A/N:
OMG. Text-to-text reference! Yay, vampires! (Maybe you'll get it? It's subtle.) This one's short. Sorry, you guys.
I'd like to say something important: This story is broken up into parts, which are broken into chapters. This chapter is chapter nine (or ten, if you count the prologue), but it is also the first chapter of part two.
The story is starting to move slower, which is good.
Dates, from now and on, are very important.
The Scribe's Resurrection
Part Two: Chapter Nine
February to March, 1976
Only the fifth-year Gryffindors and people who spoke daily with Selena knew that the allegations weren't true. Selena wished she could say that she did not care, but she did. It made her sad how much people believed hearsay. James was sickened by the gossip, feeling Selena to be more of a sister than a friend, and threatened every witch or wizard who ridiculed his friend. Sirius also wanted to kill anyone who badmouthed her, and personally accompanied her to all of her classes. Remus sighed and waved the gossips away, reminding Selena that it did not matter what others said. Peter followed James' example, as always. Lily reprimanded anyone who repeated the rumor and docked a few points. Allan Thomas, Frank Longbottom, and Alice Cullen were also part of Selena's support group.
On the other hand, the Slytherins were enjoying themselves. Darcy gabbed about how she always knew it, and that it started way back with the Gryffindor Quidditch team. The house of silver and green laughed at Selena behind her back, spreading even far worse lies. The only person from that house who would not believe it was Severus Snape, and said that anyone who did was a fool.
"It doesn't really matter, Lily, what they say. I don't hear it, and even if I do, I've got too much studying to do to worry."
"Alright. But if anyone makes you cry, tell James."
"You disapprove of him."
"Well, he's got more gall, and he'll hex them to no end, like they deserve. Funny how nobody cares about the boys being part of the rumor, too."
"Yeah, well."
Sunday Night, March 16, 1976
Selena sat by the window of the boys' dormitory. It was the full moon, and the boys had left a while before. Frank Longbottom was snoring in his bed, occasionally mumbling something about kappas.
The girl had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't shake it off, and it worsened with each passing moment. Selena felt like throwing up, and had to put down her Ancient Runes to overcome the gagging reflex. She was hot and sweaty, too. She put her forehead to the window. A lethargic Twinkles cooed upon being disturbed with Selena's motion.
If she was getting sick, that wasn't good. Her birthday was the next day. No one wanted to be sick on his or her birthday. Selena pulled out her journal, glancing at Frank. The journal wrote; she did not have much to think about, other than academics and that awful rumor. Suddenly, a scratch sounded on the window, drawing her from her reverie.
"Artemis?" Selena opened the window. He hooted and came in bearing large parcels. "Oh, thank you."
The tawny owl nodded and perched next to her head. Selena looked at him.
"Whoa, whoa. What's wrong? You all right?" The owl looked positively shaken. Selena cuddled him to her, and he hooted sadly.
"What's wrong, love? Did you run into a thestral?" Artemis, of course, couldn't directly answer that, but his owner figured that he had run into something dreadful. He nipped her clothes affectionately, as if to say he was there.
"I don't know what's wrong with you," Selena whispered, "but okay, love." Selena reached over and found some food under Peter's pillow and fed it to the owl. He made a noise, and then began to sleep. Selena put away her things and soon fell into dreamland too.
Gryffindor Common Room on Monday Morning, March 17, 1976
"Ow, ow, ow!" Remus cried. "Prongs!"
"Stop twitching, then!"
"It hurts."
"Don't play like you don't know pain, Moony," James said. He dabbed some serum onto Remus' leg, and the gash decreased in size.
"It's Selena's birthday," Sirius announced.
"Yes. Did you finish her present?"
"I finished it Saturday night, wrapped it, and haven't given it to her yet."
"Why not?"
"Waiting for the perfect moment."
"Bloody hell, you're not proposing. At least, not now anyways."
"Shh, shh, here she comes," Peter exclaimed. Selena smiled sweetly as she came down the stairs.
"Good morning!"
"Happy birthday!"
