The Silver Doe

Chapter 34

~ North Tower Courtyard ~

Lillian didn't take long to recover, thanks to Madam Pomfrey. She spent, all of a total, four days at the hospital. Two of the days she can't really remember – this was the effect of having being kissed by three Dementors – and the other two recovering.

Leo came and saw Lillian each day, always shooting flowers out from his wand to cheer her up. Nobody could remember Lillian transfiguring into her Doe, thank goodness.

On the fourth day the entire hospital wing were uptight about recent news regarding Sirius Black. He was getting closer, apparently. Because of what happened, Dumbledore limited the Dementors but informed the school that he could not banish them all; for if Sirius Black were to get into the school then the life of the students would be in danger.

But Sirius Black was not all they were talking about; some were talking about Markus Knell's funeral. That was a beautiful, ritual ceremony hosted by Professor Dumbledore himself. Dumbledore had everyone weeping within seconds, but it was beautiful. Indeed. Lillian, nor Leo – for Markus was Leo's friend – could get over the death of their fellow pupil. Few students have died mercilessly at Hogwarts. Therefore nobody, at that rate, could get over it. Or ever would.

But eventually they progressed a little, apart from Dumbledore himself, and Mr and Mrs. Knell.

A few weeks later after complete recovery – still jittery with the thought of Sirius Black being near – Leo took Lillian somewhere.

At first they stopped by The Owlery and admired all the beautifully feathered owls, but then they moved on to the North Tower Courtyard of Hogwarts. Lillian had never been up here before, but she had the feeling that Leo was not unfamiliar. On their way up the stairs towards the Tower, Professor Lupin walked past them.

“Ahh, Miss Snape! And how are you this fine evening?” Lillian looked up at him. At one point she admired this teacher so much that her respect for him was overwhelming. But ever since he ignored her all those weeks ago and pretended that what she was – who she was – was a lie, her respect for him lessened. Yet, there he was, Professor Lupin, directing Lillian as if nothing had ever happened between the two. The last time she spoke with him he threw her out of his classroom bodily.

“Hello, Professor. I'm fine, thanks.”

“Where are you both off to?” Lupin looked scarce in his tattered robes and his face looked even more exhausted than usual. His awkward manner was enough evidence to elucidate that he couldn't wait to get away either.

“I'm taking Lily to meet a friend of mine,” Leo said. “She's waitin' on us the now...”

“Right oh then, I'll not stop you! I'll see you in DADA tomorrow morning, Lily,” he winked then abruptly carried on walking down the stairs and fled 'round the corner. Lillian watched after him; he was limping.

“He's always given me the creeps,” Leo whispered. “Dunno why, just has... Anyway, let's go. She's waiting.”

Quickly they both ran up the remaining stone stairs, past a few bickering Ravenclaw's then jumped over a flagged wall. Lillian spotted her from a mile. This was a friend of Sir Nicholas – The Grey Lady. Why was Leo bringing her to meet this ghost? Lillian had heard rumours of this woman...

"I've brought someone to meet you, Helena.”

The Grey Lady – who had previously been hovering restfully above an enchanted rose bush – turned around and, for a moment, she had a smile on her face but it was quickly wiped off as soon as she set sight on Lillian.

“You've brought me a Gryffindor girl, Leo? I don't like people that much, never mind outsiders, yet you know this already! And so please excuse me, I have some walls to walk through...”

“Wait! I said I wanted you to meether.... Lillian, this is my great, great, great, great, great - and so on - cousin Helena Ravenclaw.”

Lillian stared at the beautiful floating woman in front of her; she looked so demented; her hair was like a spiders web around her.

“This girl has many ghosts attached to her! She's a bad omen. One of the ghosts is even a child!” The Grey Lady went to turn away, but Lillian's quiet voice caught her before she disappeared completely.

“I know I do. Two are my parents,” Lillian said. “And the other is my little brother who born asleep two years ago this very day!” It was then when Lillian realised that never had she forgotten about her parents; her past. All those weeks ago Severus lied when he said he had obliviated her mind for her. Evidently he didn't want her to forget about her true past. He did, how should we term it? Give her short-term memory loss, I guess.

It was Lillian's words which made Helena stop, then turn. “His name is Sam?”

Lillian nodded, glaring at her. “Sammy.”

“He is very happy. Your parents, you say?” Again, Lillian nodded. Leo was mute the entire time, just staring at Lillian's furious face. “Your mother, for her part, is happy too. You look just like her.”

“Thank you.”

“She loved you very much, unlike my mother did of me.”

There was a silence. Helena came closer and inspected Lillian. “However in comparison... you're not happy,” she said. “You've been happier, I mean.”

“Is this why you brought me here? To be remembered of my harrowing past?” Lillian asked Leo, a crease appearing between her eyes.

“He brought you here because he wanted you to meet the only remaining member of his family. It's only traditional, do not condemn him for it! Leo... I need to have a word with you privately. I've been talking with Sir Nick. You must be made aware of this...”

“Whatever you've got to say you can say it in front of Lily!”

Helena looked insulted. Some Ravenclaw students were gathering around the courtyard – it was the time of day where they gathered to spend their last hour relaxing before their next lesson began.

Helena moved very, very close to Leo. Her grey eyes inspected Lillian's, then Leo's, before she whispered – barely audible – into Leo's ears: “They say that the Shrieking Shack won't be so infamous this time next week. The proprietor will return at the next full-moon and he won't be alone... That's what I've been told. I find it only reasonable that I tell you, so you yourself can warn the Headmaster. Right now we're not on the best of terms... I'll leave you now.”

With a simple quirk of her body, the Grey Lady disappeared into mid-air, leaving only a gust of wind behind.

“So she doesn't like people, huh?” Lillian climbed the wall and tossed her legs across the stone.

“Kids badger her all the time. Something to do with a lost diadem, she says. I dunno, but it's a shame really. You'd think once you're dead you'd be able to rest in peace... Well, in Helena's case, that's unlikely. I just wanted you to meet her for some reason; it felt right to let you meet her. Right there and then. Meh! It's strange, I know but just go with it.”

Of course it felt right. Fate was a very strong thing, and Lillian was fated to speak with the Grey Lady and for some apparent reason, the declaration about the Shrieking Shack stuck with Lillian for a long, long time.