Before she could start, Remus gestured around the room and asked, "So does this mean you don't need us to teach you how to duel anymore?"
She shook her head quickly. The idea that they would stop teaching her as well made her throat seize up and her palms and underarms begin to sweat. "No, no, please can we still do our sessions? They're so important," she said honestly.
"They are?" Sirius asked quietly.
Bess nodded immediately and squeezed his hand in hers. "Honestly, if I survive for one minute outside this castle, it'll be because of you lot. Please keep teaching me? I'll buy you your body weight in Honeydukes?"
"Course we will, love," Sirius replied with a happy smile. "Though I don't know what we can teach you that Jasper can't..."
"Yeah? Well he said I would've died after ten minutes if our duel was real, and I made it those ten minutes because of you lot, so..." she said with a large, proud smile.
"Somehow that doesn't fill me with confidence! Why're you proud of that?" Lily asked, staring at Bess as though she were a crazed puppy.
"Because! Ten minutes isn't too bad! And I've still got a few months left. It's a good place to start!" Bess said excitedly.
"You're weird," James said, laughing. "Did he give you any homework? Anything we should focus on in our sessions?"
"No..." Bess said slowly, avoiding all eye contact.
"Love..." Sirius said, as he nudged her.
Bess screwed up her face and ducked her head. "I have to up my stamina..."
"Really? I think you've got great stamina," Sirius said, raising his eyebrow as he smirked.
Bess tried not to smile and bit her lip as she blushed.
"Ew! No! She means like run more or something, right, Bess?" Lily asked with a grimace. Bess nodded and tried to stop herself from giggling.
"Oh, well, I'm still happy to help whenever you need practice..." Sirius said with a wink and a half smile, and Bess gulped.
"I'm a bit disgusted, but as Quidditch Captain, I feel it's my job to tell you that you're welcome to join any of our drill practices," James added.
Bess shook her head to empty her mind, and sent James an appreciative smile. "Thank you."
Lily moved to Bess' side and put her arms around her waist as she said, "I think it's time to tell us about Dumbledore and Selket?"
Bess smiled and hugged Lily back as she nodded.
Bess managed to explain most of what had happened in the past few weeks in just fifteen minutes. She excluded a few details, like the fact that Lucas and Selket had committed a murder, but Sirius didn't say anything as she skipped over those facts - he just squeezed her thigh encouragingly.
Bess left the part about the Order meeting until last, and soon enough, they were all talking animatedly about the incredible opportunity they'd been given.
"Do you know who'll be there?" James asked with a grin, as they sat on tables which they'd shoved together, a small pile of sweets donated by Remus sitting in the middle of them.
"I know who's in the Order in a few years, but not sure on who'll be in this meeting," Bess said, registering Remus' look of surprise - even though she'd explained that she knew some of the future, he was still dumbfounded when she shared occasional tidbits. "Dumbledore, obviously," she said, ticking off her fingers as she said a new name, "maybe McGonagall, definitely Mad-Eye, Ja-"
"Who now?" James asked quickly.
"Mad-Eye Moody?"
"Do you mean Alastor Moody? The famous Auror?" Sirius asked, and when Bess nodded, he laughed and said, "you know he has two fully functioning and normal eyes, right?"
"Ah. Future nickname..." Bess said with a grimace and a shake of the head, "don't mention it to him... uh- Jasper, and probably Kingsley Shacklebolt... those are the only people I know are definitely in at the moment."
"Jasper's in it?" James asked quietly.
"Yeah. He joined when I joined Hogwarts," Bess said, reaching for a chocolate frog.
"Why?" James asked seriously, as he sent an odd look to Sirius.
"Wanted to keep me safe. That's... uh- that's one thing I haven't told you guys yet..." Bess replied, grimacing at her friends. The fact that Sirius knew everything grounded her and made it somewhat easier to say.
"What is it, Bess?" Lily asked, leaning forwards slightly.
Bess sighed. "The reason why Dumbledore wants me to be prepared to fight, and why he wants me to stay here for Easter is that... Delbert might be a Death Eater."
Bess wasn't the least bit surprised when Remus, James and Lily jumped up or started gesticulating wildly as they shouted over each other, trying to ask for more information, cursing in multiple languages, or just freaking out.
When they'd all calmed down a little, Bess explained, "Like I said before, he doesn't know I know about the future, but... it seems that he wants to get to me so he can send me back to my world and bring Daphne back here. If Voldemort had a true seer..."
Bess watched as everyone winced.
"And why can't we tell Peter about the Order meeting, at least?" Remus asked.
