Title: W.O.M.A.N [A Sirius Black Tale] P.A.R.T 0.1 [Wonderfully Omniscient, Magnificently Addictive and Necessary; very Necessary.]

Careful to skip over the trick step before her, Annixia Dexter continued her journey through the sunlit corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; her little kitten heals clicking lightly against the stone pathway.

She took in the ever familiar scenery surrounding her, her curious eyes flitting from the walking, talking portraits to the tall statues and suits of armour before her. She grinned as that humbling, warm feeling settled inside her. She still loved this place, even after everything.

With that same bounce in her step, she turned the corner onto the Charms corridor and there, she ran into an old friend.

"Miss Dexter, how lovely it is to see you again!" Sir Nichols cried joyfully, bowing to her, his head wobbling precariously on his neck.

Beaming at her old House mascot, Annixia nodded in return, replying easily, "And you as well, Sir Nicholas! It's been ages since I last saw you! How have you been?" She requested politely, her head tilted to the side in innocent curiosity.

"Oh, the same as always, my dear. Not much changes when you reach this stage, I'm afraid." He sighed, floating close to her, hands latched behind his back, "Mind if I walk you to your intended destination, My Lady?"

Smiling sweetly, Annixia retorted, "My classroom, and of course! I would love your company, Sir Nicholas." And she really would. Ever since she was a tiny tween she had gotten on well with the half decapitated ghost, enjoying his old fashioned chivalry and manners, and often patrolled the corridors with him when she pulled lonesome prefect patrols.

He was good company, even if he was a little sensitive when it came to his lack of living.

"Ah yes, you always were a talent in your studies, Annixia but I have to admit, the other ghosts and I were more than shocked to hear of Professor Binns' sudden departure." Nick began, gliding along beside her as they set off along the path to the History of Magic class.

She looked up at him through big, hooded eyes and retorted animatedly, "Tell me about it! I was completely gobsmacked when Dumbledore requested I come to teach, but when I heard it was for History for Magic I swear I nearly fainted. After how long he decides to retire?"

"Pushing on a century now. Curious, isn't it?" Nicholas tilted his head until it was half on, half off and shared her confusion.

"Mmm." She hummed, but grinned in amusement, "But far be it for us to deny him the right to explore the world, even if he is over a hundred years old! Can't quite picture him sunbathing in Barcelona though, can you?"

Nick smiled also, "Definitely not. He always said he wanted to see the pyramids though. I suppose we have to give him credit for following through with his dreams however. And you'll make a wonderful teacher, Miss Dexter, charismatic as you are."

"Thank you, Sir Nick. I'm looking forward to it." She replied, her eyes shining as they reached her classroom, her hand twisting the rustic door handle as she turned to bid her old friend goodbye, "Thank you for the company, Sir Nick. I probably won't get the chance to see you at the welcoming feast tonight, what with all the commotion, but I'll catch up with you soon?" She asked sweetly, raising her brows in question.

"Of course, Madame. Until tomorrow?" He retorted.

"Until tomorrow." She echoed and waited until he had floated away to throw herself into the classroom she now had the right to call hers. Eyes sweeping in the changes she had made, Annixia grinned in satisfaction.

The windows had been opened and the blinds that covered them rolled tight at the top to let in as much sun as possible; she liked the way the light filled her classroom, so much so that she even added a sunroof too and had spent many sleepless nights laid on the floor underneath it, gazing at the different constellations.

The tables too, she had moved, joining them all to form three thirds of a square arched around her classroom walls, leaving a big open floor in the middle, giving her a chance to move about and create different activities in a spacious environment; it also made the room look twice as big.

The walls were littered with timelines, both muggle and wizard, as well as the four house banners. Certain quotes loitered here and there also, and lanterns were tacked about here and there as well as Fairy pictures, which glowed beautiful colours in the dark.

It almost seemed enchanted at night.

Ecstatic at the change she had encouraged, Annixia bypassed her classroom and slipped behind her blackboard, standing in front of a lazing mermaid who simply raised an arrogant and inquisitive eyebrow.

"Calliope."

The portrait swung open with a roll of the creature's dull eyes.

Having not slept well the previous night, tossing and turning due to nerves of the fastly approaching feast, the first thing she did was flop half heartedly onto her cushy couch and close her over bright eyes.