"Thanks! And thanks for the presents."
"You're welcome. What'd your parents get you?"
"My mom got me Italian leather boots and this new school bag." Selena flashed the red shoulder bag with a griffin on it.
"Nice."
"And your dad?"
"Well, my dad gave me two things. The hair stick I have in my hair is made from some rare black stone, and he gave me a new broom. He says he wants me to start Quidditch again."
"And you should. What kind is it?"
"A Comet Two-Thirty. Goes up to a hundred miles per hour."
"My goodness!"
"Yup."
"And they gave me sweets and stuff. Dad said to give you this." Selena produced a small package and passed it to James. "He says it's the paper that goes with that ink."
"Right, right. Been waiting for this."
"I'm hungry," Peter whined.
"C'mon let's get Wormtail his victuals before he passes out."
Sirius went out of the portal first, followed by James and Peter.
"Remus, what color are my eyes?"
"Brown, duh." He answered the question while facing away from her.
"Okay."
Selena and her friends went into the Great Hall and began to eat.
"Alright, James, what color do you think my eyes are?"
"Who cares? Evans' eyes are-"
"Don't ca-are. And you, Peter, what color are my eyes?"
"Erm, a nice color?"
"You're hopeless." Selena was about to ask Sirius his opinion of her eyes, but the owls came in, delivering the mail.
"I hope Artemis is okay," Selena said, "He wasn't doing too well last night."
"Really? Oh, there he is." Artemis dropped the Daily Prophet into Selena's lap. Selena did not read it, setting it on the table.
Suddenly, James said, "Can I read that?"
"Yeah, sure." James picked up the paper and read the cover page intently.
"Selena," he started. Selena picked up her head, but then a voice stopped James from speaking.
"Miss Riviera." The Headmaster came to the Gryffindor table. "May I speak with you in the entrance hall?"
"Sure, sir." She followed Professor Dumbledore out into the empty hall and looked up at him earnestly.
"First, I must say 'happy birthday.'"
"Thank you, sir."
"But I hate to be the bearer of bad news."
"I'm sorry?"
"I have some news for you. I think you should have a seat." He conjured a velvet armchair for her to sit in. She took the seat, puzzled. Professor Dumbledore was upset. Very upset.
"Are you okay, sir?" He patted her shoulder.
"Selena, your father wrote me last night, but when I reached your house, I was too late." Selena's eyes widened, holding up her hands defensively, as if it could impede the information's progress to her ears. "He passed away before I could reach him."
"NO! NO, NO, NO!" Selena began bawling immediately as Dumbledore retracted his hand. She laid on the armrest, crying. Suddenly, something dawned on her, and the girl looked back up. "And Mum?! What about her?!"
"I'm sorry. Apparently, she answered the door and went first. Your father dueled the Death Eater after sending me a pre-written letter, but he couldn't-"
"WHO?! WHO DID IT?!" Dumbledore took a deep breath. Apparently, he didn't want to say.
"Richard Knox," he murmured, watching Selena's face. Selena was at a loss for words. What did he say?
Her world was falling apart right in front of her. She couldn't begin to fathom what this might mean. She did not deny their deaths, did not try to say this could be an evil trick, did not try to fight the truth. Selena knew what the dangers were for both of her parents.
But she could not help crying. She wasn't supposed to help crying. They were gone. Killed. Killed by her father's very best friend. Anger flamed up. What kind of person could kill his friends? And Darcy! What did she feel right now? Selena went over all of this in her mind, then remembered that the dead could never be brought back to the living.
Convulsive sobs tore from her throat. No more parents? No more parents. No more hugs. No more kisses. No more 'leprechaun' or 'princess.' No more dances. No more of her mum's beautiful face in the mirror as Selena brushed that dark hair. No more tall, handsome father who Selena modeled her future-husband after. No more bickering between the two lovers, no more reconciliation. No more Christmases, no more Mother's Days, Father's Days, birthdays! No more parents. No more parental love. No more undying, unconditional affection. No more. No more. No more.
