I felt my blood drained from its veins, my feet froze to the carpeted floor, my breathing hitched, uneasiness and horror taking a toll over me.

His green eyes promptly squinted at my presence; curiosity swarming through them, while his pale face relaxed yet remained guarded, emphasizing his premature lines.

"Oh good, I was about to fetch you myself" Mrs. Vance's knowledgeable dark eyes found me while I distantly gawked at the unforeseen visitor. "Samantha, this is Remus, Remus Lupin. He's an old acquaintance of your godfather and I." she prudently connoted me of my identity, tearing my obvious bewilderment.

Stiffly, I reached him by the crème armchair at an appropriate distance.

"How do you do, Mr. Lupin?" I courteously smiled as I extended my right hand at him.

He seemed inquisitive and maybe a bit taken a back, then he kindly smiled back and stood up.

"An honor, Miss Bennett. David was a remarkable man" his voice held fondness while he shook his withered yet strong hands with my slender ones.

"Thank you" I civilly responded returning both of my hands to my sides, seeking to appease my agitated heart. "Would you like some tea, Mr. Lupin?" I graciously offered, taking note of the tension that both of them were battling to hide. It was purely obvious that I had interrupted something. But what exactly? In fact, what is Remus doing here? I thought Sirius had delivered the news by now-

"A fine idea, Samantha. I'll have Earl Grey." she charmingly agreed, coercing me to pause my thoughts. "Remus?" she affably queried our guest.

"If it's Earl then I must insist for a cup. I do happen to be quite fond of it." he chuckled.

"Earl Grey it is" I nodded respectfully, excusing myself to leave, hoping to keep my pace carefree while my mind shrieked at me to do the opposite.

A couple of steps away from their presence, I stumbled on the wall striving to ease my neurotic nerves.

Oh my god! Oh my god! Why is he here?! Why?! Oh, calm down heart! Breathe, Sam. Just breathe. You're too young to visit a cardiologist. Scratch that, you'll be visiting a psychologist after this whole mumbo jumbo, you might as well do yourself a favor and get a medical profile while at it, unless you're avada kedavra-

Focus Sam! I soundlessly wailed while I perched down and nestled myself, wishing to block the reality from cradling me into its unfair and cruel claws.

I took a couple of deep breathes.

Okay, the movie never displayed any scene of Remus's visit or Sirius. As for the book, not once did it detailed about this night's events, specifically related with Mrs. Vance.

None that I remember.

Goblet of Fire ended with Harry handling his winnings to the twins and the fifth started with the dementor attack, leaving no room for Remus's sudden stop or Sirius visiting for the matter- Wait, maybe she knew he was coming? No, no, no, she would have told me. Oh, why, why-

Samantha Danna, pull yourself together! I inwardly berated myself.

You're posing as the goddaughter of a member of the order for Pete's sake; this was due to happen sooner or later! So, calm down. You only just met him. Just a cordial greeting, nothing big. Yeah, nobody said about signing into the order or meeting Harry or the rest of the members.

That's right.

I felt my tensed shoulders sagged a bit.

Then again, why is here?

I outstretched my face from the aching and hidden cave of my arms.

Why is Remus here? Maybe he's catching up with her-

I jeered at the ridiculous speculation.

Impossible, on the night of the last task, hours after Harry's testimony on his return. Doubt it. But why? Sirius must have already delivered her the news and, and….

Realization sparked.

And yet…. she never told me. She would had seated me and discussed it with me and she hasn't and- Oh my god! Oh my god! Maybe she still doesn't know!? Then, then, oh god, Sirius, he hasn't showed-

I halted in mid thought, images from a few minutes ago popping in my head, eureka upon me.

The dog.

Precipitously, I up righted myself from my hunch down position, my fretfulness kicking in at full force once again; dread enfolding my very being at the thought of the kitchen.

Warily, I trekked towards it, my hand resting on the door knob of its entrance, fear and anxiety engrossing my mind.

Just do it, Sam. If it's Sirius, improvise. Besides, you need to prepare the tea. I personally recalled.

Resolved, I pushed the door, unconcernedly touring inside, briskly identifying Mimi and Perdy lazily resting on the floor.

