Glynnis stared pensively out at the November sky glowing auburn outside Albus Dumbledore's office window. She tried desperately to let her mind go blank. The Hogwarts' headmaster, as well as Sirius' former Divination professor, Alphonse Villeau, would be coming through the door any moment with a verdict on whether or not she could begin correspondence studies in witchcraft. Her ability to both send and receive thoughts was quite rare, she discovered, and coupled with her ability to see the future, even though that skill was sketchy, made her unique. "A little more than unique," Professor Dumbledore had told her with a wink and a smile, "considering you are, technically, a Muggle."
And so it was that she'd found herself at Hogwarts at last, after having been interviewed by Albus Dumbledore and tested telepathically by Professor Villeau. She'd also had a long session with Professor McGonagall in which she'd been given a school wand and various instructions on what to do with it. The big finish to that whole thing was that she'd managed to get the wand to do absolutely nothing. They'd tried every available wand, even tried some of those that'd been lent out to students who'd destroyed theirs for whatever reason but to no avail. Glynnis could no more get the wand to perform than she could fly.
She sighed and sat down in one of the large chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk. So much had happened to her in a few short months! She'd met Harry and Sirius, almost been killed by Harry's nasty uncle, gotten married, and undergone testing to determine whether she'd been inadvertently overlooked for witch training as a young girl. And all since July. Glynnis put her head back against the chair's comfortable headrest and closed her eyes.
*Sirius?* she called to her husband of three months.
*Present,* came her husband's prompt response. He was waiting for her in Hagrid's cottage. *How's it going up there?*
She sighed again. *I'm just waiting for the verdict to come in,* she replied, the tiredness she felt creeping into her thoughts.
*You sound exhausted, Glynnie!* She could feel his concern seep into her mind.
*I'm alright, really.* She assured him. *It's just been a bit of a go here. I think poor Professor McGonagall must be in bed by now, I gave her such trouble.*
*Now, my darling, don't let that upset you. These school wands are practically useless. Besides, I've known plenty of wizards who took ages to learn to use one properly. You can't expect to work miracles in two hours with no training with a strange, overused wand.*
*I suppose you're right,* she answered mentally, while physically letting out a very large yawn and stretching hugely.
"Oh, goodness, have we been that long?" asked Albus Dumbledore from the doorway. Glynnis jumped up, embarrassed at having been caught in such an undignified position. "No," she said hastily. "Not at all. Actually I've been doing that quite a lot lately and I'm afraid that with all the preparations for today I guess I haven't been sleeping all that well and I'm . . . I'm rambling, actually. Sorry. I am a bit nervous." She shrugged and smiled ruefully at Professor Dumbledore and his companion. *Gotta go, love. The jury's in,* she sent to Sirius.
Professor Dumbledore chuckled and indicated she should sit. "Quite understandable. Now, how about some tea before we begin? It won't take but a second and I could do with a cup. Glynnis? Alphonse?" At their affirmative nods he took his wand and conjured up a steaming pot and three cups. After he poured and saw to their cream and sugar, he sat back in his chair and smiled at Glynnis.
"My dear," he began, "we are truly amazed at the extent of your abilities . . . "
"Most amazed, madam," interrupted Villeau enthusiastically. "It is incredible that you've come as far as you have untrained." Glynnis turned to the former professor and suppressed a smile. It was still hard for her, even after the time she'd spent with him lately, to get used to the impeccable Oxford accent coming from this very tall man with the wild dread locks and vibrantly tie-died robes. His dark-chocolate colored skin and ebony eyes contrasted sharply with the turquoise and yellow headband he used to tie back the unruly dreads, and only the bright streaks of white in his hair gave any indication of his age. "You are as truly unique among our people as you must be among the Muggles." He beamed at her, his ivory teeth glinting with gold caps.
Glynnis smiled. "Thank you. It's all really only just come about in the past few months. I've rather suppressed it all these years."
