Chapter 57
AN: Thank you for the support you've given to this story. I did intend to get this chapter out earlier, but I went to help a friend out today.
Mould on the Wold, Gloucestershire England
Having no idea how long she has been fighting, though knowing that it has been long enough for her arm to get covered in blood from her wound, Mie has been so laser focused on what she is doing, to distract herself from the guilt that she is feeling, it takes Mie a few seconds after she stuns the last person to realise the fight is over.
"Mie!" A voice calls and Mie turns to see Sirius hurrying towards her.
"I'm okay," Mie says, barely able to look at Sirius because of what she did.
"Your hurt, let me have a look," Sirius says, once he is close enough and Mie shakes her head and steps back from him. "Mie? I won't hurt you, let me have a look," Sirius says to her, speaking to her in a gentle voice as he assumes she is having a flashback.
"I'll hurt you," Mie respond, taking another step back.
"What are you talking about?" Sirius asks confused.
"Reg… he… was here," Mie reveals. "We fought, he… I hurt him… he asked me to hurt him… Oh god, Sirius I am so sorry," Mie says her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry, I didn't want to, I'm so sorry," Mie says as she starts to cry.
"Mie… " Sirius says, walking towards her, pushing down the pain and worry he is feeling because he knows Mie needs him more. "Mie, it's okay, it's okay," Sirius says as he hugs her, being careful of her arm, as he knows that if Regulus asked then he asked so that his cover could remain intact.
"You should hate me," Mie says through her tears, trying to push Sirius away as she doesn't think she deserves his kindness, but Sirius doesn't let her push him away, he just continues to hug her.
"Never," Sirius says as he kisses the head of the person who has become his sister.
"Mie? Sirius!' Remus's worried voice calls and as Mie and Sirius break apart they see Remus and Gellert walking towards them.
"Annemie, you're hurt," Gellert says, once he is close enough to see her bloody arm, an injury he knows she could have easily healed herself.
"I'm okay," Mie assures Gellert and without a word Gellert takes a step closer to her and nonverbally heals her arm.
"Thank you," Mie says to him, and she takes a few seconds to pull herself together, to pretend like she didn't just fall apart in Sirius's arms. "Okay, we should do one more walk around, make sure all the Death Eaters are either secured or gone, and once they are I'll send an Patronus to the ministry," Mie says.
"And we shouldn't be here when they get here," Sirius says to Mie.
"Agreed," Mie says with a nod. "Let's split up and meet back here," Mie instructs, and that is exactly what they do.
About half an hour after Mie gave instructions to Sirius, Remus, and Gellert the four of them have travelled back to Hogsmeade. Walking into the hogshead they see the members of the Order, with the exceptions of Minerva, Mary, and Cardoc who are at the hospital wing along with Mundungus who diapparated, all spread around the bar. Looking around the foursome see Amelia, Isaac, and Edgar huddled up in a corner and holding each other and crying, in another corner they see Lily holding James, who is crying more than anyone has ever seen, and a few people being healed by others why Albus and Aberforth are collecting/conjuring supplies, actually working as a team.
As soon as he heard the bell Albus turned to the door, and as he sees who it is Albus stops what he is doping and, after exchanging looks with Aberforth, walks over to them.
"Who?" Mie asks her father once he is close enough, it being perfectly clear what she is asking.
"Minerva is at the hospital wing with Mary and Cardoc, Madam Pomfrey are confident they are going to make a full recoveries," Albus explains, wanting to tell his daughter that first.
"Dad," Mie says again as it is clear that she wants the truth.
"Prentiss and Theodosia Bones were killed by Death Eaters, as were Fleatmont and Euphemia Potter," Albus reveals, and as soon as he speaks Sirius collapses to his knees.
"No!" Sirius exclaims, feeling horrified that the people who took him in when he had no one, who were parents to him, have been killed, and as his boyfriend collapses to the ground Remus squats down and puts his arms around his boyfriend, pulling him in close as he cries.
