A/N: Hello! Here is another chapter for y'all. Today I would like to thank Ruritania, my most faithful reviewer, for all your support. It takes quite a lot of courage to invest myself in such a long term project, and I would probably have quit if it wasn't for your excited reviews after every single chapter.

The Missing Cousin

Summer was over less than a week after the Diagon Alley excursion.

On the last night, Violet and Remus conjured an amazing dinner, which ended with a few scoops of chocolate ice cream while they played wizarding chess by the fireplace. It had been the first time Rachel played it, and she wasn't quite happy with how the pieces shouted at her, giving her tips of what to do and not really trusting her decisions. One of the towers, more than once, openly disobeyed her, making different moves than Rachel had commanded – even though Rachel was great at chess.

Afterwards, they all went to bed early to catch the Hogwarts Express in the morning.

After a quick breakfast, they once again took the Floo Network to the Leaky Cauldron, and took the subway to King's Cross from there. It wasn't a very long way, but carrying the trunks within the view of muggles wasn't at all something easy to do, even with the Feather-Light spell. Lily had decided it would be better to let Helga fly to Hogwarts on her own and hide the cage into her trunk, so she wouldn't catch the attention of Muggles. It was still very early in the morning when they arrived at King's Cross station, because Rachel had to return to Edinburgh on that very day to solve a few problems at the University and, since she was going without Hector, decided it would be wiser to use a muggle means of transport.

King's Cross was swarming with odd looking people, in odd clothing. Coloured robes moved around; hundreds of children and teenagers carried large and heavy-looking trunks, all in motion towards the same spot: the brick wall dividing platforms nine and ten. One by one, both magical folk and muggleborn's parents crossed the barrier, all carefully and discreetly so as not to get unwanted attention. Rachel, like most of her muggle peers, had her eyes double their size as she witnessed all those people crossing a hard brick wall like it wasn't there.

The group was out of the line and the adults were having a cup of coffee in a muggle shop, one floor above the crowded platforms. Remus was a little uncomfortable in the presence of so many muggles, worrying that they would notice, but the women reassured him by reminding that Violet had spent over eleven years of her life with muggles and no one had ever realized it, not even her late husband.

"This is so exciting!" Rachel suddenly said, "I wish I could get on the train with them and go to that school."

"I guarantee it's not much different from what we usually have at muggle schools, only there's no heating system."

"And they have a game with flying broomsticks instead of normal physical education," said Rachel.

"Yeah, that too. Oh, I've been meaning to ask this for a while… Are we spending Christmas together this year? We should have a big celebration with my relatives, so you can teach my brother-in-law about muggles, he's obsessed about it."

Rachel nodded in an excited agreement. Then she looked back at the barrier.

"So, all we have to do is walk into that wall downstairs?"

"Yes, that's all," said Remus.

"And how on earth doesn't anybody notice it?"

"Muggles have a determination not to notice magic. Either way, there are over twenty Ministry of Magic employees in plain-clothing, ready to alter the memories of any muggles who see something they shouldn't.

"So—you just tamper with the memories of muggles all the time, just like that?"

"Yes, otherwise you would be aware of our existence. But don't worry, it's not too much and doesn't affect your life."

"Have you ever altered my memory, Violet?"

"What? No! Never! I was always very careful, I had never used magic in front of you before the children got their letters."

"But you would, if you thought it necessary," Rachel was affirming rather than asking.

"I think so, yes. Especially before the end of the war."

"Well, I don't think I can actually blame you, but it sort of offends me."

"I understand. But you understand it would have been necessary, right? To protect me, and to protect you. Like… do you remember one night when Roger walked into your apartment through the window holding Lily and you had to go to a hotel in Glasgow until I met you there?"

"Yes, I do remember that."

