Domino One

"Remus and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"

He was sure it had been a dream. Though the details weren't clear, he remembered something about James, and a large black dog.... 'Was Snape there too?' Part of him didn't even want to know. The birds were chirping outside of the H-Wing window, and the sun was pouring in. The sun. It was a rarity during the dismal winters at Hogwarts, but when the clouds did break, it was as if the gates of Heaven opening onto the cold world. Yet, today, the sun hurt his eyes as it reflected harshly off the snow.

Professor Dumbledore stood quickly, looking over him. "Steady, steady, Mr. Lupin. You've suffered a series of injuries, and have lost a considerable amount of blood. Madam Pomfrey has given you a potion to speed up your bone marrow, and you should be better within the next couple hours. But until then, you must rest."

Remus's eyes drifted to his bandaged arm, and then to the other. He noticed an IV catheter hooked up to a vein in his hand, and a disturbingly bright orange fluid being fed from a plastic bag that hovered above and behind him. He muttered something in his exhaustion that neither Dumbledore nor himself could understand. A yawn overtook him as he raised his hand to cover his mouth. But stopped short.

There was dirt under his nails.

Not that a little dirt bothered him, but upon examination, there was dirt all over his hands. And as memories flushed through his mind, he realized with the harshness of reality that the events of the previous evening were no dream.

"SNAPE! JAMES!" he yelled, wide-eyed as he shot up from the pillows. He clenched Professor Dumbledore's robes. "Professor... I- oh God... Did I...???" He distinctly remembered biting something. Suddenly that one, half-memorable moment became all he could think about. Not even the comfort of Ana could save him from the wild hysteria that came with one facing his own damnation. He was nearly hyperventilating when Madam Pomfrey came rushing in. The last thing he remembered was a wand being pointed in his direction and everything going black...

* * * * *

Everything was dark, and quiet, and blissfully wonderful. He treasured the heavenly feeling of his own slow, deep breathing: the rising and falling of his abdomen with the air that filled it so fully, it was almost like stretching. He vaguely felt something soft touching his forehead, and the smell of vanilla and apples surrounded him. He knew before he heard the distant, echoey voice.

"Open your eyes, Remus."

He had never opened his eyes on a more beautiful sight. Ana was sitting beside him on the bed, staring down at him with her big, beautiful brown eyes. But his eyes felt heavy, and even as he could gaze at Ana for as long as he had sight, the feelings of complete peace and relaxation had not yet left him, and he let himself fall back into darkness. He could vaguely feel her tucking some of his hair behind his ear as she spoke softly.

"You're just waking up, Remus. Madam Pomfrey put you on a sedation charm." She paused, but he could still feel her touching the side of his face. "I need you to listen to me: you did not bite anyone last night."

Remus jerked suddenly, forcing his eyes open. Ana stared hard into his bloodshot eyes. "You did not bit anyone last night. Not James, not Severus... They're just fine. Not even a scratch."

He felt himself gaining energy as the charm wore off, but he closed his eyes anyway. Somewhere in the confusion of his mind, he managed to utter one word. "What?"

Ana paused again with discomfort. He heard another voice. Dumbledore.

"Would you rather I explain it?" the headmaster whispered.

The only answer he heard was Ana beginning the story. "Last night, Remus... Severus found his way into the Whomping Willow..."

"-James," muttered Remus, half-conscious as memories started returning to him once more.

"Yes, and James got him out. Both got out safely," she quickly said again for reinforcement. "But... I guess Severus saw you."

He opened his eyes to stare up at Ana once more.

"Professor Dumbledore is taking care of it," she said, nodding to someone behind her. He turned his head limply, to find Dumbledore still seated back in the visitor's chair. Moving helped him gradually return to consciousness, though he later suspected their topic of discourse helped a bit.

"What did you do?" he asked.

"Arrangements have been made where he is sworn to secrecy."

"No secret is safe with him," muttered Remus.

The elderly professor looked at him steadily. "For as much as you may think you know about Mr. Snape, I can assure you that I probably know more. Let me worry about him and his secrets."

