Arrangements

On the Twentieth of August, their Hogwarts letters arrived. Mrs. Weasley handed out the six letters that arrived by owl. The Twins took theirs with bemused looks, and proceeded to ignore them in favor of the breakfast of rashers and toast their mother had cooked up. Ginny received hers next and opened it with a finger as she chewed on one of the sausages cooked up especially for her. Edelweiss noticed that Ron's and Hermione's were a bit misshapen. When prefect badges came tumbling out, gold and crimson, Edelweiss was unsurprised. She was disappointed McGonagall chose Ron over Dean Thomas, but then the muggleborn boy didn't have the same influence as her friend. Perhaps she thought he would grow up and be a strong influence.

Then again, she wouldn't put it past Ron to abuse his authority as prefect. How, though, might be a surprise.

"Another prefect!" shouted Mrs. Weasley, all but smothering Ron as she hugged him tight. "One more prefect in the family! Oh, that's everyone so far." She turned to a nervous Ginny with a beaming smile. "I do hope you'll continue the family tradition next year."

The sole Weasley daughter smiled awkwardly; it was a look of a daughter burdened with unwanted, and probably unwarranted, expectations. A glance at the Twins revealed nothing of their feelings, though there was a strong chance they would create excessive trouble, being forgotten so. They cared not for authority and academics, yet the Twins possessed a pride of their own.

Hermione, frowning as she glanced around, asked, "What about Fred and George? They were never made prefect."

Mrs. Weasley glanced at the Twins, then back to Hermione with a condescending, if apologetic, expression. "It was obvious they would never be named prefect. Arthur and I knew McGonagall and the Headmaster would pass over them in favor of more responsible prefect selections. We made our peace with it long ago."

Edelweiss bit her tongue, else she say something that might turn hostility her way. Some days it was astonishing Hermione and Mrs. Weasley could peacefully live under the same roof. They were so unalike that they were bound to come into some kind of conflict. That the Twins hadn't tried to start a betting pool with her meant that either they thought it all but guaranteed or were overlooking the matter entirely.

She couldn't establish her personal interest in such a bet. She had to maintain the illusion she was a savior. Perhaps Darth Gladiolus could be magical Britain's savior. How fascinating that thought was.

She turned her attention back to her letter, which she opened and withdrew. There was nothing remarkable about the contents. The letter had not changed since her second year. Packed within the envelope was a slip of paper with the names of the new books she'd need for the year. There were three books on the list: The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, and Advanced Transfiguration, both written by the same person as past copies for Flitwick's and McGonagall's classes; and Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard.

"A new Defense text," Hermione said, brows furrowed. She turned to Mrs. Weasley. "When will we go to Diagon Alley?"

The matriarch glanced at her husband, who had just joined them for breakfast. "The Headmaster and I have agreed that it's too dangerous to take all of you to Diagon this year," she said calmly. "I can do all the shopping, though I will need the keys to your vaults, girls."

"No," said Edelweiss. "I will be going to Diagon Alley."

"It's not safe!" protested Mrs. Weasley.

"When have I ever been safe? Every year at Hogwarts my life has been in danger. Every year, there was some incident where I should have died. But did I? No! I survived! Have you faced down Voldemort?" Everyone at the table flinched, including Mrs. Weasley. "Look at yourselves! You flinch at the utterance of the name he adopted! He was not born with that bloody name! He told me himself!"

"That doesn't—"

"It does matter! When he went after the Philosopher's Stone, I stopped him! When he found a way to possess Ginny and set a basilisk upon Hogwarts, I stopped him! When he manipulated the Triwizard Tournament to ensure his return, who faced him? Who dueled him to a standstill? It. Was. Me!"

Edelweiss found herself upon her feet, panting. A trickle of blood spilled from her hands, her nails having punched through the skin from how tight they were clenched. The sides of her fists ached from pounding against the table. Everyone stared at her, shocked and awed by her words. Mr. Weasley had a hint of pride, perhaps, in his gaze, as if she were one of his children and not just a family friend.

But Mrs. Weasley fumed. Her face was tightened like a dried prune, and her fists were perched upon her hips.

