So, I'm not dead. Just really busy and borderline burned the fuck out after this past year- as I'm sure a lot of us are.
BUT, I finally got this chapter out!
Thank you to all of you that have favorited/followed/reviewed. You all gave me my little bursts of motivation to keep on keeping on with this chapter. And, honestly, to all of you that have been here for the long haul, Thank You so much for sticking around. It means the absolute world to me.
Anyways, as usual, I hope you all enjoy, and feel free to leave a review!
~GhostDoor
Chapter 32
Quisquous
"The saddest words
I've ever heard
are the words
you spoke
before walking away."
- Jyoti Patel, Anamika:Beyond Words
'Dear Jo,
I'm sorry it took so long to write. The last few weeks have been busy. I'm sure you've already heard about the dementors guarding Hogwarts.
They're awful. Truly.
They came onto the train and searched every compartment. Professor Lupin said they were looking for Black. You've probably already heard about the incident- Professor McGonnagall said she wrote. I'm alright, though. Just staying as far away from those monsters as I can. Luckily, we sat with Professor Lupin.
It's a bit strange, calling him Professor Lupin. You two are friends, after all. He was friends with my Dad and Mum, too. He's rather popular, here. Loads better than the last two Defense Against The Dark Arts "professors". Even the Slytherins- at least, the ones that aren't on with Malfoy- seem to like him. Madison's obsessed, actually. Bit mad, if you ask me. At least I don't have to worry about him trying to kill me or erase my memories, yeah?
I hope you aren't worrying too much. Hogwarts is doing well, this year. Even if they are terrible, the dementors aren't going to let Black in. Mr. Weasley was sure of that. Plus, Seamus pointed out some men hanging around the other day. Said they were Aurors. I was hoping to see Tonks, but so far, no luck.
Things have settled, now, though. My classes are alright enough. I'm not sure what to make of Divination. Professor Trelawney said I was going to die, so that was an exciting first lesson.
Care of Magical Creatures was brilliant! Hagrid showed us Hippogriffs on the first day, and I got to fly on one! Bloody brilliant!
At least, it was, until Malfoy ruined everything. Hagrid told us, from the very start, don't insult a hippogriff. What's the sod do? Marches on up to him and called him an ugly brute. Nearly had his arm clawed off for it. Hermione's been worried that Hagrid will be sacked. Even Ron's worried. Who knows what the git will do. Course, Daddy Malfoy will hear all about this, I'm sure. That's all Malfoy's capable of doing, isn't it? Run and tell Daddy Malfoy. I don't know how you stand them.
Although, I feel like I've written about everything other than what you're probably wanting to know. I was hoping she would have written to you first, but I suppose that's expecting too much. We haven't talked since she was sorted.
I'm upset with her, I suppose. Haven't wanted to talk to her. I'm sorry, I know you're probably disappointed. We just aren't going to get on. Did you know she took the O'Kane name? Are you're okay with that? Shouldn't it be Delacroix?
Well, October O'Kane was sorted-'
It was the talk all over Hogwarts. The greatest drama so many young minds could puzzle over. Whispers had started the moment the students had laid eyes on the foreign exchange student, much too tall to fit in among the first years. Those whispers only grew, a constant buzz that filled the hallways and common rooms for days after the feast-
"Did McGonnagall say O'Kane- suppose she's related to Danny?"
" 'Course not, said she's from Australia, isn't she?"
"Have you ever heard of an International student, before?"
"I heard she lived in a hut, poor dear, and she was picked for some schooling outreach program of the Ministry. Of course, she'd rather come here!"
"Didn't you see her on the train? Kicked that rabid dog, she did."
"Potter doesn't get on with her. Didn't you hear? He was shouting at her on the train."
"Harvey said she can't read. Said she barely speaks English."
"Could be- looks a bit native, doesn't she?"
Harry scoffed around his eggs. Just how do they think she's been getting on these past weeks?
Sitting across from him with her nose buried deep in an Arithmancy book, Hermione pursed her lips. She chanced a peek at Harry, frowning as his eyebrows settled into a glare. Beside him, Ron had stopped eating, face flushing red as his fist tightened around his fork. Hermione didn't have to look behind her to know why, the giggles and tittering told her all she needed to know.
Draco Malfoy had been insufferable since the first night. He'd taken to dramatically swooning whenever Harry was near. Crabbe and Goyle would pull their robes up, moaning and groaning like dementors, fluttering about their leader as he collapsed onto tables and desks. The joke had grown incredibly stale, but Pansy Parkinson always had giggles to offer.
Yet, it wasn't Malfoy that had put Harry in such a foul mood so early in the morning. Sitting near the group of third year Slytherins, only two people down and looking anywhere but the ridiculous spectacle, sat the true focus of Harry's irritation. She stuck out like a sore thumb, aviators in place and outer robe constantly 'forgotten' in her dorm. The silver and green tie, the first thing he always saw when she appeared, was displayed for all to see.
October Delacroix- or O'Kane, as Hogwarts knew her- long lost daughter of Josephine Delacroix and Cole O'Kane.
And she'd gone and gotten herself thrown in Slytherin.
Harry just couldn't stomach it. All through breakfast, lunch and dinner, passing her in the hallways, seeing her on the grounds; his jaw would clench and he'd glare at the ground, betrayal swirling round and round in his belly. She had tried to speak to him, tried to catch his eye, but after so many meetings with Harry's cold shoulder, she'd simply let him be. All she offered him was the same unsettled frown that had stitched across her lips since the moment she'd stepped foot inside the castle.
And for some reason, beneath the betrayal and dislike, that made him even angrier. She didn't even care.
"Course not! Just like a Slytherin, that is,"Ron said, leaning back to enjoy the sunshine. They had wandered outside with the other students, picking out a nice spot near the lake. "They don't care about nobody but themselves."
"It's not just that. You know, she hasn't written to Jo?" Harry grumbled along, all of his frustration with the girl spilling from him after weeks of biting his tongue. "Seems like she didn't want to know us at all. Just had a good excuse to escape, I think. She made it seem like she hated her home."
