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Chapter 19: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
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THEY ARE BOTH NAMED ADRIENNE . . . do you know which is which . . . THEY ARE BOTH NAMED ADRIENNE! . . . Of course I do . . .THEY ARE BOTH NAMED ADRIENNE! . . . which is which? THEY ARE BOTH NAMED ADRIENNE! . . . that's the twin . . . that's the twin . . . that's the twin . . . that's the twin . . . THEY ARE BOTH NAMED ADRIENNE! . . . that's the twin . . . are you positive? . . . take her back to her brother . . . that's the twin . . .THEY ARE BOTH NAMED ADRIENNE . . .
Harry shook his head in his sleep, bits and pieces of his dream flying through his mind. He shifted uncomfortably in his high-backed chair in the common room, shivering slightly. The fire had died in the grate and a biting chill was spreading through the room, battling against the heat, and winning. However, this battle was nothing compared to that which was raging through Harry's mind.
THEY ARE BOTH NAMED ADRIENNE . . . that's the twin . . . his mind was still turning it over, They are both named Adrienne.
"Adrienne?" shouted Harry confused, waking up abruptly and sitting up bolt in his chair.
He looked around the room wildly, his eyes blinking rapidly as if he were trying to banish the thoughts flowing through his mind. Across from him, Hermione stirred. Ever so slowly, she raised her head off her arms and looked at him, her face exhausted and her eyes barely open.
"What did you say, Harry?" she asked slowly, her tongue not willing to cooperate. Now Ron began to wake up.
"Hmm, checkmate," he mumbled, a small smile occupying his freckled face.
Ron opened one eye and slowly the other, obviously expecting to see a chessboard in front of him. He blinked a couple of times and then looked from Hermione to Harry, not realizing that Harry didn't look very good. Harry was white, his eyes open wide, and a look of pure surprise on his face. Ron shook his head slowly.
"Did we forget to go to bed?" he grumbled, reaching his arms into the chilly air to stretch out the kinks in them. "Next time, we should fix the fire before we decide to camp out here," he added, dropping his arms and wrapping them around himself.
Hermione pulled out her wand and flicked it in the direction of the fireplace. In a second, a large fire was alive and dancing, refueling the war between the cold and warmth of the common room and adding a considerable amount of light, illuminating Harry's frozen face.
"Something the matter, Harry?" asked Ron, finally realizing that he didn't look himself. Harry didn't answer.
"Did you have another dream?" asked Hermione quietly, standing up and walking over to him. She knelt down and sat at his feet, looking up into his dim eyes. "Harry, what's the matter," she whispered.
"I just had the oddest dream, that's all," said Harry hoarsely.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "About what?" she asked. He didn't respond right away.
"Adrienne," Harry finally replied, fully aware that having dreams about a girl who isn't your girlfriend isn't a great thing to do.
"Adrienne?" asked Ron, standing up and dragging his chair next to Harry's.
"What was it about?" asked Hermione very slowly.
Harry closed his eyes for a second. "Something about there being two Adriennes, and one's a twin," he replied. "I told you, it doesn't make any sense."
"Yeah, who would name both their twins Adrienne?" mused Ron, rubbing his eyes bemusedly, still not quite awake. Harry turned to look at him.
"No, two ladies acted like they had mixed up two babies named Adrienne."
"What?" asked Hermione, finally completely waking up, "wait, start again."
Harry rolled his eyes; already the details of his dream were beginning to slowly drift into oblivion. "It looked like a hospital, and two nurses had two babies who were both named Adrienne, and they didn't know which was which. They said one was a twin; she had a twin brother," said Harry, concentrating on holding the last images of his dream in his mind.
Hermione sat very quietly. From her research she had discovered that many people who had had traumatic events in their pasts or possibly in their futures suffered dreams of either the traumatic events or the possible events. She had learned that it even went as far as dreaming about life events of those one was close to. This lingered in Hermione's mind.
"I think tomorrow I'm going to the library . . ." Hermione began.
"Hermione! It's the first week of vacation, how can you be worrying about school now?" shot back Ron irritably.
"It's not about school; Hogwarts has copies of public records, and I want to look at them."
"Why, Hermione, would Hogwarts have those kinds of files?" asked Harry, standing up from his chair. Hermione stood up too.
"Well, like you said Hagrid told you; Hogwarts is one of the safest places. If something happened to the Ministry, all our records would be lost; it's a backup" replied Hermione, wrapping her robes around her. The fire still hadn't really warmed the room.
"Who would want to torch the Ministry?" asked Ron, following their lead and making his way towards the staircase.
"I'll give you one guess," replied Harry darkly.
Harry climbed the stairs toward the boys' dormitories in silence, his mind drifting back to the clouded memory of his dream. He couldn't place his finger on it, but something bothered him.
* * * * *
"Thank you for flying British Airways," called a tired stewardess at the front of the plane.
Adrienne stood up, rubbing her eyes. She had slept well, not having any nightmares; however, she reminded herself that she really hadn't had any nightmares for several months now. She took a deep breath and pushed herself into the aisle and slowly began to file towards the exit. As she reached the entrance to the airbridge, a jet of freezing air shot through the gap between the plane and the bridge, waking Adrienne up instantly. It really hadn't been her idea to take another night flight; however, arriving in Boston at six in the morning did give her even more time to spend at the castle, catching up with her professors.
"Walk faster, kid!" called a gruff man behind her as he zoomed past her, dragging a suitcase on wheels, his long trenchcoat billowing behind him.
"Geez," she muttered and quickened her pace, her heart beginning to race with anticipation as she neared the end of the airbridge.
In an instant, the dull gray walls of the bridge gave way to a very uncrowded Boston terminal. Adrienne's eyes roved over the small group of people waiting by the gate. An elderly women, with a shawl covering her head, a handerkchief up to her face in anticipation, was the first person she saw. People of different ages and races crowded around the gate, each waiting expectantly for their loved ones to step out.
"Jessica!" called a man ahead of her, and a young woman with blonde hair ran past Adrienne, jumping into the man's arms and kissing him.
All around her people's names were called out, answered by exuberant responses and actions from those exiting the plane. To Adrienne's dismay, not one person called out her name. More and more people filed past her, pushing her out of the way, yelling at people standing up ahead. Adrienne made her way to a nearby row of plastic chairs and slowly sat down, her eyes searching for Professor Hartel, for Professor Glenn, for Professor Bell, for someone. Slowly, people began to file out of the terminal, making their way to the luggage area, the happy sounds of reunion echoing through the emptying terminal.
"They're just late, someone probably pulled a joke at the school or something, they'll be here," Adrienne told herself, standing up and taking a different chair so she could watch the graceful snowflakes drift lazily towards the muddy ground. After several minutes, Adrienne looked around, wondering where she left Hecate.
"Hecate?" she whispered, and then softly smacked her head. She had left Hecate at Hogwarts, having decided that carrying an owl onto an international flight probably would not have the best consequences.
"Great, now I don't have any way to get a hold of anyone at Salem," Adrienne muttered grimly. She put her head into her hands and stared at the floor, a persistent sickening feeling seeping into the pit of her stomach, "Maybe they forgot," she whispered.
"Maybe they forgot all about me," she said a little louder, swallowing the rising lump in her throat. Adrienne shut her eyes against the flood of tears that were fighting to escape. "They forgot me."
"Excuse me?" came a soft voice from behind her.
