A/N: It's been a long time. A LONG time. But I'm back!!!
This chapter is strange… whatever. At any rate, this is for Lisa, who has waited very patiently for me to update. Here you go!
Love you all,
-Nymphean
Chapter 9: Making Plans
"Are we all here now?" Dumbledore asked, looking around the large table in the staff room. Seated around the table were at least fifty wizards and witches, with another fifty or so standing behind them. Professors Snape, McGonagall and Hooch were seated to the right of Dumbledore, with Remus, Laelyn and Hagrid on the other side. Other professors, friends and former Hogwarts students were scattered throughout the room.
"I think everyone on the list is accounted for," Sirius said, checking the roll of parchment. "No, wait… Where's Harry?"
"A very good question indeed," Professor Dumbledore said, furrowing his brow. "Where IS Mr. Potter?"
"Here I am," said a voice from the doorway. All heads turned to see the Boy Who Lived standing in the doorframe, looking exhausted. "Sorry I'm so late… Hope I didn't hold things up too much."
"Not at all," replied Dumbledore, smiling kindly. "We were just about to start." Harry walked over to where Sirius was sitting and stood behind him. Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Now, as you all know, we are here for a very serious reason. The Dark Lord has returned, and his servants are stronger and more vengeful than ever before. It is only a matter of time before war breaks out again. Some of you in this room may not remember the first war, others…" Dumbledore paused, "Are not so fortunate. Either way, this war promises to be just as horrific, just as terrible. Which is why we must stop Voldemort before it's too late." There were a number of shudders at the mention of the Dark Lord's name. "In order to do this, we MUST make use of all our resources. The entire magical world must be united against the Dark Lord, or we shall surely fall. That means not only Wizards and Witches, but everyone and anyone else we can find who might be of use. Therefore," Dumbledore rummaged through the stack of parchment in front of him, "I have some requests to make of specific individuals in this crowd. First of all, Hagrid, I need you to negotiate with the giants. I know they wouldn't cooperate before, but perhaps recent circumstances will have changed their outlook." Hagrid nodded.
"Righ', Professor."
"Where is Charlie Weasley?" Dumbledore peered over the tops of his half-moon glasses. Charlie leaned over Sirius' shoulder.
"Right here, Professor."
"Ah. Charlie, exactly how tame are your tame dragons?"
Charlie furrowed his brow. "Pretty tame. If you're asking if they're disciplined enough for battle, then yes."
"Good. We may be able to make use of that yet. Bill?" The eldest Weasley boy looked down the table at Dumbledore. "Perhaps you can ask the goblins for any assistance they might be able to offer."
"I can try."
"Excellent. Laelyn," Dumbledore turned to the tiny woman, "I need you to negotiate with the Nymphs."
Laelyn nodded. "I will try, but I can't guarantee anything… they can be rather disagreeable sometimes."
Dumbledore nodded. "I understand, my dear, but the fact remains that we need their help."
"It will be dangerous… I'm not exactly well-liked in that realm. And they are all stronger than I am. They won't necessarily be lenient with me."
Dumbledore frowned pensively. "Well then, we shall send someone with you. But who?"
"I'll go," Remus said quickly. Dumbledore looked at Laelyn for approval, and she nodded.
"I'll go as well, if you need me," added Draco. Dumbledore raised and eyebrow at Laelyn.
"Draco too?"
She nodded. "Draco too."
"Then it's settled, Laelyn, Draco and Remus will go see the nymphs." Dumbledore sighed. "We have our work cut out for us."
The meeting went on like this for a good two hours, with people being assigned to recruit volunteers and offering whatever contacts they had, until every resource in the room had been exhausted. Finally, they were done, and Dumbledore dismissed them, sending them off on their various missions. Laelyn, Remus and Draco met by the door once the room was basically cleared out.
"I've got some things I need to see to before we can even enter the Nymphean realm," Laelyn told them quietly. "It should only take me a few hours." Remus smiled slightly, and Draco nodded solemnly. Laelyn heard someone behind her clear their throat, and she turned around, already knowing who it was.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Of course."
In the hall outside, Bill turned to Laelyn, his face serious and drawn. He looks old, his wife thought to herself, almost as old as I feel.
"Look," He said quietly, his voice slightly strained. "I'm sorry I acted the way I did last night. I was being childish."
Laelyn's eyes went wide. Here I am expecting a reprimand, and he's apologizing! She shook her head, partially in wonder. "No, don't be. It's not your fault at all. I understand that you were upset, and I don't blame you."
Bill shrugged stiffly. "I'm still upset. But I should have at least given you an answer instead of just walking away. It was rude."
Laelyn's heart ached for the man before her. He was making such an effort to be polite, even after everything she'd done. "Bill, please… don't apologize if you don't mean it."
"I mean it. Okay?"
Laelyn sighed, giving up. "Okay," she whispered, looking up at him. Their eyes met for the first time since she'd been in the hospital. "Bill, wait…" She reached out and touched his arm lightly, her eyes pleading for him to listen. "Please… just hear me out."
Their eyes stayed locked together as Bill took her hands in his and lead her to a bench by the wall. They sat, and Laelyn finally looked away from her husband.