"You will take me with you, Mrs. Weasley," Edelweiss said, searching for that mix of magic and the dark side that had influenced Dudley so easily. "I am coming with you to Diagon Alley, regardless of what you or Dumbledore might want."

Mrs. Weasley's eyes went hazy for a few seconds, unfocused. And then she blinked, shaking away Edelweiss's influence. She frowned, probably confused over how she nearly changed her mind.

"I'll speak with Albus about your request, dear, but don't expect him to agree," said Mrs. Weasley with a solemn frown. "But only for you, Edelweiss."

Hermione was the only one who didn't groan.

Before Edelweiss could sit down, Mr. Weasley rose and asked, "Could we speak privately? It's about an important matter."

Edelweiss frowned. She reached out with the Force and probed his thoughts and feelings lightly. Mr. Weasley blinked, stared at her funnily, and she withdrew her probe. He shook his head, and her heart soared as he left the dining room. She followed him and was surprised when he guided her away from the dining room and into the family room, with its massive family tree.

"What did you wish to speak about?" asked Edelweiss, crossing the room to one of the large, padded chairs. She slumped into it, crossing her legs as she stared at the older man.

"Amelia Bones spoke with me yesterday about something that happened when you were still in Surrey," began Mr. Weasley. "She wishes for you to come in and provide a statement. Otherwise, she may have to issue a warrant, and with the aurors who come in and out of this house—"

"I won't have an option either way," she replied bitterly. "Fancy that. Sirius will be unmolested by them, yes?"

"That's a different issue."

She nearly scoffed. Instead, she settled for a weak huff, almost a snort. Mr. Weasley's face pinched at the sound. "You mean Dumbledore is unwilling to pull strings on my behalf."

Mr. Weasley frowned. "Have you read the paper this summer?"

Edelweiss rolled her eyes as she muttered, "Why care for a gossip rag when they'll never tell the truth?" She sighed before adding quite seriously, "I have not been reading the Daily Prophet. I assume they've slandered Dumbledore and myself by proxy?"

"Yes," Mr. Weasley said, looking away. "They've gone after Dumbledore more than you, but they don't hesitate to include you in a story a few times a week."

She flared her nostrils, envisioning what the office of the Daily Prophet would look like once she was finished with them. It was a dark, heady thought; she released it before she did something foolish. There were better ways to bring the national paper to heel.

"What of Skeeter? Surely she takes delight in smearing me at will?"

"She's gone quiet. Nobody knows where she went after the Tournament. It's almost as if someone learned whatever dirty secret—"

Edelweiss closed her eyes and tuned out the rest of what Mr. Weasley said. She would agree to speak with Amelia Bones, if only to clear the suspicion around her name. Perhaps there could be some way to convince the woman Voldemort had returned and got something useful out of the Ministry.

Yet she was troubled by what Mr. Weasley said about Rita Skeeter. The woman had been a pest, using the paper as her own bully pulpit. That, more than anything, had ruined what little respect Edelweiss had for the Prophet. That they continued to attack her, even without Skeeter, was strange, curious even.

"When does Madam Bones wish to speak with me?" asked Edelweiss, cutting off whatever the Weasley patriarch was saying. "I assume she wishes to speak as soon as possible."

Mr. Weasley pursed his lips momentarily, reminding Edelweiss annoyingly of his wife. Seconds trickled by before he sighed and said, "I would need to get Dumbledore's approval—"

"Is the Ministry that dangerous to me? Does Voldemort have agents in every department, waiting for me to bumble in so they might kidnap me? Or does Dumbledore think he can control my every movement because as far as he's concerned, I'm just a child?"

"The Ministry nearly fell to You-Know-Who during the previous war," said Mr. Weasley, his green eyes filled with disappointment. Edelweiss swallowed weakly, hating that the expression affected her. "With Lucius Malfoy so close to the Minister, Dumbledore is concerned they might weaponize the Ministry against you."

"Just like how the paper has turned against him?"

His pinched expression was answer enough.

Edelweiss rose to her feet and started for the door. She paused a few steps from it and said, "Tell Dumbledore I wish to meet with Amelia Bones sooner than later. I will leave scheduling said meeting to you two."

Edelweiss left before he could respond.

