Domino One

Chapter 10: "New-Found Freedom"

"I know love - I truly do.

And now I see it within you.

Through your work and through your pain,

Through your hardships, backward gains,

It shines brightly; it shines true.

And this light shall see you through."

Remus sat, staring into the fire of the Gryffindor Common room at some early morning hour. The clock had struck one not too long ago. ...Or was it nearly a fully hour already? He had lost track of time, the clock was behind him, and Ana trapped him to his little corner of the settee.

She had fallen asleep on him some time before. It was the night before he, and the rest of the students would head home for summer holiday. While James, Sirius and Peter were nearly bouncing off the walls with excitement, he couldn't repress the feelings of sadness that waved over him when he looked at Ana. He was only sixteen. He tried to remind himself of that every time he kissed and held her, but as his eyes grazed over the girl sleeping in his lap, he knew that she was the only thing that truly made and would make his life complete. Playing with her hair gently, he smiled, and tried with all his might to slow time.

The clock struck two.

He combed his fingers gently through her hair as he rested his head against the back of the settee sleepily. He had read plenty of poetry in his day, and had enjoyed it thoroughly. His father was well versed in literature, and made a special point to make sure that his young son would be as well. But Remushad never grown to appreciate love poetry, which he promptly decided was because he didn't know what love was. In fact, he had set himself up to live the life of a werewolf, to carry his burdens to his grave, and not bestow them on anyone else... But as he leaned over and kissed Ana's temple with the gentleness of the early morning fog, the words of the great writers of the world he had read over and over again began to make sense...

He had never felt such ease before. He could get used to this. He was quick to remind himself that he probably already was. Closing his eyes as he let himself drift to sleep, holding Ana close as he spoke one last time.

"I love you, Ana...."

And all was quiet.

The clock struck three... then four...

Ana shifting positions suddenly awakened Remus. The very early morning sunlight was brewing in the east, adding a very small amount of light to the firelight that still glowed in the room, giving him enough light to see Ana's discontented face as she shook uneasily in her sleep. She made a small noise as she shook her head rapidly, waking herself from her own nightmare. For a moment, she did nothing as she stared at the ceiling with wide, dead blue eyes.

"Ana? What's wrong?" asked Remus. When she didn't answer, he ran a hand through her hair. While her hair had a layer of sweat, she was ice cold. She sat up sedately.

"The dream?" he asked gently.

She nodded, but tried to turn the conversation to other things. "What time is it?"

He turned to examine the clock. "4:25."

She rolled her eyes as she rubbed her forehead and yawned sleepily.

Taking his wand, Remus magically refluffed the sofa pillow Ana had been using, and set it back on his lap. Taking the cue, Ana snuggled back into her position, sighing contently as Remusapplied a warming charm on her. Remus watched her carefully as she relaxed once more. Not at all tired, he couldn't help but ask.

"What did you dream about?"

But Ana had already drifted back to sleep.

* * * * *

April, May, June... months passed over the students of Hogwarts much too quickly and slowly until the Summer Holiday finally began, leaving Ana at the mercy of the empty void of the castle. Yet, she was hardly left with more than a weekend when her tutoring started once more, this time in History of Magic, Arithmancy, and various other required classes. Dumbledore himself, who proved to be an excellent teacher, supervised everything from her course work to her personal life (as he worried the adjustment to living nearly alone in the castle would send her stir crazy). He made sure to eat meals with her, spend time with her, and while giving her many freedoms, kept her very busy.

Her studies were equivalent to a summer job, as Ana put it, except that her payment would be regular class hours in the fall. And on top of all this, Kezia'straining continued with a new twist. As Ana became more and more involved in divinations, they began making contact with the Centaurs in the Forbidden Forest, whereupon she was treated like royalty. Some evenings, she was allowed to spend gazing at the sky from their rock, under their protection, so long as Ana always kept her wand at her side. (Remus laughingly pointed out that Ana was more likely to hurt herself than protect herself behind her wand. Ana responded to that by throwing a laughing charm his way... and missing... hitting the mirror behind him, and absorbing the reflected charm in her chest. Even after the laughing charm was mercifully removed, five minutes later, she still giggled continuously for the rest of the evening).

But her powers were definitely becoming more precise and intense. Keziamentioned that she had never seen anything like it. Dumbledore was most impressed with her progress. Professor Pyrre couldn't have cared less. And Ana? Honestly, she wouldn't believe that she could possibly be happier. She was in love and well protected. And there had been no word from Voldemort in months. Though she knew he was still out there, his distance comforted her with the thought that maybe, just maybe, he had given up on her. Just maybe....

