1The Women Loved by Two Men: The Covered Past
Disclaimer: All characters, but Lizzie and a few other minor characters are owned by J.K. Rowling. We are of course not receiving any profit of this work of fiction.
AN: Hello again. We hope everyone had a good Christmas and a New Year. Here is another chapter of the story between Sirius and Lizzie as the war continues to grow and things are about to change…..Thanks again to all our readers. We hope you enjoy this chapter and to hear from you soon. Have a blessed New Year.
Chapter Twenty One: Uncle Alden and the Locket
Lizzie stretched out over the couch, reading a novel, not believing how quiet it was. With the attack in London, Sirius staying with them and the Auror Christmas party, her Christmas holiday had been action packed so far.
"Lizzie, are you ready?" Her mother popped into the room, breaking into Lizzie's thoughts. "We are due at Uncle Alden's in time for dinner."
"My bag is upstairs." Lizzie put her book down. "Are we leaving now?"
Jacqueline nodded. "In a few minutes."
Lizzie scrambled upstairs, getting her things together, making sure she had plenty of parchment so she could write her friends once boredom set in.
Once arriving at her Uncle's, soon joined by Great Aunt Flora, Matthew and Julie, they had a pleasant dinner together. This time she wasn't alone in a big fancy room, but Julie said she would stay with her and the two girls giggled for a while together about their boys before drifting off to sleep. The days passed by slowly with Lizzie, while the others were working, stuck in the big house alone, daydreaming about seeing and snogging Sirius again. She enjoyed the fancy dinners when everyone was there and she spent time with Julie, Matthew and her parents.
Though it was becoming obvious Uncle Alden's health was continuing to decline and wouldn't be with them for much longer. So, that was why Alden called Edward to him the night before they were due to leave.
"Now Edward, I don't have much time left, so I want to take care of business now."
Edward stood at his bedside, wondering what the older man was doing, but stood by respectfully and waited.
Alden drew out a small box from the beside drawer. "Now Edward, this here, once I'm gone will be fought over, so I wanted to pass it along to you for safe keeping. The rest of my collection doesn't matter as much, but this one..." Alden took a moment to open the case, revealing an old gold locket.
Edward stared at the necklace, utterly amazed the rumors about Merlin's locket being found were true. It was the only physical reminder of the great wizard. "You mean it's true?"
Alden nodded. "We'd been working on a dig by York, researching the Goblin Wars." He drifted off for a moment before continuing on. "After it was over, Birdie and I stayed in the area. We heard the locket was still in existence, but yet to be re discovered, so we searched around and found it."
Edward almost couldn't believe it. "You didn't turn it in?"
"We were on our own time, not working for a company, so Birdie and I weren't under any obligation to make an official claim. It was well known we stuck around and it was rumored where the locket last been seen, so everyone assumes there is a possibility I have it in my possession."
Edward just shook his head, but didn't say a word over his uncle skirting around the rules. "What are your wishes?"
"Once I die, I'm sure it will come out that I could have this locket, which will send everyone here, trying to steal my artifacts. The others I don't care about as much, but this one should not be turned over to some slouch who won't appreciate it." Alden shakily held up his hand, giving the box to his nephew. "I trust you to make sure this remains safe."
"You do realize I will be handing this over to Wizarding Historic Society or such."
"Yes I know you will do the right thing, but at least I know it will be safe and some yuppie wouldn't have made gallons on it."
Edward took the box, glancing at the locket, holding one of the deepest parts of history in his hands. "I'll quietly turn it in once the rumors die down. With the war, I'm sure the possible location of Merlin's locket will not be in the paper for too long."
Alden nodded, feeling quite pleased. "Thank you Edward."
Edward gave him a nod before leaving the room, allowing his uncle to get some much needed rest.
The next morning, after breakfast, Lizzie went upstairs and finished her packing. After saying goodbye to Uncle Alden and Aunt Flora, the rest of the family flooed home. Once again, as Lizzie looked around the empty house as the rest returning to work, she was very relieved that the end of Christmas was in sight. She missed her friends but most of all, she missed Sirius.
"Matthew!" Lizzie's voice carried over the back lawn of the Wellington Manor as she ducked a flying snowball. "That nearly hit me!"
