Here it is chapter 4. I'm so sorry that it has taken soooooo long to write this. I got stuck and I just couldn't figure what came next. I had to research ancient Egypt! Well enough of my blathering, on with the story.
Disclaimer: blah, blah, blah, I don't own it. Blah, blah, blah meg is genius. Blah, don't sue.
Chapter 4 Department of Mysteries
I found Harry with more ginger headed boys in the kitchen. How many people are in this family?
"Hey Suze! This is Fred and George. They own a joke shop in the wizarding world so keep an eye on them."
"Harry, mate-"
"Where have you been-"
"keeping her?"
"She's-"
"exactly what we're-"
"looking for in-"
"a girlfriend." They finished in unison.
"Mates, she's taken."
"All the good ones are." One of them said. They look completely identical so it might take a while to separate the two. "If you'll excuse us."
"We have to get going back to our shop." They walked out of the kitchen and left us alone.
"So, Harry, I was talking with Bill and he told about what he found."
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather talk to Hermione about this? She's much better at understanding these kinds of things."
"Actually, I need to talk to you, about Sirius. I told you I was going to help you bring Sirius back, remember?"
"Oh, sure. What do you need to know?"
"Anything and everything you could possibly know." Harry and I spent the next couple of hours going over every minute detail that he could remember. He also showed me the tapestry of the black family. I really wish they weren't such vindictive people. That way the names and faces hadn't been burned off.
By now it was late into the afternoon and so far I couldn't make any connection to Sirius and Egypt or the Veil, other than the obvious, like Jesse had suggested we do. I decided to go upstairs, Harry following behind me, to see if Jesse and Hermione had made any progress. Unexpectedly, we heard a loud yell. Harry spun me behind him, took his wand out and charged into the library. After a moment of shock that he took a wand out- I'm still getting used to it- I ran after him.
"Hermione! What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"Sorry to give you fright Harry, but I just read something very useful." I pushed past Harry as he was putting his wand away. "See here, 'Sirius Arcturus Black II was born 490 A.D. and was named thus after the constellation of Sirius. The place of birth was St. Kentigern in Egypt. On this day in Egypt, the river Nile flooded and irrigated the crops of the peoples here. So, should any other Pureblood male should be born under this star, he will share the name Sirius.' Jesse, do you have the most current Black family history?" Hermione was having trouble containing her excitement.
"Ah, yes." I saw Jesse pop his head above one of the bookshelves, "I left it under the Egyptian agriculture book." He disappeared and reappeared a moment later. "Here it is, Black Family History 1701-2000. Let me look up the date where Sirius is born." He opened the book close to the back. "'Sirius Orion Black was born under the constellation of Sirius. Once again the river Nile flooded and such due to old family decree, he was named so.' When is Sirius the constellation the brightest?" Jesse asked.
"In three days." We all turned to look at Bill who had just walked in and an old guy who had half moon glasses on. "I have been at the ministry petitioning to try and get you in to see the tablet. You're lucky I was on the discovery team because they have allowed us time to see it tomorrow. That gives overnight to come up with a plan of action, but why does it matter when Sirius is the brightest?"
"I have a theory that if Sirius died when he went into the Veil, then when he is pulled out, it would be similar to a rebirth. So, the event of the rebirth would need to happen on his birthday, the day that the star is the brightest. The family history is so deep, it could play a part in his retrieval." Jesse explained.
"That, my boy, is good thinking." The old guy said.
"Thank you. I'm sorry, I did not catch your name."
"Oh of course, of course introductions. I am Headmaster of Hogwarts and my name is Albus Dumbledore. I am here to give assistance where I can."
"Professor Dumbledore your knowledge is always helpful." Hermione said. "Do you think it could work?"
"It might, but I do believe we need to see this tablet before we can make any judgments. For now though, I would like to speak with Miss. Simon and Mr. de Silva." Jesse nodded his head, grabbed my hand and we followed this Dumbledore man to another part of the house. We were back in the room with the tapestry.
"Now, children how are you?" He asked.
"We are both trying to adjust." Jesse replied for the both of us. Normally I hate when people talk for me, but I couldn't get mad when he did it. Well, at least not right now.
"Good. There are things that the both of you need to know such as your relationship to Harry. Susannah, no one outside of this house can know that yourself and Harry are twins. There are people at Hogwarts whom should they receive this information it would be disastrous before you are trained as a witch." Great. "Speaking of your training as a witch, you will need to undergo a process, as will you Jesse. Ms. Granger has very graciously agreed in transferring her knowledge to the two of you. It won't be the most pleasant procedure, but you will receive potions so the pain will be bearable. We will have to wait until you reach Hogwarts. Susannah, you will keep your last name of Simon while at your stay. The story that will be told to the students is that you are transfers from America. You are transferring because your previous school did not have the teachers to help you with your ability to see spirits. The name of the school in America is the Salemdio School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"Professor Dumbledore, I understand that school begins at age 11 and goes on until 17. I am much older than 17 and Miss. Granger will only be entering her sixth year."
