Deranged Author's Note(s):
Oh my gosh, is this the first time I'm introducing Dumbledore?
I love Latin sometimes. It's just too fun. BARRON'S WORD! Hyah!
Why is sex so prevalent now? Hum. Eh, stupid teenaged hormones. I'm disappointed in this chapter because of it.
Ahaha, swing music. Curse you, Prisoner of Azkaban movie.
Erm, the calm before the storm? This one took a while to write, didn't it? Oh, and something in here seems like filler, but I put it in for a purpose. You'll see what is "filler" when you get to it.The Scribe's Resurrection
Part One: Chapter Eight
Late November, 1975
Not just students traversed the paths of Hogsmeade village. Of course the surrounding residents visited, but, often times, Hogsmeade was a meeting place for two parties.
"Thank you, Headmaster." A man, equal in height to Dumbledore, grasped the Headmaster's hand. "This means so much to me."
"You are very welcome, Raphael." They stood off to the side, away from the chatty people. The door to The Three Broomsticks opened, and five cold, hungry students came in. One of them gasped when she saw Dumbledore's guest.
"Daddy!"
"Leprechaun!" Raphael Riviera rushed over, glimpsing his daughter. He hugged her tightly. "All right?"
"Yes. And you?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine. About to go home to your mother."
"Oh. What're you doing here?"
"Redoing my will," said her father nonchalantly. "You know we've got to every six months." He cleared his throat. "Who're your friends?"
"Um, Sirius, Remus, James, and Peter."
"Oh ho! These are the boys."
"Pleased to meet you sir- I'm very fond of your work," James said admiringly as they moved to get a table.
"Ahaha! Thank you."
"I must leave you," Albus Dumbledore said kindly. "Goodbye, Raphael. See you five back at the school."
"Goodbye."
"Bye, Professor."
"Thank you again." Selena's father turned back to the fifth-years. "So, I hear you're quite the wizards- very intelligent."
"We just have an aptitude for learning." Sirius' face was bright. Raphael laughed again. Selena grinned over butterbeer; she liked when her dad was giddy.
"Right, right. I had that too."
"So, sir, catch anymore Death Eaters?" Peter asked.
"No, young man, I have not. Very elusive, you know." Peter nodded. "And you, you're Remus Lupin, right? How is your father?"
"He's well."
"Tibernius and I go way back."
"He's said, sir."
"I would like to see him."
"You could, Mr. Riviera. Remus' dad is coming to my mum's Christmas Eve party, and you, Mrs. Riviera, and Selena are invited."
"Really? What should we wear to this party, James?"
"Anything you want to. Mum likes festivities, though, so I'd come with a skit or a song to sing."
"Selena, we should get you and your mum to dance, eh?"
"Mum hasn't danced in a while."
"It's done. We're coming- Komali will dance, and I will ask Remus' father if he remembers fencing."
"I didn't know Dad fenced," Remus said.
"Oh, he was great. Ask him about it, you should."
"I will."
"Sir, what do you use in the Ministry for invisible ink?" James asked.
"Ink? Invisible ink?"
"Yes."
"Well, we've got a special ink. Very expensive. Made out of the same sort of stuff that Selena's journal's made out of." James frowned- he'd asked to inspect that diary several months before, but Selena remained adamant about not letting him touch it.
"Like what?"
"Erm, there's one called Mutus Apsconditus. It's like invisible ink, but not quite."
"Really? Could you get us a bottle of that?" Selena could see the gears turning in James' head. Sirius was doing something similar- he always cocked his head to the left when grasping very, very important information.
"Hahaha, alright. Where's this party, Mr. Potter?"
"Godric's Hollow, sir."
"Ah, I've been there." Raphael looked at his watch. "Blimey, is that the time? Got to get home- told your mum I'd be home by three."
"Okay," Selena said grudgingly.
"Goodbye, Remus, Sirius, James, and Peter," Mr. Riviera acknowledged all of the Gryffindor boys.
"Goodbye, sir."
"Bye."
"See you at Christmas," Selena said.
"See you soon, my princess." He kissed his daughter's forehead, waved to the boys, and left.
"Selena, your dad is super cool." Sirius' eyes sparkled.
"I know."
---
"Great catch, Aubrey," Selena said after the Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw match. "I mean, wow."
"Well, you were pretty great yourself. You're really descriptive- with the announcing."
"Um, thanks."
