Diary of an Orphan (re-written)

by StrangeLittleWeirdo

Jenna grew up alone in an orphanage with no knowledge of who she was or where she came from. It wasn't until an owl arrived with a letter for her, and a man named Remus Lupin walked into her life, that she learnt she was so much more than she originally thought and her life would never be the same again.

4. A Different World

Chapter 3

A Different World

Three years passed by and they were the best in my life to date. I finally had a friend in this bespectacled boy, Harry, who I met because of his cousin Dudley when he tried to bully me. During class we sat opposite each other on the same table and did our best to get paired together for class assignments whenever we could; at lunch we'd sit together and push around the kitchen food that they provided those of us who didn't get packed lunches from our parents, Harry always looking hungrily at whatever he could see his aunt had packed for Dudley's lunch; and at break-time we'd hide somewhere within the school grounds away from Dudley in order to avoid being teased by him yet again. Through this time we spent together I got to know Harry pretty well and learnt that I had a lot in common with him, something I didn't realise was the exact thing I needed to help me deal with my problems.

Harry's arrival in my life had a strange impact on me. I became calmer and more in control of my temper. It was like having someone who knew what it was like to feel alone and being picked on all the time was all I needed to make me not feel so alone. I finally had someone I could talk to. I told Harry everything. Well almost everything. I told him about how I ended up at the orphanage and how I knew nothing about my past. How the other kids picked on me because of not having any family and because I'd always be blamed when things went wrong. I didn't tell him about setting the curtains on fire or about the bookstore though. I think even Harry would be wary of me if I told him I'd set curtains on fire when I'd gotten really angry. Harry sympathised. He knew what it was like to live with people who disliked him; his aunt and uncle made him live in a cupboard under the stairs and forced him to wear Dudley's second-hand clothes; and he knew what it was like to be blamed for things that weren't his fault such as his hair growing back after he got a bad haircut or turning our teacher's wig purple.

Through Harry's friendship and his influence my behaviour improved at The Refuge. I wasn't getting into trouble half as much as I used to, nor was I starting as many fights with the other children. I watched as the children came and went over the months and became no longer bothered when the new ones learnt of my weirdness from the current ones. Even Matron was surprised at how much I changed over the few years I attended St. Grogory's. Now I was normally found sitting somewhere around The Refuge with a book I'd brought from school to read as it was the best way I found to keep myself to myself or I was keeping myself busy doing my homework. I didn't argue about any chores I got set and I no longer ran away whenever I got overly emotional, instead going to sit in the small back garden to picture myself talking things through with Harry until I'd calmed back down. As long as I knew I'd see Harry again either the next day or after the weekend, I knew I'd be OK.

Soon the end of the school year arrived which meant that I'd be finishing St. Grogory's Primary School in a matter of days. I was now roughly eleven years old and so I was due to be starting secondary school in September. Harry had told me he was looking forward to it, knowing that he'd be going to the local secondary, Stonewall High, while his cousin Dudley and his friends would be going to the prep school, Smeltings Academy, so he was no longer going to have to endure Dudley's bullying at school. When he asked me about whether or not I'd be attending Stonewall as well, I had no answer for him. I didn't know if Matron was going to allow me to continue school or not. My behaviour had improved but like I said I was still getting in trouble once or twice a week. I didn't know if this would be enough to convince Matron to let me go to secondary school. And if it weren't … then I'd never get to see Harry again …

The last days of school went by too fast for my liking. I stared at the clock all through the lessons wishing I could just stop time and not let school end. The final bell went at quarter past three and it was all over. I gathered my school exercise books and my pencil case and put them back in my bag for what could be the last time. I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness knowing that I now how to spend two months without Harry's company and without any knowledge of whether or not I'd see Harry again in September. I left class without him and headed to the front of the school to wait for my bus. I figured if I didn't say goodbye I wouldn't miss him. One by one the school buses arrived. Mine was the fourth to pull up in the car park. I followed the other children who got on my bus when I heard someone shouting my name.

'Jenna! Hey, wait up!'

I looked round to see Harry running over to me. I hesitated, not wanting to speak to him, before taking my foot off the step on to the bus and walking over to meet him.

'What's the deal, Jenna?' Harry asked me. 'Aren't you going to say goodbye?'

'I kind of figured if I didn't say goodbye then you wouldn't miss me,' I said, my voice quiet. 'I still don't know if I'm going to Stonewall in September. There's a chance we won't even see each other again.'

'Jenna, even if you don't come to Stonewall, that doesn't mean we won't see each other,' reasoned Harry. 'We can still meet up at the weekend and stuff. I looked up where your orphanage is so I can always get the bus into town to come visit.'

'Really?' I asked. I didn't dare hope that Harry meant what he said.

'Promise,' Harry assured me. In the distance Harry and I heard the familiar bellowing of his uncle's voice yelling at Harry to get in the car. 'I better go,' Harry said. 'I'll see you soon, Jenna.'

Harry waved goodbye and ran off towards his uncle. I waved back and got on the bus, flashing my pass to the driver. Despite Harry's assurance we'd see each other again, I remained doubtful. I didn't want to get my hopes up and so decided to put my friendship with Harry behind me and move on. Least that way I wouldn't get upset over no longer seeing him.

The summer holidays were lonely for me. No Harry to talk to, no homework to be done, no new books to read from the school library. The best I could do was content myself with looking at my old exercise books and going over my old school work just in case Matron allowed me to go to Stonewall. I was able to busy myself with them for the first week or so of the holidays but soon they lay at the bottom of my trunk never to be opened again. The best time in my life was now over so I figured I might as well get used to spending my days back at The Refuge.

What did happened that summer though changed my life forever.

I had now been at The Refuge for ten years by the end of the summer, meaning my "eleventh birthday" was also due. By now I merely let my "birthdays" pass by. Not knowing what the actual day was meant I cared very little for the event. Matron had asked me if I wanted to do anything special for the occasion but I told her I didn't. I was happy to just stay in my dormitory like I had done for the past three weeks of the summer holiday. I had other things on my mind anyway. I was almost a teenager. Soon I would be too old to live at The Refuge much longer which meant that if I didn't get adopted soon I'd be sent to what was called a "halfway house", a place where teenagers were sent to get more practical help from social services to get jobs in the future. With all prospects of school gone, I did my best to make the most of my remaining weeks at the orphanage.

I was now the oldest child at The Refuge. Only Mandy, who had left and come back numerous times over the past six years, was as old as I was. Naturally you'd think the new children would look up to me but with Mandy's influence they regarded me with a strange curiosity and fear. The number of times I'd catch the younger ones peering in through a crack in the door to my dormitory while I sat at on my bed with them running off when I noticed them, I'd lost count. I shook my head then resumed my ignoring of them.

At night I lay awake in my bed for hours after lights out thinking about what was ahead of me and coming up with no answer. Just like I had no past, I now had no concrete future. What was the "halfway house" going to be like? Was it going to be another permanent home for me or would I still live here and go to this other place for counselling and advice on how to get a job? It was during one of these late night musings that I heard a tap at my window. I pressed the light on my alarm clock and saw it was ten to midnight. I pulled back my curtain to peer outside. The night was clear and cloudless, the stars tiny dots in the black sky. Unable to identify the source of the tapping, I closed the curtain again.

Tap, tap, tap.

I sat up and pulled the curtain open again, this time all the way. A large tawny owl was perched on my windowsill. It tapped its beak on the window again. I blinked. What on earth …? It looked like it was waiting for me to open the window to let it in. Tap, tap, tap. Not wanting it to wake the others, I quickly unlatched the window bolt and pushed up the frame enough so it could get in. The owl bent down and swooped inside. It was then I saw that it had something clutched in its beak. It dropped it on my bed then flew straight back out of the window again. I closed the window and sat crossed-legged on my bed. I picked up what the owl had left for me. It looked like a letter. It was made of a strange paper though. It felt more like parchment in fact, the type of paper used centuries ago. On the front of the envelope were words written in glistening black ink. I could just make out the words in the moonlight.

Jennifer Black

I stared at the words. The letter was … for me? But it couldn't be. I didn't have a surname. I was just Jennifer.

Tap, tap, tap.

I pulled back the curtain again to see a second owl sitting on the windowsill waiting to be let in. It also had a letter clutched in its beak. I let the owl in. Just like the first one, the owl swooped in, dropped the letter on my bed, and flew straight back out the window. This second letter was larger and heavier but again on the front it had a name and an address written on it, this time in emerald green ink. On the back was a wax seal with a strange crest bearing four animals: a lion, a badger, an eagle and a snake. It looked like a school crest of some sorts. None of the schools around Little Whinging had a crest like that. I turned the letter back over to read the address.

Miss J. Black
Second Bed on the Left, Tyne Dormitory
The Refuge
Little Whinging
Surrey

I stared at the letter. How did whoever sent it know my bed was the second on the left in Tyne? How did they even know I lived at The Refuge? I looked at the two letters in front of me. They had come from different people as far as I could tell judging by the different writing. Who could have sent them though and why would they be sending them by owl? I didn't know anyone other than the other people at The Refuge so who was writing to me? A part of me was tempted to just throw them into the bin and ignore the letters. Another part of me was curious to find out who was writing to me. I reached into my bedside table and pulled out my torch. Pulling my bed sheets over my head I switched on my torch. I turned over the second letter I'd received and slid it open. Inside were two more sheets of parchments. I took them out and unfolded them.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc. Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss Black,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please
find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

And on the second sheet:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Uniform
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.

Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

I stared at the letter. I didn't know what to think. I'd been accepted at some school where they taught magic by the sounds of it and I needed to get a wand and robes. It all sounded like a big joke. There was no such thing as magic, nor was there anywhere in Surrey that I could get a wand or robes or a cauldron. I re-read it. It definitely said "Witchcraft and Wizardry" and that I needed a wand and wasn't allowed a broomstick and that my reply to was due by the end of July, which was next week. I wasn't dreaming.

'But magic isn't real,' I said to myself. 'It can't be.'

Magic. All I knew about magic was that it existed in stories and fairytales. Magic didn't actually exist. I won't lie that at times I had wished magic was real, that it could be the reason for all the strange things that always happened around me, but I was old enough to know that magic was just a concept and not an actual thing. It was just something adults told children about to amuse them and make them laugh. It was nothing more than an idea to keep kids entertained.

I put down the letter dismissively. It was just some joke probably by one of the other kids. I didn't know how the owl came into it but it sounded like a prank they would pull on me. I mean it wouldn't be too hard to make up a surname and pretend it was mine to make me think the letter was real. It wouldn't be difficult to make up names like "Hogwarts" and "Dumbledore" and make them sound convincing. I glanced at the other letter. That one was probably a prank too. There was no point in even opening it. I stared at it for a couple of minutes, debating whether to do so or not. I sighed. Even if it was a prank, might as well find out what the prank was.

I re-read my name. Jennifer Black. I rolled my eyes. Black. What a poor choice for a surname. They could have at least come up with something more original. I turned it over and opened the envelope. I tipped out the contents on to my bed. Three small pieces of card and a small parchment note fell on to my bed. I raised my eyebrow. If this was a prank, it was a very strange one. Why would someone send me what looked like photographs? I picked up the note to see what it said.

Jenna. Here are some photographs of your family. I'm looking for you.

My heart jumped. The letter said my nickname – Jenna. No one knew I used that name except from Harry and the policeman who used to bring me back to The Refuge whenever I ran off. Quickly I turned over the pieces of card. They were indeed photographs but they weren't any sort of photograph I'd seen before. The people in them were – moving! I did a double-take when I realised that I wasn't imagining it. The people in the photos were actually moving! I looked through them one by one. The first was of a group of four people, two adults and two kids: a mum and dad with a son and daughter. The parents were smiling proudly at their children while the brother and sister grinned at each other, sharing a thought only between them. The second photo was of just the children but they were older in this one. I guessed they were probably teenagers. They still grinned at each other but this time brother had his arms wrapped protectively around his sister from behind. He must have been the older sibling. For siblings they didn't look much alike. The brother had neat brown hair that was swept back off his face and brown eyes while the sister had dark red hair and blue eyes. The only similarity was their smile, the same small smile that looked warm and friendly. I moved on to the last photo. This time it was just the girl. She was standing in the grounds of a castle dressed in a pair of what looked like school robes. A graduation, perhaps? She looked barely eighteen and her hair reached all the way down to her waist. She was looking up at the castle before turning round to face the camera. I started. She seemed to look right at me. The girl smiled and waved, as if she knew I was looking at her.

I blinked, unsure what to believe. I turned over each of the photos to see if there was anything written on the back of them. There was something written in an elegant handwriting but I couldn't make much out, only a name. Tala. I looked at the photo again. The longer I looked at it, the stranger I felt. The girl … She seemed familiar to me, as if I knew her. The long dark red hair, the blue eyes, the kind smile. All of it, I felt like I recognised. But where? Where could I have seen her before?

I'll die trying!

I gasped, dropping the photo. I clenched my eyes shut as I saw the same green flash of light I'd seen so many times before. There was this dream I had. I'd had it on several occasions over the years and it was always the same. A female voice shouting and that strange green light. I didn't know what it meant as it was so vague or why I kept having the dream but it had haunted me for years. I shook myself, taking a deep breath. I was freaked out. I quickly put the photos back in the envelope then put both letters in my bedside table. I didn't want to think about them, not after seeing that light again. I told myself silently that it was all a joke, that none of what I'd just read and seen was real. Saying that, if that second letter with the photos had been a prank, well, it was a pretty convincing one.

The letters lay forgotten in my beside table draw. I hadn't touched them since the night I received them. I didn't want to see that flash of green light again. It was bad enough that since I got the letter, I started having the dream with the green light more often again. Matron actually started to think I was getting sick, as I wouldn't get out of bed the following couple of days after I got the letters. As much as I didn't want to think about the photos though, I couldn't help myself. After a few days I braved pulling out the letter again. I'd been thinking a lot about the girl. I couldn't shake the familiar feeling I had whenever I thought about her. It had been while I was looking at her photo one afternoon that I finally realised where I knew her from: from under my t-shirt I pulled out my locket and flicked it open. Sure enough, the same blue eyes and kind smile was looking at me from the locket as it was from the photo.

I became obsessed with the photo. I had so many questions I needed answers to. Who was this girl and what importance did she have to me? The note had said the photos were of my family. Was she my sister? Was the boy my brother too? Were their parents my parents? From how old they looked in the photos – eighteen at the oldest I assumed – if the photos were current then it was possible these people were my older siblings. I'd only be about eight years younger than them. But why was the girl the one all of the photos seemed to focus on? What was so important about her?

'Jennifer?'

I looked up from the photo when I heard Matron calling my name from just outside my dormitory. I remained silent. I never answered whenever I was called to these days. Instead I stayed where I was on my bed and returned to staring at the photos.

'The freak is on her bed,' came Mandy's voice. I glanced up again to see her standing just in the doorway with her head peering round it. She was pointing at me. 'She's staring at those weird cards she won't let anyone see again.'

I frowned. They weren't weird cards but she wasn't to know they were photos.

'Mandy, don't call her a freak,' said Matron, despairingly. She must have had enough of our constant resentment but that was never going to change. 'It's not her fault those … strange things happen around her.'

I heard the door open. Again I didn't react. Matron walked away from Mandy and waded her way through the countless toys that the younger kids had left scattered on the floor towards my bed. Despite being aware that Matron was making her way over to me, my attention remained on the photo.

'Who are you?' I whispered to it. 'Why have I got your picture? Why do I feel like I know you?'

'Jennifer?'

I jumped when I heard Matron say my name again. I saw she was feet away from my bed. Quickly I shoved the photos back into their envelope and placed it back in a box sat on my bedside table. The box contained all my private stuff: my baby blanket and baby clothes, the locket that I currently wasn't wearing because of Mandy had broken the clasp when she tried to steal it when I was in the shower, and the letter from that school, Hogwarts. I jumped a second time when I felt Matron's hand on my shoulder. I gave her a startled look. What had I done now?

'Jennifer,' Matron said, 'some people have come to see you.'

'What people?' I asked. 'They can't be here to adopt me. No one ever does.'

'They didn't say,' replied Matron curtly. 'One did say he was a professor so I assume they're from the school's student counselling department.'

'A shrink?' I gaped at Matron. 'But I've behaved! I haven't done anything bad in weeks!'

'I didn't ask questions, Jennifer,' said Matron. She was starting to get annoyed. 'They just want to talk to you, that's all. Now come along.'

I watched Matron carefully then reluctantly got off my bed. I grabbed the box from my bedside table as Matron placed her hand back on my shoulder and began to lead me out of the dormitory. She always did this just in case I tried to make a break for it. In the stairwell a bunch of the children including Mandy were watching as she led me downstairs. Mandy smirked at me. I looked away, tightening my grip on my box. Matron marched me downstairs and through the corridor towards her office. We walked in silence. I was too nervous to talk. I hated having to meet people, especially when they were potential shrinks. I'd had counselling in the past and I loathed it, sitting in a room while someone watched you and asked you questions about how you felt while making notes on a clipboard. I swallowed when we reached Matron's office. My heart was pounding in my chest. Matron opened the door and gently pushed me inside.

I peered round the door as I walked into the office. There were two men and a woman inside sitting at Matron's desk. They had been talking quietly amongst themselves but fell silent when Matron and I arrived. They all looked at me. I stared back at them. The three people were wearing the exact same sort of clothes as the people in that strange bookstore had been. They were all wearing robes. The elder man was eyeing me through a pair of half-moon spectacles that were perched on his crooked nose, his blue eyes twinkling in an odd way; he had long silver hair and matching beard tied neatly with a string about halfway down; and he was wearing the strangest pale blue robes that had tiny gold stars embroidered into the material. Beside him sat a rather severe looking woman. Her black hair was tied back in a tight bun and her square glasses made her look very strict in comparison to the elderly man she was sat next to; her robes were not as bright either, instead a dark shade of green with a tartan pattern. She was eyeing me closely. I felt myself shrink away instinctively from her. Then there was the third man. He was much younger than his companions, and much shabbier too. His robes were all frayed and patched, their brown and grey colour faded from constant wash and wear; even his hair seemed to be greying before its time while his face, though still young, looked thin and tired. His brown eyes, however, seemed full of life and he was staring at me with a strange curiosity. It was almost unnerving.

I tried to back away from them but Matron blocked the door.

'Jennifer, this is Professor Dumbledore and his colleagues,' she introduced them. 'They have come to talk to you in private.' Matron turned to them next. 'I'll just leave Jennifer with you. If you need anything I'll be in the reception.'

I panicked and turned to Matron, frantically mouthing, 'Please don't, I –'

'Jennifer, behave,' hissed Matron. 'They only want to talk. It'll be fine.'

