After the Rain

Chapter 6

Light Words and Insecurities

When Sara passed away in his hands, Remus Lupin did not think he would be able to live past her. Months after she'd been buried in the small family plot, as one of his own, he continued to wallow in the despair that haunted his every thought. He was ravaged - for the first time in his life he had known what it felt like to be in love and to be loved in return. She had appeared out of no where one morning in his seventh year at Hogwarts, and the moment he had seen her, she had enchanted him. She was beautiful - her eyes were captivating, her bright golden hair had flowed down her back in silky waves, she had held more grace than he thought possible for any human - but that wasn't the reason she had captured his attentions. He had loved her because she was willing to overlook the fact that he was a werewolf, something he'd never known anyone to do. True, his three best friends had not held it against him either, but they had only found out years after knowing him. She had known it from the start - and not cared.

Now, so many years after the wound had closed up, Remus was once again faced with her, and the old scar was ripped violently open, revealing a hurt he had thought he would never have to experience again. It was not her in the literal sense, of course, but her face peered out at him from the boy who stood before him.

"Dad?" he asked hoarsely, obviously nervous.

"Can it be?" Remus whispered, staring at the boy as if he were seeing things.

He didn't say anything, just swallowed thickly and walked around the desk toward him cautiously.

Slowly, Remus brought a hand up to the familiar yet alien face and touched his fingers to the boy's cheek. "Alexander James."

"Yes," Alex said hesitantly, unsure what he was supposed to do now.

Remus smiled faintly. "She told me she was going to name you that. I told her not to, but she wouldn't listen." There was no mistaking who the "she" he was talking about was.

"Why not?" Alex asked softly.

"Because I didn't want you named after me or her father. I thought it was awful, naming a kid after his family. It was like he wasn't allowed to have an identity of his own, just his father's. It doesn't seem so horrible now though," he added softly.

"But your name is Remus..."

"James is my middle name, Alexander was your grandfather's name."

They stared at each other for a long time, both trying to figure out the other. How much time passed this way, neither could say. Then, suddenly, as if he'd been waiting to do it the entire time, Remus pulled Alex forward and embraced him in a rib-crushing hug. "My son," he whispered over and over again, smiling at the words he had longed to speak for so long.

~

"You look so much like her," Remus marveled, shaking his head and smiling. He couldn't seem to stop smiling.

"Really? What was she like?" Alex asked hungrily, happiness breaking over him like a wave every moment he spent with the man in front of him. His father, not just a man, he reminded himself dazedly.

"She was amazing," Remus said simply, still smiling. "She was utterly beautiful. She had this long mane of gorgeous blonde hair that tumbled all the way down her back in shimmering waves. I didn't normally go for blondes, but her hair was that rare shade that reminds you of sunlight and champagne. She had these amazing eyes - which you got partly - that could entrance you. They always seemed so animate, so full of life and laughter. That was another thing I loved about her - her laugh. It was so clear and bubbly. She laughed often too; she had a great sense of humor. That's what Sirius liked so much about her. They were right chums, they were, from the start, and together they were as dangerous as hydrogen gas and a lit match. They were always doing something they shouldn't have. James liked her too, but at that point he was so wrapped up in Lily he didn't spend much time with her. We were quite the group though, when together. There were James and Sirius, the best friends Hogwarts had ever seen, and Lily and Sara who were equally close, and James and Lily, who were so in love at that point, and of course, little Peter, who was so full of innocent envy and awe for the friends he had managed to surround himself with."

Alex soaked up every word. "It sounds perfect," he said.

"It was. We all graduated, and started our lives with so much care. Lily and James were married as soon as seventh year ended and bought a house in Godric Hollow, not very far from the house your mother and I were living in. Sirius rented a flat in London, but he usually ended up staying at our respective homes more often than his own. I don't think he liked being away from all his friends, to tell you the truth. Peter was ever present, always bringing Lily lilies and Sara a book of poetry or the like, being enamored of them both but knowing he couldn't have either one, and just being content with being their friend. Lily became pregnant and I'd never seen James so happy. Nine months later, Harry was born. A month later, almost exactly, Sara was gone." His voice, which had been so happy up until then, held a note of sadness as he said this. "And things went downhill from there. Peter become more withdrawn, dropping by less often and being far less friendly then he had been before when he did. Lily and James had to go into hiding, and only a few months after Harry's first birthday, they were murdered, their last act a desperate attempt at protecting their son. Sirius went after Peter, knowing finally what he had been up to and what he had done. At the very last moment, you have to understand, he had insisted they choose Peter as their Secret Keeper instead of him, thinking he would be too obvious a choice. He was sent to Azkaban for Peter's crimes and Peter escaped, naught to be seen for twelve years. Everything came crashing to a halt."

Alex gave him a horrified look. "Paradise lost," he said solemnly.

"Exactly. But let's not talk about this dismal nonsense, alright?" he smiled again. "Tell me about your life."

Alex smiled slightly. "Well, where do I start?"

"Well, how about starting with your friends. Was that them, the two that were with Dumbledore? I didn't take much notice of them at the time, but now that I think about it, I didn't recognize either of them."

"Yes, those were my friends. My only two friends, to tell you the truth." He didn't notice the sad look Remus gave him. "But they're great, they really are. The girl is Cass, and she, I dunno. She's just Cass. Not much more you can say about her," Alex said, chuckling.

