Chapter 45
AN: Thank you for the support. Hope you enjoy this chapter. I took some time off from writing yesterday for my birthday so sorry about the missing update. Hope you like this chapter. Please let me know what you think.
For the rest of Mie's first week back at school it is clear that she is getting a little stronger, with every day, and by friend she doesn't feel completely exhausted by the end of the day. It's early hours of Saturday morning, a Saturday where there will be the Quidditch final between Gryffindor and Slytherin, and both Albus and Gellert are asleep in the bed they share, or they are until they hear screams coming from Mie's room.
Reacting without thinking, on pure instinct, Albus and Gellert both grab their wands and go running into Mie's room, preparing for an attack. As Albus and Gellert storm into Mie's room they find her tossing and turning in her bed as she is screaming.
"Stay back," Albus tells Gellert as hurries over to Mie as he doesn't want Mie to be overwhelmed and considering her current state, he isn't sure that she will react well to Gellert. "Annemie, it's Dad, you're safe," Albus tells his daughter. "You're not being hurt, you're okay, wake up," Albus says as he continues to try and wake his daughter, but due to his experience he knows not to touch Mie until she is awake. "Wake up, Sweetheart," Albus tells his daughter, and seconds later Mie opens her eyes and bolts upright. "It's okay, you're okay," Albus assures his daughter, sitting down on the bed next to her that she is awake.
"Dad?" Mie asks, sounding afraid, as Gellert realises that she has a look of pure terror on her face.
"I'm here, it's okay, it's not happening again," Albus tells his daughter.
"I saw Bellatrix, and it was happening again, and then she was hurting everyone I care about," Mie tells her. "She was hurting you," Mie says, looking upset.
"It was a nightmare," Albus tells his daughter, moving closer to her and putting his arm around her, so focused on her that he doesn't notice Gellert sneak out. "It has basis in reality, yes, but it's not happening now," Albus tells his daughter. "You're safe, I'm safe, your friends are safe," Albus assures his daughter, kissing the top of her head, as Mie snuggles into Albus's side, taking comfort from her father and for a few minutes the two of them sit in silence.
"I'm sorry for waking you up," Mie tells her father, after a few minutes of silence, feeling bad about that.
"It's okay," Albus assures her and as he does Gellert walks back into the room holding three mugs.
"I made tea with lemon," Gellert says, offering two of the mugs.
"Thank you," Mie says as she and Albus both take two of the mugs and Albus gives Gellert a grateful look. "I am sorry for waking you up," Mie tells Gellert.
"I believe Albus just told you that it is okay, and it is," Gellert tells Mie as he awkwardly sits on the end of her bed. "We cannot control how we react to our nightmares," Gellert tells Mie.
"So true," Mie says, as she takes a drink of her tea, and she, Albus and Gellert drift into silence as they sit together. While it is clear that Gellert is awkward and not really sure where his place it is equally as sure that he wants to offer support to Mie and Albus.
Hours after Mie woke up Albus and Gellert, something which resulted in one of them getting any more sleep, the three of them are walking into the Great Hall where there is practically a sea of Red and Gold.
"Wow," Mie mutters, a little amazed as she walks towards the Gryffindor table where there is a solitary person in Green and Silver, Severus. "Wow Sev, you're brave," Mie comments as she sits down across from him.
"James insisted that I join the Gryffindor table as usual," Severus explains, causing Mie to look at James in his Quidditch uniform.
"Are you punishing Sev for something?" Mie asks James curious, as it seems like a bad idea for Severus to be sitting at the Gryffindor table wearing so much Slytherin merch today even though he does so most days.
"Of course not, just because we're going to thrash Slytherin doesn't mean I don't want my friend around," James comments. "Though, I'm not getting anywhere close to you when you're wearing all that," James says, clearly referring to Severus's Slytherin gear, and as he does the Slytherin smirks.
"Oh, I like the look of that," Lily says with a smirk as she knows her friend well enough to know that he is planning something big.