"You'll loose your job," retorted Remus, though quietly.

Professor Dumbledore did not smile, though Ana saw a distinct twinkle in his bright blue eyes. "Young man, I have been at Hogwarts for more than half my life, besides my own schooling years. I have seen the times and nations change, the creation of new spells, and the banning of the ones that never should have been invented. I have successfully kept both students and faculty from harm's way, whether it meant from Dark Lords, or," his white moustache twitched in a hint of smile, "from themselves. I have served my time here well and without regrets, my boy, and I will keep serving here until the powers that be deem otherwise. And if it so happens that I loose my position for protecting the privacy of one of this institution's most distinguished and honorable students, then Mr. Lupin, I would be honored to give up my chair for such a cause."

Remus felt his heart twist in his chest as he raised his hand heavily off the bed. He reached for Dumbledore, who took his hand, and shook it firmly with a nod.

"All this aside," Dumbledore said as he stood, "I have dealt with situations more hostile than this in my time, if you care to believe." He stepped out of the curtained area.

Remus looked at Ana, who was smiling brightly. He even managed a small, shy smile. "Distinguished? Honorable?"

Ana nodded. "The man is a saint," she whispered.

He shook his head, baffled. "Somehow, he's more.... So much trouble just to give me a chance...it's as if he would move mountains for me if he could...."

"I'm sure he'd find a way," she smiled.

He turned his head to glance out the window. He couldn't see the sun, but it was still quite bright. The clock behind him read, "11:52." 'Lunch time,' he said to himself instinctively. He was, in fact quite hungry. But that brought back a memory, though it was vague...

"Ana, are you sure I didn't bite anyone?"

She spun around quickly and peaked out of the curtain before turning back. She bent in low to him, and whispered. "You didn't bite Snape or James. But Remus, there's more to the story than Dumbledore knows..."

There was a seriousness in her eyes that captured his full attention.

"Do you remember, back when I first came to Hogwarts, the time when you took me to the kitchens for the first time?"

He fought the urge to smile, due to the gravity of the situation. "You taught me how to make pancakes," he nodded.

"That's the one," she said, unable to hide a small grin. "You told me then that James, Sirius... all of them were the most loyal friends anyone could ever want."

He frowned, wondering where this could go. "Yes, I remember. They still are. Especially James, after last night."

Ana nodded slowly. "Remus, you have no idea.... Do you know what your birthday gift was supposed to be?"

"A clean dormitory?" he hoped.

"No," she smirked. "They've apparently been working on it in secret for years... it's a special spell... they can turn into animals... or something like that."

His eyes became wide. "The Animagus Spell!" he gasped. "But... why?"

"Because, werewolf bites are only dangerous to humans," she said simply.

"Do you have any idea how complex that is? It's illegal to even attempt it without special guidance from the ministry! Then you have to register, and..." he trailed off. A horrified look spread over his face. "But they did it? Who?"

"James, Peter, and Sirius," she grinned. "...But... only Sirius has transformed so far."

"I can't believe it!" he whispered, his horrified expression melting into pure excitement. "When?" Then his eyes got really excited. "What is he???"

"Last night," said Ana, still speaking in hushed tones. "He's a dog. Remus, he's the one you bit."

The horrified expression returned. "Is he okay?"

Ana looked away. "Yes..."

He raised his hand to her face and gently turned her back to him. "What is it?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again. She fidgeted with her nails nervously. "Please, Remus, just remember that no matter what Sirius does, he acts out of loyalty and love... even if it doesn't seem like it at the time."

"Ana," he laughed, "what are you talking about?"

"Remus, just please remember it. It's not my place to tell you... Dumbledore wants Sirius to tell you."

"Tell me what?" Remus was beyond confused.

