Chapter Forty-Four: The Trial
September passed in a blur of boredom and frustration. The fifth years practiced Patronuses every lesson in Defense Against the Dark Arts and still nobody had succeeded. “If you are frustrated after merely one month,” Professor Iron said, “you might want to renew your patience. It takes most students a year to perfect the spell.”
“A year.” Edgar Payne slammed his wand against his desk. “You mean we’re going to be shouting nonsense, trying to think of happy memories all year?” Since his detentions, Edgar had not been on good terms with Professor Iron.
“Unfortunately,” Iron said, “it is hard to explain the state of mind to children who grew up in such abysmal conditions. It is not a lack of talent that makes this especially difficult to this generation, but a serious disadvantage from the state of our world.”
“I know what happiness is,” Edgar said, his chest swelling defensively. “I have loads of friends”and”and I have a family””
“Then why haven’t you produced a corporeal Patronus yet?” Professor Iron smiled. “Don’t feel you are behind in any way. The other two houses are having just as much trouble learning as well.”
“They’re learning Patronuses too?” Lottie asked.
“Obviously,” Andrea said. “Why wouldn’t they?”
“Well then we have to figure it out,” Lottie said.
“And beat the other two houses,” Edgar added.
Even worse than the humiliation of failing in Professor Iron’s class were Andrea’s Animagus lessons. Twice a week, she would leave for hours at a time and come back bragging about all of the theory and magic she was learning.
“If you’re learning so much,” Lottie always said, “then why haven’t you transformed yet?”
But becoming an Animagus was a long process”Lottie knew it. It was even longer than learning a Patronus. “Our goal is a full transformation by the beginning of next year,” Andrea had recited after her first lesson.
As the autumn stretched on, the leaves on the trees around Alsemore turned fierce reds, yellows and oranges. Lottie spent most of her lessons staring glumly out the window, watching them flutter to the ground.
The worst class of all, though, was Occlumency. It seemed just like a repeat of the previous year; Snape’s power was unrelenting and still not a single student had managed to block his attacks. Lottie felt the blame of her classmates on her shoulders. She was the best in the year, after all. If she could figure out how to block him, everyone else would stand a chance.
“Focus,” Snape spat after another one of her failed attempts. She lay on the floor covered in a cold sweat; Snape had forced her to relieve the attack on Beauxbatons”forced her to see François’s lifeless eyes again. “If you don’t focus, I can immediately find your most personal memories and exploit them.”
Lottie pushed herself up and glanced at her classmates, who were standing in a straight line behind her. “No offense, Sir,” she said, “but you pretty much know my life story by now. I have no chance if you know exactly what you are looking for.”
“Well, then you now exactly what to defend. Again.”
October continued to push on and soon enough, the Halloween feast had arrived. Lottie’s mouth was full, like always, of chicken, potatoes and bread. She only ever stopped to take a swig of pumpkin juice. Andrea, beside her, picked at her food, her attention apparently elsewhere. “What do you think they’re talking about up there?” she asked, jerking her head toward the staff table. Palmyitor, Maelioric and Clynalmoy all had their heads together in deep discussion.
“I’unno,” Lottie said through her mashed potatoes. “Old times?”
“Yeah, they sure look like they’re just kidding around up there.” Andrea rolled her eyes. “Maelioric never looks this serious unless something is happening.”
They found out soon enough. As the last of the pudding was cleared away, Maelioric stood up to address the students. “Well,” he said. “I hope you had a lovely feast. Underclassmen, you may be dismissed. We’ll ask the fifth, sixth and seventh years to remain behind for a minute.”
Lottie watched as all of the younger students filed out. Her heart fluttered as she wondered what Maelioric was about to announce. When it was just the fifth, sixth and seventh years left in the Hall, he continued. “We have an exciting announcement to make. We have planned a very important mission this summer.” The room was silent. Everybody held their breath. “To Hogwarts.”
The Hall burst out in excited chatter. “It will, however,” Palmyitor said over the noise, “be dangerous. You will train for almost the entirety of this year. You must put a lot of thought into whether or not to apply.”
“I’m doing it,” Lottie said.
“Also,” Clynalmoy said, barely heard over the students, “note that we are only taking one member per year from each house. You may get an application from your Head of House. If you make the primary cut, tryouts will be next weekend.”
“Wow,” said Lottie. The Hall around them also broke into excitement. As the upperclassmen stood up and filed out into the corridor, they seemed to have a new vigor. “Are you going to apply?” Lottie asked Andrea.