Professor Dumbledore showed Selena the cover of that day's Daily Prophet: AUROR RAPHAEL STEPHANE RIVIERA AND WIFE KOMALI SRIVASTAVA RIVIERA PERISH AT THE HANDS OF DEATH EATER RICHARD RAYNOR KNOX. A picture of her parents on their wedding day took center page, picturing Richard Knox as best man.
"What happened to him?"
"He is in Azkaban."
"Good."
"Yes."
"What do I do?"
"The funeral for your mother's family is Thursday, I hear. They have been notified. The funeral for your father's acquaintances is Saturday. You'll have to leave tomorrow."
"Do I have to give a eulogy?"
"If you want to."
"Why did this happen?"
"You know more than I do. If you need anything of me, just ask," the Headmaster said, watching her intently. He hesitantly got up, as if he was unsure of what to do. He had been unsure of how Selena would accept this information, and Professor Dumbledore did not like telling anyone that someone had died. He felt deep remorse for the young family, but thought that Selena did not need his help just this moment. So, instead of staying, he patted her shoulder once more and disappeared.
In the corner of her eye, Selena saw her friends rushing to her. The girl, helpless and alone, broke into tears again and buried her face into her hands.
"Selena!"
Blurry-eyed and extremely hysterical, Selena soon found herself laying on a quilted trundle bed. She didn't care how she got there; she held a pillow close to her bosom.
"Hi," Sirius spoke. He was sitting next to her. "How're you feeling?" Selena glared at him.
"Tea?" Remus held up a mug. "It's your favorite." Selena shook her head. Remus sighed, putting the cup on the table next to the bed. James was on the other side of the girl, biting his lip and not knowing what to say. Peter sat on the floor. Several minutes passed before anyone spoke.
"I knew something bad had happened," Selena whispered, drawing her feet up. "I felt awful all last night, like I was gonna be sick. And Artemis was all shaken up- I thought he'd seen a thestral. I was right, I guess." No one said anything, and Selena went on. "I always knew Daddy would- would- would die young. Mum too. They were just too- too-too pure to die old!"
Selena hid her face in the pillow, overcome with a fresh bout of tears. Sirius handed her a handkerchief.
"What am I to do now?! My godparents're the ones who k-k-killed my parents!" James and Sirius exchanged glances.
"It's not fair!" Selena wept. "It's just not fair! Now I'm all alone!"
"You've got us," Sirius squeaked. Selena looked up and threw her arms around him.
"Th-th-thank you!"
"Yeah, you've got all of us. And no doubt Alice and Allan and Frank and Evans too!" James exclaimed. "And Dumbledore. He'll always be here."
"P-p-promise you all won't leave?"
"Of course. And if the others were here, they'd promise it too."
"Good." Selena gave a feeble smile.
Saturday, March 20, 1976
Alastor Moody and Headmaster Dumbledore sat at the kitchen table of The Belladonna Estate. It was early in the morning, and they were talking.
"Ruddy bastard, that Knox. Who in the name of Merlin would do such a thing?" Alastor Moody had just arrived for the real funeral.
Earlier that week, a funeral was held for all of the people that Komali Riviera knew. The Muggles had been told that she'd been shot during a burlary. There was no viewing, and they did not know that the caskets they'd seen at the funeral home were empty. They thought Mr. and Mrs. Riviera lay in a cemetery ten miles away. But truly, the ill-fated couple was hovering above the newly-made plot in their oak caskets thirty feet away from The Belladonna Estate's front door. The two were to be buried on the property.
"Evil consumes much, Alastor, you of all people know this."
"I do."
Selena, standing at the fireplace, could hear them. The wizarding community had been told to arrive by Floo Powder, as to not draw attention. Only Alastor Moody had arrived. But, there were four hours left until the ceremony.
The grieving girl's pallor was wan, like a minion of the undead. She looked magnificent in her black dress, the one her mother had picked out from that magazine seemingly so long ago. The black hair stick her father had given her held her dark waves up.
Behind her hovered a large picture of her parents at their wedding reception. Twinkles flew around the bewitched the photograph, its tears turning into glittered dew. Candles also drifted around, along with bouquets of roses.
