Chapter 3: Secrets
Avery felt as if he had just closed his eyes when he felt being shaken awake by someone in the compartment. He was oblivious to the fact the all the students were still rambling about a Sirius Black. Before he had a chance to ask any questions Hermione in her typical bossy tone said, "You, might want to change into your school robes."
"Hermione, stop pestering the guy," Ron stated, while he continued to stuff chocolate frogs into his mouth, "It's bad enough that you act like that with Harry and I, to start doing this to Avery..." He was cut off before he could finish his statement.
"Seriously, Ronald?" giving him an annoyed look, "close your mouth, that's utterly disgusting." As Hermione and Ron continued to fight Avery slowly made his way out of the compartment to find a lavatory to change into his school robes. Once Avery was changed into his school robes he made his way back to the compartment. When he walked in it was the first time he noticed that there was a man sleeping in the corner.
"Who is that?" He asked to the group, as he took his seat next to Harry.
"That is Professor Lupin, he introduced himself when the train was stopped and inspected by the dementors," answered Hermione.
"We stopped?" Avery asked looking at each one of their faces.
"Honestly, you didn't feel it?" Ron asked, looking at him with a funny look on his face.
"No, why what happened?" Avery continued staring at Ron.
"It, got bloody cold, and the train just stopped it felt like we crashed," Ron answered.
"It, wasn't that bad Ronald honestly, you are the worst storyteller," Hermione interjected. Avery decided to start a new conversation before they started fighting again.
"So, why do you guys have a gold and scarlet tie? I've noticed that other students have other colors?" Avery asked, he already knew the answer, he just wanted Ron and Hermione to stop fighting.
"The colors, represent which house you are in," Harry stated as he reached for a sweet before Ron finished them all.
"We have four houses Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin," Hermione added, "We normally get sorted as first years by a sorting hat." Before she could finish her statement Ron cut her off.
"Seriously Hermione, you wreck all the fun. That is the whole fun of the sorting not knowing how you get sorted."
"Are you two going to start fighting again?" Harry asked looking at both Ron and Hermione. A question that Avery really wanted to ask was if they ever agreed on anything and if everything led to a fight.
"No, not unless Ronald wants us too?" Hermione said defensively as she adjusted her robes, "I think we have arrived."
The train came to a slow stop. Avery shifted his gaze to the window. It was dark outside. A voice echoed "We have arrived at Hogwarts please leave your luggage on the train." He couldn't make anything out. All he saw was the crowd forming out in the corridor. The group decided to join the crowd. Once the doors opened everyone made their way toward the door and onto a tiny dark platform. Avery noticed a lantern bobbing over everyones head and then a loud deep voice was heard.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" Avery followed Harry to the person holding the lantern. "All right there Arry?" The big guy with a hairy face asked looking down at them.
"Hey, Hagrid." Harry responded.
"I'm a bit busy 'Arry. I'll see you lot around," said Hagrid as he disappeared down the dark and narrow path with a group of first years.
"Where are they going?" Avery asked.
"Down to the boats. First years get taken by boats to the school. We get to ride carriages," answered Ron. They made their way a path full of at least a hundred stagecoaches, Avery assumed they were pulled by invisible horses. They climbed inside and closed the door. As soon as the door was closed they started moving. Ron and Hermione kept looking at Harry, who looked a little pale due to the dementor attack. The ride to Hogwarts wasn't very long. The carriage made its way through a pair of wrought iron gates with two stone columns on each side with winged boars on top. Avery noticed two hooded dementors standing guard, he felt a wave of cold sickness; he leaned back on the seat and closed his eyes and he saw her again the hazel cinnamon eyes staring back at him. Avery didn't notice the carriage pick up speed on the drive up towards the castle, or Hermione leaning out the tiny window or when the carriage came to a halt. He felt a hand shake him out of his daze. He was greeted by the same eyes he had seen in his dream. In that instant he knew that it wasn't a dream but a premonition; he had another gift. Avery knew he would have to contact his Aunt Phoebe sooner rather than later.
"Are you okay?" Hermione questioned Avery still looking into his grey plum eyes.
"Yeah, I guess those dementors made me feel a little weird." He answered getting out of the carriage. Avery didn't even have a moment to take in the surroundings before he saw a boy in black robes elbow his way past Hermione and stood on the stone steps blocking the way into the castle. The boy had two goons with him which most likely his friends or in the same house with him seeing as they were all the same color. The boy had pale grey blue eyes, pale blonde hair, and a very pasty complexion.
"Shove off, Malfoy," said Ron pushing his way to the top of the steps.
"The dementors scare you too, Weasley?" said Malfoy loudly, "Did you faint as well?"
Turning around on the top step his grey eyes made contact with Avery plum ones.
"And who are you?" Malfoy sneered stepping down a step, "You are just as dumb as St. Potter if your befriending a Weasel and the Mudblood." Before Avery had a chance to respond a professor with shabby robes and who looked awfully tired said mildly, "Is there a problem?"
