CHAPTER 36: MUSINGS
(Severus POV)
"What were you thinking?!"
"Have you gone insane?!"
"Trying to pull one on You-Know-Who?!"
"You must have been out of your mind!"
It was Sunday evening, nearly two weeks since the fall semester has started. Severus, Ilya, Alice and Rose were currently sitting in the Ravenclaw Common Room, with some of their fellow Housemates.
At first things had been awkward. The Ravenclaws, with good reason (from their perspective at least), at first, were distant from their new House Members. Actually not just distant, but unwelcoming and unpleasant. In the beginning, the air was filled with a mixture of fear and dislike for the three of them…
Now, however…
"Lord Voldemort should actually be grateful for what we did, you know," said Ilya, frowning, making some of the Ravenclaws (including Alice) shudder from the mention of the name. "I mean those things… If anyone here is part troll, then I apologize in advance… but to be honest, the army the Dark Lord brought with him… they, to simplify it, literally, stink, their smell was dreadful… I was actually doing Lord Voldemort a favor by making him and his unhygienic minions to take a bath in an underground river… Sev here was actually about to faint…"
"Hey!" the raven-haired young man cut his girlfriend off. "That's not true…Apologize!"
The air froze, as the temperature of the room seemed to have dropped by a couple of degrees…
"Apologize to you? What for?" I don't remem…" began the white-haired girl, with a half-offended, half-amused look on her face, but Severus interrupted once again.
"Not to me, Ilya… you should apologize to the fish…"
"The fish?" inquired one a Ravenclaw sixth year named John.
"That's right," said the raven-haired young man seriously. "If you send a hundred, foul-smelling trolls hurtling into a river, what do you think would happen… Oh, those poor innocent fish…"
"Severus has a point there, Ilya" nodded Alice in agreement. "With that level of pollution… you probably just annihilated an entire colony of aquatic life…"
Shuddering sounds can be heard in the room, as some of the other Ravenclaws who were sitting with them probably imagined what they were talking about, although all of them were also snickering at the same time. The silver-haired girl stayed silent for a few moments, a smirk appearing on her lips, before talking…
"Better them than us," said the silver-haired girl, her smile turning into a frown for a moment, but quickly reverted back to a smile. "Though I must say I'm rather surprised with you Sev…"
"Huh?" inquired the raven-haired young man, with a puzzled expression on his face. "What do you mean, Ilya?" The raven-haired young man could not help but notice that the other people in the common room especially one blue-haired girl and one black-haired girl, were now staring at him curiously.
"It's the first time I heard you try and tell a joke," mused Ilya…
"And failed miserably at it," commented a blue-haired girl dryly.
"Oh, my, my…" mused the black-haired girl Alice, with a smirk on her face.
What in the name of Merlin? thought Severus, and he felt annoyed, his face twitching into a scowl, as he picked up what was going on. They were teasing him. Damn it… Alice is rubbing off on me…
The raven-haired young man could not help but blame the black-haired former Gryffindor. Having spent time in the company of his girlfriend, Alice, and Rose, Severus realized that he must have been unconsciously picking up a few of their mannerisms. And apparently, unfortunately, he seemed to have acquired a little bit (too much) of Alice's teasing habit.
The raven-haired young man was about to open his mouth with an undoubtedly rude response when something soft pulled him closer to it, an action which Severus knew made him blush, forgetting all about his rising temper which was there just a second ago…
"Now, now, Sev," began his white-haired girlfriend, as she leaned her head on his chest. "It's not like it's a bad thing…"
The raven-haired young man was in turmoil. He already had a hard time trying to restrain himself whenever he and his beautiful girlfriend were in close proximity, touching physically, the addictive smell of Ilya's hair filling up his nostrils…
And with a number of Ravenclaws were whispering among themselves (But since Severus can hear every word they were saying, it should not really count as whispering, should it?) , with annoying expressions on their faces, watching them being lovey-dovey…
Severus already had a half-mind to just take Ilya and flee to a more secluded location, finding it difficult to continue being exposed to so many annoying stares. Still…
"I'm sorry, Ilya but I don't agree with you," commented Rose, trying to make her voice sound like that of someone who was irritated, but the beast-like grin on her face gave her away. "Having one Alice is enough… two Alices in the group isn't exactly something you could call a good thing."
