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.
Author's Note: I woud like to take a moment before the story this morning and offer my sympathy to any British readers. I'm very sorry that someone has decided to put you all through what America went through almost four years ago. Here's to hoping it never happens again!
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Harry crept quietly into the hospital wing, not wanting to wake anyone that might be sleeping. He was surprised to see Percy Weasley in a bed towards the front of the room with a bandage around his ankle. Hermione hadn't mentioned that Percy was here, and Harry had been asleep when Ron and Neville came in to go to bed. He attempted a smile and small wave but Percy merely stared at him with empty eyes and turned to face the wall. Harry shrugged and then stepped towards the back of the room where Hermione had said Remus was. He stopped short at the sight that greeted him.
Remus was deathly pale and he had dark circles under his eyes. There was a bruise on his right cheek as well as several down his arms and Harry suspected there more that were covered by his hospital gown. But that wasn't what had made Harry stop so suddenly. Remus had a slight smile on his face, and was sleeping on his side, facing Cordelia, who was also asleep. She was sitting in a chair by his bed, her head resting on the mattress by Remus' arms. They were holding hands.
Harry grinned and said softly, "This has definite potential."
To his surprise this quiet noise was enough to wake Cordelia, who sat up sharply and looked at Remus with an expression of fear on her face. When she saw he was still asleep she breathed an audible sigh of relief and then reached out with one hand and gently brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes, smiling softly. Then she noticed Harry.
She made a jerking motion, as if she had been about to jump up and rush to hug him, but remembering the last time she had seen him, had thought better of it. A cautiously pleased expression finally settled on her features, but she still didn't say anything. The two of them stared at one another for a few minutes before Harry finally spoke.
"I'm sorry."
Cordelia's hesitant look faded instantly and she smiled at him. "I know. It's okay."
Harry shook his head vigerously and said, "No, it's not. The things I said. . .after everything you've done. . .how could I?
She stood up then, shaking her head sadly. "How could you not? You had all of the evidence. Snape said he saw the murders. And it really is a crazy story. Even I realize that."
"I know, but still. You had never given me any reason not to trust you. You took care of me. You bought me clothes, you made sure I had enough to eat. You left me alone when I said I didn't want to talk about Sirius. You made me laugh when I wanted to cry. You stood up to the Dursleys for me, not to mention Dumbledore. You've been like a mother to me. How could I think that you were working for Voldemort?"
She strode forward then, gathering him into a strong hug and kissing his forehead where it rested against her shoulder. "No, Harry. As much as it hurt, as much as I hated having you looking at me that way, you did the right thing. Too many people you trust have betrayed you. Too many people have tried to kill you. I may not like the way you reacted to me, but you weren't wrong. Well, you were, but not totally." She paused then and Harry felt her smile against the top of his head. Then she said teasingly, "Guess you're not a boy wonder after all. Just human."
Harry laughed then, and pulled out of her embrace. "I love you, Cordy."
"I love you, too."
Just then, a rather loud groan from the bed behind them caught their attention. They turned to see Remus tossing on the bed, his hands clenching the sheets and beads of sweat forming on his brow. "No! Stop it!" he cried. "I want to help you! Don't!"
Madame Pomfrey rushed past Cordelia and Harry then with a box of potions, a worried expression on her face. "Don't worry," she attempted to reassure them. "Perfectly normal. Just suffering from aftershocks of overexposure. He'll be fine. I hope," she added, under her breath as she pulled the curtains closed around Remus' bed.
For several minutes afterwards they could hear Madame Pomfrey muttering under her breath as she cared for her patient. Every so often, another load groan would sound from Remus and Cordelia would jump, wring her hands, and look worriedly at the curtains. Noticing this, Harry grasped her by the elbow and pulled her towards the door calling over his shoulder, "Madame Pomfrey, Cordelia and I are going to wait outside. Let us know when we can see Professor Lupin again, please."
"Yes, yes, of course," she said as the door closed behind them.
Away from her friend's groans of pain, Cordelia was noticebly calmer and Harry noticed immediately how tired she was.
"You should get some sleep. I can stay here. I'll let you know right away if he wakes up, or gets worse."
"No."
"Cordelia-"
"No. Harry, do you really think I'm going to go sleep on a nice feather bed when one of my closest friends is lying in the hospital wing? Do you think I'd have let anyone take me even this far away if it were you in there?"
There was a determined expression on her face, one he had seen only twice before; right before she upended the flower pot over Aunt Petunia's head and again when she told Dumbledore that Harry was joining the Order, whether he liked it or not. Harry knew he had been defeated. "Okay. What happened?"
A hard glint entered his guardian's eyes then and Harry stepped back a bit at the force of the hatred shining in them. She said only one word. "Peter."
