Like damn, we got history
Shared every misery
Lived every victory
Yeah, we got synergy
If they hurt you, they're hurting me
That's just the way it be
We walked through the fire
And as the flames got higher
It made us survivors
Yeah, it made us fighters, fighters
So here's my vow
Starting from here and now
Nothing comes between us
Nothing comes between us
I swear that we won't lose this thing we found
'Cause love will never leave us
Nothing comes between us
Between us by Little mix
The news was delivered to me by a small bearded owl who waited patiently for me to read the letter. Apparently he was instructed to bring an answer from me. When I unfolded the letter, it was clear to me why. The letter was written by Remus in the straightforward handwriting I am familiar with. He asked for an immediate meeting with me.
I sighed, he had apparently heard something about what was happening at Hogwarts. I quickly scribbled that he could meet me at the raging sea, I knew he would understand the message. Hesitantly, I handed over the message to the bearded owl, which was certainly rented.
I had to get my own feathered companion that could transmit messages and that I could trust.
I stood on the cliff and watched the waves crash high against the stone ledge. And I didn't have to wait long for Remus to appear behind me.
"Thank you for responding so quickly. At St. Mungo, I was told that you had taken the whole summer vacation off," said his somewhat hoarse voice. Slowly I turned around to hug him, because he was exactly the company I had hoped for and needed.
"Can you stay a few days with me here?" I asked him immediately and he seemed surprised, because he wrinkled his forehead briefly.
"Aren't you busy with other things in your last days of vacation?" he asked softly, but I ignored the allusion and shook my head.
"I still have a week before the next full moon. Let's say I can stay here for 4 days before it starts again," he said, smiling mildly at me.
"Is it still so bad on the two days before your transformation?" I asked back sadly.
"Regrettably. Just like the 2 days after," he said dryly. I looked at his sunken cheeks and dark circles under his eyes with a sigh.
"It was the same with the Wolfsbane, just not quite as bad," he said, trying to be encouraging, because he knew that I would have loved to continue to support him with the magic potion, no matter how time-consuming the production or the expensive cost of the ingredients was. But his pride stood in the way.
"Then we'll let you at least nurse you up a little for a few days," I said and hooked myself into his arms to lead him to the cottage.
There I cooked us a hearty soup from the few ingredients that my small garden provided, which Remus quickly devoured.
"My cooking skills really aren't that good, Remus."; I said laughing and gave him a new plate full.
"You're underestimating yourself, Catherine. I think you're getting better every time. Soon you'll be able to compete with the food at Hogwarts," he said, eagerly shoveling on.
"You really have to be half-starved to think that. Speaking of Hogwarts. I'm sure you've heard of it," I said, watching as Remus choked down the last remnant before looking at me with a serious face.
"So, you've heard about it too? How come?"; Remus asked, his face taking on a skeptical expression. I bit my lower lip as I tried to come up with a plausible excuse. But I immediately asked myself how Remus himself could have heard about it.
"I think almost all the old Order was informed, wasn't it?" I asked evasively, looking firmly into his soft eyes that widened.
"Probably. Dumbledore has asked for strict secrecy. I just don't know how to deal with it, Catherine. I can... it won't happen again," Remus said, sinking into his chair.
"I'm afraid it's the same for all of us, Remus. No one can imagine experiencing all this again. That Voldemort has returned... it is a damnation to all of us."
"Do you think he will be fully resurrected?" His voice sounded brittle and fearful.
"Yes. But the timing is still unclear," I replied evasively because I didn't know how much information Remus possessed, and since I was sitting because of Severus right at the source of knowledge, Dumbledore, I couldn't reveal too much.
"Dumbledore also suspects that his downfall is only temporary and that he will not show up again until he is sure of his new strength." Remus dropped his shoulders. I grabbed his hand, which was lying on the table next to the soup plate.
"We can do it, Remus. We are there for each other, as always." I smiled encouragingly at him.
