A/N: The star Alrescha is in the constellation Alpha Piscium, which is Pisces. Selena is a Pisces. Originally the goddess of the moon, the goddess Artemis rules over many things, including fertility and childbirth. Nowadays, Artemis is identified with the Titaness Selene, a goddess of the moon.
This is an Alrescha chapter. There's a major clue as to how the story will end.
Catherine Tate. Lauren Cooper. That is all.
The Scribe's Resurrection
Part Four: Chapter Twenty-NineHogwarts, October 10, 1994
In the Gryffindor Common Room, Alrescha was writing in a journal. Her mother liked for her to write. Selena had said that because Alrescha was younger, she could write from a vantage point that was unknown to Selena. Most of what Alrescha scribbled were series of poems, poems that she later put to song. She wondered if her mother, Darcy, had done the same. She glanced across the table and sighed happily.
There they were, her best mates, sitting. Conspiring was more like it. She shook her head at them.
"I really don't think you'll know what you're up against until Beauxbatons and Durmstrang get here," she said finally, referring to the matter of age and entering the Triwizard Tournament.
"Well, we just wanna be prepared."
"Right."
"You gonna want to enter?" George asked.
"Me? Nah." Alrescha shook her head. "But I'll definitely have a laugh when you three get rejected." She stood up. "I'll be back."
-
"Oh, you were a fire caught in a storm- memories like embers keep us warm…"
Alrescha sat at the piano, singing beside her mother; Selena played with her eyes closed. Selena could tell her daughter was in distress. The voice of Darcy peeked through her daughter's lips, and Selena suddenly stopped playing and looked up.
"I can't take this, Mum." Alrescha sighed. "How do you cope?"
"Cope?"
"I never see you break… I just- I'm so confused. I'm scared, Mummy." Alrescha set her head on her mother's shoulder. "I feel like I'm standing on the edge. If I go forward just a little, I could fall… I'm so scared."
"Don't ever be scared to be happy… Your mother gave you to me so you could be happy."
"How can I be happy when it seems like it's in vain?"
"Never say that- happiness is never in vain, Alrescha. I thought the same thing when I was dating Sirius, and I feel happier that I stayed with him rather than sealing myself off. You can't- you mustn't-" Selena found herself choking up. "Just, be happy. It's better than feeling nothing at all, believe me."
Alrescha nodded, hugging her mother.
"Can we continue?"
"Of course."
"I have a new song. Could I-?"
"Mhm." Alrescha placed her fingers on the piano and began to produce a light melody. Just then, an owl, Artemis, flew in the open window bearing a piece of parchment. Selena plucked it out of the owl's talons. Artemis hooted, nipping both pianists and flew back out.
The parchment had few words written on it.
I'm coming back.
The piano session ended, each woman feeling quite worried about the coming months.
Hogwarts, October 30, 1994
"Oh wow, are those Abraxan?" Alrescha murmured. Everyone was gawking at the Beauxbatons carriage, and then the Durmstrang ship. Fred and George were mumbling to themselves, probably about how Ludo Bagman had swindled them out of their earnings. Alrescha had half a mind to tell them to tell their father, but she knew they never would.
Someone bumped into her.
"Oh, excusez-moi, mademoiselle."
"Ah-" Alrescha looked up. Her face softened. "Non, excusez-moi, monsieur." His face was delicately handsome. She smiled, not knowing what to say.
"Je m'appelle Matthieu."
"Je m'appelle Alrescha," she replied. Alrescha knew a bit of French from her mother.
"Alrescha, c'est très joli."
"Merci." She blushed.
"Bon, à tout àl'heure." He gave a small bow and left, following his headmistress.
"I saw that." Angelina cleared her throat. "Did you do what I think you did?"
"I don't even know-"
"You were so flirting with him."
"What?" Fred and George came out of their conversation. "What did you do?"
"Um, nothing," Alrescha and Angelina began to giggle; they went inside the Great Hall, the twins wondering what had happened.
--
"If this works, you have to try the Hives Honey."
"Please." Selena sucked her teeth. "If it doesn't, all three of you have to try the Pox Pops." She folded her arms.
"Oh, you're on," Fred said.
"We're gonna take the mickey right out of you, mate." George shook his head at her.
"Wait and see. We'll be in the Tournament in no time." They each opened their mouths. With a dropper, Alrescha deposited a drop of the Ageing Potion into their mouths. Fred, George, and Lee swallowed. The four of them strolled into the Great Hall to the Goblet of Fire.
"Bonjour!" Matthieu tapped her on the shoulder. The boys went on, talking to Ron and Harry.
"Bonjour," she replied.
"Vos amis entrent dans le tournoi?" Matthieu gestured to Fred and George.
