author_by_night | Neither Here Nor There: Chapter Twelve

Title: Neither Here Nor There

Fandom: Harry Potter

Chapter: Twelve

Rating: PG-13

Summary: It's been six months since the war, and everyone's ready to try moving on. Lyall Lupin and Andromeda Tonks are coming to terms with the death of their children, finding solace in one another - but how long can they stay close in the face of absence? Kingsley Shacklebolt is trying to lead a country that has been left bitter by war, so distrustful many even doubt him. And Hestia Jones is trying to harbour all she holds dear, which is hard when there's secrets she's never had the heart to reveal.

Notes: I'm going by what JKR said in the interview when she stated that Hermione went back to Hogwarts for a year.

Cornelius was standing at the podium. His wife, Concetta, stood next to him. A clown was in the center of the crowd below, riding a unicycle and juggling.

"Today," Cornelius said, "we avoided a great war. As soon as we heard that You-Know-Who was back, we did everything in our power to rid of him. Let us be grateful that tragedy, atrocity, and warefare was averted. May we always be victorious!"

The crowd roared below him. Dolores Umbridge was blowing Fudge kisses, and Dumbledore was raising a goblet to Fudge.

Cornelius stepped off the podium, and Concetta hugged him tightly. There were tears of joy streaming down her face.

"I am so proud of you," she said. "I won't leave you."

"I know, my love. I know."

Stella, Cornelius's daughter, walked up to her parents. She grabbed her stomach and pulled off a baby, which she handed to Cornelius for him to hold. "We named him after you."

"Thank you..."

This was exactly where Cornelius needed to be.

Lyall ran into the house as fast as he could.

It didn't take him long to find Fudge; he heard a young woman wailing "Daddy! Daddy!" and followed the sound until he found them in a small bedroom.

Amos Diggory had woken Lyall up from his sleep to say that he'd received a call from an anguished young woman, who introduced herself as Cornelius Fudge's daughter, Stella Fudge-Bateman. Cornelius Fudge's daughter. It seemed that she'd stopped by her father's to find him unconscious on the floor, and believed he might have been being smothered to death by a lethifold.

Fudge was in his bed, and kept gasping in his sleep. Or was it a sleep? His face was gray with a blue-green tint.

Stella Fudge was standing at his side, her hands covering her mouth as she looked at Lyall and Amos fearfully.

"He didn't show up for dinner," she said. "I should've come earlier... what's going on? What's happening? Is it a lethifold?"

Lyall raised his wand, and cried: "Expecto Patronum!"

Fudge's gasps did not stop.

"They're usually somewhat visible - they smother you," Amos told Lyall. "Is it something else? Dragonpox, perhaps?"

Lyall shook his head. The fact was that Fudge displayed every symptom of being attacked by one - except the crucial part where the Lethifold smothered the victim from outside.

Lyall turned back to Amos, who was continuing to release Patronuses - to no avail. "Amos, I think we have an Erised Lethifold."

Amos stared at Lyall in horror; Lyall had expected no less.

Erised Lethifolds tended to emerge at time of great stress, remorse and regret; like typical Lethifolds, they suffocated their victims, except that they acted much like a Mirror of Erised - it was believed that the source was the same, hence the name. The few survivors who existed had reported dreams of a different world, a world where their misfortunes had never been or their wishes had come true. Only the victim could wake himself or herself up by realizing it was a fantasy, usually by someone entering their dream.

The trouble was, it had to be done at the start. Otherwise it was far too risky. The only other option was to try getting through to the victim through their subconscious.

"Stella," Amos said in a sort of forced calm, "I need you to keep talking to your father. Remind him of who you are and who he is. Tell him bad things."

"Bad things?"

"Yes. It's the only way you have a chance. Lyall, I'm going to the office to gather some books. Do not leave Stella alone."

"Should we take him to St.-"

"-there's no time. Use their Floo Network to summon a Healer; there's potions that may work."

"I have a baby now," Stella was telling Cornelius, her voice wavering. "I had him during the war. Remember the war?"

"That's it," Lyall said. He rushed to the Floo Network, after a minute getting a receptionist and telling her what was going on. As soon as he was sure a Healer was on his or her way, Lyall hurried back to Cornelius's room.