"Suppose she didn't lie about it all?" Ron suggested, lips tugged into a suspicious frown. "Maybe to try to make the two of you feel bad for her."
Harry didn't respond. Ron had taken his dark thoughts, the ones he only let out at night, and shoved them under the light of day. They suddenly seemed much less ridiculous, now that someone else had said it out loud. Unfortunately, only Ron seemed to share his suspicions. Hermione loudly huffed beside them, closing her textbook with a quiet snap.
"You two are being unreasonable. Harry, she's basically your sister!-"
"She is not-"
"-You can't treat her like rubbish then expect her to keep coming around. She's not a dog.You should speak to her. She's actually quite...nice." Hermione steamroll stopped short. She chewed on her lip before glancing at Harry with a troubled frown. "I think she's having a rough go of it, actually. It's really strange for her, here. Everything is so different, and she seems terribly confused by it all. Whenever she studies with me, she has so many questions. She might as well have been raised by muggles for all she doesn't know."
Harry sighed, staring at the subject of his scolding down near the other end of the lake. She was with her fellow fourth year Slytherin girls as they all gossiped and laughed. While her dorm mates chatted, sitting in a semi-circle and leaning in close, Toby stared across the lake. For once, her aviators looked normal out in the sunshine.
"Why does she wear those, anyhow?," Ron asked, nodding toward the Slytherins. "It's weird, innit? Fred and George were talking about nicking them, just to see what she'd do."
"Oh, they really shouldn't. She clearly needs them. I've never seen her without them." Hermione then turned to stare at Harry, curious as ever, but too polite to outright ask. Harry only shrugged, though. He didn't know anything more than anyone else.
"She's just strange, is all. Not at all what I imagined she'd be like." Harry shrugged again, hunkering down under his friend's disapproving 'humph'. He supposed it shouldn't be surprising, Hermione's defensiveness over the girl. She knew, better than him or Ron, how difficult it was coming into this world later than everyone else.
Hermione chewed on her lip once more, stare returning to the girl. Harry hoped he wouldn't have to hear any more about October O'Kane and how hard her life was. She wasn't checking on him, was she? She just sat there, watching along with all the other Slytherins while Draco Malfoy mocked him.
She wasn't his responsibility.
At that thought, the letter sitting crumbled at the bottom of his bag came to mind like a swift kick in the shin. According to Jo, it actually was his responsibility.
'I'm not all that fussed by her sorting, kid, and you shouldn't be either. She's family. That means more than the color of your tie. Keep an eye on her, yeah? I'm sure this is all very different for her. She'd probably appreciate a friend. And, please, for the love of Merlin, ask her to write, won't you? The waiting is driving me mad.'
He stared at the lake for a few minutes, barely listening as Hermione told them about how interesting her lesson in Muggle Studies had been. Ron, face scrunched in confusion, pointed out that Muggle Studies had been at the same time as Divination. As the two continued their newest passion of nitpicking over Hermione's too full schedule, Harry heaved a sigh and pushed himself off of the grass.
"I'll be right back."
He didn't meet Hermione's curious eyes or Ron's puzzled frown, but quickly began the trek to the far end of the lake. He kicked his feet the whole way, tufts of dirt and grass flying ahead of him. Quiet laughter flew on the wind, voices pitching high and low as the girls continued their chatting. October, still staring across the lake, said something to quiet for Harry to catch, but it had the other girls giggling on some more. Zoe Acerington, a brunette and rather pretty girl, noticed Harry's approach first. Surprise caught her laughter, and all the other girls turned to find out why- all except the only girl he'd come to talk to.
Harry kicked his foot one last time, coming to stand a few feet away with his shoulders hiking just a touch higher. They didn't look at him quite as nastily as Malfoy and his lot would, but their confused frowns were clear enough. Just what was he doing here?
"Ehm, sorry. I just wanted to talk to To- I mean, October."
Their heads turned as one, questioning frowns bestowed upon their new dorm mate. October's head snapped towards him, aviators staring up at him with a confused frown. Like meerkats, they followed her lead- all eyes and sunglasses staring expectantly up at Harry. His cheeks burned, eyes rolling to stare instead at the sky. He heard them whispering to her, hissing his name like vipers.
"Nah, s'fine. He's alrigh'." She drew her words out, accent unabashedly loud and clear over their hissing. "Come on, then. Wanna stretch mah legs, anyways."
Harry watched her, hands stuffed into his pockets as she reassured the others that: "He's fine", "Nah, you guys stay, I'll be alrigh' ", "I'll see yeh at dinner, yeah? Nah, you don't hav'ta wait,". As if he was some terrible beast. The four girls stared after them, frowning in concern as October tugged him along by his elbow.
"Ignore 'em, they're sweet. Don't have to wonder what having a mum is like, anymore. Just a bunch of worrisome mother hens in the making, they are." She laughed at her own joke, swinging her ratty old bag over her shoulder. Harry scowled, shrugging her hand from his arm and quickly putting two steps between them.
"Is that supposed to be funny?"
"Bit, yeah. Guess ya don't get it, hey?"
"Guess not," Harry said dryly, bringing their walk to a quick stop. "Speaking of mothers, your Mother- you remember Josephine, right?- she'd really appreciate it if you could take a moment from your gossiping to write her. If you really want to know what having a Mum is like, that is."
"Yeah, alrigh'- I deserve that." October's face dropped, frown sliding back in place. She crossed her arms, causing the silver trim of her tie to sparkle in the sunlight. "I'll write her soon as I get in-"
"Brilliant. That's all I had to say." Harry offered her a stiff nod, turning on his heels to march back to Hermione and Ron. The two were watching him, bodies turned completely around just to see them better. "See you."
"But Harry- Harry, wait!" Her hand caught his shoulder, fingers ghosting over his robe without any real pressure. "Please."
He had half a mind to keep walking. To keep walking and pretend he didn't even know October O'Kane. Just like everyone else in this school.
But all he could think of was Jo. He could just picture her pacing every floor of the house in a worried haze. He saw her face, exhausted and crumpled. He remembered the longing in her voice and the excitement in her step when they met this strange girl.