* * * * *

Ana sat on the steps of the caslte, burying her nose in her history book when Dumbledore came out and joined. It worried her immensely to see him join her on the low steps, for fear that his old body wouldn't stand up again, but she could still see the twinkle of youth behind his long, white beard. It seemed especially potent that day.

"And how is history treating you?" he asked, noting the book approvingly.

"As well as it treats anyone," replied Ana with a small laugh.

Dumbledore nodded. "True, true. But sometimes, it is people who cause their own actions. Take the Good Socerors of Skopje. They lived in a territory surrounded by dark wizards, but they still chose to leave the safe haven of their city and venture outwards to take advantage of better circumstances. They died because of the choices they made."

Ana thought for a moment. "Who says it wasn't their fate?"

"Perhaps, Ana.Perhaps," sighed Dumbledore. "But what would drive a people to go to such great risks to leave the safety of their home?"

Ana smiled. "The promise of happiness. They left Skopje to find a safer land, right? They probably thought it was better to die trying, than to live under the dark conditions they were."

"The promise of happiness..." sighed Dumbledore, pondering her words carefully. At long last, he spoke again, this time reaching into the velvety pockets of his royal blue robes and pulling out a piece of parchment. "I received a letter today, that I thought you might be interested in. Would you like me to read it to you?"

Ana nodded, setting her book aside and granting him her full attention.

He began. "It says, Dear Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, I am inquiring about the young lady who abides in your castle, one Miss Ana Anblick. It has come to my attention, and the attention of my spouse, that the girl in question has been confined to the castle grounds for some months now, for her own safety. While your institution is surely the safest place for the girl, I am writing to suggest that for a weekend, the Department of Wards and Protective Charms would be more than willing to create a haven on my property, in which the young woman may, if she so chooses, relax and enjoy herself in a new environment. Naturally, precautions will need to be taken, but these can be discussed at a later time. I bid you to consider my request with the utmost sincerity and faith in my intentions." At this, Dumbledore folded up the letter, and placed it back in his pocket.

Ana's face was melted in confused wonder. "But... who sent the letter?"

"It is signed, Geoffrey L. Lupin."

* * * * *

Ana woke up to find herself gazing up into a bright, cloudless, crystal blue sky. She was so comfortable that she didn't dare move- didn't dare try to wake up entirely. She just wanted to stay there forever. The sun blanketed her, the ground held her, and the gently breeze lulled her into a perfectly hypnotic state. She was sure nothing could make this moment any better, until she saw Remus lean over her, and kiss her lips gently.

"Good morning," he smiled down at her, his nose still brushing against hers lightly.

Looking around to capture a sense of where she was, Ana caught a glimpse of the red and white checkered blanket that she laid on. Slowly, she drifted out of her reverie.

"I fell asleep?" she groaned. "Oh, Remus, I'm sorry! How long was I out?"

"Only a half hour," he smiled as she sat up. The picnic basket still sat next to them, and not far beyond, Ana could see the Lupins' Cottage. She couldn't believe that Dumbledore let her spend a weekend here. Even with Remus's dad being an Auror, she was sure he'd see too many risks. She didn't even think that Remus's parents would want to take on the challenge. But when she saw Mrs. Lupin's grinning face (one very different from her visions) and twinkling eyes at her only son's first girlfriend (who had shed her green skin since the last time they had met), she suddenly understood everything. And Ana was grateful. She needed to get out of the castle.

"Sorry," smiled Ana sheepishly.

Remus just smiled as he brushed some of her hair behind her ears. He looked into her eyes for a little while and Ana wished she could guiltlessly read his mind. Of course, she was getting better at it, but she would never do it. What she had heard in people's minds was not pretty. But she had a feeling he was thinking the exact same thing she was. And so he was.

"I wish you didn't have to go back tonight," he said quietly.

"Oh, Moony, we'll still see each other." It was true. Dumbledore, not wanting to drive Ana mad, allowed Remus and the rest to come and visit her at will. She was given a private room with a private Flooconnection, where they could visit her. They did almost daily, much to Mr. Filch's dismay. He had already run into some of the "projects" they were working on for the return of the students, now about a month in the future. Sirius, James and the rest didn't seem to mind either. It was almost frightening to see that all-too familiar gleam in their eyes at the prospect of an unsupervised castle...

