Moonstruck | A Remus Lupin Love Story

Chapter 23 - Goodbyes

An eerie and solemn air hung around the halls of Hogwarts. It was early on Saturday morning, and there wasn't a soul in sight, apart from a broken and deflated Esmeray.  She had snuck out of Remus's quarters before the sun had risen, not wanting to face the aftermath of the Tri Wizard Tournament.

 She had just come from visiting Dumbledore. She had gone to warn him of the vision she saw that night, of the oncoming war, of the multitude of death that awaited them, and of Voldemort's wrath. As she stood there, bruised and beaten, her mind hazy, and with tear stains bleached onto her rosy cheeks, Dumbledore listened to Esmeray's worries. After a moment of pause, Dumbledore simply replied,

'Ah yes, it was about time,'

'What do you mean about time! We have to warn everyone or, or start preparing! Dumbledore, they're all going to die!' Esmeray yelled, contradicting Dumbledore's calm demeanor.

'Calm yourself my dear child, everything will happen as it should, it is not for you to fret about,' Dumbledore smiled. Esmeray was confused beyond belief. She was used to the mystifying ways of her guardian, but this had surpassed her limits. After everything she had witnessed, she was strained with stress about the future, and how they were possibly going to defeat Voldemort. Better yet, she was confused how she knew this. Why was she able to see flashes of the future.

'Albus, w-why was I able to s-see this, t-the future?' she babbled out, loosing herself deeper in the madness. Dumbledore walked over to Esmeray, placing a tender hand on her shoulder.

'My dear, I believe that when Voldemort created you, he bound you with the essence of his being,'

'You mean I'm-'

'Yes, a part him lives within you, and that connection may have allowed you to gaze into his mind, into his desires, into his plans,' he replied. Esmeray didn't think she could suffer any more pain, but her heart broke even more. She was darkness, she knew it. She had felt it all her life. Her power was that of Voldemort's.  A tear escaped her pooling eyes. Dumbledore brought her into an embrace, comforting the child he loved so dearly. As she stayed there in his warmth, another thought popped into her mind.

'Albus, there's something else...' she muttered out. Dumbledore released his arms from around her and rested them on her shoulders, looking into her eyes tentatively.

'Last night, w-when I k-k-killed...well, Voldemort m-made me use my p-power but when I did, it f-felt different...'

'What do you mean dear?'

'W-well, it felt heavy, and empty, and cold. B-but what was worse w-was that I couldn't c-control it, like there was no handle for me to g-grab. And...I can still feel it, now, i-inside of me.' Her words had reduced to a whisper as she looked to Dumbledore. His expression told her nothing. But the confession released the tears she had been holding back.

'I'm so scared Albus,' she wailed, and soon she was once again in his arms. 

'It will be alright my child, it will all be alright,' but as he said those things into her hair, it might have been the first time in her life that she didn't believe him. She had left his office worse than when she had entered and had begun wandering the mourning halls with her head in the clouds. She hadn't wanted to go to her dorm, or the hall or anywhere for that matter. She didn't want to see anyone, afraid of what they might say, or what she might do in return. However, she was so caught up in the chaos within herself, that she walked straight into-

'Harry!' she exclaimed, as she helped the poor boy off the floor.

'I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where - are you ok Harry?' Esmeray questioned as she took in his appearance. Harry's eyes were slightly puffy, and glistening, as if he had just been crying.