Harry stopped, staring at his friends as they watched the drama unfold. He sighed, thinking Hermione should be bloody happy with him, before turning back around. Toby dropped her arm, sunglasses doing nothing to hide the panic melting from her face. He could do this- just like Jo had done for him. He could do this for her.
"I don'- I've never written a letter before, yeah? And you know her better than me. Would you…y'know," she shrugged, feet shifting about awkwardly. "Will you help me?"
"Stop making such a fuss. You're being fucking dramatic."
Sirius reared back at that, claws digging into the grass and mud when she pulled harshly on the lead. He couldn't help but bark at her, the yapping pitching higher as he told exactly how dramatic he could be.
"Oh hush." Delacroix mumbled, rolling her eyes as he put on quite the show. A muggle man chuckled at the pair, giving his own poodle a gentle tug when she paused to stare at the great black hound curiously. "Are you done or have you more to say?"
Sirius grumbled some more, ears flat and eyebrows furrowed as low as they could go, but he relented. He trotted along beside her, mood properly soured, as they continued through the park. Delacroix only shook her head, huffing when he stopped to sniff his hundredth tree. He glared at her. If she would stop staring at him, it wouldn't take so long. Even dogs deserved the decency of pissing in private.
Finally, Delacroix had had enough of his territory marking, and she led them out of the park. Sirius took the lead, ears perked and head high, as they walked down the muggle roads. Delacroix always let him lead, content to follow at her leisurely pace as he weaved all over the pavement. This was his favorite part of their walks. He could stop and go whenever he wanted, poke his head in windows and alleys, and, every now and then, accept a stranger's pat on his head. Children were his favorite- hugging onto his head and neck- and so very happy. He liked making them happy. Even if some enjoyed tugging on his ears.
He eyed a young boy, just a little tot hanging onto his mother's hand with a thumb in his mouth. The boy stared at him, a tiny smile curling around his thumb. Sirius turned for him, head dropping down and tail wagging slowly. However, he choked when Delacroix yanked him back. He spun around, incredulous, but she wasn't looking at him. Her eyes were on her watch, the other arm still yanking him the other way.
"Come on, Shadowfoot. This way," she mumbled, glancing at him when he refused to move. "We're not going home, yet." Sirius glanced back, but the boy was gone. His ears fell, skulking along as Delacroix lead them the opposite direction.
They walked for a long while, Delacroix leading them at a brutal pace down alleys and roads he'd never been on before. She suddenly slowed, lifting a hand to wave in hello. Sirius perked at that, peeking around her curiously. A group of people stood in a huddle, all of them chattering excitedly as they slowly made their way inside of a drab building. Delacroix joined the tail of them, smiling lightly as she explained Shadowfoot's presence.
"He likes to run off. As in, all the way to London. He just doesn't stop." She shrugged at the explanation, reaching down to pat him on the head. "But my boy loves him, so I just keep him with me while he's away at Hogwarts."
Sirius stiffened at that. She had said Hogwarts. He stared at the people- no, witches and wizards- warily tucking himself behind Delacroix's legs. They paid him little mind as they filed into the tiny room. Delacroix had to give the lead a yank, and Sirius stumbled after her, his legs terribly stiff as she found a seat in the circle of chairs. Just where had she brought him?
"Go on, get settled in." Delacroix mumbled, reaching down to place a bowl of water on the floor. Sirius shuffled forward, elbows still unsure about bending. He glanced around, but all of the faces were strangers to him. They were too absorbed in conversation, except for the few who were sullenly staring at the floor. "Shadowfoot, lie down."
He couldn't stop the whine. She didn't understand. How was he supposed to just lie down in a room full of wizards?
Delacroix only sighed, reaching back to run a hand over his flattened ears. She didn't tell him to lie down again, attention shifting to a young man trying to catch her ear. So Sirius stood, muscles terribly stiff and eyes peeled wide for any sudden movements.
"How's your boy handling Hogwarts? My niece is terrified of those damned dementors."
"Not great." Delacroix sighed, voice dropping as she leaned closer to the man. "They entered his compartment on the train. I've already written Dumbledore, but it seems his hands are tied. Following orders from the top, so he said. Regardless, there's absolutely no reason for dementors to have access to the children!"
"Horrible, innit? I heard it was the Minister's doing, those dementors at Hogwarts." The man frowned severely and shook his head. "If that's how much he values the children, I'd wager people won't put up with those antics."
"And how long did it take for him to tell us about Black's escape? Even longer for the Muggles to be informed." A woman to Sirius' left, two chairs down, chimed in. She tutted in disapproval, pulling that morning's Daily Prophet from her tiny handbag. "And just look at this rubbish! He expects us to believe he has it all under control. You mark my words, Sirius Black isn't heading to Hogwarts. He's left the bloody continent, and they're not getting him back."
"Suppose he does head for Hogwarts. He's already escaped the dementors once- who's to say he won't do it again?" Delacroix asked. She looked between the two, a worried crease wrinkled between her eyebrows. "The Minister should have properly tried him, found out exactly what he had been up to with the Death Eaters. We don't know a damn thing about what he wants or thinks."
"He's barking mad! You've seen the pictures. No sane mind can guess what he'll do or where he'll go."
"Good thing we aren't sane, then." The woman two chair's down giggled, earning herself halfhearted smiles from Delacroix and the man. "I'm telling you- in fact, I bet you…" She reached into her handbag, arm going elbow deep, and counted out the coins for all to see, "..five sickles, he's left the continent."
No one took her up on the offer. The door had opened and shut causing all heads to turn and focus on the sudden commotion. Two men stood there quietly talking. The older of the two gave the other a gentle push, leading him towards the circle of witches and wizards. Delacroix seemed especially interested, spinning her body all the way around to greet them. Sirius turned as well, keeping himself close to Delacroix's shoulder.