"Paddy?" I bided him, while probing around. "Here, boy" I tested again but no sign of him except the curtains's rumpled noise from the wind on account of one of the backyard doors slightly open.

Did he leave? I mentally quizzed while bolting the door and curtains.

"Maybe he did" I murmured to myself.

Feebly accepting that possibility, I turned to the stove, and went to brew the tea. Instantly, I went into auto mode, preparing Mrs. Vance's silver tray with some fruits, crackers and cheese.

Not long after, I grumbled as I noticed the missing saucers from the serving platter, rebuking myself at my distracted mind and reaching towards the upper cabinets.

"Well that's a dull way to make a cup of tea" An unusual masculine voice wittily commented making me balked too forcefully, thus sending most of the expensive saucers on top of me and the floor, the shattering echoing through the kitchen and conceivably the hallway.

Dismayed, I peered at Mrs. Vance's destroyed pottery then to the amused stranger that I had been on the lookout.

He hovered in silence as if still processing what just happen, his blue eyes peering into my light brown ones.

He looked just the same as his second appearance during the Order of the Phoenix movie. Long, curly dark brown hair, his signature moustache and some chin beard. Same playful blue eyes and his casual elegance was still intact, from the way his hands were both tucked inside his dark pants' pockets. However, his clothing was wet and dirty, probably from his animagus form but more than anything, he seemed...beaten up.

He was about to apologize or so I thought, but at his movement, like the shaky person I was at the moment, I backed up, furthering smashing the broken porcelain under my plum slippers, before my back staggered against the drawers.

"Don't be frightened. I won't harm you, small lady" he smoothly remarked as he held both of his hands to prove his point.

As for me, my pulse was probably running a thousand miles, my heart felt as if it were about to burst out from my chest, my breathing was quickening its pace at an distressing rate and my consciousness was hollering me to flee.

Get away, Sam. Get away.

So I did, only to pitifully trip with my own feet, my right side scarcely missing the sharpened mess.

"Samantha? What in Merlin's name is going on?" Mrs. Vance's powerful voice vibrated the kitchen just as she walked in with Remus.

And, if meeting Remus had been stressful enough then this by far went worst. At Sirius appearance, her expression shifted from disorientation, to alarm, to despair, to finally terror and anger.

"Evening, Em. Lovely night hasn't been?" Sirius impudently grinned, welcoming her presence.

"You…how did you-" she sputtered at first till she curved to Remus as he guiltily met her sullen stare. "Remus, you mad?! You brought a wanted criminal inside my own roof?!" she cried out, while I cowered at her accusing tone.

Then her hardened gaze found me and the second it greeted my state, something flipped.

Elegantly, she stepped forward, protectively standing at my side, threateningly pointing her wand at him.

"Back away from my goddaughter, Black" she venomously growled, her Acacia sparkling a rare amethyst color.

"W-wait, Aunt Lin. Wait." I shortly rose from the mess, gently tugging her navy sleeping robe. Mrs. Vance looked serious, eerie deadly serious. "I'm ok. I just tripped. H-he startled me" I lamely pointed out to her, amusement and incredulity swarming through her amber eyes.

"He's still a criminal and he's inside my house. Get the Minister of Magic, enlighten him-" Mrs. Vance ardently urged me before Remus stood by Sirius's side, halting her chattering.

"That won't be necessary Emmeline. He's not the adversary. He never was." Remus serenely revealed obtaining daunted astonishment from her.

"Have you lost the plot?! That man turned into your enemy the day he betrayed that poor child's parents. He's a lowlife and murderer and right now he's a threat to me and my goddaughter." she blared, the mauve continuously intensifying at her emotions.

"Oh, stop your mithering, Em, I'm completely harmless." Sirius lightly protested scoring a murderous glare from my keeper.

"Please Emmeline, Dumbledore believes him to be innocent. He was deceived by Pettigrew. We placed our trust in the wrong person. He led him towards them." Remus implored her while her defensive stance prevailed.

"Indeed he was and I suppose the fact that said traitor perished along twelve unfortunate souls, by his hand, really doesn't affect your statement." She vehemently mocked.

