Chapter 74
"Good morning Arthur," Meredith said with a smile. "Happy Christmas."
"Ah, Meredith," Arthur said reaching a hand out to her. "Working on Christmas?"
"Afraid so," Meredith said. "Unfortunately, just being off probation means the others get first crack at the prime days off. I don't mind though. I've missed being able to see patients. Speaking of which, how are you feeling this morning?" She picked up his chart for a quick glance. Arthur was healing slowly, but surely. He would probably be in the hospital a few more days.
"Much better now that I have you here to brighten things up." Meredith laughed at his playful wink. This little flirtation had become a part of their daily routine.
"Careful there Arthur," she said. "Molly is quite deadly with her hexes. Speaking of which, I hear you're going to have some visitors today."
"Yes, the order is bringing the kids. I'm so anxious to see them. Especially Harry. If not for him…" Meredith squeezed his hand.
"Well, best not to think about what if," Arthur said. "How are you doing my dear?" Meredith didn't play dumb.
"I'm better," she said. "Not one hundred percent, but each day it gets a little easier to bear."
"You visit them everyday?" She nodded.
"Yes," Meredith said. "I know they don't even know I'm there but, I feel like I owe it to Patricia to look after them."
She sat with them an hour everyday. They never responded to her but she felt she needed to be here. She just talked to them as she would to anyone. She spoke of the weather, of her family, and her patients and some of their unique infirmities.
"So the man comes in with a monkey's tail sticking out of his trousers, and antlers growing out of his head, all the while his legs are flailing all over the place. It took about six counterjinxes and several potions to get him back to normal." Mrs. Patterson stared straight ahead at nothing. Her hair that had once been honey gold was now white and hung limply to her shoulders. Next to her sat Mr. Patterson. He'd been a handsome man once, but now his cheeks were sunken in and his eyes were hollow. Meredith reached out and took Mrs. Patterson's hand. The woman did not respond.
"We will get them," she said. "The ones that did this to you. They'll pay for what they did. They'll pay for killing Patricia."
"Hello Healer Lupin," a woman with dark hair streaked with gray said coming into the room holding a large ugly plant.
"Hello Healer Strout," she said.
"No change I take it," the older woman said.
"No," Meredith said.
"It's good that you visit them," Danvers said. "So many that wind up in this ward are forgotten. It's terribly sad."
"Yes," Meredith said. "Well come on Mrs. Patterson time to get back into bed." The woman did not respond but allowed Meredith to guide her back to her bed. She tucked her back into bed and kissed her cheek softly.
"I'll come back to see you tomorrow." She turned to leave and was met by a surprising sight. An elderly woman in a faux fur stole, carrying a red purse and wearing the ugliest hat Meredith had ever seen was speaking to Danvers. Behind the woman was a familiar looking boy with dark hair.
"Neville?" she said slowly approaching the young man. Neville looked up and blushed when he saw her.
"Hello Meredith," he said. "What are you doing here? I mean uh…I've never seen you on the closed ward before."
"I'm here visiting some patients."
"Yeah," Neville said sadly. "Me too." Meredith swallowed hard. She should have known. Hogwarts would be on Christmas break and of course Neville would visit his parents.
"Neville," the elderly woman said prodding him. "Where are your manners? Introduce your friend." Neville blushed deeper.
"Gran this is Meredith Lupin. Meredith this is my Grandmother. Meredith was Gryffindor's prefect my first three years."
"Ah," Mrs. Longbottom said. "A prefect. Obviously, you're a young lady of great accomplishment. Well, to become a healer you have to be I suppose. I rather hoped Neville here would get the badge this year, but Dumbledore gave it to that Weasley boy. Can't say I was that surprised, Neville here's never been quite the wizard his father was. Such bravery. But I'm sure Neville's told you about his parents."
"Um…" Meredith said. She was lost for words. She knew about the Longbottoms of course, but to say so would reveal too much
"No? What's wrong with you boy? Are you ashamed of your parents? After the courage they showed. The sacrifice they made!" Meredith's mouth was open, but no words would come out. Did this woman ever stop to think before she spoke? She could see Neville's face getting redder and redder until finally he turned and ran from the room.
"Ah that boy's always been a bit of a disappointment. For years we worried he'd turn up a squib. He could have top marks in all his classes if he would just focus. Why his father…."
"Excuse me ma'am," Meredith said as tactfully as she could. "I um have patients to see." She hurried out of the room as fast as she could for she feared one more minute listening to this woman and she would go mad. Merlin, it was no wonder that Neville had such a lack of confidence in himself. She found him sitting on a bench near the elevator, just staring into space. She went to him and sat down.
