Chapter 2

The next day, I placed the finishing touches on a birthday cake before delivering it to the waiting child at the table. 'Happy Birthday, Grace,' I said as I gently placed the small birthday cake onto the table.

She cooed over the cake, a large grin on her face. 'It's my favourite movie,' she exclaimed.

Needing to give her something special, I painstakingly recreated Aladdin's face on the square cake. It didn't look exactly like the cartoon, but close enough that she was happy. 'It is. Now why don't you make the first cut?' I handed her the knife handle first and turned to the counter to get the plates.

'Is this a good size, Mum?'

'Yeah, perfect.' Carefully, she transferred the cake slice to the plate, sliding the extra icing off the knife with her finger. 'Be careful with that knife,' I warned, taking it from her and cutting my own slice.

A knock sounded throughout the house just as I sat down with my cake.I turned away from Grace, debating going to answer the door or letting the person knock. 'Aren't you going to answer that, Mum?' Grace asked, looking up from her cake.

'Yes,' I said, softly kissing the top of her head. 'I'll be right back.'

Leaving my daughter in the kitchen, I walked to the door and peered through the peephole. Standing on my doormat was a man in a tattered cloak and suit. His hair was shaggy and his faced scarred. Taking a deep breath, I pulled open the door. 'Hello, how can I help you?'

The man smiled and I suddenly found myself faintly recognising him. Where did I know this man from? He smiled a friendly smile before holding out his hand for me to shake. 'Hello. Krista Thomas? My name is Professor Remus Lupin…'

'Remus?' I asked, suddenly remembering exactly where I knew him from. He was one of Sirius' good friends from school.

'Do you remember me?' He asked as his friendly smile grew into a grin.

'Yes! How are you?' I stepped onto the front step, wrapping my arms around his neck in a large hug. 'I haven't seen you in years. Not since…' I trailed off, pulling back and studying his face. I remembered all these scars, and his handsome face. What was he doing here of all places? And why did he show up now? After Sirius' escape?

'I'm doing well. I'm teaching now, which is why I'm here. May I come in?' I stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter.

'Please have a seat. What can I do for you?' I curled up in my favourite armchair while Remus took a place on our threadbare couch.

'You have a daughter, Grace Elizabeth Thomas born August 1, 1982.' It wasn't a question.

I raised an eyebrow. 'Yes. What about her?'

'Well, she has been accepted to attend a very special school.'

Shaking my head slowly, I smiled at my old friend. 'I'm sorry, but Grace is already going to a school next year. She'll be attending Holy Cross Secondary.'

'I'm sure that's a very good school, but would you listen to what I have to say about our school?'

'I… I suppose. What type of school is this? And how has she been accepted to this school if I've never applied for her to attend.'

A sly smile crossed his face, showing more of the handsome man I once knew. 'Krista, do you believe in magic?'

'Magic? Like witches and cauldrons? Old hags with warts on their noses?' I asked, my mind racing with thoughts. Magic? What did magic have to do with Grace?

He nodded with a quick chuckle.'Yes, something like that.'

'I've never thought about it, but I suppose… it's possible. Why do you ask?' I smiled to myself as I heard Grace humming in the kitchen. What school could she have been accepted to, especially considering I had never even applied for her to attend one other than her local school.

Leaning forward, Remus Lupin rested his arms on his knees. 'Grace has been accepted into the best school around for young witches and wizards.'

'But… how? I've never signed her up for any such school. And furthermore, how do you know she's a… that she has any magical powers?' I was slowly getting irritated. How on Earth could Grace be a… a witch? No one in my family was. Unless… Sirius must have been. That was the only logical explanation. Why wouldn't he tell me that?

'I know this must sound crazy, but I assure you it's true. Grace's name has been down on the enrolment list since she was born. And as for her being a witch, surely she's done something extraordinary that can't be explained?' Remus looked at me with what I assumed must be a reassuring smile.

Thinking back, my mind came up with several instances where she did some rather extraordinary things. 'Yeah,' I said softly with a small nod of my head. 'She's done a few rather strange things.'

'Is her father around? I'd like to go over these things with the three of you if possible.'

I bit my lip as I shook my head. Should I tell him? I opted no. 'No, her father… he's not in the picture.'

'Okay,' he said with a quick smile. He didn't seem to suspect anything, but he would once he saw her. 'Then is Grace around?'