"On that night, I saw someone on the street who I thought to be a Death Eater. I only had time to tell Roger to leave, so I had to stay behind to delay them. In the worst case scenario, I would have died there, but luckily it was Sirius, he had come to warn me about the death of the Potters and the end of the war. But otherwise, I would have died in there and you would come back and find my dead body, without a scratch, and without explanation, and you would live your lives never knowing what had happened to me until someone came to pick Hector and Lily. This is how far I was willing to go to protect you all."

Rachel took a deep breath, and then a sip of her coffee, and looked away for a few minutes in silence. Remus had reached from across the table to hold Violet's hand.

"Rachel, I understand you don't like what wizards do to muggles, but everything was worse when we were known to exist. And if I had to erase your memories, or Roger's, to prevent you from knowing about me, I would, because everything would be worse if you knew."

"Okay, I know. As a mother, I know."

When they looked down, most of the line had disappeared into the barrier, and they decided it was time to leave.

They cautiously crossed the barrier, and there was platform 9 ¾. And the Hogwarts Express was there too.

Soon after arriving at the platform, Rachel realized she had to hurry. So, after a long and tight hug on the children, a kiss on each of their cheeks, and a reminder that they should write every week, she went back through the platform.

"Well, you two take care. Don't get into much trouble, have fun and learn as much as you can, okay?" said Violet, looking at each of them. The children smiled and nodded.

"And try not to face any dark wizards this time," said Remus, making them laugh a bit.

The pair walked into the train long before the announcement of the departure, because Violet had a couple of important deliveries to make and had to go back to the Lakeside. It was easy to find an empty compartment and sit by the window, because although most of the students were already on the platform, only a few of them were in the train. The pair waved goodbye to Violet and Remus as they crossed the barrier, and then they were alone. Hector took a pack of Exploding Snap cards, and they played until the train departed and Susan Bones and Padma Patil joined them.

They enjoyed the trip and talked about their vacations to each other. Padma had spent most of her holiday doing volunteer work on protection of wild magical life. She and Hector soon engaged in a deep conversation about the book Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them, by Newt Scamander.

Susan had been with her aunt for a few weeks of summer, since she wanted to follow her into working in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Then she had gone on a camping trip with her parents and cousins. Susan's family had been severely shortened during the Wizarding War, and it had made them very close to each other.

The tea troller passed by their compartment, and each of them bought a different sweet so they could share. They had just started a game of trying the oddest of the All Flavoured Beans when a distressed Hermione opened the door to ask if any of them had seen Harry and Ron.

"I think they must be with the Weasleys. Harry spent the end of the summer there with them because of some family issues, they must have told you about it..."

"No, I am with the Weasleys. They said Harry and Ron were with them the whole time, until they crossed the barrier. I expected they would be with you!"

"Something must have happened when they crossed the barrier!" said Hector.

"Oh, no…" Lily muttered.

"What?"

"What if they couldn't cross?" she said.

"That is impossible!" said Hermione.

"After last year, I wouldn't call anything impossible. Maybe they were late, and it closed itself?"

"I never heard of such a thing," said the Gryffindor.

"Look, we have to keep calm. If something has happened, Ron's parents will go back through the barrier and see them and find a way to take them to Hogwarts. I bet everything is already sorted out and Hedwig is on her way to the train to warn us all about it," said Hector.

But Hedwig was not on her way. The whole trip went by, and there was no sign of the white snowy owl. Lily went to the compartment where the Weasleys were settled several times to check on news, and every time she got the same answer: nothing. They asked if Percy could lend his owl Hermes to send a message to the Weasleys, and he said "I wish I had him here, but Hermes is on a journey right now." And Helga was probably already at Hogwarts, so there was absolutely no means of communication with their families. A tiny stream of cold sweat was already falling from Lily's temples. Fred and George were pale. Percy looked like he could vomit at any time. Ginny was sitting very still, holding a black book to her chest, looking sick. Hermione was pacing around the tight space of the compartment. They had all lost their hunger, and Molly's sandwiches were all thrown on the seats beside them.

