So yes my title say it all. I am procrastinating from Screnzy and by doing so I stumbled upon this. It's my first 'fan fiction' Harry Potter style and it mainly was a character building exercise. It has a load of 'plot spoilers' for my fan fiction but, oh-well. And, because it was a character building exercise the writing is....weird sounding naration wise and Harry and Dragon have extremely different personalities than what you have experianced. So, uh. Enojy! (yeah, I'm too lazy to do the italics so imagine them where you think that they would be :D I love you all )
1: Memories
Dumbledore was dead, that was final. Almost everything Harry had hope in was gone, almost everything. Harry looked from the white casket over to a brightly red haired girl sitting by Neville. Neville’s face was tear stained but hers was like stone not a tear on it-not now anyway. Harry knew her too well to expect tears to fall down her freckled cheeks-all too well. He glanced at the red head sitting next to him; her hair was just as fiery as the other girls-he felt like he was sitting in a black room with sudden bursts of light here and there.
The girl by Neville turned her head from looking between the white casket and Neville over to Harry scanning his face the same as he had to her.
After awhile the funeral ended and the girl made her way over to Harry through the moving crowd and placed her hand on his while sitting next to him. “Hey.” Her voice sounded abnormally stable but her hand was slightly trembling.
Harry took her hand in his and looked at her, “Hi.” He replied looking into her eyes waiting for her to break down, ‘still too many people’ he thought to himself.
“You okay?” She gently took her hand and pushed his bangs off his forehead in an almost mother like way.
“No,” he looked into her gray blue kaleidoscope like eyes with green and gold flecks in them-by looking in thoughs you could almost look right into her soul-well he could anyway, “But neither are you.” He said gently.
“How’d you know?” a slight smirk appeared on her face, showing her trying to make things less upsetting.
“I know you.” Was his reply as he rubbed her hand with his thumb and looked around everyone was gone. In thoughs few seconds-maybe a minute-they had been sitting together everyone had drifted back into the castle-everyone but them.
The girl had noticed too seeing as she had put her head on him, “You know me too well, Harry.” She said her voice sounding less steady.
Harry kissed her head, “Well I am best friends with your brother, Dragon, I should know you.” He stared down at her small figure sitting beside him him, ‘how are you able to crack small jokes when Dumbledore is dead?’ he thought to himself.
Dragon wiped her eyes determined not to cry, “I thought you said you weren’t okay?”
“I guess I’m not quite acting like that now am I?” Harry said thoughtfully.
“No,” She said burying her head into his shirt.
Harry stared down at her fire red hair, he had only really known her for 2 or 3 years-his third year was still undecided. He had known since 1st year she was a Weasley from when he saw them on the platform but it wasn’t till 3rd year he really started talking to her. Of course that was with the exception of his second year when he had visited the Weasley’s house.
Harry watched Ginny run back up the stairs, clearly embarrassed and then turned back to the rest of the Weasley’s sitting who were sitting at the table. A kitten ran in pouncing on Harry’s leg as if being chased by a dog-but instead it was Scabbers.
“Patches!” A red haired girl ran into the kitchen, her hair full of waves causing it to slightly poof out. “Now I know what they mean by the saying-‘scaredy cat.’ It was just Scabbers, Patches.” The girl looked at Harry, “Oh, I’m sorry-she didn’t hurt you did she?”
Harry smiled picking Patches up and placing her on the floor, “No, she didn’t.”
“Harry, you must remember my twin sister Dragon.” Ron said acknowledging the girl.
Dragon smiled at Harry picking Patches up.
“Yet another set ‘o twins-I guess mum and Dad couldn’t just handle me and Fred but wanted another set to prove their ability to keep control.” George smirked biting into his food.
“George!” Mrs. Weasley scolded him as she continued cleaning, “Dear,” she indicated she was talking to Dragon, “help your sister she’s trying to find her jumper.”
Dragon nodded, “Yes mum,” She turned to Harry and smiled, “Nice seeing you again Harry.” With that she turned and ran up the stairs.
Several hours later, after she herself was dressed in suitable clothing and no longer in pajamas she returned downstairs only to find Harry entertaining himself by petting Hedwig, “My brothers abandon you or something, Harry?” Dragon asked cautiously walking towards him.
Harry turned to look at her, “They’re getting ready.” If he hadn’t known already she was a Weasley he’d of know just by the looks of her, her features were slightly off course not all twins are identical to their families but her hair and freckles gave it away with no mistake.
Dragon sat down in a chair by him, she was watching him carefully. Harry could oddly feel her eyes watching him as he turned back to Hedwig, “You want something?” He questioned.
Dragon shook her head, “No, just observing.” A tint of a blush appeared on her face but she skillfully hid it from his view, “Ron talks about you often.” She piped up again, “You are one of his best friends you know.”
Harry smiled lightly, “After last year it’s hard not to…you have a brave brother, Dragon.”
“He has brave friends as well.” She looked at him, Harry didn’t truly understand what she meant-nor would he till several years come to pass. Dragon smiled and got up and left the room leaving Harry slightly puzzled and alone.
Harry had learned quite fast that Dragon was not any ordinary wizard; she was quite wise beyond her years, remarkably motherly like Mrs. Weasley, and a truly wonderful wizard. Without Dragon, Hermione and Ron, Harry was not sure how he would have made it through his 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th years. Dragon had surprised him many times with her talent as a wizard, bravery and her unusual way for caring for people even if somehow they didn’t show it in return. In the shrieking shack when Sirius and Lupin were reunited, Dragon never once suspected that Professor Lupin could be of any evil nature and immediately took Sirius in as an ali and not enemy. During the challenges in his 4th year Dragon almost never left his side but that was not the only reason he was unhappy about Dragon being the one Cedric “rescued” from the depths of the water. In Harry’s 5th year was when he truly was blown over by Dragon, it started in the DA classes then it bloomed into the Department of Mysterious. She also scared him too, after the battle in the Department they could not find her and for him it was bad enough knowing Sirius was gone but to have his friend missing just made it worse. When they finally found her she was unconscious and she did not wake up for several months. Harry never told any one the two reasons he had been so distrot about her-one of them was she had saved him, he had been paying attention to something else and she saved him, that’s when things got chaotic and the best Harry could surmises was that when she saved him she also got hit with the spell meant for him and that knocked her out.
Harry glanced around there was only two people lingering in the background, he knew who they were without even needing to look at their faces, one of them was his cousin Riley(usually referred by her nickname “Hawk”) and Dumbledore’s wife Professor McGonagal. It has nearly keeled Harry over when he found out Dumbledore and Professor McGonagal were an item-then it all made complete sense. He glanced down at Dragon, her head was now resting lightly upon his shoulder, and he knew she knew that Riley and McGonagal were standing in the back. Within several minutes he heard their presence leave, “They’re gone.”
A small smile pressed on Dragon’s face as she sat up straight, “I’m okay.” Harry shook his head knowingly as he felt her hand tremble again in his own. He took his other hand and traced it along her forehead pushing unwanted hair behind her ears. He then traced two of his fingers from the middle of her forehead to her temple, beneath his fingers he felt the healing cut that she had gotten the night Dumbledore died, several other’s that resembled it covered her body from head to toe.
“You’re too stubborn for your own good, Dragon.” His eyes glossed and he knew why she hadn’t been crying yet-she knew he was going to. “It feels odd doesn’t it?” He started, “You know Dumbledore being gone and all. One moment he was here-the next…he’s not.” The tears welling within his eyes threatened to escape, his vision was blurred so much he couldn’t even see Dragon’s face.
Dragon slipped her hand from Harry’s and gently using both hands pulled him down to her so his now crying figure was lightly resting on her. She entwined her fingers within his black hair as she soothingly rubbed his head. “I know.” She finally spoke after a long silence; she had pulled her voice back up to its normal tone with no sense of a waver within it. “He was the life of Hogwarts, the candle shining bright at the end of a long dark tunnel…” She trailed of and Harry knew she was trying to stable her voice once more. “He meant a lot to all of us.” She entwined her fingers within his hair again and stared down at Harry, this was about the closest she had ever felt to him-the feeling of true friendship where a shoulder was always there to lean or cry on. She had never had a friend she felt that she could do that to, even though she knew all of her friends had her back, Harry was the only one to ever see her cry when Sirius and Cedric died. As her fingers played within his hair she lightly smiled, being this close to Harry felt good, her worries were gone at the moment-almost like Voldemort never existed. “He especially meant a lot to you, Harry,” she continued, “He took care of you like…” she started.
“Like his own son?” Harry interjected when he heard her loss for words, he didn’t know how he knew what she was trying to say, but he did.
“Thank you,” She rubbed his head once more, “Like his own son. He would have fought with you in the end-he would have fought with all of us. In a way he molded each and every one of us in ways we need the most. I can’t began to say what he has molded you into, I guess the best word would be….Hero…it combines almost everything.”
Harry wiped his eyes and sat up; oddly enough he did not feel ashamed for crying in front of Dragon. “What did he mold you into?” He prodded.
Dragon paused and stared at the white casket, Harry could see the gears within her mind turning like clock work. She sighed lightly before nonchalantly turning her head while lightly rubbing her nose with her finger. Harry knew she was trying to hold back the tears that danced the corners of her eyes. “He saved me.”
Harry looked at her confused, “What?” His tears were gone now, he looked at the sun and it was starting to set-he had been crying for longer than he thought.
“I’ll explain later.” The way she spoke made her sound ashamed of something. She stared down at her hands that rested between her open legs. “It’s….complicated.” ‘It’s very complicated.’ She thought to herself.
Harry nodded understandably, if there was one thing he’d learn since he came to Hogwarts it was that not everything in life was simple. He reached over and took her hand once more he felt it tremble immensely. “My turn.” He said simply and looked at her. She turned to face him and with gentle coaxing she put her head on him while tears streamed down her face. Harry stroked her head, ‘finally,” he thought to himself.