'I'll go get her.' I stood up and slowly walked to the kitchen where Grace was still happily eating her cake.

'Who was at the door?' She asked, chocolate smeared on the corners of her mouth.

I picked up a napkin from the holder and gently wiped away the remnants of chocolate. 'Someone to talk with us about a new school.'

'What kind of school? Aren't I going to Holy Cross next year?'

'That's what's supposed to happen, but this is a new development. Please come with me and we'll listen to what he has to say.'

Taking my hand, she walked with me into the living room. I sat in my armchair and Grace sat on my lap. She may be eleven years old, but she was still my baby.

'This is Grace. Grace this is…'

Remus looked up at her, a startled look on his face for a quick moment, and then it was knew. 'Hello Grace. My name is Professor Lupin; I'm a teacher at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.' He looked up at me, meeting my eyes and asking a silent question. I nodded, letting him continue. 'Grace, have you ever done something strange without meaning to? Made a pane of glass disappear or jumped onto a roof?'

Grace's eyes grew wide and her jaw dropped open slightly. 'I made the neighbour's cat fly onto the roof. I thought the poor thing would never get down.'

'What? You never told me that!' That explained why Mrs. McCready was so upset.

She shrugged, 'I thought you'd get mad at me, even though it wasn't my fault.'

'You're right, Grace. It wasn't your fault,' Remus said, smiling up at me. 'When I was small, I made the glass in my parent's living room disappear. My mother and I couldn't figure out what happened.'

'Are your parents magical?' I blurted the question without even thinking, something I had struggled to control over the past few years with little success.

'My father is. My mother knew, but he barely talked about it until I got my letter. You see, when a magical child turns eleven they receive a letter from the school detailing all the information they need to know before school starts September 1st. In the case of a child born to non-magical parents, the school sends a representative to explain the situation. Seeing as how we have a previous relationship,' he smiled, 'Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster, thought it best if I deliver the news.'

'Well that was awfully kind of him.' I paused, debating my next few words. 'I'm not sure if I believe this.'

Remus smiled slowly and nodded. 'Understandable. Let me demonstrate.' He pulled something from his coat pocket, a long stick of wood. 'Accio pencil,' he said quietly and a pencil zoomed across the room from the table where it had been lying.

My jaw dropped and I glanced down at Grace who was sitting wide-eyed on my lap. Suddenly, I had a flash of something, a memory of sorts. I remembered watching a picture fly across the room before being handed to me. But I have never seen this, right?'Krista?' Shaking my head I looked up, surprised to see both Grace and Remus staring at me, worried looks on their faces.

'I'm sorry, I… I don't know what came over me. Did you really just make that pencil fly across the room?'

'That I did.'

'Will I get a magic wand too?' Grace asked, speaking for the first time in nearly twenty minutes.

He nodded with a large grin. 'You will, if your mother agrees to send you.'

'Mum, please?'

'Grace! You don't… we don't even know anything about this.' I tried to plead with my daughter but she was as stubborn as Sirius. Sighing, I shook my head and looked back at Remus. 'What type of classes will she be taking?'

'First year students take Transfiguration, changing objects from one thing to another, Charms, Potions, Astronomy and my class, Defence against the Dark Arts. There are also several clubs to take part in including a Chess Club.'

I glanced down at Grace, chuckling softly as her nose wrinkled in dislike. 'Grace, would you please excuse us? There are a few things I'd like to ask about.'

'I never get to hear the good stuff,' she mumbled, sliding off my lap and disappearing into the kitchen.

'I'm sorry; I'm just finding this a little hard to believe.'

He hesitated for a moment and I wondered if he was going to bring up Sirius. 'That's understandable. If I were in your position, I don't think I'd believe it either. But, Hogwarts is the best school in Europe to learn magic. I'd tell you not to worry, but I know it won't help.' He smiled reassuringly and I nodded.

Clasping my hands together, I leaned forward. 'I've never left her alone for more than a night, and then she was just at my mother's. Are there places I can write? Are there visitations? Holidays?'

'Students are permitted to return home for the Christmas and Easter Holidays. You can write to her at school, but there is no postal address, letters are sent to and from by owls.' He paused, probably waiting for my reaction.

'Owls?'

'Yes, owls. They're great for carrying letters or packages.'

I nodded, still debating sending her. If she did go, I would be left alone. She'd probably do fine; I would be a nervous wreck. 'Where would we purchase her school supplies? I don't imagine the local bookstores sell magic supplies.'

