Author's note: This series follows the books but will include details from the movie series for drama. Please note that the major events of the story remain true to the series and will be summarized into small sections to help progress to the story's love interest. I do not want to be claimed for plagiarizing but the original story line is needed to explain the changes in character development.
M rating for sexual content anticipated in year 4.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter series. Thank you to J.K. Rowling for bringing us the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The Doting Rival
Chapter 8
It felt like well over an hour of trudging through the tunnel before Adelyn found a set of stairs. At the top was a trap door. She leaned her ear against it, but could hear nothing. Slowly, she pushed it opened and peered over the edge.
She was in a cellar filled with wooden crates and boxes. She put on her invisibility cloak and made her way to the wooden staircase in the corner. She could hear voices, lots of them, and the chiming of a small bell paired with the opening and closing of a door. She must be in one of the shops of Hogsmeade.
Suddenly, the door at the tops of the stairs flung open and a woman made her way down. "Now, where did I put those Jelly Slugs?" She started rummaging through some crates on the far wall.
Adelyn took this opportunity to silently climb the stairs and slip through. She came out behind the counter of what could only be Honeydukes. There were shelves upon shelves of sweets to satisfy every craving; over a hundred types of chocolate, large barrels filled with Every Flavor Beans and Fizzing Whizbees, and a wall labeled "Special Effects Sweets that Ron had described before. It was so crowded with Hogwarts students.
She ducked sideways to a corner out of anyone's way. She edged among them and found Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George in the opposite corner in a section labeled "Unusual Tastes".
As Fred was closest to her, she crept up and grabbed at his waist, causing him to nearly drop the jar of Cockroach Clusters he was holding. "Ah!" He turned, but saw nothing.
"What is it?" George asked.
"Hm. Nothing, it seems." He proceeded to browse through the shelves.
"Psst. Fred," Adelyn whispered.
Fred looked to his right, but still saw nothing. He heard her snicker slightly. "Adelyn? Did you make it?" he whispered back.
He felt a touch against his arm. "Sure did. Will you help me a moment?"
"What is it?"
"I need to take this thing off. Will you cover me?"
"Sure."
Adelyn led Fred by the arm. She moved him away from the shelves and slid between him and the back of George, creating a barrier from anyone viewing as she removed her invisibility cloak. She was smiling widely as her face was revealed. She placed the cloak in the bag she was carrying.
Fred noticed the sun reflect from her hair, giving it a blue-ish hue. Her face was beaming with excitement. He smiled back, leaning over her with one arm against the shelves, soaking in the sight of her. He was very pleased with himself for convincing George to give her the map. "Well, it was kind of you to finally join us."
"Adelyn!" Hermione squealed. "What are you doing here?" The remainder of the group turned to follow where Hermione was looking.
Adelyn approached her and nodded over her shoulder. "Had a bit of help." She smiled at Fred and George.
"What? Adelyn shouldn't be here! She'll get in so much trouble if she's caught. And What about Sirius Black?" Hermione was fretting.
"Come on, Hermione. It's Christmas. Adelyn deserves a break," Ron pleaded.
The Weasley brothers were staring at her with puppy dog eyes. "Oh, alright," she said reluctantly. "But keep close so you don't get spotted by someone you shouldn't."
The lot showed Adelyn all around Hogsmeade. It was just like a Christmas card; all the shops and small cottages were covered in snow, there were holly wreaths everywhere, and enchanted candles lining the streets. Fred and George departed for Zonko's while Ron, Hermione, and Adelyn made their way to the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer.
They had settled in the corner near the Christmas tree by the warmth of the fire place. There were all sorts of people here to watch. Adelyn had yet to experience many wizarding villages. This was more than she had ever expected.
As they sipped on their butterbeers, the door opened, letting in a small draft. Hermione noticed before the others. "Oh, no!" She pushed Adelyn down under the table and moved the Christmas tree to obstruct their table. "Mobiliarbus!" she whispered.
"What is it?" Adelyn asked a bit frustrated. Suddenly she caught sight of Professors McGonagall and Flitwick entering, shortly followed by Hagrid. They made their way to the table beside them where Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, was sitting waiting.
Madame Rosmerta approached shortly with their drinks.
"Thank you, Rosmerta. Please, join us," offered Fudge. "Have one yourself, won't you?
"Why, thank you, Minister." She pulled up another chair and joined their conversations.
Adelyn remained tucked on the table, Ron and Hermione trying to use their legs to prevent anyone from seeing her. They remained there quietly, waiting for a clear opportunity to get her out of there before she was seen.
They could easily hear the conversation behind the Christmas tree. Fudge was in the area as he was certain Sirus Black was still nearby. They were discussing their suspicions on why he would be here. That's when Madame Rosmerta piked Adelyn's interest.
"Yes, never saw one without the other. Sirius Black and James Potter were best friends."
Adelyn held her breath. What? My father knew Sirius Black?
"Of course, that continued well after school," Fudge explained. "Black was James' best man when he and Lily married. They even named him godfather to Adelyn."
Madame Rosmerta gasped. "But Black was in league with You-Know-Who!"
"Exactly! That is what is so troubling. Black is the one who told He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named where to find the Potters. He turned them in!" He elaborated the details of Black having the Fidelius Charm performed.
"Naturally," interjected Professor McGonagall," Black was the Secret-Keeper to the Potters' location. Only he could divulge their location."
