The Muggle

Chapter 5

Blame it on the Music

"A what?" Morgan asked eyeing the blurry image inside the crystal ball.

"A Jobberknoll," repeated Lupin, "It's a very small bird that feeds on small insects. It makes no sound until the moment of its death."

"It doesn't sing at all?"

Morgan sat on Lupin's bed. Padfoot had moved towards her and placed his big snout on her lap; she absently scratched him behind the ears.

"Not a note - not until it dies, and then it gives one loud scream, and then loudly repeats just about every sound it's heard in its short life, but in reverse order."

"Backwards? So we might not understand what it's repeating, right?"

Lupin looked down at Morgan and saw his best friend making a disgrace of himself. Taking advantage of his Animagus state, he had placed his head on Morgan's lap and had unashamedly fallen asleep.

"Down, Padfoot!"

The huge dog opened one eye, then he promptly ignored Lupin and returned to dozing.

"Blasted dog," Lupin murmured, "As I was saying, there is a spell that can sort out the problem; I believe Dumbledore should know about this."

Lupin placed the crystal ball on the nightstand. "Wait here. Padfoot, come on boy, let's go."

The dog did not move. Lupin glared at his friend, as Sirius was getting out of line.

"I suppose Professor Snape was right when he said what a lazy dog you are."

Lupin said that in hope of getting his friend to behave properly, but knew he had gone too far when the huge black dog sprang from the bed and growled, baring his teeth at him.

"We'll be right back." Lupin closed the door behind him and glared down at Padfoot.

"You are impossible," Lupin said, "she will find out you know, sooner or later. Someone will tell her and she'll be as mad as hell at you - and with reason!"

The dog continued walking down the stairs ignoring him.

After sending the message to Dumbledore, Lupin returned to his room and found Morgan fast asleep on his bed. He covered her with a blanket.

"Well, I guess we'll be sleeping in her room now." Lupin exited out of the room, followed by Padfoot. From the hallway, he warded the door and they both continued down the hall to her room.

As soon as the door was closed, Sirius transformed himself.

"You are a pain in the neck, mate," he said sitting on her bed looking at the things scattered about him.

"You were disgraceful." Lupin stood in front of him smiling. "If you are looking for her attention, that is not the correct way to get it. That was the lowest behaviour from you I've ever seen."

"Well, you haven't seen anything yet." He said absently, picking up the heavy book beside him. "What is this?" Sirius asked as he browsed the pages.

Lupin approached to read the title, "It looks like a very valuable book."

"Potions?" Sirius frowned, "Is this what I think it is?" he growled tossing the book and getting up from the bed.

"Sirius, you do know that Severus saved her life." Lupin picked up the book and read the title, his thin eyebrows raised in surprise. That book used to be in the Hogwarts library, and it was supposed to be the only one left.

"Rubbish!" Sirius leaned over the window sill gazing outside. "That bastard wouldn't save his own mother's life unless he got something out of it."

"Meaning what, exactly?" Lupin asked sitting on the bed and opening the book on his knees.

"Don't be so bloody blind, Moony," Sirius said, walking towards him, "haven't you noticed the way he looks at her?"

Lupin continued examining the book. "No."

"Oh, come on mate! He stares at her the same way he used to look at Lily."

That made Lupin raised his eyes to look directly at his friend. "Are you certain of this?"

"Of course I am, don't you think I know how a man looks at a woman he wants!" Sirius said meaningfully.

"Well, Padfoot?" Lupin was growing tired of trying to reason with his friend. "Do I look at Morgan the same way?"

"What?"

"Have you seen me looking at Morgan the same way?" repeated Lupin slowly.

"Are you a fucking nutter?" ranted Sirius angrily.

"Well, she is a good looking woman, and I'm just a man - the same as you or Snape."

Sirius shook his head, annoyed. "Don't you dare compare me with that slimy git!"

"You know what your problem is, mate," Lupin said resuming his reading, "you fancy Morgan and hate Snape, so if he's ever sets eyes on her - which I seriously doubt - you will believe it's because he wants her for himself. As I said before, you behave like a teenager. If you like her, talk to her; but don't go around making careless statements like that."

Sirius ran his fingers through his long hair showing his lack of patience. "How can you say that?"

Lupin again raised his eyes from the book and tried to show a depreciative glare. "Morgan is grateful, that is all. She wanted to give him a token of her gratitude -nothing more."

"Fine." Sirius strode over to the other side of the bed. "But you mark my words: if he saved her, it's because he wants something from her."

Lupin rolled his eyes to the ceiling, closed the book with a snap and placed it on the nightstand. "Would you give it a rest? I don't even think he'll accept the bloody book."

"He'd fucking well better not!" murmured Sirius, removing his shoes and lying on the bed fully dressed.

"You know, sometimes you can be really annoying." Lupin put out the light, took off his shoes and lay over the blankets beside his friend.