'Have a nice chat,' she said to all of us.

Matron closed the door. She was gone. I swallowed, scared about what was going to happen. I could feel the three adults all looking at me. Slowly I turned round to face them. I could feel myself shaking. I watched the adults apprehensively as they in turn watched me. After a few minutes of silence the older man stood up. He walked towards me where I stood by the door. From inside a pocket in his robes the man took out a long piece of wood. With a small flick a chair suddenly appeared from nowhere and landed beside me with a small thump. I jumped, staring at the chair that had appeared from nowhere, my eyes wide with shock.

'Please,' began the old man, 'sit down. I find rooms to be cluttered when one stands unnecessarily.'

I stared at him then slowly nodded. I backed away and sat down in the chair, surprised to find it was real.

'Um … w-who are you?' I eventually managed to stutter as I tried to stem my nerves.

'My name is Professor Dumbledore,' replied the old man. He smiled at me. 'I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This is my colleague, Professor McGonagall. She is Head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts and also the Deputy Headmistress of the school.' He gestured at the woman. The edge of her thin lips lifted into a curt smile. Those names, Dumbledore and McGonagall. They sounded familiar. My eyes narrowed in confusion as he introduced his companions. 'And this is Remus Lupin, an old student of the school.'

I looked at the young man. He was no longer staring at me, instead now looking at me with a calm, controlled manner. He gave me a smile.

'It's nice to meet you, Jennifer,' he said gently. I couldn't help but note how friendly his voice was.

'And you,' continued Professor Dumbledore, drawing back my attention, 'do you know who you are?'

I was taken aback when he asked me this.

'I'm Jennifer,' I replied, confused. 'Just Jennifer, but I actually prefer Jenna.'

The young man reacted when I said this.

'You don't have a surname?' persisted Professor Dumbledore.

'Um – I – well …' I looked away. 'No, I-I don't have a surname.'

'Ah,' said Professor Dumbledore lightly. He was still smiling despite his surprise. 'So you don't know who you are or where your family is?'

Ashamed, I nodded.

'Hmm.' Dumbledore paused, then said, 'May I have a look in that box?'

I looked at the box in my arms. This had all the personal things I owned inside it. These were things I didn't want anyone else to see. They were important to me. I didn't want anyone else to touch them in case they damaged them like Mandy had damaged my necklace. Professor Dumbledore held out his hand to me, asking me again silently to allow him to look in the box. His blue eyes seemed to twinkle at me as if to tell me he meant me no harm and that I could trust him. Slowly, I nodded. I handed the box to him.

'Thank you.'

Professor Dumbledore turned back to where Professor McGonagall and Mr Lupin were still seated. He took his seat beside his colleague and opened my box. They began to examine the contents, quietly conferring to each other about what was inside. I hesitated when they took out my broken locket. I didn't want it to get even more damaged than it already was. I watched as Professor Dumbledore held the chain in his long thin fingers; next moment he was tapping his wand on the clasp and I saw it was suddenly fixed again. While they studied my things, the younger man, Mr Lupin, was still watching me. I stared back silently. He got up and began to walk towards me. When he was at his full height I saw that his robes, shabby as they were, were stitched in several places and the ends were all muddy. My eyes didn't leave him as he approached me until he was standing over where I sat. He then knelt down in front of me so that we were eye to eye. I didn't look away.

'Long black hair,' he mused out loud. 'It's almost down to your waist. And blue eyes, the same strange blue. Just how I thought you'd look. Just like she looked.'

My heart jumped.

'Just like who looked?' I asked nervously.

'Your mother,' replied Mr Lupin simply.

'You knew my m-mother?' I stuttered. My heart was now pounding once again in my chest. I swallowed as I felt tears begin to sting at my eyes.

'Indeed, we did,' replied Professor McGonagall. He tone was brisk, just like her accent. She and Professor Dumbledore had finished looking at the contents of my box. 'We knew her very well.'

'But –?' I started to ask but Professor Dumbledore appeared to have a more pressing question for me.

'We shall answer all your questions in time, Miss Black,' he said lightly. I started when he addressed me as "Miss Black". I said I didn't have a surname. Why did he address me like that and more importantly why did he use that specific name? The very same name that had been on that letter I'd received. 'But first I must ask you something. Can you tell me how you received this letter?'

He held up the envelope that contained the photographs.

'An owl brought it to me,' I replied. 'It arrived at my window a few weeks ago and wouldn't stop tapping on it until I let it in. It left the letter on my bed then flew off. I also got this.' From my pocket I pulled out the other letter I'd received the same night: the letter from Hogwarts. It was quite tattered now. 'It's a letter saying I'd been accepted at this school, the one you said. Hogwarts or something.'

'I see.'

'Remus,' said Professor McGonagall. 'Take a look at this photo.'

I watched as she handed her the photo of the brother and sister.

'No, please, that's personal!' I shouted before I could stop myself. I made to grab it but Mr Lupin had already taken it from Professor McGonagall. He looked at it, his eyes narrowing.

'Who is this?' asked Mr Lupin. He sounded almost shocked.

'I don't know,' I said quietly. 'There was a name on the back but I couldn't read the writing. I think the girl is called Tala. I don't know who the boy with her is.'

Mr Lupin turned the photo over. He read the words on the back of the card. I stared at the girl in the photo. She was smiling at me again. The boy behind her gave her a gentle nudge making her look at him. She glanced at him over her shoulder then looked back at me and waved. I stared at her, a desperate aching in my chest. Again I could feel that familiarity. Her smile just made me feel reassured, as if things weren't as bad as they seemed. And her eyes, they were so blue just like – just like my eyes! And her hair – it was the same length my hair was! I started. Mr Lupin noticed my reaction to the photo. His eyes flicked up to me. I gasped. He had the exact same style of hair as the boy in the photo. Even his eyes were the same brown and had the same kindness inside them. It couldn't possibly –!

'"Tala, aged seventeen",' he read aloud. '"May your journey into the wizarding world begin. With much love from your brother, Remus".'

Remus! That was the name of the younger man!

'So she is the one we're looking for, Albus?' asked Professor McGonagall.

'She is indeed, Minerva,' replied Professor Dumbledore. His blue eyes turned from his colleague to me. 'This is Tala's daughter.'

'No!' I burst, unable to hold it any longer, jumping from my chair. I couldn't do this! I didn't want to hear any more lies about my parents! 'You're wrong!' I shouted. 'Matron said my Mum and Dad were dead. She said an old couple found me in a park. I don't have any parents!'

'It is your Matron who is mistaken, not us,' Professor Dumbledore corrected me. 'I'm afraid your mother is dead but your father is very much alive. Tala is the name of your mother and, as my colleague said, we did know her. She was a very bright young witch and very talented. She also had a slight tendency to get into trouble with her friends at school,' he sent a pointed look at Mr Lupin, 'and this is her older brother. Your uncle.'

'No, you're wrong!' I cried. I backed away from them until I was against the door. 'I don't have an uncle!' I shouted. 'I don't have a family! They're dead!'

Mr Lupin started to approach me. I flinched. I closed my eyes, putting my hands up in front of my face. I expected to feel Mr Lupin's hand on my arm but it never came. I opened my eyes. A strange blue orb was surrounding me. It was stopping Mr Lupin from getting to me. Instantly I snatched back my hands and put them under my arms. The orb vanished. I fell to the floor. I pulled my knees up to my chest, scared at what I'd done. What was happening to me?

'Jenna,' said Mr Lupin softly. I glanced at him. 'It's all right,' he told me. He gently touched my cheek. I flinched at first but didn't pull away. 'We've come to take you away, Jenna. Take you to where you belong.'

'Where do I belong?' I asked him nervously.

'You belong with me in the wizarding world,' replied Mr Lupin. 'You're my sister's daughter and I've finally found you. I've been looking for you all your life since the day you went missing. I never gave up hope that I'd find you.'

'How can you be so sure?' I questioned him. 'How can you be so sure I'm the one you're looking for?'

'Because you have the things I sent you.' Mr Lupin held up the photograph of him and his sister. 'You have her eyes. All those strange things that have happened to you, all those things you didn't mean to do, it's because of your magic. You're a witch, Jenna. Believe me when I say it, you are a witch and you belong at home in the wizarding world with me.'

I looked away from him. I wanted so badly for what he said to be true but I couldn't do it. I just couldn't believe what he said. I didn't want to hear any more lies about my Mum and Dad. I didn't want to be hurt again. Mr Lupin could see I didn't believe him. He straightened up then took something out of his tattered pocket. I saw it was another piece of parchment. It looked like it was another letter and once again it had my name on it: Jenna. He held it out for me to take.

'Here,' he said, 'read this.'

I stared at the letter for a moment or two. I reached out a hand and took it from him. Unfolding it, I began to read what it had to say.

Dear Jenna

This is a letter I've written to you for your eleventh birthday. I can't explain how, but
I won't be alive to give this to you. This is from your mother, Tala.

Firstly, I must tell you who you are. Your full name is Jennifer May Black, and you
are a witch, a gifted one at that. This letter will be given to you on August tenth, five
days after your eleventh birthday. On this day,my old Headmaster and Housemistress
along with my brother will come and get you from the orphanage you are staying at.
Trust what they say, it is the truth. You area witch.

I'm sure by now you would have experienced accidentally changing into an animal
without knowing how you did it. Do not worry, all that will be made clear for you in time.
As for all the other times, when you have caused something to happen without meaning
to, that is simply your magic. At your age it is uncontrolled and unpredictable but that is
completely normal. You will learn to control it when you go to Hogwarts.

