Chapter Eleven: Grey Circumstances
12 Grimmauld Place was incased in an eerie whisper of fear that threaded itself into it's thinning carpets and peeling wallpaper. Except for the lone flickering gas lamp with barley any fuel, the entryway was kept dark so as not to wake the sleeping portrait of Walburga Black. The Weasley children had arrived in a loud bang that echoed down the hallway and into the study where Kingsley Shacklebolt was already briefing Mrs. Weasley. The red headed bunch were followed by the arrival of Dumbledore with Harry, McGonagall with Hermione, and a loud final pop as Snape apparated with Luscinia at his side.
The moment his feet brushed the floor, Snape swept past the others, heading for the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley nearly collided with him as she rushed around the hallway corner to gather her children in a suffocating hug. She then did the same to both Hermione and Harry. Lucy nearly tumbled over the troll-leg umbrella stand while trying to keep out of the way. The display of motherly love made her uncomfortable—maybe a bit lonely— and she now unsure how to react…. or if she should at all… it was all grey matter when it came to these sorts of things. Instead she studied McGonagall who was watching the scene with hand on her heart. There was an unpleasant familiarity to the feelings this heart-tugging scene had awakened. The Gryffindor professor had grieved deeply for the loss of Cederic Diggory (even though he wasn't in her house), and yet there was something much more profoundly personal about the attack on Author Weasley that shook her to the core. She was not ready for another war- another chance to loose the people she was closest too.
"How is he, Molly," Dumbledore asked softly.
Untangling herself from her family, Mrs. Weasley gather her chaotic thoughts enough to respond. "He's doing…. alright. It was a close one, they said- but he'll recover. I know you kids want to see him, but the mediwizard insists we wait till tomorrow morning. Right now your father need to rest." Her voice quivered ever so slightly, "Kingsley- he arrived a spot of a moment before you to tell me a student was involved in tonights events. Is the dear alright?"
"It was Lucy, Mum," Ginny announced before Dumbledore could speak up. "She wasn't hurt- she was part of the rescue."
Molly's hands jumped to her hips in defiance, yet her face softened significantly. "Lucy? Your new friend from America?"
The cluster of people parted to leave a pathway allowing Mrs. Weasley's sight to meet a very nervous Lucy. The girl's head was bowed as looking as though she was waiting to be reprimanded, from what Mrs. Weasley could tell. McGonagall could only shake her head, hopping Mrs. Weasley would offer her troublesome student the few stern words she'd so far been deprived of. Instead, however, the mother walked slowly over to embrace Lucy.
"Your are very brave," she said softly, " but that was incredibly foolish. You and Harry over here both need to learn to keep your curiosity at bay."
Lucy stood stiff as a board, unsure of how to respond while the others looked on. "Yes 'mam," she croaked out weakly.
Dumbledore cleared his throat to end the moment. Meanwhile Harry's cheeks beat bright red; anger and impatience ready to boil over. His seemingly new found inner rage had not escaped Hermione's notice and she nudged him gently in hopes it would make him breath or relax.
"If we may all gather in the kitchen, there are matters we ned to discuss," said the Headmaster.
Harry ignored Albus, "Sirius in the kitchen, Mrs. Weasley?"
"There with Remus- and Tonks as well, dear."
In the kitchen, Snape stood across the room from where Remus, Tonks, Black, and Kingsley sat at the table's end. They were enveloped in a hushed discussion of tonight's events paying no mind to Snape. The potions master glared at the wall- or anywhere besides the 'wretched dog men' in front of him. While watching the rest of the Order and children pile in, he was not oblivious to the painful anticipation sprawled over Luscinia's face. 'Not my problem. She made her bed, now she can lay in it'.
He was enraged by the situation and it wasn't hard to tell. Therefore Snape was bemused to why his nervous student sought to stand beside him rather than taking her seat at the table with the others. Even Lucy wasn't sure why she placed herself next to him. What she did realize— perhaps even unwillingly—was that being next to him right now somehow provided her a drop of the comfort she was craving. Meanwhile Snape was unsettled by a sliver of longing to shield Luscinia from the order's oncoming perceptions. He was accustomed to the comments from suspicious order members who 'don't posses the mental capacity to understand grey circumstances'. Each comment would be flooded with ridicule and the never ending questions would make her loose her temper. But this, he decided, was in neither of his job descriptions. '
As everyone took to their seats, Lucy could hear Fred and George bickering with Black.
"… it's rubbish!," Fred argued.
"Your father knew what he was risking when he signed up for the Order. Whats best for you now is to remain here," said Sirius.
"Easy for you to say. Don't have much of a choice do ya," George shot back.
"Boys!" Mrs. Weasley bellowed, "you will stay here and that's final! Your father is being well cared for and he'd much rather you here, knowing your safe."
The room was quieting down now and Lucy realized it was only a matter of seconds until here secrets would be out. She wasn't sure how Albus was going to explain all of this, but she was certain there could be at least a few people thoroughly livid by the time he was done.
