Chapter Three: I'm Sorry, Could You Repeat That?
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore had an almost overwhelming urge to bang his head against the nearest hard surface. Voldemort had managed to find the previous headquarters for the Order, and now they had to relocate…again. This was the third time and could only mean one thing: there was a spy among them. Rubbing his temples, he glanced over at Fawkes when he trilled. Standing, Dumbledore's knees cracked obscenely, causing a few of the portraits on the walls to snicker at his misfortune. Slowly making his way over to the phoenix, Dumbledore stroked the soft plumage of his familiar.
"What am I to do my friend? The Longbottom boy is not the one the prophecy refers to, no matter how hard I've tried to make it so. Voldemort killed the Potters' eldest child; she was our only hope it seems. Voldemort is becoming more desperate to have an heir; luckily for us he has failed time and again. It was not long after Voldemort had killed little Lissianna that he began trying for an heir. Many witches died in his cruel attempts and subsequent experiments. He was unable to blood adopt for some odd reason, perhaps because his magic was so twisted?"
Fawkes trilled, nudging his head against Dumbledore's hand in a demand for more pets. A slight smile stretched Dumbledore's lips as he observed his familiar fondly. He paused, as the ward he'd placed around his door alerted him of an impending visitor.
A knock disturbed the peace of his office, turning; he glanced curiously at the door, wondering what Sirius Black needed now.
"Come in Mr. Black." Sirius bound into the room, all smiles and full of boisterous energy.
"I'll figure out how you do that one of these days Albus if it's the last thing I do." Dumbledore chuckled at his antics. There was no need for Black to know that he had a ward alert him when someone was outside his door, and that he could sense auras.
"I look forward to that day Mr. Black, now why are you hear? Lemon drop?" Eagerly accepting the proffered candy, Sirius threw himself into the chair facing the front of Dumbledore's desk. He slouched, garnering a disgusted sneer from the portrait of Phineas Nigellus up on the wall at his deplorable manners.
"Please don't call me Mr. Black, it makes me feel old, and like my father, may both his soul never rest in peace. Call me Sirius or Padfoot." Munching on the candy, Sirius idly glanced at his ancestor's portrait, doing a slight double take at the glower being aimed his way. Sirius maturely responded by sticking out his tongue.
Easing himself down into the squashy chair, Dumbledore observed the young Lord Black's actions with amusement. Sirius never failed to lighten the mood.
"Very well Sirius. I confess that I am at a loss as to why you might be here, so please enlighten an eccentric old man." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily at the wide-eyed look Sirius was giving him. Sirius suddenly looked…well serious, causing a feeling of dread to creep up on Dumbledore's previously cheery mood.
"I have been having strange dreams, nightmares really, but I didn't think anything of it. That is until yesterday, when I had another, only I was awake and it was much more vivid than the previous ones. They are not all the same, some are more common than others and some longer, but they haven't really been that much of a problem. This has been going on for the past month, with the dreams growing more and more vivid. They started out as indistinct, and jumbled, but now it's like being in a Pensive; unable to do anything but watch."
Now that Dumbledore really looked at Sirius, he noticed the subtle glamour's that he had applied earlier that morning. Lacing his fingers together, he silently stared into space while Sirius picked at the stain on his robe nervously.
"Perhaps viewing these nightmares in a Pensive will help?"
Sirius bit his lip, debating with himself whether or not to re-watch the terrors that had been haunting him for the last month. He glanced out at the warm spring day, longing to be outside rather than in the school.
Turning his attention back to the Headmaster, he took in how tired and old Dumbledore looked. Dumbledore's long silver beard was rather uncomfortable looking. Yet his blue eyes twinkled merrily. Sirius wondered how his nose became so crooked, he couldn't imagine anyone actually hitting the man. Half-moon spectacles perched on said nose reflected the sunlight streaming in through the window. He idly wondered what enchantments were on those always present glasses, and how he could get hold of them to prank the Headmaster. Shaking such thoughts from his head, he finally gave his answer.
"The Pensive I think, perhaps you can shed some light on these bloody nightmares." Sirius muttered under his breath grumpily, clearly not pleased with his decision, but felt it to be the best option.
