A/N Another Day, another Chapter. Still having issues with , but at least I can give y'all updates again.
With Christmas fast approaching, most students quickly put the recent tragedies our of their minds. A think layer snow covered the school grounds, adding a sense of serenity to the campus. After classes, many house snow ball wars began, most ending in a teacher showing up to end a fight gone out of control. One such fight was at a somewhat 'friendly' Ravenclaw v Gryffindor snow ball fight. It was one of several attempts by the Weasley Twins to pull their younger brother from his current funk. Since October, Ron had taken to barely eating, and sleeping far less. His fatigue was clear to everyone, though his silence was a welcome change for most of his fellow Gryffindors. George had to literally carry Ron outside that day, otherwise the boy would have sat in the common room moping. Harry and Draco put together a quick team to face off with the twins, taking two second year girls on their team for fairness. Neither girl seemed to thrilled to be there beyond spending time with the famous Boy-Who-Lived. The girls, Cho and Marietta, spent most of the game hanging around just out of range and complaining about how cold it was. Anthony, Draco, and Terry did their best to Ignore them, but Harry felt the need to encourage their participation. A few half hearted throws and a foot stomped in frustration at him ended this train of thought for the most part. It was little wonder that the twins, their friend Lee, and the two Gryffindor girl chasers, took an early lead and held it. It was after a particularly large snowball hit her the Marietta started whining.
"Come on Cho, this is boring. I'm cold and wet and tired." She pouted. Even Cho had to roll her eyes.
"We're doing this for Harry. He invited us because he thinks we're cool." Cho tried to take Marietta to one side and straighten her out. It didn't work.
"But I don't want to help him make his murderer friend feel better! I want to go inside and read!" Everyone in ear shot froze. The twins shot nasty looks at the second year Ravenclaw. Harry just frowned. He shook his head in disappointment, causing Cho to huff and stomp her foot.
"Now look what you've done! Harry's mad at us." She hissed. Draco snapped.
"That's all you're worried about, is it?" He demanded. Cho nodded, wide eyed. Draco sneered. "Oh, gone on then. No one wants you two slags here anyways." He waved them off. Marietta scurried off, not bothered by the insult. Cho decided to stand up for herself.
"That's no way to talk to women, Draco." She chided. Seeing how this was going to play out, The Gryffindors hurried off, the twins dragging a sobbing Ron behind them. There was no telling if Marietta was what made him cry, seeing as he'd been in and out of tears for nearly two months now. Harry waved Terry and Anthony off as well. No need to get them in trouble with the upcoming argument.
"Well it's a damn good thing there aren't any women about. Just a silly little girl with a narcissistic streak." He huffed back. Cho's face went red.
"Oh, what do a couple of first years know, anyway?" She stormed off. Harry and Draco shared a shrug. They'd been expecting a huge tantrum from her. They headed back up the stairs when a rouge snowball knocked Draco in the back of the head.
"What the hell?"
"Four months? Four months we've been in school and you haven't even said hi to me?" the high pitched voice behind them froze them in their tracks. Harry and Draco slowly turned to face their irate cousin. Nymphadora Tonks help another snowball aloft.
"Nymmie! Cousin! How are yo- oof!" Draco took another snow ball to the stomach.
"I told you not to call me Nymmie!" Tonks screeched at them. Harry narrowly dodged another snowball aimed at his head.
"We've been busy?" He tried. A near miss buzzed past his ear. He gulped.
"A little busy is a week, at best. What you two have done is sheer negligence! I taught you two most of what you know and this is how you thank me? Bet you didn't even know I had a hand in the Sock War of '91, did you?" They tried to shake their heads to the negative, but ducking out of the range of snowballs made that a feat within itself. She hurled snowballs at them for a good five minutes before Draco came up with a brilliant plan.
"We'll take you shopping!" Tonks paused, snowball primed to fly.
"Oh?" She asked. Draco and Harry hesitated.
"Y-yeah. Each of us. Separately. Draco can take you the day after we get back to Grimwauld place. I'll take you on Christmas Eve." Harry said quickly. Tonks thought about this.
