Sorry this chapter took a little longer to get up! Like I said in the last author's note, I wasn't expecting the turn this took in regards t Ursula and Elyse so I found myself with this huge conflict and absolutely no way to figure out a resolution. I think that this chapter is a bit of a transition chapter since there is nothing "major" that happens. Just something that is going to set up a theme for later. Also, I really didn't want to make the resolution happen too quickly because that is just too unrealistic in my opinion. It was a bit of a falling out and there is going to be repercussions in regards to what happened.
Now time for some questions/concerns/comments from the reviews.
To the guest who was wondering how Remus saw the vision back in the third chapter, it was possible because the vision was so strong and encompassed literally every part of her that it pulled Remus along with her to see what she saw because he was touching her.
jg2000: The fact that you mention the representation of Slytherin is quite interesting considering some of the chapters I plan on writing. Possibly in two-four chapters the issue of House representations is going to be challenged/addressed head on. I don't want to give away anything but I personally have never read anything like it in any other fanfiction and I look forward to seeing all of your reactions to it. Keep on the look out, it'll be up soon enough.
livestrong617: I have to agree with you on Elyse's actions. I don't like it but it was necessary. There is much more to the story and her actions than meets the eye. that insight will come later in little bits but in her head, Elyse has several valid reasons she did what she did. It hurts her just as much, if not more, than anyone else. The parallel I can kind of draw is when Hermione obliviated her parents for their safety. Elyse thought she was doing the same. If it plays out the way she thinks it will...well, I guess we'll just have to see.
"Have you seen Lucky yet?" Sirius muttered to James as they stood by the refreshment table at Slughorn's New Year's party. Sirius pulled uncomfortably at his necktie, feeling suffocated by the blasted piece of fabric.
James sipped his drink and discretely scanned the crowd again, "No. Have you asked Ursula if she knew if Elyse was planning on showing up?"
Sirius snorted, "Do you think I want to mention this to her? The two of them are still not talking."
"I hate this," James grumbled. He looked over to where Ursula and Ben were standing talking to some famous person who did something or another. Ben, ever the politician's son, was dutifully listening and responding to the person. Ursula was standing by his side, her arm wrapped around his. Dressed to the nine's, they looked the part of being a "Ministry family" as James liked to call them.
"You and me both," Sirius agreed. "Do you even know what happened?"
It irked the pair. No matter how much they asked either girl, the stories never lined up completely and there were gaps.
Remus walked over, looking worse for wear because the moon was later that week. "Have you guys seen Elyse?"
"That's the question of the day."
"Do you have the Map?" Remus questioned.
James nodded but didn't move to take it out, "Checked it a few minutes ago. She was in her room. She's been there the last three hours so I doubt she's moved."
"We need to make the two of them to make up," Remus commented.
"Why haven't we thought of that before?" Sirius asked mockingly. "Oh yeah, because even the thought of making Ursula or Elyse doing something is ridiculous!"
Remus rolled his eyes, "Well we have to do something."
"When you think of something that won't result in us being curse to Hell, let us know," Sirius responded. "Until then, I'm off to entertain myself."
James then noticed how haggard Remus looked, "Hey, how are you feeling Moony?"
Remus's eyes met James's for just a moment but then he looked away, "Decent, considering."
"Considering the moon? Remus, you haven't looked this bad before a full moon since before we started going with you. What's really eating at you?"
James led Remus over to some of the tables that Slughorn has set up around the edge of the room. He grabbed some butterbeer and some treacle tarts. He gripped the back of the chair tightly before slowly sitting down, absentmindedly rubbing his leg to alleviate some of the stiffness that resulted from his standing too long.
Remus's eyes were downcast, "That's exactly it." He muttered to himself.
"What was that Moony?"
"It's nothing."
"It can't be nothing if it is bothering you this much. We already have enough issues going on with Lucky and Muse. We don't need anything else so if we can fix this, all the better."
Remus was silent for a moment before he abruptly asked, "How's your leg?"
James jolted back slightly at the seemingly out of the blue question. "It's fine."
"You're lying. Last night you woke up and were hissing in pain. There was something wrong with your leg. You've been favoring it all day and just now you had issues sitting down. A year and a half later, what I did to you is still causing you problems. I am a monster." He said, his voice full of self-hatred.
James immediately responded, "Remus, you are the farthest thing from a monster possible. You really need to pull your head out of your arse."
