forehead, checking for a fever.

"What? Why?" he asked and found the answer on Moira's eyes "What happened?" he asked urgently.

"He got things mixed up" Moira replied as she got Lupin's face into her hands, checking his eyes "He doesn't believe I am not working with Voldemort. He thinks I am behind all of what has been going on, including hurting you"

"That's absurd!" Lupin said "You would never do such things"

"I tried to tell him that but that dog won't listen" Moira said bitterly as she sat back in a chair beside him. The room fell silent for a while as she remembered what had happened in the Shack. After a few moments, Moira turned to Lupin again and found him almost falling asleep on the desk "Remus" she whispered. He opened his clear blue eyes and looked at her "Please go see Poppy. This is not only stress"

"Yes it is" Lupin said as he got up.

"Remus, will you listen to me just this once?" she heard Lupin laugh under his breath "I am not kidding. Please go see Poppy…I'm getting worried"

"You're always worried, Moira" Lupin said tiredly, closing his eyes again "I'll be fine"

"Well…take the day off then. I'll teach your classes" Moira asked.

"No…you should be resting as well. That cut on your cheek needs healing and…" he said without opening his eyes.

"I guess I'll have to go get Abby to talk some sense into you" Moira said and paused. Lupin's eyes opened again, finding hers "I talked to her" she said softly. "She will come find you before nightfall" Slowly, he got up from his seat, every movement labored.

There was a world of unsaid things between them and they both felt it. She had always cared for Remus but never in a romantic way. He was indeed an incredible man, an amazing friend who every woman should be lucky enough to have by her side, but that was never Moira's thoughts. She had always enjoyed his company, just being around him was good for her and she thought he felt the same way and that was it. She had never thought Remus had feelings for her. True, now that she looked back at their time together, he did look at her with a different look, but she had never given it much thought, her heart was always filled with thoughts about someone else. They belonged together, Remus and Abby, Moira knew that and she was content that things were working out between them just as they might work out between her and a certain teacher.

"I…" Lupin started as he turned to Moira, but his words caught on his lips and didn't find the strength to leave them. She knew… she knew about his feelings and there was no going back now.

"What is it?" Moira asked softly, trying to read her friend's eyes.

Remus stared at Moira for some time, remembering the dream, the memory he had with her only hours before. She had been his first love, the first girl he had lost sleep over. Yes, Moira had been the first one and he would always consider her special to him, but that was it. As he remembered Abigail unconscious in his arms, the fear of losing her, he just knew, she was the one destined for him. Moira woke his heart but Abby kept it beating. He only hoped some lucky man was going to make Moira happy one day and by looking at her, worrying over him, he was sure that as much as he loved Abby, he would always be jealous of Moira…werewolves are quite territorial and he couldn't deny his instincts.

"A wise woman once told me that the person right for you is not the one you can live with, but the one you can't live without" Lupin said, his eyes not blinking.

Moira smiled, an honest and full smiled that in years hadn't reached her lips. She had a good reason to do so now.

"I believe I knew that wise woman" Moira said sweetly "She said the same thing to me once and I believe it was right then as it is now" Lupin smiled back at her.

"I can live with you, Moira" Lupin said, his eyes shinning "But I don't think I can live without her"

"I know exactly how you feel, Remus" Moira said softly as Remus smiled broadly at her, relieved things didn't get messed up between them.

"I'll go rest in my office then…in case she comes here and…" he traveled off as he entered his office closing the door behind him.

Moira smiled at the closed door. Things were finding a way of turning right again. Remus and Abby were back on track, their friendship was still strong, the school was secure again and Snape was becoming more than a wish, a desire. It was just a matter of time before what Moira told Sirius sank in and he would come around again. Moira's heart filled up in a way she couldn't explain. As the sound of students going back to their seats, Moira was brought back to the present.

She looked around as students got to their seats. Curious, the kids looked at her, waiting to hear why the wall that separated the two classrooms had vanished.

