Give me a reason to believe
That you're gone
I see your shadow so I know
They're all wrong
Moonlight on the soft brown earth
It leads me to where you lay
They took you away from me
But now I'm taking you home
Even in Death - Evanescence
Chapter 15
Silently Broken
In two days, everything was set for the kids to go back home. Miraculously enough, no attack had taken place during that time. The full moon had vanished from the sky, and the two girls were healing fast at the medical ward. Abigail was still shaken up, and at night Moira could hear her cry to sleep. There was nothing she could say or do that would make the girl better, so she simply climbed out of bed, limped a bit to Abby's bed and sat down next to it, stroking her cousin's hair until she fell asleep.
Moira, on the other hand, was feeling like a caged animal. She couldn't stand to stay put in a bed when she knew she was needed someplace else. As soon as she woke up, she had to face Poppy's terrified glance. At first, she thought it was because of the incident that made her lose control, but as she noticed her clothes had been changed and wounds treated, she knew why Poppy was looking at her like that.
"I won't tell anyone" she whispered to Moira, her eyes honest. She knew Poppy would never tell something like this to anyone, and yet a part of her wanted to obliviate her.
Then today, only a few of days before Halloween, Nicholas came to say good-bye. Moira didn't cry or make a scene, but she knew what his leaving meant and only hoped for the best. Sophie had tears in her eyes. Moira had grown accustomed to the muggle and knew that the feeling was returned. Abby cried a lot when she held Henry in her arms. He made his little baby noises and pulled on her hair, making her laugh over her tears. Moira really liked that baby and in her mind, she prayed Merlin would protect it.
"Be safe, okay?" Nicholas asked as he hugged Abby "I'll keep in touch"
"Or mum will kill you" Abby completed.
"As for you" Nicholas said as he looked at Moira "In a couple of days you better start to kick some butt" he said smiling.
"Don't worry" she said with a sly smile across her lips "I'll be doing more than that"
"Here" Sophie handed Moira a small and flat parcel "It was supposed to be given to you on your birthday, but since we won't be here" Moira opened the small parcel and her eyes shone "It was Nick's idea. I just wrote the card"
Inside the parcel was a small book. The cover was made out of black leather and it bore no symbol or name, but Moira recognized the book at once.
"This was my mother's" she said in a breath as she opened the pages containing the familiar hand writing. The book was filled with notes on researches Tsarina had conducted during her life. Curse breaking, historical findings, her mother had been quite a scholar in her youth "Where did you get this?"
"She gave it to me" Nicholas said as he sat on the bed beside Moira.
"She said my grandmother wasn't too pleased in having her running around the world, researching, finding new potions and breaking curses" Moira said as she looked at the pages.
"She had a great mind, and had to keep it busy and she did it...so did I" Nicholas'eyes found Moira's "So did you...in a way. This helped me a lot during my days of wondering...and it belongs to you now"
Moira's eyes shone. She had missed her mother when she was growing up. She was always traveling the world, doing incredible things, but now she understood why she needed to do so much: Tsarina gained her respect over prejudice and that didn't come with money or a name...it came with actions. Moira had had her share of acting, but deep down, she knew she still had a lot to do, and her time was still to come when she was going to prove her character yet again. She hoped she would make her mother proud when that time arrived.
Moira went through some of the pages and found in the very last one a picture. The colors weren't so bright, but that didn't taint the smile of its occupants. Her father, looking younger and with a shorter beard stood tall beside her mother. Tsarina looked dashing and Moira had never seen such a smile upon her mother's face and as her eyes traveled down the picture, Moira found that the usual thin waistline was much bigger. Tsarina was pregnant when that picture was taken.
"My mom told me that was the only picture she took during the pregnancy. You know how she felt about her looks"
Moira shook her head as she smiled. Tsarina was a perfect looking witch and being pregnant must have been horrible for her. And yet, when she looked at that smile she knew she was mistaken.
"Thank you" she turned to Sophie "Both of you" she said honestly, but feeling her cheeks get very warm, she decided not to speak any more or unwanted tears would end up falling and Abigail wouldn't let her hear the end of it. As she picked up the card, Sophie stood up.
"I'm kind of embarrassed, so, just read it after we leave, ok?" she said with a smile and Moira nodded "It was very nice meeting you, Moira" Sophie said honestly as her eyes found Moira's deep ones.
"Likewise" Moira said courtly "Take care of each other"
And off they went. One by one, they were all going to leave as October 31st drew near. Moira had read more than one time the card that Sophie had left her. The words were very honest, thanking her for removing the curse off her child and for warming up to her and Henry."You'll make someone a wonderful mother some day" were the last words that Moira couldn't stop reading.
"So...there won't be anyone in the school but us" Abby said as she looked at the orange sky outside. Abby was sitting on the bed, holding her knees under her chin as her blue eyes looked out the window in front of her. Healing faster than Moira, Abby could already move around a bit better than her cousin and the gash on her back didn't hurt as bad as before.
"Hum hum" Moira murmured from her bed. She was lying on top of the covers, her eyes closed and her hands on her sides. Her foot was still bandaged but the scratches on her body were already healing.
"Do you think this will work? Sending the kids home?" Abby asked as she looked at Moira, her eyes still red-rimmed.
"It has to" Moira said, her eyes still closed "The down side is that I am stuck with you… OUCH!" Moira exclaimed and opened her eyes wide as a pillow hit her head.
"Don't make me hex you" Abby replied as she caught the pillow back.
"As if you could" Moira taunted, moving to a sitting position.
"Do you have any idea how many men are envious of me right now?" a feminine voice said from the door, catching Moira and Abby's attention.
"Justine? What are you doing here?" Moira asked as she watched the Auror come inside the Medical Ward.
"Nice to see you too" she said as she walked toward the two beds. Raven black hair falling to her waist, gray pants, shirt and robes, Justine heels clanked softly on the floor as she made her away across the room "Consider me the calm sea before the storm" she sat down between the two beds "It won't take long for this castle to be swirling with Aurors" she looked at Moira "Trick or treat"
"So the kids go and the Ministry comes in. That will be a cheerful change" Moira said impatiently as she moved to try to get out of bed.
"As if I really wanted to be here" Justine spat as Moira closed the curtains around her bed "How are you feeling?" Justine asked Abby, who shrugged her shoulders "You see this?" she asked as she pointed to the scar on the side of her hazel eye "Werewolf as well. My sister, actually"
Abigail widened her blue eyes. Could werewolves really lose it enough to hurt their loved ones? Remus' face came to mind, then the attack. Abby closed her eyes.
"What happened?" she asked, trying not to cry again.
"Wrong place at the wrong time. But we are both all right. I got out of it with a scar that adds to my charm and she got a guilty conscience. I must say I got the best end of the bargain" Justine smiled, something that made the scar on the right side of her face look even deeper. She went quiet as she looked at Abby; tears were escaping her eyes.
Abby felt a gloved hand over hers and opened her eyes. Justine held her hand and was looking at her; her hazel eye, close to the scar was shinning as much as the blue one. Justine Lorcan was a warrior, an Auror who had a werewolf for a sister. She was a fighter who dealt with scars and attacks as no extraordinary thing. But Abigail was no warrior. She had been attacked by the man she loved and she had no idea how to ever get over that.
"Listen to me, Abigail" Justine's voice was soft "Don't beat yourself up and don't blame him for what happened. I am sure there is an explanation" Justine squeezed Abby's hands in hers as she saw the woman fight back tears "You love him, and scars can't change that" Justine said.
Moira stopped her movements on the other side of the curtains as she heard Justine's last comment.
"The pain will go away, and once we all learn the truth about what happened, you'll forgive him and the only thing that will remain is a scar. Not that it is an attractive trait, not all witches are good looking as I am, but scars don't necessarily need to be a bad thing. They can even be a connection between the two of you, become part of your history" Justine continued.
"So" Moira said a bit more loudly than she intended. The dark haired witch opened the curtains, her eyes cold as she found Abby and Justine looking at her "That was Celest?" Moira asked as she looked at Justine's scar but frowned as the Auror gave her an odd look. Moira was dressed in a white shirt, black pants and bare feet. "What? I had to transfigure my pajamas alright? My magic is a little off" Moira added under her breath.