Where your father is I cannot say. You are too young right now to know but you will in
time. When you do find out the truth, trust your instincts; people will try to make you
believe what others do, but only you can find out the truth and clear his name.

There is nothing else I can think to write. All I can say is that you are my daughter and I
love you. I will always love you. I have looked over you for the past years watching you
grow. You will be a strong witch and you will find someone special for you, just like I
found your father.

Lots of love to my daughter,
Always and forever,

Tala

I looked away from the letter. The letter had been from my Mum. I didn't need any of the adults to tell me this; I just knew by the way it was written. My Mum had written that before she died so she could still comfort me when I was scared and alone. There were things in that letter only a mother would know. There was no way it could be from anyone else. I put my head on my knees, tears falling down my cheeks. All I wanted to do was cry. I didn't know whether I was crying from joy or from grief. I just knew I wanted to let out all the sadness that had built up over the past ten years. The torment I had suffered just because I was different when in reality it was just because of who I was. A witch. I felt a hand on my hair. I looked up to see Mr Lupin stroking my head, a kind smile on his face.

'It's OK, Jenna,' he said softly. 'I've come to take you home.'

'Indeed,' said Dumbledore. 'So we must ask, do you believe us, Jenna? Will you come with us?'

I looked up at the faces of the two Professors. Both were regarding me with a concerned look, as if they wondered whether or not I did believe them. I turned to Mr Lupin. He was my family, surely if I felt something when I looked at him, I'd know for certain they were telling the truth. My blue eyes met his brown ones. There was something there in those brown orbs, a warmth and kindness I'd never seen anyone look at me with before, almost as if he was looking at me with love in his eyes. And I believed them. Slowly I got up. I wiped my eyes.

'Yes, I believe you,' I replied.

Lupin beamed. The hand that had been stroking my head suddenly pulled me into a hug. I hesitated. I'd never been hugged before. It felt strange but nice at the same time. Braving it, I put my arms round his neck and hugged him back. The sudden feeling of safety I got from being in his arms was almost overwhelming for me and I buried my face into his shoulder. After all these years, he'd found me. My family had finally found me. After a few minutes Lupin released me from the hug. I was reluctant to let go so soon but did so when he pulled back.

'Go get your stuff,' Lupin told me. 'It's time we went home.'

I nodded silently. My sadness had now been replaced by pure joy and I couldn't stop the smile that came to my face. I grabbed the door handle and left the room. Immediately I ran all the way back down the corridor and up the stairs to my dormitory. Mandy and some of the other children were inside; they appeared to be waiting for me to come back to see what the meeting had been about. I ignored them. Even their nasty taunts could not destroy my happiness at that moment. I ran over to my bed and grabbed my school bag, jacket, and my remaining things that weren't in my box.

'So, what did they want, freak?' Mandy asked. She watched as I shoved everything into my school bag. 'Are you in trouble again? Have they come to take you away to the mental house?'

'Nope,' I said happily. 'I've been adopted.'

Mandy looked shocked.

'What?' she almost shrieked. 'Someone's adopted you? Who'd want a weird little freak like you?'

'My Uncle,' I said simply. I shouldered my bag and smiled at her. 'Enjoy the rest of your time here,' I told Mandy. 'I'm sure your parents will be back next year to pick you up for another week or so.'

I heard Mandy scream indignantly at my parting shot to her. While she did indeed still have family, her parents barely looked after her for more than a month at a time before leaving her here again and again. I felt it was only fair to leave her with that as my goodbye to her when she had tormented me for years about not having any family. Pleased with her reaction, I turned on my heel and ran off back to the reception.

When I reached the reception I saw the three wizards were gathered at the front desk. Lupin was talking to Matron as he signed the forms she had handed him, finalising my adoption. With a quick flick of a pen, it was done. I was officially in his care. I beamed when he turned to me. His face seemed to light up when he saw me waiting there for him. I ran over to him and hugged him again. Lupin chuckled.

'It's OK,' he said. 'We'll be home soon enough.'

'Do you have all your things?' Matron came out from behind the reception desk. I nodded. She smiled down at me. 'I never thought I'd see this day,' she told me. 'I'm going to miss you, Jennifer. You were a handful but I always knew deep down you were a good child. You were just lost and needed someone to find you. Now someone has, I hope you get what you always wanted.'

'Thank you, Matron,' I said. 'Thank you for all you've done for me. I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused.'

'Apology accepted. Now, don't keep your uncle waiting. Off you go.'

I gave Matron one last smile then turned to Lupin. I couldn't believe how happy I felt. I was going home. After ten long years of being in the orphanage, I was finally going home back to where I belonged in the wizarding world. I had finally found my family.

I was silent for the most part of the journey back to Lupin's home, although the journey itself was a very short one. Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall had separated from us once we'd left the orphanage and turned down a nearby empty street, disappearing in the blink of an eye with a tiny pop, much to my surprise. With them gone, Lupin led me to the far end of the street where it was blocked by a wall, away from the eyes of any passers-by. On top of some cardboard boxes was what looked like an old moth-eaten jacket that had been dumped there by someone who no longer wanted it.

Taking my hand, Lupin told me to take a deep breath and to grab on to the coat and hold on as tightly as I could. I looked at him apprehensively. What was going to happen? Was this how we were going to get home? Lupin saw my concern. He smiled and nodded. With his assurance I readied myself. I reasoned that if this was the man who was going to look after me, I better start trusting him. I took a breath and, as Lupin counted down from three, I reached out and grabbed the coat.

Almost instantly I felt a jerk around my middle and I was pulled from where I was standing. I clenched my eyes shut as everything seemed to spin around me. I could feel Lupin's grip tighten on my hand as we were dragged to our destination. A few moments later, I felt my feet hit the floor; my knees gave way and I landed on the ground with a small "oomf". It took a moment for things to stop spinning when I finally opened my eyes, and I saw the alley we'd been in had vanished. In its place stood a small cottage with a brown thatched roof surrounded by trees and fields for as far as I could see.

'Welcome home, Jenna,' said Lupin.

Lupin helped me up and led me up the footpath to the front door of the cottage. A small wooden plaque hung on the doorframe I saw read "Moonlake Cottage". There were wild flowers growing beneath the front windows and around the border of the front garden. With a tap of his wand Lupin unlocked the front door and led me inside. It was a quaint little place with a living room and study at the front of the house and the kitchen and utility rooms at the back. A staircase in the hallway led up to the second floor. I followed Lupin up it. There were only four doors on the landing; the one at the far right I assumed to be Lupin's room when I saw the bed through the open door, and the two to my left appeared to be a bathroom and a spare room. The one just opposite the stairs though had another wooden plaque hanging on it: Jenna's room.

I stood outside the closed door. Lupin put his hand on my shoulder.

'Why don't you take a look inside?' he suggested.

Lupin pushed the door open and nudged me inside. I stared around the room in what could only be described as awe; going from a girl who had no family, nothing of her own, to having a room all to myself was almost mind-blowing for me. I walked through the door, my eyes taking in every detail. It wasn't massive, but it wasn't small either. The sun filtered in through the large window casting a warm glow over the room. Against the wall to my left was a bed so big I thought it could fit three of me across its width. I guess Lupin was being prepared for when I was older and had grown a bit. Against the other walls were bookcases, a chest of drawers, a desk and chair, even a wardrobe. The walls themselves, along with the bedding and the curtains, as well some other small details Lupin had added, were all coloured mint green and a pale lilac.

'This is all … for me?' I asked.

Lupin nodded, smiling. I went over to the desk. I ran my hand over the wood as if I was checking it was really there. There were a couple of photo frames on it: there was one of Lupin and his sister, my Mum, dressed in their Hogwarts uniform from when they must have been about fifteen or sixteen; there was another one, again from Hogwarts featuring both of them and their parents which must have been taken at a graduation ceremony judging by my Mum's robes. I saw there were a couple of empty frames. From my bag I took out the envelope with the photos I had. I placed them on my desk to put them in the frames later. I saw there was only one other photo I hadn't seen before. I picked it up.

'Re-Remus,' I said. His name stuttered from my lips, as I wasn't entirely sure what to call him. 'Who is this man?'

I showed him the photo. My Mum was in it again, but this time she wasn't with Lupin. Dressed in casual clothes like she was, a man I guessed was about a year or so older than her stood by her side with his arms wrapped round her waist. He had this roguish handsome air about him, his shoulder length black hair falling neatly either side of his young face, a pair of grey eyes grinning like his smile. He was gently nuzzling my Mum's face and kissing her cheek, before his eyes turned to me. His smile softened in a way that I hadn't seen a man do before and he pulled Mum closer to him.

Lupin took the photo from me. His cheerful mood seemed to drop all of a sudden.

'That,' he said, 'is your father.' His eyes examined the photo a few more seconds before turning to me. 'It appears you have inherited some of his qualities too,' Lupin observed. 'But you look more like your mother.'

'Did you know him?' I asked.

'I knew him once, a long time ago.'

The tone in Lupin's voice told me that this was a subject he would prefer not to talk about. As many questions as I had about my parents, I felt it best not to ask any more for now. I replaced the photo with the others on my desk. My eyes lingered on the image of my father. The way he was with my Mum, he seemed to really care about her. What had happened? Behind me Lupin announced he was going to start dinner to which I merely muttered a reply. It felt strange to me that my father was absent but without a reason to explain why. Had something happened to him? I knew he was alive, Professor Dumbledore had said so. Only question was … where was he?

