Dolasitas

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A week had now passed since McGonagall’s murder and Lexy was feeling thoroughly frustrated. She had only been allowed to leave the house for her St. Mungo’s appointment, and even for that Lucius had gripped her tightly by the arm for the entire time that they were out of the manor. To compound her irritation, she had heard nothing further from Remus. Finally, though, when she woke up the next morning it was to see an owl waiting patiently on the balcony, a sealed scroll tied to its leg.

Casting a furtive look at Lucius, who seemed to still be sleeping, Lexy silently crossed the room, opened the doors and stepped out onto the balcony. The owl flew away the instant that she took the letter, and with a trembling hand she opened the scroll. It bore only five words; “My office at midday. RL,” and it disappeared as soon as she had read it.

The brief moment of relief disappeared all too quickly to be replaced by rising panic; how was she supposed to get to an Order meeting if Lucius wouldn’t even let her leave the house? Lost in her thoughts, she did not hear Lucius joining her on the balcony, and she jumped as he wrapped his arms around her. “Aren’t you cold out here with no clothes on, pet?” he enquired, a sparkle in his eye.

Lexy shook her head, her heart still racing. If Lucius had come out just a few seconds earlier… “No, not at all, Lucius,” she replied. “I was too hot in the bedroom, so I came out here for a breath of fresh air.”

His hands slipped down to her abdomen, which was now beginning to display a slight swelling. “It’s incredible how many changes this little thing is making to your body, isn’t it?” Lucius commented, pulling her back indoors.

She smiled up at him, all the tension draining out of her at the mention of their baby. “I love it, Lucius, I really do. Even the morning sickness is worthwhile, because I know it means that my body is busy nurturing our child.”

“And we get to see him or her in just a couple of weeks,” Lucius supplemented, thinking of the projection scan that St. Mungo’s had promised at their next visit.

Lexy beamed as she walked into the bathroom. Lucius’ voice followed her. “Oh, Lexy, I meant to mention it last night, but you were already asleep when I came up. I need to go out for a few hours today, so I thought that you might like to go and sit with Mrs Snape whilst Severus is teaching? I’ll come to collect you at around 2pm, if you don’t mind.”

Lexy froze in the act of stepping into the shower, her smile widening even further. “No, I don’t mind,” she called back. For once, it seemed that everything had fallen into place.

Lucius sent Lexy through to the school a couple of hours later, with plenty of time to get to the meeting. Severus was already teaching, so it was only Ginny who greeted her; Casper was sleeping in the nursery. “That was a stroke of luck, Lucius sending you here today, wasn’t it?” Ginny commented as Lexy brushed the ashes off her robes.

Lexy nodded emphatically. “How are we to get to Remus’ office without Severus noticing?” she asked, staring at the room around her. It had changed little since Ginny had moved in to the apartment; the only concession that Severus appeared to have made to having to share his space was the sparse distribution of baby necessities.

“We’ll Floo from here; all the teachers’ offices have direct connections,” Ginny explained. “I’ll need to take Casper, as Severus is teaching through till the lunch break.”

“Do you know who else will be attending?” Lexy had been unable to attend the last three meetings, and knew that she had plenty to catch up on.

“I know that Fleur, Kingsley and Neville will be there for sure, and hopefully Draco, Hermione and the twins can come too,” Ginny replied.

Lexy rolled her eyes. “So Draco and Hermione will be sniping at each other for the entire meeting, then,” she observed wryly.

“I’m not sure,” was the unexpected reply. “At the last meeting, they seemed to have almost called a truce… although saying that, Hermione did shout at Draco when he volunteered to be one of those staking out Malfoy Manor to wait for the Volkarovs.”

“That’s unlike them.” Lexy was deeply surprised, and resolved to watch them closely.

Ginny nodded. “I’ll just go and get Casper ready, and then we can Floo through.” She left the room for a few minutes, returning with Casper in her arms. “Did you want to go first? I’ll just leave a note for Severus telling him we’ve gone for a walk in case he comes in.”

Lexy did as he suggested, and as she stepped out into Remus’ office a wave of dizziness washed over her. Remus immediately leapt up from behind his desk in the empty office to offer a steadying hand. “Are you alright?” he asked, his face tired but alert.

She nodded, but allowed him to help her across to the nearest chair. “Yes, it’s just that Flooing doesn’t tend to agree with me much these days. Take my advice, Remus,” Lexy said seriously, “never Floo when pregnant.”

Remus chuckled hoarsely as Ginny came through with Casper in her arms. “Are we the first, Remus?” she asked. He nodded, but was prevented from answering by the fireplace bursting into life again to reveal, over the next five minutes, Neville, Kingsley and Fleur.

Remus looked at his watch. “It’s one minute to midday now. I think we can presume that’s everybody for today –“ he began, but was cut off by the green flames erupting once more. Hermione stepped out first, determinedly avoiding everyone’s gaze as she was immediately followed by Draco.

