Chapter eight: Erised
Talk of the game and her catch was all anyone seemed to be able to talk about. A few came up to her to ask what happened with her broom, but she never answered. She knew it was Quirrell and Severus and been around constantly, watching to be sure Quirrell didn't get anywhere near her. Sometimes when she didn't realize Severus was even there . . .
"It was Quirrell," Ron explained to Hagrid one afternoon for tea. "Hermione and I saw him. He was cursing her broomstick, muttering, he wouldn't take his eyes off her."
"I saw that too," Draco said.
"Why would Quirrell do somethin' like that?"
Dove, Draco, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another, wondering what to tell him. Dove decided on the truth. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween, using the troll as a distraction. Dad went after him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding."
Hagrid dropped the teapot. "How do you know about Fluffy?" he said.
"Fluffy?"
"You mean the thing has a name- "
"and it's Fluffy?"
"Yeah, he's mine. Bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year. I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the- "
"Yes?" Dove asked eagerly.
"Now, don't ask me anymore," said Hagrid gruffly. "That's top secret, that is."
"But Quirrell's trying to steal it. Dad got hurt going to stop him."
"Rubbish," said Hagrid again. "He's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort. Maybe Snape's just mistaken. And if he was, then you should let the professors handle it. You could get hurt."
"So why did he just try and kill Dove?" Hermione cried. "I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid, I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact, and he wasn't blinking at all, I saw him! Even with Mr. Malfoy and Professor Snape both trying to counter it"
"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" said Hagrid hotly. "I don' know why Dove's broom acted like that, but Dumbledore wouldn' hire someone who'd try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all three of yeh, yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel -"
"Aha!" Dove exclaimed. "So, there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?" Hagrid looked furious with himself.
Christmas was coming. One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow. The lake froze solid and Fred and George were punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, bouncing off the back of his turban, Dove didn't feel bad for the professor for a moment. The few owls that managed to battle their way through the stormy sky to deliver mail had to be nursed back to health by Hagrid before they could fly off again.
No one could wait for the holidays to start. Dove, Severus and Remus would be staying at Hogwarts over break and Dove was told to expect to every year as Severus wanted to be close for the Slytherins who weren't going home. While the Gryffindor common room and the Great Hall had roaring fires, the drafty corridors had become icy and a bitter wind rattled the windows in the classrooms. Worst of all were Severus' classes down in the dungeons, where their breath rose in a mist before them and they kept as close as possible to their hot cauldrons.
Zabini had been worse since the game, bitter that Slytherin lost. He began trying to trick Draco or Dove into doing something. He kept on that next year they could replace Dove with a wide mouthed tree frog. Even his own House was getting annoyed with him.
When they left the dungeons at the end of Potions, they found a large fir tree blocking the corridor ahead. Two enormous feet sticking out at the bottom and a loud puffing sound told them that Hagrid was behind it.
"Hi, Hagrid, want any help?" Ron asked, sticking his head through the branches.
"Nah, I'm all right, thanks, Ron."
"Would you mind moving out of the way?" came Zabini's cold drawl from behind them. "Are you trying to earn some extra money, Weasley? Hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts, I suppose that hut of Hagrid's must seem like a palace compared to what your family's used to." He turned to his friends and asked them loudly. "Shall I contribute to the charity, gents? After all, it's only right to help the less fortunate." Ron and Draco both lunged at him at the same time, with Hermione stuck in between, just as Severus came downstairs.
"WEASLEY! MALFOY!"
"They was provoked, sir. 'E was talking 'bout Ron's family!" Hagrid tried to explain.
"Be that as it may, Hagrid, fighting is against school rules. Five points each. Zabini! I told you last week your essay on hellebore needed to be rewritten. Why is it not on my desk by now?"
Zabini's cheeks turned a slight pink. "I shall bring it tomorrow morning."
"You had better." And Severus was on his way, sharing a secret wink with Dove.
Zabini, Crabbe, and Goyle pushed roughly past the tree, scattering needles everywhere and smirking.
"I'll get him," said Ron, grinding his teeth at Zabini's back, "one of these days, I'll get him -"
"I'll help." Draco seethed in agreement.
"Come on, cheer up, it's nearly Christmas," said Hagrid. "Tell yeh what, come with me an' see the Great Hall, looks a treat."
