This was probably the first time for me to see the Headmaster's office clearly. The last time I had been here, it hadn't occurred for me to go beyond the gargoyle. Though even if I had ventured further, I wouldn't have been able to pay full attention since my thoughts were crammed with what I had overheard at the Three Broomsticks.

After giving the password at the gargoyle, Professor McGonagall led me to a beautiful room with various crystal ornaments, huge book shelves and a strange flaming red bird perched in the corner next to the Sorting Hat.

I was examining the place enraptured by the wondrous objects the Headmaster had in store here, when Professor Dumbledore emerged from somewhere within the never ending spiral book shelves.

He asked me to be seated then turning to Professor McGonagall, he politely said, "thank you, Minerva, you may leave now. And if you by chance meet Remus, do send him in as well."

If I hadn't had the previous talk with Professor Dumbledore, I would have been anxious at his request. But now it's safe to assume that I'm not risking any chance of expulsion here. Thankfully, Professor Dumbledore is a lot more understanding than others. And a few words of warning can not really be much of a problem.

He placed my wand in front of me and spoke, "you do know, Miss Weasley that there are reasons for which the curfew has been set."

I reddened slightly, "I couldn't sleep, Sir. Besides, I was only in the common room. I didn't expect anyone else other than Gryffindors to know the password."

He dipped his head in a low nod, "indeed, I did not say you had done anything wrong."

The silence felt awkward now. Does he want me to ask something first? Or is he simply waiting for Moony to join us?

"Your wand has been checked," finally he resumed, "the last spell performed by it was the memory charm. Though we're lucky not much damage has been done. Yet."

The last word was kinda scary. Yet...

"Professor, did... Black... escape again?" I asked.

"Apparently, yes," his eyes had that far off look as if pondering over something. Very soon, he looked up as if realizing that I was there too.

"I must warn you of one thing, child," he was looking at me with a calculative gaze, "time and sufferings can change people greatly. It's not always possible for humans to stay the same after decades. Sirius Black would not have hesitated in hurting you with more than just a memory charm. So I advise you to try and stay away from such circumstances."

I can understand that. He had made this point clear previously as well. And it was this persistence on his part which was enough to make me believe that he was not anxious about Sirius alone, and that there was something much more sinister going on than what we were aware of.

"Do you wish to ask anything?" the sudden question startled me but I was spared the trouble of asking as there was a gentle knock at the door.

"Ah, Remus, come in. Do take a seat."

Remus was surprised to see me here as well but masked it nevertheless as he sat down on the chair beside me, "thank you, Professor."

"You must have a slight idea on why I called you here, together," Dumbledore resumed with the same calculative gaze as if trying to figure something out.

Remus nodded, "if it has to do with Black's break in then I assure you, Sir, I would never go against you and the school rules to let him in. And I can give her guarantee on that as well."

"I understand that and trust both of you. I believe that no one at Hogwarts would be involved in providing any sort of help to intruders. The reason you're both here is partly due to the current events and partly due to what happened in the past."

Both of us kept silent, waiting for him to continue.

"I have been well aware of the time travel incident which took place last year," he addressed me directly this once, "even though you and your friends took great measures to keep it under covers. But you shouldn't worry about me condemning you for that. Incidents such as this happen every once in a while."

"We should have informed you," Remus spoke in a low voice, "but... James had been too enthusiastic on dealing with the matter on our own so..."

"That's not much of a problem, Remus. I had known you would make the best out of it that's why I didn't interfere myself," Professor Dumbledore's face had that grave look but his eyes were still tinkling softly, "however, I called you here because both of you are the only ones at the moment who directly knew Sirius Black and had once been close to him. And that is exactly why I'm warning you most of all. The Sirius Black you had known years ago was a lot different from what he is now. At that time he was in his careless youthful days but now after 12 years in Azkaban, I wouldn't be surprised to see that he would have lost all memory of those days."

It hurt me to think that he would have forgotten. And the same hurtful expression was visible on Rem's face too.

"Even if you see him again, Katerina, make sure to stay away," his voice was slightly stern, "and that is an order."

I nodded, "of course, Professor."

He stood up; it was a cue for both of us to leave, "Madam Pomfrey will give you some potions to help you recover your memories. And try staying out of trouble. Remus, do accompany her to the Hospital Wing. I believe the effects of the spell have not fully worn off yet and it would be better if you go along with her."

He nodded in affirmation, "sure, Professor."

