~Wren~

Everything was in motion except for me. People were swirling around, appearing and disappearing so quickly that I couldn't catch my bearings. Right now, it was just Poppy and Nico, but already Nico was saying something about memory restoration, and Poppy was wanting to check on Ciara. It took a second for me to realize they'd both stopped talking and were watching me now.

"Wren?" Poppy's brow furrowed. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine." I hesitated, then shook my head. "Did you say something?"

"She asked if you wanted to go with her," Nico said, frowning at me. "We can't just leave you here."

I stepped back. Though I wanted to be upset about the fact that they clearly didn't trust me to be on my own, I couldn't even muster the words to explain that. All I could do was repeat, "I'm fine."

They didn't even bother to hide the worried look they shot each other, and I crossed my arms. "Stop it."

"You've been through a lot today," Nico said slowly.

"You don't have to be fine," Poppy agreed. "It's not a bad thing."

"No, that's not..." I closed my eyes. Obviously, nothing was fine, even though everything should have been. But I needed to keep it together. Everyone around me acting like I wasn't capable of that wasn't helping. "You don't need to treat me like a child, all right? I don't need to be watched."

"Oh, Wren, we weren't—"

I shook my head to cut Poppy off. "I know. Just... it's fine. I'm fine."

They didn't exchange a look this time, though I could tell they wanted to. Poppy hesitated before nodding weakly. "Right."

Nico rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I need to find Mrs. Potter."

"Why?"

"If you were really fine, you would've heard me the first time I explained," Nico muttered. I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes at him, which just made him sigh. "I can be useful, Wren. Restoring memories. I don't know if they need that right now, but I should at least check."

Oh, of course. I found myself wishing I had something, anything I could be doing right then. A distraction from all the things I wasn't ready to think about yet. Unfortunately, even though there were probably plenty of things I could do, Mrs. Potter wasn't going to let me do any of them, not today. She would say that nothing was so pressing that it couldn't wait until I'd been able to... process everything, I guess. And she would be right, of course. I just... I couldn't do that yet, but I also couldn't stay like this.

And suddenly, I realized there was something I needed to do right now, something that couldn't wait.

"I'm coming with you."

Now they were both staring at me like I'd said something crazy. Nico shook his head. "Why, exactly?"

I opened my mouth, but just as quickly closed it. He wasn't going to understand at all. I didn't even know why I was doing this, to be honest, but I'd promised Zaria that I'd try to help her. I wasn't sure how I was going to do that, but I couldn't just do nothing. I took a deep breath. "Don't get mad."

Once again, that alarmed look. Poppy put her hand on my shoulder, frowning worriedly at me. "What do you mean?"

I pulled back, shaking my head. "I have to do this, okay? I promised."

"Promised what?" Nico demanded.

I closed my eyes so I didn't have to see the suspicion on his face. Would it be better to just go off on my own and not tell them right now? Nico, at least, wouldn't be able to understand at all, and I couldn't really blame him for that. But I still didn't even know what I could do. What could possibly keep Zaria Hempsey out of Azkaban? It wasn't like I could convince her to cooperate with the aurors, not with all the brainwashing so deeply engrained in her...

Wait, maybe that was it. They'd have to start somewhere with restoring memories, wouldn't they? And perhaps they'd be more lenient with someone who was willing to be the first...

"Nico, I need your help, and I need you to just trust me on this, all right?"

"Trust you? On what?" The alarm in his voice was evident without me even having to look back at his face. This wasn't going to be easy, but I needed his help for even a hope of this working.

"I... I made a promise to Zaria Hempsey."

Both of their mouths fell open. Poppy could hardly seem to process what that mean, but Nico was quickly shaking his head, eyes narrowed. "No, you bloody didn't..."

"Azkaban is inhumane," I said softly, looking down. "She's already had to experience it, okay? She was begging me to kill her instead."

"So you what? Promised to help her?" Nico groaned. "Are you out of your mind?"

Suddenly, Poppy's hand was pressed against my forehead. "Are you sure you don't need a healer?"

"I'm fine!" I frowned at them both. "You don't know what it's like, okay?"

"And you do?" Nico demanded.