"Me too, what are you planning?" Mary asks curious.
"If Slytherin beats Gryffindor today are going to join me at the Slytherin party, wearing a Slytherin Quidditch uniform and you can't insult or curse anyone," Severus challengers.
"And if Gryffindor wins you have to do the same, BUT you also have to give a speech about how amazing Gryffindors are," James tells his friend as he knows what Slytherin is challenging him is harder for him, so he had to add something to it.
"Deal," James says and the two of them shake hands.
"Oh, this is going to be great," Sirius says, and Emmaline and Marlene, both of whom are on the Gryffindor team, also grin.
"Perfect Motivations to knock a few Slytherin's off course," Marlene says with a grin, as she and Sirius are the Beaters.
"Do you need motivation for that?" Dorcus asks curious.
"Of course not," Marlene responds, and with a few of them looking amused at that the Gryffindor's start to eat their breakfast. As they do Mie looks over at the Slytherin table where Regulus is sitting in his Slytherin Quidditch uniform, and gives him a subtle encouraging look.
About forty minutes later Mie, Lily, Alice, Remus, Mary, Amelia, Dorcus, Severus, Frank, Isaac, Alora, Kathleen, and Edgar are sitting together in the middle of the Gryffindor stand in the Quidditch pitch, and with the exception of Severus's, who is actually the only person in the stand they are in who's not, they are all dressed in Gryffindor colours.
"I really hope this doesn't last too long," Remus says to Mie, and she give shim a surprised look. "I love Sirius, I will support him, but I also want to get some study done today," Remus explains.
"Yeah, me too," Mie responds.
"Same," Amelia and Lily say together.
"You know either way you're not going to get any study done today," Edgar tells them.
"What do you mean?" Amelia asks her brother.
"Well, if Gryffindor win there is going to be an all-night celebration, and if Gryffindor loose there is going to be an all-night commiseration," Edgar points out, saying what he thinks everyone should have already realised.
"Forgive my question, but what's the difference?" Mie asks curious.
"The noise," Dorcus answers.
"And the general mood," Mary adds.
"Good to know," Mie says, as Madam Hootch walks out onto the pitch signalling that the game is about to begin, and seconds later the Gryffindors fly out onto the ground causing a defining raw of cheers from most of the stands.
For the next couple of hours, the Quidditch cup final takes place and it is clear just how amazing both teams are. Finally, Regulus does a dive, and everyone knows exactly what he is doing and seconds later he pulls up from the dive with the Snitch in his hand, and while applause from the Slytherin's side breaks out there is an even louder raw from the Gryffindor side.
"What's happened? I don't understand?" Mie asks confused, not sure why the Gryffindors are so happy when Regulus caught the snitch.
"Gryffindor was one hundred and sixty points in front, we still won," Isaac explains, and Mie realises that she should have realised that.
"We?" Amelia asks her brother with an amused look on her face, as she claps.
"Today I'm an honorary Gryffindor," Isaac explains, and from the look on Amelia's face it is clear that she is never going to let her brother forget that he said that.
As the celebration and cheers break out Sirius, James, and Marlene fly over to the Gryffindor stands and pull Remus, Lily, and Dorcus respectively onto their brooms and as they fly off the Gryffindors in the stands cheer and laugh while Emmaline, who is flying behind them looks torn between amusement and disapproval, and Remus, Lily and Dorcus look like don't know whether they are amazed by every second or terrified.
Up in the teachers stand Minerva is grinning and Slughorn is pouting, while the others teachers are looking amused by what is going on.
"There is going to be one hell of a party in the Gryffindor tower tonight," Professor Venning comments from where he is watching what is going on from the Staff stand.
"No kidding," Madam Pomfrey comments, hoping she doesn't lose the draw to be the teacher who attempts, key word attempts, to end the party.
"And if your brother has supplied alcohol, we're going to have some words," Minerva tells Albus, and from the look on his face, which only Grindelwald notices, Albus is very well aware of what his brother has already done.
