Chapter 42
"Happy Birthday!" Meredith groaned as the voices of her father and best friend tore her out of a deep sleep.
"Ack!" she yelled as Patricia pounced on her. She could hear her dad chuckling.
"Wake up sleepyhead!" Patricia said making the bed bounce. "You're seventeen today. You're of age. You can do magic outside of school. You can…"
"Silencio," Meredith thought pointing her wand at Patricia from under her blankets. Meredith sat up giggling at her friend's outraged look.
"Meredith," her father scolded her gently. Meredith laughed and with a wave of her wand lifted the silencing charm from her best friend.
"That was not funny," Patricia said with a pout. Meredith laughed harder.
"Not bad for my first out of school spell," she said.
"All right you two," her dad said setting a tray with a cake down on the bed. "Make a wish love." Meredith closed her eyes and blew out the candles.
"Here Mr. Lupin," Patricia said taking the tray. "I'll take that down to the kitchen for you." And with a pop she was gone. Meredith rolled her eyes. Patricia had been showing off her new abilities since they'd come home from school.
"She's doing that cause she thinks it annoys me," Meredith said climbing out of bed. She did a quick switching spell exchanging her nightgown for jeans and a blouse.
"Very nice," she said with a grin. "I think I could get used to this." She then magicked her hair into a long braid down her back.
"Without magic that would have taken me an hour," she said.
"Yes I'm so proud," her dad said with a sigh. "My grown up daughter is now able to dress herself."
"Hey," Meredith said punching him lightly on the arm. He seized her wrist and yanked her close so he could wrap an arm around her shoulder.
"Happy birthday love," he said kissing the top of her head. Meredith smiled and hugged him back. She was seventeen, she thought. An adult by wizarding law. And oddly she didn't feel any different. Sure she could do magic outside of school but really what else had changed? She was still Meredith. The same Meredith she'd been yesterday. Same brown eyes, same red hair, same skinny body, same goals, same dreams. She didn't know what she'd expected. That turning seventeen would suddenly make everything more clear to her? That she'd feel stronger, more confident, more whole?
"Hey," her dad said giving her a little shake.
"Sorry," Meredith said. "Drifted off."
With a pop Patricia was back in the room.
"What's keeping you?" she said popping out again. Meredith rolled her eyes and together she and her dad went down to the kitchen.
"Bout time," Patricia said.
"What?" Meredith said. "In the minute it took me to walk down the stairs you ate all the pancakes?"
"You really should reconsider taking the test Mere," Patricia said as the three of them made breakfast. "I don't know why you are being so stubborn about this." Meredith sighed. Patricia had been on her case to get her apparition license all summer. Since Percy had passed the test last month she'd only become more determined.
"I just don't want to do it," Meredith said. "I hate it, it makes me sick. It's just not worth the bother of getting the license."
"What if you had to get somewhere really fast?"
"I can't imagine ever needing to get somewhere so fast that I would need to make myself physically ill to get there."
"What if you were injured?"
"Apparating would make it worse."
"What if someone you loved was injured?"
"Why do you think I want to become a healer?"
"What if you were being attacked by some dark creature?"
"I know how to protect myself," Meredith said. She used her wand to levitate the tea pot to the table. She smiled as she successfully poured the tea for herself, her Dad and Patricia using magic. She'd been levitating since her first year, but somehow doing it here in her home outside of Hogwarts she felt less sure of herself.
"What if you were attacked by something you couldn't fight off," Patricia said. "Something really awful. Like a werewolf." Meredith jumped as the tea pot shattered as it hit the floor. Her dad was immediately at her side.
"Reparo," he said quickly. "No harm done." Meredith tried to smile but she had seen the look in her father's eyes. Meredith glanced over at Patricia who was siphoning the spilled tea with her wand. Her best friend had no idea how her words were like a dagger straight through Meredith's heart.
