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Chapter 36: Slippery Snakes
By the end of the week, Mandy was more than confident in her abilities and was more than ready for school to be over. Then she realized even though school would be ending soon she would still receive instruction until she sat for her N.E.W.T.s in August. Though that would be normally okay, with the outside world the way it was Mandy knew she couldn't wait. So she managed to get McGonagall to get Dumbledore to see her. He offered her a seat and she sat down looking at him carefully.
"Professor Dumbledore, I know the end of the year is coming up fast and it'll be here before I know it. I am more than ready for it to be here. I know that you are concerned about my studying and that you think it's best for me to go through with two more months of studying before taking my N.E.W.T.s, but I want to try to change your mind," Mandy said.
Dumbledore considered this and motioned for her to continue.
"I know you think I should wait, but I've been to classes all week and Sirius and James have been on top of it to get me back up to speed. I've passed every written test with really good marks. Everything I've done this week has been close to my normal standards and I've only had a little bit of trouble in Professor Flitwick's class."
"Filius has said that, but he also said it was to be expected," Dumbledore said.
"I think I'm ready to take my end of year exams. I really do."
"You mean with the other students?"
"Yes, sir. I don't want to wait and I know I can do this," Mandy insisted.
"You missed five months of school," Dumbledore said.
"I know, but I want to be an auror and we all know we need as many aurors as possible. According to my brother who just talked to his boss, they've lowered the training time from three years to 18 months to entice more people into the programme. I need to do this."
"I understand, Miss Hunter, but they are looking for good, well-trained aurors. Aurors who have passed their N.E.W.T.s and very capable to handle anything life throws their way. As well as the fact that these exams are called "nastily exhausting" for a reason."
"True, but I just gave birth and nothing in this world is as exhausting as giving birth or as turning into a tiger once a month. If you still don't think I'm ready though, how about I get my professors to prove it to you? I will go to class all this week and have my professors test me. If at the end of the week, all my professors say that I'm ready then you will give the go ahead and let me take it."
"I know that you believe you're ready—"
"But you don't believe that I am."
"Children, so full of themselves. So—" A voice said from behind her.
"Pipe down over there, Phineas. I'm glad you came after me," another voice answered.
Mandy turned to look behind her and saw that the only thing behind her were portraits. "Your portraits speak?" Mandy asked, looking from the portraits to the Headmaster and back.
"All the portraits at Hogwarts speak, Child. How long have you been here?" It was the same voice as earlier. The one that had told Phineas to pipe down.
"Seven years. I forgot." Her eyes searched the paintings and spotted the one marked Phineas. Phineas Nigellus. "Wait, you're a Black," Mandy said, narrowing her eyes at Phineas. "Great-great uncle of Regulus Black?" Mandy asked, having done a bit of studying of the Black family tree.
"Orion's boy? Great-great grandfather," Phineas Nigellus answered.
"That's right, you strike me as a Slytherin who can't stand muggles," Mandy said.
"Muggle clothes, you're definitely not," the portrait answered.
"Phineas, Miss Hunter," Dumbledore warned.
"Hunter? As in Elladora Hunter?" the voice from earlier asked. Mandy's eyes landed on the portrait in question marked Everard.
"Yes, a bunch of greats-granddau—not technically. If you trace my blood it's Dixon not Hunter," Mandy sighed.
"Dixon? Everard, didn't you marry a Dixon?" The portrait of Dilys asked.
"I did, Margie, she was from Scotland," Everard answered.
"Margie Dixon, one of the top potioneers of her age?" Mandy asked.
"Yes," Everard replied.
"Oh look, we're distantly related," Mandy said dully. Then she turned back to Dumbledore to do her best to convince him. "Professor, I know I can do this."
"If all of your professors agree then I will allow you to sit them, but all of them must agree. If even just one says that you are not you will sit them in August. If you do not pass enough of them, now or in August, I will allow you to return next year and sit for them in December."
"Thank you Professor." Dumbledore nodded then excused her from his office. Mandy returned to the Common Room and sat down on the couch next to Sirius. He looked at her and she grinned. "He said I could if all my professors agree. Not that they wouldn't. The only one I could think of that would hold me back is Jason, but I think I can charm him into giving in. I am his only little sister," Mandy said.
"I'm sure he wouldn't do that," Sirius said.
