Disclaimer - It's not mine. Never was. The only characters I own are the ones that J.K. Rowling has not already used in her own story, which includes Sable, Sabine, Ailric, and Gabe.

A/N- Hey everyone. I figured I'd give you a little Christmas present and post another chapter for your reading enjoyment. Thanks to all the people who have reviewed this story. It's good to know what you are thinking.

wolversaremylife1 - Glad to know you liked the chapter. As for the letter Petunia got, and what it said, you'll find out soon. The transformations will be explained in a little while..but I will tell you it has to do with who their fathers are. And as for a romance between Harry and Sabine...it is not going to happen. So you don't have to worry about it.

Lothliana - Thanks for your enthusiasm. Of course I'd have to send them back to England. And the fact that she has kids is going to be a huge part of the story. So, hang on for a ride you won't be forgetting anytime soon.

Sarah - Thanks, I'm glad to know you like what I've got up so far.

Later,

A.A.

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Wolf's Bane: Return to Hogwarts

Chapter Three

Surprises Abound

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The street in front of the American Department of Magic was alive with bustling witches and wizards running from place to place. All around them, the day to day activities of the people's lives were unchanged and methodical, utterly untouched by the chaos that was Voldemort's calling card. Remus took a quick look up the twenty story metal and glass building in front of him and sighed quietly.

Dumbledore had roped him into coming to meet the candidate for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, saying the opinion of a former holder of the position would come in handy. Not too far from him, Bill Weasley and Albus Dumbledore were speaking about something, he wasn't very sure about it at the moment. But when Albus called his attention to the front again, Remus followed them into the building and up to the nearest desk where a middle-aged woman was sitting, reading a piece of paper.

"Excuse us, miss." Bill said, giving the lady a smile. "We're looking for Dr. Mikayla Lee. Can you kindly point us in the correct direction?"

"Dr. Lee is on the thirteenth floor." the lady said. "You'll need to go through security check before you get on the elevator, though." She pointed to a small line of people lined up in a roped off area, being checked by some men in security uniforms. Bill thanked her and the three men walked over to the line, only to be intercepted by a young, black headed witch. Remus took a good look at the girl and felt the blood rush to his feet.

The young woman in front of them looked like his old girlfriendSable, down to the eye color. He took a step back as she smiled and waved them over towards a door away from the security line.

"Mr. Weasley?" she asked, looking up at Bill with a grin. "Good to see you again. Headmaster Dumbledore, it is good to see you as well."

"Ah, Miss Sabine." Bill said, giving the girl a grin. "It is good to see you again. We're here to see Dr. Lee."

"Yeah, she sent me to get you. She said there was no point in you having to go through security since she was relatvely sure you weren't going to try to blow up the office." the young woman said. "She's in her office waiting on you." Remus continued to stare at the girl, until she turned around and looked at him.

"Do I have something on my face?" she asked, cracking a grin at him.

"I'm sorry, miss, but, who are you?" Remus asked the girl as they walked into an elevator and she hit the button for the thirteenth floor. "Your resemblence to an old friend of mine is uncanny." The young woman chuckled and leaned up against the wall of the elevator.

"I'm Sabine." the girl said, extending her hand towards him, which Remus took out of habit. "I work here as Dr. Lee's secretary. Who are you?"

"This is Remus Lupin, Sabine." Dumbledore said, nodding towards him. "He is a dear friend of mine." Remus caught the look of shock that passed over the young girl's eyes, and wondered what she was hiding.

"Lupin, huh?" she asked, a slight frown marring her features. "I don't remember seeing your name on the visitor's list along with Mr. Weasley and Headmaster Dumbledore."

"We brought him along to help with the interview." Bill said, picking up on the girl's slight change in disposition. "He was the teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts a few years ago at Hogwarts, and we thought he could give us a fair assesment of your mom's knowledge of the subject."

"I see." she said, nodding. "Well, welcome, Mr. Lupin. Pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise, miss." Remus answered. The elevator door opened a few moments later, and Sabine led them out and through a door, into a waiting area.

"Please make yourself comfortable, and I will tell her that you have arrived." she said, gesturing towards the numerous chairs along the walls. The men nodded and Sabine walked quickly through a door, not even bothering to knock. A few minutes later, Sabine re-emerged and walked behind her desk, quicky pulling out some paperwork. "She'll see you now, gentlemen."

"Thank you, Sabine." Dumbledore said, smiling at her and walking towards the door.

"Not a problem, headmaster." she said. "Go on it, she's waiting for you."

"Did you inform her of our extra guest?" Dumbledore asked, refering to Lupin. "I know she wasn't expecting me to bring Mr. Lupin along as well."