Ana bent over and kissed him soundly on the lips before she broke off, and dashed off around the curtain. Remus was so stunned by the kiss, that he couldn't try to stop her before she left. He smirked to himself as he walked on the euphoria of the news that he hadn't bitten any human being, that his friends risked imprisonment (and their lives) for his birthday present, and that Dumbledore had put his job on the line so Remus could stay at Hogwarts. He was smiling openly when Sirius stepped through the curtain, a black eye smeared darkly across his face.

"What happened to you?"

"James," he muttered. "Look, Remus, about last night -"

"-You dog," Remus laughed.

Sirius blinked, quite startled. He studied Remus's face, looking for something that he apparently did not find. Slowly, a careful smirk played on his lips. "Yeah... I guess." He shook his head. "Ana told you?"

"She told me everything!" grinned Remus.

Sirius frowned, confusion written all over his face. "She wasn't supposed to..." he muttered under his breath. But then he spoke up. "And, you're not angry?"

"Why would I be angry?" asked Remus. "I'm thrilled!"

Sirius let out a laugh of pure relief. He laughed continuously for nearly three minutes until he had stray tears of laughter at the corner of his eyes. Even Remus joined in, still excited and high on painkillers.

"Bloody hell, Remus, I was sure you were going to kill me! I was up all night trying to think of a good excuse for doing that to you and Snape, but-"

"-Snape? What did you do to Snape?" inquired Remus.

Now Sirius really looked confused. "Snape? You said Ana told you!"

"About you guys getting him out of the tunnel, and about you turning into a dog, and me biting you - oh, so sorry," he grimaced. "Are you okay? Did you see Madam Pomfrey?"

Sirius looked grim once more. "Um, no, Remus, if I do that, she'll find a werewolf bite on my leg, and I'll be diagnosed as a werewolf... she doesn't know about the animagus form, and she can't. It's slightly illegal, you know."

"A crime worthy of life in Azkaban," added Remus with mock solemnity.

Scratching the back of his neck uncomfortably, Sirius looked sick. But he took a deep breath and continued. "So Ana told you how we got Snape out of the tunnel?"

Remus nodded. "Yes, and thank you. I owe you my life."

Sirius just stared him dead in the eye. Without the laughter, Remus could see just how tired he looked, especially with the black eye. He didn't say anything at all, just stared at him quietly, his eyes full of a thousand emotions. It nearly sucked all the joy out of the room.

"Sirius?"

His words were strained. "Ask me how Snape got into the Whomping Willow to begin with."

And Remus knew. Immediately. There was no question, no doubt, and no hesitation. Suddenly, the entire picture became very, very clear to Remus. The guilty look on Sirius's face, Ana's hesitation to say anything... the black eye...

But he didn't react. He just stared, mouth hanging open slightly.

"He was asking for it, Moony," sighed Sirius, watching his friend fight the early signs of shock. "He has been hunting you for years. And now he was going after Ana... and..." he stopped to break out into a grin, "do you remember the look on his face?"

Remus was pale with his mouth hanging open in sheer horror.

"Yeah," sighed Sirius, his grin dying. "That's the one." He paused, waiting for Remus to say something, but no answer came. "Look, Remus, I'm sorry if I offended you, I really am. You know I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you..."

Remus's eyes went unfocused for a few moments as he digested what one of his best friends had just told him. He fought for a definite emotion. Sadness, anger, joy, surprise, hatred... anything that could break the limbo in which he sat. He heard himself speak, his voice flat, and ungiving.

"You just let him into the tree...?"

"Not at first," said Sirius eagerly, excited by the response. "See, he saw you and Madame Pomfrey from the Library window, and I let him going after you."

"You let him go after me..." breathed Remus blankly.

"Well, Ana wanted to get Dumbledore, but I thought it would do Snape some good to get smacked around by the Willow. So I told her not to say anything and that I would take care of it."

"Take care of it..."

"Right," nodded Sirius, not even seeming to notice that Remus was just repeating his own words. "But of course, Snape wasn't at all deterred, so I figured I would stop it once and for all. I figured if a tree didn't scare him, a werewolf sure would. Give Snape a good kick in the arse, see?"