It went on like that until the train arrived at Hogsmeade and the first years went to have their first trip by boat with Hagrid, and the others went to get up on carriages. They said goodbye to Ginny, and promised it would all be fine and Ron and Harry would be there to watch her be sorted to Gryffindor, but the girl obviously knew they were lying to make her feel better. The Weasleys and Hermione went ahead, and Lily waited for Hector, Padma and Susan, who had asked her to wait for them so they could hear the news.

With nothing else to do, they went to the carriages, which made Lily jump back, because they were pulled by the oddest things on earth. The horses – or whatever those animals were – were reptilian looking and much resembled baby Norbert, the dragon Hagrid had acquired in Lily's first year. They were fleshless, just skin and bone, and their black coats clung on their skeletons making each and every bone visible. Their heads were dragonish and their white, pupil-less eyes could be looking anywhere, but Lily felt as if they were staring at her. Wide black wings stretched from each of their sides, but they had no feathers, only more of the same black coat, like bat wings. The creatures stood still and sinister, ready to pull the carriages.

"Lily, what is it?" asked Hector, holding Lily after she had stumbled back.

"That creature pulling the carriage."

"What creature?"

"That one! The horse-ish thing!"

"There's nothing pulling the carriage!" said Padma.

"Yes, there is! Look!"

"Lily, there's nothing there! It is pulled by magic!" Said Susan.

"I swear I am seeing a beast right there. They are pulling all the carriages, I swear!"

"Well… maybe there's a sort of deceiving spell. We can ask about it to the D.A.D.A teacher later," suggested Susan, ending the discussion.

As Lily had expected, neither Ron or Harry showed up to the Housing Ceremony, when Ginny was indeed placed in Gryffindor, nor to the Feast. Lily, Hector, Hermione and the Weasleys were silent and nervous, although everyone else was merrily enjoying the amazing food.

Harry and Ron, however, were not the only ones who had missed the Sorting Ceremony and the feast. There was an empty seat at the teachers table… a seat that usually was filled by Severus Snape.

"Calm down, Lily, I know they will show up," Susan stroked Lily's arm. "You have to eat something, seriously. It will be fine. Look, we will talk to Dumbledore after the feast, and he will find a way to sort things out."

Lily nodded, still nervous, and made an effort to eat some of the food on her plate.

After the meal, when the students were sent to bed, Lily and Susan were making their way to the headmaster when they were stopped by Professor Sprout, the head of Hufflepuff and Herbology teacher.

"Excuse me, where do you think you are going?"

"I- I'm sorry, Professor Sprout, I was heading to ask Professor Dumbledore if he has any news on my cousin Ron – he and Harry didn't arrive with the train, they are missing and we are all very worried."

"Oh, about that… don't make a fuss out of it because I don't want to encourage misbehaviour on other students. Ron Weasley and Harry Potter arrived in a flying car an hour ago. Professor Snape took them straight to Filch's office, and the Headmaster will soon be deciding whether they will be allowed to remain in Hogwarts at all. I think it is fair that you know it, since you are Ron Weasley's relative."

Lily felt herself go voiceless and still, as if someone had casted a full body binding spell on her. It went on for a full minute as she weighed her options. What could possibly be done? She looked at Susan, and found no answers in her eyes.

"Professor, can I go to the Headmaster anyway?"

"Well, if you feel it must be done, then yes. But you must go to the dormitory immediately after. You are not to remain in the corridors and you are not to go meet your cousin."

"Alright. I will meet you back in the dormitory, Susan."

"Okay, good luck."

Dumbledore had just left his place on the table and was making his way around it, probably to go to Filch's office, when Lily stopped.

"Professor, can I have a word?"

"Good evening, Lily," Dumbledore greeted her.

"Good evening. Sorry, it's just that professor Sprout just told me about Ron and Harry and…"

"Of course. I wouldn't expect it to remain a secret for more than an hour. These walls have ears."

"Please don't expel them, professor."

