Okay, so here I am, and it's a full day after I finished the first chapter. Shout out to my first reviewer Dilayla! Also, DAYUM. If I knew writing a Harry Potter fic would have given me so many follows and faves in such a short period of time, I would've made one sooner. Shit. And I apologize for some of the weird spacing of words and punctuation. I'm doing this on the fanficion app and when you copy and paste, even if you've got it formatted all beautiful, it just fucks shit up. Let's go.
Willow had a lot of her mind after she left the bank. So instead of shopping for her school supplies just yet, she decided to just pick up the books recommended by Griphook. That way, she could learn a little (or a lot, depending) on Wizarding culture before looking for the items she'd need to carry her through the school year. She had almost a full month to waste before school started anyway. As it was, she still needed to decided whether she would go back hom- to the Dursleys rather, that day, or see if she could find some type of alternate housing. Yes, she was only eleven years old, but she'd been taking care of her self for the longest. She didn't need adults, she just needed a roof over her head. And she was now in this new world with seemingly unlimited options, she'd make it work.
The amount of books on the goblin's list was...more than Willow expected, let's just say that. Gathering them hadn't been a problem, bookstores, like libraries, were very well organized, and this bookstore even had weightless, expanding baskets. It was any bibliophile's dream. There were of course a few books that couldn't be found no matter what she did, but they did have asterisks next to them, so she assumed that they were specialty books and decided to ask the goblins about them at a later date. In addition to that, she had disappeared while in the store (rather, disillusioned herself - that's what Griphook said she had been unconsciously doing, he also said she shouldn't have been able to at her age and without a wand but...that's neither here nor there) so there had been no issues, until she went to check out. She needed to be visible to legally acquire the books. The transaction took forever, and she got strange looks from both the cashier and other people in the store ("Ravenclaw for sure" somebody said under their breath). She wished herself invisible (disillusioned!) quickly after stepping outside the door. Willow then acquired a room for herself at the Leaky Cauldron for the next week, decided not to go back to the Dursleys, ever, if she could help it. She felt a twinge of loss at the fact that she'd be leaving her snake friends behind, but then remembered that one of their cousins lived around London, and resolved to search for him. She felt that a week was long enough to get some good base information from the massive amount of books she'd acquired that very day, as well as to look further into her holdings supplied by Gringott's. She remembered the sheet saying something about properties owned, but she was so shocked, that she had to put the paper down before she could thoroughly look through that section. She supposed she'd be visiting Gringott's sooner than she thought, better look through that Goblin culture book first.
Willow's week spent alone at the Leaky was the best time she'd ever had in her life. She ate when she was hungry, she read whenever she wanted, she slept when she was tired, and she didn't clean a damn thing. After reading through goblin culture, wizarding culture, Hogwart's: A history, the Last 100 Most Influential Wizards and Witches, a few books on magical theories, and the remainder of her holdings portfolio, Willow was ready to go back to Gringott's. She made sure to stop at the tailor get more suitable clothes first though, no sense walking around in rags when you can afford style. Making sure she was visible, she stepped into Gringott's unassisted for the first time.
There were several teller booths around the floor of the bank, but only a few that were in service. Those few had lines of customers at least four humans deep. Willow steeled herself for what she was going to do next. She walked briskly up to a unoccupied teller desk and picked up the out of service sign. Which she then threw on the ground (Goblin rule #23: Breaks are for the weak). This of course caused a scene to everyone around, creating whispers and gasps. Luckily, she didn't have to suffer the points and stares long before a goblin hurried behind the desk.
"I will be speaking with Griphook now." She commanded before giving him a chance to say anything (Goblin rule #1: Time is money, and we waste neither). He nodded, and just as quickly hopped off the chair behind the desk and scurried away, expecting her to follow him. She did. They went on a little adventure through the back of the bank, before stopping at a heavy wooden door. The goblin knocked and was granted entrance, he opened the door and motioned her through. The office was beautiful. Bookcases lined the walls, a great mahogany desk sat in the middle, and behind that desk sat Griphook, who was busily filling out paperwork.
"Sit." He said. She complied. They were both silent for a moment.
"This sure is an upgrade from that last office we were in." Willow commented. He finished writing at looked at her.
