Everything is J.K. Rowlings. I only claim the plot. Everything else is hers, all the characters and the magic, all of it. Please let me know what you think though, I encourage feedback of all kinds, just be nice about it!
Sorry for the delay. I feel like I say that everytime, but it's true. I have so many thoughts for this fic I'm just struggling with putting them all to words. Anyway, the next couple chapters should come quicker to post though because they all go together and I'm almost done with them. I didn't want to jump directly to Sia going to Hogwarts, though I'm super excited for that part. Anyway, here it is, and like I said the next couple should come quicker. No promises about the rest of the chapters after that though.
Oh and side note. I just posted a new fanfic called 'Right of Conquest'. So if you are interested check it out. Not at all like this one, but hopefully not terrible. I'm hoping it might help jog my muse for this one and help me sort out my thoughts. Who knows? Anyway, enjoy.
Chapter 9
"Sia! Come on, check this out!" Jamie called to her over the chaos of Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, which was chaotic on a slow day but today there seemed to be triple the average number of customers.
George Weasley had witnessed what gifted pranksters the Three Musketeers were turning into and so sometimes let Sia, Zain and Jamie help out at the store. They were only ten so they couldn't do much but they were great salespeople. George boasted that the three of them could get any customer to double their purchases.
Sia enjoyed helping out at the store, it was a great break from the House and it allowed her to see more of the Wizarding world. Each time to set foot into a magical area she got excited, just the feeling of magic buzzing in the air, energized her to no end. For the purposes of the day she was flashing a head of Weasley red hair, tied into a braid that Miss Padma had done up that morning. Sia had even brought out some freckles to complete her Weasley look. George claimed that she looked like a young Ginny when he first saw her. Sia had merely beamed at the compliment and set to work.
Jamie led her over to a secluded dark corner where Zain stood holding a couple colorful gummies in his hands. "It's one of Uncle George's new inventions. They change you into an animal for a couple seconds. Come on, try some with us!"
She looked hesitantly at the handful of colors in her brothers hand. While changing shape into an animal might sound fun there was a lot that could go wrong that made her leery of trying the candies. Plus, she could already change shape willingly. But looking at how happy and eager her friends were, she quickly relented and gave them a wide smile.
"Alright. But who goes first?" she asked, already guessing who it would probably be.
"I'll go!" Zain laughed. Sia smiled fondly, suspicions confirmed. Whenever there was something to be tried or dared or risked, Zain was always at the forefront of it all. The boy just couldn't back down from a challenge. "Pick a color," he said holding out his hands.
"Hmm… brown one," Jamie declared after glancing over his color options.
Depositing the other candies off to the side, Zain held the selected candy between his fingers, surveying it like a rare specimen that he had just discovered. After a moment, he gave Sia a quick wink before quickly popping the candy in his mouth. There was a moment's pause before a brown puff of smoke which then revealed a small rat.
Letting out a squeak at the sight, Sia danced on her tiptoes as Zain proceeded to scurry around their feet. "A rat? Merlin, think these beans are just revealing our inner natures?" Jamie teased good-naturedly as he hopped on one foot as the rat Zain climbed onto his foot.
Less than a minute later, another puff of brown smoke revealed Zain standing before them once more. "Rude," is all he said to Jamie as he brushed the dust off his hands that had remained from his rat paws. "You're turn. Try the green one."
Rising to the challenge Jamie confidently swiped a green bean. He barely gave the candy a second look as he popped it into his mouth. A tiny frog soon stood in his place.
Sia couldn't help the laughter that escaped her lips as she looked at the little frog jump around indignantly. Zain chortled as he bent down to pick up Jamie. "Aww...such a cute froggie. Hey Sia, I wonder if he's really a prince in disguise. Wanna give him a kiss," Zain teased, enjoying the chance to get back at Jamie for his previous teasing.
"It'll take more than a kiss to make him a prince," Sia replied giggling. The tiny frog gave a glare and croaked loudly in response. Luckily though Jamie soon returned to them, hopping out of Zain's hands as he transformed.
"Aw, Sia, I'm hurt. I think I'm definitely prince material," Jamie pouted, she just snorted and rolled her eyes. Bracing herself as the boys began debating which candy she should try. Taking this moment, she glanced over her shoulder to see if any customers were wandering towards the darkened corner, but no one seemed to be nearby. Turning back to face her friends, she saw Zain holding out a harmless purple candy.
"You're turn," he smirked. Not going to back down after the other two had already gone, Sia picked up the candy and popped it into her mouth. It was grape flavored...sour grape flavored. Before she could pucker her lips in response to the taste she had shrunk down to knee level.
