Half a Life Without You
Chapter 16: Revelation
Everly POV
"Professor Dumbledor! I wasn't expecting you back until next week."
"Yes, I expected to be gone longer. I had a bit of…luck in my research and was eager to return." His moon rimmed eyes met mine and I knew he had discovered something important.
"Oh" I murmur.
"If I'm interrupting…something."
"No, we're done for today." Severus replies while stepping over pieces of broken cauldron.
"I see. What happened here?" He asks expectantly glancing between Severus and I.
Severus stays annoying quite forcing me to reply, "just a slight mistake with my ingredients."
"Hmmm, what ingredient?" he asks innocently.
"Uh…" I turn to look at Severus for help, "uh what was the name of that ingredient again?"
"Daffodil leaves." He answers with a devious half smile.
"Daffodil leaves?" Dumbledore questions.
"Daffodil leaves." Severus replies smirking perversely."
"Daffodil leaves." Dumbledor mutters shaking his head.
"Daffodils can be a savage little flower." Severus adds his dark eyes dancing with mirth.
Dumbledor's eyes widen with surprise and curiosity, he glances around once again taking in the damaged pots and potion remnants smearing the walls. "I see."
"I should help clean up…"
"Not necessary. I'm good on my own." Severus cuts me off.
"If you're sure."
"I'm sure."
I search his face for a hidden meaning behind his words, but he's giving nothing away. His expression stubbornly neutral and his dark eyes cold without emotion. I have a sudden urge to cry over the loss of the warmth and tenderness I saw in them earlier.
"Well then, we'll leave you to it." Professor Dumbledor gestures for me to follow him into the hall. I grab my bag and turn back to look at Severus, "see you tomorrow?" He nods, his face still an impenetrable mask.
"Potions can be temperamental, I once attempted to add a dozen chocolate frogs to a potion to sweeten the flavoring, but alas it turned out much like your potion did today." Dumbledor chuckles lightly at the memory continuing to chatter away beside me. "Not to worry Everly, your brewing will improve under the expert guidance of Mr. Snape."
I feel a blush heat my cheeks at the memory of what his expert guidance was helping me with only moments ago. Dumbledor's arrival was a surprise, one I've been long awaiting, but now it felt like an unwelcome intrusion.
I can still feel a light tingling on my lips from our kiss, I battle the urge to run back down the corridor and finish what we started. I sigh longingly, then glare up at Dumbledor, all the anger I've been holding onto with his sudden departure flares hot in me, "I've been waiting for you". I say bitterly.
His smile fades turning to observe me with a solemn gaze. "I know" he says softly, "I have lots to tell you."
"good" I reply quietly.
The silver waves from the pensieve shine brightly across Dumbledor's face as he holds a glass vial full of new memories for me to view, I stare the wispy silver smoke swirling restlessly against the glass, "Will it be like before?" I ask.
"Yes, I'm sorry to say these memories will be no less…disturbing, but necessary to find the answers you seek."
"I see." I whisper.
"Are you ready?"
I nod, even though I'm full of apprehension.
Just like my last trip into the pensieve, I meet Dumbledore's gaze and say my full name, "Everly Vinda Rosier Quinn." This time my name does not cause his is eyes to flare with surprise, but rather something akin to… resignation?…what does he know, I wonder fearfully.
His gaze shifts to look down into the pale shimmering waters swirling inside the pensieve, "lean forward Everly, allow it to pull you in just as before."
I let myself tumble forward; My hair wipes wildly around my face as I plummet rapidly through the sky before I suddenly jerk to a hard disorienting stop. I struggle momentarily to stand straight as I push my tangled hair behind my ears. The dark gray haze surrounding me swiftly lifts as I step forward pulling the blur of images around me into focus.
I feel wisps of air push against me as a tall figure walks past me. I barely register that it's my guy before I'm being pulled to his side like a puppet tied to an invisible string. He darts behind the same old building as the first time I saw him. He quickly scans the area, and whispers the same thing he did before, "there is no hope without risk." I wonder if Dumbledore accidentally dropped me into the wrong memory when my guy looks over to where I'm standing, but unlike last time where he simply looked away this time his stare only intensified and his eyes remaining fixed on me. I shift uncomfortably ready to ask if he can see me, when he takes a step in my direction. "For you I will risk everything, you are my hope."
I try to step forward to demand if he can see me, when a loud crack rings out. Damn it! We apparated, the familiar tug on my invisible strings pulls me unwillingly behind him as he rushes towards the familiar stone pillars. As we approach the center to stand in front of the stone archway, a multitude of loud cracks can be heard all around as dark robed figure after dark robed figure drop in one right after another, until we are surrounded by a large group of onlookers.
"This is not what we agreed to Percival!" a large robbed man yells breaking out of the group to stand in front of Percival…aka my guy.
"Do not shout at me Augustus! We've waited long enough, six more months will not change the outcome."