"Is he seventeen yet?" Bess asked with a frown.
"No, not until June," Remus replied, frowning.
"Then he can't join until June. It's a rule that you have to be overage," Bess said quickly, thinking about how in the books, Sirius thought that Harry should be allowed to join when he was fifteen.
She wasn't surprised when it was Sirius who said, "I understand not telling him everything. Like, I don't think he needs to know about Selket since that's your business and I get not wanting to put him in danger like that. But can't we bend the rules just once? For Peter? It's just a meeting..."
Bess pursed her lips. "It's not though. It's an intention to fight, and to do that, you have to be overage."
"What happens if we don't want to fight?" Lily asked quietly.
"Or what if they won't let us in?" asked Remus worriedly.
"Well, Lily, you and James will defy Voldemort himself at least three times. And Remus, you'll become one of the most important people in the Order, so I think you're both safe bravery and acceptance wise. Though if any of you don't fancy it, you don't have to go. You also have to think about yourselves in this. I don't want to push any of you into anything you don't want to do."
"Wait, so you know more about our futures?" Remus asked slowly. "I mean, I know you do, but- but... is there anything you can tell us?"
Bess' mouth opened and closed as she glanced between her friends, who were all staring at her eagerly. She shook her head quickly, "No. I'm so sorry, but you can't know anything. If that's the future, then-"
"I think you need to tell us," James said firmly. "I already know something, and we already know about Harry. I think we need to know as much as possible to be able to keep fighting."
"No. Look, I don't know the future anymore. I haven't had a vision in a few months-" Bess tried.
"Why?" Lily asked quietly. "Do you know why you haven't had a vision? Did Dumbledore mention that?"
"No he didn't. I don't know really. I- I guess it's because I haven't been pushing myself, and... I guess I've been too distracted? You know, with classes, and... everything. I think maybe I only get them when I'm prompted to remember something? Or... or I'm relaxed and happy," Bess answered slowly. "And that's hard for me to be here."
"You're not happy?" Sirius asked in a concerned and hurt tone.
Bess' eyes widened and she looked up sharply, staring into Sirius eyes as she said, "I have never been happier than when I'm with you. But here, surrounded by Death Eaters? Constantly looking over my shoulder? Being called a Mudblood behind my back? Having to rely on you to protect me from your own brother? It's like there's a constant anxiety cloud just following me around. You're like my umbrella, saving me every day. And Lily, and Remus, and James, but mainly you.
"At Christmas, when I had that vision, I was honestly the most relaxed and happy I've ever been. I think for me, pain and upset is so normal that I've learnt to push everything down and just feel numb. When I'm relaxed and happy, it's like I can't control my emotions or feelings, and the visions just seep in I think."
"So Summer's going to be hell?" Sirius asked with a small smile as he tucked her under his arm.
"Probably," Bess replied, thinking about how wonderful it would be to spend whole days and nights with Sirius and no distractions.
Sirius placed a finger under Bess' chin and tilted her head up so that he could place a gentle kiss on her lips.
"What's happening this summer?" Remus asked.
"Bess and I are moving in together," Sirius replied as he pulled back, grinning, as Lily squealed and James and Remus whooped. "You're all welcome to stay anytime."
"Have you told her yet?" James asked enthusiastically.
"Uh-" Sirius began.
"Told me what?" Bess asked slowly, tilting her head to the side.
"Uh- I may have bought myself a present..." Sirius said sheepishly as he ran a hand through his hair. "It's a bit stupid, thinking about it, and not really needed..."
"If it's not a motorcycle which you're intending to modify to fly and/or turn invisible, I might need to break up with you right now," Bess said as she poked Sirius on the chest, ignoring the dull ache which had begun at the base of her head.
James' booming laugh resonated around the room. "Of course! Of course you knew!"
"There aren't many things you can keep from me," Bess said, tapping her head.
"I think there are a few things you don't know..." Sirius said with a laugh.
"Wanna bet?" Bess asked in a teasing tone.
"No, I guess not," Sirius replied, the smile dropping from his face as he rubbed his thumb over the back of Bess' hand.
"Sorry," Bess said in a whisper, as Sirius pursed his lips, his gaze locked on to her hand.
He shook his head and muttered, "I just- sometimes I wish you'd share it all with us. Warts and all."
"I do too, but I can't-" Bess began.
"Yes you can," Lily said firmly. "Bess, I really think it's time. I know you don't want to influence us, but you already are. You already have. And it's time to tell us more," Lily added quietly.
"Bess, don't worry, you really don't-" Remus began.
