Disclaimer: I don't own HP, I only own Evan and Iris Potter.
I intentionally have Aludra use the wrong name for Dobby in this chapter. She's only heard it once or twice, so she doesn't remember it properly.
22-5-2023
Chapter Four
Return to Hogwarts
The remainder of the summer was relaxed and fun, but Aludra missed Evan and Iris more than she would have expected to, especially given how short an amount of time she'd known Iris. They did exchange letters at least, and this time they actually made it through. From those letters, Aludra learned that Lord and Lady Potter had relaxed their overprotective tendencies a bit, and allowed Evan to spend the ten days of summer with the Weasleys. Iris was invited as well, but declined on account of not knowing them.
Aludra felt a bit sorry for Evan at the news. She knew from the older boys that Ginny Weasley had a huge crush on 'the Boy-Who-Lived'. Apparently, she only ever called him by his title or full name. The crush hadn't eased over the years, instead she'd merely become more worshipful. Evan's letters spoke of how uncomfortable he felt around her as she stared at him all the time, but never spoke. Any time he spoke to her, she squeaked and went bright red, and once even stuck her elbow in the butter dish when he wished her a good morning. Evan, while oblivious, wasn't so oblivious that he couldn't figure out what was going on, and he begged Aludra and Susan for suggestions on what to do to help the younger girl get over her crush.
Unfortunately for Evan, neither of them had any experience with crushes (much to Sirius and Remus' relief), so they couldn't give him any advice, save for trying to show her that he was a normal boy. The twins and Percy all kindly tried to intercept their sister whenever she went to follow Evan around or made him uncomfortable with her stares (really, people were too hard on Percy. He had a good heart, he just liked rules and structure. Aludra was glad the twins had stopped picking on him after a stern talk from their grandparents, but Ron remained scornful still), but Ron just called Ginny weird while Mrs. Weasley apparently simply squealed about how cute it was and how lovely it would be if they fell in love (adding to Evan's discomfort around both female Weasleys) and Mr. Weasley just laughed it off. Aludra did promise Evan that if things got too uncomfortable for him, she would ask her father to speak with Lord Weasley to get him to intervene, and he thanked her but said it wasn't necessary (but it might be in the future and please leave the offer open, which of course it was.).
The first of September arrived, and it began with Susan, the Longbottoms and Cedric Flooing over to Black Manor, from where they would all walk to King's Cross. Aunt Amelia was working, as she had to oversee a trial, which Cedric's father was also taking part in and his mother, who was a Daily Prophet journalist, had a meeting with the Chief Editor of Whizz Hard Books about a book she was hoping to get published, and so had asked Sirius to let Cedric walk over with them, which of course he had agreed to.
"Right, is everyone ready to go?" Remus asked briskly as they all gathered in the foyer at 9.45 that morning. It only took fifteen minutes to reach the station, so they'd arrive with plenty of time to spare and get good compartments before saying goodbye so the adults could get to work.
Alice was the first one Sirius recruited for his team, though she would only be doing research. She'd retired from field duty after the attack, to look after Neville and Uncle Frank. Now that the kids were at Hogwarts Remus was no longer needed as a tutor, but he still acted as Steward of House Black, and was also publishing books on magical creatures along with Amos Diggory while Uncle Frank devoted his time to improving House Longbottom. Their wealth had doubled in the last decade since he began focusing on House business, and they'd become far more influential in the political sphere, especially due to their Friendship Alliance with House Black.
"Kids, do you have everything?" Uncle Frank asked.
"Uh-huh," the girls and Cedric confirmed.
Neville shrugged with an amused smile. "I think so, but I've probably forgotten something Mum and Dad'll have to send me," he replied cheerfully, making them chuckle.
Alice smoothed his hair with a fond smile. "Oh, you're so much like me when I was young," she sighed. "It's like looking in the mirror."
"Ah, remember that time you got stuck outside the Tower after curfew because you'd forgotten the password, and found us sneaking back from setting up a prank?" Sirius said with a grin.
"Which time?" Aunt Alice retorted with a smile.
"The time you blackmailed us into showing you the kitchens," Sirius answered, making everyone laughed at the image of a young Alice Fortescue blackmailing the boy who would grow up to become her direct boss.
"Alright, alright, we'd best get going if you lot want to get a good compartment," Remus finally said. "Come here, Ally. I'll shrink your trunk. Where's Hedwig's cage?"
"Here," she lifted the empty cage. "I sent Hedwig on ahead. She hates being stuck in the cage for too long."
"Alright, I'll shrink the cage too then," Remus stated as the adults all shrunk the luggage and the kids tucked their things in their rucksacks to unshrink on the train.
