Author's Note: I'M BACK, BABY! Everyone, I am so sorry for my absence. It was a crazy year, and my Harry Potter obsession waned ever so slightly in the hustle and bustle of my junior year of high school. However, it's summer now, the new book's coming out, and I'm back and ready to rumble (well, ready to write, at any rate. Rumbling takes many more muscles that I'm not sure I want to use). Watch out, world, Snow Wing is ready for takeoff! Since I've made you wait for an inhuman amount of time, this chapter is extra-long and chock-full of Remus-Ermengarde goodness…and some answers (and, of course, new mysteries and clues…but anyway…) that I know you've been waiting for. If anyone figures out the ultimate mystery, they win the chocolate bunny! And now, ON TO THE STORY!

Chapter Thirteen: Illumination

Time passed and the school year at Hogwarts was nearly at a close. Ermengarde sat with her feet dangling lazily over the arm of the chair in the common room. She had been gazing idly at the ceiling, letting her mind wander, when something suddenly stuck out in her mind. She sat bolt upright.

"You okay, Snow Wing?" asked Sirius, who had been absentmindedly tuning his guitar.

"I'm fine. I just almost drifted off. I think I'll go for a walk," said Ermengarde, getting up quickly, tucking her curls behind her ears, and scurrying off out of the portrait hole before anyone could stop her.

She made her way quickly to the library, thinking hard all the way. There's just no way it could be…if that's the reason…how on Earth am I supposed to protect him?

"Switoviak!"

Ermengarde skidded to a halt when she heard her name hissed from a dark corner of the corridor. She turned to see none other than Severus Snape making his hunch-shouldered way over to her. She whipped out her wand.

"Keep back," she ordered.

"Put it away. I'm not going to hurt you," said Snape.

"What do you want?"

"I want to talk to you for a moment."

Ermengarde hesitated, then put her wand away. Snape, for once, seemed genuine.

"All right," said Ermengarde. "What can I help you with?"

"I know there's something more to you than meets the eye. You just appeared one day…you're not a new student. There's something behind you. And I want to know what it is," said Snape, leering.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Ermengarde, trying to brush past him irritably.

"I think you do."

Snape simply looked at her. Ermengarde finally had enough.

"Either you tell me exactly what you're on about or this meeting is over," she snapped, surprising even herself with the waspish way she snapped at him.

To Ermengarde's shock, Snape's face softened and he took a slight step back. He seemed almost bearable all of a sudden.

"I want to help you," Snape whispered. "I know what's after you and I know you're in danger. You have to trust me."

"Why should I trust you?"

"Because I don't want you getting hurt," said Snape.

Ermengarde simply stared.

"You're the only person who's ever really been kind to me. I mean really. And I know I've treated you horribly, but…but I want to help."

Ermengarde had had enough. This was obviously the prelude to some hex or terrible joke and she wasn't about to hear any more.

"Get out of my way," she murmured, and she succeeded in pushing past him.

As she made her way down the corridor, she heard him call after her, "Fine! But don't come to me when you're in real trouble, Mudblood!"

Ermengarde disregarded that comment. A second later, however, she felt a hot breeze ripple past her and smelled the distinct scent of burning hair. A couple of her curls were smoking. She made an about-face and drew her wand, but Snape was nowhere to be seen. She shoved her wand back into her pocket angrily and stormed all the way to the library. Once there, she practically sprinted to the intended shelf and began perusing the titles.

"Fancy meeting you here," came a voice from a stack behind her.

She wheeled around and saw, through the books, the grinning face of Remus. He stepped around and came up right next to her.

"You gave me a right scare, Remus," said Ermengarde, her hand on her chest. "What are you doing here?"

"Same as you, just browsing."

"Oh. Right. Yes, just browsing," said Ermengarde awkwardly. "So…er…what are you browsing for?"

"Well, if I were browsing for anything, I wouldn't really be just browsing, now would I?" said Remus.

"I guess not."

"So what are you browsing for?"

"You just said –"

"I lied," said Remus, grinning again, but starting to cough violently.

"You're rather peculiar today," said Ermengarde. "What's up?"

"Just…you know," said Remus. "Certain time. How about you?"

Remus erupted into another fit of coughs and Ermengarde thumped him on the back. He looked at her after he'd finished coughing, waiting for her to answer his question.

"Well, I hate to break a happy mood, but…"

Ermengarde quickly relayed her encounter with Snape in the corridor. By the time she'd finished, Remus was ogling her with his mouth half-open.

"Snape did what?" he gasped.

"D'you reckon I should have taken him seriously?"

