A/N- Reviews are like gold.
Last Time..
"Makes me sort of wish I was your partner." He said absentmindedly, before turning red.
"Which part?" I asked, wondering who would wish a frozen butt on themselves.
"The part where you tackled him." He muttered, flushing red. "See you then."
"See you" I repeated in utter shock.
"See you?" Rachel's voice repeated from somewhere behind me."Is that the best you had?"
"Well I wasn't really expecting-" I muttered, red faced.
"Okay, but see you?" Rachel smiled at me wide, letting me know she was just kidding.
"Rachel!" I whined. "Stop making me feel like more of a fool than I already do."
"You should feel brilliant." Alicia chimed in, walking up beside me.
"Why is that?" Rachel asked.
"Did you miss how she completely freezed James' arse in the middle of DADA?" Alicia said, her eyes wide with laughter.
"That was pretty brilliant." I joked, feeling my reddened face get a little more back to normal.
"It's no wonder Fenwick wants you." Rachel joked.
"Fenwick?" Alicia practically squealed. "He's ace."
"You girls really have to stop talking about me." Sirius jumped in, wrapping an arm around Alicia.
"Oh hey Stacy!" I waved at the air behind him and his eyes went wide in fear. "Lighten up Sirius."
"Ouch." James said, as Alicia and Rachel laughed. Alicia had thrown Sirius' hand off her as she did and Rachel was clutching her stomach, doing imitations of a wide eyed Sirius. "First me, then you." He said to Sirius. "Peter's probably next."
"I'm not evil." I said, as Rachel and Alicia's laughter died down.
"Not evil." Rachel said patting my back encouragingly. "Just brilliant."
"It wasn't that funny." James stifled a laugh himself.
"Oh come on." Alicia cried, as we started walking out of the room.
"Honestly I thought you had her for a second." Sirius said thoughtfully, his hands in his pockets and his bag flung around his shoulder
"Then she flipped on him." Rachel added. "Did you lot see that?"
"I saw it." Sirius nodded. "But did you see how James' face went red?"
"Bugger it all to hell." Alicia said with a pinched and pained expression, clutching her butt.
"Sorry James." I said, looking over at him sheepishly as the three continued their shenanigans.
"S'alright." He said, smiling down at me devilishly. "Just watch your own rear end for a while."
My face turned red as he grabbed Sirius ' shoulder.
"C'mon mate. Let's hurry to class." He said, before he and Sirius jogged off.
"Their going to prank somebody." Alicia said, shoving some hair behind her ear.
"What?" I asked, still trying to control my red face. I remembered my Metamorphagus powers and simply transfigured my cheeks normal. I gave a sigh of relief as Rachel explained.
"First clue." She began "Remus and Peter are missing."
"Meaning?" I prodded as we turned a corner
"That they don't want to be involved." Alicia answerd, as she waved to a rather good looking student in hufflepuff robes.
"Second, they never go to class early, no matter what." Rachel whispered, as the hufflepuff walked towards us.
"Cheers" He said, in a perky voice.
"Cheers." Rachel and Alicia answered, Alicia flipped her hair and smiled towards me.
"Nick, this is Nick." She said, grinning. Nick and I couldn't help but grin ourselves.
"Never met a bird named Nick." He said, smiling at me.
"It's really Nicole." I said, smiling back as I tucked some hair behind my ears.
"You must be the first new student in the history of Hogwarts." Nick said, walking amicably with us on our way.
"I wouldn't know." I said shyly.
"There was one other, back when the founders were in charge." Rachel added, her face growing red as the male Nick and Alicia stared at her disbelievingly. "What!" She said defensively. "It was in Hogwarts, A History."
"And when have you ever read that?" Alicia asked, as she and Nick exchanged glances.
"I didn't." She said "Lily has." As though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"That is much more believable." Nick said, only to receive a playful punch from Rachel.
"So, Nick." Rachel said, and both Nick and I looked her way. "As in Nicole." Nick laughed and turned back to the hall in front of him. "Lets run by the dormitories and pick up my potions book."
"Sure." I said, unsure of her expression. I nodded good bye and a pleased to meet you to Nick and Alicia and we headed off, in the wrong direction. "I'm new, I know but I'm pretty sure the tower is that-a-way." I said, pointing with one hand as Rachel dragged me off by my other arm.
"I know that." She huffed, pulling to a stop. "But they ned some alone time" She said, wiggling her eyebrows.
"ooh" I said, nodding in understandment. "So, what do we do?"
