A Confrontation
Remus sat at the kitchen table, wondering for the hundredth time how he was going to bring up Alyssa's nightmares without starting a row. She and Draco had left about ten minutes ago, meaning that she should be back within a few minutes. Sure enough, he heard the front door open and close quietly, and Alyssa slipped into the kitchen seconds later, smiling as she saw Remus sitting at the table.
"What are you doing here Remus?" she asked, getting a cup of tea from the kettle and sitting in her usual chair. "You're usually gone by now. Didn't your shift start five minutes ago?"
Remus looked up, meeting his wife's eyes, and her smile disappeared as she saw the sadness in his eyes. "I took the day off; I wanted to talk to you."
"You can always talk to me Remus," Alyssa replied, slightly puzzled as to what was going on. Remus had been oddly quiet at breakfast, and now he stayed home from work to talk?
"I know, but I didn't want to risk one of the others overhearing, or someone interrupting. Sev's at the apothecary, Sirius is at the station, and both Harry and Draco are at school. Even Fawkes is elsewhere, and Nyx was hunting."
"What is this about?" Alyssa asked, tensing slightly. A need for secrecy points to bad news, especially if he doesn't even want the familiars to know. What could have happened in twenty four hours?
"Your nightmares," Remus sighed, giving up and simply stating the facts. "Ever since you came back from Malfoy Manor, you've not slept one night without a nightmare. You wake up with your heart racing in terror, then roam the house for a few hours before you come back to bed, checking on Draco first. Lately, you've taken to checking to make sure I haven't wakened up."
"Remus…" Alyssa began, but she trailed off, uncertain of what to say. I have nightmares where all of us die and Harry is possessed, and I can't figure out if they're real or not? That would send him running for the hills for certain.
"Why didn't you tell me Lyssa?" Remus asked, pain evident in his tone. "You barely eat, barely sleep. I can smell the anxiety on you, and it hasn't gone away. Why wouldn't you even think to let me try to help you?" He was shouting by the end, and Alyssa paled underneath her glamor.
"I didn't want to bother you," Alyssa murmured, the half-truth springing easily to her lips. I didn't want to worry you.
"Did you listen at all when I said my vows? For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, nothing you could say would make me leave you," Remus said, still almost shouting.
Alyssa found herself reacting. She'd always hated yelling, especially after what she'd suffered through at her father's hands, so she surprised herself when her words came out in a shriek. "Oh really? If you heard that I was dreaming about us dying, all of us, and Voldemort returning, possessing Harry? If I had no idea whether or not it was a vision, if I was being forewarned of an attack or if I was simply frightened? I've been going half mad these past few months Remus, and I'm used to this. You'd drive yourself to distraction, do yourself harm. Forgive me for not trying to drive you down the path of insanity along with me." With that, she fled the kitchen.
He heard the front door slam a moment later, still unable to believe what he'd just heard. Dying…all of us? Harry possessed by Voldemort? No wonder she hasn't been sleeping, especially if she can't tell the difference. Remus frowned slightly as he thought about what he'd observed over the past few years. Whenever Alyssa had a vision, it came quickly, never lasting longer than five minutes and never repeating itself. Nightmares, however, often repeated and were made up of fears that were unresolved. He realized that they hadn't discussed exactly what had happened in Malfoy Manor beyond finding Draco and being subjected to the Cruciartus. Remus nodded to himself, assured by his reasoning. Convincing his wife of said reasoning, however, was a different matter entirely.
Alyssa moved as quickly as she was able, heading for the park. Remus would expect her to head to the apothecary, a library, but never the park. She hardly ever ventured outside anymore, paranoia forcing her to seek refuge behind the wards. Severus, Sirius, Remus, Draco and Harry all begged and pleaded, and she hated the looks on their faces when she wouldn't leave. She'd become a hermit, never venturing outside unless necessary.
What have I done to myself? One arrogant blonde gets lucky and I run for cover. I faced Voldemort, lying to his face as a spy. I went into the Chamber, not knowing whether that bloody snake would try to kill me or not. Why did Lucius's pitiful kidnapping do this to me? Alyssa buried her face in her hands, frustrated beyond belief. Visions or nightmares? Logic, always present during the daylight, favored nightmares. The night favored the irrational explanation, that they were visions. Each day, she'd convince herself that the nightmares meant nothing, yet come nightfall she would wake in terror once more. How do you fight when you are your own enemy?
She sat in the park, absorbed in her thoughts, until she knew it was time to go pick up Draco and Harry. She moved quickly, shaking off the lethargy that had gripped her for hours. She had a purpose, appearing normal to her son and nephew, and she could do that. Both were wrapped up in their recitation of their day, from Harry getting first place in the spelling bee, to Draco complaining about having to miss snack time because he had talked back to the teacher. She praised and lectured, focusing on her surroundings more than her words, which was why the visitor standing just outside the wards was no surprise to her.
Calmly, she shooed both boys into Severus's house, promising to come and tutor them soon. She turned and faced the man on the opposite side of the street, someone she knew yet had never met personally.
"Well, well, Lupin's little love interest is back," the man chuckled.
"Of course I am back, why are you here?" Alyssa asked, wondering more how he was here than why he had come.
"Why, to teach him a lesson, of course," the man said, laughing again, leading Alyssa to wonder if he had gone mad.
"And preventing me from entering my home the normal way will teach him a lesson?" Alyssa asked, "You do realize I can simply floo from my brother's house to my own." She cursed the Healer who had told her she wasn't allowed to apparated anymore, risking severe damage to both her and the baby if she did.
"Oh, but you won't do that," the man said, still with the false cheer in his voice. "You see, I've been planning this for a long time. I know when you come and go, but more importantly I know when those kids come and go. If I'm forced to find other bait, I will."
There was no mistaking the threat in his voice. We would be on our guard…the apothecary would need to be closed, neither Remus nor Sirius could go to work…Harry and Draco would need to be pulled out of school…
Even as she was planning, Alyssa found herself crossing the street. She had cursed herself for being a curmudgeon earlier, and she would not force that upon anyone. They would all go mad within a week.
"Not even gonna scream for him," the man jeered as Alyssa approached, her gait steady despite the slight waddle she had.
"Why bother? I open my mouth to scream, a silencing charm hits me. I reach for my wand, I am stunned before I can even think of a spell. I would rather not risk the harsh meeting of my body with the ground at any point in the future." Her voice was remarkably level; all of her spy training coming into play now. No emotion, reveal as little about yourself as possible, and don't rise to the bait.
The man sneered as the held out a partially crushed soda can, indicating for Alyssa to touch it. Just as she does, she notices the curtains flicker; too late. They spin out of sight as Remus runs down the steps. As she closes her eyes against the feeling, Alyssa can only wonder what is the real reason she is being abducted. She needs to know the plan, so that she can know when to implement her own. He wasn't going to get away with this, nor will he get away with the other crime committed years ago, so long ago he's probably forgotten.