The next day Mika felt as if she were floating on air. The 3000 year old time traveller had not felt this happy in eons. in fact, it had been well over a millennium since she had had any sort of romantic liaison. It hadn't been through lack of opportunities but more from her fear of their loss. She knew very well that death and aging were a normal part of life, but it was something she found the most painful of all her experiences to endure, especially when it involved someone she loved. That is why she had chosen for so long to remain alone and, consequently for one so full of love, utterly miserable.
It was perhaps one of the reasons that her good friend Albus Dumbledore had extended his invitation for her to join Hogwart's if even for only one term. It also was no coincidence that he did so the same year that he hired Professor R. J. Lupin to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, even though he knew that if it became known that Lupin was in fact a werewolf that he would probably be forced to leave. His only hope was that he and Mika would form their inevitable relationship before that time came so that she would be there and willing to take care of him. Lupin might not agree that he needed taking care of, but Dumbledore felt it would be best to insure his survival in the dark times to come... and besides, Mika was a natural at it.
Thus it was with great pleasure and a light heart at knowing that a plan had succeeded that Headmaster Dumbledore sat in his office and listened to the caretaker, Argus Filch, basically tattle on what he had witnessed the previous night up in the clock tower. He listened with interest as he expounded on the apparent goings on between two teachers and how it should be outlawed in a school.
Albus merely smiled, thanked Argus for his report, then reminded him that there were no rules regarding relationships between teachers, nor indeed teachers and special guest lecturers. In fact, in previous years, Headmasters had employed various members of their families, including their wives or husbands as teachers, gamekeepers and even caretakers. Argus was not pleased with this as he had truly thought that he had uncovered some deep dark conspiracy. He went away disappointed that no one was going to be punished, and in fact, that such obviously outrageous behaviour was not only going to be allowed to continue but even to be encouraged.
After Filch had left, Dumbledore wandered over to the window in his high tower and gazed out at the grounds below. He could just make out the figures of Mika and Miss Granger heading for their favourite haunt amid the branches of the whomping willow, whom he now knew to be called Clarence. He was debating on whether or not to speak to Mika and Lupin together, or separately, or even at all. He thought that perhaps they would feel a little more at ease if they knew that they had the blessing of the Headmaster and wouldn't get into any sort of trouble. He also hoped that Snape, who had been acting very peculiar lately in regards to the pair wouldn't give him any trouble. He had enough on his plate without him adding to it.
***
"Mika," Hermione said as she trotted beside her down the path to the whomping willow. "I've been meaning to ask you, how did you do that back at the village?"
"I was wondering when you would ask me that," Mika laughed.
"It looked like magic, but I thought you couldn't do magic."
"Well, I can't. At least not that I am aware of. I was using what we call the 'Force'."
"The Force?"
"You see, every living thing in the universe has a living force. There are people who have learned or been trained in the ability to manipulate this living force to do their will. The people I learned from are called Jedi Knights. I am not as knowledgeable in the ways of the Force as they are for they spend their entire lives studying it, much like you do your magic. And of course only certain people with the propensity for the Force are able to use it."
"It sounds a lot like our use of magic," Hermione observed.
"Well, that's what I think too. I think that perhaps magic is just another way of manipulating the Force. The differences being that you lot use wands and potions and spells and can do more diverse things with it. Qui Gon only showed me how to do a few simple things. I am actually quite surprised that my little trick back in the village worked as well as it did." she grinned.
"Do you think perhaps since you can do this Force thing, that you could do magic too?"
"It is a possibility I suppose," Mika said, scratching her chin.
"Let's try it," Hermione announced suddenly. "Take my wand and try a simple spell." She held her wand out for the timelord to take.
Gingerly, as if it might bite, Mika took the wand. She held it like a dead skunk. "Now what?" she asked.
Hermione laughed. "Just relax! It's just a piece of wood really, it won't hurt you. Now, hold it out as if you're going to point to something on a blackboard and say 'lumos'. Be sure to say it with conviction."
Mika grinned nervously and held the wand as instructed. "Lumos!" she commanded quite forcefully. A huge bolt of fire shot out of the end of the wand nearly setting fire to the whomping willow. Hermione yelped and leapt out of the way.
"Bloody hell!" Mika said, nearly dropping the wand. "I don't suppose that was supposed to happen huh?"
"Um, no, Mika. It was just supposed to light the end of the wand so you can see in the dark." She took the wand away from Mika before she did herself a damage.
"So did I do it wrong?"
"No, I don't think so. Perhaps you just need your own wand. Let's go get one of the school wands and see if that helps."
They made their way quickly back up to the Castle and to Mrs. McGonagall's classroom. "She always keeps a few extra wands just in case," Hermione told Mika.
"Don't you think we should ask first?" Mika asked uneasily.
"I'll leave her a note. We don't know where she is do we? And we'll only use if for a an hour or so at most."
Mika looked at the wands, trying each one in her hand while Hermione left a note for the Transmogrification teacher.
"Find one you like?" she asked when she was done.
"Hmmm," Mika considered them. "This one feels more 'right' than the others." She held it out for Hermione to see.
"That's made of Rowan," she informed the timelord. "Were you born in January?"
"I believe I was," Mika nodded. "Well, what would have been January if I had been 'born' on this planet... or indeed born in the sense that you know it."
They both laughed. Sometimes Mika could say things that would confuse even the brightest of people. "Where shall we do this?" she asked.
"Um, judging by the results of the earlier experiment, somewhere fireproof!"
Together they made their way out of the classroom wing and out to the courtyard. They found a quiet corner where a large rose bush shielded them from the view of most of the other students who were milling about before bedtime.
"Right," Hermione said finally. "Try it again. 'Lumos'," she demonstrated with her own wand.
Mika held the wand firmly and repeated the spell. It wasn't quite a fireball like last time, but it was still a lot more than it should have been.
Suddenly a hand wrapped itself around Mika's wrist, guiding her wand. "Try waving it a little more loosely," came the familiar hoarse voice in her ear. "Also, try to ease your concentration. I think you may be too focused."
Mika jumped and held her other hand to her chest as her hearts raced, partly from being startled and partly from Lupin being so near.
"Go on," urged Hermione, anxious to see if it would work.
"Lumos!" Mika said, this time more softly. The tip of the wand lit up with a bright light that would guide her through the darkest of nights.
"Perfect!" Hermione clapped in triumph. "Professor, I didn't think there was such a thing as concentrating too much."
"Well, apparently whatever powers Mika has been trained in require far more concentration than even the toughest spells." He lowered his voice to a whisper, his smile replaced by a look of serious thought. "Have you any idea what this might mean?"
"No," Mika said hesitantly. "But I don't think I like the sound of it."
The wheels were clearly turning in Hermione's head too. "Do you mean that if she really does have such powerful abilities, that with the proper training..."
"Yes. She could be the most powerful witch of all. Perhaps even more powerful than Voldemort himself!"
Mika looked first at Hermione, then Lupin, then back again. "Aw you guys are putting me on!" she said finally, folding her arms across her chest. "That's probably the only thing I can do and it took me three tries to do it!" she said. But the looks on their faces were immovable. They were serious! Mika shook her head slowly. "I don't know about this. It's all just supposition. Besides, I am not supposed to interfere..."
Hermione stood with her hands on her hips. "Interfere? You shouldn't even be here then should you?" she reminded her.
"Well..." Mika grinned sheepishly.
"Just give it some though, Mika, ok? I'll have a talk with Dumbledore and see what he says. Please, don't rule it out. You could be the secret weapon we need to defeat this evil that threatens us all."
Wednesday 25 May 2005
Monday 23 May 2005
Sweet Confessions
When they returned, the children had to undergo yet another scolding from Dumbledore himself and detention for what probably seemed like the rest of their lives. Mika tried to persuade the Headmaster that she was partially to blame for what happened and to go easy on them, but he insisted that they were totally responsible for attempting something so dangerous and they must be taught a lesson.
“I suppose nearly getting burned at the stake in the middle ages wasn’t enough punishment,” Hermione sighed as they discussed it upon leaving Dumbledore’s office.
“I still don’t know what happened,” Mika was mulling the whole thing over in her mind. “Minerva said that the spell they used should not have had anywhere near that effect. I wonder if the proximity of the TARDIS may have had anything to do with it?” she was thinking aloud.
Hermione looked at her friend, as they wandered down the corridor. “How would the TARDIS be able to affect a spell?”
Mika shrugged. “It’s just speculation, but there is the possibility of a field of temporal disturbance surrounding the TARDIS. It could be with that combined with a charged atmosphere such as this one would result in all sorts of strange happenings.” She sighed. “I guess I’d better move the TARDIS somewhere a bit more remote away from all this spellcasting.”
“You aren’t leaving are you?” Hermione suddenly looked worried.
“No, of course not. Although it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea. Trouble just seems to follow me wherever I go these days,” she sighed again.
“You can say that again,” said Hermione who had just caught sight of a dark figure hurrying down the corridor towards them. It was Professor Snape.
“I’d better go find Harry and Ron and tell them what happened,” she made her excuses, leaving Mika to it.
“Gee, thanks,” Mika muttered. Then without turning around, “Severus. What can I do for you?”
He fell into step beside her, trying to form his words. “Are… are you all right?” he asked, the concern in his voice seemed genuine enough.
“I am perfectly fine, thank you. And thank you for helping earlier. The rescue wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s help.” She emphasised the ‘everyone’ hoping he’d get the implication.
“I… I just wanted to say that I was sorry for that joke I pulled earlier. I admit it was rather tasteless. It’s just…”
“I’m not the one you should be apologising to, Severus,” she turned and glared at him. “I know you two don’t get along and I’ve given up asking you to. But at least show a little maturity and admit when you’re defeated. I am your friend, Severus. But if you continue to take jabs at Remus, I won’t be able to be for much longer.” The threat in her voice was very clear.
Snape just nodded. “I am sorry, Mika. Truly.” He looked at her, his coal black eyes showing the hurt he felt. Mika almost felt sorry for him. But she just watched in silence as he turned and went back down the way they’d come, disappearing into the darkness once again.
“Mika!” came a voice that brought a very wide smile to her lovely lips.
She found herself standing at the top of the stairs gazing down into the smiling face of Remus Lupin. She felt like throwing herself down the stairs into his arms, but restrained herself and walked calmly down instead.
“I’m so glad you made it back ok,” he began.
Mika put a finger to her lips and glanced around, noticing Filch and Mrs. Morris hanging about in the shadows. “Come on,” she said quietly. Together they walked up the staircases until they reached the clocktower where no trace remained of the incident that had happened earlier.
When they were finally alone, Mika stood with her back to him, gazing out across the courtyard and the loch beyond. There was a new moon that night so it was only the stars that lit the scene. But that wasn’t what she was looking at. Mika was watching Lupin’s reflection as he was trying very hard to articulate his feelings to her.
“Mika,” he began. “Look, I’m no good at these things having had virtually no experience. But, I feel, something is happening here. Something alien, but at the same time wonderful. I may have entirely the wrong end of the stick but… Mika…” his voice trailed off as he had no idea what to say next.
She remained silent, waiting for him to continue. She knew what he wanted to say, but she wanted to hear him say it. Maybe then she would be able to make up her own mind, though she had a feeling her hearts, denied for so long, had already made it up for her.
Watching his reflection in the glass, Mika could see just how terrified Lupin was. “Mika,” he said at last, his voice trembling. “I know what I am. I am a nobody, a poor man with a terrible curse. I have no money, no real job, for as soon as people find out about me I have to leave. I know I have no reason nor any right to think that someone such as yourself would want anything to do with me…” his voice trailed off again. “I’m making no sense am I?” he laughed nervously. “I guess what I’m trying to say is, Mika, that whatever I am, such as I am, belongs totally to you. There, I’ve said it…”
She turned around finally. “What have you said?” she asked pointedly. “You’ve talked lots of nonsense about you being a nobody, but I am not entirely sure what you are trying to tell me.”
Her big, beautiful violet eyes shone at him with a light from within. They gave him the courage to say how he really felt.
“Mika, I… I love you.”
His blue eyes filled with fear at her immediate silence. He wasn’t sure how she’d react. But he should have known better.
As Mika considered this sweet man’s words, a smile began to spread uncontrollably, beginning with her eyes and ending at her very toes. “Now you’re making sense, Remus Lupin,” she said softly.
Her smile continued to spread until it engulfed Lupin as well. He finally dared to move closer and take her in his arms. Unable to control themselves anymore, they kissed, and this time there were no interruptions.
“Oh Remus,” Mika breathed into his ear as they held each other tightly. “You are so not a nobody. You are the man I love.”
“I suppose nearly getting burned at the stake in the middle ages wasn’t enough punishment,” Hermione sighed as they discussed it upon leaving Dumbledore’s office.
“I still don’t know what happened,” Mika was mulling the whole thing over in her mind. “Minerva said that the spell they used should not have had anywhere near that effect. I wonder if the proximity of the TARDIS may have had anything to do with it?” she was thinking aloud.
Hermione looked at her friend, as they wandered down the corridor. “How would the TARDIS be able to affect a spell?”
Mika shrugged. “It’s just speculation, but there is the possibility of a field of temporal disturbance surrounding the TARDIS. It could be with that combined with a charged atmosphere such as this one would result in all sorts of strange happenings.” She sighed. “I guess I’d better move the TARDIS somewhere a bit more remote away from all this spellcasting.”
“You aren’t leaving are you?” Hermione suddenly looked worried.
“No, of course not. Although it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea. Trouble just seems to follow me wherever I go these days,” she sighed again.
“You can say that again,” said Hermione who had just caught sight of a dark figure hurrying down the corridor towards them. It was Professor Snape.
“I’d better go find Harry and Ron and tell them what happened,” she made her excuses, leaving Mika to it.
“Gee, thanks,” Mika muttered. Then without turning around, “Severus. What can I do for you?”
He fell into step beside her, trying to form his words. “Are… are you all right?” he asked, the concern in his voice seemed genuine enough.
“I am perfectly fine, thank you. And thank you for helping earlier. The rescue wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s help.” She emphasised the ‘everyone’ hoping he’d get the implication.
