Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize as someone else's!
A/N: This is the story I wrote as the prequel to my first story, Harry Potter and the Crystal of Gryffindor. It mainly follows my character, Cadance, and my sister's character, Cati. Harry Potter and the Crystal of Gryffindor was something I began after the 4th book came out, and it follows Harry's 5th-7th years and has a sequel called As Strong As We Are United. It is not necessary to have read either of them to understand what is going on. This shows what Cadance and Cati were doing while Harry was at the Dursleys' and in his first four years of Hogwarts and it will end right where Harry Potter and the Crystal of Gryffindor picks up. Happy reading!
Most stories have a beginning and most stories have an ending. This story's ending is the beginning of another; one that starts when Harry Potter meets Cadance Dumbledore for the very first time. So if you want to know how this story turns out, I suppose you can just read that one.
But if you want to hear a tale of trials, tribulations, competition, relationships, and, of course, magic then keep on reading.
And just as this story ends with a beginning, it begins with an end—the end of the lives of four people, and though their stories are over, the stories of their children kept going.
"Mom!" shrieked Cadance Dumbledore as her mother pulled her Auroring robes out of her closet. Cadance's father was already dressed. They had been contacted not five minutes earlier. The Ministry was sending them on an all-night assignment. They would have to leave within the hour.
"Go ahead, Cadance, and keep throwing that tantrum," said Abigail Dumbledore to her 8-year-old daughter. "It's not going to change anything."
"Don't go," whined Cadance.
Abigail paused for a second. She knew fully well that her daughter inherited Sorceress Powers from her husband's side of the family. Cadance, like her father, was able to do magic without a wand. One of these Sorceress powers was a keen sense of perception. If she was having a bad feeling about this…
…but Abigail dismissed the thought. "She's just angry because I can't watch Sleeping Beauty with her tonight like I promised," she thought to herself.
"Go bother your father," said Abigail. "I have to get dressed."
Cadance let out of a cry of frustration and stormed out of the room. She slammed the door to her mother and father's bedroom on the way out, and went to find her father, Scott Dumbledore. He was in the kitchen holding Jennifer, their 3-month-old daughter. He was swaying back and forth, trying to get her to fall back asleep.
"Dad, I need to talk to you," said Cadance, watching not to talk too loud so that she wouldn't disturb her baby sister.
"What is it, dear?" asked Scott.
"I don't want you to go," said Cadance.
"I know you don't," said Scott. "But we have to."
"I don't feel good," said Cadance.
"Honey, you and Sirius are going to have fun tonight. You'll see," said Scott reassuringly.
"But…" began Cadance.
"No buts, young lady," interrupted Scott. "Now go clean your room."
Meanwhile, in another nearby town…
"Catalin, don't use magic in the yard," said Cati's mother, Faith Nuperson.
"The muggles will see you," said her father, David.
Catalin, 8-years-old, dejectedly lowered her arm, and with it the flowers that were zooming around her fell as well. "Awww, Mom," she whined.
"Cati, Drew, come in here," said Faith.
Cati and her 12-year-old brother followed them into the house. It was in a muggle neighborhood because David was muggle-born. Cati and Drew didn't really know their neighbors. They kept to themselves around them so they wouldn't suspect them of being unusual. It wasn't easy because Cati and her mother had Sorceress powers. Drew didn't inherit the powers from his mother, because in her lineage, only the girls inherited the Sorceress powers, unlike the Dumbledore family where both boys and girls inherited the powers. Faith knew better than to use her powers out in the yard. Cati, however, had problems with self-control.
"Kids, I know we promised we'd spend the evening together, but our division is being sent on an all-night mission," said David.
"That's not fair!" exclaimed Drew. "You asked for the night off!"
"I know, honey, but it can't be helped," said Faith.
"Your Uncle Severus will be here to watch you," said David, referring to Faith's brother, Severus Snape, who was the Potion's Master at Hogwarts.
"If he makes me do my summer potions homework this early in the summer, I'm going to scream," said Drew.
"I like it when Uncle Severus baby-sits," said Cati. "He's funny."
Faith smiled and shook her head. She found it hard to believe that anyone found her younger brother funny. "Alright then," said Faith. "You two behave yourself."
"Always do," said Drew.
"Hardly," said Faith cocking an eyebrow.
"Sirius, they're both a little fussy," said Abigail as she handed Jen over to him.
"Why is that?" asked Sirius Black, one of the Dumbledore's neighbors. Fresh from Auror Training, Sirius had an air of innocence about him. But that was only to hide his terrible mischievousness. However, with the Potters' taking care of their own kid and Remus Lupin being tired from last night's full moon, Sirius's mischievousness was not considered an issue since he was the best available babysitter. Plus, he loved the girls and they loved him.
"Why so fussy?" asked Sirius. Cadance glared at her parents.
