Chapter 9 – Horace Slughorn

"Ireland?" Lizzie asked, looking around, shaking her red hair back since she wouldn't stand out here.

"But who?" She asked, thinking about who they knew in Ireland. Not a moment later she rolled her eyes as Oliver approached.

"What happened to playing for England?" Lizzie shouted at him as they drew nearer over the clearing. He smirked back.

"Staying at me mums while she's on holiday. Off the beaten track," he explained. By the time he was in front of them she noticed he looked rather rugged with longer hair and was scruffy like he hadn't been shaving regularly.

"Well good. I'm not waking up at 4 o'clock in the bloody morning to play quidditch though... besides they banned me for life," she said bitterly and he laughed.

"Good to see you too," he said sarcastically, giving her a hug and showing them inside. "They'll lift that by the way, already told the recruiters to go see you this coming year. No way McGonagall is letting that stay in place... I already wrote her my captain recommendation and so did Angelina," he said reassuringly and a smile broke around the corners of Lizzie's mouth despite her best efforts not to. She had a soft spot for Oliver.

"Good to see you both," Wood said, shaking hands with Remus and Tonks.

They were out somewhere in the country with nothing to do. Wood's mother typically tended to a small farm. Lizzie spent most of the days there catching up on summer assignments and reading through the book Menes gave her on the outdoor porch facing a gorgeous view of the mountains. There was a mist in the air from the ocean not many miles off. It was peaceful.

Wood set a cup of coffee down on the table next to her and she broke her eyes free of the pages momentarily.

"Oh bless your heart, thank you," Lizzie muttered and took a sip that burned her tongue. He noticed her face scrunch in pain and laughed. She had to squish down the mandrake leaf hard into the base of her mouth.

"You holding up alright?" He asked kindly.

"Yeah... yeah I suppose I am considering," she said unconvincingly.

"Where have you been so far?" He asked.

"Romania with Charlie, then Bulgaria with Viktor Krum, Paris with Fleur, and Egypt with Bill. Up until now I'd never been out of Great Britain except for Hogwarts, been a… distraction," she explained, blowing on the coffee and taking more careful sips.

"The prophet says you've been spotted in Austria, Italy, and Spain," he said with a smirk. "Wild goose chase?"

"That's exactly what it is, until I get on the train to Hogwarts," she confirmed.

"I'm sorry about Sirius, Lizzie," he said sadly after a moment of awkward silence.

"Me too," she whispered, averting her eyes for a distraction.

"Your uncle... that particular muggle attack was in the paper... did he die?" He asked cautiously. Lizzie's face froze over like stone.

"Yeah, yeah he did," she said, clearing her throat. "My aunt and cousin are fine though, hardly scathed."

He nodded apprehensively. "Listen, it's deserted out here, if you lot want to go hiking or exploring, let me know. There's an island just off shore that's beautiful. Don't think you need to stay cooped up here," he offered.

"Is that code for flying?" She asked, narrowing his eyes at him.

"Well since YOU mentioned it, I do have an extra broom here, no firebolt but - just saying," he said with a smirk, and left her to her coffee.

They did go flying most of the days she was there. Lizzie hadn't been on a broom in what felt like ages. They landed on the peak of an island cliff and looked out over the ocean.

"Ugh," Lizzie groaned to herself and sat down cross-legged at the edge to admire the view.

"What's wrong?" Oliver asked sitting down next to her and watching her face move subtly to racing thoughts.

"It's beautiful. Everywhere we go is just... beautiful. Then I remember why we're doing it," she said burying her hands in her hair.

"Yeah..." he exhaled with some understanding.

"Enjoy the present though. You're safe right now. Spare yourself a few moments of not having to dwell - it'll do you some good," he said with a weak smirk trying to catch her eyes. She stopped to focus in on what she was sure was a thought going through his head and not hers. He wanted to kiss her and she decided she'd let him if he did. But he didn't.

Oliver sighed. "You are exceptionally hard working and determined almost to a fault. No doubt in my mind you'll get out of all this," he said.

"No doubt? None at all?" She laughed. "What I would do for a quiet life..." she sighed.

