XXIV. AN UNEXPECTED & UNPREPARED FORAY INTO MAGICAL TRAVEL
Arthur Weasley is a tall, thin man with balding Weasley red hair, long shabby indigo robes, glasses, and blue eyes like Ron.
"Oh! Are the two of you Muggles?"
Harry also greatly downplayed his obsession with Muggles-because, realising he was in a Muggle household with Muggles had him asking Dakota and Alistair a billion questions, and rushing about examining everything, like Tigger on crack.
"-you know, I've always wanted to know how Muggles make aeroplanes fly-"
"Thrust, drag, weight, and lift," I blurted.
Mr Weasley turned to me in surprise.
"You know, the four forces of flight?" I clarified. "Thrust moves an aircraft in the direction of motion by pulling air in then pushing it out in an opposite direction-drag acts opposite to the direction of motion, and tends to slow an object-it's caused by friction and differences in air pressure-weight is the force caused by gravity-and lift is the force that holds an aeroplane in the air. Each force has an opposite force that works against it; lift works against weight, thrust works against drag...When they're balanced, a plane flies in a level direction. There's also a lot of stuff about Newton's laws of motion, but I can't remember them off the top of my head-"
"Damn, Bones-" Alistair whistled, impressed.
"I was curious," I shrugged, face going pink, "so I borrowed a few books from the library. I still don't really understand all the mechanics of it, but I'm twelve, so."
"Nerd," he teased.
"Takes one to know one," I shot back childishly, sticking out my tongue.
"She memorizes the four forces of flight for fun," Dakota sighed, but she was looking at me fondly, "but she never does her school work."
"Harry did mention you love to read," Mr Weasley informed me, looking greatly impressed himself, "and that you're very smart-"
"Harry's a suck-up," I said, but I was fighting back a smile-and was likely as red as Mr Weasley's hair.
"Oh, I'm sorry, where are my manners-" Mr Weasley returned his attention to Alistair and Dakota, having failed to get their names(or really let them get a word in edgewise)after attacking them with enthusiastic handshakes, bombarding them with Muggle-related questions, and eagerly examining everything in the living room like a fanboy on the set of his favourite television show, "are you relatives of Jewel's?"
Their smiles faltered slightly, and they traded a quick look.
I bit the inside of my cheek.
A yellow rubber band snapped.
"I'm Dakota Morrissey, and this is my husband Alistair-we're Jewel's, um-"
"Adoptive parents."
Mr Weasley Dakota and Alistair all looked caught off guard.
"Bones, you don't have to-"
"Yes, I do," I stated, diligently studying the carpet. "I don't want you thinking I'm ashamed of you or something when it's just the opposite. I talk about you so much at school, you know? I just say you're family friends. It's not you and Dakota that I'm ashamed of, or that I'm scared of people finding out about. The thing is, as-" I swallowed, "as hard as this is, there wasn't any avoiding it, and whether I like it or not I'll just have to trust the Weasleys to not go blabbing to-everyone. And even if they do, I'd rather that, than have you think, for even a second, that I'm ashamed to be your daughter, because I'm not. I'm really, really not."
"Oh-sweetheart..."
Once again, Dakota was teary-eyed and a bit choked up.
So was Alistair.
When I looked up, tugging at my hair awkwardly(but being careful to not dislodge any of my butterfly hair clips), Dakota couldn't help but rush over and hug me.
"We love you so, so much, you know that don't you?" she said emotionally, kissing me several times on the head.
"Can you love me less? I can't breathe-"
Dakota huffed out a laugh and kissed me again, but loosened her arms.
"Alright, I'm coming in-"
"Alistair, don't-oof!-"
Alistair hugged me on the other side.
"Dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a Care Bear!"
"Shut up, Bones, you love it. And of course you're a Care Bear-you're Sassy Nerd Bear. That, or Sparkly Punch-You-In-The-Face Bear."
"Which makes you, what? Danger to Society Bear?-no, wait, that's Harry-if anything, you're Fire Hazard Bear-no, no, no-Fall Risk Bear-"
"Fall-?! How old do you think I am?"
Then, remembering who he was talking to-
"Wait, don't answer that-my self-esteem can't take it-"
"You have self-esteem? Ouch."
"Wow-thanks for that, kid, really-"
"Don't worry, give it a minute and you'll forget I even said anything, Dementia Bear-"
"I'm in my 40s!"
"Senior Citizen Discount Bear-"
Mr Weasley was confounded.
"Your-" he blinked a few times, stumped. "But-"
"It's a...long story-" I blew my fringe out of my eyes, inwardly forcing down my discomfort. "I was actually wondering..." I added impulsively, "do you think Dakota and Alistair could come along today, too?"
Dakota and Alistair were so surprised that they let me go.
"-Wait, seriously?"
"Jewel, sweetie, are you sure-?"
Alistair's face lit up.
Dakota was looking at me concernedly.
"I can't do magic off school grounds," I reasoned, "so you haven't had the opportunity to see a lot of it-except for Wackadoodle's vanishing act and Mr Weasley fixing Alistair's cup and the spilt coffee...also, Dobby and the jelly-and I know you'd both really love visiting Diagon Alley-and neither of you has anything on today-"
Both of their expressions softened.
"If it's okay with Mr Weasley," Dakota finally said, tucking some of my hair behind my ear and smiling at me adoringly.
"O-of course," Mr Weasley coughed, still looking totally thrown off balance but trying to take it all in stride. "The more the merrier."
('hearing' him wondering why on earth I'd been adopted by a Muggle family, and why Harry lived with the Dursleys but I didn't, had me reaching down to repeatedly snap a yellow rubber band on my left wrist).
"In fact-" he perked up, geeky enthusiasm returning, "I have a lot of questions about Muggles and some of the Muggle artefacts I've come across over the years-I'm a bit of a collector-if you wouldn't mind-?"
Dakota and I both immediately looked at Alistair.
"So that's my department, then?" he said, amused. "A've got questions myself, actually," he added quickly, Scottish brogue thickening, "aboot wizards-"
Looking between the mad scientist and the Muggle enthusiast, I had a feeling they'd be getting on like a house on fire.
(which is weirdly an idiom for people getting along extremely well-I mean, I thought burning buildings/arson was a bad thing, but maybe that's just me; then again, knowing Alistair, he and Mr Weasley might actually set someone's house on fire-if it's a choice between theirs or ours, I pick theirs-better, Vernon's car-).