"I…. I need some air," Mie says, turning and running out of the Hogshead.
After leaving the Hogshead Mie isn't really sure what she is doing she just hurries out into the main street, and gasps as she tries to catch her breath as after everything that has happened it feels like she can't breathe. Hurting Regulus, the deaths of four good people, her friends once again being hurt because they wanted to help her, it's too much.
"Annemie," A familiar voice says, and Mie turns slightly to see that her father has come to check on her.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," Mie says, as she gasps. "Mr and Mr Potter were at the wedding… I saw pictures, they died from Dragonpox, not murder…." Mie tells her father, gasping for breath. "What, have I done? What have I done?" Mie asks, and Albus walks over to her.
"This is not your fault," Albus tells his daughter. "Annemie look at me," Albus says, as Mie continues to gasp. "Annemie, please," Albus once again requests, and Mie does that. "What happened is not your fault," Albus assures her. "It Voldemort's, and his Death Eaters, not yours," Albus tells her.
"I changed things, I caused…." Mie starts to say.
"You didn't cause anything," Albus tells his daughter. "The timeline is changing, you are powerful and possess incredible knowledge, but what you don't have is the ability to predict where the ripples will lead to," Albus says to his daughter. "You are a leader, and that means that there are a lot of things on your shoulders, that are your responsibility, but this isn't one of them," Albus tells his daughter. "Voldemort caused this, not you," Albus says before hugging his daughter. "It's not your fault, it's not your fault," Albus repeats, as he hugs his daughter and kisses the top of her head.
After a few minutes, of Albus holding his daughter, reassuring her that what has happened isn't her fault, once he is sure she has her breathing under control Albus pulls away from his little girl and looks at her. "Annemie, you can mourn the dead, but you cannot help them, who you can help are the living," Albus tells his daughter as he wipes her tears. "Just through that door there are people who are hurt, who are hurting, and they need you," Albus tells her, trying to get her to focus on something as he thinks it will help. "The dead are beyond your help, but the living aren't," Albus tells Mie, who gives a nod. "Do you need healing?" Albus asks, noticing the dried blood on her arm.
"No, Gellert healed me," Mie tells her father. "I had to hurt Regulus… he had to hurt me… we needed to keep his cover," Mie tells her father.
"You did what you had to do, you both did," Albus tells his daughter. "I know it doesn't help, but it was necessary," Albus says to Mie.
"For the greater good, right?" Mie asks, an edge to her voice.
"Yes," Albus confirms and he gives her another hug, once they break apart Albus and Mie exchange understanding looks and the two of them walk into the Hogshead where they both get started on helping, whether that means healing, creating claiming potions, or just making food and conjuring supplies to give those who have suffered tremendous losses comfort.
Far away from Hogsmeade, though feeling just as much guilt as the person he loves, Regulus is in a room with a Healer who supports Voldemort.
"I will have to vanish the bones before giving you Skele-Go," The healer informs Regulus. "It won't be…." The healer starts to say.
"Just do it," Regulus requests, cutting the healer off as he doesn't care how much it hurts, right now what he cares about is getting in touch with Mie to make sure she isn't blaming herself too much.
"Okay," The healer says before vanishing the bones in Regulus's wand arm, which causes Regulus to experience a truly unusual sensation. As the healer is preparing the potion for Regulus to take the door to the room he is opens and Voldemort and Bellatrix walk in.
"What happened?" Voldemort asks Regulus.
"The recruits were doing well, very well, then Annemie Dumbledore, my dear brother, Grindelwald, and, if rumours are to be believed, my brothers boyfriend arrived," Regulus tells Voldemort, purposely putting venom in his voice as he strengthens his Occlumency shields.
"Who got you?" Bellatrix asks her cousin.
"That would be Dumbledore," Regulus answers, pretending to be annoyed. "She's skilled," Regulus admits, as he knows that it is best to admit that.