"Mum left you," Stella reminded Cornelius. "I mean, I don't think she wanted to... she was so ashamed... it's not working," Stella told Lyall. "Why do I have to do this?'

"You need to try waking him up." Lyall hesitated. "The only other way is to dream walk, and we don't know how safe that would be at this point."

"I'll do it!" Stella volunteered at once. "I don't give a damn how safe or unsafe it is, if it'll save him I'll -"

Cornelius's eyes widened suddenly. For a minute, Lyall was relieved; but then he clutched his throat. In a matter of seconds, he was still and Stella was screaming.

"Can't say I'm too sorry," Amos said as he and Lyall left the Ministry Death Registry office.

"Amos..."

"You know he never apologized for covering up my son's death?"

"He let Umbridge subject my son to a life of poverty," Lyall pointed out. "I have my own grievances. But at the very least, you must have feeling for his family."

"What about my family?"

Amos drew in a breath. "He died as he lived; shrouded in lines and self-denial."

Lyall decided it was best to leave it there, and told Amos he'd see him in the 'morning.' Nevermind that it was morning now; ten minutes to six.

He decided to see if Andromeda was awake, and disapparated to her home. Not surprisingly, he could see that her lights were on. He knew that the Daily Prophet would be reporting Fudge's death, but wanted Andromeda to hear it from him.

Lyall knocked on the door; Andromeda ushered him into the kitchen without a word, looking as though she hadn't slept all night. Then she rounded on him like a hawk.

"Was Remus a bad sleeper?"

"What?"

"Was Remus a bad sleeper? This is the one-hundredth time Teddy will not sleep. Dora was never like this..."

Lyall laughed. "On the contrary, Remus was too good of a sleeper. We used to joke that he'd sleep through a Dementor."

Andromeda yawned, rubbed her eyes, and then paused as though she'd only just realized Lyall was really there, and it wasn't just a dream.

"What are you doing here? It's only six in the morning."

"Ah. Well, I have... news."

"What happened?"

"I was called to Fudge's place tonight. Lethifold attack, and not your normal Lethifold either - I'll explain that later. Amos Diggory and I tried everything, but we were too late."

"Oh." Andromeda winced. "Well, then."

"Indeed. Diggory's all but pleased."

"Even his wife left him," Andromeda said. "When even your wife can leave you with times being what they were... then there's the war."

"The war wasn't his fault."

"No, but the lack of progress was."

Lyall couldn't argue with that.

"He has children, though," Andromeda said quietly. "I can't imagine how they must feel. I hated my father, but when he died, I was still sad. I even cried a bit, mostly when I was barred from the funeral."

"What?" Lyall gasped.

"Oh, that was normal for my family," Andromeda said with a nonchalant hand-wave. "Still, it did worsen my grief - oh, just go to sleep."

Teddy was crying again.

"Why don't you get some rest?" Lyall suggested. "I can take him for a bit."

Andromeda looked as though he'd handed her gold.

The funeral, eulogized by Kingsley, was tasteful.

Not a lot of people were in attendance, which was unusual for a former Minister. But more people had shown than Hestia had expected - including Concetta, Cornelius's ex-wife, who Hestia came upon to while looking for her parents. Although they were still feuding, she knew they'd been friends with Fudge, and so whatever his misdeeds, they must be upset. They might need her.

Hestia had been certain they'd be with Concetta, but she was standing alone by a tree, holding an empty bottle of Firewhiskey.

"I'm very sorry," Hestia told her.

"You don't have to be. I know a lot of people aren't."

Hestia wasn't sure how to respond to that.

"They think I left him out of spite," Concetta said. "I know they do."

"What really happened?" Hestia asked. She knew Concetta wasn't confiding into her personally as much as she was letting out something she'd been holding in for a very, very long time. Her drunkenness might have been the reason she was talking, but it wasn't the reason she needed to.

"Sometimes you wake up one morning, and the man you married isn't there. Just a reminder of... shame. He wasn't always like that. Deep down, he was never like that. He was a good man inside."

"Then what happened?"

"He became Minister. I used to joke that it'd make him stuffy..." Concetta coughed. "I never thought for a moment that it really would. Worse yet, I dived in with him. Dolores Umbridge was - is - my son's Godmother. Dolores Umbridge. Do you know what she tried to do to Merpeople? But power and wealth make you stupid. I think they made all Ministers stupid."

