The Pensieve
Leonor walked carefully through the brush along the rock face. About a year ago, she followed Severus, curious to see what he planned to show. The bank of the black lake lay under the long shadows of dusk. The borderline between trees and pebbles blurred and was almost invisible. Leonor breathed deeply, face and body still heated from the afternoon in the hidden cove. She was relaxed and hungry and hurried into the direction of the Great Hall. Most students dined already; the noises sounded cheerful and excited. The term ended soon; the last task of the Triwizard Tournament took place in two weeks. The trouble of Harry Potter's name in the magical goblet seemed long forgotten. There were several free seats on the staff table, likely some teachers left the school to enjoy the wonderful weather of the weekend. Leonor sat beside Pomona and thanked for the support with all the magical plants for lessons. Leonor's time as a part-time teacher was finally over. The last lesson finished previous Wednesday. Every foreign student was prepared to return home. Leonor looked forward paying a hundred per cent attention to the apothecary and healing. Nevertheless, a wistful feeling remained inside.
After a decent meal, Leonor climbed down the gloomy staircases to the dungeons. The damp, torch-lit corridor presented itself even darker than in winter. The dungeons isolated themselves from additional daylight or the warmth of the season. Leonor pulled the cloak tighter around her body and knocked on the potion master's open office door to announce herself.
Several large books, quills and parchment lay on the desk and Severus glanced briefly over the edge of the dark binding and continued reading. Leonor waited and took one of the books after an indecisive silence.
"What can I do for you?" said Severus evenly rubbing his nose without looking up.
"Nothing," answered Leonor quietly. Severus frowned. The book thudded to the desk, and he pushed the chair back. It shook ominously but regained balance. He sorted some items on the workbench and checked a cauldron for a seeming eternity.
Leonor heaved herself to a small free space on the desk and took a book. A letter caught her attention, and she spoke softly, "St. Mungo's regrets they didn't employ you after graduation."
"Do they? I'm sure they've enough experts without me." Severus' answer was full of resentment.
"I thought you'd like to know. Richard told me." Leonor spoke still to Severus' backside, and he only gave a derisive laugh in response. It sounded hollow within the stone walls of the basement.
"St. Mungo's wants me to go to Brazil. I could. The police killed Juan in a drug raid," said Leonor indecisive.
"Then you should do so!" The answer was broad and harsh.
"I hoped you'd say something else—" Leonor couldn't keep the disappointment out of her voice and her gaze travelled down to the heavy defence book on her lap. A knock to the door frame made her look up again.
"Good evening!" Dumbledore greeted with the usual mischievous wink. "Severus wanted a word," explained the old man as if to justify the visit. Severus took a letter from an inside pocket of his robes and handed it over.
"A late application won't be the reason to sort me out," said Severus snarkily.
"It was never, Severus," intoned Dumbledore politely with a hint of limited mercy.
Leonor considered the two men and the pity in Dumbledore's gesture created a flush of humiliation on Severus' face before he turned to stir the cauldron again. The headmaster studied the room and the books on the desk. The letters to the parents of Vincent Grabbe and Gregory Goyle created a satisfied grin on Dumbledore's face; even though Leonor doubted in any improvement after the holidays. If the Dark Lord returned, the cruelty of the fools would be paired with the arrogance of ambiguous winners.
The headmaster broke the silence. "The potion's guild invited for the annual celebration. I assume you are invited?" Dumbledore blinked into Leonor's direction.
"Yes, I'm invited," said Leonor with a side glance at Severus who still worked relentlessly on the same cauldron.
"Ah, I see—," answered Dumbledore. "Please, can you deliver my faithful regards to the board of chairmen?"
"Of course, I'll tell Mr Burke and Mr Fawley," answered Leonor relieved about not starting the topic herself.
"Good, very good indeed," grinned Dumbledore folding his hands in front of his mouth. "I don't like to leave the school a few days before the final task." The atmosphere cooled distinctly.
"I can understand that," said Leonor honestly.
"Severus—," Dumbledore addressed his subordinate with narrowed eyes and a tone tolerating no dissent. "I trust you keep an eye on Leonor. An unknown dark wizard used the Crutiatus on a couple of muggles. Leonor might be a target due to her involvement in curing and sending the muggles home. Keep Lucius in check!"
The headmaster nodded a friendly 'good night' and his long robes rustled briskly out into the darkness of the corridor. Leonor gazed open-mouthed wondering what else the old man knew.
