Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Our First Hurdle
The severity of the situation hit me as the aftermath of my ordeal faded. With the foggy feeling evaporating from my mind, I found the ability to worry about what was now unknown. It was like putting on glasses for the first time and realizing that you needed them. You-know-who had tried to look inside of my head. I don't know how successful he was. Judging by the seizure, he probably wasn't. But that doesn't mean he didn't get any indication about future events from my noggin. And then there is Fred and George. The only two people who know what I know. Or at least an extent of it. They wouldn't have a past life to shield them from legilimency. You-know-who could have been in their minds and we'd have no way of knowing. Damn! We were careless. You-know-who was probably looking into students' minds out of boredom. I'd be bored too if I had to live through a second round of DADA curriculum after being one of the darkest wizards in the world, and stuck in the back of someone's head who used to be a muggle studies professor. Discovering Jessie was probably the most entertaining thing to happen to him since he latched onto Quirrell. I can only hope that my mind was the first Weasley mind he tried to invade. That he didn't see beyond Jessie's muggle existence. Otherwise, he is going to know exactly how his plans fail and how he is revived. A careless oversight on my part may have just cost myself, Fred, and George our advantage.
But I can't dwell too deeply. Not with Mum sitting next to my bedside; watching my every move. I am more touched by her presence than annoyed by her hovering. It always feels good for one's self-esteem when family members drop everything they were doing in favor of rushing to your aid. I asked her what she had done with Ginny. There was no way that she would have left the ten-year-old home alone. And if Dad had managed to get off work due to one of his children collapsing, he would have been here as well. Apparently, Great Aunt Muriel had agreed to wait with Ginny at the Burrow. Poor Ginny. There is only so much tea and familiar insults a person can take.
Mum was holding herself together well enough. She didn't allow herself to ask the questions that were clearly on her mind. I wouldn't hold it against her if she did ask. She thought she knew me. Me, as in Holly. Her eldest daughter who she carried inside herself for eight months (Fred, George, and I were born a month early. Triplets are never carried to full-term). Now she'll want to get to know Jessie as if she was a stranger. Not as someone's entity that was deeply entwined with my identity. But I don't like divulging into Jessie's details. If I go too far in, I see gory things that I would prefer to forget.
Instead of questions, Mum kept muttering things to herself under her breath. Things about other injuries I could have possibly acquired by falling to the floor. How she had been worried half to death. Ha! Half to death. There's an expression that always leaves an ironic after-taste in my mouth. But she always managed to work herself back around to who in the castle could possibly be so inclined to violate the minds of students.
"Mum," I said, as I pushed myself up into a sitting position with my elbows. With time, the lethargy feeling had slipped out of my limbs and it no longer felt like such a task to move. Mum hurriedly works to prop up the pillows on the bed so I'd have something to support my sitting position. I don't continue talking until I am leaning against said pillows. "I know you are going to tell Dad about all of this. But can we skip the part about my past life being a muggle? I don't want to explain computers to him".
Mum barks out a surprised laugh. "Oh, Holly. You are something else", she said, reaching over to pat me on my hand. "I don't keep secrets from your dad but I'll see what I can do to keep him from pestering you with questions when you are at school". Mum promised with a little bit of mischief in her smile. Believe it or not, Fred and George got their sense of humor from Mum. I was shocked when I first figured that out.
The start of the lunch period began with Madam Pomfrey bustling over to Mum and me with a platter stacked high with turkey sandwiches, and a small pile of napkins. Very firmly, she placed everything down on the bedside table. "Professor Dumbledore requested lunch be sent up to you," she said. Though who she was referring to, Mum or I, remained unclear.
I eyed the stack of sandwiches carefully. "That seems like too much food for just the two of us", I said. An observation on my part, but also seeking more information.
Madam Pomfrey hmphed and placed her hands on her hips. "Only two people?" She said before walking away with a shake of her head.
Her comment made more sense with the onslaught of visitors that followed. Fred and George burst in first. They gallop straight for me, book bags swinging on their shoulders. Even with Mum yelling at them to "stop running!" Vaguely, I wondered what happened to my school bag. But it isn't a big loss in the light of things. There was nothing important in there.
"Holls, you raving lunatic" Fred said, as he leaned over my hospital bed to pull me into a jarring hug.
"Fred," Mum warned.
"Don't ever do that again!" Fred demanded as he released me to George.
