Author's Note:
This story is based on original characters created by GinnyWeasleyRocks and used with permission. Reading her beautiful story Love and Glory would be very useful in deepening the meaning of this story, but is not required to understand it, as this is a standalone spin-off.
Disclaimer: Copyright to J.K. Rowling
Déjà Vu
"Having a nice walk, Summer?" asked Orchid Ottelby politely, her shoulder length dark hair flowing behind her in the warm summer breeze.
"Yes, it's a beautiful morning for a hike, Orchid," said Summer Birchgrove from her right, her long blonde hair made into a tight bun.
Summer and Orchid were trooping along a narrow dirt meadow path in the Scottish Highlands with a third witch, Penny Alderton. Said witch walked a little way behind the other two, and as Summer looked back at her for a moment, she could see her badly scarred heart-shaped face, framed by an ash-blonde bob, was flushed from the exertion of the day's walk. Blaise Zabini's cat Animagus had taken Penny's beauty, and the years of physical inactivity in Azkaban had taken her youthful vigor. Summer sent the other witch a sympathetic smile before turning back to her old friend.
In contrast to Penny's infirmity, Summer noted, Azkaban had taken neither Orchid's good looks nor her tireless soul. The other witch easily kept up with Summer's brisk, graceful strides, and as she gazed into her muddy green eyes with her blue ones, the only discernible change from her pre-prison school days was she no longer had dyed-blonde hair.
'She must not fancy having blonde hair anymore' Summer thought to herself, as she unconsciously touched her own blonde bun.
"So Orchid, have you been able to find a job yet? Surely some employer believes in second chances, and a witch with your talents could do many things."
Orchid made a sour smile that soon gave way into an exaggerated sigh.
"I'm afraid, Summer, there isn't much a witch is allowed to do if, like me, she didn't sit her N.E.W.T.s."
"But the Truthseeker recruits that got sent to Azkaban were permitted to take classes from prison," Summer began earnestly. "Surely you could have sat the N.E.W.T. supplemental exams they held there before you were all pardoned after Pinkstone's death?"
"True. But I was so wrapped up in the Truthseeker indoctrination and all, I thought I would go back to that life when I got out. That school wasn't important anymore. I also knew Hershia Potts did well in the Ministry despite dropping out before seventh year, but I failed to reckon how she didn't have my criminal record. Do you think you might be able to help me find something, Summer?" Orchid finished eagerly.
Summer gently patted the other witch on her back before shaking her head.
"I'm afraid not, Orchid. I'm part of the Auror Office, which your criminal conviction precludes you from joining, and my meager influence in the Ministry doesn't go any farther than my secretary job."
"Understood," said Orchid, while smiling knowingly at her friend. "The biggest mistake I ever made in life was trying to be Carlotta Pinkstone and Hershia Potts, when I'm Owen Ottelby's eldest daughter, Orchid."
"Wait for me!" called Penny, who was huffing very badly now as she plodded half-heartedly after the other two witches, who dutifully stopped on the path to let her catch up.
While they waited, Summer balanced one foot on the toe of her white and pink trainers, before continuing the conversation.
"That's right! How's Iris doing?"
"Well, I suppose," began Orchid sadly. "We haven't spoken since before I got out. She lives with our aunt now, who filed a restraining order with the Ministry against me. I'm not allowed to come within 500 yards of Iris, herself, nor any of her kids and am barred from writing or flooing them. Before she left me at the administrative hearing where I tried to contest that I was a danger to any of them, I did manage to get some news about my sister. Like me, Iris was sorted into Slytherin and has made some good friends, none of whom I am told share my Ne'er-do-well nature."
"Well, that's not fair or right!" said Summer loyally, with a raised voice. "Everyone makes mistakes, and you did the best you could growing up in Knockturn Alley. Losing your–"
"I'm caught up," broke in Penny, breathing heavily as she reached the other two witches without them noticing.
The other girls turned to keep walking without even a glance at the old Gryffindor, but white hands snaked out to meet their wrists.