"Yes!" My eyes narrowed. "I do! No one deserves that, no matter how horrible they are. And Zaria needs help, just like everyone else who had their memories erased as a child."

"Zaria blew up a hospital," Poppy said, shaking her head. "She's not a kid anymore, Wren."

"Not mention that she spent months torturing you," Nico added. "You can't be serious right now."

"I need your help, Nico—"

"There's no way! Not after everything she's done to you!"

"You don't get it." I closed my eyes again, taking a deep breath. "You don't understand, okay? We... she... I can't just leave her to the dementors."

"She's the last person I'd want to restore the memories of."

"Don't do it for her, then!" I exclaimed. "Do it for me! Because this is something you just can't understand, because you've never had to experience it. Trust me, Nico."

He narrowed his eyes but didn't answer right away, and I couldn't tell if that was a good or bad sign. Poppy was the one who slowly shook her head. "Who's to say she'd even want to cooperate? She doesn't actually believe she was a missing child, does she?"

"No, she doesn't," I admitted. "If she wants to say no, that's her choice. But it won't be because I didn't try. Nico, please..."

He shook his head. "The last thing she'd want to do is let me go digging around in her head."

Maybe that was true, but I had a feeling the desperate girl I'd made that promise to might be open to a little more than Zaria would've normally been. Still, I shrugged. "Maybe not. If you're right, then you're not losing anything by offering, are you? It's the right thing to do. You'd probably have to do it eventually, anyway..."

He glared at me for a moment before sighing. "Damn it, Wren."

Without meaning to, a smile broke out on my face. "Thank you!"

"I'm doing this for you, okay? Not her. Let's make that very clear."

"I know." I grinned, feeling like a bit of weight had been lifted off of me. "I appreciate it."

"You'd better..." He shook his head. "You've still got to convince everyone else that this is a good idea, though." Somehow, that didn't seem as hard.

We left Poppy to wait for Albus and Astra to wander back. Nico wanted me to go check with James first, but we both knew what James was going to say. After I told him that I resented the implication that I needed James's permission to do anything, he let it go and silently followed me through the crowd.

"What exactly is your plan here?" Nico demanded as we made our way toward the back of the stage, where the prisoners were lined up. "I doubt even Mrs. Potter will be on board with this."

"You already said you'd help!" I said, turning around to frown at him. "Stop arguing about it, please!"

"I know! But I'm being serious," he snapped, and I bit back a reply. He was watching me skeptically, but seemed satisfied that I was going to let him speak. "Zaria's not just some random American like Artemis was, you know. She's the St. Mungo's bomber. She's one of the faces of Stillens' movement, even if she didn't really have that much power. Even if you can somehow convince her to cooperate, do you really think anyone's going to be okay with her not facing consequences?"

I blinked at him. "That's not what's happening, though."

"Think about how it looks. Not to us, or even the DA, but to the public. Zaria's face has been on wanted signs around the country for years. This whole idea of brainwashing and rehabilitation might be hard for people to swallow, let alone starting with Zaria Hempsey. She's a symbol, and a lot of people are going to think she deserves justice."

"Azkaban isn't justice."

He rolled his eyes. "You didn't grow up here, Wren. Whether you like it or not, that's where people expect violent criminals to go. Rehabilitation isn't a thing."

"And that's exactly what needs to change!" I pursed my lips, shaking my head.

Nico sighed, suddenly seeming more sympathetic. "Haven't you changed the world enough for today?"

Not if going back to how things were before was changing the world, I guess. I shook my head. Though Nico had a point... and I really didn't know if anyone would listen to me, we still had to try, right? I had to, at least. After all, I'd watched public opinion about myself and Astra shift on a dime multiple times. Who was to say that couldn't happen here?

"It can't hurt to ask," was all I said.

Nico raised an eyebrow at me, but when I didn't budge, he shrugged. "I suppose we'll ask, then."

Mrs. Potter was at the front of the stage, directing aurors and Ministry workers. I saw several of the Friends rushing around busily, though Laramie waved excitedly at me from where she and Eris were talking with some member of Parliament. Nico cut his way through the crowd directly up to Mrs. Potter, ignoring the floo network inspectors trying to ask her where they could set up temporary floo spots. "Wren has a question for you."