"Indeed. I suppose I should thank you for this." He started. "As it was a happy coincidence that the thief I was summoned to interrogate was actually the owner of several vaults, some of which had been inactive for centuries. You effectively made me your account manager that day, elevating my status quite a bit."
"I don't remember doing that."
"Goblin by-laws." He responded flatly, but with a sharktoothed grin (apparently real Goblin rule #1: Finder's keepers). "How can I help you today Heiress Potter?" He asked, cordially even.
"I've decided that I no longer want to live with my relatives. I saw there was a whole list of properties that I own. What do I need to do to move into one?" she asked. He shuffled around some papers, and went into a drawer to pull out an obscenely thick file. She assumed it was hers.
"The problem with that is, you are a minor."
"I'm aware. But my guardians are unfit. I'd rather be alone."
"Your muggle guardians may be, but your magical guardian placed you there."
"And who is this so-called magical guardian of mine? I've never seen anyone but my relatives regularly."
"Looks like one Albus Dumbledore is given the dubious pleasure."
"Albus Dumbledore...who's- wait. The headmaster of Hogwarts?" She asked, incredulously. "How is he my guardian?" Griphook shrugged.
"Apparently the Ministry thought it would be a good idea." Willow decided that her next plan of action would be to read up on this Ministry business.
"Okay. How about emancipation then? Do you guys have that here?"
"Of course." Her face brightened. "But not for eleven year olds." It soured again.
"Extenuating circumstances, Griphook. I'm sure you can find something. You're the craftiest Goblin I know."
"I'm the only Goblin you know." He muttered, but he did get up and begin searching his bookshelves. Willow remained quiet, leaving him to his search. Several minutes passed. "Aha!" He exclaimed. "This should do it." He came back to the desk with an extremely dusty tome. "Many years ago, centuries really," he started, "the life expectancy for humans was much lower. Wizards have always have longer life spans than muggles, but it was still a dark, fleeting time. Because death rates were so high, entire magical families were being wiped out before the secrets of the family could be passed down, since they could only be held by the Lord or Lady of the House. A law was passed, saying that if ever the secrets of a great house were in jeopardy of being lost due the Lordship not being passed on, whoever that was in position to receive the Lordship, regardless of age, could receive it through a ritual outlined here..." He trailed off, reading more of the book.
"So, about this ritual..."
"It will be magically straining. But, it will achieve what you want. Which is to claim your Ladyships, correct?"
"Yes, but, what does having this Ladyship entail exactly?"
"In the eyes of the bank, the Ministry and the Wizarding World, you will be an adult. So no need for any type of guardian. Full access to your properties, vaults, businesses. Full access also means responsibility of, so you would need to, or hire someone to, manage your properties. Minors have a tracker on their wands until they reach majority, which is seventeen years of age, but you will not, being able to perform magic anywhere (out of sight of muggles) at anytime. The only thing you will not be able to do is vote on your seats at the Wizengamot until you reach your majority. But you will be able to assign a proxy if you so wish, to replace your magical guardian who currently presides over your seats. You'd also be able to unseal your parents' wills."
"I'm not seeing any cons. You said I'd need to manage my properties?" A nod. "I'm assuming the bank has been managing them so far?" Another nod. "Can that continue to happen until I'm feeling ready to take up that mantle?"
"Of course. For a fee." He smirked. Willow could practically see the galleon signs in his eyes.
"And what's this about my parents' wills?"
"Your magical guardian had them sealed. They've never been read."
"How is that even allowed?!"
"I've found that wizards are a silly race."
"And how is it okay that this same man who left me with the Dursleys, and sealed my parents wills is somehow making legislative decisions with my family's seats?!" I received an even look from the Goblin across from me.
"So what are you going to do about it?"
"Let's talk fees." A gravelley laugh through too sharp teeth was her answer. "One more thing before we start, can my change in status be hidden? I don't need everyone to know all of my business straight off the bat." A calculating gleam grew in Griphook's eyes.
"Until your seventeen."
