A/N: I cried as I wrote this. Partly because I just saw HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE LAST NIGHT AT THE MIDNIGHT PREMIERE. And partly because I'm listening to the "soundtrack" for this. Once you figure out the ending, you'll understand.
You know, I put a lot- too many- clues in this, and I took out some. And no, I'm not putting them back in at any time.
THIS IS AN ALRESCHA CHAPTER. She's important to the story. She and her mother are now the main characters. And a note: Alrescha gives away more clues than her mother does.
The Scribe's Resurrection
Part Four: Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Burrow, July 8, 1994
"What about the candy that makes your tongue swell?" George thought fondly.
"Dunno, mate." They thought deeply about what to name it. Alrescha sat upright, eyes alight.
"You- you could call it Ton-Tongue Toffee!" All three of them giggled like mischievous little kindergarteners. Alrescha fell back on the bed that she was sitting on. Once they finished clutching their stomachs and drying their tears of laughter from the mental image, the three of them cleared their throats. The very early hours of the morning filled them with drowsy hysteria.
"Shh, shh." Selena put her finger to her mouth. Harry and Ron both shifted in their beds.
"That's brilliant. It'll go along perfectly with the Puking Pastilles."
"You guys, it's almost- Merlin- five in the morning. Can't this wait until morning?" She stretched and curled herself into a ball on George's bed. "I'm tired."
"But Alrescha, it is morning." Fred gestured to the window; they could see the first rays of the sun winking out from the horizon.
"It is. Early bird gets the worm, but night owls get the rats."
"I don't want a rat or a worm. I want your mum's breakfast."
"Oh, come on." George shoved her knee; Alrescha kicked back and got up.
"I'm going to bed, you crazy boys."
"Fine, then."
"G'night." Alrescha waved, heading out the door.
"Night. Remember to close the door."
"I'm not, Fred, my hand's on the knob."
"How'd you know that was me?" Fred asked. "You weren't even looking."
"You talk different than George, I guess. I dunno." Alrescha turned around and put her hand on her hip. "Why's it matter, anyway? Can I go to bed now?"
"Yeah. Bye."
"Have a good sleep," said George.
"Thanks, you too." Alrescha smiled widely before closing the door and heading to the room she shared with Hermione and Ginny.
"George, you're my best friend and twin."
"Right."
"Therefore, I am obliged to tell you that our best girl likes you."
"Really, no-" The door opened again; Alrescha had a bright look on her face.
"I've got it. Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes."
"That's great!"
"Yeah, I like the alliteration." George mouthed it to himself. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. Now really, it's bedtime." The girl bounced away, closing the door.
"Definitely likes you."
"Hmph." George rolled his eyes, staring at the door that Alrescha had just gone out of. "How d'you figure?"
"She hangs around us all the time. She does have other friends other than us. I mean, she can tell us apart. Not even Mum can tell us apart all of the time."
"She can't like me. We're twins. She can't have a preference."
"Apparently, she does."
An Island in the Pacific, July 16, 1994
Selena would never travel by airplane ever again. She was sick to her stomach, and every hour, it seemed, the plane went through rough spots. And it was so slow. But now she was in the islands, and it didn't matter. Alrescha was at the Burrow for the summer, and Selena was in the islands to see Sirius.
"Not far now, Miss. What brings you to Tahiti, if I may ask?" She was riding in a little automobile, smaller than normal, to her bungalow.
"My husband's been working for a very long time," she said quietly, "and tomorrow is our sixteenth anniversary. He's already there. I just had to drop our daughter off at family before I came."
"Very nice, very romantic. Is the anniversary a particularly special one?"
"He's been away for a very, very long time."
"Ah." The driver did not ask anything else. They were at their destination. Selena tipped the man, and she slowly got out of the car. She waved him off, and she stood there, holding only one bag and her cane. Selena wanted to marvel at the beauty of the island, she really did. But she only wanted to see Sirius. To see him again.
She stepped onto the boardwalk; the bungalow was perched out on the lagoon, and she had to walk to get there. She mumbled a spell to shade herself from the sun.
Finally, she found the one with Artemis sitting on the front porch. Her smile grew. Selena gave her owl a small scratch behind the ears and pushed open the door to the bungalow.
"Selena?" She heard his voice. His sweet, sweet voice. But her own voice would not work, to let him now she was there. He stepped into the main hall. Sirius had on khaki shorts and a white, button-up short-sleeve shirt, unbuttoned and exposing his chest. He did not look like the Sirius from Azkaban, as far as his mode of dress. He'd trimmed his hair, shaved. But he still looked different from the Sirius she remembered.
