Familiaris

Amore: Chapter 10

Imogen sat in the library of Abundantia reading by candlelight. She sipped slowly her tea as she read a book. The room was quiet and warm. The fire flickered and cast her shadow on the wall. Her silhouette suddenly began to dance rapidly. The soft orange hue that surrounded it turned a violent green. Imogen looked over at the fireplace as a figure appeared. She hadn't been expecting anyone and quickly jumped out of her seat startled.
"Did I scare you, luv?" Xenia asked chuckling as she stepped out of the fireplace.
"Xenia!" Imogen yelled in shock and anger.
Xenia rushed over and embraced a stiff Imogen.
"It's been so long," Xenia sighed petting the much shorter Imogen's hair. "Now, why didn't you come and visit after the concert?"
Imogen stepped back thinking of a good excuse as Xenia got a good look at her. Imogen felt her body grow rigid and hard in anger. What was Xenia looking at? Xenia's mouth hung open and she caught her breath. Out of the girls, Xenia was the sexy one, Lily was the pretty one, and Imogen was the cute one. She had been known for having such childlike features that people constantly mistook her for someone younger. But, the woman standing in front of Xenia looked ten years older than Xenia herself. Her eyes met Xenia's in annoyance. They hard dark circles around them as if she hadn't slept in years.
"Are you ill?" Xenia asked softly.
"A little," Imogen said quickly, "Now, er, what are you doing here?"
"Well, my tour is over and I was feeling lonely in the castle all by myself," Xenia sighed. "Sirius is at his parent's place and I'm so bloody high profile these days that I can't go there much. At least, not until the night and . . . I wanted to see you. You didn't come after the concert."
"I had some things I had to that I forgot about," Imogen babbled.
"Oh," Xenia said with a nervous laugh. "Well, come with me now. You aren't busy."
"But, I-"
"Lily's at school and you could help me with Tasha. I don't know much about babies. Come!" Xenia urged grabbing Imogen's frail hand.
"I suppose..."
"Come, you can stay for as long as you like. A house elf can get your things," Xenia said happily like a girl planning a slumber party.

Xenia called the elves and told them what to do. Imogen tried to say something but was thrown into the fireplace before she could think. She hesitantly called out Xenia's castle and was swiftly cast away with green flames. As the flames flickered away she stepped out of the enormous fireplace into Xenia's tearoom. It was big enough to be a garage for two carriages. Imogen looked around. She had never seen this place before. She observed the flying buttresses and tapestries. She turned around in every direction taking in the enormity of the room. She heard a noise and saw a little chicken with a bow tie waddling around the fireplace. He looked as if he was checking to make sure there weren't ashes on the ground.

"Xen, where did you run off to this time?" A man asked, entering the room.

Imogen turned.
"I was just about to ask you-" the man stopped and dropped the books in his hands.
"Hullo, Remus," Imogen said softly.
"Immie?" he whispered.
The fireplace flickered again in bright green flames and Xenia hopped out.
"Oh! Remus! You've seen her! Was supposed to be a surprise you big dolt!" Xenia pouted.
"Honestly," Imogen huffed.
"Well, don't just stand there!" Xenia commanded Remus, "Give her a hug. Has been a bloody long time!"
Remus walked over gawking at Imogen. His shock of seeing her and how fragile she looked melded together in his expression. He quickly embraced her and stepped away. Imogen made a step back towards the fireplace to escape the inevitable match making of Xenia, but was intercepted by an odd boy, who appeared out of nowhere. He bowed to her almost hitting her with his large red Mohawk and escorted her to her room down the hall.

"Will you be needing anything else from Lenny?" the boy asked as he helped the last elf in with her luggage.

Imogen stared at him puzzled for a moment. "Pardon?"

"Lenny!" he squawked with a smile.

"Are you Lenny?" Imogen asked slowly.

He nodded.

"No, I'm fine."

"All righty!" Lenny squeaked and with a loud pop became a chicken again and waddled away.

Imogen sighed and fell back on the bed. She melted into the feather filled duvet relaxing, when she saw someone approach her opened doorway.

"Remus?" she asked sitting up.

He stood with an odd smile and waved.

"Can I come in?" he asked.

"Sure...sit."

Remus sat on the fainting couch by the foot of the bed.

"So...how've you been?" he asked.

Imogen sighed, "Alright, I suppose."

There was a moment of silence.

"I was a Professor of your daughters two years ago," Remus blurted out.

"I know."

"Er...well, I've been wondering around these years. Xenia always pops up and kidnaps me when ever she feels inclined."

Imogen nodded with a quick smile. Remus blabbed on about some nonsense involving a trip to Siberia and almost freezing to death because of Xenia's desperate need to go shopping.