"Yes, she really does. Bess, you need to tell us," Lily said quickly, cutting over Remus, and staring at Bess.
"It's not a question of if you want to know, or if I want to tell you, though. This really is life-changing information," Bess said quietly, staring at the desk.
"Exactly! We deserve to know it, don't we?" Lily implored, "I don't want to push you, but I am, and I will keep doing it until you tell us something. Please? I need to know more. The fact that you're so hell bent on not telling us anything? It makes me think we're all going to die-" Lily said quickly, her eyes filled with tears. When Bess didn't answer, she raised a hand to her mouth and said, "oh my god. Bess, do we die?"
Bess looked up at Lily, her eyes also filled with tears. "I can't-"
"I know I do," Sirius said quietly as he continued to gently rub the back of Bess' hand. "I don't know when, but I know I'm going to die young." Bess turned to face him as her mouth dropped open, and he whispered, "you talk in your sleep, love. I've known since Christmas."
"That's why you keep talking about us not having much time left together?" she whispered back as a tear fell down her cheek.
Sirius nodded. "You won't tell me how long I've got, and I keep thinking that maybe, if you're doing all of this... if you're changing things, then maybe I won't die? But if I do, will it be tomorrow? Will it be next week? Next year? I've got to make sure I live, and I live right before I go."
"Oh Sirius," Bess said, as she reached up to cup his jaw. "I'm so sorry, I thought I was protecting you."
"You were. But... there's also a reality that you're making, where I don't die. I've just got to hope we're doing this right, and you're giving us all the chance to live."
"I'm trying," Bess sobbed.
"I know, love, I know. I- I also know about James, and Lily... I know about them too. Honestly, if Voldemort wanted to find out who he should off next, he just needs to put you to sleep. It's all, 'please, not Sirius,' this or, 'not Harry!' that. Honestly love, if I didn't know who Harry was I'd think you were in love with him or something," he said with a sad smile, and Bess huffed out a laugh at his attempt to lighten the mood. "I think it's time you were straight with us. Just on the death bit. You can keep your secrets otherwise."
"But that's the bit I want to keep from you," Bess whispered.
"And that's the bit we all need to know. How're we meant to live with the fear that we're going to die tomorrow?" he asked as he rested his forehead against hers.
"Recklessly," she answered in a whisper.
Sirius smiled, but asked, "Please, love?"
"You're asking too much of me, Sirius," she replied.
"No, love, you're asking too much of us."
Bess took in a deep breath. She knew that he was right, and she knew that there was no getting around it. If he'd heard her in her sleep, who knew what other information he was keeping from her.
"I-"
"Please, love. I've never asked anything of you," Sirius whispered, as he reached up to rub his thumb along her jaw.
"That's not true. You asked me to love you, you asked me to move in with you..."
"I have a feeling you loved me long before we met, so I'm not sure that one really counts..." he replied, and leant in to place a kiss on her lips before he rubbed his nose against hers. When he pulled back, Bess saw his stoic mask slip for a moment, showing her his worry and vulnerability, before he schooled his features again, hiding away the true extent of his feelings.
She glanced at James, Lily and Remus, who were staring at her, and sighed as she realised she didn't want to put it off anymore. She didn't know if she could. "How do I do it?"
"Just rip the plaster off," Remus said, "it's easier just to say it as it is. Or, if it makes it any easier, tell us as if you're telling us about those books you read."
Bess nodded. He was right, it would be easier to just tell them as if she was recounting from the Harry Potter books. Which, in a large way, she was. "J- J- James and L- Lily... you die in just a few years. Sirius and Remus make it to their thirties."
"And our children? Harry?" Lily asked with a gasp.
"Harry and Teddy become orphans. And... you all die to save Harry's life..." Bess whispered, as tears began to stream down her face.
Silence filled the room for minutes, and Bess was almost glad that the pain in her head was so great that she could barely think - it meant that she had something to focus on, to try and stop her mind from opening the void to use Daphne's power. Just as she managed to send the pain towards the back of her head, moving further and further away from triggering a vision, Lily spoke in a whisper.
"Who's Teddy?"
Bess' eyes widened slightly as the pain began to move forwards again. "He- he's- he's Remus' son. Edward 'Teddy' Remus Lupin," she gasped out.
"No. No I wouldn't do that. My lycanth-" Remus began.
"He doesn't inherit it. He becomes a metamorphagus like his mum," Bess said quietly, still staring at the table top in front of her as she shook her head and tried to focus on something other than the ache in her skull.