“I’m not sure.”
“What?”
“It’s not that I’m afraid,” Andrea said. “It’s just”we have to miss so much school.”
“Well why are you in school in the first place? We’re here to learn to fight”this would be a better place to learn than any.”
“But”my”you know”” Andrea lowered her tone “”lessons.”
“Oh give it a rest,” Lottie said. “Missing two weeks of your special time wouldn’t cause you to unlearn. You know if you don’t apply, you’ll regret it.”
“I suppose.”
They had reached the common room. Lottie sat down at one area of the long, oak tables. Andrea sat across from her. “What do you think the tryouts will be like?”
Andrea rolled her eyes. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Lottie,” she said. “You have to get your application accepted first.”
“You’re seriously worrying about that?” Lottie asked. “That’s not our problem. They know us. The only people they’re going to reject are people like Edgar”or Julianne. The nobodies.”
“What, and we’re special?”
“Obviously.” Lottie’s grin spread across her face. “Let’s get the application before breakfast tomorrow,” she said. “Just so they don’t run out.”
Sure enough, when they knocked on Palmyitor’s door the next morning, there was a stack of papers half a foot tall on her desk. “I should have known you two would be the first here,” she said flatly. “The inseparable duo.”
Lottie grinned as Palmyitor placed the application in her hand. “These are due next Wednesday.”
“Thank you, Professor,” Andrea said. Lottie and Andrea turned to the door, until Palmyitor’s voice stopped them.
“It should be interesting,” she said. “The pair will have to be broken up if one of you makes the cut.”
Lottie turned around, unable to ignore the hint of malice in Palmyitor’s voice. A quiet smile spread across the old professor’s face. Lottie frowned. “What””
“Come on,” Andrea said, grabbing her arm. “We’re going to miss breakfast.”
As they walked down the corridor and up the stairs, Lottie glanced over her shoulder. “That was weird,” she said.
“What?”
Lottie looked at Andrea for a moment. Palmyitor seemed almost thrilled at the idea of separating them. “Nothing.”
They sat down in the Great Hall for breakfast. Andrea ladled oatmeal onto her plate, but Lottie only nibble at the corner of a slice of toast. Palmyitor was right, of course”her and Andrea were going to have to be broken up; one would leave and one would be left behind. Lottie knew realistically that she would be the one to go to Hogwarts”she was best at Occlumency in the year”she was given all of the special privileges. Andrea was smart, but not what the war needed.
“Did you see this?” Andrea asked, as she peered down at the thick application. “’Please list all detentions disciplinary actions.’ Do you think you can even remember all of yours?”
Lottie waved it off with a shrug of her shoulders. “What does it matter? Palmyitor knows; if I hadn’t stood a chance, she wouldn’t have given me the application.
Andrea frowned. “I’m not sure if it works like””
Lottie slammed her paper down on the table. “’Recommendation by a teacher?’ Are you kidding?”
“What? Worried that nobody has anything good to say about you?” Andrea asked through laughter.
“No.” Lottie brushed toast crumbles off her application. “Even if they did say something bad, I would just go back and change it.”
“Lottie, that’s cheating. Besides, you can’t open it. That’s what the envelope is for.”
“Well then I’ll just use magic.”
“You seriously think Palmyitor won’t notice? Look”‘Do not try to magically open the recommendation; we will be able to tell.’ Plus, I don’t think you could open it if you tried.”
“Yes, I could.” Lottie pulled out her wand, as though to demonstrate, but Andrea grabbed her wrist before she could.
“Okay, you don’t have to show me. I don’t want you exploding my oatmeal. Who do you think you’re going to ask?”
Lottie sighed. “I’m not sure. I wish Breckenridge were still here. Snape would have nothing good to say.”
“You never know,” Andrea said, waving her spoon around in lazy circles. “You’ve been getting closer to blocking him, haven’t you? That’s good.”
“Getting closer isn’t doing it.” Lottie glared down at her toast. “It’s been almost a year”and I still haven’t””
“No one has. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
“Nobody will until I do,” Lottie said. “Lets be serious, Andrea; we both know that I’m the best.”
“Wow, Lottie. You know there are older students””
“I’m not saying I’m smarter”just”” Lottie stood up. “I don’t know,” she finished lamely. “I’m going to class. I’ll see you there.” Lottie stuffed the application back into her bag and swept out of the hall, leaving Andrea alone with her oatmeal.
