This is a big one too.
Rose was in the director's office where Karkaroff's second in command was reprimanding her for getting into a third fight that week. She did her best to explain that it wasn't her fault this time, that the other girl had been accusing her of something she hadn't done and that she only started the duel to clear her honor. The professor was about to reply when a phoenix she didn't know appeared in front of them in a burst of flames and dropped a letter in between them before he left again in the same way.
The director, usually in charge of discipline and in charge of everything else until the Headmaster's return, opened the letter, read it carefully, looked up at Rose in surprise once or twice and then read it one more time from the beginning.
"Is something wrong, sir?" She asked him when he looked up at her once more.
"Read this, stay here and read this. I'll prepare an answer saying that you'll take their portkey. It would have been easier of the Phoenix had stayed but I guess Albus Dumbledore knows that no one says not to him." He simply replied.
"Urgent news concerning the girl you know as Rose Lilly Collins.
Her real name is Rose Lilly Potter, twin sister of Harry James Potter. We thought her born still and recently discovered that the nurse who assisted the birth had kidnapped her to get revenge on James Potter for not loving her back and on Lilly Evans Potter for taking James's affection.
Her twin brother, Harry Potter, just won the Tri-wizard tournament and has been informed of his sister's existence. We request her presence by his side. Her kidnapper has been arrested and her brother's Godfather, Sirius Black, will take care of the two of them. He has been proven innocent tonight when Lord Voldemort returned and Harry Potter managed to bring the real culprit back with him. You'll find the detail of everything in the Daily Prophet tomorrow morning.
Though it isn't linked, I should warn you that it appears that Igor Karkaroff has fled, afraid for his life because of Voldemort's return.
I understand that her education is important which is why we'll send her a portkey on the last day of school. She'll arrive at Hogwarts where all of her questions will be answered and where we'll perfect our plans for the summer.
Please let her know that her brother is fine. He was injured and saw one of his schoolmates die at the hand of Voldemort but he'll be fine after a long night of dreamless sleep. She shouldn't worry.
Note that she'll be going to Hogwarts next year, and the years following, to finish her studies with her brother.
Please let me know as soon as possible if the portkey is a transportation solution that suits you. I have the required authorisation from Minister Fudge himself.
Albus Perceval Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts"
There was a few minutes of complete silence after the letter was read. It took a while for Rose to fully register everything that was said inside it.
"I… It's in two weeks." Rose whispered.
"Go prepare. I'll let you know when and where you'll leave from. Now go and don't get into anymore trouble before you have to leave." He replied, letting her leave and keep the letter.
Rose nodded, happy to be out of trouble and slightly troubled by the revelations she had read in the letter.
.
It took over a week for Rose to finally see Harry again in her dreams.
"Finally! I was getting worried! How come you didn't come sooner?" She asked him in a demanding voice as soon as he appeared.
"Sorry, Dumbledore insisted that I needed to take dreamless sleep potion for the past few days." He replied, smiling, always happy to see her.
"Why? Because Voldemort is back? Because you saw him come back?" She asked him, worried.
"And because he killed Cedric Diggory in front of me, yes." Harry replied.
"I'm sorry. I read the article Rita Skeeter wrote, got the Daily Prophet just for this… But, the rest… Is it true? Am I really your twin sister?" She asked him.
"Apparently, yes. I know it's weird but it explains why we see each other in dreams since…ever. Hermione has been researching it and told me that it's happened before in powerful wizarding families. She thinks that our separation triggered the dreams." Harry replied.
"You're right, it explains a lot. What's going to happen now? I read that your godfather was freed, and I guess that since they thought I was born still, I don't have one. Anyway, where are we going to live now?"
"Dumbledore told me that you and I would go at the Dursley's for about a week, no more than that though. They aren't too happy about it but it's not new to them and since it will be the last time, they agreed. We'll have to share the room but I think we'll make do. Just long enough for them to get all the official papers in order, for Sirius to get a house and for them to place all the protections on it. If it takes too long for us to find a place, then we'll stay at the Burrows with the Weasley's until it's all done, the protections they want to place on it might take some time. Sirius will get a tent and we'll camp in their back yard." Harry replied.
