Author's Note:
It's here! The third and final installment of the Infamous Adrianna Fawley series!
I almost can't believe I started writing the first Adrianna Fawley story in 2013. It took a lot longer than I planned to get to this point, but I truly appreciate everyone who has read, enjoyed, and reviewed the chapters as I could get them finished.
Reminder: This series is rated M - Mostly for language, but also for some violence and adult content. My returning readers will know, I'm a big fan of the slow burn.
It you are new to the Adrianna Fawley stories, welcome! (It's not entirely necessary to read the first two stories to appreciate this one, but there are going to be events from stories 1 & 2 referenced in story 3.)
Without further delay, I now present the first chapter of The Infamous Adrianna Fawley - After Hogwarts!
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Ch. 1 – Letters:
September 1991:
A small barn owl tapping on the window drew Adrianna Fawley's attention from the ancient text in front of her.
Grateful for the distraction, she let the bird in and relieved it of the small roll of parchment tied to its leg. There was only one line written across it:
A,
He has received his letter.
The note was unsigned.
Adrianna had no idea who'd sent the message, but there could only be one person this was referring to. Harry Potter was starting his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. Had it really been eleven years already?
After she'd fed the owl a treat and sent it on its way, Adrianna moved through her small but comfortable home until she was standing in front of the fireplace. In a little silver frame sitting on the mantle was a picture of herself and Lily during the lake trip they'd taken together after graduation. Picking the frame up, Adrianna smiled down at the two young girls that waved up at her, each with an arm wrapped around the other's waist. The lake shore stretched out behind them.
She wasn't even bothered by the mysterious origins of the note. What troubled her was that she had not seen James and Lily's son since he was an infant.
"He's growing up, Lily." Adrianna whispered, her thumb brushed across the photo-Lily's hair. "And one day I'm going to make sure he knows just how wonderful you were."
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Over the next two years, the incredibly succinct notes continued to sporadically arrive. Adrianna considered investigating, but was concerned the letters would stop if she tried to reveal the identity of the sender.
A few notes of particular interest included:
A,
Gryffindor.
A,
Made Seeker on House Team.
A,
Incident with flying car. No injuries.
The notes became her lifeline to Harry and how he was fairing at Hogwarts. Adrianna started to write to the boy a hundred times, but each attempt ended up thrown into the fireplace. How could she derail his life and his studies by revealing herself at this point? She entertained the idea that she might be able to attend his graduation, if nothing else. Even if it meant waiting another five years to see him.
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Spring 1993:
The succubi stood in a large circle, their jewel-toned skin glistening in the moonlight. All around them, the trees pulsed and glowed with ancient magic absorbed over the centuries. Lilith had called them to one of their most sacred meeting places. Adrianna couldn't have pointed it out on a map if she'd wanted to. It was so old only a succubus, or in her case someone with succubus blood, could apparate there. It was purely on instinct, rather than a sense of direction.
As she took her place beside her mother, Celeste, Adrianna felt a knot form in her stomach. Even during important gatherings, the succubi would normally be talking amongst themselves. But they were all silent. Waiting. Some were as still as statues.
There was a blue flash as her Aunt Seshat appeared, the last to arrive. She nodded hello to her sisters and stood on Adrianna's other side.
Lilith, the golden-skinned Queen of the Succubi, stepped down into the earthen bowl they were gathered around. Her flaming red hair hung down her back like a cape, the ends brushing the ground.
"My sisters." Lilith said. "Thank you for being here on such short notice, I will not keep you long. You should all remember the dark currents that marred the balance of natural magic twenty years ago, and the resulting war the human witches and wizards fought against the wizard who called himself Voldemort."
Adrianna's breath caught, and the knot in her stomach exploded. Both Seshat and Celeste grabbed her hands. Their strength was the only thing keeping the half-witch upright.
Lilith continued, "We had thought the humans successful in defeating this dark wizard, but now there is evidence for concern that the dark currents are returning." She waved a hand, and the succubi at the far end of the circle parted to let someone through.
A petite, olive green succubus with short dark hair carefully stepped down into the sunken earth with Lilith. In her hands, she held a long bundle wrapped in white cloth.