"Yeah, I did, as a matter of fact." Sabine said, uncomfortable with the older man's knowing look. "Uh, she's a little surprised, but...well, go talk to her, won't you?" Dumbledore nodded and opened the door, waving Remus and Bill in before him. The two younger men walked in and Sabine shot a glare towards Dumbledore when they were out of sight, that the wizened man pointedly ignored.

When Remus stepped into the office, he quickly took in the numerous framed pictures that were mounted on the wall, but found it odd that the occupants of said pictures were absent from their places. In front of him, he could see three black leather chairs sitting in front of a large mahogany desk, but what caused his blood to run cold was the woman rising from behind it.

Remus' breath caught in his throat as he watched her stand up from behind the desk. She had coal black hair that was liberally streaked with white, pulled back into a tight braid, and expressive violet eyes that had a look of utter shock in them at the moment.

Pictures of Sable rushed through his mind. Seeing the young girl at the secretary's desk had thrown him for a loop, but now he was close to hyperventialating where he stood. He was knocked out of his shock when Bill stepped forward and extended his hand to the woman.

"Agent Bane, how have you been?" the eldest Weasley asked, causing the woman's focus to come forward immediately, her eyes leaving Remus' immediately.

"I've been well, Mr. Weasley." she said with a sincere smile. "I take it your family is doing well?"

"Yes." he grinned. "Well, with the minor exception of my younger sibling Percy being a complete prat, the rest of our clan is fine. We're to plentiful to knock off, and too stubborn to leave."

"Well, it seems as though you have little to worry about then, Bill." she said. Bill grinned and stepped away from her. "Who have you brought with you?"

"You know Albus Dumbledore, I'm sure." he said, gesturing to the white haired wizard behind him. "And this is Remus Lupin, a dear friend of mine. Remus, this is Dr. Mikayla Lee, also known as Agent Bane to her co-workers, and any others who were fortunate enough to make her acquaintance."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lupin." the woman said, shaking his hand and nodding. "I was not aware of your arrival with Mr. Weasley and Albus.Please, have a seat." The three men took seats in the comfy chair sitting in front of the woman's desk, and watched as she took her own seat behind the desk. "How have you been, Albus. It has been quite a while since I've seen you."

"It has been a while, if I do remember correctly." he said, smiling at her. "However, I do hope you and your family has been well, since we last conversed."

"We have, Albus." she said. "Thank you. Now, what brings you all the way across the Atlantic and into my office? Surely you did not come all this way just to catch up on old times? Bill has told me that you wished to speak with me concerning the postion of Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor at Hogwarts."

"Indeed, child." Albus said. "As I told you in our last correspondance, things are currently in chaos in our world. The re-emergence of Voldemort has caused quite an uproar now that the Ministry has acknowledged what you and I have known for the past number of years. You know as well as I, my dear, that this wizard is not to be taken lightly. As such, we are in need of a competent instructor in one of the classes that will be a key in keeping our students safe. At the moment, Cornelius Fudge has been booted out of his position as Minister, and Amelia Bones is now in his place. But I would still prefer to have an instructor of my own choosing teaching this particular class."

"What happened to the last instructor?" Agent Bane asked, seemingly not to surprised to hear that Fudge had been thrown out onto his rear. "Who was it?"

"Dolores Umbridge." Bill said with a frown.

"The Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic?" Agent Bane asked, the surprise evident. "Why on Earth would she be put as an instructor?"

"You know her?" Remus asked, more and more intrigued by this woman in front of him.

"Of course I know thatridiculous woman." she answered tersely. "I've had to deal with her a number of times before when my work took me to Great Britian. And I'll be the first to say I was glad when I got away from her."

"As such, you can see our predicament when she decided to not teach the practical use of the spells taught in Defense Against the Dark Arts." Dumbledore said.

"She only taught theory?" the woman asked. "That's practically useless! What about the instructors before her?"

"Well, the first was possessed by Voldemort, the second was utterly clueless, the third -who I might add was a wonderful teacher, and is currently occupying the seat across from me-, was forced to resign, the fourth was an imposter using polyjuice potion to mask as the Auror Albus had hired originally, and the fifth was Umbridge." Bill said, ticking each point off as he went along. Remus watched as Agent Bane turned to him and frowned.

"You taught, Mr. Lupin?" she asked.

"Yes, I did." he said. "But an unfortunate series of events occured and I voluntairly stepped down from the position."

"Mind if I ask what happened?" she asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do." Remus said shortly. The woman only nodded and turned back to Dumbledore.

"Fari enough." she said, shrugging. "Your business after all. Now, you were saying, Albus?"

"So, you can see we need someone who not only knows the importance of a proper background in Defense Against the Dark Arts, but someone who knows what it will be used for." Dumbledore said. "Your encounters with Voldemort during his first assent to power gives you the proper knowledge of what the students need to know."

"Albus told us that you know what Voldemort is capable of." Remus said, watching as the woman tried to hide the flinch at hearing that name. "It would make many parents more comfortable knowing that an Auror with your reputation is teaching their children the knowledge they need to help protect themselves against his horror."

