A/N-Another Potter story by yours truly. This is in no way related to An Interesting Offer, although some characters are new, and some old characters....well, I'll let you find out. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Potter, including but not limited to Hogwarts, the Hogwarts Express, the Firebolt, and any Potter characters, dead or alive. I do own Rae Bronwyn, but I do not own Rae's uncle or the assumption that he ever was or will be Rae's uncle. Are you happy now, xing?! Who cares if disclaimers mean diddily-squat legally? They're fun!
O, and ~*~*~*~*~*~ means that the test contained between the two thingies is a dream.
~~~~~~~December 18th~~~~~~~
"Harry! Wait up!" I hiked my robes up and ran up to him, my book bag bouncing against my back, my owl hooting and flapping her wings on my shoulder.
"Hi," he said, his voice flat and unemotional.
"What's with you today? Was something weird in that potion that Snape made you make?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't think so," he said in the same dead voice.
I took him by the shoulders and shook him. "Come on, Harry, act normal!"
"Stop it, Rae." He slapped at my hands. "I'm perfectly fine. Now go away."
"No," I said defiantly. "I need to talk to you."
"In the middle of the hallway?" He raised an eyebrow.
I grinned. "All right, fine. I'll talk to you later, before dinner."
"Wait, Rae." Harry raised a hand as if to stop me.
I turned around. "Yeah?"
Harry swallowed visibly. "Can you ask Hermione to meet me later, after dinner? In that room behind the painting that we found last year."
"Sure," I shrugged, the little owl on my shoulder bouncing up and down. "But why don't you ask her yourself?"
He tugged at the collar of his shirt, his face turning red. "Long story. Just...ask her for me, okay?"
I laughed. "Yeah, sure. See you at lunch." I turned and walked down the hallway to my Ancient Runes class, puzzling over Harry and mine's most recent exchange.
~~~~~~~~~~~Gryffindor Dorm Room~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hermione?"
"Yes?" She looked over at me from her position on the bed, a thick book in hand and her reading glasses on.
"Harry told me to tell you to meet him in that room behind the painting that we found last year. Is that out of the ordinary for you, or am I denser than I look?"
"You're denser than you look." Hermione calmly turned a page in her book without cracking a smile.
"Ah." I resumed working on my Potions essay, Orion helpfully keeping her eyes on the page for me.
I should probably explain quite a few things here. Number one: My name is Rae Bronwyn. I am a Welsh half-blood transfer student from Wales (duh). I am in my sixth year here at Hogwarts, and in the Gryffindor house (another duh). I'm sixteen, and way too tall for my age, being an inch away from six feet. Thank god at least most of the boys are taller than me. At any rate, I'm very athletic, having played Quidditch all my life, and I'm blind. I have to use my pet owl, Orion, to help me see what I'm doing. I am basically the guinea pig for a new sort of magic. It's a very long story, and I'd much rather not go into it now. So now that you know the basics of my life, I shall continue with the story.
"Rae?"
"Um." I looked up, but Orion didn't take the hint and kept her eyes on the page. I patted her on the head and she looked toward Hermione, giving me a sharp view of her.
"What do you think Harry wants to see me about?"
"He wants to propose."
Hermione stared, and then threw her book at me, almost knocking Orion off my shoulder.
"Whoa! Don't do that!" I grabbed the little owl and petted her softly until she calmed down.
She bent to retrieve the book. "Sorry, but seriously, what do you think he wants?"
"To ask you to the Christmas thingie."
"Well, that's all right, then." She sat back on her bed staring at the ceiling, a dreamy look on her face, and I wisely kept my traitorous thoughts to myself.
~~~~~~~~Potion's Class~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Professor?" I raised my hand, Orion keeping her eyes on the simmering cauldron for me.
I heard his oversize robes whip around his rail-thin body, and he walked over to stand next to me. Orion looked up in surprise, and I was afforded a not-too-pleasant view up Snape's long nose. Ick. Has the man never heard of tissues?
"Yes, Miss Bronwyn, what do you want?"
"Professor, how many minutes are we supposed to let this potion simmer?"
"My dear Miss Bronwyn," he sneered sarcastically. "I believe I stated at the beginning of class that-" He was interrupted by a whoosh and a splatter from my no-longer simmering caldron. Hot drops of potion hit me, burning holes through my robes, creating massive blisters on my skin, and singeing Orion's feathers. I cried out in pain, and Orion screeched horribly.
Snape took out his wand and muttered something, and a icy blue light shot from it, lifting up the cauldron and floating it over to sit near Snape's desk. "Miss Bronwyn," he said coldly. "In my office, now."
I turned to look at Hermione, Orion looking with me, but all she did was shrug as if to say, "What can I do?" I nodded slowly and walked into the office.
It was a bare room, holding only a desk, a chair, and shelves upon shelves which held all manners of hideous things floating in dingy water. I shuddered involuntarily, and tried not to lean against anything. I heard Snape yelling at Neville in the other room, and Orion turned her head to look through the door.
A few minutes later, I heard Snape stride into the office and seat himself at the chair behind the desk. Orion was looking elsewhere, so I couldn't tell exactly what he was doing.
"Miss Bronwyn, come here," he said icily.
I walked slowly over to his desk, standing a foot or so away from it.
"Were you not paying attention at the beginning of class?"
"Sir, I would have paid attention, only Orion wasn't looking at you, and I was distracted."
"I see, and where was Orion looking?"
"I believe, sir, that that is none of your business," I said quietly.
There was a sharp intake of breath. "Miss Bronwyn, you are coming dangerously close to insubordination. You are already receiving two detentions-"
"Two detentions?!" I cried, outraged.
