The Greatest Love, The Highest Sacrifice

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Chapter 9 – Desiderata

"Fade far away and quite forget

What thou amngst the leaves has never known

The weariness, the fever and the fret"

Keats, Ode To A Nightingale

Norri groaned to herself as she approached the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts Library. Even with a permission slip from Professor Snape, she knew Madam Pince would be loath to hand over the book she was asking for. Mastering the Moon was a notoriously dangerous text – although this was mainly due to the fact that it was almost exclusively borrowed by werewolves, who then died trying to put the theories the book contained into practice. At least, from that perspective, she was safe. But Norri knew that Madam Pince would suspect who the book was really for, and although her suspicions would not be totally accurate, the end result was pretty much the same. Because Norri was trying to find a permanent version of Wolfsbane.

And the first beneficiary of her research (as well as the first person who would try her experiments) was Remus Lupin.

Not that this was necessarily a good thing, which was why she anticipated Madam Pince’s disapproval. The Wolfsbane potion was notoriously difficult to make, and dozens of werewolves had died in the experimental stages of its development. A permanent version was likely to be just as difficult to discover. And just as deadly.

Her mind still intent on approaching Madam Pince, Norri did not notice the approach of another Hogwarts professor until she almost collided with him. As it was, the pile of book Professor Weasley was carrying teetered dangerously, and would have collapsed to the floor if she had not grabbed several of them from the uppermost part of the pile. Damn it! she berated herself in frustration. You should have just disappeared you silly idiot! But then she remembered how Draco had advised her to appear more natural around the young Hogwarts professor in order to ensure he didn’t guess her true identity as his ex-fiancée. Come on, then, she told herself firmly, you can handle this. She looked up to find Charlie Weasley staring at her, a bemused but not completely relaxed expression on his face.

With so many thoughts racing through her head, Norri had failed to realise that she was standing in the middle of the library, staring vacantly at Professor Weasley and still dangling the books she had rescued in the same position she had caught them.

"Are you quite all right, Miss Norr?" Charlie asked politely, though there was a fleeting expression of mischief in his expression that betrayed his relationship to Fred and George.

Norri caught herself, and stopped her runaway thoughts with a thud as she blushed to the roots of her hair. "Oh yes, Professor," she mumbled, not looking up into Charlie’s face. "Sorry about that, I guess I didn’t realise where I was going."

"Not a problem," Charlie returned calmly. He looked as if he was about to ask her to return the books she had grabbed from his pile, but then he paused. "I don’t mean to bother you or anything, but would you mind bringing that pile off books to my office with me? I have to take them with me, and somehow I don’t think I’ll manage to make it all the way back to my rooms without dropping them again."

Norri swallowed. It was the last thing she needed, or wanted to do. But there was no polite way out of agreeing to his request, so she just nodded and began walking out of the library with him. Mastering the Moon would have to wait a little.

"I presume you’re staying at Hogwarts for Christmas then, Miss Norr?" Charlie asked, obviously attempting to make some kind of conversation.

"Yes," Norri answered shortly. She stole a peek at Charlie as they walked along the corridor, and was surprised to notice that his expression was rather speculative. As if he could guess that she was not quite the ordinary student…. No, he wouldn’t be thinking that, she told herself sternly, and shook her head to clear the errant thoughts.

"Something wrong, Miss Norr?" a voice asked by her shoulder, and Norri looked over to see Charlie had paused in his sally down the corridor and was regarding her quietly. But intently.

Breathe, Norri told herself. Just breathe.

"No sir," she answered, relieved to find her voice sounded quite steady. "I just realised that I’ve forgotten something in the library."

Charlie looked at her closely for a moment, then appeared to accept her statement at face value. "I’m sorry I dragged you away then," he said, smiling apologetically.

"Oh, it’s no problem, really sir," she replied, hoping he didn’t catch the lie in her voice. She breathed a sigh of relief as they reached Charlie’s office, and she thankfully deposited the books she had been carrying on his desk. Looking up, she was confronted with the photo Draco had mentioned – the photo that had been taken at their engagement party. A soft cry came to her lips, a spontaneous expression of remorse for all the things they had both lost. She caught it, but a little gasp escaped, and Professor Weasley caught her eye, and her line of vision.

"What’s wrong?" he asked, and Norri thought wildly that she detected a note of suspicion in his voice.

"It’s just that – well, I thought for a second that that was Ron, sir," she explained weakly, pointing at the photo. "There, in that photo."

Charlie followed her hand, and Norri winced as a flash of pain crossed his face. "No, I’m afraid that’s definitely me," he said, and this time the edge of bitterness was evident. "Would that it wasn’t."

"Sir?" Norri asked, genuinely perplexed – and worried. This didn’t sound like the Charlie she had known for almost all her life, the Charlie she had once hoped she could learn to love as he loved her.

Charlie Weasley sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. Norri noticed for the first time how his eyes were rimmed with dark lines, and how the sparkle they used to hold was missing.

"Sorry, Miss Norr," he said, and his tone made it obvious that he was trying to placate a concerned student, nothing more. "Things have been a little hectic this year, and teaching – well, Hogwarts is a wonderful place to teach, but it’s a lot of work."

