forty-five

almost two years later

•••

        "Ivy, how is your job at St. Mungo's going?" Lily asked as she sat down in front of Ivy in the OOTP headquarters. Ivy shrugged.

"It's been pretty good. Sort of stressful, though, but not any more than school was for me," Ivy said with a small shrug. Lily looked around the room for any signs of who she was about to speak of.

        "And how is Remus?"

        "He's been good. He's kept his job for a while now but I don't know how they'll react when they find out... he's so critical of himself because it's hard for him to keep a job, but I make more than enough money for both of us," Ivy said with a slight eye roll, folding her hands in her lap.

       "Will he be here today?" Lily asked as James sat down next to her, swinging an arm around her shoulder. Lily was pregnant with their baby boy, Harry. Ivy was to be the Godmother.

        "I don't think so. Unless he changes his mind. The full moon last night was particularly rough. He wanted to come though, but it would be much better for him if he stayed home," Ivy nodded, eyes going to James, who seemed to be trying to comprehend whatever conversation he just jumped in on.

        "Give him my regards. It's been a while since I saw him," Lily said, sighing, then glancing at James. "And how was your day?"

James nodded. "Pretty good."

The meeting started shortly, Dumbledore sitting in front of all of them. "Voldemort and his followers are staying at the Malfoy Manor, which isn't a huge surprise. They're probably planning to attack our headquarters soon."

It was quiet as they all stared at each other. They continued to discuss Voldemort's upcoming plans and what to do.

         "Ivy, we've heard that they have their eyes on you."

         "What?" Ivy asked in a shocked sort of way, furrowing her eyebrows and sitting up a little straighter.

        "Apparently they were told of your wit and strategic skills by someone, we do not know who. And since your mother is a pureblood Slytherin, apparently they're trying to recruit her by all means as well."

         The gears turned in Ivy's head as she tried to think of a solution. Why her? She's half-blood Ravenclaw. She doesn't understand who in the Death Eaters would know her well enough to recommend her as a strategist. It would make sense for them to want her though. She knew all the secrets of the OOTP at this point and was good at planning things.

        Ivy sighed. "Well alright. I'll be more careful from now on."

        "Yes, please do," Dumbledore said with a worried look on his face. "We'll do everything we can to protect you."

They were dismissed, going back to their homes. Ivy got up, saying goodbye to her friends and disapparating to the apartment she and Remus lived in together. She opened the door gently. Remus wasn't in their living room, so she assumed he was in bed. She set her wand down on the table, sighing. Voldemort was gaining power and she was worried. About herself, as well.

She walked to the room they shared, lightly opening the cracked door. He was sitting on the bed, reading a book. His head snapped up when he saw her.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Ivy asked, stepping into the room completely. He shut the book.

"I'm fine."

Ivy gave a small look of disbelief, walking over to sit next to him. "Do you want to hear what happened at the meeting now?"

He nodded. She told him what they went over and what was happening. He listened intently, chiming in with a comment every once in a while. He seemed very worried at the idea that Voldemort wanted Ivy on his side.

Once she was done with that, she changed the subject to avoid talking about how she was likely in danger. "How is your job going?"

He rolled his eyes with a shrug. "Fine, for now. They'll probably find out since I've had to take a day off once a month for three months now."

Ivy smiled slightly. "Maybe not. Try not to be so negative all the time."

"Yeah, yeah."

Ivy sighed. "It's crazy how James and Lily are married, and Lily is pregnant. It seems like she hated him just yesterday."

Remus smiled. "Yeah, I'm still a little surprised that she changed her mind on him."

Ivy looked over at Remus, whose eyebrows were furrowed about something. "What are you thinking about? You look worried."

He hesitated for a second. "It's just... I still don't like how you have to live with me. I feel like a burden."

Ivy frowned. "You aren't. And like I've said, this was my choice. My idea. I make more than enough money, you aren't a burden at all."

"But it's not fair to you. We can't get married, or have children."

