A/N: Thanks for my one review Tiki. This chapter is for you! Not even my own brother reviewed! sob Thanks Fred! But yes, to answer a few of your concerns Tiki... I'm sorry for the one big paragraph; I knew as I wrote it, that it would be a bother to some people, but couldn't really think of a better way. There are no more, I repeat no more long paragraphs like that in this story. And for the way to spell Slytherin-- thanks. :o) So yes, read this chapter and review it please! Thanks!
The Great Hall was quiet except for occasional murmurs. Slowly, and numbly Journey climbed down from the stool, and walked down to the Slytherin table. Tears crept into her eyes as she spotted Emily burst into tears at the Gryffindor table, and Charlie attempted to comfort her. With a heavy heart, she sat down at the table beside Karen Ullanie. Momentarily, for a split second before Professor McGonagall called up the next student, Journey caught the eye of Professor Dumbledore, who seemed unfazed by this erratic choice, but on the contrary seemed quite pleased. It didn't take long for McGonagall to get through the last three students, and soon Professor Dumbledore stood up and the room fell silent.
"Welcome first years, and welcome back to the rest of you!" Dumbledore's voice boomed out as if someone had stuck a microphone in front of his mouth, "Just a few announcements this year before we can all enjoy our beautiful feast. All students are reminded yet again to keep out of the forbidden forest as you would not successfully return. And I would also like to introduce to you our new teacher," he turned towards the lady with all of the jewellery, "This is Professor Angie who will be teaching a new subject this year; Dissimulation classes, a class of learning how to disguises yourself in a variety of different ways. Dissimulation will be offered to first, third and sixth year students. And now," he grinned widely, "I will keep you no longer from the great feast we have prepared."
With a swoop of his hand, the tables filled with delicious looking foods. Journey suddenly felt herself not very hungry. Nor did Emily as she looked longingly over at her sister, her eyes still wet with tears.
"It's ok," Charlie's voice broke through her thoughts, "Journey will be ok. There must have been some important reason why she was chosen to go into that house."
"I don't get it," Emily shook her head after a moment, as she picked away feebly at a beef pie in front of her, "Uncle Fred and Uncle George didn't get separated at all. They were both in Gryffindor. All the Weasley's so far have been."
"But the hat said that there was something different in Journey that he'd ever seen in any Weasley's before," Charlie spoke, his mouth half full of turkey.
"I know," Emily nodded and paused a moment before looking at her older brother, "Do you… do you think Mum and Dad will be mad?"
"No," Charlie shook his head, "They'll be worried, but that's about it."
Charlie looked over at Journey, who was sitting down beside the Karen girl, and another Slytherin who looked like he could have squished her with one hand if he'd thought right of it.
"Hey Charlie," his other sister spoke, but he couldn't seem to take his gaze off of Journey, "You didn't really jinx her, did you?"
Charlie grinned widely, as he now looked directly at Emily, "No I didn't. Like you said, I can't even levitate a feather five feet into the air."
With a small smile on her face, Emily spent the rest of dinner picking away at her food, and trying to figure out how her brother had heard her say that back on the train.
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Though Journey was welcomed into Slytherin back at the common room, she didn't feel like she fit in. Some of the older kids talked excitedly about the new Dissimulation classes, and who they'd try and trick with them. Silently Journey went up to her dormitory, where she recognized Marie Stevens; a tall, skinny blond girl, and two other girls.
"Hi," Marie stuck out her hand, "My name is Marie Stevens."
"Journey Weasley," Journey said rather quietly as she shook the girls hand.
"Oh right!" one of the other girls, a shorter, but just as skinny girl with shimmering brown hair bounded forwards, "You're the Weasley girl. The one who got separated from your sister. My name is Carrie Lock," she paused a moment, "Were you twins?"
Journey thought this was rather an odd question as she and Emily looked exactly alike, just as Fred and George did, and they were both going into first year.
"Err… yeah," she replied hesitantly.
"So brilliant!" Carrie grinned going over and plopping on her four poster bed, "That would be awesome to be a twin. Then I wouldn't have to worry about taking Dissimulation classes, because they'd never know who I was."
"Yeah," Journey forced a smile on her face.
"Don't worry about her," Marie rolled her eyes, "I think her Mum dropped her on her head a few times."
Carrie huffed, but continued to grin away as she unpacked a few things from her trunk. Watching the whole time from her bed was another girl. Her hair was black, and yet her skin was very pale, giving her the look of what Journey imagined a vampire would look like.
"What's your name?" Journey asked.