Sirius turned on his side to face Lupin. "Just look at him, but please Moony, take a good look at him. He stares at her with the same hungry eyes he used when he used to look at Lily. Remember how mad James got every time he caught Snape watching her?"

Lupin closed his eyes, "You and James -- the most paranoid men I've ever met."

"We weren't paranoid. Snape pretended to hate her as much as he hated the rest of us, but deep down inside he wanted her," Sirius whispered stubbornly.

"Oh, please," Lupin opened his eyes and turned his head towards Sirius, "It's long past time to let it rest! Snape used to stare the same way at every girl he saw. He didn't have any friends or relationships with any girl, except... for your cousin..."

"You do not want to go there," Sirius said in a threatening tone.

"Face it, mate. Bellatrix had a relationship with him - or whatever you wish to call it." He added shivering, "That is why I never could understand why you and James were so paranoid around him."

"What makes you so bloody sure of it?" Sirius asked, through clenched teeth.

"I saw them," answered Lupin closing his eyes again, "and please don't ask me to tell you about it. It gave me nightmares for years."

Sirius smiled and closed his eyes, "Bet it did - having never experienced sex in your life, I gather you were shocked."

"Shut up Padfoot," murmured Lupin, smiling.

~~~~~~~~~ **** ~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, they skipped breakfast and returned directly to Grimmauld Place. Morgan had to travel by herself because she was carrying so many packages. She felt a little uneasy entering the large fireplace alone.

Lupin had offered to take the crystal ball with him and every fragile thing she had bought. That way, she could rest assured that if she fell, nothing would be broken -except maybe her neck...

As she twisted and turned, she tightly closed her eyes hoping to get there as soon as possible. Finally, she felt as if she were going through a hole, and came right out of the fireplace, falling to her knees, and her packages scattered all over the stone kitchen floor.

She was still trying to catch her breath when she felt the vice-like grip of a cold hand on her left arm, as someone pulled her to her feet.

"What the devil are you doing?" asked the cold voice she was beginning to hate. "You are supposed to be resting, not roaming about through the Floo network."

"Good morning to you too, Severus," Morgan drawled, trying unsuccessfully to pull her arm free, "and thank you for your concern but..."

"I do not care if you break your stubborn little neck in that blasted fireplace," he said, baring his teeth and shaking her before releasing her arm. "I was merely pointing out your stupidity!"

At that moment Lupin and Padfoot arrived to the kitchen, through the same fireplace. Lupin warily examined the scene in front of him. At least Morgan wasn't scared of Snape, her chin was raised as high as his long, hooked nose, and she was glaring at him with the same venom that was reflected from his eyes.

Lupin wondered if he should assist Snape.

"Good morning, Severus, nice to see you so early today," Lupin said trying to break the ice.

Padfoot quickly got out of the kitchen and transformed; he wasn't about to leave Morgan with that twit.

Snape tore his eyes from Morgan, and turned his anger to Lupin. "Are you responsible for this woman?"

"Why, I believe...."

"I am responsible for myself, thank you very much," she said, beginning to pick up her packages from the floor, "I don't need a man to answer for me."

Sirius glanced at her, smiling. He knew exactly how she was going to answer. The look on Snape's face was priceless.

"Good morning, Sirius," she spat angrily at him, "are you having a good day so far?"

"Brilliant!" he answered cheerfully, glancing at Snape again and his smiled widened. The Potions Master tightened his lips and grimaced.

Snape slammed two goblets on the table, wondering how the bloody hell he'd been duped into caring for a werewolf and a loud-mouthed Squib.

"Take it, both of you, now!" he bellowed, storming to the door, causing Sirius to jump out of his way.

"Are you sick, Remus?" Morgan asked in concern.

"It's nothing," Lupin answered, drinking the potion.

"OH, I FORGOT!" Morgan grabbed a big package from the table and ran for the door.

"I don't think he'll APPRECIATE IT!" Sirius yelled at the closed door.

Morgan ran up the stairs as fast as she could, until she could see the hem of Snape's black travelling cloak. The man couldn't possibly walk that fast! He practically glided over the floors.

"Severus!" she hailed him, finally reaching the hall. Snape stopped in front of the door, his arms folded across his chest.

"Would you care to stop screaming?" he whispered coolly. "You do not want to wake up anything."

"What is it with you people - wake up what?" she whispered, looking around the empty hall.

"What is it you want?" he asked stiffly, frowning at her.

"Well...err...you and...I'm..." began Morgan, not knowing how to converse with the man.

"I do not think so, Miss Stone," he cut her off impatiently.

"What? No, it's just that...well I am grateful...and..."

Snape raised his gloved hand in front of her face. "Spare me your gratitude," he said with a distasteful look on his face. "I did what was expected of a teacher at Hogwarts teacher -that is all."

Morgan stared at him in disbelief. The man was downright rude, and she had met quite a few hard cases, but this one, this one took the cake.