Norri nodded her head, hoping she looked sympathetic and understanding. She felt a sudden urge to run her hands soothingly through his hair, to give him a hug that would make everything go away. But, with a surge of regret (and guilt), she realised that she was at least half of his problems, and that her platonic friendship was never going to be enough for him.

"You’ll pull through, sir," she said in a rallying tone. "After all, all the student love you. Even the Slytherins. Why, I’ve never seen Draco Malfoy treat a Gryffindor with so much resp-"

"Actually, Miss Norr," Charlie interrupted her firmly, "that was something I wanted to discuss with you. I gather from my little sister and my own general observation that you are friends with Draco Malfoy. Is that correct?"

"Yes, sir," Norri said, bewildered as to where this turn in the conversation was leading.

"I know that you are a particular friend of Ginny’s, and that your acquaintance with Mr. Malfoy has led to her also spending a certain amount of time in his company. I would appreciate it, Miss Norr, if you could promise me not to encourage Mr. Malfoy to socialise with my sister. At all."

Norri was so taken aback that she was totally unable to respond to these astounding words. This was Charlie speaking? Her irrepressible, understanding, generous, laidback Charlie? She could not understand it at all. The Charlie she knew would never have reacted so harshly to the kind of prank which destroyed a classroom – on the contrary, she knew from personal experience that he was more likely to be directly involved in such an undertaking. What could have happened to make him so unbending and unforgiving?

"Miss Norr?"

Norri was startled out of her own ruminations to see Charlie looking at her impassively, obviously waiting for some kind of a response.

"Professor?" She struggled to find words that would express her feelings without giving herself away. "I’m sorry, sir, but…well, to be honest, I don’t understand. Yes, Draco’s my friend – my good friend – and he does spend time with me and Ginny. But he’s not a bad influence sir, at least, not any worse than Ginny’s brothers seem to have been. I know he ruined the Astronomy Tower and all, but I don’t see how –"

"I don’t expect you to see how, Miss Norr," Charlie interjected, his voice like shards of ice. "And this has nothing to do with Draco’s actions in the Astronomy Tower. I don’t want Ginny to fall under the influence of Draco Malfoy, or any other member of his family, and I had hoped that, as her best friend, you would be willing to help me achieve this. If your loyalties are as divided as they appear to be, I assure you that I am willing to ensure Ginny finds new friends who are more concerned for her best interests."

A slow, boiling anger started to stir deep within Norri as Charlie spoke. Part of her wondered at how he could have become so narrow-minded, and this side of her mourned the passing of her carefree, cheerful friend. But this aspect of Norri was overridden by a rage she had never experienced before – a rebellion against injustice, prejudice and cold-heartedness. Her anger was all the more strong because of the identity of the person who stood before her, speaking words which cut through her heart. She would have spoken out, was in the act of opening her mouth to tell Charlie Weasley exactly what she thought of his change of character, when she felt another presence inside her mind.

Norri, don’t even think about it, Fawkes warned her as he effortlessly caught her in a mind-merge.

Norri didn’t even bother to protest – she just opened her mind so that Fawkes could experience the turmoil she was going through; the anger, betrayal – and sorrow.

It’s all right, it will be all right, came the phoenix’s soothing response, and in spite of herself Norri felt her anger ebbing away. Remus is coming to get you, he’s just around the corner. Don’t do anything until he arrives. He knows what’s going on – he’s going to bring you to the office.

Norri assented wordlessly. As she felt Fawkes’ presence begin to fade, she cried out to him silently, But how did you know what was going on?

His reply was sympathetic, though a little amused. Your mind was screaming to awaken half of Hogwarts. Cináed almost broke through the walls, he was so worried. I’d make sure you go see him some time later, to let him know everything’s fine, if I were you.

But everything’s not fine, Norri sighed, wishing someone would just take everything away and leave her in peace. Fawkes, however, was gone, leaving Norri to deal with a thoroughly irate Charlie Weasley.

"Miss Norr," he said cuttingly, "if you insist on ignoring me, and refusing to answer my request –"

"I’m sorry, Professor," Norri said quickly, in a low but determined voice. "I understand what you are saying about Draco, sir, and especially about his family. But I’m afraid I cannot agree to what you are asking me to do. He’s my friend, and I’m not about to desert him when he so obviously needs a positive example. Besides, Ginny’s nearly eighteen, and she’s old enough to make up her own mind who she should and shouldn’t spend her time with. If you decide that you would rather she didn’t socialise with me either, I would respect your decision, sir. But you’re our teacher, not a parent, and –" here she paused before ploughing on relentlessly, "- and I would’ve credited you with more understanding. Sir."

Not waiting for a response, Norri turned and ducked through the open door of his office, straight into Remus Lupin. She didn’t pause to apologise, but ran as quickly as she could, covering her ears trying to shut out the sound of Remus’ voice, obviously trying to gloss over what had happened. Remus’ mumbled explanations – "Sorry, Charlie, just needed Miss Norr for a meeting with the Headmaster, hope it’s no trouble – oh, you were finished? – well, that’s good – everything all right, old thing?" – went unheard. She was totally focused on reaching Professor Dumbledore’s office unimpeded, and she heedlessly charged past several groups of students in her desperation to get away from what she had just confronted. One of the groups she passed was the Gryffindor Quidditch team, which was just returning from practice. Ginny – her face still slightly pink from a certain conversation with the Slytherin Seeker – took one look at her friend and made to go after her. But before she could follow Norri, she was stopped by Harry and Ron.