"That happens…Halloween being so close and all" Justine said and looked at Moira.
"Never thought Celest would lose her temper, not like this anyway" she said as she limped around the bed, her wand in hand, trying to avoid the subject of Halloween. Her own scar, the one that was shaped like a lighting bolt and was located on her left shoulder blade and always carefully hidden by her clothes, didn't sting, but Moira was more aware of its existence. A connection.
"Yep…it happens. That was a bad cycle for her. She's taking Wolfsbane too, you know?" Justine said
"How she's getting it? I thought only Severus could brew that potion around here" Abigail said.
"He is a great Potion maker, but not the only one, Abby" Moira said a bit more harshly than she had intended.
"No, Abby is right. Severus is pretty much the only one who can brew that potion right from around here. Celest is getting hers from a Healer from Scotland. She's been mailing it to her. Very nice lady.…"
Moira looked at Justine.
"Fine…I checked her out from the Aurors Headquarters and she's clean." Justine confessed. "I visited Celest last month. She's engaged to a very nice fellow...I guess a werewolf has a better love life than us, huh?" she asked and Moira snorted.
"What about your brother?" Moira asked as she looked around the Medical Ward and then back at Justine "How is he doing?"
"You know Richard. He's around everywhere. Last owl I got he was in Greece, following the tracks of some creature"
"That is one guy who took Care of Magical Creatures one step too seriously" Moira said smiling as she remembered the man vaguely.
"Hagrid would be proud" Abby added under her breath.
She didn't understand how the two could talk about trivial things when all her world was coming apart. She looked at Moira and Justine and saw the complicity in their eyes, just like Sirius and James had in theirs.
"Well, I'm out of here" Moira said as she started her way to the wards door.
"You are not supposed to leave yet" Abby said as she saw Moira tie her hair in a ponytail and look around.
"I don't care. I have to get out of here or I'll go mad" the dark-haired witch replied "You stay put and if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll tell them you're delusional"
"Fine" Abby said as she saw Moira limping toward the door.
"Are you going to stay here?" Moira asked Justine, who promptly stood up.
"Just tell them she was gone when you woke up" Justine said as she stood up and moved to go after Moira.
"You two are worst than James and Sirius" Abby tossed.
"I know" Justine said smiling as she left.
&&&&&&
"I am sorry Harry, but I can't say a word about anything" Hagrid said in that unique accent of his.
Harry, Ron and Hermione stared at the half-giant hoping he was going to answer some things but they were wrong. The three of them were at Hagrid's door, while the teacher sat on the stairs to his hut, looking gloomy and not at all happy that he couldn't tell the kids what they wanted to know.
"Come on, Hagrid" Harry started "They are sending us home. We have to know why"
"Dumbledore is sending you home to keep you safe" Hagrid said firmly.
"Safe from what?" Hermione asked "The barriers are up"
"But evil is still inside" Hagrid said, making the three faces stare at him "I shouldn't have said that"
"I know it is" Harry said "But…"
"No more, Harry" Hagrid said "You know I would be the first to tell you everything if I could, but this time, I really can't"
Harry's shoulders fell. The last resource had failed. If Hagrid could not tell them anything about what was going on then it was because it was worse than they thought.
"Fine…thanks anyway, Hagrid" Harry said as he left the hut, Hermione and Ron following.
The wind was blowing a bit harder than usual, announcing that fall was coming; change was coming. The trees already let their leaves fall, coloring the ground with tones of yellow, orange and red. The three kids started on their way back to the castle. In a couple of hours they were going to be separated again, sent home without knowing why. Harry looked around; everywhere kids were saying their good-byes, pushing trunks here and there, and making promises to keep in touch during their untimely break. Although many students were seen walking around in groups, trying to find out what has been going on and the reason why they were evacuating the school, most students were just happy that they were going back home, away from classes. They were acting as if they were going on an extra vacation and that angered Harry beyond belief.
"This sucks!" Ron yelled as they started their way up the castle.
"How can they act so normally about it all?" asked Hermione "It is as if they don't care about what is going on"
"They don't" Harry replied bitterly "I don't think they believe Voldemort is back for real"
"Come on, Harry. Dumbledore told them all. Of course they believe him" Ron said.
"I think Harry is right" Hermione said as they reached the stairs that led to the castle "He told them, we saw what has happened, but all of this had happened before, in different ways. I mean, nobody believed You-Know-Who had returned when Harry got away from the maze last year"
A heavy silence fell between them. Harry had seen Cedric killed in front of him and he couldn't do anything to save him. Ron and Hermione knew how that bothered Harry, since he never talked to them about it. Harry sighed heavily and felt his heart turn into a knot when they turned a corner and saw Cho Chang kiss Philipp softly on the lips. Harry stopped dead on his feet and Hermione and Ron halted beside him. As they searched for what Harry was looking at, their faces fell as the Ravenclaw seeker said her good-bye to her Slytherin boyfriend. Harry leaned against the wall, next to a classroom's opened door.
"Harry…" Hermione started.
"It doesn't matter" Harry said abruptly "It doesn't matter" he replied as the talk to Lupin came back to his mind. Lupin…what about him? He was next in Harry's vision and they had heard a howl…what if…
"Any word from Remus?" the kids heard Professor Flitwick ask in a hushed voice coming from inside the classroom. The kids pressed their backs along the wall, trying to hear more.
"Nothing. Sirius is with him. I'm sure he'll come around soon enough" they heard Professor McGonagall reply "I'm more concerned about Moira and Abigail. Are they still at the Hospital wing?"
Harry's heart dropped to his stomach. He remembered, right after suffering the White Death curse, seeing Moira bee attacked by Voldemort. He remembered how he yelled for people to go find her and he remembered, as good as today, how she took him in his arms and told him she would never give him up. Now, she was in the Hospital Wing again and Harry felt responsible.
"Yes" a voice they didn't know too well replied and Harry thought to be Dumbledore's brother. His voice was coming closer to the kids "I sure hope we find out who was responsible for that. I can't wait to help my niece shred the wizard to pieces"
McGonagall, Flitwick and Aberforth left the room, turning and walking to the opposite direction the kids were, missing them.
"You shouldn't encourage that kind of behavior, Aberforth" McGonagall said as if reprimanding a student.
"You saw what happened. Are you trying to tell me you wouldn't lose your control and transfigure the one who did this into something very nasty?" Aberforth said.
The three older wizards stopped. McGonagall looked from Flitwick to Aberforth.
"Into a bed pan…or something worse" McGonagall said softly and the two wizards smiled at her.
"A good stunner to the chest for starters" said Flitwick.
And they went on, talking about the horrible fate that waits the perpetrator of the attack. Now Harry was sure that Professor Lupin was involved. Hermione looked at Ron and then at Harry, surprise in her face for discovering something like an attack had taken place and that her teachers could be so mean if they wanted to.
"Under the invisibility cloak now" Harry said, cutting the silence.
&&&&&&
"Coast clear?" Moira asked as Justine peeked around a corner.
"Yes" she said and both women started their way toward one of the corridors. Moira was leaning on one of Justine's arms as she limped "I thought you healed fast"
"I do, but the sedative reacted with my remedies and it is taking longer" Moira said as she walked.
"Sedative?" Justine asked as she came to a halt, stopping Moira. Her eyes fixed on Moira's "Please, tell me you didn't lose control"
"Ok…so I won't tell you" Moira said and tried to keep walking but Justine wouldn't let her.
"Moira…I can't believe you! Do you know what the Ministry is going to do when they find out? They are going to lock you up until Halloween"
"That won't happen because you won't tell them" Moira said, raising an eyebrow "Listen…Trelawney called Remus mad. That woman calling Remus mad, Justine…it just made my blood boil" she sighed heavily, and closed her eyes "Look…I'm not proud of it, but I can't erase it either…let me deal with this"
"How?" Justine asked, crossing her arms over her chest, making Moira have to balance her weight on only one foot, letting the other barely touch the floor.