The next day Mandy silently and carefully made her way down to the hospital wing to see her son. She knew she really shouldn't but she couldn't help it. She stopped just outside the doors and looked around to make sure she wasn't being followed then slipped inside. Back in the impromptu nursery, she found the baby sleeping in his cot. Mandy sighed as softly as she could and tried not to wake him. As she stood over the cot watching him sleep, her heart broke a little. Sure, she wasn't ready to raise a child, but he was her flesh and blood. She was going to miss the boy. A few tears slipped down her face and she impatiently brushed them away. It was finally hitting her how much she loved this little boy. His blue eyes flickered open and he cooed. Mandy sniffled a bit and reached down towards the little boy.
Mandy picked him up rocking him slowly as she walked over to the rocking chair. She sat down and rocked back and forth gently. "I'm sorry I can't keep you little one. You deserve a better life and that's something I can only give you by giving you up. Please don't hate me. I only want to do what's best. I'm so sorry, Leo."
"Miss Hunter," a voice said in shock. Mandy looked up to see the nurse.
"I'm so sorry, I just needed to see him," Mandy said.
Pomfrey sighed and handed the young woman a bottle. "You really shouldn't be here, but I can understand what you're going through. I wish I could make this easier on you but I can't. It's also going to be more difficult if you keep coming back here. You have to let him go. The sooner you do, the easier it'll be," Pomfrey said.
"Can't I just stay for now?" Mandy asked.
"Yes," Pomfrey agreed. She walked back to the doorway and Mandy fed the boy, singing softly to him. "Just don't forget to burp him when you're done," Pomfrey said. Mandy nodded and fed her son. After burping him, he had let out a loud burp; she rocked him for a bit longer as she talked to him. Soon the little boy was fussing.
"What's wrong, little one?" He continued to fuss so Mandy rocked him. Then she stood when she saw that wasn't working. She walked around with him but nothing settled the little boy. She tried everything she could think of but the little boy dissolved into tears. As his cries grew louder, Madame Pomfrey was drawn back into the room. "I don't know what happened. He just started crying," Mandy said panicked. She was afraid she had broken the little baby.
"Broke the baby? Really?" George asked.
"Hey, I was a first time mom. I didn't know what I was doing, though that did convince me even more that I was doing the right thing in giving him up," Mandy answered.
"How so?" Harry asked.
"I didn't know what I was doing—"
"So that instantly means you should give him up?" Devin asked.
"No, but the fact that I didn't realize I just had to change his nappy, did. I didn't even think of it. The thought that I couldn't figure it out when I was so good at everything else made me realize I really wasn't ready to be a parent. It was really driven home when Pomfrey walked back in and reminded me. My thought was if I couldn't think of changing a baby's nappy, what kind of mum would I be?" Mandy explained.
"I've noticed you do that, why?" George asked. Mandy gave him a look like she didn't understand. "Sometimes you call yourself a mom and sometimes you say mum."
"For the same reason sometimes I say je t'aime and sometimes I say te amo," Mandy said. "I speak a couple different languages. Sometimes it just slips. My sister now lives in the States. Sometimes you just pick up things."
"So what happened next? After you changed his nappy?" Erin asked.
"Well, nothing. I put him back to sleep and I left feeling guiltier than I had before walking in there. Not because I was giving him up but rather because I hadn't known what I was doing," Mandy explained. "However something did happen that night that freaked me out. Now, Sirius, I know I've never told you this but you can't get mad about it now. It happened over 30 years ago. Though you were technically right and it was my fault. I'm sorry."
"What happened?" Sirius asked looking at his wife.
After leaving the hospital wing Mandy returned to the Gryffindor Tower and found Lily studying. Mandy sat down next to her and didn't say anything for a while. Soon, Lily turned to look at Mandy. "Are you okay? You look upset," Lily said gently. Mandy whispered as she told Lily what had just happened and Lily bit her lips to keep from laughing. "I know I shouldn't laugh—" Lily said when Mandy finished.
"But it's funny. How could I not think of that?" Mandy asked, laughter evident in her voice.
"That's not the funny part, the funny part is you thinking you broke him," Lily told her. She could keep the laughter from her voice but there was still a smile playing on her lips. "Babies are built to withstand new parents. It's like built in to them. He's fine now, right?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Now, help me study." Lily handed over the notes she was using and Mandy helped her study for Transfiguration. After studying for a while they went to dinner and then did more studying afterwards.