“I… I just wanted to say that I was sorry for that joke I pulled earlier. I admit it was rather tasteless. It’s just…”
“I’m not the one you should be apologising to, Severus,” she turned and glared at him. “I know you two don’t get along and I’ve given up asking you to. But at least show a little maturity and admit when you’re defeated. I am your friend, Severus. But if you continue to take jabs at Remus, I won’t be able to be for much longer.” The threat in her voice was very clear.
Snape just nodded. “I am sorry, Mika. Truly.” He looked at her, his coal black eyes showing the hurt he felt. Mika almost felt sorry for him. But she just watched in silence as he turned and went back down the way they’d come, disappearing into the darkness once again.
“Mika!” came a voice that brought a very wide smile to her lovely lips.
She found herself standing at the top of the stairs gazing down into the smiling face of Remus Lupin. She felt like throwing herself down the stairs into his arms, but restrained herself and walked calmly down instead.
“I’m so glad you made it back ok,” he began.
Mika put a finger to her lips and glanced around, noticing Filch and Mrs. Morris hanging about in the shadows. “Come on,” she said quietly. Together they walked up the staircases until they reached the clocktower where no trace remained of the incident that had happened earlier.
When they were finally alone, Mika stood with her back to him, gazing out across the courtyard and the loch beyond. There was a new moon that night so it was only the stars that lit the scene. But that wasn’t what she was looking at. Mika was watching Lupin’s reflection as he was trying very hard to articulate his feelings to her.
“Mika,” he began. “Look, I’m no good at these things having had virtually no experience. But, I feel, something is happening here. Something alien, but at the same time wonderful. I may have entirely the wrong end of the stick but… Mika…” his voice trailed off as he had no idea what to say next.
She remained silent, waiting for him to continue. She knew what he wanted to say, but she wanted to hear him say it. Maybe then she would be able to make up her own mind, though she had a feeling her hearts, denied for so long, had already made it up for her.
Watching his reflection in the glass, Mika could see just how terrified Lupin was. “Mika,” he said at last, his voice trembling. “I know what I am. I am a nobody, a poor man with a terrible curse. I have no money, no real job, for as soon as people find out about me I have to leave. I know I have no reason nor any right to think that someone such as yourself would want anything to do with me…” his voice trailed off again. “I’m making no sense am I?” he laughed nervously. “I guess what I’m trying to say is, Mika, that whatever I am, such as I am, belongs totally to you. There, I’ve said it…”
She turned around finally. “What have you said?” she asked pointedly. “You’ve talked lots of nonsense about you being a nobody, but I am not entirely sure what you are trying to tell me.”
Her big, beautiful violet eyes shone at him with a light from within. They gave him the courage to say how he really felt.
“Mika, I… I love you.”
His blue eyes filled with fear at her immediate silence. He wasn’t sure how she’d react. But he should have known better.
As Mika considered this sweet man’s words, a smile began to spread uncontrollably, beginning with her eyes and ending at her very toes. “Now you’re making sense, Remus Lupin,” she said softly.
Her smile continued to spread until it engulfed Lupin as well. He finally dared to move closer and take her in his arms. Unable to control themselves anymore, they kissed, and this time there were no interruptions.
“Oh Remus,” Mika breathed into his ear as they held each other tightly. “You are so not a nobody. You are the man I love.”
With a Little Help from a Friend
Mika watched from a distance, grateful that she had arrived so quickly and that the elder had managed to keep them alive for at least a little longer. So intent had she been at watching the proceedings, that Mika did not notice when a knight astride a large grey horse came to a stop behind her.
“I say, madame, I have not seen you before. Are you perhaps a wandering gypsy?” Mika turned, startled, to see a familiar face, reassuringly attached to its neck.
“Sir Nicholas?” she said in amazement. “Is that really you?”
The knight was taken aback by this fair lady recognising him for he did not know her at all. “My goodness gracious me,” he exclaimed. “I see my reputation precedes me. Yes, it is I, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, at your service,” he bowed from horseback.
This gave Mika an idea. “Sir Nicholas,” she smiled sweetly. “Would you do something for me? A really big favour? I would be forever in your debt.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him relying on his chivalrous nature as a knight and his reputed eye for the ladies. No doubt that was where he had been that night; on one of his numerous amorous excursions.
Sir Nicholas dismounted his horse and bowed low. “Anything for a fair lady,” he said.
Mika explained about the children and Mrs. McGonagal being held captive in the hut. “They think they’re witches, but we all know that’s nonsense, right?” she winked, knowing full well he was a full blown wizard himself. “I need you to distract them whilst I free the others and get them away from here back to my, er… carriage.”
“T’would be a pleasure indeed to help so fine…”
“Right, right. We don’t have much time,” she interrupted his flamboyant speech. “The Witchsmeller Pursuivant will be here any moment now.”
At the mention of this most feared of muggles Sir Nicholas hesitated. “The… the Witchsmeller Pursuivant? Coming here?” he seemed frightened now.
“Yes, so you see why we have to rescue them and quickly.”
He still hesitated. This wasn’t at all what he was expecting. “Please, Sir Nicholas,” she pleaded.
He swallowed hard and nodded. “This must be a Friday,” he muttered. “I never could get the hang of Fridays.”
Together they crept closer to the village. Mika outlined her plan to the knight then went on her own towards the gaol. The villagers were bustling about the place erecting a wood pile and stakes in anticipation of the Witchsmeller’s arrival and inevitable sentence of death to all witches.
As instructed, Sir Nicholas mounted his horse and strode into the village as innocently as possible. “What hey!” he announced his presence. All eyes turned to him. “What goes here? Are we having a party?” he grinned inanely.
“Ah, Sir Nicholas. We have captured several witches and are awaiting the arrival of the Witchsmeller Pursuivant,” the elder declared.
“Then we shall destroy them and be plagued by their presence no more,” machete man said, almost relishing the idea.
“Oh my,” gasped Sir Nicholas with an only partly feinted horror. “Are you sure they are witches?” he asked in a low voice?
“They show all the signs, my lord,” the elder replied. “It was all I could do to keep the villagers from destroying them outright.”
“You did well, elder. I am sure you shall be rewarded.” Sir Nicholas smiled then pretended to engage him in conversation whilst turning his eyes from the hut so that Mika could attempt her rescue.
In the meantime, Mika silently made her way to the hut. There was a small barred window high in one side. She approached it and peered in.
“Minerva, Hermione,” she whispered. They caught sight of her and rushed to the window. “Shhh,” she put her fingers to her lips. “I don’t’ have much time. We have to get you out of here before more trouble shows up.”
“Oh, I’m so glad you managed to find us!” Hermione was overjoyed. “They destroyed the tracker. I’m sorry.”
“I know, I saw them do it. It’s ok though, I can always make another one. Can we do something to get you out of there. I don’t think Sir Nicholas can hold them all day.”
“Sir Nicholas? Our Sir Nicholas? You mean he’s here?” Minerva looked startled.
“Yes, he’s distracting the villagers so I can rescue you. Please, we don’t have much time.”
Minerva McGonagal thought for a moment. “Mika, there’s something I ought to tell you…” she began.
Mika was tugging at the bars, then looking around for something to smash them with. “Unless it’s important, Min, it will have to wait. Right now we could use some ideas.”
“Mika,” her voice dropped to a whisper so that the others couldn’t hear her. “I now know what day this is. This is Friday, the 13th of June 1561. This is the day that Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington was executed for being a wizard!”
Mika went pale. Suddenly she realised that somehow, it had been all her fault. She never should have asked him to help her. She redoubled her efforts to free the prisoners.
“Mrs. McGonagal,” said Sarah suddenly. “Did I hear you right that you still have your wand? Let me see if I can reach it and maybe you can get us out of here.” After some searching Sarah finally came up with Minerva’s wand in her bound hands. Carefully, she pointed it at her bonds and whispered, “Flamari!” The ropes caught fire and Mrs. McGonagal was free.
Quickly she took the wand and freed the others. Then, motioning for Mika to stand back, she pointed her wand at the window, making it turn into a door. Silently they snuck out of the hut, pausing only a moment for Minerva to change the door back to a window. “Let them figure out how we got out of there,” she muttered.
They snuck around the edge of the village until they were near to the spot where Hermione had first landed. “Hurry!” Mika urged them into the woods. “The TARDIS is straight ahead about a hundred yards. It looks like a really short, fat tree.”
Just then the elder caught sight of them in the tree line. “The prisoners! They’re escaping! Quick, everyone, after them!” he gave the cry and the villagers, armed to the teeth started running en masse after Mika and the others. Sir Nicholas stared in horror, then spurred his horse into action. Already startled, the horse reared up and managed to knock some of the villagers over, impeding their progress. “Oh, terribly sorry about that,” he apologised half heartedly.
The woods were thick and the children frightened. The villagers caught up quickly and moved to surround them.
“Go! Now!” Mika shouted at them as she turned to see the mob closing in.
“Mika, no!” Hermione shouted, going to run to her, but Minerva caught her arm and held her back.
“Miss Granger, Mika can take care of herself. Now hurry! We haven’t any time to lose!”
Suddenly, they watched as Mika ran towards them, then turned, her hands shoved forwards as if she were pushing an invisible door. The oncoming mob of angry villagers flew back as if some unseen force had shoved them back.
“Whooooaa!” Luke Stargazer marvelled in admiration. “That was wicked!”
“That won’t hold them for long,” Mika gasped as she ran past them. “Come on!”
She led the way through the forest to where she had left the TARDIS. Removing the key from around her neck she unlocked the door and ushered them all in. When they were all safely inside, she turned to go back.
“Mika! Where on earth are you going?” Minerva demanded of her friend.
“You’ll be safe inside, Min. There’s something I must do before we go,” she said sadly. Suddenly, Mrs. McGonagal understood and went inside to wait with the children.
Mika quietly snuck back to the edge of the village where the entire population was in a frightened uproar. They weren’t quite sure what had happened, but they were certain it involved witches and magic. Sir Nicholas was standing beside his horse not too far away.
“Pssst, Sir Nicholas,” Mika tried to get his attention as quietly as she could.
“Dear lady!” he said, obviously relieved. “Did you succeed in your quest?”
Mika nodded. “Thank you Sir Nicholas. We couldn’t have done it without your help. They are all safe now. Though I fear you may be in some danger. You should leave right away.”
The kindly knight shook his head, a cloud of sadness passing across his face. “Alas, my dear, I fear I am already to be executed on account of a certain young lady claims that I turned her nose into a fish. I of course did no such thing. I was merely trying to reduce its enormous size when the words came out all jumbled and she ended up with a large eel. There is a difference between a fish and an eel you know.”
Mika smiled sadly. She leaned up and kissed the knight on the cheek to which he blushed profusely. “Thank you anyway, Sir Nicholas. We’ll be on our way now and you won’t remember us anymore.” As she spoke these last words, she moved her hand across the front of her body. Nicholas looked blankly at her as if he was going to say something but then had forgotten it. He looked away distractedly as Mika disappeared once more into the forest.
***
Once back in the TARDIS Mika reset the coordinates to return them to Hogwarts hopefully only a few moments after they had left. She seemed very sad and withdrawn, not speaking much to anyone. The children were receiving quite a tongue lashing from Mrs. McGonagal for their behaviour which had landed them all in this situation in the first place.
Hermione approached and put her hand on her arm. “Mika, you did what you could. You rescued us. There wasn’t anything you could do for Sir Nicholas. Like you said, you can’t change history. It was his day to go.”
Mika looked down into the girl’s dark brown eyes. She knew she was right. But it didn’t make it any less painful.
“I say, madame, I have not seen you before. Are you perhaps a wandering gypsy?” Mika turned, startled, to see a familiar face, reassuringly attached to its neck.
“Sir Nicholas?” she said in amazement. “Is that really you?”
The knight was taken aback by this fair lady recognising him for he did not know her at all. “My goodness gracious me,” he exclaimed. “I see my reputation precedes me. Yes, it is I, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, at your service,” he bowed from horseback.
This gave Mika an idea. “Sir Nicholas,” she smiled sweetly. “Would you do something for me? A really big favour? I would be forever in your debt.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him relying on his chivalrous nature as a knight and his reputed eye for the ladies. No doubt that was where he had been that night; on one of his numerous amorous excursions.
Sir Nicholas dismounted his horse and bowed low. “Anything for a fair lady,” he said.
Mika explained about the children and Mrs. McGonagal being held captive in the hut. “They think they’re witches, but we all know that’s nonsense, right?” she winked, knowing full well he was a full blown wizard himself. “I need you to distract them whilst I free the others and get them away from here back to my, er… carriage.”
“T’would be a pleasure indeed to help so fine…”
“Right, right. We don’t have much time,” she interrupted his flamboyant speech. “The Witchsmeller Pursuivant will be here any moment now.”
At the mention of this most feared of muggles Sir Nicholas hesitated. “The… the Witchsmeller Pursuivant? Coming here?” he seemed frightened now.
“Yes, so you see why we have to rescue them and quickly.”
He still hesitated. This wasn’t at all what he was expecting. “Please, Sir Nicholas,” she pleaded.
He swallowed hard and nodded. “This must be a Friday,” he muttered. “I never could get the hang of Fridays.”
Together they crept closer to the village. Mika outlined her plan to the knight then went on her own towards the gaol. The villagers were bustling about the place erecting a wood pile and stakes in anticipation of the Witchsmeller’s arrival and inevitable sentence of death to all witches.
As instructed, Sir Nicholas mounted his horse and strode into the village as innocently as possible. “What hey!” he announced his presence. All eyes turned to him. “What goes here? Are we having a party?” he grinned inanely.
“Ah, Sir Nicholas. We have captured several witches and are awaiting the arrival of the Witchsmeller Pursuivant,” the elder declared.
“Then we shall destroy them and be plagued by their presence no more,” machete man said, almost relishing the idea.
“Oh my,” gasped Sir Nicholas with an only partly feinted horror. “Are you sure they are witches?” he asked in a low voice?
“They show all the signs, my lord,” the elder replied. “It was all I could do to keep the villagers from destroying them outright.”
