Note: Please look to prologue for disclaimer and additional notes about the story.

A Dance With Fate

Canopus Carina

Chapter 11 of 20

He didn't know what they would have done if they hadn't stumbled upon the fact that Helga Hufflepuff was a 'Student of Merlin', one taught Merlin's words of wisdom through an apprentice-master line connecting to Merlin himself. He didn't know what they would have done if Hermione wasn't such a determined woman and excelled at clues and puzzles. He didn't know what they would have done if Merlin never dabbled with the magics of time and left a clever trail for those who desired it most to find. Without it though, he would not have the growing sense of success filling him as he circled tree after tree in the forest Hufflepuff had indicated in her journal.

After so much pain and suffering they had endured in their training against the darkness, this was not something that would define their end.

He will not let his best friend's sacrifice be in vain.

Wednesday: 12 October 1977

He had been in the Forbidden Forest many times before during many of his transformations. Since Harry didn't care much about those rules, he didn't necessarily need to hide the fact, but he wasn't too keen on spilling his forest knowledge to everyone in the Dueling Club. Sirius said he shouldn't worry about it as almost every student there had snuck in the forests borders for some reason in their schooling. But as he was a prefect and therefore responsible for setting a reasonable example to the other students, he still refused. Sirius only scoffed at that and nudged James for his agreement, but it didn't come. Instead he just laughed enough so Sirius would be placated and turned back to his homework.

When Remus had found out that James had been chosen for Head Boy, Remus truly thought Dumbledore had taken some form of hallucinogen. When he found out it was decided on a vote among all of the teachers, he wondered if some mass spell of confundus was applied. Ever since the Marauders were formed early in their academic career, James had pulled off numerous pranks that he knew gave some of the teachers some new white hairs. They watched as each year Proffessor McGonagall's hair turned from a rich black color to a streaked gray color. And while he knew it was mainly due to his being a werewolf, he swore many of his own gray hairs were because of everything the Marauders had pulled off and getting off by the skin of their teeth. Some even bordering on loosing their lives.

James had truly grown up during this school year, or at least the first part of it. Even just last week he would have easily joined in Sirius' taunting and somehow come up with some prank they could execute in the process. But instead he just laughed enough so Sirius would be placated and turned back to his homework. It would take Sirius many years before he grew up, if he ever did, but Remus wasn't worried. If James had shown a high level of maturity as he had just done, there was hope for Sirius yet.

As he thought it was Harry's message during the conversation they overhead last week that transformed James thus far, Sirius would probably change as well by the end of the year. Hopefully.

It was soon time for dinner so as soon as James finished up a paragraph and Peter finished putting away the set of wizard's chess, they were on their way. All throughout dinner, students were abuzz with curiosity about what the next dueling lesson would be about. Remus had to admit, it had to be good if Harry was able to convince the headmaster to allow them into the Forbidden Forest. And as much as he knew it was foolish, he kept looking up like the other students periodically to see if dinner was finally over. Harry only sat back in his seat with an amused smile. He bet Harry was laughing at their curiosity. So he trained his eyes to his plate. He wouldn't play in Harry's game.

Sometimes he wondered if the boy would have been placed in Slytherin if sorted here. But then again his determination would place him in Hufflepuff. And his vast knowledge in spells and craving for Potions spoke of Ravenclaw. But finally his stout bravery in the face of danger spoke volumes that he would have been in Gryffindor. Maybe it was better that he wasn't sorted or else the Sorting Hat would have had much trouble with him. As much as he joked he hated the Hat for roping him in with the Marauders, he couldn't wish that on the Hat even in jest.

The moss covered forest floor provided for many trips and falls for the many students. While Remus had been in the forest many times before, he fell victim to those embarrassing trips as well. The only one who did not experience it was Harry who stepped lightly down the nonexistent path.

"I hadn't thought of bringing this subject up, but after talking with the headmaster, we figured some of you need a reality adjustment. Ah, this should be a good place to stop." They stopped in a clearing large enough to fit them all. Remus had the uneasy realization that it was a favorite clearing of Moony's when he was tame enough to be let outside. "Now we just have to wait for my friend to join us with some food."

