Riley knocked on the Headmistressess office doors and waited.
"Come in." Came the voice of Minerva McGonagall.
"Professor, I was just wondering if I could have a moment alone with my father." Riley asked.
"Of course. Is everything alright?" McGonagall asked sincerely.
"Yes, Professor." Riley smiled, she hoped genuinely at Minerva.
Minerva smiled back and left Riley alone to speak with Severus.
"I'm assuming everything is not alright?" Severus asked.
"Not entirely. Kingsley said he has approved using veritaserum, on the terms that he be there and that everyone that was in the room that night be subject to it." Riley tried to remain calm.
"Including you." Severus connected the dots.
"Yes, I agreed. I've read about veritaserum before, it's the strongest truth serum there is but it can be unstable at times which is why it is not used in court. Occlumency can be used to deflect it's advances." Riley said, trying to conceal her smile.
"Go get Mr Lupin." Severus said with a hint of pride in his voice.
"I said Mr Lupin, not those two." Severus rolled his eyes as Riley, Teddy, Elanora and Max strolled into the room.
"Is McGonagall aware that your portrait is now here in the room of requirement?" Max asked.
"My portrait in the Headmistressess office is still there, this one however has been moved from its original spot and placed here. The Headmistress agreed to move it so I could talk to Riley alone whenever she wished. She has no idea of course that I plan on training Riley." Said Severus.
"Good. We are here to help, whatever Riley needs." Max said confidently.
"I know what you said last time and I won't train with her but I had to be here." Elanora said purely to Severus.
"Very well. If any of you annoy me or distract Riley you will be thrown out, understood?" Severus sighed.
"Yes, Professor." The three chimed in unison.
"This magic you're about to use isn't taught to students usually and if it does get taught to a select few it isn't until their final year at Hogwarts. It is very powerful magic and it will leave you drained of energy. If you are feeling weak or unwell tell me, I don't want any of you throwing up or passing out." Severus said slowly. "Mr Lupin, raise your wand. Riley, brace yourself. When Mr Lupin directs the spell at you he will start to gain snippets of your memories, unless you block him. To do so you need to clear your mind of all emotion and thought. I know it sounds difficult but you've managed it before, stay calm, even if he sees something you do not wish for him to see stay calm and close your mind off. Are you both ready? This may be as overwhelming for you Mr Lupin as it is for Riley, prepare yourself for that." Severus explained calmly.
"I'm ready." Teddy said nodding at Riley.
Riley nodded back. "Show me what you've got." She said grinning at him.
"On the count of 3 you will say the charm 'Legilimens' Mr Lupin." Severus stated clearly, Teddy once again nodded.
"1, 2, 3, Legilimens!" Teddy shouted.
Riley felt her mind start to twist and turn, she could no longer see the room of requirement but she did see Teddy, it was their fight in the great hall 2 years ago about visiting each other over the holidays. Riley immediately felt guilty. Why did he have to see this memory.
"The point is to target the memories the other doesn't want shown." Severus said. "Block your mind, Riley. Stop him from seeing anything else."
Riley was trying but she wasn't sure how, there was nothing to hold on to. How was she suppose to block when she had nothing to block with? It was like one of those dreams where you try and run but you don't move, her legs were moving but she had no solid ground to plant them on.
"Stop." Severus commanded.
"I'm sorry, I was useless." Riley apologized, breathing heavily.
"No. You were just in a different situation." Severus got lost in thought. The 4 staring at him waiting for instruction.
"Oh." Elanora said out of nowhere.
"Is something wrong?" Riley asked.
"I was on the floor bleeding out the first time. You used Legilimens on Teddy, Max and Slughorn. The second time you used Occlumency. When you were being tortured. The only times you've ever used either has been in situations of stress or life and death." Elanora summed up.
"Miss Killick is correct." Said Severus.
Riley asked in a small voice "Why didn't I block the imperius curse? Surely I would have been stressing just before I attacked."
"That was your first time experiencing such a thing, I believe if it were to happen again you would be better suited to deflect now. Actually.. that's not a bad idea. It's not the same but it will be close enough where you can get a feel on how to defend." Severus concluded.
"Mr Lupin-" Severus started to say.
"No! No way in hell am I performing an unforgivable curse on Riley." Teddy crossed his arms.
Unbeknownst to Riley, Severus and Elanora had made eye contact with one another. Elanora nodded.
"Its probably easier when you least expect it." He said smiling sadly at Riley.
"What-" Riley had barely gotten the word out as Elanora said "Imperio!"
Riley felt amazing. Every stress or worry she had felt, disappeared. It felt like Riley had walked into Zero gravity and was floating.
She felt her legs move underneath her, left hand raise, fist closed and her arm snap forward. She heard a distant yelp but couldn't fully comprehend what was going on.
"Sorry Teddy." Elanora said stiffling a laugh.
"No you're not." Teddy said rubbing his jaw.
"I am a little I swear, you did kind of deserve it though." Elanora smirked.
"You're right, I am sorry Elanora."
"Yeah yeah, I know. You didn't see her though. The damage you caused. I know she has forgiven you but it's not that easy for me Teddy, you didn't have to mend her broken heart." Elanora sighed. "It's not important right now." Elanora made Riley turn towards her and took a deep breath.
Riley had her wand raised now. She could hear a voice inside her head. "Do it. Use the curse." It said. "Which curse?" Riley asked it. "Sectumsempra." It said back.
"Why?"
"I want you to attack me."
Elanora? Why was she asking that. Riley was confused. All she could think was "No."
"Excuse me?" Elanora said in... Riley's head. Wait why were they talking in her head and why the hell is she asking Riley to attack her?
"No. Why would I do that? What's going on?"
"You will do it because I told you to now USE THE CURSE!" Elanora's strength rippled through Riley's mind.
"No! I won't!" Riley felt her legs start to buckle.
"Do It!"
"NO!" Riley screamed out loud. She fell forward her hands saving her face from the fall.
"What the hell was that?!" Riley exclaimed.
"The imperius curse." Severus said quietly.
Riley turned to Elanora. Betrayal seeping in.
"Why would you do that?" She asked breathless.
"I would not have let her cause you any harm with the curse, Riley." Severus defended.
"I don't care about the curse! Why would you ? How could you!? You knew how hard it was for me to forgive myself!" All Riley could feel was panic ensnare her body.
"We had to prompt you to defend yourself and you did." Elanora retorted.
"By putting your own life at risk?!"
"I never would have let you follow through with It, Riles." Elanora said gently.
"She did of course let you punch me one in the face." Teddy said trying to relieve the tension.
Riley turned to look at Teddy. "Sorry, Ted." Riley said genuinely.
"Its all good. Maybe we could give Occlumency a go while you're angry, see how that goes?" Teddy suggested.
"No. She's had enough for now. Look at her she can barely stand." Max piped up.
"Mr Fawley is right. Eat, gain your stamina and come back when you're ready." Severus said to Riley. She nodded, turned on the spot and left.