Matthew grinned cheekily. "That's the entire point."
Lizzie glared at her old brother before crouching down, making her own snowball. "You are so going to get it."
Matthew just laughed and threw another snowball towards his sister. The two continued to play in the snow together until they were called into dinner. Laughing they burst into the house.
"Are you two acting like children again?" Jacquelyn smiled as she watched them take off their wet outer coats and scarves.
"She started it." Matthew teased her.
Lizzie rolled her eyes. "Of course you would say that."
The two continued to banter back and forth as they settled into the dinning room, faces red from the cold.
"But I still won." Lizzie smirked at her brother as she sipped on the wine glass Sanka just set in front her.
Matthew grinned at her. "Next Christmas I'll demand a rematch."
"You can try." They all laughed as they began eating.
As they ate, they talked about different things, some events of late, though Edward didn't let it get too dark with Lizzie there. In order to change the subject, Jacquelyn asked what Lizzie was going to study this next semester at Hogwarts. Of course the discussion continued on stories and experiences the others had during their own school days. As the hour grew late, Matthew bid the others goodbye, giving Lizzie a big hug since she would be going back to school in two days.
"Don't get into too much trouble." Matthew winked at her, then kissed her cheek before apparating away.
Lizzie watched the spot where her brother had been for a moment before wishing her parents goodnight.
Lizzie heard her alarm going off and moaned, not wanting to leave her warm comfortable bed, wondering why she was having to get up. Then she remembered today was the end of Christmas break and was journeying back to Hogwarts. Stretching slowly, Lizzie went into the loo and took a warm shower. After dressing in a warm sweater and blue jeans, she shrunk her belongings, throwing them into the tote bag she was using verses her larger, heavier trunk she left at school.
"Mum." She called as she headed downstairs to eat some breakfast before heading to King's Cross. Not too surprised that her parents gone into their office before seeing her off to school, she completed her morning meal. As she put away her dishes, her parents still hadn't come back yet.
Wondering if they got caught up with work, she flued Matthew's flat and neither her brother nor Brian his roommate was there. Frustrated, she called Julie and found her not home either. Getting desperate, she tried the Potters and no one answered, but she wasn't too surprised as they were more than likely already on their way.
"Well." Lizzie thought to herself. "I can flue to Diagon Alley and then catch a cab to the station." However, once searching her bag, her room, her father's den, found no muggle money.
Wondering how she was supposed to get back to school, she sat down in the living area, thinking through her options. She had some wizarding money and knew where her parents kept an emergency stash. Maybe someone in Knockturn Alley could make a portkey for her for the right price...no that would be a wonderful idea to get herself killed or something.
The Knight Bus. She could get to the train that way or just head straight to Hogwarts if there was not enough time. Knowing this was the best course of action, she left her parents a note, saying she found her own way back to school and then wrote a note to send to the school in case she missed the train and if she got in earlier or later, would be able to get through the school's gates.
Knowing she needed to be going, Lizzie put on her coat, scarf and gloves, then took the lunch Sanka made her. She stepped outside of her home, looking around, wishing her parents could have taken her to the station, but in these times, sometimes things just happened. She locked up her house and walked a few feet away and held out her wand hand.
Within a few moments, the huge purple bus pulled up.
"Where are you off to today?" Asked the conductor as he opened the door and stepped down.
"Can you get me to King's Cross by 11?" Lizzie asked hopefully, but doubted it as the bus looked to be pretty full.
He shook his head. "Afraid not, but I can get you to Hogsmeade before the opening feast tonight."
"Guess that will have to do." It wasn't what Lizzie would have wanted but it looked like she didn't have a choice in the matter. "How much?"
She paid him before sending their owl off. "Take this to Professor McGonagall and make sure she reads it. She needs to know I missed the train and is taking alternate transportation."
Their family owl peaked her affectionately before flying off into the blowing snow.
"Come on." She was quickly ushered on board and found a seat on the bottom floor somewhere toward the back. Lizzie sat down and watched as her house faded away, not believing her parents couldn't make it back to take her to school. One of them should have been able to get away or even send Matthew. Sighing she pulled out a book and tried to read it, anything to occupy her mind to knowing her friends and boyfriend were ready to leave the train station, having fun, without her.