He stood up, leaning over the desk. "Yes. Two detentions. One for not listening at the beginning of class, another for putting the wrong ingredients into the potion. It will not explode, even if simmered too long, if four porcupine quills are added instead of three." Snape walked around the desk. "Your first detention is tonight in my office. Be here at eight. Now leave and go clean up that mess."
I sighed and turned around, enraged inside at the injustice that I had been delt.
~~~~~~~~~~~At dinner that night~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ouch!"
"Sorry Rae."
I glared at Seamus, rubbing my bandaged hand. "You twit. I've been burnt once today already, do I really need another one?"
"I didn't mean to spill it on you. I said I was sorry. What's with you tonight?" Seamus plopped the ladle back into the soup tureen, splashing more veal stew around.
Sighing, I swirled my spoon around in the bowl. "Snape gave me another detention tonight," I explained.
"Another one?" Hermione shook her head. "That's the fourth one this month."
"Maybe he's PMSing, and he likes taking it out on you," Harry suggested.
Hermione smacked him lightly on the head. "You nut."
"I know."
I grinned. "You know, you guys make a really good couple."
Harry stared at me. "You just noticed that?"
A small owl fluttering down amongst the breadbasket and the vegetable dish interrupted my reply. I reached forward and untied the note from its leg, and it hooted in appreciation before flying off with a roll from the breadbasket.
I held the note up to Orion, and read it through her.
"Miss Bronwyn,
Your Uncle owled us a few moments ago. He would like you to meet him in my office at 8:00 tonight. If this agrees with your schedule, please send the owl or Orion back with a message.
Thank you,
Prof. Dumbledore"
Orion looked up at the staff table, but I tapped her head and she looked back down at the paper for me. I borrowed Ron's quill and hastily scribbled a reply on the back.
"Professor Dumbledore,
Professor Snape has given me a detention for eight o'clock tonight, so I am afraid that I will not be able to make it. Sorry.
-Rae Bronwyn"
I took out my wand and unbound Orion from me, surrendering myself to the darkness for a few minutes. After tying the letter to her leg, I sat staring sightlessly at the table before a soft hoot heralded her return. I gratefully performed the spell that would let me see again and read his reply.
"Miss Bronwyn,
I have spoken with Professor Snape and he has agreed to allow you to leave from his detention early. Come to my office at 8:30, and we shall talk then.
Sincerely,
Prof. Dumbledore"
I sighed in relief and resumed my abandoned meal.
~~~~~~~~~~~8:00 that night~~~~~~~~~~
I knocked hesitantly on the thick oak door of the Potions office, and upon hearing Snape's gruff, "Come in," I opened the door and stepped in, walking to stand in front of his desk.
"I'm here for my detention, Professor."
Snape stood up and walked around from behind his desk. "I have already been informed that you are due in the Headmaster's office at 8:30. However, half an hour is not near enough time for a real detention, so, instead of that, I believe that I will hold onto Orion for a while. I trust that you can find your way to the Headmaster's office on your own?" His voice was soft and silky, and made my stomach squirm as if it was trying to get rid of my dinner.
Snape knew perfectly well that I couldn't get to Dumbledore's office on my own. He knew perfectly well that a blind person needs at least three weeks in total darkness to be able to find their way around a place so huge as Hogwarts. I had Orion, so I was never in complete darkness.
However, I choked back a sob and nodded. What else could I do?
He lifted Orion from my shoulder, and she hooted and flapped her wings. I was afforded the strange and distorted view of my own drawn and pale face, before he said, "Unbind the owl."
I nodded again and slowly whispered the words, plunging myself into the dark.
"Thank you, Miss Bronwyn," I heard him say. "I will keep the owl here until tomorrow. You may retrieve her before breakfast. Now get out."
I turned and ran from the room, dragging my hand along the walls and a sob tearing itself from my throat.
Twenty minutes later, I was stumbling through an unfamiliar corridor when I heard McGonagall's voice.
"Miss Bronwyn? What are you doing here? And where is your owl?" All the teachers were aware of my disability and my need for Orion.
"Professor Snape took her, ma'am." I swallowed. "She is paying my detention."
I felt McGonagall's hand on my arm, and was grateful for her helping hand. "Where are you going? I'll help get you there."
"Professor Dumbledore's office." She led me through hallways and up numerous stairways before we stopped in front of what I assumed was the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office.
"Wait here please, Miss Bronwyn." Her guiding hand left my arm, and I stood there in oblivion while she whispered the password to the gargoyle and walked up the moving stairway. A few minutes later, McGonagall reappeared and led me up the stairway and through Dumbledore's office door.
I stumbled and fell on the threshold, and I heard my uncle leap up as I struggled to stand. All of a sudden I felt his hand grip my shoulder and he guided me to an overstuffed chair. I gratefully sank down, the feeling coming back into my feet. I heard my uncle sit down across from me, and I sighed in resignation of the interrogation to come.
Sure enough, the first words out of my uncle's mouth were: "Where is Orion?"
I groaned and sank further into the chair. When I spoke, my voice was muffled and shaky. "Professor Snape has her. He took her away to pay for my detention."
My uncle cried, outraged, "What do you mean, he took her away?"
I sighed again. "It means exactly what I said," I explained. "He took her away from me. He made me undo the spell, so now I can't see again."
Professor Dumbledore spoke for the first time. "Miss Bronwyn, why don't you try the spell with Fawkes?"
I started to explain that the spell would only work with specially qualified owls, but Dumbledore insisted, so I called Fawkes over. He sat on my shoulder, and I performed the spell as I had done a hundred times before, being totally unprepared for the sensory explosion that awaited me.