Rachel rubbed a hand in her black hair and thought hard for a second, before lifing a finger
"We don't have our next class for another hour." She said, pausing for effect. "So lets go visit those lovely Uncles of yours"
"Sure." I said, as though talking to a child.
"Yes!" She pumped the air with her hand and grabbed my arm. "Shall we?"
"We shall!"
-----------
"Uncles" I cried, as we walked into the hospital wing.
"Neice!" A voice called from behind and grabbed me by the waist.
"Don't kill the girl Fabian." Gideon called from behind us. I turned around in Fabians arms and saw both of my uncles dressed and looking grim.
"What happened?" I asked, knowing that if they had only been released they would be alot cheerfuller.
"We need to go see Dumbledore." Fabian said, grabbing my hand tightly. "Hey Rachel." He said absentmindedly as he drug me out of the Hospital wing.
"I'll see you in class then?" Rachel said, sounding concerned, before Gideon walked up to us and flanked my other side.
"Fabian?" I asked. "Can I have my hand back?"
"I like holding it." Was the dry answer.
"McGonagall went to find you." Gideon said, looking at the ground in concentration as we turned a corner.
Seeing the maddened determination in both of their eyes, I felt two emotions that I considered as we made our way to the Headmaster's office. The first was a warm feeling in my stomach that I recognized as acknowledgement for being cared for. It made my limbs feel warm and brought a smile to my face, which I soon wiped off realizing the contrast between my expression and theirs.
We started walking up the stairs at such a fast pace that I stumbled over the first. Fabian lifted me by my arm and muttered a sorry before rushing off at the same pace. I bit my sarcastic reply and considered my second emotion, peace. I had an inkling of what the buzz was about, my new powers or whatever the old prophecy had predicted. It said I was to begin developing new powers on my arrival, and although I was a bit anxious and apprehensive at this firm conformation of my fate, I was relaxed it finally happened.
We passed a few Ravenclaws and I felt a pang in my stomach, what if I was wrong. What if this wasn't Dumbledore realizing I was a metamorphagi, and no doubt had other hidden talents. What if this was something worse; I gripped Fabians hand tighter and he rubbed my thumb realizing my tenseness must mean fear. I shook my head and looked over at Gideon,
"What happened guys." I repeated as we neared Dumbledores office in our fast pace.
"A prophecy has been made." Fabian answered, as Gideon coughed the password. The Gargoyle jumped out of place and we walked into the silent office. Dumbledore sat in his high chair and in front of him sat a frenzied woman with white flowing hair and a shocked, pinched look on her face..
Fabian and Gideon stayed standing behind the chairs and Fabian raised our joined hands motioning for me to sit down. I did so, silently and looked up to make eye contact with Dumbledore, who was watching me with an unreadable expression.
"This prophecy." Dumbledore said, before looking away. I waited for him to continue and when he didn't. I looked over at the woman beside me who showed no sign of hearing Dumbledore speak at all. I waited another moment before clearing my throat. Both Dumbledore and the woman turned to face me and the shuffles behind me told me my uncles were doing the same.
Obviously my subtle cough didn't have the intended results. Why was nobody waiting for Dumbledore to finish his thoughts? Unless, nobody else heard him...
I looked up to the saphire eyed wizard and tried to hear his thoughts. Was this one of the powers the old prophecy predicted? If this new prophecy was any sort of conformation of the old one, shouldn't the mood in this room be considerablly different?
"Can you hear me?" Dumbledore said, and I jumped when I realized his lips didn't move.
"You didn't say that outloud did you/" I asked, and the stares turned from me to Dumbledore as he smiled in a sad way and nodded.
"So it begins." The lady said, in a surprisingly deep voice.
"So what begins Professor, so what?" Fabian cried in exasperation, I turned behind me and Gideon was standing solemnly over my seat, black hair ruffled and face paled while Fabian stood exhasperatly and animatedly by a cupboard.
"So the prphecy takes place." The deep-voiced woman said, before closing her eyes and raising her hands. "The prophesiesed shall come forth, and fulfill her destiny. The prophesiesed shall come, and sieze her gifts. One has already been given, two shall be like those of the Dark Lord, two as of yet unheard of will be given when she loses her two protectors, and One more shall be put upon her when she gains them back. And so shall she shall fulfill her destiny."
"Lose my two protectors?" I repeated, my voice rough with panic. "What?"
"You shall gain them back my dear." The woman said and I stared at her incredulously.