"You're leaving already? I only just caught up!" said an alarmed Penny a little shrilly.
"Of course not, Penelope," said Summer nonchalantly and without the least bit of concern for the other girl's distress as she turned to her.
She could faintly make out the once pronounced muggle elfin features, despite the scarring. The fair, curling hair and pasty skin just didn't match Penelope's mutilated facial features. She was no longer the near twin of her older brother, Geoffrey, who Summer saw regularly in the Auror Office, despite never working with him personally. As she gazed into the soul of the other girl, eyes adrift among a sea of scarring, pity now tugged at Summer's heart, so she reached up and took one of the pink flowers scattered in her own hair and gently placed it by Penny's right ear. For the first time, as she touched the other girl's head, she realized Penny was missing a small chunk of her ear close to where the upper lobe melded with her head.
A cold shiver came over Summer despite the early morning heat and exercise, and the other girl smiled uncertainly at her for the gesture.
"So Penny, how have you been doing since you were pardoned and given a new lease on life?" asked Summer kindly.
"Well," began Penny timidly, "I've been alright, I suppose. Mum's thrilled to have me back and has always been so loving. Geoff's been grateful to have me back to, and since I returned he's been encouraging me to accept the job a friend of my mother's offered me at a Metal Charmers shop. I've always been good at Charms, and I wouldn't have to interact with the public much there. At all really."
Moving forward and gently putting her arms around the other witch, Summer couldn't understand why the other witch noticeably stiffened at the contact, but pressed on anyway.
"You should go for it Penny!" Summer said warmly and with eagerness. "Everyone makes mistakes, and this is your perfect chance to get back on your own feet! To start fresh."
Penny smiled widely at Summer's words, so she took that as encouragement to squeeze the other witch into a tight hug. She had never felt guilty about her own stunning looks (to be fair, the entire male student body at Hogwarts had described her as much, so she still had her Hufflepuff humility, didn't she?) but as Penny Alderton's scarred cheek and frail body pressed against her smooth and fit one, for the first time she did.
She had been at Hogwarts for the start of the year after she graduated, while training as an Auror, and had heard the Sorting Hat say something about 'time proves the greatest liar' in its song. She knew it was rather a stretch to believe it had been referring to this, but then, didn't all soothsayers rely on ambiguity to bring their predictions to fruition?
"If you two lovebirds are done, can we continue our walk?" broke in Orchid, who winked at her companions and smirked slyly at them.
"Of course," said Summer and Penny in unison, as if they were the same person, before breaking apart.
"So Summer, seeing any good blokes?" asked Orchid with interest.
"Perhaps," she said with a hint of mystery in her clear voice.
The trio were walking side by side now at a much more modest pace, with Penny in the middle. Orchid raised a penciled eyebrow at her friend.
"Well," began Summer cheerfully, "it's a tad awkward to say in my present company given all that happened in our sixth year, but I'm presently going out with Albus Potter. We have a date tonight in Hogsmeade, at Madam Puddifoot's."
"Aren't you two a little old for a Hogsmeade date at Madam Puddifoot's?" asked Penny curiously, seemingly unperturbed by her grim history with Harry Potter's only surviving son.
"Seconded," said Orchid.
"Oh, girls," said Summer, moving between the witches and slinging an arm over each of their shoulders. "Albus and I have been going out for two years now and today is Valentine's Day. Tonight, over candles and catered food in the upstairs room of Puddifoot's teashop, which is closed to Hogwarts students," she added with a hint of smugness, "I do believe Summer Birchgrove will be asked to become Summer Potter."
Both witches squealed and offered their hearty congratulations to Summer, who humbly left out the beautifully huge moonstone ring she anticipated Albus would be proffering. Of course, it wasn't just out of humility that she left out any mention of the ring. She was with two girls who had serious criminal pasts, regardless of what any pardon parchment said about their suitability for rehabilitation after past 'mistakes'.
