Chapter 29
Triggered
Saturday, 30 November 1996
During breakfast a lovely brown barn owl flew overhead and dropped a letter in front of Ginny. "Nimbus." she replied, looking at the mark on the envelope.
She opened and read:
Dear Miss Weasley,
Happy holidays! You and Master's Potter's efforts this fall have not gone unnoticed so thank you. We hope this letter finds you well. Again, we thank you for your field testing the telepathic links and your reports back to us of their performance.
The reason for this letter today is to return to the more traditional duties. With the Christmas Season coming we would like to schedule another promotional sales stop to capitalize on holiday shopping. Considering the events of the last stop at Diagon Alley, we would like to give that location another attempt, hopefully with a better ending.
Saturday 21 December - London
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Broomsitx
Promotional sales. Photograph and autograph opportunity with brief Q & A
Please contact us if there are concerns or objections as your satisfaction is our top concern.
Respectfully,
Devlin Whitehorn
Nimbus Racing Brooms
"I'll need to talk to the Twins, see if I can borrow their flat again. Harry can I-"
"Hedwig is at your beck and call. You know this, Gin."
"Thanks. Timing is tight, I'll need to apparate or floo back to London instead of the express, but I can't imagine that to be a difficulty," she replied looking expectantly.
"Technically, I still have the access charm to the Training Room floo." Harry muttered.
That surprised Hermione. "Tonks hasn't dismissed that yet? It's been over a month."
"I admit I haven't asked but I don't think she's forgotten. She's too smart for that."
"She must trust you with them then, which I don't blame her but…"
"It's the idea of Professors actually trusting and supporting us that is foreign here," Ron explained.
"I get it, but I'm not complaining." Harry nodded. Then he reached over and rubbed Ginny's back. "I know the school is letting some parents pick up their kids like Friday after class, a few even earlier. We've got the Slug Party that night but Saturday morning, flame home, I can't see an issue."
"Thanks, babe," she said leaning into the rub.
"Mione, Ron, flame back?"
"I like the idea."
"Yes, but…" Hermione reminded, "We have prefect duties on the Express."
Ron's head fell in mock shame. "Yes, dear."
Later that afternoon, Ravenclaw faced Hufflepuff in the quidditch pitch. It was clear winter was returning, but nothing as bitter as the October freeze was. Hermione excused herself as she was close to getting prototypes on the two way letters done and frankly with her boyfriend in the stands there was far less of a draw for her. Neville, Harry, and Ginny joined Ron watching the match. Happily, they didn't see any competition they were worried about, so it truly was entertainment for them. It was a tight game, but by the end Hufflepuff pulled out a victory, 240-230. Susan and Ernie, arm in arm, invited the Gryffindor Marauders to the after game party, because, "We've been shot at together, we sure as hell can drink together!" A quick link message to Hermione and she soon arrived with Hannah waiting for her at the door.
Monday, December, 1 1996
Snow was swirling against the icy windows once more; Christmas was approaching fast. Hagrid took the weekend to single-handedly delivered the usual twelve Christmas trees for the Great Hall; garlands of holly and tinsel had been twisted around the banisters of the stairs; everlasting candles glowed from inside the helmets of suits of armor and great bunches of mistletoe had been hung at intervals along the corridors. The mistletoe was actually welcomed by Harry and his friends this year. More than once Ginny had pulled him under 'accidently'.
With Remus on staff and now an extra period free due to the Muggle Studies victory, Tonks had him manage the remainder of the cadets while she focused on the Marauders, including Hannah. Then she remembered, "Remus has the Training Hall, we need to find you someplace quiet to practice."
The teens all looked at each other. They lead her up to the Room of Requirement and as real life was bringing snow back to them, Harry decided to conjure the summer exterior of Hogwarts again. Tonks stepped inside and nodded very impressed. "I knew you were running laps in here, but I didn't realize how realistic it was here. This is where you started the D.A.?"
"We made it look different then, but ya, this is the room." Harry explained.
Tonks led them to a level piece of grass by the water's edge. "Everyone, circle up, have a seat and get comfortable. And for this class, I would like to keep things relaxed, so drop ranks and formalities. Be friendly." Tonks led by example, sitting down cross legged. "You're all training to be aurors. Something required to be an officer is mental fortification, known as occlumency. I am already aware that you lot have already had a few off the book missions."
An uneasy tenseness filled the air.