"You'd die, Lizzie. Don't even try to tell me you wouldn't," he grinned and she laughed harder. They sat for a few more moments and took off back toward the house. Remus gave her a suspicious look when they returned and his thoughts were mildly offensive.

"I'm not. Haven't with any of them. But if I did who cares? They're all good guys," she whispered to him when they were alone in the kitchen.

"You just need to be careful," he hissed back.

"Remus, I am beyond grateful you've assumed the dad role here, but I'm of age and have nothing left to preserve at this point anyway. Also, believe it or not, I have no particular desire to sleep with any of them after what happened... so get a grip," she berated mildly. He looked back at her reproachfully but nodded in understanding.

On the fifth day, Dumbledore arrived late at night unannounced. Remus was alarmed and assumed something had happened.

"Everything alright, Albus?" He asked apprehensively.

"No, afraid not, we're at war if you haven't noticed Remus," Dumbledore said sarcastically with a wink in Lizzie's direction. Remus rolled his face more than his eyes at this and huffed with a twinge of contempt. Lizzie chuckled silently.

"I just need to borrow Lizzie," Dumbledore said, grinning.

"Borrow her?" Remus asked incredulously.

"Yes. I mat have picked you to as a guardian in these endeavors because you are innately overprotective, but I have something I need her help with if she doesn't mind," Dumbledore responded evenly. Remus looked between them skeptically and flicked his eyes in resignation.

"Well I suppose she's safe as can be with you," Remus said.

"Hardly, I think I'm safe as can be with her, but the pairing does not give me pause in terms of safety for this particular mission, shouldn't be dangerous," he said reassuringly. Lizzie followed him outside as he admired the fading view, it was growing dark.

"Ready?" He asked and she nodded, taking his arm.

They landed in a small muggle village that reminded her slightly of Little Winging but the homes were more lavish.

Lizzie was silent and unquestioning as she followed Dumbledore to the entry walk of one of the homes. The door appeared to have been busted into and a couple of the windows were shattered. Dumbledore looked troubled and grabbed for his wand, Lizzie did the same.

The inside of the house looked worse than the outside, it was nearly completely demolished. "Sir?" She whispered nervously, and he placed an index finger over his lips to indicate silence.

Something cold and sticky dripped down onto the front of her face as they entered what appeared to have been the living room. Lizzie stopped and looked up shining a light at a large puddle of blood seeping through the ceiling. Dumbledore wiped it off her face and examined it. Lizzie swore she heard him chuckle and looked around intently.

There was a large blue striped armchair in the corner that didn't appear neither dusty nor scathed, and Dumbledore approached it menacingly. Has he lost it? Lizzie thought watching him with confusion as he jabbed it hard with the end of his wand.

The armchair no sooner shot up as though to stand and Lizzie noticed human legs. Shaking her head and frowning she looked up and saw a man's head sticking out from the top of it and then he shook himself back into the form of a heavy set, tall, elderly man with a funny looking set of features displayed unevenly on his face. Lizzie had backed up a step listening to the exchange between the men.

"Merlin's beard, Albus! What are you doing?" The man asked Indignantly.

"I could ask you that, what happened?" Dumbledore said looking around.

"Oh, the death eaters they've been trying to recruit me for over a year, can only say no to them so many times, so I never stay anywhere more than a week. The muggles who own this place are in the Canary Islands," he explained.

Dumbledore waived his wand and the home returned to pristine condition.

"Well, you made a very convincing armchair Horace," Dumbledore laughed fondly. It was a belly laugh she hadn't ever heard from Dumbledore in the time she'd known him.

"Well I come by the stuffing naturally, what gave me away?" Horace asked.

"Dragons blood," Dumbledore said with a smirk and Horace looked embarrassed. He looked over and noticed Lizzie. His eyes washed over like he'd seen a ghost, glassy in disbelief. It wasn't a look Lizzie usually received from strangers.

"Oh," Horace said, like someone had jabbed him with a pin in his heart. Dumbledore seemed to understand why and gave Lizzie a reassuring look.

"Horace, this is Azalea Potter, most everyone calls her Lizzie, that was James's doing," Dumbledore said watching his friend closely.

"Lizzie, this is Horace Slughorn, former colleague and good friend of mine," Dumbledore said.