"Peter Pettigrew did that? By himself?"
"No. Malfoy and Lestrange were there."
"Malfoy is in prison."
"He got out. Tonks went to investigate. In fact, she should be back soon. I bet there'll be an Order meeting."
"Oh. So, what did they do to Remus? And what could Percy possibly have to do with anything?"
Cordelia's gaze softened then. "Poor Percy."
"Poor Percy?" Harry said, incredulously. "I never thought I'd hear anyone say that except maybe Mrs. Weasley."
"That's right, you don't know do you?" Cordelia shook her head, sadly. "The Death eaters killed his girlfriend. Or wife maybe. I don't know, he said they were in bed together."
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Harry had to shudder at the mental image of the uptight Percy in bed with anyone. Cordelia laughed at him a little, knowing exactly what he was thinking, and then continued.
"They kidnapped him, and from what Moody said, they chained him to a wall and tortured him for information about Ron."
Harry blanched. "Ron? Why? What do they want with him?"
"I think Voldemort was planning to use him to get to you. Don't worry about it though, Percy said he didn't tell them anything."
"That won't stop Voldemort," Harry said sullenly.
Cordelia shook her head. "I know that, but it will buy us some time. Dumbledore and the others will figure something out. Or I will. It'll be taken care of. Anyway, when Remus arrived he tried to rescue Percy, and they hit him repeatedly with the Cruciatius curse."
After that they were both silent for about twenty minutes until Madame Pomfrey opened the door. "He's awake now, and he wants to see both of you."
Cordelia and Harry crept quietly into the hospital wing and over to Remus' bed. "Hey," he said, weakly.
Relief flooded over Cordelia's face, and she beamed at him. "Hey, you. You scared me. I thought you were going to be okay after last night, but then when you started screaming. . .you scared me."
Harry grinned. "It's true, you know. I had to practically drag her out of here so she wouldn't jump a foot in the air every time you made even the smallest noise."
Remus laughed. "I'd love to see anybody try to drag Cordelia anywhere she didn't want to go."
Harry chuckled. "It wasn't easy, I can tell you that."
Then, noticing that Cordelia was looking at him with concern again, Remus took her hand and said gently, "Don't worry about me, Cordy. I'm not going anywhere until I get that date you promised me."
Harry faked a retching noise then and everyone laughed for a moment, until a loud noise from behind them caught their attention. Percy had apparently tried to get out of bed on his own, but had overestimated the amount of pressure he could put on his ankle. Madame Pomfrey had, of course, healed him, but it was still weak. He was now lying in a heap on the floor. Harry immediately left Remus and Cordelia and walked over to Percy, offering to help him up. Percy looked at the offered hand for moment, before finally allowing an expression of disgust to settle over his features.
"I don't need help from anyone Potter, especially not you."
Harry drew back his hand and looked at Percy with utter contempt, until, after several more attempts at getting up, Percy fell again. This time he landed on his bad ankle, and let out a whimper of pain. With that, Harry rolled his eyes, and, despite Percy's protests, grabbed him by the shoulders and lifted him to his feet.
Percy stared at him in confusion for a moment and finally, just as Harry turned away to rejoin Remus and Cordelia, he said, softly, "Thank you."
Cordelia watched Percy for a moment and then said quietly to Remus, "You know, if you're Wesley the Older, then he's definitely Wesley the Younger."
Remus stared at her, aghast. "You did not just compare me to Percy Weasley."
Cordelia laughed. "No, no, no. You don't get it. Percy is Wimpy Watcher Wesley, without the two last names, great clothes, and immpeccable manners, and you're Tough Guy, Boss of Angel Investigations Wesley."
Remus thought about that for a moment, and then said, "I guess that's okay."
Percy left then, with a loud clang of the hospital doors, and Cordelia stared after him. "You know what?" she said. "I need to talk to him. You guys talk, and I'll be right back." And before Remus or Harry could say anything, she was following Percy out the door.
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Cordelia walked quickly to catch up with Percy, and when she was close enough she called out, "Hey, Weasley, wait up!"
Percy turned around briefly, but upon seeing who it was, continued walking, moving even faster now.
Cordelia broke into a run and rested a hand on his shoulder, which he promptly shrugged off. Frowning, Cordelia said, "What is your problem? I just want to talk to you."
Percy stopped then, and turned to face her, a cold expression in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Cordy was it? I don't tend to enjoy making polite conversation with people who threaten my life."
"No, it is not Cordy. It's Ms. Chase," she snapped, and then softened, remembering what this young man had just been through. "And that's part of the reason I wanted to talk to you. I'm sorry I threatened you, I just kind of tend to over-react when people threaten my child."