Remus raised his eyebrows at his son. "Well, let me put it to you this way. This morning, when looking through her new spell book, she decided to try and turn my hair red. The only thing she managed to do, however, was turn my skin green and give me four extra arms. She thought it was the funniest thing she'd ever seen." Remus laughed.

"I think I see what you mean. What about the other one?"

"Oh, that's Cary. He's my best friend and Cass's twin brother. He balances her, rather remarkably, actually; she's fiery and curious and full of life, and he hides himself behind locked doors and buries himself in books and knowledge. He's calm, she's turbulent. It's funny, actually, how different they are when they came out of the same womb at the same time. They're both really kind, though."

"He sounds like a good person. They both sound like good people."

"He is. They are. I couldn't wish for better friends." Alex smiled up at Remus. "My life's not very exciting, I'm afraid. I go to school, I get satisfactory grades, I have friends, if not many. I do occasionally get into a fight, but not very often."

"You get into fights?" Remus asked, looking worried.

"Yeah," Alex said tersely. "Where we come from, not very many people are born with full Wizarding power. Actually, I'm the only one and you can see why. People are afraid of me, and occasionally there'll be a brave fool who will start trying to ridicule me about my lack of a family or understanding of what I am."

"People treat what they do not understand with hate and fear," Remus said wisely, a knowing look on his face.

Alex was quiet for a moment. "So, am I supposed to call you Dad now, or what?"

Remus smiled broadly. "I would be greatly honored if you called me your dad."

Alex nodded. "Alright. Dad," he added, almost shyly. Alex hugged him again, suddenly very glad he had found someone he could embrace like this. "I'm glad I've finally gotten to meet you."

Remus hugged him back, slightly startled at the tone of insecurity in Alex's voice. For all of his light words, Remus seriously doubted if his newly found son's life was as simple as he said. In fact, he doubted any part of it was. He would definitely have to rectify that.

~

"Holy Circe, has it really been two hours?" Remus asked, surprised as he looked at Dumbledore's clock, which ticked softly on the wall. He grinned. They'd spent the entire time talking.

"Has it?" Alex asked, tuning around to look at the clock. "Wow, it has."

"Dumbledore told me he wanted to show me something in his office, and promptly closed the door as soon as I was in. I see what he was up to now. Perhaps we'd better go make sure he's not up to any more mischief?"

Alex grinned, catching Remus off guard. That was her grin, he noticed, feeling a slight tug at his heartstrings.

"Yeah, okay. Let's go." Why was he looking at him like that? "What?" he asked.

"You have her grin," Remus said softly, smiling at a distant memory of a girl with long blonde hair who smiled to herself as she chased after fireflies.

Alex smiled again, wondering what Remus was thinking about, noting the far-away look in his eyes. "Are you coming?"

"Yes, yes, I'm coming," he said, the memory fading as he was pulled out of his reverie. He picked up his wand and followed his son out the door of the office. No one was outside in the hallway.

"Where could they have gotten off to?"

"Where are you staying?" Remus asked.

"Some guest tower in the west wing."

"Ah, yes, Rowena's Tower," Remus replied. "They're probably there then. Waiting for us, no doubt."

Remus started walking the way Alex had come from, Alex walking beside him. Somewhere along the way, he put his arm loosely around Alex's shoulders, and Alex smiled contentedly. This was wonderful.

~

As soon as Ginny left the classroom, she knew she was doomed. There was Bethany, walking toward her from the left, Dean from the right, and Courtney straight ahead. She would never get out alive. Courtney alone would make sure of that.

Looking left and right, she finally made a mad dash to the right, running past Dean at breakneck speed toward the Great Hall. When in trouble, go to the Great Hall, had always been her philosophy. Especially if it was mealtime.

Unfortunately, that was also Dean and Courtney's motto, and Bethany was easier killed than put off, and she wasn't dead yet.

"Ginny, what the hell is going on?"

"Are you going to avoid me all day or tell me what went on last night?"

"Gin, are you going to give me your Potions or what?"

Ginny drew a bottle out of her bag and downed the blue liquid, the headache that was forming between her eyes magically disappearing. Oh, but she did love her mother's headache remedy.

She finally looked up and into the faces of her attackers. Brown, brown, and brown, their eyes were all the same, yet infinitely different.

"Here Bethany," she said, slipping a roll of parchment out of her rucksack and handing it to the tall girl who was tapping her foot impatiently.

"Thanks," she said briskly, making her way out the doors of the Great Hall toward the Library.

"Sit down," she told the two who were left. They obeyed, looking at each other quizzically.

"What's Thomas doing here?" Courtney asked, only curious.

"I imagine he was sent to me by Harry who hates explaining anything to anyone." She raised an eyebrow. "Am I right?"

"As always," Dean said, sniggering slightly.

"Alright, what do you want to know?" Ginny spooned some potatoes onto her plate.

"Who are they?" they asked simultaneously. Then they laughed.

"Alex Browning and Cass and Cary Stratton."

"Gee Ms. Salt, who tipped you over?" Courtney asked sarcastically.

"Well, what do you want me to say? I can't explain it!"

"Then tell me," Dean said, "why it is they're definitely English, but don't go to school at the only Wizarding school in Britain, which can only be found by wizards."

Ginny smirked, then dropped the bomb. "Because one of the three is a wizard. At least, only one's a wizard in the conventional sense."

They both stared.

