PART 2
Ch. 21-Memories
I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO HARRY POTTER
Hermione walked back up to the castle. It had been a few hours since she had found the hidden bunker, Rose and Draco had created. It was a very difficult morning, keeping her thoughts and comments to herself. She did not trust Rose and she did not want to trust Draco. Her feelings for him only confused her and the complications multiplied daily. He was supposed to leave her alone, but she had sought him out. It was unseasonably cold again and as she passed Hagrid's hut. She could hear the other students crowding up ahead, but Hermione felt uneasy. She did not want to see anyone yet, she felt like she had betrayed everyone.
She had promised Ron, before school had started, that everything was over with Draco, but she knew it wasn't. He was still such a part of her life; she was disappointment in her lack of will power. She had encouraged Harry to start the DA and it was going so well, but they had not been clever enough. Rose knew everything and far worse, she would do what was necessary to keep herself at Hogwarts, even if that meant betraying them in the end. She didn't trust her, but she believed her desperation to find her father. In one morning, Hermione had found herself in a very difficult situation. She literally held the answers everyone needed but how could she even begin to divulge any information without betraying someone else. She sat down along the castle wall and away from everyone. She needed to think. Her hand wrapped around her necklace.
"There she is." Ginny's voice came from close by and Hermione's head snapped up and Ginny flanked by Ron, Harry, and Luna. "Where were you?" She asked and Hermione stood up nervously.
"We've been worried." Harry pointed out.
"We couldn't find you on the map." Ron told her, but the way he spoke to her made her feel uneasy again.
"I suspected Nargles." Luna joked and Hermione smiled.
"I must have lost track of time." She told them. Hermione was saved from answering questions. A commotion from the castle caused them all to make their way towards the quad. Hermione stayed back and Ron remained with her.
"Lost track of time?" He whispered and she nodded.
"Yes." She said, looking straight ahead.
"Are you sure you haven't started anything up again?" Ron asked her and she took hold of his arms. The others continued towards the ruckus.
"Don't start that Ron, please. Nothing is happening with anyone." She insisted. Ron stared at he unconvinced.
"We don't need anything else going wrong Hermione." He told her.
"I know that." She said and he shook her hand off and walked ahead. Hermione took in a deep breath and caught up to the rest of the group. In the courtyard, the closer they got the clearer they could see what the commotion was about. Fred and George were displaying their latest merchandise, a few magical firecrackers, that seemed to come to life. Professor Umbridge could be seen approaching, her wand extended, but as she attempted to stop them, the firework only grew.
"Brilliant." Harry laughed.
"They will be a big seller, especially once they realize there's no actual way to stop it." George offered.
"There's no failsafe?" Hermione asked and Fred laughed.
"Of course not." They said together. Umbridge frustrated to no end, called upon the other teachers for assistance, but none were willing to help. Finally, when the firework's lit had died, the creature burst into bright lights and the students cheered. They all made their way into the castle for lunch.
Draco sat at the table his eyes on his notes, while Rose read again.
"She knows something Draco." Rose insisted and he shook his head.
"Hermione wouldn't lie." He told her, but in truth he didn't believe it. Hermione would lie to protect someone. She was so dutiful that way.
"We've been at this for months and we are no where closer to finding my father than we were when we first met." She told him frustrated. She held onto her necklace, with the key charm and stared at it. "My whole life just full of secrets." She swung the necklace off and threw it at the table, standing up and walking away from it and towards the stairs.
"Rose." Draco called out.
"Not now." She spoke.
"LOOK!" He told her, standing up. She returned to the table in time to see a key slot disappear in the binding of the book. "What was that?" he asked, and they brought the key closer to the book again.
"Bloody hell!" She shouted. She took the key and held it to the binding, the lock appeared again, but this time she stuck it in the lock and turned. A small vile left came out, filled with a bright, blue liquid haze. "What is it?" She asked him, but he shook his head.