She blinked at me in surprise, though concern quickly flooded her expression. "Didn't I ask you to stay with Lily, love?"

"This is important," I said, shaking my head and glancing around uncomfortably. The makeshift infirmary had been a lot calmer than it was over here, and all the noise and movement was a little much. "It'll only be a moment."

"It's about memory restoration," Nico added.

Mr. MacMillan, who was standing nearby, turned around to frown at us just then. "Oh, right, Ginny, we haven't talked about that yet. I don't suppose you've seen your unobliviator around?"

"He's right here." Mrs. Potter was still frowning at me, even as she gestured at Nico. "Wren, what—?"

"Him?" Mr. MacMillan tilted his head, frowning at Nico as if trying to place him. "A student?"

"Trust me, he's the best obliviator you'll ever meet," Mrs. Potter said, finally turning her eyes off me. "I'm not sure there's much you can do now, Nico, but stay close. We'll need to decide on a plan for the prisoners eventually. You still have all their files, don't you?"

As Nico nodded, the dots seemed to connect in Mr. MacMillan's mind. "The Nico? He's our spy on the inside?"

"Wren converted him," Mrs. Potter said. "He's been working with Haverna."

Thankfully, Mr. MacMillan just chuckled. "Wish she would've told me. You must've had a rough time getting in and out of Hogwarts the past few months."

Nico shrugged, eyes on the ground as his face turned red. "It's more believable that way."

"Impressive." He glanced at Mrs. Potter. "If he has all the original missing child files, we can send him over to help Charles with prisoner intake. If we could separate the willing from the brainwashed, that would help with processing."

Mrs. Potter was frowning at me again. "Wren, what did you need? Is Nico involved?"

I nodded slowly, suddenly doubting my ability to sell this idea. "I... I was wondering if there was going to be... leniency, I guess, for the people who were indoctrinated as children?"

Both adults thought about that for a moment, but Mr. MacMillan slowly shook his head. "We haven't gotten that far yet. Of course, the plan is to undo the obliviation charms eventually, but I'm assuming that if you're standing here with our unobliviator, you already know that."

Mrs. Potter put her hand on my shoulder. "Why are you asking, dear?"

"Well... suppose there was someone who'd been indoctrinated who was willing to be cooperative with Nico. Could they possibly get some sort of lesser sentence?"

"That's more the realm of lawyers than aurors," Mr. MacMillan said, though he looked thoughtful. "Most of these people have been serving Stillens for several years now, anyway. I doubt any of them would be cooperative."

"But what if someone was?"

Now, they exchanged a glance. I purposefully did not look at Nico, who I was sure was rolling his eyes. Instead, I took a deep breath and tried not to look nervous as Mrs. Potter cautiously asked me, "Do you have someone particular in mind?"

Before I could answer, Mr. MacMillan nodded, not seeming as suspicious as Mrs. Potter. "If you ever knew anyone that didn't seem fully committed, that would certainly be good to know about."

"I... not exactly that..." I bit my lip as I hesitated. Please, please, please work. "Zaria Hempsey would cooperate."

He looked like he was going to laugh for a moment, but he quickly noticed that Mrs. Potter was watching me with a serious, worried frown and sobered up. "You can't be serious."

"Wren, my love..." Mrs. Potter leaned towards me, searching my face as if trying to see what I was thinking. "Do you hear yourself?"

"Please, just listen," I said softly. "She's been to Azkaban before. She'd do anything to not go back. And if she only had her memories back, I really think—"

"You do realize you're talking about the St. Mungo's bomber?" Mr. MacMillan said, shaking his head. "She's one of his most loyal followers."

"That's only because he's lied to her for her whole life! If she knew the truth—"

"Wren," Mrs. Potter said firmly. "She's done such horrible things to you. Why her?"

I shook my head. "You don't get it. You couldn't. You don't know what Azkaban is really like, what it does to a person. We... we understand each other, in that small way. She'd cooperate, even if just to escape that. And all it would take would be restoring her memories..."

They didn't respond right away, and I let myself hope a little at that. To my surprise, Nico added, "Her file is one of the worst. If... if she knew the things that have happened in her life... I don't know. It might be enough to turn her."

Mrs. Potter was slowly shaking her head, but her gaze seemed directed inward. "Even if she did, the public outcry..."

