✔️ 𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐓&𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 → 𝑓. 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦

87 | S O L U T I O N

•••
Please follow me to the
               borders of destiny.
•••

   More and more people entered the Room of Requirement through the tunnel. Some of them Lynnea knew, some of them she'd never seen before. And then Remus came, immediately his eyes found her in the middle of the crowd.

   "Lynn", he called, as he jumped out of the tunnel. "I need to talk to you."

   "Can't it wait? Harry's out there, my nerves are a bit tensed right now", Lynnea replied, her eyes never leaving the door.

   "No, it can't, this is very important, Lynnea!", he said fiercely. With huge steps he crossed the room, grabbing her shoulders. "Your scar! The whole thing here -"

   But at this moment, Harry came back, a stern look on his face, and even though Lynnea really was keen on knowing what Remus had found out about the scar, her brother's words faded every bit of interest out.

   "He's coming", he said and Lynnea felt Remus freezing next to her. Harry was running over to his sister and Remus, Hermione and Ron followed. "Listen, he's on his way, the teachers are protecting the borders. We evacuate everyone under age. They'll leave through the tunnel. Lynn, you'll leave with them."

   "I - no!", she replied loudly. Fred, who had to have heared her yell, came over, too.

   "You can go to Tonks, she's with her parents", Remus said calmly. "You know what this is for!"

   "I can't", she said, desperately and silently begging for Fred's help. Of course she knew that would be better to leave. But the thought alone of her friends and family fighting in this war, while she should hide at home was unbearable. "I stay here."

   "Lynn -", Fred started, but she immediately cut him off.

   "Don't, Fred! I won't leave this castle without you. Not without anyone of you. And unlike last summer", she now said directly to Remus, a daring look in her eyes, "I am of age and nobody of you is able to tell me what to do."

   Remus again sighed, rubbing his temples. "Okay, fine", he said. "Fine. But you - you need to hide. Not in here. I'm not sure, if He knows about this room."

   "Dumbledore's office", Lynnea said, not even knowing where this intention came from. "Remember when Umbridge wanted to take Dumbledore's place? The gargoyle doesn't let anyone in without the password."

   "Unfortunately we don't know the password either", Fred said.

   "It's Dumbledore", Neville said. "Sorry, I didn't want to listen. I heard Snape say the password, and the office door opened."

   "I'll bring you there", Remus said.

   "Harry, I -"

   "No, this is no goodbye, Lynn", Harry interrupted her, throwing a sad smile. "I just have to find one more. It's all over soon."

   "Don't set up false hopes", Lynnea whispered, wrapping her arms around him. "We both know, this will be no easy going. Just promise me to come back to me."

   "I'll do my very best", he replied, hugging her back tightly. "Stay at this damn office, okay Lynn? For once just listen to me."

   "I'll do my best", she said, half of a smirk on her lips.

   Remus went over to a few Order Members, and as Harry and Lynnea let go of each other, she turned around to Fred and George. George didn't say a word at all, just pulling her into a bone crushing hug that told more than any words ever could; then it was just Fred and Lynnea left, while everyone else was busy telling their loved ones goodbye.

   "You heard Harry, did you?", Fred said in a low voice. "This is no goodbye. When this is over, I'll fetch you from old Dumbledore's office and we'll be a family, okay?"

   Lynnea nodded, as tears started flooding her eyes. "Don't risk your neck, okay?"

   "Never, love", he replied and smiled down at her, pressing his forehead against hers, before he cupped her face in his hands and put his lips on Lynnea's. The world stood still for a second, until they had to part again.

   "See you later, Freddie ...", she mumbled against his lips, turning around, before she could start to fully cry.

   "We will go down to the Great Hall now", Harry said. "Remus, bring Lynn to Dumbledore's office. Make sure, she's safe, before you join us."

   "Of course", Remus said.

   Arriving in Dumbledore's office, Remus looked at her sternly. "Lynnea, this is important, you need to know, that -"

   But he was cut of by a cold, high-pitched voice ...

   "I know that you are preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood."

   Lynnea's body stiffened, she felt the hair on her neck rise, goosebumps flooded her body.

   "Give me Harry and Lynnea Potter", said Voldemort's voice, "and they shall not be harmed. Give me Harry and Lynnea Potter and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry and Lynnea Potter and you will be rewarded ... You have until midnight."

   "Remus -" Panic shook her voice. "Remus, I - I think I can't stay here ..."

   "Unfortunately I agree", Remus said in a low voice. "Lynn, look at that necklace, Dumbledore gave you."

   "Wh-why?", she asked. "What's going on, Remus."

   "Just look at it", he said, and she took the necklace over her head and stared at it. The silverish dust inside whirled around, making it look like a tiny wavy sea in a bottle.

   "And what exactly should I see in there?", Lynnea questioned and was about to look away and into her godfather's face, but then she saw something strange; colors appeared in the vial - a warm red, changing to pitch black, and a bright blending green. "What the bloody - ? Remus, what is this?"

   "A memory", Remus said, not looking at her. "You should have a look at it, I guess - I hope it's not, what I guess, but to be sure, you should watch it."

   "How?"

   Remus pointed at a basin in the corner. Slowly she walked over, being nervous as hell, with shaking, sweaty hands. "What do I have to do?", Lynnea asked quietly, fumbling on the vial, already knowing the answer, as she opened it carefully.

   "Put it in there", he said. "And dive your head in."

   "Dive?" She looked back at Remus, cocking an eyebrow. "Like - really dive?" He just nodded, she sighed and poured the liquid into the basin. Immediately it began to swirl and it was like she was looking into a room from above. She sceptically threw one last gaze at Remus, who gave another slight nod.

   "I'm with you", he said quietly.

   Lynnea turned back, staring down into the strange room, taking a deep breath, and closed her eyes, before she dove her head into the cool liquid, feeling her feet leaving the ground, as it gulped her.