"Professor Lupin is a bit ill and I have his classes for the day" Moira said before going on just like the class before, explaining, teaching new spells and counter curses.

"Again George" Sirius said as he watched two of his students. George Weasley was using the Gryffindor sword against a Slytherin's family one "She is going to win if you don't do something about it"

"She always does" Fred said as him and the rest of the seventh years sniggered at the comment.

Sirius had returned from the Shack in time to teach his class. He had to heal his hands on the way back and they still stung a bit, but didn't bother him as much as what Moira had showed him. He had started to teach the kids how to protect themselves without the use of magic, but by other means. Swords of all kinds, long blades, small, bow and arrows and much more, but before each class, he put protective spells upon the students, making sure they would keep all of their limbs to put to use what they learned.

"Got you!" the girl said with a smile as she cornered George against a pillar, the tip of her blade against his neck. Sirius looked at the scene and remembered how Moira did the same to Snape in the beginning of the year.

"You have to understand is not the sword that wins the fight, but the wizard behind it" Sirius said and turned to the girl "Five points to Slytherin. Fred, go get your house pride back, will you?" Sirius asked and the other twin got up from the floor and went to take his brother's place. The Slytherin girl went to take her seat, applauded by her housemates.

"Can I try, Professor?" a Ravenclaw girl asked and Sirius nodded.

"Think you can take Cassandra, Fred?" Sirius asked as he handed a sword over to the girl.

"Of course" Fred said with a smile "Come on, Cassie. Give me your best" he mocked.

"You wish" Cassie tossed back with a smile as they took their fighting stances.

Right, left, Fred's sword hit a column sending sparks everywhere. Cassie ducked out of the way, turning around the column and trying to get Fred from behind, but the boy turned quickly and defended the strike, sending Cassie to the floor and losing her sword.

"Damn it!" Cassie let out and looked at Sirius's surprised face "Sorry professor"

"Five points to Gryfifndor" Sirius said the whole class clapped loudly at the end of the fight. The bell rang and the kids grunted. Sirius smiled to himself as he noticed that his class was probably the only one the students didn't want to leave. He turned to them "Alright. Tomorrow I want parchments on a particular weapon you find attractive. That will be the one you will focus on till the end of term" and he smiled as he heard a couple of girls whispering about how they were going to write their parchment about the teacher "Must I repeat you CAN NOT practice in the common rooms with transfigured or conjured up swords?" the class shook their heads "Good. Go on then" and they started to pile out of the room.

Fred moved to Cassie, offering his hand to help get her up. The girl looked up and smiled, accepting the help.

"Thank you Weasley" she said "It was a good fight"

"Yes it was" Fred said as they returned the weapons and Sirius removed the protective spell from them "So…do you want to practice again next class? With me, I mean"

"Alright" Cassie said, blushing almost as much as Fred.

As the students left the class, the first years were leaving the Dungeons with terrified looks on their faces.

"I can't believe your cauldron melted" a Hufflepuff boy was telling a Gryffindor girl "You lost your house ten points!"

"I know! I can't brew this damn potion right. Professor Snape is going to kill me!" the girl said almost in tears.

"Come on. I'll help you with the ingredients" and they left toward the library.

"I am not lending you my notes again, Ron" Hermione said as she climbed down the stairs in the direction of the Potion's classroom "It is not my fault you fell asleep during History of Magic"

"Come on, Hermione. Just this once…I won't fall asleep anymore, promise" he begged "Harry, help me out.."

"Come on, Hermione, it is for a good cause" Harry asked as he looked at Hermione "We promise we won't fall asleep again"

"Don't make promises you can't keep" Hermione said firmly as she looked over at Ron. He smiled softly at her, his eyes asking silently for help "I'll think about it" she whispered.