So the four of them followed Hagrid and his tree off to -the Great Hall, where Minerva and Professor Flitwick were busy with the Christmas decorations.
"Ah, Hagrid, the last tree - put it in the far corner, would you?"
The hall looked spectacular. Festoons of holly and mistletoe hung all around the walls, and no less than twelve towering Christmas trees stood around the room, some sparkling with tiny icicles, some glittering with hundreds of candles.
"How many days you got left until yer holidays?" Hagrid asked.
"Just one," said Hermione. "And that reminds me: Dove, Draco, Ron, we've got half an hour before lunch, we should be in the library."
"Oh yeah, you're right," Draco said, tearing his eyes away from Professor Flitwick, who had golden bubbles blossoming out of his wand and was trailing them over the branches of the new tree.
"The library?" said Hagrid, following them out of the hall. "Just before the holidays? Bit keen, aren't yeh?"
"Oh, we're not working," Dove told him brightly. "Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel we've been trying to find out who he is."
"You what?" Hagrid looked shocked. "Listen here - I've told yeh - drop it. It's nothin' to you what that dog's guardin'."
"We just want to know who Nicolas Flamel is, that's all," Hermione reasoned innocently.
"Unless you'd like to tell us and save us the trouble?" Ron added. "We must've been through hundreds of books already and we can't find him anywhere. Just give us a hint. I know I've read his name somewhere."
"I'm sayin' nothin, said Hagrid flatly.
"Just have to find out for ourselves, then," Ron sighed dramatically, and they left Hagrid looking disgruntled and hurried off to the library.
They had indeed been searching books for Flamel's name ever since Hagrid had let it slip, because how else were they going to find out what Quirrell was trying to steal? Dove figured that if she knew what was at stake, then she could help Severus guard it. The trouble was, it was very hard to know where to begin, not knowing what Flamel might have done to get himself into a book. He wasn't in Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, or Notable Magical Names of Our Time; he was missing, too, from Important Modern Magical Discoveries, and A Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry. And then, of course, there was the sheer size of the library; tens of thousands of books; thousands of shelves; hundreds of narrow rows.
Bored and needing to stretch her legs, Dove wandered the library glancing around for any titles that might be useful. Somehow without realizing it, she ended up in the very back over by the Restricted Section. She traced a finger along the gate leading in, wondering to herself if it might be in there. Unfortunately, you needed a signed note to go in and she doubted Minerva or Severus would sign one for her. Dove turned to mention it to the others and came face to face with Madame Pince, the librarian who disliked everyone.
"What do you want, girl?" She demanded.
"N-nothing, just taking a small break on studying. Stretch the limbs, you know." Dove began backing away from Pince and the Restricted Section carefully, as though from a wild animal. They had already agreed they'd better not ask Madam Pince where they could find Flamel. They were sure she'd be able to tell them, but they couldn't risk Quirrell, or Severus and Minerva, hearing what they were up to. Dove very seriously doubted her father would be all that understanding about their focus at the moment. In fact, it was almost guaranteed she'd get in trouble. He had already told her not to worry about Quirrell, that he had it, but she couldn't help it. She was curious and just felt the need to get involved. They had been searching for two weeks, and still nothing. It was very discouraging as Ron and Dove saw Hermione and Draco off to the train.
"Now, keep looking over break," Hermione said. "I'll see what I can find."
"I can look in our library at home." Draco offered. "I could even ask- "
"No," Ron said. "Don't ask anyone. If they know, then they probably won't tell, and if they don't they might ask Professor Snape why you're asking."
Dove nodded. "Ron and I will keep looking here. I think we might be able to get into the Restricted Section if we go at night."
"And get caught by Filch again? Or Fluffy?" Hermione whispered.
"Last time he already knew we would be there, and this time we know our way around the castle better. We shouldn't get lost."
Once the holidays had started, Ron and Dove were having too good a time to think much about Flamel. They had the dormitory to themselves and the common room was far emptier than usual, so they were able to get the good armchairs by the fire. They sat by the hour eating anything they could spear on a toasting fork, bread, English muffins, marshmallows, and plotting ways of getting Zabini expelled, which were fun to talk about even if they wouldn't work. They spent a lot of time with Remus and Severus. Remus still had plenty of stories about Dove's father, both of them. He even told her about the numerous times Lily shot James down when he wanted to go out with her. He said James knew from the moment he saw Lily, that that was the only girl for him. Severus then admitted quietly, but everyone heard, that Lily had that effect on people. You couldn't help but fall in love with her.