Willow left the bank several hours later with more questions than answers. She was now a Lady, of not one, but three houses, Peverell, Potter and Slytherin (by conquest of all things). She needed to find someone to replace Dumbledore as her proxy in the Wizengamot (and how was he allowed to control seats when he was the Supreme Mugwump? Conflict of interest anyone?), she also needed to gather the rest of her school items since the school year was fast approaching.
She went straight to the Leaky to pack her room up, and left by floo to her new home, Potter Manor, where she was accosted by way too many little hobgoblin looking creatures she soon learned we called House Elves. They were a highly excitable bunch and more than happy that "Young Mistress" had returned for them and "hadn't she grown so much?" Apparently, they knew her as a baby. The House Elves dispersed, some taking her luggage, some going off to the kitchen to prepare a welcome feast, and still others going to the other properties to alert even more house elves of the news.
This left Willow to her own devices in the huge manor, and she began to explore. Which brought her to another revelation. Moving portraits, which turned into talking portraits. She met many deceased family members this way. Unfortunately, her own parents hadn't been able to make themselves one before their passing, but at least now she had family that was happy to see her. And books were great for learning, but learning from a real live(ish) person that wanted to see you succeed? Well, that was priceless.
The rest of the summer was unremarkable. She found the Potter Manor Library. Her heart exploded a little. She bought a wand, sans tracker, from a very odd old wandmaker who basically told her that the twin of her wand was owned by the man who murdered her parents. Great. Just great. She bought the rest of her school items and a trunk to pack them away in. She unsealed her parents wills, making sure their wishes were honored, and started fostering more of a hate fire than ever for one Albus Dumbledore (Lily said under no circumstances was Willow to be left with her sister!).
When September 1st rolled around, Willow had a lovely young house elf named Mimsy pop her to the magical side of the train station, where she boarded the train to the next six years of her life.
Hogwarts was magical. Of course. It was a huge sentient castle amidst the rolling highlands, and it was her first time actually going to school and socializing with kids her age, but she expected something, more. Different. She didn't know. She was sorted into Gryffindor, the house of her parents. The hat had told her that she had a great thirst for knowledge, so Ravenclaw was in the running, and she was clever, and calculating and sometimes conniving, so Slytherin was too. But she had no loyalty to anyone but herself (could you blame her?) so Hufflepuff wasn't a choice at all, but above all that she was brave and strong for having even survived to this day, so Gryffindor is what it chose for her.
People at the school, well they all expected something from her, the Girl-Who-Lived. But she wasn't interested in the fame she received from living while her family perished. She was standoffish and possibly cold to anyone who greeted her with a starstruck look in their eyes, and so, it took a while for her to make her first friend.
Hermione Granger was a bushy-haired, buck-toothed, muggleborn know-it-all sorted into Ravenclaw. And even though that was a house full of fellow know-it-alls, she was still ostracized for whatever reason. They met in the library.
"Just because you do know more than them, you don't have to flaunt it right away. Keep it to yourself, keep getting the highest marks, and make them come to you." Willow advised one night. That's how she locked down a friend for life.
She made an enemy (she liked to think of him as a friendly rival) much quicker, before they even arrived to the school, in fact. Draco Malfoy was a platinum blond, pointy-nosed, daddy's boy, and a spoiled brat to boot. They met on the train and his demeanor was offensive to her, and then she went and offended him. And since then, they would insult each other in passing. It was a game she rather enjoyed as it kept her wit sharp.
She met a low level villain in the form of her potion's professor. He was apparently predisposed to dislike her, because even when she answered questions correctly or brewed potions perfectly, he always found fault in something and griped about it. Well, there was nothing to do about it, so she let his comments roll off like water off a duck's back, and continued to learn and work. If her relatives couldn't make her cry with their emotional and physical abuse, a disgruntled teacher sure as Hell wasn't going to make the waterworks magically turn on.
But the true evil, she kept her eye on. Dumblebore sat on his throne at the head of the staff table every night and looked upon all the young minds he could mold to his liking. Not her though. He was done messing with her. Apparently, he hadn't yet found out about the change in proxy of her seats, but it would happen soon enough.
