XXXIV: New Year’s Solution

Chapter XXXIV: New Year's Solution

The lights were dimmed in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. Dumbledore, Charis and Morgana were sitting at the table, each holding onto a cup of tea, each absorbed in their own thoughts. They had learned a lot over the last couple of hours, yet very little seemed to make sense. Kreacher, the house elf, was in his cupboard, muttering and sniffling.

The clock struck nine.

'What a way to spend New Year's Eve,' Morgana sighed. She and Charis had been at Grimmauld place since three o'clock, and as far as she was concerned, the whole afternoon had been a complete waste of time. After all their expectations, Kreacher had mumbled incoherently about things which, as far as she was concerned, had no relevance whatsoever.

Dumbledore's lips quirked, and his blue eyes twinkled over his half-moon glasses. 'This has been a very valuable few hours. I don't think either of you can appreciate just how valuable.'

'What have we learnt, really?' Morgana retorted, somewhat impatiently. 'The elf didn't make much sense. I think he really has lost his mind.'

'I don't understand why Regulus would have a locket, or why that is so important,' Charis added. 'And why would he hide it in a cave?'

'And how can a locket be the key to bring down The Da... You-Know-Who?'

Dumbledore put down his cup and looked intently at the two young witches. Of course, they would have questions. Sadly, they were not questions he was able to answer just yet.

'These questions are nothing that you two need to worry about. You have cracked the code of the prophecy, you have understood that it is Kreacher who held the answers to the questions only Charis could ask. Leave it to me to put together the pieces of the puzzle. After all, I am not only much more experienced but also much older and, I daresay, wiser than the both of you together.'

Morgana raised a characteristic eyebrow. 'So, that's it, is it? We solve the prophecy, and you're not going to tell us what it even means?'

Charis shot her friend a "shut up!" kind of look, but Dumbledore merely smiled benignly.

'My dear Morgana, there are some things that are too dangerous for either of you to know. You have both been through enough. Let me worry about the prophecy now.'

Morgana felt disgruntled at this and scowled. Meanwhile, Charis, who had been pondering thoughtfully, tried a different approach.

'Kreacher said that Regulus died trying to obtain You-Know-Who's locket from the cave,' she started carefully. 'Lockets usually have something inside them... Maybe there is something inside the locket which is the key to bringing him down?'

Dumbledore's lips quirked once again.

'Of course, it would take a Ravenclaw to make that kind of deductive leap. Yes, one could infer that. However, I will ask you once again not to spend any more time thinking about this.'

Morgana watched the old wizard closely, and Dumbledore could see wariness in her icy blue eyes.

'It is not that I do not trust you, far from it,' he tried to appease her. 'Your services to the Order have been immeasurable in such a short time. And that goes for both of you. But now, I am afraid, you are once more in danger.'

He gave both girls meaningful looks, steepling his fingers as his elbows rested on the old oak table.

'You are now keepers of invaluable information. Information that may very well decide on the outcome of the war. Should the other side become aware of that, they will stop at nothing to make you talk. Therefore, the safest thing would be for you to not remember what you've learnt here today.'

Morgana defiantly crossed her arms. 'Are you planning to Obliviate us?'

Dumbledore shook his head.

'If I did not trust or respect you, then Obliviation would be a natural response,' he answered mildly. 'But I do trust and respect you. Which is why I am seeking your permission to take a certain, special vow with me.'

Morgana had to stop herself from snorting. As if the old wizard ever sought permission to do anything. He was manipulative enough to make Salazar Slytherin proud. When he was done talking, Charis and herself would be convinced that they willingly took the vow he proposed to them. Dumbledore went on.

'Let me reiterate again,' Dumbledore went on. 'What we have discovered tonight is crucial. It would be very damaging if anyone else knew what we know and let it slip to the other side. You are in grave danger. So, please, I beg of you: take a vow with me to keep this information safe. And I swear Regulus' death will not be in vain.'

Charis was the first to speak.

'I trust you, Albus. And if you think that this vow is best for everyone involved, I am willing to take it.'

Dumbledore looked expectantly at Morgana.

'As if there really were a choice,' she muttered.

'Do you not trust me, Morgana?' Dumbledore's tone was still light, but there was a steely edge to it this time. Their eyes met, and just like so many times before, Morgana had the uncanny feeling that Dumbledore could read her every thought.

'I trust you to have the means to bring the Dark Lord down,' she replied in the end, weighing her words carefully.

Dumbledore inclined his head. 'And that is good enough for me.'

Dumbledore was the one in charge, grabbing hold of Morgana's right wrist and instructing her to hold on to Charis', who in her turn was to hold on to Dumbledore's. Now they were all three linked, equal and part of a whole, and when Dumbledore spoke the ancient words, a fiery rope bound their hands, preventing them from letting go.

'When the rope dissolves and we let go of each other, neither of you will be able to convey what you have learnt here today,' Dumbledore explained. 'You will have a faint memory of our conversation with Kreacher, but trying to remember the details will be like trying to remember a dream. The harder you try, the further will it drift away. And unless we three stand here once more, with our hands entwined, you will never be able to remember.'

