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Harry Potter J'adore Gryffindor Twin Bed Set (Comforter and Pillowcase)
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$89.95
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The Way of the Wizard
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Visit our friendly Harry Potter Forum to discuss the adventures at Hogwarts, like these recent posts:
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Ms. Elsewhere
Joined: 13 January 2008
Posts: 881
Location: In role play game of course!
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Posted: Wednesday 28 July 2010 10 33 43 am Post subject: Re: Next Generation 2 in topic:Next Generation 2 |
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Geneve kept turning around and around, flinching at every sound. She fumbled for her want and held it out. "Lumos!" she shouted. Behind her, the forest floor cracked. She spun around.
"Who's there?" she asked, her voice shaking. She stared into the trees. It was getting dark. She decided to let her eyes wonder to look for her broom. She did not see it anywhere near her. Then she realised, something was watching her. And they were close. She froze. Her breathing increased. And then, it felt like her heart stopped. She turned around and there, only a few footsteps away, was a wizard dressed in black, a hood over their face. It was eerie, like they didn't have feet. Whoever it was stood terribly still.
Geneve stood stupidly quiet, her wand still extended in lumos. She was shaking. "Hello?" she stammered. "Who.. who are you?" The wizard remained motionless. Geneve was sure she was going to faint.
"Ri... right. Well, I guess I'll be going now..." Geneve started to back away, but fell over a tree root. She lay back on the forest floor, lumos light glowing, shuffling and struggling to get back up. The wizard moved like a ghost and knelt down beside her. Geneve stopped struggling. Something calmed her, and then she saw it. IT was a green mist, coming from a vial in his hand. Human, pale hand. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she layed back, entranced.
"You will remember.. nothing." the voice, a sweet voice, a kind voice. She surrendered and tumbled into a dreamless sleep.
Geneve woke up in her bed. she was wearing her night gown and her bed was warm from her sleeping in it for a while. She sat up and looked outside. She tried to pull her thoughts together but could not. She knew she had been out flying with Professor Nomare. But... she had come back. She leaned back on her pillow and sighed. Tom jumped up on her blankets and started to purr.
Geneve reached up to loosen her hair, realising that she had gone to bed in a rush as her hair had not been taken out or washed. She was puzzled. she decided to go to the bathroom and try to gather her thoughts. She gathered up Tom, her towel and her bag of soaps and shampoos, and made her way out into the hall. |
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Hermione1981
Joined: 19 July 2008
Posts: 27
Location: USA
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Posted: Friday 23 July 2010 11 25 02 pm Post subject: Re: The boy who live and the Vampires Slayer comes to Hogwart sc in topic:The boy who live and the Vampires Slayer comes to Hogwart sc |
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**** Just a small note if you read the first chapters of the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh year stories that I posted, but I have now chosen to stop writing all seven of the stories at once and to start writing one at a time, you may have notices that I have changes the name of Bethany’s snowy owl from White Rose to Starburst. I did this because female white owls are not completely white but have brown or black markings on them, so the name just did not seem to fit the owl. Also Harry owl Hedwig is a female snowy owl too, but In the films, Hedwig is played by male owls, as male Snowy Owls are whiter. And in the story banner you might have also notice I change Bethany and Tonks bedroom looks for how I had it in the first chapter of the third story, I did this because I did not care for how it uses to look.
A/N: I have decided to give a family tree here so you know who Bethany is relation too in the Harry Potter story line. Eileen (Prince) Snape Born 1930 ( Has two brother and one sister that I made up) aunt, maybe in Slytherin house), Severus Snape ( Eileen and Tobias son) born January 9, 1960 (cousin of Bethany Tonks, Bluebell Prince and Aldabella prince made up), Tobias Snape maybe born in the 1930 ( Eileen husband and Severus father also a Muggle) Edward Prince (Uncle, was in Slytherin house) Born in May 20 1935-1981 kill by unknown death eater and his Patronus was a lion (I made up), Blossom (Burke) Prince born April 10 1934-1981 killed by unknown death eater patronus lioness (Belvina (Black) Burke and Herbert Burke daughter and is Edward wife, she was in Slytherin house, I made up), Bluebell Prince born Oct 2 1980( Blossom and Edward daughter) lives with Snape and is in Slytherin, but later ask to be resorted at the beginning of her fifth year and her patronus is a female tiger (I made up), Elwyn prince born July 24 1940- Oct 2 1981 killed by death eater Rodolphus Lestrange and his patronus is a owl (was in Ravenclaw House ( Uncle, I made up), Lucius Malfoy (has one sister, which I made up(Uncle) son of Abraxas Malfoy), Narcissa Malfoy (aunt and Lucius wife), Draco Malfoy June 5, 1980 (cousins), Carly (Malfoy) Prince September 7, 1942-Dec. 9, 1981, her patronus was a butterfly ( Aldabella mother and Draco’s aunt and also Lucius sister) (Elwyn wife and also was in Ravenclaw house, which her parents hated), Aldabella Prince Born Dec. 9 1981, shorted into Gryffindor house and her Patronus is a Mermaid and Centaur (Name means old and noble, called Bella for short by her aunt Narcissa, uncle Lucius and cousin Draco and she is Elwyn and Carly daughter, She see in the first story only once and mention a few times, but does not come into the story as a major character to Harry second year at Hogwart and Aldabella is in the same year as Ginny Weasley. She went to live with Lucius, Narcissa and Draco after her mom die shortly after her birth), Elizabeth (Prince) Tonks (Bethany mother) born December 31, 1954- Oct 28, 1981 and patronus was a unicorn and she was in Slytherin house, Timmothy Tonks (?Aug 1?) 1954- Oct 28, 1981 was in Gryffindor house Patronus was a horse (Bethany father and Ted Tonks twin brother (I made up), Ted Tonks 1954 was in Hufflepuff house (uncle), Andromeda Tonks 1954 was in Slytherin house (aunt), Nymphadora Tonks 1973 was in Hufflepuff house Patronus werewolf (cousin). Bethany Tonks August 31, 1978, Patronus Unicorn, weasel and Dragon. The next four are Bethany and Fred children which comes into play in Harry, Ron, Hermione and Bethany fifth and sixth year, Lily May Eileen Weasley May 1, 1996 Patronus will be a Jack Russell terrier, James Sirius Snape Weasley May 1, 1996 Patronus will be a Otter, Haven Ginny Elizabeth Weasley April 28, 1998 Patronus will be a Pegasus and Hans Draco Timmothy Weasley April 28, 1998 Patronus will be a Phoenix, Ron Weasley (Lily May, James Sirius, Heaven Ginny and Hans Draco uncle) Patronus Jack Russell Terrier , Arthur Weasley (Lily May, James Sirius, Heaven Ginny and Hans Draco grandfather) Patronus Weasel, Molly (Prewett) Weasley (Lily May, James Sirius, Heaven Ginny and Hans Draco Grandma), Bill Weasley, Charlie Weasley , Percy Weasley, Fred Weasley (Father), George Weasley, Ginny (Weasley) Potter (Lily May, James Sirius, Heaven Ginny and Hans Draco aunt) Hermione (Granger) Weasley Patronus Otter (Lily May, James Sirius, Heaven Ginny and Hans Draco become they aunt when she marry Ron ), Rose Weasley (Ron and Hermione daughter), Hugo Weasley (Ron and Hermione son), Harry Potter Patronus Stag (Lily May, James Sirius, Heaven Ginny and Hans Draco uncle when he marry Ginny), James Potter II (Harry and Ginny son), Albus Potter (Harry and Ginny son), Lily Potter (Harry and Ginny daughter), also relation to Mrs. and Mr. Weasley (Molly and Arthur) parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, Etc.
So there you go, a family tree to let you all know who Bethany Tonks is relation too. Also I was not able to found where Tonks family home actual was in the Harry potter story, all I could found online was that it is in the united Kingdom, so I just chose the countryside town of Honiton, East Devon. I chose this countryside town because it is in the same district that Ottery St. Catchpole, Ottery St. Mary and Otterton, Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth, Seaton, Sidmouth along with Axminster Rural District and part of St. Thomas Rural and I also chose this because the Weasley family house is just outside the village of Ottery St. Catchpole, so this makes the Tonks in the some district as the Weasley, but not in the some town seeing that Hagrid and Harry use Tonks house as a safe location in the seventh book.
Chapter Two: A family reunion: Part one
Outside Bethany aunt, uncle and cousin are loading her Steamer trunks into her uncles’ car. Bethany’ s is upstairs in the bedroom, she shares with her cousin Tonks (Nymphadora) who just finish her seventh year of Hogwart in June, Bethany is looking around the bedroom making sure she has not left anything she needs for school or slaying behind in the bedroom. Bethany looks at her cousin bed which has a solid blue bedspread with light blue stars on it and then look up at the wall above the bed and sees the Hufflepuff house banner and the banner for Hogwart with all the school houses on it and begins to think about what house she will be shorted into and know she could end up in any of the four houses seeing that she has had family members that were in Hufflepuff, Slytherin house, Gryffindor house and Ravenclaw house . She then looks over at her bed which is the one with the light blue bedspread with medium blue striped on it. She then looks over at the desks, which are up against the wall on the left-hand side of Bethany bed (if you are standing in front of the end of the bed, looking towards the headboard) and she notices the empty bird cage and at the sometime her new snowy owl Starburst comes flying through the opening bedroom window and she sees that her watcher Remus Lupin has sent a reply back to the letter she sent him last night. Starburst flies over to Bethany and lands on her right shoulder Bethany’s takes the latter off the leg and goes over to her cousins’ desk and gets an owl treat out and then she gives the owl treat to her owl, who fly off her owner shoulder and into the opening bird cage. Bethany goes over and closes the cage door and then opens up the letter and starts pacing as she starts to read her letter, which says Dear Bethany thanks for sending me a letter using your new owl last night, so I know what the owl looks like. She is a very sweat owl and I am happy you did not buy a small Scops Owl like you were thinking about getting, because then you would have had to borrow a school owl for long distance trips and since I will be traveling a lot this year, that would be a big pain, seeing that my owl pass away three days ago and I have not get a new one yet, when I get a new owl I will let you know. As for what you ask me in the letter, it best if I talk to you about that in person, I will meet you at the train station and we will talk about it in one of the waiting room, before you get on the train to Hogwart.
I will see you at the train station tomorrow and by the way I am picking up your cousin Bluebell Prince for Severus Snape house and give her a ride to the train station seeing that Severus has to be at Hogwart in the morning, But I have to go now.
Your watcher Remus Lupin
Bethany folds the letter up and kneels down next to her school bag. She then pulls the flap cover up on her school bag and she puts the letter into the main compartment of the bag. Bethany closes the flap cover and stand up, she picks her school bag up and put the shoulder strap onto her right shoulder. She then walks over and picks up the bird cages that Starburst is in and walks towards the bedroom door. When she reaches the door of the bedroom, Bethany stops for a few seconds and looks across the hallway to her aunt and uncles’ bedroom and at the hallway which is printing gold. She then walks out of her and Tonks bedroom, turning to the stair case on the right, if coming out of Tonks and Bethany’s bedroom and to the left if coming out of Bethany’s aunt and uncle bedroom. As she walks down the staircase Bethany wish that her watcher would have answers her questions about the dream she keeps having about the new Defense Against the dark art teacher Quirinus Quirrell, because if the dream is right then, he could cause major trouble at Hogwart school of witchcraft and Wizardry this year. Bethany’s thought quickly changes as she walks down the staircase, to for the first time in my life who will there be for me to talk with when I wake up from one of my awful nightmare about when my parents or Harry Potter parents’ were killed or about my prophetic dreams, seeing I could always talk to Tonks, my aunt and Uncle or Remus Lupin. As she reaches the last step of the staircase, she thinks to herself I might be able to talk to Harry at lest about the nightmare about how our parents were killed, But I have to ask Lupin what I should do if I have a prophetic dream at Hogwart. Bethany looks into the conservatory and outside taking in how beautiful the countryside of Honiton is. She hears her aunt come through the front door and turns her back on the conservatory and walks down the hallway, which walls are printing sliver on the top half and gold on the bottom half of the walls. Bethany walks past the dining room on her left-hand side, she then walks past the kitchen also on her left-hand side and then turn to her right and into the reception room/library and at the sometime her Aunt Andromeda walks up to her.
“ Are you ready to leave Bethany?”
“Yeah I am ready to go now.”
“ I see that Starburst is back, did Remus Lupin write you back?”
“ Yeah Remus Lupin, write me back aunt Andromeda!”
“ What did he say Bethany?”
“ This is what Remus Lupin told me “ He says that Starburst is a very sweat owl and I am happy you did not buy a small Scops Owl like you were thinking about getting, because then you would have had to borrow a school owl for long distance trips and since I will be traveling a lot this year, that would be a big pain, seeing that my owl pass away three days ago and I have not get a new one yet, when I get a new owl I will let you know. As for what you ask me in the letter, it best if I talk to you about that in person, I will meet you at the train station and we will talk about it in one of the waiting room, before you get on the train to Hogwart. I will see you at the train station tomorrow and by the way I am picking up your cousin Bluebell Prince for Severus Snape house and give her a ride to the train station seeing that Severus has to be at Hogwart in the morning, But I have to go now.
Your watcher Remus Lupin ” But I wish he would have answers my question about the dream, because I had the dream again last night.”
“ Remus Lupin say he will meet you at the train station, so you will found out what he thinks about the dream soon enough.”
“ Ok, But I help Severus Snape is not home when Remus Lupin gets to his house to pink up Bluebell, seeing that he never like the fact that he is a werewolf.”
“But he is showing that he trusts Remus by letting him give Bluebell a ride to the train stations and that is a good thing. Also we need to get going, now Bethany.”
“ Ok, lets go!”
Bethany and her aunt walk towards the down and pass the drawing room on the right and setting room on the left, if facing the front door and then walk out of the house. Bethany walks towards the driveway and Andromeda closes and locks the front door behind her, at the sometime Bethany sees that her uncle and cousin are already in the red 1988 Ford Orion. Bethany opens up the driver side passengers’ door and gets into the car. Bethany then sets Starburst’s cage on the seat in between Tonks and her. The white owl that has brown marking on her head, back, wings and tail looks at Tonks and then at Bethany she then close her eyes, which are yellow with black pupils. Starburst goes to sleep as Mr. Tonks backs the car out of the driveway at the sometime Bethany has just set her school bag on the floor behind her feet. Bethany opens her school bag and takes out Magical Droughts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger and starts to read the book. This textbook is one of two potion textbooks Professor Snape requires his students to have, the other textbook is One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. Tonks look over at her cousin and see she is reading Magical Drafts and Potions and then Tonks then lays her head against the back of the seat and listing to the car radio, which is on the Wizarding Wireless Network and is playing the song, Do the Hippogriff by The Weird Sisters and differs off to sleep and start dreaming of her first day in Professor Snape potions class and she can see herself setting at one of the table in the back of the Dungeon classroom, she has both textbooks out which are Magical Droughts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger and One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi out along with her Cauldron and Scales, but has not getting out any potion ingredients, since she does not know what potion Professor Snape will assign for the first potions class, which just happens to be a double period. Tonks and the rest of the class turn around looking towards the classroom door when they hear it slam shut and see Professor Snape walking towards the front of the classroom. Snape turns towards the class when he gets to the front of the room and look around at the new first year students.
“ Class today’s lesson we are making the boil cure potion, each one of you will need these ingredients: dried nettles, crushed snake fangs, stewed horned slugs, porcupine quills and Flobberworm Mucus. If you have not getting out your cauldron and scales do so now, if you have your cauldron and scale out please get the potion ingredients out of your supplies if you have them, if not you can go over to the students potion ingredient storage cabinet and get them from there.
The Slytherin house students, Charlie Weasley and Tonks were the only students that had both their cauldron and also their scale out and the rest of the students had to get them out. But out of the group that had their scales and cauldrons out only Tonks and Charlie Weasley had to go up to the students potion ingredient storage cabinet. Charlie and Tonks stand up at the sometime and the two of them start walking towards the cabinet together. They are half way to the storage cabinet when Tonks does not see an old rust cauldron that on the classroom floor and trips over the cauldron which cause her to falls down. She looks up to see the whole classroom staring at, which cause her face and hair to turn red with embarrassed at the sometime Charlie walks over and kneels down next to her.
“ Are you all right?”
“ Yeah just embarrassed is all, I should have seen that cauldron.”
“ It could have been worst, my older brother Bill, who just started his second year here said during his first potions class a kid trip and fell face first into the boil cure potion.”
“ I guess you are right!”
“Do you need help getting up?”
“ No, I can get up on my own, but if you could get my potion ingredients for me, so I can go to the lavatory and get clean up?”
“Sure”
“Thanks”
Starburst who has been pulling at Tonks sleeve and trying to get her to wake up stop pulling at her sleeve and start picking Tonks hand with her beak. Tonks look down at the owl and then around the car and see that she and the owl are the only ones in the car, she then looks out the car window and see her cousin, mom and dad walking towards the trunk of the car. Tonks take her seatbelt off and open up the car door. Bethany looks up from getting a streamer trunk out of the trunk of the car when she hears Tonks close the car door. Andromeda walks over to her door and takes a close look at her.
“ Mom why are you looking at me with that worry mother look?”
“ Because you sleep the whole way to King Cross is why and normal you more talking on the why here and you were talking in your sleep and it was about your first day it potions class are you feeling alright because you look tired?”
“ Great now, you all know the embarrassing way I meet Charlie Weasley.”
“ It not that embarrassing Tonks, at lest you did not trip in front of the whole school and knock Charlie Weasley down too!”
“True, it just not the way I would have want to meet him for the first time.
“ Nymphadora Tonks you did not answers your mom question!”
“ Yeah I feel fine, just tired is all I did not sleep good last night!”
“ Bethany get back to work and Tonks start to help us get Bethany streamer trunks and Owl out of the car, we still have to meet with Remus Lupin’s before taking Bethany trough the barrier onto platform 9 3/4!”
“ Yes dad!”
“ Did not give me yes dad Nymphadora Tonks and there are no Trolley left so we have to carrying the trunks into the waiting room, then Tonks, Andromeda, Bluebell or I can go look for one that not been used when Bethany talking to Remus!”
“ Ok uncle Ted”
Tonks hair changing from purple to a reddish/ pink color, but like her cousin, dad and mom she gets to work helping unloading the streamer trunks out of the trunk of the car. Once all the streamer trunks are out of the car trunk Bethany gets Starburst who is in her birdcage still out of the car and joins her aunt, uncle and cousin in looking at the six trunks, because there are two large trunks which are full of clothing plus her school textbooks, notebooks, parchments, quill and ECT along with three medium trunks two of them have her slayer books and one of them has the rest of her slayer supply and the sixth trunk is the small trunk which has her potion ingredients in it.
“The two medium trunks with the books are the heaviest trunks. The next heavy trunk is the light brown because it has clothing, plus school textbooks, notebooks, parchments. quill and ECT in it.”
“ Bethany, how many do you think each of us should take or how many do you want to carry?”