“You did well, elder. I am sure you shall be rewarded.” Sir Nicholas smiled then pretended to engage him in conversation whilst turning his eyes from the hut so that Mika could attempt her rescue.
In the meantime, Mika silently made her way to the hut. There was a small barred window high in one side. She approached it and peered in.
“Minerva, Hermione,” she whispered. They caught sight of her and rushed to the window. “Shhh,” she put her fingers to her lips. “I don’t’ have much time. We have to get you out of here before more trouble shows up.”
“Oh, I’m so glad you managed to find us!” Hermione was overjoyed. “They destroyed the tracker. I’m sorry.”
“I know, I saw them do it. It’s ok though, I can always make another one. Can we do something to get you out of there. I don’t think Sir Nicholas can hold them all day.”
“Sir Nicholas? Our Sir Nicholas? You mean he’s here?” Minerva looked startled.
“Yes, he’s distracting the villagers so I can rescue you. Please, we don’t have much time.”
Minerva McGonagal thought for a moment. “Mika, there’s something I ought to tell you…” she began.
Mika was tugging at the bars, then looking around for something to smash them with. “Unless it’s important, Min, it will have to wait. Right now we could use some ideas.”
“Mika,” her voice dropped to a whisper so that the others couldn’t hear her. “I now know what day this is. This is Friday, the 13th of June 1561. This is the day that Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington was executed for being a wizard!”
Mika went pale. Suddenly she realised that somehow, it had been all her fault. She never should have asked him to help her. She redoubled her efforts to free the prisoners.
“Mrs. McGonagal,” said Sarah suddenly. “Did I hear you right that you still have your wand? Let me see if I can reach it and maybe you can get us out of here.” After some searching Sarah finally came up with Minerva’s wand in her bound hands. Carefully, she pointed it at her bonds and whispered, “Flamari!” The ropes caught fire and Mrs. McGonagal was free.
Quickly she took the wand and freed the others. Then, motioning for Mika to stand back, she pointed her wand at the window, making it turn into a door. Silently they snuck out of the hut, pausing only a moment for Minerva to change the door back to a window. “Let them figure out how we got out of there,” she muttered.
They snuck around the edge of the village until they were near to the spot where Hermione had first landed. “Hurry!” Mika urged them into the woods. “The TARDIS is straight ahead about a hundred yards. It looks like a really short, fat tree.”
Just then the elder caught sight of them in the tree line. “The prisoners! They’re escaping! Quick, everyone, after them!” he gave the cry and the villagers, armed to the teeth started running en masse after Mika and the others. Sir Nicholas stared in horror, then spurred his horse into action. Already startled, the horse reared up and managed to knock some of the villagers over, impeding their progress. “Oh, terribly sorry about that,” he apologised half heartedly.
The woods were thick and the children frightened. The villagers caught up quickly and moved to surround them.
“Go! Now!” Mika shouted at them as she turned to see the mob closing in.
“Mika, no!” Hermione shouted, going to run to her, but Minerva caught her arm and held her back.
“Miss Granger, Mika can take care of herself. Now hurry! We haven’t any time to lose!”
Suddenly, they watched as Mika ran towards them, then turned, her hands shoved forwards as if she were pushing an invisible door. The oncoming mob of angry villagers flew back as if some unseen force had shoved them back.
“Whooooaa!” Luke Stargazer marvelled in admiration. “That was wicked!”
“That won’t hold them for long,” Mika gasped as she ran past them. “Come on!”
She led the way through the forest to where she had left the TARDIS. Removing the key from around her neck she unlocked the door and ushered them all in. When they were all safely inside, she turned to go back.
“Mika! Where on earth are you going?” Minerva demanded of her friend.
“You’ll be safe inside, Min. There’s something I must do before we go,” she said sadly. Suddenly, Mrs. McGonagal understood and went inside to wait with the children.
Mika quietly snuck back to the edge of the village where the entire population was in a frightened uproar. They weren’t quite sure what had happened, but they were certain it involved witches and magic. Sir Nicholas was standing beside his horse not too far away.
“Pssst, Sir Nicholas,” Mika tried to get his attention as quietly as she could.
“Dear lady!” he said, obviously relieved. “Did you succeed in your quest?”
Mika nodded. “Thank you Sir Nicholas. We couldn’t have done it without your help. They are all safe now. Though I fear you may be in some danger. You should leave right away.”
The kindly knight shook his head, a cloud of sadness passing across his face. “Alas, my dear, I fear I am already to be executed on account of a certain young lady claims that I turned her nose into a fish. I of course did no such thing. I was merely trying to reduce its enormous size when the words came out all jumbled and she ended up with a large eel. There is a difference between a fish and an eel you know.”
Mika smiled sadly. She leaned up and kissed the knight on the cheek to which he blushed profusely. “Thank you anyway, Sir Nicholas. We’ll be on our way now and you won’t remember us anymore.” As she spoke these last words, she moved her hand across the front of her body. Nicholas looked blankly at her as if he was going to say something but then had forgotten it. He looked away distractedly as Mika disappeared once more into the forest.
***
Once back in the TARDIS Mika reset the coordinates to return them to Hogwarts hopefully only a few moments after they had left. She seemed very sad and withdrawn, not speaking much to anyone. The children were receiving quite a tongue lashing from Mrs. McGonagal for their behaviour which had landed them all in this situation in the first place.
Hermione approached and put her hand on her arm. “Mika, you did what you could. You rescued us. There wasn’t anything you could do for Sir Nicholas. Like you said, you can’t change history. It was his day to go.”
Mika looked down into the girl’s dark brown eyes. She knew she was right. But it didn’t make it any less painful.
Somewhere in Time
Hermione landed with a thud. Still clutching the tracker tightly, she immediately surveyed her surroundings. It seemed that she had emerged from the time storm in the woods on the edge of a small village. She did not know what year it was or where exactly this village was, but by the looks of the thatched huts she could see, she guessed she was still in England sometime during the middle ages. There was no sign of Mrs. McGonagal and the children. She just hoped that they all ended up in the same place and time, otherwise it was going to be next to impossible for Mika to find them and return them all safely home.
Remembering Mika’s instructions, Hermione moved a little further back into the woods so as not to be seen, but so she could still keep an eye on the village where something seemed to be happening. A horse came galloping by, its rider wielding a sword. Several villagers were gathering in the centre of the town, torches in hand, armed with pitchforks and knives.
“If I didn’t know any better,” she muttered to herself, “I’d say they were getting ready for a witch hunt!” Just then she gasped as she caught sight of what they were all so excited about. The crowd parted to reveal one large figure and four smaller ones all bound together in the centre of the common. It was Mrs. McGonagal and the other students!
Hiding the tracker deep within her robes as best she could, Hermione decided to move in closer to try and hear what was being said. Carefully, she made her way around the outskirts, keeping to the shadows and watching where she put her feet. It took some time, but soon she was within earshot.
“I say we burn them now! We know they’re witches! Just look at how they are dressed!” one angry villager was shouting.
“They appeared out of the air in a flash of light! What more do you need to know?” another agreed.
“And I am the elder of this village and I say we wait for Sir Cyril. He has gone to fetch the Witchsmeller Pursuivant and then we shall be certain,” said the man on the horse.
Mrs. McGonagal gasped at what she was hearing. The Witchsmeller Pursuivant! They must be in the latter half of the 16th century when thousands of people were burned and hanged as witches whether they were or not. Mostly they were not, but a few real witches and wizards did suffer at the hands of these most superstitious of muggles. The children huddled around her, clearly frightened. They had every right to be. She was too.
***
Once in the TARDIS Mika lost no time. She slammed home the door control and shrugged off her robes, tossing them onto the chair in the corner. Freer to move quickly in her black jeans and purple silk ruffled top, the time lord set about frantically adjusting controls. It took some time but finally she managed to track down the exact location and time of the tracker device.
“1561,” she muttered aloud. “Not the best of times for witches! Oh I do hope they’re all right!” She reset the coordinates and activated the controls. The central column in the hexagonal control console began to rise and fall steadily, glowing with a bluish light as energy from the Eye of Harmony coursed through the crystals.
The time rotor stopped as Mika materialised the TARDIS. She activated the scanner to see what await her outside, but the screen showed only darkness and trees. It could be anywhere at any time. But the signal from the tracker was strong. She knew this was the right location and the right time.
Mika went into the interior of the TARDIS to change clothes again. If this was indeed 1561 then she would need to look as inconspicuous as possible. She found a blue dress and black velvet hooded cloak hoping that they would do the trick. Once changed, she went back to the control room where she picked up an object that looked much like a volt meter. It was in fact a hand held detection unit for locating the tracker device in close quarters. She set the audio to mute and headed out the door.
Once outside, Mika was glad she had the scanner unit to find her way for it was dark and all the trees seemed to look alike. Picking up the signal, she headed in that direction. Before long she came to a clearing in the forest where a small village had settled. Although the hour seemed late, the centre of the village seemed to be buzzing with activity.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” she said softly to herself. She was about to creep around stealthily for a closer look when out of the corner of her eye she spotted Hermione doing the same. Only the young witch couldn’t see the villager who had noticed and crept up behind her. Mika could only watch in horror as the man grabbed Hermione and dragged her struggling back to the other villagers.
“I’ve found another one!” the man cried out as he tossed Hermione to the centre with the other captives.
“Miss Granger!” yelped Mrs. McGonagal in surprise. “What…”
“See how the old one knows it! We are being invaded by witches!” one of the villagers with a very large pitchfork and machete cried out in anger and fear.
“I say we burn them now and not wait for the Witchsmeller!” shouted another.
The village elder held up his hands and tried to calm his fellow citizens. But it was clear from where Mika was standing that he was about to lose control of the situation. She had to act and quickly. It didn’t look good, but at least she had found them.
Finally the elder had calmed the mob down enough to order them to put the strangers into a fortified hut which served as the village prison. “There they can await their fate at the hands of the Witchsmeller Pursuivant,” he declared. Just then, as Hermione was shoved along with the others, the tracker device fell from beneath her robes and rolled to a stop at the machete man’s feet.
“What is this?” he exclaimed, clearly frightened. He went to pick it up and as he did so the lights on it pulsed as it relayed its signal. “What kind of magic is this?!” he shrieked. The others stared at the device and backed away in mortal terror.
“Destroy it! Destroy it!” they cried out.
“No!” screamed Hermione. Then she turned to Minerva. “Mrs. McGonagal, if they destroy that before Mika has a chance to find us, we’ll be stuck here for the rest of our lives!”
“Which won’t be for very long if that lot get their way,” Sarah added.
“If I can only reach my wand…” Minerva hissed.
But it was too late. The elder, sensing that he’d better do something or risk losing all control brought the heel of his heavy boot down upon the shiny globe silencing it forever. The witches all gasped as their only hope of rescue was destroyed.
“There, the talisman is destroyed. See how they are rendered powerless?” the elder hoped to sway the crowd. “Now, lock them in the gaol. They can do no harm for now.”
Convinced, at least for the moment, the villagers did what they were told. As the thick wooden bolt was put in place across the door locking them in darkness, they only hoped that Mika had been able to trace the signal in time
Remembering Mika’s instructions, Hermione moved a little further back into the woods so as not to be seen, but so she could still keep an eye on the village where something seemed to be happening. A horse came galloping by, its rider wielding a sword. Several villagers were gathering in the centre of the town, torches in hand, armed with pitchforks and knives.
“If I didn’t know any better,” she muttered to herself, “I’d say they were getting ready for a witch hunt!” Just then she gasped as she caught sight of what they were all so excited about. The crowd parted to reveal one large figure and four smaller ones all bound together in the centre of the common. It was Mrs. McGonagal and the other students!
Hiding the tracker deep within her robes as best she could, Hermione decided to move in closer to try and hear what was being said. Carefully, she made her way around the outskirts, keeping to the shadows and watching where she put her feet. It took some time, but soon she was within earshot.
“I say we burn them now! We know they’re witches! Just look at how they are dressed!” one angry villager was shouting.
“They appeared out of the air in a flash of light! What more do you need to know?” another agreed.
“And I am the elder of this village and I say we wait for Sir Cyril. He has gone to fetch the Witchsmeller Pursuivant and then we shall be certain,” said the man on the horse.
Mrs. McGonagal gasped at what she was hearing. The Witchsmeller Pursuivant! They must be in the latter half of the 16th century when thousands of people were burned and hanged as witches whether they were or not. Mostly they were not, but a few real witches and wizards did suffer at the hands of these most superstitious of muggles. The children huddled around her, clearly frightened. They had every right to be. She was too.
***
Once in the TARDIS Mika lost no time. She slammed home the door control and shrugged off her robes, tossing them onto the chair in the corner. Freer to move quickly in her black jeans and purple silk ruffled top, the time lord set about frantically adjusting controls. It took some time but finally she managed to track down the exact location and time of the tracker device.
“1561,” she muttered aloud. “Not the best of times for witches! Oh I do hope they’re all right!” She reset the coordinates and activated the controls. The central column in the hexagonal control console began to rise and fall steadily, glowing with a bluish light as energy from the Eye of Harmony coursed through the crystals.
The time rotor stopped as Mika materialised the TARDIS. She activated the scanner to see what await her outside, but the screen showed only darkness and trees. It could be anywhere at any time. But the signal from the tracker was strong. She knew this was the right location and the right time.
Mika went into the interior of the TARDIS to change clothes again. If this was indeed 1561 then she would need to look as inconspicuous as possible. She found a blue dress and black velvet hooded cloak hoping that they would do the trick. Once changed, she went back to the control room where she picked up an object that looked much like a volt meter. It was in fact a hand held detection unit for locating the tracker device in close quarters. She set the audio to mute and headed out the door.
Once outside, Mika was glad she had the scanner unit to find her way for it was dark and all the trees seemed to look alike. Picking up the signal, she headed in that direction. Before long she came to a clearing in the forest where a small village had settled. Although the hour seemed late, the centre of the village seemed to be buzzing with activity.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” she said softly to herself. She was about to creep around stealthily for a closer look when out of the corner of her eye she spotted Hermione doing the same. Only the young witch couldn’t see the villager who had noticed and crept up behind her. Mika could only watch in horror as the man grabbed Hermione and dragged her struggling back to the other villagers.