"Neville," she said softly touching his shoulder. "are you all right?"
"It was Bellatrix Lestrange," he said. Meredith pulled her hand away, startled.
"A few days after Harry stopped Who Know Who, a few death eaters came to our house. They used the cruciatus curse on my parents, trying to get information about You Know Who. My mom and dad wouldn't tell them anything. I don't know how many hours they were tortured. Bellatrix Lestrange was the leader of the death eaters."
"I'm so sorry Neville," Meredith said wrapping her arm around him. She'd never realized that she and Neville would one day have so much in common.
"I am proud to be their son," Neville said. "It's just sometimes I think I'm a disappointment to them."
"That's not true Neville," Meredith said firmly. "I think your parents would be very proud of you."
"I want to do something real," Neville said. "I want revenge for what was done to them. I want to be better."
"You don't give yourself enough credit Neville. You're going to be a great wizard someday. Harry told me that you're becoming quite proficient at Defense Against the Dark Arts." Neville looked confused for a moment, but then his eyes widened.
"You know about that?" Meredith smiled a little.
"I know a lot of things Neville," she said. Neville stared at her with wonder and admiration in his eyes.
"He's really out there," Neville said. Meredith swallowed hard. "There's going to be a war."
"It's already begun. And there have been casualties."
"Those people you were visiting in the ward," Neville said. "Those are the Patterson's? Patricia's parents? I uh, saw the story in the Prophet."
"Yes, Neville," Meredith said.
"I remember her. She was very pretty. She didn't die of natural causes, did she?"
"No," Meredith said. "She was murdered. By the same woman who tortured your parents into insanity." Neville looked at her in shock. Neville turned away and clenched his fists.
"Before it's over I will make her pay," Neville said. "For my parents, and for Patricia." Meredith wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
Meredith left the closed ward and headed up to the fifth floor for a cup of tea. She was delighted to find her Dad sitting in a booth, alone.
"Hey stranger," she said sliding into the seat across from him.
"Well," her dad said. "This is a pleasant surprise."
"I'm on a break," she said. "What brings you here?"
"Oh, I'm with Harry's protection detail. They're down visiting Arthur." Meredith nodded.
"So, what are you doing up here?"
"Oh, uh…things were a little tense and I decided it was best to stay out of other peoples family squabbles."
"What did Arthur do, and how mad is Molly?" Remus chuckled.
"Well, the um Healer in Training on duty suggesting an alternative method for Arthur."
"That would be Augustus Pye," Meredith said thoughtfully. "Oh no. My guess would be Pye wanted to try a muggle remedy and Arthur was all for it."
"Do you know what stitches are?" Remus said rubbing his eyes.
"Oh my," Meredith said. "They're actually quite effective but completely useless it the case of snake bites. The venom would just dissolve…oh dear."
"Yes," Remus said. "Well Molly got suspicious about why Arthur's bandages were changed so soon and…"
"No need to elaborate," Meredith said, chuckling in spite of herself.
"It's good to see you smile again," Remus said. Meredith smiled. There hadn't been much to smile about lately. She'd spent most of the night before trying to console Molly when Percy's Christmas present had come back unopened. No card or letter asking about Arthur. The twins hadn't been much of a help by insulting their brother till Bill had told them to shut it.
"Oh since we have a moment," he said reaching into his robes. "We missed you this morning. I told Sirius I'd bring this in case I ran into you." He laid a brightly wrapped package in front of her. Meredith bit her lip. No doubt Sirius would be feeling sulky at not being able to accompany everyone to the hospital even though he'd been more cheery than Meredith had seen lately. This most likely was due to Harry and the Weasley's being at Grimmauld for the holidays. Grimmauld had been decked out for the last week. Meredith had decided to enjoy it while it lasted. She could only imagine that the bad mood would return once the kids returned to school and Arthur came home from the hospital.
"This came for you as well," Remus said handing her a large flat package. "And um…this is from me." Meredith took the two packages. The large of the two was from Oliver. She grinned seeing her old friend's untidy scrawl. She'd open that one later in private. She grabbed the one that was wrapped in green paper and tore into it.
"It's not much," her dad muttered. "I uh, didn't have a lot of time to shop this year." Meredith grinned at the small bottle of rose oil. Her favorite scent.
"I love it," she said. "Thank you." She leaned across the table to kiss him on the cheek. At that moment her bracelet glowed red.
"Oh dear, that's Mrs. Lowry. I've got to go." She tucked the presents from Oliver and Sirius into her robes. She'd have to open them later.