It was amazing. I was sent reeling by the phoenix's sight. There seemed to be a sort of halo around everything, only not the kind you get when your vision is blurry. More like....like an aura. It was odd....everyone's were different colors. McGonagall's was a harsh, icy blue, my uncle's was a soft gray, and Dumbledore's...Dumbledore's was the oddest. It kept on changing colors, but the colors were always muted and quiet. The experience was interesting, to say the least. Maybe the auras meant something about the person....like McGonagall's was easy, because she was a cold and harsh sort of person, and Dumbledore's was the oddest, since it was never the same two colors.
I sat down, still dizzy from the overload of sensory input. My uncle spoke up, and I looked toward him, Fawkes moving with me.
"Albus, do you think that we could get Professor Snape up here? I'd like to find the meaning behind his abuse of my niece."
"Now now, I don't believe this qualifies quite as abuse, but I will admit that it's a bit uncalled for." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, the light sparking off of his half-moon glasses.
"Doesn't qualify as abuse? Albus, have you lost your mind?! Rae cannot see a thing without that owl!" My normally calm uncle's voice was raised to the point of cracking.
"Alright, you've made your point. Minerva, please inform Professor Snape that I would like to see him in my office."
McGonagall nodded and walked out of the room, the blue aura lingering for a few moments after she left.
We sat in stony silence for a few minutes, and then we heard muffled shrieking and a pounding as Snape ran up the stairs. The door burst open, and Snape stood there, bony chest heaving, and pointed a thin, accusing finger at my uncle.
"You! Lupin! What are you doing here? Fudge banned you from school grounds!"
Remus Lupin smiled thinly. "No. He did not."
"Severus, sit down!" Dumbledore said sharply.
Snape sat in an overstuffed chair, not leaning back and keeping his eyes on Lupin's every move. "What do you want, Lupin? Why are you here?" Snape's aura was a bright, almost flaming orange. Who knows? Maybe there was some inner conflict or turmoil in there, or maybe even pain and regret.
"Why did you take my niece's owl away when you know that she cannot function without it?!"
Good lord, he was making me sound like a goddamn machine! "Uncle Lupin-" I started, but Snape interrupted.
"You niece had concocted a potion so vile that it burned holes in the stone floor of my dungeon! She had not listened at the beginning of class, and the potion exploded. I had no choice but to punish her, and since Professor Dumbledore had shortened her detention time, I confiscated her pet."
"Orion's not a pet!" I stood up, furious at the lack of respect both men were showing toward my only connection to the visible world. "She's the only way that I can see, and you, Professor Snape, would strip me of that dignity and send my crawling through the hallways, at the mercy of every passing person!"
"She's right, Severus," Dumbledore said quietly. "Minerva told me that Rae was in the fifth floor corridor. No student has ever been there. That is strictly a teacher's hallway. Now Miss Bronwyn, please sit down and we will settle this matter calmly."
I sat down, and Fawkes dug his claws into my shoulder, making me wince.
Lupin spoke up again. "Why couldn't you just reschedule Rae's detention for a later time?"
Snape smiled thinly. "I believe in punishing students when their crime is still fresh in their minds."
His remark was met by silence. Dumbledore stood up. "I think we have this matter cleared up. Severus, you will go and retrieve Miss Bronwyn's owl and bring her up to my office immediately. Remus, I believe there was something that you wanted to discuss with Rae?"
"Er, yes. Rae? You're not going to be able to live with me this summer."
"What?!"
"I'm going on a trip down to Australia. The Ministry of Magic there is trying to pass a Werewolf Protection Act, and they need someone to speak in favor of it and," Lupin shrugged helplessly. "Albus thought I was the best man for the job."
"So where am I going?"
"You'll live here over the summer."
I sat there, thinking it over. "Well. That's not too bad...."
Lupin and Dumbledore stood up, and I took the hint. "It's late, Rae." Lupin said gently. "Get back to Gryffindor Tower, and say hello to Harry for me, please."
I nodded, and turned to go, but the door opened ahead of me, Snape standing there, clutching Orion in one hand.
"Orion!" I cried, and grabbed her from him, smoothing her ruffled feathers. I glared at Snape, and unbound Fawkes from me, quickly performing the spell on Orion. I said goodbye to Lupin and Dumbledore and brushed past Snape without a word.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Gryffindor 6th Year Girl's Dorm, 2:00 AM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sleep had finally come to me after hours of lying awake and staring at the bare ceiling. But there was to be no refuge in sleep for me tonight. The Dream came to me again, as it had done for years, playing out that terrible tragedy ten years ago.....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"G'night, Mum."
"Good night, Darling." My mother looked up from her book, and my father waved goodnight to me from his position in the basket chair near the fire.
I padded past them on bare feet to my cozy little room, where my little pet owl Orion was sitting in her cage asleep, and I curled up in my nice warm bed. I slept soundlessly for a while, until-
"Matthew?" My mother's terrified voice broke through the thin veil of sleep that held me silent. "Matthew, Remus just sent an owl."
I heard my father stand up and walk over to her. He'd be standing next to her, reading my uncle's letter over her shoulder. "What's he have to say, Eve?"
"He says that-"
She was interrupted by the sound of the glass on the front picture window shattering, falling inwards. My mother screamed, and my father shouted in alarm. Two unfamiliar voices laughed, and a bright orange light flashed through the hallways. Everything was silent, except for the crunching of glass underneath the intruders' feet.
"Is there anyone else in the house?" A low gruff voice, coming nearer. I burrowed under the covers, listening hard.
