I) Introductions
Madeline started slowing down to a quick pace on her way to her mother's bookshop. She was only 15, not exactly an age people expect to see a salesperson. Madeline loved helping out with the shop and getting to meet new people; to see what interest people have. Besides, she was almost 16.
Her long blonde hair (with sweet blue highlights) was flowing out behind her as she hurried on. Madeline was wearing her favourite sparkly green tank top and white jean capri's with a moss green sash and white sneakers. On her arm, she carried a beige shoulder bag and dangling from the strap was a googly-eyed frog. She finally came up to the store and she quickly pointed her finger at the lock, said "Alohamora", and went inside.
She expected her mother would not be there yet, or the twins. What she did not expect was her grandmother to be there. At all! "Um… Grandma?" she said frowning, while putting down her bag and sitting behind the counter. "Ah, my dear Adeline!" The old woman smiled. Madeline scrunched up her nose at the use of her nickname.
Madeline and her mother and father had moved from France to London after her parents had gotten married and had her. On Madeline's father side, she was Afghanistan, on her mother's side, she was British.
"Don't look at me like that, Adeline. Soon your mother can give you a detention for that!" Madeline stared at her as she started to get the shop ready. Madeline suddenly got a flash of something big happening. Wonderful but horrible. Maybe a mix of both.
"What do you mean Grandma? I don't understand, I thought I was helping her with the store?" Her grandmother shook her head. "No, not anymore. As you know, I am a teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And your mother has been asked to take over the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts."
Just then, the door to the shop opened and in came the twins. More like the troublemakers, Madeline liked to call them. "Hey was up lil' Adeline?" Lola said.
Lola and Lily were the twins. They were 19 and had titian hair that went to their middle backs, though Lola liked hers a bit wavier (Her mother had been married; had the twins, father died and then they went to France on a trip and she got married again). Lily was wearing a tight, strappy, dark blue dress that barely went to her knees (and showing tad more cleavage then what should be allowed) while Lola was wearing tight, leather pants with a matching strapless top that showed off her mid-drift, it was also blood red.
"Hey guys what's up?" Madeline asked as she sorted a pile of books onto the 'Magical Beasts' shelf. "Hmm" smirked Lily "The sky maybe?"
"And your head" added Lola
"Did you count her arms?"
"Her brain?"
"What brain?"
"Oh yeah..."
"Stop it you two" their grandmother said sharply. "You remind me of two twins at Hogwarts" Lily and Lola, sighed, "Yes professor McGonagall," they said in unison. "Good, now Adeline…"
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"WHAT!?!" screamed Madeline, startling some people in the store. "I don't want to go to another school! I just moved a year ago to come here!" She collapsed in a chair while sobbing uncontrollably. "You will be starting in September on the first and even though we usually start at age 11 you will start at 16 and will be in sixth year sense your birthday is right before school starts." McGonagall smiled at her as she looked up at her grandmother. "Why is this happening to me? Now? It is so unfair!"" Madeline thought this was just silly.
"Dear, don't cry, I went to Hogwarts in my youth" calmly said a woman you looked to be about in her 50's. "You did?" Madeline looked up at her "What was it like?" Madeline slowly was starting to feel better but not quite. Just then, before the woman could answer the door rang as it opened again.
A teenage girl with her hair in a long plait came in. She looked to be about Madeline's age. Madeline went over to her. 'May I help you madam?" Perhaps working today will get my mind off things! She noticed her grandmother eyeing the girl. The girl stared at her with her big brown eyes. "Oh you don't have to call me that. My names Hermione and I am looking for a book on Arithmancy. They don't have the right one at Flourish and Blotts so I thought I might look here!" Madeline stuck out her hand and the girl, known as Hermione, shook it, "My name's Madeline McGonagall. We have a book called Powers of Arithmancy or Study of magical Sights: Arithmancy." Hermione's eyes flashed excitedly at the idea of the books, but then again, Madeline noticed that when she first entered the shop and noticed how many books there were.
"Follow me and I'll show you where the different books are in case you come back again." Hermione was gazing around at the 'towers' of books on all the shelves "It sounds marvellous, are you related to a Professor McGonagall?"
Just then, she noticed that Madeline was getting teary again. "What's wrong Madeline?" she was looking at her in concern. "W-well I'am related to Minerva McGonagall, but I'm g-going to an n-new school i-in September a-and I m-may never s-see anyone a-as nice as y-you here again" Madeline took out a handkerchief and blew her nose, which sounded like a horn. "Wait what school are you going to?" asked Hermione with interest even though she was still concerned for Madeline.