"I don't know if I'll be able to do it all again. I lived among my werewolf peers in the last war. I tried to convince them that Voldemort was the wrong ally. But honestly? Who can blame them? We are treated like dirt in the wizarding world . It's so horrible to see their desperation driving them to the dark side. I was lucky, at that time I was surrounded by many friends. But now everyone is dead," he said bitterly and I saw a tear of despair run down his cheek.
"I'm still here, Remus. And neither of us will give up without a fight. We fight for those we have lost and for those who are yet to come. Their sacrifice must not have been in vain!" I said passionately and I felt my heart start to burn. It was what I felt, but at the same time it was what Severus had ruled out for us. The fact that I actively entered the fight and put myself in danger did not fit in with our plan. And I knew this was going to be something that could drive a wedge between us.
"You're right, of course. And we owe it to James and Lily. Her son has already proven that he has what it takes. To act so brave in the face of Voldemort is a testament to his abilities," Remus said, and his eyes began to glow as they had in the past when he had prepared mischief at Hogwarts with James and Sirius.
"Well, I guess you can look at it that way," I reluctantly replied, thinking of the anger that the boy's rule-breaking had caused Severus.
Of course, I rejoiced in the company of Remus before he set out again to suffer his transformation away from everything he loved.
I decided to use the free time profitably and roamed Diagon Alley to choose an owl in the Eeylops Owl Emporium. As so often, I got into this alley via the Leaky Cauldron, because it drew the least attention to a witch wishing to hide her whereabouts. I occasionally slapped the owner Tom a few Galleons over the table for his discretion, as did so many other witches and wizards.
The people around me were whirling frantically to do their shopping. Many families with their children running errands for Hogwarts, some familiar faces of which greeted me politely.
But my gaze lingered on a different business than I had originally intended. The golden letters above the front door are slowly peeling off, which still glowed in my childhood. I swallowed, because I had only entered this shop once when I was 11 years old. But I had been having questions burning in my head for a long time, so I carefully pushed the door open. It didn't look any better on the inside than it did on the outside. It was very dusty, and the boxes of wands were stacked up to the ceiling by the thousands.
As I looked around, an elderly magician walked into the sales room. Mr. Ollivander stared at me inquiringly with pale silver eyes before a small smile graced his mouth.
"Hornbeam, dragon heart fiber, 13, 5 inches, slightly springy," he said in a soft voice. "May I see it?"
"With pleasure," I said with a smile and pulled my beloved wand out of my cloak and handed it to its maker. It didn't surprise me that he knew exactly what wand he had once sold me. We had tried about six wands until I grabbed mine, which chose me. It was an indescribable feeling, a warmth that flowed through me, that I often still felt today when I grasped it. Familiarity, reliability.
"I still remember you clearly. I remember every wizard or witch who owns a magic wand made of this wonderful wood, just like myself. A particularly finely tuned and sentient magic wand. Have you been able to realize your vision yet?" he asked, turning the wand excitedly between his hands.
"Excuse me?" I asked, frowning, but still smiling.
"This wood only chooses people with a certain peculiarity and passion. For me, this is probably obvious.", he looked at me again with a fixed gaze, as if I should know the answer to his question. My passion. I thought about it a little while Mr. Ollivander gave me this time, his gaze curiously gliding over my features.
"Maybe it's that I would like to help change everything for the better," I replied vaguely. He looked at me briefly and waved my wand, from which sudden sparks shot and a bouquet with heliotropes appeared. I immediately thought of Severus and felt my heart skip a beat.
"Very interesting. Yes, really. I guess you have a knack for plants?" Ollivander asked, handing me back the wand and the bouquet of flowers.
"Yes, indeed," I said, irritated.
"Well, how do you bring this passion and your vision together?" he asked curiously.
"I am a healer at St. Mungo, in the department against poisoning by plants and poisons," it suddenly gushed out of me.
"So. So. Excellent. I'm glad you found your way. You were very shy and withdrawn at the time you came. So, I was surprised that it became a core of dragon heart fiber, very spirited."