For the next ten minutes, Ginny told her two best friends about the three visitors, her potatoes long forgotten.

"Lupin is this Alex character's father?"

"Yep," Ginny said, nodding. Looking finally at her potatoes, she made a face. "I don't believe I shall be eating these. Nothing worse than cold mashed potatoes."

"Oh, I dunno. Flat Coca-Cola's pretty bad," Dean remarked, looking thoughtful.

"Huh?" Courtney and Ginny asked him at the same time.

"Nothing, never mind..."

"Anyway, Ginny, are you sure the girl's a Seer? I didn't actually think there was such a thing," Courtney said, getting the conversation back on track.

"That's what Dumbledore said."

"You know, I heard Harry and Ron talking last night. I wasn't listening very closely, and they were talking quietly, but I distinctly heard something about fate said. I suppose they were talking about the three?" Dean said thoughtfully.

But Ginny didn't respond at all. She was staring at the doors, disbelievingly. "What are they doing here?"

~

"It has come to my attention, Mister and Miss Stratton, that your presence will make itself known whether I like it or not, this being Hogwarts after all. It is Professor Snape's suggestion that you three attend classes as regular students, eating in the Great Hall at meal times and behaving as if you really went to school here. It would not be hard, you would just have to tell everyone you studied under a private tutor in London until now, when he decided that having you attend a regular school for a semester would do you good. What do you think?" Dumbledore asked them, as they sat in the living room of the Tower.

"You mean we could actually go to school here?" Cass asked excitedly.

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Dumbledore said, nodding. "You would not start until after the winter holidays, of course, but as to how long you will stay, I could not tell you."

"Would we get sorted into Houses?"

"Certainly. We would have to know what classes you were scheduled with, because it's it sorted by House, you see. Although, I do believe it would be best if you continued living here. You are still not, technically students, so staying in the guest quarters would be best. Besides, if what my intuition is true, that would at least have you three living together." Dumbledore tapped his fingertips together.

"What do you mean by that?" Cary asked, speaking for the first time during the entire conversation.

Dumbledore looked at him sharply. "Am I right, Mister Stratton, when I say that the three of you are the closest of friends?"

"Well, yes. Very close."

"Just because you are close dose not mean you are exactly alike. In fact, quite the opposite. What you have to understand, Master Cary, is that the four Houses of Hogwarts are differentiated by what qualities they most admire. Have you three noticed the window?" he asked, pointing upward.

"Yes," Cass said slowly.

"The four people in that picture are the four founders of Hogwarts: Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Godric Gryffindor. The four Houses are named for them. Gryffindor most valued bravery, when he taught at this school. His House reflects that. Hufflepuff loyalty, Ravenclaw cleverness, and Slytherin ambition, each respectively. Mister Potter is a Gryffindor, and one of the finest examples of one I've ever seen. Mister Malfoy is also, respectively, a good model of what a Slytherin is supposed to represent. Miss Wirth, which you met briefly last night, is the cleverest witch in her year, and is, of course, a Ravenclaw. My point is that each of you exemplifies different attributes. I have no doubt you will each be sorted into a different House."

For the first time all morning, Cass looked slightly put out. "You mean, we won't be in classes together?"

"Not necessarily, Miss Stratton. Most of the time, two Houses will be put together for lessons." Cass cheered up slightly.

"What classes will we be taking, Professor?" Cary asked, showing a bit of interest.

"I shall give each of you a list, with a description of each. You will each be required to take Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, History of Magic, Herbology, and Astronomy, which are core classes, but the rest is up to you. Except for you, Cassandra, you shall be required to take Divination as well."

"What?" she shrieked. "You mean I have to take more classes than Alex or my brother? How is that fair? Cary's the overachiever when it comes to school, not me!" "Calm down, Miss Stratton, it is nothing to yell about. The only reason for it are your special abilities. You shall also be required to take extra lessons from Professor Trelawney and Firenze in the evenings twice a week."

She looked even more upset, but didn't scream any more, opting to just mutter about the unfairness of it all under her breath.

"Professor," Cary said slowly, trying to figure something out.

"Yes?"

"Are we going to be put into classes of our age? I mean, we haven't had any training in this before..."

"You are correct, Mister Browning, but because you are different than the rest of the students, you shall not have to start from the beginning. I do expect, however, you both to read certain textbooks before the start of term. I am afraid it is the only way you shall get anything out of Potions or Herbology." He looked apologetic.

"What about Alex?" Cary asked.

"Do not worry about Mr. Browning," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling. "I shall take care of that. However, speaking of Mr. Browning, I wonder where he and Professor Lupin are?"

At that precise moment, Alex and an older man chose to make their appearance, entering through the door and obviously enjoying each other's company, as the man had his arm loosely around Alex's shoulders and they were both laughing. Evidently, this was Remus Lupin.

Cary looked at the headmaster, marveling at the old man's timing. To his surprise, Dumbledore was looking back. He also noted that his azure eyes were sparkling mischievously.

Alex cleared his throat and stepped forward, looking at his best friends. "Cass, Cary, erm... I'd like to introduce you to my...father," he said, his voice still husky. A grin broke out on his face as Cary leapt forward and after a moment of awkwardness, shook the older man's hand.

Cass was more hesitant, stepping up behind her brother with somewhat cat-like movements. She stared at Lupin for a few minutes calculatingly, then smiled a little when he saw him begin to get uncomfortable. "Pleased to meet you, Mister Lupin," she said pleasantly, as if she hadn't just been looking at him as a lumberjack does a tree.

