Chapter 33: Lessons in DefenceNotes:
Here is the next chapter. I hope you like it.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"All right you two, come up here and look over the guns. Pick one and we will get you started. MI5 was happy with the last mission you worked on together, but they would like it if you all fit in better with their raids." Dora rolled her eyes. "Right, like two females wearing skin tight tactical gear doesn't make us stand out already." Quetz glared at Dora. "Coneja, those missions will probably involve you getting some bulletproof gear, so don't be a smart ass." Dora was about to retort when Hazel shoved her shoulder. "Stop picking a fight. This is interesting." Dora turned to her. "You know what she called me." Hazel smirked. "And the more lip you give her, the more creative she will get with her insults in Spanish. Now zip it." Dora wilted under Quetz glare before the blonde witch pulled the cloth off from the table in front of her, revealing a large display of pistols, all of different designs and calibers. "We are starting small today, with your standard issue sidearms from all over the UK and Europe. Pick the one that feels more comfortable in your hand. We will adjust your picks from there as soon as you start shooting." Quetz watched as Dora went for the biggest gun and morphed her hand to match the size. She sighed. "Or you can just cheat. Maldita sean los cambiaformas."
Hazel looked up from her much smaller gun choice, her eyes glowing green. "If I hear Teddy cursing in Spanish before he is fifteen, you, me and your diosa are going to have some words." Quetz swallowed. "Noted." Quetz eyed as Hazel weighed the guns in her hand and smiled. The witch had a good grasp of the weight of a gun slowing her down, not exactly that dissimilar from the weight, shape and grip of a melee weapon. She saw Hazel check the switch on the stock next to the trigger. "I know you acquire these weapons from the non-magical government, but how likely are we going to need a full automatic pistol in our field of work?" Quetz tapped her chin. "Not very. At least not with a sidearm. In your case I'd recommend semi-auto, but knowing you have the option isn't bad either." Hazel hummed and lowered the gun she picked up and took another one. "I'll go semi-auto for now, medium caliber. We might be able to adjust our muscle structure to compensate with the recoil but maybe it's better we try your typical variety of weapon. Especially if it's the standard most criminals carry, as I might end up using their weapons." Quetz chuckled. "That's the spirit. Go and put your safety gear on. I'll teach you how to adjust a localized deafening spell so you can use the firearms freely in the field afterwards, but do try and use the safety gear in house."
Quetz helped both Hazel and Dora get into a proper shooting position. "Aim down the iron sights. Get them as level as you can. Once you are sure, release the safety. Your finger is to be off the trigger until you want to fire. I don't want to hear about any accidental misfires from you two. My friends in MI5 will never let me hear the end of it. Now, as for breathing… " Quetz ran Hazel through exercises, checked her grip and arm position and stepped back. A shot rang out. Then another. Hazel took her time adjusting her grip and aimed. Her last bullet in the magazine managed to hit the target dead center. Quetz showed her how to release the magazine. "Some guns have a bit of lean in certain directions, and your posture doesn't help. Yours was a bit to the right. Take a few shots like you did, compensate and keep trying." Quetz went to work with Dora and her heavy revolver as Hazel kept doing more target practice. She winced when Dora almost smacked herself from the recoil in the face after her first shot. "That, amiga, is why you go for smaller calibers first. Big hands or not." Dora blushed and handed her the revolver. "Right, got it." Dora and Quetz went back to the table and Quetz gave her a few pointers as Hazel kept practicing her marksmanship.
Horatio walked in and watched quietly as Quetz taught Dora how to shoot the smaller pistol. He moved closer to Hazel as she switched out her empty magazine. "Not as easy as it looks, is it?" Hazel pulled the ear protection and safety glasses of her face and shook her head. "I imagine muscle memory will eventually play a part in this, but getting quicker and more accurate with the aim takes some work." Horatio nodded. "We have had a few wizards and witches give up on them for that reason. They had a bit of an issue separating gun accuracy and spell casting aim. The Aurors tried to incorporate both once upon a time but gave up for the same reasons." Hazel thought about it and nodded. "I can see that. Maybe have firearm exercises prior to a mission involving muggles and then a bit of spellcasting afterwards? Get the muscle memory issues cleared out before they are a problem?" Horatio hummed as he looked at Dora, who got some shots onto the target. "Agreed. I'll arrange for that as soon as a proper mission comes up. Croaker wants to see you and Dora as soon as you are free. We got some intel on the Sirius Black case."
Croaker started the briefing as soon as the three were in his office. "Our Enchanters are closer to figuring out how the map works. We hope that in a few weeks we can have working prototypes in your hands to facilitate the hunt. The bit of intel was something one of our younger Unspeakables had seen but had no way of knowing if it was important or not. After reviewing his memories, we have confirmation that Peter Pettigrew is very much alive and has been at Hogwarts. The longest periods of time were spent in the third year boys dorm room near Ronald Weasley, so the Weasley pet, Scabbers, is indeed our not quite dead Animagus." Dora looked at Croaker. "How soon will the DMLE be informed of this?" Croaker sighed and dropped his paper. "Amelia, Rufus and Alastor will be made aware. They are the vetted members of the DMLE. We can't, however, disseminate the information. The memories of the Unspeakable working on the map reveals Pettigrew has entered and left the wards repeatedly this last year. If he hears about the hunt for him, we might lose him forever."
Hazel looked at Horatio and back at Croaker. "So, our orders now are the safe retrieval of both Pettigrew and Black." Horatio nodded. "Aside from guarding the Castle, those are your orders for the new term." Dora stood up. "Anything else?" The two men turned to Hazel. "The fact that Pettigrew is alive and was a member of the group that comprised of Black, Potter and Lupin should dispel any concerns of Black being the actual traitor. Are you able to put aside your feelings for the man from your world and not try to kill our Black on sight?" Hazel saw an image of her Sirius Black flash before her closed eyes. Everyone saw her exposed arms light up as arcs of red light danced over her naked skin. She exhaled deeply and opened her eyes. "No. I can't. I won't kill him outright, but my instinct still tells me to hurt him. If you want him unharmed, I need to be kept from seeing or hearing him." Croaker sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "What happened that you hate him so much?" Dora rushed to Hazel as her body shook at the memory. "Everything. If there are four people I can blame fully for my fate in my own world, they are Dumbledore, Voldemort, Severus Snape and Sirius Black."
-∞-
OW February 1994
"Expecto Patronum." A thin wisp of white mist erupted from her wand. Hazel grinded her teeth as Lupin watched on. "Try another memory. It needs to be a happy memory. The happiest you have ever been." Hazel closed her eyes. She focused on the memory from this last Christmas. The letter she received from her Godmother. What it made her feel. She focused on it as she aimed her wand. " Expecto Patronum ." A slightly larger torrent of mist erupted from her wand, but its shape was irregular. Remus frowned as Hazel discontinued the spell, the latter breathing heavily. "Well, that's odd. Shield Patroni are quite common. Your Patronus seemed to be trying to take corporeal form yet it couldn't." Hazel sighed, feeling exhausted. "Great. Another issue with my magic. Would be nice if my magic would just settle down, for once." Remus pulled out a bar of chocolate and offered it to her but Hazel just glared at him. He sighed. "It's not poisoned or covered in potions." Hazel kept her eye on him and shook her head. "Not exactly a fan, regardless." Remus placed the bar of chocolate on the desk. "Hazel, why do you keep doing this?"
