Chapter 19
AN: I really hope you like this chapter. PLEASE, PLEASE, let me know what you think of this chapter.
Well over an hour after Minerva came up to the Dumbledore chambers and informed them at the minister wanted to meet with them the meeting is finally over and both Mie and Albus are standing in Albus's office as Minerva is escorting the Minster off the grounds.
"Well, that was painful," Mie comments and Albus gives her a look. "You know I'm right," Mie tells her father.
"I have had more pleasant meetings," Albus comments. "I have also had more pleasant battles," Albus says, to Mie's amusements.
"Are you really going to be teaching Defence with Moody?" Mie asks curious, as she was shocked when Albus told the minister that.
"I believe it is the best option," Albus admits, as there have been hints for day that if he doesn't find someone to teach then the Minister will assign someone and he wants to prevent that.
"What about the jinx?" Mie asks worried about something happening to either her father or Moody.
"As Cabot has already left the role, I believe that was be the effect of the jinx," Albus explains. "I may be wrong, of course, but as we will only be in the role for a few months I don't think the jinx will affect Alastor and I," Albus explains.
"Good," Mie says, sounding relieved. "So, I might be wrong, I hope I am, but I think the minister may keep a closer eye on both of us," Mie tells her father, as when talking to the Minchum she was horribly reminded of Scimgeour and the way he treated her, Harry, and Ron.
"I believe you are correct," Albus confirms, as he has the same suspicion.
"Great," Mie mutters sarcastically, being pretty sure that that is going to make things harder.
"Whatever happens, whatever misjudged road the Minster decides to travel down, we will deal with," Albus explains to Mie.
"Yeah, we will," Mie confirms. "Dad, I want to go to classes this afternoon," Mie informs her father.
"Are you sure?" Albus asks concerned.
"Yeah, I feel okay," Mie tells her father. "And it's double potions this afternoon," Mie tells her father. "It is a pretty gentle class for me to return to," Mie explains.
"Gentle?" Albus asks his daughter, giving her a look raising her eyebrow at her, and Mie laughs.
"We're making Polyjuice potion," Mie tells her father. "It's familiar…" Mie starts to say, then trails off.
"Annemie, what is it?" Albus asks his daughter, realising that she is hesitant about telling him something, and his daughter turns away from him. "Annemie?" Albus asks, gently pushing her to open up.
"Potions… potions calms me," Mie explains to her father. "There's a right and a wrong way to do things, there is a formular," Mie explains. "I like that, because I know what to do, and what not to do," Mie admits, and Albus can see Daniel's influence in her words, and her feelings towards potions. "Other types of magic, duelling for example, there is no right or wrong, you just do whatever you can, and that overwhelms me sometimes," Mie admits, and because he has gotten to know her Albus knows that it is difficult for Mie to admit this, and it means a lot to him that she has admitted that to him. "By potions, it grounds me I know what to do and what not to do," Mie explains, as that played into why she struggled when the Severus's instructions were better than what was the 'official' instructions. "That's why I want to go back to class today," Mie explains to her father.
"Okay," Albus tells her daughter. "If you don't feel well tell Professor Slughorn, he will let you leave," Albus tells his daughter who nods. "Also, come back here after dinner," Albus requests as he wants to make sure that she is okay.
"Okay," Mie says with a nod. "Thanks Dad," Mie says. "I should go get ready," Mie says before heading back to their quarters.
Twenty minutes later Mie has gotten ready and is walking back into her father's office this time dressed in her Hogwarts robes and carrying her schoolbag.
"Annemie, remember what I said, if you don't feel okay tell Professor Slughorn, you don't have to stay for the entire double lesson," Albus tells his daughter, knowing that she isn't likely to do that but wanting to reminder her that that is a possibly anyway.
"I know," Mie tells him. "I'll be okay, Dad," Mie assures him, though his worry is something that means a lot to her. "I'll see you later," Mie tells her father before leaving his office, being able to feel the worried looks Albus is giving her as she heads out of the room and down the spiral staircase.