"Don't bother with the formality, please, it's just Remus," he said, smiling back. "Does she do that to everyone?" he muttered to Alex nervously.

"She's just testing you, relax. She thinks it frightens people."

Remus chose not to add that it did.

"Remus," Dumbledore said, rising from the couch gracefully. "I take it you and Alexander have met then?"

"You always were good at understating things, Albus," Remus said, laughing lightly. "Headmaster, Alex says we're to go to Diagon Alley?"

"Yes, Remus, I'm afraid so. He needs a wand. However, I think I should explain the new arrangement."

At this, Cass clapped her hands together excitedly. "Alex, we're going to get to actually go to classes!"

"What?"

"Dumbledore said we'd better just go to regular classes, since it'll never remain a secret otherwise and it would be far worse if they found out about us that way." Cass grinned.

Alex stared disbelievingly at her. "Since when have you been excited about classes?"

"Since for once the classes won't be to educate us on how incredibly boring Shakespeare was."

Cary looked offended. "Shakespeare was brilliant."

"Yeah, brilliantly boring," Cass said, rolling her eyes.

"I just wish a copy of Othello had somehow survived the War," Cary said sadly, ignoring his sister. "It was said to have been his best, and I'll never get to read it."

Cass looked disgusted. "Honestly Cary, who cares?"

But Cary wasn't paying attention. He was staring in disbelief at the book being held out to him by Lupin. "Othello..." he said with awe. "How...?"

Lupin pointed to the bookshelf on the side of the room. "It was over there," he said simply, shrugging, trying to act nonchalant but obviously pleased. Alex smiled at the brilliant tactic his father had just used.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Alexander, there are some things we need to discuss."

"Like what?"

"Well, to begin with, here." He handed Alex a slip of parchment.

"What's this?"

"It's a list of what you shall be shopping for in Diagon Alley. I will not be going with you, but your father shall be. There are some things you will be getting for Cassandra and Cary too however, which are marked accordingly. To pay for all of it, you'll need this." He then handed him a small bag that jingled. At this, however, Lupin stepped forward.

"Albus, I'll pay for his things," he said, the tone of his voice suggesting no argument.

"Of course, Remus," Dumbledore said politely. "The money is simply for Cary and Cassandra's things." His eyes sparkled mysteriously. "Oh, and Alexander, one more thing."

"What is it?"

"Do you know what an American accent sounds like?"

"Yes...why?" Alex gave him a puzzled look.

"Okay, now close your eyes and concentrate on it," Dumbledore said, ignoring is question.

"Why?"

"Just do as he says, Alex," Remus murmured, knowing Dumbledore would only be doing whatever he was doing if he had to.

Alex reluctantly shut his eyes. Dumbledore raised his hand, which now had his wand clasped in it, and murmured, "Alius vox vocis."

Slowly, Alex opened his eyes again. "What was that?" he asked, his voice now holding no trace of his old accent. His eyes widened.

"What did you do?" Cary asked curiously.

"It's a simple accent charm, which will only last for six hours. The point of it, you three, is that no one, absolutely no one, is to know who you really are or where you came from. From now on, in fact, you will be known as Cassandra and Cary Lennox, and Alexander Grey. Mister Browning--or rather, Mister Grey--,when you are in Diagon Alley today, you'll have to pretend to be Professor Lupin's nephew from America that's come for a holiday visit. Do you understand?" He looked at the three, his expression grave.

"Yes, sir," mumbled three voices--one American, two British--at the same time.

"Good," Dumbledore said, clapping his hands together. "Now, there are still some things I need to discuss with you three. First of all, ground rules. Alexander, as mentioned before, you shall be attending regular classes, and as such, you will be required to take Potions, Herbology, Astronomy, Transfiguration, Charms, and History of Magic. You may choose the rest. In the fashion of regular student, you each shall be sorted into Houses, and attend classes with your House. You will eat meals in the Great Hall, and will basically put on the role of being temporary students, except that you will continue living here, in what is known to few as Rowena's Tower. If anyone asks, you studied under a tutor in London by the name of Philip von Neida. He decided it would be a good idea for you to study in a regular school for a semester, and as the only Wizarding school in Britain, you were sent here. With such a story, of course, you shall have to pretend you are, well, fairly well off--"

"Oh, well, that'll be easy," Cass said, interrupting. "We're the richest kids in our class at home. Actually, we're the richest kids in the school."

Dumbledore's eyes sparkled amusedly. "Of course, Cassandra. Well, as I was saying, you shall have to act well off, and you'll find that there are entire wardrobes of well fitting high-end clothes in your rooms. You will be subject to the same rules as everyone else as well, don't even begin to think you'll receive any kind of special treatment. The Forbidden Forest on the edge of the grounds is at all times forbidden, hence its name, magic in the corridors is not permitted, and of course, no students except those you met last night are allowed in the Tower, and then only in the sitting room and kitchen. Only select members of the staff will know who you really are and what your real stories are, so be careful with whom you are candid. Professor McGonagall will know, as will Professor Flitwick, Hagrid, Madam Trelawney, Firenze, and of course, Professor Lupin. No others will know and shouldn't, understood? Oh, and one more thing. Alexander, if anyone notices the resemblance between you and Professor Lupin, you are to tell them that he is a distant cousin. You are never to refer to him as anything other than 'Professor Lupin' when there is any chance at all that someone might overhear you. All right?"