On Christmas Eve, Dove and Ron slept in a huge, comfortable pallet on the floor of Severus' sitting room- though some time in the middle of the night she woke Severus up by crawling into his bed to cuddle. This time, as opposed to the last, he was able to fall back asleep afterwards. However, he woke up early the next morning. Remus was already awake and making tea so they sat at the breakfast nook and drank tea, slowly shaking the last remnants of sleep from their heads. Remus watched Severus carefully, the dark corners of sleep not the only thing he was trying to get out of his mind. He'd had that dream again. Ron woke up next, bleary eyed and cold. Severus insisted they wait a bit longer for Dove to wake up, but when she was still asleep at ten, he went to wake her.
"Dove, wake up."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"No." Severus growled at the trick and picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and carrying her out to the other two. She squealed in laughter and tried to get away, but he dropped her onto the couch in front of the mountain of presents waiting- begging- to be opened. She stared at it open mouthed.
"Those are presents." She stated in a wistful voice.
"Well spotted." Severus complimented.
Ron tossed her one, a long thin one. "This one's from Hagrid."
"For me?" She asked, still in a daze.
Severus snorted. "No, he threw it at you because it's for Granger." Remus gave him a look.
"Of course it's for you, Prongslette." Dove carefully unwrapped it, that increasingly familiar swell in her heart. She pulled out a roughly whittled flute, obviously done by Hagrid himself, and blew on it. It sounded like an owl. That swell grew.
Severus and Remus sat back and watched as the two first years began tearing through presents with no more hesitance. Remus had gotten his host something, but he was unsure about it. And Severus had a gift for the werewolf, but he wasn't sure if he would give it to him. They weren't enemies anymore, but not friends either. Severus tried think of how to word it, but found whatever description he came up with to be lacking.
"You've got a Weasley sweater." Ron said with pink ears. Mrs. Weasley was apparently infamous for them. Severus was sure he still had one in his closet somewhere, but he wasn't going to go looking for it. Dove pulled out the emerald green sweater with her initial and grinned, slipping it on over her night clothes.
"It's brilliant." She said.
There was a large box of Chocolate frogs from Hermione, along with a note to remind them to look in the library. Draco sent her a special sketchbook that makes your pictures move once you finish them. Aunt Cissa and Uncle Lucy, he knew she called him this and she didn't think he liked it, sent her a book on proper etiquette and a couple new dresses.
Severus handed her a box from him and Remus both, wrapped half in silver and half in gold. She was especially careful to unwrap this one, that surge of emotion threatening to burst through her skin. Inside was her first Wizarding camera, along with scrapbooking materials and a few picture frames. Remus also got her a red umbrella shaped like a heart that she absolutely loved. Severus, while she was distracted by everything, whispered a spell on her locket that parents used on younger children to find them if they were lost or hurt. Better than a Point Me spell.
Finally, there was only one gift left. It was light and Dove unwrapped it, curious as there was no note. Something fluid and silvery gray went slithering to the floor where it lay in gleaming folds and Remus inhaled sharply. Severus looked over.
"It's an Invisibility Cloak."
"It was James'." Remus said. "I remember it well."
"Potter had an Invisibility Cloak?"
Ron picked a note that fell with the cloak and read aloud. "Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well. A Very Merry Christmas to you."
Severus snatched it out of his hand and read it for himself before handing it to Remus. "Albus. No. Absolutely not. This is too much. He is asking her to get in trouble!"
"Well, actually, I think this is him trying to make sure I don't." Dove pointed out. Severus cut her off with a glare, moving to the fireplace to call Albus.
"Grayson Residence. Albus!"
"Severus? I'm afraid he went out, probably in hopes of avoiding this conversation. He sent Dove that cloak to help her. And yes, it comes very much in handy to her and keeps her more or less out of trouble. Even helps you I think."
"And if I- "
"Confiscate it so she can't use it at all? Albus would just find a way around that."
"You're- "
"Yes, I'm sure she won't get hurt because of it. It saves her life. And I do know that it's annoying when I do that."
"Right." Everyone watched the scene with interest, all wondering who the girl on the other side was.
"Oh! And Severus? Watch out for Hagrid, loose lips and all."