"People expect her to pay for her crimes, Wren," Mr. MacMillan agreed. "She chose to bomb a hospital, after all."

I felt myself deflate. "Even if she was completely cooperative, you wouldn't give her a chance."

"I hate to say this, Wren, but we do have to think of the politics," Mrs. Potter said quietly. "The Ministry has lost so much public trust, and it'll take a lot time to rebuild it. Pardoning such a recognizable figure so early might take away a lot of goodwill people have for what's left over of the government."

"When one side is so clearly evil, people need to see justice served," Mr. MacMillan agreed. "It'll help us come back together as a nation and rebuild."

"And we want to rebuild things exactly the way they were before? Sending people to a lifetime in Azkaban, getting their humanity sucked away day by day?"

They both blinked at me in surprised, and I resisted the urge to apologize for yelling. Mr. MacMillan was the one who spoke. "Wren, I understand that you have strong personal feelings about dementors—"

"That's not what this is."

He held up a hand, frowning sternly at me. "What I'm saying is that you can't go around saying things like that without consistency. Of course, it's easier for you sympathize with a girl who you can relate to in some way, but what about when someone argues that perhaps, say, you mother shouldn't go to Azkaban, by that logic? What do you say then?"

Though that hadn't ever occurred to me, I found I didn't hesitate. "My mother shouldn't go to Azkaban."

That caught him off guard. Mrs. Potter was staring at me as if I'd grown a second head. Even Nico's mouth had dropped open. Quickly, I added, "And that's not because she's related to me, all right? I... I don't want anything to do with her. I know she should face justice. Stillens, too. But I don't think that's justice. For... for anyone."

For a moment, there was silence, as the world continued to spin around us. Mrs. Potter had tilted her head, a thoughtful look in her eyes. Mr. MacMillan nodded slowly. "Well, I suppose I have to respect your conviction there. It doesn't change the fact that most of the public won't share your opinion."

"So... what? You'll never try to restore anyone's memories?" I asked quietly, hoping I wasn't overstepping. "Or you will, but then you'll send them back to Azkaban?"

"Well, no, of course not." He frowned. "That's not what I meant."

"The idea of rehabilitation is going to be difficult to navigate," Mrs. Potter admitted, "but once the public begins to realize exactly what Stillens did to these people as children..."

"Does that mean that people who willingly joined my uncle won't have the chance to be rehabilitated? They'll just rot in Azkaban? What about people like Nico, who felt like they had no other choice? Or people in America who never actually committed any crimes?"

They exchanged another glance, but this time it seemed less concerned and more uncomfortable. Clearly, they hadn't thought about that. Mr. MacMillan pursed his lips. "You have to understand, Wren, after Voldemort—"

I took a deep breath and was surprised at how shaky it was. "Is... is not giving people an opportunity to change really right?"

"Are we going to start waiving trials, too?" Nico asked suddenly, and I shot him a grateful smile that he was too focused to return. "Take the nuance out of it all and send everyone off the Azkaban? Isn't that was Stillens was doing?"

"Of course not," Mrs. Potter said, pursing her lips. "You both know that's not going to happen."

"It happened before," I said quietly, thinking of Astra and her father. "Don't we want to create a world where people can become better?"

She put her hand on my shoulder, giving me a sad smile. "Your idealism is wonderful, Wren. It's a very complicated situation, though, and it's going to take a long time to figure out. I wish I could snap my fingers and make the wizarding world more open to second chances, but we're simply not at a place where that's possible yet."

No. No. I couldn't fail. I'd promised I'd help, and this wasn't fair. Surely... I mean, wouldn't Zaria be the most perfect example of rehabilitation done right, if it worked? I closed my eyes tightly, praying this last argument would work. "If Zaria were to cooperate, actually realize what a monster Stillens is, and we could publicly show that even the St. Mungo's bomber is capable of change, wouldn't it make the case for rehabilitation all the greater?"

To my great relief, that was met with a thoughtful pause. Mrs. Potter was frowning at the distance, looking as if some very complicated calculations with running through her head. Mr. MacMillan was stroking his chin, seeming surprised. When I glanced uncertainly at Nico, he raised one shoulder in a shrug, as if to say that he had no idea what they'd make of that, either.