Mr Weasley was ecstatic.
"Fantastic! I was wondering, batteries-I collect them, you see, and plugs-and-"
Dakota cleared her throat pointedly.
"Oh, right!" Mr Weasley looked sheepish, realising he'd gotten somewhat sidetracked. "Apologies. Jewel, hows about I Apparate ahead with you first, and then I'll come back and bring Dakota and Alistair along right after? My wife Molly should be keeping an eye out, so she'll probably meet us outside-and the boys and Ginny are already up, and should be just about ready to get going-"
"Sure thing-but, uh, quick question-" I rose my hand dryly, "what the hell is Apparating?"
Mr Weasley blinked, startled.
"What's-? Oh!" Understanding hit, "Oh, of course-Apparating is a way for wizards and witches like us to travel; you disappear from one place, that's Disapparating, and appear in another, that's Apparating-"
"You mean like telepor-?!" While totally thrilled, part of me was almost outraged by the revelation, "Don't tell me I've been Nightcrawler this whole time, and I've just been walking places like an idiot."
Mr Weasley looked confused.
"Teleportation? Comic books? You know," I prompted, "people with the ability to move matter from one spatial point to another without physically crossing the space in between?"
The blank look on his face didn't change.
I fought the urge to sigh.
-to be fair, kinda on me for wanting to sound smart; when it comes to Purebloods, unless you're purposely screwing with them(or they have some experience with Muggle culture-which is weird enough when you know what's going on, but for people who grew up willfully ignorant to it-?), simple is key.
"You're over here-" I wove randomly, "and then-" I clicked my fingers, "you vanish into thin air and, suddenly, you're over there-" I pointed behind me before sarcastically holding out my arms as if to say 'ta-da', "teleportation."
Dakota pinched the bridge of her nose.
Alistair hid a snort of laughter.
The wizard's face cleared up with understanding-and undisguised curiosity(if we weren't already behind schedule, I just knew I'd be pelted with a million and one questions on the logistics of teleportation in Muggle fiction).
"Yes, exactly right-it's very difficult, though, Apparition-and absolutely disastrous when it's botched-"
"'Botched?'"
"Splinching," he explained with a wince. "When things go wrong, wizards and witches can end up leaving clothes and body parts behind-it can be small things, like losing your hair, or more life-threatening-usually, it's repairable, but-"
I cringed a bit, touching my hair, and Dakota looked vaguely alarmed.
"But don't worry-" Mr Weasley hastily added, seeing my adoptive mother's expression, "Jewel will have extensive training in her sixth year before even attempting it, and she can't take her test to get her license until she's seventeen-one of our older boy's, Charlie, failed his first one; he landed five miles south of where he had been intending to go-and, if I'm remembering correctly, on top of a woman doing her shopping-"
I shared a wide-eyed look with Alistair, and we hastily stifled our sniggers.
"Anyway-Jewel, do you have everything you want to bring with you?" the wizard inquired. "Your vault key-?"
"I have a habit of losing keys," I admitted sheepishly, and Alistair snorted at that spectacular understatement. "Dakota has it for safekeeping. But, if Harry has his, we won't need mine, so it doesn't really matter."
"I can go get it just in case-" Dakota suggested, "it's in my purse-"
"Better not if you're worried it'll get lost. Jewel should be fine using Harry's. We're all going together, and they only need to open the vault once after all. Right then-off we go. Apparition feels strange, the first time-" Mr Weasley cautioned, turning to me, "just hold onto me very tightly and don't let go, and you'll be fine-"
"Famous last words," I muttered under my breath but, after some hesitation, took hold of the redheaded man's non-wand arm.
"Won't be a moment," he added to my adoptive parents.
"See you soon-" I saluted wryly.
Mr Weasley's arm twisted away from me, and I tightened my grip, and-
"Holy-!"
Everything abruptly blacked out, and I felt like I was being uncomfortably pressed by an invisible force from every direction; I couldn't breathe, and my eyes and my eardrums felt like they were being forced deeper into my skull, but then-
Gasping, I rapidly blinked the water out of my eyes.
My scar was tingling, stronger than it had in ages, making me rub my neck.
It took me a second to get reorientated.
When I did, I found myself standing outside of the craziest-looking house I'd ever seen in my life-and that bar was surprisingly high before this place set a new standard.
It was several stories high and crooked-to the point that the only thing that could've possibly been keeping it up was magic.
From my vantage point, there seemed to be about four or five chimneys; the roof was red; there was a jumble of rubber boots and a very rusty cauldron by the front door; a garage(likely for Mr Weasley's technically legal flying car); a chicken coop; and chickens just sort of wandering about the yard doing whatever.
(according to Harry's letters, there's a huge garden surrounded by a rose hedge out back that's infested with "garden gnomes"-which aren't painted clay men with beards and pointed hats in the magical world, but little creatures with heads like potatoes and razor-sharp teeth that dig holes in people's yards and live underground; Fred George and Ron were made to "de-gnome" it by their mum as punishment for stealing their dad's car and sneaking out to free Harry, who was curious and tagged along to help, and they had to yank them out of their holes, fully swing them like a lasso, and chuck them over the hedge-something about "needing to make them dizzy so they can't find their way back to the gnomeholes"; Harry was just going to drop the one he caught over the hedge-so it bit him, and he very quickly lost all sympathy; there's also an orchard behind the garden surrounded by high trees that the twins Ron and Harry had been using to practise Quidditch, which didn't seem fair considering I have to wait until school comes back in two weeks before I can fly my Nimbus again).
A lopsided sign had been stuck in the ground near the entrance, reading:
THE BURROW.
"Are you alright, Jewel?" Mr Weasley checked, steadying me.
"This is the weirdest house ever-" I decided, looking up at him with a grin, "I love it."
Mr Weasley's face went a bit pink, and he smiled at me.
"Arthur, there you are! I expected you ages ago-what took you so long?-"
Mrs Weasley made her way out the front door.
Mr Weasley winced sheepishly.
"Sorry, dear, I-"
"My fault, Mrs W," I cut in quickly, "I was still getting ready when he turned up-my time management is-non-existent-"
Mr Weasley looked down at me in surprise, and I winked sneakily.
He stifled another smile.
"Oh, well-" Mrs Weasley's irritated expression softened. "Hello, Jewel. It's lovely to see you again."