"A memory?" He said unsure.
"A memory? How can I see it?" She said, but before he could answer she answered her own question. "A pensive." She spoke.
"Yes, but I don't know if there's one at Hogwarts." He told her.
"Then I'll buy one." She said and he shook his head.
"Let's take a minute, Rose." He told her and she looked at him frustrated.
"It's another clue." She told him.
"Then let's follow it, but you can't expect everything to happen so quickly. You have to be careful." He had been wanting to have this conversation with her for a long time. Rose stared at him. "Listen to me Rose. It's like you said, we have been doing this for so long, we've become obsessed. I understand how important it is to you, but have you thought about why your mother kept you from him?"
"Because it wasn't safe?" She had always assumed.
"Your mother loved you. All of this is every indication of that." He pointed to the books and the key. "She wanted to keep you safe, but if what if there's more to it. What if she wanted to protect you from him?" He told her. "What if he knew about you and decided he didn't want to be a father." He thought about his own uncle. "I just want you to be cautious and think everything out."
"Why are you doing this now?" She asked him.
"I care about you, and I don't want to see you hurt because you're putting all your expectations on one man. He may not be what you think he is, and I don't want you to be disappointed."
"What am I supposed to do Draco? Give up? Leave it alone because I might be let down?" She asked him. "That's not me." She spoke.
"No, that's not what I'm saying, but I hope that you are smart enough to have another plan in place in case this one does not pan out exactly how you want it to." He told her; Rose stared at him. She was quiet for a long moment when she spoke again it was quiet and contained.
"We should head back to the castle before someone starts looking for us again." She took the necklace from the table and placed it around her neck. "And maybe seal this place, so no one else can get inside again." She said, not looking at him.
"Rose." He tried to say, but she was on her feet and walking towards the exit.
"I'm fine, let's go." She said and waited for him to join her. She did not look fine, she looked broken or on the brink of. Draco sealed the bunker and they walked in silence back to the castle. Once they reached the grounds, she veered away and towards her room, Draco did not follow. His words as harsh as they may have seemed, were necessary. He had watched her become more and more obsessed and it was hurting him to watch. He headed to the great hall, where nearly everyone was and sat at the edge of the Slytherin table and away from everyone. He looked over to where Hermione sat with her group of friends. She was not as animated as she usually was and there was no book in hand to account for her distraction. She just looked befuddled. Draco sat unmoving and unable to eat, his mind preoccupied with today's events. As much as he had tried to stay away from Hermione, he had been unsuccessful. As much as he had tried to help Rose, he had been unsuccessful. He left the great hall without a word and headed to the Slytherin common room, but as luck would have it, he ran into Professor Snape.
"Draco." He said as he walked past him.
"Professor." He spoke. "Do you have a moment?" Draco asked as they passed one another. "To speak in private?" He asked again and Snape stopped and turned to him.
"Just you?" He replied and Draco nodded. "Very well." He told him and led Draco to his office. Snape closed the door behind him and sat at his desk. Draco sat too. The silence was eerie. "Go on." He urged him.
"Yes, well I was rather hoping you would have some information for me about Rose's mother, Amelia Avery. Seeing as you two were such close friends."
"And what makes you think that we were close friends?" He asked bewildered.
"Rose's mother left her a few things and she mention you quite a bit." Draco told him honestly. Snape looked perplexed by his comment.
"What exactly did you want to know?" He asked and Draco took in a deep breath.
"Basically sir, if you knew who Rose's father was." Snape looked around and then at Draco again.
"And what exactly is your place in this, Draco?" He asked. Draco stared at him. What was his place?
"I just wish to help Rose. She's, my friend." He said putting an emphasis on the word friend. Snape watched him.
"And you feel it is your task to undertake? Because you have no idea how complicated matters can get Draco. Even when you have every intention to help, things tend to go amiss." He spoke.
"I have to do what I can, Professor." He told him and Snape nodded at Draco.