"Alright. I can't wait to finally see you, big brother." She smiled.
"Me too. I can't wait to introduce you to all of my friends." He nodded.
"I wanted to write to you, send you an actual letter but the new director ordered us not to send out any mail until they knew what happened to Karkaroff. It's stupid because none of us have anything to do with it but it's the law. They're afraid of the news of his sudden departure upsetting parents. Like they say, "the law is hard, but it's the law". I would have sent out my phoenix anyway but I figured, since I'm about to leave this place, might as well try not to get in trouble for the time I have left there."
"You're right. I know that Dumbledore spoke with Madame Maxim about you before she left. He told me that, according to what she told him, you were a lot like me, except a much better student." Harry told his sister.
"We already knew that." She smiled.
"True." He replied.
After the news of who Rose really was had spread, a few Beaubaton and Durmstrang students went to visit Harry in the hospital wing to talk to him about his sister, whom they had been friend with. He had especially been surprised to see Victor Krum visiting him to tell him that Rose was one of his friends, that he hoped she'd finally be happy and that he hoped she's send him news once in a while.
.
The rest of the time separating them to the end of term passed quickly and soon, Harry and Sirius were in the Headmaster's office, waiting for Rose's portkey to be activated.
A couple of days ago, Harry had managed to corner Fred and George alone. They had told him and Ron how Ludo Verpey had refused to honor his debt to them and that they didn't have any more money left for their joke shop since they had given him all their savings. Harry gave them the 1000 Galleons from his prize money. They had tried to refuse but he insisted, stating that with Voldemort's return, everyone would need to laugh a lot more. They ended up accepting, promising to buy Ron a new dress robe and to work hard on their future shop.
Now, moments before they had to go on the train to leave school, a lot of people were waiting for Rose in the Headmaster's office. The minister of magic was here to witness her arrival, along with Remus Lupin, who would have been her godfather if things had been different. The Weasley children and Hermione Granger were present as well. They wanted to welcome Harry's twin sister before they left to go home and Harry had wanted them present to share this moment with the most important people in his life.
"You don't look too nervous Harry." Ron noticed.
"I have no reasons to be. I know her, she knows me. We get along just fine in our shared dreams, why would it be any different in real life? To me, it's not the first time I meet her. The only difference is that this time, we'll actually be in the same place at the same time and we'll know it's real." Harry replied.
"Wise." Cornelius Fudge nodded.
"This time, you know you're not crazy." Ron teased his friend with a chuckle, remembering the times he had told him that, maybe, he was seeing her because he was going a bit mad.
"Fawkes will be happy to see her too I bet." Harry added, realizing that he hadn't even told his friends about that detail.
"Why is that, Harry?" Albus asked him, curious.
"She found a phoenix egg during her second year. She was taking a walk in the forest attached to their school, she wasn't exactly supposed to be there but she felt like taking a walk, like a pull, and she found an egg, shining under the moonlight. She felt drawn to it. She looked around for 2 hours, and missed curfew in the process, but there weren't any birds or other animals around. She took it in, brought it back to her dormitory and placed the egg next to her on the bed, planning to do research in the library the next day to figure out what it was. The next morning, a baby Phoenix hatched from it. It's hers now. Loyal to her. It's a female, she named her Serenity, because her presence brought her serenity every time." Harry replied.
"It's unusual… Phoenixes are very rare." Albus replied, deep in thought.
"They only attach themselves to powerful witches and wizards, I've read about it." Hermione explained, remembering something she had read about one day.
"I guess considering whom her twin brother is, we shouldn't be surprised about it." The minister added, impressed by this news.
"Maybe she and Fawkes will make some babies." Sirius suggested, amused.
"How do phoenixes have babies?" Ron asked suddenly, making a few of them chuckle and Hermione replied:
"Seriously Ronald, open a book once in a while, won't you?" Ron blushed and dropped the matter.
"Well, if they ever do, it will be a sign of great prosperity for us all and considering what's happening right now, it would be a good thing." Dumbledore said while Fawkes seemed to be thinking as well.
"Shouldn't be long now." Harry replied, looking at the clock on the Headmaster's desk.