Selena dropped her bag at the door and slowly hobbled towards him. Sirius, however, decided this was taking too long and walked to her. They stopped once they were a foot apart. Selena gasped and held her breath; tears fell from Selena's eyes as she reached up to touch his face. And then her husband broke into a huge grin. And Selena lost all the strength she had and just fell into his arms, sobbing. Her cane clattered to the floor and he caught her.
"Sirius," she cried, throwing her arms around him.
"Hello, love." He picked her up into the air, spinning around. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too. So very, very much." She put her legs around his waist and stared at his face. Suddenly, with all the passion she remembered, Sirius kissed her lips. It had been twelve years. Twelve years since she'd tasted this heaven. He was mostly the same- well, he still smelled the same, like an earthy forest.
Sirius walked to the back of the bungalow where the bedroom was. He broke the kiss, setting his wife down on the bed. He crawled into bed with her, initiating their kisses once more.
With clumsy hands, Sirius unbuttoned Selena's sundress and carelessly threw it behind him. Selena slid off his shirt. Once he had Selena fully undressed, he backed away and studied her.
"Hmm?" Selena tilted her head, taking her wand and hair stick from her raven tresses and set them on the nightstand.
"You're so, so different. I can see your ribs' outline. And your eyes are sunken into your face. And your skin is so pale. And cold."
"I was warm until I went through Hell. … Your skin is pale, too. And your eyes are tired and worn. And your body is sinking into itself…" The two's eyes connected.
"We are so broken," they said together.
"What happened to us?' Sirius asked.
"Destiny."
"I wish we could go back in time when everything was perfect. When Lily and James were alive, when we were young and careless, when Peter was Peter, and when forever was a minute, and eternity was a second. When we were in love and reckless. Reckless, crazy love, and that was all we had."
"That's all we still have." Selena sighed. "We'll be able to go back there someday. I promise. We've just got to wait for it."
"I wish I knew everything before it happened."
"Sirius?"
"Yes?"
"I've got to tell you something. But not now." She smiled sadly. "It can wait."
"Okay."
---
The Next Day, July 17, 1994
Sirius and Selena's Anniversary
"Mmm," Selena stretched in the bed. "Sirius?" She sat up. He was not there.
"Making breakfast," he called back. "Happy anniversary."
"Happy anniversary," she said. "What time is it?"
"Almost three. In the afternoon," he added.
"I am so tired!" She yelled blissfully.
"I've still got it!" Sirius cried triumphantly, giving one of his dog-like laughs. Selena smiled. "Pancakes or waffles?"
"Waffles!"
A while later, Sirius entered the boudoir with a breakfast tray. Selena was wearing his shirt that she found on the floor. It was the closest article of clothing next to the bed. She tucked into the breakfast, as did Sirius.
"How's Alrescha?"
"Her best friends in the entire world are Fred and George Weasley and Lee Jordan."
"Ah, they were born on April Fool's Day. Wonderful day."
"Mhm. She has a huge crush on George. I mean, giant." Sirius raised his eyebrow.
"How old is he?"
"Sixteen."
"He's too old for her," scowled Sirius.
"She's known him since she was nine. He's not terribly old. He and Fred are like you and James, running around, causing havoc and chaos. She's at the Weasleys' now. They're going to see the World Cup."
"You left her with those two boys all by herself?"
"Oh please. Hermione and Ginny are there. They're girls. Honestly, Sirius."
"Seriously, honest. I don't like the sound of this." He huffed. "What else?"
"She and Harry are closer friends now, now that he knows that she's his godsister. Ron and Hermione, too. I think Harry's going to the Weasleys' too, later in August."
"Really? I've sent him a letter by way of a toucan."
"I've never heard of toucan post."
"I'll show you later." Sirius took a swig of his orange juice. "I've decided to redo my will."
"Hm."
"I'll give everything to you and Alresch-"
"No, give it to Harry."
"What?"
"Alrescha and I have more than we need, Sirius. Harry- he doesn't have- er- I dunno, it just seems right. Alrescha and I have my father's house, the house you and I bought, and Darcy's house. What you have should be Harry's. He is your godson after all."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes. I'm positive."
"Okay."
The Burrow, Late August of 1994
"G'night, Mum." Selena hugged her daughter; Alrescha ran up the stairs of the Burrow after her two friends.
"Um, Selena?" Harry cleared his throat.
"Harry! Go on up to bed, love, you know how early you have to wake up!" Mrs. Weasley put her hands on her sides.
"I will." Mrs. Weasley eyed him for a moment, but went into the kitchen.
"Selena, have you heard from Sirius?" Harry said in a hushed voice. "I received letters from him, but-"
"He's fine. I just came back from vacation with him yesterday."
"Where is he? Those birds he sent, toucans, I think…"
"Tahiti," whispered Selena. "But you didn't hear that from me."
