Arrangments

Author Notes:

I have set up a Patreon page where you can follow my story, which is divided into five chapters. Instead of releasing all the updates at once, I will be posting one chapter each week. patreon.com/Chartso_

Their Hogwarts letters arrived on the Twentieth of August. A single great owl bustled into the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. Mrs. Weasley rose, claimed the six letters the owl carried, and proceeded to hand them out. The Twins took theirs with bemused looks, setting them down and returning their attention to the breakfast of rashers and toast their mother had cooked up. Ginny received hers next and opened it with a finger as she chewed on one of the sausages cooked up especially for her. Edelweiss noticed that Ron's letter and Hermione's letter were a bit misshapen upon being handed over. When prefect badges came tumbling out, gold with a crimson lion, Edelweiss was unsurprised. She was disappointed McGonagall chose Ron over Dean Thomas, but then the muggleborn boy did not have the same influence her friend possessed. Perhaps the professor thought Ron would grow up and be a good influence this year.

Edelweiss thought McGonagall was being foolish. She expected Ron to be more willing to abuse his authority as prefect than to handle it appropriately. Perhaps he would surprise her and act appropriately.

"Another prefect!" shouted Mrs. Weasley, all but smothering Ron as she hugged him tight. "One more prefect in the family! Oh, that's everyone so far." She turned to a nervous Ginny with a beaming smile. "I do hope you'll continue the family tradition next year, dear."

The sole Weasley daughter smiled awkwardly; it was the look of a daughter burdened with unwanted and unwarranted expectations. A glance at the Twins revealed nothing of their feelings; though there was a strong chance they would create excessive trouble being openly and blatantly forgotten. They cared not for authority and academics, yet the Twins possessed a pride of their own.

Hermione, frowning as she glanced around, asked, "What about Fred and George? They were never made prefect."

Mrs. Weasley glanced at the Twins, who looked up with beaming grins, before turning back to Hermione with a condescending, if apologetic, expression. "It was obvious they would never be named prefect before they started at Hogwarts. Arthur and I knew McGonagall and the Headmaster would pass them over in favor of more responsible prefect selections. We made our peace with it long ago."

Edelweiss bit her tongue at Hermione's dark scowl. It would be all too easy to say something and spark hostility among all present. And while she might thrive off the hostility, now that she was pursuing a future as a Sith Lord, it would be unwise to spark it so unnecessarily.

Yet it would be all too easy, she thought, glancing between Mrs. Weasley and Hermione. They in particular would be easy to thrust into a pointless, bitter argument. I could do it with a single sentence and enjoy the show—and then suffer the consequences. One of them will recognize my role in that affair and be quite cross over it.

Her attention returned to her Hogwarts letter. She opened the envelope and withdrew the parchment within. There was nothing remarkable about its contents. The letter had not changed since her second year when the welcoming language was replaced with a reminder about term and little else. Edelweiss also found a small slip, listing three titles for the upcoming term: The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5 and Advanced Transfiguration, both written by the same person as past copies for Flitwick's and McGonagall's classes; and the new text for Defense Against the Dark Artes, Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard.

"Another new professor," Hermione muttered, resignation already filling her. She turned to Mrs. Weasley. "When will we go to Diagon Alley?"

The matriarch glanced at her husband, who had just joined them for breakfast. He only shrugged, as though he did not wish to get involved. "The Headmaster and I have agreed that it's too dangerous to take all of you to Diagon this year," Mrs. Weasley said calmly. "I can do all the shopping, though I will need the keys to your vaults, girls."

"No," said Edelweiss. "I will be going to Diagon Alley."

"It's not safe!" protested Mrs. Weasley.

"When have I ever been safe? Every year at Hogwarts my life has been in danger. Every year, there was some incident where I should have died. But did I? No! I survived! Have you faced down Voldemort?" Everyone at the table flinched, including Mrs. Weasley. "Look at yourselves! You flinch at the utterance of the name he adopted! He was not born with that bloody name! He told me himself, and took it because it made him powerful!"

"That doesn't—"

"It does matter! And do not think I have ever backed away from a confrontation with him! When he went after the Philosopher's Stone, I stopped him! When he found a way to possess Ginny and set a basilisk on the innocent of Hogwarts, I stopped him! When he manipulated the Triwizard Tournament to ensure his return, who faced him? Who dueled him to a standstill? It. Was. Me!"