After leaving her father's office, using the shortcuts she has learnt over the years, Mie heads to the Great Hall. Due to the shortcuts, it is only a few short minutes before Mie is walking into the Great Hall. Walking into the Mie isn't at all surprised when all eyes are on her, but she ignores them, holds her head up high, and walks straight to the Gryffindor table, to where her fellow Seventh years are sitting.
"Mie you're back!" Amelia exclaims, sounding thrilled, as after their conversations the night before she didn't expect to see Mie for a couple more days.
"Yeah, I am," Mie says as she sits down between Marlene and Sirius who have made room from her, across from Remus and Amelia.
"It's really good to see you, how are you feeling?" Lily asks, as she knows how Mie felt the night before, but she worries about how she is feeling now.
"I'm doing okay," Mie assures her.
"That's good to hear," Sirius tells her, giving her a supportive smile.
"Why'd you do it?" Peter asks, his voice accusatory.
"Do what?" Mie asks, feeling incredibly confused about what Peter seems to think she did wrong.
"Get rid of Professor Cabot!" Peter exclaims, his voice so loud that it draws the attention of several people sitting around them.
"Pete, he's a Death Eater," James reminds his friend in a gentle voice.
"What he was is the one teacher who believed in me! Who saw my potential! And you took him from me!" Peter exclaims, sounding hurt.
"Wormtail, he tortured Mie, he tried to kill us," Sirius reminds him, like the other incredibly smart seventh years he takes notice of Peter's specific word choices and knows that that might make things a lot more complicated.
"He was so nice to me," Peter says, sounding confused.
"Peter, we think that might have been intentional," Mie says, trying to tell him in the gentlest way possible. "It looks like he might have been trying to recruit students for Voldemort," Mie explains, knowing that it is a risk to tell Peter of all people this, but there is also the chance that it could help things, and maybe, just maybe, if he learns the way Voldemort acts now, the way he and his follows use people, then maybe it will be enough to get him to see that following that path isn't what he wants.
"No," Peter says, refusing to believe Mie's words.
"Peter…." Remus starts to say.
"No, you're wrong," Peter says, standing up and grabbing his bag. "You're wrong," Peter says forcibly, looking directly at Mie, before heading out of the Great Hall.
"That was unexpected," Mary comments, and those who read the books aren't as surprised as those who didn't.
"Yeah, really was," Emmaline confirms, as she has never seen Peter like that. "Has Peter ever lased out like that before?" Emmaline asks, looking between the others.
"I don't think so," Lily says with a frown, not including what they read in the books.
"Look, why you lot are in potions Remus, and I will find him, try to talk some sense into him," Dorcus comments, thinking that it is the best idea, and with it only being the two of them Peter might feel like they aren't attacking him.
"He doesn't seem to be thinking very rationally at the moment," Alice points out, knowing that might complicate matters.
"We still have to try," Remus says as, knowing what they know about his future self, he can't help but wonder if this is a moment that can change everything when it comes to Peter, but unlike his future self it might just be that the change in Peter is clearly noticeable and not hidden away.
"You're right," Sirius says, though he can't help but wonder if there is any hope.
"I'm sorry," Mie says, looking down at the table and feeling guilty.
"What on earth are you apologising for?" Amelia asks confused, having no idea what Mie thinks she is apologising for.
"I'm the reason Cabot's not here, and Peter…." Mie starts to say.
"Peter is overreacting," Marlene says, cutting Mie off before she can blame herself more. "Cabot is a bad guy, you protected everyone by revealing him," Marlene assures her.
"You have nothing to apologise for, Peter's reaction is on him, not on you," Lily assures Mie.
"They're right," James says, and Mie looks at him, as she knows that James still wants to believe the best in Peter, so it says a lot that he is saying that. "You did the right thing with Cabot, and you paid the price," James says, trying not to shiver at what that price is, especially with how he knows that would have affected Mie. "Peter needs to understand that," James says, and Mie nods, feeling beyond touched that they are all on her side as she is very used to no one being on her side, as in the major fights she, Harry and Ron had it was often Harry and Ron on one side and her on the other.