A high pitched voice, but still male, responded. "Yes, they've got a kid. A little girl, six years old."
Low Voice laughed. "Good, I love hurting innocent little kiddies."
"Eeeep...." I squeaked out, terrified out of my wits.
Two sets of footsteps entered my room, and my safe little haven of blankets and pillows was yanked back by a huge meaty hand, and a voice shouted, "Mobili Corpus!"
I was lifted up and slammed back against the wall. I screamed in agony, sure that something was broken, sure that I would die this night.
Low Voice laughed horribly, and I fell silent. I could not see either of their faces; both wore black hoods and cloaks and robes, and each wore a mask, so that only their mouth was visible. High Voice was shorter and pudgier than Low Voice, who was tall and bulky, presumably muscular.
"No one here to save you now!" High Voice cackled. "Mommy and Daddy are dead!"
"No!" I cried out, praying to whatever good and holy deity existed that these men were lying, that this was nothing but an awful dream.
"Yes, oh yes indeed." Low Voice pointed his wand at me, and I stopped struggling. "You won't die, girlie, but you will wish you had." He pulled off his mask, revealing heavy eyebrows over dark sunken eyes, a hooked nose, and a scar dug underneath his left eye. "It won't matter that you've seen me, because you'll never be able to tell anyone what you saw!" He laughed again, and I screamed, praying that someone, anyone would come. "Shut UP!" Low Voice hit me with his wand.
"Just get it over with, Brooke!" High Voice was getting agitated.
Low Voice, or Brooke, shrugged. "Alright then. Siteninius!"
The world went black. Nothing was visible, everything was dark. I couldn't see. I was blind. "Noooo!" I cried, sobbing like the child that I was.
"What?" Brooke's voice again. "She's supposed to not be able to talk!"
"You idiot! That's the wrong spell! Come on, someone's coming, there's no time to fix it. Leave her be."
Brooke let go of me, and I slid to the floor in a heap, still crying. Brooke and the other man ran out of the room, and a few moments later I heard the sound of spells being shouted and screams outside.
I lay there for God knows how long, when suddenly someone was holding me, rocking me back and forth. "Shhhhh...." My uncle's voice whispered, heavy with grief and tears. "Shhh, Rae. It's going to be alright."
"Uncle Lupin?" I whispered.
"Yes, Rae, it's me."
"Who were those men?"
"Death Eaters, honey."
"Uncle Lupin?"
"Yes, Rae."
"Why can't I see?"
"What?!" Lupin's voice cracked. "Dear God. No, no no....." He started crying, his tears mingling with my own. "I'll fix it, Rae," He whispered again. "I swear to God I'll fix it."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Noooooo!" I sat up in bed, tangled in the sheets, damp with sweat and tears.
"Unhm...Rae?" Hermione's sleep muffled voice broke through my terror.
"Go back to sleep, Hermione." I muttered.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, only a nightmare."
I heard Hermione swing her legs over the edge of her bed. "Rae, that's the eleventh time this year you've had a nightmare, and it's only December. What's with you?"
"I told you," I said, my voice cracking. "I've been studying too hard. Now go back to sleep."
I heard her shrug and lay back down, and I did so too, knowing that there was no possible way that I would sleep tonight.
~~~~~~~~~~~December 23rd, Lunch~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seamus plopped down beside me at the table, startling Orion. "Hi Rae."
"Hey Seamus." I twiddled my fingers at him, and took another bite of my salad.
"Er, are you going to the Christmas Dance with anyone yet?"
I smiled to myself. "No, Seamus, I'm not. Let me guess...you want me to go with you?"
Seamus reddened. "Yes..." He muttered.
I smiled again. "Of course I'll go with you. Thanks for asking!"
Seamus turned redder. "I'm glad. I was afraid to ask, since someone told me that Draco Malfoy asked you. But I guess you're not going with him."
I raised an eyebrow. "No, he didn't ask me, and no, I wouldn't go with him if he had."
Seamus looked extremely relieved. "Good, considering that I wouldn't piss on the little bugger if he were on fire, anyways."
I laughed, and Seamus grinned, embarrassed. Things were turning out right, after all.
I finished with my lunch and stood up. "I'm heading back to Gryffindor tower. Anyone care to join me?"
Seamus waved me away and said, "I'll be up in a few minutes, Rae."
Ron stood up. "Yeah, sure. I'm done, anyways."
Hermione nodded. "Same here."
We all started off toward the Great Hall doors, when we were accosted by Snape. "Miss Bronwyn," he said, his black eyes flashing. "Dumbledore has told me that you are to meet him in his office. Now."
I shrugged and waved goodbye to Hermione and Ron, and walked off to Dumbledore's office. To my surprise, Snape fell into step beside me.
"What are you doing?" I asked, bewildered. I had been attempting to avoid this man ever since last week's detentions.
"Dumbledore wanted to see me, too," he said gruffly, and fell silent, obviously not wanting to continue this so-called 'discussion'.
I shrugged, and continued on up the stairs, Orion's claws firmly in my shoulder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N-That's all for now, folks. This chapter is dedicated to my wonderfully inspiring Science teacher, Mr. Forde, who deserves all the Teacher of the Year awards he can get!
In the next chapter: We discover something interesting about Snape's past and Rae's mom, and Lupin makes another appearance. We also see something of Sirius. Hooray!
Additional Disclaimer: the 'I wouldn't piss on him even if he were on fire' quote (which I twisted considerably) comes from Draco Sinister, which unfortunatly you cannot read since xing has blacklisted Cassandra Claire from ff.n on charges of plagerism. Phooey, xing!