Sirius continued. "Then, of course, Ana figured out what had happened... must be that psychic thing she has, and James went psycho, and dragged me to the tree where he saved Snape, and I wrestled you (quite effectively, might I add), and no one got hurt!"

Remus just sat, stunned.

Sirius's shoulders dropped. "Remus, old chap, come on. Say something!"

Remus opened his mouth and closed it a few times before he found words. Even then, his voice was strained, and very soft. "I'm not sure I know what to say to you right now..."

"Accept my apology?" offered Sirius hopefully.

Remus hesitated. "Okay..."

Sirius almost laughed in further relief. "So all's forgiven?"

Remus stared straight ahead as he found emotion at last. "No," he frowned, though his words were simple. "I accept your apology. But I don't forgive you..."

"But, Remus..."

"Sirius?"

He stopped. "Yes Moony?"

"Don't call me Moony. Now please leave."

Sirius sat, stunned, before he nodded. "Okay Remus... I'll talk to you later..." he said softly, trying to avoid looking at him. He stood and walked to the curtain. "Feel better," he offered over his shoulder before disappearing.

* * * * *

Remus was let out of the H-Wing in the late afternoon, when Madame Pomfrey was satisfied that he had replenished his dwindled blood supply. The bandages on his arms had been removed to expose scars that reminded Remus of the blessing of long-sleeved robes. Lucky for him, the facial scars were less severe, and were easily reduced to near invisibility. Scars were rarely completely removed without the aid of specialized medi-wizards. A line as thin as a single strand of hair would remain in a hue so near his natural skin color, that it could only be distinguished with eyes inches from his face in natural daylight. (And the only person who was ever that close to his face was Ana, who would promptly deemed his scars as "sexy.")

It was almost the supper hour, but he was more exhausted than hungry (which was saying something), so he wearily dragged himself up to Gryffindor Tower. The Common Room was nearly empty of the other fifth years- most had classes right before dinner. Ana, of course, had a lesson with the famous Kezia Doppelle, so he would have the entire dormitory to himself. This was fine by him. He was in a foul mood anyway.

Entering the dormitory, he threw off his robes and his white undershirt and crawled into bed without worrying about his khakis. They promised to be wrinkle free anyway... He kicked off his shoes, sending them over the end of the bed onto his trunk. It took him no time at all to get comfortable. With a wave of his hand, he extinguished the candles that lit the room.

In the dim light of the room, Remus reviewed the day's events for the trillionth time. But that just made him angry, and frustrated, and sad, and about a million other emotions. He shuddered as he cuddled the blankets closer.

Just when he was dozing off, he heard the dormitory door open and light footsteps walk in. They weren't heavy like Sirius's, so he didn't particularly care who the visitor was, and he let himself fall deeper into his dream. The footsteps walked around behind him, and he heard someone kick off light weight shoes. There was a pressure on the bed next to him as some laid down at his side and wrap a soft, delicate arm around him.

"Don-wit-Kzia-'lready?" he murmured into his pillow sleepily, surprised to see Ana finished with her lesson so soon.

"Mmmmmm," came the soft reply as Remus felt her nibbling on his ear gently. Her hair fell across his face as he sighed and forced his eyes open. The room's only light was from the windows on the east side of the tower, which let in the faint light of the darkening sky. But it was enough light to show him that the hair that fell across his face was not Ana's.

It was blonde.

"Aaaaaaargh!!!" shouted Remus in surprise as he launched himself off the bed in one smooth motion. Grabbing his wand out of his back pocket, he lit the lights in the room, and pointed at the intruder. "BERENICE!" he growled angrily as he glared at her.

"Bonjour," she smiled seductively, stretching out on his bed, looking as lovely as ever.

Remus messaged his temples slowly as he sat down on Peter's bed wearily. "You just don't give up, do you?" he muttered. "How'd you get up here anyway?"