Time passed and it was Halloween now. The stuttering DADA professor stumbled into the Great Hall to alert everyone that a troll had somehow gotten passed the wards that have kept Hogwarts protected for years and was now strolling in the dungeons for funsies. Then he passed out. How...unlikely. Either way, it wasn't her business, so she went into her dorm with everyone else, and was not surprised when another Gryffindor first year was in the infirmary the next day with a broken arm because he thought he could take on a full grown troll. He's lucky that's all that got broken. Dumbledore kept making references to stay out of the third floor corridor on the right hand side, and so Willow did. She wasn't there to play games with this old man. The DADA professor disappeared halfway through the year, and it wasn't ever acknowledged by the other staff or headmaster other than replacing him. Not suspicious at all.
The summer after first year was spent gleaning familial knowledge from the portraits. They were a generally jovial bunch, the Potters, but it was really interesting to meet the kind of people that married into the Potter family. One such person was a lovely lady by the name of Dorea Potter, formerly of the Black family. She was the wife of Charlus Potter, who was brother of Fleamont Potter, who was her own grandfather. Her portrait depicted her in her forties, and she had a spark in her eye and a perpetual smirk on her lips. Her favorite pastimes were teaching Willow the Black Family Magics, which surprised them both since a Black can only pass on secrets to another Black, portrait or not, and talking about her favorite nephew...Sirius Black. Which had Willow visiting Gringott's again.
"You're making a habit of coming back here all too often." Griphook commented.
"Isn't that what I'm supposed to do? You're my account manager, I have to make sure all investments are thriving under your care. Besides, you'll be seeing much more of me once I can wield a war axe. I've been practicing." She smiled at his disgruntled expression. "But that's not what I came here for today. I'd like to know more about the circumstances surrounding Sirius Black's arrest." This piqued his interest.
"What would you like to know?"
"I was speaking to the portrait of his great-aunt, as well as my grandparents, and they said that Sirius and my father were great friends, like brothers. He's listed as both my godfather and uncle on my family tree, so I'm wondering why he wasn't the one to take care of me when my parents were murdered."
"Sirius Black was already arrested at the time of your placement."
"For what? My family said that he was an auror along with my father. What could he have possibly done to detain him this long?"
"Sirius Black was charged with the murder of thirteen muggles and one wizard." Willow's eyes widened. "He was also thought of as the one to betray your parent's whereabouts to the Dark Lord." He let that soak in. "However...us Goblin's are of a different mind about his perceived guilt."
"Why's that?"
"Goblins have been the keepers of gold and vaults since the very beginning. We record everything diligently and know the laws of even wizarding culture better than most wizards. Especially as they apply to inheritances."
"I've noticed."
"It's our specialty. Certain families have specific rules when it come to inheriting. The Black family has such a rule." He found a page in a book that was already on his desk. "Here it is. 'If the Heir of House Black is guilty of such a crime that severs his bond with family, he shall be stripped of his title and fortunes.'"
"What does that mean?"
"When Sirius Black was arrested, he was the heir of House Black. The then current Lord died while Black was imprisioned and something strange happened. The vaults kept accruing interest and the Lordship was passed over to Sirius."
"So, he's not guilty then, otherwise he'd never have become Lord Black! Why didn't you guys say anything?"
"The affairs of wizards are not of any interest to goblins."
"Then why are telling me this now?"
"I've made much gold off your numerous accounts, and you asked."
"Well you did say all I needed was the right question and the right fee."
"Exactly. Anything else I can help you with Lady Peverell-Potter-Slytherin?"
"One, just call me Willow, and two, do you have access to the records from his trial?"
"Another interesting occurrence, there was no trial for Sirius Black."
"...please direct me to who I need to speak with about that oversight."
Willow left the bank with directions to contact Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She explained the situation to her grandparents and great aunt (who were appropriately horrified by the glaring dishonor to their respective families) and they helped her pen a missive to Head Auror Bones. They met for afternoon tea the next week, where Head Auror Bones was sworn to secrecy about the status of Willow's guardianship (or lack thereof), and she left a few hours later with a plan to look into the serious Sirius Black matter.