"He- he doesn't?" Remus asked, and let out a shaky laugh as Bess shook her head. "You mean... you mean I could... Merlin."
"Who... who kills me?" James asked quietly, and Bess took in a shaky breath. She was too far in now - she felt compelled to tell them everything they wanted to know.
"Voldemort. He comes after Harry. You- you leave your wand on the side, so when he bursts in, you manage to yell to Lily to leave, and- well, you go up against him wandless. You sacrifice yourself for them, and then Lily sacrifices herself for Harry. Your love protects him, and he survives. It gets... Look, I can't tell you any more than that..." Bess said quickly, trying to push the pain away, but it kept coming back in waves.
"And me?" Sirius asked in a much softer, choked voice. "I die for him too? What happens? Who kills me?"
Bess choked back a sob and nodded. "It's- it's complicated. Harry- he thinks he's on his way to save your life. He's such an idiot. He actually breaks out of Hogwarts and breaks into the Department of Mysteries with his friends!" she said with a small laugh, thinking how like James it would be to do something so crazy, "and in the end it's you who comes to save him, and... and-"
Bess couldn't help the retch which occurred when she thought about Sirius falling through the veil. She could feel the blood draining from her face and put a hand to her stomach and her other to her mouth as she tried to control herself. She closed her eyes tight and tried to focus on anything other than Sirius' face as he fell through the veil. She felt a hand on her back and slowly managed to get her breathing under control as the shivers which wracked her body began to subside.
"And- and me?" Remus asked quietly as she opened her eyes.
Bess gulped down the chocolate-y bile which had made its way up her throat, and massaged her head as she sipped some water which had appeared in front of her. "You- uh- what do you want to know? I- I can't think properly right now..."
"Where? How? Who?"
Bess nodded and thought for a while, trying to remember through the cloud of pain. "Uh- uh- in a duel with Antonin Dolohov."
"Who- Bess, love, tell me what happens to me?" Sirius asked somewhat eagerly now.
"What is this? Death Top Trumps?" Bess cried, covering her face with her hands. She'd been able to play off the headache as her worry over telling them more information, but it was becoming more and more painful as time went on.
If Bess thought anyone would say anything in reply, she didn't think it would be Lily, and was incredibly surprised to hear the redhead's say, "Well, I don't know what Top Trumps is, but I'd say getting murdered by Voldemort pretty much outranks Dolohov, don't you?"
"Oi! I've heard about him, he's bloody awful. And don't forget, I outlive all of you idiots, so don't put that on me," Remus replied in an annoyed tone.
She heard Sirius scoff, and say, "Only the good die young, eh Moony?"
"What is wrong with all of you? I just told you you all die and you're just... you're just joking about it?" Bess asked incredulously as she looked up and saw all four of her friends sharing a laugh.
Sirius turned to her, his face dropping in to a morose expression. "No, love. You just told us how we might die. But you've already changed all that by telling us, by being here, by working with Dumbledore. But if that future's coming for me? Going out protecting my brother's son? I'd be proud of that."
"And me, dying to protect Lily and my son?" James supplied.
"To save Harry's life?" Lily said quietly.
"Giving my son the chance to live? And helping to save Harry's life?" Remus added.
"There are things worth dying for," Sirius finished.
Bess looked between the four before she nodded. "I- I suppose you're right."
"How long've we got? James and me I mean," Lily asked quietly.
"A few years yet, I can't tell you more," Bess replied, as she reached over and held Lily's hand. Lily sent her a small smile and squeezed her hand before she let it go and moved to rest her head on James' shoulder.
"What about Peter?" James asked eagerly as a blush crawled up his neck and onto his cheeks. "Does he go down in a blaze of glory as well?"
Bess replied without thinking, "I don't know."
"Of course you do!" James cried. "You knew I forgot my wand on a side table for Merlin's sake."
Bess realised in that moment that she had a chance to stop Peter from ever being trusted. But did she dare take it? No. No she couldn't. Not yet.
"I really don't. I'm sorry. Maybe I only know about the people who really impact the timeline? I'm not saying he's not important, I just don't know how he dies," she lied, as the pain became even worse, and it felt like she was being stabbed behind the eyes.
"That's okay, hopefully none of this will happen anyway!" James said quickly, shooting Bess a small smile.
"Christ, sorry for ruining your birthday, Remus..." Bess said with a laugh, as she wiped away her tears and tried to change the subject.
Remus' birthday had been a few days previously, and his party was scheduled for Saturday evening. He'd not wanted a celebration, but James had insisted on having a joint birthday party since most of the students would be travelling home the weekend following his birthday at the end of March.