"Is it awkward, between you and Albus?" asked Orchid, while Penny nodded in agreement. "I mean, you did go out with his brother for awhile, so to now be shagging him to…"
"James and I never shagged, Orchid, and not that it's any of your business, but Albus and I have a very warm relationship. We're in love."
"You were the one who told us about your date and marriage hopes," pointed out Penny reprovingly.
A beat.
"Do go on," Penny now added more lightly, trying and failing to hide her fervent eagerness to hear more. Almost as if her life depended on Summer's own.
Summer obliged and while she didn't want her own life to dominate the conversation to the point of rudeness, since the other girls kept asking for more details and stories, she gave them what they wanted. As the three witches walked among the grassy hills, she told them all about her relationship with Albus, her desk job at the Ministry, and when she would be meeting Albus that night by his family's second shop, formerly Zonko's Joke Shop.
By noon, the sun was long since high in the air and the summer heat was affecting them all, Summer included, who's silky skin was now uncharacteristically coated in sweat and whose array of pink flowers had begun to wilt. As they rounded a sharp turn around the latest grassy hill, they suddenly were approaching a shack that would have given the one in Hogsmeade a run for its money if eerily decrepit structures had money, Summer concluded.
The shack had boarded up windows and weathered greyish clapboard walls that gave no indication of ever having known paint. The walls were splintering in the baking heat in some ill-fated places, while the strip closest to the ground remained damp with rot and was warped outward. The once erect shingled roof was sagging badly, while the old wooden door with a rusty handle stood ajar.
"Let's go in for a spell, to get out of the heat," said Penny, who began to walk towards the door without waiting for the others.
"Are you mad? That dump could collapse on us at any moment!" said Summer in an appalled voice, as Orchid stood behind her silently.
Penny turned and looked at the other witch, taking the time to calculate her words.
"We have magic. If anything happens, we can just cast a shield charm."
"We could be killed! We could get cut up by rusty nails or broken boards and get disfig–" Summer's complaint's died in her throat as she realized what she was saying and to who. Uncharacteristically, the assertive Auror Office worker was cowed by the other witch's neutral expression, which gave no hint of hurt or anger at the offending statement partially uttered.
Penny tipped her head to the side, considering, before returning to sling an arm around the other witch's shoulders.
"You needn't worry your pretty little head, Summer. It's just an old muggle building. You won't end up looking like me. I assure you I won't let it," said Penny kindly, while giving the pocket of her jeans a reassuring pat, before continuing in a sad little voice. "The heat is really getting to me though. I think I might faint or something without some time in the shade. I'm going in, and any big girls are welcome to join me."
Penny gently removed her arm and walked into the ruined shack, the door creaking ominously as she feebly pushed it open with a slender arm.
Summer shifted from one foot to the other and looked to Orchid for guidance, but the other witch said nothing as their eyes met. Unconsciously, Summer Birchgrove's white and pink trainers trailed after the unusually assertive witch. Perhaps Penny was just good at manipulating other people, Summer thought to herself as she passed through the doorway into the gloomy interior. Scattered shafts of light from the boarded up windows lit the entrance room in the shack, which had walls adorned with badly water-stained peeling wallpaper.
The door creaked as Orchid dutifully shut it upon entering, though Summer wished she hadn't done so. As she gazed around the room, Summer was surprised to see some familiar objects. A large pewter cauldron was perched above a stone base in the center of the room, while old fashioned cloaks hung on hooks by the door. A glass case of what she could only guess to be goblin skulls sat on a dusty desk, as did a stand of vials containing an array of different colored substances. An object resembling the drawing of a Hand of Glory she had once seen in a schoolbook also sat on the desk, though surely it was something different. Lastly, she noticed an elaborately carved armchair sitting alone in a corner of the room.
Penny drank something from a vial she produced from her pocket, before flexing her muscles like a muggle would after a heavy workout in a gym, which perplexed Summer. Had the heat and exhaustion finally made her go mad or had that been a potion she drank?