Hazel frowned. "Doing what?" Remus looked her in the eyes. "Pushing people away. You spent the Yuletide somewhere locked away in the Castle. You don't have a group of friends to call your own and you antagonize Dumbledore at every turn. It's not healthy." Hazel glared at him. "You don't have the right to judge me on my personal life." Remus shook his head. "I was a friend of your parents, Hazel. All the way from Hogwarts to that fateful night. I was their friend and in my own heart they were my family." Hazel looked at him and chuckled bitterly. "Oh, I am sure they must be loving you in the grave. Did your friendship stop at me? Did I piss on you as a toddler? Tell me, Lupin, what made you give up on the daughter of your so-called family for twelve years?" Remus looked at her closely. "Hazel, you were living with muggles." Hazel dismissed that. "Who knew of magic because of family, so that's no excuse. Try again." Remus seemed to straighten up a bit. "Dumbledore…" Hazel spat at hearing his name. "Isn't my Grandfather, blood relation or even my real Magical Guardian. Try harder. Why did you abandon me?"
Remus rubbed his face with his hand. "I have a condition. It's not safe to be around me. Especially as a kid." Hazel blinked at him before she laughed. She sat on a heavy closed trunk and laughed at him. "You are in a school with hundreds of kids for ten months of the year, and now you suddenly claim it is not safe for a child to be around you? Really? You are only a threat for a few days of the month on the full moon. Don't give me anymore crappy excuses. You had three tries. You failed at all of them!" Remus yelled at her. "It's illegal for a werewolf to be near a child before the age of nine." Hazel yelled back. "And you and my accursed parents were vigilantes breaking the law since before leaving Hogwarts. Don't you dare use the law as an excuse! You turned your back on them and me!" Remus froze. "You… your parents loved you. They died for you. How can you curse them?" Hazel glared at the man. "I would have rather died with them. I have lived twelve years without any care from anyone. Not my dead parents, not a senile old man and certainly not you. What made you think I would care about anyone in return? Why would I glorify the people who chose to make the war their first priority and their own child second?" Remus sighed. "They were making a better world for you."
Hazel looked around. "You see that better world somewhere? The racists are still in power, securing their authority at every turn, the muggleborns are still treated like shit and when a little girl asks anyone for help, all I get is told to stop making up lies. This world isn't any better! So what was the point of it all? They could have taken me anywhere in the world, away from these cursed islands. They had the money and the right. They could have fled and raised me as a daughter, safe from the nightmare of the war. Instead they stayed, like good little soldiers. They stayed and hid, antagonizing a madman at every turn. How exactly was that exemplary parental behaviour?" Remus shook his head. "You don't understand. We all had a duty to fight." Hazel yelled. "And I have the right to curse the names of my parents for it. You're not the one who gets to see them every bloody time a Dementor decides that I need my tonsils inspected. I see them and I hate them because they should have been there for me! You should have been there for me! My Godmother at least had the excuse that she was dragged off to Azkaban against her will!"
Remus stood up straight, his instincts recognizing something in her voice. "You know something about her. Hazel, the woman is dangerous." Hazel lifted her book bag over her shoulder. "Like you? Sorry Professor, but if you have trouble telling when and how you are dangerous to students, I am not about to take your word for it that my Godmother is any greater threat to me." Remus reached out and held her shoulder. "I am not joking around. She's a Death Eater, Hazel." Hazel looked at the hand on her shoulder and then at his eyes. "Right. So is my Potion's Master, a member of the Board of Governors and a third of the Wizengamot. Either they suck at being dangerous or they are just as dangerous as everyone else, including you." Remus tried to turn her around. "The Aurors need to-" his suggestion was cut off as he pulled his hand away from Hazel, a familiar pain burning his skin. Hazel spun a little blade of silver in her hand, a red line of blood slowly burning away on the blade. "The first Defence Professor taught me a lot. By instruction and example. I don't trust you, Dumbledore or anyone else. I trust myself, because I am the only one who seems to ever care about me. So I suggest you keep your hands to yourself, Professor. I already killed one Defence professor. Don't give me a reason to kill you too. I regretted killing my first professor. You… you I might do it with a smile on my face." Hazel turned around and left, leaving behind a stunned Lupin as he held his bleeding hand.
-∞-
NW February 1994
Teddy looked over his Herbology assignment and added the final answers before drying it wandlessly. His Mom had kept his wandless training since the start of term, starting with small spells like drying ink, lighting, summoning and banishing charms. She started teaching him a few more based on the stunning and shielding charms he had already learned with a wand, but those were harder to manage for him. At least for now. He turned to the other students at his table. "Done." Hestia and Flora raised their heads from their own assignment. They batted their eyelashes at him. "Would you look over ours?" Teddy smiled and shook his head. "Not until you are done." They both frowned and went back to work as Astoria sighed, lowering her quill onto the table. "Done with mine too. Do you still have to do the one Snape assigned in DADA?" Teddy shook his head. "No, I did that one the day he assigned it." Astoria cursed under her breath. "Why did he even assign it? Werewolves are a third year topic. He gave the same one to my sister's class." Teddy looked between Astoria and the twins, who seemed to be thinking about Astoria's comment.
"Probably because Remus Lupin is one." The Twins looked up and then at each other. "Oh, that is mean." The other girl, Flora he was sure, giggled. "Oh it is. He must have been ordered to keep quiet." Hestia hummed. "But Snape wants the Defence position for himself." Flora continued. "What better way than to get the competition sacked." Hestia finished. "Indeed. Having the students telling the secret to their parents for him instead." Astoria rested her chin on her hands. "I am so happy I am not in Slytherin. I might have gone insane keeping up with all the other Heirs and Heiresses and their plots, only for the Head of House to have his own." The twins giggled as Teddy shook his head. Astoria looked at Teddy. "You knew before the assignment?" Teddy nodded as he pulled out his Charms assignment. "You know how my Mom is. If it can hurt me, she gives me a full lesson on it. She had me pick up on the nuances and habits of Weres, Vampires, Hags and people under Possession." The Twins shuddered. "Nana told us about some cases of Possession. Very nasty." The other twin nodded. "Same with Hags. Some like to make food out of muggle kids. Aurors aren't very friendly to them if the Hags are caught with a kid."
Teddy shuddered. "Yeah, I am staying clear of Knockturn Alley." Astoria smirked. "Please, they wouldn't dare to attack you there. Especially not with that last name of yours." Teddy shrugged. "True, but best to not give my Mom a reason to smite a whole street's worth of people." Teddy's words caused the Twins to eye him curiously as Teddy looked over his Charms homework and leaned closer to Astoria. "Can you help me with the theory?" Astoria looked over and nodded, pulling out her own assignment. "Sure. I need to start mine too. After this, you can help me with the DADA essay." Teddy nodded and started taking down notes. He was glad for his friendship with Astoria. Not only was she fun to be around, but she had a better grasp of theory. They clicked together well, as he showed her the ways to get the practical aspects down and she even found how the theory helped with that. History of Magic though, was a bit of a problem for him. The histories of the two worlds were not that different but some of the dates were. He had to make a lot of excuses to his friends about why he screwed up with the dates and he made sure they never used his assignments as study material.
The four of them eventually finished their assignments and Astoria went to return the books. Teddy felt the twins grip both of his arms from either side. Hestia stared into his eyes. "Why is Lady Peverell asking about our parents?" Teddy blushed. "Your Boggart. If that was real, then it was wrong of them to do that to you." Flora turned his head towards her. "If it was, what could she do? Our parents are the Heads of our House. They are appealing to recover their seats in the Wizengamot. They can treat us however they like and the Wizengamot can't do anything about it." Teddy turned serious. "The laws are different now. Your memories can send them back to Azkaban." Flora's eyes scanned his face. "And if they get away with it?" Teddy shook his head. "They won't. Mom hates people who hurt kids. If she can charge them with a crime, she will. If she can't, she will find another way. I promise you." Hestia pulled his head back to her. "How can you be sure?" Deciding it was fair to trust them if he wanted them to trust his Mom, he looked at them both. "Don't repeat this to anyone."