Edelweiss blinked and realized she had risen to her feet, panting slightly. A bead of blood trickled to her knuckles, for her nails punched through her palm's skin from how tightly they balled up. The sides of her fists ached from pounding against the table. Everyone stared at her, shocked and awed by her words. Mr. Weasley had a hint of pride in his gaze. For a moment, it was as though she was one of his children and not just a family friend.

It was as though she belonged.

Mrs. Weasley's face suddenly tightened like a dried prune. Her fists perched upon her hips. Her mouth opened as her face burned with indignation.

"You will take me with you, Mrs. Weasley," Edelweiss said, allowing the Force to fill her. She tried to thread her power into a needlepoint and poked it toward the witch before her. "I am coming with you to Diagon Alley, regardless of what you or Dumbledore might want."

Mrs. Weasley's eyes unfocused and her lips drew up and down. Yet before she could speak as Dudley had, she blinked. Mrs. Weasley then shook her head, banishing Edelweiss's influence. She frowned, no doubt confused by the influx of ideas not her own into her mind.

"I… I will speak with Albus about your request, dear, but don't expect him to agree," Mrs. Weasley said awkwardly. "But only for you, Edelweiss."

Hermione was the only one who did not groan.

Before Edelweiss could sit down, Mr. Weasley rose and asked, "Could we speak privately, Edie? It's about an important matter."

Edelweiss frowned. She reached out with the Force, keeping her probe needle thin once more, and felt out Mr. Weasley's thoughts and feelings. He blinked and stared at her funnily for a few seconds. She withdrew her probe. He shook his head and rubbed his temple. Her heart soared as he left the dining room without confronting her.

I escaped his notice.

She followed him and was surprised when he guided her away from the dining room and into the family room with the massive family tree.

"What did you wish to speak about?" asked Edelweiss, crossing the room to one of the large, padded chairs. She slumped into it, crossing her legs as she stared at Mr. Weasley.

"Amelia Bones spoke with me yesterday about something that happened when you were still in Surrey," began Mr. Weasley, shifting with an awkward air. Edelweiss already knew what he would say, but she wondered what this 'Amelia Bones' thought. Other than the woman's relation to Susan Bones, she knew nothing of whoever this was. "She wishes for you to come in and provide a statement. Otherwise, she may have to issue a warrant, and with the aurors who come in and out of this house—"

"I won't have an option either way," she replied bitterly. "Fancy that. Sirius will be unmolested by them, yes?"

"That's a… different issue."

She nearly scoffed. Instead, she settled for a weak, frustrated huff. Mr. Weasley's face pinched at the sound. "You mean Dumbledore is unwilling to pull strings on my behalf or his."

Mr. Weasley frowned. "Have you not read the paper this summer?"

Edelweiss rolled her eyes as she muttered, "Why care for a gossip rag when they never tell the truth?" She sighed before adding quite serious, "I have not been reading the Daily Prophet. I assume they've slandered Dumbledore, and thus myself by proxy?"

"Yes," Mr. Weasley said, looking away. "They've gone after Dumbledore more than you, but they don't hesitate to include you in a story a few times a week. They aim to present you as a lunatic."

She flared her nostrils, envisioning what the office of the Daily Prophet would look like once she was finished with them. It was a dark, heady thought; Edelweiss released it before she did something foolish like acting upon her hatred too early. There were better ways to bring the national paper to heel.

"What of Skeeter? Surely she takes delight in smearing me at will?"

"She's gone quiet. Nobody knows where she went to after the Tournament. It's almost as if someone learned whatever dirty secret—"

Edelweiss kept her eyes open as she tuned out whatever else Mr. Weasley had to say. She would agree to speak with Amelia Bones, for that appeared to be the best way of clearing her name. Perhaps there could be some way to convince the woman Voldemort had returned and get something useful from the Ministry of Magic.

Yet she was troubled by what Mr. Weasley said about Rita Skeeter. The woman had been her greatest frustration outside of the Tasks the prior year, using the paper as her bully pulpit. That, more than anything, had ruined what little respect Edelweiss had for the Prophet. That they continued to attack her even without Skeeter was strange. Curious, even.

"When does Madam Bones wish to speak with me?" asked Edelweiss, cutting off whatever the Weasley patriarch was saying. "I assume she wishes to speak as soon as possible."