Dove and Ron looked at each other nervously. That girl knew about Hagrid's slip up. Maybe they should ask him about this mysterious person. Severus ended his Floo call with a red face and glared at the shimmery fabric in Dove's hand.
"Severus?" Remus called later. "Are you alright?"
"Why do you care?" He snarled. He had been quiet since that morning. "Did you use it to sneak up on me? Is that why I could never get away?"
"I can't go back in time and take it back, Severus. I wish I could, but I can't. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that we were awful to you. I'm sorry that yes, we used the cloak and the map to torture you. I'm sorry we ruined your friendship with Lily. I'm sorry Sirius tricked you that night into coming beneath the tree. I can't do anything about it now. Please, Severus. Please, can't we just forget all of that and be friends. Or maybe- " Remus took a deep breath. "I would love to at least be friends."
"What do you mean, at least?" Severus asked quietly.
Remus took a step closer and kissed him gently, just the slightest touch of his lips.
That night, alone under her new cloak, Dove opened the portrait and snuck out into the corridor. Everything was quiet, and actually very peaceful. She decided she rather liked the idea of sneaking out in the future just to walk around. She couldn't believe she had her father's cloak. Something to connect her to James Potter beyond a few pictures and a name.
The library was pitch-black and very eerie. Dove lit a lamp to see her way along the rows of books. The lamp looked as if it was floating along in midair, and even though Dove could feel her arm supporting it, the sight gave her the creeps, but it a strange good way.
The Restricted Section was right at the back of the library. Stepping carefully over the rope that separated these books from the rest of the library, she held up her lamp to read the titles. They didn't tell her much. Their peeling, faded gold letters spelled words in languages she couldn't understand. Some had no title at all. One book had a dark stain on it that looked horribly like blood. The hairs on the back of Dove's neck prickled and she smiled with this adrenaline. Maybe she was imagining it, maybe not, but she thought a faint whispering was coming from the books, as though they knew someone was there who shouldn't be. She had to start somewhere. Setting the lamp down carefully on the floor, she looked along the bottom shelf for an interesting looking book. A large black and silver volume caught her eye, looking almost exactly like a book Severus had that she wasn't allowed to touch. She pulled it out with difficulty, because it was very heavy, and, balancing it on her knee, let it fall open.
A piercing, bloodcurdling shriek split the silence - the book was screaming! Dove couldn't help but let out her own scream in surprise before she snapped it shut, but the shriek went on and on, one high, unbroken, earsplitting note. She stumbled backward and knocked over her lamp, which went out at once. Panicking, she heard footsteps coming down the corridor outside - stuffing the shrieking book back on the shelf, she ran for it. She passed Filch in the doorway; Filch's pale, wild eyes looked straight through her, and Dove slipped under Filch's outstretched arm and streaked off up the corridor, the book's shrieks still ringing in her ears.
She came to a sudden halt in front of a tall suit of armor. She had been so busy getting away from the library, she hadn't paid attention to where she was going. Perhaps because it was dark, she didn't recognize where she was at all. There was a suit of armor near the kitchens, she knew, but she must be five floors above there. Dove sighed heavily, thinking to herself that someone should really think about making a map of some sort.
Just ahead of her was a door slightly ajar, behind her she could hear footsteps and she felt something calling her. So she followed it to a strange room. It looked like an unused classroom. The dark shapes of desks and chairs were piled against the walls, and there was an upturned wastepaper basket, but propped against the wall facing her was something that didn't look as if it belonged there, something that looked as if someone had just put it there to keep it out of the way. She walked through the clutter in a sort of trance, until she stood before it. A magnificent mirror with ornately carved claw feet, with a height the reached the ceiling. There was an inscription carved around the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. It was almost as if the rest of the world melted away when she stepped in front of it. She gasped, a soft breath of air, at the group she saw instead of just her.
Dove glanced around her, but she was still alone. She recognized her mother, Lily. Her bright green eyes, red lips, and heart shaped face Dove had inherited. Beside Lily was James Potter, grinning in a subdued way that made her sad. His unruly hair was just that, like someone had ruffled it just recently. They stood on one side of her, and on the other stood Severus- smiling lovingly. Standing to his right, with his arm hanging loosely around the Slytherin, was Remus. He winked at her with a smile. Behind her stood the rest: Lucius, Narcissa, Draco, Ron, Hermione, Minerva, Albus, George, and Fred with his hand intertwined in hers. She blushed before taking in everything again. Her family. "I'll come back," she promised in a whisper.