It was something, she knew, that Andrea would probably never accept. Andrea was smart and would probably be the youngest Animagus in half a century, but Lottie had a special power”whether it was a gift or a curse, she wasn’t sure. It gave her privileges, that was certain. Because of it, she got special lessons, special adventures, special treatment”she also got the uncomfortable certainty that she had something very dangerous and important looming like a shadow in her future.
By the end of the next week, Lottie had turned in her application. She ended up asking Professor Dyer for a recommendation. They had their occasional falling outs, but in general, she had always been one of his favorites. On Friday night, Lottie could hardly sleep. Tryouts were the next morning, and Palmyitor would be posting the list of accepted applications right before.
She woke Saturday morning tired, but excited. Andrea looked slightly sick as they began their way to Palmyitor’s door. Sophie and Julianne tagged along as well; both had applied, but Lottie considered neither a threat.
There was a crowd of students around Palmyitor’s door. A crisp piece of parchment with a handwritten list of names was tacked on the door. Lottie watched anxiously out of the corner of her eyes as defeated students sulked away. “Excuse me.” She pushed herself closer to the door. The list wasn’t very long. It looked like just half of the people who applied got a tryout.
There it was”Lottie’s name listed under fifth years. She grinned. Of course. She hadn’t really doubted that she would make it. Under her name was Andrea’s and Sophie’s; none of the boys had been called back. “Awesome,” Lottie said to Andrea. “Time for a hearty breakfast, eh?”
Andrea let out a sigh of relief. “Yeah,” she said. “Now I just have to remember all of these spells that I just memorized.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Lottie said, snatching the study guide out of Andrea’s hand. “It will come to you.” To say that she was out rightly trying to sabotage her friend might have been taking it too far, but the thought did cross her mind.
They had a merry breakfast. After the food was cleared away, they waited outside the Great Hall with all of the other called-back students while the heads prepared. Lottie was disappointed to see Colm Scrivener and Ally Overton there with the other houses.
“What do you think they’re going to have us do?” Sophie asked anxiously.
“Duel, probably,” Lottie said with a shrug.
“And tomorrow, we’re supposed to meet on the lawns,” Andrea said. “Do you think we’ll be flying?”
“Merlin, I hope not,” Lottie groaned.
The door opened wide. Maelioric stood in the entrance. The sleeves of his white button-up shirt were rolled up to his elbow. His khaki pants were tucked sloppily into black boots. He had cast his cloak aside. “Congratulations,” he said, scratching the bottom of his bearded chin. “You’re halfway there, right?” The students chuckled nervously. “Today will be a long day,” Maelioric went on. “We’ll start with some basic target practice to warm up, move onto agility and dodging and finish the day with a duel. Ready?”
He led them into the Great Hall. The tables had vanished and instead bull’s-eye targets lined the walls. Lottie pulled out her wand and twirled it in a rather showy and complicated manner before turning to smile at Andrea, who did not smile back.
“Good morning,” Palmyitor said, as she approached them. The students were silent as the tiny click-click of her high-heeled boots echoed throughout the Hall. She wore deep red dress robes with wide sleeves. “We will begin with a simple exercise. You will line up”there”and run across the hall shooting a Stunning spell at every other target.” She pulled out a scroll of parchment and a clipboard. “We will take notes. Once you finish, go around us, so as not to block our vision. Understand? Go.”
A scrawny Clynalmoy was the first to move. He began running and aimed a spell at the target. His thin arms shook with nerves, but his aim was dead on. The targets lit up as he hit them, bull’s-eye after bull’s-eye, but his spells were weak; Lottie could tell it was not a true Stunner. Instead of burning scarlet, it flickered a dull pink color.
A brawny seventh year followed, and then Ally Overton. Palmyitor peered at the sprinting students over her clipboard. Once three more students had gone, Lottie took her turn.
Her first Stunner was perfect. Her second hit the target just slightly off the mark. Frustration caused her to miss the third completely, but the rest were much better.
She watched Andrea’s turn; it was consistent, to say the least. She had precise aim, but her spells were fairly week.
“Good,” Palmyitor said, once the last student had gone. She peered down at her clipboard for a moment as she said, “That was a nice warm-up. Now, everybody, stand across from a target.” She flicked her wand and the targets began to move up and down. Lottie chose a target near the center, hoping that the heads would pay extra attention to her. “It gets more complicated here,” Palmyitor went on. “Just hit the target, but it will get more and more difficult with every hit you make. Once you miss, step to the side.”