"As I have heard," Voldemort says, glancing at Bellatrix who looks down at the ground. "Did you injure her?" Voldemort asks.
"Yes, My Lord, but I don't know how severely," Regulus answers.
"Good," Voldemort says, almost looking glad. "We have work to do this summer Regulus, and you have a part to play," Voldemort informs him.
"Yes, My Lord," Regulus responds.
"Heal him," Voldemort says to the healer before leaving.
"I'll have the elves bring you food, we don't want you to pass out on these dirty floors," Bellatrix informs Regulus.
"Thank you," Regulus says, it taking a lot of self-control not to frown at that, and Bellatrix follows after her master.
While she can't help but wonder what is going on with Regulus Mie is doing everything she can to help her friends, both those who have been hurt physically and those who are hurting emotionally. Looking around the room Mie sees Lily, James, Sirius and Remus sitting together, Alora, Kathleen, Isaac and Edgar sitting together, Amelia sitting alone, and the other teens doing various things around the room, looking like they aren't sure what to do, but clearly wanting to help their friends.
While there isn't much Mie can do there is one thing that she can do and so Mie gets a bowel of the soup Aberforth has made, as well as a glass of water, and walks over to Amelia.
"Here, it might help," Mie says, handing the soup and water to Amelia, as she sits down across form her, and Amelia takes the food and drink, but makes no effort to eat or drink anything.
"Did… did you know?' Amelia asks in a quiet voice.
"No," Mie answers, in a voice just as quiet. "Susan never…. No, I didn't know," Mie says, as unlike with the Potters she never knew when the Bones parents died, just that they didn't survive until the end of the war, and Amelia just nods. "What can I do?" Mie asks.
"I don't know," Amelia asks, tears coming to her eyes, her voice breaking and so Mie gets up and moves to next to her friend and puts her arm around her, hugging her friend.
A little way away from where Mie and Amelia are sitting Lily, James, Sirius and Remus are huddled up together, each of them having half full glasses of firewhiskey.
"I just can't believe it," James says, his voice hoarse from all the crying.
"Me either," Sirius answers. "They were good people, the best… they didn't deserve this," Sirius says as Remus kisses his cheek, knowing that for Sirius this is like he learnt his parents too.
"No, they didn't," Lily confirms as she squeezes James' hand.
"I know it's gonna be dangerous, but they deserve a real funeral… Theodosia and Prentiss too," James says as he desperately wants that.
"We'll make sure of that," Sirius promises his friend. "We'll give them what they deserve," Sirius say sand both Lily and Remus nod in agreement, and he goes to say something more but before he can the door opens and Minerva walks in.
"Mary? Cardoc? Are they okay?" Emmaline asks as she hurries over to Minerva.
"Mary is unconscious, but Madam Pomfrey has healed all her injuries, when she wakes up she'll be fine," Minerva assures everyone. "Caradoc has been fully healed, but Madam Pomfrey wants to observe him for a few hours," Minerva tells everyone. "They will both be fine," Minerva assures everyone.
"Good," Fabian says, saying what they are all thinking.
"Thank you Minerva," Albus says to her, and as he looks around the room Albus knows that there is a couple of things he has to say. "For those of you who graduated today should have been a day of joy, a day of celebration, and I am sorry that it wasn't," Albus says, looking between the Bones siblings, James and Sirius as he speaks. "Take the time to mourn what has been lost to day, feel the pain, as difficult as it is it is what makes you human," Albus says looking between them, and he sees several nods.
"Rooms have been prepared for all of you upsides, stay as long as you need," Aberforth says to the students, who once again nod.
"Sir," James says, looking at Albus. "When do we start to fight back?" James asks as that is another thing he wants to do right now.