"Yes, I knew Amelia very well. Since I first began at Hogwarts. She was in my year and my house." He spoke. "But I'm afraid I never knew Amelia was pregnant, let alone who the father of her child was." He told him.
"What do you remember, sir?" Draco urged.
"I remember that she was very kind. Even though she was raised in a very old family, she did not have the same opinions that they did."
"Opinions? Like my family has?" He asked and Snape eyed him apprehensively.
"Yes, those opinions." He spoke. "Amelia did not let her background decide who she was friends with. She was kind and somewhat soft-spoken, but she was also very bright and strong. Her brother may have always been in the spotlight while at school, but she excelled in everything she attempted, she just didn't brag about it to the world." Draco smiled, the way he spoke about her, you could tell Snape cared for her. "I was pained to hear of her passing and surprised to find that she had a whole life I was unaware about." He told him.
"You mean Rose?" Snape nodded. "Was there anyone who may be able to help Rose find out who her father was?" Snape deliberated.
"I don't know that he would share that personal information with you, but Amelia shared a bond with Professor Dumbledore. From my understanding she kept in touch with him even after leaving." Snape said and Draco nodded.
"Thank you, Professor." Draco left his office, happy to be able to give Rose something.
Professor McGonagall moved to one side as the stairs leading to Professor Dumbledore's office appeared.
"After your dearie." She told her and Rose obliged. She did not know why she had been invited or what Professor Dumbledore had wanted from her, but since Draco had told her that he may know who her father was, Rose was eager to meet him alone. Once up the steps, Professor McGonagall knocked on his door.
"Enter." The man's soft voice called out and Rose took a deep breath.
"Miss Avery." Professor McGonagall spoke.
"Thank you, Minerva." She smiled at them and headed back out the corridor. Rose remained standing as Dumbledore sat writing.
"Forgive me, but a headmaster's job is never done." He smiled kindly at her. "Please have a seat."
"Thank you, Professor." She waited for him to be finished. She stared around the room of all the pictures on the wall. Some were asleep, others stared back her. There were books long a wall and, on a shelf, she recognized only by its description was the sorting hat.
"Thank you for your patience." He said to her and leaned forward in his desk. He stared at her.
"I'm afraid I don't know why you wanted to see me Professor." She said to him.
"I was told you had some questions for me, and this is the first time that I found you were not otherwise occupied." She nodded. "The ministry and Professor Umbridge seem to keep you engaged." She nodded again.
"Thank you for seeing me then." She told him.
"It's quite alright. Tell me what exactly I can do for you?"
"I was told that you knew my mother well." She said to him, and he smiled.
"As well as I could in the short amount of time she was here."
"I was under the impression that she may have communicated with you after she left Hogwarts." She asked him and he nodded.
"Yes, she was a great pen pal. Amelia." He said and she smiled.
"What I wanted to know Professor, was if she ever told you who my father was?" She asked and became suddenly nervous. Professor Dumbledore did not speak for a few minutes.
"She did not tell me, but I knew him well." He confessed and an elation burst through Rose in that instant. "I was also given this." A box appeared at the edge of the desk, that was not there before. "To give to you in the event that you ever did come to me." She stared at the box and then at him. As she tried to lift its lid, it stuck.
"It's locked." She told him.
"I was told you would have the key." Rose stared down at her necklace again. What didn't this key open? She thought. Dumbledore stared at her, she took it from her neck, but a rather urgent knock startled them. Professor McGonagall entered the room.
"She's coming Albus." She said and motioned for Rose to follow her. "Come on dear, let's leave the headmaster to his work." Rose stared between them.
"It's alright." He said and motioned for Rose to take the box. She did and she followed Professor McGonagall down a different hallway. As they turned the corner, they could hear the familiar clacking of Professor Umbridge's heels hitting the stone. Rose stared at McGonagall as they found their way towards the main steps.
"Professor, what just happened?" She asked her.