The boy named Malfoy at the appearance of the professor answered with a hint of sarcasm, "Oh no-er-professor," he turned and smiled at his two goons and led them into the castle.
"We have to go look for Ronald," Hermione said making her way up the steps following the crowd through the giant oak front doors and into the large entrance hall that was lit by torches which in-housed a marvelous marble staircase that led to the upper floors. Before Avery had a chance to look around a professor with black robes with her hair up in a tight bun and squared spectacles approached them.
"Mister Potter, how are you feeling? Professor Lupin mentioned you fell ill on the train?" The stern Professor asked.
"I'm actually feeling well Professor, Professor Lupin gave me chocolate that made me feel better." Harry responded.
"Oh, a Defense of the Dark Arts Professor that knows his remedies, this sounds like a very promising year. Now may I suggest you make your way into the Great Hall Potter, as for you two come with me; we have to discuss matters pertaining to your course schedules." The Professor said leading the way to her office. They made their way up the marble staircase and along a corridor; the office was a small room with a large fire. The Professor motioned for Avery and Hermione to sit down as she made her way behind her large wooden desk.
"Welcome to Hogwarts Mister Grimaldi, I am Professor McGonagall Head of Gryffindor House." Before Avery could respond she continued talking. "I've asked you and Miss Granger to come with me, because I want to discuss both of your course schedules."
Avery sat up in his chair and looked at Hermione who looked excited at the words coming out of the professors mouth.
"It has come to my attention Grimaldi that you would like to continue your course path from your old school, along with your muggle studies and the independent studies you have been taking am I correct?" She asked.
"Yes, Professor I mentioned that to Professor Dumbledore and he said that he might be able to help me continue my studies. But I hardly see how that is possible the schedule set up for courses is much different than my old school that it seems highly impossible to keep the same courses without having any of them overlap." Avery answered looking extremely confused.
"Well that is why I am here. I have already contacted a few of my colleagues in the Ministry and spoke to them in regards to Professor Dumbledore wanting you to continue your studies and as for you Miss Granger I spoke on your behave. Seeing as both of you seem to be very interested in continuing a very heavy course schedule we have agreed to intrust you both with a TimeTurner." Professor McGonagall spoke. Avery had heard of such device and how dangerous they could be if they were used improperly. "Meddling with time is a very dangerous task and must be done properly every time, I presume both of you have heard of a TimeTurner?" Professor McGonagall asked the two of them.
Avery and Hermione nodded simultaneously not wanting to interrupt Professor McGonagall. "You will each have your own TimeTurner seeing as you have to different schedules, and may I suggest you two travel together for the courses you have in common," Professor McGonagall interjected before standing from her chair and motioned for both students to do the same.
"One last thing before we go down to the feast, Mister Grimaldi please remain seated," she said making her way to the bookshelf that had a battered old black hat.
"Professor Dumbledore usually gives me the hat to place on the stool before the sorting ceremony, but seeing as you are also a new student would you prefer to do the sorting with the first years or here before the ceremony?" She asked.
"I'd rather do it now Professor," Avery responded knowing that the hat was going to be placed upon his head.
As soon as the hat was placed on his head it started to speak to him, it didn't surprise him one bit, it was magic after all.
"Well you should be easy to sort," the hat said, "Your family might have changed your surname but the blood within doesn't lie Mister Grimaldi or should I say Gryffindor."
"How did you know about my families lineage?" Avery asked.
"Well, it would be bad of me to forget the lineage of the man that created me don't you think?" The hat questioned him.
"Godric created you?" Avery asked sounding very much surprised.
"I also know about the prophecy made about you Grimaldi," the hat interjected, "Seeing as Godric would probably be eternally angry with me if I ever put one of his in another house that wasn't his." With those words said the hat yelled, "Gryffindor!"
"Welcome to Gryffindor House Grimaldi, now lets make our way to the Great Hall for the Ceremony," said Professor McGonagall opening the door and leading the way down to the Great Hall.
"I'm glad that your in Gryffindor Avery, it will not only make traveling to our classes easier but it will make the school year go a bit faster," Hermione stated making her way through the Great Hall along the long wooden table to where Ron and Harry were sitting at.
"Finally, where have you two been?" Asked Ron.
"With Professor McGonagall," answered Hermione directing her attention to Dumbledore, "Have I missed the start of term speech?"
"Yes, wish I would have missed it. Old man always talks about the same things don't go into the forbidden forest, blah blah in the hallways, Filch and his stupid cat blah blah, the only interesting thing he said was about the dementors at the school due to the escape of Sirius Black from Azkaban," Ron said looking around the Great Hall and then back to the front waiting for the sorting to begin.
"Ronald, seriously I doubt Professor Dumbledore said blah blah in one of his speeches. I swear you and Harry don't listen unless it has to do with Quidditch."
"Hey, don't bring me into this, I didn't say anything." Harry defended himself.
"Wait, when did you get sorted into Gryffindor?" asked Ron eyeing Avery's uniform, which had magically changed from the standard school uniform to the Gryffindor House uniform of Scarlet and Gold tie and the crest on left side of his chest.