"Good evening, everyone! I hope you all have had a wonderful week since our last meeting." Ted Tonks greeted the circle, friendly smile bright and warm as Sirius remembered. He walked around the outside of the chairs, stopping to give personal hellos and a pat on the shoulder to those he passed. The other man, who had stopped just behind Delacroix, shuffled around, clearly unsure as to what he should do.
"You can sit here." Delacroix whispered, pointing to the empty chair beside Sirius. She smiled at him, looping a finger through Sirius' collar when the man glanced at him. "Don't mind him, he doesn't feel like lying down just yet."
He only nodded, coming around the other side of the chair with another uncertain glance at Sirius. Sirius watched him back, the fur on his neck rising the longer the man stared. There was a scent to him, muddy and ashy. Fleshy and charred. His ears fell back, spine tingling unpleasantly the longer he stared into those flat blue eyes.
"I'm Josephine." Delacroix held out a hand, still smiling lightly. The man looked at her hand with that same uncertainty. Slowly, he reached out and took a hold of it. Sirius felt his lip lift, a silent snarl that he didn't understand. However, canine instincts hadn't failed him yet, so he finally sat, putting himself neatly between the two as they awkwardly shook hands over his head.
"I'm…Michael."
Sirius felt his eyes droop. I'm…Michael- yes, of course, that's certainly your name.
He glanced up at Delacroix. Her smile was gone, expression just a touch confused as 'Michael' released her hand quickly. Sirius felt his fur settle, glad to see his misgivings shared.
"I'm sorry, you just look familiar," Delacroix muttered, pulling her hand back slowly. Michael only shrugged, reaching up to scratch at the scruff on his chin.
"Sorry, I can't say the same. Maybe you've been in my pub?"
Delacroix frowned, looking around the room slowly. "Doubtful."
"...Ah…right."
Delacroix snorted, relaxing back into her chair with an amused curl to her lips. Sirius didn't understand the joke, but clearly 'Michael' did. He looked incredibly awkward, opening his mouth and then shutting it, before finally settling on staring at his hands. Behind them, the door opened and shut once more, a young woman shuffling into the room with a huffing "Sorry I'm late!".
"Right, now that everyone's here, why don't we get started?" Ted finally sat, the clear leader of this strange circle of witches and wizards sitting on cheap muggle chairs. "Let's have a go around the room and introduce ourselves. We have a couple new faces here, tonight. " There was some mumbling, most of it agreeable, as they all shifted around to get comfortable in their fold-out chairs. "Wonderful, and remember, no one is required to speak. Even if you only listen, that's more than enough."
Jo sighed, stretching her arms above her head. A series of cracks echoed down her spine. Ted's shoulders spasmed at the sound of it.
"Must you?" He pleaded with her, disgust barely hidden in his groan. "I abhor the sound."
"Sorry, Ted. I'm stiff as a broom after meetings, these chairs do us no favors." She smiled, only a bit apologetic as she rolled her head around to crack her neck. He groaned again, covering his ears with a glare. "I'm done, I'm done."
He continued to glare, warily uncovering his ears. She huffed a little laugh, offering a to-go of tea as an apology. He took it with a smile, amusement tucked into the corner of it. Then they took a sip of their respective drinks, watching as the final few finally walked out the door.
"It was a good turn out, tonight." Ted said, smiling proudly as the chairs stacked themselves against the walls. "A few faces I haven't seen for some time, tonight. I was so happy to see them."
Jo hummed in agreement as she let Shadowfoot off of his lead. He set off quickly to finally explore the room, sniffing his way from one end to the other with great attention. She knew Ted was referring to her. It had been well over a month since she had last attended, after all. She'd kept in touch, though, letters and floo calls keeping Ted from breaking down her door in a panic.
"What did you think of Michael?"
"Haven't a thought at all, honestly." She shrugged at his quick glance. She didn't have an opinion, really. He barely spoke to her, after all. Just enough to put his foot in it, she thought with an amused huff.
"Ah." Ted frowned, barely sipping his tea.
"Why?" Shadowfoot circled the two, Jo watching as he stuck his nose up on the biscuit table.
"I was hoping you might sponsor him."
Jo turned, mouth already open to tell him 'absolutely not'…but, she stopped. The 'ah' hung in the air as she looked at him. He looked bloody exhausted. Dark circles sunk under red eyelids. Wrinkles she'd never noticed before stood out under the muggle fluorescent lights. Even his cheeks, hidden beneath an unusual amount of stubble, seemed gaunt.
"Ted…is everything alright?" Jo reached out a hand, gingerly touching his shoulder. He smiled at the gesture, a wan thing that barely even constituted as a smile.
"Ah, do I look so ghastly?" His smile brightened with his joke, but it quickly dimmed as he turned his eyes away from her. "Been staying with my Mum these past weeks. Her neighbors are having their roof done, bright and early every morning. And the neighbors to the other side are young and wiley. Course, Mum's nearly deaf, so the noise doesn't bother her much. My ears, however, are just good enough for me to be kept awake all hours of the night and then with the banging come morning. Can't say I've gotten more than two hours of sleep a night. I even tried silencing the room, but I never could get it to stick long- it just wears away after an hour."
Jo chuckled at that, but worry for the exhausted man pinched her heart. "Whatever are you staying there for? Is your Mum alright?"
"Oh, she's right as rain. Can't keep that woman down, sharp as steel, she is." Ted tipped his cup, a silent cheer to his mum, before taking a sip. "Truth is…." He paused, rolling the cup between his hands and eyes blinking rather fast. "Well, Andy and I have had a disagreement over something…not insignificant, but something that shouldn't concern us. She proposed a bit of separation."
"Oh, Ted," Jo sighed. This wasn't her business- not really. She regretted even asking, now. "I'm sorry."
"S'alright. Every marriage has a down or two, Josephine. We'll work it out, of course." His words had a hitch to them, that of a heavy tongue fighting against wet eyes. Jo didn't look, eyes trained on Shadowfoot as he snuffled back across the floor. "However…due to my circumstances, I was hoping you would help with Michael. I think he would do well with you. Very similar stories, the two of you."
"Is that so?" Her lips thinned, arms crossing over her chest as she narrowed her eyes at nothing in particular. Shadowfoot stopped before her, head tilting and ears flopping with it as he stared up at her curiously. "Bless him."