"My own way" Moira replied.
"I don't like your way" Justine replied "I like mine and this time you are going to listen. Halloween is just a few days away and until then you are forbidden to use any type of magic"
"WHAT?!" Moira exclaimed "You can't forbid me…"
"Oh, yes I can, Moira and I am going to. I won't let you dig your own grave, so play it safe and you'll be fine"
"What if I don't?" Moira asked left eyebrow raised high, eyes sparkling with anger.
"I'll lock you up myself and throw away the key" Justine said, not a bit intimidated by Moira.
"You know that Azkaban can't hold me" Moira said challengingly "I'll just slither away"
"Who said anything about Azkaban?" Justine replied as she narrowed her eyes and took a step closer "I'll put you back in that zoo, Harry Potter released you from"
Moira felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She had only been there three days and she hated every single second of it, and Justine knew it.
"No magic until Halloween. You know it's best for you and the ones you care about, Moira"
"That is so ironic. You know that after Halloween I'm going to be worse than I am now" Moira said impatiently.
"But you will have control then. You can blow my head off, I don't care, but before that day comes, I don't want any magic coming from you"
"You are turning me into a muggle" she said with disgust "Do you have any idea how that feels?"
"No, and I don't believe I care" Justine replied with an evil smile "Do we have a deal?" she put her hand out for Moira to shake.
"Whatever" she said as she shook Justine's hand.
"Good. Now…let's go. Where is that Room of Requirement anyway?" she started to move but Moira caught her arm, stopping her "What?" Justine asked as she saw Moira sniff the air softly.
Moira frowned and looked to her left. Justine looked as well but there was nothing there. Not until Moira reached out and out of thin air, three kids appeared. It was an invisibility cloak and a boy with red hair, a girl with a complete look of guilt on her face and a boy she knew were caught underneath it.
"What…" Justine started but looked at Moira. The look she was giving the kids was just murderous "How did…"
"Potter breathes too loudly" Moira said in a dangerously low tone of voice "Just like his father"
"The famous Harry Potter just got caught in the act then, huh?" Justine asked smiling.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were at lost for words. They thought this wouldn't be possible, but the way Moira was looking at them was ten times worse than when Snape did it.
"Explain" Moira said simply and Ron swallowed down hard.
"We're sorry Professor…it's just that…" Hermione started.
"We want to know why they are sending us away and" Ron continued.
"And since no one is saying anything, we came to you" Harry concluded, looking at Moira's foot "We heard you were in the Hospital Wing"
"Oh, Moira…they were worried" Justine said as she flashed them a mocking smile, but she kept quiet when Moira shot her a venomous look.
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Ron asked and Hermione elbowed him strongly in the ribs "OUCH!"
"It's ok" Justine smiled "Justine Lorcan, Auror" she reached to shake the kids hands "Nice to meet you"
Ron and Harry's jaws fell opened. They both were considering careers as Aurors once they left Hogwarts and meeting one was a great honor. That and also the fact that Justine had one blue eye and one hazel with a scar beside it made them think she was very cool.
"You must be one of Arthur's" Justine said as she passed her fingers through Ron's vivid red hair.
"Ron...that's my name" he said, eyes glittering.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley to be exact" Hermione said as she stepped between Ron and Justine "I'm Hermione Granger" she said, shaking hard the hand of the Auror.
"Nice meeting you Hermione Granger" Justine said and turned her eyes to Harry "And you…I heard all about you" she said and turned to Moira "I knew he looked like James, but not that he was his carbon copy"
Harry beamed. He loved to hear he looked like his dad.
"He's not" Moira said dryly "James had brown eyes. Potter here has Lily's eyes" she put her hands to her hips "You are going home for reasons of safety and for that matter" she gripped the invisibility cloak "I'm holding on to this" she threw the cloak over her shoulder "Now, you better go back to Gryffindor Tower and pack"
"You sound like Severus" Justine said under her breath.
"Shut up!" Moira barked at her and turned to the trio "Well? Do I have to deduct points in order to make you move?"
The three shook their heads energetically and started on their way to the common room. Moira watched them leave; feeling bad about being so hard on them, but it was needed. She saw how Harry had looked at her and a part of her really wanted to hold him close and tell him everything was going to be alright, but she knew she couldn't.
"I do not sound like Snape" Moira said, her back turned to Justine.
"Oh yes you do. Come on, woman. They came to you for answers. That has to count for something"
"Yes it does" she turned to face Justine "They now know I can't do magic" she picked James cloak from her shoulder "Do you have any idea how much I hate this thing?"
"So what if they know. They are going home aren't they?" Justine said, not quite catching the sad gleam in Moira's eyes. She didn't want Harry to see her vulnerable like this but it was too late now.
"Yes they are" Moira said simply and her eyes found Justine's "I really hate you right now"
Justine smiled and shrugged.
"Deal with it" she said simply as she caught Moira's arm to support her as they returned to walk.
"I can't believe I am forbidden to practice magic by a Hufflepuff" Moira said bitterly.
"Oh, and look who's talking Miss-I-want-to-be-an-Auror-but-can't-get-into-the-Academy"
"I can too, they were the ones that wouldn't have me. That is very different" Moira said as she kept on walking, arguing with her friend as they looked for the Requirement Room.
&&&&&
"She didn't have to be that mean" Ron said as they reached the common room "We just wanted to know why we're going home"
"Didn't you hear her?" Hermione said as she sat down on the couch next to the fireplace "Something bad happened for that Auror…"
"Justine" Ron said.
"Whatever. To forbid her to use magic" she concluded "I think things are getting much worse than before"
"They have to be for her to be walking around Hogwarts in that state" Ron said.
"She was hurt badly...again" Harry said as he looked at them, his mind remembering the bandaged foot that was kept off the ground "And not be able to do magic...why? And why were they looking for the Requirement Room? And why was she to shred some wizard to pieces. What happened to Lupin?"
"I don't know" Hermione said "An I don't think we'll ever find these things out" Hermione said giving the conversation a sad and final tone "I have to go pack" she looked at Harry and then at Ron. Her eyes fixed on his "I still can't believe they are taking us home"
"But it won't be for long. You can come stay with me...us if you'd like Hermione. I'm sure it will be alright with my parents" Ron said, blushing as he finished the sentence.
Harry sighed. If he was allowed to stay at the Weasleys during their break, life was going to take a turn for the better. Maybe he could even learn something about what had happened in the school since Ron's dad worked at the Ministry. Maybe there was still a bit of hope left and he was going to hold on to that.
"I'll ask my parents. Thanks, Ron" Hermione said and kissed his cheek before going up the girls dormitory.
Ron touched the place Hermione had kissed him and his eyes followed her way up the stairs. He then looked at Harry, who was smiling at him.
"What?" he asked, ears going as red as his hair.
"Bilius? I didn't know your middle name was Bilius" Harry said trying to hold a laugh.
"So...? I didn't know she knew that" Ron said, blushing harder than before.
"You so fancy her" Harry said, finally laughing.
"I do not" Ron said quickly as he stood up.
"Oh, yes you do" Harry said as he followed Ron to their dorm "And I think she fancies you back"
"Really? Do you think so?" Ron asked as he looked at Harry. The emerald green-eyed boy laughed at him "Well...not that I care if she does..." he trailed off as they started to pack.
&&&&&
"The look in their eyes" Remus whispered in a hoarser voice than usual "How can I ever look at them again?"
Remus was seating beside Sirius. His face was wet with tears and his clear eyes were very red from crying. He had calmed down and was now seated along side his best friend, backs against the walls, legs stretched out in front of them and minds racing.
"I could hear them in my head" Remus said as his eyes trailed off.
"What did they ask of you?" Sirius asked, trying to get as much information as possible. Who ever did this to Moony was not going to live to tell the tale.