"Of course it is-I'm awesome," I joked, ruffling my hair cockily.
Mr and Mrs Weasley looked amused.
"So-" I rubbed my hands together, "where's my idiot-?"
The door flew open again, and Harry came rushing through.
The twins Ginny Percy and Ron all followed him out.
"Jules!"
"Yep, there he is. Har-whoa!"
"I'm really, really sorry-" Harry almost tackled me, and I blinked in surprise and awkwardly patted his back, "I didn't want to say anything-I told them that you were sleeping down the hall and that it was fine to leave you there-but they didn't want to leave you at the Dursley's, and Hedwig woke up Uncle Vernon, and-"
"Scotchy-it's okay."
"It is?"
Harry looked like a huge weight had fallen off his back.
"I'm not mad," I promised him, realising he'd been almost as anxious as I was-and am about today. "I know you didn't have a choice, I mean-Dudley told me you were locked in your room-and Merlin knows what else-"
"Dudley told you?"
"We've been talking a surprising amount," I replied, and he looked at me like I'd just told him that Vernon and Petunia were Wiccans. "Not that his parents know, obviously, because there's no way they'd be okay with their precious Diddydumkins being in contact with me, the, you know, Antichrist-the other day, he called me Piers the entire call because Petunia was eavesdropping, it was super weird. Also, Alistair annoyed them into changing their number, so they'd be pissed if they knew Dudley gave me the new one.
"We like a lot of the same video games, and he gets more of my pop-culture references than any of you lot-which is sad because it's Dudley. I think he feels bad," I added thoughtfully, "'cause of his parents and everything-which would usually be really annoying but, let's be honest, if I don't kick that kid's ass, nobody will.
"At first, I couldn't work out why he was being so weirdly helpful-he even called me when you 'escaped', but that was just because he thought I was behind it-but then I realised that a lot of it probably stems from what happened when we met-" and, you know, the whole over-the-phone-panic-attack incident, "and then we got to talking and, yeah. Plus, I called you a Cabbage Patch Kid and a hobbit, so."
-the chocolate and sandwiches didn't hurt, either.
"Dudley told me what you said," Harry admitted, "about how you wouldn't leave without me and how you'd figure it out and I'd be okay-I didn't think he was telling the truth, but when I asked why he'd agree to pass on a message he said you sounded really worried-" Suddenly, he paused, "wait, you called me a Cabbage Patch Kid?"
"And a hobbit. And, technically, I said you were about as scary as a Cabbage Patch Kid, not that you were one-"
"That's not any better."
"Got Dudley to like me, though."
"That's not a good thing."
"You're just jealous that Dudley likes me-"
"I'm really not."
"-and that I'm loveable and adorable-"
"We can vouch for that!" Fred piped up.
I blew him a kiss, and he caught it jokingly.
"Right then," Mr Weasley said, amused, "best go pick up Dakota and Alistair so we can get going, won't be a moment-"
"You have to go pick up who?"
While Mrs Weasley looked confused, Harry was taken aback.
"Aren't those Jewel and Harry's family friends?" Ron chimed in. "The ones that dropped them off last year at the station-?"
I opened and shut my mouth, chest feeling tight.
"N-not exactly-" I rubbed my neck uncomfortably.
"Dakota and Alistair are coming?" my twin said, surprised.
"I, er, invited them?"
"'You invited them?'" Harry had the same uncertain/concerned look Dakota was wearing earlier, "Jules, are you sure-?"
He glanced at the Weasleys.
"Nope, but it's happening-" I laughed nervously, fingers twisting and snapping at my rubber bands more out of anxiety than anything.
Surprisingly, Mr Weasley also seemed pretty worried.
"Jewel, if you aren't comfortable with this, I'm sure your, well, um, I mean to say, they-er, Dakota and Alistair, won't-"
"It's okay, Mr W," I insisted, smiling weakly. "I'm-I'm okay."
While obviously doubting that, he nodded reluctantly and, with a twisting motion and a *pop* like a car backfiring(reminding me of a softer version of thesound Dobby's own vanishing act made), he Disapparated into thin air.
"Apparation," I explained in an undertone, seeing Harry's stunned face. "Or, Disapparation, I guess-sorta depends on your perspective. Magical travel. Don't worry about it."
"So...you two don't live together..." George remarked.
I tensed up.
"George."
Mrs Weasley looked at him sternly.
"I mean, I'm Fred, but-"
"Oh-" she went pink, "sorry, George-"
"He's screwing with you-he's George," I told her with a snort, surprising everybody.
"No I'm not," George lied.
"Yes you are," I said plainly.
"And you'd know that how?" the real Fred retorted.
"You two are super easy to tell apart," I informed them casually, leaving out the I'm a telepath, sooo...part for obvious reasons.
(Fred and George might have the same face, but their minds and personalities have completely different feels that make telling them apart a total cakewalk; like how George is generally a bit more diplomatic/level-headed and the one that kinda swoops in to smooth things over or explain/expand on what his twin means, whereas Fred is bolder and the instigator, with George following his lead, and usually the first to crack a joke/one-liner; George is also slightly more aggressive when it comes to Quidditch, seeing as we both view it as a way to vent, which makes for a great Beater-if I do say so myself).
They all stared at me blankly.
"I mean, look-" I walked around mockingly to stand on Harry's other side and held out my arms, "I'm Harry now. See? Doesn't work."
The twins opened and closed their mouths, dumbfounded.
"You and Harry are fraternal-" Ron gave me a weird look, "and he has glasses-and you have red hair, and his is black-and you're a girl-"
"I find your lack of faith disturbing," I quoted wryly.
"You, what?"
"Star Wars. Darth Vader. It's-never mind-"
I deflated, pouting slightly.
"But, seriously-" Ron pointed at Fred and George, "you can actually tell them apart?"
"It's easy."
"-How?"
"I'd tell you," I quipped, tensing my fingers together jokingly like Mr Burns from the Simpsons, "but I like the power too much."
"Of course you do," Ron said, looking at Harry disbelievingly.
*Pop*!
Alistair Mr Weasley and Dakota suddenly appeared.
Both of my guardians looked fairly traumatised from the experience.
"That felt scientifically wrong," Alistair decided, cringing.
His face was tinted green.
Dakota had a hand to her head, seemingly dizzy.