Harry was just done speaking when a loud 'crack' was heard and, in the middle of the office, stood a teenage girl, her Phoenix, a backpack and a truck. She held a piece of paper in her hand, the portkey that had transported her. She had a serious look on her face when she appeared but as soon as she saw Harry, a bright smile broke on her face and she rushed to hug him.
They were the same size and for those who had met Lilly Evans, it was obvious that she was her daughter.
Harry, too, had run to meet her and they met half way, hugging each other, happy to finally have the proof that this was all real.
"Rose, this is my Godfather and our father's best friend, Sirius Black and this is Albus Dumbledore. This is Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore's phoenix." Harry introduced and as soon as he spoke, Serenity jumped on his shoulder, sang a little to let him know that she liked him and she went to stand by Fawkes' side.
"It's nice to meet you two. Harry told me lots of good things about you two." She told them.
"This is Remus Lupin, our father's other best friend and the one who should have become your godfather. The minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge. Hermione Granger, I'm sure you'll become great friends, her second house is the library, too. Then the Weasley's. Ron, Ginny, Fred and Georges. They'll be leaving to take the train soon but I wanted them to meet you before they left." Harry told his sister.
"So this is Ron..." Rose stated, suddenly serious.
"Yes, why?" Harry asked her, curious about her behavior but she ignored him and went to stand in front of the red haired boy.
"Let's make one thing clear between us, Ronald Weasley. If you ever betray the trust and friendship my brother placed in you again like you did at the beginning of this year, I'll curse you so bad that you'll never be able to walk straight again and nobody will ever be able to trace it back to me. You're supposed to be his best friend, you should believe in him. When he told you that he didn't put his name in the Goblet of Fire, you should have believed him but you didn't and your behavior hurt him. I'm not okay with this. If something like this ever happens again, you'll be sorry. But nice to meet you." Rose told Ron in a very serious and threatening way before she told him the last part with a kind smile that made Dumbledore, Remus and Sirius smile.
"My… I thought it was a shock to see Harry with how much he looks like James but you… You're Lilly's portrait, even the behavior. She would have totally done something similar." Sirius replied, amused while Remus nodded.
"Good thing I got our mother's eye sight though." Rose replied, amused, before she decided to give in to her instinct and went to hug Sirius and Remus, who hugged her right back.
"Your sister has got fire Harry." Fred smiled.
"And she's cute." George added.
"I like her." The twins concluded together.
Fudge then told them that he had to leave, he gave Dumbledore a few papers and left, announcing that he had work to do. Before he left, he reminded Rose that now that she was no longer a Durmstrang student, she couldn't do magic outside of school. She agreed of course.
As soon as he was gone, Dumbledore looked at the pile of paper Fudge had given him and smiled. Apparently, the minister had made Remus, officially, Rose's Godfather, like James and Lily had wanted, even though it was presently illegal, or at least extremely difficult, for a werewolf to be a child's guardian. He took it as a good sign, the ministry was going to do what was necessary to win this war and allowing Remus guardianship of Rose Lily Potter was the first step. He decided to mention it next time he saw a journalist to give hope to the other werewolves that things were changing.
"So Harry, did you ever get around to telling Fred and George about Sirius and Remus and our father? You know, regarding their time here in school and the map…" Rose asked Harry, trying to say just enough to get the twins curious.
"What is this about? The Marauders' map we gave you last year?" Fred asked.
"And in doing so separating ourselves with the secret of our success, half of our souls that we so very generously shared with Harry?" George added.
"I actually never thought to tell you… I know who the Marauders were, or are." Harry told the twins.
"You do?" Fred asked, looking like he was about to win the lottery.
"And you never thought…" George started.
"…to tell us?" Fred finished.
They both looked like Christmas had come early and they were about to discover their presents.
"They were Gods. We need to know their identities so we can worship them like they deserve!" George exclaimed while Remus and Sirius stood, amused.
"We can build them a temple for pranksters to worship them all over the world. We need to swear our eternal servitude to these kings, these legends." Fred added.
Dumbledore seemed to be amused as well. He had always liked the twins, who reminded him of the Marauders and seeing their reaction was very entertaining.
