Chapter 4

An: Thank you so much for the support. I Hope you like this chapter.

While it was clear that Mie was different from the moment the light begun to fade as it completely disappears it is clear how different she looks, though all her scars remain. Mie's hair is a slightly different color, it looks to be brown with hints of Albus's natural auburn, and it is also a little less bushy. Along with her hair some of Mie's facial features have been changed to cause her to share more similarities with Albus. While the facial changes are subtle enough that they are hard to pinpoint unless you are looking for them, the changes to Mie's eyes are not. Where her eyes were once brown, they are no now blue, the exact shade of blue as both Albus and Abeforth's, and just like her new father Mie's eyes have a twinkle; though it is diminished by the haunted look that is also present, a look that looks even more pronounced in the crystal blue eyes that now belong to Mie.

"Wow," Alice says shocked, seeing the changes clearly.

"How different do I look?" Mie asks as she knows that would be a possibility for her appearance to change, she had assumed it would be subtle.

"Not a lot," Regulus says in a reassuring voice and as he speaks Amelia wishes for a mirror and once she has it she walks over to Mie and hands it to her.

"I'm going to say what you know," Amelia says as Mie looks at herself, as she moves closer and speaks in a low voice so only Mie hears as she feels like Mie needs to hear someone say it. "When someone old enough to truly understand what it means appearance changes after blood adoption it's a reflection of what the person truly wants, even if they can't admit it to themselves," Amelia tells Mie in a gentle voice.

"I know," Mie admits, knowing that there was a part of her that didn't want to look like her birth parents anymore and the briefest look passes over Mie's face, one that Amelia recognizes.

"There's no shame in that Mie, no shame in being who you want to be," Amelia says before hugging her friend, as she understands that more than anyone.

"Thank you, Amy," Mie responds gratefully, as they hug, and after a few moments they break apart.

"I like the new look, it's very… you, Mie," Remus tells her with a reassuring smile.

"Thanks Remus," Mie says gratefully, and everyone realizes that Mie is a little self-conscious about her new appearance as while it is what she wanted it is a big change.

"Looks like you've been busy," Aberforth notices, wanting to distract everyone from Mie's change of appearance as it is clearly what she wants, honestly he is not at all surprised that she needs some time to adjust.

"Yeah, we've had a lot of planning to do," Sirius says as he starts to explain some of the things on the board so that Mie has a chance to breathe and comprehend what has happened.

As Sirius is explaining some of their plans to everyone Mie walks over to James as she feels like now might be a good time for a conversation that they need to have.

"James," Mie says. "Can we talk?" Mie asks curious.

"Sure Mie," James responds, and the two of them leave the main room, heading to one of the bedrooms, where they both walk in and after closing the door behind them, they stand so that neither are looking at the door. "What's going on?" James asks curious, knowing Mie well enough to know that there is something seriously, and potentially uncomfortable, that she wants to talk to him about.

"Peter," Mie says simply as she knows there is no point in beating around the bush.

"What about him?" James asks.

"I know you want to tell him what we know…." Mie starts to say as that has become clear.

"And? Why can't I?" James asks. "You told Ab," James argues.

"Aberforth is different, and you know it," Mie responds. "Aberforth, in every timeline, proved that he is on our side, Peter proved the opposite," Mie tells James.

"Peter wasn't given a chance!" James argues.

"He was given every chance," Mie argues, fighting not to raise her voice. "James, I get it, you want your friend to have a different life, you won't find anyone who understands that more than me," Mie admits. "But you have to be careful, Peter made his own choices, he could have done things differently, but he didn't, and it was those choices that led him to where he ended up, nothing else," Mie tells James, needing him to understand that.

"But he also regretted those choices in the end, you know that!" James argues.

"I don't, not for sure, and you don't either," Mie argues. "Neither of us were in that basement," Mie says. "And even if he did regret what he did it was only for a split second," Mie tells James.

"What if that's enough?" James asks, wanting to believe that it could be.

"What if it's not?" Mie asks, pointedly. "I admit, my judgement is a little clouded by what I know Peter does, but your judgements clouded too, out of the loyalty you feel towards your friend, and I admire that," Mie admits, now understanding better than ever the way Remus would talk about the loyalty James had towards his friends.

"You do?" James asks surprised and Mie nods.

"Even knowing what he did in my timeline you want to believe the best in him, I don't think I could do that," Mie admits. "I'm not saying we can never tell Peter; I'm saying that we should take a breath, take some time and see what path he chooses in this time," Mie explains as she honestly feels that that would be best.

"And I'm saying that if we tell him everything then the choice will be made," James reveals.

"That's exactly what I'm worried about," Mie admits. "What if we tell him and he goes straight to Voldemort and tells him?" Mie asks.

"He won't," James says, needing to believe that.