Lexy caught Ginny’s eye and could see her own shock reflected upon Ginny’s face. They fought hard to stifle their giggles, Lexy having to cover her mouth with her hand, and her amusement only increased when she looked up at Draco and caught his look of mingled embarrassment and frustration. “Yes, yes, settle down,” Draco snapped as Hermione scuttled over to the last remaining chair.

“Quite,” Remus remarked, one eyebrow quirked. “I think that’s everyone that’s going to make it now, so I’ll begin. As you know, the main purpose of calling this meeting today was to discuss yesterday’s sitting of the International Confederation.”

“Did Volkarov speak up?” Kingsley asked in his slow, deep voice.

“He did,” Remus confirmed. “However, the reaction of the majority of the confederation was precisely what we feared it would be. Sweden and Bulgaria offered to stand alongside anyone else who would take action against Voldemort, but France in particular were vehement in insisting that action would have to come from within Britain. Unless we can muster a revolution ourselves, they will refuse help; basically, they have refused to stand against him.”

Neville and Kingsley swore, and Draco punched the wall. Ginny and Lexy looked at each other despondently as Fleur Delacour rose to her feet. “Zat President Laliére ‘as always been too interested in ‘is own country,” she spat scornfully.

Lexy’s head snapped up. “Who did you say the President was, Fleur?” she demanded excitedly.

“It eez Fabien Laliére,” Fleur repeated, frowning. “’Is father, Louis, was a great politician too, and would ‘ave been a much better choice, if you ask me, but ‘e did not want the glory.”

Fleur’s elaboration strengthened Lexy’s suspicion. “I don’t want to get you excited for no reason, but my great-grandmother’s surname was Laliére. She and my great-grandfather had always claimed that my grandmother was their only child, but when Mémé stayed with us in the last weeks of her life, she said some strange things to me.” Lexy paused, for she had never revealed her mémé’s secret to anyone before. “She told me that she had especially favoured me from the day I was born, for I had Louis’ eyes. No-one had ever mentioned a Louis to me before, but there had been family rumours about a son who had been disowned for marrying a muggleborn.”

Lexy stopped her recital to get Remus’ opinion, and she watched him as he chewed his fingernails pensively. “It all seems to fit,” he mused eventually. “The question is, though, how to get proof of it. There is no doubt that they will dismiss you immediately otherwise.”

“I would say zat Louis would be more likely to listen,” Fleur suggested. “Fabien ‘as a reputation for being more zan a leetle unapproachable.”

“What do you think, Lexy? Do you have anything of your great-grandmother’s that we could use to prove it?” Neville asked.

Lexy thought hard. “Well, she did leave me her cottage on the outskirts of Paris. I’ve not been able to visit it since she passed away, but I know that Mama and Papa never got around to clearing it, so all her personal effects would still be there. The problem would be getting there, though; I doubt that Lucius will agree to taking a trip there until after the baby arrives.”

“And how long is it until that?” Hermione questioned her.

“Just less than seven months.”

“Wouldn’t it be possible for one of us to go?” Draco asked.

She frowned. “Well, it’s worth a go, but there are tons of protective charms and enchantments on it to prevent unaccompanied by myself going there.”

“I don’t think it is worth risking it,” Kingsley commented. “We don’t want to blow this, so I think it’s worthwhile waiting until you can go there, Lexy.”

“Can we afford to wait for so long, though?” Neville questioned despondently.

“We knew from the beginning that this would be a long process,” Remus said reasonably. “There is no point in risking the little progress that we have made.”

There was silence in the room as everybody thought over what had been said. Whilst it was true that it would be foolish to go into this without sufficient planning, it was so wonderful to feel that they were getting somewhere after years of inaction, and to have to wait again seemed to be intolerable. Lexy stared up at the cobwebs on the tatty beams of the ceiling, and Remus noted her gaze, as he noted everything she did. “The house elves don’t like cleaning in here,” he confessed ruefully, “and I have never been much good at household spells.”

Lexy jumped and the rest of the Order stared at him bewilderedly. “Er…had we come to a decision then?” Hermione asked pointedly.

“We wait.” Remus tore his eyes away from Lexy and the hand she was now unconsciously rubbing across her abdomen and back to the matter at hand.

“In the meantime?” Ginny asked frustratedly.

“We do what we have been doing.” Remus sighed as he rubbed his eyes, feeling suddenly weary. “I wish I could come up with a better plan, but as it stands…” he trailed off, and the silence in the room was almost unbearable.

“And is there any news of Professor McGonagall’s replacement?” Kingsley asked with a deep sigh, his words echoing around the room.

