Chapter 11
"Ouch! Watch it!" Ron hissed as Cat and Kagato bumped into them for a fourth time.
"Well, walk faster then." Cat whispered back. Ron groaned and they kept walking.
As they walked down the hall, Harry noticed the staff room door open and a light coming from it. As they got closer, they heard voices. They all stopped just outside the room and listened. Professor Lupin was arguing with Professor Snape. It sounded as if Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore were trying to keep them from killing each other.
"Severus, she is not a danger to anyone. Keeping her asleep solves nothing. Besides, she is starting to resist the potion. We must let her wake up and tell her the truth. Tell her everything. It is the only way to keep her, Harry and everyone else safe. I owe Jack and James that much."
"No, she attacked one of my students. She is a danger to everyone. Having her here puts everyone at risk. I warned you Headmaster, did I not? We all know that the dark lord wants that stone. Have you forgotten that there is a over a thousand years worth of magic held in it? Druid magic at that. And she has no idea how to control it." Snape seemed to become angrier. "As far as her father is concerned, I owe him nothing. Remember he was the one who put the idea of that prank into Black's head. I shed no tears when I learned he was dead. My only regret was that Karen shared his fate. She did not deserve to die." Harry looked at Ron, his jaw dropped. Ron looked just as shocked. Cat and Kagato just shook their heads.
"Both of you stop this. Lord and Lady Reese knew the risks of helping to fight the dark lord. Besides, Lilly and Karen were best friends. She would never have turned her back on Lilly or James. Neither would Jack. But none of this as anything to do with Alexandria." It sounded as if McGonagall had stepped in between Lupin and Snape.
"Professor McGonagall and Professor Lupin are right. We must allow her to wake and tell her that which as been kept from her all these years. She has the right to know why her parents were killed, why she was believed to be dead and why her life is now in danger." Snape shook his head.
"It is a mistake to tell her anything. She should never have been allowed to come here once her grandmother passed away. I would love to know what Ariel was thinking." It sounded like Lupin moved closer to Snape.
"You know bloody well as I do that Ariel never liked the fact that Jack married her sister. She will always blame him for Karen's death. You also know that she has very little patience for children. And Alex is a constant reminder that her sister is dead. She looks exactly like Karen. Alex would have been in more danger staying with her than coming here." Lupin sounded extremely angry now.
"That is enough out of both of you. This discussion is over. We will allow her to wake up tomorrow and tell her the truth. Severus, Remus you will both help with any questions she asks. And Severus, she is more like her mother than her father, if that helps in any way. Now, off to bed with all of you. I must check on her. Goodnight." Snape mumbled as he walked to the door.
"She better be like her mother."
They all flattened themselves against the wall and held their breaths. They watched as McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape left the staff room. Dumbledore came out as soon as the other professors were gone. He looked at the wall and smiled, the twinkle in his eyes still there.
"You may come out now. You were all told not to look for her. How much did you hear?"
Harry pulled off his cloak and Cat hers. They all looked at Dumbledore, but no one spoke.
"Hmm, why so quiet? Seems you have found out a few things you have been searching for, am I not correct?" Harry finally stepped forward.
"Professor? Her, her parents knew mine? They were friends? Is, is the stone the, the only reason they were killed?" Harry was shaking slightly, dreading the answer. Dumbledore sighed.
"I am afraid not Harry. They were killed for two reasons: the Bloodstone and for the location of your parents. This, however is not your fault. I know that is what you are thinking. Lord and Lady Reese loved your parents dearly and gave theirs lives to protect your family and their daughter. Now, I think it is time for you all to get back to your common room, before I am forced to take points from Gryffindor. And do not speak what you have heard to anyone. Is that understood?" They all nodded. "Hurry up, and do not go back the way you came. Mr. Flitch is walking that way now. Goodnight."
He smiled and walked off towards his office. They quickly hid under the cloaks and silently went back to the Gryffindor tower. Harry pulled off his cloak once they had reached the Fat Lady. Cat did the same. She gave the password and they went in to the common room. None of them said anything as they climbed the stairs and went to bed.