“ I will carry the three medium trunks, uncle Ted!”
“ I take the brownish/ blackish large one, Dromeda (nickname Ted calls his wife) how about you take the large light brown trunk and Dora (Ted nickname for his daughter) carry the small trunk and the owl!”
Both Tonks and Andromeda shank their heads yes and Bethany hand Tonks the birdcage Starburst is in. Then the four of them all pick up the trunk or trunks they are carrying and walks into the train station. Bluebell and Remus Lupin who are watching for Bethany, Ted, Andromeda and Nymphadora Tonks from the door of the waiting room. When Bluebell see her cousin, the girl with dark brown hair (almost black) and brown eyes, she runs out of the waiting room and over to Bethany and takes the top trunk off the top of the pile of three trunks Bethany is carrying and leads the four Tonks to the Waiting room, Remus Lupin close the frosted glass doors of the waiting room when they are all inside of the room. Bethany set the two trunks she carrying up against the frosted Glass wall and Bluebell set the one she carry on top of the two Bethany set down. Tonks set the small one on top of the trunks Bluebell just put done. Andromeda set the trunk she carrying in front of the pile of four and Ted puts the trunk he carry down next to the trunk he wife set down. By now Remus, Bethany and Tonks is standing near the fire place and Bethany has put her school bag down up against the wall that the fire place is on and Remus, Tonks and her are standing in front of. Andromeda has set done on the top end of trunk her husband was carrying, seeing that it was set done on end to end instead of set the bottom of the trunk on the floor. Ted is leaning against the glass wall. Bluebell is set in one of the chairs that in the row against the wall and has her feet on the chair in front of her and she wrap her arms around her legs just below her knees and is looking toward Ted who has medium length brown hair and brown eyes and Andromeda who also has brown hair and brown eyes . Also, Bluebell’s cat Gypsy has just opened Starburst’s cage which is setting on top of the light brown streamer trunk and is now playing with Tonks boot laces. Remus Lupin looks at his slayer and then out Bluebell.
“ Preteen and teenage today are different then when I was that age.”
“ Why are we so different Mr. Remus Lupin?”
“ Well for one Bluebell preteen and teenage did not come to King cross to leave for their first day at Hogwart wearing a long sleeve green t-shirt with a camouflage t-shirt and jeans or Jeans with holes in them or a white tank top with a 3/4 sleeve suit jacket. They also did not have purple highlights in their hair!”
“ Well time have changes Remus Lupin, now will you answers the question I ask in the note that I write you last night?”
“ Yes I will Bethany, I would keep a eye on Quirinus Quirrell, because if He who must not be name is still semi alive and has possessed him and is share his body then Harry Potter could be in grave danger this year and I want you to keep an eye on Harry Potter this year and make sure he stays safe and out of harms way. And yes it is also possibly that He who must not be name wants him to find and steal the sorcerer stone for him.
“ I have another question for you Remus Lupin”.
“ What is the question Bethany?”
“ What should I do if I have a prophecy dream at Hogwart?”
“ You can sent me a owl or if you need an answer fast then that you can talk to Albus Dumbledore or Severus Snape about it. And also Albus Dumbledore will know where I am at all times, so if you really feel that you need to talk to me in person, go talk to him and he will help you get to where I am at that day.”
“ Ok”
“ Ted and I are going to go and see if we can found two trolleys, one for Bluebell and also one for Bethany”.
Bethany: Ok aunt Andromeda”.
Ted open the door and Andromeda walk out of the waiting room fellow by Ted who closes the door behind them. Bluebell stands up and picks up her cat Gypsy and walks over to the cat carry which is on top of her steamer trunk and opens the cat carry up. Bluebell then puts Gypsy inside the carry and close it up, she also close Bethany owl cage and then goes and set back down and Tonks takes a set next to her.
“ Bluebell what is Professor Snape like at home, because as a potion professor he is really tough and favor Slytherin house students over the other students and if you not in slytherin house you better not mess around in his class or he will take house points off your house total and he is a very tough grade too?”
“ He is actual the complete opposite at home.”
“ You mean he is caring and has a soft side?”
“ Yeah and if I am really upset about something and need to talk he is a great listens and he always be able to comfort me when I had a nightmare, but he is very protected of me just as if he was my real dad even there he is only my cousin. But I guess that a good thing seeing that he has been a father figure to me since my mother and father died when I was still a born and he is old enough to be my father!”
Just then Ted and Andromeda come back with two trolleys Tonks and Bluebell stop talking and Bethany and Bluebell loads their streamer trunks onto the trolleys that are close to their trunks and then Bethany goes and grabs her school bag and puts it on her right shoulder. Then the six of them leave the waiting room and head to the barrier that leads into platform 9 3/4! |
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GryffindorAnimagus
Joined: 4 June 2010
Posts: 35
Location: New Jersey USA
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Posted: Friday 23 July 2010 10 41 07 pm Post subject: One Step at a Time in topic:One Step at a Time |
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[b]A/N So this is my first attempt at a HP fan fic. Let me know what you think. I do not own Harry Potter that is all JKR. [/b]
[red]Chapter One[/red]
Harry woke up confused and disoriented. He could feel something warm pressed up against his side but he was unsure of what it could be. He looked around and could tell that he was in his four poster bed. He sat up slowly and was quickly reminded of the battle from the day before by the pain he was in. Every part of him hurt from the year long marathon that was finally over.
Harry looked down and realized that Ginny was the one that was pressed up against him. She must have crawled into bed with him after he fell asleep. Slowly he reached over and grabbed the Marauders map, making sure not to wake Ginny in the process. He whispered the incantation and the map slowly came into focus. Harry wanted to make sure where everyone was before he put the his plan into action. His first step was to find Ginny but she made that one easy for him because she came to him during the night. The map showed that Ron and Hermione where in Ron’s bed, Percy and George were also in the room as was Seamus and Dean. The rest of the Weasleys were in one of the other Gryffindor rooms and everyone else was in various dorms around the castle. The only exception to this was the aurors who were patrolling the halls to ensure safety.
Harry wiped the map and put it away. He bend down and kissed Ginny softly, first on each of her eyelids and then on her check. Her eyes fluttered open and she gave a smile as harry whispered, “Quietly, I do not want to wake anyone up, will you come with me?” She nodded and took his hand.
Harry led her out of the room and out the portrait hole. The Fat Lady smiled but said nothing. The auror who was patrolling the hall said, “Harry you are up early, where are you headed?” Harry just pulled Ginny along without answering him. Once Harry led Ginny down to the secluded tree by the black lake he sat down.
“Harry, what’s wrong? It’s over now.” Ginny was looking at Harry with concern all over her face. She sat down beside him and waited. After a few minutes Harry spoke. “I am so sorry Ginny. I am sorry for what I did to you. I am sorry for everyone who died in my war. I am sorry that I hurt you and,” Ginny interrupted Harry. She could not let him finish. “This was our war and you are not to blame for any of it. If you did not do anything think how many lives would have been lost. All of us who stood up and fought knew that we could die. We choose to risk ourselves for the ones we loved.” Ginny had to take a deep breath before she could continue. Then she took Harrys face in her hands and put her forehead to his. “As for hurting me, Harry, I was worried for you because I love you so much. In my heart I knew that we never really broke up. I knew that you would have stayed if you could. I love you, Harry James Potter.” With that she gave him a peck on the check.
Harry whispered into Ginny’s ear, ‘I love you more than life itself Ginerva Molly Weasley. You are the reason I kept going when my body wanted to stop. I would and will do anything to keep you safe.”
They kissed, slow at first but building. They kissed to make up for the year they were forced apart from their true other halves. They stretch out under the tree and fell asleep in each other’s arms in the early morning hours. |
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DucksRMagical
Joined: 28 December 2006
Posts: 2535
Location: Going through LeakyCon withdrawal
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Posted: Sunday 11 July 2010 04 45 38 pm Post subject: Re: Beyond the Shadow in topic:Beyond the Shadow |
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Chapter 12: Victoire's News
I thought it would have been easy to get sucked into work again and not think about my lunch with Dillan, but even while my mind was on wizards with plants sprouting out of their ears, witches with odd orange rashes, and children with spattergroit, Dillan was there in the back of my mind. It was strange since every other time I'd gone on a date I'd easily been able to forget about the blokes at work. Although, thinking about that now, it probably wasn't a good thing.
Victoire bombarded me with questions about the lunch as I was walking back to my study after clinic duty and I told her everything, as I promised. She was thoroughly excited and promised to help me pick out an outfit for our date on Friday. However we couldn't talk for very long since she was seeing patients all afternoon. As she headed back to the Spell Damage floor I headed off to find Morris to see if he'd ran Matt's tests yet.
Morris was in his study writing up notes when I entered a little while later. He must have known immediately why I was there because as soon as I sat down he handed me a piece of parchment with Matt's name, the date, and a time stamp of an hour earlier. It was his test results and according to them he no longer had any Wolfsbane in his system.
“Thank Merlin,” I muttered. “Did you run it twice to be sure?”
“Three times,” he answered. “They all gave the same results and Matt seems much better. He's tired of course, but I'm planning on discharging him before I go home tonight.”
I nodded. I'd insist he stay with me for the night, but he'd be far less bored in my flat than in the ward. “Mind if I keep this?”
“Go right ahead,” Morris said. “I've got another copy.”
“Thanks. I'm not starting a new version of the potion until I figure out why he reacted like this. I don't want it happening again,” I said.
“Probably a good idea,” Morris agreed. “Let me know what you find out.”
“I will,” I answered as I left his study.
My next stop was the ward, where I found Matt sitting up in bed reading some sort of book on the Chudley Cannons. He has so many books on that team that it makes me wonder not only where he finds them but what sort of authors would actually want to write books about such an awful Quidditch team. And I mean awful as in their playing, not that I hate them, because I'm quite indifferent about Quidditch.
“Hey, Amy,” he greeted me. “Hear the good news?”
“Sure did,” I replied. “All the Wolfsbane is gone, but we still haven't got a clue as to why it stayed in there. Morris said he's going to discharge you sometime today, but I think you should come spend the night at my place.”
“Sounds good.”
“And you're not going back to work tomorrow. I think you need to rest another day,” I told him.
“Seriously? But I've already missed so many days.”
“Don't tell me you're starting to become a workaholic, too.” I groaned.
“No, you got all of those genes. It's just I know the only reason I got that job is because of Dad and I don't want to give the Ministry anymore reasons to dislike the fact that I'm working there.”
“They don't dislike it,” I argued.
“I'm not five anymore,” Matt said. “You can't hide stuff like that from me anymore.”
He had a point, I thought. “All right, we'll compromise. You can go in in the afternoon so long as you continue to get better tonight. I'm sure Morris would agree with me on this.”
“Ok, that'll work,” Matt agreed.
“Good,” I replied. “I'm going down to the basement to work for the rest of the afternoon, but I haven't got anymore patients to see today so when Morris discharges you we'll go home.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
After swinging by my study to gather my very large collection of notes on every single version of Wolfsbane I had ever created, along with Matt's medical file from Morris's study, I headed down to the brewing rooms. By some stroke of luck I wasn't stopped by anyone on my way. I wasn't planning on doing any actual brewing that day, but experience had taught me that holing myself up in a brewing room would result in less interruptions than doing the same in my study.
My usual room was empty so I dumped the stack of notes onto the desk and settled down for what was sure to be a long afternoon. I couldn't risk creating a potion like my most recent one again so I had to figure out what had caused Matt to have such an awful reaction. The only way to do that was to study my notes until I reached some sort of conclusion.
Now that Matt was better and I had had a day to think about what had happened I realized that Morris was right. As awful as it had been for Matt to have a reaction like that to a potion, it was helpful in the long run. Generally, with experimental potions, negative reactions were better than no reaction at all when it came to figuring out how to make the potion better. When Matt had no reaction to a potion I created I had nothing to go on; all I was able to say was that that specific potion didn't work. Now I had a clue, something to tell me what was going wrong. If only I knew what that specific clue was.
No matter what Matt's reaction was to new potions, my first step afterwards was to add a new line into my ever expanding chart of failed potions. Each potion had a line that included the ingredients, the type of cauldron it was brewed in, the amounts of ingredients, and every other seemingly insignificant step that went into brewing potions. The littlest thing could be the difference between a useful and useless potion. Along with information about the actual potion I also kept a separate chart of each person who had taken each potion. The people varied, although Matt had taken each one. For that very reason (and of course the fact that he was my brother) I was focusing the most on his reactions.
Each year I created and tested either three or four potions and since I had been working on it for six years, there were a lot of entries. Some had been as useless as original Wolfsbane and others had had awful side effects, but the most recent one was the worst yet.
After entering the new information into the charts, the first thing I looked at was the concentration of pure Wolfsbane in the potion. Wolfsbane potion was different from pure Wolfsbane, the latter being the active ingredient in the potion. It is the most tricky ingredient to add and if the proportion of it to the other ingredients isn't right, it can have disastrous effects, which is why I thought it had something to do with Matt's reaction.
Regular Wolfsbane potion uses a concentration of .01 percent pure Wolfsbane. Most brewers agree that anything less than .008 concentration is completely useless while anything above .05 percent is deadly. My potions have ranged between .007 and .49 in terms of concentration, with the most recent having .04 percent.
Matt's reaction would have made more sense if the potion had had a higher concentration, especially since the potion made with .49 percent had had no effect on him whatsoever, with the Wolfsbane filtering out of his system in the normal twelve hour window. That meant that this was far more complicated than the concentration of pure Wolfsbane. It meant that it had something to do with a reaction amongst the ingredients.
To make matters even more confusing, Morris had discovered years ago that Matt had a very high metabolism, which was part of the reason why he believed Wolfsbane potion didn't work for him. Morris discovered that Matt's body processed Wolfsbane between eight and nine hours rather than the standard twelve, but even when he was given Wolfsbane potion every eight hours instead of twelve, it still didn't help him. But it made it even more confusing that this time the Wolfsbane wouldn't filter at all.
Scouring my notes for anything that might help is a very tedious task and after working at it for two hours I still came up with nothing. I was about to start my third time reading them when there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” I said, thinking it was probably one of the junior brewers with a question.
“I knew I'd find you here.”
I looked up and saw Victoire, looking if possible, even more pregnant than she had the previous day. “It's where I'll be for the foreseeable future until I figure this potion out.”
“Well can you pry yourself away from your notes long enough to hear my good news?” Victoire asked.
I glanced up again and really looked at Victoire. She was glowing, positively glowing, and had a huge smile on her face. She looked even more excited than she did when she was told her baby didn't have lycanthropy. “Of course.”
“Just had another Healer appointment,” she told me.
“You did?” I asked. I couldn't recall her telling me about it. “I don't remember you saying anything about it.”
“I mentioned it a while ago, but I'm sure you forgot after what happened,” she said. “Anyway, they ran another test, this one to tell us the sex-”
“Did you find out?” I interrupted.
“Yup,” Victoire said. “But that's not the best part. The best part is that I'm having twins!”
“Oh my God!” I shrieked and got up to hug her. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks. Teddy's thrilled, especially since they're both boys.”
“Poor Sophie!” I laughed.
“I know. I'm hoping she'll eventually have some cousins who are girls, but I think Weasleys tend to be prone to having boys.”
“Well you can always try for another girl after those boys are born,” I pointed out.
“I was just told that I'm going to have to give birth to not one but two boys in June. The last thing I want to do is thinking about having a fourth,” Victoire said.
“Fair point,” I agreed. “I haven't even had one and I can't even imagine it. I love Sophie of course, but she's like the perfect kid. Surely they're not all like her.”
“Trust me, they're not. I'm sure these boys will be like my Uncles Fred and George, only worse. I've got it coming to me after only having Sophie for five years.”
“Sophie will keep them in line,” I said.
“Even Sophie wouldn't be able to control them if they're like Fred and George,” Victoire said. “Merlin, Amy, even if they're like Sophie I'm still going to have three times as many kids. It's all Teddy and I can do to make sure someone's always around to watch Sophie. We can't rely on my parents and grandparents to watch three kids.”
“But Sophie will be in school soon,” I pointed out. “Are you starting her at that preschool soon?”
“Not all the time. Teddy and I both work a lot of weekends and Sophie won't have school on weekends,” Victoire said. “And yes, she's starting next week. She's so excited!”
“Good.” I smiled. Sophie needed to be around kids her own age.
“I just don't think I can do the working full time thing with two newborn babies and a five-year-old.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I mean...” she paused and sat down in one of my extra chairs, “that I'm thinking of not coming back to St. Mungo's after my maternity leave is up.”
I said nothing for a few minutes. While after hearing what Victoire was saying about taking care of three kids and working full time I sort of expected her to say that, it was still a shock. Victoire wasn't nearly as much of a workaholic as I was, but she had always been determined to work hard at what she does and I couldn't see her not working. Ever since I met her she knew exactly what she wanted career wise and nothing had ever swayed her.
“Have you talked to Teddy about it yet?” I asked.
“Yes,” Victoire answered. “He agrees with me. I mean, he makes a decent salary as an Auror so we don't necessarily need my income. It's weird. When I was in Hogwarts I always imagined having a job and kids but I never thought about how the two would compete. My mum stayed home with me and Gabriella and Ben when we were little and it was so much fun. We weren't ever shuttled off to anyone else's house for a weekend and we never waited until ten or eleven at night for our parents to come home to say good night while a baby-sitter sat in our living room.”
“Sophie doesn't mind that,” I said quietly. “Has she ever complained once about having to spend the day with your parents or grandparents?”
“No,” Victoire said. “But that doesn't mean she doesn't miss us. It wouldn't be forever. Just until the boys were at Hogwarts.” She looked down and placed her hands on her stomach.
“It's up to you,” I said. “My mum was home with Matt and I when we were little, too, so I can see why you would want to. I'll miss you here, if you don't come back.”
“And I'll miss you too. I'll miss everything about this place. It's why I'm so torn. I'm not deciding yet since I won't even leave on maternity leave until May or so.”
“Farina won't be pleased.” I laughed.
“No, definitely not,” Victoire agreed. “So what were you working on when I so rudely interrupted you?”
“You're always welcome to interrupt me,” I said. “Anyone else will get yelled at, but you can.”
“I feel so honored.” Victoire grinned. “So what are you up to? I don't see any steaming cauldrons filled with disgusting tasting liquids that will save the world.”
“Very funny,” I replied. “And I'm not brewing anything today. I'm trying to look at years of notes in order to figure out why Matt had that awful of a reaction to the potion. I get interrupted less down here than in my study, due to my reputation of hexing people who barge in on my brewing.”
“Ah, yes, that intern who you hexed last week never did return.”
“Again, very funny. I did not hex an intern.”
“So I take it you're staying late tonight? I was going to invite you over to dinner tonight. It's just Gabriella, Sophie, and I since Teddy's working,” Victoire explained.
“Nope, not staying late, since Morris is releasing Matt today, but he's coming over to my place for the night. I've got to stay with him.”
“Another time, then. Going to bring all of this home with you?”