"Harry is not your son," Percy spat, with a venom that surprised Cordelia.
"He might as well be," she said. "I love him like he is."
Percy snorted. "Love. That's ridiculous, Ms. Chase. Love doesn't mean anything at all. If there's one thing I've learned in the last two days, it's that. Love can't protect you, can't save you. Love is nothing."
"Love is everything.Love is what kept you from telling the Death-eaters about Ron and Harry."
Percy softened for a moment, but then a harsh expression settled in his eyes. "No, it isn't, actually. I said it was, but it's not true. Ron turned against me, along with the rest of my family. I don't care what happens to them. But why would I want to help the people who murdered my wife and child?"
Cordelia was shocked.Soshe had been right. They were married."Y-your wife? And child?"
"Penny and I married in June. She got pregnant on our wedding trip."
And then, to Percy's complete shock, Cordelia Chase hauled off and slapped him for the second time in less than two days.
"Ow! What in the hell was that for?" he yelled, with a force Cordelia was surprised to learn the mousy young man possessed.
"She doesn't know, does she? Your mother. She doesn't know that you're married, or that she was going to be a grandmother?"
"Of course not! Why would I want to share something so wonderful with my family when they've been nothing but horrible to me for the last two years?"
"BECAUSE SHE'S YOUR MOTHER YOU ARROGANT, SELFISH ASSHOLE!" Cordelia exploded, causing Percy to take a few shocked steps back.
She stopped then, before taking a few deep breaths and continuing in a low, angry voice. "Do you have any idea what you've put her through? She sits up nights, reading your old letters over and over again, crying the whole time, sobbing, because she misses you so damn much. Although, now that I've met you I can't for the life of me understand why.Do you know how much it would have meant to her, with all of the horrible things that have been happening lately, to be able to go to that wedding? To know she had a grandchild to look forward to?"
Percy looked genuinely shocked at her outburst, and Cordelia suddenly realized that he didn't know how much pain he had caused. He honestly had no idea that he had hurt his family at least as much, if not more, than they had hurt him.
"I-I have to go," he stammered. "I h-have a funeral to plan." And with that he turned and ran for the gates, leaving Cordelia standing shell-shocked under a tree. What had she done?
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"Peter attacked you?" Harry asked Remus after a long silence.
"Yes."
"Why did you meet him? Were you trying to capture him?"
Remus looked unbelievably sad for a moment, and Harry almost regretted asking him the question, but then his former teacher spoke. "No. I wasn't. I got a letter from him about a month after Sir-after that night in the Ministry. He said he was sick of Voldemort and he wanted to switch sides."
Harry was incredulous. How could Remus have fallen for something like that? "And you believed him?"
"No. Yes. I don't know, Harry. It's so hard to explain. Peter was-is my friend, you understand." Harry just looked at him and Remus smiled lightly. "No, I don't suppose you do. Peter has never been anything to you except someone to hate. To me though, he's, he's. . .Neville. He was the one we all liked, although perhaps not as well as the others of our group. He was the one we protected, and in return he gave us something very dear in a friend. Complete loyalty. There was a time he would have done anything for any one of us, and any one of us for him.
I still don't really know when that changed. I've never been able to hate Peter, except briefly, when I found out how much he cost Sirius with his deception. I was angry with him for a long time, but now that Sirius is. . .dead, I reallyjust miss him, more than ever. You see, Harry, I'm the last one, except for him. Everyone else who was a witness to that time in my life, the happiest time in my life, is gone. Peter is the only one who really understands what it was like to be a part of our group, and how important that is to me. So you see, even though I've known for a long time that it isn't really possible, I'll probably never stop wanting to rescue Peter."
Harry shook his head. "I still don't understand how, after everything he's done, you could still care about him."
Remus studied Harry, wondering if he could possibly make him understand. "Imagine, just imagine, that Ron or Hermione did to you what Peter did to us. Can you honestly tell me that you would ever be able to wish them dead?"
Harry sat in silent contemplation for a long moment before finally smiling sadly and saying, "No. No, I don't guess I would."
Remus smiled. "I'm glad you understand, at least a little. And Harry, I certainly don't expect you to feel the same way. I know you hate Peter. I'm sure I would too if I were you."
"Yeah."
They sat silently for several minutes before Remus finally said, "I wonder what Cordelia wanted to talk to Percy about?"
"Who knows? But, speaking of Cordelia, I have this sudden urge to tell you that if you hurt her I'll kill you."
Remus laughed. "I have no plans of hurting her." Then after a moment, "You really love her, don't you Harry?"
"Yeah, I really do," Harry said quietly. "I didn't even realize how much until yesterday."
"Why? What happened yesterday?" Remus asked, concerned.