XXX
Severus stared into the cauldron. The purified water in it simmered slowly. All the stirring was unnecessary. It destroyed every floating bubble without making any sense. He stopped and walked determinedly to the open door to close it carefully. Dumbledore didn't trust him to be on the right track nor that the old alliances presented itself in good order. In return, Severus didn't risk being overheard. He rummaged in one of the potions cupboards until he found a small jar. Leonor sat still on his desk as if unfazed by Dumbledore's remark. She hadn't turned a page since putting the book to her lap. Severus crossed the room firmly and took the book out of her hands. She didn't look up and Severus considered her cheeks with a small smile. Leonor appeared as if she missed him as much as he missed her or why would she be here on the first free weekend?
"You have got a nice sunburn." Severus tried to sponge the cream on the reddish spots, but it didn't work until Leonor lifted her chin.
"Does it cool?"
"Yes," said Leonor subdued.
"We'll leave and return together from the celebration, but we won't enter the house together. Be careful with Malfoy. He might still mistrust my story about your possible alliance with the Order of Phoenix."
"That's all right. What's the Order of Phoenix? You never mentioned it before."
"Dumbledore's secret organization to fight the Dark Lord."
"How can you know about that?"
"I've been a member in the past, a secret member—" Severus rolled up his left sleeve. "He's returning. I'm waiting for the Dark Lord's call at any moment. I'm convinced Dumbledore is prepared, same as the Death Eaters." Leonor looked disgusted at the ugly skull on Severus' forearm.
"How can you make an oath to both organizations?"
"Dumbledore doesn't request a loyalty oath. He trusts in your conscience if you join."
"How much time until the evil is back?"
"Not long."
"I want you to read my mind!" said Leonor resolutely.
"We cannot train anymore; it creates a too recent memory. It's too dangerous. You know how to block your thoughts with false pictures. You've enough experience to let them believe all they want to see. I trust you keep yourself safe."
"I want to show you the wizard tormenting Lucy and Alexander. I could have thought of that earlier."
"Are you sure?"
"I am!" Severus raised his wand hesitantly. When Leonor didn't avert her gaze, he put the wand into an inside pocket and cast a silent 'Legilimens'. The wandless spell was much softer, and she was very close. He grabbed her hands when riding through sterile hospital wards, watching Leonor's treatment of the muggles. Leonor concentrated hard recalling the pictures of the crime. The old violence was difficult to separate from the new, emotions difficult to control, the inopportune memories of Leonor's past appeared on the surface. Severus stopped abruptly.
"It's not going to work!" he snapped agitated.
"I'm sorry. It's because we didn't work for a while." Severus scrutinized Leonor, but he didn't scold for the lack of will.
"The two dark-haired idiots have been your brothers?"
"Yes, the taller and more handsome is Juan."
"You don't bear much resemblance to them," said Severus repulsed.
"Who's the tan-haired bloke with the childish curls? He corners you all the time."
"Daniel, ex-boyfriend." The words suffocated in Leonor's throat.
"He got what he was pressing for? He hurt you too!"
Leonor considered her hands. Severus's slim fingers were still entwined with hers.
"It's not your business, is it?" replied Leonor, but continued sadly without a break. "No, he didn't get anything. He made a bet with his friends to shag me within a month. I told him about my past to ask for patience. He lost but made everything public. I moved to New York to escape the gossip in the small university town and gave up working in the teaching hospital. I became FBI agent Elizabeth Davis; responsible to investigate magical crimes in the muggle society. My preference was always to be a medic, to help the living, nevertheless forensics was interesting too. It matched better with the wishes of the MACUSA and therefore it was easy to get that job." Leonor pulled her hands away; the awkwardness of the situation replayed in her face.
Severus didn't know what to say and changed the topic while anger tweaked his stomach.
"We'll see Dumbledore. If you think it's still important to find the tormentor of the muggles?"
"I found nothing on the ministry pictures of alive criminals. The person cursing the muggles is still free."
Severus opened the door brusquely and Leonor followed. He led the way quickly to the seventh floor. Leonor was in no mood to let anybody than Severus in the carefully concealed memories.
"I don't want this." Leonor held Severus back before climbing the spiral staircase. Severus shot her a questioning look.
"I don't want Dumbledore to read my mind. It's enough if I've difficulties to block out the past from you."
"He won't. He's got a Pensieve to review your memories," said Severus with a slightly lecturing intonation. "It's more comfortable to extract the memories from your mind yourself. It doesn't create headaches," added Severus more softly and spoke the password. He gave a hand to Leonor to encourage her to follow but didn't wait for consent.
The headmaster's door swung open as soon as Severus touched the handle.
"I'm delighted to see you tonight!" chuckled Albus quietly. "What can I do for you?" Leonor couldn't tell if Dumbledore had been busy or awaited their visit. She had the unmistakable feeling that the headmaster wasn't surprised at all.
"Headmaster, we would like to use your Pensive to review a particular memory of those cursed muggles. Maybe there's a chance—"
Dumbledore raised his hand to stop Severus. "You know where to find it, Severus," said Dumbledore sternly and turned to Leonor. "You are skilled in memory charms?"
