Nope. You're not dreaming, I surprise myself.
I've decided that this story has gone on long enough, so it is getting finished this year no matter what.
I will be adding the next chapter soon, but I will be going over my last chapters first.
I reread it, and I'm a bit scared by the spelling and grammar mistakes. Not to mention some inconsistencies.
When I started this story, some information was not known yet, such as the names of the magic school in the U.S.
So I will be fixing some of that, however a lot of stuff will just be what I decide to create. Such as American magic laws.
It's a story for fun, and shouldn't be analyzed too much.
There's no need to go back and reread what I fix, I will mention any important changes in the next chapter. So if you get any notifications for chapters 1-34 for any reason, just ignore them. I will also look for any reviews I haven't replied to and address them in the next chapter, whether those people are still reading my story or not. (Edit: To avoid having 200 reviews next chapter, I will be posting replies for each chapter at the end of the next chapter. [Reviews for chapter 1 will be at end of chapter 2]. However any reviews for this chapter and any reviews from 2017 forward will be on chapter 36).
I've basically been writing this chapter for the past eight hours, but I wanted to get it out. I was going to post it tomorrow so I could have more time to edit, but I didn't want to make you guys wait one more day. Forgive any mistakes, and I will change them if I notice any.
Anyway, thank you to anyone still reading this story. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 35:
Scorpious POV:
"That's impossible." I turn from my sister's boyfriend to look at the young girl who had spoken. She was sitting between who I assume is the Weasley's youngest and…Harry Potter? The house of the supposed murderer of his parents is the last place I imagined him to be. But he looks comfortable sitting with everyone, munching on a muffin.
Her cheeks become a tad rosy when she notices everyone staring at her. Potter gives her a smile of encouragement, seeming to give her the courage necessary to continue speaking.
"What is?" I reply even though I have some idea of her train of thought. It is not the first time that my sister and I have been questioned about our capabilities, especially when it is something not even full-grown wizards and witches can accomplish.
"Breaking into Gringotts. It's impossible as it is protected by highly protective spells, charms, and guards. There has only been one successful break-in, and that was done by a wizard with you-know-who attached to the back of his head." What? Since when was Voldemort a growth?
"Hermione is the brightest witch of our age. If she says it can't be done, then you should listen." The red-head replies, looking at me with some coldness. What did I do to him.
Regardless of his words, I very much doubt that a couple of spells and who knows what else could stop me from getting into the Malfoy vault to help my sister.
"Uh oh. I know that smirk. I don't think that was a challenge Alex." Austin tells me worriedly. It doesn't surprise me that he knows what is going through my head. He has been part of my mischief growing up and knows when I might be getting myself into something I shouldn't. "Besides, what's Gingregut? Sounds like a disease. " The Weasley twins start laughing, leaning into each other dramatically. If there was any doubt that Austin was magical before, it has definitely left the building.
"Gringotts is our wizarding bank. One which Alex will not be breaking into" Xavier replies. When he sees Celestia open her mouth he quickly adds, "and neither will you Bella. It's dangerous and unnecessary." Just like old times, trying to keep me and Celesta from trouble. He really has the big brother thing down flat. Poor Blaise, he must not get away with anything.
He walks over to me and holds a hand out. "Give me the name of the book and what vault it's in and I'll get it as soon as I can. You start working on collecting the ingredients." I nod.
"Fine. I need some paper." He looks at me and then seems to realize that I don't have a wand as he takes his out. With a flick he conjures some parchment, ink and a silver quill. I look at it and then glance up at him blankly.
"Do you have a pen? Have to say my calligraphy is a little rusty." I hear some sounds of amusement from my sister and the vampires. When Xavier doesn't say anything, I take the items and sit down on the table.
Slowly dipping the quill into the ink, I curse and grab the other parchment when I create a big pool of ink with the first stroke. Never really thought I would be thankful for the creation of the pen.
My second attempt goes a lot easier, and I also jot down the list of ingredients down for myself at the bottom of the parchment. I try to block out the sounds of everyone getting ready to head to the train. The loud footsteps rushing from room to room, collecting last minute possessions makes me take longer than it should to recall all the ingredients.
"Ronald don't forget your books. Tonks, dear are you going with us to the station?"
"Sirius! You can't go to the station, it's too dangerous."
"It's fine Remus. I'll be going as Padfoot."
"We're leaving in ten minutes. Tonks! Get everyone ready!"