"Is it meant to make you feel like your eyes are being-?"
"-shoved into your head?"
"It doesn't feel like it should do that," she mumbled.
"Maybe it's because we're Muggles-" Alistair hypothesized, "Like, we aren't meant to be using magic, so-"
"Tell that to my magic eyes, Kirke," I dryly interjected, "because that's pretty much how it felt for me, too."
They both quickly looked over at me.
"Oh, Jewel-" Dakota's face broke into relief, "Arthur said you'd arrived okay, but I was still-and after experiencing Apparition myself, well-"
She looked queasy.
"I'm fine, Dakota-really."
"Really?"
She studied me closely.
It was obvious Apparition wasn't the only thing she was talking about anymore.
"I mean-"
Pulling a face, I made a half-and-half gesture.
"Hey, Harry-" Alistair nodded with an easy-going grin, "good to see you again, kid-"
"Hi, Mr Morrissey," my twin replied as he rubbed the back of his neck, turning slightly red. "It's good to see you again too."
"Harry! Baruch Hashem!" Dakota's head snapped up and she hurried over, pulling the startled boy into a hug, "we were so worried about you!-when Jewel told us that your aunt and uncle had locked you in your room!-"
Harry looked embarrassed but secretly pleased by her fussing.
Alistair made his way over, tucking me under his arm and giving me a comforting squeeze and a look silently asking if I was alright.
I just made another half-and-half gesture that was honestly a huge improvement on how I'd been lately, all things considered.
Recognition flashed across Mrs Weasley's face.
"You were with Harry and Jewel at King's Cross-"
She glanced at her husband questioningly, offering Dakota and Alistair a polite if slightly confused smile.
"I'd assumed you were their aunt and uncle, but, well..." the witch grimaced slightly. "I'm Molly Weasley-"
"Dakota Morrissey," Dakota responded, shaking her hand.
"And I'm Alistair, in case anyone cares," Alistair added jokingly, holding up his right arm while his left remained around me.
"They don't," I said bluntly.
"Damn, kid-what did I do to you today?" he wondered, feigning offence.
I just grinned at him puckishly, tongue poking out between my teeth.
"And you're Jewel and Harry's...?" Fred trailed pointedly.
My face went blank, and Alistair squeezed my shoulders bracingly.
"George!"
Mrs Weasley shot him a reproachful look.
"That actually is Fred."
"Oh-sorry, George-"
The twins looked put out.
"I don't buy that you can really tell us apart-" Fred narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"No way-" George agreed.
"But if you can, well-"
"Bad for business, that is-"
"Can't have someone wandering about telling people which one of us is which-"
"Just imagine-"
"It'd be chaos-"
"Well, I can," I assured them, "but I'd be happy to keep the hows of it just to myself, as a secret..." I covered my heart mockingly with both hands, "for a price-we'll go over the details later-try not to worry about it too much-"
Fred and George looked torn between disbelief and amusement.
Alistair snorted a laugh, but hastily covered it with a comically terrible fake cough at his wife's unimpressed look.
"Jewel..." Dakota sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation, "please tell me you aren't extorting your friends-"
"I'm not extorting my friends," I chirped, smiling innocently.
She looked at me dryly.
"What? I'm not-I'm blackmailing them, completely different-"
Dakota didn't seem nearly as amused by that as the rest of them.
"No, but seriously," Ron butted in, turning to me, "you and Harry don't live together, and you didn't tell anyone and pretended that you did...why?"
My cheeky expression dropped, and I snapped a pink rubber band so hard that I flinched(suddenly regretting letting Dakota "butterfly me", today of all days, seeing as it meant that I couldn't neurotically run my fingers through my hair).
"Jules," he added, eyebrows furrowed, "what's going on?"
I bit the inside of my cheek, taking a beat to articulate my thoughts and ignoring Harry Dakota Alistair and even Mr Weasley's worried looks.
"Dakota and Alistair are-they're my-"
"Bones-"
"No, it's okay, I just-"
I took a deep breath, steeling myself.
"...Jules?"
Ron cast a concerned glance at Harry.
Fred and George traded a look.
"They'remyadoptiveparents," I finally just blurted out.
"-huh?"
"They're my-" I exhaled, "they're my adoptive parents."
The Weasleys, with the obvious exception of Mr Weasley, were all taken aback.
"Your-what?" Ron's mouth opened and shut a few times. "But-"
"Yep, well-" I rubbed the back of my neck, looking around to avoid everybody's stares and taking another steadying breath through the tightness in my throat(and unforgiving pressure on my chest), "they adopted me when I was nine, and-yeah."
"So, wait-you're adopted-" Fred pointed at me.
"But you were raised by your aunt and uncle-?" George pointed at Harry.
"Must've been weird growing up," Fred observed.
"Yeah, it would've been...if we knew each other existed," I muttered sardonically.
"Wait, what?" they blurted.
A blue rubber band snapped.
"We only found out about each other when we got our Hogwarts letters. We're still kind of working things out, but we're-we're good-" I glanced at my twin, and we shared a grim smile. "We met on our eleventh birthday. It was...a lot. I-I really don't want to talk about it."
"That-could actually explain some things..." Ron realised, at a loss for words.
('hearing' the Weasleys all wondering how the hell that happens-and why Harry ended up with the Dursleys but I was adopted by a Muggle couple-really didn't make this conversation any easier for me-).
"The only reason I'm admitting any of this-" I added quickly with a grimace, "is because the Dursleys backed me and Harry into a corner, so I'd appreciate it if you'd all keep your mouths shut. This is nobody's business but mine, and I don't want the entire magical community of mother-fruitcakin'-Britain talking about it-"
"Don't you worry, dear," Mrs Weasley said, looking at me seriously. "I promise, nobody here will say a word-and, if they do-" she gave her sons, daughter, and husband a hard look, "they'll have me to deal with."
"Not worrying is impossible, but...thanks."
She nodded, attempting a smile but not quite managing it.
A green rubber band snapped.
"Can we please stop talking about this now?" I asked, crossing my arms awkwardly, "this is a super uncomfortable conversation for me, and-"
"Yes, of course," Mrs Weasley was quick to reassure me, "you don't have to say anything if you don't want to-and if I hear anyone pestering you-" she looked at the twins especially at that, and they put on exaggerated innocent expressions that made them look like a couple of serial arsonists casually strolling past a police car eating burritos after one of them told the other to 'act nonchalant/natural', "I'll have them de-gnoming the garden at 5 am-not just for the rest of the summer, but until they graduate."