"Let's eat shall we?" she said brightly. They sat down to breakfast and Meredith opened her presents. The Weasley's had sent her a gold watch attached to a gold chain that could be worn around her neck. Meredith was very touched by this. Bill, Charlie, and Percy had all received gold watches when they had come of age. Tonks, and Patricia had received necklaces identical to the one she had received.
"I guess it's official," Patricia said with a grin. "You're an honorary Weasley." Meredith grinned and slipped the chain over her head. From Percy she received a schedule book. From Oliver a book of ancient healing remedies of Rome, Greece, and China. From Andromeda and Ted she received a pair of earrings. Tonks sent her a new winter cloak made of the softest wool. She had saved Patricia and her Dad's gifts for last. She peeled back the green paper from Patricia's gift.
"Oh my stars!" she gasped as she lifted out a vest made of red leather dragon skin.
"It's just like the one that model, what's her name, wore to the World Cup, " Meredith gasped. She had not paid much attention when Patricia had been going on and on about the Keeper for Scotland and the fashion model who'd been draped across his arm on all the magazines. But she had seen this vest on the model and fallen in love with it. She usually didn't give much thought to her appearance, despite Patricia's attempts to put a little flair into her somewhat drab wardrobe.
"Sinead Dwyer," Patricia said. "It's not exactly like hers, hers was made of a more fine leather, but it was the closest I could find."
"It's beautiful," Meredith said slipping it on over her blouse. "How do I look?"
"Fabulous," Patricia said.
"Very lovely Mere," Remus said. Last was her father's gift. It was small and square and wrapped it shiny blue paper. She tore off the paper to reveal a beautiful antique jewelry box.
"Dad this is gorgeous," she breathed.
"It belonged to my mother," her dad said softly. "Her mother gave it to her when she came of age." Meredith felt tears sting her eyes. Her dad never spoke much of his parents, who had died before she had come to live with him. She felt so special that her father had kept this for her, that she could have something that had belonged to her grandmother. A tap on the window drew all their attention. Two owls, Hermes and a Hogwarts owl sat on the window ledge. Meredith jumped up to let the owls in.
"Hogwarts letters," she said taking the letters from the owl's beak.
"Last time," Patricia said wistfully, taking the one addressed to her. "I can hardly believe it's been seven years."
"One more year," Meredith said. "Then goodbye childhood."
"Hello responsibility," Patricia said. Remus was quiet as he thoughtfully stirred his tea. It was hard to take in. It seemed like only yesterday the two young ladies who sat at the table were bright eyed and innocent little girls.
"You knew the day would come," he thought nostalgically as he stared at his daughter. "She's not your little girl anymore. Soon she'll be done with school and starting her own life." The fact that he knew it would happen someday did not make the pain any easier to bear.
"Hey Dad," she said. "There's a letter here addressed to you."
"To me?" her dad asked looking up from his tea. "Why would Hogwarts be sending me letters?" He stood and took the letter from her. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
"You didn't get expelled and forget to tell me did you?" he asked light heartedly.
"Not to my knowledge."
"Maybe I got expelled and they sent it to the wrong house," Patricia suggested. Remus shook his head as Meredith rolled her eyes.
"Will you stop?" she said. Remus stepped away to read his letter as Meredith opened the one from Percy.
"How's Percy liking Egypt?" Patricia asked. Meredith laughed.
"Fred and George tried to shut him in a pyramid," she said. "Ah, he's made Head Boy. The next two pages describe how happy he is."
"Oh Lord," Patricia said. "He'll be even more unbearable this year."
"Good Lord!" Remus suddenly shouted making both girls jump. They turned to see Remus staring at the letter in his hand in utter shock.
"Dad?" Meredith said carefully. "What's wrong?"
"Dumbledore has asked me to take over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
"You're kidding?" Meredith gasped taking the letter from him and reading it for herself. "Dad this is wonderful! You'd be an amazing professor."
