☽☽☽
"I THOUGHT YOU'D BE HERE" Athena stated as she walked into the kitchen of Grimmauld place. Remus was sat with a mug of tea in hand and looked up in surprise to see her there.
"Sorry, I didn't want to wake you" he replied with a simple smile.
"Oh it's fine" Athena shrugged, turning her attention to the other figure in the room. Sirius had turned his back when she walked in and was now reading the newspaper in intent. Athena knew he was only pretending to be interested. He hated the Dailey prophet.
"Hi Sirius" Athena muttered bitterly, "have you seen Theodore, I was going to ask him when he wanted to start occlumency"
"He's upstairs" Sirius replied shortly, "attic... with Buckbeak"
"Right thanks" Athena looked to Remus in exasperation before she turned and walked out of the room. Grimmauld place was a lot bigger than it looked on the outside. There were charms all over it concealing it's manor like form. It may have decayed over the years but it was clear it came from fortune.
She approached the first staircase and started to climb when she heard a loud crack. Athena nearly jumped out of her skin as she turned and saw two identical redheads standing at the bottom of the stairs she was now halfway up.
"Trying to give someone a heart attack?" She asked. The twins jumped and looked around to see Athena standing giving her most teacher like glare.
"Sorry Professor" Fred grinned wickedly, "just getting something to eat"
"You don't have to call me professor here" Athena scoffed, "you do know you have working legs?"
"Overrated" George replied, "hey, do you know when Elle is getting here?"
"You'd be better off asking Remus, he's in the kitchen"
"Great, will do" George beamed as he and Fred hurried off towards the downstairs room. Athena laughed to herself before she continued her journey up the stairs. There were many rooms, each with the sound of voices coming behind. She heard Ginny arguing with Ron, Molly talking to herself while cleaning and Bill singing some music lightly to himself.
The only Weasley who wasn't currently staying here or visiting here often was Percy. Athena wasn't entirely sure what the situation with the third Weasley child was but she knew it wasn't good. There had been arguments between him and Arthur, she knew that much. On top of that he seemed to have sided with the ministry in thinking Dumbledore and Harry to be crazy. Athena wasn't completely surprised but it didn't mean she wasn't disappointed.
Percy had always been slightly different from his family but it didn't change that he was a good person, even now as he made the wrong decisions Athena was sure everything would work out.
It felt like climbing a mountain before she made it to the top of the house. The attic was hidden away above what used to be an ornate staircase. However over time it had withered and broken and looked more like a skeleton than anything else.
She was about to start climbing the damaged staircase when she heard voices coming from above her. Athena wasn't one to snoop or listen in to other peoples private conversations however she couldn't help but notice how the voices were raised. Without meaning to she found herself standing entranced by what the voices were saying.
"What was I supposed to do?"
"After everything you put me through!"
"That wasn't me... I told you—"
"You've been out for two years"
"And nothings been easy, I can't just run home and pretend like nothings happened. Fucking hell Charlie I don't have a home, I never had a home!"
Athena was about to turn and walk the other way when the door opened aggressively. She stood stationary feeling as though she'd been caught in the act. Charlie Weasley was standing at the top of the stairs looking completely bewildered to see her there.
"I wasn't... listening" Athena began awkwardly, "I'm just looking for Theodore"
"He's up there" Charlie said simply as he paced down the stairs and passed Athena without so much as a backwards glance.
Athena was frozen for a moment before she pulled herself together and paced up the stairs. The attic was about as dark and gloomy as the rest of the house. There was only one small circular window fogged with years of dust.
Buckbeak lay in the corner of the room huffing quietly to himself. Theodore on the other hand was pacing backwards and forwards, running his hands through his hair angrily. He hadn't noticed Athena was there and yet again she felt that she was intruding.
"Theo?" She murmured lightly.
He stopped pacing and looked up in surprise.
"Sorry... I can talk to you later if that—"
"I'm fine" Theodore forced a smile, "how can I help you?"
"Well it's more how can I help you" Athena began, "Dumbledore seemed pretty keen that you should start your occlumency training as soon as possible so I was just wondering when you'd want to do that?"
