Chapter 59
AN: Hi, I'm back from Rome. I've actually been back for a few days but the issue was I wrote most of a chapter of this story when I was on the plane, but then it didn't save so I had to re-write and was annoyed because I couldn't remember exactly what I wrote. Hope you like this chapter. Hopefully updates will be more regular now.
A few days have passed since James's, and the Bones' parents were laid to rest and ever since the teens have been working with Aberforth to see if his idea is actually feasible. After only a short amount of time a lead worked out and the teenagers have come to an agreement with the owner of a large house on the outskirts of the village to live there until the end of the war, no matter how long it takes, while the owners have temporarily moved to their London home.
While it is a large house there are going to be a lot of people staying in the house and because of that Lily and James are going to be sharing a room as are Frank and Alice, Sirius and Remus, Isaac and Kathleen, Edgar and Alora and Dorcus and Marleen while Severus will be sleeping in a small room that was clearly designed to be a office rather than a bedroom while Mie, who may still spend time up at the Castle with her father and Gellert, Mary, Amelia, and Emmaline will be sharing the large open attic that was converted by the actual owners to have plenty of windows.
It's early in the morning, the day the teenagers will be moving in and Mie, Albus, Gellert, Severus, Sirius, James, Minerva, and Amelia are at the house putting necessary protections in place each of them having been chosen to be there to cast the spells for very specific reasons.
"Okay, so we'll put the spells on the outside then we'll split up and cast everything we need on the inside, make sure it's completely protected," Mie tells the others.
"No Fidelius charm?" Gellert asks surprised as the protections Mie wants them to put on the place is basically everything short of that.
"No," Mie says, forcing herself not to think about what it led to in the other timeline. "That's for when you're going to into hiding, we're not," Mie tells him. "If things change, we'll revisit casting it, but at the moment I don't think it's necessary," Mie explains.
"Okay, it's your decision," Gellert says to her, it being clear he doesn't completely agree with that choice.
"And I've made it," Mie tells him, making it clear that she knows he doesn't agree but she's not going to change her mind. "Let's get to work," Mie says and together the group get started on casting all the spells that Mie decided on, the spells to make the house as safe as possible.
A little over an hour after Mie, Albus, Gellert, Severus, Sirius, James, Minerva and Amelia cast the spells needed to protect the teenagers new home Albus, Gellert and Minerva have gone back to the castle while Mie, and her friends have been moving their stuff into their new house.
As there is a lot to do everyone is spread out around the house, while the others are in other places Kathleen and Marlene are using magic to put things into the main living area as the owners took a lot of furniture with them, and the teenagers brought a lot of things with them.
"Anyone else think that this is either going to be really amazing or a really bad idea?" Kathleen asks curious, as she waves her wand and causes a lot of books to fly into the bookshelves, of course Mie has kept her books in her beaded bag.
"Of course," Marlene says with a grin, as she places a couch that has been enlarged, "That's what makes it fun," She reveals, and Kathleen pulls a face at that. "What? What is it?" Marlene asks curious.
"I see it, why you get along so well with Sirius and James," Kathleen responds, looking amused.
"I'm surprised it took you so long," Marlene says as she places a second enlarged couch.
"Surprised what took so long?" Mie asks as she walks into the room with Amelia and Lily, the three of them having come from turning an upstairs closest into another bathroom, as it was decided they would need more than the three the house has, using magic.
"For Kathleen to realise why James, Sirius and I get along so well," Marlene explains.
"Really? It seemed obvious to me, and I have only been around a few months," Mie responds and in response Kathleen throws a pillow at her in a playful way which Mie catches. "Missed," Mie says with a grin, and in response Kathleen causes several pillows to rise up in the air, resulting in all five of the girls to use magic to cause pillows to act like balls used in dodgeball.
For the next few minutes Mie, Kathleen, Amelia, and Lily use magic to cause pillows to fly around the room and try and hit each other while they all try to dodge them, and after everything that has happened lately, they are having a moment of joy in the darkness.
"What on earth?" Severus asks when he walks into the room with James and Frank and the three of them are clearly shocked by the sight that has created them.
"Hey, how's things going?" Mie asks as a pillow hits her in the head, her voice sounding unphased despite what is going on.
"How's things going? No way Mie, you're gonna explain this one," James says with an amused look on his face, and Mie, Amelia, Lily, Marlene and Kathleen exchange looks.
"Full disclosure, there's not really an explanation," Lily admits. "It just kind of happened," Lily admits.
"Good to know," Frank says amused.
"EVERYONE FOOD!" Sirius's voice yells, echoing throughout the house.
Exchanging amused looks Mie, Amelia, Lily, Marleen and Kathleen stop the pillows from flying around and follow James, Frank and Severus into the now one room kitchen and diner which has been set up with enough places to sit for all of them.
As the group walk into the kitchen/diner they find that Sirius, Remus, Isaac and Alora has made plenty of food for all of them to have for lunch, food that is covering the enlarged table.
"Wow this smells incredible," Marlene comments.