A green flash of light revealed Professor McGonagall wearing black and silver tartan.
"Oh!"
"Morning, Professor." Selena felt she was not obligated to say "good morning," because it certainly was a not positive one.
"Oh," the woman sighed. She did not say anything, only embraced Selena tearfully. She cleared her thoat. "Is Albus-?"
"To your right, Professor."
"Thank you." Selena went back to her vigil. This might have been the only time she felt grateful to have her cane. She needed something to hang on to. Her knuckles were white around the silver handle.
Another flash.
"Morning, Minister." The Minister of Magic nodded.
"My condolences," she said. "Your father was a superb man."
"Thank you."
"Where are we to-?"
"Headmaster Dumbledore is to your right."
"Ah." Millicent Bagnold turned and walked over to the kitchen. Several more flashes of light, all of which bore people like the Minister, who did not feel very much remorse. They attended out of courtesy. But who could blame them? Funerals had become the norm.
"Ahem."
"Hello, Grandmother. How was your sleep?" Selena asked this stoically. She had perfected the numbing of her heart.
"Fine, thank you. Hmph. Those the wizards?"
"Yes, Grandmother Srivastava..." Selena's maternal grandmother knew the truth, and was the only Muggle who did. Unfortunately, Dumbledore thought it imperative to tell her because she had been keeping contact with Komali. But now, Grandmother Srivastava held a grudge against all wizards and witches alike.
"Well, they'd better not blow anything up. And when this is all over, you are living with us, and you will never go back to that silly school again."
"Yes, Grandmother." Selena would never not go to Hogwarts. Three bursts of green came from the fireplace. Grandmother Srivastava cursed loudly.
"Miss Selena!" A great woman stepped off the hearth, and behind her was Frank Longbottom and a man. "Augusta Longbottom."
"Morning."
"I knew your father personally, my dear. You have my deepest sympathies."
"Thank you. Hello, Frank."
"'Ello." Augusta Longbottom, her quiet husband, and her son found the kitchen themselves.
"Awful, blasphemous witchcraft..." Grandmother Srivastava sat in a chair directly across from the fireplace. Another flash of light.
"Hello." A pregnant, sweet woman came out of the fireplace. "I'm Molly Weasley. I was at your parents' wedding. You look just like your mum!" Selena gave a small smile as the woman touched her cold cheeks.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, dearest. Oh, now where's Bill and Charlie?" As she said this, a little boy with violent red hair tottered out.
"WICKED!" He exclaimed. "Mum, can we do that again?"
"Maybe later, Bill. Where's your brother?"
"Dad's trying to make him say the name of the place. Honestly, Mum, he might have to Apparate." Bill was outstandingly tall for his age, and he spoke clearly.
"Well, he can't Apparate! He's never been here before."
"Huh." Another little redhead came out, coughing and gagging. He was short and chubby.
"MUM! MUM." He hugged his mother.
"Ohh." Mrs. Weasley tutted, dusting him off.
"Don't be such a baby, Charlie! Just a little dust," Bill grumbled.
"Hello!" Another man with the same red hair stepped out onto the floor. "I am deeply sorry. Molly might've told you- we were at your parents' wedding."
"Yes." Arthur Weasley went into the kitchen as Molly ushered her children to the side, dusting them off as they jabbered loudly. Selena was grateful for their chattering, though Mrs. Weasley was trying to shush them. It gave the girl something to think about.
"Selena?"
"Oh, hi, Lily." Lily's arms went around Selena.
"I can only imagine what you're going through! Oh, when Remus told me!" Lily sniffled. "Do you need me to do anything?"
"Well, there are platters of hors d'oeuvres," Selena said, "in the kitchen, and people are arriving, and they might get hungry." But Lily was already in the kitchen.
Four more people came out of the fireplace.
"Hello." They all hugged her.
"Great Dumbledore let us come, eh?" Peter said.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." The old woman by the wall shook her head.
"Your mum's mum, right? What's she on about?" James asked.