Lottie turned to her own target. It was moving slowly and predictably. She squinted at it and shot a Stunner. Bull’s eye. The target sped up, and she hit it again dead center. With each hit, it got faster and faster. Occasionally, a deafening buzz would fill the room and the unlucky student who had missed would have to step aside with their target flashing a bright and embarrassing scarlet.
Lottie didn’t have too much trouble with the first levels; the targets were fast, but predictable. It was only when it stopped moving rhythmically that she had a harder time. Her target buzzed after a poorly fired Stunner missed completely and ricocheted off the thick wall back at her. Groaning with frustration, she stepped to the side and turned her attention to Andrea.
Their next task was agility. Lottie tied her hair out of her face for this. The first exercise was simple”they took two laps around the Hall to warm up. Lottie smugly noted Colm’s huffing and puffing behind her.
Lottie didn’t find the next exercise quite as simple. The targets, instead of receiving hexes, began shooting sparks out into the center of the hall. The students had to do their best to not get hit. Lottie’s method was to stand inside groups of people and let them act as shields. The sparks stuck to their robes, so by the end of the task, the heads could count how many times somebody had been hit. By the end, Colm was almost entirely covered; Lottie had only two that snagged the hem of her sleeve.
After two more hours of agility tests, every person in the Hall panted and clutched stitches on their sides. Sweat beaded along Lottie’s forehead. Palmyitor seemed to be hiding a smile behind her clipboard. “Alright,” she said. “It’s time for the duel. Take these duels seriously”they influence the two people you will duel tomorrow, which heavily informs our decision.”
The three heads began pairing people up. Andrea got put with Sophie, and, much to her chagrin, Lottie got assigned to Colm. “Are you ready?” he asked, the sneer spreading across his face.
“Ready to win.”
“Everybody ready?” Palmyitor stood at the top of the hall.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lottie saw other students bowing to their partners. “Stupid archaic rule,” she grumbled, standing in a ready position. Sparks shot from Palmyitor’s wand, signaling the beginning of the duel.
“Stupefy!” Lottie shouted. Colm blocked it easily.
He shot another Stunner back at her, which she dodged. “Expelliarmus!” she yelled. “Petrificus Totalus! Stupefy!” Colm leapt out of the way of all three, but just barely.
As Lottie’s frustration grew, so did her aggression. Colm fired a few more Stunners, but it was nothing she couldn’t handle. She knew that she shouldn’t use harmful magic”not after the affair with Edgar Payne, but yet she didn’t know how to win without catching him completely off guard.
Finally, after much rallying of Stunners, an idea struck her. She aimed her wand not at Colm, but at the stone ground beneath his feet. “Reducto!”
The ground exploded. Pieces of stone flew in the air, only to land heavily on Colm immediately after. The blast shot him back several feet and he slammed against the wall.
All of the duelers seemed to pause in their fight to stare at Colm, who remained stationary for several moments, clutching his forehead, where a deep, purple bruise was quickly blossoming. Slowly, he pushed himself up. Unable to hide her grin, Lottie leaned against the back wall and watched the rest of the duels.
The students lined up the next day on the lawns. Lottie eyed the brooms lying on the ground warily. “Why are they testing us on flying?” she asked. “It’s not like we’re going to fly to Hogwarts.”
“You never know,” Andrea said beside her.
“Good morning.” Maelioric emerged from the front of the castle, bearing his usual cheery grin. “As you can tell, today, we’ll be flying.” Palmyitor and Clynalmoy stood beside him. Palmyitor had her clipboard again. “The course behind you,” Maelioric continued, “is where you’ll be tested.”
Lottie looked at the course. Hoops were suspended in mid air at varying heights. “We’ll only have everyone fly it once,” said Clynalmoy. “We do not have enough time for multiple rounds. So make this one count.”
Lottie looked around. Most of the students seemed excited; their faces beamed with anticipation. Besides a few lessons a year, and free time in the summer, the students did not get to fly much. The only other people who seemed wary were a few Clynalmoys and Colm. They lined up. Lottie chose a spot near the middle, and had to endure what felt like hours of the others flying through hoops, one by one. The course was challenging; sometimes the hoops stayed where they were, but sometimes they moved and the unlucky flyer had to manipulate to fit through them.