Finally Mandy had to make sure Leo was still okay, so after making an excuse she slipped out of the tower, into the hall. She found her way into the silence of the hospital wing and then into the nearly hidden back room. She walked over to the cot and peered inside to watch Leo sleep. Her jaw dropped seeing the cot empty. She left the room and looked into the office to find the matron working away with no baby in sight. "Uh, Madame Pomfrey, is Leo in his bed? I know you told me that it's going to be harder to give him up if I keep seeing him but I just want to make sure I didn't hurt him," Mandy asked.
"I understand and yes, dear, asleep last I checked," Pomfrey answered. Though she knew she shouldn't encourage the young girl she felt bad for her. Besides what harm could one look do?
Mandy nodded and left the infirmary. Once a floor away, Mandy broke into a run and in half as much time as usual, made it back to the tower. There she found James reading on the couch. "Map," she squeaked out. James pulled it from his pocket slowly as he looked at her concerned. She shook her head then scoured the map but Leo's name wasn't on it. Then she searched out the other name. The one who might have an idea of where he went. She found him in the library. She tossed James the map and bolted down to the library where she found just the man she was looking for. He was sitting at a table in the corner studying.
The boy looked up and swallowed hard at the furious look on her face. "What can I do for you?" he asked. Anyone else would think he was calm but Mandy saw straight through him. It was in his eyes. That's all that she needed to see to know he was terrified by the look on her face. She planted both hands on the table and leaned forward until she was a hair's breadth away from him.
"Who did you tell?" she growled. "And I'm in no mood to screw around, Black."
"Tell about what?" he asked, coldly. As scared as he was he knew he had to keep it together.
"You know what I'm talking about." Mandy rubbed her belly and Regulus swallowed. He suddenly realized exactly what she was talking about but he hadn't spoken a word of it. He was too afraid of what she could do if he did. Not that he'd ever tell her that.
"I didn't tell anyone. I may hate my brother and think You-Know-Who has some points but I don't break promises. I swore I would never tell anyone and I haven't." Regulus wasn't sure where he stood on the war he knew was coming, but he would never cross this woman. Not knowing what he knew about the girl. She was too talented when she was angry.
Mandy sized the boy up and then cast a spell that allowed them to talk in private. "He's gone." He could hear her voice break and the anger faded from her eyes. Yes, he could see she was still angry that someone had taken the baby, but she also looked upset.
"Who is?" Regulus asked softly. He knew who, he just wanted to make sure.
"You know who I'm talking about. They aren't coming for two weeks but my son is gone."
"Have you searched the entire castle?"
"Do I look like an idiot? Of course I did."
"How? From the look on your face he's only been missing a little while. There's no way you could search the entire castle in that amount of time. You're not a ghost and it would take a normal human days to search it all."
"I have my ways, Black, don't question me. He's not here."
"I'll do a little poking around. My only question is how are you going to keep the professors from finding out? Oh and congratulations on the delivery."
"I'll let Madame Pomfrey know I'm staying in the Hospital Wing tonight. That way she won't know or get suspicious until at least tomorrow morning. Does it really matter to you?"
"I don't care about you or his father but—"
"Don't say that Reg, I know you care, at least a little bit. Even if you can't admit it."
"Fine, I don't particularly care, but I wouldn't want to see you harmed, either of you, and the boy is my nephew even if his father has been disowned. And hurting an innocent child." Regulus swallowed and shook his head. "I will find him. I'll do my best."
"Thanks. I won't forget or mention it."
"Good."
Mandy went back to the hospital wing and asked Madame Pomfrey about Leo's last feeding then told the nurse she would stay the night. Even though the nurse was suspicious, she told Mandy that there were bottles of milk in a cold box against the wall and she could heat them up until it was just warm to the touch. Just before the sun came up, Mandy received an owl that told her to come to the edge of the forbidden forest. Mandy bit her tongue and hoped she wasn't walking straight into a trap. Once out on the grounds Mandy didn't see anyone so she headed for the forest. On the edge of forest she heard rustling but it was just a bird. Her eyes were so focused on it that when a man stepped out of the forest Mandy jumped.
"The great Miss Hunter can be scared? I never took you for that type," the man said.
Mandy focused her eyes on him and frowned. "Lucius Malfoy, such a slippery snake. To what do I owe this unpleasant visit?" she spat.
"Manners, Hunter," Lucius answered, coolly.
Mandy bit her tongue and refused to say another word. It was intriguing as to how he had gotten on the grounds of the school but Mandy figured the less she talked the more he'd explain. The bad guys always explained their motives in films so this shouldn't be any different. At least she hoped it wouldn't be any different. She wasn't disappointed.