He turned his head and focused on the blonde witch on his right.

'Are you, Charis Byrne, willing to take this vow that will keep our secret safe as well as yourself?' he asked sombrely.

'I am,' Charis replied, her voice not more than a whisper yet still perfectly clear.

'And are you, Morgana Belakane, willing to do the same?' Dumbledore asked the redhead to his left. He knew she would agree now that Charis had made vow. She wouldn't do it for him, not the Order, not even for her own sake. But she would do it for Charis.

'I am willing,' Morgana replied.

'So mote it be.'

Dumbledore was the first to let go when the rope had dissolved, leaving the girls standing with their hands still linked and slightly puzzled looks on their faces. The charm had worked. They didn't remember anything, not even the ritual itself. And down the hall, the clock struck ten.

'Still enough time to celebrate the New Year,' he said lightly after glancing at the old clock on the mantel piece. 'You know, I heard Rosmerta was holding her annual party at the Three Broomsticks this evening...'

Morgana rubbed her wrist and gave Dumbledore a questioning look. She was trying to remember the events of the afternoon, Dumbledore could see that clearly. But the more she tried, the harder it became, just as he had intended.

'I think both of you deserve to celebrate solving the prophecy and advancing the war against Voldemort,' he said. There was no harm in assuring the girls that they had helped him a great deal this afternoon. On the contrary. Unless he wanted them to ruminate all night, he had to make sure they understood that they had told him all they knew about the meaning of the prophecy.

'Yes, the Three Broomsticks is the place to be tonight. Who knows, maybe you will catch up with an old acquaintance or two.'

He stroked his beard and hummed.

'But you will need something nice to wear. May I?'

He pulled out his wand and after a moment of careful consideration, he gifted the girls with the finest of gowns, one sapphire blue and the other emerald green, both flattering the girls' shapes.

Charis spun around, admiring the fabric. 'Wow, this is beautiful! Thank you, Albus!'

Morgana plucked at her dress, but however sick she was of getting her dresses chosen by others, even she had to agree that Dumbledore had great taste and had chosen each dress perfectly.

'Off you go, now,' he said cheerfully. 'I would love to lead you to the dance floor, but I am afraid my old bones are craving nothing more than a nice warm bath and bed. And I think the last dance of the year should be shared with someone close to your heart. Don't you think?'

Once again, his blue eyes twinkled behind the crescent-shaped spectacles, and Charis smiled at him. 'Goodnight, Albus. And Happy New Year!'

'Happy New Year to you both,' Dumbledore replied, watching the two young witches leave the room, hoping that, by the end of the night, they would both see what he had seen all along.

* * *

'Odgen's. Make it a double.'

Rosmerta poured the drink and handed it to the dark wizard, but her blazing smile didn't seem to do anything to enhance his mood. In fact, his features seemed to darken.

'Why are you doing this to yourself, Severus?' she asked bravely. 'You don't like the music, you don't seem to be in a festive mood, and still you're here. Certainly, a man like you has more enjoyable things to do on New Year's Eve.'

Snape raised a sardonic eyebrow and sipped at his whisky before replying.

'I am not here for pleasure, Rosmerta. However, quite a few Hogwarts students are, and the headmaster thought it wise for someone to keep an eye on them.'

'Well, you are certainly the man for the job,' Rosmerta pointed out. Hooch and Flitwick had been on chaperone duty for the first half of the evening, and everyone had been enjoying themselves just fine. But since Snape had arrived, the students seemed to be more wary. No wonder, really. A year ago, he had blasted apart a snogging couple with a flick of his wand. He had never even given them a warning.

'Now, I'll leave the bottle out for you,' Rosmerta informed Snape. 'Help yourself while I see to that there is still enough food to go around.'

She bustled off, suspending overhead with her wand a huge tray filled with pigs in blankets and other tasty treats, and Snape returned his attention to the glass he was holding in his hand. If he were honest, he'd rather be having a cup of tea by the fireplace in his study, but as he was forced to attend this odious party, Odgen's seemed to be the better choice. He had no desire to talk to anyone, and him holding on to a glass of whisky was certainly to hold anyone at bay. No one in their right mind would want to approach the grumpy Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher when he was intoxicated. What Snape at this point didn't know, however, that his behaviour was even repelling two young witches whom he would not have minded talking to at all.

'Classical Snape behaviour, isn't it? Standing at the bar, scowling at a bottle of booze and threatening to bite the head off anyone who comes too close.'

At her friend's comment, Charis craned her neck to get a better look. She had seen Snape enter the pub a few minutes ago but then lost sight of him. The pub was crowded this New Year's Eve, and Snape had certainly not seen either her or Morgana. In fact, very few people had so far taken notice of them, as they were sitting in a secluded booth as far away from the dance floor as one could get. They had lots to talk about before they could even consider engaging in any kind of frivolities.

'It's a bit sad, don't you think? Him standing there all alone with no one to talk to,' Charis pointed out. 'Wonder if he spent Christmas on his own as well.'

She knew that Snape was not of the social kind, but the thought of him having spent the holidays alone made her sad, nevertheless.