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Ahem. As I was saying, remarkable. Now, as to how to proceed . . . "
Professor Villeau interrupted again. "You must being training right away. We don't want to waste any more time now that you've been discovered, and your abilities might well come in handy for . . . "
"Thank you, Alphonse. I know you're excited but I'll fill her in, if you don't mind?" Dumbledore regarded his former subordinate with a gentle, reproving smile. "As I was saying, Glynnis . . . "
"My apologies, old man, I'm just so worked up about having someone else around who can really relate to the things I go through. A true psychic and telepath are very hard to find, you know. It's quite the treat!" He grinned widely at Glynnis and then looked impatiently at Dumbledore. "I say, old man, go on."
Dumbledore nodded. "Thank you, Alphonse. Now, Glynnis," he looked quickly at Villeau, ready to cut off any further interruption if needed, and continued, "you've done very well on all the exams, Professor McGonagall's included."
"Oh dear," she laughed, "how kind of you to say so but I'm afraid I botched it rather neatly."
"Ah, but she was looking for more than whether you could turn a thimble into a mushroom, my dear, she was looking for drive and determination and skill. All of which you have. And, in our opinion you are indeed quite able to take several courses by correspondence, if you so choose."
Something about the way he said this made Glynnis uneasy. Something was up, she could tell. "If I so choose?" she said carefully.
"Truth is, Glynnis, we - that is Professor Villeau, Professor McGonagall, and myself - we feel that your considerable skills could be used elsewhere, if you are so willing."
Glynnis sat very still for a moment and then said the one thing that she'd both dreaded and anticipated ever since she'd rediscovered her abilities. "You want me to use my gifts to help defeat Voldemort."
Dumbledore started slightly, but Villeau simply looked at him with his eyebrows raised as if to say 'I told you so'.
"Well, er, yes, actually. That's about it."
"What would you want me to do?" she asked, certain she knew but wanting to make sure she was right.
The Hogwarts' headmaster folded his hands on his desk and leaned forward. "It's like this, my dear. We have someone inside Voldemort's circle. Someone who can send us information. Unfortunately, it's rather hard to get owls back and forth without someone becoming suspicious and we'd like you to help out."
Villeau reached over and touched her arm. "He could send messages to you. You could forward them on to one of us."
Glynnis looked thoughtfully at the retired teacher. "Why can't you do it?" she asked.
Villeau shrugged. "Quite honestly, I haven't the reach nor the strength that you do. Nor do I have the ability to initiate contact. I can receive when I'm Seeing, or when contacted by a stronger telepath. You can initiate as well as hear when you are 'called' by a non-telepath you have an association with. In short, when we say that your abilities are quite unique, it's really very true. To be blunt, my dear girl, we haven't seen the likes of you in the past hundred years or so."
Glynnis sat back, astonished. Her! Unique! Well, she wasn't expecting that. She said as much. "I mean, I suppose I thought that telepathy was very common. I guess I assumed it was one of those wizard world things that just was."
Villeau nodded sympathetically. "Ah, yes, quite right. A common assumption. One of many made about our kind. It's sad there can't be more communication between our worlds but, regrettably, that's just how it has to be." The room became silent as Villeau and Dumbledore let Glynnis digest what she'd been told. The sky outside darkened as they sat, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Glynnis sighed. "I'd like to think about this, if I may."
"Oh, course, my dear," Dumbledore replied.
"Without a doubt," said Villeau at the same time.
"I'd also like to talk to Sirius and Harry about this, if I can?" She turned to them questioningly.
"That would be fine, Glynnis, but please, tell no one else," Dumbledore warned.
Glynnis nodded. "Of course. I won't. I just need time to take it all in really . . . " Whatever she might have said was interrupted by a loud flapping at the window. Dumbledore waved his wand at the window and it opened, allowing Fawkes to flutter gracefully in. "Oh!" cried Glynnis in surprise and delight. "You must be Fawkes! How beautiful you are." Fawkes nodded at her as if to say "thank you" and preened his feathers. Dumbledore laughed. "Always one to try and impress the ladies, aren't you Fawkes? Well, then, I say we call it a day for now. Glynnis, you get on home and sleep on it, as they say. You know how to reach us if you need to. Alphonse will be around for a few weeks if you have any questions for him and as for myself, you know where I am."