Mr. Weasley pursed his lips momentarily, reminding Edelweiss annoyingly of his wife. Seconds trickled by before he sighed and said, "I would need to get Dumbledore's approval—"

"Is the Ministry that dangerous? Does Voldemort have agents in every department, waiting for me to bumble in so they might kidnap me, so they can deliver me to their false lord? Or does Dumbledore think he can control my every movement because as far as he's concerned I'm just a child?"

"The Ministry nearly fell to You-Know-Who during the previous war," said Mr. Weasley, his green eyes filled with disappointment. Edelweiss swallowed weakly, hating that the expression still affected her. "With Lucius Malfoy so close to the Minister, Dumbledore is concerned they might weaponize the Ministry against you."

"Just like how the paper has turned against him?"

Mr. Weasley's pinched expression answered her question.

Edelweiss rose to her feet and started for the door. She stopped two steps from the door, glanced over her shoulder, and said, "Let Dumbledore know I would love to meet with Amelia Bones sooner than later. I will leave scheduling said meeting to you two."

Edelweiss then left, leaving Mr. Weasley behind with his thoughts.

Four days later, Edelweiss withdrew from a deep meditation on the nature of the dark side. She blinked and wondered for a moment why she had withdrawn from her meditation before suddenly sensing a mighty magical signature entering the house. Her master had taught her how to sense others; repeatedly she had reached out, identify what she felt and their power, before carefully drawing back and reporting to her master all she had sensed. So far, the entire house remained confused by what they felt, but none had yet to piece together her disappearances and those incidents.

Through her power, Edelweiss discovered that she could use Grimmauld Place's wards to further her reach and control. While the Force protected her from being readily identified, the wards ensured a stronger sense of place for all within its walls. She even noticed when Order members came and went, as infrequent as it was. Grimmauld was being used primarily as a residence this summer, despite how the Weasley adults and Sirius referred to it as "Headquarters" in passing.

And so her greatest test was coming to pass. Whether or not Dumbledore noticed her sensing his arrival would tell Edelweiss how far she had already come.

She headed downstairs, straightening her black robe and smoothing it out. While cleaning Grimmauld Place, they discovered a guest room, well-preserved and filled with dresses and robes from witches past. Only a few dresses and none of the robes were cursed, so Ginny and Edelweiss pillaged the stash to add to their flagging wardrobes. Hermione had sniffed at their actions, yet forty minutes later questioned Sirius about the library his family had to possess.

Edelweiss followed her senses to the dining room, where she found Dumbledore sitting at the head of the table. The Weasleys—Arthur, Molly, the Twins, Ron, and Ginny—sat to his left, while Sirius, Hermione, Remus, and a frustrated Snape sat on the right. She had not sensed Remus, but then he came and went so often that his signature was about as familiar as the Weasleys.

Snape sat nearest to her. He sneered at her and then turned to Dumbledore. "Your prediction was right, Albus. The girl showed."

The Headmaster beamed at the praise. His twinkling eyes peered past his half-moon spectacles to meet Edelweiss's cold stare. "I had a feeling she would arrive as I said. I enjoy witnessing a prediction come true."

"A prediction," Edelweiss said flatly. She glanced around the table and noted the awkward and estranged expressions. "Is there a reason we're all here? I'm surprised you've allowed the children to be present, Headmaster."

Mrs. Weasley's face flushed with fury. Before she could begin shouting though, Dumbledore cleared his throat. She turned to him, her face caught up in several struggling expressions. Edelweiss found the sight hilarious; yet should she laugh, the fragile goodwill between her and Mrs. Weasley would fall apart.

And so she added, "Or would this conversation be better handled in private?"

"I fear so, Miss Potter." Dumbledore rose to his feet, even as most of the table looked ready to burst out with protests. Chief among them were her friends, who must have been appeased by being allowed at the table for an important conversation. It was shameful how childish they were being, but then she could not think of a time when the adults around them set a proper example. Perhaps only Mr. Weasley had, once upon a time.

"Enough," said Edelweiss. Her friends went silent. "If anything is said that needs to be relayed, then I shall let you know."

Dumbledore stared at her as though seeing her for the first time. The adults, for their part, merely stared at her with shocked expressions. She had done her best to mask her increasingly hostile temperament. It seemed the dark side of the Force influenced its practitioners so. Edelweiss did not mind the change, but she had to restrain her new nature. Allowing its darker potency through would give those around her cause for alarm—and they maintained just enough power over her person to cause trouble.

