AUTHOR'S NOTES: Still haven't settled on a specific storyline so I'm just going where the muse leads me.

Still need a title, so any thoughts are welcome.

Read, review… you know what to do

Chapter 4 New Heights

The sun was almost set when the Hogwarts Express finally pulled into the Hogsmeade station. Roslyn, now wearing her Hogwarts uniform, took Alden's arm and unfolded her cane so that they could walk down to the thestral-drawn carriages.

Once safely inside, Alden reached for Roslyn's hand. "You okay, Rose?"

Roslyn smiled. "I went horseback riding this summer," She said, looking thoughtful. "I want to try broom-riding next."

Alden chuckled as Roslyn looked positively gleeful at the very notion of flying around in the air. "If you want to try flying," he told her. "I will take you up myself."

"Really?"

"Really," Alden replied.

"Alden, did you mean it when you said I should have been in Slytherin?" Roslyn asked, curiously.

Alden sighed as she thought about how to reply. "Yes. I did mean it. You are sneaky, and more than a little manipulative…. But you're also kind, stubborn, and brave. Honestly, you would have been good in Slytherin… But I think you've done even better in Gryffindor. So…"

"According to Grandma Molly Mum was pretty devious as a young girl," Roslyn said, shrugging. "Maybe I just get it from her."

"Here's hoping," Alden said, smiling at his girlfriend.

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At the Welcoming Feast, Alden sat next to Roslyn, Michael, and Val. Up at the staff table, Trelawney and Firenze were absent and instead, Mallory Malfoy-Potter sat next to her husband.

Once everyone had sat down and the new first years had been sorted, McGonagall stood to address the school. "This year we have a change of staff," McGonagall said, nodding at Mallory. "Since Sybill Trelawney has retired and Firenze has opted to start a new centaur herd by the ruins of the old Malfoy Mansion, Mallory Malfoy-Potter will be taking over." Mallory stood and nodded before sitting back down. McGonagall continued. "All students interested in trying out for their Quidditch teams should contact their heads of house for further information. Also, as per usual, this year we will be having a Yule Ball, although this year will be different as it will be a tropical theme."

Alden leaned over to whisper in Roslyn's ear. "I think you'll look lovely in a bathing suit," he said making Roslyn blush fiercely.

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The next morning, Roslyn stood in a line with Alden and Brooke in her father's DADA class. At the front of the room was a trunk containing a boggart.

"The Patronus," Harry said, as he sat on the trunk. "—is your strongest defense against dementors. I will be standing next to the boggart so that it takes the form of a dementor. One at a time, you will focus on the happiest memory possible and say the words 'expect patronum'."

Brooke went first and tried to focus as the dementor-boggart loomed. Pointing her wand, she shouted, "Expect Patronum!" and something small with wings flew out of her wand and circled the boggart until it retreated back into the trunk.

"Was that… a bat?" Alden said, looking at Brooke, then Roslyn.

"Next, please," Harry said and Brooke went to the back of the line.

Some of the students were unable to produce a full-bodied Patronus, but when Roslyn stepped up for her turn, she quickly thought of Alden and the first kiss they shared that summer at Draco and Mallory's farmhouse. Raising her wand, she said, "Expecto Patronum!" A silvery falcon flew out of the wand and let out a cry as it sent the boggart back into the trunk.

"Excellent, Roslyn!" Harry said as his daughter lowered her wand. "Alden, you're up next, lad."

Alden stepped forward and raised his wand as Harry opened the trunk again. Thinking of the first time he kissed Roslyn under one of the apple trees at her aunt Mallory's house, Alden said in a loud, clear voice, "Expecto Patronum!"

To everyone's surprise, another bat Patronus came out of Alden's wand and flew around before causing the boggart to retreat.

Lowering his wand, Alden turned to Brooke. What memory did you think of?" he asked as he went to join her at the back of the line.

Brooke sighed and looked at Roslyn. "I, uh… I thought of the first time I saw Roslyn read a book on her own." Turning to her sister, she added, "I was so happy for you, Rosie."