Alex nodded.

Cass said, "Those clothes are all really ours?"

"Yes, Miss Stratton, as long as they fit." Dumbledore smiled.

"Hey, that's Miss Lennox to you, Headmaster."

"Yes, yes, of course. Now, we need to head down to the Great Hall so I can formally introduce you to the rest of the school. It's not the ideal time, but it's what we have, so we shall have to work with it. We need to stop by my office on the way down, so I can fetch the Sorting Hat as well. Alexander, I'm sorry about the inconvenience, but you'll have to put on a British accent until after the meal, when you and Professor Lupin leave for Diagon Alley."

"Wait, we're being sorted now?" Alex asked, slightly shocked.

"Well, yes, I'm afraid we don't have much of a choice." Dumbledore looked apologetic.

"If you say so," Alex muttered, frowning.

"Oh, and I forgot to mention," Dumbledore said, pausing and turning around, "that we will be having a Yule Ball in a few days. You don't have to go, of course, but there are a few pairs of dress robes in your respective closets if you decide to."

Cary and Alex sent each other dark looks. "Great, dancing," they muttered in unison. It didn't matter what Dumbledore said now, Cass herself would make sure they both went. And they both hated dancing.

~

"What are they doing here?"

Ginny watched in amazement as Dumbledore walked in the door to the Great Hall, followed by Professor Lupin, Cass, Cary, and Alex, the latter two looking more than a little wary. Cass however, looked considerably unperturbed.

"Hi Harry," she chirped cheerfully as they passed the Gryffindor table.

Harry just stared back. Apparently, he was as clueless about the new arrangement as she was.

"Hi Draco," she chirped the same way, as they passed the Slytherin table.

Ginny saw Blaise Zabini lean over and whisper something in Draco's ear, presumably asking who the hell she was. Draco whispered something tersely back. At that moment, Dumbledore started speaking, and Ginny turned her attention from Draco to the Headmaster, who was standing in the center of the floor in front of the four tables.

"Students, if I may have your attention for a few moments," Dumbledore said loudly, looking patiently out on the sea of students.

Slowly, the talking died away and Dumbledore cleared his throat. Ginny watched as people from every House craned their necks, trying to see who was with the headmaster. Lupin, she noticed, had taken his seat at the Staff Table.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my immense pleasure to introduce to you Cary and Cassandra Lennox, and Alexander Grey, who will be studying here for a semester. They will be sixth years, starting the end of the holidays. If you'll give them your attention, please, they need to be sorted. Please remember to be courteous to them at all times, they are our guests."

"What the f--" Ginny began, as she heard the names Dumbledore said. Dean clapped a hand over her mouth before she could let loose the foul word.

"Ask questions later, Gin," he murmured, always the calm one.

She nodded slightly and Dean let his hand drop.

In front of them, Dumbledore had set the Sorting Hat on a wooden stool and was stepping back. "Cassandra Lennox," he called out, giving her a pointed look.

Slowly, she stepped forward, no longer looking cheerful. Now she looked terrified.

~

Never had Cass had the experience of having so many eyes peering at her. She was suddenly glad.

Looking around, trying to calm her quivering nerves, her eyes settled on a banner of a golden lion on a scarlet background. She remembered it, from the night before when she had met Dumbledore in his office, ahead of the others. She still thought it was beautiful. Focusing on it, she felt herself calming down slightly and she walked forward and put the hat on her head, sitting down on the stool. Instantly, the banner disappeared and was replaced with darkness. The hat was too big.

"My, my, this is an interesting situation, isn't it? Never before have I been taken out in the middle of the year. Ah, but I see why...yes, yes I do..." The voice made her jump, but she calmed down when she realized it was the hat who was talking, a little voice speaking in her ear.

"So, let's see. I suppose I should put you somewhere, but the question is where. There's bravery, I see, lots of it. You'd do well in Gryffindor I can see, but somehow, I don't think that's where you're supposed to go. I could put you in Hufflepuff, you're plenty loyal, but I do think that would be an even worse choice than old Godric's House. You have a good mind too, I can see that. And you're plenty ambitious, oh yes, very ambitious, aren't we? You're always being overshadowed by your twin brother and you have an unquenchable thirst to prove you're as smart and talented as he, am I right?"

Yes, unfortunately, every bit of it is true, she thought.

"Oh! And honest too, now aren't we quite the character? You know, I cannot believe how many people insist on denying things to me, when I can see inside their head. Maybe Gryffindor wouldn't be that bad of a choice... well, girl, what will it be? Any preferences?"

Not really.

"And indecisive to boot. You know, usually it's easy to place someone, even if they fit the description of every house. Do you know why? Because they want to be placed somewhere specific. Ah, well, if you don't really care...then I suppose it had better be SLYTHERIN!"

Cass lifted the hat from her head and smiled as she saw the table to the left clapping loudly. She spotted Draco and sunk down in the seat next to him. "That was the most frightening experience of my life," she laughed.

Draco smirked back.

Looking back up at the floor, Cary now had the hat on. It only took a second for the hat to scream, "RAVENCLAW!"

Cass felt a twinge of sadness as she watched her brother sit down at the table next to hers.

Alex put the hat on and sat down. A moment later, it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" and Cass watched as Alex sat down next to Ginny. He looked up and instantly their eyes met. He smiled hesitantly.