His touch was protective and caring when he stroked her head, kind of like Charlie’s. Dragon used to lie down on the couch in the Burrow and put her head on Charlie’s lap and he’d stroke her head till she fell asleep, then Molly or Arthur would bring her up to her and Ron’s bedroom and tuck her in. Bill would do it occasionally too, though his hands were not as rough as Charlie so it was much more of a gentle feeling. Fred and George did it once when she 5 and sick it was then she saw a whole other side of Fred and George she’d never seen before-a gentle side. On the days where Ron and her got along Ron would do it-which was every now and then.
“What are you going to do now, Harry?” She started fighting her voice to steadiness, “The school is not longer protected from Voldemort. He can come after you now more than ever.” She paused again but this time for a different reason, “The Dursley’s house is no longer protected when you turn 17-he could find you there.” Those words sent a sharp pang to the core of her stomach-the thought of something happening to Harry was unbearable.
Harry had to admit he had not once thought of either of thoughs scenarios but he did not think now was the time to discuss them. He lightly stroked her head, “Not now.” He said gently to her and stroked her head awaiting the sounds of sobs that came soon after.
The light faded from the sky, draining the life and light from Hogwarts-Albus Dumbledore-one of the greatest wizards to ever live is dead.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minerva turned from watching Dragon and Harry to the room of adults that stood in her husband’s old office, “We have matters to discuss.”
“Perhaps a later date would be better Minerva…” Mr. Weasley started but Minerva held up her hand.
“I am perfectly capable of discussing this at the moment.” She sat down in Albus’ chair as she spoke.
“Where ez Riley?” Fleur asked as she turned to look at Minerva.
Minerva looked up at Fleur, “She is with her friends-at this moment it is the safest thing for her, they’ll comfort her the best they can and keep her safe.” She looked at Remus, “Remus-do you believe your house will be safe enough for her to stay there this summer again?”
Remus looked thoughtfully at a picture Dumbledore had on his desk of Andrew and Emily, ‘You make me feel safe Remus-like nothing can harm me. Only a couple people make me feel that way-I want my daughter to have that same feeling if something happens to me and Andrew. It doesn’t matter who or what you are Remus-you are one of my best friends and you have done everything for me and Andrew, and I know you would do the same for Riley. That’s why we made you Riley’s godfather’ The words Emily told him the night she died rang in his ear and he nodded while keeping a solemn looks from his face, “I’ll make it safe.” He said determinedly.
“I’ll help.” Tonks piped up as she walked in “Sorry for being late, I tripped a few times up the stairs.” She sat next to Remus who took her hand. Her hair was finally a bright bubble-gum pink once more, indicating a patched relationship between Remus and her. “It won’t be hard, just a few charms-besides, Riley’s doing wonderful in the DADA. Remus has been teaching her just as you suggested-he’s been tutoring all of them.”
“Continue that.” She moved her gaze from Tonks to Remus, “Those lessons are just as important, if not more, than the lessons they are learning here…at this point I am not completely sure if Hogwarts will open next year.”
“What will zee studentz do if Hogwartz doez not open?” Fleur asked as she sat next to Bill, “I would hate to zee the studentz not be able to learn ezpecially the zeventh yearz. What would Harry and Hiz friendz do? Iz Voldemort not on zee rize?”
Minerva sighed to herself and she smoothed some of the papers on Albus’ desk out, “I do not know what the students will do-a war is beginning and more than ever we need talented and of age wizards. If Hogwarts does not open we will have to find some way of teaching these kids magic-no matter how fast we must.”
“Several of them are highly advanced.” Remus piped up from the deep thought he had been in. “If such of an occurrence happens-perhaps…bare with me this is just an idea.” He started, “Perhaps, the more advanced witches and wizards could teach the lesser or young ones and in exchange they’d be learning too. The teacher would just be observing.”
“Sort of an under ground unofficial tutoring/learning school unknown to the ministry or the Dark Arts.” Bill finally spoke; he fully understood what Remus was saying.
“Exactly that.” Remus replied.
“It’s risky,” Minerva started, “If anyone found out-the dangers of that consequence would be immense.” She stared down at the desk thinking, “Although, the consequences of not educating these children would be death-which within itself we all know is more immense than any sort of trouble or danger we would be in for doing an underground school.”
“What will be done with Harry?” Bill inquired.
“He will return to the Dursley’s he’ll be safest there till he turns 17, then we will decided what to do from there…one step at a time.” Minerva looked up at Bill, her face looked weathered with sadness and stress.
“Would that not be Zafest for Riley too?” Fleur questioned. “If there ez a boundary protecting zee house why not have her ztay zhere where notzing can hurt her?”
“It would be quite safe for her to stay at the Dursley’s.” Minerva stated as she turned her eyes towards Remus whose face had fallen slightly. “Though…I think that there is no better protection for her at the moment than the man whom her parents entrusted their life.”
Remus lightly smiled but thoughs words tormented him, course when Emily and Andrew had asked him to be their secret keeper when Curtis said he could not, that he was afraid he would slip(even though his friends knew that would never happen) and would not want anything to happen to them because of him, Remus immediately said yes. He did not know how Voldemort and Snare had found out the location of Emily and Andrew’s house in that quaint muggle town but it had always bothered him inside. Remus being the secret keeper was supposed to protect them-not kill them but yet it had-what had he done to let Voldemort and Snare know of their whereabouts or were the two of them just conniving enough to stalk Emily and Andrew without either of them noticing.
“Should any of us be more careful?” Arthur asked as he noted the look upon Molly’s face.
“No more than usual, these are dangerous times and…” she paused and slightly laughed, “Indeed you are not talking about yourselves now are you?” She looked at their faces as they shook their head, “Course not-you two know quite well all the necessary ways of protecting yourself and children if necessary-this is about Ms. Weasley is it not?”
Mrs. Weasley nodded, “We have tried to keep this all quiet, Minerva, but the whole family is worried now, with the rise of Voldemort and him now being face to face with her many times he surely knows our dear Meygan-Dragon to some of you-is one of his own kin.”
“Kin?” Remus inquired, “I was not aware Voldemort had kin.”
Mrs. Weasley nodded and sat down beside Bill in between him and Remus, “He was a foolish young boy and while young married a girl and they had a child-when the young boy was 11 Voldemort killed his sons mother and the boy ran away, he stayed at Hogwarts all year except for the summer where he lived with the Blacks.” Her eyes moved to Tonks and back again, “You see the Black and Malfoy’s have a tied back ground with Voldemort. Black’s his cousins mainly, but the Malfoy’s are much closer. Voldemort had not one but two sons, Lucious and Alexander, why Lucious changed his name is unknown. Alexander kept his last name riddle, and once out of school he married a nice young girl he knew within the order that he met at work-“
“Voldemorts son was in the order?” Bill raised an eyebrow.
“No one but a couple of us knew him to be his son-he was quite loyal to our side considering is father had a death toll on his head. As I was saying,” She continued, “Alexander married a girl within the order named, Saria. They eventually had to go into hiding and could not got to the orders meetings, somewhere around two years after the Potters terrible death Saria and Alexander had a baby girl and not long after that they were ‘mysteriously’ murdered. For protection their daughter was given to some distant relatives of hers praying that her grandfather or his follows would not come after her. She was given to a rather large family and they claimed her to be the smaller of a pair of twins.”
“Meygan ez a Riddle?” Fleur’s eyes went wide.
“Much so.” Arthur said as he leaned on the wall, “though her traits are more like her parents than anything, except her temper and power. Both her parents were muggles but talented trackers nevertheless-in the muggle way course. We were quite shocked and relieved when Meygan got her acceptance letter, we were concerned that if she did not we would have to make up some sort of excuse for such a matter. Luckily or unluckily how ever you see it-she seems to have matured fast enough to match or exceed to look and act Ronald’s age.”
“Does she know?” Remus inquired. Dragon seemed far too surreal about everything to know that she was related to a man who was attempting to kill every one around her and possibly even herself.
Molly nodded, “She’s known since she was very little, she’s just been sworn to secrecy.”
Minerva was staring out the window now, the gears within her wise mind working at their full potential at the moment, “I believe.” She turned back, “the best thing we can do right now is to make it seem like nothing is wrong, if we panic and tried to hide her Voldemort will get suspicious and maybe even attack. Just keep an eye on things…if necessary,” She continued thoughtfully, “She could spend part of the summer with Harry at the Dursley’s…..until Harry’s birthday that is and then once again we’d cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“Like ‘ave zem live togethzer” Fleur looked quite puzzled by Minerva’s suggestion.
“They are more alike than they realize and they understand each other-I believe Mr. Potter needs that….and if Molly and Arthur do not have any objections….”
“None at all Minerva.” Molly said immediately, “In fact we’d take Harry in after his 17th birthday or perhaps we would work something out with, Remus.” She looked at Remus and smiled caringly at him.
“Anything that keeps any of us safe is enough for me, Molly.” Remus said and smiled slightly back before looking at Minerva. “I’d even see if Curtis would like to help out-I’m sure he’d be more that glad to lend a hand.”
“I’ll keep those suggestions in mind, right now I think we all need some sleep.” Minerva said signaling the end of the discussion.
“Yez, good idea, Minerva. We all need our rezt after all zeez experianczez.” Fleur said standing up as they filed out.
Remus kisses Tonks’ cheek, “I’ll meet you in the quarters…I want to talk to Minerva.”
Tonks nodded and walked out leaving Minerva and Remus alone. “Why did you choose to stay, Remus, is something wrong?” Minerva questioned as she filed through papers.
“How are you really?” Remus sat back down in his chair looking at her.
“Really?” She sighed, “Not well.”
“You don’t look well.” Remus said looking at her, “You need rest.”