"She hates magic- it took her daughter away," Remus mused. "Am I right?"
"As always," Selena sighed. "I expect the kitchen's getting crowded... You can stay in here."
"Okay." Remus, Peter, and James sat down in the chairs behind Selena, while Sirius stayed standing next to her.
Person after person arrived, mumbling apologies to Selena and then moving on to either the library, dining room, living room, kitchen, or staying in the family room with her. Some even stood out in the backyard.
"It is time." Headmaster Dumbledore tapped Selena on the shoulder. She nodded. Selena sighed, going into the guest room. Two white roses sat on the bed, wet with dew. She picked them up, fingering the petals. Time to say goodbye.
Selena turned and walked out the way she came. The guests were all standing now. Dumbledore followed Selena out of the house, and everyone trailed him in a bunch that gradually formed a distinct line. They all had flowers.
Selena took off her shoes before stepping over to her parents' graves. She stood barefoot in front of her father first.
"I love you, and I'll do my best to honor you. I don't know what I should say, Daddy. But, I'll always be your leprechaun princess, no matter how old I get. And thank you for being my daddy. I love you." Selena leaned, laying the solitary rose on his coffin. She moved on to her mother.
"Mum- Mummy. Thank you for being Daddy's rock. You had no idea of what he got up to, but you loved him anyway. Mummy, you taught me that internal grace and strength is so much more than external beauty. I love you, and I'll try to make you proud of me." Selena hiccupped a sob and placed the white flower on the casket. She kissed both of the large, oak holdings and stood between her parents' gravestones.
While she did this, everyone had been filing into seats. She was going to speak; she was determined to speak. Dumbledore gave her the okay.
"Of course, we are gathered here today to mourn the deaths of Raphael Stephane Riviera and Komali Srivastava Riviera-" Selena looked out at all of the people and took a deep breath. "No, scratch that. We are gathered here today to celebrate their lives.
"I- I honestly don't know what to say. I'm supposed to recite their lives and say what they did, but you already know. Why should I repeat it? Instead, I'm going to focus on what they left for me... Most of you know my parents as what they appeared- my father an Auror, and my mother a Muggle librarian. I don't really care about that part of them, because I never saw it. They left behind lessons for others, but I'm going to talk about the parts of their lives that they entrusted me to learn from.
"Um, Aurors make sacrifices. They often lead haphazard lifestyles, sticking to the hunt. My father, as many tell me, was one of the best predators. I never saw much of him growing up because he would be away for lengthy periods of time. But when I did spend time with him, I savored every moment. I am not embarrassed to say that though as old as I am, I often sat on his lap. And he treated me like his little baby. Daddy felt guilty, though. He treated me and Mum with the highest respect and affection, simply because he had sacrificed having a family for being an Auror. And he felt guilty.
"Speaking of Mum, my mother was a Muggle, and she did not know Daddy was a wizard until their wedding night. Mum- she believed him, yes. But I don't think Mum ever knew what that word 'wizard' meant back then. She saw the magic, she went to Diagon Alley, she watched Quidditch matches. But she didn't understand that there's evil magic too. She didn't understand that 'till I was born. When He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's power took center-stage, then Mum understood. But Mum didn't want Daddy- my Auror daddy- to leave, never knowing if he'd come back. She argued with him, hit him, cursed him. She was mad something had taken him away. Dad couldn't do anything, he knew. He took it, and never fought back. He felt sorry that he couldn't care for her anymore. Mum pretended like he didn't exist sometimes. She used to tell me that the only reason why she stayed was me.
"Mum sacrificed having a normal, sweet, and prosperous life to love Daddy. She caused herself so much heartache, but she stuck to it and let him go. She loved him. Daddy never got mad at her, 'cause he loved her loving him. Mum became sad. I think- I think Mum's sacrifices hurt her more than Daddy's to him. Sometimes she'd dress up in ethnic sarees just to look at herself and see what life could have been.