"So let me get this straight, you destroy cauldrons in potions but you can cook?" Severus asks, looking at Remus as the rest of the teens walk into the room.
"It's a different skill set," Remus comments, and he feels the amused look his boyfriend is giving him. "And I only helped, Sirius, Isaac and Alroa made most of it," Remus explains.
"Knew it," Dorcus says amused.
"It doesn't matter who made it, what matters is there is a lot of good food, so let's eat," Sirius tells everyone and that's exactly what they do.
"Good idea," Lily says and that's exactly what they do.
Many hours later the teenagers have mostly moved into the house and made the, completely reversable, changes to the house that they need. As it has been a long day for them the teens are all spread around the living room enjoying the drinks that Aberforth gave them as a housewarming present.
"So, how long do you think until we're gonna have to defend our new home?" Edgar asks curious.
"I'm gonna go with not long," Alice comments.
"Most likely," Mie confirms. "Voldemort and his Death Eaters seem particularly found of attacking Hogsmeade lately," Mie tells the others.
"It's not overly surprising," Emmaline comments. "It's the perfect way for them to show that nowhere is safe, to demonstrate what will happen if you resist," Emmaline says to the others.
"That's depressing," Amelia comments, taking a drink.
"True though, it's exactly why he just attacked towns where magical people live," Isaac says, pain in his voice it being clear that he is thinking about his parents.
"Yep, he's trying to cause as much terror as possible," James says bitterly and the group drift into silence as they continue to drink.
"Is there any of that garlic bread left?" Frank asks curious as he really like that.
"Should be," Sirius says, and he uses a nonverbal summoning spell to summer the left over garlic bread from lunch, and cause it to land on the coffee table.
"Thanks," Frank says, and he grabs a piece of garlic bread, just as Mary causes some of the other left over food to appear.
Even though they don't say it the group are well aware that they aren't going to have many nights like this, nights where they can just have a fun time together enjoying themselves, and because of that they enjoy every second.
After a long night together the group head to their various rooms, as Mie walks into the attic with Amelia, Mary and Emmaline she heads straight to her four-poster bed and due to sleep deprivation, without even getting changed, Mie falls asleep seconds after she lays down on her bed, even before she thinks to put her usual silencing spells.
A little over an hour after Mie laid on her bed she is thrashing around and screaming as she is enveloped in nightmares. Having been woken the second Mie started to scream Amelia, Mary, and Emmaline hurry towards her bed.
"Stay back, don't get to close," Amelia tells Mary and Emmaline as she has enough experience with Mie's nightmares to know that it is highly likely she will accidently hurt Mary and Emmaline if they approach her in the wrong way. "Mie, it's Amy," Amelia says, slowly approaching the bed in the way she has learnt is the ideal way to approach Mie when she is in this state. "Mie, listen to my voice, you're safe, you're not back there, listen to my voice, come out of it," Amelia says to her friends as the others who live in the house come running into the room with their wands drawn and as they run in those who were in the room realise that Mie was having a nightmare, and so they hold the other back, trusting that Amelia has everything under control. "Mie, it's okay, you're safe, wake up," Amelia says to her friend and seconds later Mie bolts upright, looking terrified, and after being in the room with her and the experience's she has had with Mie's nightmares in the past few months Amelia realises exactly what is going on. "Mie, listen to my voice, it's Amelia Bones, it's 1978, you're safe," Amelia says, confusing those who don't know where Mie comes from. "She's not here, you're not being hurt, you're in Hogsmeade, listen to my voice, feel your bed, let it ground you," Amelia says to her friend, and for the next minute or so Amelia watches her friend, looking for signs that say Mie has come back to reality. "Mie? You with me?" Amelia asks concerned.
"Yeah... I think so," Mie says, catching her breath like she has just ran a long distance, and as Mie catches her breath she looks around and realises that it is not just Amelia who is looking at her with a concerned looks.
As Mie sees everyone, she knows she can't handle that, so she quickly gets up.
"Mie?" Lily asks concerned.
"I said I'd have breakfast with Dad and Gellert… I've got to go," Mie says grabbing her beaded bag and her wand and heading towards the stairs that lead downstairs.
"Let her go," Sirius says to Marlene and Dorcus, both of whom are clearly concerned about Mie and haver moved to block the stairs, as if to prevent her from leaving, "Just let her go," Sirius says as in the state she is in he wouldn't be surprised if Mie attacked them all because she was feeling so overwhelmed, and both Marlene and Dorcus step aside, trusting Sirius even though they are incredibly confused, and allow Mie to pass.
"Um, what was that?" Emmaline asks confused.
"That is a long story, and not ours to tell," Amelia admits as she stands up.
"Why did you tell Mie it's 1978? Who's she?" Edgar asks his sister, and those who know where Mie come from exchange looks, all having no idea how they are going to explain what just happened.
After leaving the new house Mie walks through the summer rain, which she barely feels, and towards the castle as even though she lied about having breakfast with her dad and Gellert they are actually who she wants to say. As she walks Mie can't help but think about what happened and she can't believe she forgot her spells.