About half an hour the bus came to a quick stop and Lizzie nearly had to pick herself up off the floor as she heard a familiar voice.
"Hogwarts, if you please." Was that James? Lizzie glanced outside but saw nothing but white and couldn't tell if they were around Godric's Hollow or not.
"We missed the train." Another familiar voice said, but over the chatter of the other passengers, she couldn't be sure it was Sirius she heard.
"Don't worry." She could barely make out the conductor. "Another student is already on board. We'll get you there."
Lizzie watched anxiously as the conductor knocked on the window, telling Ernie to go and stepped back as James Potter walked toward her, soon followed by Sirius Black. Lizzie broke out into a huge smile. This day wasn't looking too bad now.
"Lizzie, what are doing here?" James asked sitting across from her as Sirius plopped down next to her.
"Oh, I decided to drop out of school and go to China." Lizzie rolled her eyes. "What do you think?"
Sirius laughed before leaning down to kiss Lizzie gently. "Hey baby. James and I got up this morning and found the Potters' gone. We thought they would come back to take us to school."
"By the time we finished packing and got ready to go we knew we'd never get there in time." James finished as the bus rushed through a small town before making another stop.
"If you were at home, why didn't you answer your flue?" Lizzie asked. "I was calling everyone I could think of, but no one answered."
"Oh, we might have been upstairs, showering or something and just didn't hear it." James quickly put in, well knowing he and Sirius were out on the back lawn, running off excess energy in their alter egos, since they'd be sitting for a long time.
Lizzie nodded. The Potter Manor, like hers, was old and quite large, but now she started to grow quite worried. "If both of our parents got caught up at work, what if there was an attack or something? What if something happened to them?"
Sirius drew an arm around Lizzie, pulling her closer to him. "I'm sure they are fine. There's got to be someone that hops on that might have a paper or heard something."
Lizzie relaxed slightly as James ventured out. "Once we get to Hogsmeade, what if we missed the carriages and can't get past the gates?"
"I already sent a note to Professor McGonagall about that. She'll be at least expecting me at some other time."
Sirius smiled slyly. "I knew I was fancying a brilliant witch."
Lizzie blushed slightly as the Knight Bus lumbered on and the three began talking about the upcoming term. Another hour or so later, Lizzie drew out the lunch Sanka packed for her and luckily there was plenty for all of them. Sometime in the afternoon, a bloke hoped on the bus, with an update of the Prophet. He didn't mind as the three teens asked to borrow it. Scanning it they found Death Eaters attacked several homes in the Welch mountains and several Aurors were sent out in the wee hours of the morning. Though there were several injuries to the muggles and wizarding families of the area, no Aurror causalities were reported. Sighing with relief, Lizzie turned the paper back over to the gentleman, well knowing her parents were tied up with the after effects.
"See?" Sirius pointed out. "Nothing to worry about."
Lizzie nodded, relaxing against Sirius again, glad the boys were with her.
Finally, hours later, the Knight Bus came to a quick stop. "Alright you three, here we are at Hogsmeade, just in time too."
Lizzie bent down and picked up her bag before looking out the window to see the kids milling around, gawking at the bus as they loaded onto the carriages.
She followed the boys off the bus as it quickly vanished from sight and soon heard Lily's voice.
"Go figure Potter." Lily helped several second years through the snow to the enclosed carriage. "Only you would manage to arrive on the Knight Bus just as we are getting here. If this is to..." She stopped short as she saw who was coming up from behind Potter. "Lizzie? Where have you been? We've been looking everywhere for you."
Lizzie shrugged, not letting go of Sirius' hand. "Our parents got called to Wales in the middle of the night due to Death Eaters. We had to find alternate routes of transportation."
Lily stared at them before speaking again. "Are they okay?"
Lizzie nodded as another carriage appeared and several fourth year Hufflepuff's hoped on, obviously listening. "The afternoon Prophet reported no Auror casualties. I'm sure I'll be getting a letter shortly."
"I'm glad you're okay." Lily glanced from Lizzie to Sirius and back to Lizzie, obviously getting the fact they were still an item, but decided not to say anything as another carriage appeared. "I'll see you back at the Castle."
