The Swan's Fight

"It's braver sometimes just to run" Tom McRae - A & B's song

Chapter 7 - The Room of Requirements

Negra sighs heavily. This is going to be harder than expected. She stares at the teenage witch, her eyes full of emergency - and fear.

"Do you understand me, Luna?"

"I am going to learn Earth magic, you are going to teach me, and I must shut my mouth about it, because if the Dark Lord knows what we are, we'll be both dead." She doesn't seem annoyed, or even surprised. "By the way, I was wondering... You are a vampire, right?" Negra, still wounded and scarred, blows a fuse.

"No, I'm not a freaking vampire, and I don't give a shit what your father's newspapers say about me! Now please focus, we have our survival to worry about! Fuck, Luna, do you realize that we are risking both our lives and mental balance in that?"

"Don't piss off, I just asked a question."

"Whatever."

"It's not my fault if you're sexually frustrated."

Negra chokes. Aargh! This girl is a head case! Hold me back before I slaughter her! She takes a deep breath. It's a good thing they are in the Room of Requirements, she thinks casually.

"All right, let's start it all over again. Hello, Luna, I am Negra, nice to meet you. We are going to try to get along, because we are probably going to spend all of our life together, because I'll need a long time before I can get something to sink in with you... All right, let's start. For the next weeks, you are not to go in the woods, nor to touch stones, moreover precious and semi-precious stones. Don't wear these radish earrings of yours and do not use natural soap under the shower. The less contact you have - What?"

"You were joking, for the soap, right?"

"No, I wasn't. Use artificial or nuclear soap, I don't care. As long as you don't stink and you don't get more powerful, you might as well use whipping cream. Do not smoke weed either." She is really getting angry. Come on, Negra, there is no good reason for that. Even Luna is shocked by your behaviour. Think about something relieving... Lymp. Lymp, and Melodie, the day she was born, when she was lying in her arms, Lymp looking scared and bewildered, but so tender. 'Look, Foxel, she is going to have the same hair as me! Look! Hey, did you see that smile? Oh Merlin, she has no teeth!' Yep, Lymp had learnt a lot that day about babies.

Feeling relaxed thanks to the loving memory, she smiles to Luna. "Sorry about that. I am scared, Luna, as you will be when you realize what's happening. Now, let's start with something simple..."

She tosses her onyx on the floor. "Close your eyes and try to feel it." Luna does as she is told while Negra watches her face carefully. Suddenly a wound cuts open on the Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, and she shouts, "STOP!"

Luna opens her eyes with a start. "Oh. Sorry."

"No, you did a good job. Just do not move energy. It'll cut me every time you'll take power from the stone, so be very careful. I happen to be pretty much keen on staying alive." Actually Negra is proud that the lunatic girl was so fast to figure out how to notice the stone's power. Maybe it will go faster than expected.

*

Harry closes the curtains around his bed. "Harry? Are you all right?"

"Get lost, Ron." He is in a BAD mood. He's getting worse and worse since Sirius' death... Ron crosses his arms on his chest in a stubborn manner.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong."

The curtains tear open, and Harry's head appears. "You want to know? Fine." Harry jumps out of the bed and faces fiercely his best friend. "I'm fed up with you, with Hermione, with Ginny, Dumbledore, Remus, all of you ! You only want me to save your live or die trying, all that matters to you is that I get rid of Voldemort for you! And why? Because of a prophecy!" He is clearly fuming. "And would you tell me what you are doing behind my back? Hell, no! All that matters is that I kill Voldemort!"

"But - What are you talking about?"

"You don't tell me anything! Dumbledore is planning something, and you are up to something with Hermione too, and Negra is doing weird stuff with Luna, everybody is sneaking around, but nobody cares about telling me! I'm just the guy who is supposed to get killed anytime soon, so why bother telling me stuff!" Ron starts to be scared.

"You don't believe what you're saying, right?"

"You expected me to sing you a love song?!"

"I don't know either what everybody is doing and I don't pout like a baby for that!"

"Excuse me if I am not acting like your highness would like me to."

"You and your mood swings, Aargh!"

"Go get lost."

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

Both pissed off, the boys leave the dormitory: Ron joins Hermione in the Library and Harry goes to see Hagrid.

*

Twenty silhouettes wearing masks and black cloaks are standing in a circle, obviously waiting for something, almost religiously. A loud crack, and Voldemort Apparates in the center of the circle, and contemplates with satisfaction the obedient group. His voice is still frightening, and makes some Death Eaters shiver. "I am pleased to see that nobody is late." One of those who didn't tremble thinks that being late at a Death Eater meeting certainly means being dead. His unusually pale right hand bears a strange tatoo that has nothing to do with the Death Mark.

"Lucius, tell everybody what you told me."

