Authors Note: Hey guys! I honestly just wrote this story for some fun. I'm a Potterhead and this world means so much to me. I'm going to warn you that I have yet to find a Beta so if my grammar and spelling is a bit painful, I do apologize.
Hope you enjoy
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OCs and the situations pertaining to them.
July 1994
There are few things that Aria learned from her parents. Or rather, that she remembered learning. Her parents had become nothing but dreamlike memories. As the years continued to pass, their faces became less vivid, their voices strained. Even as she stared up at the ceiling, willing herself desperately to remember some fraction of good in her memories of her parents, she could only picture a blur of tainted images.
However there was one thing she learned directly from her father. Something she held close to her heart more than any other piece of advice given.
Be present.
To tell a seemingly motherless six year old to "be present" was honestly not the best move on her fathers part, but ten years later Aria remembered and held that piece of advice close in hand. Though she didn't have a clue what it meant for all those years she still liked the sound of it. Two simple words put together to create a masterpiece of meaning.
Aria lay staring at her light yellow ceiling that morning, thinking for maybe the thousandth time about those two words. Her mind, as well as her hair had gone fuzzy and wild in the night. Every dream seemed to get stranger and stranger. But none were completely remembered. Something that always bothered Aria more than most.
A rasp was heard at her door followed by a "You awake?" in a low and smooth voice. Aria kept quiet, hoping her godfather would just assume she was still asleep and go back to his business. Alas, her guardian was far too used to her habits and emerged into the room.
"Ugh," Aria moaned, covering her face with her sheets in protest. She felt a wait on the end of her bed.
"Complaining is useless Binti" The low voice teased with a chuckle.
"I have a month to sleep before school. Let me enjoy it." A muffled plead came from under the teal and maroon bed sheets. Aria continued to lay there, unmoving. But a curse slipped from her lips and she tossed the sheets off of her. "O.W.L.s?" The blue eyed girl asked still staring at the ceiling.
"Haven't opened them yet. Thought you should see it first."
"Yeah, thanks for that Baba," the girl said sarcastically finally looking at her guardian. The man's dark skin shone a bit in the sunlight, and he was already dressed in his blue and purple robes. His large brown eyes were kind yet strong, much like his other features. Kingsley Shacklebolt had been her father's best friend, and in the ten year disappearance of said father, he had almost completely replaced both of her parents. He was her family. Her Baba. But his intuition frustrated her to no end on that morning.
Aria didn't bother to change out of her pajamas before she descended down the slippery wooden stairs.
The Shacklebolt home was first owned by Tanzanian born Aljihara, brought to Britain as a slave in the late eighteenth century. Aljihara was a very powerful wizard who worked his way out of slavey by sending lightening bolts through his masters home every night for three weeks before the man released him out of fear. He was released from his shackles of slavery with bolts of lightening, hence his self proclaimed surname.
Shacklebolt house still held many of the the African traditions that Aljihara constructed it with. The two main living areas were gold and deep orange colored with carvings of trees and animals hanging about. The halls were warmly colored and covered with moving pictures/paintings of past Shacklebolts. At the beginning of the hall, in the foyer, was a large painting of the renown Aljihara himself, standing hands across his chest, dark clouds above his head, lightening striking in the background every few seconds. His face was worn and many years older than Kingsley, but it was obvious to anyone who looked closely at the painting that Kingsley had inherited his kind strong eyes from his most impressive ancestor.
Aria saluted shortly to Aljihara, a regular habit, as she passed his painting to get to the kitchen.
"Bahati njema my child," the old ancestor said smoothly yet seriously. She only nodded once in respect at his wish of luck before rushing to the dining room. The girl stopped in her tracks.
There it was. The letter that enclosed her doom. It looked so simple, thin envelope, lovely penmanship spelling out her name, neatly waxed with the McDuff crest-...wait.
"What the...?" Aria squinted her sleep filled eyes, looked up with a confused look, then slid the letter open. She pulled a stand of wavy golden hair behind an ear before reading the message.
Dear Aria,
What did you get on your OWLS!? I got some good and bad scores, the bad Im sure you can guess at. As' are just so frustrating. Just one but I still got a lecture about it.
Also I need you to bring your copy of Muggle history when you get here. Totally procrastinating here with my summer essay.
Oh and I have a major surprise when I see you! Can't wait to show you-
Aria skimmed the letter the rest of the way. She was determined to see her scores now.