Hestia and Flora stared at each other and nodded, answering in stereo. "We won't." Teddy sighed. "Lockhart. Mom took care of Lockhart." The Twins blinked at him a few times before their mouths broke into smiles. "Ok. We will trust her." Hestia leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, noble Hufflepuff." Flora kissed his other cheek. "A Lion in the Badgers' Den indeed." The Twins took off and left as Teddy's face and hair were cycling colors. He felt a handkerchief cleaning his cheeks and blushed as Astoria glared at him. "Must you be such a gentleman?" Teddy nodded. "I don't want to be the type of person that has hurt my family before. If I can help people who need it, I will." Astoria stuffed her handkerchief away and searched his eyes. "Try not to let all this go to your head. You are cuter as a Badger, not as a Gryffindor." Astoria kissed his cheek and walked away, leaving a stunned Teddy behind. After checking with Nova, he found his Mom with Dora cleaning out their dismantled firearms, Dora looking a bit frustrated. Hazel turned to him with concern. "You ok?" Teddy shook his head. "Mom, how do I get girls to stop kissing my cheeks?" He watched as Dora started laughing hysterically while his Mom banished her wandlessly, making Dora fall onto her back with a thud. She kept laughing. Hazel conjured a seat for him after silencing her partner. "Ok, tell me what happened."
-∞-
Remus rubbed his face as he made his way to the DADA class room on the third floor. While the current class was being handled by Hazel due to his latest full moon transformation, the one a few minutes afterwards was his since it was a written test. So he dragged his feet up the stairs and reached the classroom door. He had a split second to react to a spell aimed his way, but he managed to dodge it, a ball of snow manifesting as it impacted the wall just behind him. A lot of voices groaned in disappointment as a familiar one yelled out to him. "Get in Professor and hug the wall after you shut the door." He did as he was told as he watched the students line up again, casting shields. " Viburnum. " A light blue spell shot from Hazel's wand and slammed into one of the shields. He watched as the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs deflected the ball back and forward, casting and recasting the shields repeatedly. As soon as he was behind Hazel he watched her cast the spell again. The fifth year students kept deflecting the spell to the other side of the room, those getting tired switching out with other students. A third spell was added to the mix. He watched the balls of blue light hit the walls a few times but the walls were clearly spelled to reflect magic as well. One errant spell was directed towards him and Hazel reached out and batted it back in with her wand, adding another spell for good measure.
The back and forward continued with only a few errant spells aimed their way but eventually the clocks shimmed a warning. Hazel waved her wand dismissively and the entire room's enchantments, shields and spells were dispelled. "All right everyone. Since the only people who were hit by a snowball were victims of their own teammates' questionable deflection." Hazel stared at the Weasley Twins who tried to give her the most innocent look possible. "Messers Weasley, I raised my son throughout his whole life. You have no chance of earning my sympathy with such a plebeian attempt at a wounded puppy look. I have seen better." The classroom laughed as the Twins pouted before Hazel turned back to the rest. "Since the goal of the exercise was to hit the opposing team, let's call this day's exercise in practical magic a draw. 35 points total to both houses for an excellent display of a deflective shield charm and how to use it properly. Please read chapters 17-20 in your textbooks. 17 and 18 will likely require you to have a practical demonstration on the casting of the deflective hex charm ward, so practice that. After which I am certain your DADA Professor will cover the finer details on the theories behind detection charms as outlined in chapters 19 and 20."
The students left the classroom chatting with each other as Hazel waved her wand, reconfiguring the classroom with its desks and chairs. Remus looked on with clear admiration. "Are you interested in taking the job? Those students would probably prefer you over me." Hazel eyed the man. "I think Madam Bones would resign if I did that. She finds my methods a bit too effective. Anyways, while Defence is an interesting subject, I am the last person next to Snape who should teach it." Remus frowned. "Why you two?" Hazel chuckled. "Because Snape may be a little less of a Death Eater, at least by my observations this year, but he is still enamored of the Dark Arts. It'd be like putting an alcoholic in charge of a bar." Remus nodded. "I see your point. What about you?" Hazel blinked. "You don't know much about the Peverell family, do you? I am a poster child for what we are, and that was before I took the name. We might hunt Dark Wizards and Witches but we don't care about using any and all magics in our arsenal. I am a Dark Witch, I just aim my wand at the others who can't take a hint. The class would be less Defence and more Dark Arts." Remus shuddered at the power in her words as she spoke them. "Well, as a Dark Witch, any idea how to lift the supposed curse on the position?"
Hazel summoned her jacket, slipped her arms through the sleeves and dug into her pockets. She brought out an apple and started munching on it. "Already did." Remus looked up from his notes. "What?" Hazel pointed up to the ceiling and he looked up. The skeleton of a dragon hanging from the ceiling certainly looked scorched and blackened. Hazel bit more into her apple and munched away. "Quirrell apparently had all his lessons in the first floor classrooms. He completely ignored the practical aspect of the class, which this room is better suited for. I felt a bit of curse magic trying to latch on to me in class and I traced it to the skeleton. A bit of cursed flame that devours magic and no more DADA curse." Remus blinked at the skeleton before looking at her. "Just like that?" Hazel gave him a toothy grin. "To be fair to our predecessors, all dragon remains have traces of magic on them. Good old Voldemort picked his hiding place well. All scans of the room would have detected the cursed object but the dragon skeleton would have shielded it or they simply dismissed it as a false positive from the magic in the dragon bones and ignored it. I only noticed it now since this is the longest I have been in the classroom here."
Remus rubbed his face and looked at her. "Am I…?" Hazel flicked her wand and Remus shivered. She finished her apple before vanishing the core. "A bit hard to see with Lycanthropy in your system, but there is residue of it. Your own curse probably fought it. It should dissipate in time, but I'd suggest you go see Pomfrey. I'll fill her in so she can give you the proper counter to it." Remus nodded. "I will do that. Thank you." Hazel blinked at him. "Oh, don't thank me. I just gave you a bigger headache than the curse ever was. You're the one who has the distinction of potentially breaking the streak of one academic year Defence professors. If the students of the entire school who Snape has been training to spot a werewolf don't write about your condition to their parents, you will have the responsibility to keep the class going for the rest of your career. So, no pressure." Remus shook his head. "You could take it, you know?" Hazel waved at him. "Nope. I love my real job, though I wouldn't mind having McGonagall's class. Acceptable OWL score my ass!" The door of the classroom slammed shut as Hazel left, leaving Remus sighing as he looked up at the skeleton. He shook his head and gathered his notes for the next class, his mind on the possibility of doing this another year.
-∞-
A spread of five lances struck the conjured wall in the center of the Chamber of Secrets as Dora watched her partner practice. The Enchantment Division of the Depart of Mysteries had finally managed to unravel the Enchantments on the maps and was able to copy them onto another parchment. They also sent one of the Enchanters to the Castle to adjust them, adding the Chamber of Secrets, its long and winding tunnels and an indicator for the Room of Requirement. While they wouldn't be able to open the room without excessive force, they would now be able to see who entered it, with the map logging the names of the people inside. So Dora kept watch on the copy they received as a test while Hazel practiced her spellwork. Hazel stopped for a second as she dispelled the spears and repaired the transfigured wall. She tapped her index finger on her lips before she grinned. A flick of her hand and six metal spears impaled themselves into the wall. She focused her magic and casted a spell that latched onto the spears. Arcs of red light jumped across from each spear as the air crackled before Hazel ended it. Dora sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Please tell me that wasn't the torture curse."
