TBAY: U.S.S. SAD DENIAL

[stardancerofas]

No: HPFGUIDX 70270

Okay, this is my first EVER TBAY. Heartfelt thanks to our Captain,
Terry James :)

Sad, and angry at Hurricane Jo, Lorrie apparated to the shores of TBAY
with only one destination in mind.

She made her way among the debris littering the pathways, pausing only
long enough to run inside a small souvenir shop selling U.S.S. SAD
DENIAL mugs. The seller admitted that they leaked a little, but Lorrie
didn't really mind. Her heart was broken, it was only fitting that her
mug cry too.

Outside again, she paused. On the BAY she could see several ships, and
it took a moment to spot the one she had travelled so far to be on.

She passed SELFRIGHTEOUS! Molly, and couldn't fight the overwhelming
urge she had to Witch Slap her. The squirming burlap sack Lorrie
carried was the perfect weapon. "What was that for?" the red-haired
matron sputtered, sand caking her face.

"For throwing Azkaban in Sirius' face, you old Hag! In his own home
too...be glad all I did was hit you, and not hex you!" Lorrie snarled,
then continued on her way.

When she arrived at the DENIAL, Dobby was waiting at the boarding
plank. "Miss Lorrie!" he squeaked, "Miss Terry was wondering when you
were going to show up, I have been looking for you all day. Did you
have too much trouble?"

"Thanks, Dobby," Lorrie patted the elf's head. "Not much, I would've
been really lost tho without Terry's owl." She took a deep breath,
squared her shoulders, and made her way to the ship's lounge.

A cup of coffee in one hand, and a STUFFED BEAR in the other, Terry
smiled when the newcomer entered. "Welcome aboard, we've been waiting
for you."

Smiling shyly, Lorrie sat the bag she carried on the floor. "I was a
little scared," Lorrie admitted, "but this is where I belong."

"This is Marina," Terry introduced the woman sitting on the couch,
"and over in the corner, trying to 'talk sense' to us is Kirstini."

"Hi!" Marina waved, clutching a BEAR. "Welcome."

"Another nut! Loony loopy Lorrie?" Kirstini smiled, taking the sting
out of her words.

"Yeah, another nut." Lorrie replied.

"Your bag is wiggling." Marina, pointing at the burlap sack at
Lorrie's feet, edged away a little. "What's in it?"

"Oh! That. That's just a little something I stopped and picked up on
the way," Lorrie answered. "I'll show you in a minute."

"So," Captain Terry began, grabbing a cookie as she sat on the arm of
the couch. "Mmm, chocolate chip. Thanks, Dobby! Lorrie, what did you
bring with you?"

"Deceit and Transfiguration." Lorrie stated.

"Excuse me?" Terry nearly choked on her coffee. "What's that got to do
with anything?"

"Well, when Sirius told Kreacher to get out, he went to the Malfoy's,
right?"

"Right," the others agreed, waiting curiously.

"I believe he brought Wormtail back with him..."

"Oh come on!" Kirstini exclaimed. "He couldn't! Nobody can find the
place unless the secret keeper tells them."

"True," Lorrie began, "but Kreacher already knew, and house elves have
their own kind of magic. And, if Peter was in his animagus form,
Kreacher could have carried him into the house."

"Oh, wow!" Terry exclaimed. "Harry did hear something scurrying around
in the shadows..."

"But wouldn't the others have seen him?" Marina asked.

"They were all pretty busy with Order business. Sirius kept
complaining that nobody had any time for him," Lorrie reminded them.
"I propose that Kreacher brought Petey, then--after the kids left to
return to Hogwarts--they either made polyjuice potion, OR used a
switching spell, drugged Sirius, and transfigured him into something.
Remember Ferret!Draco? Then, Peter took hot-headedness potion to make
himself brave and more like Sirius, and it was in fact Peter, not
Sirius, who went thru the veil." Lorrie, blushing but smiling, finished.

"Good grief," Kirstini breathed, looking cautiously into Lorrie's
green eyes. "The lights are on but nobody's home."

"Could work," Terry began cautiously. "Have a seat, Lorrie and some
coffee."
Lorrie helped herself to a cookie also; she assumed the invitation was
implied. They munched in silence for a few moments, then Terry
brightened. "You know, it's not exactly like that would come out of
nowhere. I mean, Barty Crouch transfigured his father into a bone and
buried him. Did anybody see that coming? Now *that* came out of
nowhere. Transfiguration as a tool to get rid of an enemy--it's canon."

"That's what made me think of it," Lorrie agreed, nodding. "That and
wondering where Wormtail was for the whole book."

They sat for a few more moments in thought, then Marina pointed to the
bag. "Will you tell us now what's in there?"

"Kreacher," Lorrie answered, taking another cookie from the tray Dobby
offered her.

"WHAT?!" the others stammered.

"Kreacher. Dobby helped me, got him out of Grimmauld Place for me.
This ship needs something to keep the Gators off the deck. We'll tie a
rope round him, let him hang over the side, and play 'Avoid the Snap',
and before you say that's 'sick', I'll tell you no it's not, it's
EVIL, and no more than he deserves." Lorrie kicked the sack hard, and
leaned back against the couch cushions. "Got anymore cookies?"