'He wasn't here, anyway,' Morgana informed her.

'How do you know?' Charis wondered.

'I met Tonks for drinks here before she and Remus went to celebrate Christmas with the Weasleys. And then I stayed here and enjoyed Rosmerta's turkey.'

'Next year, you're coming to Somerset with me!' Charis announced. 'Mum's not famous for her cooking, but at least you won't have to be alone.'

Morgana smiled. She didn't mind spending the holidays on her own, but the thought of spending the next with Charis made her feel all warm inside.

'I sure would have liked to have you around this year,' Charis continued, dropping her voice to a whisper. 'Having solved the prophecy and having to wait for a whole week before we could tell Dumbledore... Gah! I feared I'd go crazy! Seriously, if I would have had to wait one more day...'

'Hope it was worth the wait,' Morgana said, absentmindedly rubbing her wrist. 'Hope Dumbledore will be able to put to use everything we've told him.'

'Feels strange not to remember anything from this afternoon, doesn't it?' Charis pointed out. 'I guess that's yet another thing that will do my head in in due time!'

The girls laughed heartily, and Charis emptied her glass of wine.

'Now, at the risk of being hexed into the next year just for asking... Would you like to dance with me? It's New Year's Eve, after all, and the music is great.'

She started grooving to the beat, and Morgana put down her glass of pumpkin juice, leaning back in her chair. She hated dancing, always had and always would, but for Charis, she'd make an exception.

'No shape throwing,' she demanded, however, and Charis promised with a smile. Yet when they had chosen a spot on the dance floor, the rhythms changed, and the song that was playing now was more suitable for loving couples than a pair of best friends. But to Charis' surprise, Morgana didn't withdraw. Instead, she pulled the blonde witch closer, ignoring the wolf whistles and lewd comments from some of the teenage boys and young men in the pub. Charis had asked her to dance, and now she would dance, no matter which song that was playing.

'Look at those two,' Rosmerta exclaimed in a delighted tone as she returned to the bar, putting down the now empty tray. 'They are adorable! Best friends forever, I'm sure.'

But Snape didn't need to turn around to see. He had caught sight of his girls in the mirror above the bar the moment they had stepped onto the dance floor, and now he was watching their every move, secretly and furtively, almost hoping that the song would never end. He enjoyed watching them, moving in harmony and seemingly so comfortable in each other's arms. But the song did end eventually, and as the DJ announced that midnight was only a few minutes away and that everyone should go outside to see the fireworks, the girls broke apart, Charis with flushed cheeks and Morgana with her eyes firmly on the tip of her shoes.

'Shall we go outside to see the fireworks as well?' Charis asked after a few moments of awkward silence. 'It's getting quite hot in here anyway.'

Without waiting for an answer, she took Morgana by the hand, and the two witches made their way outside along with everyone else, neither realising that Snape was watching them intently from his place at the bar, nor that he had sneaked up the stairs when everyone else was filing out the door. He had no desire to stand in the cold among the crowd, pretending that he liked the fireworks or the free champagne Rosmerta was offering. He'd much rather watch his girls from one of the windows on the upper floor. They needn't know that he was there.

'Five, four, three, two, one. Happy New Year!'

Nineteen ninety-seven was greeted with cheerful shouts, clinking glasses and kisses on the cheeks, but while everyone else showed their admiration for the fireworks with loud ooohs and aaahs, Morgana and Charis stood quite still, not caring about the fiery sparkles at all. For they, too, had shared a kiss, a timid kiss on the lips of which neither of them knew who had initiated it. And now they stood gazing into each other's eyes, more or less unaware of the world around them.

'Happy New Year, Star Sister,' Charis breathed.

'Happy New Year to you, too.'

Charis smiled shyly and brushed a strand of hair from Morgana's face. Her fingers lingered on her cheek, and Morgana turned her head slightly, placing a tender kiss on her friend's wrist.

'Your lips are trembling,' Charis whispered. 'Are you cold?'

'No, I'm not.'

Morgana's blue eyes sparkled as she took hold of Charis' hand and brought it to her mouth, lovingly kissing each of her tiny fingers, and as she pulled the blonde witch closer, Charis was trembling as much as Morgana's lips had moments earlier.

'Let me warm you,' Morgana suggested, wrapping her arms around her friend, even though she was fully aware that Charis wasn't freezing. For when she kissed Charis' neck, her skin was just as hot as the breath that tickled her ear.

Snape watched, mesmerised. He had watched his girls exchanging caresses before, in the privacy of their own bedroom. But this was different. Here they were, standing amongst the crowd outside the Three Broomsticks yet seemingly unaware of the people around them. Or maybe they chose not to care. All that mattered were themselves.

'Let's go back inside,' Morgana whispered as the crowd started singing "Auld Lang Syne" and pulled Charis by the hand. 'I think I owe you a dance.'

On the abandoned dance floor, they started swaying to a tune only they could hear. Eyes fluttered shut, fingers entwined in long hair, and lips carefully caressed soft white skin. And by the time the crowd returned to the pub, the girls had made their way upstairs, to celebrate the start of the new year with the ones they truly loved.