Edelweiss fought down her anger. Weakened restraint threatened her position. Her training was incomplete, and she needed to avoid revealing her other powers. She was still a girl; yes, she had been the one to defeat the Dark Lord, but she was still a girl. A child.

And Dumbledore? He defeated Grindelwald. He was the one Voldemort feared. His power had not diminished yet.

"Miss Potter is right. If there is anything that needs to be explained, we will be open about it."

"So that's it?" snarled Snape. "Potter has one little tantrum and you allow her to have her way?"

"Potter is standing right here," Edelweiss growled. "And she is more important to his war than you are, spy. I wonder which master are you truly loyal to."

The potion master's jaw clenched tightly as he glowered at Edelweiss. Regardless of what he said about her in the past, she had never dared talk back to him while at Hogwarts. She basked in the face of his anger and frustration; let him hate her. Nothing would change between them.

"Now, now, Severus," said Dumbledore, passive as always. "Miss Potter has a right to her privacy, especially with what I wish to speak with her about. Should she agree, I will—"

"He gets to know nothing," Edelweiss declared. "I don't care what he does on your behalf, Headmaster. I do not trust him. I am tired of his silly boyhood grudge blinding him to the truth: I am not my father. I do not know James Potter beyond a few tales and a memory that painted him as being akin to Draco Malfoy and not myself."

In a blink, Snape drew his wand and aimed it at her. She stared at him, trying to not grasp for the Force. Sirius rose to his feet, pointing his wand Snape's way.

"Severus," Dumbledore said with steel in his voice. "Lower your wand. We are among friends."

Snape glowered at Dumbledore as though he would happily murder the old man. And yet he did as instructed. He sneered once more at Edelweiss before pushing past her, his cloak fluttering in his wake as he made for an exit.

"I need to learn how he does that," she whispered with a faint shred of envy. Seconds later, she felt his departure from Grimmauld Place. Edelweiss frowned as she wondered how she could have missed the man. His signature was as foul and greasy as him.

Dumbledore rose to his feet and joined her at the threshold. "Lead the way, Miss Potter," he said. She blinked; surprised he would grant her any tactical advantage. Edelweiss tried to shake the impulse to think of this encounter as a battle, but it was inevitable. There was no other way for her.

They went to the family room, where she had all so recently spoken with Mr. Weasley. It was unchanged, despite the days of inactivity that passed. It seems Kreacher can be put to some good use after all.

"Arthur informed me of your desire to meet with Amelia Bones and discuss the recent incident before you came here," Dumbledore began. "I understand your desire to clear your name. In most cases, I would support your endeavor. However, I am concerned that Minister Fudge will learn of your visit and use it as an opportunity to level criminal charges against you."

"He is welcome to try. But he will fail." Edelweiss stared at the Black family tree as she spoke. "From what the aurors told me, there is evidence aplenty to prove that my actions were in self-defense."

"There were two instances of magic that evening, Miss Potter. Only one matches what was done to those dementors."

Her eyebrows furrowed, but she did not turn to face him. "What are you implying?"

"I imply nothing. I only express concern that your actions could see you imprisoned in Azkaban. My influence is not what it once was. I cannot shield you from the consequences of your actions."

Edelweiss snorted lightly and allowed her lips to draw up into a soft smile. "I fear not Azkaban. I have already proven I can handle dementors without relying upon the Patronus Charm… and I do not think Amelia Bones would be so foolish as to lock me away."

"May I ask, how did you achieve that feat?"

She had to bite her tongue to prevent boastful words from slipping forth. Chances were Dumbledore asked solely because he hoped she would slip and tell him the truth about her new powers. He did not know of them, but he could suspect something was amiss with her.

Edelweiss chuckled before saying, "I am afraid I cannot tell you. A secret can only remain so as long as no other learns the truth."

"You cannot keep it a secret forever."

"I will try," whispered Edelweiss. She sighed and brushed aside her thick, black hair. She was thankful it was so long, or else it would stick up like her father's. "I want you to know, Dumbledore, that I will pursue a meeting with Amelia Bones regardless of your feelings. Were it not for the respect I have for Mr. Weasley, I would have gone to her already."

"I'm afraid I cannot allow you to do that, Miss Potter."

