Going shopping with some 'Lard-arse' as Shado called him un-politely wasn't on Shado's to-do list. Rose wondered whether she needed a 'to-do' list so that she could refer to it when someone thought she wanted to do something she didn't. Like standing around or cowering when she could be kicking arse. Rose hated hiding while she could be doing something more proactive.
In Rose's opinion, Shado's kick-arse approach to bad-guys was the right one. She had always thought so; but speaking out like that labelled you as a 'troublemaker' and potentially dark and evil. (Even for the Girl-Who-Lived). Nobody who fought for justice and righteousness wanted Albus Dumbledore to call them dark as that was tad amount to condemning them to hate and ridicule no matter how wrong it was; not all Slytherins were arsehole; just most; mainly because of their parents. But that thinking should be squashed.
People just listened to Dumbledore even when they knew he was wrong. They thought they must have been missing something more. Like what? They obviously thought Dumbledore had some grand master plan for winning the war without killing off all of the bastard murdering terror mongers when he obviously didn't. The old basket case just liked to have power over so many people that he wouldn't listen to reason – and probably didn't care who died when two more idiots would take their place.
Old age had likely gotten to the old man. Hence old man. He may have been good and noble and honourable at some point but over time became a power hungry arsehole; even at the cost of peoples lives. Rose wondered how anybody could want to waste so much of their own lives controlling other peoples. It seemed like way too much work and a waste of your own life.
Shado now had the power to dictate to the Covenant but she chose not too. She wanted loyalty, trust, and respect. But more importantly she wanted her people to think for themselves. Shado didn't want a bunch of marionettes. Dumbledore always said it was their choices that made them good, but that was only if their choices were his first.
So many people had become so complacent in Dumbledore's Greater Good. In Dumbledore's greatness. In his legend that they forgot he was only one old man. The future was not his. The future was for the young. For the children at Hogwarts. The children all over the world. But he believed he knew what the children wanted even when they told him that he was wrong. He was outdated. That the Magical World needed to change.
It drove Rose crazy having to deal with such hypocrisy. She had seen it. The ridiculousness. Even before she found her sister, Rose knew that deep down everything was wrong. So now she needed to be strong. She needed to show these fools that she would not roll over and be anyone's property.
And Rose needed to free her parents from Dumbledore's bull-shit and magic. Rose was just thankful that Dumbledore hadn't dared trying to control her through fear of the stupid prophecy's murdering him or some-such.
Rose wondered whether she could really do as her sister said. Could she just leave. Leave the Magical World. Leave it all behind. Well this Magical World at least. The Magical UK. She knew she couldn't escape the magic completely – and Rose knew she wouldn't want to. But she also knew she couldn't leave Ginny or her other friends to terrible fates. Stuck as Dumbledore's canon fodder or Death Eater victims – certainly both.
Rose shuddered at the thought and felt cold dread and pure anger. She wouldn't. Couldn't let her friends down now. Not now she and her sister had so much. They could change everything. They were apart of the Covenant now. Rose's sister was their queen.
Smiling a little Rose looked at the cute little watch on her left wrist with the Covenants symbol on the face and the devil and angel for hands in a cold black that somehow glowed faintly. It was a beautiful gift that Shado got her and Ginny as they came as a set of two identical and two of a kind to show they were Covenant witches as they also contained a magical presence so couldn't be faked.
Rose turned to her sister. Shado was still glaring down Hagrid. Her pendant seemed to glow and radiate with her power and position from the collar around her neck that made her look so very sexy. Rose almost laughed at that thought. She would have to wait until they got home for some delightful times.
"We could just up and leave you know?" Shado said coolly. "Walk away. No Girl-Who-Lived – chosen one – or anything – or anyone to save your silly little world of arseholes."
Shado's cool warm voice startled Rose out of her thoughtfulness. She loved her sisters Royal English accent. Hagrid was a giant of a man. He wouldn't give in no matter how much Shado threatened to smash his face in – or used his new nickname of 'Lard-arse', and even that twit Malfoy wouldn't have the guts to call Hagrid that to his face. Rose thought that Hagrid was either extremely brave – or very stupid.
