Getting back in the zone with the writing and the...um...writing, yeah! I don't own Harry Potter...I've given up.

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Ch. 17: Snow is Falling

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"Broken? How did it get broken?" Aya asked, concern and pity plain in her eyes. "Let me see it..."

As Remus handed the ruined flute to her, he said, "I got in a fist fight with Sirius, and when James joined in, Sirius fell on top of me and broke it."

"You got in a fist fight?" Aya said, looking at him in disbelief. "Why would you get in a fist fight?! Fighting is never the answer, and you know it, Remus!"

He looked down at his feet. "But...but Sirius said some bad things about you! I couldn't just stand there and take it!"

"Then use your words, not your fist, Remus! Honestly, I thought you were better than that," she said.

He had nothing to respond with, and found that the floor was a rather large comfort at the moment. I feel like a child...

"I'm...I'm sorry..." he whispered after a time. He looked up to see Aya examining the flute pieces, her tongue between her teeth in concentration.

"Don't say sorry to me," she said without looking at him. "Say sorry to your friends. You didn't hurt anyone, did you?"

"Um...I...I punched Sirius," he whispered.

"Remus!" she cried, and her voice echoed along the corridor.

"I didn't mean to! It just...sort of...happened, is all."

"That's no excuse! You go and apologize right now!"

Now I really feel like a child.

"What about my flute?" he asked, pointing at it.

"Don't be such a little boy...I'll try to fix it, I guess, now go on," she said, examining it again.

Sighing heavily, he did as he was told.

##

"Way to go, Padfoot! You've really done it this time, damn you!"

"You're the one who jumped on top of me, Prongs!"

"Yeah, after you punched me, you swine!"

"Asswipe!"

"Farthead!"

"Guys, guys! Shut up, will you?" Remus yelled, waving his arms. They stopped and turned to him with their fists half-raised. Sirius was savoring a swelling cheek while James' right eye was closed from the nasty beginnings of a black eye.

James pushed Sirius forward. "Padfoot has something to say to you, Moony...isn't that right, Padfoot?"

Sirius stared down at his feet and kicked the floor. "I'm sorry..." he mumbled.

"He can't hear you, Padfoot! Stop talking to the floor," James hissed, pushing Sirius forward again.

"I'm sorry!" Sirius said, looking up at a now-shocked Remus. "I'm sorry I wrecked your flute, and I'm sorry I got mad at you just then...I shouldn't have said that about you and Aya. I'm sorry."

James stepped forward. "I'm sorry, too, but I was mad that we wouldn't be able to have fun with you on a full moon anymore."

"We...we can still do that!" Remus said, blushing.

"And do what? Leave Aya alone? I don't think so," James said matter- of-factly. "We were the ones who were selfish, Moony...not you."

"Can't we bring her along?" Sirius pleaded.

"No," Remus and James said together as James stepped on Sirius' foot.

"It's hard enough trying to keep Remus under control...it'll be even harder trying to keep Remus and Aya under control, you know?" James replied.

"Oh..." Sirius said, staring at the floor again.

"It's not that we don't want you to be happy, Moony," James continued. "I mean, why would we have gone through all that stuff with the animagus and all that other crap? We were just upset we couldn't do it anymore, is all..."

"Besides, that'll be the last time I pick a fight with Moony," Sirius said, rubbing his sore cheek.

Remus could only blush.

##

"Hey, it's snowing!" someone called as they ran down the hallway.

Aya looked up from where she sat on the floor against the wall. Snowing already? Smiling, she resumed her inspection of Remus' flute.

I've tried all sorts of spells, but it just won't work...it's probably because of all those Repairing Spells put on it.

"Dammit," she whispered. She held the two pieces up in front of her face.

Maybe Dumbledore can help.

##

The gargoyle statue seemed to gleam with its own inner light. To Aya, it looked as if it would be warm if she touched it.

"If you ever need me for anything, Aya," Dumbledore had said when he told her she was going to Hogwart's, "just come to my office. Remember the password!"

"Jumping Candied Frogs," she said with a smile. He always loved to say funny things when he visited.

The statue stepped aside, revealing a spiraling staircase. Cradling the broken flute, she moved onto the steps carefully, grateful for the brief rest the moving staircase provided. Though it was a short climb to the entrance to the Headmaster's office, she was a little out of breath. Her sudden lack of energy told her she had still not yet recovered from her transformation, even after an entire day of rest. It troubled her, but she set it aside for now.

Slowly, she opened the doors leading to Dumbledore's office.

She had never been there before, but immediately took a liking to it. All sorts of fascinating instruments and other stuff lay about on desks. Aya held back the childish urge to examine each one as she continued on into the room. Pictures of past Hogwarts Headmasters hung on the walls; some of those pictured silently gazed interestedly at her, while others either dozed or did not appear at all.

She gazed around a bit more, feeling like a child at Christmas again. His office reminded her more of a toy store than one of the most important room in all of Hogwarts.

"I was wondering when you would stop by for a visit."

The voice startled her, making her turn quickly to its source.

