Another update.
The Scribe's Resurrection
Part One: Chapter One
August 1971
"Stop it, Darcy!"
"You're such a baby, Selena. You're not gonna throw up!"
"But I feel sick! Stop, please!"
"Sheesh. Get outta the chair."
Selena willingly surrendered the swivel chair to her best friend, Darcy.
"You get your letter yet?" Selena asked.
"Yup. Came this morning. You get yours?"
"Yeah." Selena began to spin the chair as hard as she could.
"Your mum's Muggle chair is brilliant! Wheeeee!"
"All of Mum's Muggle stuff is brilliant," Selena claimed.
"Especially that pen... What kind of pen?"
"Ballpoint?"
"Yeah, that. So much easier than a quill." The girls blabbed to each other some more.
Selena Riviera and Darcy Knox lived in a small, Muggle subdivision some forty-five kilometers from King's Cross Station. As far as the Muggles knew, the Rivieras and Knoxes were normal people who kept to themselves. Little did they know, the two families were deeply rooted in the Wizarding community.
The Knoxes, related to the Blacks, were a pure-blood family who could trace their ancestry back many generations. Lyra Black-Knox and Richard Knox were both involved with the Ministry of Magic, having positions as department chairs. They had three children- Darth, Delano, and Darcy. Darth, the oldest boy, was traveling much of Europe, as he had finished his Hogwarts education. Delano was a fifth year, and Darcy would be entering her first year at Hogwarts.
Selena's family was slightly different. Raphael Riviera, Selena's Father, was a Muggle-born Frenchman who was an acclaimed Auror. His Muggle wife, Komali, was a librarian who immigrated with her parents to Britain from India. Selena Riviera had no brothers or sisters. Her only friend was Darcy, seeing that they both were alienated on the neighborhood playground.
"I hope I'm in Gryffindor," Selena sighed. "Daddy was in Gryffindor."
"Then we wouldn't be together! I'm going for Slytherin! Everyone in my family is. At least, that's what Mother says."
"I don't want to get lost," Selena said, steering the conversation away from Darcy's family history.
"Delano says it's not that bad. Just don't wander around or anything." Darcy perked up. "Hey! I know- let's go play with that potions kit Mother gave me."
"Okay." Selena got up from the den floor and followed Darcy outside and across the street. The August sun shone brightly, glinting off Darcy's pale blonde hair.
Darcy and Selena, born exactly three months apart, were complete opposites. Darcy was forceful and immoral; Selena was a pushover with outstanding ethics. Darcy was impatient, hardheaded, and blunt. Selena was flexible, sensitive, and even. The only thing that kept them together was the fact that they were both in need.
Selena needed Darcy, and Darcy, although she did not know, needed Selena. Each was what the other was not. Selena was constantly in awe of how her friend could get what she wanted, and Darcy admired Selena's vigilance. As much as each girl revered the other, the girls did not mix their qualities and find a blend. Selena could not- audacious Darcy was hard to mimic. Darcy would not- being a pushover was not in her genetic code. In essence, each girl hung on desperately to the friendship because of the need to remedy character flaws.
"Now I'm adding the lacewing flies," Darcy whispered.
"Okay." Selena waited patiently, sitting on the edge of the Knoxes' bathroom counter. They were using the sink as a makeshift cauldron, and Selena waited for Darcy's signal to pour in the scarab beetles.
"Pour 'em in now." Selena poured the contents of the container in cautiously and watched the potion turn a deep rose color.
"Ooh!" She and Darcy tilted their heads.
"Daaaarcyyyyy," a high-pitched voice yelled. "Darcy!"
"Oh, toadspawn, it's Mother. Hurry up, wash it out!"
"Boy, are you going to get into trouble!" The mirror chuckled.
"Shut it," Darcy snapped, pulling the stopper out of the sink. Selena scrambled around the bathroom, dumping the potion ingredients into the toilet. They heard Mrs. Knox's footsteps come closer, and they hurried to put everything up.