It would either be a painfully long evening, perched beside her fellow colleagues, staring at the mass of teens before her, or strikingly quick, a flash in which she couldn't distinguish Dumbledore from Flitwick let alone her Godson in a tangle of students.

She released a loud groan and flopped back up, slanting her gaze around the large and cosy living space. Harry. Her godson. She would see him tonight, meet him within the week and watch for him as she had always done.

She just prayed that, even if he discovered the truth, he wouldn't hate her and if he did, at least give her the opportunity to explain. If not, it would be a loss for the both of them and Annixia, already battling more than her fair share of demons, wasn't quite sure if she could handle another knock like that.

Not after everything.

She picked up the day's paper and stared at the familiar stormy eyes she knew all too well, sighing deeply.

As if she didn't have enough on her plate without throwing in an escapee murderer out to get her Godson, just as he had their parents.

Oh yes, her fiancé was something she wasn't quite equipped to deal with yet.

'But hey, that's life...' She thought lazily, 'or my life, at least.'

He was there.

Right in her eye line, so close and yet so far, buried in a sea of students.

But he was there.

A shock to her system, his extreme resemblance to his father, and her old close friend, was enough to knock her sideways and rid her body of all breath. He looked so strong, and yet, so lost...

Remus stood next to her and clapping resounded, she joined in.

Oh yes, Lupin had shocked her tremendously, showing up as he had and, judging by his own expression, her appearance had been no little surprised. They had stood, dumbstruck, like breathless goldfish.

Then, in a whirl of past memories, Annixia pounced on her old school chum and squeezed the living death out of him. Stunned, it took a moment for him to respond, but he did, with all the effort he could spare.

They had gabbled for a short while, talked away the evening over random, meaningless things, both of them rushed up in the old days, news days and what's to come days. Just enjoying one another's company.

Until Dumbledore had stood and interrupted with his speech.

Which she should have been paying attention to, now you mention it...

"And, our final staff switch, comes in the form of a new History of Magic teacher as Professor Binns has taken the time to explore the world in his...everlasting state." Curious mumbles spread gently. Albus cleared his throat, "Miss Annixia Dexter has kindly agreed to fill the post, pending his return, and we feel immense gratitude to her for doing so."

She stood easily, flicking up five fingers in a greeting, swallowing an eye roll as a few wolf whistles echoed. Remus grinned in amusement as she sat back down, not surprised in the least. Annixia, ever the stunner, had always evoked such a reaction from the male species, and Remus had to say that he could hardly blame them either.

With a tumble of sleek, soft ash curling to her shoulder blades, bronze skin and curvy stature, Annixia had always been beautiful, but coupled with her crimson dazzle of pearly whites and unbelievable molten gold eyes that forever sparkled, she was more than a sight to behold. Pure, adult exquisiteness.

It also didn't hurt that she didn't look a day over 25.

With a tumble of words, the old headmaster dismissed them and Lupin slipped away from the crowd through the back door of the Great Hall. He breathed a relieved sigh, never having thrived in the spotlight.

The corridor was quiet, which is why he was so shocked when he heard from behind him, "Trying to escape, are we, Professor Lupin?" A bright female voice questioned and he swivelled to face her grin, matching it with his own.

"From you, Professor Dexter? Never." He smiled charmingly as she strolled forward, bounce completing her step, linking her arm through the crook of his elbow.

"I should hope not!" She cried in fake indignance, beaming up at him, "Now, be a dear and walk an old lady to her classroom, would you? I believe Peeves is on the prowl tonight and I, for one, am a firm believer in strength in numbers. Won't help much if we get rushed over by students, but still..." She ventured off, biting her bottom lip out of pure habit.

"Though I find you far from old, never would I decline walking a beautiful lady to her intended destination. I'm no fool." He mocked down at her and she rolled her eyes, snorting as she shoved him playfully.

"Ever the charmer, eh Remus?" She raised her brow, giggling as he threw a casual arm over her shoulders, her challenged height making it all the easier to do so.

"And gentleman." He insisted, grinning at her suavely, "Don't forget 'gentleman.'"

As they travelled and traversed the familiar path, the playful banter continued, and it was as though the two had never parted; still the best of friends they had always been.

Despite the missing links...