Hazel's silence served as the answer she needed and Dora pulled her partner to her. Those green eyes focused on her brown eyes. "Why?" Hazel hummed. "Because at one point we are going to be facing more than just criminals and Death Eater fodder. We will have the Inner Circle to deal with. When that happens, the primary order will be to take them down." Dora searched her girlfriend's eyes. "Not for Sirius?" Hazel shook her head. "No. Not for Sirius. I am not planning on breaking my orders, Dora. He's technically yours to catch. My orders are Pettigrew and the safety of the Castle. I can do those without resorting to Unforgivables. For now, anyway." Dora smiled and kissed her. "Ok. Just wanted to make sure. Can I have a go and you can watch the map?" Hazel nodded and conjured her old sofa before summoning the map to her. Dora pouted. "Of course you get the comfy sofa." After receiving a stinging hex to her rear, Dora got started on casting while Hazel flicked her wrist absentmindedly while watching the map. She was saddened to hear her own map was incompatible with the school's wards. It simply had too many inconsistencies with the actual Hogwarts of this world.
Dora switched from curses to Conjurations but she tired out quickly. "You make it look so easy." Hazel looked up and noticed the arrows sticking out of the walls. "I suppose it is easier for me. I spent years as a kid dreaming of bigger and better things. Grand beds, tall ceilings and large yards. As I got older, I started adding details to my dreams. Dark thick curtains on a four poster bed to block out the sun. A library filled with books from all across the world. A garden with a solarium where I could sit and watch the snow fall while I remained comfortable. Sometimes I even had a pool inside the solarium." Dora hummed. "Sounds nice. Working on that?" Hazel blushed. "Maybe. Still focused on finding plots of land that are worth it. The Peverell Estate became Potter Manor and while the place is somewhat abandoned, it's still Harry's house. So I am looking elsewhere, maybe near the Potter grounds. Somewhere we could start building. I at least want it done by the time Teddy graduates. Don't get me wrong, the apartment is great and all, but I want to leave Teddy a proper legacy. Anyways, having an active imagination seemed to have helped me and my conjurations be more than effective. Since my mind is so detail oriented, I can just apply it to Conjuration and transfiguration easily enough. When it's a simple design, it's almost instantaneous."
After completing the last of her spellcasting exercises, Dora joined Hazel on the couch. "Do I get a say in this new house of yours?" Hazel eyed Dora carefully. "When you manage to put a ring on my hand." Dora stilled. She stared at Hazel who went back to check the map. Her mind started shifting constantly, as did her hair. Marriage. She had now been in a relationship with Hazel for a full year. So far, she had no complaints. Sure, Hazel was a bit bloodthirsty at times and she had those moments where she was clearly depressed from her memories acting up, but she had no doubts she cared deeply about her. But was Dora in love with her? Enough to marry her and call her her wife? A part of her was thrilled at the idea but there was still a part of her that was curious, especially as Hazel constantly warned her that she was only seeing a part of who Hazel was, not the whole. She had stopped Hazel at the New Years and she meant what she said. She wasn't afraid. Not about losing her feelings for Hazel. Never that. But she was afraid that Hazel would push her away. What they had was amazing and wonderful. She never wanted it to end.
Dora found herself pinned to the back of the sofa as Hazel straddled her. "Did I scare you off yet?" Dora looked at the concern in Hazel's eyes. Sighing, she allowed her own eyes to shift to purple before staring at her, she felt Hazel's mood shift and she smiled. "Nope. Just don't think I am ready for that. Not yet." Hazel smiled and nodded. "And I am ok with that. We have quite a few years to get closer to each other. As for the planned house… maybe I am adjusting it to match your tastes. Just a bit. I meant what I said, though. If you want any true, permanent input on my family's life, you are going to have to put a ring on my finger and mean it." Dora nodded. "Got it." Hazel got up from Dora's lap and Dora pouted. Hazel smirked at her, walking away towards the entrance of the Chamber as she summoned the map. "Come on, Partner. We got some patrols to do and more tests of the map." Dora watched as Hazel made sure her steps gave a noticeable sway to her rear. Dora groaned. "Really? Now?" Hazel smiled at her. "Yes now. Come on, the fourth floor isn't going to patrol itself. There are quite a few broom closets to check. A few might even be warded excessively. Who could have done that, I wonder." Dora's mind froze as a smile grew on her face. She could happily say she had the best partner ever.
Notes:
So, how was it? A bit of Remus bashing, but the man deserved it. I didn't go into more detail on the fire arms part because my knowledge of firearms is limited to movies and Mythbusters (the originals). Any firearms experts, please forgive my ignorance.
Next Chapter?: the burden of memory
Here we are. I actually managed to write four whole scenes in two days! Wohoo! I also extended the story to now be completed on chapter 70, since the end felt a little rushed. All the scenes are still outlined, so I just have to write them, which currently number 6 chapters left. Sadly, bad weather might delay my ability to write. If I am abscent from my next post, blame it on weather. Hope you all stick around, though. Next chapter is a heavy one. I had to stop writing it because of how it affected me the first time. There will be a warning in the begining, but I wanted you all to be ready. Memory is, after all, a wonderful but cruel thing.
Leave a comment, discuss and see you all in three days. Hopefully.
Chapter 34: Confronting DemonsNotes:
Here is the next chapter. Hope you like it. Fair warning, the first scene is brutal. if you want to avoid it and deal with the aftermath, skip to the NW scene afterwards.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
OW May 1994
Hazel stepped out of the Potions classroom, exhausted from another detention with Snape. The bastard tried to get her to clean up several tanks of leeches, well beyond the amount he usually had anyone clean. Hazel was glad he never specified that he wanted the remaining leeches alive or at all, only the tanks cleaned out. A few wandless vanishing spells, a whole lot of insults and curses about her dead father, and the evening was wasted away. Checking her pocket watch, Hazel noted it was time for curfew. The bastard had held her enough that she was sure to be caught. Head Boy Weasley would be so delighted to award her more detentions if he found her. Joy. She sighed as she returned her watch to her pocket, thinking about summoning her Invisibility Cloak to her hand, when she felt someone was looking at her. She hardly got a chance to cast a shield before she lost consciousness. The moment her mind registered something new, her first thought was that she was seriously getting tired of waking up in unexpected locations. Sure, this was the second time it happened, but that didn't mean she didn't feel like it could become a bad habit. Her thoughts were interrupted when she suddenly felt every nerve of her body light on fire. She screamed in agony, even if a part of her mind knew it wasn't as bad as it had been last year. Still, the difference from getting her blood boiled to getting her nerves to register intense pain seemed rather moot.
The pain receded as she heard a man laughing. "Oh, I have been waiting years to do that. I did wonder who you would have sounded more like. Sure you are a girl, so maybe you sound like Lily, but maybe James would scream the same way. I mean, my master called dibs on them, especially after you were marked for death, but that didn't mean I never fantasized about it. Let's hear that pretty voice of yours again, shall we? Crucio! " Hazel screamed again, even as she retained some control of her arms she turned around onto her stomach before the pain ended. A hand grabbed her shoulder and Hazel conjured a blade into her palm and slashed at him as he turned her around, cutting into his arm. The man cursed. "Oww! What's this, little Bambie has claws? Let me fix that. Crucio! " Hazel tried to fight the pain, holding her scream in, as she felt her body shaking severely. The pain ended and a man's face came into view. Those grey eyes looked down at her, filled with a mad joy. His lower jaw was covered in a bushy and unkept beard, mustache and all. His teeth were yellowish and a bit crooked. "Still alive, Bambie? That's what your dad called you, you know. Man must have forgotten how the movie went or he would have known it was a terrible nickname idea."
