Disclaimer: All things Ats, BtVS, and Harry Potter belong to their respective owners, Joss Whedon and JK Rowling. However, the plot is mine as far as I can tell, so please ask if you want to use it.
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The hospital wing was ready now, and since they had nothing else to do, everyone was waiting for the patients to arrive. Dumbledore was talking to Madame Pomfrey, who had arrived about half an hour ago. She had removed Cordelia's tail, and then gathered everything she might possibly need for the upcoming influx of potential patients. Cordelia was leaning against a bed lost in thought, while Neville and Luna spoke quietly nearby. Ron and Ginny were huddled in a corner, trying not to fall apart as they thought about what might be happening to their brother at that very moment. Hermione had gone after Harry.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt strode into the room, supporting Percy Weasley, who had a sprained foot and was limping. Next came Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, both with extremely worried looks on their faces, and then Mundungus Fletcher, who had a bloody gash across his forehead and looked utterly exhausted, but otherwise all right. Finally, in swept Snape, looking in disgust at a rather large, messy bundle in his arms. Realizing almost immediately that thing in Snape's arms was in fact Remus Lupin, Cordelia leapt up in horror.
"Oh, my God! What happened to him?" she cried, rushing to his side as Snape lay him none too gently on a bed. "Remus? Remus, can you hear me? Are you okay?"
However, before she could assure herself that he was in fact alive, or even touch him, Snape grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her to face him, an expression of cold fury on his face. "What are you still doing hear, you little murderer? Shouldn't you be on your way to Azkaban by now?"
Cordelia wrenched herself out of his grasp, and was ready to once again give him a piece of her mind, when she noticed that all of the new arrivals were now staring at her with varying degrees of shock on their faces. She frowned. "I-"
"You what? Managed to lie your way out of yet another sticky spot? How shocking. Tell me Chase, what wild story did you concoct this time? Or did you let your little Irish friend do the hard work again?"
"You slimy bastar-"
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Dumbledore yelled, surprising everyone with the force of his voice. "Both of you will cease this ridiculous behavior at once! Ms. Chase, please stand aside and allow Madame Pomfrey to tend to Remus."
Cordelia stepped out of the nurse's way, however, she did not leave her friend's side, or stop glaring angrily at Snape.
"Thank you. Now, Severus, please tell me what happened."
"But, Professor-"
"Now, Severus. I will explain Ms. Chase's situation later."
Snape sighed, and with one last venemous look at Cordelia, which she returned, he began his story. "I went directly to Headquarters and enlisted Mundungus, Moody, and Shacklebolt to go with me to the Shrieking Shack and see if what Ms. Chase claimed was true. Before we left, I instructed Tonks, who was also there, to please contact the Weasleys and instruct them to meet us at the hospital wing. It is pure luck that we arrived together.
When we reached the shack, I, of course, remained outside, so that my loyalties to the Order would not be exposed unless absolutely necessary. I heard the sounds of a fight. It did not sound serious however, so I remained where I was. After about twenty minutes, Alastor and Kingsley emerged, supporting Weasley, and then came Mundungus, with Lupin leaning on him and looking very much the worse for the wear. They had just stepped outside when he collapsed. Moody and Shacklebolt were otherwise occupied, and Mundungus obviously could not carry him; his strength was waning from the gash on his head. I lifted Lupin into my arms, and then the entire group portkeyed back here."
"Very well," said Dumbledore. "Alastor, what happened inside?"
"The girl was right. It was a trap. When we arrived, we found Percy here chained to a wall and Remus attempting to fight off not only Pettigrew, but Malfoy and Lestrange as well."
Dumbledore started. "Malfoy and Lestrange? There has been no report of another prison break."
"No. We don't know how it happened. I've sent Tonks to the ministry to see what she could find out. Anyway, Remus seemed to be wearing out. They were hitting him repeatedly with the cruciatus. We joined him, and almost immediatly the three death-eaters left, although not before throwing Mundungus head-first into a pipe."
"What were you doing there, Perce?" Ron asked, clapping his brother awkwardly on the back, and trying not to look too concerned at the same time as he tried not look sick at the thought of being so close to his much-disliked brother.
"I don't know that I should speak in front of the children," Percy said, looking pointedly at his siblings, Neville, and Luna.
"They aren't children," Cordelia said, automatically. She was still staring worriedly at Remus and was now grasping his hand.
"Who are you?" Percy asked condescendingly. "And how would you know?"
"That's Cordy," Ron said, making no attempt now to hide his disdain for his older brother. "She's Harry's new guardian, and she's a lot smarter than you ever were, so don't talk to her that way!"
"Ronald!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley. "Do not speak to Percy that way!"
"Please, Molly, Ron, Cordelia. Now is not the time. Percy, your brother's question is a good one, and one I would like you to answer immediately. What were you doing there?"
Percy looked at Dumbledore for a long time, various emotions warring on his face. Finally, he spoke. "The death-eaters came to my apartment last night. They kidnapped me. I had the day off from work, so I doubt anyone has noticed yet. Penelope and I had just gone to bed when-Oh, Merlin! Penny! She's dead! They killed her when she tried to stop them taking me. In everything that happened, I forgot." He broke down in wracking sobs. Molly tried to fold her distraught son into her arms, but he pushed her away, leaving her with a hurt expression on her face that she tried valiantly to disguise.