Glynnis stood. "Thank you, Professor Dumbedore, Alphonse. I'll contact you soon." She shook their hands and Dumbledore escorted her to the door. "Ah, here's Harry!" he said with a smile. "Hello, Harry. Come to take Glynnis over to Hagrid's?"
Harry beamed at them. "Yes, sir. We've got quite the feast planned. And Hermione's cooking so we should be safe." They all smiled. The culinary prowess of Hogwarts' gamekeeper was well known to them. Glynnis waved as she walked away. "Good-bye and thanks. I'll be in touch, soon, I promise." And with Dumbledore and Villeau's goodnights following them, Harry and Glynnis walked down the stone staircase, hand in hand. When they reached the hall outside the entrance to Dumbledore's office, Harry turned to her excitedly. "Well?"
She grinned at him. "You'll be helping me with charms soon enough I daresay!"
Harry threw his arms around her and hugged her hard. "That's great!" he cried. "I can't wait to tell the others!"
Glynnis pushed him away gently. "Not yet, Harry. There are things we need to discuss, the three of us. So let's just keep it our secret for now?"
Something in her tone caught Harry's attention. "Is everything okay?" he asked quietly.
She smiled brightly. "Oh, yes! But I don't want to make any decisions until we've had the chance to talk about it as a family, okay?"
Harry smiled back. "As a family," he announced with a nod. "But what will you tell Hermione? And Ron? They'll want to know."
Glynnis thought for a moment. "We'll tell them that I haven't decided what to do yet."
A sneering drawl from behind them interrupted their conversation. "Who's the girlfriend, Potter?"
Harry and Glynnis turned to see Draco Malfoy staring at them unpleasantly. "She's not my girlfriend, Malfoy, she's a guest of Professor Dumbledore's so you'd better show some respect."
"Ooh! A guest of Dumbledore's. How nice," Malfoy simpered sarcastically.
Harry looked at Glynnis as if he might apologize but she cut him off before he could begin. *Want to have some fun?* she sent with a physical wink. And in a tone of voice that Harry didn't think possible from her she asked "Who is this, Harry?"
Harry almost laughed right then because Glynnis made the question sound as if something very slimy and unpleasant had just appeared in her soup.
"Draco Malfoy," he said.
Glynnis looked Draco over very slowly. Her eyes raked him from the top of his thin hair to the soles of his shoes and back up and when her eyes met his again she curled her lip and said, "Oh."
Harry pinched his lips together very tightly and looked away. Glynnis took his arm. "Come, Harry, darling," she said sweetly. "We're dining with the other important guests and I don't wish to be late."
"Not going to introduce us?" asked Malfoy as they walked away, wanting to get the last word.
Glynnis stopped walking and turned to him. She cast one last look at Malfoy and gave an obvious shudder of distaste. "No," she said, and she and Harry quickly disappeared down the hall.
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Glynnis shifted her position on Sirius' lap and cleared her throat. "Well, I guess I should begin, then," she said decisively. "I've been approved to start correspondence classes if I like. However, there's another choice I could make."
Something about the way she said this raised a warning flag with both Sirius and Harry. They exchanged guarded looks. "What kind of choice?" Sirius asked cautiously.
"Well," she said slowly, unsure of quite how to put it, "apparently my ability to both send and receive thoughts from non-telepaths is quite rare and Professor Dumbledore was thinking that perhaps I could put that ability to good use by fielding messages from one of their, uh, operatives, in the field. He feels it would be safer for their person in Voldemort's camp to contact me as to opposed to sending owls all the time."
Sirius stared at her.
"They want you to be a spy?" Harry asked, not sure if he was impressed or terrified.
"Well, yes, I suppose you could call it that. Although I wouldn't actually be the one in the field, I'd just be a sort of relay station so to speak."
Harry wasn't sure he liked this idea. "Are you going to do it?"
"I told them, Professor Dumbledore and Professor Villeau that is, that I wanted to talk it over with you two first." Glynnis said with an uncomfortable smile. "I didn't want to make this decision without consulting you…"
"Absolutely not!" Sirius roared, jumping to his feet, barely catching Glynnis before she toppled forward. "Sorry, love, didn't mean to drop you, but it's out of the question. How they could even consider putting you in that kind of danger, I don't know, but I'll take it up with them, you can be certain of that!"