"Do you know how many times I've seen the scars on you and Ursula? How after the full moon, I don't notice all your grades take a slight dip for a few days? When you all look like you're about to drop dead? If I wasn't such a…burden on you guys, none of those things would happen."
"I like those things. You want to know why? Because you are our friend Remus. I don't know what friends mean to you but I consider it at the height of dishonor to turn your back on a friend. So what you have a furry little problem? You may have had to deal with all this stuff on your own for seven years but now that you have us, we are in this together through thick and thin, good and bad; damn, I'm making us sound like we're all married but you get the point. We're always going to be here for you Remus. Never doubt that. Oh, and you are not a burden." James added with a tone of finality.
Remus just shook his head, "I don't—"
"Understand why we feel this way? I can tell you why I do. You are a good, brave, honest, sarcastic as hell friend. I'm an arrogant git who needs someone to pull me back to reality. For some reason, you've decided to do that for me. So I chase you around the forest once a month, you make me into a better person. I think that's a fair trade, don't you?"
Remus tried to hide the smile at James's genuine answer. "Eh, maybe not."
James groaned and sunk into his seat, "Remus," he whined like an exasperated child.
"I could throw in talking to Lily on your behalf. But if you don't want me to…"
"Moony, Moony, Moony, no need to be hasty to rescind your offer. I think that can work. I do always give you the frosting off all the treacle tarts when the house elves get fancy."
"Deal." Laughing, they both shook on it.
That wasn't the first time Elyse had disappeared and it wasn't the last time. Later that week, some of them were gathering provisions (food and water) to bring to the Shrieking Shack, Elyse was mysteriously missing from the room. She went to all her classes that week but never stayed around to talk to anyone much and would never turn in her homework. Ursula would try to talk to her. It killed her that she wasn't speaking to her best friend. That, and after talking to Ben about it, she knew that she overreacted a bit and needed to just sit down and talk to Elyse. Yet that was turning out to be much more difficult than expected.
"I heard James say that Elyse disappeared from the Map earlier today," Peter told Ursula as they snuck down to the kitchen.
Ursula felt her fist tighten in agitation. She may want her best friend back and be willing to overlook the argument and what she did, but then she went and abandoned Remus when he needed them the most. "I figured she wasn't coming tonight."
"You sound bitter," Peter commented.
"No shit," Ursula huffed. "It's one thing to be pissed at me. It is a completely different thing to hurt Remus. She's being so incredibly selfish right now."
"I don't know," Peter objected timidly. "I mean, she just lost the guy she loves and the Dark Lord knows about her ability. It would freak anyone out."
Ursula stopped walking and looked harshly at Peter, "First thing first: his name if Voldemort. Lord Voldemort if you want to get technically. Calling him the Dark Lord isn't going to make any different. And secondly, she's the reason she lost him. Just because she saw something doesn't mean that it happens the only way she thinks it can happen. And third, you don't know what it's like to lose your memory. It is terrifying and it nags at the back of your head almost constantly."
"But he doesn't know he's lost his memories like you did. So doesn't that make it…a wash or something."
"Peter, is a person a slave if they don't know it? Has someone lost a part of themselves even if they aren't fully aware?" Ursula challenged. "There is going to be a part of him that always remembers. He might wonder why one day he names his daughter Elyse. Maybe one day when he is seeing a magic trick, he'll know he knows something more and that it is realer than anyone could ever imagine. It will always be on the tip of his tongue, taunting him. That's what she has subjected him to for the rest of his life."
"Alright but are you really going to ignore her? I mean, you're best friends."
"I would if the blame rested solely on me. She said some horrible things herself."
There was nothing else Peter could think to say. He could have antagonized the issue further but he saw the tenseness of Ursula's shoulders and the taut line her lips were pursed into.
"My, my, my…what do we have here?" A nasily voice droned from the behind them.
Ursula spun around and pulled out her wand while Peter jumped behind a statue of a knight.
"Snape," Ursula snarled.
He chose to ignore her and continued walking towards her, two cronies emerged from the shadows on his flanks. Ursula didn't recognize them but one of them looked like Avery.
"I am surprised to see you without your mudblood friend. Though now knowing her…true…worth, I can see the allure," Snape sneered.
Ursula instinctually fought back but instead of using her words, she decided to show her extreme displeasure at his words by blasting them all back. Avery and the other one (now recognizable as Mulciber) were not quick enough to deflect the spell and went flying backwards. Snape, on the other hand, was able to redirect the spell towards a wall.