She was appalled at the lack of information that they had on many of the arrests made at that time, but even more so at the blatant lack of courtroom records or transcripts that would have shown that Black was properly investigated and processed. An emergency meeting of the Wizengamot was called to order, and the alleged notorious murderer Sirius Black was transported from the dreaded Azkaban prison to attend. By the time summer had ended and Willow was back on the train to school, Sirius Black had been pardoned for all crimes and was healing from the psychological trauma of being an innocent man in a prison full of dementors for almost 11 years, in a private suite in St. Mungo's where he would stay, recuperating, for the next year. The newspapers that day sold out within five minutes. It was a good thing she had Griphook buy stock in the Daily Prophet before she left for school.
Second year at Hogwart's was strange. Very much so. While she met a new friend in first year Ravenclaw, Luna Lovegood (nice girl, odd though), there was a different new face she wishes she had never met. His name was Gilderoy Lockheart and he was an absolutely rubbish professor. Good thing she studied independently, because the only thing he taught the class about was himself. And even worse, almost every female in the castle under seventy was enamored with his too-shiny teeth and perfectly styled hair. It was quite awful and even Hermione fell prey. At least Luna wasn't moved my his "dashing good looks and great personality."
On top of that, there was some sort of snake in the walls of the school. Willow knew snake when she heard it ("you're a parselmouth", said Aunt Dorea, "a lot of people won't like that, but it's a wonderful skill to have. Keep it under your hat though") so she followed it to an abandoned bathroom, specifically, a sink that had serpents carved into the pipes. Weird. She left it alone. But then things got weirder.
One of the loud redheaded children was apparently possessed by an evil spirit, and disappeared. The only clue that accompanied her disappearance was a note written on a castle wall in blood: "Her body will lie in the chamber forever." The Weasleys remaining at the school were distraught. Ron Weasley, the one who broke his arm last year in the tiff with the troll, decided that Willow, since she was a lauded hero, would be the best to accompany him on a quest to save his sister. Apparently, he had heard the hissing too and they ended up in the same bathroom as before.
Professor Lockhart also was a surprise guest on this ill thought out adventure. Apparently, he smelled the ribbons he would receive by rescuing this girl and came rushing over. While Ron and Lockhart where searching the other corners of the bathroom for a secret passage, while being harrangued by the ghost that claimed the place as her own, although she was suspiciously absent when Willow came in alone, Willow went straight to the marked sink and whisper-hissed "open" in parseltongue. The sink split in two and revealed a creepy passageway. Lockhart was elected to go first by way of Willow pushing him down there. Ron followed, dragging Willow in as well by her arm.
Willow met her first basalisk down in that chamber. She was also bitten and poisoned by said basalisk, she killed said basalisk with a sword that appeared in the sorting hat which Dumbledore's phoenix delivered (it could have brought an actual adult that was capable of solving the whole problem!), of all things. She ended solving the whole possession problem by stabbing this evil diary with the poisoned basalisk tooth that was embedded in her arm, and before she could completely die from the fatal poison coursing through her veins, the stupid bird finally reappeared and cried on her wound, healing her. Good enough. Just before she left the train station for home, she witnessed a gross abuse of power by a blond ponce, of an adult wizard to his devoted house elf, it took some wily moves but she orchestrated the man, who had to have been a Malfoy, into accidentally freeing his elf. Hermione would be proud.
The summer was kicked off with a visit to Gringott's.
"I killed a basalisk at school." Willow started, startling Griphook. "All I had was a sword, and I put it through the roof of her mouth. I'm nearly ready for my internship." She boasted.
"...Indeed." He gathered his wits about him and steeple his long fingers. "And how did this come about?" And she went into detail on how she was forced to be a hero, again. At least she had a life debt from both Ginny and Ron Weasley. She would've had one from Lockhart as well, but he hit himself with a mind-charm and was useless at the moment. When she got to the part of the ghost-diary-spirit boy and how he shrieked and dispersed when she stabbed the diary, Griphook gave an interested hum. "Sounds like a horcrux." He said, thumbing through a book. He found the page he was looking for and turned the book to face her. "Nasty pieces of work. Seems that the Dark Lord isn't as dead as the masses wanted him to be. If you find anymore, bring them to us. We'll get rid of them for you."
"Let me guess...for a fee?"
"Exactly right."
