DISCLAIMER: ALL OF THE CHARACTERS AND SCENARIOS BELONG TO JKR AND/OR WARNER BROS.
88888888
Snape looked round the entrance hall of Grimmauld Place, where he and Cecilia had appeared. There was no-one about, and he set down her bag. Cecilia held his arm and tried to get her balance. He had taken them using Floo network to the nearest fireplace.
"Grimmauld Place, " he said, and looked past Cecilia towards the door. She let go of his arm and walked towards it, her knees, still a bit shaky, giving way slightly. When he didn't follow, she turned.
"Thank you," she said, and then paused. The logical part of her mind wanted to set a time for him to come and collect her, but truth be told, she was glad to get away from Hogwarts after last night.
"I'll leave you now," he said, a note of uncertainty in his voice. Had he sensed her pause? she wondered.
"Severus," she said, looking him in the eye. "I'll be in touch. About work that is," she added. He nodded slightly and turned to leave.
"Is there any way that I can get hold of you easily myself?" There, she'd done it. The commitment that she would actually return to Hogwarts and work with him was out in the open. There was no going back.
Snape paused and approached Cecilia, handing her a book that he pulled out of his robe. It looked like an exercise book; it was dark green, quite thin and the ivory pages were blank. There was a picture of a snake on the cover, with the word "Slytherin" printed underneath.
"If you need me for any reason, write down what you wish to say. I'll get the message," he said. Cecilia smiled. Whatever had caused him to react like that this evening she did not know, but now at least they could part on better terms.
Just then, the living room door opened and Tonks appeared.
"Hullo, Cecilia," she said, grinning at Cecilia. Her face fell when she saw Snape.
"As I said, I'll leave you now," said Snape. He flicked up the corners of his mouth in her direction, then scowled at Tonks. He strode over to the fireplace. Tonks looked between him and Cecilia.
"Hogwarts," he intoned, without turning round, and disappeared.
"You OK? I didn't think you were getting here until tomorrow." Tonks smiled again.
"Change of plan," said Cecilia smiling back. She picked up her bag to follow Tonks into the living room, but swapped hands quickly as a brief ache passed through her wrist.
"You survived then, I see," said Tonks, heading towards one of the settees. "Excellent, that's a galleon Remus owes me! Just kidding," she added, noticing Cecilia's expression.
"Have a seat," continued Tonks and Cecilia noticed two boys were sitting where she was gesturing, playing what looked like cards. On seeing Cecilia, one of them got up and shook Cecilia vigorously by the hand.
"Well, as Tonks here is being so discourteous in not introducing us, I suppose it's up to us, " he said.
"I'm George," he continued, "Pleased to meet you. And this is Fred," he said, gesturing towards his brother.
"Actually, I'm George," said the other boy. "Ignore Fred, he's just practicing his manners." They both laughed.
"So what is it you're doing at Hogwarts?" asked George genially. He suddenly went silent, as Fred hissed at him to be quiet and nudged him in the ribs. Cecilia swallowed.
"Work," said Tonks, giving George a warning look.
"So you're her," said Fred, realisation of some kind dawning.
"What's that you're saying?" came a voice from behind them. A group of other children came down the stairs.
George opened his mouth to repeat what Fred had said, but before he could, one of them spoke.
"You're Mrs Frobisher, aren't you?" A girl came over from the foot of the stairs and stood before her, a look of intense curiosity on her face.
"Yes, that's right," she said, sitting down on one of the settees. Suddenly a cloud of dust billowed out from the cushion, and she jumped back up, to a chorus of sniggers from Fred and George, and the boys standing in the corner.
"Ignore them," the girl continued, "they're basically just idiots." The top of Cecilia's ankles began to sting.
"Fleas," said Tonks, turning up her nose. "Magical ones. Did they get you?" she asked, sympathetically. Cecilia nodded, trying not to yield to the intense itching.
"Iteriae Iradicatum", Tonks said, pulling her wand from her robes and swishing. The cloud behind Cecilia disappeared, and the stinging ceased.
"Thanks," said Cecilia, and smiled at Tonks. She looked at the young wizards. "Are you Mr and Mrs Weasley's children?"
"I'm Hermione Granger," said the girl who had recognised her. "Pleased to meet you. I'm just visiting, like Harry. But Ron, Ginny, Fred and George are," she said, pointing each one out as she named them. The twins shuffled around, so each now sat labelled as the other.
"You're all at Hogwarts, then?" she asked.
"Yup", said Ron, as the other children came over to her. "Dumbledore has our necks until we're seventeen."
"And how old are you now?"
"Well, Harry, Hermione and I are all fifteen. Ginny's fourteen and the twins are sixteen. Hang on," said Ron, "you're the muggle, aren't you?"
"Ron", said Hermione sternly. "How rude. Mrs Frobisher does have a name. " She turned back to Cecilia.
"We're staying here, over the summer", continued Hermione. I suppose you know anyway, about the Order."
"Yes, I've met one or two of the wizards in it."
"So you'll know all about Harry, then," she said, matter-of-factly.
"Hermione!" said the boy who Hermione had just called Harry, annoyed and approached Cecilia.
"I'm Harry," he said, determined that if he was going to be the topic of conversation, it would be him doing the telling.
"Pleased to meet you," she said, holding out her hand. "Cecilia Frobisher." Harry shook it.
"I actually don't know all about you; however feel free to share whatever it is Hermione so desperately wants me to know!" The children sat down on the other settees next to her and Tonks and they talked about life at Hogwarts, the sports team that Ron supported; how his brother worked in Romania with dragons and the different types there were (to which Cecilia found herself wondering idly about breeding patterns and taxonomic groups).
Then Harry told her about his family, and how a wizard called Voldermort had killed his parents when he was a baby. Cecilia noticed how the other children and Tonks shuddered when he said the wizard's name.
"But he couldn't kill you?" asked Cecilia.
"No, that's because Harry's mother protected him with her love," said Hermione, speaking slowly.
"Mrs Frobisher," said George, changing the subject. "I notice that you are still alive after spending the last three weeks with Professor Snape. Would you mind sharing with us how you managed it?"
"George…" said Ron urgently, but Cecilia laughed lightly.
"I take it you don't see eye to eye with your potions Professor?" she said, understanding exactly how that could be.
"Basically he's a git!" said Fred, and they all laughed. Just then, Mrs Weasley called them in for supper.
"Cecilia!" she cried, smiling broadly. "We weren't expecting you till tomorrow," said Molly, as they trooped into the kitchen. Cecilia realised then how hungry she was.
"I persuaded Severus to drop me off tonight," she began, hoping the lie didn't show on her face. She noticed Ron nudge Harry.
Mrs Weasley had made what Cecilia's mum would have called a Sunday spread, cold meat, salad and rolls, and the children hungrily tucked in.
"And some nice tea for you," said Molly, handing her a teacup. "You look famished," she said critically. "Did you get enough to eat at Hogwarts?"
"Actually," said Cecilia, biting into a buttered roll, "If I hadn't become friendly with one of the house elves, I probably would have starved to death by now. Turning up at the Great Hall at mealtimes didn't seem to work for me."
"Which house-elf was it?" asked Hermione. "I think it's rotten, the way they are treated you know," she continued. "They don't get paid, and they live in rags - "
"Hermione thinks that by knitting them clothes she's doing them a favour," said Ron, interrupting her. "What she doesn't understand is that all that actually happens is they can't find work because every other wizard family has their own house elf and doesn't want to pay one when they can have theirs do it for nothing."
"Exactly," said Hermione, trying to reason with him "You can see my point, can't you, Mrs Frobisher? Its just plain slavery."
Cecilia picked up her cup of tea and said nothing.
"But you only think like that because you're still applying muggle-world rules to wiz – what?" said Ron, as his mother nodded towards Cecilia and gave him a look.
"But it's true though," he protested, looking round at everyone, his eyes resting on Hermione. "Muggles think they are all equal. But not all magical beings are equal, that was all I was saying."
"Unless you've forgotten, my parents are muggles, so what is it exactly you are saying, Ronald, please share it," said Hermione, coolly.
"I don't think Ron meant anything by it, " said Ginny, trying to calm things down.
"House-elves are not equals to wizards though, are they?" said Ron desperately, trying not to dig himself a deeper hole but failing dismally. "You're still a wizard, Hermione, same as all of us, and wizards know we are the most superior beings…."
"Ronald!" said Mrs Weasley, sharply, and gave him another warning look. Ron slowly began to turn a deep shade of beetroot.
"Mrs Frobisher used to be a teacher, didn't you?" said Tonks, changing the subject. "What was it you taught?"
"Science," said Cecilia. "To children of your age, actually," she said addressing them.
"What's that then?" asked Ginny, curiously. Cecilia put down her cup.
"In your world, you have magic. You use it to do things with, you use it to represent things, and you use it to explain what's going on around you. Muggles, as you know, don't have magic. We have to use our senses which are, as Ron rightly pointed out, not as sophisticated as those of a wizard." Cecilia was aware that the kitchen had fallen silent; even Mrs Weasley and Tonks were watching her.
"Muggles use their senses to measure, explore and investigate the world around them, around us. We collect the information and try to make sense of it, build a picture of the world from our point of view, in a way we can understand."
There was silence, and Cecilia wondered whether she'd overstepped the mark. Then Harry spoke.
"I suppose it's like when I came to Hogwarts for the first time, " he said. "I didn't understand wizards and magic, so I had to use what I knew about the muggle world to understand it better." Remarkable, thought Cecilia.
"That's an excellent analogy, Harry, yes. Particular branches of science I taught at school, in a similar way to how you have specific teachers at Hogwarts. My area of expertise was chemistry, which is in fact quite similar to potions, and to a lesser extent, physics and biology."
"Well I'd rather I had you for science than Snape for potions any day of the week," muttered George.
"In fact, I'd rather learn how to water ski naked than have Snape for anything," added Fred, and the children laughed.
"Did you like Hogwarts, Cecilia?" asked Mrs Weasley, "apart from the practicality side that is? Did you have any other problems?" Immediately, Cecilia's mind flipped to the events of that evening and she pushed them with some effort to the back of her mind.
"Not many, I was really fortunate to become, I suppose friendly would be the right word, with a house-elf, who worked in the kitchen.
"Yes, you did say, Mrs Frobisher" said Harry eventually, "What was his name?"
"Cecilia, please," said Cecilia, smiling at the thought of Dobby in his eclectic mode of dress. "Dobby," she said, and added, "That's right, Professor Dumbledore said he knew you, Harry."
"Yes," groaned Harry, "Don't tell me he's been helping you too! How many arms have you had to have regrown?"
"In our second year, Dobby thought he was protecting Harry, and he ended up having his bone magicked away accidentally," clarified Hermione, ignoring Ron's pleading look and helping herself to a teacake. "I'm sure nothing like that happened though, did it?"
"No," laughed Cecilia. "But I think your school is great, the grounds are beautiful and the castle is stunning. I would have loved to have gone there when I was your age." Mrs Weasley held her wand over Cecilia's teacup and it refilled itself. "Thanks, Molly," she said, smiling.
