I don't own anything but my OCs – the rest is all created from the brilliance that is J.K. Rowling. (Love you, fearless leader!)
I work with the movies, NOT the books, so all information that's given on the page, but not the films, are dismissed entirely!
"It was a little weird that they were friends. But then, maybe freaks just tended to find each other."
- James Patterson, Angel
For a few minutes, the great hall was only filled with the clatter of plates, the occasional gasp of a student, and the silent slurps of young students already finishing off their drinks. But after a while, when everyone had filled their plates to the brink, the room vibrated with all the incoherent chatter of both teachers and students. The sisters found it quite strange that everyone would have so much to talk about after only 3 months apart, but said nothing and only stuffed their cheeks with the school's delicious food.
They had raced for it after all.
Sure, they had given Dumbledore the excuse of hurrying because they thought the matter was urgent, but they truly just wanted to once again familiarize themselves with Hogwarts' meals... and somehow, they knew he was aware of that fact.
Charmain had taken it upon herself to choose the chair between Dumbledore and Snape, which was to Lumina's relief as she sat down between Dumbledore and professor McGonagall. As long as she could manage it, she wished to avoid the path of Severus Snape.
"It's refreshing to have you two girls back here." Minerva announced from the silence and leaned forward so she could have her eyes on both the sisters as she spoke, "What have you two been up to all this time? And how long do you think you'll be staying this time?"
In response to Minerva's completely unsuspecting and sweet greeting, both the sisters nearly choked on their dinner, but luckily managed to force the big and dry lumps of food down their throats before taking a few good gulps of their drinks to recover; all done in perfect unison, which amused most of the teachers at the table.
Minerva made no move to rush them and only watched their movements patiently, awaiting their reply.
"Yeah... good to see you too, Minerva." Lumina grumbled suspiciously before she sent Dumbledore a knowing look of pure irritation... which he simply ignored. Both the sisters knew that Minerva wasn't supposed to know they existed anymore, let alone remember them as a fond memory. Although, at the sound of the sister addressing Minerva by her first name, they got a few questioning and stunned gazes of their own.
"We've been good!" Charmain chirped happily, trying to release the tension that hung between her sister and the old man, "We've just been keeping an eye out on things and so forth. And unfortunately we have no idea how long we shall be staying."
"However long you two could amuse yourselves." Dumbledore announced playfully, but didn't move his attention off his meal, still wanting to avoid Lumina's accusing gaze.
Although, to the man's joy, Lumina's attention soon moved back her sister before they both sent each other guilty and sheepish smiles, knowing he was most probably correct. "Yeah... probably." They confessed and slowly moved back to their meals, causing the table to once again fall into silence and the occasional, insignificant chatter.
As the clatter of plates finally died down across the great hall, Dumbledore was compelled to move back to his feet and informed the students they are dismissed if they had finished their meals, but as the sister watched a few heads vacate the hall, one had grabbed both their attention almost instantly.
The boy was nearly the splitting image of a child they had taught in their past, one that had met his fate too early in his life. From the skinny limps, to the dark brown hair, to the unmistakable pair of glasses; they were in agreement that it was no other than Harry Potter.
Their chairs creaked silently beneath them as they leaned backwards and balanced their chairs on the hind legs, in order to let agreeing nods pass between them and behind Dumbledore unnoticed.
"That's that then." Lumina announced and quickly fixed her chair before sliding it back and moving to her feet, giving a tired and long-overdue stretch as she did so.
"I think we'll call it a night." Charmain explained and followed suit, "The trip was quite tiring and we both need a rest."
"Goodnight." Both chuckled and placed a quick peck on either side of Dumbledore's cheeks before slowly strolling towards the teacher's exit, which made the man nearly gleam with joy.
"Oh!" Charmain yelped in realization before quickly scurrying back and stealing a hug from Minerva, whether she wanted it or not, "Night!"
Although, neither of the sisters bothered to wait for a response before they slipped out the door and used quick and identical strides towards the Gryffindor common rooms. Luckily, that had been one of the things they couldn't bring themselves to forget. Too many amusing memories with the Marauders were cultivated behind that painting... some of which would be better left unsaid.
"Couldn't we just wait for tomorrow's class?" Lumina growled with annoyance after they had gaped up at all the steps that lead to their destination, but her sister merely rolled her eyes before grabbing her arm and pulling her up the stairs behind her. "Come on." Charmain laughed, "It's just a few steps."
"I think you mean a few staircases!" Lumina snapped behind her, but still made no move to break her sister's powerful grip, "And they move too! You see? This is why I prefer the Slytherin common room in the dungeons."
"You're being ridiculous." Was Charmain's simple response before she came to a halt behind a group of third years.
"You see?" She mocked and let go of Lumina before motioning towards the children, "We're here already."
Lumina had a very clever and offending response in mind for being mocked, but before she could get the unfortunate chance, everyone automatically ducked down and covered their ears in response to a horrendous scream screeching over their heads.
"That woman is STILL here!?" Lumina yelled over the sound, but her sister could barely hear her and only nodded in agreement to the brief words she managed make out.
"Fortuna Major!" They heard a student once again repeat the password at the head of the group, but they didn't really pay attention while they wiggled their pinkies in their ears, trying to release the aggravating ringing that was piercing through their minds.
And before they realized it, the group was already moving though the passageway and leaving them behind, but luckily they quickly returned to the task at hand and scurried pass the tone-deaf woman in the painting in the nick of time.
"Wow... this place hasn't changed in the slightest." Lumina deadpanned and stood in the entrance-way, while her eyes scanned the room with complete disinterest.