"if you excuse me I must present the cup," Albus says, heading out of the stand.
"Is this a typical celebration?" Gellert asks Moody, who has moved closer to him, but he is electing to ignore that.
"When Gryffindor win it is," Moody explains and Gellert nods in understanding as Albus beings the presentations.
Almost an hour later the Gryffindors have finally made their way from celebrating in the stans to celebrating in the Gryffindor tower, though members of other houses have joined, which has all the traditional supplies for a Gryffindor party.
"So, half an hour then the library?" Amelia asks Mie, Lily and Remus who are sitting together, and all three of them nod.
"That's not happening," Sirius says, having heard what Amelia says, as he walks over juggling multiple drinks. "You can study tomorrow, this is a celebration," Sirius tells them and as he does he stumbles slightly and drops the glasses, but thanks to some quick wand work from Mie she managers to cause them to hover and not spill any of the drink.
"Nice," Amelia says, looking at Mie with an amused look on her face.
"Siri, you do know that exams are literally a week away, right?" Mie asks, as she, Lily, Remus, Amelia, and Sirius each grab one of the floating glasses.
"Of course," Sirius tells them. "But I also know that you four are the best students, and that you're going to go into insane study mode so you might as well have one night enjoying yourself," Sirius says.
"Sirius, exams are a big deal," Lily reminds him.
"They are, but so is having fun," Sirius tells him. "So, you can either have fun, or I'm going to make you," Sirius explains, and he gets four 'are you serious?' looks. "Do you doubt me?" Sirius asks.
"No," Remus says, before drinking the drink he is holding, as he knows his boyfriend well enough to know not to doubt him when it comes to this.
"Good decision," Sirius tells his boyfriend.
"We're not going to get out of this," Remus tells his friends and Lily, Mie and Amelia all drink their drinks coming to the unsaid decision that they are going to let Sirius have this victory but if he tries to interrupt their studying more than this then they are going to have something to say.
"EVERYONE! SEVERUS SNAPE HAS AN ANNOYNCEMENT TO MAKE!" James yells from the stairs that lead upstairs, and once he is sure he has all the attention on him he sides steps to reveal Severus dressed in his Gryffindor Quidditch uniform and a scarf tide around his head like a bandana.
"Thank you, James," Severus says, forcing a smile.
"Oh, he hates this," Lily says with an amused look on her face, as she knows that while Severus would rather not be doing what he is about to do if he truly didn't want to do it, he wouldn't and James wouldn't force him.
"I would just like to say that Gryffindor is the best Hogwarts house. It is full of the most amazing, smartest and most good looking people," Severus says, making it clear that James wrote his speech.
"Damn right!" Sirius yells, causing everyone to laugh.
"It is truly my honour to be considered an honouree Gryffindor and I am so proud of our win," Severus says, and once he finishes a lot of people around the room cheer, scream and laugh.
"Well said Sev," James says, offering him some kind of shot and they both drink, as the party starts to truly begin.
After a full night of partying, as the sun starts to rise, the other Gryffindors who are awake, besides Mie, a group which mainly consists of her friends, are playing Poker, getting quite competitive, and Mie uses their distraction to sneak out as she has plans. As she feels a little out of it, mainly due to the combination of alcohol and lack of sleep, Mie makes her way slowly to the room of Requirements and when she walks in she finds Regulus, who looks a lot more rested than she feels, waiting.
"Hi," Mie greats.
"Hi," Regulus responds, as Mie walks towards him. "How was the Gryffindor party?"
"Still going," Mie admits. "Though I think your brother wins the award for drunkest person… I'm honestly impressed that he hasn't passed out yet," Mie reveals.
"I'm not even surprised," Regulus comments looking amused, as he wouldn't put it past Sirius.
"How's things with the Slytherins?" I hope they're not being too hard on you," Mie says concerned.