"Time for bed, I think," announced Mrs Weasley. "Now now, " she said, rebutting the groans of protest. "We have a long day tomorrow, and I think there's been quite enough excitement for one evening."
Soon after, they obediently traipsed upstairs, the twins leading, whispering to one another and Hermione shouldering past Ron, who looked like he was trying to reason with her.
"And it'll soon be my turn," said Mrs Weasley, hurriedly magicking away the tea things.
"Aren't you waiting up for Arthur?" asked Tonks, reshrinking the table smaller and making some of the chairs disappear.
"No, he's on lates today at the Ministry, won't be home till gone midnight, and I'm really done in." With that, she left Cecilia and Tonks.
"It's so good to have a weekend off," said Tonks, as they headed into the living room. "Usually I'm on call, it's your life when you're an Auror," she said, wistfully. Cecilia yawned, and smiled apologetically at Tonks.
"I'd stay up a bit, " she said, "but I'm knackered."
"Snape been cracking the whip, eh?" she winked at Cecilia.
"Only if I ask," giggled Cecilia.
"What a sick thought, " laughed Tonks, allowing herself to flop onto the sofa. "Night then, sleep well".
"I will, " said Cecilia, meaning it. She walked up the stairs, grabbing her bag as she went, then turned and called back to Tonks.
"Am I still in the same room?"
"Sorry, Cecilia? Yes, you are,"
"Right-oh, night," said Cecilia sleepily, looking forward to her head hitting the pillow. She rounded the corner on the first floor and grabbed her wash things, throwing her bag by the door. Pacing back towards the bathroom, she ignored the portrait at the end yelling obscenities at her.
She turned towards the bathroom door and was about to enter when she overheard some noises. Pausing, she listened.
"Well I think she's nice…."
"…but that's because for she didn't praise you for the correct answer for once, Hermione…"
"I know Ron…how much do we really know about…just shut up a minute, will you?"
"…your mother will have your hide…"
"Ginny!…sh sh sh..."
The voices faded away, and Cecilia entered the bathroom. The children actually seemed OK, she thought to herself, as she lathered her face. Harry seemed quite normal, but she'd noticed a scar on his forehead, and wondered how it was connected to his extraordinary life.
Ron though, and Hermione, bickering like an old married couple! Even she and Tim never argued like that. Well, almost never, she thought as she rinsed her face, blotting it with her flannel, and sighed.
What had made Hermione so upset though? It was obvious that everyone thought she, Cecilia, might be upset about his comments. Hadn't she said her parents were muggles? Cecilia played the conversation back in her mind as she exited he bathroom.
Ron had said she was still as much of a wizard as they were. So, non-magical people can give birth to children who they themselves are wizards.
With that thought resting in her mind, Cecilia opened her bedroom door, grabbing her bag with the other hand, and threw he door shut behind her
She flicked on the light switch and screamed – the whole room was filled with bats, hundreds of them, all hanging from the ceiling. She tried to open the door again, but it wouldn't open; she pulled on the knob, but nothing happened. Bats were now surrounding her, flitting about her head, and she gasped.
"Cecilia!" came voice on the other side of the door. It was Tonks. "Are you OK?"
"No!" she yelled back, "the place is full…aah!" she yelled, as one flapped past her.
"Alohomora," Cecilia heard Tonks say, as she flattened herself against the wall. The door sprung open.
"What is all this commotion?" said Mrs Weasley, in an agitated voice. She looked round the door, and her face hardened and she headed determinedly towards the stairs to the second floor.
"I think you've been had, Cecilia" said Tonks, grinning broadly. Cecilia nodded, stepping out of the way. Tonks grabbed her wand again.
"Fliermause Iridicatum" she said, waving her wand. The bats disappeared and the room became its neat self. Cecilia breathed heavily, hearing footsteps hurrying around o the floor above them.
"On the other hand, perhaps I should have just one more cup of tea, " said Cecilia, looking at Tonks. "I think I maybe pre-empted the room being ready." She followed Tonks downstairs.
"No, I think the timing was just right," said Tonks, laughing. "I'm not sure what Molly will do to the twins, but I can assure you they won't like it!" Cecilia smiled. She sat down on one of the settees again, testing it carefully this time, her heart racing.
"Half a mo, and I'll get you that tea," said Tonks "I just have to grab an owl and send this message back to the ministry." She headed towards the kitchen again, and Cecilia heard something open. She looked round the room again, and her eye caught something on the table, which was moving.
Cecilia leaned closer. The images looked very much like photographs, they were 6 by 4, but from the top, they appeared to be three-dimensional. Curious, thought Cecilia and picked one up. She turned it on its side, but it was wafer-thin.
As she went to put it down again, words on a piece of paper lying underneath the images caught her eye.
"17th August: Muggle-Baiting Report"
Cecilia glanced back at the image, and back at the paper again. She picked it up.
"The attacks for this month have been unusually high in the Hounslow area. Three cases have been reported this week alone, the most disturbing of which was captured by a muggle security camera…"
Cecilia glanced at the image in her hand. The number in the bottom right-hand corner matched with the one in the report. She looked at it, horror creeping up on her.
From what she could see from the image the attackers were standing on the top of a multi-storey car park. Cecilia could see the glow from the sodium-coloured street lights at the top right hand edge. Just then, a flash of darkness obscured the image, but it moved to reveal two men? Wizards? Presumably wizards, Cecilia thought to herself, holding the arms of a man behind his back.
The man looked to be in his early thirties, dressed casually, but there was what looked like blood down one side of his face. Suddenly, one of the wizards pulls out wand, and the man's face contorted into a picture of agony. The other wizard used his wand to lift up the man's legs. Once they were horizontal to the safety rail, the second wizard sent a jet of green light towards the poor man, who is sent over the edge.
Trying to tear herself away, Cecilia was relieved when the image goes dark, and the first "scene" appeared back on the image. She discarded it, and picked up the report again, and clamps her hand to her mouth when she reads that shortly after George Hudson's death where the "Death Eaters" had used two "Unforgivable Curses" his eight-year old daughter who had been looking for her father, and was subjected to the same horrific fate.
"My god…" she thought, considering the horror she had witnessed. Just then, Cecilia heard the door in the kitchen open, and she threw down the report, hoping Tonks hadn't seen her reading it.
"That's better, " said Tonks, grinning, "The weekend starts here". She noticed Cecilia's face and added, "Don't worry about the children. If you like, you can stay with me tonight, there's a spare bed in my room." Cecilia nodded, relieved.
"Now," said Tonks, and sighed. "I'm still getting my head around you working with Snape!" She shuddered for effect, and changed her sleek bob to a mournful washed-out colour.
Cecilia nodded, trying to eliminate the pictures in her mind of what she had just seen.
"I mean, " she continued, magicking a pair of cups and saucers and a teapot, "Snape? Co-operating? That's a first! And with a muggle?" she stopped quickly. Despite wanting to ask Tonks to clarify her last comment, she resisted.
"It seems to be going OK, " said Cecilia, "no thanks," she added, shaking her hand across the rim if the cup indicating she didn't want milk. "It was slow going at first, but we seem to be making progress. I think the worst problem was finding that everyday things didn't work. Nothing in the bathroom would work for me, the fire kept flickering green the whole three weeks I was there, but I couldn't for the life of me get one started myself, and I wish someone had warned me about the ghosts!" Tonks nodded.
"I could tell you stories about Peeves that'd make your hair curl. And some about Snape, come to that!" She flicked her wand towards Cecilia, turning her straight hair into a mass of spiral curls.
"Hey, " said Cecilia in mock-admonishment, grinning. "Thanks! I look like an '80s backing singer!"
"Would you prefer…Marseilles Wave?" Tonks flicked her wand again, and Cecilia's curled hair grew shorter, parted on one side and flattened itself against her head. Cecilia laughed.
"You'd be handy to have around in the mornings. I'd love to be permanently any colour as long as it wasn't this, " she said, pulling at her now-back-to-normal boring hair.
"Remus has a soft spot for redheads," said Tonks. "That's why I go pink as often as I remember just to annoy him!" Cecilia picked up her tea, and sipped, thinking how like Amy Tonks was.
"He's coming with us tomorrow, by the way," continued Tonks, "I just adore spending time with him."
"So are you and Remus…you know…?" Cecilia looked questioningly at Tonks. The younger girl smiled.
"Not as such, but let's just say, there's an unspoken understanding." Tonks looked up, dreamily. "I'm just waiting for the right time for him to ask me, and that'll be that. Was that what it was like for you and your husband?" Cecilia looked down into her tea. No, it was completely different, she thought. Tim just asked her out one day; they'd known each other properly a mere 5 weeks. But it seemed like years; it seemed right.
"Sorry," said Tonks, with concern in her voice, when Cecilia didn't reply. "I always manage to stick my big foot in it."
"You haven't," said Cecilia. "I was just thinking. Tim and I? No it was nothing like you and Remus, We barely knew each other when he asked me out, but we were married within a year. We spent seven good years together…" her voice trailed off and she swallowed. "Not like you and Remus I expect. How long have you known each other?"
"We've known each other all my life. He was at school with my cousin, one of his best friends. And because I'm a half-blood and my cousin turned his back on his family, we spent a lot of time hanging out. Mother says that was why I turned out like I did. I always assume she means it as a compliment."
"Sorry, Tonks, you've lost me. A half blood?"
"My mum's a pure-blood witch; that means my grandparents were pure blood too. But my dad's a muggle, so that makes me, in wizarding terms, a half blood." Tonks sipped her tea.
"And your cousin," continued Cecilia, "He's a half blood too?"
"No, pure blood. But there's a lot of baggage comes with that. Most pure blood families expect their children to be purist too, and marry pure blood witches and wizards. Some even arrange their marriage when they are children. Disgusting! My mum was cast out of the family because she married a muggle, and Sirius stood up for her, so they disowned him too."
"Charming," said Cecilia.
"Indeed!" said Tonks, and laughed. "I bet it makes her sick, old Auntie, knowing that the Order of the Phoenix meet here and now she's dead, she can't do anything about it."
"Except shriek," added Cecilia, as the faint echoes of protest about traitors in the house drifted downstairs. "Hermione mentioned though, that her parents were both muggles. How does that work?"
"No-one actually knows," laughed Tonks, "Muggle-borns used to be revered in times past, hundreds of years ago but now, with the attitude of pure bloods, and with the rise of He-Who-Must-Not-Be Named and his followers, they are out and out persecuted. That's why Hermione was so touchy this evening."
The great magical wisdom is fallible then, said Cecilia to herself, allowing herself a smug couple of minutes to dwell on this.
"But can muggle-born wizards do magic in the same way as other wizards?" Cecilia wondered aloud.
"Yes, the same. If not better, I'd say, depends on what type of magic. But if you're a wizard, it's like you either can, or can't." Tonks refilled Cecilia's teacup "Your born with it. Or in your case without!" She nudged Cecilia jovially.
Cecilia nodded, thinking to herself. Fascinating. You're born a muggle or you're born a wizard. There's no spectrum or continuum of wizardlyness.