Sirius Black laughed at his own joke as he straightened himself out. Hazel tried to focus her magic on her hand before a boot came crashing onto her clenched fist. He pressed hard until bones popped and Hazel whimpered. "Now, none of that. I checked you, you know. You didn't have a blade on you. A conjurer at thirteen? And wandless to boot? James would have been proud." He slammed his foot down on her other hand, breaking even more of her fingers. He sighed happily. "That's better. Can't have you spoiling my fun, Bambi. You did that a lot, you know? I have no bloody idea where you slept but it was nowhere I could find and I thought I knew every inch of the castle. I Imperiused quite a few kids but none of them could find you. Setting you up by sending Malfoy's brat to fight with you was at least entertaining. The boy may be close to being my nephew but man do I hate his father. Always so… pompous. Like his peacocks." Sirius leaned over her face, smirking at her. "Have you seen them? Big albino ones. Bet they'd taste great with a side of gravy." Hazel lunged up and smashed her head into his skull. He reared back. "Oww! There is that Evans temper. You sure you aren't a redhead? My favorite memory from our third year was watching Evans kick James in the balls."
The man laughed as he cast the Torture Curse on Hazel again who fought the effects better, even as her body was shaking uncontrollably. "God, James was bitter for weeks. Still, we both know he still had a working set of balls or you wouldn't be here, now would you?" Sirius looked up at the sky, taking in a calming breath, before looking at the Castle. "Look at them, safely in bed while you suffer out here in the cold. I'd say that your Godmother might save you, but I haven't seen her at all, not since I missed you in Surrey." Hazel gritted her teeth as he cast another Cruciatus at her. She cried as the pain seemed to dull her ability to think at all. She wanted it to be over. Sirius stopped the curse and smiled down at her. "Want to know a secret? Dementors are quite nasty but as an animal they leave you alone. We both got through the bars of Azkaban that way. A bit easier for her but much harder for me. I actually starved myself. Not my most pleasant idea but it worked. Because here I am and here they come." Hazel felt the cold settle into her skin as the grass got covered in frost as soon as he finished his sentence. Sirius smiled down at her. "Now lie there and look pretty, little Bambi. I want to see how Britain mourns their saviour as her soulless body is taken to St. Mungos. Do try and make your last seconds interesting."
She watched the man turn into a familiar looking coyote and rush some distance away as the Dementors descended from the sky. She really hated the sight of them. She heard her own screams in her head as one after another the Dementors fed from her. She knew it was the end when the last one grabbed her throat. She closed her eyes and prayed it would be quick. She had hated her life up to this moment. Her only regrets were that she wouldn't be able to say goodbye to Hedwig and Isabella. More than that she regretted never getting to meet her Godmother. To know the one person that actually seemed to care about her. A single tear slipped from her eye as she felt her mind go black. She felt stuck in an empty void, her very being fading away. The feeling vanished as a loud voice intruded into her thoughts. " Expecto Patronum! " The void vanished and was replaced with an all consuming warmth. Her eyes felt heavy as she tried to open them but the bright light made her close them quickly again. She heard explosions, an animal's yelp and trees falling down before thin fingers rubbed her face. Hazel dared to open her eyes and swore she saw an angel. She had warm grey eyes, a thick mane of bushy hair and a smile. She felt tears impact her face. "You're ok now, my sapling. You're ok. He's gone now. Come on. Let's get you back inside where it's safe." Hazel looked into those grey eyes and smiled softly.
…
"I am here, my sapling. Don't worry, we will get you out of here." Hazel blinked in confusion. This felt… wrong. " Avada Kedavra! " Hazel felt her heart shatter as she watched her Godmother vanish into the Veil. She tried reaching out, going to her, but someone pulled her away from the Veil. "No…" her mind saw her Godmother smiling at her before kissing her head. "Please… No…" She heard a man laugh as she felt her legs collapse beneath her. Her vision was clouded by tears that slipped down her cheeks. "No…"
…
Her Godmother hugged her as they were getting ready to return to Hogwarts after New Years at Grimmauld Place. "Don't worry. We will be a family soon." Hazel hugged her back. "Promise?" Her Godmother kissed her hair. "I promise."
…
Hazel screamed at the top of her lungs as she stared at the empty archway. "Bella!!!!!!!!" She fell forward, digging her fingers into the ground. "You promised." Tears dripped beneath her, darkening the dirt and stone. "You promised! You said we would be a family. You promised!!!!" A man laughed at her pain, his voice echoing in the large chamber despite the curses and hexes flying everywhere. "I killed Bellatrix Black! I killed Bellatrix Black!" Hazel's felt as if her broken heart stopped beating and her muscles tensed. With a guttural growl she lunged forward, elbowing the person trying to pull her back in the face and chased after the man. Sirius looked over his shoulder and laughed as he ran away from her, leaving the Death Chamber behind. "You coming to get me, Bambi? What did my dear cousin promise you again? A family? Didn't I tell you? James made a bad choice picking that name. Bambi doesn't get to have a mother."
Hazel tasted blood in her mouth as the man dared to laugh at her again. She swung her wand at him, filling it with all of her pain. Every last shred of it. " Crucio! " The mad bastard screamed in agony as the Torture Curse caused him to fall midstep. She looked over him, feeding him every ounce of her pain, even as she felt it trying to consume her. The man punched the ground repeatedly but his screams turned to laughter as the curse dissipated. "Would you look at that! There is some Black in you after all. Do it again! Come now Bambi, you know you want to."
She hears a voice in her head. Do it. He killed her. He deserves to suffer for it. Hazel grinded her teeth. " Crucio !" Sirius screamed again, equal parts pain and pleasure. He laughed to himself as the curse faded. "Again. Show me you were worthy to be a Black!" Hazel screamed. "Crucio!"
The voice returned as Hazel's mind thought about another spell to use on him. Yes. You know the spell. He deserves it. Avenge her death. Finish it . Her Godmother's face flashed before her eyes, smiling at her as they danced around a small bonfire at a beach. They tripped and fell onto the sand and Bella laughed. Her memory faded and was replaced by grey eyes just like her Godmother's staring up at her, filled with madness and misplaced joy. "Ahh, just like mother on the weekends. Again, Again!"
…
"You'll be my mother?" Bellatrix smiled at Hazel and kissed her hands, the two lying down on her Godmother's bed, a warm fire lighting the room sporadically. "Yes. Once the Blood Adoption is done. I'll be your mother."
…
Hazel's eyes filled with tears. Her Godmother's smile vanished again, replaced by Sirius Black's. Magic filled her wand as her mind faded to black.
" Avada Kedavra ."
-∞-
NW April 1994
Dora was startled awake in her bed as Hazel screamed at her side. Her partner covered her face with her hands as tears leaked out from between her fingers. "You promised. You promised! You said you'd be my mother! YOU PROMISED!" Dora pulled Hazel to her, trying to wake her up. "Hazel. Stop. It's only a dream. Stop." Dora hugged Hazel to her as her girlfriend thrashed and screamed in agony. She had no idea what to do. She briefly considered stunning her until the bedroom door was thrown open and Teddy rushed in. "Mom!" Teddy hugged his mother from the front. "Mom! Mom! It's Teddy. Snap out of it! Please!" Dora watched as Hazel's limbs dropped as if she were a puppet whose strings were just cut. Teddy reached up and cupped his Mom's face. Her eyes were filled with so much pain. "Mom! Please. Wake up!" Hazel seemed to look around the room, her eyes empty of anything until they landed on Teddy. They started filling up with tears again, even as Teddy smiled at her. "It's ok Mom. You're awake now. It's ok." Hazel hiccupped as Dora softened her hold on her. Hazel lifted her hands up and rubbed her eyes and cheeks, trying to clear out her tears.