"Well, I'm sorry if I offended you, Severus." Her voice shook with repressed anger. "But, unlike you, I have what are known as manners; and I don't know what you might call it here in Britain, but back in America we are grateful. So wipe that disgusting look off your face and have the decency to accept my gratitude!" she slammed the book on his chest and went back down the stairs.

She opened the door and slammed it shut murmuring under her breath, "...that God-damned vampire..."

Sirius smiled and rose from his chair. "I've been saying that for years, but no one seemed to pay any attention...until now."

Morgan looked at him and tried to smile; his grey eyes warmed up as he walked towards her and took her hand gently.

"Have a nice trip?" he asked her, tracing her chin with his finger.

Morgan felt her cheeks grow warm. She let go of his hand and moved towards the table. "Pretty nice actually." She concentrated on rearranging her packages to avoid looking at him.

Lupin frowned at his friend, and shook his head slightly. "Morgan bought you a present."

Sirius moved towards the table, "Really, now what could it be?" he wondered, tapping a finger on his lips.

Morgan grabbed the package and pushed it towards him. She didn't trust her hands right now, and she knew if she tried to pick up the thing, she would surely drop it in front of him.

Sirius' smile widened as he ripped the package open. "Well, this is beautiful." His expression registered surprise and delight, as his long fingers caressed the soft fabric.

Lupin stared at Sirius, marvelling at his friend once more. He never failed to amaze him; Sirius had always been such an expert when it came to women. Back at school, all he had to do was smile at them to get whatever he wanted -- literally.

"Blue is my favourite colour. How did you know?" Sirius added, rounding the long table and approaching her again.

Morgan took a few steps back, bumping into Lupin's arm. "Well...err... Remus' dog selected it."

Sirius changed his mind and sat on the table, regarding her innocently. "Really? Remus, I didn't know you had a pet." he said playfully.

"Just a street dog that tags along once in a while," Lupin answered, smiling and winking at him.

Mrs. Weasley entered the kitchen at that precise moment and immediately frowned at the scene in front of her. Sirius was sitting on the table -again. The man did not have any manners at all. She then turned her eyes to Lupin, and her eyebrows knitted in a stern line, an expression she normally reserved for her twin sons.

"Well, let's clean up, Dumbledore is on his way," she said, approaching the table. Sirius immediately stood and started picking up the packages.

"I'll take them up for you," Sirius said to Morgan with a smile, "while you go and rest."

They were cleaning up as Morgan walked out of the kitchen. The tests were to be held today and she wasn't sure if she would be able to pass them - hell, she wasn't even sure if she wanted to pass them!

Morgan had the oddest feeling she was going to awake any moment and find herself sitting in her little rental car on that dark, wet dirt road.

The things she'd seen today only confirmed the fact that this was not some kind of weird nightmare. The family safe had been unnerving enough; her family was not only wealthy, but also highly-important judging by the contents of the enormous vault. And, that damned crystal ball was just another puzzle waiting to bite her.

If she could only have learned this from her mother, it would've made it easier to accept. Her family, the Darken family; the name was completely meaningless to her, but it was her family, and she had cousins and a twin brother.

This all sounded like some pedestrian morning soap, she thought, shaking her head. She might as well entertain herself until Dumbledore arrived.

She wandered around the house. The rooms were dark and damp; a musty odour came from each of them making the atmosphere completely unbearable. It was like something was rotting inside. Finally, she entered a long room with a vaulted ceiling; the walls were an ugly green and covered by a collection of moth-eaten tapestries.

The tall windows were framed by dark curtains, which gave the room a gloomy quality. The furniture looked rather old and dusty; there was a large fireplace with an elaborate mantelpiece and two glass-fronted cabinets on either side which appeared to be empty.

"They were full of rubbish, so we threw everything away," whispered Sirius behind her, startling Morgan. "Don't worry, it's just me," he added with a roughish smile.

"I...thought I was alone," she whispered moving away from him, trying to catch her breath.

"I saw you walking towards this room."

Morgan moved as far away as possible from him to the other side of the room, where she saw an old, dirty tapestry that covered the length of the wall.

"''Toujours Pur'," What does it mean?"

"'Always pure', which means all purebloods, no Muggles or Squibs among us," Sirius answered bitterly.

"Like aristocracy, you mean?"

"In a sense..." He avoided looking at her and continued staring at the tapestry.

She examined the tapestry a little closer, and noted the countless names and the gold embroidery, which connected them; there were several little burn holes on it.

"Seems like it burned in some parts," she observed, pointing a finger at a round, black mark.

"Not exactly. You see, whenever the pure House of Black produced a black sheep, the name had to be erased; which in my case, happened when I was very young."

Sirius hadn't moved; he tucked his hands inside his cloak and glared at the tapestry. He resembled a resentful teenage boy.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm ashamed to be a member of the House of Black. I left this house as soon as I had the chance."