“I have more things that need tending too.” Minerva looks at the picture of Emily and Andrew that Remus now found himself staring at. “In a way it’s a blessing that Albus left us….now hopefully him and Andrew can patch things up. I hated that Andrew died without truly knowing that his father never stopped loving him.” She picked the picture up and looked at it, “They were so happy, weren’t the Remus?”
Remus stared at the back of the picture frame tears burned the inside of his throat, “Yes, they were.”
Minerva sighed and put down the picture frame, “What did you want, Remus.”
“Are you really thinking of closing the school next year?” Remus inquired.
“Not on your life. This school means everything to me and some way or another I’m keeping it open.” Minerva’s tone was determined, hearing that tone brightened Remus’ spirits lightly. Remus smiled, “Pleased to hear that, Minerva.” He stood and started to walk out of the room.
“Remus,” Minerva’s voice stopped him, “Many people need you right now but I can think of 6 or 7 that need you the most, more than I or Tonks or Molly or Arthur. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Dygon, Meygan and Riley need you the most.” She sighed as he turned around, “What Riley needs now more than ever is you Remus, someone to teach her to hold onto what she loves while she has it because tomorrow it may be gone. Emily told me what got her through the day was thinking of her friends and family, how much they loved her and that at the end of the day she was going home to them. Make it the same way for Riley-for all of them, they may very well never see any of their friends again, Remus, they are not prepared for that….no one ever is….”
Remus swallowed hard, “I know.”
“Treasure what you have, Remus, you could wake up and it be gone. It happened to Emily, it happened to you once before and it has happened to me….it is going to happen many more times. Treasure Riley and Tonks and all the kids and people around you, tell them you care. Don’t ever leave a room without telling Tonks you love her; make sure the people around you know you care.”
“Did you tell Albus those words?” Remus inquired; by the way this conversation was turning he could only guess the answer was no.
Minerva glanced at the portraits hanging on the wall, “No. I suppose that’s why I feel that way.”
Remus smiled lightly and then his smile fell once more, “Do you believe Voldemort will go after Meygan? She is not only his granddaughter but she is close to both Harry and Riley-both of them have ‘close’ connections with him.”
“She is in great danger that much I will say.” She turned to look upon Remus, peeking up from beneath her eye glasses, “Though, she like Harry and Riley and many of the people around her is strong and powerful. She does not fear Voldemort; I have a feeling if given the chance she’d join the Order at any given moment.” Minerva fingered her wand and looked up again, “Those three, Riley, Harry and Meygan have very similar back grounds, give or take a few things. I have a strong feeling those three will be important within this war-so do I believe that Nickolas Kuldrun-Snare’s boy,” That name made hate boil deep within Remus, “Neville Long bottom, Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, the Weasley’s and Hermione Granger will have the same effect on the war or perhaps just be there to help the others-either way. They are all important.”
“Is putting her in with the Dursley’s….erm….safe by all means?” Remus wasn’t quite sure whom to fear for more, Dragon or the Dursley’s.
Minerva laughed at Remus’ tone, she had not laughed in quite awhile so the sound was comforting to Remus, “She will give them far more trouble than they will give her…perhaps even maybe she’ll whip them into shape, like they should be. Petunia and Vernon will be no trouble to her, they may try but she will give them a run for their money.”
Remus smiled lightly and frowned again swallowing hard as he looked at Andrew and Emily’s picture, “Riley would be safer at the Dursley’s wouldn’t she?” The thought of letting Riley go back to that forsaken house was horrible to Remus. He could just think of how Emily would react at that if she was still alive.
“Yes, the magical barrier protecting the Dursley’s house would be far more efficient for keeping her from the prying eyes of Voldemort and Snare,” Remus clenched his jaw at that name; he hated that name as much as Peter Pettigrew’s name. “It would keep them from touching her no matter what their distance away. Obviously the highest form of protection for her.” Minerva continued and Remus’ heart fell further, “Although,” She started again and looked up at him, “I do believe there is no better means of protection for her than the man that saved her parents lives many times.”
“Curtis did the same, so did Sirius and James when they all were alive.” Remus looked at her.
“True, Mr. Termdent did help, them and you immensely when you all needed it most but I do not believe he would be right for her to be with.” Minerva looked through her eyeglasses at Remus. Remus gave her a questioned look quite confused. “I believe at this time, Riley needs more than ever to be with the man that helped her mother fall asleep at night.” She held a hand up at Remus, “Let me continue. Yes, you, Andrew, Curtis, James, and Sirius made Emily feel safe as we all well know, but did she not tell you specifically that you and Andrew could do something for her that only a few people could do? Did she not tell you that you and Andrew made her feel like nothing in this world could harm her-not even Voldemort?”
“I just couldn’t keep his followers from killing them….” Remus slumped up against the wall.
“Remus, if it were not for you especially, Emily and Andrew would have died long before they did. Now personally I can’t think of a better person for my granddaughter to live with over the summer or learn to protect herself from.” Minerva smiled at Remus for the first time in a very long time and Remus returned her smile with his own, Nymph had always told him that she thought there was no better godfather for Riley but there was something about having it said from Minerva that felt completely different, almost like having Emily or Andrew saying it to him. That feeling was both wonderful and terrifying for him, he had spent the past several years attempting to forget the night Emily and Andrew died and every time he thought of them that night just flooded back. ‘Why did I have to be there that night?’ he thought, ‘if you hadn’t been Riley would have died-that would have killed both Emily and Andrew whether or not they already were dead’ “Thank you, Minerva.”
“You are most welcome, Remus, I mean those words with all my heart. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to turn in, good night, Remus.” She stood up swiftly.
“Good night, Minerva.” He replied and walked out to find Tonks standing down in the hall waiting for him. “I thought I said I’d meet you in the quarters, Dora?”
“I know, but I was too curious to wait in the rooms. What did you talk to her about?” Tonks’ kaleidoscope eyes twinkled at him.
“Meygan,” He started.
“Dragon,” Tonks corrected, “She prefers Dragon, Remember?”
“You two are meant to be related.” Remus muttered lightly to himself, “If you expect me to call my former student by her nickname, you must be out of your mind, Nym.”
Tonks smiled at him, “So what exactly about Dragon did you talk about?”
“Voldemort and the Dursley’s.” Remus lightly detached a fraying thread from his sleeve.
“What else? I know Voldemort and the Dursley’s would not take you that long.” Tonks’ eyes sparkled at him once more.
Remus sighed lightly and swallowed hard, “We talked about Riley, you know what would be best for her protection….we also talked but Emily and Andrew.”
“Good.” Tonks said, “It’s good for you to talk about them, Remus, you hardly ever do-kind of like Lily and James.”
Remus slipped his hands within his pockets, “I know.”
“Does Curtis know what’s gone on yet?” Tonks looked at Remus carefully deciding to drop the subject of his deceased friends.
“He should, I imagine Mad-eye would have alerted him. I’ll send him an owl first thing in the morning anyway, but not tonight-right now I think we all need our rest.”
At that Tonks nodded her head; there was no way she could argue that one. Within the past week or so everyone had gotten little sleep-even the students. It was time everyone sat back for a moment and or two and relaxed while they could.
Remus took Tonks hand and led her to the Staff Room where everyone was staying the night. Fleur was fussing over Bill, as usual, Mrs. Weasley seemed about ready to have a mental break down but was holding up nicely, and Mr. Weasley was setting up everyone’s beds along with Professor Flitwick who had come in to help.
Fleur looked up at them “Zare you are! We were Wonderink where you were.”
“I stayed behind to discuss some thing’s with Minerva.” Remus said as he sat down within a chair by Mrs. Weasley.
“What things?” Mrs. Weasley looked at him, “Is everything alright, Remus?”
“Relax, Molly, everything’s fine. I was just talking to her about the arrangement at the Dursley’s for Meygan, Riley and a few things about Emily and Andrew which just….came up.”
Mrs. Weasley looked at him with her motherly gaze and lightly patted his hand, “Everything will be fine.”
Remus nodded on the outside, but inside he had the worst feeling she was wrong. He picked up a piece of parchment and a quill, ‘Might as well write Curtis now.’ He thought as he etched Curtis’ name into the parchment and started a long letter that somewhere drifted off into a talk about their deceased friends which was quite unlike Remus, usually, but after these past weeks he thought it was time to change some things. This was one of them-no more hiding from memories.
2
As Harry and Dragon walks into the common room Riley popped her head up from behind a book to look at them, ‘always together’ she thought and shook her head smiling slightly before returning to look at her potions book. Potions was not her failing subject (completely) but not her scoring subject, her scoring subject this year-unlike a year ago-was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Charms, History, Transfiguration, Herbology and all the other classes were soon behind it-except for Potions. Course Riley knew it wasn’t her fault, her, Harry, and Dragon were all failing potions-Snape just had it out for them and it all made sense now, now that they knew he was with Voldemort. Dragon was Voldemort’s granddaughter, his good, muggleborn granddaughter who was just as powerful as him in many ways, but helping the side he was trying to destroy-talk about irony. Harry was Voldemort’s arch enemy-need I say more? Then there was Riley. Riley was the daughter of Andrew Dumbledore-Albus Dumbledore’s son-and Emily Evans-Lily Evan’s youngest sister. Her parents had been hunted, stalked and killed by Snare Kuldrun a close ‘friend’ and follower of Lord Voldemort. Riley’s past was about as confusing as Dragon’s and Harry’s. Andrew (her father) never liked Snare, who went to school with him, Remus, James, Sirius, Curtis and Peter-in fact they hated each other’s guts. It was mainly because Andrew liked Emily (her mother and at the time Snare’s girlfriend). It took Emily a long time to see how, shall we say, ‘not nice’ Snare was and once she did-he wouldn’t let her out and she was too afraid to risk it. James, Remus, Sirius, Curtis, Peter and Andrew came to her side and helped her out and she was very grateful to all of them (which was quite odd considering Emily seemed to strongly dislike Andrew). Once Andrew and Emily started going out things had started to go haywire, Snare was showing up at odd places to scare Emily and she didn’t like it-neither did Andrew or their friends.