"Sirius, please! Let's not overreact. I think if we calmly discuss this . . . "
Sirius shook her gently. "I can't believe you'd even consider this! Haven't we all been through enough without placing you directly in the line of fire? As if being my wife and Harry's guardian isn't dangerous enough they want you working directly against Voldemort!? I won't stand for it!"
"Sirius . . . " Harry heard an edge creep into Glynnis' voice that he'd not heard before.
"You are my wife and I'll not have it! That's final."
Harry watched fascinated as Glynnis' fair face turned a deep red. She looked like volcano about to explode. He wondered if she'd spew lava when she erupted and how soon she would blow. He didn't have to wait long.
"FINAL!? YOU'LL not have it!? I'm your WIFE, not your PROPERTY! I'll do as I damn please, Mr. Black, and don't you even think otherwise! I don't know what era you think you're in but this is the 21st century and women are free to make their own choices, married or not! I wanted to discuss this as a family because this entire situation with Voldemort affects us all, especially you two, and if I can help defeat him and live a normal life once again I will if I so choose so don't you go telling me what I can and can't do! I'll do what I damn well think best!"
Sirius stared in stunned fascination at his soft-spoken wife. She'd yelled loud enough to rattle the shutters and Ron would later swear that they could hear her up at the castle. "Glynnis . . . " he began in a very serious tone.
"Don't you 'Glynnis' me Sirius Black." She shook a warning finger in his face. "I won't listen to a thing you have to say until you apologize to Harry."
"Apologize to Harry? For what?"
"You provoked me into swearing in front of him."
"Twice!" Harry added, trying not to grin. He was enjoying this. He knew that Glynnis had a strong backbone, something Sirius had apparently forgotten, and he couldn't wait to see who came out on top of this one.
Sirius cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Harry. Now perhaps you'd better go on back to the dormitory . . . "
"Oh, no you don't! Don't you dare send him away. This affects him as much as you. I said we'd discuss this as a family and I meant it. Harry what do you think I should do?"
Harry thought for a moment. "I really don't know," he said finally. "I don't want to see you put in any danger. But I think that if we're going to have any chance of defeating Voldemort, we have to do what we can. All of us. But, Glynnis, I'll tell you this much. I've faced him and I would never want you to go through that. I had some training and a wand. I also had help from my parents and the others. You'd be helpless."
"How is Professor Dumbledore going to guarantee your safety?" demanded Sirius in a near shout.
Glynnis straightened her spine and raised her chin. "I don't really know. We didn't discuss it in much detail. I thought it would be best to run it by the two of your first. Perhaps I was mistaken about that." Her clipped tone reminded Harry of a prim school teacher and he smiled a little. Still, he realized the seriousness of the task she'd been asked to undertake. "What did he tell you?" he asked.
Sirius was furious. He strode angrily to the fireplace and leaned against the hearth, the heat helping to calm him somewhat. He couldn't believe Glynnis would even consider this! She knew what she meant to him, to Harry. And if Voldemort ever did find out about her, what was to stop him from forcing her to use her abilities for his own purposes? The thought of her succumbing to his power was enough to make him physically ill. And Glynnis hadn't been herself lately. All this preparation for her examinations today had made her sick and tired. Literally. He'd pretended not to notice but it was becoming obvious to him that she was definitely not well. He listened to her calmly discussing the situation and desperately thought of a way to talk her out of taking Dumbledore up on his offer. A sudden lull in the conversation and Glynnis' murmured "Oh, dear" brought him out of his reverie and he turned in time to see Glynnis bolt for the door and rush outside with Harry right behind her calling "Glynnis! Are you okay?"
Sirius caught Harry's arm before he could get out the door. "What's happened?"
Harry looked a little panicked. "We were talking and then she stopped and turned a little green. Then she ran outside. What's wrong with her? Is she ill?"