Startled, Sia let out a cry but it came out as a loud squawk. Surprised, she gave a small hop and spread her arms but instead of arms, it was wings. She was a bird of some sort.
"Oh cool! We didn't get a parrot. How come you got the cool animal?" Jamie stated staring wide-eyed at her.
'Because you two dolts picked my candy,' is what Sia tried to say but instead it was just a series of squawks which caused the boys to double over in laughter. Huffing, Sia just turned her head and took the remaining time to observe her parrot-like appearance. She had purple plumage and stood as tall as the boys knees. It was a bizarre feeling but she comforted herself knowing that it would be over soon. Any minute actually...she thought to herself.
Nervously, Sia hopped on her bird legs as she glanced up at the boys. They were still too busy laughing to notice that she had yet to change back. Flapping her wings in annoyance she tried to get their attention but her antics just caused them to laugh more. It must have been five minutes before the boys calmed down enough to key into the fact that Sia was still a parrot.
"Hey...Zain….why is Sia not back yet?" Jamie asked his worry creeping into his voice and kicking out the merriment that had been present only moments before.
"Not sure…..maybe it was just a long-lasting one? I'm sure she'll change back soon…." Zain replied, attempting a confident tone.
Sia flapped her wings in agreement. As cool as being a bird was, she didn't want to remain one. Getting restless, Sia started hopping around and flapping her wings, debating if she wanted to try flying for a bit before she changed back.
"Mate….I think something is wrong….we need to talk to your Uncle. He might know what to do. These aren't even on the shelves yet, it's probably just a glitch. He'll know how to fix it," Zain muttered, his fingers fidgeting on overdrive with some string and buttons he had taken from his pockets.
"You're right….I'll be right back…" Jamie whispered before bolting off into the store calling for his Uncle George.
"Don't worry, Sia. We'll get you back to normal," Zain promised as he watched his adopted sister hop around as a bird.
"Merlin's saggy pants, what is up with you, Jamie?" George Weasleys' voice asked as the two came closer.
"It's Sia. She isn't changing back….we were trying your candies and it's not working," Jamie explained in a rush, his words tumbling over each other.
"What do you mean she won't change back? What candies did you three steal?" George's voice grew more stern as his questioning continued.
"The animal changing ones," Jamie replied sheepishly. It was at this time that Jamie had arrived with George close behind him.
"Oh how did they go? I'm quite proud of those I am. Planning on putting them on the shelves in a couple weeks."
"I think you need some more testing on them, sir," Zain piped up.
"Why is that? What did you three do? Wait….there is only two of you here…." George muttered looking between Jamie and Zain as though mentally counting out that they were missing the third trio member. "Where is Sia?" At the question Sia gave a squawk and flapped her wings as loudly as she could to draw the man's attention down to the ground where she stood. At the sight of her George's eyes widened. "Oh Merlin….no worries. I'll fix this," he assured them, rolling up his sleeves and pulling out his wand. Exchanging relieved smiles, Jamie and Zain took a few steps back so that Sia was the sole focus of the wands direction. "Don't think this gets you three out of any extra trouble for swiping those candies though," George warned casting a critical eye over Sia. Nodding to himself, he began muttering words and waving his wand, pausing every now and then as if waiting for something to happen. After thirty minutes of testing, George was sweating, Jamie and Zain were sitting on the ground with anxious looks on their faces, and Sia was still a parrot. "Bloody hell, Neville and Padma are going to murder me," George muttered running a hand through his ginger hair. "Alright, lads, I think we are going to have to go to St. Mungo's for this," George said speaking at a normal tone again. "Give me a minute to close down the shop and send a message to Harry and Neville and we'll go."
A moment later, George was gone, disappearing back into his store though his voice was soon heard ushering his customers out. "Oh Sia, I'm so sorry," Zain cried, crawling forward and scooping up the purple parrot into his arms. Sia squeaked at having her wings crushed against her but let it happen. She knew that Zain needed to be holding her, it would help him from falling apart.
"Me too, Sia. I'm sorry. I never should have swiped the candies. I didn't know this would happen," Jamie whispered, crawling closer and running a hand over her parrot head. Sia batted his hand with her wing to let him know she didn't blame him and nipped at Zains' cheek with her beak to show her forgiveness. The boys released shaky smiles but Sia knew they were far from appeased.
"Alright, let's go. We'll take the floo," George said returning after the store had emptied. "Neville and Padma will be meeting us at St. Mungo's. Harry said he and Ginny would be there in an hour to get you Jamie. Let's go." Zain didn't let Sia go as the group was ushered up the stairs and into George's apartment to use the fireplace.