"I don't have anything else to do... ever" he said bitterly, "so whenever is best for you I suppose"
"Right" Athena nodded, "Um... how about Wednesdays?"
"Suits me" Theodore replied, "is it difficult?"
"It can be" Athena answered, "I found it hard... it's a weird feeling but when you get it... it just kind of clicks, does that make sense?"
"I suppose so" Theodore shrugged, "thanks for helping Rena, I'd much prefer you teaching me than Snape"
"Oh I'm sure anyone would" Athena laughed, "don't worry about it, I'm happy to help... with anything"
Theodore looked up curiously to Athena from his place in the middle of the room. His eyes still seemed vacant and it didn't take a genius to figure out he was thinking about something else.
"If you ever want to talk" she began cautiously.
"Thanks but I'm fine, really" Theodore stated simply. Athena decided it was best that she didn't pry anymore. It was clear his problems were none of her business and she respected that.
"I'll see you later then" Athena waved as she made her way back down the staircase. She couldn't help but be intrigued by the argument she'd overheard. She tried to push it to the back of her mind as she paced down the many flights of stairs and back into the kitchen.
Remus was nearly finished his tea now and had his head rested against his hand as he looked in a bored manner towards Sirius who was using all his energy to complain about Dumbledore and the order. Usually, Athena would have joined in. Today however she decided it best to take a seat and watch from afar.
She understood Sirius' frustrations over the fact that he couldn't help out in the order at all. It seemed everyone was out doing something. Even Theodore had a purpose despite being in the same predicament as Sirius. However the man had been pushed to the side. It must be aggravating considering he was one of the best in the first war. Times had changed but Sirius couldn't wrap his head around that.
He was halfway through explaining why Dumbledore was too old to be leading the order when a piercing shriek ripped through the house. Athena clamped her hands over her ears as Sirius swore loudly in anger.
"Who the hell!—"
Sirius' words were cut off by the noise stopping almost instantly. His voice faltered just as he was on his way to the door to shut the woman up for the hundredth time that day. Remus and Athena exchanged a curious glance. So far Sirius had been the only one able to get Mrs Black to be quiet.
They heard the echoing of footsteps approaching the door, all of them watching in intent, wondering who had let themselves into the house and how they had managed it.
The door flew open and there she stood.
"She's a loud bitch isn't she?" Kennedy asked causally as she stepped into the room. All three of them stared at her in wonder as she pulled out a seat and lazily fell into it.
"This place is guarded, how the hell did you?—"
"Dumbledore gave me the location" Kennedy answered, "obviously, he told me they were getting the order back together. How exciting!" She added the last part in sarcasm as she gazed around the room, "this place is charming".
"But you left" Sirius pointed out, "you ran away"
"Ran away?" Kennedy scoffed, "I don't runaway from anything"
"Athena said you weren't coming back" Sirius added defensively.
"That's not what I said actually" Athena murmured under her breath, trying to avoid engaging in another argument with Sirius.
"Ok I left" Kennedy began with a long sigh, "and yes I wasn't planning on coming back but when I... arrived back home I just... I couldn't leave, not when Voldemort is back and... I've spent a long time hiding away from everyone and I don't want to do that anymore"
"Why did you leave in the first place?" Sirius asked.
Kennedy looked to Athena and for once Rena noticed that she was nervous. She gave her a smile that she hoped would convey support as she watched Kennedy turn back to Sirius.
"There's a lot you don't know... about what happened to me these past fifteen years"
"We can go—" Remus interrupted awkward, evidently feeling their presence wasn't needed.
"No it's fine" Kennedy shook her head.
"What is it?" Sirius asked bitterly, trying to avoid Kennedy's eyes, "did you meet someone else?"
"What?" Kennedy frowned, "no... no that's not what this is at all"
The silence was broken by Kennedy laughing. All of them turned to her in confusion as she broken into sudden laughter. Sirius seemed affronted by this as he looked up from his hands and glared at her.
"This isn't funny" he snapped, "what was I supposed to think"
"I was on the run from the ministry how the hell was I supposed to meet someone else?" She asked with a small scoff, "no it's a hell of a lot worse than that"
"Worse?" Sirius looked at her in exasperation, "can you please explain what's going on?"