"Excellent! Now, you know what to do my boy." Striding over to the cabinet with the Pensive, Sirius began a month's worth of dreams into the stone basin. Joining him, Dumbledore watched on in curiosity as he caught brief flashes of pictures, some turning his blood to ice, there seemed to be several of these images. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Sirius was hesitating to add another memory. Pretending to still be watching the memories floating in the Pensive, Dumbledore waited for Sirius to reach a decision.
Lips pressed tightly together, and grey eyes narrowed; Sirius let the final memory drift down into the Pensive.
Both men had barely touched the surface of the liquid inside the basin when they suddenly found themselves in the first dream.
*Dreams/Memories Begin*
"Oh gods, oh gods! No!" He was running, flinging himself from a giant motorcycle, heart pounding and tears blurring his sight. There was a full moon, wet grass, smoke, and stars.
Part of the house was gone, destroyed by an explosion, fire licking out of a gaping hole where what was left of the nursery.
The front door was gone, having been blown inward, the entrance telling of the battle fought within. He spotted a dark form, crumpled at the base of the stairs, unmoving. His breath hitched, the tears spilling over. Hoping, praying for a miracle, he reached out trembling hands, turning the man over.
"Nonononononono! James! Wake up James, wake up!" He was sobbing, his heart being rent in two. He could almost hear the spells being traded back and forth, the last moments of his brother in all but blood.
Closing James's hazel eyes, he laid him out on the floor before standing and looking up the dark and forbidding staircase.
He took a step. Was this the same place that monster placed his foot?
Another step. Was this where the monster rested his hand, gliding it over the polished wood?
Another step after another, haunted by thoughts of a monster walking where he now was.
Smoke was filling the hallway. He coughed and cast an air freshening charm. There was a scorch mark on the wall next to him. A large shield glowed, reflecting the light of the fire. He felt hope stir. Quickly, he had the fire under control, the shield falling as soon as the danger had passed. His heart shattered again.
"Lily." His voice was but a whisper this time, not the anguished scream from earlier. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, didn't want the truth to be told, he didn't want to see the corpse of his goddaughter.
Her hair was like a pool of blood, mocking him, mocking life. How could something dead have so much life in it? Her emerald eyes were wide with acceptance and terror, with determination. His tears fell faster. A new emotion took root then, one that quickly dwarfed his pain: fury. A burning hate mixed with his anger, giving birth to a fury he'd never felt before, and was likely to never feel again.
"Peter!" The name was roared, all of his hate pouring into it. He gently closed Lily's eyes, full of determination, not to protect a baby, but to kill a certain traitorous rodent.
"Pafoo."
He froze. His entire existence came to a screeching halt. It was impossible. He whirled around, finally taking note of the empty black robes at the base of the crib.
His robes.
His eyes rose slowly, afraid to dare to hope he wasn't just hearing things.
He wasn't.
"Lissianna!"
It was cold, so very cold, and hopeless. Tall rotting demons that sucked out all of the light and happiness in the world.
Screams.
A skull with a snake coming out of its mouth, high in the sky for all to see.
A prophecy.
Smoke.
A rat.
"No weave Pafoo! No weave me!" Her screams for him, he'd left her…chosen the rat over her.
Never again, she was his very reason for breathing, the rat could wait.
He had to stay strong, had to be strong for her.
A malnourished and scraggy Grim-like dog, pale gray eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
Stone walls and iron bars, cackling and screaming, hell on earth.
Guards tormenting, their cruel laughter and taunts, his mind cracking.
Tasteless food, frozen feet, damp air.
"I am innocent!" He yelled when he started to forget. He clung to the memory of that night, if only to remember her.
The Minister, a newspaper, the traitor…
"Hogwarts." He rasped, filled with determination. He had to escape.
Twelve years of hell. He relived every single one of those days.
Escape through bars, dodging guards, keeping to the shadows.
A beach.
Icy water, waves, salt, exhaustion, and success.
She needs me!
Hunger, such hunger.
She needed him.
There she was. She looked upset, yet so very beautiful.
Turn around, look at me.
She turned, Lily's eyes widened, mouth parting in surprise. She gave a shout of alarm when he barked in greeting, stepping backwards only to get her heel caught in a rut.
She fell, yet never broke eye contact. Pinning him in place with her probing eyes.
He whined, slowly, cautiously making his way towards her, wanting to reassure himself that she was real.
Her hands felt so good in his dirty and matted fur. He relished the first physical contact he'd had in twelve years.
Her pale heart-shaped face stared down at him, holding worry and anger.