She looked in Cary's direction and found him already looking at her. Slowly, he mouthed something, and gave her a sad look. Instantly, she knew what he was saying. After sixteen years of being twins, she could read his lips under any circumstances, and this time wasn't any exception: Dumbledore was right, they were being split up.

~

The meal passed quickly enough, a blur of Shepard's pie (which was even better than Cass's) and infinite questions of the ordinary sort: Where are you from? What's your name again? Where did you go to school before now? Although, "Are you married to that girl that's with you?" was a new one.

It was a new experience, mingling with people that would have been dead under any other circumstances. He asked them about the professors, the classes (while trying to sound nonchalant), even learned a few names. But Cary did have to admit, he was relieved when Dumbledore came over and fetched him away.

"Mister Lennox, I would like to have a word with you." It took a few seconds for Cary to register that it was him the headmaster was taking to.

Nodding briefly at his sister, who looked like she was having fun talking animatedly to Malfoy and someone else he didn't recognize, he followed Dumbledore out of the Great Hall and up several flights of stairs, finally stopping outside his office. Cary fiddled with the collar of his sweater, which he had flung over his arm.

"Cary, I asked you up here because I need to talk to you about something important," Dumbledore said as he settled into the high-backed chair behind his desk. Cary sat down in the chair facing him. "Do you have that book still?"

"You mean this one?" Cary brought out the book he'd found in the library at home, which he'd been keeping in his trouser pocket since it wasn't very big. It was amazing how long it felt since he'd found it.

"Yes, that one. May I see it?" Dumbledore asked, looking over his half-moon spectacles at Cary.

"Yes, of course." Cary handed it over.

"Mister Lennox," Dumbledore said, putting particular emphasis on the last word, "do you know what this book is?"

"It's a compilation of all the prophesies made in the last millennium. Or, the last millennium from our point in--oh my god!" Cary stood up abruptly and took the book from Dumbledore's hands, flipping to the last page he'd read. "Sybil Trelawney," he breathed. "Tell me I didn't just meet her. Tell me I'm mistaken and that this prophesy is not about us." He looked up at Dumbledore pleadingly, the meaning of that page and it's contents suddenly infinitely clearer.

Dumbledore simply rested the bridge of his nose against his steepled fingers.

Cary sank down in his seat slowly.

"Cary, that book of yours is incredibly inaccurate. The prophesy printed in there isn't even close to the real prediction Madam Trelawney--yes, our Madam Trelawney--made several years ago. But I will not disclose what that particular prophesy actually said to you. Just know that the one in that book is unimaginably wrong." Dumbledore looked at him solemnly.

Cary's shoulder's sagged slightly with relief, but a little voice was still hissing at him from the back of his mind, and he knew it was right. Something was wrong here, something Dumbledore wasn't saying.

"Cary, I want you to tell me something. You know what lies in Mister Potter and the rest's future, correct?"

"Yes," Cary said slowly, knowing what Dumbledore was about to ask of him.

"Then I want you to tell me what happens to them."

~

"Sir, with all due respect, I'm really not sure how to tell you that..."

"Just start with Harry Potter. Take as much time as you need."

Cary stared at his hands. How do you tell someone the fate of a person they care about? "During Harry Potter's seventh year at Hogwarts, the Great War escalated to an unimaginable amount of terror and chaos. People were being killed, controlled, and even more so, they were disappearing. I could name for you every single horrible thing that happened that year, but I won't, because it'll both take to long and horrify you besides which. Finally, in May of that year, Harry Potter had a final accounting with Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter came out the victor, defeating Voldemort permanently. A week after that, though, he was murdered by a vengeful Lucius Malfoy. He never even finished his seventh year." He looked up, aware that his voice had sounded hollow even to his own ears. It was a cruel truth he had been trying to avoid for the past twelve hours, but he was sure that he shouldn't tell anyone here about it. About it, or any of the rest of it either. Cass was simply ignoring it, he knew that, but he wasn't sure about Alex. He was never sure about Alex.

Dumbledore had not moved. "And Draco Malfoy?" he asked tonelessly, still looking at his steepled hands.

Cary sighed. "He was supposed to be the key person in the plot to kill Harry Potter. In fact, the entire plan revolved around him, as history tells it, but at the very last minute he backed out, though no one knows why, and because of it, the plan almost failed. It would have, in fact, if not for one factor: the fact that Lucius Malfoy was hell-bent on exacting revenge for his master. Draco Malfoy backed out of the plan and disappeared, naught to be seen ever again. In fact, they still don't know what happened to him. Or, well, in my...you know what I mean."

Again, Dumbledore continued to stare at his hands. Cary looked at them too. They were old, possibly the only external indication on the old man's body just how old his hands really were, with very translucent skin that was freckled and scarred with age. The veins were sticking out, but somehow, they still looked strong. "I see," he said quietly, not moving. "What happened to Hermione Granger?"

Again, Cary sighed. "She was the one who actually figured out the way to defeat Voldemort. She read through the entire Hogwarts library her sixth and seventh years, and finally cross referenced the right books, finding the one and only way to kill someone who has long since ceased to be human. If not for her, we might still be fighting the War. After she graduated, she married Ron Weasley and entered the Ministry of Magic. Their only child was named Harry, and she would have probably been named Minister of Magic in only a few short years if not for the fact that she was clinically insane long before she ever had a chance at it."

