Chapter Fifty: Successes and Surprises
“Godric Gryffindor,” Andrea said, reading the inscription on the hilt. “This was Gryffindor’s”but how’d I get it?”
“Maybe people can pull things out of the hat,” Lottie suggested. “Relics of their house’s founder.” She desperately hoped that nothing of Slytherin’s would fall out of the Hat for her. She never planned on telling Andrea what the Sorting Hat told her.
Andrea shrugged and returned her gaze to the sword. For something that was over a thousand years old, it was in very good condition. Lottie could not find a single dent on it, and it gleamed, even though there was little light. “Come on,” Andrea said after a few silent moments. “We should go back”Palmyitor nearly cried when we told her that you got separated from us.”
Lottie forced a laugh, though she didn’t find anything particularly funny about the moment. Ally’s death played over and over in her mind’s eye, and thick guilt rose in the back of her throat. “P-Palmyitor’s gone soft?” she asked in an effort to distract herself.
“Not exactly,” Andrea said as she led them through the tunnel to the headquarters’ entrance. “I just think she was mad that she spent so much time teaching you Occlumency before you ran off and got yourself killed without getting a chance to use it properly.”
Lottie wondered what Palmyitor would say if she found out that Lottie was sorted into her old house”would she be pleased or embarrassed?
“Rowe,” Palmyitor’s severe voice broke her train of thought. Lottie looked up to see the old professor standing, framed by the light from the headquarters, in the doorway. She looked surprised, but relieved. “What””
“I got the Hat,” Lottie said before Palmyitor could get angry. She pointed to Andrea who was still clutching the Hat in one hand and the sword in the other. “And I got a Horcrux.” She held up the tiara.
Palmyitor’s dark eyes traveled from the Hat to the diadem and back to Lottie. No confusion showed in her expression, but Lottie could still sense it there. “And the sword?” Palmyitor asked.
“I just pulled it from the Hat,” Andrea said swiftly. “It was Godric Gryffindor’s.”
“Gryffindor’s sword,” Palmyitor breathed. “Marianne said it was infused with basilisk venom. It could be used to destroy a”” Palmyitor cut herself off, but Lottie saw her eyes travel towards the diadem. The sword could destroy Horcruxes. Lottie felt a surge of gratitude towards Andrea.
“Well,” Palmyitor said suddenly. “No use in dawdling.” She turned briskly on her heel and strode to the entrance of the headquarters. Lottie followed with Andrea trailing behind, still dragging the sword.
“Fornax,” Palmyitor called. Lottie looked around. Most of the students were already asleep on their camp beds. Three beds were empty”hers, Andrea’s and Ally’s. Colm sat up still, his dark eyes moving wildly when they entered the hideout. He met Lottie’s gaze and turned away quickly.
“Any news?” Maelioric asked as he rushed out of his chamber. “Any”Rowe?” His surprise was much more palpable than Palmyitor’s had been. He looked at Lottie, and relief seemed to sweep over him. “You’re alive. Does that mean that Overton””
“No, Ally’s still dead,” Lottie said numbly. She suddenly felt extremely tired, but she couldn’t shut down the mental image of Ally falling down the stairs. “She got hit with the Killing Curse.”
Maelioric fell silent. Whether he was thinking or merely respecting the dead, Lottie didn’t know. After a moment’s pause, he asked, “Then how did you escape?”
“I was wondering the same thing,” Palmyitor said wryly. “Though after so many years, I’ve learned not to question it.”
“After Ally fell,” Lottie said, “Colm pushed me out of the way of another Killing Curse, and we got separated.” Out of the corner of her eye, Lottie saw Colm look up. His motion was matched by a mild leap in her stomach. Her mouth suddenly felt very dry.
She launched into the story, explaining the Sorting Hat (she left out the Slytherin part), the secret passage, and the Room of Requirement. Maelioric looked at the tiara. “And we’re sure that’s a Horcrux?”
“It’s definitely something Dark,” Lottie said, handing over the diadem. “It’s so cold”and it made me feel completely miserable.”
Maelioric inspected it, running a finger over its fine metal. “You’re right about that,” he said. “I bet that even a Muggle would be able to feel this object’s evil.” His eyes flitted towards the sword in Andrea’s hand. “How’d you get that?” he asked.
“Oh,” Andrea squeaked, as though she had forgotten it was there. “I put on the Sorting Hat, and this fell out.”