"I had to get their blood and tears and take them to the gates" Remus' voice broke a bit as he lowered his head "I … I couldn't keep my head clear enough not to follow the orders. Heavens, I remember everything" he turned to Sirius "I can still taste Abby"
"Hey, she's going to be fine, so will you" Sirius said as he gripped Remus shoulder "She needs time, that's all" It was hard to keep calm in a time like this. All that Sirius really wanted was to run, wand in hand and a name…one name that was responsible for doing all of this. Actually, he wasn't going to need his wand…he wanted to smash the face of the one who did this with his own hands.
A knock on the door made Remus look at Sirius startled.
"Sirius…" Moira called from outside "Sirius are you still in there?"
"Don't answer" Remus replied hastily, his eyes wide with terror "Don't let her come inside. It's not safe"
"Of course it's safe. Moony, you're back" Sirius said as he stood up and moved to the door, Remus following his steps "We're here" he replied loudly, for Moira to hear.
"Is Remus alright?" Moira asked from the other side.
Remus looked at the door in silence. Moira didn't sound afraid, but worried. But it wasn't enough. He closed his eyes and the image of Moira frozen in front of him, her eyes wide with fear…he could smell her fear.
"No" he whispered as he put himself against the door before Sirius could open it "Go away, Moira. I don't want to hurt you" he said, his face against the door.
Silence on the other end.
"You won't hurt me" Moira replied, her voice soft "Listen, if Sirius can do magic, that means you are not blocking it anymore, that you are ok"
Remus clear eyes found Sirius's dark ones. Sirius pulled his wand out of his belt and looked at Remus.
"Allohomora" Sirius said and the door clicked open. Remus moved to the other side of the room, getting as far away from the door as possible. As the door opened, Remus pressed his back against the wall. From where he stood, he could sense her smell, the sweet smell of vanilla that both her and Abby had on their hair. But the woman that came into the room wasn't Moira but someone else. She looked at him and smiled softly. He recognized her but his mind was too frantic to remember her name. She was tall, her raven black hair fell almost to her waist and she had a deep scar in her face that didn't taint her beauty at all.
Then, taking a step to the right, the woman left the passage clear and Moira came into the room. She was limping a bit and Remus saw the bandages around her foot and several cuts already healing on her arms. As his eyes found hers, he stopped breathing. She started to make her away up to him, limping as she walked.
"Don't" Lupin replied putting his hand in front of him, not letting Moira get closer. His wrists were also hurt from trying to get free from the chains around him. It was the same case with his chest and ankles and his clothes were all torn. As Sirius looked at Remus he remembered his years in Azkaban and that made him hate the wizard responsible for the attack even more.
"Remus, you won't hurt me" Moira said softly as she looked at him, balancing her weight on only one foot.
"Yes I will" Lupin said "I can still hear the calling…" he looked at her and Moira saw in the back of his clear eyes, the animal behind them. Although his blue eyes were back, Moira could see the dark shadow behind them, stirring, waiting for the chance to take over. She could feel the Dark Magic in the air as soon as she set foot in the room and it was making her light headed. Moira didn't move; her eyes set on Lupin's "You can sense it can't you?"
"Y-yes" Moira replied not as firmly as she wished. She turned her head to Justine, who was standing by the door, wand in hand. She took a step forward.
"Hey Remus" Justine said cordially "Do you remember me? I was the Hufflepuff Seeker back when we were at school. I was a year younger than you"
Lupin looked at her, narrowed his eyes a bit and nodded.
"Justine" he said, his voice cracking a bit "Your sister is…like me"
Justine nodded with a smile.
"Listen, what you're hearing and feeling are echoes. Since you're a Defense teacher I don't need to explain them to you" she took another step, placing herself between Lupin and Moira "What I'm trying to say is that you are safe, but we need to have a chat about what happened while you still remember everything clearly"
"I'll never forget it" Lupin said quickly and under his breath. Then his head was buried in his hands again as he sighed. Slowly, the smell of vanilla got stronger and he knew Moira was moving closer "Don't" he said, looking at her again and making her stop.
He looked at her, dressed in muggle clothes, arms holding scratches, foot bandaged and a lost look in her eyes. She looked so different, fragile.
"Remus…" she started.
"No" Remus breathed in his hoarse voice. He looked at Moira's eyes, those almond shaped chocolate brown eyes that never lied to him and felt a bit relieved when he saw they weren't filled with fear anymore. Even so, he remembered how they looked when he had chased her. "No" he said again and moved even farther away from her.
Sirius looked from Lupin to Justine whose eyes were as filled with worry as his own.
"Let's get you cleaned up and then you can explain what happened" Justine said as she turned to Sirius. They had to take him out of there and let him know he was not the enemy.
"I'll take him" he said as he passed her. Justine nodded.
"Here" Moira said as she handed the invisibility cloak to Sirius. Although she tried to hide it, defeat was clear in her voice "There are still students roaming around. I don't want them to see Remus like this"
Sirius nodded before disappearing with Remus under the cloak. Moira felt their scent move away as they left the room.
Moira's shoulders fell from her usual posture as she looked at the chains and ropes on the wall. Justine studied her movements.
"All he needs is time" Justine said softly "Remus is going to recover, Moira. I'm certain of it"
"I want a name" Moira said firmly as she gripped one of the ropes in her hand.
"We'll find a name" Justine said as she stepped closer to her friend, her different colored eyes fixed on Moira's dark ones "And when we do, I won't forbid you to do magic"
&&&&&
"I guess I'll see you soon" Megan said as she arrived at King's Cross Station.
"Sure" Neville replied as he tried to keep his toad, Trevor, inside his robe pocket "I don't think we'll be out of school for long"
"I hope you're right" Megan said as he eyes focused on something behind Neville. The boy turned to find Megan's mother, Maeve, talking to her brother, Lucius and his wife, Narcissa. He saw Iago join the Malfoy party but didn't see his father along side them. Iago had a very angry look on his face, almost as if he didn't want to be going home.
"Good bye then" Megan said before turning and moving toward her family, Draco meeting her along the way.
"Who's that, dear?" Neville's grandmother asked as she met him.
"A friend" Neville said as he turned to his grandmother. Pulling his trunk behind him, Neville followed his grandmother out of the station.
"There you are!" Molly Weasley said as she saw her red haired children leave the train, along with Harry and Hermione "I was so worried" she said as she took turns, hugging all the children.
"About what, mum? We have no idea what's going on" Ron said as he struggled away from his mother's arms.
"Yes, well…I'm a mother, it is my job to worry" she said awkwardly and Harry noted the nervous tone in her voice. She knew something.
"Where's dad?" Ginny asked as she looked around the platform.
"At work" Molly replied fast "Now, let's go home. Harry, you are welcome to stay with us if you like. You too Hermione"
"Thanks Mrs. Weasley, but I have to talk to my uncle first" Harry said grimly as his eyes found his aunt and uncle at the end of the platform, looking around with disgust in their faces.
"I'll talk to my parents, Mrs. Weasley" Hermione said as she waved to her own parents.
"Let me know and we'll pick you up" Molly said before her eyes turned to Harry. She said nothing but Harry saw something behind them…something beyond worry.
"I'll see you" Ron shook Harry's hand and moved toward Hermione, who blushed and extended her hand, shaking Ron's in and fast and awkward motion.
And off they went all the Weasleys and other students. Harry stood there, beside Hermione, watching their classmates go home. There weren't many like them, sad to be going back home. They were happy about the out of time holiday, hugging their families as they carried their trunks away from the platform. Harry found himself thinking about Sirius.
"This is so wrong" Hermione whispered and turned to Harry "Are you alright?"
"I didn't say good-bye to Sirius" Harry said without thinking, then his emerald green eyes turned to Hermione "What if…"
"Don't even think it, Harry!" Hermione snapped at him "We'll be back in school in no time and you will hear from him…you will see Sirius again"
Harry, without any idea what to do, found himself nodding and watching Hermione wave at him as she left with her parents.
"Yes, I will" he whispered before moving toward his own so-called family.
&&&&&
"They can't send the children home like this" Maeve whispered to Lucius.
"But they did" Lucius whispered back. Draco, Megan and Iago were walking ahead of the party as Lucius, Maeve and Narcissa were a few steps behind.
"Do you think they know?" Maeve whispered, her gray eyes cold.