Two days later, Edelweiss ended her meditation upon sensing a powerful magical signature entering the house. Her master had instructed her in sensing others; she was to reach out, identify what they felt and their power, then report back without alerting them. She found finding them simple thanks to how the wards around Number Twelve liked her. Preventing those she sensed from noticing her could be a challenge, depending on whom she felt. After her attempt on Mr. Weasley directly, she stopped being as forward as she dared to be that day. The Force had to remain her secret for as long as possible

Whether or not Dumbledore would notice her sense his arrival would determine how successful she was.

She made her way downstairs, straightening the black robe she had pulled on that morning. In the process of cleaning the house, they stumbled upon a guest room filled with dresses and robes of witches past. None were cursed, so Ginny and Edelweiss had pillaged the stash for their wardrobes. Hermione had sniffed at their actions, and then forty minutes later questioned Sirius about a library within the house.

Edelweiss found everyone gathered in the dining room, with Dumbledore sitting at the head of the table. The Weasleys were upon his left, while Sirius, Remus, and rather oddly Snape were to the right. She had not realized her former professor was present, but then he came and went often enough she could just…forget about him. Hermione was also among those to her left.

Snape was the nearest to her, and sneered when she glanced his way. He turned to Dumbledore. "Your prediction was right."

The Headmaster beamed, his twinkling eyes peering past his half-moon spectacles to meet Edelweiss's cold gaze. "I had a feeling she would arrive as I said. It is always nice to see a prediction come true."

"A prediction," Edelweiss said flatly. She glanced around the table, at everyone present. "Is there a reason we're all here? I'm surprised you've allowed the children to be present."

Mrs. Weasley's face flushed with fury. Before she could begin shouting, Dumbledore cleared his throat. She glanced at him, her face pruning at being overrun by another. It was almost hilarious, though Edelweiss knew whatever goodwill present would be dashed should she laugh. "Or would this conversation be better done in private, Headmaster?"

"I fear so, Miss Potter." Dumbledore rose to his feet, even as most of the table burst out with protests. Chief among them were her friends, who must have been appeased by being allowed at the table for an important conversation. It was shameful how childish they were being, but then it wasn't like the adults had ever set a good example for them to follow.

"Enough," said Edelweiss. "If anything is said that needs to be relayed to others, it will be told."

Dumbledore gave her a stunned look, while the rest appeared simply confused. Most of the adults turned to the Headmaster, as if they needed his opinion to understand her. That might actually be true, since he had led them safely through one war already. It had been a disaster, judging from what she had learned over the years, but they trusted him nonetheless. He defeated Grindelwald. He was the one Voldemort feared.

She was only a girl; yes, she was the one who defeated the Dark Lord, but she was still a girl. A child.

Edelweiss stuffed down her anger, for not restraining it was dangerous. Her training was incomplete, and she needed to avoid revealing her other powers.

"Miss Potter is right. If there is anything that needs to be explained, we will be open about it."

"So that's it?" snarled Snape. "She has one little tantrum and you allow her to have her way?"

"She is standing right here," growled Edelweiss. "And she is more important to his war than you are, spy. I wonder…which master are you truly loyal to?"

The potions master growled, hands clenching. Regardless of what he said about her in the past, she had never dared talk back to him while at Hogwarts. She smirked in the face of his anger and frustration; let him be mad. Nothing would change between them.

"Now, now, Severus," said Dumbledore, passive as always. "Miss Potter has a right to her privacy, especially with what I wish to speak with her about. Should she agree, I will—"

"He gets to know nothing," declared Edelweiss. "I don't care what he does on your orders, Headmaster. I do not trust him. I am tired of his silly, boyhood grudge blinding him to the truth: I am not my father."

In a blink, Snape drew his wand and aimed it at her. She stared at him, grasping at what Force powers she had as other wands were drawn, all aimed at the potions master. Only Dumbledore, of all the adults present, remained calm in the face of threats.

"Severus. Put that away."

Snape glared at Dumbledore, even as he did as the old man instructed. He sneered once more at Edelweiss before pushing past her, his cloak fluttering in his wake.

"I need to learn how he does that," she whispered, watching him go. Several seconds later, she felt him depart Grimmauld Place via Floo. Edelweiss frowned, wondering when they had allowed the house to be connected to the Floo network. Maybe it was only to Hogwarts.