"Ah oui. Uh- mes amis ont seize ans, et nous ne savons pas si le breuvage magique fonctionne-" Alrescha felt as though she were butchering her French, but he understood that the boys were sixteen, and they'd taken a potion.
"Don't worry, your French is fine." Alrescha's eyes widened.
"You speak English!"
"Ah, yes. I'm sorry, I thought you were just being nice, talking to me in my native tongue." Alrescha, embarrassed, turned to the three boys deciding to go through the Age Line.
Fred was making a big show of going through- he slowly stepped over the chalk, smiling oh-so-cavalierly. George as well. They made it through. Alrescha began to pout, and then-
"AHHHHH!!" The twins were hurtled out of the circle and fell on the ground. Alrescha busted into throes of laughter, going over to them. And to make matters even funnier, with a loud pop, they sprouted beards. She laughed harder at them. And then they laughed at themselves.
"You look like Dumbledore," she chortled at George. "I win!" The four of them, Alrescha, George, Fred, and Lee, walked to the Infirmary.
"That was hilarious," Fred and George said together.
"That was well bad," replied Alrescha.
"Wasn't it though?" Lee laughed again.
"And are we bothered? Not at all." George said.
"You'll be bothered once you take those Pox Pops tomorrow." Alrescha gave them a triumphant grin.
The Great Hall, October 31, 1994
"Harry Potter." Selena's eyes widened. She got to her feet. He could not have put his name into that Goblet of Fire. Never. Never in a million years would Harry put his name into that cup. His face betrayed him- he looked just as astonished as everyone else in the Hall. She gulped. He went into the Champions' room, looking very small and scared. Selena's eyes connected with those of Dumbledore's, and they both went after him.
"Harry, you did not put your name into that cup, correct?" Selena murmured to him, feeling his cheek. Harry smelled a strong waft of spearmint; it calmed him into answering.
"No, I didn't."
"Some'ow, 'is name was put into zat cup! Only 'e could do eet!"
"Did you ask another student to put your name in the cup, Harry?" Albus Dumbledore inquired.
"No."
"Lies!"
Everyone rushed into a flurry of conversation. Selena did not take her hands off of Harry's shoulder.
"Selena, please tell us your opinion."
"The Goblet of Fire indicates an iron-clad magical contract. Because the Goblet does not lie, then someone put Harry's name in, whether he knew of it or not, and presumably under a different school, like you said, Alastor. Harry… Harry must compete. As his godmother, I wish for him not to, but who am I to question a tool that has been in use for half a millennium?" She fell silent, and more talking began. Finally, Dumbledore dismissed them all, and only Selena and Harry were left in the room.
"Thank you, Selena."
"You're welcome." She looked into Harry's eyes sadly. "But Harry, be careful. Someone… Someone must want you dead. And they're here in this castle. Be careful of who you trust."
"Everyone thinks I entered."
"You'd have to be mad to enter, Harry."
"No one will believe me, Selena. I mean, I don't believe it myself."
"I'm sorry, dear. But if it helps, I'm here for you."
--
I fear for the next few months. Alrescha tells me everything about Harry that she knows, but I still feel that he is unsafe. It is not my duty to protect him, but I do love him very much. For me, this year has been calm. The only thing that could possibly worry me is Harry Potter, and fortunately, I am in a position to watch and care. Words appeared in Selena's journal, writing themselves into existence. She paused her thought, the words faltered.
I see more of Darcy, Regulus, and Sirius inside of Alrescha every day. Darcy, for the most part. My dear daughter is becoming a woman, and I hope Darcy can see it. Her voice is exactly like Darcy's- sometimes when she's singing, I feel like Darcy is back, and we're in the Belladonna Estate, playing together. Before, Alrescha looked like Regulus and Sirius, with her dark hair and gigantic grey eyes. She still has those things, yes, but her face is Darcy's, her nose, her cheeks, her lips, her chin. Everything. She's even got Darcy's cavalier, Black family gorgeousness, though she's not conscious of it like Darcy was. Selena gave a small chuckle.
Sometimes I cry when I think about how quickly she's growing up.
Sincerely- Selena's name appeared at the bottom of the page, and she shut the journal.
--
"Alrescha."
"George."
"Who is that?"
"Who is who?" Alrescha looked away from her meal, leaning in to see who George was talking about.
"Him, that bloke over there from Beauxbatons. Keeps on staring and staring." Alrescha met the young man's gaze. Matthieu smiled at her and turned back to his friends.
"Oh him! Someone I met."
"Oh really?"
"Yes. Name's Matthieu Renard."
"Right."
Hogwarts, Early November of 1994
"Alastor, I want you to personally watch over Harry in this Tournament. Your experience is something he can learn from."