"And what do you mean by that, eh, Ms. Stuck-Up-Kill-Joy-Prefect?" shot the black-haired girl, frowned, as she and Rose stood up and began staring down each other…
"Oh, you know what I mean by that Alice…" smirked the blue-haired girl.
"I don't. But I do know you enjoy having a guy sniff at your scent…" replied the black-haired female, as the scowl on her face turned into a malicious smile.
"And what exactly do you mean by that?" said the blue-haired, who froze for a second, the surprise from what she heard still evident in her voice.
"Oh, you know what I mean by that, Rose…" smirked the black-haired girl, as the blue-haired girl's face contorted into a frown…
"Shouldn't we try and stop them?" the raven-haired young man asked his girlfriend.
"If you want me to," replied Ilya reluctantly. "Though I think it would be better if we just let them get it out of their system… keeping stress within oneself is definitely not good for one's health…"
"Never mind then," said Severus, putting his arms around Ilya, no longer feeling the pressure from the watchers that had been tormenting him moments before…
This isn't so bad, thought the raven-haired young man inwardly, feeling amused, as Alice and Rose started circling each other, in a seemingly hostile manner, the attention of the onlookers diverted from himself and his girlfriend (While all of them watched, most of them back away to the edge of the room, undoubtedly not wanting to get caught in the crossfire.), as the two girls 'assisted each other' in lifting a table to the center of the room, then each of them grabbing a chair, before placing their hands on the table…
-BREAK-
(Rose POV)
"195…196…197... ah, damn!" panted a blue-haired girl, as she fell onto the floor of the topmost part of the Ravenclaw Tower, the terrace, exhausted.
"Told you you're out of shape, young lady," teased the voice of the picture of an Irish hero, the portrait of whom was made to lean on a wall…
"Oh, shut up, you womanizer," retorted Rose to the pocket-sized portrait of Cu Chulainn, feeling irritated.
It was Monday, 2 o'clock in the morning. Rose Ann Walker Garnet, was currently doing some daily morning exercises…
"That's what you get for neglecting your training," said the man in the picture. "So I suggest you start listeni…"
"Why should I lis…"
"Listen to me."
The blue-haired girl shuddered. Even though the Hound of Ulster did not shout at him, even though she knew that it was just a portrait of the Irish hero, Rose could not help but notice. The usual cheery, mocking, teasing tone was gone, now replaced by a beast-like, imperial demeanor.
It has been a long time since the girl had last seen the portrait of the Hound of Ulster act like this. The image of Cu Chulainn, while normally easy-going and good-natured (in a perverted, womanizing way), was like a completely different person when he was instructing the blue-haired girl on martial arts and spearmanship, which Rose guessed was something which Cu Chulainn got from her(The Hound of Ulster's) master, the female warrior Scathach, who whipped his ass into shape…
And now, his portrait was applying that strictness to his own student…
"…no more of your silly make-up sessions young lady, you are already beautiful enough without it… and if you're worried about what you women refer to as nasty, bulging, overdeveloped muscles, then I suggest you find a way to handle that part on your own. I for one don't think it's that bad for a girl to have muscles, that actually turns me on, you know…
"Why you…" growled the blue-haired girl, as the serious tone of her 'training instructor' momentarily returned to its teasing tone.
"Although," the blue-haired man in the picture cut her off, the beast like indifference more dominant in his tone once again. "You can ask your friend Ilya about it… she might know something… and while we're on that subject… you're not just pretending to be her friend, are you?"
"No, I'm not," replied Rose to the portrait without hesitation. "Ilya… she's… no…not just Ilya…they're my friends. True friends…"
"Even the girl who just beat you in arm wrestling? Even though you were taught by none other than me… yet she still beat you?"
