Chapter 38: Oh Merlin, a Ball.
She wasn't able to talk to Dumbledore until after the first task, a thrilling display of flying during which Calamity couldn't help but smile at the thought of James Potter's expression. She could almost hear him shouting with glee that his son- HIS SON- had dodged a nesting dragon by flying. Brilliant.
She got the letter to meet with Dumbledore while she was back in Dufftown, taking a weekend break from the children and duties of Hogwarts and especially from Snape, who was rooming right next to her. He sullenly looked her way every so often. Perhaps he had never forgiven her for intervening with the marauders, but she knew that it was more likely that he had acquired a distaste for her because of her association with them. Sirius had opted, for now, to stay in Dufftown. Though Hogsmeade would be more convenient he knew that it would also draw a bit more attention since witches and wizards were far more regular there. Here they could be overlooked. No one found a black stray very odd on their journey from one tourist spot to the next.
Sirius was deep in thought when the owl almost smacked him in the head at a frightening speed.
"Merlin someone wants to talk to you," he groaned rubbing his temple.
Calamity opened the letter, glancing it over. "It's from Dumbledore."
"I appreciate him not sending the Phoenix," Sirius said grumpily.
"Maybe it would have given you immortal life if it slammed into you," Calamity teased.
"More likely it would have killed me on the spot," Sirius said, though a smile tugged at his lips. "I'd be nothing but ash!"
"Not even reborn?"
"You want a baby Padfoot," Sirius teased.
"Good lord no," Calamity said with a shiver. "You were probably a terror at two."
"I'm a terror now," Sirius snorted. "What's it say, eh?"
Calamity read it aloud.
"Calamity, Your assistance during the first task was much appreciated. Poppy was most impressed by your quick work on the cream for Cedric Diggory's face." She paused andf looke dta Sirius. "He got hit across with fire." Sirius made a pained expression while touching his own cheek. Calamity turned back to the letter. "With the commotion about we haven't been able to follow up with our discussion about Albania. I am hoping you are free December 24th to meet for tea in my office. Of course you are welcome to stay the night. I imagine Severeus misses you dear."
"What's Snivellus got to do with anything," Sirius said with an almost dog like growl.
"He's my new lover," Calamity said folding the letter and tucking it into her pocket.
"I almost threw up in my mouth," Sirius said nudging her slightly.
"My new lover doesn't do that," Calamity replied matter-of-factly. "He simply whispers sweet nothings and dark incantations into my ears."
"Drinks grease all over your room?"
"Grease is the new cologne."
"You're the worst," Sirius said. "Maybe you're the terror, not me."
"Maybe," Calamity smirked back.
December 24th found Calamity in a bustling and busy Hogwarts rowdy with excitement. The decorations were especially well done, even for Hogwarts, but Calamity supposed that was to be expected given the fact that two other wizarding schools were visiting. A red headed girl rushed passed her, knocking her elbow roughly.
"Sorry," called the freckled thirteen year old in a Gryffindor robe. She waved at a blonde Ravenclaw a bit further down the hall and called, "Luna! Luna!"
The blonde turned as if waking from a daze and smiled at her Gryffindor friend.
Calamity moved carefully around the other students until she reached Dumbeldore's office. What was the password again? She'd written it somewhere. She dug into her robe pockets and pulled out a parchment. On one side was a picture Sirius had drawn of him chatting up Calamity, then hexing Severus Snape off the page. Calamity supposed some childhood enemies never called a truce. Of course, Snape had tried to get the dementors to kiss Sirius, so she supposed she could understand his dislike.
Calamity's thoughts were broken as Severus Snape appeared in front of her, the stair well behind the Gryffin still exposed. Calamity hurriedly pushed the parchment away.
"What's that," Snape demanded.
"I wrote down the password," Calamity said attempting to move around him, but he moved slightly to block her way. "But then you came just like a hero in the night. Excuse me, Dumbledore is expecting me."
"Let's see it then," Snape drawled. He watched her with a bit of disdain.