Maybe both brave and stupid – or stupidly brave at least – (but then bravery was only the overcoming of fear). He had to be like that to truly be a Gryffindor – unlike sneak Slytherins in lion skin clothing like Dumbledore. The Sorting Hat was either defective or let the students choose their own house. Rose was inclined to believe the latter. It made sense. It wasn't Dumbledore who first realised (no matter how warped it became to him) that it was their choices that made them – no one else's – and that they could become whatever they wanted if given the opportunity.
At least Hagrid answered to his new nickname. But then Hagrid had likely been called worse when he was a student at Hogwarts – being the son of a Muggle-born wizard and a giantess (it couldn't have been easy for the man. Rose was surprised he could be such a kind person still). Rose felt it was better not to ever wonder how a giant and human got down to business unless you liked to get headaches and become violently ill.
Shado smiled sweetly as Hagrid backed down slightly with half a step backwards in the dingy old pub. "A man such as yourself surely knows that we could," Shado said in a whimsically curious way with a pause before she continued. "Always seek... Sanctuary here in England – don't you?" she asked and Hagrid gulped and Rose was surprised as he hadn't looked too concerned before, but suddenly he lost colour.
"Oh good," Shado commented smilingly. "You're not a complete moron – are you?" she suggested but awaited no reply from him. "I bet you have even thought about looking for work there, haven't you? Wondered whether they would appreciate you more than these people. After all. Rosette informed me that you were unlawfully expelled from Hogwarts and left with nothing – all because of Voldemort and these so-called 'amazing' pure-blooded wizards."
Shado was staring down the giant man while Rose watched in awe. Shado was tiny in comparison. It was almost comical to see Hagrid losing a battle. Any kind of battle to someone so tiny in comparison to him. Shado held Hagrid's dark eyes captive. Shado was a force that Hagrid could never hope to defeat. Especially when it came to will and intellect.
However, Rose was surprised that the patrons of the dark and dank shite-hole of a pub were ignoring them and keeping to themselves. Rose noticed a few scared glances from patrons as there eyes flickered to Shado. That made Rose realise that Shado had been to the Leaky Cauldron pub on more than one occasion. Rose was surprised that she hadn't heard of Shado before, but maybe she shouldn't have been.
Dumbledore and her parents liked to keep Rose ignorant of things. Even those things that could have ended Rose's life as she had to cope with half the answers, lies, and false-truths. Rose was sick of all of that bull-shit. She was sick of being the good little girl.
Rose would grow stronger. She wouldn't let her sister be the bad-arse without her any longer. They belonged together side-by-side beating the tar out of any bastard that thought they were some kind of superior being that was allowed to murder and harm whoever or whatever they wanted. Rose wanted to beat all of those ignorant purists and show their children that their parents and grandparents were wrong; that the cycle of idiocy and ignorance had to end before it was too late.
It would only be a matter of time before science caught magic. Then what? Would the Mist still hide the unhidden? No. People would see it all. Once they started really believing. The world had to change before then. Rose knew that the change had to start now. With Rose and Shado. Side-by-side holding hands with their sisters around them – and their allies at their call.
"'ow do yo'... know?" Hagrid began after a few too many moments of shock, but stopped himself short holding his beard covered mouth in shock. Rose didn't know what they knew that she didn't, but she would get it out of Shado.
The truth. Shado. The sister she had only known for less than a month. A few weeks. Shado never lied to her. Shado never told her half-truths. Yet people who supposedly cared for her. Loved her. They were full of lies and secrets. Lies and secrets that had almost killed her on more than one occasion. Not only Rose. But her friends too.
At least Ginny never lied to her. Ginny had been trying to get her to see for years. Since Rose saved Ginny's life all those years ago in the Chamber of Secrets. Rose had seen. But what could she do but cry and hope, pray – that maybe she – Rose – the heroin could have her very own hero capable of defying men who pretended to be almost gods.
For once, Rose smiled. Her greatest desire. Her greatest wish was granted. Those Death Eaters that attacked them outside that street. The old Black house they were somehow trying to claim. For once a Death Eater attack held fortune. It got the notice of the cities deadly guardian.
The Black House. Sirius Black. They would have to find him. They needed to know the truth. If he was innocent it could mean the end of Dumbledore – for as long as the law didn't bend to his whims. But it would be long enough to free Lily and James Potter.
