I honestly have no idea where this story is going, but enjoy. Sarah, assuming she was about fifteen or sixteen at the time of the movie, should be somewhere around twenty-four.

This is set in the summer after the third book, so Sirius is free, and Remus isn't teaching.

July 8th, 1994.

She tore forward, while behind her the goblins tripped, pushed and, in one case, threw, her attackers. Most of them were getting confused, since they couldn't see what was defending the young muggle woman, but one or two of them – the more determined of the lot – just let it egg them on forward.

London had been fun before this. She'd only come over for a week, telling herself it was just to relax. She was still telling herself that, actually. She hadn't started believing it yet.

She half jumped, half slid over the hood of a car, casting a glance behind her. Only two of her attackers were still chasing her, yelling strange phrases while waving about their sticks.

She ducked behind a rubbish bin as a flash of red light shot towards her. Then she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and felt the world around her.

It was a strange ability. It never turned off, either, but most of the time it just guided her thoughts so she didn't get lost, ever. Little pokes, saying turn right or left…

She could feel a safe place, two streets away. She could lose them there. Opening her eyes, she took a deep breath before again throwing herself forward into the running.

Being chased by strangers clad in black robes was odd, certainly, almost frightening, but she couldn't help but think how much she had missed the excitement.

Gods, she'd even missed the running. There was something so invigorating about being chased by something that possibly wants to kill you and at the very least wants to seriously harm you. Obviously, she had an unhealthy addiction to danger.

Darting between more cars, she reached the place she'd felt – it looked like a rundown pub. She opened the door quickly and ran in; only stopping once she was well into it, where she stopped to breathe; her hands on her knees as she panted.

Around her, people in more odd clothing – though, thankfully, not the same black robes and white masks – watched her perplexedly. Finally, one of them, a brown-haired man, stepped forward. "Are you alright?" He asked as she straightened up, trying to get rid of the slight grin on her features.

"I'm fine, actually. Sorry for the grand entrance; I was being chased by some black-robed madmen." She looked at the door, trying to decide if she was relieved or disappointed they hadn't chased her more. Of course, she knew this place was safe, but – actually…

She looked back at the man. "Could you tell me where I am?" He looked slightly bewildered and confused, but before he said anything, he guided her over to a table in corner, while everyone else, eventually, returned to their drinks.

"You don't know where you are?" He asked as she sat. She nodded. "I got rather turned around, with all the running." She decided not to point out that she just didn't know the name of where she was. She knew perfectly well her location.

She always did.

The man wrinkled his brow. "You're in the Leaky Cauldron. I'm Remus Lupin – can you tell me who you are? Are you a witch?" He felt silly for the question, she had to be to have gotten in here, but she didn't know what Death Eaters were, or what this place was, and she sounded American.

"Sarah Williams." Sarah said, pushing back her long brown hair as she offered him a hand to shake. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Lupin." She gave him her strange grin again as he took her hand. "The Leaky Cauldron, then? Odd name." She cast a glance at the somewhat battered robes he wore, and the tip of another wooden stick that poked from his pocket. "No… I'm not a witch. Aren't those from fairytales?" She looked back at his face, still smiling. "I haven't grown any warts, have I? I did think those bits of light the madmen were sending off seemed a bit magic."

She decided not to tell him that she could feel the magic that had been rolling off the bits of light, or that she could feel more magic here – this place was soaked in it, and so was he. Not nearly as much as had been – she pushed the thought away. It felt good, to be surrounded by magic again, even if it was only a little bit. She felt calm, for the first time in a long time.

Remus Lupin looked utterly confused now. "I – you'll have to excuse me, but how could you even see this place?"

Had the wards fallen? Was Voldemort planning to – what? What purpose would destroying the wards serve? Unless he had destroyed all of them? Remus swallowed, while Sarah Williams merely tilted her head at him, smiling almost sadly.

"I find I can see most things I shouldn't." She replied. "Now, why don't you tell me about the madmen, and about this place. I have a feeling it should be fun here." She gave another grin, leaning forward while Remus blinked at her in utter confusion.

What in Merlin's name should I say?

He watched her as she watched him, one graceful brow raised. She really looked like she ought to be a witch, he thought. Her green eyes seemed to dance with magic, and he could feel – something on her. He wasn't sure what, since the art of sensing magic wasn't one common in the wizarding world anymore.

Dumbledore will know what to do. He decided, finally, and stood. "Miss Williams, if you will accompany me, I know someone who can answer all your questions." He felt calmer, now, knowing what to do. Sarah studied him with something akin to amusement before she stood. He offered her his hand, "This may be a bit strange, for you. I assure you it won't hurt, though. Hold on tight." He hoped it was safe to apparate muggles, but he suspected that at least in Miss Williams case, it was.

She took his hand, and he found she did in fact have a strong grip. He stepped slightly closer to her, somewhat awkwardly, before he focused on the Hog's Head and apparated away.

Oh. The sensation was strange. It felt like being wrapped in iron bands and squeezed for a moment. But it was magic, too. Pure magic was moving them and it was amazing. She tried to soak up as much of it while she could. She had so missed the sensation of it on her skin-

And then it was over, and she was standing in another pub, equally strange as the first in its old style, and Mr. Lupin was gently leading her towards the door as she looked around.

"We'll have a bit of a walk." He told her without pausing in his step, though he released her hand as they left the pub, and she strolled easily beside him. "We're going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to see Headmaster Dumbledore. I'm hoping he can explain everything to you." He watched her take in the information. He didn't have much experience with muggles, but surely she should have been at least surprised to learn that magic existed?

"Is that what you are then? A wizard?" She smiled pleasantly at him. He found himself again bewildered by the calm young woman before him. "Yes." He said simply, unsure what else he could reply with.

They strolled in silence for the rest of the journey, Sarah looking around her curiously, while Remus wondered about her.

He was also wondering if she'd be able to see Hogwarts. He suspected she'd have no trouble, though if she did, he'd get the Headmaster and have him do whatever it was he did to let muggle parents in.

As they reached the castle, he watched her eyes trace the towers easily. So she could see it, then.

"This way." He told her as they reached the doors and he led her inside.

Without hesitation, Sarah entered, and only paused to feel the ancient magic that swept towards her like an embrace. She let out a soft breath of surprise at it; it felt almost sentient. This castle was old. So old… and the magic had been with it for the entirety of its time.

It felt amazing. She could hear Remus beside her, he wasn't sure what to say, but he kept shifting. She blocked him out, just for the moment, just so she could enjoy this.

The magic wrapped around her; soaked into her skin. It felt warm, tingly almost. So much magic had been used here, since this place's creation. It was positively bursting…

Her heart twisted slightly when she realized it still wasn't as strong as the other place. It still didn't quite fulfill her unwanted desire. It came close, closer then any place before it, but not quite close enough.

She opened her eyes and smiled at Remus with a forced calm. He was frowning at her, but when he saw she had finished, he led her up the stairs. "Be careful," He said as they climbed, "the stairs move."

She couldn't resist a laugh. "Wonderful! Do the students ever try jumping from one to another?" She watched several sets of stairs move – not the one they were on, but some close by. Remus gave her an odd look as they came to a gargoyle. "No, that would be rather dangerous." He commented, before murmuring something she couldn't quite hear to the statue, which jumped aside, revealing another set of stairs – these spiraling upwards.

Again following Remus, she wondered idly what this Dumbledore was like. It seemed she was about to find out.

This seemed like a safe enough stopping point. Let me know what you think? I hope Remus wasn't too out of character, it's been awhile since I read the third book, and I haven't got it with me at the moment.