Disclaimer: Everything you recognize is J.K. Rowling's. Except for Jamie, Luka, and Ariana.
Chapter 2- You Want Us to Live Where?
"Daniel can you just stop for a second? This is not how we should be going about this. These are our friends that you're talking about!" A woman cries. There's a loud bang and I jump startled and upset. "Daniel the children!" She reprimands.
"They're asleep Alexis. Luka could sleep through a rampaging ogre, and Jamie has a slight fever. They're down for the count." A man says, and the anger is still taut in his voice.
"The Order is still a viable option. It was a war Daniel, of course people were going to be injured… and the betrayals hurt me just as much as they did you." Alexis says calmly.
"Half of the Order is dead, and one of them is a traitorous scoundrel. The Order couldn't even protect themselves from a kitten. No… we have to go on our own." Daniel says firmly.
"I hope that you'll reconsider that decision Daniel, grief is a powerful motivator in uncertain times. I myself know that all too well." A third voice comes, and it is soft and old. I shuffle forward, and blink my bleary eyes to see a man who looks like father Christmas in the kitchen with my mum and dad.
"You made the trip for nothing Dumbledore, my mind is made up." Daniel says firmly. A scoff comes from Alexis.
"You can't make all our decisions alone Daniel. I for one want to hear him out. I'm sorry Professor, you'd think that after being at Hogwarts for all those years that he'd learn to trust your judgment." Alexis says giving Daniel a pointed look.
"I understand the position that you're in Alexis, a mother's love for her children is not to be taken lightly, and it looks like you have a sick charge." Dumbledore says gesturing to where I'm half concealed. Alexis' eyes widen and she spins around to see me.
"Jamie, baby… you're supposed to be getting some sleep, you're not feeling well…" She trails off scooping me up into her arms, and carrying me out of the kitchen.
With a gasp I startle awake in my borrowed bed. My heart is slightly racing, and I rub my hands over my eyes with a groan. Light is barely beginning to stream in through from the bottom of the curtains. So it is around dawn. I throw my sheets back, and slide out of the bed. Soft breathing greets me from the two other girls in the room.
I glance at Ginny and then Hermione briefly. That's right; Hermione came to stay with us a few days ago. It was a welcome addition since I really wasn't happy about having to leave our home. Instead we're in a dreary row house, that's dark, dismal, and looks like it hasn't been cleaned for twenty years. The reason we had to leave was because the Burrow was deemed not secure enough.
The reason security even mattered was because the Order of the Phoenix had been started up again, for Lord Voldemort has got his body back. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of him walking around alive, when my parents, Harry's parents, and Ariana's parents are dead in the ground. It seems like karma just spit in our faces on that one didn't it?
One of the worst parts of living here though, is that I don't know exactly how to act around the owner of the house. Sirius Black offered up his family home for the order since no one else lives there anymore. Its not like I don't like the man, its just that I still get a little jumpy around him because of third year. Harry thinks that I should just get over myself but that's pretty hard to let go of.
I sigh resigning myself to the fact that I'm not going to get a goodnight sleep here until we leave for school. I never thought that I'd look forward to be going back to school so much before. I lay back down on the bed outside of the sheets. At least I get to see my parents some more now, even if the memories aren't pleasant ones. My eyes begin to water as I think of how I'm really starting to look like my mum. Yeah definitely no more sleep for me.
Later on that morning after breakfast, and everyone disperses across the house to do their own thing (mainly hiding from Molly for she wants to clean the house top to bottom). I'm still sat at the long galley table staring down at the cup of tea in my hands. I'm so focused on my own thoughts that I don't even realize that someone has sat down across from me.
"You're looking into the bottom of that thing like it's got the answers to all the world's problems." The slightly scratchy voice of Sirius Black startles me from my thoughts. I pride in myself that I didn't jump like I was sorely tempted to do.
"Dunno… interesting cup is all." I say blithely. Sirius snorts looking over the plain white china cup.
"Very. That's not what I'm here about. There's something you and me need to talk about Pendragon." He says seriously, and I snort at the stupid pun in my head.
"Oh?" I say raising my eyebrow at him. I still can hear the scathing words of my father echoing in my head, knowing that he was referring to the very man sitting in front of me.
"I happen to know someone aquatinted with you. Augustus." Sirius let's the name sit there for a while. I stiffen and grasp the cup in my hands tighter at the name. Just when I thought that this day couldn't get any worse for me.
"What about him?" I demand. Sirius licks his chapped lips, and pushes some of his long stringy hair out of his face.
"I had a cell near his in… in A-Azkeban. I didn't mention it any before 'cause we never got a chance to be alone. That bloke though— he's definitely one piece of work. Its like the guy didn't have a sanity in the first place to lose. I always wondered why someone would be happy to be a Slytherin…" He says trailing off. I grimace at the though of Augustus really being that insane.
"Why are you telling me this?" I ask him my voice shaking slightly. Sirius sighs, and shakes his head.
