Only the Brave

Chapter 36: Grains of sand

Interlude: Dorcas POV

Pandora finds her just as she steps out of the Gryffindor common room. It's Monday afternoon, and Marlene is getting ready for a Quidditch practice, so Dorcas is heading to the library to do some cramming. The NEWTs are hurtling towards her at terrifying speed.

"Hey Dorcas," Pandora says gently. "I was looking for you."

Immediately, Dorcas' gut clenches. "What did you see? Marlene?"

Her heart is in the back of her mouth, blood rushing in her ears. She didn't use to get so terrified when Pandora came to tell her about a new dream. When they were younger, it was like an adventure. A puzzle they had to solve. It was exciting.

These days, while the wizarding world plunges deeper into a war that's already taken too many lives to count, Dorcas cannot look at Pandora without fearing she'll deliver the worst news.

"Not Marlene. Let's walk outside," Pandora suggests, a knowing glint in her eyes like she can read Dorcas' mind.

Dorcas lets her blonde friend lead her through the castle. They walk side by side, arms brushing with every other step. Pandora seems quite relaxed, but Dorcas knows better than to let that soothe her. It takes a special kind of person to deal with a gift as terrifying as Pandora's without losing one's head.

If it weren't for her ability to stay calm at all times no matter what, Dorcas is certain Pandora would have already spiralled into madness.

Outside, the air is crisp but less biting than it's been before. They're half way through March, and spring is slowly but steadily pushing its way through. Winter clings to the early morning and the nights, but the afternoon sun warms their skin enough that Dorcas smiles as they cross the grass.

"It's about Regulus," Pandora says when they're far enough from the castle to be safe from prying ears.

Dorcas' breath hitches. "Another dream about him?"

With a solemn nod, Pandora turns sad eyes towards the lake, as though she can't bear to look Dorcas in the eye for this conversation.

"Why are you telling me?" Dorcas asks.

Pandora is very particular about who and how she tells about her dreams. She insists that interference from the wrong person could be catastrophic. This is highly unusual.

"Because I can't do it myself," she replies. "You know I can't involve myself directly in the war. If I were caught..."

A shudder runs through Dorcas. They've always known that Pandora can't fall into the hands of Voldemort. Someone with her gift... it would be catastrophic. It's why she has to stay on the sildelines, doing what she can from behind the scenes, but never in plain sight.

"Do what?" Dorcas asks.

"Regulus needs an anchor," Pandora declares. "He's going to dip into the darkness. He needs an anchor so he can come back from it."

"Why not stop him altogether?"

"It's already started. He can't be stopped. All we can do now is try to make sure he can make it back."

They stop walking at the lake's shore. Its mirror-like surface reflects the scattered clouds drifting overhead, pushed by the light breeze. Biting her lip, Dorcas considers how much she can tell Pandora. In the end, she decides it's safe enough. Pandora always knows more than she lets on, anyway.

"I'm going to help him," she says quietly. "We've agreed."

"I know," Pandora confirms Dorcas' suspicions. "It's not enough."