There was a sagging old fence that draped its way in a lazy circle. It stood there, looking as if it knew full well that it was here to do a job, but it was too tired to get up and protect the area it encircled.

A few students stood right next to it. Several more stood back a few paces. No one wanted to touch the fence, as if they thought that it would poison them.

A few whispers flicked through the crowd. “Haunted.�

“Dangerous.�

“Evil.�

Their words stung. Remus shrugged his shoulders closer to him, as if making himself smaller would protect him.

It wouldn’t, though. He had already tried this tactic. Somehow it always managed to let him down.

James raised an inky eyebrow. “Cold, Moony?�

Remus relaxed a bit. “No,� he muttered. It was true. He wasn’t cold. He shrugged his shoulders and said, “I guess not.�

James shrugged, unconcerned. “Okay, then.�

What was it with them? Did they not realize that he was upset?

Remus mentally kicked himself. Idiot, he thought. Of course they don’t realize. There are girls here.

One of the girls who were standing nearby whispered something to her friend. They collapsed into muffled giggles.

The first girl –a tall one with red hair poking out of the collar of her puffy white jacket- shoved her friend and giggled again. “Go on!�

The second girl smirked and adjusted her hat. “Like I would ever turn down a dare,� she said. The crowd behind her murmured in surprise and skepticism.

“Five Sickles says she doesn’t do it,� a male voice said.

Remus glared at James. Way to go, Prongs, he thought. Way to exploit the uneducated masses, which don’t happen know that it’s currently harmless. Way to extort money from whatever sucker takes you up on that.

The crowd began to murmur louder. Remus could tell that the girl’s supporters were falling out from beneath her. No one wanted to risk losing their money, as they knew they would. Without support, the girl would fail. James had as good as won.

Remus scuffled his feet in silent prayer. Please, someone besides me come to her rescue…

“I’ll take that,� came another voice. It was the girl’s friend.

Thank you…

She turned towards us and glared at James, green eyes narrowed into defensive slits. James’s own hazel eyes widened slightly in surprise before he caught himself and restored his usual composure.

Remus buried his face in his scarf and smirked, hoping that James wouldn’t notice his shoulders quivering. James had just bet against Lily Evans.

He immediately caught himself. James was his friend. People are supposed to stick with their friends, not revel in their disastrous attempts to look cool.

Although, he had to admit that he found it funny. And satisfying. There were times when all Remus really wanted was to see the overconfident ones fail and realize that they, too, were mortal.

Sirius didn’t bother to hide his smirk. “Nice, Prongs,� he chuckled.

James shoved his hands in his pockets and looked mildly at Lily. “You sure, Evans? You really think your friend is up to the task?� He tilted his chin up so that he was looking down at her friend from underneath his glasses.

Remus grinned again, this time not trying to hide it in his scarf. He knew what James was thinking. James was mentally telling himself to play it cool. He was hoping, Remus knew, that the girl would win and the excitement of her victory would make Lily forget that James had implied that her friend was incompetent.

Lily took James said everything so seriously. She often twisted it or took it the wrong way, even going out of her way to find a hidden meaning that James probably hadn’t considered or even thought possible.

Lily turned her back and looked at her friend. “Ignore Potter, Marian,� they heard her say, her voice brittle with resentment. She gave Marian a little shove. “I have faith in you.�

I have faith in you…

Marian sauntered past them, an indignant switch in the fat brown braid snaking down her back. The crowd froze.

Go on, Marian, Remus thought. Show him who’s boss. Prove that you’re not scared of me. Prove that you’re not scared of little ol’ werewolfie me…

Marian hopped over the fence in a particularly droopy section. The crowd gasped, fell silent, and quickly started gossiping in whispers as one being.

Prove that you don’t mind werewolves…

Marian paused a few feet on the other side of the fence to strike a pose. She turned on her heel again and flounced across the snowy ground.

Prove that I’m not scary…

The wind whipped them, harsher than ever, as clouds of snow billowed around Marian’s short, curvy frame.

A shutter clattered in the distance. Dead flower stalks swayed and threatened to blow away.

Prove that I’m not evil… that I’m just like you and that the place that I go every month isn’t cursed…

Marian’s figure paused and looked around. An eerie silence arose as the wind shuddered to a brief halt.

“She’s not going to do it,� someone muttered. A few heads moved in agreement.

“You might as well pay up, Evans.� James grinned cockily. “You know she won’t do it.�

Lily glared harder than ever. “Shut up, Potter, or I’ll hex you.�

James rolled his eyes. “So rude. So violent. When will you lighten up, Evans? I’m only trying to have a bit of fun, you know. You could be nicer to me.�

Lily Evans, honor student, Prefect, model pupil, had reached her breaking point. Remus noted with some amusement that she seemed to do that a lot. Especially when James was around.

She whirled around, face blazing. “I thought I told you,� she screeched, eyes snapping dangerously, “to SHUT UP!�

Remus didn’t know how she moved so fast. Maybe she had sped up her learning and taught herself to Apparate.

In any case, Lily had traversed the five feet separating them before anyone knew what had happened. She slammed a very startled James up against a tree and pinned him there by his collar.

“You,� she growled, baring her teeth, “had better hope that Marian does this. You had better hope, because if I lose my chance to laugh in your face then you can expect a very painful end to your life.� She dropped her voice menacingly as she finished her sentence. “Got it?�

James rolled his eyes and grabbed her wrists firmly, yanking her hands off his collar. “Sheesh, Evans,� he said. He didn’t sound menacing at all. In fact, he sounded somewhere between amused and disgusted. “Chill.�

He stepped away from the tree and shook the snow from his dark hair. “No need to get anxious. I’d be more than happy to oblige your obvious need to prove what a snob you are-�

Lily shoved him disgustedly and hopped over the fence after Marian.

Sirius shook his head. “Shoulda-,� he began wearily. Remus knew that Sirius was getting tired of having to tell James that he had, yet again, screwed up.

Remus sighed. Again, this wasn’t something that he’d admit, but he thought that Sirius and James’s methods of getting a girl were faulty. They were just so arrogant. They both had the impression that every girl they came across was obliged to fall at their feet.

Too bad that every girl they came across was more than happy to comply.


A sudden pair of screams cut though the icy air. Everyone froze.

Silence.

