The Matchmaker

Chapter Five: Wolfsbane

Chapter Five: Wolfsbane
"Trust, but verify."
Ronald Reagan
~

1943

Holly tried not to stare at the woman who would be her mother one day as she looked into the eyes that were identical to hers. She had spent so much time watching over her father that she hadn't tried to find her mother. She knew her mother's last name, but never her maiden name. For Holly, it was the weirdest experience of her life. 

She was staring at the woman who would one day cast her out into a snowy blizzard to die instead of putting her up for adoption. The woman standing in front of her was the cause of Holly's misery, yet Holly couldn't hate her. The woman, who wasn't even a woman, hadn't done anything yet. There was no reason to despise someone for what they haven't done yet.

Ironic. Holly's brain laughed at her. Since you're here to delay the rise of Voldemort. Dorea didn't seem to notice the internal struggle Holly was having and plopped down on one of the four beds open, popping a piece of chocolate into her mouth. When she looked up to see Holly still standing there, she nodded towards the empty bed next to her.

"Might as well make yourself at home, Renée." Dorea told her. "You're going to be here for awhile." Holly nodded and picked up the bag the house elves had dropped off as soon as she arrived, dropping it on the bed. It was small, barely bigger than a fist and inside it were hundreds of little pebbles. Dorea was giving her a confused look and Holly smirked and winked at her. Placing the bag on the dresser to the side of the room and picking up one pebble.

Holly looked over the bed she had been given. The school provided bedding, so she didn't need any of that, but she would like a thick blanket for the winter. It was getting colder and with Holly naturally running cold, she liked the extra heat. She picked up her wand and pointed it at the pebble. With a flourish, the pebble was gone and sitting in Holly's hand was a thick, fuzzy blanket. Holly smiled and placed it on the bed.

"How did you do that?" Dorea asked, her eyes wide and her food forgotten as she swung her legs over the side of her bed and walked over to Holly.

"I've studied the art of transfiguration for years." Holly told her as she walked over and grabbed another pebble from the bag. Dorea watched in wonder as Holly flourished her wand again and it turned into a framed picture. Dorea didn't recognize the girl that Holly was standing with, but they looked happy.

"Her name is Lily," Holly told her. "She's the only family I have." Holly sat on the bed and held the picture tightly. Dorea walked over and put her arm around Holly's shoulder.

"Well, why don't I introduce you to your new family?" She asked. Holly looked up at her and nodded. She missed Lily, but she had a job to do and blending in with her roommates and with the other Gryffindors would help her story. Dorea smiled lightly as Holly stood up, placing the picture down on her bed and walking out of the dorm with her.

1976

James Potter loved four things: Quidditch, the Marauders, Pranking, and Lily Evans. Three of those things loved him back: he was a Quidditch Allstar, his best friends were with him through thick and thin, and he got away with pranking all the time. Lily Evans, however, could barely stand the sight of him.

James Potter remembered the first time he met Lily Evans. At the time, life had been simpler. She was an adorable muggleborn who was so amazed by everything around her. James had met Sirius, Remus and Peter on the train ride over and the other three boys were gleefully eating all the food from the feast. Lily, however thrilled she was about being there, was looking longingly at the Slytherin table where Severus Snape was. James had been confused. Why would anyone ever want to go over there? Everyone knew Slytherins were evil, but the girl still looked sad, so James cleared his throat. Her head snapped over to him and her happy grin came back.