Sirius was by the door, watching amused as the first years filled out of Snape's classroom scared for their lives as his students couldn't wait until his next class. As he saw Harry, Ron and Hermione come toward him, his heart got very small in his chest. Harry didn't know half about what Moira did for him and was still doing. He knew it was better this way, but he really wished he could tell Harry all about it. Tell him that he was not as alone as he thought he was.

"Hey Harry" Sirius said as his godson's eyes found his "How's your day going?"

"Ok, I guess" he looked at Snape's classroom door "About to get bad, though" Sirius smiled at him

"Professor, do you think is right for a person to lend another their notes? I mean I did all the work myself and Harry and Ron…" Hermione said.

"Come on Hermione… lend them the notes… it was for a good cause" Sirius said, smiling handsomely "But pretend I didn't say that...I'm a teacher, you know?"

"See? I told you" Harry said triumphantly.

"That's not fair. I bet Professor Craine would think otherwise" Hermione said more to herself than the others.

"Yes…I think she would" Sirius said, his mind somewhere else. He looked over at the three and passed his hand through his hair as if trying to take away his thoughts "Go on before he yells at you and I have to do something about it" he said, looking at Snape's door.

Harry nodded and got into the room, followed by Ron still begging Hermione for her notes.

"You told us you would think about it… come on Hermione… please…" he begged as Harry smiled at the scene.

The door closed and Sirius moved to his own classroom, his heart settled that for the first time in many years, things looked like they might work out after all. As he closed the door behind him, he set his mind that he was going to talk to Moira before the day ended.

By lunchtime everything seemed to have gone back to normal. The kids were again piled with homework, the teachers chatted about the classes and gave extra help after class time for the ones falling behind. The Great Hall was again packed with students and staff, as if nothing had happened. The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom still held its teachers inside and a couple of students.

"Concentrate Neville" Moira said as she stood behind Neville Longbottom "Now, when Megan sends her stunning charm, you block it. Ready?"

Neville looked at Megan, who had her gray eyes wide, waiting for the call but scared she was going to hit Neville again. The boy had cushions behind him just waiting for him to fall back on them again. His hand shook violently as it held his wand. His heart jumped in his chest when he saw, with the corner of his eye, Moira's face above his shoulder.

"Think about your dad, Neville" she whispered to him "What would he do if someone tried to stun him?" she looked at Megan and nodded.

In a flash, the tip of Megan's wand exploded into a blue flash.

"Protego" Neville yelled and the spell hit an invisible shield in front him. "I did it! I blocked it!" Neville said as he looked from Megan's smile to Moira. His teacher wasn't smiling "Did I do something wrong, professor?"

"No, Neville. You blocked it fine" Moira said "But Miss Malfoy here is only a first year. She is advanced for her age, but fifth years won't hit you with simple spells. You have to keep practicing"

"I will, professor" Neville said with a resolute face "I'll keep practicing" and he turned to Megan, who was already getting her books into her bag. The two thanked Moira and left the classroom, chatting as they went "Did you see it? I blocked it!" Neville said as he left.

"Of course I saw it, Neville, I was the one cursing you, remember?" Megan talked back "Come on... we can ask Seamus to practice with you. He's a fifth year" and their voices vanished in the corridor.

Moira stayed put, listening to what Megan was saying until the voices got too far away to be distinguished. She looked amazingly like her mother and by the way things were going, she would have the same magical ability, but Moira sighed relieved as she noted she didn't have the same character as Maeve, or lack there of. Turning to her classroom, she waved her wand and put it in order with a wave of her wand and moved toward Lupin's office door. She knocked softly before opening it. Peeking inside, Lupin was fast asleep on the couch, snoring softly. Moira smiled but it died in her lips as the scent she had smelt before was still around him. She tried to figure what it was, but couldn't. She didn't remember smelling it before. Lupin shuffled on the couch and Moira closed the door not to wake him.

As she turned back to the classroom, she frowned as she found Iago Laois standing by her desk, staring at her.