"Tell you something, there's some great shops in Diagonalley", said Tonks, sipping her tea. "Uh, this tea could do with some whisky", she said, and some amber liquid poured itself out of the end of her robe. "You?"
"Why not?" said Cecilia. "Oh yes, that's what I was going to ask you, diagonally. Is that a direction?"
"No silly," said Tonks, nudging her as if Cecilia was just kidding her. "It's a place. Well a street actually. It sells everything a wizard could need and more. Has the essentials for all of the Hogwarts students, which is why Mrs Weasley is taking the children there. But it has some other fantastic things too."
"Such as?" asked Cecilia, through sippings of lovely tea.
"You'll see. But they have an M&S. Fantastic wizard clothes they do." Tonks drained her cup. "Ready?"
Cecilia nodded, and set down her cup on the table, and followed Tonks upstairs. Her room was decorated in pink candy stripes, which shimmered as they entered.
"Yours," said Tonks gesturing towards a bed. "I'll let you get sorted, OK?" she said, and left the room.
"Fantastic, Tonks, called Cecilia after her, pulling off her clothes and undies. She carefully peeled back the duvet and, pulling on a nightie from her bag, got in. An M&S. Great, she thought, as her head hit the pillow. Perhaps this wizarding world isn't so bad after all.
88888888
The bed was moving intermittently as if someone was jumping on it. Cecilia drifted into consciousness.
"Dobby," she said sleepily. "It's far too early." Then she realised she wasn't at Hogwarts now, but Grimmauld Place, and opened her eyes. Someone was jumping on the bed but it wasn;t Dobby. It was Tonks.
"Time to get up?" asked Cecilia, pulling herself to a sitting position.
"Not yet, said Tonks, a look of serenity on her face. "Sorry Cecilia, I'm just so excited!" and with that, gave the springs another powerful bounce.
"What are the shops like? Any good?"
"The best," said Tonks. Se stopped bouncing and sat cross-legged towards Cecilia. "You can get practically anything you like there, no fuss. Anything from a few sickles to a couple of dozen galleons for best dress-robes."
A thought struck Cecilia. How was she going to pay for anything? All she had was pounds and pence, none of the special wizard money. She mentioned this to Tonks.
"Not a problem, you can change that at the bank. Don't worry, I'll show you when we get there."
"When are we leaving?" asked Cecilia, sitting up in bed. "And how are we getting there?" hoping the answer wasn't going to be Floo powder.
"Floo powder," said Tonks, getting up. Cecilia groaned inwardly. Another ten minutes to look forward to. "The children aren't old enough to apparate yet, and you can't anyway. We're going after breakfast, come on, " she added, pulling Cecilia's arm. "The sooner you're dressed, the sooner we can get there."
After breakfast, which entailed the Weasley twins attempting to express their regret for the previous evening's practical joke, but failing dismally, the children, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Tonks, Remus and Cecilia made their way to the living room fireplace. Cecilia tried to stop herself thinking about what was to follow, and was grateful when Mr Weasley engaged her in a conversation about bridges.
"But what holds them together if not magic? Surely they'd just fall apart?" he asked, with genuine interest, and Cecilia talked about forces, engineering and cement; Mr Weasley interjecting every so often by "Fascinating!" and "Do they really?" as he listened intently.
"Come on," said Remus, as Mr and Mrs Weasley disappeared in green flames. "Just us." Cecilia looked uncertainly at him.
"Its OK," he said kindly, "You've done this before, haven't you?" She nodded, dreading the sickness she would feel when they got there. Remus approached the fireplace, but Cecilia did not follow. He turned and walked back over to Cecilia
"Don't think about it," he said, his pale eyes smiling. "Here, hold my hand, and it'll soon be over." Without waiting for her to resist, he took her hand in his, and led her to the fireplace.
"Leaky Cauldron", he said, throwing a handful of green dust onto the hearth, and placed his other hand over hers. Cecilia's stomach lurched as the journey began, as nausea overcame her. When they arrived moments later in another fireplace, Cecilia's legs couldn't hold her weight, and she sagged, still holding Remus's hand. He gripped it firmly and pulled her up, leading her to the nearest bench.
"There, there," he said, "all over now." Tonks sat down next to her.
"They've gone to Flourish and Blotts, I said we'd catch them up," she said, looking at Cecilia. "I'll stay with her, Remus."
Remus paused slightly and nodded. "See you both later," he said, and left.
"Damn stupid body," said Cecilia, as she tried to make a joke out of it. "Not strong enough to be transported miles in the blink of an eye."
"Don't put yourself down," said Tonks. "My dad could never do it; he'd be out of it for at least a day. Made it dead awkward for mum because he refused to travel by Floo and she hated cars. She used to fly and wait for him to drive."
"I don't think I'll ever get use to that, though," said Cecilia. No matter how many times her hand was held by good-looking men, she thought to herself.
They sat there in silence for a few minutes; Tonks idly changing the length and pattern of her fingernails, until Cecilia was sure she wasn't actually going to be sick
"Come on then, let's see these shops," she said, getting to her feet. Tonks jumped up and led the way and Cecilia followed her out of the Leaky Cauldron and out into the main street.
Cecilia was fascinated by Diagonalley. The street wound for miles, it twisted and turned, and the shops were set higgledy-piggledy next to one another. It reminded Cecilia a little of the Shambles in York, but it was almost impossible to tell structurally where one finished and the other began.
As they walked she looked at the signs, the logos advertising their wares sprang to life. The silhouette of a black cat indicated one shop had pets for sale; another had a multitude of owls. Cecilia noticed a crowd of children round the window of a shop, and she paused momentarily, only to discover it was one that sold broomsticks. The children were debating the relative merits of two of them loudly, and as she hurried to catch up with Tonks noticed an older wizard join in.
Cecilia noticed a sign above another shop displaying a vial; the smoke emanating from the top alternately changed colour as she watched and Cecilia noted where it was on the street.
"Come on" yelled Tonks, and Cecilia realised she'd been staring at the sign for a while. She hurried to catch up with her and followed her into a shop. Every floor was lined from floor to Ceiling with books. Heaven, thought Cecilia, I could spend a week I here.
"Cecilia!" shouted Hermione, hurrying over to her. "We thought you'd changed your mind."
"Not a chance," said Cecilia, feeling a small glow in her stomach. "What have you got there?" she gestured towards the thick tome Hermione was holding.
"This? Oh, nothing special. I was going to buy another copy so I could send it to mum and dad. They know how much it means to me being a witch, but it's something they don't really understand."
"Magic and Muggles: a Merry Malady," read Cecilia aloud. "Is it any good?"
"Not too bad. It's sent free to all muggle-born wizards before they get to Hogwarts. I was grateful; at least I had a better chance of knowing what I was letting myself in for." Cecilia glanced at the cover again.
"How much is a galleon worth?" she asked, reminding herself she needed to get some wizard money.
"It's not actually a bad price; our spell books this year alone cost nearly six" said Hermione. "One galleon is about twenty one pounds I think; I haven't checked the exchange rates for a while though." She handed her the book. "Would you like my honest opinion?" said Hermione, carefully.
"Certainly," replied Cecilia.
"It's a great book from the point of view of a wizard, but I doubt it would be that accurate from your point of view. Maybe I won't get it for mum and dad, actually" she conceded, and turned to go.
"I'll keep that in mind," said Cecilia, opening up the cover. "Thank you, Hermione."
Cecilia turned to the index page and scanned the chapters; stopping when she came to a chapter called, "Humorous Hoaxes," and turned to page 127.
"...whereas some muggles believed fervently in the UFO that was sighting over a field in Staffordshire. The crop circle phenomenon is now known to be internationally-studied in the muggle world. Is it any wonder then, that the Minister for Magic is reluctant to inform the muggle world leaders that they were actually created by a Mr Donald Sullivan, 57, retired joke-shop proprietor in Diagonally?..."
Cecilia glanced at the picture adjacent the text, showing Mr Sullivan standing next to an elaborate example. She flicked over another couple of pages and was about to put the book down when a word caught her eye – half-blood. She flicked back to the pages.
The page showed a magical timeline, from the first known wizard, estimated by the book to have lived at the time of stone-age man. She glanced across the timeline, looking for the word half-blood, and she noticed a small text box.
"It is hard to say what counts, in the eyes of pure blood wizard, as being acceptable lineage. Most pure-blood wizards say you at least have to be sure that both sets of grandparents were pure blood however in recent years the criteria have become distorted. This is usually attributable to the influence of "You-Know-Who" and the authors have heard that some pure blood families do not accept witches and wizards unless their ancestors are pure blood at least a thousand years ago. This limit is paradoxical because at that time, wizards born from muggle parents were highly esteemed, whereas wizard parents whose offspring had no magical powers (squibs) were shunned by the community, and were often killed by the mother out of fear and shame. Today, the proportion of half-blood witches and wizards is close to 80, with muggle borns making up almost 18. Even now the stigma attached to being a squib is great enough so that an accurate percentage of this part of the population is impossible to determine as many squibs prefer to live as muggles."
Cecilia read over the passage again, intrigued, and flicked over a couple of pages. She stopped when she came to a page titled, "Muggle-Baiting – The Truth They Tried To Ban!" and noticed a section about a wizard prison, but before she could read any further Tonks approached her.
"Found something interesting?" she said, glancing at the book.
"Great," murmured Cecilia, not wanting to put it down. "I say Tonks, could you show me where the bank is? I think this book will come in really handy."
"Sure thing," she said. "It's just down the road where we came past and – "
"I can take Cecilia," said Remus, who had suddenly appeared by them. "I've got to meet someone down that way."
"Great," said Tonks. "Then I can get my book signed by the author," and she gestured to the book she was carrying, "The maniac's guide to broomstick manoeuvres"
"You should have said earlier," chuckled Remus. "Heaven forbid I should be keeping you from same serous literature." Tonks nudged him playfully.
"Glad to see you're feeling better," said Remus as they walked back up Diagonalley. "You were really brave this morning."
"Thanks," said Cecilia, feeling anything but brave. "You'll have to come and hold my hand every time!" Remus laughed, and she changed the subject.
"You and Tonks seem like a lovely couple," she said, as they passed the broomstick shop. The children were gone now, replaced with older wizards pointing at various parts of the window, though seemingly arguing about the same sort of thing.
"We've known each other for a long time," said Remus, glancing away briefly. "In a sense, we're not actually together as such."
"But when the times right?" prompted Cecilia. Remus nodded.
"She will be so happy. Yet…" he paused and briefly glanced down, then looked back at Cecilia, "…who knows what the future will bring? She's still young, and sometimes I wonder whether I'll be strong enough to be there for her when the realities of life take away her optimistic ideals."
Cecilia nodded, thinking back to the last time she was with Tim. Words of anger, hurtful things. And then he was gone forever, and she couldn't take them back. Life really has a knack of kicking you when you were down.
They walked a bit further in silence, until they turned a corner. In front of them lay a huge building, three storeys high. It towered over all the other buildings that surrounded it, and Cecilia wondered where in London you would have to be to see it.
"Gringotts," said Remus, and made his way through the people in front of the doors. He stopped suddenly and Cecilia, who had been distracted by the architecture, bumped into him.