Sirius patted his arm. "It's all this studying. I've been trying to get her to see Attivus but she keeps saying it's the pressure. She says she never tested well and she was worried about today. I'll see to her. You wait here, and maybe fix up some tea. That will help calm her stomach." Harry nodded, his eyes wide, and watched Sirius leave the cottage.
Sirius walked to the edge of the forest and found Glynnis leaning heavily against a tree. He handed her a handkerchief from his robe pocket and waited while she wiped her mouth. "Are you alright?" he said quietly.
She nodded. "I'm an idiot. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have just sprung this on you both. I should have found out more and prepared you a bit."
Sirius huffed. "I don't think anything could have prepared us for that particular announcement." He was quiet a moment. "Dumbledore and Villeau. They're serious? They really think you can do this?"
Glynnis nodded and turned to rest her back against the tree. "I think it's very important to them. They didn't say so exactly, but I can sense that it's something they really believe I can do. Something only I can do. I didn't mean to upset you and Harry but it is something we do need to consider. Like Harry said, we're all needed in this fight. Muggle and Wizard alike. Because if Voldemort is successful, we'll all suffer. And we've suffered so much already." She reached out a hand and caressed Sirius' face. "I just want to keep the two men I love safe. I thought that by helping Dumbledore, I could do that."
Sirius pulled her close against him and rested his cheek against her hair. "I know. I know. But look what just practicing for today has done to you. You sleep all the time, you're tired, you're sick to your stomach. I can't imagine what having to go into this full time would do to you! I'm worried about you. If anything happened to you, I don't know how we'd get on, Harry and me."
"I just want to help," she muttered into his chest. "I feel so helpless when I'm home and you're out recruiting or running covert errands, and Harry is here." She sighed. "I guess I just want to belong in your world so much I . . . "
Sirius stopped her with a finger against her lips. "You do belong in our world. And it's keeping you in it that has me so upset. I almost lost you once, Glynnie, I can't stand to think of going through that again. Voldemort is evil. I'm afraid if he found about you, he'd find some way to use you against the very people you love. He's powerful enough to do that. Don't you see? I love you so much. Harry loves you, too. And you're so worried about keeping Harry and me safe that you fail to see that all we worry about is keeping you safe."
She smiled. "Are you saying I'm being selfish, Rover?" she teased lightly.
"Selfish?" Sirius replied, incredulously. "You are the most unselfish person I know. That is your greatest virtue - and your weakest." He stood just holding her for a moment. "I just want you to think about this, that's all. Find out what you can. Find out how Dumbledore and Villeau can ensure your safety. And please see Attivus. I know you say it's just stress but I would feel much better if you'd let him look you over." She nodded against his shoulder and he kissed her forehead gently. "Now let's get back. Harry's worried."
Harry watched the exchange from inside the cottage. He was terribly worried about Glynnis. Now that he thought about it, she did look rather pale. He couldn't stand the thought of losing her. Not now. Not after she'd come to mean so much to him. She and Sirius both. They'd been like a real family to him. He'd rather die than see either of them hurt in any way.
Glynnis noticed Harry watching them return. Her heart went out to him. He looked so alone standing in the doorway, as if she and Sirius were lost to him already. She ran the last few yards and took him in her arms.
"I'm alright, love. Really. It's nothing. I've just been upset about today."
"She's promised to go and see Attivus, Harry. He'll see her right again. I promise." Sirius said, laying a comforting hand on his godson's shoulder.
Harry let Glynnis hold him close and comfort him. This is what he'd missed the most all those years at the Dursley's; someone to hold him. And it was funny because he hadn't realized he was missing it until Glynnis took him in her arms that very first day. Her sudden giggle made him look up.
"Oh, Harry! I'm going to have to get you all new clothes when you come home for Christmas! You've grown since September." She held him away from her and Harry realized that he did indeed seem to be nearer her height than when he'd left for school.
Sirius looked Harry up and down."I say, Glynnie, you're right," he said with a grave tone. "Our ickle Harry's growing up sooner than not!"
Harry made a face at Sirius and before long the sounds of their laughter filled the air around the cottage. "Everything will work out," Glynnis thought, gazing fondly at her 'men'. "What else could possibly go wrong?"