"Once we have a plan, an objective," Albus tells him. "Fighting without a plan or objective will just lead to more pain," Albus says, looking between those who have suffered tremendous loss. "We will fight back, we will do everything we can to prevent Voldemort and his Death Eaters from causing more harm, but we have to do it the right way," Albus says, looking between everyone, and he sees some nods, he also sees fire in the eyes of the teens, that tell him that both those who know what is coming because of the books, and those who don't, intend do whatever they can to fight back against the forces of darkness, to do whatever they can to make it so as few people as possible experience the pain they are currently feeling.
A couple of hours have passed since Minerva arrived at the Hogshead with news about Mary and Caradoc and Mie, along with the other recent Hogwarts graduates are in various bedrooms in the hogshead. While some of the others are sharing Mie is in her own room.
After casting a silencing spell, as well as several other spells to make the room secure Mie heads to the bed. Once sitting on the bed Mie starts to search through her bedded back.
"Accio Advance potions making," Mie says, and once she has the book Mie summons a small regular knife. After putting her bag on her other side Mie starts to search through the book only stopping once she reaches the page on the Polyjuice potion, Mie stops and uses the knife to cut her finger drops a single drop of blood onto the page "Coniungere ad cor meum," Mie says and once she does the instructions of the page disappear in it's place the top three quarters of the page become blank while a keyboard like one on a typewriter or computer appears on the bottom quarter.
After quickly healing her hand Mie writes, 'You there? You okay', with the keyboard and waits as she knows that even if Regulus hasn't currently activated their communication message, then he will get the message once he has.
For what feels like an eternity for Mie she waits, until she finally sees a message appear:
"I'm here, I'm okay. Are you?"
Reading the message Mie feels incredibly relieved and she quickly types back.
'I'm fine. I am so so sorry,"
After sending her message Mie once again waits and about a minute or so later another message appears.
'Do not apologise! We needed to keep my cover, I should be apologising, I never wanted to hurt you,'
'If I can't apologise you can't apologise either,'
Mie sends back as she doesn't want him to feel bad.
'Deal. Is Sirius, okay? I heard about the Potters. How are Amy and her brothers? How's James?'
'They are struggling. I'll let Siri know we've been in contact that should help, How's V's mood?'
'Tell Sear I'm thinking of him, and if you can tell James and Amy I'm sorry. V is happy, it's creepy, seems like he considered this a success,'
'Great, that's the last thing we need,'
Mie sends back and as she waits for Regulus's message, she can't help but worry that this is going to cause Voldemort to get more proactive with his attacks.
'I know. I should go. I'll reach out when I can. I love you,'
'Love you too,'
Mie sends back, after Mie sends her messages, she stares at Regulus's words for a few moments then says "Claudere," after Mie says that the page returns to that of a normal textbook with no sign that it has been anything else, so she closes the book and puts it in her bag.
After putting the book in her bag Mie puts her bag in her pocket, removes the charms she casted and heads to the room she knows Sirius and Remus took. Getting to the door Mie knocks and waits, casting Muffliato as she does, and just as she finishes casting the spell the door opens to reveal Sirius.
"Mie? What's going on?" Sirius asks worried
"I heard from Reg, he's okay. He told me to tell you he's thinking of you," Mie tells Sirius.
"Oh, thank Merlin," Sirius says relieved before hugging Mie. "Thank you for telling me," Sirius says and Mie can tell that he is incredibly grateful.
"No problem," Mie says as the two of them break apart.
"Do you want to come in for a drink? Ab's hooked us up," Sirius offers.
"Nah, I think I might go to bed," Mie lies. "I'll see you both tomorrow," Mie tells him.
"See you then," Sirius responds and while he goes back into his room Mie removes the Muffliato charm, but rather than going back to the room her uncle gave her Mie goes downstairs, still holding her wand.
Walking into the empty bar Mie looks around, staring at the table where the DA was formed, remembers running into the bar just before the battle, and after a few minutes reminiscing Mie removes the spell that would tell her uncle that someone has opened the door, and heads outside.
Once outside Mie closes her eyes and feels the summer air against her face before starting to walk around the village, checking for sings of danger, for anything that could hurt her family and friends in her uncle's pub.