She was brushing her hands over his back, her eyes filling with some emotion he could not name.
A scar caught his eye, one of lightning, yet reeking of death.
He hated it.
"Come on boy, let's get you cleaned up." She was taking him home.
Watching her lose her temper made him want to laugh. It was the polar opposite of what he had just been feeling up until that moment, spying on her through the window.
He watched with undisguised glee as the fat woman with a moustache, Marge he believed her name was, floated away like a balloon. He thought it was an improvement.
Yelling.
He felt a growl rise when he realized who was doing most of the shouting. Another dog barking, it came charging out of the house, chasing after its owner as she floated on the wind.
A door slammed, the yelling cut abruptly. He cocked his head, hearing only the crickets and other neighborhood noises. A brilliant snowy owl launched itself from her window.
The house disgusted him, just as her family did. Hell, he hated the whole neighborhood. It was all the same.
Normal, they thought themselves to be normal? The very idea was laughable.
A tall pale man appeared with a soft crack. His shoulder length greasy black hair and hooked nose inciting a deep hatred in him.
Snivellus.
The greasy dungeon bat.
Death Eater
Spy.
Not human, but something else, something dark.
How he loathed the man.
How dare he be near his goddaughter!
Don't!
It was too late, she was already at the door, her trunk in one hand and bird cage in the other.
Don't you dare touch her!
Get your slimy paws off of my goddaughter!
They disappeared with a quiet pop.
He raged.
He howled.
Several louder pops broke the night; the Ministry was here.
He had to leave.
Dementors on the train!
A student Kissed!
She was in danger because of him. Yet he had to stay close.
Moony!
Moony was on the train, had let her be kissed by the Dementor!
But she survived.
How?
How could she have survived the killing curse?
Does it matter?
No, she was safe now.
Moony won't let the soul sucking demons or the traitorous rat get her so easily.
But he didn't know about the rat.
He let her be Kissed…
He can't protect her, but I can.
Snivellus!
Stop following her…wait, what…
Slytherin!
She was in Slytherin?
How could this have happened?
Oh Prongs, you must be rolling in your grave right now.
That horrid little cockroach!
Wait till I get my hands on him…
How dare he!
Smarmy git, let's see how he feels when I turn him into a girl…
She liked it! I knew she would enjoy the prank. Snivellus was apoplectic with rage.
"Let me in!"
Can't she see that I'm trying to protect my goddaughter?
The Fat Lady screamed, fleeing her portrait in a panic.
He slashed the canvas in a fit of rage.
He blamed Snivellus.
He hated Halloween
She was falling, she was going to die, and there was nothing I could do to save her.
Snivellus was running out onto the pitch…how did he get there so fast?
Not her! Please not her! She's all I have left!
How can she be so calm in the face of the one she's been led to believe a mass murderer?
What was that?
Did her eyes flick to the door just now?
The boy moaned piteously, his broken leg swelling.
The blonde ferret was with them.
Evil little cockroach.
Why the hell was a Malfoy trying to shield his goddaughter?
Can't he see that I'd die before I'd willingly hurt her?
The bushy haired one was still unable to speak around the silencing charm he'd thrown at her.
I know I heard something.
Her wand wasn't even trembling.
She was so strong, so brave…why the hell is she in Slytherin?
A dark shadow loomed suddenly.
Snivellus!
The greasy bastard…I'll kill him this time.
Why is he looking at my goddaughter like that?
He looks…hungry.
Eyes above her chin you…
Pride.
Is it normal for me to feel like my chest is swelling?
His goddaughter was able to disarm Snivellus…and blow him into the wall.
Moony.
No!
Wait!
"You sold out James and Lily!"
You're wrong Moony… I'm not the traitor
A full moon.
"Professor!"
"Run!"
How could it have gone south so fast?
My goddaughter was going to live with me dammit!
Why the hell isn't she running?
I've got to lure him away…
"Sirius!" Her scream pierced the air, curly copper-red hair falling like silk over pale skin. Terror filled her eyes.
"Moony no!"
I won't reach her in time; she's going to die!
"Lissianna!"
"Sectumsempra!"
A flash of purple light.
Snivellus!
Wait…he was protecting her?
Moony was pissed.
"Professor!" Her hands were on him, any sympathy or worry fled.
I hope that scars you greasy git!
Moony was running away from them.
"Peter! He's escaped!"