"All I could hear was your voice as I caught it."
"Really?" Selena bit her lip. Ravenclaw Bertram Aubrey nodded. "Well, you're brilliant to watch."
Aubrey and Selena, standing by the great marble staircase, grinned stupidly at each other.
"Well, um, I've got to go."
"I can walk you if you want."
"Oh, thanks." Aubrey accompanied the raven-haired girl up the many stairs. Finally, when they got to the seventh floor corridor, Selena stopped.
"Seventh floor?" He asked. "Wow, it really is far up."
"It is. Er, see you."
"Bye." Aubrey hesitated, then leaned down and gave her a small peck on the cheek, causing Selena to flush instantly. "See you in Arithmancy tomorrow."
"You, you too." The copper-headed boy turned and left, assumingly to the Ravenclaw common room. The place he had kissed burned; Selena put her hand to it, smiling.
"Someone's happy." A familiar tone said from behind her.
"Oh, hi, you guys." Sirius and Remus were in the hall as well.
"Hello."
"Hi." Selena cleared her throat as she hobbled over to them.
"So, how've you two been?" Her voice was light and airy.
"Fine," Sirius grumbled.
"What's wrong with you?" Selena asked.
"Charlotte just broke up with him."
"Seems like everyone's getting laid except for me." Sirius walked backwards, facing them.
"What're you talking about?"
"Remus had a date during the match, Peter's been deflowered-"
"No!" Selena gasped, a wide smile appearing on her face. "Peter?"
"Exactly what I said. About time. And then James is being a prat. If he likes Lily, why is he going around to other girls? I wouldn't do that."
"I'm sorry, Sirius." Remus stayed quiet, knowing how this exchange would play out.
"Thank you. And Moony here- hitting up every girl his age and more."
"Am not," Remus retaliated.
"Right, right. Where were you today?"
"I was studying."
"With who?"
"Aeris Fly."
"Note, Selena, that is a seventh-year Ravenclaw. Playing hanky-panky in classroom ten-"
"WE WERE NOT."
"Why else would you be so defensive?"
"I don't like being accused of-"
"Not listening." Sirius held up a hand. "And you! You're supposed to be my friend!"
"Me?" Selena pointed to herself.
"You're supposed to be sensitive to me and not go flaunting your relationship in my face."
"I didn't know you were there," Selena said feebly, remembering her cheek. "And besides, we're not even dating-"
"Please. You will be by the end of the week." Sirius' face became sad. "And then I'll have no one."
"Ah, don't worry, Sirius. I won't forget you," Selena reassured him. "How could I ever forget you?"
"Right. Ah!" Because of his huffing, Sirius failed to see the bust of Paracelsus and tripped over it. Selena broke out into fits of giggles.
"You're funny, you know that?" She remarked, watching Remus help him up.
"Yeah, yeah." Sirius looked cross, but when he saw Selena's amused face, he brightened. "Let me tell you two this joke I heard the other day..."
December, 1975
Selena and Aubrey walked off the Hogwarts Express hand in hand. They put their things on carts and wheeled them through the platform.
"Want to meet my mum?" The girl asked, spotting her mother dutifully waiting. Aubrey nodded, giving a small smile.
"C'mon."
"Selena!"
"Hi, Mum. Mum, this is Aubrey. Aubrey, this is my mum."
"Oh, hello, Aubrey." Smiling warmly, Selena's mother shook the boy's hand. "Nice to meet you."
"You too, Mrs. Riviera." Selena watched them make small talk, noting her mother's reaction. Thankfully, Aubrey was a sweet, polite, and intelligent person.
"Well, we've got to go," the girl said, pulling at her mum's sleeve.
"See you, Aubrey. I'll probably see more of you?"
"I hope so, ma'am. I'll write, okay, Selena?"
"Okay." He kissed Selena full on the mouth and left, waving. Blushing furiously, Selena watched her boyfriend disappear into the crowd. Her mother clucked her tongue and began to push the cart out to the car.
"He's a nice boy."
"Erm, yes."
"Wait 'till your father hears."
"Oh, Mum," Selena grumbled.
---
"Hurry up," Raphael Riviera called from behind the bathroom door. "How long does it take?"
"We're coming. Wait. It won't kill you!" His wife directed at the door; Raphael's footsteps stomped away. She muttered under her breath, "Impatient idiot." She gathered Selena's hair into a ponytail.
