Tested In Fire

Anna sat down weakly on her bed. The lamp was flickering, and she didn't have the energy to reinforce the charm that kept it burning. If Lily were here... but she stopped that train of thought in its tracks. She'd spent the last twelve years trying to banish just such thoughts, and had almost succeeded. But the simple fact was this; Anna Michelle Lupin could not take care of herself after a hard night like this. Wearily, she pulled the ring out of its box. She hadn't quite made it to being Mrs. Remus Lupin, but she'd already taken to calling herself that. Lily had been so happy for her. She'd got engaged at the same time Lily had announced she was pregnant. Two women, floating on different clouds, with so very much in common, with nothing in their way except an evil... thing.

She bit back a sob. She was drained of her energy and she hadn't eaten in almost two days. Anna found that she couldn't when the Gift was coursing through her body. As a result, she was thin, and appeared much older than she was. Whenever she felt the urge, she ran to the nearest bathroom and let the dry heaves wrack her body.

When she was honest with herself, Anna knew that her body had never fully accepted the changed cells, mostly because her mind hadn't. If she could just... get over it, she wouldn't have this problem, she thought bitterly to herself as she tried to force herself to stop.

Passing on his way to his own chambers within the staff hall, Remus heard the telltale signs. He pushed open the door, not caring about propriety. "Anna, damn it!"

"Good evening to you too, Remus."

"Can you get up?"

"If I could, would I be sitting here?" Anna leaned her head back. Exhaustion, abuse and hunger had done horrifying things to her face. There were deep hollows in her cheeks and her eyes were empty.

"How long has been since you last ate?" When Anna shrugged, Remus blew his top again. "Damn it all to hell and back! How did you survive on your own for twelve years? You can't even take care of yourself... bloody hell. Don't start to cry on me, Anna."

"I'm not going to cry."

"You're not?" His voice was surprised, frustrated in only a way that Anna Black could inspire.

"I managed not to cry for the last twelve years, I think I can manage the next twelve minutes."

"You didn't cry at all?"

"I... I couldn't."

"Sometimes you just have to."

"I know, but I felt so empty, and you weren't there..."

"That wasn't my fault..."

"Of course it wasn't."

"Anna..."

"You just ran off for six months and didn't tell me where you were! Everyone would ask me, 'Where's your fiancé today?' and I would say, 'I don't know. The last time I heard from him we almost killed each other.' That hurt." She saw the shock in his eyes. "Did you think I wasn't hurting, Remus? He was my brother..."

"He was James' best mate! I should have been able to help him, but I couldn't. You know how much I wanted to, Anna. It hurt so badly when I thought he'd betrayed us. The Marauder brotherhood, you know."

"I couldn't take it without you, Remus. You and I, we didn't lose friends, we lost family. I lost a sister and two brothers that night, and so did you. I needed you, damn it! You think I look bad now, you should have seen me three years ago! Albus Dumbledore saved me, again. Just like he'd saved you. And, for some godforsaken reason or another, he's decided to bring us together again. I'm not going to back out on you, and I never did, never will. I'm not saying we should jump back into bed together, but we should be able to act like adults."

Still angry with her, and himself, he reached out and caressed her face. "We never could act like adults around each other, and you know it."

"Remus, I've missed you."

"Did you think I didn't? The transformations keep getting worse, Anna. I have no energy, I keep scratching at myself, and even Padfoot's worried. Not to mention Moony." His hand fisted right near her ear. "You're the only one I've ever loved, that Moony's ever loved. You make me feel alive again. All these years I've been trying to work up the courage to come back, to see you."

"We were both idiots," Anna said quietly. "I thought you didn't need me."

Remus sputtered in protest, then discovered he couldn't find the words. He wrapped her in a fierce hug, shielding her from the air, and the world, if only for a minute. Then he could feel the shakes and seizures that were wracking her body. With a murmured curse, he picked her up and carried her like a baby. She was lighter than she looked, and Remus had the added bonus of werewolf strength. In fact, she was much too light.

In an instant he had her out the door, and started down the corridors.

Anna made a sputtering noise of protest but couldn't really argue when nothing would focus. "Remus! Remus, the world is spinning!"

"Just a little bit further, sweetheart. Come on."

"Remus, I'm going to be sick."

"You can't get sick. There's nothing in your system for you to get sick on."

"You'd be amazed," Anna murmured as she fought the reflex to gag.

"You never did accept the enzymes, did you?"