"What Albus has conveniently forgotten to mention, unfortunately," the woman said stonily, "is the fact that my escape from that monster's clutches was helped along bythe sheer dumb luck that seemed to have been a permanent friend of mine during my childhood."

"None the less, your help will be greatly appreciated." Bill said.

"What about the Order, Albus?" the woman asked. "You told me that you had revived it earlier this year. What's its current status?"

"I'm afraid I can't divulge that information to you, my dear." Dumbledore said solemnly. "Only the members of the Order are privy to that information." Agent Bane's eyes narrowed into slits and she planted her hands on her desk and leaned across to bridge the gap between herself and the headmaster.

"You want me to uproot my family, and drag them into the viper pit I left behind sixteen..almost seventeen years ago, but you won't tell me what you're doing to stop it?" she asked regarding him carefully. "You're going to have to give me more than that, Albus."

"You have all the proof you need, have had it for a while." Dumbledore said firmly. "You knew before we did, that he was coming back, Agent Bane. What more do you want?"

"A guarantee."

"Of what?" Bill asked.

"That, if by some snowball's chance in hell I agree to this, my family will be protected." she said. "My children are my life, Albus. I refuse to take them into a situation where they will be harmed."

"Surely your husband...." Remus started, only to be cut off by her head shaking.

"Do you see a ring on my hand, Mr. Lupin?" she asked, holding her hand up. Remus shook his head. "I don't have one."

"I see." Remus said, nodding slightly. "Forgive me."

"Forgiven." she answered lightly, smiling at him softly. "As for..." Before she could finish the sentence, a small buzzer on her desk went off. Agent Bane frowned and pressed the button down on the small intercom box. "What is it, Sabine?"

"Ailric and Gabe want to speak with you about something. Should I let them in?" the young girl's voice asked.

"No." Agent Bane said quickly.

"Are you alright in there, mom?" came a more masculine voice, who Remus immediately assumed was either the aforementioned Ailric or Gabe. "Everything okay?"

"Get out of the way, Ailric!" came the young woman's annoyed voice. "I told you she was busy. You can wait until she's done."

"I'm fine, Ailric." Agent Bane said. "But I'm in an important meeting right now. I'll talk to you when I get done."

"Oh, okay. Well, can Gabe and I go to Brandon's house for the evening?"

"Do whatever you want, just be at home before your curfew." Agent Bane said.

"Great! Thanks, mom." came the young man's voice.

"You're welcome." she said. "Now unless one of you are on the floor bleeding to death, dying, or already dead, no more interruptions."

"Sorry, mom." came three distinct voices from the intercom. "Won't happen again, we promise."

"See that it doesn't." she said. "Now go."

"Later, mom." was the last thing they said before the intercom clicked off and Agent Bane leaned back against her chair.

"I apologize, gentlemen." she said after a moment.

"You're a mother?" Remus asked suddenly.

"Yes, I am." Agent Bane said. "Is ita crime to have children, Mr. Lupin? You sound surprised."

"You don't seem old enough to be a mother to children who sound that old, is all." he said honestly.

"I did not know my personal life was on trial here." she said firmly.

"It is not." Dumbledore cut in smoothly. "However, I still need an answer, Dr. Lee."

"No." she said firmly, looking the old man straight in the eye. "I told you before and I'll tell you again, Dumbledore. No, and that's final."

"No?" asked Bill. "To joining the Order, right? You're still willing to teach then?"

"I'm afraid not, Mr. Weasley." she said, shaking her head. "I won't be doing either of them. I'm sorry."

"Why not?" the read head asked. "Why won't you come? What's your reason for staying here when you know what's going on over there, and can help us?"

"I have my reasons for declining." she said crisply. "Three of which, you just heard from, and the rest you need not concern yourself with."

"So, you won't help us?" Remus asked.

"I'm afraid I can't." she said honestly. "I am sorry."

"Remus, Bill, would you please excuse us for a few moments?" Dumbledore asked, not looking at the two men situated on each side of him. "There is somethingI must speak to Dr. Lee about."

"Yes, sir." they said, standing up from the chairs and walking towards the doors, quickly exiting out of them and leaving the woman and Dumbledore to themselves.

"Ms. Robbins....."

"Why'd you bring him here, Albus?" Sable asked quietly. "I have not seen him in almost seventeen years, and now he just pops up in my office without a warning? What were you thinking?"

"We are in dire need of your help, Sable." he said gravely. "I acted as I thought would be best. Voldemort is gaining power, and if he is not stopped soon, it will not be long before his influence is felt over here as well."

"That still does not give you the right to spring Remus on me unexpectantly like you did!" she cursed. "It was unneccesary, and you know it!"

