Chapter 85
Many Meetings
Note from J.M. Jackson: I want to apologise for the delay in this chapter being released, I've not been feeling too well lately. I'm publishing two chapters to catch up, hopefully you enjoy them.
The next morning brought a surprise to Lily when she went for lunch after having a wash to refresh herself from the morning's training. When she went to the dining room after being called for by Sirius, sitting there was Professor Dumbledore.
"Good afternoon, Lily," Dumbledore said, a small smile on his face. "I hope I'm not interrupting your day too much?"
"No sir, it's fine," Lily replied, taking a seat at the table. "How can I help?"
"As I'm sure you're aware, Hogwarts is in need of another teacher this year. We do seem to be going through them, at least when it comes to Defence Against the Dark Arts. Having considered carefully what to do, I have a candidate in mind, but I will need your help to recruit him," Dumbledore replied, his charming smile putting Lily at ease.
"I'm sorry sir, but how will I be able to help?" Lily asked, curious now.
"The man I have in mind is… well, he is very confident in his ability to sense great talent, and in truth, he has never been wrong. To date, he has rejected my offers, though I can't imagine why," Dumbledore said. "Usually, I might be content to leave it there, but for the lessons I have planned with yourself and Miss Weasley, his presence will be invaluable."
"And with me there, you hope he'll be tempted to accept, because he'll know me as a 'talent' I take it?" Lily asked. Dumbledore chuckled softly; his usual charming smile able to put anyone at ease.
"Precisely, Lily. You see, he would have a club at Hogwarts, where he invited those he deemed worthy, and to have a chance to 'collecting' Lily Potter the Second, well, I hope it will be a chance he will jump at," Dumbledore explained.
"Do you want me to let him 'collect me' as it were, sir?" Lily asked, frowning.
"I won't lie, it will be a great benefit to me if you do," Dumbledore confirmed. "I won't tell you everything, not yet, but the time will come this year for you to know everything."
Lily nodded, before spotting Dumbledore's hand; it was blackened, as though it had been burnt.
"Professor, what happened to your hand?" Lily asked, her eyes widening slightly.
"Let's just say it was… a miscalculation on my part and leave it at that. The story is rather thrilling, and I wish to do it justice, when the time has come," Dumbledore replied, still smiling. "There is a second matter I wish to discuss with you."
"Oh?" Lily tilted her head slightly, as Ginny came into the dining room.
"Professor Dumbledore!" she exclaimed, surprised to see him.
"Ah, Miss Weasley, excellent. I was going to request your presence now, so this has worked out rather well," Dumbledore said. "Last year, I was unable to take a personal hand in your education, due to Dolores Umbridge. This year, however, I will be continuing the lessons I began with the pair of you, and this will be the most important lessons you will both have at Hogwarts this year."
"What will we be learning, sir?" Ginny asked, sitting next to Lily. Lily saw her look at Dumbledore's hand, but before Ginny could ask, Lily held her hand, meeting her gaze to tell her not to ask.
"There will be a variety of subjects we will need to cover, and it will be important for you both to know. You may not fully understand right away, but I assure you, before the year is over, you will both be more prepared for what is to come," Dumbledore assured them.
Lily looked at Ginny, who nodded. "We'll both be there, sir," Lily promised.
"Excellent. Lastly, your group that you started in your fourth year, Lily, Dumbledore's Army, you called it?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes sir, do you want me to stop teaching the group?" Lily asked. Dumbledore shook his head.
"No, but I do not believe you will need to teach them spells or defensive magic, since Dolores Umbridge is no longer there. Professor Snape wishes to speak with you today, as I believe he wants to learn what you have taught the students so far," Dumbledore said.
"Wait, Professor Snape does?" Lily asked, confused. Dumbledore smiled.
"Yes, he will be continuing your Occlumency lessons this year, and he will be taking the role of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. The professor we will be meeting is a Potions master, and an excellent one at that," Dumbledore explained.
"Is that a good idea, sir? I mean, no offence, but no teacher has stayed longer than a year as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," Lily said.
"Perhaps this year, we will have better luck with Professor Snape," Dumbledore had a hint of hope in his voice.
"Let's hope so. I'm starting to like Professor Snape a lot more lately," Lily said.
"A sentiment I am sure he will appreciate. I shall be here tonight at nine o'clock for our work," Dumbledore said, standing up. He looked at Sirius and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Sirius, for your time today as well."
"Anytime, Albus," Sirius replied, smiling at the man. As Dumbledore left the dining room, with Sirius escorting him out, Ginny looked at Lily.
"Tonight?" Ginny asked.
"He wants me to help him recruit a new teacher," Lily replied. "Apparently, I'll do better than he did."
"How?" Ginny asked. Lily quickly summed up what Dumbledore had told him.
