Listening to: Circle of Life from the Lion King
Okay, I had up to about chapter 17 written until Bri reviewed and gave me a whole new idea, so I deleted everything and have spent time rewriting it. I feel completely stupid for doing that, but I like the way the story's going now.
Of course, I couldn't do this without the support of all my loyal readers and reviewers (coughBricough), the wonderful job I have been at for officially a year (as of August 7th), and the fact that my parents dislike the fact that I'm a Harry Potter geek. So, here's the (revamped for the third or fourth time) Chapter 14.
Chapter 14
R. suggested that tomorrow we visit his parents. I'm a little hesitant- would they know an Aviborn or a Keeney on sight? But then again, I feel like I'm locked in prison even at Spinner's End, so any excuse to get out is welcome. I agreed only one condition-that S. and the others (excluding N. as she needs to 'distract' her good-for-nothing husband and I have suspicions that she might be pregnant with his brat and think I should know the signs, having been pregnant at least once a year since 1976 myself) set up an unmarked car in case we need to get away quickly.
I just feel that something terrible is going to happen. I just hope that it isn't another death, after losing F.P. and G.P. earlier this year, it's too soon for that.
- from the journal of Lady Aster Jean Keeney, 2 December 1979
The next day, Ron found himself on the Hogwarts Express with the other Avis that were actually going home (or some variation thereof) for the holidays. "Has anyone seen Neville?" Ginny asked as the train rolled along the tracks.
"I saw him earlier and he said something about meeting a girl." Harry replied, playing a game of chess with Ron. "And from the way he looked he was rather excited."
"Who?" Ron asked as he captured another pawn. "Luna Lovegood." Harry said. "Ravenclaw. Apparently her dad's the editor of The Quibbler."
"Loony Lovegood?" Ron asked. "He's mental." Ginny shrugged. "We all knew that was coming. No guy spends that much time with plants."
"So what's going on over the holidays?" Ron asked Hermione who was reading a rather battered copy of Hogwarts, A History. The others snorted in what he supposed was an attempt to cover up laughter. "The Avalon Court is coming to the Ministry." Hermione said, "and-" "-they're going to force Abigail into something both she and her mother never wanted." Ginny finished, looking at Ron. "And apparently the reception is going to be at Malfoy's place."
"How much do you want to bet that we're going to be coming in to see the place destroyed?" Harry asked and Hermione gave him a look. "I mean, Abigail's incapable of letting an insult go and-" "Draco will probably jump in to defend her." Ginny finished. "Also, there's the whole technically he's a Death Eater thing that most of the Court'll have kittens over."
"So he's a Death Eater," Ron said. "And the place is going to be crawling with our supporters." Hermione put her book down. "Being a Death Eater is serious business to the Avis." she explained. "Aster Jean only sanctioned two as spies and they had to carry permits with them to show they had permission from the Court to have the Dark Mark and that they were spies for Avalon."
"Who were the spies?" He asked curiously. "Well, one was Abigail's dad, Regulus Black," Harry said. "The other, we're not so sure, but we reckon it was Professor Snape."
"Well, he always hung out with that crowd." Ron said casually as the train pulled into the station. "So, when exactly is this going to happen?"
"The one holiday that hasn't officially been celebrated on Avalon since time began," Neville said, slipping in to grab his trunk with a goofy grin.
"Christmas."
{PAGEBREAK}
Lucius Malfoy prided himself on one thing. He never spied on anyone. If he happened to overhear a conversation, than any information gleamed was fair game.
Of course, when it came to the son he'd last seen as a baby and was now a teenage boy with raging hormones (he suspected as much by the way they were playing footsie under the dinner table), then perhaps a lecture or two about not looking undignified- or more specifically, getting caught looking undignified was in order. So, he was walking towards the room that he'd set aside years ago for his son. The door was slightly ajar, and he was about to come in when he heard voices.
"-don't know what you're talking about, Abigail." Draco was saying. He heard the cover of a book snap shut.
"You know as well as I do that if they do get a hold of me, than this will be for nothing." he heard the girl's voice snap. "The fact that Johnson chose here is proof that he's testing the boundaries. Do you honestly think that Riddle will let the chance slip by?"
"Well no, but I don't think that my father will allow us to be attacked, especially since he knows what could happen." Draco snapped and he could see a figure move to the desk in the room. "You're being paranoid."
"Really? I'm seeing things that are going to happen, and I'm the one being paranoid? Divination might not be an exact science, but it's a hell of a lot better than trying to guess what his next move will be." He saw a figure move back to the window.
"All I'm saying is what you're suggesting is dangerous, if Riddle found out-" "Of course he's going to find out." Abigail snapped. "Once enough of them are destroyed, he's going to go berserk trying to find the rest."
"Are we even sure that your father destroyed the locket or is that just a good guess?"
"We'd have to get to his place to check that, so right now it's a guess. Or Harry could do that for us."