"You'll take me shopping, where ever I want?" Two nods in agreement, " On Christmas Eve?" More nods. "Deal." Harry and Draco sighed in relief. "But if you tow ever ignore me for this long again, I'll use some of the less savory Black Family spells on you.I think Aunt Bellatrix created a shrinking spell that's supposed to be quite painful. Both boys paled. Tonks just laughed at them. From then on, each boy made sure to see Tonks at least once a week, her quirkiness making the time fly to the 20th. Tonks spent most of the time bouncing between gripping at them for forgetting her for so long, and enthusing about shopping for Christmas. When it came time to board the train back to King's cross, Draco and Harry were regretting the upcoming shopping trip.
December 20th, on the train home.
"I know what Fluffy is protecting." Harry spoke to the twins, who shared a compartment with him and Draco. Fred inched to the edge of his seat.
"And?"
"and I think we can use it. To help you, Ron, and your whole family. Maybe even the Grangers." George sucked in a breath.
"How do you plan to help the Grangers, Harry? They lost a kid. Not a whole lot we can do about that." He said. Harry grinned without joy.
"Or is there? Tell me George, you ever heard of the Philosopher's stone?" Harry asked. The twins exchanged dark looks.
"Are you suggesting that that's what Fluffy is guarding? The stone?" Fred frowned. It wasn't very likely.
"Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying. But it also means that there are more traps between us and the stone. It'd be crazy to just leave a cerberus to guard it, given their inherent flaw." Harry paced the small compartment. Three sets of eyes followed him. Anthony and Terry had opted to remain at Hogwarts over the break in order to study more about what they could possibly come across while searching for the stone. Harry and Draco planned to do the same in the Black Library.
"What do you need from us?" George certainly was a smart one. Draco spoke up, borrowing his brother's grin.
"We need you to look for a ritual to raise the dead. The Prewett Family was known for necromancy and the like back in the 1600's, so maybe you two can get your hands on something we can use." His idea earned him some dark looks from the Weasley boys. They knew very well what their mother's family was infamous for.
"We'll see what we can do." was all Fred said. He and george knew very well what they were going to have to give up for that information, and it wasn't an easy choice. Nothing involving great Aunt Muriel Prewett was. Harry nodded and sat down.
"We'll look through the Black library, see what we can come up with." He said. George looked up at the younger boy, his eyes filled with a scary determination.
"What exactly is your plan, Black?" George asked, staring at Harry. Harry and Draco looked at each other and nodded.
"We want to use the stone. To bring her back." No one needed to ask who 'She' was. Fred bit his lip. That would fix many of their current problems. But the other use of the stone was too tempting to ignore.
"What about the iron to gold?" This didn't surprise anyone either. A poor family like the Weasley's needed a little help.
"We can do it, but we have to be careful not to flood the market." Draco was only a little hesitant to part with that. He wasn't wholly sure he trusted the twins not to overuse the gold making function. But the twins seemed okay with his answer. The train started to slow.
"We'll send you an owl with our progress." Was all the twins offered in the way of response before they climbed off the train. Sirius was waiting for the Black brothers, sitting in front of an open newspaper in his dog body. No one on the platform blinked an eye when the dog turned man and disapparated the boys home.
Grimwauld Place, The next day.
Harry chewed on his lip. Asking his father for dark tomes on ancient and barely legal spells and rituals was not an easy task. Draco was out with Tonks, spending obscene amounts of money on things that didn't matter much in the long run. So asking him for help or advice was out. He'd be indisposed for several more hours.
"What you thinking about, pup?" Sirius could always see through him. Harry sighed.
"I need to find a book about the Philosopher's stone." Hopefully half truths would be enough.
"And what do you need something like that for?" Maybe not. Whole lies would have to do.
"School project. Thought I'd get an early start on my potions project. Need to complete one to take Alchemy in third year, you know." Half truths laced with blatant lies. Very nice. Sirius nodded.
"Alright. My study, third shelf. Not a very exciting project idea, you know. Perhaps you should be a little more original?"
"Maybe. I am still a first year, though. I've got time, so long as I'm proactive about it." This answer seemed to pacify Sirius's curiosity. Harry made for the study. An Alchemist's Guide to The Philosopher's Stone. Oh boy. A formula book. Harry sighed and settled into a large chair in the study. This was set to be a long night.
The Burrow, December 21st.
George and Fred grasped each other's hand. It wasn't something they did often, but it gave them both great comfort to feel the other so close. Their decision wasn't an easy one. Their mother would be furious. Their father would be disappointed, but proud that they could make such a choice. Steeling themselves against the oncoming storm, they headed down the awkward stairs of their childhood home. If all went as planned, it might very well be the last time they did so. In the tiny kitchen, Molly bounced from stove to counter and back again, preparing as many fine dishes as she could. Over one shoulder, Great Aunt Muriel chided her.