"Ah." Harry smiled widely. "That's good."
"You should really get to bed, you know."
"Alright. G'night."
"Good night."
---
"I thought your mum was gonna search me too! Blimey, I've never been so scared in my life," Alrescha said to the twins. Fred and George were still irritated about their mother's search-and-seizure of all of their candies. She'd thrown them all in the wastebin. "Oi! Wait for me! I'm not as fast as you two." Alrescha was trailing behind. Alrescha had never been good at walking particularly long distances, especially since her mother wasn't a fan of long distances either. Right now, they were going up Stoadshead Hill.
"C'mon," Hermione said, waiting. Sharing a room with Hermione and Ginny for the entire summer had caused the three to become quite close, almost like sisters. Hermione and Alrescha linked arms.
"Thanks."
"Did you know they invented all of those things? Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes?"
"Well, yes. I helped."
"Really? Do they actually work?"
"Yes, they do. I haven't actually eaten any of them, but yes, they work."
"Wow."
"I know." They kept trekking along.
"Finally! We're here!" Ginny cried.
"This is Amos Diggory, everyone. And this is his son Cedric." Hermione and Alrescha smiled at each other, and Ginny turned and gave them a knowing glance. The very, very handsome Cedric Diggory smiled and greeted them. The twins scowled; Alrescha had already forgiven Cedric for winning the Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor match, and they hadn't.
"He's so much cuter when he smiles," sighed Ginny into Hermione's ear.
-
"Y'know, Mum was an Unspeakable before she was a professor," Alrescha said to Harry. He'd just learned of the Department of Mysteries. Fred and George were doing betting with Ludo Bagman.
"Really?"
"Yup. She says there's loads of really powerful, ancient magic down there."
"I've come to the conclusion that your mum's just brilliant."
"She definitely is." Harry, somehow in his subconscious, had decided that Selena could be like a mother- not the mother that Mrs. Weasley was to him, no- but a mother that could always tell him the truth or that he could talk to without any questions asked. In the short time that he'd known her as his godmother, Harry had seen the bond she and Alrescha shared. Harry realized that he wanted that too.
"What's happening at Hogwarts, Dad?" Fred asked his father. Alrescha frowned. Her mum'd been on about something that was supposed to be happening. But she thought it was just another one of her mother's crazy things that she thought was significant, but everyone seemed to be saying the exact same thing-
"You'll find out at Hogwarts."
"Ugh." Alrescha jumped up when she realized that they were leaving to look at all the souvenirs.
"Oh, look, George! It's a dancing shamrock!"
"Yes, it's nice, but we haven't got any money," he said.
"That's what you get for betting it all away," she said. "I'll buy you guys some things."
"Thanks," Fred and George said. They immediately began grabbing things off the carts, and Alrescha paid for it all.
"You sure your mum won't mind?"
"Of course not." The grey-eyed girl waved their worries away as she took some of the green paint and drew lines on her face. Being around all of the Ireland carts had caused her to have green glitter all over her hair; even the Garland Fuzzies now shimmered green shiny liquid into the air and their collars were now shamrocks.
"It's starting, it's starting!" Ron called, pointing to the path of red and green lights.
"This is gonna be the best ever!"
"GO IRELAND!"
"C'mon, fuzzes, let's get in the basket." Alrescha had purchased a green basket for Dash, Flash, and Panache to sit in while the match was going on. She didn't want them flying around. Effie was with Selena. They inched in with a schwoo, and she closed the basket and ran towards the pitch.
-
"WOOOOO!" Alrescha yelled. "GO TROY! YESS! SCORE!" She double high-fived the person closest to her, which was some witch she didn't even know, but she was decked in green.
"THEY'RE AMAZING!" Charlie cried hoarsely. Everyone was losing their voices.
"YEAAAH, IRELAND!"
"SHWEE!" The Fuzzies were flying about, and Alrescha's attention momentarily was diverted.
"Panache?" The boisterous one was flying away, flying next to where a house-elf was keeping a seat for her master. She reminded Alrescha of Muffy. Panache bobbled, shweeing, around the house-elf's head. And then suddenly, he was swatted to the side, seemingly by an invisible force.
"PANACHE!" She pushed her way over to him, where he was lying on the bleacher. She cupped him in her hand and looked up angrily at the empty seat. "OI. I dunno what just happened, but you better leave my pets alone!"
"Miss, what is you saying? No one is there," the house-elf slowly said.
"Sure there isn't. Something hurt my Fuzzie. And it can go budge off for all I care, treating a cute bitty thing like that!" Alrescha spun around on her heel and returned to the match, keeping a very close eye on her glittery pets.
