-Chapter One-
-Potter Plantation-
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-Halliwell Manor-
Deathly silence filled the room, the only sound was from the grandfather clock chiming the hour. Five. They would be eating soon, as soon as the girls could speak or got over the shock, whichever came first.
"We want you to be safe, that's all!" Trina turned to stair disgustedly at her parents, Cole and Phoebe.
"You'll love it at Hogwarts! You wont have to hide your abilities any more, you'll be able to be yourself's! And if your guys get into the same house you'll be able to share a dorm, it'll be fun!" Piper implored.
"If?" Amy asked coldly, both Leo and Piper winced.
"Well your sorted by a magical hat into your house, or so we've been told."
"How is this going to help our education? We don't need to be taught how to do magic. How's this going to help us out in the 'real ' world?" Lila said this last bit sneeringly.
"You guys are well advanced at your school and you well know it! But that's not the point, you will continue with your regular education till you get your grade twelve. You'll be doing it by summer school correspondence." Cole informed them.
"WHAT?!" Amy and Lila shrieked.
"Chris..." Trina spoke for the first time interrupting Cole. "So, James is going too?" Phoebe hesitated a moment before slowly answering,
"Yeess. But-" Trina stood up and grabbed the blue pouch James had given her full of floo powder, and walked into the fireplace.
"I'll be at the Potter's. Send my things, I'm not coming back." She opined the pouch and took out a hand full, shutting it again, she glared at Cole and Phoebe.
"I'll be expecting money for school. THE POTTERS!" With that last word she through down the powder, was engulfed in blue flames and gone.
-Potter Plantation-
Marie Isabel Potter was in the kitchen when she heard the fire start up. Frowning she stoped stirring the pudding and picked up her wand, she paused only a moment before tapping the counter once and waving to include the whole kitchen, muttering,
"Sigayendo!" Hearing the sound of flames get louder, Marie headed to the living room. Walking into the room she stopped dead. Blue flames? She whipped her wand in front of her, wishing Chris was with there. A moment later the silhouette of a girl came into view, then stepped from the fire. Marie's mouth fell open and she smiled.
"Trina, Honey! Wha...?" Trina sank to the floor sobbing.
"W-w-why d-d-didn't you t-t-tell me?!" Marie rushed over and dropped to the floor beside Trina, pulling her into her arms and started gently rocking.
"Damn you all to hell Phoebe! Can't you do anything right?!" Marie cursed violently, the she sighed.
"I told your parents to tell you earlier, Hon. When your parents started expressing concern for your safety, I mentioned Hogwarts,"
"You told them about this school?!"
"James and Sirius were going and I thought it would be fun for all you guys to go to school together for once." Marie smiled grimly. "I thought you'd have a choice and when you'd decided to go, I figured you would come and spend the last month of the summer with us, along they boys of course, and pelt us with questions. Chris and I could help you get school supplies and introduce you to Diagon Alley. I'm so, so sorry baby!" Tears were still flowing freely down Trina's face but she was quiet and let Marie rock her while on the floor. Finally Trina spoke,
"Why are they suddenly so worried?" Marie stopped rocking and gently framed Trina's face in her hands.
"The powers of evil are fast rising on both sides, your parents have been worried for some time now, but you have to be a certain age to go to Hogwarts." Trina nodded and explained what happened.
"A few days ago I found some adoption papers, with my name on them. Seeing my name I read them of course and couldn't make heads or tails out of them but I got the drift. I also found a birth certificate. I went and asked about it and was told that I'd been adopted because Mom and Dad couldn't have kids together without their being major problems. The baby would have been too powerful they said, whatever that means. Then a few days later they told me I was going to boardings school!" New tears filled Trina's eyes and slid down her cheeks. Marie sighed and hugged her tighter. What a mess!
"So they told you did they?" Trina nodded and lifted her head from Marie's shoulder to look at her.