Finally, it was her turn. She mounted her broom and kicked off, not enjoying the experience of having absolutely nothing beneath her dangling feet. The air below her felt unstable, but she knew as long as she kept a tight grip on the broom’s handle, she probably wouldn’t fall. She approached the first hoop and slipped through it easily. She had to dive to get to the second one, but managed it as well.
As she turned to face the third, it swerved out of the way. Lottie pushed her broom to the right, but just as she was about to reach the hoop, it dropped several feet. Missed one.
The next hoop was too drastically above her”she could not have reached it in time. Missed two.
The next three weren’t very difficult, but the last hoop again dodged out of the way just in time. Dejectedly, Lottie slammed her feet against the ground at the end of the course, and thrust the broom in to the next person’s hands.
“Don’t worry about it,” Andrea said from her spot in line.
“Yeah. Whatever.”
It was Andrea’s turn. Lottie folded her arms and watched her friend take flight. She was a natural. Not only did she get through every hoop, she did it at astonishing speed. It seemed more natural to her than walking.
Once the last flyer landed and clumsily passed the broom to Palmyitor, the heads began to pair them up for their next duel. The crisp November air blew Lottie’s hair aside and caused the trees to rustle. The tip of her nose was numb, but it didn’t bother her. The sun was creeping down toward the horizon and an orange glow illuminated the castle, casting it in an unusually warm light.
Lottie got paired with Ally Overton, who wore an expression just as obnoxious as she had four years ago. Her brown bangs were pushed to the side, almost covering her eyes, but not quite. She had grown taller too. Now she was nearly a head above Lottie, who was by no means short. She practically towered over tiny Andrea.
Palmyitor shot sparks from her wand and the dueling commenced. “Stupefy!” Lottie shouted. Ally didn’t even open her mouth, but blocked it with a simple flick of her wrist. Lottie’s jaw fell open. Ally could already do nonverbal spells. “Stupefy!” She tried again, and again, Ally blocked it. Her cruel laughter pierced Lottie more than the chilly wind.
Something yellow shot out of Ally’s wand. Lottie stared. She had no idea what it was”she had no idea how to stop it. The yellow sparks hit her, and immediately she crumpled to the ground. Her left leg, where it had hit, was wracked with pain. Lottie didn’t know what it was, but she was completely unable of moving her knee.
From the ground, she pointed her wand at Ally, and feebly said, “Sectumsempra.” The spell was weak, but luckily, one that Ally did not know how to block. The curse brushed against her arm and sliced the skin open. The wound was shallow, but enough to give her pause for a moment.
Lottie groaned, clutching her knee. This unfamiliar curse was so unusual; the pain seemed to intensify with every passing moment.
Ally, still frowning about the cut on her arm, pointed her wand at Lottie again. Red sparks shot toward her; Lottie knew just what that was, but couldn’t block it, and with her leg, couldn’t dodge .The spell collided with her, and everything went black.
The next thing she saw was Ally standing with Palmyitor above her. Her leg still ached with inexplicable pain. “Cramping Curse, Rowe,” Ally said. She waved her wand once and the cramp that seized her leg suddenly stopped. “You should read a book now and then. Maybe you could learn it.”
Lottie groaned as she pushed herself up, cautiously testing the strength of her knee. “Interesting,” Palmyitor said from behind her clipboard. Lottie couldn’t tell whether the look in her eyes was satisfaction or disappointment. “You will duel with Woolbright next, Rowe. I suggest you prepare this time.”
Lottie opened her mouth to complain, but Palmyitor spun around and walked to the next pair of students. “But”I did prepare,” Lottie said to her back. How had Ally learned nonverbal spells already? That was completely unfair”to pair her with someone she wasn’t even competing against and who had special training. And now she had to duel Andrea.
This, she realized, was probably the deciding factor for who got to go. That meant she had to win. She cared about Andrea, but why should she have to sacrifice her spot on the mission just to make her friend feel better? Andrea would try to win too.
But”Lottie knew”Andrea would not use the Dark spells Bahorel had taught them that summer. Those spells were her only chance. She had to win this duel. She could apologize later.
Andrea walked over to her and shrugged. The pair exchanged knowing glances; it was awkward, and maybe if they both accepted it, it wouldn’t be a problem. They bowed”Lottie almost genuinely, as though to apologize for what she was about to do. Palmyitor shot sparks from her wand.