"No…but it won't be long before they find out" Lucius said "That old fool and his daughter have a way of finding out every damn thing and with Ab…the Seer there, things might get worse" Lucius said, missing the look Narcissa gave him with the corner of her eye.
Maeve looked at her daughter, making sure Megan didn't hear a thing. She went back to the conversation when she saw her talking to Draco. Iago walked a few steps away from the two of them.
"We must do something" Maeve said "Or Dumbledore will suspect"
"Do you really think I don't know that, sister?" Lucius spat "I have everything planned out"
At that time, as if they had planned the act, Lucius felt his arm burn. Maeve looked at him, who was perfectly masking the pain.
"Narcissa, take Draco and Megan home" he looked from his wife to his sister "We have a little detour"
Walking in front of them, Iago smirked.
&&&&&&
Moira entered her classroom. The long bath she had taken helped ease the pain on her foot and relaxed her back a bit, but the tension was still there…over her. Not being able to sleep, Moira had tossed and turned in her bed, a lot going through her mind. She looked at her fireplace and wished for Snape to floo from it, but he didn't. Morning came and she got up, took a long bath and left for breakfast. Being the only one there with the exception of Hooch, who always got up very early, Moira ate little. She looked ahead of her, to the long and empty tables and then to the empty seats around her.
She looked for Abigail around the castle, but couldn't find her cousin anywhere. She didn't blame her. Abby needed time to recover and Moira knew she had to think things over, alone, to be able to accomplish that. As Moira passed the trophy room, she caught her reflection on the glass. As she looked at her image, Moira felt her heart sink a bit. She didn't even look like a witch anymore. What bothered her was not only the looks but the feelings in her heart. She felt plain, weak, and that was making her mad. All her life she was able to get out of situations, not because of magic, but the confidence that came with it. Voldemort was ready to strike and she was sitting down, powerless, waiting.
Moira sighed as she walked inside of her office. As she looked around, the room was littered with books, torn pages and broken furniture. Looking at all that mess, remembering what had happened brought one more person to mind. Where was Snape in all of this? Ever since she was attacked, she hadn't seen him. She knew better than to expect "get well" balloons or even a visit from him. That was not her Snape, and she knew it, but she couldn't help but miss him. She wasn't the type of woman that needed a man by her side to tell her everything was going to be fine, but it would have been nice to hear his voice by her ear, reassuring her that no matter what happens everything was going to turn out fine. But he didn't show up.
Moira sighed again. She had dreamed about this all of her life, than after a couple of encounters, she found herself longing for more, as if they had been together their whole life. How could a man have such an effect upon her? Moira looked around her office once more. Was he going to keep his word now that she was practically a muggle? Will he hold his interest? She tried not to care. If he had moved his interest some place else…Moira's heart grew smaller.
A familiar scent caught her attention: violets. The room smelled of Remus.
"The voice in my head demanded their blood and tears" , Lupin had told Justine "And when the moon became full, I went to get them"
Moira sighed. They all knew why the so called voice wanted those particular elements. Blood and tears were the strongest way for a wizard to harm another at a distance and she and Abigail were the targets. Moira raised her head. October 28. It was getting closer and Voldemort was getting nervous.
"Trying to get to me while I'm still not strong enough to fight you, huh?" Moira asked under her breath "Lucky for me I don't cry so often" she added before she sat down on the floor and started to separate what needed to be fixed from what was going away for good.
"Are you alright?" came a voice from the door. Moira looked around startled. Justine stood by the door, arms crossed and worry in her face.
"No" Moira said and turned her head back to what she was doing. She heard Justine's footsteps get closer "I'm definitely not alright"
Justine sat down on one of the chairs next to Moira, and looked around the room. There was no better way of saying it, so she chose to simply give out the fact.
"Well then, I have one more piece of bad news for you" Justine said and saw Moira snap her head in her direction "Before you get your mother's powers, you will lose all of yours"
Moira's lips parted but no sound came out. Justine knew what she wanted to ask.
"That is how the transfer happens. That is why your magic is off " Moira remained silent "This is just how things are, Moira. This has nothing to do with The Dark Lord's plans"
"No…it hasn't. It just provides that half blood a wonderful opportunity!" Moira said, her face getting redder from anger. A remaining vase broke in one of the shelves. Justine's eyes looked from the vase to Moira.
"Control your temper, Moira" she said calmly.
"CONTROL MY TEMPER!" Moira yelled at her, a window cracked "That bastard is taking all I hold dear and destroying it! He possessed Abby, he set out Remus to hunt us, he tried to take Harry Potter into White Death and I can't even say Lumos!" flames burst high from the candles in the room. Justine looked at Moira "That was not my intention" she said firmly.
"You are able to do wandless magic, Moira. You must control your impulses"
"I'M TRYING!" Moira yelled and walked away from Justine. She stopped with her back turned to the Auror and passed her hand through her long hair "I'm trying but it's getting harder, Justine" she said firmly. Justine noticed the tiredness in her voice "Did you know that my father wanted to fire me just to get me out of here…out of harms way. Ironic isn't it?"
Justine stood up.
"He did it once. He sent me away from here to keep me alive when there were a few reasons why I wanted to remain breathing" Moira turned to Justine "Fifteen years ago and now everything is happening again, but my position changed. I have too much to loose" She thought of him but didn't mention Snape.
Justine walked over to Moira and sat on the desk. She looked at her friend with different eyes for the first time. She had known Moira for a long time but they haven't spoken since graduation and then, after that they had only met when Justine had tracked Dark activity and that ended up being Moira helping take care of a wounded werewolf that turned out to be Justine's sister, Celest. They had gone separate ways. One turned out to be an Auror and the other a Dark Witch. Justine had heard stories about her school friend when she was at the Aurors Academy and working on the Ministry, but she had never bothered to ask if they were true. Now, Moira didn't look like the legends she inspired, but like a tired and wounded witch, who was about to walk a dark and lonely path.
"You won't loose, Moira" Justine said softly "You'll just be deprived of your powers for a few days and than you'll be stronger than ever"
"I am loosing them already" she looked at Justine "This is the first time the school has been closed in centuries, Justine. What if Trelawney was right? What if I am the cause of this mayhem?" she turned to Justine, her dark eyes deeper than ever "What if the prophecy comes to pass?"
"Okay, you are loosing your mind! How can you give that fraud credit? Of course you are a part of it but not the cause. Moira, you've always known he would come back for you, come back for revenge, wherever you are, he'll hunt you, so you might as well be home" Justine held Moira's hand "You know the way I feel about prophecies"
"We make our own fate and all that rubbish...I know, I believe so too" Moira said.
"Then what are you afraid of? Moira, if there's anyone who can do this, who can change the track of things, is you"
Moira stared at Justine for a moment. She had never been this sincere and Moira knew why she was acting so friendly and honest.
"You think I won't make it" Moira said "You think that after the transfer I'll just turn the coat and become...something else"
"Of course not!" the Auror exclaimed "What I am trying to tell you is that you need to trust yourself for this to work"
"Trusting myself" Moira snorted "That is the solution then…interesting" she said as she went back to the floor and picked up books in her hands. They were getting heavier; no…she was getting weaker.
"There's something else" Justine said and saw Moira's back tense up.
Moira looked at Justine, just waiting to hear more bad news. She didn't need to wait for long.
"Aurors are already on their way here. Your father has requested them in order to try and find the so called ancient evil that is still residing here. He believes he was the one who had hurt Remus"
"If they can find who did this to Remus, than I have nothing against them" Moira said as she continued to do her tasks. Then Justine saw Moira stop "What will happen…during the transfer?"
"I don't know" Justine said softly "Only Dark wizards know that, Moira. All I'm sure of is that everything is being set to make sure you are alright"
"I want Ethan Leery here"
"Why?" Justine asked, frowning.
"He knows more about me than myself, so if something goes wrong, he'll know what to do" Moira said coldly, not telling her the true reason why she wanted her godfather present.
"True…I'm sure he'll love the idea of helping you out" Justine said and Moira nodded "I better go send him an owl then" she looked over at her friend "Reparum" she whispered and everything that was broken in Moira's office came back to place.