"Darcy, Selena! We're- what're you doing in here?"
"Nothing," Darcy said. "We were just looking in your mirror, asking it if we were going to have fun in Hogwarts."
"Really? Selena?" Skeptical of her daughter's claim, Lyra Knox looked at Selena. Darcy pointedly glared at her friend, visually telling her to play along.
"Mmhmm."
"Hmph. Okay. Well, we're going to Diagon Alley! Come on!" Selena let out the breath she'd been holding, and she and Darcy left the master bedroom and skipped down the stairs hand in hand.
"Daddy!" Selena cried when she saw the tall figure of her father standing near the mantelpiece. Letting go of Darcy's hand, she ran over to Raphael Riviera, and he promptly picked her up.
"How's my little leprechaun?" He asked.
"I'm fine. Are you coming with us to Diagon Alley?" He nodded. "Yay!" She hugged her father tighter. As an Auror, Mr. Riviera was never home. The Dark Lord's power escalated with every passing moment.
"We ready?" Lyra Knox asked. "I'm afraid Richard can't come."
"Shame," Mr. Riviera commented, putting his daughter down. "Well, yes, we should go."
"You are such a daddy's little girl," Darcy scoffed in Selena's ear. Selena cringed at Darcy's disapproving tone.
"Delano, you first." Darcy's brother took a bit of Floo Powder, dashed it into the fire, and disappeared. Mr. Riviera, Selena, Darcy, and Mrs. Knox all performed the same ritual.
For the first time, Selena found herself in Diagon Alley, buying items for herself. The Knoxes and Rivieras had separated, going to different places. Selena hung on to her father's cloak, wary of the fact that she could get very lost.
"You'll need an owl," Raphael Riviera said, "so I can write to you every day."
"My own owl?" Selena asked, looking up at him.
"Mmm. See, that's Eeylops Owl Emporium." They'd already been to Flourish and Blotts, the Apothecary, Cauldron Shop, Madam Malkin's, Scribbulus Everchanging Inks, and many other shops. Selena wondered just how many shops there were; the never-ending doorways and windows held something more exciting and baffling than the last.
The father and daughter strolled into the store, hearing hoots and constant fluttering.
"That one!" Selena pointed to the back of the store. A tawny owl had caught her eye, one that had been looking directly at her. A proprietor picked him up and placed the owl on her arm. The owl pecked at her filigreed crescent moon necklace.
"Yes, this one," she whispered. They paid for the owl, got a cage and some treats, and left.
"Now, the most important store," her father announced. "But first, we have to find the others, then we can go in."
"We should check the ice cream place."
"Ah, of course." Raphael led his daughter down the path, careful not to lose her. They found Florean Fortscue's Ice Cream Parlor and ordered vanilla frozen yogurt for Raphael and a strawberry cone for Selena.
"I wish Mum could've come."
"Yeah. Oh, there they are." Raphael juggled the owl cage and his cold treat.
"Ready to go to Ollivander's?"
"Wand time," Darcy said, rubbing her hands together. Raphael Riviera nodded, and the five walked to the shabby hole in the wall.
"Hmm... Lyra Black... ten inches, beech, springy, crushed dragon scales."
"Good afternoon to you too, Mr. Ollivander." Mrs. Black shook the eccentric man's hand.
"Ah, I did not make your wand," Ollivander said, turning to Raphael Riviera. "A shame."
"Truly."
"We would like a wand for my daughter, Darcy."
"Ah. Let's see..." Slowly, he walked around his store, wracking his brain. Finally, he pulled down a box. "Let's try this. Yew, ten and a quarter inches, rigid, unicorn hair." He put the wand in Darcy's hand. She hadn't held it five seconds when he swiped it.
"Nope. Ah, maybe that one..." He went up a ladder and took down another rectangular box. "Here you are."
Darcy held it in her hand, and a soft glow radiated from the wand.
"Very nice. Fifteen inches, oak, quite rigid, dragon heartstring. Seven galleons, Ms. Knox."