"You've added too much salt, are you trying to kill me? You know I can't have too much salt. Don't add more water! Stupid child, you'll ruin it!" And so on and so forth. Molly was handling the pressure well, but every nut has to crack. George swallowed nervously, knowing it'd be him and Fred that crack this nut.
"Mother?" Fred spoke up, George's voice to shaky to be of any use. Molly paused.
"Yes, dear?" She'd long since given up trying to tell them apart, instead using pet names. Muriel stopped harping as well, interested as to what would make her nephews so nervous.
"We want…"
"That is, we need.."
"To ask Great Aunt Muriel something." Their tennis match style of speaking alerted Molly to some devious goings on. She called Arthur into the Kitchen. He eyed the boys carefully.
"Go on boys. Say what you need to say." He said in his infinite understanding. George took a deep breath, squeezing his twin's hand.
"We'd like it if we could continue the Prewett line." He said it quickly, afraid he wouldn't get it all out any other way. Molly dropped her spoon. It clattered to the ground, making a huge sound to break the silence. Muriel smiled.
"You do, do you? What make you think I'd allow such a thing?' As the only living Prewett, Muriel was the default head of house. She needed an heir, but the prankster twins were her last choice. Well, third to last. The youngest two Weasley's, that messy boy and the girl, were useless to her. A girl couldn't carry on the name and that boy just seemed too far gone to be bothered with. Molly spoke first, her voice tight and high pitched.
"A-are you sure this is what you want?" Her voice couldn't have been shaking anymore. Arthur stepped to her side, to support her. Without him, it was likely that she would have fallen. The twins nodded. Muriel smiled again, the many ways she could beat their high spiritedness out of them dancing through her head.
"I only need one heir. Not two. Why should I take you both? I don't need more than one." Fred and George were afraid of this. They really couldn't handle being separated.
"Insurance. You'll have two trained up to your liking in case something happens to one of us." Fred thanked his lucky stars for George's fast thinking. His answer please Muriel, judging by her toothy, goblin like smile.
"Alright, but one slip and you two are out on your asses." Muriel snapped her fingers. A scroll appeared in her hand. "I just need your parents to sign you both over to me. Oh, and after this year, I'm enrolling you in a real school. Hogwarts is for pansies and political nonsense. You'll be going to my alumni, Circe's. So you'd better study up on your transfiguration while you have the chance, or you'll be behind. I wont allow a failure to take over the Prewett Family. Now that I think about it, maybe it is good there are two of you, less chance of this being a total waste of my time and money." Muriel trailed off, her voice drowned out by Milly's sobs.
"My babies!" She latched on to the twins, sobbing into their hair. They tried to relax and keep from crying, but Molly's squeezes softened their resolve. Arthur signed the scroll. Molly cried. The twins went in search of their many siblings, to explain what they had done. Muriel just smiled. She had far too many things to put in motion to do much else.
Hogwarts, December 21st.
Anthony and Terry were not having much luck in their search for alchemy books. As it turned out, only 4th years and above were allowed accesses to those types of reading materials, and none of their elder house mates were willing to share that information. So far, this holiday of learning had not gone well for them. They decided on a little recon mission, since the alchemy was a dead end.
"How long do you think it'll stay asleep?" Anthony asked, plucking the strings of his violin. Terry shrugged.
"As long as you keep play, I'd assume. Let's not chance it though. Hurry and look down there." Terry held up a giant fuzzy paw. Anthony leaned over the trap door, still plucking out a rough tune.
"All I see is vines. Thick ones, too. What kind of plant you think it is?"
"No..huff…clue. We wont have Herbology until next year. What's it look like?"
"It's all green, and viney? I don't know. It's a plant." Anthony sighed and shut the trap door. Fluffy's growls of waking reminded them that continuous music was key. They escaped shortly after, their pants only slight damp.
Grimwauld Place, December 25th.
Last nights shopping trip with Tonks had worn him out. Three dresses, four bracelets, and several hundred galleons later, Harry was exhausted. But her forgiveness was enough to make it worth it. He slumped over his Christmas breakfast, unaware of the owl by his head. Draco intercepted quickly enough.
"Harry, you need to read this."