Until next time,
Fyrn Lupin
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Potter, including but not limited to Hogwarts, the Hogwarts Express, the Firebolt, and any Potter characters, dead or alive. I do own Rae Bronwyn, but I do not own Rae's uncle or the assumption that he ever was or will be Rae's uncle. Are you happy now, xing?! Who cares if disclaimers mean diddily-squat legally? They're fun!
O, and ~*~*~*~*~*~ means that the test contained between the two thingies is a dream.
~~~~~~~December 18th~~~~~~~
"Harry! Wait up!" I hiked my robes up and ran up to him, my book bag bouncing against my back, my owl hooting and flapping her wings on my shoulder.
"Hi," he said, his voice flat and unemotional.
"What's with you today? Was something weird in that potion that Snape made you make?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't think so," he said in the same dead voice.
I took him by the shoulders and shook him. "Come on, Harry, act normal!"
"Stop it, Rae." He slapped at my hands. "I'm perfectly fine. Now go away."
"No," I said defiantly. "I need to talk to you."
"In the middle of the hallway?" He raised an eyebrow.
I grinned. "All right, fine. I'll talk to you later, before dinner."
"Wait, Rae." Harry raised a hand as if to stop me.
I turned around. "Yeah?"
Harry swallowed visibly. "Can you ask Hermione to meet me later, after dinner? In that room behind the painting that we found last year."
"Sure," I shrugged, the little owl on my shoulder bouncing up and down. "But why don't you ask her yourself?"
He tugged at the collar of his shirt, his face turning red. "Long story. Just...ask her for me, okay?"
I laughed. "Yeah, sure. See you at lunch." I turned and walked down the hallway to my Ancient Runes class, puzzling over Harry and mine's most recent exchange.
~~~~~~~~~~~Gryffindor Dorm Room~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hermione?"
"Yes?" She looked over at me from her position on the bed, a thick book in hand and her reading glasses on.
"Harry told me to tell you to meet him in that room behind the painting that we found last year. Is that out of the ordinary for you, or am I denser than I look?"
"You're denser than you look." Hermione calmly turned a page in her book without cracking a smile.
"Ah." I resumed working on my Potions essay, Orion helpfully keeping her eyes on the page for me.
I should probably explain quite a few things here. Number one: My name is Rae Bronwyn. I am a Welsh half-blood transfer student from Wales (duh). I am in my sixth year here at Hogwarts, and in the Gryffindor house (another duh). I'm sixteen, and way too tall for my age, being an inch away from six feet. Thank god at least most of the boys are taller than me. At any rate, I'm very athletic, having played Quidditch all my life, and I'm blind. I have to use my pet owl, Orion, to help me see what I'm doing. I am basically the guinea pig for a new sort of magic. It's a very long story, and I'd much rather not go into it now. So now that you know the basics of my life, I shall continue with the story.
"Rae?"
"Um." I looked up, but Orion didn't take the hint and kept her eyes on the page. I patted her on the head and she looked toward Hermione, giving me a sharp view of her.
"What do you think Harry wants to see me about?"
"He wants to propose."
Hermione stared, and then threw her book at me, almost knocking Orion off my shoulder.
"Whoa! Don't do that!" I grabbed the little owl and petted her softly until she calmed down.
She bent to retrieve the book. "Sorry, but seriously, what do you think he wants?"
"To ask you to the Christmas thingie."
"Well, that's all right, then." She sat back on her bed staring at the ceiling, a dreamy look on her face, and I wisely kept my traitorous thoughts to myself.
~~~~~~~~Potion's Class~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Professor?" I raised my hand, Orion keeping her eyes on the simmering cauldron for me.
I heard his oversize robes whip around his rail-thin body, and he walked over to stand next to me. Orion looked up in surprise, and I was afforded a not-too-pleasant view up Snape's long nose. Ick. Has the man never heard of tissues?
"Yes, Miss Bronwyn, what do you want?"
"Professor, how many minutes are we supposed to let this potion simmer?"
"My dear Miss Bronwyn," he sneered sarcastically. "I believe I stated at the beginning of class that-" He was interrupted by a whoosh and a splatter from my no-longer simmering caldron. Hot drops of potion hit me, burning holes through my robes, creating massive blisters on my skin, and singeing Orion's feathers. I cried out in pain, and Orion screeched horribly.
Snape took out his wand and muttered something, and a icy blue light shot from it, lifting up the cauldron and floating it over to sit near Snape's desk. "Miss Bronwyn," he said coldly. "In my office, now."
I turned to look at Hermione, Orion looking with me, but all she did was shrug as if to say, "What can I do?" I nodded slowly and walked into the office.
It was a bare room, holding only a desk, a chair, and shelves upon shelves which held all manners of hideous things floating in dingy water. I shuddered involuntarily, and tried not to lean against anything. I heard Snape yelling at Neville in the other room, and Orion turned her head to look through the door.
A few minutes later, I heard Snape stride into the office and seat himself at the chair behind the desk. Orion was looking elsewhere, so I couldn't tell exactly what he was doing.
"Miss Bronwyn, come here," he said icily.
I walked slowly over to his desk, standing a foot or so away from it.
"Were you not paying attention at the beginning of class?"
"Sir, I would have paid attention, only Orion wasn't looking at you, and I was distracted."
"I see, and where was Orion looking?"
"I believe, sir, that that is none of your business," I said quietly.
There was a sharp intake of breath. "Miss Bronwyn, you are coming dangerously close to insubordination. You are already receiving two detentions-"
"Two detentions?!" I cried, outraged.