"Thanks" Moira said as she turned to Justine "But I could have handled them without magic"
"I know but you better use the time to rest a bit" she walked toward the exit.
Moira looked around the room and through the door that connected both classrooms. Perfect. Everything was back in place in both classrooms and both offices. Now, Moira had nothing else to do but worry.
&&&&&
The sky was growing orange as the sun bid its good bye. The reflection of it by the lake was mesmerizing. Wind blew softly, taking the sunshine locks away from her alabaster face. Orange and reddish leaves fell from the trees around her. Fall was the season of change and she could relate. Her eyes were fixed on the lake, her back against a tree and her arms around her knees.
"So...what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" the girl said as she walked by the lake, cooling her feet on the water.
"Well...is just that…hum…" the boy stuttered and passed his hand through his sand blond hair. He looked back and behind a tree there were three boys smiling at him. He looked back at the girl beside him. She held her socks and shoes in one of her hands. She was looking at him, her eyes as blue as the sky above them, her hair as golden as sun rays.
"Well?" she urged with a smile.
His eyes were on hers and they both blushed. The girl moved and saw the three boys looking at them. As soon as they saw her, they moved extremely fast, pretending to study. The girl smiled and looked at the handsome boy in front of her.
"The thing is, Abigail…I …will you…hum…"
Abby smiled and looked down to her wet feet.
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" she asked, without looking at him.
"I guess I am" he said with a breath "I just can't…if it was enough to stand here and not …say the words…"
"It is" she said softly as she looked at him "It is, Remus"
The boy's shoulders relaxed and the most amazing smile appeared upon his face. His clear eyes smiled as well.
"Well...so..." Remus stuttered again but before he could try to say something else Abby stood on tip toe and kissed him softly on the lips.
Abby stepped down and blushed as she heard whistles coming from the boys.
"Finally!" a feminine voice yelled and Abby blushed as she saw her cousin standing by the three boys, smiling at them. The tall one put his fingers to his lips and whistled loudly, the one with glasses yelled things Abby couldn't hear and clapped his hands and the shorter one was giving thumbs up. The other girl, with bright red hair, was smiling as well, and Abby saw her look at the boy with the glasses, but she looked away before he saw her. Abby smiled. They were going to get married after school, she just didn't know if she should tell them that.
The bell rang, and Abby looked at Remus. His eyes were saying the same thing hers were: I don't want to leave you.
"I have to go" Abby said and Remus nodded "I'll see you at lunch?"
"And after that, and after that..." he said under his breath.
"I'd like that" Abby said with a smile and left.
As she walked toward the castle, still holding her shoes and socks in her hands, she heard the boys cheer.
"Remus got a girlfriend! Remus got a girlfriend!" the boys chanted.
Tears filled Abby's eyes as she looked at the same lake. Where was her Remus? The one that used to stutter when he got nervous and now was so good with words; the man that studied with her even though both already knew the subjects by heart but needed an excuse to be at the library together, in privacy; the man that promised to write to her everyday while she was in France, and fulfilled that promise; the man she was sure to marry someday. Where was her werewolf when an uncontrollable beast had taken over? She had always known about that side of him, she loved that side of him because she knew he would never harm her…until now.
"Good place you got here" a soft voice spoke beside her "Got a lot of people worried though"
Abby turned her head quickly to her side and if it weren't for her good sight, she wouldn't have seen the pair of eyes and the translucent form staring at her. She thought about it and sighed. After been released from the Hospital Wing, Abby tried as best as she could to disappear and would have left the castle and gone to Hogsmeade if she could do so. But then again, they all knew she would need a little time alone...her mother probably asked everyone not to keep looking for her...she wasn't sure if that was the best choice...she didn't want to be alone anymore.
"May I join you?" the Gray Lady asked and Abby nodded. The ghost floated beside her and took a seat on the meadow "Rough times, Miss. Dumbledore"
Abby nodded. She saw the ghost turn her head toward her.
"It is so awful not to hear the children in these halls, near the lake, in the common room" she paused "The silence gets your mind wondering. So many people have walked these halls. Some leave never to come back" she looked at Abby with a smile "and some do"
"Did you study here?" Abby asked. She didn't know why, but an urge to know more came over her. Anything to ease her longing for the man she thought lost.
"I did...a very long time ago" the Gray Lady said nostalgic "And like many others I left but came back" she lowered her head.
"Did you...die here?"
"No" she looked at Abby "I died at my own home, not many years after I left Hogwarts" she looked at Abby with kind eyes "After I graduated from here, I returned to my family home, here in England but I was going to continue my education in Ireland. They have a great school there. My plans were to become a professor, but they didn't come to pass"
"What happened?" Abby asked, her attention on the woman beside her.
"Love did. I fell in love with an incredible man. A knight in shinning armor as the books say. Gladly, my feelings were corresponded. I still remember his stories of the incredible beasts he had encountered. Edward Watson was his name"
The wind blew colder as the night started to take over the sky.
"I would have been Katarina Watson if I hadn't hesitated so much" she turned to Abby "War broke, Grindelwald was taking over and he was called to fight. He left without my answer and the next news I got was that he had been killed. Your uncle wrote the letter himself, explaining to me how Edward had fought bravely and how we wouldn't have won the war if not by his sacrifice. The war was gained and I had lost everything"
"Oh…I am so sorry" Abby whispered as she looked at the ghost, she moved to take her hand, but stopped as she realized they wouldn't be able to touch each other.
"Days without him were not the same" she turned to Abby "It's one thing not to be able to see a person, but to know he's still there, in another room, and that his face will appear when called upon, but I didn't have that anymore. I knew I was not to see his face ever again. So days turned into months, months turned into years and one day, when everything tasted of tears, I didn't wake up"
"Broken heart" Abby whispered and saw The Gray lady nod softly "Why didn't you…move on?"
"I don't know. Maybe I still have a few things to do around here before I can see my Edward again. In the mean time, I'm trying to teach a thing or two to willing listeners" she turned to Abby with a smile. Her eyes, although translucent, were filled with a mixture of sorrow and happiness "I see that you have a lot in common with your cousin, Miss. Dumbledore. You say you believe something, but then you don't give it the credit it deserves"
"What are you talking about?"
"Your heart" she said simply "Do you love Remus John Lupin?"
"Yes" Abby found herself saying without stopping to think.
"Than tell him that. War is upon us again and anything can happen. Don't let it happen without letting him know how you feel"
"This is different. Edward didn't try to kill you"
"And even so you still say you love him" the ghost replied and saw Abby close her eyes "When the time comes, I will move on, Miss. Dumbledore, I will face my fear of maybe not ever finding my Edward again, but our time has passed. You and Remus are still here" Abby looked at her "Don't let him go to war without knowing he has something to fight for"
"He's not going to war" Abby said under her breath.
"He's fighting a war as we speak" Abby looked startled at her "You are what he needs to win"
Abby's eyes followed the Gray Lady as she floated to her feet. She knew she was right, but how to look him in the eye again? How to trust him like she used to, again?
"I failed because I hesitated too much. Maybe I couldn't have saved Edward, but he would have been a bit more mine and I would have been a bit more his in the end" she looked at Abby once more and smiled before she floated toward the castle again.
Abby stayed there, seated at the same spot, looking at how the lake reflected the sky above her. She could feel the magic of Hogwarts around her, she could sense the beings in the forest, the people in the castle and yet one single feeling ruled her heart and mind and as if a wave was breaking on shore, she understood what the Gray Lady told her. As her mind wondered into the castle, she saw something that made her blood freeze. Abby got up in a flash and ran toward the castle, praying she wasn't too late.
&&&&&
If not by her pale face standing out, Moira could have been mistaken by a shadow. Her face was set, no expression whatsoever, her eyes stared in front of her, looking at the approaching night. The wind blew a little stronger and Moira let it brush against her face, taking her hair at will. She closed her eyes and let herself relax a bit. There was nothing she could do to prevent things from happening, so the best way to go about it was not to think about it at all. In a couple of days it would all be over.