Hazel remained in a daze as Dora placed her back on the bed before sighing. She looked at Teddy. "I've never seen her like this." Teddy looked down. "It's usually on the night before the Summer Solstice when it gets this bad. But sometimes it happens earlier or not at all if she is too busy." Teddy felt his mom's fingers rubbing his hair and he turned to her. She searched his eyes. "I woke you up, didn't I? Through the bond." Teddy hugged her and she wrapped her arms around him. "It's ok, Mom. You needed me. I'm here. That's all that matters." Hazel breathed deeply before turning to Dora. "Sorry for waking you up like that." Dora leaned over and hugged them both. "You told me you had issues. I knew what I was getting into. You don't have to apologize for that." Hazel rested her head against Dora's and breathed deeply again. The three remained that way as they all fell asleep until morning. Dora sat up on the bed, yawned as she stretched out her limbs and looked over at the pair sleeping while sitting up on the headrest. She smiled at the sight, even as she hated what brought it into being. She slipped into the apartment and called on the Hogwarts elves to prepare breakfast as she eyed the clock. It was time for Breakfast at the Great Hall but a bit later than usual. Teddy would likely miss out on his first class if he had to walk down the stairs.
She looked back into the room and found Hazel and Teddy chatting away. "Astoria is still saying I am hers, even though she denies it in front of the twins." Hazel chuckled. "Do I need to scare her away?" Teddy shook his head. "No. She'll just keep teasing me more. I can handle her." Hazel kissed his hair. "Ok, but the invitation stands. Any girls or boys give you too much trouble and I will deal with them." Teddy nodded. He turned to Dora and smiled. "Breakfast?" Dora smiled back. "It's ready." Teddy left the room quickly as Hazel slowly got out of bed. Dora frowned. "Are you going to be ok?" Hazel nodded slowly, almost mechanically. Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper. "Yeah. Sorry if I may be a bit distant today." Dora kissed Hazel on the cheek. "You tell me what you need and I will get it for you, ok?" Hazel kissed her back gently. "Kay." Teddy ate his scrambled eggs. "Still not as good as yours, Mom." Hazel smiled, even if it was a bit faint. "Don't worry, you will have all of summer for me to spoil your pallet again." Dora groaned. "I swear, how is it you can cook better than the elves?" Hazel chuckled. "Because I had two elves teach me how they cooked. I learned from them what elves do for cooking and improved it."
Dora shook her head as she drank her coffee. "Of course you did." The alarm ward on the door tripped and Hazel looked over. "Enter." Pomona walked in as the door opened for her. "Morning you three." Hazel nodded. "Morning. Did my son cause you trouble last night? If he did, I will take the blame. He probably shot out of the basement to get to me." Pomona looked at Teddy. "Well, not shot out exactly. He was in his dorm room when his familiar appeared and whisked him away, scaring his roommates a bit." Hazel sighed. "Nova." A white light filled the room followed by a soft shrill. Nova landed on Hazel's shoulder, who raised up her hand and stroked the bird's chest plumage. "Thank you for bringing him here." Nova nodded before it flew to her perch and dug into her plate of food. Hazel turned to the curious Professor. "Again, my apologies. I had a bit of an emergency last night and my son sensed it. Magic has bound us together and he is aware of certain incidents of mine, regardless of my own desires to keep him out of them." Pomona looked at the boy and smiled. "I see. There won't be any penalties for this incident, considering the circumstances." Pomona turned to Hazel. "You've been quite honest with me and it's clear you aren't well right now. If this happens again, send me a message as soon as you can so I am not overly worried."
Hazel nodded. "Will do and thank you for your concern and understanding. Others in your position aren't as interested in the reasons. Only in the rules." Sprout gave her an understanding look. "Believe me, I am aware. I do what I can for my students. It's only right. Same as you, I believe. My Badgers have been quite happy with you and your lessons." Hazel blushed softly. "Thank you." Teddy finished his meal and stood up, taking his drink with him. He kissed his mom on the cheek. "Take care, Mom." Hazel kissed him back on his head. "You too. See you at dinner." Hazel watched Teddy and the Professor leave the Apartment and sat down, drinking her coffee. Dora stood up. "I've got the first patrol. You rest up." Hazel's voice stopped her just as she grasped the doorknob. "Nymphadora." Something inside of her melted. She'd never heard her full name spoken with such warmth. She turned around and was pulled into a hug by Hazel. Dora could feel slight tremors from her partner. "Remember what I said at New Years?" Dora hugged her back and nodded. "I do." Hazel's voice turned so soft, Dora felt it was the voice of a little girl. "Please. If you promise me something. Don't break it. Please." Dora kissed Hazel warmingly on the cheek. "I promise I will try my best to never do that to you. Ever."
-∞-
"Wait, Dumbledore tried to ban the use of your Familiar?" Teddy slumped back into his seat at the Quidditch stands. The game today was a rematch of Ravenclaw and Slytherin as the two losing teams were vying for third and fourth place. While Gryffindor had won the cup, the Hufflepuffs had taken it well. They had feared Harry would use his rumoured new Firebolt for the game, but Teddy's cousin decided against it. Despite some complaints from the Gryffindors, Harry trusted his Nimbus 2000 and felt it was the right broom for the game. The Hufflepuffs had taken his gesture well, even as the Chasers for the Gryffindor Team showed everyone what a well organized trio was like. Unlike before, the final game was decided by the Seekers. Both Harry and Cedric took a more team oriented approach in the game, breaking Chaser formations, blocking Beater and Keeper lines of sight. They shot off to try and catch the Snitch whenever they could. Harry even managed to drag Cedric into a wild goose chase, much to their amusement. Harry, at least, got Cedric back for their first game. Flying dangerously close to the ground he managed to catch the Snitch, ending the game with a massive point victory for Gryffindor.
Teddy, for his part, was happy his housemates and Harry were getting along. Today was a clear example of that as Cedric was sitting together with him, the Weasley Twins and Harry while they waited to hear the end result of the runner up game. Teddy nodded. "He tried to use some rule about students having dangerous Familiars on the grounds as an excuse. Mom took the matter to the Board directly and while they didn't like me having a free pass to leave the school, Mom proved that Nova was my Familiar. Dumbledore tried to force through a condition that Nova wasn't allowed to transport anyone or anything in or out of the castle but mom countered by applying it to Fawkes as well." Cedric shook his head. "Right, because it wouldn't be fair for one phoenix to have free reign while the other one was essentially shackled. How did he take it?" Teddy laughed, deciding it was best not to correct him about what Nova really was. No one but family needed to know. "Not well. He tried to claim it was a privilege of the school and his position as Headmaster, but my Mom made it clear that a Headmaster's privileges were administrative. They had nothing to do with infringing the rights of the students who happen to be chosen by Familiars of a magical variety. She pulled out a clause in the Charter that actually guaranteed my right to Nova since the pairing of a Witch or Wizard with a Magical Creature in a Familiar bond bypasses any laws, including the safety one, unless the student actively orders the Familiar to harm another student."
The Weasley Twins shook their heads. "Scary Auror got one over the Headmaster. That's just rich. Right, George?" George snorted. "Right, Fred. I bet you Mom is fuming. She's been a supporter of Dumbledore for years." Cedric looked back to the game, wishing to steer away from that conversation. "There was talk that Bulgaria might make it to the Finals this year. Their new Seeker is apparently one of the best in the world. Still in Durmstrang too. A seventh year this September." He turned back to the others. "Are you all coming to the World Cup Finals? I know my Dad got the Weasleys the tickets." The Twins looked between each other and turned back. "If that's true, then probably. Mom won't come but maybe we can get Charlie to dig himself out of the Dragon Reserve to watch it. Only thing that gets his blood flowing other than Dragons is Quidditch." Cedric and the twins turned to Teddy and Harry. Teddy looked towards the edge of the field where his Mom was keeping an eye out for trouble. "Mom doesn't like Quidditch but she might let me come among friends. She will probably get to run security there too. Also, I would love to meet your brother Charlie. I want to hear what Dragons he has in the Reserve." Harry hummed. "If Teddy can come, I'll probably come along. The only Tonks that like Quidditch are Dora and Ted so they may come too. Though if Hazel gets tapped for security, Dora might be stuck working."