"You were writhing on the floor like someone had used the torture curse on you". George described, hugging me with a little more care than Fred. "Your eyes rolled into the back of your head!"
George lets me go and I slump back into the propped-up pillows. Both boys adopted looks of frowning disapproval and alarm as they peer down at me from the opposite side of Mum. There is much that we need to say. All three of us know it. But we can't say any of it with an audience. "Why do you make it sound like it was my fault?" I whined.
"Oh" Mum fussed, sending her identical sons one of her looks. "No one thinks it's your fault Holly".
Percy and Ron arrived next. "Sorry," Percy said as he walked with purpose. As if he was merely late to tea. "It took me a while to find Ron after I was informed". Percy walked over to the side of the bed that Mum was on to give her a half hug. Placing his book bag on the floor in the process. Leaving Ron to stand at the foot of the bed; looking lost. "I thought it would be better if he heard it from me instead of someone else?"
I take a moment to study Ron's face as Percy's words sink in. His freckles seem more prevalent than normal. And he keeps looking at me and then away when we make eye contact. As if unnerved. You'd think I was a corpse the way he is acting. "Someone else?" I asked, turning my head to look at my older brother. His words finally registered.
Percy nods once. "The whole school is talking about the girl who had a fit in Quirrell's class". Percy informed me in a very matter-of-fact manner.
I sigh deploringly. Merlin, bloody fantastic. I was happy with my school reputation being 'the other Weasley triplet'. Now, until this blows over, I'll be 'the girl who has fits'. "How did it spread so fast?" I asked, looking around at all my siblings.
Percy shrugs. "I didn't find out you were the girl until after my Charms class. Professor Flitwick pulled me aside and said there was a family matter that needed my attention."
"You know those two girls you room with?" George asked, drawing my attention to him. "Not Angelina and Alicia, but the other two. What are their names?" He asked no one in particular.
I flap a hand at George's question. "I don't know. They're too unimportant for me to care".
"Holly," Mum scolded.
"Right. Well, they've been blabbering about what happened in Quirrell's class all morning" Fred said.
"They've been describing it as you suddenly going barmy".
I groaned aloud. Stupid idle-minded gossips. "But you're okay?" Ron asked. I look over at him and upon eye contact, the tips of his ears turn pink. At least he can look at me now. "I mean, you're not going to…" Ron trailed off as he reached up to scratch the back of his head. Cute.
"Yes," Percy picked up the mantle. "Will they send you to St. Mungos?" He asked, looking between Mum and me. Assuming that one of us would be able to answer him.
"No" Mum spoke up first. "Your sister just needs a bit of rest, but she can stay in school" she assured.
The twins and Ron sign in relief. But Percy seems more concerned than before. "Is that wise? Aren't seizures a serious ailment?" He asked, adjusting his glasses like it's some kind of nervous tick.
I shake my head at him. "Umm. What caused my seizure wasn't due to illness". I can see the question in his eyes. I can see it in all their eyes. But I don't want to scare Ron. I don't want to worry Percy. And I want to have this conversation with Fred and George behind closed doors so we can discuss what it all means.
Mum pats my hand again, signaling that she'll explain. "Your sister was attacked". She flat out said. In a family of ten, you tend to not waste words. All four of them gasped but at different octaves.
"In the middle of class? How?" Percy demanded to know. He had his chest puffed out, as if personally offended. No doubt prefect Percy was about to make an appearance.
"It wasn't a physical attack" Mum goes on. "And we don't know who is responsible yet". I glance meaningfully at Fred and George. I do know who's responsible. "But whoever it was used legilimency".
Ron and the twins paled considerably, but for different reasons I suspect. Up until this point, legilimency has only been something evil from storybooks. We all knew it was real, but it hasn't been an actual threat before today. "But" Percy contemplates. "Legilimency doesn't leave a mark. Usually, the victim doesn't even know that their mind has been broken into. Why would that cause Holly to have a fit?"
Mum gives me a searching look, seeking permission on a rather personal matter. Begrudgingly I wave a hand at her. "It's okay," I said, resigned. Jessie got me into this mess. And I am going to have to use her as a cover to stay in this game. "Fred and George already know". I admitted. "There's no point in keeping it a secret from the rest of the family".
Mum purses her lips with the new information. I hope she isn't offended that I trusted Fred and George with knowledge of my past life before her. But Mum presses on. "There are few people who have adverse reactions to legilimency. These people generally have a past life that they remember, and your sister is one of them".