"Will we see you for dinner? Molly's cooking a feast trying to get her mind off of Percy."
"I'll try to get home for a bit," she promised. "Gotta go."
Mrs. Lowry as it turned out did not have any sort of medical emergency. The trouble seemed to be that her entire family had come to see her in the hospital and her son's wife did not get along with her daughter, and her daughter's husband did not get along with her son. Meredith had been summoned to play referee as Mrs. Lowry's throat infection was preventing her from speaking. After ten minutes of trying to settle everyone down and get them to stop fighting Meredith pulled her wand out and placed a silencing spell on the four shouting adults. Mrs. Lowry placed a hand on hers and mouthed "Thank you." Her son was gesturing to his throat and giving her a dirty look. Meredith fixed him with her most stern glare.
"I'll take the spell off of you when you can all act like civilized people. This is a hospital. People here are sick and hurt and trying to get better and they need QUIET!" Properly cowed he back away. All four adults sat down and gave a pleading look.
"What do you think Mrs. Lowrey?" The old woman glared at her children and shook her head. Meredith chuckled.
"Just notify me if you change your mind." She backed out of the room and glanced around her. The trauma room was calm at the moment. She'd go see how the rest of the Weasley's were. She was pretty sure her dad was accompanying the party to the hospital.
The lift doors swung open and to her surprise she saw Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny come out. They all looked rather depressed.
"What's got all of you so gloomy?" she demanded. They looked at her guiltily.
"We were looking for the tea room," Ron said. "We got lost and we wound up on the spell damage ward."
"We, uh, saw Neville," Hermione said looking at the floor. Oh Merlin, Meredith thought.
"No doubt you saw his parents too," she said sternly fisting her hands on her hips. They nodded all of them looking at the ground.
"Now listen to me all of you," Meredith said in her sternest voice. "What you saw is no one's business but Neville's. It's his choice if he wants to talk about it or tell people. I don't want you speaking of this to anyone, and you are not to question Neville about his parents. Is that understood?"
"Yes ma'am," they all said quietly.
"Very good," she said. "Now get out of here all of you."
The rest of the day was hardly any better. Christmas certainly brought out the worst in some people. All manner of injuries came through their door, most of which seemed to have stemmed from family squabbles. She was glad when David arrived to relieve her.
"Kind of makes you glad to be an only child doesn't it," David said after they finished with a pair of siblings aged 8 and 10. The eight year old was sporting the trunk of an elephant and the ten year old has a pair of ears like a bat. Meredith shook her head.
"The kids are easier to deal with the parents most day," she said. Apparently the incident had happened when the children starting arguing over the last Christmas biscuit and in the midst of an argument regarding in laws and a sheperd's pie recipe, the parents had neglected to keep their wands out of the children's hands.
"Well things seem calm for the moment," David said. "Why don't you go home for a few hours. I've got the floor." He didn't need to make the offer twice. She sent a quick patronus to Grimmauld and went to the locker room to change. She glanced in the mirror. As much as the short hair bothered her, it was easier to keep neat. She ran a quick scourgifying spell over herself and threw on a pair of jeans and the Weasley sweater Molly had tearfully shoved at her this morning.
"Damn you Percy," she muttered. She tucked the gifts from Sirus and Oliver into her purse and she headed for the door.
"Healer Lupin signing off for a few hours," she told the dummy. She stepped out onto the street and looked around.
"Need a lift, Madam?" She shot a grateful grin at Bill as he stepped from the shadows.
"How long do we have you for?" he asked taking her elbow.
"Just a couple hours. Healer Nieman will send a Patronus if there's an emergency."
"Well, lets not waste anytime then." She closed her eyes and with a pop they were in front of Grimmauld. For once she was greeted by a warm glow and happy voices as she entered.
"Look who I found," Bill called. Meredith was met with warm hugs from Harry and Hermione, the earlier scolding that day, apparently forgotten. Sirius came from the kitchen and greeted her with a grin. She almost didn't recognize him. Once she had greeted everyone she found herself being pulled away by Sirius.
"Just wanted a private moment," he said. She smiled. In the interest of keeping their relationship secret from most of the order they had seldom been alone together. They went into a small parlor. Like the rest of Grimmauld Place it was decked out with Christmas candles and garlands. Sirius waved his wand a lit a small fire in the fireplace.
"I managed to snatch this from under the tree this morning," he said holding up a package wrapped in silver paper. "I didn't want to open it without you here." Meredith smiled.
"Me neither," she said retrieving the gift he'd sent with Remus from her purse. They sat down on the small sofa that was in the room.