“They’re dead,� someone whimpered. “They’ve been killed by the ghosts.�

Yeah. Ghosts, Remus thought sulkily. He knew he shouldn’t take it personally, but he took offense at being called a ghost. If they were going to declare him evil, they might as well get it right and call him an evil werewolf.

No. Wait. He didn’t want that.

James yelled and vaulted himself over the fence. “Lily!�

Remus and Sirius followed, but Peter chose to stay behind. Peter didn’t really enjoy going into the Shrieking Shack if he wasn’t in animal form.

The coward, Remus thought grumpily. It’s not like the Shack is haunted. I do all the haunting. And I’m right here.

They flew over the ground, kicking up bits of snow and grass underneath their heavy winter boots. The rest of the crowd stood in stunned silence, watching them nervously. Through the gusts of snowy wind they looked like one dark mass against a background of nothingness.

Funny how the less movement and noise there was, the creepier it seemed.

Remus felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle up in spite of himself. It was as if he had passed through a sudden gust of very cold wind.

One that’s only three feet wide? His scientific side asked quizzically.

Whatever, his Marauder side grunted back. Marauders didn’t like anything inexplicable. It made them seem weak, silly, gullible. Probably just a ghost.

James had already reached Lily’s side and was bending over her concernedly. Sirius stood a few feet off, looking at the Shack thoughtfully. Marian lay a few feet to Lily’s left. No one was asking her if she was all right.

Remus rolled his eyes and walked over to Marian. His friends were right. He was definitely the ‘concerned father’ figure in their group.

“Are you all right?� he asked, offering her a gloved hand.

She took it gratefully and pulled herself to her feet. “Thanks,� she said quietly.

She looked up at the Shack. “I think they’re right,� she said. “This place really is haunted.�

She looked at Remus earnestly. “Don’t you think it’s haunted?�

Remus bit his tongue and said, “I guess.� Yeah, right. He had a quick mental grumble about superstitious idiots and asked, “What happened?�

Lily swatted James away impatiently and walked over to Marian. “These two shingles came flying out of nowhere at us. The weird thing was, they were going straight for our heads. Like they were intentionally trying to hurt us.�

Sirius made a low, rumbling sound in his throat. “Come look at this,� he said uneasily, pointing at the door.

They all stared. On the door were words written in dark green paint- words that had not been there at the last full moon, when they had last gone through that door into the village to explore and become carried away by their sheer ingenuity.

Lily ran a finger above the letters. “I am the way to the doleful city,� she murmured, reading the words on it, “I am the way to eternal grief.�

“The Inferno,� Remus muttered automatically. Everyone looked at him curiously.

“The what, exactly?� asked James, running a hand through his hair nervously.

“Dante’s Inferno,� Remus explained impatiently. Had none of these people ever read classic literature? “It’s a Muggle poem that was written during the Renaissance. This guy Dante is taken on a tour through the author’s idea of Hell, and those words-� he gestured towards the door, “-are bits of the passage that is wrought on the gates that mark the entrance to Hell.�

“You mean, like,� Lily swallowed nervously, “'abandon all hope, ye who enter here?'�

Remus nodded.

“I think we’d better get out of here,� Sirius muttered. “Now.�

Always trust a dog’s instincts, Remus thought as he turned and stumbled away thought the snow. If the dog says it’s not safe, then it probably isn’t.

If there was one place that they were safe, it was the Three Broomsticks. There was nothing menacing in there; just the clatter of glass hitting wood, the low rumble of people, and the occasional burst of raucous laughter.

The Marauders, having left Lily and Marian with their other friends, were seated around a rustic wooden table, talking about every random thing that ran though their minds. They had briefly mused about the words on the door, but it was possible that someone from the school had painted them there because people were getting a little overconfident.

“Although,� Sirius remarked, slamming his mug onto the table in a parody of drunkenness, “you’d think they could’ve at least told us that they would be adding more stuff to the Shack. It’s only polite.�

Remus raised an eyebrow. “Told you? Why would they tell you? You don’t know anything about it or me, remember?�

“Oh. Right. I forgot.�

“You always forget,� Remus mumbled into his mug. “You need to be more careful.�

“Whatzat?�

“Nothing.�

Remus fell into silence, staring absently out the window. The snow-laden wind hustled the passersby along the streets, shooing them into the nearby shops. Get inside, the wind seemed to say, or I’ll blow you away. I’ll sweep you off your feet and put you down in a place far away from here, a place that you won’t know or like.

Pretty violent for the same wind that created the summer breezes that did little more than ruffle your hair.

Few people were on the streets anymore. The storm was intensifying. Only a single traveler walked down the road outside the tavern.

Remus set down his mug with a thunk and squinted.

“What’s the matter, Moony?� Peter asked anxiously. “There isn’t anything… bad out there, is there?�

“That girl.� Remus pointed out the window. “Look at her.�

A single figure was being blown down the main street, back to the wind. She wore Muggle clothing- a loose, dark blue hoodie with patches on the elbows and a pair of jeans with several large pockets on the legs. Her head was wrapped in a faded pink shawl so that it covered her head and –Remus squinted- the right half of her face. A single hand was raised to her face, the fingertips touching the side of the forehead, like someone with a headache will do.

“Weird,� James commented.

The girl turned and stared at them. They caught a glimpse of a pale, narrow chin and a plump lower lip, puckered in a slight frown. One eye glared at them eerily.

“Don’t think the lady likes your comment, Prongs,� Sirius grinned, looking at the figure interestedly. “Maybe I’ll have better luck.�

Not again… Remus sighed. What was it with Sirius and drooling over every girl he saw?

The girl opened the door the Three Broomsticks and strolled in. Most of the people didn’t notice her, but a few shuffled to the side to let her though, as though afraid that she might curse them.

Sirius pushed his hair back smoothly and leaned his chair back onto two legs. The girl looked at him for another moment and then turned towards the counter.

Sirius hopped up and strutted over to the counter, leaning up against it and looking casually at the girl. He opened his mouth and began to talk to her.

James sat up interestedly. “We’re accepting bets, gents,� he said. “I say the girl ignores him.�

“He is Padfoot, though,� Peter commented. “I don’t see why his methods shouldn’t work like they always do. What do you say, Moony?�

“Mmph?� Remus had started staring out the window again.