"Honestly, I'm with you because of the core," I replied, lovingly putting my wand back in my shoulder bag.
"Oh, yes? I didn't find a problem with the core. The wand has always been well cared for by you. Very satisfying," Mr. Ollivander replied, frowning.
"Thank you. But I mean more of an event that he triggered. Does Priori Incantatem tell you anything?" I asked softly, immediately hearing him draw in the air sharply.
"Absolutely. But something like this suggests an unusual connection. Who did this happen to?" he asked, grabbing his short beard to think. And even before I could open my mouth. "Ebony, dragon heart fiber, 14 inches, solid, isn't it?"
"How do you know?" I asked.
"He has the only wand with the dragon heart fiber of the identical dragon. He bought his wand from me a few days before you along with his mother. So, you had a duel with him?" he asked, looking at me with interest.
I shook my head.
"Quite the opposite. It came about when we put the wands on top of each other. It was random and-
"An exciting connection between the two of you and also very fitting. Both have their passionate vision, to which they adhere, principles, not acting lightly, but well considered and not influenceable from the outside. I hope you both stand together in common goals? Otherwise, it could end badly between the two of you," said Mr. Ollivander. "But your wands probably didn't create this connection for no reason. They have felt the deep connection of their owners. Fascinating, isn't it? I have only heard of it once in my professional career, but my father has heard of several such incidents. But most of the time, this connection comes more from duels, if I'm honest."
"But it's already happened?" I asked, looking open-mouthed at the old face of the wizard in front of me, whose thin lips suddenly formed a big smile.
"Absolutely, yes," he confirmed in a soft voice.
"But why haven't I read about it yet?" I asked, because I found it irritating that I had never heard of it. A connection of the wands, if the owners were connected. This was unimaginable and truly fascinating.
"Interestingly, most couples want to keep this connection a secret," Mr. Ollivander replied, and his smile disappeared from his face. "I'm guessing you too?"
"Yes," I replied, nodding, my long hair falling over my shoulder.
"Then I promise you, it won't leave my lips," he said seriously and held out his hand to me in promise. I looked into his silver eyes staring at me. I thought for a moment, but I decided to trust him and prayed that I would not regret it and that he would never be in a position where he would betray this connection.
"Thank you, Mr. Ollivander," I whispered, grasping the offered hand in alliance.
"Not worth mentioning. I hope you both find what you're looking for," he said as the bell rang behind us and a little boy with brown curly hair entered the shop excitedly holding his mother's hand.
I nodded goodbye and headed for the business where this trip was originally supposed to take me.
When I entered the store, I had to blink to see something in the darkness. Everything was full of cages from which big eyes stared at me.
"May I help you, young woman?" an elderly wizard asked, slowly approaching me.
"Gladly. I'm looking for a post owl that is native here and doesn't attract attention. It should be smart and very loyal," I said quietly, so as not to scare the animals. He nodded and rubbed his chin thoughtfully before smiling.
"I think I have just the right animal for them. It's been here a bit longer, as it's quite idiosyncratic when it doesn't like someone. But once it's done to you, it will do anything to protect your mail," he said, leading me to a back corner of the store.
"That's exactly what I'm looking for," I replied with a smile and followed the shopkeeper to a tawny owl. The big round head looked at me piercingly with dark, almost black eyes. The animal's gaze reminded me strongly of the man I loved dearly. It felt like a strange connection and I felt how this animal wanted to be treated. Respectful, a little with distance at the beginning.
"Such a tawny owl lives monogam and is loyal to to the owner. This is a male animal and therefore slightly smaller than a female. But it can also handle medium-weight parcels over longer distances without any problems," said the owner proudly. "Feel free to reach out and stroke him, then we'll see what he thinks of you."
But contrary to the owner's advice, I put my hand slightly in front of his beak so that he could look at me in peace. I knew how to deal with beings who tended to refuse contact with others.