"You first," she said. Sirius happily tore open the paper.
"Oh Meredith this is lovely," he said as he took the silver watch from the box.
"Lovely and also functional," she said pointing to the face. Sirius held it up closer.
"Ah yes," he said. "We were just talking about Molly's clock." The watch was a miniature of the one Molly had in her kitchen. WORK, TRAVELING, HOGWARTS, HEADQUARTERS, LOST, MORTAL PERIL stood where the numbers should be. There were three hands instead of the nine that were on the Weasley clock. They were for MEREDITH, HARRY and REMUS. At this moment all three hands were pointing toward HEADQUARTERS.
"This way you'll always know where we are," she said.
"Yes, but it won't stop me from worrying," Sirius said. "But none of that right now. Thank you, my darling girl. Open yours." Meredith tore the paper away and gasped.
"Oh Sirius," she said. It was a beautiful antique jewelry box just like the one Remus has given her many years ago. Like her other childhood memories it had burned up when the Death Eaters torched the cottage. She lifted the lid and her eyes widened. All of the jewelry she had lost was inside.
"Oh my," she gasped. "How?"
"I was able to retrieve the box and most of your jewelry. I've been working on restoring them."
"How did you get this back?"
"Well, Padfoot did mostly," he said sheepishly.
"Sirius," Meredith scolded. "You haven't been sneaking out?"
"Just now and again. As Padfoot. No one outside the order knows about Padfoot. Now no objections, I swear I've been careful." She gave him a stern look but she couldn't hold on to it."
"Thank you," she said. "I love it." She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.
A few minutes later Molly called everyone down to supper. Over chicken and dumplings everyone relaxed. The conversation stayed with safe topics. Upcoming OWLS and Arthur's recovery. Remus brought everyone up to speed on the werewolves. Tonks entertained Ginny and Hermione by morphing her nose into various shapes. Meredith shared a few stories of some the more humorous injuries that had come in that day.
"Where might one buy a pair of biting shoes?" Fred wondered aloud.
"Don't even think about it," his mother scolded. Everyone at the table chuckled. That's when Meredith noticed Harry wasn't laughing. Now she thought about it, Harry had been very quiet during the meal. She watched him carefully as the teen ate. As everyone else dove into Molly's delicious treacle tart Harry quietly excused himself. Meredith also excused herself and followed Harry upstairs. She saw him disappear into one of the bedrooms. She waited a beat and knocked on the door.
"Harry," she called when she did not hear a response. "It's Meredith. May I come in?"
"Yeah," she heard his muffled answer. She slowly pushed the door open and entered. Her heart ached for the teen.
"I'm sorry I haven't been in touch more this year," she said.
Harry shrugged.
"You've been dealing with a lot. I saw the story about the Pattersons. All lies I imagine."
"That would be correct," Meredith grumbled. "But that's no excuse for not checking in with you. How you doing kid?" Harry sighed.
"Not great," he said. Meredith remained silent letting him air out everything that had been bothering him the last few months.
"And to top it all off…Dumbledore won't even look at me." Meredith bit her lip.
"I know it doesn't seem like it Harry," Meredith said carefully. "But Dumbledore is on your side. Everything he's doing is to protect you."
"It definitely doesn't seem like it," Harry grumbled running a hand over his unruly hair. That's when Meredith saw it. Pale pink lines covering Harry's entire hand. Harry must have seen where she was looking because he quickly stuck his hand in his pocket.
"Harry," Meredith said, using her healer voice. "What happened to your hand?"
"Nothing," Harry said quickly. He tried to move past her, but she grabbed his shoulders and shifted her body so that she was blocking the door.
"Harry," she said again. "What happened to you hand?"
"It's nothing," he said pulling away. "I'm fine."
"Harry," Meredith said her tone firm. "I'll give you one more chance to tell me what happened to your hand."
"And then what?" Harry growled defiantly. Meredith pushed down her agitation at the teen's attitude. Just another patient, she told herself.
"Then we see what Sirius has to say about it." Harry's face immediately changed from defiant to terrified.
"NO!" he said. "No, you can't tell Sirius."
"All right then," Meredith said holding out her hand. Defeated, Harry pulled his hand out of his pocket and held it out. Meredith tugged his hand toward her. Her stomach tightened as she saw the faded red words, that looked as though they had been cut into his skin.
"Who did this Harry?" she asked, keeping her tone firm but unemotional. Harry muttered something keeping his eyes down.
"Can't hear you, Harry," Meredith said.