"Ron Weasley?"

"Suicide, when little Harry was only about four years old."

"Ginny Weasley?"

"Gave up her life for the liberation of the Wizarding World. The method Hermione Granger came up with for killing the Dark Lord involved the voluntary sacrifice of another human, and Ginny agreed to be the one. To this day, there is no evidence of why."

"Is there anything known about Dean Thomas?"

"The painter?" It took Cary a few seconds for him to register the connection. "Yes, yes, of course, Dean Thomas. He was a painter who tragically didn't manage to sell any of his work until well after his death. His most brilliant works were created after he locked himself in a room for a year upon hearing the news of Harry Potter's death. Sadly, he died fifty years later with nothing to show for what he did with his life."

"Courtney Wirth?"

"That name is only briefly mentioned in the history books, and only then as an example of what the War did to people. She disappeared not long after her sixth year at Hogwarts. The theory is she was in love with Harry Potter, but nothing can be proved."

Dumbledore said nothing. Finally, he leaned back in his chair and looked Cary in the eye. "Mister Lennox, I want you to forget everything you just told me. Put it from your mind as best you can, for I promise you, you will not need it. None of what you just told me is true anymore, you have to understand. Oh, I'm sure it was when you still lived in your present, but you three have been sent back for a purpose, and there is no mistaking what that purpose was: to change those fates you just recited. Those futures will not happen anymore, so forget about them for now. It will simply drive you mad thinking about them anyway." His eyes sparkled with truth, and as Cary looked into them, he realized the headmaster was being honest, not just trying to calm him down.

"Of course, sir," Cary replied, knowing he would not be able to forget anything, but be satisfied with the knowledge that it was now incorrect information.

"Oh, and one more thing, Mister Lennox," Dumbledore said, now staring at the fire that was going in the grate.

"Yes, Headmaster?"

"That book of yours. You understand how dangerous that information is in this period of time, right?" Still Dumbledore stared at the fire, the flames creating moving shadows on his aged face.

"Of course sir. How could I not?"

"Then you will understand why it is I do this." He picked the book up off the desk and closed it gently, looking at the cover briefly before he tossed it into the flames.

Cary did not respond. In truth, he'd been expecting it for some time now and was slightly glad it was gone. "Thank you, sir," he murmured as he picked his sweater up from the arm of the chair he'd been sitting in and walked towards the door.

He was glad he'd had his talk with Dumbledore, it had helped to soothe a lot of misgivings he'd had before. Indeed, only twelve hours of brooding over the thought of what was to happen to the people had just met had been horrible. He was unbelievably grateful to the Headmaster for what he'd said.

It caused him to wonder, however, when Cary watches a tear roll down the headmaster's cheek as he closed the door to the office behind him.

~

It had been an interesting experience to Draco, watching someone his age get sorted. Of course, it had even been slightly funny, in a really sadistic sort of way, seeing her face pale from fear as she realized everyone's eyes were on her. Then again, that was probably just Draco's sick sense of humor.

She sat down next to him, sighing with relief. "That was the most frightening experience of my life," she said, laughing. She had obviously forgotten that'd he'd snapped at her earlier. He was glad, it meant he didn't have to apologize.

Draco smirked, looking at her face. Now that he had a chance to look at her closely, he realized she didn't look exactly like the girl from his dreams. It was still the same person, obviously, but there were small differences. There were a few blemishes on her face, not horrible ones, just a few small ones on her nose and along her hairline. She had freckles, too, whereas the girl in his dreams had had flawless skin that was perfectly pale. She slouched, as opposed to the perfect posture her subliminal twin had had, and her hands, were different as well, though he couldn't name why. In other words, Draco thought, she's human.

The biggest difference he noticed, however, was her laugh. It had been too perfect in his dreams. Now it was more real, with less of a surrealistic quality to it. He liked her laugh though, he noticed. It was rich and clear and highly contagious.

"You know, if you paint a picture, you can at least hang it up in your room," came a slightly mocking voice, interrupting his thoughts.

"Except that it'd give me a perfectly good target for playing darts, and my mother doesn't like holes in the walls," Draco replied coolly, directing his attention back to the piece of Shepard's pie on his plate.

"Oh, well don't I feel special. You'd rather use me than Harry Potter," she shot back, grinning for all her sarcastic words.

"So you noticed that, huh?" Draco asked, amused.

"Noticed what? That you hate each other? How could I not? It's not exactly hard to spot."

Draco sniggered. "True enough, I suppose. So, what did the Sorting Hat say to you?" he asked conversationally.

"Probably that Draco Malfoy has the worst manners money can afford," came an exasperated voice from Draco's other side. "Honestly Malfoy, were you planning on introducing her to anyone besides your overly-inflated ego?"

Cass sniggered. "Zabini, why must you always announce the fact that you're an ass?" Draco said, sighing.

"Actually, I believe I was announcing that you're an ass, not me. Though, that hardly needs announcing," Zabini added as an afterthought. "I'm Blaise Zabini, by the way," he said, leaning around Draco and holding out his hand. When Cass did the same, he simply touched his lips to the back of her hand. "Now, how is it that someone as obviously intelligent as you came to know this oaf?" He gestured toward Malfoy.

Cass giggled. Zabini was a thin boy, with olive skin and dark, curly hair, which Cass all found not unattractive. However, she did not know how to answer his question.