“I’ve found another one!” the man cried out as he tossed Hermione to the centre with the other captives.
“Miss Granger!” yelped Mrs. McGonagal in surprise. “What…”
“See how the old one knows it! We are being invaded by witches!” one of the villagers with a very large pitchfork and machete cried out in anger and fear.
“I say we burn them now and not wait for the Witchsmeller!” shouted another.
The village elder held up his hands and tried to calm his fellow citizens. But it was clear from where Mika was standing that he was about to lose control of the situation. She had to act and quickly. It didn’t look good, but at least she had found them.
Finally the elder had calmed the mob down enough to order them to put the strangers into a fortified hut which served as the village prison. “There they can await their fate at the hands of the Witchsmeller Pursuivant,” he declared. Just then, as Hermione was shoved along with the others, the tracker device fell from beneath her robes and rolled to a stop at the machete man’s feet.
“What is this?” he exclaimed, clearly frightened. He went to pick it up and as he did so the lights on it pulsed as it relayed its signal. “What kind of magic is this?!” he shrieked. The others stared at the device and backed away in mortal terror.
“Destroy it! Destroy it!” they cried out.
“No!” screamed Hermione. Then she turned to Minerva. “Mrs. McGonagal, if they destroy that before Mika has a chance to find us, we’ll be stuck here for the rest of our lives!”
“Which won’t be for very long if that lot get their way,” Sarah added.
“If I can only reach my wand…” Minerva hissed.
But it was too late. The elder, sensing that he’d better do something or risk losing all control brought the heel of his heavy boot down upon the shiny globe silencing it forever. The witches all gasped as their only hope of rescue was destroyed.
“There, the talisman is destroyed. See how they are rendered powerless?” the elder hoped to sway the crowd. “Now, lock them in the gaol. They can do no harm for now.”
Convinced, at least for the moment, the villagers did what they were told. As the thick wooden bolt was put in place across the door locking them in darkness, they only hoped that Mika had been able to trace the signal in time
Those Meddlesome Kids
Suddenly there was a flash of light. Mika thought perhaps that another storm was on its way and that it was lightning. But then Hermione came running out.
“Mika, Professor Lupin, quickly! Something’s going on in the clocktower! It may be Sirius Black!”
Together they ran back inside and up the stairs to the clock tower where Dumbledore and the other teachers had gathered. Before them lay a sight no one had anticipated seeing. A group of students were holding on to anything they could get their hands on, trying not to be sucked into a gigantic, spinning whirlpool that roared with a brilliant, blinding light.
“Help!” they were screaming as the stronger teachers tried to grab them and pull them away before they got sucked in. Lupin ran forward and carefully managed to take hold of Callum Jenkins’ hand and drag him to safety without getting sucked in himself. Mrs. McGonagal, however, was not so lucky. She had just managed to reach Sarah Ingersoll when she slipped and they were both sucked into the whirlpool.
“Stand back everyone!” shouted Dumbledore above the din.
“What is it?” Mika shouted.
“It seems to be some sort of portal,” Madame Sprout hollered back. “I have no idea how it happened.”
“I bet this one knows,” said Lupin heatedly. “Well?”
“It was their idea, I swear!” Callum insisted. “Sarah, she wanted to show Hermione that she was just as smart by learning the spell for time travel, only we had a little accident…”
“I’ll say,” Hermione glared angrily at her classmate.
“A time storm,” sighed Dumbledore. “That’s even worse than I anticipated. Mika,” he turned to the timelord. “Is there anything you can do?”
Mika thought for a split second before bursting into action. This was more what she was used to. “Right, can you keep that open while I fetch some equipment from my TARDIS?” she asked, breathlessly.
Dumbledore nodded, and motioned for Snape, Lupin and Flitwick to position themselves around the portal. Training their wands on it they coordinated their efforts to keep the storm open for as long as possible.
“I’ll be right back!” Mika shouted as she raced off towards her quarters. Once inside, she dashed into her TARDIS and hunted for the equipment of which she had spoken. Then she operated the controls, materialising the TARDIS nearby so she didn’t have so far to walk.
She returned where it was clear that the wizards were having trouble keeping the portal open. Dumbledore himself had now joined in with his wand.
“What’s that?” Snape shouted when she had returned.
She cast him a very nasty look before answering. “It’s a tracker device. Once it’s through the portal I should be able to locate it wherever it is in time and retrieve Minerva and the children in the TARDIS,” she answered.
“Well, what are you waiting for, throw it in!” shouted Flitwick.
Mika shook her head. “No, we can’t risk it getting damaged otherwise they will be lost forever. No, we need someone to carry it through.”
She turned to the small group of students that had begun gathering just at the top of the stairs.
“I’ll go,” Hermione stepped forward.
“Absolutely not, I forbid it!” exclaimed Dumbledore. “We cannot risk a student even to save the others.”
“Albus, all the available adults are currently keeping the portal open. And I have to operate the TARDIS. Let her go. I guarantee her safety.”
Knowing he didn’t have much time left before all was lost, Dumbledore reluctantly agreed. Mika made an adjustment on the tracker and handed the small, metallic globe to Hermione.
“You be careful and guard that tracker with your life,” Mika instructed. “Stay where you land if you can and don’t try to find the others. We can do that together when I arrive, is that clear?”
Hermione nodded and Mika carefully helped her move forward. It was a strange sight indeed with Mika hanging onto Hermione’s hand while Lupin and Flitwick held onto Mika’s robes to keep her from getting sucked in as well. Eventually Mika could hold on no longer and Hermione slipped from her grasp and fell with a scream into the raging storm.
As Hermione disappeared, the wizards holding it open could do so no longer and the whole thing collapsed in on itself with a loud BANG, knocking everyone over with the blast. In silence the wizards and Mika picked themselves up. But the timelord wasted no time in springing into action.
“I’ll go find them and bring them back,” she addressed Dumbledore. “I promise.”
“I’m coming with you,” Lupin moved forward. But Mika placed a hand on his chest, holding him back.
“No, Remus. You stay here. This I must do on my own.” Their eyes met, each pleading for their own argument. In the end, Mika’s won. With a wan smile as if to say not to worry, Mika disappeared into her TARDIS. A few moments later, the engines roared to life and what appeared outwardly to be a large wooden wardrobe faded from view leaving behind only an echo and many very confused witnesses.
When Mika had left, Dumbledore placed his hand on Lupin’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Remus. Mika is a tough cookie. She’ll be back before you know it. Now, here, help me get the children to bed, hmmm?”
Lupin agreed but still, he worried that Mika wouldn’t return, that something would happen to her. It would only make sense if it did. That was the way his life seemed to work.
As he passed, Snape gave Lupin a sneer. "Very touching, Lupin. I don't know what she sees in you."
"More than she sees in you," he returned. “Just come back, Mika,” he whispered to himself. “I need you.”
“Mika, Professor Lupin, quickly! Something’s going on in the clocktower! It may be Sirius Black!”
Together they ran back inside and up the stairs to the clock tower where Dumbledore and the other teachers had gathered. Before them lay a sight no one had anticipated seeing. A group of students were holding on to anything they could get their hands on, trying not to be sucked into a gigantic, spinning whirlpool that roared with a brilliant, blinding light.
“Help!” they were screaming as the stronger teachers tried to grab them and pull them away before they got sucked in. Lupin ran forward and carefully managed to take hold of Callum Jenkins’ hand and drag him to safety without getting sucked in himself. Mrs. McGonagal, however, was not so lucky. She had just managed to reach Sarah Ingersoll when she slipped and they were both sucked into the whirlpool.
“Stand back everyone!” shouted Dumbledore above the din.
“What is it?” Mika shouted.
“It seems to be some sort of portal,” Madame Sprout hollered back. “I have no idea how it happened.”
“I bet this one knows,” said Lupin heatedly. “Well?”
“It was their idea, I swear!” Callum insisted. “Sarah, she wanted to show Hermione that she was just as smart by learning the spell for time travel, only we had a little accident…”
“I’ll say,” Hermione glared angrily at her classmate.
“A time storm,” sighed Dumbledore. “That’s even worse than I anticipated. Mika,” he turned to the timelord. “Is there anything you can do?”
Mika thought for a split second before bursting into action. This was more what she was used to. “Right, can you keep that open while I fetch some equipment from my TARDIS?” she asked, breathlessly.
Dumbledore nodded, and motioned for Snape, Lupin and Flitwick to position themselves around the portal. Training their wands on it they coordinated their efforts to keep the storm open for as long as possible.
“I’ll be right back!” Mika shouted as she raced off towards her quarters. Once inside, she dashed into her TARDIS and hunted for the equipment of which she had spoken. Then she operated the controls, materialising the TARDIS nearby so she didn’t have so far to walk.
She returned where it was clear that the wizards were having trouble keeping the portal open. Dumbledore himself had now joined in with his wand.
“What’s that?” Snape shouted when she had returned.
She cast him a very nasty look before answering. “It’s a tracker device. Once it’s through the portal I should be able to locate it wherever it is in time and retrieve Minerva and the children in the TARDIS,” she answered.
“Well, what are you waiting for, throw it in!” shouted Flitwick.
Mika shook her head. “No, we can’t risk it getting damaged otherwise they will be lost forever. No, we need someone to carry it through.”
She turned to the small group of students that had begun gathering just at the top of the stairs.
“I’ll go,” Hermione stepped forward.
“Absolutely not, I forbid it!” exclaimed Dumbledore. “We cannot risk a student even to save the others.”
“Albus, all the available adults are currently keeping the portal open. And I have to operate the TARDIS. Let her go. I guarantee her safety.”
Knowing he didn’t have much time left before all was lost, Dumbledore reluctantly agreed. Mika made an adjustment on the tracker and handed the small, metallic globe to Hermione.
“You be careful and guard that tracker with your life,” Mika instructed. “Stay where you land if you can and don’t try to find the others. We can do that together when I arrive, is that clear?”
Hermione nodded and Mika carefully helped her move forward. It was a strange sight indeed with Mika hanging onto Hermione’s hand while Lupin and Flitwick held onto Mika’s robes to keep her from getting sucked in as well. Eventually Mika could hold on no longer and Hermione slipped from her grasp and fell with a scream into the raging storm.
As Hermione disappeared, the wizards holding it open could do so no longer and the whole thing collapsed in on itself with a loud BANG, knocking everyone over with the blast. In silence the wizards and Mika picked themselves up. But the timelord wasted no time in springing into action.
“I’ll go find them and bring them back,” she addressed Dumbledore. “I promise.”
“I’m coming with you,” Lupin moved forward. But Mika placed a hand on his chest, holding him back.
“No, Remus. You stay here. This I must do on my own.” Their eyes met, each pleading for their own argument. In the end, Mika’s won. With a wan smile as if to say not to worry, Mika disappeared into her TARDIS. A few moments later, the engines roared to life and what appeared outwardly to be a large wooden wardrobe faded from view leaving behind only an echo and many very confused witnesses.
When Mika had left, Dumbledore placed his hand on Lupin’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Remus. Mika is a tough cookie. She’ll be back before you know it. Now, here, help me get the children to bed, hmmm?”
Lupin agreed but still, he worried that Mika wouldn’t return, that something would happen to her. It would only make sense if it did. That was the way his life seemed to work.
As he passed, Snape gave Lupin a sneer. "Very touching, Lupin. I don't know what she sees in you."
"More than she sees in you," he returned. “Just come back, Mika,” he whispered to himself. “I need you.”
A Message
After dinner Mika and Hermione went for a walk around the courtyard to discuss what they had uncovered in their research, which wasn’t much. The rain had stopped and the night was cloudy and cold. Still, the fresh air helped to clear Mika’s head.
Mika pulled a packet of sweets from her pocket to offer to Hermione when something fell out onto the ancient stones of the courtyard.
“Oh yes, that envelope you received from the owl,” Hermione remembered. “Go on, open it.”
Popping a sweet into her mouth, Mika started to break the seal on the envelope. Suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder.
“Do you have one of those for me?” a familiar rough voice asked. Mika looked up to see Lupin standing over her, smiling. She couldn’t help but return the smile; she hadn’t seen him in days. Hermione offered up the bag of sweets which he took, thanking her, and peered in to select one. “What’s that you have there?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.
“We don’t know,” Hermione answered. “An owl delivered it just before dinner.”
Mika, still a little nervous about receiving strange messages had a feeling she might know who it was from. There was only one person she could imagine would be so cowardly as to send her an anonymous message. She broke the seal and opened the envelope. Inside it contained a small piece of parchment and a small object.
The note inside read:
Please find enclosed the requested formula for the Wolfsbane potion. I have also enclosed the most popular and effective cure known for this certain ‘affliction’. ~ SS.
Mika took out the object and examined it in the dim light of the courtyard lamps. It was a silver bullet.
Hermione gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, and Mika went cold as they realised the implication. “Oh, Remus,” she stood and turned to face him, trying desperately gauge his reaction. “I’m so sorry you had to see that,” she said.
Lupin shook his head as if he was used to it. “It’s all right, Mika. Just Snivellus’ idea of a cruel joke.” He seemed to be taking it well, but the ladies knew better.
Hermione caught Mika’s look and stood to go. “I’m sorry, Professor. But at least we have the formula. If it’s not a joke too,” she sighed. Mika squeezed her shoulder in gratitude as she left then turned to Lupin.
“But it’s not all right, is it?” she asked. She could see the mixture of sadness and anger in his eyes. But Remus Lupin was a gentle man, and he had lived with the curse long enough to have become almost immune to the cruel taunts and prejudices of others. That still did not make it hurt any less.
He tried to put on a brave face for Mika, but she could tell it was only for show. Sighing, she slid her arms about his waist and gave him a gentle hug, resting her head against his chest. This succeeded well in distracting Lupin from the cruel message, though he wasn’t sure what to do now. Awkwardly he put his arms about her and held her tightly. He couldn’t help but close his eyes and smile, the closeness of this enchanting woman was intoxicating. Needless to say, he hadn’t found himself in this situation very often.; in fact, never.