"Can I help you, Mr. Laois" Moira asked, her face hiding perfectly the hatred she felt toward the boy's father.

"I heard Miss Abigail Dumbledore got hurt yesterday, professor and I wondered how she was recovering" Iago said, his light brown eyes soft and his tone of voice showing concern, but Moira knew better.

"Miss Dumbledore is fully recovered Mr. Laois and I am sure she appreciates your concern" Moira said blankly.

Iago smiled softly at her before his eyes caught Lupin's office door for a moment and then turned back to Moira.

"I could never imagine who would want to hurt Miss Dumbledore" Iago said but fell silent as Moira's eyes weren't blinking, but staring into his own "Well, thanks for letting me know she is alright, professor" and he turned to leave.

"Mr. Laois" Moira called as the boy reached the door to her classroom "You might want to get that cut looked at" she said and Iago touched his lower lip with the tip of his finger "How did that happen?" she asked as her eyes found his again, Iago looked away.

"It's quite embarrassing actually" Iago said, looking at the floor "I fought over a girl"

"Inside the school?" Moira asked "Or in Hogsmeade"

"Inside the school" he said "I am very sorry, professor. It won't happen again"

"It better not" Moira said coldly.

"What about yours, professor, if you don't mind me asking" Iago asked as he pointed to Moira's face. The cut that the raven's claw had made was already fading away.

"Insignificant" Moira said, not taking her eyes of the boy "And yes, I do mind your asking" Moira said as Iago apologized and left the room. Either she was still too tired or the boy had blocked her looking into his mind. Something was off with Liam's son and she had to find out what.

"Will you stay quiet for a minute, Henry?" Sophie asked as she tried to keep her son still on her lap as she tried to put food on her plate.

"He's hungry" Nicholas said as he got a bit of everything his son was pointing at "I can relate. Peas, Henry?" the boy made an ugly face "Didn't think so. But your mom will have some, she loves disgusting things" Nicholas said with a funny face, making his son laugh.

"Peas are not disgusting, Nicholas. And you really should think about how what you've just said reflects upon you" Sophie said.

"Oh, she is getting the spirit" Aberforth said as he laughed off the look his son was giving him "Thank heavens" Aberforth breathed as he looked at the entrance to the Hall.

Abigail waltzed into the Great Hall just like a princess that had just been rescued. Her hair was hanging down, only kept up by the sides with a sapphire hairpin. The baby blue dress that framed her steps made the color of her eyes stand out and as result got a few boys dropping their jaws. Albus smiled at her as she walked toward where her family was seated.

As Abby sat down, Snape came into the Hall from one of the back doors, taking his seat without a word to anyone, as usual. Abby looked at him from her own seat and her eyes found his. Her clear blue eyes studied him for a moment as she remembered what she had seen. Before he could turn away from her eyes, he saw a smile grow upon her lips.

"Well done Severus" Abby whispered to herself.

Moira stretched her arms up above her head; a low crack was heard coming from her back, followed by a sigh. As he observed her movements, he thought of how much like a cat she looked, instead of a snake.

"Are you going to stand there all day?" she asked before turning to find Sirius "Or do you have something to say?" her eyes were cold, in spite of how glad she was feeling that he had come to find her.

Sirius walked toward her slowly, thinking of what he was going to tell her. He reached her and she raised her head up to look into his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I don't know how could I ever doubt you" he said earnestly "All of those horrible things I said…I didn't know…".

"How could you know?" Moira said her eyes still carrying coldness "The idea was to trust me regardless of what has happened to me. You acted as if you were twelve years old all over again… you acted like James did when he met me, Sirius" Moira said firmly.

"I know… and I'm not proud of it" Sirius said as he lowered his head "But he did come around, didn't he, and you forgave him" he looked into her eyes with the sweetest look he could muster.