"I just wanted you to know that, no matter what has happened, I still love you." She bit her lip, tears springing to her eyes. "I still love you and it kills me every time I look at you because I know what I did to you. I won't make excuses, Bill, because you and I both know I could have stopped it whenever I wanted to. But I didn't, and it killed everything we had. And no matter what happens now, I know you'll never love me the same way you did. Not after what I…" She bit back a sob, covering her mouth with her hand. "… I'm just sorry, that's all."
Bill instinctively brought a hand to her face and wiped away the tears that ran down her pale cheeks. "Shh. Crying won't make anything better, you know." Laelyn nodded, forcing back the tears that hadn't fallen. Bill sighed. "You're right you know. I wish you weren't, but you always are. I can't love you like I did before, and I don't think you'll ever feel the same way about me, either. I don't want to lose you from my life, Laelyn, but I can't be what you need me to be anymore." He drew in a large breath and held it, as if trying to gather up the nerve to say something important. "Does he really care about you?"
Laelyn nodded sadly. "He does. At least, he says he does, and I believe him. Remus loves me, Bill, and he's a dear man who's been hurt too many times. I care for him a great deal."
Bill closed his eyes. "I knew. I could see it… when you were sitting there, with him, I could see how deeply you felt for each other." He looked over at his wife, their eyes meeting again. "You have to go. Make sure you stay with him… he'll take care of you."
"I can take care of myself."
"Yes, but you don't have to."
Laelyn's fingers brushed against the side of his cheek. "Be safe." Bill smiled slightly, his expression pained.
"YOU be safe." He pushed her hand away from his face gently. "Go."
"I'm going."
*****
Ravaine Thorne leapt to her feet at the sound of knocking on her door.
"Simeon, she's here!" The tiny, dark-haired woman bounded across the greatroom and into the front hall, where her husband was already standing, having run down the stairs. The tall man flung open the large wooden door.
"It's been too long," Ravaine said sternly before even looking out of the doorway. "Months."
"Hello Mum." Laelyn smiled down at her mother, who was even shorter than she was. "I'm sorry I've taken so long between visits… I've been very busy." She smiled up at her father. "Hello, Daddy."
Simeon stepped out from behind his wife and bent down to embrace his only child. "Wonderful to see you, darling." He stepped back. "I hear you and Bill separated." Laelyn frowned.
"Daddy…" She said in a warning tone.
"Just say the word, and he's fired."
"Daddy!" Laelyn's eyes went wide. "Stop it!" Her mother rolled her eyes.
"Well? What's wrong with you? Come in!" Laelyn chuckled and stepped inside the mansion, removing her heavy cape.
"As much as I'd love to chat all day, I am here for a reason," She said as they walked into the greatroom.
"I'm assuming this mission you're on has something to do with the minister's death," Ravaine said calmly. Laelyn nodded.
"We're trying to stop the next war before it even begins," She replied. "And if we're going to help, we need you to do something for us."
Ravaine's eyes narrowed. "If you're going to ask what I think you're going to ask, you might as well stop right now, because the answer is no."
Laelyn stopped walking and turned to her mother. "Mum… I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't totally necessary."
"It will never be totally necessary, Laelyn!" the older woman looked at her daughter. "I cannot allow it."
"Mother…" Laelyn looked the other woman in the eyes. "I need the pendant. You KNOW it's the only way into the Nymphean realm… we can't cross the veil without it."
"We?" Ravaine shook her head. "Simeon, could you excuse us for a few minutes?" Laelyn's father nodded silently and back out of the room as fast as he could. "Oh, Laelyn, you can't possibly mean what I think you do."
Laelyn shut her eyes. "I just want to ensure that I'm adequately protected."
"You know you cannot bring outsiders, HUMAN outsiders, no less, into the realm! You're not even allowed past the veil yourself!"
"I have to go! I have to try!"
Ravaine grabbed her daughter's wrists with surprising strength. "LISTEN to me, child!" She yelled. "Have you lost you mind? Where is your head, Laelyn? You CANNOT cross into that realm. You will be killed. I won't allow it!"
Laelyn looked at her mother, her gray eyes unwavering. "I WILL get past the veil, with or without your help. Albus Dumbledore is a very powerful man, and he will see to it that I am admitted. But with your help, we can save time. Mother," Her look softened, "we can save lives."
Ravaine stood perfectly still throughout her daughter's speech, and continued to do so for several more minutes. "You make a valid point, my child. But is it really worth—"
"My life?" Laelyn closed her eyes momentarily. "Yes. I think so, anyway."
Ravaine sighed. "Sometimes you make me feel so old." She shook her head and reached inside the edge of her blouse, pulling out a long, thin golden chain. "I should NOT be doing this, but… it IS for the greater good, after all."
Laelyn smiled and took the chain from her mother's hand, admiring the fine craftsmanship. The chain itself was a wonder, with links tinier than she had ever seen on any other piece of jewelry in the human realm. But it was the pendant that was the most spectacular. It hung from the fine chain as if it had a life of it's own. The beautiful white stone shone with a million different hues in the light, and the gold fastenings that held the stone in place were intricately worked and skillfully crafted to delicate perfection. Laelyn lifted the chain over her head and let the pendant fall onto her chest, feeling it's power through the thin cloth of her shirt.
"Thank you," she whispered, touching the pendant lightly. "I won't let you regret it."
Ravaine rolled her eyes. "I'm regretting it already." And then she encircled her daughter in her arms. "Be careful, Laelyn. You know how dangerous that world can be."
Laelyn nodded. "I know. And I'm ready."
