Dislaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Not Worth It

Chapter 15

Intervention

Emily bit her lip and looked at Kevin. She gripped her wand in her pocket. She hoped she wouldn't have to modify his memory, but she couldn't take any chances. Merope just revealed that she was a witch to a muggle, and Kevin was probably going to guess that Emily was one too. To her surprise Kevin didn't scream or act like Merope was joking. Instead he smiled and sat down the soup.

"Yes, I know," he said. "You told me when we were kids."

"I did?" Merope said.

"You did?" Emily stared at Merope.

Kevin nodded. "I suppose it's easy to believe we were just playing, like it was some game. But I believed you. My curse I suppose, being so gullible. I had asked you to show me but you couldn't...anyway, I believed you even then."

"I don't understand," said Emily. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Merope doesn't remember much of us playing together," Kevin sighed. "I didn't want to confuse her by bringing it up."

"So, you're not upset?" Merope said. "You're not going to tell your father and have me leave?"

"Of course not!" Kevin exclaimed. "I wouldn't tell anybody and I haven't. The only person I told was my mother when we children and she thought we were playing a game."

"But I'm—I'm a witch. Nobody here likes me and my father when he comes back…."

"We still have some time until that happens," said Emily. "You look like you could use a bath. Why don't you take one while I clean up?"

Merope sighed and nodded her head. She went to the bathroom and began drawing the water.

"Emily, are you a witch as well?" Kevin asked as he went to the kitchen to warm up the soup.

"Yes," said Emily. "But I don't come from a magical family like Merope does. My parents are teachers—and they couldn't believe it when they found I was a witch. Took much convincing from the professor from the school. Well, since you know that we're both witches, you don't mind if I use magic in front of you, do you?"

"Of course not!" Kevin said. "I'd love to see it!"

Emily took out her wand and said, "Scourgify!"

Kevin's eyes nearly popped out of his eyes as the dirt disappeared from the walls and floor. "Amazing, you mentioned school. Is there a magic school?"

"Yes, it's called Hogwarts," Emily explained. "Witches and wizards get a letter at the age of eleven."

"If Merope's a witch, why didn't she get one?" Kevin asked.

"My guess is her family couldn't afford it. She told me her mother was trying to raise money so she could go but she passed away when Merope was nine. And I believing her father wouldn't allow it, since they allow children from non-magical families in."

"What difference does that make?" Kevin demanded.

Emily sighed and motioned for him to have a seat. "Not all wizards and witches get along. There are some from full magical families that call themselves 'pureblood'. They think they're better than everyone else because they have more magical blood than anyone else. I am considered muggleborn because my parents are muggles—non magic folk. Wizards that are pureblood would call me 'mudblood'. It's suppose to be an insult."

"It sounds like one!" Kevin looked aghast. "That's just awful."

Emily smirked. "The strange thing is, most muggleborns are better at magic that purebloods. I don't know why that is though."

"Muggle, I think I heard Merope's father and brother saying things like that. Thought it was a word they made up."

"Just a term we magical people use."

"Guess I'm a muggle then."

"Nothing wrong with that."

"I know it isn't," said Kevin. "It just doesn't make sense why those with magic would make such a big fuss over it."

"Probably because we nearly died out," Emily explained. "There were a few times many years ago where muggles and wizards did get along. Sometimes wizards would help muggles with magical remedies. But there wer others that hunted wizards and witches nearly to extinction."

"That's awful!" said Kevin. "Does this still happen?"

"Not often," said Emily. "That is why we keep ourselves secret. We just don't go to every body and tell them who we are."

"Anotther reason the wizarding people almost died out is because they would only stay in magical circles. For some families, marrying amuggle meant death or disownment. The Guants are one of them. One of the few purebloods left. If Marvolo knew there was a muggleborn and a muggle sitting in his house right now-"

"He'd kill all of us," Merope finished for her, stepping into the room with her wet hair clinging to her and clutching her robe.