"Remus," Imogen huffed, "You don't have to make small talk or play the 'let's catch up game'."

Remus immediately went quiet and looked down.

"Look," Imogen began, "I don't want to be rude. But, you don't have to pretend and dance around what you really want to know."

Remus looked up surprised. "Immie, I...well...your brother already told me-"

"Yes, yes," Imogen interrupted in a sarcastic almost bored tone, "I was taken away by the Death Eaters and made their prisoner. I was young and innocent and was taken against my will to be his servant. Yes, I know it by heart. That little speech he tells everyone."

"What do you mean?" Remus asked cautiously.

"I was taken. I was young and stupid, but as much as I would like to say that what went on in that god forsaken place was forced, I have to admit I voluntarily did those things. If only to survive yes, but I did them."

Remus was frozen.

"I know you probably will never forgive me for sitting there only thinking of me and doing nothing to save Lily and James. I heard them talking about it. Right in front of me!" Imogen's eyes grew glassy and she whispered, "I even laughed with them."

"Imogen," Remus snapped, "What are you talking about!"

Imogen closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She walked over to the bedroom door and closed it, then turned to Remus.

"Promise me you will never tell my daughter."

"Tell her what?" Remus said exacerbated.

Imogen went to him quickly with desperation in her eyes, "Promise me! I'll tell you everything. I'll confess. Just don't let that little girl know."

"I'm not sure I want to know," Remus said coldly turning from her. "You helped them? You were a Death Eater? Is that what you want me to not tell her!"

"I wasn't a Death Eater," Imogen replied quickly.

"But, you just said-"

"I'll explain. I just have to know that I can trust you."

Remus looked into the eyes of his old friend. His old crush. Now she was nothing more than a weak, frail, sickly creature, begging him for something he didn't quite understand.

"You can trust me."

Imogen proceeded then to tell him her story. Remus sat quiet and attentive, not sure what else to do while listening to the horrors. She told him about why she left, Lilah's dad, her imprisonment under Voldemort, her brother's change from Death Eater to the man who eventually got her out. After she was done she stared at him, waiting for a response, any response. He looked back at her eyes wide. Then he got up and spoke.

"I want to kill them," he growled.

Imogen went to him. "Don't we all."

"How can you even still talk to your brother?" Remus spat. "How can you associate with the Malfoys?"

"My brother is my brother," Imogen sighed. "He's different. You lot always hated him, but I can't just stop loving him. He went through hell trying to get me out."

"Maybe, but that whole time he knew where you were and didn't even tell your parents."

"I know."

"But-"

"Moony, I know. As for the Malfoys...I will just have to refer to the old saying 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer'."

"I suppose."

"Besides," Imogen said placing her hand on her stomach, "They have taken something from me that I can never get back. I want to make sure he knows what they did."

"Who?"

"Nothing," Imogen smirked, "I'm tired."

"Are you gonna be alright?"

"Yes," Imogen laughed, "I'm a Snape. By nature we can deal with angst better than most. It's like bloody required or something."

Remus smiled and sat down n the bed.

"You know," he began, "For years I blamed myself for you running away."
Imogen smirked, "Always the martyr."
"Honestly, I did!" he insisted.
"I'm sure you did."
"Well, considering what happened . ..between us right before and all," he mumbled.
"True, but you were just one of many catalysts in my reasons for running away."
"I know that now, but I was one of the main reasons, right?"
Imogen stood up annoyed. "What do you want me to say Remus! That you were what drove me over the edge? That you ignoring me finally made me run into the arms of obviously the wrong people?"
"Well...I..."
"What is the point? I blamed you for a long time, but in the end it was all my stupidity," Imogen huffed.
"I didn't help. I don't know what any of us were thinking," he sighed.
"You still regret it don't you," Imogen said, her lips pursed.
"Immie I didn't say that. I just don't think I handled ...well .... what happened well."
"Remus just say it," Imogen spat.
"Say what?" he pleaded standing up.
"You still won't even admit it! Say it!"
"Say what!"
"You slept with me!" Imogen shouted.
Remus seemed almost smacked in the face by the words.
"Can you just admit it now? You aren't a boy anymore."
"Fine, I ..."
"Yes?" Imogen said fighting a smile.
"I... sleeeept with you."
Imogen cracked a smile and began to laugh. Remus seemed a bit confused and stared at her for a few moments then began to laugh as well.
"Was it that difficult?" Imogen smirked.
"What the actual sex or-"
Imogen keeled forward laughing. "You stupid ass!"
Remus realizing his sudden moment of stupidity rolled his eyes at her. "Shut up," he growled.
Imogen sank onto to the bed laughing.
"Immie," Remus warned, "Stop laughing."
Imogen ignored him and Remus grabbed a throw pillow and hit Imogen in the face with it. Suddenly they were 16 and 17 again and began to play fight with the throw pillows.
* * *

The beginning of the school year was the same as the others. The Hufflepuffs assumed it would be just another year, or at least hoped. No mysterious deaths or rises of evil forces this year.

