Sirius Implications, Chapter Four "Translation Problems"

When Remus returned about an hour later, the early morning sun had burned off the mist that shrouded the Roanoke Campus. As he let his feet shuffle on the sandy path to the cottage he couldn't decide whether or not he was sorry to have snapped at Sirius. Well, at least he could tell that Dancer woman he had if she asked. Well, speak of the Devil...

She was standing at the bottom of the porch steps with her hands folded, watching him. He stopped shuffling and walked more purposefully.

"Ms. Dancer," he nodded, "Seems you like our little guest house a great deal."

She smirked and ignored the comment.

"I'm here to meet Mr. Black. I saw you on the path and decided to wait. I thought it might be good if you introduced us."

Remus looked suspicious. "Why do you want to meet him?"

"I am the new Healer on staff here. I will be working with Mr. Black."

"Ah." Remus said. He wanted to warn her, to sarcastically wish her luck, to offer sympathy... he wasn't really sure which. Instead he said, "Well, then, follow me."

He opened the door to a glaring Sirius with the collar and leash sitting on the low table in front of the couch. Terrific. Still belligerent. Well Hope Dancer would get a rather clear idea of what she was facing at any rate. Sirius' expression changed from baleful glare to wary suspicion when the healer stepped into the room behind Remus.

"Brought re-enforcement?" Sirius sneered.

Damn, he really couldn't keep a lid on it even for a minute, could he? Remus decided the best course of action would be to ignore the comment.

"Sirius, this is Doctor-?" he looked with a question at the healer who nodded, "Doctor Hope Dancer. She is the Healer on staff here at the Academy. She's here to meet you."

She smiled warmly and stepped forward, with her hand stretched out for the ubiquitous American handshake, "Glad to meet you."

Sirius snorted but held out a reluctant hand for a quick, awkward shake. Almost immediately he sneered and said, "Doctor Dancer? That sounds like the name of a bad rock band." There was a defiant, self-satisfied look on his face as he waited for the healer's reaction. To his obvious disappointment the corner of her mouth quirked and she said, "I'll remember that if I decide to go into show business. Since I am currently a healer, however, I'd like to start today if you don't mind. Can you meet me in the Main Building at One Thirty?"

Sirius opened his mouth then closed it again. A second later he grumbled, "Not as if I have anything else to do in this blasted place."

"That's the spirit," Dancer said a dry edge to her voice, "I'll see you then." She turned to walk out and Remus shot Sirius a look and turned to follow her. He caught up with her on the path in front to the cottage. He cocked his ears to listen to her muttering.

"Bad Rock Band... if I had a dime for every time someone pointed that out-" She stopped and spun on her heel looking Remus in the eye, "Now who's eavesdropping?"

"Sorry, I just wanted to-" What did he want to do? Get away from the person who used to be his best friend? Well, yes, but... "I wanted to apologize for Sirius he's... He's not himself, hasn't been for a while." he finished apologetically.

"Well," she sighed beginning to walk and inclining her head for him to join her, "That's why he's here. Tell me, though, has he always become hostile as a defense mechanism?"

"Pardon?"

"It seemed to me that when he felt a bit vulnerable in there... meeting the shrink he has to work with... he started in again with the 'witty repartee'."

"Well... I," Remus stammered, "I don't know. I've never thought about it."

"If you would be willing to, I would appreciate the chance to pick your brain while you're still here."

"What my brain?" Remus asked.

"Sorry... 'Pick Your Brain' I suppose that must be an American expression... it means get information from you. In this case, I'd like to know more about Sirius."

"Oh, well, if it well help."

"I hope it will."

"Fine then, 'pick' away."

She smiled and Remus noticed how her eyes crinkled up when she did. She seemed like a nice person... he just hoped Sirius would eventually think so.

"Well, I'm afraid I have an appointment in about fifteen minutes or so. Could we talk before lunch? Around ten-thirty?"

"Certainly. Meet you in the Main Building?"

"Thanks. Oh, one quick question now, however."

"Um?"

"Is there a particular reason you didn't mention to Mr. Black that I can hear strong thoughts?"

"Oh, well... not really. Didn't seem the time, I suppose." Remus thought for a moment, "Don't think I will, though."

"Really? Why?" she asked genuinely curious.

"You're going to need every advantage you can get."



At one-thirty Sirius stood in the lobby of the Main Building, hands shoved in his pockets, glaring at the portrait of a colonial witch in front of him. Hope Dancer looked at him from the second floor landing, considering. Her mind drifted back to the conversation she'd had with Lupin before lunch. They had walked among the dunes and winter-gray coast as Lupin spoke with very little prompting from Dancer.