Summer was about to speak when it happened. Like the Fiendfyre that had devastated Hogsmeade in her sixth year, she was suddenly overtaken from behind as Orchid Ottelby seized her arms and bent them backwards while forcing her torso towards the floor. Tears came to Summer's eyes as she tottered forward in forced submission, before being forced with surprising gentleness into the chair. Penny Alderton, grip strong as steel, automatically tied by hand soft cloth bands around Summer's ankles to the chair, while Orchid did the same to her wrists.
"What are two doing?" Summer whimpered.
"Muffliato," said Penny confidently, after tying the second tanned ankle. "You will speak only when permitted, Miss Birchgrove, which shall not be necessary, I'm afraid."
With a flick of her wand, Summer felt her throat constrict as she lost the ability to speak. She looked on helplessly as the other two witches exchanged wicked grins and though the scarring made it difficult to tell Penny's emotions, Summer was confident the girl was getting a thrill out of being the one to give orders for a change. Probably the first time in her life being the one in control. Summer pushed that thought away, as she had more pressing problems.
"Ready, love?" said Penny, while placing a hand on the other witch's lower back.
"Let's get started, dear," said Orchid in a sing-song voice.
It dimly occured to Summer that Penny had stiffened when suddenly embraced because she liked girls, but she pushed away the thought of whatever romance was between Penny and Orchid. She watched mystified and enthralled as her former companions made slow circles in the air with their wands and muttered strange verses or incantations in a language she could not understand. The cobwebbed, dusty wood beneath the cauldron burst into a smokeless flame. As the empty cauldron began to heat up, Summer felt no warmth reach her from the flames. An unearthly chill had suddenly come over her and she shivered as the sheen of sweat on her skin heightened her anguish.
Summer made a rasping noise as she tried to speak, which drew the attention of her captors, who now lowered their wands and grinned at each other.
"Oh, Summer," began Orchid, sighing mournfully. "If you insist, my dear."
She flicked her wand, and the tightening vanished from Summer's throat. She took a moment to clear her throat and spat out a chunk of flem that had risen into her mouth.
"Tsk! Tsk! Not very ladylike of you, Summer," said Penny loftily, scarred face turned upward.
"What are you doing to me?" Summer whimpered, hating her weakness. Mustering what force she could, she continued more firmly. "What do you want from me!"
"Should we... tell her?" said Orchid Silkily, as she leaned on the cluttered desk.
"Oh, why not?"
The cauldron began to blow smoke rings into the room as it continued to heat. First a sickly green ring, then a purple, and then an orange. Lastly, a blood red ring rose into the air before the cycle repeated.
"You see Summer, this isn't personal, yet at the same time it couldn't possibly be more personal."
"I've never wronged you all my life," said Summer, her jaw and perfect teeth struggling to stop from chattering from the deep chill that had come over her.
"True, you've only been kind to me. But I'm afraid life hasn't been. Blaise Zabini stole my father from me, stole my beauty when he mutilated my face, and stole any chance I had of avoiding prison when I ended his reign of terror. All my life at Hogwarts, my roommates ignored me and left me out of their conversations and games because I wasn't interesting enough. Wasn't worth their time or thoughtfulness."
"So you two are going to kill me because I have what you don't, Penny?" Summer said darkly. "Because I've always been popular, a few blokes find me attractive… 'cus I have both my parents."
Penny and Orchid released duel peels of giggles and exchanged a meaningful look.
"Now, now, Summer," began Orchid haughtily. "I see you haven't lost your Hufflepuff modesty. You'll need to remember that, Penny," Orchid said, while momentarily turning to her companion.
A beat passed as the dark-haired witch moved to stand before her captive.
"It was always the talk of the Slytherin dungeons and Gryffindor Tower, slimeily for most of the boys and grudgingly for most of the girls, how you were easily the fittest girl in our year. A dream shag, though they weren't nearly as polite in saying so as I am, my old friend. You're popular with everyone who knows you well and have contacts with many well-to-do members of the wizarding community. A promising start at the Ministry and a respected, intact family. Oh, and you're also no doubt lusting after the giant moonstone ring Albus Potter will be bringing to tonight's shag-fest."
