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The students who happen to be on the steps of Hogwarts' staircase step aside to let the two professors carry, by hand, a wardrobe with mirror doors.

Elaine breathes heavily as they slowly reach the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom, "Explain to me, again, why can't we just use magic?" She tiredly questions. Lupin instead, although he has droplets of sweat on his forehead and his breath is slightly altered, seems to be serene and, in fact, he chuckles.

"I don't want any unforeseen things to happen, you never know when a Boggart's gonna run away from it's hideout- again." He explains, throwing an amused glance at the brunette who snorts and rolls her eyes, "It happened once, and it wasn't even my fault. At least our father took care of it."

Remus taunts her slightly, then the two fall into silence and take the last steps until they reach the classroom. Elaine releases a long sigh of relief and eyes the man, "Why didn't you ask Snape?" She questions, shaking pieces of dust from her robe. Lupin looks at her with a raised eyebrow, "That man has hated me since 1971, I think he would have thrown the wardrobe at me at the very least least,"

The woman laughs and shakes her head, glancing at the closet. The creature inside wiggles fiercely, swinging the furniture from one side to the other, "I've always hated Boggarts." Elaine says, narrowing her eyes.

Remus approaches, "Nobody likes them, I'm afraid. It's not exactly nice to face your fear..." he says, ending in a whisper. 

The two look at the closet for a while longer, then Remus clears his throat, "Do you think he escaped for revenge?" He asks hesitantly. Elaine raises an eyebrow and looks at the man next to her in confusion.

"Revenge for what? He's done all the wrong he could, don't you think so?" She retorts, but she doesn't give Remus time to reply, "And you should be much more convinced than I am. Isn't that so, Remus?"

The man contemplates his friend's words then sighs, "I don't know what to think." He begins.

"Twelve years have gone by. And even now I don't know what to do, I still can't believe it happened, it's all so confused..." He explains, passing a hand on his forehead, temporarily hiding his green eyes, but with a golden shade visible under the light.

The brunette smiles and looks down, "And yet, twelve years ago, you were the angry one and I was the confused one," Remus gives another laugh, then shakes his head.

He stays quiet for a few seconds then looks at his friend, "How about chatting in front of a Butterbeer? Hogsmeade's first weekend, maybe. You know, to reminish the old days," he suggests, stuttering slightly and holding a hand on the back of his neck, a habit he always had when he was nervous or embarrassed.

Elaine smiles amusedly, "I'd better go, but yes, I'd love to." She accepts, then approaches the door and gives one last look to her friend, "Good luck Remus, I bet you'll do a great job for your first lesson."

And with a last smile she turns away. Leaving the man alone with his thoughts.

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The 31-year-old puffs, rubbing her cashmere covered hands, trying to create a minimum of heat, her cheeks are slightly pink from the cold. Her eyes stare at the front door from the main entrance of Hogwarts with anticipation.

Finally the figure of Lupin makes its appearance, Elaine rolls her eyes while a small smile makes room on her lips, "I thought you had forgotten me here." She comments, the man smiles.

"Maybe I remembered at the last minute," he jokes, together they walk towards Hogsmeade's village. Elaine's arm intertwined with his.

Remus's smile diminishes slightly, "I was with Harry." He explains, Elaine sighs slightly, "The resemblance is frightening isn't it?" She questions.

The man releases a small exhausted laugh and shakes his head, "Oh yes, I feel like I traveled  back in time."

And so the two joke and laugh remembering the past and in the blink of an eye they're found at the Three Broomsticks.

They sit in a corner of the inn and Madame Rosmerta joins them, giving them a little smile, "Do I have to worry about seeing a Treacle Tart explode?" She questions, preparing the pen over the small notebook and looking at the brunette with apprehension and a little fun.

A shocked silence floods them. After a moment, Remus covers his lips with one hand, reducing his laugh to a muffled murmur, a slight redness is visible on Elaine's cheeks, who lowers her eyes and tries to hide the embarrassed smile, "I forgot about that little accident..." She whispers.