"Umbridge," Harry muttered. "She gave me detention for telling the truth about Voldemort's return. She made me write "I must not tell lies" over and over again."
"With what Harry?" Meredith said. She knew already, of course and the very idea made her blood boil.
"A special quill," Harry grumbled. Meredith dropped Harry's hand and turned away, trying to reign in her temper.
"Harry, you've got to tell Dumbledore about this."
"You sound like Hermione. And the answer is no. I'm not giving that toad the satisfaction of knowing that she got to me."
"Harry, this isn't about your stubborn pride. Blood quills are illegal! Umbridge has gone way too far. No parent would tolerate this treatment of their child."
"I wouldn't know," Harry grumbled. "I don't have parents."
"That's not gonna work on me Harry," Meredith said. "Now either you tell Dumbledore about this, or I will."
"It won't do any good. You don't know what that woman is like."
"Oh, don't I?" Meredith said. "She's the reason my dad can't find paid work. All the anti-werewolf legislation she's passed. She even tried to take me away from my dad when I was thirteen."
"She didn't," Harry gasped.
"Oh yes she did," Meredith said. "After I was officially and legally adopted. She tried to convince the Wizengamot that my dad was an unfit guardian. She even implied that he was a child molester."
"That horrid cow," Harry spat. "Just because your dad's a werewolf. God, I just want to ring her fat neck."
"Harry," Meredith said carefully, unsure how to say her next words without sounding like a hypocrite. "I know it's hard but you have got to reign in that temper of yours. The minister would like nothing more than to expel you from Hogwarts."
"Fine," Harry said. "Let them! I don't care! I'm not learning anything this year anyway!"
"Harry, think about it. Who is the one wizard Voldemort was ever afraid of?"
"Dumbledore," Harry grunted.
"Exactly," Meredith said. "As long as you're in Hogwarts you're under Dumbledore's protection. If you're not under Dumbledore's protection there won't be anything to stop Voldemort from coming after you." Harry still looked angry but she could tell she was getting through to him.
"Why is he keeping me in the dark?" Harry said. The anger was gone and all she could hear in his voice was exhaustion.
"I don't know," Meredith said. "I don't agree with him, nor do many in the Order."
"I'm the one Voldemort is coming after. He said it himself in the graveyard. "I must be the one to kill Harry Potter." Meredith felt her heart tighten. He'd been through so much, and he was still so young. Not knowing what to say she took his marked hand and examined it.
"Did you put something on this?"
"Hermione made me soak it in essence of mertlap."
"She's a smart witch," Meredith said. "Keep this clean, and do NOT get anymore detention. If she makes you use a blood quill again these could reopen and get infected."
"Hermione said that too," Harry said.
"That girl would make an excellent Healer," Meredith said thoughtfully. "Speaking of which, I need to get back to the hospital."
"Thanks, for the talk," Harry said.
"You're not off the hook," she said as she stood up. "I WILL be speaking to Dumbledore about this."
"I was afraid you'd say that." Meredith squeezed his shoulder.
"Hang in there kid," she said. She was nearly out the door when a thought occurred to her.
"Keep working with Neville," she said. "He can learn a lot from you." Harry nodded, no words needed.
After a quick goodbye to Sirius and her dad she hurried back to St. Mungoes. Before she changed into her healer robes she sought out a particular portrait.
"Dilys," she said firmly. "Please tell Dumbledore, Meredith Lupin wants to speak to him. Midnight, tonight, my fireplace at headquarters." She turned a strode into the locker room and changed into her healer robes. As she made her way back to the front desk she saw Dilys waving at her frantically.
"Dumbledore may not be able to accommodate your request," the old healer squeaked at her.
"Oh, how careless of me. I gave you the impression it was a request!"
She could have had Dumbledore floo her at her flat but she had a feeling she would need support for what she was about to do. She returned from her shift and immediately gathered her reinforcements. After supper she pulled her dad and her father aside and told them what she had discovered about Harry. Sirius was absolutely livid when she told him about the blood quill. He'd been ready to storm into Hogwarts himself, but Remus had talked him down. Remus likewise was incensed that Harry had been forced to endure such torture. They had agreed to stand by her in her confrontation. Once the kids were all in bed and a silencing charm was placed around the room, she, Remus and Sirius gathered in front of her fireplace. As the bell tolled twelve the flames sparked and Dumbledore's face appeared. Her former headmaster looked none too pleased about being ordered by a former student to appear.
"Good evening Meredith," he said. "Sirius, Remus. Did you wish to speak to me about anything in particular?"
"Blood Quills," Meredith nearly snarled. "Declared an instrument of torture in 1809 by the Ministry of Magic and declared illegal."