“Of course,” I said. “Has Gabriella made any mention of taking off again?”
“No,” Victoire replied. “But she disappears everyday so she must be actually doing something here.”
“If she wasn't, you could hire her as your nanny.”
Victoire and I looked at each other and then burst out laughing at the thought of Gabriella being a nanny. That girl would be a nanny the day John Brickston managed to have a girlfriend for more than a month.
“It's so weird,” I began, “because when we were kids Gabriella was so responsible. She was a prefect and everything.”
“Hey, I suppose some kids rebel in their teenage years and others wait until they're out of Hogwarts.” Victoire shrugged.
“And others don't ever rebel,” I pointed out, thinking of Victoire herself.
“I'm hoping Sophie will take after me.”
My Galleon alert vibrated and I pulled it out of the pocket of my robes. Morris was paging me so that meant he was probably ready to discharge Matt. “I've got to go,” I said. “I think Matt's going to be leaving.”
“All right,” Victoire said as she stood up. “I'll see you tomorrow.”
“Yep, sounds good.” I grabbed all of my paperwork and notes and followed Victoire out of the room, being sure to lock it behind me.
******
Morris was waiting in the Dai Lewellyn ward when I got there a few minutes later, and so was Mum. She was wearing nurse robes and had a stack of clipboards in her arms, so presumably she had snuck away from clinicals for a few minutes to see Matt before he went home. Judging by the irritated look on Matt's face and the bemused one on Morris's, Mum was doing more than just saying hi to her son.
“I just don't think it's a good idea for you to go back to work tomorrow,” Mum said as I shut the door to the ward. “You need another day to rest.”
“Mum.” Matt sighed. “I've been resting for the past three days.”
“You've been here! In the hospital! Twenty-four hours ago you were practically unconscious on that bed, so you can't tell me you don't need another day of rest.”
“I'm practically unconscious once a month but I still only take a couple of days off,” Matt pointed out. “If I rested as much as you wanted me to I'd never get anything done.”
Morris and I shared a look, knowing that this could go on for ages. Despite the fact that both of us had degrees in healing, neither of us had any say in whether Matt went to work tomorrow where Mum is concerned. We could both assure her that Matt was as healthy as she was but she would still insist he stay in bed and eat soup all day. Degrees were nothing compared to motherly love.
When Matt was little, Mum constantly told him to rest and she hardly let him do anything that other little kids did. As he got older he got fed up with it and started arguing with her, but even now that he's in his twenties she still has that pull over him. Hell, she still has that pull over me. If she demanded that I stay in bed and rest I'd probably listen to her, even if Farina was barking in my other ear to get to work.
“Amy said I could go in in the afternoon if I rested in the morning,” Matt said. “Isn't that a good compromise?”
Instead of agreeing with him, Mum turned around and glared at me, as if that wasn't a compromise at all. “Amy's not your mother,” Mum said.
“But she's a Healer!” Matt shouted.
“Not your Healer,” Mum countered.
“Healer Sterling agrees with her,” Matt pointed out.
Morris sighed and shook his head, looking as if he wished he hadn't gotten involved with this, even though he really hadn't. Matt dragged him into it.
“We're busy at work, Mum. We're looking at that proposal Amy did for the foundation and Dad thinks we might be able to get funding for it if you work with the Ministry and it gets declared an official Werewolf Support Services program. I really need to be there.”
I looked at Matt, raising my eyebrows and trying to silently ask him why he hadn't told me about that. Last I knew we were putting that off until after the holidays. Plus, the Ministry had never gotten involved with anything the foundation did.
Mum sighed, clearly defeated. She glanced at her watch and I realized that her defeat probably had less to do with Matt's reasoning than the fact that she needed to get back to work. “Fine. Rest in the morning and work in the afternoon. Dad will tell me if you show up early, so don't.”
Mum set down her clipboards and gave Matt a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek before turning to me. “Don't let him go if he seems to get ill again.” She picked up her clipboards and gave me a one-armed hug before leaving the ward.
“Merlin,” Matt groaned as he sat back down on the bed. “You'd think I was twelve again.”
“She's your mother,” Morris said as he flicked his wand above Matt's head. “She'll worry about you forever, no matter how old you are. Your vitals are normal, so you're good to go.”
“Thanks,” Matt said as he got up. “I'm sure I'll be seeing you again soon.”
“Hopefully not too soon,” Morris replied and then turned to me. “Amy, I'll see you tomorrow.”
I nodded and Matt and I followed Morris out of the now empty ward. I stopped at my study to pick up a few more things and then we headed off for the Floo room. With any luck, I'd have a few hours to try and figure out my notes later that evening. |
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DucksRMagical
Joined: 28 December 2006
Posts: 2535
Location: Going through LeakyCon withdrawal
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Posted: Monday 28 June 2010 05 23 43 pm Post subject: Re: Beyond the Shadow in topic:Beyond the Shadow |
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Chapter 11: Dillan Blayney
It was a very odd feeling to sit in my study and have absolutely nothing to do and it was a feeling that I never had very often. I felt like there was something I should be doing, but after replying to George's letter, there really wasn't anything left, since Farina had given me the day off I had no clinic hours, the only patient in the Dai Lewellyn Ward was Matt, and I hadn't started over on the Wolfsbane yet. The only thing I could have possibly done was look over the data I had just received, but my headache was slowly breaking through the potion I had taken and I knew there would be no way to concentrate on it.
Instead, I just waited. I sat in my chair and did absolutely nothing and it was actually quite refreshing. I couldn't remember the last time I had absolutely nothing to do. Morris was obviously running late, since 4:30 came and went without him showing up. When I finally heard footsteps I got up and met him in Natalie's study.
“Morris,” I said as he set a chart down on Natalie's desk and then picked up another. “How is Matt doing?”
Morris paused and set the chart back down again. “Cancel my five o'clock,” he said to Natalie, who immediately got up and left, presumably to find Morris's five o'clock.
My heart started beating fast as Morris gestured for me to follow him into his study. If Matt had been doing all right, Morris wouldn't have canceled an appointment. What had happened that was so awful he needed an entire appointment time to tell me about?
Morris's study looks exactly like mine except it was filled with far more books and several pictures of his wife, children, and grandchildren adorned the walls and sat upon his desk. I sat in in the leather armchair in front of his desk while he took the seat behind it. He flipped through a stack of parchment and set a sheet in front of me. I glanced at it.
“Matt's results from yesterday?” I asked, curious as to why he was showing them to me again.
“No,” Morris said quietly. “Those are new. Results from a blood test taken only three hours ago.” He pointed to the date in the upper right hand corner. January second, 2:07pm.
Morris set another piece of parchment alongside it. Matt's results from the day before. The numbers were exactly the same. The exact same amount of Wolfsbane was running through Matt's system that afternoon as had been the previous day. Why wasn't it getting processed? Why was it staying in his system? Why was a medicine that was supposed to be filtered through a person's system in less than twelve hours staying there for nearly forty-eight?
“Again, I ran the same test three times. I had three different technicians run it and used three separate test potions. Then I had the test potions sent for testing and ran three tests each on each of them. The potions are fine. The results are as they are,” Morris said quietly.
I swallowed hard. In all my years of studying lycanthropy, all my years of treating people with it, and all my years of brewing various types of Wolfsbane I had never seen a case where Wolfsbane did not filter out of a person's system in twelve hours, give or take a few. And if had never happened before, what were we supposed to do?
“Have you ever known this to happen before?” I asked, hoping that since Morris had been working as a Healer far longer than she had, he would know something.
“No,” he replied. “But I think if we treat the Wolfsbane as any other toxin, because it is a toxin to someone with lycanthropy, we should be able to flush it out.
That made sense. It was a good thing Morris was able to remain calm enough to think clearly. I suppose that was why I'm not Matt's Healer. Morris was able to separate the rational thinking from his emotions when it came to Matt, whereas I certainly wasn't.
“What about the after effects?” I asked.
“That is what I am more worried about,” he replied. “We won't know what they are until the Wolfsbane is gone and he's awake and conscious. At the very least he's going to be incredibly exhausted. Other than that, I really don't know. The best thing we can do is flush out the Wolfsbane as quickly as possible.”
“Well let's start right now, then.” I stood up, wondering why we were wasting time talking.
“I already have. I've had the potion running intravenously for the past hour.”
Of course he had, Morris was always on top of things. “Have my parents been by?”
“This morning, and on their lunch breaks,” Morris answered. “I expect they'll be back once they're done with work.”
“I'm going to go sit with him.”
“I'll go with you,” Morris said. “I've got to check the IV.”
Morris and I walked in silence to the ward. Matt was curled up on his side on the bed, covered in three of those flannel hospital blankets that weren't really very warm, a tall pole with a bag of potion danging from it next to the bed. A tube ran from the bag into the back of Matt's hand, which was resting upon the blankets. It was a Muggle IV contraption since magic couldn't replicate the steady drip that an IV had. In order for his system to be properly flushed, he had to have constant potion dripping into his body.
As we drew nearer I saw that his face was still flushed with fever, yet he was sleeping soundly. Morris drew his wand and waved it over Matt. “His fever's gone down.”
“That's a good sign,” I said as I sat down in a chair next to the bed.
“Definitely,” Morris agreed as he fiddled with the bag of potion. “I'm going to leave this in for twenty-four hours and then we'll test again.”
I nodded. Morris finished doing whatever he was doing with the potion and left. Then it was quiet. Matt was sleeping very soundly and not snoring at all and the lack of other patients of course attributed to the silence. I was alone with my thoughts and at the moment which was kind of a scary thing.
Deep down, I knew Dad was right that I couldn't liken this potion disaster to what had happened when Matt was eight, but on the surface it was hard not to. Plus, regardless of whether the two were similar or not something I had created had still harmed my brother and there was no getting around that. People could assure me time and time again that Matt had consented to take the Wolfsbane but that didn't matter. He didn't have a degree in healing or brewing so he counted on me to tell him what was safe and what wasn't when it came to those fields. I hadn't done that.
The door to the ward opened and Mum and Dad walked in, both looking in dire need of a nap. They took seats on the other side of Matt's bed.
“The Wolfsbane is still in his system,” I told them, and proceeded to explain everything Morris had already told me.
“Nothing to do but wait, then,” Dad said quietly.
“Sometimes I wonder if it'll even be worth it, in the end,” I said.
“What?” Mum asked.
“This,” I gestured to Matt. “Giving him potions that nearly kill him just for the small chance that I might come up with one that will work. What if in the end I don't come up with one? Then he will have gone through all of this for nothing.”
“You will come up with one,” Dad assured me. “Stop thinking you won't. And it's not for nothing because even though this one didn't work, it will provide answers once you sit down and compare it with the others.”
“But is it worth it to use my own brother as a guinea pig?”
“That's a question that has no answer,” Dad said. “If he comes out of this not wanting to test anymore potions then fine. But if he still wants to try them, that's his decision.”
I nodded, mostly to appease my father and not because I necessarily agreed, because I was not sure that I did. My father, as intelligent as he was, did not have the training in healing and medicine that I had. Give him a complicated question about a magical creature and he'd give you the answer with hardly a thought and no doubt it would be correct, but there were aspects to the morals of healing that he did not understand. Even I did not completely understand them because they were beyond the scope of the few morals classes I took in training.
Patients don't get to decide what treatment they get even if a healer explains the risks and they claim they understand the risks. A healer still has the final say. If Jamie's parents had wanted to start him on my experimental Wolfsbane as soon as he'd stopped taking normal Wolfsbane, even claiming to understand the risks, I would have said no. Similarly, it was not solely Matt's decision whether or not to continue taking experimental potions; it was up to Morris and I as well.
However, so long as I kept those potions available for any of age lycanthropic witches and wizards to try, I had to let Matt use them if he wished. The only way I could stop him is if I found a medical reason for him not to, and without understanding why this particular potion had affected him so badly, I would not have a medical reason for him not to try the next one.
******
Farina greeted me the next morning without any recognition that she'd given me the previous day off. It was like it never happened. Instead she told me I was due in the clinic as soon as my lunch hour was over, and not a minute later. My morning was filled with three routine appointments and going over that month's data. Since we have such a small amount of data I cannot draw any conclusions yet, but I still like to look it over to make sure it's useable. Luckily all of this month's looked fine.
It wasn't until nearly eleven-thirty that I remembered that I had told Victoire I would meet the bloke from the pub for lunch. I cringed when I realized all I had on underneath my healer robes was a pair of old jeans and a sweater Victoire's grandmother had knitted for me, one adorned with a Gryffindor lion. I didn't even have time to floo home to change because it was either floo home or visit Matt, which I hadn't had time to do yet that morning.
Matt was awake when I entered the ward and he looked slightly bored which I took to be a good sign. He looked over immediately when I entered.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” I asked as I bent over to give him a hug.
“Better than yesterday,” he replied.
“Good, that means the wolfsbane is finally being flushed out,” I told him. “We'll know for sure when you're tested this afternoon.”
Victoire was waiting for me in my study when I rushed in to strip off my lime green robes after visiting Matt. She wasn't impressed with what I was wearing underneath but she at least had some make-up on hand and straightened my hair with her wand before I promised her to tell her all about the lunch and rushed downstairs to meet the guy.
I was five minutes late by the time I got there and he was standing amongst the distressed witches and wizards in the waiting room, looking sorely out of place. For one, he did not look distressed. Two, he kept glancing around like he was looking for someone. Three, he was dressed solely in Muggle attire, wearing jeans and a jacket over a button-up shirt. His eyes rested upon me and he smiled. I met him near the door but didn't say anything until we left the chaotic waiting room for the slightly less chaotic streets of Muggle London.
“Sorry I'm late,” I said.
“You're closer to being on time than any Healer I've ever met before,” he joked. “And you look great.”
I raised my eyebrows and gestured to my Gryffindor jumper. “I look like I'm ready for a day of lounging around at Hogwarts.”
“Well the jumper does kind of answer one of the questions I was going to ask you over lunch,” he confided. “I'm Dillan Blayney, by the way. I don't think I properly introduced myself yesterday.” He stuck out his hand.
“No, you didn't,” I replied as I shook his hand. “I believe I did.”
“You did. I thought we could go get pizza. I know a great little place around the corner.”
“What if I hadn't worn Muggle clothing?” I asked.
“I took a chance. I figured you weren't the sort of person to stroll around London in green Healer robes.”
He was right about that. Of course I didn't know anyone who wore their Healer robes outside of St. Mungo's due to their hideous nature. He seemed to be quite the jokester and I did have to admit that he was attractive. Very attractive. As much as he'd reminded me of Al Potter the previous day, now he seemed older and better looking which was a good sign since I thought of Al as a little brother.
We walked in silence until we reached a very tiny shop on the corner that I would have missed had I not been with Dillan. He held the door open for me and I walked into what was a very adorable little pizza shop. There was a large picture of some city in Rome along one of the walls and a picture of the Italian Football team from 2006, when they won the World Cup. On various ledges were bottles of oils filled with herbs and a variety of meats and salads chilled in a display near the counter. Dillan chose a small booth in the back and plucked two menus out from behind the napkin holder, handing one to me.
“Get whatever you want, so long as it's pizza,” Dillan said. “I do insist that you choose pizza because this is the best pizza, outside of Italy.”
“Obviously you've never been to Mama Rizzo's in Sydney,” I told him as I scanned the menu.
“Sydney?” he asked. “As in Australia? No, I can't say I've ever traveled that far for pizza. What was a Londoner like yourself doing in Sydney?”
“I grew up in Australia, just outside Brisbane. My grandparents used to live near Sydney,” I said, making sure to watch his face for the look of surprise that always showed up on people's faces when I tell them I used to live in Australia.
However, Dillan didn't seem surprised at all. He looked like he would've if I said I grew up in Scotland. “Yet you're wearing a Gryffindor jumper. Here I thought you were a Hogwarts alumnus.”
“You were right about that,” I said as the waitress set down two waters. Thank Merlin, I thought, perhaps the waitress would distract him from asking why I moved to England.
“Ready to order?” she asked.
Dillan gestured to me. “Um, I guess we'll take a small pizza with peppers, olives, and extra cheese.”
“Coming right up,” she said.
“So let me get this straight,” Dillan said as he stirred his water with his straw. “You grew up in Australia yet you went to Hogwarts. I think I'm missing something.”
“I moved here when I was fourteen,” I explained, although that really wasn't much of an explanation.
“Ah,” he replied, “and may I ask why?”
“You can ask,” I said, “but you won't necessarily get an answer.”
“Then I won't ask,” he replied. “Although I shall remain curious. I was born and raised in the same house as I am living in right now.”
Oh, Merlin, I thought. I've attracted a thirty-year-old guy who lives with his mother.
“Literally,” he continued. “I didn't wait until my mum got to St. Mungo's and I was actually born in the house. I love the place. So many great memories there that when my parents died I moved back instead of selling the place.”
So glad I didn't mention the 'living with his mother' thing. That would have been even more awkward than thinking it. As much as I would like to know why his parents died so young, I felt like if I were to ask that I would have to tell him why I moved which certainly wasn't going to happen.
“About yesterday...” I began.
“I'm sorry,” he said as he looked down into his glass. “I'm sure I was overstepping my boundaries a bit with that bet, but I was having an awful day and I don't normally drink that much-”
“It's ok,” I assured him. “I was actually just wondering what job you were sacked from. Must have been an amazing job if you were that upset about losing it.”
I saw an ever so slight tinge of pink creep up on his cheeks as he averted his gaze once again. “The funny thing is, it was kind of an awful job to begin with and not one I really saw myself in for the rest of my life. So really, it was a blessing in disguise. Not really sure why it sent me on a drinking binge. Anyway, I was a counterfeit coin checker at Gringotts.”
I looked at him for a few seconds before responding. “Seriously?”
“Yep.” He laughed. “Not a job that appears in a pamphlet in the common rooms in fifth year.”
“No, definitely not,” I agreed.
“But it paid the bills up until yesterday,” he said. “Unfortunately goblins do not take suggestions to their standard procedures nicely. I made a few suggestions to improve efficiency and they showed me the door, threw a sackful of Galleons out after me as my last paycheck and that was that.”
“Wow,” I replied. Even Farina took suggestions on how to improve efficiency. I guess I should be lucky I don't work for goblins.
“I suppose I'm lucky they're letting me keep my account there,” Dillan pointed out.
The pizza arrived a few minutes later, after we had thoroughly exhausted the topic of Dillan's job at Gringotts and right before I was going to ask what sort of job he wanted to get next. I didn't get to ask since Dillan seemed preoccupied with watching my reaction to the pizza. He served me a slice and then watched in anticipation as I took a bite.
“This is amazing!” I said after I'd finished swallowing. “Better than Mama Rizzo's.”
“And closer,” Dillan pointed out as he served himself a slice. “You'll save millions on airfare alone.”
I laughed before taking my next bite. He was funny, very funny. I hadn't ever really gone out with a funny guy before, mostly because the only funny blokes I knew were Teddy, Landon, and Matt's friends, none of whom I could or would date. Merlin, was I thinking of dating him already? We'd just gone out for pizza and hadn't even known each other forty-eight hours.