"Yes, Moody."
"Fred, have you and George even packed? The train leaves in less than an hour."
"How could you ask us such a thing?" Before there is a large thud.
Tearing the parchment and placing the bottom portion in my pocket, I hand the other piece to Xavier. His eyes glance over the title of the book and general direction but raises his eyes at the vault number.
"Seriously?" I shrug. Out of all of our vaults, this is the most secure and in the farthest depth of Gringotts. Which means more protection. He does have a better chance of getting in legally. Dad would let him into any of our vaults without question, but it needs to be in a way that's not suspicious.
"If you want me to- "
"No. I'll figure it out." He pats my shoulder and hugs Celestia before putting on his coat. "It was nice meeting everyone, I will come back when I can. And I will be sure to let my father know what is happening."
"You are welcome any time and tell the Italian minister the same." We hear Remus tell Xavier before walking him out.
"You're welcome to look around for any ingredients you can find." Sirius tell me. I smile in thanks and head into the kitchen. Like any pureblood home, the kitchen is on the other side of the house. As only servants used to enter the kitchen, making it harder for me to navigate to it. The first and only other time I ever entered this home, I was about five years old. After entering three rooms that clearly had not been opened in decades, I finally reach my destination.
The kitchen has definitely seen better days, as everything seems to be broken and old. However, it is brightly lit from two large windows that overlook the backyard. If it can be called that, as the grass seems to have overgrown to the level of the windows.
It's obvious that this house hasn't been in the hands of purebloods in a while. What the Noble House of Black has become.
I quickly turn around when I hear the sounds of a pot clattering to the ground. A small and old house elf is looking at me in suspicion. We stare at each other, before he bows in in front of me to my surprise. His head is practically resting on my shoes as he bows muttering to himself.
"Kreacher happy to serve the oldest Malfoy and Black heir. Yes, yes… mistress be so proud to have a noble heir back in her precious noble house of black. Not with her filthy traitor son and all his blood traitors and mud bloods." I'm not surprised that the house elf does not like Sirius. Aunt Walburga was furious when Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor and left his family behind.
"Malfoy and Black heir?" I look up startled when I see Austin and Brandon in the kitchen with me. I hadn't even noticed they were in the room with me.
"When did you get here?"
"Brandon and I followed you from the dining room. We don't know anyone here." Well crap. It seems out most kept secret is unraveling incredibly too fast.
I look down at Kreacher and help him up.
"Stop. You don't have to serve me. Is it possible that anyone can hear what you just said?" It's a bit of a struggle as he is shocked that I would touch him. I forgot how house elves can be.
"No, young master. My mistress placed privacy charms on all the rooms. No one can hear what Kreacher is saying, not even those disgusting vampires."
"Good. Kreacher no one can know who I am. Please treat me how you would anyone else in this household. Well perhaps stop calling everyone derogatory terms." He looks distressed as he replies.
"If you so wish, young master."
"Please don't call me that." He just looks at me before leaving the room. Grabbing a plate from the rubbish bin on his way out, muttering angrily.
"What was that?" Austin says with wide eyes, following the small creature out of the room with his eyes.
"House elf. They live to serve wizarding families. Especially old pureblood ones. It's basically servitude." Brandon says coldly, glaring at me. I roll my eyes, I don't have time for this. I need to get as much of the ingredients as I can find before going back home. My sister won't last much longer and who knows how long the potion will take to brew.
I open drawers, looking through them quickly until I find a cabinet full of dusty bottles. I take a bottle out a time, looking at its contents while I think about what to say.
"Not everyone treats house-elves the same. And like you said, they live to serve. It's their purpose in life, and they enjoy serving. It's not something that can be changed. Just because Kreacher seems to have been treated badly, doesn't mean all houselves are treated horribly."
"I doubt that the heir of the Malfoy and Black family knows anything about treating houselves well." I put up a wandless silencing charm so that no one can hear our conversation to be safe.
"Look. You don't know my family and how we are behind the public's eye."
"You're right. I don't because I don't know you at all! Before today, I thought you were my friend's no-maj boyfriend and adoptive cousin. But it turns out you're a damn British pureblood. A freakin' Malfoy at that!" I stop and decide to be as truthful as I can. Austin is looking at me hurt. This is what I've always been afraid of, that my family would turn their back on me when they learn that I've been lying to them.
"I'm the oldest son of the Malfoys. But no one knows that because my death was faked by my father to keep me from Voldemort's attention. My family has done horrible things, I won't lie about that. But we're trying to change."