"No, no, of course not. He was bluffing. But still…"

"I know. I thought that, too," said Ermengarde. "I don't know what to do now."

"I do. We're going straight back to the common room to get the others and then we'll find Snape and sort him out," said Remus, grabbing hold of Ermengarde's wrist and starting to lead her rather like a stern father would a child.

"Remus, let go – what is the matterwith you?" said Ermengarde, stumbling to keep up with him.

"Absolutely ridiculous – had enough – I'll show him – we all will," Remus muttered wildly. Ermengarde had never seen him in such a state. "Come on!"

Remus gave Ermengarde's arm a forceful tug. She let him lead her all the way back to the common room, where he proceeded to drag her through the portrait hole, over to the armchairs, and sit her down, kneeling in front of her in a manner that, under other circumstances, would have led a young lady to believe she was being proposed to. Now, however, he looked pale and worried.

"All right, then," he said, slightly winded from the very swift walking. "Tell me again exactly what happened."

"What up, Moony?" said James, unfazed by Remus's strange behavior.

"Go on, Ermengarde," Remus prompted.

Once again, Ermengarde relayed the story of Snape's attack to the Marauders. Once she had finished, she looked at all of them. Remus, still kneeling in front of her, was even paler and now looked simply furious. Sirius and James were seething, as what usually happened when Snape came into conversation, and Peter looked terrified. Remus stood up and coughed, running his hand through his slightly graying hair.

"Look," said Ermengarde. "We've got to find somewhere to talk more privately. I have to – it's what I was going to the library for. I have to explain, but not here, where everyone can hear me."

"Let's go to the dormitory. No one will be in there," said Sirius.

Remus offered a hand to Ermengarde to help her out of her chair, but she didn't take it. She was still slightly put off by the way he had acted moments earlier.

Ermengarde furtively followed the boys to their dormitory and closed the door behind her. Once inside, she let out a deep breath.

"I think I've worked something out," she said.

"Well?" said James impatiently.

"I mean, I think I've worked out why I'm here at all. Why I've come back to this time, this place."

"Go on," said Sirius.

"Well," Ermengarde started, not exactly sure how to start. "The night I left my own time, I was talking to your son, James. I was talking to Harry. It was the first time I'd ever spoken to him. I remember I almost let something slip to him that I don't think he knows or is even supposed to know."

"Why? What did you tell him?" said James.

"I didn't tell him, that's the point. I almost said that he's – that he's the Heir of Gryffindor."

There was silence. Sirius smirked and looked at James, but James for once looked very serious.

"How did you know?" he asked in a voice of measured quiet.

"I just worked it out. It makes sense to me," said Ermengarde truthfully.

"How on Earth did you just work something like that out? What, you just sat down one day and thought, right, well, Harry Potter must be the Heir of Gryffindor since his dad is!" said James, now sounding upset.

"I don't understand. Why are you angry with me?" Ermengarde asked.

"BECAUSE NO ONE'S SUPPOSED TO KNOW!" James roared. "NOT EVEN SIRIUS KNEW AND HE'S PRACTICALLY MY BROTHER! WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING AT, SAYING STUFF LIKE THAT WITHOUT WARNING?"

"Well, how was I supposed to know it's such a great secret?" Ermengarde said back, not raising her voice.

"YOU COULD HAVE ASKED BEFORE YOU WENT BLABBING IT TO THE WHOLE SCHOOL!"

"Oh, for heaven's sake!"

"NOW WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?"

"You can shut up for one!" said Sirius, getting annoyed with the shouting. "I'm getting a headache."

"As am I," Remus chimed in. "But that's probably just because it's the full moon tomorrow."

James sat down hard on his four-poster and put his head in his hands. Ermengarde felt terrible. She didn't know it was such a big deal. The only reason she hadn't told Harry was because she was sure he had no idea and she didn't feel right being the one to tell him. Remus, who had calmed down considerably and who now looked at Ermengarde with a look of sympathy, made a tiny gesture with his head towards James. Ermengarde got the hint.

"James, come on," she said softly, sitting next to him and putting her arm around him. "I'm sorry, all right? I didn't know. If it helps, I'm all right with a Memory Charm; I can have these gits put right in a second –"

James let out a small chuckle and lifted his head. Ermengarde smiled warmly at him as he faced her.

"It's all right," he said. "Let me just explain before you go on any further with your story, right?"

"Okay," said Ermengarde.

James took a deep breath. "I, besides my father, am the last remaining Heir to Gryffindor. Now, very, very few people know about this at all. Mostly only family with a select few outside – you, for instance, and now these three – but other than that, no one knows."