At that moment it was like I became a specimen at a zoo. Percy opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water as he adjusted his glasses some more. "That's extremely rare" he finally settled on.
Ron hasn't blinked since Mum's big reveal. He just keeps staring at me as if I've grown a second head. Well, doesn't he know how to make a girl feel special. "But," Mum said swiftly and pointedly. "She's still the same Holly. Nothing has changed". My sentiments exactly.
My brothers get sent back to class after a few turkey sandwiches, and Mum heads home a little before dinner. She felt safe doing so once she was assured that the staff wouldn't allow for any more legilimency to take place (as if they had that power) and that I wouldn't keel over anytime soon. She also felt that it would be cruel to leave Ginny alone with Great Aunt Muriel any longer. Madam Pomfrey gave me the first dosage of the anti-seizure draught. It was this bubbling purple mixture. It tasted like brussels sprouts and felt like slime as it went down. For dinner, I was provided with kidney pie and a glass of milk. Other than that, I was left alone. Alone with thoughts about how I could potentially be the catalyst to the destruction of the wizarding world. Merlin, wouldn't that be something to see on a resume. Left by myself with nothing to do, not even homework, I can't put off thinking about the inevitable. Fred, George, and I were going to have to attend DADA again. We would have to be in the same room as you-know-who. And we were woefully unprepared. And here I had been thinking that the three of us would be safe at least until Umbridge arrived. Even if we changed things around. That Jessie's knowledge would give us an advantage. How foolish.
During the night, long after Madam Pomfrey had dimmed the lights, 22% of my family came to see me. The soft glow of a well-casted Lumos spell alerted me to their arrival. Quickly, I ruled out that it wasn't Quirrell coming to rip every bit of knowledge from my mind. He shouldn't be brazening enough to approach me with Madam Pomfrey only a shouting distance away. And I know who has come to see me the moment I see that it is two people sneaking in.
Working in tandem, Fred pulls the curtains around my bed area closed as George whispers, "nox" canceling out Lumos. Leaving us with only the dim lighting of the hospital wing lanterns. "We'll have to whisper," George said, coming to sit on my right. "Otherwise, Madam Pomfrey will hear us".
"But we'll keep a lookout," Fred said, waving an activated marauders' map in my face as he sat down on my left. I nod at them to show I was following. Good to see that they at least have a plan. I've been going around in circles since I started thinking about the mess that we are in.
"You-know-who did it," they said at the same time, phrasing it as a statement.
"Yeah". I bit my lip and looked down. "I should have been able to predict something like this. I mean, why wouldn't a deranged psychopath kill time by exploring people's minds". I mourned for my lack of foresight. Ugh. "I knew you-know-who was a legilimens, but I didn't think it would be a problem this early on. And not anything we'd have to worry about. In the books, it wasn't a concern until Harry sees Dad get attacked in the department of mysteries".
"What?" George asked in a loud whisper.
"That's the type of stuff you should be leading with, Holls," Fred said. His face is scrunched up in a glare. But it isn't an angry one. If anything, it looks like he is in pain.
"Sorry!" I whispered as loud as I could as I covered my eyes with my hands. "It's a very long and detailed story. There's too much to remember in one sitting". I explained; frustration leaking into my voice. I will never forgive myself if someone suffers due to my negligence.
"But it isn't a story anymore" George reinforced. "It's our lives".
"Our family".
"And you said it yourself. You don't really know what is going to happen anymore".
"Since you're here".
"And there wasn't a Holly in the books you remember".
I pull my hands down, away from my eyes. But my hands remain on my face, touching my cheeks. "Would it be better if I wasn't here?" I pondered, looking at Fred and George in turn. At the same moment, both boys frowned. George reached over and flicked me in the forehead. "Ow!" I complained as loud as I dared, moving my hands to my forehead to cover the abused spot.
"If you ever say something like that again-" Fred started to say.
"We'll lock you in the attic with the ghoul until you come to your senses". George finished. I lower my hands once the stinging feeling goes away and we all calm ourselves. "You're our sister". George goes on to say.
"Our Jolly Holly".
"You are supposed to be here with us," they said together, very confidently.
I sigh once to collect myself. "Okay," I said. And we returned to the matter at hand. "From what we know, you-know-who at least attempted to look into my mind".
"We don't know what he saw," George said.
"But most likely, it didn't make any sense because I ended up seizing on the floor". I continued the Weasley thought train.