"Can I stay, Mom? I really don't want to go home. I-" A door slammed.
"Hey Mom! Where are you?" Marie rolled her eyes and hollered back.
"In the living room, James."
"I didn't even know they weren't in the house. Where were they?" Trina asked.
"Out back somewhere I suppose." Chris walked in first with a huge grin on his face.
"You wont bele...Hey Trina! Staying?" His grin faded as he looked at his wife and the girl on the floor. Trina looked to Marie and she smiled.
"Of course you can, Honey. Your always welcome to stay here." James bounded in just in time to hear the end of what his mother had said.
"You should know that by NOW, Trina!" James remarked momentarily oblivious to the tension. He grinned at her, finally taking notice of Trina and his mother on the floor. His grin slowly faded into a frown.
"What's wrong?"
"My thoughts exactly, Son. Marie?" Chris asked Marie silently nodded, as the phone rang.
"That'll be Phoebe. I have to go answer this, Hon. Here curl up with James on the couch and tell him, while I get Chris to finish cooking." The phone ring again, and again, and again, and again. Trina took the blanket from Marie just as she snarled in frustration.
"AAARRRGGG!!! ALL RIGHT! I'M COMING!" Trina gave a watery laughed as she grabbed a pillow and headed to the couch. James flopped down on the couch and Trina through a pillow in his lap. Taking the blanket she curled up next to James, with her head in his lap. James grumbled,
"Not only do I get no blanket, but I get used for a pillow. Wanna tell me what happened?"
"I over reacted, that's all."
"Oh yeah? Over what?" Trina sighed.
"How much detail do you want?"
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"Hello?" Marie answered the phone.
"Did she make it?" Phoebe asked.
"Yes. She made it." Silence.
"Yoooouuuu, seeeem a little mad. Everything ok? She causing a problem?"
"So you told her." A groan could be heard from the other end of the phone. "Don't you DARE!"
"Marie..."
"NO! She asked you out point blank about those documents and you never said a damn word! You told her a line of bull shit and half truths! She has no clue as to what the reality is! She asked, the least you could have done was tell her! And then, after you fed her that, that crap you tell her she going off to a boarding school and has no choice in the matter!"
"Are you finished?" Phoebe asked coldly. Marie huffed and was silent. "What do you think she would have done if we'd told her the truth? What we did wasn't legal Marie! She's too young to know, we'll tell her when she's able to understand why we did it. She's our daughter, Marie, and this is our decision."
"I don't agree with you, Phoebe. This is going to blow up in your face and your going to be sorry. Send her things, she doesn't want to come back. Chris and I will get her settled at school."
"They're on the way now."
"Ok what about Lila and Amy?"
"I don't know, hold on." Marie heard a shuffle and Phoebe repeating the question to Piper, who asked for the phone.
"You don't mind?"
"Nope! I was kinda expecting them."
"Thank you, but they've decided to stay home this time around." Marie smiled.
"Ok, well I'll-"
"Hold on Phoebe wants to talk to you again. Here she is. Bye!"
"Bye, Piper. Yeah?"
"Is Sirius going to be there?" Puzzled by the question Marie hesitated.
"Yes. Why?"
"He's bad news and so is his family. He's a bad influence on Trina, I don't want her alone with him." Marie couldn't believe her ears was this really her friend from collage? What has he done to you, Phoebe? Why didn't you listen when I said Cole would end up being a mistake?
"Hello? Marie?"
"Yeah! Yeah, I'm still here. I..um.. Don't know what to say Sirius is like my son and I resent what you just said, so I'm not going to say anything, just that Trina will be safe, you know that. Goodbye Phoebe." With that she hung up the phone, feeling sick. She looked at Chris who was watching her curiously. She launched into an ranting explanation about the phone call and Sirius, when she was done Chris sighed. He didn't like seeing his wife this way, stressed and unhappy. He didn't know what to say and said so,
"Sweetheart, I don't know what to say. We love having the kids over and I think that if we want to continue to have them over we're just going to have to deal with it. "
"I know. I just...Oh it doesn't matter, I've lost my temper too much today. Let's eat."