"I got bitten by Fenrir Greyback" Kennedy stated simply, pulling back her turtleneck to reveal the large bite mark on her neck. This accompanied with the scars on her face seemed to tell the entire story.
"You said the scars were from—"
"A fox that attacked me when I was in my animagus form, yes Sirius I'm perfectly aware of what I said I was lying"
"You're a werewolf?" He asked in a shaky voice, "well that's ok... I'm not anti werewolf, I've been friends with Remus since 1971"
"Glad to be of service" Remus nodded properly.
"Yes I know you're not anti werewolf" Kennedy rolled her eyes, "I'd kill you if you were... it's... I don't know how to say it"
"Come on it can't be that bad" Sirius sighed, "look being a werewolf isn't easy but... Remus can help you... it's not as if you're dying"
The silence was so thick it could have been cut with a knife. Remus tensed up and Athena let out a small and barely noticeable whimper. Kennedy stood still as a statue staring at Sirius who's grin was slowly fading as he looked around the room.
"That's the part where you laugh, it's a joke... people use it as a joke... it's not as though you're dying... and then people laugh"
"Yes I got that" Kennedy muttered, "the thing is Sirius, I am dying"
"What?" Sirius' expression faded completely as he stared at her, "what do you mean you're dying, how are you dying?"
"Blood toxicity" Kennedy explained, "its a rare side effect of being bitten by a werewolf"
"Well what's the cure?" Sirius asked, "I have money, loads of it, look we can sort this... is it because you're on the run? Kenny there's ways round—"
"When it first happened I booked myself into St Mungo's and they told me I'd have an average of ten years"
"Only ten years?" Sirius stumbled slightly as he held onto a chair for support.
"Ten years if I stayed in the hospital and let them have me under constant supervision" Kennedy added weakly.
"But you're not in the hospital" Sirius pointed out.
"No... no I wasn't going to spend the rest of my life in a bed so they could monitor how my blood tore me apart"
"But what does that mean?" Sirius asked wildly, "how long does that give you?"
"Maximum... five years but the average is three"
She'd left that part out when she'd told Athena. The average is three. Suddenly the entire situation seemed even more crushing. Athena barely registered as Sirius dropped into the seat and held his head in his hands. He was shaking slightly, repeating the same words over and over again.
"This can't be right"
"I'm sorry Sirius" Kennedy stated, so calm it was as though this hadn't effected her, "it's why I ran away. I didn't want to burden you all with this, I didn't want for you to have to... see me die"
"How will it end?" Sirius asked, "will you know? How does it kill you?"
"It'll shut down my organs at some point when the blood gets toxic enough... it'll stop my heart quickly they said... won't take long when it starts"
"There must be something they can do!" Sirius exclaimed, "we live in a world of magic for fucks sake"
"There isn't" Kennedy shook her head, "I'm sorry, you'll just have to accept it... there's nothing anyone can do. In five years I won't be here and that's final"
"How the hell am I meant to accept that?" Sirius asked angrily, "I just got you back goddammit and now... I'm going to lose you all over again"
"I'm sorry—"
"The hospital... it'll give you longer—"
"I told you, I'm not staying in that place. That's even less of a life than I have here. I don't care about how long I have to live but I do care how I live it and I won't be spending it in some bed surrounded by sick people whining that they don't want to die. Everyone dies, I'm not special"
"I need... air" Sirius muttered as he stood up and walked out of the kitchen.
Kennedy stood staring forwards for a moment as though he was still there.
"He'll come to terms with it" Athena spoke up lightly, "I know right now it seems that—"
"So what's the order doing then?" Kennedy interrupted.
"What?" Remus frowned.
"What's the plan?" She continued, "against Voldemort, fill me in, I'm not fighting this war with no information"
Remus and Athena exchanged a worried glance as Kennedy sat down opposite them. She seemed so calm and composed for someone who had just told their husband their time was limited. However if she wanted to live in denial, Athena wasn't going to stop her. She supposed at some point, everything would come to an end.
☽☽☽
A/n
Words - 2528
Published - 30th June 2021
My wifi is so bad