"Ah yes," Dumbledore said in quiet resignation. "I'm afraid under Professor Umbridge's new regime many medieval methods are being brought back into the fold. I've had numerous complaints from the teachers."
"You KNEW!" Sirius snapped. "She's torturing Harry and who knows how many others and you aren't doing anything to stop it."
"I am not any happier about it than you are, Sirius. But my hands are tied. As long as the Ministry maintains it's strong hold over Hogwarts Delores Umbridge has free reign to deal with students and teachers as she sees fit."
"Rubbish," Meredith spat. "What about the parents whose children are being mutilated? Surely they'd protest if they knew."
"Alas, it is not the children of those who have taken the Ministry's side that are being hurt. Those who oppose the ministry and Umbridge are being silence by the Minister himself. Threats, to their jobs, their livelihood, and even their freedom."
"Good God," Remus muttered. "Ruling by fear. We've traded one tyrant for another."
"So it would seem," Dumbledore said. "As much as it sickens me to be powerless against this evil person, who harms my students, there is nothing I can do without risking my own expulsion. Professor Umbridge has been none to subtle in her hints that my position as headmaster is tenuous at best." Meredith felt sick. Without Dumbledore, who knew what would happen at Hogwarts.
"Sir," Meredith said. "Harry's got so much on his plate now. We can't keep him in the dark like this. He's scared, angry, and he thinks you don't care."
"It is for his own safety that I am keeping Harry in the dark. Harry's vision of Voldemort's snake attacking Arthur has me very concerned. Sirius, you told me yourself that Harry saw the attack through the snake's eyes. The connection between them allows Harry to see what Voldemort sees. It is only a matter of time before Voldemort realizes the connection to Harry and attempts to reverse the effect. Even now, I have seen glimpses of him in Harry's eyes. Can you imagine how he might use this against Harry? Against the Order?" Meredith bit her lip. As awful as she felt for Harry, she knew Dumbledore was right. If Voldemort could see what Harry saw, know what Harry knew? How many ways could Voldemort use that against them. He could turn Harry into a spy for him. He could drive Harry mad or worse use him to hurt someone in the order.
"I have already spoken to Severus," Dumbledore continued. "He will begin teaching Harry Occlumency once the children return to school." All three of them frowned.
"Albus," Sirius said. "I am with you that Harry's mind must be protected. But you know how I feel about Severus…"
"You have made your feelings very clear on this matter," Dumbledore said sharply. "And you are well aware of mine."
"Sir," Meredith said. "I respect that you have your reasons for trusting Professor Snape with this matter but let's be realistic. Snape has never hidden the fact that he loathes Harry. Can you honestly say you believe Snape won't use this to torment Harry." His lack of response was all the answer she needed. Her own experience with Occlumency had been tormenting enough and the man who had taught her loved her. No matter what side Snape was on, the fact stood that Snape and James Potter had been mortal enemies. It would be tempting for anyone.
"I understand your concerns Meredith," Dumbledore said. "Unfortunately there is no alternative. True Legilimens are rare. It is too risky to teach him myself, and too difficult to bring Remus to Hogwarts without Umbridge finding out." Meredith glanced at her dad. She hated to admit it but what Dumbledore said was true.
"I have told you many times that I trust Severus. That means I must trust him to put aside his own grudges for the greater good. He understands that Harry must learn to block Voldemort." Meredith rolled her eyes.
"Greater good my eye," Sirius muttered stalking out of the room. Neither Remus nor Meredith tried to stop him.
"Remus," Dumbledore said. "You've not said much."
"I don't agree with this Albus," Remus said. "However, we appear to have no other choice."
"Thank you, Remus," Dumbledore said. "I'm afraid I need to end this meeting now. Severus will come by tomorrow to tell Harry about his new lessons. I bid you both good evening." And without another word he was gone.
"Total waste of time," Meredith muttered.
"You tried, love," her dad said squeezing her shoulder.
"For all the good it did anyone," she sighed.
She wandered down to the kitchen and began blending some random potion ingredients she found around. She wasn't exactly sure what she was making but keeping her hands occupied helped her keep her mind from dwelling on how lousy things were going.
"I don't what that is, but I'm not eating it," Sirius said as he entered the kitchen. Meredith rolled her eyes.
"I think it was meant to be coughing potion," she said stirring the brown sludge her potion had turned into. She took out her wand and vanished the muck.
"So frustrating," she muttered seizing a vial and starting over.
"I know," he said. "Do you trust him?"
"Who? Dumbledore? Of course I do."
