Swept From the Past

Chapter 6: Meeting in Grimmauld Place

Two weeks later, a meeting of the members of the Order of the Phoenix was set. A lot of people gathered at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place on this Saturday of early October. Most of the wizards chattered together animatedly, before the meeting started. There were the Weasleys, Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Severus Snape, Remus Lupin, and many other people. Some had joined the Order recently, when the Ministry of Magic had finally accepted the return of Voldemort.

They had chosen a large room downstairs to hold the meeting. Lupin sat on one of the chairs, lined up in rows, ready to hear Mad-Eye Moody's report. When Dumbledore arrived, and the portrait of Mrs. Black stopped yelling horrible things to people, the meeting started.

Moody's magical eye rolled once before the Auror started to speak. "Hmmm, er," Moody said awkwardly. "Before I start, maybe Professor Dumbledore would like to say something?"

"Actually," the Headmaster said, standing up in front of the assembly, "since this meeting has been planned at the last minute, I'd like to thank everyone in this room for having come tonight. I also would like to welcome the new wizards who joined us since the last meeting. Our combined efforts within the Order will have a great impact on the outcome of the war. But I think we should hear more about the latest events. Alastor?" Dumbledore invited Mad-Eye to continue, and returned to his chair.

"This morning," Mad-Eye said, "in spite of all the safety measures taken by the Ministry to reinforce the guard, the few Death Eaters remaining in Azkaban have escaped."

Many whispers could be heard in the room. Lupin sighed. It was very bad news, but it was predictable.

"There's something more serious," Mad-Eye continued. Everyone suddenly kept silent. "According to our information, the prison was attacked by just a few Death Eaters."

Lupin raised an eyebrow. Just a few Death Eaters?

"How's that possible?" Dedalus Diggle exclaimed. "There were at least fifty Aurors to guard the prison!"

"That's right, Dedalus," Moody replied. "That leads us to the main problem, Bellatrix Lestrange."

Lupin's heart pounded. He remembered Bellatrix Lestrange had killed Sirius. Ire grew inside of him, but he tried to repress his anger. This was not the time for such feelings. He had to focus on the speech.

"Bellatrix Lestrange?" Emmeline Vance asked.

"Bellatrix Lestrange," Moody repeated. "She has become very powerful since last June. She knocked out about thirty Aurors by herself."

Lupin shivered. She was already dangerous before, but she had never been that way! Now, she was a real threat to the Order!

"Thirty Aurors?" Hestia Jones asked, startled. "Thirty Aurors?" she repeated. "But...?"

"Dark Magic is a very complicated thing," Moody said. "I suppose you have all heard what happened in the Romanian monastery at the beginning of the holidays. There was something important there, something which could give its owner much more power than he would ever have: The Azure Stone."

There were a few whispers and questioning looks. Lupin didn't know what it was. They had talked briefly about the Romanian monastery during one of the meetings, but Dumbledore had never talked about the Azure Stone.

"Most of you have never heard about it," Moody continued. "You'd have to know about Dark Magic. The Stone was kept in a sacred place and couldn't be removed; otherwise, it would have lost its purity and its powers. Bellatrix Lestrange has practised a very difficult Dark Magic ritual and has absorbed the powers of the Azure Stone. Now she's more powerful than ever."

"I don't understand," Lupin said loudly, "if that stone gives such powers to its owner, why hasn't Voldemort used it on himself?"

Most of the wizards flinched, when they heard the name of the Dark Lord. Dumbledore stood up and went beside Moody.

"There's an ancient Prophecy," the Headmaster uttered. "Voldemort is aware of its existence. It says that 'The one who will absorb the Azure Stone will be defeated by the Heart of the Emerald.' Considering the previous problems Voldemort had with prophecies, I would venture to say that he was not ready to tempt fate again. But he was not ready to let such a weapon fall into our hands either. I suppose that's why he decided to give the power to Bellatrix Lestrange. He knows she can cause a lot of damage to our side."

"The Heart of the Emerald?" Sturgis Podmore asked. "What is it?"

"Well," the Headmaster replied, "That's what we have to discover. I have my idea, but I won't share it with you today. It's too early and I have to think a little more about it."