The next morning, she picked at her breakfast.
"You could have come and got me." Ron told her.
"You can come tonight," she said, still distracted. "It was amazing. You were there, in the mirror. So was Dad and Remus and Fred- "
"Did someone say my name?"
"I can tell you're George," Dove said as George sat across from her and Fred sat beside her.
"How?" Ron asked through a mouthful of bacon incredulously.
Dove stammered. "Well, you know, Fred has more freckles on his nose and cheeks. George has them on his forehead."
The twins looked at each other curiously, no doubt thinking of ways to switch their freckles. What Dove feared most was that she might not be able to find the mirror room again. With Ron covered in the cloak, too, they had to walk much more slowly the next night. They tried retracing Dove's route from the library, wandering around the dark passageways for nearly an hour- even spying Fred and George on a run to the kitchens for snacks.
"I'm freezing," said Ron. "Let's forget it and go back."
"No!" Dove hissed. "You don't understand. I know it's here somewhere."
They passed the ghost of a tall witch gliding in the opposite direction, but saw no one else. just as Ron started moaning that his feet were dead with cold, Dove spotted the suit of armor.
"It's here, just here, yes!"
They pushed the door open. Dove dropped the cloak from around her shoulders and ran to the mirror. There they were. His mother and father beamed at the sight of him. Severus was happy. Remus wasn't lonely. She had family who loved her.
"See?" She whispered.
"I can't see anything."
"Look! Look at them all... there are loads of them..."
"I can only see you."
"Look in it properly, go on, stand where I am."
Dove stepped aside, but with Ron in front of the mirror, she couldn't see her family anymore, just Ron in his paisley pajamas. Ron, though, was staring transfixed at his image.
"Look at me!" he said.
"Can you see all your family standing around you?"
"No, I'm alone, but I'm different. I look older- and I'm head boy!"
"What?"
"I am! I'm wearing the badge like Bill used to and I'm holding the house cup and the Quidditch cup. I'm Quidditch captain, too." Ron tore his eyes away from this splendid sight to look excitedly at Dove.
"Do you think this mirror shows the future?"
"How can it?" Dove asked. "Lily and James Potter are dead."
Remus looked up when Severus entered the kitchen. It was late and though they shared that kiss that made his knees weak to think about, they hadn't been in the same room since. It wasn't necessarily awkward, but it wasn't not awkward either. Severus had kissed him back, that was a good sign- right? But then he just left and stayed in his room almost the entire next day. Remus had admittedly thought about going back to his house, not wanting to force Severus into making a decision- or not making a decision as it currently stood. Remus got up from the table to leave, not wanting to impose, but Severus stopped him.
"What do you want from me?" He asked with an undertone of desperation.
Remus took in a deep breath. "I don't know. That's a difficult question to answer. I want to be near you. I want to be friends at least, but I suppose if you don't want to after last night I understand. I just- you. I just want you. Whatever way you decide you want."
Severus sat down across from him. "I have no experience in this sort of thing. I've never been in a relationship. I've never gotten close to anyone since Lily. I haven't wanted to. I'm difficult, mean, and too stubborn to change any of that."
"And you iron your socks." Remus pointed out very seriously.
"You fold yours." He countered.
"Touché." Remus traced the rim of his teacup. "I'm a werewolf. I can't change that, but I care about you. I care about you a lot. I don't have any experience with this either. I haven't shared more than my name really in ten years. But I want to. You asked me what I want. What do you want?"
There was a pause and Remus didn't think the other man was going to answer. But then, "Okay. Let's give it a shot."
The third night Dove found her way to the mirror much faster than before, despite Ron asking her not to go back. She sat on the stone floor watching her family. In this world, James and Severus were old friends and Lily didn't break his heart, but instead push him toward Remus. She wrote out scenarios in her head of how things could have been.
"Back again, Dove?" Her head snapped up at Albus. He was sitting on a desk behind her with his grandfather smile. "I see you, like many before you, have discovered the wonder that is the Mirror of Erised."
"I didn't know it was called that, sir."
"Surely, dear girl, you've realized what it does?"
"It shows me my parents, Dad is happy, Remus isn't alone anymore. Ron-"
"- sees himself as Head Boy and Quidditch Captain. Yes, I know."
"How did you know?"