We didn't talk much while we were polishing off the pizza and by the time we'd finished I only had ten minutes to get back to St. Mungo's and up to the clinic. We practically ran up the sidewalk and were out of breath by the time we reached the hospital.
“I had a lot of fun,” he said as he smiled at me. “Maybe we can do it again sometime.”
“I had fun, too,” I said. “Maybe next time we can do dinner and I won't have to rush out at the end.”
“That would be good,” he replied. “What are you doing Friday night?”
“Working until seven, but I'm free after that.”
“Want to have a late dinner at eight-thirty?” he asked.
“Sure. I'd like that.” I smiled. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, scrawling my address on it. I handed it to him.
“I'll see you then,” he said and then turned, disappearing into the crowd.
I walked back into St. Mungo's and hurried up to my study to don my tacky green robes before getting to the clinic, all the while wondering what the hell I was getting myself into. |
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DucksRMagical
Joined: 28 December 2006
Posts: 2535
Location: Going through LeakyCon withdrawal
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Posted: Monday 28 June 2010 05 22 14 pm Post subject: Re: Beyond the Shadow in topic:Beyond the Shadow |
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Aw, thanks! So glad you're enjoying it. I'm sorry that I haven't posted in so long and I really have no excuse. I just...forgot to post here... I've updated at HPFF, so I'm going to post two new chapters here. 
Chapter 10: Drown Your Sorrows
I swirled the firewhiskey around in my glass, watching the ice cubes spin and then settle amongst the alcohol. I downed the glass and then signaled for another one. The barkeep, who had nothing else to do anyway, poured me another drink.
After wandering the streets of London for what must have been hours, I wound up at a lesser-known pub in Diagon Alley. It was called the Hairy Goat, which seemed like an odd name, especially since the bar was not owned by Aberforth Dumbledore. It wasn't very popular due to its general uncleanliness, but I never ran into anyone I knew there, so it was well suited for my current activities.
So far the activities included drinking enough firewhiskey to stop thinking about Matt and the potion, which I had not yet succeeded in doing. I've never been one for drinking and I really hate getting drunk because I always feel truly awful the next day, but somehow today it seemed like I might as well try.
The bar was pretty deserted. The only other customer was a bloke a few seats down from me at the bar, who was drinking enough firewhiskey to compete with me. His dark hair was messy, reminding me a lot of Al Potter, and looked to be about my age. He drank his current shot, slammed the glass down on the bar, and turned to me.
“Shitty new year?” he asked.
Why was he talking to me now? We had been sitting in silence for the past hour. “You could say that.”
“Me, too,” he sighed. “I bet you a drink that mine was worse.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Why would I want to do that?”
“Oh, afraid you'd lose?” he smirked.
What the hell was he playing at? Why couldn't we each just drink in silence? Maybe he was on his way to being drunk. That was probably it. “Fine,” I replied. “So, why was your new year's awful?”
“I got fired,” he said, sipping his new drink.
I snorted. Fired? Fired? If only that was my problem. It would be an easy fix. Although, I supposed it was still a possibility.
“What?” he asked. “How is my lack of employment funny?”
“Not that,” I said. “The fact that you think getting fired makes your new year's awful.”
“Oh, so you had something worse happen to you?” he said. “I bet you were dumped, right? Although I can't see anyone dumping you. You're too pretty.”
Drunk, I thought, this bloke was definitely drunk. “Getting fired would be worse than getting dumped,” I told him. “And no, I was not dumped.”
“Then tell your boyfriend he's a lucky bloke.”
“Don't have a boyfriend,” I informed him. Why was I telling him that? Why was I still talking to him, anyway? He was obviously drunk.
“Interesting,” he mused. “Well, why was your new year's horrible, then?”
Shit, I thought. Why didn't I think this through? I couldn't exactly tell him that a new version of the Wolfsbane potion I created had caused my werewolf brother to have the worst transformation he'd had in years. No, but I could tweak it. I was the queen of coming up with excuses for Matt's lycanthropy.
“I'm a Healer and a Brewer at St. Mungo's,” I began.
“Impressive.”
“I created a potion and it didn't do what it was supposed to,” I continued.
“Shame,” he replied. “Guess you'll have to start over. But you still have your job. Sorry, not worse than mine.”
“I'm not finished yet,” I snapped. “The potion had a really bad effect on those who took it. Turns out, it makes a person really sick, the opposite of what it's supposed to do.”
“Oh. That's slightly worse.”
“Again, not finished. My brother is the one who took the potion and now he's unconscious in St. Mungo's.”
The bloke looked taken aback. He quickly took another sip of his drink, clearly in an effort to think of something to say. I couldn't help but feel smug at this. I had obviously won this bet.
“I believe you owe me a drink,” I told him.
“Yeah, you're right,” he muttered and signaled to the barkeep to pour me another firewhiskey.
We drank in silence for a few minutes. A couple people wearing Ministry robes entered the bar and sat down at a table in the back. The barkeep left to go take their orders.
I felt something hot in my pocket and pulled out my Galleon Alert. Everyone who worked at St. Mungo's had one so we could be reached at all times in an instant. It looked just like a Galleon, but instead it bore the name of whichever employee needed to talk to you, changing each time. This time, Morris had summoned me. Sighing, I turned to the bloke who had for some inexplicable reason become my drinking partner.
“I've got to get back to St. Mungo's,” I told him as I stood up.
“All right,” he replied. “Hope your new year gets better.”
“Yours too,” I said and began to leave the bar.
“Wait, what's your name?” he shouted after me.
“Amy Eckerton,” I called over my shoulder as I opened the door and left the bar.
******
“The Wolfsbane is still in his system.”
“What do you mean it's still in his system?” I stared at Morris from across his desk. After leaving the pub, I went directly to Morris's study. I found him studying Matt's test results.
Wolfsbane Potion goes through the system in about twelve hours, which was why werewolves had to take it twice a day starting two or three days before the full moon, depending on their age and size. It was always long out of a person's system two days after the full moon.
Morris handed me the results and I scanned them. He was completely right, of course. The levels of Wolfsbane were still high in Matt's blood, nearly as high as they would be if he was still taking the potion. It didn't make any sense.
“None of the other ingredients are coming up on that tox screen,” Morris elaborated. “According to the results, the only ingredient in that potion still in his system is the actual Wolfsbane. I ran the test three times and they all said the same thing.”
I nodded as I leafed through the three different tests. Same exact results. “This doesn't make sense.”
“You're right,” Morris agreed. “It doesn't. Do you still have the Wolfsbane you used in the potion? We need to test it.”
“You think it was contaminated?” I asked. I supposed it was possible, but the potion had passed the preliminary tests. Any contamination would have come up in the results from that and the potion wouldn't have passed.
“I think it's highly unlikely, but we've got to cover all the bases,” Morris explained. “Now, what did you do differently in this particular potion as compared to all the others?”
“I brewed it in a steel cauldron and tweaked the amounts of a few of the ingredients, including Wolfsbane,” I explained.
“You know, Amy,” Morris said quietly. “As awful as this is, if that Wolfsbane was not contaminated, this may hold some answers as to why none of these potions have worked.”
“I know, I know,” I muttered. “I just wish we could get answers without this happening.”
“So do I, Amy,” Morris sighed. “So do I. He woke up about a half hour ago, if you want to go see him.”
I nodded and left the study. Matt was the only patient in the ward, which I was really grateful for. Other patients really didn't need to see one of their healers break down and cry. As soon as I saw Matt, with my parents sitting on either side of his bed, my eyes started to tear up again. It was the Lubar incident all over again.
“Amy,” Mum said as I reached the bed. “Where have you been?”
“Nowhere,” I replied, hoping she wouldn't press it.
“Amy,” Matt whispered. “I don't think I'll be taking that potion again.”
I half-smiled at him. His head was wrapped in a bandage and he looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. “Matt... I'm sorry, I didn't know that would happen, but that's no excuse.”
“Amy, shut it,” Matt replied. “I know the risk when I take the potions. It's not your fault. But what the hell was in that?”
“Same stuff,” I sighed. “Same stuff, different proportions. The wrong ones, obviously.”
“Healer Sterling said I've still got Wolfsbane in my system,” he said. “Have you got any idea why?”
“No,” I sighed. “We're also not sure when it's going to leave your system and you're not going to feel better until it does. We'll do everything we can to figure out how to get it out as soon as possible.”
“It's ok, Amy,” he said. “I'm going to be fine.”
There was just something about Matt telling me he was going to be fine while laying in a hospital bed with a fever and a bandaged head that made me want to bawl my eyes out.
“I'm- I'm going to go home and get some sleep,” I said. “You should get some rest, too, Matt.”
“I will,” he assured me.
I leaned over the bed, gave him a hug, and left while trying to hide the fact that I was crying. I needed coffee. All the firewhiskey was starting to give me a headache.
The tea room was crowded since it was nearing supper time. I grabbed the largest cup of coffee they offered and settled down at the table farthest in the back. It was a good thing Farina gave me the next day off because I was going to have a killer hangover. What had I been thinking?
Someone sat down across from me and I looked up, ready to tell them to find their own table, only to see that it was Dad. He had his own cup of coffee and the lines in his face were more pronounced than ever before.
“You've got to stop beating yourself up,” Dad said quietly.
“Didn't you notice?” I asked. “He looks exactly like he did after that full moon when he was eight, when he had to transform with the other werewolves.”
“I did.” Dad took a sip of his coffee and looked at me.
“Then how can you tell me not to beat myself up?” I exclaimed. “I did that to him! I did the same thing Lubar did!”
“Now that is ridiculous,” Dad told me. “The two are nowhere near alike. Circumstances, Amy, circumstances. Think back to that full moon. Matt's physical wounds were healed within weeks. It was the emotional ones that made it so awful. The emotional wounds were what made the recovery so long. Now look at this most recent full moon. Matt took a potion that you created out of a determination to make his life better and it didn't work. Sure, there are physical wounds, but they'll heal. The difference is that there are no emotional wounds.”
I slowly sipped my coffee and thought about it. Dad was right. He was always right. Why hadn't I thought about that? I never thought about emotions as much as I should. Rose was the psychiatrist, not me.
“I guess you're right,” I sighed.
“I know you feel bad,” Dad continued. “I'd find it weird if you didn't. You feel bad because you love him and that's what matters. He'll get better and you'll start working on a new potion. Life will go on.”
“Yeah, I know,” I muttered.
Dad drained his coffee and stood up. “Go home and get some rest. Mum and I are doing the same. We'll be back tomorrow.” I nodded and watched as he left the tea room.
******
“Amy! Amy, get up!”
I rolled over in an attempt to get away from whoever was poking me. What were they doing? Didn't they realize it was the middle of the night? Wait, how did they even get into my flat?
I snapped my eyes open and realized that it was not the middle of the night, but most likely the middle of the day. Sunlight hit my eyes and the headache I had began to feel more like someone was throwing a brick at my head. I glanced over in the direction of the voice telling me to get up and saw that it was Victoire, dressed in her Healer robes, looking disapprovingly at me.
“So many questions,” she threw her hands up in the air. “Where do I begin?”
Ignoring her, I got out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen. I needed a headache potion and I needed it fast. Locating the bottle, I downed a dose and followed it with a glass of water. It started to take effect and I looked at Victoire.
“Why aren't you at work?” she demanded.
“Farina gave me the day off,” I muttered.
“Well, that just opens more questions than it answers,” Victoire replied.
“We shared a lift yesterday and she gave me the day off because of what happened to Matt,” I explained.
“And you're using this day off to sleep off a hangover?” Victoire shouted. “You realize it's three o'clock, don't you?”
“Er-”
“Of course you don't,” Victoire groaned. “What happened yesterday?”
“I drank way too much firewhiskey,” I answered.
“Obviously. But why? Amy, you've never been the type to drink away your problems because you're smart enough to know it doesn't work.”
“I don't know.” I collapsed into the nearest kitchen chair. That was the truth. Why had I done it. “I guess I just couldn't take it anymore.”
“Can't take what?” Victoire asked as she put an arm around me.
“Everything,” I sighed. “I'm thirty. I've done nothing with my life. The potion is obviously going nowhere. I put my own brother in St. Mungo's. I'm nowhere close to being married and I have no kids. Cinda's right; I should be getting married soon.”
“Since when do you listen to your grandmother?” Victoire looked shocked. “Isn't this the same lady who dressed you up in frilly pink dresses as a child and bought you ePods or whatever they're called for Christmas?”
“iPods,” I sighed. “And yes, that's Cinda.”
“She obviously has no idea what you really like, then,” Victoire told me. “So why should she know what's best for you as far as marriage goes? Amy, no one should get married until they're in love and ready.”
“I know,” I said. “I guess I just thought everything would be different when we were thirty.”
“Don't I know it,” Victoire agreed.
“What do you mean? You're married with a kid and another on the way, plus you've got a rewarding job.”
“And so does Teddy. We hardly ever see each other, Amy. When I'm home he's away on missions and when he's home I'm on call. In all our efforts to make sure Sophie doesn't have to stay with my parents for longer than a work day, Teddy and I rarely see each other for more than a couple hours at a time.”
“But you're happy, right?” I asked.
“Of course I am. Are you? Besides this potion set-back, that is.”
“Honestly, I think I am,” I said. “Well, as long as Cinda isn't implying that I need to get married.”
“Then that's all that matters,” Victoire replied. “And you will find the right guy someday. Speaking of which, do you remember a certain bloke from the pub yesterday?”
I could feel my cheeks redden and judging by Victoire's smirk, it was very obvious that I was blushing. How did she know about him?
“I'll take that as a yes,” Victoire grinned. “You might be interested to know that he spent about an hour wandering around St. Mungo's trying to find you this morning.”
“What?”
“He likes you. And he's rather attractive. I told him you'd meet him outside the hospital tomorrow at noon.”
“You did what?” I exclaimed.
“Hey, you said you'd like to get married,” she teased.
“Shut it.”
“So what exactly did the two of you do in this pub?”
“He bet me a drink he'd had a shittier new year than me. I won. He bought me a drink. I got called back to St. Mungo's, and that was that.”
“Well, you're meeting him tomorrow and that's that.”
“Fine,” I sighed. I supposed it didn't really matter anyway since I had already made a fool of myself in front of him. What's the worst that could happen? “I'll meet him.”
“Good,” Victoire replied. “I've got to get back to work before Farina notices that I'm gone. Can I trust you to not go back to bed?”
I nodded. The potion was kicking in and I was feeling far more normal than I had ten minutes ago. I had to get to St. Mungo's anyway to see Matt and talk to Morris. Why had I drank so much Firewhiskey? What a stupid idea that had been. Victoire was right, drinking never solved anything and I knew that. All that had happened was that I wasted practically a whole day sleeping off a hangover and possibly attracted a very odd bloke.
“Yes,” I sighed. “I'm going to go visit Matt.”
“Good,” Victoire said as she gave me one more hug. “And what are you not going to do?”
“Drink Firewhiskey. Ever again.”
Victoire nodded and then stepped over to the fire. She tossed in a handful of Floo powder and was gone in three seconds. Merlin, I sighed. No more Firewhiskey.
******
Kaden was just leaving the ward when I entered an hour later. He was dressed in brewers' robes, so I assumed he was merely on break or lunch and using the time to visit Matt.
“He slept through my whole break,” Kaden told me as he hurried off towards the lifts. He was probably late.
I was surprised Kaden hadn't just woken Matt up upon seeing that he was asleep. That was what Matt's friends usually did, especially Kaden and John. Perhaps he had actually had some sense not to since Matt was in the hospital. I peered into the ward and saw that Matt was indeed asleep, and not looking close to waking up at anytime soon. Instead of going in, I turned towards Morris's study.
Natalie was putting away files when I walked in. She turned around and offered me a sympathetic smile when she heard me enter.
“How is Matt?” she asked.
“Not sure yet. Is Morris in?”
“He's with a patient until four-thirty,” Natalie replied. “You've got a few owls and your research assistants dropped off this month's data.” She handed me a small stack of envelopes and a large binder.
I took them and let myself into my study. The binder of results went straight into the filing cabinet because I was just too exhausted to look at data right then, but I set the letters down on my desk and began to open them. The first two were junk, asking me for interviews for various publications that I didn't like.
The third letter, however, caused my stomach to flip when I read whom it was from. Jamie's parents. Jamie. I could not believe it. I had actually forgotten about Jamie in the disaster that was my potion. Why hadn't I realized that he hadn't been in? Jamie wound up in St. Mungo's after each and every full moon, until this past one, and I hadn't even given it a second thought. For whatever reason he had slipped my mind and that rattled me. I had never forgotten about one of my own patients, no matter how awful one of Matt's full moons had been.
But it was a good thing that he didn't have to go to the hospital, right? I took a deep breath and read the letter.
[i]Amy,
Jamie had a surprisingly good full
moon! He's not ill and he only broke
one of his arms. Candace was able
to heal it in a minute. He seems
to be healing fine at home, so we
aren't going to bring him in unless
he takes a turn for the worse.
We'll keep you updated.
~George Allen[/i]
It was amazing how even when things seemed to be at their worst, some good news managed to worm its way into life. Jamie was doing better than he usually was. I smiled as I set the letter down on my desk. A full moon that did not land Jamie in St. Mungo's was a miracle. At least someone's new year was starting off well and Amy couldn't think of anyone more deserving of a good year than Jamie and his family. |
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FawkesthePhoenix
Joined: 31 December 2006
Posts: 3534
Location: No idea, all I know is that there are a LOT of felt-tipped pens...
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Posted: Saturday 26 June 2010 03 42 32 pm Post subject: Re: Some Secrets in topic:Some Secrets |
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Chapter 2:
Sometimes I feel like I'm moving at a different speed than the rest of the world, going slow-motion while everyone else speed-walks. Other days it's like I'm the one going faster, but that the ending I'm hurtling towards with so much more speed than anyone else is something terrible that I haven't had the good sense to avoid.
Today is one of those days.
I'm walking to Potions class, and I'm suffocating. The crowd of students is stifling my breath. Smothering me. I begin to breath faster, then force myself to slow down and inhale deeply.
I'm having a panic attack, Madame Pomfrey would have said. She always tells me breathing deeply helps, and it does, a little. But not enough because that's the thing; I can't breathe.
I try to make my way nonchalantly through the seemingly crowded hallway, but I don't need to worry. No one cares about my slight hyperventilation, or the panicked look in my eyes. I'm just the loner girl, good for nothing except teasing and exploitation.
After a few minutes of plodding through the impossibly large throng of students, I see it-- a bathroom. It might be Moaning Myrtle's, but I don't care. Maybe we can have a good cry together.
Either way, it's a place I can be alone, away from this mesh of cluttered activity.
I renew my efforts to get through the hallway, and eventually push my way into the bathroom, ignoring the fifth-year walking past it, and not even stopping to mutter an apology as I step on his foot in my hurry.