"Sorry," she said, stepping aside. "I've never seen a building like it before." Remus laughed.
Cecilia followed Remus in side. The bank was huge; its inside reached the height of its outside, and huge chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
"You need to go to the service desk", said Remus, pointing towards a huge counter at the far end of the building. "They're goblins," he added, noticing the startled look on Cecilia's face a she looked at the bank staff. "Don't worry, their bark's worse than their bite. I'll meet you back by the door later on," he said gesturing back towards the entrance. "Good luck," he added and with that he left, leaving Cecilia looking round in awe.
She made her way to the service counter, and within a few minutes, a goblin peered over the edge of the desk.
"Yes?"
"Er, I er,.." began Cecilia as it looked at her disdainfully. She coughed.
"I have some money, which I need to change for, er…money," she said, wondering whether she should say muggle and wizard aloud, and fumbled into her purse, retrieving some pound notes.
"Your permit," he said, holding out its hand. Cecilia looked at its hand and glanced back up.
"Permit?" she said confused.
"Your muggle permit. For permission to be in wizard territory. Please show it to me."
"But I haven't got one," said Cecilia, concerned. "No-one said I needed one." She swallowed.
"I see," said the goblin slowly. "In that case you must follow me. There are a few things we need to discuss."
The goblin came from behind the back of the counter and lead Cecilia towards a door, next to it. It beckoned Cecilia to follow, and they walked down a long, dimly-lit passageway. After a few minutes, the it paused outside a door and knocked, and it swung open Muggle Relations, read Cecilia, as the passed it and the goblin gestured towards a chair, and it sat in the other, holding up its hand and making the door swing shut.
"No permit," said the goblin, as it reached across the table towards a pile of parchment and picked up a quill. "I need some details from you, muggle. Name?"
"Cecilia," she swallowed, and glanced round. "Cecilia Frobisher.
"You'd better begin by explaining how you came to be in Diagonalley without a permit"
"I am working for a wizard, well wizards, actually.." she said, feeling quite worried now. "But not today, I was invited to come shopping with one of them." She saw the goblin writing down everything she was saying.
"But I actually don't have any wizard money, and one of the wizards said I could get…muggle money changed here. I don't know anything about a permit, I'm afraid." The goblin looked up.
"According to Wizard Law, laid down by the Wizengamot Council, all muggles present on wizard territory must carry a permit. The law is very clear on that point, and I am obliged to tell you that if you cannot give me a satisfactory explanation, representatives from the Ministry of Magic will be informed." Cecilia exhaled, feeling her heart thump in her chest, faster and deeper.
"What is the name of the wizard for whom you are working?" continued the goblin, quill poised. Oh no, thought Cecilia. But how could she not say Dumbledore? He'd understand, surely, he knew she didn't have a permit.
"Professor Dumbledore, from Hogwarts School," said Cecilia, quietly.
The goblin looked up from the paper, and stared over the top of his spectacles.
"Professor Dumbledore? I see. And what work in particular are you undertaking?"
"I can't tell you that," said Cecilia. "But he will vouch for my honesty."
The goblin folded the parchment in half, and reached for another. It began to write, and Cecilia glanced over, trying to read what she'd put, but the writing was too small. Then the goblin got up.
"You will have to wait outside," it said, walking towards the door. "I must ascertain that what you are saying is true. Then I can then proceed with your request." It gestured towards the now-open door, and Cecilia followed it back up the corridor. They went back through the door into the main foyer of the bank.
"Wait here," it said. "You will be called in due course. Cecilia looked at the chairs, set back from the main part of the bank. She took her bag off her shoulder and sat down, surveying the architecture.
But I could just walk out if here, thought Cecilia, if I don't have a permit no-one would find out. She was about to get up, but then thought better of it. The last thing she wanted to do was draw even more attention to herself. She pulled her bag up to her knee, and began to glance through it, out of boredom, pulling things out at random. Purse; house keys (they were some use); there was Freya's picture. She looked at the hugely deformed zebra, thinking of her god-daughter and in her mind's eye pictured her colouring in the rainbow-effect stripes. Cecilia placed it on the seat next to her.
Diary…well that was a lot of use now, and she briefly looked up the entry for Saturday, 18th August. Oh well, at least there wasn't something vitally important I was supposed to be doing, she thought, glancing at the blank page. I suppose sitting here and waiting for a wizard to till a goblin bank clerk that I was on the level or else face heaven knows what was preferable to doing nothing. She sighed, a little nervous feeling in her stomach, despite being on the level. A voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" Cecilia turned and looked up. A tall man, with long blonde hair falling over his shoulders, was looking between her and the pile of things she'd pulled out of her bag.
"Of course," said Cecilia, apologetically. "Please," she gestured towards the seat, and picked up the contents of her handbag.
"Slytherin," said the man, sitting down next to her, and handed her the book Snape had given her. Oh damn, I must have dropped it, thought Cecilia in alarm.
"Do you work at Hogwarts?" he asked, eying narrowing slightly.
"Not as such," said Cecilia truthfully, taking the book back off the man. "I've just been helping one of the professors there. I expect I picked this up by mistake." Cecilia smiled, hoping she'd pulled it off.
"I'm waiting for my son," he said, shifting round in the chair so he now faced her. "He's setting up another bank account. School things. How about yourself?" Cecilia swallowed.
"I'm actually waiting for one of the goblins to return," she said, hoping it was the right thing to say. Cecilia noticed the man was staring at her curiously, and she blinked, pulling her handbag onto her lap. "Is your son at Hogwarts, then?" She didn't particularly want to chat, but she preferred to be in charge of the conversation if she had no choice.
"Yes," said the man, a smooth tone to his voice. "Which of the professors was it you were working with?" Cecilia sighed inwardly; that was just where she didn't want this to go.
"I'm not actually sure of his name," she said, and looked across to the door through which the goblin had disappeared. "I hope they don't keep me much longer," she added, looking down at her bag. Why can't you just keep your big mouth shut, she scolded herself.
"I shouldn't worry, they don't tend to take long when dealing with permits, said the man silkily, as if reading her mind. Cecilia turned to face him, taken aback. "A lucky guess," he explained, the corners of his mouth flicking up momentarily. "Don't worry, I won't tell," he whispered conspiratorially. "It will just be our little secret, eh?" He nudged her, and winked.
"Which one is your son?" asked Cecilia, determined to steer away the conversation from herself. She looked in the direction of the queue.
"Oh, he's not in the queue. He's in a private interview, with the senior manager," said the man, jerking his head slightly in self-importance. "He shouldn't be long now. Nor should you," he added, looking past her. Cecilia turned her head, and noticed the goblin who had interviewed her earlier approaching. She stood up.
"It was nice meeting you," said Cecilia, politely. The man stood, and Cecilia realised he was actually very tall. "It was a pleasure talking to you," he said, as he turned to go, then turned back and added, "to ascertain whether the person with whom you are speaking is honest, write in the back of the book." Cecilia spun round. How did he know that? But the man had stridden away past the counters, ushering a boy of about fifteen along with him.
"Mrs Frobisher, " said the goblin. "If you would follow me," and it turned towards the door to the corridor that led to Muggle Relations. Her heart was pounding harder now, and her palms were clod and clammy. She quickly sat in the chair the goblin was motioning towards, awaiting her fate.
Once seated, the goblin handed her a piece of parchment. On the top was the crest of Hogwarts School. Cecilia scanned down and at the bottom, in large looped gold letters was Dumbledore's signature. She breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
"It is fortunate for you that Professor Dumbledore did assure your story," said the goblin, with an imperceptible hint of disappointment in its voice. "Therefore we will acquiesce to your request to exchange muggle money for wizard money. Sign please," it said, indicating a space on the bottom of another document filled with small print. Cecilia was tempted to sit and read through the script, but decided it may be pushing her luck.
"Excuse me," she asked, still feeling shaken. "If I wish to exchange more money, how do I go about it? As I don't have a permit?" The goblin pushed the letter from Dumbledore towards her. "Your permit," it said. "Produce it at the counter. Now," it continued, lowering its head to the desk "your muggle bank details." Cecilia gave them to it. Almost immediately what looked like an infra-red beam of light shot up through the desk and a screen, not dissimilar to '80s graphics displayed the details. Her pitifully low balance flashed up and the goblin pushed at a couple of buttons in mid-air.
"I have authorised muggle money to be transferred to the Bank of England," it said, as the screen disappeared. "The equivalent sum of gold is now in our vaults." The goblin got up and turned to the wall behind it, pulling at a drawer. It lifted out a drawstring pouch and handed it to Cecilia. "Wizard money," it said. Cecilia pulled back the cord, exposing…gold pieces, like the ones Mr Weasley had tried to use on the Underground. In addition, there were smaller silver coins, and tiny bronze ones. They were decorated with, well, they looked like wizards to her on one side, and Cecilia chided herself. Had you really been expecting the Queen? She held some in her hand in awe as the candle light glinted off their contours.
"If that is everything, Mrs Frobisher..." said the goblin, heading towards the door. Cecilia nodded, putting the pouch into her handbag, and quickly grabbing her permit from Dumbledore off the desk.
When she got back to the bank foyer, she noticed Remus pacing near the chairs where she had sat earlier. When he noticed her, he hurried over.
"Cecilia!" he exclaimed. "Where have you been? You've been gone almost an hour, I was staring to worry." She stopped walking and bowed her head. The effects of the last twenty four hours that she had kept bottled up had finally got to her.
"Hey, now," he said, noticing her eyes become damp.
"It's OK," said Cecilia, walking quickly towards the door, wiping her eyes, "I've got to get out of here." Remus hurried to catch up with her.
"Come on," he said, taking her hand when she was outside, and led her round the corner into the Leaky Cauldron.
"Cecilia, what happened?" he said, as they sat at an out-of-the-way table. Now in the quiet pub atmosphere Cecilia felt much calmer. "You don't actually have to tell me," he added, leaning back in his chair. "You can tell me to keep my nose out."
"Its nothing, now," she said, "just me being silly about everything." She sighed. Since her…misunderstanding with Snape; the twins' practical jokes, that awful business she'd read about in Tonks's report, having to travel by Floo again and now the problem in the bank, Cecilia reckoned the last day was not shaping up to be one of her best.
"I heard about the practical jokes. The twins are actually sorry," he said, smiling kindly at her. "In fact, I've never seen Ron get annoyed with them about a prank before." Cecilia said nothing for a moment, trying to get her thoughts in order.
"Remus, did you know I needed a permit to be here?"
The smile on Remus's face gradually turned to horror and he leaned forward, one hand over his mouth.
"Oh no," he said. "Cecilia I'm so sorry I forgot to mention to Dumbledore you were coming with us today." He looked at Cecilia, his eyes full of regret. "Yes, I did know." Cecilia sighed, and smiled back.
"Not to worry," she said, tapping her handbag. "I've got one now, I just hope Professor Dumbledore isn't too angry with me."
"Why should he be angry with you?"
"Well, because I had to tell the goblin that I was working for him," she explained, trying not to let her mind dwell on the man who'd sat next to her. "Dumbledore asked me not to say anything to anyone." Should she mention it to Remus? She'd have to mention the notebook though, which means she'd have to mention Snape.