"Yes, My Lord. After great searches we have finally been able to find out the exact contents of the prophecy. These revealed us the fact that it is greatly vital to get rid of the Potter boy, for he could be a great danger to our Master's cause. Therefore, we have been thinking about a plan that would deliver the boy bonded and unable to be rescued, unlike he was last year." He pauses to let the Death Eaters think about it.

"I found out something that could help us in that task : someone practices a very strong Dark Magic in Hogwarts. My son, Draco, was training in secret when he realized that he could not do wandless magic anymore, for there was no power left. Draco being extremely skilled for his young age, the only explanation was that someone had already drained all the power. And only a very powerful wizard could do that."

"May I ask something?" Goyle senior is frowning with perplexity. "Do you mean that one day there was power, and the next day, none left?"

"That is exactly what I mean." Lord Voldemort tends his arm, and Lucius steps back with respect.

"This witch or wizard is an asset I want. Does anyone know about him or her?" The tattooed man - Lymp, of course - and Snape try really hard to blank their minds. It is not a problem for Snape, a really skilled Occlumens who and has been able to hide his being a spy to Voldemort's mental inquisitions. For Lymp, however... Voldemort releases the tension before seeing the huge mental image of Negra constantly in Lymp's mind. A few more seconds and he would have also seen Mélodie.

"Severus, you are the only spy within Hogwarts. I want you to give me the name of that person within one month."

"Yes, My Lord."

*

The tea is going cold, but Remus doesn't care. He almost got killed few hours ago, and he still doesn't quite realize that he is truly alive. Once the war is over, there will be no need to be alive anymore. No need to comfort everybody. No need to be always all right. It will be a relief. After all, he is a werewolf, his parents are dead, and the few friends he ever had are either dead or traitors.

He misses Sirius and James' pranks. He has been for years. But it is so much more painful now he had two years to believe that these times were not entirely lost... To loose Sirius a second time was probably the worse thing. He could have had a nice life, but oh no, megalo Voldemort had to spoil everything!

Only Negra and Lymp are still here, but thes two can live all by themselves. Assuming the fact they will stay alive, which is not certain at all. What kind of life is that? What kind of god can accept that a teenager fights a powerful evil wizard, and kill or be killed? And what kind of life is a life where the only thing that keeps you going ahead is hope? Why always fake?

Is there is an answer to all these questions?

Remus takes the teacup, and carries it in the kitchen. The same kitchen where they all had a wonderful Christmas.

Nobody should live in an empty home.

*

Whenever people are in the middle of a novel, they feel it, somehow. Ask any author. It is almost impossible to control your characters, they reject your control. And this is what he just decided to do.

Lymp stands angrily. "There is no way in hell I am leaving. You give me Mélodie right now. She is my daughter and you are not her mother."

"You are insane, Lymp. I have to refuse for your own safety."

"I am going to start to become angry."

"Lymp, listen, it is three in the morning, she is sleeping, so maybe we could talk about that tomorrow morning."

"Fucking bullshit! GIVE ME MY DAUGHTER RIGHT NOW!" For the first time, he sees his sister look at him with fear. One of the few who didn't look at the werewolf like that, and yet... But he is not in the mood for comforting her. He is way too much scared.

"Go get a cold shower, Lymp ! Do you realize what you are saying?"

"Reya, she is my daughter, and I-"

"I am ready." Both of the adults freeze and stare at the stairs where the tiny girl is standing. "I am ready to leave, dad. Please don't be mad at her." Reya rushes towards the six year old girl, and hugs her protectively. Lymp is bewildered.

"Aren't you supposed to be a kid unaware of the situation? How do you know I am your father?"

"You told me. When you thought I was sleeping and I was not really, and I was waiting for the Tooth Fairy and you came instead. Am I going to see my real mommy?" She is a child, after all. Her socks don't have the same colour and her braids are a mess. She certainly got dressed all by herself.

"Where do you plan to bring her?"

"I don't know. Wherever the Death Eaters can't find us." Reya throws a frightened glance at her brother.

"What happened, Lymp ?"

"He knows, about Negra, and her powers, and us, and Melodie."

"Powers ? But, what- What are you talking about?"

"He wants Negra, that's all I can say, and I betrayed her. When he has her, he will come for Melodie. You should hide far away too, by the way. I had not enough time to come for Negra, I thought that I could at least save her..." This is what a man shaking with terror looks like. Lymp is not a hero. He is just part of this war because of fate. He turns towards his daughter. "Listen to me, Melodie. Your mommy is in great danger, right now, because of me. She is a very powerful witch, and therefore you are one too, even if you don't realise it. People will come after you too. But I will protect you, and this is why we must leave, all right?"

"All right. But then you will save mommy too?" She frowns at the tall wizard, clearly expecting him to brandish a sword, a steed and kill the evil ones.