"Everyone relax," Tonks continued, raising a hand. "I am not here to bust anyone. You all have performed well for me this term. I am willing to continue to trust your judgments until you give me reason otherwise. Then, may Merlin help you."
The Marauders chuckled and relaxed.
"You all know things already that would be best kept secured. That's the same position officers are in. So, now that you all have done so well with Muggle Studies, I would like to start teaching the leaders in my class occlumency. I know some of you have had or heard of some… truly shite experiences. I do not operate that way. I believe Harry will vouch for me."
Harry nodded. "She already gave me an introductory lesson. It's a night and day difference. Tonks I'm willing to trust."
"That actually means a lot, Harry, thank you." the auror said with a smile. "Now to catch you all up. I would like to give all that same introductory lesson, so you know what it can be like for someone to enter your mind. It does not have to be the blunt approach I know has been used in this school before. I will absolutely let you know, as a veteran auror, I have seen and experienced the gambit of secrets and images. I swear, I will never make any judgements or breathe a word of any errant thought or memory I encounter. Fair?"
Ginny's poker face came up, but Harry could read it well. He reached out to rub her hand in comfort. Following her parent's example they had a conversation in pure expression.
'Are you sure?' Ginny's eyes asked.
'I trust Tonks… and I think this would help.' Harry nodded with a warm smile.
Ginny swallowed and squeezed Harry's hand firmly. 'Okay, I'll try.'
Seeing nods around the circle. "Alright, Lesson one. It's often called. "Clear your mind." she smiled. "Problem is we're all clever people. Most of us can't focus on a vast empty whiteness long enough to be of use. So I prefer to think of this step as, "Go Home. It doesn't have to be your specific home. But go someplace you felt the happiest and safest. For some of you it will be home, but for others, don't fight it, whatever you picture as safe, secure, and happy, go there. There literally is no wrong answer. Hang out, be comfortable, and I'm just going to stop by."
Tonks took her wand and with a whisper, a pink glow came to her wand and even showed through her closed eye lids. One by one she simply appeared to each of them in their minds, as gently and as kindly as she could manage.
Harry recreated Grimmauld Place in his mind. Tonks flamed in through the floo like any normal person would.
Ron, surprisingly, was in the quidditch pitch. Tonks flew up to him on a broom.
Hermione, as predicted, was in the Hogwarts library.
Neville was in his family conservatory, tending to seedlings.
Hannah was in her family's parlor, sitting behind the piano her mother had taught her to play.
Susan was in her aunt's study, when they had so many private lessons and conversations.
Tonks purposely saved Ginny for last, and wasn't surprised when she returned to the Burrow. Tonks flamed in to see Ginny standing by the sink with her arms crossed holding back a scowl.
"Wotcher Ginny," the auror greeted.
"Hey," she replied neutrally.
" I don't blame you for not being a fan of anyone here. So, thank you, for letting me visit."
Ginny shrugged.
"We literally can't get any more private. May I say a few things?"
"Sure," she replied, annoyed.
"I like you Ginny, even before this term, I considered us friends."
Ginny nodded yes to agree.
"Alright. To begin with, I don't want to talk about a single thing you don't want to talk about. I mean what I said, you're a leader on my team, and you know things in this war, I want you to be able to keep your mind and your privacy safe and secure. You simply, as someone who was, I'll be honest, as mentally violated as you were, have more to gain. Occlumency often gives people a sense of self control and self protection. Knowing you have the ability to stop bastards from doing something like that again… well you wouldn't be the first person to find comfort in this."
Ginny didn't say anything but she did look off to the side uncomfortably. "I won't lie, Ginny. Of any of the cadets, including Harry, I think you have the most to gain here. But I will be damned if I force anyone into this. But I like you Ginny, and I think that's mutual."
Ginny nodded.
"And I trust you, and I think that's mutual."
Ginny nodded.
"Okay, then will you let me help you?"
Ginny closed her eyes for a moment, then finally looked at Tonks, then nodded.
"Thank you," Tonks said in deep appreciation. "I'll see you on the other side then," as Tonks gently left her mind.
Verbally in reality, Tonks spoke to all of them. "That is how I, at least, practice legilimency. Anyone feel that was too rough?" Everyone, including Ginny, shook their heads no.
"Now to use simple terms, 'Going Home' is effectively just centering yourself. Even many muggle traditions use this concept at meditation. I will go so far to say none of you have any strange embarrassing Homes in your mind. Though I will say, Ron, your's is a first."