"I have my ways," she smiled, rolling over onto her stomach to give Remus a perfect view down her low-cut robes. She patted the bed next to her. "Why don't you come back to bed? Rumor has it you were in the H-Wing," she whimpered, sticking out her lower lip in what Remus figured was a sympathetic and an "I-want-to-shag-your-brains-out" look. The look turned into a daring smile. "I'm here to make you feel better."

It was not the first time she had cornered him since the Yule Ball. In between classes... in the library... in the W.C. (Remus wanted very much to forget that one) ... It seemed whenever Remus thought he was alone, Berenice would show up.

"Berenice," he said slowly and pointedly, "I want you to listen to me very, very carefully. I have been very nice up until now, but I have had one hell of a day, and I'm not at all in the mood for this. Now, however you got in here, go back the way you came."

"Awww, Remmy," she said, pouting slightly as she crawled off his bed in a hunt-like fashion, "Why don't you tell me what's wrong, and let me make everything better."

Remus shuddered as he stood quickly to avoid her pounce. "Berenice, what don't you understand? I am with Ana! Not you! You can have any guy in the school and-"

"I want you," she grinned.

Remus just frowned. "This is just getting really creepy, Berenice. Let go! Move on!"

"You sure that's what you want?" she asked, playing with the front ties of her robes.

He looked away in resistance. "Yes! For the love of God! Go!" He was well beyond annoyance. Sheer anger flushed through him as he fought the urge to resort to violence.

"But, Remmy..." she started.

"DON'T CALL ME REMMY!" he snapped, turning around. But suddenly, a blue flash skirted across the room, hitting Berenice in the arm. She immediately started shuddering. Remus turned to see Ana at the door, eyes filled with excitement.

"I can't believe I actually got her!" she exclaimed. Berenice was fumbling for her wand, shivering and shaking as if she had just spent the evening out on the castle lawn.

Remus was too flustered to smile. "A chilling spell?"

"It was supposed to be a freezing spell," she replied, smiling. "I can't believe I actually cursed her! This is the first time, well... ever... that she hasn't cursed me firs-"

"Ana? You all right?"

Ana looked like she was fighting for words. She looked at him, her head cocked to the side in a silly manner, and replied.

"RIBBIT."

Remus sat down on his trunk and rested his head in his hands.

"You j-just m-missed it, An-na," shivered Berenice, trying to sound victorious. "R-Remus-s was j-ust t-telling me how m-much he l-l-loves m-me!"

Ana glared for a moment before bounding across the room in long, frog-like leaps. She had just started slapping at Berenice when Remus got up, calmly reached for her robes, easily pulled her off, and put her by James's bed. "Ana, stay," he commanded.

Ana gave him a warning 'ribbit.' He was about to turn tell her not to ribbit at him like that, but decided against it. He turned back to Berenice, who still perched attractively on Peter's bed.

"I have tried being reasonable. I have tried being nice. I have tried being supportive," he pondered out loud, his voice growing more irritated with every statement. "But Berenice, I DO NOT LOVE YOU! I LOVE ANA, I ONLY LOVE ANA! NOT YOU! YOU SKANKY LITTLE WHORE, GET OUT OF MY ROOM!" he bellowed.

Berenice's jaw dropped as if she had never been treated so poorly. Even Ana felt some sympathy at the horridly pained look on her face. "But, Remus.... I l-love you..."

"OUT!" he growled dangerously as he tossed her wand to her side.

Slowly, Berenice, fighting to maintain her composure, slid off Peter's bed, and exited the room quickly.

Remus just shook his head and went back to his bed. With a wave of his hands, the lights went out and the curtains closed around him.

"Ribbit?" croaked Ana, now sitting on James's bed in the dark. As if on cue, James came walking in, followed by Peter. He illuminated the room with a snap of his fingers. He didn't even notice Ana until ...

"AAAAAAAARGH!" He jumped back. "What in the ..." he glared at Ana, who stared back, her face resting in her hand glumly.

"Ana?" asked Peter, recognizing her. "What happened to you?" Her skin was growing increasingly greener.

"What are you doing on my bed? The house elves just washed the sheets!" gasped James.