"It is an amazing thing, how oblivious one can be when one is invisible."
"He's really upset about that."
"Yes," Albus said. "I knew he would be, which is why I let Evangeline talk to him."
"How does she know things? Did you tell her?"
Albus smiled again, "Miss Grayson is special. Sometimes, a lot of times, she just knows things. Such is second sight." He took a deep breath. "This mirror shows you nothing less than your heart's deepest desire. The happiest man in the world would look in it and only see himself as he is."
Dove looked away from the mirror to the Headmaster. He continued in a more serious note. "However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible.
"The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Dove, and I must ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that. Now, why don't you put that admirable cloak back on and get off to bed?"
Dove picked up the cloak and headed toward the door before turning back. He was looking at the mirror forlornly. "Sir? What is it that you see when you look into the mirror?"
"I? I see myself holding up a pair of thick, woolen socks? One can never have too many socks. Alas, another Christmas has passed and I didn't get a single pair. People insist on getting me books."
Dove could tell he wasn't being truthful, but to be fair, it was a very personal question. She supposed she should have expected such an answer. She did quit going out at night, and her new Invisibility Cloak lay untouched in her trunk for the rest of the holiday.
Severus stared at the fire in his favorite chair, waiting for Remus to walk into their chambers. It was only the second full moon since he'd been staying at Hogwarts, the first since they'd decided to try a relationship. Remus was supposed to come back here where Severus would help- rather than having to explain to any students why he was in the Hospital Wing. Dove didn't know, and while they planned on telling her to prevent future problems, they didn't want her to find out by seeing him hurt after a bad night. They hadn't told her about them either, but that they were going to next they saw her. Just then the fire turned an emerald green and a head popped through.
"Severus!"
"Poppy?"
"Come quick, bring your potions. Remus has had a bad run of things."
With a sinking feeling, Severus grabbed his bag and rushed into the fireplace. As soon as he passed through, he saw Remus- bloody and in obvious pain. He was groaning and writhing on the bed. When he saw Severus he whimpered and reached for him. Severus grabbed his hand and started pulling potions out of the bag. First, a pain reliever.
"It's going to be okay," he said. "Here, drink this." He tipped the vial and massaged his throat so it went down easier. After a few seconds, Remus calmed down. Madame Pomfrey came over with a wet rag and wiped the blood from his face. Blood Replenishers next.
"What happened?" Severus asked. "You took your potion, didn't you?"
"Yes," Remus said. "But, there's something wrong. Something is going on in the Forbidden Forest. There's dark magic everywhere. The inhabitants are almost all in hiding. The centaurs have been pushed back."
"Get Albus here," Severus told Madame Pomfrey.
Hermione and Draco came back the day before term started back, the former was horrified Dove had been roaming the castle after dark, and disappointed that even with the roaming they were no closer to finding out who Nicholas Flamel was. Draco thought it was amazing. Dove was sure she had read the name somewhere before, she just couldn't remember where. So, they were back to scouring the library every day in hopes of stumbling across something.
Oliver Wood began pushing them harder in their practice, being more serious than Dove was sure was healthy for him. Though, lately she'd been having her terrible nightmares again and they seemed to disappear when she was exhausted after Quidditch practice. Snow had begun decreasing, and in its stead, a valley of mud surrounding the castle, particularly the Quidditch Pitch. Then one day Oliver let out his reason for being so strict when Fred and George were playing around, dive-bombing each other and pretending to fall off their brooms.
"Will you stop messing around!" he yelled. "That's exactly the sort of thing that'll lose us the match! Snape's refereeing this time, and he'll be looking for any excuse to knock points off Gryffindor!"
George Weasley really did fall off his broom at these words.
"Snape's refereeing?" he spluttered through a mouthful of mud. "When's he ever refereed a Quidditch match? He's not going to be fair if we might overtake Slytherin."
The rest of the team landed next to George to complain, too.
"It's not my fault," said Wood. "We've just got to make sure we play a clean game, so Snape hasn't got an excuse to pick on us." Everyone looked at Dove.
"It'll be okay though, right?" Fred whispered to her after practice. "I mean, you're his daughter."
Dove shook her head. "He has to favor Slytherin. He doesn't have a choice. He told me he can't favor me and he has to them for- reasons. Even if Slytherin isn't playing, he still has to look like he hates us."
"So, we're doomed?" She nodded.
