A Family for the Dragon
Chapter 18: That what is hidden is revealed
By: Madame Moony
Severus woke up the next morning feeling a little tired, but way better how he had felt yesterday. Looking around he saw Poppy talking to Arabella who was praying at the side of Remus' bed. From Poppy's expression, Severus knew that Arabella had probably been there for most of the night. He watched as Arabella fended off Poppy and turned slightly. Meeting his eyes, she smiled and closed her eyes, her lips moving in silent prayer once again. Poppy noticing that Severus was awake rushed over.
"Severus, you are awake!" said Poppy amiably.
"Thank you for stating the obvious" said Severus grumpily.
"Now, now. I will get your breakfast in just a second. I can not believe that Ms. Figg is refusing to leave Remus' side! She is a human being, she needs rest and food like the rest of us," said Poppy like a mother hen fussing over a chick.
"Tell her that Remus will wake up today at 12:00," said Katrina softly.
'Good morning, love. I need to talk to you about your little show yesterday," thought Severus to Katrina.
'Not now, Severus. When we are out of the Hospital Wing. Now eat!' replied Katrina as food was placed in front of them.
"Broth? Soup? POPPY!" yelled Severus. Poppy rushed over scared that something had happened to her patients.
"What's wrong?" asked Poppy.
"I refuse to eat broth and soup! I am perfectly fine!" protested Severus. He got out of bed to prove that he was fine, but found that he could barely walk to the door. Tutting at him, Poppy helped him back to his bed.
"I swear, Severus, you are my worst patient! Now eat! Men!" said Poppy tutting at Severus.
"HUMPH!" said Severus glaring at Poppy's back as she walked away. Katrina smiled and slowly got out of bed and walked over three feet to Severus's bed.
"Katrina! What are you doing? You should be resting!!" protested Severus.
"Move over. Good, now open up," said Katrina squeezing into the bed with Severus. She started feeding him and herself breakfast. After eating breakfast, Severus and Katrina rested lying in each other's arms.
"Severus?" asked Katrina quietly.
"Yes, love?" replied Severus sleepily.
"Never leave me again" said Katrina looking up into Severus's eyes.
"Never, my love, never," said Severus and they drifted off into dreamland holding each other tightly in the safety of their arms.
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At 12:00 that same day, Remus bolted up from his magical trance.
"Remus!" cried Arabella hugging Remus tight.
"Arabella, love I am so sorry for worrying you so," said Remus holding Arabella in his arms.
"What happened, Remus?" asked Arabella.
Remus turned away from Arabella and said sadly, "I can't tell you, love. I am under oath of honor." He threw off the sheet covering him revealing a set of beautiful velvety brown robes with little animals parading around the bottom. In his hand rest a huge bow and a quiver full of arrows.
"I need to talk to Alb-what happened to Katrina and Severus?" asked Remus startled at the sight of his two friends lying in a hospital bed.
"Severus was tortured by Death Eaters in the last meeting. They know he is a spy and Katrina tried to heal him with a spell according to Poppy. She almost died for him, but Severus returned some of his health back to Katrina. Severus awoke a couple of hours ago, but both of them fell asleep soon after," said Arabella.
"Okay, I need to talk to Albus. Right now if possible," said Remus.
"Okay, he will be in the Great Hall. It is lunch time, you know," said Arabella. They both walked to the Great Hall where Albus, Minerva, Edward, and Marthie were eating.
"Remus! You are okay!" cried Marthie happily.
"Do you know, Remus?" asked Albus after expressing his happiness on Remus' revived health.
"Yes. I am the Guardian of the Beasts," said Remus solemnly. Edward, Marthie, Minerva, and Arabella were confused, but they knew when the time was right they would find out.
"Welcome to the council of six, Guardian of the Beasts," said Albus formally.
"Thank you, Protector of the Elements," replied Remus just as formally. The conversation moved on to less formal things as Remus and Arabella sat down to eat lunch.
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"Let's go visit Katrina, Harry, and Severus" said Hermione around 1:00 o'clock after eating lunch in their rooms.
"Okay, c'mon" said Draco walking with Hermione to the hospital wing.
"Remus? Is that you?" shrieked Hermione as she saw Remus standing in a hallway talking to Albus. Remus turned and smiled as Hermione dragged Draco down the hallway at super speed.
"Oh! I am so glad to see you up!" said Hermione hugging Remus tightly. Remus smiled down gently at Hermione, as she started scolding him.
"Now what the hell happened to you? You aren't supposed to bonk out on us, you know! We were so worried, Arabella stayed up the whole night for you! How dare you! You better keep your little butt alive, buster, if not for us then for Harry! He would kill himself if you or Sirius died! He depends on you two way too much for you go to kill yourself. It's a good thing he is sleeping right now or he would kick your butt. Especially after his vision, he needs someone to be there! I am not saying, I am not going to, but I am not like a father to him!" scolded Hermione taking a breath to continue.