"However could you think that was your fault?" Remus shook his head. "If anything, I should have stayed with you. If anyone's to blame, it's me." He leaned over and took his hand in hers. "I agreed to make sure you were safe."
"Well I am," said Cecilia brightly, "No harm done," she added and before she could stop herself said, "Could you give me a straight answer about my safety Remus? I would be grateful for an honest answer." The easy expression that had reappeared on Remus's face went.
"Cecilia," began Remus, looking uncomfortable. "I don't think am actually the right person to be talking to you about this. However I do believe that you need to know what you're up against. Perhaps you could tell me what you already know? Do you know about…Voldermort?" He almost whispered the name.
"Yes," said Cecilia, thinking back to last night's conversation with Harry. "I know about the wizards that follow him. I know what they do to muggles. And I know that the Order of the Phoenix had been set up before when Voldermort was powerful before." The last bit she'd pieced together from the many conversations that had taken place last night.
"Then there's actually very little I need to tell you," said Remus. "The Death Eaters are members of very respectable wizard families. If ever they should find out that you are a muggle, not only could that jeopardise the order, but your life would be in extreme danger." He swallowed and shifted in his chair.
"Their beliefs are appealing to ordinary wizards because of the promise of job promotions and riches. There are some Death Eaters whose beliefs are so extreme they go out hunting for pleasure."
Cecilia shuddered, recalling the trip she had made several years ago to the Holocaust exhibition at the Imperial War Museum. All you needed to do was change the name Voldermort to Adolf Hitler…. She realised Remus was touching her hand again.
"That's what the Order is fighting," said Remus "Were it not for a few unlucky moves the last time, Voldermort would have been killed sixteen years ago. This time, we will succeed. We have muggles on our side now, Cecilia. We have you, with skills and wisdom that he has no understanding of. That gives us head start."
"Wotcher," came a voice nearby. "I wondered where you lot had got to. Remus, I thought you were coming back to M&S?" Remus looked up at Tonks, about to admit he'd forgotten, but Cecilia cut in.
"Sorry," she said, "it was my fault. I got all flustered at the bank, and the goblins frightened me. Remus was kind enough to wait until I was ready." Cecilia looked at Remus, who smiled gratefully back. "Did you buy anything?" Tonks shook her head.
"No, but I saw some great things that would look fab on you," she said. "Turquoise dress robes, gorgeous cloaks, broom guards, the works."
"Well, I don't think I'll need robes any time soon," laughed Cecilia. "When would I wear them? I mean, am I even allowed to wear them?"
"Course," said Tonks, pulling up a stool. "Why wouldn't you be? They're not just for wizards, and besides when you become –" But Cecilia did not get to find out what she might become, because Mr and Mrs Weasley and the children had seen the and were approaching.
"Chaps, I've ordered lunch," said Mr Weasley. "Ploughman's lunches all round, is that OK?" Mrs Weasley looked at him. "The ministry tab. They owe me some expenses," he explained.
Over lunch, the Ron and Harry showed Cecilia what they'd bought; an odd collection of bits and pieces: quills; ink; something for waxing on a broom handle and some things that Cecilia could not begin to make out their function to be. Hermione, having picked up on Cecilia's confusion, began to explain what they all were, much to the amusement of Harry and Ron.
"Hey, that's not mine," said Ron, a few moments later. He grabbed a packet out of Hermione's hand. He was about to throw it in the direction of the twins, but Mrs Weasley caught Ron's hand in mid-projectile.
"Boom Boom Bath Bombs," she said, reading the label of the packet aloud slowly to Fred and George, giving them a look which would most definitely have frightened even Snape. They said nothing hanging their heads slightly. Mrs Weasley handed the bath bombs to Mr Weasley, giving him an "I've had it, now it your turn" look.
"Did you buy that book in the end?" asked Hermione, changing the subject. Cecilia shook her head, swallowing some hard-boiled egg.
"But I'm going back for it now I've got some wizard money," she said, pausing from her lunch and reached for the pouch of wizard money. "Which reminds me, can you tell me about these coins?" she asked the children, pulling out one of each from the pouch.
"That one's a galleon," said Hermione, "and the silver one is a sickle. That bronze one is a knut."
"A nut?" said Cecilia, thinking it didn't resemble any type of nut she'd ever seen before. Hermione sighed, and patiently talked Cecilia through the denominations.
After lunch, she headed back with Tonks to M&S. Her brain was now addled with thought of how many knuts were in a galleon and was surprised when Tonks entered a small shop five minutes' walk away from the Leaky Cauldron.
The sign on the door read, "Deirdre Emaness – Clothing for the Discerning Witch." Underneath, in smaller letters, it read, "No job to big or small, alterations of size and colour while you wait."
Oh, thought Cecilia, not M and S…Emaness. How silly of me, she thought. She followed Tonks in, through a small reception area into a huge shop floor. It was lit from above and beautiful white light shimmered down, bathing the many rails of clothes in opulent light.
Cecilia glanced at the rails. Some clothes looked like ones she would definitely have found in muggle shops: dresses, trousers, tops, you name it, in a wide range of styles. She was about to pull out some smart looking black trousers when Tonks called her over.
"This is what I was talking about," she said, holding up a set of robes. They were beautiful. The fabric was made as if the threads were continuous, and matching buttons lined the front edge. A small curved pattern outlined the collar and around the wide sleeves, and it was lined with much finer fabric. Cecilia touched it, feeling the material glide over her skin.
"Great, isn't it?" said Tonks. "I bet this would really suit you." She held open the sleeves of the gown for Cecilia to slip on. But it's a wizard's robe, though Cecilia, looking uncertain. I can't wear that.
"Come on," said Tonks, impatiently. "If you don't like the turquoise, we can change it anything you like." Okay, thought Cecilia, here goes nothing. She stuck one arm in, and then another, the oversize fabric drowning her. Suddenly the material changed, and the robe began to feel fitted across her back.
"Take a look," said Tonks pointing to a mirror. When she looked, Cecilia gasped. She looked stunning. The material fitted perfectly, and didn't cling to her hips, but skimmed her waist and fell to shoe height.
"Told you you'd like it," said Tonks, as Cecilia beamed at her. "Turquoise is so you. But what about…yellow?" she pulled her wand out of her jacket, and waved it past Cecilia's arm.
"No," said Cecilia, as the canary-coloured hue filtered through the robe. "I don't think it's me." Just then, the shopkeeper approached them.
"Can I help you ladies? We have a special offer this week: complementary frock with any dress robe."
"Thanks Madam Emaness," said Tonks, smiling at the witch. "Don't know how long we'll be here yet, you always have such a fantastic range to choose from." Madam Emaness smiled.
"Nymphadora, you know you can take as much time as you please" she said. Cecilia noticed Tonks cringe and she suppressed a giggle. "I'll be out here if you need me."
"Nymphadora?" asked Cecilia, innocently.
"I came to the conclusion long ago that mum must have been on the home brew when she came up with that one," Tonks conceded, and turned back to Cecilia. "So, not yellow then? What about…fuchsia?"
Cecilia and Tonks spent the afternoon going through practically everything Madam Emaness had to offer. They tried on dresses, skirts and tops, jumpers and shoes. Cecilia had wondered where the changing rooms were and was amazed when Tonks had flicked her wand, and…Cecilia gasped as she saw herself wearing the dress she'd just had folded over her arm.
Tonks had chosen some jeans, plain jerseys, a new work robe for work, and a rocker-type t-shirt, making Cecilia promise not to tell Remus she had it. "He doesn't think its feminine wearing this kind of thing," she whispered, conspiratorially. "Better buy two, then" whispered back Cecilia, and both of them burst out into fits of giggles.
It was only when Madam Emaness came to inform them that she would be closing in a quarter of an hour did they hurriedly collect together everything they wanted to buy. Cecilia wondered where the time had gone, and had a vague feeling that despite the morning's events she'd actually enjoyed herself.
"Are you going to have the dress robe?" asked Tonks, as they headed to the reception.
"I'm still not sure," said Cecilia, slipping on the robe she'd tried on first again. It wasn't because she didn't like it; the robe was gorgeous she thought, as she looked at her reflection. But she wondered whether it would be appropriate. What if they thought she was taking the mick, mocking their way of life?
"I would much prefer it in black," said Cecilia. If Tonks ended up persuading her, she might as well at least have it in the colour that suited her best. And besides, she didn't have to wear it, she could just keep it out of the way.
"Black?" asked Tonks, uncertainly. "Are you sure? Not a bright colour?" Cecilia shook her head. Tonks flicked her wand and the robe darkened. Wow. I could actually believe I don't need to lose a couple of stone, thought Cecilia to herself.
"Happy with that?" asked Madam Emaness. "If you are going for that robe, please let me show you the matching frocks." Cecilia chose a long dress made of the same fabric as the robe and, as she picked it up, the frock's colour flooded from turquoise to black. Marvelling at such a versatile shop, she followed Tonks and they paid for the clothes.
Cecilia felt happy. She'd never found shopping for clothes that exhilarating, and to be honest she hadn't been looking forward to it. But she'd just had one of the most enjoyable afternoons of recent months and realised that, with at least one aspect of wizard life, she was fitting in.
88888888
They arrived back at Grimmauld place an hour later. Cecilia had asked Tonks if they could return to Flourish and Blotts so she could buy, "Magic and Muggles" and they had popped into Boutes, the potion shop.
Tonks had bought a tonic for her skin and Cecilia, had been astounded for about the eightieth time that day at what a shop on Diagonalley had to offer, and picked up an owl-order catalogue, intending to look for anything that might help towards her research. She'd barely thought about work all day, but now the shopping trip was over, the thought of returning to Hogwarts and, more to the point, working with Snape, was beginning to prey on her mind.
"Time to go," Tonks had said, as she pushed the potion into her inside pocket and they headed back down Diagonalley.
"Can't wait to see what the others have bought, I remember how much fun it was shopping for school with mum," she'd said wistfully. They passed the shop with the brooms, and Cecilia had stopped, looking at the team shirts advertised in the window.
"Quidditch," said Tonks. "The best game out there."
"Nothing beats a good game of footy," Cecilia had whispered, half to herself. Tim liked football. Cecilia loved seeing him off with his best friend on Saturdays, pretending that she care little for the game. She'd busy herself with something wifely, like making a cake or doing the ironing, but with the radio on, listening out for the score, knowing that her Tim was watching it.
"We can go to a game, if you like," Tonks had said, continuing to walk back down Diagonalley. "Having said that though, since the embarrassment that was the World Cup, I'm not sure you'd want to. They have quidditch at Hogwarts though. Here we are," she said, as they reached the Leaky Cauldron again.
The journey back if anything had been worse than the previous morning, and Cecilia had dropped her shopping near the fireplace when they arrived, dashing upstairs to the bathroom.
Though she hadn't been sick, she did feel very ill, and made a note to herself to find out about other wizardly modes of transport.