"Unfortunately, Professor," Calamity said ducking around him before he could block her again. "I'm not one of your students so you can't intimidate a piece of parchment away from me."
The stairs began to move, much like an escalator would, spiraling up towards the office.
"Accio-" Snape began, but Calamity was out of sight and the passage had closed before he could finish his thoughts. Still, the parchment twitched in her pocket. Leaning against the wall, Calamity held onto it tightly with one hand while using her wand to ignite it with the other. It flamed, but burned out quickly. A few pieces of ash moved down the stair, but she cleaned the rest. Let him have some ash, she thought. Sirius was right. He stuck his big hooked nose in everyone else's business.
"Ah Calamity!"
"Calamity looked up to see Dumbledore peering at her over half mooned spectacles. She moved to the chair he indicated.
"How are you?"
"I'm good, thanks."
"And our friend?"
"A delight as always."
"Good, good," Dumbledore said. He waved his wand and tea appeared piping hot. He poured her a glass of chamomile and himself one of jasmine. "Dufftown is lovely this time of year," he added after taking a dainty sip.
"Yes, it is," Calamity agreed.
Dumbledore put down his glass and set his penetrating blue eyes on her and said, "About your trip to Albania. I must insist you tell me everything."
Calamity outlined her trip and the riddles she was told and Dumbledore listened for what felt like an hour. He was nodding the whole time, though his expression did not change from the look of comfort he seemed to always have. When she had finally finished with the story of the Albanian peasant and the castle Dumbledore took another sip in thought.
"And you aren't quite sure what it all means," Dumbledore said finally.
"Not at all."
"But your father seems to be under the impression that you can put it all together."
"He thinks a bit too highly of me," Calamity said thinking of Regulus' poisoning.
"I doubt that," Dumbledore said kindly. "I imagine he is just hoping you recall something you do not."
"Like what?"
"Perhaps a memory from when you were younger? Sometimes the older we get the harder it is for us to imagine that the new generation is not watching our every move with fascination."
In the back of Calamity's mind there was a slight twinge of truth it his words, though she couldn't explain how she knew it.
"I could help you find it," Dumbledore offered.
"How?"
"I could help organize your thoughts on the matter," Dumbledore said mysteriously.
"Like, talk it out?"
"I cannot stress, Calamity, the importance of this information. While it would require you to relive a bit of the memory, I think it would benefit us both. Your father seems to think it could benefit more."
"You want to dig through my mind," clarified Calamity.
"Neatly sort," Dumbledore clarified.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I will respect your wishes and will have to consider the situation without your insight."
"I suppose it's too much to ask to be let in on the situation, as you put it?"
Dumbledore smiled gently. It was as if they were back in the Order again, having to trust Dumbledore without fully knowing the implications or plan. Remus and Sirius would say it was necessary, as they had done all those years ago. James and Lily would say that he knew more and was keeping them safe. Still, Calamity didn't fully trust the old man after the way the last war had ended- almost the whole Order dead, Sirius locked up without a trial, Peter free as a rat. But she knew Dumbledore was right. Her father expected her to remember something she didn't. Calamity sighed, "fine."
It was odd to feel someone sifting through her mind's memory. Every so often a forgotten memory would leap forward: she and Sirius in their flat in London waiting to hear if Lily and James were safe from their mission; the graduation ceremony at the end of Hogwarts; her first time at St. Mungo's; Remus trying to apologize for James and Sirius running into her on the platform. Other than these sudden memories flashing before her eyes before disappearing once again, the activity seemed almost mundane. Dumbledore paused and she looked at him.
"I believe I've found something," he said.
"Alright," Calamity said.
"I'm going to isolate it so we can keep it in the pensive."
"Alright."
Suddenly, Calamity was back in the marigold field of her dreams, bicycle in hand as she watched the black haired man leaning against the tree. She felt the same curiousness, though it was also hesitant. The scene began to change. The marigolds and bicycle faded away. The forest and trees dissolved, they were in an old house. A manor perhaps. Calamity felt as if she were different. She looked to her right where a dimly lit mirror threw her mother's image back at her instead of her own.
