Chapter 60
Meredith had never been so eager to get out of St Mungoes as she had that day. Every where she stepped people were reading Rita Skeeter's article about the Triwizard Tournament taking place at Hogwarts and the Hogwarts Champion, her dear friend Harry Potter. Word had gotten out that she knew Harry, was friends with him and she'd not had a moments peace. It was after one am when she stepped through the door.
"How was your day," her dad asked as she hung up her coat. Meredith rolled her eyes and pulled the article from her purse.
"Have you seen this?" she asked. Her dad nodded.
"Yes," he said. "Rubbish, all of it if you ask me."
"That woman is a menace. She should have been locked up after that article she wrote trashing St Mungoes after the dragon incident. And now she's going after Harry."
"It was bound to happen sooner or later," Remus said. "like it or not Harry's a celebrity. She was bound to go after him, and with the Triwizard Tournament being such a famous historical event…like a bee to honey."
"And everyone's jumping on her malicious train. I'm the only Hogwarts student at St. Mungoes who was at school with Harry. Everyone was hounding me today wanting to know about him. The only peace I got was when Healer Nieman pulled me into to work a trauma. Some nutter was handling a blast ended skrewt and it got loose and attacked him. Who in their right mind would purposely want a blast ended skrewt delivered to them I ask you?"
"We saved dinner for you," Remus said. Meredith followed him to the kitchen. She jumped about ten feet when she saw a pair of legs sticking out of the fireplace.
"What is Sirius doing?"
"He's contacting Harry in the Gryffindor Common room."
"I hope he's being careful. If the wrong person sees his head poking out of the fire…"
"He's being careful," Remus said sitting a plate down in front of her. Meredith picked up a fork and happily dug into the baked chicken and steamed broccoli.
"You've been working with this Healer Nieman quite a lot," Remus said. Meredith swallowed and nodded.
"He thinks I should make Trauma my specialty. He says I have the head for it."
"Is that what you want?" Meredith sighed.
"I don't know," she said. "I mean it's kind of exciting, you never know what to expect. I just don't feel like I know enough yet."
"Keep your friends close Harry," they heard Sirius say as he pulled out of the fire.
"Well?" Remus asked. Sirius sighed.
"He says he didn't put his name in the Goblet." Meredith rolled her eyes.
"Well of course he didn't!" she said a bit outraged. "Did you honestly think he did?"
"Of course not darling girl," Sirius said holding up his hands. "But I had to ask him."
"How is he?" Remus asked.
"Miserable," Sirius said. "I've never seen a kid look so depressed. He's already been through more at fourteen than anyone should have to go through. Now even his best friend's turned on him." Meredith sighed. She knew how hard it was to have your friends turn on you when you needed them most all too well. She could only hope for Harry's sake that Ron would come around.
"Harry found out the first task," Sirius said thoughtfully. "Dragons."
"What!" Meredith cried her fork clattering on her plate. "They expect kids, students to go up against dragons! Are they insane!" The memory of that muggle lying on the gurney ripped apart entered her mind.
"How can Dumbledore let this happen?" Sirius said.
"He doesn't have a choice," Remus said. "Harry's name came out of the Goblet. It's an unbreakable contract."
"Does Dumbledore have any ideas who could have put Harry's name in?" Meredith asked.
"He only has theories," Remus said. "Whoever it was had to be powerful enough to fool the Goblet. Only a handful of people with that kind of skill."
"If you ask me Karkaroff's behind this," Sirius said.
"Who's Karkaroff?" Meredith said.
"He's the Headmaster of the Durmstrang school," Remus said. "He's also a former death eater. After Voldemort disappeared the Ministry started rounding up his followers. Karkaroff named names and was given a full pardon."
"And now with the Death Mark appearing at the World Cup," Sirius picked up Remus's trail, "Those who lied about being his followers and stayed out of prison will be running scared. There is nothing a former death eater that stayed out of Azkaban fears more than the return of their old master."
"Especially one who turned tailcoat," Meredith said rubbing her eyes. "But if he could tell his master that he brought about the death of Harry Potter…"
"His master would award him greatly," Sirius said. "And what better way to do away with Harry right under Dumbledore's nose and make it look like an accident than the Triwizard Tournament?"
"Let's not get hasty, Sirius," Remus said. "I admit Karkaroff's motives are strong but we have to look at all possibilities." Meredith pursed her lips. The Death Mark, Death Eaters at the World Cup, and now someone trying to kill Harry from the inside. Lord, why couldn't the fates give Harry a year off?
