Chapter 7

It's not like I have not tried to go against what was expected of me. I have been told I must be compliant or else 'my carefully planned out world' will crumble. Any sort of decision or thoughts of defiance were forced away. If I break one promise with my defiance, terrible things could happen to me or my family. It is more than just getting reprimanded. It is a matter of life and death. -From the Diary of Keely


What is the purpose of all this training if it only brings misery to my family and me? I have been reared to be a protector of sorts. My training began at a young age. By the age of six I was learning how to dual, using spells people five years my senior were just learning. It was not talent that allowed for such advanced magic. Oh no, I was not powerful, though I am now advance beyond my years; that was evidenced by the magic I used to escape Dumbledore the other night.

I had been trying my best to avoid the aging Headmaster at all costs which meant I spent my spare time in the 'Room of Requirement.' Now that I knew I could get into it even if the door did not present itself to me, I would spend my most of my spare time hiding out there. Harry would often accompany me, asking question after question about advancing his own magic. Sometimes, we would talk magical theories while other times I would have him practice. He was getting better at the silent spells, but he was still pretty terrible.

It was Saturday and most of the student body was buzzing about the Quidditch game later in the day; Slytherin versus Gryffindor. Harry had already gone off with the team to get ready for the biggest game of the season, leaving me alone for an hour before the game. In my musings, I wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings.

A hand reached out and began pulling me down the hallway. Immediately, I recognized Dumbledore's long blackened fingers. Neither of us said anything as he guided me to the nearest stairway.

Few people were milling around the halls chatting excitedly about the game soon to start. When they saw us pass, I could see their eyes follow, wondering what I had done this time to warrant another trip to the Headmaster's office. All though, they would never know my 'punishments' were actually training sessions or Order business.

Once we arrived at the gargoyles guarding the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore said his password 'lemon drop.' It was his favorite password to use. He once told me after I questioned him about the continuous re-use of that password, 'It is much easier to allow people to think I am brilliant and constantly changing the passwords. They do not often think I change it back to what was before and something so obvious as my favorite muggle candy.'

The gargoyles sprung aside revealing the familiar spiral staircase leading up to his office. We quickly ascended the stairs, Dumbledore's grip still strong on my arm. For a man with a dark almost dead looking appendage it still had some good strength to it. He pulled me through his door and shut it with a snap behind us.

"How did you get into that room?" He didn't waste any time asking the question I am sure he has been wracking his brain over all week during my avoidance.

Walking towards Fawkes, who was on his perch. "I don't know," I replied gently stroking the bird's feathers, not looking at Dumbledore.

I could tell he was frustrated by my answer. I could feel the slight change in his magical energy signature in his frustration. "Miss Lupin, Tell me how you were feeling at the exact moment you were able to get enough power to override the charm on the 'Come and Go Room' door."

"I don't know. Does it really matter," I asked with a huff. I didn't want to be here. I didn't want to be having this conversation even though I knew it would happen eventually.

"Yes, it matters. It matters a great deal," Dumbledore remarked. Again he grabbed my arm, this time to turn me so I looked straight into his eyes. Eyes that were not sparkling with the amusement he usually showed when others were around. No, these eyes were a cold, icy blue usually reserved for getting information he wanted out of people.

I narrowed my gray-blue eyes back. "All I know is I was trying to get away from you."

"What about Harry," he quickly asked as if changing the subject he had started.

"What about, Harry," I questioned in return, emphasizing I didn't know what information he wanted to know regarding Harry.

"Was he speaking to you at all? What happened with him after you left the infirmary?"

What did this have to do with me forcing the door to appear and Harry. Sure he was with me. Yes, I wanted to give him a little bit of insight into what kind of protective measures are in place for him without coming out to say it.

I had paused too long. Dumbledore shook both my shoulders as if to shake the information out of my head. "Answer me, Miss Lupin."

I jerked away from his grasp, creating a couple of steps of space between the two of us. "For the last time, I don't know. We were trying to get away from you. That is all I remember. Plus the hours surrounding that incident were a little hazy due to my being unconscious in the infirmary."

"Ah, yes. I apologize for that." Dumbledore's demeanor completely changed at the mention of my near death experience that preceded 'Room of Requirement' situation.

"What do you mean?"

"I may have arranged for the House Elves to add some of your mother's last memories into your drink. It had be highly dangerous for the weak minded and had the potential to eradicate your own mind."

