Listen To Your Heart

Chapter Twenty Seven-Back At School

"Where is she?" I demanded becoming alert and the panic settled in.

I jumped up.

"Where'd she go?"

"I'm not sure," Harry said going pale in the face. "She had just gotten up. I suspected she was going to just stick her head out of the compartment, so I went back to talking with Ron. She just vanished then when I looked back. I'm sorry."

He looked upset.

"It's not your fault," I said. "Ryker's supposed to be watching her."

I went over and grabbed Ryker's collar.

"Maddie's GONE GET UP!" I shouted.

Ryker immediately snapped awake. He sat up right, tucking his hind quarters into a sitting position.

He yawned exposing his white canines and incisors.

"What?" he asked becoming more rapt with attention.

"MADDIE IS GONE! GO AND FIND HER!" I shouted yanking him off the seat.

"Oh no," Ryker said as he headed over to the compartment door.

"Stay here," I instructed to Harry and Ron. "I'm going with him."

We headed out of the compartment and began scanning the length of the car.

"Where could she have gone?" Ryker asked his ears pricked forward listening for Maddie's familiar walk. I saw his nose twitching, obviously trying to pick up her scent.

"I don't know," I said miserably as I began getting upset. "She couldn't have gone far."

"I'm sorry," Ryker said hanging his head and whining. "I should've been watching her more closely."

I exhaled.

"No…it's my fault. I shouldn't have blamed you. We were both at fault…deal?"

I got down on one knee and gave the dog a hug.

He barked and his tail wagged, a sign that he accepted my apology.

"Let's go and find her," I said standing up. I was just about to take a step when Severus walked up the car with Maddie!

He had his hands on her shoulders.

"Oh thank God!" I breathed rushing forward and grabbing her. I threw my arms around her and hugged her tightly. Naturally, she just stood there and didn't move while I hugged her.

"She wandered into my compartment," Severus explained. "I recognized her so I was bringing her back to you."

"Thank you, Severus," I said earnestly and gratefully.

He studied me for a moment. He really hadn't changed much since I last saw him.

"Any word on Remus?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"He's recovering, little by little," I replied quietly.

Severus nodded, then the sneer came across his face as he glanced down at Ryker.

"I gather that dog is coming with you lot as well?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied firmly. "Dumbledore knows about him. He's to help Maddie."

Severus' eyes lingered on me for a bit before he turned and headed down the train.

We turned around and began heading back to our compartment.

Once we entered, Harry and Ron looked up.

"Oh thank God!" Harry breathed relieved. "Where was she?"

"She had wandered into Severus Snape's compartment," Ryker explained jumping up beside Harry and watched Ron curiously.

"Oh," Ron said. "My brothers had him…he's a nightmare!"

I didn't say anything. I couldn't tell them the real reason why he loathed Harry without getting into details.

I wished Remus was here with me.

A few minutes later, a girl with busy brown hair knocked on our compartment door.

"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville Longbottom has lost his," she asked in a bossy tone.

Now, Ron was trying to show Harry some magic, so she watched with interest.

It was a simple charm to turn his rat Scabbers into a yellow rat, but it wasn't going well.

"My brother taught me this," Ron said crossly.

"I think your brother was just fooling with you," I said affectionately.

"I'm Hermione Granger," the girl introduced herself. "You're Harry Potter…and you are…?"

Her voice trailed off when her eyes landed on Ron, Maddie and I.

"Ron Weasley," Ron introduced.

"I'm Roselyn Lupin and this is my daughter Maddie," I said softly.

Hermione nodded.

"Maddie's in shock isn't she?" she said shrewdly. "And that dog is a Minux."

"Well recognized," Ryker said in a sarcastic tone.

I glared at him. He just returned his eyes onto Ron, who was talking with Harry, ignoring the girl named Hermione.

"You're welcomed to sit with us," I said kindly gesturing to the seat next to me.

"Thanks, but I'm helping the boy named Neville find his toad," she said and turned and disappeared.