"Good, now that you've seen it, move your fat head out of the way, so I can see it too!" Charmain whined from behind Lumina and tried to squish pass her sister, but only when the insult grabbed Lumina's attention did she suddenly shift to the side, which compelled poor Charmain to once again crash to the floors in the process.
"Next time, watch what you say to me." Lumina huffed and crossed her arms with annoyance, but Charmain just rolled her eyes at her warning, being used to her sister's behavior.
Moving off the matter, Charmain gasped at the sight before her and slowly rose to her feet, her eyes twinkled in the red light of the fireplace and candles. "You weren't kidding." She mumbled and strolled to the center of the room, her eyes traveling over everything as she moved in circles along the way. The room still had its usual vintage decorations and the same red glow, but what had truly not changed after all those years was the warm atmosphere that vibrated off the walls and furniture.
And everything still stood exactly the same.
Charmain even went as far as to wander if they had cast a preservation spell over the room, but she knew she was being utterly ridiculous.
"You're so weird." Lumina stated directly behind her sister, which immediately cut off Charmain's dramatic moment and caused the poor girl to slouch her shoulders in a pout.
"Come, come now. No pouty lips. Let us remember the reason you dragged me up those stairs." Lumina waved her off as she passed Charmain and searched for the boy, who she quickly spotted making his way up the step to the boys dormitory. "Potter!" She called out to him, not really having the energy for anymore stairs... even if her sister was actually the one pulling her weight earlier.
Her booming voice quickly called all the students to attention, including none other than the startled Harry Potter. "P-Professor?" He questioned nervously and moved back down the few steps he had already climbed, which he unfortunately knew he'd had to do all over again.
"Sorry for the interruption." Charmain quickly intervened and slipped in front of her sister before motioning him towards the collection of blood red couches in front of the fireplace, "Might we have a word? We do promise that it won't be long."
Curious eyes followed Harry and the teachers as they eventually sat down on the biggest couch, but at the irritated and piercing glare of Lumina, the other students quickly moved back to their own activities and left the three be, giving them an unique setting of privacy in the middle of a crowd.
"Again, I apologize for pulling you away this suddenly, but this is quite important." Charmain explained and sent a concerned glance to her sister, who sat comfortably and uninterested on the other side of Harry. And being the well-mannered boy that he was, Harry quickly shook his head and sent her a reassuring smile, "It's alright, Professor."
It was quite an odd experience for Harry to hear a teacher apologize to him so sincerely and he didn't actually know how he should have responded, but after the experience on the train with both the dementor and Professor Lupin, he didn't know what could possibly surprise him anymore.
"You are aware of Sirius Black, correct?" Lumina asked quite suddenly, wanting to get the ball running and the conversation over as quickly as possible. It wasn't a lie when she said she was tired.
"And with the troublesome and overly curious student your father was, we can assume you already know that he might be after you?" Charmain asked with the small sign of fondness passing her lips at the mention of his father, where Lumina rather showed the faint sign of annoyance before she sat up, crossed her arms, and looked away.
Although he might have stiffened at the mention of Sirius Black's motives, thinking he might be getting into trouble for knowing too much already, the smile on Professor Charmain's lips was all the reassurance he'd need to know that wasn't the case. And, however much he may have clenched his fist at the mention of the danger of Sirius Black, he still gave them a simple nod as an answer, which caused the two sisters to once again glance at each other with concern.
A moment of awkward silence quickly befell the room, but it was only long enough for Lumina to uncross her arms and get rid of her stubborn attitude before she gave Harry a sudden and loud slap on the back; knocking the depression right out of him. "Well then!" She announced and shot up to her feet, slipping both her hands into the pockets of her hoodie, "All we really came here to say was that you can come to us for help and that you shouldn't get yourself killed... understood?"
No matter how loud the slap might have echoed over the room, Harry was too startled to process the pain, which was surprisingly little anyway. Ever been slapped so hard that it could be heard from far, far away, but it's angled just right that you still don't feel it?
"Sis!" Charmain snapped up at Lumina in utter outrage, "Was that really necessary!?"
"Well, he looks livelier to me." She shrugged innocently, compelling Charmain to release a helpless groan before face palming at her sister's behavior. "You're unbelievable!" She growled and quickly moved to her feet as well, leveling herself with her sister, "You act like you're still a child!"
"And you're actin' like an old hag." Lumina deadpanned before motioning to poor Harry, who was still awkwardly sitting in the middle of their squabble, while doing his utmost best not interrupt, "Not to mention, you are scaring the kid."
Charmain's guilty eyes glazed over Harry for a brief moment before she once again directed them back to Lumina. "I do not!" She protested, "You're the one who scares children, not me."
"Yeah, but you also have your moments. And at least I'm proud of my accomplishments." Lumina once again deadpanned before quickly linking her arm with her sister's and forcefully directing her back to the painting.
"See you in class tomorrow, Harry!" Charmain called over her shoulder and gave her usual cheery wave above her head, "I do hope we'll see you in class!"
"If you don't come, I'll drag you to the class anyway, so you only need to choose how you want to arrive." Lumina informed him, being as blunt as always, and shut the painting behind her and her sister.
"You won't do that, will you?" Charmain sighed and quickly yanked her arm free from her sister's before they slowly continued back down the steps, heading to the same room as always.
"Of course not." Lumina scoffed in response, lifting her nose up high with pride, "Why the hell would I possibly want to walk back up all those steps just to fetch a Potter?"
"...you have issues, Sis."
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