The evening I arrived at Moonlake Cottage, Lupin (I didn't feel comfortable calling him "Uncle Remus" just yet) sent back my reply to my Hogwarts letter while I'd been upstairs, despite the fact Professor Dumbledore had been there when Lupin adopted me. When I came down from my room after unpacking what little things I had I saw Lupin had a large pot of something cooking on the stove. Beside him a knife was cutting some vegetables. The chopping board then lifted into the air and tipped them into the pot.

'We're having stew,' Lupin told me. He waved his wand at a spoon on the side. It began stirring the stew. It was then he noticed me staring at him in the doorway. He chuckled. 'You don't have to spell on ceremony, Jenna,' said Lupin lightly. 'You can come in.'

I walked into the kitchen and took a seat at the dining table.

'This must be quite overwhelming for you,' Lupin continued. He waved his wand again, this time to make the stew stop cooking and be served into a couple of bowls. 'Being adopted and finding out you're a witch all in one day.'

'It is a bit weird,' I admitted. The bowls had now flown by themselves over to the table. 'Do you use magic for everything?'

'Not everything,' replied Lupin, 'but there are a lot of things we do use our magic for that we don't even think about.'

I nodded. Beside me Lupin began eating his stew. I followed him and picked up my spoon. I gave my stew a quick stir then took a spoonful.

'Wow, this is really good,' I said, taking another mouthful. 'We never got anything like this at the orphanage.'

I ate the stew with gusto, enjoying its strong flavour and the combination of spices in it. Lupin merely observed me. When I noticed, I hesitated and slowed down the pace I was eating my food.

'It's OK, Jenna,' Lupin laughed. 'You're not at the orphanage anymore. This is your home.'

'I know, I just …' I sighed, 'I spent ten years at that orphanage wondering who I am, where I came from, and in the space of twenty-four hours I've been adopted, have a home, and a whole history I didn't even know I had. I know nothing about magic yet my parents were wizards. You're a wizard. I always dreamed I had a family. I just – I never expected that.'

'Jenna, I know it's hard,' said Lupin. 'You grew up in a world where magic was merely in storybooks, not knowing that it ran through your blood. But you don't have to be scared or worried. I will be with you every step of the way like I should have been years ago. I can promise you that.'

Lupin smiled at me. I smiled back. For the rest of dinner, Lupin took the opportunity to find out a little more about me and what I liked and disliked, before telling me all about the wizarding world and magic, my past and my family. My parents apparently had me shortly after they left Hogwarts and that my birthday was the fifth of August, making me officially eleven years old and, according to Lupin, most likely the youngest in my year when I join Hogwarts. I sat and listened as he told me stories about him and my Mum from when they were children and about my grandparents. I couldn't help but smile as I listened. It all sounded so wonderful. His family had lived on a farm when they were younger; my granddad had worked with magical creatures while my grandmother, who was what Remus called a Muggle, a term for non-magical people, looked after him and my Mum; my Mum was apparently the more mischievous out of the two of them, according to Lupin, and was always running around and getting into some sort of trouble, something he hoped would not be the case with me.

'She certainly had a talent for trouble,' said Lupin with a knowing smile at me. 'But then again, I didn't exactly do anything to discourage her, nor did our friends.'

At nine o'clock Lupin told me it was time for bed as we had a lot to do tomorrow to get me ready for school. I protested, wanting Lupin to tell me more about my family and about Hogwarts, but he said I'd find it all out when I started school in September. Wishing me goodnight – I'd never had anyone say that to me before – Lupin made sure I was settled in my room before turning out the light. He left my door slightly ajar in case I needed him. I lay quietly in my bed, staring at the light filtering in through the doorway. I smiled, a feeling of pure happiness sweeping over me. I fell asleep, knowing I was home at last.

I had less than a month until I started Hogwarts. Lupin woke me early the next day as we needed to go to Diagon Alley to pick up all the things I needed for school that were on the equipment list that came with my Hogwarts letter. I went to get ready. I put on some of the clothes that Lupin had filled my drawers with. It looked very different to my old clothes; not robes but what I assumed were the wizarding equivalent of Muggle daywear. It felt nice to wear clothes that were my own. I came downstairs to see Lupin standing by the fireplace. He told me we were travelling by Floo powder to the Leaky Cauldron in London. Lupin took a handful of silvery powder in one hand and took my hand in his other. Telling me to keep my mouth closed, he chucked the powder into the fireplace and pulled me into the green flames, shouting, 'Diagon Alley.'

Everything around me was spinning. Tens of fireplaces flew past us. I shut my eyes and gripped Lupin's hand, feeling nauseous. The spinning was making me dizzy. A few moments later I felt Lupin tug my hand and we arrived in a second fireplace. My feet hit the stone floor. I opened my eyes, glad everything had stopped spinning at last. Lupin helped me out of the fireplace. He was covered in soot, as was I. I dusted off what I could and shook out my hair. We had arrived in dingy looking pub. A long table sat in the centre of the room with a bar going along the wall opposite to the fireplace Lupin and I had arrived through. To my left was the entrance to the pub from what I assumed was the Muggle side of London, and to my right there was a handsome wooden staircase that lead upstairs. There were a couple of old women sitting quietly in the corner while another wizard was sat at the bar talking to the barman. Lupin nodded at him, walking out the back entrance of the pub into a small courtyard surrounded by a high brick wall. As we passed I managed to catch a bit of their conversation.

'He was in here the other day with Hagrid,' the barman was saying. 'Getting his things for Hogwarts, I presumed. He'd be going there in September.'

'What did he look like?' asked the other wizard.

'Scrawny, like he'd been underfed,' replied the barman. 'Couldn't mistake him though. Had the scar and everything, just like they say. Was definitely him. The Boy Who Lived.'

I narrowed my eyes, confused by their conversation. Who was "the boy who lived"? Whoever he was, he was apparently going to Hogwarts in September, so I'd probably see him around the school. I wonder what made him famous. I pushed it from my thoughts and hurried after Lupin.

'So where's Diagon Alley?' I asked.

'Right here,' replied Lupin.

He took out his wand. He pointed it just above the bin that sat against the back wall of the courtyard then went three bricks and two across. He gave the brick he came to a tap. One by one the bricks began to rotate themselves and pull back from each other until a wide archway had formed in the place where the wall had previously stood. I couldn't believe what I saw. Hidden behind the wall was a long and winding street filled with shops and people as far as I could see.

Lupin saw my expression and chuckled to himself.

'Come on,' he said. 'We need to go to Gringotts first to get some gold then we can go get your equipment and your school robes from Madam Malkin's.'

I looked in awe at all the different shops Diagon Alley had as I followed Lupin through the crowd down to where a large white building stood about halfway down the street. Large marble pillars stood at an angle at its entrance with a pair of heavy wooden doors at the top of its marble steps. Lupin explained to me that Gringotts was the wizarding bank and that it was run by goblins. I was about to tell him that goblins didn't exit but stopped myself. I was in the wizarding world now; I had seen more than enough things already to know what I knew to be imaginary could very well be real here. While Lupin went to speak to one of the goblins – I couldn't help but take a step backwards when I saw one – I began to wonder how exactly Lupin intended to pay for my school equipment. I had no money and, from what I could tell, Lupin didn't have much of his own either. Lupin gestured for me to join him. I did so and we were led by the goblin out of a door at the back of the hall.

The goblin led Lupin and me to what looked like a mine cart. It sat on a pair of tracks that disappeared off into a deep dark cave. The cart itself was a large metal vehicle, a wooden seat in the centre with a second behind what looked like a steering wheel, and a lamp at the back. Its wheels were four large metal circles that connected it to the tracks. The goblin took the seat behind the steering wheel while Lupin and I got in the back.

'Re – Lupin,' I started, 'I don't have any money. I can't pay for anything.'

'Don't worry about that,' said Lupin. 'Now, I advise you hold on tight.'

If I thought travelling by Floo powder made me sick, this was worse. The cart shot off at the goblin's instruction before I was ready and plunged into the vast caves below. My hair whipped my face as we travelled down the maze of tracks passing row upon row of what looked like large vaults; they flew by too fast for me to tell what they were. I grabbed it and tucked its length into my jacket to stop it flying about. Beside me Lupin was sitting quite cheerfully as if we weren't hurtling down a track at what had to be at least fifty miles per hour. All of a sudden the cart jerked to a stop. Judging by the darkness we had to be miles underground.

'Vault seven hundred and nine,' said the goblin.

The goblin stepped off the cart, then Lupin, then me. I felt my legs give way slightly as I struggled to regain my balance. I was not looking forward to the trip back. Lupin handed the goblin a small key. He walked over to the door of the vault and put the key inside the lock, giving it a turn. A series of loud mechanical sounds came from behind the door as the locks opened themselves. Slowly the door opened. My mouth fell open when I saw what was inside. Piles of coins of all kinds, gold, silver and bronze, were stacked in small heaps inside the vault. Lupin took a small pouch from inside his robes and began filling it with the coins. Once he had enough the goblin closed the vault and we returned to the main hall of the bank.

'That should have been enough to cover your school equipment and your first year at Hogwarts,' Lupin told me. 'You can always send me an Owl if you need anymore.'

I nodded silently. I don't think I could have spent that much gold in my entire lifetime.