"I'm not sure what to think of him yet, but there's got to be a good reason Professor Dumbledore wants me to do this," Lily said.
"Probably," Ginny agreed. "The question is, what is it?"
Lily didn't know the answer to that, but she knew she'd find out that night. Whatever the reason was, she hoped she didn't let Professor Dumbledore down.
"Congratulations on your new post, sir," Lily said, as Severus sat down in the dining room. Sirius had given them the room, and was in another room with Remus, although Lily suspected he was listening to the conversation somehow.
"Thank you, Miss Potter," Severus said. "Professor Dumbledore explained why I wanted to meet with you?"
"He did, yes sir," Lily said. "I made notes of what we went through with Dumbledore's Army last year," she added, handing a parchment to Snape, who accepted it. He looked at it, studying it carefully.
"This is… adequate, for a teenager teaching students," Snape said calmly. "I will be able to build upon this and know to expect results from those within your group."
"They all did well, sir," Lily said. "Professor Dumbledore also said you were continuing our Occlumency lessons?"
"Indeed. Whilst the Dark Lord is currently employing Occlumency against you, in order to prevent a repeat of your being able to see into his or his snake's mind again, it is best to be better prepared," Snape explained.
"As Uncle Sirius said, better to have something and not need it, then to need it and not have it," Lily replied.
"Crude… but accurate," Snape replied, meeting her gaze. "I shall expect you both in my office on the second Monday of term, at six o'clock in the evening. Since there is no Dolores Umbridge, there will be no need to tell anyone that you are taking remedial potions, but I advise you not to tell anyone what you are actually learning."
"Of course, sir," Lily replied. "Thank you, Professor, for everything you've taught us and done for us so far."
"You have been… improving greatly," Snape said. "I am… satisfied with your potion's improvement. When Horace Slughorn does return to the school, he will be taking over as Potions master of Hogwarts. That having been said, I will be the one working on your… personal potions," Snape explained.
"I never thanked you for that, and that was a mistake," Lily said. "I know I'm not your favourite student, and I've made… well, more than my fair share of mistakes, but I am grateful for everything you've done, including the personal potions lessons. I know you're the reason my potions have been working properly, and I'll always be thankful."
Snape, for his part, looked somewhat impassive, but Lily could see the effect it had on the man, clearly trying not to show any emotional reaction. He stood up and looked at them.
"Enjoy the rest of your holidays, Potter, Weasley," Snape said, before leaving the room. Lily checked he had left the house before speaking.
"He's definitely changed a lot," Ginny commented.
"You're not kidding," Lily agreed. "I still don't fully understand the change, but it's… well, it's good to see at least. I don't feel as… uneasy around him anymore."
"Do you think it's because of what we talked about before? Now he knows how much your mum thought of him, that you could have been his daughter?" Ginny asked. Lily poured herself a glass of pineapple juice from the pitcher on the table.
"It's the best reason I can think of," Lily said, pouring Ginny a glass of juice, and sitting down again.
"It's a weird thought though, isn't it? Lily Snape?" Ginny teased, chuckling.
"And if we were together, you'd end up as Ginny Snape," Lily teased back, laughing. Both girls descended into laughter together, with Lily enjoying the moment of fun with Ginny.
Draco stared into the fireplace as he heard the music playing in the background. The house was full of muggle technology, which he had left alone, and was somewhat isolated. He hadn't really spoken to anyone since his arrival; none of his so-called friends had tried to communicate with him, other than one person, who remained with him in the house; Pansy Parkinson.
Pansy was currently talking with Dobby about food for Draco, and what they needed in the house. Whilst he barely said anything to anyone, he did feel thankful to not be alone. He still could barely believe that it was been Potter and his… no, her uncle that had helped him. Draco was going to do better, even if it was just acknowledging that Potter wasn't a boy anymore.
Had Potter ever been a boy? How did that whole… transgender thing work? Draco didn't know, and it didn't matter much, but he did see how happy Potter was, getting to be herself. She had her friends, and Draco knew that if Potter had lost her uncle, Sirius, she would never be left alone by her friends.
That was what friendship was. Spending time with Pansy showed Draco how much Pansy did care for him, and he was touched by it. He hadn't told her that yet, but he would.
As the front door opened, Draco knew it was Sirius Black coming to check on him, as usual. He had taken the guardian role seriously, and checked on Draco every day, even if it was only for a few minutes.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Black," Pansy greeted Sirius.
"Pansy, how are you doing?" Sirius asked. Draco listened to the conversation carefully.
"Not too bad, just sorting out what shopping we need."
"Well, I brought more muggle money for you both for shopping, and anything else you'd like."
"I appreciate this. I know I wasn't always kind to your niece, but…"
"No need to apologise, Pansy. It's in these dark times that we learn who really is there for us, and who we want to be ourselves. Lily and I both want to help because it's the right thing to do."
