An Auror's Work is Never Done

Chapter 14 Pensieve of Memories

Draco fixed a delicious breakfast of French toast and bacon. After we'd eaten our fill, Professor Dumbledore popped his head into the fireplace and asked Dad and Shawna to go to Hogwarts. My former headmaster assured Dad I would all right with Draco when he protested.

"I promise I won't take off again, Dad."

He looked at me and nodded. "See you in two hours then, honey. I love you."

I tried to say the words back but they remained locked up deep inside. I settled for, "I know."

He and Shawn disappeared in a roar of green flames.

"Come on. Let's go flying," Draco suggested.

"Sure."

We got our broomsticks and took off. The wind whipped my hair behind me, tangling the curly locks. I clutched the Cleansweep's handle with white knuckles and chanced a peek at Draco. His eyes were closed and the look of joy on his face sent an ache to my heart. I recognized it as envy for his happiness. Everything I had once loved had been ripped from me. I wasn't connected to the life I had known before. I prayed to whomever was listening that Dumbledore could help. I knew if anyone could do it, it would be the Wizard who'd defeated Grindelwald.

At the appointed time Draco and I flooed to the Marauder Room. I had expected my friends and Dad to be there but everyone was crowded into the room. All of the Weasley family, the Marauders, Shawna, Dad, all the professors I'd taken classes with, Seamus, Colin and Dennis, a few other classmates, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, my Auror superiors and trainers, even Peeves and Sir Nick had shown up. I didn't know what to think of it.

"Um, hi everybody." I noticed Glenda, the fat lady, in a painting with Apollo. She winked. "What's going on, Professor?" I asked Dumbledore.

"It's called an intervention, my dear. Everyone here has been very concerned for you and want to help."

"Why?" I was flabbergasted.

"You will see. First you will need to choose someone as your guide on your journey of rediscovery. It should be someone you trust impeccably." I caught Shawna's eye and she smiled and nodded her head to the blonde beside her. She understood.

"Draco."

"Excellent. The Bond you share will make things easier. Now if you and Draco will sit." He waved his hand and a small table with three chintz chairs appeared. We sat. "Riddick, the Pensieve please."

Dad placed it in front of me.

"Aurora, I'm going to open your connection as far as possible with your Blood Brother. It will seem as if he is part of you. He'll be your grounding contact if things get too hard for you."

"I still don't understand. How are someone else's memories going to help me?"

"You will learn shortly." I noticed the twinkle was back to glowing in his eyes. He opened our connection and Draco was in my mind.

'Hey, Sis.'

'Hey.'

'Ready?'

'Guess so.'

"Look into the bowl, Aurora," Dumbledore prodded.

I tilted down and watched as silver lights were reflected in the churning liquid. A hazy image was captured in its depths. I leaned forward and was sucked into the memories.

The memory was obliviously Aunt Molly's. It was our first Christmas together. I watched as the other me helped her fix breakfast. When we were done I kissed her cheek and thanked her for being such a wonderful aunt. A tear rolled down as she pulled me into a hug.

The scene shifted. I was high in the air near the Quidditch goals, watching as Gryffindor played Slytherin. Flying next to me was Ron. This was the game Crabbe and Goyle had tried to team up on him but I had sent Seamus to head them off. I hadn't known Ron was aware of what had transpired.

Another memory unfurled. It was the Final Battle. I stood beside Sirius this time. He looked up and I watched as the other Aurora hurled protection spells and hexes down on Death Eaters to protect those on the ground.

I was back in Snape's classroom. The younger girl was trying to convince the professor to help restore Lily and James's photographs for their son by praising his potion making abilities.

Time reversed. The Gryffindor Tower protector of the famous pink dress was bragging to another portrait that one of her charges had actually taken the time to learn her name.

Peeves bounced in delight as Harry and I asked him to help the twins man booby traps for the epic Battle.

Dad's memory was of Auror Shacklebolt telling him about my interview for the Auror program. I could see how proud of me he had really been, no matter what he had told me.

Nicholae made me smile when I relived meeting the kids who'd performed 'Romeo and Juliet' and how Roman's eyes had lit up when I told them all about Magic Cove.

Scene after scene was laid before me, all remembrances having to do with something I had done but I couldn't figure out why I was being made to view them.

Then came the last three people's.

I saw a Muggle-born Witch of eleven being pushed down by a bully. A shy little girl, no bigger than a whisper, shouted at him to leave the other alone. It skipped forward to the day Shawna had moved, the two of us swearing to remain best friends forever.

Fog clouded my vision and then opened to reveal the first time I'd called Draco Brother. The memory drifted to the day I had reassured him that no matter what had happened in his past, I would still love and respect the man he was today. That would never change.

