Much to his horror, Dumbledore made it a point to make Remus' presence known to the general assembly at breakfast that morning. Although the entire student population wasn't present, he estimated that a good three fourths of the students now knew that the werewolf was back at Hogwarts. However, as much as it troubled his mind to think of such things, he kept himself occupied by going over exactly what he would say to the young girl if he found her awake upon his return, which of course, is exactly how he found her.
He settled with the classic, "Good morning," and smiled cautiously.
At first, she made no movement, but after a lengthy silence she rolled over slightly to look at him. "Good morning, sir. Are you well?" she asked.
"Quite, thank you. And yourself? How are you feeling?"
"Better than the last time we met no doubt," she said with a grin. "I… want to thank you for helping me. I had begun to lose hope when you came along."
"It is such a strange thing that you would find it in me, but it appears I have also found it in you." He smiled brightly. "Oh, but where are my manners? I am Remus Lupin, yes… and you are?"
"Vivian Grey, sir."
"Ah, you are Muggle-born then I assume. I guessed as much." Lupin said, catching her eye.
"If you mean whether or not I am from a magical family, then yes, it is true that I am not," she said, turning away.
"Ah, but there's no shame in the fact, Vivian, none at all. Some of the greatest wizards have come from non magical families,"
"Ah, correct you are, Remus," Dumbledore said, striding into the room. "Prophetically correct, if my instincts are any judge." He gave Remus the same wink he gave the night before. Becoming increasingly annoyed, Remus said to the girl, "Excuse us for a moment," and took Dumbledore aside.
"Why do you act this way? What is it that you know concerning her that you are keeping from me?" Remus said, barely above a whisper.
"I spoke for a time with her in the early hours of the morning, Remus. We were correct in thinking that the Death Eaters had attacked her, and according to her word, they were about to drag her off to their headquarters when you arrived. Think now, Remus, if she is just an ordinary Muggle, what would Lord Voldemort want with her?"
"Well obviously she's no ordinary Muggle, I knew it the minute she touched me in the forest. What of it though?"
"Ah, well, even if she is a perfectly capable witch, it still leaves the fact that she is Muggle-born. Ask yourself, why would Voldemort prefer this Muggle-born over a pureblood with the same talents?" Dumbledore asked.
"He would not," Remus said with some agitation.
"Exactly. Yet it is clear that he had some purpose with her. If he had not, he would not have sent three of his followers chasing after the girl all the way from London to the Forbidden Forest. She told me that she had been on the run for six whole days before they caught her."
"Have you had time to think on it?" Remus asked.
"Not enough yet, Mr. Lupin, but it is a top priority, along with making sure her health improves. Madam Pomphry?" he called. The nurse came quickly into the room. "How is she?" he asked her.
"Much better, actually. She should be well enough to come out of bed this evening, though I ask that you leave her with me at least another day," the nurse replied.
"Good, good. Well then, Remus, off we go. I'll be showing you to the chambers I have prepared. Farewell, Vivian, for the moment." Dumbledore waved to the young girl. Remus gave her a smile on his way out the door.
"Sir," Remus continued, "if she is a witch, and obviously she is, why has she not already been attending Hogwarts?"
"I wish I had the answer to that, Remus," Dumbledore replied.
"But sir, is it not you who sends out the invitations?"
"That is true, but I checked over the list this morning. It is most strange. Surely, since we have already accepted her to the school, her name would have appeared on the list of students by now even if it was not there over the holiday. However, it did not. There is definitely something strange about the matter. It's almost as if…" He paused.
"As if what, Professor?" Remus urged.
Dumbledore stopped walking and looked at him. "…As if she didn't want to be known," he finished quietly. "Ah, well now, here we are. You'll be staying here. I should think you'll find it acceptable, if not even to your liking," he said with a grin.
Remus opened the door and stepped inside, finding a spacious apartment style sitting room with comfortable accommodations. A thick black curtain was laid currently unused over the single window which held a spectacular view of the Quidditch pitch and the Forbidden Forest. Behind the sitting room was another room that held a large bed and had a small bathroom to the side. Remus turned to thank Dumbledore, but discovered that he had already made his way into the armchair and was smiling happily. Remus joined him in a chair nearby. "I sincerely thank you for all of this. I understand, however, if at anytime you must tell me to remove myself from the premises, and will go without remorse."
"That deserves respect, Remus, but I'll not act upon it. It is my pleasure to have you here, and if my instincts are correct, your presence will be a blessing in these increasingly dark days."
Remus looked through the window into the sunlight, slightly annoyed of hearing about Dumbledore's instinct. Looking down, he spotted a few students wandering out towards Hagrid's cabin, no doubt on their way to an early morning Care of Magical Creatures lesson. His gaze followed them for a time before he turned back to Dumbledore, but the headmaster was no longer there. Remus hurried to the door. Spotting the elder wizard a bit down the hall he called out, "Thank you again, Albus!" Catching the grin on Dumbledore's face, he slid back into his apartment and realized for the first time that all his possessions were huddled together in a corner, waiting to be dispersed as he saw fit. Remus was quick to go about the task, pulling out his wand and setting things where his eye sought them. It was obvious that he was not much of the interior design type, but he soon felt again at home within this castle he knew so well.
Well, I've tried haven't I? Reviews are most appreciated :D