Maelioric took the sword. His eyes rapidly switched from an expression of mild surprised to one of downright shock as he looked at it. “But”but this is””
“Godric Gryffindor’s,” Lottie said, hiding any lingering resentment in her voice.
“Only a worthy Gryffindor…” Maelioric looked from the sword back to Andrea and his face broke out into a grin. “Well bravo,” he said. “Looks like you’re just as much of a Gryffindor as me or”or Neville.”
Andrea blushed, and Lottie suppressed a rush of jealousy. Palmyitor rolled her eyes, and for one bizarre moment, Lottie was sure they were thinking the same thing.
“Well, be that as it may,” Palmyitor said, “we can no longer stay here. The Death Eaters are aware of our presence, and the Dark Lord will soon realize that his Horcrux is gone.”
“Yeah, and someone just died too.” Lottie couldn’t help but feel a rush of growing frustration at the fact that Ally was dead and nobody seemed to care.
“There’s nothing we can do about that,” Palmyitor said swiftly. “She knew”you all knew what you’re getting into on these missions.”
Lottie didn’t have any response to that. She knew it was no use reminding Palmyitor that they were all teenagers. She rubbed her eyes wearily and asked, “Can we go to bed, then?”
“We have to destroy the Horcrux first,” Palmyitor said.
Outraged, Lottie turned to Maelioric, but he said, “We’ll probably be too easy to follow if it’s still alive.”
Lottie’s whine of, “But why’ve I got to be awake for that?” was lost as Palmyitor picked up the sword. The other students were rising and sitting, like Colm, on the edge of their camp beds, silently watching. Maelioric placed the tiara on the ground, and Palmyitor lifted the sword above her head. Lottie held her breath.
It seemed to happen in slow motion. The sword swung down and struck the diadem right down the center. It was a moment of magical destruction that was absolutely bizarre to witness. It was as if the little crown had been alive. When it made contact with the sword, it began to shrivel and writhe. It struggled against the sword, but Palmyitor held a firm grip until finally, the diadem lay perfectly still.
“Is it dead?” Andrea’s voice broke the silence.
Palmyitor knelt down and inspected it carefully. The thing looked almost pitiful now, Lottie thought, all dead and empty looking. “Yes,” Palmyitor said. “And there is no doubt that this was a Horcrux. Evil like that does not exist in many other forms.” She straightened up and glanced at Lottie and Andrea. “Well, get to bed. We need to plan in order to leave tomorrow.”
Now, Lottie didn’t feel the least bit tired. Reluctantly, she shuffled over to the beds with Andrea. “Erm, I think I’m going to sleep in this one tonight,” Lottie said, indicating Ally’s empty bed. It sat between Andrea and Colm’s.
“Lottie, don’t you think that’s mildly disrespectful?” Andrea asked.
“Why?” Coldness seemed to fill Lottie. She didn’t intend to tell Andrea the real reason she wanted to stay there. “Dead is dead. I like this bed better.”
Andrea shrugged and sat down. “Do whatever you want, Lottie.”
“Look, I’ve got to go to the toilet,” Lottie said. “I’ll be back.”
With that, she left straight for the bathroom. Lottie locked the door and stared at herself in the mirror. She was pale and clammy. Sweat speckled her forehead and her light hair seemed to stick out in every direction. When she came back outside, Andrea was asleep”or was pretending to be. Lottie didn’t blame her for not wanting to talk”they had a lot to think about.
Lottie lay down in Ally’s old bed and stared up at the ceiling. It felt like years ago they had broken into the Headmaster’s office”that Ally had still been alive. Lottie didn’t exactly miss her, but she did feel guilt. And then she felt even more guilt for letting her emotions run away with her. She had only just blocked Snape with her Occlumency”she couldn’t lose that edge again. She rolled over to her side.
Lottie found herself staring directly into Colm’s brown eyes. He lay on his side like her, his dirty blond hair falling lightly onto his pillow. As Lottie met eyes with him, she wasn’t quite sure what to say. Something immense had shifted.
As she sat there, staring deeply into his dark eyes, she did not feel the hatred or frustration of five years prior. A sense of comfort”a quiet warmth filled her as she smiled at him.
And suddenly, out of the deepest, most hidden pocket of her mind, Lottie had the urge to do something that she would not have told anybody. And she was sure Colm sitting there was thinking the same thing. She wanted to say something, but she didn’t want to ruin the moment. A perfect moment, Lottie thought would be if she held her hand out”and he took it”but she definitely did not want anybody else to see that.
