Lilacs In November--Part One
DISCLAIMER: I own Delilah, her family, and my own dog, who is snoring right now. Anything else belongs to JK or is part of an intricate government conspiracy. (Kidding. I hope.)
||chapter one||chapter two||chapter three||chapter four||
Chapter 0ne
Chewing her quill pen thoughtfully, Delilah dipped it into the purple ink again and scribbled down another paragraph of her Potions summer homework--a five-roll essay on love potions, discussing their origination, a particular one of your choice analyzed by ingredient, and an opinion on why they were banned at Hogwarts. "A miniscule amount of Herb True-Love, or One-Berry, makes the Eternal Love Potion particularly delightful--and possibly dangerous," said Delilah aloud as she wrote. "If used properly, it gives the love potion's recipient a feeling of peace--what some would call utopian love. However, if used improperly, either by adding too little or too much, it can turn the love it bestows into a suicidal love. No matter how endeared the giver is to the recipient, the recipient will convince themselves that the one they 'truly love' does not love them back, and most of the time end their life." She proofread it and smiled.
Delilah's dog, Ryo, barked excitedly, looking at the window. Glancing over and pulling back the shades, Delilah saw an owl, frantically tapping at the window. No wonder; it was storming terribly outside. She opened the window and let in the soaked bird. I must say, it took you long enough! said the owl huffily, shaking out her feathers and soaking the cushion on Delilah's bay window. Leaving me out in that storm...
Baby, replied Delilah mentally, grinning. With some effort and a book Professor Figg had given her last year at Hogwarts, she'd learned how to speak telepathically with birds and other flying creatures. Even though she was a Wingspeaker and could talk to them aloud, and had, she got the feeling the odd looks from people would be cut down drastically as long as they didn't hear her talking to a passing moth.
While the owl flew to the tray of birdseed that Delilah kept handy, the girl picked up the envelope the bird had dropped onto the seat. A grin came onto her face when she saw the return address: Harry Potter, c/o Sirius Black, Three Cauldron Lane, Hogsmeade, England. Sitting on her bed, she opened the envelope and pulled out a piece of parchment.
Delilah~
How are your holidays going? Wait, don't tell me... I bet as bad as mine were before Sirius came down from the sky on a great big zonking motorcycle. No joke; he made Dudley spit his carrot sticks on the wall. After a brief discussion he had with the Dursleys, here I am in Hogsmeade.
I wonder... d'you think you could perhaps fly over here to spend the rest of the hols? They probably wouldn't miss you... not to mention that I need someone in my age group. Owling's getting pretty repetitious, and although Ron's been visiting, along with Cho, I get the feeling you need rescuing.
Oh, Sirius wants you to ask your mom about bubble gum pink robes... I wouldn't, he's got a positively rotten smile on his face. Write back with your answer.
~Harry
Delilah chuckled and set the letter aside. Closing her Potions essay into her book, she pulled out a fresh piece of parchment from her bag and got out a new bottle of ink--a black color that flashed with green and purple stars. She'd gotten it in Hogsmeade last year, and liked it so much she'd gotten an extra bottle for home. Wiping her quill clean, she dipped it into the new ink and began to write.
Harry~
Picking up her bag and taking out a special wizarding envelope that wouldn't get wet or anything in the storm, Delilah wrote the address on the cover and, folding the parchment, put it inside the envelope. The now-rested owl took the envelope in its beak. You know, you'd think you'd be more sympathetic, sniffed the owl. Can't you do a charm or something?
Actually, my holidays are going rather well. At the beginning, they tried to push me around, but I think that rather changed when I made some sparrows attack Mum in the garden while she was entertaining some friends. For the most part, they leave me alone in my room. Thank God.
No, I can't fly over there... one, it's a long trip for a bird. Two, what about my things? I can't take them with me, and if I leave them, they'll probably do something horrid to him. I'm afraid you'll have to survive on owls from the Delilah Riddle sector of England.
Bubble gum pink robes? On Andromeda Diana Kingston Riddle? Surely you jest! Tell me the story first... then I'll think about telling her.
Write me back and tell me how everyone is doing--you're the one in the magical loop here, not me. I anxiously await your reply. (Ha.)
~Delilah
Sorry... underage, grinned Delilah. Make Mr. Rover do it when you get back to Hogsmeade. Meanwhile, my heart shall profusely bleed buttermilk for you.
The owl used some mental curse words/phrases that would shock even Delilah's brother Jason with their creativity and vehemence, then flew out the window. Closing the window with a soft chuckle, Delilah whispered, "Your mother would definitely not approve." Turning off her light, she snuggled into her bed and listened to the storm raging outside. The thunder's rumbling and the lightning's crashes lulled her to sleep like a lullaby.