"Then why did you say you hated me on the train the other day?" Roslyn said, feeling confused.

Brooke sighed again. "I hate that you get all the attention. Everyone tries to help you and do stuff for you… and I hate that you're blind."

"Well, I'm not crazy about it either," Roslyn said, her voice rising.

"You don't know what it's been like!" Brooke said, loudly, unaware that Harry had paused the class so as to better hear what was going on. "I mean… sisters are supposed to do things together! Run around! Play Quidditch! Gossip about cute guys! Pretend to be one another on dates! But I can't do that with you and I hate it! I want us to be normal twins."

"Well, I want to be normal, too," Roslyn said, tears stinging her eyes. "But I'm not. I'm sorry you got stuck with a blind sister, but you just have to live with it like I do everyday."

Brooke hugged her twin and Roslyn hugged her back. "I'm sorry, Rosie. You're my sister and I love you… blind or no."

Roslyn sniffled as she said, "I'm sorry, too. I know it's been hard living with me. But let's try to do things together, alright?"

"Yeah," Brooke replied, smiling. "That sounds good."

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The next class of the day was Care of Magical Creatures which Roslyn had alone since Alden had decided to go with Muggle Studies, Brooke opted for Arithmancy, and Michael and Val had gone into Ancient Runes.

Heading down to Hagrid's hut, Roslyn went slowly since Tonks had told her how Harry had lost his footing on the hills one day.

"Mornin', Roslyn!" Hagrid's booming voice called out as she came to the fence. "How're ya doin'?"

"Hi, Hagrid," Roslyn said, smiling when she felt the fence creaking, signaling that the half-giant professor was leaning against one of the posts. "I'm good. How about you?"

"Fine, fine," Hagrid replied, jovially. "How's the family?"

"Dad's good, Mom's good… Brooke and I have made up. We had a fight yesterday, but it's just sister stuff," Roslyn replied. "So, what are we doing today?"

"Unicorns," Hagrid replied.

"Cool," Roslyn said, as Hagrid led her down to the pen where three adolescent unicorns waited. "Should be fun."

"Ahhh, unicorns are nothin'," Hagrid said, waving a hand. "Ye should have been here when we had the blast-ended skrewts."

"The whats?" Roslyn said, suddenly worried if it was safe to take this class.

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Late that night, Mallory was surprised to find Brooke Potter in a corner of the library with a scarf tied around her eyes. "Brooke? Are you okay?"

Brooke jumped up, falling over the chair and tearing the scarf off her face as she tried to stand up. Blinking, she looked around and saw her aunt. "Aunt Mallory. I'm fine."

Mallory set the chair upright and handed back the scarf. "How long did you have that scarf on?"

"Since after dinner," Brooke replied. "I was, uh…"

"Trying to see what life for Roslyn is like?" Mallory asked, sitting next to Brooke.

Brooke nodded. "I kind of learned how to read Braille, too, so I could help Rosie. I was trying to do my reading for History of Magic with her textbook. I don't know how she does it."

Mallory shrugged. "It's the only way she learned how. It's been her life from day one."

"I can't imagine what it would be like to be blind," Brooke said, shaking her head. "I've been sitting here for… What time is it?"

Mallory checked her watch. "11pm. I was checking to see if any students were still here."

"Then it's been 5 hours," Brooke said. "I don't know how Roslyn does it."

"She just does," Mallory replied, simply. "She just does it."

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"How the HELL did I let you talk me into this?!" Roslyn screamed as she maintained a death grip around Alden's waist. They were high in the air above the Quidditch pitch on Alden's Firebolt 5000 and Alden tried not to laugh at Roslyn's reaction.

"You wanted to come flying with me, Rose," he said. "Now hold on. I'm going to do a dive."

"Do a what?" Roslyn said as the broom suddenly plummeted. "ALDEN!!" she screeched as she felt the two of them falling. With a sharp jerk, they were heading up again and Roslyn's heart was racing. "I want on the ground now! Please!"