Dear Harry and Draco,
We promised a letter of progress, and here it is. We've managed to get our hands on the ritual tomes you'd mentioned, without much effort. They've got a list of ingredients we'll need, including bones of the desired subject. You'll have better luck getting those than we will. We'll let you know if we find anymore. The list is attached.
Sincerely,
Fred And George Prewett.
Harry read and reread the names at the bottom.
"Just what has our request cost them?" He asked Draco, setting the letter down. Draco didn't have an answer either.
"Presents!" Sirius called from the other room. The brothers grinned and raced into the living room, their problems forgotten. Most of their presents were books, a Ravenclaw's dream. Harry received 101 Fancy Broom Tricks,and So you think you know Hexes? A beginners guide to Dueling. Harry was thrilled. Draco was given the second volume of the Dueling book and Can't see me! Learning Disillusions.Good books for curious boys. The morning went well, until Sirius spotted a strange, unlabeled gift.
"It's for you, Harry." Sirius had his wand out. He cast a few scans on the gift, wary of it's contents.
"Should I open it?" Harry held it up, curious but cautious. Sirius nodded. Harry tore into the wrapping, pulling a silvery cloak from the box. A single note fell to the floor.
Your father left this in my possession. Do take care of it.
"The hell he did!" Sirius roared as he read the note. Harry and Draco flinched. Sirius hardly ever lost his temper, but it was best to avoid him when he did.
"Dad?" Draco whispersed. Sirius looked at the mildly freaked out boys. He sighed.
"Sorry boys. But that's James's invisibility cloak. I've been looking for it for years. James's will left it to me, so I could eventually give it to Harry. If he'd left it with someone else, he'd have told me." Sirius glared at the note. Harry blinked and voiced his thoughts out loud.
"I wonder what else Dumbledore has taken for 'safe keeping'?"
St. Mungo's Hospital, Intensive Care Ward.
Diane Lisle wasn't the best healer. She wasn't bad, but no one would ever call her a leader in the field. Hell, she'd been middle of the road in the Healer's Collegium. But when Great Aunt Augusta insisted that a family member tend to young Neville, Diane was the easiest choice. It was decent training, as the boy needed hourly muscle repairing and blood clotting potions, but Diane wanted more. She could have many other patients, potentially famous one. Ones that could help her get her practice. She was from a branch family, a cousin to the Longbottoms. She deserved more than watching a child waste away in a hospital bed. She flipped a lock of thick blonde hair out of her eyes and turned the page of her copy of Witches Weekly. She glanced up at her fading cousin, remembering how polite and sweet the boy had been, just months ago. He was raised to be the head of an Ancient and Noble house. It was expected that he'd have good manners. Now that he was out of commission, She supposed that her brother Andrew, or perhaps her other cousin Daniel, would become the next heir once Neville finally died. It wouldn't be long now. Neville's major organs, his lungs, kidneys, liver and pancreas, needed heavy spell work just to continue functioning. Those spells were draining for her, though, and sometimes she skipped them. Not like Neville could wake up and complain, and it certainly wouldn't hurt him anymore than he already was. It'd be a miracle if he ever opened his eyes again. It struck Diane as ironic, the fact that the last two generations of the Longbottom heirs had ended up in the permanent care wards of St Mungos. She twisted around in her chair, trying to get comfortable enough to enjoy her magazine, or possibly a nap. It would be another long night of nothing.
Three halls down, in the mental health ward, Alice Longbottom opened her eyes. No one noticed, of course. Not many nurses ever even came into the room. So when Alice Longbottom sat up for the first time in ten years, no one was around to call attention to it. Alice looked around the small room, her eyes settling on her husband. Memories flashed in her broken mind, replaying the night the Lestranges attacked. The tugging in her soul pulled her away from frank. He didn't need her. He was as broken as she, an empty husk withering away to nothingness. So Alice stood on ruined legs. Her first steps were shaky and clumsy, her muscles weak for a decade of bed rest. But she figured it out. She had to. He needed her. Her baby was in danger again and she needed to save him. Last time, she gave her mind for his life. This time she needed to give more. So, with agility and grace that shouldn't have been possible, she ran. She ran and ran and ran. No one noticed her either. A lone woman, clad in an open back hospital gown, running through the halls of the ICW at high speeds went entirely unnoticed. She nearly to her goal before someone screamed about her empty bed. Too late for them. She had to save her baby. He was lying in his own bed, barely alive. His mind a prisoner in his own body. Diane sat staring, unable to move or speak to her aunt who shouldn't be able to visit her son. But there she was. Alice put a finger to her lips and Diane nodded, her mouth slightly open from shock. Alice leaned over Neville and touched his face. Tears began to roll down her tired face.