"But.. what does any of that have to do with you two? How does bringing me down improve your own lives?" Summer said wearily, while lowering her head to stare at the floor.
Footsteps approached and a pale white hand gripped Summer's chin and forced it to look into Penny Alderton's mutilated face.
"It has everything to do with us. And we're not going to bring you down. No, no. Quite the opposite you pretty fool. My father, Rufus Alderton, was a wizard of many talents. As a little girl, he taught me how to cast powerful memory charms, but he also taught me the principles of soul-transference. If you remove a soul from a body without killing the body you can fill the void, which is a violation of nature, with another. Say, your own soul. Do you understand now? I'm not going to kill you Summer Birchgrove, I'm going to become Summer Birchgrove, and leave this broken husk behind."
"But… you can't be me. It's not possible to transfer souls - you'd have to use Polyjuice for the rest of your life to take my place. And the only thing that can even separate a soul from the flesh without harming a body is a… a…"
"Dementor," Penny finished with relish.
"Our Truthseeker membership may not have worked out, but you were an idiot to actually campaign to help Dementors, starting with trying to get them Being classification. As if soul-sucking Dark Creatures need or want wizard-level rights. Like they would ever care to do you a good turn."
Whatever color was left in Summer's face drained away as Orchid and Penny backed away from her. She struggled with her bonds in an attempt to break free, but she quickly realized it was hopeless. She knew her fate was in the good will of the Dementor they must have brought here, and even Summer knew it was not in the nature of a Dementor to be merciful."
"I truly am sorry it has to be this way, Summer. On the merits, I'd infinitely prefer this was happening to that self-righteous bitch Rose Weasley, or that drunken hussy Cassie Miller. For the little it's worth, I'll take good care of your body."
She finished with a little wave as the cauldron creaked and transformed into four jet black torches that began to slowly rotate in the air around Penny. One torch was of each of the colors the smoke rings had been. Summer watched their slow movements as a thin rattle reached her ears. The light outside faded and scabby arms began to tare boards from one of the widows in the room as the Dementor sought to gain entry.
"No! Please don't!" Summer shouted in terror, her eyes wet with tears. "Penny, this isn't the answer to your problems! Orchid! We're friends - please save me! I'm begging you!"
With the boards gone, the Dementor smashed through the dusty, cracked window and floated towards its prey, black robes billowing behind it.
Summer began to shake the chair in a frenzied but feeble attempt to escape, but no witch could ever escape the tight bonds Ottelby and Alderton had tied her down with. At least not in such little time as was now left before the Kiss. She moved her head down and away from the Dementor as it over came her, but a scabby arm and clawish hand gripped her blonde bun and pulled her head back.
The last thing Summer Birchgrove saw before her eyes darkened was the other two witches look away as the Dementor's putrid lips met her own.
Orchid felt the steady heartbeat of Summer's limp body and smiled widely at Penny. Her skin was a bit cold and slimy with sweat, but a mere shower would clear that up. The experiment had worked. It was time to start the next step of the plan. She nodded at the grim faced girl with a heart-shaped face.
"Avada Kedavra!" cried Penny, as her frail form crumpled to the floor in a flash of green light.
The flames in the torches surged and a burst of dazzling white light flew forth and blinded Orchid as she fell to the floor with a shriek.
Dimly, it registered in her dazed mind that the ritual was complete.
"How do you feel?"
Orchid stared down at Summer's feebly stirring body, yet to be untied. The once wilted flowers in her hair had shriveled to dry compost at the presence of the Dementor, but Penny's Patronus had driven it away. While the broken girl had only been able to conjure the feeblest incorporeal Patronus Orchid had ever witnessed, the Dementor had left the building at any rate.
"I... feel… good."
Orchid smiled down at her former cell-mate and held a goblet of water to her lips, which was gratefully drained.
"So it's worked then? You feel completely normal?"