He stood up, leaning over the desk. "Yes. Two detentions. One for not listening at the beginning of class, another for putting the wrong ingredients into the potion. It will not explode, even if simmered too long, if four porcupine quills are added instead of three." Snape walked around the desk. "Your first detention is tonight in my office. Be here at eight. Now leave and go clean up that mess."
I sighed and turned around, enraged inside at the injustice that I had been delt.
~~~~~~~~~~~At dinner that night~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ouch!"
"Sorry Rae."
I glared at Seamus, rubbing my bandaged hand. "You twit. I've been burnt once today already, do I really need another one?"
"I didn't mean to spill it on you. I said I was sorry. What's with you tonight?" Seamus plopped the ladle back into the soup tureen, splashing more veal stew around.
Sighing, I swirled my spoon around in the bowl. "Snape gave me another detention tonight," I explained.
"Another one?" Hermione shook her head. "That's the fourth one this month."
"Maybe he's PMSing, and he likes taking it out on you," Harry suggested.
Hermione smacked him lightly on the head. "You nut."
"I know."
I grinned. "You know, you guys make a really good couple."
Harry stared at me. "You just noticed that?"
A small owl fluttering down amongst the breadbasket and the vegetable dish interrupted my reply. I reached forward and untied the note from its leg, and it hooted in appreciation before flying off with a roll from the breadbasket.
I held the note up to Orion, and read it through her.
"Miss Bronwyn,
Your Uncle owled us a few moments ago. He would like you to meet him in my office at 8:00 tonight. If this agrees with your schedule, please send the owl or Orion back with a message.
Thank you,
Prof. Dumbledore"
Orion looked up at the staff table, but I tapped her head and she looked back down at the paper for me. I borrowed Ron's quill and hastily scribbled a reply on the back.
"Professor Dumbledore,
Professor Snape has given me a detention for eight o'clock tonight, so I am afraid that I will not be able to make it. Sorry.
-Rae Bronwyn"
I took out my wand and unbound Orion from me, surrendering myself to the darkness for a few minutes. After tying the letter to her leg, I sat staring sightlessly at the table before a soft hoot heralded her return. I gratefully performed the spell that would let me see again and read his reply.
"Miss Bronwyn,
I have spoken with Professor Snape and he has agreed to allow you to leave from his detention early. Come to my office at 8:30, and we shall talk then.
Sincerely,
Prof. Dumbledore"
I sighed in relief and resumed my abandoned meal.
~~~~~~~~~~~8:00 that night~~~~~~~~~~
I knocked hesitantly on the thick oak door of the Potions office, and upon hearing Snape's gruff, "Come in," I opened the door and stepped in, walking to stand in front of his desk.
"I'm here for my detention, Professor."
Snape stood up and walked around from behind his desk. "I have already been informed that you are due in the Headmaster's office at 8:30. However, half an hour is not near enough time for a real detention, so, instead of that, I believe that I will hold onto Orion for a while. I trust that you can find your way to the Headmaster's office on your own?" His voice was soft and silky, and made my stomach squirm as if it was trying to get rid of my dinner.
Snape knew perfectly well that I couldn't get to Dumbledore's office on my own. He knew perfectly well that a blind person needs at least three weeks in total darkness to be able to find their way around a place so huge as Hogwarts. I had Orion, so I was never in complete darkness.
However, I choked back a sob and nodded. What else could I do?
He lifted Orion from my shoulder, and she hooted and flapped her wings. I was afforded the strange and distorted view of my own drawn and pale face, before he said, "Unbind the owl."
I nodded again and slowly whispered the words, plunging myself into the dark.
"Thank you, Miss Bronwyn," I heard him say. "I will keep the owl here until tomorrow. You may retrieve her before breakfast. Now get out."
I turned and ran from the room, dragging my hand along the walls and a sob tearing itself from my throat.
Twenty minutes later, I was stumbling through an unfamiliar corridor when I heard McGonagall's voice.
"Miss Bronwyn? What are you doing here? And where is your owl?" All the teachers were aware of my disability and my need for Orion.
"Professor Snape took her, ma'am." I swallowed. "She is paying my detention."
I felt McGonagall's hand on my arm, and was grateful for her helping hand. "Where are you going? I'll help get you there."
"Professor Dumbledore's office." She led me through hallways and up numerous stairways before we stopped in front of what I assumed was the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office.
"Wait here please, Miss Bronwyn." Her guiding hand left my arm, and I stood there in oblivion while she whispered the password to the gargoyle and walked up the moving stairway. A few minutes later, McGonagall reappeared and led me up the stairway and through Dumbledore's office door.
I stumbled and fell on the threshold, and I heard my uncle leap up as I struggled to stand. All of a sudden I felt his hand grip my shoulder and he guided me to an overstuffed chair. I gratefully sank down, the feeling coming back into my feet. I heard my uncle sit down across from me, and I sighed in resignation of the interrogation to come.
Sure enough, the first words out of my uncle's mouth were: "Where is Orion?"
I groaned and sank further into the chair. When I spoke, my voice was muffled and shaky. "Professor Snape has her. He took her away to pay for my detention."
My uncle cried, outraged, "What do you mean, he took her away?"
I sighed again. "It means exactly what I said," I explained. "He took her away from me. He made me undo the spell, so now I can't see again."
Professor Dumbledore spoke for the first time. "Miss Bronwyn, why don't you try the spell with Fawkes?"
I started to explain that the spell would only work with specially qualified owls, but Dumbledore insisted, so I called Fawkes over. He sat on my shoulder, and I performed the spell as I had done a hundred times before, being totally unprepared for the sensory explosion that awaited me.