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Sirius arrived the next morning to find James and Trina curled up together on the couch fast asleep. Sirius howled with laughter for the rest of the summer holidays whenever he thought of it, and all hell broke loose between Sirius and Trina, when in the confusion he grabbed her butt and she socked him one.
The days flew past. Spent mostly on the Quidditch patch out back, with Trina, James, Sirius, Chris playing in the air, while Marie keep score and commentary on the ground, cheering madly for every score and summing drinks when it looked like someone was going to fall off their broom. All too soon the Hogwarts letter's came and Marie and Chris were planning a trip to Diagon Alley.
"SIRIUS! GET DOWN HERE!" Marie thundered shaking her head, turning to James asked, "What's he doing up there?" James shrugged.
"How should I know?"
"GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW, SIRIUS BLACK! YOUR TAKING LONGER THAN TRINA AND THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING! MOVE!!!!!" Marie bellowed again, wondering what could possibly be taking so long to do. Ten minuets later Sirius made his appearance and they left for Diagon Alley. Chris drove to London and found the nearest parking lot to The Leaky Cauldron. Marie opined the door an herded all the kids inside. Trina looked around and turned to ask Sirius, who was closest, why they were there when an old man came up and grabbed her arm and began tugging.
"Come 'nd buy some Smucker's beauty potion." He smiled with broken yellow teeth and bad breath.
"No, thank-you."
"It'll keep ya young!"
"No." She tried to pull her arm free but the old man's grip tightened and he started dragging her. She looked back to see where everyone was, to her horror she couldn't see anyone accept the bartender. She started to panic. The bartender, Tom, had seen the young lady come in with the large group and watched as she was grabbed by crazy old Dungbottles. Young Sirius Black passed looking up and grinned, Tom pointed to the young girl and Sirius turned and saw Trina struggling against old Dungbottles.
"Shit!" He headed for her, picking up his pace as he saw her start to fight. Trina was on the verge of hysterics. The old man had a grip like a vice despite his age and was dragging her toward a door. Oh my God! I'm in a bar being dragged by an old my half my size toward a dark room! And I can do nothing! Trying to push his hands away was a mistake. The old man seized the opportunity and grabbed her free hand and pull harder. Ripping one hand away she flung it wide in an attempt to jerk herself free, feeling it be garbed from behind, she lost it.
"NO!" She screamed wrenching her hand free, she flung it forward as if to ward off something. What happened next blew everyone in the bar away. When her hand hit level with the other a blinding blue light shot out, throwing both Sirius, Trina and the old man in opposite directions. Trina slammed into Sirius sending them flying back toward and into the bar. The old man had hit the wall with such force it killed him. Eyes wild Trina griped the arms around her waist, shaking like a leaf. Sirius pried himself away to check on old Dungbottles, but Tom beat him too it. Tom checked for a pulse, finding none, slowly turned toward Trina and Sirius.
"He's dead." A shocked gasp ran through the bar. Crack Instantly three men apparated into the room, all looking official and mad. Crack A young witch in dark red robes appeared looking mildly stern. Sirius breathed a sigh of relief, and the witch turned to glance at Sirius.
"Sirius! What are you doing in the middle of this?" She glanced around again as if looking for someone, when another old man stood up she smiled.
"They said you'd be here, care to tell me what happened?" The man smiled and with a sweep of his had indicated Trina still curled in a corner.
"Perhaps we should calm the young lady, Vanessa." She looked back at Sirius and for the first time noticed Trina, white as a sheet and still shaking.
"Oh my! Tom if you would please?" Vanessa asked walking over to Trina and kneeling down to place a hand on her shoulder, when she flinched and drew back, she looked to Sirius.