"Thank you." They made their purchase, and then it was Selena's turn.
"And your name is?"
"Selena."
"Ah! Yes. I have a wand for you already." With an observant eye, Selena waited as Ollivander pulled a dark box from behind a counter. "Seven galleons."
"Okay."
"Maybe she should try," Mr. Riviera interjected, "just to make sure."
"Of course," Mr. Ollivander pulled the wand out of the box. "Twelve inches, ash, very swishy, unicorn hair." Selena grasped the light-colored wand in her right hand. She felt warmth in her hand, and a delicate radiance followed.
"Oh!" Selena gasped. She looked up.
"Seven galleons."
"Right then." They made their final purchase and left the shop.
"Strange man," Lyra Knox mumbled. "Quite the wand maker, though."
---
"Haha! Well!" Raphael Riviera took a large gulp of his elderflower wine. The two families were having a quiet dinner in the Knoxes' dining room. It was August the thirty-first. Mr. Riviera clapped his hands together. "I have presents for the students!"
"Presents?" Selena perked up. Her father always gave presents before special occasions. Everyone moved to the living room, where giant boxes were set up like Christmas. Delano and Darcy scrambled to the packages with their names hovering over them.
"Aw, thank you Mr. Riviera! It's amazing!" A Comet Two Hundred sat in Delano's lap. He stroked it lovingly.
"Oh, a kitty! Aww... She's so cute!"
"She's not just a kitty. She's part kneazle."
"Thank you," Darcy said. She began to snuggle her new pussycat-kneazle.
"Daddy, I don't see mine."
"Of course you don't, Selena dear. Before I give them to you, I had something to tell you." He gestured to his daughter. She went over and made herself comfortable on his knee.
"What is it, Daddy?" She asked, seeing his troubled face.
"I won't be able to see you off tomorrow."
"Whaaaat? Whyyyy?"
"Well, I have work."
"Stupid Ministry. Who's going to take me, then?"
"Well, Mr. and Mrs. Knox will take you in the morning. They told me you could sleep over here."
"Alright." Selena sighed.
"Now. Here you are," Mr. Riviera said, producing a box. Selena ripped off the paper.
"Oooh..." Selena pulled out a quill and journal.
"I had to get that special off of the black market, but as soon as I heard of it, I thought of you and had to get it."
"Thank you... But, what is it?" Selena began swishing the quill around.
"That is an ostrich feather quill, able to read your thoughts and place them into that journal. You prick your finger, let the blood drip onto the journal, and the parchment becomes imbued with you. The parchment never runs out."
"That sounds medieval," Mrs. Riviera declared, appalled.
"Of course. That's why there's a trading ban on it. The good thing is no one except you will be able to read it, no matter what. Huh. I wish I knew who makes them and how they do these things."
"I'd like to know where you bought that! Must've spent a pretty sickle!" Obviously a little tipsy, Mr. Knox laughed uproariously.
"Alright, to bed with you lot," Mrs. Knox said. "Get your gifts!"
"Ah, good night," Selena's father kissed her forehead and set her down. "Get to bed."
"G'night, Daddy." She went to her mother and hugged her. "Night, Mum."
"Night. We'll wake you up early. Sleep tight."
The girls went up to Darcy's room.
"My little, sweet Lucille." Darcy buried her nose in the cat's dark fur.
"Lucille?" Selena asked, going over to her owl's cage; she'd named him Artemis. She offered him a treat, and he lovingly nipped her thumb.
"Yes. She's a girl, so I couldn't name her Lucifer."
"Oh."
"Muffy? Muffy!" A crack was heard, and a house-elf appeared wearing a tea cozy and towel.
"Yes, Miss?"
"Run me a bath," Darcy commanded.
"Yes, Miss."
"Oh, and get something for my new kitty to eat."
"Of course."
"Do you want anything, Selena?"
"Um... Spearmint tea, please, Muffy?"
"Yes, Half-Miss." Darcy had instructed Muffy several years ago to always obey the requests of Selena, and thus Muffy dubbed Selena her "Half-Miss." The house-elf Disapparated.