"I don't want to lose them at all!" I said, reaching up to hold Gideons hand.
"You don't even know who they might be." The lady said patronizingly.
"I think thats quite bloody obvious." Fabian muttered from his place, before walking over to join me and Gideon. I stood inbetween their two tall figures and felt my face pale with understanding. I turned and buryed myself in one of their chests, feeling my tears bubble over.
"I'm sorry." I muttered, as Gideon patted my back and pulled me a bit closer to him.
"This is not your fault." He said, but I knew otherwise.
"It really isn't." Fabian added, his expression unknown to me. "We joined the order, and even if we weren't apart of it, we would protect you anyways."
"Yeah, thats what great grand-uncles are for Nick!"
"You're a Prewitt now." Fabian added. "Great at Quidditch, Good looks and always stick together."
"Where do you come up with this?" Gideon said, though I felt him chuckle just as I had.
Gideons question unanswered, I pulled myself from his chest and wiped my tears off my face, before grinning slightly at Fabian.
"And so it shall begin." Dumbledore said, shaking his head slightly. "As to not bring anymore attention to you in these Halls Ms. Prewitt I suggest that you make it to your next class. We do not need Voldemort learning about your existence."
"He's right." The woman said, and both Gideon and Fabian scoffed.
"Can we walk her professor?" Gideon asked, keeping a hand on my shoulder.
"This building is your home Gideon, feel free to wander any halls you might like.But Nick, please visit me at your earliest convenience. There are heady matters to discuss" He said, with a sad grin on his mouth before we all walked out silently.
"Legilimens." Gideon muttered.
"I think it's brilliant." Fabian said, pulling me around as soon as we walked into the hall. He lifted my face to see his and made a funny face. "Quick, what am I thinking."
"That Gideon is the smarter brother." I quipped, not even trying to read his thoughts, Gideon barked out laughing and Fabian turned a bit red. "Fine." I said, pulling my face back to ihs and making eye contact.
How had I done this with DUmbledore? I thought. I had looked into his eyes, and wondered what was going on. Is that all I had to do?
I looked into Fabians eyes and thought loudly, What are you thinking Fabian, before a flood of thoughts hit me.
'This is brilliant.'
'Am I sure I want her to know what I'm thinking?'
'I wonder if she's doing it yet.'
'I wonder if Rachel still has that crush on me.'
'she is a looker.'
'but she's only a fifth year.'
'Why does Nick look so sad.'
'I wish I was a legilimens.'
"Okay!" I yelled. "Stop it!"
"Did you do it?" Fabian asked, eyes going wide as marbles as I rubbed my temples.
"Yes." I said bitterly. "How is it possible for one to have so many thoughts in their head? And honetsly Rachel?"
Fabian grew red and shocked and Gideon seemed to freeze.
"Rachel?" Gideon yelled, before Fabian slapped a hand on his mouth.
"Shh!" He said, turning a brilliant crimson. "She's too young I know."
"Mum and Dad were four years apart." Gideon said, smirking.
"My mum and dad were 30." I said, rolling my eyes. "Future thing."
"Gross." Gideon and Fabian chorused. Gideon smacked an arm on Fabians hsoulder and smiled.
"That makes this seem a bit more normal." he said, grinning widely. "Just wait until she's graduated."
"I was gonna." Fabian said, pushing his arm of his shoulder. "Now, can we get Nick to class?"
The rest of the walk went on silently, even the two jokesters were too lost in their thoughts to do or say anything on the way. I found myself practicing my new skill to distract me, on innocent bystanders just walking through the halls I'd look up and catch their eyes, the first was a slytherin.
'Of all the god forsaken things for my mother to say The raven haired boy was thinnking, as he made eye contact with me And there are on of His friends, why does he make everything so diff-
His thoughts were lost to me as soon as he pulled out of his glare than walked away, apparantly he was storming away from the group of slytherins now following suit.
I looked up and found myself smiling on the inside at the sight of Lucius Malfoy.
I looked up and caught his eye, challenging him to stare back with a flick of my chin. He, looked a bit taken back at first, but quickly took the challenge and tried to glare me into submissiveness.
She is rather beautiful His snide voice whispered through his ice-blue eyes Why won't she act like a normal Gryffindor and fear me? A normal girl rather, does she not know that with an express of my will I could have her parents destroyed?