The next stop was St. Mungo's to visit her estranged Uncle/Godfather (she still hadn't gotten a complete answer on that situation). Sirius was a handsome man, or rather, he could be. At the moment he still looked a bit gaunt and undernourished, but you can't stave of the bad effects of several years in just under one, she knew this for a fact. He was sitting up in bed, reading a newspaper, with a large stack of newspapers beside him. He was startled to see a visitor, then confused, then elated.
"Pup!" He greeted, tears in his eyes. "You don't know how happy I am to see you. Come give old Padfoot a hug." Willow wasn't much for physical affection, lord knows she couldn't remember a time when she was on the receiving end of a non-violent touch, but if there was anyone who she'd at least try to hug, it was her godfather...uncle...last of her living family.
This hugging thing, it was nice. "You look just like your parents!" He said, holding her away from him to get a better look. "Lily's eyes and nose, James' face and hair color. And good thing you didn't get his messy hair gene."
"Actually, I did. But Grandfather told me all about Sleekeazy's Hair potion. He was very proud of that, he talked my ear off." She rolled her eyes fondly. His brow furrowed.
"But Fleamont, isn't he-?"
"Oh, his portrait of course. Yes, he's still very much dead." She clarified.
"Ah. Okay. I know being in Azkaban all these years would make me a little crazy, but I didn't think I'd gone that far around the bend." He laughed a bark like laugh. "So who are you living with now, and how have they been treating you?"
"Well, I currently live at Potter Manor, with Grandfather and Grandmother, and Aunt Dorea and all the house elves. It's very nice."
"But, what I mean is, who takes care of you?"
"I can take care of myself. But the house elves are a new addition and they like taking care of me too." She was being obtuse on purpose. Maybe they'd have a discussion about her previous living conditions later, maybe never. "So when can you get out of here?" She asked. "And then you can come live with us too." His eyes lost their concern and confusion, and brightened in joy.
"Oh! The Healers say I just need to pass my final check up in a month, and I'll be home free."
"That's good. Once you're out I have plenty of questions to ask you about our family." She motioned to the newspapers. "What all this?"
"Oh, just catching up on the news I missed while in the brig. I'm nearly up to speed, just a few more months to go."
"Have any of your friends visited you?"
"Can't say that they have, pup." You're the first visitor I've had other than Madame Bones or the healers. That being said, she says you're the person I should thank for my release." He looked at me seriously. "Thank you."
"It was nothing. I just asked the goblins the right questions and they pointed me in the right direction. Madame Bones did the rest." I shrugged, blushing.
"The goblins, eh?"
"They're pretty nice. In a surly way."
"Sure they are."
"But back to you, why has no one been visiting. You were cleared of all charges, people should at least be coming to say 'sorry I thought you were a murderer.'"
"You'd think, but maybe they're just nervous. Anyway, tell me about you, how were your first two years at Hogwarts?"
Year Three at Hogwarts was tame. Yes, for some reason the Minister of Magic thought it was a good idea to let dementors loose on the school to "guard" it seeing as some low level death eaters somehow escaped from Azkaban. This DADA professor was the best one Willow and her classmates had yet, and he taught her, in specific, how to conjure a patronus since it seemed the dementors were enamored by her presence. Despite the fact he turned into a werewolf on the full moon (that was a secret, she had seen him on accident), he had never harmed a student, but he was still asked not to return for the following school year.
That summer was her best summer ever. Sirius became a father/older brother figure to her and he finally explained why he was listed as her uncle, which also explained how she could use Black Family Magics ("You see, James and I were best mates, brothers even. So we found a ritual and became brothers for real. That made you my niece. Best ritual I ever did...but don't tell your grandparents, I may be grown but they'll still give me an earful" he laughed it off). She didn't tell her grandparents, but she did tell Aunt Dorea. She approved.
Fourth Year was a trip. The Tri-Wizard Tournament was going to be hosted at Hogwarts. This was a competition that claimed the life of many of its competitors. That why it hadn't happened in a century. Apparently, Dumbledore thought that 100 years was enough of a cooling down timeframe, and brought it back. Willow wanted nothing to do with it. That was fine, because there was an age line drawn around it and only those of the age of majority could get passed it. Perfect. Fate didn't see it that way though, because Willow was called as the fourth contestant...in a Tri-Wizard Tournament.
