True Reflections: Scars Saga 3

Potter Defiance

Chapter 13

Potter Defiance

He was out! He'd escaped and now he was loose. Some may think it a bit irrational, but I feared his escape more than Voldemort's return. Of course, I'd never had any personal dealings with Voldemort, but more than my fair share with Dolohov.

With his escape came the return of my headaches. Poppy said it was just stress. I told her of course it was stress, but with Umbridge breathing down my neck and Dolohov's escape, it's not likely that I'd be stress free any time soon.

I was sure Umbridge was set on sacking me, she was just trying to find the right time and the perfect excuse. I took a little comfort in knowing that as long as Dumbledore was around, then I'd be safe. But I didn't count on having to add Jonathan's affinity for detention as one of the things I needed to worry about. He'd always gotten detention, but they were harmless, character building disciplines. Not so anymore apparently.

30 January 1996

There was a knock on my office door followed quickly by a request.

"Hey, Mum, do you have a moment?"

I looked up from my grading to find a rather sullen looking Jonathan.

"Yeah, of course. Come on in."

I set aside my quill and pushed aside my papers. Jonathan pulled the door to behind him enough to give us some semblance of privacy, but not so much that it shut completely.

"What's on your mind?" I asked.

"I... I was wondering... it's about Dad. Do you... do you know if he's all right?"

My throat went a little dry. "Wha—what do you mean?"

Surely nothing had happened to him and I hadn't been informed. I would be livid if that was the case.

"He hasn't responded to my owl yet. I wrote to him shortly after the start of term and he still hasn't replied. I know owls are moving slow now, but its been over two weeks. Did I do..."

"I'm going to stop you right there, Jonathan. You're father's silence has nothing to do with anything you may or may not have said or done. Alright?"

He nodded but didn't look convinced. I sighed and moved around my desk to sit in the chair beside him.

"Look, he's...he's probably just playing it safe."

"Safe?"

"He's probably trying to limit his communication with you."

"But why? He hasn't ever before."

"Yes, well that was before."

"Before what?"

"Before I was on probation."

There was a moment of silence.

"What! You're... since when?"

"Since...before Christmas."

"But why didn't you say something?"

"Because it's not your problem to worry about. Its mine."