"Oh Merlin, what is my brother's safe space?" Ginny asked out of curiosity and fear.
"That's his to discuss, if he chooses." Tonks defended with a smile.
"I don't care. It was the quidditch pitch." Ron grinned and started the laughter.
"All right, well, the next step in the direction of legilimency is what I call, "Lock the Doors." She looked at all of them and nodded for them all to go back Home. "Once you are Home, go around, slowly, consciously close all the doors, shut all the window. There is no rush, no panic, no need to run, but just walk around and close everything up like you would for a summer storm coming in the next hour." Tonks led them through the initial steps of setting up the simplest of mental walls. She psychically returned pointing out the obvious and moderate cracks. For each of them it was a positive experience and with more laughs and smiles and no one cried out in pain even once. Harry was sold just from that.
One period each day that week was used for occlumency. Going Home, Locking the Doors. Every day Tonks would remind them of the areas to watch, point out any gaps she saw, then work further. A topic at a time she introduced organizing their minds, both for meditative calm but also to secure their thoughts. Next she began start legilimencing into their minds in random order, and staying quite. Trying to train them to feel when they were being mentally breached. It was slow but deliberately so. Tonks was well aware of what Harry and Ginny had previously gone through, and she was certain this treaded on sensitive ground for Neville considering his parents. But Tonks knew this was a vital skill, and she suspected they realized it was important too, even if it brought up painful baggage. She meant what she said to Ginny though, none of them would be the first to learn occlumency partly as recovery.
Remus set up in a classroom near the potions lab and set up his own station there to analyze his scrys and samples with relative ease of access to supplies and consultation to Slughorn. Remus admitted and respected that the actual potions professor was the master, but Slughorn also has a full class schedule. Remus only had one that he assisted with, so he had more time to devote to the research and was more aware of the uniqueness of lycanthropathic alchemy. He also had a lifetime supply of the werewolf blood to test with.
After training on Thursday, he asked Hermione and Harry to stay behind. As this wasn't unusual they just shrugged and waited till the doors closed. "Thank you. Professor Slughorn and I believe we have had some success in what I've named the Turn Trigger formula. We have dialed it in to be as reactive to my blood as I believe is possible."
"Alright," Hermione nodded. "How can we help then?"
"I believe the next step is a live trial."
Harry immediately winced. It took Hermione a moment to register what he was meaning. "OH! So you want us to keep you company?" she askee still not registering.
"Only in a manner of speaking Miss Granger. It is my understanding you have become quite proficient with the sleep spell?"
"Yes Professor, why?"
Harry shook his head, "Hermione, he doesn't need us there for moral support. He has Sarge for that. If the potion doesn't have the same metal keeping properties as wolfsbane, he wants you to put him to sleep during the transformation."
Finally realizing, Hermione nodded her head. "Alright, if that's what you want sir, sure. I'm sorry Harry, I didn't realize you had practiced that spell recently."
"I haven't."
Hermione looked at Harry in confusion. "Then why you too?"
Harry closed his eyes and accepted the grim reality of what the Professor feared. "In case, the potion doesn't keep his mind, you can't put him to sleep, and the cell fails. He wants me there to … end the problem. Right, Professor?"
"By any means necessary, Harry. I will not risk the students of this school by allowing that creature outside the Room of Requirement. Now, can we build safeties, yes. Do I expect the three of you to stun me first, yes. But ultimately the wolf is a very dangerous creature. I will not conduct this test unless there is someone equally as dangerous defending the school. And Harry, you have worn that mantle so well for a while now. Will you carry it another night?" Remus asked, extending his hand.
Harry took a courage breath, and accepted his hand. "On my honor, sir. But I would consider it a personal favor if you could just give us a boring night."
"Indeed, I hope so too." Remus agreed with a slight grin. "Tomorrow after supper then. Thank you." He picked up his things and left.
When the door closed again. Hermione immediately turned to Harry. "Tell me I did not just hear you agree to kill a teacher!" she said in disbelief.
"You heard wrong," Harry replied as he went to the tables along the side to gather his bag.
"Then, please clarify."
Harry took a breath. "I agreed to kill the wolf, the monster."
"It's the same thing!"
Harry turned to look at her with the most sincerest looks she'd ever seen. "No, no it's not. Remember Third year? Outside of when the potion enables Remus to be in control, the animal is very much not the man. When the fur is out he's very much a captive in his own body. And he is telling us, ordering us, damn near begging us 'at all cost, do - not - let - him hurt anyone!"