They told her it was a magically binding contract, even though she did not put her name in, and that she had to participate or forfeit her magic. Psych. She followed them to the backroom where the other contestants were held, all the way penning missives to both Griphook and Sirius, asking them both to pool their resources and look for a way out this mess. The student population of Hogwarts was livid. Either they were jealous that she somehow found a way to put her name into the goblet when they couldn't, or they were angry that she thought she could outshine Cedric Diggory. First of all, she didn't even put her name in the damn cup, and second, she didn't give a flying fuck who this Cedric kid was, and cared even less about trying to one-up him. The following months were uncomfortable. She already was an outlier in her house, now she was basically ostracized by the whole school. No matter, she had Hermione and Luna, and Sirius was just a letter away. She didn't need them.
Bad news, there wasn't a way out of the competition. Or at least there wasn't one found by the time the first task started, so by then, she was firmly locked into the contract. Good news, after the first task had dragons and two of the competitors were nearly burned to death, the Hogwarts student body eased up on their Willow-hate. Then, the second task involved bloody mer-people and they put her godfather (secret uncle) under a stasis spell for her to save or else... She was so done with these wizards. Then, the final task ended up with her and Diggory transported to a graveyard, Diggory was killed, and then Voldemort was resurrected using her blood. It was bloody traumatizing. Especially when her parents came out out the end of Voldemort wand to give her a chance to run.
To top off all that, she tried to tell the Minister of Magic (as well as the masses behind him) that Voldemort was back, and he had the portkey trophy redirected, and Diggory killed (as she was laying on top of Diggory's dead body), and what did she get for her troubles other than being called a liar (and a killer in the case of Mr. Diggory, as if she wanted the trophy bad enough to kill for it). She was really done with them all now.
Sirius believed her though, and the summer was spent learning defense Black style, who believed that best defense was a wicked offense. Emphasis on wicked. Sirius also reunited with Professor Lupin aka Moony, and they had a tearful apology session. Time learning magic with him was split with learning war strategy and weapons with Razorclaw, a goblin Griphook had set her up with after she had proven she could more than lift a war axe. It also helped that the goblins believed her about Voldemort. And they'd never admit to it, but Goblins hated the Dark Lord because while he did have a vault or two in their caverns, he never cultivated his own money, rather liking to drain his followers bank accounts.
Article after article was printed by that horrendous Skeeter woman about how Willow was crazy, or fame hungry, or a combination of the two. And she just ignored them, prepping herself for an eventuality.
Fifth year brought dirty looks from everyone but the Slytherins, who had affected a smug kind of look, directed at Willow (and then she imagined how smug they would look when they found out who Lady Slytherin was - answer, not at all). It also brought in an awful pink toad of a woman as DADA professor, who always had something stuck in her throat (hem-hem) and taught outdated theory instead of actual magic. Willow didn't even try to contest her teaching methods because she knew when to be quiet, she'd learned a long time ago, and just like second year, she knew how to study independently. But somehow Hermione got her to start up a Defense Club, and Luna was talking about blubbering humdingers so she clearly agreed. But then Madame High Inquisitor Umbridge, banned clubs and even groups walking down the hall in numbers more than three (can you say dictator?) so they had to take their operation underground. And people began softening up to her again, like when they found out about the dragons, but she took it with a grain of salt because they were fickle. Humans were so fickle, and she was only doing this for her friends.
Then there was a mole, who ratted them (namely her, the leader) out to Umbridge.
And Umbridge assigned her a slew of detentions because she really couldn't expel the Savior of the Wizarding World (the one time that title came in handy) but her detentions were strange. She wrote lines: I will obey my betters. I will not rebel. And at the end of the night, her hand stung. It wasn't until three nights later she realized that she had been using a blood quill all this time (banned object!) and she only knew what it was, seeing as they used them for contracts at the bank, the only place and use it wasn't banned for.