"Merope, you feel better?" Emily said. "You should get dressed."

"Maybe she should eat first," Kevin said, opening the jar of soup. "Hmm, looks like it could use some heating up."

Emily pointed her wand to the jar. "Tepidus" and the jar warmed up.

"I suppose we could all have a bite. Accio bowls! Accio spoons!"

Three bowls and spoons flew out of htei cupboards and rested on the table. Kevin poured a serving in each of them.

"Incredible," he said. "Magic must make things much easier."

Merope frowned. Not for her family.

"Merope, my father has been investigating the vandalism done on your house on Halloween." Kevin said.

"Vandalism?" Emily choked. "I didn't know about that!"

"It was quiete awful. They didn't manage to get in but they left the garden a mess."

"it's all right," Merope said quickly. "I cleaned it up. Did he find out who did it?"

Kevin nodded, "It was the innkeeper's son, Lloyd and some of his friends. Just playing a prank. He told my father some sob story that his father was in love with your mother or something and that's why his mother ran away."

"He's about the same age as we are," Merope frowned. "I thought they'd be older, the men that killed my mother."

"We asked him about it," said Kevin. "But we ruled that out. He hates your family-,"

"The entire village does," Merope said under her breath, stirring her soup. She wasn't very hungry. Out of courtesy she took a spoonful. It tasted delicious, better than the gruel she has been having every couple of days. She sat closer to her bowl and ate a little faster, almost slurping her soup. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"It's all right. Anyway, after we talked with Lloyd, we discovered he didn't kill her. Like you said, he would have been ten or eleven at the time. No way a boy that young could be capable of murder."

"You said Lloyd thought his father was having an affair with Merope's mother," said Emily. "Could that be a possibility? Maybe it was the innkeeper, or his wife?"

"We've spoken to them both," said Kevin. "Both are innocent. Oscar the Innkeeper only allowed her to clean the place once in a while in exchange for old bottles because his wife wouldn't do the chores, and he didn't really have anyone else to do them." Kevin chuckled. "His wife, Marilyn was rather cross with him for it."

Merope groaned. "Then we'll never know who killed my mother."

"Both Lloyd and Oscar mentioned your father though," Kevin said. "Oscar said he remembered Marvolo was playing cards with some of the men right before your mother died. Then he went berserk and started attacking them, saying something about his wife. We spoke to the men he played with cards that day, Dion was one of them. He said if he won the poker game he'd have his wife for a day. Of course the old drunk was joking, but it made your father very angry. The village knew that your mother was doing jobs for people. Dion only meant for her to clean for him. You think it's possible yoru father could have killed her?"

"I—I don't know," Merope said. "They fought all the time and had duels, but she won each duel. My mother was better at magic than he was."

"Maybe he did on accident," suggested Kevin.

"I don't know, I can't remember much after that day." She looked at Emily. "I think my father might have put a memory charm on me. You think you could remove it?"

Emily's eyes widened. "I don't know. I've never done that before. You might want an obliviator to do it."

"You're a seer," Merope said. "Maybe you can help me remember. You've got to try."

Emily sighed. "All right, I'll try. But if you feel like your brain's melting, tell me to stop."

Merope nodded and Emily stood up, taking a deep breath.

"Ok, try to focus on the last thing you can remember about your mother. It sometimes helps if you have something of hers."

Merope grasped Slytherins' locket. "This was hers."

"Oh yeah, that's right," Emily said. "Right. Here goes. Teneo!"

The memories came but not in any particular order. They were hazy. Merope saw her father carryign her dead mother to the backyard and yelling at them to stay inside. Morfin was saying he was going to kill whoever did it. Merope asked her father to if she could play with Kevin. He slapped her, making her fall to the ground. He pulled out his wand. "You will not play with muggles. You will not talk to muggles!"

Merope's head felt hazy. Was this when he modified her memory?

Merope was gathering clay from the river. Her mother was nearby picking herbs.