Andrew went to his dad and told him he was moving out and changing his last name, course as the naïve young man he was at that time he didn’t want his dad’s help so he told him it was because of the teasing he got being a Dumbledore. Albus at first was understanding but then got mad at his son’s ‘selfishness’ and told him to get out. When Minerva had come in to break up the argument between father and son, Albus told her that he had no son and this boy was an imposter and he did not want to have anything to do with him. Andrew tried several times to patch things up with his father but it was not till the night he died that for the first time his actually dad took the time to read one of Andrew’s letter. It was then that Dumbledore found out why Andrew had really changed his name, to protect Emily as much as possible. Talk about a messed up family history.
If it hadn’t been for the fact the Riley had her father’s and grandfather’s ability to do magic without a wand she probably never would have come to Hogwarts. The Dursley’s distressed at their failure to keep Harry muggle decided they were going to make things right with Riley. Fat chance! They discovered fast Riley was just not meant to be a muggle-not that they were going to admit it. From the time she was very little she had fascinations with non-muggle things but they pushed her away from it. Then they enrolled her in a muggle school and through her 11th birthday they discarded every enrollment letter from Hogwarts. It was about halfway through her 11th year that things began to look down for the Dursley’s plan of muggletizing her (new word huh?). The Principal of Riley’s school had called the Dursley’s down to discuss some ‘abnormal’ behavior (muggles sure love that word ‘abnormal’). It seemed without Riley knowing, that when she needed something it would just seem to appear upon her desk, or when she got aggravated or upset something would happen (glass breaking, wind blowing harder, etc….). The Dursley’s mad at these ‘abnormal’ occurrences ripped her out of school and locked her within her closet sized room. When the ministry got a wiff of what had happened they immediately took action (quite surprising for Fudge huh?). They sent two ‘representatives’ to gather Riley and whatever things she had at the Dursley’s and take her away. The two representatives were Mr. Weasley and Kingsley Shacklebolt, the minute they entered the house Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were like scared little cornered mice. They took Riley to Hogwarts where she spent half the year before going to Remus’ where she spent the summer with him going in between his house and the Weasley’s before going to Hogwarts the next year for her first full year. Riley was a full four years younger than her cousin but that had never stopped them from being close, in fact it made them closer if anything. Riley was more like a little sister than an annoying cousin to him and had always been that way. Though living at the Dursley’s might have had something to do with it.
Riley watched as Harry and Dragon parted ways and headed to the dorms. The common room had emptied but the misery still hung within the air so thick you could cut it with a knife. Fawkes’ sad but beautiful song still rang within Riley’s ears pleading with her up held inner emotions. Riley had learned-like many of her friends, such as Dragon-quite young how to with hold emotions for as long as mentally and physically possible. Riley slid her finger down the soft Phoenix feather she used as a book mark, its long, thin, and soft ‘bristle’ like extensions flowed like a wave beneath her fingers. She had known Dumbledore for only a year but it now felt like a life-time, she was not sure how she’d be able to face Hogwarts again knowing he was gone.
“Riley.” A teenage male voice said stepping through the doorway. “I was in the Library talking with Caroline…why are you still down here?”
Riley turned to look at him; his voice had snapped her out of her thoughts and back to reality. “I’m reading.”
The teenage boy walked over and sat in front of her, he-like her-looked quite older than he was, he was about 16 but looked more like 21. His black hair was deathly untidy but yet looked as if it was meant that way, his eyes-his dark, captivating, pool like green eyes looked almost identical to his father’s-it always seemed to make Riley shiver. “I’m really sorry about you’re grandfather, I…”
Riley cut him off, “Nick.” Riley called him by his real nickname, she had come to realize he, his cousin Dragon and Tonks all had one thing in common-they hated using their first names and only certain people could. She smirked gently at the protest going on within his eyes at his name, “I know you didn’t know, if you had you would have stopped it, or at least tried to. I doubt your father had anything to do with it, Dygon. Snape killed my grandfather and no one else. Snape and Snape alone killed him; your father did not kill him.”
“You can’t act like he didn’t have something to do with it, Riley. You know how he is; he was behind it-teamed up with Voldemort-we can’t deny that. If Voldemort has friends, dad’s his best friend. I just feel….” He paused he knew if he said the word Riley would just about slap him.
“Guilty?” Her tone was kind but scolding. She couldn’t be fully mad at Nicholas; his house hold growing up had never been a pleasant one. Snare, his father, was a follower of Voldemort and a murderer, his mother was killed after he was born and his eldest brother when he was 10-both by his father. His sister Caroline was a complete sweet heart, though she was shy around most people she was an extraordinary wizard who was always there for anyone who needed help, when she is living at home Snare would take advantage of his daughter’s timid ness and curse her often. His second eldest brother, Tomas had fled to Australia after Anderson’s (the eldest brother’s) murder, he just could not take all of the memories left at home. Then came Nathaniel, Nathaniel was close friends with Lee Jordan, Fred and George-that about explains it all. Finally it was Nicholas; he had always stuck more around his eldest brothers and his sister. He was the closest you could be to his father but still be good which seemed to worry a lot of people-they were afraid he would turn to his dad, though Riley knew otherwise. “Don’t you feel guilty,” She wagged her feather at him. “This did not in any way, shape or form have to do with your family. Your dad may have done some horrible things but he didn’t do this so relax-okay.”
A slight smiled appeared on his face, “I’m still sorry about it.” He scanned her face with his eyes. “I thought you’d be more upset than this.” His eyes and face looked worried, he knew her way too well.
Riley smiled to show him nothing abnormal was going on, “I’m okay, this happened for a reason.” She let her smiled fade naturally. ‘Such a lie’ she thought to herself, ‘you’re lying to him and he knows it, he just won’t tell you he does. You are the furthest from okay you have ever been, yet still you won’t let him help-what kind of friend are you?’
Nicholas nodded lightly, “Course.” He wasn’t going to fight with her, she didn’t want to talk about it now-he wouldn’t make her. “I’m going to be going upstairs-are you going to be going upstairs tonight?”
Riley looked past Nicholas and at the fire then back at him, “I don’t know to be truthful.” She sighed and looked down at her potions book, course she knew.
“I’m worried about you Ri,” Nick had never quite gotten used to calling her ‘Hawk’, her real nickname, so he stuck with ‘Ri’. “I know you as well as you know yourself, you aren’t as fine as you say you are.”
Riley looked up at smiled at him, “You’re tired.” She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was, “Why don’t you get some rest, we can talk tomorrow-we’ll have plenty of time then.” Truth was she, herself wasn’t quite in the mood to talk-she was tired and upset and just wanted to be alone but didn’t want to be rude to him.
Nicholas scanned her face again, took a hand and tucked some of her blonde hair behind her ears, “Alright.” He kissed her forehead and slipped the quilt off the back of the couch and onto her. “The fire’s not very warm.” He said as an explanation for his actions-which was quite unneeded Riley knew him enough to tell what every movement meant. His mouth turned up in a crooked smile, “Don’t stay up all night.” He stood up placing his hand on her knee in an almost fatherly way and smiled again, “Night.” With that he turned and walked upstairs.
Riley smiled and looked back down at her book placing the feather in it and shutting it. She laid the book on the floor and stretched, suddenly feeling drained she sunk into the couch. She placed her head on the back of it, watching the burning embers of the fire as her eyes slowly shut sending her into a deep restful sleep-surprisingly she
felt as if nothing could harm her.
Nicholas opened the door of the boy’s dorms and entered slipping his jacket off and laying it on his bed.
Harry looked up from his trunk and over to Nicholas, “Hey Dygon.”
Nicholas looked over and smiled, “Hey Harry.” On the outside he looked perfectly happy like nothing had ever gone wrong-on the inside it was a different story. He was sadden by the loss of Dumbledore-one of the only people who knew how good Nicholas truly was. Though that was not the only thing on his mind, he was thinking of his dad, with Voldemort now on the rise his dad would be involved with more things than imaginable and he would try to rip Nicholas, Nathaniel and Caroline away from their comfortable environment and back with him where their lives were always on the line.
There was also the subject of Riley and Dragon-Voldemort, Snape and Snare all knew of their whereabouts and what they looked like-would the Order, their friends and they themselves be enough to stop Voldemort and his followers from killing them-or trying to. Sure Riley and Dragon were wonderful wizards capable of about the same ability of magic as Voldemort and Dumbledore but neither of them were trained to that extent, Dragon was only in her 6th year she still had a whole other year and Riley was only in her 2nd year. Remus was training all of the students with permission of Minerva and out of the watchful eye of the Ministry but Riley was still not prepared for a full-blown battle against Voldemort, Snape and the man that killed her parents.
Nicholas sighed and sunk down onto his bed laying back closing eyes, his bed felt good considering he was tired, he and his family had spent the whole day trying to avoid the Ministry who had come to investigate the school.
Harry looked over, “Night.”
Nicholas smiled and crawled under his blankets not even bothering changing, “Night.” He and Harry were the only two left awake in the dorms so he had no difficulty finding peace and quiet to fall asleep to.
Harry lightly smiled and sat on his bed leaning into the pillows while opening a photograph album. Sirius had given him the album and had put a few pictures of Harry’s parents and their friends in it so it had been somewhat started. He looked at the pictures Sirius had put in and then flipped to where he had placed his own pictures.
Dumbledore was dead, that was final. Almost everything Harry had hope in was gone, almost everything. Harry looked from the white casket over to a brightly red haired girl sitting by Neville. Neville’s face was tear stained but hers was like stone not a tear on it-not now anyway. Harry knew her too well to expect tears to fall down her freckled cheeks-all too well. He glanced at the red head sitting next to him; her hair was just as fiery as the other girls-he felt like he was sitting in a black room with sudden bursts of light here and there.