"Nah, they're fine, I'll never admit to James what I'm about to say, but we all knew the Gryffindor chasers are too good, I wanted to end it with some dignity for us," Regulus admits, as he knew he could have caught the snitch when he did or wait for another opportunity and risk Gryffindor getting even more in front thanks to their amazing chasers.
"Well, you did," Mie tells him. "I may not be an expert, but I spent enough time around Harry to know that that was a pretty impressive catch," Mie tells Regulus.
"Thanks," Regulus says, looking grateful and as she looks at him Mie realises that there is something else going on.
"Reg? what is it?" Mie asks concerned.
"I got a letter yesterday, it was from Voldemort, via Bella," Regulus explains and Mie tenses at that.
"What did it say?" Mie asks concerned.
"He wants me to use my position here to find out everything I can about Grindelwald… and you," Regulus explains, looking pained as he says the last bit. "He wants me to meet with him after semester is over," Regulus explains, and Mie feels dread rise up inside of her.
"Reg, that's not good," Mie says worried.
"Actually, I think it's really good," Regulus explains. "Mie, think about it, in your time one of the reasons your dad was able to be so effective fighting against him is because he had a very well placed spy," Regulus reminds Mie. "That can't be Sev, it shouldn't be, but it can be me," Regulus tells Mie.
"That is so beyond dangerous," Mie tells Regulus, looking terrified about what that would mean.
"I know, but it will also be worth it," Regulus tells Mie. "If I can get close to him, I can figure out a way to get to the last two Horcrux's, I can make sure we know if he creates more. I can control the information he gets," Regulus explains, looking thrilled at the possibilities. "I can do this," Regulus tells Mie.
"Not without putting yourself in incredible danger," Mie says, standing up.
"How's that any different to what you're doing? What you have been doing for years?" Regulus asks, standing up too. "You're joining the Order the second you graduate, you've made an enemy of both Bellatrix and Voldemort, in fact with the exception of your Father there is no one he wants dead more, and that's not even mentioning everything you did in the other timeline," Regulus reminds Mie. "I want to do my part in this war, what? Do you think I can't handle it?" Regulus asks, a little bit of betrayal in his voice.
"Of course, I don't think that, Reg, I know you can handle it," Mie tells him. "I have no doubt in your skill, in your ability to be an incredible spy," Mie tells Regulus.
"Then what's the problem?" Regulus asks.
"I don't want to lose you," Mie says, her voice breaking. "When I was unconscious, I was in my version of Kings Cross," Mie explains, and Regulus looks both hurt and horrified at that as he knows what that means. "It was the Great Hall and Harry was there," Mie tells Regulus.
"Mie…" Regulus starts to say.
"Every single part of me wanted to move on with him, it would have been so easy, but I didn't I came back, and the biggest reason why was because I didn't want to leave Dad… or you," Mie tells Regulus, tears forming in her eyes, as Regulus looks touched, like he isn't sure what to say. "I know how good you are, you're one of the smartest and most magically skilled people I've ever met, in any timeline, but I know that when it comes to Voldemort that sometime isn't enough," Mie admits. "It may be selfish and hypocritical, but I don't want you to lose you," Mie admits.
"Mie, don't ask me not to do this," Regulus requests, walking over and putting his hand on her cheek. "I don't regret the choices I made to get me to here because it was the best way I had to protect Sirius and Alice, but now I can protect everyone, and that's something I have to do," Regulus tells Mie. "I don't want to lose you, I don't want to leave you, but we've learnt one thing from the books, and what we're trying to do, it's that this war is bigger than all of us," Regulus tells Mie. "In my position there isn't a lot I can do, but getting closer to Voldemort, being a spy, that's something I can do," Regulus tells Mie. "I know how dangerous this can be, but that doesn't change my mind this is something I have to do," Regulus tells Mie. "If you can't be okay with that then at least respect my decision," Regulus requests.
"I need some time," Mie tells Regulus before turning and walking out of the room of Requirements having no idea where she is going but knowing that she needs to think.