And what else could we have done? Dumbledore's right as well in his perceptions and I know he's concerned for our safety.

"Thank you, Sir," and with that both of us left his office.

***

The trip to the Hospital Wing was unexpectedly silent. It seemed like Remus was trying to say something but couldn't find the actual words to voice it out.

"Are you... Are you okay? I mean... You didn't get much hurt, right?" he finally spoke up as we reached the infirmary.

"For starters, I don't even remember what happened so I can't really be sure of that," I replied, "but I'm okay. No need to worry about me."

The potion had already been concocted and well, here goes fifteen minutes of pure agony trying to drink it. Remus took a seat beside the bed where Madam Pomfrey had made me sit and even though it seemed as if he was right here, I could feel his mind was miles away.

He was probably thinking about Sirius. Probably thinking how in the world everything had changed so much and how could he have lost memory of every single thing that happened in the past.

"After you finish this potion, you will have to wait here for a while," Madam Pomfrey told me as she placed the remaining two phials on the table by the bed, "you might feel slightly dizzy but it will all adjust soon. I have talked to the Headmaster and you will get an off from today's studies."

"But why? I'm perfectly fine and I can't miss today's classes or else I would flunk all my OWLs," I tried to protest but she waved off my attempts.

"You have to sleep off the effects. You might not remember what happened in the common room but that memory charm sure was a strong one. You are not taking classes today and I'm pretty sure it can't be much of a problem since you can ask your brothers to lend you today's work," she firmly stated.

Seems like she forgot that said brothers are Fred and George who don't give a flying crap about their OWLs and I hardly have a chance in finding their work complete.

Also here's one thing I learnt today. Never mess with Poppy Pomfrey when she's sleepy. Because if you do, you will be taking a great risk of threatening your self esteem.

And yes, it's almost three in the morning. Which means we have just a few hours before breakfast. And mark my words, today's breakfast will be an extra noisy gossip hub. But thanks to these so feared side effects of a memory charm, I won't be there to witness the antics.

However, Moony politely asked her to go back to her quarters and get her sleep if she wanted and assured her that he would make sure I took the whole potion.

He has always been this good with Professors, librarians and matrons alike.

And of course she agreed (after bestowing me with another whole sermon of adverse effects if I attempted to throw away the phials).

After she was gone and there was absolutely I could do except finish those disgusting phials, I decided I may as well start a conversation with Moony.

Maybe it would make swallowing this liquid slightly easier.

"So, does this potion make memories come back or something?" I asked.

He looked up at me as if I had just shook him out of a train of thoughts, "uh... not exactly. There's always a chance depending on how intense the spell had been. But in your case, since the caster was... Sirius... I'm not too sure it would work. Strong memory charms can not be undone. And you should be thankful that he only erased one day's worth of your memory."

Geez, that's kinda scary.

"So, it's completely fine if I don't take this last phial?" I'm being slightly hopeful now but I still know how he's going to answer.

"No, you will have to take it or else Madam Pomfrey will hold me responsible and I surely don't want to be stuck in that compromising a situation," there was a flicker of a smile on his face as if he had just recalled something.

"I take it that you too weren't completely in her good books all the time, right?"

He shrugged, "your observation has improved since last time."

Oh so is this meant to be a compliment or a sassy remark? There is enough proof for me to believe that Sarcastic Mr Moons is finally back. For some time, at least.

But we were interrupted shortly by what seemed like running steps and sure enough, someone did come running all the way here.

"I'll go check," Remus got up and went towards the other side where the door was located.

"Professor Lupin, I came as soon as I heard. Professor McGonagall said I had to take Kat back to the dorm and that she was in the Hospital Wing with you. Is she... Is she okay?"

Percy. Dear old Head Boy brother. Soon enough he came in followed by Professor Lupin. He must have come running all the way here as he was panting and rather out of breath. Or rather it seems so from his unusual disheveled attire.

I guess, he must have been busy due to the search going on in the castle earlier and it's quite probable that he was told about the memory charm stuff just about now.

Explains why he's so pissed off.

"And here we go, you got yourself in trouble again," he reprimanded me soon as he saw me, "fifty points to Katerina Weasley for getting stuck in major danger for the third time this year."

"Third time? That's quite a record, I'm pretty sure I got myself in trouble a whole lot more than just thrice in my fourth year."

