By letting Lily in on her 'secret', Ophelia felt the week passed easier than any previous week. Each day Lily would, unobserved, teach Ophelia some basics of the Wizarding World; these were things like fashion, games such as gobstones or slang. Although seemingly little details to some, they were major to Ophelia and it allowed her to feel more a part of this world.

Soon it was the weekend again and Ophelia was sat waiting with Minnie in her office for their Portkey to be ready.

"So, we just hold it and it transports us somewhere?" Ophelia questioned, staring at the golden hair brush in front of her.

"Yes dear, it's a form of transportation. We can't apparate whilst in Hogwarts, but we can use a portkey." The clock chimed 11am. "Now on the count of three we take hold of it, are you ready?" Ophelia responded with a nod.

"One, Two, Three."

Ophelia wasn't sure exactly what to expect from the 'transportation', but she didn't expect it to be quite so unsettling. Rather suddenly she felt the floor disappear from beneath her and her feet be dragged in an unknown direction. Her body felt like it was being twisted and pulled at the same time through a whirlwind of colours. Before Ophelia had chance to even take the moment in, her feet were grounded again; that was until she felt dizzy and slipped to her knees.

"Sorry dear, it's not the most agreeable mode of transport." Minerva stood straight, not a piece of clothing askew or a hair out of place from the abrupt travel. She reached her hand out to help Ophelia up, which Ophelia greatly accepted.

"And we have to do that again?" Ophelia pushed down the sickly burp that was forcing itself up.

"Unfortunately we do, we must return to here by 2pm." Minerva placed the brush behind a rock just in case any muggles did decide they wanted to take home the object.

"Where exactly is here?" Ophelia took the moment to take in the location. Brick walls were on either side of Ophelia, a long stretch of cobbles beneath her that lead to what looked like a busy road.

"A backstreet of London, we are only a minute walk from the studio you want to visit."

"Wow! Ok, let me just put my hood up, hopefully it will be enough to hide me for the short journey." Ophelia pulled the hood up and began to walk to the bustling road. "Oh I see where we are, we just need to go left here."

They were soon in front of the building that had been a part of Ophelia's memories for years; both good and the bad. The building was beautifully detailed in red brick, reaching four storeys high. These walls were covered in steel framed windows, some arched, others simple. On top of the building was a modern juxtaposition to the classic Victorian factory, a curved glass roof. Yet it managed not to look out of place due the already vast amount of glazing covering the building. The building was utterly gorgeous and Ophelia had definitely missed the sight.

Reaching her hand forward, Ophelia placed her finger just above the door handle into a little groove.

"It's fingerprint recognition Minnie." Ophelia had noticed Minnie trying to study what she was doing. "I'm hoping I might be on the system still." A small click indicated Ophelia still was so she proceeded to type six digits on the touchscreen pad above where the groove was.

"This is all rather, enthralling." Minerva spoke, of course she knew some basics of Muggles but she hadn't realised how out of touch she had become. "Do you muggles not use the archetypal lock and key?"

"Many still do, this is rather advanced security. Ensures no chance of unwanted people to break in. They would need a registered finger print and our unique chosen code to enter. Well I say unique, Miss Mills ensured it had something to do with our career." Ophelia pushed the door open as it buzzed a second time, indicating it was unlocked.

"May I ask what yours was?" Minerva followed Ophelia inside and once the door shut she could faintly hear classical music playing.

"060513. The date I performed in my first West End show, I played a young Cosette." Ophelia smiled at the memory, as horrid as our home life was, that joyful feeling of being on stage was never tainted.

"You'll have to tell me all about these shows one day." Minerva smiled to the teenager.

"I'll take you to one! Not one of mine but just a classic musical, I could see you enjoying The Phantom of the Opera." Ophelia took a few steps forward, passing just two doors - one a toilet and the other a waiting room. "Normally I would be able to get us through this next door, but I don't have my key card so we will have to ring and wait for security." Ophelia rang the bell on the door in front.

"Security?" Minerva responded with a quizzical look across her face.

"Yes, for starters we are in London and a lot of large building have security. But the main reason for here is because there are a lot of well-known people who attend the studio, they need to ensure they're kept safe from the crazy fans, haters or worse the paparazzi." Ophelia finished, it felt rather strange to be educating Minnie, she was so used to it being the other way round.