The blue-haired girl frowned as she recalled the events that transpired a few hours back.
"Friendly competition," replied Rose to the blue-haired portrait evenly. "And for your information our score was 10-9, it was a pretty close match."
Alice can be annoying at times, but she's still a great companion, thought the blue-haired girl.
"Oh, is that an excuse, young lady? You know that a loss is a loss right?"
"It's not an excuse," replied Rose, who was now getting really irritated. "I did give it my all… but you're right… a loss is a loss."
In an hour's time, the blue-haired girl will once again be joining her friends on their daily training routine, and she knew she had to do more than the regular female-body-beauty-maintaining exercise she had been accustomed to since she started going to school, if she wanted to catch up with them…
"Good…Then, I suggest you get back to your training," said the picture of the Hound of Ulster, whose voice was once again that of a strict instructor's.
Rose wanted to complain, as Cu Chulainn continued with his rants, but chose not to, knowing that her portrait of the perverted Irish hero was right. She was definitely not in her best physical condition anymore, compared to before she attended Hogwarts, which was over five years in the past… and she needed to get it back… no, not just get it back… but surpass it… surpass her own best,,, surpass herself…
-BREAK-
(James, Peter, Sirius POV)
Three of the four members of the mischief managers, the Marauders, found that they could not sleep.
"Hey Moony, Wormy, Paddy, you awake?" said James Potter in a low voice.
"H-here…" squeaked Wormtail.
"What is it Prongs?" growled the voice of the dog animagus.
"Nothing… just checking…" replied the stag animagus conversationally.
"Right…"
They had been running around like crazy all morning, and it made them really exhausted (While the Marauders normally ran around like crazy, it was normally out of amusement, not out of fear, and it somehow increased the exhaustion they got from all the running around.).
Still, despite that fact they were feeling really tired, body, mind and soul, they simply could fall into slumber.
The Marauders were searching frantically for their friend Moony, worried about what could have happened to him, as he had been undoubtedly been abducted by Snivellus (the mastermind from James' perspective) and the white-haired girl (from Sirius' perfected), and they were afraid… afraid that they would lose their friend…
They were running towards the Great Hall, with the intention of informing Dumbledore, when they ran into their best friend (crashed into) on the Grand Staircase.
Flashback
"Hey, guys…" said a certain werewolf.
"MOONY" cried James, Peter and Sirius together, relieved to see that their friend was okay.
End of Flashback
Yes, Remus Lupin, a.k.a. Moony, the werewolf, was fine, and unharmed. However…
Flashback
"What do you need it to see it for Moony?" James asked Remus, raising his eyebrows.
"I just need to confirm something," replied the werewolf.
End of Flashback
Ever since he has returned, their best friend Moony had been acting strangely. It was not a pleasant thought. None of them wanted to even think about it, but the three Marauders could not help but suspect that there was something odd going on with their friend. But what made them really suspicious was the fact that their werewolf friend would not tell them anything, and suggested that they drop the issue, even going so far as to say that the Severus Snape and the silver-haired girl wasn't as bad as everyone thought!
They could not understand why, but their werewolf friend had taken an interest on what happened at the train. Reluctantly they told him all about it, the part when he had lost his consciousness and the beast took over (Sirius once again brought out his Pensieve vial so that they could get a clearer view of the events.).
After watching it, Remus merely nodded, before retiring to bed, not even bothering to explain why he wanted to see it or what it was he found out.
A lot of theories were forming in their minds. Was their friend Remus being deceived, blackmailed? Was he under a spell? The Imperius perhaps? Could it be possible that the person who was with them right now wasn't even Remus Lupin, but an impostor?
