It seemed that Theo occasionally forgot that he had taught her this… And that for her to grasp his intentions took no Legilemency. They connected so deeply, at a completely subconscious level, that he ought to have realized: she would know what he would do even before his ever so subtle, like a spider's thread touch of her conscious mind.
Rose came to with painful effort, resisting the outside force of will that had put her to sleep. Yet, awaken she would, for she knew: Theo would try to protect her; protect her in ways she deemed right.
He would not let her see the werewolf; even if it was her own father. Because he, Theo, was with her four years ago, when the tension was letting up – the same tension that allowed her to continue fighting, to not give up, to save herself and others. And as the tension let up, she would sometimes wake up from nightmares, which she would describe to him in the rare moments of privacy at the school. This was only expected from a human being, Theo would remind her. But she thought herself weak, ashamed of letting her emotions run rampant. And he would merely look her in the eyes, holding her hand…
And so, he stopped her from going, as only he would. And Rose was not cross with him, as would be Lilly or Shelley or Caitlyn or Marie-Victoire – or any other one of her cousins, had someone done it to them.
They simply did not understand him, her Theo.
She finally woke up and immediately looked at her watch: she had been asleep for only three minutes. The girl smiled: she had put up a good block, then. And what was even more interesting: Theo did not see it; or maybe he had, but did not do anything about it. This would be like him: to give her a chance to make her own decision.
The faint smell of Floo powder still hung in the room, and Rose, smiling, stepped toward the fireplace. Even if it meant waking up with nightmares again, she had to be with her father, now that she had him back.
At the last moment, Rose thought of Bertie and Sarah, but decided that their guests were unlikely to wake up before she returned. Plus, Bertie was quite a self-sufficient girl, especially given her friendship with Albus – in the last couple of years, her cousin insisted on doing everything himself and would get quite upset at being treated like a small child.
Rose threw in the Floo powder, hoping that Albus was well, that he was with James, that they had gotten her letter and were on the way home. Because all she wanted right now was to be with her father – for as long as he would let her, knowing that as soon as his Sarah was on the mend, he would want to vanish from their lives again…
She walked out of the fireplace in James' living room and realized that Theo and her father were only preparing for Ron's transformation. And that, unfortunately, James and Albus weren't there. Where had they both gone? The new touch of worry that Malfoy triggered the previous morning made Rose frown.
"I thought you said…" Ron, upon seeing his daughter, looked at the healer in surprise. That's right, Father, he tried, Rose thought with a gentle smile at the two men.
She looked at Theodic: he did not betray any surprise or anger at her entrance. She knew then that he had given her a chance to make her own decision. And he might be pleased that she could block his effecting her mind. The look in his eyes said: if you are here, then you have earned it.
"Rose, you can't…"
"Daddy, it will be alright," the girl walked over to them, shivering: the house had not been heated, and it had gotten quite chilly.
"I would have preferred not to…," Rose's father seem to be looking to Theo to change her mind.
"Let's begin, time is getting short," said Theo, as though putting a stop to the debate before it would start by taking out his wand. He removed his cloak and motioned to the spot where he wanted Ron to stand. "Keep in mind, this will be unpleasant at first."
"I am ready," Rose's father stood straight, his hands in fists: he must really hate turning into a wolf. Rose recalled sadly that very soon he would no longer have a choice, because full moon was fast approaching.
Rose stepped aside so as not to distract Theo. She watched them both closely, knowing what was about to happen. Although she never witnessed it, she had heard all about it.
The girl remembered the evenings at Hogwarts, when she greeted Theo in an empty classroom after a long day at the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry. He entered – still strong and sure – and sat down next to her, a little tiredly. And she asked him questions, talked to him, helped him to get his mind off everything he had to do there, in the dark werewolf cells.
Once she offered her help; after all, he often admitted that her gift for Legilemency was as strong as Xenia's. But he refused – quietly, yet adamantly. And then, after a while, he started to take along Dan Brown, another student who studied Legilemency with Rose. She didn't hold a grudge, however, for Theo even refused Xenia's help.
And now she stood and watched him raise his wand, his eyes turning completely black as he stared into her father's eyes, barely daring to breathe. Rose knew: Theo was searching, as he had done countless times before. Searching for the part of Ron's mind that was forever alien, different, but strong, almost invincible. Searching, based on the emotions and colours that he had encountered in her father's mind. And Rose saw her daddy's face and wanted to look away. Because during this process, as Theo had told her many times, many different memories and thoughts ran across the werewolf's mind…
Rose caught the moment when Theo found it – her father's face became calm, even serene, as though he was about to fall asleep. Because just for a moment, Theo allowed him to be free of his wolf self. Theo had told her of this strange moment, which his patients loved. And which he hated – because it was like giving these people hope that was always futile.
The healer's wand moved, and Rose bit her lip: her father was now under the Imperious Curse. Not even her father, but the part of him that had ripped him from his family four years before.
And the next part was the most intolerable, because Theo had to force Ron to transform, and to do that – to lose control. And the healer hated this part because it caused pain – he once told Rose that, being in his patient's mind, he could feel that pain.