“Okay, Moony’s out,� James said. “Loser buys the next round.�

Sirius, looking triumphant, wove his way back thought he crowd, girl in tow and two mugs in his hands.

Peter smirked at James. “Pay up, Prongs.�

“Another bet? Honestly,� Sirius said, sliding the two mugs onto the table and shoving James to the side to make room for the girl, “you guys should know better than to bet against me.�

They chortled quietly amongst themselves. The girl’s mouth puckered even more.

“I am not here as a prize, Mr. Black,� she said quietly, a flat American drawl saturating her speech. “Now where is Dumbledore?�

“He’s not here at the moment,� Sirius explained, playing with his mug. “You look cold. Drink your Butterbeer and then we’ll go find him.� He took a long swallow.

She glared at him. “Mr. Black-�

“Sirius,� he corrected her. “I’m Sirius. These are James, Peter, and Remus.� He made a wide gesture with a lanky arm. “This is Francesca, guys. She’s on a secret mission and has to speak with Dumbledore about-�

Francesca slapped a hand over Sirius’s mouth. “Fool,� she hissed. “You fool. You will bring all of his followers down upon our heads, is that what you want, you rash boy?�

Sirius looked highly offended. “I’m not rash.�

His friends choked on their drinks. Remus had to be pounded on the back by James a couple of times.

Sirius glared at them. “Way to show support, guys,� he pouted.

“S-sorry,� James spluttered. “I didn’t mean to. But you have to admit-� he gasped again, his face a bit pink, “-that you aren’t exactly the model of-�

“Neither are you,� Sirius said grumpily. “None of you are. Well, except for Moony,� he added as an afterthought.

“Moony?� Francesca looked at Remus. “He is referring to you?�

Remus nodded unwittingly. A minute later he regretted it.

Francesca rose from her seat, walked over to where he sat, and gripped his arm very tightly, bitten-down nails clawing into his skin.

“Oww!� he yelped, surprised. “What’re you-�

“You are the careful one,� Francesca said, twisting his arm painfully, “so you will take me to Dumbledore.� She jerked him out of his seat roughly and glared.

Sirius stood up. “Whoa, whoa,� he said in what was supposed to be a placating voice. “Calm down. I told you, we’ll go as soon as we’re done with the drinks-�

Francesca flicked open a fist, revealing that she had somehow acquired what looked like a steak knife. She gently stabbed Remus’s throat a couple of times, not breaking the skin. “We will go now,� she snarled. “Now, or you will no longer have your sensible friend.�

The other three drew their wands and pointed them at Francesca. “I don’t know what you problem is,� James said in his best tough-guy voice, “but believe me, you don’t want to mess with the Marauders.�

Francesca just laughed. “You silly little sticks do not frighten me any more than you do,� she spat. “Believe me, there is only one wand-wielder I fear, and it is certainly not some schoolboy.�

All three opened their mouths, probably to hex the living daylights out of her. However, she just forced Remus out the door.

“Now,� she said, leaning over him and sounding very dangerous, “you will take me to Dumbledore.�

Remus snorted disdainfully. He wrenched his arms, trying –and failing- to break her grip.

"No? Have it your way, then."

Francesca took several deep, steadying breaths and leaned into something, face screwed up in concentration. And, a second later, they were enveloped in sunlight, watching the Hogsmeade winter through a snow globe.

Remus yelled some incomprehensible gibberish. What the hell was going on?

Francesca ignored him. “Scream away,� she said. Remus flinched as her breath tickled his ear. It wasn’t a very nice feeling.

“They can’t hear you,� she continued smugly, “and they won’t- not until I decide to let you cross back.�

This only made Remus panic more. He was normally sensible and preferred talking to fighting, but this was absolutely ridiculous. Talking didn’t seem to be the way to connect with this girl. So, instead of reasoning, he resorted to the more animalistic method of yelling at twisting his arms, trying to loosen Francesca’s grip.

She didn’t budge. This girl was strong.

More than ever, Remus wished that he was an Animagus, like his friends. What he wouldn’t give to turn into a werewolf right now and take a swipe at the insolent girl’s throat. What he wouldn’t give to tear the flesh off of her neck with those wickedly curved claws . . .

He stopped himself. What was he thinking? He was being downright sadistic. There had to be another way.

“Stop struggling,� Francesca said in a bored, yet somehow menacing, voice. Her knife, cold from the winter air, was back across his Adam’s apple.

Why him? Sirius would have loved to get kidnapped. Why couldn’t Sirius be in his place right now?

“They will not find you here,� Francesca snarled, “because we are no longer on their side. When they have left, we will cross back into the winter-� her voice lowered threateningly, “-and you will take me to Dumbledore.�

Remus fell limp as he pondered the girl’s words. We are no longer on their side? We will cross back into the winter? What on earth was she talking about?

He looked up at the sunlight that was spilling from the clear blue sky. One thing was for certain- where they were standing, it wasn’t winter any more.

“Look, I don’t like this either,� Francesca was saying. “Just take me to Dumbledore and I’ll let you go. This should be so easy.�

When he did not respond, she swore rather colorfully. “What is it with you?� she snapped. “Are you united in the cause to slow me down or what?�

“What do you mean?� Remus asked coldly, eyeing the knife uneasily.

“Idiot,� she snapped, as if to clear things up.

They both stiffened. The Marauders had converged barely three feet away from them. Remus breathed hard. He could kick out and break through the . . . the . . . the whatever-it-was that they were standing in. If his friends saw him, they could help him. They would run this insolent girl through, hex her into oblivion.

Francesca seemed to know what he was thinking. “Go ahead,� she said, amused.

Remus huffed impatiently. She would not be laughing in a minute, when she would be reduced to a quivering, grotesque mass lying in the dirty snow lining the street.

Francesca took the knife away from his throat. “Go on,� she said snottily. “Lash out. Alert your friends. Bring their wrath down on me. You’ll see that they can do nothing.�

She gripped one of his wrists very tightly and shoved him hard. Stumbling over his feet, he half-fell through the border between summer and winter. He instinctively flung out his hand to catch himself. Instead, however, it vibrated uncomfortably as it broke through and flailed wildly for his friends.

Sirius reacted swiftly, reaching for his outstretched hand.

