Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Harry Potter!!
Hello one and all!! lol!!! Wow!! Okay well here's the next chappie in this lovely old story. I definitely think this is a turning pointing the plot of the story, although climax isn't for another few chapters it's getting there! So I hope you enjoy and tell me what you think when you review on your way out.
Chapter Ten – Revelations
It was amazing to Mo how fast the time passed at Hogwarts. Before she knew what had happened it was snowing and her friends were talking about Christmas at home.
"Mum said I could go home with you for Christmas James," Lily said bouncing into the common room three days before they would be leaving for Christmas Break. She held up a letter, "I just got this."
James grinned, "Brilliant!" He pulled her down on his lap for a long good morning kiss.
Mo saw Sirius catch her eye and she quickly looked away. She had been avoiding Sirius for the last few days after having a particularly steamy encounter with him in a broom closet near the Entrance Hall. The thought of it made her grin but she always felt Sirius wanted more from her than she could give.
"Mum's making me come home for Christmas," Caroline said chewing her lip. She turned to Remus, "You want to come? I know you said your parents weren't going to be around so how 'bout it?"
Remus looked up startled from what he had been doing, "Me Caro?"
She smiled, knowing what was on his mind. Two nights ago he had told her that before she did anything she regretted that there was something she needed to know about him. Her smile turned into a grin as she remembered telling him that she already knew he was a werewolf and what had happened afterwards. She tilted her head to the side smiling, "Of course you Rem. I don't know anyone else here named Remus, do you?"
"Even after-"
"Yeah Rem," Caroline replied.
"Uh, sure," he answered with a smile. "I'd love to."
"What about you Mo?" Jessi asked her. "You and Sirius going home?"
"I dunno about him," she replied uneasily. "But I'm staying here. My parents are going to Majorca for Christmas this year and I hate going somewhere warm for Christmas."
"Yeah I'm staying here to," Sirius replied with a glance at Mo.
James looked apologetically at his best fried, "Sorry Padfoot. I thought Mum told you over the summer you could come back to my house for Christmas."
Sirius looked at James annoyed and James immediately shut up, "I know that but I wouldn't want to intrude on your first Christmas with Lils."
"Oh you-"Lily stopped when she received a glare from both boys. "Right. That's wonderful of you Sirius."
Sirius grinned, "I know."
"Don't get to big headed now," Caroline laughed and saw something that she didn't like in Mo's face that she had seen more than once in the last few weeks. Thinking quickly she said, "Which reminds me...hey Mo, I have to run to the library for something would you come with me. I think you might be able to help."
Mo frowned but nodded, "Sure."
Caroline gave her friends a warning look and followed Mo out of the common room. They walked together silently for a while, Mo watching her feet intently.
"All right," Caroline said stopping her friend. "What is it?"
"What is what?" Mo asked.
"What's wrong?" Caroline explained. "You're awfully quiet today."
Mo sighed, "I don't know. I think it might be Sirius."
"What did he do to you?" she asked.
Mo shook her head, "Nothing at all...well that's not entirely true, but nothing bad anyway."
"Well I know you two were sort of seeing each other but what does that have to do with anything?" Caroline looked into her friend's face and found the answer. "You love him?"
Mo shrugged, "I don't know, maybe...yes." As if that word confirmed it for her Mo snapped her mouth, stubbornly shut. How could she love someone she had known for so short a time, but then she had already admitted to herself that she did.
"Oh well that's a good thing isn't it?" Caroline asked. "Or doesn't he feel the same way about you?"
"I'm almost sure he feels the same way about me but, you don't understand," Mo muttered. "I can't be with anyone. It's just to complicated."
"Are you afraid of relationships?"
"No," Mo snapped then sighed. "Sorry. I can't tell you but you have to believe me that if Sirius became anything other than a friend to me it, well it would just be bad."
Caroline frowned and put her arm around Mo, "Well I've been told if you're really in love, things like that shouldn't matter. Like Remus being a werewolf."
"He finally told you?" Mo asked.
"Yeah," Caroline smiled. "Maybe you should talk to Sirius about it."
"Yeah...maybe," Mo agreed.