" Hogwarts School o-of Witchcraft and W-wizardry" moaned Madeline. Hermione suddenly let out a squeal. "Oh my gosh. I go to Hogwarts too!" Madeline looked at her and they finally reached the correct shelf.
She handed the two books over and muttered "Ah boy." Louder she said, "What year are you going in Hermione?" Madeline thought that sense she looked about her age she would be in about the same year. "Oh. I'm going into my sixth year" Hermione said then added, "What year are you going into?"
However, before she could answer Lily and Lola came around the corner. "Oh it's little miss prissy Adeline" smirked Lola. "No the other way. Missy Prissy Head-In-The-Air Adeline wearing not but a red bag" (It was a weird line that Lily had picked up who knows where!) Lily sneered in a rather snarky manner while twirling a curl in her finger. Hermione glared at them "You two remind me of someone I know but wish I didn't" Lola looked her up and down "You've got a thing to say" Hermione gasped and still glaring at them, as they laughed and pushed them aside while continuing down the aisle.
Madeline looked at Hermione "I see you have met my sisters". She started walking to the front of the shop when Hermione pulled her back. "Sisters? Those girls looked nothing like you!" Hermione gasped "Or are you adopted?" Hermione added for good measure. "Step sisters, my mother and a man had those two then he got murdered. And one time when they were on a trip my mother got married in France and had me. My daddy's sister had been from Afghanistan as I was told and every person in my daddy's family were from there." Madeline hoped that telling Hermione a bit more about herself would let her get a clean getaway.
"Now that is cool Madeline. So what year are you going in?" obviously Hermione was not about to let the matter drop. Madeline bit her lip "Sixth year" she said shrugging. Hermione's eyes widened and a smile crept on her face. "`Mione? Oh where has that girl got to?" A voice rang out. Hermione jumped and looked startled. "I've got to go!" And she started to run down the aisle "I'll see you at school!" She added over her shoulder. Madeline sighed as she returned the wave. This will be a long year, she thought.
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Hermione went up to the counter and paid for the books. She took a chance to look back and saw Madeline was looking for another book for an old man. She sighed and left the store. 'Oh there you are dear. We were worried." Mrs. Granger took the book from Hermione's arms and put it into a large shopping bag with some of the other things that they had already gotten for her new school year.
"We saw your friends while you were in the book shop Hermione." Mr. Granger smiled at the look of surprise on her face. "Oh really dad? Where?" Hermione raised her eyes at her dad as he said nothing but continued to smile at her. "I have a feeling, dear, that you know where they are." Hermione gasped as something clicked into place. "Well I think either they're here under the Invisibility cloak being very sneaky. Or they're at Quality Quidditch Supplies." Mrs. Granger laughed, "Well somehow the first guess is always right. Come out boys she caught you." She looked towards a corner and Hermione followed her gaze.
Ron and Harry emerged from under the cloak and they were laughing their heads off. "Harry, Ron! It's good too see you two!" Hermione flung herself at Harry in a big hug then gave a smaller one to Ron. "Good to see you too `Mione, but you don't have to break us to show it" Ron flashed a smile and Hermione returned it. Awesome! She grinned to herself. "Sorry" She could feel her cheeks reddening. "Are you guys done your back-to-school shopping?" she said more seriously. Harry rolled his eyes and looked at Ron who gave him a quick grin before looking back at Hermione and saying "Duh, or else we wouldn't have the time to bother you"
Hermione scowled. "So that is what you're doing?" She raised an eyebrow and looked back a forth between them. "Bothering me? Because you have nothing better too do?" Harry put a reassuring hand on her shoulder "What would we have better to do then see our best friend?" he asked. Hermione's face burned again and quickly looked down "Besides, mum invited you over for the remainder of the summer with us." Hermione's head shot back up so she hit Harry in the face. "Ow!" Harry rubbed his cheek where she had hit him the hardest. Ron laughed and Harry shot him a murder stare. "Stop Ron it's not funny," Ron just laughed louder. "Yeah it is!"
"Guys! We haven't even started school and you two are already getting on each other's cases?" Why can't these two ever get along? For a moment? Though that is a nice song: For a Moment. Hermione grinned as she remembered the song from The Little Mermaid 2 from when she was little. Ron's voice snapped her back to reality and she realised Harry and Ron had been staring at her. "You tell us off then your eyes go unfocused and pretty soon you start grinning stupidly at us." Hermione glared and sighed, "I just remembered something from when I was a little girl, my thoughts reminded me of it" She gave them a knowing look that clearly said: It's a muggle thing.