"My baby. " Alice whispered. A Golden light encased Alice and Neville. The light filled the room and a good portion of the hall. Diane watched as Alice rose into the air, her eyes rolled back into her head. The glow intensified, Neville's eyes flew open and rolled back like Alice's. Diane would swear for years that she saw something fly between the Longbottoms, a wisp of light the slipped from Alice's lips into Neville's body before anyone could stop it. Healers and attendings came running in, just in time to see Alice collapse across her child's body, as of shielding him from an unknown harm. The head healer, a grumpy old woman name Marta Lee, called the chaos into order.
"What happened here, Healer Lisle?"
"I...I don't know."Diane could barely speak. The shock was still holding her in place. The head healer frowned and grunted. Diagnoses charms were cast on Alice, revealing some unsettling results. Somehow, durning her run through the wards, Alice Longbottom had sustained massive internal injuries. Many of her organs were ruined beyond repair. Her heart had stopped, ending any pain She could have been in. It was almost like she'd been smashed through a wall by a troll. They levitated her out of the room, down to the morgue. Marta stayed behind to check the boy. She didn't expect any change. He'd been unconscious since he'd been brought here nearly two months ago. A quick diagnosis charm cast without looking was all she needed. Only, the results were wrong. Marta paused. She stared at the child. The scan came back clean. He was healthy. No bruises or breaks. None of his organs were damaged. Neville took a deep breath, letting it out in a sigh. Marta's eyes went wide. The scion of the house of Longbottom hadn't been able to use his own lungs so well since he arrived. She cast the charm again, thinking she'd made a mistake. Clean again. He'd recovered. Marta dropped her wand and ran back to the healer's station, shouting orders along the way. Madame Augusta would need to be informed that her grandson was okay.
The Prewett Home, Northwich. December 27th.
"You've somelarge shoes to fill, following after your uncles. They were quite the pair, talented in defense and potions. And transfiguration. Should have gone to Circe's, and would have if I'd gotten my way. Probably wouldn't have gotten themselves killed if they'd just listened to me. Fabian and Gideon were good boys, and I expect you two to hold yourselves to that standard." Muriel's rants had filled the week since they were taken into her care. They held to a resigned silence, an acceptance of their fate. Their eyes remained on the ground, even as Muriel assessed them.
"You'll need new clothes. Can't have the Heirs of an Ancient and Noble house dressed in rags. Are those hand-me-downs? go to Gringotts now, to get the money we'll need to re-outfit you and get you knew supplies. I know you'll only be at that school of yours for another semester, but Prewetts always look their best." She drug them off, through Diagon Alley. Seeing the inside of the Prewett vault turned their silence to outrage.
"You're rich?" Fred could barely keep his voice steady. All those years of poverty, and their aunt was loaded.
"Of course I am. I'd share with that silly bint you call a mother, if she'd let me. But as it stands, her pride will only allow me to pay your tuition. Yours and your younger brother. Probably have to pay for your sister, when her time comes." Muriel waved a lofty hand. She didn't care either way. Money wasn't an issue for her. The twin's rage turned on their mother. Pride shouldn't come before comfort. Muriel busied herself with dragging the boys from shop to shop, replacing all their belongings. By the end of the day, the Weasley twins no longer existed. Only the Prewett Twins remained.
"You'll need more books. You're too far behind on your transfiguration studies. Do you know Occlumency? No, no you wouldn't. Damned Headmaster only teaches it to the upper years, doesn't he? Very well, you'll need books on that as well. Have you two looked into Animagery? You're certainly old enough. You'll both learn that, wether you have forms or not. Better to know everything than only things you can use." The twins suppressed a sigh. It was going to be a very long time until they hit 17.
Hogwarts, January 1st.
They only had two more days before Harry and Draco returned. Terry was panicking. They'd only gotten as far as the troll hanging out under the Devil's snare. Progress was progress, but he and Anthony wanted to be able to hand Harry the stone when he returned. That wasn't going to happen. At least they had a better understanding of what they were up against. They were confidant that nothing would be able to keep them from the stone now.