Disclaimer: Mostly not mine. I think you should know what is JK's and what isn't by now.
A/n: More interaction between my Blanche and Severus here. I wrote half of this chapter months ago so please let me know if something doesn't jive. Thanks for the encouragement! Oh yeah, and I did forget to mention, yet again, in chapter 12 why the lot staying with the Order in Hogsmeade had to go back to King's Cross to catch the train when they could have just walked. Well, I think, and I believe I am correct, that Dumbledore would have made them because Malfoy and stooges would have noticed the absence of the dynamic trio on the train. I guess I just assumed that would be obvious. Sorry I missed that one.
Thanks for reading! I do appreciate reviews. I understand if you wait until it's finished though. Oh, and I do apologize for Ron being so spontaneous, simple, and instantaneously in love. I think he's the type to rush in and declare before he really knows anything. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. It probably will work with Luna.
Oh and one last little hint. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny are pretty unusual in that they know things about the Order that other students, including Luna, would not be privy to.
Chapter 20-The Only One Who Could Ever Guess
The Halloween Ball came and went. Luckily for Luna Lovegood, she didn't transform that first moon just before the ball. She was, however, in no shape to dress in a flowery gown and pin her blond tresses up in some stupidly festive way. She was actually grateful that she had to remain in her private room lit by the large window and decorated by the many flowers Ron had sent her. The first few days had been difficult for her, as no one, not even Ron, could come into her quarantine room for fear of her possible transformation.
No one knew why, but not every person bitten by a werewolf under a full moon transformed right away. Often, if not usually, it didn't occur until the moon after. Speculation was that it took that long for the body to take in the curse and transform cells to have the ability to transform. The Wolfsbane worked according to that speculation, aiming at inhibiting the "transformation cells."
Luna, having many hours to ponder her new state despite not transforming, wondered if intent had anything to do with near half the transformations not occurring during the first moon. She figured many of the werewolves never wanted to be werewolves themselves and probably were good people like Professor Lupin. Surely they wouldn't want someone to suffer the same fate. Luna wondered on it day in and out and hoped that there was some truth to it, because she would never want to harm anyone with the curse she knew she would now have to live through. 'Especially, Ron.'
By the time the Halloween Ball came, the Friday after the incident in Hogsmeade, Ron and her other friends from the DA were able to come and see her. The only students allowed to know the truth about her sickness were those who were present that day. Luna was grateful for that. The last thing she needed a year and bit from graduation was to get kicked out because of accurate rumors.
Ron had been an encouraging and steadying force for her. She had wondered what would happen between them that first couple of days all alone, and was surprised to find out that she was wrong about him. She had spent countless hours crying over her thought that Ron would turn away from her and curse that day in the library. Instead he seemed to take it all in stride. She knew he worried, because his eyes were drawn, his face a bit paler than usual, and he'd lost a bit of weight, but when with her, he became her reason to want to fight to have that normal life she wanted.
She hoped she wasn't setting herself up for a huge heartache. She really liked Ron. She wasn't so enamored that she expected a wedding and children anytime in the future, but she did like having him around to talk with, and he made her feel safe and comfortable even though what she was going through negated those feelings as soon as he left her side. She was happy to have a real friend, finally. If that was all they ended up as, then Ron would have a real chance at that life he wanted full of love, children, and Quidditch. Only the Fates knew if she'd be part of that picture so many years from now. The thought of that made Luna feel very much alone, even knowing she had at least one true friendship. She hoped she would have the resolve to fight the darkness of her curse. Above all her own hopes, Luna wanted Ron to be happy.
The hallways of Hogwarts were almost completely dark, as Professor Nouveau wandered them, finally allowing herself, two months into the semester, to remember her last few years at the school. She ran her fingers over the large orb on the necklace she still wore, more than sixteen years since she received it, like a lucky talisman. The necklace was a puzzle to her.
Sirius had told her the orbs would help her avoid giving out evil ideas to even worse people. That evening studying Occlumency, so long ago in the library, had proved at least one wizard could always get past the magic. Severus Snape. She didn't know how that was possible, but she remembered many times she tried not to reveal things to him and only ended up giving them to him after a quarrel. There was something in the emotion between them that penetrated her will, even when she detested him. Times like now she wondered at it. The emotion between her and Severus seemed so much deeper than her emotions with Sirius. Yet, the deepness of the emotions made her hatred that much greater.