Morgan saw his clenched jaw, the rigid set of his shoulders and started to apologize, "Sirius, I didn't mean to..."

"No, Morgan, don't apologize to me." He shook his head wearily. "I should be apologizing to you. I'm angry at them and ... the years I lived in this house weren't the happiest in my life. It became worse when I grew older. I was supposed to be the heir to all this nonsense."

Morgan felt sorry for him, but tried to hide it, as she wouldn't like him to think badly of her.

"My brother Regulus stayed." Sirius shrugged. "My parents thought he was...a true Black. He was young and stupid, and got himself killed."

"It must have been very hard for you," she whispered.

Sirius shrugged again, and walked towards the windows. He sat on an armchair spreading his legs in front of him and remained silent, staring at his boots. Morgan followed him, and sat on a sofa nearby. Sirius looked tired; his gaunt face turned towards the window.

"They were obsessed with that pure-blood rubbish. They thought we were among a select group of families that could be directly traced to Merlin himself," he mocked. "Can you imagine that? It's like a Muggle saying he is related to..."

"King Arthur?" commented Morgan.

"Yeas, that one - see it's ludicrous!" He bored his grey eyes into her. "They tried all means to trace the ancestry, but couldn't go back further than the year 1200. They stopped because they were afraid they'd find some Muggles in our history."

"So, that makes you a pure-blood wizard, right?" Morgan asked.

He didn't answer immediately; Morgan thought for a second she had offended him.

"Yeah, pure-blood" he said, spitting out the words hatefully.

"Does that mean your magic is more powerful?"

"No, it makes no difference between us and other wizards; it only lends prestige -that is all," he dismissed, waiving his hand dismissively, as he rose from his chair to moved towards the windows.

"I hate being in this house," he muttered bitterly.

"Why don't we get out for a few minutes?" she suggested smiling.

"I can't."

The door opened, and Lupin entered the room. He slowly closed the door and headed towards Morgan.

"So Morgan, what do you think about all of this?" Lupin asked, smiling.

"I'm not sure yet," she whispered, avoiding his eyes. "Remus, do you have any idea what they expect from me?"

"I can't tell you that. Dumbledore is the only one who can explain this."

"To acquire whatever is inside that blasted cave - power, I presume," Sirius interrupted bitterly.

Lupin leaned over the sofa staring at his friend, "Yes, power is involved... among other things."

"Are you telling me, you believe in those stupid legends Moody and Severus were discussing?" she asked, turning to look at him.

"I cannot make you believe, Morgan; but I can assure you of this: Many folk tales in the Muggle world were taken from actual events in our world," Lupin explained.

"Merlin, the Enchanter, was based on different sources, some of them reliable enough." she informed him.

"Yes reliable, if by that, you mean to Muggles. But, they don't have the actual information. He did exist -- not as the romantic magician you all know, but as an intelligent wizard, an engineer."

"So, the Lady of the Lake is real and also Excalibur? Morgan asked incredulously.

"Yes, when the sword disappeared, legend has it that Merlin took it with him into the crystal cave."

"Then what we will find is the sword?" Morgan asked.

"I don't know. But we will all know when you open the cave," Lupin answered simply.

"You know what? I'll agree to stay just to prove you wrong," Morgan vowed, smiling warmly at him.

He smiled back and tapped her freckled nose with one finger, "Want to bet, Miss Stone?"

"You're on Lupin! If I'm right, you'll serve as my personal house-elf."

Lupin laughed with mirth. "And if you win, I'll pay you three thousand Galleons," she teased, laughing and grabbing his finger playfully.

Sirius glared at them and snorted loudly, "Don't be ridiculous."

Morgan turned, surprised at his rebuke, her smile fading. Lupin, on the other hand, understood too well.

"We are just joking, Sirius; come on, let's get back to the kitchen, Dumbledore must be on his way."

They left the room just in time to see Snape skulking towards the kitchen. Morgan heard Sirius swearing under his breath, and he quickly withdrew to the drawing room.

Lupin ignored his friend and motioned her to the kitchen right behind Snape. When they were inside, Snape pulled a phial from his robes.

"You must save half of it for tomorrow," he instructed, thrusting the phial into Lupin's hand.

"Thank you, Severus,"

"Dumbledore has requested my presence here tonight. Tomorrow we shall go to the cave," he informed them coldly.

Mrs. Weasley entered the kitchen smiling. "Good afternoon, Professor Snape," she greeted him, before padding towards the stove.

He merely nodded, pulled a small leather book from his cloak, and sat at the table.

"Would you like to listen to some music, Morgan?" Lupin asked summoning an old, battered gramophone from a corner.

Morgan smiled gladly, approaching the antique, "Does it work?"

"Of course. Would you like to hear something?"

"Yes, please."

Lupin tapped the gramophone and it began to play, filling the kitchen with music.

"It's wonderful, what's it called?" Morgan asked.

"'It's Been a Long, Long Time', by Harry James," Lupin told her. "Do you like it?"

"Yes, I've always liked the Big Bands."

"You dance?" Lupin asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Me? To that kind of music? No, I couldn't possibly dance to it, but I would love to learn."

"Someday, when we have the chance, I'll teach you."

"All right."