"I am sorry, but we need your help." Dumbledore said. "You are the only person outside of Europe I trust enough to offer to you what I am."

"I refuse to uproot my children and go back to Hogwarts." she said vehemently. "They have their lives here. They're settled into a stable lifestyle, and I refuse to change that."

"Then leave them here and you come back."

"I am not leaving them." she said crisply. "If I had a husband who I knew would look after them, I would go."

"Yes, they are part werewolf, aren't they?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Your children are the only thing holding you from doing this, correct Sable?"

"Yes." she answered. "I want to help you, Albus, but I won't put them at risk."

"If I could guarantee their safety beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you come back?"

"Yes. I would, for the simple fact that I don't want them to go through what I did after that night." she answered softly.

"That night, it still haunts you, doesn't it?" he asked.

"Yes. It's something I won't be forgetting anytime soon, I can assure you."

"If something is not done about Voldemort right now, you're children will have to relive that night in due time. And your boys will have to stay there and watch what happened to you, happen to their sister. Do you want that to happen?" Dumbledore pleaded.

"I don't want that. Not for my babies." Sable said, shaking her head miserably.

"Then help us, Sable." the wizard said. "Come back and help us stop this." Sable seemed to consider this for a while before looking at the Headmaster.

"Give me your word that my children will be safe," she said. "And I'll go with you. Swear to me on Lily and James' graves that Ailric, Gabe, and Sabine will be safe, and I'll go."

"I can arrange for them to be placed within the school as assistants for the teachers, or tutors for the students." he said. "They will be within your reach at all times. The Fidelius charm can be used to secure their identities and locations."

Sable fell into silence for a few moments, contemplating the effectiveness of Dumbledore's plan. She finally caved and turned back to the bearded man, a look of utter defeat on her face.

"I'll need some time to speak with my kids about this." she said slowly. Dumbledore only nodded.

"When will I know your decision?"

"By tomorrow at the latest." she said simply.

"Very well then." he said, getting up from the chair. Sable rose also and walked him to the door.

"Albus, can I ask you something?"

"Of course." he said.

"Where is Severus Snape?" she asked. "You said you keep in contact with him frequently, where is he, since I take it he was never caught by Voldemort as a spy."

"Severus is the Potion's Master at Hogwarts." Dumbledore said. "You'll see him should you decide to join us."

"Snape is teaching?" she asked. "Never pegged him for that career choice."

"Well, his affinity for potions did help in the matter of giving me a reason to keep him around." Dumbledore said.

"I always knew Gabe took after him more than I realize." she mumbled. Dumbledore chuckled and nodded, finally making it to the door of the office.

"Your sons look remarkably like their fathers." he said, spying one of the many pictures that was beginning to fill back up with its occupants now that Remus and Bill had left. The one currently under observation by the headmaster, showed Sable amongst her three tussling teenagers, rolling on the ground and scolding them for dragging her into it. The three kids just laughed and proceeded to dog pile her in retaliation.

"Don't I know it." she said with a sight. "They act just like them too, except for the constant fighting Snape and Remus always did. These two actually get along quite well." They stood there, just looking at a number of the pictures as the occupants waved and smiled back. "Should I tell them, Albus?"

"If they come to Hogwarts with you, you are going to be hard pressed to come up with an explanation." he said. "As much as the boys look like their fathers, I'm sure the resemblance will not go unnoticed. Remus and Severus will find out soon."

"Remus already suspects something." Sabine said dejectedly. "Seeing Sabine probably scared ten years worth of life off of him. And I probably didn't help matters along. Poor guy probably thinks he's going crazy now. I really wish you hadn't brought him along, Albus."

"I acted without thinking. Please forgivean old man." Dumbledore said. "Just remember, Sable, you were loved by both of them at one time. Your children are proof of that."

"Remus loved me." she said. "Snape was following orders to save both our hides. That's not love."

"He could have handed you over to any one of those other men that night, my dear." Dumbledore pointed out. "Remember that."

"I know." she said. "It's just....hard. I don't know what to do."

"Follow your instincts, my child. Do what you feel is right. You can never go wrong that way." Dumbledore said sagely.

"Thank you, headmaster." she said with a smile as opened the door and followed the old wizard out.

Remus looked up from the desk where he was talking to the carbon copy of his old girlfriend Sable when Dumbledore and Agent Bane walked out.

"I await your answer, Agent Bane. Until then, goodbye." Dumbledore said with a flourish. The Auror nodded and stood against the receptionist's desk. Sabine's rather animated conversation with Remus and Bill about Quidditch came to a halt quickly. When Agent Bane walked out and extended her hand to Bill, she gave a real smile to him.

"You're a Quidditch fan?" she asked, looking at him and them Remus.

"Isn't everybody?" Remus asked, shrugging his shoulders.

"Mr. Lupin and Mr. Weasley were just telling me about the Quidditch teams at Hogwarts." Sabine said.