Alden stopped and hovered but when he felt Roslyn's grip loosen, he said, "We're still up in the air, Rose. Hold on; I'm heading in." Slowly, they descended and after a while, Rose felt her feet brush the ground. She staggered off and fell to her knees grateful to be back on the earth. "Rose?" Alden asked, kneeling down, a hand on her back. "Are you okay?"

Rose stood, shakily. "Yeah. I guess I just don't like flying."

Alden pulled Roslyn to her feet and pressed her cane into her hand. "I'm sorry, Rose. I shouldn't have gone overboard."

"It's okay, Alden," Rose said, taking a few tentative steps.

"I feel like I messed up your birthday," Alden said as they headed back up to the castle. "I want to make it up to you."

"That's not necessary," Roslyn said. "Look, I'm going to the library. I'll see you later." Turning away, Roslyn headed off to the right while Alden just stood there, stunned.

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"I need advice," Alden said when he entered James Potter's office. "I think I upset Rose."

James, who had been in the middle of grading papers, looked up at his godson. "Have a seat, Alden."

Alden sat and said, "I took Rose on a broom ride. I kind of…"

"Went a little nuts?" James supplied, grinning. "Yeah. I did the same to Lily when we were kids."

"I know I should have gone slower," Alden said. "You know, since Rose is blind… I shouldn't have been so reckless."

James sighed. "You did the right thing and the wrong thing. You treated her as though she wasn't blind. But what you did when you were flying could have gotten her hurt or even killed. You've been around Roslyn all your life. You know there are limitations."

"I know," Alden replied, sighing. "But just once, I'd like Rose to have a day where she doesn't have limitations."

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"He thinks I hate him," Roslyn said, glumly as she sat in a corner of the upstairs level of the library. Brooke sat next to her sister, hugging her as Roslyn cried. "I don't hate him. I love him. Alden was just trying to share something with me, and…" She started crying harder and Brooke hugged her tighter.

"Roslyn, listen to me. Alden cares about you. He loves you. And he just wanted you to experience something that most witches and wizards do: flying." Brooke thought for a moment before standing and pulling Roslyn to her feet. "Come on. We're going back out to the Quidditch pitch. I'm going to teach you how to fly."

Once on the pitch, Brooke took her sister's cane and folded it and set it aside before giving Roslyn one of the school brooms. "Okay, mount the broom," Brooke instructed and waited until Roslyn was properly seated. "Okay, now push off and go up about maybe three feet."

Rose kicked off and went up, stopping at about 4 feet. "Okay," she said, a touch of nervousness in her voice. "Now what?"

Brooke joined her and said, "Okay, now… hold on tightly and try soaring." Looking at Roslyn's scared expression, she added, "I'll be right next to you. Go up about thirty feet and stop."

Together, the twins flew up and stopped. "I'm flying," Roslyn said, breathless.

"Now we're going to do some nice, slow loops," Brooke said. "Just circle a few times then stop. I'll be watching."

Roslyn nodded and took off, doing two loops around the Quidditch pitch before stopping next to Brooke again. "I did it!" Roslyn said, exhilarated. "I really flew! All by myself."

"Yes, but now we have to land," Brooke said. "And I want you to—" She broke off when Roslyn turned and started streaking for the ground. "Roslyn, slow down!" she shouted, plummeting after her. "Pull up! PULL UP!"

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The first thing that Roslyn registered was pain. Her back, her legs, her head all felt like she'd been slammed by a brick wall. And she couldn't move. "Uhhh…"

"You're awake, I see," said Madame Pomphrey, hurrying over to Roslyn's side. "You're lucky to be alive, young lady. Both legs broken, back injury, head trauma…"

"I didn't listen to Brooke," Roslyn said, trying to sit up.

"Stay down!" Pomphrey commanded and Roslyn stopped and lay back down. "You broke two vertebrae in your back with that fall and even though there's no nerve damage, I'd like to keep it that way. Hermione's working on a potion for spinal injuries but it will be a short while."

Roslyn sighed. "I thought I could dive on my own. I didn't pull up in time."

"Well, you'll be just fine," Pomphrey said after a moment. "Your legs might be sore, but in a day or two you'll back to normal."