The music seemed to be Lupin's favourite. Snape, on the other hand, glared at the gramophone and resumed reading his little book.

Lupin looked bemused at the Potion Master's bitterness, and sat opposite to him with the Quibbler in his hands.

Morgan decided to offer Mrs. Weasley some help. She felt useless around all of them, but she knew her way around the kitchen. After a few minutes, she was marvelling at the way they cooked. It was so easy to just wave a wand, and everything was cut and stewed perfectly.

For almost an hour, peace fell over the kitchen, which was only interrupted by the music coming from Lupin's gramophone and the pleasant conversation she was sharing with Mrs. Weasley.

It vanished in seconds, though, when Sirius entered the kitchen and quickly sat beside Lupin -- shooting Snape a glare full of hatred. Snape, on the other hand, carefully ignored him and continued reading, his long nose almost touching the pages of the book.

Mrs. Weasley whispered something about fixing a room for Snape and left the kitchen. Morgan decided to rest a bit, and then sat at the head of the table, spying the print on the Snape's book cover. The golden letters were faded, which prevented her from reading the title.

She casually raised her eyes and found his dark eyes watching her above the book; she tried a polite smile, but his eyes narrowed into slits and he resumed his reading.

At least she always tried to be polite around him. Morgan turned to look at Sirius as he balanced his chair on its rear legs and stared at the ceiling. He looked tense and angry, while Lupin was concentrating on a crossword puzzle.

She felt awkward sitting at the table. After all -- weren't they supposed to be on the same side?

Her eyes were attracted, once again, to Snape's book; it was a rather small, black leather-wrapped book cover, and the yellowish pages were dog-eared. It looked like he had read it again and again over a period of many years.

Snape closed the book with a loud snap making her jump, and placed it on the table; she continued examining him as he left the kitchen, his cloak billowing after him.

Morgan's eyes fell upon the book lying close to her hand; he must have pushed it towards her when he left. She traced with one finger the faded letters at the front; it looked like some sort of Sanskrit.

Sirius was sleeping, or pretending to be asleep, with his arms crossed over the table, and Lupin continued frowning at the crossword. The music played on, it was like the record never ended.

She tentatively took the book; its covers were very soft. She opened it and read:

The Ancient Power of Ina Rabishu.

Buzur Amaushumgalnna

Aberno Books

13 Knockturn Alley, London.

She turned the page and continued reading:

CONTENTS:

Introduction by Buzur Amaushumgalnna

The Definition of Kashshaptu

The Differences between Lalartu and Lalassu

Telal and his Secrets.

Uggae, God of Death.

The True Use of the Edin Na Zu Spell.

Summoning Idimmu

How to Control a Gelal

How to Control a Lilit

Beckoning Alal into Your Deadly Spells

Gula or Bau and the Pleading

Sarrat Irkalli

The Need of Tiamat in Sacrifices.

The Akhkjaru, and Acquiring its Power.

It was definitely Sumerian; she wasn't an expert but she'd managed to recognise a few words. She turned the page and continued with the introduction:

To obtain the conciseness and to receive the power, hail the horned one which mates with the Goddess during the fires.

Oh, you that irradiate light in the middle of the bright nights!

Good of the lunar disc! Beware!

I am with thee

Mixed between the celestial habitants, which surround you.

I, dead, penetrate your will

May it be in the region of the dead?

May it be in the region of the living above the earth?

There ...we shall burn towards power.

Beware! Cast a power circle before reading, the power of Ina Rabishu might attach to your skin and...

The book was ripped from her hands; Sirius and Lupin were standing next to her.

"What are you doing?" Sirius demanded angrily.

"Well, Severus..."

"That snake left this book for you to read!" Sirius growled angrily.

The door to the kitchen closed behind Snape, as he had chosen that precise moment to return to the kitchen with a triumphant smile on his pale lips.

"Why did you give her this piece of shit?" screamed Sirius, throwing the book at him.

Snape didn't even flinch as the book flew passed his head, hitting the door behind him.

"Severus, you should have explained to her how to read it, before giving it to her. She doesn't realise how dangerous it is to read a book like that," Lupin said, with a slight frown.

Morgan rose from the chair and picked up the book. "What harm can come from reading a book like this?"

Snape silently advanced towards her and removed the book from her hands, an evil smirk touching his lips. "Well, Miss Stone, if your ignorance should ever provide you with the inclination to utter the words in this book aloud, an evil demon shall take possession of your pitiful soul!"

"You sneering bastard!" Sirius almost threw himself at Snape, but Morgan raised a hand to stop him.

"Do you seriously expect me to believe in that rubbish?" Morgan asked, looking directly into Snape's black eyes, which narrowed with anger.

"You should learn to pay a little more respect to the dark power of demons. You might face one someday, and perish under its power," Snape answered sneering coldly.

"Well, I'm sorry to say, Severus, that demons are not something that worry me," she retorted, raising her chin defiantly.

"Surely not you," Snape said tersely, "hiding behind the power of stolen magic. Anything is possible for a Squib."

