Chapter XXII - Truth Will Out
"What didn't Lauren get?" Remus asked quietly the next afternoon, the previous day's inquiring still on his mind. He looked to Rosemary, who knelt on the floor to unpack the rest of her things. She glanced over her shoulder toward the door.
"Snape's been brewing a potion," she said, her voice low. "For months now we've been giving it to her in the Forbidden Forest. Snape thinks it's been helping with the control the amulet has on her."
"Are we certain it has?"
"No..." she stood, turning to face him. "But what else could we do? If it's helped, then... then that's good, right?"
He nodded thoughtfully. "And suddenly she's not there anymore?"
"Yes."
"Why did You-Know-Who have her in the For-"
"I don't know, Remus. She was there and- and so we just gave her the potion every night."
"A potion, then?"
Rosemary and Remus turned to see Sirius in the doorway, looking none too pleased. "Sirius-" Rosemary started, but he cut her off.
"And she's been in the Forbidden Forest all this time? Since when did you start withholding information from us, and since when did you both start withholding information from me?"
"Sirius, I wanted to tell you, I did, but-"
"But Snivellus told you otherwise."
"Yes, but-"
"Sirius, I'm sure she had a good reason," Remus broke in.
"You stay out of this. Since when did you start doing what Sniv-"
"Since it started meaning the difference between getting her back and not," she answered, her voice rising. "Excuse me, but I thought that was the whole reason we were doing this. Like Dumbledore said-"
"You could have told me; what difference would it have made?" He asked, his voice rising as well. "None at all, I think."
"No, it would have made a world of difference. Say, the difference between you staying here safely and you getting yourself caught in the Forbidden Forest and sent back to Azkaban- or worse, killed. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to stand by while you run off with a death wish!"
"We couldn't have you do that-" Remus started.
"Better to die than not risk it at all!" Sirius' voice rose over his.
"Oh, that's your solution to everything isn't it? Well, you don't have enough lives to give to every cause that crosses your path-"
"That's it, then, I'm going!"
"Fine! Just go hide in your room again-"
Remus grabbed her arm as Sirius headed for the door. "I think he means- Sirius, you can't go-"
"I bloody well can!"
Sirius threw open the door to see Snape standing there, poised to open it. "Do forgive me for intruding on such an entertaining scene, but-"
"Move aside, Snivellus, or so help me-"
Snape raised his voice. "Moody, Shacklebolt, and Tonks are already on their way to the Ministry of Magic, so it might be wise to get a move on yourselves. The Dark Lord's followers will surely be there and if you wish to s-"
"As much as I'd love to see it, would it kill you to speak a little more to the point?" Sirius growled.
"Potter has left Hogwarts, Black, and if you don't wish to see our only hope of defeating the Dark Lord killed, then I suggest you leave- now."