The weight finally started to register with Hermione. "Shouldn't this be someone else? Like Tonks and McGonagall?"
"I'm sure Tonks will be with us. McGonagall holds the last line of defense for the school, We're the first. Howling proved that."
"And Remus?"
"He's willing to do the sacrifice play, if it's for the betterment of everyone else. Welcome to the war." Harry's shoulders slumped from the weight of it all as he grabbed his wizard pack.
"Merlin."
"Mione, the best thing you can do is get a good rest, and maybe put some practice on your sleep spell, make sure you can throw that at your peak. With any luck, if we need it, you cast it and Remus just sleeps it off."
"Ya… ya you're right." Hermione said in acceptance as started to walk off, then stopped. "Harry?"
"Ya?"
Hermione turned around and marched into a hug. "Sacrifice play isn't an option any more."
"I know, Mione, I know." Harry replied, patting her back. He knew they weren't talking about Remus anymore.
Friday, 6 December, 1996
Harry and Hermione hugged their partners extra tight when they left from supper that night. Ginny held him back a moment to look him in the eyes. "Wear your link. I'll wear mine. If you need anything, even as simple as a friendly voice, you got me," she said with a firm hug.
"Thanks, Gin."
"Hey, I love you. I trust you, and Remus trusts you," she gently rubbed his cheek with a look of pure faith and confidence. "Everything will be fine." Harry nodded and kissed her goodbye for the moment. Then headed to the assignment. The feeling of dread weighed heavy on their feet but dutifully they returned again to the Turing Room in the Room of Requirement. Tonks and Remus followed soon after.
"Mione, lock us down." Harry said which Remus and Tonks nodded. Again, Harry turned to the veteran Marauder. "You don't have to do this, sir."
"It is the simplest and most direct way to the truth, and we do not even know how much time we have."
Hermione returned from casting the same securing charms she did for Marauder meetings. "Where do you want us?"
"Just here." Tonks replied. "Hopefully bored."
Both of the teens nodded heads in agreement.
As they did the week before. The elder couple hugged and kissed good night. Tonks held the field down Remus as he stepped inside, then raised the curtain. Remus quickly undressed and deposited his clothes again. From a pocket he pulled out a glass vial holding a brown brew. "Well, as they say," he said with false bravado, "Physician, heal thy self."
"See you in the morning, honey." Tonks nodded.
Remus drank the potion and threw it into the clothes pile. Tonks quickly closed the steel door. He closed his eyes and waited a moment. Then, he nodded. "It's happening," he forced out, which then mutated into a snarl. Tonks quickly started a stopwatch. While the skin of Remus's body stretched all around as the bones and muscles beneath it shifted. His joints cracked as the snapped popped into inhuman directions. He fell to all fours as his limbs shifted into the wolf's legs, finally ending with, to Tonks at least, the familiar howl.
Tonks took a breath and lowered the curtain. There standing was the gaunt coyote she had seen before. More to the point as she looked in his eyes, she saw recognition. That seemed to be further confirmed, when the wolf playfully licked the force wall, then laid down on all fours and even rested his muzzle on his front paws. "Hello, Mooney." Tonks smiled. She turned to the cadets behind her. "He's okay. Remus is in control."
Harry and Hermione let out a sigh of relief. Harry linked over to Ginny, "Good news, looks like we get the boring night option after all."
"Thank Merlin. Keep me posted?"
"Always." Harry finished, then verbally said. "Gin's happy too, wants to be kept up to speed but I'm sure will keep the rest informed."
The three of them now had a moment to sit and wait, partially even relax. Seeing the dynamic between Tonks and Remus. Harry couldn't help but wonder. "Sarge, can I ask you a slightly personal question?"
"Harry, I've been in your head this week. Yes, we can talk."
"When did you and Remus start dating? Last I knew he was…" he trailed off. Hermione looked up from the book she had grabbed with a smile.
"Hell bent on self imposed isolation and exile?" Tonks finished with a smile. Moony whined. Tonks turned to her partner. "Tell me I'm wrong." Mooney lowered his muzzle to the floor and covered his eyes with his paws. "That's what I thought."
The teens were enamored and smiled wide eyed at the exchange. "You two still talk, even after his change?" Hermione asked.
