A/N: Author's note, or added note... either one, here it is. Yeah. This is the first chapter. It has quite a bit of explaining in it, and so is fairly long. I can't guarantee that the rest of the chapters will be this long, but I like to think they will be. Know what really helps? Reviews! Read this over, and let me know what you think. Anything; flames, compliments, whatever. Thanks! Read and review!
The Next Generation
The young girl's hair was pulled back in a pony tail as she stared nervously out the window. The fields rushed by as she saw ominous grey clouds hovering in the distance. Beginning to feel queasy, though not sure whether it was from staring out the window, or the increasing anxiousness, she looked back inside. She sat in the small compartment of the Hogwarts Express, the large red steam engine train jostling her around. Across from her, sat her twin sister; looking the mirror of herself with the same apprehensive look on her face.
"How long do you think it will be?" the girl expressed her thoughts.
"Journey," the sister laughed, "We've only been traveling a couple of hours! The lunch trolley hasn't even come. I recon it will be quite a ways longer."
"That's easy for you to say Emily," Journey huffed, "You didn't have Charlie put a jinx on you so that you'd have something horrible happen on the train ride."
Emily giggled, "Honestly sis, Charlie is in second year only. He can barely make a feather levitate more than five feet off the ground. I don't think he'd be able to jinx you."
"Mum and Dad said that Charlie was an excellent wizard," Journey responded hesitantly.
"Yes," Emily agreed, "And Mum and Dad also pretend that they don't still think about Harry and Ginny."
Journey was silent. It was true, and it made her sad every time she caught either of her parents gazing off into space, because she knew that's exactly who they were thinking of. Her Mum had explained it all one day… Long ago her Mum had gone to Hogwarts, and was best friends with two boys; Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter. Harry was the chosen one, and was destined to defeat an evil, dark wizard. Through their years at Hogwarts things began to happen. Bad things. Until year seven came, and the three friends set out on a search for the wizard who had caused so much pain. They found him and a war set out through the whole wizarding world. At the end, though the dark Lord was defeated, many people were missing, and even dead. Ron's brother Charlie was killed while rescuing his father, Arthur, from certain death with a powerful, Unforgivable even, curse. His sister Ginny went missing, and so, unfortunately, did Harry. Many more were injured, and after much tiresome treatment, Ron's brother Bill's wife; Fleur passed away from a powerful spell sent by the dark wizard himself. But life went on. Ron's other brothers, Fred and George, had opened up successfully four more joke shops throughout the whole UK, Bill met a lovely Auror named Alexandria, married, and had a child; Lexi, who was three years old than Journey and Emily, and currently going into her fourth year at Hogwarts, and soon, after taking another year at Hogwarts, and passing, Journey's mother married Ron, and they had their three children. Journey's mother had told her this one cold winter evening. Ending in the happily ever after marriage of the love birds. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.
And now as Journey sat there, she realized that her sister was probably right. Charlie really wasn't that great of a wizard yet.
"Next year," Emily spoke up as if reading her mind, "Charlie may be able to jinx you next year."
"Geee," Journey glared at her sister, "Thanks."
Emily grinned, "No problem."
The next many hours were spent with much glancing at books, and wondering what house they'd be sorted into. Along the whole line of Weasley's, all been put into Gryffindor; including both Lexi and Charlie. Just after they changed into their robs, there was a knock at their door. The figure was blurred by the non transparent glass, and Journey and Emily looked at each other.
"Are you guys in there?" the voice was heard.
"Lexi!" Emily cried out, "Come in!"
The door slid open, and in walked a tall girl. She had strawberry blond hair and was very pretty. Lexi's eyes were wide and bright as she smiled at them. She was already in her robs as well.
"How are you guys doing?" she asked.
"Good," Journey and Emily said at the same time.
The girls rarely got to see their cousin as Bill and Alexandria lived at a house which was built in the field behind the Burrow and Ron and Hermione lived in London by Hermione's parents. So it was always a joy to talk to her. Before any of them knew it, the lanterns had been lit around the train as rain splattered, the dark, silky windows.
"Ohh," Lexi said suddenly, "We're almost there. I have to go back. I'll see you around. And good luck!" she called as she headed down the corridor.
