I don't own the Harry Potter characters or anything of that sort. I wish I did though.
Chapter 2
Carly Edwards/ Aly Havoc POV
I walked off the train easily blending in with the seventh years. I was headed toward Hagrid to say hi. "Havoc! Could you do me a favor? Wait, what's your name now?"
"My name's Carly Edwards right now. And yeah I'll help you out Hagrid. Whatcha need?" I thought it would be quite simple, like going out to feed Fang, but no.
"Well, you see. Grawp's a bit queasy o' somthin' and I forgot about the first years, so could you take 'em to the castle for me?" I nodded, after all how hard could it be to get a bunch of midgets on boats and take them across a lake? "Great, thanks. Just lead 'em over there and make sure none of 'em fall into the lake". I nodded again. "See you at the feast." He started off. "Wait, what are you doin' here anyway? You finished eleven years ago."
"I'm a teacher now. You see, I'm taking Binns' spot." I smiled. He nodded and started to run off. "See you Hagrid." He waved behind his back. "How hard can it be?" My smile turned to a smirk. "Over here first years! C'mon let's go. I'm supposed to take you to the castle!" I was swarmed by millions of midgets. Why are there so many this year? This year of all years. The year that I was taking them to the castle. "Alrighty then, how many of you are actually first years? If you're not just go off with the rest in the carriages. If you don't know where the carriages are, they're right over there." Nobody left. That meant that a had to keep millions of first years from drowning. Good thing that I could swim real well. Mostly because I'm a really powerful animagus. I can turn into mostly anything except snakes and, I can talk to pretty much any animal except well, snakes. Gee, I hate snakes. They're the only thing I'm afraid of. Ruddy snakes. It just so happens that every single little kid that goes into Slytherin becomes a cowardly little serpent that attacks the weaker. I work with little snakes. "Very well, does everyone know how to swim? Because I don't want anyone to drown. Drowning in the lake would be a very horrendous death, mostly because of the grindylows, which sink their sharp, pointy teeth into your skin and drag you down. Does everyone understand?" Most of them stood scared out of their wits because of what I said. It was the complete truth. The only ones who weren't cowering were Teddy and Victorie. "Okay, Lupin, Weasley, you can help me figure out how to work these boats."
Then some little midget spoke up. "You mean you don't know how to get the boats to work? Shouldn't you at least know how to start them?" Her voice was high and squeaky. She looked like a pug.
"You, yeah you, the one that just asked me that question. You're a Parkinson aren't you? Come on we don't have forever you know." She stared at me. She obviously didn't think I would call her out. "Hurry up, tell me your name already. I'm a very impatient person at times." She mumbled something I couldn't hear. "Sorry, what were you saying? Could you speak up a bit?"
"My name is Tanya Parkinson. My whole family has been in Slytherin including my sister who was in the same year as Harry Potter." She looked like a smug pug.
"Brilliant, guess what Parkinson. I was Harry Potter's year too, but I was three years younger." I heard 'That's impossible' loads of times. I didn't mean to let out the 'I'm three years younger' part, but what's been done is done.
"Really, you're all just being stupid! If she says that it just means that she started Hogwarts when she was eight instead of eleven! I've never seen such idiots in my life!" I looked to see who had said it. I must say I was surprised to find who it was. Teddy Lupin. Teddy Lupin who was so much like his father it affected me quite a bit, but right there just at that moment I felt like crying. Just at that moment he was like Tonks. So much it just hurt. I had watched Tonks and Remus die. I watched them with my own eyes, and it was all her fault. Not Tonks's or Remus's or mine, but it was all her fault. Yeah she died, but I should have been the one to kill her. If it weren't for Molly Weasley, I would have killed her. I would have gotten back for what she made me lose.
"Carly Edwards, I can't believe that you aren't at the school already! You're usually on top of things. I just can't believe it." I looked up and saw none other than Hermione. Of course, she, Hagrid, and McGonagall were the only ones who know what I was going by, and it obviously wasn't McGonagall's strict voice or Hagrid's cheerful voice. So it was obviously going to be Hermione. Anyway, might as well tell her what happened.
"Well, you see, I don't know how to start the boats. Hagrid didn't tell me how. Do you by any chance know?" Hermione sighed.
"How were you the best in seventh year if you can't even figure out where to use the simplest charms? Wait, don't answer that." She looked a bit nervous.
"I have to say Hermione; it was probably because you left after sixth year to go hunt for horcruxes with Harry and Ron. I was the best after you so it's kind of obvious." Hermione blushed; boy when she blushed she turned bright pink. I had to fight back a laugh.
"Well it helped everyone, didn't it? I mean Voldemort is gone now so life's much better, for muggles and wizards alike." I nodded swiftly. I saw a smile at the corner of her mouth. So naturally, I had to grin. Therefore, Hermione burst out laughing. Unlike Hermione, I had learned to control my mouth at times. Laughing being one of them. But I couldn't control the color of my hair. It turned bright turquois. That made the first years laugh. Which made me blush. Once everyone had stopped giggling and my face had returned to its pale state, I spoke.