Francesca, however, was either faster or had some sort of warning. She yanked him back, pulling him into a very painful headlock. He retracted his free hand and clawed at the arm wrapped around his throat. He couldn’t breathe. . .

His eyes rolled sideways to glare at Francesca’s weirdly warped face. Just his luck that he would be kidnapped by someone shorter than him. She didn’t even look strong enough to hold him back. . .

His eyes rolled back to face forward and grew very alarmed. His friends had formed a small triangle and were racing towards them rather quickly.

Unable to move out of the way, he moaned and braced himself for a very painful collision.

It didn’t come.

His friends had run right through them, not even creating a breeze. It was as if they had fallen into nothing.

Fallen into nothing. Remus paled and shook his head. That couldn’t happen. He had studied enough Muggle science to know that. And he knew enough about magic to know that a Muggle wasn’t capable of casting a simple Levitation Charm. There was a logical explanation for this. He was sure of it.

“If you have any theories, let me know.� Francesca laughed mockingly at his expression. “I need something that sounds arcane and yet plausible. You know, for all the times when people are asking what’s going on.�

Remus shook his head again, stubbornly refusing to believe his own –and patently ridiculous- theory. It made no sense whatsoever.

“That was my attitude for a while,� Francesca commented, “but I adjusted after a while. Sure, it’s weird, but when you’re not fighting for your life it’s kind of cool.�

Fallen into nothing. Erased. Gone.

That wasn’t possible. No, it couldn’t be… except that it was.<

Was it possible?

Dumb question, his oxygen-starved brain said scornfully. It’s happening, for Merlin’s sake. By this point, it’s hardly worth debating whether it’s possible or not.

Remus struggled for a breath in the girl’s ever-tightening headlock and looked back at her. Her mouth was curling into a very self-satisfied, if ugly, sneer.

“Now,� she smirked. “Since you won’t take me to Dumbledore...� her knife clattered to the ground and short, powerful fingers wrapped around his throat. “I’ll just let you go, then.�

Remus saw the corners of his vision darken. No, he thought desperately. That can’t happen. If I black out, there’s no way that I can defend myself- not that I’m doing such a great job as it is, of course-

His brain, for some reason, wasn’t listening to his mental pleas. It simply let go, and he spiraled down into complete darkness.

Remus moaned and rolled his head to one side. Something soft pressed up against his cheek.

He cracked open an eye and was met with a mass of white. Rolling his head back upwards, he found himself to be staring up at a dirty, yellowing ceiling with several cracks running though the plaster, one of them shaped somewhat like a teddy bear.

The hospital wing? What was he doing here?

He reached up and placed his hand gently on his throat, feeling for nicks. None. Francesca had apparently not slit his throat. That was a relief.

Three slightly blurred faces peered anxiously at him from far above. A minute later, he heard Madam Pomfrey squawking, and the faces disappeared. His friends’ mutterings were quashed by another bout of yelling about bed rest and hard days and the need for complete and utter SILENCE!

“Hey,� Sirius said loudly, smirking at Madam Pomfrey’s furious glare. Annoying people was one of his favorite hobbies, and he prided himself on his ability to aggravate almost anyone.

“Are you okay?� Remus asked, half-sitting up.

His friends stared at him like he was crazy. “What do you mean, are we okay?� James sputtered indignantly. “We’re fine! What could happen to us?�

“Sorry,� Remus muttered. “It’s just that that girl Francesca…� he fell silent for a moment. “Hey, how did I get here?�

His friends exchanged loaded looks.

“Well,� James said slowly, “you sort of... reappeared on the street, and you were out cold, and we tried to wake you up but it wasn’t really working...� he fumbled with his words for a moment before giving up.

Sirius rolled his eyes. “What he’s trying to say is, we levitated you through a window.�

“Where did you go, anyway?� Peter asked. “You just disappeared on us.�

They all fell silent; the visitors waiting, the patient miserably wrestling with himself. Should he tell them?

Of course he should. Friends and all that.

But what could he say? That he had been dragged into a miniature alternate dimension that just so happened to be in front of the Three Broomsticks?

Well, that had been what had happened. Maybe.

“Well?� James pried. “Are you going to tell us?�

“Forget it,� said Remus, shrinking down into his pillow. “It’s too incredible.�

His friends were building up a mass retort when Dumbledore swept dramatically into the room, trailed by a very concerned-looking Professor McGonagall. Lily Evans was following them, a textbook tucked under her arm. She had probably been studying in the library.

“What’s going on?� she asked nervously, clutching Unfogging the Future so tightly that her knuckles were turning paler by the minute.

“Dunno,� James said lazily, suddenly looking much less indignant at Remus’s lack of participation in the conversation. Lily furrowed her brow angrily but fortunately did not hurl a retort.

Dumbledore looked at Madame Pomfrey. “I’m afraid we will have to disrupt to peace, ma’am,� he said politely. “Would you please lock all the windows and send all patients who are able back to their dormitories, please? Except for Mr. Lupin here. And his friends, they may stay too. Oh, and Ms. Evans, of course.� He nodded politely at Lily.

They all stared- well, all except for Professor McGonagall. She just shook her head and looked very tired.

“What about Prescott over there?� Madame Pomfrey looked self- righteous. “He needs rest, not more airborne shuttling, especially after what happened to him this morning-�

Dumbledore flicked his wand lightly and caused the bed to quiver. It gently rose a few feet in the air and hovered, without wobbling, at about waist level.

“Would you please be so kind,� he smiled, “As to push this to the Hufflepuff commons? The password is-�

He caught himself and glanced narrowly at the boys nearby, who all tried to look innocent.

Dumbledore flicked his wand again and a small piece of paper settled in Madame Pomfrey’s hand. “Password’s that one,� he said.

“But-� Sirius started. He probably wanted to complain about the lack of trust in this school, and why wouldn’t Dumbledore say the password out loud, anyway? What was the worst thing that could happen?

When he thought about it, Remus found that he didn’t really want to know.

“But-� Madame Pomfrey began.

“Go on,� said Dumbledore perkily. “Take the poor boy back to his friends. I’m sure they’re worried.�

James rolled his eyes. Remus was quite sure that James did not believe in worrying over friends that had fallen victim to minor medical accidents, such as being hexed into unconsciousness and falling from a good five hundred feet. Of course, that was probably because James was often knocked off his broom during high-speed chases. That had to put a damper on your mental capabilities.