“Sectumsepra!” Lottie shouted. The look of betrayal in Andrea’s eyes was horrifying. Lottie could see the curse reflected in her thick glasses. She tried to block it, but it wasn’t entirely effective. By the time the curse hit her, it was weaker, but certainly still powerful.
The curse caused Andrea to stumble back and with a horrifying squelching sound, blood began pouring from the wound on her side. Andrea looked down. The surprise in her eyes was hard to see, because a splash of blood had splattered across her glasses. Taking advantage of the pause, Lottie pointed her wand again, this time at Andrea’s wand arm and shouted, “Reducto!”
The spell caused Andrea’s wand to go flying. A sickeningly loud crack followed, and Andrea fell to the ground, cradling her arm. It was a horrifying sight. Andrea was almost drenched in blood, which was still pouring from the wound in her side. Her wand arm stuck out at an unnatural angle, and Lottie could see a deep bruise quickly forming where the spell had hit.
Maelioric looked over from another pair and gasped. He ran to Andrea’s side and gingerly helped her to standing. “Rowe?” he called. “Help Woolbright to the hospital wing. You’re done for the day.”
Lottie stared for a moment. Was that anger flashing in his eyes? She didn’t even have to use Legilimency to feel the rage radiating from his chest. She stepped timidly over to Andrea and slipped under her shoulder to help support her weight. “Andrea?”
Andrea didn’t respond. The blood sticking to her robe was warm and dark. The parts of her face, which weren’t stained scarlet, were clammy and pale. And her arm”guilt flooded Lottie at the sight. It was even worse up close. Lottie could see a bulge where the bone was misplaced. Her fingers hung limply like dead fish.
Lottie half-supported and half-dragged Andrea to the rest of the hospital wing in silence.
Professor Waterman nearly fainted when they walked in. She swooped upon Andrea and immediately settled her into a bed. “Don’t worry, dearie,” she said softly. “We’ll fix you up in minutes.” Waterman pulled out her wand, muttering a few incantations and Andrea’s wound closed; her arm healed. Lottie sat stiffly in the wooden stool, staring slack jawed at the consequences of her duel.
Waterman presented Andrea with a tray of potions. “This is just for some pain,” she explained, “in case it returns. And this is a Blood Replenishing Potion. You should feel much better. Only remember to have a glass of orange juice in the morning; it can have some unpleasant side effects.”
Andrea left the hospital, thanking Waterman profusely and continued down the hall. Her bloody robe dragged behind her, and left a faint trail of scarlet on the stone ground. Lottie walked a step behind. “Andrea?” she called. Andrea would not respond. They entered the common room in silence, and Lottie went straight to her bed, unable to look her friend in the eye.
Guilt boiled at the bottom of her stomach. She knew it was wrong to hurt Andrea”but why should Andrea have expected her to give up the position just to be nice?
Lottie rolled over and looked out the window. Tomorrow the list would be posted. She knew her name would be on it”not Andrea’s”and that would just make everything worse. Of course, it was possible that they wouldn’t accept her because of her actions today. Maelioric’s enraged glare alone told her clearly enough that he did not approve of her choice of spells. But wasn’t that what she was supposed to do? They were here to fight a war. Lottie had won the duel; Lottie was the most qualified; it was just fair.
But how could she explain that to Andrea? She would be upset that she didn’t get to go, but it wasn’t like she was unimportant. She did have her Animagus lessons. That would work, Lottie decided. If she stressed the importance of Andrea’s lessons, maybe Andrea would feel better when she didn’t get it.
Lottie didn’t go to dinner that night. She sat in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She felt bad, but she was also excited”going to Hogwarts would be amazing. She would get to see the halls her cousin had walked in his days. Eventually, she fell asleep, dreaming of Hogwarts and Harry Potter.
When she woke, she almost leapt out of bed. The list”Palmyitor had posted it in the morning. Andrea’s bed was empty. The morning light was just glimmering over the horizon. Something told Lottie that half of the school had woken up early to see the list.
She dressed quickly, threw her books into her bag and ran out of the dorm. The corridor outside of Palmyitor’s door was full of people; Lottie could hardly get through. Her stomach seemed to be cartwheeling inside of her. With one final push, she got up to the door and stared at the list, searching for her name.
Except… her name wasn’t there. Lottie blinked. She didn’t believe it”she must have misread it. But”no”right where her name should have been, scrawled in black ink, was, Andrea Woolbright.