"So, you-know-who may know some things that we know about the future. But not everything. Or he may not know anything at all thanks to Jessie". Fred said.
"Or," I said, swallowing nervously. "He could know everything if he looked into yours or George's mind before coming to mine".
"And we have no way of knowing if the git knows anything," George said, wrapping everything up. We are in a pickle. That's for sure. I wonder how that phrase got started. In a pickle. What a weird thing to say. A person could never fit inside a pickle. It must be a muggle saying; meaning it comes from Jessie's life.
"We can't worry about what you-know-who does and doesn't know," Fred said after a moment. "That won't help us solve anything. Instead, we need to focus on making sure he doesn't try to do that again".
I shrug, feeling absolutely lost. "The only way to block legilimency is occlumency. I think. And we don't have enough time to learn how to use it before the next DADA class."
"We know," Fred and George said at the same time. Oh, do they now?
"After dinner, we went to the library and looked it up. We didn't even have to sneak into the restricted section." George said to give me context.
I crinkle my nose at both of them. "Really? You two went to the library without me?" I asked in disbelief. All last year I had to beg them to go to the library with me. They kept saying that it was too quiet to be any fun.
"Yes, Holls," Fred drawled in a very dry voice. "Contrary to what you may believe. We do know how to read".
I glare back at Fred's tone of voice. No need to be snippy about it. But before we could erupt into a round of Weasley bickering, George stepped in to keep us on task. "The book we read said that the legilimens have to be close to the victim for it to work. If we can learn that from a book in one evening then the teachers must know that too" George reasoned.
"So, they'll suspect it is someone in our DADA class," I said, following George's line of logic. Maybe that's why Dumbledore had seemed like he knew more than he was letting on. One can only hope.
Fred nods, confident in our analysis. "Us three can be ruled out automatically. Us being the target and her brothers".
"They'll have to rule out most students if not all," I said. "Legilimency is advanced magic. Third-years wouldn't be able to pull it off".
"So, that just leaves Quirrell," George concluded.
"But how would they prove that Quirrell is the one who did it…er, well, Quirrell's guest?"
"Doesn't matter," Fred answered, throwing me for a loop.
"Sorry?" I asked.
"Quirrell isn't going to want all of the extra attention. You said that once Snape starts to suspect him Quirrell started to make more bold attempts to get the stone". I nod once. Yes, that had been in the first book. "Attacking you a second time will just raise more suspicions," George explained further.
"So, you should be safe. Especially if we make what happened to you very public. If we let everyone in the school know that it was a legilimency attack. That might…. might make your past life more common knowledge too, but we can try to talk around that if you like." Fred said with a shrug. "But that way everyone will know what happened if you have another fit, and everyone will be pointing fingers."
"Not exactly the best environment for someone who is trying to pull off a heist," George said.
I recline back to think. And here I thought Fred and George would be the only ones to ever know about Jessie. Now my whole family knows and potentially the school.
"But that wouldn't protect you two". I argued. "If you-know-who entered your minds, we won't have a way to know".
Fred and George shrugged as if that thought had occurred to them but they weren't bothered by it. "The book also said that when a legilimens is in someone else's mind they are also open to an attack."
"Okay," I said slowly. Not sure where they were going with this. It's not like they could just assault Quirrell at any given time. And that wouldn't mean that you-know-who couldn't use legilimency. If anything, constantly being accosted might just piss him off. "So, what are you guys planning?"
Fred smiles. Uh oh. "Do you trust us?" He asked.
"Yes," I said, pulling out the S sound. I feel like in this context I should have said no. I mean, I do trust them and they know that. So, the answer will always be yes. But whatever their planning, I have a feeling I am not going to like it.
"Good," said George. He pulled out his wand and held the tip of it against my forehead. "Then you can leave everything to us".
"George, what are you doing?" I asked, a little shrilly. But come on! It's not every day your brother points his wand at you.
"We just need to know how big your head is," Fred assured. If he meant that to be comforting, then he's failing. I have so many questions following that statement.
"You can't measure someone's head with a wand" I whispered at the loudest possible volume.
"We know," they said at the same time.
"But it would be better if you were asleep for this". Fred said.
I try to move out of the way of George's wand. But considering that it is touching me, I can't. "Wait," I said.
"Nighty night Holls", Fred said.
"Somnium" George whispered the incantation, and consciousness faded.