Despite her brother's anguish, Ginny could not work up any sympathy for him. Her dislike of him had returned with his dismissal of their mother and it was she who interrupted his sobs to ask, coldly, "What could V-Voldemort possibly want from you?"
Percy, however was lost in his grief and did not answer until Dumbledore said, not unkindly, "I understand that you are hurting, however, it is an important question that you must answer before we can leave you to your grief."
"The-they wanted me to-to tell them about R-Ron," Percy blubbered. "They knew that I was on the outs with my family. I haven't made any secret of it, of course, and they must have thought I would talk to save my own life. I think they want to kidnap him, and use him to get to Harry."
Mrs. Weasley gasped, and fell back into a chair, while Mr. Weasley grabbed his son's hand and held onto it tightly. Ron turned completely white, but somehow managed to stay calm. Ginny, however, grabbed her older brother by the shoulders and began to shake him.
"What did you say? What did you tell them, Percy? If anything happens to Ron, I'll hold you responsible. I'll never speak to you again, I swear it! I SWEAR IT!"
Everyone in the room stood stock still, frozen in place by Percy's horrible revelation, and Ginny's subsequent violent reaction. Cordelia however was shocked into action. Dropping Remus' hand she marched over to the Weasley siblings and pulled Ginny off of him.
"Stop it," she growled, and Ginny immediately went silent. Then, she fixed Percy with a cold Queen C glare and said, quietly and forcefully, "What did you tell them, Weasley?"
Percy quailed a little under the stranger's fierce gaze, but he did speak, albeit a bit shakily. "I really don't think I should be conversing with you," he said, still managing to be snide despite his grief and the threat of Cordelia looming over him. "Seeing as how you are apparently a murderer."
Cordelia glared at him for a moment before stepping forward onto Percy's hurt foot. The young man cried out but did not say anything, so Cordelia grasped him by the front of robes and lifted him so that they were eye-to-eye. "I'm not a murderer yet, but I will be in just a minute if you don't tell me what you said to the death-eaters about Ron and Harry," she said coldly.
Percy's eyes widened. "Nothing! I didn't say anything. Ron is my brother, I don't want him hurt, even if it would put that big-headed friend of his in his pl-"
However, Percy did not finish what he was going to say, because Cordelia hauled off and slapped him across the face. "Be careful what you say about that boy in my presence. I tend to react a little like this friend of mine, who's a vampire by the way, when people insult and/or threaten him."
Dumbledore chuckled then. "Thank you, Ms. Chase, that's quite enough. Percy, thank you for your help. You may rest now if you wish. Mundungus, Alastor, Kingsley, you may return to Headquarters. Child-, Students, you may return to your dorms now, if you wish, or you may stay here with the patients. Molly, Arthur, Severus, I should like to see you all in my office. Ms. Chase, you may come as well, although I expect you will wish to remain here with Remus, or perhaps seek out Harry."
Cordelia gave a slight nod, and with one last glare at Percy, who flinched, she returned to Remus' bedside and pulled up a chair, taking the unconcious werewolf's hand in hers. Everyone else gradually trickled out, the students returning to the Gryffindor commen room, and everyone else going where Dumbledore had asked them too.
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Cordelia sat in the hospital wing, staring unseeing at the man in the bed beside her, his hand still clasped in hers. Everyone else had left hours ago. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had come back from Dumbledore's office briefly to offer to sit with Percy, but he had merely turned his back on them and not said anything. He was asleep now; Cordelia could hear him snoring. Hermione had been in about an hour ago to tell Cordelia that she had found Harry, and they had talked everything out. She said he had cried a lot, but he was all right now. He had gone to bed, but was going to come visit Remus in the morning and then talk to Cordelia after. As Cordelia stared at the man in front of her, she was lost in thought, thinking back to a night at the Dursleys, just three weeks ago.
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Remus was on guard duty again, and as per Cordelia's wishes, he had not worn the invisibility cloak, but had instead come inside and visited with her and Harry. The dursleys were away visiting Aunt Marge, and Harry had already gone to bed, so they were sitting alone in the living room. Cordelia was flipping through a fashion magazine, and Remus was reading a book, although he kept looking up to stare curiously at her. Finally, he spoke.
"Cordelia?"
"Hmm?" she responded, not yet looking up from her magazine.
"Why does it not bother you that I'm a werewolf?"
She looked at him then, slightly exasperated. "I already told you."
"I know, Oz and Angel, but still, it doesn't bother you just a little?"
She sighed. Clearly, he was not going to drop this anytime soon. She closed her magazine and gave him a small smile. "I lived on a hellmouth for eighteen years, Remus. I fought demons, I worked side by side with a one hundred pound girl stronger than Hercules, I ruled over a demon dimension. I watched people die that should have lived, and people live that should have died. My best friend was a vampire, other friends were demons, or part-demons, or ex-watchers turned Rogue Demon Hunters. I learned things aren't always what they seem, and things are almost never what they should be. I try not to ever judge anyone by their appearance, or their race, or what society says they are. I don't always manage it, but I'm getting better. Besides, only an idiot would think you were dangerous. Face it Lupin, your just a big, soft puppy."
