Disclaimer: I own only the plot and Ash, all else belongs to J.K. Rowling and Co.
GW
I wake up the smell of smoke, and I shoot up in bed thinking that the room was on fire. Opening my curtains, I see Ash sitting at her desk, a cigarette in one hand, dangerously close to burning her fingers. Curiosity getting the better of me, I walk over to her on bare feet and pluck the cig out of her hand, taking a drag and coughing.
She looks up at me, mildly amused at the look on my face. She takes out another one and lights it, leaving me with the rest of that one. My lungs were burning, but with the second drag on the cigarette it eased and it wasn't all that bad.
"What time is it?" I ask her.
"Almost time for breakfast," she mutters, going back to her sketch book.
I look over her shoulder at the sketch pad, and the design there almost took my breath away. Though it looks more like a costume then something that a person could wear for day to day living, I found myself wondering why she was designing it.
"You missed dinner last night, Dumbledore said that they were going to have an All Hallows Eve ball. He also said that next weekend will also be a Hogsmeade weekend so people could shop. Gives me chance to get the material for our costumes, Draco's probably assuming that I'm going to make his as well," she mutters, as if answering my thoughts.
I put out my cigarette, she offers me the pack and I shake my head.
"Can you read my mind or something?" I jest.
"We're connected now, if you think loud enough I can hear your thoughts."
"Is that how you and Draco managed to stay in contact for so long?'
"No, I wasn't allowed to use any of my power while I was wearing that horrid collar. Father was worried that I would kill him, and he had right to."
She ran her fingers over the scars at the base of her throat, and I felt an anger welling up inside my chest. There was a whooshing sound as my bed curtains caught on fire. Ash gives me a chiding look, and then her eyes lose focus. A second later there was a bang as Draco charges into the room, dousing the flames with water from his hands.
"And what have we learned?" he drawls.
"Don't get angry?" I squeak, my heart still racing.
"High emotions leads to your power getting out of control," Ash mutters.
She flips back a couple of pages in her sketch book and holds it up to Draco. His eyes widen as he looks over the sketch.
"Thank you," he mutters to her.
"I figured you would have wanted me to design something for you," she replies casually.
"Did you sleep at all last night?" There was concern in his voice.
"You already know the answer to that question," she answers.
"I don't think that I've ever really seen you use the bed," I think aloud.
"I don't need to sleep that much," Ash says, "I never really have. Don't want to deal with the nightmares that creep up on me."
"Dreamless sleep potion?" I ask her.
"Won't work for me, my body will metabolize it too quickly. And I hate being forced to sleep," Ash answers.
"I'll talk to Severus, there might be something that he can do for you," Draco says to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
I could feel a pang of jealousy; I push it aside quickly, not wanting to set something else on fire. I would have liked to be as close to Draco as Ash apparently was. I push these thoughts away as well, we're friends, you're not supposed to feel like this towards a friend. I just got out of a bad relationship; I don't want to get into another one, not now.
Ash stands up and stretches, I could hear her back cracking my spine feeling sympathy pain.
"Want to head up to breakfast?" she asks, her stomach squealing.
She puts out her cigarette in the ashtray and grabs a scarf before heading out.
"No complaints here," Draco answers.
I nod. She heads for the door, heading down into the common room. Draco makes a motion with his hand for me to precede him out of the door. I smile at him, ducking my head in a nod before following Ash, Draco right behind me.
We take our seats at the table, and a few owls make their way in. I noticed the erratic flight of our old owl Errol, and I could feel my lip curling. So they take it upon themselves to write to me. Guess Mother wanted to make good and sure about things before she wrote anything to me. He drops onto the plate of eggs, and I manage a shield charm before I got splattered with the mess.
An easily recognizable red envelope was clutched in his beak. I take it, opening it quickly, like one would rip tape off of your skin.
