We Got Lots Of History

Finding Allies

"Again."

"I am trying."

"Try harder." It had been this way for too long. She couldn't tell the duration of the time she had spent in the mountain. She had visited London a few weeks ago. Or was it months? She couldn't tell. She had to be perfect. Grindelwald demanded it of her. The problem was that after the fire her power seemed distant, somewhere locked away where she couldn't reach. She couldn't use its full capacity. It angered her. She seemed weak. She felt weak. Sweat was running down her face, she felt bone tired. How long has it been she was trying to unlock that well inside of her? But once again failure greeted her. He sighed before pointing his wand at her and muttered "crucio" under his breath. She knew the drill, she knew what to do.

She fell to the floor from the force of the curse. She bit her lips, she wasn't going to grant him the satisfaction of her visible pain. She curled into a ball and tried to shield her mind. It was a trick Aurors were taught in their training so as not to share information with the enemy. Back then she had thought it was bullshit. Now it was saving her life, her sanity. She tried to find a happy memory. Many people appeared in her minds eye, her parents, Minerva, Theseus. Theseus was the one she thought about the most. Even the thought of him settled her nerves. She recalled how he had looked in her visit near her home. He was hollow and depressed. He deserved better. He was grieving Leta and possibly her. But he still found the courage to carry on.

She used an old memory. They were in Hogwarts on their fifth year. Her and Theseus had been studying in the library when a Slytherin girl started calling her names. She tried to ignore her and Theseus shot a glare at her. When he finally had enough he grabbed his book and smacked her on the face. He was stuck in detention for weeks. She had somehow positioned herself there too, yet she couldn't remember what she had done. But they had spent the following months cleaning floors and dusting off Quiddich cups. The memory wasn't particularly happy but it was the moment she knew she had a true friend. Someone who would be fend her no matter what. Someone who was going to stay besides her quirks. That was the moment her heart first beated faster in his presence. And a crush was formed around his person.

She missed those days. The innocence of those years almost seemed to haunt her. Time was in a liquid form. She wanted to count the minutes that had passed, trying to pinpoint how long she was going to suffer. But she couldn't. She hoped from one memory to the other. Keeping her composure the best way she could. Hands were lifting her, trying to calm her down. Her eyes stayed pressed close. She didn't want to open them. Because for a few seconds she was in Theseus' embrace, or Thomas' and she felt safe. The world quieted around her. Someone was speaking at her as he carried her somewhere.

The voice was familiar. She knew him.

But it wasn't Theseus. For a few seconds, she had hoped that he had uncovered the truth, that he somehow tracked her. She knew that he was looking for her. She had seen him in his office way late into the night looking at a board with her face and any evidence he had for her disappearance. But then she banished the thought because then not only would he be in trouble and in danger but her plan, all the pain she had endured would have been for nothing. She was placed in a tub that was filled with hot water and with her clothes still on.

Slowly but steadily she came to her senses. Green gray eyes stared back at her with concern.

"I tried to stop him. He just won't listen." Graham whispered. "If you want to make the pain go away think of a calming space or time. It usually helps. I should know."

"Does he use the curse on you too?" Her voice was hoarse and barely audible.

"No." He says with a dejected sigh. "My parents did. They thought they could fix me. They didn't want an unruly child that had its own thought and opinions on blood segregation, you see I had to follow the family legacy. I wish I could to marry a muggle or a muggleborn just to separate myself from them, but they would never aloow it. And I wish that I could protect you from this. He only does it, because he is bitter about the fact that you a muggleborn, an advocate of muggles and their protection and despite that, because of that you have been chosen by Rowena Ravenclaw herself."

"How about we make a deal? You get to be, supposedly, with me, a muggleborn, just what your parents despise. And I get your protection. He won't be able to touch me or throw another curse in my way, because of you and your family. Your influence in his cause and in the world in general is too high for him to ignore."

"Deal. But only if you promise that there will be no kissing."

"I'll have you know I am an excellent kisser. It would be your loss really."

He chucked under his breath before muttering. "Fine. You have a deal."

"Great, now leave because it is very strange to be in a bath with you. No offense but I barely know you."

"Yet you chose to pretend that we are engaged."

"Wait what? Engaged?"

"Yeah. I will give you the ring this evening. If this is to work we have to pretend that we knew each other from before, which is true and that we are madly in love. Come find me later in my room. We can discuss anything we want there. And you will possibly have to spend a few nights there."