"I am sorry, Hermione. I really am, I wouldn't have 'bonked' out on you like you say if I had a choice. Are you visiting Severus, Katrina, and Harry now?" asked Remus taking his chance when Hermione stopped to breathe.
"Yeah, we are. Would you like to come?" asked Draco quickly moving the conversation along.
"Of course," said Albus cheerfully. Reaching the hospital wing, they found Severus and Katrina awake.
"Severus!" softly exclaimed Hermione rushing over to his bed.
"You are awake!" exclaimed Albus happily.
"Yes, thank you for that statement Mr. I like stating the Obvious" said Severus sarcastically smiling slightly at them.
"Katrina, what's wrong? Why are you in bed?" asked Hermione worriedly.
"Because she decided to be stupid and transfer her life energy over to me," retorted Severus before Katrina could answer.
"Yeah, well I wasn't stupid enough to give some back to me before recovering!" exclaimed Katrina mock-glaring at Severus.
"You were going freakin' die on me!" retorted back Severus also fake glaring at Katrina.
"Well..." started Katrina, but stopped at a loss for words. Severus smirked and turned back to the rest of the group. Hermione and Draco were out right staring at them, while Remus and Albus were gently smiling. Hermione looked over at Harry's bed, but he was still sleeping.
"Don't worry, he will be fine," assured Albus.
"I know, but I am worried. He is worse every time after those stupid visions of his. He never even sleeps any more, every time he has nightmares," replied Hermione worried.
"He doesn't deserve this," said Remus softly watching the boy who looked so much like his childhood friend, but never had the chance like his friend to really live life.
"We will just have to find a way to make them stop," said Albus determinedly.
"Are you feeling better?" asked Remus turning back to Severus and Katrina.
"Yes, thank you," replied Severus.
"Better, thanks," cheerfully stated Katrina.
"Now, children, I am sure that you have much to do," said Albus. Hermione and Draco nodded knowing a dismissal when they heard one. After saying good bye to Severus and Katrina, they walked back to their rooms.
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"Hey Draco how come you are here at Hogwarts? I don't think anyone has told me, it just occurred to me," asked Hermione innocently. Draco tensed immediately as he was swamped with memories.
"You don't have to tell me," said Hermione softly at Draco's reaction.
"No, I don't have to. But I will because..." said Draco leading Hermione into her room. They sat down on her bed as Draco started talking.
"I always had a perfect life at home, except for the fact that I was never really happy. I did everything Lucius wanted me to, but to me and to him it was never enough. He kept pressuring me to be a Death Eater, and I soon thought that anyone who is not a death eater is worthless. Lucius took to me a Dark Gathering at the beginning of the summer. I watched them torture, rape, even murder people without a second thought. After I came home, I knew that I couldn't do that. So I owled Professor Snape and he came and brought me here. I basically haven't contacted my parents, I don't even know if they are looking for me." said Draco turning away. Hermione hugged him and stood up.
"We need to do something or we are going to go stir crazy waiting for Severus and Katrina to get better," said Hermione changing the subject so that Draco didn't brood.
"Yeah, but what??" asked Draco.
"I don't know!! Let's take a walk," said Hermione pulling Draco away.
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~Back at the Hospital Wing~
"Severus, Katrina, Remus is the Guardian of the Beasts. We only have two more people to look for," said Albus getting straight to the issue.
"Well, the position fits you well enough" said Severus.
"Severus!" cried Katrina outraged.
"It is okay, Katrina. I have learnt that with Severus no one escapes from his sarcasm," said Remus with a smile. Arabella took his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"What is the council of six?" asked Arabella curiously.
"Well, it is a council made up of six people who are pretty powerful. It is also known as Merlin's council of six. A new council has begun. Each person in the council specializes in one area so to speak," said Albus in his best teacher-like fashion.
"We should find out more about the council of six, Albus. We will need to know everything about the council," said Severus seriously.
"Yes, but I have no time as does neither of you since you are recovering," said Albus.
"I can help research," volunteered Remus.
"If I stay for another couple of days, I can help," said Arabella.
"You will since Harry is still exhausted from his vision," replied Albus kindly.
"I am sure Draco and Hermione will help if we ask them," said Remus.
"Good idea, we will need as much help as possible," said Katrina.
"Shall I go ask them?" asked Remus.
"I shall come with you," said Arabella and they walked out hand in hand.
"Excuse me, but I have some paper work to catch on," said Albus.
"Bye Albus!"
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"Hermione, Draco! We were looking for you!" said Arabella smiling at Hermione and Draco.