Remus smiled at her weakly. They both knew it was different here. Mr. Lupin had a picnic the week before she arrived and all of his most trusted coworkers from the Ministry's Defense Office came to erect hundreds of protective spells on their property. But no one could tell by looking at it. It was wide and open, only bordered by thick woods on the eastern edge, the North Sea on the west, and hardly another soul for miles. It was perfect. She felt free.

But suddenly, even as she gazed into Remus's eyes, everything began to spin. Quite literally, in fact. It took only moments before Ana felt herself being levitated and flipped upside down, her hair dangling and barely brushing the ground beneath her. She gaped at Remusin horror, who was grinning passed her to someone she couldn't see. But she recognized his voice.

"Look who finally woke up!"

"Morning, Miss Anblick!"

Ana glared at Remus, who was obviously trying not to laugh. Then she felt herself turning, and as he went out of view, she found herself staring at an upside-down James and Sirius.

"Ana," frowned James, a playful gleam in his eye as he knelt down to stare her face to upside-down face, "you seem to be a bit inverted."

She looked at Sirius, who was grinning, as he held his wand out steadily. "Sirius, love, do put me down."

"Oh, I'm sorry," he grinned (way too) innocently, "did I do that?" He made no move to change her position. The blood was rushing to Ana's head as she sighed, reached for her own wand,and in a graceful motion, levitated Sirius and flipped him upside down as well. "Hey!" he gasped and laughed simultaneously. Ana could hear James and Remus snickering behind her.

"Little help, Remus?" muttered Sirius, his curly black hair poofing out nicely with the help of gravity.

"Don't look at me!" came the laughing reply.

Ana smiled as Sirius frowned at her boyfriend. "Sirius, love?"

He glanced at her. "Yes, Miss Anblick?"

"Please turn me right side up."

Sighing, he flipped her around.

"Good, now put me down."

He did so. Ana immediately sat down, dizzy from her inverted experience. She turned to the picnic basket and picked out a bottle of water to clear her head.

"Ana, love?" came Sirius's impatient voice.

"Yes, Mr. Black?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

Ana turned back to look at Sirius, who had his arms folded in front of him as he hovered above the ground. She smiled innocently. "What, you want some food too?"

"Ana..." he grumbled warningly.

She smiled. "All right, Sirius." At that, she flipped him until his was horizontal, and dropped him flat on his face.

"Thanks..." he groaned as he picked himself off the ground.

"So where'sLily and Peter?"

"Lily's at her sister's engagement party," said James.

"Oh, not that Dursley guy!" gasped Ana.

"I'm afraid so."

"Peter's not coming," said Remus. "He said he had something to do."

Sirius looked over. "Like what?"

"He didn't say. Just said he couldn't come."

Ana shrugged."Maybe it's just as well. He's not the best flier."

James nodded as he bent down to pick up the brooms that were piled next to his feet. They had unanimously decided that they were going to teach Ana how to fly. (Ana had been conveniently left out of the vote.) She stared nervously at the brooms.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked, frowning nervously.

"You'll be fine. We're the best teachers around!"

Ana eyed all of them up carefully. "That's a frightening thought..."

Remus took her hand as he led her after the Sirius and James led her down the hill towards the sea. "I won't let anything happen to you," he promised lovingly, though Ana took little comfort.

A few yards away, they came to an edge of a particularly steep hill. It was almost a cliff, without the rugged rocks. "We call this place "Deadman'sDitch," grinned Sirius with a wild glint in his eye.

Ana paled. "Oh... that's great..." She turned and tried to walk away, but Remus caught her shoulders, and turned her around swiftly. She hardly listened to them as they explained the basics of flying. She was too busy looking at the nearly 15 meter drop. But before she knew it, the most dreaded phrase came from James's mouth.

"Okay, now you try!"

She looked up. He was already hovering easily on his broom, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Sirius was doing it too, except he was circling the whole group. She frowned at their casualness. "Can't we try it on flat ground first?"

"What's the fun in that?" frowned Sirius, as if he seriously wondered.

Ana just sighed."Okay, I can do this," she muttered as she summoned her broom and mounted it.

"Good, now kick off!"

As Ana did so, she suddenly felt herself tilt to one side, and fall upside down under her broom. She held on with all her might, muttering a string of curses that quite impressed Sirius, as he coolly glided up to her, and towed her back to a place where she could feel the ground. She dumped herself onto the grass in a heap.

"Good, except for the balance," smiled Remus as he helped her up. She glared at him as she snatched the broom from Sirius and moved to try again. She had been flying before- sharing a broom with Remus as he held onto her. But this was significantly different. She kicked off the ground, much like the last time.