"Professor Dumbledore wanted to be sure that your meeting was private. Should anyone interrupt he was to be fairly warned." She spoke.
"But Why?" rose asked. Professor McGonagall smiled.
"So much like your mother. Off you go dear." She told her. She knew that McGonagall would not give her another answer and so she headed towards her room. She held the box firmly in her hands until she reached her chambers and locked the door behind her. She jumped when a figure moved in the darkness, her wand in hand.
"Wait!" Draco's voice called out and his wand lit brightly.
"Are you mad?!" She shouted. "You gave me a fright." She spoke. "What are you doing here? If you're caught- "she said.
"I won't be." He smiled and she wondered why he was so happy. "Watch." Draco pointed his wand at himself and muttered to himself. She gasped when he disappeared before her. When he reappeared, he was right beside her, she jumped but laughed.
"You've managed your disillusionment charm?" She asked.
"It holds for about twenty minutes, but I think I've also figured out a potion that does the same." He smiled. "If someone comes, I'll simply disappear."
"That's brilliant." Se told him. Draco's eyes fell on the box. "What are you doing here?" She asked him, placing the box on the bed.
"It's been weeks Rose. You can't keep shutting me out. I still want to help you." He told her. She stared at him and shrugged. "What's that?"
"The headmaster gave it to me." She spoke. "I'm not exactly sure what it is yet." She spoke.
"Do you want me to leave?" She stared at him and shrugged. "Come now Rose, is this what it's going to be like from now on?" He asked her. She finally sighed and turned towards him.
"Alright then come on." She led him to the bed and took her necklace off. As she unlocked the box, Draco watched her anxiously. She looked unnerved. "You do it." She told him and he unlocked and opened the box. They looked at the contents of the box and stared at one another. Inside were many little vials filled with the same blue haze she had found in the book.
"Great." He spoke. "No chance there's a pensive in there?" He asked but she was staring at the bottom of the box. A small envelope with her name written in her mother's font laid there.
"It's from my mother." She said and opened it, inside there was a square paper and an amulet, with an amber stone. She held it out for him to see. Together they read the letter.
My dear Primrose,
If you are reading this, then I am sorry because it means that I have left you. And even worse I've left you without any answers. You must think the worst of me for keeping so much from you, but one day when you are a mother, I hope you understand why I did these things. I only wanted to keep you safe. From the moment that I knew you were coming; I knew that I would never put anything above you. Just know that I loved you always and you were always wanted. I know you have a lot of questions and I'm hoping that these memories I have stored for you will offer you some answers. Dumbledore has promised me, he would keep them safe. The necklace is a gift your father created for me, to see these hidden treasures. I know that he would want you to have it. I love you Primrose and even if I'm not there, I will always be with you.
Love
Mum.
Rose took a few more seconds, looking at the letter. Her tears spill down her face and Draco pulls her towards him as she cries silently. The necklace laid on the bed, she stared at him.
"How does it work?" She asked him as they inspected the necklace closer. Draco held it to the light.
"Do you see here?" He pointed at the insignia on the necklace. "The wearer will see." She read where he pointed. She held out the necklace and pointed her wand at the chain. It began extending it. "What are you doing?"
"We've come this far." She told him. Rose pulled from her things the first vile that came out of the book and pulled the chain around both their necks. She held out her hand to him. He took both until both their hands were on the necklace and the memory in the vile. At first, they had thought it had not worked, but then the image in front of them faded and they were transported somewhere else.
The room was dark, but the bright moon outside the window shone in. Amelia closed the clasps on her suitcase and put on her cloak. She looked around the room. It was her own bedroom, a small desk in front of the window, a small fireplace in the corner. Pictures of her family members on the walls and her canopy bed. She touched the post, where her mother would measure her and then took another look at the photos on the wall. Her mother's eyes staring back at her, a playful smile on her lips. She picked up the suitcase and walked towards the door. Her wand in her hand.