"Mr. Thorinson in room eleven has had his pain meds for the day, no matter how much he denies having them at all don't give him anymore. Mrs. Dwamyer in room fifteen is still wheezing make sure she has two doses of dandelion serum every two hours, no more than eight doses in twenty four hours. If the wheezing gets worse let the on call third year Healer know immediately. Any questions?"
"When was Mrs. Dwamyer's last dose?" Meredith said as she frantically scribbled down Healer Rosenbaum's instructions. She was going to be on her own for the next eight hours. It was a test that every first year had to take. To be left unsupervised with the patients for eight hours. There would be other third year HIT's wandering the halls but, she was really only allowed to call them if a patient was dying. Meredith was determined not to screw this up. She knew the third years and above had bets going on how long it would take her to scream for help, and which first year would choke first. They called this test Trial by Fire and she refused to get burned.
"Half hour ago," Healer Rosenbaum said. She pulled a bracelet from her pocket. Meredith wet her lips. Only third year HIT's wore these. It was so the patient could summon them. Each patient that came in was assigned a different color. First years generally did not wear them. When Healer Rosenbaum's bracelet glowed she would summon her first years by bellowing at them to either follow her to the patient's room or in the case of particularly pesky patients she would make them go and see what they were complaining about.
"Here's your bracelet," she said. "Mr. Thorinson is blue Mrs. Dwamyer is red. You know the rule of the bracelet."
"Answer the summons at a run, never ever ignore a summons."
"Excellent," Rosenbaum said patting her on the shoulder. "You'll do fine Lupin. I'll leave the patients in your hands."
"Yes ma'am," Meredith said. She stood there as Rosenbaum put her coat on and signed out for the day.
"Oh by the way Lupin," Rosenbaum called. "I have 50 galleons says you last at least two hours before you scream for help. Don't let me down." Meredith rolled her eyes.
"Yes ma'am," she said. "Ma'am?"
"Yeah."
"Which year do you learn how to instill confidence in first years?"
"Oh they never teach you that."
"Didn't think so."
"Good luck."
"Thank you ma'am." She wasn't nervous. Why should she be? She had only two patients, neither were life threatening cases. She'd be monitoring them for the next eight hours. No big deal. She could handle this.
Four hours later Meredith was ready to commit murder. Her bracelet would not stop glowing blue. Mr. Thorinson was demanding he be given more pain medication every ten minutes and had called her a plethora of names each one more colorful than the next. Mrs. Dwamyer on the other hand was resisting her medication and put up a fuss when Meredith attempted to administer it. She had called her no names but that was more likely due to the fact that she could barely breathe. She stormed out of Mr. Thorinson's room after refusing him pain medication for what felt like the hundredth time.
"Call me whatever names you want you crazy old coot, I am passing this test," she said.
"Talking to yourself is a sign you're losing your mind you know," a german accent said beside her. She groaned.
"These are the two orneriest patients I've ever had the misfortune to have in this hospital."
"They don't call it the Trial by Fire for nothing," David said grinning.
"How much money have you lost on me?" she said scowling at him.
"You go another half hour and I rake in the big money, so don't wimp out on me."
"I'm not wimping," she said turning around to notate the latest dose she'd given Mrs. Dwamyer. "I can do this. I am going to pass this test no matter how many times I have to be called a 'hair-brained harlot'." David chuckled.
"Well, if you survive the next four hours why don't you let me take you to dinner to celebrate." Meredith looked up from the form.
"To dinner?" she said her stomach dropping to her knees.
"Yeah, a meal generally eaten after lunch and before breakfast." Meredith bit her lip nervously.
"You mean like a date?" Meredith asked.
"I do," he said. "I'm asking you on a date Meredith Lupin. What do you say?"
"If I pass?"
"Or if you don't," he said.
"Um, yeah, sure that would be nice," the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.
"Great. Tomorrow night. I'll pick you up around seven?"
"Uh huh," Meredith said.
"Excellent," he said. His bracelet began to grow violet and he dashed off. Meredith leaned against the wall. Oh Merlin what had she done? She'd agreed to go on a date, a DATE, with a Head Healer. Good lord, what was she going to do? She didn't know anything about dating. Particularly with an older man, who'd probably been out with dozens of girls before? She didn't have time to think about it as her watch was glowing blue again.