"Yes," said 'Summer' with more vigor, as she began to make herself at home in the other witch's body.
She wiggled her toes and stretched her neck, before giving a slimy smirk to her accomplice - a look that had never before crossed Summer Birchgrove's pretty face.
"If so, what did Penny Alderton say to me the first time we shagged in our joint cell?"
Summer let out a pleased laugh, before declaring, "That you'll always be my true love, Orchid. We're soul mates."
"Correct answer," said Orchid neutrally, without any answering warmth.
"The torches stayed lit despite the ritual being completed? Hmm, my father never saw it done himself, so he must not have been aware of that. No matter. We can just vanish that stuff away. I'm so excited to get to meet my new parents! Mum and Geoff will be better off without me, and I'll have all the love I need from the Birchgroves. While still at Hogwarts I heard how great they are!"
Her enthusiastic smile was met with a thoughtful look from Orchid.
"But there is still the matter of Albus Potter. How do you plan to handle that, Penny?"
"Oh, I'm an excellent actress. That dolt won't be hard to ditch, but I'll wait to get half of everything first before I drop him." Summer's pretty brow creased in thought. "You're going to have to stop calling me that right now, Orchid. No one could possibly suspect what happened, but still, carelessness won't lead to anything good. I'd hate for us to have to snuff someone out over a slip of the tongue."
Summer tried to rise from the chair, and for the first time truly realized she was still tied down.
"Orchid, dear, haven't you forgotten something?" she said sweetly, batting blue eyes at muddy green ones.
"I'm afraid I haven't, Penny," said Orchid, as her face morphed into a wicked smile.
"Enough games, Orchid. We can't stay here. There's an ugly dead body over there if you didn't notice."
Orchid pulled her own hair to one side and stroked it with her perfectly manicured nails.
"Yes, and a pretty one is going to be joining that lump over there."
Summer looked befuddled for a moment before her mouth dropped open a little in understanding.
"Your... planning to change bodies too? With Summer?"
"Of course," grinned Orchid as she let go of her hair and stood before Summer with her hands on her hips "Did you really think I was going to let you, a backstabbing traitor to the Truthseekers, the reason we failed that day at Hogwarts, be rewarded with a splendid new identity while I remain a washed up criminal? No, Carlotta Pinkstone will be avenged, and so will her great lieutenant, Blaise Zabini."
"But, you told me you understood why I killed Zabini! That it was his own fault!" Tears began to spill from Summer's eyes, wet tracks already down her pale cheeks. "What about all the nights we spent entwined in bed together in our cell in Azkaban, murmuring love to each other? What's happened to our love to allow you to do this?"
"It's simple, Alderton. I queer baited you," said Orchid loftily. "You and Nina Meyer both couldn't resist me and since it suited my purposes, I played along in your case. While you were in a daze from the soul-transference, I performed the ritual again so that all would be ready after you came to and I learned if it was safe to repeat."
She flicked her wand and the shirt on Penny's corpse split open on a sleeve as a cracking sound rent the air. Summer looked appalled at the disrespect shown to her former self, but Orchid merely shrugged.
"That was the agreed upon signal for the Dementor to return. Your pathetic Patronus didn't 'drive it off, Alderton. It merely left for a time as part of the side deal I made with it for your soul along with Summer's."
Orchid's face grew strangly mournful as Summer struggled to break free again.
"Tied those a bit tight, didn't we, Alderton," she gloated. "And speaking of Summer, I'm glad to know that the creator of this plan to steal my friend's soul will get her just reward for her evil."
"But you helped steal it too, Ottelby," said Summer angrly, as she momentarily paused trying to break free.
"But it wasn't the same, you wretch," said Orchid nastily. "You're a selfish traitor, only doing this for your own personal enrichment. Every aspect of your involvement with the Truthseekers and personal downfall was about you. First you wanted to prove how strong you were and to be the one in charge, and then you wanted to kill Zabini to make yourself feel good. While at every turn, you pushed the responsibility onto others. First claiming it was all for your brother, then stating dark deeds done as a Truthseeker counted against Torrance and I, but not you, then claiming your crash landing as a fugitive taking refuge in Blaise Zabini's house was you being held captive, and lastly just blaming everything on your brother for not stopping you with a membership roster."