"Ginerva Molly Weasley!" Mothers harsh voice screams, "How dare you shame this family so! Get your ass to where you belong and make up with Harry, he's heartbroken that you ended the relationship! I guess we were right about your first year, that touching that things soul corrupted you! If, in a week, you are not back where you belong, then do not even think of coming home, you won't have one! You'll never be a Weasley again!"
"And that's a bad thing how?" I ask the shreds of the envelope.
"Well, are you going to do what she's… demanding of you?" Ash asks me.
"Go back to Gryffindor, with all of those sniveling idiots, or stay here with my friends. Go back to a family that hates me, or stay with a family I found that notices me for me," I muse.
"I think that it's a no brainer than," Draco drawls, his face impassive.
I take out my quill, conjuring parchment; Errol sat there staring at me mournfully.
"Mother," I write quickly, "Do not think for one minute your threats scare me. I have not really been a part of this family since my first year. You treated me like a leper, thought that I chose to be possessed. For your information, I did not willingly take him into my body, I did not willingly do all of those things. I guess at the end of this letter, I do not have to call you Mother anymore, and for that, I have to say I am glad. I am not changing one thing, I am happy where I am. Good-bye."
I seal the letter quickly and give it to Errol before using a levitation charm on him until he could go under his own power. I felt relieved that I would not have to deal with my Mother anymore, come back and be treated like a house elf, doing by hand all the she could do with just a flick of her wand.
An elegant owl lands in front of Ash, and she takes the letter from its beak giving the owl a bit of her breakfast. It flew away, Ash kept turning the letter over in her hands, pausing to look at the seal thoughtfully before turning it over again.
"Knut for your thoughts," I mutter.
"You're still not old enough to take care of yourself are you?" She whispers.
"No, not until August," I answer.
"What are you planning on doing, after the school year, for breaks?" she asks.
"Why all the questions?" I respond.
"I've been the legal age, and I wouldn't put it past your Mother to notify the ministry that you've been disowned and will be in need of a guardian. There is a period of time, if a guardian steps forward and claims it, then you won't be considered a ward of the state. If you want to, I could legally adopt you into my family," she says solemnly, looking at me.
My heart started racing as I figured out what she was offering me.
"But it would be weird to have you as my mother," I say quickly.
"Who said that I would be your Mother," she retorts.
"Isn't that what you just said," I ask confusion in my voice.
"I'm offering you my family name, and since I'm the only surviving member left, it is mine to give as I please. We'd be more like sisters than anything," she explains.
Before I could give anyone in the great hall a hint of what we were talking about, I nod my head at her. She smiles at me, fading it to a smirk before excusing herself and leaving the Great Hall.
"You should be honored," Draco mutters out of the corner of his mouth at me.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"To do that, means that she believes that you would fit well into her family. It's ancient magic, almost never done anymore."
"I've never heard of it."
"You're family, though being pureblood, have turned their backs on a lot of the ancient magic that goes along with being one. They chose not to inform you about the perks that come with it, as well as the pitfalls."
I finish my plate, and Draco makes a small motion towards the door, and I nod. Potty brushed past me, with the Weasel King in tow. They don't spare a passing glance at me as they go by. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Draco making sure they didn't do anything to me. Down in the dungeons, I realize something that I didn't before.
"What's Ash's last name?" I ask Draco.
"Twilight," he replies.
AT
I watch the owl disappear, carrying my request to the executors of my Father's will telling them that I will be there for the reading, and my request to add Ginerva to the family tree, as my sister. I head down from the tower, looking forward to spending the day working on Ginerva's
wardrobe. This is the first time that I've really had anyone to design for, Father scoffed at my sketches and Mother… well… Mother didn't live long enough.
I heard footsteps start up behind me; I turn quickly to see Potty with his wand raised. He muttered a spell and everything went dark.
A.N.: In case you don't figure it out AT is Ash Twilight. Evil cliffhanger, what will Potter do to get his girlfriend back.
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, it's you guys that have kept me working on this through everything. Enjoy the chapter .