Augustus face purpled with rage, "Who are you to decide that?!"
"Who am I? I'm the wizard you elected to oversee this little project. I would think you would want to know if the numerous witches and wizards you sent through the portal could one day return."
"None of them had a soulmate…"
"Of course, none of those witches or wizards could love anyone or be strongly connected to someone…right?"
"Well I…"
"Don't know. You don't know, not for sure. Do you?" Percival sneers down at a blustering Augustus. "I'll take your silence as a no and suggest you step back."
"Bring her forward." Percival calls out.
I see a small pale face emerge from the crowd. "My dear Sonja. It's good to see you."
I watch Sonja shudder dropping her head in defeat, her feet barely touch the ground as she's 'stands' limply in between two of the robed men holding her up. The vibrant beautiful witch from the first memory now appears withered and broken. I hate my guy, Percival, whatever the fuck his name is in this moment for what he's reduced her to.
"Come now Sonja, today is a day of happiness. It's time to return your dear husband home."
Tears rapidly fill her eyes, she pushes weakly against the men holding her stumbling towards him, "please don't lie. I can't…I can't bear it" her voice comes out raspy and hoarse with emotion desperately trying to choke back her sobs.
"No need for dramatics, after all I did promise to return him, did I not?" He waves his wand over the archway I fell a pulse of energy vibrate through my chest.
A cry of alarm startles me, Sonja is roughly pulled hard against my guy. He captures her face between his fingers lightly brushing away her tears with his thumb, "shhh, sweet, sweet Sonja, dry your tears. I only need a little blood and for you to say a few words."
Percival twist her around now holding her shoulders while pressing her back against his chest. He leans down placing his mouth near her ear, "repeat after me…and…. Sonja?"
"yes?" she questions in a low frail voice.
"Mean it. Really mean the words you say, or this will be all for nothing. Understand?"
Looking over her shoulder her wide frightened eyes met his cruel and narrowed ones, she simply nodded turning back to face the archway. "Good girl. Repeat every word I say."
Two worlds separated by time and space
One soul journeys far from home to a world not their own
A soulmate's bond secures their return, waiting to guide them back
One soul journeys to a world not their own, One soul journeys far from home
Only can their true other half, their key, can call them home
Soul Journey, Anima itinere, begins with two drop of blood.
One from the lock and one from the key.
Soul Journey. Amima intinere, ends with the blood of one.
The key unlocks the door home.
Diffindo!" Sonja gasp in pain as blood begins gushing down her arm dripping onto the base of the archway.
The archway fills with the same liquid glass, shimmering brightly as golden light ripples up and down the opening. A clap of thunder roars overhead a bolt of white lightening illuminates the utter darkness surrounding us. Strong winds surge past the stone pillars loud and deafening. Everything repeats exactly like last time, but Sebastian does not step out the arch as we all expect. Sonja drops to her knees and cries out in desperate agony, "SEBASTIAN!"
The golden light in the arch suddenly shines so bright I have to shield my eyes momentarily. When I look back a man is standing there, it was Sebastian. He twists around, "Jacob?! Where are you? He cries out frantically. He looks up in horror, "Sonja?" She races over to him throwing herself into his arms. He doesn't immediately return her embrace, but after a few seconds he envelopes her tightly in his arms, maybe he's in shock.
Percival steps forward a sinister smile spreads across his face, "I knew it would work!" he says laughing with excitement. "I knew it!". He adds triumphantly.
He turns away from the embracing couple to address the crowd. "There are those among you who doubted this was possible, what say you now?!" He glares at the silent group, "nothing? No one has anything to say? Augustus, surely you have something to say?"
Not waiting for a response he suddenly turns grabbing Sebastian's arm roughly tearing him out of Sonja's grasp. "NO!" she cries out running towards them only to be jerked back by her 'guards'.
"Hush woman, I'm not going to send him back. I just want to see something. Legilimens!"
The two men stay motionless as he digs through Sebastian's mind, after what felt like forever they pull back from one another. "No magic, at all?"
Sebastian shakes his head no, strangely subdued after sharing his memories. I notice he makes no move to return to Sonja.
"hmmm. Interesting." he mutters almost to himself before looking back at Sebastian, "it will be your choice, I will honor it. I owe you that much I suppose."
"What's he talking about Sebastian?" Sonja soft unsteady voice questions.
Both men ignore her and stare at each other, "well Sebastian?" Percival asks tauntingly.
"I think you know." Sebastian replies, still avoiding Sonja's gaze.
Percival smiles, "I know, I just want to hear you say it."
"Send me back." He grounds out bitterly.
"What! NO! Sebastian. You can't" Sonja screams, fighting against the two men to no avail.
"Best hurry along Sebastian the portal will not remain open much longer." Percival mocks.
Sebastian nods and walks stiffly back to the portal. He finally looks over at Sonja, "I'm sorry." He chokes. "I will love you forever." He steps through the portal and disappears.