No!
I have to find him!
I have to find the traitor so my goddaughter can live with me.
It's so cold.
House on fire.
Smoke.
James's body.
The darkened staircase.
Lily's body.
Leaving her behind.
Her hands on Snivellus.
It was so cold…Dementors!
Pain, oh god the pain!
"Expecto Patronum!"
No!
Leave me! Save yourself!
Darkness.
A fucking Hippogriff?
Where the hell did they get a Hippogriff?
Stupid question: Hagrid of course.
Hold it; is this the same one that nearly eviscerated the blonde ferret?
I think I might just love this Hippogriff.
"Hurry up Sirius!"
"Huh?"
Oh, right, escaping.
A time turner!
"Oh gods, she's going to drive me to an early grave."
"Attack at the Quidditch World Cup!"
"I should have been there, I should have protected her!"
Snivellus swooped in to save her…again.
We're going to Diagon Alley together for the first time, I was shaking with excitement.
Oh no, it's Snivellus.
Why is she looking at him like that?
Stop looking at him like that Lissianna!
Stop looking at her period you greasy dungeon bat!
Lucius bloody Malfoy…when I get my hands on you…
Ah! The ferret!
She's a Parselmouth!
I think I'm going to be sick…
The look on Snivellus's face was one I hope to never see again, especially directed at my goddaughter. I'm going to kill him for looking at her like that.
I should arrange a marriage contract with the Weasley Twins…true pranksters and they detest Snivellus.
Get your hand off her shoulder!
Ew!
Nasty Snivellus's blood tastes like shit…not that I would know…
"Why you..."
Oh crap, I'mgoingtodie.
"What the hell is wrong with you Snuffles?" Oh shit, Lily's glare of Doom.
Begging for mercy apparently doesn't work on Lissa…fuck.
Oh gods! My eyes! I've been scarred for life!
"It's not too deep, thank goodness. I'm so sorry Professor, I don't know what's come over him." Her hands were on his leg, probing gently at the injury. She bent forward, cleavage gaping.
Did he just like his lips?
He did!
I'll fucking rip his leg off next time…
How can she not notice?
Am I the only one that can see the way he looks at her?
"Of all the!"
"The Fourth Champion!"
Why!
"Why is it always Lissianna?"
I'm surprised I have any black hair left.
Dumbledore…you've got some explaining to do.
But I think I'll have one more fruity drink and bask in the sun for a bit longer first.
Ahh… "Ow!"
"Bloody bird."
I'm going to kill Snivellus, it's obviously all his fault.
Who else would pick dragons for the first task?
That's my little princess out there dammit!
She better get through this alive.
Watch out!
Woah…what sort of magic is this?
Look at Dumbledore's face; he's horrified…must mean it's dark magic…it's all Snivellus's fault!
"Why does Moody look so gleeful all of a sudden?"
"Oh, crap… its Snivellus."
"Oh gods! It nearly squashed her!"
"That's it! I'm going in there to save my little girl."
"Let me go Moony, can't you see my baby needs me!"
"Oh…his eyes are gold. Uh, I think we might have a problem…"
She made it!
Now that she's scared ten years off of my life…Holy shit, Snivellus looks like he's about to faint. Huh, you don't see that every day.
She came in first…
And there goes Moony…Fuck!
"Can't breathe Moony." Lissa was wheezing, shoving at the frantic werewolf.
Snivellus!
Oi!
Oh, he's only prying Moony off, that's ok then, seeing as Moony is suffocating her.
His hand did not just skim over her lower back!
She's blushing…
Why the fuck is she blushing!
Yule Ball.
Well, it looks like I'll be guilty of mass murder after all.
Why oh why does Lissianna have to have a date?
She's rather scrawny, with any luck that will keep her dateless.
I swear, if Gred or Forge, even think about touching my little princess…
If looks could kill, every boy that's gotten within three feet would be deader than dead if the looks Snivellus are throwing out come to fruition.
Are his eyes turning red?
Nah, trick of the light.
Are his canines sharper than normal?
I'm imagining things.
But he wasn't imagining or seeing things.
Ok, Snivellus, what the fuck are you?
My goddaughter is awesome.
Once again she used some arcane magic, only this time it was to turn herself into a mermaid rather than defeat a dragon.
Not too sure how I feel about her rescuing one of the Weasley Twins.
She came in first, I'm so proud of her.