Lupin laughed out loud. He was silent for moment, then he spoke again, in a voice thick with tears. "It means a lot to me, you know. After Sirius di-, after this past June, I didn't think I'd ever have a close friend again. Not a real one, who doesn't care at all about what I am, who doesn't feel like they have to protect me, or protect someone else from me, who can make laugh, who I can tell anything to."
Cordelia was touched, and she smiled. "I know exactly what you mean. When I realized I would never get to see Angel and the others again, I didn't know how I would get through it. But now that I have Harry, and you too, I feel okay. I'll always miss them, of course, but I can live without them. I don't like it, but I can do it."
"I'm glad you're here, Cordy."
"Me too."
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Cordelia stared at Remus. He looked so pale. Madame Pomfrey hadn't said anything when she asked if he would be okay, but had looked at her sadly. What if he never woke up? Or, what if he woke up, but the repeated exposure to the Cruciatius had left him insane, like it had the Longbottoms? She really didn't think she could take it if she lost him. Just a short time ago, she had been trapped in White World, convinced she would never see anyone again. Then she had come here, but Angel, Wesley, Gunn, they were still lost to her forever.
Now, she had Remus and Harry, and the other five kids as well. She had known them a month, but she already loved them, and felt immensely protective of them. She was even pretty sure she was making friends with Molly Weasley, although that may have gone out the window after the way she had treated Percy earlier. Still, her happiness was shaky at best. She still felt an overwhelming sense of loss everytime she thought of her California friends. If she lost even one of these new people who were already so precious to her, she felt certain she would lose herself forever and become an empty Cordy-shaped shell.
Finally, too tired and sad to hold he head up anymore, she let it fall onto the bed beside Remus and closed her eyes, hoping for sleep. However, just as she closed her eyes a tired, scratchy voice interrupted her reverie.
"Cordy?" What's going on? Where am I?"
Cordelia leapt up, a wide smile on her face, and, bending down, crushed Remus to her in a suffocating hug. "Oh, thank God! I was so scared!" Remus groaned then from the pain she was causing him and she immediately let him go, plumping his pillows, smoothing his sheets, and even resting her hand lightly on his cheek for a moment.
"What happened?' he asked again.
"Death-eaters. The meeting with Peter was a trap. You got hit with the cruciatius a bunch."
"Right. I remember. How did I end up here?"
"Some Order members rescued you, and Snape brought you here. He was carrying you."
Remus looked shocked. "Well, I wasn't expecting you to say that."
Cordelia laughed for a moment but sobered up quickly, and took his hand again. "Why would you do that? Why would you meet Peter alone?"
"He said to. He said he would run if anyone came with me. He said he wanted to talk. He said he was angry with Voldemort about Sirius. He wanted to switch sides, but he wanted to talk to me first. I spoke to Dumbledore about it and we agreed I would be safe."
Cordelia looked angry then. She tried to school her features into a calmer expression, but Remus noticed. "What is it?" he asked.
"Nothing."
"Cordelia. Tell me what's wrong."
Cordelia stared at him for a moment before finally exploding. "You're an idiot! I don't understand why you keep underestimating him! He managed to get away when you captured him didn't he? He as good as said the curse to James and Lily. Damn it, he ruined Sirius' life! I just don't understand why you all seem to think he's so incompetent."
Remus stared at her in surprise before smiling lightly. "I'm sorry I worried you."
"I wasn't worried," she said petulantly. "You're a big strong werewolf, you can take care of yourself."
"Really now? What ever happened to 'big, soft puppy?' "
"I guess you grew," she said, laughing
Remus threw his head back as much as he could with the pain and laughed. "I love you, Cordy."
Cordelia immediately stopped laughing and pulled her hand out of his. He frowned, but then realized what he had said. "I didn't mean it like that, Cordelia. I just meant that you make me laugh. Without Sirius, you're my best friend. I love you like that."
"I know. I just. . ."
"I'm sorry," he said. Things were quiet for a long moment. "Cordelia? I don't love you, or, at least, I'm not in love with you, yet, but I do. . .care for you. Maybe after I get better, after I get out of here, we could, I don't know, go for a butterbeer or something." He smiled hesitantly at her.
Cordelia stared at him, a million thoughts swirling in his head. Molly was wrong, she didn't 'fancy' Remus. But she knew she could, if she could force herself to let go of Angel and what she now knew they would never have together. Which she would have to do. She would never see Angel again, and right here in front of her was this wonderful, kind, intelligent man. She cared for him already, and knew she could easily fall in love with him.
"I'd love to."
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Author's Note: Yea! Chapter 11! Can you believe it? Anyway, I am officially finished with school until August 22, so updates should be coming faster now, maybe even once a day (but don't get your hopes up). Anyway thank a bunch to everyone who reviewed. To tell you the truth, I was considering abandoning this story, but I didn't want to let you all down. So, please do it again. I'll love you forever. . .