Ana gave him "a look" as she explained.

"Rib-bit, ribbit, ri-ribbit, ribbit."

James and Peter exchanged glances.

"What did she say?" Peter whispered to James covertly.

"Something about how little Timmy is trapped in the mill, I think..." laughed James.

A groan came from across the room. The curtains around Remus's bed flew open. "Can't a guy get any sleep around here? I come up here, planning on sleeping until tomorrow, only to find Berenice waiting in my bed, so naturally I have to argue with her, and naturally she has to chase me around Peter's bed and then Ana comes in, they exchange curses - hence the croaking ('Ribbit!' Ana agreed with a nod) - and unless there's something more important that needs to be explained, CAN I PLEASE GET SOME SLEEP?"

He was panting, with his hair sticking out at odd directions. There was a fire in his eyes hat looked as if he would jump on the next person that walked in the room.

This proved to be incorrect as footsteps climbed the stairwell swiftly, and Professor McGonagall entered the dormitory followed by two adults who could only be -

"Mum? Dad?" groaned Remus. The woman with graying blonde hair darted across the room and threw her arms around her son muttering something about an owl from Dumbledore. Mr. Lupin watched from the doorway grimly. He turned to James and Peter and shook their hands.

"Hello boys."

"Hello Mr. Lupin," they said as they returned the handshakes. Something off to the side hit the floor and started crawling around, scratching the floor softly. Mr. Lupin looked over to where the soft sounds were coming from to find James's empty, but disheveled bed. "One of you have a cat?" he asked.

"I do!" insisted Peter.

"You're allergic to cats," frowned Professor McGonagall offhandedly, as she too searched for the source of the noise.

Peter sneezed at her proximity.

Meanwhile, while Mrs. Lupin was still covering her son in hugs and embarrassing kisses, Mr. Lupin took out his wand with his Auror authority and bent down to the ground to look under the bed. He had just picked up the dust ruffle when he gave a cry of alarm and jumped back.

"Good heavens!" he gasped. "What is that?" Even Mrs. Lupin stopped her mothering to turn in alarm.

Remus wanted to cry. He tried to move around his mother to go assist his girlfriend, but she pulled him back.

"No, Remus, let your father take care of this!" she insisted.

Remus threw his arms in the air and turned back to his bed.

But it was Professor McGonagall who did the investigating. Kneeling down she threw up the dust ruffle on the bed and looked in. A horrified expression poured over her face as she examined it, until she squinted at the shape closer. "MISS ANBLICK!" she gasped. She fought to question the shape under the bed, but decided against it. "Come out this instant!"

There was a sighing, "Ribbit," but Ana soon slowly and sheepishly dragged herself out from under James's bed.

Mrs. Lupin gasped at the green girl standing before her. "This is Ana?" she questioned Remus. Her son had told her (after hours of persistent prying) all about the love of his teenaged life, the Guardian-in-training, Ana Anblick. The green girl (whose cheeks may have been a bit pinkish at the moment) smiled and waved shyly. Mrs. Lupin turned to Remus, "Are girls allowed in the boys' dormitories these days?"

"No, they're not," piped up Professor McGonagall shortly as sent Ana a stern look.

"I can explain everything," murmured Remus hopelessly, "if everyone would- DAD! Stop that!" Mr. Lupin had resorted to poking at Ana's arm cautiously with his wand. Ana glared murderously at her boyfriend's father, just daring him to do it again.

Mr. Lupin looked from his shirtless son, to the green girl, to Remus's disorganized bed, back to his shirtless son, to Ana, back to Remus... and sighed. "Well, son," he said uncomfortably, "if you really love, um... her ... we'll support you. Right dear?"

Mrs. Lupin had been staring at Ana. "What? Oh, of course." She didn't sound convinced.

Remus was breathing in a very controlled manner. "She-doesn't-normally-look-like-that."

Just then, Sirius walked in. He looked startled at the group of people. "Hey," he whispered to James and Peter. "Hi Ana," he said to the green figure without even batting an eye.

