It took until the end of summer for her wound to fully heal, which Calamity supposed was a natural amount of time for a spliching. She never had seen much of them since her focus had mostly been on more extreme cases. Being in war zones or conflict areas rarely gave the luxury of apparation accidents. It gave her time to teach Ginny some hexes, hand off some books to Hermione, and finally get a moment to meet Harry more formally- though the boy met so many order members that Calamity hardly thought he'd remember it.
"He'll remember you," Remus assured her later on as she wrapped his purple hand, a marking from a particularly tricky old book stuck in the hallway bookshelf, in a bandage soaked in potion.
"I think he has other things to concern himself with," Calamity said, not the least bit offended. She nodded over to Sirius who was sitting next to Harry, arm around his shoulder pointing at a picture.
"With that as your godfather, who knows what trouble you'll get into."
"I always thought Sirius would be a good father," Remus said with a smirk.
"He'll do the best he can," Calamity said softly as Remus winced at the potion and the pressure she put on his hand. "But it might get him killed."
"Dumbledore's trying to help with that a bit, I think."
"You do? Has he even seen Harry?"
Remus looked at Calamity quickly, then back to Sirius and Harry as Sirius let out a bark-like laugh, slapping harry's back.
"He hasn't," Remus conceded. "But he has his reasons."
"Of course. Of course."
Fred poked his head into the room and spotted Calamity. he trotted over making a low whistle.
"Got you good,eh" he observed as Remus' hand began to change from the purple to a lighter blue, a few flesh colored spots appearing.
"Mum's wondering if you'd mind talking to her," Fred said. "She's a bit nervous, can't tell you why."
Remus nudged Calamity as a streak of red hair rushed quietly passed the door up the stairs.
"Before they get the extendable ears, I think," Remus added. Calamity stood, following Fred quickly down the stairs.
Molly Weasley was in the kitchen, pacing back and forth nervously. She sat when they entered, straightening her clothes as if attempting to appear more relaxed.
"Everything alright, Molly," Calamity asked.
"Yes, yes," Molly said hurriedly. "Please sit! tea?" She motioned to an already poured cup of tea.
Calamity glanced at Fred, but Molly shot him a stern look and he made a quick exit. Calamity sat, taking the tea and sipping. It was cold.
"What are your plans, dear?"
"Tomorrow? I have a few errands while you all go to Kings Cross Station. You know, some bureaucracy nonsense for Healers without Borders and then lunch with my friend Christopher and his daughter."
"And after?"
"Oh," Calamity paused in thought. "I suppose Dumbledore will give me the next steps."
"Do you ever think about getting an apartment near by? Maybe a hobby?"
"Er," Calamity hadn't considered this. It hadn't even crossed her mind.
After all, she had been staying in inns or Hogwarts throughout last year, and since she had been recovering it made sense to stay here. Perhaps she had overstayed her welcome? She supposed the adult thing would be to get her own spot now that she was better.
"No that anyone complained," Molly added hurriedly. "it's just- well, has Dumbledore talked to you?"
"Molly," Calamity began, but Molly cut her off in a hurry.
"It's only... he heard Fudge is looking for more assistance now that Dolores Umbridge is headed to Hogwarts and he was trying to think of who might be a good choice from the Order. Tonks recommended you. Fudge doesn't know you very well."
"He searched my room for Sirius after he escaped," Calamity reminded her. "And I've been called in by Umbridge and threatened."
"Tonks says that was off the record."
"Ah, yes, Tonks."
"Kingsley said he also mentioned you to the Minister and said the Minister was interested. He recognized your name."
"Yes, I heard names were very important to Fudge. Molly, I just don't know if..." Calamity trailed off as she saw Molly's eyes watering.
"It's Percy," said Molly with a sniffle pulling out her handkerchief and blowing her nose.
"Percy?"
"My son. He's the 3rd oldest, above Fred and George."
"I've never met him, I guess."
"N-N-no," Molly said. Her tears were becoming large drops and she seemed like she was having trouble keeping up with them.
"He-he and Arthur had a falling out. He-he-he's working with Fudge. Arthur t-t-thinks it's to keep an eye on us and keep us in line."
"And you're worried, of course," Calamity said touching Molly's hand comfortingly. She nodded making her red hair bounce about. Molly tapped the hand affectionately before blowing her nose.
"So, you're hoping I will agree to interview for this position with Fudge, get hired, and keep an eye on Percy," Calamity said.
"Just until Dumbledore decides something else."
"Of course, I'd have to be a sort of double agent of sorts. Fudge doesn't quite like Dumbledore."
"Right."
"And I suppose I'd need to live elsewhere for a bit and create a story as to what I did in Albania and when I arrived back and why I want a job."