"...I honestly don't know who he is anymore, I know that's a cliche but it's damn true. I expected some changes in his personality after Azkaban but this isn't just a change, it's like a personality transplant."

"...He's always been stubborn, no denying that. But... well, I suppose I always wondered why he just seemed to decide to hate Severus Snape out of the blue like that. The moment he saw him he just despised him. There was no talking to him about Severus. Ever. Otherwise, though, he always seemed just as reasonable as the next person. He was a pretty happy-go-lucky bloke. High spirits, center of attention, popular..."

Dancer had spent the hour before meeting Lupin reading the lengthy letters sent by Albus Dumbledore and both the Healers from the village near Hogwarts. She knew that in school Black had lured Snape into the place Lupin stayed while a werewolf as a supposed prank. This, however, was a prank that everyone save Black seemed to know was deadly. Lupin hadn't mentioned the incident at all that morning. Was it a simple matter of not having got to it?

The Grandfather clock below sounded a single chime to mark the half hour and Dancer gave herself a slight shake and made her way down the stairs to meet her new patient. She concentrated on projecting warmth and acceptance even while she readied herself for the inevitable hostility she was sure to meet.

The chime of the clock at 1:30 almost made Sirius jump. Almost. Damn, you'd think this place would be less creepy than Hogwarts seeing as how it was a campus of buildings instead of one huge castle. Maybe it was just because it was nearly empty. He heard steps and the stairs and turned to glare at the Healer coming down toward him. She was smiling warmly but Sirius wasn't going to buy it. Shrinks did that. They acted all friendly and warm to disarm you. He might be forced to work with the woman but he wouldn't fall in the role of patsy.

"Well?" he growled before she could speak, "Let's get on with it, then. Where's your office?"

Damn infuriating woman just smiled.

"That sounds like a good idea, Sirius, this way." and she led him back up the stairs toward the Academy Infirmary and her office.

Her office was fairly comfortable and decorated primarily with a profusion of plants. When he had settled in a chair across from her and refused offers of "hot tea" and other refreshments she folded her hands and spoke.

"Sirius, I'd be an idiot if I didn't realize working with me wasn't your idea," she began.

He snorted derisively but said nothing.

"Your idea or not, you're here and you're going to be spending a lot of time sitting across from me in this office. So long as you've got to be here, I hope you'll consider making some use of our time together."

Sirius sneered slightly and said nothing.

Dancer pulled out a pad and pencil, "For now, why don't we just start with your life story. Nothing deep like you blame your mother... just who you are, where you were born, who your family is... that sort of thing."

Sirius just sat.

"Alright, then," Dancer said putting pencil to paper, "Sirius Black. Have you got a middle name?" He glared but shook his head. "Born in England?" He nodded. "Anywhere in particular?"

He scowled but answered at last, "Bath"

"Alright," she said, jotting that down, "Where the hell is Bath?"

Sirius sighed (rather dramatically) and grudgingly explained Bath's location relative to the rest of England. He also described his family home... more properly a small manor, truth be told, on the outskirts of a smallish village.

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" Dancer asked, pencil poised. Was that a wince?

"No," Black said harshly.

There was a pause before Hope spoke again, her tone gentle, "Did you have any brothers or sisters?" Eyes flew up to meet hers then moved just as quickly to study the carpet. He said nothing, as he crossed his arms more tightly across his chest and hunched into them. The healer let the silence stretch out between them, waiting.

Finally, a single word, "Yes."

"How many?" she prodded gently

"One"

"Brother or sister?"

"Brother"

"Older or younger."

"Older."

"He died?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to tell me how?"

"No."

"Alright," she said just as gently. "When you're ready."

Black just scowled.

The healer let a few moments pass in silence before beginning again, "Did you go to school before you left for Hogwarts?"

"No. We, I had tutors at home."

"Did you enjoy your lessons?"

"I did well."

"I'm not surprised you did well in your lessons; but did you like them?"

"Never thought about it. I suppose." Black answered grudgingly.

"What did your parents think?"

"Of what?" Black asked an incredulous look on his face.

"Of your grades."

"I told you I was tutored at home, there were no particular grades to move in or out of ."

To Black's surprise the healer chuckled softly, "Sorry, I should have expected that." Black raised a brow but said nothing. Dancer continued, "Translation problems. I think what I was trying to ask about were your ...Marks."

Comprehension dawned on Black's face and for the briefest moment he almost relaxed into a smile, until he considered the question itself. Then his face fell back into the harsh lines it had worn during most of his short acquaintance with the healer.

"They were happy so long as they were good." Black tossed off with only the barest hint of bitterness.

"And if they weren't?"

"They always were."