"Anyway," Moody said, "we wanted you all to be aware that Bellatrix Lestrange is a real threat to us. Watch out for her! Constant vigilance! She's not a simple adversary anymore."

***

The meeting ended an hour and a half later. The members of the Order spoke about their latest missions and organised their action plans.

Burns had silently entered the room several minutes after Mad-Eye Moody had started his speech. She had stayed in the back of the room and hadn't said anything during the whole meeting. At the end of it, she stood to leave as discreetly as she had entered. Lupin was speaking to Kingsley Shacklebolt and Mr. Weasley about the rights of werewolves. He stopped talking suddenly at the sight of her.

"It can't be possible!" he exclaimed. He was very moved. "Kat?" Instantly, he abandoned his usual reserve and he reached out toward her, as if greeting a long lost friend.

She didn't reply. She just looked at him, indifferent, stoic, as if he had no importance to her.

"Kat?" he repeated, worried about her reaction. "Fifteen years is a long time, but it's me, Remus."

"I'm sorry, but I don't know you," she replied.

"Kat... you... you remember me, don't you?" Lupin abruptly seized her hand, still covered by her black, leather gloves. "My friend... why do you reject me, Kat?" Lupin asked, more and more troubled. "Don't you remember? We were childhood friends... we were neighbours... and we... we were in Gryffindor together, the same year..." he said desperately.

"I... don't... know... you." She enunciated every word. Her message was unmistakable. "Now, leave me!" she ordered. He let go of her hand. "You are lucky I'm in a good mood," she added. "Next time you use this stupid name, I'll kill you," she continued. "My name is Captain Burns, and you should never forget it!"

She left the room.

Lupin was completely puzzled, as was Snape, who had seen what happened a few meters away.

"Why did she react like that?" Lupin asked the Potion Master. "I... I don't get it..."

"I didn't think she would do the same to you," Snape replied. "She told the class you were an amazing teacher. She... she has changed, Lupin." A painful expression quickly passed over his face.

"The class?" Lupin asked. "Do you mean that she teaches at Hogwarts?"

"She's the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," Snape replied coldly.

Lupin frowned. The Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher? Why hadn't Dumbledore informed him? Lupin felt agitated. He went directly to Dumbledore, followed by the Potions Master.

"Professor Dumbledore, may I ask you why you didn't tell me that Katarina Burns had come back?" Lupin demanded, annoyed.

"The Headmaster had also forgotten to mention that little detail to me," Snape added. "I discovered it after the Sorting Hat ceremony," he hissed.

Lupin stared at the Headmaster. How could he have hidden such a thing from them?

"And, as I explained you after the ceremony," Dumbledore replied, "I had my reasons not to tell you, Severus."

Snape didn't respond. His jaws were clenched. He was furious.

Dumbledore caught Lupin's gaze.

"And that is the same for you, Remus," Dumbledore continued.

"Professor Dumbledore," Lupin said finally. His anger towards the Headmaster faded. It didn't matter for the moment. He just worried about Katarina's reaction. "She threw me an icy stare..." he continued sadly. "I can understand why she doesn't want to speak to... er..." he said awkwardly. He cast a quick glance at Snape, who smirked. "... Well... but I... I didn't do anything to make her furious... I have never had problems with her," Lupin added.

"It's not you, Remus," the soft voice of Dumbledore replied. "You can't understand what happened to her. She's been like this for a long time. For fifteen years, now. Sirius told me she was different, but he had managed to communicate with her."

Snape raised en eyebrow.

"But now he's dead," the Headmaster continued, "things have accelerated."

"Explain yourself, Professor," Lupin asked, "Is she ill? Is she conscious of what she does?"

"I don't know, Remus. Honestly, I don't know. I have my theories. All that I know for sure is that her power... is strong... It's proportionate to the pain she feels, or felt. She takes a lot of risks in her missions, as I've heard. It's not surprising... At certain times, the desire for self-destruction can be very strong, and with such a subject..."

"She threatened to kill me!" Remus exclaimed, more and more worried. "She would have never done that before! Never..." he said with a sigh.

"Remus... she is different," Dumbledore said. "I don't know if we'll be able to save her..."

"Oh, stop it!!!" Snape shouted. "I don't want to hear this!!! It's... nonsense!!! Miss-Know-It-All won't die!!! She's too powerful for that!!! Too evil!!! Just... go to hell, all of you!!!" He turned suddenly, left the room, and slammed the door behind him.