"That manky rat is bloody alive!" Sirius furiously snarled and I unknowingly recoiled behind my custodian's back, a shred of hurt shimmering through his pale eyes. He then sighed, attempting to calm his temper. "He's alive, Em. He's out there, assisting him." he quietly fumed, disgust dimming his eyes at his friend's betrayal.

"What do you mean assisting him? What nonsense are you on about?" she cynically demanded while keeping surveillance on Sirius.

"Emmeline, please. There are bigger matters we have yet to face. Something. Something atrocious has happened." Remus warned with angst.

At Remus's change of tone, Mrs. Vance lowered her wand nevertheless still upholding a fighting posture.

"What is it Remus? Is it the professor? Is he hurt?" she inquired him while eyeing both past members of the order with annoyance and a speck of anguish.

Remus's olive eyes instantaneously encountered mine, mutely addressing both Sirius and her of my company.

"Samantha, go to your room" she strongly pressed at me.

"Is the professor alright?" I asked, ignoring my guardian's command, my eyes meeting Remus's uncertain stare.

I knew what was to come. He was about to deliver her the awful news of his return, the disaster of the tournament, about Moody's impostor and the auror's imprisonment and finally the reassembly of the Order, at Dumbledore's request. Even so, for the sake of appearances, I had to act to be a least curious about the situation.

"Samantha, your room. Now." she firmly insisted.

"Please, Aunt Lin" I appealed at her, earning from her an irritated sigh hence obliquely giving permission for Remus to answer my question.

"The headmaster is alright, Miss Bennett" he composedly certified and I silently thanked him.

"Bit old, but we all knew that" Sirius suddenly quipped and I owlishly gaped at him, dubious on how to react.

A part of me wanted to openly smirk at his visible attempt to mollify the atmosphere, yet the other half was too scared to acknowledge his friendly gesture, afraid to show any type of appreciation towards a member of the order, which got me thinking if I truly wanted to meet any of them in the first place? Did I really desire-

"Samantha" Mrs. Vance's regal tone shortened my thoughts, her chestnut irises contacting mine.

"O-oh, yeah, I'll go clean this. And um, if you like to go to the- yeah. I'll bring some tea" I uselessly rambled feeling the silence and their stares getting too awkward then I turned to Sirius compelled to suggest him the hot beverage. "Um mister…" I was about to ask him when he perfectly cut in.

"Sirius. Sirius Black, at your service, small lady" he slightly bowed taking me by surprise though I subtly concealed it with politeness. "Mr. Black would you like some tea?" I roughly cringed at the resonance of his last name. For a second, he looked confused and he almost retorted when Mrs. Vance impatiently interposed him.

"He'll be delighted" Mrs. Vance fictitiously sneered, her eyes peering holes at Sirius's blue ones then she glowered at Remus. "You have three minutes and counting" she pointedly announced as she pleasantly exited the kitchen, Remus almost chasing after her, tailed by Sirius. Then, an unanticipated fragile clatter encased the room, as the porcelain saucers restored themselves to their original forms, ensuing position by the serving platter.

Interest and confusion flashed through my eyes, at the spotless floor, no evidence left of the prior accident, then to the retreating figures of Remus and Sirius. The latter whirled around and faintly winked at me as he gallantly closed the door.

Time appeared to slow down as my mind toiled through a haze.

I just met two key figures in Harry's life….

Inattentively, I meandered to the stove and proceeded with the blending of the tea, while my thoughts violently coursed around.

I never thought their presence could be so…so overwhelming. Almost a living keepsake of what I could prevent and yet I was ultimately petrified. I just wanted to run and hide. I...I truly wished to simply go unnoticed.

I almost bawled from humiliation at my confession when reason slapped me in the face.

What are you feeling guilty about?

That's right. I never craved to meet Harry Potter or any of the characters and if I did, I never expected to do it literally. What couldn't I just do it from the premier of the movie? I didn't want this. No, I couldn't do this; I don't think I can take it. I practically sensed an upcoming heart attack the minute Sirius popped out and that was only his godfather! Who will die, who has to die; he's an emotional drive for Harry, an important motivation that will later lead him to the hunting of horcruxes. Heck, each and every one of the deaths has a purpose, even Hedwig's and Dobby's. They all further contribute to Harry's character, decision and inner development. There's no way I can mess with that. So, what's the use of getting acquainted with them if in the end I can do nothing to help them? Can do zilch but watch them die, for if I did, He would notice? What kind of a person would want to witness that?