"Don't you dare call her that!" Sirius threatened.

"Is that some sort of insult?" Morgan asked calmly, raising a dark, thin eyebrow and ignoring Sirius completely.

Snape was about to answer her, but Lupin decided the argument was accelerating dangerously, and he moved between Snape and Morgan.

"Severus, I think this is enough." He turned his head to Morgan and extended his hand. "Come on Morgan. Let me show you my records."

Lupin waived his wand; the gramophone fell silent and levitated towards the door. Sirius was not about to let the opportunity pass, and as he followed them, he paused in front of Snape. "If you ever dare call her that again, we'll settle this matter once and for all."

"Really? Are you capable of holding to your word, Black?" Snape answered with a pleasant smirk starting to lift the corner of his lips.

"I challenge you." Sirius replied, towering over him. He was a good two inches taller than Snape.

But Snape did not move he merely raised his dark eyes at him, "fine, and who is your second? That good-for-nothing werewolf? Surely you could ask Miss Stone to be your second; her powers are truly higher than yours." Snape's lips finally curled into a positively evil grin.

"And who is your second, Malfoy or your bloody Dark Lord?" Sirius spat viciously, clenching his fists, wishing for nothing more than to reduce Snape to a bloody mass with his own hands.

"Sirius!" Lupin called him from the door.

Sirius turned around and followed Lupin towards the drawing room.

"Don't do that, Sirius, we are not in school anymore," Lupin said, trying to reason with him -again.

"I don't care what anyone thinks! I'll have him - and I don't care how long I have to wait, but I swear to you... I'll have him."

Lupin suddenly stopped and turned to face his friend. "And just what risks are you prepared to take, Sirius?"

Sirius blanched and dropped his eyes to the floor.

"I am not accusing you of anything; the circumstances involving that...incident are ...forgotten."

"I accept the blame, Moony, and I ask you to forgive me," Sirius whispered to the floor.

"And I accept, my friend, with the condition that you leave Severus out of your mind - and heart. You've just been given a new chance to make things right. Think of Harry; think of how much he risked to save you without even thinking of what kind of trouble he would've gotten into if he'd been discovered. You must try to make something good out of it."

Sirius nodded silently, but his grey eyes still shone with hatred.

Lupin shook his head. He could not understand how this was still a problem between them. Sirius had been very nasty to Snape back at school, even to the point of planning a very dangerous joke on him - an almost deadly joke.

All was in the past now, and he had forgiven his friend; but now things were different.

They entered the drawing room, and he placed the gramophone on a small table. Morgan stood, beside it.

"So where are your records?"

"I don't need a stack of records, this one is enchanted to play every single tune I fancy," he answered, tapping the device with his wand. The Andrew Sisters now filled the room with their quick music.

"Dancing is easy."

"Now?" Morgan asked, frowning.

"Sure, come on," Lupin took her hands, placing one on his shoulder, and then he grabbed her waist and he pulled her to dance.

Morgan felt a bit awkward. She had danced, but never to that kind of music, and she prayed she wouldn't stamp his feet.

Sirius sat in front of them, amused. He had never understood his friend's infatuation with that old music, but Lupin certainly knew how to dance.

Morgan started laughing nervously. She couldn't possibly keep up with him, but after a few swirls, she started to get the hang of it. She could see his sparkling blue eyes as he smiled at her, every time they turned. She was really getting into it. Although it looked hard and complicated, all it took was a sense of rhythm and coordination which Lupin had by the ton.

Sirius followed their dance with his hands tapping the arms of the sofa. He marvelled when Lupin lifted Morgan into a complicated twist and the music continued playing as they moved around the room. She was learning quickly.

But, Morgan was exhausted; it required a great deal of endurance. A slower tune began playing. Artie Shaw, "Begin the Beguine".

She leaned over Lupin, feeling her legs numb and trying to catch her breath. Lupin unconsciously put his chin close to her ear and smiled. It had been ages since he had a woman in his arms dancing. It brought back memories of his grandmother; she had been the only one brave enough to get close to him.

He had completely forgotten that time in his life. People often do when they have terrible memories from their childhood.

He closed his eyes and let the slow music fill his head, relaxing his muscles, forgetting...that old music had always made him feel better, even made him forget that his whole family hated him - feared him.

A hand on his shoulder brought him back from his safe place. Sirius had risen from his chair and was now pretending to dance with Morgan.

"May I cut in?"

Lupin smiled at his friend and stepped aside. "Sure,"

Another song began: "I'll be Seeing You", by Jo Stafford.

Lupin left the room. Morgan had been very nice to him; he wondered how she would react to the fact that he was a werewolf. He knew how Muggles hated and feared his kind.

He would hate to lose her friendship, even though he was used to people turning away from him. His life had been lonely enough. Sirius, the few members of the Order, and Harry and his friends were the only ones who dared have a friendship with him.

He hoped Morgan would never know.

