Owl to Renata Leynier

[gillians-fury.livejournal.com]

Dear Renata,

I need to tell you about something that happened in class. I think it might mean something, but you're the only one who can tell me for sure. I know we're not scheduled to train for a couple of days, but can you meet me please?

Gillian

Comments

[renata-leynier.livejournal.com]

The owl found Renata in Robin's room; with apologies to her lover, she wrote quickly back.

Certainly I will meet you, kinswoman; I will be at the Hufflepuff common room in one hour. - Renata.

[gillians-fury.livejournal.com]

Gillian fidgeted the hour away and was waiting eagerly in the HufflePuff Common Room, twirling a straw in her fingers.

[renata-leynier.livejournal.com]

Renata did not need the password. She focused on her matrix, and the door yielded.

Freshly showered and dressed, she entered with a smile, and with her mental barriers firmly in place. "Tell me what happened, Gillian chiya."

[gillians-fury.livejournal.com]

Gillian tried to dampen her excitement, concentrating on the barriers Renata had taught her. "Look," she said, placing the straw on a nearby table.

She drew her wand from her pocket and aimed it at the straw. "Caseum verto." She pronouced the words carefully, and sure enough the straw metamorphosed into a cheese stick. A blue, glowing cheese stick. "See?"

[renata-leynier.livejournal.com]

Renata regarded the object with mingled curiosity and apprehension. "I ... see it, yes. I do not think that was the purpose of the spell you used."

Unshielding her matrix, she was silent for a few moments, eyes closed, probing what Gillian had made of the straw.

When she opened her eyes, she said immediately, "Where are the rest of the objects to which you have done this?"

[gillians-fury.livejournal.com]

"In my room. I was careful not to touch them afterwards." Gillian looked at Renata, eyes round. "I'm right, aren't I? It's... it."

[renata-leynier.livejournal.com]

"It is," Renata confirmed gravely. "How did you transport them to your room, without touching them?"

[gillians-fury.livejournal.com]

"I borrowed a tray and used a straw to push them onto it. I didn't let anybody else touch them either. That was right, wasn't it?" Gillian bit her lip. "Do you think - I might be able to get rid of it this way?"

[renata-leynier.livejournal.com]

Renata chose her words carefully. "I would not have considered it possible. Laran is not ... transferrable. Yet this is not your gift, but another's taint, that you are transferring so. What gives me pause is that straw does not seem a vessel suited for containment."

The idea of the Fury leaking into its surroundings, floating free ... that, Renata did not like at all.

[gillians-fury.livejournal.com]

Gillian nodded slowly. "So... I should stop? Or maybe I just need to learn a different spell - this is the only transfiguration I know. I could ask Professor McGonagall, maybe?"

[renata-leynier.livejournal.com]

"What we must first do," said Renata, "is to determine whether the straw that has been holding part of this power since your transfiguration class is still holding it, and how we might ensure that it remains so. Did you learn how to reverse the spell? It is possible that those traces of the Fury would return to you, if you reversed it on those straws; but it is also possible, I think, that the Fury would dissipate, and latch onto others."

It was only by sheer force of self-control that she did not betray by voice or expression the horror that idea inspired in her.

[gillians-fury.livejournal.com]

Gillian's eyes filled. "Oh - oh gosh, I didn't even think of that! I shouldn't've kept going - I never thought it might get loose! That would be - Renata, what do I do?" She beckoned to the doorway, panicked. "My room's up here," she said hurriedly, leading the way. "I don't know how to reverse the spell, but Professor McGonagall would know!"

Gillian paused at the door to her room. "Maybe you shouldn't come in here, though," she said hesitantly. "What if - what if the Fury got you?"

[renata-leynier.livejournal.com]

"The Fury will not have me," said Renata evenly. "Stand aside, chiya."

[gillians-fury.livejournal.com]

Gillian, used to Renata's authority by now and trusting her completely, did as she was told, although her eyes were troubled. "Be careful," she said quietly.

[renata-leynier.livejournal.com]

She closed the door behind her, leaving Gillian outside.

When she re-emerged, her face was grim. "I am going to fetch Robin's bumblebee," she said. "Do not, under any circumstance, enter that room again before I give you leave."

[gillians-fury.livejournal.com]

Bumblebee? Gillian nodded, although she was confused. "A-all right." She leaned against the wall and fidgeted, biting her thumbnail, until help arrived.

[lemondrop-party.livejournal.com]

Albus Dumbledore moved quickly for all his apparent age. It was not long before Renata returned with the former Headmaster at her side. The man carried a jar of something murky.

"How do you do?" he said kindly to Gillian. "Please pardon the intrusion. I promise I will not trouble anything of yours that is not contaminated."

And with that, he and Renata disappeared into the room again, once more closing the door.

[gillians-fury.livejournal.com]

Gillian blinked. What were they doing in there? She could probably probe to find out, and she briefly considered it, but Renata had been pretty specific on the subject of mind-reading without permission. Gillian switched thumbnails, trying to decide what to do.

[lemondrop-party.livejournal.com]

Probing to find out would have yielded no information: Albus was an Occlumens, and would have detected attempts to slither past his mental barriers just as readily as Renata would hers. It would only have distracted the two from their task, perhaps with awful results.

A short time later they came out again. Renata looked exhausted, and was leaning on Albus's shoulder; Albus still carried the murky jar, only suspended in the fluid within could be seen the straws that Gillian had brought from Transfiguration class.

"You may go in again," said Dumbledore gently to Gillian. "I urge you not to repeat the spell you did to create these, no matter how excited you may be at your newfound ability. It cost her greatly to move those. Wait until we are ready."

Renata only nodded her agreement. Her face was drawn and pale, and she looked as though she would rather not speak.

[gillians-fury.livejournal.com]

Gillian nodded, though she was clearly disappointed. But she wouldn't have Renata look like that again for worlds. "Okay. I won't until you say so, then."