"Would you prefer I return to Hogwarts with the threat of an arrest hanging over my head? Certainly, Fudge has tried to use the revolving door that is the Defense professorship to try and insert a sycophant of his into your castle."

Dumbledore was slow with his response. She suspected she guessed right about Defense for the coming year. Yet the Headmaster did not wish to admit she saw through him with ease. Edelweiss thought about the text assigned for Defense this year. Oh, did she wish to have a copy before her. Either it would be a treasure trove of magical tricks, or it would be so useless burning the bloody thing would grant neither satisfaction nor a good fire.

"The Defense position has been temporarily filled, though Fudge has a bill close to a vote which would allow the Ministry, through the Department of Magical Education, to place an instructor of their choosing should I fail to recruit and hire one. The assigned text for Defense this year reflects their preference."

"A shame what happened to the last four Defense professors," said Edelweiss, smiling coyly. "Dead, memory wiped, a werewolf, and subjected to the Dementor's Kiss. One would think that the standards at Hogwarts have been on the decline. I will assume from the assigned Defense text that whoever the Ministry wants is guaranteed to fill the post."

"I'm afraid that like everyone else, you will need to wait until September First to find out, Miss Potter," replied Dumbledore with a soft, almost amused smile. She sensed his amusement burning brightly. "I will query Madam Bones about her wish to speak with you. I will let you know once I have an answer and an appropriate date—and chaperone."

Edelweiss nodded, uncertain how to feel over allowing Dumbledore to handle her Ministry business. Part of her was relieved she avoided being thrown head-first into the messing business that was navigating the Ministry of Magic. And yet she regretted that it would be this man who would guide her course if only to begin.

I must learn, and learn quickly, just what occurs within the Ministry's walls.

"Let me know once you know." Edelweiss headed for the door. "Unless you have something else to speak of, I will return to the meditation your arrival interrupted."

"I'm afraid I do have something else to speak with you about, Miss Potter." She almost believed him. Edelweiss finally turned to face him. She crossed her arms and leaned against the door. Light reflected from his half-moon spectacles, guarding his blue eyes. "When I entered Grimmauld Place today, I was surprised to feel a legilimens probe brush against my mind. I spoke with the others before you came down. Only Sirius reported feeling something akin to a probe, and he waved away what he felt."

"Is there a point to mentioning whatever a 'legilimens probe' is? I assume you have a reason to mention it to me when I've never heard of such a thing."

Dumbledore frowned. Disgust flooded her, witnessing that disappointed grandfatherly look that once affected her. "It was your probe, Miss Potter."

"I'm afraid I don't know what you speak of, Headmaster."

"Miss Potter—"

"I believe that is all. Farewell for now, Headmaster."

And with that, she stormed off. Edelweiss restrained herself, for her Force powers wanted to lash out with sweetly cruel violence.

I must return to my meditations before I turn and go to try and strike him down.

She climbed the stairs, mastering her temptation. And yet Edelweiss struggled to find a calm center in her meditations that day.

The next day when Edelweiss came down for breakfast, she found Sirius eating alone. She paused at the threshold and reached out with the Force. Though Dumbledore had mentioned Sirius noticed her attempts to use the Force on him, she had faith in her power. She was curious why he would be up so early when he enjoyed Mrs. Weasley's cooking over whatever scraps he could scrounge up for himself.

Her godfather suddenly glanced up. She retracted her Force probe and stepped into the kitchen. A small smile crossed his face as she made her way over. "Edie. You're awake." Sirius's gaze fell to the table before him. "I'd apologize for not having anything ready for you, but I hadn't expected you so early."

"You're the one who favors his bed more than I, godfather."

Sirius sighed. "You can call me by my name."

"I could, but I have already decided to call you what I want." Edelweiss took a seat. "I've been wondering… Are there any rooms in this house that could be used for dueling? I wouldn't wish to ruin the wallpaper." She was beyond rusty and hoped to cast something before September. She did not think becoming a Sith Lord would lead her to abandon her magical ways. Not yet, at least.

Her godfather frowned. She sensed his discomfort at her request. Yet he did not feel ready to reject her request entirely. "Why are you asking, Edie?"

"I want to practi—no. I need to train. I need to be ready to fight. There must be enough ambient magic around this bloody house that even if the Ministry could detect magic being cast here, they will have no clue who the responsible party is. Between Lupin, you, and Mrs. Weasley, they'll be blinded to anything I might do."