"How's my dad taking it?" Roslyn said, concerned for Brooke.

"Let's just say… I wouldn't want to be your sister right now, Miss Potter."

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"You let her dive alone?!" Harry shouted, furious.

"Dad, I didn't let her do anything!" Brooke said, defensively. "I was going to tell her how to do it slowly, but then she took off! I tried to get ahead of her but then she hit the ground."

"I can not believe you'd be so irresponsible!" Harry said, as he paced angrily in his office. "You could have gotten Roslyn killed! She's BLIND! She can't do things like that alone!"

"You did," Brooke grumbled and felt her father's cane upside her head.

"That is not the point, young lady. I had an echolocation charm at the time," Harry said, still seething. "As of right now, you're grounded. I'll be speaking with Flitwick about you being confined to the Ravenclaw dormitory."

"What?!" Brooke shouted. "Dad, that's not fair!"

"Oh, I'm not done yet," Harry said, his face blank. "Detention for two months, 100 points from Ravenclaw, and you can forget about going to the Yule Ball."

"Why don't you just expel me to?!" Brooke screamed.

"Don't think that I didn't consider it," Harry said in a forced calm voice.

Brooke stormed out of her father's office and towards Ravenclaw Tower. This was BEYOND unfair! Roslyn would be fine! Her father was being completely unfair in his punishment. She had to get him to see reason. Sighing, she stopped. The only one who could overrule the punishment was the headmaster… Or her grandfather, James Potter….

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James was grading papers when Brooke came in looking like she'd just been crying. "Brooke? What happened?" He got up and Brooke ran to him, hugging him hard. "What's wrong, honey?"

"D-Dad," she sobbed. "He's so mad at me."

James sighed. "Let me talk to Harry, okay? Just stay here."

Brooke backed away and nodded as she sat in one of the chairs in the office while James went in search of his son. After asking around, James found Harry in the hospital wing with Hermione. "Harry. Can I talk to you?"

Hermione turned to look at James, then at Harry. "Go on, Harry. I'll stay with Roslyn."

Harry went to meet his father. "Did Brooke tell you what happened?" Harry said, anger still in his voice. He pointed into the hospital wing where Hermione was gently sitting Roslyn up while Pomphrey gently tipped a vial of potion down the teenager's throat. "Did she tell you what she did to her sister?"

James shook his head. "No, my granddaughter was too busy crying to tell me anything."

"Roslyn was flying by herself. Brooke was with her, but Roslyn took a dive on her own," Harry explained.

"Harry…"

"Roslyn is her sister! Brooke should have done something!" Harry said, angrily.

"Harry, it was an accident. I know Brooke wouldn't have let her sister get hurt on purpose," James said. "Brooke is a wreck, Harry."

Harry sighed and leaned against the wall. "I didn't mean to be so hard on her."

"Were you maybe reacting like a father, not a teacher?" James asked, looking at Harry over the top of his glasses.

"Yeah," Harry said, nodding. "I guess I need to talk to Brooke."

"I'd do that," James said, cautiously. "Because Brooke really feels pushed aside when it comes down to her versus Roslyn."

Harry gave a quick nod before heading down to the Transfigurations classroom where Brooke was still waiting in James' office. She sniffled when she saw her father. "Come to yell at me some more?" She asked, dismally.

"Detention tonight and tomorrow and 40 points from Ravenclaw instead of 100," Harry said, sitting down next to Brooke. "I'm sorry. I was out of line."

"You were right, Dad," Brooke said, shaking her head. "I should have been more careful. I just wanted to share something with Roslyn."

Harry smiled as he felt for his daughter's hand. "Next time, try chocolate frog cards."

"I will, Dad," Brooke said. "And, uh… am… I still grounded?"

Harry chuckled. "I'll consider letting you go ungrounded this time, Brooke. Next time, though…"

"There won't be a next time, Dad. I promise," Brooke replied, looking at her father.

"Then get going. Go see your sister," Harry said, standing up. Brooke nodded and headed out of the classroom and down the hall. "I'm never going to live through raising teenagers," Harry said to himself as he left.

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