"Pleasure to meet you, sir," Lizzie said politely.

"Pleasure is mine," he said with a dry voice.

"Horace, you mind if I use the loo?" Dumbledore asked and Horace pointed down the hall. "I know why you're here, Albus, the answer is still no!" Horace shouted as Dumbledore left them alone in awkward silence.

"You... you look just like your mother," he said finally and Lizzie smiled weakly.

"Lily... lovely Lily. Exceptionally bright your mother, she was one of my absolute favorite students, perhaps maybe my favorite student," he said sadly.

"You taught her?" Lizzie asked. He nodded and gestured her to come over to a display of pictures he had.

"All mine, former students. There she is. The resemblance is breathtaking," he said staring at Lizzie. She sensed guilt and love he had for her, not romantic, but it was strong nonetheless.

"You however, topic of much conversation lately. Forgive me for asking but what is true?" He said with a weak smile.

Lizzie laughed lightly. "Let's just say it's about as true as every book written with the disclaimer 'based on true events,' there is a considerable amount of unsubstantiated speculation," Lizzie admitted. Horace laughed.

"I'm sorry to hear about Sirius. I taught his brother Regulus but didn't know Sirius very well. I do know he was very close to your father. His imprisonment always struck me as shocking... but I suppose now we know why," Horace said.

"Sirius was a good man who deserved better... his life was robbed...my father was a brother to him," she said sadly.

"Is it true you killed -" Horace said with a dryness to his voice.

Lizzie nodded. "Pettigrew. He was complicit in the murder of everyone I loved most... I regret... well I regret not regretting it if that makes sense," she said.

"Love is a powerful thing. I hear you're rather exceptional. Quidditch star like your father, one of the top in your year, and at merely seventeen a formidable opponent to the Dark Lord - youngest winner of the Triwizard Tournament...it's remarkable..."

"I've been banned from Quidditch actually. Cedric Diggory won the tournament as far as I'm concerned," she admitted grimly.

"Does not change your achievements, my dear. Your parents would be gleaming with pride I'm sure," he assured.

Lizzie smiled weakly. "I hope I'll be able to tell them all about it soon, but there's too much to do in the meantime," she said quietly. He gave her a sympathetic look as Dumbledore walked back into the living room.

"Horace, wonderful to see you my friend, but I think we best be off, like yourself, Lizzie hasn't been staying anywhere for long," Dumbledore said kindly.

"You're leaving?" Horace asked Indignantly and Dumbledore smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Your answer was no, I know a lost cause when I see one," Dumbledore said.

"It was pleasure to meet you, really," Lizzie said, feeling confused by the exchange. When she shook his hand she sensed a feeling of defiance from him and looked at Dumbledore who winked subtly.

Behind them as they retreated into the front yard, they heard Horace yell, "Fine! I'll do it! But I was Meriweather's old office not that water closet I had before, and I expect a raise!" Dumbledore nodded and grinned.

"This is how you land the teaching positions, I take it?" Lizzie laughed as they headed down the block.

"Well not Delores, I promise I had no say in that one," he admitted, and Lizzie choked back a laugh.

"I'm sorry, Lizzie, I think I might have stolen a night from you," he said awkwardly.

"How do you mean?" She asked.

"Well Oliver Wood - you two..." he started to say and Lizzie gaped at the sentiment shaking her head.

"Um, well, I dunno, we didn't have... plans... set or anything," she said awkwardly.

"Oh good, well I think you have more in common with Charlie Weasley myself," he said and Lizzie stared back in disbelief.

"Sorry, Lizzie, forgive me. I'm not trying to play match maker, quidditch players though, you're almost predictable," Lizzie laughed at this despite her best effort not to. Dumbledore was trying to bond with her. "You won't be going back to Ireland I'm afraid. The death eaters are taking to searching homes of those they believe in the Order. I think Oliver is fine because he is not a known member, but out of an abundance of caution I've made accommodations with the son of a very old friend of mine. Might be the most interesting of the travels because he's got a number of interesting possessions," Dumbledore winked.

"Remus and Tonks?" Lizzie asked.

"Waiting for you," he smiled and she grabbed his arm.