The girl by Neville turned her head from looking between the white casket and Neville over to Harry scanning his face the same as he had to her.
After awhile the funeral ended and the girl made her way over to Harry through the moving crowd and placed her hand on his while sitting next to him. “Hey.” Her voice sounded abnormally stable but her hand was slightly trembling.
Harry took her hand in his and looked at her, “Hi.” He replied looking into her eyes waiting for her to break down, ‘still too many people’ he thought to himself.
“You okay?” She gently took her hand and pushed his bangs off his forehead in an almost mother like way.
“No,” he looked into her gray blue kaleidoscope like eyes with green and gold flecks in them-by looking in thoughs you could almost look right into her soul-well he could anyway, “But neither are you.” He said gently.
“How’d you know?” a slight smirk appeared on her face, showing her trying to make things less upsetting.
“I know you.” Was his reply as he rubbed her hand with his thumb and looked around everyone was gone. In thoughs few seconds-maybe a minute-they had been sitting together everyone had drifted back into the castle-everyone but them.
The girl had noticed too seeing as she had put her head on him, “You know me too well, Harry.” She said her voice sounding less steady.
Harry kissed her head, “Well I am best friends with your brother, Dragon, I should know you.” He stared down at her small figure sitting beside him him, ‘how are you able to crack small jokes when Dumbledore is dead?’ he thought to himself.
Dragon wiped her eyes determined not to cry, “I thought you said you weren’t okay?”
“I guess I’m not quite acting like that now am I?” Harry said thoughtfully.
“No,” She said burying her head into his shirt.
Harry stared down at her fire red hair, he had only really known her for 2 or 3 years-his third year was still undecided. He had known since 1st year she was a Weasley from when he saw them on the platform but it wasn’t till 3rd year he really started talking to her. Of course that was with the exception of his second year when he had visited the Weasley’s house.
Harry watched Ginny run back up the stairs, clearly embarrassed and then turned back to the rest of the Weasley’s sitting who were sitting at the table. A kitten ran in pouncing on Harry’s leg as if being chased by a dog-but instead it was Scabbers.
“Patches!” A red haired girl ran into the kitchen, her hair full of waves causing it to slightly poof out. “Now I know what they mean by the saying-‘scaredy cat.’ It was just Scabbers, Patches.” The girl looked at Harry, “Oh, I’m sorry-she didn’t hurt you did she?”
Harry smiled picking Patches up and placing her on the floor, “No, she didn’t.”
“Harry, you must remember my twin sister Dragon.” Ron said acknowledging the girl.
Dragon smiled at Harry picking Patches up.
“Yet another set ‘o twins-I guess mum and Dad couldn’t just handle me and Fred but wanted another set to prove their ability to keep control.” George smirked biting into his food.
“George!” Mrs. Weasley scolded him as she continued cleaning, “Dear,” she indicated she was talking to Dragon, “help your sister she’s trying to find her jumper.”
Dragon nodded, “Yes mum,” She turned to Harry and smiled, “Nice seeing you again Harry.” With that she turned and ran up the stairs.
Several hours later, after she herself was dressed in suitable clothing and no longer in pajamas she returned downstairs only to find Harry entertaining himself by petting Hedwig, “My brothers abandon you or something, Harry?” Dragon asked cautiously walking towards him.
Harry turned to look at her, “They’re getting ready.” If he hadn’t known already she was a Weasley he’d of know just by the looks of her, her features were slightly off course not all twins are identical to their families but her hair and freckles gave it away with no mistake.
Dragon sat down in a chair by him, she was watching him carefully. Harry could oddly feel her eyes watching him as he turned back to Hedwig, “You want something?” He questioned.
Dragon shook her head, “No, just observing.” A tint of a blush appeared on her face but she skillfully hid it from his view, “Ron talks about you often.” She piped up again, “You are one of his best friends you know.”
Harry smiled lightly, “After last year it’s hard not to…you have a brave brother, Dragon.”
“He has brave friends as well.” She looked at him, Harry didn’t truly understand what she meant-nor would he till several years come to pass. Dragon smiled and got up and left the room leaving Harry slightly puzzled and alone.
Harry had learned quite fast that Dragon was not any ordinary wizard; she was quite wise beyond her years, remarkably motherly like Mrs. Weasley, and a truly wonderful wizard. Without Dragon, Hermione and Ron, Harry was not sure how he would have made it through his 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th years. Dragon had surprised him many times with her talent as a wizard, bravery and her unusual way for caring for people even if somehow they didn’t show it in return. In the shrieking shack when Sirius and Lupin were reunited, Dragon never once suspected that Professor Lupin could be of any evil nature and immediately took Sirius in as an ali and not enemy. During the challenges in his 4th year Dragon almost never left his side but that was not the only reason he was unhappy about Dragon being the one Cedric “rescued” from the depths of the water. In Harry’s 5th year was when he truly was blown over by Dragon, it started in the DA classes then it bloomed into the Department of Mysterious. She also scared him too, after the battle in the Department they could not find her and for him it was bad enough knowing Sirius was gone but to have his friend missing just made it worse. When they finally found her she was unconscious and she did not wake up for several months. Harry never told any one the two reasons he had been so distrot about her-one of them was she had saved him, he had been paying attention to something else and she saved him, that’s when things got chaotic and the best Harry could surmises was that when she saved him she also got hit with the spell meant for him and that knocked her out.
Harry glanced around there was only two people lingering in the background, he knew who they were without even needing to look at their faces, one of them was his cousin Riley(usually referred by her nickname “Hawk”) and Dumbledore’s wife Professor McGonagal. It has nearly keeled Harry over when he found out Dumbledore and Professor McGonagal were an item-then it all made complete sense. He glanced down at Dragon, her head was now resting lightly upon his shoulder, and he knew she knew that Riley and McGonagal were standing in the back. Within several minutes he heard their presence leave, “They’re gone.”
A small smile pressed on Dragon’s face as she sat up straight, “I’m okay.” Harry shook his head knowingly as he felt her hand tremble again in his own. He took his other hand and traced it along her forehead pushing unwanted hair behind her ears. He then traced two of his fingers from the middle of her forehead to her temple, beneath his fingers he felt the healing cut that she had gotten the night Dumbledore died, several other’s that resembled it covered her body from head to toe.
“You’re too stubborn for your own good, Dragon.” His eyes glossed and he knew why she hadn’t been crying yet-she knew he was going to. “It feels odd doesn’t it?” He started, “You know Dumbledore being gone and all. One moment he was here-the next…he’s not.” The tears welling within his eyes threatened to escape, his vision was blurred so much he couldn’t even see Dragon’s face.
Dragon slipped her hand from Harry’s and gently using both hands pulled him down to her so his now crying figure was lightly resting on her. She entwined her fingers within his black hair as she soothingly rubbed his head. “I know.” She finally spoke after a long silence; she had pulled her voice back up to its normal tone with no sense of a waver within it. “He was the life of Hogwarts, the candle shining bright at the end of a long dark tunnel…” She trailed of and Harry knew she was trying to stable her voice once more. “He meant a lot to all of us.” She entwined her fingers within his hair again and stared down at Harry, this was about the closest she had ever felt to him-the feeling of true friendship where a shoulder was always there to lean or cry on. She had never had a friend she felt that she could do that to, even though she knew all of her friends had her back, Harry was the only one to ever see her cry when Sirius and Cedric died. As her fingers played within his hair she lightly smiled, being this close to Harry felt good, her worries were gone at the moment-almost like Voldemort never existed. “He especially meant a lot to you, Harry,” she continued, “He took care of you like…” she started.
“Like his own son?” Harry interjected when he heard her loss for words, he didn’t know how he knew what she was trying to say, but he did.
“Thank you,” She rubbed his head once more, “Like his own son. He would have fought with you in the end-he would have fought with all of us. In a way he molded each and every one of us in ways we need the most. I can’t began to say what he has molded you into, I guess the best word would be….Hero…it combines almost everything.”
Harry wiped his eyes and sat up; oddly enough he did not feel ashamed for crying in front of Dragon. “What did he mold you into?” He prodded.
Dragon paused and stared at the white casket, Harry could see the gears within her mind turning like clock work. She sighed lightly before nonchalantly turning her head while lightly rubbing her nose with her finger. Harry knew she was trying to hold back the tears that danced the corners of her eyes. “He saved me.”
Harry looked at her confused, “What?” His tears were gone now, he looked at the sun and it was starting to set-he had been crying for longer than he thought.
“I’ll explain later.” The way she spoke made her sound ashamed of something. She stared down at her hands that rested between her open legs. “It’s….complicated.” ‘It’s very complicated.’ She thought to herself.
Harry nodded understandably, if there was one thing he’d learn since he came to Hogwarts it was that not everything in life was simple. He reached over and took her hand once more he felt it tremble immensely. “My turn.” He said simply and looked at her. She turned to face him and with gentle coaxing she put her head on him while tears streamed down her face. Harry stroked her head, ‘finally,” he thought to himself.
His touch was protective and caring when he stroked her head, kind of like Charlie’s. Dragon used to lie down on the couch in the Burrow and put her head on Charlie’s lap and he’d stroke her head till she fell asleep, then Molly or Arthur would bring her up to her and Ron’s bedroom and tuck her in. Bill would do it occasionally too, though his hands were not as rough as Charlie so it was much more of a gentle feeling. Fred and George did it once when she 5 and sick it was then she saw a whole other side of Fred and George she’d never seen before-a gentle side. On the days where Ron and her got along Ron would do it-which was every now and then.
“What are you going to do now, Harry?” She started fighting her voice to steadiness, “The school is not longer protected from Voldemort. He can come after you now more than ever.” She paused again but this time for a different reason, “The Dursley’s house is no longer protected when you turn 17-he could find you there.” Those words sent a sharp pang to the core of her stomach-the thought of something happening to Harry was unbearable.