"Quidditch obsessed girl!" Agent Bane mocked, smiling down at her daughter. "Get back to work." Sabine groaned dramatically and shook her head. Remus was quickly reminded of the face Sable had made when she had an assignment she didn't want to do.

"Mom's a slave driver. You sure you want to make her a teacher?" Sabine asked.

"Oh, hush, Sabine." Agent Bane said, trying not to blush. "I'm not that bad."

"Yeah, just don't let her see you get mud in her lab. Then she does get angry, and it's not very pretty." came a young boy's voice from the doorway. Remus looked over and his jaw dropped to the floor.

There, standing in the doorway, was an exact replica of him....only about sixteen years younger. He glanced over at Agent Bane,who suddenly seemed a nervous wreck. Dumbledore only smiled and walked over to the boy.

"Young master Ailric." he said pleasantly. "How have you been?"

"Fine, sir." he said tersely, regarding the three men in the office with ice in his eyes. When his glance settled on Remus, the werewolf could feel ice coursing through his veins. And the glare the young man was currently sending the seemingly unaffected Dumbledore seemed out of place on his young face. "What brings you all the way here?" Dumbledore was about to speak to the young man when Sabine jumped up from her desk and went to her brother's side.

"Excuse us, gentlemen." she said with a small smile, tugging on her brother's arm. "But we're just leaving for Brandon's house, aren't we Ailric? Where's Gabe?"

"Right here, Sabine, waiting for you two." came another voice, this one deeper than the other young man's and much more calm. Remus turned once again to the doorway, barely registering the small 'son of a bitch' that Agent Bane mumbled before his eyes settled onto a face he had not seen since he was still in Hogwarts. The young man at the door was easily his own height, with long black hair and purple eyes, just like his mother, that were currently narrowed in an all to familiar sneer. 'It's Snape all over again!' he thought. 'He's exactly the same except for the big nose. And this kid is not so damned scrawny. What the hell is going on here? Who are these people!' These kids...this woman..was bringing up memeories that he had buried so long before. He stood up and was about to leave when Sabine stopped him.

"Are you feeling well, Mr. Lupin?" she asked. "You are awful pale." Thankfully for the werewolf in question, Bill had noticed his sudden, obvious discomfort and decided to get him away from these people.

"He's fine, miss." Bill said. "We'll just wait outside until Albus is finished. It was nice seeing you again." The girl nodded and Bill and Remus left with the barest of goodbyes to the other occupants of the room. Sable groaned and shook her head, when she saw Bill and Remus leave out, then tried to head off any arguements between the headmaster and her eldest son.

"Kids." she said, getting the three teenager's attention. "In my office, now."

"But, mom!" Ailric said, turning his attention to her. "Why..."

"Now." she said firmly. "I'll explain when I see headmaster Dumbledore out."

"Let's go, you two." Sabine said, looping an arm through each of her brother's arms and literally dragging them into the office before shutting the door. Raised voices could be heard a few moments later, and a distinct 'thud' as someone hit the floor. Sable put her head in her hands and could feel the tears threatening to come out. A reassuring hand on her shoulder kept the waterworks from starting.

"Now you see why I'm scared to put my boys in the same room as their fathers." she said, shaking her head. "Those two hate anything remotely resembling Hogwarts, or the people within it."

"They will be fine, Sable." he said. "I take it they did not know about our meeting today?"

"I was going to tell them afterwards." she admitted. "Sabine knew about it, but they didn't."

"Perhaps now is the time to explain what is going on." Dumbledore said. "Before Gabe or Ailric give their sister a concussion."

"Are you kidding me? That was Sabine knocking one of them to the floor. And if I had my guess it was probably Ailric." she said. "Gabe is a bit more restrained, and not as likely to try and manhandle his sister."

"I shall await your answer, Ms. Robbins." he said. "Until then, goodbye."

"Oh, Albus." Sable said quickly, getting his attention again. "Take this." She handed him a set of keys on a ring, and gave a small smile. "It's the least I can do." The old man nodded and gave her a brief hug.

"Thank you, my dear." he said. "I'll have Molly Weasley get on it immediately. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, headmaster." she said, opening the door and watching him leave. "Take care." The old man only waved and began his descent down the stairs, leaving Sable to the mess in her office. The woman in question squared her shoulders and absently pulled the band that restrained her hair into the plait, allowing the long strands to unwind and fall around her face. "This is adamned fine mess I've gotten myself into this time, isn't it Sable." she asked herself. She walked over to her office door and took a deep breath before turning the knob. "Time to face the firing squad."

---Down on the street in front of the Department of Magic building...---

Remus and Bill made it out of the office and down to the busy street below with out a word being said.

"You okay, Remus?" Bill asked, watching the older man carefully as they sat down on a bench. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I'm fine." the werewolf answered. "Just a little surprised."