Madame Rosmerta bites her lip, "I, however, remember it very well. At least I was able to convince Dumbledore not to have you in here at the same time." She goes on, then gives the two a furtive last look, "How can I serve you?". Remus and Elaine look at each other, holding back their laughter.

"For me, a glass of Gillywater and a slice of your excellent Treacle Tart, thank you," Elaine orders, Madame Rosmerta takes the note and then points her eyes at the man, "And what about you?"

Lupin presses his back against the back of the chair and thinks for a few seconds, "I'll take a slice of Treacle Tart, too, and some Butterbeer." The owner of the inn smiles and shakes her head, then carefully looks at the two in front of her, an amused light in her irises, "Just like the old days eh?" She asks.

She does not even wait for a response and moves away from the duo to tend to other customers. The two adults look at each other, "I still remember Professor McGonagall's wrath." Remus comments, Elaine shakes her head, "And I remember Euphemia Potter's anger, it was the longest two months of being grounded, ever,"

"No Quidditch or potions for the rest of your life!" They both recite, laughing again. Their eyes meet for the umpteenth time, "And to say that's the tip of the iceberg of everything we've done..."

"Remember when I burned James' Hogsmeade authorization for revenge?" Asks the brunette, Remus laughs, "Oh yes, he wasn't very happy," Elaine smiles, but notices the melancholy in her friend's eyes.

"What is it?" She questions, Remus meets her gaze, "I was just thinking..."

Elaine raises an eyebrow while waiting, Remus puts his hand on his face, "It's just- I'm sorry that Harry can't experience Hogsmeade like we did, all because he doesn't have anyone to sign his authorization." The man glances at her, like he's implying something.

In the hazel eyes of the 31-year-old there is a sinister glow, the smile on her lips turns into a neutral line, the woman sighs slightly, "Don't start, Remus." The man remains silent for a few seconds, "Why didn't you try?" He asks.

The brunette frowns, "You know exactly why. You were there with James, weren't you?" She asks sharply, Remus looks down, Madame Rosmerta joins them and puts their orders on the table, before she can leave, Elaine stops her.

"Can you pack the tart for me, please? I have a lot of work to do, so I better get back to the castle soon." Requests the brunette, giving one last look to Lupin.

Then she grabs her coin purse and grabs six Galleons and places them on the center of the table. "Don't worry, it's on me. Enjoy your meal." She adds with a contemptuous tone, before getting up, heading towards the counter to collect the tart and return to the castle.

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Apparently, Sirius Black is still the utterly reckless boy he once was. Of course, going inside Hogwarts in the evening and scaring off The Fat Lady painting is considered more stupid than reckless.

Dumbledore has ordered all students to sleep in the Great Hall for the night, while the professors search the castle from top to bottom to find traces of the criminal.

Professor McGonagall and Elaine are located near the Gryffindor Tower, checking the perimeter for any trace of the wanted man, "He hasn't changed." The brunette comments in a disappointed and tired tone, the old witch nods slightly, then approaches the torn painting of the Fat Lady.

"So, you've seen Sirius Black?" Professor McGonagall asks the painting, inspecting more closely the lacerations, the Fat Lady releases an exaggerated sigh then she passes a hand on her forehead, as if only the memory made her lose her breath, "Yes!" She exclaims.

Elaine raises an eyebrow, "What exactly did you see?" She questions, crossing her arms, the painting squints and frowns, imitating the brunette woman's position, "Are you doubting my words, Slytherin?" 

The brunette rolls her eyes and scoffs, "Do you want to talk with one way or the other?" She threateningly questions, Professor McGonagall clears her throat and gives her a scolding look, "Ladies. Order, please. So, ma'am, would you kindly give us this information?"

The Fat Lady releases some high vocal notes, clearing her throat it would seem, then approaches the two with her face and lowers her voice, "I saw two large predatory eyes, a murderous look! A macabre aura! Like the devil himself!" She exclaims, raising her voice a few octaves to every adjective directed at Sirius.