"As fascinating as this conversation is, and everyone is right Mie you have no reason to be guilty, we should get to potions," Alice comments, looking between the others, who realise that most of the hall have left for their afternoon classes.
"Yeah, we really should," Mie comments, and they all get up and while most of the group head to class Remus and Dorcus go in search of Peter. As she walks pass the Slytherin table Mie gives Regulus the slightest reassuring look, wanting to tell him that she is okay.
After leaving the Great Hall the seventh year Gryffindors who are taking Potions head down to the dungeons, and by the time they get to classroom they realise that Alice suggestion was perfect timing as the door is already open, so they walk in.
"Miss Dumbledore this is a surprise," Slughorn says as they walk into the classroom, it being clear that he wasn't expecting her.
"I'm feeling better Professor, my dad said it would be okay if I returned to class," Mie explains.
"Of course, if you need to leave just let me know," Slughorn requests.
"Yes Professor," Mie says as she takes her usual seat.
"Glad your back," Severus whispers as Mie sits down.
"Thanks Sev," Mie responds as Slughorn begins the class.
While their friends are in Potions Remus and Dorcus have gone in search of Peter, after a lot of searching they find Peter sitting in the empty classroom. Exchanging looks Dorcus and Remus walk over to where he is sitting reading a book and sit down across from him.
"Hi," Dorcus says as it is clear that Peter is clearly avoiding looking at them.
"Peter, we're your friends, we'll always be your friends," Remus assures him. "Cabot, he wasn't your friend," Remus says, not sure if there is a more delicate way to put it, but that's what he is going to try.
"I know that!" Peter says, sounding annoyed. "But he was kind to me! He believed in me!" Peter exclaims.
"But he's not the only one," Dorcus tells him. "Remus is right you have friends, and Cabot wasn't the only teacher who believes in you," Dorcus tells him. "Professor Venning was complimenting you just yesterday," Dorcus reminds him.
"And on Tuesday he yelled at me," Peter counters.
"You did squish a plant," Dorcus says as gently as possible.
"Right so I deserved it," Peter says, bitterly.
"Pete, Cabot is a Death Eater, he used the Cruciatus curse on Mie," Remus tells Peter. "I saw it," Remus says, and it is clear that Peter isn't sure what to think about that. "I know you've enjoyed talking to Cabot, and it meant a lot to have a teacher you could talk to, but we did the right thing turning Cabot it, because it wasn't just Mie, it was Sirius, Lily, Marlene and I too," Remus reminds him.
"So, all my friends took him away from me," Peter says angrily.
"We didn't take anything away from you," Dorcus tells Peter, fighting to keep her voice calm as while she knows that won't help she also feels like Peter isn't being smart. "Peter, you don't need him, you're a great person, Cabot was just trying to use you," Dorcus says and from the second she says the words it is clear that it was a mistake as Peter gets a furious look on his face.
"Peter, she didn't mean…." Remus starts to say, trying to pull double back on what was just said to try and fix things.
"So that's it huh!" Peter says sounding angry as he stands up. "No one could be nice to me unless they were using me!" Peter exclaims.
"I didn't mean it like that," Dorcus tells him, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "You're taking it the wrong…" Dorcus starts to say.
"No!" Peter exclaims. "I get it! I'm just the idiot friend who you all have to put up with! So of course Cabot would only be using me!" Peter says, his voice full of pian and anger.
"None of us have ever called you an idiot," Remus reminds him.
"Your boyfriend does on a weekly basis!" Peter says and Remus winches as he knows that's right, though, at least before they read the books, Sirius did it in a fond way.
"He doesn't mean it like that, and you know it," Remus tells him, an edge to his voice as he isn't going to stand by as Peter attacks Sirius.
"No, he does! And I get it, you're all genius's and I'm the stupid friend you have to put up with," Peter says angrily as he picks up his bag. "Well don't worry. You don't have to put up with me any longer!" Peter says before storming away, it being clear that he doesn't want his friends to follow up.
"Well, that could have gone better," Dorcus comments sarcastically, as she and Remus watch Peter walk away.