"Well Professor Granger, could you start the boats? I'm afraid I don't know how." Hermione nodded. Then, she did some spell I couldn't comprehend because she didn't speak. "Right then, I guess you lot can get in now." The first years clambered into the boats. Of course who should fall into the water? Victorie Weasley. "That's not good at all. I'll get her." I started to walk towards the lake.
"She can't swim!" Great. Well, I felt like going for a swim anyway so. I ran. Nothing better than to get in quickly when someone was drowning. I jumped in. God, the water was cold. It could be worse. I could have been slower. Where is she? Wait, was that her? Crap, grindylows. How could this be worse? I swam towards the girl. Grindylows had already gotten to her. She must remind them of Fleur. I grabbed my wand, and well used magic to get her above water. The grindylows grabbed my ankles and gnawed at my skin. I felt like screaming, but if I did that I would run out of breath. Then, no more Aly Havoc.
"Releashio." I was free. I ascended towards the surface of the lake. I crawled out of the lake. "Is she alright?" Hermione didn't answer. I walked up to them and kneeled down. "Hermione, is she alright?"
"She's alive, if that's what you mean." That was all she said. "She'll be okay, I think. Some pretty bad cuts. How'd that happen?"
"Grindylows. She must be like Fleur. Whatcha think?" Hermione didn't respond. Victorie was waking up. Her breathing sharpened. She must be feeling the damage that the grindylows did to her. "Episkey. Who knew that would be such a useful spell? It's a good thing that is a spell, or Miss Weasley would be feeling a lot of pain right now." Teddy shoved his way through to us.
"Teddy what 'appened? I just remember falling." She looked awfully confused. Then, she noticed me. "What 'appened Edwards? Will you tell me what occurred during the time that I can't remember?" I couldn't answer. Why'd she have to ask me? Why me? Why not Hermione?
"Well Miss Weasley, you fell into the lake. And the grindylows got to you…" my voice trailed off. I barely ever stutter, even when I cry I don't stutter.
"Professor Edwards jumped into the lake after you, and you can tell she got you back. She did some spell to get the grindylows off of you. You came up first, but it took her a while to come back up." My hair turned white. He acted like I was a hero. I'm only trying to make sure nobody dies. I can't have anyone else die. "You'd probably be devoured by the grindylows if it weren't for her." He beamed. "It's a good thing she was here."
"Thanks Professor. Teddy's right, I'd be dead if you hadn't been here." I could feel my hair changing. "Nice pixie cut." I could tell Hermione was trying not to laugh.
"Thanks. I actually like my hair this way." Great, now I'm talking about hair. Hermione snickered. I shot her a glare. "Well, we'd best be on our way." This time I watched everyone get into the boats and made sure nobody fell. I jumped in my own boat. Hermione had left by then. "Alright, let's go." It took a while for us to get there, because the boats were awfully slow. "Ready you lot? Just follow me and don't get far behind. We should probably run." My hair turned back to bubble-gum pink. Now, I probably look exactly like Tonks. "One… two… THREE!" I took off. Darn, those first years were fast. But of course they weren't as fast as me. We ran all the way to the Great Hall, where McGonagall was waiting.
"Well Carly Edwards, Professor Granger has told me about your dilemma. We will continue the sorting immediately. You will be in charge of the sorting after the start of term speech." I nodded.
She led everyone into the Great Hall. She motioned for me to go an empty seat nest to Hermione. "Now, that all our staff is present except for Professor Hagrid, who is tending to some important family issues, we will start the sorting soon, but not yet. First, I have some matters to speak about. Our new History of Magic teacher, Miss Carly Edwards, who will be the new Head of Gryffindor House." I stood up. I heard 'That's impossible!', 'I thought she died eleven years ago.', and 'Could it be?'. It had to have been my hair. I've been trying to look like Tonks for years. Now, here I am in front of teachers, who think I'm Tonks. "She will also be in charge of the sorting this year."
"But she died eleven years ago! I saw her body on the ground! Bellatrix Lestrange killed her! I remember that overly brave girl running up to her. She was on the ground. Dead! Gone! Done for! She was murdered!" I exchanged glances with Hermione. Draco Malfoy was a teacher here. I had no idea. This is gonna be torture.
"Well you see Draco, I'm not who you think I am. It's just a coincidence about how I look. As you can tell, I'm not dead, for I am right here in front of you. Therefore, I am very much alive." I could feel a smirk on my face. Students were laughing, at who I don't know. Hopefully at Malfoy. I almost laughed myself. His face showed clear confusion. "I caused quite a bit of havoc." His face changed from confusion to anger. He understood what I meant. He muttered something inaudible. I sat down.
