Silver Blood Seven: Deception
Devoid of a memory on how she died, someone came back from the dead to find out - only to find that she didn't die at all. Now she discovers that the love of her life is dead, her friends' lives are in danger, and her worst fears came true.
In this chapter, Dorcas reunites with Remus and Dumbledore. And Voldemort DID keep his word...
Disclaimer: Alas, the characters are not in my possession; they belong to J.K Rowling and an assortment of publishers.
Author's Notes: Here's to my twin sister, who begged me to finish this for her. Thanks to LuvAsInfinity for reviewing six.
Dorcas stared at it. It couldn't be true. If it was, Sirius might be somewhere out there. He must be. But what now? What if the whole Order finds out? What if they KILL her? 'I've escaped death once,' she thought. One good thing was Sirius didn't know. He didn't know Dorcas brought him back by joining Voldemort in his search for power. He mustn't know.
The door creaked open; Dorcas hid her arm in her sleeve as Molly Weasley entered the room.
"Oh, you're still awake," she said. "Could you come down for a bit? Professor Dumbledore would like to talk to you."
Uh-oh. "P-Professor Dumbledore?" she repeated nervously. First Voldemort, now Dumbledore. The two hotshots of the war between good and evil were banging down her door.
"Yes," said Molly, "he wants a quick word with you."
Dorcas couldn't ignore Dumbledore. She would have to. She was in the silk night dress Tonks didn't use and gave to her and covered it with a baby blue bathrobe. She was dragging her feet to the basement kitchen. She was surprised to see Remus and Moody sitting on either side of Dumbledore; all three of them were absorbed in a piece of parchment.
"Erm..."
"Ah, Dorcas," said Dumbledore, looking up at her through his half-moon glasses. "Take a seat."
Dorcas reluctantly took a seat directly across Dumbledore. She glanced at Remus, who was looking at her seriously, and Moody, who looked extremely suspicious.
"I must say I'm quite surprised," Dumbledore chuckled, tucking the piece of parchment in his robes. "The fact that one can come back from the dead without meaning to is extremely extraordinary."
Dorcas chose not to reply.
"Quiet, eh?" growled Moody. "She could be an impostor, Dumbledore."
"No, Alastor," said Dumbledore. "I very much doubt that Dorcas is an impostor. Now, I am very much interested in finding out how you -"
"I have no idea how I got back, professor," she said quickly. "I - I just woke up in my coffin a week ago and..."
"I see," said Dumbledore, nodding. "And you have no idea how you got there?"
It was like Dumbledore was reading her mind. "Yes, and I don't even know how I died in the first place."
"Well, this might come as a shock to you, Dorcas," said Moody, "but Voldemort killed you personally."
Dorcas raised her eyebrows and turned to Dumbledore. It was absurd. Personally murdered by Voldemort? It was an honor. Well, except for the fact that her life ended in an instant. "Why?"
To her surprise, it was Remus who answered this time. "Why? Dorcas, you were a great asset to the Order. You were probably stealthier than his own Death Eaters.He wants your skills."
"And," said Dumbledore, "he thinks you were in contact with Nicolas Flamel."
"But I'm not," said Dorcas. "And what would he want with Nicolas Flamel anyway?"
"He was rumored to be developing something like the Elixir of Life at that time," said Remus, "without the use of the Sorcerer's Stone."
"But how can that be?" It was outrageous! Why the hell would she be in contact with Nicolas Flamel? Unless... Sirius.
"Nicolas is exceptionally gifted in his field of alchemy," said Dumbledore. "I suppose another Elixir of Life would be a lot of work but I don't doubt that he will accomplish lucratively. Now, are you quite positive that you were not in contact with Nicolas?"
Dorcas tried to nod, but changed her mind. "Actually, I - don't think so. Can you wait for a second?" She stood up and ran back upstairs, coming back with the letter she found in their bedside table clutched in her hands. She returned to her seat and handed the parchment to Dumbledore. He read it, and looked back up at Dorcas.
"This is certainly in Nicolas' writing," he said. "Where did you get it?"
"In our old house," said Dorcas. "What do you think it means, professor?" She looked expectantly at Dumbledore, hoping to get a reasonable answer. Remus, too, looked at him as though he was anticipating for a "shrewd idea". Moody peered at the letter with his magical eye while his normal eye was fixed on Dorcas.
"I have many theories racing in my head," Dumbledore told the three of them, "and I will have to make sure which one is closer to the truth before I confide it with you."
Dorcas sighed heavily. "Have you - er - any news on Sirius?"
Dorcas was expecting Dumbledore to look down and say something like 'No, I'm afraid not' and then offer her a biscuit. But instead, Dumbledore's eyes twinkled through his half-moon glasses and a smile flittered across his face. "Indeed, I do."