To everyone’s deep astonishment, Hermione’s hand sought out Draco’s as tears began to spill from her eyes, and he squeezed it tightly, looking at Kingsley reproachfully. “Voldemort has indicated that he will name a headmaster in a couple of days, but…” Remus trailed off uncertainly, chewing his fingernails as the concerns he had been having since McGonagall’s murder came to the forefront of his mind. “As Lexy pointed out to me, the last time a headmaster or headmistress was chosen wrongfully was Dolores Umbridge, and we all know what happened there.”

Hermione frowned. “You mean with the office refusing her entry?”

Lexy nodded excitedly. “Remember, it was almost as if Hogwarts itself refused to acknowledge her as headmistress. Do you think the same thing will happen again, Remus?”

“Perhaps.” Remus shrugged his shoulders helplessly. “The problem is, none of us are entirely certain how the head should be chosen, and we cannot seem to find out at all.”

Hermione tutted impatiently. “And nobody has thought to ask the house elves, I suppose?”

“What will they know about it?” Draco said, rolling his eyes, but he was immediately silenced by an angry glare from Hermione.

“That is exactly the attitude that has caused so many problems!” she exclaimed furiously. “Voldemort,” Draco winced as she spoke his name, “underestimates them as well. Harry always said that that was his weakness.”

“Oh, well, if Saint Harry said it, it must be true,” Draco spat angrily, snatching his hand back from her and rising out of his chair.

Remus could see that the situation was quickly spinning out of control and hurried towards them. “Draco, Hermione,” he said reprovingly, “how often must I remind you that we are on the same side? Must you always antagonise each other so? Enough!” he said sharply, holding up his hand as Hermione attempted to retort. “Hermione, your idea may have some merit in it. However, I don’t know whether it is worth the risk to bring a house elf in on our plans.”

Kingsley shrugged. “Voldemort knows that we are operating now. Draco and Neville he already knows to be in the Order; if it is only one of them who questions the elf, what more knowledge can he gain of us should he think to interrogate the elf?”

“True. Very well then.” Remus waved his wand, and Disillusionment charms descended upon everyone in the room other than Draco and Neville. “Winky is still working here, I think. Neville, call her after we have left the room, question her and then knock on the door to summon us back in when you are done.” He ushered the rest of the Order out of the office into his private rooms and Neville cleared his throat nervously.

“Winky?” The house elf Apparated into the room, wringing her hands nervously, her eyes widening with fright as she saw who had called her.

“Winky, you are forbidden to tell anyone that you have seen us here or anything we discuss with you,” Draco said hastily. She stared at him, clearly confused and backed anxiously towards the door.

Neville shook his head disapprovingly. “We can’t give her orders, Draco, we’re not students any more,” he snapped. Draco opened his mouth, his face darkening angrily, but Neville held his hand up. “Winky, we cannot force you to answer us,” he said kindly, “but it would help the Order of the Phoenix a great deal in the fight against You-Know-Who if could tell us what you need to know.”

“What does Master Longbottom want to know?” Winky asked warily.

“All we need to know is how the Head of Hogwarts is chosen,” Neville explained. “You see, the information in the office could be vitally important to You-Know-Who, and if he is able to choose the head…” Neville’s voice trailed off into a sad sigh.

“No, no!” Winky squeaked, the pitch of her voice rising sharply. “He will not be able to. The castle chooses its own Head.” Draco and Neville looked at each other, their mutual excitement growing.

“How?” Draco demanded.

“I don’t know,” Winky confessed. “I only heard the other elves talk about it. Has I helped?”

“Very much so, Winky, thank you,” Neville replied as Draco snorted impatiently. “You may leave.” He waited for her to disappear before crossing the room and opening the door, standing back to allow the Order to pass through, lifting the Disillusionment charms as they did so.

“What did she say?” Hermione demanded as soon as everyone was re-seated.

“You-Know-Who cannot directly appoint the headmaster,” Draco responded, stifling a small yawn. “Apparently, the castle chooses its Head, whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean,” he drawled sarcastically, his voice remarkably reminiscent of his father.

Hermione rolled her eyes. “So where does this leave us, Remus?”

Remus, whose attention had been drawn to Lexy playing with baby Casper, jumped as he heard his name mentioned. “Oh…um, well I guess it means we have a little more breathing space. He will not want to wait much longer before appointing an interim Head, so it will be up to us to try and track down the real one before he realises. Just something else to add to the list, I suppose,” he said brusquely, trying to mask the despair that seemed to hang over him like an ever-present heavy cloud. “That’ll do for today – I’ll let you all know when the next meeting is.” With no further words, he disappeared back into his private quarters.

The Order stared at each other in bemusement before once again dispersing, Hermione and Draco leaving together. Lexy, Ginny and Casper were the last left, and Lexy made to go after Remus, but Ginny caught her by the arm. “Leave him, Lex,” she said quietly. “He’s got a lot on his mind.”

“Haven’t we all?” Lexy responded, rolling her eyes. Ginny, who was beginning to suspect what his problem was, did not reply, and they left the room without exchanging another word.


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