"Looks like she’s headed for Dumbledore’s office," Harry said gravely.

"How can you tell?" asked Ginny uncertainly.

"Well, apart from the fact that it’s the only room in that direction on this floor…" Harry quipped. "Seriously, maybe we should just leave her and you can talk with her after dinner."

Ginny nodded, and the three of them continued on their way to the Gryffindor common room, though Ginny shot several glances in the direction Norri had taken, deeply concerned at her friend’s obvious distress.

*

Norri reached the gargoyle which led to the Headmaster’s office in record time. Gasping out the password – "Sugar Quill!" – she rushed up the stairs and into the small, circular room she knew so well. There, sitting behind his desk, his habitual twinkle in his eyes, was Professor Dumbledore, with Fawkes comfortably resting on the perch behind his chair.

"Grandfather!" Norri cried, and flew to his side.

"Norri, my dear!" Dumbledore exclaimed. As he rose from his chair Norri noticed distractedly that he was concerned, but not surprised to see her.

Well, who do you think told me to send Remus to get you? came Fawkes’ supercilious comment inside her mind.

Overcome with an almost palpable sense of relief, Norri flung herself into her grandfather’s arms. She spoke no words, and shed no tears. She could not have expressed herself, even had she wished to. But at this moment, all she wanted was to let her twenty-seven years and all the responsibilities that went with it disappear; to feel safe and protected, hidden from the world by the love of the man who had risked all to raise her, and shrouded by the certainty that, somehow, he could make everything all right.

"There, there, my dear," Dumbledore said soothingly, gently stroking her hair as she sobbed into his robes. He smiled tenderly as she gave a sudden tremble, and the flowing brown hair shimmered into the golden waves that reminded him so much of her mother. "You really must come up with something that stops you from changing every time you get emotional, you know," he said. "Not that this happens often, I know – as I recall, the last time you were like this was when Bastian…"

"Yes, when Bastian died," Norri said in a deadened tone. She was almost frightening in her implacability. Then suddenly something seemed to snap within her, and she struck one fist onto the Headmaster’s desk in frustration. "And in a way, I’d rather that Charlie had died too, then that I should have to see him as he is now, so bitter and unforgiving! What has happened to him?" Norri last question disappeared into Dumbledore’s robes as she buried herself from the world again.

"Why do I have to feel it?" she burst out suddenly, springing to her feet in front of her grandfather. "Why can’t I be detached and in command, like Sirius or Professor Snape, or –"

"Sirius is not always in control, my dear," said Dumbledore in a tone that made Norri blush, "and I doubt you would wish to share the kind of experiences that have made Severus so impervious to the events and people that surround him. Although," he continued in a musing air, "I shouldn’t be surprised if even my Potions Master has a breaking point." He paused for a moment, and then turned back to Norri.

"Don’t be surprised – or ashamed – at your feelings. Certainly don’t try to deny them or control them completely. You are right when you say that Charlie Weasley has changed, and I also agree with you that it is not for the better. But my dear, you made a choice several years ago which prevents you from being able to judge that change, any more than Charlie might judge you for your decisions. He is bitter, and cold, and prejudiced, but he has fair reason to be. You have lost parents, sister and nephew, though Harry is still within your reach. Charlie has lost the one person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, and you know – better than anyone else – that he has no chance of ever getting her back again."

Professor Dumbledore’s words were gentle, but also firm, and as Norri recognised the truth in them a resigned expression covered her face.

"So, this is my fault then," she said in the same deadened tone, and Dumbledore hastened to her side.

"No, no, my dear! Never that. You made your own choices, just as Charlie must now make his. But you must remember that he has not only lost you. He desperately wants to find you again, and he is constantly forced to face the possibility that he will not reach you before Justin."

A puzzled look crossed Norri’s face. "Justin? What about Justin?" Then her puzzlement changed to surprise. "Wait. You know about Justin?"

Her grandfather smiled, though a little sadly.

"My dear, there’s very little that I don’t know –"

- Although he’d be interested to learn a few of the finer details regarding your opinion of Snape, Fawkes broke in briefly, before Norri shushed him away -

"- and even if Sirius had not mentioned something last time we spoke, Charlie alerted it to me during his interview. He asked specifically for leave every month to look for you, as well as to keep an eye on Justin. I don’t know how he manages it, though I wouldn’t be surprised if young Malfoy is making himself conspicuous on purpose. It serves his own ends as well, though I don’t think Charlie recognises that. But Justin has probably ascertained that the month Charlie doesn’t come looking for him is the month he has found you. And then he will move in himself."

Norri grimaced at the image her grandfather’s last statement conjured up. Banishing it from her thoughts, she considered what he had said about Charlie.

"He’s awfully – well, awfully dedicated, isn’t he, Grandfather?" she asked in a rather small voice.

Dumbledore sighed. "Yes, Norri, I’m afraid he is. About as dedicated as I would be if I were in his position, I would imagine. Or Sirius," he added shrewdly, and looked at her intently.

Norri shied away from this turn in the conversation. "Don’t say that Grandfather, it isn’t true," she said forcefully, though her words rang false to all in the room.

Don’t lie to yourself, my dear, came Fawkes’ inevitable comment.