Dumbledore had reached her by the time she turned away from the door. He gestured back the way she had come. After a moment's thought, she led him to the family room.

"Arthur told me that you wish to speak with Amelia Bones," began Dumbledore. "However, I am worried that Minister Fudge will use it as an opportunity to level criminal charges against you."

"He is welcome to try, but his attempt will fail." Edelweiss stared at the Black family tree as she spoke. "From what the aurors told me, there is plenty of evidence to prove what I did was self-defense."

"There were two instances of magic that evening, Miss Potter, and only one matches what was done to those dementors."

She peered at him, barely turning her head. "What are you implying?"

"I imply nothing. I only express concern that your actions could see you imprisoned in Azkaban. My influence is not what it once was."

Edelweiss blinked, the rest of her face kept placid. "I fear not Azkaban. I have already proven I can handle dementors without relying upon the Patronus Charm."

"And how did you achieve that feat?"

She had to bite her tongue to prevent boastful words from slipping out. Chances were Dumbledore asked solely because he thought she might slip up and tell him about the source of her new powers.

Edelweiss chuckled before saying, "I am afraid I cannot tell you. A secret can only remain so as long as no other learns the truth."

"You cannot keep it a secret forever."

"I can try," whispered Edelweiss. She sighed and brushed aside her thick, black hair. She was thankful it was so long, or else it would stick up like her father's. "I want you to know, Dumbledore, that I will pursue a meeting with Amelia Bones regardless of your feelings. Were it not for the respect I have for Mr. Weasley, I would have gone to her already."

"I'm afraid I cannot allow you to do that, Miss Potter."

"Would you prefer I return to Hogwarts with the threat of an arrest hanging over my head? Certainly, Fudge has tried to use the revolving door that is the Defense professorship to try and get one of his sycophants into the castle."

Dumbledore was slow with his response. She suspected she guessed right about Defense for the coming year, yet the Headmaster didn't want to admit she saw through him so easily. Edelweiss thought about the text assigned for Defense this year. Oh, did she wish to have a copy before her. Either it would be a treasure trove of magical tricks, or it would be so useless burning the bloody thing would grant neither satisfaction nor a good fire.

"The Defense position has been temporarily filled, though Fudge has a bill close to a vote which would allow the Ministry, through the Department of Magical Education, to place an instructor of their choosing should I fail to recruit and hire one. The assigned text for Defense this year reflects their preference."

"A shame what happened to the last four Defense professors," said Edelweiss, smiling coyly. "Dead, memory wiped, a werewolf, and subjected to the Dementor's Kiss. One would think that the standards at Hogwarts have been on the decline. I will assume from the assigned Defense text that whoever the Ministry wants is guaranteed to fill the post."

"I'm afraid that like everyone else, you will need to wait until September First to find out, Miss Potter," replied Dumbledore, his stupid eyes twinkling. He smiled, and she could sense his amusement. "I will query Madam Bones about her wish to speak with you. I will let you know once I have an answer."

Edelweiss nodded, uncertain how to feel over the matter. It would be simple to head into the Ministry and seek out Madam Bones. If the Headmaster wanted to be involved, then she'd let him. One day, she would destroy him. For now, she would let him play his games.

Perhaps she would learn something.

"As soon as you know." Edelweiss went t the door. "Unless you have something else to speak of, I will return to my meditation."

"I'm afraid I do have something else to speak with you about, Miss Potter." She almost believed him. Edelweiss turned to face him and leaned against the door. Light reflected from his half-moon spectacles emulating the strange twinkling she noticed in his eyes. "When I entered Grimmauld Place today, I was quite surprised to feel a legilimens probe brush against my mind. I spoke with the others, both living here and those who come and go. Only a few confirmed what I felt."

"So what? You wish to know if I've felt it as well?"

Dumbledore frowned, that disappointed grandfatherly look that once might have affected her. "It was your probe, Miss Potter."

"I'm afraid I don't know what you speak of, Headmaster."

"Miss Potter—"

"I believe that is all. Farewell, for now."

And with that, she departed. Edelweiss had to restrain herself, else her Force powers lash out at Dumbledore.