Elaine scoffs at her, "Oh please, you're exaggerating." She says, the painting releases an outraged scream, "You, Slytherin, dare to call me a liar?!" The Fat Lady angrily questions, Professor McGonagall sighs exhausted.

"That's enough. Thank you very much, ma'am. Elaine, let's go." She snaps, then, without even waiting for an answer from the two, she grabs the arm of the 31-year-old and drags her towards the Grand Staircase.

"For an adult, you still act like you're 12." Scolds the older witch, then they finally slow down, "So, what do you think?" She questions, changing the topic.

The brunette slightly inhales, "I just have one question, why the Gryffindor Common Room when there is no one?" 

A silence makes its way between the two, then both hurry to the headmaster's office.

At that moment, a slight warmth fills Elaine's heart, perhaps hope or relief, in any case, small. What is Sirius Black doing? Maybe he's not after Harry like they thought... 

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The green Scotland mountains glow with an almost magical natural aura, showing to the eyes of the on lookers, almost, a new world.

Among these mountains there is a village in particular, a little further away from it stands an immense country villa with decorations recalling nature, vines creeping up on the balconies railings, huge pots of exotic plants surround the garden along with giant shady palms.

It is a hot summer morning, in 1976, early June to be exact. A calm envelops the external environment of the house.

A younger Elaine emerges from under the gigantic double bed covered with green and silver sheets, an expression of anger and frustration painted on her face.

The 14-year-old sighs loudly then stands up and runs to the door, without even looking back to close it, she hurries to the other side of the long hallway full of family photos and vases. 

She gets in front of a wooden door with a sign on it saying 'MARAUDERS ONLY" Next to the writing is the charmed image of a green snake being stepped on. The brunette doesn't even mind knocking and with a violent tap of the wand on the doorknob she opens the door abruptly.

"James! Give me back my-" But she doesn't have time to finish the sentence that she stops and her eyes widen, in front of her is a large stag with two long and powerful horns, next to him a big black dog with yellow eyes. 

The girl's face gradually pales and her hands begin to shake, a frightened scream comes out of her lips, she immediately turns to run away while, strangely, a series of steps chases her.

"Elaine, wait!" Exclaims the voice of her brother, he and Sirius, his best friend, join her and when they both reach for her, Elaine stumbles and all three end up tumbling down the stairs with a big thud.

Euphemia Potter rushes from her room, her husband Fleamont just behind her, and they both look shocked from the top of the stairs looking at the three teenagers lying downstairs. " Oh Zeus! What happened here?" The mother asks.

The two adults rush over the kids to make sure they are okay, Sirius is the first to grumble, "I think I hit my arm hard." He comments, sitting down with the help of Fleamont, who soon after helps James sit up, Euphemia, instead, immediately tends to Elaine.

"Darling, what happened? We heard your scream..." Worriedly questions the mother of the kids, the fourteen-year-old rubs her neck and glances at the two sixteen-year-olds who look at her hopefully, Elaine looks at her father, who's also waiting.

The little girl takes a deep breath and strains an embarrassed laugh, continuing to rub her neck, "Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. It's just that opening the door to the room and seeing them come out of nowhere is not the best way to wake up." She explains, smiling and showing her slightly reddened cheeks.

Fleamont chuckles and then helps the two boys get up, "When will you stop making these pranks?" He comments, Euphemia shakes her head, "You could have been seriously injured."

James smiles widely, "It didn't happen, you all right, Sirius?" He questions, the boy laughs and nods, then their eyes shift to the little girl, "And you Elle? Nothing broken, right?" The brunet questions, "Why were you in our room anyway?

Elaine narrows her eyes, "You took my crystal ball. Give it back." She imposes, the two look at each other guiltily and then run to the stairs in the direction of their room, the fourteen-year-old goes to chase them but Fleamont Potter grabs her immediately.

"Not so fast ma'am, first we have to check your neck, you've fallen pretty bad," Says Euphemia, already holding the briefcase with all the necessary potions.

The brunette scoffs annoyed and lets herself get dragged reluctantly towards the living room.

[. . .] 

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