"He’s right you know," Dumbledore added gently, and Norri looked at him in surprise. "Oh, he said, smiling wryly, "when you have spent as much time in a mind-merge with a Higher Magic creature as I have, proximity is enough to participate in any outside conversations."

Norri breathed through pursed lips, looking from one to the other in appraisal.

"So that’s how you knew about the books and the Lumos trick!" she exclaimed.

Her grandfather looked at her blankly for a moment, then chuckled heartily.

"Of all the things for you to associate it with, my dear!" he laughed. "You’re right though, of course. And several other important incidents when Fawkes’ help has been invaluable to me."

They both smiled at the bird fondly.

Don’t let her change the subject, Albus! came the phoenix’s emphatic response to this, and Norri shushed him in exasperation.

"Honestly Fawkes, let me work out Sirius in my own time. I have enough to worry about with Charlie and Justin and Draco, not to mention the fact that my nephew appears to have developed a crush on me!"

"Has he indeed?" Dumbledore asked with amusement. "Well, I’m sure like most instances of puppy love, it won’t last too long."

Yes, Fawkes added dryly, he’ll soon realise that you aren’t the paragon he thinks you to be – or develop some taste, whichever comes first.

Norri knew better than to take his words seriously, and she leaned over to stroke his feathers up the wrong way, which she knew annoyed him immensely.

"If Remus comes to see you, tell him I’ll stop by this evening after dinner. I would wait to thank him for rescuing me from Charlie, but I’m off to visit Cináed. Fawkes said he was worried about me. Any messages for him?"

Dumbledore shook his head, but Fawkes nodded.

Ask him if he’s worked out why we Higher Magic creatures deign to waste our time in human company – it’s an ongoing discussion of ours, but neither of us has developed a satisfactory answer.

"My dear Fawkes, I would have thought the answer was obvious," Dumbledore intervened, the inevitable twinkle in his eyes, "it’s because watching our fumbling attempts at life gives you a supreme sense of satisfaction at your own status."

*

Minutes later, Norri was flying down the short path to the dragon nest, where Cináed continued to watch over the fledgling dragons. She clicked breathlessly as she ran, alerting him to her presence and ensuring that Charlie was nowhere in the vicinity of the nest. That determined, she hurried up to greet her enormous friend.

"Cináed, I’m sorry I worried you!" she panted as she reached him, speaking both verbally and through the mind-merge which enabled her to speak dragon.

As long as you’re safe, he answered slowly, and Norri was immediately aware that something was wrong.

"Cináed, what is it?" she asked in concern, one hand on the dragon’s nose. She listened in silence to his barrage of thoughts – his means of expression was not so smooth as Fawkes’, and he tended to explain in blocks of thought, without taking care to translate his own language into the slow articulation of the human tongue – and sighed.

"I’m sorry, Cináed," she said softly. "I know he’s hurting – I am too, which is why I was calling out, I suppose. But this is bigger than either me or Charlie, and I don’t know just how to deal with it."

He whined, obviously agreeing with her, but wanting for things to be different.

"I want things to be different too!" she said hotly, angry with herself rather than with him.

She took her hand away and began pacing up and down in front of him.

"If I could, I would make myself fall in love with him – or with Sirius –" Here she broke into mind-speech, unable to express herself slowly enough in her own language. Do you have any idea how annoying it is to be loved by two wonderful men and you just cannot respond to either of them, no matter how much you might like to? she raged, and was relieved to feel his placating touch on her mind.

It can’t be helped, then, can it?

This last comment came from a small voice beyond the two of them, yet distinctly present in their merge.

Norri’s head shot up in shock and she looked around to determine who had invaded their conversation. Feeling a darting sensation at her ankles, she looked down to be confronted by the sight of Ra’ed determinedly attempting to singe her ankles.

"What on earth are you doing?!" she said to him reprovingly, picking him up as she did so.

A snake-like tongue slithered out to lick her cheek gently. Trying to make you notice me, came the weak but firm reply inside her mind, and she nearly dropped him in shock.

"How can you talk?" she asked in astonishment, then turned to Cináed and repeated the question in mind-speech.

Cináed shrugged eloquently, then nodded at Ra’ed to make his own answer.

You cried out very loudly, the dragon kit mind-sent with a naïve simplicity. You hurt Ra’ed’s quiet, he added sulkily, and now Ra’ed hears many things.

"Can you hear Fawkes?" Norri asked, trying to understand her kit’s newly-developed powers.

Yes, can hear big red-gold noise, Ra’ed responded solemnly, and Norri giggled at his description of the phoenix.

"You’ll have to tell him that next time," she said in amusement to Cináed, "his vanity will be permanently wounded at being described as a ‘noise’."

Cináed declined elegantly, then asked Ra’ed what else he could hear.

Can hear sire of Norri, Ra’ed responded immediately. And Cináed’s bond-mate, he added after a pause.

"Bond-mate?" Norri asked in confusion. "Oh, you mean Charlie, right?"

Ra’ed shrugged indifferently, but Cináed affirmed that ‘bond-mate’ was the term Higher Magic creatures used to describe their links with humans for whom they served as familiars.

And bond-mate’s sister, Ra’ed continued, at which Norri looked down at the kit she was holding in surprise.

"You hear Ginny? Why Ginny?"