Shado smiled and patted Hagrid's left arm in sympathy and he seemed to relax as Shado waited – watching him coolly. Hagrid could only sweat and feel the uncomfortable-ness of Shado's gaze. The gaze Shado reserved for making people cave by making them feel 'that' uncomfortable. It was as if Shado's eyes were piercing the very soul.
"A wise person looks beneath the masks of humanity," Shado commented off-handedly. "You have been screwed over so much that you're not sure what to really believe in. And even now you try to pretend that you have nothing but love for Albus Dumbledore. But I can see something else. Resentment. Mistrust. Uncertainty. Hatred. Maybe even a little hope.
"Dumbledore helped you when no-one else would," Shado said whimsically. "But... he could have done more. Even back then he was a powerful and beloved man. He could have gotten you fair treatment. He could have done so much for you and it would have taken little effort on his part. But it would have upset Pure-bloods, so instead he gave you a job doing what? Cleaning up the stables...? A job worthy of a lowly Mud-blood hybrid?"
"'e gave me a job teaching abou' magical creatures'," Hagrid quickly interrupted. "It were the beginnin' Rose's third year."
Shado rolled her eyes. "So after fifty years, and after a twelve year old girl proved your innocence," Shado replied and Hagrid's shoulders sagged slightly. "Did they apologise? Did they compensate you for your expulsion or your stay in Azkaban Prison? Pay for you to get a new magical stick? Are you even allowed a new magical stick? Did Dumbledore so kindly re-enrol you in school to finish and complete your education?"
"Wait... they should have done all of that stuff!" Rose interrupted suddenly with widened green eyes. "T-those bastards should have done that and even then that shouldn't have been enough," Rose said with clenched fists. "I know that they'll never be able to make up for what they did to me and Shado – you either, Hagrid."
"Well anyway, lets just get this shopping over with," Shado said coolly as she turned towards the bar. "Tom!" she commanded. Shado startled the balding man behind the bar as he pretended he wasn't eavesdropping, and he gulped as he looked at the girl. "Mr. Hagrid here is my personal guest. You will feed and water him with whatever the hell he wants until we return. You will charge everything to the Potters. Understand!?"
"B-but..."
"You have my permission," Rose stepped up to her sisters side, glaring at the man in semi-annoyance to get her point across.
"O-oh – of course, I-I didn't know you were friends with-with Miss. Shado," Tom stuttered out fearfully even though Rose knew he knew they entered the bar together as they arrived by floo-fire at the same time.
"She's my twin sister," Rose said causing many startled gasps to spread around the Leaky Cauldron and the whole of the Magical World (likely worldwide) would know by the end of the day.
Shado smirked and turned to Hagrid. "Tom will see you alright, but if you ever want to be introduced to a Sanctuary official. I know the way in."
Hagrid nodded his head and slumped down into a large wooden bench. The wood creaked under his weight, but held – likely magic.
"W-well... okay, but you an Rose 'ill be a'right, won' ya?" Hagrid asked while Rose noted that Hagrid saw the way these people were afraid of Shado. Rose knew that once they were gone Hagrid would ask questions and get frightful answers – Rose was kind of curious to know what Shado did to these people too, but she would leave the questions about that till they got home.
"Of course," Rose said smilingly. "We don't need any babysitter. I know my way around. And if any silly little bastard tries anything, Shado will just have to blow up their faces."
"I know the perfect spell for that," Shado commented off-handedly as she led Rose out back by the hand and into a dingy little courtyard with a plain wall next to some trash cans.
"Do you really know a blow-your-face-up spell?" Rose asked once the door closed behind them.
Shado looked to Rose with a smile. "Nope. That's not something any civilised young lady goes around looking for," Shado said while shrugging. "But those regulars of Tom's are utter cowards. Its just fun to mess with their tiny little minds... and yes I know tiny and little are the same thing but sometimes a double negative is necessary to make my point."
Rose pouted. "I grammar Nazi'd you once," Rose said coolly. "You made fun of me when I was wearing my glasses."
"But they make you look so adorably geeky," Shado retorted with a mock dreamy sigh to exhilarate her point. Rose rolled her eyes. "If you keep rolling those cute little eyes of yours, Love you'll dislodge your contacts. And I still cant get over the Magical World not having any eye specialist to fix eyesight."