The two sisters looked nervously at each other.
'This is it!' Journey thought as they heard the sounds of the breaks squealing the train to a stop.
As the flood of people exited the train, Journey and Emily joined in with the other anxious looking first years who were all standing in front of a startling enormous man. If they hadn't meet Hagrid several times before, Emily was sure that they'd be just as weary as the rest of the clambering young students.
"Ahh!" Hagrid easily spotted the twins, "I was wonder'n when I'd see yeh girls! Yeh alright?"
"We're doing great," Emily grinned away as she smiled up at the hairy man.
Many of the other kids were looking impressively at Journey and Emily, seemingly shocked that they'd just walked up to this man. The rain seemed to let up on the first years as they made their way in the boats across the silvery lake, the merpeople occasionally popping their heads out of the water to take a closer look. Just as they reached the inside of the Great Hall though, a loud clap of thunder shook the above skies and Hagrid grinned.
"Just 'n time," he shook his mangy beard with his hand to get the water speckles out, "Would'a bin a shame ter get yeh all wet. Ahh, Professor McGonagall!"
Fore tall, lean Professor McGonagall had entered through the large doors into the hall. Though considerably older than when the older generation of Weasley's had passed through the school, she still had the same 'no-nonsense' manner about her.
"Good evening," she smiled pleasantly, "In a few moments you'll pass through these doors and will be sorted into your houses. I expect you all to be on you best behaviour so as we can accomplish this as quickly as possible. Please follow me."
Sharing glances, Emily and Journey walked along with the other first years through the doors. Completely awestruck, the momentum of all the students slowed as they gazed around at the hundreds of other students around them, the enchanted ceiling and the candles floating all around.
"This way please, hurry up," Professor McGonagall spoke up.
Finally they got to the front of the massive room. Before them was a long line of teachers sitting behind a table. Immediately Journey recognized Hagrid, his large mass taking up a quarter of the one side. In the centre sitting in a large, scarlet chair was a very old looking wizard with a long, flowing beard and a pointed emerald cap. There was about a half dozen other teachers seated around, including one with greasy black hair, and another with so much jewellery on, you could barely see her face. In front of the line of teachers was a single stool on which there was a hat. As the hat started to sing, everyone was enticed by it. Everyone but Journey. She was watching the old wizard in the middle.
"Dumbledore," she said in a quiet, barely audible voice.
It had to be him! Hermione had told her daughters about him proudly. Back at the end of sixth year all had thought that Dumbledore; the greatest wizard ever, had been killed by the notorious Professor Snape. During the next year as the three friends traveled around, trying to find all the Horcruxes' so that they could kill the dark wizard, they found much proof that perhaps Dumbledore wasn't, in fact, dead. Hermione had read in a book, in their research that when a witch or wizard is buried, and the image of a phoenix appears, that means that it's a false burial; something that had happened at Albus Dumbledore's funeral. And that the person who is being buried isn't really who that person is. It took a long while for Hermione to figure this out, and it wasn't until she found another article, in the Prophet, on how the Ministry of Magic had found a strange and 'mystical' locket in the position of Professor Snape; who was immediately taken to Azkaban, that she figured it out. Hermione found it rather odd that Professor Snape had the locket, and so went to Azkaban to ask him about it. The truth was immediately set out. Dumbledore, the previous year, had found out where the locket Horcruxes was; in the cave. The only problem was that he had suspicions that it might already have been taken by one Regalus Black; a death eater and the brother of Sirius Black; Harry's dead Godfather. Not wanting to risk his own life for other reasons, Dumbledore found it quite easy to track down Peter Pettigrew, of whom deeply owed Harry a favour, and in turn Dumbledore agreed to let free if he did but one thing; go to the cave. Dumbledore explained that Harry had to be there because only he was able to scoop from the goblet after the first scoop. Slowly, after many visits and lessons, Dumbledore taught Peter the different things that he'd need to know, and he started brewing the Polly Juice Potion. Finally the time came for them to go to the cave, and with Dumbledore hidden safely the old house of Gaunt, Peter and Harry left to the