"Excuse me, but we're looking for our daughter. Have you by any chance seen her?" said the same voice.
It sounded a little familiar. Adrienne opened her eyes and looked out the window into the quickly growing blizzard. "She was coming home for the holidays, have you seen anyone else around here besides you?"
Adrienne turned in her chair. "No, I . . ." her jaw dropped.
"Did you think we forgot you?" asked Professor Hartel, smiling broadly, Professor Glenn standing next to her, his arm around her shoulder.
"I didn't know it was you two!" exclaimed Adrienne, jumping up and rushing towards them.
"Quick voice changing spell," replied Professor Glenn as Adrienne smacked into him, engulfing him into a gigantic hug.
"I missed you all so much!" she exclaimed, tears of joy smudging her face.
"And we missed you too!" exclaimed Professor Glenn, letting go of her and gently taking her face in his hands and looking at her.
"You look even more beautiful than ever, Adrienne. I bet you had some admirers at Hogwarts, eh?" he said, smile wrinkles accentuating his eyes. Adrienne smiled back.
"Only one," she replied, stepping away as a look of horror spread over Joe's face.
"What do you mean?" he asked quickly, but Adrienne ignored him.
"Professor Hartel!" she said, stepping forward and reaching to hug her.
"Adri! I can't believe it, oh my, Adri," whispered Mia, tears dropping onto the top of Adrienne's head. Adrienne stood there for several seconds, relishing the moment.
"I have so much to tell you guys!" Adrienne exclaimed finally, pulling away from Mia and staring broadly at her professors. Adrienne looked down to make sure she still had her bag and then smiled. "Let's go get my trunk; I can't wait to get back to Salem; I mean, I have so much stuff to get caught up on," Adrienne said, grabbing her professors' hands and leading them down the terminal.
* * * * *
Adrienne pulled herself off the snowy ground, her head spinning slightly.
"I always hated Port-Keys," she mumbled, dusting off the cold white powder that now covered her clothes. She looked around at the snow-covered forest and breathed in the familiar air.
"How does it feel to be home, Adrienne?" asked Professor Hartel, helping to brush off some of the snow still clinging to Adrienne's sweater. Adrienne whipped around to stare at the Salem entrance gates.
"It feels perfect," she whispered.
She trudged through the snow after Joe and Mia, occasionally casting a glance over her shoulder to the Gallows. They had a couple Muggle style shops there; she'd go shopping the next day.
"I have to get a Muggle formal for our Valentine's Day Dance," said Adrienne once the old creaky gates had swung closed behind them. This caught Joe's attention at once.
"Oh?" he said quickly, turning his head to stare at her, his eyebrows raised in a skeptical expression.
"Really? How wonderful Adrienne, we'll have to go shopping as soon as possible," said Mia.
Joe didn't look as enthused. "What do you mean? Do you have a date for this dance?" he asked, staring at her like a hawk.
"As a matter-of-fact, I do; his name's Ron Weasley, and he is really nice," replied Adrienne, quickening her pace slightly, wanting to put some distance between her and Joe, as he didn't look happy about her revelation at all.
"Adrienne, you're only fifteen! Look at what happened last year with Bret?" Joe exclaimed, striding after her, "I don't think you are old enough to have a boyfriend; I didn't think you were old enough last year, nor do I this year!"
Adrienne turned, a broad smile on her face; she always thoroughly enjoyed torturing Professor Glenn. "I'm just going to a dance with him, Professor Glenn, a dance. It's not like I'm going to come home married after second term; keep your robes on, professor," replied Adrienne smoothly.
"You're just going to the dance with him, you're not seeing him, you haven't kissed him?" asked Joe, completely traumatized at his little Adrienne seeing someone whom he had never met before.
"Well . . ." Adrienne began.
"What do you mean, well?" asked Joe dangerously, his eyes narrowing. Adrienne saw this and decided to quit her game.
"Nothing," she said quickly, turning and beginning to climb Salem's entrance steps; however, on the second step she found herself frozen to the ground.
Professor Glenn stood behind her, Professor Hartel behind him, shaking her head embarassedly. Professor Glenn had his wand out and from the looks of his face, he was not interested in hearing a reply of "nothing."
"Let's try this again, Adrienne, what do you mean, well?" he said in a fashion that reminded Adrienne of those overprotective television dads she had seen on Muggle comedy shows. Adrienne pursed her lips and then sighed.
"So, I kissed him on the cheek, before I left, what's the matter with that?" she mumbled.
Joe raised his eyebrows and before he could respond, Mia had put a hand on his shoulder, warning him to settle down.
"Once? Ok, I guess I can handle once," he said, straining to keep his face calm; however, it only made him look like he was sucking on a sour lemon while treating a bad sunburn – this only egged Adrienne on.
"And then he kissed me back," she said, enjoying the drastic change that took place upon Joe's face.
"WHAT!" he exploded, "What were you thinking! You're only fifteen!" Mia cleared her throat and stomped on his foot.
"Ouch . . . fine," he snapped back at his wife and again tried to calm himself.
"Ok, I guess I can handle that, he just kissed you on the cheek, right – fine," he mumbled, more to himself than to Adrienne, unfreezing her from the ground. Adrienne smiled evilly .
"Not exactly," she said and then turned, ran up the steps, and flung herself through the entrance, leaving Joe standing at the bottom of the steps to work out what she had said.
* * * * *
"Adrienne? Adrienne!" called Professor Mondel as Adrienne shut the doors behind her, trying to block out the angry shouts of Professor Glenn. Adrienne turned, smiling.
"Professor!" she yelled and then ran forward, "Guess what! You wouldn't believe it – I got in a fight on the first day of school!" she exclaimed excitedly. Professor Mondel's face fell.
"Adrienne, you know I didn't teach you martial arts so you could go around beating people up," he began.
"Don't you have any faith in me? Anyways, this boy had it coming for a long time – I was just given the incredible opportunity of cutting down some of his mutant ego," replied Adrienne. Professor Mondel cracked a smile.
"The incredible opportunity of cutting down some of his mutant ego? Now that's the style of talking that Salem has been dearly lacking in since you left. It's so serious now; we haven't had any reason to evacuate, or close down a wing," he chuckled. Adrienne's eyes narrowed.
"Nor will you have any reason anytime soon," she replied.
A loud creak behind her informed her that Professors Glenn and Hartel had entered the castle. Adrienne looked over her shoulder. Mia rolled her eyes and then motioned with her head to Joe, who was carrying Adrienne's trunk and still wore a very dangerous expression. Adrienne got the hint.
"Hmm, I think I have to go get reacquainted with Salem, excuse me," she said hastily and rushed towards a nearby corridor and out of the range of Professor Glenn's wrath.
* * * * *
Hogwarts was almost completely void of students. The hallways were silent, the classrooms empty, and the grounds held few trails of teenage footprints. Mixed in with these footprints, however few they may be, were those of an animal; an animal, who, by the tracks left a week after the beginning of break, had an appointment with someone in the castle – for from the edge of the Forbidden Forest, right up to the Hogwarts entrance steps were the prints of a dog, and by the size of the prints, a very large dog.
The shaggy dog pushed his way into the castle as the sun began to rise, illuminating the black and white world of winter. Sirius quietly let the door shut and walked as softly as he could through the Entrance Hall, leaving a trail of wet paw prints behind him. He had chosen such an early time, thinking that the students would still be in bed; which would have been a very well thought out plan, except, Hogwarts currently housed several students who tended to roam the halls at odd hours of the day.