Darcy left the bedroom, leaving her friend to her devices. Selena opened the box her father gave her and pulled out the instructions.
"Prick yourself with the tip of the quill..." Selena took the quill and broke the skin of her left hand. "Drip the blood onto the first page of the journal." The beads of crimson made their way onto the page. "And start writing your memories. It is not uncommon to fall into trance while writing. Odd. Well, that was easy enough. Oh!"
A steaming mug of tea appeared on the floor, along with a bottle labeled as "Minor Cuts' Serum- Gets the job done like MAGIC!"
"Thank you, Muffy," Selena said into the dimly-lit room. A dab of the chartreuse liquid fixed her prick in an instant. After she washed up, Selena took her new owl, quill, and diary over to the window.
Darcy's bedroom window faced the east, allowing one to see the moon clearly. Selena looked at the half-moon as she drank her tea.
"Aren't we funny?" She asked, glancing at Artemis. "My name means moon. And your name is perfect for you. A god of the moon and the hunt. I bet you haven't been able to hunt in a long time. Out you go, then." She slowly pulled her owl out of his cage and opened the window. With a flutter, he flew off into the night.
"Okay. Now, this journal." She poised her hand to write, but then the purple quill stood up on its own. "Um. Dear Diary?"
The quill began to write. Touching her pendant, Selena looked at the moon for some sort of inspiration. Her eyes glazed over as the quill began to record the narrative.
For half an hour, the ink applied itself to the parchment, and Selena still looked unmoving at the orb in the sky.
"And I don't know what I shall find yet. But I do love using this thing to write with. Sincerely-"
"Hey, you ready to go to bed yet?" Darcy came back, wearing her silk nightgown. Selena shook the daze from her head.
"Um, yes."
"Sent your owl out?"
"Yep." After putting her writing materials in her dragon hide shoulder bag, Selena turned around and sat in the bed next to Darcy.
"I can't believe it! We're finally going to Hogwarts..." Darcy tucked herself into bed.
"Yeah. Mum almost wouldn't let me, after Daddy started telling her about all of his night missions. He had to tell her that Headmaster Dumbledore was the most protection one could get in these times. Mum's frightened to death about You-Know-Who." Darcy yawned.
"Ho-hum, well, good night, Selena."
"Good night, Darcy." Selena moved under the comforter and looked at the wall. A sleeping portrait hung there, presumably of a family member. He scratched his nose. Selena closed her eyes and allowed sleep to overtake her mind.
---
The scarlet train gave a violent whistle as Delano, Darcy, and Selena boarded. Darcy, pompous and sure of herself, followed her brother. Overwhelmed, Selena's eyes were as wide as saucers.
"Delano and I have to go say hi to our cousins."
"Okay. I'll just wait in a compartment."
"Don't wait. This'll probably take a while."
"Oh." Darcy left without saying goodbye, and Selena, feeling very much alone, pulled her things along.
Most compartments were full, and Selena was having a hard time finding a place to sit. Finally, she found one with only one boy sitting in it. She pushed the door open.
"Excuse me," she started. "Do you mind if I sit with you?"
"You want to sit with me?" The light brown haired boy looked up.
"Yes?"
"Sure." He gestured to the seat across from him. Selena lugged her things into the compartment, and the boy helped her out of courtesy.
"Thank you. Er, Selena Riviera." She held out her hand. He took it.
"Remus Lupin." They sat down. "It's my first year."
"Mine too." Selena took him in. Very friendly, but there was something there. Something.
"So, what house are you going for?" He inquired.
"Gryffindor."
"Me too." They sat in silence for a while. "Hey, want to play Wizard Chess?"
"Um, okay, but I'm not very good," Selena accepted the invite.
They played for a good bit of the train ride, stopping when the Trolley Lady came by.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?" Selena leapt up.
"Yes. Remus, do you want anything?"
"Oh, no, I don't have any money with me..."
