章節 151: Operation Save Lupin

Oleandra was startled when she heard the headmaster say the decision to help was hers. Of course, she'd kept the Magus's words in mind. In the very near future, you will be forced to make a decision. For the love of everything that is good, please do the OPPOSITE of what your gut tells you to do!

Oleandra's gut, so to speak, told her that Sirius Black was probably innocent. If she were feeling especially generous, she'd lend Harry a hand in freeing his favourite teacher as well as his godfather. However, Oleandra did not trust the Magus as far as she could throw him, which was not very far, since she could not even touch him, as they weren't even on the same plane of existence.

If the Magus did indeed care about the fate of the Wizarding world, this meant that she should NOT help free Black and Lupin, for the greater good. However, that man had also cursed her soul; Oleandra felt slightly miffed at him for doing so. And so, she decided: if he wanted her to do something, then she wouldn't do it! If he didn't want her to do something, then she'd do it!

Oleandra was already feeling like quite the contrarian. If her gut told her to help free Lupin and Black, then by Jove, she'd do it; Magus be damned! A thought suddenly occurred: what if the Magus had already anticipated that she'd refuse to do as he'd asked? Wouldn't she then be doing exactly what he wanted?

Daphne watched in amusement as her sister went through all sorts of mental gymnastics.

"What are you smirking at?" Oleandra snapped at her. "No matter what, you have to go! I saw you in the past. If you don't go, you'll cease existing, or worse!"

"Wait, what?" said Daphne, the smile dropping off her face. "You're messing with me, aren't you?"

"Sucks, doesn't it?" said Oleandra snidely. "You're the one who got me into this mess in the first place, and now it's your turn!"

"Damned paradox-proof Time-Turners," grumbled Daphne. "It's a closed loop, then: I'm about to go to the past to tell your past self to get involved in whatever this is, but the reason I'm involved in the first place is because I told you to do so! There's no start or end to this; it's the music box affair all over again!"

"Enough," interrupted Hermione. "We don't have much time. Harry, come over here."

"I'm completely lost," Harry admitted. "What's going on?"

"Essentially, you're going back in time to save Buckbeak first, then you're going to free Sirius before he's given the Kiss," Oleandra explained.

"What about you?" Daphne asked. "You're not coming with us?"

"When I met your future selves in the past," Oleandra said, "I didn't see myself. Besides, if you need to watch out for your past selves and I also need to watch out for my past self, things will get too complicated, since our paths crossed. I'll take care of freeing Lupin; he's not in immediate danger, so I don't even need to travel through time to save him."

"Take care, Sis," said Daphne. "Where do we tell them to meet up when we're done?"

"Hog's Head Inn," Oleandra replied. "All of the Dementors will have left, since Black's already been captured. No use for the Ministry to keep torturing the villagers."

Oleandra watched as Daphne pulled the Time-Turner's golden chain around Harry's and Hermione's necks. Once, twice, thrice— And then they were gone.

There wasn't any time to waste; Oleandra discreetly unlocked the Hospital Wing's door and peered outside. No sign of Madam Pomfrey, good! Oleandra took a running jump— and flew down the corridor as fast as she could muster.

She had mere moments before Ministry personnel (hopefully) discovered that Sirius was no longer where they'd left him. Once that happened, they would focus their attention on their other prisoner: Lupin! And unfortunately, there weren't a hundred ways out of the dungeons. And if there were, then Oleandra didn't know them.

Once she'd reached the Grand Staircase, Oleandra didn't even bother taking the stairs. The stairs, for once, weren't doing as they pleased, changing their destinations willy-nilly. Had Professor Dumbledore done something to them to help her on her way? Oleandra ignored them and dived straight down— down to the dungeons. She navigated her way through the tight corridors and soon found herself around the corner that led to Professor Snape's office.

Two Aurors had been posted at the door. Just as Oleandra was preparing to Full-Body Bind them, a third one burst out Professor Snape's office.

"There's news from upstairs," this new Auror said breathlessly. "Black's gone; nobody knows how! Orders are to redouble security here with the Werewolf! Backup is coming from the bureau by Floo; Mad-Eye's also in Hogsmeade with his trainee to investigate the cursed Muggle girl case, he's coming to lend a hand!"

Hel, Hel, Hel! This was the worst possible scenario; the others had done their job too well! Professor Snape had a fireplace in his office; soon, she'd be swarmed with highly trained Aurors! Oleandra jumped up to the ceiling and stuck there upside-down using Cloak the Lethifold, then took out some lip balm from her pouch.

'Now, should the Shade make its second appearance in Hogwarts?' Oleandra thought to herself. 'No, better not complicate things any more than they already are; I'll take Sirius's appearance.'

Oleandra drew the Perthro rune on her cheek; her outwards appearance gradually changed to that of a tall, emaciated man, as the rune generated an illusion around her. She then crept around the corner while still standing upside-down on the ceiling and pointed her wand downwards.

"Petrificus Totalus!" she hissed.

One of the Aurors froze up and fell over, arms pinned to their torso and legs stuck together. True to their reputation as professionals, the two other Aurors reacted instantly, conjuring magical shields and whirling around to see where the attack had come from. Unfortunately for them, Oleandra was right over their heads, and she didn't waste any more time using spells on them.

She reached out with Cloak's tendrils and began strangling them; Lethifolds were very good at smothering their victims, after all. Soon, two more unconscious bodies joined the third, who was unable to move. Oleandra stepped over their bodies and entered Snape's office. Unfortunately, she didn't have the luxury to ransack his ingredients cupboard, so she walked over to where Lupin was bound.

"They were going to have me Kissed by a Dementor without trial, Sirius," said a dazed Lupin, looking up at Oleandra. "Just because I'm a Werewolf, and they thought I was working with you this entire time."

"Come with me, Lupin," Oleandra said simply. "We're getting out of here."