Because she is Mele’s bond-mate, came Ra’ed’s calm response. The kit seemed unaware of, or indifferent to, the import of his declaration.

"Ginny has a dragon as a familiar? Ron and Harry’s dragon as her familiar?" Norri asked incredulously.

Cináed expressed his own surprise that she was so shocked.

"There’s nothing wrong with it, of course, Norri said quickly, "it’s just that, well, she’s not in our class at all, and – well, I didn’t think she’d even met Mele."

She hasn’t, was Ra’ed’s slightly put-out response. And she’s spent the last two weeks mewling about it. It’s been extremely annoying, he added with a sniff that reminded Norri palpably of Draco. Ra’ed seemed to catch her thought, and sent his own back at her smugly. That would be because he’s my bond-mate.

"So you can sense him too?" Norri asked, torn between excitement for her friend, and a sense of disappointment that she was not similarly linked to her small charge.

Ra’ed must have felt her regret, for he snuggled closer to her, and rolled over for his belly to be scratched. Yes, I can sense him, although he’s a bit more…fuzzy than the others. This last detail seemed to bother the little kit, and as Norri stroked his chest she reassured him that this was normal with all people who had never entered a mind-merge before.

"Even Higher Magic creatures normally take longer than you do," she mused to herself as she scratched him. "And Ginny definitely shouldn’t be so clear as you seem to imply she is."

Cináed intervened at this moment to explain that Ginny’s clarity was due to the fact that, like Norri, she was a natural adept at communicating with Higher Magic creatures.

"Probably why Grandfather has never invited her into his office," Norri mused. "That and the fact that she’s always been too clever to get caught in the middle of her pranks." She laughed at Cináed’s obvious surprise. "Oh yes, Ginny is just as bad as Bill and the twins when it comes to pranks – only she has the subtlety of a woman on her side. She hasn’t been caught once, and when Fred and George were here, they were blamed several times for her escapades. She’s a smart girl," Norri concluded, with a touch of pride in her best friend.

Let’s hope she’s not so smart that she works out who you really are, was Ra’ed’s serious comment, and he sat up from having his chest rubbed to stare into Norri’s eyes. That could cause some serious problems, you know.

"I don’t need you to tell me that," Norri sighed. "If only – hang on, what do you know about who I really am?" she demanded of the small dragon.

He preened himself self-consciously. Draco’s fuzzy, but he’s been churning your identity around for ages. And it was your fuss over Charlie and discovery that made me understand humans in the first place, remember. I know exactly who you are.

Norri looked at the kit in consternation, then surprised both dragons by suddenly asking Cináed, "Justin doesn’t have a dragon familiar, does he?"

When her friend answered in the negative she breathed a loud sigh of relief.

"Well, thank heavens for small mercies!" she exclaimed. "I would have been lost if he had!"

Norri mused in silence for a moment, then was shaken out of her thoughts by a low moaning sound. It was definitely a call of some kind, and she guessed quickly that this was Mele, mewling feebly for Ginny as Ra’ed had described. Placing her own kit gently on the ground she told him to lead her to where Mele was.

She’s at the other end of the nest, he said. None of the other kits want anything to do with her because she’s not interested in them. They don’t understand that some humans are important. He was smug in his declaration, and Norri secretly chuckled at the startling similarity in mannerisms to Draco.

"If I didn’t know better, Ra’ed," Norri said as she followed him around the edge of the nest, Cináed ambling behind them, "I’d say that you were a member of an aristocratic dragon family."

I don’t need to be, was Ra’ed’s haughty reply. Dragons are Higher Magic creatures, which makes me equal to all the other Higher Magic species, and Draco’s family is one of the purest in the human world.

"I beg to differ," came Norri’s fervent response to this. "But don’t tell Draco I said that!"

Just then, Norri’s eye was caught by a small, silver-blue dragon separate from the rest of the kits, who were sleeping together in one large pile close to the centre of the nest. The lone kit, much smaller than Ra’ed, was close to the wall of the nest, and was determinedly attempting to jump over the barricade that separated it from the rest of the world. Time and time again it would collide with the wall, often heavily, but it was not deterred. As Norri got closer and closer, she heard it mewling again, interspersed with several bursts of rapid clicking, and Norri grinned with amusement as she recognised several interesting swear-words in dragon.

"That’s her?" she asked Cináed and Ra’ed, though she really didn’t need the confirmation they gave her. It was more than obvious that this determined young dragon must be Mele.

Reaching the spot where the little thing was attempting to escape, Norri leaned over the wall and looked down at the kit.

"Hey there, Mele," she said gently, and promptly had a blue jet of flame fired in her face.

She stumbled back, coughing and sooty-faced. Ra’ed found his nest-mate’s response amusing, but Cináed did not, and in his deep rumbling voice he thoroughly told the kit off.

"Don’t Cináed," Norri remonstrated, "I wasn’t speaking dragon, and I forget that the kits take a while to understand our slow communication system. Give me a second and she’ll be fine."

She looked back over the wall, to see the little kit now shivering from the force of the older dragon’s rebuke. Sighing, Norri crossed her fingers that she wouldn’t be singed or clawed, and leant down to pick the kit up. As she did, she began a rapid clicking, and was relieved when Mele responded immediately, reaching up to lick her face in apology for the burst of flame.

