Shadows Within, Shadows Without
Minerva stared at Luna Lovegood, glowing with the rose-bud bliss of early pregnancy, chatting away happily about child-devouring creatures—and considered that Luna was possibly the most cold-blooded witch she knew.
Next to Luna, Harry stiffened, hands cramping around each other in an effort to contain his tension. Ron Weasley sat on the other side of the room, white as a sheet, his freckles standing out dark like Spattergroit. To his left, Lois pressed a hand to her mouth, smothering a gasp. Hannah Abbott's eyes filled with tears.
Parents of young children, all of them! Oh Merlin and Nimue. Even if the prophecy had nothing to do with Voldemort, it was a terrible threat all on its own.
Suddenly Minerva felt old, much older than her seventy-seven years (which still put her comfortably in middle age as a witch, thank you very much). And alone. Albus had always relied on her and Severus as his confidantes and companions. To be perfectly honest, he had exploited his…connection—you couldn't really call it relationship—with Severus quite ruthlessly. She glanced at the haggard man. No. Even if he had anything left to give to anyone but Hermione, she wouldn't be the one to take it. He was burdened enough for two life-times.
Minerva inhaled, straightened her shoulders and clapped her hands. "Kindly stop chattering, will ye? Thank you. And you, Miss Lovegood, for sharing your expertise.
"I conclude: At this point we are unable to determine if the bogeyman from the Oompa-Loompa's song has anything to do with Voldemort. While the second part of the song seems even more obscure—Mr Creevey, I'm talking now— I do agree that it likely refers to Mr Potter and Miss Petrel."
And Severus with his mobile shadow, she thought, wondering if that was the reason the Potions Master was hiding in the darkest corner of the room once again. She must ask him later, and about Hermione's condition…
"However, one thing seems sure," Minerva announced briskly, "the wizarding world is facing a new threat, and a most dire one at that—a threat aimed at our children. Our future.
"But thanks to the alertness of young Mr Weasley we have been warned.
"Therefore: Stay on your guard at all times. If the connection with the British candidate for the EMU presidency may be taken as clue concerning the timing, disaster may strike soon. Watch out for your children. Looking under beds at night is not silly, but a sensible precaution at the moment. As the late Alastair Moody always said, 'Constant vigilance!' Pass the word among neighbours, friends and family.
"I will give a full report to the Minister. If you notice anything unusual, if you discover anything to help solve this riddle—my Floo is always open. That is all for now. Thank you for your time and attention."
oooOooo
Bored? Astoria frowned. Well, she supposed it was possible, since he couldn't leave the Ministry yet and he was the only ghost who li—existed there. On the other hand, he was a Slytherin…
"Well, if you're bored, how about some board games while we wait?" she suggested, trying out her best coy smile.
"A suggestion," Draco smirked, "which only brings us back to Harry's question: why are you willing to while away a lovely Sunday afternoon with a dead man in the dungeons? Interesting inclinations, my dear."
Heat flooded her, and in the wake of embarrassment, anger. Flustered, she jumped to her feet, the words "If you want me to leave, why don't you just say so!" already on her tongue. But then she remembered her beautiful, difficult sister. Daphne had never been able to tell anyone what she wanted or what she needed. And sometimes, when she was at her most vicious, Daphne had really only wanted a hug. Behaviour, which pretty much confounded Astoria. She leant back in her seat with a sigh.
"I think I already explained that," she said. "I'm allergic to sunlight."
"Rubbish!" retorted Draco. "You hate it down here. Don't forget I know you since the day you were born, Astoria Aegle Greengrass! You would have stayed outside day and night if they only let you when we were children."
She closed her eyes for a moment. While she did love the sun and the wind and the rain, her love of nature was prompted primarily by other motives.
"It was…peaceful outside," she said at last. Then she added slowly, "But…I…have become more comfortable inside since—since I am certain that my father will never come home again."
She opened her eyes and stared straight at the ghost, once more ensconced in that strange silent place deep within her, where no shame and no fear could ever reach.
"I still don't want your pity," Draco muttered.
"What if you need it?" she countered.
"Would you take mine?" he scathed, translucent eyebrow arched.
"Why not?" she said softly. "If you are willing to give it to me?"
oooOooo
"Well, holy shite," Barret breathed, instinctively falling back on Muggle slang.
Alina's concentration slipped and her parchment fluttered to the ground. Barret could see that Prue had tears in her eyes. And Alyah was shaking all over.
"You said it, mate," Cato Cornell said and pulled Alina closer.
"And thank you, Percy Weasley, for being so anal-retentive to repeat the whole prophecy verbatim so no one will forget that they have homework to do," said Ebenezer softly.
"The—the," Myrrdin gulped. "Those Eavesdropping Leaves work great, anyway."
"What are we going to do now?" asked Gilly Duncan in a very small voice.
"We have to help protect the little ones, of course," Ebenezer said.
The Knights stared at Ebe.
"The firsties," Alyah whispered. "They're still children, aren't they."
Terrwyn looked sick. "Some of the second years, too."
Barret shuddered. Alina crumpled her parchment in her fist. Cato moved away from her until he could see her face.
"When does a child stop being a child?" he read aloud from her lips.
oooOooo
A/N: Thank you for reading and please feel free to leave a comment—what made you smile, what made you frown, what was the most memorable line...comments make authors happy!