"Hermione, it's six in the morning! You've spent a week looking through those records and you still haven't found anything!" exclaimed Ron, his feet dragging as he walked next to Hermione.
"I didn't make you two come with me," she shot back. Harry smirked.
"Right, and if we declined, then we'd be the next victims of Hermione, the Knowledge Obsessed Witch," joked Harry. Hermione didn't think so highly of this and picked up her pace.
"Ok, but at six in the morning, Hermione? What do you have against sleep?" whined Ron, yawning loudly, more to emphasize his statement than because he really had to.
"Because, we only have two more weeks and I want to make sure I find the right record!" she said, rounding a corner.
Suddenly, her legs met something hard and she flew forward, her arms up to shield her head, and landed several feet away.
"Hermione!" yelled Harry and Ron in unison, running around the stationary thing that she had tripped over.
"Are you ok?" asked Harry, kneeling down beside her. Hermione rolled over and sat up quickly.
"Sure, yeah," she said, shaking her head.
"Are you that jealous of Adrienne that you had to take up her job of being clumsy while she's away," joked Ron, giving her hand to help her up.
Hermione took it and offered her other to Harry. In a second she was standing up again; she first glared at Ron and then turned her attention to what had sent her flying: a large shaggy black dog. In a second her eyes lit with recognition.
"Harry," she whispered, "Look!" For the first time since Hermione's fall, Harry turned his attention to the black dog standing before the statue of a particularly ugly gargoyle.
"Sirius?" Harry whispered.
The dog shook its tail in response. It turned its head, checking to make sure no one was around and then with a pop, Sirius appeared. He was wearing clean, black wizard robes, except Harry had never seen this style before. The robes didn't close, but hung open, revealing black pants and shirt underneath. Encircling the ends of the robes' sleeves were two thin colored rings of thread. The closest to the fingers was a golden color, and the second, a maroon color.
Sirius looked a lot different than he had previously. His hair was still a little long, but it was clean and combed. His face wasn't bony or pale; instead, he looked like every day since the last time Harry had seen him, he had had a good meal. He looked exactly like the picture in Harry's album, except Sirius had aged, although it was only a little.
"Jelly Slugs. Quick, inside," said Sirius, turning to look around him again.
The gargoyle sprang to life, revealing Professor Dumbledore's familiar door. The four entered and began their ascent up the golden staircase as the door slid shut behind them.
"What are you doing here? What are you wearing?" asked Harry hurriedly, beside himself with happiness at having Sirius with him again. Sirius smiled.
"Business with Dumbledore, of course. And this? My official Celian uniform – Remus had kept it for me all these years. I think I'm the only one who still fits into their original one," said Sirius, but upon remembering his debilitating stint it Azkaban shuddered, "not saying that I'm glad about being starved for thirteen years, but I'll look on the bright side."
Harry stared at his Godfather. He had never seen Sirius like this, like a real person. Sure, while Sirius had been living in a Hogsmeade cave, Harry had spent a couple hours with him, but he had acted still much like a broken man. Now he acted like someone normal – or as normal as you could get when you had an award on your head.
"How long are you staying?" asked Harry as they reached the top of the staircase.
"Until Professor Dumbledore tells me to leave. He told me he had some assignments that I could do here, said something about rewriting history – whatever that means," muttered Sirius.
Harry stepped forward, picked up the golden knocker, and let it drop, the load clunking noise startling Hermione.
"Come in!" called Professor Dumbledore from behind the closed door.
Sirius stepped forward and heaved it open, revealing the Headmaster's bright office. Sirius and Harry walked in, Hermione and Ron lingering at the door nervously, having never been inside Dumbledore's office before.
"Come in, come in, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger!" said Dumbledore jovially, standing up and clasping his hands together in delight. "I've been expecting you, Sirius. I was just preparing to come find why you were taking so long, but it seems you've been detained by my students. Take a chair, all of you," continued Dumbledore, indicting the chairs in front of his desk with his left hand, and conjuring up two others with his right.
"Are you finding everything well?" asked Dumbledore once everyone had been seated.
"Yes, much better than a cave," replied Sirius, stretching his neck.
"And I'm sure safer," added Dumbledore, he then turned his attention to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"And what are you three doing up this early during the holiday?" he asked somewhat suspiciously.
"We'd be in our nice, warm, comfortable beds right now if it weren't for Hermione's incessant urge to spend every possible second in the library," said Ron hotly, obviously still miffed at this researching during the holidays idea. Dumbledore laughed.
"Always trying to learn something new, good for you, Miss Granger, and it's good for them also."
Ron glared at her. Hermione didn't notice, she just smiled at Dumbledore, clearly enjoying the attention. Dumbledore looked at the three students and smiled.
"So I see you've discovered that Hogwarts is currently playing host to Sirius Black," said Dumbledore, setting his elbows on his desk and placing the tips of his fingers together thoughtfully. "However, since the Ministry is still looking for him, I would prefer to get him out of the castle and back to the Shrieking Shack before any of the other remaining students wake up. Thus, I'm sure you'll forgive me for my requesting that I speak to Sirius in private."
Harry's mind began to race. He had so much he wanted to tell Sirius; he didn't' want to have to leave before he could talk to him. Dumbledore seemed to know exactly what he was thinking.
"I assure you, Harry, that you'll be able to speak frequently with Sirius while he is here; now, if you three will just excuse us."
"Thank you, Professor," replied Harry, standing up. 'At least this time I'll get a chance to speak with him,' Harry reminded himself as he followed Hermione towards the door.
* * * * *
Adrienne lay on her bed in her empty dormitory, staring up into the blank ceiling, thinking. Salem's term had ended yesterday, and today, every student in the entire school had made a mad dash towards the Gallows to their waiting parents, port-keys, or designated fireplaces. This was the first time Adrienne had ever been the only student during the winter vacation; not that she had a problem with this. She preferred to have the castle to herself and the teachers. She raised her arm to look at her watch and sat up quickly; dinner would be beginning soon and she couldn't wait – this would be her first real time with her professors.
She had spent the last week up in her dormitory or roaming through the Gallows, looking at dresses. Professor Hartel wouldn't be able to come shopping with her until after the start of vacation, and so Adrienne had made lists of the stores that had dresses she liked. But now that the students were gone she'd be able to fill everyone in on her adventures at Hogwarts.
"Miss me?" asked Adrienne as she waltzed into the cafeteria, wearing her old emerald school robes.
"Ah, sporting your real school's robes are we?" asked Professor Bell sarcastically. Adrienne raised an eyebrow.
"Professor, I may be attending another school; however, no matter where my body is, my heart will be at Salem," said Adrienne dramatically, gesticulating with fine movements. Laughter rang through the large room.
"Studying drama as a new course this year, Adri?" asked Professor Sloan, "I would have thought you'd learn something more productive while at Hogwarts."
Adrienne smiled evilly. "Oh but I did – listen! First off, I learned that Professor Snape isn't a happy person – important lesson, mind you. Secondly, I learned that the Sorting Hat torments the students and Professor McGonagall has no patience. Thirdly, use care when transfiguring Muggle coins or you could possibly slime an entire class. Oh yes, I almost forgot – when you are trying to impress the Deputy-Headmistress and at the same time master her Transfiguration course, it would do good not to transfigure her into an newt."
"You transfigured Minerva McGonagall into a newt!" shouted Professor Glenn, spitting his wine across the table.