"Why do you care?" the girl asked coldly, not moving from her reclined position in amongst her blankets.
"I-I, umm…" Journey felt tears prickle the inside of her eyes.
"My name," the girl stood up, her lean figure carrying itself powerfully, "If you must know, is Crystal."
"Hi," Journey said in a voice she wasn't even sure the other girl could hear.
Morning came far too early, as both girls, in their separate dormitories found it hard to sleep. At seven in the morning Journey was sitting in her common room, looking at her spell books. Emily was doing the same. It wasn't until seven thirty that the sisters meet outside the Great Hall in a tight embrace.
"Oh my God!" Emily cried out, "How bad was it?"
Journey could feel the tears come back again, "It was bad. They're either really stupid or really mean in Slytherin!"
Emily frowned, "I have every right of mind to go and have a talking to with that hat."
"Are you taking Dissimulation classes?" Journey asked after a moment.
Emily nodded, "Yeah, are you?"
Journey actually smiled, "Yes, I am! Hopefully Gryffindor and Slytherin first years have it together."
"I hope so too," Emily said positively.
"Come now girls," Emily looked over to see Professor McGonagall walking over to them, "You must hurry and eat. Lessons start at eight thirty, and you must also get your timetables."
Again, not having much of an appetite, both girls merely pretended to eat as they waited for their timetables. They had no more done this when a big swarm of owls swept into the Great Hall. A particularly smaller, brown owl came swooping down with three envelopes clutched in it's talons.
"It's Pigwidegon!" Charlie called out at the Gryffindor table, as it plopped an envelope on top of his porridge.
Ron's owl continued to go around to both Journey and Emily. Charlie opened, and read his first;
Charlie--
We heard that Journey was put into Slytherin, and though we are concerned about both girls, we would like you to try and keep a close eye on Journey in particular. Emily is very bright, and we know she will do wonderful in Gryffindor, but we are worried about Journey. We currently have a meeting set up for 13, September, with Professor Dumbledore to discuss what is happening. Until then, please, Dear, be good, and keep an eye on the girls for us.
Love you very much,
Mum and Dad
With a sigh Charlie looked across the table to where Emily was reading her letter;
Emily--
Hello dear, how do you like Hogwarts? I'm so happy for you getting into Gryffindor. I understand that you must be upset and confused about your sister being in Slytherin, but it's ok. Everything will be fine, and your father and I will be talking to Professor Dumbledore in just over a week. Be good, and we love you.
Love you always,
Mum and Dad
Across the hall, at the Slytherin table Journey sat gloomily between Carrie and Marie, looking at her letter.
Journey--
How are you doing Dear? Be brave like we know you are, and remember we're just an owl away, and we'll always love you; no matter what.
Love you forever,
Mum and Dad
Somehow the words held no comfort, and Journey went back to looking at her timetable. Her first class was Potions with one Professor Loughstein with Hufflepuff, and then she had Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Snape along with, she grinned, Gryffindor. After lunch she noticed, with an even larger grin, she had her Dissimulation class with Gryffindor, followed by Divination class with Professor McGonagall, joined by, again Hufflepuff.
The first week at school wasn't very much fun for Journey and Emily Weasley. Journey was shut out more and more by her fellow Slytherins. Even Professor Snape; the head of their house, seemed to be cold against her. But the worst of all was Crystal, who Journey caught more than once looking through her trunk in the dormitory, and who refused to talk to her at all. It was a sunny and warm Sunday on September 10th when Professor Snape walked into the Slytherin common room, a small curl in his lip as he called everyone in. Journey walked down the stairs where she'd been currently residing in her dormitory writing an essay on how to turn water into wine, and when she reached the bottom she noticed a boy standing beside Professor Snape that she'd never noticed before. He looked scared, and nervous with a tangle of brown hair half covering his eyes.
"This," Professor Snape said looking down briefly at the boy, "Is a new student who came in late. His name is," he paused a moment, and Journey could swear she saw a look of anger flash through his eyes, "James Harleton."
Many of the people grunted a quick 'Hello' before going off to what they'd been doing. Journey however stayed where she was half on the steps as students pushed by her. With a slam, Snape left, leaving the boy standing by himself in the middle of the common room holding onto a few books and papers.
"Hi," Journey said with a larger smile than she would have liked on her face, "My name is Journey Weasley."
"H-Hi," the boy smiled back, "My name is James."
Journey paused a moment, inspecting the boy before saying, slightly hesitantly, "If you don't mind me saying so… you don't seem like the type of boy who would be in Slytherin."