"You'd be really good Mr. Lupin," Patricia said. "You know so much about the Dark Arts." Remus looked doubtful. Meredith looked at him carefully.
"You don't want the job?" she asked.
"It isn't that," he said. "It's just…well wouldn't you feel strange having your father as one of your professors."
"Of course not," Meredith said. "I wouldn't mind at all."
"What about my, er," he glanced at Patricia who was watching them. "Problem."
"I'm sure Dumbledore will have taken that into account," Meredith said softly. Remus glanced at the letter again. It was a great opportunity. He had always wanted to teach. Lord knew he needed the job. He hadn't had steady paying work for almost two years now. Meredith lightly placed her hand over his.
"Dad," she said gently. "If you want the job you should take it." Remus retreated to the kitchen. He had a lot of thinking to do. Manual labor was good for thinking. He considered the pros and cons while scrubbing a large pot. The money was a reason, a good one. He needed it. Over the last two years more and more of Meredith's inheritance had been drained supporting the two of them. It was a great opportunity. The chance to share his knowledge with young minds was something he had scarcely dared dream of. He glanced at Meredith who was pouring over the Daily Prophet with Patricia. With his daughter graduating this year, what could be better than a job that allowed him to see her every day? On the other hand he did have to consider his condition. Even now he would not allow Meredith to stay at home on the nights of the full moon. How on earth could Dumbledore consider locking him in with a bunch of students. And what would he do on those days before and after his transformation when he was so tired and ill? He was broken out of his thoughts by the girl's chatter.
"Look at this," Patricia said. "Breakout at Azkaban!"
"The wizard prison?" Meredith said looking over her friends shoulder. "How?"
"I don't know. It's got everyone baffled. No one's ever escaped from Azkaban. The guards are supposed to be impossible to get past. And even if one did manage it, the fortress is on an island out in the middle of the ocean."
"Who managed to escape?"
"Sirius Black. A prisoner for 12 years charge with the murder…" Both girls jumped as the pan Remus had been scrubbing fell to the floor with a clang. Remus was across the room in a second snatching the paper up and reading furiously. It was there right in front of him. He was out. That lying, murdering, backstabbing bastard was out. How the hell could this have happened? The Azkaban guards had never let a prisoner escape. They kept them so lost within their own heads they couldn't think from one day to the next let alone plot an escape. How could Sirius have escaped? And why now? Was he coming after Meredith? He glanced up to meet his daughter's worried eyes. Trying to calm down he folded the paper and set it on the table. He tried to force himself to breath as his heart pounded in his chest. Sirius was not getting anywhere near Meredith. Not if he had anything to say about it.
"Are you all right Dad?" Meredith asked worriedly.
"I'm all right love," he said patting her shoulder in what he hoped was a reassuring way. "If you'll excuse me I need to send a letter to Dumbledore. I've decided to take the job."
"I still don't understand why we have to take the train to Hogwarts when we can apparate," Patricia said a week later as the girls packed their trunks.
"Security measures," Meredith said placing her freshly folded robes inside her trunk. "It's safer for students to arrive together than separately." She grabbed a book and placed it on top of her robes.
"Do they really think Sirius Black is gonna try to break into Hogwarts?" Patricia scoffed.
"Sirius Black is no laughing matter Patricia," Remus scolded coming into the room. "He's a vicious murderer who killed thirteen people with one spell. He is not to be taken lightly."
"We're not taking him lightly, Dad," Meredith said. She ducked under her bed and grabbed a pair of shoes. She grinned as her hand brushed against something hard and solid. She'd nearly forgotten it was there."
"Oh Dad," she said pulling the object out from under the bed. "Patricia and I have something for you."
"Well, it's from Meredith really," Patricia said nervously playing with a lock of hair.
"It's from both of us," Meredith said firmly handing her father the large brown parcel.
"You girl's didn't have to get me anything," Remus said with a small smile.
"Open it," Meredith insisted. Remus smiled and removed the brown paper wrapping to reveal a large secondhand briefcase.