“Oh, Remus,” Mika whispered as the cold, night breeze whipped their robes about them. “Why can’t they just leave you in peace? Why must everyone persecute you so? Why can’t I find the antidote and free you from this curse? Why?” She looked up at him as she poured out her frustrations, her tear-filled violet eyes glittering like two amethysts in the glow of the lamps. The night air was cold, but it was warm where their bodies pressed together. He felt he could remain like this forever.
“Don’t worry about it, Mika,” he smiled. “Everyone’s given a lot in life and you just have to get on and deal with it. At least I’m not a vampire or a zombie,” he chuckled softly.
Mika smiled too and blinked causing the tears that she was so desperately trying to hold back to escape. Remus gently wiped them away, his eyes still locked on hers. Then Mika began to giggle.
“Just do it,” she said finally.
He looked at her for a long moment not sure what she was talking about, but then it dawned on him. Here he was standing in the darkness by the fountain, with a beautiful woman in his arms. Wait a minute, he’d seen enough movies; he should know what to do. What else should he do but kiss her?
Slowly he lowered his lips to hers. In that instant he forgot he was a werewolf and she was an alien from another time, another place. He forgot they were at Hogwarts and that it was dark and cold and windy. He forgot everything but that he was locked in an embrace with the most beautiful, kind and loving creature he had ever known to exist. Best of all, she genuinely seemed to want to be there.
When they parted, Lupin chuckled. "You taste like peppermint."
"And you taste like butterscotch," Mika giggled and kissed him again and again.
Mika pulled a packet of sweets from her pocket to offer to Hermione when something fell out onto the ancient stones of the courtyard.
“Oh yes, that envelope you received from the owl,” Hermione remembered. “Go on, open it.”
Popping a sweet into her mouth, Mika started to break the seal on the envelope. Suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder.
“Do you have one of those for me?” a familiar rough voice asked. Mika looked up to see Lupin standing over her, smiling. She couldn’t help but return the smile; she hadn’t seen him in days. Hermione offered up the bag of sweets which he took, thanking her, and peered in to select one. “What’s that you have there?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.
“We don’t know,” Hermione answered. “An owl delivered it just before dinner.”
Mika, still a little nervous about receiving strange messages had a feeling she might know who it was from. There was only one person she could imagine would be so cowardly as to send her an anonymous message. She broke the seal and opened the envelope. Inside it contained a small piece of parchment and a small object.
The note inside read:
Please find enclosed the requested formula for the Wolfsbane potion. I have also enclosed the most popular and effective cure known for this certain ‘affliction’. ~ SS.
Mika took out the object and examined it in the dim light of the courtyard lamps. It was a silver bullet.
Hermione gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, and Mika went cold as they realised the implication. “Oh, Remus,” she stood and turned to face him, trying desperately gauge his reaction. “I’m so sorry you had to see that,” she said.
Lupin shook his head as if he was used to it. “It’s all right, Mika. Just Snivellus’ idea of a cruel joke.” He seemed to be taking it well, but the ladies knew better.
Hermione caught Mika’s look and stood to go. “I’m sorry, Professor. But at least we have the formula. If it’s not a joke too,” she sighed. Mika squeezed her shoulder in gratitude as she left then turned to Lupin.
“But it’s not all right, is it?” she asked. She could see the mixture of sadness and anger in his eyes. But Remus Lupin was a gentle man, and he had lived with the curse long enough to have become almost immune to the cruel taunts and prejudices of others. That still did not make it hurt any less.
He tried to put on a brave face for Mika, but she could tell it was only for show. Sighing, she slid her arms about his waist and gave him a gentle hug, resting her head against his chest. This succeeded well in distracting Lupin from the cruel message, though he wasn’t sure what to do now. Awkwardly he put his arms about her and held her tightly. He couldn’t help but close his eyes and smile, the closeness of this enchanting woman was intoxicating. Needless to say, he hadn’t found himself in this situation very often.; in fact, never.
“Oh, Remus,” Mika whispered as the cold, night breeze whipped their robes about them. “Why can’t they just leave you in peace? Why must everyone persecute you so? Why can’t I find the antidote and free you from this curse? Why?” She looked up at him as she poured out her frustrations, her tear-filled violet eyes glittering like two amethysts in the glow of the lamps. The night air was cold, but it was warm where their bodies pressed together. He felt he could remain like this forever.
“Don’t worry about it, Mika,” he smiled. “Everyone’s given a lot in life and you just have to get on and deal with it. At least I’m not a vampire or a zombie,” he chuckled softly.
Mika smiled too and blinked causing the tears that she was so desperately trying to hold back to escape. Remus gently wiped them away, his eyes still locked on hers. Then Mika began to giggle.
“Just do it,” she said finally.
He looked at her for a long moment not sure what she was talking about, but then it dawned on him. Here he was standing in the darkness by the fountain, with a beautiful woman in his arms. Wait a minute, he’d seen enough movies; he should know what to do. What else should he do but kiss her?
Slowly he lowered his lips to hers. In that instant he forgot he was a werewolf and she was an alien from another time, another place. He forgot they were at Hogwarts and that it was dark and cold and windy. He forgot everything but that he was locked in an embrace with the most beautiful, kind and loving creature he had ever known to exist. Best of all, she genuinely seemed to want to be there.
When they parted, Lupin chuckled. "You taste like peppermint."
"And you taste like butterscotch," Mika giggled and kissed him again and again.
Sunday 22 May 2005
A Blustery Day
For days after, Mika and Snape hardly said a word but merely exchanged courteous nods if in public, and vicious glares if not. There was no way she could bear to ask him for the list of ingredients for the Wolfsbane potion now. She would have to think of some other way to get it.
“Well it was the Ministry of Magic that discovered it in the first place,” Hermione pointed out one day while they were in the library doing more research. “I’m sure Mr. Weasley wouldn’t mind finding it out for you.”
Mika sighed. “I’m sure he would be glad to help, Hermione, but Snape’s right here. Besides, the fewer people know what I’m trying to do, the better. I suppose I should just swallow my pride and ask him.”
“Do you really think he’d give it to you? I bet he’d even stop giving it to Lupin just to spite you. That’s the sort of person he strikes me as.”
“You’re probably right,” Mika laughed humourlessly. “I had thought him better than that. Still, I suppose love makes people do some really daft things.” She exchanged a look with her younger friend. They both burst out laughing.
“Well, you should know all about that!” Hermione pointed out. “Hey, I bet I could trick him into giving it to me. Would you like me to try?”
Mika thought about it for a moment. “I suppose…” she said slowly, “well, no harm in trying hmmm? Remember, Snape may be an idiot when it comes to social matters, but he is a powerful wizard. Just be on your toes and be very careful,” she warned.
“Oh, don’t worry, I will.” Hermione gathered up her belongings and handed the notes she had taken to the time lady. “In fact, I have potions class next. I’ll see you later.”
***
Later that evening is when the students were prevented from returning to their dorms after dinner. The Fat Lady whose picture guarded the entrance with an ever changing password, was missing! Horrified, Dumbledore ordered a search, but there was no need. Filch spotted her hiding behind a hippo in a neighbouring painting. She was frightened. She said that Sirius Black had ripped up her painting in order to gain access to the dorms. That night, all the students slept in the great hall whilst the teachers all searched the castle from top to bottom in case the escaped murderer from Azkaban was still at loose.
***
The following day was another Saturday. But Mika was not holding a lecture that day because of the Quidditch match that had been scheduled a little later than normal. The weather was dismal; thunder, lightning and driving rain pounded the Quidditch pitch and echoed against the windows in Hogwart’s Castle.
Mika spent the afternoon in her Tardis, quietly working on her research. She was becoming increasingly disheartened at the prospect of ever finding a cure or even a better antidote for Lupin’s condition. She emerged from her time capsule into her quarters. She could hear the weather outside mixed with the roar of the now soaked students as they braved the elements to attend their favourite sport.
Bored, she walked out into her office and picked up a roll of parchment on which Hermione had neatly written a few notes on the various properties of wolfsbane. This might be the best route to take, she thought to herself.
Lightning flashed brightly, the loud peal of thunder that followed immediately made Mika jump. She picked up her lavender witch’s robe from the chair where she had tossed it and put it on, pulling it tightly around her. She wasn’t particularly cold, but she did feel a little uneasy. She had no idea why.
Sighing, Mika left her office and made her way down the darkening corridor. If she was so inclined, she might have thought the place spooky. As it was the castle was a large, cold and damp place, except where the children hung out. There it was warm and lively, a testament to the positive power of youth.
This was where she was headed, hoping to run into Hermione and perhaps find out if she had been successful in getting Snape to give her the formula for the Wolfsbane potion. She was also hoping to cheer herself up a little. She was still feeling depressed even weeks after her run-in with Snape. She also hadn’t been able to spend much time with Lupin as he seemed to be busy with Harry and his classes.
Mika wandered through the seemingly abandoned castle, up the ever changing staircases and approached the now restored portrait of the Fat Lady.
“Rhubarb crumble,” she spoke the current password that Hermione kept her updated on.
“Oh, yes please!” the snoozing woman muttered before coming to and realising that it was the password and not someone offering her pudding. “Oh,” she sighed, disappointed. “Very well.” The portrait swung open and Mika climbed through. She reached the Gryffindor common room where there was a warm, welcoming fire going. The room seemed abandoned until she heard a small sigh. It was coming from a large armchair in the corner.
“Neville?” she approached the figure seated alone in the darkness. “Are you all right? Why aren’t you out watching the Quidditch with the others?” she asked softly.
“Oh, Miss Mika,” he started, clearly surprised to see her. “I… I didn’t want to catch cold. My grandmother keeps telling me that it’s not good to sit out in the rain even for a Quidditch match.”
Mika smiled and pulled up a pouffe to sit beside him. “And quite right she is. They really should either not play in bad weather or put up some sort of covers on the stands. I suppose magical folk think they’re invincible sometimes.”
Neville’s eyes dropped as she spoke. “I wish that were true,” he muttered.
“Is there something bothering you, sweetie? You know you can talk to me if you feel like getting something off your chest,” she coaxed gently.
He seemed to consider something for a few moments, then he spoke. “I was thinking about what you said at that serious lecture you gave,” he began. “I don’t know if it makes me feel better or worse knowing that nothing could have been done to prevent You-Know-Who from doing what he did to my parents.”
Mika understood. Understanding about the consequences of time travel was hard enough. Coming to terms with it was even harder. “Well,” she said softly, “It was a terrible thing that happened. But they were brave and stood up to him and in the end probably did even more good than if they had not fought him. You should be very proud of your parents. And, Neville, if I could go back and change things, I don’t think they would want me to. Does that make any sense?”
Neville, close to tears, nodded.
“They did what they did because they’re kind, loving people and didn’t want anything to happen to you or anyone else. I am sure they will recover someday. You must keep up hope and never be ashamed of them.”
Mika leaned forward and gave Neville a hug. He seemed to feel a lot better now. “Thanks for that, Miss Mika.”
She smiled broadly, though she wished she could do more. “I told you, I am your friend, and I meant it!”
Just then they could hear the sound of the castle filling with wet and excited students. Colin Creavey burst into the common room chanting ‘Gryffindor! Gryffindor!’ soon to be followed by the other Gryffindor students.
“Hey, Neville,” Ron grinned. “You missed quite a match! Where were you?”
Neville cast a worried glance at Mika who spoke up for him. “We were having a chat. I was asking him about his plant,” she lied.
Hermione came in and plopped down in front of the fire. “I have never been so wet in my life!” she exclaimed. “Mika, you should have been there. Harry was magnificent.”
Mika smiled and settled back on her pouffe to observe the celebrations. No doubt Harry was getting changed after his apparently victorious outing.
Just then, one of the school owls flew in and dropped something into Mika’s lap. It wasn’t unusual for owls to deliver messages in Hogwart’s, just not to a visiting Timelord. Mika looked at Hermione, a puzzled look on her face. Hermione shook her head as if to tell her not to open it just yet. Mika nodded and stuck it in her pocket to await examination at a more private location.
The huge clock in the tower struck six thirty signifying that it was dinner time. The half dried out students, still revelling in their victory, filed out of the common room in search of a nice hot meal, dragging Mika along with them.
“Well it was the Ministry of Magic that discovered it in the first place,” Hermione pointed out one day while they were in the library doing more research. “I’m sure Mr. Weasley wouldn’t mind finding it out for you.”
Mika sighed. “I’m sure he would be glad to help, Hermione, but Snape’s right here. Besides, the fewer people know what I’m trying to do, the better. I suppose I should just swallow my pride and ask him.”
“Do you really think he’d give it to you? I bet he’d even stop giving it to Lupin just to spite you. That’s the sort of person he strikes me as.”
“You’re probably right,” Mika laughed humourlessly. “I had thought him better than that. Still, I suppose love makes people do some really daft things.” She exchanged a look with her younger friend. They both burst out laughing.
“Well, you should know all about that!” Hermione pointed out. “Hey, I bet I could trick him into giving it to me. Would you like me to try?”
Mika thought about it for a moment. “I suppose…” she said slowly, “well, no harm in trying hmmm? Remember, Snape may be an idiot when it comes to social matters, but he is a powerful wizard. Just be on your toes and be very careful,” she warned.
“Oh, don’t worry, I will.” Hermione gathered up her belongings and handed the notes she had taken to the time lady. “In fact, I have potions class next. I’ll see you later.”
***
Later that evening is when the students were prevented from returning to their dorms after dinner. The Fat Lady whose picture guarded the entrance with an ever changing password, was missing! Horrified, Dumbledore ordered a search, but there was no need. Filch spotted her hiding behind a hippo in a neighbouring painting. She was frightened. She said that Sirius Black had ripped up her painting in order to gain access to the dorms. That night, all the students slept in the great hall whilst the teachers all searched the castle from top to bottom in case the escaped murderer from Azkaban was still at loose.
***
The following day was another Saturday. But Mika was not holding a lecture that day because of the Quidditch match that had been scheduled a little later than normal. The weather was dismal; thunder, lightning and driving rain pounded the Quidditch pitch and echoed against the windows in Hogwart’s Castle.