"Lily, as much as I am flexible with some rules, there are some that are not to be broken. The statute of secrecy is one of those examples. The arrival of a flying car did not go unseen, in fact it was spotted by seven muggles."

Dumbledore gave no signs that he would back down.

"Professor, I broke important rules too. I endangered the wellbeing of everyone in the Great Hall on that night, and yet you let me stay. Give them a chance to explain themselves, professor, I am sure they have a good explanation. Some really weird things happened this summer."

Dumbledore stopped walking.

"Weird things happen all the time, of course. We, ourselves, wouldn't be breathing if it wasn't for some really weird things. But I found the best way to deal with the oddity around is by not tampering with it."

"I don't mean that kind of weird… I mean that Harry's correspondence has been intercepted the whole summer! What if the thing that intercepted the owls also stopped he and Ron from accessing the platform, and then they got the car to make sure they would arrive on time?"

"Lily, I understand you feel the urge to protect your loved ones, and that is admirable. I promise I will not make any rushed decision."

"Professor!" said Lily, stopping in the middle of Dumbledore's path to force him to look at her. "I am saying that Harry and Ron did the unthinkable only to be here. It means that being here is the most important thing, and I know why. Harry hates his family, he couldn't go back home after missing the train. Please, professor, find another way to punish them, don't take Hogwarts away from them. It's just too much. The memory of a flying car can be erased from a muggle's mind but you can't erase Harry's memories of Hogwarts. Expelling them would leave a very big scar and a lot of bitterness. Besides, the school year hasn't started yet, so their wrong doing doesn't technically concern you."

Dumbledore's light blue eyes twinkled behind the half moon glasses. As if the man had experienced some sort of illumination, he looked down at Lily and nodded calmly.

"I will see what I can do. Now, off to bed!" Said the headmaster, and Lily felt she had done everything she could, so she complied.

When she arrived at the dormitory, the other Hufflepuffs were introducing the first years to the common room. Susan was sitting on a sofa with Megan Jones and Hannah Abbott, the latter was showing her collection of chocolate frog cards. The blonde girl seemed to know by heart every single description of the witches and wizards on the cards. Lily thought Hannah's hobby could have been useful to figure out who Nicholas Flamel was last year, if she had talked to the girl more often. It was awkward, really, that she had shared a dormitory with Megan and Hannah for the entire first year and barely exchanged words with them.

Lily quickly went to put on her pajamas and came back to sit with them. They stayed up late into the night, near the lit fire, talking about their vacations and listening to the singing cactus who sat on one the shelves close to the window. On the next sofa, Justin Finch-Flechley was talking to Lynette Sawley – from third year –, telling her that on the next day he would definitely talk to Harry Potter.

"Are you not friends with him, Lily?" asked Emily Brown, a girl from third year who had invented a spell to change the colour of her hair. Today, her black-power was bright pink.

Lily quickly turned to face Emily.

"What?"

"With Harry Potter," said the girl.

"Well, yes…"

"You could introduce them!"

"I don't think Harry would feel comfortable with that. He really doesn't like it, you know?"

"What, being famous?" Lynette joined the conversation.

"Yeah… you know, it's not good to be famous when you are famous because your parents are dead and a dark wizard tried to murder you,"

"My sister also reckons that Harry doesn't seem to like it," Megan suddenly said.

"I didn't know you had a sister, Megan," said Lily.

"Yes, a twin sister. Holly is a Gryffindor, though."

Then the Fat Friar came and told them to go to bed, but the girls from the second year dormitory didn't stop talking until much later.

When Lily finally laid down to sleep on the warm and overstuffed bed of the Hufflepuff dormitory, she felt happy and warm, but something was still not right. What was wrong? She didn't know. But she dreamt of odd stuff. There was a man sitting in a cell calling her name. By the morning, however, she had no memory of such a dream.

A/N: So, this was another chapter of Lily and the Secret Chamber. We are finally getting into the tracks of the canon. I do hope you enjoyed it, and if you did, please let me know. See you again next Monday!