"Riddle," called a voice from the other room. It was a familiar voice. Her father's voice.
The man called Riddle looked up directly at her, his dark features and eyes registered her in a moment. Finding nothing of interest he gave a polite nod and turned, moving into the next room where he was called. She could hear muffled talking in the next room. Just like in her dream she stepped forward, though she felt hesitation grow. But instead of waking, she moved forward into the next room. They were both hunched over a crown like object, a silver eagle around it with a blue sapphire shaped like an oval in the center.
"The lost Diadem of Ravenclaw," breathed her father. "How did you find it?"
"It's easy to find things if you ask nicely," Riddle said with a smirk. He was older than Calamity's father by perhaps ten years. Her father reached for it but Riddle snatched it away with a selfish fire behind his cold eyes.
"It was Albania, wasn't it," said her father.
"You were right to talk to the daughter," Riddle continued. "I always appreciate a friend. I thought I would show you the treasure."
"You weren't there during that nasty trouble, were you? Apparently they found a peasant girl's body."
"No trouble for me," Riddle said nonchalantly. He glanced at Calamity with half interest. "She was your age," Riddle said and the cold toneless of his voice made a bubbling of fear erupt in the deepest parts in her gut. "I hear," Riddle added almost as an afterthought."
Calamity's father seemed oblivious to the interaction before his eyes. "Powerful magic here," he said in awe.
"The most powerful," Riddle agreed. He seemed pleased. His eyes passed over the diadem again before landing on Calamity once more. "Some tea, perhaps?"
Calamity was sitting back in Dumbledore's office. He had a long silvery thought on the end of his wand. He placed it carefully into a vial and put the vial on a shelf. For a moment he said nothing, simply looking at the vial. Finally, after Calamity was just about to say something, he spoke in a concerned voice.
"It's as I've always feared."
"What was that," Calamity demanded. "That wasn't my memory, that was a dream. I was my mother and..."
"It's powerful magic to hide a memory in another person, but your mother seems to have thought it would be safer with you," Dumbledore said thoughtfully,"or your father did."
"He seemed like great friends with that Riddle kid," Calamity said anger flaring.
"Yes, but he is older and wiser now. He was so young then," Dumbledore looked into space as if he were thinking of something else entirely. "So young."
They sat in silence again for some time. It was broken when Dumbledore clapped, his face breaking into a smile as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"There is to be a Yule Ball tomorrow. I insist you attend."
"A ball," Calamity repeated caught off guard by the rapid change.
"Yes. I could do with the extra eyes. I'm sure Sirius would chaperone, but conditions being what they are..." he trailed off looking at her knowingly. "Dress robes required, but I'm sure you've a pair with you. The festivities start at dinner." He looked at his watch. "My it is late. Best to get to bed if either of us hope to be awake for Christmas morning."
Calamity found herself, as if by magic, outside of the Gryffin statue just as it closed behind her stopping her from any objections. She blinked at it, mouth slightly agape. All she could muster was to look at the stern statue and say, " Oh Merlin... a ball."
Calamity was not a fan of balls, but every pureblood witch and wizard, whether from France, Bulgaria, England, or America was familiar with them. Something about the wizarding world loved an occasion to rub elbows in elegant attire. She had never been to one with much dancing, just conversations with motions, but this Yule Ball was for teens so she supposed there'd be a bit more. Still, she hung back with some of the other medics, though they were young and giggly, especially when Victor Krum was about. Calamity didn't know much about Quidditch but she had learned he was a seeker and a dashingly impressive one at that.
Even from her secluded table she had to admit that the hall was impressive. An area of lawn right in front of the castle had been transformed into a sort of grotto full of fairy lights. They sat in the rosebushes that had been conjured there, and fluttering over the statues of what seemed to be Father Christmas and his reindeer. Calamity smirked. She knew what those would be used for soon. It was a dance for teens, after all.