Mika spent the afternoon in her Tardis, quietly working on her research. She was becoming increasingly disheartened at the prospect of ever finding a cure or even a better antidote for Lupin’s condition. She emerged from her time capsule into her quarters. She could hear the weather outside mixed with the roar of the now soaked students as they braved the elements to attend their favourite sport.
Bored, she walked out into her office and picked up a roll of parchment on which Hermione had neatly written a few notes on the various properties of wolfsbane. This might be the best route to take, she thought to herself.
Lightning flashed brightly, the loud peal of thunder that followed immediately made Mika jump. She picked up her lavender witch’s robe from the chair where she had tossed it and put it on, pulling it tightly around her. She wasn’t particularly cold, but she did feel a little uneasy. She had no idea why.
Sighing, Mika left her office and made her way down the darkening corridor. If she was so inclined, she might have thought the place spooky. As it was the castle was a large, cold and damp place, except where the children hung out. There it was warm and lively, a testament to the positive power of youth.
This was where she was headed, hoping to run into Hermione and perhaps find out if she had been successful in getting Snape to give her the formula for the Wolfsbane potion. She was also hoping to cheer herself up a little. She was still feeling depressed even weeks after her run-in with Snape. She also hadn’t been able to spend much time with Lupin as he seemed to be busy with Harry and his classes.
Mika wandered through the seemingly abandoned castle, up the ever changing staircases and approached the now restored portrait of the Fat Lady.
“Rhubarb crumble,” she spoke the current password that Hermione kept her updated on.
“Oh, yes please!” the snoozing woman muttered before coming to and realising that it was the password and not someone offering her pudding. “Oh,” she sighed, disappointed. “Very well.” The portrait swung open and Mika climbed through. She reached the Gryffindor common room where there was a warm, welcoming fire going. The room seemed abandoned until she heard a small sigh. It was coming from a large armchair in the corner.
“Neville?” she approached the figure seated alone in the darkness. “Are you all right? Why aren’t you out watching the Quidditch with the others?” she asked softly.
“Oh, Miss Mika,” he started, clearly surprised to see her. “I… I didn’t want to catch cold. My grandmother keeps telling me that it’s not good to sit out in the rain even for a Quidditch match.”
Mika smiled and pulled up a pouffe to sit beside him. “And quite right she is. They really should either not play in bad weather or put up some sort of covers on the stands. I suppose magical folk think they’re invincible sometimes.”
Neville’s eyes dropped as she spoke. “I wish that were true,” he muttered.
“Is there something bothering you, sweetie? You know you can talk to me if you feel like getting something off your chest,” she coaxed gently.
He seemed to consider something for a few moments, then he spoke. “I was thinking about what you said at that serious lecture you gave,” he began. “I don’t know if it makes me feel better or worse knowing that nothing could have been done to prevent You-Know-Who from doing what he did to my parents.”
Mika understood. Understanding about the consequences of time travel was hard enough. Coming to terms with it was even harder. “Well,” she said softly, “It was a terrible thing that happened. But they were brave and stood up to him and in the end probably did even more good than if they had not fought him. You should be very proud of your parents. And, Neville, if I could go back and change things, I don’t think they would want me to. Does that make any sense?”
Neville, close to tears, nodded.
“They did what they did because they’re kind, loving people and didn’t want anything to happen to you or anyone else. I am sure they will recover someday. You must keep up hope and never be ashamed of them.”
Mika leaned forward and gave Neville a hug. He seemed to feel a lot better now. “Thanks for that, Miss Mika.”
She smiled broadly, though she wished she could do more. “I told you, I am your friend, and I meant it!”
Just then they could hear the sound of the castle filling with wet and excited students. Colin Creavey burst into the common room chanting ‘Gryffindor! Gryffindor!’ soon to be followed by the other Gryffindor students.
“Hey, Neville,” Ron grinned. “You missed quite a match! Where were you?”
Neville cast a worried glance at Mika who spoke up for him. “We were having a chat. I was asking him about his plant,” she lied.
Hermione came in and plopped down in front of the fire. “I have never been so wet in my life!” she exclaimed. “Mika, you should have been there. Harry was magnificent.”
Mika smiled and settled back on her pouffe to observe the celebrations. No doubt Harry was getting changed after his apparently victorious outing.
Just then, one of the school owls flew in and dropped something into Mika’s lap. It wasn’t unusual for owls to deliver messages in Hogwart’s, just not to a visiting Timelord. Mika looked at Hermione, a puzzled look on her face. Hermione shook her head as if to tell her not to open it just yet. Mika nodded and stuck it in her pocket to await examination at a more private location.
The huge clock in the tower struck six thirty signifying that it was dinner time. The half dried out students, still revelling in their victory, filed out of the common room in search of a nice hot meal, dragging Mika along with them.
Haunted Tears...
Mika ran through the dark castle not knowing nor caring where she ended up – anything to get away from the pain and confusion she felt she always seemed to leave in her wake. Finally, she came to a stop up in the clock tower where she stood looking out of the huge windows onto the courtyard below. The mystical light of the moon caused the newly fallen snow to glow with an eerie luminescence. For a moment she feared that the moon was full, but squinting through her tears and the frosted glass she could tell that it was only three quarters full. It would not be long before it was full and Remus would go through his monthly torture yet again.
This thought set off another round of tears.
“Dear Lady, why do you weep so?” came a gentle voice from behind her. Mika whirled around, startled to find one of the resident ghosts, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, hovering there in the darkness. The children called him Nearly Headless Nick on account of the botched beheading by which he came to join the realm of the spirits.
Mika quickly wiped at her tears with the voluminous sleeve of her witches’ robes. She was embarrassed to have been caught crying even by a ghost. “Oh, Sir Nicholas. I’m sorry, I…”
“No need to apologise my lady. Actually…” he hesitated. “I couldn’t help but overhear yours and Professor Snape’s conversation.” If a ghost could blush, Sir Nick managed it. “If I may say so, Lady Mika, he had it coming to him.”
Mika smiled wanly. She supposed it saved her from having to explain herself. Still she wasn’t used to the idea of ghosts wandering around poking their noses into everyone’s affairs. “Please, Sir Nicholas, I would appreciate it if this remained our secret. Especially from Professor Lupin,” she said softly.
“But of course, m’lady. I shan’t breathe a word. But, is there anything I can do to help? I do so hate to see a sweet lady like yourself so distressed.”
The timelady shook her head. “I don’t think there’s a cure for either of them really,” she said at last. “Why does he have to be so nasty? What’s Remus ever done to him?”
Sir Nicholas sighed. “Severus and Remus were at school together, along with Sirius Black and James Potter.” Mika looked at him, realisation beginning to dawn. Sir Nick nodded. “Yes. The Potter Gang often picked on Severus – only they called him Snivellus then. While Remus never actually gave the lad any grief, neither did he stop his friends from doing what he knew to be wrong. So desperate was he to have friends. By the same token, Severus was desperate for friends too but no one wanted to befriend him. His parents gave him no notice and were always at odds with each other. He grew from a sad, lonely little boy into a sad, lonely, bitter and vindictive man. I know it’s not an excuse, but I thought you needed to know a little of his background to understand why he is how he is.”
Mika thought about this for several minutes. It all made perfect sense. The reason he picked on Harry, hated know-it-alls and didn’t care for groups of friends nor the old gang who used to pick on him. Still, he was an adult and should know better. But some things are very hard to overcome.
“Thank you, Sir Nicholas. That does help and I do feel better,” she smiled.
“You are most welcome, dear Lady. I only wish I could do more,” he sighed.
Somehow, Sir Nick’s chivalrous offer of help only served to sadden her more. Kind and noble as he was, he was, after all, dead.
“May I ask you a question?” she asked gently. “How did you come to … die?”
The ghost of Sir de Mimsy-Porpington scratched his head causing it to wobble slightly on its stump of a neck. “I’m not really sure, to be honest, m’lady. I know I was executed for something, but I can’t for the death of me remember exactly why.”
“How very odd,” Mika said. “You would think that would be something you would definitely remember.”
“It’s almost as if someone has erased my memory. I remember my life clearly up until near the end. Then it all goes a bit fuzzy. But I do remember some children, and a lovely lady, and a flashing light…”
It was Mika’s turn to scratch her head. “Hmmm, I wonder…”
This thought set off another round of tears.
“Dear Lady, why do you weep so?” came a gentle voice from behind her. Mika whirled around, startled to find one of the resident ghosts, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, hovering there in the darkness. The children called him Nearly Headless Nick on account of the botched beheading by which he came to join the realm of the spirits.
Mika quickly wiped at her tears with the voluminous sleeve of her witches’ robes. She was embarrassed to have been caught crying even by a ghost. “Oh, Sir Nicholas. I’m sorry, I…”
“No need to apologise my lady. Actually…” he hesitated. “I couldn’t help but overhear yours and Professor Snape’s conversation.” If a ghost could blush, Sir Nick managed it. “If I may say so, Lady Mika, he had it coming to him.”
Mika smiled wanly. She supposed it saved her from having to explain herself. Still she wasn’t used to the idea of ghosts wandering around poking their noses into everyone’s affairs. “Please, Sir Nicholas, I would appreciate it if this remained our secret. Especially from Professor Lupin,” she said softly.
“But of course, m’lady. I shan’t breathe a word. But, is there anything I can do to help? I do so hate to see a sweet lady like yourself so distressed.”
The timelady shook her head. “I don’t think there’s a cure for either of them really,” she said at last. “Why does he have to be so nasty? What’s Remus ever done to him?”
Sir Nicholas sighed. “Severus and Remus were at school together, along with Sirius Black and James Potter.” Mika looked at him, realisation beginning to dawn. Sir Nick nodded. “Yes. The Potter Gang often picked on Severus – only they called him Snivellus then. While Remus never actually gave the lad any grief, neither did he stop his friends from doing what he knew to be wrong. So desperate was he to have friends. By the same token, Severus was desperate for friends too but no one wanted to befriend him. His parents gave him no notice and were always at odds with each other. He grew from a sad, lonely little boy into a sad, lonely, bitter and vindictive man. I know it’s not an excuse, but I thought you needed to know a little of his background to understand why he is how he is.”
Mika thought about this for several minutes. It all made perfect sense. The reason he picked on Harry, hated know-it-alls and didn’t care for groups of friends nor the old gang who used to pick on him. Still, he was an adult and should know better. But some things are very hard to overcome.
“Thank you, Sir Nicholas. That does help and I do feel better,” she smiled.
“You are most welcome, dear Lady. I only wish I could do more,” he sighed.
Somehow, Sir Nick’s chivalrous offer of help only served to sadden her more. Kind and noble as he was, he was, after all, dead.
“May I ask you a question?” she asked gently. “How did you come to … die?”
The ghost of Sir de Mimsy-Porpington scratched his head causing it to wobble slightly on its stump of a neck. “I’m not really sure, to be honest, m’lady. I know I was executed for something, but I can’t for the death of me remember exactly why.”
“How very odd,” Mika said. “You would think that would be something you would definitely remember.”
“It’s almost as if someone has erased my memory. I remember my life clearly up until near the end. Then it all goes a bit fuzzy. But I do remember some children, and a lovely lady, and a flashing light…”
It was Mika’s turn to scratch her head. “Hmmm, I wonder…”
Green Eyed Monsters...
Out in the darkness of the hallway Mika just caught sight of a dark shape gliding away from her. “Severus!” she shouted. “Severus, wait!”
“Do you mind?!” barked the painting of an old man in his sleeping cap. “We’re trying to sleep here.”
“Yes, no shouting in the halls!” scolded another.
“Oh, sod off!” she said to both of them and left them behind, gasping in amazement at the brazenness of today’s youth, to chase after Snape.
Eventually she caught up with him. He kept walking as if she wasn’t there.
“Severus,” she grabbed his arm and brought him to a halt. “What’s wrong with you? Didn’t you hear me calling?”
“Sorry, no,” he lied. “I thought you were busy?” He began walking again.
Stronger this time, Mika stopped him again and spun him to face her. “Severus. Are you allright?” she asked. “Are you still having your headaches?” her voice softened.
At the sound of the genuine concern in her voice, Snape softened. “No, they are much better, thank you,” he answered civilly.
“Then what’s the matter?” she pleaded.
“Nothing’s the matter,” he averted his eyes from hers. He could not bear to look into their vivid beauty knowing that ‘he’ had more than likely done the same.
But Mika could tell he was lying. “Right.” She tugged his arm and began shoving him down the corridor towards her office and quarters. “My office, now. You and I need to talk.”
Once inside she turned on the light and pointed to a chair in front of her desk which she perched upon. “Now, what’s the matter, Severus?” she asked once more, her eyes and her voice pleading with the dark potions master.
She folded her arms and watched him in silence, studying his body language. Of course she could get into other people’s minds but it wasn’t something she liked to do. And Snape was constantly shielding his from Voldemort and his minions, but still, she had an idea of what might be going on.
She sighed. “I just don’t understand. I have been nothing but kind to you, haven’t I? I have helped you with the shielding, I have done all I could for the Order, and you repay me by being nasty with me and Lupin. Why can’t you two just bury the past and be friends?”
A dark cloud of anger passed over Snape’s features. “I am not his friend, have never been his friend and never will be his friend!” he growled. “And you will do well to remember that!”
Mika’s violet eyes flashed with fury which is something that rarely happened. “What in Rassilon’s name has come over you, Severus Snape? Why are you acting like such a horse’s ass all of a sudden? I thought you were a basically nice fellow and that all this nastiness was just a cover for your ‘assignment’. But I guess not,” she snapped. “I wanted to help you…”
“You only helped me because Dumbledore asked you to,” he interrupted.
“Dumbledore asked me if there was anything I could do to help, not to actually do it. I did it out of the kindness of my hearts believing you to be a noble and brave man who was risking his own life for the greater good of his people,” she glared back. “I guess I was wrong.”
Snape remained silent, his black eyes smouldering with emotion as she spoke to him. Her tone grew softer, filled with what he believed to be pity. “Whatever is the matter, Severus. I know it’s not your mission. I know it’s not really Remus. What is it then? Is it me? Are you angry with me for some reason?” She was trying to understand.