What memory had Theo pulled up from her father's mind? From what period of his life? From the four years that they had been apart or from their former life together?
Ron faltered; it was as though he wanted to raise his arms to his face, to cover his eyes, but Theo wouldn't let him. His legs buckled under him, he dropped to his knees and then, as though responding to Rose's question, moaned:
"It's him… Always him! Forgive me, Hermione… What have I done!"
And Rose couldn't take it anymore – she turned away, because she suddenly her father's face beginning to change. No, she didn't want to see it. Or to hear it…
"Rose," said a gentle voice very close. She turned around – Theo stood next to her. He was looking not at the girl, but past her. Rose stepped aside and saw her father: a large grey wolf with reddish hackles, and big yellow eyes that were now fixed on them. "He is not dangerous."
She knew this already, because the look in the eyes of the beast that stood in the middle of James' living room was strangely human.
"I am controlling his mind. Let's begin…"
Rose watched, a tad frightened, as her father-wolf raised his muzzle, sniffing the air.
"He is checking everything out," Theo said. Beads of sweat showed at his temples; his hand was gripping the wand so tightly that his knuckles went white. "We have no more than five minutes."
They followed the wolf around the room. Rose was not surprised when the beast's hackles rose when he stopped by James' broomstick. The werewolf tensed up and even bared his teeth. Then he looked back at them, as though in warning, and then walked on, to the bedroom. There he walked around the perimeter, halting in front of the wardrobe, the nightstands, as though someone had touched them before. He then returned to the living room, and stood for a while next to the shelves that held books, periodicals, and photo albums.
It all took no more than three minutes. Theo was very pale, his eyes jet-black, unrecognizable.
"Merlin…"
They whipped around and saw James Potter enter the room. He froze, staring, flummoxed, from Rose and Theo to the werewolf, standing immobile in the middle of his parlour. Yes, this must be an impressive sight to behold, Rose thought.
Her cousin also looked a sight: as though he had not slept or ate for a couple of days. Nor changed his clothes, for that matter… In his hands, he held a piece of parchment in which the girl recognized her own letter.
"James, is Albus with you?" Rose stepped toward her cousin, giving Theo and her father time.
"No-o-o," James drawled, slowly shutting the door. "I am confused: have you decided to gift me with a guard dog? Or a wolf…? Damn, is it a werewolf?! Uncle… Uncle Ron?!"
It took them about five minutes to explain to James what was taking place in his living room. He stood helplessly, staring at the tired Ron as he got to his feet and sank down on the sofa. Theo was getting himself together, looking as pale as James.
"So, Al," James muttered. "Him, also…"
"Him also what?" Rose was scared by the helplessness showing in her cousin's face. He was not at all affected by Ron's appearance; it was as though he had been expecting it. "What's going on, Jim?"
And then Rose heard the news that made her collapse into the chair – she knew that her face showed the same helplessness that James' did. Theo stood next to her, his hand on her shoulder.
"Were you able to learn anything new?" James forced the words out, looking disgustedly around the room. "Was the slime bag here?"
"Apparently, yes," Theo turned toward Rose's father. The other man got up and stood next to his nephew, looking at his strangely. He must not have expected for James to look so much like Harry Potter…
"Something is not right with the broomstick; I wouldn't even touch it," Rose's father said calmly, looking away from James. "Everything else… someone touched almost all drawers and books, as though looking for something… As far as smells: yours, James," Ron glanced again at his nephew, "beside Rose's, two other female scents…"
"Lilly's and Xenia's," the girl said quietly.
"The scent of lollipops is definitely Albus'… and his cloak is here, too…"
Rose saw James closing his eyes, dejected.
"And a male scent, strange… very strong… strong smell of Floo powder… and a house elf," Ron looked at Rose sympathetically, as though expecting an explanation.
"See if you can figure out what they were looking for, James," Theo spoke up. "Maybe something is missing. I doubt that he turned every book in the place into a portkey…"
James got up obediently, and walked to the bedroom. He moved slowly and sluggishly, causing Theo to head toward the kitchen: probably to look for a potion.
Rose looked at her father, who even attempted an encouraging smile:
"I always knew that Malfoy the younger would get your cousin into pickle one day…"
"Poor Lilly… And is Albus in peril now also?" Rose got to her feet when James, looking slightly panicked, and Theo, with a vial in his hands, simultaneously entered the room.
Her cousin immediately dashed for the shelves, grabbed a photo album, and started leafing through it. Tossed it aside and took another. After five albums lay on the floor, James finally turned toward them and said:
"All pictures of Lilly and Malfoy together are gone."
Silence filled the still room. James seemed about to collapse.
"I have to check on Sarah," Theo said calmly, handing Rose the potion he had brought for James.
"I'll go," she whispered to her mate. "Stay with him; he might need a healer."
Theo nodded at once:
"If she is asleep, some back; if awake, give her the potion that sits on my desk, then summon me."
Rose nodded, looked back at her father and James, and stepped into the fireplace.
Her house was silent, but for an occasional hoot of the owl in the hallway. Rose was about to enter Theo's study, when the door opened behind her and into the living room walked a very worried Uncle Harry.