"HEY CARROT-TOP!" Mr. Thorinson yelled at her. Meredith gritted her teeth and went to the room. She was going to pass this test if it killed her.
"She's got a WHAT!" Sirius exclaimed.
"A date Sirius, a date," Remus said calmly slicing an apple. Sirius had been dividing his time for the last few weeks between staying in the cave outside of Hogsmeade and staying at their house. He'd shown up a few hours ago to find Tonks in Meredith's room helping the younger woman get dressed. There had been a small scene that had involved Tonks nearly blowing Sirius to smithereens and a very frantic explanation of Sirius's innocence. Tonks, as it turned out was not hard to convince. Having been raised on her mother's stories of cousin Sirius and his closest friend James Potter much of the doubt of Sirius's complicity in the murders of James and Lily Potter had been passed down.
"Who is he? Have you met him?"
"He's a healer. They met at work. No I haven't met him but Meredith talks about him all the time."
"How old is he?"
"I don't know."
"How do you not know these things Remus?" Sirius waving his hands in the air.
"Older than her, younger than you and I," Remus said.
"Older," Sirius scoffed. "Perfect. Older guy praying on a naïve young woman, using her eagerness to please to slip into her life and gain her trust." Remus rolled his eyes.
"Don't you think you're over reacting just a little."
"I know how these men think Remus," Sirius said. "Have you had the talk with her."
"The talk?" Remus said glancing up from his apple. "What talk?"
"THE talk," Sirius said emphatically. Remus blushed. The truth was he had not had the talk that Sirius referred to with his daughter. He'd known when she'd gotten her period of course, though they'd never discussed it. That had been as much out of his own discomfort as hers. But when it came to those things he'd relied on Andromeda and Molly Weasley to educate Meredith on the birds and the bees.
"You haven't have you?" Sirius said accusingly. "My god man, you're sending our daughter out on her first date with an older man completely unprepared in the ways of the world."
"I hardly think a girl who spent the first years of her life in an orphanage, tranquilized a werewolf at the age of eight, and helped a wanted criminal escape from dementors is completely innocent of the world Sirius."
"In matters of relationships she is Remus," Sirius said. Remus studied the apple in his hand. He should be worried, but this was Meredith. She was smart, confident and sure of herself. That sort of girl was not the one who would let herself be backed into an uncomfortable situation. He heard her feet on the stairs and smelled her perfume several minutes before she entered the kitchen. Her hair had been styled and fell in soft curls around her shoulders. She word a short black skirt and a gray sweater that showed off her womanly curves.
"You're not wearing that are you?" Sirius said. Meredith's eyebrows pushed together in confusion.
"Why?" she said. "What's wrong with how I look?" Remus rolled his eyes. Oh, bloody fabulous Sirius. Make her more nervous.
"Nothing," he said quickly. "You look beautiful love. Sirius is just cramming eighteen years worth of being an overprotective father into one date." At this Meredith's nervous frown turned into a laugh.
"Oh Sirius," she chuckled. "You have nothing to worry about."
"I'm your father," Sirius said. "It's my job to worry about you." There was an uncomfortable silence in the room that was broken by the doorbell.
"That's David," Meredith said running her hands over her sweater and smoothing out non-existent wrinkles in her skirt.
"Have a good time love," Remus said standing and taking Sirius by the arm. "Come Sirius let's get out of sight. I don't believe it's customary to meet the parents on the first date.
Meredith shot her dad a grateful look as he dragged a protesting Sirius upstairs. She was nervous enough without having to explain the presence of a wanted felon to her date. She took a deep breath and opened the door. The nerves she'd felt in her stomach fell straight into her knees. It was the first time she'd ever seen him in anything but his healing robes. He wore dark gray slacks and a deep red turtle neck sweater.
"Hello," she said wanting to smack herself. Please Merlin, she thought, don't let me sound like a fool all evening.
"Hello," he said. "You look lovely." She could feel her face get hot. She tried to smile through the nerves.
"Thank you," she said. "You look very nice yourself." He smiled.
"Well, shall we?" he said. She nodded and quickly grabbed her purse stuffing her wand inside. She took his offered hand as he led her outside. Her eyes must have popped out of their sockets when she saw what was in front of her house.
"A car?" she said. "We're going in a car?"
"Oh this is more than a car," David said. "This is an Astin Martin. This is a classic automobile. She was a total junker when I bought her." Meredith tried to nod like she understood but the truth was she hadn't been near a car since she left the orphanage when she was four years old.