But same thing. She immediately toppled over.

"Steady, Ana!" laughed James. All the guys couldn't help but smirk. But every single time, Ana fell one way or the other, leaving her dangling at the mercy of gravity, waiting for Sirius or James to save her.

After about ten tries, she gave up.

"I've never seen anything quite like it, Ana," laughed Sirius.

"It's just not your thing," reassured Remus as he surveyed her annoyed face with amusement. "Come on, I'll take you for a ride." Internally, Ana flushed with embarrassment, especially since he himself was not the greatest of fliers, but gliding above the ground with Remusquickly relaxed her. As the wind whipped by her, and they dipped down to the sea below them, she couldn't help but not care that she was the world's worst flyer. She was in Remus's arms, flying. It was enough to take her mind off things, even her latest magical disability.

A bad experience when she young caused Ana to avoid swimming, or wading into water further than her waist (with the exception of bathing, of course). She had nearly drowned in the bay just down the hillside from her home in Maine, were it not for the rescue of her mother,. She never would forget the feeling of water pouring into her lungs, taking away all the breath she had.... Ana was never afraid to admit that her worst fear was drowning. Choking was a close second.

And yet, in all these things, Ana loved the ocean. When she was younger, she would sit on the hills outside of her home and just gaze down at the water. Sometimes, before the natural teenage aversion of early-morning hours set in, her mother and she would get up and watch the sunrise over the water, which gleamed of silver silk in the morning dawn. In just the right conditions, one could hardly make out a horizon line, and the sea and the sky would become as one... And that was, as her mother would tell her, "when the world could kiss the heavens." Ana suspected her mother thought of her father during those times.

Remus's cottage reminded her so much of home. Lying on the eastern coast of England, though only kilometers from the nearest town, it seemed isolated from every whisper of the world. Smiling, Ana leaned back into Remus'sarms as they soared towards the water, feeling no ill; just peace. Peace like none she had felt in a long while. Peace like much of the world never has the privilege of feeling. It was, without better words, absolute peace.

But suddenly, everything that seemed so right struck Ana as horribly wrong. The smile faded from her face as she looked around, frantically. Something was wrong. The feeling attacked Ana so violently, that she turned and spoke to Remussharply and without hesitation. "Let's go back... we need to go back..."

Remus's hold tightened on her. "What's wrong?" His voice was light hearted and carefree. Ana quickly reminded herself that he couldn't feel it... the horrible sense of disaster that latched onto her now. Like watching a car accident the seconds before it finishes, or the lingering of a roller coaster at the top of it'slargest drop, Ana felt everything slow to a crawling pace as her breath was nearly taken away.

"Remus, now. I'm serious, take me back." The feeling was becoming more urgent, making Ana jerk her head from side to side, looking for something... anything... that could be making her feel so irrationally frightened.

At that moment, a few feet ahead and to the side of them, she heard James swear. "Everyone turn around. There's a boat down in the sea. They'll see us flying. Could be muggles. Let's go."

Sure enough, not too far ahead was a sailboat with a bright blue sail that nearly blended in with the water. Ana felt relieved as James merge in front of them as he turned. But suddenly, a sound cut through the wind whistling past her ears.

-BANG-

Almost instantly, James cried out as his left shoulder lurched backwards. Loosing his grip on his broom he fell backwards, leaving his broomstick flying on steadily as he soared toward the ground.

"JAMES!" yelled Sirius, as he dove after him.

-BANG- .... -BANG-

Something sharp hit Ana's arm, and she cried out. She heard Remus swear as he grasped her tighter. "SIRIUS!" he called down to him just as he was catching at James's robes, "SIRIUS WE HAVE TO MOVE! GET HIM BACK TO THE HOUSE! STAY LOW!"

Ana wanted to reach up and hold her arm, which seared in pain, but she didn't dare remove her hands from the broomstick. The world whizzed by her as Remusturned and dove towards the ground, not waiting to see if Sirius was following his lead.

-BANG- ... -BANG-

She could hear objects whistling by her head, and a small rock they flew by suddenly set off a small explosion of sparks.

Remus held her tighter as they whirled passed a few trees towards the cottage. Sirius, having the faster broom was already catching up to and passing them as they sped towards the house with alarming speed.

"DAD!" cried out Remus as he came within shouting distance. His father was already outside. Remus hardly slowed down as they reached the house, he just grabbed Ana, landed heavily, and shoved her in the house. Sirius hauled James in moments later.