Madame Pomfrey wheeled Martin Prescott out of the room, looking grumpy. Professor McGonagall sighed and sank down on a nearby bed.

“Oh, Headmaster,� she sighed. “As if things weren’t already hard. I must admit that as much as I want to help the girl, I don’t think it to be the safest of moves. He has followers dedicated to finding her, for Merlin’s sake. They must know that she’s here. Ever since you sent her that accursed letter-�

“Please, Minerva, calm down.� Dumbledore patted her on the shoulder awkwardly. “We will find a way to help her without endangering our students, I promise.�

“I hope you have a brilliant plan laid out,� she muttered.

“Of course I do. I’ve called in Hagrid.�

A small burble of laughter escaped the professor’s thin lips. “Hagrid won’t solve the problem, Albus, and you know it,� she said.

“Hagrid will do everything in his power,� Dumbledore said simply. “And by doing everything he can, he is doing more than enough.�

He looked at the five students. “I suggest you take a seat, gentlemen. Oh, and lady, too. I think we’d best fill you in- after all, I’m afraid that this directly concerns you.�

James threw himself forcefully onto an empty cot and stared at the professors. “Okay. What do we need to know?�

“I do not-� Dumbledore stopped abruptly at heavy footfalls echoed in the hallway outside.

Hagrid stumped in, looking the way the always did: tall and bulky, with masses of tangled black hair circling his head in a savage halo. He blinked at the small cluster of people looking expectantly at him. “’Ello,� he mumbled. “Sorry ter interrupt. Yeh can get on with the story now, Profess’r.�

“Thank you, Hagrid,� Dumbledore said. “You have the traps placed, I suppose?�

Hagrid nodded. “I got the kid in my hut, too,� he said. “She should be safe, least fer the minute, what with all those extra spells ya put on it.�

“Excellent.� He turned back to the teenagers, who were all staring at them.

“Would someone please,� Sirius said faintly, “tell me what the hell he’s talking about?� He looked from Peter to James to Remus to Lily. “Anyone? Please? Because I don’t...� he stopped for a moment. “No. Wait. It’s that crazy American, isn’t it.�

“And You-Know-Who wants her,� Lily said, paling visibly. Her imagination was clearly going into overdrive. “He’s hunting her down, for some reason, and we’re supposed to protect her?�

James looked over at Lily comfortingly. “Don’t worry, Evans.�

Remus, who had been silent for so long, finally piped up. “That’s crazy,� he said flatly. “Crazy. One, there’s no way we could hold up to You-Know-Who or his stupid followers. We’re sixteen, for Merlin’s sake, and battle is much more than rattling off the spells you learned in a textbook. Second, why would we help her? Because I don’t know about you-� he looked at his friends, and then back at his teachers, “-but I’m really not feeling charitable towards her.�

“He has a point,� Peter remarked, causing everyone to jump. They had forgotten that he was there. “I don’t think she needs our help.�

“Yes, she does,� McGonagall said. “She’s a Muggle.�

Remus lay in his bed, staring at the heavy canopy above him. He was suddenly very tired; it felt as though the weight of responsibility was weighing even more heavily on him then usual. His friends didn’t seem very concerned about this new problem, although that may have just been out of weariness. James in particular had looked exhausted and was now snoring away contentedly. Sirius, arrogant as ever, had just shrugged things off. And Peter was Peter. He never had to ponder anything. In return for his unwavering support, he was granted a defense against his attackers and a shield against the tricky choice between right and wrong.

Although he did not often envy Peter, Remus wished that he could split things into black and white as easily as his friend could. For Peter, right and wrong were so easy: Helping your friends was right, and hindering them was wrong. From there, he could dissect the world in a matter of minutes.

Remus beat his pillow into a more comfortable shape. Sadly enough, even Peter’s clear-cut laws would have trouble with Francesca. Everything had trouble with Francesca.

He yawned widely and sank into the pillow, childishly pulling the covers over his head in the hopes that if he just went to sleep, she would be gone by morning.

***

“Remus!� Someone was shaking him.

Remus cracked open an eye. Why was someone talking? It was still very dark out- probably no more than three in the morning. He swatted blindly and let his hand fall back.

“Remus, get up!� the voice sounded more urgent. “That freak is doing some sort of occult ceremony in the Commons!�

He made an attempt to say that he didn’t care; had no intention of waking up, much less becoming active. Unfortunately, all he could produce was an unintelligible, “Mmph.� He rolled over and placed a limp hand over his ear. Please, go away… please…

“Remus!� the voice was now indignant.

It fell silent. Thank you, God… please keep the voice away from me and let me slee-

WHOMPH.

Remus groaned as a pillow was swung heavily into the side of his head and opened his eyes. He was just in time to see a dark shape flying at his head.

WHOMPH.

He rolled over to see Lily Evans, dressed in a floral bathrobe and holding a pillow over her head.

WHOMPH. Lily brought the overstuffed pillow crashing down on his head. “Wake up!� she commanded.

“Evans?� James mumbled thickly. He picked up Lily’s wand, still glowing at the tip, from the bedside table and stared at her. “What in Merlin’s name are you doing?�

Lily socked Remus again. “I needed to wake him up,� she explained irritably. “That Muggle is performing some sort of occult ceremony down in the Commons and I’m not taking that freak on alone.�

“Yeah, but did you have to take my pillow?� James yawned widely. “I was having a nice dream, you know, before you woke me up.�

Lily flung the pillow into James’s face. “If you want to back me up too, you’re more than welcome,� she snarled. “But we need to hurry, and we need to be quiet.�

She picked up her wand and walked out the door. James glared at the retreating figure, and then at Remus.

“Moony,� he said seriously, “why was she here?�

Remus’s feet searched for his slippers. “I don’t know,� he said. “Francesca, most likely. They said that she would be brought to the Commons and stay there for the night. No doubt she’s already causing trouble,� he added resentfully.

Lily’s head swung back in. “If you don’t come down right now, you’ll be very sorry. Honestly. What good is a Prefect if he doesn’t help maintain order?�

James rolled his eyes expressively and they followed her out the door.