"The Lennox family has been friends of the Malfoy's for decades," Draco cut in smoothly, noticing Cass's predicament.

"Oh, really?" Zabini said. "Why haven't you ever attended any of the Malfoy functions, then? I swear, I've never seen you before."

Cass took it from Draco. "My parents are always traveling on business, and we grew up studying under a private tutor in London. We've just never really left London. This year, he thought it would be a good idea for us to have a semester at regular Wizarding School, so we'll be here until the end of the year." She made a quick mental note to tell Cary the new developments on their "family background".

"I see," Zabini said. "What about the other two? Who are they?"

"The one that went into Ravenclaw was my twin brother, Cary. The other one was Alex, a friend who lives with his uncle. The uncle is never home either, so he was sent to our tutor as well." Cass pointed them out as she said this.

"I see. Well, welcome to Slytherin House, er... What did you say your name was?"

"Cass Str--Lennox."

"Alright, then welcome to Slytherin House, Cass Lennox. This is Ted Nott," he gestured to a boy across the table who had a mop of light brown hair and bright blue eyes. He looked up from the book he was reading briefly and nodded. "Pansy Parkinson," he pointed at a rather unattractive girl who had been watching her conversation with Draco and hadn't liked it, "Millicent Bulstrode," a very large girl who had a smile that was more like a grimace, "Morag MacDougal," a very lanky boy with stringy hair that simply blinked at her, "Lisabeth Moon," a small girl with sad looking hazel eyes and very dark red hair, "and Greg Goyle and Vince Crabbe," Zabini finished, pointing at two very large boys who looked more like boulders than actual humans.

"Hello," she said quietly, suddenly noticing that with the exception of Lisabeth Moon, they could all probably beat her up.

"These are all sixth years, the rest you'll meet later but shouldn't worry about for now," Zabini explained.

Just then, a very familiar looking Asian girl walked over. "Zabini, do you have my Potions book? I need it."

"This is Courtney Wirth," Zabini explained unnecessarily, ignoring her question. "She's a Ravenclaw, but she likes to think she's a Slytherin."

"Hi Cass," Courtney said, smiling for the first time and ignoring Zabini. "Are you feeling better? I was talking to your brother and he said he feels great."

"Yeah, I'm feeling a lot better," she said, feeling several sets of curious eyes fall on her simultaneously.

"That's good." Courtney smiled again. "By the way, Zabini likes to think he's a big shot, but he's not, believe me. Actually, he's a baby, and I've beaten him up repeatedly in the recent past." She smirked.

"Hey--" Zabini started to object, his cheeks going pink.

"Zabini!" Courtney suddenly snapped. "Give me my bloody book!"

"But I haven't finished with it--"

"Doesn't matter, Zabini, give it up!"

"My, but you'd think they were married, wouldn't you?" Draco asked, mock pleasantly. Cass got the impression Draco didn't exactly like Courtney much either.

"Shove it, Malfoy," Courtney snapped at him. It appeared that the feeling was mutual.

"You always were the eloquent one, weren't you?"

"Go to hell Malfoy," Courtney said icily as she walked away with her book, which Zabini had given up reluctantly.

"It's always fun ruffling Wirth's feathers," Draco said arrogantly, starting in on a slice of pecan pie.

"Why do you hate her so much?" Cass asked him.

"Because she's as arrogant as he is, no doubt," chortled Nott, who had finally emerged from the book he was reading.

"Bugger off, Nott," Draco snapped.

"What do you mean?" Cass asked him, ignoring Draco.

"Oh, just that Courtney Wirth is the only person in Hogwarts with as big of an ego as Malfoy, and it bothers him. She's not arrogant about the same things, certainly. I mean, her parents aren't rich and she's not a pureblood, but she may very well be the smartest person at Hogwarts and she knows it. Even Hermione Granger is jealous of her."

~

"So your name is Alex, right?"

"Yeah," Alex said slowly, responding to the giggling blonde sitting in front of him.

"Alex, this is Lavender Brown," Harry said, introducing her in a tone of voice that suggested she did this a lot.

"Hello," he said as politely as he could. She giggled and ran off down the table, sitting down next to another girl who she started whispering into the ear of immediately. He saw her point at him.

"Don't worry, she does that all the time. She'd do that to Goyle if he was smart enough to respond," Harry joked.

"Don't be mean, Harry," Hermione reprimanded, who felt she had to defend Lavender for the simple reason of having lived in the same room with her for six years.

"Sorry Hermione," Harry responded automatically, still smiling.

"Where's Ron?" Hermione asked Harry.

"I don't know, he said he had to do something in the library..." Alex tuned out the conversation as he looked around. He'd already been introduced to everyone, even the little first and second years that'd been too shy to say anything. Already, he felt comfortable. He would have felt at home, even, if not for the fact that his two best friends were not with him.

Almost as if it'd been timed, Cary stood up from the Ravenclaw table and followed Dumbledore out the doors. Alex got up from the table and made to follow him, but was stopped as Cass intercepted him and put a firm hand on his chest. "I don't think you should follow them, Alex."

"Why not?"

"Did Dumbledore ask to talk to you? No, he asked to talk to Cary. That's why."

"Where do you think they're going?" Alex asked, still looking at the doors through which they'd left.

Cass looked at them too. "I don't know, but for some reason, I've got a bad feeling about it," she said softly as Alex put his arm across her shoulders and squeezed.