"I am not kidding, Sirius" Moira said calmly "What you did… the things you said were really horrible"

"I know but Snape made me believe…" he started and knew this line of defense was not going to help me, but it was the only one he got.

"Don't pull him into this" Moira cut him off "He taunts you and you throw your assumptions at me. You told the whole staff Voldemort was sharing me, hearing you say that, thinking you believed that really hurt" she tossed at him "You of all people. You know me better than that"

"I spent thirteen years in Azkaban for something I didn't do; I was betrayed by a close friend. I can't stand the idea of that happening again" Sirius said in barely more than a whisper, hating himself for acting the way he did toward Moira and yet angry that she didn't recognize what he has been through.

"I know that but doubting the friends you do have is not the way to prevent that" Moira said softly as she looked into his eyes "Don't ever do that again, Sirius, I mean it"

"I won't" Sirius said as he looked into her eyes, remembering the tears that had fled them "I won't" he repeated as he embraced her. They stayed silent for a moment, before Moira started to feel Sirius's hand move.

"Don't even think about it Sirius Black" she warned but it was too late. Sirius softly pinched Moira's waist, making the woman yell with laughter "Stop it" she managed to say between laughs "We'll wake Remus"

Hearing that, Sirius stopped immediately and looked over at Lupin's office door.

"He is not ok, Sirius. I tried to talk him into going to see Poppy but he won't listen" Moira said, catching her breath "All I could manage was to get him to take the day off"

"What is that smell?" Sirius asked as he softly sniffed the air.

"You can smell it too? It smells like mint but I thought it was just me" Moira said as they creaked opened the door. Lupin was still heavily asleep.

"This has been a bad cycle for him" Sirius whispered as he looked at his sleeping friend "Does Wolfsbane smell like mint?"

Moira shook her head no as they closed the door back again.

"I don't know what this is but I don't like it" Moira said as she looked at Sirius "I have a bad feeling about this"

"You have bad feelings about everything, Moira" Sirius said "Let him sleep it off. The man almost lost the woman he loves last night" Sirius took Moira by her hand "Come on. We'll have some lunch and bring him some. Moony will be fine in no time. He's had bad cycles before"

"Not like this he hasn't" Moira said as Sirius led her out of her classroom.

"Yes he did. Remember that time when James told us about asking Lily to marry him and we all celebrated until dawn?" Moira nodded "Well, Remus had never drank so much in his life and it all happened right before the full moon. When he transformed, he was howling out of key"

Moira laughed as they walked in the halls.

"I remember that" she said "I was so out of it as well, I had to curl around you in order to move. That was awful"

"There you go. All Remus needs is rest and a whole lot of Abigail's kisses" Sirius said as they walked "He'll be fine in no time"

"I hope so" Moira whispered as they reached the Great Hall.

Henry was as awake as never before. He would walk around, helped by his father and pull at the students' robes when he was close to falling down.

"Come on, Henry. A few more steps and we're going back to the table" Nicholas said as they reached the entrance to the Great Hall. Then Henry fell again but before he reached the floor, he clung his little hands to dark robes in front of him. Nicholas looked up to see Moira looking down at his son.

"Hey there, big guy" Sirius said beside Moira, making Henry look up at them, making funny noises as he tried to reply "How's your back?" Sirius asked Nicholas who stood up again, cracking his back.

"I think it's safe to say I don't have one anymore" Nicholas said.

"Come on" Moira said softly, reaching her arms to Nicholas "Lets go get some desert" and the boy reached his arms over to her as she picked him up. As soon as Henry was in Moira's arms, he touched her face with his little hand and smiled.

"He likes you" Nicholas said as he looked at his son with pride. Moira stared at the boy's eyes and smiled "Can I leave him with you then? For desert? I still couldn't manage to get lunch myself"

Moira nodded as she started her way up to the staff table, Sirius by her side. He would make funny faces and Henry laughed at them and indicated with his pretend language that he wanted more. Even Harry laughed as Sirius passed him. He imagined if his godfather used to do that when he was a baby.