I was instantly angered at the old man in front of me. "You tried something that could have killed me!"

"I believed you would be strong enough to withstand and seeing how much magic you displayed to get away from me the other day we can both see that I was correct."

"You were willing to put my life in the balance for a hunch. You weren't even here for most of that weekend. Why couldn't you have tried that in a more controlled environment?"

"I planned it so you would be in Harry's presence because his compassion for you would have allowed you to survive. I was hoping his feelings for you would help you."

"Harry does not have feelings for me."

"But you do for him?"

"I don't see how that is any of your business."

"Ah, that is where you are wrong Miss Lupin. It is because of your 'circumstances' that anything about you is my business. I am sure one of the memories you witnessed alluded to why it was unfortunate that you tried to tell Harry of your 'circumstances.' As you can see now, you are bound by the laws of magic not to divulge any Order secrets. The combination of the two incidences simultaneously, drinking the mixture from the House Elves and trying to tell Harry, is probably what caused such a strong negative physical reaction."

I was absolutely seething at this point. First he tries to get information out of me that I do not have, then he reveals he is the reason I almost died and all he can do is ask about Harry.

I was done dealing with the Headmaster today; he had already angered me enough for one day. I'm sure he could tell by my current state that no other information would pass between my lips. He didn't stop me as I stormed out of the office.

The Quidditch game had already started and cheers could be heard from the pitch. Now I was late for the start of the Quidditch game. I picked up my pace trying to get to the pitch before too much was missed.

Blurs of red and green could be seen darting above the stands. One player of each color remained stationary above the center of the pitch, waiting for the opportune moment to dash forward.

Running up the stairs on the Gryffindor side of the stadium, the volume of the crowd exploded.

"And Gryffindor gets another 10 points probably due to the whiffenswaggles in the air today. They always bring good luck to those who wear red," the soft absent-minded voice of Luna Lovegood announced.

Even after my disastrous meeting with Dumbledore, I couldn't help but smile at Luna's commentary. She was so endearingly clueless about most things that one couldn't help but smile at then things she says.

"Hey. What did I miss," I asked squeezing myself in a seat beside Hermione causing her to jump slightly.

"Where have you been," Hermione questioned not answering my initial question. "I was waiting for you in the Great Hall. Instead I got cornered by McClaggan."

"Oops, sorry about that," And I was sorry. McClaggan was one of the most obnoxious people I had the displeasure of meeting. Hermione liked having me around because McClaggan would not approach her if I was there. He had started a rumor the previous year that he and I had 'hooked up' and the real reason I had to leave was not due to being expelled by Umbridge, but because I was pregnant. Let's just say that after I came back, non-verbal wandless magic came in very handy to show the entire school why I would not go near the Sleeze Bucket, and why no other girl should either.

"I was caught doing magic in the halls again," I lied.

"What continues to possess you to do magic in the halls? You know you get caught almost every single time," Hermione scolded. Even though I knew I was being scolded for something that wasn't true, the way Hermione said it made it feel real and that I should actually feel guilty for performing magic in the halls.

"I blame peeves," I said with a smile. No one ever questions further when Peeves is involved because 9 out of 10 times he is involved somehow. Just in my case, the likelihood of Peeves being involved is 1 out of 10, but Hermione didn't need to know that.

Turning to watch the game for the first time. Gryffindor was once again in the possession of the Quaffel. In the blink of an eye, one of the Slytherin players was flying full speed towards Katie Bell. Right before impact, Katie twirled her broom upside-down in order to avoid the angry green blur. However, the Slytherin chaser reached down and jostled the broom enough to startle Katie effectively making her drop the quaffel into the hands of another Slytherin below. The Gryffindor fans yelled in outrage; calling out for a foul.

Harry too was yelling, but he was not yelling for a foul to be called. Instead he was yelling at his teammates to get back in possession of the ball. If I understood my Quidditch well enough, I knew that nothing could be done about that maneuver. The Slytherins had made it look as if they were swiping for the quaffel and not trying to jostle Katie off her broom.

Ritchie Coote sent a well placed bludger towards the Slytherin chaser about to throw the quaffel towards the hoops Ron was nervously guarding. The bludger went soaring through the air and hit its target's throwing arm, knocking the ball out of the player's hand. Demelza Robins flew in to screen any Slytherins from getting the quaffel again. This allowed Ginny to swoop in and snatch the ball from mid-air.