"She's mad we're leaving," said David as Abigail tie his necktie that he had to wear as part of his Auroring uniform. She tightened it for him.
"Will you watch Sleeping Beauty with her, Sirius?" asked Abigail as she put her foot up on the table to zip up one of her white Auroring boots. Scott loosened his tie.
"Sure," said Sirius.
"And if there are any problems, Albus says you can call him out of his meeting," said Abigail referring to Albus Dumbledore, Scott's uncle and the Headmaster of Hogwarts. He, too, had Sorcerer Powers characteristic of Scott's side of the family. Abigail turned to Scott and tightened his tie and straightened it.
"If it's something really serious, he can get a hold of the Ministry and they can get a message to us," said Scott as he bent down to zip up his wife's other Auroring boot for her.
"Alright, I guess that's everything," said Abigail. She kissed Jen's forehead then turned to Cadance. "Goodnight, honey." She bent down and kissed the top of her head.
"Bye, Mom," responded Cadance dejectedly. Her father affectionately patted her head then bent down and gave her a hug. "Bye, Dad."
"Behave for Sirius," said Scott.
"We love you," said Abigail.
"I love you, too," said Cadance.
"Uncle Severus!" exclaimed Cati excitedly as her uncle entered the house through the fireplace. She got a running start and slid into his leg, attaching herself to it.
"Remove yourself from my appendage," said Snape icily.
"What does that mean?" asked Cati looking up at him.
Snape sighed and bent down to pick her up. He carried her under his arm and plopped her down on the couch. "Sit there and be quiet for a while," he said.
"Oh, you know you like me," piped Cati.
"I liked you better when you couldn't talk," said Snape.
Now don't mistake Snape's iciness for distaste. He was rather fond of his sister and her kids and even tolerated Faith's muggle-born husband (though not in public). He just didn't know how to respond to children when he couldn't take house points from them— especially when they would probably be sorted into Gryffindor. Make no mistake about it; Cati would be in Gryffindor just like her brother currently was and both of her parents used to be.
"Sev," said Faith as she bounced into the room.
"Faith," said Snape. Faith was pulling on her Auroring robes over her Auroring uniform. She collapsed into a chair and put her feet up on the coffee table. She quickly zipped up her boots.
Just then Abigail and Scott Dumbledore rolled out of the fireplace. They brushed themselves off. "David!" exclaimed Faith. "They're here! Let's go!"
David came stomping down the stairs. He was quickly tying his tie. "Ready?" he asked.
"Kids! We're leaving!" exclaimed Faith. Drew came into the room. Faith and David kissed their children and said goodbye.
They got Floo Powder and David, Faith, Scott, and Abigail got ready to be transported to the Ministry. Right before Faith climbed into the fireplace, Snape grabbed her arm. "Faith," said Snape. He paused. "Be careful."
Faith gave her brother a crooked smile and touched his shoulder. "You worry too much. I'm the older sibling; I should be worrying about you." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and was off.
Cadance sat on the couch staring angrily at Sirius. Her bright blue eyes bore into the back of his head as he struggled with the VCR. Jen was asleep in her playpen next to the couch. "How much longer?" asked Cadance exasperatedly.
"Cadance, I have no idea what I am doing," said Sirius, who had been struggling with it for 15 minutes.
"You promised we could watch Sleeping Beauty," said Cadance.
"Well, do you know how to work the VCR?" asked Sirius. Cadance shook her head. Her strawberry-blonde wavy hair whipped with the movement of her head. "Then be quiet for a minute."
"You're all liars," said Cadance sulkily.
"Excuse me?" asked Sirius turning around. He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Adults," said Cadance. "You all lie."
"You better watch you mouth or I'll knock you into a sequel," said Sirius. Cadance looked confused. "There's always a sequel."
"You won't knock me anywhere, Sirius," said Cadance without making eye contact.
Sirius sat down next to Cadance. "Do you want to tell me what's really bothering you?" he asked.
"I don't feel good about them going," said Cadance.
"I know you wanted them to stay…" began Sirius.
"No, that's not it," said Cadance. "It's not about them staying. It's about them going. I don't feel good about it."
Sirius looked at her, not knowing what to say. He paused for a second then he said, "Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't I call Lily? She'll be able to get the VCR to work."
"Ok," said Cadance.
Severus Snape was beginning to wonder why he had agreed to watch his niece and nephew in the first place. He was sitting on the couch while Cati was jumping on it. "Why me?" thought Snape. "Is this punishment for joining the Dark side? Because I swear I'm on the good side now."
"Hey Uncle Severus, "said Cati, still hopping up and down as she interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes?" he asked icily.
"Where do babies come from?" she asked.
Snape slowly turned to look at her. He just sneered at her, because he didn't know what else to do.