Oh hell, it's Snivellus.
He did not!
No way in hell did he just hug her…and put his hands on her lower back!
Why am I the only one seeing this?
Dumbledore, you old coot, where are you when your overly large and crooked nose is wanted for once?
Smug bastard…
She's blushing…
Why the fuck is she blushing!
Valentine's Day…the day I will kill Snivellus.
Flowers…he sent her flowers.
And chocolate.
I know it was him.
I saw him with those fucking flowers and chocolate just hours ago.
Again, why the fuck is she blushing!
Moody had been acting odd.
There are more important things I have to focus on right now though, like I don't know… the Third Task perhaps?
Why the fuck can't we see anything!
This is worse than the lake, at least you weren't able to hear screaming and roaring. Not to mention all the other unspeakable noises.
Snape looks awfully pale…more so than normal.
He looks frantic, though I can't exactly blame him there. Why's he gripping his left arm?
I feel like I'm about to be sick.
There!
Something's wrong…
Is she…
No!
Snivellus is cradling her.
He looks devastated.
No!
Nononononononononononono! Oh please gods not my baby girl!
Lissianna!
She was tortured.
She was used in a necromantic ritual.
She watched a boy die right beside her.
The traitor cut her…hurt her to get her blood.
She was belittled.
She was mocked.
She faced him again.
She saw echoes of the dead.
She was nearly killed by the impostor.
Snivellus saved her…again.
She survived.
She went back to Durzkaban
I hate my mother.
I hate her portrait even more.
I fucking despise Kreacher.
I don't want the little fucker anywhere near my precious princess.
What room should she stay in?
Regulus's room is in the best condition, but he was a Death Eater, a slimy Slytherin.
Lissianna is a Slytherin, she's not slimy.
Regulus's room it is then…plus it'll piss off Kreacher.
Dementors!
Not again!
"Expelled, what do you mean she's expelled?"
"Get the fuck out of my house Snivellus!"
"She now has a disciplinary hearing Mutt."
I'll wipe that sneer off of his face…
Then she was there, a warm bundle of joy that lightened his world.
Everything was as it was supposed to be.
His baby girl was safe.
And that's all that mattered.
Now, how to deal with the slander…RAID
"Take that you vicious harpy!"
His mother's screams were the best music he'd ever heard
Kreacher had been restrained by Molly…pity, he was hoping Kreacher would throw himself into the fire.
Too bad Snivellus didn't get close enough for the grease and oil to catch fire.
Ah well, such is life.
My goddaughter looked like an avenging angel when she used fiend fire on my mother's portrait.
Who knew the Dark Arts would be good for something?
"Snivellus, I swear that if I find you stalking my little princess one more time, I'll castrate you the Muggle way…with a dull and rusty spoon!" Luckily for Sirius, Lissianna only caught the tail end of his threat and therefore missed the 'little princess' comment.
"Sirius Orion Black! You leave Severus alone you hear me!" Sirius gaped at her in utter horror, spluttering at the base of the stairs, looking up at his precious goddaughter.
"Severus! You're calling the greasy dungeon bat Severus!" Lissa's eyes turned red in anger, setting off alarm bells in everyone's heads.
"He's not a greasy dungeon bat!" Snape looked way too pleased having Lissa defend him.
"So what set them off this time?"
A woman with vibrant purple hair peeked over Remus's shoulder, using his body to hold her up while she stood on her tiptoes.
"Oooh, look at Snape. He's totally checking out her ass." By the time everyone looked at Snape, he was looking at Lissa's wand held in her hand, sparking menacingly.
Tonks grinned as the two Marauders whipped their heads around to glare at Snape. Lissa squeaked, her face a vibrant red.
Sirius and Moony had to be stunned and restrained with chains so that they didn't kill Snape.
Tonks was rolling around laughing.
Snape decided to go read in the library.
It was only a coincidence that Lissa was also in there at the time of course.
"Get back here Snivellus!"
"I hate you, you hate me, but we also hate one Delores Umbridge. So, let's go kill the Toad." Sirius was unsuccessfully trying to tow an irate Severus Snape to the floo. Severus tore himself out of Sirius's iron like grip and brushed off his sleeves.
Sirius whirled to face the taller man…and had to look up.
Geeze, what did the guy eat as a kid, some sort of dark growth potion?