Harry had to admit he had not once thought of either of thoughs scenarios but he did not think now was the time to discuss them. He lightly stroked her head, “Not now.” He said gently to her and stroked her head awaiting the sounds of sobs that came soon after.
The light faded from the sky, draining the life and light from Hogwarts-Albus Dumbledore-one of the greatest wizards to ever live is dead.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minerva turned from watching Dragon and Harry to the room of adults that stood in her husband’s old office, “We have matters to discuss.”
“Perhaps a later date would be better Minerva…” Mr. Weasley started but Minerva held up her hand.
“I am perfectly capable of discussing this at the moment.” She sat down in Albus’ chair as she spoke.
“Where ez Riley?” Fleur asked as she turned to look at Minerva.
Minerva looked up at Fleur, “She is with her friends-at this moment it is the safest thing for her, they’ll comfort her the best they can and keep her safe.” She looked at Remus, “Remus-do you believe your house will be safe enough for her to stay there this summer again?”
Remus looked thoughtfully at a picture Dumbledore had on his desk of Andrew and Emily, ‘You make me feel safe Remus-like nothing can harm me. Only a couple people make me feel that way-I want my daughter to have that same feeling if something happens to me and Andrew. It doesn’t matter who or what you are Remus-you are one of my best friends and you have done everything for me and Andrew, and I know you would do the same for Riley. That’s why we made you Riley’s godfather’ The words Emily told him the night she died rang in his ear and he nodded while keeping a solemn looks from his face, “I’ll make it safe.” He said determinedly.
“I’ll help.” Tonks piped up as she walked in “Sorry for being late, I tripped a few times up the stairs.” She sat next to Remus who took her hand. Her hair was finally a bright bubble-gum pink once more, indicating a patched relationship between Remus and her. “It won’t be hard, just a few charms-besides, Riley’s doing wonderful in the DADA. Remus has been teaching her just as you suggested-he’s been tutoring all of them.”
“Continue that.” She moved her gaze from Tonks to Remus, “Those lessons are just as important, if not more, than the lessons they are learning here…at this point I am not completely sure if Hogwarts will open next year.”
“What will zee studentz do if Hogwartz doez not open?” Fleur asked as she sat next to Bill, “I would hate to zee the studentz not be able to learn ezpecially the zeventh yearz. What would Harry and Hiz friendz do? Iz Voldemort not on zee rize?”
Minerva sighed to herself and she smoothed some of the papers on Albus’ desk out, “I do not know what the students will do-a war is beginning and more than ever we need talented and of age wizards. If Hogwarts does not open we will have to find some way of teaching these kids magic-no matter how fast we must.”
“Several of them are highly advanced.” Remus piped up from the deep thought he had been in. “If such of an occurrence happens-perhaps…bare with me this is just an idea.” He started, “Perhaps, the more advanced witches and wizards could teach the lesser or young ones and in exchange they’d be learning too. The teacher would just be observing.”
“Sort of an under ground unofficial tutoring/learning school unknown to the ministry or the Dark Arts.” Bill finally spoke; he fully understood what Remus was saying.
“Exactly that.” Remus replied.
“It’s risky,” Minerva started, “If anyone found out-the dangers of that consequence would be immense.” She stared down at the desk thinking, “Although, the consequences of not educating these children would be death-which within itself we all know is more immense than any sort of trouble or danger we would be in for doing an underground school.”
“What will be done with Harry?” Bill inquired.
“He will return to the Dursley’s he’ll be safest there till he turns 17, then we will decided what to do from there…one step at a time.” Minerva looked up at Bill, her face looked weathered with sadness and stress.
“Would that not be Zafest for Riley too?” Fleur questioned. “If there ez a boundary protecting zee house why not have her ztay zhere where notzing can hurt her?”
“It would be quite safe for her to stay at the Dursley’s.” Minerva stated as she turned her eyes towards Remus whose face had fallen slightly. “Though…I think that there is no better protection for her at the moment than the man whom her parents entrusted their life.”
Remus lightly smiled but thoughs words tormented him, course when Emily and Andrew had asked him to be their secret keeper when Curtis said he could not, that he was afraid he would slip(even though his friends knew that would never happen) and would not want anything to happen to them because of him, Remus immediately said yes. He did not know how Voldemort and Snare had found out the location of Emily and Andrew’s house in that quaint muggle town but it had always bothered him inside. Remus being the secret keeper was supposed to protect them-not kill them but yet it had-what had he done to let Voldemort and Snare know of their whereabouts or were the two of them just conniving enough to stalk Emily and Andrew without either of them noticing.
“Should any of us be more careful?” Arthur asked as he noted the look upon Molly’s face.
“No more than usual, these are dangerous times and…” she paused and slightly laughed, “Indeed you are not talking about yourselves now are you?” She looked at their faces as they shook their head, “Course not-you two know quite well all the necessary ways of protecting yourself and children if necessary-this is about Ms. Weasley is it not?”
Mrs. Weasley nodded, “We have tried to keep this all quiet, Minerva, but the whole family is worried now, with the rise of Voldemort and him now being face to face with her many times he surely knows our dear Meygan-Dragon to some of you-is one of his own kin.”
“Kin?” Remus inquired, “I was not aware Voldemort had kin.”
Mrs. Weasley nodded and sat down beside Bill in between him and Remus, “He was a foolish young boy and while young married a girl and they had a child-when the young boy was 11 Voldemort killed his sons mother and the boy ran away, he stayed at Hogwarts all year except for the summer where he lived with the Blacks.” Her eyes moved to Tonks and back again, “You see the Black and Malfoy’s have a tied back ground with Voldemort. Black’s his cousins mainly, but the Malfoy’s are much closer. Voldemort had not one but two sons, Lucious and Alexander, why Lucious changed his name is unknown. Alexander kept his last name riddle, and once out of school he married a nice young girl he knew within the order that he met at work-“
“Voldemorts son was in the order?” Bill raised an eyebrow.
“No one but a couple of us knew him to be his son-he was quite loyal to our side considering is father had a death toll on his head. As I was saying,” She continued, “Alexander married a girl within the order named, Saria. They eventually had to go into hiding and could not got to the orders meetings, somewhere around two years after the Potters terrible death Saria and Alexander had a baby girl and not long after that they were ‘mysteriously’ murdered. For protection their daughter was given to some distant relatives of hers praying that her grandfather or his follows would not come after her. She was given to a rather large family and they claimed her to be the smaller of a pair of twins.”
“Meygan ez a Riddle?” Fleur’s eyes went wide.
“Much so.” Arthur said as he leaned on the wall, “though her traits are more like her parents than anything, except her temper and power. Both her parents were muggles but talented trackers nevertheless-in the muggle way course. We were quite shocked and relieved when Meygan got her acceptance letter, we were concerned that if she did not we would have to make up some sort of excuse for such a matter. Luckily or unluckily how ever you see it-she seems to have matured fast enough to match or exceed to look and act Ronald’s age.”
“Does she know?” Remus inquired. Dragon seemed far too surreal about everything to know that she was related to a man who was attempting to kill every one around her and possibly even herself.
Molly nodded, “She’s known since she was very little, she’s just been sworn to secrecy.”
Minerva was staring out the window now, the gears within her wise mind working at their full potential at the moment, “I believe.” She turned back, “the best thing we can do right now is to make it seem like nothing is wrong, if we panic and tried to hide her Voldemort will get suspicious and maybe even attack. Just keep an eye on things…if necessary,” She continued thoughtfully, “She could spend part of the summer with Harry at the Dursley’s…..until Harry’s birthday that is and then once again we’d cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“Like ‘ave zem live togethzer” Fleur looked quite puzzled by Minerva’s suggestion.
“They are more alike than they realize and they understand each other-I believe Mr. Potter needs that….and if Molly and Arthur do not have any objections….”
“None at all Minerva.” Molly said immediately, “In fact we’d take Harry in after his 17th birthday or perhaps we would work something out with, Remus.” She looked at Remus and smiled caringly at him.
“Anything that keeps any of us safe is enough for me, Molly.” Remus said and smiled slightly back before looking at Minerva. “I’d even see if Curtis would like to help out-I’m sure he’d be more that glad to lend a hand.”
“I’ll keep those suggestions in mind, right now I think we all need some sleep.” Minerva said signaling the end of the discussion.
“Yez, good idea, Minerva. We all need our rezt after all zeez experianczez.” Fleur said standing up as they filed out.
Remus kisses Tonks’ cheek, “I’ll meet you in the quarters…I want to talk to Minerva.”
Tonks nodded and walked out leaving Minerva and Remus alone. “Why did you choose to stay, Remus, is something wrong?” Minerva questioned as she filed through papers.
“How are you really?” Remus sat back down in his chair looking at her.
“Really?” She sighed, “Not well.”
“You don’t look well.” Remus said looking at her, “You need rest.”
“I have more things that need tending too.” Minerva looks at the picture of Emily and Andrew that Remus now found himself staring at. “In a way it’s a blessing that Albus left us….now hopefully him and Andrew can patch things up. I hated that Andrew died without truly knowing that his father never stopped loving him.” She picked the picture up and looked at it, “They were so happy, weren’t the Remus?”
Remus stared at the back of the picture frame tears burned the inside of his throat, “Yes, they were.”
Minerva sighed and put down the picture frame, “What did you want, Remus.”
“Are you really thinking of closing the school next year?” Remus inquired.
“Not on your life. This school means everything to me and some way or another I’m keeping it open.” Minerva’s tone was determined, hearing that tone brightened Remus’ spirits lightly. Remus smiled, “Pleased to hear that, Minerva.” He stood and started to walk out of the room.
