This couldn't be possible, Sidda thought. She had read about magical experiments in outer space. She even knew a little about muggle rockets. This didn't resemble either in the slightest. There had to be a reasonable explanation, she told herself, but as she tried in vain to think of one, she did nothing but stand there. Then came the footsteps, and Sidda finally tore her gaze away from the window. She didn't recognise him at first. It had to be years since they'd seen one another, and even if it hadn't been, the last face you expect to see after being mysteriously transported to some sort of spaceship is a familiar one. It only took a moment for her to focus clearly, though. Then she knew. Remus Lupin.
Sidda's first response was an instinctive one. She turned her body, right foot forward. It wasn't a duelling stance, nothing so antagonistic as that, but it did make her less of an obvious target, and more importantly it kept Sofronia, on her left side, shielded by her mother's body and the safety railing. Sidda's left hand rose to take a firm grasp of the rail, mirroring Remus' own. Meanwhile, she processed the new information. What did it mean?
She knew him well enough. Someone's dogged insistence on putting Gryffindor and Slytherin together in classes despite everything going on outside Hogwarts' walls had seen to that. Then there had been the prefects' meetings. They were supposed to put aside house rivalries, but of course nobody really did, and the pranks that she'd laughed at earlier became irritating. Sidda had spent far too much time placating the wealthier Slytherin girls, the ones who thought the badge belonged to them just for being rich. She'd smiled and told them that of course she'd step down if she thought it would help, but they knew what Dumbledore was like, what if her replacement was even more unsuitable – at least Sidda's bloodline was impeccable, and old enough to...well, when did you say yours dated from, Aramantha? That shut them up. She knew what they valued. Sidda had to be good at what she did, while sometimes it seemed like the Gryffindors just carried on as if they'd never grow up.
But that had been years ago. They were all grown up now, whether they wanted to be or not, and Remus was an unknown quantity. Careful, then, but not so careful he'd take it for hostility.
'Remus?' Her voice was clear, but the note of bewilderment unmistakable. 'Remus Lupin, is that you? Do you know what's happening? Did you bring me here?' Sidda fervently hoped that the answer wasn't yes, - that would make the situation far worse.