"You two were rude! You too, Ryker," I scolded glaring at Ron, Harry and Ryker.

"She seems like a Know-It-All," Ron replied. "I can't stand people like that."

"Did you ever think that maybe she reads?" I asked raising an eyebrow. "Ryker's kind is in a lot of books, and if she's part Muggle, she would certainly recognize the symptoms of someone in shock."

Ron just shrugged and turned his attention back to Harry.

I exhaled.

Ryker was talking with Ron and Harry about Quidditch. I looked over at Maddie. She was still wearing that blank expression on her face.

I sighed again.

When we arrived at Hogwarts, Hagrid, the groundskeeper, took the first years over by boat. But with Maddie, Ryker and I, we were taken by Threstral drawn carriages along with the 3rd years and above.

When we arrived at the castle, it was exactly how I had remembered it. I missed it but then all the memories came flooding back.

"You okay, Roselyn?" Ryker's voice asked beside me.

I looked down. He was standing on all fours squarely looking up at me with his brown eyes.

"Yeah," I said softly. "Just remembering the good times I had here."

"Ah," he said wisely.

Professor McGonagall beamed and gave me a hug when she saw me. She gave Ryker's ear an affectionate scratch before turning her attention onto Maddie.

"When I call her name, she'll do the same as the other kids, but I'll put the hat on her head for her," Professor McGonagall instructed. "You and Ryker can wait in the sidelines."

I nodded.

We entered the Great Hall at this point. I saw Harry's face as if he was in complete awe. I gave him an encouraging smile. He smiled back and waved.

McGonagall began going down the list of students.

Hermione Granger's name was called.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Maddie's name was called and she robotically went up and sat down. Professor McGonagall put the Sorting hat on her head. A few seconds later, we heard it call out:

"SLYTHERIN!"

McGonagall took the hat off her head and she got up slowly and I helped her over to the Slytherin table. Ron had a shocked expression on his face.

The Slytherin table cheered as Maddie and I headed over there. We sat down. Ryker jumped up onto the seat beside me and sat on his haunches.

Harry's name was called next. The whole Hall was silent.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Cheers rang out from the Gryffindor table.

"We got Harry!" a boy cheered loudly that looked exactly like Ron.

Ron went and was placed in Gryffindor as well. Finally, all the students were settled at their house tables before Professor Dumbledore made his speech.

"I want to welcome back all our familiar students and welcome new comers," he said pleasantly. "I have an important announcement to make. One of my former students and her daughter are here with us. Now, her daughter Maddie is in shock. She had witness her father being attacked so I want all of you to make her feel at home and try and help her."

I felt a surge of warmth toward Dumbledore. He always made sure that people were kind to visitors.

"TUCK IN!" he called.

The food magically appeared.

I began helping Maddie load her plate with food. I even gave Ryker a helping of roast beef.

I raised my eyes to the Head Table where the teachers sat. Severus met my eyes and I saw a faint smile come across his face before he turned his attention to Professor McGonagall beside him.

"So," a voice drawled from my right. "She's in shock huh?"

I raised my eyes. A boy with blond hair and blue eyes was looking at Maddie and I.

I nodded.

"Yeah," I said.

"I'm Draco Malfoy," he introduced himself. "This is Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle."

He gestured to two boys sitting across from him. Both were beefy and built. One had light brown hair and green eyes and the other had dark brown hair and brown eyes.

"Roselyn Lupin and this is Maddie,"

Draco nodded.

"Why are you here?" he asked. "And that dog?"

He moved his eyes onto Ryker.

Ryker raised his head and addressed Draco.

"I'm a Minux and I'm here for Maddie," he replied. "Same as Roselyn. We're here to help her around since she obviously can't do it herself."

Draco nodded again.

"So," I said pleasantly to Draco. "What do your parents do?"

"My Dad works in the Ministry of Magic," he replied proudly. "He makes sure that the trash doesn't get off the hook that easily."

I knew immediately what he was saying.