And there stood the kindly old man with the half-moon glasses, standing towards the opposite end of the room with a kindly smile.

"Dumbledore!" she cried with a giggle, running to him to give him a hug. Just like old times again.

"My, my, this is a pleasant surprise. I haven't seen you in quite some time, my dear girl!" he said with a laugh. "Not since after you had that nasty run-in with that Centaur."

She blushed as she pulled away from him. "I didn't mean to get out, honest, and I hope I didn't hurt him."

"I highly doubt it. Now, then, would you like some tea? I've got a nice batch just about ready," Dumbledore said with a smile.

"Yes, please," she answered.

"With cream and sugar, if I remember rightly," he said with a wink as he made his way to the fireplace where a kettle hovered in midair right above the crackling fire. Just as it began to whistle, he motioned it up into the air with a flick of his wand. Another flick of his wand sent two cups soaring to him from a nearby table, accompanied by two small cups bearing cream and the other bearing sugar. As he prepared the tea for them both, he asked, "Are you feeling well? You seem a bit flushed today."

"Oh, I just got tired trekking all the way up here, I guess. And I'm still tired from the day before," she replied, obeying his motion for her to sit down in a rather comfy-looking armchair. Gratefully, she took the cup of tea that floated in front of her.

"A bit of tea ought to do the trick, I should hope," he replied as he drew an armchair towards him with his wand, then sat down. "And young Remus? How's he doing after the fact?"

"Huh? Oh...oh, Remus! He's doing fine," she replied with a blush. How did he know I knew? For a moment, something in the old man's eyes told her he knew about the other night as well, but let the feeling go for the moment.

"I'm sure he is. A good fellow, very quiet and kind," Dumbledore said with a nod. "Ah, I didn't know you played the flute, Miss Aya...though I believe it is broken, unless that is some modern way to play it."

"Oh, this," she said, looking down at it as if for the very first time. "This isn't mine...it belongs to Remus, but it's broken."

"May I see it?"

Nodding, she handed the two pieces gently to him, then sat back and took a sip of tea. Placing his cup of tea in midair again, he examined the broken flute with interest. "Hmm..." he said. "Very old, this is...very old indeed. Ah, and quite a few Repairing Spells as well. This has been broken many times before." He chuckled.

"I tried to fix it with a spell, but nothing I could think of really worked on it," Aya said. "Too many spells, maybe?"

"Perhaps...we'll just have to see."

"Can you fix it?" she asked earnestly.

"Hmm...let me see," he replied. Carefully, he placed the two flute pieces together, making it look as if it were whole again. Holding it in one hand, he drew his wand, tapped the flute twice, and said in a clear voice, "Repairolai."

There were a few sparks and a bit of smoke, and then they disappeared.

"Well, you can give this back to Mr. Lupin, now. I'm sure he wants to play his flute again," Dumbledore said with a smile as he handed the repaired instrument back to Aya.

"You fixed it! I've never even heard of that spell," she said with a smile as she took the flute gently.

"It's old, but very simple," he replied, taking another sip of tea. "Your parents were quite good at it, I believe."

Having placed the repaired flute in her lap, Aya held the warm cup of tea in her hands. Her reflection stared back at her, a lonesome face with bright eyes. Dumbledore was right: she did look tired.

"Drink your tea, my dear child. It'll make you feel a bit better," Dumbledore said gently, his eyes sparkling as if he read her thoughts. "Though, not as well as Madame Pomfrey's chocolate, I'm afraid."

She nodded and took a quick sip, then placed the cup in her lap again, involuntarily yawning.

"It still shocks me how much you've grown up," the old man said with a smile. "And it seems like yesterday I was giving little Aya a special little Teddy Bear. Have you still got it?"

Aya winced; she had hoped she would never have to tell him. "I'm...I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I've...misplaced it back at my old school, along with most of my belongings."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Well, I'll just have to send an owl to Miss Naiya regarding that, and we'll have this little predicament solved, now won't we? I'm sure it isn't much trouble for the Headmistress."

Her eyes widened. "How...how did you...how did you know about that?" she whispered.

"A little bird told me," the Headmaster of Hogwarts replied with a wink. "But I am glad Miss Umbridge and Mrs. Amelia had such a wonderful and polite young woman to see them off."

Blushing, Aya stared down into her teacup. "I wanted to...repay them for everything. I hope I didn't go to far...if I did, I am truly sorry."

Dumbledore leaned forward, his face solemn, but his eyes continued to sparkle. "You are an extraordinary young woman, Miss Centaria. But if there is any one person who should be sorry in this room, he should be me."

She looked up at him. "Sir?"

"I am sorry, Aya, to have put you through all this. It was my fault and true lack of knowledge on my part that your entire family was murdered that night," he said with a clear voice, but she could hear a quavering in his tone. He sighed, placing his cup in the air again to clasp his fingers together. "Your parents, as I'm sure you have found out by now, were a special kind of aurors...Secret Aurors, I think the Ministry calls them...a very secret organization with the soul purpose of tracking down that uprising dark wizard, Voldemort."