After the shock of my newfound wealth, Lupin and I ventured back into the crowds of wizards and witches shopping in Diagon Alley. There was so much going on here. Piles of cauldrons stacked precariously outside a shop called Potage's; broomsticks mounted on stands in the window with posters of what looked like a team as a backdrop in Quality Quidditch Supplies, whatever Quidditch was; an ice cream shop with many brightly coloured ice creams at Fortescue's; the latest book by a renown wizarding author on display in the window of Flourish and Blotts; and fancy looking robes on manikins at Twilifitt and Tattlings. The thing that caught my eye, however, were the series of cages and stands gathered outside a shop next to one selling various magical instruments as we walked back towards the top of the street.

'Eeylops Owl Emporium,' I read aloud, looking at the sign.

A sudden squawking came from just inside the shop. Without thinking I ran inside to see what was going on. Owls of all kinds sat inside cages and on stands in the darkened shop. Near a back corner I saw the source of the commotion. A snowy owl was flapping its wings angrily at a larger screech owl, snapping its beak as the other squawked back at it.

'Hey, ssh.'

I ran over to the agitated creature. Holding out my arm I stroked the snowy owl's chest as I coaxed him on to it and away from the other bird. At first he was reluctant to move, hitting my cheek as he flapped his wings, but my gentle strokes eventually calmed him and he allowed me to lift him off his perch. He still clicked his beak at the other owl though. I turned around so he couldn't see the other bird. I continued to stroke his chest.

'Hey, it's all right,' I said softly to him. He responded, looking at me with his amber eyes. They were a gorgeous colour. He let out a hoot, a much calmer one than before. 'You're lovely, aren't you?'

'Jenna.' I heard Lupin call my name and saw him enter the store. 'I was wondering where you'd got to.'

'I heard the owl squawking and came to see what was going on,' I said. 'I didn't mean to run off.'

'That's all right,' said Lupin, 'but you need to put him down. We've got to go get your school things and be out of Diagon Alley by five. I've got an appointment this afternoon which I can't miss.'

I nodded. I went to put the owl back on his perch when the shopkeeper came bustling over to me. His overalls were covered in what I assumed were owl droppings and there was a bag of Owl Treats sticking out his pocket. His hair was standing on end having been knocked several times by the owls' wings as they flew around the shop.

'Did you just calm him down?' he asked me, out of breath. 'He's been aggravated for the last few days now. I thought nothing would calm him.'

'Um, yeah,' I said. I held out my arm, allowing the shopkeeper to take the owl from me. 'Why was he acting like that?'

'His mate was bought a few days ago by a large man,' explained the shopkeeper. 'He misses her. Didn't like it when the man tried to take her away. He was nice enough though, looks after animals as part of his job. Was getting it for someone for their birthday, he said.'

The owl hooted dolefully as the shopkeeper went to put him on his perch. With a flap of his wings the owl cuffed the shopkeeper round the head and flew back over to me, landing on my shoulder. He gently nibbled my ear in affection.

'He seems to like you though,' said the shopkeeper. He brushed back his hair. 'You look about eleven years old. I guess you'll be starting Hogwarts soon, right?' I nodded. 'You can buy him if you want. He's only fifteen Galleons along with some food and his cage, but I can let you have him for ten seeing as you calmed him down.'

'Can I?' I asked Lupin. 'The letter said we're allowed an owl, a cat or a toad.'

Lupin looked at me, then smiled and nodded. He took out the money pouch and handed the ten gold coins to the shopkeeper. Taking the owl from me again, the shopkeeper placed him in his cage then handed that and some Owl Treats to me. I put my finger through the cage and allowed him to affectionately nip it.

'You have the same talent with animals your mother had,' observed Lupin.

I blushed.

It took almost the entire day to get all my things for school. Diagon Alley was a busy place. I had brought my old school bag with me to carry my new equipment but soon found the books alone wouldn't even fit in it. Lupin had the answer to this. Taking my old brown satchel, Lupin tapped his wand on it and muttered something under his breath. The bag slowly began to change; the strap began to lengthen while the shape became rounder and larger; the material changed from its horrible leather to a nicer woven cloth; its dirty brown was replaced by a brighter multicoloured pattern. Lupin handed it back to me, saying the bag was now enchanted to be able to hold all the stuff I needed for school. I nodded and placed the Owl Treats inside it as well as the bag of basic potion ingredients we had bought from Apothecary. It still felt like there was a lot of room left in the bag even with those things inside it and it didn't feel any heavier. Whatever Lupin did was certainly a helpful little charm.

After the Apothecary we went to Flourish and Blotts and picked up all the books that I needed for my first year. I couldn't wait to have a look at them when I got home, especially the one called Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. We then got my cauldron from Potage's; some quills, inks and general supplies for my schoolwork from Scribbulus Writing Instruments; the telescope, phials and scales from Wiseacre's; and a small supply of sweets for me while I was at Hogwarts from Sugarplum's. Madam Malkin's was one of our last stops. Lupin gathered together the uniform I would need while Madam Malkin busied herself measuring me for my robes. I stood on the footstool as a tape measure flew around me measuring me from head to toe. A pair of robes was pulled over my head and she adjusted the length of them according to what the tape measure had recorded before pulling them back off me and wrapping them and the other bits of uniform in some brown paper. I put them inside my bag and we left the store.

'All that's left is my wand,' I said, looking at my list.

'So we need to go to Ollivanders,' said Lupin. 'There's no better place to get your wand. It's where your mum and I got our wands when we started Hogwarts.'

Ollivanders was down the south side of Diagon Alley. It was an old looking shop, the sign saying it had been in business for hundreds of years. Lupin pushed open the door and we went inside. A small bell chimed as we entered. It was quite dark inside the shop. A small desk sat at the far end of the shop. The walls were lined with shelves each filled with boxes and boxes of wands. The only light was the small lap sitting on the desk. From the back of the shop a wizened man with a shock of white hair approached to see who had entered. His pale silver eyes fell on me, and his mouth lifted into a smile. His clothes were covered in dust like the boxes of wands he sold.

'Ah, I thought I still had one more student to serve,' said Mr Ollivander. 'I never forget a student and so never forget when their children are due to start Hogwarts as well.'

I wondered what he meant by that. I looked at Lupin questioningly but he merely shrugged. I turned back to Ollivander. He was already searching through the stacks of boxes, running his long finger over them one by one while he picked one out for me to try.

'I remember the day your parents got their wands,' Mr Ollivander was saying. 'Your father's wand chose him almost instantly. Made of Cedar, dragon heartstring core and fourteen inches long. A loyal wand for a loyal young man as I recall.' Behind me I heard Lupin snort. 'You mother, however, hers was a very different wand indeed. Ebony, twelve and a half inches, phoenix feather core. It was an excellent match for a person as true to herself as her.'

'Do you remember every wand you sell?' I asked. Mr Ollivander nodded.

'Your uncle there, his wand is made of Cypress with a unicorn hair core, ten and a quarter inches. A wand worthy of heroes and those always putting others ahead of themselves.'

I looked at Lupin. He nodded in confirmation.

'Now, as for you,' continued Mr Ollivander. He pulled a box from the middle of the shelf. From it he took out a long brown wand. 'Here, try this.' He handed me the wand. 'Maple, eleven inches, dragon heartstring.'

I took the wand. Nothing happened.

'Just like the last boy I served,' sighed Mr Ollivander. 'You need to wave it.'

Feeling the heat rise in my cheeks at my mistake, I waved the wand. A burst of magic shot from it. Several boxes of wands came shooting out from their shelves. I winched. I didn't mean to do that. Mr Ollivander snatched the wand back from me.

'Maybe not,' said Mr Ollivander. He flicked his own and put the wands back on the shelf. He continued his search a little longer then pulled out another wand for me to try. This one was greyer in colour. 'Try this one. Larch with a unicorn hair core. It helps bring out a wizard or witch's inner talents.'

I waved the wand. Mr Ollivander snatched it back again this time before anything even happened.

'Definitely not the wand for you.'

Mr Ollivander started looking through his wands again, then paused. He turned to look at me, his pale eyes examining me. He seemed to be thinking about something. Next moment he walked past me to the front of the shop. He bent down to a low shelf and pulled a dark blue box out from the bottom of a stack. From inside he pulled out another light brown wand. It didn't have a handle like the Maple one I tried, instead having a long winding pattern of leaves carved into the wood.

'Hazel,' said Mr Ollivander. 'A temperamental wand wood, especially when paired with an owner who has strong emotions but a brilliant partner to those who can control them. Thirteen inches in length, but not as unlucky as some may think. It has a phoenix feather for its core. A powerful combination that will be a devoted wand towards its owner.'

He handed me the wand. A surge seemed to go from the wand through my fingers and into my body, as if it was going through my veins, the moment I touched the wand. A series of sparks shot from the tip in a small shower of colour. Mr Ollivander smiled.

'It appears that you have been chosen,' he said. He took the wand and placed it back in its box. He wrapped it up and handed it back to me. 'I believe it will be a good match for you in whatever you do.'

We left Diagon Alley at quarter to five. We returned to Moonlake Cottage by Floo powder and left all my stuff in the living room for me to sort out later. We didn't have much time as Lupin had his appointment to get to. I thought I was going to be left at the cottage while he was gone but Lupin was reluctant to leave me on my own while I was only eleven years old. I went to wait for him by the fireplace while he grabbed something from the kitchen only for him to tell me we were Apparating to the appointment as there were no fireplaces where we were going. Taking my hand, Lupin twisted on the spot and we vanished with a sharp crack. I tensed as I felt my body twist and stretch before we reappeared in a dark courtyard.