Fred George and Ron all winced.
I smiled weakly.
"Thanks, Mrs W."
"If it's a change of subject you're looking for, kid..." Alistair suddenly piped up, catching sight of the Burrow and double-taking, "I mean, there's no way that house is architecturally sound-and-and do they have five chimneys'-?"
Dakota looked over, and blinked.
"Magic," I reminded him.
"This is so wild-" he laughed in disbelief, shaking his head.
"I know. Can we move here?" I joked.
"You can't kick your friends out of their house just because you like it," Dakota stated for the half of me that wasn't kidding.
"But it's so weird, and cosy-looking, and I love it-"
The Weasleys looked startled, and Mr and Mrs Weasley both blushed.
Ron's ears went pink.
Dakota looked at me sternly.
"Okay, fine, I won't plan a hostile takeover of the Burrow-" I held up my hands in mock surrender, "I'll just go back to planning universal domination, per usual."
Dakota pinched the bridge of her nose, but she was totally amused.
"You're planning 'universal domination?'" Harry echoed.
I shrugged carelessly.
"I plan lots of things."
"Why are you surprised?" Ron remarked. "It's Jewel. I'd be more surprised if she wasn't planning on taking over the universe."
Harry made a 'yep, fair enough' face.
"I'm a Slytherin-" I smirked cockily, "we're ambitious."
"I'd say-" Fred snorted.
"Most people would be happy ruling the world-" George went on conversationally.
"Not Jewel-"
"Nah, she won't be happy until she's queen of the entire universe-"
"That pretty much sums it up, yeah," I agreed with a double thumbs up.
"Alright everybody-" Mrs Weasley said, clapping her hands together but looking undeniably amused by the lighter turn the admittedly difficult conversation had taken, "we're already running behind schedule-at this rate, it'll be dark before we finish shopping; let's hurry up inside and take the fireplace to Diagon Alley-"
And just like that, my hand flew into the air.
"Sooo, I have some questions about that statement..."
"We'll explain inside, Bones," Fred promised me.
"Much obliged, Freddie."
Alistair looked up quickly.
"Hey, did you give away my nickname?" he pretended to be affronted.
"Yep. You've totally been replaced," I agreed cheekily.
"Ouch, kid-" he put a hand over his heart.
"It's good practice," I added bluntly, "you know, for when Dakota replaces you with a younger model too in five or six years."
Everybody looked at me in shock.
"Jewel!" Dakota exclaimed.
"What? Was it something I said?" I blinked innocently.
The twins cracked up.
Alistair choked on a laugh, his shoulders shaking.
"I love you so much, Bones-" was all he managed to get out, running the back of his hand over his eyes.
"Of course you do, everybody does-I'm impossible not to love," I hummed airily, twirling a strand of my red hair and flipping it back jokingly.
"I mean, Malfoy-" Ron said.
"And Crabbe and Goyle-" Harry added.
"And what about that dormmate of yours, Bulstrode-?"
"And your Slytherin Beater partner-"
"And that other Beater you replaced-and the Slytherin Keeper-"
"Would Flint count?"
"I think he's more on the fence because she's an amazing player and all but she also, you know-"
"Tried to strangle him?"
"Yeah, that-"
"Oh-and that guy you punched-"
"Which one? She's punched a lot of people-"
"All of them, I guess, right?"
"And what about that bloke she stuck to a wall?"
"And his cat."
"If cats could hold a grudge, that one probably does-"
"Speaking of cats, Mrs Norris-"
"Yeah, Mrs Norris-and Filch-"
"Quirrell-"
"Alright! We get it! Enough with the-listing-" I scowled, crossing my arms and sticking out my bottom lip petulantly.
Fred and George guffawed, and Alistair and Dakota rose their eyebrows at me.
Even Ginny was giggling.
"I'm going inside-you all suck-" I groaned, throwing back my head.
Ducking out from under Alistair's arm before anyone could stop me, I bounced up to the architecturally bizarre structure.
"Jewel-!" Dakota exclaimed in exasperation as I opened the front door, "you can't just waltz into people's houses!"
"What was that? Sorry, can't hear you, too busy waltzing into these peoples' house!"
I grinned to myself hearing the twins and Ron chortling.
To my surprise, I wound up in the kitchen-which, judging by the second door, seemed to also lead into the back garden.
There was a large wooden table with eight mismatched chairs that dominated the tiny, cramped room; a fireplace(-that would somehow teleport us all to Diagon Alley? My best guess would be that we step inside and Scotty beams us up, but I doubt Mr Spock would approve of the shameless abuse of the Enterprise's transporter for commercial use)with a flowerpot and several magical cookbooks(Charm Your Own Cheese, Enchantment in Baking, One Minute Feasts-It's Magic!)on the mantel; an old radio next to the sink; and a clock that only had one hand, no numbers, and things like Time to make tea and Time to feed the chickens and You're late written around the edges.
Outside one of the windows, I spotted Errol fast asleep on his perch.
The others followed me in, Dakota shooting me an unimpressed look while everybody else seemed entertained by my antics.
-ignoring Wet Blanket Percy, who seemed to regret coming outside entirely and was clearly disapproving of our time-wasting shenanigans.
"You have a beautiful home, Mrs W," I complimented innocently, hands linked behind my back.
Dakota deadpanned.
"Oh!" Mrs Weasley blushed, looking pleased, "why, thank you, dear."
The twins sniggered, and Ron and Harry grinned at me.
Making her way over to the fireplace, Mrs Weasley picked up the flowerpot off the mantle and peered inside.
"We're running low, Arthur," she noted with a sigh. "We'll have to buy some more today...Ah well, guests first! After you, Harry dear! Jewel can go next, then Alistair and Dakota-"
She held out the flowerpot to the blank-faced boy.
"W-what am I supposed to do?" Harry stammered as he stared at the Weasleys' expectant faces, glancing at me as if I'd somehow know.
"I'm gonna have to second that-" once again, my hand wryly flew into the air.
Alistair copied the gesture with a "Yep".
After how much fun Apparating was, Dakota couldn't hide her apprehension.
"They've never travelled by Floo powder," Ron said in realisation, turning to me and Harry. "Sorry, guys, I forgot."