"Did you need something?" asked Hermione smiling back.
"We were wondering if you wanted to help us research something?" asked Remus.
"Did you even need to ask with Ms. if I don't know everything I need to find out here?" teased Draco as Hermione's face lit up.
"Draco!" scolded Arabella well naturedly.
"Look she is so in to it, she doesn't even realize that I am teasing her!" said Draco.
"Draco Edward Malfoy!" said Hermione turning around for her eager conversation with Remus. "I know perfectly well what you are saying and you better apologize now!"
"Freaky, just like Aunty Minerva!" said Draco.
Hermione swatted at him as Draco ran away. Hermione followed as an impromptu game of tag ensued. Smiling, Remus turned to Arabella,
"Cute aren't they? They don't even know they are flirting, yet they do it so naturally."
"Yes, quite like us back in the good old days, don't you agree? Anyways, they will soon have to face their feelings for each other when school starts," said Arabella putting her arm around Remus.
"Yes, but that is still a pretty long ways off. Shhh...Here they come. Shall we go to the library?" asked Remus as Hermione and Draco returned breathless to Remus and Arabella.
"Yes, what are we researching?" asked Draco.
"We are researching the Council of Six or Merlin's Council of Six." said Remus.
"But that's just folklore..." started Draco and a debate ensued as the students debated with their elders about folklore and its meanings.
"Did you guys get anything yet?" asked Arabella after searching for an hour straight. Hermione sighed and shook her head as she looked through a thick book about Merlin facts.
"I found out about a couple of things," said Draco looking down onto his notes.
"What did you find out? I didn't find anything," said Remus.
"There are six different positions in the council. Each has to deal with something different. The book mentioned that they were the same or similar to the different types of Earth Magic," said Draco gesturing to an old, thick, torn up book called Merlin, muggle or wizard: Fact or Fiction?
"That's good, but we are looking for more things like that except with perhaps more detail," said Remus encouragingly as he picked up another old book about Merlin. Hermione got up to go get more books, but Arabella stopped her.
"Draco, would you please go with Hermione? This is a huge library and I don't want poor Hermione to get locked accidentally into one of the library's rooms. I will finish reading the books you have," said Arabella.
Draco agreed and they headed off.
"Now what was that for, my dear?" asked Remus moving closer to Arabella now that the students weren't anywhere near.
"They need some time alone without us old profs. Plus, those old Library Rooms are dangerous. I remember getting stuck once accidentally, luckily Lily got me out before I panicked too much," replied Arabella snuggling back into Remus. Hermione and Draco were talking to each other as Remus and Arabella talked.
"Mione, where are you going to search next?" asked Draco walking along beside her.
"I don't really know maybe somewhere in one of those old Library rooms concerning history?" said Hermione uncertainly as they arrived in front of the Library rooms.
"How about this one?" asked Draco standing in front of a door. Hermione shrugged and they slowly walked into the room. Dust covered everything including the books and furniture.
"Stay back, Hermione. You will get sick if you breathe in the dust," said Draco walking slowly to the nearest bookshelf.
"But what about you?" asked Hermione, but Draco just ignored her. He searched and searched, but even though they were in the right section he couldn't find anything.
"Draco, how about..." started Hermione reaching out to grab Draco's hand.
"I found it!" said Draco suddenly as he saw a book that he almost could swear wasn't there a second ago.
"What is it called?" asked Hermione trying to peer over his shoulder.
"The Dummy's Guide to the Council of Six (Merlin's and otherwise). What a weird name!" remarked Draco as they exited the room. Hermione started laughing and laughing her crystal clear beautiful laugh when she heard the title.
"What's so funny?" asked Draco confused even more.
"There is a whole series of Muggle books called a Dummy's Guide to..., how olden day wizards knew about that? It is just hilarious!" replied Hermione as she laughed.
"Ok," replied Draco as they walked back to Remus and Arabella. Just before they got there, Hermione stopped them.
"Look" she whispered staring at Remus and Arabella who were hugging each other.
"What?" whispered back Draco.
"Don't they look perfect together?" replied Hermione.
"Well-" started Draco, but Hermione cut in.
"They look like they are soul mates. Their love really makes them glow, doesn't it?" whispered Hermione before leaving Draco and walking towards Arabella and Remus. Draco stared at Hermione for a second, then just joined the group as they exclaimed over the discovery of the book.
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That's it people! Currently I am working on a timeline for my story. So I am sorry because this chapter isn't very long. As you can see many things are happening and many things are still to happen! Coming up in the next chapters Severus/Katrina, Arabella/Remus, and another couple which I won't give away just yet. (if you haven't already guessed) That's all folks!!!
~Madame Moony