They sat in their common room chatting. Lilah and Blaise, who were there so much they should have paid rent, were on the sofa arguing with Sally-Anne on who was the best performer at the music festival. Zach was talking to Susan and sitting rather too close for her comfort. She kept scooting away and he would keep inching his way towards her. Justin sat with Nigel playing cards, while Hannah observed Susan and Zach curiously. A fourth year walked in and went over to Nigel.

"A fifth year Gryffie named Hermeeon is outside asking for you," the fourth year said.

"Hermione?" Nigel mused and got up and went out of the common room, followed by Lilah's suspicious eyes.

Nigel was gone for about ten minutes until he reappeared looking excited. He quickly told his friends to meet him in the boys' dorm and went up stairs, followed by them, Blaise and Lilah included.

"What's up?" Sally asked sitting on Nigel's bed.

"Apparently Hermione and the Gryffindor lot are fed up with Umbridge's sugar coated classes and our starting a sort of Defense club," Nigel said.

"Club?" Sally giggled.

"Yeah, they think since You-Know-Who is back everyone needs to desperately know how to protect themselves and she invited us."

"Brilliant," Susan said.

"You mean we have to teach ourselves?" Zach asked puzzled.

"No, of course not," Nigel huffed.

"Then who will?" Zach asked.

"Harry Potter," Nigel said slowly.

Blaise and Lilah met each other's eyes amused.

"Excellent choice," Susan declared receiving an annoyed look from Zach.

"Why not Hermione?" Justin asked.

"Well..." Nigel began but was interrupted by Zach.

"Potter? But, he's just a show off," Zach pouted.

"No he isn't. He has actually gone against You-Know-Who. If anyone can teach us how to survive, it's him," Nigel insisted.

"That's true," Justin mused.

"So we are all supposed to have a meeting during our next Hogsmeade trip. She said she'd tell me the details later," Nigel stated.

"Sounds like rubbish to me," Zach huffed and got up to leave.

Nigel shrugged.

"Fine, no one is going to miss you," Justin smirked.

Zach thought for a second looking hurt.

"Leave him alone," Susan snapped to Justin.

Zach suddenly had a big smile and turned to Susan, "Are you going to do this?"

"Of course," Susan said still glaring at Justin.

"I see. I might check it out then," Zach sighed.

"Whatever Smith, we don't need a play by play," Justin muttered getting up.

Susan heard, but Zach did not, and was confused as to why Susan had suddenly thrown a pillow at Justin's head.

***

The first meeting of the DADA club hadn't as of yet been set in stone, but it was the secret buzz among all the fifth years. Lilah and Blaise were the only ones who knew in the Slytherin house, however.

Lilah wasn't excited as everyone else, and could really care less.

Blaise found it very intriguing and spoke about it often.

"Shut up!" Lilah snapped one day during lunch while he had been whispering about the club.

"What?" Blaise snapped back with a scowl.

"I preferred you better when all you talked about were the girls you shagged," Lilah pouted.

Blaise let out a repressed laugh.

"Sorry," Blaise said with a mischievous smile." Well now that you mention it, I have been meditating on a new target of seduction,"

Lilah gasped, "There is someone you haven't shagged?"

"Keep your voice down," Blaise hissed as some of the girls had looked over. "The reason I can get girls is because I don't go blabbing to everyone bragging about who I bonk. Lily you are the only person I say this crap to."

Lilah smiled honestly feeling special. "Really?" she whispered.

Blaise nodded.

"Okay, sorry," she sighed the scooted closer and whispered, "Who is the girl this time?"

"Hannah Abbott," Blaise said with a big smile.

Lilah's smile dropped and looked at her food.

"What's wrong?" Blaise asked. "Don't like her?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because she's obsessed with my boyfriend!" Lilah snapped.

Blaise laughed softly. "Lily, I promise, when I'm through with her, she won't even remember who Nigel is."

***

Zach sat across from Justin in the library. Zach had all but forgotten what Justin had said two days before. He sat happily reading occasionally making comments to Justin trying to make him laugh. Girls would walk by and giggle and wave at Zach, further giving Justin a growing hatred, inside, toward the boy. Since he had arrived, and with Nigel being taken, Zacharias Smith had become the "Hufflepuff Hottie". He had a different girlfriend every week. He never held onto them very long. Justin supposed the reason was that he would become easily distracted by something shiny and thus forget the girl existed.