It was her Aunt Avani, a succubus nearly as old as Lilith who mostly kept to herself. Adrianna hadn't seen this particular aunt since her sixth year at Hogwarts. Avani had unexpectedly come to her aid in the Forbidden Forest, and it hadn't occurred to Adrianna until later that Avani must have been living there since before Hogwarts was founded.
"Show them." Lilith said to Avani.
The cloth dropped away and a wave of whispers swept through the gathering. At first, Adrianna thought Avani was holding a wand made of twisted porcelain.
"A unicorn horn." Her mother murmured, a silver hand pressed against her blood-red lips.
"Two summers ago, many of the unicorns in my forest were slaughtered." Avani said in her heavy accent. She caressed the horn lovingly. "I saw the one who did it. A scrawny wizard who smelled of death. I waited to see if he would return again, but he did not."
Adrianna kept her grip on her mother and Aunt Seshat. She felt like she was going to throw up. Or faint. Whichever came first.
"Thank you, Avani. We are truly sorry for your loss." said Lilith. "I believe that we waited too long last time to investigate the dark currents. We must act quickly to determine if these new events are connected to Voldemort or his followers." Golden eyes locked on Adrianna. "Adrianna, you may be asked to return to Hogwarts to gather information. There are places in the wizarding world where you may move more freely than the rest of us. Do you accept this?"
Adrianna nodded, still not trusting herself not to become ill in front of her gathered aunts if she spoke. Her mother and Seshat kept hold of her until Lilith declared the meeting over. As the succubi began to depart, Adrianna sucked in a deep breath and braced her hands on her knees.
If Lilith was right, if the new dark currents being picked up by her aunts was the work of the Death Eaters, then could that mean Voldemort wasn't destroyed all those years ago? Had Lily and James died for nothing?
And what of Harry? Did he know of the danger he was possibly in?
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Summer 1993:
Adrianna stared at the envelope the large horned owl held in its beak. The Hogwarts coat of arms was embossed on the front, with her name written in the unmistakable handwriting of Albus Dumbledore. She hadn't spoken to the Headmaster, or anyone else at the school, since her departure from the United Kingdom. That was over a decade of silence.
The owl puffed up its feathers and thrust the envelope forward again, clearly agitated at her and ready to be relieved of its burden.
Adrianna took the letter and gave the owl a treat. The owl scooted a few steps but remained where it was on her window sill. Arching a brow at the haughty bird, she broke the wax seal and opened the letter.
Dear Miss Fawley,
I trust this letter finds you well. I have kept track of your many accomplishments in educating the wizarding community on magical humanoid peoples. You should be congratulated.
It would give me great pleasure if you would join us at Hogwarts this coming term. I have finally convinced Madam Pince that our library is woefully out of date when it comes to your particular fields of expertise. I would consider it a personal favor if you would allow me to hire your services for as long as it takes to give our students the best possible research resources.
I have also retained Mr. Remus Lupin to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts this year. While I have not yet informed him of my decision to write to you, I believe he would be glad to have your assistance.
Kindly send your reply through this owl.
I am, yours most sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
"Remus…" Adrianna's heart clenched. She had tried to remain in touch with the werewolf, but after he quit the flat they once shared, none of the owls she sent could seem to find him.
Lilith wanted her to begin her assignment for the succubi soon, and this unexpected invitation from Dumbledore was the perfect excuse she needed to get back onto the Hogwarts grounds. It was almost too perfect. Adrianna squinted at the letter, had Lilith somehow contacted the Headmaster? It wasn't likely, Lilith considered succubi affairs above those of any other society and never asked permission.
The horned owl hooted and snapped Adrianna out of her thoughts. Glaring at the bird, she sat down at her kitchen table and wrote a quick reply to the Headmaster.
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
I would be glad to assist you with updating the school library. Though this could turn out to be an extensive project, I know my publisher in America will be able to spare me for such an important cause.
I am also glad to know you have hired Remus Lupin. I am sure he will be an excellent teacher.
She thought for a moment, then added:
In the matter of notifying the students or staff of my temporarily joining the staff, I would ask that you keep this arrangement between us until I have arrived in the United Kingdom. I have found that the element of surprise is useful in warding off any early necessity for love remedies, of which I am sure Madam Pomfrey will need to check her stores.
I look forward to seeing you this fall. Please expect my arrival on the night of the term Welcome Feast.
Respectfully Yours,
Adrianna Fawley
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TBC