Adrienne shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe."
"I bet she loved that!" said Professor Sloan, "I should have sent a warning with you, Adri, telling them that perhaps you should be exempt from Transfiguration or risk razing the castle."
"Moving back to important lessons learned by Adrienne!" interrupted Adrienne, eager to build up to her climax, "I also learned that when playing Quidditch at their school, it is in your best interest not to anger the Slytherin seeker. But perhaps the most important lesson I learned is something to do with my wand," said Adrienne, pulling out her wand from her robes and smirking.
"Anyone want to see a trick?" she said slyly, "I guarantee you, it's something you've never seen before, and worth the watch." All her professors looked at her curiously.
"I'd sit down if I were you, Professor Mondel," directed Adrienne to the Muggle Studies professor, who had just stood up to reach for a distant dish.
"Wonderful," murmured Mondel, sitting back into his chair, wondering what Adrienne was going to do and how much work it would take to undo it.
"Ahem . . . and presenting the wonderful magical stylings of Miss Adrienne Lily Miles," said Adrienne in a deep announcer's voice.
She walked over to the table and stopped next to Professor Sloan. Adrienne bent down and picked up an unused spoon.
"An ordinary spoon – look, I have not tampered with it, I have not put a spell on it, I have not even seen it until right now," said Adrienne holding the spoon in the air and twisting back and forth so everyone could see it.
"Now, are you sure it's a spoon? Young man, would you examine this utensil and clarify that I have not adjusted it in any way, shape, or form?" Adrienne said, walking over to Professor Glenn and letting him take it from her, a very curious expression covering his face. He looked at it for several seconds and then quite embarressedly said, "She's right, it's a spoon."
"Do you see anything strange about it?"
"No, Adrienne," replied Professor Glenn, trying hard not to laugh, "Have you been practicing to be a Muggle illusionist, Adrienne?" Adrienne glared at him and continued.
"Now, it seems that this table is filled with food, but there is nothing good . . . like chocolate. With the aid of my trusty wand here," said Adrienne, twirling her wand in her fingers like Professor Wallace had done on the first day of school, "and the aid of this spoon, I'm going to fix this problem concerning the lack of chocolate."
Adrienne cleared a spot on the table and set upon it a large upside-down bowl, which upon this she set a plate, and upon the plate a smaller bowl, upside-down, to make a make-shift stand. She set the spoon atop it and then took several steps back.
"Now, complete silence, I must concentrate," she said.
Adrienne stared at the spoon, lifted her wand, and shut her eyes. She focused every thought of her mind, every wish of her soul and heart on transfiguring the spoon into a large bar of Godiva chocolate. Slowly, but surely she envisioned her creation, and then with a final surge of concentration, flicked her wand.
"ADRIENNE!" called a voice. Adrienne held her breath and didn't open her eyes, fearing that she had messed up.
"I don't believe it!"
"HOW?
"Did you see that?"
"Adrienne Lily Miles!"
Adrienne finally opened her eyes. Sitting atop of the makeshift platform was a large wrapped bar of Godiva chocolate. Adrienne burst into a large smile and stared at her pale and shocked professors. She went into a deep bow.
"Thank you, thank you, tomorrow the great Adrienne will display her prowess at Step Transfiguration," Adrienne called, tears welling in her eyes, pride filling her heart – she had done it, she had proved to every professor at Salem that she was not the clumsy little girl they had always thought her to be, and this made her feel invincible.
* * * * *
Hermione collapsed into a chair, tossing several large books on top of the library table.
"I don't think Adrienne was born in England, Hermione, or we would have found her by now, don't you think?" sighed Ron, collapsing into the chair next to her.
"What did you tell us, Hermione, that her grandmother took her to America, we don't know where she was born," said Harry, staring dully at the pile of books in front of him. Hermione sighed.
"These records aren't very organized are they?" she asked disappointedly. "I mean, they aren't even in order. Look, this book on births from 1979-1980 was next to the book on births from 1645-1655; what kind of order is that? I've looked everywhere, I can't find the 1981 birth book; she'd be in that one."
Ron leaned over and pulled another book into his lap.
"Well, this one is deaths from 1980-1981," said Ron quietly. Hermione turned at once.
"Deaths?" she asked and then grabbed it from him.
"Why didn't I think of that? We could look up her mother, Heather Miles," said Hermione, flipping through pages, "but we have to go through each page because we don't know when she died."
Harry leaned back in his chair and waited, looking at the hundreds of books stacked several feet tall atop their table, dreading having to put them all away.
"Wait, Hermione, I think you passed it," said Ron, who was leaning over the side of his chair to look at the book with Hermione. She flipped back through several pages, stopping on page 546.
"Harry, look," she said quietly, motioning for him to get up and look. Harry pulled himself out of his chair and walked over to stand behind Hermione.
"Heather Patricia Miles," Hermione began to read, "Died July 31, 1981 during childbirth at Mercy Hospital."
"That means Adrienne has the same birthday as you, Harry, weird!" muttered Ron. Harry leaned further over Hermione to get a better look at the page.
"Heather Miles, a recent graduate of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry is survived by her mother, Miriam Miles and her newborn daughter, Adrienne Lily Miles," Hermione continued.
Harry's eyes roamed further down the page, past a Richard Warburton, who had died of a freak accident with a Blast-Ended Skrewts, and onto the next page. Hermione was rambling on about something concerning Heather when a name caught Harry's eye. He blinked several times and then reached right over Hermione's head, grabbed the book from her hands, and brought it closer to his face, thinking he was too far away to see clear.
"What are you doing, Harry?" asked Hermione sharply, turning in her chair. Harry didn't answer, he just stumbled over to his chair and stared at page 547, at a name on the top.
"Harry?" asked Hermione again. Again Harry ignored her and began to read the article under the name: Adrienne Lily Potter.
Adrienne Lily Potter died August 1, 1981 of a Pulmonary Embolism at Mercy Hospital. Adrienne is survived by her parents, James and Lily Potter, and her day old twin brother, Harry Potter.
Harry stared at the page, his mind racing.
"Harry? What is it?" asked Hermione, finally standing up and walking over to his chair. She looked at the page he was pointing to.
"Oh my," she murmured, sinking to her knees to better see the writing.
"What's going on?" asked Ron, walking over to Harry's other side and staring at the book. In a second his face contorted into a mixture of surprise and confusion.
"But, but, that means Harry, you, you had a sister," said Ron after reading the article, a trace of disbelief in his voice.
Harry didn't reply. He just stared, wondering why no one had told him. Wondering why not even Sirius had told him that he had once had a sister, even for only a day.
Hermione on the other hand was wondering about something else. Her eyes slipped from page 547 to 546, 'Adrienne Lily Potter, Adrienne Lily Miles? They were both born on July 31, 1981. They were both born at Mercy Hospital,' Hermione told herself, her mind slipping back to the dream Harry had told her about last week, 'something about there being two Adriennes, and one's a twin. . . two ladies acted like they had mixed up two babies named Adrienne.' Hermione's eyes widened.
"Oh my," she murmured, standing up and placing a hand over her mouth in horror, "that isn't possible." And with that Hermione ran from the library, leaving a very confused Ron, and a very quiet Harry staring after her.
Hermione raced through the castle, skidding around corners, running into walls, and finally into Professor Snape.
"Miss Granger! What do you think you are doing? This is not a playground. Twenty points from Gryffindor," resounded Snape, glaring at her.