"C'mon we'll go back and you can talk to him alone for a little while," Caroline said.
"This was never about the library was it?" Mo asked smirking.
Caroline shrugged, "Nope."
When they got back to the common room Lily and Jessi were sitting by the fire playing Wizards Chess but the boys were nowhere to be found.
"Where's the guys Lils?" Caroline asked.
"Left about two minutes ago," Lily replied concentrating on her game. "Said something about having important business but you know how they are."
Mo turned and went back out the portrait hole determined to talk to Sirius about her feelings before she lost her nerve. She headed off in the opposite direction she had come knowing they would have passed them on their way back to the Tower.
Five minutes later she was rewarded with the sounds of male voices up the corridor. She stopped just around the corner from them interested in what they were talking about.
"You wanted to see us Headmaster?" she heard James voice.
"Yes," Dumbledore replied. "I've been told that there are some, shall we say junior Death Eaters in the school? Now I have a pretty good idea of who but I want you to keep your eyes open."
"We've heard some things about that to Professor," James replied.
"Voldemort's getting stronger," Dumbledore stated cryptically. "He's getting closer to us."
Sirius spoke, "You mean like what happened with the Order a few nights ago? I heard that a few wizards got killed."
"Yes near your old home," Dumbledore replied. "It seems your family is as you suspected Mr. Black."
"Will it be okay for us to go away for Christmas?" James asked.
"Of course," Dumbledore replied. "But keep your eyes open nonetheless."
"We will sir," Remus replied.
"All right get back to your Common Room now and be sure you don't meet any teachers," she could hear the laughter in his voice as he left the boys to come in her direction.
Mo stared blankly ahead too much in shock to move. The Order? The Order of the Phoenix? She had heard many conversations about it, whispered among the students. But until now she had blown it off as rumors. But if Dumbledore was involved...this couldn't be happening. She slumped against the wall not knowing what to do. She couldn't tell Sirius anything, not now. He would see her as a monster and would never look at her the same again.
What was she going to tell Voldemort? She couldn't betray her friends and Dumbledore but if she didn't tell him about the Order and he found out he would kill her. There had to be some way to get away from him, but how?
"Hello Miss Stanton," a musical voice broke her desperation and she looked up at Dumbledore.
She rose guiltily and answered, "Good morning Headmaster."
He smiled at her and asked, "Is something the matter? I don't know many students who linger in the corridors alone."
Mo felt her anxiety welling up and as she looked at Dumbledore she knew there was only one way to rid Voldemort from her life for good. "Headmaster? I have something I need to talk to you about."
"Certainly Miss Stanton," Dumbledore said and swept a hand down the hallway. "Won't you walk with me?"
Mo inclined her head and fell into step with her Headmaster. Slowly she began to tell Dumbledore the story she had told her friends that day in Diagon Alley after running into Sirius' family members and their cohorts.
"Yes Miss Stanton I'm aware of your past," Dumbledore said when she grew silent.
"There's more," Mo had to force the words.
"Ah I see."
"I don't know how to say this," Mo started and stopped taking a deep breath. Recklessly she plunged into the true story of her life. "My birth parents were Evan and Anastasia Rosier, as I've told you, but they were some of the most infamous Dark wizards around about fifteen years ago. When they died I was about three and Voldemort took charge of my life. I'm working for him right now." Her dark eyes looked up anxiously at Dumbledore who for once was not smiling.
"This is a very serious matter Maureen," he said after a short silence.
Frantic to make him understand she started to explain, "Professor please, I never had a choice in the matter. I never knew anything but this and I always accepted it but now there's people in my life that I care about and it isn't me who's going to get hurt this time. I fully plan to take this out with the Dark Lord but I want to be sure that my friends will be safe."
They had both stopped walking, Mo realized, and Dumbledore was watching her carefully. After a moment he spoke, "It takes a pure heart and a great love for someone to stand up to death in order to keep him or her safe. I knew that you were involved with Voldemort but I have seen things that have assured me that you will be a deciding factor in more than one person's life. I think, Miss Stanton, that you are destined for far greater things than you think."
Mo looked at him confused, "What are you going to do?"