Snape knew he couldn’t hide his feelings from her any longer. He had tried not to acknowledge them himself ever since he had first laid eyes on her, but now that she was here in his school all the time around him he could hold out no more.
He stood and began pacing about the room trying to form words that were normally alien to him. But then so were the things he was feeling.
“Mika, ever since that day when Dumbledore first introduced you to the Order, I haven’t been able to think of anything else. You, with your glittering eyes, your perfect skin and your precious smile, your kindness to anyone and everyone has possessed me like some sort of demon. I… I don’t know how to act. And when I see you with ‘him’, it just fills me with anger, and sadness.” He stared at the floor, appalled at himself for actually saying such ridiculously sentimental things. Honestly, he didn’t know what had come over him. He just knew that he felt utterly miserable and Mika was at the root of it.
Mika just stared as Severus Snape, the much feared Potions Master of Hogwarts came as near to pouring his heart out as he was ever likely to do. “I honestly don’t know what to say, Severus,” she breathed, still in shock.
“There is nothing to say, is there?” he spoke to the floor. “You’ve made your choice. I had hoped…” his voice trailed off.
She continued to look at Snape in disbelief. “I show you some kindness and you suddenly think we’re dating? I care for you as a friend, but nothing more, Severus, nothing more. And I don’t see why you’re jealous of Remus. So we spend time together? We happen to enjoy each other’s company and…”
“Don’t give me that. Everyone in the school is talking about you two. ‘How ‘lovely a couple they make’,” he mimicked with a sneer, “and ‘oh isn’t it just wonderful how Professor Lupin seems so much happier since he’s been spending time with Mika’… Quite frankly it makes me sick.”
Mika just stood staring, her mouth gaping open. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“I don’t see what it is about him anyway,” Snape continued his rant, his voice taking on a tone of sarcasm now.. “Maybe it’s the tattered, worn clothes he wears, or the scarred face that only a mother could love, or maybe, it’s the fact that he turns into a ravenous, hairy beast every full moon!”
SLAP! Mika slapped Snape hard in the face. “At least he’s only a monster a few days a month!” she retorted, tears welling in her eyes.
For a brief moment they stood staring at each other, neither sure what to do next. Snape felt like taking her in his arms and kissing her so hard that their lips would fuse together; Mika felt like turning into a monstrous beast and ripping him apart herself.
“Remus Lupin has something you will never have, besides me. He has dignity. He may be shabby and worn but his misfortune is not of his own making. And still he bears up and doesn’t complain. He does the best he can with what he’s got and seeing how the entire world treats him and his kind I think he’s done a wonderful job. In spite of being hunted and shunned and feared by everyone who learns what he turns into once a month, he is the most kind, generous and caring man I know. You could learn a lot from him if only you could see past your own big nose!”
Mika stopped and angrily wiped the tears from her eyes, only to find them replaced by more. “Why do you have to be so childish and vindictive? Oh, just grow up!” She turned and ran from the room leaving a very hurt and confused Potions Master in her wake.
“Do you mind?!” barked the painting of an old man in his sleeping cap. “We’re trying to sleep here.”
“Yes, no shouting in the halls!” scolded another.
“Oh, sod off!” she said to both of them and left them behind, gasping in amazement at the brazenness of today’s youth, to chase after Snape.
Eventually she caught up with him. He kept walking as if she wasn’t there.
“Severus,” she grabbed his arm and brought him to a halt. “What’s wrong with you? Didn’t you hear me calling?”
“Sorry, no,” he lied. “I thought you were busy?” He began walking again.
Stronger this time, Mika stopped him again and spun him to face her. “Severus. Are you allright?” she asked. “Are you still having your headaches?” her voice softened.
At the sound of the genuine concern in her voice, Snape softened. “No, they are much better, thank you,” he answered civilly.
“Then what’s the matter?” she pleaded.
“Nothing’s the matter,” he averted his eyes from hers. He could not bear to look into their vivid beauty knowing that ‘he’ had more than likely done the same.
But Mika could tell he was lying. “Right.” She tugged his arm and began shoving him down the corridor towards her office and quarters. “My office, now. You and I need to talk.”
Once inside she turned on the light and pointed to a chair in front of her desk which she perched upon. “Now, what’s the matter, Severus?” she asked once more, her eyes and her voice pleading with the dark potions master.
She folded her arms and watched him in silence, studying his body language. Of course she could get into other people’s minds but it wasn’t something she liked to do. And Snape was constantly shielding his from Voldemort and his minions, but still, she had an idea of what might be going on.
She sighed. “I just don’t understand. I have been nothing but kind to you, haven’t I? I have helped you with the shielding, I have done all I could for the Order, and you repay me by being nasty with me and Lupin. Why can’t you two just bury the past and be friends?”
A dark cloud of anger passed over Snape’s features. “I am not his friend, have never been his friend and never will be his friend!” he growled. “And you will do well to remember that!”
Mika’s violet eyes flashed with fury which is something that rarely happened. “What in Rassilon’s name has come over you, Severus Snape? Why are you acting like such a horse’s ass all of a sudden? I thought you were a basically nice fellow and that all this nastiness was just a cover for your ‘assignment’. But I guess not,” she snapped. “I wanted to help you…”
“You only helped me because Dumbledore asked you to,” he interrupted.
“Dumbledore asked me if there was anything I could do to help, not to actually do it. I did it out of the kindness of my hearts believing you to be a noble and brave man who was risking his own life for the greater good of his people,” she glared back. “I guess I was wrong.”
Snape remained silent, his black eyes smouldering with emotion as she spoke to him. Her tone grew softer, filled with what he believed to be pity. “Whatever is the matter, Severus. I know it’s not your mission. I know it’s not really Remus. What is it then? Is it me? Are you angry with me for some reason?” She was trying to understand.
Snape knew he couldn’t hide his feelings from her any longer. He had tried not to acknowledge them himself ever since he had first laid eyes on her, but now that she was here in his school all the time around him he could hold out no more.
He stood and began pacing about the room trying to form words that were normally alien to him. But then so were the things he was feeling.
“Mika, ever since that day when Dumbledore first introduced you to the Order, I haven’t been able to think of anything else. You, with your glittering eyes, your perfect skin and your precious smile, your kindness to anyone and everyone has possessed me like some sort of demon. I… I don’t know how to act. And when I see you with ‘him’, it just fills me with anger, and sadness.” He stared at the floor, appalled at himself for actually saying such ridiculously sentimental things. Honestly, he didn’t know what had come over him. He just knew that he felt utterly miserable and Mika was at the root of it.
Mika just stared as Severus Snape, the much feared Potions Master of Hogwarts came as near to pouring his heart out as he was ever likely to do. “I honestly don’t know what to say, Severus,” she breathed, still in shock.
“There is nothing to say, is there?” he spoke to the floor. “You’ve made your choice. I had hoped…” his voice trailed off.
She continued to look at Snape in disbelief. “I show you some kindness and you suddenly think we’re dating? I care for you as a friend, but nothing more, Severus, nothing more. And I don’t see why you’re jealous of Remus. So we spend time together? We happen to enjoy each other’s company and…”
“Don’t give me that. Everyone in the school is talking about you two. ‘How ‘lovely a couple they make’,” he mimicked with a sneer, “and ‘oh isn’t it just wonderful how Professor Lupin seems so much happier since he’s been spending time with Mika’… Quite frankly it makes me sick.”
Mika just stood staring, her mouth gaping open. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“I don’t see what it is about him anyway,” Snape continued his rant, his voice taking on a tone of sarcasm now.. “Maybe it’s the tattered, worn clothes he wears, or the scarred face that only a mother could love, or maybe, it’s the fact that he turns into a ravenous, hairy beast every full moon!”
SLAP! Mika slapped Snape hard in the face. “At least he’s only a monster a few days a month!” she retorted, tears welling in her eyes.
For a brief moment they stood staring at each other, neither sure what to do next. Snape felt like taking her in his arms and kissing her so hard that their lips would fuse together; Mika felt like turning into a monstrous beast and ripping him apart herself.
“Remus Lupin has something you will never have, besides me. He has dignity. He may be shabby and worn but his misfortune is not of his own making. And still he bears up and doesn’t complain. He does the best he can with what he’s got and seeing how the entire world treats him and his kind I think he’s done a wonderful job. In spite of being hunted and shunned and feared by everyone who learns what he turns into once a month, he is the most kind, generous and caring man I know. You could learn a lot from him if only you could see past your own big nose!”
Mika stopped and angrily wiped the tears from her eyes, only to find them replaced by more. “Why do you have to be so childish and vindictive? Oh, just grow up!” She turned and ran from the room leaving a very hurt and confused Potions Master in her wake.
Dancing on Air...
Mika followed them out where Lupin was waiting for her. His blue eyes sparkled as he saw her. The scars on his face were prevented from looking sinister only by the softness of his eyes and the boyish charm of his smile. She noticed that he was walking with the aid of a wooden walking stick. He seemed to be even more frail than ever now, after one of his ‘episodes’.
“So what did you think?” she asked him.
“You were wonderful, as usual,” he smiled.
“What do you mean as usual? I’ve never seen you there before.”
“That doesn’t mean I wasn’t there. Besides, the kids are constantly talking about you and singing your praises. I do believe that you are their favourite teacher.”
“Well, then I share that honour with their Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. They love him too.”
They looked at each other and laughed.
“So what are you doing this evening?” Mika asked. “’Cos I thought perhaps you could answer a few questions for me.”
“I’d be happy to. Shall we go to my office or yours?”
“Yours I think. It’s closer.” Mika was sure that Snape would more than likely be in her quarters, resting his mind away from prying eyes. She didn’t want to disturbe him… or more likely for him to disturb her.
Lupin led the way to his office. “Please, make yourself at home,” he said, waving his hand over the candles to light them. Producing a notebook and pencil from the pocket of her robes, Mika perched upon the desk, her legs crossed, looking very much like a secretary about to take her boss’s dictation.
“Mind if I put on some music?” Lupin asked as he moved beside the ancient victrola in the corner.
“Oh, by all means. I always think better with a nice tune playing in the background.”
Lupin smiled. “Same with me. Amazing how alike people can be…”
“Even when we’re as different as we are?” she finished. “Yes. People aren’t really all that different when it comes right down to it. Not even people from opposite ends of the universe.”
The needle crackled for a moment on the old record then a lively tune that sounded like something from the 40s began playing softly. Mika smiled warmly as she watched the DADA teacher walk gingerly to a stool nearby.
“Are you in much pain?” she asked caringly.
“Oh, this, no, I’m ok, really. It’s just an old injury I suffered long ago. My ‘condition’ leaves it a bit tender and I have to take it easy,” he tried to brush it off. Mika knew better.
“You know, I can help with that,” she said. “Well, maybe some time later perhaps,” she said, noting the look on his face.
“Right. You said you had some questions to ask me?” he sighed. He wasn’t really looking forward to this; it was not his favourite subject. But if it led to finding a cure for his condition, he would endure it.
Mika’s eyes remained fixed on his for a moment before turning her attention to the task at hand. She opened her notebook and flipped through a few pages.
“Are you sure you don’t mind doing this?” she hesitated. She didn’t like the idea of adding to his already burdened heart by asking him about his affliction.
“No, you’re all right,” he said softly. “Who else can you ask?”
Mika took a deep breath. “Right. I suppose what I really need to know is just what it is that causes the transformation. All the books say that a person becomes a werewolf when he or she is bitten by a werewolf and that the full moon is when the transformation occurs.”
She cast a quick glance up at Remus to gauge his reactions. So far he seemed ok with it. She continued.
“But in the books I can find nothing specific. Not even in the TARDIS databanks. All that is there are more or less histories and accounts of lycanthropy. Which, by the way, occurs all over the entire universe. Did you know, that there is even an entire civilisation that is nothing but a type of werewolf? I suppose they evolved that way. Life is truly diverse.”
Lupin just watched her, nodding as she spoke. Somehow, knowing that there were millions of beings just like him out there in space didn’t make him feel any better.
“What is it you need to know?” he asked flatly.
Uneasy, Mika consulted her notes again and continued.
“Well, let’s see… ok. It’s the full moon only that causes the transformation, right?”
Lupin nodded.
“Now we know the moon is sometimes full in the daytime depending on where on the planet you are. When it’s daytime and the moon is full, does that affect you at all?”
Lupin thought for a moment. “Not enough to trigger a transformation,” he said. “But I do get physically weak and feel very ill.”
Mika tried not to frown but not very successfully. Her hearts went out to this poor, sweet man who was made to suffer so much for no real reason. “Um, ok. And it’s only the full moon and not any other phase.” Again he nodded. Mika made a note on the page. “So does it have to be direct full moonlight, or do overcast skies lessen the effects?”
“I feel the effects no matter what the weather conditions, but you’re right. Only in direct full, cloudless moonlight does the transformation complete itself. But when I am indoors and the moon is shining outside, it still affects me. Where are you going with this?” he wondered, now curious. He’d never really thought of this condition scientifically before.
“Well, I was thinking, the moon doesn’t give off light of its own does it? No, it merely reflects the sunlight. The fact that you don’t suffer a transformation when the moon is out during the day signifies that whatever it is is drowned out by the stronger sunlight.” She chewed thoughtfully on the end of her pencil. Lupin watched her intently. He could not help but think how beautiful she looked then, illuminated by the flickering candlelight, her face bright with the promise of scientific discovery.
“It must be some sort of radiation on a wavelength that can only be maximised at light and when the reflection value is at its peak. “ She was more just thinking aloud to herself than Lupin. “Now, whether it’s a visible wavelength or some sort of ultraviolet frequency perhaps, we don’t know. But it’s a good place to start.” Mika looked up at him and smiled hopefully.
Lupin returned her smile. It all seemed to make sense to him. Perhaps it was just a matter of finding the right filter to block out these harmful rays or something after all. Would that it were that simple!
“Anything else?” he asked, no longer reticent but eager to help.
She looked at her notes again. “You mentioned that Snape made you a potion that you had to take that lessened the effects. What exactly is it made of and what do you have to do for it to work?” she asked finally.