"Why can't someone else referee this match?" Dove whined, pacing back in forth with Remus and Severus sitting on the loveseat, both very amused. "I mean, you never referee and you'll have to be awful. Then the whole team will be mad at me."
"I want to be close so if something like last time happens, I can stop it. Remus will be in the stands, I will be on the field. Everything is covered. Just play as clean as you can, then I won't have any reason to dock you points."
"You'll make something up, I know it." Dove accused before stopping mid-step. "Did you just call him Remus?"
Severus' cheeks flushed. "That is his name is it not?"
Dove crossed her arms and studied the two. "It is, but you only ever call him Lupin. Or Wolf. What's going on?"
"There, you see?" Remus pretended to complain. "You've gone and turned her into a Slytherin. Neither her parents were this observant."
"Lily could be from time to time."
"Dad! Tell me."
Severus had agreed she deserved to know, but still wasn't sure how to address it. How do you say it? "Severus and I are seeing each other." Remus said for him, interweaving their fingers like they'd been doing whenever they were just relaxing or talking. The relationship began easy and smooth, like it was already habit. Natural.
"Oh," Dove said confused. Then, "Oh!" She grinned big. "I'm so happy for you guys." She hugged them both before taking a picture with her new camera and skipping back to her dorm, Quidditch game forgotten.
Later, she was depressed again- telling Hermione, Draco, and Ron about Severus refereeing and even his and Remus' good news. Hermione and Draco didn't seem surprised. She expressed to them her thoughts that if they lost, the team would be angry with her since he was her father.
"Don't play," Draco said.
"Say you're ill," was Ron's contribution.
"Pretend to break your leg." Hermione suggested.
"Really break your leg." Draco and Ron chorused. Dove groaned and hid her face in her hands as the portrait opened and Neville toppled into the common room. How he had managed to climb through the portrait hole was anyone's guess, because his legs had been stuck together with what they recognized at once as the Leg-Locker Curse. He must have had to bunny hop all the way up to Gryffindor tower.
Everyone fell over laughing except Hermione, who leapt up and performed the countercurse. Neville's legs sprang apart and he got to his feet, trembling. "What happened?" Hermione asked him, leading him over to sit with Dove, Draco, and Ron.
"Blaise Zabini." He muttered. "Met him outside of the library. He said he was looking for someone to practice on."
"That's ridiculous!" Dove exclaimed, happy to be able to express her irritation on something reasonable. "You should have cursed him back!"
"Go to Professor McGonagall." Hermione told him.
"Minerva would only be able to take it to Dad, and he would let him go without any points taken or detention. He has to."
Draco and Ron groaned at the same time.
"You've got to stand up to him, Neville!" Draco said. "He's used to walking all over people, but that's no reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier."
"There's no need to tell me I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor. Zabini's already done that," Neville choked out.
Dove felt in the pocket of her robes and pulled out a Chocolate Frog, the very last one from the box Hermione had given her for Christmas. She gave it to Neville, who looked as though he might cry.
"You're worth twelve of Zabini," She insisted.
"Yeah!" Ron agreed. "The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn't it? And where's Zabini? In stinking Slytherin."
"No offense, Draco." Dove said quickly.
He shrugged. "I love being in Slytherin, I just can't stand some of the others in my House."
Neville smiled shakily. "Thanks. Did you want the card, Dove? I know you're collecting them now."
Dove took it and Neville went upstairs. She glanced down absentmindedly before gasping. "Draco! Look. I've found him! I've found Flamel! I told you I'd read the name somewhere before, I read it on the train coming here - listen to this: 'Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel'!"
Hermione jumped to her feet. She hadn't looked so excited since they'd gotten back the marks for their very first piece of homework. "Stay there!" she said, and she sprinted up the stairs to the girls' dormitories. The other three barely had time to exchange mystified looks before she was dashing back, an enormous old book in her arms that Dove had seen beside her bed
"I never thought to look in here!" she whispered excitedly. "I got this out of the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading."
"Light?" said Ron, but Hermione told him to be quiet until she'd looked something up, and started flicking frantically through the pages, muttering to herself. At last she found what she was looking for.
"I knew it! I knew it!"
"Are we allowed to speak yet?" Ron said grumpily. Hermione ignored him.
"Nicolas Flamel," she whispered dramatically, "is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone!"
This didn't have quite the effect she'd expected, except Draco's jaw dropped.