It was amazing. I was sent reeling by the phoenix's sight. There seemed to be a sort of halo around everything, only not the kind you get when your vision is blurry. More like....like an aura. It was odd....everyone's were different colors. McGonagall's was a harsh, icy blue, my uncle's was a soft gray, and Dumbledore's...Dumbledore's was the oddest. It kept on changing colors, but the colors were always muted and quiet. The experience was interesting, to say the least. Maybe the auras meant something about the person....like McGonagall's was easy, because she was a cold and harsh sort of person, and Dumbledore's was the oddest, since it was never the same two colors.
I sat down, still dizzy from the overload of sensory input. My uncle spoke up, and I looked toward him, Fawkes moving with me.
"Albus, do you think that we could get Professor Snape up here? I'd like to find the meaning behind his abuse of my niece."
"Now now, I don't believe this qualifies quite as abuse, but I will admit that it's a bit uncalled for." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, the light sparking off of his half-moon glasses.
"Doesn't qualify as abuse? Albus, have you lost your mind?! Rae cannot see a thing without that owl!" My normally calm uncle's voice was raised to the point of cracking.
"Alright, you've made your point. Minerva, please inform Professor Snape that I would like to see him in my office."
McGonagall nodded and walked out of the room, the blue aura lingering for a few moments after she left.
We sat in stony silence for a few minutes, and then we heard muffled shrieking and a pounding as Snape ran up the stairs. The door burst open, and Snape stood there, bony chest heaving, and pointed a thin, accusing finger at my uncle.
"You! Lupin! What are you doing here? Fudge banned you from school grounds!"
Remus Lupin smiled thinly. "No. He did not."
"Severus, sit down!" Dumbledore said sharply.
Snape sat in an overstuffed chair, not leaning back and keeping his eyes on Lupin's every move. "What do you want, Lupin? Why are you here?" Snape's aura was a bright, almost flaming orange. Who knows? Maybe there was some inner conflict or turmoil in there, or maybe even pain and regret.
"Why did you take my niece's owl away when you know that she cannot function without it?!"
Good lord, he was making me sound like a goddamn machine! "Uncle Lupin-" I started, but Snape interrupted.
"You niece had concocted a potion so vile that it burned holes in the stone floor of my dungeon! She had not listened at the beginning of class, and the potion exploded. I had no choice but to punish her, and since Professor Dumbledore had shortened her detention time, I confiscated her pet."
"Orion's not a pet!" I stood up, furious at the lack of respect both men were showing toward my only connection to the visible world. "She's the only way that I can see, and you, Professor Snape, would strip me of that dignity and send my crawling through the hallways, at the mercy of every passing person!"
"She's right, Severus," Dumbledore said quietly. "Minerva told me that Rae was in the fifth floor corridor. No student has ever been there. That is strictly a teacher's hallway. Now Miss Bronwyn, please sit down and we will settle this matter calmly."
I sat down, and Fawkes dug his claws into my shoulder, making me wince.
Lupin spoke up again. "Why couldn't you just reschedule Rae's detention for a later time?"
Snape smiled thinly. "I believe in punishing students when their crime is still fresh in their minds."
His remark was met by silence. Dumbledore stood up. "I think we have this matter cleared up. Severus, you will go and retrieve Miss Bronwyn's owl and bring her up to my office immediately. Remus, I believe there was something that you wanted to discuss with Rae?"
"Er, yes. Rae? You're not going to be able to live with me this summer."
"What?!"
"I'm going on a trip down to Australia. The Ministry of Magic there is trying to pass a Werewolf Protection Act, and they need someone to speak in favor of it and," Lupin shrugged helplessly. "Albus thought I was the best man for the job."
"So where am I going?"
"You'll live here over the summer."
I sat there, thinking it over. "Well. That's not too bad...."
Lupin and Dumbledore stood up, and I took the hint. "It's late, Rae." Lupin said gently. "Get back to Gryffindor Tower, and say hello to Harry for me, please."
I nodded, and turned to go, but the door opened ahead of me, Snape standing there, clutching Orion in one hand.
"Orion!" I cried, and grabbed her from him, smoothing her ruffled feathers. I glared at Snape, and unbound Fawkes from me, quickly performing the spell on Orion. I said goodbye to Lupin and Dumbledore and brushed past Snape without a word.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Gryffindor 6th Year Girl's Dorm, 2:00 AM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sleep had finally come to me after hours of lying awake and staring at the bare ceiling. But there was to be no refuge in sleep for me tonight. The Dream came to me again, as it had done for years, playing out that terrible tragedy ten years ago.....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"G'night, Mum."
"Good night, Darling." My mother looked up from her book, and my father waved goodnight to me from his position in the basket chair near the fire.
I padded past them on bare feet to my cozy little room, where my little pet owl Orion was sitting in her cage asleep, and I curled up in my nice warm bed. I slept soundlessly for a while, until-
"Matthew?" My mother's terrified voice broke through the thin veil of sleep that held me silent. "Matthew, Remus just sent an owl."
I heard my father stand up and walk over to her. He'd be standing next to her, reading my uncle's letter over her shoulder. "What's he have to say, Eve?"
"He says that-"
She was interrupted by the sound of the glass on the front picture window shattering, falling inwards. My mother screamed, and my father shouted in alarm. Two unfamiliar voices laughed, and a bright orange light flashed through the hallways. Everything was silent, except for the crunching of glass underneath the intruders' feet.
"Is there anyone else in the house?" A low gruff voice, coming nearer. I burrowed under the covers, listening hard.