"Do you think he still..." Remus asked.

"Oh, yes, he still..." Dumbledore responded. "He never stopped," he added with an amused smile.

***

The same evening, Harry and Ron were playing chess in the Gryffindor Common Room, when Hermione came back from the library.

"Fascinating!" she exclaimed, a heavy book in her hands. She abruptly sat on one of the armchairs in the Gryffindor Common Room, her eyes still stuck to the pages of her big volume.

Harry and Ron stared at each other, about to laugh. That was typical of Hermione.

"Er, Herm'..." Ron said finally, "Do you know that you are reading Hogwarts, a History? The same book you have been able to recite by heart for the last six years?"

"No, Ron," Hermione replied, "I'm reading the original version of Hogwarts, a History!"

"And what?" Ron asked, bored.

"Ron!" Hermione replied, exasperated. Ron could really get on her nerves these days. "Don't you know that the original editions are much more complete than the newer ones? There are things in it that I have never read! Things that most of people will never read! It's fascinating!"

"You already said that," Harry replied teasingly. "So, what have you discovered, that is so fascinating?"

"Don't ask her that, Harry!" Ron warned, "She won't be able to stop, if she starts!"

"Fine!" Hermione snapped. "I won't tell you! Ignorance fits you well, Ronald Weasley!"

"He was just kidding, Hermione!" Harry exclaimed. "Please, tell us!" he pleaded.

Hermione snorted. "Well," she said after several seconds, "It says that the Barrier Keeper was not one of the four founders of Hogwarts!"

"The what?" Harry asked.

"The Barrier Keeper!" Hermione repeated. "At it's founding, Hogwarts was protected by a very powerful barrier of energy. I'm not speaking of the one that prevents the Muggles from approaching the school, but of a barrier that repelled all sorts of enemies who wanted to attack it! And it was not limited to the castle, but it also protected the Quidditch Pitch!!! In fact, it protected the whole domain of Hogwarts!!!" she said with excitement.

"And what about the founders?" Ron asked.

"Well, to respect the equality between them, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin chose a fifth person, a wizard designed to be the Keeper of Hogwarts. The Barrier Keeper."

"How did they choose him?" Harry demanded.

"I guess they used some sort of ritual to decide who was worthy of receiving this honour," Hermione responded. "It has been passed down from family to family, a sort of magical heritage."

"Like Voldemort with Slytherin," Harry said. As usual, Ron grimaced at the name of Voldemort.

"Exactly," Hermione replied. "Unfortunately, the line of this chosen wizard is over now. It says that the last member of that family died in the forties. That's why the barrier doesn't exist anymore."

"What a shame!" Harry commented. "With such a barrier, Hogwarts would have been safer. Now it's war!"

"Do you think that Dumbledore would be able to recreate the barrier?" Ron asked. "After all, he's the most powerful wizard in the world!"

"Of course he is," Hermione responded, "but to use such a spell, he would have to break the ancient, magical incantation that sealed the fate of the Keeper to Hogwarts. And even someone like Dumbledore can't do that."

"And who was this mysterious Barrier Keeper?" Harry queried.

"It doesn't say," Hermione replied, disappointed. "But maybe I'll be able to find this piece of information elsewhere! I'll go and see later!"

"And what about Professor Burns?" Harry asked.

"Pro..." Hermione said, "Oh, my God, I completely forgot! I went to the library to search for information about her, I saw this original edition, and..." she blushed.

"What?" Ron exclaimed. "You have annoyed us for days about her, and now you forget!

***

The following Monday, the students were gathered in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. The whole class, especially Harry, was very attentive to the lesson, since Professor Burns spoke about something fascinating: vampires. Professor Snape sat on his chair, listening, without a word. Professor Burns stood up in front of the class. She was dressed as usual, with her dark-green cloak and her black, leather gloves. She walked up and down in the class while she was speaking.

"Tell me, class... How can a wizard kill a vampire?" Professor Burns asked. "What are their weaknesses? Yes? Miss Granger?"

Hermione took a deep breath before answering the question, a proud look on her face.