"The what?" Dove and Ron asked.
"Oh, honestly, don't you two read? Look, read that, there."
She pushed the book toward them, and Dove and Ron read: The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Sorcerer's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal. There have been many reports of the Sorcerer's Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera lover. Mr. Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight).
"See?" Draco said when they had finished. "The dog must be guarding Flamel's Sorcerer's Stone! I bet he asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for him, because they're friends and he knew someone was after it, that's why he wanted the Stone moved out of Gringotts!"
"A stone that makes gold and stops you from ever dying!" Dove said. "No wonder Quirrell's after it! Anyone would want it."
"And no wonder we couldn't find Flamel in that Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry," Ron added. "He's not exactly recent if he's six hundred and sixty-five, is he?"
Dove had decided she had to play, not that she had really thought to not to all that seriously. Fred tried to comfort her before the game, telling her that even if everyone else stopped talking to her- which he very much doubted- he and George would still be there. Ron, Hermione and Draco came to wish her good luck. They had invited Draco to sit with them in the Gryffindor stands since Slytherin wasn't playing and he was dressed all up in Hufflepuff colors, just to play devil's advocate.
"Don't want to pressure you, Potter, but if we ever need an early capture of the Snitch it's now. Finish the game before Snape can favor Hufflepuff too much." Oliver's words echoed in her ears as the game began.
Draco, Ron, and Hermione watched the game carefully, switching from Dove to the teachers box where Quirrell sat between Remus and Albus- looking very put out. "Wonder how long Potter's going to stay on her broom this time? Anyone want a bet? What about you, Weasley?" It was Zabini, Crabbe, and Goyle.
They didn't answer; Severus had just awarded Hufflepuff a penalty because George Weasley had hit a Bludger at him. No one saw the faint smirk Severus gave the Beater. Hermione, squinted fixedly at Dove, who was circling the game like a hawk, looking for the Snitch. So far so good and there was no sign of a cursed broom.
"You know how I think they choose people for the Gryffindor team?" Zabini asked loudly a few minutes later, as Severus awarded Hufflepuff another penalty for no reason at all. "It's people they feel sorry for. An inspiring notion, really. See, there's Potter, who's got no parents. Then there's the Weasleys, who've got no money. You should be on the team, Longbottom, you've got no brains."
Neville went bright red but turned in his seat to face Zabini. "I'm worth twelve of you, Zabini," he stammered.
Zabini, Crabbe, and Goyle howled with laughter. "Longbottom, if brains were gold you'd be poorer than Weasley, and that's saying something."
Ron's nerves were already stretched to the breaking point with anxiety about Dove and the game, but it was Draco who replied. "I'm warning you, Zabini, one more word- "
"Look" Hermione said suddenly, "Dove- "
"What? Where?"
Dove had suddenly gone into a spectacular dive, which drew gasps and cheers from the crowd. She streaked through the air at higher a speed than anyone had ever seen. Hermione stood up suddenly, her crossed fingers in her mouth.
"You're in luck, Weasley, Potter's obviously spotted some money on the ground!" Zabini said.
Draco snapped. Before Zabini knew what was happening, Draco was on top of him, wrestling him to the ground. Neville hesitated, then clambered over the back of his seat to help.
"Come on, Dove! You've got it!" Hermione screamed, leaping onto her seat to watch as Dove sped straight at Severus, she didn't even notice Zabini, Draco, and Ron rolling around under her seat, or the scuffles and yelps coming from the whirl of fists that was Neville, Crabbe, and Goyle.
Up in the air, Severus turned on his broomstick just in time to see something scarlet shoot past him, missing him by inches. The next second, Dove had pulled out of the dive, her arm raised in triumph, the Snitch clasped in her hand. The stands erupted; it had to be a record, no one could ever remember the Snitch being caught so quickly.
Dove couldn't be happier as Fred and George lifted her onto their shoulders and paraded her around. She'd done it. She had caught the Snitch again, they won without Severus being too awful to the Gryffindor team, and she was able to see the aftermath of the fight between her friends and Zabini. Remus congratulated her and Severus sent her an approving nod and wink. Draco walked in front of them, announcing her superiority in the ancient art of Quidditch, and even Hermione was having fun without lecture.
~
Just a reminder, feel free to ask any questions about the story, I will answer. I hope you liked it. As always, review please! They make me happy like a clean sheet of paper.