"About what? I told you she had children." Bill said.

"It's not that." he said. "It's the resemblance of that girl to an old friend of mine. They're exactly the same, down to the eye color. And those two boys....."

"Old girlfriend?" Bill asked. "They might be related. It's a possibility."

"I suppose." he said, not really believing the younger man. "Bill, can you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Exactly how much information can your contact at the Department of Magic get her hands on?" Remus asked.

"Pretty much anything." he said, shrugging. "Why do you ask?"

"Can you get her to find all the information on that woman, and her children?" he asked. "Something is not right with her and those kids."

"I'm sure Dumbledore would have told us if Agent Bane's record wasn't clean." Bill said, thoroughly confused.

"It's not her record I'm worried about." Remus said. "That woman...those kids...it's just too much of a coincidence."

"You said Agent Bane couldn't be tied to your old girlfriend." Bill said, scratching his head. "How can you be so sure if you havent' seen her is so long?"

"Because she didn't have any siblings." Remus said. "And it can't be Sable."

"Why not?"

"Because she's supposed to be dead."

---Back in Sable's office...---

When Sable walked into her office, she found Sabine sitting on her desk, and Ailric and Gabe sitting in two of the poofy chair in front of their oldest sibling. She walked behind the desk and Sabine moved to the last chair between her two brothers.

"Was that man who I think he was?" Gabe asked gravely. Sable nodded despondantly, her ability to speak temporarily forgotten.

"What's he doing here?" Ailric asked, the anger in his voice quite apparent.

"They want me to go back to England." Sable said with a frown. "Things are getting hairy over there, and they could use my help."

"What do they want you to do?" Gabe asked. "Surely he doesn't expect you to just go traipising back into Voldemort's inner circle."

"They want me to teach at Hogwarts." she answered, glancing to Sabine, who only nodded and motioned for her to go on. "The post of Defense Against the Dark Arts is open, and Dumbledore believes I have the ability to teach the students what they need to know."

"Why can't they find someone else?" Ailric asked, his anger subsiding now that he knew his mother was not about to just pick up and take them to England as soon as she could get a portkey ready.

"My experiences with Voldemort..."

"Is what caused us to come about."Ailric pointed out sullenly.

"That's not a bad thing, Ailric." Sable said angrily. "Don't you ever think that."

"I'm looking at the facts, mom."Ailric said, shaking his head. "Are you willing to go back into that chaos just to catch some rogue wizard? It's stupid for you to go back. Voldemort thinks you're dead anyway. Sabine, back us up here, will you?"

"Mom already knows what I think about this." Sabine said simply, folding her arms across her chest. "Fight your own case, cause I don't agree with you."

"What?" Ailric asked. "This is crazy!"

"You don't understand."their mothersaid, shaking her head. "I know what that wizard is capable of doing. And it's not pretty. You weren't there when he was starting to gain power. He and his followers tortured, maimed, raped, and killed innocent people. You didn't see....." Sable chocked off her sentence, and Sabine rose from her chair to go to her mother's side. A few moments later, Sable got herself under control and faced her two sons. "Innocent people are dying over there. Many of my friends from school have already lost people closest to them. I can't stay here while things are that bad."

"Sirius Black is dead." Sabine said simply, watching her brother's reactions carefully. The two boys knew of their mother's close friendship with the Azkaban escapee, and shook their heads in disbelief. "He died at the attack on the Department of Mysteries."

"So Potter's godfather's dead." Gabe asked. "Who has custody of the boy now?"

"His aunt and uncle are still legal guardians." Sable said. "But Remus plans on trying to get the Ministry to grant him guardianship of Harry until he turns of age. That is, if Harry will allow it."

"You're not going along with this, are you?" Ailric asked, turning to his brother with a glare.

"If you would calm yourself long enough to look at the facts, Ailric, you'd admit that you, me, or Sabine would to the same thing if something this bad happened to our homelands." Gabe said firmly. "Mom has every right to want to go back and help if she can."

"But does that include taking us with her?" Ailric shot back. "I don't know about you, but I have a feeling if Voldemort finds out your still alive, and we're your kids, his target is going to move from Potter, to us. And I don't like the idea of a big red bull's eye being painted on my ass for the Death Eaters to find."

"I won't leave you three here." she said firmly. "As for keeping you safe, the headmaster and I have already discussed it. All three of you will be given positions at the school as tutors or teaching assistants. The Fidelius charm can be performed, and a Secret Keeper selected. No Death Eaters will be able to find you as long as you are within Hogwarts grounds and the surrounding villages."

"Changing our appearances and last names would be required as well." Sabine stated. "We'll be required to stay at the school, instead of our house I'm guessing."

"I volunteered to let Dumbledore use the house as headquarters for the Order, anyway." Sable said, shifting in her seat. "So, there is going to be people in and out from now on."