The magic of the spheres had worked on Sirius. After she got the necklace she had been confused about her emotions having still been thinking of Severus now and then, so she kept the moments of happiness with Severus a secret to Sirius. As a result, Sirius's hatred of Severus deepened, because he thought Snape only capable of hurting her. She also could never bring herself to let him know about Severus and Lily's relationship. Blanche hurt too much to let herself into that triangle again. Blanche's emotions became heavy when the memory of Sirius came to her. But suddenly at the moment she turned her way toward their meeting place, his memory saved her yet again from fleeing from her past.
Sirius's soft, loving face drifted through her mind, as she made her way to the Astronomy Tower, the place she and Sirius had confessed their love. Now it was hard to remember not loving Sirius. He was her one true love. If she had to wait for death to be with him, then so be it. She remembered standing in the very place she now stood, her hands in his, when they realized, during the war, that they would have to wait to be together. His words still a comfort even now, "There is always Hope," didn't seem like such a distant memory. Almost seventeen years had past since then, and she still felt stronger with the thought that Sirius had believed all would turn out for the good. As she looked out toward the stars, she heard footsteps behind her. "Lumos," her voice echoed. She saw a black robed man protecting his face from the bright white light. Scared she began a stunning spell, "Stupe. . ."
"Expellerimus," the man's voice called. Blanche's wand rose into the air and landed in Professor Snape's pale, dry hands. Professor Nouveau startled and still frightened when she saw who it was, backed away from him. "So, come back to reminisce have you?" Professor Snape taunted coolly, a stabbing expression on his face. "How did Dumbledore ever manage to get you to come back to this place?"
"It wasn't Dumbledore's suggestions that made me come back," said Professor Nouveau as she watched her betrayer circle around her. Then Snape laughed cruelly, and began to scan her thoughts,
"Feeling a little guilty are you? Not being able to help the love of your life? Couldn't get to Potter before Voldemort got your man? Too busy hiding away in that ice tower of yours?"
"No sense in me trying to hide anything from you, Severus. You are the only person I haven't been able to avoid revealing thoughts to," Blanche said calmly. "Yes, I do suffer guilt. But Sirius knew, I couldn't. I told him the idea I gave you all those years ago." Snape moved closer to Blanche his voice piercing in the night breeze,
"You honestly thought me capable of performing that curse did you? You seriously believed I could do something so malicious, so severe? No, Miss Nouveau, the only one here capable of cursing someone they love is you."
"Severus, I don't regret it. You were plotting with Voldemort and Lily Evans. You were not to be trusted. It was you who betrayed me," Blanche retorted, revenge lingering in her pure violet eyes. "And love. What did you ever know of love?"
"You know, as well as I, what I know of love. We have both come to this place with the same pitiful end. Love is pain." Blanche chuckled at him,
"Oh, my Severus. How brave you are. Confessing you bitterness. Confessing your hate, when you know how powerful my curses can be." Her voice froze quickly in the November wind. "You tread on thin ice, my twisted ex-beloved. Watch yourself with me in this place. I do not trust you."
Snape began to walk back into the castle when Blanche said calmly, "My wand, Severus. Accio wand!" Her wand flew through the cold air back to her hand. He turned toward her with a look of greater disgust than he ever showed anyone.
"You Miss Nouveau have become the very definition of cruel." Snape moved quietly into the dark halls again, visibly hurt. Just as he left, one of Blanche's thoughts passed to him. Snape saw Blanche grab the center orb on her necklace and faint. A hooded figure moved toward her and laughed, "Love. The passion of the weak." A green smoke encompassed Miss Nouveau's body and floated into the spheres of her necklace leaving no sign of its presence. The Dark Lord sniggered and disappeared into the night. In a flash of pink light, Blanche's blue-haired head floated toward Snape's eyes. Snape shook his head unaware that this vision wasn't just an idea but an already past memory. He gazed back at Blanche with his eyebrows pinched together. She tried not to make any motion that could give away what she had done to the dark wizard she knew was spying on her. She had to continue to play herself, as the Dark Lord would expect her to. She couldn't reveal her secret out loud to anyone, because Voldemort would know she knew he was watching. Blanche sobbed as she watched Severus walk away. She knew that Severus, the man stuck in a very similar situation as her, was her only Hope.