~~~~~~~~~ **** ~~~~~~~~~~

Smothering a smile at Sirius' audacity, Morgan let him guide her to the centre of the drawing room; the dying sun bathed them with a pinkish light.

Everything was forgotten, however, as she stepped into Sirius' arms and found herself being whirled around in time to the music by a man who danced with incredible ease and grace.

"I don't recall promising to dance with you."

"No?"

His roguish smile made her laugh. "Do we know each other, sir?" she asked him formally.

A lazy grin swept across his face. "Friends?" he offered, in his rich deep voice.

"Very well...friends." She conceded.

"Oh, but I have a remedy for that," he replied with absolute confidence.

Morgan felt a perverse desire to make him pay a little for his arrogant self-assurance. "I'm afraid that's impossible. I already have more friends than I know what to do with...."

"In that case," he said, a smile lighting his grey eyes, "perhaps one of them will meet with an accident -with a little assistance from me."

Morgan was unable to stop her answering smile. His last words held no menace, she knew; he was merely playing verbal chess with her, and it was exhilarating to try to counter his moves. "It would be most unkind of you to do that. My friends are a disreputable lot, and their final destination might not have a pleasant climate."

"A warm one?" he teased.

With a sigh of mock regret, Morgan solemnly nodded.

He laughed at her, a throaty, contagious laugh, and his eyes suddenly seemed to regard her with a bold, speculative gleam that Morgan found unsettling.

She looked away, trying to decide whether to continue dancing with him. Sirius was quite a handsome man. With his eyes an unusual grey, and his height, easily one or two inches over six feet, he was very attractive.

When the strains of the song died, she stepped away from him, half turning towards the door; but her partner firmly claimed her hand, and continued dancing as another song filled the room.

"I'm Getting Sentimental over You', by Tommy Dorsey.

My God! Did his gaze actually wander over her body, or was it only her imagination?

Sirius gazed down into her searching, golden eyes and chuckled. "How remiss of me, I should have asked you for the second dance."

His humour was infectious, and Morgan could not stop her answering smile. "Very well, I'll have another dance with you - whoever you are..." she teased him, again.

"Who would you like me to be, little one?" he asked. "Women always admire noble titles -would you like it if I told you I am a noble member of the noblest House of Black?"

She was amazed that he could address himself as a member of his parents' heritage, after the bitter remarks he had made about them. But he was actually smiling, so she answered with a small chuckle.

"You may be a highwayman, or even a stalker," She twinkled at him. "But you surely are no more a noble member of that house than I am."

"Miss Stone," he asked with amused gravity, "hasn't anyone taught you that noble titles are to be revered, not laughed at?"

"Well...they did try," Morgan admitted, with a note of mockery. "But they also tried to teach me good manners...naturally, as you can see, they failed."

For a long moment, his gaze lingered on her face, and then settled on her eyes. "Good manners, eh..." in a deceptively casual move, he drew her forward so that her hip pressed against his hard thigh. "I've never managed to acquire them either."

Morgan, who had been paralyzed into inaction by his unexpected move, had stopped dancing. Just as she opened her mouth, his mouth quirked into a half smile and he swirled with her in his arms.

"You should apologize, though," she whispered trying to take up where they left off.

"I believe you would enjoy humbling me into an apology, would you not?" he retorted jokingly.

"Actually no..." she said, knowing as he slowly bent his head to her, that he was going to kiss her, but instead of drawing away she patiently waited for his lips to meet hers.

Even when the kiss deepened and her lips were being sensually shaped and moulded to his, Morgan knew he would let her pull away if she tried. Instead, her hands crept up his chest, twining around his neck. She seemed to forget she was kissing a man she barely knew.

His hands tangled in her soft red hair. Tenderly cupping her face between both his hands, he gazed down into her melting eyes. "Merlin, you are sweet," he whispered. Morgan's heart skipped a beat, and then began to hammer as he slowly, deliberately buried his lips in hers once again.