Rose shrugged sheepishly. "Well if they haven't invented the magic they cant sort out my near-sightedness. Anyway – what were you talking about with Hagrid. What Sanctuary are you talking about?"
Shado shrugged as she tapped a few bricks in sequence to reveal the hidden magical district of Diagon Alley. Shops lined the cobblestoned street. It was amusing that the street was cleaner than the inside of the Leaky Cauldron when the pub was supposed to be a restaurant. It should have been lovely and clean but even Rose wouldn't eat there and she had been around places like it all her life.
Shado had told Rose that it always felt like she had stepped back in time by a few centuries when she entered the Alley. At the far end was their destination. Gringotts Wizarding Bank. It was a bright white marble beacon.
Rose and Shado needed to get some money. Shado from her Muggle-accounts (changed into Magical World money), and Rose hoping that her parents hadn't cut her off or something arse-holey (or she would have to scrounge off her sister – but Shado was a thief (she stole from criminals) so she could share with her little sister if needed). But then it would have to be Dumbledore's idea to cut Rose off, and he wouldn't want Rose any more pissed at him or her parents than she already was, so he wouldn't go there; she hoped.
"Oh – they're... a little more... normal I guess," Shado said after a few moments of thoughtfulness while shrugging her shoulders as she led her sister towards the bank. "Well they use technology and muggle weapons as well as magic. Very advantage in life. They kind of refer to themselves as sorcerers or mage, (and from what I gathered they have their own 'brand' of witches). The Sanctuary is like their version of the Ministry.
"Their magic works differently. Has different rules. That blue fireball I used was their magic. Elemental magic. I just kind of overheat that blasted fire-magic too much – I guess I need more practice. Using air magic tends to make sparks of lightning too."
Rose goggled as Shado rose her right hand (as she held her sisters with her left – fingers interlocked for comfort), and watched as the air swirled with little blue sparks of electricity in a tiny tornado spinning on her palm.
"That is awesome," Rose said in delight as Shado lowered her hand with a shrug as she snuffed out her sparking twister. "Can-well can any one learn elemental magic?" she asked in eagerness.
"Sure... well, mage are different," Shado said. "Well most people are... there's this thing that happens to them, I'm not too sure what, I haven't really been that interested. Anyway, normal magicals that learn a discipline like Elemental Magic. Reaching adulthood, sixteen, seventeen or sometimes older most mage disciplines will stick and you're stuck with it alone; so some try different things while kids. You can still do some other stuff too, but," Shado paused and shrugged.
"However," Shado continued thoughtfully. "Some Magicians like us are different. Maybe magic likes us more? Who knows? But its cool for us as we can use all sorts of different magic's and kind of bend their rules.
"Anyway, these Mage are trouble too... the whole names have power, three names thing affects them where it doesn't wizards or witches of our magic – and other magic's. Its confusing to be honest – and I'm not too good at explaining it, but knowing a persons given name can give you a small degree of power over that person – having someone know your true name without sealing it – that sounds sucky. Complete control over someone who – who knows what kind of power their true name could house?
"But I have a taken name anyway... Shado Umbra," Shado finished sheepishly.
"You never told me you have a second name," Rose said while pouting cutely.
Shado shrugged impishly. "I thought it was funny. I never knew my real name, and I had my book, and knew magic, and having a name seemed like a good idea, so I chose Shado as I've never been seen properly or something and I just knocked off the W because I thought it looked cooler when spelt, and Umbra… well; its Latin for shadow or shade or darkness, and I thought that was funny, and it just stuck. I was going to go for Noire… the feminine version, but I didn't think French for black was quite on the nose magically."
"Oh; that's… my darling sister," Rose said with a smirk as she cuddled her twin sisters arm a little tighter, "you are a strange one, but I think I like it, so I'll have to steal it when I'm old enough to change my name, especially if mum and dad are fully in control of themselves. Anyway, do I need to take a name for myself like that too?"