In seconds, the entire house was filled with Aurors. Most of them ran outside, their wands extended, but Remus's father was pushing his way in. Ana spun around to see James, who she could hear crying out in agonizing pain, but there were so many people gathered around him that she couldn't capture a glimpse.

"Ana," panted Remus, as he took her and sat her down on a stool in the corner. He looked flushed and pale at the same time, contrasting against his bright hazel eyes. "Are you okay?"

Ana remembered the dull ache in her shoulder. She looked down, and was surprised to see blood rushing down her arm. The pain returned quickly, and with such intensity that Ana could almost feel it in the fingertips of her opposite hand.

"What was that?" she gasped as she tried to peel back her sleeve to get a better look. Remus helped her, going slowly and gazing at the wound. He stepped over to the kitchen sink, just a foot or two away and wet a wad of paper towels. He pressed it on the gushing wound just as she heard some of the Auror's speak up.

"We have to get him to St. Mungo's, now!"

Ana watched the scene with speechless worry. Remus stood between her and the crowd, and she could see him watching gravely. The lines in his worried face were deep and the tight set of his jaw only amplified the tension in his shoulders. On his dark blue T-Shirt, Ana could see where her blood had stained his shirt. But as she examined it for a moment, she saw the dark spot growing larger. She let go of the cloth on her wound, and yanked up his sleeve. Blood poured heavily from a raging wound in his arm.

She flew to the sink to wet another towel. "Mrs. Lupin!" she called anxiously. Remus's mom had been helping with James. She looked up and sped over.

Remus looked down at his arm and then shook his head. "Mum, go help James."

She was white with worry as she took the cloth from Ana and wiped away some of the blood, ignoring her son. She turned his arm, and her frown deepened. Ana could see just how much Remus resembled his mother by the lines in her pale face.

"No exit wound," she said in concentration.

Aurors came pouring in from the outside. One stepped up and spoke to Mr. Lupin who was kneeling next to James. Ana couldn't hear their words, there was too much other noise, but she saw him nod.

"Get him out of here," he said commandingly as some of his coworkers knelt to bring him towards the fireplace. "You stay here," he said to Sirius so sharply that he never got a chance to protest. He led him over by Ana and Remus. He looked up at his son, and went significantly paler at the sight of the blood traveling down his arm. He shot a look at his wife, who was pressing a cloth to the wound. She returned his gaze severely. Ana could see how close they were when they could speak to each other without saying a word.

"Take him with James," he said to her quietly. She nodded, and led him to the fireplace.

"Wait," said Remus quickly, turning out of his mother's guiding arms. "Ana's hurt too!"

Mr. Lupinturned to examine her shoulder. He sighed with mild relief. "Just a graze wound."

"Bullet wound?" she asked weakly. 'Probably went straight into Remus'sarm...' she thought to herself.

Mr. Lupinneither confirmed nor denied that as he turned to his wife and son. "It's nothing we can't handle here. Go on," he urged them off. Mrs. Lupin took Remus away, despite his protests, leaving Ana and Sirius. "What happened out there?"

"We were flying," explained Sirius frantically. "We weren't flying that, high, I swear! But James spotted a boat... we thought they could have been muggles... we turned back..."

'James turned right in front of me...' Ana recalled to herself.

"...that's when we heard a loud BANG and when James fell off his broom...."

"He was shot," whispered Ana.

Mr. Lupinlooked from her and Sirius to a couple of Aurors. "Take these two back to their homes," he said shortly before stepping out of the house swiftly. A woman Auror stepped towards Ana and put her arm around her.

"Come on, sweetie..." she said quietly, leading her towards the fireplace. Ana was hardly aware of anything that was happening anymore. She let herself be brought back to the castle numbly.

* * * * *

It was late in the evening when Remus stepped out of the floonetwork into Ana's room at Hogwarts. He was already tired enough from the day's events, but his mind was still running at full speed. Visions of James falling, of the wide-eyed horror Ana wore back at his house... everything flooded his mind. But as soon as he saw her, the very moment he stepped from the floo network, even if just for a split second, everything seemed to be right again. She was there. Alive. Living. Breathing. Safe. But as he sighed in relief from the ashy hearth, reality gently melted into a much different picture.

She was laying in her bed, looking over at him, her dark brown eyes flickering with the shadows of the firelit room, obviously suffering from a worried bout of insomnia. She sat up sedately, and picked at her fingernails in distraction. "How's your arm?" she asked quickly, but hoarsely and quietly. Her eyes never really focused on him.