A bell rang and they looked around wildly only to see it was the book shop door being opened and someone coming. A second later Hermione realised it was Madeline waving something at her "Madeline! Come over here!" she called. Madeline rushed over and panting said "You bought the books but only took one of them silly." Hermione gave a small laugh as Madeline handed over her book. "And who are these two? I don't believe I have seen you before" Madeline had just noticed Ron and Harry staring at them as if they were mental.
Hermione slapped her hand to her forehead and said "I'm sorry guys, Madeline these are my friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, Ron, Harry this is Madeline McGonagall" Their faces are priceless! Thought Hermione as she saw her friends faces turn from smiles to shock. "As in the Harry Potter?" gasped Madeline. "Are you related to Professor McGonagall?" said Harry at the same time.
"Answer my question first" they said in unison.
"No" Harry and Madeline said together.
"Why?" they said again in unison.
Hermione rolled her eyes at the two of them saying everything at the same time. "Either way!" said Ron loudly "It's good to meet you Madeline." She and Harry immediately stopped at the same time and looked at Ron. "It's nice to meet you too, I hope that-" suddenly Madeline stopped, they heard a voice calling her. "I've got to go. See you at Platform 9 ¾!" and she ran off. "Strange girl" Ron muttered. Hermione glared at him.
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The summer went by normally at The Burrow, though Harry was waiting for something worthwhile to happen. "You kids better get to bed if you expect to be up ready for the train tomorrow." Said .
They all trouped up to bed, but Ginny pulled Harry aside. "What?" he whispered sense everyone by now would be in bed. "Do you think that Hermione and you could switch rooms? I'd rather she sleep with Ron tonight. It's just... She doesn't realize it but during that she tosses and turns all night. And because the springs on the bed are a little loose it's really squeaky. I barely get any sleep at night."
"Yeah sure, will Hermione agree with it?" Ginny gave him an exasperated look and muttered. "She won't even know the real reason I'm asking her." A bit louder, she said, "I can just tell her that, say, Ron didn't want you sleeping in his room tonight, but he didn't expect the fact she might have to go in there. I don't want to hurt her feelings by telling her that she is the reason I don't get a good nights sleep." Harry stared at her then said, "That's actually a good idea"
Ginny smiled "I'll go tell her, you act as if everything is alright and make sure Ron's asleep." And with that, she continued up the stairs.
Harry went into the room he and Ron was sharing only to find that Ron was actually, already asleep. He quickly got changed and tiptoed out of the room. When he got to the room Hermione and Ginny were sharing he quietly knocked on the door. "It's me," he muttered and the door was immediately thrown open. "Harry come in." Hermione said, she ushered him in and closed the door. Hermione was wearing a long pale pink dressing gown while Ginny was wearing a yellow dressing gown that went to her knees and had matching lace on the edges.
"So basically Ron doesn't want you in his room tonight?" asked Hermione, and when he nodded, she pressed on "Well why not?" Harry just shrugged "I asked him but he didn't tell me" Hermione walked to the door however before she closed the door behind her she turned back and asked "Two things. One: Is he asleep? And Two: Can I ask him about it on the way to the train?" Harry could see that she was surprised as he when Ginny answered "I'll answer you in the same order, Yes and No" Hermione shrugged and turned to leave and shut the door behind her.
"You can sleep in Hermione's bed, Harry" Ginny smiled and lay down in her bed "G-night Harry" Harry merely nodded and lay down.
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Madeline could not sleep. She had been rolling around in her bed for a good two hours. Finally, she gave up on sleep and went to the kitchen, and what do her wondering eyes should see?
Lola was sitting at the table looking very worn indeed with a bottle of Firewhisky beside her right hand and a whole bunch of empty glasses. She was wearing the same clothes as the day before ( a beautiful gold evening gown that went slightly past her knees) and her hair looked like it had just been blow dried but not brushed. "Lola! What has happened too you?" Madeline immediately asked. "Have you been drinking? Lola please tell me, I can help you!" when all she got was silence then a devil glare, she did not step down. "It's none… of your... business. You're too… young… to understand." Lola cried angrily but with a slur in her voice.
Madeline sat down and said in the same tone (without the slur of course) "Try me Lola. Just because you are older, just because you are my stepsister does not mean that I cannot understand. I'm sixteen now!"
Lola shifted uncomfortably in her seat then looked back up at her "Fine. I was… engaged to… the man I love, only…. to come to his…. home as he…. requested and find… him cheating on me… in his bedroom. He immediately… said that we were… to call off the… engagement and that he… hated me. Thought I must…. admit the other girl… was beautiful. With…uh…black…hair….um…sapphire…eyes…"
Lola collapsed onto the table in a drunken sleep. Madeline got up to leave, put the bottle in the recycling, and went to bed but she didn't go to sleep. Madeline just sat there on her bed, her mind working fast.