"I... I suppose there's a point there," Mr. MacMillan said slowly, turning to Mrs. Potter for confirmation.

"I think... I think we could approach the story right..." Mrs. Potter nodded slightly. "That might actually be brilliant, Wren." Too quickly, she shook her head. "But this all rests on the idea that Hempsey would actually be willing to cooperate. I really don't know that she would, love."

"She will. I know she will." I clasped my hands together. "Please?"

She cast one more look at Mr. MacMillan, who shrugged, before shaking her head. "We can speak to her, all right? We'll see what happens from there."

I couldn't help smiling as she led us towards where the prisoners were sitting, long lines on the floor behind the partition that had kept the public separate from the Ministry workers only a few hours earlier. Though some were in conversations with people I guessed to be DA members, the rest were handcuffed or tied up, glaring at anyone who passed. The few that I saw trying to speak to each other were being shut down quickly by the patrolling aurors.

"Why are you really doing this, dear?" Mrs. Potter asked me quietly as she guided us through the lines. "All of this forZaria Hempsey?"

"I... I don't know." I didn't really know how to explain about the dementors, and Zaria's apparent moment of weakness back at the manor. The terror in her eyes earlier today when she'd begged me to kill her.

Mrs. Potter paused for a moment to look me up and down. "You can understand why I'd be worried, at least? She spent months torturing you."

"I know..." I glanced at Nico behind us, but he just rolled his eyes, apparently done being on my side now that the thought of actually having to help her was becoming a reality. "She could be so much more than she is, I guess," I said softly. "Stillens ruined her life, too. I want to help her be better."

To my surprised, Mrs. Potter hugged me tightly. "You're so kind-hearted, Wren. In spite of everything. I wish we had more people like you in the world."

"Oh." I blinked and found my eyes wet. "It's... it's really not..."

"Just let me tell you I'm proud of you, love." She pulled back and squeezed my arm before we continued on.

Zaria was near the stage, a wider perimeter between her and the other prisoners than I'd noticed for most people. Though maybe they were just doing that for higher-profile captives; I saw a similarly large gap between Alistair Hellion and everyone else a little further down.

My mother and Stillens were nowhere to be seen, thankfully. I'd have liked to never see them again.

Zaria looked up as we approached, and I saw the flash of fear in her eyes at the sight of Mrs. Potter before she could hide it. By the time we'd reached her, though, she was only glaring. "What?"

I glanced at Mrs. Potter, but she just gestured to Zaria as if to say that the floor was mine. I gestured for Nico to join me before sitting down directly across from her. "I said was going to help you, and I am."

Zaria shot a suspicious glance at Nico, who was standing next to me. "Traitor."

He groaned. "Damn it, Wren, are you sure?"

I glared at him. "Just sit down, please." After rolling his eyes, he did.

Zaria was frowning at me now, as hostile as ever. I studied her for a moment, wondering if she'd even believe me. "I can keep you out of Azkaban. At least for now."

The narrowed eyes meant that she didn't. "How?"

"If you're willing to cooperate, they won't send you there."

"Cooperate how?" she asked, glaring at me. "I'm not a snitch."

"Nothing like that," I said, shaking my head. "They want to restore your memories."

For a moment, her glare disappeared, replaced by confusion, but after a moment she shook her head. "I've already told you, I'm not some kidnapped little kid."

"Your file says you are," Nico said matter-of-factly. He waved his wand, and a ghostly file appeared in front of us. "Straight from Stillens' office."

She blinked at him, then rolled her eyes. "Liar."

I sighed, waving my hand through the file. "He's not lying. He's done this before."

"Did you ever meet Artemis Wu?" Her lack of response was answer enough, and Nico kept going. "She said the same thing, you know. But then I restored her memory, and today she was fighting for the DA. You may have seen her?"

Again, Zaria said nothing, which led me to believe that she actually had seen Artemis at some point (which was a surprise to me; I hadn't known she was here). Maybe that was a good thing. "All you'd have to do is let Nico try to restore your memories."

She scoffed. "Not happening."

"Well, we tried," Nico said, making to get up. I grabbed his arm to keep him from leaving, and he once again rolled his eyes at me. I wasn't giving up this easily, though.