Drew, who was sitting in the chair reading a comic book, snorted and tried to hide his laughter by burying his nose in his book. Snape turned to Drew. "Go and do your potions homework," hissed Snape. Drew rolled his eyes and slunk out of the room.
"I'm waiting," said Cati with annoyance as she continued to bounce.
"For what?" asked Snape.
"For you to tell me where babies come from," she said.
"Well, I'm waiting for you to fall off the couch," said Snape.
"I'm not going to fall," responded Cati.
"And I'm not going to tell you where babies come from," said Snape.
"How about puppies?"
Snape sighed. This was going to be a long night.
"Sirius, what did you do?" asked Lily with annoyance. The TV was pulled out a little and Lily was behind it trying to reconnect the wires. Within five minutes of arriving, Lily had discovered that the VCR wasn't properly hooked up.
"Well, I couldn't get it to work, so I started moving the wires around," said Sirius.
Lily glanced over at the couch. Cadance had fallen asleep with her head on the arm of the couch. "Well, she seems to be asleep, so I guess it doesn't matter now," said Lily. She climbed out from behind the TV.
Suddenly Cadance woke with a start and let out an ear-piercing shriek. "Whoa, okay," said Sirius. "We'll fix it, we'll fix it! Geez, all this over Sleeping Beauty."
Lily, however, was by Cadance's side in a second. "Cadance, what's wrong?" she asked.
Cadance threw her arms around Lily's neck. "Something bad just happened," she cried.
"Sirius, get Dumbledore," said Lily.
"That won't be necessary, Lily," said a soft voice behind them. They turned around to find Albus Dumbledore already standing there. Cadance released Lily and ran over to her grand-uncle. He stooped down a bit so she could jump into his arms. She began crying on his shoulder. He rubbed her back soothingly.
"Professor…" said Lily tentatively.
"They're dead," sobbed Cadance. Dumbledore caught Lily's eye and gave a small, sad nod.
"Lily, come take Cadance," said Dumbledore. "I want to talk to Sirius in the kitchen for a few minutes."
Lily helped Cadance walk over to the couch as Sirius followed Dumbledore into the kitchen. "Professor Dumbledore," said Sirius. "She's 8. She can't be right!"
"I was in the Ministry when the news came in," said Dumbledore. "Their entire unit… they're all gone. They didn't stand a chance. Minerva is breaking the news to the Nuperson children right now."
"Cadance didn't want them to go," said Sirius. "She could feel it. Poor kid."
"Sirius, I need you to do something for me, "said Dumbledore.
"Anything, sir" said Sirius.
"Cadance and Jen," said Dumbledore. "I'm all they have left. Of course, I'll take them. But I can't yet. Until I can, will you take care of them?"
"Of course," said Sirius. "Of course I will."
"Thank you," said Dumbledore.
"Professor," said Sirius slowly. "I'm so sorry." Dumbledore nodded, then Apparated out.
Sirius walked into the living room. Cadance had cried herself to sleep and was lying on the couch. Lily was rubbing her back soothingly. "I'm going to stay with them for a while," he said.
"Are they really dead?" asked Lily, as she stood.
Sirius nodded. "Faith and David, too," he said. "Along with the rest of the unit."
Sirius and Lily hugged. "Pretty soon we'll be the only ones left in the neighborhood," said Lily. There had been an unusually large number of deaths around there lately. There were at least ten houses standing empty.
"It's going to be okay," said Sirius.
"I'd better get back to James and Harry," said Lily. "I'll come back first thing in the morning to help you with the girls." She walked out the front door and down the street to her house.
The summer passed. Drew returned to Hogwarts. Sirius continued to keep and eye on the Dumbledore girls with the help of James, Lily, Remus, and Cadance's Godmother, Arabella Figg. Cati, too, joined Cadance and Jen most days when Snape had to return to Hogwarts. The other days she was with her paternal muggle grandparents.
One day, just before Halloween, Dumbledore showed up at Sirius's home in Godric's Hollow. Cadance and Cati were playing a board game on the floor, clearly unaware of the rules of the game and making them up as they went along. Sirius was in the kitchen feeding Jen a bottle.
"Sirius, a word?" asked Dumbledore.
"Is it about the girls?" asked Sirius.
"Not quite," said Dumbledore lowering his voice. "I talked Lily and James into going into hiding. The Order has received news, through sources unnamed, that they have climbed up a few rungs on Voldemort's hate ladder."
"Are you using the Fidelus Charm?" asked Sirius.
"That's the plan," said Dumbledore. "James hopes to perform it tonight. I offered to be their Secret-Keeper. But… Sirius, they want you."
Sirius paused. "I'm the first person anyone would suspect," he said. "I'll talk to him."
"Good idea," said Dumbledore. "And I am under orders from Molly Weasley to tell you to bring the girls to her house on Halloween. She promises to have cookies."
"I have to work in the afternoon," said Sirius. "I'll talk to her about it."