"Well well well, if isn't Miss Lia Montgomery." The door opened to reveal a rather large middle aged man - at least 6ft 7inches tall and a figure like a bodybuilder. He wore a black suit, no creases in sight. A shiny bald head and black sunglasses completed his look.

"Well well well if it isn't T-Rex, I see you still wear sunglasses indoors." Ophelia cracked a smile to the man in front.

"It's good to see you squirt - what brings you back?"

"I need to see Miss Mills."

"I see, well you know the way. She's in Studio A." 'T-Rex' stepped aside to let Ophelia passed, but then stopped in front of Minnie.

"It's ok T, she's with me, she's my guardian." Ophelia spoke softly. T-Rex didn't respond or even look at Minerva, he just stepped aside once more and let her pass. As the two left the man behind and began to descend the stairs did the silence break.

"That gentleman made Hagrid look very chummy." Minerva spoke.

"Oh he's definitely a lot scarier than Hagrid when he needs to be, but just like Hagrid he's a teddy bear on the inside."

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Back at Hogwarts, James appeared extremely lost without Ophelia, even though they didn't usually spend their weekends together.

"Lilyyyyyyyyyy." James sang as he hopped down the stairs to the common room mid morning.

"No, the answer is no I will not go out with you Potter." Lily continued to read, not lifting her head up to acknowledge James.

"Um, good to know. But that wasn't what I was going to ask."

"Really?"

"Yep. I wanted to know where FiFi is."

"Fi," Lily exaggerated the pronunciation to mock James' use of the extended nickname, "is having a family day with Professor McGonagall." Lily did actually know where Ophelia was but she had sworn to keep it to herself.

"Oh, when is she back." James pouted like a baby.

"This afternoon I believe, why do you care so much?" Lily snapped the question ever so slightly, a twist-like feeling happening in her stomach.

"Okayyyyyyyyyy." James held his hand up in mock surrender. "Not like it's important to you, I just worry about her a bit seeing as she's still new."

"Is that all you feel James?" Lily placed her book down, not usually engaging in this much of a conversation with James.

"Hey, you called me James!" James eyes lit up, only to be dulled by a scowl forming on Lily's face. "Sorry, um, ok don't laugh at me here. But, I know we've only know Fi for what nearly three months? Yet it seems like I've known her for longer, it's like we were meant to meet? I was such a cock to her when we first met and honestly I don't know why, but now I think maybe there was a reason?" He ruffled his hair nervously, keeping his eyes down on his feet. "I dunno I'm not really into all this spiritual stuff or whatever Muggles call it but it's like the universe knew I wanted a sister."

"Oh." Lily felt her stomach unclench and her shoulders droop down.

"You think I'm stupid."

"Actually I don't, I think that's rather sweet James and maybe you should tell her?" Lily offered a smile, willingly.

"Nope not happening I'll scare her aware, and don't tell Sirius or Peter about this either because they will blurt it out." James turned to leave before turning back around, realising something he hadn't before. "Wait. You got all worked up a minute ago, did you think I fancied Fi?"

"I, n-no!" Lily stuttered the words out her mouth.

"Don't worry, I won't ever stop wanting you." James sent a wink at the end of the sentence.

"Oh piss off Potter."

"You love me really Lily flower." 

Whilst the two finished their unexpected conversation, they both failed to notice someone else listening in intently.

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"Girls, what are you doing? Those legs are about as straight as Elton John." A booming female voice came from the room just a few metres away from the pair. Minerva stopped in her tracks, taken aback by the rather aggressive statement, even if she didn't know who this 'Elton John' was. Ophelia however continued walking, entirely unfazed by the sudden outburst.

"She's in a good mood if she made a joke." Ophelia looked back at Minnie with a reassuring smile, maybe to soothe herself more than Minnie. Gently she knocked on the door.

"This better be important, enter." A grumble came from the other side. Ophelia pushed the door open.

"Am I important enough?" Ophelia smirked at Miss Mills, then changed into a smile to the kids in the studio. "Missed me?"

"LIAAAAAA!" A chorus of young girls paused their musical routine and immediately hurtled towards Ophelia, embracing her in a large hug.

"Hello girls." Ophelia was trapped in the hug, but once they had released her she gave each girl a hug individually.

"Are you here to help us with our routine?" A girl with brown hair tied in a tight ponytail asked.

"No I-"

"She is here to explain how she disappeared from the face of this planet. Class dismissed." A booming yet tight voice broke the reunion. All the girls left the room instantly, some muttering a bye to Ophelia. Still sat on a stool in the corner of the room was Miss Mills. "Hello Lia, I am glad to see you are alive."