"Such violence," he tutted. "What would your precious Gryffindors think of such actions?"
"They would join me in defense over one of our own." Ursula snarled.
Snape tisked and shook his head, "But that is where you are wrong, Black." He sent his own nonverbal spell that she quickly dodged. "You wear the red and gold but we all know what truly lies beneath your skin. Blood purer than snow—the darkness runs through your veins right now. How long until you accept that you are living a farce?"
Ursula screeched and assaulted Snape with spell after hex after curse. "I. Am. Not. Like. You!" she bit out.
Snape laughed cruelly as he readily kept up with her barrage of spells, "The temptation is nawing at you this moment. Can't you feel it, the power, the knowledge, the strength? Your precious O'Brian and Evans don't feel that way and they never will. It is only for you. You can't deny what you were born to become."
Enraged at what Snape was saying, Ursula was able to gain the upper hand and he was thrown backwards. She quickly walked over to him and hauled up up from the ground and shoved him up against the wall.
"You're right, my blood is pure and my magic wants to go dark sometimes. But I will never turn to that side of me and accept it. I'm Gryffindor for a reason. I'm braver and more loyal than any snake could ever hope to be. But remember what I am capable of when you threaten my friends because I am not the bigger person. If you cause harm in any way, shape, of form to someone I love, I will be certain to end your pitiful existence with every curse, hex, and torture I know. There would be nowhere you could hide, no place for safety. Cross me and you are as good as dead."
"You speak as though I do not have my own protection and power," Snape hissed.
Ursula painfully pressed her forearm against his sternum, "You're nothing like me, half-blood."
The blood drained from Snape's already pale face, making him look ill. Ursula chuckled pitilessly, "Oh yeah, I know your little secret, Half-blood Prince. Your mother was the last of her line and the line never continued in our books at home. They were enchanted to add only pureblood wizards and witches born. I decided to check out the newspapers and I found her wedding announcement to a muggle. Imagine my surprise when a few years later I come across a birth announcement for a certain Severus Snape.
"Remember that the next time you threaten one of my friends or try to cause us trouble. I am not an enemy you want because right and wrong be damned, I will destroy you."
She released him and calmly walked over to where Peter was crouched behind the statue. She offered her hand down to him to help him to his feet.
Snape struggled to his knees, struggling slightly to catch his breath. "Pragmatic, vindictive, strategic, determined, resourceful, pureblooded, driven, mischievous, resolute…you are the perfect Slytherin."
Ursula turned and regarded him coldly, "And you make a wonderful coward."
And with that, Peter and Ursula were off to get back to their friends.
In a completely different part of the castle, hidden behind a secret door on the seventh floor across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy that only appeared to those who needed something, a lone girl – no, young woman, sat curled into a ball with an amber bottle in one hand and tissue in the other. She had an old and worn green and orange afghan wrapped around her. Her eyes were bloodshot. From the tears or from the contents of the bottle, she wasn't completely sure at this point. Her visions journal rested on the cushion next to her, opened to a picture of herself and a sandy haired boy wrapped in each other's arms as they laid in the field.
Against the far wall, there was a screen put up with a projector lined up.
"Play," she whispered hoarsely.
The projector sprung to life and the reel began to spin. An image soon covered the entire screen and sound filled the entire room. It was her living room back home. Out of seemingly nowhere, Pat jumped in front of the camera with his usual stupidly charming grin on his face.
"'ello Lysie! How's me favorite lass doin' on her sixteenth birthday? I've ter say, I don't really know woot ter say. Woot do yeh say ter someone yeh love so much yeh can barely believe yeh did somethin' ter deserve such a wonderful lass? Yer teh light 'n stars ter me entire life. It may be cheesy as hell but you brought teh magic back ter me life. Yer teh most selfless person I know 'n I feel honored yeh decided ter settle fer little ol' me. I can't offer yeh teh world o' anythin' fancy like yer magical friends can. I can't even offer yeh me heart because yeh already've that. So just…happy birthday, me love. Missin' yeh wit every passing second."
The film froze on Pat's smiling face as he laughed at something off screen. Then the reel clicked a couple times and the image disappeared leaving the room dark once more. Elyse sniffled loudly and wiped the snot on her tissue. Disgusted by it, she threw it on the ground and picked up a new one.
She looked back up at the screen again.
"Again," she sobbed.
The projector flickered to life once more and Pat's smiling face reappeared, "'ello Lysie! How's me favorite lass doin' on her sixteenth birthday. I've got ter say…"