"We thought you could use it to hold papers and stuff," Patricia said.
"Read what it says," Meredith said. Remus lifted the case and read the inscription.
"Professor R.J. Lupin," Remus felt a slight twitch in his heart. He set the case down and pulled both girls into a one armed hug.
"This is very sweet girls," he said. "Thank you."
"You deserve it," Meredith said kissing him on the cheek. "Professor."
Meredith couldn't help but feel a touch of sadness as she stepped onto platform 9 ¾ for the last time as a Hogwarts student. She smiled a bit as her father passed through the barrier. She was so happy he'd decided to take the Defense Against the Dark Arts post. He would make a wonderful teacher. He was so kind and patient and he had so much knowledge on the subject. Of course there was his little problem to consider. But they'd find a way to work around that. Heck, she'd teach his classes herself if she had to. She wanted so badly for this to work out for him. He needed a job so badly. They never spoke of it but she could tell how much not having a job hurt his pride. Besides that it would just be nice to have him at school with her. As much as she loved Hogwarts she always missed him terribly when she was away and always worried about him. She didn't know what would happen after she graduated. She hoped to be working at St. Mungoes but there was always the possibility that they wouldn't take her. There were hospitals all over the world, and she knew she'd find a job as a healer somewhere. London would be her first choice but she might not be able to stay here. She couldn't help but want as much time with her father as possible because for all she knew she could be living in France or Australia or Finland this time next year.
"Here," she said as her father attempted to lift his trunk into the luggage compartment. The full moon had been last night and he looked absolutely exhausted. Together they moved the trunk.
"Hey Mere," Patricia said joining them. Meredith beamed at her friend. Patricia's parents had wanted her to spend her last day of summer holiday at home, for reasons neither girl could understand. It was for the best, with the full moon, and Meredith had been spared giving Patricia yet another flimsy explanation of why they had to spend the night at the Tonks's.
"Everything go okay last night?" Meredith asked her.
"Yeah," Patricia said with a shrug. "Just some big formal party with a bunch of important people. Important people are always impressed that the Pattersons are loving parents." Meredith smiled.
"Morning ladies," Oliver said coming up to them. "Mr. Lupin."
"It's Professor Lupin now," Meredith said proudly. Her dad smiled a little embarrassed.
"Really," Oliver said.
"He's our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Patricia said.
"Wow," Oliver said. "Does this mean Meredith's gonna get better grades than all of us."
"No," Remus said. "It doesn't mean that."
"She already gets better grades than us in Defense Against the Dark Arts," Patricia said. Meredith bit her lip. She supposed she'd have to get used to this. She'd never heard of any student having their parent teach at the school. She was sure there would be quite a few people who would think she was going to get special treatment. Well, she knew her father wasn't going to favor her over any other student, and she certainly didn't need an unfair advantage.
"Meredith!" Percy called coming over to her. Meredith bit her lip to keep from laughing. Percy's chest was puffed out displaying his Head Boy badge.
"Morning Percy," she greeted him. "Congratulations on making Head Boy."
"Thank you," Percy said stiffly. "As you know the prefects are to receive their instructions from the Head Boy and Girl in the front compartment." Meredith raised an eyebrow at Percy's stiff pompous attitude.
"Thank you Percy," she said trying to keep her voice even. "this being my third year as a prefect it is so important you tell me these things." Percy looked a bit put out and turned away. Meredith shook her head.
"What was that about?" Oliver asked her. Meredith rolled her eyes.
"Percy exerting authority," she said. "I'll see you guys aboard after I get my instructions from his royal uptightness." Her friends laughed and got aboard the train. She turned to her father.
"Go on love," he said. "I'll be all right."
"You sure," she asked. He placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead.
"I'll be fine," he said. "I'll probably take a nap on the way." Meredith nodded.
"Probably a good idea," she said. He really did look exhausted. "Well, I better get to the front compartment or risk Percy's wraith."
