Seventh Year
Voldemort Claims More Lives
Voldemort's reign of terror hasn't abated, even though for a moment there was peace and silence. June 16th, 1977 in a small, sleepy Muggle town, twenty Muggles were murdered. Half-bloods that also lived in the same town were killed as well. No one knows if Voldemort himself was there, or if it was the work of his Death Eaters but the fact remains that the times are unsafe. None of us are safe – save for the pureblooded wizards and witches that join him. But even then, there will always be the risk that he will kill you.
As a student at Hogwarts, I fear for my life. The Slytherins in Hogwarts have shown an unusual favoritism toward what he is doing, and specifically target Muggle-borns (Mudbloods is what they are called), and half-bloods. They practice the Unforgiveable Curses on animals or unsuspecting first years, and what is there to stop them from one day killing a Muggle-born wizard or witch? Yet, there has been no action. They are not disciplined or reprimanded, even when other students testify against them and bring the concerns to the professors. Someday, they will kill someone and it will be just an added fatality to the long list of lives that Voldemort has already claimed.
- Althea Morgan
She thought that it was a little surreal to see her article in the Daily Prophet. Althea had always had a passion for writing, something that had not diminished even as she grew older. Althea idly twirled her wand in her hands, wondering how many people had seen her article and if there would be backlash from Death Eaters or those who sympathized with Voldemort. She hoped not, but she had known the risk when she penned the article. Looking back on it she supposed that she should have looked at the possible consequences more carefully.
"Althea there's a letter for you!" Her mom called.
"I'm coming!" Althea shouted back, standing up and tucking her wand into the back pocket of her jeans.
Heading downstairs, Althea contemplated who the letter was from. Lily? Maybe, but she doubted it seeing as the Evans family was on vacation. Remus? No, he didn't really write letters often, and it was a few days after the full moon. She had a hunch that he wasn't feeling up to doing anything at the moment. James or Sirius? No, neither of them wrote letters and they weren't exactly the closest with Althea. So then, who would have written her a letter? Althea shook her head, clearing those thoughts.
She brushed her curls over her shoulders, ruffling her brother's unruly hair as she passed him and took the letter from her mom. She didn't recognize the script on the letter and she felt her brows furrow. Unfolding the letter, she scanned its contents and felt a smile bloom on her face. It was from Remus after all, but it didn't look his loopy scrawl.
Dear Althea,
How has your summer been going so far? Mine has been alright, dreadfully boring to be honest and I've found out that I'm not Head Boy. Can you believe that James is? I suspect it's Dumbledore trying to get the two of them together. If the handwriting looks unfamiliar it is because I am dictating the letter to a charmed pen, as my arms feel too weak to lift anything even something as light as a feather quill.
I saw your article in the Daily Prophet – may I add that it was superbly written? But I worry now, more than ever that the Death Eaters will come after you with a new ferocity once they find out that you are also a Muggle-born. Please, do try to stay safe.
Always and forever your friend,
Remus
Althea sighed a little, but the smile from her face didn't diminish. At least he cared about her wellbeing. Folding the letter back up she tucked it into the pockets of her jeans. Saying not a word to anyone she headed upstairs to write Remus back, and assure him that everything was fine. After writing the letter and sending her owl Faith, to deliver it she headed downstairs feeling her eyes widen with shock as the twins – her youngest siblings – were standing in the middle of the kitchen, and around them floated the dishes. They were doing accidental magic, she thought. That means that they'll go to Hogwarts just like I did!
Her younger brother, Alfie, would be attending Hogwarts this year and she had no doubt that he was going to end up in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. Out of the four Morgan children, it seemed like all of them would be heading to Hogwarts. She smiled a little; even though they were all Muggle-borns they were still just as special as any other child of a witch or wizard.
"Althea!" Alfie whined from in the dining room. "Can you make them stop?"
She glanced at the twins who were watching the dishes with fascination. "It doesn't seem like they are doing any real harm Alfie."
He scowled at her, bright blue eyes flashing. "No," he said haughtily, "but they are distracting me from reading Hogwarts a History, which I would like to finish before we head off next week. So, if you would please make them stop, it would be much appreciated."
Althea sighed. "I can't really do that, Alfie."
He frowned, "Why? You're seventeen, so it isn't against the law for you to use magic."
"I know that," Althea answered in return. "But they aren't doing any real harm, and they aren't even being that noisy. Look, if it's that big of an issue I'll make them stop, okay?"
Satisfied, Alfie nodded and returned to reading his book as Althea walked into the kitchen. With a flick of her wand all the dishes were sent zooming back into the cupboards, the twins staring at her with accusing teary eyes.
"Sorry," Althea told them apologetically but Ava and Evan didn't acknowledge that they had heard her.
She supposed she couldn't blame them, she had ruined their fun after all. But really it was Alfie's fault, she tried to reason. Oh, come off it Althea, you are seventeen year's old there is no need to blame your eleven-year-old brother for your actions even though he was the deciding factor, she scolded herself. Just then her mother – a pretty, slightly plump woman with graying hair named Veronica – and her father – a tall, robust man with blonde hair named Evander – walked into the kitchen, smiling and laughing. Evander came over to Althea, wrapping her in a hug and kissing the top of her head in a gesture of paternal affection.