Once inside the cooler, emptier area of the bathroom, I start to calm down. That hallway really wasn't very crowded at all, I realize with chagrin. I was imagining the situation to be worse than it was.
How stupid of me, I think to myself, and start gathering up the contents of my bag, which had spilled out over the floor in my frenzy. I'm going to be late for Potions.
The classroom is quiet as I sneak in late, and, other than a reprimand from Professor Slughorn about my behavior and timing, the class goes without a hitch. I know that my fellow students will pounce upon my lateness as an excuse for berating me the moment they get the chance, but what else is new? I should be used to this by now.
And yet, I still find anxiety creeping into my stomach as I enter the common room that night. Perhaps some things never change.
Sitting by the fire with my homework splayed half-finished across my lap, I catch a fluttering by the window in my peripherals, the same as last night. I try to ignore it, mindful of the precarious position of all the various books and papers on my person. But I keep a close watch on it as I struggle through the rest of my assignments, getting up to go to bed only when it fades from sight.
I walk into the Girl's Dormitory, only to stop up short when I see that Mia and some of her friends are still up. They scurry out of the way, with barely a glance in my direction as I walk towards my bed. Odd.
I discover the cause of their actions as I open my four-poster bed a few moments later.
Stenciled across my bedspread in red paint is the word, “loser” in elegant print. Very original. I bundle up the soiled cloth and leave it in a pile on the floor. The house elves will take care of it by morning, and if I'm lucky, maybe Mia will step in the wet paint on her way to the bathroom that night.
Herbology the next day would've been a cause for extreme embarrassment, if I hadn't stopped caring about my life in general years ago.
The boy who I had almost steamrolled over as I rushed to the bathroom in the midst of the previous day's panic attack, was not, I discovered, a fifth-year who I'd hopefully never encounter again, much less remember. Fate hates me too much for that.
No, he's a new student in my year, and had been assigned as my partner. Not that I volunteered or anything. I, being the social pariah I was, had been left partnerless at the beginning of the year when everyone was told to pair up, and had been working either by myself or with the professor all year. It seemed all that was about to change.
His name is Jarret, and with his dark hair and intense brown eyes, I might have been lusting after him along with all the other girls (Mia's mouth seemed to be watering). That is, if he had said a word to me the entire period. Or even made eye contact.
Now, as I sit alone at the house table during lunch, I wonder if I ought to have made an attempt to make conversation. Or to be friendly at all. But, having been forbidden contact with other people my age after being bitten as a child, I never developed any terribly adept people skills. Besides, what was there to talk about?
I don't eat much, and soon I'm sitting in Defense Against the Dark Arts, where I'm again sitting next to Jarret. He starts writing the moment the teacher begins lecturing, successfully guilting me into talking careful notes on the various types of jinxes throughout the duration of the class.
I'm making my bravest attempt at listening to the teacher, but it's a struggle. I'm so used to looking through a fog that the writing on the board is a mystery. I'm copying the letters down, but I have no idea what the lesson is about.
Just as my quill is about to snap from all the pressure I'm putting on it in my concentration, the class miraculously ends.
“Remember, essay due next week!” the professor calls out as everyone begins to pack up their things. “Eight inches of parchment, and no writing in all capitals!” A couple boys in the back groan at this pronouncement. I roll my eyes discreetly.
I always try to be the first one out of each class, so as to avoid too much interaction with my fellows, but today I drop my bag as I stand up, and so have to pick up the scrambled contents from the floor before I can leave.
I try to get everything as quickly as possible, before anyone notices my clumsiness. I can feel my face turn a deep scarlet, and my embarrassment only thickens when Mia notices me scrambling on the floor.
“Oh, dear!” she exclaims in mock pity, “Poor Lia has dropped her bag! I'll catch up with you later,” she says to her friends, who cover their smirks with nods of fake understanding. “I ought to help clean up this mess.”
I cringe as she walks over. I hate her. I hate her wavy brown hair, so shiny compared to my stringy, mousy brown locks. I hate that her name sounds so much like mine.
But most of all, I hate that her courtesy is such a thin pretense; everyone knows that helping me is the very last thing on her mind as she saunters over, but even the teacher doesn't lift a finger.
After gathering up a few forgotten papers from one of the desks, the professor bustles out of the classroom, leaving Mia and I alone.
Or so I think, until I notice third set of shoes out of the corner of my eye. Jarret was still here. Great. Really fantastic.
The good news was that Mia wouldn't dare jinx me with a possible love interest standing nearby, fiddling absently with the shoulder strap on his bag. The bad news was that now I had one more witness to my teasing.
“Here, Lia,” Mia offered, “Let me help you clean this up.” She sounded cheerful, but I could tell that she was clenching her teeth. She'd obviously hoped to hiss a few choice words at me and kick my bag so that its contents would be more messily strewn across the floor, but with Jarret present, she now had to feign manners and get creative.
I could see her nose wrinkling as she knelt down next to me and slowly poked a bottle of ink back into my bag. She crumpled each paper as she picked it up and shoved it in my direction, all the while spouting an endless stream of sickly sweet chatter, about anything from homework to quidditch.
I could see Jarret's ankles out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't dare look up at his face. Why hadn't he left yet? Did he take pleasure at my humiliation? I couldn't understand his motives.
At last the floor was free of my clutter, and I scrambled to my feet before Mia could pretend to help me up. She got to her feet more gracefully than I, and was out the door before I had even taken a step.
This confused me. She hadn't made a move to insult me. What was up? I take a few steps towards the door, reorganizing the contents of my bag. I come up short when I find an unfamiliar slip of paper. It's folded twice, and I recognize Mia's handwriting instantly as I open it up.
[i]Freak,[/i] it reads as an introduction,[i] loser, loner, whatever you are.[/i] How very original.
I'm about to throw it into the trash bin, when one of the later sentences catches my eye. [i]You're no better than an animal. My dog has more of a spine than you do. Do you always howl at the moon?[/i]
My breath catches in my throat, and the note crinkles as I crumble it into my fist. Does she know? I hadn't said a word. [i]She can't know. [/i]She can't, she can't! [i]She knows.[/i] How can she possibly know?[i] How did she find out?[/i]
Both the paper and my bag fall from my hands, and it's all I can do to contain my sobs as I tearfully flee the classroom. |
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GryffindorAnimagus
Joined: 4 June 2010
Posts: 35
Location: New Jersey USA
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Posted: Monday 7 June 2010 06 58 57 am Post subject: Nocturnal Suprise in topic:Nocturnal Suprise |
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This is a story that I wrote for my writing class. I hope you all enjoy it.
She was sitting in the corner of the smallest room at number twelve Tolhurst Drive in Ascot. The room was tiny with no personal touches; it was painted a pale sickly green that clashed with the rest of the house. The room smelled like the woods that surrounded the house. There was a mattress on the floor with a beat up quilt lying across it and a wardrobe along the wall closest to the door.
In the corner by the tiny window that had a wonderful view of the woods sat Leda, she was small for her age, with bright red hair down to her waist and piercing green eyes. Leda was living in this house because her parents were murdered when she was just two years old but she did not know how or why.
Leda jumped up and ran toward the door; her Uncle Gordon just arrived home. Gordon was tall and thin, with black hair and he smelled of cigar smoke and alcohol no matter what time it was. He did not like Leda, so she went out the backdoor as he came in the front. This had become a ritual of sorts, Leda would leave the second Uncle Gordon arrived home and would stay gone, usually walking around the woods until dinner time. Leda could hear her father’s sister, her Aunt Larissa welcoming Gordon home and she moved quicker into the woods. No matter how long she was gone she was sure to hear the same thing when she got back for dinner. Uncle Gordon would ramble on about how she had ruined everything and that he was forced to take her on as a ward because nobody else wanted her after her parents died. Uncle Gordon and Aunt Larissa did not have children of their own. It was clear to Leda that her uncle hated children and that her aunt would do whatever she could to keep him happy.
Tonight was no different than any other night except that tomorrow is Leda’s sixteenth birthday. This was a fact that she and her aunt had spoke about earlier that day but neither would dare bring it up in front of her uncle. Leda walked for a few hours around the woods and imagined how it would be to get away from the home that she hated so much. The only good thing that she liked about living with her Aunt and Uncle were the hours that her Uncle was at work. Those were the hours when her Aunt would loosen up a little bit, a very little bit. She would not yell at Leda during these hours and would allow Leda to ask a few questions about anything but Leda’s parents. When Leda got home it was just like every other night, Uncle Gordon was sitting at the table already starting to ramble about Leda and Aunt Larissa was sitting there looking at him with such devotion but not saying a word. Leda blocked them out and ate the meatloaf that was put on her plate. She snuck away to her room as soon as her Aunt got up to get the coffee. She laid in her bed staring out the little window in her room. She listened to the rambling of her uncle muffled through the floor and then her aunt saying that she was tired. Leda heard them go into their room and close the door.
Leda woke at a quarter till midnight; she thought she heard something outside. She stood and stared out the window, she could not believe her eyes. Her Aunt was sneaking into the woods. Leda rushed to follow her and for some reason found it to be really easy. She could hear her aunt’s footsteps even though she was yards ahead of her, she could see like it was still daylight. Leda ran to catch up to her aunt and as she was running she felt exhilarated. A feeling of warmth swam down her spine and she felt like she could run forever. The warm feeling spread down her legs and into her toes, through her arms and hands and finally into her chest, Leda had no idea what was going on and she was a little scared but she also felt strong. When the warmth touched her chest she stopped running and examined herself slowly. She could see hair sprouting up her arms and down her legs; it was the same color as her hair, bright red. All of a sudden she sank to the floor with a shriek but it came out as a howl. She was twitching and anyone who would have seen this would say she was having a seizure. Leda arms were stretched out and she was watching terrified as her fingers became shorter and eventually turned into paws. Her legs and feet felt like they two were changing but she could not see them because she shut her eyes trying to force herself to wake up from this dream. Leda lay on the forest floor for a few minutes’ eyes shut tightly and breathing very heavily. Her breaths came in quick pants and she was able to smell everything around her. She could smell that she was close to the pond and she could smell the other animals around her. There were so many new sounds and smells that she could not identify right away but she promised herself that she would find out what all of them were. Leda went to stand but was very shaky. When she finally got to her feet she opened her eyes and was shocked to see that she was standing on four paws. She ran to the pond that was no far from the house but was well hidden in the forest. Leda looked down at her reflection and could see that she had become a large red wolf. She did not believe at first that this was her. Then she could see the piercing green eyes and knew that she was the wolf in the water.
Leda stood staring at herself in the pond for what seemed like days, until out of nowhere she could hear the howling and the falls of paws somewhere nearby. Leda’s first reaction was to hide. She did not know what was going on or what would happen to her. Just as she turned to runaway three massive wolves walked toward her and she could sense that she should not run but follow. Leda stared at them for a few minutes before they turned and started to walk away. She walked with the others for a quarter of an hour until they came to a clearing. The others entered ahead of her and when she finally caught up she was surprised to find two wolves and a teenage boy. She noticed as she watched him that he was attractive. He had black hair, eyes of ocean blue, and stood very tall. He spoke as soon as she sauntered in. He bowed and said “I am Cain, this is Connor,” he pointed at the sandy colored wolf and then pointed at the brown one, “and that is Deimos. We were asked to find you and bring you back to the meeting. Leda we have been waiting for you, we have missed you very much. If you would like to change back and talk to us, all you have to do is focus your mind and you will transform.” Leda, still scared but determined to find out what the hell was going on, focused on a picture of her human self in her mind and she could feel the cold spread through her. She lay on the ground this time voluntarily because she did not want to fall again. Her legs spread out and started to shake with the cold of the night. When she looked up she could see that the others were turned away. “It’s really cold” she said. Cain passed her a robe without looking at her, “I am sorry. It is really scary the first time. If you will follow us we will take you to the next clearing where the others are waiting.” Leda walked to him and simply said, “Where too?” She was feeling braver now that Cain was standing next to her. She could not explain to herself why his presence made her feel more at home. “We have to go to the rest of the clan. There the elders will explain to you what has been going on for the last thirteen years, fill you in on everything that has happened since you were taken.”
“What do you mean taken?” Leda asked but before she could finish the question they walked into a new clearing. There were at least ten people in the clearing sitting on logs and staring into the fire that was built right in the middle of the group. She leaned into Cain and asked, “All of these people are wolves?” He gave a short laugh and nodded his head before leading her to the part of the circle where four chairs were vacant. Seconds later her Aunt Larissa stood up, Leda’s jaw dropped and she quickly shut it before anyone could notice. Larissa started speaking to the group, “Leda is now of age. She has been brought back to take what is rightfully hers. She will be brought up on the conditions of the clan and then decide if she wants what her parents have left her.” Larissa turned and spoke directly to Leda, “Leda, I know that this is scary for you but you are a werewolf. I, as you know am your father, Evan’s sister. Although Gordon does acknowledge this he does not believe it is true. I will explain it to you shortly, I promise. Your mother was leader of this clan until she was murdered. Tonight you will find out why and how, if you wish. Do you wish me to continue or will you return to your home?” Leda was still in shock but she whispered, “I want to know what happened?” Her aunt continued, “Thirteen years ago on this night your parents were walking through these very woods with you. Miranda, your mother, wanted to run for a while and your father told her to go ahead, that he would watch you. She was changing when a human walked into the area. He started yelling at your parents. They grabbed you and ran back to the manor but they did not realize that they were being followed. The young man who walked in on your mother changing followed and once it was clear that everyone within the house was asleep he set the house on fire. Your mother and father could not get out and the door to your room was blocked. The man who set the house on fire could hear a baby crying and he sprinted into your room from the back way. He snatched you and ran from the house. I did all I could to keep up with him. Once he got back to his house I knocked on the door and explained that I was new to the area. I courted him but not out of interest,” She looked disgusted and then continued, “I just wanted to make sure you were safe. I knew that it would be too dangerous for you to return to the clan until you came of age, so I married the idiot and took care of you as best I could without raising too many concerns from him. If he thought I took too much interest in you I would never be allowed alone with you. He told me what had happened but he swore that they must have taken you from some family nearby because you were just a baby and he believed that werewolves could not have children. I told him that we had to claim that you were my niece and that we took you in because my brother had passed away. I explained to him that this would quiet any questions that the neighbors would raise.” Larissa came to Leda and sat down in the chair next to her and continued, “Your mother was the leader of this clan, you inherited her duties. You have the right to refuse but we,” she waved her arm around the circle, “we would like you to stay and become our queen. Personally I would be forever grateful because I would never have to go back to that fool Gordon again. Will you join us Leda, will you be our queen?”
Leda still shocked felt a surge of love toward her aunt and stronger now that she knew what had happened. This was the life she was supposed to have. She was supposed to grow up in this clan with her mother and father in the lead. She would not have been worried during the change tonight she would have known and probably looked forward to the change occurring. She looked at the group before standing then she said, “Of course I will join you and help in whatever way I can. I know that I belong here!” Everyone in the group came up to her to kiss her cheeks, give her hugs and whisper words of welcome. Larissa introduced everyone but Leda focused more on the kids her own age. She had never had friends before. Her uncle would never allow her to talk to anyone. First, were the boys she already met but now two of them had girls on their arms. Deimos had a beautiful blonde with him, he introduced her as Luna. Luna had yellow eyes that matched her bright hair. She smelled of lilies and walked like she was on a runway. Her smile was amazingly sweet and she pulled the girl that was hugging Connor toward her. Luna said, “This is Carme. You probably don’t remember us but we use to be together all the time. My parents have pictures of the three of us running around when we were very little.” Leda laughed and was astonished because this felt familiar, like she was finally home. Carme was shorter than Leda and had short auburn hair that made her look more fairy like. When Carme hugged her, Leda was hit with the sweet smell of brown sugar. Next was Cain, he walked up to her and pulled her away from the group. “You are so beautiful. I have truly missed you! We were best friends when we were little. I have been keeping watch over you from the woods over the past year and I am so sorry I could not do anything to pull you away from that place.” Then he embraced her so tightly that she could not breath but the sensation of rightness came over her and when they walked back to the group she held tightly to his hand.
It seemed like minutes but was probably hours later that Larissa suggested that they show Leda to the new manor. The adults lead the way and the teens fell back to talk and joke but still followed. Leda and Cain walked yards behind the others. They talked for the past few hours but still had a lot to talk about. Leda wanted to get him alone to tell him something that was strange yet felt amazing. This was her chance so she stopped and looked up at him, “Cain,” but before she could go any further he was kissing her. He kissed her so deeply that her head was spinning, this was right she could tell that they were destined to be together. The others had explained to her that werewolves are born with a match already picked, there companion was always built perfectly for them and that once the two meet they would be in love forever. Every wolf had one from the moment they were born. The others say that they usually meet their matches younger than their transformation age of sixteen and that Cain was the only one in the group who had not found his companion. They explained it as walking around as only half of yourself until you meet him or her. Then once you meet, you would finally be whole and can be truly happy. Cain pulled away and looked into Leda’s eyes, “I have been waiting all year to do that. Happy birthday and welcome home.” He turned her toward the huge house that was now in front of them.
Leda was amazed at how wonderful the house was. It was big enough for the entire clan and looked to be very old but restored to like new conditions. She dashed toward the door with Cain holding her hand. The entrance opened and the entire clan was standing around an enormous birthday cake and singing happy birthday. Behind them was a banner that said “Welcome Home!” Leda walked through the doors and was finally were she was meant to be. |
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DucksRMagical
Joined: 28 December 2006
Posts: 2535
Location: Going through LeakyCon withdrawal
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Posted: Wednesday 2 June 2010 11 47 26 am Post subject: Re: Albus potter and the Path Left Untrodden in topic:Albus potter and the Path Left Untrodden |
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The next story won't be up right away, but I am working on it!
Chapter 38: Silver Lining
Harry returned to tell everyone else about Balladanis later on in the afternoon. Madam Pomfrey flat out refused to let any of them leave the Hospital Wing, so she agreed to lock the door and go to her study while Harry explained. Matt's dad was there as well.
Harry told them everything he had told Albus, although he left out the parts about why it was not all that advisable to become a Presuler. Everyone was completely shocked to learn that Balladanis had been hired to help capture Washburn and the Willinsons.
Unfortunately, Harry also brought news of Lubar. News that was not all that welcome.
“As of right now, he's completely free and in the clear,” Harry sighed, “The Australian Ministry refuses to extradite him, and they won't prosecute him in Australia either. To them, it's like nothing's happened.”
Albus noticed that Mr. Eckerton looked positively furious with this. Harry looked quite angry as well, but it did not come close to how Mr. Eckerton looked.
“We're not going to give up,” Harry said, “We'll keep negotiating with them.”
Mr. Eckerton had also apparently been told about the Hallows. When Harry had spoken with him the previous night, it had been about the Hallows. Albus remembered back to his first year, when Matt had told them about his dad's young adult dream of locating the Hallows. Harry must've trusted him now.
Albus reached over to his bedside table, where Madam Pomfrey had placed the Invisibility Cloak the previous night. He wordlessly handed it to Mr. Eckerton, who carefully took it with a look of awe on his face.