"Never?" Mr Weasley cut in. "But how did you get to Diagon Alley to buy your school things last year?"
"Um, well, Hagrid actually picked Jewel up the night before," Dakota answered a bit awkwardly. "He took her and Harry. Alistair and I haven't been to Diagon Alley yet-which is one of the reasons Jewel invited us-"
"We went the Muggle way, so you weren't missing anything," I told her, pulling a face. "There was a rowboat involved-"
"We went on the underground," Harry clarified.
"In a rowboat?" Alistair repeated in bewilderment.
"Really?" Mr Weasley perked up eagerly, "Were there escapators? How exactly-"
"Not now, Arthur," Mrs Weasley interrupted, clearly fed up with her husband's Muggle obsession(that wasn't helped by the two Muggles currently in the room)and concerned by the idea that none of us had used the Floo Network before. "Floo powder's a lot quicker, but goodness me, if none of you has used it before-"
"They'll be alright, Mum," Fred said. "Bones, Harry, Mr and Mrs Bones, watch us first."
Reaching into the flowerpot, he took out a pinch of glittery green powder.
Stepping up to the fireplace, he threw the powder into the flames-and, with a roar, they turned a vibrant emerald and shot up.
"Great Scott!" Alistair and I exclaimed simultaneously, quoting Doc Brown, before instantly turning and pointing at each other. "Hey!"
We grinned, and Dakota shook her head at us fondly, the corner of her mouth twitching up.
Amusement was swiftly replaced by astonishment when Fred casually stepped into the emerald fire with ease.
"Diagon Alley!" he shouted.
And, in a flash, he was gone.
Alistair stared open-mouthed at his flabbergasted wife.
"...Did-did he just-?" I pointed blankly at the fireplace, turning to Harry with wide eyes.
Harry nodded dumbly.
"Well, okay then. Yep."
I awkwardly cleared my throat.
"You must speak clearly," Mrs Weasley cautioned as George took a pinch of Floo powder and stepped up to the fire. "And be sure to get out at the right grate..."
"The right what?" Harry asked nervously.
George disappeared in a swirl of emerald flames.
"There's a wrong grate?" I blurted.
"Well, there are an awful lot of wizard fires to choose from, you know, but as long as you've spoken clearly-"
"They'll be fine, Molly, don't fuss," Mr Weasley dismissed as he took some Floo powder from the flowerpot for himself.
"But, dear, if Harry got lost, how would we ever explain to his aunt and uncle?"
"'-If Harry got lost?'" Dakota repeated looking alarmed.
At the same time, Harry said, "They wouldn't mind. Dudley would think it was a brilliant joke if I got lost up a chimney, don't worry about that-"
"I can vouch for that," I snorted. "Though, he might be a bit annoyed if you lose me-I promised to give him my video game shortcuts-"
"Well...alright...you go after Arthur," Mrs Weasley reluctantly conceded. "Now, when you get into the fire, say where you're going."
"And keep your elbows tucked in," advised Ron.
"And your eyes shut," Mrs Weasley added. "The soot-"
Is it just me, or would shutting your eyes pretty much ensure that you'll get off in the wrong place?
"Don't fidget, or you might well fall out of the wrong fireplace-"
They're totally trying to lose us on purpose.
"But don't panic and get out too early; wait until you see Fred and George."
-with our eyes shut? So, just to clarify, we have to keep our eyes shut and exit stage right when we see the twins?
Yep, that seems foolproof.
Harry took some of the glittery green powder, looking fairly overwhelmed but trying hard to be mindful of their instructions.
"Well, it's been swell knowing you-" I quipped wryly, clapping him on the shoulder, "Hope you have a nice life, wherever you end up-"
Harry swallowed.
"Jewel! Knock it off," Dakota scolded. "Your brother's nervous enough without you screwing with him for your own amusement."
"I'm just being realistic-" I defended, but I couldn't completely bite back my shit-eating grin.
She looked at me pointedly.
"And if I was really trying to screw with him," I added impishly with a smirk-because I'm incorrigible and just can't help myself, "I would've told him to watch out for the Ewoks when he turns up on the moon of Endor-they have catapults-and I think their sticks are pointer than his-"
While Alistair snorted loudly and cracked up, and Dakota pinched the bridge of her nose exasperatedly, the others just looked confused.
Positioning himself in front of the Weasleys' fireplace, Harry took a deep breath before throwing the sparkly powder into the flames.
He stepped into the emerald green fire and, because it's Harry, somehow managed to instantly inhale a bunch of hot ash.
(in his defence, on Ron and Mrs Weasley's list of the dos and don'ts of Floo powder travel, not once did either of them say that you weren't supposed to try swallowing the fireplace ash-I mean, it sorta goes without saying, but-).
"D-Dia-gon Alley," he coughed.
Harry vanished.
Finally, it was my turn.
Seeing as everybody else was probably? fine(-let's be honest, there's no way in hell Harry's wherever we're meant to end up), while hesitating slightly(and it didn't help that Dakota was on the verge of pulling me away from the fire the entire time), I threw some Floo powder into the fireplace, waited a beat, then hopped in.
It was the weirdest sensation.
Instead of, you know, burning me alive the fire felt like a warm breeze.
Unlike Harry, I was careful not to inhale any of the ash, and took a second to reorientate myself, before calling out, "Diagon Alley!"
...and immediately regretted everything.
The world began to spin rapidly, and I felt like I'd been chucked headfirst into a whirlpool or a tornado. I half expected to see the wicked Elmira Gulch nefariously peddling around on her bicycle in the emerald flames. With difficulty, I held onto my arms tightly, awkwardly "tucking in my elbows". There was this deafening roaring in my ears, and watching the fire spin around and around made me feel nauseous-
Suddenly, it felt like I was being smacked in the face by cold hands and, eyes struggling to stay open, if only slightly, I found myself staring at a blurry stream of fireplaces and glimpses of unfamiliar rooms-finally, unable to help it, my eyes shut tightly-it was like I was stuck on one of those amusement park rides that just go round-and round-and round-but I'd just eaten, and I felt like puking, and I just wanted to get off-
The tip of one of my flats hit the edge of something and, flying forward, I landed hard on my knees with a thump and a string of colourful curses.
Hugging my twirly stomach, I slumped forward, my forehead pressing against what felt like carpet as I groaned loudly.