"Better. You may not know this but my wife and I are anxious to have an heir. More so my wife and my father, but I know it will get me places. Narcissa has spoken with her sister Bella about the frustration of not producing. We've both been checked over and there is no reason as to why we are not conceiving. Early last night, Bella flooed in with this interesting story. It was almost too good to be true."
Mandy had no idea why he was telling her this story but since he was, she figured it was important. It was best to try and portray what he expected from her. Soft and gentle and she'd get what she wanted eventually. She briefly closed her eyes to summon her bear side and what she had seen from Lily and the way she treated most people. "What story did she have for you?" Mandy asked softly.
"She told us that she had the answer to all of our problems. She handed Narcissa this baby and said that it was a month old, an orphan, and pureblood. We were so happy, but then she said something we couldn't believe." Lucius glanced down and swallowed. Mandy looked at him, her blue eyes piercing his grey ones. "She told us the baby was a Black. Narcissa couldn't believe it. She demanded to know which Black had given birth then given up their child but Bella refused to say. It was almost as if she didn't want to tell us."
"Then what are you doing here?" Mandy asked, reminding herself constantly to keep a soft tone and not to show him any disrespect. That could go very badly for her.
"Look down," Lucius said. Mandy's eyes shot to the forest floor but she didn't see anything. Her eyes traveled slowly back up and then they landed on the bundle in his arms. The bundle looked like a soft, blue blanket. "After Bella left Cissy ran a test on him to determine if Bella was telling the truth. We were shocked to find out that she was right. The baby was a Black. Sirius Black's son. I knew then, just by looking at my wife, that Narcissa would refuse to keep the child. Not because she hates her cousin but because we had been informed by my father that her disgraced cousin was dating you. She could hurt him all she wanted but she couldn't do that to you. She said that something didn't sit right with her. We sent a letter to Regulus and he told us the baby had indeed been taken and you were worried. How he would know that I didn't know but Cissy figured that you would enter the snake pit if it meant saving your child. Any parent would. We want a child but not this way. Cissy contacted you and Regulus let me in here." At least that explained that.
"How did Lestrange get her hands on Leo?" Mandy asked, a bit of the bite coming back to her voice.
"Leo?" Lucius asked, looking at her curiously.
"Leonis Jeffery Black. That's his name." Mandy said.
"Snape. You really should be more careful about where you are when you say things. Any Slytherin knows that. Gryffindors, so cocky—"
"Greasy hairball." Mandy muttered under her breath cutting him off. "Chris!" Mandy snapped. The house-elf appeared and Mandy looked from Lucius to the house-elf. The tall blond handed the baby to the house-elf and Mandy smirked. "Now, give me one good reason why I shouldn't hex you to the moon and back for kidnapping my son." Mandy growled, flicking her right arm out causing her wand to slide into her hand. She pressed it to his throat under his chin and he swallowed. She could clearly tell he hadn't been expecting that. Not in the least.
"I did not kidnap your son. Bella did and Snape did, I brought bring him back."
Mandy looked at Chris and he nodded after examining the child. Then she went back to glaring at Lucius. "After your wife insisted. I can still ruin your reputation with the Auror department even if the higher ups in the Ministry don't believe me."
"And I can out you as a parent at 17 before you finished Hogwarts. Unwed mothers don't get very far in the magical world."
"Try it, but know this, in less than a week I won't have a child and there will be no record that Leonis Jeffery Black existed," Mandy growled.
"What do you want?" Lucius sighed.
He may have been a slippery snake but it appeared that he knew when he was beaten. "Well," Mandy grinned. "To keep you and your sister-in-law from prison as well as your wife from being put through the hardship of a trial, I think that deserves something big. A promise that you'll never kill me."
"I can't promise that." He thought for a moment. "There must be something else. Guarantee you pass your N.E.W.T.s?"
"You're not that powerful, Lucius, and I'm not going to be indebted to you. This is about us being even. Godmother to your first-born or you refrain from using your influence at the Ministry for a full year," Mandy said. Lucius swallowed hard.
"You'll hear from us. Good day, Miss Hunter," Lucius spun on his heel and left.
Mandy shook her head and took her son from Chris. When she reached the hospital wing the nurse was instantly on her.
"Miss Hunter." The young nurse scolded. "I came to check on both of you but you were gone. Where have you been and why are you holding him?"
"I apologize. He was a little fussy and not quite hungry so I thought I'd walk him around a bit. I thought it might calm him down. I should have warned you. Again I apologize. It was early enough we weren't seen by anyone." The nurse nodded and Mandy surrendered her son to her.
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