Seventh Year
Althea lay in the Hospital Wing, bored out of her mind. Glancing over at the bed next to her, she had to admit it wasn't so bad. She at least got to spend some time with Remus, however she wished that it was under better circumstances. Althea yawned, shifting in the hospital bed uncomfortably. Dumbledore, had escorted her to the Hospital Wing, informing Madam Pomfrey of the situation and then he just…left. He promised that when he came back, he would talk with her and that was the last time she had seen him. She didn't mind, of course. She didn't want to relive what had happened and face the reality that she wasn't safe, even here in Hogwarts.
"Are you awake?" Althea asked into the darkness.
"Of course," Remus answered. "I find it hard to go to sleep in the days after the full moon."
Althea hummed. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"What happens during the full moon? No," Remus replied sounding uncomfortable. "Do you want to talk about what happened to you?"
"Sure." Althea said, but promised herself she would only give him the bare minimum. "I was walking toward the Hospital Wing, because I had a headache and I was ambushed by Slytherins. They used the Cruciatus Curse on me, and now I'm here."
She had told the truth, mostly. Only one little part of her statement had been a lie, and she prayed that Remus wouldn't pick up on that. If he found out that she was on her way to visit him when she was ambushed, he would only blame himself. Nothing that she could say would make him think that it wasn't his fault, so she felt it best to keep that information to herself.
"I'm sorry," Remus whispered his voice low.
"It's not your fault Remmy," Althea assured him, looking up at the ceiling. "Really, it's not. It's just those pesky Slytherins and their ideas on blood purity. You know who Voldemort reminds me of?" Remus hummed. "Hitler. They share some similarities, don't you think?"
"Hitler, the Muggle dictator who killed millions," Remus mused. "I can see some similarities between the two of them. Hitler had this idea of what he thought perfection was and anything who didn't fit into that should die, and Voldemort shares similar thoughts but instead of it being based on physical appearance, he is basing it on blood."
"Exactly." Althea said. "It's weird to think, that Muggle life and wizarding life aren't really that different, they mirror each other."
"Don't let a Slytherin hear you say that," Remus told her.
Althea rolled her eyes at his poor attempt at humor. "I'm tired, Remmy."
"Then go to sleep Thea," Remus murmured his voice unusually soft. "You'll be safe here."
Althea frowned, rolling onto her side. She wanted to believe that she would be safe, but after what she had experienced at the hands of the Slytherins, she just couldn't. Even with the reassurances of others, she couldn't believe that she was safe anywhere in Hogwarts. Althea closed her eyes. This time she wasn't alone, but it didn't alleviate her fear.
"Relax Thea," Remus soothed. "You're not alone. You'll be safe here."
She nodded, deepening her breaths. Within ten minutes she was out.
Over the next few days, Althea stayed in the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey had wanted to keep an eye on her, and Althea didn't protest. She felt safer in the Hospital Wing than she did anywhere else. Or at least she had, until Remus was discharged and told he could start attending class again. Dumbledore had yet to come back and with his continue absence Althea began to grow more nervous. She knew that the Slytherins and "other Death Eaters in training" would begin to grow bolder. The door to the Hospital Wing opened, and Althea gripped her wand tightly her entire body tensing.
She relaxed when she saw that it was Dumbledore. The Headmaster smiled, "I believe we have a lot to talk about Ms. Morgan, but first tell me what happened to you."
"I was walking here to visit Remus, when Timothy Yaxley and another Slytherin ambushed me and grabbed me. They didn't do much, but Y-Yaxley used the Curciatus Curse on me. If the other Slytherin hadn't made him stop, they probably would have done more." Althea stammered, her hands shaking as she recalled what had happened.
"And you didn't recognize the other Slytherin?" Dumbledore questioned a knowing gleam in his eyes.
Althea flushed ducking her head as she mumbled, "It was Snape. But he didn't do anything, he made Yaxley stop."
"Thank you, Ms. Morgan. In circumstances like this one, it is important that I get all the facts so that punishments may be doled out effectively. Now, onto another matter that we must discuss. I understand that you contacted Allegra Malfoy, because you wanted to find out more about your family. But you have no idea if her words are true," Dumbledore murmured. Althea nodded. "I hope you will be pleased to know that I can confirm that her words are true, but being a half-blood doesn't put you in any less danger."