"They look lovely together" Julie said as he looked at Moira and Sirius "Too bad she can't fall in love"

Harry stared silently at how Sirius and Moira laughed with Henry, at how she held the baby protectively in her arms. He smiled at them as they passed his seat, Henry waving at Harry. He had met the Boy who Lived in the Hospital Wing right after Harry had been cursed with White Death. Harry's eyes found Moira's and he realized he had never thanked her for saving his life…again.

"Anytime" he heard her voice in his head but her lips hadn't moved. Harry smiled as he saw her do the same as she passed his seat.

Moira looked up at her father as she approached the staff table. Although he was smiling at her, his eyes were different, sad. Moira frowned a bit but was distracted with Sirius comments.

"If that old bat doesn't take his eyes off of you…" Sirius whispered to her, his eyes on Snape.

"You won't do a thing" Moira replied as they made their way around the table "Leave him alone, Sirius. I can handle him" she said before taking her seat beside Snape and putting Henry on her lap. Sirius curled his lips as he made his way toward his own seat.

Moira adjusted herself on her seat, Henry on her lap already reaching for the Fairy Cakes in front of him. Moira caught one and handed to him. It kept him quiet until she managed to put food on her own plate. His eyes traveled across the table and found Sirius's dark ones staring up at him, daring him to get closer to her.

"He is quite jealous for a dog" Snape whispered so that only Moira could hear him.

"He's not jealous, you are" Moira replied as she drank from her goblet. Snape snorted.

"I am very sorry to disappoint you Craine, but I am not jealous" he said matter of factly as he continued to eat his food.

"Whatever you say, Snape" Moira replied as she gave Henry a gulp of water "Does Wolfsbane smell like mint?" she asked, changing the subject completely.

"No" Snape answered, frowning "Why?"

"I caught a mint scent over Remus but I don't recall ever smelling it before. Sirius smelt it too. Any ideas?"

"I'll look into it" Snape said under his breath.

The rest of lunch, Snape was quiet, but Moira knew he was watching her with the corner of his black eyes and that was reason alone to make her smile. After a few sweets, Henry fell asleep in Moira's arms and stayed like that until Sophie came to pick him up. She was quite a nice woman for a Muggle. Moira had met a lot of Muggles in her life and very few of them knew or cared about magic. She was glad Nicholas had found one of the good ones to fall in love with.

"Moira" Dumbledore whispered, turning to face her daughter, as she was getting ready to leave the table "After dinner, I need to talk to you"

"What's the matter, father?" Moira asked, the bottom of her stomach disappearing from inside of her.

"We need to settle things for Halloween" Albus lied and Moira nodded.

"I'll meet you in your office after dinner then" Albus nodded and Moira got up from her chair and left, taking a plate filled with food to Lupin.

Dumbledore was the last one to leave the Great Hall. He watched Moira go out of the room, chatting with Abigail as she went. She looked much better than the night before, alive, what only made things worse for him. How was he going to have the courage to tell her what Salazar Slytherin had said? Where would he find the strength to send her away again?

The rest of the day went passed fast. Moira took the food to Lupin and left it by the center table of his office, not wanting to wake him up. By the end of the day, Moira was beyond tired making her way to her father's office almost unconsciously. She said the password and went inside, the details of Halloween already on her mind.

"Come in" she heard her father call from inside as she opened the door. Dumbledore was seated at his desk "Take a seat. You look tired" he said calmly.

Moira smiled at him as she let her body fall into one of the chairs.

"Exhausted" Moira said "And worried"

"Why worried?" Albus asked.

"Because every time you call me to your office bad news comes my way" Moira said and froze as her father's eyes found hers. She sat straight up on her seat "What is it? Please, just tell me" Moira asked.