"Well, you’re a regular fire-brand, miss," Norri mused, looking over the kit carefully. "Just like your bond-mate, I’d say."

At this mention of Ginny, Mele began mewling again, and Ra’ed let out a snort in disgust. Unfortunately, he had not yet learnt to control his dragon fire, and Norri’s ankles were singed again. She let out a yelp of pain, and nudged him gently with her foot before turning her attention back to Mele.

"Don’t worry, Mele," she said soothingly, "I’ll get Ginny down here as soon as possible."

For some reason, this didn’t seem to satisfy Mele, and in a series of rapid clicking exchanges, the little dragon convinced Norri that she needed to meet Ginny right away.

"But she’s probably all the way up in the dorms!" Norri protested.

That’s all right, Ra’ed said calmly, jumping onto the ledge of the wall and then into Norri’s arms, You can take us there.

"Us? Since when were you involved? And besides, if I was caught, I’d be in massive trouble – especially if it was Charlie who found me with two kits roaming Hogwarts. Besides, why is it so important for Mele to meet Ginny now."

It’s not just Ginny, Cináed patiently explained, silencing the two kits with a firm look. There’s something these two have to do, something which they have to enter the castle for. And it has to be done today. He lifted his head in the air, as if trying to sense something. Right now, in fact, he added, his eyes seeing something Norri could not.

"All right, Cináed, if you say it’s important. But do me a favour and make sure no one comes near the nest – not even Charlie. If these two are found missing I could get expelled."

Cináed’s reassurances calmed her, and hefting one dragon kit in each arm, Norri headed back towards the castle. Her mind whirled as she wondered why it was so necessary that the two kits entered the castle now. Was it Ginny? Or something else?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a tentative question from Mele and she dismissed her speculations from her mind. Getting to the dorms in Gryffindor Tower was the most important thing just now. Once Ginny was found, she could worry about all that was to follow.

*

"Excedite!" Norri said to the Fat Lady, hoping fervently that the two bulges in her robes would go unnoticed by anyone who might be in the common room. "Why Hermione has to insist on Latin passwords is beyond me," she said to herself as she stepped through the portrait hole.

"It’s so that the first years pick up their Latin faster," came Ron’s wry voice from near the fireplace. "You know what she’s like when it comes to advancing people’s education. She’s worse than McGonnagall."

Norri laughed.

"Why didn’t I think of that?" she chuckled, then saw with surprise that Ron was alone. "Ron, where are all the others? Don’t tell me they’re all off studying in the library!"

Ron sighed.

"Harry’s gone to see Professor Lupin about something."

"He seems to be doing that a lot lately," Norri noted. She blushed as Ron eyed her with an expression that said she ought to know exactly why Harry was going to see Remus Lupin. "Anyway," she said hurriedly, "where are Hermione and Ginny then?"

Ron grimaced.

"That stupid cat of Hermione’s just up and started producing kittens about an hour ago. No by your leave or anything. Of course, we all thought it was a male cat, so it came as something of a shock to Hermione. But she’s gone and taken it up to her room so that it’s more comfortable, or some such rot. I always knew there was something wrong with that cat," he concluded darkly.

"Crookshanks is having kittens?" Norri asked in disbelief, then winced as Ra’ed’s claws dug into her side from his hidden position in her robes.

Go upstairs quickly. We have to be there now! was his hurried message, and Norri headed for the stairs.

"Well, I can’t wait to see the litter!" she said in excitement, hoping Ron would not mind her immediate disappearance.

"They’re probably all as strange as that cat is," Ron predicted gloomily, then started as he noticed Norri’s altered form of appearance. "Hey, Norri, what on earth are you hiding in your robes? You look like you’ve gained about ten pounds!"

"Sorry, Ron, have to dash!" Norri said desperately, and charged up the stairs to the girls’ dorms, ignoring his call for her to come back and show him what she had hidden in her robes.

Reaching the entrance to the room she shared with Hermione and Ginny, Norri’s mouth opened with shock at the sight that met her eyes. Ensconced on Hermione’s bed, preening herself with a look of supreme satisfaction, was Crookshanks, surrounded by what appeared to be no less than six small kittens. Almost all of them looked exactly the same as their mother. Norri’s focus was disturbed by the sudden writhing of Ra’ed and Mele in her robe pockets, and she quickly let them out. To her surprise, however, they did not head for the bed – or for Hermione and Ginny, who were standing close by conferring together about something. Instead, they both dashed towards the window. Norri was about to follow them when Ginny and Hermione spotted her.

"Norri!" Hermione cried, and rushed over to her. The Head Girl didn’t even wait for her friend to respond, but grabbed her arms and began dancing around the room. "Norri, its incredible – I never even checked – I mean, I just always presumed that Crookshanks was male. And now – now we have kittens…" she broke off and turned with a regal gesture at the litter sprawled on the bed, being carefully washed by a smug-looking Crookshanks.

Norri opened her mouth to congratulate Hermione, but stopped. There was something pulling at her peripheral thought-barrier. A question. Unbidden, but not knowing why she did, Norri asked Hermione the question.

"Hermione, are they all the kittens that were in the litter?"

Hermione’s happy expression disappeared from her face. She looked oddly at Norri for a moment, and then shook her head.