Merope saw herself playing with a younger Kevin. She saw the day they met. She saw her handing him a clay fish into his small hands and saying happy birthday to him. She felt so happy. The were tears stinging her eyes.

"Merope, what is it? I told you if you felt like your brain was melting to tell me to stop!" Emiy shouted.

"No, I feel ok," said Emily. "I didn't see my father kill my mother. I just saw a few memories. I remembered Kevin, and playing in the garden and having so much fun."

"You remembered me?" Kevin said happily.

Merope nodded. "We really were close. My father must've put a memory charm on me. I think it was after I asked to play with you once."

"I'm sure there is more," said Emily. "But you're weak. Why don't you go get dressed and we'll go out?"

"Emily, I really don't-," said Merope.

"It'll do you good!" Emily insisted. "Here, I'll help you."

She walked Merope to the room and used a drying spell on her hair. She went through her closet until she found some warm clothes to put on.

"How far are you in the dreams?" Emily asked, glancing outside as Merope dressed. "Are they done?"

Merope shook her head. "Voldemort killed the Potters and tried to kill their baby. Something happened to him. He doesn't have a body anymore, but he's still alive somehow. Must be the horcruxes. Now he's hiding in some mountains. He's very weak."

"You're getting close," said Emily. "And the worst has passed."

"Perhaps," said Merope. "But I think the worse is about to begin. Well, where are we going? I'm not up to flooing to Diagon Alley and I doubt we can bring Kevin with us."

Emily turned back around to see Merope dressed in a warm cotton green dress.

"I was thinking about the love potion you made for Tom," said Emily. "Maybe you can use it. It's been about three months."

Merope shook her head. "I can't make a decision about Tom until these dreams are over. I want to be with him, but I have to do it right."

Emily chuckled. "That's all right. You don't have to use it on him. Maybe you can use it for other people. Christmas is coming. You can sell them as Christmas gifts. Put them in fudge and gingerbread cookies, maybe try making wine."

"But then the whole village will be in love with me!" Merope said. "I don't want that.

Emily chuckled and opened the door.. "We'll find a way around that. Besides, wouldn't that be good for you anyway? Oi, Kevin—is it all right if we use your kitchen? Merope's a tad cramped and we do need to get her out of the house somehow."

"Sure, but what for?" Kevin said.

"We're going to make some Christmas treats!" Emily said excitedly.

"Great idea," said Kevin. "We've decorated my home for Christmas already and my mother has a good collection of recipes."

"You don't say," Emily grinned. "Well, let's get cooking!"

–

The Hale home smelt of chocolate, sweet spices, ginger, peppermint, cider and all sorts of Christmas goodies. They all had a small amount of Essence of Romance inside. Merope and Emily tweaked it so instead of people falling for Merope, who had made the potion, they would develop a romantic and loving mood to their loved ones.

"The only time I've seen this many sweets was inside a bakery," Kevin said once they wre finished, looking over the collection of sweets they have made. Merope was impressed with herself. The tiredness and grogginess had left her and she felt some of her energy come back. She didn't even think about the bad dreams she was having.

Mrs. Hale came into the kitchen to sample a piece of fudge. After she had swallowed she made a face as if she was remembering something. She blushed and giggled.

"Mum, are you all right?" Kevin said.

"Oh, I'm fine," she said. "I was just remembering the day your father asked me to marry him. It was so romantic...you know what, I think I'll go give him a call. Kevin, you're handsome, you know. A lot like your father."

"Thanks, Mother," Kevin murmured nervously.

"I hope you find a good woman someday," she added fondly.

"Mother," he groaned. Emily and Merope smirked at each other.

Kevin watched his mother walk away, raising an eyebrow. He shrugged and turned to the smorgasbord of sweets. Before any of the girls could warn him, he bit into a gingerbread cookie.