Hermione stared at him, suddenly remembering what he had told Adrienne that day in Potions, something about knowing her parents. Hermione's eyes flashed.
"You knew, professor, didn't you?" she asked angrily. Snape stared at her blankly.
"Knew what, Miss Granger?" he asked shortly, eager to have another reason for taking points from the Mudblood.
"You know! And you mocked them! You didn't tell them? You must have thought it was funny, eh? Them not knowing?" she exclaimed. Snape smirked.
"I have no idea what you are talking about," he said coolly, even though he had a horrible feeling that he knew exactly what she was talking about, "but I do not need to be treated that way . . . you will show respect for your professors, Miss Granger, another twenty points from Gryffindor for disrespect . . ."
Whatever Snape was going to say after that, Hermione would never know, for at that moment, all the anger she had been harboring from being the butt of so many of his jokes, from seeing his horrendous attitude, and now, coupled with the information he had held, finally got to her.
"Twenty points? Twenty points? The only person who should be punished here is you, Professor! I cannot believe you! You should show some respect, we aren't your personal whipping boys, and especially not Harry or Adrienne, especially not them. Take as many points as you want, Professor, that doesn't make you better or superior to me. Respect, Professor Snape, is something that is earned, not something you receive because of a title, and you haven't done one thing to earn my respect. Torturing orphans because of their family? Pathetic," snapped Hermione. With that she strode past him and then broke into a run, heading towards the Gryffindor common room.
She raced up the spiral staircase and burst into her empty dormitory. She ran over to her bedside cabinet and ripped open a door. She rummaged through her multitudes of books and pulled out a photo-album. She flipped to the last photograph, which had been taken only days before the winter holidays by Colin Creevey. She stared at the picture of her, Adrienne, Harry, and Ron. Her eyes flipped from Adrienne to Harry, taking in their identical features, her mind flipping back to the train-ride to Hogwarts, "is this your twin, Potter?"
"Adrienne?" Hermione whispered to the picture. The photographic Adrienne smiled at her and nodded.
"Adrienne Potter?" asked Hermione slowly. The photographic Adrienne beamed.
"Oh my," gasped Hermione, staring at the picture, "Adrienne Potter never died."
* * * * *
"What do you think about this one?" asked Adrienne as she walked out from behind the dressing room curtain.
She wore a royal blue sleeveless princess style dress. The dress fitted tightly around her middle and then flowed gracefully to the ground. "Beautiful!" exclaimed Professor Hartel, walking forward to get a better look at the dress, "Turn around, Adrienne."
Adrienne turned to show the back of the dress; it was low cut, showing off her slightly too pale but athletic back.
"I don't like this one as much," responded Professor Glenn, staring at Adrienne in a skeptical manner, "It's a little showy."
"Showy?" asked Professor Hartel, spinning around, "Showy? It's perfect, Joe! Look, it fits her wonderfully and the color looks beautiful with her complexion. She's a knockout!"
"Exactly, Mia! She doesn't need to be a knock-out at fifteen," replied Professor Glenn, walking forward and looking at the dress more carefully.
"I like it, Professor," replied Adrienne, turning in front of the mirror, watching the cloth twirl around her, "I like this one."
Professor Glenn shook his head. "And what's the matter with wearing plain old dress robes?" he asked wearily. Adrienne rolled her eyes.
"It's a Muggle formal, note the word MUGGLE! Muggles don't wear dress robes!" Joe shook his head.
"This one, Adrienne?" asked Professor Hartel, looking at the price tag – 23 Galleons.
"This one," confirmed Adrienne dreamily, envisioning how she would look at the dance, "How much is it?"
"It doesn't matter, Adrienne, we'll take care of it," replied Professor Hartel, reaching for her bag. Adrienne stopped in her tracks, having begun to make her way towards the dressing rooms.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Consider this your Christmas present," replied Professor Hartel, smiling sweetly. Professor Glenn's jaw dropped in a silent protest.
* * * * *
"So, Miss Granger has discovered the truth about Adrienne?" asked Dumbledore, staring out over the snowy grounds.
"Yes, Headmaster, it seems she has," muttered Snape darkly, casting a hateful glance to Sirius, who sat quietly in the corner of the room, having chosen the place that put the most distance between him and Snape. Dumbledore turned from the window.
"This is not how I had planned to tell him," he said wearily, "If Miss Granger knows, then Harry knows also."
"What do you pan on doing now?" asked Sirius, mentally chastising himself for not having told Harry earlier; he had the right to know.
"And if Miss Granger knows, then the Weasley boy knows," offered Snape, glaring at Sirius for his talking; it was easier to pretend he wasn't there when he was silent. Dumbledore sat down and looked at the two men.
"I asked you two to be civil, at least try," he said, shaking his head. Neither Snape nor Black did anything. Dumbledore sighed.
"Severus, you come with me. Well have to go find him," said Dumbledore, standing up. Snape nodded and smirked, at least he didn't have to stay with Black.
"You should probably bring all of them. Harry will tell them anyway; it would make sense to explain it to them all at once," said Sirius from his shadowy corner.
"I agree, Sirius. On second thought, Severus, you and Sirius can stay here."
Snape's eyes narrowed, but he nodded and stood quietly until the door shut. Then he walked over to the window and looked out. Sirius glared at him, but then thought he should at least try and appease Dumbledore.
"I saw you last night returning from your Death Eater thing," was the only thing Sirius could think to say. Snape whipped around.
"First off, Black, I am no more a Death Eater than you are a murderer. Secondly, why are you spying on me?" shot Snape, his black eyes boring into Sirius'. "Old habits die hard," mumbled Sirius so Snape wouldn't hear, "So, what's your master planning now?"
Snape's face reddened.
"He's not my master, Black," he snarled.
Sirius raised an eyebrow; he didn't completely trust Snape.
"Ok, so what's he planning?"
Snape glared at him.
"I don't know. He seems to think he can't trust me. . ."
'I wonder why,' thought Sirius.
"but I know it's something big; we have another meeting tonight," said Snape.
Black didn't say anything in response, and the office filled with an awkward silence.
Sirius leaned back in his chair and sighed. Dumbledore had said Adrienne was a Perfect; moreover, the Perfect from the prophecy. Sirius shut his eyes. He could remember holding both of them, one in each arm, and joking about how Adrienne was bald and Harry wasn't. He remembered how shocked he was to learn that Adrienne had died, and now Sirius wondered how he'd respond when he finally met her again.
The sound of the door opening made Sirius open his eyes. Dumbledore walked in, followed by Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who looked like she was carrying a photo-album.
"Have a seat," Dumbledore told them.
Harry sat down slowly and looked around the room, still in a partial state of shock.
"Harry?" asked Dumbledore gently as he sat down. Harry looked at him.
"I hadn't planned on you finding out in a book," Dumbledore began, watching Harry intently.
"So, she is my sister?" asked Harry, slowly.
"Yes."
Harry didn't know quite what to say and asked the first thing that popped into his mind.
"When were you planning on telling me that I had a sister?" he asked shortly.
Sirius stared at Harry and hung his head. He beat Dumbledore to answering.
"Because, no one saw a point in telling you, not right away – too many horrible things had already happened in your life."
"So, was anyone going to tell me that she was now attending Hogwarts?" asked Harry dangerously.
Sirius shook his head.
"We thought she was dead Harry, we thought she was dead," his voice cracked when saying this and he put his head in his hands.