"Can you say that with one hundred percent certainty?" Mie asks, and as James avoids looking at her that tells Mie everything she needs to know. "That's my point," Mie admits.

"That's not fair," James tells Mie, giving her a hurt look.

"Neither's my timeline," Mie responds, without missing a beat.

"Isn't that exactly what we're trying to change?" James asks.

"Not at the expense of everything we're trying to build!" Mie exclaims, her voice raising slightly as she fights to calm down once more.

"Prongs," Sirius's voice says and both Mie and James turn to see Sirius and Remus standing in the doorway and it isn't clear how long they have been listening, but both Mie and James know that they didn't realize that the two of them were there. "Mie's right," Sirius admits, walking over to Mie and James. "I considered Peter to my brother, but those books show us what he is willing to do to save himself," Sirius points out. "What we know is powerful and if Voldemort even suspects we know it then it will be catastrophic," Sirius admits.

"We can't risk telling him, not yet," Remus admits, saying that to his friend in a gentle voice, as while he wants to believe the best about Peter he isn't sure that they can risk it.

"It's too big of a risk, and if I'm saying it, you know it's serious," Sirius tells James and the fact that he made no jokes shows just how serious he is.

"This summer," James says. "We talk about this again this summer," James says, looking at Mie.

"Deal," Mie responds, and she and James shake on it, after they let go of each other's hands an understanding look passes between them.

After Mie and James shake hands, coming to a deal, the two of them, Sirius and Remus head back to the main room. As the four of them re-enter the main room James and Sirius walk over to where the others are while Albus walks over to Mie.

"Are you alright?" Albus asks concerned.

"Yeah, I just needed to talk to talk to James about Peter," Mie admits, and Albus nods in understanding.

"About the changes…." Albus starts to say.

"I like them," Mie says, cutting him off before he can say anymore, and Albus gives her a piercing look, trying to figure out if she means what she is saying. "I mean it," Mie responds, and once she does, she hugs Albus. "They feel right," Mie tells Albus as they hug, and once they break apart, they break apart and walk over to where the others are.

"Looks like you've got a hell of a lot planned," Aberforth notes, sounding a little impressed, once his brother and niece have walked over.

"It's what we have to do," Mie admits. "Which is why, unless you think it would be too much," Mie says, looking between Sirius, Regulus, Alice, and Albus. "I think we should do some more Occlumency practice," Mie admits.

"Probably a good idea," Alice admits.

"You missed the first lesson, we can talk through what we went through," Regulus offers.

"I'd appreciate that," Mie responds and so the group, even Aberforth who decides to stick around to watch, start to sit around on the floor, as they do Mie and Regulus walk over to their own corner.

"I know you know a lot about Occlumency, but knowing what it is, the theory of how to do it, is very different to trying to do it for yourself," Regulus informs Mie as she and Regulus sit down across from one another.

"I figured," Mie admits, as based on Regulus's reaction she figured it would not be as simple as she believed. "I assume we're not going to go with how Snape taught," Mie assumes as after the way Regulus reacted to those lessons she would be shocked if his way of teaching was the same.

"Not while I have a say," Regulus reveals, and Mie reaches out and gives his hand a comforting squeeze before letting go. "I'm going to be honest with you," Regulus reveals.

"You always are, why say that now?" Mie asks curious, and a little concerned.

"This is going to be hard for you to hear," Regulus admit, trying to think of the gentlest way to say what he has to say because he doesn't want to bring up painful memories.

"It's okay, I get the feeling I need to hear it," Mie admits.

"Not wanting to fail drives you, and I get that, but it won't help with Occlumency, there's no right or wrong way to build your shield, it's what's works for you," Regulus explains.

"And you think I'll be so focused on finding the correct way to do it that I may overlook something that's right," Mie realizes.

"That's my fear," Regulus admits. "I really think Occlumency could help, with more than just making sure no one knows what you know, but it's gonna take time, and you…." Regulus starts to say.

"Don't take it well when I don't learn something as quickly as I feel I should," Mie finishes, looking amused. "Two weeks and you already know me so well," Mie says, sounding amused, and the two of them exchange fond looks. "So, any advice about how I find what my shield should be?" Mie asks.

"No, but I am going to be here while you figure it out," Regulus says as he reaches out and takes Mie's hand, as she feels Regulus's hand, feels the comfort he gives her, Mie closes her eyes and starts to search within herself for something that could be her shield.

A couple of hours later the adults have left for the night and the teenagers are once again spread out on the couches, drinking Mie's refilling bottle of firewhiskey that they have become so fond off.

"How has it only been one day since we finished the books?" James asks, sounding surprised.

"It's been a long day," Mie responds as she takes a drink.

"For you especially," Severus notes.

"Sev's right, how are you really doing?" Lily asks concerned and as Mie looks around the room, she sees that all her new friends are looking concerned.