"Mum?"
"Yes?"
"I've a question." Selena took a deep breath. "How do you know when a guy fancies you?"
"Well, you know there's something special when he can tell your eye color without looking."
"Wha?"
"That's how I knew your dad fancied me." Selena still looked confused. "What color are my eyes?" The mother and daughter got up.
"Black, Mum."
"That's what I thought. When you see him, ask your dad what color they are."
The Rivieras stepped into the family car, the 1951 Cadillac convertible. All was quiet as the red car lifted up into the air and flew towards Godric's Hollow.
"Daddy."
"Mmm?"
"What color are Mum's eyes?"
"The color of the beautiful volcanic glass of obsidian, Selena, why?" Raphael said this as though it was painfully obvious, and that no one could debate his conjecture.
"Just wondering."
"Oh." Selena looked in the side mirror at her mum, who was wearing a million-galleon smile.
-
Only one house was illuminated in Godric's Hollow the Christmas Eve of nineteen seventy-five. The Potters' had invited everyone and anyone they knew. Normally, it would be quite dangerous to have such a gathering, but James' father had secured every inch of the abode himself.
The Potters had decorated to the very T, and extravagant amusement was the key this very night. Adorned with baubles and teeny pixies, a giant Christmas tree was in the entrance hall, with giant gift-boxes under it. Reflections could be seen in the polished hardwood floors, and the smell of Happy Christmas drifted in the air.
Turning left, a spectacular, massive dining room held the remnants of dinner; suddenly, it turned out sweets for dessert- the house elves had overdone themselves. Little children wandered over to the table, wanting a bit of Christmas pudding or a pepperminted bonbon.
Going on, a drawing room held the elderly men, clutching their smokes and shaking pixie dust from their silvered hair. They spoke not, preferring to wallow in the wafts of grey around them. Every now and then, a toddler would wander in, asking his grandpa to show him a 'magic trick.'
In the kitchen, sweet-tempered, middle-aged mothers cradled cups of tea, gossiping about their husbands debating in the living room. Their keen ears heard the cries of their children who had bumped their heads on something-or-other and now needed a kiss. Their spouses, red-faced, sat in the living room with bottles of firewhiskey, treading dangerous topics such as You-Know-Who's followers.
From the right of the pine tree in the foyer were French doors leading into the parlor, which now held old women reminiscing of times when they could frolic so audaciously. They braggingly showed pictures of their grandchildren or snatched the little munchkins from their parents in order to fawn over them.
The kitchen and the parlor connected together, as both of them had doors leading into a small, candle-lit hall. Laughing came from the opposite end of the hall, seemingly where it opened into. A light came from this end, and led to a dance floor.
All the youth convened here, along with couples and Mrs. Potter. Music played. This room held the most flamboyant decorations and the most flamboyantly decorated people. Mrs. Potter, for instance, wore crimson robes spangled with snowflakes, green elf shoes with bells, and a matching hat. Her necklace resembled the baubles on the aforementioned Christmas tree. The old woman matched the room. Snow fell from the ceiling, along with sparkles. Mistletoe also dangled from the ceiling, changing positions to surprise people. Awful, screeching pixies rattled off carols, like "God Rest Ye, Merry Hippogriffs" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Red Cap." An immense stone fireplace placed in the middle of the back wall lit the room. Plates of hors d'oeuvres hovered next to the wallflowers, who sat on the hearth.
Many, many people were in this room, showing off.
"Go, go, go!" Mrs. Potter cried happily, watching everyone try to keep up with the rhythm. She, with her loud, guttural laugh, clapped and clapped, watching the frantic couples dance. The music coming from the bewitched instruments flowed increasingly faster. The pairs soon tripped over themselves, tired and thirsty.
"Oof!" A girl fell over and a chair appeared, indicating for her to take a breather.
A somewhat chubby teenager with a walking stick standing next to her armchair smiled widely, sporadically laughing. Selena's parents gracefully whizzed around the room along with a few other couples. Their daughter, watching them, tapped her foot to the beat of the music while taking pictures.
The song ended, and Mrs. Potter whistled, applauding the still-standing people.
"Ah, now it's my princess' turn!" Raphael reached out to his daughter.
"No, Daddy, I'm fine-"
"Nonsense. You are not a wallflower!" She stood up, leaning on the armchair for support. "Take off your shoes." She found this a bit queer, but Selena did as she was told. She slipped off her dragon hide slippers.