"I've never used a Pensieve." Leonor watched Severus taking a stone basin out of a cabinet. A white shimmering light illuminated the air around a waving liquid.
"Interesting. I should warn you. The spell can destroy the memory."
"It's not my own. I stole it from the victims but wasn't able to identify the wizard."
"A man?"
"Yes, not too old, likely younger than forty."
"—and you think Severus might know him?"
"Perhaps." Leonor was a bit confused by the situation and mystique of the aglow liquid. Severus prepared the basin on Dumbledore's desk like a ritual. He clearly didn't prepare it the first time.
"Albus, the Dark Lord kept certain allies secret. Nobody ever saw the full inner circle," snapped Severus mockingly.
"Of course, I remember your reports," replied Dumbledore friendly. "If you would be so kind as to explain the spell to Leonor?"
Severus took his wand and put it to his temple. "You've to cast a silent Legilimens on your own mind. Concentrate on the memory and it will flow to your wand."
A silver sting of bluish vapour flowed from the temple, adhered to the wand tip until Severus put it into the lucent liquid.
"Watch it!"
Leonor hesitated but dived into the stone basin to see herself walking down the aisle in the Great Hall. It had been the day when Severus threatened Karkaroff. It gave a feeling of comfort before diving into a cruel truth.
"Okay," she confirmed and started the procedure. The spell started working sluggishly. Severus adjusted Leonor's wand tip with a stern expression. Soon another string of vapour found its way into the liquid.
Leonor dived into her own memory. She watched herself performing the spell on Alexander. Then they stalked along the streets in the city. Lucy gesticulated excitedly about a bold colleague who caused her to work overtime. She didn't pay any attention to her surroundings. Alexander obviously listened but watched a stranger crossing the street fleetly. It was already dark. Likely the couple left a pub at eleven o'clock. Lucy spluttered tipsy with the agitation. Alexander mollified her and linked arms with Lucy. Their small talk sounded mundane. The stranger walked a good distance before them. There was nothing special about him until he turned and approached the two muggles. His face was in the shadows. There was something on his mouth, a cigarette maybe. Alexander took a pocket lighter and shouted cheerfully, 'You are lucky, I just refilled with gas today'. He stretched his hand to offer the fire when the man pulled a stick out of the leather jacket. Afterwards, there was only screaming, the unthinkable pain hit bodies and brains. Leonor lifted herself out of the basin; her expression torn and twisted. The strange wizard caused anguish out of habit; a sick greed of power and satisfaction defaced the human.
"The memory is in there. I'm not able to watch it in full again. The wizard is in his thirties, fair-haired, slim. Most of the time his face is in the dark. There's something around his mouth. I thought it's a cigarette, but I cannot see it clearly. It reminds me of the lambent tongue of snakes. If you don't mind watching it?" Leonor gestured to invite Albus and Severus into the Pensieve. They watched simultaneously.
Severus pulled his head back first turning to the fireplace with a stony expression. From the outside, it looked as if Severus preferred warming hands only.
Dumbledore considered the Pensieve grimly. The silence weighted heavy in the elegant room. All ticking instruments had lost the rhythm. The phoenix ruffled its plumage in tension.
"The ministry found the muggles in the neighbourhood of Barty Crouch's home?" asked Albus Dumbledore musing.
"Yes, the terraced house is just a hundred metres down the street."
"If I'm not mistaken Crouch's son was in your dormitory." Dumbledore addressed Severus questioningly.
"Yes, for a few months, two years younger, flaxen-haired and boasting to teach his father respect. I cannot recognize a resemblance of the memory to a known Death Eater; not after all those years." Severus sounded bitter and dissatisfied.
"I'm sorry Leonor, but I cannot recognize the face either. Can I keep the memory?"
"Yes, please. It's better outside my head," answered Leonor relieved to get rid of it. Dumbledore swirled the liquid and the silvery strand was quickly placed into a vial. He offered spraying liquorice sticks. Leonor distracted herself sucking the strange black mass until it was smooth and the risk to explode incalculably. She threw it to the flames and it gave a firework of rainbow-coloured glitter.
"You are lucky, seldom colouring." Dumbledore showed the usual calmness; a smile brightened his expression. His liquorice stick exploded with an ugly brownish plop.
"Indeed," said Leonor. "I'm sorry to waste your time."
"Not at all, sometimes we need more information to disclose the truth. Indirections may still lead to the target. I appreciate every effort," answered Dumbledore wisely.
"I'll bring you downstairs," cut Severus into the conversation and steered Leonor to the exit. The spraying liquorice had failed to resolve the tension. Dumbledore overpowered it unperturbed; maybe the ability grew with age.