"Maybe you're right," I said, shrugging. "Maybe the file is wrong, and you were never obliviated. If there's nothing to restore, then it won't do any harm to look, right?"

Nico's immediate blank expression told me there might actually be some harm, but I don't think Zaria picked that up. She was frowning at me. "Right. I'll just let you poke around in my head, and you'll find nothing, then let me go. That's so believable."

I frowned. "If you cooperate, they won't send you to Azkaban, even if we're wrong."

"Are you stupid?" She laughed, but it seemed almost frightened. "What else would they do, Predatel?"

I glanced back at Mrs. Potter, and she sighed. "I give you my word that if you truly cooperate, you won't go back to Azkaban. No matter what."

Unfortunately, that didn't seem to help at all. Zaria shook her head, clearly a little scared when she met Mrs. Potter's eyes. What had Stilllens told her about the Potters? "You're lying. You're all a bunch of liars."

I leaned closer. "We're not lying to you, Zaria."

"You want me to cooperate, then you want to toss me out of the way!" she exclaimed. "Do you think I'm an idiot? I don't know how this works?"

"At the very least, cooperating means you don't go to Azkaban today," Nico said, rolling his eyes. I elbowed him in the side with a glare.

"I'm not a traitor," Zaria growled.

"This wouldn't make you one." I scooted forward until I was close enough that she could have rammed into me if she wanted. When I spoke again, I lowered my voice. "I promised I would do everything I could to keep you out of Azkaban, okay? I meant it. This is me doing that. If you cooperate and we turn out to be wrong, they'll be much more likely to be lenient when they sentence you. And if we're right, well..." I shrugged a little. "Wouldn't you want to know?"

She stared at me, shaking enough that I could tell, though I doubted anyone else could. In a near whisper, she asked, "Do I?"

I had to pause. Do I? What? Did she not want to know? Why wouldn't she want to know? But the look in her eyes was mocking or hatred. It was fear. She... she was afraid of what she might find out? Slowly, I realized, that Zaria was obviously aware of the horrible things Stillens was capable of, the horrible things he allowed to happen even if he didn't explicitly order them. Even just that she knew what I'd been through at his hands (at her hands)... maybe there were things buried in her memories that she truly didn't want to know. Maybe she wasn't just in denial because she believed Stillens so much... maybe the alternative was too much to bear.

I took a deep breath and whispered, "Is knowing worse than Azkaban?"

Her breaths were uneven and shaky, but the way she was staring at me, it was like we were the only two people in the world. She opened her mouth, but didn't seem to know what to say. Maybe she really didn't know. I slowly reached out and put my hand over hers, tied in front of her now. Surprisingly, she didn't headbutt me or jerk away.

"I have all my memories of what Stillens and the people around him have done to me. Of what I've done, too," I said softly enough that I didn't think Nico could even hear me. I thought back to every night I'd spent with the dementors, reliving each of the worst moments of my life over and over again. "Azkaban is worse. I promise, it's so much worse. At least with your memories, you can keep your soul."

She swallowed hard, and I realized that not only did I have tears filling my eyes, but she looked like she might, too. "What if I don't have one anymore?"

"You do." I squeezed the top of her hand. "I'll help you find it."

I couldn't tell if she really believed me about that or not. I didn't know if she even believed that she wouldn't eventually be sent to Azkaban anyway. I half expected her to pull away from me, to glare and shake her head and tell me to go to hell. To my surprise, she closed her eyes tightly and nodded. "Fine."

I blinked at her. "Really?"

She sat back, pulling away from me as much as she could. When she glanced behind me, her expression closed off. "I'll do it," she said in a louder tone of voice.

I turned around to see Nico staring at us with an open mouth, but Mrs. Potter was smiling proudly at me.

~~~~

Life update: Teaching is physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting, and it's hard to come home and do anything that requires brainpower afterwards! I'm beginning to understand early-books Haverna... just kidding :)

Question of the Day: Do you agree with Wren and her very radical idea of rehabilitation and second chances?

Answer: Yes :) It'd be kind of weird if I didn't, don't you think? You know me, always a sucker for a good redemption story.

Vote and comment!

~Elli

Word count: 5091