Maybe a fan, but I wasn't one.

I pungently huffed at my apathy.

Here's a person that has knowledge from oncoming events and she won't do a thing about it, because she wants no part of it. What happened with the Sam that wouldn't watch by the sidelines?

She got a reality check.

I was no hero, no chosen one. I didn't ask for any of this. Home is what I wanted. My grandparents, my university; my old life is what I would blend in for. Yes. That's the reason for Hogwarts, nothing more. Not being best friends with the canon characters and surely not saving the world from a psychotic power hungry racist. That's why Rowling created Harry, the boy who lived. Yeah. That's your goal Sam. Home. For everything else, you are to be a ghost, no one for Umbridge to target, nobody to death eaters, nothing to Him. Yeah.

As for Sirius and Remus, well… just be polite, Sam. Manners, courtesy but that's it. Beyond that, build a barrier. Distance. Just detach yourself from everyone. Focus on home. On just going home. You have no business here and you are no one here. Don't forget you also suck at dueling or magically defending yourself for the matter. So, avoid confrontation and simply blend in. Then, everything will be alright.

Satisfied at my new found resolution, I poured the tea, readied the tray in my hands and collectedly departed the kitchen.

I ambled in direction to the sitting room, content at the common touch of the platter on my hands. It reminded me of home, especially the late nights I used to have with my grandparents, board games and hot chocolate.

My heart dropped at the memory. How I terribly missed them.

On the other hand, my déjà vu disappeared as I neared my destination, all of the sudden edgy at the noxious quietness.

Precisely as I strode in, my eyes unintentionally twinkled at the palpable vacancy of the new guests, alleviation shrouding me, yet the emotion flew through the window the moment I saw my keeper's disturbing stillness.

Delicately, I placed the tray on the dark wooden glass coffee table, sat across from her, at the second crème sofa and prepared her tea. It was reticent for a couple of minutes before I uncertainly settled to speak up.

"Um, they seemed pleasant" I lamely uttered, mentally chiding at my unusual lack of lexis, Mrs. Vance still expressionless. "Have you known them for long?" I tried again, successfully achieving her attention, as she blinked at me. Then, like nothing was wrong, she straightened herself and took her tea.

"Tragically" she stated in her customary intellectual tone, acquiring from me an involuntary upwards tug on my lips as she added skim milk to her tea. "We share similar beliefs, therefore our meeting was inevitable" she informally told me with a fleck of keenness on the two marauders, while she mixed a spoon of sugar on her light blue tea cup.

Thrilled to hear more from her, I served myself some of the relaxing drink, hoping to encourage her, but I was left in disillusion as we enter another soundless span.

"Samantha" she spoke as she accommodated her tea cup on the middle table.

I met her eyes, wordlessly stimulating her to continue.

"As of today, you must avoid at all costs, stepping beyond the gate. Flo network, apparition or any outdoor activity is to be suspended unless done strictly under my supervision or the professor's." she rigidly established.

I gingerly surveyed her.

She knows.

"Do we understand each other?" Mrs. Vance cuttingly challenged me.

"Yes." I clearly replied, observing her strained body language.

"Good. Now get some sleep" she vigorously ousted me with a wave of her palm.

I rose from the settee but stayed solidly on the spot. For a few minutes, my caretaker looked older than her normal age, wearied as she reclined herself back on the second love seat and deeply breathed out.

"What happened, Mrs. Vance?" I scarcely whispered, troubled for my guardian's health. I knew exactly what was wrong but seeing her composure fall apart was scary. Not to mention, in a situation like this, I had to play along. She knew of my attentive trait and to her would have been chary if I hadn't ask questions.

Forthwith, her eyes flickered at me, puzzlement ruling her fixed stare but at my unyielding gaze, she sighed and prompted me to take a sit, which I distinctly did.

Sedately yet still unnerved at the news, she revealed me what I already had read, the conversation reaching its end as she frightfully pronounced…

He's back.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

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