James nodded, "I know. I was hoping I'd get into Gryffindor."
"So was I," Journey said, letting herself relax as she and James made their way to an empty sofa in front of the roaring fire, "My twin sister, brother and even my cousin are all in Gryffindor."
"Wow," James' eyes widened, "Why aren't you."
Journey thought about this for a moment, as she had several times, "I'm not sure. The hat went and said that there was something 'amiss' about me, and said I wasn't like the other Weasley twins who'd passed through here a long time ago."
"Oh!" James' eyes widened in almost excitement, and, noticing, he immediately tried to act casual as he asked nonchalant like, "What were there names?"
Only slightly taken aback Journey responded, "Fred and George Weasley."
"Awesome," James said and then something occurred to him, "Wait a minute, the hat actually said something other than the house that you were in?"
"Yeah," Journey nodded, "It usually does. With most of the kids, it went and said a little about them and analyzed why they were chosen to be in the house they were."
"It didn't with me," James said quietly, "It had barely been placed on my head when the stupid thing yelled out 'Slytherin'."
Journey thought about this, "Well… maybe it was because you were late, and it was upset?"
"Maybe," James shrugged, and looked at the time, "Well, I best be going to bed. I'm supposed to go and talk to Professor Snape tomorrow before breakfast so that I can get my timetable. It was nice to meet you Journey, and I hope to get to talk to you again."
"Ok," Journey nodded, "I'll talk to you tomorrow."
James got up and left up the stairs leading to the boys dormitory; leaving Journey the last one in the common room. She was just about to get up and head to bed herself when she noticed a book sitting on the table beside the couch. James had forgotten it.
"That's strange," Journey whispered to herself as she looked at the cover of the leather faced book, "I thought his name was James Harleton."
Fore there on the cover in gold scrip was the writing; 'Property of JP'.
hp
"Juice-pops," Hermione spoke pleasantly as she stood in front of the stone gargoyle leading up to Dumbledore's office.
The large statue jumped aside, and Hermione and Ron walked onto the stairs case. Slowly they made their way up, and knocked on the large door leading into Dumbledore's office.
"Come in," the familiar voice called out, and the two walked in.
Hermione stared wide eyed. It was just as she remembered it. An uneasy feeling sunk to the pit of her stomach as she remember the many times she'd been here with Harry when they were in school. Many pictures continued to speckle the wall, and different instruments turned, twisted and bubbled along the shelves.
Dumbledore smiled widely behind his half moon spectacles, "Hello! My how it has been such a long time since I have been blessed with your presence."
"It's great to see you too Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said.
"Please, please," Dumbledore spoke, "Call me simply Albus. No longer am I in your superiority."
"Thank you," Ron sat up straighter, "And, err--" his face turned pink, "You can call us just Hermione and Ron."
"That would be lovely," Dumbledore spoke, his eyes twinkling as Hermione stifled a laugh, "Please, sit down."
Hermione and Ron sat down on two plush chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk.
"For what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Dumbledore pondered.
"It's Journey," Hermione said, "We're worried about her, and about her being in Slytherin. Her and Emily have never been separated like this before, and I'm not sure how well she's taking."
"Just as I suspected you would be here for," Dumbledore nodded, "You know what the hat does, do you not?"
"Yeah," Ron nodded, "It sortta looks into your head and decides which house would bring out your individual abilities the best."
"Very good Ron," Dumbledore nodded impressively, "And as it would be, I very much expected to see Journey in the Slytherin house. I have suspected so since I met them so long ago when they were first born. I had a rather lengthy conversation with the sorting hat once the festivities were done with and he explained to me, that Journey had a rather dark quality in her."
Ron's face paled slightly, "A 'dark quality'?"
He looked over at Hermione.
"Hey!" she said hotly, "Don't look at me! There are no other witches or wizards on my side of the family."
Dumbledore chuckled, "Do not be alarmed. Young Journey has a dark spot inside her just as," only for a moment did Dumbledore hesitate over his words, "--just like Harry did." both Hermione and Ron took deep breaths, "The only difference is that Harry's amazing abilities and powers were more useful in Gryffindor while as Journey's is going to come in great handy in Slytherin."
Hermione forced herself to stay calm, "With all due respect Albus anyone who can become great handy to the Slytherins cannot be good. And I do not want my daughter to be part of it."
"Do not get upset Hermione," Dumbledore found himself having to force not to say 'Miss. Granger', "Though I cannot tell you as much as I wish to be able to, I am able to explain, I wish, enough to settle your uneasiness."
Ron held onto Hermione's hand as he spoke, "Ok. Explain."