"It's okay..." he replied, wondering if he should go over to her. There was an odd expression about her as she avoided his eyes. She sat there, making no move at conversation. It was almost as if she had nothing to say at all. "James is okay, too," he added.

"Is he at home?"

"No, not until tomorrow. The bullet nearly hit his heart. He's lucky." Ana nodded vaguely, still staring at her fingernails as she played with them.

A nervous pit grew in his stomach as he observed her. The dim shadows that surrounded her almost made her look untouchable- like a painting. Even in her pajamas and mussed hair, he could only see her beauty. But her actions... the wall that seemed to envelop her... it killed him. Slowly, he forced himself to approach her and he sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you? How's your arm?" He glanced at it quickly. A white scar slashed the outside like a shooting star across her skin, uncovered by her sleeveless pajama top. Of course she probably could have the scar easily removed with some regular potions and charms. But Remus knew she never would. She liked scars. She had told him on many occasions that they were distinctive. They showed signs of battle. They showed signs of survival.

She looked down at it. "The Auror cleaned it up pretty good. No pain. She said it wasn't too deep... just grazed me before it hit you..."

"Was Dumbledore upset?"

Ana frowned as she gazed over at the fire. "Weirdest thing... when the aurortold him, he didn't ask questions... he just came in the room and hugged me. He hugged me for a long time, told me how sorry he was... kept rambling on about he never should have let me go to your cottage..."

"Dumbledore hugged you?"

Ana shrugged."He blames himself. I could feel it. He shouldn't do that..."

Remus looked at her staring into the fire. He wanted to reach beyond the glass wall that seemed to separate them, but he settled for a meaningful glance. "Neither should you," he said gently.

She hardly reacted besides to roll her eyes slightly and lay back down, finally seeming to break from her sedate state. "Go home, Remus," she said with sudden acidity. "It's late. Your parents probably don't want you hanging around here anyway."

"My parents don't know I'm here," he said simply. "They think I'm in bed."

Her eyes opened wider. "You snuck out after what happened today? You prat! They'll be worried sick!"

"I left a note, just in case. They wouldn't mind, knowing that I was here."

"Remus," she groaned with pure agitation, "I only bring trouble. Why are you here?"

He frowned down at her. She was being unusually stubborn. "To tell you how everyone is doing? To see how you're doing? Just to see you? Do I need a reason to see my girlfriend?"

"What don't you understand Remus?" she snapped angrily, sitting up again and glaring directly into his eyes. Frustration, the same frustration that had haunted her eyes for the entire time he had known her, raged fiercely through her deep pupils. "You were almost killed today. So were Sirius and James. I put your family, the ministry, and Dumbledore through a terrible ordeal! Everyone's upset and tired because of me, Remus! Just like they always are! And this is not going away, and you know that. Things like this are just going to keep getting worse,and worse... until ..." She paused, lowering her eyes, and thinking for a moment.

"Until what?"

He could see the wheels turning in her head as she gazed at the bed comforter, the ferocity seeming to melt from her entire being. She relaxed and paused before speaking again, sounding vulnerable and frightened, like the child he had known mourning over the loss of her mother, in the September of the previous year. "Moony, can I tell you something?"

"You know you can," he said, monitoring her carefully, not wanting to interrupt her. She was pale and tense. Her eyes showed no sign of frustration anymore... just something else... something deeper.

"The vision that I keep having... the one that I keep having...." She gathered blankets around her as she described the dream. "I'm in a tunnel, Remus, running from Voldemort. And every time, Remus, every time," she repeated, "there's a dead end...he catches up with me... he's always there... every vision..."

She looked up at him simply, though her eyes and voice held a deep void that captivated Remus's attention. "I can't outrun him forever..."

"The Circle will protect you," he said quickly, fighting every urge to take her in his arms and hold her and protect her himself.

The anger returned in her eyes. "But not you. Not James. Not Sirius. Not Dumbledore, or your parents, or the Ministry...Lily... Peter..."

"Ana-"

"-Remus," she snapped, her mood flying back to anger with an alarming speed, "why don't you just do what you came here to do."

He looked at her, taken aback. "What?"

"Break up with me. End it. Not have to deal with this anymore. We've only been dating for six months or so..."

"-Seven," he corrected her.

"Still short enough to just stop and pretend it never happened."

He paused, to force himself to breathe. It was like an arrow went through his heart. "Pretend it never happened?" he breathed, hardly able to say it. "Just stop? Is that what you want?"