He kissed her - long and lingeringly; slow, compelling kisses that made her head swim. His tongue flicked over her lips, teasing at first - then urging, insisting that she part them and, the moment she did, plunging inside to intimately explore her mouth while his hands moved down her back, finding her waist.

He groaned and crushed her tighter, and then without warning he stopped.

Kissed and caressed into dazed insensibility, Morgan watched his smouldering gaze lift from her lips to her eyes. "If I don't stop now," he murmured in an odd, strained voice, "I'm going to be too caught up in finishing what I've begun to turn back."

Sirius knew he shouldn't even think of going near Morgan, but couldn't help himself. She was like a fresh breath of air blowing through his life.

As Sirius smile at her sweetly, she felt her face turn all shades of brick. What the hell was she thinking? Was she nuts? Kissing a man she barely knew? He was a wizard - a pagan most certainly, and God only knew what else!

The music had stopped, and she hastily moved away from him, "I think I should...go back."

She walked towards the door and slowly out of the room. It was dark outside, and the gas lamps came to life as she entered the hall. She felt a mixture of weariness and exhilaration as she descended the narrow stairs to the kitchen.

The kitchen was bustling with people. Lupin approached her, scanning her face. A tall, balding man was with him.

"Morgan, let me introduce to you to Arthur Weasley."

Mr. Weasley eagerly extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, dear."

"Pleased to meet you."

"Remus tells me you have lived in the Muggle world all you life," he said, without letting go of her hand.

"Yes, that's right."

"I'd love to have a little chat about Muggle artefacts - I collect batteries."

"Oh...err...how nice...I think I might have a few batteries somewhere."

"Oh, that would be wonderful. American batteries for my collection," Mr. Weasley said cheerfully, finally letting go of her hand. Morgan rubbed her fingers back to life, smiling.

Lupin took Morgan from Mr. Weasley's side. "He's very fond of Muggle culture; he'll bother you with a few questions once in a while."

She knew she had a tight smile on her lips and a blank expression on her face, but she could not help it. "I don't mind, he seems very nice."

"Are you all right?" he asked her worryingly, guessing immediately what had happened, and already making a mental note to speak to Sirius.

"Oh...yes, I'm fine."

A tall, red-headed woman came towards them, and Lupin quickly introduced her. "This is Tonks; you didn't meet her or Mr. Weasley because they were on guard."

"Wotcher, Morgan!" Tonks said smiling.

"Hi, Tonks," answered Morgan. She seemed all right -- her hair was a beautiful shade of red, with a nice, expensive cut.

Everyone started to sit down, when Dumbledore arrived followed closely by Professor McGonagall and Moody.

Lupin placed the crystal ball in front of Dumbledore, and sat beside Sirius, who had entered after everyone was seated.

Dumbledore carefully examined the crystal ball for a few minutes, his crooked nose almost touching the smooth surface. Eventually, he tore his eyes from it and straightened up. "You were right, Remus, it is a Jobberknoll -- and a very young one I might add." He raised the crystal ball in his hands and looked at it closely through his half-moon spectacles.

"Albus, do you think it's a message for Morgan? Professor McGonagall was bent almost as close, her eyes narrowed.

"Yes indeed, Minerva, I think it is."

"But how do we free that little bird from the crystal ball?" Morgan asked.

"Well, Morgan, as soon as the crystal breaks, the little Jobberknoll will perish," he explained, regarding her with a worried expression on his lined face. "I gather Remus told you it is necessary to hear whatever the message is that he carries with him."

Morgan nodded, feeling sorry for the little animal, and praying to God they didn't ask her to do harm to it.

Snape roused from his chair, wearing a most peculiar expression: It was as though he were trying hard not to smile. "I'll do it, Headmaster."

"Thank you, Severus." Dumbledore turned his blue eyes to Snape. "Let us do this as quickly as possible."

Snape nodded unsmiling, and when Dumbledore threw the crystal ball high in the air, Snape quickly raised his wand and cried "Adfringo!"

The crystal ball glowed with a radiant white light and shattered, the pieces falling slowly to the table, along with the small bleeding bird. The small creature quivered and died, opening its beak to emit a sound. Snape quickly waved his wand again and uttered "Revolubicis!"

The sound was of the rush of water falling, and then a soft female voice filled the kitchen. It was eerie, like a voice coming from the other side, spectral, yet warm, young, and frightened.

Morgan felt her mother standing right next to her; her mother's voice filled her heart with renewed pain. After five years, she still missed her mother desperately.

Lupin covered her hand with his, as she fought the tears that burned in her eyes.

Suddenly, Morgan wanted to tell them all it was time to stop. She did not wish to continue. Her hands encircled themselves over Lupin's firm grip almost hurting him. A large knot lodged in her stomach...

~~~~~~~~~ **** ~~~~~~~~~~

I know my love by his way of walking, and I know my love by his way of talking,

Irish Ballad

~~~~~~~~~ **** ~~~~~~~~~~