The next DADA club meeting found an even more lonely Luna Lovegood fighting the sick feeling within her. It was two more weeks to the next full moon but she still hadn't found a way to prevent changing into the werewolf she felt emerging within her. Being the intelligent Ravenclaw she was, she knew enough to stay away from silver, but no matter how many hours she spent in the library she was unable to find the latest recipe for the Wolfsbane potion. She needed help before her already ragged appearance became edged with fur. While she sat in the corner waiting for the only friends she had now, the sponsors of the club entered bringing along an icy chill to the dueling room.
Professor Nouveau approached the girl and made polite conversation with her, while Professor Snape gathered the equipment needed for the evening's entertainment. Professor Nouveau's bright violet eyes reached into the depths of the young girl's mind and sent her an idea. In her mind, Luna saw the potions classroom and a door she hadn't noticed before. She walked through the door that was hidden by the chalkboard. Inside she found another laboratory. She assumed it must be Professor Snape's private lab. On the first table a cauldron was brewing and the recipe of the brew was on the parchment beside it. Luna looked down at the recipe and saw that it was the Wolfsbane potion recipe. As she focused on the parchment she heard two voices coming closer. They seemed to be fighting.
"I don't think I will have the time anymore to make the potion for you, Lupin. I barely got it done this time. The Dark Lord is calling me more often than ever and you have seen the results of such occasions. You are going to have to find someone else to make it."
"Who? Who is there to trust, Severus? You are the only person capable of even making the potion in England, and I can't afford the commercial blends. You know my allergies. You know the specific amounts to give me. I need you to do this. Please reconsider!"
"Fine. But who is going to make it when I die?"
"I guess you just can't die."
"Right. The Dark Lord will just let me go for my betrayal," Snape snorted. The men walked into Snape's private lab.
"Perhaps we have our answer right here, Severus. Miss Lovegood, what can we do for you?"
Luna saw her face filled with curiosity and then all of a sudden she saw her Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's head floating in her mind within a blue light. She nodded to Professor Nouveau acknowledging the idea she'd given her. Luna smiled for the first time since she'd been bitten. Now she knew how she would go on learning here at Hogwarts, and she would have a new hobby helping a fellow werewolf in need.
A week later Luna Lovegood could be found being caught in Professor Snape's private lab by Snape and Lupin. They agreed not to give her punishment if she agreed not to repeat anything she heard to anyone who wasn't affiliated with the Order and that she dedicate her free time to learn how to make the Wolfsbane potion for herself and Professor Lupin. Of course, she agreed and Professor Snape began giving her instructions on the preparations of the Wolfsbane ingredients.
The following Tuesday Professor Nouveau finally was able to live up to the promise of individual specialized career counseling. It had taken much longer than she had expected to get ideas for each student despite having had two conferences with each individual sixth year. The Slytherins and Gryffindors were the first to see the ideas she received for them based on the information she found within their minds.
"Remember those conferences we have been having with each other, so I could have a basis for ideas about your futures?" Professor Nouveau asked the class. Not hearing anything contrary she continued, "Well, the moment has come where I finally have received a solid idea for each of you. Because the amount of information I would have to process to send all of you the ideas at once, I have assigned you each to a group of two or three. Each group has a specific ten-minute span in which the members of the group will receive their personalized future ideas. The groups and times are on the board. The assignment for the rest of class time is to write a four-foot parchment about where you want to be in life in five years. You may make changes as you see your ideas, but everyone must complete this for next class time. Okay, any questions? No. Good. First group please wait for me in my office."
The first group had a blushing Neville Longbottom following a domineering Pansy Parkinson accompanied by the bulky Gregory Goyle. The three sat on the tall stools that formed a semi-circle around the professor's office desk. The two Slytherins grinned maliciously at each other in anticipation. Neville continued to look more nervous with each passing moment.
"Don't worry, Longbottom. You don't have to kiss her, just hold her hands and look in her eyes," Pansy smirked at Neville. Just as Neville's face became redder, Professor Nouveau came in. The professor transfigured her desk into a more comfortable barstool and took her place across from Pansy. The four of them were now corners of a small square.
"Anyone need explanation of the procedure?" The three shook their heads. "Good. Mr. Goyle you first." Professor Nouveau reached to her left and held sweaty, clumsy, square hands. As she looked into Goyle's blank colorless eyes, she formed the vision of a tan, muscular Goyle in a hard hat, sweaty t-shirt, and dirty muggle jeans working a jackhammer in the middle of muggle London. Next, she looked into small hazel eyes as she gave Miss Parkinson a vision of her future. Parkinson was dressed in a very short and reveling red dress. The dress was short enough to show off her black garters that held up her fish net stockings. She was helping another women look through lingerie, and at the desk when the customer was paying her there was a sign that said, 'Pansy's Underground Closet.' Miss Parkinson smiled, as the muse let go of her hands and replaced them with Neville Longbottom's. Neville's hands shook and despite several attempts at maintaining eye contact, Professor Nouveau smiled and asked the two Slytherins to leave. She brought a cup of tea to the timid boy still avoiding her eyes toward his stool.