"Expelliarmus." The voice came from behind her and the wand few from her hand and onto the bed.
"Alex?" She called out. "What are you doing?" She asked him. He had come out of the shadows of her bedroom, and she had not known he was there. He held his wand outstretched in front of him. He continued to take steps towards her. "Stop it." She whispered. "Lower your wand."
"Why?" He asked and his eyes narrowed.
"I am your sister." She told him. "Your family." She reiterated.
"You stand against the dark lord; you are a traitor." He yelled at her. She trembles at the sight of him. She eyes her wand on the bed. "Don't!" He yells again and she shakes her head.
"You can't do this." She says, crying as she wraps her arms around herself. He takes an uneasy step towards her.
"I can fix you." He told her. "Don't make me hurt you! Let me fix you." He said to her. He continued his approach. Her tears turned to sobs.
"No, Alex you can't." She cried kneeling on the floor, his wand continued to point towards her. "I beg you, please stop." She said, her eyes watching his every move. An unnerving smile crossed his face.
"There's nothing you can say- "He began.
"I'm with child!" She screamed and he finally stopped. His expression changed and a genuine concern took him over. She sobbed into her palms as he lowered his wand.
"Lia." He whispered. He dropped to his knees in front of her and wrapped his arms around her, she hugged him back. "Are you certain?" He asked and she nodded into his shoulder. "Is it his?" He asked and she nodded again. They sat there for a few quiet minutes a pained look on his face.
"I don't want to leave you Alex, will you help me tell father?" She asked, but they both knew the answer. She continued to cry.
"Listen to me." He pulled her back to look at her closely. There was urgency in his voice now. "You will run." He said to her. She looked at him puzzled. That was what she had planned but to hear him encourage her, was surprising.
"What?" She asked him as he lifted her to her feet.
"You will run and hide and promise to never return. It's the only way you and your child will survive this. Neither father, nor the Dark Lord will accept this." He urged and she noticed for the first time, the few tears that had escaped his eyes. She noticed for the first time in a while, she was staring at her brother again. "Promise me something." He asked her, reaching for her wand, and placing it in her hand.
"What?" She asked again.
"Promise me you will do whatever to keep yourself and that child safe." She nodded. "Including erasing my memory." She gasped and shook her head.
"No Alex, I won't." She fought against his hold, but his eyes were clear, and his mind made up.
"They will use it against me, Lia. They will force me to hurt you. I cannot be the reason you hurt; you know that. Therefore, you must." He begged. She continued to shake her head, but he was definite. "Remember our promise to mother." He told her. She cried and finally took hold of her wand. Clattering could be heard on the levels below. "Hurry." He told her and she hugged him again, holding her suitcase again in one hand and her wand outstretch in front of her other.
"I love you, Alex." She said to him, and he wiped away his tears.
"I love you, Lia." He told her. "Go on." He urged her. "It's alright." He gave her a brave smile and as the tears rushed down her face, she pointed her wand at him.
"Obliviate." She whispered and he stood dazed at the spot. She turned away and with one final look disappeared from her home.
Draco and Rose took in deep breaths and stumbled apart, the chain still around them stopped their initial fall, but hurt their necks. Draco slipped from under it. He stared at her until she finally spoke.
"My uncle has never been affectionate towards me. He stares at me as if I'm a horrible reminder of what he's lost. To think he saved me before I was even born." She spoke. "He knows who my father is, but it was so bad, that she had to run with me." This realization hit her in waves. Rose sat back on the bed and cried. Draco came to her and held her to him.
"I'm sorry." He kept telling her. After she allowed herself a few minutes of crying she sat up determined.
"Let's keep going." She said and he looked at her drained. The memory was not even of his own family, but a strange feeling had crept into him, and he felt weary. She saw that in him. "We're so close." She told him and Draco nodded. She swung the chain around them again and reached for the box. "Are you ready?"