September, 1977
Pholenx Mansion
"Goodbye, I'll always love you!"
"TIMOTHY! NO!"
I screamed as I flew, but I was too late. It was all my fault and I was too late.
"Avaline! Wake up!" I open my eyes to the stern voice of my mother. I silently thank god that she can't barge in and lift the covers of my bed. I'm positive that my pureblood, Slytherin mother wouldn't approve of my silky black nightie. As far as she
knows, I sleep in a long cotton nightgown. She says it'll help with my 'condition'.
"AAAVAALIIIIINEEE!" my mother yells, attempting to hex my door open. Thank Godric'sghost for strong enchantments.
"I'm coming Mother!" I yellwith all my strength, crawling out of bed.
"Hurry up and get dressed! I have to do your hair!" she calls, her voice following her down the three staircases and four corridors to her bedroom. Groaning, I wash my face in the solid black marble basin that serves as my sink. Patting my face dry,Icheckaround
my spacious bathroom to make sure I haven'tneglected to pack any of my cosmetics. I spot my powder compact sitting by my toothbrush and hastily pack both into my purse, using the toothbrush first. Back in my room, I slide on the more inconspicuousparts
of my school uniform. All of the pieces which mark my house join the toothbrush in my bag. Mother won't tolerate seeing me in Gryffindor colors.
"It took you long enough!" My mother exclaimed, beckoning me to sit down in the ornate hardwood chair directly in front of her. I obey her, and try to stay still as she charms my honey brown hair to be board straight and sleek.
"You have such horrible hair dear. It's so...poofy and...wavy!"she exclaims for the billionth time this year.
"Yes, Mother." I reply. I actually like my hair, but my mother doesn't.
" And we have GOT to get Jikkie to stop feeding you so much! You look like you're pregnant!"
"Yes, Mother."
" Is that sass that I detect young lady? You know that I'm right!"
"No Mother. Yes Mother."
"Good, I trust that you've been associating with your approved, Slytherin, friends? Just because that stupid sorting hat messed up your sorting doesn't mean you can't act like a true Slytherin." She scolds in a condescending manner.
"Yes Mother." I reply licentiously. What Mother doesn't know won't kill her.
"Good girl." she says, beckoning me to follow her to the dining room. As we walk, I notice for the billionth time how empty the large corridors are. A mansion without a master, Pholenx Manor is not as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside.
/Therooms other than mine and my mother's are unkempt and falling apart since the accident. My mother and I live alone now. I know that the Evans', the Burke's, the Pettigrew's, or maybe even the Potter's would welcomeme to stay with them if
things getany worse. If I wasn't so terrified of my mom hurting them, I'd be there right now.
I should probably point out that my 'condition' is just a nice way of saying that I possess the Sight, but I can't control when I get visions. Often they're disturbing, of people getting killed. They never come true. Sometimes they're flashbacks...
/Likethe day my brother... Anyways at Hogwarts, I'm allowed access to the divination room so that I can clear my head, but in this hell-hole there's no such relief.
After a fast and dreadful breakfast of plain oatmeal and black coffee, I lug my bag and my trunk down to the front porch so that I can wait for the paid ministry car. I still can't believe that my mother doesn't escort me to the platform herself, still,I'm
grateful that she doesn't. This way I can see whoever I want.
"Now Ava, I know that it's hard for you to make any friends, but do try your hardest!"
I jump at my mother's voice which is suddenly behind me.
"Yes, Mother. I'll try my best." I replied coarsely. What makes her think that I don't have friends? Oh yeah, I don't have any "Acceptable" friends.
"Good girl. Make your father, god rest his soul, proud of the young woman you've almost become."
My stomach turns at that one. How could she just casually mention him after what happened? What a sociopath.
"Yes Mother." I say in a soft voice before loading my trunk and Cleansweep 5 into the limousine.
"Very well dear. I love you very much."
Lies.
"I love you too mother."
More lies.
"Hey driver!" I call.
"Yes, Lady Pholenx?" The driver replies.
"Do you have muggle music on that radio?" I ask.
"Yes, Lady Pholenx." He says, seeming somewhat amused.
"Right. Could you turn that on then? And call me Ava!"
"Yes, Lady Ava."
'Way Down' by Elvis Presley floods out of the speakers. As the music bops, I put on my tie and my vest. Whatever my mother did to my hair, a simple hair brush throws my hair back to its normal, bouncy, wavy state. Once the ride isn't as bumpy, pullout
my makeup compact and go to work.
Within an hour, we arrive at King's Cross and the driver (Mr. Johnson) helps me to load my trunk onto one of the trolley's. 15 minutes later, I find myself standing in front of the magical barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Taking a deep breath,I
runstraight through the wall and into the magical world.
"AVA! Ava, Ava, Ava!" I hear the fast, familiar, and high pitched voice coming from somewhere behind me as I stand on the crowded platform, and crane my head so that I can find a certain someone.
"Ava!" I hear it again, and am immediately assaulted by Alice Burkes hugging me.
"Woah! Woah! Alice! Chill!" I exclaim, hugging her back with all the enthusiasm I'm hiding in my voice. "I'm happy to see you too babes!"
"Thanks babes! How've you been? How's your mother?"
"She's not great. What about Frank? Where is he?" I asked, referring to my other best friend, Frank Longbottom.
"I'm sorry to hear that Ava. Here he comes!"
This time I'm ambushed from behind as Frank pulls me into a bear hug. He doesn't talk all that much, but when he does it's always nice or important.