She opened her eyes and looked around her. Hogwarts was below, as she stood tall on the top of the astronomy tower. A thin smile came over her lips as she remembered her time as a student. Everything was so much simpler then. Then a sight made Moira frown. A figure was running toward the castle and as the witch narrowed her eyes she found her cousin, who had gone missing the whole day, running for her life toward the protection of the castle. At once, Moira dashed down the narrow stairs and corridors, trying to meet Abby.
Heels met stone as she ran, sending weak waves of pain up her foot, but Moira didn't care. She didn't realize as she ran that if something was wrong she wouldn't be able to do anything about it. No, Moira didn't care. As she was in the last set of steps, the stairs started to change.
"Don't even think about it" Moira warned as she continued to run, and had to jump a bit to reach the wished floor. As soon as she stepped away form the stairs, Moira saw Abby running toward her.
"Remus!" Abby yelled as she ran toward her cousin "We have to hurry" and off they went again, this time climbing up the stairs toward Remus Lupin's office.
Both women were panting as they reached the door. Moira put her hands over her knees as she struggled to catch her breath. She was getting weaker by the minute.
"Remus?" Abby called as she knocked on the door. No answer.
"What's...wrong?" Moira said between breaths, her face flushed from running.
Abby didn't answer. She turned the knob on the door of Remus' Defense classroom and let herself in. Moira heard Abby's hurried footsteps go inside and before she could follow, she heard the door to his office open and close and Abby was back again.
"He's not here" she said and closed her eyes. Before Moira could ask what in Merlin's name was going on, Abigail had opened her eyes "His room" she said as she started running again, this time, pulling Moira by her hand.
It didn't take long for both girls to reach Lupin's private chambers and Abby knocked on the door again, calling out his name. Moira was already leaning her back against the wall, light headed.
"I know you're in there" Abby said "Please open the door, Remus...don't do this" Abby said and Moira looked up startled at her.
"Don't do what?" she asked, her big brown eyes wide.
"Just go away…please" Remus' voice sounded softly from the other side of the room.
"I wished I could...but I can't, Remus" Abby responded, her voice softer than before, sadder than before "Let me talk to you...please"
Silence before Abby heard his footsteps move away from the door.
"What's going on" Moira urged as she tried to stand up straight.
"He's resigning" Abby said as she saw Moira's face smile a bit in relief "That is no laughing matter, Moira" Abby warned.
"No it isn't...nor was what I was thinking about" she said under her breath and Abby understood it. Fear passed trough her eyes.
"Fine" Moira said loud enough for Remus to hear "Things get bad and you flee...what a great way to solve everything" she said and made a movement with her hand so Abby wouldn't interrupt her "The lonely werewolf chooses to run for his life when the woman he loves forgives him...that is so..." Lupin opened the door "not you" Moira completed the sentence as she looked into her friend's clear eyes.
For a moment the three of them stood in silence, the weight of what had passed still on their shoulders. Abigail's heart hammered inside her chest when she saw the markings still on Remus'skin, over the collar of his shirt. All she wanted to do was hug him and know everything was going to be alright, but by the traveling clothes he was wearing, that was far from the truth. Lupin looked extremely tired, as much as he always looked after a transformation, but this time guilt and sadness were in his eyes and it hurt to look at them.
"Resigning, Professor Lupin?" Moira asked firmly. No smile upon her face, but a look of complete betrayal.
Lupin nodded, not being able to meet the gaze of any of the women standing before him.
"Then I guess I'm off as well" Moira said with a sigh, making both Remus and Abby look at her "Well, if a werewolf who just happens to be the best Defense teacher this school has ever had is leaving, I guess parents won't like their children being taught by a powerful Dark Witch, huh?"
Abigail looked over at Moira, trying to understand why was she being so cruel to him...so sarcastic...they were friends after all.
"Oh, and I have to talk to Sirius when he gets back. Azkaban ex-convict and all...not a suitable professor...the only one it will be hard to get rid off is Snape...former Death Eater...those guys are the most difficult to convince but I think I can manage"
"Well...I guess Hogwarts will be a few professors shorter then" Lupin said as he turned his back and went back into the room. Abigail looked at Moira and both followed.
"Did the poison they give you damage your brain?" Moira asked firmly.
"MOIRA!" Abby exclaimed. She was waiting for Remus to talk back, but he just kept packing.
"You can't leave" Moira continued and Lupin didn't say a word "For Merlin's sake, Remus, why..."
"Why?" he asked abruptly, his back tensing as he turned to look at the women. His eyes were clear but they saw the wolf behind them, pushed down inside, they didn't tremble "How can you ask me that, after…"
"It wasn't your fault" Moira said firmly "You know that, so why are you choosing to leave?"
"It is not a choice" Lupin talked back.
"Of course it's a choice!" Moira exclaimed, her pale cheeks getting redder, breathing getting heavier.
"NO IT'S NOT!" Lupin yelled back "You don't know anything, Moira. You can't possibly know what it was like to see you, both of you, running for your lives! You don't know what it was like to taste Abigail's blood and tears while she screamed for me not to hurt her!" he yelled. Moira was silent and Abigail was not moving. She had to get over this and now was the time.
"I can't stay here and look at you when I could smell your fear...of me" he added between clenched teeth.
Heavy silent filled the room. Lupin turned his back to the women again and kept packing his belongings. Moira couldn't speak. Everything he had said was true. She couldn't understand what was like to be on the other side of the attack, but she had an idea...in a couple of nights, she could as well become the attacker. She had to convince Lupin to stay. If he could get over what had happened, maybe there was still hope for her.
"I'm a muggle" Moira said softly, making Lupin and Abby look at her with wide eyes "I'm losing my powers. That is how the transfer happens"
"Moira..." Abby whispered, taking a step closer to her cousin, but Moira's eyes were piercing Lupin's.
"Completely powerless" Moira spoke again, her eyes not blinking "And you know what that means"
"You'll be safe here" Lupin said blankly "He won't be able to hurt you inside the castle...not anymore"
"The Dark Lord works in mysterious ways" Moira said "Sirius is with Potter, half the staff is worried about the Aurors, and..."
"Severus will protect you" Lupin said harshly. Moira didn't blink.
"You don't get it...I don't need protection. I need my friends by my side"
"You'll have your family" Lupin said and almost jumped back, when Moira walked straight at him.
"WAKE UP REMUS!" she yelled again "We forgave you long ago...when you were still unconscious!"
"But I haven't!" he snapped. In a few minutes, Abigail thought, they would shred each other to pieces "I don't think I ever will" his eyes met Abby's "Long ago, I made myself a promise that I would die before something happened to you...I'm fulfilling it"
Moira could relate. She was a loner, not as much as Remus, but she was an odd bird. Fifteen years away from everything and everyone she loved had been death to her but as much as she understood how Remus felt, she just couldn't allow him to be right...it just wasn't fair.
"If you leave...you'll be killing me too" Abby said softly, under her breath.
"How so Miss. Dumbledore?" Lupin said, not daring to face her while her heart was pierced by the formal use of her name.
"Because I can't breathe when I'm not with you" she said softly. Lupin turned to face Abby "I don't care who was controlling you, I don't care what made you act the way you did, Remus... I just want you to promise me it won't happen again"
Lupin couldn't speak and didn't need to.
"I love you Remus John Lupin, all of you, and I'm sorry I couldn't see that sooner" she said, looking at Remus "I know you don't look it but you are very strong and that strength scares me sometimes… but what scares me the most is the thought of not having you"
Moira looked from Abigail to Remus, waiting for him to explode on her as well, only he didn't.
"How can you …" Remus whispered, not meeting her eyes "How could you say that after what I've done?"
"Yes, it was you who hurt me, Remus, but not by will and that makes all the difference" Abigail said not knowing the effect those words had on her cousin.
"Listen to her, Remus" Moira said softly, getting both Remus and Abigail to look at her "If friendship can't make you see reason, maybe love can"
Remus looked from one witch to the other.
"No scar can change how I feel about you... please, don't let them change that. Don't leave" Abby continued. Moira looked from Abby to Lupin, waiting for something to happen. She didn't need to wait long.