We all watched as Ginny made a break for the other side of the pitch. As my eyes followed her, I noticed that Dumbledore was now sitting in his normal seat behind the Luna who was now commentating on the shape of the clouds behind Harry.

"Oh, look it looks like the snitch is also enjoying the clouds as well," Luna announced over the loud speaker. This caught Harry's attention immediately as well as everyone else's.

The snitch was hovering by the professors' box. Harry and his opponent raced towards the shimmering gold object. Both had equal distance to cover, but the Gryffindor team was at a disadvantage if Harry caught the snitch right away. In order to win the house cup, Gryffindor needed two more goals plus catching the snitch.

Both seekers raced full speed towards the professors, many of them already ducking for cover. It looked as though the Slytherin seeker was slightly ahead of Harry. Everyone in stands had risen to their feet and were shouting excitedly at the seekers, myself included.

Right before the Slytherin seeker was about to close his hands over the snitch, Harry willed himself to go a little faster and snatch the tiny winged ball mere milliseconds before his opponent.

Madam Hooch blew her whistle to signal the end of the game.

Harry had his hand above his head signally he caught the snitch, but his teammates were not rushing him. Instead they were all gathered around Ginny who had apparently scored two goals while everyone else was pre-occupied with the seekers.


"Hey! Can you believe it? We won," Harry yelled as he picked me up and spun me around. I laughed at this excitement. The common room was in full party mode; people were dancing, talking loudly, drinking something that smelled strangely like firewhiskey.

"I thought for a second there you were going to use some wandless magic in order to get the snitch," I continued to laugh as Harry put me back down on my feet. His hands were still resting on my hips.

"Believe me it was tempting, but doing that in front of the professors would probably end in a disqualification."

"Probably," I agreed. I couldn't seem to wipe the smile off my face seeing Harry so happy about winning the Quidditch house cup.

"What do you say to you teaching me some more wandless magic after the party? I feel like I can accomplish anything tonight," Harry suggested. His eyes shinned in excitement.

"Sounds like a plan."

Harry's smile widened. "Great! I'm just going to go congratulate my teammates again and we'll meet up after the party!" He squeezed my hips before letting go and turning around to walk towards a small group of his teammates.

I watched Harry talk excitedly to his fellow teammates as I'm sure they were recapping the game highlights including Ginny's two last minute winning goals. Then Harry turned towards Ginny, said something to her; she smiled widely and grabbed the front of Harry's shirt pulling him in and kissing him.

I couldn't believe the scene in front of me. I saw them. Everyone saw them. The cheers were deafening and all I wanted to do was get away, but I was rooted to my spot. My eyes stung with tears as I watched Harry and Ginny kiss for the entire crowd. Lips locked, eyes closed, and here I was watching them like a surprised idiot.

After a few more moments I was able to move. I walked slowly towards the staircase to my dorm on legs that felt like they were weighted down. Everything almost seemed numb after witnessing what should have brought me joy because my best friend was happy.

I finally made it into my dorm and shut the sounds and chanting out when the door closed. The soft click of the door seemed to act as a catalyst; the shaking began. First in my hands, then it spread to my legs as I fought to stay standing. The task became too difficult and I leaned against my trunk and slide down to the floor.

A sob was wrenched out of my chest making it hard for me to catch my breath. The salty taste of tears fell into my mouth, but nothing seemed to matter.

Ginny had kissed Harry. My chest tightened. Harry had kissed her back. The mere thought of what was just witnessed only increase the pressure and shaking.

"KEELY!" Hermione came running over to my side when she saw the state I was in on the floor of the dorm room. "Keely, what happened."

I said nothing. Just shook and clutched my ever tightening heart.

"Keely, answer me. Keys, please." Her voice turned soft, but there was still panic. She must have known that words couldn't penetrate my numb outer shell because she slipped her arms around my shoulders, pulling me into a comforting embrace.

Upon looking at Hermione, one of my closest friends, I lost it completely. The dam behind my eyes broke and the tears began to flow freely.

The amount of time we sat there didn't seem to matter. Hermione never left my side. It wasn't until morning that either of us shifted from our position and it was only because we heard Lavender and Parvati loudly whispering about what was wrong with me.

"The least either of you could do is have the decency to whisper about this when you are someplace private," Hermione snapped angrily.


A/N: And there is some more drama for all of you :-) Not to worry, this will only fuel Keely's abilities as well as her anger (which is important... hint hint).

Questions, comments, suggestions always welcome! Thanks for reading!

Always,
orangezauber