"Ah," I said politely.

At that moment, Severus began approaching the table.

"Mrs. Lupin? May I see you for a moment?" he asked.

I got up and instructed Ryker to keep an eye on Maddie for a brief moment.

I felt Draco's eyes on me as Severus pulled me aside.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I just want you to know that I will do my best to keep an eye on Maddie for you as well," he said.

I was shocked that he cared this much, but it was a nice gesture.

"Sure," I said beaming. "Listen,"

My voice dropped so no one could hear us.

"I'm really sorry for what happened. I should've explained things to you but to do that was just mean and I'm really sorry for what I did,"

I had hoped he accepted my apology.

He looked confused for the moment before realization dawned on his face.

"It hurt," he whispered. The sneer was gone and I saw the old Severus now. "I had really cared about you."

"I did too," I said. "But you said that your parents didn't approve of us dating. What was I supposed to do?"

Guilt flooded across his face.

"Actually," he said even quieter. "I lied."

"What?" I asked stunned. "Why did you lie?"

"Because I saw how much Remus loved you," he said staring into my eyes. "I was taking a step back. Plus, I heard and knew all the snide comments that were made."

I sighed.

"Plus, I never forgave James Potter for doing that horrible trick," his tone hardened at the mention of James' name. "I've never forgiven him."

"James is dead," I said feeling tears forming in my eyes. "I think its' about time to forgive him. He really didn't mean to hurt me. Maddie was adopted, Severus…she's not really mine."

Severus' facial expression faltered even more.

"When she was adopted, the Mistress that ran the wizarding orphanage in London told us that no one wanted her because she was part werewolf," I continued as the tears glistened in my eyes. "We took her because we figured that she would settle in with Remus and I already being werewolves. We figured we can help her cope with the changes and let her know that she can lead a perfectly normal life."

Severus exhaled loudly. He was still dressed in black robes. His black hair reached his shoulders and his dark eyes were locked on mine.

"That's right," he said quietly. "That branch from the Whomping Willow damaged you. Does Maddie know she's adopted?"

"No," I said miserably as tears streamed down my cheeks. "I haven't been able to tell her…its' not that easy. But I wanted to but now she's in shock."

"She'll be fine okay?" Severus said putting his hand on my shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Finish eating dinner," he said. "We start classes tomorrow."

I nodded and turned back heading to my seat.

"Is everything okay?" Draco asked with a concerned expression.

"Yeah," I said forcing a bright smile on my face. "I went here so it's kind of overwhelming to be here again. I had a lot of good times here."

Draco looked suspicious, but didn't say anymore.

Ryker looked at me.

"I take it you explained things to Severus?" he asked keeping his voice down.

I nodded and explained to him what Severus told me.

"Plus," I whispered to Ryker. "When Maddie comes out of the shock, I've got to tell her the truth about where she really came from."

Ryker gave my face a lick.

"You will," he said warmly. "You're a good Mum and Maddie will love you either way."

I gave him a hug and kiss on the nose before returning to my own dinner.

I was set up in the girl's dorm in the Slytherin dungeon. Ryker was allowed in so he jumped up on Maddie's bed and curled up against her.

I climbed into bed as well and just stared up at the ceiling. It felt a bit odd being down in the Slytherin area since I was used to Gryffindor, but it was a good kind of change as well.

Shortly, I had dozed off and fell into a troubled sleep.

The next morning, I awoke and helped Maddie pull on her Slytherin robe and her uniform. I was wearing a pair of jeans and a plain white Tee-shirt. I had pulled my hair up into a ponytail and then the three of us headed down to the Great Hall.

Draco and his friends were already sitting at the Slytherin table eating. I sat down and no sooner had reached for my food, when an owl flew in carrying a letter. It landed on the table and extended its leg out to me. I recognized the writing from St. Mungo's.

"It's about Remus isn't it?" Ryker asked in a solemn tone.

Inhaling, I took it, opened the letter and began reading.

"Oh…my…God,"