Harry frowned. He wasn't sure Cordelia would want Remus to know about her past, and if she did, she might want to tell him herself.
"Harry? What happened?"
Harry sighed. Remus was obviously not going to give up. Then, he took a deep breath and really hoped Cordelia would not make him regret what he was about to do."Well, it was like this. . ."
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Cordelia entered the hospital wing slowly. She still felt really bad about her confrontation with Percy. After all, in the last forty-eight hours, the young man had lost his wife and unborn child and been nearly tortured to death by Death Eaters. Then along she came, perched firmly on her Queen C pedestal and ripped into him about causing his family pain. Well, if Molly didn't hate her after last night, she certainly would after Percy told her what had happened today. If he told her. Even after all the yelling she had just done, he still might not ever speak to his family again.
She trudged over to Remus' bed and sat down in the chair beside him. Thinking he was asleep, she resumed her position from the night before. She was absolutely exhausted, and she really wanted to get some more sleep. However, once again, just as she closed her eyes, she heard Remus speaking to her.
"Hey, Cordy. How did it go with Percy?"
Cordelia groaned, and sat up. "I do not want to talk about that. I made a complete idiot out of myself. Where's Harry?"
"He went to find Ron and Hermione. What happened?"
Cordelia glared at him then. "I said I didn't want to talk about it, and I meant it. What did you and Harry talk about?"
Pushing aside the urge to snap right back at his friend, Remus gave her a strained smile and said, "Peter. And you."
That woke her up completely. "Me? What about me?"
"Well, let's see. He threatened to kill me if I ever hurt you." Remus grinned at the memory, and then continued. "And he told me about everything that happened yesterday."
Cordelia pulled back from the bed then and looked at him warily. "I guess you don't want to go out on that date with me anymore, then."
"Of course I do!" exclaimed Remus, shocked. "Why wouldn't I? It wasn't you."
"I know but-"
"But nothing. It wasn't you. No judging things by their appearances, remember?"
Cordelia smiled, and then yawned loudly. "I'm sorry," she said sheepishly. I'm just so tired!"
"Go up to bed then. I'll be fine. Actually, I could use some more sleep too."
Cordelia shook her head. "I don't want to leave you yet. You're still so weak."
A wicked grin spread across Remus' face then and he pulled the covers back and patted the empty space beside him.
Cordelia stared at him indcredulously. "You're kidding right? We haven't even been on one date. The last time I did something even remotely like that I ended up pregnant with demon septuplets."
Remus eyes widened, then he smiled. "I'll have to get you to tell me that one later. I'm too tired right now. Anyway, I promise not to try anything."
"Scout's honor?"
"What?"
Cordelia laughed. "Never mind. Move over, Wolf-man."
She climbed into the little bed beside him, her back resting against his stomach. He rested his chin on her head and wrapped his arms around her. They both closed their eyes.
"Goodnight, Cordelia."
"Night, Remus," she answered, and then fell promptly asleep.
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Author's Note: Well, I have now finished my outline for this story. Which means I know exactly what is going to happin and approximately how long it is going to take. This story WILL be finished, for everyone who has been concerned about that. It should be about thirty chapters total, give or take a few. I'll try to write at least a chapter a day, and it should be finished by the end of July. As for when those chapters get posted, well that depends entirely on you guys, and how many of you hit that little review button. . .
To the reviewers: I've decided that I don't like the new hit counter thing. It's depressing to compare how many people actually read the story to how many review. However, it does make me appreciate those who do take the time to review even more, so I wanted to take a little time to give a little shout-out to all of you, and answer the questions you asked and the concerns you expressed.
Thanks to: CT Malone (Percy is the bigger prat in my opinion, but right now I'd say he's got a damn good reason to be pratish. Snape is just mean), Wickedmoemoe (Here's your Harry, and you'll get your Snape soon:), Kat Hawkins (I'm not stopping, no worries! This is my baby, and it WILL be finished), MischieviousPuck (I'm not stopping, promise. As for grammar and spelling, I've found a lot of mistakes to that I just never seem to notice before I post the story, but I'm planning to go back and edit once the story is complete. About that stuff you're hoping will happen. . . wait and see. . .), DramaQueen4eva (I'm writing more right now, so hang on! Use life support if you need to. . .), angel-cordy (Thank you! Is this soon enough for you?), blackwolf900 (Thank you for reviewing), Monica ( I'm glad you found my story! And I'm glad you appreciate the originality, that's one of the things I was really shooting for), Mama T (I too love Cordeilia (obviously), and am happy to contribute to the Cordelia/HP crossover genre), cyndur (There will be no abandonment! I know you've been following the story for a long time now, and I think you should know that I appreciate the fact that you have reviewed (to the best of my knowledge) every chapter).