"Okay."
"Now, put your feet on mine, and I shall be your legs." Selena did, and her father whisked them away.
Raphael Riviera was actually an excellent dancer because his mother had taught him. She'd been a ballroom dance instructor for Muggles, of course, before she had fallen ill.
"Daddy, please don't drop me."
"Drop you, my leprechaun? How would I drop you?" He spun her around on her good leg, then lifted her up. "I would never drop you!"
Selena giggled sweetly as her father returned her to her chair.
"Thank you."
"Very welcome. Now, I think I will have some dessert. Komi, d'you want anything?"
"I'll come with you." Her parents left the vicinity. Selena took an eggroll off of a floating plate and watched the dancers. Someone had broken out a record player and put on some swing music.
"Hey." Remus sat down next to Selena, handing her pumpkin juice.
"Hi!" Sirius, James, and Peter sat down around her as well. Sirius yawned, declaring how bored he was. Then, his eyes focused on a particular girl.
"Myra's coming over here."
"Wonder what she wants." Peter sipped his butterbeer.
"Remus," Myra Heaton said, coming to a standstill in front of them. "Aeris tells me you're very good." James and Sirius snorted. "Good at dancing. Want to dance with me?"
"Um, sure," Remus consented, looking unsure. He gave Selena his drink and loosened his tie. Myra dragged him onto the dance floor. Suddenly, Remus got extremely light on his feet. Selena shrieked with delight, clasping her hands together.
She thought Remus was amazing. He threw Myra up and down as though she were lighter than air, his feet shimmied on the floor at lightning speed, and he looked perfectly happy. Everyone had stopped dancing to watch. Selena looked over at his friends- James and Peter were smiling, but Sirius wasn't.
"What the-" Sirius got up, throwing his dragon hide jacket to Selena. He unbuttoned the first three buttons of his shirt as he scathingly said, "He is not the only one who can lindy hop."
Sirius went over to where Remus and Myra were dancing and tapped his friend on the shoulder. The pair paused.
"You don't mind if I cut in, do you?" Sirius asked, already taking Myra's hands.
"If she wants to."
"You don't mind, do you, doll?" Sirius flashed Myra a smile. She giggled and shook her head.
"By all means, then." Remus stepped back, and Sirius had his turn.
Sirius, too, was skillful at swing dancing, and he definitely shone. He spun Myra in a cartwheel, then flipped himself. His dashing good looks earned him points.
So, dancing turned out to be a contest between them both, and they went on for a good hour.
"Hahaha, you're really good, mate," Sirius finally said.
"So're you." They were both out of breath, reaching for their drinks.
"Brilliant. You've got to teach me," James said.
"Thanks."
St. Valentine's Day, 1976
Valentine's Day marked the two-and-a-half month anniversary of Selena and Aubrey. And, as it was a Saturday, Aubrey had made plans.
"So, what're you doing for V-Day?" Peter asked Selena during a late breakfast.
"Going to Hogsmeade with Aubrey. What're you doing?"
"Same thing. Only, with Clarice Brinson."
"Aw. Remus? Going with Myra or Aeris?"
"Aeris." He leaned forward and whispered, "Myra's a whore." Selena sniggered.
"And James?"
"I have a date with Professor Sinistra. Just because I put paint on all of the eyepieces of the telescopes. Peeves does it every other day. I mean honestly."
"Oh." Selena turned to Sirius. "What are you doing for Valentine's Day?"
"I'd like to say that it's not Valentine's Day. It's Singles Awareness Day." Selena broke into a smile. "It's not funny."
"I didn't laugh."
"I thought you could have any girl you wanted, mate?" James commented.
"I can. I just don't want them- I don't want just any girl."
"Uh-huh."
"Well, anyway, I've got to go." Selena stood up.
"You look pretty, by the way," Sirius said. Selena was wearing a full, pink skirt with red flowers and cranberry colored hoodie. Her usual two necklaces (the whistle and the crescent moon) were on her neck, and her bracelet (now with the BFF charm on it instead of on the necklace) dangled from her right wrist.
"Really?" Selena glanced at herself then at Sirius. "Thanks. Think he'll like it?"
"Mmhmm."
"That makes me feel better. See you." She waved, going to the Ravenclaw table.