Ted gifted her with a smile, a wry, crooked thing that made her sigh. He huffed a laugh that sounded more like a hiccough before patting her on the shoulder.
"You'll do fine, Josephine. I believe in you."
"Right." She cleared her throat, fighting off the smile he was working so hard to get. "Tell me what to do."
'Josephine,
That hat put me in Slytherin. I've started lessons and have been doing my homework. My roommates are nice. The castle is really big. The grounds are nice, but everyone told me to stay away from the forest. Don't know why, I can tell there are lots of animals in there. The food is alright, better than what I usually had. I liked the food at that Inn better.
Sincerely,
Toby '
"Blimey…"
Harry rubbed at his forehead, sharing a look with Ron, the both of them fighting off exasperated groans.
"That's all you've got to say after a month? My Mum would-" Ron stopped, shaking his head with wide eyes. "You've gotta do better than that! My mum would've sent a howler by now, if I hadn't written yet. 'Specially if that's all I wrote."
Toby frowned at them, eyebrows knitting until they were hidden behind her aviators. She snatched the letter back, reading over it before sighing.
"I don' know what else t'write. Thought I'd put in everything she'd be curious about, right? My house, my studies. Look, I even wrote 'bout my roommates and the food. That's everything." She shrugged, confused by the dismay on the boys faces. "Well, what the hell else can I write about? Tha's all tha's happening!"
Harry and Ron leaned in, trying, once again, to explain how mums tended to worry, and you simply had to write more than that. Mums liked it when you told them how you were feeling. Mums wanted to know if your roommates were slobs or bullies. Mums even like it if you tell them about falling down the stairs in front of everyone.
"Tell her about the things you like!"
"Your favorite class."
"Your least favorite class-"
"But make sure you tell her you're trying really hard in it, even though it's horrible."
Harry nodded sharply at that. Ron really had the best advice when it came to these things. He'd been carefully avoiding Molly Weasley's wrath and concern through letters for two years now.
"Jo's not too pesky, though. You can keep it simple, like the one you've written, but you still need to add a bit more. She's worried sick." Harry added that last bit quietly, watching her face carefully. He really couldn't tell what she was thinking. She always had the same expression. That confused frown rarely lifted, even as she listened intently to all of their instructions and explanations. He saw, now, just what Hermione had meant.
"Is she?" Toby mumbled, still confused and frowning, but he could see the way her eyebrows softened. She played with the letter, flipping the edges in and out. "She wrote me…but I haven't opened it yet. I was scared she migh' be mad a'me. For not writing first."
"Nah," Harry said easily, leaning back into the chair. "Just worried. She's impatient, though, so you should write her soon. Else, she might show up here. She's awfully good at getting in."
"Bloody scary when she does, let me tell you. Half the school's scared of her after last year." Ron added, eyes drifting to where Ginny sat with her fellow second year friends as they scribbled out essays together. Toby cocked an eyebrow at that, turning to find what he was looking at. Harry elbowed him, frowning in disbelief. They had agreed not to bring up the Chamber. "Erm…I mean-"
"Is that wha' my roommates were talking 'bout? The Chamber story?" Toby turned back, confused frown finally gone. Her lips hooked up at the side, snorting lightly when both boys only blanched. "Had lots to say 'bout that, they did. Said Professor Snape is still trying to get Josephine to pay for damages to some broken floor. Thought they were just, ah, taking the 'mickey'."
"Well, you see…." Ron trailed off, unsure just what to say.
"It wasn't really…." Harry ran out of words, stuttering as he tried to think of a proper explanation. "She had to-"
"Please, you two are mucking this all up. It all started on Halloween, you see," Hermione captured their attention, receiving three bewildered looks as she began the incredible story of the Chamber of Secrets. Toby leaned into the table, eyebrows hiked high as Hermione talked, not a detail forgotten- even the parts she had been petrified for.
"Bloody hell, when did she get here?" Ron whispered, he and Harry leaning their heads together. "She wasn't there a moment ago!"
"Must've snuck in." Harry whispered back, shrugging in response to Ron's incredulous stare.
"Been doing that a lot, hasn't she?" Ron shook his head, hand lifting to float protectively over his breast pocket. Scabbers wasn't in there, though. The rat had been left in the dormitory, Neville having offered Trevor's terrarium to keep him safe from Crookshanks. Harry rolled his eyes at the reflex. It wasn't as if Hermione would hurt the rat.
The two stopped whispering, instead listening as Hermione came to the end. The tale wrapped itself up neatly, Harry having killed the Basilisk, and Madam Pomfrey along with Professor Sprout revitalizing all of the petrified students. Toby's frown had returned, a hum leaving her as she leaned back into her chair. The aviators turned from Hermione to Harry, that frown considering the scrawny armed boy and his grand deed.
"You killed a fuckin' basilisk. With a sword." Then she smirked, jagged tooth on display as she barked an incredulous laugh. "That's respectable, that is."
"Ehm, thanks." Harry felt his cheeks heat. He reached up, ruffling his hair as his eyes drifted past Toby to Ginny. Oblivious to the story telling- really, it was her story, not his- she giggled to the girls next to her. Madison Schott and another blonde Ravenclaw smiled with her, their heads leaned in as they whispered together. "It was only because of Jo, really. If she hadn't shown up when she did, I'd probably be dead."
Toby huffed another laugh, shaking her head at him with a smile. He avoided her eyes- well, sunglasses- staring at his hands as they played with spare parchment. She showed him mercy, taking the parchment from his hands. She straightened it against the table, picking up the quill and settling in to write.
"Righ', let's try this again, yeah?"
"Yeah," Harry mumbled, staring at the tiny smile that had settled onto her face. It was just a tiny thing, that smile, and he'd bet his last sickle that her eyes were crinkled at the edges. His stomach uncoiled, just a touch, at the sight of it. "Don't forget details, this time. Ask about her, too-it's the polite thing to do."
"Righ'."