"Why did you never tell any of the family about this?" Austin asks.
"It's too dangerous. If anyone finds out who I am, they could harm my adoptive or birth family. And I won't let that happen." I stare at both of them as they look at each other, my heart beating fast in anticipation. If they decide that they cannot keep my secret, Celestia and the rest of my family is in danger.
"Ok. What are you looking for?" I watch dumfounded as they walk over and start looking at the cabinets next to the one I was previously.
"Okay? That's all you have to say?"
"Yea. I've known you most of your life. I might not understand what is going on in this world or who your real family is, but I know you. You are a good person and I know that you must have a really good reason to keep all of this secret. So, I'll keep everything I learned today to myself." It's moments like this that I'm overwhelmed by how kind some muggles can be. It goes against everything I was taught as a child. But here is a family that loves me unconditionally even though I'm not blood related to them.
"And I know that the situation must have been pretty bad if the Malfoys let their heir in the hands of no-majes." Brandon says with a small smile before a look of disgust appears when he reads the lid. "Rat spleen? Who the hell still uses stuff like this?" I take it from him and place it the small pile of needed ingredients.
"The British Wizarding Community. We still practice a lot of the old magic and are stuck in the old way of doing things. Which means fresher ingredients, in theory. " I say wrinkling my nose at the Armadillo bile.
"That's revolting."
"No kidding."
Sometime later, we return to the dining room arms full of potion ingredients. The dining room is empty apart from my sister and her vampires. The rest of the residents must have left while we gathered the ingredients we could find. There are still five ingredients that I still have to hunt down. I scowl when I see my sister sitting on her boyfriend's lap.
The penny head looks up and scowls at me.
"Is there a problem?"
"Seriously. Where should I start? Perhaps with the fact that you broke up with Bella. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD DO TO HER?!" Bella rolls her eyes and glares at me. The rest of the sparkly zombies shift uncomfortably in their positions around the large dining room table.
"Stop it Alex. He didn't know." We stare at each other, before I start to calm down. It doesn't matter if he did it to protect her. Until he can prove to me that he won't hurt her again, how can I ever trust him to be there for her for eternity?
"Fine." I reply, setting everything down on the table.
"Anyway, this is Edward's family. These are his parents, Dr. Carlisle and Esme Cullen." I smile as I shake both of their hands in greeting. "And this is their cousins, the Denali family. Eleazar, Carmen, Kate, Irina, and Tanya." It may not be obvious, but I can tell that my sister does not like the last blonde that I greet.
Edward barely looks at me, but I notice the slight smile. Seems my sister has a bit of competition. Chuckling softly at his glare, I turn and introduce my two companions.
"This is a friend Brandon and my uncle Austin." He hates when I call him uncle, making it all the more hilarious.
"Stop calling me that, you brat. Nice to meet you." He greets everyone like the gentleman I know he is not. "Maybe you should ask to crank up the heat, you guys are freezing."
I snort, when everyone looks at him uncomfortably. Austin has never been known for his tact.
"They're vampires. They always run that cold since they don't have any blood running through their veins." I shouldn't get as much amusement from his increasingly pale face, but I can't help it. Most of our relationship is based on taunting and making each other uncomfortable.
"Oh. Vampires. Lovely. Just don't take a bite out of me and we're cool. " He sits down shaking slightly. "Vampires are real." Everyone laughs at his low whisper. However, he seems to accept it regardless of his obvious disbelief, he doesn't seem scared.
"Are you not one of these magical people?" One of the blondes, a tall beautiful woman with long straight hair and bright golden eyes. I think her names is Kate.
"God no. My niece is a witch, so I knew this world existed. I just didn't know this brat was a wizard."
"You'll live." I don't get to say much else when my phone starts ringing. Considering everyone in the room will hear my conversation anyway, I don't bother moving from my position.
"Hello?" I can hear some noise in the background. Not surprising, since it is an international call.
"Alex? Are you coming home for dinner? Eric will be home from the hospital in an hour." I smile at my adoptive mother's concern.
"I'm hanging out with some friends. So, I might not be home until later."
"Alright. Just make sure to lock the door when you come in." They've always pretty lenient about when I come and go, as long as I don't do anything I shouldn't be doing that is.