The boys watched as Cho caught the snitch, ending the game for Ravenclaw. Cedric shook his head. "Poor Slytherin. Second year in a row they got wrecked." Harry snorted. "Please. Malfoy deserves it. He has the reflexes and skills for a Chaser, not a Seeker. I feel bad for Theo. He worked hard to get on the team and it's not much better." Cedric watched as Hazel summoned the weather control disc from the pitch and they felt the weather shift back to the slightly colder temperature that they started with. "Think your Mom will stick around for next year, Teddy? The school has been great with her around." Teddy looked over as Hooch and his Mom chatted as they exited the pitch. "I don't know. Mom usually has a lot of training hours and gets called out to do jobs a lot. This year has been a bit more quiet. She thinks the whole Sirius Black manhunt has sent the Dark Witches and Wizards to ground. No one wants to get caught causing trouble while the Dementors are out of Azkaban." Everyone shivered, especially Diggory. "Yeah. I can see that happening. Even the magical creatures have been quiet. Dad thinks the Dementors have an effect on them, even if they don't get targeted. He and the DRCMC are writing an article about that." A soft shrill pierced the air before Nova and Hedwig landed on Teddy and Harry's shoulders.
Teddy rubbed his familiar chest feathers. "Good flight?" A pleasant shrill escaped her beak and Cedric looked over with a smile. "She's beautiful. Dad would give a lot to study her." Teddy shook his head. "She doesn't like being treated like a specimen to be observed. When we registered her as a Familiar, she was added to a protective registry. Mom's worried people might try to figure out how her magic works. Get wards up, make cages and stuff like that. The ICW has a rule about keeping Phoenixes and a few other high tier Magical Creatures protected from scrutiny or observation beyond just behavioural studies." Cedric smiled and nodded. "I suppose you are right. It would be wrong to bind them somewhere, especially when they aren't dangerous." The group was just about to enter the castle when a voice called out his name. "Come back here, Ted. I know it was you!" Teddy saw Astoria rushing towards as the older students turned to him. "What'd you do?" Teddy blushed. "I might have sent The Carrow Twins chocolates on their birthday. They may have been teasing Astoria about that all day." Harry shoved his cousin on the back playfully. "Might want to run. Nova isn't going to save you for something like this." Teddy rushed into the castle as Nova flew behind him while the older students watched Astoria chase after him. Cedric turned to Harry. "Any bets on if she catches up to him?" Harry shook his head. "Nope. I am not getting Hazel mad at me for that."
-∞-
"So, any plans for summer?" Hazel looked up from the map that sat on the dining table in their shared chamber. She turned pensive. "Not sure. We have the World Cup coming up, The Triwizard Tournament and we still have to do more firearms training. We are a bit busy, Dora." Dora pouted. "Oh, come on. We've been stuck in Scotland for most of the year already. We could use a day away, let alone a few weeks. Mom and Dad used to take me down to France in the summers." Hazel tapped her fingers on the table as checked the map again. "Ok. Say we get a week or two out from under Horatio's watch. Where do we go exactly? France?" Dora hummed. "There is the Canary Islands? The Azores? Hey, we could even get to the Caribbean. After a full year of Security Detail under the DMLE and our own payments from the missions, we are comfortable enough for it." Hazel eyed Dora. "Is there a reason most of your suggestions are known for hot sun and beaches?" Dora hummed and bit her lip playfully. "What, not interested in seeing me in a swimsuit?" Hazel stared at her partner. "Dora, if it weren't for Teddy dropping in at our apartment for lunch or dinner unannounced, you'd practically be a nudist." Dora blushed. "So?"
Hazel sighed and shook her head. "Ok, fine. We will plan an appropriate summer vacation. We will see if your parents and Harry can come along too." Dora pouted. "Not very romantic." Hazel sighed. "Right, so you don't want me to have readily accessible babysitters for the few times we can actually plan a romantic getaway for just the two of us." Dora blinked a few times in thought. "Ah. Right. Point taken. Yes to my family coming along then. Any chance I can get you to wear a dress? Maybe a bikini?" Hazel was about to reply when a name appeared at the edge of the wardline. Followed closely by another. She summoned Aithusa into her hand. "Dumbledore. Don't argue with me and lock down the wards for the perimeter. Black is on the school grounds. Send the students to their Dorms but keep the first and second floors accessible. We will seal them as we make our way down. Alert the Staff and the Prefects directly. We don't want to spook our fugitive." Her patronus flew as Dora and Hazel left their apartment on the third floor. Passing some students, Hazel raised her voice. "All of you back to your dorms or steer clear of the first and second floors. Now!"
Dora eyed the map as they approached one of the staircases down into the second floor, the students rushing past them. "They are in the Castle." Hazel summoned Aithusa again. "Lock the Castle down now. Keep the first and second floors open via the stairs, but lock the outer gates. We'll seal him in and take him down." Her second message sent, Hazel pulled out her own map. "Take the stairs to the first floor and chase after them. Switch into an animal if you have to. I'll follow them from above on the second floor and slip through the floor." Dora eyed her with concern. "Hazel." Hazel sighed. "The longer he stays as a dog, the longer I can avoid hurting him. Please. This is the fastest way to get them both alive. Trust me. If he is back to human form and I am looking at him, you have permission to stun me. Make sure you overpower it too." Dora leaned over and kissed Hazel's cheek. "Good luck." With Dora headed down the stairs to the first floor, Hazel followed the moving names on the map from above. She switched between the floors until her corridor and the one bellow overlapped. She watched the two Animagi take a corner and move towards her from below.
Wrapped in her Cloak and filled with her Family Magic, Hazel sunk into the floor. The high density of magic in the stone slowed her down a bit but eventually she was through. She conjured a massive wall behind her, sealing the hallway and started transfiguring the doors, making them into stone flushed with the walls. A final ward was added, creating a wall that was see-through and accessible from the other side. Only Dora and the targets could enter now. The two Animagi were trapped. Slightly amused by the dog chasing after the rat like a cat would as they crossed into her sealed area, Hazel banished the dog back before aiming for the rat. " Animalis Autem Homo. " The spell struck the rat and in its place sprung up a man. Hazel had to plug her nose with the stench coming off of him. The man turned to her and on seeing her jacket pointed to the dog. "It's him, Auror. Sirius Black! He's a mass murderer!" Hazel gave him a toothy grin. "Black will be dealt with. Question is, why are you still alive, Mr. Pettigrew? You've been dead for twelve years, yet here you are." Hazel flicked her wand and the man's entire right sleeve vanished away, revealing a particular tattoo. "My, my, Mr. Pettigrew. Why would the betrayer of the Potter's be hunting down a fellow Death Eater? Maybe because Black never was the traitor and the real one is the former Order member with a slave brand on his arm?"
Hazel summoned him to her and smashed his knee in with her boot. The man screamed as Hazel carved a Druidic Script sequence onto the back of his neck. " Bind this man to this form and no other. " The Blood Magic curse activated, eliciting a scream from the man and Hazel grinned. "And just like that, you won't be a rat ever again. Even if you did scratch out the carved flesh. The pain was the least you deserved." Hazel stunned him and allowed him to fall onto his face. "Couldn't agree more, Auror." Hazel turned around on instinct alone. Her eyes met Black's, now in human form again, and her mind snapped. She was no longer a witch in her late twenties. She was just fifteen. She watched Bella being struck by the Killing Curse before she vanished into the Veil right before her eyes again.