"Say no more my dear boy. I have thought about this and along with Miss Granger's knowledge you will both receive some of my own. You, Jesse, will receive more than Susannah. Now, enough of this official business. How are you two settling in?"
"I couldn't ask for a better brother. Trust me I have three step-brothers at home and I like Harry the most." I told him. Sure, we get along better now and Doc is the cutest little thing, but Harry and I have a blood connection. Plus, he hasn't had a moment to piss me off, yet.
"Good, good. Now, lets go see if we can figure out the mystery of the Veil, shall we?" The three of us walked back into the room where only Hermione and Bill remained. The five of us researched anything on Sirius, the Veil, and Shifters. Bill is researching the constellation Sirius and more on the Black family. Hermione and Dumbledore are looking into the Veil and Jesse and I are reading up on Shifters. I could have gone all night, but Mrs. Weasley ordered us to have food and go to sleep.
HPSS§§§SSHP
The next morning Hermione was on the receiving end of my grumpy early day behavior. I knew that today was the day when I could find out so much more about who I am as a shifter, but I can wait a couple more minutes or hours.
"Hermione, I will skip breakfast just let me sleep." I grumbled
"Oh, come on Suze. You can't miss breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day! Plus, we'll be leaving right after the meal."
"Why now? Can't we leave for a couple of hours?"
"We only have the tablet from nine forty-five until four fifteen. That means we only have five and a half hours to find a way to not only open the book, but also read it." She explained.
"Hermione, that was too much math, numbers, and thinking this early. We went to bed last night at twelve thirty and what time is it now?"
"Seven thirty-seven."
"That is only seven hours and thirty-seven-ish minutes of sleep. I require at least eight." This fight lasted until eight. She finally just threatened to hide my blow dryer if I didn't get up and get ready. In this house, I knew I would never find it.
We went down stairs and ate pancakes with everyone who was staying at the house. It was a long list of people; it is Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Harry, Jesse, and me all at the table. When almost when everyone was done eating, Dumbledore came in through the fireplace. While I know I saw it and it apparently happens a lot in this world, I'm still getting used to it.
"Hello all!"
"Good morning Albus. May I offer you some food or tea?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"No thank you, my kind lady. I am here because we must get going. Children, if we may." Bill, Hermione, Harry, Jesse, and I followed Dumbledore back through the fireplace to what they told me is the Ministry of Magic. It was a room full of fireplaces and people. We were guided to an old fashioned looking elevator and by the time we reached the Department of Mysteries, we were the only ones left on the elevator.
Bill led us to a door and when we walked through it, there stood what I assumed to be the Veil. I could hear voices coming from it and it gave me the chills that I get when I go to Shadowland. We walked through another door and in the center of this room was the book. I ran right at it and ran into a wall.
"What the-? Why did I just run into an invisible wall?" I turned to Bill and saw that he was laughing! Really now?
"You're in the Department of Mysteries. Should anyone stumble upon this when they're not supposed to, there are wards protecting the book. Just give me a second" Shaking his head with laughter, he moved his wand up and down and muttered something under his breath. "Okay, Suze, try that one more time" He was still laughing.
I walked this time and where I had hit the wall before, it was gone! Still skeptical I might run into another wall, I kept a slow pace. Then there it was in front of me, The Book of Shifters. I just knew that's what it was. I could feel it.
I went to touch and in a flash I was in Shadowland. Talking with the AmEx Gladiator. Again.
SSHP§§§HPSS
"Susannah?! Querida, please wake up." I could hear Jesse's voice in the distance and as hard as I tried to leave this place I couldn't. I didn't want to talk to his guy right now.
"Susannah Simon, I have brought you here." I started to panic. Last time he told me I shouldn't be there because it wasn't my time. Am I dying? Worse, am I dead? "You were summoned to be given information before you return to your world." Phew. "The Book of Shifters is in your presence and now it is your time to become in possession of it. It is yours. It was made by your ancestors centuries ago and it calls to you. Upon entering back into the other world, words will form in your head. This is how you open the book. Now go, too much time has been spent up here."
Just like the last time, in a heartbeat, I was back. I sat up with a breath filling my lungs. I turned to Jesse, "How long was I out?"
"About five minutes. You nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought we were going to have to leave and take you to a hospital. What happened?"
"The guy in charge of Shadowland took me up there. He explained to me how to open it and the history of it."