The three of them stepped onto the floor just in front of the stairs to the boys’ dormitory. Lily put a finger to her lips and motioned towards the fireplace. All of the armchairs had been grouped together very tightly in a ring that was facing inwards. In the dying light of the fire, they could see a pair of feet sticking straight up into the air. In a low, throaty voice, someone was saying, “The busses led us correctly from death to death as we lost more of our flesh each time. The day I loved you, the bells rang and… and…� the feet wobbled. “Oh, yeah, and the troops rolled by, changing their long body continuously before us, changing the sun into copper and bronze roses that tore the skin…�

Remus glared at Lily sourly. “Stop me if I'm wrong, but this doesn't look like an occult ceremony!�

“Oh, shut up!� Lily hissed. She softly stepped out of the shadow in the stairway, tiptoeing around the back of the ring. She knelt behind a particularly large armchair and glanced over the edge cautiously.

“It’s just a Muggle,� James muttered.

Remus shrugged and dodged out of the shadows. He scuttled over to the circle of armchairs and crouched behind one, peering through the gap in the chairs. James settled near him, directly behind Francesca.

She was in a handstand, facing the fire and reciting a piece of poetry determinedly. Every so often she would stall out and wobble before catching herself.

“The hubbub around us, the lines breaking, everyone celebrating his own destruction. Girls cut their hair with bayonets, and… and… oh, crap.� She teetered dangerously and tumbled backwards onto the carpet. “Oww,� she whined. “Why is everything happening to me all of a sudden?� She looked up at the ceiling and spread her hands out pleadingly. “I mean, come on. Bad karma? Evil star? Giant cosmic plan?�

“‘Giant cosmic plan.’ She sounds like Professor Trelawny,� Lily muttered. She turned to them and asked, “do you think that she knows we’re here?�

James levitated the table a good three feet and sent it crashing down. Francesca jumped and tried to get up, only to bang her head against the table. “Oww!�

“Yes.� James sprang over the armchairs and yanked Francesca to her feet roughly.

Francesca screamed and punched James in the jaw. “Get away from me, you stupid Death Eater!�

James pointed his wand at her and snarled, “Stupefy!� The spell sunk into her shoulder and she arched smoothly down to the floor, a terrified, angry expression glued to her face.

“James!� Lily wailed. “Are you mad?�

“No, but she is,� he said, rubbing his jaw angrily. “What the hell is her problem?�

“Well, she was obviously scared,� Lily snapped irritably. “Honestly, if you thought as fast as you acted-�

“Don’t start on me,� he growled. “Evans, have you ever heard of a gut reaction? When you’re attacked you defend yourself, it’s completely knee-jerk.�

“Exactly, that’s what she was doing!� Lily gave a frustrated grunt and pushed James roughly out of the way, kneeling over Francesca’s body. She pointed her wand and snapped, “Ennervate.�

Francesca’s eyes jolted awake and she sat up very quickly, swearing. “I’ve really screwed up this time, haven’t I?�

“What’d you hit me for?� James said indignantly.

“Maybe if you hadn’t started crashing things around!� Francesca looked in his direction and froze. “You are James,� she said unnecessarily. She scrambled to her feet and took a few steps back.

“They thought that I was only one little nonmagical girl,� she said, obviously trying to steady her voice. “They paid for that one, big time. I am not going to go down quietly.� She crouched a bit and raised her fists to her chest. “I’m not going to go down at all quietly.�

“Nice display,� Remus said wearily. “Look, we’re tired, and you’re probably tired too. Just tell us what you were doing and we’ll leave you alone.�

She looked at them incredulously. “Um,� she said, clearly thinking it a stupid question, “I was standing on my head and reciting poetry.�

“Why?�

“I couldn’t sleep.� Her eyebrows crinkled. “Why are you guys up?�

“Evans.� James rolled his eyes again. “She woke us up because you were worrying her.�

“And why was Lily Evans up?� she asked.

“I was hungry,� Lily said flatly. “I was going to go to the kitchens and then I heard her spewing utter nonsense.�

“Oh, yeah, I sensed you,� she said. “Now. Is that all you wanted?�

Lily sat down on the coffee table and looked at her. “Francesca…�

“Cesi,� Francesca corrected her.

“What?�

“My friends call me Cesi. They have since first grade.�

“Cesi, all right,� Lily conceded. “Well, I was wondering…�

“How I got my scars?� she asked wryly. “No, I can’t read your thoughts,� she added, “but your soul is practically screaming it. Various Death Eaters kinda… blasted it apart.� She winced. “It was way painful.�

“Wait a minute,� Remus said slowly. “You couldn’t be cut like that and live without medical attention. You would bleed out. You should be dead right now.�

“Not exactly,� Cesi said. “Going through a circle –that’s what I call the little what-cha-ma-call-ems, the time bubbles- will heal you enough so that you can live normally, but it doesn’t completely take away the injury. For example, it can heal a broken bone, but it can’t make a scar disappear. Make sense?�

“No.�

“Oh, well,� she said. “Look, I don’t really feel like talking about this, okay? Post-traumatic stress disorder, anybody? I’ll tell you some other time.�

“What about your eyes?� James asked brusquely. “What happened to them?�

“What about my eyes?� she asked curiously. “What happened to them?�

“You have no pupils!� he burst out.

“Oh.� She laughed with very little mirth. “That. That’s the circles. Going through them too many times causes you to go blind. As you lose your sight, you develop your seventh sense, which is sensing circles and reading souls and stuff. It’s weird, I know.�

“If the circle thing is your seventh sense, what’s your sixth?� Lily asked.

“Gut instinct,� Cesi shrugged. “We all have six senses. I guess the seventh is just a very powerful form of the sixth.�

“And what, exactly, are ‘circles’?�

“Something well beyond our powers of reasoning,� she said blandly. “I’ll explain later. I’m tired. So, if you don’t mind-� she flopped down on the floor, “-I’d like to get some sleep. You can stay down here if you like, but talk quietly, okay?�

They nodded numbly. Cesi rolled onto her side and closed her eyes.

Lily looked up. “Now what?� she whispered.

“Now, nothing,� James said, rumpling his hair and yawning. “Now we go back to bed. In the morning, we nab her early and we ask her why You-Know-Who wants her. Tomorrow is Monday, so I have History of Magic first- we can question her then.�

They all burst into dry laughter.