Everything inside of her seemed to stop. Her fingers tingled with numbness; her neck was cold and clammy. Her stomach was simultaneously sinking to her feet and rising up to her throat. She read the list again, knowing in the back of her mind that her name was not there.
Lottie stumbled away from the door. She pushed herself back through the crowd blindly. Instead of going to the Great Hall, she moved in the direction of the common room. All she wanted to do was get into bed and cry”and scream”and argue with Palmyitor”and never talk to Andrea again.
But there she was; Andrea stood at the top of the stairs to the common room, waiting. Her face was blank; her eyes were neutral, but Lottie could just imagine her silent gloating. Andrea didn’t say anything as Lottie ran by.
Lottie got to the empty dormitory and slammed herself face down onto her bed. No tears stained the pillow, but her face was contorted with anger. Who else had been on the list? She tried to remember. From her year, it was Andrea, Ally Overton and Colm Scrivener. Lottie punched her pillow furiously. She was smarter than Ally, faster than Colm, and a better dueler than Andrea.
What had she done to make Palmyitor hate her? How had she fallen out of favor? She was still the best in her year at Occlumency, even if she couldn’t beat Snape yet. That was it. Lottie understood with a sudden lurch of her stomach. She had failed Palmyitor”failed Andrea”failed the entire war. If she wasn’t the best Occlumens alive, she had no purpose.
Miserably, she collapsed. Her arms were limp; her legs trembled. Hopelessness filled her. She heaved a tired and furious sigh and dropped her head into her pillow.
In her rage, Lottie failed to notice Andrea, standing silently, watching pitifully in the doorframe.
Her office was silent. Professor Palmyitor liked it that way. The simple scratching of her quill”and silence”filled her with tranquility. There was a knock on the door, and Palmyitor looked up, eyebrows raised. “Enter,” she said.
The door opened. Andrea Woolbright’s mousy frame filled the doorway. “Professor?” she said meekly.
“Ah. Yes.” Palmyitor returned to her paperwork, moving her eagle feather quill rhythmically along the parchment. “Congratulations, Miss Woolbright.”
“Thank you.” Andrea shut the door. Palmyitor looked up. This was not all she had come for. Palmyitor placed her quill in the inkwell, and waited expectantly. “It’s about Lottie,” Andrea finally said.
“I see.”
“It’s just”” Andrea glanced around the room. “I’m worried about her. When she saw the list she”I don’t know”she just”seemed to turn cold.” Palmyitor raised her eyebrows. “And she’s been in the dorm,” Andrea said, “shouting and punching her pillow and stuff.”
Palmyitor’s face slowly fell. “I see,” she said. “And you want me to let her come.”
“Well””
“Are you willing to give up your own position for her?”
“No, but”but”” Andrea paused and thought for a moment. She glanced at the old professor nervously. “Why did you choose me over her? She beat me in the duel. Professor Maelioric was upset, but I know you didn’t care about her fighting fairly. She won. Why did you choose me?”
For a brief moment, Palmyitor faltered. Andrea had caught her off guard. “We chose you, because Rowe is””
“Being saved for something more important?” Andrea interrupted.
Palmyitor stared at her”at her eyes filled with an understanding that nobody expected a fifteen-year-old to possess.
“If her life is too valuable to sacrifice,” Andrea continued, “why isn’t mine? Learning on a battlefield is more important than learning in the classroom. And if I know my best friend”I know that the only way to break her spirit is to make her think she’s not as good as everyone else. I see what you’re doing, but doing this”trying to disconnect her from her friends”won’t make her a better Occlumens. It will just ruin her life.”
Andrea stopped and waited for a response. Color rose in her cheeks, as she surveyed Palmyitor’s neutral tone. When no response came, she said, “I just think”I just think that letting her come on the trip would be better for her”as a dueler”and as a person. And even if she can’t come, I’ll always be there for her. There are ways of becoming an Occlumens besides losing everyone you love. I won’t let her turn into a heartless killer, just because she is talented. Thank you, Professor.” Andrea turned and left the office, letting the door click shut behind her.
Palmyitor stared at the door for a moment. Woolbright was small and much more sensitive than her counterpart, but she did have the power to get things done when she wanted. Palmyitor pulled her wand out of her pocket and hissed, “Expecto Patronum!”
Halfway to Infinity by Eponine
Chapter Notes: Thanks as always to coolh5000!
This chapter is dedicated to the always excellent boys!