"Why not?" asked Peter.

"Because the Gryffindor line was supposed to die with my father."

Not knowing what to do or say, the Marauders all kept silent. Remus kept trying (and failing) to stifle coughs and Peter was still twitching. Only Sirius and Ermengarde were perfectly still, curious for more. James continued:

"My father knew he was in danger when he was at Hogwarts and the Chamber of Secrets was opened –"

"The Chamber of Secrets? That's a load of rubbish," said Peter.

"It's not," said Ermengarde quietly. "Trust me on that one."

Peter looked even more frightened.

"Anyway," said James, not appreciating the interruption. "When the Chamber of Secrets was opened, my dad was in his first year. Dumbledore knew about him being the Heir and he got him out of the school, saying that his mum was sick and he needed to stay home until she was better. However, after that, our family decided never to let anyone else know we're the Gryffindor line, just in case. We can't let it die out, don't you see?"

"It doesn't die out," Ermengarde reassured him. "You have a son. Gryffindor survives in him!"

"And what about me?" asked James, not looking at her.

Ermengarde chose her words carefully. "If I tell you, I could seriously damage the future. I'm not taking that chance."

"Ermengarde, do me a favor," said James. "If all this is true and you ever get back to your own time, find me and smack me for not totally believing a word you're saying right now."

"I will," said Ermengarde, smiling.

"Now, then, you said you'd worked out why you're here at all?"

"Oh."

Ermengarde's face fell. Remus caught her eye.

"Well?" Sirius prodded, looking at her as though he was a puppy and she held some tantalizing treat in her hand.

"Well…I think why I'm here is that I'm supposed to save the Gryffindor line," she said slowly, slightly embarrassed.

"Hero complex?" said Sirius.

"No, you prat. Listen, hear me out. The night I came here, I almost let slip to Harry that he's the Heir. Then, next thing I know, I'm here. With you, James, here, where you're the same age as I left your son in the future. Tell me if that could mean anything else, would you?" said Ermengarde. "Why else would I be here? Maybe I'm supposed to be some sort of guard or Secret-Keeper or something. I don't know. But at any rate, I'm here, and that's the only explanation I can think of for it."

"Could I have a moment alone with Ermengarde, please?" said James slowly, looking as though he had just seen a rattlesnake.

The other Marauders retreated out of the dormitory. James turned to Ermengarde with true fear in his eyes, something Ermengarde had not yet seen.

"Ermengarde," he said. "If you almost let slip to Harry that he's the Heir, that means no one ever told him."

"Right," said Ermengarde, wondering where he was going with this.

"I would never keep that secret from my son. I know Lily wouldn't."

Ermengarde finally understood the fear in his eyes. Before she could say anything, he interjected with:

"So that must mean neither of us is around to tell him. Isn't that right?"

James and Ermengarde spent a long second looking directly into each other's eyes, neither wanting to break away. James's face was pleading, begging, imploring Ermengarde to say it was all a joke, that nothing bad would ever happen to him, that he lives to a ripe old age of 102 and sees his son accomplish greatness…and Ermengarde's heart pounded at the thought of having to tell him otherwise, but she knew she had to.

"That's right," she said, the words barely escaping her lips.

James let out a great puff of air, as though her words had been his death sentence right then and there.

"But, Prongs," said Ermengarde. "I said earlier that I was sure I've been sent here to protect you, didn't I?"

"Yeah."

"So…so maybe I'm here to reverse that! Maybe I'm here to make sure you live to tell your son he's the Heir and all of that!"

James's face and Ermengarde's heart both lifted considerably as this theory worked its way through their brains.

"I'm so sorry I yelled at you," said James. "Honestly. I didn't mean it. I just felt so exposed."

"I don't blame you. I'd have yelled, too. No hard feelings."

They smiled at each other.

"Come on," said James. "The others are waiting."

Outside the dormitory, Remus, Sirius, and Peter were sitting halfway down the stairs. Remus had leaned against the banister and put his hand on his forehead, nursing a headache. Peter and Sirius were playing some sort of word game that Ermengarde didn't have the patience to try and understand.

"There you are!" said Sirius standing. "Take your time, why don't you?"

"Sorry," said Ermengarde. "It was sort of important, you know."

"How important?"

"Life or death. Fate of the world. Universe, even," said James.

"Yeah, I'm sure," said Sirius irritably, though he was grinning. "Kitchens?"

"You read my mind."

"Snow Wing should come, too," Sirius added. "She's never been."

