Author’s Notes: Wow, this year is pretty intense. Basically, when the little ~~ occur, assume that the events in-between are what has happened in the books, with the added characters of this story. Enjoy!
There is Always a Choice
Chapter IV: One moment at a time
“And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time.” – Libba Bray
“Lupin, you’re next.” Tallie sent a fierce command to her fingers, where they were clamped around the edge of the wooden desk with white knuckles. Watching both Draco and Harry undergo an unforgivable was…oh merlin it was unforgivable to just do nothing! According to her wolf-self anyway. Her human-witch-self firmly told the wolf-self to shut the hell up as she totters to her feet and walks to the front of the classroom. Professor Moody stared her down, his magical eye roving around her head as if sensing something.
When his wand levels at her forehead, Tallie instantly backs up a step, her skin shivering and rippling with the urge to crouch into a spring that would tear out the jugular of the threat. She forces herself to breathe, again, and reminds herself— again! — that this was a lesson. If he tried to hurt her, Draco and Harry would protect her.
The thought calmed her hackles and she closed her eyes as he spoke the incantation. “Imperio”
The voice…it was hard to resist. It called, crooned, told her to let go of the tethers of her mind and let it take over.
Tallie felt her human-self blaze into awareness when they realized that Moody’s voice was nothing more than a whisper. The crooning voice was the wolf.
A fog drifted in and around her mind, making it hard for her thoughts to connect to each other. Harry had fought it off, though.
Harry. Draco. They wouldn’t let anything happen, right?
Yes, yes that was true. If she couldn’t be sure of nothing else, their protection was undeniable.
Outside. Walls around. Four paws. Stone to dirt. Air in pelt. One shiver. Pack. Silver moon. Endless hunt. Endless night. Pack. Pack. Pack!
“Very good, Lupin. You almost threw it. Sit down.” Professor Moody’s voice broke the endless murmur in her mind, and she manages to stumble back to her seat. Uncaring of the rest of the lesson, Tallie folded her arms on the desk and tucked her head on them, breathing through her nose very slowly while she attempted to let those thoughts fall away.
“Tallie?” Seamus whispers worriedly, touching her elbow gently. They had been shaky lately, but still together. She pulls away from his questioning fingers without responding. Professor Moody continues his lecture seemingly unaware.
At last, the bell rang, signaling lunch. As Professor Moody stamps out of the room, with most of the class following, Draco and Harry leap from their seats to Tallie’s desk. Seamus kept his eyes on his girl, starting to freak out. She had begun to tremble a few minutes ago.
“What’s happening?” Seamus demands while Harry reaches out a tentative hand to his best friend’s shoulder.
“Seamus, please inform the Headmaster that we’ve gone for a walk. Discreetly, mind you.” Draco orders. Seamus stands up in indignation.
“She’s my girlfriend, Malfoy. I want to know what’s happening.” Seamus snaps. Tallie groans and lifts her head slowly, as if it weighed a hundred pounds. Draco knelt beside her, looking up into her ashen face.
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There is Always a Choice
FanfictionThere is always a choice, that's what they say, right? It has never been truer and the world of Harry Potter (with a few twists) is about to discover this truth both the hard and the easy way.