The first of October brought rain, sheets upon sheets of rain that never seemed to end. The residents of Surrey settled in for a quiet day, reading and napping the favored past times under the grey skies and heavy clouds. Even Poppy found her ears drooping, eyes growing heavier and heavier the longer she watched the rain pelt the window. Josephine yawned beside her, the two of them sat quietly in the muggle house. Shadowfoot whined from his hidey hole beneath the table, ears dropping back when thunder clapped across the sky.
Important guests were expected to arrive. Jo and Poppy, drowsy and droopy eared as they may be, anxiously fiddled their thumbs. They watched through the window for any sign of them- the letter announcing their arrival would be through the Sanitatum Drive entrance, not the floo. Jo wagered the tardiness was due to the unexpected turn of weather. Merlin knew, apparating into a thunderstorm was never a pleasant experience.
Their soon-to-be guests, while not explicitly unwelcome, did not warrant any form of excitement. Jo, in particular, felt deeply unsettled by it. Sirius Black had been escaped and on the run for nearly four months. Harry was off to Hogwarts now and wouldn't be returning until the Christmas holiday. Why now?
It was all so odd.
Thunder rolled across the skies once more. Beneath the rumbling and rolling, a much smaller crack sounded in the front garden. Three cloaked bodies huddled together, shuffling awkwardly beneath a quickly produced umbrella charm. Perhaps the rain was fortunate, shielding the three from any clear view by muggles.
"It be them, Mistress."
"That it is." Jo sighed, watching as the three tripped over one another as they stumbled up the pavement stones. "Let's get to it, then."
Poppy and Jo rose from their seats, Shadowfoot contenting himself with remaining hidden beneath the small table. The elf opened the door, ushering in the three Ministry Officials with a curtsy. A familiar and welcome head of quickly turning blue to pink was the first through the door, Nymphadora Tonks smiled brightly as she gratefully handed over her soaked robe. A stout man stepped through behind her, brown hair absolutely dripping as he cast a scrutinizing glance over the elf and witch. And finally, bringing up the rear, false eye spinning round and round with a miserable scowl, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody- previous head of the Aurors.
"Wotcher, Jo! I've never been in this part of the house before- are muggle houses supposed to be this big?" Tonks stopped short, causing the auror behind her to stumble into her back. "Careful, Dawlish- jolly good use of an expansion charm, eh?"
"A bit," Jo conceded, wry smile tucking its way into the corner of her mouth. "The second floor was removed, so it left plenty of space to decorate instead of leaving a hole between the houses."
Tonks nodded along, staring up at the arching entryway with fading interest. She was too old, now, to be captivated by magic. Alastor grunted loudly, clunking his way around the younger aurors with a particularly stubborn scowl.
"Are the pleasantries finished, then? Good. Delacroix-" Jo startled. The way he barked her name had it echoing across that arching wood. "When was the last time you had contact with Sirius Black?"
And it took her a moment. The words didn't even make sense- when had she last had contact with Sirius Black? Jo almost laughed, but, her stomach soured, twisting as that night played in head like a bad dream.
"The last time I spoke to Black was the night before the Potters were murdered. He left that night, and I didn't see him again- until the papers."" Her upper lip curled, disgust coating her tongue as their last memory rewound and played again.
'Sirius-'
Rewind. Play.
'Sirius, I-'
'Don't say it, Josey.'
She was going to be sick.
"Let's get to it, then. Dawlish, Tonks- you two search the house. If my memory serves, there are many places to hide in the Delacroix household." Alastor let his false eye wind and roll, following the two as Poppy led them up the stairs. His remaining eye stayed with Jo, narrow and suspicious as ever. "Remember, Con-"
"Constant vigilance!" Tonks shouted back down the stairs, disappearing from view as they crossed the threshold. Alastor scowled, shaking that scarred head with a growl.
His good eye never left Jo, not for a second. She swallowed, fingers drumming against her arm as they stood there. Staring.
"Delacroix- sit down."
He didn't wait for her to listen, hobbling his way around to fall into the chair Harry usually sat in. The flask at his hip was unstoppered, a quick slug and smacked lips as that magical eye zoomed about. Jo swallowed again, mind darkly wondering just what he had in there.
Slowly, she followed. She sat, back incredibly stiff as Alastor watched as she watched him slip the flask back to his hip. He blessedly hid it under his coat.
"Bad business, all this," He grumbled, scratching at his stub of a nose. "Thought I'd seen the last of dark wizard hunting. Told the Minister, just this morning, that retirement means sitting in me garden, not babysitting junior aurors."
"I had heard you'd stepped down from being head of the department. You're really retired?" Jo stared into his good eye, unable to keep up with the spinning of the false one.
"Aye." He stretched out the fake leg, settling his shoulder against the wall. "But… then Black went and escaped. After so many weeks of cold trails, the Minister called in a favor. I thought it mighty suspicious they hadn't sniffed round these parts. Although," both eyes watched her, a dark curiosity just brimming under the surface. "Could be none of them knew any better, eh? None of 'em saw the way you two got on."
She didn't quite know what to say to that. The accusation was plain. It just didn't particularly make sense.
"So…I'm a suspect? Because we were friendly." Jo crossed her arms, leaning her elbows onto the table to bring them level. "Doesn't that make you a suspect, too? You were his mentor."
"That's right- you're asking the right questions, lass." The flask was back. He unscrewed it slowly, a strange smile lifting the scars and missing chunk of nose. "But where's the evidence against me?"
"Where's the evidence against me?" Jo countered, eyes flicking between his and the flask.
That smile curled just a touch, breaking for another swig of that damned flask. He responded by reaching into his breast pocket. He drew out three yellowed and opened letters, the yellow wax seal nearly crumbled away. He smacked them onto the table, beefy finger stabbing into them with two hard taps. "The only correspondence Black received in twelve years. Only one writer."
"Those are-" Jo started, heart picking up pace with a hollow ache.