"Heaven forbid," her father said. Meredith laughed and hurried aboard the train.
"I swear if I get through this year without hexing Percy into oblivion it'll be a bloody damned miracle!" Meredith stated as she burst into the cabinet where Patricia and Oliver sat. They patted her shoulders sympathetically and pushed the pile of snacks they'd purchased toward her. Meredith rested her elbows on her knees and rubbed her throbbing temples.
"He's worse than ever!" she moaned.
"Well we kind of expected that didn't we?" Patricia asked carefully and then snapped her mouth shut at Meredith's glare.
"Who's Head Girl?" Oliver asked.
"Penelope Clearwater," Meredith said. "I see now why they make such a lovely couple. Neither one ever met a rule they didn't like." Her friends laughed.
"I'm surprised you didn't get it Mere," Oliver said.
"Nah," Meredith said. "Head spot is for someone who gets O's in everything and doesn't blow up the potions lab."
"That was six years ago," Patricia said.
"These things are cumulative," Meredith said. "Head Boy and Girl is for kiss up perfectionists like Percy." The conversation shifted to the new school year, plans for after graduation, and their new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
"You're really cool with having your Dad as one of your teachers?" Oliver asked her.
"Of course I am," Meredith said. "I told him he should take the job."
"I'd feel weird having my dad for a teacher," Oliver said.
"But Meredith's dad is the cool parent," Patricia said. Meredith smiled. It had not escaped her attention that during the summer holidays the four of them usually wound up at her house.
"Now if it were my dad," Patricia said making them all shudder. The conversation turned to Quidditch.
"This is our year," Oliver said pounding his fist into his palm. "We have to win, and we will win. If we don't…"he paused dramatically as though the thought were too painful to put words to.
"The cup should have been ours the last two years!"
"It's not as though Harry wanted to be in the hospital wing during the final fifth year," Meredith soothed him.
"And it's not your fault the match was canceled last year," Patricia said.
"Don't remind me," Oliver said clasping his chest. They giggled at the dramatics.
"So did you spend last night at your aunt's?" Patricia asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Just curious," Patricia said. Meredith lowered her eyes. She guessed that it hadn't escaped Patricia's notice that Meredith always spent the last day of summer holidays at the Tonks's house, but since Patricia had joined her on several of these overnights it wasn't unreasonable to think she would have noticed it. It was just her luck that the full moon tended to take place the last day of summer break. She had become quite an expert at keeping her dad's secret, making up excuses and explaining away certain things. She had a sinking feeling that those skills were going to be put to the ultimate test. She was yanked from her thoughts as the train suddenly came to a stop.
"What the bloody hell?" Oliver said.
"We can't be there yet," Meredith said. They all jumped as the lights flickered and went out.
"What's happening!" Patricia cried grabbing Meredith's hand.
"Maybe we've broken down," Oliver suggested. Meredith opened her mouth to respond when suddenly she felt the breath sucked from her body.
"Meredith," Patricia whimpered. Meredith barely heard her. It was cold. So cold. She felt as though a dark cloud of misery was surrounded her, choking her and filling her with despair. She felt her breath turn to ice as the door to their cabinet slid open. Meredith stared unable to move or think as a dark hideous cloaked figure glided into their cabinet and looked around. Memories, horrible memories filled her mind.
"Run!" her father screamed as the transformation completed itself
"The ministry is divided as to whether or not Meredith should remain in your custody."
Delores Umbridge's hideous face loomed over her.
Marcus Flint pressed her against her the cabinet a look of pure malice on his face. Then suddenly the images stopped. Meredith blinked a few times before her vision became clear again. She was back in the cabinet, Oliver sat across from her. He looked incredibly pale as Meredith imagined she must look. It was still cold, so cold.
"What the hell was that!" Oliver said. He was trembling from head to toe.
"I don't know. I've never…OUCH!"
