Welcome to chapter 4. Thanks again to tollypop13 for her review. Think I could get two reviews this time? It was my birthday earlier this week, so maybe someone could review for a late birthday present? Please?
Option #2: Reflections
Azkaban whimpered as Dominic woke her by pulling her pigtails. Not stopping to apologize or explain, he dragged her out into the main living area of the chambers. Pulling the girl into a cabinet with him, he held her close, hand over her mouth to keep her quiet as their mother wailed in agony, tears streaming down her face. The two children did not move from their embrace in the cabinet until long after the professor had left to teach his classes. Azkaban was only two.
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The next year was different than the years before. They were no longer taken with the professor to his meetings with the headmaster. They played together, exploring the odd trunks in the professor's chambers. One of the house elves had started teaching Dominic to read, who in turn, was teaching Azkaban. Afraid of being alone when their mother was on the drink, which was almost always the case, they became inseparable, even going to the bathroom together. It was impossible to see one with out the other, though only one house elf knew it. At one point, the professor did not return for several weeks, and the house elf only came once a day. Still, they were happier than they had ever been before. When the professor returned, he was more distant than usual. They hardly saw or heard their mother, but they paid it no mind. Again, he vanished. It wasn't until a year later, when Azkaban was four and a half and Dominic was six that they realized that their mother wasn't coming back. Strangely, this did not upset the children, that everyone they knew was gone. They had long since ceased to be a part of their lives.
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Midnight, three years later, two shadows darted down the halls of Hogwarts. A small hand opened one of the passages that lead to the grounds of the school. They silently made their way down to the Whomping Willow. A cloud moved, unblocking the half-moon. The moonlight illuminated to children. Azkaban, now seven and a half, had long black hair that fell in waves down her back. Her pale skin shown against the simple dress she had fashioned out of an old drape in an abandoned class room. Her dark blue eyes were trained on her brother. Dominic, now nine, was barely darker than his sister. His dark red hair brushed his shoulders and fell into his black eyes as he pushed the knob with a stick. They slipped into the tunnel and out of site.
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"Are you sure we won't get caught?" Azkaban asked. "They'll take us away if they find us."
"I'm sure; now get over here with that candle!" The girl hastened to bring the candle to her brother. "'Sides," he continued, "It's Christmas. How often to we leave the castle?"
"I see."
"Good, now hand me the basket." She complied. Dominic had made a makeshift table and chairs when they had found this place two years ago. Since then, it was a tradition to come out for special occasions, something they had learned included 'birthdays' and 'Christmas.'
He spread a worn tablecloth on top and Azkaban set the table as he set up candles around the room. Finishing, he sat across from the girl and they both ate some of the food they had nicked from the kitchens. Finishing they exchanged gifts, both having stolen a small trinket or two from the staff. Thanking each other, they snuggled down in the large bed, drifting off to sleep as the sun rose above the horizon.
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The next evening, the two siblings played in the snow, enjoying being outside in the moonlight. They snuck back into the castle a while before dawn, slipping back into the chambers they had spent most of their life in. After straightening the chambers, they went to bed, tired from playing in the snow.
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Azkaban and Dominic had an easy routine that they had developed after the house elf that cared for them died. Every few days, they would sneak out and steal supplies. This included books from the library, food from the kitchens, wood from the wood shed, cleaning supplies from the storage closets, and simple medicines from the infirmary. Once in a while, they would snitch parchments, old clothing, cloth, or bits of furniture. Some how, they had never been caught. When they woke up, Azkaban would make breakfast while Dominic showered. After breakfast, she would take her turn as he cleaned up the dishes. Then, they would take stock of their supplies and Dominic planned their day. Usually, it was too early to sneak around unnoticed, so the two would either clean or study the books that they had, learning all that they could, including the strange information kept in their mother's journals. Typically, there was enough time for both. If there were enough supplies for the next few days, they would spend the entire day taking care of their chambers, playing, and reading. This was usually the case, as their skills had been honed from avoiding their mother in her drunken fits, and the need for food drove them to sharpen them even more.
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Their routine was shattered seven years after their mother's disappearance when an owl found its way into their chambers. It landed on Dominic's shoulder as they were eating dinner. The children looked at each other before Dominic took the envelope off of the owl's leg.
"It's for you." Azkaban whispered, not really sure what was going on. Dominic, as confused as her opened the envelope.
"It's an invitation to attend school here."
Azkaban's eyes grew wide. "You mean, like a normal student?"
"I guess so."
"You have to accept!"
Dominic slapped her. "Who is in charge here?"
She hung her head, not daring to touch her reddening cheek. "You are," she whispered.
"Azka, if you would stop saying such things, then you wouldn't have to be punished."
"Yes, Nick. I apologize."
He drew her into his arms, stroking her face. "All is forgiven, Azka."
"Thank you, brother." She nuzzled his neck submissively. He enjoyed the feeling for a moment, before giving her a kiss on the lips. She responded quickly, and he wrapped his arms tightly around her.
"Good girl. Now, how will I get supplies?"
"Have them. We've been collecting what gets left behind or thrown out for years, Dominic. We even have robes."
Dominic looked at his sister, questioning still what to do. Finally, he took a small piece of their precious parchment and scribbled out his acceptance. He gave it to the owl. After it had flown away, he turned to his sister.
"So, what do you think their reaction will be when I don't ride the train?"
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Thank you all again for reading. Please review, it'll help with the depression that sets in at work, home, and a couple of my classes.
Until later,
Layelleswen