cave. The only person knowing truly what was going on being Snape… who had confined in Dumbledore about the promise he made to help defeat Dumbledore, and protect Draco. The word 'defeat', they realized, didn't necessarily mean kill, and so they quickly decided that if anything went wrong, Snape was to kill Peter, and Dumbledore was to stay in hiding until he was needed, and it was safe so that Snape wouldn't be killed from the promise. And things did go wrong. The locket had been replaced with only the initials in the note of R.A.B being in it. Peter, however, didn't realize this wasn't the same locket, and thought he was free to go until he saw the dark mark over the castle, and knew that things were going horribly wrong. He told Harry to call for Snape, hoping that he would help him, and would side with Voldemort. Instead he killed him, making it look like he had, in fact, keep his promise and helped Draco defeat Dumbledore. Knowing now who truly had the locket, Snape continued to make it appear as if he was part of the Death Eaters, and hurried back to the rest of them where he confronted Regalus Black who indeed did have the locket, but was not eager to give it up. In a struggle that almost killed him, Snape got the locket back, and was trying to make his way back to where Dumbledore was in hiding when he got caught by an Auror-- Alexandria to be exact. After getting all of this information, Hermione soon after got the locket and destroyed it. It wasn't long after that the war was let loose. But until Narcissa was killed, Dumbledore couldn't come out of hiding nor could anyone know about him but Hermione and Snape. He was unable to help fight in the war until near the very end when Harry triumphantly killed Narcissa. The joy and exhilaration that the great wizard Dumbledore was truly alive lasted only a short while, for it was the very next day that Voldemort was killed, and Harry mysteriously disappeared along with Ginny, never getting a chance to find out that Dumbledore was alive. But again, life went on, and Dumbledore resumed his teaching, never forgetting the great 'Boy Who Lived'.
And now, as Journey stared at the old, but very powerful looking Wizard, she shone with pride that she was actually in the same room with him.
"Lukey, Aaron!" Professor McGonagall called out, and Journey jumped in surprisement that already, people had been called.
She noted Dumbledore's smile, amused, as he had too had been watching Journey with the same curious intensity. Feeling slightly embarrassed, Journey looked away, and watched as a short, dark haired boy with unusually pink cheeks walk up to the hat. With great difficulty he managed to pull himself onto the stool and McGonagall placed the hat on his head.
"Hummm," it only seemed to ponder for a moment, "Ahh, yes! Ravenclaw!"
Journey watched some more as more people were called up to the ominous stool.
Ralie, Jack; 'Hufflepuff!'
Stevens, Marie, 'Slitherin!'
Ullanie, Karen, 'Slitherin!'
Valley, Rupert, 'Ravenclaw!'
Professor McGonagall looked down at her long piece of parchment, licked her lips, and called out the next name;
"Weasley, Emily!"
Journey looked, wide eyed as her sister gulped and walked slowly to the stool. With only a moments hesitation, she climbed up onto it, and the Professor sat the hat on her head.
"Ah ha!" the hat cried out, "Yet another Weasley! You lot never do run out, do you?" with as much of a smirk as an old worn hat can get, it continued, "Yes, yes, just as all of your family… Gryffindor!"
With a great sigh of relief Emily jumped down and ran over to the Gryffindor table, where she was eagerly greeted by equally happy Charlie and Lexi.
"Weasley, Journey!" Professor McGonagall called out barely before Journey could register the infinite glee that washed through her.
'Excellent!' she thought, 'We're in Gryffindor!'
With a smiled on her face, Journey sat down on the stool, and she felt the large hat fall on her head.
"Twins," the hat said oddly quiet, "But something different in these Weasley twins, than in that which passed so many years ago," Journey felt her heart start to race, "There is something amiss in you of which I have not seen in a Weasley," there was a pause before the hat let our a great bellow, "Slitherin!"
...to be continued...
A/N: So... that was the first chapter. What are you all thinking? I'd love to know. Oh right, I know Regalus Black was killed before Harry was even born (lol, thanks bro!), but there is a reason he's alive... it's explained in the... third chapter I think. I accept annonymous reviews. Something I always hated when people don't do. Like, they want you to review their stuff, but won't let you if you're not signed in, or, heck!; even have an account... sorry, rambling. Yeah, just click that little review button and lemme know. The more reviews I get, the quicker I update!