"We just ate," a fourth year piped up, as if it would cause Harry to start their lesson.

"I know," Harry answered mysteriously, "this food isn't for you or me. In fact, if we ate some of this, we would get very sick."

They did not have to wait long before the cheerful creature appeared with slabs of raw and bloodied meat. The sight of the 'food' only made those present to increase in fear of what they would have to deal with. As the sun was falling to awake for the night, the forest was alive with sounds of those nocturnal creatures waking up. This led to many people umpping whenever a twig would snap. Harry thanked the house elf and started throwing the slabs of meat to the boundaries of the clearing. They continued to wait.

As the sun fully set on Scotland, a strong rustling started in a bush nearby and one or two of the students gasped. But Remus didn't know why they were gasping.

"Who can see them?" Harry asked gently. "Don't be afraid to say you do."

Remus suddenly wished he took Care of magical Creatures as he still didn't know what Harry was talking about. A few students raised their hands and Harry motioned for them to step forward to where the slabs of meat were now levitating by some unseen force. One third year girl, instead of walking forward as asked, stumbled backwards as quickly as she could and burst into tears.

"Momma, momma," she moaned through deep sobs.

After hard thought, Remus recognized her as Olivia Pierce of Ravenclaw. Her friends, and even some students who probably didn't even know her outside these lessons, came close to comfort her during her distress. It had hit him that her mother fell victim to one of the Death Eater attacks when Olivia was only five. For whatever reason, she had remembered her loss by whatever she had seen.

"What she sees is a group of thestrals. The look like scaled horses with wings and are considered being bad luck, but that is only due to why they appear to you. Only those who have seen death occur are able to see them."

"No, no, no, no, momma!"

"I didn't really think this would happen, but always go prepared," Harry said, before crouching down next to Olivia and forcing a piece of chocolate in her hand. "When I had to learn how to fight back against dementors, my teacher always forced me to eat some of this," he told her. "I take it you saw a Death Eater attack?"

Remus couldn't believe how inconsiderate Harry was being to Olivia in her state. If he had seen his mother be killed… he couldn't even think about it as it was so horrible, but he wouldn't want to talk about it. But to his surprise Olivia turned big watery brown eyes up to Harry and nodded.

"Momma used to be a Potion's Mistress," she chocked, "she would always work at home when Dad had to go to the Ministry. He's a clerk there." She turned back to Harry as if looking for support. He in turn handed her more chocolate, which she devoured at record speed, and offered a kind smile. "Momma heard something and forced me into a cupboard before they got the basement we were in. They wanted her to brew something for them. I can't remember what it was, but she said it was illegal, and wouldn't even consider it, even for all the money in the world. They said she could get Dad to overlook it but she still wouldn't. She still wouldn't…"

It was clear that she wouldn't finish her story, not that anyone had thought any less of her. She had braved seeing her mother murdered for something as simple as a potion. Surely that was something that someone else could have made for them.

"My cousin was up for consideration as an Unspeakable," Roger Smith said softly as Olivia started to fall asleep in her friend's arms. "Apparently a Death Eater thought he would be a good candidate for their services because he would be able to tell them everything even the Ministry didn't ask. They broke into my uncle's house and cursed my uncle when he wouldn't say where my cousin was. He was left to die but he was able to get to our house and have us warn my cousin to flee the country. My uncle died right there in our living room. Not only does my cousin have that weighing over his head, he lost his consideration as an Unspeakable, he was compromised. They never found out who had told the Death Eaters the confidential information anyways. No one is supposed to know who is going to be an unspeakable."

"You don't have to be a fighter to be killed in war. As your own peers just told you: they had lost loved ones, ones they had seen die themselves, for only doing their jobs. One only because she didn't want to do something illegal and the other for only having a family member being given a great honor. I didn't imagine the lesson would turn out like this, but I think it served the point even more than I had first planned. We should go back to the school now. But don't forget their pain, as one day it could yours or one of your loved ones as they loose you."

End of Chapter 11 – 1,675 of words

Posted: 13 June 2007