Snape got back to his classroom after dinner. Getting the cauldron he had brewed Lupin's Wolfsbane potion in it, he examined the content, feeling every smell, every texture of every ingredient. He found nothing… no sign of anything that reassembled the smell of mint. He knew a couple of herbs that smelled like it, but their effect could never be in Lupin's potion, unless Snape wanted to kill him… or worse.

"Voldemort is not working alone" Black had said.

In a fluid movement, Snape searched for the goblet he had left in Lupin's classroom. As he found it, he looked for any trace of the herb that Moira had smelled and to his despair, he found it. In very fast movements, Snape gathered several ingredients and began to brew another potion. When it was over, the full moon was already high in the night's sky, sending a beautiful and yet eerie light over Hogwarts' grounds. As the potion cooled down, he ran to his room and undid several guarding spells over a cabinet. From inside, he took off a crossbow and several arrows. Dipping each arrow point in the potion, Snape gathered them and left the room, praying it wasn't too late.

Moira was coming down the steps of her father's office. He had made a decision and as much as she had tried to talk him out of it, she couldn't. He was still the Headmaster and she was still only a teacher. She had been fired…that was the way he found for her to have to leave Hogwarts and find safer grounds. Moira snorted… there are no safer grounds for her, but her father didn't listen. He had owled Ethan already and he was looking for some place Moira could hide. She was to leave at the end of the week.

The dark haired witch walked with heavy steps. Now that everything seemed to have gone back to normal, now that everyone was back on track and she finally got her heart to be answered, she was going away again. The idea of leaving was worse than of dying and she hated that her father didn't understand that. He had once told her love was strength and he was taking it from her, again. As she walked, the flames on the torches that lit the corridors burned higher and inside of the classrooms, Moira could hear windows breaking.

Moira almost jumped out of her skin as she heard a very familiar scream echo in the Hogwarts' walls. She ran, following the sounds and felt her heart stop beating when she reached her own classroom door.

"PLEASE! HELP ME!" Abby screamed through the doors.

Moira pushed the doors but they wouldn't budge. She used magic, and yet nothing happened. From the crack between the double doors, Moira saw Abby's blue eye looking at her.

"He's blocking magic" the blond witch sobbed "I can't get out"

"Who is blocking magic, Abby?" Moira asked but a strong howl coming from next door gave her the answer.

"He's out of control, Moira" Abby sobbed "I managed to lock the door between the rooms, but he's already passing through it. Please, get me out of here" Abby pleaded as the sounds of the door being destroyed echoed in the room.

Moira started to despair. She threw her body against the door, trying to make it budge but it didn't. She had to find help, but couldn't leave Abby alone.

"What's going on?" Sirius asked, appearing almost on cue. Another howl answered his question "How can this be possible?" he asked as he heard Abby scream.

"HE'S ALMOST HERE!" Abby yelled as Sirius and Moira threw their bodies against the doors.

"Abby, go to my office and lock yourself inside. Whatever happens, Abby, don't let him bite you" Moira asked and saw Abby's figure disappear from sight "He's blocking magic" Moira said as she tried in vain to move the door.

Before Sirius could ask anything a huge noise was heard inside the room and Abby screamed.

"ABBY!" Moira yelled and through the double doors, she saw Lupin's werewolf figure launch itself against the door to Moira's office.

"It won't do any good to go inside if we can't transfigure" Sirius said as he threw himself at the door again "Any ideas once we go in?"

More noise howls and screams were the answer. In a matter of seconds, Nicholas and Aberforth were also by the doors. Not bothering to ask what was going on, they helped to push the doors, again, to no avail. Then everything went quiet. Sirius looked through the hole and saw the werewolf coming slowly toward the doors, sniffing the air.

"He's looking for someone" Sirius said as they unconsciously took a few steps back.