“A Muggle,� Remus snorted. “Right. Muggles don’t have powers, Professor. Wizards can’t do… whatever she did. How could a Muggle do what a wizard can’t?�

“She is one of the rare few who can wield a power beyond a wizard’s grasp,� Dumbledore said easily. “Mr. Lupin, please do not think that we are the only magical ones in the world.�

“I don’t,� Remus snapped, nettled at Dumbledore’s overly patient tone. “Professor, will you please just tell us who she is? And what she is, and why she’s here?�

Professor Dumbledore handed him a scrap of parchment. “This is her full name,� he explained, “and it is not to be spoken aloud under any circumstances.�

Remus looked at the piece of paper. Francesca Reynolds was written on it in neat, loopy letters.

“As you might imagine,� Dumbledore explained, “she is hardly the only girl named “Francesca� in the world, so it would be of little use to You-Know-Who to place the Taboo on her first name alone. “Reynolds� is also not uncommon, which is why it is only her full name that alerts You-Know-Who’s followers to her whereabouts. As she may be with us for some time, I must ask that you refrain from calling them to the school. As for what she is…� he fell silent.

“Well?� James asked impatiently.

“I only know a little, I’m afraid,� the old professor said, not looking at them. “But I do know that, while there is no official name for people such as them, this young lady has the ability to travel into pockets of a past time. To put it more simply…� he paused, thinking. “There are small bubbles all over the world containing a bit of time that was sealed within them. While the rest of the world moves on, they stay frozen. They are invisible, intangible, and cannot be accessed without the aid of one of Miss Reynolds’s kind. Does that make some sense?�

“Um, no,� Peter said flatly. “That makes no sense at all.�

“Be that as it may,� Dumbledore said, “it doesn’t matter at the moment. I know you will not like this, but I’m afraid that this girl must be protected at all costs.� He glared over his glasses at the students. “All costs. She is important and I’m very much afraid that Ms. Evans is right; Voldemort does want this girl, and badly. Therefore, I have decided to use your influence in this school to protect her.�

He motioned towards them. “You five are among the most popular people in this school. Yes,� he smiled, “I do know this. Mr. Black, please do not look so surprised… believe it or not, I do have some idea of my students’ social standings.�

McGonagall took a large stainless-steel bowl from one of Madame Pomfrey’s many medical cabinets and placed it sharply on a little table. She plunged a hand into the pocket of her robes and withdrew a pouch. The teenagers watched her, fascinated, as she poured black pebble-like things into the bowl.

“Excuse me,� Dumbledore said sternly, dragging their attention away from McGonagall, who was now poking the pebbles with her wand. “You have power in this school, do you understand me? If you can impress on your peers that the girl needs to be protected, they will protect her. If you do not, then they will not. Do not let her become an outcast, or we may soon find You-Know-Who at our door.�

The professor stood up and motioned at the bowl. “Gather round, now,� he said. “I think you’d best have a good look at her before we send her up. She will be staying in the Gryffindor Commons tonight until we can find a more suitable place.�

They got to their feet and shuffled over. Remus was jostled to the edge of the crowd. He watched the pebbles melt into an image of the interior of Hagrid’s hut and fumed. Become friends with her? He didn’t want to protect the girl; he wanted to avenge himself and get rid of her for good.

Remus peered over Peter’s shoulder and looked at the picture. No sound was emitting from it, although it did have a funny smell, like burning feathers. He saw that Francesca, having taken the ridiculous shawl off, was absently petting Hagrid’s new boarhound puppy. Fang was wagging his tail and looking adoringly at her, his pink tongue lolling out.

Remus squeezed in between James and Peter and leaned in for a closer look. Although he couldn’t see her face, he now noticed that Francesca had very short brown hair that looked as if it had been expertly hacked off with blunt razor blades. She had probably done the damage herself, with that steak knife of hers.

Lily looked up. “She doesn’t look so bad to me…�

“Yeah, yeah,� Remus grumbled sulkily. Why did Lily have to give everyone a chance? Merlin only knew that some people just didn’t deserve one.

“Oh, come on,� Lily said earnestly.

“Dogs bring out the best in everyone,� Sirius pointed out, a note of pride in his voice. Showoff.

Remus glared at him. They were supposed to be providing a united front here.

James suddenly swore quite loudly, breaking up the conversation. Neither of the professors seemed to notice.

“Oh, Albus…� Professor McGonagall murmured. “What happened to her face?�

Remus looked back at the picture. Francesca had turned around and was now staring at them. There were three very deep, very wide gashes that spanned the distance from her forehead to her jaw. The outermost two sliced straight across both of her eyes, although, for some reason, the eyes themselves were unscarred. They were set rather wide, almost an inch apart, with ragged edges. All three were a horrid mauve-black color, and they couldn’t have been more than a few days old. Remus shivered. They looked like the sort of gashes that an animal with large claws could inflict. Animals like werewolves.

“Merlin,� Peter said. “Look at her eyes.�

Remus stared harder. Francesca’s eyes were a very light brown, the color of diluted Firewhiskey. They were very large, and quite deep. Endless. Yes, that was definitely the word. They were endless, unmarred. There was nothing to break the color. No freckles, no odd streaks-

“No pupils,� Lily whimpered. “Oh, my God. She has no pupils.� She shuddered and gripped James’s arm. “She has no pupils,� she squeaked, shaking him a bit. James winced as her spangled pink fingernails dug through the sleeves of his robes.

“Well,� Sirius said in grim cheerfulness, breaking the short pause, “I think we can all agree that she’s the Devil, or at least his secretary. Doubtless she holds some high position in his hierarchy.�

Francesca’s image stared up at them. She smiled, causing her face to split horribly, and gave them the thumbs-up. Fang jumped up and happily slobbered all over her mutilated face, causing her to laugh and close her eyes against the onslaught. This only made the scars ripple across her face even more. It seemed as though the skin would tear at any moment.

Dumbledore rapped his wand in a businesslike manner against the bowl, and it vanished in a cloud of bitter-smelling smoke. “Like it or not, that is now the most important assignment that you have. I’m afraid that it may stay this way for quite a while, unless something should happen. She will sleep in the Gryffindor Common room tonight.� He walked toward the door with alarming speed and paused at the doorway. “Oh, and one more thing? Do not allow her to get into fights, particularly ones where physical blows will be exchanged. She does not have total control of her temper.�

Remus dragged himself down to the Great Hall the next morning. Maybe it wasn’t the brightest idea he had ever had, looking out the window in the Three Broomsticks yesterday afternoon. Maybe if he had never seen Cesi, none of this would’ve happened. And if none of this had ever happened, then Lily Evans wouldn’t have repeatedly hit him with James’s overstuffed pillow.