"Oh – oh, no, it's all right. I'm quite tired," said Ermengarde quickly.

"Suit yourself. Anything you want from the kitchens?" asked James.

"Oh, no, I'm all right. Thanks."

"All right. Wormtail? Moony?"

Remus just shook his head. Ermengarde suspected that he felt he would be sick if he ate anything. Peter, on the other hand, was leaning slightly side to side on the balls of his feet, eager for his friends to notice him.

"What is it, Peter? You're making me seasick," said James.

"Could I come?" asked Peter.

"Yeah, sure," said Sirius. "Why not? Transform, I'll carry you."

Peter looked very excited and he immediately turned himself into a large gray rat. Ermengarde had to fight to keep from wrinkling her nose. She was not particularly fond of rats, and Peter was especially scruffy as one.

"Later, then," said James, throwing the Invisibility Cloak over himself and Sirius.

"Good night," said Ermengarde to the thin air.

After the portrait hole had opened and closed, signaling the departure, Ermengarde sank onto the step next to Remus. He rested his chin on his hand now, looking intently at her.

"What?" she asked after a moment.

"I've never known someone so mysterious," he said. "It's amazing."

"Oh – well – thanks."

"D'you know something?" he continued.

"No, what's that?" asked Ermengarde.

"Right this moment is the first time all day I haven't felt sick. Can you explain that?"

"No," said Ermengarde.

"Neither can I," said Remus.

The two sat in silence for a few moments.

"It's cool tonight," said Ermengarde conversationally.

"Yes, it is," said Remus. "Strange for this time of year."

There was another long silence. After ten minutes of nothingness had passed, the two stood up simultaneously and stretched, ready for bed.

"Well," said Remus with an odd note in his voice. "Good night, Ermengarde."

"Good night," said Ermengarde.

Remus made a quick motion as though to touch Ermengarde's arm, but then he changed his mind and scratched his neck instead. Ermengarde smiled awkwardly and started down the staircase towards her own dormitory. She was nearly there when Remus called her name. She turned and saw him standing at the base of her staircase. She walked back down to him, worried that something had happened.

"Look," said Remus. "I just want you to know that I'm really very worried about you. Nothing excuses my behavior earlier, I know that, but just know that I was trying to act in your best interest, right?"

"Right," said Ermengarde, amused at the speed with which Remus was talking.

"Anyway, I just wanted to get that off my chest. And – and Ermengarde?" he added.

"Yeah?"

"Just…please, please, take care of yourself. Be careful. I don't want you to get hurt. Please."

Ermengarde was slightly taken aback by this display of concern. She had grown accustomed to the way Sirius and James treated her, as though they were a pair of slightly immature watchdogs, but Remus's earnestness struck something in her heart. She was very touched by the way Remus looked at her as if she were something very delicate.

"I'll be careful, Remus. I promise you. I don't want to be hurt either," said Ermengarde, smiling again. "But I can handle Snape myself."

"What you told me before…about this sort of war that happened…"

So that was it. It wasn't just a silly rivalry with Snape that Remus was worried about. It was true terror about a force more powerful than either of them – a force that, if Ermengarde did not go back to the future, she would witness its rise to vile power.

"Remus, listen to me," she said very slowly and precisely. "Whatever happens to me, that doesn't matter. Anything that happens is for the best, for the future, you understand? I'm here for a reason, and if that reason is to die protecting the future, I'm willing to do it."

This time, Remus let himself reach out to Ermengarde. He took her hand and held it between both of his. He looked as though he could cry.

"I'm scared, Ermengarde. This is a terrible world to be scared in, especially for someone…like me."

"There's nothing wrong with you," said Ermengarde fiercely. "It's just what ignorant wizards have conjured up in their minds."

"I know that," said Remus. "But still…I've gained a few more gray hairs from worry about all this business."

"If it's any consolation," said Ermengarde. "The gray looks good on you."

Remus let out a slight chuckle and his face relaxed. He gave Ermengarde's hand a little squeeze which she returned.

"Don't think on it too much," she whispered. "Just live for now. Let me do any war-worrying until the time comes, all right? Let me get the gray hairs for a while. You've got enough to spare, yeah?"

"Amazing," said Remus, still with a little smile on his face. "How you can always make me feel better."

"It's a gift," said Ermengarde with mock conceit, and the two laughed once more.

"Well…" said Remus.

"Well," said Ermengarde. "Good night."

She moved to release Remus's hand, but he didn't let go right away. Instead, he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, one more squeeze of the hand, a smile, and then he let go so the two could go to bed.

Ermengarde slept through the night for the first time that night.