He raised his head slightly and leaned forward a little to look closely at my hand and me. I remained in the position and gave him time to react, not jumping over his need for rest and individuality - but suddenly he rose from his pole and fluttered on my outstretched arm.
With his mouth open, the shopkeeper watched as the Tawny owl slowly shimmied up on my arm towards my head. Then the animal shoved its head into my long hair and I knew that this animal would never disappoint me.
"I'll take him. How much does it cost?" I asked, slowly bringing my other hand to the bird to scare at its head.
"10 gallons, Miss," the old wizard replied, slowly closing his mouth.
"I'll add some owl biscuits," I said and walked with the bird to the counter.
When I left the shop, the little tawny owl was quietly in a cage.
"Don't worry, my little friend. In my home you can live freely, you will get out of this cage as soon as possible and-" but I fell silent, because suddenly my breath stopped as a boy with black hair standing in all sides walked past me. He was in the company of a tall red-haired boy with many freckles, because I had met a few months ago in the foxhole, and a girl with bushy hair and protruding teeth. It was as if James was walking past me.
"What do all the people in front of the bookstore want?" Ron asked, rubbing his nose unabashedly.
Their eyes went to a large banner stretched over the windows of Flourish and Blots:
GILDEROY LOCKHART
will be signing copies of his autobiography
MAGICAL ME
today 12.30 -4.30 p.m.
"Oh, we can actually meet him here!" the girl exclaimed that Hermione had to be Granger. "After all, he wrote almost all the books on our list!" Her gaze glazed towards the bookstore in front of them.
I saw a number of witches my age and upwards crowding in line in front of the store. I crowded in behind the three children, too fascinated to watch Harry Potter, an image of his father, but I kept enough distance when I saw Molly standing among the waiting witches near the famous Gilderoy Lockhart and a man of the Daily Prophet eagerly taking pictures while kicking Ron's foot.
His loud remark made the blue-robed Lockhardt look up and he recognized Harry, just as I had done before him.
A strange grin spread across Lockhart's face and he jumped up to loudly greet Harry Potter. The crowd fell into excited whispers, so the magician seized the moment and pulled the boy forward. There was a loud applause, which made my new owl grumble briefly. And when Harry stood up like this, I saw his eyes, his bright green bright eyes, my breath stopped, and a slight nausea rose in me. They were Lily's eyes. I had him in my arms as a baby and he had looked at me with those same eyes, but at that time it made me happy and on this day... it was like a nightmare. There were flashes of lightning around me, because many photos were taken until Lockhardt finally let go of Harry's hand, who was clearly uncomfortable. Then Gilderoy Lockhart began to raise his voice again. His blue eyes glittered smugly over the audience, who pushed even more toward him as I backed away further.
"Ladies and gentlemen. What an extraordinary moment for me! The right moment for an important announcement that has been wanting to get rid of for some time. When the young Harry Potter entered this bookstore today, he just wanted to buy my autobiography, which of course I give him as a gift, and he had no idea that he would soon receive more than my book, because he and his classmates will really get me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce that I will be taking up the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this school year!"
As I moaned loudly, the applause grew loud all around me. The thought of Severus being deprived of his post by this pompous wizard would fill him with hatred and even more self-doubt. Although I was quite grateful that Severus would continue to teach potions. Not because I didn't believe in him, but simply because I didn't know a teacher who had held this post for more than one school year. And in the last school year, the teacher in question tragically died.
I saw Harry staggering from the center loaded with books by Lockhart, his head crimson throwing the books into a little red-haired girl's visibly used brass cauldron.
I walked into the far corner of the bookstore as I watched a boy with light blond silver hair walk up to Harry, who had the arrogant grin of Lucius Malfoy on his face. After what appeared to be an eloquent exchange of blows, Ron pounced on the young Malfoy. I found myself trying to interfere, my hands clenched into fists, my jaw clenched, as Arthur Weasley, along with the two troublemakers, Fred and George, rummaged through to them. I knew the twins could recognize me immediately, so I threw on the hood of my emerald green cloak.