“Merlin's beard,” he muttered, “It's the Cloak.”
“That it is,” Harry said quietly.
“Unbelievable,” Mr. Eckerton whispered as he fingered it.
He spent a few minutes trying the Cloak on before handing it back to Albus. “I cannot believe I've finally solved the case of the Hallows,” he said to Harry, “This is amazing. I would love to share the tale with my brother. Perhaps I could introduce you to him at the World Cup this summer.”
Harry nodded. “That would be fine. Perhaps I will eventually tell him as well.”
******
Albus wanted nothing more than to be allowed out of the Hospital Wing in time to go to dinner that night. He was sure Professor Kendrick would make some sort of announcement about the tournament and he did not want to miss it.
After a full ten minutes of begging on his part (helped out by Matt, John, and Kaden), Madam Pomfrey told him he was in no fit state to leave the ward. Albus thought this was ridiculous because he felt fine. So what if his arm was still bandaged and in a sling? That shouldn't stop him from eating dinner with the rest of the school.
Instead, Albus was forced to eat a quiet meal in the Hospital Wing and wait anxiously for Rose and Amanda to tell him what Kendrick said.
The girls showed up right after dinner ended. Albus immediately asked them what Kendrick had said.
“Tournament's canceled,” Rose sighed as she sat down on the end of Albus's bed, “The kids from New York are staying to finish out the year, but the tournament's canceled. I expect it'll be in the Prophet tomorrow.”
“Merlin!” Albus shouted, “Why'd they have to cancel it? Couldn't they just disqualify Australia?”
“No,” Rose shook her head, “To do that Hogwarts would have to play New York in another final.”
“Why don't they do that?” John asked.
“Too close to exams,” Rose shrugged, “It'll mess up everyone's studying.”
“That's stupid,” Albus fumed.
“If it makes you feel better, I'm pretty sure Hogwarts would've won if Australia hadn't have been here,” Rose pointed out, “And Kendrick gave one hundred house points to everyone who was on the Quidditch and dueling teams.”
“Yeah, well, all the houses had people on the teams, so that doesn't really help,” Albus muttered.
“Well,” Rose grinned, “I know one thing that'll cheer you up.”
“What?” Albus asked, even though there was nothing that could cheer him up.
“There were Quidditch scouts at that match,” Rose told him, “And even though the match was disastrous, they did find someone they wanted to draft.”
“Who?” Albus asked, slightly intrigued.
“Georgia!” Rose exclaimed, “She's been drafted to play for Kenmare Kestrals as soon as she graduates!”
“That's brilliant!” Albus replied. Rose had been right, that did cheer him up. There was no one he thought who belonged on a professional Quidditch team more than Georgia.
“Yup, she's their newest reserve Chaser,” Rose said, “She says Uncle Percy's not impressed. He wanted her to work at the Ministry. She doesn't care what he thinks, though.”
“Uncle Percy's got plenty of other kids to work at the Ministry,” Albus shrugged. He could never see Georgia working in government.
“Kenmare?” John said incredulously.
“Yeah, seriously?” Matt grimaced.
“They're nearly as bad as the Cannons,” John groaned.
“She's just happy to be on a team,” Rose shrugged, “She's always supported Puddlemere, but she thinks if she's on any team, she'll be able to work her way up to a better one.”
“Merlin, I hope so,” John shrugged.
“Is she the only one who got drafted?” Albus asked.
“Only one I know for sure of,” Rose said, “I heard a rumor that Anna Reilly got taken on by the Balycastle Bats, but I don't know for sure.”
Albus nodded, feeling slightly better about the tournament. It wasn't pointless now that he knew his cousin had been taken on by a professional Quidditch team because of it. However, that didn't take all the disappointment away.
******
Madam Pomfrey reluctantly let the boys leave the next day after breakfast. She didn't really have a choice since exams began that day. Albus felt perfectly fine and was quite happy to leave the place.
Rose handed him a copy of the Prophet as soon as he and the other boys reached the common room. Albus took it, happy that he had a few minutes before his first exam to read the article that was inevitably there.
AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL CHEATS- TOURNAMENT CANCELED
After a startling discovery made by two Hogwarts
students, the Quidditch and Dueling tournament
involving Hogwarts, the Adirondack Academy of
Magic, and the Australian School of Sorcery
has been canceled.
The tournament's final Quidditch match was
interrupted this past Saturday by two Hogwarts
sixth years, Fred Weasley and Heather Weasley,
both 17, who claimed that the Australian team
had been cheating throughout the entire
tournament.
A few months ago, allegations were brought upon
the Australian team after their Seeker, Linda
Morales, 14, flew at an exceptionally fast speed.
An investigation found nothing. The tournament
continued.
Fred and Heather Weasley accused Linda Morales
of being a vampire. Vampires are outlawed
from playing on professional Quidditch teams due
to the unfair advantage they have.
The match was immediately stopped while all three
headmasters questioned the Weasleys and Morales.
Headmaster Addiar Killigan of the Australian
School of Sorcery admitted to allowing Morales
to be the Seeker of his team in order to win the
tournament. The Australian team was immediately
disqualified from the tournament.
Killigan, Morales, and the rest of the Australians
participating in the tournament left Hogwarts late
on Saturday, declining to speak with any of our
reporters.
Tournament officials as well as the other two
headmasters have decided to cancel the tournament,
and not declaring a winner.
'It is regrettable that the tournament turned out
this way,' Fabius Kendrick told reporters, 'Perhaps
we can try it again in a few years.'
“Killigan is an idiot,” Albus said.
“Look at the next article,” Rose replied.
QUINTON WILLINSON BACK IN AZKABAN, JOINED BY WASHBURN
While the final Quidditch match was ending in disaster
at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry
Potter's middle child, Albus, 13, was dealing with his
own battle.
Albus Potter, as well as cousin Kaden Dursley, 12, and
friends Matthew Eckerton and John Brickston, both 14,
were kidnapped by Quinton and Jarrett Willinson, and
Jameson Washburn. The three convicts were helped by
Ralph Lubar, Head of the Department of the Regulation
and Control of Magical Creatures in Australia.
The four Hogwarts students were taken to Australia
where Harry Potter and Walter Eckerton found them.
It is unclear what the convicts were after, as well as
why Lubar was involved.
Quinton Willinson and Jameson Washburn were caught and
sent to Azkaban. Lubar and Jarrett Willinson escaped.
Aurors are currently looking for Willinson and the
Ministry is negotiating with the Australian Ministry
about what to do with Lubar.
All four boys have recovered from the ordeal and are
currently taking their end of the year examinations
at Hogwarts. Harry Potter has declined comment.
“Well, that's not a very informative article,” Albus said as he tossed the paper onto a nearby table.
“I don't think they can report much,” Rose said, “The Australian Ministry may be asking them to keep quiet about Lubar in return for giving him some sort of punishment.
“It won't matter,” Matt said, “They're not going to do anything to him.”
Albus was forced to push Lubar into the back of his mind as exams began. They were all significantly harder than the previous year's had been, but he was sure he at least passed all of them.
There were short articles in the Prophet about Lubar everyday, but they all said the same thing. Australia refused to extradite him. Matt was not at all surprised by this, but it infuriated Albus to no end.
The week after exams was a strange one for Albus. There was nothing left for them to do. No studying, no homework, no Quidditch. Rose and Amanda went back to spending all their time with the boys, like it had been before Linda had arrived.
Things were different, though. Both Rose and Amanda were a lot quieter than they used to be. Albus was sure they missed Linda, and he had no idea whether she had said goodbye to them, or even if she'd had the chance.
Matt was lost in his own thoughts most of the time, rendering him quieter than ever. He often went entire evenings without saying two words to anyone, something that usually only happened around full moons. However, the next full moon wasn't until after they left Hogwarts.
Albus was sure this was because of what had happened in Australia. He never talked about it, but Albus knew that getting kidnapped by Lubar again had scared the daylights out of him.
John and Kaden remained as boisterous as ever and did not seem to be fazed by what had happened in Australia. They spent their week pulling pranks and playing endless games of Exploding Snap that Albus occasionally joined in on.
Albus himself was quieter. His mind was racing with thoughts of Lubar and Balladanis. None of the articles ever mentioned Balladanis, but he knew that was because Balladanis's job had to remain a secret. He wished more than anything that Lubar would get thrown in prison, whether it was Azkaban or Australia's prison.
******
The train ride back to London was subdued, the only noise being John and Kaden's Exploding Snap cards. Albus and Matt both gazed out the window, mesmerized by the passing landscape.
“Linda sent me a letter last night,” Rose said, breaking the silence.
Albus lifted his head up and looked at her. “What about?”
“She told us she was sorry, and wanted me to tell you that she was sorry about the tournament,” Rose told him, “She's on the run with her mum now. They're thinking of moving to a different country.”
“To go to school?” Albus asked.
“No,” Rose shook her head, “She's been through school a couple times already. She wasn't even a student at the Australian school. Killigan pretty much forced her into playing Seeker for them. He's a really nasty bloke. They have to get out now, though, because everyone knows.”
“Where will they go?” Albus asked, surprised that he was actually feeling sorry for Linda.
“No idea,” Rose shrugged, “She said she'd owl me when they find out.”
“This whole year has been so messed up,” John sighed, “I hope next year's better.”
“Me, too,” Matt agreed.
“We've got the World Cup to look forward to, though,” Albus smiled.
“Oh, yeah!” John grinned, “Owl me as soon as you find out when we're leaving for it.”
“Definitely,” Albus said, “Your sister's going, too. Lily told me she'd invited her. Hugo's not really happy about that.”
“Neither am I,” John muttered, “I don't want Ashtyn going.”
“Well, I'd prefer Lily not go, but it's the Cup! Nothing can really ruin it,” Albus said.
“Good point,” John agreed.
“Let me know when the Cup is,” Kaden said.
“Why? So you can convince your parents to take you?” John smirked.
“No,” Kaden laughed, “So I can know when to invite you lot to my house. My dad said he'd take us camping.”
“Excellent!” John grinned, “Camping like Muggles?”
“Yep,” Kaden replied, “Living in tents, no electricity, no magic either since we're all underage.”
“There is no way my parents will let me go,” Matt said quietly.
“Why not?” Kaden asked.
“I went camping when I was five,” Matt answered, “That was the time I got bitten.”
“Oh,” Kaden looked a little taken aback, “Sorry.”
“It's ok,” Matt shrugged, “Just don't go during a full moon. I don't want any of you having to join me in the Shrieking Shack next year.”
“I'll go,” Albus said. He'd never been camping before, let alone camping like a Muggle. He did feel bad that Matt wouldn't get to go, but he kind of thought Matt wouldn't want to go anyway.
The remainder of the trip was spent arguing about Quidditch and Albus felt like things were sort of returning to normal. It was almost nice to hear John and Matt arguing about the Cannons again and Kaden arguing about football.
The train arrived in London and Albus found his parents waiting for him on the platform. After saying goodbye to his friends, Albus left the station with his family feeling that just maybe life would be normal from then on. Well, maybe the summer would be at least be normal. Albus couldn't get his hopes up too high. |
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DucksRMagical
Joined: 28 December 2006
Posts: 2535
Location: Going through LeakyCon withdrawal
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Posted: Wednesday 26 May 2010 10 59 29 am Post subject: Re: Beyond the Shadow in topic:Beyond the Shadow |
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Chapter 9: Failed Potion
At work the next day it was like Christmas had never happened. All the decorations were gone and Farina was back to her usual self. I always liked to keep the decorations up until at least New Year's, but Farina preferred to get everything back to normal. However, the other employees of the hospital spent the next few days discussing their holidays and everything that happened during them. The most exciting news was that one of the nurses on the Magical Bugs floor got engaged to a bloke she had only known for six months.
I managed to find Victoire around lunch time and cornered her in the nearest bathroom for all the details about the reveal of her pregnancy.
“Mum cried,” Victoire said. “She really did. Not bad crying or anything. She was just happy, really happy, especially about the fact that the baby doesn't have lycanthropy. She started going on and on about how she thought she would never have another grandchild besides Sophie. I mean, she loves Sophie but she always wanted a lot of grandchildren. Gabriella and Ben just groaned and Gabriella proclaimed that she would eventually get married and have kids. Mum didn't say anything to that.”
“I just don't see your sister as the marrying type,” I said. “That's great that your mum is excited, though.”
“I don't see her ever getting married either,” Victoire agreed. “She won't be able to just go wherever she likes whenever she pleases if she gets married and has kids.”
“What about everyone else?” I asked. “Are they all excited?”
“Of course, they're Weasleys!” Victoire laughed. “That's what we do, have kids. My grandma cried, too. She's so excited about having another great-grandchild.”
“I think kids that are born into the Weasley clan are possibly the luckiest kids in Britain, possibly the whole world,” I said.
“Possibly,” Victoire replied. “So how was your Christmas?”
“Let's see, my grandmother pretty much asked me why I wasn't married and giving my mother grandchildren and Matt slept through the whole conversation, leaving me to be the only one interrogated. Then she gave me a sparkly dress for New Year's, assuming that I would go out to a party.”
Victoire groaned. “I will never understand your grandmother.”
“Me either,” I sighed. “There is no way I'm going out to a party on New Year's Eve.”
“Of course you're not,” Victoire agreed. “Although Gabriella invited me to one. Only Gabriella could get invited to a party when she hasn't even been in the country recently, and then go and invite other people.”
I laughed. “Maybe I should give her my dress.”
“I'm sure she'd take it,” Victoire replied. “Well, I suppose I'd better get back. I'm due in the clinic in ten minutes.”
“Have fun,” I said. “I should get back, too. Merlin, this week is already insane.”
Insane proved to be too tame of a word to describe that week. It seemed like I hardly went home at all and when I was there, all I did was try to catch up on sleep. The week preceding the full moon was always crazy for me since I had extra potions to brew (Wolfsbane requires extra attention right before it's taken), but this week was even busier. Every time a new potion passes the preliminary tests, I have to owl all of my and Morris's patients who would qualify to take it. Neither of us have very many patients whom regular Wolfsbane doesn't work for, but there's a handful. Then I have to set up times to meet with them to distribute it and give instructions. Each new potion usually had about four or five people testing it.
However, this month Matt was the only one who got back to me. I figured with the holidays people just hadn't given it much thought and I didn't get the owls out soon enough. I usually like to send them out two weeks before the full moon, but I just hadn't had the chance that month.
Eventually I wanted to get Jamie onto the test potion list, but he wasn't strong enough to risk it yet. This would be his second full moon off of regular Wolfsbane and while he was getting stronger, he still wasn't ready. His parents were already eager to try new potions, as seeing their son so injured is not something they wished to see again.
By the time the weekend arrived I felt like I needed to sleep for two days straight and couldn't imagine going out for New Year's Eve even if it wasn't a full moon. I slept late on Saturday and then went over to Teddy and Victoire's for an early New Year's celebration. It was a small gathering, just the two of them, Gabriella, and Ben. Matt didn't feel up to going.
I slept late on Sunday as well and awoke to the sound of banging on my door and immediately wished I hadn't had as much firewhiskey the previous night as I had had. I hadn't gotten really drunk, but I had had enough to give me a monster headache.
The pounding got louder and quicker as I made my way to the door. It better not be anyone selling anything, I thought. I wasn't in the mood to buy biscuits from cute little girls in vests.
Instead of girl guides, Albus Potter stood at the door when I opened it, looking nearly as exhausted as I felt. His black hair was more messy than usual and there were purple bags under his eyes. Judging by the Puddlemere United shirt and Gryffindor sweatpants he was wearing, he had either just woken up or not yet gone to bed. I didn't know him that well, just as well as anyone would know their brother's best friend, but what I did know was that he kept extremely odd hours when he wasn't working.
“Matt's sick,” Albus said immediately. “Worse than usual.”
That woke me up. It was as good as jumping into the Black Lake in the middle of January. With sleep the last thing on my mind I threw on a pair of shoes and followed Albus back to their flat.
“He's got a really high fever,” Albus explained once we were back in the flat. “And he hasn't been able to keep anything down.”
I nodded and immediately headed for his bedroom. It was the neatest part of the entire flat, but was still messy enough for Mum to clean every time she visited. Matt was buried underneath a myriad of blankets, with only the top of his head sticking out. I pulled them back and saw that his hair was plastered to his face with sweat and he was incredibly pale.
“When did this start?” I asked.
“Sometime last night,” Albus shrugged. “I figured I should come get you since he hadn't emerged from his room since four in the morning.”
I glanced at the clock. It was noon. I gently shook Matt and he groaned. A little while later I had managed to rouse him. “Matt, can you sit up?”
He muttered something and lifted his head up, only to fall back down on the pillow. “Too dizzy.”
“I'll get you potions,” I replied and quickly left the room.
As soon as I was in the kitchen I leaned up against the wall and took a deep breath. All right, I told myself, just because he was sicker than usual did not mean I was to blame. It wasn't necessarily the potion that made him ill. There were plenty of other explanations for it. Perhaps he had caught the flu or was overly tired.
The one bad thing about Matt testing my potions was that they didn't always just not work. Sometimes they didn't agree with him at all, making him sick in the process. It didn't happen often, but when it did, I felt awful.
I grabbed the potions as well as a glass of water and a box of crackers. I had to try to get him to eat something. If he was weak when he transformed it would make the recovery so much worse.
John was standing at the front door with Albus when I walked past. They were talking about John's most recent disastrous date.
“It's because all you talk about is Quidditch, mate,” Albus sighed. “Girls don't only like to talk about Quidditch.”
“And I'm supposed to take advice from you?” John replied incredulously. “You haven't had a girlfriend for more than two weeks since we graduated.”
“Well, girls don't like it when their boyfriends go off to other countries for work for weeks on end without contacting them,” Albus explained.
“We're pathetic,” John groaned.
I rolled my eyes and continued to Matt's bedroom. John was never one to be without a date on Friday nights, but he never managed to find a girl who was tolerant of the level of his Quidditch obsession, which bordered on insanity.
Matt did not improve throughout the day. In fact he only seemed to get sicker. None of the potions seemed to be helping and the only way he was somewhat comfortable was to be asleep, so eventually I stopped trying to shove potions down his throat and just let him sleep. Albus and John stuck around the entire day, lamenting their pathetic love lives and complaining about the fact that Kaden was the only one of their group with a girlfriend.
I had to side-along Apparate Matt directly out of the flat when the time came to get to our parents' house. Dad took him right to the basement to sleep until the moon rose. Then we went to sit our usual once a month vigil in the kitchen, the only difference being the few bottles of champagne Ellie had purchased to toast in the new year.
“Blue moons are always worse for him,” Dad commented shortly before the moon rose.
“It's the potion,” I muttered. “I messed something up, I just know it.”
“You do not, Amy,” Dad said adamantly. “He's probably got a bug.”
I opened my mouth to contradict him, but the first scream began and we all grew silent. Then another scream, and another, and I realized that they were louder and more pain ridden than normal. After years of listening to my brother scream on full moons, I knew the exact pitch to expect. This one was worse. The screams were horrible, awful, even for him.