"Well, their nicknames came from their animagus forms, which they acquired while students here, and you actually heard of the four of them. One we won't talk about because he's a filthy traitor who recently got just what he deserved. One is dead and two are very much alive." Harry told them, trying to make them guess.
"No way!" George exclaimed before they both turned to Sirius and Remus, making Albus chuckle and Hermione roll her eyes.
They were looking at the two men with new eyes, acting like they were meeting a pair of gods.
"Moony… Because he's a werewolf and in reference to the moon." George stated in awe.
"… and we saw after the third task why Sirius would be Padfoot…" Fred whispered.
"They're here, Freddie, right in front of us." George nodded and they both looked like they were looking at a great treasure.
Harry was pretty sure that if, during his first year, Voldemort had managed to use the philosopher's stone, he would have looked the same way.
"Georgie, I think I'm dreaming." Fred whispered, in awe.
"If you are, Freddie, I am too." Georges replied.
"Hi there." Sirius said with an amused wave at the twins.
"You're gods, you're kings." Fred declared, dropping on his knees in front of the two marauders.
"We love you and are at your service for the rest of our humble lives." George added, making Ginny and Rose laugh.
"You were right Harry, I like the twins." Rose told her brother while Remus told the twins to stand up, trying to hide his own amusement and to act like the teacher he used to be to show some authority.
"Rose, I know that what you recently learned could be a shock. Are you doing okay? Do you have any questions for us?" Albus asked her to change the subject while the twins kept on looking at the two last Marauders.
"No, I'm just angry at her. Why would she take me away from a loving family if it's to treat me the way she did? I mean, she was pretty much alright until I turned 8 years old... But then, she changed... I guess she realized that I had my definitive looks, that I wouldn't change much now... After that she hated me. She never had a kind word for me. I did everything I could to be the best at everything I ever did and she was never satisfied. I was always the best in every class, I won every prize there was to win at my age, I kept on studying everything I could to know as much as possible and make her as proud as possible… When she realized that I was happy at Beaubaton, she had me transferred to Durmstrang where the discipline is harder and even told them to be stricter with me than they were with the others, telling them that I always lied. She almost asked them to put me in detention if I even sneezed." Rose exclaimed, trying to control her anger.
"Yes, her behavior was unacceptable. I think her sanity broke when she realized that you looked so much like the woman she was jealous of when she had expected you to look like James. It wasn't your fault." Albus explained to her.
"Yeah, maybe she would have been happier with Harry, I bet she would have treated him with kindness and love." Rose frowned.
"Anybody would be proud to be your parent Rose." Remus added.
"Apparently not everybody… I tried… I did my best to be the best daughter possible… During the vacations I did all the cleaning and the cooking so she had practically nothing to do, I'm actually a great cook… I did the laundry, cleaned the floor and the windows…" Rose told them, trying to fight the tears that threatened to fall.
"It was her loss, Rosie." Harry told her before Hermione and Ginny went to hug her.
"I try to tell myself that if she hadn't taken me I'd probably have been killed along with our parents, that in a way, she saved my life, but it still hurts." Rose added sadly.
A few minutes later, Professor McGonagall came to get Hermione and the Weasley's so they could take the train back home. Harry and Rose would be dropped directly at the Dursley's house once they were done discussing everything that needed to be discussed. The Potter twins said goodbye to the other teenagers, knowing they'd see her soon enough.
Fred and George had a hard time leaving Sirius and Remus behind but Remus promised them that they'd see them in the evening, at their house, since their mother had kindly invited them to stay until they found their own place.
Their tent was already set.
This is one of the longest chapters I think.
QUESTION: I'm not sure I'll do it, but IF some of the characters were to become animagi, what would their animagus be? Harry? Rose? Fred and George? Hermione? Ginny? Ron? Neville (if Peter can do it, then he certainly can too)? Draco? I'm waiting for your suggestions. I was thinking to have Harry and Rose be like their father, but then I'd have to have their future beloved be the same since it's meant to be but it would be too "oh, look, a herd of deers got into the school!", it could be funny, but a bit too much, wouldn't it?
I do love reviews and try to answer them all, so please don't hesitate to leave one! It makes me post faster!
Lorelei Candice Black