"Yea, mom. I will." She's quiet for a bit before asking softly. "Are you okay, I know it must be hard what Meghan did and I cannot imagine what was going through that girl's min-"
"Annalise, I'm fine! " I laugh a bit at how protective she sounds. "I'm just going out with some friends, I'll see you guys for breakfast ok?"
"Okay. Have a good night baby. Be safe."
"I will. Besides I'm with Austin and Brandon, they won't let me do anything too crazy."
"Oh, well now I'm worried." We both laugh before bidding each other good bye.
"How did you get your cell to work in this house?" Brandon asks me. Technology doesn't work near high level of magic.
"My best friend is a huge technology nerd. He fixed it for me when I told him my phone didn't work around Meghan." He looks at me. " What? It's a small little lie."
"Wait you told him about Meghan being a witch?" Austin asks protectively. Although the American ministry is more relaxed on their laws, only family of muggleborns are allowed to know the truth.
"He already knows about the magical world. His girlfriend's sister is a witch and their families are super close."
I'm taken aback when my sister is in my face, glaring. An angry Celestia is never a good thing especially when her emotions are all of control because of her incoming transition.
"What did she mean what Meghan did?"
"Nothing. My girlfriend and I just broke up. It's not a big deal." She looks at me, biting her cheek. A sure sign she's pissed.
"What did she do?"
"Cheated on him." Austin says grinning, clearly enjoying my uncomfortable situation. He was pissed at his niece, turns out she had done more than just kiss Skye when they were at school. He had let it slip when I was unconscious, leading Meghan to chewing him out in the backyard.
"Oh. Is that all." She says calmly before starting to walk out of the room. When she goes to open the door, we see that she's holding a dagger. The blonde sisters seem impressed and seem to be mentally cheering her on. While the rest of the vampires seem shocked by her actions.
"Damn it, Bella! Stop!" I say getting in front of her. She looks at me, eyes burning with rage. Regardless of what Meghan did, I would never wish any harm to her. But I also know that my sister would stop at nothing to protect her loved ones, even avenging them when they've been wronged.
"I'm going to kill her." She says, struggling when I try to put my arms around her.
"It's okay." I do what I've always done since we were born and let her feel the rhythm of my heart beat. After a minute she finally stills and nods.
"Promise me." She stays silent.
"Bella."
"Fine. I won't kill your filthy, bloody cheating-".
"Bella." I sigh. There are a reason people call me the quiet and clam twin.
"Ok. I promise." I look up to looks of amusement, even Austin is shaking with laughter at her little scene.
"Yea, good luck with her." I tell Edward. He smiles before taking her into his embrace.
" I wouldn't have her any other way, my little kitten." She glares at him, looking like a small child. His parents are looking at her fondly.
"Trust me. She only looks cute and innocent." I duck as she throws one of the cloth serviettes at me from the table, which was still wrapped around the utensils.
"I'm kidding." She huffs.
"Will the three of you be staying for supper? I'm getting ready to help Molly with some of the preparations while she is dropping off her kids at school." Esme asks me. She has such a calm voice that immediately makes the mood much more pleasant.
"Unfortunately, no. We have to head back to the states, I still have some ingredients to find for the potion."
"I'll come back as soon as I can okay? You need anything, just send me a patronus. Doesn't matter when." She nods giving me a sad smile. I give her one more hug, say my good byes to the rest and make my way out of the house.
I shiver a bit from the cold, I did not really miss the weather here. In Tennessee it was only a bit chilly. Here, there are children running around in the park across the street without a care for the freezing temperatures. There is even a jogger that passes us in a t-shirt and running shorts only. I have been away from England for far too long.
"Are you really going to just go back and look for ingredients?" Austin asks me as we walk down the street to the alley we appeared in earlier in the day.
"Yes."
"You do know that it's night back home, right? You won't find any apothecary open at this time, especially this time of year."
"Let's go out! I'm meeting some friends at a club at 11, you two should join me." Austin says.
"I'm not a big drinker." I say, shaking my head. More like I make stupid decisions when I'm drunk, but they don't need to know that.
"Come on. You just got out of a relationship, and it's been a long day. You deserve a bit of fun!" Brandon says once we reach the alleyway. I place a hand on each their shoulder after checking that no one is in the vicinity.
"Fine." I reply, knowing I'm going to regret it. The last thing I see before our world spins around us is Austin's wide grin.
A passerby walking their dog glances into the alley at the large pop, but shrugs and walks away when nothing is there.
Next Chapter: September 16, 2018