"What do you know of her background, Sirius?"
"Not much, why?"
"A girl doesn't flinch like that at some one's touch, without having prior inhibitions."
"Albus, see if you can't find out what the problem is, wont you?" Albus Dumbledore shook his head.
"She's too frightened. And even if I could, I wouldn't." Vanessa nodded. Voices floated in from the back of a woman berating her son.
"Why didn't you pay closer attention to where they were, James?"
"Why do I have watch them? I'm not their babysitter! Shit!"
"JAMES NICHOLAS POTTER!"
"What?" Came the irritable reply.
"I'll deal with you later, young man! Right now we have to find Trina. If she's with Sirius she can't be far, but what trouble they've gotten into is another thing all together! Stop sulking, James! It's not like it's a major achievement to take off and scare the heck out of us!" James mumbled something that drew an exasperated sigh from his mother and a chuckle from his father.
"I'm sure this wont be the last prank they ever do, James. You'll be in on the next one, I'm sure." Vanessa watched as Marie turned to glare at Chris, who smiled warmly.
"I can assure you James, it wasn't a prank I left to do!" Sirius said and Marie turned toward the voice then looked around.
"What happened?" She breathed.
"As I was passing Tom and he pointed out that Trina was fighting with Dungbottles so I went to help. When I grabbed her free hand to pull her away she just went mad. Panicked I reckon, anyway after she ripped her hand away, she swung it forward and it was like she used magic to blast him away. The force blew both of them backwards and I had the misfortune to be behind her, so I ended up being blasted into the bar." Dumbledore nodded sagely and Vanessa sighed. Marie was silent, starting at Trina, who's eye's were still wild but were losing some of their glazed quality. Marie bent down to gather Trina in her arms but she shrank from Marie curing even tighter into ball with her knees tucked up to her chest. Tears filled Marie's eyes.
"I cruse you Cole Turner! May you die horribly!" She whispered. Turning to Chris she asked,
"How are we going to get her out of here, if she wont let us touch her?" Chris turned to James.
"Son why don't you try?" James looked at his Father like he'd lost his mind and shook his head.
"Trina? Sis?" James cautiously reached for her hand. Trina turned to look at him blinking, slowly he reached out and took her hand. She looked from her hand to James's face and blinked again.
"Where? Sirius?" She questioned. A murmur ram through the pub.
"Right here." Sirius came and sat down next to Trina and to his and everyone's immense surprise she uncurled herself to crawl into his arms. Shocked out of his wits, Sirius watched her for a moment before putting his arms around her and looking up at James with pure horror. James cracked up laughing.
"Don't worry, Mate, she's harmless. Well I guess your officially part of the family now, Mate! Congrats! She couldn't have picked better!" James said slapping Sirius on the back.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"SIRIUS NATHANIEL BLACK!!!"
"Sorry Mrs. P." Sirius apologized and James grinned.
"I'll explain later, lets get her up and outa here." Together they gently pulled Trina to her feet, she blinked, turned to Sirius and shocked everyone by speaking calmly and clearly.
"What happened?"
"Why are you asking me? Why not James?"
"You seemed like the most logical person to ask, now what happened?" Sirius gave her an incredulous look and shaking his head he pointed and said,
"You killed Dungbottles." Trina turned to see the old man lying on the floor a look of disgust crossed her face she demanded,
"How long ago?"
"WHAT?!" Sirius 's voice dripped with disbelief.
"How. Long. Ago.?" Dumbledore answered quietly.
"Perhaps a minuet or two ago, why do you ask?" Trina looked at Dumbledore frowning a little.
"Because I might be able to bringing him back. I know you from somewhere." Dumbledore smiled.
"Possibly, possibly. As to bring him back, I do not think that would be wise. The dead are better left that way, accident though it was, bringing him back would do no good." A hushed muttering passed through the pub yet again and Dumbledore raised bushy eyebrows.