"I've heard you're not comfortable on brooms and the place we're going isn't hooked up to the floo network." Meredith wondered who had told him about her dislike of brooms but she kept her questions to herself. She smiled politely as he opened the door for her. There was a strap and some kind of metal contraption that she knew was supposed to keep her safe but she couldn't remember how the thing worked. She jumped as David reached across her and pulled the strap across her clicking the metal into another contraption by her hip.
"Thanks," she said sheepishly. "I don't travel by car much." David smiled.
"Most in the magic world don't," he said. She tried not to jump as he took a small metal object and placed it in a slot near the steering wheel causing the car to roar to life."
"Automobiles have always fascinated me," he said. "I guess that seems a little strange." Meredith shrugged.
"I had a friend in school whose father collected plugs," she said. "I think we're all entitled to our guilty muggle pleasures."
"And what's yours?" he asked her. She smiled a little.
"Books," she said. "I love reading muggle books. My dad and I have a huge collection we add to every now and again. On the weekends you'd find both of us in the living room curled up with a muggle tale."
"My father and I used to spend our freetime tinkering with old classic cars in our driveway. He wasn't home much when I was younger so it was always a special time. He's a healer as well, only in the muggle world they're called doctors."
"You're father's a muggle then?" she asked. David nodded.
"Yes," he said. "He and Mum met in medical school. She's muggle born. My Grandparents never really were able to accept her for what she is. They're the religious sort. So, they raised mum as a muggle, she went to muggle schools, and got a muggle job. Dad knows of course, he and Mum wanted me to follow in their footsteps but, I could never deny that part of who I was. So I figure by choosing healing as a career, I'm doing both." Meredith nodded.
"Makes sense," she said.
"So what about you?" he asked. "What inspired you to take up the noble profession?" Meredith laughed and pushed her hair behind her ear.
"I don't know really," she said. "I've never really wanted to do anything else since I was twelve. And I just like helping people." She glanced up as she saw the car had stopped. They had stopped in what appeared to be an empty field.
"Here?" she said. He smiled at her and pushed the button releasing the strap around her.
"Trust me," he said. He got out of the car and stepped around to help her out. He offered his arm and she took it. He led her a short distanced till they came to what looked like an old ramshackled barn. David knocked on the door and a man in a torn flannel shirt popped his head out.
"Yes?" the man said.
"Nieman, party of two."
"Come in." Meredith eyes widened as they entered. The ramshackled barn it turned out was a disguise. Inside was a warm cozy restaurant with red tables cloths and candles on each table. Even the man who had opened the door was no longer dressed like a farmer and word a crisp white shirt and black tail coat.
"This way to your table sir," the man said. He led them to a small table in a quiet corner. He handed them each a menu and strolled away.
"I take it you've been here before," Meredith said. David nodded.
"The owner's daughter was a patient of mine. She'd had about five different curses put on her, dark stuff. Every other healer was ready to call her but, I was the new healer on the block and had something to prove."
"You saved her life," Meredith said with admiration.
"I did," he said. "and got a reprimand and two day suspension from the chief healer. And the best table in the house any time I chose to dine here."
"Reprimand?"
"Whether it's the right thing to do or not, going above your superiors head will bring the heat down on you faster than a volcano." Meredith nodded. They glanced at the menus. She ordered the same as him, not knowing what was good there. Their meal appeared promptly on their plates.
"So tell me all there is to know about you Meredith Lupin," he said as they dug into their meal. Meredith paused, her forkful of mashed potatoes hovering over her plates. She shrugged.
"Not much to tell," she said. "I was raised by a single dad, I went Hogwarts for seven years, now I'm an HIT at St. Mungoes."
"Okay, so what did you do at Hogwarts?"
"I studied," she said.
"That can't be all you did," he said. "If I had to guess, I'd say that you were quite the hellraiser, while still maintaining perfect marks in every subjects." Meredith laughed.
"Not quite," she said. "I did well in school obviously. St. Mungoes wouldn't have taken me otherwise. But I was hardly perfect. And yes, I spent a few hours in detention but I was hardly what one would call a 'hellraiser'."
"Let me guess," David said clearly amused by the whole conversation. "Putting tacks on your teachers' chair." Meredith laughed.
"No," she said. "The occasional hex or curse cast in retaliation to those who were picking on my friends."