They walked to the station, Aludra between her guardians and holding her father's hands.
"Remember, no stunts like last year, alright little star? I've given you the mirror, and I expect you to use it if there are any emergencies. It's the fastest way to reach me. I'll have mine on me at all times." Her father reminded her firmly, as if he hadn't repeated it a million times already. Still, she knew it was just because he worried and cared about her, so she nodded.
"I know Daddy," she assured him. "Don't worry, I have no intention of getting into any trouble at all."
"Oh, you're such a good girl," Sirius sighed melodramatically. "What did I do to deserve having a good child instead of a demon?"
Aludra quirked an eyebrow. "You sure I'm that good, given our last Prank War?" She'd ended up on her uncle's team that time (she alternated between the two, which meant that next time she'd be on Padfoot's team) and had come up with the idea to change Sirius into a bright pink poodle, much to his horror. It had only made it worse that the colour charm only got stronger the more he tried to reverse it. He'd had pink hair for two weeks, and her father adored his hair. He'd been appalled. He'd been pretty sure she was a demon child at the time.
Sirius laughed and pulled her into a side hug as they reached the entrance to King's Cross. "I love you so much, little star," he sighed. "Don't ever doubt that, alright."
"Never," Aludra replied confidently. She'd never doubted that, not from the start. Even when she'd first woken up after the adoption potion with no memory of anything, she'd felt safe around Sirius and Remus, and she'd been able to recognize their love for her in their eyes, especially her dad. "I love you too. Both of you," she glanced between her father and uncle, who smiled softly down at her.
"You're the light of our lives, cub," Remus stated.
Aludra smiled, but couldn't answer as they'd reached the barrier.
"Right, I'll go through first with Ally," Sirius said briskly, turning back into his take-charge, stern public persona. "Remus, you take Cedric, Frank and Neville, then Alice and Susan."
Aludra felt a little annoyed that her father didn't want her going through the barrier alone, but she squashed it down and reminded herself that Cedric, although in his fourth year, was also being made to take an escort through the barrier. It was just in Sirius' nature to be overprotective of the children he cared for.
She braced herself, her father's hand resting on her shoulder, and they ran through.
Soon enough the lot of them were through. The adults waited until the children had found compartments next to each other and put away their things in the storage racks to say goodbye before they all had to rush off to work.
Cedric told them to get him if they needed him then went to greet his friend Tamsin Appleby, the Hufflepuff Keeper, who they could see had just arrived and was looking around for any sign of her friends. The trio, meanwhile, went back to their own compartment to wait for Evan (and Ron, though he was only really part of the group because Evan was) to join them. While they waited they took out Susan's pack of muggle playing cards and some candy and began playing poker with it (Neville was terrible, Aludra was decent and Susan dominated the game completely). At five to, Aludra was relieved to see a gaggle of redheads arrive. They'd been getting worried the others would miss the train, which left at exactly 11.00. The Weasleys were always cutting it fine, apparently, but this was probably their worst year yet. They really ought to be more organized.
Aludra was just thinking that when Susan gripped her arm.
"Aludra," she began fearfully. "Wasn't Evan meant to arrive with the Weasleys?"
"Yes," Aludra answered in a tone of dread.
"Then where is he?" Neville wondered anxiously. "I don't see Ron either."
Indeed, the others were right. There was no sign of Ron's gangly frame, or of Evan's messy black hair and olive skin in the group of redheads. Aludra's stomach dropped as she watched Mrs. Weasley shove Percy, the twins and a little redheaded girl she assumed was Ginny onto the train as the whistle blew in warning.
There was no sign of the boys.
Aludra's vision blurred briefly and she saw the barrier, a young olive hand resting on it, proving it was completely solid, before returning to reality. Aludra didn't have time to be confused over her vision. She turned and rushed out the door, hurrying down the halls as fast as she could without banging into somebody or outright running. She soon came on the twins and Percy, Ginny in tears beside him.
"It'll be alright, Ginny," Percy was assuring his sister. "They'll be waiting on the other side of the barrier. Mum and Dad will just bring them by Floo, or on the Knight Bus. Don't worry."
"Lu!" George exclaimed at the sight of Aludra. He was the only one who called her that.
"Where are Evan and Ron?" She demanded, making a mental note to apologize for her rudeness later. Panic was making her face hot and her heart pound.
"Something happened to the barrier," Percy explained in a tight voice. "They didn't make it through, and Dad couldn't get back to them, either. Not even by Apparating."