"About you?" he smiled. "Miss Stanton if I thought that you didn't know what you were doing I would have stopped this a long time ago. Your friends, I'm afraid won't be so lucky."
"Are you talking about Lucius, Narcissa, and the rest of them?" Mo asked baffled to find that Dumbledore seemed to know exactly what was going on in the Forbidden Forest.
"Indeed I am," he answered. "The lot of them do not share your passion for life and unfortunately it's people like them that usually live."
"Headmaster?" Mo said. "I know what I have to do but I want to be able to say goodbye to everyone. I don't want anyone to follow me so would you tell them after I've gone?"
"Indeed but take Christmas off Maureen," Dumbledore said and nodded. "Use the time that you have to leave your friends with memories. Your friend Sirius Black, he talks about you."
"Does he now?" Mo smiled at the thought of him and took a deep breath to steady the pounding of her heart, "Thank you. I didn't realize I was going to ever make a decision like this but..."
"I understand," Dumbledore answered. "Just let me tell you something. True friends don't let you stand up to these things alone. Pride may be worth keeping but it's not always worth your life. Think about that and remember one thing, luck has an odd way of showing up when you need her."
Mo frowned but nodded, "I will, sir."
"Have a good day Miss Stanton."
"You to Professor." Mo continued down the hallway as Dumbledore headed off his own way. She had known all along that she'd needed to do this. She wouldn't back away from this, of that she was sure. She would face Voldemort and die for her friends before ever betraying them to him. The only thing now was how to get them to understand what she was and why she had to do what she was going to do, but first what had Dumbledore meant about friends don't let you stand up to these things alone?
Mo thought she understood correctly and that meant that if she knew her friends, as she thought she did, then it would all be a lot more complicated then she had first believed. One thing was certain, however. No matter who was involved, Maureen Stanton would not go down without a fight...
Well how was it? Good, bad? Please tell me!! Please review!!! I love writing but its sort of discouraging when people don't review! I know there's people out there reading w/o review so maybe you would be so kind to do that on your way out! lol!! oh well must be off, more chapters to write!!
Ta all!! Katie
Hello one and all!! lol!!! Wow!! Okay well here's the next chappie in this lovely old story. I definitely think this is a turning pointing the plot of the story, although climax isn't for another few chapters it's getting there! So I hope you enjoy and tell me what you think when you review on your way out.
Chapter Ten – Revelations
It was amazing to Mo how fast the time passed at Hogwarts. Before she knew what had happened it was snowing and her friends were talking about Christmas at home.
"Mum said I could go home with you for Christmas James," Lily said bouncing into the common room three days before they would be leaving for Christmas Break. She held up a letter, "I just got this."
James grinned, "Brilliant!" He pulled her down on his lap for a long good morning kiss.
Mo saw Sirius catch her eye and she quickly looked away. She had been avoiding Sirius for the last few days after having a particularly steamy encounter with him in a broom closet near the Entrance Hall. The thought of it made her grin but she always felt Sirius wanted more from her than she could give.
"Mum's making me come home for Christmas," Caroline said chewing her lip. She turned to Remus, "You want to come? I know you said your parents weren't going to be around so how 'bout it?"
Remus looked up startled from what he had been doing, "Me Caro?"
She smiled, knowing what was on his mind. Two nights ago he had told her that before she did anything she regretted that there was something she needed to know about him. Her smile turned into a grin as she remembered telling him that she already knew he was a werewolf and what had happened afterwards. She tilted her head to the side smiling, "Of course you Rem. I don't know anyone else here named Remus, do you?"
"Even after-"
"Yeah Rem," Caroline replied.
"Uh, sure," he answered with a smile. "I'd love to."
"What about you Mo?" Jessi asked her. "You and Sirius going home?"
"I dunno about him," she replied uneasily. "But I'm staying here. My parents are going to Majorca for Christmas this year and I hate going somewhere warm for Christmas."
"Yeah I'm staying here to," Sirius replied with a glance at Mo.
James looked apologetically at his best fried, "Sorry Padfoot. I thought Mum told you over the summer you could come back to my house for Christmas."