"You turned our house over to that man?" Gabe asked.

"He's trustworthy." Sable defended. "I trust Dumbledore."

"It's not him I'm concerned about." Gabe said. "What about all the pictures on the walls? Lupin and Snape will figure out who we are the second they step foot in that place. I thought we didn't want them to know about us?"

"I personally think it's time they found out about us." Sabine said off handedly, causing her brother's to blanche in surprise.

"Remus already suspects something." Sable said. "He'll be back here in a few days, if not sooner, mark my word. And as for Snape, well, I'm not looking forward to his reaction should we decide to go back, but I'll deal with it when the time comes."

"Yeah, Lupin was fine when he came in the waiting area downstairs." Sabine pointed out. "Then he took a good look at me and turned as white as a sheet. Of course, seeing the copy of an old girlfriend who is supposed to be dead sitting at a desk would probably scare any guy speechless. Granted, Ailric and Gabe's arrival was the proverbial icing on the cake. I wonder how Snape is going to react?"

"If he's anything like he used to be, he'll get quiet and not speak to me for a couple of days." Sable said. "Then he'll blow up at me over some trivial matter, and leave again. But eventually he'll let it drop and move on with his life. Although with a surprise like this, he could give me the cold shoulder for a few weeks."

"Sounds like someone else we all know." Ailric mumbled, looking over at Gabe, who only glared back.

"So, what do you think, fellas?" Sable asked her sons. "Are you willing to go?" Ailric mumbled something and Gabe only sat back, a look of contemplation on his face.

"Can we have some time to think about it?" Gabe asked. "This is not a decision to be taken lightly."

"As we all know." Sabine said sarcastically.

"I'll need your answers soon." Sable said, getting out from behind her desk and walking over to her sons, kneeling down to envelope them in a tight hug. "I want to go back. I want to see my friends again after all these years, and I want to help James' and Lily's son Harry put an end to this if I can, but I won't force you to go if you don't want to. Just think about it, please." She let them go, and Ailric stood up immediately.

"I'm going to Brandon's house." he said quietly. "I'll be home tonight sometime."

"Be careful." Sable said, nodding. The boy only turned and walked out of the office, not saying a word to anyone else, and slamming the door shut behind him.

"Well, he's mad." Sabine stated the obvious. "Figured as much."

"He has a right to be." Sable said, her head hanging in desperation. "You all do."

"I already told you what I think about this, mom." Sabine said. "Remember? Book? Chapter? Close?" Sable only shook her head and smiled, where as Gabe turned to his sister and frowned.

"Excuse me?" he asked.

"Don't ask." Sable said. "Well Gabe, what's your thoughts on this?"

"You should go back." he said simply, pushing his hair out of his face and settling his mother with a stern look. "Things are bad, and if you can help, you should."

"You'll go back then?" Sable asked, wary of her son's immediate acceptance to her suggestion. He was usually the least agreeable when it came to some sort of change.

"I'll do what I think is right." he said. "And going back seems to be the right thing to do. You've told us about this Voldemort guy since I can remember. And I think helping Potter might help you to feel better for leaving you life in Britain. You want to go back there, have for a while, and I know it. It's time they found out, mom. We can't hide from them forever."

"Spoken out of the mouth of the babe." Sabine said with a grin, turning to her mother. "Well, now if we can get Mr. Hot-Head to calm down. We'll be set to go. We'll just need to get the animal's stuff together and pack."

"He's the one I'm worried about."

---Back outside the building...---

Remus said nothing to Dumbledore as they walked down the street to where their portkey waited. Bill had gone to the Department of Magic's head secretary to try and weasel out more information for him, and told Dumbledore that he would get a later portkey back to England.

"What did you think of her, Remus?" Dumbledore asked as they walked down the street.

"She seems like she knows what is going on." he said stoically. "Which is odd to me. Why would she keep up with what is going on halfway across the world when she lives here?"

"Her roots are in Great Britain." Dumbledore said as they turned the corner. "She has her reasons for being concerned."

"What are you not telling me, Albus?" Remus finally questioned. "Something is not right here, and you know it."

"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked. "I see nothing wrong here. As for what I have not told you, I assure you that it will become clear soon enough." Remus regarded the man with a glare before they entered into the building where they would get their portkey from to take them back across the Atlantic Ocean. He just hoped that the information Bill could get would put the puzzle pieces in place for him.

A couple of hours later, Bill left the Department of Magic with a thick stack of files that he'd managed to get from the head secretary. He'd scanned over them, not finding anything out of the ordinary, but still wondering why Remus' reaction to Agent Bane had been so severe. It was like the older man had seen a ghost when he'd laid eyes on the woman. He shook his head in confusion and decided to drop the files off at Hogwarts, which was where Remus was currently staying before Apparating back to the Burrow to inform his parents of Agent Bane's decision, and to get a decent meal before heading back to Gringott's for his shift at the goblin run bank.