A high pitched voice, but still male, responded. "Yes, they've got a kid. A little girl, six years old."
Low Voice laughed. "Good, I love hurting innocent little kiddies."
"Eeeep...." I squeaked out, terrified out of my wits.
Two sets of footsteps entered my room, and my safe little haven of blankets and pillows was yanked back by a huge meaty hand, and a voice shouted, "Mobili Corpus!"
I was lifted up and slammed back against the wall. I screamed in agony, sure that something was broken, sure that I would die this night.
Low Voice laughed horribly, and I fell silent. I could not see either of their faces; both wore black hoods and cloaks and robes, and each wore a mask, so that only their mouth was visible. High Voice was shorter and pudgier than Low Voice, who was tall and bulky, presumably muscular.
"No one here to save you now!" High Voice cackled. "Mommy and Daddy are dead!"
"No!" I cried out, praying to whatever good and holy deity existed that these men were lying, that this was nothing but an awful dream.
"Yes, oh yes indeed." Low Voice pointed his wand at me, and I stopped struggling. "You won't die, girlie, but you will wish you had." He pulled off his mask, revealing heavy eyebrows over dark sunken eyes, a hooked nose, and a scar dug underneath his left eye. "It won't matter that you've seen me, because you'll never be able to tell anyone what you saw!" He laughed again, and I screamed, praying that someone, anyone would come. "Shut UP!" Low Voice hit me with his wand.
"Just get it over with, Brooke!" High Voice was getting agitated.
Low Voice, or Brooke, shrugged. "Alright then. Siteninius!"
The world went black. Nothing was visible, everything was dark. I couldn't see. I was blind. "Noooo!" I cried, sobbing like the child that I was.
"What?" Brooke's voice again. "She's supposed to not be able to talk!"
"You idiot! That's the wrong spell! Come on, someone's coming, there's no time to fix it. Leave her be."
Brooke let go of me, and I slid to the floor in a heap, still crying. Brooke and the other man ran out of the room, and a few moments later I heard the sound of spells being shouted and screams outside.
I lay there for God knows how long, when suddenly someone was holding me, rocking me back and forth. "Shhhhh...." My uncle's voice whispered, heavy with grief and tears. "Shhh, Rae. It's going to be alright."
"Uncle Lupin?" I whispered.
"Yes, Rae, it's me."
"Who were those men?"
"Death Eaters, honey."
"Uncle Lupin?"
"Yes, Rae."
"Why can't I see?"
"What?!" Lupin's voice cracked. "Dear God. No, no no....." He started crying, his tears mingling with my own. "I'll fix it, Rae," He whispered again. "I swear to God I'll fix it."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Noooooo!" I sat up in bed, tangled in the sheets, damp with sweat and tears.
"Unhm...Rae?" Hermione's sleep muffled voice broke through my terror.
"Go back to sleep, Hermione." I muttered.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, only a nightmare."
I heard Hermione swing her legs over the edge of her bed. "Rae, that's the eleventh time this year you've had a nightmare, and it's only December. What's with you?"
"I told you," I said, my voice cracking. "I've been studying too hard. Now go back to sleep."
I heard her shrug and lay back down, and I did so too, knowing that there was no possible way that I would sleep tonight.
~~~~~~~~~~~December 23rd, Lunch~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seamus plopped down beside me at the table, startling Orion. "Hi Rae."
"Hey Seamus." I twiddled my fingers at him, and took another bite of my salad.
"Er, are you going to the Christmas Dance with anyone yet?"
I smiled to myself. "No, Seamus, I'm not. Let me guess...you want me to go with you?"
Seamus reddened. "Yes..." He muttered.
I smiled again. "Of course I'll go with you. Thanks for asking!"
Seamus turned redder. "I'm glad. I was afraid to ask, since someone told me that Draco Malfoy asked you. But I guess you're not going with him."
I raised an eyebrow. "No, he didn't ask me, and no, I wouldn't go with him if he had."
Seamus looked extremely relieved. "Good, considering that I wouldn't piss on the little bugger if he were on fire, anyways."
I laughed, and Seamus grinned, embarrassed. Things were turning out right, after all.
I finished with my lunch and stood up. "I'm heading back to Gryffindor tower. Anyone care to join me?"
Seamus waved me away and said, "I'll be up in a few minutes, Rae."
Ron stood up. "Yeah, sure. I'm done, anyways."
Hermione nodded. "Same here."
We all started off toward the Great Hall doors, when we were accosted by Snape. "Miss Bronwyn," he said, his black eyes flashing. "Dumbledore has told me that you are to meet him in his office. Now."
I shrugged and waved goodbye to Hermione and Ron, and walked off to Dumbledore's office. To my surprise, Snape fell into step beside me.
"What are you doing?" I asked, bewildered. I had been attempting to avoid this man ever since last week's detentions.
"Dumbledore wanted to see me, too," he said gruffly, and fell silent, obviously not wanting to continue this so-called 'discussion'.
I shrugged, and continued on up the stairs, Orion's claws firmly in my shoulder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N-That's all for now, folks. This chapter is dedicated to my wonderfully inspiring Science teacher, Mr. Forde, who deserves all the Teacher of the Year awards he can get!
In the next chapter: We discover something interesting about Snape's past and Rae's mom, and Lupin makes another appearance. We also see something of Sirius. Hooray!
Additional Disclaimer: the 'I wouldn't piss on him even if he were on fire' quote (which I twisted considerably) comes from Draco Sinister, which unfortunatly you cannot read since xing has blacklisted Cassandra Claire from ff.n on charges of plagerism. Phooey, xing!
Until next time,
Fyrn Lupin