Aya nodded; she had heard this before. "Mum and Dad used to take the three of us with them sometimes if they felt it was safe enough, I remember. We went to the forest that day..."

Dumbledore continued to stare at his hands; his sudden solemnity and clear sorrow made her feel uncomfortable. Why should he be sorry?

 "Your parents...wanted to check that region because of reports of it being a Death Eater hideout were being sent in to the Ministry from other Secret Aurors. I was reluctant at first, but your parents insisted...I assumed there would be no danger since you, your older brother and your baby sister were joining them; I always trusted your parents. I almost decided to take you and little Eisha back with me on my business with the Minister, but I thought that that would be the last thing you would want to do on your birthday."

Dumbledore closed his eyes, and, for the first time in her life, Aya saw the burden of age drawn tight against his face. It frightened her to see so powerful a wizard and so kindly a man look so fragile. She fought the urge to reach out to him and instead grasped tightly at her teacup.

After a long pause, Dumbledore continued, but his voice had grown quiet.

"And then I heard it was a diversion, that Voldemort had more followers than I had anticipated. And then I should've realized the full moon," he said slowly. "I wasn't quick enough to reach you and your family in time...and I wasn't wise enough to foresee it all. It was my fault, my lack of careful intuitiveness. And even when I found you, bitten and bruised, I couldn't even save you."

"But...but you did!" Aya cried, nearly dropping her teacup. "You're the one who found me by the river. You're the one who took me to the Hospital and stayed the whole time when no one else wanted to go near me for what I was. You're the one who answered my questions; and you're the one who got me out of Llitesat for good."

"Almost nine years is a long time, Miss Aya," he replied, rubbing his temples.

"But Professor McGonagall told me you nearly got fired for it, that it took you so long to fight with the Ministry about letting me in, even after you told them who my family was. It's just because Dolores Umbridge fought you the hardest as Junior Undersecretary," she argued, her face indignant. "Besides, I'm here, aren't I? Where my mum and dad went to school and everything." She leaned forward. "You're like my grandpa, my only family. Why do you need to apologize? No one could foresee it, not you, not my parents, not the Ministry, no one!"

There was a silence. Feeling uncomfortable again, Aya sipped at her tea, drumming her fingers along the cup. A clock chimed six times, signaling for dinner.

"Oh, my," Aya said, standing. "I should go and see how Remus is doing and then go to dinner. But please don't blame yourself for this, Dumbledore. I'm begging you, please."

Dumbledore sighed and stood up; then he drew the girl into a hug. "You go on and find young Mr. Remus. I will see you in the Great Hall, my dear."

She smiled, nodded, and left quietly.

As the old man watched her go, he quickly wiped away a stray tear.

##

The portrait hole flew open, nearly pushing Aya backwards.

"I say you're cheating somehow!"

"I am not, Padfoot, you just suck at chess, except for that one time, but you weren't even paying attention! Go on, Moony, help me with this idiot, would you?"

"Don't drag me into this one, Prongs."

"Lily...?"

"Don't even think about it, James."

Laughing, the foursome stepped out from the portrait hole. Aya, a smile on her face as she crossed her arms, waited patiently. "Are you guys going to dinner?" she asked.

"Woah, I didn't see you there, Aya!" Sirius said with a laugh. "But, yeah. I'm starving!"

"You're always hungry, Padfoot," James said, rolling his eyes.

"Shut it, Prongs...no one asked you," Sirius said with a growl.

"Oh, piss off," James retorted.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Boys will be boys."

Aya giggled, then glanced at Remus, who stood with a large grin plastered on his face, his eyes sparkling at her. They held each other's gaze, enraptured.

Noting this, James said quickly, "Ah, we'll go on ahead and leave you two alone for a minute. Come on, Padfoot. Lily?"

"I wanna stay," Lily said indignantly.

"Sure, you can stay," James replied.

"Really?" Lily said, hopeful.

"No." James grabbed her arm and led the protesting girl down to the Great Hall with Sirius, who winked back at a now-blushing Remus, following in tow.

For a moment, Aya followed them with her eyes until they were lost out of sight. Then, turning to Remus, she gave him his flute, a smile on her face. Eyes wide, he accepted it, whispering, "You fixed it!"

"I didn't, but Dumbledore did. You can thank him," she replied softly.

He twirled the flute in his hand. "Dumbledore...wow. Thank you, Aya. I really, really appreciate it." Grinning, he kissed her, drawing her close. "Let me go put this back in my room for safe-keeping."

Nodding, she followed him.

##

I have a request of everyone (besides reviewing, though you're probably all tired of hearing that...sorry...): if you like Harry Potter, and are looking for Harry and co.'s further adventures (and you like a little King Arthur thrown in the mix), I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend Sunrunner's Sword's "And They Thought It was the End". IT'S MUCH FUN AND VERY GOOD!!!! Please read/review it! You'll enjoy it, honest!

And thanks for being such cool people! gives thumbs up sign