Lupin stood and sighed. He paced about the room setting the large model of the solar system floating off through his offices with a magical wave of his hand. “Yes, the Wolfsbane Potion. Nasty stuff. But it helps – sometimes. I have to take it for two weeks prior to the full moon for it to have any effect. It was developed quite recently by the Department of Potions in the Ministry of Magic. I don’t know what’s in it exactly, except the main ingredient of Wolfsbane. Snape would be the one to ask about it, but I doubt he’ll tell you exactly what’s in it. He’s pretty guarded with all his potion formulae.”
Mika grinned. “Oh, you leave Severus to me. I know how to handle him.”
Lupin cast her a questioning look but Mika had gone back to her notes and was writing furiously. He wondered just what she had meant about that. Come to think of it, Snape acted even more peculiar than usual especially when Mika was around or even mentioned. But he mustn’t be suspicious. He was sure there couldn’t be anything going on. How could there be? She seemed to be spending most of her time either with him or that Hermione Granger.
“Right,” Mika said at last, finishing the last of her notes. “I think that’s all I really need to know. I have two avenues to start looking at for now, the moonlight and the potion ingredients. Perhaps something in there can be amplified to increase its counteractive effects.”
Mika looked up. Lupin had moved to the victrola and was putting another record on. She hadn’t even noticed that the first one had stopped. She put her notebook away and hopped off the desktop.
“Remus, are you allright?” she asked concernedly, moving towards him. “I didn’t say anything to upset you did I? I’d never in a million years want to do that…” her voice trailed off as she started to lose herself in his deep blue eyes.
Lupin donned a warm smile. The music began to play. It was a lovely waltz from the early 20th century, one that sounded eerily familiar. Mika was standing beside him now, he could smell what he thought must be her perfume. It smelled like fresh summer jasmine. His heart began to race as he looked down into her questioning violet eyes.
“Of course not,” he said at last. He held out his hands to her. “Shall we?”
Mika smiled and took his hands. Gently they began to dance to the waltz called appropriately enough, ‘Destiny’. Mika was reminded of a similar dance with a certain ship’s officer some 90 years in this past. But the feelings that were stirred within her now were somewhat different than on that fateful voyage.
The planets orbited about them and Mika couldn’t stop herself from smiling as the music carried them seemingly on air around the room. Then she looked down and realised that they were indeed floating on air! Lupin had levitated them off the floor and now they were whirling about the room as if in weightlessness.
“I tend to forget that you guys are wizards and can do magic!” she laughed.
“Hang on!” he warned as he spun her around nearly knocking over a stack of books
They laughed as they spun around the room, trying hard not to cause too much destruction. He spun Mika back towards him but misjudged the speed and she crashed into him knocking them both to the floor in a heap up against the victrola causing the needle to skip to the end of the record with a loud screech. The pile of books gave up its fight and crashed down on top of them. They were laughing so hard that they could barely move, nor did they hear the knock at the door.
“Lupin, I…” came a familiar voice from the entrance as the door creaked open. Snape peered into the candlelit room to see a mountain of robes and books piled in the floor against the victrola. Suddenly it came to life and Lupin’s head appeared.
“Snape, what can I do for you…”
Just then the rest of the pile fell off of Lupin and shifted to reveal Mika’s head, her hair down in her face. She quickly tried to straighten it up and smiled at their guest.
“Obviously I am interrupting something,” Snape practically sneered at them in his usual smarmy voice. He turned to go.
“No, wait, Severus,” Mika called out hurriedly trying to get up. She almost made it the first time but was still rather dizzy from their spin around the room and fell to her bottom again with a loud ‘Ooomph!”
Lupin stood quickly and tugged her to her feet.
Not amused, Snape folded his arms. “Yes?”
“I wanted to ask you a favour,” she began, but Snape cut her off with a wave of his hand.
“Come and see me when you are not so occupied,” he snarled. He then turned and exited with a flourish of his black robes.
Mika and Lupin exchanged a glance. “What?” they both seemed to say.
“He’s been acting awfully strange lately,” the timelady observed. “I’d better go after him. You don’t mind do you?” she asked secretly hoping that he would so she could stay.
“That’s allright,” he sighed. “Perhaps you can sweet talk him into giving you the formula while you’re at it?” he suggested. “Besides, I have some papers to grade.”
Mika bit her lip to keep from outwardly pouting and nodded. “I’ll see you later then, ok?” She turned to go. Then she suddenly turned back and planted a kiss on Lupin’s cheek. “Thank you for a wonderful time.” Lupin blushed and smiled and Mika positively beamed. She gave a wave of her fingers then blew out of the room seeming to Remus to suck all the light out of it as she went.
“So what did you think?” she asked him.
“You were wonderful, as usual,” he smiled.
“What do you mean as usual? I’ve never seen you there before.”
“That doesn’t mean I wasn’t there. Besides, the kids are constantly talking about you and singing your praises. I do believe that you are their favourite teacher.”
“Well, then I share that honour with their Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. They love him too.”
They looked at each other and laughed.
“So what are you doing this evening?” Mika asked. “’Cos I thought perhaps you could answer a few questions for me.”
“I’d be happy to. Shall we go to my office or yours?”
“Yours I think. It’s closer.” Mika was sure that Snape would more than likely be in her quarters, resting his mind away from prying eyes. She didn’t want to disturbe him… or more likely for him to disturb her.
Lupin led the way to his office. “Please, make yourself at home,” he said, waving his hand over the candles to light them. Producing a notebook and pencil from the pocket of her robes, Mika perched upon the desk, her legs crossed, looking very much like a secretary about to take her boss’s dictation.
“Mind if I put on some music?” Lupin asked as he moved beside the ancient victrola in the corner.
“Oh, by all means. I always think better with a nice tune playing in the background.”
Lupin smiled. “Same with me. Amazing how alike people can be…”
“Even when we’re as different as we are?” she finished. “Yes. People aren’t really all that different when it comes right down to it. Not even people from opposite ends of the universe.”
The needle crackled for a moment on the old record then a lively tune that sounded like something from the 40s began playing softly. Mika smiled warmly as she watched the DADA teacher walk gingerly to a stool nearby.
“Are you in much pain?” she asked caringly.
“Oh, this, no, I’m ok, really. It’s just an old injury I suffered long ago. My ‘condition’ leaves it a bit tender and I have to take it easy,” he tried to brush it off. Mika knew better.
“You know, I can help with that,” she said. “Well, maybe some time later perhaps,” she said, noting the look on his face.
“Right. You said you had some questions to ask me?” he sighed. He wasn’t really looking forward to this; it was not his favourite subject. But if it led to finding a cure for his condition, he would endure it.
Mika’s eyes remained fixed on his for a moment before turning her attention to the task at hand. She opened her notebook and flipped through a few pages.
“Are you sure you don’t mind doing this?” she hesitated. She didn’t like the idea of adding to his already burdened heart by asking him about his affliction.
“No, you’re all right,” he said softly. “Who else can you ask?”
Mika took a deep breath. “Right. I suppose what I really need to know is just what it is that causes the transformation. All the books say that a person becomes a werewolf when he or she is bitten by a werewolf and that the full moon is when the transformation occurs.”
She cast a quick glance up at Remus to gauge his reactions. So far he seemed ok with it. She continued.
“But in the books I can find nothing specific. Not even in the TARDIS databanks. All that is there are more or less histories and accounts of lycanthropy. Which, by the way, occurs all over the entire universe. Did you know, that there is even an entire civilisation that is nothing but a type of werewolf? I suppose they evolved that way. Life is truly diverse.”
Lupin just watched her, nodding as she spoke. Somehow, knowing that there were millions of beings just like him out there in space didn’t make him feel any better.
“What is it you need to know?” he asked flatly.
Uneasy, Mika consulted her notes again and continued.
“Well, let’s see… ok. It’s the full moon only that causes the transformation, right?”
Lupin nodded.
“Now we know the moon is sometimes full in the daytime depending on where on the planet you are. When it’s daytime and the moon is full, does that affect you at all?”
Lupin thought for a moment. “Not enough to trigger a transformation,” he said. “But I do get physically weak and feel very ill.”
Mika tried not to frown but not very successfully. Her hearts went out to this poor, sweet man who was made to suffer so much for no real reason. “Um, ok. And it’s only the full moon and not any other phase.” Again he nodded. Mika made a note on the page. “So does it have to be direct full moonlight, or do overcast skies lessen the effects?”
“I feel the effects no matter what the weather conditions, but you’re right. Only in direct full, cloudless moonlight does the transformation complete itself. But when I am indoors and the moon is shining outside, it still affects me. Where are you going with this?” he wondered, now curious. He’d never really thought of this condition scientifically before.
“Well, I was thinking, the moon doesn’t give off light of its own does it? No, it merely reflects the sunlight. The fact that you don’t suffer a transformation when the moon is out during the day signifies that whatever it is is drowned out by the stronger sunlight.” She chewed thoughtfully on the end of her pencil. Lupin watched her intently. He could not help but think how beautiful she looked then, illuminated by the flickering candlelight, her face bright with the promise of scientific discovery.
“It must be some sort of radiation on a wavelength that can only be maximised at light and when the reflection value is at its peak. “ She was more just thinking aloud to herself than Lupin. “Now, whether it’s a visible wavelength or some sort of ultraviolet frequency perhaps, we don’t know. But it’s a good place to start.” Mika looked up at him and smiled hopefully.
Lupin returned her smile. It all seemed to make sense to him. Perhaps it was just a matter of finding the right filter to block out these harmful rays or something after all. Would that it were that simple!
“Anything else?” he asked, no longer reticent but eager to help.
She looked at her notes again. “You mentioned that Snape made you a potion that you had to take that lessened the effects. What exactly is it made of and what do you have to do for it to work?” she asked finally.
Lupin stood and sighed. He paced about the room setting the large model of the solar system floating off through his offices with a magical wave of his hand. “Yes, the Wolfsbane Potion. Nasty stuff. But it helps – sometimes. I have to take it for two weeks prior to the full moon for it to have any effect. It was developed quite recently by the Department of Potions in the Ministry of Magic. I don’t know what’s in it exactly, except the main ingredient of Wolfsbane. Snape would be the one to ask about it, but I doubt he’ll tell you exactly what’s in it. He’s pretty guarded with all his potion formulae.”
Mika grinned. “Oh, you leave Severus to me. I know how to handle him.”
Lupin cast her a questioning look but Mika had gone back to her notes and was writing furiously. He wondered just what she had meant about that. Come to think of it, Snape acted even more peculiar than usual especially when Mika was around or even mentioned. But he mustn’t be suspicious. He was sure there couldn’t be anything going on. How could there be? She seemed to be spending most of her time either with him or that Hermione Granger.
“Right,” Mika said at last, finishing the last of her notes. “I think that’s all I really need to know. I have two avenues to start looking at for now, the moonlight and the potion ingredients. Perhaps something in there can be amplified to increase its counteractive effects.”
Mika looked up. Lupin had moved to the victrola and was putting another record on. She hadn’t even noticed that the first one had stopped. She put her notebook away and hopped off the desktop.
“Remus, are you allright?” she asked concernedly, moving towards him. “I didn’t say anything to upset you did I? I’d never in a million years want to do that…” her voice trailed off as she started to lose herself in his deep blue eyes.
Lupin donned a warm smile. The music began to play. It was a lovely waltz from the early 20th century, one that sounded eerily familiar. Mika was standing beside him now, he could smell what he thought must be her perfume. It smelled like fresh summer jasmine. His heart began to race as he looked down into her questioning violet eyes.
“Of course not,” he said at last. He held out his hands to her. “Shall we?”
Mika smiled and took his hands. Gently they began to dance to the waltz called appropriately enough, ‘Destiny’. Mika was reminded of a similar dance with a certain ship’s officer some 90 years in this past. But the feelings that were stirred within her now were somewhat different than on that fateful voyage.
The planets orbited about them and Mika couldn’t stop herself from smiling as the music carried them seemingly on air around the room. Then she looked down and realised that they were indeed floating on air! Lupin had levitated them off the floor and now they were whirling about the room as if in weightlessness.
“I tend to forget that you guys are wizards and can do magic!” she laughed.
“Hang on!” he warned as he spun her around nearly knocking over a stack of books
They laughed as they spun around the room, trying hard not to cause too much destruction. He spun Mika back towards him but misjudged the speed and she crashed into him knocking them both to the floor in a heap up against the victrola causing the needle to skip to the end of the record with a loud screech. The pile of books gave up its fight and crashed down on top of them. They were laughing so hard that they could barely move, nor did they hear the knock at the door.
“Lupin, I…” came a familiar voice from the entrance as the door creaked open. Snape peered into the candlelit room to see a mountain of robes and books piled in the floor against the victrola. Suddenly it came to life and Lupin’s head appeared.
“Snape, what can I do for you…”
Just then the rest of the pile fell off of Lupin and shifted to reveal Mika’s head, her hair down in her face. She quickly tried to straighten it up and smiled at their guest.
“Obviously I am interrupting something,” Snape practically sneered at them in his usual smarmy voice. He turned to go.
“No, wait, Severus,” Mika called out hurriedly trying to get up. She almost made it the first time but was still rather dizzy from their spin around the room and fell to her bottom again with a loud ‘Ooomph!”
Lupin stood quickly and tugged her to her feet.
Not amused, Snape folded his arms. “Yes?”
“I wanted to ask you a favour,” she began, but Snape cut her off with a wave of his hand.
“Come and see me when you are not so occupied,” he snarled. He then turned and exited with a flourish of his black robes.
Mika and Lupin exchanged a glance. “What?” they both seemed to say.
“He’s been acting awfully strange lately,” the timelady observed. “I’d better go after him. You don’t mind do you?” she asked secretly hoping that he would so she could stay.
“That’s allright,” he sighed. “Perhaps you can sweet talk him into giving you the formula while you’re at it?” he suggested. “Besides, I have some papers to grade.”
Mika bit her lip to keep from outwardly pouting and nodded. “I’ll see you later then, ok?” She turned to go. Then she suddenly turned back and planted a kiss on Lupin’s cheek. “Thank you for a wonderful time.” Lupin blushed and smiled and Mika positively beamed. She gave a wave of her fingers then blew out of the room seeming to Remus to suck all the light out of it as she went.
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