From her spot she could see the champions enter, Harry Potter looking as if he were the twin of James Potter, but a much more unsure twin. He was arm and arm with a beautiful Indian girl in bright pink robes and golden bangles on both arms. She seemed very pleased with the attention, the exact opposite of the messy haired gangly boy on her arm. Calamity felt a pang of sympathy for him. She watched as they took their seats.
Calamity felt something creeping on the back of her neck and turned. At first she couldn't see anything, then she spotted him. Severus Snape was watching her carefully from his own spot off to the side of the hall. he wasn't eating. She tried to shake off the gaze as she ate, chatting with the giggling Irish medi-wizard who was trying to look at Victor Krum's date, a lovely girl with a pretty updo.
Calamity risked another look. Snape was gone. Apparently from the hall completely. Calamity felt herself relax at the thought, though she couldn't explain why.
The bagpipes started as the Weird Sisters took the stage. She watched as the champions began to dance, soon joined by others. A giant woman and Dumbledore were dancing, though his hat barely touched her chin. Moody was dancing, if you could call it that, with a professor Calamity didn't know- a woman with dark hair a bit older than herself.
"Erza-Mahoney, let's go."
She felt a tug on her shoulder and before she knew it she was pulled to her feet and found herself in dancing position with none other than Severus Snape. They were off to the side of the floor, almost unnoticed unless you were looking for them to begin with, but she supposed that was how he intended it.
"Severus," greeted Calamity. "Something on your mind or have you been trying to dance with me all night."
"Karkaroff has been attempting to get me all night so I needed a distraction." He nodded over to a tall and thin man with a weak chin covered by a goatee, ending in a small curl. He was talking to Ludo Bagman smiling in a way that didn't seem to reach his eyes. He smiled at Ludo Bagman either way, eyes darting every so often to Snape.
"Igor Karkaroff," asked Calamity.
"The same. Headmaster of Durmstrang."
"Deatheater?"
"I do believe that he was cleared by the Ministry."
"I read that," Calamity said. Snape spun her once, glancing back at Karkaroff who was now distracted by Bagman and Professor Mcgonagall. He was watching unamused as Bagman asked Professor Mcgonagall to dance.
Snape nodded for them to move to the garden. He didn't give her much chance to decline as he tugged her arm so hard she thought it might pop right out of the socket.
"Why does he want to talk to you so badly," asked Calamity.
Snape shrugged. He blasted a rose bush near by sending two students rushing off into the hall.
"You enjoyed that too much," Calamity observed. Snape shrugged again, twirling his wand in his fingers. It was an oddly Sirius-like move.
"You met with your Father in Albania." It was more of a statement then a question, so Calamity said nothing until Snape continued. "How is Dr. Erza-Mahoney these day?"
"Fine," Calamity said in a monotone. She was watching Snape carefully. He had something to ask, something on his mind, but she couldn't tell exactly what it was.
"Did he say anything Albus found interesting?"
"What's your question, Severus," demanded Calamity.
Snape blinked as if startled by her straightforward conversation.
"Did he worry about the Dark Lord rising," asked Snape quietly.
Calamity narrowed her eyes slightly at the question.
"Albus has his own thoughts and I have fine. Tell me what the good doctor says so I can confirm or deny one or the other," Snape said in a smooth voice.
"He said he felt something was coming," Calamity said watching for Snape's reaction. "But he didn't say what."
Snape's face didn't move. Instead he raised his wand and blasted another nearby rose bush sending fairies and another set of students rushing off back to the hall.
"What's the news to you Severus," said Calamity, voice low. "I shared with you, now it's your turn."
A flash of something passed behind Snape's eyes, a glance of fear that quickly disappeared and was replaced by the dark orbs.
"I'm concerned whenever Albus is concerned," he replied simply. Calamity wanted to ask more but just as she was about to Karkaroff game bustling over, shooing Calamity away while speaking hurriedly to Severus. They walked off, Snape blasting bushes and taking points as Karkaroff continued to talk.
Calamity made a mental note to share the information with Sirius when she got back to Dufftown.
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