I couldn't hellp at grimace at the nonchalant way in which he thought that, as though every sixteen year old boy could drop threats like that and not even flinch. I was glad he walked past my line of sight when Narcissa made a rather disgusting move where noone could see and his thoughts became muddled.
"Sickening." I muttered, and shook my head when Fabian looked down to me questiningly.
Okay? He thought, and I nodded, before answering.
"Slytherins have sick minds." I said grimly, as we reached the door to my first class "Which class is this again?" I asked, puzzling at the familiar voice yelling at a student for misbehaving.
"Transfig my dear." Fabian said grimacing. "This class nearly killed me."
"But I passed with flying colours." Gideon said, smiling smugly. "Looks like there are some benefits to lacking the Quidditch gene."
"Oi!" Fabian defended me. "Just because she's a seeker doesn't mean she's as rubbish in Transfiguration as I was."
"Thats exactly what I mean." Gideon said, smiling from me to a rather not amused Fabian.
"Hey." I said, looking both ways down the hall. "Would you like me to let you in on a secret?"
I figured these guys were going to risk all they had for me, I should at least keep nothing from them.
"What are you about to do?" Fabian asked warily, running a hand through his brown hair.
"Does it involve any explosions or illegal behavior?" Gideon asked, watching me with wide blue eyes
"Because we are Aurors." Fabian added, his voice dropping below a whisper.
"No it's nothing illegal." I said sighing, before remembering something Snape told me about the Marauders. "Wait, is being an unregistered Animagi illegal?"
"You're a what!" Fabian yelled, before Gideon threw a hand on his mouth.
"Yep?" I said, transforming into my alter ego and yelping in question. My paws were lifted from the ground as Gideon picked me up and petted my fur.
"You really are the cutest little criminal you know." He said, scratching between my ears.
"Any other surprises?" Fabian asked sarcastically, before turning to Gideon and smiling. "Should we name it?"
"It's still a her." Gideon said, rolling his eyes as he looked at me. "How about Gideon junior because we know I'm her favorite?"
"Come off it-" Fabian said, interrupted by a yelp from me when Gideon stopped petting. He resumed and smirked at Fabian who rolled his eyes. "Fiddick" Fabian said grinning. I groaned and pretended to roll of dead in Gideons arms, but Gideon only looked at Fabian weirldly.
"What?" he asked. "Where in the hell did you come up with a name like Fiddick? Is it German?"
"No you git." Fabian said, rubbing my exposed belly. "Fiddick is the three of our names put together."
"Brilliant." Gideon said grinning as he let me down. "For a jock."
"Fiddick?" I asked as I transformed back and smiled, looking at Fabian like I was worried for his health.
"Gideon said it was briliant!" He said in defense of himself.
"And Gideon is now saying that little Fiddick needs to get to class." Gideon said, rubbing my hair as I put a hand on the door knob.
"Be in Dumbledores office later?" I asked, not yet wanting them to leave.
"Sorry love, we've got to be at work." Was there answer, before waving goodbye and jogging down the halls. I took a deep breath and watched their retreating backs as they walked away, exhaling with a sadness that I would lose them. Granted I would gain them back but they would be gone, in danger for an indeterminant amount of time.
Gideon laughed at something Fabian said and pushed him to the side before the brothers broke out into an all out race out of my line of sight. Not even realizing the weight I was puting on the door knob something clicked within me.
I would be without the two that care about me; I had never truly been alone. Always, there had always been somebody somewhere that cared about me. What would I do with myself when they were gone? I knew that the marauders were trustworthy, they had kept Remus' secret for y ears. But what of me; do they consider me a friend?
The click within me grew stronger, and I sucked in a breath and fell against the door when I realized nothing had clicked, something had broke.
Fending off the inevitable hyperventilation that I could feel growing within my chest, I took in a deep breath when-
"How kind of you to join us Ms. Prewitt." McGonagall said, and I realized I had entered the classroom. I looked up at her and caught her eyes with mine, and in that instant, despite her buisiness like, critisizing tone I knew that she was truly concerned for me.
"Sorry proffesor." I muttered, pulling myself straight, not realizing until I had done so that I was still hunched over with my hand on the knob. Slowly, I closed the door behind me and took the first empty seat I saw, right beside the door. It wasn't until after I sat and jeers and sneers followed that I looked up at my seating partner and realized that I was sitting beside a Slytherin.
Knowing that Slytherins, like Severus, aren't all bad, I rolled my eyes at the cat calls and the look he was giving me to pull out my hair tie and hide my face behind a sheet of hair.