Mum and Dad realized it as well. We all looked at each other and I could see in their faces that they now believed me. It was the potion. No illness would make the transformation more painful. No, that was all the potion. I met Mum's gaze and she looked away, trying to hide her disappointment and fear.
******
Ellie poured the champagne at 11:55, even though none of us were in the mood for it. None of us had said a word since the moon rose and the only sound that filled the room was howling, howling that sounded far worse than usual. However, Ellie, always the one to try and keep some normalcy during full moons, insisted that we have the champagne.
We each took a glass and began our half-hearted countdown to the new year. “Happy New Year.” We each mumbled when the moment finally arrived. We clinked glasses and sipped the champagne.
Goodbye 2028, I thought as I gazed at the bubbles in my glass. Goodbye to another year where all I accomplished was creating a potion that made the full moons worse for my brother. I looked at the glass and tipped the champagne into my mouth, swallowing it all in one mouthful. A nice double shot of Firewhiskey would be far more appropriate.
******
The year 2029 began with a trip to St. Mungo's. I did as much as I could at home, but eventually we had to take him in and owl Morris. We found Matt in the basement with far more broken bones than usual, extreme blood loss, and burning up. I hadn't seen him that bad in years. This was officially my worst potion yet.
Morris kept me out of the ward while he was working on Matt and while I completely understood, I still couldn't stand to stand there in the corridor not doing anything. My parents were sitting in my study, but I couldn't sit still. I paced and thought back over each and every aspect of that potion I had made.
I thought about the ingredients, the interactions of the ingredients, the amount of simmering and stirring time, the properties of the cauldrons and spoons and scales I had used, and everything else that went into potion brewing. Nothing was standing out as being detrimental. Every ingredient in that potion was something he had had before, so it was definitely not an allergic reaction.
“Amy.”
I looked up from my pacing and saw Victoire walking towards me, looking exhausted, but otherwise glowing with that pregnancy glow. She immediately hugged me and I bit my lip, trying not to cry
“Your parents sent an owl over,” she told me. “How is he?”
“Awful,” I choked. “And it's all my fault.”
“It's not,” Victoire said firmly. “You didn't know that would happen, and he knew the risks in taking that potion.”
“It is,” I insisted, trying unsuccessfully not to cry. “I created that potion and he trusted me not to give him one that would make the full moon worse!”
“Look,” she sighed. “I know you're stubborn, but just try to accept that it's not your fault.”
“It is,” I groaned as I leaned against the wall. “I'm not going to accept anything. I'm going to figure out why it happened and I'm certainly not going to let it happen again. I'll test the damn potion myself before letting this happen again.”
“Amy, you know that won't work,” Victoire said quietly.
“I know.”
“I've got to get back home to Sophie. Teddy's on duty soon. You're free to come over if you want to.” Victoire gave me another hug.
“Thanks,” I said as I hugged her back. “But I've got to stay here.”
“All right,” Victoire gave me a half smile. “Tell Matt I hope he feels better.”
I continued pacing and thinking for the next ten minutes, but didn't come up with anything. What could possibly have gone wrong?
The door to the ward opened and Morris stepped out. He gestured that I could go and see Matt and then followed me in.
“I'm just waiting for the blood test results,” Morris said as I sped over to Matt's bed. “Hopefully they'll give us some answers as to why the potion had this effect on him.”
I nodded, afraid that if I said something I would start crying again. Then I saw Matt and froze in my tracks. All of a sudden the image of Matt, at eight years old, lying in that same hospital bed after being forced to transform with other werewolves was in the front of my mind.
He looked practically the same now as he did then. Small, bandaged, covered by sterile white blankets, and either asleep or unconscious. If it weren't for the fact that we were both fifteen years older, it could have been the same thing all over again.
My potion, something I created, something I told him to take, had done the same thing to him as Ralph Lubar had all those years ago. The thought made me feel slightly sick. I had to get out of there. I couldn't look at Matt anymore. I couldn't look at what I had done to him.
I practically ran into my parents as I left the ward, but they didn't say anything to me. Instead I kept walking, not really sure where I was going. A few nurses and Healers said hello to me as I walked towards the lift, but I didn't stop. It wasn't until the lift doors were closed did I realize that I was sharing it with Farina.
“Morning, Eckerton,” she said, causing me to jump. “Are you all right?”
I looked at her and she was wearing that same rare look of concern she gave Victoire the day she found out she was pregnant.
“Fine,” I muttered, wiping my eyes.
“Hmm,” she replied. “You don't look fine. Your brother's upstairs, isn't he?”
I whipped my head around and stared at her. I knew as the director of St. Mungo's she obviously knew a lot about the hospital and its patients, but how would she know that off the top of her head?
“As the director of this hospital, I have access to all the information in the building,” she told me. “When you arrived, fresh out of Hogwarts, I was surprised by your determination to succeed and how sure you were of what you wanted to do with your life. No seventeen or eighteen year old has ever had their career planned out like you did. Naturally, I had to investigate. Your brother's medical records were all the answers I needed. I just checked the new admissions forms and I saw his name on there. Take tomorrow off.”
The doors opened and Farina left without another word. I stood stunned as a maintenance worker muttering about bubotuber pus ambled in, completely shocked at Farina's generosity. An extra day off? I wasn't surprised at all that she had looked into my past when I started at St. Mungo's, not that she had ever told me about it before.
I got off the lift at the lobby and went off into Muggle London. Perhaps walking through the streets amongst strangers would help me clear my head. |
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DucksRMagical
Joined: 28 December 2006
Posts: 2535
Location: Going through LeakyCon withdrawal
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Posted: Wednesday 26 May 2010 10 57 37 am Post subject: Re: Albus potter and the Path Left Untrodden in topic:Albus potter and the Path Left Untrodden |
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This is the second to last chapter!
Chapter 37: The Outcome of the Match
Albus managed to sit up right before the hexes started flying. Realizing that he dropped his wand when Lubar and Jarrett hexed him, he groped about for it on the ground. Not finding it, he crawled behind a nearby bush and watched.
Jarrett didn't stick around long. He sent one pathetic Stunner at Harry, who easily deflected it, and disappeared on the spot. Harry immediately disarmed Lubar before he could do the same.
Once Lubar was defenseless, Albus left the safety of the bush and shakily stood up. He reached the fire and was able to see who the other two wizards next to Harry were. What he saw made him dizzy with shock all over again.
The shorter of the two was Matt's dad. He was staring stony faced at Lubar. Albus had never seen anyone glare at anyone else with such hatred and loathing as Matt's dad glared at Lubar. And that included when his Uncle Ron talked about the Malfoys, or his mum when somebody mentioned Vernon and Petunia Dursley.
It was the other wizard that nearly caused Albus to pass out in shock. He was none other than Professor Balladanis. What in the name of Merlin was he doing there? It looked like he was actually with Harry and Matt's dad. But why? Didn't Matt's dad hate Balladanis?
“Eckerton, what a pleasant surprise,” Lubar smirked.
“Lubar, if we weren't in the presence of an Auror and a Presuler I'd rip you limb from limb, Muggle style,” Mr. Eckerton growled.
Albus was slightly stunned by Mr. Eckerton's choice of words, but remembering what Matt had told him at the beginning of the year, all surprise left him.
“Lucky for me Potter and Balladanis are here, then,” Lubar replied and snatched Washburn's wand off the ground.
Harry, Mr. Eckerton, and Balladanis all sent different spells at Lubar at the same time, but it was too late. He was already gone. Mr. Eckerton swore loudly.
“Two ain't bad,” Balladanis muttered as he gestured to Washburn and Quinton, the latter of whom was still conscious but not completely aware of his surroundings.
“That's the glaring difference between you and I,” Mr. Eckerton muttered as he moved swiftly past Quinton and Washburn to reach Matt.
“Dad!” Albus shouted.
Harry looked up from Kaden's unconscious form and raced towards Albus. Albus threw his arms around his dad and the two of them hugged each other tightly.
“Al, thank Merlin,” Harry said.
“Dad, what's Balladanis doing here?” Albus asked immediately, “And Lubar, what's going to happen to him? And Willinson?”
“I'll explain it all once we get you back to Hogwarts,” Harry assured him.
Balladanis had a firm hold on both Washburn and Quinton and was fiddling with a broken plastic cup. A few seconds later, all three of them disappeared.
Harry turned to Mr. Eckerton, who was standing up with Matt in his arms. “Can you take John, too? I'll get Kaden and Al will come with me.”
Mr. Eckerton nodded and grabbed hold of John's arm before pulling his own broken plastic cup out of his pocket. They disappeared.
Harry pulled Kaden up and took Albus's arm. Albus was still thoroughly confused, but did not have time to ask his dad anymore questions before feeling the familiar jerk behind his naval that signified he was traveling by Portkey.
Albus landed with a thud in the middle of the Hospital Wing. The question of how they managed to Portkey inside the Hogwarts grounds was the least pressing question on his mind.
Looking around, Albus saw that the others had arrived as well. Mr. Eckerton was laying both Matt and John on the nearest beds while Madam Pomfrey was shouting and gathering potions.
“Look at the state of them!” the nurse exclaimed, “Always this lot, too! You're a bad influence on them, Harry, I swear!”
Harry looked slightly sheepish as he set Kaden down on the bed next to Matt's and then turned to Albus.
“I've got to speak with Professor Kendrick and go to the Ministry-” he began.
“But Dad!” Albus interrupted, “What was Balladanis doing there?”
“I promise I'll tell you all of that and more,” Harry replied, “But I need to tell everyone you and the others are ok. When I get back, I'm going to need you to tell me everything that happened.”
“But-”
“No buts!” Madam Pomfrey cut in, “Bed, Albus, bed! You need rest!”
Albus, who had barely registered the fact that his head was bleeding and he was still quite dizzy, felt that the last thing he needed was rest. He needed to know what was going on.
“I'll explain once you've gotten some sleep,” Harry assured him.
Albus muttered under his breath and got into bed. Once Madam Pomfrey had given him a Sleeping Draught, Harry left, leaving Albus to unsuccessfully try to fight off the sleep he knew was coming.
******
The ward was quiet when Albus woke up. It was completely dark outside, although Albus didn't have the slightest clue as to what day it was. John, Matt, and Kaden were either still unconscious or sound asleep. Albus was betting on the latter since Madam Pomfrey was no where to be seen.
Mr. Eckerton was still there and he had been joined by his wife. Both of them were nodding off in chairs next to Matt's bed. It didn't look like Mr. Eckerton had even left. He was wearing the same Ministry robes he had been wearing before.
Albus sat up and put his hand to his head. There was a bandage on the back of it. Another bandage was wrapped around his right arm, although he couldn't recall when he had injured it. Besides that, he just felt exhausted.
The door to the ward opened, letting in a small flood of light from the corridor. A figure stepped inside and began walking towards Albus's bed.
“Hey, Al,” they said.
“Dad,” Albus replied, recognizing his father, “Are you going to tell me about Balladanis now?”
“Yes,” Harry chuckled, “Perhaps we ought to go to the Room of Requirement.”
Albus shook his head, remembering something he had been debating for the past year. He had waited long enough. It was time.
“No,” Albus said, “I know someplace better.”
Without saying a word, Albus got out of bed and lead his dad out the door and up to the fifth floor corridor. Harry did not ask a single question as Albus pulled the arm down on the appropriate knight and turned to face the opposite wall.
Albus located the paw prints and touched his hand to them, turning it into a doorknob. He opened the door and stepped inside. Harry followed, letting out a gasp as he did.
“Remember that map from last year?” Albus asked as he shut the door.
Harry nodded, apparently at a loss for words.
“There was more to it. Instructions on how to get into this room. It was theirs, the Marauders'. Their secret common room,” Albus said quietly.
Harry didn't respond. Instead he walked slowly around the room. Albus stood near the door and waited. He wasn't sure how long he stood there, watching as his dad investigated the room that had once belonged to his grandfather.
“This,” Harry began, “This is just incredible, Al. How long have you known about it?”
“About a year,” Albus said quietly.
“And you spend time here?” Harry asked.
“Probably more than we do in the common room,” Albus answered.
“Then it is the perfect place to talk,” Harry said as he sat down on one of the couches.
Albus sat down next to him. “So why was Balladanis there?”
“I'll tell you that,” Harry said, “But first I want you to explain to me what happened.”
Albus took a deep breath and told his dad everything. Starting with when they saw Lubar in the castle and ending with throwing the Resurrection Stone into the Outback. He explained how they had first gone to a forest in Australia, how they had Portkeyed to the Outback, the dementors, the almost Patronus he had managed to make, the duel, the fact that the Resurrection Stone didn't work to bring Voldemort back.
“Why didn't it work?” Albus asked, “I mean, I'm glad it didn't, but why?”
Harry thought for a few minutes and then looked at Albus. “There are a few reasons that might explain it. The Resurrection Stone brings back people we love, but it does not bring them back completely. It's almost as if their soul is coming back.”
“Like a ghost?”
“Not exactly,” Harry said, “But similar. It's possible that since Voldemort split his soul so many times, he can't be brought back with the Stone. The Stone may need the soul to be intact to work.”
Albus nodded. “That makes sense.”
“It could also be that only loved ones can be brought back with the Stone. Washburn and the Willinsons did not love Voldemort; they did not know him. They wanted to bring him back for their own agenda,” Harry explained.
“Is there any way to find out which it is?” Albus asked.
“No, I don't think so,” Harry said, “Especially now that the Stone is once again gone. Which is something I'm very grateful that you did.”
“Well, I figured you left it out in the Forbidden Forest for a reason,” Albus shrugged.
“Yes, yes I did,” Harry replied, “I think it best if nobody had that Stone.”
Albus nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense. But what was Balladanis doing there?”
Harry laughed. “You're not going to let that go, are you?”
“Nope, you said you'd tell me,” Albus said.
“I will,” Harry replied, “Albus, do you know what a Presuler is?”
“Yes,” Albus nodded, “And I know that Balladanis is one.”
“You do?” Harry looked impressed.
“He told me during one of those dueling lessons he gave me,” Albus explained.
“Well, that makes my explanation easier,” Harry said, “A little over a year ago, shortly after Quinton kidnapped Kaden, the Ministry decided to hire a Presuler to help find Washburn and Jarrett Willinson.”
“Seriously?” Albus gaped at him.
“Yes,” Harry muttered, “The Minister believed the Aurors needed some help.”
Albus thought he heard bit of contempt in his dad's voice.
“When I realized that Washburn and the Willinsons were most likely working with Ralph Lubar, I had to contact Balladanis and let him know. He came with us, and I have to admit that he was very helpful. We would not have found you as fast if he wasn't there,” Harry explained.
“But why was he teaching here?” Albus asked.
“The Minister, Professor Kendrick, and I believed it would be good strategy to have him stationed at Hogwarts, where we all believed Washburn and the Willinsons would return to. Balladanis agreed,” Harry said, “Of course, none of us realized that Balladanis would not be able to handle teaching.
“This is all quite secretive, Al. I'd prefer you didn't tell anyone. I will be telling Matt, John, and Kaden, because I feel they have the right to know, but I don't want anyone else knowing about it.”
“What about Rose and Amanda?” Albus asked.
“I suppose I'll tell them as well, otherwise Kaden is sure to tell them,” Harry said.
“What's going to happen to Lubar?” Albus asked, “Is Balladanis going to be after him now?”
“No,” Harry shook his head, “That's going to be tricky situation. Lubar isn't a British citizen. We can't do a thing while he's in Australia. It's up to the Australian Ministry to either put him on trial or give him to us to put on trial. And since he's one of their officials, we're not sure they'll do either.”
“But that's not fair!” Albus stood up angrily, “Look what he did! Look what he's done!”
“I know,” Harry sighed, “I'd like nothing more than to give him a life-long stint in Azkaban, but unfortunately the laws don't work that way.”
“He and Balladanis get along anyway,” Albus said, “Balladanis probably wouldn't want to go after him.”
“I don't know about that,” Harry said, “Balladanis likes people to pay for what they've done. However, being a Presuler and having no Ministry affiliation, he does not have to take a case if he's offered it.”
“He told me I'd make a good Presuler,” Albus said quietly as I sat back down, “Malfoy, too.”
Harry sighed. “What do you think about that?”
“I don't know,” Albus shrugged, “I mean, I like dueling, but I don't really want to decide what I want to do right now.”
“You don't have to,” Harry replied, “And I don't want to tell you what to do, but I am going to tell you something.
“Being a Presuler is a hard job and often a lonely one. You have no coworkers. You work with various Ministries, but rarely get to know anyone. You travel a lot, which can make it difficult to have a family. It's not an easy path to go down. Not one I'd choose for myself.”
Albus hadn't even thought about that. He didn't think he'd want to rarely ever see his friends and family.
“There's plenty of other things you could do that would put your dueling skills to use,” Harry told him, “And you're only 13 so no need to decide now.”
“I know, I don't plan to,” Albus replied.
“Well, you should probably get back to the Hospital Wing before Madam Pomfrey notices you're gone,” Harry smirked, “And thanks again for showing me the room.”
Harry stood up and gave his son a hug. They left the room and walked back to the Hospital Wing, both lost in their thoughts.
******
As it turned out, Madam Pomfrey had already noticed that Albus was missing. When he returned to the Hospital Wing with his dad, she was running about the ward shouting at the top of her lungs. Matt, John, and Kaden were all awake, staring at her.
“There you are!” she shrieked, “Where have you been?”
“Er,” Albus began.
“I had to talk to him in private,” Harry answered for him.
“You should have asked me first!” Madam Pomfrey exclaimed as she ushered Albus back into bed, “He needs rest!”
“I'm his father,” Harry said incredulously.
“I don't care if you're the Minister of Magic!” Madam Pomfrey replied, “I'm the one with the nursing degree!”
“How long has she been shouting?” Albus whispered to Matt as he got back in bed.
“Fifteen minutes or so,” Matt answered.
Madam Pomfrey returned to her desk and Harry strode over to where the Eckertons were sitting.
“Could I have a word in private?” Harry asked Mr. Eckerton and then turned to Madam Pomfrey. “Do I need your permission for that?” he grinned.
“Very amusing,” Madam Pomfrey muttered.
Albus drifted back to sleep a little while later and when he next woke up it was light out and Madam Pomfrey was bringing them all breakfast trays.
“Er, what day is it?” Albus asked as Madam Pomfrey set his tray down.
“It's Sunday, dear, but it's afternoon,” Madam Pomfrey replied, “I figured you'd prefer to have breakfast.”
“Only Sunday?” Albus asked. It felt like it had been far more than twenty-four hours since he had met up with Lubar before the Quidditch match.
“Time zone changes are difficult to adjust to,” Madam Pomfrey explained, “Australia's quite a few hours ahead of us.”
Albus nodded and dug into his breakfast. Suddenly he was ravenous. When he thought about it, it must have been at least a day since he'd eaten anything.
“I wonder how the Quidditch match went,” Kaden mused as he shoved toast in his mouth.