All of these theories were plausible. Snivellus knew that their friend was a werewolf, so he may be having that piece of information hanging over Remus' head…
Remus Lupin could indeed be under a spell, and it was also possible that the one with them was an impostor…. A werewolf, after all, turns into a wolf during the full moon, and this time, amazingly, Moony did not…
Still, they did cast Finite Incantatem and revealio (which would cancel any illusion disguise or glamour charm, as well as the Imperius curse), as well as made sure that their friend did not remain out of their line of sight (in case of it being a case of Polyjuice Potion)…
But nothing happened. The only other possible theory was that Snivellus (from James' perspective) and the Emiya girl (from Sirius' perspective), were so versed with Dark Magic that their usual means were rendered useless. Still…
Despite all their theories and suspicions, their instinct, as well as their bond, screamed at them that their theories were impossible. There was no doubt that the person who was with them was none other than their best friend Remus Lupin…
Which means that the 'holding something over him' theory was the most plausible one, as they now recalled the Evans residence incident, in which Remus, as well as Peter, Lily and her parents, Frank and Alice, were saved due to Snape's and Emiya's actions. Still…
The three Marauders, who had just been talking about the issue, now fell silent (Fortunately…er unfortunately, they did not seem to have disturbed anyone), as each one retreated to his own thoughts…
They were lacking information… They needed to have more evidence and proof before they could make a move… They would have to dig deeper into this matter...
For the Marauders, ever loyal, would do everything in their power to prevent their friend from getting hurt…
-BREAK-
(Remus POV)
Unknown to his friends, the werewolf in question also could not fall asleep, but the werewolf did not engage them in conversation, his bed curtains covering him from their view, as he was busy pondering on his own thoughts…
As Remus looked up at the ceiling of the Gryffindor boys' dormitory, he recalled what Ilya, the silver-haired girl, told him…
Flashback
"I'm not cured?" inquired the werewolf, feeling confused.
"If it's your lycanthrope that you are talking about, then you are correct, Remus Lupin," said the white-haired girl."You are still a werewolf."
End of Flashback
Upon hearing these words, Lupin felt his heart sank. So he had not been cured. However…
Flashback
"You should know, however, that your form of lycanthrope is not a disease, and therefore needs no cure…"
"Then how come, unless it was just a dream," said Remus, (feeling aghast that all of it could have just been an illusion, but his friends were there as witnesses, so it couldn't have been just a dream) not noticing that he was voicing out his thoughts. "How come I…"
"How come you did not turn into a wolf?" said the white-haired girl.
The werewolf nodded silently.
"It's because I killed the demon," replied the silver-haired girl.
"Demon?"
"Yes, demon."
End of Flashback
The silver-haired girl explained to him his supposed circumstances. According to her, the moment that he was turned into a werewolf, another personality, or perhaps a spirit, was either created or possessed him at that the same time. Even she herself did not understand how it worked. Remus however, being the intelligent person that he is, was able to pick up at least the general gist of what the silver-haired girl was saying. Even though he was supposed to still be a werewolf, he managed to confirm a number of facts:
First, his wolf personality, the dangerous personality that would harm his friends without hesitation was gone. That explained why he was no longer hearing it growl, when he could normally feel it even if it wasn't the full moon.
Second, he will no longer forcibly turn into a wolf during the full moon. However, according to Ilya, he could still utilize his wolf form if he wanted to, even outside of the full moon, and Remus guessed she must have been referring to an animagus transformation, though this time it will not be forced, and since the demonic personality no longer exists, he will have full control. However, according to the white-haired girl, if he did succeed in transforming, anyone he bites would still be turned into werewolves, as his transformation will be into 'werewolf' and not 'wolf.'
The third and (for Remus) the most important fact, however:
Flashback
"Thank you," said Remus, as he was about to leave for the castle to look for his Marauder friends.
"You don't have to thank me, Lupin," replied the white-haired girl. "It was not my intention to help you at all. I was merely worried for the safety of the other students at Hogwarts… my objective was simply to eliminate the threat to innocent lives."
"Even if that is the case…" began the werewolf, but the silver-haired girl cut her off.
"If you really feel that indebted for what I did, then can I ask for a favor?"
"If it is something I can do," replied the werewolf.
