It was Friday, 10:30 in the morning.

When Siriussa woke up, she smiled in spite of the less than great dreams she had of her childhood disappointments.

This will be the day of reconciliation, I hope, Siriussa thought while getting dressed in her blue jeans and olive green blouse.

Ramon was still out from the night before, but this morning he was not needed or expected at all. Siriussa was extremely glad she ended up buying an owl.

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A little over an hour later Siriussa had gotten some breakfast already and was on her way to the front of Hogsmeade. She wasn't the least bit surprised there was a carriage when she arrived, and she didn't hesitate to step in and sit down on the bench.

Five minutes later her endless dreams were set before her eyes. The mountains, the lake, the castle, the forest, the mysteriousness, everything seemed accounted for, except her waking up in bed deeply disappointed all over again.

She got down from the carriage and the man she met when she was only 10 was standing in front of her with the warmest smile she had ever seen.

Albus Dumbledore extended his hand, "It's nice to finally reacquaint with you."

Siriussa only shook his hand and smiled back. She wasn't sure if this was really what she wanted but she resolved to go with it, yet she decided to be careful with her words and what she implied and didn't imply. Her secret adventure was going to stay secret.

"Well then," he said smoothly, turning around and opening the door to the huge castle, "welcome to Hogwarts. I think you'll find it just like everyone describes it and more. Now, how about lunch?" he asked, glancing at Siriussa.

Siriussa was standing there open-mouthed. She didn't exactly know what everyone described the beautiful castle, but she decided they probably couldn't find the proper words to get it right. "I'd love to." she responded after she shut her mouth, though she wasn't looking at Dumbledore but darting her eyes every which way, trying to absorb it all.

He took her by the elbow and led her into the Great Hall. Though it was a few days after Christmas and most of the flare was gone, the room still looked spectacular.

Siriussa didn't know it then, but her heart was melting. All these years of dreaming and wishing that something as wonderful as this could be within her sight, of getting let down early in life for her chance, her heart secretly felt like it was being let down all over again, because in all of her many dreams and fantasies she never once could imagine something as totally amazing as this. She didn't know it then, but she was going to be crying herself to sleep many days after that day.

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The lunch was fine, the two talked about nothing in particular. Dumbledore tried to ask about her life, why she was in Britain, and everything that she didn't want to reveal, but she skated away with short answers. She thought that those answers were efficient enough, though little did she know Dumbledore was already becoming suspicious of her motives.

"So you're still by yourself these days?" Dumbledore asked casually.

"Yeah, I haven't really found anyone worth my time." Siriussa answered just as casually.

"Well, that's too bad," Dumbledore replied jovially, "because I think you'd make a great mom, though I can tell you've always been the kind of person who doesn't waste her time."

"You think so?" Siriussa asked absent-mindedly. She could care less what Dumbledore really thought of her, because she made up her mind a long time ago to dismiss his words in regards to her; She felt he could care less.

They sat for a few minutes, eating their food.

"So what have you been doing lately?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Mmm, not much, just some site seeing and such, nothing in particular." Dumbledore studied Siriussa's face, trying to read what she wasn't saying. She looked up. "What?" she asked.

"Siriussa," Dumbledore started, "I feel there's more going on here than you'd like me to think."

Siriussa was only slightly startled by his statement, but expected something along those lines, "I'm not quite sure what you mean, Albus."

"I mean you seem to have shown up in Great Britain at an interesting time, given the circumstances."

Siriussa put on her confused, innocent face and replied in a puzzled tone, "The circumstances including . . . "

"Including the break out of Sirius Black, Siri!" Dumbledore raised his voice ever-so slightly. Siriussa was taken aback, as if this was the last thing she thought she'd ever hear him say. "Alas, I have let the marbles out of the bag."

Siriussa just sat there, mouth opening and closing slowly, as if she were going to say something, then decided against it. Finally she said softly, "I'm not sure what you're trying to insinuate, Dumbledore, but I can assure you I have no affiliations with Sirius Black whatsoever."

"I didn't say you did, but I'm not going to argue, I just want you to tell me the truth." Dumbledore replied quietly.

"Why do you care, anyway? Even if I did have some kind of plan, what is your concern?"

Dumbledore was silent for a while, then answered in an evidently sincere voice, "I'm not one to plead my reasons, but I believe that I've played some kind of role in your life, whether you'd like to believe it or not, and alas, that means I feel I have obligations to your actions."