"To Order class." McGonagall said, tapping her wand against the podium, before continuing. "The act of becoming an Animagi is an extremely difficult act. It's challenging and can only be done under the supervision of a registered animagus with Ministry permission-"
I buryed my face in my hands and bit my lip in exasperation. I was weak.
Plain and simple, I wasn't strong like Severus, who managed to brave his family and friends for what he believed in, alone. I wasn't like my grandmother, who had faught till the end in that last battle I witnessed. And I definetly wasn't as strong as my grandfather, who managed to continue fighting after my grandmother had fallen.
I was Nicole Weasley, Granddaughter and mentee to the bravest witches and wizarads of any era, and I was utterly and completely weak.
I felt my broken link grow even more jagged and severed as the two links of what was once whole grew further away.
I needed somebody to help me through my task. I needed a shoulder to trust, to cry on. I needed-
"Nick" James said from behind me, sneering at the Slytherin I was seated besides. I looked around and realized everyone had started moving around to break up into groups. "We saved you a seat."
"Away from the dungeons wastes." Sirius added, and I looked up to see him standing defensively beside James. I didn't know either James or Sirius that well, socially that is, and I knew they would do this if any Gryffindor sat beside a Slytherin. The look in James' eyes was more daring than what I expected, I already had a tie to James though. He was my quidditch captain, if only for the more selfish reasons he would need me to be feeling my best to win games. I nodded at the raven haired boy and his brunette counter part and walked behind them in a dream-like state. I was hardly even aware of my feet moving forward and started when I saw that I had already reached their table. The four marauders had seemed to forget I was there, as they started talking animatedly about something or another in hushed tones. I looked at the fierce determination in Remus' eyes, the apprehensive loyalty in Peters chubby face, and the pure excitedness that filled James and Sirius' eyes and guess what they were talking about.
The full moon was tonight, even though I could not here a word of what the boys were saying, because of the buzzing in my ears I recognized as muffliato, I did what might be the worst mistake I ever made.
First I realized this is what I needed, comraderie past that of Fabian and Gideon, Dumbledore and McGonagall. I needed friends who would risk their lives for me, even though I knew I would never ask them to do such a thing.
The second thing I did was turn my chair out of the desk and stood to walk over to where the boys were, I stood directly behind the tight circle, only a breath away from Remus' back and I reached up to touch his school uniform. His eyes grew wide but relaxed, undoubtedly remembering muffliato.
"Remove it." I muttered, as quiet as I could, knowing that the boys hadn't cast the spell to keep my words out of dangerous ears as well.
I then realized that I could just as easily go to Lily, the bravest woman in the world and seek solace in her friendship. To ask that I walk willingly into a battle against Voldemort with no loved ones supporting me morally was too much. Lily could support me all she could, and I whipped my head over to where she stood; my arm on Remus' shoulder stayed hung, though the four boys faced me now.
Lily's red hair was up in a pony tail, and she fought visioucly against a her stool turned rat to keep it in place, I shook my head frantically to scold myself for thinking I could bring this upon Lily. She was the best person I could consider gaining the friendship of, and she had more than proved her loyalty. But when I saw her finally restrain the rat and march proudly up to McGonagall, I remembered my Great Aunt, Ginny Potter. The same fierce red hair and determination, and I was filled with an overwhelming urge to protect Lily, from the fate my grandmother served.
It was illogical and irrational thinking, but as I tried to pull my hand off Remus' shoulder, my arm completely unresponsive, all I could see in Lily's green eyes was a speck of brown, and Great Aunt Potter.
It would have to be these boys.
The third thing I did, that was quite possibly the epitome of impulsive, was demand again the slight buzzing in my ears be removed.
"Remus." I said, though I looked at the floor. "Remove it."
With a flick of his wand, Sirius removed the spell and my eyes were drawn towards the quick movement. All of the boys stared at me, their expressions impassive, not giving away a flicker of thought. Surprised even Peter could pull of that look I took a deep breath and drew upon what little courage I possesed at that time. All the while fighting against the severed strands within me, growing too far apart for comfort.
I looked up and met each of their eyes individually, before landing on Remus' and staying there.
"I want in" I said, and saw his brown eyes seize in surprise before quickly dropping the emotion.
"Into what?" Sirius asked, watching me as well with a forced casual air. "I'm sorry love but marau-
"Into you're midnight adventures." I interrupted grimly, forcing my gaze upon Sirius' eyes, as Peter gasped and nearly fell over.