"No – as I said, doesn't affect us," Shado replied. "I needed a name after the Dursley's dumped me as they always just called me 'Oi' or 'Girl and I didn't know what my name was. Well they spat out those things when they wanted me to do all their housework... and no I didn't kill them. They are dead. But it wasn't me. Even though I gave that impression a few times. I must admit I kind of feel cheated and relieved that it wasn't me. If they were still alive, I might have thought about it, especially if they had guardianship of another magical child. I don't know who offed them or why. But they likely pissed off a magical from what I heard happened to them."
"Good," Rose said coolly. "I hope they're rotting in whatever hell swallowed them up," she added as she had chosen to believe in a lot of crazy stuff since meeting her beloved older sister (two minutes older and Shado wouldn't let her forget).
"Me too," Shado said with a small smile.
However, Rose didn't have a chance to add anything as they were startled by a loud cry of alarm from the other side of the Alley. They stopped in surprise and quickly looked over as they heard shouting.
"Help me! Please! Somebody!?"
It was pretty young woman with beautiful caramel skin. She was crying out in alarm as a huge, fat, and ugly man in ragged robed was tugging on her bag, and finally managed to throw her to the floor before running away in Rose and Shado's direction with a huge grin on his filthy face while clutching his stolen possession in glee.
"Filthy Mud-blood doesn't deserve nice things!" The man laughed while nobody went to the rescue. Most of the people around looked away and ignored the mugging. They all carried weapons and out -numbered the racist bastard yet wouldn't intervene.
"How do you suppose that man can run with a broken leg?" Shado asked.
Rose looked at her sister in confusion. "What broken leg?"
Shado clicked and flicked her fingers at the man. He screamed in horror and agony as a splash of light flew from Shado's fingers and crashed into his left leg. The filthy man dropped the bag and regained everyone's attention as he crashed to the floor, scraping up his face in blood, but ignored his face and grabbed at his left leg as he continued crying. His leg was twisting like a Chinese burn as his robe pulled up to show his filthy shit stained pants and twisting leg (that looked like it was covered in monkey fur) as he held it.
Then the man roared as he begged for help as Shado twisted her hand in a lazy gesture and his leg shattered and cracked without breaking skin. The leg bent at an unfathomable angle as he squealed and begged, but just like when he mugged the young woman no-one came to his aid – but this time they couldn't look away either.
"Please! Please! Help Meeee!" The filthy man squealed out as he watched his leg in terror.
"I think he's learnt his lesson, My Lady."
Shado turned to see an older woman in her late thirties standing outside her pet store. She had soft pale skin with oriental features. She was wearing a small silver chain around her right wrist with the covenant symbol as the only charm of gold with Covenant feel. Her clothes were decidedly Muggle consisting of a blue summer dress that lifted her nicely sized bust and matching pumps.
Ignoring the woman after a moment, Shado left her sisters side, letting go of Rose's hand Shado released her spell as she walked over to the man. Shado crouched down while the man whimperingly looked up at her in hope. However, Shado took the stolen bag and stood. Then in a swift kick her left boot shattered the man's ribs, and he was launched into the air and flew several feet away landing in a heap, crying.
"I-I'll get you! Filthy Mud-bloods should know their place!" The filthy man cried out as he puked up blood and looked at Shado through blurry eyes. "I have powerful friends! T-they'll k-kill you. Death-Death Eaters w-will kill y-you."
Shado flicked her left hand and in a stream of blue lightning – a sonic boom struck as the electricity smashed and rippled into the man. He screamed as he was set ablaze of electricity, electrocuted to within an inch of his life, contorting and shaking with muscle spasms he shut up before she let him free.
"Friends?" Shado asked laughingly as she let up her attack and the man was out cold, near deaths doors. "A man who can't even have a simple bath? A man who steals from others? You have no friends you magically dumb weakling. And anyone who sympathises with Death Eaters or Voldemort. Dies."
Moving away from the man, Shado walked over to the caramel skinned woman while their spectators quivered while watching this deadly girl. The young woman was still on the ground. She looked up at Shado in awe and fear. However, Shado offered the woman her hand and after a few moments the woman took it and allowed Shado to pull her to her feet.
Shado smiled as she returned the bag and turned back to her sister, and after giving the pet shop woman a nod while she smiled as she bowed back in respect, Shado retook her startled sisters hand and they continued their trip towards the bank with a parting of people in their forward wake.