"Of course, Dumbledore."
However, Selena was uncomfortable with this idea for some reason. She didn't voice her opinion- Alastor was supposed to be someone she could trust. But lately, she'd been under the impression that Alrescha was right, that Alastor was changed. The twinkle in his eye- both of them- was different.
November 29, 1994
The First Task
"Harry's last," Alrescha said, after seeing Krum come out. "Blimey it's cold." She rubbed her hands together, trying to warm her fingers under her thin gloves.
"Here, take these." George took his gloves off his hands and pulled them over top Alrescha's.
"I don't wanna take yours-"
"It's fine, I'm not even cold."
"Thanks. Ah, are these self-warming?" She put them over top her face, warming her nose.
-
"HARRY! HARRY, DEAR!" Selena waved, making her way over to the youngest champion. Every bit of the pitch was in a state of confusion, laughing and recounting the events of the First Task.
"Selena?" Harry strolled over and stood, beaming.
"I- am- so- proud of you." She shook him a little. "Remus will want to hear every bit of it!" And, lowering her voice, she added, "And Sirius too."
"Thanks. I'm just about to go up to the Owlery-"
"CONGRATULATIONS, HARRY!" A very eager witch with very bright green robes jumped out. It was Rita Skeeter. Selena frowned.
"I don't think Harry wants to talk to you-"
"And who might you be?" Rita asked in a rather puffed-up voice.
"My godmother," replied Harry.
"Ah. Well, may I have a word, Harry?"
"Yes, you may. Goodbye." Harry mumbled a 'see you later' to Selena and walked off, very peeved with Rita Skeeter's reporting.
"What're you laughing at?" Rita barked at Selena, who found this all very amusing.
Hogwarts, December of 1994
"Alrescha, you won't believe who's asked me to the Yule Ball." Hermione sat on the edge of Alrescha's bed. The grey-eyed girl's head tilted.
"Who?"
"Viktor Krum," she whispered. "And I said yes!"
"Really?" Alrescha beamed. "That must've been why he was in the library this whole time. He must really like you, Hermione!"
"Think so? I mean, well, he did ask…" Hermione cleared her throat. "What about you? Has anyone asked you yet?" Alrescha had become one of the best-looking girls in their year, much like Darcy had. She'd received several offers, some from seventh years, even. But she'd turned them all down, on the basis that she didn't know them very well. She scratched her head in befuddlement.
"Yeah, but… I want to go with someone I actually like, and well-"
"Are you telling me that George hasn't asked you yet?"
"Shhh, Hermione!" Alrescha blushed a vicious shade of red.
"Well, has he?"
"No, but-"
"Then ask him! I mean, Fred's already asked Angelina-"
"Fred and Angelina have liked each other for ages."
"Yeah, but… Well, I dunno what's holding George up."
"He's probably going with Alicia." Alrescha frowned, turning her lip up at the name. Alrescha had nothing against the girl, it was just that Angelina had always been around Alicia, and Fred was of course always around George, so it was natural that Alicia and George would eventually hook up.
"You can't not go because of that, Alrescha."
"I know…"
"What about that Matthieu?"
"He is well fit." Hermione and Alrescha started to laugh, thinking of the blue-eyed, handsome Frenchman from Beauxbatons.
"And he does like you, you know. I mean, he does stare at you a lot." Alrescha had been avoiding all males, actually, to give George time to ask her. But since he was going with Alicia, that meant Alrescha could go with whomever she wished.
--
Alrescha and Angelina were looking through catalogues, trying to pick out a dress for Angelina to wear to the Ball. Everyone was full of Christmas spirit, including the Garland Fuzzies, who had surpassed their mother in lifespan. They were dancing around, showing off in the Great Hall.
"Maybe we should go to Hogsmeade," Angelina wondered.
"No, everyone'll be getting their dresses there. You don't wanna show up wearing the same dress as some other girl."
"True. Oh, ugh, look at that one."
"Cripes, she looks like a blast-ended skank."
"But oh! That one, that one's beautiful!" A long, byzantine-colored dress with silver swirls in a pattern stamped on it.
"Oooh, it's pretty!"
"I wonder if it clashes with Fred's outfit…"
"He'll probably tell you his outfit's the wrong color so that he'd have you two purposely clashing-"
"Excuse me." Someone tapped Alrescha's shoulder.
"Yes?" She turned- Matthieu was smiling down at her. She stood up. "Oh, hi."
"I wanted to know if you had a date to the Ball yet. I thought you would go with your boyfriend-"
"I don't have a boyfriend."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Then, would you like to accompany me to the Yule Ball?"
"I'd love to."
Ending Author's Note:
I'm working on the next chapter now as well. Gah.