"And how have the girls been?" asked Dumbledore.
"They've been good," said Sirius passing Jen to him.
"I promise this arrangement won't be for much longer," said Dumbledore.
"It's alright," said Sirius.
"I will bring them to Hogwarts soon," continued Dumbledore. "I just need to make arrangements for when I'm working."
"I'll help out when I can," offered Sirius.
"Thank you," said Dumbledore. He handed Jen back to Sirius. "But now I have to get back to Hogwarts."
"Goodbye, Albus," said Sirius.
Dumbledore clapped him on his shoulder before Apparating out, not knowing that this would be the last time he would see Sirius Black for a very long time.
"Sirius!" exclaimed Cadance happily as she ran up to him as he walked through the Weasley's door the evening of Halloween. He had dropped her and Jen off at the Weasley's house just after lunch. He then returned home to get ready for work. Now that his shift was over, he returned to the Weasley's.
Cadance had bonded with Sirius over the past couple of weeks. She had started getting pouty and moody for a while every time Sirius had to go to work. After he had dropped her off that afternoon, Cadance had acted dejected until Mrs. Weasley gave her some cookies.
"Hey, sunshine," said Sirius putting his motorcycle helmet aside and braced himself as she jumped into his arms. "Having fun?"
"Yep!" exclaimed Cadance.
Sirius carried her into the kitchen where Mrs. Weasley was cooking and set her down. "Hey, Molly," he said.
"Oh, hello, Sirius," she said. "How was work, dear?"
"Hell."
"Have a cookie," Mrs. Weasley offered.
"That's the ticket," said Sirius grabbing a cookie and taking a bite.
"Sirius, I'm going to play with Percy," piped Cadance.
"Knock yourself out, kid," answered Sirius. He watched her run into the living room. "How did the girls behave today?" he asked Mrs. Weasley.
"They were wonderful," she answered. "Jen didn't make a sound. And Cadance and Percy and the twins ran around outside all day. I was worried Cadance wouldn't have as much fun with Bill and Charlie away at Hogwarts, but that doesn't seem to be a problem." Mrs. Weasley paused for a second then chuckled. "You know, when she was helping me feed Jen and Ginny their bottles, she told me that you don't let her feed Jen that much at home because you're a baby-hog."
"Yeah, we fight over Jen at home," said Sirius grinning.
"It sounds like…" began Mrs. Weasley before she was cut off by an ear-piercing shriek. "What in heaven's name….?"
Suddenly, Cadance came running, screaming, into the room. She jumped up into Sirius's arms and began talking really quickly. "Sirius, they're dead. Oh, Sirius, they're dead," she sobbed hysterically.
"What's going on?" asked Mrs. Weasley with worry in her voice. Percy came walking tentatively into the room to see why Cadance had run away screaming.
"Oh God," said Sirius. He put her down and rushed into the hallway with Mrs. Weasley and Cadance at his heels. He picked up his helmet and opened the front door. It was dark outside, but the light from the front door fell on his flying motorcycle. Sirius dropped to one knee in front of Cadance and pulled her into a hug. Then he grabbed her face so that she was looking right in his eyes. "Cadance, listen. Someone will come for you later. Just wait her and behave." Then he ran out the door and hopped on his motorcycle. Before he reached the end of the driveway, he and the motorcycle had vanished.
About a week later, Cadance and Cati sat in Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore sat behind his desk holding Jen. Snape and McGonagall stood by him. "Girls," said McGonagall slowly. "How would you two feel about living here at Hogwarts?"
"What about Sirius?" asked Cadance.
"Cadance, we've been over this," said Dumbledore.
Cadance looked at the floor. "Okay," she said.
"Then it's settled," said Dumbledore. "Now why don't you go wait for us in the hallway? I need to talk to Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall." Cadance and Cati walked out and shut the door behind them.
"Albus," said McGonagall. "Did you talk to the Ministry about Jen?"
Dumbledore looked at the baby in his arms. "Yes," said Dumbledore. But I don't know if I want to do it"
"Do what?" asked Snape.
"The Ministry offered to put Jen in a muggle orphanage until she is old enough to attend Hogwarts," said McGonagall.
"Why would you want to do that?" asked Snape.
"For the same reason Harry Potter got sent to live with the muggles," said McGonagall. "Because she's alone and it's easier to keep our world a secret from her until she's ready. How do you explain to her where her parents are when she asks?"
"But she'd be with muggles," said Snape.
"But how can I raise a baby? Minerva's right," said Dumbledore. "I couldn't be with her while I'm working. And pretty soon she'll get her Sorceress powers. Demons will start attacking then. And she won't have parents to get her through this. No, it's better if this all waits until she's older. I'll bind her powers and the Ministry will keep track of her until she's eleven and comes to Hogwarts. They'll put charms on her so that demons can't find her. It's for the best."