"That was-that was worse than Apparition-I bet whoever invented Floo powder's laughing themselves hoarse in hell-"
"-Are you alright?" an amused-sounding male voice asked.
"Nooo, I'm dying-" I moaned dramatically, "tell my brother I love him-and find a boy named Draco Malfoy and-I dunno-kick him or something-"
The man chuckled.
"Here-"
I reluctantly opened my eyes to find he'd crouched down and was offering me a hand up.
He had a pale face with premature lines, a thin moustache, light brown hair with grey flecks, and shabby, patched robes.
When he got a good look at my face for the first time, his went slack and he looked like he'd been sucker-punched in the stomach.
Because he saw my face, and he saw my mum.
"You know, staring's rude-" I remarked to mask how uncomfortable I felt realising this random bloke not only knew her, but thought the resemblance I had to Lily Potter was so strong that he recognised me on the spot(as if it wasn't hard enough dealing with that every time someone around me, usually Hagrid, sees me do something that reminds them of her or him-), and recognised me in general, "and you're, like, forty and I'm twelve,so now it's gone from rude to creepy-you're being creepy-don't be creepy-"
"Oh-sorry-I wasn't-" he paused, "Forty? I-I'm in my thirties-"
"Yeah, and I'm twenty-one," I snorted.
The wizard looked mildly offended.
"Oh, shit, you were being serious-" my ears went bright pink, "uh-you don't look a day over thirty-seven-"
"I'm thirty-two-"
"Wow, really?"
He looked at me wryly, and I winced sheepishly.
"Did I mention I have foot-in-mouth disease?" I told him quickly, "yeah, it's a serious condition-I could die-"
"It's okay," he chuckled.
"Oh, good...Sooo, about that hand up-?" I prompted, smiling winningly.
Biting back a smile of his own, the wizard surprisingly still helped me up(I'm pretty secure in my height, but I felt so short when he straightened to his full six foot two inches)-despite the fact that I literally just called him old and creepy.
Wow, I'm about as tactful as a brick to the face, aren't I?
-I should probably work on that, right?
...Eh.
"The hell-"
Getting a good look at wherever I landed, I was startled to see I was in what looked like a teashop and was being side-eyed by most of its inhabitants.
"Please tell me this is Diagon Alley," I groaned, "and that I'm not in, like, Wonderland or something-quick, 'why is a raven like a writing desk?'"
"They both have 'r' in them?" the wizard offered.
"Oh, shit, that's actually a legitimate answer-"
He looked amused.
"You are in Diagon Alley," he reassured me, "on the south side-we're in Rosa Lee Teabag; it's a teashop-"
"And here I was," I commented sarcastically, "wondering what all this tea was doing in this aquarium."
The wizard let out a humoured snort.
He was looking at me strangely, like he wasn't quite sure what to make of me.
(I get that a lot, famous people are rarely what you want or expect them to be; I met Santa once at the shops and he puked on the kid two places in front of me-the guy who replaced him wasn't nearly as fun, and I never did get that nuclear warhead).
But he hasn't tried to shake/*assault* my hand, or declare what an honour it is to meet me, so points to him. And even more points for seeing my shirt and knowing what Star Trek is. Just, all the points. He gets all the points.
"I'm guessing you got off on the wrong grate?" he presumed.
"Oh, however did you know?" I deadpanned.
"You not knowing if you were in Diagon Alley or Wonderland might've tipped me off," he surprised me by dryly remarking.
"Yeah, that wasn't great..." I mused, scratching the back of my neck.
"Were you supposed to be meeting someone?" he asked, looking genuinely concerned for my welfare. "I can help you find them-or give you directions-"
"I-" I opened and shut my mouth, "oh, they-they didn't tell us where we were even going-they were so trying to ditch us-yeah, well, they have to go to Gringotts sometime, so, take that, assholes-"
The wizard blinked at me.
"Well, Gringotts isn't far from here-if you'd like, I can take you there and stay with you until your friends turn up?"
I looked at him warily for a second, despite being able to sense that he had nothing but good intentions and just genuinely wanted to help me.
(I think we've already established that my telepathy is iffy at best, and stranger danger, and he thinks I look like my bio-mum, which brings up a lot of issues for me that I'm currently trying to repress the hell out of-).
"You aren't a serial killer, part of a redhead abducting crime syndicate, or Mr Miyagi in disguise, are you? Because I don't care if it means I'll magically be able to crane kick prats in the face, I'm not going to do your housework."
"Uh...no?"
"Alright, seems legit-lead on, mate."
Ignoring the weird looks random strangers were giving us, the wizard paid his bill before leading the way out the door and onto the familiar cobblestone street outside-and back into the magical world for the first time in weeks, not counting the Burrow and my vomit-inducing adventures into wizard travel.
While I did miss it, I desperately needed a break, and coming back after taking a breath felt almost refreshing in a way.
"I'm Jewel, by the way," I said casually, knowing full well he'd already recognised me.
"Remus Lupin," he returned, glossing over who I am and being surprisingly cool for a probable serial killer. "So," he added conversationally as we started down the street, "are you here buying your school equipment? You go to Hogwarts, right?"
Nevermind.
"-Mate, I'm gonna need you to tone down the stalker vibes-" I held up a hand, and lowered it, "like, waaay down-"
"I just meant because you're twelve," Lupin explained, "and your Hogwarts letters should've already gone out-I went to Hogwarts myself-"
"-and then the dinosaurs died," I finished mockingly.
"I'm really not that old-" he said, but he looked more amused than offended, which I took as license to keep being a cheeky git.
"-is what you said to William Shakespear when you auditioned for Henry VI?"
He rose an eyebrow at that one.
"You read Shakespeare?"
"Well, I tried to, but I got bored, and all the ye olde English made me feel stupid, so I got annoyed and read Saga of the Swamp Thing instead."
"Well, if you ever do try again," Lupin said, "I'd recommend Macbeth. It's short, has lots of action, and the plot is very straightforward."
"Noted-though, fun fact," I added, "most actors call it the Scottish play and believe it's super cursed; if you say Macbeth in a theatre, you have to step outside, walk three times in a circle anti-clockwise, then either spit, knock on wood, or say the foulest word you can think of and wait for permission to come back in. Just to be safe, though, I'd probably do all three. No other reason. I'm just superstitious."
Lupin chuckled.
