Note: HBP compliant and spoiler filled. Not compliant with DH (I started writing this before it came out.)
Disclaimer: As I was typing this, a man in a black suit appeared next to me. He hasn't said anything to me – he just pointed to where I had written 'by J.K. Rowling' and shook his head. I have a feeling he didn't like that I wrote that. Especially when he started to pull out his very, very, scary briefcase. So, this was NOT written by J.K. Rowling!
Destiny Smithson: So, er, could you put the briefcase (shudders) away now?
Briefcase Guy: --
Destiny: P-P-Please? B-B-Before I grow a Voldermort out of the back of my head because I'm sounding so much like Quirrel.
Briefcase Guy: --
Destiny: Merlin's saggy breeches! These kind people who are going to read my work and then review it (hint, hint) would like to read the actual work instead of me begging you to put the briefcase away.
Briefcase Guy: (does nothing)
Destiny: Fine, be that way. (Sniffles) Now on with the fanfic!
Chapter One: In which there is no butter beer
They raced down the halls of Hogwarts. Dunstan and his friends knew Hogwarts well – they had all grown up there except for Lavinia – but she was in her 7th year like Dunstan, Lily, Frank and Roman were.
"Wait up!" a voice cried out from behind the five friends. "Please! I'm sorry, really I am. Oh! For the love of Merlin please slow down!"
The five seventh years turned towards Phoebe who had called out. They were mad at her for spoiling the surprise her and Dunstan's mum had sent them.
It was the middle of Christmas Break and the six friends (they had considered Phoebe their friend then) had spent it at Lavinia's house. It wasn't often that the others got to go away from Hogwarts and they were thrilled to go to the previously Malfoy Manor. Her poppy and daddy had invited them all because of this.
However, a couple of days after Christmas a letter and a package came from Dunstan and Phoebe's mum requesting that the students take the Knight Bus immediately to Hogsmeade and then to Hogwarts. The package had been sent with a note that said that they were not to open it until they got to Hogsmeade and that Phoebe wasn't to be near them when the other five did open it. The five decided not to tell Phoebe anything about the package at all.
The letter had also said that there was no danger. After all, You-Know-Who had been killed years ago. They just were needed at Hogwarts. No other explanation had been given.
That day they had said they're good-byes and did as the letter said with no problems. That is until it came to the time to open the package. Once the Knight Bus had left them in front of The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade they had sent Phoebe in to get butter-beer saying they were just getting their bags, when in fact they had already been sent up to the castle.
They hadn't noticed that Phoebe hadn't gone and was in fact hiding in a convenient shadow as her father, a renowned spy, had taught her.
They had been talking and Phoebe had inched closer and closer knowing that they were keeping something from her.
The five seventh years then gathered round the package, "Shall we open it?" whispered Lily. Dunstan nodded and Lily started to open it as Phoebe slammed into them.
There was a navel wrenching pull and Hogsmeade seemed to swirl around them. Dizziness suffocated, throttled, and choked them and it was they could do to stand up. Sound was impossibility – otherwise they would have been screaming at the top of their lungs.
Suddenly the explosion ended as quickly as it had started. They all were collapsed on the ground and Phoebe examined the surroundings. They were in exactly the same place they had been when the package (which was now gone) had been opened. They were right outside the Three Broomsticks. The only thing that was different was that it was surprisingly quiet in a very tense way and there was nobody in sight. They all stood up leaning on each other for support and it was then that they realized Phoebe was near them.
"PHOEBE!" Dunstan bellowed. Here it comes, thought Phoebe. "How could you? What the hell did you think you were bloody well doing? You weren't supposed to be there – you set it off I bet – can't you follow instructions?"
She tried to protest, what did he mean her fault? She wasn't his lackey. But Roman fortunately broke in, ever the peace maker, before wands could be drawn and spells could be shouted.
"Stop! Phoebe - your brother is right. However, let's solve this once we get to Albus's office. Now is anyone hurt?"
They all shook their heads and started to head up towards the castle. The seventh years naturally strode ahead of Phoebe. They had taken to doing this since last summer before last when they had to study for O.W.L.'s and she didn't. She HATED being a year younger than them.
Once they went through the gates they started to run – it was a tradition among the six of them.
Lily and Lavinia were ahead at first – they were Quidditch chasers and the most fit of the friends. Roman soon got ahead however, for he had Metamorphagused his legs to be longer.
They had been outside the gargoyle that hid the passageway to Dumbledore's office when Phoebe had called out. Now they all stood outside it panting and trying to catch their breath.
Once Roman, who was the unofficial leader of the group, had made sure everyone had recovered sufficiently he made as if to pronounce the password which Aunt Hermione had sent them but then stopped to say:
"Did you notice how quiet it is? It's like no one stayed over the holidays – but I know the Creevy boy and Addie Thomas were at least. Shouldn't it be more light-hearted around here?"
"Yeah," chimed in the usually quiet Frank. "There are no decorations up. Do you think the winged-dingleman got everyone?"