"Yeah," Remus confirms, and as he turns back to Dorcus. "Dor, what is it?" Remus asks concerned, noticing the look on her face.
"Getting Cabot away from Hogwarts was the right decision, it's what needed to happen," Dorcus admits. "But if Mie is right and Cabot was trying to recruit students for Voldemort by taking him away, making it clear that he is an enemy, we may have just pushed people into Voldemort's arms," Dorcus says worried.
"We might have," Remus admits, feeling worried about that. "But if we look at it another way by showing who Cabot is, what he was trying to do, we may have shown people how Voldemort uses people and that might be enough to stop people from joining him," Remus comments.
"I hope so," Dorcus responds and the two of them drift into silence, both feeling worried about what happened.
A couple of hours later the afternoon classes are over and as Mie and the others who were in potions walk into the Great Hall they see Dorcus and Remus sitting together while Peter is sitting at the opposite end of the table, near first years.
"I take it the talk didn't go well," James says as he and the others sit down.
"That would be an understatement," Remus admits.
"What happened?" Mie asks worried, not being able to ignore the feeling of dread that is rising up inside of her.
"Peter seems to think that us trying to explain that Cabot is a bag guy who was potentially using him meant that all of us think he is an idiot because that is the only reason we think anyone would be nice to him," Dorcus explains, and Mie frowns, feeling guilt rise up inside of her as she can't help but think that by trying to make things better she may have made things so much worse.
"Well, if he believes that he is an idiot," Sirius comments.
"Pad, that won't help," Remus says, putting his hand on Sirius's arm.
"We should do something, what should we do?" Mary asks, looking between the others.
"Give him a chance to calm down, then try again," Lily suggests. "It's all we can do," Lily admits.
"Unfortunately, that's probably true," Marlene admits as the group drift into silence and eat dinner.
As she picks at her dinner Mie can't help but think about everything that has happened and wonder if her actions have now just set Peter on a path he can't go back from, a path that will lead to death, pain and destruction.
A little while later Mie, Sirius, Remus, James, Lily, Alice, Amelia, Mary, Marlene, Emmaline, and Dorcus have finished dinner and are walking up the grand staircase.
"I'll see you all later," Mie says, going in a different direction to her friends.
"Where are you going?" James asks curious.
"Dad wanted me to come see him after dinner," Mie explains.
"He wanted to make sure you were okay," Lily realises, smiling as she knows what that would mean to Mie.
"Yeah," Mie confirms, smiling slightly. While those who read the books know exactly why that would be those who didn't are a little confused, but they don't ask as they have gotten to know Mie well enough to know that there is a lot more than meets the eye.
After leaving her friends Mie heads straight to her father's office, and when she walks in she sees her father sitting at his desk clearly working things out and looking less than happy.
"Everything okay?" Mie asks concerned.
"I have received a copy of the latest powers the Minister plans to give to various departments in the ministry in coming days and weeks," Albus explains to his daughter.
"Not good?" Mie asks as she puts her bag down.
"Not good," Albus confirms, with a sigh. "I will have another meeting with Harold tomorrow," Albus explains, knowing that he is going to try to convince the Minister to do the right thing rather than the easy thing.
"I wish you luck with that, if there is anything I can do…" Mie starts to say.
"I know, I appreciate it," Albus informs his daughter. "How was potions?" Albus asks curious.
"Good," Mie admits. "It made me feel more like me," Mie admits.
"I'm glad to hear that," Albus admits. "I know it's Friday night and I am sure you have plans with your friends that I would never want to intrude, but do you have time for a cup of tea?" Albus asks his daughter.
"Of course," Mie responds as she would very much like that.
"Good," Albus says, sounding glad, as he stands up. "I have a dear old friend who is a baker, would you like to try some of what he sent me?" Albus asks his daughter.
"Definitely, but I have a lot of questions," Mie admits, looking curious. "When did you become friends with a baker?" Mie asks curious as she picks up her bag and follows her father towards there quarters.
"Well, it was many years ago," Albus tells his daughter and over tea and delicious home cooked baked goods Albus tells his daughter a few stories, Mie loving every second.