"What is the meaning of this, Mr. Longbottom? You had no trouble looking at me in previous weeks. What's the problem now?" A silent Neville stared behind the professor at the wall behind where her desk should be located and blushed profusely. Professor Nouveau's eyebrows rose in understanding, "Ahh. I think I understand." She proceeded to let him down in a sharp but genuine voice, "Mr. Longbottom, you are a sweet boy, but I'm afraid my heart was given a long time ago to someone my own age and I never got it back. So, dear boy, there is no chance for you." Neville frowned, disappointment obvious on his already red face. Then a bit impatiently, slightly resembling Professor McGonagall, "Now, as there is no way you will be touching me in any way not related to DADA, could we please get on with this?" Neville nodded morosely, and Professor Nouveau took his hands and stared into tearing dark blue eyes. The vision that came into Neville's mind was himself in front of what could only be the rare plant solarium in Kent he had read so often about. He was dressed in khakis and a green polo shirt that said Head Herbologist on the left breast pocket. As he walked toward the door, he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up and he turned to see four dementors approaching the solarium. He cast his Patronus and his lion king once again defeated the enemy quickly and efficiently.
The next three groups provided the sight of Blaise Zabini running a potions lab at the ministry, Ron Weasley running through booby traps in Egyptian tombs, Lavender Brown with her own Witch's Cosmo, Vincent Crabbe working a bouncer at a club in Knockturn Alley, Pavariti Patil chasing Death Eater's with her wand raised, Seamus Finnegan tending his vineyard in Italy, Dean Thomas riding a dragon, and Millicent Bulstrode cleaning caldrons at the Ministry.
Finally, Harry and Hermione were grouped with Draco Malfoy. Contrary to popular belief that the younger Malfoy would join the Senior in the Death Eaters' Inner Circle, Draco really was as much about Quidditch as Woods, the Gryffindor keeper before Ron Weasley, had been. Draco apparently was meant to build on that passion and design broom models and uniforms for Quidditch teams.
Despite the enormous effort to do so, Professor Nouveau was unable to come up with career ideas for Harry and Hermione. All ideas surrounding them had to do with what was coming soon. Everything, it seemed, revolved around one ritual in the Forbidden Forest and the results of said ritual. She apologized to each of them in their minds and gave each of them a vision she knew they had not yet received.
Hermione saw herself walking alone in the Forbidden Forest during the fall wearing a gray wool cloak over her favorite blue jeans and plum wool pullover with a blue blouse underneath. Around the collar of the blue shirt dangled a sapphire pendent on a thin platinum chain. The pendent was embedded in a diamond platinum bed with runes engraved along the edges. She was singing a song in a language she'd never heard before. She knew she was singing to the forest and the song sounded calming and hopeful. Just as she was trying to decide if the language was Old Norse, Blanche's voice echoed, 'Yes,' in her mind and the muse's face buzzed through Hermione's consciousness.
Harry's turn revealed Harry outside near the Forbidden Forest giving Professor Snape a hearty hug and Harry raising an oak staff with an amber talisman fixed to its head in the air. At the same time Snape raised a sword with blue and green gems in the hilt toward the sun in the same way. They seemed to be celebrating something. Both men were smiling with victory, though their faces were covered in blood. Harry barely recognized his striped pajamas under the red. Just at the end of the vision, the two men looked toward the forest and saw a tearful Mia in a gray cloak run to them. She ran directly to Snape's arms and in a moment of pure joy he lifted her up and spun her around into his embrace. Before Harry could see what he almost hoped would happen next, the vision was ended with Blanche's spinning head.
Professor Nouveau looked pensive after the last vision. Harry thought he saw tears in her eyes as she dismissed them and ventured off to her quarters near the Astronomy Tower. Whether they were tears of happiness or sadness Harry couldn't guess, but he thought that perhaps the visions had just worn her down and whatever the emotion was had finally got to her. Harry felt as though something important was happening to his professor, and that this moment of usually concealed emotion a breakthrough had occurred.