"Vampires hate garlic," she said. "Using it is the best way to protect a house from their influence. Christian crosses and Holy Water are also very effective against these soulless creatures, because they burn their skin and cause them real pain. A vampire can also be killed with a stake driven through its heart, or when someone cuts off its head. Finally, vampires are sensitive to light, or fire. In the beginning, our understanding of vampires corresponded to the one made by the Muggle author Bram Stoker with his famous Dracula, where they had less power during light but couldn't be harmed by it. However, an incantation cast by the Ylamch Group in the late 19^th century affected the whole race of vampires and condemned them to live in the shadows."

"That's right, Miss Granger," Burns replied. "I suppose I should give five points to Gryffindor for this... Ok, five points to Gryffindor. Yes, Miss Granger has summed up the whole vampire thing from the academic point of view. Bram Stoker... Yes, Mister Stoker has talked about vampires. He has probably heard someone talk about them; he may have seen a vampire once from far, far away. He has studied about them, written about them. That's academically, theoretically correct."

Harry saw that Hermione frowned at the word academic. In contrast, Ron grinned.

"However," Professor Burns continued, "he has never approached one of them; otherwise, he'd be dead. Garlic... How pathetic! Vampires hate garlic just as you hate spinach or as vegetarians hate meat. If you don't want a vampire to come for dinner, just put some garlic on it; you'd be sure he won't eat it. That's all. It won't prevent him from drinking your blood, if he's thirsty. And by the way, never invite a vampire to dinner. You'd be on the menu."

Many students shivered. Harry thought that the vampires almost had the Dursleys on their menu this summer. Professor Burns was right. Studying vampires in books was not the same as seeing them in real life. He had been very frightened, although the vampires had not entered the house. What had happened that day? Who had destroyed the vampires?

"Christian crosses and Holy Water..." Burns said, "that can stop them a little, many seconds maybe, but not enough... Do you really think that vampires retreat from that? Do you think they fear pain? Their desire to feed is stronger than that! You talked about light. Light, or fire, can actually kill a vampire."

There was no chattering in the class. Professor Burns had caught the attention of everyone. It was more interesting than in Quirrell's class. More frightening too.

"In the late 19^th century," Burns uttered, "there was a big invasion of these creatures and the only way to stop the massacres was to use magic. The five wizards of the Ylamch Group were strong, but not strong enough. They sacrificed their lives to give time to mortals, a half day to allow them to fight against the vampires. But don't fool yourselves. Vampires don't attack during daylight! This killing technique is then ineffective."

Professor Burns walked between the rows and continued her captivating speech. It was obvious that she knew what she was talking about.

"The only three ways to kill a vampire are to set him on fire, to drive a stake through his heart, or to cut off his head," Burns continued. "And for that, you have to be very precise and get very close to him, close enough to feel his blood-smell, to feel death around you, in you. And you have to act fast and intercept all his movements, before he kills you. Because a vampire is very strong and he won't let you live."

A few students gasped. For sure, Quirrell had never spoken that way about vampires.

"Consequently, a stake is good, but too dangerous for beginners," she added, returning to the front of the class. "Fire is great, but they will avoid it. A sword is better, because it's much longer. Any questions?"

Neville raised his hand.

"Yes, Master Longbottom?" Burns asked.

"My grandmother says..." Neville asked shyly, "that you are a great vampire slayer... I wonder... How many vampires have you killed...?"

"I have killed a lot of vampires in my life," Burns responded. "I don't know exactly how many. More than a thousand, I guess... I don't count. I just go and kill them, because it's my job. I'm a sort of mercenary. I come and I clean it up."

"Professor?" Ron asked. "What do you feel when you kill a vampire?"

"Feel?" Professor Burns replied, laughing. "Do you think I'm able to feel?"

Everyone remained startled. Harry saw that Snape had gasped.

"You must feel many sensations while you kill them?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, yes, I can feel many sensations, while I do it," Burns replied. "I feel their power and I feel mine. I feel how deep in them and in me the evil is hidden. I feel darkness. I feel how strong I am. I feel how much I need to kill."

"That's terrifying!" Hermione exclaimed. "How can someone act with such little humanity? What about love?"