Hagrid became upset as he recounted his interaction with Black the night Adelyn's parents were killed. Black had wanted to take her, as her godfather, but Dumbledore gave specific instructions to Hagrid and he would not go against them. It wasn't until after the fact that people found out what Black had done.
"But the Ministry of Magic caught up with him the next day," Rosmerta stated. "Surely you can do it again!"
"Alas," explained Fudge, "if only we had. It was another friend of the Potter's who found him, Peter Pettigrew. Got himself blown to smithereens for it. Twenty members of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad took Black away and Pettigrew received the Order of Merlin, First Class, poor soul."
Adelyn was shaking. How could this be? This mad man, this Death Eater, was her godfather? The best friend to her parents had given them up to Voldemort? She was furious. How could everyone keep this from me?
"Minister, if you are to have dinner with the Headmaster, we best be on our way." Professor McGonagall lead the way out of the pub.
Ron and Hermione peered under the table when the coast was clear. "Adelyn?" They were at a loss for words. Adelyn looked as though she just received the news of her parents' death for the first time.
Adelyn didn't remember much of how she got back to Hogwarts. She was so lost in thought, repeatedly going over the conversation at the Three Broomsticks. She didn't interact with much of anyone during dinner. Once back in the common room, she went immediately to the girl's dormitory. She didn't feel like socializing with anyone.
She went to her night stand to retrieve the photo album Hagrid had given her two years earlier. She had looked at her parents' photos more times than she could count, but she had a specific one in mind tonight: their wedding. When she found it, she looked beyond her parents to the best man in the back ground. There was no mistaking it was Sirius Black, though not as sickly mad looking as the wanted posted she had seen in the papers.
Adelyn slammed the album shut and stuffed it back into her bed side table drawer. She closed her bed hangings and laid down. She just wanted to sleep and forget all that she heard. At least for tonight.
The door creaked open. "Adelyn?" Hermione spoke softly.
Adelyn didn't respond, pretending to sleep. The last thing she wanted to do was talk to anyone right now. She wasn't sure if Hermione believed it, but she left her alone all the same. Unfortunately, Adelyn would not sleep much that night.
When Adelyn woke, the sun was high in the sky. She made her way down to the common room to find it empty.
"Adelyn." Ron spotted her as she entered the room. "You look dreadful."
"Gee, thanks Ron." Adelyn was not in a pleasant mood.
"I was going to wake you for breakfast, but thought you could use the rest." Hermione greeted her with a soft smile.
"Where is everyone?" Adelyn asked.
"They've all gone for the holiday. Today's the first day."
"What time is it?"
"It's nearly noon. Lunch should be served if you're hungry."
"Yea, I guess I should eat."
"Want us to come with you?" Ron inquired. He wasn't always as perceptive as Hermione, but he had his moments. Thankfully, today was one of them.
"No, thanks, Ron. I'll just grab something quick and come back to bed, I think."
They didn't argue as she left the common room.
The castle had been decorated magnificently for Christmas, even though the halls were empty of students. Large streamers of holly and mistletoe strung the length of the corridors and a soft, amber light shone from inside the suits of armor. The Great Hall had the usual twelve Christmas trees, shining with golden stars. It typically brought so much happiness to Adelyn, but she didn't pay it much mind today.
There was only one long table set in the hall, covered in a small spread for lunch. Adelyn drifted toward it absentmindedly. She had not even noticed Draco Malfoy sitting alone on one side.
"Adelyn!" He looked at her inquisitively. "What's happened?" She had bags under her eyes and was blotchy in the face. Has she been crying? Malfoy suddenly felt very protective and acted instinctively. He stood up and walked towards her.
"Oh, uh, didn't sleep much last night." She looked down at the table and stared blankly.
"You don't look too good. Perhaps you should go to the hospital wing. . ."
"No. I just need to eat something and I'll be fine." She remained where she stood.
"Adelyn?" He had never seen her like this. It reminded him of the way his mother acted when his father was gone few a few days on end. Worried and thinking the worst. He knew what to do.
"Here." He gently guided her by the arm to sit and started adding some food options to her plate. He wasn't sure what she liked, so he added very small portions of a variety of things: fruit, finger sandwiches, biscuits, and pudding. Hopefully she would like one of them.
It worked. She began nibbling on the grapes. He sighed in relief and sat next to her. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No." She continued to stare at the table.
There was only one option left. Distraction. "I hate to admit it, but you were right, Potter." He continued his meal, making small talk. From the corner of his eye, he saw her cock her head to the side, listening. He continued on now that he had her attention. "Hogwarts is not too bad for holiday."
She looked around the Great Hall, finally noticing the festive decorations. Her lip curled in one corner. "I told you."
"It's nice not having to worry about Crabb and Goyle hogging all the food too." That comment got a small chuckle from Adelyn, making Malfoy smile.
Adelyn was looking at him now. "You know, you have a nice smile. It'd be nice to see it more often."
Malfoy looked down at his plate bashfully. "Well, maybe you will. I finally have something to smile for." He gave her a slight sideways glance.
"Wha -"
Before she could get out her question, two first years came in rowdily. They sat on the opposite side of the table and noisily loaded their plates each with a pile of food.
Adelyn cleared her throat. "Thanks. For the food." She grabbed her plate. "I'm gonna head back to the common room. Try to get some more sleep. I'll see you around." She stood to leave.
"Oh. Alright. See you around." Malfoy watching longingly as Adelyn left the Great Hall. Bloody first years.