Remus shook his head, a massive smile on his face. "First of all, it's not my birthday, as you know, and second of all, you just told me that I have the chance to have a child... I- I don't know if I could do that to someone... but... but there's a chance that I could... I could get married and have a baby... I- I never thought I'd be able to do that... that's... honestly, that's the best present anyone could ever give me..."
"Wait until you hear about the Wolfsbane potion..." Bess scoffed, as she reached rubbed her forehead, her hands now shaking as the pain in her head grew.
"The what?" he asked quickly, leaning forwards.
"Uh- well, if it still happens, then by the end of the eighties there'll be a potion which enables you to keep your mind after your transformation. It'll mean you can just crawl up somewhere and sleep away the full moon if you want to..." Bess said, and watched as the smile slid from Remus' face and his eyes filled with tears.
"I- you're- you're lying..."
"No, no I'm not. But it'll be expensive to get the ingredients, or to buy the potion fully made, and it's a complicated one to brew," Bess replied, shaking her head again.
Remus ducked his head and rubbed his hand across his face, roughly swiping away his tears as his jaw clenched. "I couldn't- I don't have-"
Bess nodded, understanding what he meant. James and Sirius opened their mouths, but Bess began to talk before either of them could. She reached over and placed a shaking hand on Remus' arm as she said, "Don't worry. If my dastardly plan to steal away a pureblood heir goes well, I'll have more than enough to share with you. And if all fails and Sirius realises I'm only in it for the money, I've got my own inheritance."
Bess smiled as she felt Sirius' hand rub her back, as he joined Lily and James as they laughed.
Remus let out a small chuckle and said, "I couldn't take your money."
"Exactly. That's the genius thing. It'll be Sirius' money..." Bess replied with a small smile as Remus laughed properly.
As her hand began to tremble more, she pulled it back and wrung her hands together in her lap to try and disguise the tremors, grimacing slightly as she looked down at the table.
"Do you know when in the eighties?" Remus asked, and Bess felt the pain take over her, engulfing her mind and body.
She just about managed to grab her wand and cast silencio on herself before her eyes screwed shut and she began to scream from the pain.
"Merlin, what's-" Remus shouted.
"Bess, love, no! Stop!" Sirius cried, and she could feel his hands pulling hers down, away from her face which she'd begun to claw. "How can I stop this? Please! Tell me how to stop it! Love! Focus on me! Please!"
Bess shook her head violently and continued to scream silently as she tried to break free so she could clutch her head, but Sirius wouldn't let go.
She could hear the scrapes of tables and chairs and Lily, James and Remus' voices getting slightly farther away as they tried to figure out what they could do - Bess could hear parts of their conversation as they uttered words like, "Stupefy," and "-always like this-"
In the meantime, Sirius had begun to apologise as he tried to keep Bess still. "I'm so sorry, love, I'm so sorry. I'm such a fucking idiot. I just didn't think! I'm so sorry! There has to be something I can do to help!"
It seemed that as much as Sirius, James and Lily had said they'd be prepared for Bess to have another vision, they weren't. Bess didn't blame them - she hadn't truly been prepared for it either.
Each time she had a vision it seemed to take more and more out of her, and this time the pain was worse, drilling into her, making her thrash and move as she tried to drive the pain away.
She heard Sirius shout, "Get Dumbledore!" but she didn't want that - she didn't want the older wizard to be around her right now - she was trying too hard to focus on not letting the pain engulf her, and if he arrived she knew she'd start to think about the location of the cup - the fourth and currently final Horcrux.
Or about Delbert, and where he was now.
Or about Remus and his life after James and Lily died.
Arms still tight in Sirius' grasp, she managed to pull her legs round underneath herself so she was kneeling, and tried to move her head to her hands instead of her hands to her head, as she tried to alleviate some of the pressure in her skull.
Sirius let go of her hands so he could grasp her head instead, and she could hear him wincing as her nails dug into the backs of his hands rather than her own face.
His touch was too gentle, too light for the level of pain she was in, and in that moment she hated it.
Bess grabbed his forearms and wrenched her head from his light grasp as she threw herself backwards to try and claw away the pain.
Instead, she managed to fall straight off the desk and landed head first on the floor.
She heard the loud thwack! as her head connected with the stone floor, and felt a dull ache cut through her pain.
Before her body even reached the ground, her vision snapped to black.
A/N:
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you to everyone who's reading, following, favouriting and reviewing - HorseGirl16, AvalonRivers, CharlotteGryffindor, Ghost Claw 001, and themugglepadme24!