Later on that evening, back in Privett Drive, Harry was sitting in his room when Hedwig winged in and settled onto her perch, a note attached to her leg. He quickly undone the tie and opened the letter.

Harry,

Guess what? They found a new place for us to work out of. Apparently, the woman that Bill and the headmaster went to interview today offered her house as a base of operatioins. It's not too far from Hogwarts apparently. Bill said that she gave the headmaster the keys right before he left out. Dumbledore's already come by here and took mom to go check it out and put up more wards. Apparently, it's a big house, but I haven't seen it yet.

Anyhow, I figured I'd tell you about it. I expect once they get the protective wards in place and strengthened, someone'll be coming to get you. Hang in there, mate.

Ron

Well, that was some good news at least, Harry reasoned. He tucked the letter away and decided to go get something to drink. He was halfway down the staircase when he heard his uncle's shouting and yelling.

"...menace, Petunia! Can't you see it? The boy is a danger to all of us! He has to go, now!" Vernon Dursley said loudly, banging on the table.

"He's not going anywhere, Vernon, and that's final!" Petunia Dursley said firmly. "He'll stay here until Dumbledore sends someone for him."

"I told you that you should have sent the boy away when he was left on our doorstep!" Vernon Dursley said. "He never should have been allowed to stay here then!"

"I was not going to turn away an innocent child, Vernon." Petunia said.

"You knew he would be just as abnormal as that sister of yours and her husband!" he yelled. "And you took him anyway."

"He was in danger, Vernon." Petunia said, her anger coming out. "Just because my sister and I did not get along was not a reason to deny her son. It wasn't his fault what happened."

"He's a freak!"

"He's my nephew." Petunia said. "Just because he can do magic is not a reason to throw him out!"

"You've had a change of heart about this, Petunia." Vernon Dursley said suddenly, his voice turning accusing. "Why? What's changed your mind all of a sudden?"

"Harry is the only family I have left." Petunia said stonily. "I lost my parents and my sister to the very same people who are after Harry. I won't let them take away what is left of my family, Vernon."

"You're putting the rest of us in danger, Petunia, allowing him to stay here." Vernon Dursley said. "This is utterly ridiculous, espcially sincethat girlwas not even your..."

"He won't be here much longer, Vernon." she said firmly, cutting her husband off in the middle of his tirade. "Dumbledore will send someone to get him soon, the last letter said so. Now, get over it. Harry isn't going anywhere."

Harry was absolutely amazed to hear his aunt defending him from his Uncle Vernon. Apparently her knowledge of the magical world was more extensive than he'd anticipated. This news was somewhat reassuing to him, knowing that at least his aunt was aware of what kind of threat Voldemort posed to him.

Granted, he hadn't known that his maternal grandparents had been killed by Death Eaters, but he was not all too surprised to find out. His parents had defied their master on more than one occasion, then went into hiding. It was plausible that Voldemort had given the orders to have them killed just to get at his mother, and possibly drive the wedge of discord even further between his mother and aunt.

Harry didn't know when he was going to get out of Privett Drive, but he was hoping it would be soon. His scar tingled a little, and he rubbed it absently. It had been acting up the past two days, and Harry had a fleeting suspicion that Voldemort was up to no good. He'd been trying to use what little bit of Occulemency he'd learned from Snape to block out the dreams and visions he'd see at night, and it was helping a little. But it was not enough to completely block out the dreams and nightmares.

He'd even taken to keeping a small journal of the dreams he'd been having, writing them down when he was woken up by the images his mind conjured up during his sleep. So far, he journal held only two entries, but they were graphic enough to make a grown man squirm. His dream from the night before had been of a group of black hooded Death Eaters torturing a muggle couple they had captured on the outskirts of some town. He could still see the looks of terror and horror on the woman's face as the Death Eaters tortured her husband, eventually killing him with the Killing Curse. He remembered her screams of pain as they used curse after painful curse on her, before her body finally gave out and she succombed to death.

He shook his head and tried to clear the images from his mind. It would do him no good to think about it right now, only cause him to dream more about it later on that night.

Harry finally decided to take a walk around the block to try and clear his head. As he walked out the door, he could hear his Uncle Vernon's continued rants mixed in with the sound of Dudley blowing up some building, and undoubtely destroying some innocent bystandard on his new video game.

That boy really did have a morbid sense of humor.

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A/n - I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Things are about to heat up considerably, and I hope you are ready to see it. :) I should be updating a bit more in the next month or so, seeing as how I am out of school until the 17th of January. So, until next time, take care and be safe.

Oh, and remember to review. I want to know what you all think. (And they make absolutely wonderful Christmas presents!) ;)

Merry Christmas to all of you, and I hope you have a happy New Year.

Avonnalay-Ariemay