When she went back downstairs, she noticed that the kitchen and living room was busy with about twenty-or-so people. She recognised a few of them; Charlie Weasley was sitting talking to Fred and George; Remus was chatting to another wizard over by the fireplace; Benjamin Wergs was pointing things out to Tonks at the kitchen table. Tonks looked up momentarily and then walked over to Cecilia.
"Feeling better? I put your shopping in your room."
"Who is everyone?" asked Cecilia, gazing round at the faces.
"The Order," said Tonks. "There's a meeting tonight."
Before Cecilia could reply, Mrs Weasley interrupted them.
"Cecilia, how are you dear?" Before Cecilia could reply, she continued. "Professor Dumbledore is here, he would like to speak to you." Cecilia nodded, smiling at Tonks and followed Mrs Weasley through a door which opened for them as they approached in the oak panelling. She gestured towards Dumbledore, and left.
The room was furnished in much the same as the one where she had met Dumbledore the first time she'd got to Grimmauld Place – old-man's study effect, despite the room being in a different place in the house. Not much the same, thought Cecilia, noticing the flowers on the coffee table, it was the same, and the effect gave her the impression the room had been folded away until it was needed again.
"Ah, Cecilia," said Dumbledore, rising from a winged-backed chair. "Did you have a successful shopping expedition?"
"Yes, Professor," she said. "I am sorry for not informing you I was going, and for any inconvenience with the bank." She breathed, hoping it was the right thing to say.
"Not at all, no inconvenience," he said, waving his and downwards as he began to pace. "I asked Remus and Severus to inform me when you were likely to need a permit. Remus apologises for his oversight," he added.
"However, I must ask Cecilia, do you have anything you wish to tell me?"
Cecilia paused. She hadn't actually been expecting that, and was at a loss as to what to say and images of her conversation with the blonde-haired man crept into her mind. When she didn't reply, Dumbledore gestured towards the sofa for her to sit, and sat back down himself on the wing-backed chair.
"Professor Snape told me about yesterday afternoon. He regrets his actions, Cecilia. He wishes you to know he lost his temper, something which he understands cannot happen again if you are to work together in the future."
"You're asking me whether I will return to the research?" asked Cecilia. "I know he's sorry, but he doesn't seem to realise that I know. As far as I'm concerned it never happened."
"And yet…" prompted Dumbledore.
"I have to admit, returning here was a convenient reason to leave yesterday, however you must understand Professor, I would have wanted a break anyway."
"Of course," said Dumbledore gently. "I could hardly expect you to remain in Hogwarts for the entire duration of your research."
"Professor," began Cecilia. She wanted to ask him about what she had found on the parchment last night, and why Snape had acted in the way he had. Dumbledore held up his hand.
"It is not my place to discuss the reason why Severus lost his temper. That is his privilege, should he so choose." It's like he's reading my mind, thought Cecilia, and swallowed.
"I always intended to return," said Cecilia. "I mean that now, as much as last night. However I still don't think I am going to get entirely to the bottom of this research unless I know fully what is involved. I don't care how disturbing it might be, or how much danger I could be in. I made a commitment, and I believe what I'm doing is important." Dumbledore looked at her over the top of his half-moon spectacles and rose, pacing the carpet again.
"You are indeed right," he said. "You cannot be expected to make such a commitment unless you know what is going on around you." He paused and looked at Cecilia. "It is for this reason that I wish you to become a member of Order of the Phoenix. The position will be honorary, but this aside, you have entirely the same status as every other member, and you will be entitled to know what they know."
Cecilia stared back at Dumbledore, thinking guiltily about person she had met at the bank.
"Professor," she began. "I am grateful of your trust in me," she said, and pressed on, refusing to allow her mind to thing, lest it stopped her. "You asked me earlier whether I had something you wished me to tell you. " She swallowed and continued.
"Today in the bank, a wizard sat next to me. I'd put down some of the things out of my handbag on the chair next to me, one of those being a book Professor Snape gave to me to communicate with him. A wizard picked it up, and asked which Professor I was working with at Hogwarts. I said I couldn't remember his name." There, it was off her chest. Whatever happened next, at least her conscience was clear.
Silence reigned for a few moments, until Dumbledore approached her again. Cecilia stood up.
"I am truly grateful for you telling me that, Cecilia," he said, patting her lightly on the back. Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Mrs Weasley entered.
"Everyone's here, Professor," she said, looking slightly flustered. "And I mean everyone. We're so full in the kitchen, Bathsheba and Charlie are having to hover at the back."
"Very well, Molly", he said, and turned to Cecilia. "Cecilia, please allow me to escort you to your first meeting of the Order of the Phoenix."
88888888
As soon as she entered the kitchen, she realised Mrs Weasley was right. The place was packed, filled with murmurs and an undercurrent of noise as everyone was speaking to each other at once. Mrs Weasley was right, there was nowhere left to sit, so she stood near the corner by the door, out of the way.
She surveyed the faces; there were people she'd met before, Remus and Tonks sitting next to Mr Weasley; Bathsheba, Dedalus and Benjamin; Moody, who'd appeared at her house with Snape after the break in; and near the back by the cooker, Bill Weasley and another witch were engaged in what looked like a lively conversation.
She scanned round the room, thinking about all of the people here. They were fighting for what they believed in too. Even if Cecilia wasn't like them, she had seen what this dark magic could do and it had repulsed her.
Then, her train of thought was derailed as her gaze landed on a face. Not exactly handsome…but certainly if he were younger, Cecilia thought considering his strong features, quite attractive. There was something about him, a presence; an air.
Just then, this wizard caught her gaze. His dark eyes locked with hers for what seemed to Cecilia like aeons. They projected wild excitement, with a hint of danger, as if he would, given the chance, throw caution to the wind for the fun of it. But… there was also…a feeling of inner sorrow, reflected back from the incaution, and Cecilia wondered vaguely to its cause. With a deal of effort, realising how silly she must look, she broke the connection and looked back at Dumbledore who was now standing up waiting to address them.
"Wizards and witches of the Order, may I have your attention, please. We have a lot to get through tonight, and time is pressing. May I begin with apologies. Minerva cannot make it this evening; she has some pressing work to do for the Scottish Witches Institute. Mr Weasley, if you would kindly ensure she gets a copy of the minutes," he said, looking up. Mr Weasley nodded, and continued to write.
"Also, Severus Snape, who is otherwise engaged on Order business." There were one or two sniggers from various parts of the room, which were hurriedly stifled as Dumbledore looked round.
"Now, I would like to start with the shift pattern for the Aurors. The guard rota I have here, please circulate it. If there are any problems you wish to raise with me, please do so. Alastor informs me that main areas of concern have been amicably agreed, which means you each have one more shift than last month." Moody nodded and stood up.
"Thank you," he said, his eye roaming the room independently. "We have organised that some squibs, loyal to us that they are," he added nodding towards Dumbledore, "to work in the Marylebone area. Extra vigilance!" he shouted, looking fiercely round the room.
"Should there be a repeat of the muggle attacks last night, we are sure to catch the perpetrators." He continued to look round the kitchen. Cecilia shivered, and folded her arms over her chest, thinking about the moving images she'd seen last night. Another wizard stood up.
"I have the report from Azkaban this month. The wizards suspected of being Death Eaters have not revealed anything under interrogation. I have been trying to get myself to every interview, and I managed to get hold of security images, but nothing had been said."
"Thank you Sturgis," said Dumbledure, but Sturgis remained on his feet. "You have something else to add?" Sturgis nodded.
"Yes, we have a witness in London, a squib from a highly respected family, who came to the Ministry of Magic last week. He was interviewed by Fudge, but apparently Fudge didn't believe anything he said."
"I was fortunate to still be at work when he arrived, it being about 9pm, and I walked back towards the muggle underground with him. He was rather annoyed at Fudge and he described two wizards to me who he suspected of leaving a muggle residence. The descriptions he gave match those of Macnair and Wilberforce, who as we all know have long been considered followers of You-Know-Who."
"Whereabouts did the man say he'd seen these men?" asked Benjamin, interrupting quickly
"Hackney," replied Sturgis, "Queen's Parade."
"It was reported in the muggle papers this week that an old woman was murdered in flats in Hackney," said Benjamin. "The newspaper said the muggle police had a difficult case on their hands because there were no marks on her body and were at a loss to know how she died."
"Thank you Benjamin. Perhaps you and Sturgis could visit the squib and follow this up between you?" asked Dumbledore. The two wizards nodded at one another. Cecilia, who had been listening intently to the proceedings, now noticed that one or two wizards were looking between her and Dumbledore.
Following Sturgis's information, another wizard discussed the possibility of You-Know-Who or Death Eaters targeting muggle politicians at a conference that was to begin in September. Another wizard wondered whether he knew of such things and cover was extended to the event.
Dumbledore then went on to discuss Harry Potter. At the mention of his name Cecilia's ears pricked up and gave her full attention to what Dumbledore was saying. He told the Order that Harry would be returning again to Hogwarts, and that his security was the utmost importance following the return of Voldermort. He praised Harry's skill in overcoming Voldermort at the Triwizard Championship, and Cecilia wondered what he could mean.
"Yes Doris?" said Dumbledore as an elderly witch raised her hand. She stood up.
"How can we be assured that Harry will continue to be safe at Hogwarts? We know he had to use magic again this summer, and he got into trouble with the Ministry."
"That was when he was with the muggles," said another wizard, nearer the front. "You know, I really don't understand why you don't just allow him to stay here with Sirius," he said. Cecilia turned in the direction the wizard was motioning and noticed the dark-eyed man fold his arms, and rest his head on his chin.
"Sebastian, I must ask you to trust my judgement when I say, to all here," Dumbledore looked round the kitchen, taking in the Order members, "that until he is Of Age, Harry must remain with his Aunt and Uncle when he is not at Hogwarts."
"But they're muggles!" exclaimed Doris over the low hubbub that had begun. At her words, it began to die down and Cecilia realised that everyone was looking at her. Dumbledore gave her a small smile.
"Perhaps now is a good opportunity to introduce Mrs Cecilia Frobisher who, I am sure you recall from our last meeting, I have recruited to assist Severus." Everyone was looking at her now, and she noticed an element of uncertainty express itself in the eyes of some of the wizards.
"Their progress is significant and it is vital. It is for this reason that I wish to propose Mrs Frobisher as a member of the Order of the Phoenix."
The room went quiet momentarily, then suddenly erupted. Everyone began to speak at once, some were shouting at one another, with furious gestures towards Cecilia. A voice from the back of the room declared with fervour that if a muggle became a member of the Order, he would quit then and there. Another wizard actually got to his feet and looked as if he was about to challenge Dumbledore to his face.
Cecilia looked around. If she had known that it would cause this much hostility, she would never have suggested needing more information.
Dumbledore attempted to call order. He boomed over the noise, which subsided a little, trying to gain their attention. Much of the volume died away, but there was still an undercurrent of unrest.
"If our strategy is to work, Mrs Frobisher must be privy to the information we possess. I wish to propose her as a member," he repeated. "However I cannot make you accept my proposition."
The noise began to grow again, and the wizard who had almost spoken out to Dumbledore shouted, "She's got no idea. It won't be her risking her neck like we all have. She couldn't possibly comprehend what we're all up against!"