Remus and Moody stared. "You do?" they repeated in unison. It seemed that Dorcas wasn't the only one receiving first-hand news from Dumbledore. She could feel the excitement and anticipation around the room as Dumbledore cleared his throat to speak.
"This might sound utterly absurd," he said with a grin, "but I myself saw Sirius Black in the hidden daisy field in the Forbidden Forest." The three listeners gaped at him, speechless. What the hell was Dumbledore trying to say? "He lay there, sound asleep. As of now, he is in Hogwarts."
The three of them had furrowed brows, looking at Dumbledore disbelievingly. Not one of them spoke until Moody sputtered out, "How do you know that it IS Sirius?"
Dorcas wanted to roll her eyes. How could any disguise fool Dumbledore? Mine did, she thought. And Moody kept bickering about disguises every single time since he joined the Order a few years ago. There was one time for instance when Sirius visited Moody, trying to hand him an invitation to his wedding. Moody thought it was another intruder and sent jinxes flying. That was probably why Moody still kept calling her Meadowes before she died.
"I will divulge this information to the whole Order tomorrow night," said Dumbledore firmly. "And I will bring Sirius along," he added, giving Dorcas a wink.
"Well, if we're through I want to get moving," said Moody, standing up from his chair. Dumbledore stood up too, nodding at Remus and Dorcas and leaving the room with Moody.
Once Dumbledore left there came a short pause between Remus and Dorcas, as if no one knew what to say to the other. It was only when Dorcas looked up to Remus that he smiled and said, "I see even the otherworld can't stand too much of you and Sirius."
Dorcas returned his grin. "I suppose so," she said. "How're things?"
"Fine, I guess. The fact that Mad-eye isn't attacking everyone who apparates ten feet away from him is quite relaxing news," said Remus. "With Sirius back from the veil and you back from the dead, there's going to be a lot of changes going on."
"I - er - heard he was sent to Azkaban," said Dorcas. "Innocent, right?"
"Yes," said Remus. "But now that he's back, I know Dumbledore would ask for a decent trial."
Dorcas nodded in agreement. "He should."
"Are you staying here?" Remus asked her, standing up. Dorcas followed his lead.
"Yeah, and you?" she asked him. Remus nodded and followed her to the way out.
After Remus said goodnight, she heard him mutter, "Nice to have friends you can trust in these shady times."
"If only there were, Remus."
"...and we must treat this occasion as an advantage. I ask you, my friends, to put the Wizarding World on its guard; for I am very much aware that Cornelius does not want to discuss the matter openly to the public. Again, we are to convince as many people as we can that Voldemort is very much alive and ready to strike when we least expect it." Dumbledore looked around his audience, who were nodding in agreement. "As I had mentioned, the return of two of the members of the original Order is our advantage. Together, we are strong. Now if none of you wish to state anything else, this meeting is adjourned."
One by one, the members of the Order of the Phoenix stood up, taking glances at Sirius and Dorcas (for Snape, it was a vile glare) and smiling warmly. The remaining members (Sirius, Dorcas, Remus, Tonks, Kingsley, Molly, Arthur, Dung, Fred, and George) looked at each other in silence.
"So - er - should we prepare for dinner?" Molly said, standing up. "Dorcas, Tonks, if you please...." Dorcas and Tonks followed her to the pantry. Dorcas felt grateful towards Molly. For trusting her.
"We're calling the others," said Fred, grinning at George.
"Don't you tell them about the meeting," Arthur warned them, but they disapparated with a CRACK.
"So Sirius, ready for your trial?" said Kingsley. "Dumbledore's bound to ask the Ministry for it."
"Yeah, I think so," said Sirius. "I just need to tell the truth, not that hard. I just have to tell them how Peter was the bas-"
"You've been acting weird lately, Dung," interrupted Remus. "Attentive during the meeting, no illegal stuff... what's going on?"
"'Ave no idea, mate," said Dung. "Don't feel like m'self."
Remus grinned at Sirius from across the table. "You're not the only one," he said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sirius retorted.
Just then, Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny burst into the room. Their eyes popped and they cried in unison, "SIRIUS?"
"In the flesh," said Sirius, as Harry took a seat beside him.
"Wha - how?" he sputtered. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny looked as though they wanted to ask the same question, but were too shocked to say anything.
"I don't know more than you do," said Sirius happily. "I just found myself in the Forbidden Forest."
Tonks, Dorcas, and Mrs. Weasley returned, carrying dinner. "Dinner's ready."
Dorcas sat across Sirius, looking at him as he explained to Harry how he came back. She felt happiness beyond anything else. Being with Sirius again after fifteen long years. Damn it felt good. But one little thing told her that she wasn't suppose to feel happy for him. But she knew it wouldn't last long. Not unless Voldemort drops dead right now.