"No," she admitted sadly, "one of them didn’t make it."

Norri felt a burst of sympathy for Hermione. Loosened up she definitely was – as Ron’s girlfriend, she didn’t really have a choice – but somewhere in Hermione Granger were remnants of the preppy first year who thought she could solve the world’s problems with a flick of her wand. And this was obviously one failure that was a little more…personal…than any others which had occurred.

Ginny moved up behind Hermione, wrapping her friend in a bear hug.

"It’s OK, Hermione," she said softly, as the older girl’s lips began to quiver and large tears stole down her cheek. Ginny looked at Norri then, and the other girl flinched at her expression. For a second – just one second – Ginny looked at her as Charlie had. Forbidding. Unforgiving. The way Norri knew Ginny would always look at her if she knew who she really was. Norri looked at the ground.

Ginny sighed. "Sorry, Norri, I didn’t mean to glare like that. It’s just that – well, you know, Hermione tried so hard to make sure the little tyke made it. And he just didn’t."

She reached over and tugged at her friend’s school robes, pulling her into the hug she still shared with Hermione. The three of them clung to one another silently for a moment.

"It’s not just the kitten," Hermione managed to say. "It’s the whole – "

Norri sighed.

"The inescapability, right? The incapacity."

She felt rather than saw Hermione’s nod of assent.

"Yeah, that’s it. The fact that you can’t do anything about it. And not just the kitten either. People. In general."

"And in particular," Ginny added in a low voice.

Norri felt a sudden hysterical urge to laugh. She couldn’t be referring to Charlie – could she? This news that he’s being watched by Justin must have gotten to me more than I realised, she berated herself mentally. Snap out of it!

Attempting to clear her thoughts, she asked where the kitten was.

"Over by the window," Hermione said off-handedly. "I wanted to give the little thing a decent burial. It was really weird, though. You know how kittens are born without fur and all? Well, this one looked like a miniature version of a small cat – fur, open eyes, the lot. And I couldn’t quite understand – "

As Hermione was speaking, she had turned towards the window to show Norri what she meant. Her sentence remained unfinished as she caught sight of the two dragon kits, standing directly over the inert form of the kitten. Hermione screamed, and lunged towards Ra’ed, but with a snarl that was distinctly adult, he snapped at her hand, causing her to jump back in sudden shock. It didn’t last very long, however, and Hermione’s face took on an expression of grim determination as she moved back towards the two dragon kits. Neither kit paid her any attention – their focus was wholly on the kitten beneath them, and as one they drew a breath that Norri knew was meant to contain fire fit to burn through a storm. Or a Gryffindor dorm room.

"Filthy brutes! I’ll teach you to try and eat a dead kitten – I’ll –"

"Hermione, don’t!"

Norri’s cry was immediately followed by the sound of roaring flames, and a scream of anguish from Hermione.

Then, astoundingly, a mewling sound could be heard – a meow that echoed above and beyond Hermione’s coughing, or Ginny’s muffled weeping. It was a definite meow and as the smoke cleared, it was obvious that it came from a very definitely alive kitten.

The kitten emerged from the smoke, on the other side of the bed, flanked by Ra’ed and Mele. It was obvious to Norri why Hermione had found this particular offspring of Crookshanks to be unusual. Midnight black, fully covered with fur (although it was small enough to fit in Norri’s palm) – and possessing the strangest pair of eyes Norri had ever seen. One gold, one a silvery-blue, they stared at her unblinking. Then the kitten opened its mouth – and Norri fell over in shock.

Dragonkinde, I greet you. It was – unmistakeably – the formal greeting of dragon to dragonkinde. A greeting which Ra’ed and Mele had not yet learned. A greeting which Norri was hearing from a cat. Obviously a bit more than just a cat.

She breathed deeply.

Greetings, kin of dragon, she returned slowly, testing her ground.

The cat grinned, and leapt from the edge of the bed straight into her arms. Nice to know you have at least decent intelligence, it approved, looking her up and down as it did so, and Norri nearly choked as she realised that the tiny creature was giving her an appraisal.

And why are you doing that? she demanded of the kitten, not pausing to consider whether or not she wanted to know the answer.

I’m making sure you’re suitable, was the imperious reply.

Suitable?

Yes, suitable. After all, if you’re going to be my familiar, I should know what I’m up for, right?

*

Ten minutes later, Norri sat on the floor of the dorm room, still holding the kitten and still in shock.

Hermione and Ginny weren’t much better.

"How did they do that?" Hermione asked yet again, still trying to get her mind around what she had just seen. She looked from the kitten, cradled in the linked palms of Norri’s hands, to the two dragon kits. Ra’ed was sitting between Norri and Ginny, his head resting lightly on Norri’s knee, while Mele had sidled closer and closer to Ginny, until she was sitting comfortably ensconced in her lap.

Norri looked up from her contemplation of the kitten and shrugged.

"I’m not sure, Hermione," she replied slowly.

"And his eyes!" Hermione continued, oblivious to the fact that Norri’s gaze had intensified at this latest statement.

"What about his eyes?" she asked with feigned calm.

"Well, they were green when he was born, but now they’re two different colours. Gold and blue."

"Gold…and blue…" Norri mused, and then her eyes sharpened as they flickered from Ra’ed to Mele and back again. Pretending to be lost in thought – she still didn’t want the other two girls to know that she understood dragon – she addressed the kitten she was holding.