I shivered when I felt the cold air on my face. In the distance I could hear the sound of waves crashing against stone. I looked around. We were stood in the courtyard of a large black-stone tower. The sky above was darkened with thunderclouds and I could see there was something floating around the top of the tower. They looked like large pieces of ripped material. It felt like all the warmth had suddenly been drained from my body.

'Where are we, Lupin?' I asked. I felt my teeth chatter. 'It's freezing here.'

'We're in Azkaban,' Lupin replied. His voice was different this time. It was more serious and not as light as it normally was. What had brought this on? 'This is the wizard prison.'

'What are we doing here?' I persisted.

'I have to visit one of the prisoners here,' he said darkly. Lupin looked round before turning to me. He bent down so we were eye to eye, his hands gripping my shoulders. 'Now listen carefully, Jenna. I need you to stay here in the courtyard. Terrible creatures inside the tower protect the prison and it could be dangerous if they get too close to you. You'll be safer out here where they won't be able to sense your presence.'

I nodded though I was slightly unnerved by the idea of being separated from Lupin. Giving my shoulders a squeeze, Lupin got up and walked inside the tower through its only door.

I don't know how long Lupin was gone. I waited outside in the courtyard, standing by the outer wall, my arms wrapped around me to try and keep warm. I kept looking around, worried that whatever creature Lupin said lurked here would suddenly appear and attack me. I shifted uneasily on my feet. The air around me was getting colder. I notice my breath start to mist in front of me. Nervously I looked upwards. That's when I saw it. Floating above me was a large, hooded figure, its whole body just made up of this black ripped material. It was reaching out its hand to me, rotten and scabbed. I backed away until I was up against the wall. The creature got closer and closer. I felt the air in my lungs slowly turn to ice as I struggled to breathe. It felt like I was drowning. Voices started ringing through my head. I could hear every word. Blurry figures swam in and out of my vision. A long rattling breath echoed in the distance and I felt my body being torn in two. I felt the ground connect with my back as I fainted, unknown words ringing through my head.

-o-

Lupin walked through the dark corridors, his wand clutched ready in his hand. The only light source were the torches burning along the walls. There were no wizards inside the prison apart from those incarcerated; the only creature here were the Dementors. They floated at the door of every cell. Their faceless heads watched as he passed, sensing his presence. Lupin was careful to keep his thoughts clear, to not think of anything cheerful or happy for them to pick up on. The walls were damp with mould growing in the cracks between the stones. The chill from outside was even more pronounce inside the castle. His footsteps echoed hauntingly around him.

Lupin came to a stop outside the cell of the prisoner he was visiting. Inside, hidden by the darkness, sat a man. Someone Lupin had known long ago. His black hair was long and unkempt while his grey eyes had sunken into his once handsome face, his skin pale and waxy. He turned his head enough when he heard someone outside his cell. He recognised the visitor. A long time ago his heart would have been lifted by this, despite the mistrust he had felt previously for his old friend. But after ten years behind bars with Dementors at your door, he was somewhat not heartened by the visit.

'Remus …' said Sirius Black, his voice strained from lack of use. 'I thought you ended these visits years ago.'

'I'm not here for a social call, Black,' said Lupin. He kept his tone formal. 'I'm here for one reason and one reason only. Give me Tala's necklace.'

Black frowned. Why would Remus want Tala's necklace?

'Why would I still have that?' he asked. 'Tala died years ago. Why would you want it back?'

'Because it rightfully belongs to Jenna.'

Black felt a stab at his heart. He knew that name. That had been what he and Tala had named their daughter. But why would Remus bring up his daughter? Like Tala, he had lost her years ago, the same night that his best friends, James and Lily Potter, had been murdered. He'd lost everything he'd ever held dear all in that one night, all the people he considered his family. Unless –

Black stood up so quickly his head span. He was weak and tired but the mention of his daughter had stirred something deep inside him. It wasn't a happy feeling. He hadn't had one of those in years. It was more a thought, a possibility that not all had been lost.

'You've found her, haven't you?' he asked. 'You've found Jenna.'

'Why would I tell you?' countered Lupin. He glared at Black. 'You abandoned her ten years ago, leaving me to pick up the pieces and search for her, to try to work out her past so she'd have a future to come to. Even if I'd found her, I'd never let you near her, not after what you did. Betraying Tala, pretending you were upset when she was killed by the Death Eaters, your friends.'

'Remus, I swear to you, I was not a Death Eater,' said Black earnestly. 'I never passed information to Voldemort, nor did I betray Tala or James and Lily. And I can assure you, Tala meant everything to me from the moment I met her to the moment she died. You have to believe me, Remus, old friend.'

'You lost the right to call me your friend,' spat Lupin. 'You lost that right the day you abandoned my niece.' Lupin turned his back on Black and started to walk away, feeling the same anger he always felt whenever he thought about their past. However, he stopped briefly just to add, 'Enjoy the rest of your days here.'

'Remus!' Black shouted, making him stop again. Lupin glanced over his shoulder at him. 'I know you're angry with me but please, if you have found Jenna, I beg you, don't keep her from me. Do as you choose in raising her, I know she'll turn into a fine witch under your guidance. Just please don't keep her from me. I need my daughter. She's all I have left of Tala.'

'I'm afraid you have no say in the matter.' and with that, Lupin walked away.

Lupin strode quickly back out the castle, fighting to keep control of his temper. How dare Black have the nerve to ask to see Jenna, especially after what he did to her when she was only a baby. He could never forgive his former friend for what he did to Tala. Lupin walked out into the courtyard. Instantly he felt his heart stop. In front of him Jenna was lying on the ground unconscious. A Dementor floated over her, drawing in a raspy breath as it tried to pull her soul from her body. Jenna had many horrors she did not know about in her past due to being so young, but the Dementors had the power to find them and draw them to her conscious. She was very susceptible to their powers, even more so being only eleven years old and unable to protect her emotions from them.

Lupin drew his wand from his pocket without a second thought.

'Expecto Patronum!'

A loud howl echoed as the large silver wolf burst from Lupin's wand. It leapt from his wand and charged at the Dementor attacking Jenna. The Dementor was thrown back from her. It tried to attack a second time but the wolf stood protectively over Jenna, growling and snarling at the Dementor. It lunged at the Dementor a second time, this time chasing it away. Lupin ran over to Jenna and picked her up in his arms. He turned on the spot and Disapparated, his Patronus vanishing shortly afterwards.

-o-

I turned my head to the side, expecting to feel the cold stone of the courtyard on my skin. Instead I felt the softness of my pillow. Confused, I forced open my eyes. My vision was blurry initially but soon focused enough to see I was lying in my bed. I tried to sit up but I felt weak, like all my strength and energy had been drained from me. After a moment or two I managed to push myself up enough so I was leant against the headboard. A knock came from my door and Lupin entered my bedroom. He had a large block of what looked like chocolate in his hand. He unwrapped it as he took a seat beside me on my bed, breaking off a chunk.

'Here, eat this,' he told me. 'It'll make you feel better.'

'Matron said I wasn't allowed chocolate before dinner,' I said, struggling to get the words out from being so drained of energy.

'Your Matron isn't in charge of you anymore,' Lupin reminded me, 'so if I say you can have chocolate, you can have chocolate. Now eat. I promise you'll feel better when you do.'

I nodded, ignoring the slight feeling of wanting to vomit as I did so. I took the chunk he handed me and took a bite. A feeling of warmth spread throughout my body and I felt my energy start to return. Lupin watched to make sure I ate all of what he handed me until he was satisfied I'd recovered. With my strength returned, I turned to Lupin.

'What happened?' I asked him. 'What was that thing?'

'It was a Dementor,' Lupin replied. 'They are the creatures that guard Azkaban. It seems I underestimated just how attracted to you they'd be.' I gave Lupin a strange look. 'Dementors are some of the foulest creatures that exist in the wizarding world. They feed upon darkness and despair, draining all the happiness until you are left with nothing but your worst nightmares. It's why they guard the prison; they don't need walls or water to keep the prisoners in, not when they're trapped inside their own minds, imprisoned within their darkest thoughts.'

I shivered.

'So why did they go after me?' I asked.

'You have a past, Jenna,' Lupin continued, 'a past that most children your age wouldn't be able to comprehend. Although you don't remember it, you were there when your mother died, and that memory is still imprinted in the depths of your mind. The Dementors must have been able to sense the horror of that memory in you and so were drawn to it, making you relive it until you collapsed.'

I thought about what Lupin said.

'I heard a voice,' I said quietly, looking away from Lupin. 'I – I think it was Mum's voice. She never screamed before she died.' I glanced up to see Lupin was watching me closely. 'She seemed ready to die, like she knew it was going to happen.'

'That sounds like Tala,' sighed Lupin. 'She wasn't afraid of anything, even the things she was meant to be afraid of.'

I paused for a moment, gathering my thoughts.

'There were other people there. Three men dressed in black robes. One of them had long white hair. He laughed at Mum when she tried to reason with them. I didn't see the other two though.' I blinked; a tear fell from my eyes. 'Who were they, Lupin? Why did I see them?'

'Your mother was killed by Death Eaters,' replied Lupin heavily. 'They were followers of a Dark wizard called Voldemort. Before you were born the wizarding world was deep in the middle of a war. Lord Voldemort and his followers were trying to purify the wizarding world, killing half-bloods and Muggles alike so only pure-blood wizards remained.'

'Did they stop him?' I asked.