Dumbledore stood up and started to pace the small office, "Many years ago, as I am sure you both remember, the great war with Voldemort occurred. It started," Dumbledore turned his gaze to Hermione, "When you, Hermione, found out about Snape and who had the real locket Horcruxes."
"It was Regalus Black," Hermione filled in remembering.
"Precisely," Dumbledore brushed his old hand against Fawks, "Regalus, was, perhaps, one of the few people who influenced Voldemort as both of you I'm sure have figured out. Fore long before Voldemort ever killed, Regalus had himself made a Horcruxes; which is why he was not actually killed so long ago. Voldemort got very upset with the fact that Snape had killed one of the few people, that I'm sure, he almost considered to be a friend. The same feelings of when he was younger came back to him of betrayal as he found one of the few things he let his feelings through to was taken from him."
"We know all of this!" Ron suddenly burst out, "What the bloody hell does it have to do with my daughter?"
Dumbledore seemed unfazed by this outburst, but on the contrary sat down and looked more relaxed, "To quicken my tale Ron, Voldemort was not an evil person."
Both Hermione and Ron stared at him blankly.
"O-Ok," Ron shifted uncomfortably, "You may want to go into a little more detail."
Again Dumbledore chuckled, "I do not believe that Voldemort truly wanted Harry dead. On the contrary I think he wanted him to stay very much alive. Harry was his last link to his past, one of the few things that reminded him of who he truly was. And so when Regalus was killed, he put all of his effort into finding Harry, to get his last and final Horcruxes back."
"What!" Hermione's eyes popped open, "Ok, just wait a moment! I don't remember you saying before about Harry being one of Voldemort's Horcruxes!"
"Of course not Dear," Dumbledore looked almost sympathetically at the still young girl in front of him, "As I'm sure you vividly remember a lot was happening at that time. With some dear members of the Weasley family being killed, one going missing. And then Harry disappearing just as everything was thought as being well."
Hermione thought about everything for a minute, "So that's why Voldemort didn't want to kill Harry. If he did, then he'd be mortal again."
"And if Voldemort was successfully killed," Dumbledore finished, "then his spirit would be caught in Limbo as the last piece of his soul hung limply inside Harry Potter."
"Then why did Voldemort want Harry?" Ron asked, "Why did he go after him once Regalus was killed?"
"As much as he would deny it," Dumbledore said, "He needed security. Someone to be around him for eternity. And he also needed to live for eternity so as he could accomplish, ironically, his life long goal of immortality."
"Oh my God," Hermione's hand's quickly covered her face as she realized something.
"What?" Ron asked, first, looking at his wife, then Dumbledore, "What is it?"
"He didn't--" Hermione shook all over, "Harry to make one…"
"That was what he wished," Dumbledore nodded grimly, "He captured both Ginny and Harry, and wanted to get Harry to kill Ginny and make a Horcruxes for himself, so that both would be able live on forever; Voldemort's Horcruxes then secured in Harry."
"No!" Ron shouted rather loudly, "No… he didn't. He couldn't have."
"…they never did find Voldemort's body…" Hermione whispered.
"You're not helping!" Ron cried out.
"Calm down, please," Dumbledore looked at both, "I do not believe that Harry killed Ginny, nor that Harry made any sort of Horcruxes for himself."
"Then, what happened?" Hermione asked urgently, "What do you think happened that night!"
Dumbledore stood to his feet, "I am terribly sorry. But that is all that I can tell you right now. But may I ask but of one favour of you two?"
"What?" Ron's voice cracked slightly from yelling so loud.
"Do not question the hats purpose for placing young Journey in the Slytherin house," Dumbledore looked intently at the two over his spectacles.
"Ok," Hermione nodded slowly, "But can you do us a favour?"
"Certainly," Dumbledore smiled widely.
"Can you," Hermione took a deep breath to try and control the tears that were brimming in her eyes, "Can you make sure an extra close eyes his kept on Journey?"
A sparkle twinkled in Dumbledore's eye as he spoke, "Trust me when I say; there already is."
A/N:There it is. There's chapter two. Ha! This one is long as well. Plus, I've already writen chapter three, and it's as long, if not longer than this one. I'm shoving quite a bit of information into these first two chapters, but the story line is still there, and things are going to start getting really good now. Anyone want a sneak peak at something that happens in chapter three? Yes? Ok...
"You're with me tonight," Crystal stood tall, "And a Black never gets caught."
Ohhh, lol. Wanna know what happens? Just gimmie some reviews, and you'll see.