"Wow, this is really good," he said, munching on the cookie. "Makes me feel like a little boy again." He smiled at the girls. "You know, you two are very beautiful. Anyone ever tell you that before?"

Merope shook her head and Emily shrugged. "Can't say I have," said Emily.

"What a shame," Kevin said. "The sunset is in an hour or so, we should go and look at it. Would be quite romantic—I know the best place to go look at it too!"

"Kevin, that's not an ordinary cookie," said Merope. "It has love potion in it."

Kevin stared at her and laughed. "Oh, you jest Merope."

Emily nudged her. "Hey, what are you playing at?"

"It's true," said Merope. "I made a love potion a few months ago. I planned to use it on Tom Riddle. I've been in love with him for a long time. But I'm not ready to give it to him quite yet. That's why we're testing the potion in these sweets. It's called Essence of Romance. It's supposed to put people in a romantic mood. I just wanted you to know that's the effect of the love potion. You don't really think we're beautiful."

"There—there really is love potion in all these things?" he lowered his half eaten cookie.

Merope and Emily nodded.

"Sorry," said Emily. "I hope you're not upset."

"Upset, why would I be upset?" he laughed. "I think it's a great idea, sharing your gift with us muggles! It's like what you told me before, Emily. Muggles and Wizards used to coexist. Wizards would even use their magic to help muggles, right? Now you two are doing it."

"Ah, exactly," Emily said excitedly. "Why, that's what Merope's mother did."

"She didn't use magic to coexist," Merope admitted. "She was just doing it for money. Help me and Morfin go to school."

"In any case, she put herself at risk to help us," said Kevin. "My mother owes her her life. She really has helped many people. I wish more magical people did that."

"Well thanks, Kevin," Merope said softly.

"You know what," said Kevin, "I should have Lora try some of these. Maybe take some to that boy she likes!" He went to stairs and called up them. "Lora, come down here. We've made some swets. You have GOT to try them!"

"I'm busy!" came her irritated teen-aged voice.

"Too busy for some sweets?" he demanded. "Oh don't be so stubborn. I remember you would eat every sweet you laid your eyes on."

"Oh okay, okay," she muttered, appearing at the stairs. She tromped down them with a grimace. "They had better be good."

"Oh they're great," he said. "You will love them!"

Without saying hello to either Merope or Emily, Lora walked to the kitchen and ate a piece of fudge. She looked at her brother. "There happy now?"

"What do you think?" Kevin asked. "You...feel anything?"

She scoffed. "No."

He glanced at Merope and Emily. They shrugged.

"Hey, does it make you think of that boy at school that you have your eye on?" Kevin added.

"Why, have they been spiked with some love potion or something?" she said sarcastically as she popped another piece of fudge in her mouth. "Well, this fudge is really good."

"There is a boy you like right?" Kevin scratched his head.

"Of course not!" Lora said. "I don't have my eye on a boy. It's a boy who has his eye on me!"

Lora gasped and put her hands over mouth like she had just said a swear word. "Oh no."

"Really who is it?" Kevin asked.

"N—nobody," Lora took a large handful of chocolate and headed back at the stairs. "I—er-have homework."

Kevin and the two young women laughed. They then put the treats in bags and cider in jars and went to the high street to sell them. They made quite a turnout and they sold every item. To Merope's surprise, a maid that worked at Riddle Manor bought one.

Merope tried splitting the cost with Kevin and Emily but they denied their cut. Their payment was getting Merope out of her cottage. At sunset, the girls agreed to watch the sunset with Kevin. He brought to a hill where they could see over the village.

"Next to the river where I like to fish," Kevin said, "this is my favorite place. I like to come here and think. Sometimes I even bring my telescope to look at the stars."

"It's very nice," Emily said. "I live London so I don't see things like this."

"I'd never go to London," said Kevin. "I don't care about the big buildings and busy life."

"Diagon Alley is in London."

"What's that?" he asked.

"It's a street with wizarding shops," Merope explained.