"Just when I think I've seen everything magic can do, something extraordinary happens. Susannah, who is this man and what did he say?" Dumbledore asked.
"He's the man in charge of ghosts and those in limbo. He told me that my ancestors made this tablet and put all of their knowledge into it. It belongs to me. Only I can open it because I am the last person in this lineage to have shifting abilities. He told me the words would just form when I'm ready." I stood up and looked at the slabs of marble and gold and words flew through my head. I couldn't make out a single important word or phrase. I felt like I had stood there for hours, when in reality it was only minutes. I put my hands on the cover and traced the symbols on the front. "Osiris' Book of the Dead: Powers of the Shifter."
"What did you just say?" Hermione asked
"I'm not sure. The words flew out without any real thought." I saw Bill turn to everyone and translate what I said. I didn't hear him do it, but I saw his mouth move. I continued to trace the symbols and the lock. I started to say a poem, "Into the world of the dead, Osiris lead the way. Two worlds begin to blend, an illusionment of grey. The land of the living, spirits betray.
Reveal your secrets, the daughter of all Shifters commands it!" The carved letters in the marble started to fill with liquid gold. Soon, the cover and the last page, which was also marble, were covered in gold. The whole book was now gold. After this last week of being shocked by all the things magic could do, this felt good. I felt more whole. I had no control over what was coming out of my mouth or what has going on around me, but I knew this was where I supposed to be.
The tablets looked to be made of liquid. I went to try and open it, but I knew I wouldn't be able to. I turned the book around and put my hands along the spine.
"Yes! There you are."
"There's what?" Harry asked.
"The key to open it." There was a crack on the back tablet that was straighter and deeper then the others. I knew it had been put there on purpose. I dug my short nails into it and pulled up. The gold over the marble lifted like on a hinge. I heard everyone gasp behind me probably thinking, 'Oh, Suze! Now look what you've done. You broke it!' I didn't pay much attention to the feeling that maybe they were right.
I felt like I was in the middle of The Mummy because there in the center was a key made out of gold. It was in the shape of a sun with rays, kinda like what the key from the movie looked like. Minus the compartment inside, I mean. Back to the task at hand, though, I grabbed it and I was stumped. I didn't know where to put this thing.
"What's the matter, Querida?"
"Everything else has come naturally, but I don't know where to go from here. I was able to read the cover. I mysteriously recited a poem I have never heard before in my life. I know to pop the back open like the trunk of a car. Now, nothing."
"Suze, did you know you where speaking ancient Egyptian when saying all those things?" Hermione asked.
"I WHAT? I thought I was speaking English the whole time. Actually, that whole reading the cover and reciting the poem thing, I don't remember much of it. Why is this so complicated?" I threw my hands in the air and in the process cut my hand with the key. I dropped the key onto the book and sucked on the wound. "Ouch. Things just keep getting better."
"Suze, look!" Harry said while pointing to the tablet. I turned towards the book and saw the lock open. Totally forgetting about my hand I rushed to open it. When I opened the book I was surprised to find that I could read easily. The hieroglyphics just made sense to me.
"The blood on the key must have been what it needed. An offering to prove who you really are." Dumbledore mused out loud. "Bill, how long do you think it will take you to translate these symbols?"
Bill rubbed his head. "I'd say a couple of hours. That's assuming I know all the symbols in the book."
"I can do it faster." I said. "I can read this as if it was in English." I turned towards the book and found that it was in English. "Wait, it is in English."
"No, its in hieroglyphics, Suze."
"Let me read something and Bill can verify it. 'Shifters have powers that pharaohs fear. They can bring people from their tombs to this realm.'" I moved out of the way so Bill could see.
"That's exactly what it says. Word for word. How do you see it in English?"
"I'm not sure. One second its in Egyptian, the next English."
"Suze, can you see if there's any more explanation of how to bring people back?" Harry asked. I saw in his eyes a hope that I had when Jesse started breathing on his own in the hospital all those months ago.
"We're going to find out." The six of us sat down on the floor and got comfortable. I jumped to the parts the seemed to be on the section of bringing people back. I knew if I couldn't read the rest then I would want to come back and find out. It took a couple of hours before we decided to get some lunch and start again in an hour. When we came back the tablet was in a different spot than when we had left it.
"Bill, did you forget to put the wards back up?" Hermione asked.
"No. I made sure that they were all active when we left. Unless someone who knows how to get in came and left."
"I don't think so. I think it knows what we're here for. This is how to retrieve Sirius back from the Veil." I told them.
This one is a little shorter than the others, but we get to see our lovely Sirius next chapter :)
So, please review down there and you don't even have to be that nice, but I would like it if you were.