"That'd be a pleasant conversation. 'Hello Harry, tell us, have you managed to convince your godfather to take you to the one place he swore to never go back to?' Really brillant."
"Tonks could do it, she knows where it is."
"She can't. She's coming in with the rest of the Court. And are you absolutely sure that it's there?"
"Dad says it is."
He heard the sounds of the wardrobe door closing. "It's late. We'll see what we can find out in the morning."
Of course, Lucius Malfoy never eavesdropped. He simply was checking in on people without their knowing.
{PAGEBREAK}
"Have you seen what he's reading?." Sirius asked the next morning, setting a book on the table. Remus picked it up. "L'Historie D'Avalon?" he read. "Check chapter ten," Sirius said, pouring himself a cup of tea. "Chapter Ten: Pack Laws" Remus raised an eyebrow. "So?"
"The AWAA- Moony-it's an organization for werewolves." Sirius tried to emphasize his point by pointing at a paragraph (which according to the heading, detailed the stipulations for the Avalon Werewolf Advocacy Association). Remus read the paragraph. "No way," he said. "That can't be right."
He turned the page. There was a color photograph of him in his first year at Hogwarts. He read the caption. Remus Lupin (above) was the first werewolf ever admitted to Hogwarts and is seen as the primary example of success in allowing werewolves to enroll at the school. In his time, he was a top student and Gryffindor Prefect. Above the picture (Remus had no idea how they had gotten a hold of that) in Harry's handwriting was Moony of the Marauders.
"So," he said, trying to regain his composure. "Harry doesn't think that werewolves are-" Sirius shook his head, grinning. "You know, I think I actually might want to keep sending him there, if they educate their kids like this."
{PAGEBREAK}
July 1984
Titanica, Kent
The night was warm and most everyone had the windows thrown open to let in a breeze. Muggle fans, made possible by the electrical outlets connected to a generator blew on occupants as they slept.
In the nursery, two figures slipped out of bed and into the hall, tears silently falling.
Normally, Severus Snape was a sound sleeper, but for some reason, he couldn't tonight. Quite possibly because these hot nights reminded him of the times he and Aster would slip down to the river and go swimming, then fall asleep under the stars together. He still half-expected her to come in, shake him awake, whisper "Five minutes" and run out again, carrying a blanket. Instead, he listened to the hooting of an owl in the distance. The door opened and two figures stood in the doorway for a moment. "Abigail? Harry?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"
Little Abigail stood, holding her stuffed dragon (he blamed Draco for giving her his old toy now he considered himself to be "a big boy" with no need for plush animals). "I couldn't sleep." she said, her hesitant speech making him wonder what kind of nightmare she'd had to gain that reaction. "Well, come here, then," the two scampered into the room and bounced onto the bed. "There was a black man with red eyes that hurt Mummy." she explained without prompting. "An' he said he was coming af'er you an' Draco an' Harry." she buried her face in his chest. "An' it made me sad."
"I had the same dream and I woke up and my head was hurting," Harry added, showing him his scar which looked red and irritated.
He put his arms around them. "It's okay," he said, as she sobbed. "The bad man's not here." Inside, he froze. If they were dreaming of Tom Riddle-Voldemort, that wasn't good. Aster had often had nightmares that had turned out to be more than just that.
After a few minutes, he settled Abigail so she was lying down, one arm wrapped tightly around the dragon, the other clutching the sheet, sleeping peacefully. Just like her mother, he thought, stroking her cheek tenderly. He looked over at Harry, clutching his stuffed stag (he'd hoped that his father's influence on him had ended, it seems he was wrong on that account), his resemblance to his mother more pronounced in the way he was frowning even as he slept.
These children had lost their parents far too early. He knew that they clung to him as a substitute, but they had already started asking questions.
Questions no one wanted to answer.
I have to say I just enjoyed writing Severus acting like a parent. It made me smile as I wrote it and I hope you smiled (somewhat) too. Poor guy, he loves the kids too much. At least this time he's seeing more of Lily in Harry than James. Of course, in this James is the poor bloke that's probably spinning circles. Of course, once Sirius pulls his head out of his arse he'll realize his family is more screwed up than he first realized. But it seems that Moony is liking the fact that Avalon accepts werewolves rather than shunning them.
So, your task while I'm away is this (I'll still try to update, but no promises): where should the story go from here?
Namely: Should Abigail bow down to pressure and become Mistress of Magic or should she do what her mother didn't have the courage to do?
Should Remus and Tonks get together? Personally, I'm hoping for this one, as they're made for each other.
Should Voldemort tell Bellatrix that she has a cousin that she'd be rather ashamed of (more so than Sirius)?
Draco's father, Lucius-good or evil? How will he react to seeing his wife again after fourteen plus years? Good reunion or ultimatum?
But most importantly-the reunion of Riddle and Harry-where, when, how and why?
All are up to you, the readers, to answer.
Respectfully,
R2-D2106
Listening to: Under a Violet Moon by Blackmore's Night