"MOIRA! GET AWAY!" Snape called as he ran toward the huddle of teachers, arrows and bow in hand "RUN!" he yelled before the double doors fell from their hinges, pinning Sirius, Nicholas and Aberforth to the ground. Lupin, as an enormous werewolf stepped into the doors, sniffing the air "Run" Snape whispered to Moira as Lupin's yellow eyes fell upon her but Moira was frozen on the spot. Lupin bared his teeth.

Snape prepared the bow and arrow and threw one at Lupin, but he moved, and it hit only his arm. The beast threw his head back and howled, as he turned and with one hit, threw Snape against the opposite wall, then he turned to Moira. As if struck by lightning, Moira turned on her heels and ran away from him as fast as she could.

Lupin went after her as Sirius tried to get out from under the door. Limping a bit, he managed to free himself. Nicholas and Aberforth were hurt too, their heads filled with cuts and bruises and trying to lift the heavy wooden doors from over their bodies. Sirius looked at Snape and saw that was also trying to get up, but apparently too hurt to do so.

"Take these" Snape pointed to the bow and arrows "They are tranquilizers. Get him before he gets to her and to the gates"

Without thinking twice, Sirius took the bow and arrows and ran. As he followed Lupin's howls, he found Moira running toward the forest, only a few steps in front of the werewolf. She was taking him away from the school. Sirius gave chase, taking already one arrow and getting it ready to be set. Then his heart froze. Moira had tripped and was now lying on the floor, as Lupin advanced on her.

Moira's heart pounded against her chest. She couldn't move. Her foot got caught on a root and tangled itself there, enabling her to move. She looked in front of her as Lupin slowly started to advance on her, his fangs bared and yellow eyes glittering. That was it; Moira was going to be shred to pieces by her friend. As he moved toward her, Moira started to lie down on the floor, trying to stay as far as possible from Lupin's teeth. She could feel his hot breath on her face.

"You don't want to do this, Remus" she whispered.

Sirius aimed at the back of Lupin' s neck. He was about to shoot an arrow at Moony, his best friend, an arrow that Snape said had tranquilizers. Sirius had never trusted Snape nor ever would. He saw Lupin advance on an immobilized Moira and closed his eyes.

"Please, be right" he breathed and, opening his eyes, he shot.

Lupin howled out loud as the arrow hit the back of his neck. Moira moved out of the way as best as she could and saw Lupin's body fall beside her, unconscious. Sirius ran toward her, pulling her feet out of the roots and away from Lupin.

"You shot him…" Moira whispered as she looked at Lupin's now inert body "What did you do?"

"Tranquilizers" was the only thing Sirius managed to say.

Slowly Moira saw that Lupin's breathing was starting to come back to normal as he fell asleep, still in his werewolf form. She looked up at the castle and saw her father along with Snape and several teachers running toward them.

"What happened?" Moira asked as a limping Snape approached them.

"Someone was controlling him" Snape said as his eyes searched Moira's body, looking for any injuries "Potter was right. Lupin was next"

Moira looked over at her father's eyes. A mixture of hate, anger and pain in them.

"I don't care what you say" she said firmly "I am not going anywhere"

&&&&&&&

Author's notes:

Sorry for the huuuuuuuge chapter, but the characters just wouldn't shut up! Hope you have enjoyed it and I promise to hurry up on the next one.

Okay….a few chapters behind I wrote that Lupin was the one who transfigured Draco into a weasel, when it was Moody who did so, not Moony. Sorry…my bad.

Oh…and for this story, you only turn into a werewolf if you are bitten, not scratched.

Review and I'll be happy! J

Since everyone is kind of threatening to kill me if I don't publish this soon, I'll just say thank you to all of my readers and reviewers. A special kiss to Ruth, my editor, and to Lu and Flora, my great friends who keep me smiling when I should be yelling at people. You girls rock! A big hug to my readers from my incredible group of friends called The Order! Nanda, Jessica, Debora, Minako, Vivi, Audrey and everyone else who reads this and gives me pointers...you are awesome! Better get cracking on the next chapter! Cheerio!