"Ready to head back to school, Thea?" Evander asked, his arm tightening around her shoulders.
"I suppose," Althea answered. "I'll miss you guys, I really will but I love Hogwarts and I've missed my friends."
"You've missed your friends or you've missed a boy?" Veronica asked glancing at her daughter and Evander frowned.
Althea blushed, "Both?"
Veronica's gray eyes lit up. "Oh, tell me all about him, Althea? What is he like? Is he handsome? Is he sweet? Are you two dating?"
The flush on her cheeks deepened and she shuffled her feet. "Mom," she whined, "stop with all of the questions." She took a deep breath, "To answer your question no we aren't dating, for now we are just really good friends. See, he's a little different than everyone else and I'm not sure that he's ready to be in a relationship just yet."
"How is he different?" Veronica inquired curiously.
"Well, you see, he's kind of, sort of, a werewolf," Althea hedged. "He's not dangerous!" She hurried to assure her parents, "James, Sirius, and Peter make sure of that. But, he thinks that he is and he's often said that his condition is why he doesn't date. I don't want to pressure him, or ruin our friendship. So, I'm content to wait."
"That's awfully thoughtful of you Althea, isn't it?" Veronica said, looking at her husband with a small smile.
He only grunted.
"Anyways, there are bigger issues than my love life," Althea told her parents changing the subject. "Promise me that the two of you will be careful? With You-Know-Who gaining power and starting to attack Muggles openly, I worry about the two of you."
"Oh honey," Veronica sighed.
Evander squeezed his daughter's shoulders, "We'll be fine, Althea. We aren't going to be in England anyways. For the time being, we are relocating to America until everything settles down."
"Really?" Althea asked.
"Yes, dear. Plane leaves the day that you leave for Hogwarts," Veronica told her daughter. "Unfortunately, we won't be able to take you to the station. But we'll all head to the airport, and you can watch us fly away. I think that will put your mind at ease, don't you think dear? I've already contacted one of your Professors and she's agreed to take you and your brother to the station to get on the train."
"That's a relief," Althea said, feeling her body relax and some of the tension leave her body. "So, what's for supper?"
Althea hugged her parents and siblings' goodbye and watched them with sad eyes as they boarded the plane that would take them to America. It had been two weeks since her parents revealed that they were leaving the country because of Voldemort and while she was relieved, she was also a little sad that it had come to this. Althea reached down, grabbing Alfie's hand and tugged him over to where Professor Vesper was standing. The petite young woman, had a kind smile on her face as the two Morgan siblings approached and once they were with arm's reach she grabbed them by the shoulders and with a large crack Disapparated.
They landed on Platform 9 ¾ and Alfie promptly vomited into a garbage can, while Althea swayed on her feet feeling dizzy and sick.
"Thank you, Professor," Althea told her, before boarding the train, Alfie hot on her heels. "So, Alfie did you finish your book?"
"Yes," He answered proudly. "I'm now reading a book about how to invent your own spells. Mum and Da bought it for me when we were in Diagon Alley a couple weeks ago, getting our school supplies."
"Well I hope that you enjoy that book," Althea said. "I have to go meet up with my friends, Alfie, but if you need anything don't hesitate to ask me, a Prefect, or Lily. Okay?"
"Got it," Alfie said. She moved to walk away when he grabbed the sleeve of her shirt. Looking lost and scared, and with a small voice he asked, "Will we be safe here?"
Her eyes softened and her heart melted. "Of course, we will Alfie," she whispered. "Hey, I have an idea. Why don't you come sit with my friends and I? I think that you and Lily will get along really well, because she likes to read too."
He brightened a little. "Can I?"
"Of course, come on."
It took a few minutes of searching for Althea to find Lily. Shoving the door to the compartment wide open the two Morgan siblings stepped inside and Althea sat between Lily and Remus, with Alfie sitting across from her between James and Sirius.
"This is my brother Alfie," Althea told them. "Alfie this is Remus, Lily, James, and Sirius. James and Lily are Head Boy and Girl."
"Yup," James said smiling proudly.
"Unfortunately," Lily muttered.
"Anyways, Alfie tell Remus what book you're reading." She sent a pleading look to her crush, who upon seeing the look in her blue eyes immediately caved and sparked up a conversation with Alfred Morgan about the mechanics of spell-making, and eventually the two moved onto discussing the various subjects offered at Hogwarts.
Althea relaxed against the seat, pleased that Alfie was taking such a liking to Remus and feeling relief at the fact that so far it seemed that he would adjust just fine to life at Hogwarts. Looking at the two of them, she decided that Alfie and Remus shared some similarities. But she didn't dwell on those thoughts. Lily leaned close to Althea, smiling teasingly.
"Shut up Evans," Althea grumbled.
"Sorry, sorry," Lily apologized but she didn't sound apologetic at all. "Did I tell you, that Jack and I broke up?"
"No what happened?" Althea asked.
Althea smiled a little. Returning to Hogwarts was just what she needed.