"Perhaps we should discuss this another time, my office September second?" Vanessa who had silently watched nodded.
"I think that would be wise, too. Sirius you'll keep your Uncle and I informed?"
"Informed on what?"
"You'll write." It wasn't a request.
"Sure." Then he grinned. "I'll be sure to tell you everything." Vanessa groaned.
"Well I asked for it! Are you taking this young Lady home?" Vanessa asked Marie, but once again it was Dumbledore who answered.
"I believe Ms. Turner still has to get her school supplies for Hogwarts and set up her own Gringotts account?" Trina nodded. "I myself need to replenish my cupboard and find some interesting specimens, it would be my great honour if Ms. Turner would consult to accompany me on my shopping trip and perhaps I can be of some assistance for her shopping as well." Dumbledore looked through his half moon glasses with twinkling eyes. Trina grinned.
"I would love too!" A huge grin split her face. While James and Sirius gaped.
" Wonderful! Maybe Mr. Black and Mr. Potter would like to accompany us as well?" James and Sirius didn't need to be asked twice, scrambling to get around chairs and tables the bellowed,
"WAITE FOR US!! WE'RE COMING!!"
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Marie watched as James and Sirius tripped over each other, and every thing else, to get to the side of the headmaster and Trina. Sighing she turned to Dumbledore asking,
"Can I leave them in your hands, while Chris and I tend to some other important business?"
"Of course! What time would you like them back?" Marie turned a shade pink. Chris smiled while James and Sirius stared in wonder at this new side of Marie. Dumbledore smiled.
"I...well...hem...Would you mind bring them home?" She asked hesitantly, then rushed on. "I don't know how long this is going to take and...well it would be easier if we didn't have to come back." Dumbledore started to speak but was cut off by Marie, who had started babbling again.
"Of course you'll be staying for dinner and des-" Dumbledore held up his hand effectively cutting off the flow of words coming from Marie and smiling broadly.
"I would be happy to take Miss. Turner, Mr. Potter and Mr. Black off your hands for the day and I'll make sure they're home in time for dinner. As to your invitation to dinner, I don't want to be a bother-"
"No, no! Not at all!"
"Then I would be delighted to accept! It's been a long time since I've had a good home cooked meal."
"Wonderful! The more the merrier at our place!" James and Sirius grinned evilly at this. "Here James, take the vault key and only ONE bag full, you here me? And you three mind your manners! NO pranks Sirius! I'll see you at dinner." She turned to leave when Trina stoped her.
"Um, Mom, they said they'd send money. You wouldn't happen to know about that would you?"
"Oh right!" Marie fished out a piece of paper and handed it to Trina. "Here you go Dear. You're to cash that." Trina looked at the cheque and gasped.
"HOLY MOTHER-"
"CATRIONA-"
"Sorry! Sorry!" Sirius cracked up laughing and James grinned saying,
"Wait till you see the vault!"
" AND if it doesn't work just take the money from vault six-hundred and eighty-six, it's yours now anyway, here's your key." Marie continued glaring at James. Trina dragged her eyes away from the cheque, frowning.
"Vault? I though I didn't have one?" James's grin got wider. Marie shot a warning look at him.
"You don't have your own honey, vault six-hundred and eighty-six is one of the family vaults that we're giving you for starting Hogwarts. Our gift to you from the family, James got one too."
"So...so can I just get my name putt on it?" James rolled his eyes.
"It was opined in your name, Sis!" James announced. "Each of us get's one vault starting Hogwarts, and after graduation! Mom just thought that you'd like to open one of your own instead of using a family vault."
"Would you mind if I just used the one you gave me?" Trina asked Marie. Her eyes got misty and bent to hug Trina, smiling.
"I've always thought of you as my own daughter. I would love to have you use one of our families vaults, I just didn't know if you'd want to."
"Theirs nothing I want more, than to be part of your family. Thanks, Mom!"
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