Ivy opened her mouth to argue, then closing it to take a different, calmer approach. She sighed, looking at the bed they were sitting on. "I don't care for marriage or kids. All I need is you, Remus."

"And me being a werewolf could affect your job—"

"I work with intelligent healers, some who make medicine for werewolves all day. They wouldn't care, and I most certainly wouldn't be fired over it," Ivy said gently. Remus finally looked her in the eyes. She cupped his face with a hand. "You aren't a burden."

He looked away, still seeming worried. Ivy got up. "I'm gonna go take a shower. Go to sleep."

        "I've been sleeping for the past few hours."

       "Well... Okay then."

        Ivy closed the door gently behind her, leaving Remus to his thoughts. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Not for long, because Ivy opened the door almost as soon as she closed it.

"Stop calling yourself a burden. I love you."

She closed the door abruptly, causing a small smile to make his way on Remus's face as he shook his head at her antics. He sighed, laying back down. Maybe he will go back to sleep.

The next day wasn't as uneventful as they thought it would be.

        There was a knock at the door. Remus sat on the couch along with Ivy. They looked at each other before Ivy got up, walking to the door slowly as she drew her wand.

        "Who is it?" Ivy said, leaning her ear against the door as she put her hand on the doorknob.

        "Justin. Your brother."

        Ivy glanced at Remus before opening the door slowly. Ivy hadn't seen Justin in a long time, since she graduated and moved out. He was in seventh year now. Ivy blinked at him.

        "What is it?" Ivy said, lowering her wand slightly. He opened his mouth to begin talking.

        "Just wanted to check in on you. It's been a while since I've seen you," He said. Ivy blinked, narrowing her eyes. She looked down to his left forearm, which was coincidentally covered up.

         "Uncover your left arm," Ivy said, raising her wand once again. His eyes widened. When he didn't answer, she repeated herself. Remus closed the book he was reading and got up slowly, grabbing his wand from the table and preparing to message Dumbledore plus the other members of the OOTP.

        "Ivy, come on, do you really think I'd become a death eater? I'm a half-blood!"

        "Our mother is a pureblood Slytherin, and you're a Slytherin as well! Uncover your left arm. I won't hesitate!" Ivy yelled, pressing her wand gently against his throat.

        "Fine," He said resentfully, moving his arm out of his pocket to roll up his sleeve, before grabbing his wand quickly and attempting to cast a disarming spell. Ivy deflected it simply.

         "You asshole! How could you become a follower of him?!" Ivy asked, getting in position to duel him. Remus cast a Patronus and sent it to Dumbledore, then communicating with all other members.

         "I was threatened! They would have killed me! They see me as a filthy half-blood, so to them, my life barely matters!" Justin shouted back as Ivy tried to cast Stupefy. It was deflected.

          "But why? You said you would never!"

        "I'm not fourteen fucking years old anymore!" Justin said, lifting his sleeve to reveal the mark, hovering his hand over it, threatening to summon Voldemort and everyone else. "Join us! I recommended you! We could use you, Ivy. Please."

        "Fuck you!"

        "Be smart about this, Ivy," Justin said, his voice becoming a bit quieter. "You would be loved. Adored. New friends. Power. Money. No need to be in danger."

        Ivy grit her teeth, whipping her wand around to cast a blasting curse. He managed to weaken the strength, but he was still knocked off of his feet.

        "I don't give a shit about power, or money, or safety!" Ivy yelled, pointing her wand to him. "Why care about all of that if you're corrupt?!"

        "Listen to me!" Justin yelled as he stood back up. It was silent for a second. Ivy's wand was pointed at his head. Remus hurried into the other room to urge everyone to hurry and get here. "Come on, Ivy. Don't be so stubborn all the time."

        Ivy answered his pleas with another disarming charm. It was deflected. Justin sighed.

        "Since you refuse to cooperate, we'll do this the hard way," Justin said as he brought his hand over the exposed dark mark once again, his eyes darkening. "Tell me everything you know about the Order of the Phoenix, or I'll kill you."

•••