"Now that I would like to see!" Kevin said enthusiastically. He looked at Merope, who was very quiet. "Merope, are you all right?"

Merope flinched and turned to him. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Hey, you're crying," said Kevin. "What's wrong?"

Merope brought her fingers to her eyes. She hadn't realized she was crying. Nothing felt wrong. She didn't think of anything bad. She looked at the sunset and realized she had never taken the time to look at it. Was she just overwhelmed by its beauty?

"The sunset," she whispered. "It's just so beautiful. I never seen it."

"We could wait for the stars," Kevin suggested.

"Oh another time," said Emily. "Perhaps after winter."

"I have to agree with Emily," Merope said. "Perhaps we should call it a night."

"I suppose it has been quite a day," said Kevin. "All right, Emily I'll take you to the train station."

"Take me to Merope's," said Emily. "I can floo myself home from her fireplace."

"Say again?" Kevin asked as he grabbed the reigns.

"Floo network," Emily explained. "It's a way we can travel through fireplace."

"That's amazing," said Kevin. "You think muggles can do that too?"

"Nah, you might lose an arm or something."

As Kevin drove the girls to Merope's home, he asked questions about the wizarding worl. Themore he asked the more interested he became. He dropped them off and hugged them both, leaving Merope feeling flabbergasted. She felt warmth come itno her cheeks when she walked in.

"Merope, I have a thought," said Emily. "Perhaps you should do as your mother did and use your magic to help the muggles here. You have alist of those she helped, right?"

Emily nodded. "I have, but I don't know if they'll be as welcoming."

"I think after tonight they will," said Emily. "You certainly could use the money. If running away with Tom to London doesn't work, you can possibly raise enough money to live on your own before your father returns. You can also go to the Society for Distressed Witches. They help witches in your situation."

"I'll think about it," said Merope.

"I think you should also speak with someone from the Ministry," said Emily. "Someone experienced in memory charms. I couldn't help you remember everything. And if your father is responsible for your mother's death, they have to know anyway."

"Of course," said Merope,k remembering Ogden's card that she had left on her dresser. "Mr. Ogden, he asked me to meet with him if I needed to. Maybe I should show him the memories from the dreams I have been having."

"I wouldn't go that far," said Emily. "Not unless we really are under the threat of Voldemort rising to power. Now why don't you go get some natural sleep. No more sleeping potion. Instead just use some chamomile tea or something."

"I think I'm done with sleeping potion," admitted Merope.

Emily went into the fireplace and took a handful of floo powder. "Number 17 Chestnut Avenue!"

She dropped the floopowder as she waved goodbye at Merope and she disappeared behind green flames. Merope flicked her wand at the stove, heating the teapot. She went to her room and put on her floral nightgown and she went over the days' events in her mind. It was the best day she had in a long time. She forgot what it was like to eat real food and feel the fresh air on her face. She wanted her dreams to be over but she was near the end. Perhaps in a day or two they will be gone. The water started boiling and she poured the water in a teacup with a bag of chamomile tea. Warming her hands on tne the cup, she turned around and her eyes fell on the trapdoor. She remembered Emily's words about continuing her mother's work. She blew on her cup and walked to the trapdoor. She lifted it up and lit her wand, still holding her teacup in one hand. She looked around the cellar. She had some shelves full of of potions. Other shelves were empty where she could add more. It had been sometime since Merope worked behind a cauldron. She missed it. Merope sipped her tea while she stroked her cauldron. It was time to return to making potions. Perhaps Emily was right. She could pick up where her mother left off. Her mother had recorded the ailments and needs in the book she kept. Merope knew what they needed. After Merope finished her cup of tea, she felt a great calm come to her. Maybe it was the chamomile, maybe it was the fun she had with her friends. She didn't know for sure, but if she couldn't be with Tom, she knew she had a backup plan and that made her happy.

She had just had to finish her nightmares before she could live her dream.

TO BE CONTINUED