I must return to my meditations before I turn around and strike him down.

Edelweiss found Sirius alone when she came down for breakfast the next day. She had discovered he preferred to eat before everyone else, even if it meant he ended up skimping on the meals cooked up by Mrs. Weasley. Her godfather glanced up as she entered the kitchen. "Are there any rooms in this house that could be used for dueling? I wouldn't wish to ruin the wallpaper." She was beyond rusty and hoped to cast something before September.

Her godfather frowned, discomforted by her request, though he didn't appear ready to reject her request entirely. "Why are you asking?"

"I want to practice magic. There must be enough ambient magics around this bloody house that the Ministry won't pick up on who does what. Mrs. Weasley has no issue using spells aplenty when she cleans, and she's the only one who cares whenever the Twins apparate."

Sirius huffed just like a dog would. "Molly is a trained witch, Edie. You aren't."

"Either you tell me where it's safe," Edelweiss began, "or I pick a room at random. I won't use Buckbeak's, even if it would be a good place to start." She gave him a sardonic grin. "Or you could be a good godfather and help me out. You could train me yourself."

He stared for a few seconds. Sirius sighed. "I fear I'm going to regret this. But yes, I know a place. Follow me."

Edelweiss smiled, pleased, and followed him from the dining room. Sirius led her to a door hidden in the back of the house; near the over-grown garden he and Mrs. Weasley had rowed over several times. He hurried her through the doorway while watching for any watchful eyes Edelweiss thought he was being too paranoid, but then she was the same with her Force training.

They descended several weaving flights beneath the muggle subway system. Edelweiss scowled at Sirius when the air turned frigid. He smiled in response, straight and humorless. She breathed out slowly, faint fog rising from her mouth as they continued their long descent.

Eventually, they reached the bottom, and Edelweiss grinned at the open space beneath Grimmauld Place. Silver glass lanterns illuminated the chamber, granting a soft, peaceful quality to the large chamber. Soon magic and violence would fill it. She made her way to the center, drawing her holly wand. It hummed in her possession, too accustomed to her magic to dare reject the path she was going down. She had read that holly embraced the heroic types.

A Sith was not a hero, nor a savior. They merely were.

"What do you think?" asked Sirius, drawing her attention back to him.

"It's quite lovely," replied Edelweiss, twirling her wand. "Cleaner than the Chamber."

"Chamber?"

She blinked and realized she had never spoken of her sanctuary to Sirius. "The Chamber of Secrets. It was opened in my second year. The monster is dead, but I continue using it for my own purposes." She shrugged before adding, "No better place for privacy than a place where only I alone can go."

Sirius nodded thoughtfully. She waited uneasily; witnessing a serious expression on her godfather's face was bizarre. Her grip upon her wand tightened, though not enough to warp the wood or drive a sliver into her palm. It vibrated against her palm, almost begging to use be used like during her duel, back in June.

"We never were able to find it, though we didn't look that hard."

"None of you were parselmouths. Even if you had found the entrance, you would've been unable to access it."

He huffed. "It would've been a point of pride to know where the entrance was."

"Oh, well that's easy. You know Moaning Myrtle's bathroom?" Sirius nodded, frowning. His silver eyes were dark like slate. "There's an access through the sinks. That's how I got in during my second year, and that's the only one I know Dumbledore knows of."

"You've found more?"

"Wouldn't be Salazar's secret chamber if he didn't leave several ways in. Most are in the dungeons, though one leads into the forest and another comes out around the Charms corridor. Not to mention the Slytherin common room entrance."

Sirius grinned, even as his eyes dimmed with the haze of memory. "Oh, the pranks we could've pulled having that kind of access."

"You four were already menaces," Edelweiss said, nearly rolling her eyes. "Voldemort had little trouble recruiting from Slytherin, though how many actually joined him? A quarter? Maybe less? Had the four of you attacked there, somewhere supposed to be safe, and all those Slytherins saw how you idolize Dumbledore, how do you think that would affect the Dark Lord's message among them?"

"Sounds like you think we were too harsh."

She rolled her eyes. "Most swayed to his side would have gone regardless, but offering a better way could have made your lives easier." The words were like acid in her mouth, yet she continued on. "You must know what they say about honey and vinegar."