Not even a letter from her best friend could change that.
She found it, the real letter, sitting peacefully on the kitchen counter. Hogwarts seal and all. With a deep breath and a long pause, Aria ripped the paper and examined.
Astronomy: A
Care of magical Creatures: A
Charms: E
Defense against the dark arts: O
Divination: P
Herbology: D
History of Magic: A
Potions: E
Transfiguration: O
Aria kept her head lowered as her guardian entered silently. Kingsley smiled softly and watched his beloved god-daughter skim the grades over and over. He took a seat at the small mahogany table with his large silver mug of tea in hand. With a light sigh he lifted the unread Daily Prophet and prepared himself for the wrath of Aria's self criticism.
"Two," an astonished whisper escaped from the girl's mouth. Kingsley looked up from his paper slightly.
"Sorry?" He asked tilting his bald head to the side.
"Two Os...I got two Os...And an E in..." the young witch sat across from him, her eyes still transfixed on the result sheet. "HAHA!" Aria slammed the paper down with a massive thud, sending poor Kingsley's tea flying. The sudden outburst would have made anyone jump from their seat in alarm. Kingsley however was well accustom to Aria's rash actions. He sent the tea back into his mug and looked back down at his paper. His god-daughter on the other hand was doing what could only be described as a 'happy dance'. She spun in circles with her arms high in the air.
"May I?" Kingsley asked, pointing to the result sheet. But Aria was too preoccupied with her happy dance to respond. He took that as a yes.
"An E! An E in Potions!" she smirked. "Bloody 'ell"
"Language," her godfather warned as he read over the grades.
"Sorry I'm just so excited I didn't Troll anything! Though that herbology score isn't anything to brag about. Madame Pomfrey'll be disappointed but what the h-" side glance from Kingsley "heck"
"I do sometimes worry about your influence Binti"
"Don't worry too much Baba! I got two Os! Bet you anything the twins didn't get one!"
"Im sure Molly and Arthur will appreciate that." Kingsley chuckled. He couldn't deny that he agreed. Despite the twins bright minds they never applied themselves. It was rather disappointing but he wouldn't judge. "You're scores are very acceptable."
"Applaud at will," Aria said cheerily as she crossed her arms across her chest proudly. Kingsley let out his low bubbling chuckle.
"Why don't we shake instead?" He asked holding out his large callused hand. Aria nodded with a smile before taking his hand and giving it one firm shake.
After the initial reaction of the results wore off, both Aria and her godfather went about their morning routine. Kingsley continued to read the Prophet headlines, his kind eyes growing increasingly frustrated with each Skeeter article he came across. But of course as usual, Kingsley didn't bother voicing his obvious distaste for the so called journalist. Aria placed a piece of toast on a plate and filled her sea foam green mug with hot chai tea before taking her seat across from a concentrating Kingsley.
The two were quiet in the morning. They read their preferred reading material, drank their spiced tea, and only spoke to ask a question or for an opinion. They weren't silent. They were peaceful. Neither was a natural morning person. Conversation could wait for mid afternoon. And if anyone dared disturb them in the morning, a grumpy friend awaited that crazy person for the rest of the day. Though Aria was far more obvious about her grumpiness than her godfather.
It was because of this peacefulness that both jumped when a sudden knock was heard at the back door. The knocking was impolitely furious. Kingsley sprang to his feet in a second and headed for the door. Aria turned in her seat, still slightly shaken by the noisy outburst. The knocking didn't stop until Kingsley swung the door upon with cautious eyes.
"Moody?" He asked taking a step back to reveal his coworker.
"Excuse the interruption Kingsley," Alastor Moody said as he limped into the kitchen. His face was as stern and rough as the last time Aria had seen him. "Urgent Ministry business."
"Sorry Kingsley," a chipper voice piped up from behind Moody. Aria smiled and dashed to the doorway. A magenta haired witch stepped through and prepared herself for Aria's embrace.
"Tonks!" Aria shouted in the woman's ear as she hugged her tightly.
"Hiya you!" As the two pulled apart Tonks morphed her hair and eyes to match Aria's. The younger witch giggled at Tonks new wavy golden hair and sky blue eyes. Aria turned to the retreating Moody.
"Hey Mad-eye," she exclaimed happily. The Auror turned annoyed and looked the girl up and down with his blue eye. He looked back at Kinsley.