"Sorry," Patricia said beside her in a tiny voice. Meredith looked down at her hand. There were four small punctures where Patricia's nails had dug into her palm from squeezing so hard.
"Sorry," Patricia said again. Meredith looked at her. She was shaking like a leaf. Meredith placed her non-bleeding hand over her heart.
"Mere," Oliver said taking her hand gently.
"I'm fine," Meredith said pulling her hand back. "I, uh, I should check…the other students." She stood on shaky legs and pushed open the cabinet door. She hurried down the aisle poking her head into each compartment. It was clear that the creature had visited all the other students on the train. All were upset and a few were crying. She did not pause to offer comfort however. She needed to see her Dad. She wasn't going to be all right till she saw him. She barely noticed as Draco Malfoy flew past her shrieking. She brushed past Pansy Parkinson who's trousers looked suspiciously damp. Finally she saw her father coming out of a cabin, looking determined.
"Dad," she called hurrying up to him. He caught her in a tight hug and rubbed her back.
"Are you all right?" he asked her. Meredith hugged him close but even her father's familiar scent could not stop her trembling.
"It was awful," she said her words shaky, "it was so cold and everything just went so dark and it was so terribly cold and I saw these things all these horrible memories and they were so real it was like they were really happening and….mmph." Her ramblings were cut off as her father placed something between her lips.
"It's chocolate," he said rubbing her shoulders. "It will help." Meredith bit down and the small piece of candy and all of sudden the cold that consumed her was pushed aside and she felt a comforting warmth fill her.
"Better?" her dad asked. She nodded.
"How?" she asked.
"It was a dementor," he explained. "They guard Azkaban. They were searching the train for Sirius Black."
"They made it so cold," she mumbled taking another bite of the chocolate.
"Yes," Remus said. "They are some of the most foul creatures to walk the face of the earth. They feed on pain and misery leaving their victims with nothing but their worst memories."
"I'll say," Meredith said.
"Can you do something for me?" he asked.
"Of course," she said.
"Harry and some of his friends are in my cabinet. Harry had a rather bad reaction to the dementor that came to investigate us."
"How do you mean?"
"He fainted."
"Oh dear," Meredith said.
"I need to send an owl ahead to Hogwarts and let McGonagall know. Will you sit with the kids till I come back. They're all pretty shook up."
"I would imagine," she said. He gave her one last hug and turned to walk toward the front of the train. She took a moment to compose herself. She took a deep breath and plastered a look of calm on her face before stepping into the cabinet. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville sat together. They all held a piece of chocolate they must have received from her father. They hadn't taken a bite for they all looked very pale and shaky. Ginny was curled into a ball on her seat and Hermione had an arm around her.
"Hello all," she greeted them.
"Meredith," Ron said. "Did you see it?"
"Yes," she said. "It came to my cabinet as well."
"Wasn't it awful," Neville asked.
"Yes," she said honestly.
"How are you so calm?" Harry asked her.
"Eat the chocolate," she instructed them. "You'll feel better, believe me." They all gave her skeptical looks but they did as she said.
"See," she said as the color came back to their faces. They all looked astonished. Meredith smiled and sat down on the seat next to Harry.
"Meredith," Hermione said. "That man who was in here. The one who gave us the chocolate."
"Yes?"
"His case says Lupin. Is he…?"
"My father," Meredith said plainly. They all looked surprised.
"Your dad's gonna be a teacher?" Ginny asked. "Isn't that a little weird?"
"No," Meredith said.
"It'd be weird if my dad was a teacher," Ron said. Meredith smiled.
"He doesn't look very well," Hermione said. "Is he ill?" Meredith pressed her lips together. She knew there would be questions, she just hadn't expected them to start so soon.
"He has an illness that he's been dealing with since he was a child," she rattled off the explanation she and her dad had practiced. "But rest assured he is more than up to the job."
"I hope so," Hermione said. "It would be nice to have a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher last more than one year." Meredith grinned.