"It's what you want, you just don't know it."

"Is that what you want?" he repeated.

She glared at him. "Yes."

Her glare burned him so viciously that he almost recoiled. But despite himself, he smiled slightly. The rage in her was so fervent... so wild... that in some way that could only be detected by Remus, he could see right through it. "No it isn't," he said quietly.

"I'm a dangerous person to be around," she said, her voice beginning to shake with emotion.. "You'd be a fool to hang around me. You'd be an even bigger fool to love me!"

"And what about you?"

"What about me?" she demanded.

"No love? No relationships? No friendships? Say Voldemort is going to kill you tomorrow. Do you want to die knowing that you never loved? Look what happened when I tried to resist falling in love. It just couldn't be avoided."

Ana opened her mouth to say something but quickly stopped herself. Remus knew what she was going to say. He had planned that way. And she knew she was trapped.

"Remus, just please, go," she said wearily and waving her hand towards the fireplace.

"What were you going to say," he asked, smiling.

She collapsed back to pillow and rolled over to bury her face in it. "Please, Remus, not now."

"You know," he sighed, still smirking, "None of us blame you for anything. We know it's not your fault. And none of us feel any different about you either." When she didn't react he stretched out next to her. "Well, I guess that's not true. My feelings have changed."

"Then just say it and go," she whispered into her pillow.

He regarded her for a moment before sitting up, and hopping off the bed. "Fine, if that's the way you want it. My feeling have changed. Before I thought I couldn't live without you. But now, after this whole situation, after almost loosing you, I know I can't." He paused to reflect on his amusement. But the smile faded from his face. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he could hear the gun shots ringing through the air. "I almost lost you," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I almost... you almost..." he muttered, feeling slightly dizzy at the thought of it. But he just stopped. "I guess you want me to leave now..."

Remus watched as she rolled over to look at him. She wasn't smiling. She looked deeply pained. She could have said a lot of things in response. She could have yelled and told him that he didn't know what he was talking about. She could have cried, and ran out of the room. She could have smiled, and enjoyed the moment. But all she could manage to say after a difficult silence was a very simple and very quiet, but very meaningful, "I'm sorry."

He frowned as he walked back over to her and sat down on the bed. She sat up.

"I know what you say, how it's not my fault," she said, having to force the words out. "But try to see things like I do. Dad's dead. Mom's dead. He's after me, and other people are getting hurt..."

Remus didn't respond. He just wrapped her in his arms. "Don't. Don't do this to yourself, Ana."

"God..." she gasped as she shuddered. "The pain I must have caused your parents," she shook her head into his shoulder.

"They like you a lot, Ana, they don't hold anything against you. No one does. Only you. Let us be there for you. We know what's happened before. We know it could happen again. But we're still here for you, Ana. Let yourself believe."

Ana leaned back out of his arms. "I'm trying, Moony."

It was always a good sign when she called him Moony. "You know, it wasn't Voldemortwho attacked us," he said casually. She looked up at him with confusion. "He used a gun. A muggleweapon... part of why the Ministry wasn't prepared. They didn't think he would go near a muggle weapon. We still don't think it was him. Maybe a death eater, but not him."

Ana sighed as she pulled him down to the bed and cuddled up against him. "Can't we talk about something else?"

"Like what?"

But Ana didn't reply. She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. He nodded. The crackling of the fireplace certainly seemed like enough conversation for that evening.

* * * * *

Dumbledore was relaxing at his desk as Kezia made her way into his office. He reminded her very much of her grandfather in the way he dozed in his high-backed chair, breathing so evenly and quietly, that it almost sucked the energy out of her. She didn't want to disturb him, but she had other things to attend to that evening, leaving her little time to dwindle. Stepping lightly across the room, she touched his hand.

"Professor Dumbledore?"

He stirred to consciousness. After a moment of unfocus, he smiled slightly. "If I were to ever teach you one thing, Kezia, never grow old. Being old is one part wisdom, two parts exhaustion."

She smirked. "Can I get you some tea?" She didn't give him time to answer, in seconds, a fresh pot of tea was set at his right hand. She poured him a glass as he watched in contemplation.

"You have heard about the accident, then."

Kezia nodded slowly. "We all knew."

Dumbledore took his tea and dropped two brown sugar cubes into the piping beverage. "And you let it happen?"

"It's not like we wanted her to be attacked. It was fate. We were all certain."

The old man sighed deeply as he stared into his cup. "And what good will comeof this, Kezia?" There was an unnatural sharpness in his tired voice.