“Thanks,” she finally said, hoping he would sense the greater meaning behind her words, “for saving my life.”
He smiled at her and Lottie’s heart leapt in her chest. It was a silly, lopsided smile, but it affected her even more strongly that way. Even without doing Legilimency, Lottie could sense his emotions”his pounding heart, his flipping stomach, his chest filled with so much joy that it might explode. With that same smile, he said, in barely a whisper, “Any time.”
They traveled back to Alsemore the next day. After a complicated series of Portkeys and Apparations across the country (to throw any Death Eaters off their tail), they finally took flight in Edinburgh. Again, half the group (Andrea included) Apparated with Palmyitor, while the rest took brooms back.
They flew in silence, though Lottie and Colm kept stealing glances at each other. Every now and then, they would meet eyes and Colm would smile. Lottie was very glad that Andrea wasn’t there to see this.
When not sharing private moments with Colm, Lottie’s thoughts remained on Ally. Andrea had suggested they go back to get her, but Palmyitor immediately dismissed the idea. A body was a body, and it was not worth risking more lives for it. Lottie couldn’t help but wince”whatever the Death Eaters did with it she knew would not be kind.
After several hours of flying, they landed on the edge of Alsemore grounds and made their way up to the castle by foot. Lottie was mentally preparing herself for what she would face back at school. Ally had been very popular, after all. People would want to know what happened.
She glanced over at Colm, who seemed to be thinking the same thing. His brow was furrowed, and deep frown lines were etched onto the side of his face.
As they walked through the tall grass to the castle, Lottie felt a shiver run up her spine. She kept her eyes on Maelioric, who was leading the group, and tried to put all thoughts from her mind.
The castle was just ahead. Its glowing lights brought no sense of comfort. Lottie looked through the golden windows, wondering. Surely Palmyitor had already told everybody what had happened. If she strained her ears, Lottie thought she could hear crying”or was that just the summer breeze against the trees?
The sound of Maelioric’s boots clunking up the steps brought her back to the moment. Lottie followed the silent procession and approached the stairs, where Colm, who had gone ahead, stood waiting.
Then he did something Lottie would have never been brave enough to do. He held out his hand. A rush of joy flooded the pit of Lottie’s stomach. Smiling at him, she took it, and they walked, hand in hand, up to the school.
“There you are.” Immediately after they entered the castle, Andrea bounced up to them. Lottie pulled away from Colm instantly, but couldn’t help but host a minor resentment towards Andrea for ruining their moment. “What’s wrong?” Andrea asked, frowning at the expression on Lottie’s face. In an undertone, she added, “Has he been bothering you?”
Lottie looked toward Colm, who was looking slightly crestfallen. “No,” Lottie said. “Not at all. Come on, let’s go to the common room.” She turned on her heel and headed toward the staircase that would take them down to the Palmyitor dungeon. She stopped for a moment and, despite Andrea’s bewildered stare, called back, “See you tomorrow, Colm.”
“What was that about?” asked Andrea once they had turned a corner and were safely out of earshot.
Lottie glanced at Palmyitor’s shut office door as they passed it. “What?”
“Colm? Since when are you on a first name basis with him?”
“Since he saved my life,” Lottie said, shooting Andrea with a glare so ferocious that she surprised even herself.
Andrea began to mumble something about “a lot of people” before their path was blocked by two Clynalmoy girls in their year.
Lottie blinked and looked up at them. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
“What are we doing here?” repeated the bigger of the two. She probably would have been pretty, if she didn’t wear the most furious expression Lottie had ever seen. Lottie recognized her as one of Ally’s popular friends. “What are you doing here?”
“I live here,” Lottie said, pointing to the Palmyitor clock behind them.
“Well Ally lived here too, and she’s not here.”
Andrea frowned and, in an undertone, said, “It’s been like this all day.”
“Ally is dead,” Lottie said coldly, before pushing between them to the clock.
“Yeah?” piped up the smaller of the two. “And who killed her? We know that you have no qualms against performing Dark Magic.”
“Are you joking?” Lottie spun around. She blocked the rage she felt from appearing on her face. “Why in Merlin’s name would I kill her? We’re on the same side of this war.” Despite the anger she knew that was bubbling just under the surface, she kept her face and voice calm.
“Look, you don’t even feel bad,” said the smallest one again. “We saw you curse Draco Malfoy in front of everyone and we know what you did to Edgar Payne in fourth year”that curse is a favorite of yours.”