"I will do what I can."

*

Albus Dumbledore is chewing thoughtfully a piece of steak. Minerva MacGonagall slices it methodically, Linstin Werton stabs it with his fork. It's another lunch at the teacher's table. The Great Hall is strangely silent these days, and everybody acts as if everything was perfectly normal. Lymp has not betrayed Negra yet, she is sitting between Snape and Werton. She is daydreaming, staring at Harry Potter.

This kid is cursed. But he doesn't realize he's not the only one. Luna and I are cursed too. And Remus and Lymp are also cursed. And Snape. And Dumbledore. And even Riddle... Surely she should tell what the Boy Who Lived is up to - honestly, brewing forbidden potions is not the best way to preserve oneself - but there is something in him that just tells her to hold on a bit more, and try to protect him under her fox form.

Luna's expression when Negra transformed under her eyes to counter a particularly nasty flow of power... Negra smiles at the remembrance. The girl could be quite funny sometimes - when she was not busy being exasperating.

"...werewolves?" Linstin opens his mouth with expectation. He can't do anything like everybody; this is what is so resting with the Ancient Runes teacher.

"Uh?" Negra has this tendency to forget the words like 'what', 'excuse me' and 'could you repeat please'...

"I was wondering if you knew that a new component has been found to ameliorate the Wolfsbane."

"Professor, you gotta be kidding me. I didn't know, is that true? For real?" Linstin smiles with pride, happy to have caught her attention.

"It is still an experiment, though, but I know you have friend werewolves, and you might appreciate to give them the information. The Headmaster has been so interested in that work that he asked me to be in his office right after lunch in order to discuss it." He is beaming with pride, and Negra leans over the table to look at Albus Dumbledore - who is still chewing the same piece of steak. Then she turns towards the Ancient Runes teacher.

"I have a feeling that it is not what our very much respected Headmaster wants to discuss with you." Linstin Werton shows real surprise at her words. She frowns. "You don't truly believe that one of the most powerful wizards alive would ask you to explain him how a potion works, do you ? I mean, even an experimental one, Linstin, you surely knows that if it exists, Dumbledore probably knows already about it. Or he would ask Snape, not you."

"Why do you think he wants me to come to his office, then?"

She shudders. "Oh, he most surely wants to share a cup of tea, my friend. I have stopped trying to find a reason in his actions. Maybe he wants to see you because a wizard left a message for you few centuries ago and he chose to give it to you today especially because youhad an owl from your grandmother... That is something he definitely could do."

*

Minerva MacGonagall adds few words in the big register, slams it closed, and smiles sternly. "Headmaster Dumbledore is busy, and he is very sorry that he could not talk to you in person. He hopes you will accept his apologies."

A side glance, a frown, and a faint smile. "I accept, of course. What it is that you wished to discuss with me?"

"You know the Glace family, don't you?"

"Ah. Yes." A leather glove holds a wooden cane. "I do believe that one of the teachers here belongs to that family..."

Minerva's brows shot up on her forehead. "You know? I am sorry if it is rude of me to say so, but you never come out of the attic, how can you possibly know about Professor Negra?"

The man crosses his legs. "I am a seer, Professor MacGonagall, and you may not have any faith in my abilities, they are very much real abilities. Furthermore, I happen to know Negra personally. But you surely know that, or you wouldn't have asked for me."

"Yes. Professor Dumbledore may have mentioned such a thing. May I inquire as to the exact relation between you and her?"

He takes off his gloves. Sighs. "Pureblood." He stares at his hands with a blank expression on his face. "Our families had decided we were to be married. We were a good match. But then, she killed her family, and the wedding was called off, of course." He chews his lower lip. "I was there. It was not an accident, as everybody seemed to think, it was not incontrolled magics... She knew very much what she was doing. She murdered them. I will always remember that feeling you have when somebody calls the power of nature next to you, Professor. Just like you give up your body to a much greater thing than your soul..." He leans back, staring into space. "I felt that again whan she came back. This is how I knew she was here.

"Why didn't you tell us that she is a murderer?! Do you realise the implications of such a situation?!"

Surprisingly, he laughs. A very bitter laugh. "You did not understand me. I said she knew what she was doing when she killed them, I did not say she was given a choice. You must know that Negra's family was famous for being dark. Actually, they were supporters of Voldemort. Her father was with the ones who went to Godric Hollow with the Dark Lord to kill the Potters."

Minerva is fascinated. "What happened?"

"I don't know." He laughs again. "Unfortunately, I don't know everything." And suddenly, he gasps, and his eyes go blind. All his body is tense.

"Merlin, are you all right?" He seems to fight for his breath, and he goes softly back to normal.

But his voice is nothing like soft: "Negra must leave Hogwarts, NOW ! He betrayed her !"