So she alerted Professor Mcgonogall, her head of house, a woman who was supposed to be her advocate, who then told her to quote, "keep her head down" (weak woman!). She didn't have much trust in the system before, but now she had absolutely none. So she planned and schemed, and went to detentions (the words on her hand were scarring now) and the next time she went to potions she lifted an extra vial, in which she put memories of her illegal detention punishments as well as Madame High Inquisitor's speech about everything she's doing having been sanctioned by the Minister of Magic. She sent that and a letter to Sirius, with instructions to rain down Hell on the bitch and her master with the help of Griphook.
Christmas came early for Willow Potter, when the Auror came in to arrest the pink monstrosity known as Dolores Umbridge. She couldn't keep the devious grin off her face, which didn't go unnoticed by none other than the two demon twins of Gryffindor. They had been watching her for a while, and were pleased with what they saw, but watching her as Umbridge was arrested was the icing on the cake.
They approached her that evening in the common room with a folder full of papers.
"What's this?" She asked, opening it up. She had known the twins for years. They were popular, she kept to herself. This was the first conversation they had, outside of them thanking her for saving their younger siblings.
"It's our prospectus. We would like you to invest in us, Willow Potter." She looked closer at the documents.
"And what would I be investing in?" Thus started the friendship and patronage between Willow and the Weasley Twins.
This summer was the same as the last, although gossip had died down about her. She introduced the Weasley Twins to Sirius, and it was a match made in Heaven, or Hell, wherever. They showed him the awesome map the filched from Filch, which brought up more memories for Sirius since he was part of the Maurauders who created the map. He had to call Remus over so that they could both impart their knowledge onto this new generation of pranksters. Willow continued to study with the Goblins.
The beginning of sixth year, Willow was called to the headmaster's office. This was the first time since coming to study here that she was face to face with the Headmaster. She thought he finally uncovered the fact that she had usurped him as her magical guardian and taken her seats back, but it wasn't. Guess he had been too busy with the resurgence of Voldemort to think about money and legislature. Instead, he called her up to talk about a boy named Tom Riddle (Voldemort, she'd figured) and a prophecy that foretold his downfall.
"I don't really believe in prophecies, Professor."
"Nor do I child, but he does. And he'll be coming for you."
He told her about horcruxes, and how he believed Tom had made seven in total: the diary, the ring adorning Dumbledore's corroding finger, (he assumed) Ravenclaw's lost diadem, Slytherin's locket, Hufflepuff's cup, and two unknown items. He believed the diadem was still in the school somewhere. He had tracked down the locket. And he believed the cup would be in the hands of Voldemort's staunchest supporter, Bellatrix Lestrange. He assumed that she would accompany him on the quest to retrieve the locket, and she did (only because she had no other plans that night).
The trip was a bust, but she got to keep the fake locket as a consolation prize. And at the end of that year, in a not so surprising turn of events, the ever angry Professor Snape murdered Headmaster Dumbledore, signaling the shift of power, and the start of what would later be named the Six Years War.
And here we go, it's the war, and then we'll move into TVD. I didn't mean to write this much on her school years, but y'all know how long those books were. And I was vague. But I found myself having to go back and add things that I forgot about that will become important. Like Dobby. I forgot about him (sorry bro). I actually wanted him to come in earlier, but I just started typing and he wasn't there. And that snake that was the cousin of the garden snake (ssssss-sss-ssss, or whatever the fuck his name was)...don't know about him either. So nobody's died except Cedric so far. And Willow doesn't really like many people at all, but I promise, more will die later. Probably in a sentence that says, "Many people died in the war." Hahaha. Okay. I think I'm done for today. I do need to get some homework done.
DiLayla: Well now we know who she took a shine to. She's kind of antisocial, right? Not much interaction with Dumbledore because honestly, it's not always about him. And I felt like going on a tangent about what he did in reaction would make it more involved than I wanted to explain. I'm trying to get her to Mystic Falls. The main point of her getting emancipated and taking back her seats was give herself power over her own life and to move away from the Dursleys. We'll see more about his motivations later...if I remember to write it in. Lol.
Chicwowow: I was thinking about that too. And about how talkative she is. But I just figured that she'd been quiet for so long that when she finally found someone who will answer her questions, she'd talk their ear off. I suppose the same could be said for the confidence. She's been beaten down all her life, and now she's in a new situation, that could be a better situation, and she's gonna embrace it with confidence.