Siriussa was truthfully stunned, how could he think that? Sure, he introduced her to a few facts of life, including hope and disappointment, but what is he to say he has obligations to her? What kind of bullshit is that?

Dumbledore looked at Siriussa, but she just stared at him in a sort of defensive way. "Well, now that lunch is over, are you up for a tour of Hogwarts, or would you just rather go back to Hogsmeade?"

Siriussa weighed the possibilities; stay here and pine over something that was once in her grasp and taken rapidly away by one of the most prominent man, or go back to her hotel room and brew up her hatred, then go to a bar and get wasted, she declined the latter. "I think a tour of the castle would be worthwhile." she answered.

The tour was all but mind-blowing. She never knew that there could ever be such a mystical place, and it being a school for young wizards! She couldn't help but lighten up as Dumbledore showed her the highlights of Hogwarts, including the Quidditch field and the astrology towers.

Just as her body was high above the ground, so was her soul, high off the moment.

When it became late afternoon, the tour finishing with tea in Dumbledore's office, Siriussa had finally let her guard down the slightest; Dumbledore had been staring at her politely, though she wouldn't have known the difference.

"So Siriussa, did you enjoy the tour?"

"Oh yeah, it was one of the greatest things in the world, that I've seen at least."

"Out of curiosity, why did you want to see Hogwarts?"

Siriussa just stared at him, her smile revealing great elation. When she spoke, Dumbledore didn't need to hear what she was saying, he'd already got a glimpse of what was going on in her mind; yet, it was only a glimpse. "I had a reverie or premonition or dream or, whatever it is you'd call it," she said dismissively, waving her hand, "and I felt that I should come up here and get some kind of business done, you know?" she finished in an ambiguous tone.

Dumbledore nodded, "And you have these – these premonitions, often?"

Siriussa was still a little out of it, but her mind was no longer palpable, "Well, I wouldn't really call them premonitions, parse."

"Then what would you call them, Siri?" Dumbledore pressed.

Siriussa slipped back just enough to realize what Dumbledore was getting at, but she played it cool, "I don't know, Albus, that's the thing. It's just the work of my subconscious mind, is all. Now, should I go, or –"

Dumbledore thought he saw this coming. "Well, if you'd like to stay for dinner, I'd have no problem obliging, there's always enough room for one more." he smiled, and it took everything in Siriussa's power to not just out and out scream right in the Headmaster's face.

"As long as it's no hassle, I must say I'd very much enjoy staying for dinner." Siriussa replied, smiling.

It was very natural for her to smile, once she had to. Dumbledore couldn't help but notice how much she resembled her half-brother, in more than one way. But the one thing that stood out the most were her glorious good looks, her beautiful grey eyes gleaming, her smile a perfect replica of Sirius' outstanding grin.

"Oh no, no hassle. I'm sure the house elves will be delighted to serve one more tonight. There aren't that many students here because of winter vacation, and even one more person will brighten their day." Dumbledore brought his voice down a little when he said this last part, as if the house elves were hiding in the fireplace and he didn't want them to hear him.

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That night at dinner, Siriussa kept her guard while still playing it cool. But she had to admit, the dinner was the best she'd ever had. There weren't many students there, and only a few teachers.

"So, will you be staying tonight, Mrs. –?" one teacher asked.

"Breton . . . uh, I didn't plan to, I wasn't really invited . . . " she looked to Dumbledore.

"Alas, Siri, would you like to stay the night, it'd make me feel all the better, given you're staying at that filthy place in Hogsmeade."

"It isn't that bad, Albus."

"All the same, maybe you should stay here the night, and we can find you a better place tomorrow."

Siriussa pondered this, and decided, "What the hell, why not?"

Dumbledore lips formed a sort of smirk, but no one noticed it but Siriussa. She wondered what Dumbledore was so satisfied with, but didn't think it was that big a deal.

At least for this night she felt a little closer to her goal, but she only hoped she didn't raise any suspicions, though she knew this hope was in vain; Dumbledore was always going to suspect her for something; it's in her blood.
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note:well, same ole' same ole'. we all know the routine.
yeah, long long time no update.
thanks for the reviews.
can't promise anything.
but the one last review I got, telling me I should update, that one really motivated me to do it.
I'm trying, I'm trying. I still have plans for the story, but nothing very outstanding. now for my other story, on the other hand.
I have many plans, let's see how well I keep up with that one though : )

love the reviews. really does motivate me. : D