"But she isn't dead, is she," whispered Hermione, standing up and walking over to stand next to Sirius.
He looked up.
"No, she isn't," he replied.
Harry closed his eyes.
"So my parents died thinking that their daughter was dead?" he asked slowly.
Sirius nodded.
"Ouch," muttered Ron.
* * * * *
Severus Snape walked quickly through the torch-lit corridor, his Death-Eater robes billowing behind him; he was late, by about three hours.
"We had a staff meeting in which my presence was required, I just got away now," he said in the most submissive tone he could muster.
He was met with silence. Snape looked around the dark chamber, realizing that no one was there. The flickering torch-light dancing eerily over the stone walls.
"Hello?" Snape called.
Silence.
"Master?"
"They have left . . ." came a voice from the shadows behind him.
Snape turned and faced a young Death Eater whom he didn't recognize.
"What do you mean they left?" asked Snape cautiously.
"They had business to attend to this evening," replied the Death Eater in a smooth, quiet voice.
"Business? What kind of business?" asked Snape slowly, his eyes flickering around the room; he had never seen it this empty.
"Business in America," was all the Death Eater replied.
Snape's eyes flashed.
"Why wasn't I informed about this 'business'?" he asked sharply, wishing dearly he knew whom this moron was standing in front of him.
"Because Master didn't think you'd be able to assist in the plan; he didn't think you'd be able to escape from Hogwarts, so he thought it best to keep you in the dark," replied the cold voice.
Snape glared at him.
"And this plan?"
"To extend an invitation."
"What did you say?" asked Snape, piecing two and two together.
"To extend the invitation to the Perfect," he replied, "Master said you are not needed tonight, but you are to stay here and await their return."
Snape didn't move for a second, his eyes wide in horror.
"But I am needed at Hogwarts this evening," Snape began; he had to tell Dumbledore right away that Adrienne was in danger.
"Master's orders are that you are to stay here," said the other Death Eater.
"I must return, my absence will not go unnoticed," replied Snape angrily; he didn't want this newcomer pushing him around.
"You will stay here," said the Death Eater, drawing his wand, "Accio."
Snape's wand shot from his robes and into the Death Eater's hand.
"You will stay here."
* * * * *
Adrienne had her arms around Ron's shoulders and she was smiling at him, making him blush slightly. They didn't talk, just danced, oblivious to the other dancers around them. Adrienne moved close so she could rest her head on his shoulder, and shut her eyes, but before she got there, Ron let go of her hip and grabbed her shoulder, shaking her and whispering urgently, "Adrienne, Adrienne."
Adrienne stirred in her sleep, her dream fading away with the urgent whisper of, "Adrienne, Adrienne, get up." As someone began to shake her shoulder, she opened her eyes. Above her, hastily dressed, wide-eyed, and impatient stood Professor Glenn. Adrienne brought a hand up to her face and rubbed her eyes sleepily.
"What?" she mumbled, sitting up.
Professor Glenn turned, casting a quick glance towards Adrienne's shut door; Adrienne noticed he had his wand out and was shaking slightly.
"What's going on?" she asked slowly.
Joe didn't answer. He raced around her bed to her trunk and threw it open.
"You need to go, now!" he hissed in an uncharacteristically quiet tone, "Put this on; I won't look."
"What do you mean I need . . " Adrienne began, bewildered, as she rolled out of bed and picked up the black pants he had thrown her way.
"And this too," he added, tossing her a bra, socks, a white turtleneck, and a forest green sweater. Adrienne raised an eyebrow but quickly dressed.
Professor Glenn had now moved to her bedside table and was searching through it. Adrienne stared at him. He was white, jittery, and kept throwing backwards glances towards the door.
"Where's your Firebolt?" he asked finally, as Adrienne pulled on her last sock and reached for the pair of shoes he had tossed her way earlier.
"I left it at Hogwarts, remember?" asked Adrienne impatiently.
"Shit!" exclaimed Professor Glenn, then looking quickly at the door as if he was wondering if anyone had heard him.
"Would you mind telling me what's going on?" Adrienne asked, standing up and walking around to him.
As she rounded the edge of her bed something odd caught her eye: There was a faint glow shining through her window. Adrienne shook her head slightly and strode over to it. She flung open the curtain and gasped. Down below the castle, encircled by the white forest, bright flames were licking the inky sky – the Gallows was on fire.
"What happened?" she exclaimed, raising a hand to her mouth in astonishment, "Why aren't they putting it out?"
She turned to look at Professor Glenn, who now stood behind her; her wand, Muggle ID, and a wad of Muggle bills in his hand.
"The Death Eaters have cast some kind of Dark Magic that is preventing the Ministry from fighting the fire," he said, "Here, you'll need your wand. And this, $2000 Muggle cash, put it in a safe place, along with your ID." Adrienne stared dumbly at what he had just thrust into her hand. "Put it away now, Adri," he shot at her, casting another furtive glance over his shoulder.
"What do I need this for?"
"I'll explain, we need to go, follow me, and keep your wand out," said Professor Glenn, grabbing her arm and pulling her towards the dormitory door. Adrienne followed after, wondering what was going on.
"Death Eaters? At the Gallows?" asked Adrienne as they made their way through the empty common room.
"They attacked there first, and now, they're attacking the school," said Professor Glenn sorrowfully.
"What?" yelled Adrienne.
"Shh! They might hear you Adrienne," said Professor Glenn, turning around and grabbing her by the shoulders. He looked at her strangely, not believing she could be a Perfect, not sure whether the Death Eaters had come for the right girl, "They mustn't hear you – you need to leave now! Listen, you have to get to Boston, Adrienne, it's only 15 miles. The problem is the Gallows. Take the forest to the Gallows, stay as hidden as you can. You have to make your way to the oak tree – it will be heavily guarded, Adrienne, but you have to get to the oak tree. Once you get to the Muggle world, run, Adrienne, run as fast as you can. The quicker you get away the better. Get to Boston, take a taxi to the airport, and take the first flight to London. You know where to go from there," said Professor Glenn, not wanting to tell her why she had to leave for Hogwarts – not wanting to tell her that Voldemort had asked for her.
"Do you understand, Adrienne?" asked Professor Glenn, tears welling in his eyes. Adrienne nodded in shock and then forced herself to ask a question she was dreading.
"Where's Professor Hartel?"
Professor Glenn looked at Adrienne intently.
"Mia can hold her own, they need her, my job is to get you to safety, Adrienne." Professor Glenn bent down and kissed her forehead, "When we leave the common room we'll be in danger. No matter what happens, you have to get out of the castle. Got that? No matter what. Don't look back and don't stop running until you get to Boston. Promise me Adrienne. Promise me that you won't look back, that you won't quit until you are safe," whispered Professor Glenn hoarsely. Adrienne nodded. "I promise."
"Good girl. Now, keep your wand ready and be quiet."
Professor Glenn slowly opened the door to the main castle. At once Adrienne's ears filled with the shouts of curses. She ran after Professor Glenn, her wand in front of her, her ears filled with horrified yells and cries. They took to an unused corridor, hidden behind a staircase and ran. The classrooms flicked by Adrienne; torches were extinguished and Adrienne could only see what was ahead of her, and that was Professor Glenn.
"There's a hidden exit down the Arithmancy corridor," he whispered as they rounded a corner that led to a stairwell.