How could these people possibly say she didn't understand? Ok, she didn't know who this Voldermort was, and wasn't personally connected to this in the way that they were. But she had been sickened to her stomach when she read Tonks's report; the people he and his followers were killing were muggles. They were people, actual people here; her fellow countrymen. Of course she cared…
Before she realised she had done it, Cecilia had moved over to near where Dumbledore was standing, and began to speak loudly, trying to combat the noise. Dumbledore stood back for her and allowed her to take his place.
"I do," she was saying, "I do understand…" The room fell quiet when they realised she was speaking.
"I er…" she faltered, when she realised she had their attention.
"I, er, actually when I came, I didn't understand. You are quite right there," she said, gesturing to a wizard to her left who had pointed that put moments before. "I didn't understand fully what I was taking on when Professor Dumbledore took me on. I took the job to begin with because I was initially intrigued about magic, and wizards. I wondered what on earth you would want that I had the skills for." She looked round the room, catching everyone's eye in turn. She noticed Remus smile, and she felt a bit more relaxed.
"But I have seen the effects of this dark magic which you are all fighting so very hard to defeat." Cecilia inhaled, bandied on her feelings which she was now sharing with virtual strangers.
"Those people you call muggles, the non-magical population of this country, people like me, they are suffering, dying because of these dark wizards. It very much does involve me if the next person attacked is my sister, or my mum or my hus…" she caught herself, and swallowed, "…other people I know and care about," she said.
"I feel privileged to be in a position where I can do something about this; a lot of muggles cannot. Regardless of whether you wish me to be a member of the Order, I will continue with this work as long as Professor Dumbledore needs me, and as long as what I can sacrifice of myself goes in any way to fight this." She stopped, and smiled a little, indicating she was finished.
The kitchen was now silent, and, just as Cecilia wondered what would happen next, a solitary sound started. It was Remus – he was applauding. Then Tonks joined in, next the Mr and Mrs Weasley. A few wizards on the front looked steadfast, but nearly half of the wizards there were clapping now.
Cecilia looked round at Dumbledore who was smiling warmly at her, and she stood back from the table. She felt happier now; some of the wizards supported her, and even if none of them had, she had meant what she'd said. She would continue the work as long as she was needed. Dumbledore stood up.
"Now, as I was saying, I cannot force you to accept Mrs Frobisher as a member of the Order." He placed a piece of parchment on the table. "However my proposition stands. It is your duty now to vote. Please raise your hand if you accept Mrs Frobisher into the Order of the Phoenix."
A number of hands were raised, though many of them were slow in doing so; some of the members were still looking at each other questioningly.
"Eleven," said Dumbledore, counting the hands. He gesture towards he parchment on the table. "And I have here the decisions of Minerva and Severus. They also accept you as a member," he said, addressing Cecilia.
"Now, please raise your hands if you do not accept Mrs Frobisher as a member….thirteen." he said, nodding slightly. "A tie." Cecilia wondered what that meant now. Dumbledore looked at Sirius, who had kept his arms resolutely folded since Cecilia had got up to speak. His mouth was set firm, as if forcing himself not to say anything.
"Sirius, I notice that you did not vote either way. Do you need longer to make up your mind?" Dumbledore looked at him, and Sirius looked between Dumbledore and Cecilia. She noticed that the room was again silent.
"No," said Sirius slowly, "I don't need any more time." His voice was edgy as if, to Cecilia, a little nervous. .
"Please can we hear your vote?" More silence reigned, and the wizards of the Order looked between Sirius and Cecilia. He raised his hand.
"Is that for my proposal, Sirius?" asked Dumbledore, and despite herself, Cecilia held her breath.
"Yes," he said. Cecilia exhaled, and smiled. Dumbledore surveyed the Order again and beamed.
"In that case, could you all welcome Cecilia Frobisher as our newest member of the Order of the Phoenix". The kitchen is filled with applause again, and Cecilia smiled. She caught Sirius's glance and he was smiling too, his eyes twinkling.
When the meeting was over, Remus hurried over to congratulate her, shaking her firmly by the hand.
"That speech of yours" he said, smiling, "it really touched me…"
"In the head, probably," laughed Tonks. "Just kidding Cecilia," she added, "come on," she said, pulling Remus away into the living room. Mrs Weasley hurried over, beaming.
"Congratulations," she began, and stopped, unsure of what to say.
"Thanks" she said, "but it's not really a celebration. I meant what I said, so I'm sure I've got my work cut out now, to live up to those promises I made." Mrs Weasley smiled, and tapped her shoulder.
"We have every confidence in you," she said, turning to Mr Weasley as she spoke, indicating she included him in her comment. "I know you'll succeed in this." They turned and left the kitchen, and Cecilia proceeded upstairs, intending to go to bed. As she climbed the stairs, she jumped, hearing the sounds of disapparating wizards in the living room.
Cecilia turned to enter her room, but paused, wondering whether she had been pranked again. She carefully opened the door, peering inside. She couldn't see anything unusual about the room as she switched on he light, but just to be safe she pulled her still-packed shopping bags and propped them against the door.
Ten minutes later, having had a shower and feeling quite ready for bed now, she closed the door behind her, giving it a quick pull just after she shut it, just in case and turned, walking back to the bed.
The Order, she thought, considering the evening. So now I am able to know what they know. Is that a good thing, she wondered. Considering the last couple of days, she wasn't entirely sure.
Just then her eye caught the large paper bag which contained the "Magic and Muggles" book she had bought from Flourish and Blotts. She crossed the room and removed it from the bag, idly flicking to page 127. Her eye came across a paragraph titled, "Are wizards born or made?"
She looked up from the book, as she sat on the edge of the bed. A very interesting question she thought. Were they made? It could be argued so, if you consider they go to school to learn magic, and that they have to practice to become better. An easy answer there then.
Were the born? She put down the book next to her, the pages she'd been looking at still open, and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Hermione said her parents were muggles, but she was a witch. Tonks…she sat back up again, and looked down at the page again. Tonks's father was a muggle, and her mother a witch….
So witches and wizards can be born, even if one of their parents is non-magical, she concluded. She ran that sentence through her mind, and an image of a chart, interlinking the witches with their respective families formed. Cecilia got up quickly and dashed to her handbag for a pencil and paper. Paper, paper, she thought, eventually tipping the contents out onto the floor. When she couldn't find any she tore the "18th August" page out of her diary. At least it would be useful for something she thought, sitting back down on the bed.
She drew her mind's image, using a dotted line from Hermione's parents to her, and using a solid line down to Hermione. Another she drew connecting Tonks with her father with a similar line, and a solid line with her mother. Cecilia glanced back at the open book again, then back at her diagrams, and a thought struck her.
"If I'm not very much mistaken," she said aloud, "this looks suspiciously like…they're magical because of something they inherit, or not from their parents…" her voice trailed off and she got to her feet.
"Hermione's parents are non-magical," she said aloud, yet she is a witch. And Tonks is a witch, and one of her parents is non-magical." Cecilia crossed back to the bed and underneath the diagrams she drew, she drew two four-by-four boxes, marking in letters for genetic combinations.
When she was happy with what she'd written she turned the book to the index, and looked down for "genetics". There was no entry. Quickly, she tried "inheritance". Nothing. Leafing through the pages quickly she looked for "birth", and turned to the page number given.
Cecilia scanned the page, looking for any clue that she may be right, but the details were sketchy, just giving indications of pure blood wizards, and the same narrative of half-blood and muggle-born wizards.
Damn, she said to herself. But it seemed so likely. She folded the pages of "Magic and Muggles" closed, with the diagram she had drawn sandwiched between the pages.
It has to be to do with what the children inherit from their parents, it must do. Muggles inherit genes and DNA, so wizard children with muggle parents must inherit at least something from their parents. Just then, the "Slytherin'" exercise book caught her eye. It was lying near her bag, by the rest of the contents she had tipped out of it. Of course. Severus would know.
She grabbed the book and, turning to the first page wrote, "I suspect there may be a genetic link connecting non-magic and wizard people," she wrote. She rubbed the end of the quill across her bottom lip absently. What else should I say?
Perhaps I should say I am ready to begin work again she thought, but a voice in her head replied, but you're not. "It's vital that I discuss this with you at a time most convenient to you. Cecilia." There. At least now he will know I wish to work with him again, and at least this might be a solid start.
Feeling exhilarated, she put down "Magic and Muggles" on the chair in her room, and pulled out "Mysterious Mythology." Tomorrow, she told herself. I'll read them tomorrow with a clear head. She pulled on a nightgown and turned off the light, getting into bed and snuggling down. As the coolness of the covers met her warm legs, she idly hoped that it hadn't been bugged, metaphorically or actually.
After about half an hour, Cecilia sat back up in the dark. Her mind was racing, urging her to get up and read through the books again and she knew she wouldn't get any sleep if she ignored it.
Well let's at least get "Mysterious Mythology finished tonight, she thought, as she redressed. And I'm feeling hungry too, she thought, and realised she hadn't actually had anything since lunch in the leaky cauldron. Quietly she exited her room, carrying the book, her diary and a pen down with her.
She glanced around the living room as she got to the bottom of the stairs, but it was empty, everyone having presumably either left or gone to bed. She flicked on the main light, and proceeded to the kitchen, switching on that light too.
Dumping the things she was carrying on the table, she randomly opened cupboards in search of something to eat, and glanced round for the kettle. When she had found neither any food nor the kettle, she sat down, cursing herself again for not remembering that she was in the company of wizards, who did catering their way.
Never mind, she thought, pulling herself up a chair, nibbling the knuckle on her index finder absently. She opened "MM" to page thirty-seven and began to read the story there, about a baker in London who tried and tried to make the best buns in town.
He found that the finer the flour he used the best buns and bread he could make. So he made the flour so fine, he was happy to bake buns for the king so he left the oven on overnight, but a spark caused the finely sieved flour to catch on fire…
Why did that sound familiar, thought Cecilia and yawned, turning over a page. Half an hour later, Cecilia was a third of the way down a page when she was interrupted. She looked up to see a man standing in the doorway smiling at her, a rich, dark smile. It was Sirius.
"So," he said, approaching her "A member of the Order", said a voice, rich and smooth as honey. "You're the first muggle ever to be granted such high an honour." He smiled, and Cecilia found, despite herself, being drawn into his dark gaze, and unconsciously closed "Mysterious Mythology."
Closer to, he seemed slightly younger; his eyes seemed brighter with a hint of merriment. But not entirely; Cecilia thought she could see storm clouds brooding deeper within. She opened her mouth to say something but stopped, as he closed the kitchen door behind him.
"Sirius", he said, "Welcome to my home. If you could call it that," he added grimly glancing round the kitchen. Cecilia thought back to her first morning. So, this was the mysterious wizard, owner of Grimmauld Place, Harry's godfather. She thought back to her first morning. So he was the one who Remus had been chasing after on her first morning there.
He extended his hand. "Pleased to meet you, at last." She took it. His grip was quite tight, and her fingers felt a bit numb afterwards.