“Remus,” Minerva’s voice stopped him, “Many people need you right now but I can think of 6 or 7 that need you the most, more than I or Tonks or Molly or Arthur. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Dygon, Meygan and Riley need you the most.” She sighed as he turned around, “What Riley needs now more than ever is you Remus, someone to teach her to hold onto what she loves while she has it because tomorrow it may be gone. Emily told me what got her through the day was thinking of her friends and family, how much they loved her and that at the end of the day she was going home to them. Make it the same way for Riley-for all of them, they may very well never see any of their friends again, Remus, they are not prepared for that….no one ever is….”
Remus swallowed hard, “I know.”
“Treasure what you have, Remus, you could wake up and it be gone. It happened to Emily, it happened to you once before and it has happened to me….it is going to happen many more times. Treasure Riley and Tonks and all the kids and people around you, tell them you care. Don’t ever leave a room without telling Tonks you love her; make sure the people around you know you care.”
“Did you tell Albus those words?” Remus inquired; by the way this conversation was turning he could only guess the answer was no.
Minerva glanced at the portraits hanging on the wall, “No. I suppose that’s why I feel that way.”
Remus smiled lightly and then his smile fell once more, “Do you believe Voldemort will go after Meygan? She is not only his granddaughter but she is close to both Harry and Riley-both of them have ‘close’ connections with him.”
“She is in great danger that much I will say.” She turned to look upon Remus, peeking up from beneath her eye glasses, “Though, she like Harry and Riley and many of the people around her is strong and powerful. She does not fear Voldemort; I have a feeling if given the chance she’d join the Order at any given moment.” Minerva fingered her wand and looked up again, “Those three, Riley, Harry and Meygan have very similar back grounds, give or take a few things. I have a strong feeling those three will be important within this war-so do I believe that Nickolas Kuldrun-Snare’s boy,” That name made hate boil deep within Remus, “Neville Long bottom, Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, the Weasley’s and Hermione Granger will have the same effect on the war or perhaps just be there to help the others-either way. They are all important.”
“Is putting her in with the Dursley’s….erm….safe by all means?” Remus wasn’t quite sure whom to fear for more, Dragon or the Dursley’s.
Minerva laughed at Remus’ tone, she had not laughed in quite awhile so the sound was comforting to Remus, “She will give them far more trouble than they will give her…perhaps even maybe she’ll whip them into shape, like they should be. Petunia and Vernon will be no trouble to her, they may try but she will give them a run for their money.”
Remus smiled lightly and frowned again swallowing hard as he looked at Andrew and Emily’s picture, “Riley would be safer at the Dursley’s wouldn’t she?” The thought of letting Riley go back to that forsaken house was horrible to Remus. He could just think of how Emily would react at that if she was still alive.
“Yes, the magical barrier protecting the Dursley’s house would be far more efficient for keeping her from the prying eyes of Voldemort and Snare,” Remus clenched his jaw at that name; he hated that name as much as Peter Pettigrew’s name. “It would keep them from touching her no matter what their distance away. Obviously the highest form of protection for her.” Minerva continued and Remus’ heart fell further, “Although,” She started again and looked up at him, “I do believe there is no better means of protection for her than the man that saved her parents lives many times.”
“Curtis did the same, so did Sirius and James when they all were alive.” Remus looked at her.
“True, Mr. Termdent did help, them and you immensely when you all needed it most but I do not believe he would be right for her to be with.” Minerva looked through her eyeglasses at Remus. Remus gave her a questioned look quite confused. “I believe at this time, Riley needs more than ever to be with the man that helped her mother fall asleep at night.” She held a hand up at Remus, “Let me continue. Yes, you, Andrew, Curtis, James, and Sirius made Emily feel safe as we all well know, but did she not tell you specifically that you and Andrew could do something for her that only a few people could do? Did she not tell you that you and Andrew made her feel like nothing in this world could harm her-not even Voldemort?”
“I just couldn’t keep his followers from killing them….” Remus slumped up against the wall.
“Remus, if it were not for you especially, Emily and Andrew would have died long before they did. Now personally I can’t think of a better person for my granddaughter to live with over the summer or learn to protect herself from.” Minerva smiled at Remus for the first time in a very long time and Remus returned her smile with his own, Nymph had always told him that she thought there was no better godfather for Riley but there was something about having it said from Minerva that felt completely different, almost like having Emily or Andrew saying it to him. That feeling was both wonderful and terrifying for him, he had spent the past several years attempting to forget the night Emily and Andrew died and every time he thought of them that night just flooded back. ‘Why did I have to be there that night?’ he thought, ‘if you hadn’t been Riley would have died-that would have killed both Emily and Andrew whether or not they already were dead’ “Thank you, Minerva.”
“You are most welcome, Remus, I mean those words with all my heart. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to turn in, good night, Remus.” She stood up swiftly.
“Good night, Minerva.” He replied and walked out to find Tonks standing down in the hall waiting for him. “I thought I said I’d meet you in the quarters, Dora?”
“I know, but I was too curious to wait in the rooms. What did you talk to her about?” Tonks’ kaleidoscope eyes twinkled at him.
“Meygan,” He started.
“Dragon,” Tonks corrected, “She prefers Dragon, Remember?”
“You two are meant to be related.” Remus muttered lightly to himself, “If you expect me to call my former student by her nickname, you must be out of your mind, Nym.”
Tonks smiled at him, “So what exactly about Dragon did you talk about?”
“Voldemort and the Dursley’s.” Remus lightly detached a fraying thread from his sleeve.
“What else? I know Voldemort and the Dursley’s would not take you that long.” Tonks’ eyes sparkled at him once more.
Remus sighed lightly and swallowed hard, “We talked about Riley, you know what would be best for her protection….we also talked but Emily and Andrew.”
“Good.” Tonks said, “It’s good for you to talk about them, Remus, you hardly ever do-kind of like Lily and James.”
Remus slipped his hands within his pockets, “I know.”
“Does Curtis know what’s gone on yet?” Tonks looked at Remus carefully deciding to drop the subject of his deceased friends.
“He should, I imagine Mad-eye would have alerted him. I’ll send him an owl first thing in the morning anyway, but not tonight-right now I think we all need our rest.”
At that Tonks nodded her head; there was no way she could argue that one. Within the past week or so everyone had gotten little sleep-even the students. It was time everyone sat back for a moment and or two and relaxed while they could.
Remus took Tonks hand and led her to the Staff Room where everyone was staying the night. Fleur was fussing over Bill, as usual, Mrs. Weasley seemed about ready to have a mental break down but was holding up nicely, and Mr. Weasley was setting up everyone’s beds along with Professor Flitwick who had come in to help.
Fleur looked up at them “Zare you are! We were Wonderink where you were.”
“I stayed behind to discuss some thing’s with Minerva.” Remus said as he sat down within a chair by Mrs. Weasley.
“What things?” Mrs. Weasley looked at him, “Is everything alright, Remus?”
“Relax, Molly, everything’s fine. I was just talking to her about the arrangement at the Dursley’s for Meygan, Riley and a few things about Emily and Andrew which just….came up.”
Mrs. Weasley looked at him with her motherly gaze and lightly patted his hand, “Everything will be fine.”
Remus nodded on the outside, but inside he had the worst feeling she was wrong. He picked up a piece of parchment and a quill, ‘Might as well write Curtis now.’ He thought as he etched Curtis’ name into the parchment and started a long letter that somewhere drifted off into a talk about their deceased friends which was quite unlike Remus, usually, but after these past weeks he thought it was time to change some things. This was one of them-no more hiding from memories.
2
As Harry and Dragon walks into the common room Riley popped her head up from behind a book to look at them, ‘always together’ she thought and shook her head smiling slightly before returning to look at her potions book. Potions was not her failing subject (completely) but not her scoring subject, her scoring subject this year-unlike a year ago-was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Charms, History, Transfiguration, Herbology and all the other classes were soon behind it-except for Potions. Course Riley knew it wasn’t her fault, her, Harry, and Dragon were all failing potions-Snape just had it out for them and it all made sense now, now that they knew he was with Voldemort. Dragon was Voldemort’s granddaughter, his good, muggleborn granddaughter who was just as powerful as him in many ways, but helping the side he was trying to destroy-talk about irony. Harry was Voldemort’s arch enemy-need I say more? Then there was Riley. Riley was the daughter of Andrew Dumbledore-Albus Dumbledore’s son-and Emily Evans-Lily Evan’s youngest sister. Her parents had been hunted, stalked and killed by Snare Kuldrun a close ‘friend’ and follower of Lord Voldemort. Riley’s past was about as confusing as Dragon’s and Harry’s. Andrew (her father) never liked Snare, who went to school with him, Remus, James, Sirius, Curtis and Peter-in fact they hated each other’s guts. It was mainly because Andrew liked Emily (her mother and at the time Snare’s girlfriend). It took Emily a long time to see how, shall we say, ‘not nice’ Snare was and once she did-he wouldn’t let her out and she was too afraid to risk it. James, Remus, Sirius, Curtis, Peter and Andrew came to her side and helped her out and she was very grateful to all of them (which was quite odd considering Emily seemed to strongly dislike Andrew). Once Andrew and Emily started going out things had started to go haywire, Snare was showing up at odd places to scare Emily and she didn’t like it-neither did Andrew or their friends.
Andrew went to his dad and told him he was moving out and changing his last name, course as the naïve young man he was at that time he didn’t want his dad’s help so he told him it was because of the teasing he got being a Dumbledore. Albus at first was understanding but then got mad at his son’s ‘selfishness’ and told him to get out. When Minerva had come in to break up the argument between father and son, Albus told her that he had no son and this boy was an imposter and he did not want to have anything to do with him. Andrew tried several times to patch things up with his father but it was not till the night he died that for the first time his actually dad took the time to read one of Andrew’s letter. It was then that Dumbledore found out why Andrew had really changed his name, to protect Emily as much as possible. Talk about a messed up family history.