Orchid's chest heaved as she took in deep lungfuls of air before continuing.
"I on the other hand, have always accepted personal responsibility for my own actions, such as failing to recruit Scorpius Malfoy over Easter holiday in my sixth year. I am doing this to see the Truthseeker cause through to the end. As the saying goes, if you can't beat them, join them. As the stunning Summer Birchgrove, I am going to marry Albus Potter and make the Weasley's proud of my fertility. Leaving nothing to chance, I will take great care to be a loving wife, so that he doesn't object to me raising our children with Truthseeker worldviews. We will use the combined power of the Ministry and the Potter-Weasley clan to in time integrate the muggle world and the magical one as much as possible. Carlotta's dream will be realized."
So passionate and enthralling was Orchid's speech, Summer had long since stopped struggling and failed to notice the renewed darkening in the room. It was only as a long black cloak fluttered in the corner of her eye, did her blonde head turn and remember her Dementor problem.
"No! You won't get away with this, Ottelby!"
The other witch scoffed, and dismissed her with a careless wave of her hand.
"You said it yourself, Penny. No one can possibly suspect what happened. You're also literally wearing Summer's body as your own and speaking with her voice. As long as I keep my mouth shut, I'll be fine."
She flicked her wand so that the torches now floated around her.
"You can take her now, by the way," Orchid said, with a useless shooing motion of her hand.
As the Dementor approached the witch again, Orchid watched intently as she didn't so much as rock the chair. Summer only released low moans like a dying animal until the Dementor gripped her shoulders and latched their lips onto hers. Try as she might, Orchid Ottelby couldn't watch the climax as a Dementor's Kiss yet again wrenched a soul from Summer Birchgrove's body.
With the deed now done, she cast a powerful spell of fire to drive the Dementor off for good.
"It's been a long day," she sighed wearily, before pointing her wand at herself. "Avada Kedavra."
As she came to, Summer knew Alderton as a test subject had been wise, but unnecessary. She knew that she had pulled off the perfect crime, and was now free to reap the riches and lifelong pleasure her cunning would bring her with this guise. She knew she would make Carlotta proud and bring the Truthseekers victory out of the ashes of bitter defeat. Most of all, as she tried to stand up, she knew she had forgotten to do something before giving up her old body.
"As the muggles would say, I'm just a dumb blonde," giggled Summer warmly, feeling no distress at the mistake she had made while in a rage at Alderton.
It was just a matter of time before she wriggled loose and left to meet up with Potter in Hogsmeade. She was quite looking forward to all the inside jokes she would have towards him. As she worked to free her legs first, she mussed about how much of a wet blanket Albus Potter was. But, as Harry Potter's only surviving son, he would be invaluable to her plans. Yes, she be good to the wizard.
She spent twenty minutes staring at the floor as she freed her cramped legs one by one, so that she didn't notice the decrease in light in the room, nor did her magicly numbed body feel the temperature dip again. It was only the sudden ugly rattle of the Dementor's breathing that made her blonde head snap to the window. There floated the Dementor, singed robes fluttering about its forboding form.
Summer sprung back in surprise and fright, slapping down on the floor on her back. Her tight bun was sufficient padding to avoid hurting her head, but the heavy chair and awkward position acted as an anchor to the floor. Unable to stand back up, she franticly tried to free her arms by wrenching with all her might, but realized as the Dementor floated to her helpless form she had tied Summer's wrists too well.
"Oh, Merlin! Oh, Merlin! Summer cried, as the Dementor pulled the chair upright so that the witch was staring with wild blue eyes into the inky blackness of its hood, as she quaked in terror.
Foul lips emerged like a ghost from the darkness, and as scabby arms gripped her shoulders strong as steel, Summer Birchgrove released a wild scream before they latched onto her own supple lips.