"Very well, then," said Ilya, and as she took a deep breath. "Promise me. Don't tell anyone about me. And by that I mean the fact that it was me who helped you, as well as the existence of a method to combat the full moon transformation. And if possible, please avoid telling anyone about the fact that you had been, as you say it, 'cured', although if you wish to tell your friends or parents then I'm fine with that."
"Okay, I promise... But why?" inquired the werewolf, who, despite his high level of intelligence, did not understand. She had a way to combat lycanthrope, and something like that could really help alleviate werewolves like him from suffering.
"Because the method I use isn't foolproof. The possibility of failure is still high… and the price to pay for failure is something terrible and irreversible."
"What do you mean?" inquired Remus, looking alarmed. "Do you mean to say that…"
"Look, Lupin." the silver-haired girl cut him off. "The only reason I used it on was because you proved that you are a good person… The spell I used is not really a magic spell. It is a prayer of the church, a prayer to exorcise evil, known as the Baptismal Sacrament…"
End of Flashback
A prayer to exorcise evil, huh… thought Remus to himself, as he recalled his conversations with the white-haired girl, and the memory that his friends had just him a few hours back...
Flashback
The white-haired girl began to chant what was undoubtedly a spell, in a chilling and frightening monotone.
I kill, I give life. I injure, I heal.
Mmmmmrrrrrr?…..The wolf-Remus' eyes widened.
There are none who escape from my hands.
There are none who escape from my eyes.
May it be so that you are shattered.
Mmmmmrrrrrr! The wolf-Remus started struggling to get up, despite the difficulty…
I welcome the defeated, the aged.
Surrender to me, learn from me, obey me.
May you be at rest.
Do not forget the song, do not forget the prayer, do not forget me.
I relieve you of all burdens.
May it be so that there is no deception.
Retaliation unto forgiveness, betrayal onto belief, despair unto hope,
darkness unto light, death unto life.
May you rest in my hands. Let there be mark of your sins.
MMMMRRRRRRRRR!
Eternal life is found only in death.
In one last desperate bid for its life, wolf-Remus managed to somehow overcome the spell and got up, and gave out a desperate howl…
AWOOOOOOOO!
Forgiveness is before you, and so my incarnation vows.
The wolf, focusing on the source of its torment, positioned itself, then sprang, charging at the chanting white-haired girl…
But hit something like an invisible wall, and was thrown backwards.
The wolf's four friends could only watch in horror, helplessly, as Remus Lupin slumped to the ground, still and unmoving….
"May God have mercy of this soul"
End of Flashback
Remus had seen it. The moment he passed out, he knew that his wolf side was probably still conscious, yet he did not know what happened after that. None of the people who saw the whole thing had even bothered to tell him anything, not his Marauder friends, not Lily, not Alice. It took a bit of talking before he finally got to see what he had the right to see.
It wasn't pleasant. He saw that his wolf, or demonic side, as the white-haired girl called it, intended to harm his friends, and saw to his horror how close he came to harming his friends, though thankfully it did not occur. Still…
Baptismal Sacrament, thought the werewolf to himself.
Remus Lupin had an analytic mind which enable him to assess situations swiftly and precisely. And from what he had heard and seen…
That chant, thought Remus to himself.
Yes, there was no doubt it. Ilyasveil von Einzbern-Emiya, contrary to being called the 'Dark Lady,' may actually be exactly the opposite. The spell she used… no, it was not even a spell… it was a chant, a prayer, a sutra, to ward off demons and evil spirits.
And because of this Remus now partially understood why it wasn't foolproof. If the spell was really meant to destroy evil, then if it was used on someone evil, someone perhaps, like Fenrir Greyback, then it would probably end up killing the intended patient instead of healing him and just getting rid of the demon. Still…
Flashback
"Remember, Remus Lupin," began the white-haired girl named Ilyasveil von Einzbern-Emiya. "Being a werewolf makes you different. Now that you are no longer bound by the evil persona that once possessed you, the moon is no longer your enemy. You will be at your strongest when the moon is full, rather than fall ill… But whether your lycanthrope is a blessing or curse… that will be entirely up to you to decide…"
End of Flashback
Ilyasveil von Einzbern-Emiya was indeed an enigma. However, despite the many mysteries that surrounded the silver-haired girl, there was one thing that Remus Lupin was now sure of…
She's not a bad person, thought the werewolf to himself.