'Voldemort was stopped eventually,' said Lupin, 'but not by any wizard. He went after some friends of mine, James and Lily Potter. It was their son, Harry, who stopped him. Voldemort murdered James and Lily before turning his wand on Harry. Somehow, no one knows how, when Voldemort used the Killing Curse on Harry, instead of killing the baby it killed him instead. Voldemort vanished after that and the boy became legend. The Boy Who Lived.'

I nodded despite the fact that, like Lupin and the rest of the wizarding world, I couldn't understand how some baby managed to defeat and destroy a Dark wizard. This Harry Potter must be some wizard if he could do that when he was only a baby. I recalled the conversation from the Leaky Cauldron and remembered that he was due to start Hogwarts this year with me. A part of me felt a wave of pity for him. Imagine all the stares he was going to get, being this famous wizard before he could even perform any magic. No matter. It was unlikely I'd have anything to do with this Boy Who Lived. The only Harry I knew was long gone from my life in a world I no longer lived in.

The rest of the holidays passed by. I decided to spend my time trying to learn as much as I could about the wizarding world in preparation for starting Hogwarts. I looked through each of my schoolbooks to see what kind of things we'd be learning, only glancing through my copy of A History of Magic. I could tell after the first page that if we had any history classes at Hogwarts I wasn't going to enjoy them. My favourite book was my copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It was a book detailing the various creatures that existed in the wizarding world, many of which I originally only knew to exist in stories. Mermaids and phoenixes, even werewolves, were all real according to the book. I found it hard to believe that Muggles were none the wiser that all these creatures truly existed.

Over the weeks my bond with Lupin grew, despite the fact I still felt uncomfortable calling him by his first name no matter how many times he reminded me that it was all right to do so. It was a habit that I'd gotten into very quickly and found hard to stop. I found Lupin to be a very caring guardian, always making sure I had everything I needed at mealtimes, had slept well during the night, and was happy in whatever I was doing around Moonlake Cottage. Something that puzzled me though was why he was always at home. Not that I minded, but surely even wizards had jobs. When I asked him what he did for a living, his answer was very hesitant.

'Not all wizards work for a living,' he replied. 'Some inherit enough gold from their parents to not have to work at all.'

That didn't actually answer my question but that was all Lupin said on the matter. I accepted it, choosing not to pursue the subject in case it was none of my business.

The reason why Lupin didn't work, however, soon became very clear.

Late one night at the end of August I lay in bed wide awake. I was having trouble sleeping from being nervous about starting Hogwarts in a few days time. I got up out of my bed and looked out my window to see the fields around our home bathed in a silvery glow. I could see the full moon in the sky just hidden from complete exposure by a cloud passing over it. Something moved from below my window. It was Lupin. He was standing in the garden. It looked like he was waiting for something. Curious, I put my slippers on and went downstairs. I walked through the kitchen and pulled open the back door to the garden. Lupin hadn't noticed me. I walked over to him.

'Lupin?' I said, getting his attention.

Lupin turned round, a look of horror crossing his face when he saw me standing behind him. All of a sudden the garden was bright with light from the moon as it came out from behind the cloud. Lupin froze.

'Get back inside,' Lupin breathed. His body had tensed and was starting to shake. 'Jenna, get inside now!'

A part of me told me to do as he said, to go back inside the cottage. Another part couldn't move as I watched Lupin standing there in what looked like a great deal of pain. I watched in horror as Lupin transformed before me, his body changing into that of an oversized wolf. It was bigger than any wolf I'd seen in nature documentaries I'd watched at the orphanage. Its fur was much more ragged, a large tail swaying behind it, and its snout was much shorter than a normal wolf's. What scared me the most though were its eyes; they seemed almost human, the same brown colour as Lupin's own, but there was no love in them. Instead it was replaced by what could only be described as pure bloodlust.

The werewolf growled at me, its eyes fixed on where I stood by the back door, and began to come towards me. I didn't know what to do. I recalled reading the bit about werewolves in Fantastic Beasts. They only harmed humans, not other animals. There was no way I was going to survive this. I'd only just found my family and because of my own stupidity I was now going to be killed by them. If only I was a dog or a wolf or something I'd be safe!

Suddenly I felt my own body start to ache. I felt my bones start to grind and twist against each other and fur start to grow over my face. I fell forwards on to my hands and knees, landing on a set of paws instead. I let out a yell of surprise, hearing a howl come from me. I'd changed into an animal, just like I had done before in my dreams. I looked up to see the werewolf had stopped. It was watching me with suspicion, wondering where the human had gone. Braving it, I let growl. The werewolf growled back then let out a long howl. It turned on its heel and ran off, leaping over the hedge and disappearing into the surrounding fields. It was gone and so was Lupin.

Whatever I'd done saved me that night. Once the werewolf was out of sight I felt my body transform back. I remained in the garden for a few minutes afterwards. I was worried about Lupin, wondering where he'd gone and if he could get hurt. I listened out for any more of the werewolf's howls but none came. It was long gone by now. I returned inside and shut the back door. I took refuge on the sofa in the living room to wait for Lupin to come back, pulling a blanket over me and curling up to go to sleep while I waited for him to return.

The next morning I found Lupin had indeed come back. I looked out the kitchen window to see him lying outside in the grass. His clothes were all torn, explaining why they were already so frayed and patched, and through the rips I could just see the smallest hint of blood. Lupin was injured. I went to the cupboard and grabbed the medical kit Lupin kept there. I went outside to the garden and cautiously approached him. Lupin looked extremely pale, his skin marked with scars I guessed were years old, his hair that little bit greyer than before. I sighed. I knelt down beside him and pulled out a small bottle labelled Dittany. Lupin had used this on me before when I scraped my knee. I got some cotton wool from the box and pour a bit of the liquid on to it. Carefully I touched it to the scar on Lupin's back. It must have stung because Lupin's body suddenly tensed and he let out a gasp of pain. I backed away as he sat up, rubbing his hand over his tired face. At that moment I was scared of what he would do now that I knew he was a werewolf. He looked up, seeing me kneeling beside him.

'Jenna,' he said slowly. His voice was tired and his eyes didn't have the same shine they had normally. He watched me in silence for a moment or two then sighed. 'You saw me last night, didn't you?' he asked. I nodded. There was no point in lying to him. It was strange though. The way he spoke to me, it wasn't how he usually did; in fact it didn't seem like he was even talking to me, not treating me like the child I was. 'I guess there's no point in hiding it from you.'

'That you're a werewolf?' I said quietly. Lupin seemed to shiver at the word like he was repulsed by it. Slowly he got to his feet and headed towards the house. 'Lupin, where are you going? You need to clean those scratches or they'll get infected.'

Lupin stopped. He didn't look at me though.

'I'm going to get your adoption forms,' he said quietly. 'I was a fool to think you'd be safe in my care. I could have killed you last night. I would never forgive myself if anything had happened to you. You need to leave.'

'What?' I got up and ran over to him, stopping him from going inside the house. 'No, you're the only family I've got!' I protested. I couldn't believe he was going to send me back to The Refuge just because I'd found out he was a werewolf. I didn't mean to follow him last night. I didn't know I shouldn't have done that. 'Please don't send me back to the orphanage. I'll be good, I promise.'

Lupin stared at me, bemused by my reaction.

'I haven't been naughty, honest,' I pleaded. 'You can't send me back. I've been on my best behaviour. I've been really good, I promise.'

Still Lupin stared at me. His cuts were bleeding but he didn't seem to care about that at that moment. Nor did he seem to change his mind.

'You think I'm sending you back because you haven't behaved?' Lupin asked me curiously.

'Why else would you?' I replied. I bowed my head. 'You must have seen my file. I was nothing but a troublemaker at that orphanage. I don't want to go back there. I don't care that you're a werewolf. Just please, don't send me back.' When Lupin didn't respond, I sighed. 'I'll go get my stuff.'

'Jenna, wait,' said Lupin. I did. I braved looking at him, expecting him to not have changed his mind. That's when I saw the familiar smile on his face. He knelt down in front of me, taking my face in his hands. They were rough from his transformation. He smiled even more if that was possible. 'You are so my sister's daughter,' he breathed. 'Only you would be brave enough to face a werewolf and not care about what I am. And don't you think for one minute I would ever send you back because of your behaviour. Whatever your Matron had written in your file, I know from having you with me this past month that not one word of it is true. You were just scared, that's all. We'll just have to work something out whenever the full moon is due.'

'You mean I can stay?' I asked hopefully.

'I couldn't let you go even if I tried. Besides,' Lupin raised his eyebrow at me, 'we can't have you missing out on Hogwarts, can we?'

I smiled and threw my arms around Lupin, hugging him. He did wince a bit but kept hold of me, hugging me tightly to him. He was my family and nothing was going to separate us again.

Lupin recovered the following day from the full moon. Once he was feeling better he pulled a trunk out from the attic of the cottage that used to belong to my Mum and charmed the initials on it to read J. M. Black. I still found it weird that I had a surname. Even having a middle name felt odd though I quite liked it: May. We spent the last few days of the summer packing up all my things into my trunk which appeared to have the same enchantment on it that my school bag had as all my stuff including my books, clothes and equipment fit into it with space to spare, and when I carried it downstairs it felt no heavier than if it was only full off clothes. I couldn't wait to start Hogwarts now. I had what I hoped was enough knowledge of the wizarding world to help get me through the first year and looked forward to all the different things I was going to learn there. Little did I know what was waiting for me at Hogwarts and more importantly who.

---

AN: This is as far as I have got for now. I'll be working on the next chapter presently. I hope you have liked the changes so far.