Chapter Two
*Shut up, I like the song!*
The next week was pretty hellish. Delilah had learned how to throw a punch last year from Sirius... this came in handy. Of course, she got grounded for it, but that was no punishment at all for her. All she had to do to sneak down to the kitchen was turn into a gnat or something, change back into human quickly, grab some food, and go. Considering how often her mother, father, and brother were out of the house, it was ridiculously easy. After all, they thought she could only become birds. And what kind of bird could get through a nailed shut door?
Delilah was debating on whether or not to work ahead in Charms when a loud noise came up the street. It sounded like... a motorcycle. She hardly dared to hope.
A few seconds later, the door opened. She pressed her ear to the floor, her heart thumping with excitement. "--Delilah Riddle?" came a familiar voice. Her heart leaped. It was Sirius.
"No Delilah Riddle lives here," said Delilah's father stiffly. "I suggest you leave, before I inform the police."
Frantically, Delilah shoved some clothes through the bottom of the door so that they were on the steps to the attic. Changing into a gnat, she flew through and changed back. Pulling on the clothes, she listened.
"No, no... I'm sure this is her house," said Sirius pleasantly.
"I'm coming, Sirius!" she called, zipping her jeans. She raced down the stairs to the doorway to see Sirius in a helmet, grinning, and her father looking extremely irritated.
"Oh, good, you're here. Now, a little bird--no pun intended--told me you're wasting away here. Therefore, if you'd like to spend the next three weeks with myself and Harry in Hogsmeade..."
"Are you kidding?" exclaimed Delilah. "Come help me get these boards off of my door and we'll see how fast I go!"
"How did you get out?" snapped Delilah's mother, coming inside. She gaped when she saw who else was there. "Sirius Black!"
"Andromeda Ki--oh, pardon me, Riddle," said Sirius. "Would you like some bubble gum? I'm sure I could conjure up some pink..."
Andi Riddle's face twisted. "What are you doing here?" she snarled. "Come to corrupt my family?"
Delilah snorted. Her mother turned to glare at her. With a charming smile, Delilah called some birds to sit on the windowsill and stare at Andi. That shut her up rather quickly.
"Now, what's this about boards?" asked Sirius.
"Oh... they boarded me up in my room," she said nonchalantly. "Did a rather poor job of it, too."
Sirius followed her up the stairs to the haphazard boards. "Ah, now let's see... what's a good spell? Oh, I know. Solvo Boards!" The boards dissolved, leaving nails stuck at odd angles in the wood of her door.
"You'll have to unlock the door, too," said Delilah.
"Oh, that's easy enough. Alohomora!" The door clicked and swung open.
Her trunk was mostly packed--she'd been that eager to leave. Throwing in some parchment, quills, ink, and other things she'd had around the room, she clipped a leash on an excited Ryo and slipped on some sandals. Using a Weightless Charm, Sirius made her trunk float into the air. "Ready?"
"No, I want to stay," said Delilah sarcastically. They went down the stairs.
By now, Delilah's whole family was there. "You're going to get it when you get home," whispered Jason, cracking his knuckles.
This time, it was Sirius who performed the Furnunculus Curse. They went out the door, Delilah shutting it behind her with a kick.
"I see you've been practicing," noted Sirius as he tied her trunk to the enormous motorcycle. With a discreet wave of his wand, he made a small add-on carrier for Ryo.
"It's been a lifesaver," replied Delilah, putting her dog inside the compartment and tying his leash to the bike. "I've even been doing those dratted push-ups you made me do."
"Well done," said Sirius approvingly. "Now, hop on. We don't want those horrid Muggles of yours to come out here."
Delilah climbed onto the motorcycle and put on the helmet he gave her. Sirius pushed a blue button on the dashboard, and the bike--and everything on it--started to shimmer. "Invisibility," explained Sirius, kick-starting the bike. It roared to life, a noise no spell could cover. He pushed a few more buttons, and the bike rose into the air. Delilah laughed with glee as they started to fly.
"This is better than flying as a bird... I don't have to work!" joked Delilah.
"I've missed it," said Sirius. Delilah was silent; she knew about his Azkaban stay, and how he never liked to mention it. But whenever he thought about it, he thought about it, very deeply.
"Uh, Sirius?" said Delilah. "I, ah, hate to break the moment and all that rot, but..."
"But what?"
"Drive." A guilty look on his face, Sirius righted the motorcycle, which was beginning to dip.
"Sorry."
"Oh, it's quite all right. Just don't do it again, or I'll slap you."
"Inviting," remarked Sirius lazily.
Delilah did slap him for that one. "Dirty old man!"
"Old man?" said Sirius, wounded. "I'm not a day over forty--oh." Delilah laughed as they soared through the clouds.
Chapter Three
Four hours later, Delilah's bum was so sore if hurt to shift even the slightest bit. "How far are we?" she asked.
"Only an hour more to go." Delilah groaned. She couldn't take this anymore.
"Sirius, I'm sorry, but don't think too poorly of me for this," she said, and jumped off the motorcycle.