"Your letters, Delacroix. Aye. Happen to remember what you wrote?" He only gave her a moment before picking up the first letter, yet his eye remained on her. He spoke slow, not a hint of emotion as he recited words she had cried over. " 'I don't believe it. You've had to have been framed- imperiused- something. You wouldn't have done this, Sirius.…'. Ringing any bells? This one came next... 'He said you did it. He said you confessed, but I don't believe him. I told him I'm going to speak to the Minister. They have to give you a trial, regardless. I promise, I'll get you out of there'."
Alastor paused, letting the letter fall back to the table. He considered her, lips wrapping around the flask as he drank deeply. Jo only frowned, jaw clenching tightly under the scrutiny.
"It's a pity, don't you think? High level inmates are not permitted correspondence with the public. All of these rambling letters, do you think he would have appreciated it?" Jo sighed, feeling little relief at the revelation. She had hoped, once the truth had finally found purchase in her mind, that Sirius would never write back. That he would never know of how embarrassingly fragile she had been.
At least, it was only the aurors who had laughed at her.
Alastor cleared his throat as he picked up the final letter. " 'You didn't do this. You couldn't have. Please, tell me you didn't…-'. Tell me, Delacroix, do you remember writing these?"
"Yes." She had to push the word through a stiff jaw. "Though I'd rather not."
"Why?" He leaned forward, frog-like in the way he stared up at her, the unassuming little fly drifting too close to his lily pad. He didn't even blink, good eye narrowing when she instead picked up that last letter. "Are you still under the presumption that Black is an 'innocent man'?"
She didn't read it, not really. The scribbled words blurred together, but she recognized them very well. The penmanship of a fledgling adult, panicked and still unrefined. She couldn't remember all the words she had written. She didn't particularly want to. The sight of them was enough of a reminder of how utterly foolish she had been.
"Because I was a naive little girl, pretending I understood good and evil- that I was so clever to be the only one who knew he couldn't had done it." Jo offered a tiny smile, just a quirk of her lips as she set the letter back with the others. Those foolish little words facing the table. "But I learned my lesson, ey? That was my last letter. After that, I didn't spare Sirius fucking Black or his innocence another thought. Least, I hadn't, until he escaped." Jo shrugged then, unable to come up with any more words for the suspicious old man. "That's all I've got for you, Alastor."
He stared at her for a long moment, that manically scrutinizing stare finally drifting away. She met the stare, as well as she could- chin strong and frowning lightly, just like her Mother had taught her.
"Aye." He finally nodded, leaning back and letting that magical eye spin. "I figured as much." He sighed, closing his good eye for a long moment. An exhausted frown fell into place. It pulled at his many scars, sagging his face into a grumpy old bulldog. "I'm tying up all the loose ends, y'see. Everyone left from back then, the ones who were close with him. Of course, you and Lupin were at the top of the list- still have to chat with that one. Seeing as the boy lives with you, made sense to mark this visit as top priority."
Jo didn't respond, only nodded to herself- one way or another, he probably saw it. Her arms finally unfolded, back curling to lean into the chair with a sigh. Shadowfoot caught her eye, ears perked especially high. Those grey eyes looked incredibly sad, just big and dopey, begging for attention under all the stress in the room. Jo opened a hand, a passive invitation for the mutt. A warm snout fell into it, big sad eyes simply staring at her.
"He's a big one. Timid, though. Not nearly as big as that monster you've got up there." Alastor gave her a pointed look, magic eye nearly in his skull as it faced the ceiling. If he had been any other man, seeing an expression like that would have undone her. "Better have papers on that one. Dawlish will have a report on the desk of that damned Creature Department before the end of the day."
And right on cue, a shout of 'Bloody hell!' echoed from far above their heads.
"Right." Her mouth had gone terribly dry. She needed a drink. Of course, coffee would do as fine as job as ever. "Care for a cup?"
Alastor only stared, good eye narrowed when Poppy appeared. The elf placed the good coffee set between them, disappearing with a tiny curtsy. Jo poured herself a cup and left the pot for Alastor to deliberate over. She leaned back, turning the chair halfway around to watch as rain pelted the window. It really was miserable outside.
"I've said it once before, but Poppy really is entirely incapable of poisoning someone. You could even make the dog try it, if you want." He grunted, the table shifting with him as he righted himself. "Can I ask you something- something that I wondered about a lot?"
Alastor grumbled to himself, the table bumping her elbow once more. "If you must."
Jo smiled at that. He sounded terribly pained by the prospect of conversation. It was a silly little smile that saddened and shrunk into a thin line. She couldn't think of a better person to ask, though.
"Why…how didn't we see it? There was talk, even at the meetings- 'Who could the spy be!'." She turned a bit, just enough to look at the old war leader. He always had an answer back then, always had a good bit of wisdom to stick into your head once he was done beating your ears with all that barking and hollering. "How did we never see it?"
Alastor didn't answer. He looked into his coffee cup, filled to the brim and nearly splashing over, as if he were seriously considering testing it for poison. The good eye flashed up, caught her eye, then dropped back down. He heaved a damn good sigh, sitting up straight as he could and meeting her eye once more.
"You'll drive yourself spare asking those questions, Lass. Look at me- you think I put that many dark wizards away without going a bit mad? You'll never find the right answer, no matter who you ask. Best to let them lay." He huffed a bit, magical eye still rolling to-and-fro.
"However, if you want to know my thoughts on the matter, it's because Black was the friend all of you wanted. Him and Potter, the brave and true Gryffindors running head first into every battle. You all flocked to them for just a taste of such glory, and to those of you that actually considered him a friend, he was a loyal and good man. Betrayal isn't something those types do, now is it? War only bands friends tighter together- brotherhood and all that rot. We're blinded by the us and the them…least, til it's too late."
Jo listened, considering the picture he painted over the life she had lived. Eyes drifting back to the rain, she found her mind peeking behind the canvas, looking for the reality she knew. Had that really been all it was- just blind admiration? Admiration for what? The Sirius she had known, the man she had seen, hadn't earned her admiration-her friendship- for heroic brashness. The man she had seen didn't have the fire Alastor seemed to think.
"Don't do that to yourself."
Jo blinked, frowning back at that scarred face so full of ghosts.