Dumbledore's authoritative voice sounded from behind her and she felt his reassuring hand on her back. "If I could have the room's attention.
Suddenly a stalky man with a slight hunch and mechanical looking eye bounded into the kitchen. The man, whom Lucy suspected was Alastor Moody, displayed his ego in every little action he made. The simple task of walking to the side of the kitchen was made to seem of utter importance. It wasn't in a 'right prat' kinda way- like how she imagined Lockheart would have been, but he carried himself in a way that demanded more respect than she imagined he actually deserved.
"Sorry I'm late," Alastor grumbled. His fake eye darted about wildly, taking in every face in the room. It rested momentarily on Luscinia as it tried to decipher the new face.
"Evening Alastor," Dumbledore nodded. "It seems that tonights events have brought forth a matter which is now necessary to discuss."
And so, as Lucy stood facing the Order, Dumbledore began to explain her hidden powers away. Every face held the similar taste of confusion before mixing into an expression entirely it's own. This was every one, of course, but Snape, to whom the news held no shock value.
Ginny's eyes widened along with McGonagall's, though unlike her professor, the fiery red-head then traded in her shock for a prideful smirk. Harry's anger had fizzled leaving behind blush tinted cheeks from embarrassment. At his side, Ron sat with his eyes squinted and brows furrowed in concentration while he uncomfortably studied Lucy and Dumbledore each before he turned to see how Harry was taking the news. It seemed Mad-Eye was quite the skeptic, snorting off the so call "powerful sorceress" that was supposed to be the skinny terrified girl in front of him. Fred and George, who were now watching the night play out like a soap opera, were instantly regretting their earlier attempts to flee the meeting; this was high quality drama to them and Lucy could tell. Hermione was perhaps, the most calm throughout the ordeal; taking in the information as if she was in class. The only comforting reaction Lucy found was in the hilarious expression Black held; smiling wildly and nodding his head like a child that had been given a huge slice of cake.
"It's quite…. impressive…truly," Remus began hesitantly,
"Impressive? It's bloody brilliant if you ask me," Sirius interrupted and winked at Lucy who offered a friendly smile in return. Snape wanted to punch him.
"Right," Remus only shook his head, "Although, I also feel I must voice my concerns as to how dangerous she could be."
Alastor raised the flask in his hand, "Here-here! I strongly agree! She's a disaster waiting to happen."
"None of that now," Mrs. Weasley quickly chimed in. "She's just a child!"
Harry's head shot up at the familiar phrase which for once was not directed at him. Lucy noticed the sudden movement immediately and as she turned in his direction, their eyes came to meet. He smiled weekly and Lucy nodded back- she knew this was his way of apologizing for acting like a complete berk.
Meanwhile Mrs. Weasley's comment had brought the room to a rather incredibly uncomfortable silence that not even Dumbledore could find the words to break.
"What do you mean, dangerous?" Harry asked.
"He means…." Black began tentatively under the scrutinizing glare of Mrs. Weasley, "that if Lucy or the knowledge of all her abilities somehow fell into the wrong hands, it could mean very bad results for her and the Order."
Harry finally got the message— and he wasn't too thrilled. "You're telling me that Voldemort would want her just as much as he does me?"
"That's exactly what he's saying and he's completely right," Lucy said proudly. It was the first time she'd had enough courage to do anything more than croak. "You said it earlier Mrs. Weasley, what I did tonight was very foolish- but for more than just going to battle. If I were to be as careless as I was tonight with my powers again, there is a good possibility that You-Know-Who could discover my power and look to use me. Of course that's if he doesn't kill me first."
Snape was thankful that Lucy was standing slightly in front of him, otherwise she might have caught the slight grimace that had etched itself onto his face from the thought of her at the hand's of the Dark Lord.
"Which is why I must insist we be proactive. There is more I'd like to discuss," Dumbledore said, his voice much quieter now than it was when he'd started.
"More!?" Lucy and Snape both blurted out simultaneously.
"Professor," Lucy began nervously, " I'm not sure there's much more about me to tell." She looked panicked at Dumbledore. 'He is not about to say what I think he is!'
Albus spoke clearly, "I want Luscinia Augustina in the Order. I want Voldemort and his followers to be aware of her presence, but I don't won't her using all her power. I want her to be seen as ordinary."
Lucy's head was reeling. 'Nope. Definitely not what I was thinking… Bloody hell Albus, you could have asked me first! Or Snape for that matter- who probably thinks I've gone behind his back to arrange this. How does he know I even want to do this— well, I guess I kinda do.'
The room was silent. Everyone was looking at someone else, but no one was looking at each other; a strange phenomena Lucy found her self aware of over and over again in her life— and she wasn't the only one. Snape had grown accustomed to this form of human interaction in meetings with the Dark Lord. Every Death Eater was sizing the other one up or studying the correct reactions to please the Dark Lord. As for the Order members, most were now staring expressionless at Dumbledore. They weren't aware that Mad-Eye was less than happy with the suggestion.