"We didn't see. Even if we could, you know I couldn't tell you. Circle rules. You of all people know that..." She trailed off as she observed the look on his face. Taking off his spectacles, he rubbed his eyes wearily. Underneath his exhaustion, Kezia could feel a very distinct feeling welling within him.

"Please, Professor," she begged, "don't feel guilty. Be angry, but don't feel guilty. You had no way of knowing...."

"Hildetrusted me with her daughter," he sighed. "Omritrusted me with his daughter. And look what has become of that..."

* * * * *

The chill that ran through the Dark Fortress effected even the dementors, as they glided cautiously through the corridors. The inhabitants did not dared to speak a word, nor the candles to flicker too much as Voldemort sat upon his thorny throne in the dim, shadowed hall. His long, sharpened finger nails squealed across his wine glass craftily as he glared at nothing in particular with his blazing black, bloodshot eyes. Very little movement disturbed the room. Not even the bruised and battered death eater who hovered inches from the ceiling in some invisible, paralyzing bind cared to be notice. Every once and a while, a few droplets of blood would fall to the floor from the hexed body, drizzling from a neck wound as the sharp spiked rocks of the ceiling meticulously pressed ever closer to merciful death.

A 'click' from the other end of the hall brought the attention of the Dark Lord to a man dressed in long, ruby robes stepping through the steely door. He closed the door behind him and approached, bowing low with sickening praise.

"I am here, as requested," he stated, his crafty eyes drifting from the floor to meet the evil before him. His unconcerned eyes flashed only briefly to the tortured death eater several meters above him.

"You have heard of the troubles with the Anblick?" inquired Voldemort as he sat, his chin rested in his hand as he reclined his elbow against the armrest. One slender finger trained up his narrow face to tap his temple dully.

"Indeed I have," was the reply.

Reaching for his goblet, Voldemort lazily extended it to catch a droplet of blood that fell from the death eater's body. He took a drink. "She is a threat."

"Hardly a threat, my lord," chuckled the man darkly. "For there is nothing that can overcome your absolute power.Not even the ministry, and all their men, and ever weapon in the world-"

"-Enough," the visitor was silenced. "I do not pay you for flattery. You know as well as I what it means for the Circle to be completed."

"It will not happen," ensured the man in the scarlet robes.

The dark lord looked mildly interested. "Is this something you have seen?"

The man nodded with a powerful smile. "Indeed it is. But it is up to us to make it happen. We must get to the girl. She is the most vulnerable."

"And she gains power every day. She is probably already a better seer than you," Voldemort sighed airily. He sized up the man before him. "Nonetheless, you will have to suffice."

"I have not failed you in the past."

"Of course you haven't. You're still alive."

"To which am I thankful, my lord."

Voldemort stood and paced before his throne. "Tell me what you know."

The man in the scarlet robes smiled again. "I have much to say. I have seen Dumbledore in my dreams. He is intent on keeping the girl as safe as possible for as long as he can. He will not let her off the grounds until she is ready to go to LeBab."

"And when will that be?"

"She will visit there, but will not be ordained until the summer after her seventh year at Hogwarts -on the Summer Equinox."

"The longest day of sunlight? What a curious day for a stargazer to celebrate."

"It marks the beginning of the lengthening hours of dark skies."

Voldemort nodded, but carried on with disinterest. "How will we solve this matter?"

"I suggest that we let our friend here," said the Seer as he gazed at the death eater hovering above them, "continue in the plot to take the young Anblickout of action."

"I have been failed twice because of this one."

"Yet we have no other way to get into or out of Hogwarts."

"There is little time. And Dumbledore will be expecting an attack."

"That is why we must do nothing. No threats, no attacks... absolutely nothing."

Voldemort glared at him for a moment. "This is the advice you are giving me? Do nothing?"

"Do nothing. The closer Anblick gets to being under the wing of the Circle, the more everyone will relax."

"How long?"

"Her seventh year. Near graduation."

"That's nearly two years. Her powers can multiply exponentially in two years."

"But the excitement of Lebab will cloud her psyche. The Circle of Sight will have more important things to think about."

Voldemort thought for a moment. "What of this one?" he asked, nodding toward the death eater above them. "Two years would make it impossible for this one to complete the job."

"Not necessarily. You remember your graduation from Hogwarts, do you not?"

Voldemort thought for another moment before a twisted, evil grin spread across his pallor features. He laughed darkly. "You have earned your pay today."

"It was my pleasure," the Seer replied with a pleased hiss.