"Love? Love..." Professor Burns repeated, deep in thoughts. "Love is nothing and everything. Love is the most terrible curse in the entire world. It can either lead you to heaven or hell. Love is an eternal torment. The heart is like a crystal." She conjured a little crystal. "You see? So clear, so transparent. It can siphon your energy out of you, so much energy... So clear, so transparent... so frail." She let it fall on the floor, where it broke into a thousand bits.

Harry saw that Snape had become whiter than ever. A secretive expression passed over his face again. And again, Harry couldn't decode it.

"But, finally, love is just that," Professor Burns continued, going to her desk. "A kind of crystal heart scattered into frozen bits. The remains of something which didn't exist, of a transparent lie. When truth hits you, you let the crystal fall, and your love dies in you, and you die with it."

"That's because no one ever fell in love with her," Draco whispered to Crabbe with a giggle.

"Anything to tell, Master Malfoy?" Burns snapped. She had turned back and stared at him, menacingly.

Draco's expression changed. He didn't laugh anymore. "Er... no, Professor," he replied awkwardly and shivered.

"Good boy," Burns replied sarcastically. "Just remember that, class. Love is a big illusion. But don't worry, Master Malfoy, I think that you'll never be bothered by that kind of illusion."

***

Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just left their Defence Against the Dark Arts class. They were on their way to Care of Magical Creatures.

"Oh, come on, Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, "Admit it! She's really terrifying!"

"No she's not!" Ron shouted. "She's great!"

"You only say this because she is pretty and shut Malfoy's and Snape's mouths!" Hermione said. "Have you ever listened to what she said?"

"Yes, I was there, remember!" Ron remarked. "But how could you? You were too busy trying to impress her with your replies! You're only mad at her because she told you how unimportant your books were!"

"You are so childish, Ron!" Hermione uttered.

"Oh, shut up, you both!" Harry said, exasperated by the endless debate about Professor Burns. Harry was tired of hearing them quarrelling all the time.

"Anyway, she obviously hates Snape!" Ron continued. "I'm disappointed. Today he didn't interrupt her! What?" he said to Hermione, who threw him a reproachful stare. "It's always great to see her kick his arse!"

"I'm sure she's the only person in the entire world, who dares to talk to him like that," said Hermione. "One day I think he'll try to attack her! And when he's doing this--"

"She'll kick his arse again!" Ron replied, grinning. "I just hope that I'm there to see it!"

"Snape is powerful," Hermione uttered. "And maybe she's bluffing on her powers?"

"You know she's not!" Ron shouted. "She's Captain Burns, The famous Captain Burns! She's impressive!!!"

"You don't know that, Ron!" Hermione replied. "Remember Gilderoy Lockhart! He was always bluffing and yet, he had the reputation of being a very great wizard!"

"Lockhart was a fool, and if I remember, you were one of his best supporters!" Ron retorted.

Hermione grimaced. "All that I say is that we can't be sure of her. And how can we know she's not a spy of You-Know-Who?" she said.

"No, I'm not, Miss Granger," a voice said behind the group. It was Professor Burns.

They all jumped. Harry gulped. How would Professor Burns take Hermione's comment?

"I am not a slave of Voldemort," she replied. "And I am powerful. More than Snape. In fact, Miss-Know-it-all-Granger, you hit the point. I have been teaching for one month now, and I have never shown you how to really practice magic. All we've done so far is study techniques that you obviously already know. Miss Granger, you know the theory, but how about the practise? There are things that are not written in books. I used to be like you when I was young... Please, don't smirk, Miss Granger, it's not very attractive... I thought that life was more beautiful than it actually was. I even thought that the house-elves shouldn't be enslaved... Yes, Miss Granger, isn't it shocking? We have... or had... the same vices."

Harry saw that Hermione looked half-shocked, half-unconvinced. Knowing Hermione, such a comparison would seem absurd to her. Harry knew that, in the evening, Hermione would go straight to the library, to search for information about Professor Burns. Ron looked impressed.

"Anyway... according to my teaching program," Professor Burns said, "I had about two or three months to teach you about the banalities you read in books. I've almost ended that part. But soon, you'll see me in action. I mean, in real action, not like on the Hogwarts Express. That was just for training!"

Professor Burns laughed and left. Hermione was angry and seemed to like the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher even less. "Have you heard what she told me?" Hermione said furiously.

"Whaw!" Ron exclaimed as an answer.

Hermione threw him a murderous stare.

***

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