"Nonsense. I'll buy it for you." Selena never had the opportunity to buy things for friends, so she took the chance.
"Um, a Chocolate Frog, please."
"Okay. Um..." Selena picked up everything she wanted, which seemed to be two of everything on the cart. "Thank you."
"You must be hungry..." Remus said.
"No, half of it is for you!"
"I couldn't-"
"Oh, come on. They're yummy." Tentatively, Remus took a Chocolate Frog and opened it. It jumped out of the wrapper, and he caught and plopped it into his mouth before it could reach the floor.
"Ahaha, my friend Darcy always has them bound into her mouth. What card'd you get?"
"Uh, Ptolemy."
"Ooh." Selena opened hers, and after having some difficulty with her frog, looked at the card. "Morgana."
"Can you pass me the bag of Every Flavor Beans?" Selena set the drawstring bag in his lap. Remus took one. "Ugh, tripe... Oh ew."
"I hate tripe."
Selena and Remus spent the rest of their time on the train testing jellybeans and playing Wizard Chess. Towards the end of the trip, the door slid open.
"There you are!" Darcy exclaimed. "I've been looking everywhere for you. We've got to change, and I need you to help me with- Who's this?"
"Remus Lupin," Selena answered. "Remus, this is my friend Darcy."
"Hi-"
"Charmed. Come on, Selena, let's go!" Selena grabbed her shoulder bag.
"Okay! See you later, Remus."
"Bye."
Darcy linked her arm with Selena's and led her down the aisle. The moment after they had changed, the train stopped. Darcy clapped wildly as they left the train.
"God, I'm famished!"
"Yeah, me too."
"Firs' years follow me! This way!" An extremely tall man loomed over them.
"Oh. My. God. He's more giant than your dad!" Darcy whispered feverishly into Selena's ear.
"Shhh! Let's go." Selena followed the giant man to the edge of a lake, and they got into boats.
"Ah, see tha'? Welcome to Hogwarts."
The sight astounded everyone. The beautiful silhouette against the night sky, the lights winking out, the sense of warmth radiating from it. To know that this place was now home was comforting.
"It's beautiful..."
"Yer righ' there," the big man said. "Bes' place there is, Hogwarts."
Selena felt as tiny as an ant once she stood next to the massive front doors. They opened, and all of the first years, plus the giant man, walked in. An entrance way greeted them, and they saw a ghost slide through a door.
"Oooooh," the boys and girls sighed, mystified.
"Alrigh' come on this way!"
"What's your name, anyway?" Someone called.
"Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper of the Keys and Grounds."
"You're really, really big," Darcy commented. Selena shoved her.
"That's not nice!"
"What, Selena? Hagrid, are you the victim of a bad Engorgement Charm?" At this, Hagrid's laugh boomed into the entrance hall while Selena clapped her hand to her forehead.
"Hagrid?" A woman in emerald robes stepped forward. She was tall with black hair.
"Oh, uh." He cleared his throat. "The firs' years, Professor."
"Thank you, Hagrid." He nodded and left them in the care of the witch.
"She looks right mean," Darcy muttered. Selena didn't say anything, but concurred.
"My name is Professor McGonagall," the witch said clearly. Her voice commanded attention, and the first years gave it. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Soon, before the feast, you will be sorted into your houses."
Selena had been waiting for this day, this moment. Darcy squeezed Selena's hand. Professor McGonagall gave a short speech, but Selena wasn't listening. With her eyes shut tight, she prayed with all her might that she not be sorted in the same house as Darcy.
"Selena!" A sharp voice said. Darcy pulled her. "Let's move! It's time to go."
"Oh, oh, sorry." Selena, still holding on to Darcy, moved.
"Is there anything in it?" Darcy asked, smoothing her flaxen hair. Selena shook her head. Darcy promptly tucked Selena's short black hair behind her ears. "You should really grow your hair out, you know. You'd have a nice natural wave in it. Giants in the cave?" Darcy lifted up her chin, exposing her rounded nose.