Albus choked on his eggs. He'd forgotten about the match! “I doubt we won,” he sighed.
“Is your dad going to tell us why Balladanis was with him when he came to save us?” John asked, “I mean, he's had plenty of time.”
“He will,” Albus said, “He already told me. You lot were asleep.”
The doors to the Hospital Wing banged open and Rose and Amanda came running in. Madam Pomfrey made a move to get up from her desk, but then sat back down, shaking her head.
“Tell us what happened!” Rose demanded as she skidded to a halt in front of Albus's bed, “When did you get back? Where did you go?”
“Who won the Quidditch match?” Albus asked.
“Quidditch? Quidditch?” Rose groaned, “I'm not saying a word about Quidditch until the four of you tell me what in the name of Merlin's saggy left-”
“Miss Weasley!” Madam Pomfrey shouted, “If you don't lower your voice, you'll have to leave!”
“Sorry,” Rose turned back to Albus, “But you lot have got to tell us what happened!”
Albus launched into the entire tale, which took the better part of a half hour to tell. Neither Rose or Amanda interrupted once during the whole thing. Both of them looked absolutely shocked by the time Albus concluded.
“But, but why was Balladanis there?” Rose asked.
“My dad's going to tell you,” Albus said, “He's already told me. He'll probably tell the rest of you today.”
“Merlin, Albus,” Rose sighed, “How much trouble can you get into?”
“It's not my fault,” Albus shrugged, “Now can you tell us about the match?”
Rose exchanged glances with Amanda, who sighed. “It was quite the match, let me tell you,” Amanda said.
“Nobody won, Al,” Rose said.
“What?” John interrupted, “How can nobody win?”
“About forty-five minutes into the match, Fred and Heather ran onto the pitch-”
“The match lasted that long?” Matt asked.
“Yes,” Rose said, “I don't know why. Anyway, Fred and Heather ran right up to Ludo Bagman and started talking to him. Nobody could hear what they were saying. Then Bagman blew his whistle and they went into a time-out.
“Bagman left the pitch and had a really long talk with all the headmasters and captains. Then Kendrick announced that the match was called off and told everyone to return to their common rooms.
“Everyone was really angry of course. Amanda and I were already worried because you lot hadn't shown up yet. We thought something bad had happened and that was why they called it off.”
“Why did they call it off?” John asked.
“I'm getting to that,” Rose said, “We got back up to Gryffindor and everyone was gathered around Fred and Heather. Linda wasn't there, and neither were any of her teammates who were Gryffindors.
“We pushed our way to the front of the crowd and heard what Fred and Heather were talking about. They were claiming that Australia had been cheating the whole time-”
“Well, they were,” Matt muttered.
“I know,” Rose agreed, “And apparently so did Fred and Heather. I'm sure they figured it out just recently or else they would've told someone sooner. They found out Linda's a vampire and now the entire school knows.”
“How did they figure it out?” Albus asked, completely shocked. Linda hid her secret quite well. Fred and Heather were sixth years, they wouldn't have heard Balladanis's vampire lecture.”
“They've been trying to figure it out all year,” Rose explained, “And since they're smart, they figured it out.”
“But what about the match?” Albus asked.
“I think they're going to cancel the tournament, Albus,” Rose said quietly.
“Cancel the tournament?” Albus gasped, “Cancel the tournament?! They can't do that! We've spent the whole year on that tournament! Do you know how much time I've spent on the Quidditch pitch this year? More time than I've spent in class, probably! And now they're going to cancel the bloody tournament?”
“I don't know, Al,” Rose said shortly, “And if they do it's not my fault.”
“Sorry,” Albus mumbled, “It's just a little aggravating.”
“I know,” Rose replied.
“Where's Linda?” Matt asked.
“Gone,” Rose sighed, “Without a word. I haven't seen her or any of the Australians since the match. Killigan's gone, too.”
“Wow,” Matt replied, “Can't say I blame her, though.”
“I guess,” Rose said, “Anyway, they'll probably make an announcement about the tournament at dinner.” |
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DucksRMagical
Joined: 28 December 2006
Posts: 2535
Location: Going through LeakyCon withdrawal
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Posted: Sunday 9 May 2010 11 54 25 am Post subject: Re: Beyond the Shadow in topic:Beyond the Shadow |
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Chapter 8: A Quiet Christmas Eve
While Farina seemed like the ruthless dictator of St. Mungo's for most of the year, during the Christmas season she became practically a different person. She was cheerful, happy, and forgiving. She supervised the decoration of the hospital, which always became decked out in a variety of holiday decorations, and scared the hell out of any employees who hadn't worked there during a Christmas season yet. The residents and junior brewers in particular got freaked out by her.
Victoire's appointment was on Tuesday and since the mission Teddy had been on for the past two days wasn't over, like he had thought it would be, I went with her for moral support. I met her in the maternity ward, which had been decorated with a Santa's Workshop theme. Victoire was sitting in the small waiting area, looking nervous and staring at a Christmas tree that was set up in the corner.
“I'm not sure I want to know,” Victoire said as soon as I sat down.
“You have to find out,” I replied.
“I know,” she sighed. “It's just that up until now I was able to think that the baby doesn't have it, but now I'm going to know for sure.”
“And it might be negative,” I pointed out.
Victoire didn't say anything else and two minutes later a nurse called her name. We were lead to an exam room and then were left to wait for the healer. Luckily we only had to wait ten minutes.
The healer, someone neither of us really knew, explained the procedure even though we both already knew what it was. Victoire grew steadily paler as the healer drew her wand and pressed it to Victoire's stomach. The test involved extracting some of the amniotic fluid and then putting it in a vial of pure Wolfsbane. The fluid was then examined under a microscope and if the DNA was destroyed by the Wolfsbane, it meant the baby was positive for lycanthropy.
The extraction process wasn't nearly as painful as the Muggle version, but it was still uncomfortable so Victoire squeezed my hand as it happened. We were silent as the healer transferred the fluid to the vial and then left the room to do the test. Neither of us said a word while we waited.
Victoire jumped when the healer returned. She shut the door and then smiled at us.
“Negative,” she said. “The baby does not have lycanthropy.”
“Y-you're sure?” Victoire gasped. “But my first did.”
“Genetics are a funny thing,” the healer mused. “Would you like to know the sex?”
“No, I think I'll wait until Teddy's able to be here for that,” Victoire replied.
The healer left and I looked at Victoire. She was glowing, absolutely glowing. She had that glow that pregnant women are always described as having, but never had with Sophie. I suppose she was just too worried and ill to have it with Sophie.
“I cannot wait until Christmas Eve!” Victoire grinned.
Victoire didn't have to wait long for Christmas Eve. It was only six days away and the days went by fast. I worked each and every one of those days and did last minute Christmas shopping in the evenings. I was so exhausted by the time Christmas Eve arrived that I was looking forward to just sitting in my parents' house and having someone else cook for me.
It seemed that the rest of my family felt the same way because when I arrived at the house the rest of my family was sprawled out on various couches, snoozing or reading the paper.
“Nap time in the Eckerton house?” I asked as I stepped into the living room.
Mum jerked awake and looked at me, and then the clock. “Merlin, I'm due to pick up Cinda. I'll be back soon.”
Mum hurried out the door as Dad set down his paper. I put the presents I'd bought under the tree and then took Mum's vacated seat.
“So, what's the plan?” I asked Dad.
“Relaxing,” he answered. “We've all got two days off work, so I figured we'd just relax.”
“Sounds good to me,” I agreed. “Although I do have to stop by the hospital tomorrow to work on the Wolfsbane. It won't take long.”
“How is your newest potion coming along?” Dad asked.
“Well,” I grinned, “it passed the preliminary tests, so I'm free to prescribe it to patients.”
“Well done, Amy!” Dad got up off his chair and gave me a hug. “Will it be done for this full moon?”
“It sure will,” I smiled. “But Dad, just because it passed the tests doesn't mean it's going to work.”
“Amy, you need to stop doubting yourself,” Dad told me. “If anyone can do this, it's you.”
“That may be but I really wish it wouldn't take me my whole life to do it,” I muttered.
“Amy, nobody has invented a medicinal potion before they turned thirty. Hardly anyone's done it before they've turned fifty,” Dad sighed.
“Who's turning fifty?” Matt asked sleepily from the couch.
“Nobody,” Dad laughed. “Amy is lamenting her lack of potion creating.”
Matt groaned. “Amy, you need to stop doing that. You're a potions genius. Kaden practically worships you.”
That was pretty much true, although I would never admit it out loud. Kaden Dursley is determined to become one of the top brewers at St. Mungo's and really does have the potential. He's just kind of over exuberant.
“The new potion is ready,” I told Matt. “You want to take it this month?”
“Definitely,” he said.
“All right, I'll bring some home as soon as it's ready,” I replied. “You'll have to take it for a few days beforehand.”
Both Dad and Matt fell asleep again a little while later. I smirked to myself as I picked up Dad's discarded newspaper and leafed through it while I watched them sleep. The two of them looked remarkably similar when they slept; both with their mouths agape and completely sprawled out on their furniture of choice. It was kind of funny.
Mum returned with Cinda a short while later, Cinda hobbling inside with her walker, Mum guiding her. Mum helped her into the nearest chair in the living room and then disappeared into the kitchen.
“Look at this, all of you lot sound asleep and me wide awake at the age of eighty-seven,” Cinda said loudly.
Dad jerked awake and Mum started laughing. “Oh, hi Cinda. How are you?”
“Better than you, by the look of it,” she replied. “You all work too hard.”
Cinda was looking good, a lot better than she had been. That meant she would be in top form for gossiping and trying to find out every detail of Matt and my lives, especially if she had heard about Kenzie.
“Amy,” Cinda began. “Have you heard from Kenzie lately?”
Well, she wasn't wasting any time. “Yeah, she's getting married.”
“Isn't it wonderful?” Cinda sighed. “I was beginning to wonder if she ever would, seeing as she's thirty.”
The thing about Cinda was that she was so good at the subtle implications. She obviously knew that I was thirty and not married.
“Plenty of people get married past thirty, Mum,” Mum said as she returned with a tray of crackers and cheese and a tray of drinks. “Times have changed.”
“That may be, but surely you want grandchildren?” Cinda said as she took her drink.
Then there were the times when Cinda liked to be blatantly obvious. I tried not to take much offense to her comments, as inquiring about my life was one of the few pleasures she had left in life. But there was still something odd about your grandmother asking when the last time you went on a date was.
“We will love our grandchildren whenever they are born, be it next year or next decade,” Mum said. “The important thing is that Amy and Matt wait until they are ready. Remember, I didn't have Amy until I was in my thirties. Now, did you hear that Kenzie's fiance is a wizard?”
“No!” Cinda exclaimed. “Really?”
“Yes,” Mum smiled. “He used to go to school with Amy before we moved.”
“Oh my God, do you remember him?” Cinda asked me.
“No,” I answered, settling back with my drink.
Thank Merlin for Mum. She always knew the best way to veer Cinda off into another gossip direction. Now all I had to do was nod and answer the occasional question and Cinda would keep the conversation going. As soon as the cheese platter was empty, I excused myself to the kitchen to refill it.
Matt wandered in as I was chopping cheese the Muggle way, in order to prolong my time in the kitchen. He grabbed a box of crackers and poured them onto the tray.
“I was going to do that,” I told him. “Now I won't have an excuse to stay in here longer.”
“She's not that bad tonight,” Matt shrugged.
“That's because she's not asking you why you're not married,” I said. “Why is that anyway? Why does she always ask me more?”
“You're older,” Matt pointed out. “Not to mention the fact that I turn furry once a month. You know that kind of freaks her out.”
“Well, it shouldn't,” I muttered.
“Still, I'm only twenty-three,” Matt said.
“Plus you were asleep when she got here,” I replied. “Wish I could get away with sleeping through family functions.”
“No, you really don't,” Matt said.
“Ok, I'll give you that one,” I replied as I picked up the cheese platter. “But you're awake now, so you're stuck without an excuse.”
******
Mum and Ellie cooked a very good Christmas Eve dinner consisting of lasagna, salad, bread, and treacle tart for dessert. Everyone proclaimed how they wouldn't be able to eat the Christmas ham the next day given how stuffed they were. Cinda dominated the conversation with gossip from her nursing home and pondering about what sort of wedding Kenzie would have.
“You ought to keep an eye out for eligible men at Kenzie's wedding, Amy,” Cinda told me over dessert. “So many people meet the one they'll marry at a wedding.”
I nodded and caught Matt's eye. He was trying to stifle his laughter and turning red in the process, although most likely not as red as I was.
“You, too, Matt,” Cinda added. “Doesn't Kenzie have a sister around your age?”
“Mari?” I asked. “She's been going out with the same bloke for four years.”
“Oh,” Cinda replied. “Well, I'm sure she'll have friends there.”
Eventually we returned to the living room, where the conversation continued throughout the evening. Luckily it turned to Christmases past, where we all reminisced about times in Australia and when Richard was still alive. Mum and Cinda got quite teary eyed and Dad decided to bring up Christmases when he was little, which lightened the mood. Dad and Uncle Jack always had creative ways of waking up their parents on Christmas mornings, including blasting horns in their ears and putting ice cubes under their covers.
Dad set up a bed in the living room for Cinda and the rest of us went upstairs. Mum and Dad went to bed, but Matt and I went into the library. I sat down in a huge comfy armchair I had always liked when I was younger. Matt lay down on the couch and procured a few chocolate frogs. He tossed one to me and then unwrapped his own.
“Remember that last Christmas in Australia?” he asked. “That tree was huge.”
I smiled. That had been the only year my parents gave in to me and let us get a twelve foot Christmas tree. “Of course. That seems like so long ago.”
“You were kind of crazy,” Matt laughed. “Insisting that we keep looking for the perfect tree.”
“And Mum freaked out that you'd been outside so long,” I added.
“Sometimes I wish we could just go do that again,” Matt said quietly. “Christmas was so much more magical then. Now presents consist of a new set of robes or a tie.”
“Way to be materialistic,” I laughed.
“That's not what I meant,” Matt groaned. “It's just different, you know?”
“Yeah, I do,” I said.
“Well, I'm going to bed,” Matt said as he got up. “'Night.”
“Night,” I said.
I turned to the window and gazed out it. For once the sky was cloudless and all the stars were visible, reminding me of all the time I spent stargazing as a kid. The moon was there as well, three-quarters of the way full, shedding light upon the cow field in the distance.
My thoughts turned to Victoire and Teddy. They had probably already given the news of Victoire's pregnancy to all their relatives, who were probably ecstatic. I could only imagine the amount of excitement that was in the Burrow at that moment. It was filled with dozens of people of all ages, generations of Weasleys all spending Christmas together. I'm sure there was never a dull moment.
Christmas at my house had never been like that and I never really minded, until now. I couldn't even explain it, but for some reason what Cinda had said was getting to me. She was right, in a way. I was thirty and wasn't even close to getting married or having kids. Everyone else my age was. Teddy and Victoire were about to have their second kid, Landon and his wife already have two kids, and Kenzie was engaged. Me? I'd dumped every bloke I had been with and created dozens of useless potions.
Suddenly I had a very clear picture of Sophie running down the stairs towards the Christmas tree at the Burrow, followed by her little cousins, eager to open presents. When would I get to experience that? When would I get to see my own kids excited on Christmas morning? Why did all the blokes I went out with have to be idiots?
More importantly, why was I thinking about this? Love and marriage had always been on the back of my mind since there were other more important things to think about. My career, for example. I didn't have time for dating when I was spending more time at St. Mungo's than my own flat. Maybe after I figured out what was wrong with the Wolfsbane Potion and completed my study, then I would have time for dating.
But how long would that take? What if it took until I turned sixty? I'd have no chance of having kids if I waited that long. No; I tried to push the thought from my mind. It wouldn't take me that long and even if it did, what did it matter? Giving my brother a better life was worth it.
I must have fallen asleep in that armchair because I woke up with a crick in my neck and Matt shaking my arm. I squinted in the sunlight and tried to swat him away.
“Isn't this a switch,” he said. “Everyone else is up.”
“That's because the rest of you spent yesterday afternoon asleep,” I pointed out.
“Mum's got brekkie ready, but I want to open presents first,” Matt said. “So get up.”
“Oh, you want to open your new set of robes?” I grinned.
“Funny,” Matt replied as he left the room.
A few minutes later we were all sitting around the tree with presents in our hands. Well, Matt and I were sitting around the tree. Mum, Dad, and Cinda were all sitting on furniture. Matt opened the first present, and surely enough it was a brand new set of robes from Mum and Dad. Cinda got him a nice green tie to go with it that looked ominously like a Slytherin tie. I was almost positive the tie would disappear into the depths of Matt's wardrobe, never to be seen again.
My present from Cinda was hardly better. I opened the box to find a very fancy blue dress adorned with sequins and below it was a pair of sparkly high heels.
“I figured you wouldn't want a pink one,” Cinda said as I held it up to myself, still very confused.
So she had made some progress since I was fourteen, but what on earth was I going to wear that thing to? “Cinda, what exactly is this for?”
“New Year's Eve!” she said excitedly. “You can wear it to whatever party you're going to.”
“Cinda,” I said quietly, “there's a full moon on New Year's Eve this year.”
“So?” Cinda asked. “You can still go out. You're not the one who's a werewolf.”
Cue the awkward silence. Neither of my grandparents had ever been exactly comfortable with the fact that Matt is a werewolf, although they always tried to hide it. Mum and Cinda had a huge fight about it shortly before we moved to England and they wound up agreeing to disagree. Cinda just did not understand anything about lycanthropy and she never would.
“I'll think about it,” I said as I set the dress back in its box.
The rest of my presents were more promising than the dress. Mum and Dad got me a set of potions ingredient encyclopedias, which would be useful since I had to share the few sets that St. Mungo's had with the rest of the brewers. Once Matt and I had finished opening our presents, Mum and Dad opened theirs.
“It's a new kind of quill,” Mum told Dad as he opened his present from her. “It somehow remembers everything you write with it and with one quick spell, it'll re-write everything. In case you ever lose your notes or something. I figured you could use it for your book.”
“That'll be useful,” Dad said.
Dad had started writing a book on lycanthropy a few years ago and the rest of us had doubts as to whether he'd ever finish it, but he was determined to. If it ever did get published, I was sure it would be the most useful book on lycanthropy out there.
The rest of the day was relaxing for the most part. I had to stop by St. Mungo's after brekkie in order to work on the potions, but I was only gone for a couple hours. The hospital was as deserted as a hospital could ever get and even Farina had taken the day off. I didn't see any of the other Brewers, only a couple of Healers and nurses. However, the waiting room was plenty busy, filled with people destined for the spell damage ward after family arguments.
Christmas dinner was just as delicious as Christmas Eve's dinner had been. Mum and Ellie really outdo themselves on holidays, more now than they did when Matt and I were kids. I suppose they like to take advantage of the fact that we're actually home on holidays. Mum took Cinda back to the nursing home later that evening, but Matt and I decided to just spend another night since we were both tired and rather full. |
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