Chapter Four
Morning light filtered through the hospital wing and birds chirped nearby outside. As the sun's yellow rays poured over the bed, it heated the space underneath, disturbing the sleeper from the peaceful dream floating through their mind. Thalia blinked slowly, looking around at what she could see without moving her head. Nothing had changed except for the light green partition that was stretched along the floor, blocking the view of the bed beside hers.
It was quiet and all she could hear was the odd sizzling noise that sounded as though it came from the other side. The thoughts of what it could be ran through her mind but she had no conclusion. But she didn't get up to check it out. She just continued to lie there, in the same position, waiting to see what came of it.
The answer was revealed when the partition moved soundlessly against the floor as it folded in on itself, repositioning back into its original position. The tall outline of a man appeared, dressed entirely in black robes that swished elegantly with each movement. Something clinked in his hands but she couldn't see what it was. He hunched over, busying himself with whatever it was.
When he turned, Thalia jumped. The recognition returned. She'd seen him yesterday when she arrived here. He was one of the three people standing in the hall, looking at her with a peculiar expression on his face. But the look wasn't there now. The expression was one of boredom, as though there were a million other things he'd rather be doing. With only a fleeting glance of her, he swept passed, placing a heavy object down beside her on the white table.
As he turned and began to walk away, Thalia raised herself to her elbow. "Are you the potions master?"
The man stopped in his tracks and turned unhurriedly. Their eyes met and Thalia stared into the man's black eyes that reminded her of black pools, deep and mysterious. His straight, shoulder-length black hair fell around his shoulders, the fringes curtaining his pale face.
"Severus Snape," he said, introducing himself. "I'll return with the next one tomorrow."
"The next what?" asked Thalia quickly, pulling herself into a sitting position.
"Potion," said Snape, clearly unhappy. "The wolfsbane potion must be taken every day for one week before the full moon and that starts today. If you miss one day, you'll once again turn into the raging monster with nothing but animalistic urges driving you. Drink it as is, add nothing, or it won't work."
As Snape turned away, a look of slight amusement touched Thalia's features. He walked from the room with long strides, making his black robe billow behind him like a plume of black smoke. Once he was gone, she looked to the small white table beside her. The only thing new on it was a goblet made of what looked to be brass. From inside the goblet several tiny spirals of blue smoke rose.
At the growing curiosity Thalia reached over and grabbed hold of it. The goblet was cool to the touch and she brought it beneath her face so she could easily see inside. But it wasn't as exotic as she imagined in her head. The liquid inside was pale blue and had no smell. Sitting up, she took another look at the goblet and after a deep breath, swallowed it down. After the last drop went down, she gagged and dropped the goblet and coughed, spluttering the last bits in her mouth on the floor.
A chuckle sounded off the stone walls, making Thalia's head snap up to attention, the goblet and the taste of the potion forgotten. Her grey eyes snapped upwards towards the double doors but only half of it was visible and the figure was a familiar one, as was the smell of him. Her eyes widened and she swallowed hard, pulling her legs from the white blankets, and slipping off the bed, nearing the empty bed beside her.
"It's alright," said Remus, holding up his hands, palms facing her, showing that he was no threat. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanted to talk."
"I thought when I was feeling up to it we'd talk," said Thalia, stopping when her legs hit the bed.
"Yes," Remus sighed, moving in between her bed and the other one, taking a step back to sit on the bed behind him. "But I do get the feeling that that's not going to happen is it?"
Thalia had no answer for him as she didn't want to tell him that he was right. After a deep breath, she slowly approached her bed and sat back down, keeping her legs onto the opposite site to him, just in case. Her eyes remained glued to his face but he was no longer looking at her. His attention was on the floor and a vague smile appeared as he leaned forward and picked up the goblet on the floor, putting it back onto the white table.
"It's got a horrible taste, hasn't it?"
Thalia shrugged vaguely, looking him up and down, not wanting to agree with him. As the minutes passed, Thalia started to believe that he wasn't going to hurt her as he hadn't yet done anything but talking wasn't something she saw as an option. Talking to a werewolf outside of the pack was forbidden; even being near one was considered a betrayal. The confliction battled in her head but Remus didn't seem to notice anything.
"I remember feeling relieved when the potion was invented although it is quite difficult to make," said Remus conversationally. "I have attempted to make it and I've made many mistakes with trying. Only once I succeeded properly. I take it that this is the first time drinking it?"
Thalia nodded but still said nothing. She saw Remus' face fall slightly, the lines of his face becoming apparent. As her eyes flickered to the wand still in his hand, Remus put it away and clasped his hands together, leaning forward on his legs.
"I know this is scary but you need to open up to us," said Remus quietly.
"I have," mumbled Thalia, her voice breaking on the last word, feeling as though everything she had already said was worth nothing.
