Cedric had taken a seat on the sofa as Sirius and Remus take an armchair each. Fred and George remain standing as they look at the two adults.
"Listen," Sirius says, leaning forward as he speaks. "Delilah is in danger, okay?"
"From Voldemort," Cedric states and Sirius nods.
"Yes," Sirius nods. "But also from internal forces. Her outspoken view on Dumbledore will not go down well with the man himself. She may not be wrong in her opinion however if Dumbledore sees her as a threat, she will either be eliminated or imprisoned"
"In Azkaban?" George whispers.
"No," Remus shakes his head. "Delilah is too valuable an asset to lose. Dumbledore is not foolish enough to throw that away"
"So what will he do to keep her under control?"
"Anything he thinks will get her to do ask he asks," Sirius is the one to answer Cedric's question. "He may threaten those she loves which is all of us, Stuart, Harry. Anyone"
"Would he use the Imperius curse?" George asks. "Then she'll do as he asks"
"Probably not," Remus replies. "A banshee's mind is fortified. Impossible to get into. That's why legilimens were never able to get into Meredith's head. No one can figure out why but Banshees are immune to magical borders and boundaries, legilimency and most of all the imperius curse. However, with the elder wand, it may have a different result"
"Is she right?" Cedric asks the heavy question that had been weighing on the tip of his tongue. "About Dumbledore? Him being the mastermind behind all of it and him being able to have prevented it?"
"We believe so," Sirius nods and the teenagers share worried looks. "But that sight is blinded for many by loyalty. Loyalty is a strong thing to gain and people tend to be blind to the truth until it smacks them in the face"
"How do we keep Delilah safe?" Fred asks.
"Stop her from saying anything negative about Dumbledore," Sirius' eyes showed concern for the auburn-haired witch. "We will have this conversation with her once she's lucid enough to understand. The walls in Hogwarts have ears and Dumbledore hears all"
"The fact that she's said it to his face has put her in more danger," Remus adds. "He knows she's against him. He knows she may possibly be able to sway people to her perspective. In that sense, Delilah is more of a threat than Voldemort"
"But easier to take down," Fred voices the unspoken end of Remus' sentence.
The man nods gravely as silence befalls the room.
The sound of running footsteps down the stairs causes the small gathering of males to rise to their feet as Ginny bursts in.
"She's awake," The girl says. "The bleeding started from her nose again but it ended pretty quickly, she's talking now"
"How much of our conversation did you hear with the extendable ear?" Cedric asks Ginny, an accusing eyebrow raised.
"All of it?"
"You mustn't tell anyone Ginny," Sirius gently holds the young witch's shoulders. "Do you understand me?"
"I won't tell a soul," Ginny whispers. "I just want Delilah to be safe"
Sirius and Remus split away from Cedric, the twins and Ginny before they head up to Delilah's room.
The witch in question was lying on the bed, her eyes watching the TV she had installed over the summer.
"Delilah,"
Remus' tone makes the witch pause the movie she was watching before giving her two godfathers her full attention.
"I feel like I'm about to get a lecture," Delilah sighs.
"No, not a lecture," Remus shakes his head. "But we do need to talk"
With a flick of Delilah's hand, the door slams shut and a red shimmer covers the walls, floor and ceiling.
"What is that?" Sirius asks.
"Stops anyone from listening in," Delilah replies. "Even Dumbledore"
"That's what we came to talk to you about," Remus says. "You're putting yourself in danger by openly speaking against Dumbledore"
"Who's going to take the word of a seventeen-year-old witch?"
"Quite a few members of the order," Sirius replies. "And I believe you're quite influential within Hogwarts"
"So Dumbledore sees me as a threat?" Delilah asks, trying to make sense of the words being told to her.
"With Voldemort being inactive and you being the one to oppose him," Remus takes Delilah's hand into his own. "There's no telling what he will do to keep you under his thumb because you're one of the only people in the wizarding world who stands a fighting chance at taking on Dumbledore"
"So what do I do?" Delilah asks. "I refuse to be his marionette"
"Listen to Dumbledore," Remus replies. "Do not let him take advantage of your gifts. If you have a feeling, premonition, anything at all, send us a message via dream"
"How-"
"Banshees have the ability to dream walk," Remus answers the question forming on the top of Delilah's tongue. "Whether that's to see another's dream or communicate with them through the medium of a dream"
"It's the only way you can contact us without Dumbledore discovering communication," Sirius adds.
"So teach me,"
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