"Alive and still kicking arse." Ophelia through the comeback before hearing a slight tut behind her. "Oh, Miss Mills meet Minerva McGonagall."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Mills." Minerva stepped to the side of Ophelia, offering a nod of the head as a form of greeting.

"Where have you been?" Miss Mill's ignored the older lady and kept her attention on Ophelia.

"Exactly what I told you, attending a school in Scotland."

"And this place, does it not have any access to phones?"

"No actually, it is rather pleasant."

"I am in no mood for sarcasm Lia Montgomery."

"And I am no longer known as Lia Montgomery, it is Ophelia McGonagall." Ophelia took a step forward. Previously Ophelia wouldn't have stood up like this to Miss Mills due to two reason: one being the consequences from Mr and Mrs Montgomery, two being it was all Ophelia ever knew. Yet now, she had nothing or nobody to hold her true thoughts back.

"Interesting. I take it the surname change is a decision from you." Miss Mills changed her glare to Minerva.

"Pardon?" Minerva was uncertain on the side of which Miss Mills placed herself on, but one thing was certain and that was Minerva felt the need to protect Ophelia.

"Running away from your problems will not solve them." Once again Miss Mills snubbed Minerva, returning to grilling Ophelia instead.

"I am not running away from my problems, I am facing them everyday." A tight feeling was increasing in Ophelia's stomach.

"Miss Mills, I profoundly recommend you listen to Ophelia's reasons behind leaving so abruptly." Minerva interjected once more, her Scottish accent becoming more strong the more frustrated she became.

"I'm guessing the reason you have returned is due to the Beaumont scandal?"

"Stop acting like Minnie isn't in the room." Ophelia raised her voice, something shocking both Miss Mills and Minerva. "Yes I returned partly due to the articles, but it was long overdue. I actually wanted to speak to you about two other things first."

"Well then? I have a busy schedule, unless you've forgotten that?" Miss Mills asked, still rather stern but a little less after Ophelia's minor change in tone.

"Fine, you want the short version. I'm a witch."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Once discovering Ophelia was out for the day, Remus too found himself a bit lost; but for a different reason to James. For starters, he felt a bit excluded from Ophelia's life because she hadn't told him about the weekend trip. But then again he didn't have the right to feel like this, they weren't exactly best friends plus it seemed James didn't know either. Rather than this settle his feelings, it made him feel worse because he realised how little he knew about Ophelia's life before she came to Hogwarts. One thing was for sure, he needed a distraction that wasn't Marauders related.

"Hey Lily, I know it's a Saturday but do you fancy a study catch up in the library?" Remus walked over to where Lily was sat, not long after James had left.

"Yeh, sounds good actually. Let me go grab my things." Lily quickly took herself upstairs and grabbed a few books, but sensed this was one of those times Remus needed a friend more than a study partner.

The walk to the library from the Gryffindor common room was rather short, so the pair filled it with just idle chit chat. Once they were sat in the library, Lily asked the question she was dying to ask.

"Are you ok Remus? I never asked how your mum was?"

"Yeh, I'm ok and so is she." Remus smiled, not wanting to talk more and continue his lie.

"Remus." Lily eyed the boy, deciding now was the time to ask if ever.

"Hm." Remus continued to keep his head down, not expecting the conversation to take a serious turn.

"I know."

"Know what?"

"I won't answer that. But when you're ready to tell me yourself, I'll be here waiting. Just know you're not alone in this and I don't see you any differently." Lily smiled gently to the boy.

"You won't tell anyone though will you?" Remus asked quietly. When the boys had discovered Remus' 'furry problem' in Year 2 he felt so much dread about what the future would hold - would he have to leave Hogwarts, would he lose his best friends? Yet this time, with Lily, he knew deep down that this secret was safe but also that Lily would never see him differently.

"I promise. Do the Marauders know though?"

"Yes. Along with the staff and now you, I'd like to keep it that way. Especially I wouldn't want Fi to know."

"Why not Fi? I think she'd be the most understanding?"

"Fi is different, I don't know why but she just is. I can't have her seeing me as a monster."

"Remus, you're not a monster." Lily stood and walked around the table to Remus and placed her arms around him.

"James would be so jealous of me right now." Remus chuckled, attempting to diffuse the tension in the air.

"Oh way to ruin a moment Remus." Lily smiled. "Now let's get on with this studying."

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