"Ron!" I heard Arthur shout before Lucius Malfoy stood in front of them, his hand resting on his son's shoulder, both with a sneering look.
"A lot of work in the ministry, I hear?" said Lucius, wrinkling his brow. "All these house searches. I hope you'll be paid for your overtime, too?" He put his hand into the cauldron of the youngest Weasley child and pulled out an old battered copy of the book for Metamorphosis.
"Apparently not. And that's despite the fact that you're now an even greater disgrace to the entire wizarding community."
"We have different ideas about what a disgrace of wizardry is, Malfoy," Arthur pressed out of his teeth, his face turning dark red with rage.
"Yes, that's clear."; Lucius said in his blasé manner, his gaze fixed on a couple of Muggles. "You hang out with people like that, but I thought your family couldn't sink any deeper." I drew in my breath sharply, because I knew he had gone too far with it.
There was suddenly a metallic clink as a cauldron flew through the air and Arthur pounced on Lucius' collar and threw it against a bookshelf. There was a loud crash as dozens of books rained down on their heads.
I saw Hagrid come into the bookstore, it was time for me to retire to another niche of the bookstore. I proudly glanced at my animal companion, who looked at me knowingly from his black eyes. He had remained calm in a heap of chaos. He was the perfect purchase, the perfect companion for the times to come.
The feathered animal also found its first assignment quite soon.
It was the first of September 1992 and I came tired from the day shift at St. Mungo. My tawny owl was waiting for me along with the evening proph. I had tied the 5 knuts and the order around my animal friend. Because a subscription would only draw attention to this cottage, which I had to prevent.
I lovingly ran my hand over the owl's back before sinking tiredly into my couch and unfolding the newspaper.
But I was shocked to read the front page:
FLYING FORD ANGLIA MYSTIFIES MUGGELS
Two Muggels in London, convinced they saw an old car flying over the Post Office tower, at noon in Norfolk, Mrs Hetty Bayliss, while hanging out her washing, Mr Angus Fleet, of Peebles, reported to police...six or seven Muggels in all.
I swallowed, because I knew that Arthur Weasley owned a Ford Anglia. I took the newspaper and carefully rolled it up again to tie it around my owl's leg, I quickly wrote a letter:
Severus, this should interest you. I've already seen the car with the Weasleys. And I'd love to see you by the sea soon. C.
"Tiberius, you have to be careful now that no one sees you. Give this newspaper to Severus Snape, potion teacher at Hogwarts. No one is allowed to see you. And you have to be as fast as the wind," I said to my animal friend and scolded him briefly behind the ear before he said goodbye with a "Woot woohooot". He spread his wings and dashed away through the open window.
I wondered if my owl would catch Severus in time for the Sorting Hat ceremony, and at the same time wondered if this story really had anything to do with Ron and if Harry was involved. At the same time, I thought to myself, Ron would never get his father into such trouble. After all, Arthur works in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office and the shame was beyond imagining. I fervently hoped for an answer from Severus, even though I hadn't asked him directly.
At some point, I couldn't take it anymore and grabbed a book about dangerous animal poisons to distract my thoughts while the sun had long since set. I didn't hear from my owl or Severus and so I fell asleep restlessly on my couch. There I lay and dreamed of flying cars whizzing through the St. Mungo until a cool hand ran through my hair and I slowly opened my eyes to see Severus in front of me.
/In the book and in the film, Severus throws the evening prophet around the ears of Harry and Ron with the corresponding article. This was the explanation for the fact that he was looking for the two of them and that there was an amusing scene outside the window for the big role. And I thought to myself, why shouldn't Severus have gotten this hint from Catherine? And I really wanted to include Gilderoy Lockhart - excuse me
And you surely know who will be captured by Voldemort in a few years and will be questioned about such Connections of wands? So, it's going to be tricky.
I hope you remembered and thanks so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed it! And I'd LOVE to read your comments!/