“I was there,” Andrea said. “Okay? I was there and I saw what happened. A Death Eater hit her with the Killing Curse.”
“Of course you would say that,” said the taller girl. “You two are best friends. You were probably in on it.”
“Then ask Colm Scrivener,” Andrea said before Lottie could get a word in. “He and Lottie hate each other”and he was there too. He’ll tell you the truth.” Andrea stormed between them to join Lottie at the clock. “Now, if you don’t mind, Lottie and I are very tired and would like some rest.” With that, she pushed her way into the common room. Lottie took an extra moment to glare at the two before following her.
The next morning, Professor Clynalmoy held a small service for Ally in his common room. It was mostly his students, but everybody who had been on the mission was invited to come as well. Lottie sat in the back corner between Andrea and Colm, not really listening to the tearful eulogies.
Now, out of the heat of the battle and strain of travel, a similar emptiness swept over Lottie. Her thoughts were no longer racing, but calm and collected. Ally had died”that was all there was to it. And despite these other students’ tears, there was nothing to be done now, but move on. She felt the same way she had when Snape had finally been unable to break into her mind”hollow.
The service ended, and Lottie was roused by Colm tapping her on the shoulder. She took one look at the Clynalmoy common room, which was full of students who half-believed her to be a murderer, and left, still between Andrea and Colm.
Colm quickly broke off from them, wandering in the opposite direction to the Maelioric common room. Lottie and Andrea continued on in silence, each absorbed in their own thoughts. As they passed Palmyitor’s office doors, Lottie stopped and stared at it. “You go ahead,” she said to a puzzled Andrea. “I want a word with Palmyitor.”
Andrea frowned at her, but continued on the way. Lottie dawdled at the office door for several minutes, until she was absolutely sure that Andrea had gotten to the common room, and continued down the stairs.
She rushed past the Palmyitor clock, into the deepest dungeon, and stopped in front of Snape’s office door. “Enter,” he said after she knocked.
Lottie pushed open the door and stood in the doorframe, staring at Snape, who sat on his desk, with a quill poised against a piece of parchment. “I was wondering when you would come down here,” he said.
Lottie skipped the small talk. “You could have saved us,” she said.
The look on Snape’s face told her that this was exactly what he was expecting. “No, Rowe””
“Yes, you could’ve.” Despite what she was accusing, Lottie’s voice remained calm, her face blank. “You were at Hogwarts”I know you were. You could’ve come and said we were””
“Students?” Snape’s lip curled dangerously. “I’m afraid you had already blown that cover. Anything I would have done would have exposed me.”
“Well I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but maybe it would’ve been worth it,” Lottie said fiercely. “I’m a better Occlumens than you and I’m younger.”
Snape’s eyes flashed dangerously. From his look, Lottie could tell he was attempting Legilimency to break into her mind to prove that she was worthless. Lottie wanted to laugh”she knew she would be able to beat him.
“You are nothing like her,” Snape finally said, after accepting defeat.
Lottie had no idea who he was talking about, but smirked anyway”because she knew it would hurt him.
“You are just like your cousin,” Snape spat. “Just as arrogant and big headed””
“Thank you,” Lottie said coldly. “I would much rather be like Harry than whoever she is. She sounds like an idiot.”
Again, Snape’s eyes flashed. Lottie took advantage of his crumbling defenses to prove her point. With no trouble at all, she leaned into his mind.
Memories flashed so quickly that Lottie could hardly see them. A teenage boy with a big nose and greasy hair watched a pretty redhead laugh with a boy who wore glasses… The same teenage boy hung upside-down by his ankles, with his robes dangling below his head… He sat alone in a chair, head buried in his hands, so much sorrow in his heart that he thought he might just die”
“Enough,” Snape roared.
Lottie was brought back to the present and watched him. There was a savage look in his eye. “Enough,” he hissed again.
Lottie didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. Her next move was carefully calculated. Never breaking eye contact with him, she said, “The best way for your emotions to never be broken into is to not have emotions.”
Snape roared with rage again and slammed his fist against the desk. “Out,” he growled. “Get out.”
Lottie did not see any point in staying, so left the office and let the door slam shut behind her. Silently, she set off to the common room, a sense of triumph glaring in her chest.
Halfway to Infinity by Eponine
Chapter Notes: Thanks to my awesome beta, coolh5000! This chapter is dedicated to Neil Gaiman because he's a pretty solid guy who has certainly influenced me quite a bit over the years.