So, small one, what is going on, exactly? she asked wryly. How did all that happen, and what are you exactly?

What am I?

The kitten appeared to be rather put out by this last question, and he nipped her hand quickly – a nip which made Norri realise he had more than ordinary cat-teeth. Sucking in her breath she lifted the kitten and turned it to face her.

Don’t get angry with me now, she said silently, and gently pried its mouth open – to reveal a lovely set of dragon teeth and a forked dragon tongue.

Well? she asked again, amazed at the calmness of her tone. You know that if you don’t explain things, I’ll have to go to Cináed or Fawkes, and I’m sure they won’t be thrilled to learn that you’ve been holding out on me. Come on, what’s the deal?

The kitten glared at her obstinately, and Norri was about to exert a little more pressure when Ra’ed’s thought-voice intervened.

It’s not his fault, Norri, the dragon kit said placatingly. He doesn’t really understand it all himself just yet – and neither do we, for that matter. All we know is that we had to breath dragon-fire on him, together, and that his true form would be revealed.

His true form, Norri repeated, gazing with some trepidation at the small form she was still holding. And what precisely is his true form?

This, you stupid girl, the kitten snapped at her. This! I’m kin of dragon, just as you said. Not sure what kind of kin exactly, and I don’t think there’s been one of us for a few thousand years or so, but if it’s good enough for me it should definitely be good enough for you. My name’s Macaire, by the way.

Macaire? Norri laughed in spite of herself, and caught odd glances from Hermione and Ginny in the process.

"He just bit me," she explained, hoping her excuse did not sound as weak to them as it did to her. But they seemed to accept it.

"Hope he doesn’t bite me too," Hermione remarked as she leaned over to rub the kitten under its chin. There was the distinct sound of purring in the room, and Norri knew that Macaire was doing it on purpose. But two could play at that game.

"What are you going to call him?" Ginny asked, looking over from where she was patting Mele gently.

Norri shifted slightly.

"Um, Ginny, he’s not my cat," she said quietly, glancing quickly at Hermione as she did so.

Hermione grinned.

"Don’t be a fool, Norri," she said easily. "He would never have survived if your two kits hadn’t scalded him like that, and he obviously chose you right from the start. He doesn’t even seem to need Crookshanks for food, by the looks of it."

No, Macaire said to Norri wryly, a nice plump bat would do much better than mother’s milk.

Norri tried not to look as if she were about to choke.

"What are you going to call him?" Ginny repeated.

Norri opened her mouth to give Macaire’s name – then stopped. Grinning down at him wickedly she said in an airy tone, "Oh, I think I’ll call him Minou. You know, its French for kitten, and the poor little thing is such a runt. I don’t think he’ll ever grow very much, so it will probably suit him down to the ground."

The other two girls smiled.

"That’s so cute!" Hermione enthused.

I’m going to be sick, was Macaire’s disgruntled response.

Not on this carpet you’re not, Norri warned, and he subsided at the firm note in her tone.

This isn’t over yet you know, was his sullen rejoinder.

Norri grinned. Of course not. Nice to know, isn’t it?!

*

"Norri, could I ask you something?" Ginny asked shyly as the two of them were getting ready to go to bed later that night.

The dragon kits had been returned to the nest hours before, Ginny reluctant to release Mele – a sign Norri was very pleased to see. Macaire, however, was sticking close to Norri. He had sat in her lap during dinner, and fallen asleep on her shoulder while she played chess with Ron in the Gryffindor common room. Right now, he was sleeping on Norri’s pillow, and she wondered wryly how she would get him off so she could sleep herself.

The two girls were alone in their dorm room. Hermione was downstairs in the common room, ostensibly studying with Ron. But Norri and Ginny doubted that much study would be involved in that evening’s activities. Behave though the two seventh years generally did, they also enjoyed the chance to be relatively alone every now and then – and neither Ginny nor Norri was about to disturb them.

"Yeah, sure," Norri replied easily, though her heart was thumping as she considered the enormous range of uncomfortable questions Ginny might be about to ask. "What is it?"

Ginny sighed, unconsciously toying with her hair as she sat at the edge of her bed.

"It’s about Draco."

A surge of relief passed through Norri, then she went cold as she remembered her earlier conversation with Charlie. This might not be so easy after all.

"Yes?" she asked guardedly.

Ginny was going slightly pink.

"Well, we kind of made a bet with each other."

"Really?" Norri asked, intrigued despite her resolutions to stay out of Draco and Ginny’s relationship, whatever it was.

"Yeah. Um, it’s actually a Quidditch bet."

"And what did you bet?"

Ginny was now a lovely shade of fuchsia.

"We bet over whether Slytherin would beat Gryffindor or not," she said. "If Gryffindor wins then Draco has to make sure Charlie’s here for Christmas." She stopped.

"And if Slytherin wins?" Norri prodded.

"IhavetogototheYuleBallwithDraco," Ginny blurted out.

Norri released a breath she didn’t realise she’d been holding.

"That doesn’t sound so bad," she said, hoping that Ginny wouldn’t explode on her.

"Not bad?!" Ginny asked in shocked tones. "Of course it’s not bad. What I want to know is, how do I make sure that Slytherin wins?"