"I meant Snape," Sirius said. Meredith bit her lip.
"He's a git," Meredith said. "No doubt about it. Occlumency lessons are just gonna be one more thing Harry is gonna have to endure and Snape's not gonna do damn thing to make it any easier."
"No doubt," Sirius said. "But that's not what I mean." Meredith stopped stirring and looked at him.
"Sirius," she said. "I know you don't like him. I don't blame you but…if Dumbledore believes he's on our side…"
"Dumbledore's been wrong before," Sirius said. Meredith shook her head.
"Do you honestly think he could be wrong about this? Do you really believe Snape could have fooled him all these years? I think you give Snape too much credit."
"The man was a Death Eater," Sirius said. "A leopard doesn't change his stripes." Meredith said nothing as she added a pinch of wormwood to her potion.
"He's going to be in Harry's mind. What if…?" Meredith didn't want to think about it.
"Look Sirius," Meredith said. "Dumbledore trusts Snape. I trust Dumbledore."
"I do too," Sirius said. "But I just can't be comfortable with Snape teaching Harry Occlumency without real evidence that Snape is truly on our side." Meredith set down her mixing spoon.
"Well what are you gonna do? You can't follow him around to see if he goes running off to tell the Dark Lord what's in Harry's head."
"I don't think I'll need to," Sirius said thoughtfully. "He'll be here tomorrow." Meredith eyed him suspiciously.
"What are you planning, Sirius?"
"There are ways to get someone to reveal things they don't wish to," Sirius said.
"How? Veritaserum?"
"No, no," Sirius said. "Snape's too good at making potions. He would recognize the effects right away."
"Please tell me you're not planning on torturing him," Meredith said. "Dumbledore won't stand for that. Neither will I for that matter." As much as she disliked Severus Snape, she drew the line at causing the man physical pain.
"The greasy pillock wouldn't talk. No, it has to be more subtle. Something he wouldn't be aware of."
"What are you thinking?" Meredith asked, not sure she wanted to know the answer.
"Legilimency," Sirius said. Meredith shook her head.
"Dad would never agree to that," she said. "And even if he did, Snape's a Legilimens too, he'll be on his guard."
"I wasn't thinking of Remus," Sirius said staring at her hard. Meredith's eyes widened.
"Have you gone crackers?" she said. "I'm not a Legilimens. I can't read minds."
"You saw Remus's mind once. He told me. During your lessons."
"Yeah but I wasn't doing it deliberately. I just pushed back when he attacked me."
"So, we get Severus to attack you, you push back and you can get into his head." Meredith stared at Sirius like he'd lost his mind.
"Are you nuts! First of all how would you get Snape to attack me? He'd wouldn't just do that for no reason. He's not that interested in what's in my head."
"Oh, getting him to attack you would be the easy part," Sirius said. Meredith stared at him incredulously. How would Sirius…oh no. It suddenly donned on her what Sirius was planning.
"Merlin, you have lost your mind." She set down her bowl and walked out of the kitchen.
"Please Meredith just hear me out."
"No," she said hurrying up the stairs to her room. Sirius slipped in before she could slam the door shut.
"It won't hurt him," Sirius said.
"It's illegal, Sirius. Do you seriously WANT to go back to Azkaban."
"No one will know, but the two of us. Once you've seen what needs to be seen I'll wipe his memory."
"You want to break the law you go right ahead. I don't want any part of this."
"I can't do it without you," he said.
"Tell him to attack YOU if you want to know what's in his head."
"It won't work. I've never learned Occlumency. It's one of the reasons I persuaded James to make Peter secret keeper." Meredith sighed. What he was asking her to do went against everything she believed in.
"Meredith," Sirius pleaded. "Please, I need to know if Harry will be safe. I've failed him so many times, I just can't let it happen again." Meredith's stomach was in knots. The look of defeat in Harry's eyes was in her mind.
"There's no guarantee of what I'll see," she said weakly. "The image I saw of Dad transforming, he'd been thinking of it that day. It was right at the surface. Snape's motives will be buried deep."
"I'll make sure he's thinking about what you need to see," Sirius said. Meredith didn't want to know how Sirius planned to do that. She hated this. She hated that it had come to this. But, she knew it was the only way.
"All right," she said. "I'll do it."
Snape arrived the next day and Harry couldn't have looked more miserable at the prospect of extra lessons with his least favorite teacher. The fact that Snape was being a right prat wasn't helping matters.
"I've warned you Snivellus," Sirius said, his hand on his wand. "I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed. I know better."