Yes, Remus owed her twice now for saving his life. The first time, she and Severus Snape saved him from getting killed by Death Eaters. The second time…
Remus Lupin was saved from his wolf side, from the demon within him, for despite the fact that the white-haired girl considered the wolf persona as a separate entity, the werewolf still considered it as something that was once a part of himself…
-BREAK-
(Alice POV)
"The toast is burnt… the egg is too salty…" wailed a certain black-haired girl former Gryffindor, as she munched on her toast, complaining all the while.
Alice Sera Chaucer was not in a good mood. Ever since they started schooling at Hogwarts for the fall Semester (5th year for Ilya and Rose, 6th year for Severus and Alice), Alice had been used to having Ilya's cooking at least once a day(except for the first day of their return to Hogwarts), everyday for breakfast at least (and sometimes even lunch and dinner) without fail (The silver-haired girl managed to befriend the Hogwarts House Elves, who gives her the ingredients she needs.), and was therefore shocked to find that she had not prepared any, undoubtedly too busy to do so.
"Could you please quit your whining, Alice? You're causing a scene, you know?" said a raven-haired young man who was sitting beside Ilya, wearing a scowl on her face.
"Hmmmp! Talk all you want, Severus, I know you feel exactly the same way I do," replied Alice to the raven-haired former Slytherin, who, to the black-haired female's mild surprise, merely sighed instead of attempting a retort, proof that he did in fact share the same sentiment.
"Calm yourself, Alice," said the white-haired girl, whose seated immediately to the black-haired girl's right. "I'll be cooking some burger and yakisoba for lunch, so don't worry."
"You promise?"
"Promise…"
"YAY!" said the black-haired girl, and without warning, Alice wrapped her arms around Ilya, and started rubbing her face on her cheek.
"Waaa?!" said the white-haired girl, taken by surprise.
"HEY!" shouted Severus and Rose together, who, after getting frozen for moment, had now regained their senses, and were trying to extricate Ilya from her clutches…
"STUPEFY!" shouted a male voice, as a jet of red light was sent, with careful aim, at the white-haired girl.
"HEY! WHO DID THAT?!" Alice heard Severus say loudly, understandably furious at what happened.
Fortunately, all four of them, especially Ilya, since she was the target of the spell, managed to jump away from the table just in time, before the spell hit the chair where Ilya was sitting, knocking it a few feet from where it was stationed...
That voice, thought the black-haired girl to herself, as Alice recognized it. It could only belong to one person.
"Now, that was just plain rude," the black-haired girl heard Ilya say, the normal cheeriness not present, her voice filled with cold displeasure. "Couldn't you at least have let us finish our meal first?"
But the person the silver-haired was talking to did not seem to be listening to a word she said, as it spoke in tone which is full of restrained, yet unconcealed rage.
"You're the Dark Lady, aren't you?" growled the voice, and Alice was sure now as to who it belonged to.
"Frank," said Alice in a low voice, but loud enough for everyone nearby to hear…
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Whew... It was really hard for me to focus on this Chapter. The reason?
Well, aside from work, to be honest, I had a sudden inspiration yesterday, after listening in a loop to the music of Yuki Kaijura, Fate Zero Epic OST The Battle is to the Strong while I was doing my physical exercise. And yeah, it's also a Harry Potter fic. But this time Harry is taken from the Dursleys and raised and adopted by well... the main male and female protagonists of my current fic (That's right, Ilya and Severus.). I actually already have a couple of chapters planned out (but still only in my mind at the moment) for it, and it will serve as a sequel to this fanfic. But enough about that... If I manage to get my thoughts together right I'll be posting it later on.
Anyway, for now... like always... I hope you enjoy this chapter...
Later then, people...