"Don't think about the man he convinced you to see. It's much more difficult to take out a friend than a stranger."
Jo only nodded and turned away, unable to look at that face so full of regrets. He sighed loudly, the fleeting pity in his voice blown away with impatience. The table wobbled and budged, his empty cup tittering about on the saucer. His false leg thunked across the floor as he shouted for the aurors to hurry the hell up.
A wet nose nudged her hand. She gave the mutt a pat, her head falling into her other hand as she stared at those damn letters. The thought that Alastor Moody was in fact a cruel man, crueler than he even intended to be, whispered across her mind. Jo only snorted, lips curling to one side as she swished her wand, sending the letters flying into the bin without another thought.
Grey eyes flicked to the hidden pages, ears dropping back even as that hand returned to patting his head so gently.
"Such a fucking cunt." Jo whispered, fingers rubbing at her forehead where a headache had taken root. Then, she stood, tracing Alastor's steps to find the wayward aurors. Fluffy was surely harassing them.
Shadowfoot watched her go, still tucked away under the table with those sad dopey eyes on the little tan bin.
Sirius huffed.
He tilted his head left. He tilted his head right.
He huffed.
His claws scrabbled against the floor, back straightening and head craned as far back as it could go. He peered down his snout, eyes going wide before squinting nearly shut.
Then, he huffed. Again.
There was a gust of wind, a great 'whuff' accompanying it as it tore through his fur. Sirius blinked, staring at the giant head that had wedged itself into the study doorway. Fluffy's right head stared at him, tongue lolling and dribbling onto the rug. He heard a great thump, then another, as Flufffy slowly wagged that monstrous tail. Sirius grumbled quietly. Fluffy understood quickly and the thumping stopped. However, the faint sound of fur brushing stone meant he hadn't been able to completely still the wagging.
Sirius only rolled his eyes before returning to the task at paw. Three yellowed pages, torn lightly at the edges, laid before him on the floor. He had snatched them, the curiosity too great at just what Josephine had written him.
So far, it had been a useless gesture, seeing as he couldn't quite read the damned tiny writing. Dog eyes weren't much good for it. He'd been weighing the option of shifting back, just for a moment. The paranoia of being caught had kept him from it…so far. However, after nearly three nights, the frustration was starting to stamp out caution. Were twelve year old letters really worth the possibility of being caught?
Perhaps.
Sitting back on his haunches, he lifted his snout and inhaled deeply. The freshest scent- smokey and sweet- belonged to the hell hound in the hall. The stale and inky smell of many books nearly overpowered everything else. However, Delacroix and the house elf hadn't been on this floor for hours. Last he had checked, they were snuggled away for the night, snoring and muttering in their beds. Taffy, the depressed old girl, he knew was faithfully smack dab in the center of Harry's bed. He glanced at the cerberus, tongue still lolling all over the place.
It'll only take a moment. I'll turn back quicker than Delacroix can make it from the stairs to the room.
No. No, no, no. Her argued with himself, pacing around the letters on the floor. That damned elf could apparate in here without any warning.
I can change back into a dog. If I hide under the desk, she won't see me.
Except this damn house is nearly sentient. It could sound off, let them know there's an intruder in the house.
What about the muggle house? I could sneak down there, where the monster house can't see me.
But that would have him going past both Delacroix and the elf's room. And the doorway was another problem. Every exit made his fur stand on end, magic clearly at play. The elf would feel the disturbance, he was positive about that. She always appeared, every time Delacroix came home, no matter the doorway.
Sirius returned to circling the letters, puzzling and puzzling over the dilemma. He paused after only a moment, paw still in the air and eyes settled on one third of the cerberus. He tilted his head, Fluffy tried to mimic him but only wedged into the door frame tighter.
Tad dramatic, there, Old Boy.
Sirius rolled his eyes, but he had to agree. His paws led him back around the letters as he puzzled some more. The room offered very little help, only old tomes and parchment that he couldn't read. He turned to Delacroix's desk, instead. Perhaps a spyglass? His father always read the paper with a spyglass, whinging on about the too small print- among other things.
Gently, he picked up the letters between his teeth. He hopped up on her chair, paws scrabbling madly as it tried to spin, before dropping them on the desk. There, hidden beneath a letter, were Delacroix's spectacles. He considered them, thinking back on how horribly Delacroix had to squint without them. Once more, he very gently used his teeth, dragging the wire frames across the desk until they nearly teetered over the edge. Nudging them once- twice- three times, he had them snugly over his muzzle.
He had to blink, eyes focusing and blurring at the same time. Dog eyes really weren't much good for this.
But
'4 November 1981
Dear Sirius,
I know you didn't do this. You couldn't have. I don't believe it. You've had to have been framed- imperiused- something. You wouldn't have done this, Sirius. I'm going to speak with Dumbledore. He'll get Oswald on this, stat. I'm already making notes for him, but I doubt they'll let me on this one. I've got Remus coming today, to give me his witness statements. We'll have you out in no time, I promise. You won't be made out to be a Death Eater- I won't allow it!
Yours,
Josey'
' 7 November 1981
Sirius,
I spoke with Dumbledore. He said you did it. He said you confessed, but I don't believe him. I told him I'm going to speak to the Minister. They have to give you a trial, regardless. I promise, I'll get you out of there. They have to have a trial, and Oswald isn't out. He said he'll see you, go over the notes I've given him and start making your case.
It's scary out there. People are calling you a traitor, showing up at the Ministry and demanding you go to Azkaban. The papers have your picture on every front page, this horrible picture of you laughing at the scene. What happened? Why were you there?
It feels like no one will listen to me- even Remus. He's locked himself in his room, only coming out for-
I'm sorry, I don't want to write it. That makes it real. That makes all of this real, and I'm having a hard time facing it.
Keep safe, we'll have you out of there soon.
I promise.
Josey'
' 12 November 1981
You didn't do this. You couldn't have. Please, tell me you didn't.
You're all I have left. If you did this, then….
Then you caused all of this.
Please, Sirius, please- just tell me you didn't do it.
Please.'