Taking slow steps, Abby walked toward Lupin, her eyes on his. As she got closer, her breathing got heavier and she threw her arms around his neck, letting him drown in the scent of her hair.
"Don't leave...me" she breathed into his neck and there was no longer the need for words. Their lips found each other and now it was Abby's time to taste tears.
Moira smiled at the scene. She then took a few steps back, until she was out of the room. . Moira closed the door behind her and started her way to the stairs once again. This time, a soft smile was upon her face.
"Finally" she muttered as she walked.
&&&&&
The meeting was to take place in the depths of a forest. Called upon by their Dark Marks, the Death Eaters didn't quite know where they were, and they didn't need to. Slowly, the small and select group walked to a clearing where a dark figure stood tall. Night had fallen and the warm flames added to the eerie atmosphere. The woman standing in front of the group smiled softly. Soon enough, the three of them were on their knees before the one who had summoned them.
"Before you start apologizing and begging me not to kill you, I'll tell you that everything is going as planned" the strong and not so hissing voice said behind the cloak "Oh yes...every single thing is going as planned" he said under his breath as he walked around the tree people "Laois...well done. The werewolf didn't feel that coming"
"He did not, my lord" Liam Laois replied without raising his face from the floor.
"Did you get what I have ordered you to?" Voldemort asked and saw Laois take a small vial from inside his robes. A piece of cloth tainted with a few drops of blood was inside. Voldemort's long fingers caught the vial and put it inside his robes.
"My Lord…I did not succeed in getting her tears" Laois said firmly but heard no curse in reply. He didn't know if the silence over him was worse though. He heard a low chuckle but didn't dare look up.
"Malfoy…" Voldemort said "I need you at the castle tonight" the two bowed their heads lower and waited for orders, but none came…not for Lucius.
Maeve saw the hems of the Dark Lord's robe stop in front of her. Slowly, his long fingers were around her chin, pushing her face to meet his eyes. She looked up into the cloak but saw nothing, but she could feel his gaze upon her. Slowly, Voldemort got his face closer to Maeve's ear and as whispering was heard, a smile started to grow on the thin lips of Maeve Malfoy.
"Certainly, my lord" Maeve said as she took something from Voldemort's hands and put it inside her robes "It will be my pleasure"
"I'm sure it will" Voldemort whispered and laughed "Go…" he said to the three and vanished from site, leaving Liam, Lucius and Maeve in the dark.
"Hogwarts then" Lucius whispered and looked at his sister.
"Oh, yes…but I need to get something at the Ministry first" she added to herself.
With a soft pop, the three disapparated.
&&&&&&
"This came for you" an Auror said as he put the envelope on the top of Ethan Leery's desk. The young man frowned as the older Auror didn't move. Recently let out of the Academy, the young man wasn't completely used to the weird people he was going to be working with.
The Aurors Headquarters were filled with noises of people getting ready to leave to Hogwarts and yet, inside this very cubicle with walls papered with pictures of Albus Dumbledore's daughter, the silence was so thick it was tangible. The young Auror frowned as he looked at Ethan: the man was staring at a piece of parchment that seemed to be holding results of some kind of research and that result was enabling Ethan to breathe.
"Are you alright sir?" the young man asked and gave a step back when Ethan snapped his head toward him, his lips parted and eyes set on him. When he first got here, he was told the man was obsessed with the Dark Witch that was once the wife of Hogwarts Headmaster, and her daughter, but looking into his eyes now, he knew the man wasn't crazy, but incredibly scared.
"Get Alastor Moody in here" Ethan said firmly in his hoarse voice. The man didn't need to be told twice. His eyes fell on the letter the young man had brought him and the seal on top of it made the thin and long finger grab it and rip it open. Inside, Justine's handwriting asked his presence during the transfer.
"Oh, goodness" Ethan whispered "They don't know...she doesn't know" and at once, the man got his belongings into a briefcase, including the piece of parchment that took his breath away, and was by the door to his office when Alastor Moody caught him.
"What is all this fuss about?" he asked.
"No time to explain. We must leave at once" Ethan said as he looked at Moody's uneven eyes.
"Where to? I'm leading the search team to Hogwarts" Moody said not proudly at all "They pull me back from retirement to lead a group of children…ridiculous"
Ethan stopped and looked at Moody, raising his briefcase so his magical eye could read the paper inside it.
"Oh Merlin…" he whispered as he faced transformed "Does Albus know of this?"
"I don't think so…" Ethan said "Do you have any idea of what will happen if this..."
"Tonks!" Moody called and a young woman with bright purple hair raised her head above one of the cubicles "Take the team. I'm going ahead with Leery"
"Okay" she said sweetly, trying not to worry.
And both Aurors dashed out of the Ministry of Magic.
"What's wrong with them?" the young Auror asked the witch.
"I wouldn't worry just yet" the hazel eyes followed the two Aurors out of the room.
"All right then…if you say so" the young Auror said "I'll be off home then. Good luck at Hogwarts…I wish I could go with you."
"Not this time" Tonks said, holding herself proudly "But maybe when you're older"
"Well…do you think I'm old enough to take you out for a drink, Nymphadora?"
"Not if you call me that again" she snapped before a sweet smile took hold of her face "We'll see"
The boy smiled at her, and shaking his head from one side to the other, he left the room.
The temperature was nice on the outside of the Ministry of Magic, but it was windy. The young man left the telephone booth holding his robes together in front of him. The street was strangely deserted but he didn't seem to have noticed. Holding his face down to avoid the wind, the boy didn't see a person walking toward him until it was too late. They bumped into each other causing the other person to fall to the floor.
"I'm sorry…" the boy started but paused when he saw the woman on the floor "Tonks? How did you get here so fast? I just saw you…"
"Magic" she said sweetly, widening her eyes. The boy pulled her up from the floor, not noticing the very thorough look the woman was giving him.
"Thought about my proposition?" the Auror asked looking at Tonks. Her eyes looked different somehow…it was like they were looking through him and Tonks never looked at him like that.
"Yes…I have…that's why I'm here" she said as she put her arm around his and led him away from the telephone booth "What about a drink before you go to Hogwarts?"
"Hogwarts? But I'm not going…"
"Yes you are" a masculine voice spoke behind him and before he could turn, a stunning spell and an invisibility one were cast upon him. Quickly, Lucius Malfoy dragged the body inside a very classy muggle car.
"Stupid child" the woman said as she got into the car "They really think that girl is the only one" she added as Tonks slowly morphed into Maeve.
&&&&&
YAY! I'm so very sorry that it took me so long to update! Life got in the way and I couldn't manage to finish the chapter. It was actually much bigger than this, so I had to cut it in two. Good thing is that I already have about ten pages of the next one ready J I hope the wait was worth it...
I would like to thank everyone who reads and reviews! Your comments really do make my day J
For one reviewer who said that Tom Riddle didn't go to school with the Marauders: you are right and I never wrote he did. Voldemort used a spell to get his youthful look back in order to get near Moira. He didn't show up in school...you'll see more of this in the next chapter. If you read is carefully, you'll see that I already wrote that.
Some dedications and notes:
Justine's sister, Celest, was named after a friend. She might not read this, but I had to give her credit for such a great name J
The scene "Potter breathes too loudly" is dedicated to Luiza. She told me about it and I decided to put it over here. Thanks Lu! There's one more in the next chapter!
The scene between Abby and Remus when he says "If it was enough just to stand here and not say the words" I got from Cold Mountain.
Maeve being able to change appearance (just like Tonks) was an old idea, but Rowling beat me to it. I wasn't going to use it, but I just had to, so there you go J
Don't worry...I know the fic is really tense, but I do have plans for better moments...never fear.
Once again I would like to thank everyone who is reading this...you know who you are and I love you! Don't think I'm going to think you psycho if you write to me and tell me what you think...I like reading comments J
This chapter is dedicated to Ruth (for being my sister in spirit and for giving me such great news!) and for Flora...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Oh...if your curious about what I'm up to, check these out
www.photoblog.be/frinitrix
www.livejournal.be/frinitrix