"Well, that was pretty much the most important part." McGonagall nodded at me. I got up and walked over to the stairs. I tripped on the top step. My hair changed to some other color. I heard some small giggles.
"Is there like a list or something? Or um… do I uh…?" Some groans from the staff. "Oh… it's right there. Sorry." I picked up the list and called out the first name. "Calvin O'Reilly!" A tall boy walked up. The hat put him in Hufflepuf. "Conner Harvey!" Ravenclaw. Loads more later, "Ted Lupin!" I crossed my fingers for either Gryffindor or Hufflepuf.
"Gryffindor!" I had to keep myself from smiling. So many people went by.
"Tanya Parkinson." Slytherin. Later. Finally the last person. "Victorie Weasley." Most likely to be in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. I was right.
"Not another Weasley. Well, it's obvious where to put you… Gryffindor!" Knew it. I looked at Hermione. She smiled. I grinned. I walked back to my seat.
"Nice hair. It doesn't suit you very well though. Black isn't really your color." My hair went back to bubble-gum pink. "That's better. By the way, I'm surprised you landed a job here." I smiled sheepishly. Her voice dropped. "I can't believe you told Malfoy who you are. Why would you do that? Really Aly, why did you do that? Malfoy is going to make your time here torture." I shook my head.
"No he won't. He wouldn't try it. Not now that he knows who I am." She nodded. "He knows I'm Aly Havoc, so he won't try anything. He knows I'll get back at him. He may be stupid, but he's no idiot. Especially after what happened seventh year. He had a huge bruise on his face for weeks. Maybe even months. He'd figure it out eventually anyway. McGonagall is probably gonna tell the whole staff." Hermione sighed.
"Aly, instead of celebrating the ending of the war every five or ten years, at Hogwarts we celebrate every eleven years. People who have died or are still alive. McGonagall wants a performance and she knows you can perform. It adds up. She's gonna have you go onstage and do something. If you're not Carly Edwards it'll work out. Students will find it strange if their History of Magic teacher goes onstage. Think, if you're Aly Havoc nobody will find it odd, because you are the Heir of Gryffindor and they'll think you're trying to prove you aren't mad. Aly, I know you aren't insane, but others think you are. Just don't break down when it comes to Tonks and Remus." I nodded. "Please Aly, be yourself for it. You know how I hate you changing your name all the time."
"Hermione, will you just stop bugging me about my name all the time? IT DOESN'T MATTER!" The first time I had yelled out of anger in ages. I had mellowed quite a bit. Hermione just had to stop with the whole 'go back to Aly Havoc' thing, because I just didn't care. Right now I was Carly Edwards. Carly Edwards not Aly Havoc. CARLY EDWARDS. What didn't she understand about that? I decide to change the subject. "So… Hermione, when is your wedding? I know you said it was after the final term, but you didn't specify when." She just looked at me.
"Well, if you come you have to be Alyson Havoc." I nodded. "You also have to be on time. If you're not, good luck trying to get it past Molly. She'll have your head for sure this time. She was about to get an axe out when you were late for Bill and Fleur's. The sad thing was you were staying there for a week and you were right behind her when she said everyone had to go outside so no one would be late." I grinned.
"What can I say? Being late is one of my greatest traits. You should know that Hermione. After all I was late when it came to going to the common room for the first time." She laughed. "Exactly. Remember I was late to our own sorting too?" She smiled. "If you could be late when Apparating, I'd be late for it." She about laughed, but she kept it back. "So… am I invited?"
"Alright, it's on June 15. But you have to be yourself." I nodded.
Clang!
"If all Head Boys and Girls would please lead their house's first years to the correct common rooms. We don't want anyone to get lost before classes start." She looked over towards me. "We don't what anymore Carly Edwards. One's bad enough." I stood up and bowed just to make a fool of myself. I have a pretty bad reputation already, so it can't get any worse. "And Professor Edwards, you don't want to be late to your class tomorrow. Therefore, I would find it before tomorrow morning." She frowned, and half the staff broke out laughing, including Hermione.
"I'll try, but you must know by now that being late is the thing I'm best at."
The Houses left. It took forever to find my classroom. Obviously I had forgotten a lot about this place. Thank God that Binns still wasn't still here. I would freeze in my tracks. I sat down in my chair.
"Ha, I got a job. Beat that Harry Potter. You still haven't finished training to be an Auror. I'm a teacher at Hogwarts. I've got a horrible reputation, but I already had one." I put my feet on the desk. "Alyson Havoc, you've outdone yourself this time. You went to muggle college, Oxford University to be exact. And you graduated three years early. If only Tonks could see you. She'd be extremely proud of you. Yeah, nothing less. She'd be proud of Ted too. Just think, he's eleven. It's be eleven years since the war against Voldemort. Nothing could make today awful."