"Anyway," I went on, realising we'd gone off track by-a lot, "yeah, I'm a second year at Hogwarts School of Pseudo-Gandalf Headmasters and Bloody Awful Defence Professors-Lord of the Rings, I have read," I added when Lupin's eyebrow went up again, "and our last Defence Professor thought I was annoying which I think was just a sign of his bad taste because I'm a delight-and he didn't know what a stormtrooper is-the bloke taught Muggle Studies a few years back, for Merlin's sake-there's a special place in hell for people like him. Oh, and he tried to kill me and my brother, or whatever-"
"Do you mind me asking what house you're in?" Lupin wondered.
"Harry's in the house of reckless self-righteous idiots with hero complexes-" again, Lupin's eyebrows shot up, "so, Gryffindor-and I'm a badass cutthroat pixie that's underestimated because of her general sparkliness-and laid-back, bubbly personality and inability to do her homework-in the house of ambitious, cunning, kickass fantasticness-so, Slytherin-though, I was almost a Ravenclaw, 'cause I'm a nerd-"
Lupin appeared genuinely shocked by my house.
-not sure if I should find that insulting or not...
"I know, I know, Slytherin's 'evil'-" if my eyes rolled any harder, they'd of gotten stuck in my skull, "but so am I, so it works-I get a ton of street cred, too-everyone's like, 'lookout, it's the evil Potter twin, ahh!'-and I'm like, 'yeah, you better run, I'll burn down your common room and dance in the flames!-'"
Seeing Lupin's amused expression, I deflated slightly, pouting.
"No, seriously, I'm evil as hell-" I insisted, "I glued a kid to a wall once-and his cat."
"You glued somebody and their cat to a wall?"
"The prick totally deserved it-"
"And the cat?"
"Especially the cat-"
If anything, Lupin looked more amused than before.
Before he could respond to that, I spotted a familiar tribe of freaking out freckly redheads(which makes sense, seeing as they lost me). Dakota was by a panicky Mrs Weasley, gesturing her hands and looking equally as frantic.
"Oh! I see my friends-" I pointed, and Lupin turned to look at the group in surprise.
When he looked back at me, I playfully held out my hand.
"Thanks for not murdering me, mate."
Lupin shook it, chuckling.
"You're welcome, Jewel-and-" he regarded me for a moment, almost ruefully(and, being surrounded by people and their really-distracting-like-who-the-bloody-hell-cares-about-your-shopping-lists-shut-up! thoughts, I found it difficult to pinpoint why), "it was very nice to meet you. I'm glad I could help."
A yellow rubber band snapped.
"Yeah, well, I'm glad you didn't kidnap me and dismember me in an alley, so-" I joked awkwardly in an attempt to lighten the mood, running my fingers through my hair and ruffling it. "Anyway...see you around, teashop guy."
For a second, Lupin just stared stupidly at my hair.
I had the feeling I'd done something that shocked him again but, before I could figure it out, he smiled faintly and said, "See you around, Jewel."
"Bye," I mumbled as he disappeared into the sea of shoppers, slightly confused.
Knowing full well Dakota was going to kill me, but that this situation gave me a whole deck of Get Out of Jail Free cards, I decided to have some fun with it. In other words, I snuck up behind everyone, put on a really fake girly voice, and squealed-"Oh my god, I think I just saw Jewel Potter in Rosa Lee Teabag!"
They all jolted and jerked around.
"What? Where-?" Ron stopped short when he saw me, unamused.
I, on the other hand, cracked up.
"Ha!" I snorted a laugh, "You should see your guys fa-whoa!-"
Dakota grabbed me so abruptly that I stumbled, pulling me into a strong mama bear hug that a python would be envious of.
"-Baruch Hashem-I was so worried-when I realised you, Alistair and Harry hadn't arrived, and that you could be anywhere, I-"
"Wait, wait, wait-Alistair and Harry?"
"They aren't with you?" Mr Weasley said anxiously.
"No, why would they-" it hit me, and I stared at them all in utter disbelief. "You lost Alistair and Harry?!"
Again, thank you so much to everyone that's reviewed*̥˚✧!
Kukuhimanpr: Yeah, I have plans for Jewel and Dudley. On the one hand, she likes talking to him to spite Vernon and Petunia. But, on the other hand, like Harry he's one of her very few blood relatives (-that didn't abandon her as a baby). And a lot of Dudley's behaviour and his treatment of Harry is because his parents taught him to act like this and actively encourage it (they also spoiled him absolutely rotten with zero accountability and let him get away with murder). As for Marge Dursley...yeah, if she and Jewel are ever in the same room, there will be blood. In the books/movies, Dobby and Lockhart are definitely more danger to Harry leading up to the confrontation in the Chamber of Secrets than Tom Riddle; Tom showed him a misleading memory (and it's not like he could control/be blamed for Harry incriminating himself by speaking to a snake)-Dobby tries to kill him repeatedly "for his own good", and Lockhart's incompetence is frankly hazardous (he also tried to Obliviate him and Ron and could've gotten the lot of them killed when Ron's wand backfired and caused the ceiling to collapse on their heads, so). Jewel and Dobby's dynamic will be more complicated, but she is going to have so much fun with Lockhart.
Solti: I get what you mean; every time I find a fanfic I'm really invested in, I can't wait for the next update. It's the worst thing checking when it was last updated and seeing something like "2007".
Guest Mar: I'm so happy you liked it! I'll go a bit more into Jewel's childhood in Act 2, while Act 3 will cover the trauma that caused her panic attacks (and the reason she didn't speak for several weeks). Draco+Jewel (my ship name for them is "Jeraco" or "GalaxyKing") is a lot of fun to write, so I'm glad it's just as fun to read. I try to keep Draco in character, but I imagine he'd be a lot more pleasant around people he actually likes-unlike Harry Ron and Hermione. And yeah, the flirting will be nonstop, and it will horrify Harry and Ron (who will totally be the last people to see this relationship coming; I'm so excited to write their future reactions, and you just know Jewel and Draco are going to go out of their way to be super over the top to make them all uncomfortable/awkward).
Leofrick: Aw, thanks! Having another telepath/Legilimens around is definitely good for Jewel, who grew up thinking she was "crazy/freaky" and "wrong" because of it. Having someone else she could talk to, with the same ability, normalised it in a way that really helped her come to terms with what she is/and is capable of.