Remus pushed his light brown hair out of pale blue eyes and sat down. His friends were already there, drowning their pancakes in maple syrup and massacring their sausages.

He poured himself a bowl of Owl-Os, whihc hooted at him indignantly as he liberally poured milk over them. His friends had long since declared Owl-Os to be disgusting, but Remus wasn’t terribly fond of meat. This was mostly because it reminded him that he might do the same thing –shovel meat into his mouth ravenously- someday, and the victim could be anyone. Anyone at all. Werewolves did not know good from bad, right from wrong. They were all claws and crazed hunger.

And as for the pancakes… well, it was very easy to lose one’s appetite for pancakes when one spent nearly every morning watching three people down stacks of them, each cake brittle from the amount of sugar that was crystallizing them into solid disks.

He shook his head. Diabetics in the making.

Sirius waved a sausage by way of greeting, his cheeks stuffed with pancake.

“You okay, Moony?� Peter asked. “You look a bit pale.�

Remus suddenly pushed away the bowl and dropped his head onto the table, groaning loudly.

“Forget an assignment?� James asked.

“No,� Remus mumbled into his arms. “It’s that stupid Cesi.� He scrambled to his feet. “I’m going out for a walk.�

He turned around and stumbled towards the door angrily. Why him? Why him? Why did he always have to get himself into messes like this? Why was he the loser who was woken up on the stupid middle of the night to deal with a stupid psychotic loser of a Muggle?

Because he was a stupid psychotic loser of a wizard. Duh. Perhaps if he, the stupid psychotic loser, got away for a bit and spent some time alone, he wouldn’t have to zone out through his morning classes in a desperate attempt to recharge. He had to get to the doors. Had to get to the doors. Just thought the doors was a nice, quiet castle surrounded by nice, quiet grounds. Nice and quiet. Quiet. He just had to make it though those doors and then he would be free, free to think, free to focus his thoughts and decide on the next course of action concerning-

“Remus, could you come here for a minute?�

Remus grimaced at the ceiling. There. That proved it. He was cursed. The sky hated him. So much for the quick escape.

Wearily, he turned around and walked over to where Lily Evans was sitting. She was surrounded by her friends, who were chattering animatedly and were obviously oblivious to how much Remus hated the clamor that they were producing.

Lily hopped out of her seat, oblivious to his irritation, and walked over to him. “Remus, I want to know why You-Know-Who is after Cesi.�

“So do I, but I don’t think that’s likely,� Remus nodded. “I know this sounds really clichéd, but you saw how she acted last night. She’s scared, she thinks that Death Eaters are everywhere. How are we going to get her to say anything?�

“I know what you mean. And then she wouldn’t talk about any of it. And now she’s disappeared.�

“What?� he yelled, causing several bystanders to jump.

“She’s gone, and she wasn’t in Hagrid’s hut, either.�

Remus thought for a minute and finally said, “I’ll find out if she’s on the grounds, and then we can talk to her together in the library, where there are lots of witnesses. It’ll be safer that way.�

“Here,� Lily said. She withdrew the Muggle pen that she had stuck in her ponytail and grabbed Remus’s slight, bony hand. “I’m writing down the times that I have free today,� she explained, scribbling on his palm, “and the classes that I’d be more than happy to skip.� She retracted the tip on the pen and stabbed it back into her hair. “Get to me when you can, okay?� She flashed a smile and went back to the table.

Remus nodded and looked at his palm. Lily was, apparently, not terribly fond of a lot of her classes. He noticed that Divination had been underlined, with the letters ‘pls’ in parenthesis.

***

Remus wandered around the lake lazily, wishing that he had the Map. Sirius had stolen it to evade detention the other night and had promptly forgotten where he had set it down.

Typical Padfoot. He would just set an important tool down and not remember where it was. What was next? The Cloak? Remus fervently hoped not.

And Cesi. What was he going to do about her, anyway? He didn’t even know what she was. A wizard? A Muggle? Something from a sort of Limbo between magical and nonmagical, a place where people got weird, vague talents that slowly killed them if they used them?

He would just have to ask her, he decided miserably. It wasn’t something that he was looking forward to. He already had a headache. Any explanations from Cesi in the future were likely to make his head explode.

Maybe part of possessing the seventh sense was the ability to grasp huge, twisted concepts. That could explain it.

Or, on the other hand, maybe she couldn’t understand any of it, and had gone crazy a long time ago. She probably had post-traumatic stress disorder. That might have also driven her over the edge.

Remus shivered against the bitter January wind. The more that he thought about it, the more he worried. What if she had other tricks up her sleeve? No one could come close to the various tortures and weapons that Muggles had come up with over the centuries. Wizards weren’t that original. They had their three Unforgivable Curses and hundreds of minor spells, but those had been invented a long time ago. Muggles were always thinking up new things, new ways to hurt and kill.

The other scary thing about Muggles was that there was no way to stop their weapons. You could block a hex with a Shield Charm, but even the strongest Shield Charm couldn’t save you from a –what was it again? Oh, right- a bullet. Bullets were fast- so fast that you died before your brain realized it. And all you could do was pray that your attacker had lousy aim.

A thought sparked in the back of Remus’s brain. Maybe, the annoying little voice said, that’s how Muggles feel when they’re attacked by wizards. Like there’s nothing that they can do except hope for a good conscience and bad aim.

Remus settled down on the shore. He didn’t feel like going to History of Magic. No one would mind if he skipped class just this once. Well, James might mind, since that meant that he would have to take notes for himself, instead of copying Remus’s.

But Remus didn’t consider that to be particularly consequential at the moment. His brain was already filled with questions that he had to sort out. He needed quiet. He needed solitude. And furthermore, he could not possibly care less about troll wars. Not when he had more pressing issues on his mind. Why did You-Know-Who want this Muggle? What had she done? What could she do? Why not just kill her right away?

Remus groaned and threw himself back onto the frozen earth. He had such a headache.