Selena and Aubrey spent the whole day in Hogsmeade, eating, watching the Shrieking Shack, and playing games. Selena thought it had been a rather wonderful outing. Finally, they decided to go back to the school after they had tea.
The two walked around the courtyard, enjoying each other's company. Selena eventually sat down next to the fountain, and looking in it, she remembered a question she had to ask.
"Aubrey."
"Mm?"
"Question."
"Okay."
"Don't laugh."
"Okay." Selena closed her eyes tight.
"What color are my eyes?"
"How should I know? You've got them shut." Selena frowned, opening her eyes.
"Never mind."
"Alright." Aubrey splashed water, eventually making a water war in which he was clearly winning.
"Stop, stop!" She cried, putting her hands up to her face. Aubrey stopped, chuckling, and then sat next to her.
"Blimey! Selena, you wouldn't mind going down to the Quidditch locker room with me, would you? I left my Transfiguration in there- you know, studying before the game, and-"
"Sure. I don't mind."
"Good. C'mon, then." Selena was just a bit annoyed that they'd passed the Quidditch pitch when they went to the courtyard, and he didn't notice. But, she went along anyway. It took a while to reach the pitch, as Selena had never walked so much with her leg being the way it was.
"Hurry up!" Aubrey said. She narrowed her eyes. If he kept this up, Aubrey could spend Valentine's Day by himself in the cold, February evening.
Aubrey opened the door to the locker rooms for her. It was dim inside, for the sun was on the other side of the building.
"Which locker's yours?" Selena asked, ready to get it and leave. The locker rooms were cold.
"Doesn't matter," Aubrey said, coming up behind her. He began to pet her hair, leaving Selena thoroughly befuddled. "I was getting a bit worried, you know, when you didn't put out before. Then I thought you might need some time to get to know me."
"What the bloody hell're you talking about?" Selena turned around to face him.
"Me. You. In bed." Selena forced a laugh from her throat.
"Don't mess about." Selena was seriously wondering if she was dreaming.
"I mean, come on, you shag those other Gryffindors-"
"What? Who told you that!?"
"Everybody knows."
"Well, you can tell everybody they're mad." Selena left the Ravenclaw locker room very upset and frustrated. She wished she could run, limping faster in her fury.
"Come on, Selena! I'm sorry! I didn't know it wasn't true! I mean, everybody says it!"
Selena kept going, trying to ignore the idiot following her. She got to the courtyard, and he still walked next to her.
"Hold on a minute!" Aubrey still yelled. Selena stopped.
"Why? So you can tell me how much of a git you are? Or you can tell me how everyone thinks I sleep with my friends!"
"OI!" A voice called out. James and Sirius appeared beside Selena suddenly, with their wands raised.
"Hey, hey." Aubrey's fearful, surprised expression reinforced his gesture of surrender.
"We should jinx your arse right now," James said.
"I'm all for a bit of roughing up," Sirius confirmed Aubrey's doom. Selena didn't care what they did, just as long as Aubrey would leave her alone.
The two Gryffindors took deep breaths and bellowed, "Collumaccresco!" Aubrey's skull began to swell.
"AHHH! AHHHH!" He began running in circles, earning a sinister laugh from Selena. His head grew to a quaffle's girth, then watermelon's size, then a pumpkin's, and then Professor McGonagall came on the scene.
"Potter, Black! What have you done?!"
"Nothing but good intentions, Professor."
"Yes, ma'am, he got what was coming to him."
"Ten points from Gryffindor and a detention! Mister Aubrey! Calm down so I may reduce your-"
"AHHH! AHHHHHHH!" Bertram Aubrey kept running.
"Aubrey, you stupid bloke, watch-" Sirius' warning failed, as Aubrey collided into the wall of the school with a thud. "Out."
"Oh dear." Professor McGonagall rushed over to him and confirmed his unconsciousness. She glared at James and Sirius before going into the school with Bertram Aubrey's body on a stretcher.
"Slimy git," Selena growled.
"What'd he do?" Sirius asked. He'd never seen her act this way.
"Are you aware that people think I'm sleeping with all four of you?"
"No." James gagged. "That's just stupid. I'll bet nobody believes it."
"Wouldn't put it past them. That's why Charlotte's so mad at me."
"Well, the whole lot of it's stupid, and I'll hex anyone who says it's true. You're not a, a scarlet woman."
"Who the bloody hell uses the word 'scarlet woman,' James?"