His face was set in the expression which clearly showed that he was not too pleased about it, "a thousand times, Kat, I have warned you a thousand times of the consequences yet you never listen and grab whatever adventurous opportunity you get then end up in the Hospital Wing as usual. Sometimes it feels as if you do that to insult me."

I shook my head in a no, "of course not. Why would I insult you?"

"You never pay any importance to what I say either. That's close enough to insulting," he replied back just as firmly as Madam Pomfrey had done so a while earlier.

Guess today's the day for me to get sassed out by anyone who has the chance of meeting me.

Moony was enjoying all this confrontation though. I could tell by the way he was watching us with the amused spark in his eyes. He was being entertained in watching Perce give me the usual medley of sermons just like he himself used to do a long time ago.

"Do you know what could have happened if Ron hadn't woken everyone up and Black used an even severe curse on you? Do you have any idea what could have happened?" Perce sure is really ticked off by the whole event, I can see that.

But knowing myself, I can never miss the opportunity of making a joke out of it, "of course I do know what could have happened. I would've gone off in a poof, just like that."

That shut him up for good just like I expected but the amused spark was gone from Moony's eyes as well.

"How can you say that so easily?" he spoke in a low voice.

I mean... I was just stating a possibility...

"Exactly!" there goes, Percy's joining in as well, "how could you? Do you even know what that means? Or do you honestly have no care in the world like my other two idiotic brothers?"

"Woah, calm down Perce..."

"No you listen to me now. If anything happened to you Mom would kill me, you get it? She would throw me off the Burrow's rooftop without any hesitation. Or in the other case, I would end up in Azkaban for suing the Ministry or killing Fudge for not catching Black any sooner!"

Um... I honestly didn't know he takes the responsibility of being in charge of us so seriously or else I would seriously not bring that up.

"Percy, there's no need to get so serious," I do hope he calms down though, "I just said that as a joke. I'm not dying, I'm definitely not going anywhere."

However, by the look on his face it seems to me I should really have kept my mouth shut and let him ramble off until he runs out of fuel himself.

"This isn't time for joking around, okay? I was dead worried for you, hell I came running all the way up here and yet you are still taking everything as a bloody joke."

I was taken aback. Thoroughly speechless. So was Professor Lupin.

But then he placed a comforting hand on Percy's shoulder, "I think this much family talk is enough for now. You should take her to the common room."

He dropped down the intense glare which was focused on me, "sorry, Professor. I didn't mean to get that harsh. It's just that she's so stupid that I'm afraid she'll probably kill herself someday due to her idiocy."

What?

"I can understand. But you should not explode on her like this too often. And I believe she'll overcome her stupidity rather soon."

Excuse me? So Moony too has decided to side up with Perce now...

"I'm not stupid."

"Yes, you are," both of them spoke in unison.

"Come now, let's get you back to the common room," he gave me his hand and helped me up rather gently (contrary to the way he had stormed out on me just about now).

"I'm perfectly fine, Perce. It's not like I'm..."

But he interrupted me with a murderous look in his eyes, "if you talk of dying again, I'll ask Mom and Dad to take you back to Russia."

Hell no, I don't wanna go there, "I never knew it was such a sensitive topic with you."

"Well then, now you know it is," he commented vaguely then turning to Moony, he spoke, "thank you, Professor, for taking care of my stupid sister."

"I'm NOT stupid."

"Now that's what I call a good joke. Entirely harmless and quite logical."

"Percy!"

He simply shrugged, "ding ding ding. Sorry, didn't hear you."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. Now he was the one trying to crack a joke.

Moony was silently smiling as Percy led me out. Smiling at remembering the time when we were all together. And then I realized why he had turned so grave when I had carelessly joked about my death;he had lost all his friends and didn't want to lose me as well.

"Dingle bats," the portrait swung aside as Percy gave the password and we stepped in. Perce accompanied me to my dorm which was quite surprising since he's a boy and boys aren't allowed in the girl's dorms, but then of course there must be some exceptions for the Head Boy.

When I was about to go in, he spoke, "good night even though it's nearly morning. And do tell me if you're planning to kill yourself in your sleep because if that's the case I'll make sure you're safely tied up in order to prevent any unwanted accidents."

He sure was being funny today or maybe it's his anger that brings out the humorous side in him, "don't worry you'll find me alive the next morning and the next morning and the next and the next and so on and so on."

"I sincerely hope so," and with that he disappeared down the stairs to the common room.

Though I must admit that the family talk he gave me today was one that I can never forget. Never in this whole lifetime of mine.

***