Tonks smiled. "Of course, he's still Remus in there. He understands us. He just has problems spitting out the words one night a month. Actually, come to think about it, that's not much different than any other night of the month."
Mooney let out a low growl of disapproval.
"I'm sorry, it took you how long to ask me out?" she asked the wolf.
Moony fell silent and returned to covering his eyes.
Tonks returned her attention to her guests. "Diagon Alley knocked sense into him. We had some serious conversations while I recovered. Then slow dating. First tea, then a coffee. Was dinner date three of four, love?"
Moony scratched the floor of the cell four times.
"Four, thank you."
Harry was shocked senseless. "I'm sorry. I admit I hoped this would be boring and Remus would be in control, but I just figured he'd be a wolf in his room tonight. I never dreamed that you two could communicate so well like this."
"Well, I won't lie. He was damn stubborn and refused to let me be around for August's turn. But throughout the next month we talked and he finally agreed to let me keep him company for September. Which he greatly appreciated. When he explained he still has his mind when he's like this, I just decided to speak normally to him. That's grown into this."
Moony barked and panted happily. "That's him agreeing." Tonks translated.
Harry shook his head in amazement. "That's incredible."
"That's beautiful." Hermione added.
"That's just a relationship. Look, if we're talking on this level. Can your slightly older friend-"
Moony barked and panted.
"Yes, I said 'slightly' older. Only seven years." the auror laughed. "Do you really want to bring up the age conversation?" she pointedly looked at the wolf.
Moony whined.
"That's what I thought." Tonks chuckled. With a smile she returned to Harry and Hermione. Bit of advice from your friend from the Class of '91. While you're dating and with someone, keep talking. About anything and everything. Fun is great, and have fun. But at the end of the day, you'll get more mileage out of a relationship when you enjoy each other's conversation."
Moony barked and panted in approval. The teens smiled and agreed.
The four of them slipped into a bit of comforting busy work. Tonks worked through training material occasionally asking for Moony's opinion which they continued to converse as they had been.
"Harry, now that we have a moment."
"What's up?"
She pulled up two leather binders, each about the size of half a sheet of paper. "I got the two way letters done. At least the first three."
"Really? That's awesome."
"Your idea with the modified Protean Charm was good. After I got the supplies I needed I was able to work quickly. This one is yours." She said as she handed one to him and kept a second. Harry opened it to what he had described, a binder with two pieces of paper, on on each side of the paper. "Left side is your received message. If you pardon the pun, the right side is the write side."
"Ron would be proud."
"He was." she smiled. "Now on the writing sheet, notice the two squares?" Harry nodded. "The one in the top left corner is your address box. That's how you tell the sheet who to send the message to. The lower left, clear charm. You just mark and x in it and all the ink from the prior message vanishes. Obviously, you would want to wait a bit between the two."
"This is great Miracle, thanks. To address someone, do I just write their name?"
Hermione shook her head. "That was my first thought, but then for simplicity and security I went a different route. For the safe houses, I figured I would be boring and simple and just go with numbers. For us, I went with symbolism."
"So instead of writing 'Gin' I'd draw a…"
"Flame. I opted for our elemental magics for ease of reference: flame for Ginny, snowflake for Ron, lightning bolt for you, a book for me, skull for Susan, tree for Neville and a cross for Hannah. This should help everyone coordinate with their house locations. I am hoping to have all these done by the beginning of break, else I'll finish during."
Harry took out his pocket quill and drew a book into the address box and quickly wrote on the page. 'Miracle Mione is awesome.'
Hermione held up her copy showing the message received. She quickly started writing in her's and Harry looked down to see a smiley face appear on his page.
Harry put an X on the other box and the page cleared as Hermione did the same.
"This is fantastic. Can I add two more symbols to your list?"
"Bill is already on the list." Hermione smiled. "I may be a simple commoner, but I know you need to talk to your house, just like the other nobles."
"You are far from common, one more then?"
Hermione shrugged. "Sure who and what?
"Greengrass."
"Really?" Hermione said, with a touch of hesitation.
"I have no intention of letting her know of any of the other letter addresses, just mine. But she is two for two in her tips and something like this would make her getting those tips out to us a lot easier."
Hermione nodded. "Okay, trusting your judgment has gotten us this far. You want her to have a letter, I'll make hers next. Just how do you plan to get it to her?"
Harry smiled. "It's Christmas, I'll ask Santa."
Sixty three minutes, forty two seconds later, Remus reverted back to his human form.