"Ah," David said. "You had friends. I knew there was more to your school experience than books." Meredith smiled a little. They had been good years, even if she looked back on them now with a hint of sadness.
"Good friends," she said sadly.
"So, anyone who was more than a friend?" She blushed.
"No," she said.
"I find that hard to believe."
"It's the truth," she said. "I spent my school years with my head in the books. The truth is this is my first date."
"Oh my," David said sipping his firewhiskey. "I feel enormous pressure now." Meredith said.
"No need," she said. "If anything I'm the one who should feel under pressure to do and say the right thing. Being the less experienced of the two of us."
"You're doing fine," he said gently touching her hand. "I'm quite enjoying myself." Meredith smiled. He really was quite handsome.
"So," Meredith said. "What was your first date like?" He shook his head.
"A disaster," he said. "I was sixteen and madly in love with Anya Penscluss. I was determined to be the most charming man that ever existed and sweep her off her feet. It did not quite work out that way. I spilled butterbeer on her dress, tripped over my own feet and couldn't think of anything intelligent to say the entire night. Needless to say our first date was our last."
"Oh dear," Meredith said trying not to giggle.
"So, now you know my sad tale it's your turn." She looked confused.
"I told you this is my first date."
"Yes, but surely you had other firsts. Surely you had a first kiss?" Meredith felt her face get hot.
"Gotcha," David said. Meredith giggled.
"I was thirteen," she said. "He was a friends' older brother. Way too old for me but I still had the biggest crush on him. My friends and I were in the Village of Hogsmeade, our last visit before Christmas and we'd gone to Zonko's joke shop. There was this trick mistletoe hanging from the ceiling and I got stuck beneath it. I was absolutely mortified when he found me stuck to the floor. But he kissed me on the cheek and freed me. I swear my cheek burned for an hour afterwards."
"On the cheek?" David sniffed. "My dear Meredith you truly are innocent aren't you." Meredith frowned. If he truly knew all she had been through in her life he would not describe her so. But these were not things she wished to discuss now. Not on the first date.
" I see I have so much to teach you." Meredith smiled a little as he gently stroked her hand.
The rest of the conversation throughout the rest of the meal was more comfortable. They discussed work, her goals for the future. He told her of some of his most interesting patients. He drove her home in comfortable silence. He pulled up in front of her house and walked her to the door.
"I had a wonderful time, David," she said as they stood on the porch.
"So did I," David said gently touching her cheek. Meredith felt warmth pool in her belly as David tipped her chin up and kissed her softly on the lips.
"Now you've had your second kiss," he said. Meredith smiled.
"Good night," he said.
"Good night David," Meredith said. She stood on the porch and watched as he strode to his car and got in. She smiled and waved as he drove away. She turned and went inside. There was a light on in the kitchen. Curious, she set her bag on the table and went into the kitchen. Her dad sat at the table with a cup of tea and a book.
"Dad?" He glanced up.
"Ah you're home," he said standing up. "Did you have a good time?"
"Wonderful," she said. "Were you waiting up for me?"
"Waiting up? Of course not. I was just having trouble sleeping so I thought I'd come down here and read for a bit. Tea?"
"Sure," she said. "You didn't have to wait up for me."
"Well it was either me or Sirius," he said pouring the hot water into a cup for her. "I convinced him to get some sleep. He was honestly ready to give your date the unfriendly end of a wand if he tried anything." Meredith sighed and took her tea.
"He didn't 'try' anything. He was a perfect gentleman."
"That's good to know," her dad said.
"I was so nervous when I was getting dressed. All I could think about was what I was going to say, and how different it would be seeing him outside the hospital but…once we started talking it was nice. There's so much more to him than just what I see in the trauma room. He's really a very special person. I can't begin to imagine why he would ask me out."
"Well, maybe the man saw what I see every day. A beautiful, intelligent woman who's fun to be with and makes a man feel lucky to be alive." Meredith rolled her eyes.
"You're just saying that cause you're my dad."
"That doesn't make it less true. No, you my dear are the representation of every father's worst fear."
"What fear is that?" Meredith asked leaning against the counter.
"The fear that one day their daughter will meet a certain young man who see all the wonderful things about them and sweep them off their feet and take their place as the most important man in their little girls life." Meredith smiled and leaned against his shoulder.
"Don't worry Daddy," she said. "No matter who comes into my life, you will always be the most important."
Remus smiled and kissed the top of her head. He wished that were true.