The two raced down it, taking several steps at a time, flying around the corners and counting floors. They ran by a slightly open door and a voice followed Adrienne as she ran past it.
"Where's the Perfect? Why protect the girl? Tell me where she is!" came a very familiar voice that made Adrienne shudder, but she couldn't remember where she had heard it before.
Professor Glenn threw a different door open ahead of him and they burst out into a corridor.
"There, two more!"
"It's the Perfect!"
Two Death Eaters stood at one end of the corridor, standing over someone whom Adrienne couldn't recognize in the darkness.
"Get them!"
Professor Glenn grabbed Adrienne's arm and threw her behind him and turned and yelled, "Stupify."
The Death Eaters blocked it easily.
"You promised, Adrienne, get out of the castle now!" he yelled while trying to ward off the two Death Eaters.
Adrienne heard the pounding of feet and realized that more were coming. She turned and ran, pushing herself to run faster than she had ever ran in her life. She ran through corridors and around corners, trying to find a way out, knowing that the majority of the windows would be locked with a spell she didn't know how to break. She turned a corner and reached the end of the Arithmancy corridor.
"Great, I don't know where this door is," she muttered.
Adrienne walked across the corridor to a wall and started inspecting it for a doorway. She found nothing and as just about to turn back when she heard the echo of footsteps behind her. She gripped her wand tightly in her hand and flattened herself against the wall. A figure ran past her and as Adrienne jumped out from the wall the figure turned.
"Professor Glenn!"
"Shhh, come on," he whispered and pointed his wand at the wall Adrienne had been just inspecting.
"Trecidora," he whispered, and the wall slid open to reveal the dark Salem grounds.
"Remember Adrienne, don't stop until you get to Boston," he said, reaching out and stroking her cheek, " we love you, Adrienne, always remember that."
The shuffle of feet behind them interrupted their goodbye and Professor Glenn shoved her out of the castle, sliding the door shut behind her.
The freezing night air hit her like a brick wall and Adrienne gasped for breath, her lungs stinging, now from her running and accentuated by the cold. Adrienne looked around the dark lawn before beginning to run again. She threw her legs out in front of her with all her might, and drew them back as fast as she could, realizing that with her back to the castle she was a sitting duck for anyone looking out a window. Adrienne ran, her mind focused on what she had to do, the comments she had heard regarding a Perfect not once crossing her mind.
The forest drew closer and Adrienne gripped her wand tightly in her hand, praying that no one had seen her escape. In the dark, the forest looked more foreboding than ever, but Adrienne didn't let her imagination get in her way. Light or no light, she knew the area like the back of her hand. She ran to the right, hurtling fallen logs and rocks, wishing the moon wasn't partially covered, then she could have seen better. The woods were silent except for the crunch of Adrienne's running shoes on the snow. Her feet were quickly becoming soaked and snow was getting under the legs of her pants, but she kept running.
The Gallows was only about five minutes away and just as Adrienne thought she was almost there, her foot slipped on an icy patch in the middle of a clearing. Her feet fell up from under her, her arms flying out to the sides, and her wand went flying. Adrienne landed hard on her back, her head hitting the ground and the last thing she remembered before blacking out was screaming.
Adrienne's eyes snapped open seconds later, her head pounding, and her back aching. She slowly forced herself to sit up, a wave of nausea overtaking her. She was extremely dizzy, and every second she stayed in a sitting position her head pounded more.
"It came from over here," said someone Adrienne didn't know and couldn't see.
Adrienne's eyes widened in horror, forgetting momentarily the pain from her fall, she looked around frantically for her wand, but in the dim moonlight, she could barely see. She reached out with her hands, but only found snow.
"Come on," urged Adrienne, now feeling around frantically for her wand, all too aware of the nearing footsteps.
"Shit!" she mumbled, and slowly stood up, wobbling slightly as her head began to spin again.
She took an unsteady step forward and another, off the ice patch onto normal snow. Adrienne could barely stand, a fresh wave of nausea surfacing. Adrienne took a deep breath, the sound of more shouts and footsteps causing a rush of adrenaline that pushed her pain from her mind. She stepped back with her right foot and raised her hands, knowing that without a wand she'd have to disarm her opponents physically.
Two Death Eaters entered the clearing and Adrienne ran at them, now blessing the dim moon because they didn't see her coming. Adrienne jumped into the air, spinning and extending her left leg to catch the jaw of thenearest Death Eater . The Death Eater fell to the ground and just as Adrienne landed, she leapt back into the air to catch the extended wand arm of the other Death Eater with the inside of her foot. Her right foot caught his wrist and the Death Eater's wand went flying. Adrienne then grabbed his wrist and threw him to the ground. She let go of him and ran over to where his wand fell. She bent down, picked it up, and whispered, "stupify," just as he began to sit up. Adrienne stood there for a second, her arm still raised and then slowly dropped the wand, and looked at her luminous watch: 12:30 A.M.
"That's what you get for ruining my Christmas," she spat.
Adrienne ran back to where she fell, dropped to her hands and knees and began searching for her wand. Snow began to soak through her pants, and just as her legs were beginning to go numb, her hand, now beginning to loose sensation, enclosed something circular and long.
"Ah ha!" she whispered, grabbing her wand and jumping to her feet.
She shook her legs and then ran over to the nearest Death Eater. Adrienne put her wand in her mouth and reached down and tried to yank off the black robes, thinking she could wear them to sneak to the oak tree; however, before she could manage it, she heard shouts. Other Death Eaters were arriving, investigating the source of the light issued when Adrienne had stunned the last Death Eater. Adrienne looked up quickly and then, choosing a different path to the Gallows, began to run.
Behind her she heard the shouts of the newly arrived Death Eaters and ahead of her she saw the glow of the burning Gallows. Adrienne came to a halt at the edge of the forest and hid behind a large tree. What Adrienne saw made her sick: The street was littered with bodies, some burned, others all too clearly unmarked. Adrienne shivered, "they're all dead," she whispered. At least thirty Death Eaters were running around, shooting curses at the few remaining present American aurors. Ahead of her stood the large oak tree, but between it and her, at least five Death Eaters.
"Promise you won't quit until you're safe," remembered Adrienne. Adrienne wasn't going to break her promise to Professor Glenn, but at least she'd do something productive in her attempt to reach the tree. Using her advantage of anonymity she pointed her wand at the nearest Death Eater and exclaimed, "Containtium!" Then, "Stupfy! Petrificus Totalus! Stupify! Stupify!" As the last obstacle in her path fell, Adrienne raced out into the open, running at top speed, blocking various curses other Death Eaters sent her way. She didn't hesitate but ran right into the tree.
The Muggle forest was just as dark on this side of the tree as on the other. Adrienne paused and looked around, knowing that he Death Eaters would be following her in a few seconds.
"They'll follow my tracks," she muttered, her breath condensing in front of her. She took a step forward, a brilliant idea popping into her mind.
"Concealio," she muttered, pointing her wand at her footprints. Adrienne then placed her wand flat in her hand and whispered, "Point me." The wand twirled and pointed to her right.
"I have to go south," she reminded herself and set off, leaving no footprints behind her.
Adrienne kept running, every so often checking her direction and adjusting it to make sure she'd hit Boston. She was freezing, her shoes and pants soaked, her hands numb, and her nose and ears unfeelable. Her lungs were on fire and her entire body was begging her to stop. But she didn't, she had promised Professor Glenn that she wouldn't. Adrienne flicked her wand at her shoes and pants to dry them. She pulled her hands and wand into her sleeves and held the ends shut. She had did the hardest part, escaped the Death Eaters, now all she had to do was run the fifteen miles to Boston.