Sirius huffed just how a dog would. "Molly is a trained witch, Edie. You aren't."

"Then you could help train me," Edelweiss said, trying to not smirk too obviously. She could sense his thoughts and it made her regret having not asked until now. "Either you help me or I see to it myself. I have no choice in this matter. I will fight in the war that has already descended upon us, even if it's only cold for now."

Sirius stared at her for a few seconds before sighing. "I fear I'm going to regret this, Edie, but I know a chamber perfect for your needs." He rose to his feet. "Follow me. We'll need to be quick unless you're fine being found out."

Edelweiss grinned as she shot to her feet, breakfast forgotten, and followed her godfather. Sirius led her to a door hidden in the back of the house near the overgrown garden he and Mrs. Weasley had rowed over several times. He hurried her through the doorway while looking around for any watchful gazes. Edelweiss sensed nobody nearby, yet she did not fault Sirius for his paranoia.

She possessed it as well. She only had the proper tools to ensure her privacy.

They descended several weaving flights of dark stairs beneath Grimmauld Place and the muggle subway system as well. Edelweiss raised a curious eyebrow when the air turned frigid. Steam rose from their mouths as they pressed on.

Eventually, the stairs came to a final landing. Sirius guided her down a lengthy corridor and into a large chamber far beneath Grimmauld Place. Edelweiss grinned at the open space. Silver glass lanterns illuminated the chamber, granting a soft, almost peaceful quality to the large chamber. Soon, magic and violence would displace any sense of peace.

She made her way to the chamber's center and drew her holly wand. It hummed in her possession, too accustomed to her magic to dare reject the path she followed. She had read that holly embraced the heroic types.

A Sith was not a hero. A Sith was not a savior. They merely were.

"What do you think?" asked Sirius, drawing her attention back to him.

"It's quite lovely," replied Edelweiss, twirling her wand. "I'm surprised it's so clean. Certainly cleaner than the Chamber."

"Chamber?"

She blinked. Edelweiss realized she had never spoken of her sanctuary to Sirius. Not in any of their letters. Not even in passing last year. "The Chamber of Secrets. It was opened during my second year before you escaped Azkaban. The monster is dead, so I decided to use it for my purposes." She shrugged before adding, "No better place for privacy than a place where only I alone can go."

Sirius nodded thoughtfully. She waited uneasily, witnessing a serious expression on her godfather's face. Her grip around her wand tightened, though not enough to warp the wood or drive a sliver into her palm. It vibrated against her flesh, almost begging to be used like during her duel back in June.

"We never were able to find it, though we didn't look that hard. We were all convinced it was only a myth."

"None of you were parselmouths. Even if you had stumbled upon the entrance, you would've been unable to access it."

He huffed. "It would've been a point of pride to know where the entrance was."

"Oh, well that's easy. You know Moaning Myrtle's bathroom?" Sirius nodded, frowning. His silver eyes were dark like slate. "There's an access through the sinks. That's how I entered during my second year—and it's the only one Dumbledore knows of."

"You've found more?"

"Wouldn't be Salazar Slytherin's secret chamber if he didn't create several secret paths by which to reach his Chamber. Most are in the dungeons, though one leads into the forest and another comes out around the Charms corridor. Not to mention the Slytherin common room entrance."

Sirius grinned, even as his eyes dimmed with the haze of memory. "Oh, the pranks we could've pulled having that kind of access."

"You four were already menaces," Edelweiss said with an edge of fondness. She shook her head, knowing what Sirius thought. "Voldemort had little trouble recruiting from Slytherin, though how many joined him? A quarter? Even less? Had the four of you attacked them in their sanctuary, the 'home away from home' as McGonagall described the houses, then all of those Slytherins would see how you idolized Dumbledore and would project that onto him. How do you think that would affect the Dark Lord's message among them?"

"Sounds like you think we were too harsh."

She rolled her eyes. "Most swayed to his side would have gone regardless. but offering a better way forward into the future could have made your lives easier." The words were like acid in her mouth, yet she continued. "You must know what they say about honey and vinegar."

Sirius nodded. "Make sure you follow your advice, Edie."