She wasn't dead, but the moment he disappeared I saw the life leave her eyes. Her agonized cries fill the air sending a chill through me.
"Bring her here." Percival orders pulling out his wand, he looks down at her, a flicker of regret crosses his face before it's gone, and I almost wonder if I imagined it. "I'll take it all away, I'll take him away. No more painful memories to haunt you."
"Tell me why first." She begs.
"There's only one thing he could love more than you, his child, his legacy, his…hope."
"A child? He had a child?" she asks in disbelief.
"Time moves differently where he went, what was only a year here was more like 5 years for him. He thought we failed to return him, and he would never see you again."
"But.." she attempts to ask more, but my guy cut her off. "That's enough. You won't remember it anyway."
"Wait, wait.." She says clutching desperately to his robes.
Another voice shouts "Stop! Stop!"
"No." Percival replies to both. "Obliviate!"
Augustus pushes forward out of the crowd ripping off his hood and mask, "how dare you! We need her memories and his!" he angrily waves his hand at the still open portal.
"We do not, I have what I need." Percival calmly replies.
The large, rounded man treads heavily up to the archway pushing past him, "Bring. Him. Back!" stomping his foot petulantly.
Percival starts to laugh without any real humor a dangerous glint in his eye as he approaches the belligerent man. "Now, now Augustus. There no need for hostilities….Although, perhaps it's time for you to know one thing." My guy drops his arms over Augustus's shoulder walking him closer to the open yet dimming portal.
"The only thing I want to know Percival is how and when you'll be bringing him back."
"Oh, you'll want to know this." He leans down to whisper in his ear so only he can hear, "my name is not Percival. It's Gellert. Gellert Grindelwald." Augustus' eyes round in astonished horror as Grindelwald's grip on the back of his neck tightened. "shhhh, don't say anything. There's one more I want you to know. You deserve this." I watch in shock as he shoves Augustus through the rapidly closing portal.
I stagger back against a wall, we're no longer at the portal but standing in a house. I recognize it from my previous trip into the pensieve. He must have apparated after dispatching poor Augustus.
"Vinda! They're coming."
A beautiful dark head woman races into the room, "what do you mean, now?" she cradles her rounded stomach protectively.
Percival or rather Gellert Grindelwald places his hand over her, gently caressing her pregnant belly. "It worked."
My breathing comes in short pants as I step closer to see the woman, when she looks up I see it…my eyes, my stubborn chin…my face.
Next thing I know I'm staring at Dumbledor as he gently pulls my hands away from the sides of the basin. I realize they hurt from clutching so hard to the sides.
"Are they my parents?" I ask numbly.
"I believe so, but there's one more step to be sure." He answers quietly.
"I don't know if I can do this." I utter almost inaudibly barely holding back tears.
He gently places his hand on my shoulder, "sometimes memories are the worst form of torture, but you are stronger than you know."
"I hope you're right." I say looking up into his kind knowing eyes as tears streak down my cheeks. "I need a break." I say racing out of his office. I head down to the potions classroom only to find it empty. Where are you Severus? I need you.
Shock brings a quietness within, allowing a moment to feel your emotions as the change gears and grind uncomfortably preparing your soul for what is to come. I walk aimlessly until I find myself staring blankly across the black lake knowing Dumbledor will begin to wonder where I've gone.
"Everly!?" The sound of my name brings me swiftly back to reality. I turn half expecting to see Severus, but Sirius smiling face greets me. His smile falters as he looks at my face.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing I'm fine." I answer.
"Your clearly not fine Everly."
"I'm fine, really" I say forcing a smile.
"Stop saying I'm fine when you're not." He shouts at me. He lightly grasp my shoulders forcing me to turn and look at him, "It's fine to say I'm not fine."
My vision blurs as I look up into his face, "I'm not fine." I whisper.
"It's ok to cry." He says softly.
It's all I need; the dam breaks and I can no longer hold my tears back. I sob into his chest, he's arms holding me tightly.
Finally, my tears dry and pull away from Sirus, "Sorry, I got your robes all wet."
"Don't worry about it. Are you ok?"
"No, but I will be." I answer.
"You can talk to me you know." He says smoothing my hair back.
I pull back out of his reach, "I know, I'm just not ready."
He nods and steps back, "well, I'm starving. Lunch?" He asks jumping up and reaching out his hand to me.
His sudden shift in topic and energy makes me laugh, "sure, but I it has to be quick Dumbledor expects me back soon."
He clasps my hand and tugs me gently up to the castle. Once we reach the castle I begin to pull away and he tightens his grip and brings my hand to his lips feathering it with a kiss. "If you ever want to have that talk just let me know, love."
"I will" I breathe out.
His impish grin back in place he sweeps open the door, "after you my lady."
"Why thank you kind sir!" I giggle.