Harry took me to the evening of Puddlemere's first victory celebration. The duplicate me was trying to help him to bed. She transfigured his clothes into pajamas and pushed him down onto the mattress. After tucking him in, she gave him a kiss goodnight and told him he'd been great in the game. He replied he knew and that he thought her shirt was sexy. As she left the room I heard him murmur, 'I'm gonna marry her one day.' 'But you lied to me, Potter,' I thought sadly with tears in my eyes.

'Aurora, he's not through yet. Harry left you several memories he thought you should see. He does care.'

The bedroom transfigured itself into the dreaded tower. I stood to the side as Harry charged into the room Lucius had held me prisoner, wand drawn. His emerald eyes took in the dead body of Lucius. Draco came in seconds after him and found the letter I'd charmed so that only he could read it. Harry demanded to know what it said. Draco flicked his wand and the parchment burst into flames. Sirius and Tonks had to hold Harry back when he tried to go after the blonde physically. All Draco said was that I had been rescued by a friend and was with him. I watched as Harry ranted and cursed at the former Slytherin and then suddenly collapsed to his knees. 'I'm never going to see her again, am I?' 'I don't know, Harry. I just don't know.' Harry started to talk to himself, no-nonsense words that I couldn't make out. The three couldn't get through to him. He stared about the area with an appraising gaze. I could tell he was putting the small details I'd left together. The few remaining flecks of blood on the post, the chains and other instruments of torture, I could almost see his mind checking off the clues and putting two and two together to form a picture of what Lucius had done to me. His eyes grew wide and when Sirius failed to get him to leave, a Healer was brought. She force-fed him a vial of Sleeping Potion. The room grew black then brightened with another vision of the past.

Harry was kissing another girl. My heart in my throat, I watched as she pulled him into a bedroom and stripped off his shirt. 'I don't want to see this!'

'Aurora, trust me,' Draco whispered.

I gritted my teeth and seethed as she slid her hands over his muscular chest and shoulders. She went for his hair. He stopped her with a firm grip. 'Don't touch the hair.'

'My, my. It's not like I can mess it up any worse.' She reached up again to ruffle it.

He grabbed the offending hand. 'Don't.'

'What's the matter with you?' she pouted.

'Nothing. Look, I'm sorry, but this isn't working. I have to go.'

'What? You can't walk out on me.'

'I'm really sorry, Sharon, but I can't do this to Aurora.'

'You told me you didn't have a girlfriend.'

'She isn't, not anymore.'

'You love her don't you?'

'More than life itself.'

'Took the prat long enough to admit,' Draco grumbled.

I blinked and found myself back in the Marauder Room. Slowly I realized I was crying. I put a hand to my cheek amazed. Emotions flooded me, making me want to laugh and weep at the same time. So I did just that. Family and friends offering words and hugs of encouragement immediately surrounded me.

"I'm so sorry, Dad." Anguish at the ordeal I'd forced on everyone shamed me. "Merlin, I'm so sorry."

"We're sorry, baby. We should've realized sooner what was happening to you. You'd been through so much so fast. It's no wonder you did what you did."

"But I put y'all through hell."

Aunt Molly responded. "You certainly did, dear. But only because we love you."

The tears continued to fall unchecked. I had a river that needed out.

"If I might have a word," Professor Dumbledore said loudly. "Aurora, do you understand the lesson you learned from the Pensieve?"

"I'm not sure, sir," I sniffled.

He conjured a tissue before continuing. "What you saw were some of the many reasons the people in this room are here. Each incident confirmed what a caring person you are. You have made each person you see feel special and loved. You needed to appreciate there is more to your life than hate, anger, and pain."

I looked at him, this man who had orchestrated it all. Somehow I knew he was the one who had ultimately figured me out. He had guessed correctly that I would return to the place the bitterness had formed from and built layer upon layer until it had choked me. He had saved me from myself. I'm not sure who I surprised more, me or him, when I hugged him.

He patted my back and said, "I'm delighted I could help."

Quite awhile later after I'd talked to all and sundry and I'd laughed more than cried, I noticed Harry was missing. The smile faded from my face.

Nicholae came up and placed his hand on my shoulder. "It is time for me to leave."

"Wait a minute, how'd you get here?"

"The sun has no effect on the raven. I was curious as to when you would take note of that, Dear One."

"Will I see you again?"

"Yes. Now that we have become friends I do not wish to grow apart." He paused, considering his words. "I am sorry for my actions at your graduation party. I did not mean to cause you greater pain."

"It wasn't you. The argument with Harry just pushed me over the edge. It was the excuse I was waiting for."

"I am forgiven?"

"Yes. Get before I change my mind."

He smiled, said his goodbyes, and left in a flurry of feathers.

'Now, if I could find Harry.'

'You know where he is, Dancer.'

'Ah. Thanks, Dragon!'