Sirius looked at James annoyed and James immediately shut up, "I know that but I wouldn't want to intrude on your first Christmas with Lils."
"Oh you-"Lily stopped when she received a glare from both boys. "Right. That's wonderful of you Sirius."
Sirius grinned, "I know."
"Don't get to big headed now," Caroline laughed and saw something that she didn't like in Mo's face that she had seen more than once in the last few weeks. Thinking quickly she said, "Which reminds me...hey Mo, I have to run to the library for something would you come with me. I think you might be able to help."
Mo frowned but nodded, "Sure."
Caroline gave her friends a warning look and followed Mo out of the common room. They walked together silently for a while, Mo watching her feet intently.
"All right," Caroline said stopping her friend. "What is it?"
"What is what?" Mo asked.
"What's wrong?" Caroline explained. "You're awfully quiet today."
Mo sighed, "I don't know. I think it might be Sirius."
"What did he do to you?" she asked.
Mo shook her head, "Nothing at all...well that's not entirely true, but nothing bad anyway."
"Well I know you two were sort of seeing each other but what does that have to do with anything?" Caroline looked into her friend's face and found the answer. "You love him?"
Mo shrugged, "I don't know, maybe...yes." As if that word confirmed it for her Mo snapped her mouth, stubbornly shut. How could she love someone she had known for so short a time, but then she had already admitted to herself that she did.
"Oh well that's a good thing isn't it?" Caroline asked. "Or doesn't he feel the same way about you?"
"I'm almost sure he feels the same way about me but, you don't understand," Mo muttered. "I can't be with anyone. It's just to complicated."
"Are you afraid of relationships?"
"No," Mo snapped then sighed. "Sorry. I can't tell you but you have to believe me that if Sirius became anything other than a friend to me it, well it would just be bad."
Caroline frowned and put her arm around Mo, "Well I've been told if you're really in love, things like that shouldn't matter. Like Remus being a werewolf."
"He finally told you?" Mo asked.
"Yeah," Caroline smiled. "Maybe you should talk to Sirius about it."
"Yeah...maybe," Mo agreed.
"C'mon we'll go back and you can talk to him alone for a little while," Caroline said.
"This was never about the library was it?" Mo asked smirking.
Caroline shrugged, "Nope."
When they got back to the common room Lily and Jessi were sitting by the fire playing Wizards Chess but the boys were nowhere to be found.
"Where's the guys Lils?" Caroline asked.
"Left about two minutes ago," Lily replied concentrating on her game. "Said something about having important business but you know how they are."
Mo turned and went back out the portrait hole determined to talk to Sirius about her feelings before she lost her nerve. She headed off in the opposite direction she had come knowing they would have passed them on their way back to the Tower.
Five minutes later she was rewarded with the sounds of male voices up the corridor. She stopped just around the corner from them interested in what they were talking about.
"You wanted to see us Headmaster?" she heard James voice.
"Yes," Dumbledore replied. "I've been told that there are some, shall we say junior Death Eaters in the school? Now I have a pretty good idea of who but I want you to keep your eyes open."
"We've heard some things about that to Professor," James replied.
"Voldemort's getting stronger," Dumbledore stated cryptically. "He's getting closer to us."
Sirius spoke, "You mean like what happened with the Order a few nights ago? I heard that a few wizards got killed."
"Yes near your old home," Dumbledore replied. "It seems your family is as you suspected Mr. Black."
"Will it be okay for us to go away for Christmas?" James asked.
"Of course," Dumbledore replied. "But keep your eyes open nonetheless."
"We will sir," Remus replied.
"All right get back to your Common Room now and be sure you don't meet any teachers," she could hear the laughter in his voice as he left the boys to come in her direction.
Mo stared blankly ahead too much in shock to move. The Order? The Order of the Phoenix? She had heard many conversations about it, whispered among the students. But until now she had blown it off as rumors. But if Dumbledore was involved...this couldn't be happening. She slumped against the wall not knowing what to do. She couldn't tell Sirius anything, not now. He would see her as a monster and would never look at her the same again.
What was she going to tell Voldemort? She couldn't betray her friends and Dumbledore but if she didn't tell him about the Order and he found out he would kill her. There had to be some way to get away from him, but how?