"I knew a muggle once," he continued, pulling up a chair beside her. "Sweet young thing, " he mused, then looked back at Cecilia. "It must be such a burden for you bear, all this information," he said, glancing down at the closed book. Cecilia glanced at him, and a small shiver went through her.
"I really must be getting to bed," she said uncertainly. Why? a voice asked her, in her mind. You'd much rather stay here and talk to Sirius…
"You're welcome here as long as you please," he said, "as you're a member of the Order, and as this is our headquarters." Cecilia sat back down on the chair. OK, she said back to her mind, you win.
"Ah," he said, glancing down at "Mysterious Mythology", "Remus's old book. He sneaked it to Hogwarts once, but his mum sent a howler to him, and made him hand it over to Dumbledore. Can I get you anything? A drink perhaps?"
"Tea would be lovely", said Cecilia, smiling. The research really will have to wait till tomorrow then, she thought.
Sirius removed his wand from his back pocket and, with a swish, two cups and a pot of tea stood on the kitchen table. He quickly poured the tea, adding the milk. Cecilia hated milk in her tea, but said nothing.
"So, whereabouts do you live, Cecilia? Is it nice?"
"Better than here," she said, smiling over her cup. Sirius snorted.
"Anywhere's better than here. Grimsby docks would be better than here," he said. "You're married, then?" he added, glancing at Cecilia's right hand.
"Not any more," she said, "my husband died a few months ago. Yourself?" she added, determined to direct the focus of the conversation off her.
"No," he said, "Never found the right girl. But thirteen years in prison for something I didn't do doesn't really help," he said bitterly, and then brightened. "Tea OK?"
She looked down at her cup and took a sip. Urgh! She hadn't had tea with milk in since she was sixteen and the taste was quite horrible.
"So," he continued, "You're working with Snape then, how's that all going?"
"All right actually. He takes a bit of getting used to, though."
"Ha!" said Sirius, moving his chair a bit closer to her. "I'd have thought it would take a geological age to get used old Snivellus," he said.
"Snivellus?"
"Yes, just his school nickname only his best friends were allowed to call him by." A smirk passed over his lips. Was that sarcasm?
"Severus isn't that bad, actually", said Cecilia. Only ten minutes ago she was feeling fine, but now, tiredness was creeping up on her.
"You're not serious! And here I was thinking you were a sensible muggle, Cecilia."
"You don't get on, then?" she asked innocently. An expression crossed Sirius's face as if Cecilia had just made the understatement of the century.
"Not really," he replied. "Difference of opinion." He paused, and repositioned himself, so he was looking directly at Cecilia.
"You're getting on well then, working together. Bet it must be strange for you to find out about wizards, and magic"
"You don't say." she laughed, and turned to face him. "But then stranger things have happened to me."
"Really?" said Sirius, with an incredulous smile.
"No!" said Cecilia, giggling now. What on earth had come over her?
"So do you know what you're looking for? What's the research about?"
Cecilia blinked; her head seemed a bit light. She paused, swallowing. What do I say? She promised Snape she wouldn't say anything to anyone…
"What is it you're doing with Snape? Tell me. Promise it won't go any further." he coaxed, leaning towards her.
Cecilia began to speak irrespective of what her brain was trying urgently to tell her.
"Professor Dumbledore said we are looking for the connection between muggles and wizards. Remus gave me his book, " she gestured vaguely in the direction of "Mysterious Mythology", "and I think its got a generic connection."
Bloody hell, she thought to herself, what happened there? For some reason despite her best intentions, when this man asked her, she was compelled to answer. Cecilia couldn't think straight, and she stood up, trying to breathe a bit slower. Maybe she needed a sleep.
"How are you two getting on then?" Cecilia thought back to the evening, on her second day when Remus gave her "Mysterious Mythology".
"He's a lovely man…," she said, her voice trailing off, ignoring the embarrassment that her mind was telling her she should feel about their encounter.
"Snivellus!" said Sirius in disbelief.
"Oh, Severus?" giggled Cecilia. What was the matter with her? She couldn't control what she was saying. "Great," she began, as her mind switched to the events of the previous evening "but…"
"But?"
She sighed, trying to concentrate. No, she told herself. Stop!
"Yesterday…", said Cecilia, her mind running over the events of yesterday afternoon in the dungeon. She rubbed her left wrist absently.
"What happened? What did he do?" Cecilia didn't want to answer. She tried not to let the words escape her mouth. She'd promised not to say anything, so why was she? It was like a dream. Sirius was asking these questions…
"I'd found something in a book and he got angry when he found out I'd read it. He grabbed it off me..." she looked down.
"The work then, is there anything else to it?" Sirius got up to join her, standing close, as if they were sharing one big secret. He tilted her head so she was looking into his deep dark eyes. Again Cecilia spoke despite trying not to.
"Severus told me something about a young wizard, a boy who'd lost his parents when he was a baby." She looked up questioningly at Sirius.
He was close to her now, his hips leaning next to hers, his body curling round her. She wanted more than anything to push past him to run away.
"No," said Sirius, almost a whisper. He cleared his throat and drew back slightly from her. "It sounds intriguing. What do you need his boy for?"
"Not entirely sure, but it's something to do with his powers."
He suddenly stood tall, towering over her.
"What about his powers?" he demanded.
"We've got to investigate their nature. Study them." What was going on? She wanted to remain silent, to leave, but she was rooted to the spot and something was making her speak when she was asked a question, to answer it truthfully, like it was over-riding her mind. She had to get out of there.
"Why, what are you going to do with him?" He gripped the top of her arms, and she could feel the power in his hands
"I don't know"
"But you have a plan, you and….Snivellus", he spat the words at her. Cecilia tried to push past him. She was feeling very sick. She couldn't get a clear focus in her mind; her mind's eye was fuzzy, and she felt confused and tired.
"Please," she said, but he blocked her way.
"What are you going to do to him?"
"Powers," stammered Cecilia, dropping her head. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him.
"What about them?" His voice was icy, but she tried to keep control, fighting herself. When she didn't answer, he yelled, "TELL me, you little fool!" . Cecilia felt sick, and her skin was clammy and cold and her mind was addled, as if she had a bad head cold. Got…to…go…she thought to herself muzzily.
"Take them away," she stuttered eventually, exhausted at the effort she had put into restraining her speech.
"WHAT?" screamed Sirius. He caught her by the waist as she tried to push past him, and they ended up on the floor. She tried to scream, but all that came out was a huff as Sirius landed on top of her, winding her. There was a crash as the table went over, sending the china and half-drunk tea all over the kitchen. She struggled to stop him, but he sat astride her, pinning her down and held both of her hands away, clamped down by one of his own. He held his wand to her chest. She could feel his breath on her neck, tinged with whisky.
"You're not leaving until I say. How are you going to do this? By what method are you going to take away his powers? " He shuffled round trying to hold her down as she struggled. "Don't…try me", he said, threateningly.
"I…don't…please …" she tried, but he'd put down his wand and was holding her down by the arms.
"Do you really think I'm going to let you go near him? I should never have let you leave today with the others, he's had enough to cope with to last him a lifetime. What would you know about sacrifice? I've had just about enough of it," he shouted at her, shaking her arms.
"The sooner I get rid of you, you stupid idiotic muggle, the better it will be for everyone. Keep still! I'm going to put an end to this now!" he hissed in a voice tinged with triumph and, picking up his wand he held it flat again against her chest.
"Snivellus will not be able to do this work alone.", he continued, addressing an otherwise empty kitchen. "I'll have kept him safe for James and Lily. Like I promised." Cecilia tried again to struggle, groaning at the effort.
Just then, the kitchen door opened. "Cecilia. I got your message, " she heard, then she saw Snape withdrew his wand from his robe. Behind him stood Remus, rooted to the spot.
Then she felt Sirius's weight lift off her, as Snape threw him across the kitchen. A stream of yellow light bounced off one of the walls and narrowly missed them all. Snape and Sirius stood before one another, wands raised.
"I'll kill her," screamed Sirius, pointing his wand towards Cecilia, who was now flicking in and out of conscious, slumped on the tiled floor.
"Black!" growled Snape. "Lupin! I thought you said you were going to keep this mad dog under control." He glanced over to the kitchen door, but Remus had moved and was kneeling beside Cecilia.
"If I kill her, you'll kill me", said Sirius in a low tone. "Which, granted, is a fair exchange. She told me what you were up to, Snivellus, and when she's dead you won't be able to harm Harry."
"No." It wasn't Snape who spoke, it was Remus. "Sirius. You know as well as anyone what we are up against." He turned to look at Cecilia, his eyes roamed her body for injuries, watching as her breathing grew ragged and irregular. She was unconscious, her face sickeningly pale. He held her close in his arms, supporting her and trying to make it easier for her to breathe. Then, Molly entered the kitchen.
"What's…" she began, surveying the kitchen in horror – the overturned table; the broken china. Then her eyes followed the line of Sirius's wand to Cecilia. She broke her gaze and glanced round, quickly.
"What's going on here?" she looked between Snape, who still had his wand pointed at Sirius. "Remus, what's happened? Oh my dear gods, what's happened to her? Arthur!" she turned her head and shouted for her husband through the open door.
"Black attacked her", said Snape, staring with loathing at his adversary. "He was going to kill her."
Mrs Weasley's stunned face met Remus's eyes, and he nodded in confirmation. She gasped. Just then, Mr Weasley entered the kitchen. He surveyed the scene. He held up a small vial with a few drops of clear liquid inside.
"The twins said they gave it to Sirius", said Mr Weasley carefully. "They were going to play a joke on Cecilia, ask her embarrassing questions, but they said that Sirius suggested he would ask the questions, and they could listen. With these", he added meaningfully holding up a pair of Extendable Ears. "I just caught them red-handed on the stairs." The expression on Mrs Weasley's face turned from concern and agitation to white-hot fury.
"Veritaserum!" shouted Snape. "Don't you know it can have toxic effects in muggles?" He shouted accusingly at Sirius, who had lowered his wand slightly. "Or was that the point?"
Sirius smirked at his remark. Snape dived towards him, holding him against the kitchen wall. Sirius's wand went flying onto the floor.
"Is this how you attacked her?" he turned his gaze on Snape. "Did you enjoy it? She is weak anyway, and we know that's how you like them, Snivellus. I expect another week in your hands, and I needn't have worried about killing her myself. You would have done the job for me. Or were you saving her as a prize? Oh yes!" he spat, triumphantly, as if he's just worked out the game. Snape pushed him harder against the wall and tightening his grip, forcing himself not to look round at the eyes which were no doubt upon him.
"We need to get her medical help," said Mrs Weasley frantically. "Will wizard healers be able to help?"
"I'll go and get Poppy," said Mr Weasley, "then I'll owl Dumbledore" he added, and disapparated.
"Remus," she said, Can you get her upstairs?" She tried to make her way across to Cecilia. She didn't need to. Strong hands had already, firmly but gently, picked up Cecilia's limp body. With a glance mixed with sadness and anger towards his friend, still pinned to the wall by Snape, Remus strode out. Snape turned to see Sirius's exultant expression.
"If she dies", he growled, his voice cracking slightly. "I shall not be responsible for my actions."
88888888