"Nope. Mine?" Selena did the same movement.
"Nope. Smile." They smiled at each other, checking teeth. "We're as pretty as ever!"
And they walked into the Great Hall.
"Oh, wow! Look at that!"
"Look at the ceiling!"
"Blimey! Look at the candles! We've got to learn how to do that," a boy whispered, pointing at the hovering wax.
"Don't just stand at the door! Come along!" Reluctantly, the young ones obeyed. The tall professor produced a stool and hat and then bade the first years to gather around.
Selena was too nervous to listen to everyone's names, but apparently, all one had to do was put on the hat, and it spewed out a house.
"Knox, Darcy," Minerva McGonagall called. Darcy pressed her fingers into Selena's hand yet again and went to sit on the stool. The Headmistress placed the Sorting Hat on the blonde's head, and it instantly gave an answer.
"SLYTHERIN!" It bellowed. An eruption of applause came from the Slytherin table. Darcy made her way over to her house, but not before winking at Selena. Selena winked back.
Several other names were called, and finally it was Selena's turn.
"Riviera, Selena."
Selena nervously stepped up to Professor McGonagall and sat on the stool. The hat went on, and it slipped down over her eyes.
"Well, well, well," it said. "Excellent mind. Courageous. Reserved. Quite intelligent. Hmm... I have half a mind to put you in Ravenclaw, but I'm going to go with GRYFFINDOR!" Selena beamed as she heard the applause from the Gryffindor table. After giving back the Sorting Hat, she hopped down and wandered over to the table of scarlet and gold. She sat next to a blond boy and remembered his name had begun with a P.
"We both got the houses we wanted," someone said from across the table. Selena looked up.
"Uh-huh!" She smiled at Remus. He turned to someone sitting next to him and started talking. Selena looked across the Great Hall to the Slytherin table. Brow furrowed and staring at her best friend, Darcy looked as though she was in pain. Selena shrugged, exasperated. She mouthed an apology, and then turned to the Sorting. Selena gave a sigh of relief. Maybe she could bloom and be her own person without Darcy around.
"Welcome to another year, everyone! Pleased to see you could be here. And now, without further ado, the feast!" An old man Selena recognized as Headmaster Dumbledore clapped, and food presented itself. Hunger tugged at her stomach as she spooned a little bit of everything onto her plate.
---
"Selena! Sit here!" Darcy waved her over. Selena put her things down on the table.
"Hi!"
"I didn't know you had Potions this hour," Darcy said, "'cause I would've come with you. How come you're so late?"
"Got lost. Where's the-"
"Professor Slughorn is over there. Short, ain't he?" She pointed over to a desk where a squatty, thick man waited for all of the students to arrive. His mouth looked like a furry white ferret had sat on it.
"Mmm."
"Have you seen Peeves yet?"
"That's the reason why I was lost. He tripped me, and I got my foot stuck in a stupid stair."
"Ooh, yeah, Dela-"
"Settle down, please, settle down." Darcy and Selena turned to Professor Slughorn.
"Professor Slughorn," the short man introduced himself. "Head of Slytherin House, Potions Master." The professor talked a great bit, then set them on studying a simple boil cure potion in pairs.
"Guess what," Darcy said quietly, flipping pages in her book.
"What?"
"We're moving houses!" A disheartening buzz flowed through Selena.
"Why?" Darcy shrugged.
"Dunno. Mother and Dad just said that by the time we came back for Christmas holiday, we'd be in another house. I hope I'm not getting a younger sister or brother."
"Your house is big enough for more kids."
"Dad said something about Muggles."
"Muggles aren't bad. Mum's a Muggle." Darcy shrugged again.
"Hey, we need nettles... I'll crush the snake fangs."
"Dried?" Selena went to the cupboard.
"Yep." Selena turned around and saw Remus working with the boy she sat next to at mealtimes.
"Hi!" She said, waving. Remus looked up and waved back, then returned to his cauldron. Selena figured she'd better get a move on, because their potion already had shape.