Closing her eyes, Hazel tried and failed to repress a sob, her ears filled with the noises of the dead. "I killed Bellatrix Black! I killed Bellatrix Black!" Lost in the memory and filled with decades of pain, Hazel growled as she raised her wand at the man. "Cruc-" Dora's voice silenced her. " Stupefy !" Dora stared at the limp body of her Partner as it got launched into the wall that was behind her. She breathed heavily and turned to a clearly confused Sirius. "Damn it, Sirius. You couldn't wait? You couldn't hold your tongue for just one more bloody minute? Mom was right, you just had to have the last word, didn't you?" Dora flicked her wand and summoned her rabbit patronus. "R2 to BM. P1 and P2 are secured. Send in the retrieval team, but contact HM first. Castle is in lockdown. Also… I might have stunned R1. At her request." Horatio's response came a few minutes later as a large patronus in the form of an eagle landed right before her. "Extraction team on the way, R2. Secure your targets and R1."
-∞-
Andromeda entered the room with Horatio as Dora finished her debriefing with Croaker. "He took the Veritaserum and is confessing to all his dirty secrets. He made it clear that he wasn't a Death Eater or a Voldemort sympathizer, nor was he the real Secret Keeper. Peter was. Sirius is innocent. At least in that regard." Dora frowned as she looked between the two. "Why are you having Sirius reveal the rest of his secrets?" Horatio, his arms crossed, tapped his finger on his arm. "Standard policy. Just in case someone hides a lie with a partial truth. Andromeda checked him for Obliviations or Compulsions too. All clear. His Occlumency is shredded though, and his mind will need a lot of Healing." Andromeda did give her daughter a cheeky grin. "Besides, there were a few mean spirited pranks thrown my way at school. I needed to see how many of them were his doing." Dora shook her head. "A Black pays his or her debts." Andromeda smiled. "Exactly." Croaker cleared his throat. "Now that we have clear indication to Sirius Black's innocence and to the fact that we do indeed have a Black in our services, how about we return to business? Black's Veritaserum testimony and his mental evaluation will clear him before the Wizengamot, regardless how much gold Malfoy tries to throw around. With Black as the Lord Apparent, Malfoy's chances of securing the Black wealth for his son are gone. He will lose a lot of the Traditionalist support too."
Dora looked at Horatio. "What about Pettigrew?" Horatio smirked. "Funny thing about the Death Eater laws. They might have adjusted them to protect everyone caught with a Death Eater mark, but only after they were caught. Standard Procedure with newly identified and marked Death Eaters was pretty clear. No interference and no outside contacts, with the assumption we are dealing with a murderer, until a day after the arrest. Add in the new laws that allow us to force a Veritaserum interrogation of any suspected murderers and we got ourselves a singing rat. We got quite a few bits of intel, including the potential whereabouts of Voldemort's wand. We will be sending a Curse Breaker Retrieval Team soon, though something tells me someone might have found it first, based on an observation of Pettigrew's concerning his last visit to the area." Dora shivered. "Better them than me." Andromeda looked to her daughter. "How's Hazel?" Dora blushed. "She's not mad about being stunned, except for getting caught off guard. I woke her up as soon as Alastor and Horatio dragged the two targets away. She chose to stay at the Castle." Croaker sighed. "A sensible decision, really. Her reaction, based on your testimony, was not the best." Dora nodded sadly. She turned to her boss. "Might I be excused to go back to her? Teddy might be comforting her but I am sure she could use the company. If only to keep her from murdering Dumbledore."
Croaker lifted an eyebrow. "You told her about his complaints about the retrieval of the second fugitive?" Dora shook her head. "No. Didn't seem like a good idea. I was worried she might redirect her frustration to another inviting target." Croaker opened a drawer and pulled out two identification badges. "Not a good idea indeed. Take these with you. Might settle her nerves a bit." Dora took them both and froze. "Are these… " Horatio smiled. "Your official notice. Congratulations, Operative. You are no longer a Recruit. Same for your partner." Croaker nodded. "We thought about giving them to you around December but Horatio wanted to do a longer observation. Your skills have improved a bit and Hazel has gotten better control over her impulses, the latest incident notwithstanding considering the circumstances. You will keep your callsigns until you find a suitable replacement. Now be on your way. We will deal with the DMLE from here." Dora hugged her Mom and thanked Horatio before she headed for the Apparition point. She bypassed the Hogwarts gate in her owl form and was surprised to see Hazel standing on the Astronomy Tower as she landed and shifted back to her human form. "Watcher Partner."
Hazel gave her a warm smile as she added privacy wards around them. "Watcher. I fixed the new wards in the Shrieking Shack. Since it's a modified ward, you and I have access, even under lockdown. We will see what happens when the Wardmaster Julia commissioned gets to work on the school's wards. If Dumbledore doesn't delay them further, that is." Dora nodded but frowned. "How are you feeling?" Hazel looked out over the stars. "Relieved. He was innocent, so giving him a taste of my Torture Curse at its full force would have been wrong. Thank you for stopping me." Dora moved in and hugged her. "Not a problem. Are you willing to tell me what your Sirius did now?" Hazel shuddered a bit. "On the Solstice. You might want to be ready, though. I am going to be at my worst. There is a reason I disappeared that day last year and left Teddy at your mom's house." Dora kissed Hazel's shoulder. "I'll be ready." Hazel turned around and Dora shifted her eyes back to purple. She wasn't comfortable with anyone seeing them except for Hazel, Teddy and her parents. Not yet at least. Hazel searched her eyes, looking for something. "I love you."
Dora blinked at her as her body flushed and grew exceedingly warm. She had wondered when she would know if she loved Hazel. Those thin fingers touched Dora' lips. "I don't expect you to answer if you are not ready. But I was ready to say it. You stunned me because it was the right thing to do. You could have let me torture him. You could have refused my plan. But you trusted me and you knew what was right. An innocent man will go free and a traitor will face justice. I can go down to the basement and look my son in the eye without any shame or regret because of you today. If being with you every day like this is my fate, I will gladly take it. I just needed you to know how I felt." Dora closed her eyes and felt Hazel's words sink into her heart. She felt so complete right now. Yes, there was that one nagging part of her mind that doubted but she hoped it would be silenced soon. She couldn't say the words and mean them. Not yet. But she could show her. "Hazel. Our Chambers. Now." That night she kept Hazel's arms bound. She hated not being able to say the words she knew her Partner deserved to hear. So she showed her. She showed her for hours what she meant to her. The next day, Hazel had been mute for its entirety, despite taking a Soothing Potion. The home cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner with notes attached to them, however, made Dora smile. Hazel had no regrets about Dora making her lose her voice. Not one.
Notes:
So, how was it? From the moment I wrote this series, I envisioned Bellatrix Black as the godmother for the story, especially with all the fun moments I had with her and Rhea's character in Blood and Magic. There will be more scenes with her and Hazel later on. Sadly, as anyone with trauma can attest, one single bad day can damage the memory of those we love most. Hazel's love of her Godmother was tainted by her death and the promise that would never come true. This chapter hurt a lot when I wrote it but it needed to be this way.
Next Chapter?: End of Term, Summer Solstice
Got a few more scenes done and added more details for the outlines. The weather issues weren't as bad here, but they still made for some uncomfortable evenings as the power fluctuated. Getting more ideas for my next project, though dreams when I sleep in hot temperatures are like fever dreams. Not pleasant at all.
Leave a comment, discuss and see you all in three days.