"When I was with Professor McGongall she asked if I wanted to be sorted then or during the Ceremony." Avery answered directing his attention to the frightened first year that was seated on the stool with the Sorting Hat on his head. It was a delicious feast; the hall was full of laughter, and the sound of silverware hitting the plates. Once the feast was over Avery followed his fellow Gryffindors up the marble staircase and along lots of corridors, up more and more stairs to the entrance to the Gryffindor Tower. A large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress asked them, "Password?"
Avery and the group had no idea what the password.
"Coming through, let me through!" Percy the Head Boy called from behind Avery.
"The new password is Fortuna Major!"
Avery turned and looked straight at a chubby tall boy with brown hair and blue eyes that looked panic stricken at the sound of the new password.
Avery made his way through the portrait hole and into a common room that was circular fully of large and squashy arm chairs, comfy couches, tables, and a large bulletin board on one wall. A large window was located on one wall which looked out onto the school grounds, along with the window there is a large fireplace adorning one side of the wall. With two separate staircases, which he assumed housed the dormitories. The boys and girls divided and went up their separate staircases.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow morning for breakfast," said Hermione making her way up the stairs. Turning one last time flashing a smile at the three boys "Good night boys."
"Avery, please come with me I'll be taking you to your Dormitory," says Percy making his way towards Avery, Ron, and Harry.
"Goodnight guys, see ya in the morning," Avery says turning to walk behind Percy.
They made their way up the spiral stair, they reach a landing that has a single wooden door. Percy opens the door and reveals a circular dormitory adorned with five four-poster beds. The room was decorated in the Gryffindor colors with a large window on one of the walls.
"You will be housing with fourth years, there wasn't any room in the third year dorms."
"It's fine, as long as I wasn't put with first years," Avery responds looking around, "which one of the bed's isn't taken?"
"The one closest to the window," he responds.
He turns around and exits out the door leaving Avery to think about what had transpired throughout his day. Why would Hermione be invading his dreams? Was it even her? He felt like he did not even know if he was going crazy. Avery knew his whole life that he was destined to help people, he just never imagined that he would have to help a whole race survive against the tyranny and selfishness of one man. He never understood how someone could be so veil and evil to kill a young couple and then proceed to kill a young and defenseless baby. Avery was angry that he had to move across the world away from what he knew as home to help this boy that was his destiny, to help Harry. Avery had the family that Harry was denied, Avery had everything Harry wished he had; the least Avery could do is put his life aside for a while and help destroy Voldemort so that Harry can have a chance of having this family. Fate was cruel but Harry's fate was far more cruel than his. Avery went over to his bed and finally noticed that his trunk was at the foot of the bed. He bent down opened the trunk and pulled out a pair of shorts and T-shirt.
The darkness engulfed him.
"Victoria!" He called.
"Victoria, you have to get out of here," he said running towards a girl his age with long dark brown hair.
"I can't just leave you," she responded, "They will kill you, and where do I take them?"
"Take them to San Francisco to the Manor," he said moving towards another room in the house.
"There you are!" He said moving towards a couple hiding in the closet.
A women with long straight chestnut hair, honey brown eyes, and rosy cheeks looked up at him still holding on to the man with wild brown laced with blonde hair and luminous gold brown eyes.
"Avery thank god it's you!" The man responded.
"We don't have time Dan, we have to get you and Liz out of here," He says helping Liz off the floor.
"What do you mean?" He asked moving towards him.
Suddenly a loud explosion was heard and the door was ripped off its hinges uncovering three masked individuals. In that instant he knew that they had found them, he could not have them take her parents.
"Victoria now!" He yells as he yields up a shield to protect them from any possible spell thrown their way. Suddenly fire erupts from one of the masked figures, the fire rapidly spreads throughout the room.
"Now, or I will do it for you!" He screams, looking at Victoria
"I cant leave you Avery, not like this," she responds.
He cant have them die, he just cant have them get hurt. He stops and thinks about her and musters the strength to split his magical core and have them orb out of the burning house.
"NO!" One of the masked figures yells and runs towards Avery.
Tackling him to the ground and continuously punching him in the face.
"You filthy muggle lover!" he yelled. "How did you do that?"
"You honestly think I would tell a Deatheater that spell?" Avery answers blocking the punch and rolling the Deatheater off him.
He can feel the blood dripping from his nose and mouth but he can not allow the Deatheater to find out what has happened to her parents so with one swift kick he knocks the Deatheater out and hitting the other with a spell to knock him out. Quickly rushing over to erase their memories and leaving no trace behind of anyone else being in the house.
As he orbs out he hears her voice panic stricken.
The next few days Avery thought of ways to explain his dreams to his Aunt in a letter, without missing any details. Maybe he should just go see her, but he had promised his parents he wouldn't leave the school for any reason. He could always do research on premonitions. The last week had been crazy he didn't know how Hermione was keeping up with her studies he was barely keeping afloat and he had a photographic memory. If anything he knew that he couldn't go another week without sleep.