Five pairs of eyes stared and thought not another of his mum's fantastical creatures…
"What's a winged-dingleman?" asked Phoebe. Of the five older kids, Frank was the kindest to her and it was no secret to the girls in her Gryffindor dormitory that she had liked him for ages.
"My mum wrote a paper about them. She says after Uncle Harry," (they called each other's parents Aunt and Uncle – they were as close as they could be without being related anyway.) "Defeated Voldermort back in '98, they were formed by his blood hitting the stones of Hogwarts. They are immune to silver and can be killed only by Basilisk's venom."
They all just stared at him. Frank was very intelligent – he should have been in Ravenclaw- surely he didn't believe in that?
"He-hem," mocked Lavinia and they all burst out laughing. It was a joke among their parents which they had all adopted. "That's better. It feels like no one has laughed here in a long time. It feels…" she paused as if trying to find the right word. "Cold I guess, there's no other way to describe it. But not like Muggle hair conditioner."
Phoebe started giggling, "You mean air conditioning! Mum say that's what it is. You're thinking of the cream Mum uses and told Dad that if he used it he would be kicked out of their bed! You're just as bad as your grandfather Ms. Malfoy-Weasley!"
They all started laughing again at the thought of Aunt Hermione ordering her formidable husband around. When they had recovered their breath, Lavinia continued, "What I was trying to say is that no matter what Aunt 'Mione said, I believe something isn't quite right." She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder to emphasize, "The laughter sounded good in these halls. Right. Let's head up there without acting like anything is wrong – or we suspect anything."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Lavinia turned to say the password but Dunstan said, "Phoebe will say nothings about the package mum sent – right?" It was a command in a well-known voice, one that meant 'listen at once if you value your life' and 'you don't want to mess with me.'
They all turned towards the bushy-haired girl. Her black eyes had a twinge of something odd in them – anger? – Sadness? - But they ignored it just wanting her answer.
"A-a-all right," she muttered. "But only if you guys say nothing as well."
They ignored her last comment and Lavinia pronounced the password with a twinge of disgust, "Cockroach Clusters" and they raced up the spiral staircase.
They raced up, calling to each other in a playful banter:
"Let me pass you Lily!"
"Hey watch it half-blood or should I say quarter-blood prince!"
"I'm going to beat you all – werewolf take that!"
They didn't knock on the door - they barged right in expecting to see Albus and perhaps Professor Snape.
"Hullo Albus," called Phoebe who had somehow made it to the top of the stairs first. "Is Mum…" she broke off, startled. None of them said anything in fact.
The office was full. They were all members of the former Order of the Phoenix except for a large man they didn't recognize. All of their parents were there as well. But something wasn't quite right about them aside from the fact that they were all there and had just left Uncle Draco and Uncle Ron at their home little less than two hours ago. In fact…
"Albus," Roman pushed his way around the others – he had hit his elbow on the way up and had tripped making him the last of the friends to make his way up. "Is something wrong? Mum, did the…"
A black haired boy with a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead jumped up and yelled, "Expelliarmus!" and then neatly collected all of their wands in his hand.
A weary gaunt man had cast a non-verbal spell on them so they were all frozen to the ground where they stood. Lily was the one who proved this when calling out, "Dad, why'd you take my wand?" She had tried to walk forward and then cried in outrage, "Uncle Remus! Honestly, I'm your god-daughter, let me out!"
Remus Lupin staggered as well as Harry Potter. Ron Weasley however looked petrified.
"Wha–wha -wha – WHAT did you call him?" he stuttered and squeaked.
It was Roman and Albus however who stopped all Hades from breaking. Sticking a lemon drop in his mouth Albus said, "Now I think there is something here we are all missing. You," He said pointing to Roman. "Could you tell me my favorite type of jam, your name, and the date?"
"Yes sir, but do you not recognize me?" Albus's expression did not change. "All right, you liked Raspberry jam until about five months ago when you started to like Boisen Berry. My name is Romulus Lupin though you started my nickname of Roman and last time I checked today is December twenty-seventh two thousand and seventeen."
He stood there as if this was the most obvious thing in the world. Which, in fact it was.
He studied the members of the Order around the office. His dad, mum, and Minerva looked alright and the same as always. Neville, Luna, Harry, Ginny, Ron, Draco, and Hermione looked younger as if they were in their late teens like himself. The large man who could have been a half giant rang a bell in the back of his mind but he couldn't quite place what it was.
Looking at Professor Snape however made everything click. Roman would have sat on the floor if he could, he was so dumbfounded. No wonder they were looking at him as if he was the ghost of Christmas yet to come.
"It seems like I need to check the date," he said weakly.
So, what'd you think? Please review and let me know!
Destiny: So, do you have a name?
Briefcase Guy: --
Destiny: Do you know how to speak?
Briefcase Guy: --
Destiny: Are you insane?
Briefcase Guy: (shakes his head no)
Destiny: Well that clears things up.