"Great way to start living together," Mie mutters as she continues to walk, not being able to believe that she was so stupid to forget her spells.
After about twenty minutes Mie gets to the castle and because her father wanted her to be able to visit Mie is able to perform the spells necessary to open the gates. After walking through the open gates Mie performs the spells to once again put the protections in place and heads into the castle.
Once in the castle Mie, wanting to pass some time so she doesn't wake and scare her father and Gellert, takes the long way to the Dumbledore tower and when she finally walks into the tower she finds her father and Gellert having breakfast.
"Annemie? Are you okay?" Albus asks concerned, as he is surprised to see her.
"I… had nightmares, woke everyone up," Mie admits. "I couldn't stay there anymore," Mie admits.
"And instead, you decided to walk through the rain?" Gellert asks as he uses his wand to cast a spell to dry Mie.
"Thanks… I couldn't face them," Mie says, causing Albus and Gellert to exchange looks. "I'm not interrupting, am I?" Mie asks concerned.
"Of course not, Annemie, this is your home too," Albus assures his daughter as he summons another cup for tea and another plate for food.
"Sit, sit," Gellert says.
"Thanks," Mie says before walking over and joining Albus and Gellert at the table.
"Do you want to talk about your nightmares?" Albus asks, and while he phases it as a question Mie knows that her father would rather she talk about it.
"it was the same as before," Mie admits. "I was back… there, but Dobby didn't come…. Harry never came… I don't know what happened to him," Mie admits, and as tears come to her eyes she quickly reaches up and wipes them away. "I thought I was back there, and then when I woke up everyone was looking at me… it was too much," Mie says her voice breaking.
Hearing his daughters words Albus reaches out and takes her hand, wishing that there was more she could do to take away her pain.
"They did come, you did get away," Albus tells his daughter. "You're not there, you're here, you're okay," Albus tells his daughter.
"It doesn't feel like I am," Mie admits, and as she does Albus gets up and walks over to his daughter and hugs her, and as Albus hugs her Mie starts to cry.
"I've got you, you're safe," Albus tells his daughter as he continues to hold her and does his best to reassure her. While Albus does his best to comfort Mie Gellert watches on and honestly, he has no idea what he can do but he feels the need to do something, and the only thing he can think to do is make sure they both have plenty of tea.
For the next few minutes Albus continues to hold his daughter as she cries while Gellert watches on, feeling pretty powerless a feeling he hates, a feeling he has spent his life desperately trying never to feel.
"Annemie, what can I do?" Gellert asks once Albus and Mie break apart, wanting to do something.
"There's nothing you can do," Mie tells him. "But just letting me be here, helps, more than I can explain," Mie tells Gellert. "Thank you, Gellert," Mie says to him.
"Oh Schnucki, you never have to thank me for being here," Gellert assures Mie.
"Sorry, not exactly something I'm used to after the way I grew up," Mie admits. "I'm okay," Mie assures her dad who nods and goes back to his seat. "I'm not great at being vulnerable, especially not when I'm around people," Mie comments.
"I believe that is something we all have in common," Albus says, looking between Mie and Gellert.
"One of many things," Gellert says and as he does an OWL fly's in through the empty window and to Mie.
"Are you expecting something?" Albus asks his daughter, noticing the look on her face.
"No, but that's Amy's handwriting," Mie says, taking the letter and without hesitations she quickly opens It and begins to read;
Mie,
The others herd me tell you that it was 1978, they are asking questions about why I would assure you of that, and who she is. We're trying to avoid answering, but you know our friends, they're relentless. I will do what I can, as will the others who know, but you might want to come up with a plan. Hope you're doing better,
Amy
"What is it?" Albus asks his daughter.
"The others are asking questions, wondering why Amy had to reassure me that it was 1978," Mie explains, as she re-folds the letter. "I know them well enough to know that they won't stop asking questions unless I give them a believable explanation," Mie explains.
"Then we come up with a believable explanation," Albus explains.
"Or…" Gellert starts to say and both Mie and Albus look at him.
"Or what?" Mie asks curious.
"Or you tell them the truth," Gellert tell Mie. "If you lie now, you're going to have to keep lying for a long time, living together will present different complications, you, or one of the others who know the truth, are likely going to give something away," Gellert explains, giving Mie something to think about even though her instinct is to think of some kind of lie.
After spending a while with Albus and Gellert, discussing everything and coming up with a plan Mie heads into the room that her father assures her she can always consider to be hers. Once in the room Mie gets her copy of Advance Potion Making and does what she need to do to send a message saying;
I need to discuss something with you.
After sending the message Mie sits and waits, knowing that it could be a while before Regulus responds.
A while after she sent a message to Regulus, Mie, knowing that she needs to face her friends, has headed back to Hogsmeade and to the house she is sharing with her friends. Taking a deep breath Mie head into the house and to the sitting room where the others are.
"Mie! Are you okay?" Lily asks worried as she walks in.
"I'm working on it," Mie responds.
"Mie what happened? What cased dreams like that?" Marlene asks, clearly concerned about her friend and wanting to know what is going on with her.