"Don't give the girl clothes Kingsley?" Moody scoffed and turned to limp into the living room. Aria looked down at her comfortable, yet somewhat revealing pajamas. She crossed her arms over her low cut Appleby Arrows t-shirt before Tonks removed her leather jacket and placed it on Aria's shoulder. The two young women followed the two wizards into the sun beamed room. Moody sat down on one of the golden armchairs with a hiss of pain. Kingsley sat across from him on a maroon couch his hands folded calmly in his lap while the young witches leaned against the walls on the opposite side of the room. "Im sure Dumbledore told you why I'm here. Wish it were that simple. That damn Cup is going to be the end of my sanity."
"Or whatever is left of it," the other wizard joked. Moody smirked crookedly and glanced to Tonks quickly. She nudged Aria in the side and tilted her head back towards the kitchen.
"But Tonks-" Aria began to protest, only to be nudged harder and pulled out of the room roughly.
"Can't have you hear secret Ministry stuff can I?" Tonks mocked as she sat in Kingsley's usual spot and twirled a loose curl of Arias golden strawberry hair.
"Oh yeah, I'm really surprised the Ministry is interested in the World Cup." They chuckled. Tonks tucked her legs under the table, making it scoot towards Aria who had to grab the two tea mugs before they could fall to their doom. "Woah."
"Sorry," Tonks shrugged and watched as Aria placed the mugs back onto the counter and plopped herself back into her chair. "You excited about the Cup?"
"You kidding? It's all anyone's talked about all summer. I'm friends with a bunch of Quidditch freaks." She gestured to her shirt. "You going?" Tonks shook her head.
"Have to work for mister happy sunshine in there instead unfortunately." There was a pause as the two listened to the muffled voices of their mentors. "You going with the McDuffs?"
"I was going to, but Jason's back from Italy with his girlfriend and they only had five tickets." Aria looked down at her hands.
"Ooo. You got shafted for an Italian girlfriend?" Tonks clicked her tongue.
"Its no ones fault. It's actually better this way. I'm going with the Weasleys' and apparently it'll be a big group. Charlie'll be there from what I hear."
"Dragon boy eh?" The metamorphmagus asked raising her brows. "Havent seen him in 3 years."
"Neither have I. But apparently he has some business to attend to. That's what the twins told me anyway."
"Wish I could come along..." Tonks trailed off and glanced over her shoulder. "I'll never catch a break with that crazy guy."She whispered as quietly as she could muster.
"I heard that Nymphadora!" Mad-eye shouted from the adjoining room much to Tonks' agitation.
"Told you not to call me that!" Tonks snapped back, her hair turning redder in fury.
"Don't call him crazy then," Aria said with a hearty laugh to which she received a nasty look from her friend. Mad-eyes peg leg thumped across the hard wood floor followed by Kingsleys lite footfalls
"We're off," Moody said harshly as he made his way to the door.
"That was fast," Aria mused aloud looking to her expressionless godfather.
"You'll learn Ms. Lennox that when business needs attending to, time is rarely wasted" Moody spat, not bothering to turn and look at her. "I'll be teaching you that and a lot more this year. And you best be properly dressed in my class room. You understand?"
"Er-" Aria stared at the wizard.
"Good. Thanks Kingsley." With that he was gone. Tonks patted Aria on the shoulder and leaned back in her chair.
"Don't take it personally," the woman said. She stood and edged her way to the door. But of course just as they thought they were out of the line of fire, Tonks turned back, her arm knocking against the wall. They all flinched as a precious stone carved zebra came crashing to the hardwood floor from it's perch on the wall.
"Tonks?!" Moody's annoyed tone shot through the painfully silent room. The now purple haired woman flung out her wand and pointed to the broken pieces, only to be stopped by both Kingsley and his goddaughter.
"Don't!" The two said in unison. Tonks blinked but put her wand away, waved awkwardly, and bounded out the door. Aria and her godfather stood there, staring at the poor shattered zebra for a long while. A booming voice rang through the house suddenly.
"Did I hear one of my stones crash?! There better be some consequences!" The usual kind voice of the great Shakelbolt ancestor was replaced with a cold, ridged one as Aljihara continued to yell about his lovely hand made carvings.
Reviews would be lovely! Let me know what you think and I'll update soon.