"I'm talking more about the present," said Remus slowly, choosing his words carefully. "In order to trust you we need something more than stories of your past. We want to help and protect you but-"
"You need information in return," said Thalia bitterly, forgetting her hesitation with him just seconds ago.
"We're in a war and you're father is a part of that war," explained Remus. "And now, so are you. I know the reasons you left him are personal but you still have an opportunity to help us stop him."
"You mean kill him?" said Thalia sharply. "You want information about what he and the Death Eaters are up to and then use that to kill him?"
"In short, yes," said Remus, his shoulders slumping. "I know Dumbledore was unclear about what he wants from you but he is actually interested in you as well as what you know."
"He doesn't know you're here…" said Thalia, reading his face. "But I don't know anything," said Thalia, dismissing it. "What my father does away from the pack, I know nothing of. I've only met a couple of Death Eaters and I didn't speak to either of them alone or overhear anything about any plans. I have nothing to contribute."
"Maybe you don't want to share anything, thinking it's insignificant," suggested Remus. "Or maybe you could help us in a different way."
"How?" asked Thalia suspiciously.
"Your father controls nearly every pack in Britain," said Remus slowly, keeping her gaze. "Turning them has been difficult and I could use some help."
"So, that's what you and Dumbledore want," said Thalia. "You want me to turn against my father."
"You've already done that," said Remus exasperatedly, not understanding why she's still refusing. "Running away from him was a betrayal. I've been in a pack before, Thalia. The alpha demands loyalty and you spat on everything when you turned away from him. The fact that he's your father is irrelevant. Very soon you're going to have to choose which side you're going to fight with."
Thalia said nothing. Her eyes remained on Remus as he got to his feet and started to walk away. His last words resonated in her mind and the conflicted she felt earlier still remained. Fighting against her father and his side would mean forgiveness is impossible. Returning there now she might be given a second chance, after a few punishments first, of course.
"I hope you make the right decision," said Remus, coming to a stop and looking at her again.
"And if I don't?" asked Thalia quietly.
Remus' shoulders slumped and he gave her nothing but a grim look. Thalia had the feeling that if she refused to help them, things weren't going to be good for her. Remus walked from the room and Thalia was alone once more. Slowly, Thalia lay down on her side and stared at the empty bed opposite. Running away seemed to only make things more complicated.
"I know you're awake, Miss Greyback."
Thalia sighed and pulled herself up into a sitting position. Dumbledore sat in a chair just near her bed, his robes of pale gold hitting the floor around his feet and a faint smile on his wrinkled face, making his blue eyes twinkle in the torch light.
"I heard you and Remus had a conversation," he said knowingly. "I do wish he had waited through."
"For what?" snapped Thalia. "To be told what your real intentions were for helping me?"
The elderly wizard's expression remained the same, only his smile growing a little more. "I'm afraid in times like these we all do what we have to," said Dumbledore. "And once I learned who you were I had to take advantage of that."
"Even if I don't know anything?" asked Thalia quickly.
"You may know more than you think," retorted Dumbledore. "The mind of a child is a wonderful thing. It's able to absorb the tiniest of details, the tiniest specks of emotion given off by an adult, especially a parent. You were close to your mother. The detail in which you spoke of her told that. But when it comes to Fenrir you freeze as though he's in the room or you get angry. I understand the reasons. Growing up with him and the things you suffered at his hands should never be experienced by anybody but you have an opportunity to help us and the wizarding world."
"At what cost?" asked Thalia.
"I guess that's up to you," said Dumbledore, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. "I can't force you to do anything for us but if you're willing come to me when you're ready."
"And if that doesn't happen?" asked Thalia slowly.
"Then I'll have no choice but to keep you here and keep you isolated," replied Dumbledore. "I can't put you out there in the world if you're not prepared to help and I can't take the risk that you're going to return to Fenrir and tell him what you know about us."
"Which is nothing," said Thalia in a bored tone, feeling as though she's done nothing but repeat the same words.
Dumbledore seemed to have noticed the same thing. "Yes, you've told me that before," he said with a faint chuckle. He got to his feet and stepped to the end of the bed. "Sleep on it," suggested Dumbledore. "And we'll see what decision you come to."
Dumbledore left the room and in a fit of sudden anger, Thalia grabbed the empty goblet that Remus had placed on the bedside table and threw it across the room. It hit the wall hard and fell onto the floor, bouncing a couple times before rolling to a stop. She panted heavily, her eyes glued to the goblet.
The only thought that came to mind was that it wasn't fair. To get the help and protection she wanted she had to tell them something of importance. Taking her eyes off the goblet, Thalia lay down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. A heavy sigh escaped her. It didn't matter how she looked at it anymore. She was trapped.