"Molly and Arthur don't want me telling you all this, but I feel like you have the right to know since it involves you personally. One of Augustus' favorite rants was about how he was going to get out of there one day, and finish what he started all those years ago. He didn't call you and your brother very nice names. Seems to think that he is doing the Pendragon family name a service by cleaning it of all the 'impure' blood. Personally any blood of his that he has with Bellatrix would be a travesty to the world." Sirius tells me.
I swallow hard, and set my abandoned cup of tea down on the table. "He's not going to get out though… that would be near impossible." I exclaim. Sirius gives me a level look gesturing to himself. "You're an animagus that doesn't count." I counter.
"You forget that he has very powerful friends on the outside that would like nothing more than to help set him free. Voldemort has come back Jamie, he will start assembling his followers sooner or later. I feel that you should be ready for Augustus when that happens. I will be saying the exact same thing to Harry when he arrives here, in a few days." Sirius states firmly.
I blanch at the knowledge that the prison is now not as secure as I thought that it was. There is hardly anything between the murderer of my family, and me. "That is enough now Sirius." Arthur's voice breaks through my panic. I spin around to see him and Molly standing at the entrance of the kitchen.
"Why don't you go upstairs Jamie? I'll be up in a few minutes to check on you. I'm sure that the kids will find something to occupy you." Molly tells me, but her gaze is stuck on Sirius instead of me. I slip off the bench and walk over the Weasleys on shaky legs. Molly rubs my shoulder as I pass her, and I duck out of the entry way once I'm out of the kitchen so that I can listen in.
"We had an agreement Sirius. We were not going to mention Augustus in anyway to Jamie and Luka. Those kids have been through so much as it is. I will not put them through anymore trauma until it is necessary." Molly says sharply. I hear a low growl come from Sirius.
"You can't coddle those kids Molly. Their life has never been one of leisure and happiness. You're not their parents! If you want them to live long enough to have a future, then you will start preparing them. Look what happened to Daniel and Alexis! Even the greatest amount of planning and preparation couldn't stop that psychopath once he had them in his sight!" Sirius cries.
I start shaking in my hiding spot very much reminded of my dream this morning. "They are just kids. They should have childhoods for the longest time possible, and you wrong Sirius, Luka and Jamie are my children so I'd appreciate it if you'd mind our choices of how to deal with them. You did more damage to a girl who can already hardly sleep without nightmares, so that's for us to deal with now." She snaps.
"We may not have say in what you do with Harry, but we will try our hardest to put those poor kids first." Arthur says with a surprising steel edge to his voice. Unable to hear anymore, I race up the stairs to the second floor in search of something to get my mind off of what I just heard.
That night I'm lying under the covers in my bed staring up at the dark ceiling in the room that the girls were given. That means that this room is one of the cleanliest in the house. Today has been a real kicker of a day. Sometimes I wonder why I even bothered to crawl out of the bed this morning. Ginny and Hermione are awake still, breathing quietly in beds on either side of mine.
I can tell that they're worried about me because they were casting me worried looks all afternoon and this night. I don't know exactly what to tell them though, to make this any better. After what feels like an hour of just laying there in silence, Ginny breaks it.
"Do you think that Harry's doing okay? We haven't heard much from him this summer. I hope that the Dursley's are treating him okay." Ginny says worriedly. I arch my eyebrow, and Hermione snorts from my other side.
"Aw Ginny… I didn't know that your crush on Harry was still going on! That's so sweet and adorable!" Hermione squeals. Ginny groans exasperatedly.
"I do not have a crush on Harry still! I merely care about your guys' friend! There is nothing wrong with that Hermione. You four always seem to be getting into all sorts of trouble. I have to make sure that you all stay safe some way." She huffs. I snort into the dark.
"She totally still has a crush." I comment.
"Jamie!" Ginny whines, as Hermione laughs.
"See never take anything by face value around here!" Hermione says victoriously. I feel a faint smile cross my face at what they're both trying to do. This is why I love my friends so much, they would embarrass themselves just to try and make me feel better.
"What about you and Ron? I see the way that you two argue like an old married couple with each other. Could you be any more obvious?" I counter Hermione. If there was any sort of light in this room her cheeks would have been bright red I guarantee it.
"We do not! And I don't care anything for Ron! He's just infuriating that's all!" Hermione blusters.
"Uh huh…" Ginny says disbelievingly. I chuckle a little bit.
"Ugh, anyway at least we're not as bad as you Jamie!" Hermione cries. I freeze in my bed wondering what the heck that she could be talking about. "Oh come on! You can't still be that oblivious!" Hermione cries, and Ginny chuckles. I scowl at them even though I know they can't see it.
"Whatever guys, whatever. I'm going to bed so goodnight gossips." I say, rolling over onto my side to fake sleep. After a while Hermione and Ginny calm down, and a half hour later they're breathing evenly, and I let out a quiet, relieved breath. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful that they tried to make me feel better, but I'm not sure if anything is going to make me feel better at the moment.
After a few more minutes, the first of my silent tears roll down my cheeks. My life was going great, and then reality had to come back and give me a nice old kick to the head. I think that the universe is telling me to stay down for once. I try to will the tears away, as I wile away the time until I'm supposed to be awake again.
