The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

65. To Whom It May Concern

"Lin, I'm fine, I can actually walk."

"I'm trying to hurry you up is all." I tighten my grip on Remus' arm as we descend one flight of stairs to the hall. With only a few says to go until the next full moon, he's quite rocky, and I'm not about to let him trip on the stairs.
Again.

"Am I too slow?"

"Yes," We dodge past a few first years, who give us strange looks, "I'm about to miss breakfast because of you."

"You have to sacrifice for love sometimes." Remus grins, scanning the Gryffindor table as we enter the hall.

"Moony," I tug at his sleeve, very aware of the eyes following me, "why's everyone staring?"

He shrugs, just as confused. Even a few of the teachers steal a few furtive glances. Lily, without a greeting or even a smile, pulls me to sit beside her. My stomach drops at the sight of the folded newspaper in front of her, of almost everybody. James opposite me speaks up, "Novak, you haven't seen the papers?"

"No." My mouth feels dry, my hands too heavy to pick up the paper, "Who- who's dead?"

"I'm sorry..."

"James please, what is this? Why's everyone staring?"

James doesn't answer, but looks down at his plate, unable to meet my eyes. Sirius reaches over to unfold the newspaper, and my stomach flips at the familiar black and white picture, the one that used to have a place on our shelf at home, "It- he- it happened overnight."

The face staring back at me on the headline screams aristocracy, and I can't take my eyes off of it, "My uncle?"

"He murdered ten people in the village you live in." Sirius lowers his voice, giving a sideways glance at two girls seemingly listening in.

"What?"

"And he carved into their-" James begins, but Lily kicks him under the table.

I look around the group for answers, "What did he do?"

No-one answers, trying me that it's something bad, something very bad. I snatch up the paper before anyone can grab it, and the familiar face stares back at me, beneath the headline:

'Mass Murder- The Real Start of War?'.

Forcing myself not to look at it, I turn the pages to find the article inside.

It seems the wizarding world will not ever get used to these horrific attacks committed by the radical followers of You-Know-Who, and needless to say, the latest atrocity is, by far, the most gut-wrenching.

It is well-known that the House of Novak has been one of the purest, and scandalous, families in Europe. At least one on every generation there's a lunatic spychopath, to put it crudely. Ahmet Novak is one of them.

Last night, the bodies of the Knightly family were found mutilated to the point of an unrecognizable bloodbath. The most chilling was the message left on Micaela
Knightly's back:
To whom it may concern,
The M*****ods pay for your mistakes.

A warning to the Ministry? A dire threat of what will come? Investigations have begun, and with the coincidental disappearance of Ahmet's brother, Dimitri Novak-

My stomach churns at the sight of my father's name, I know what's coming.

-it is highly suspected that the two
are working together.

I drop the paper into my empty plate, not wanting to read any more, "Excuse me, I need to go."

"Where?" Lily gets up quickly, grabbing my hand.

"I don't know." My eyes fall over the Slytherin table, and when I don't see Miriam, a stabbing pain hits my stomach. I wrench my hand out of Lily's grasp, already out of the hall before she can protest, and run off towards the dungeons.

"Miss Novak!" An unfamiliar voice calls as I skid passed the entrance to the castle, and I almost don't stop, but he calls again, more like a bark, "Miss Novak!"

"Yes?" Turning back around, I squint to see a squat man in a dirty grey traveling cloak, and I don't really need my glasses to work out that he isn't much of a looker. He beckons me over, and I do so briskly, "Do you have permission to be here?"

"No, I just wanted to reminisce my old school days." He growls, rolling his eye. Yes, eye, the other one is fake and states straight at me, "I'm supposed to accompany you."

"Accompany? Where? Who are you?"

"Moody, Alistair Moody." He says gruffly.

I barely have time to process the information when I hear McGonagall's voice echo behind me, "Moody, I thought we agreed on meeting in my office?"

"A coincidence really. I assume the girl hasn't been told, given she's been staring at me like a guppy fish." Moody, who I now recognise as the Auror, shrugs in a matter-of-factly tone.

"What am I not being told?!"

"Full of questions this one."

McGonagall decides to ignore Moody, placing a hand on my shoulder, "It's best we talk about this away from prying ears and eyes."

*

"You've got to be joking." I laugh, though it's bitter and empty of amusement, "Me? They seriously think this?"

McGonagall only presses her lips, unable- and presumably unwilling- to meet my eyes. Instead it's Moody, from the corner on his stool, who speaks up, "You will only have to testify-"

"They're accusing me of being a death-eater! Helping kill people! They'll use veritaserum on me, isn't that illegal?"

"I will accompany you to court, Moody will be there too."

"Why? Why will you be there?"

"Because, Princess," he leans forward, a smug smile twisting on his face, "I owe your father."

"And you know him, how?" I glare at him, but it's McGonagall who speaks before the auror can make a snarky remark.

"Alistair is alive because of your father; friendships are strong between aurors."

"And what about Miriam?" I ignore McGonagall, adamant that my father could not be friends with this man, "Is she going to be interrogated too?"

Alistair looks to the professor before answering, "We don't know, she is of age-"

"For what? Is the minimum age for joining the Death Eaters, twelve?"

"Quit whining and listen to me," He snaps. I feel as though his voice has brought me back down to reality, and the weight of the last half an hour plummets onto my chest as he says, "if you don't testify quickly, Miriam will have to get involved. The Ministry aren't fond of children in court, but her treatment will be no less harsh."

Only two days ago I was flying about playing quidditch.
Only last week I was having it in the Astronomy Tower.
Up until half an hour ago I was having the time of my life.
Now, I find myself testifying for the honour of my father.
How quickly the world turns upside down.

I nod slowly, the effort pains me, "I'll do it."