"I still appreciate it. You know none of Draco's so-called friends have even tried to visit or write to him? They'll fawn around him at school, but in the real world, none of them care," Pansy sounded angry as she spoke.
"Yes, I had been hoping they would prove me wrong, to be honest. I wanted them to visit Draco and show him what friends were, but the only one who cared enough is you," Sirius told her.
"It's been… an eyeopener, if I'm honest. My parents… they've told me that I can stay here because I'm a traitor, staying in the house of… well…" Pansy began.
"A blood traitor? Yes, it's shocking how full of anger and bigotry people really are, especially in times of grief," Sirius commented, as he and Pansy walked into the lounge.
"You're not wrong. I really am thankful for everything, helping us both, making sure we have what we need…" Pansy said to him. Sirius smiled at her.
"Anytime, Pansy. Draco, I don't suppose you're feeling up to speaking, are you?" Sirius asked kindly. Draco looked at him, then back at the fireplace. "Only when you're ready," Sirius added softly.
"What can I say?" Draco surprised both Pansy and Sirius by speaking. "I lost everything. My aunt has destroyed my home, although I'm thankful to have been able to get a few things from there. My parents are dead, and the only real family I have are those who I was raised to hate by my father."
"Yeah, it's not been easy for you, kid," Sirius agreed kindly. "You've faced more than almost anyone else your age. I can't tell you how to feel, act, or behave. Only you can decide what your next path is."
"How do I choose? I feel… lost," Draco said. Sirius looked at him, stood up, and went to the bookcase. He picked a book, opened the cover, and began to read.
"Midway upon the journey of our life, I found myself within a forest dark, for the straightforward pathway had been lost," Sirius read aloud. Both Pansy and Draco looked at him.
"Dante's inferno, it's the first part of the epic poem, Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri. Throughout the entire story, Dante engages in cruelty towards fellow sinners, including those who harmed him, and when he is scolded for compassion he finds for sinners, even for his own relatives, Dante grows to understand the foibles of human nature," Sirius explained, handing the book to Draco.
"Sounds… like an interesting viewpoint," Pansy commented. Sirius nodded.
"I always liked reading it because to be, it showed that there is always a viewpoint to be understand, even if we disagree with it. Dante travels through hell and back, literally, learning to understand what it is to be better. He has to find his path because he's lost, much like you feel now. Have a look at it, maybe it'll act as a guide for you," Sirius suggested.
"A book? You think a book can help?" Draco asked, although he was curious as he looked at it.
"It helped me after my best friend and his wife were killed by Voldemort. I had brought Lily to my house, and I was anxious about what to do next. I was so angry, but I couldn't indulge it because I had to take care of Lily," Sirius explained. "But you've got what I didn't have. You've got Pansy and Dobby here, and you've got me, and Lily if you want to talk to her at all. She's already said she'll meet with you and talk about anything."
"Even after I put her through hell?" Draco asked, shocked.
"Lily can be a very forgiving person. She knows you need love and friendship now, not hate and intolerance. It's up to you if you want to mend that bridge, but it's there, ready to be fixed, and ready for you to cross it if you want. It won't be easy, Draco, far from it. But you can be whoever you need to be," Sirius told him. "I also spoke to Professor Dumbledore. Should you want to, you can either be placed in a different house, or simply have a dorm area to yourselves. I suspect you don't want to be in the Slytherin dorm anymore."
"No, I don't," Draco agreed. "I… I don't know what to do."
"You've got time, Draco," Sirius said. "Only you can decide what you want to do. If you pick the solo dorm, you can move to another house later if you wish. That gives you a little more time to think, and time to be alone if you want."
"I…" Draco started and stopped.
"I think that's a good idea. A lot of students will hate Draco just because he was in Slytherin," Pansy said. Sirius nodded, smiling at her.
"I always knew you had wisdom, Pansy, and I'm glad to see your growth here as well. If I were still a professor, I'd be giving you house points for your devotion and care," Sirius said. "Just remember, if you need anything, I'm always around."
"We will," Pansy promised. Draco nodded in agreement, watching as Sirius finished making sure they had enough money for shopping and other activities, before leaving.
"What do you think?" Draco asked, after Pansy returned to the lounge.
"It's a good idea," Pansy said. "Getting our own dorm area means we can ignore everyone else, and focus on us, and on finding the best path."
"You think we can?" Draco asked. Pansy nodded.
"I know what you want to do Draco, and I want to help; I just don't want to lose you doing it," Pansy said softly, holding Draco's hand.
"You won't. We know enough to be able to make that bitch pay for what she did to my parents," Draco said calmly. "One way or the other, Bellatrix Lestrange will pay, and if that means making friends with Lily Potter and turning my back on what we were taught, so be it."