"Nice to see you Frankie!" I say, turning so that I can give him a proper hug. He just nods, which is pretty normal for him in such a large group. As much as I love Frank and Alice, neither of them are who I'm looking for.
"Alice, have you seen-" I start nervously.
"I know who you're looking for. Don't worry! I'm sure he's just goofing off with Potter or Lupin!" She replies, already a little exasperated by my worry.
"Don't give me that tone! You know how psycho his mother is! She's almost worse than mine!" The last few months I've only gotten a few owls from him, and they were all really short. The last one he sent me promised that he was safe... But that
/was over a month ago.
"Come on worry-wart! Maybe you can find him on the train!" Alice exclaimed, pulling me with her and Frank on board.
"No, I think I'll wait just a little bit longer. If I don't catch up then I'll see you in the dormitory!
"Yeah, yeah just don't miss the train!" She said, giving me another hug before boarding the train with Frank in tow.
Twenty minutes later and I'm in full panic mode.
"All aboard in two minutes!"
Where the hell is he? He better not be hurt! If she hurt him then she's about to know a new level of pain. As I'm plotting and worrying, I suddenly feel myself being lifted into two slim, but strong arms.
"HEY! WHA-"
Whoever is carrying me hoists me up to the platform of the caboose, forcing me on gently.
"WHO-" I start before turning around to a rather pleasant surprise. Sirius Black was looking up at me with an adorable little puppy dog smile.
"Hey, Sugar! Did you miss me?" he says, his rough voice not totally masking his excitement.
"Where were you?! I was worried sick!" I shout at him over the train's engine.
"I'll explain in a minute! Help me up!" he shouts back as the train begins to move slowly out of the station.
I pull him up by his wrists, but he's too heavy! The train was speeding up!
"Sirius! Climb up!" I shout. He obeys and uses his legs to get to my level. At the last second, I grab his shirt and pull him forward through the opening, sending us toppling down into the empty caboose.
I laughed a little when I realize our cliche position. He had landed on top of me, with his face now pleasantly close to mine. I took the moment to breathe him in deeply, all apples and cinnamon and pinewood.
"Well Lady Pholenx, if Deja Vu exists this is it!" he says cheekily.
"I like it." I say softly, grinning from ear to ear.
" Me too." I hear him murmur before his lips touch mine in a familiar kiss.
As my eyes close and I kiss him back, a pleasant flashback takes over my mind.
"Oi! Pholenx!" yelled Sirius, dripping wet with the rain we had just lost a quidditch game in. Say You Love Me by Fleetwood Mac was playing over the whole locker room, courtesy of James Potter. He'd been obsessed with the muggle group as soon as he
realized that they were Lily's favorite. Not that I was complaining… Anything muggle was against my mother!
"Yes, Black?" I sighed but remained turned to my locker, knowing exactly what was coming.
"What the hell was that out there? You were doing great, and then you just froze and let two goals in." he asked in a lower tone, but still sounding rather upset.
"I don't know. I'm sorry." I lied. I knew exactly what had happened, I had had a nasty vision.
"It didn't look like nothing." he prompted, putting his hand on my turned shoulder.
"Well it was. End of…" I turned to face him, realizing that he was only wearing his jeans, his shirt was draped over his damp shoulder.
"End of what?" he asked after a moment, his hand still on my shoulder. Arguments like this were common, as despite our shared friend group, we weren't very close. Once upon a time I had fancied him, but now he was more of a piece of artwork to be
admired. Like now. God he was handsome...
"End of story." I finished, stepping out of his grasp. "Would you kindly turn around so that I can change? This is the girl's side after all."
He obliged, and I quickly magiced my undergarments dry and changed into a pair of bootleg jeans and a light turtle-neck. The rest of the team was male, and had elected to stay on the guy's side, leaving me alone with him.
"I just want to make sure that you're okay," he said, muffling his voice as he too put on his shirt. "I can't have my keeper blacking out and falling off of her broom just because she's too stubborn to let me help her."
"I doubt that there's anything you can do, Black." I said brusquely, walking right past him. He stopped me again, but this time by grabbing my waist in his big hand and pulling me close.
"So you admit that there's a problem then?" He said under his breath.
"Sirius, what are you doing?" I asked calmly, extremely aware of both his close proximity and the feeling in the pit of my stomach which I hadn't felt in months.
"I'm trying to figure out what's the matter, Avaline." He said, pushing a strand of hair from my face.
"Well it sure as hell isn't you if that's what you're getting at." I said coolly, but I didn't back away.
"You sure about that? Because I don't think that you've backed away yet."
I immediately backed right into a bench, sending both of us tumbling to the floor, him on top of me.
"OW! BLACK WHAT THE BLOODY HELL?" I whisper yelled, breathing in sharply when I realized that his face was truly very close to mine. He looked down at me and smiled.
"What an interesting position you've put us in." He remarked, placing his hands on either side of my face.
"Yeah…" I managed to utter, partially lost in his clear grey eyes.
"Now how about you tell me what's the mat-"
Without thinking, I interrupted him by closing the space between our mouths.
" 'cause when the lovin starts and the lights go down…" Proclaimed the radio,and he responded eagerly. We went on like that, rolling so that I was on top until I came to my senses and broke away.
"Woah." he said, breathless.
"Yeah." I responded.
"Woah." Sirius says, kissing my neck.
"Yeah." I respond playfully.
AN/ somehow my chapter titles have gotten a little mixed up, so I apologize for any confusion! The last chapter was actually the prologue.
