The New Chapters of Hogwarts
Chapter 1: Sweet Dreams
"So me, your Auntie, and Uncle walked deep down into the chamber not expecting what horrors lie waiting for us."
The small form sat nibbling on her bottom lip while sitting at her father's feet. Her emerald eyes sparkled with a mix of fear and anticipation. It was not the first time the girl had heard her father speak of the amazing adventures he and his friends had gone through when they were young. They frightened her nearly to tears, but oh how she loved them! The man looked looked down at his daughter with an amused smirk and a twinkle in his eye. It was late nights like this that the two would convene. She'd sneak downstairs to find him sitting back in his favorite armchair, watching the fire crackle in the brick fireplace. Harry didn't remember how the tradition started initially, but ever since then it was like this. They both enjoyed it for it wasn't often that his youngest child and he had spent any time together.
As if to remind him of the suspense she was in, the girl skooted forward once more. "Then what happen, Papa? Please tell me!" It took all the might her little body could muster not to speak too loudly. Her mother would surely disapprove. Experience had taught them that.
Harry adjusted himself a bit and chuckled softly, "I don't think you'd believe me if I told you."
Her eyes went wide with shock and she nodded her head furiously "Yes! Yes I would! Please?"
Her father shrugged sarcastically. "Well, I'm not sure you can handle it."
She clasped tiny fists at the ends of her father's long robe in desperation "Papa, stop teasing!"
His smirk grew and he leaned forward in the decision to have a bit of fun with his daughter's anticipation. Feining a fearful expression, he whispered "We found...the basilisk!"
She gasped softly "What's a basilisk?!"
Harry looked straight into his daughter's eyes "One of the most deadliest creatures you could ever meet! It is a snake like no other. With fangs as long as each of my arms and eyes that could kill you if you looked straight into them. And not to mention a body as long and thick as the Howarts Express!"
As expected, the girl's eyes were as wide as saucers. "Did Auntie, Uncle and you really beat something like that?!"
Her father laughed and patted her head. "Of course! How else do you think I'm sitting here, sweet pea?"
She giggled, making that small sound of joy which filled Harry's heart with delight "Did you ever fight any other monsters?"
He nodded enthusiastically "You bet I did."
"Really?"
"Yes! Once, there was this giant spider and..." Her father's exciting tale was soon cut short by a feminine hiss imminating from the stairway.
"Harry Potter!"
A look of panic covered the father and the daughter's face. They had not heard her activate the lumonus charm. But there, holding the wand firmly in her hand, was the girl's mother. Softly stomping her way down the remaining stairs, she stood infront of the pair with her free hand rested sternly on her waist. The woman looked at them expectantly but nothing was said.
"You, young miss, should be fast asleep!"
The girl looked down with an ashamed expression. "Sorry, Mummy."
Harry put a hand on his daughter's shoulder while looking up at his wife. "Oh come now, Gin! We're only spendin' some quality time with one another is all. Just a harmless bed time story."
Ginny narrowed her eyes at the man which made him shift a bit in the armchair. "Don't you get me started MR. POTTER! 'Harmless bed time story'? Ha! That kind of stuff will give her nightmares for weeks!"
The child jumped up and clasped her hands together as if she was begging. Her big, green eyes were glancing up at her mother. "Oh Mummy, please! I'm not weak! And I'm not a scaredy-cat. I won't have nightmares. Promise, Mummy. Promise!"
Her mother's gaze softened slightly as she bent down to be eye-level with the pleading girl. With a sweet smile, Ginny kissed her daughter's forehead.
"Of coure you're not weak, darling! It's just not good for you to be up this late is all. And besides, those stories could scare anyone. Goodness, I was as frightened as a new-born lamb before your father rescued me from the basilisk."
"Papa saved you from that big snake?!"
Her mother smiled "Oh yes! You see dear, I..." Quickly, Ginny pursed her lips and put a finger to her own mouth. She stood back up and look down gentlely at the girl.
"That's a story for another time. Preferably during descent hours."
The girl's face showed disappoitnment but she slowly nodded "Yes Mum."
The woman smiled and clapped her hands twice "Well then, off to bed!" She glanced at her husband "The lot of us."
He chuckled and nodded in defeat. Harry rose from his chair and saw his daughter glancing towards the fireplace.
"What's wrong sweet pea?" He whispered as Ginny returned upstairs.
She responded but didn't tear her gaze from the dancing flames "Papa, do you think one day I can go to Hogwarts like Lily and my brothers?"
Harry smiled brightly as the girl finally looked up at him "Of course you're going to go! You'll probably end up in Gryffindor as well."
She smiled "Really?!"
The man nodded "It's absolutely possible."
She giggled and wrapped her arms around her father's right leg. She could hear him chuckle and pat her head softly.
"Well, off to bed!"
They walked hand in hand up the the stairs. After Harry had tucked the covers around his daughter's small form, he placed a light kiss on her forehead. The girl gave her father a drowzy smile and yawned. "Goodnight Pop-pop. Love you."
He smiled down at her "Sweet dreams, sweet pea." He kissed her once more as her eyes began to close "My little Carvera."
Carvera.
She shifted slightly.
Carvera?!
Her face scrunched yet all she could see was still pitch black.
CARVERA!!!
She suddenly popped up and rapidly put her her hand in front of her eyes as she squinted. The sunlight flooding the small room was outstandingly bright compaired to the calm darkness she was comforted by not two seconds ago. The girl let her eyes become adjusted before stretching and yawning lazily. It was the same dream she had had many times before. She often visited the memories from when her father told those amazing tales. She enjoyed them even if they came up randomly during her slumber. She even remembered when her father told that exact story. Four years ago. She was seven then.
Her thoughts were disturbed as she heard loud footsteps coming up the stairs. She gasped, knowing fully well that her mother would have a conundrum if she were not out of bed by this time. As soon as she began smoothing out her disheveled sheets, there was a rapid rapping upon her door.
"Come in!" she called.
As expected, her mother's head popped in with a worried look upon her face. She looked the girl up and down and sighed in exasperation.
"Please tell me you did not just get up Carvera!"
"I-I'm sorry mother! I'll be ready as soon as I can. Promise Mum, promise!"
"Please do. It would be very troublesome if you missed the train."
She turned to her mother "The train?"
The red-haired witch widdened her eyes "The Hogwarts Express, Carvera!"
The girl gasped in horror and nearly mowed her mother over to get to the bathroom.