* * * * *
She felt like lead. She was again nauseous, her head spinning. Adrienne could no longer feel her toes, nor could she see straight. Her stride had shortened and she had all she could do to breathe. Her lungs burned and black dots of unconsciousness attacked her eyes. She stumbled and fell into the snow. Adrienne rolled over and lay there, staring up into the starry sky, her entire body aching, her eyes drooping into sleep.
"I'm so cold," she whispered, her teeth chattering. She tried to remember a spell to help her, but her mind was too preoccupied with the shooting pain that was now attacking the backside of her body, as the snow soaked through her clothes. A blissful feeling began to drift over her as she grew steadily tireder, her mind telling her to sleep. Adrienne slowly closed her eyes and laid there, in a snow bank, in the dead of night, alone and afraid.
Adrienne didn't know what exactly kept her from succumbing to sleep, what kept her from succumbing to a frozen death, but no matter how much her body begged her to give up, a small voice in the back of her mind continued to speak to her.
"You promised, Adrienne, you promised not to give up," said her mind. Adrienne stared blandly at the backs of her eyelids.
"Don't give up now, you can't be that far from Boston. You owe them, they risked their lives for you," said the voice, "You promised."
Adrienne slowly opened her eyes. The needlelike pain that had been plaguing her had now ceased and frostbite was stetting in. Adrienne slowly pushed herself out the snow bank and stood up, the world around her spinning. She again performed a charm to dry her clothing, checked her direction, and set out again, very slowly and unsteadily: She wasn't going to give into a frozen death – she'd fight.
Adrienne was barely running when she saw the first signs of civilization: a planned neighborhood. Adrienne burst into a very painful smile (her face was burned form the cold); she had made it. The site of the first house revived her energy and she picked up her pace, following the sidewalk, which thankfully had already been spread with salt. Adrienne made her way through the prim and proper neighborhood and followed the sidewalk to a park. Adrienne scanned the snow-covered playground equipment, the empty benches, and then, in the early morning sunlight saw it: A telephone booth. With energy she would have sworn she never had, she raced toward it, slipping and sliding on the ice. Upon reaching it she pulled out the yellow pages and very clumsily flipped through it, unable to bend her blue fingers.
"Cab companies," she mumbled, her eyes searching frantically along the pages.
"Cab companies," she sighed, smiling slightly. She reached for the telephone and dialed the number.
"Please insert 35 cents," said the electronic voice.
Adrienne's face fell; all she had were bills. She shoved her hands into her pockets, searching for change but found none.
Adrienne looked around wildly, hoping somehow there would be spare change lying atop the snow somewhere. There was none. Adrienne stuck her frozen fingers into the coin return, but it was empty. She pulled on the change lever, but nothing happened.
"Come on - give me change," she cried, begging the lever as she continued to pull on it. To her surprise, the clink of metal against metal pierced the early morning silence. Adrienne jammed her fingers into the coin return hopefully. She pulled out two shiny quarters.
"Wonderful!" she exclaimed as she inserted her money and dialed again, not at all wondering why the money had just decided to fall out of the phone like that.
* * * * *
Adrienne leaned back in the warm cab and slowly bent her fingers, which were beginning to thaw out now. Stores decorated for Christmas, empty parks, and restaurants flew by her window. Adrienne could feel her wand against her leg and she sighed, not at all believing what had happened, not at all believing it was Christmas. Her mind flashed back to Salem, and she wondered what was happening there now. She pushed the thought of who might have survived the attack from her mind. She didn't understand why the Death Eaters had attacked, or why Professor Glenn had been so adamant at her leaving the castle completely. Adrienne thought they would have wanted her to stay, to help with the fight.
"We're here, miss," said the cabbie. Adrienne reached into her pocket and pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and thrust it into the cabbies' hand, even though her fare was only $56.
"Merry Christmas," she said and slowly got out of the cab into the empty street. She hurried through the light snow into the airport, which was almost empty.
"Why shouldn't it be, everyone should be at home with their families at Christmas time," Adrienne whispered as she made her way to the British Airways reservation desk.
A red head stood behind the desk, wearing the nametag of Barbara.
"May I help you?" Barbara asked, taking in Adrienne's exhausted, weary, and burnt face.
"I'd like a one-way ticket for your fist flight to London," Adrienne said, while reaching into her pocket to pull out her ID and her money.
Barbara looked at her curiously.
"Are you flying alone?" she asked, taking the ID from Adrienne.
"Yes. Name's Adrienne Miles and I need the first flight to London, any seat, any class, as long as I get on it," said Adrienne brushing her knotted and wet hair out of her face.
Barbara turned to her computed and started typing, her eyes sometimes slipping to look at Adrienne.
"Flight 248 leaves at 7:00, they started boarding five minutes ago. It isn't full; if you hurry you can make it," Barbara said, handing Adrienne back her ID.
"Sounds good," replied Adrienne, "How much?"
"$975."
Adrienne reached into her pocket and pulled out the cash.
"That's a whole lot of money for a little girl to be carrying around in her pocket," said Barbara, raising her eyebrows.
Adrienne shrugged.
"I had to empty my savings, this is an emergency . . . one thousand," Adrienne said, thrusting the cash into her outstretched hand.
Barbara gave her back her change and printed her a ticket. "Gate 19. You need to hurry though, it leaves in fifteen minutes."
"Thanks," mumbled Adrienne and she turned and walked away from the counter.
"Merry Christmas, little girl," called Barbara, as Adrienne hurried to her gate.
* * * * *
The plane was almost completely boarded when Adrienne arrived.
"Ticket?" asked another cheery flight attendant, making Adrienne scowl. Adrienne handed her the ticket and waited for the flight attendant to let her pass. "Seat 16A, Merry Christmas and enjoy your flight."
"Merry Christmas indeed!" muttered Adrienne as she trudged towards the plane, struggling to even walk; she was so tired.
Several people stared at her as she walked through the aisle. She was red-faced, her eyes were blood shot, and her eyelids barely staying open. Her hair was horribly tangled and her sweater, ripped on her right side. Adrienne walked past her seat and headed toward the lavatory. Upon locking it, she turned to look into the mirror.
"I look dreadful," she whispered.
Adrienne reached down, with some difficulty in the cramped compartment, and pulled out her wand. She straightened and stared into the mirror deciding what she should try and fix first. Deciding on her hair, Adrienne raised her wand, pointed it at her head, and stopped.
Adrienne stood there, her mouth open in horror, ignoring the flight attendant's call for everyone to take their seats, staring at her right hand. Adrienne slowly lowered her hand and brought her wand closer to her face, blinking unbelievably: she wasn't holding her wand, but a small tree branch.
"Oh Merlin," Adrienne murmured and she fell back against the wall, her mind remembering back to when she fell in the forest. Then remembering her dash to the oak tree, her run to Boston, and the coins just falling out of the payphone.
"Where's the Perfect? Why protect the girl? Tell me where she is!" "It's the Perfect!" "You have to go now Adrienne." "Where did you learn to do magic without incantations?" "Do you know what you are capable of?"
Adrienne shook her head.
"Voldemort came for a Perfect," Adrienne whispered breathlessly to her reflection. She shut her eyes in a horrified realization; "He came for me."