"With all do respect Dumbledore, a sixteen year old girl has no place in the Oder!" Alastor asserted harshly. "…. and I'm still not convinced of this great power."
"She's seventeen, actually" McGonagall butted in.
"I've seen it myself, Mad-Eye," Kingsley offered. "She's skilled in combat and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Though I admit you wouldn't think it by looking at her." Alastor Moody, however, was having none if it.
"Girl looks like she'd snap like a twig."
"Come on, Moody. We hear your point. Thats enough now," Tonks said trying to calm the irate aurora.
Lucy wanted to melt into nothing as everyone began to size her up once again that evening. She hated attention whether it be good or bad, not to mention her anxiety was at an all time high. Merlin, how she wished Moody would just shut up. 'Can't he see I'm just as shocked as he is!? Whats the point of being a complete arse about it! Would he stop being so— so— Moody for five seconds. And why, for Merlins sake, must everyone continue to talk at me instead of to me. It's not like I'm deaf!' As her mind continued to circle through all the reasons she detested this situation and Moody, she knew her patients was wearing thin. Snape noticed.
Dumbledore was growing tired of Moody's antics as well. While he didn't want to fuel Mad Eye's furry, but he knew he it was unavoidable. t "Severus has been working with her, and tonight has left me confident she can fend for herself."
"Snape's training her, ay? You think a Death Eater is the right choice for that?," Moody scoffed.
Dumbledore immediately argued back followed by McGonagall. Soon Black had joined in, then Remus, Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, and Kingsley. Even the the kids were now bickering amongst themselves.
'Hell. No.' Lucy tensed, her eyes narrowing slightly, and her blood boiling. She started to take a step forward in Moody's direction, when a firm hand grasped her shoulder preventing her from doing so.
Snape leaned forward, whispering in her ear. "Don't give him that satisfaction." She could feel his breath on her neck and it's sudden absence left goosebumps rising along her arms. Such and odd reaction for such an inconvenient time.
"Fine," Lucy agreed and Snape smirked at her compliance. "I'm putting an end to this madness, though." Putting her fingers to her lips, her piecing whistle quieted the entire room and brought the attention to her. "That. Is. Enough! Not once have any of you asked me what I thought about this. And while I appreciate your on my side, Headmaster, you can not possibly speak for me in decisions like this. I'm saying this in front of all of you," she said motioning to the rest of the room, "so you know I take this very seriously. That said, if you all will have me, I do agree to be part of the Order."
The room was quiet for a bit, everyone glancing around at each other the way they do. Remus ruffled his hand through his hair letting out a sigh. "Raise of hands, everyone in favor of inducting Luscinia Augustina into the Order?"
It started first with Remus, his hand rising immediately with his question, and then Dumbledore raised his. In the corner of her eye, she saw Snape's rise up as well. After that, Lucy watched on in amazement as slowly but surly each hand go up. Even the twins, trio, and Ginny, were supporting it even though they didn't really have a say. The only person he didn't look to thrilled was Mad-Eye, but she could care less. 'Like Snape said, don't give him the satisfaction.'
Remus searched around counting hands, purposely ignoring Moody's disapproval. "Well I'd say that's a yes if you do, Albus."
Dumbledore looked rather chuffed, "I'd say you're absolutely right. If there's nothing else…." he paused momentarily to allow any further conversation. "….right then, meeting adjourned."
Lucy shared the large grin on her face with Moody who then darted out the kitchen and 12 Grimmauld place in a huff. 'Well now that's settled, what next?' she wondered. She was answered by Snape clearing her throat to earn her attention and she turned to him. His expression softened slightly and he was about to speak when Dumbledore came over from talking with the Mrs. Weasley and the children.
"Snape, a word," Dumbledore said quietly to the Professor then addressed Lucy. "We shall talk later. For now however, you be with your friends. I suggested the lot of you stay the weekend at Grimmauld Place just to insure safety. I'll send Professor Snape to check in every once in a while. Sleep well, dear."
Lucy nodded, "Night Albus… Professor."
Snape nodded back and she watched him curiously as he disappeared up the stairs with the Headmaster. Suddenly tugged on her arm playfully, spinning her around— Ginny.
"Come on! Your sleeping in me and Hermione's room," Ginny squealed with excitement. "And you are going to have to show us this cool power thing you've been holding us out on."
"Alright," Lucy chuckled, "but it will have to wait till morning- I'm absolutely knackered."
"I knew there was something different about you," Hermione said more to herself than Lucy as she followed the two girl to their room.
Now that all was out in the open (for the most part), Lucy was sure happy she'd only come out with only one known enemy. Though after further deliberation whether or not she should actually try to befriend Moody, she figured he could just piss off if he had a problem with her or Snape. She didn't have time for people who couldn't find the good in grey circumstances.