"Not that I don't want to kill her, but why are you dragging me along? Couldn't get your pet werewolf to help out hmm?"
Sirius gave the Potions Master a disbelieving look. How dense could you get?
"You're kidding right? You know all sorts of Dark Arts, pull out your evil Death Eater persona for a few hours." Sirius said this rather slowly, clearly implying that Snape was mentally challenged. The glower he received would have sent Seventh year Hufflepuffs running away crying for their mothers.
"I should Crucio you." The words were hissed out slowly, his dark eyes glittering ominously.
"Lissa would never forgive you." Sirius shamelessly used his goddaughter card. Snape narrowed his eyes.
"Mutt."
"Bat."
"Bastard."
"Slimy dungeon bat!"
"What are you two doing?"
There she stood, arms crossed, and eyes piercing. She looked absolutely terrifying.
"I…We…That is to say…" Her stare was so intense. Was this how a mouse felt right before a cat pounced? Snape rolled his eyes at Sirius's stuttering.
"What Black is so eloquently attempting to convey is that he is in the process of failing to coercer me to help him torture and murder Delores Umbridge…without you." As Snape's silky smooth words flowed from his mouth, Lissa grew more and more upset. Snape however, was a genius, and also knew that Lissianna hated the Toad more than they did. His last two words ensured that her ire would be solely directed at Black, while she took his side. He felt incredibly smug.
Sirius, stupidly decided to open his mouth and blurt out the first thing on his mind.
"If you think I'm going to let my little princess use the Dark Arts on anything but portraits or artifacts, then you can…" Sirius never saw Hurricane Lissianna coming.
"Your little princess my ass!"
Sirius never did hear like he used to after that.
"A Blood Quill!" Sirius raged, rivaling one of Molly Weasley's infamous Holwers.
"That's it! Moony, emergency Marauder meeting in my room!" Sirius stomped up the stairs, having crumpled the letter that Lissianna managed to sneak to him. He now understood why she simply didn't use the mirror he'd given her. So much for thinking she was a Gryffindor.
'Umbitch' quickly wished she'd never been born.
Everyone else was overjoyed.
Terror, panic.
It had been so long since my mind felt so broken.
A Snake
"Voldemort has tricked her, she is going after the prophecy in order to save you when you failed to answer the mirror. Kreacher told her that you were gone."
These words haunted me, their meaning tore at me.
She was trying to save me.
Didn't she know that she already had?
My daughter needs me…
Blood.
Oh, gods, whose blood is it?
Lissianna!
Dead, I killed a Death Eater.
Explosions and screaming.
Smoke.
Bodies dancing around each other.
She was magnificent.
Rodolphus Lestrange fell to a dark curse from her wand. She laughed, reveling in the taste of victory.
Rabastan took his place.
He was taller, broader, yet faster and more agile.
He was the more dangerous twin.
He was the more powerful twin.
He also was going to get his eyes gouged out if he didn't stop looking at his goddaughter like that!
Lestrange said something, but I was too far away to hear. Moony wasn't though, he stumbled, whirling to look at Lestrange in horror.
She was blushing.
Why the fuck was she blushing!
More lights, shadows descending, yelling, and explosions.
It was like old times; he could almost imagine his best friends there fighting by his side.
No!
Too close, way too close…
Rabastan was laughing.
Take that you bloody wanker!
Rabastan was flying backwards off the dais.
Lissa turned on him with a snarl, eyes flashing red.
Woah!
Bellatrix!
Bellabitch! He liked that one better.
It was strange fighting his cousin, the rest of the world seemed to melt away. No longer was he dueling his deranged cousin in the Ministry, in a large stone room with a creepy ass veil, no he was back in Grimmauld Place. Back before the war truly started, back when they were still innocent. Not in this place of rough-hewn stone and a chamber filled with whispers.
He laughed, delighted, he was young again.
"Is that the best you can do?"
Shock.
Horror.
Denial.
He was falling, falling, falling into the abyss.
"Sirius!"
There was mist, white, silent, eerie. He was alone, lost, in pain. A sudden flash of light, bright vivid green, then someone screaming his name like a mother for her child.
"Sirius! No! Let me go! Sirius…" The screaming tapered, replaced by one full of rage. His lungs felt heavy, he was so tired, and all he wanted was to sleep. The screaming grew muffled, like he was suddenly under water. He was floating, slowly sinking.
No!