The Demontor knew he could float away and leave the still warm body to decay with the others. Part of him wanted to. Three souls in a single day was an unheard of haul for any Dementor, even during the war. Still, she had always been so kind and truly cared about his people's wellbeing. A hitherto unprecedented deed in the history of the magical world. He had also promised, and even among creatures as dark and selfish as Dementors, a promise made was a promise kept.
He bent down and untied her wrists, before he attached his lips to the soft and warm ones that had given him pure exhilaration that day, and regurgitated.
"I never doubted you for a moment, Rúmil," said Summer Birchgrove, who was now standing, though a bit shakilly. "I knew I could trust the intelligence you gave the Ministry about Ottelby and Alderton's soul-transference plot regarding me. No one else understands the value of friendship and good relations between wizards and Dementors, but I do."
The Dementor released a series of hisses.
"So you just wanted to kiss a pretty girl a few times?" she grinned. "Well, I'm flattered, Rúmil. I really am. But... best to keep that fact between us. And, please forgive me, but I need to report back to Potter about what's happened. "
She reached into the right pocket of her jeans, which had Undetectable Extension Charm on it, and removed a two-way mirror. She took a moment to compose herself before she held it up to her face.
"Harry, it's Officer Birchgrove. You know, your super secret agent?"
A beat.
"Birchgrove, you've been out in the field for over six hours! Anyone could have been in my office right now!"
"You have no right to complain to me about today, Harry Potter. You're alone too, aren't you?"
"Yes," he said with obvious reluctance. "So, have Orchid Ottelby and Penny Alderton been eliminated yet?"
"They're both dead and just as predicted would happen. Their bodies are here in the shack, awaiting pickup. I'll give you a full de-brief and written report later, Harry. Your darling son and I have plans tonight, and I definitely deserve to have the night off."
"Of course you do, Summer," said Harry warmly. "I wish you both a wonderful evening. You'll no doubt get an Order of Merlin, Second Class for this service to the Ministry and all the wizarding community."
"Make that First Class, Harry. I did risk my soul in a feat never before thought possible. And not that I need to pull the nepotism card, but I also did just stop you from getting Orchid Ottelby as a daughter-in-law."
"First Class it is, Summer. Enjoy your date!"
She blew a kiss at her mirror, before putting the empty frame back in her pocket.
"What?"
A series of new hisses spilled from the dark hood.
"Now, Rúmil, it's unbecoming of a Dementor to be ungrateful for such a plentiful feeding. The Ministry would never openly or otherwise kill troublesome members of the wizarding or muggle communities, and we didn't today. Ottelby and Alderton both killed themselves. They just thought they could use Dark Magic to hijack my body to use in lieu of their own marked forms."
The Dementor continued their conversation, as Summer withdrew a small hand mirror.
"Yes, it is unfortunate that a colleague lost his little sister, but as Penny said herself, he's better off without her. He's also really taken to the Abbott girl. Let's see... Daisy. He's really taken to Daisy Abbott, and she's a much healthier little sister figure for him to have in his life."
She gazed at herself in the mirror. Though it was dark in the room, she could easily tell she was quite pale from having souls sucked thrice from her body via a Dementor's Kiss, before her own was returned. The paleness did no harm to her looks - on the contrary, her blue eyes were now all the more striking. She smiled to herself, as Albus would surely like that on their Valentine's Day date tonight. She planned to meet him in Hogsmeade after she showered and got dressed at her family's home in a lengthy process that would begin shortly.
She returned the mirror to her pocket and swept Rúmil in a tight hug, which he returned. It dimly occurred to her that anyone else in the wizarding world would think she was mad to hug a Dementor, but unlike Care of Magical Creatures class where Grubbly-Plank physically restrained her from hand feeding the salamander, there was no interference this time. All was well.
A/N: Please leave a review if you liked this adventure! They mean a lot. I wish a Happy Valentine's Day to all!