"I thought I had. It just keeps getting worse, though. I have dizziness, nausea, and lightheadedness. I can't even think straight. To top it all off, I've just funneled a memory into Ginny Weasley."

"Anna!"

"It was the only thing to do. She had to know the prophecy, and Sirius wasn't going to tell Harry. I thought it was my duty as his godmother."

Just then, a dark haired boy with the most startling green eyes stepped out from the shadows. Well, he was supposed to be invisible, but Anna was a Seer, and such things didn't work against her "Inner Eye."

Obviously the poor young man was in shock. He kept working his mouth to try to get some words out, but none would come. Anna draped her head over Remus's strong arm and said quite clearly, "Good evening, Harry Potter."

Remus looked around quickly. "Where is he, Anna? Damn it, don't fade out on me now! Harry, take off that damned cloak and help me. This is a prime example of what happens when a Seer overworks herself. Run. Get Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. Have them meet me in the hospital wing, then tell Dobby to get an emergency rations kit. The older house-elves should know what that is."

Harry took off the cloak and stood before Remus, whom he considered an uncle. "If I run into Professor Snape..."

"Tell him to take it up with me. Besides, if you're up to something at all," and he tossed a piece of parchment at Harry, "you normally get away with it." To Harry's amazement, it was the Marauder's Map in all its glory.

There were thousands of things Harry wanted to know, among them how Professor Lupin even came by the map--when last he'd seen it, it was in Professor Dumbledore's hands--but now was not the time. He had never seen anyone look as sickly, as pale as Professor Black. Except for Remus. Perhaps that was the bond his two new professors shared. But then again, perhaps there was more water under the bridge than that.

Harry made his way quietly down the hall, and found Professor Dumbledore's office easily enough. The map Remus had given him, the map he had so many questions about, told him the password was "chocolate truffles".

He breathlessly addressed the gargoyle, and moved on. Professor Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, doing paperwork.

"Professor!" Quickly, Professor Dumbledore looked up. When he saw it was Harry, his eyes glowed.

"Have a seat, Harry. What's wrong?"

"Professor Lupin says I'm to come get you. It's Professor Anna Black, sir. He said that 'this is a prime example of what happens when a Seer overworks herself.'"

"There's no time to lose. Be on your way, get Minerva. As Anna's former Head of House, perhaps she can talk some sense into the girl."

The way back to Gryffindor Tower was long, but Harry made it short with long strides and no consideration for the amount of noise he made. Let Filch find him. There was something in the air that told him to hurry.

He burst into Professor McGonagall's room, not her office. She was sitting in a large armchair with a bottle of Butterbeer and a mystery magazine.

"Professor! Professor Anna Black is in trouble... Professor Lupin says she's overworked herself and there's no time to lose."

"Well, he would know," Professor McGonagall said, pulling on a robe and her hat. "Those two are experts at not taking care of themselves."

Without taking the time to decipher that cryptic comment, Harry ran to the kitchens.

"Dobby! Dobby, wake up!" he said, shaking the elf that he had been lucky enough to find sitting in front of the huge fire.

"Harry Potter, sir! Dobby is honored, sir, to have you in his humble home!"

"There's no time for that, Dobby. I need an emergency rations kit." Dobby's eyes lit up and he nodded in understanding.

"Dobby will fetch Harry Potter the kit, if sir would be so kind as to wait here."

"Of course, Dobby. Just hurry."

A minute and a half later, Harry was running at full speed toward the hospital wing.

"Ah, here's young Mr. Potter now," Dumbledore said as Harry opened the door cautiously.

"Thank you, Harry," he heard a voice say behind him. It was hoarse, almost unrecognizable. Remus was bent over the figure, spoon feeding it something. With a start, Harry realized who it was.

"You're welcome, Professor Black."

**

"You mean to tell me that she's your godmother and all this time Sirius never said a word?" Ron demanded, his mouth full of scones with strawberry jam, while Harry scrambled to finish his Defense Against the Dark Arts homework.

Conversation at the Gryffindor breakfast table had turned to the events of last night, and Ron and Hermione wanted to know all about it.

"He just said that, Ron. Don't chew with your mouth full. The real question is: what's this prophecy that they all seem so concerned with?" Hermione demanded.

"Wish I knew. It would certainly make my life easier if people would tell me these things," Harry said quietly.

"Good morning, Ginny," Hermione said to a figure behind Harry.

Turning around swiftly, Harry found his eyes level with Virginia Weasley's chest. "Morning, Ginny," Ron said, shoveling eggs into his mouth like there was no tomorrow.