If it hadn’t been for the fact the Riley had her father’s and grandfather’s ability to do magic without a wand she probably never would have come to Hogwarts. The Dursley’s distressed at their failure to keep Harry muggle decided they were going to make things right with Riley. Fat chance! They discovered fast Riley was just not meant to be a muggle-not that they were going to admit it. From the time she was very little she had fascinations with non-muggle things but they pushed her away from it. Then they enrolled her in a muggle school and through her 11th birthday they discarded every enrollment letter from Hogwarts. It was about halfway through her 11th year that things began to look down for the Dursley’s plan of muggletizing her (new word huh?). The Principal of Riley’s school had called the Dursley’s down to discuss some ‘abnormal’ behavior (muggles sure love that word ‘abnormal’). It seemed without Riley knowing, that when she needed something it would just seem to appear upon her desk, or when she got aggravated or upset something would happen (glass breaking, wind blowing harder, etc….). The Dursley’s mad at these ‘abnormal’ occurrences ripped her out of school and locked her within her closet sized room. When the ministry got a wiff of what had happened they immediately took action (quite surprising for Fudge huh?). They sent two ‘representatives’ to gather Riley and whatever things she had at the Dursley’s and take her away. The two representatives were Mr. Weasley and Kingsley Shacklebolt, the minute they entered the house Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were like scared little cornered mice. They took Riley to Hogwarts where she spent half the year before going to Remus’ where she spent the summer with him going in between his house and the Weasley’s before going to Hogwarts the next year for her first full year. Riley was a full four years younger than her cousin but that had never stopped them from being close, in fact it made them closer if anything. Riley was more like a little sister than an annoying cousin to him and had always been that way. Though living at the Dursley’s might have had something to do with it.
Riley watched as Harry and Dragon parted ways and headed to the dorms. The common room had emptied but the misery still hung within the air so thick you could cut it with a knife. Fawkes’ sad but beautiful song still rang within Riley’s ears pleading with her up held inner emotions. Riley had learned-like many of her friends, such as Dragon-quite young how to with hold emotions for as long as mentally and physically possible. Riley slid her finger down the soft Phoenix feather she used as a book mark, its long, thin, and soft ‘bristle’ like extensions flowed like a wave beneath her fingers. She had known Dumbledore for only a year but it now felt like a life-time, she was not sure how she’d be able to face Hogwarts again knowing he was gone.
“Riley.” A teenage male voice said stepping through the doorway. “I was in the Library talking with Caroline…why are you still down here?”
Riley turned to look at him; his voice had snapped her out of her thoughts and back to reality. “I’m reading.”
The teenage boy walked over and sat in front of her, he-like her-looked quite older than he was, he was about 16 but looked more like 21. His black hair was deathly untidy but yet looked as if it was meant that way, his eyes-his dark, captivating, pool like green eyes looked almost identical to his father’s-it always seemed to make Riley shiver. “I’m really sorry about you’re grandfather, I…”
Riley cut him off, “Nick.” Riley called him by his real nickname, she had come to realize he, his cousin Dragon and Tonks all had one thing in common-they hated using their first names and only certain people could. She smirked gently at the protest going on within his eyes at his name, “I know you didn’t know, if you had you would have stopped it, or at least tried to. I doubt your father had anything to do with it, Dygon. Snape killed my grandfather and no one else. Snape and Snape alone killed him; your father did not kill him.”
“You can’t act like he didn’t have something to do with it, Riley. You know how he is; he was behind it-teamed up with Voldemort-we can’t deny that. If Voldemort has friends, dad’s his best friend. I just feel….” He paused he knew if he said the word Riley would just about slap him.
“Guilty?” Her tone was kind but scolding. She couldn’t be fully mad at Nicholas; his house hold growing up had never been a pleasant one. Snare, his father, was a follower of Voldemort and a murderer, his mother was killed after he was born and his eldest brother when he was 10-both by his father. His sister Caroline was a complete sweet heart, though she was shy around most people she was an extraordinary wizard who was always there for anyone who needed help, when she is living at home Snare would take advantage of his daughter’s timid ness and curse her often. His second eldest brother, Tomas had fled to Australia after Anderson’s (the eldest brother’s) murder, he just could not take all of the memories left at home. Then came Nathaniel, Nathaniel was close friends with Lee Jordan, Fred and George-that about explains it all. Finally it was Nicholas; he had always stuck more around his eldest brothers and his sister. He was the closest you could be to his father but still be good which seemed to worry a lot of people-they were afraid he would turn to his dad, though Riley knew otherwise. “Don’t you feel guilty,” She wagged her feather at him. “This did not in any way, shape or form have to do with your family. Your dad may have done some horrible things but he didn’t do this so relax-okay.”
A slight smiled appeared on his face, “I’m still sorry about it.” He scanned her face with his eyes. “I thought you’d be more upset than this.” His eyes and face looked worried, he knew her way too well.
Riley smiled to show him nothing abnormal was going on, “I’m okay, this happened for a reason.” She let her smiled fade naturally. ‘Such a lie’ she thought to herself, ‘you’re lying to him and he knows it, he just won’t tell you he does. You are the furthest from okay you have ever been, yet still you won’t let him help-what kind of friend are you?’
Nicholas nodded lightly, “Course.” He wasn’t going to fight with her, she didn’t want to talk about it now-he wouldn’t make her. “I’m going to be going upstairs-are you going to be going upstairs tonight?”
Riley looked past Nicholas and at the fire then back at him, “I don’t know to be truthful.” She sighed and looked down at her potions book, course she knew.
“I’m worried about you Ri,” Nick had never quite gotten used to calling her ‘Hawk’, her real nickname, so he stuck with ‘Ri’. “I know you as well as you know yourself, you aren’t as fine as you say you are.”
Riley looked up at smiled at him, “You’re tired.” She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was, “Why don’t you get some rest, we can talk tomorrow-we’ll have plenty of time then.” Truth was she, herself wasn’t quite in the mood to talk-she was tired and upset and just wanted to be alone but didn’t want to be rude to him.
Nicholas scanned her face again, took a hand and tucked some of her blonde hair behind her ears, “Alright.” He kissed her forehead and slipped the quilt off the back of the couch and onto her. “The fire’s not very warm.” He said as an explanation for his actions-which was quite unneeded Riley knew him enough to tell what every movement meant. His mouth turned up in a crooked smile, “Don’t stay up all night.” He stood up placing his hand on her knee in an almost fatherly way and smiled again, “Night.” With that he turned and walked upstairs.
Riley smiled and looked back down at her book placing the feather in it and shutting it. She laid the book on the floor and stretched, suddenly feeling drained she sunk into the couch. She placed her head on the back of it, watching the burning embers of the fire as her eyes slowly shut sending her into a deep restful sleep-surprisingly she
felt as if nothing could harm her.
Nicholas opened the door of the boy’s dorms and entered slipping his jacket off and laying it on his bed.
Harry looked up from his trunk and over to Nicholas, “Hey Dygon.”
Nicholas looked over and smiled, “Hey Harry.” On the outside he looked perfectly happy like nothing had ever gone wrong-on the inside it was a different story. He was sadden by the loss of Dumbledore-one of the only people who knew how good Nicholas truly was. Though that was not the only thing on his mind, he was thinking of his dad, with Voldemort now on the rise his dad would be involved with more things than imaginable and he would try to rip Nicholas, Nathaniel and Caroline away from their comfortable environment and back with him where their lives were always on the line.
There was also the subject of Riley and Dragon-Voldemort, Snape and Snare all knew of their whereabouts and what they looked like-would the Order, their friends and they themselves be enough to stop Voldemort and his followers from killing them-or trying to. Sure Riley and Dragon were wonderful wizards capable of about the same ability of magic as Voldemort and Dumbledore but neither of them were trained to that extent, Dragon was only in her 6th year she still had a whole other year and Riley was only in her 2nd year. Remus was training all of the students with permission of Minerva and out of the watchful eye of the Ministry but Riley was still not prepared for a full-blown battle against Voldemort, Snape and the man that killed her parents.
Nicholas sighed and sunk down onto his bed laying back closing eyes, his bed felt good considering he was tired, he and his family had spent the whole day trying to avoid the Ministry who had come to investigate the school.
Harry looked over, “Night.”
Nicholas smiled and crawled under his blankets not even bothering changing, “Night.” He and Harry were the only two left awake in the dorms so he had no difficulty finding peace and quiet to fall asleep to.
Harry lightly smiled and sat on his bed leaning into the pillows while opening a photograph album. Sirius had given him the album and had put a few pictures of Harry’s parents and their friends in it so it had been somewhat started. He looked at the pictures Sirius had put in and then flipped to where he had placed his own pictures.
Okay, I'll have to finnish that chapter sometime and actually post the end of it cause that's where I ended and never finnished and I dearly meant to go on about his burning 'passion for Dragon...just in none of that context and much more teenagerish and harryish.
Much Love + ten thousand crusading soldiers
3 comments:
YAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!I love it!!!!!!!! Wow Dragon was different... and I already knew all that so it wasnt very plot-spoilerish. I hadnt met Riley before though. That part in the books was so sad... of course Harry was with Ginny then not Dragon. I really love your fan fic.
Okay done rambling! And yay for procrastination.
Kelia
...
All I'm going to say is that I love it when you procrastinate.
:DDDDDDDDDD
LOVELOVELOVE.
And Riley is amazing... I really like her. :)
<3L.
First off, SORRY for not commenting for so long! I don't know WHY it took my so long to finish reading this, but I guess my script has been taking over my life a tad. :P
Now.
Katie.
WHY must you have such awesome amazing characters?! WHY?! WHY???!!!!!
It's really not fair. Nicholas?! Riley?! Amazing?! Hello!
Haha okay the springiness is effecting me, I'll try to go quietly now. Try.
YIPPEEEEEEE!!!!
Ooops. :P
GREAT job. :D
♥
Annapants!!!!
Post a Comment