"Honestly…. I don't know," Mie admits. "As soon as I decided to come back here, I knew there was the real possibility that I would never go back, that I would never see the version of the people I know again, but now that it's a reality….' Mie starts to say, before trailing off as she isn't sure how to explain it.

"It's real, it's not just something get to speculate about, it's your reality," Frank explains.

"Yeah, exactly," Mie admits, pain in her voice. "I'll be okay, I'll get used to it," Mie admits, shrugging like it is no big deal but it actually is. "I just…. Need some time to adjust," Mie admits, as she hopes that by the time, she 'goes public' so to speak she has adjusted a little more.

"Mie you know you're not alone, right?" Alice asks, wanting to make that clear. "We're all here for you and whatever we can to do to help you adjust we're gonna do it," Alice tells Mie.

"I know, thanks Ally," Mie says,

"You know what, right now, I think we need a couple of hours of not thinking," Amelia admits. "A couple of hours where we're not considering what effect our decision will have on the timeline, a couple of hours of just fun," Amelia suggests.

"You got a specific ideas their Bones?" James asks curious.

"Well, I know it can be a little terrifying, but how about truth or dear?" Amelia asks. "It could be exactly the distraction we need,"

"Yeah, because we'll be so worried about what we'll do or what we'll reveal," Remus points out.

"Come on, Moon, it can also be fun," Sirius tells his boyfriend, grinning at him, giving him a loving look.

"Okay," Remus says, and several people around the room look amused at how easily Remus caved to Sirius, but no one comments.

"Mie, your night, your call," Amelia says, looking at her.

"It's our night, not mine," Mie admits, looking around at the people who have grown to mean so much to her. "And I say…. Bring it on," Mie says with a grin, as she feels like it might be exactly what they mean.

"We'll then, I guess I have no choice but to ask, Annemie Ariana Kendra Harriett Dumbledore, truth or dare?" Alice asks her friend.

"Well, when you put it like that, there is only one option…. Dare," Mie answers, and while the grin on Alice's face makes her a little nervous Mie is confident that she made the right call as for her dares are much easier, much better, than truths.

A couple of hours, several dares, and more than a few revelations that the group promises will never leave the room, everyone has gotten too tired so the group of teenagers are heading to bed.

"Do you think you're going to sleep tonight?" Regulus asks concerned as he and Mie walk together.

"I don't know," Mie admits, as she's found there is no use speculating about whether she or not she'll be able to sleep.

"Do you want some company?" Regulus asks, and Mie gives him a slights smile.

"I appreciate that, Reg, I really do," Mie admits. "But you need sleep too, I'll be okay," Mie tells him.

"Okay, you know where to find me if you're not," Reg tells Mie.

"Yeh, I do," Mie says, leaning forward and she goes to kiss him on the cheek, but then she changes her mind, and she actually kisses him, a kiss which he quickly responds to. "Goodnight Reg," Mie says once they break apart from their gentle kiss.

"Goodnight Mie," Regulus says, smiling at Mie before walking to his room while Mie walks to hers.

Once she is in her room, as she figures it would be best, Mie casts several silencing spells as when she has nightmares she doesn't want to wake up the others, before heading over to bed and trying to sleep.

Not even an hour after she finally went off to sleep Mie, who once again had nightmares, wakes up screaming, thrashing around. As she bolts upright it feels, to Mie, that the walls are closing in on her, that everything is getting smaller, like she can't think.

"I have to get out of here," Mie says, grabbing her wand, and holding it tighten than she has ever held anything, needing to be ready to defend herself against what she is sure is about to attack.

While she doesn't have many logically thoughts at the moment the one Mie does have is that she needs James's cloak, though to her it will always be Harry's, she searches through her bag, not even caring about anything else she is puling out as she frantically searches. Once she has the cloak, without even putting on shoes or getting changed out of her pajama's, Mie goes running out of her room, the room of requirements, and the castle.

Even in her heightened state, a state where she is sure that she will need to fight for her life any second, Mie manages to get out of the castle without a problem. As after so many years, and everything else she has done, she knows it pretty well. Once she is outside, in the cold and snow, Mie runs out to the grass near the entrance hall and throws off the invisibility cloak and start to gasp the cold, winter, night air and for her it's like every breath may be her last.

Looking around, jumping at every sound, Mie frantically looks for the danger, feeling like she can't breathe. In fact, instead of getting easier like a part of her thought it would, it is getting harder. As rather than seeing the calm, quiet, dark grounds Mie is sure she can see the bodies from the battle, she can see the lights of the curses, she can hear the sounds of war and the smell the smells she will never forget.

As she hears the innocent sound of trees rustle in the wind Mie is sure that it is someone sneaking up on her, someone trying to attack, and so she sends a curse at the tree, causing it to burst into flames as she searches for the enemy, that in her state, she is sure exists.