"Morning, all. Harry, I need to speak with you. Now, preferably." Harry turned back around, dazed. Ginny had never spoken to him like that. It was like she was impatient with him. When he shot Ron a look, the other Weasley shrugged.

"Sounds like the Ginny we know and love at home," he said carelessly.

"Of course, give me a minute. I'd like to finish this one sentence... there. Now, let's go." Ginny gave a brisk nod, and Harry followed her without question.

They ended up walking around the edge of the lake. Harry shivered and repressed the painful memories, something he was becoming quite good at as the years went on.

"I went to see Professor Anna Black last night."

"Just before she collapsed?"

"Yes." They had set a fast pace, but Ginny was having no problems keeping up.

"What happened?"

"She showed me a memory."

"Showed you a memory? What do you mean?"

Ginny drew a deep breath. "She grabbed my hand and showed me an event from her life, only it was like I was there, sitting next to her. It wasn't in the first person, either. It was like..."

"You were a casual observer. You couldn't change anything," Harry finished off for her.

"Yes, exactly like that. How'd you know?"

"Remind me to tell you about Pensieves sometime. This sounds remarkably familiar."

"All right then, I will. This wasn't the oddest part of the memory, though, and it wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Well?"

"There's a prophecy, Harry. This first part only applied to your parents, but I think the beginning's very important. It was Anna's first real prophecy."

"Do you remember any of it?"

"I remember all of it."

"Well, that's convenient."

"It goes like this:

Three Seers this prophecy will foretell,

I, the first, bid you well,

One is false, I am true,

One will reveal the truth to you.

The Dark Lord is rising, his power is great,

He will be defeated by a twist of fate,

Love, you see, more powerful than all,

Deals the mighty Dark Lord a powerful fall.

A stag, a wolf, a dog and a rat,

Three are true... one is not.

Things are not as they appear

when the Dark Lord draws near

He arises anew,

Takes vows under the yew.

My part has ended; I can rest now in peace,

Take heed of what I say, do not forget,

On this your future rests."

"Very creepy, Ginny," Harry said and rubbed his forehead in irritation.

"Do you know what all of it means?"

"I have a fair idea about it all, except the first part, and the last."

"What's significant about the yew tree?" Ginny wanted to know. "There has to be something, otherwise Voldemort wouldn't be taking vows under it."

"I don't know," Harry admitted. "That makes sense, though."

"She was talking to your mother."

Harry stopped abruptly. "Was this a warning?"

"I think it might have been, though Anna would have never harmed your mum. She was the only anchor Professor Black had other than Remus."

"Right," Harry said. "So, let's move on."

"You know Harry, we're not going to work this out on our own. I just wanted to tell you face to face so you could deal with it out of the public eye."

"Thank you, Ginny. I appreciate that, and I agree. We're most definitely going to need Hermione in on this, and Ron."

"Wherever Hermione goes," Ginny started with a smile.

"Ron goes," Harry finished.

"Do you ever feel... left out around them?"

"I've been wanting to tell them to get a room for years," Harry started off, with a smile then saw Ginny wasn't teasing. "Of course, sometimes."

"Hmmm. I bet they're getting worried. We'd better get back."

Harry nodded. "All right."

They trudged up to the castle slowly. When they reached the door, Ron and Hermione were there waiting for them.

"We've got a new puzzle to work out,"

Quickly Harry ran through the prophecy and Ginny told the shortened version of the memory that Anna had shared with her. Hermione ran a hand over her cheek distractedly, and Harry could see that the wheels were already turning inside Hermione's amazing brain.

"Well, it's obviously a three forked prophecy, with each of the Seers providing one," she started out. That made sense to Harry, Ron and Ginny, so they nodded, and they all started to walk back to the Gryffindor Common Room in Hermione's wake. "Anna is the first, and she is telling the truth."

"Right. So there's two other Seers," Ron said, making sure he understood. "One isn't telling the truth, and the other will...?"

"I can't quite work that out. One will reveal the truth to you. Hmmm. So, Anna is telling the truth, but what's she's saying isn't remarkable?" Harry guessed.

"That's one possibility," Hermione said.

"What's special about the yew tree?" Ginny asked curiously.

"I can't quite recall," Hermione said. "I know I've read something."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Let me guess. This is going to call for research."

"I think so, but it may not," Hermione said quickly. "Ginny, come with me to my dormitory. I know if we could only find my book on magical trees, we might have a starting off point."