She paused, then continued: "I knew he was back, you know. I think Cornelius did, too. But we didn't want to believe it. He wanted Britain to believe in him, and I wanted the world to believe in my husband, to play my piano while he gazed on me adoringly. I didn't even notice how many friends we lost. But I think it was the coup that made me I realize something awful."

Concetta leaned in closer to Hestia, and whispered, "I realized we weren't much better than they were. So I left, because all I could see in my marriage was a sham."

"Mum?"

Stella and Phyllis appeared from the other side of the tree. Stella helped Concetta stumble away, while Phyllis and Hestia stared at one another.

"How are you?" Hestia asked, trying to sound natural.

Phyllis shrugged. "I feel so horrible for his children, Stella cried on my shoulder for an hour."

"That's awful."

"Yes."

"Where's Dad?" Hestia asked suddenly.

"Oh, over there, speaking with Lyall... they've become quite chummy, I'm starting to get a little jealous."

Hestia laughed. "Well, let's go over and talk to them."

"Hestia!" Lyall greeted. "How are you?"

"Good," Hestia returned.

But something was nagging at Hestia... something she'd just remembered Concetta saying, about having been Minister going to Fudge's head...

Hestia snuck a glance at Kingsley, who was talking to Harry, Ginny and Andromeda. Would it happen to him? Hestia couldn't imagine so, but Concetta hadn't thought so either... it made Hestia feel uneasy. It occurred to her that she'd jumped right into this relationship without a moment's thought.

Don't, Hestia told herself sharply. Have you learned nothing from your friends? You love him, and he's not Fudge. He'll never be Fudge.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Phyllis asked.

"I'm fine, Mum," Hestia said quietly. Before she could be pried any further, she walked over to Kingsley and quickly flanked her arms around him.

"Don't be afraid to show your affection," Kingsley laughed.

"I was just telling Kingsley that I'm having dinner tonight," Andromeda said. "You two are invited, of course. And Harry, do tell Ron and Hermione they can come. I would love to see them again."

"They're actually in Brisbane," Ginny said. "Using the Hogwarts Easter break to visit. They return Easter Monday."

"Very nice," Andromeda said. "Well, I will see all of you for seven."

Unfortunately, Fudge's funeral seemed to have opened healing wounds; no matter what they did, the conversation would end up turning to unpleasant things.

Hestia couldn't put funerals out of her mind. Cedric Diggory's...the makeshift one they'd had for Sirius... Emmaline's, the anguished sobs of Sturgis... Alastor's, realizing his magical eye was missing, Tonks had heaved and it wasn't morning sickness... Remus and Tonks's... Fred Weasley's...

Funerals were supposed to be a thing of the past. So why the hell couldn't they stay in the past?

"I can't believe it's almost been a whole year," she finally said.

"Me either," Lyall admitted. "It'll be Teddy's birthday next week..."

"God, he was only a few weeks old?" Ginny blurted.

Everyone shifted uncomfortably. Ginny looked embarrassed.

"How are things at Hogwarts?" Kingsley asked.

As Ginny went on, Hestia felt herself falling asleep. She was too tired to fight it.

Harry was walking away from the Willow with Sirius, heading towards the castle.

"Wait till I tell my Dad I found the shack," Harry said excitedly.

"He'll be so proud of you," Sirius agreed.

"The question is, how did you end up there?"

"That is a long story."

"I'm so glad you're here."

"Where else would I be?"

Hestia and Tonks were racing each other down the corridor.

Hestia got to the door first; she stuck her tongue out at Tonks.

"Beat you!" She said.

"You cheated!" Tonks insisted, but she was laughing.

She paused. "Are you okay?"

"Something's not right," Hestia said.

"You worry too much. I'm right here. Where else would I be?"

Hope and Lyall were watching Remus sleeping on the couch, Teddy sleeping on his lap.

"That was such a close call," Hope said.

"I'm glad I was fast."

"Me too."

"And I'm glad you were right by my side."

Hope kissed Lyall on the lips. "Where else would I be?"

Kingsley woke with a start.

The room was pitch black, but he could see shadows around him; clearly, they'd all fallen asleep.

Kingsley turned on the lights, and what he saw next made him cry out in horror.

Lyall, Hestia, and Harry were all on the floor; their faces had a blue-green tinge, and they were breathing in small gasps.