Sirius nodded. "Make sure you follow your own advice, Edie."

Edelweiss shot Sirius a withering glare. She knew the path before her may alienate her friends, but she had a war to win. Tactics and strategy were good to possess, but power was necessary to destroy a monster like Voldemort. Only as a Sith Lord would she have that power, the power to overcome and destroy her great foe. He had been right about good and evil and power; she would use hers not for him, but against him.

"Enough talk," said Edelweiss, twirling her wand once more. "Let us duel."

Before Sirius could raise whatever wand he possessed, Edelweiss lunged forward, a whisper of "Expelliarmus" upon her lips. It was neither a terribly powerful spell nor that threatening, but it proved useful in the past. Even against Voldemort, it had been of use.

Sirius was swift in drawing his wand, hidden up a sleeve. He blocked her spell with a shimmering shield. As if taunting her, he smiled and flicked his wand. A yellow-green light flashed her way, sickly like phlegm. Edelweiss dodged with a roll and responded with a stunning spell. He smacked it aside, a small shimmering shield of blue around the tip of his wand.

"What spell was that?" asked Edelweiss. "Will you—"

Her godfather used her moment of weakness to cast a trio of curses. Biting back a few choice swears and muttering, "Protego," Edelweiss raised a shield. The first two spells splashed against the barrier, the surface rippling from the impacts.

The last spell, however, punched straight through her shield and smashed into her ribs. Blood filled her mouth, barely spilling past her lips as her jaw clenched shut. Edelweiss stumbled back a few steps, one hand over her ribs and the other raising her wand at Sirius. He watched her carefully, even as her developing Sith instincts demanded his head.

"Bloody hell," she muttered, rubbing the spot. Blood trickled from her lips. "What spell was that?"

"One I shouldn't have used," admitted Sirius. "It's meant for wartime, not practice."

"Then it's perfect for my purposes," Edelweiss said, straightening up. She breathed slowly, and opened herself up to the Force. She felt stronger after a few seconds. "War is nearly upon us, Sirius. I must be ready."

"Must you?"

She blinked, almost astonished he would ask the question. "Of course. It has been my war since Voldemort came to murder me on that Samhain night." She ran her hand across her forehead, glossing over the scar across her right brow. "He made it clear to all who would bring about his destruction. He marked me!"

Something rippled around her, faint and heady. For a moment, Edelweiss swore she felt all the Force wrap around her instead of only the dark side, which she cloaked herself with. The potency of the Force whispered to her, yet she could not understand. She wanted—needed—to know what it meant; yet it was gone before she could grasp it.

"…weiss? Edelweiss?"

She blinked and stared at Sirius. He had crossed the distance between them, hands upon her shoulders and eyes wide with worry.

"Is something wrong?"

"You blanked out. Are you well, Edelweiss?"

She huffed and shook her head. Her ribs pinched from the earlier spell. "An odd thought crossed my mind. That's all. It isn't something you need to worry about, Sirius."

"I always worry about you, Edelweiss. It's what kept me sane while locked up in Azkaban."

"I thought that was your drive to take revenge on Wormtail."

Sirius grinned wolfishly. "That as well."

"Well, how did I fare dueling?" asked Edelweiss, resisting the urge to rub her bruised ribs. "I need to be read—"

"You won't be ready for fighting, regardless of how much you practice," said Sirius. "The Death Eaters have years of experience engaging in murder and mayhem. That we didn't die during the first war was a major accomplishment in itself. The number of times I saw the Killing Curse nearly hit me or James or Lily… It's not something one forgets easily. There is no being ready for war."

Edelweiss spat on the tiles and turned aside, black hair covering her sneer. "I do not have the luxury to sit around, Sirius. It is my war, just as I told Dumbledore. He came after us for a reason. He chose me for a reason." She peered at Sirius through her hair, pouring her certainty into her gaze. "I will be there at the end, either victorious…or dead."

Sirius stared at her for a long while, torn by pride in her dedication and his desire to keep her safe. In the end, he sighed and muttered, "Then I'll need to train you right for the few days we still have."

Edelweiss grinned. That was Sirius's cue to raise his wand and hex her.