"I realize that sir," Althea said. "What recently happened to me confirmed that."
Dumbledore sighed, "Yes, I would imagine so. Voldemort can reach even Hogwarts. No one is immune." He smiled, "Don't be afraid to say his name, Althea as so many others are. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself."
Althea only nodded.
He smiled enigmatically, "I believe that you have homework to catch up on Ms. Abbott."
Saying those words, he quickly left the Hospital Wing, leaving Althea staring after him with something akin to bemusement. After he had left, she started just realizing that he had called her Abbott and not Morgan. She couldn't identify if she was happy or indifferent to the fact. She had never known her birth parents, and she would never know them because they were dead. Her adoptive parents, she knew and she was proud to call herself Althea Morgan. She didn't know who Althea Abbott was, and to be quite honest she wasn't sure that she wanted to know who that was. She was and always would be Althea Morgan; she had no ties to the Abbott's.
Sighing Althea grabbed for her Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook and began to read the passage about Inferi.
Species Information:
Sentience: Non-sentient
Eye color: Varies
Skin color: Pale white
Native Range: Great Britain; Haiti
Height of average adult: Varies
Distinction: Reanimated Corpse
Affiliations: Dark Wizards; Haitian National Quidditch Team
An Inferius is a grisly puppet. The Inferi are gaunt, skeletal beings that closely resemble zombies. Being human corpses, they have individual appearances based on the humans they were created from. For example, one Inferius may have dull teeth, while another may have sharp teeth. Some may have hair others may not have any at all. The most obvious sign that one is facing an Inferius rather than a living human are the white and cloudy eyes, indicating their owner is devoid of any form of life.
The spells used to reanimate a human body are much more complex than those used, for instance, to make inanimate objects fly. The Inferius may be cursed to respond lethally if disturbed, to kill indiscriminately, and to undertake perilous jobs for its master. Its limitations are, however, obvious; it has no will and no brain of its own, and will not be able to think its way out of unforeseen trouble. As a warrior or guardian with no regard for its own safety, however, it has many uses.
Due to their status, as being unfeeling dead, the Inferi are immune to bodily damages such as slashing, and have great physical strength, enough to kill a human or drag them away. Due to their superior strength and surprising speed, they are especially dangerous en masse.
As no spell, can bring back the dead, the Inferi are not alive, just corpse puppets. Despite this, it may be possible that they can speak. Preserved indefinitely by Dark magic, an Inferius can only be destroyed by fire, for no spell has been found to render dead flesh impervious to burning. Inferi are therefore enchanted to avoid flames by their master.
Althea shuddered, closing the book. Inferi sounded like nasty creatures to deal with. Briefly, she wondered if Voldemort would ever dare to use Inferi. Probably, she thought, he is a Dark Wizard after all. Althea shifted in the bed, growing bored and uncomfortable. She had been in here for a few days now, and she really wished that Madam Pomfrey would just let her go. The door to the Hospital Wing opened once more and Lily walked in a pleased flush on her cheeks, and a bright smile on her face. Althea looked at her curiously.
"Hi," Lily said brightly, smiling.
"What happened?" Althea asked eagerly leaning forward. "Tell me, tell me!"
"Nothing."
Althea looked at her flatly, "Don't lie to me, Lily Evans. I know that something happened and I would like you to tell me what it is now."
Lily's grinned only widened. She bit her lip looking contemplative and then burst out, "James Potter kissed me!"
"And this is a good thing?" Althea asked cocking her head to the side in a confused manner.
"I don't know," Lily whined, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I suppose? He's become less of a prick than normal and is actually morphing into a somewhat decent human being, however, his behavior before was inexcusable and I'm not sure that I can forget that."
"Lily, you looked excited and happy when you told me that he kissed you," Althea reminded her friend. "He's made mistakes, we all have. You shouldn't hold his mistakes against him, especially if he actually is changing." Lily nodded. Althea continued, "Look, I think you're confused about your feelings for him because you've hated him for so long. So next Hogsmeade visit, you go with James on something akin to a date. See how you feel then."
"Okay," Lily murmured, "I can do that."
Althea just smiled at her friend, glad that she had been able to help her out. She slyly asked, "So was it a good kiss?"
"Althea!"