He shook his head, trying to focus. Someone needed him, someone important, he couldn't let her down. Wait, her? Who, who was the woman that needed him?
She needs him.
She was crying for him.
He had to help her.
But who…
"Lissianna!" He remembered.
Everything went dark.
"Does it hurt to die?"
Such a question should never have been uttered by sweet little Lissianna. Her large eyes swimming with tears gazed at him imploringly. He couldn't bear to tell her the truth, couldn't bear the thought of her walking to her death knowing the agony it will reap.
He wanted to kill something.
"No, it's just like falling asleep. Aware one moment, unaware the next." There, he'd done it, he'd lied. The others were displeased with him, he could see it in their eyes and posture.
Anything to make it easier for her in her last moments.
I love you
I am proud of you, so very proud.
My daughter.
But he did not say these things for her to hear, for she had already let the stone drop to the ground, where it disappeared into the night.
The two men reappeared with a swirl of color. There was a slight pause as they reoriented themselves with reality rather than memory.
Albus Dumbledore was greatly troubled. The young woman looked like she Lissianna Potter, but that was impossible, she died as an infant.
He didn't want to tell Sirius yet, but those were no nightmares, no, they were fragments of memories. How this was possible he did not know. Dreams in a Pensieve had a warping quality to them. The lines blurred and warped into strange shapes. Memories faded in and out, they were sometimes hazy, but they never warped. Deciding on a course of action, Dumbledore decided to proceed with caution.
"My dear boy, I fail to see how some of those were nightmares." Albus spoke rather delicately, warily eyeing the fuming young man.
"Any dream with Snivellus in it is a nightmare Albus." His fists were clenched and eyes narrowed. The amount of loathing he managed to inject into that single word was astounding.
Sensing that the young man pacing before his desk was in imminent danger of being killed by Hogwarts's Potions Master in self-defense, the Headmaster decided to be blunt.
"I take it you have not told anyone the content of your…dreams?" Sirius paused in his pacing, shooting the Headmaster a wary look.
"No, I've not told anyone the content of my dreams. I thought that it would upset them." The last was almost whispered. Albus closed his eyes, thankful for small mercies.
"I want you to vow to me on your magic that you will not breathe a word about the true content of what you see regarding…Lissianna…"
"And if I don't?" Sirius cut off the Headmaster, eyes flashing in anger. Dumbledore arched his brows, shocked that Sirius would actually interrupt him.
"Then I will Oblivate you." He said it so smoothly, confidently, and easily that Sirius knew Dumbledore would do it. Shoulders sagging, he plopped down onto the chair he'd previously occupied before viewing his dreams.
"All right you win. I Lord Sirius Orion Black of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, do hereby swear upon my magic that I shall in no way communicate to another about my nightmares unless given permission by Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Should I break my vow, may my magic be stripped from me? So I say, so mote it be."
A flash of silver and blue light filled the room, Sirius at the center of it. Once the magic of the vow took hold. Immensely pleased, Dumbledore relaxed back into his throne like chair.
"After viewing what you've showed me, I come to a troubling conclusion: those are memories, not nightmares." Sirius froze, blood draining from his aristocratic face.
"No…you're lying!" At his shout, Fawkes screeched disapprovingly. Properly chastised by the Headmaster's phoenix, Sirius sank back into his seat. "How can I have memories of a dead girl?"
"I am at a loss, for the young woman we saw died when she was but a year old." Dumbledore absentmindedly stroked his long beard in contemplation. "And as for your memories, I believe they are from the Sirius Black who had the misfortune of falling into the Veil of Death."
"So what, she's from one of those alternate dimension thingies that Lily was harping on about last week?" Sirius's mocking tone failed to register with the Headmaster, but his words themselves did.
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"
"Alternate dimensions aren't real Albus." Sirius was starting to get worried at the look in the old man's eyes.
"Thank you my boy, I believe you have just solved the mystery we were presented with. I need to contact a few friends of mine. I trust that you can show yourself out?"
Sirius gaped at the aging Headmaster as he practically ran over to the fireplace. Shaking his head in dismay, Sirius left the Headmaster to try and unravel the secrets of the universe, while he went to go get dinner.
He would later wish that he'd never gone to Albus Dumbledore about his dreams. He would dearly wish to go back in time and somehow stop himself from sharing his…memories with the old man.
He blamed Snivellus.
Beta by Eternal Blood Love.