"Well then why don't you tell him so?" Snape sneered back. "Afraid he won't take the advice of a man who has been hiding in his mother's house for six months very seriously?" Meredith rolled her eyes and left the table. Sirius met her eye as she went.
"Your both acting like children!" she snapped at them as she left, just as she and Sirius had rehearsed. She hurried upstairs to the large parlor. She listened at the door as they continued to argue. She could hear Harry's feeble attempts to try and keep the peace. It wouldn't do any good. Sirius was just going to keep provoking Snape. It was all part of the plan. Continuous taunting of Snape's past as a Death Eater. Hopefully, bringing thoughts of why he turned, if he turned, to the forefront of his mind. She heard the voices of the Weasleys. Arthur was home from St. Mungo's. She stayed where she was until she heard footsteps on the stairs. She backed away from the door and stood against the wall. After a minute the door opened, and Snape entered. His eyes looked glassy and far away. He walked toward her. She could see Sirius behind him, wand pointed at Sirius's back. Meredith swallowed hard. No going back now. She stared straight into Snapes eyes and cleared her mind. It had been so long since she'd done this.
"Nothing, nothing, nothing," she thought.
"Look into her mind," Sirius said. She felt it the moment Snape pushed into her mind. It was not like when her dad had done it class. This was not a tiny poke, this was like a clawed hand punching into her brain. She forced herself to throw up her walls. It was like trying to throw up her bare hands to stop a tidal wave from engulfing her. The walls grew firmer and stronger till she was able to push the claw away from her. She pushed harder, and harder till… The memories swirled around her. It was like a loop with no distinct beginning or end. She saw a boy with black hair watching a girl with red hair as she and a girl Meredith did not recognize. She saw him befriend the girl. He saw them playing together. She saw them fighting. She saw them as they boarded the train to Hogwarts. The boy's face disappointed when the girl went to Gryffindor. Another boy, who looked a great deal like Harry. Other boys, ones she seen before…shoving the dark haired boy. Older now, the four boys lifting the black haired boy and hanging him upside down. The red haired girl accompanied by another girl with even redder hair confronting the boys who were tormenting the black haired boy. The girl, older now. Standing in a hallway.
"You just can't wait to join you know who," the girl, Lily shouted at him.
"Lily, no, I didn't mean…"
"To call me mudblood? But you call every other person of muggle birth Mudblood. Why should I be different?" A hilltop, darkness. Snape was panting, wand gripped tightly. Afraid. Meredith could feel his fear. A jagged white light tore threw the air, ripping Snapes wand from his hand.
"Don't kill me!"
"That is not my intention." Dumbledore. "Well…what message does Lord Voldemort have for me."
"I am here on my own account! I come with a warning…no… a request. Please."
"What request does a Death Eater wish of me?"
"The prophecy," Snape said. "He thinks it means Lily. Her son. He's going to hunt her down and kill them all. You must hide them. Hide them all."
"And what will you give me in return?"
"Anything." The hilltop faded away. They were in Dumbledore's office. Meredith's felt like her heart was being torn to shreds. Snape was on his knees, face buried in his hands. Dumbledore stood over him looking grim.
"I thought…you were….going to…. keep… her safe." Meredith had never heard someone sound so broken.
"Lily and James put their faith the wrong person," Dumbledore said. "Her son survived. He has her eyes."
"Don't," Snape cried. "Gone…dead."
"If you truly loved her, help me protect her son."
Meredith fell backwards away from the images that flew in front of her. She grabbed the wall and tried to catch her breath. She raised her eyes. Snape still stood in front of her, unaware and glassy eyed. Sirius held his wand on the man.
"Well," he said. Meredith frowned. What she had seen…what she had felt from her old potions master. Merlin, it explained so much. Tears filled her eyes as she remembered the pain the man had felt when the woman he loved was murdered. How he blamed himself for it. It was pain she knew all too well.
"Meredith, what did you see?" Sirius pushed. Meredith ran a hand across her eyes.
"There's nothing to worry about," she said standing. "He's a grimy git, but Dumbledore's trust in him is not mislaid. Now let him go." Sirius eyed her warily.
"Release him now!" Meredith snapped.
"You will walk out of here, and forget the last ten minutes," Sirius said.
Ten minutes? Was that all it had been? Meredith wondered as Snape walked from the room. Meredith waited a few beats then started to walk from the room. Sirius grabbed her shoulder.
"Meredith what did you see?" Meredith pulled her arm free.
"I told you, he's on our side. Why is not your business." She strode from the room and went to her own. She stretched out on the bed and closed her eyes. She was suddenly so very tired.