As Lizzie came up to it, she let go of Sirius's hand to give Lily a hug. "Okay. We have a lot to catch up on."
"We can chat tonight. Find Amy and Alice. They are worried sick."
"I will." Lizzie turned around, allowing Sirius to help her into the carriage. The two boys followed and soon joined by two seventh years, they were off.
After several minutes of silence the carriage pulled up to the entrance. They all climbed out, anxious to eat dinner and get settled back in.
They barely started inside when Professor McGonagall found them. "Oh, good you made it Miss Wellington." She glanced as James and Sirius came to stand besides her. "I received your owl. Your parents owled me earlier too, once they realized they couldn't get back, to make sure you made it back. Yours too Potter."
Both James and Lizzie sighed in relief at hearing that their parents were truly alright. "Thank you."
"You did the responsible thing." McGonagall patted Lizzie's shoulder, casting a glance at Potter. "Go on into the Great Hall."
"We left a note saying we'd take the Bus." James mumbled as they walked with all the other students.
Lizzie just laughed as she caught sight of Amy and Alice a few steps away. "Amy, Alice."
They both turned and a moment or so later, they were all hugs and giggles and Lizzie explained things as they entered the Hall. They all sat down together, soon joined by Frank and Peter. Of course, Lily and Remus were last ones to come in, their duties completed.
As they ate, Lizzie glanced around at her friends, certainly glad to be back.
"Are you going to eat that?" Sirius leaned down, whispering in her ear about half the piece of cake she couldn't finish.
"No, go ahead, you big mongrel." Lizzie teased him as Sirius grabbed a fork and quickly polished it off.
"I'm a growing boy." He protested, but a grin was teasing the edges of his lips. "Besides you like bad boys."
Lizzie laughed before Sirius kissed her gently, more than glad to be back home at Hogwarts.
Classes started the next day and Lizzie was soon caught up in her studies. The weeks of January speed by in a flurry of cold snows and mountains of work. Sirius and Lizzie continued to see each other, much to the surprise of the majority of the student body, the disappointment of Lily but to the delight of a much richer James Potter.
It was on one cold early February morning that Lizzie received a letter from her mother saying Great Uncle Alden passed away. Her parents didn't want her leaving school for the funeral as it would be small. Lizzie felt saddened but not surprised as he been ill. Though several days later, Sirius handed her The Daily Prophet, saying her old uncle nearly made the front page. The headline and byline read, legend archeologist Alden Kirkland died. Finder of Merlin's locket. The article explained Alden, along with his late wife Birdie were some of the most famous wizardly archeologists in the last fifty to a hundred years. The article mentioned he and his wife rediscovered Merlin's locket and were the current owners. It also listed the surviving relatives, Alden's siblings' families, but said her father, an in-law, was Alden Kirkland's only heir.
"Wow." Sirius was reading the article over her shoulder. "What is your dad going to do with all that stuff?"
Lizzie thought about it for a moment before shrugging. "Turn over everything to the Wizarding Historic Society I would think. I have no idea if that old house of his would even sell."
Sirius glanced over the next article, featuring the known or rumored history of Merlin's necklace and the most recent picture though taken a couple hundred years ago. Lizzie gasped when she saw it.
"What is it?" Sirius whispered.
Lizzie pointed at the picture. "I've seen it. He does have it. I saw an old locket in his house last year but didn't know what it was. It looks a lot like this."
Sirius looked quite impressed. "Your dad could make a fortune off that."
"He probably could." Lizzie agreed as the two gathered their bags and headed toward the potions classroom. "Though he has enough to deal with the war."
Sirius nodded, taking her hand. "You doing okay with all of this?"
Lizzie nodded. "Yes. I mean it was expected but I know it's hard on my dad and Great Aunt Flora since he was one of the last connections to my grandparents."
Sirius squeezed her hand in sympathy. "It will be okay. Slughorn will keep us plenty busy."
"Thank you." With that they walked into the classroom, effectively ended their conversation.
Sirius turned out to be correct as another major potions project as well as their other classes kept Lizzie quite distracted to the struggles outside of Hogwarts.