'No,' he said shaking his head with a small smile. 'I would be more than willing to take you and Grace shopping in the perfect place to purchase magic supplies. You wouldn't be able to get there on your own the first time.'

Closing my eyes, I nodded. 'I suppose I don't have much choice, do I?'

'Not really, no.' Remus tried to say it as politely as possible, but the meaning was the same. I had to send her.

'All right, she can go.'

'I can go?' She exclaimed from the doorway to the kitchen. 'Really?' Racing into the living room, she stood next to my chair. 'Really, Mum?'

'Yes, really Grace.' She wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly. 'Okay,' I said, gasping for breath. 'You can let go now.'

She pulled her arms from me and stood as quietly as she could. 'Well Professor Lupin, where do we go from here?' I asked, wrapping my arm around her.

'We can schedule a shopping date to purchase her supplies and if you think of any questions between now and then you are more than welcome to ask.'

Grace shifted from foot to foot, a large grin on her face. 'Mum, are you going to be okay, left here by yourself?'

Startled, I turned to face her. 'Of course. I was alone before you came along. Okay Grace, let me finish with Professor Lupin. Go get ready and we'll go to the park.'

'Thank you, Professor Lupin,' she said with a smile before disappearing down the hallway towards her bedroom.

He glanced down the hallway before turning to face me. 'She's Sirius', isn't she?' He asked, meeting my eyes with a blank expression.

I couldn't respond, just nodded. My throat closed as tears filled my eyes.

'She has his eyes.'

'It took a few days before I could look at her. I kept seeing him and it bothered me,' I spoke softly, hoping Grace wasn't listening. 'She doesn't know. I don't know how to tell her and I don't think she's old enough yet.'

'You know he escaped, right? He's out of prison.'

Nodding, I looked away, glancing down the hall towards Grace's room. 'He doesn't know about her. I found out after…'

'Don't worry,' he said, reaching out to take my hand. 'She'll be safe at Hogwarts. There are many spells and enchantments that protect the place along with many highly skilled teachers.'

'Was he…? Did he…?' I paused, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath before opening them again. 'Was he a wizard?'

'He never told you?'Remus sounded surprised by this, and it shocked me for a moment. He was one of Sirius's best friends, wouldn't he have known?

'No, he never told me. You'd think that would be something I'd find out after being together for over a year.' I leaned back in the chair and shrugged. 'He was, right? That's why this is happening to Grace, right?'

He nodded, 'sometimes magical children can be born to non-magical parents. But with him being a wizard, it added to it.'

'That's just…' I shook my head, unsure of how to finish my sentence. It honestly surprised me that he didn't tell me about this. After a year of being together…

'She'll be well taken care of. You've got nothing to worry about.' Remus smiled reassuringly at me, obviously knowing how worried I was. 'Krista, I promise.'

'I'm sure she will be. But you'll have to forgive me for being nervous.' I smiled apologetically before standing. 'Here, I'll show you to the door.' We walked around the sofa and I opened the door. 'Thank you.'

'I didn't do a thing.'

'Yes, you did. You've reassured both Grace and me, and helped us get used to the idea. You always were my favourite of Sirius friends, well, after James.' At the mention of his name, Remus' face dropped slightly. My heart ached at the thought of him, and I bit my lip in the now awkward atmosphere.

'Don't worry. Now, what date would be good to go shopping? I would like to take you myself, unless you'd rather go alone with Grace?'

'No! I'd much rather go with you. We're going on holiday next week, but will be back by the 18th. Does the 20th sound good? That way we'll get unpacked and settled again before shopping.'

'The 20th is perfect. Well, I'll see you then. It was nice to see you again, Krista.'

'It was nice to see you, too.' I gave him a quick hug before shutting the door behind him. Leaning against it, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

Sirius was a wizard. Why didn't he tell me?

AN: Oh my goodness! I have never received 14 reviews on one chapter! Thank you so much to: HPDH213426, grumpypirate, fRANkiEGirL61, ., thecompletebookworm, Saffygirl, AllenPitt, the_werewolf_gal, ILuvOdie, LadyStrider17, PureAngelEyes, brunette-in-black, Bri P., ktmt1120 for reviewing the previous chapter. I appreciate it more than you can even imagine! I will try to post a new chapter at least once a week, maybe twice if I'm far enough ahead.

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