"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is... One of the most admirable and courageous things to do is to stand up for what is just and pure, but if you unselfishly sacrifice your happiness for other people's in order to do what is right... Well, then that- that is just the most beautiful pinnacle of one's life achievements. And that... That is what my parents proved to me. Thank you."
Selena looked down at her cane, sniffling. Tears had traveled down her face in the course of her speech. She heard applause, yes, but she didn't care.
---
"Professor, may I talk to you?" Selena tapped Dumbledore on the elbow. He gestured to the empty hall, and they moved to it. She opened her mouth tentatively and closed it.
"Yes?" He prompted. "Is something troubling you?"
"Yes, sir, two things. Three, actually."
"The first is silly, but, Mr. Knox was my godfather."
"He was."
"And now that it would be unfit to live with him or his family-"
"Ah! Your father told me that I am to be your godfather."
"Oh. Okay. So my grandmother is not-?"
"No. And she will not take you away. You will still go to Hogwarts." Selena sighed happily. Two of her questions answered.
"Good. The last thing, sir... Remember how you had asked if there was anything you could do?"
"Yes. The offer still stands."
"I have thought of everything in the world, and come to one conclusion." Selena took a deep breath. "I would like my house to be Unplottable, and I would also like the location of it to exist as a secret inside of me using the Fidelius Charm." Dumbledore's eyebrows raised; this was a strange request. "Sir, I don't want anyone stumbling into it or using it for anything. I should like to keep my house for me."
"Okay."
"Okay? Just like that?"
"I said 'anything,' and your request falls under the category. It shall not be easy, but Alastor and I-"
"Oh, thank you Professor!" This was the first good thing Selena had heard since her parents died. In a fit of happiness, she hugged him. He lightly hugged her back.
"You are very welcome, Selena."
May 1976
"I dunno, Padfoot. She's definitely improved." James ran his fingers through his hair as he sketched his Knarl.
"She has not. She's burying herself in studies to get away from the deaths of her parents."
"Well, even so, she's coping, isn't she?" Remus peered at the knarl with squinted eyes.
"I suppose she is, but who can tell? She won't talk to anyone."
"This is saying something, coming from her boyfriend," James sniggered.
"We are not a couple!" Sirius hissed. "Don't play, James- don't want those rumors to surface again." In their classmate's plight, the school had forgotten about the rumor and had taken to badmouthing Darcy whenever they could.
"Everyone knows those rumors are just like the dregs at the bottom of the cups after you've finished drinking tea. Crap."
"They are not crap, Prongs. We use them in divination. Divination is fun!" Peter started.
"This coming from the boy who swears he can see Mandrakes in his cornflakes over breakfast," Remus laughed. Sirius chuckled, while James accidentally gave his Knarl a plume because of his laughter.
---
"Finally, finished! I can now translate all of the hidden runes that're on Stonehenge," Selena said. She shut her book and put it on the floor. Pulling up a blanket, she nested herself in the couch. Sirius tapped her shoulder while sitting next to her, holding steaming cups of liquid.
"Tea? It's your favorite." Sirius placed a mug in front of her. "And I know how you hate china."
"Thanks. I don't hate it. I just think it's not optimal for drinking large quantities."
"Alright." It was around midnight in the common room, and Selena was obsessive with the topic of O.W.L.s, studying late into the night. Sirius had just come back from double Quidditch practice, too weary to climb the stairs to his bed yet rested enough to conjure Selena some tea. Selena pulled her feet into the chair and looked at the fire.
"That's so wild."
"What is?"
"Em, your eyes." Selena looked at him quizzically. Sirius quickly tried to explain himself. "Okay, most of the time, your eyes are a bistre color. But then, in the moonlight, they're mahogany. And now, in the firelight, they're burgundy, like, a brick reddish color. Anyway, it's maddening sometimes. I was wondering when you were going to ask me what color your eyes were, because I would've told you the right answer, which is bistre, mahogany, and burgundy. I like burgundy the best. Your eyes dance- what?" Selena had been looking at him with a saccharine smile.
"Nothing. You remind me of my dad."
"Is that good?"
"Very good."
"Okay."