Edelweiss shot Sirius a withering glare. She knew her chosen path would one day alienate her friends, but she had a war to win. Tactics and strategy were good to possess, but power was necessary to destroy a monster like Voldemort. Only as a Sith Lord would she have the power to overcome and destroy her great foe. He had been right about good, and evil, and power; she would no longer be cowed by the fear of power. She would seize it, and with her power destroy him.

"Enough talk," said Edelweiss, twirling her wand once more. "Let us duel."

Before Sirius could raise whatever wand he possessed, Edelweiss lunged forward, a whisper of "Expelliarmus" upon her lips. It was neither a powerful spell nor that threatening, but it proved useful in the past. Even against Voldemort, it had been of use.

Sirius drew his wand in a blink, revealing he had kept it hidden up a sleeve. He blocked her spell with a shimmering shield. As if taunting her, he smiled and flicked his wand. A yellow-green light flashed her way, sickly phlegm and moving akin. Edelweiss dodged with a roll and responded with a crimson stunning spell. He smacked it aside, a small shimmering shield of blue around the tip of his wand.

"What spell was that?" asked Edelweiss. "Will you—"

Her godfather used her moment of weakness to cast a trio of curses. Biting back a few choice swears and muttering, "Protego," Edelweiss raised a shield. The first two spells splashed against the barrier, the surface rippling from each impact.

The last spell, however, punched straight through her shield and smashed into her ribs. Blood filled her mouth, barely spilling past her lips as her jaw clenched shut. The taste of copper coated her tongue so thoroughly that she found herself uncertain if blood had come up her throat or if she had bitten the inside of her mouth. Edelweiss stumbled back a few steps, one hand over her ribs and the other raising her wand at Sirius. He watched her carefully, even as her developing Sith instincts demanded his head.

"Bloody hell," she muttered, rubbing the spot. Blood trickled from her lips. She spat a splattering onto the floor behind her. "What spell was that?"

"One I shouldn't have used," admitted Sirius. "It's meant for wartime, not practice."

"Then it's perfect for my purposes," Edelweiss said with unveiled want. She breathed slowly and opened herself up to the Force. She felt stronger after a few seconds and managed to straighten. "Open war will soon consume Britain, Sirius. I must be ready."

"Must you? Truly?"

She blinked, astonished by his willingness to question her. "Of course. It has been my war since Voldemort came to murder me on that Samhain night." Edelweiss ran her hand across her forehead, glossing over the scar across her right brow. "He made it clear to all who would bring about his destruction. He marked me!"

Something rippled through her, around her, faint and heady. For a moment, Edelweiss swore she felt all the Force wrap around her instead of only the dark side that had become her source of power. The potency of the Force whispered to her, yet she could not understand. She wanted—needed—to know what it meant; yet it was gone before she could grasp it.

"…weiss? Edelweiss?"

She blinked and stared at Sirius. He had crossed the distance between them, hands on her shoulders and eyes wide with worry.

"Is something wrong?"

"You blanked out. Are you well, Edelweiss?"

She huffed and shook her head. Her ribs pinched from the earlier spell, while her hair brushed against her cheeks. "A stray thought crossed my mind. That's all. It's not something you need to worry about, Sirius."

"I always worry about you, Edelweiss. It's what kept me sane while I was locked up in Azkaban."

"I thought that was your need to take revenge on Wormtail."

Sirius grinned wolfishly. "That as well."

"Well, how did I fare dueling?" asked Edelweiss, resisting the urge to rub her bruised ribs. "I need to be read—"

"You won't be ready for fighting, regardless of how much you practice," Sirius said. His eyes hardened. Not with the fires of battle, but with worry. Concern. "The Death Eaters have years of experience engaging in murder and mayhem. That we didn't all die during the first war was a major accomplishment in itself. The number of times I saw the Killing Curse nearly hit me or James or Lily… It's not something one forgets easily. There is no being ready for war."

Edelweiss spat on the tiles and turned aside, black hair covering her sneer. "I do not have the luxury to sit around, Sirius. I do not have the luxury to play at being a child. It is my war, just as I told Dumbledore. Voldemort came after my family for a reason. He chose me for a reason." She peered at Sirius through her hair, pouring her certainty into her emerald gaze. "I will be there at the end, either victorious… or dead."

Sirius stared at her for a long while, torn by pride in her dedication and his desire to keep her safe. In the end, he sighed and muttered, "Then I'll need to train you right with the few days we will have this summer."

Edelweiss grinned. That was Sirius's cue to raise his wand and hex her.