"Hello Miss Stanton," a musical voice broke her desperation and she looked up at Dumbledore.
She rose guiltily and answered, "Good morning Headmaster."
He smiled at her and asked, "Is something the matter? I don't know many students who linger in the corridors alone."
Mo felt her anxiety welling up and as she looked at Dumbledore she knew there was only one way to rid Voldemort from her life for good. "Headmaster? I have something I need to talk to you about."
"Certainly Miss Stanton," Dumbledore said and swept a hand down the hallway. "Won't you walk with me?"
Mo inclined her head and fell into step with her Headmaster. Slowly she began to tell Dumbledore the story she had told her friends that day in Diagon Alley after running into Sirius' family members and their cohorts.
"Yes Miss Stanton I'm aware of your past," Dumbledore said when she grew silent.
"There's more," Mo had to force the words.
"Ah I see."
"I don't know how to say this," Mo started and stopped taking a deep breath. Recklessly she plunged into the true story of her life. "My birth parents were Evan and Anastasia Rosier, as I've told you, but they were some of the most infamous Dark wizards around about fifteen years ago. When they died I was about three and Voldemort took charge of my life. I'm working for him right now." Her dark eyes looked up anxiously at Dumbledore who for once was not smiling.
"This is a very serious matter Maureen," he said after a short silence.
Frantic to make him understand she started to explain, "Professor please, I never had a choice in the matter. I never knew anything but this and I always accepted it but now there's people in my life that I care about and it isn't me who's going to get hurt this time. I fully plan to take this out with the Dark Lord but I want to be sure that my friends will be safe."
They had both stopped walking, Mo realized, and Dumbledore was watching her carefully. After a moment he spoke, "It takes a pure heart and a great love for someone to stand up to death in order to keep him or her safe. I knew that you were involved with Voldemort but I have seen things that have assured me that you will be a deciding factor in more than one person's life. I think, Miss Stanton, that you are destined for far greater things than you think."
Mo looked at him confused, "What are you going to do?"
"About you?" he smiled. "Miss Stanton if I thought that you didn't know what you were doing I would have stopped this a long time ago. Your friends, I'm afraid won't be so lucky."
"Are you talking about Lucius, Narcissa, and the rest of them?" Mo asked baffled to find that Dumbledore seemed to know exactly what was going on in the Forbidden Forest.
"Indeed I am," he answered. "The lot of them do not share your passion for life and unfortunately it's people like them that usually live."
"Headmaster?" Mo said. "I know what I have to do but I want to be able to say goodbye to everyone. I don't want anyone to follow me so would you tell them after I've gone?"
"Indeed but take Christmas off Maureen," Dumbledore said and nodded. "Use the time that you have to leave your friends with memories. Your friend Sirius Black, he talks about you."
"Does he now?" Mo smiled at the thought of him and took a deep breath to steady the pounding of her heart, "Thank you. I didn't realize I was going to ever make a decision like this but..."
"I understand," Dumbledore answered. "Just let me tell you something. True friends don't let you stand up to these things alone. Pride may be worth keeping but it's not always worth your life. Think about that and remember one thing, luck has an odd way of showing up when you need her."
Mo frowned but nodded, "I will, sir."
"Have a good day Miss Stanton."
"You to Professor." Mo continued down the hallway as Dumbledore headed off his own way. She had known all along that she'd needed to do this. She wouldn't back away from this, of that she was sure. She would face Voldemort and die for her friends before ever betraying them to him. The only thing now was how to get them to understand what she was and why she had to do what she was going to do, but first what had Dumbledore meant about friends don't let you stand up to these things alone?
Mo thought she understood correctly and that meant that if she knew her friends, as she thought she did, then it would all be a lot more complicated then she had first believed. One thing was certain, however. No matter who was involved, Maureen Stanton would not go down without a fight...
Well how was it? Good, bad? Please tell me!! Please review!!! I love writing but its sort of discouraging when people don't review! I know there's people out there reading w/o review so maybe you would be so kind to do that on your way out! lol!! oh well must be off, more chapters to write!!
Ta all!! Katie