"Tonks has a story for you that she's already told Fudge."
"Naturally," Calamity said. She took another sip of the cold tea. "Well, then it seems settled."
Molly blinked at Calamity confused.
"I'll need to go find some professional robes for my interview with Fudge."
Molly leaped from her seat and hugged Calamity so tightly that for a moment Calamity thought her rib would crack. Caught in the hug she saw the end of an extendable ear slink away and a moment later Remus Lupin appeared, tucking something away in his pocket with a perfectly normal look hand. She narrowed her eyes at him, but he simply shrugged and looked back at her with an innocent smile. You just couldn't trust these marauders.
It took almost a month for Calamity to find an apartment and get an interview with the Minister. Dumbledore seemed unperturbed by any piece of the plan, watching Calamity with pale blue eyes as Molly explained her idea at a meeting. Sirius said nothing, jaw set, though he did narrow his eyes every so often at Molly. Calamity couldn't help by see that they still had a bit of hard feelings between them, even with Harry back at school.
"The protective charms will be put on it, of course," Remus added glancing at Sirius. "So you'll need a secret-keeper."
"I'm not in hiding," Calamity said, passing the salt to Tonks next to him. "I'm getting a public job with the Minister of Magic."
"if he hires you," added Sirius.
"You've been named," Dumbledore reminded her. "We'll need to protect you as much as we can. Voldemort is not strong enough to take the Ministry yet, but he will have many spies so you will have to work to discredit any ideas some people will have about your connection to me."
"We've been helping with that," Tonks added. "It's all the gossip at the Ministry that you and Dumbledore fell out over your trip to Albania. He wanted you to make it a big affair to help gain power and allies to overthrow the ministry and you said you just wanted a vacation. They really gobbled it up."
"I'd like Sirius to be my secret keeper," Calamity said.
"Oh no, dear," Molly said hurriedly. Sirius narrowed his eyes even more. "Dumbledore ought to do it. He's secret keeper for the order as well and no death eater would dare attack him."
"Well luckily I'm locked up in the Order so no death eater can get to me either," answered Sirius coolly.
Calamity placed her hand on Sirius' gently as Remus gave him a wary look. Molly's cheeks flushed.
"I just worry that Calamity ought to have an experienced secret keeper," Molly said. Sirius' hand tensed again.
"I'd like Sirius to be my secret keeper," Calamity repeated looking at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore nodded, "You and Tonks will go to the new apartment tomorrow to check for any danger. You've already moved your things?"
"Yes, this last week," Calamity told him. "The interview is Monday."
"It's just a formality," Tonks assured Molly. "I think Percy is helping with it."
"Then go tomorrow, check for anything out of the ordinary. Sirius and i will make the necessary preparations here, seeing as he cannot leave as readily as others."
Sirius' frown grew deeper, but he remained silent as they finished dinner.
Afterward, Dumbledore waited for the others to begin to clean and for Remus, Sirius, and Tonks to bring out a spot of Firewhiskey from Remus' bag. They began to joke and dtease one another as Molly and Arthur went off to bed and slowly the other orde rmembers said their good byes.
He leaned closer to Calamity, piercing eyes watching hers.
"I must warn you that this may be shortly lived," Dumbledore said. "I will require your assistance once more."
"When," Calamity asked.
"In time," Dumbledore said, he smiled softly. "I know you do not appreciate the mystery of it, but I assure you it is not to taunt you. To prove it, here." he pulled from his pocket an older looking book with a leather-bound cover of green.
Calamity took it and turned it over in her hand to read the title Aesop's Fables retold by Joseph Jacobs scrawled in beautiful gold writing.
"I know you will appreciate some muggle folklore more than even I could," Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Of course she will," said Sirius loudly from across the table, his annoyance from dinner gone completely. "She loves any books!"
"Read one to us," said Remus. "Just one before Tonks goes!"
Dumbledore stood and bowed, moving over to join the audience, all of which put down their glasses and watched her expectantly. Calamity sighed and opened the book at random and began to read.
"The Appointment in Samarra" (as retold by W. Somerset Maugham) The speaker is Death. There was a merchant in Bagdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, Master, just now when I was in the marketplace I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned I saw it was Death that had jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture; now, lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra and there Death will not find me. The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it, and he dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the horse could gallop he went. Then the merchant went down to the marketplace and he saw me standing in the crowd and he came to me and said, Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning? That was not a threatening gesture, I said, it was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Bagdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra."
There was a long silence at the table, broken only by the mutterings of Kreacher in the other room, cursing the blood traitors and scum in his mistresses house.
A/N: Don't forget to review!