As she jumped, she visualized a winged unicorn. Her clothes fell away from her as she transformed. Her coat was coal black, and so was her horn. Her feathers on her wings had colors in their pattern--subtle, but beautiful. Using some unicorn magic, she made her clothes float up and plop into Sirius's lap.
"What the--you could have gotten yourself killed!" exclaimed Sirius. "I ought to--"
"Drive," interrupted Delilah, giving herself vocal cords. Grumbling to himself, Sirius turned back to the dashboard.
"You do realize you can be seen?" he said finally.
"Oh, right. Forgot." With a wave of her horn, black shimmering light covered her and made her invisible to all but Sirius. "Better?"
"Showoff teenage girl," muttered Sirius.
Delilah bared her teeth at him in a horse grin and flew ahead, then circled Sirius. "At least my bum doesn't hurt anymore. What did you pad that seat with? Bricks?"
"Stones," he retorted. "You deserve every ache."
"Sirius... I'm a big girl. Or winged unicorn... either or," she said firmly. "You don't have to chase after me and remind me to change my diapers. I've done fine so far."
"Well, yes, I suppose, but..."
"But nothing. C'mon... I'll race you to Hogsmeade." She zipped ahead, ignoring Sirius's yells.
"Cheater," pouted Delilah as she changed back into her clothes on the side of his house. Sirius had his back to her.
"I did not cheat," he protested. "Did I impede you in any way?"
"You used your wand to Transfigure my dog into a propeller!"
"It depends on your definition of cheating," he said primly. "You never said I couldn't use magic."
"I never said you could."
"So?"
"Argh!" Delilah pulled on her left sandal. "I'm going inside to see Harry. Change my dog back or else I'll become a dragon and barbecue you. Or charbroil... neither's too bad for you."
"I bet he'd give you a stomachache." Delilah turned to see Harry leaning against the side of the house and grinning. "Or he might stay in there and turn into a tapeworm or something."
"Harry?" He came over to her and they hugged.
"Yes, I'm Harry."
"Harry..."
"Look, Lila, I know I'm Harry, you know I'm Harry... shall we stop saying my name now?"
"Harry!"
"Honestly, you're not getting the point. You thick Ravenclaws are all the--ow!"
"Take care in what you say about my house, lowly Gryffindor," grinned Delilah, letting go of Harry's ear. "Good to see you."
"Same to you. You've got to come see the house... Sirius actually has somewhere decent to live, and it's neat!"
"Only because Arabella would beat me up if it were any other way. She and Remus live next door." Sirius smirked.
"Oh, that's a shock... them setting up house together," chuckled Delilah. "Took them long enough." She'd gotten the feeling last year that it was only a matter of time before the Defense professor, Arabella Figg, moved in with Remus Lupin.
"Yeah... and the oddest thing is, a woman who used to babysit me, Mrs. Figg, is her mother," said Harry. "They have the same name and everything. In fact, all these years, Mrs. Figg has been making sure I don't get into trouble."
"Weird," shrugged Delilah. "Now, you said something about showing me around..?"
"I suppose I'll have to put your trunk and dog in your room," said Sirius dryly.
Delilah jerked her thumb at Sirius. "For an old guy, he's rather bright." She felt her scalp tingle, then in front of her eyes her hair turned bright blue. "Hey!"
She turned to see Sirius twirling his wand and looking smug. "Not bad for an 'old guy', eh?"
Delilah tossed her blue hair over her shoulder. "Thanks, Sirius, I needed something to scare the teachers with. Now, shall we, Harry?" They went inside the house.
Chapter Four
"Sirius Black, you are so MESSY!" screamed Delilah as she rearranged the thousandth shelf of books. She didn't expect an answer; Sirius and Harry had gone into town to get some things at Zonko's. Pushing back her pink bandanna to wipe away any sweat, she placed books in piles according to title. "Pile A... Pile T... Pile X--X?" She wiped away dust to reveal the full title: Xylophones and You. "Someone needed a hobby..." she muttered, making a new pile.
She'd been in Hogsmeade for a week, and been working on the library for that long. Of course, she'd been doing other things, like losing to Ron in chess whenever he came by... helping them with their homework... and getting her hair turned blue repeatedly for making cracks about Depends and Centrum Silver around Sirius. He'd done it so often, in fact, some strands of her hair were permanently blue. Once she'd shown him that, he'd lain off on that, switching instead to putting polka dots on everything. She preferred the blue hair; the streaks she had were a dark blue, and looked good, she thought.
Three shelves later, and she was done. The entire huge library, full of books left behind by the house's previous patron, had clean shelves. Going to the A pile, Delilah put them on the shelves, making over ten trips with armfuls of books.
As she put a stack on a middle shelf, she heard a cracking noise. Looking down, she groaned and slapped a hand to her forehead. The shelf was broken in half. One hal