The next afternoon Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Luka, and I are all playing a giant game of Exploding Snap. Unfortunately I'm not paying too much attention to the game. It's a good thing that everyone else is taking pity on my preoccupied state, and helping keep me from any singed eyebrows. I'm feeling a little better today. After a few more sleepless hours, I had gotten up and actually went to bother Molly.
She had jolted awake worriedly, and tutted when she saw that I was still awake, and hadn't slept yet. She took me down to the kitchen to prepare a sleeping tonic for me. She didn't want me to become too reliant on these though. It worked like a charm, and I feel much more energized than I had in a long time. Suddenly there's hot breath against my cheek.
"So, did you miss me Pendragon?" A slightly deep voice whispers. I jump in my seat startled before turning to look at Ariana. My mouth drops open slightly as I take in the Dumbledore for the first time this summer. Her bright brown eyes are sparkling animatedly, though there's a hard core to them now. Her honey blond hair has lighter highlights in it showing that she had been outside in the sun a lot this summer.
The thing that chokes me up the most though is the fact that she's obviously grown a lot over the time since I saw her last. She's much curvier than the end of last year, and her tee shirt is a little— oh god. An amused chuckle draws me out of my stupor. "Yes Ariana I missed you very much." She says. I blush hotly at being caught staring.
"Hey Ariana. When did you get here?" I ask clearing my suddenly dry throat. She grins at me, before leaning back in the seat next to me.
"Only a few minutes ago. Grandfather dropped me off for an Order meeting is going on today, and he wanted to get here early to prepare. Besides, I wanted to get a feel of the place where I'll be staying until school starts." Ariana tells me. I manage to choke on the air that I had been breathing at that.
"W-what? Y-you're staying here?" I demand breathlessly. Ariana's smile widens, seemingly enjoying my flailing about.
"Yep, grandfather is going to be very busy until school starts, so he won't be able to check up on me as much. Mrs. Weasley was kind enough to offer to keep an eye on me. So I guess that we're going to be rooming together for a while." She smirks. I quickly advert my gaze to my lap, trying to get my control back.
I seriously wasn't expecting for her to be here right now. If I was I would be so much better than now. "Well that's good. You get in too much trouble when left alone for too long. Your grandfather's library can attest to that." I recover with a chuckle. Ariana blushes lightly, and shoots me a sheepish grin.
"What can I say, I thought that building a pyramid of books would be more entertaining than actually reading them." She states blithely.
"Well we for one are thrilled to have you here Ariana. We could use some more girls around here anyway." Hermione says with a wide knowing grin. I steadfastly refuse to acknowledge her.
"Join us Dumbledore but don't expect us to go easy on you just cause you're famous and all." Fred says seriously shuffling the playing deck. Ariana smirks at him and shifts a little closer to me.
"You'll need all the luck you can get Weasley." She challenges. Just like that we're all playing a very animated game ,which ends in Ron having to have one of his eyebrows grown back, and a sulking Fred who was thoroughly beaten by one very smug Dumbledore.
Fred, George, and I are all hunched over the desk in the room that they boys are sharing. The device in our hands has the potential to be brilliant. I can't wait to get a chance to try these out. "I think it has to be the best invention yet." I say with a grin. George snorts.
"I'm rather fond of the Puking Pastilles myself." George murmurs fondly. Fred tweaks the last of changes and smiles happily.
"Nothing is quite like the Canary Crèmes though." He chuckles.
"DINNER!" Molly's shout echoes up the stairs, and the thundering of four set of feet start down the stairs. I glance at the twins who have wicked grins on their face.
"Ready for another go Jamie?" Fred asks me. I nod my head hesitantly, and he loops his arm thought mine, before the world twists around me, and I'm yanked by my bellybutton into darkness. Seconds later I appear with him with a loud crack next to Molly with George appearing on her other side. She jumps with a small yell, and glares at her sons with a deadly look on her face.
"Would you two stop apparating with Jamie! You could splinch her for Merlin's sake!" She cries, and as soon as the world stops spinning a little, I give her a grin, and scurry off with the boys to the kitchen. I plop down a little breathless next to Ariana.
"Well someone looks like they had fun." She says with a grin. I roll my eyes at her and Luka sits down on her other side.
Arthur, Sirius, Molly, and Professor Dumbledore file into the kitchen and sit down, so that everyone can start eating. It is a much more festive and raucous meal, and I find myself smiling the whole time, laughing at argument between Hermione, Ron, and Luka, and staring a mini food war with the twins, Ginny, and Ariana. Suddenly an owl swoops overhead, and drops a letter in front of Dumbledore, which he catches.
We all watch him open the letter with wary silence. Whenever mail comes to the house now, its almost always cause for worry. Slowly Dumbledore lowers the paper, and looks at all of us with a worried silent fury. "That was the Ministry. As of this afternoon Harry Potter has been expelled from Hogwarts."
Instantly all the joy is sucked out of the room, and I am sucking in air like I had been sucker punched. See what I mean about things never staying good for long?