Mr. and Mrs. Lupin looked at their son dubiously. His eyes became unfocused on the ceiling as he pressed his lips together solidly.

"Why don't we continue this conversation in my office," offered Professor McGonagall uncomfortably. Mrs. Lupin put an arm around her son, and gently guided him to the door. Mr. Lupin followed. So did James, Sirius, Peter and Ana.

"Not you!" hissed the Professor as shut the door behind her. Stunned by the day's activities, they four looked from one to another quietly. Suddenly the door opened once more. McGonagall glared at Ana. "10 points from Gryffindor for being in the boys' dormitories, and," she eyed up her green figure, "whatever happened to you..."

She snapped the door shut once more.

The four just blinked at the door. It was actually Peter who spoke up first.

"So, Ana... I know this might be a sensitive topic and all," he muttered as he studied her green skin, "and I'll understand if you don't want to say anything... but was Berenice really on my bed???"

Ana just groaned (it was really more of a croak), rolled her eyes, and stomped out of the room.

* * * * *

Crazy and perhaps -from a third person point of view- humorous things resulted from a very serious situation involving a serious of youthful misjudgments on behalf of Sirius Black. But as any Seer, whether Seer or True Seer would be quick to tell you that rash decisions are more dangerous than any fire, spell, weapon, height, depth, or unknown power. Especially on the part of youth. For in youth, emotions are so volatile, that logic and any pure intentions are almost always lost.

Unicorn heads were artfully mounted on the black basalt wall above the fireplace in painfully twisted poses, glaring down at the dark figure below them. He sat, staring blankly into the embers of the blazing fire, neither moving nor blinking. He didn't even react to the knock at the great door behind him.

"Excuse me, my lord," came the meek voice of a loyal Death Eater. When no response was issued from the opposite side of the tall chair, the sound of a throat clearing echoed through the stone room, and the death eater spoke once more. "Lord Voldemort?"

Silence took over once more. Knowing it was not wise to speak when unaddressed, the Death Eater turned slowly back towards the doorway. But Voldemort spoke before any escape could be made.

"The trees... how old were they?"

"Which trees, my lord?"

"The ones in the fire."

"Maybe a hundred years old? I don't know, but I could talk to the giants, if you would like."

"A hundred years old..." he hissed, his voice as smooth as the licks of flames that gave light to the room. "Do you see what I see?" He didn't wait for an answer. He stood gracefully, and strode to the fire. "I see one hundred years of growth, prosperity... life, even, being attacked by a force so violent, that there is no escape. And in the end, after a long, yet futile battle, the fire will always win." The Death Eater nodded slowly, but did not respond. "And just to think that something as ancient and mighty as the wood in this hearth can be destroyed by something as short-lived as a spark..." he trailed off dreamily. After a moment, he snapped back to attention, his eyes angry and demanding. "Why are you here?"

"It's about Ana Anblick, my lord," the Death Eater spoke firmly, with a set jaw. "I have new information."

"Well, get on with it," he muttered, reaching for the flask of red wine stowed on the fireplace mantle.

"Kezia Doppelle has been making regular visits. It would appear that Anblick is gaining strength."

A dark smirk played on the dark lord's cruel visage. "It appears, then, that we have a bit of a problem on our hands, do we not? Where will she be staying over holiday."

"At Hogwarts."

"Of course she is. Dumbledore wouldn't let her out of his sight, would he.... What can you tell me about her social life."

"She's reasonably popular. Close set of friends, all Gryffindors. And," the death eater hesitated, "a boyfriend by the name of Remus Lupin."

Voldemort turned to give the Death Eater a curious glance. "Is he accessible?"

"I would imagine, sir," the Death Eater said quickly, "that Anblick would be invited to his home sometime over holiday. His parents are Aurors."

"But this is not certain?"

"No, sir."

He paced before the fire, his long, black robes trailing behind him, while the servant watched from the doorway. "We have some time. Let us look into this Remus Lupin. He may become useful in the future...."

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