-
"Beautiful, it was. TROY, MULLET, MORAN!" Alrescha cried. "And look at all that money you two made! Completely brill, that prediction was."
"Bedtime!"
"Aw."
"C'mon, Dad!"
"No, you're all dead on your feet."
"Oh, fine."
Alrescha went with the other two girls into their tent, and soon fell asleep. However, she was soon woken up by Ginny shaking her vigorously.
"Wake up, wake up! Something's happening!"
"What?" She shook the sleep out of her eyes.
"Put on a jacket, let's go." Hermione handed her the dragon hide jacket she'd worn to the pitch. It was her favorite; it had been Sirius' jacket. They all rushed out of the tent, only to see some Muggles hanging lifelessly in the sky. Alrescha could only stare up at the sky in fear. This was reminding her of something, but she couldn't remember what.
"C'mon," said Fred, taking Ginny's hand. George took hers, and pulled her along.
"Where're we going?" Alrescha asked.
"Woods, didn't you hear?" George muttered. She shook her head.
"Let's go this way," pointed Fred, running. George nodded; he'd already gone for that area. Finally, they rested beside a very large tree. Alrescha couldn't stop staring at the Muggles, at the Death Eaters destroying everything, parading.
"C'mon, let's go back to the campsite. Looks like they're going away from our tent." George and Fred led the way, still holding on to Alrescha and Ginny's hands.
"Are you- are you crying?" George asked. Alrescha pulled her eyes away from the sky.
"Wha-?" She touched her face. "No. Maybe. I dunno." Alrescha frowned and wiped them away. "It's just, Mum owns a Pensieve. And when I was little, like five, I was curious. I knew Mum wouldn't like it, but I touched it anyway. It was awful. I'd never seen so much death in my entire life."
"What'd you see?" Ginny asked, taking Alrescha's arm.
"Death Eaters. Lots of them. And Inferi and-" She stopped in her tracks and pointed to the sky. "That!"
The Dark Mark floated ominously in the sky, a snake and skull bending with the wind. More tears ran down her cheeks, and she started running alongside her friends.
But what she did not tell them, was that one of the Death Eaters she saw in her mother's memory was Regulus Arcturus Black.
Tuesday, August 30, 1994
Sirius and Selena's House"How come I never get to ride the train with the rest of them?" Alrescha did not mind using the Floo Network to get to Hogwarts a few days before term, but she'd never been on the Hogwarts Express. However, she had needed to come back to her mother for a few days to talk with her about Panache and the ordeal at the World Cup.
"I dunno. You never told me you wanted to. But I suppose you can next year. Anyway, did you get dress robes when you were in Diagon Alley?"
"No. I didn't like any of the dresses. Besides, I wanted something different." Alrescha sighed, packing up things for Hogwarts. "Why do we need them, anyway?"
"Well, I believe there's going to be a dance this year."
"What for?"
"Promise you won't send an owl to anyone straight away?"
"Promise."
"The Triwizard Tournament."
"Really!?" Alrescha sighed. "Now I'll really need a pretty dress."
Selena stared at her daughter for a moment, then smiled.
"I know where we can go."
"Where?"
"Remember a couple years ago when we went to your mother's house?"
"Yes…"
"She's got lots of dresses and things in her closets that she used to wear onstage."
"I can wear them?"
"Sure. They're yours."
September, 1994
Hogwarts"Albus, I'm frankly not completely sure about Alastor. Something is off about him. When I told him Alrescha was looking forward to his lesson, because she hadn't seen him in so long, he didn't say a thing. It's like he doesn't remember, Albus."
"Alastor could not forget you, of all people, Selena."
"Seriously. It's like somehow he's forgotten about me and my situation."
-
"Now. Usually you wouldn't learn any real things about curses unless you were in Spell Making, but sadly Professor Riviera doesn't teach anyone under fifth year."
"She's extended the years?" Hermione asked excitedly.
"Yes. Eventually they might go down to third year, but who knows. Now, there are several curses that, if used, earns you a one-way ticket to Azkaban prison. Who can tell me the names of the three Unforgivable Curses?"
Alrescha stared at Alastor Moody. Not once did this man, who was generally considered somewhat of a grandfather and confidante of her mother Selena, look at her. Not once. And she knew that eye saw everything. Not one time did he look at her.
"You coming?" Hermione nudged her after class was over.
"Um, yeah. But don't wait, I'll just be a second." Once everyone had vacated the classroom, she stood and walked up to him.
"Yes, Alrescha?" He cleared his throat. Alrescha did not speak, only looked into his eyes. At length, Alastor Moody spoke. "Do you need something?"
"No." Alrescha turned away and swiftly left the room, deciding right then and there that something had happened to Alastor Moody. He didn't have it in his eyes. He didn't know anymore.