Aludra's eyes widened. "I sent Hedwig on ahead, but if you give me a minute I'll write a letter to Grandpa and send it with Hermes," she offered. "And Daddy gave me a way to contact him without owl. I'll get him to bring a team to figure out what happened."
"I would appreciate that, Aludra," Percy sighed in relief. "The Headmaster will probably take you more seriously than he will me."
Aludra accepted the scrap of parchment and quill Fred passed to her and scribbled a quick note to her granddad.
Dear Granddad,
I hope you're well.
Something happened at the platform to seal it off. Evan and Ron couldn't get through, and Mr. Weasley couldn't Apparate back to them. The train left without them. I think it was that House-Elf, Dibby, from the start of August. I'm going to use the mirror to let Dad know, but I thought you should know too.
All my love,
Aludra
She finished and passed it to Percy, who quickly gave it to Hermes and urged him to fly as fast as he could, something Hermes clearly took seriously, as he raced away, quickly turning into a distant spot, and then disappearing completely.
"I'll go now and let my dad know," Aludra told them. She paused a cast a comforting look at Ginny. "Your brother is right, Ginny. They'll be fine, and they won't be in trouble for missing the train. It's not the first time it's happened."
She was surprised when all that Ginny did was shoot her a scowl, but turned away and hurried off without saying anything. Either Ginny too had picked up on Mrs. Weasley's distaste for the Blacks, she was stressed about the boys, or else she didn't like Evan having girl friends, never mind that Aludra couldn't imagine ever seeing Evan that way. Whichever it was, it was irrelevant to Aludra. She would be polite and kind to Ginny, same as she was to Ron last year, but she was under no further obligations to her other than protection due to the Weasleys being the Blacks' vassals.
Really though, you'd think they'd be politer to the people paying for them to attend one of the most prestigious schools in the world.
Aludra rushed back into the compartment, making Neville start. Susan was staring worriedly at the floor, twisting her skirt between her fingers and clearly lost in thought.
She looked up at Aludra's entrance. "What happened?" She demanded. "Where are the boys?"
Aludra waved her off, pulling down her rucksack and rummaging through it for her mirror. "Sirius Black," she said clearly and loudly.
Her father's face shimmered into view, looking concerned. "Aludra? What is it, are you kids all alright?"
"It's Evan and Ron, Daddy," Aludra explained quickly what happened. "The barrier shouldn't have shut like that, Daddy," she pointed out. "And Anti-Apparation wards require strong magic. I think it was that House-Elf, Dappy, from the holidays."
"Dobby," her father corrected her absently. She could see from the way that the mirror swayed that he was rising to his feet. "Yes, I expect you're right. Damn, I'll be making sure Proudfoot gets a reprimand from Scrimgeour for this. He was warned to be alert for a second attempt. There should have been protection around the platform just in case." She saw him grabbing his cloak and tugging it on awkwardly with his free hand. "Don't worry Ally. I'll get my team and head to King's Cross. Hopefully the boys have the sense to wait there for help."
Aludra bit her lip. As much as she loved her friend, Evan didn't exactly have the best track record for being sensible. Ron definitely didn't, and Evan often went along with his stupid schemes. "You don't think Dobby will hurt them, do you?" She asked softly.
Susan flinched and Neville swallowed.
Sirius gave a reassuring smile. "No, I don't," he stated. "Dobby is trying to protect him from something. Hurting him would be counterproductive."
The trio relaxed.
"Try not to worry," Sirius said. "I'll find them. I have to go now, alright? Try to distract yourselves. Everything is going to be fine."
"Okay, Daddy," Aludra murmured. "I love you."
"Love you too, little star."
There was still no word about the boys by the time they arrived at Hogwarts and the Sorting began, but just after the ceremony ended, Susan grabbed Aludra and Neville's arms and nodded to the back of the Great Hall. They looked, and Aludra sighed in relief at the sight of Evan and Ron, though she winced in sympathy. Her father was standing right behind them, his hands clamped on their shoulders with a severely unimpressed look on his face. Whatever stunt the boys had pulled, they weren't getting off easy if Sirius had anything to say about it.
Evan shot them a weak smile and small wave and her father nodded at her before tugging the boys away. Aludra's grandparents rose to their feet and hurried off, Grandma Min's lips a thin white slash across her face.
"What do you think they did?" Neville whispered to the girls.
"No idea, but I don't envy, that's for sure," Aludra replied lowly. "Grandma looked ready to murder them with her bare hands."
"Idiots," Susan sighed in a put-upon manner. "Can't they stay out of trouble for one day?"
"Clearly not," Neville muttered.
The whole school was soon whispering about Evan and Ron, coming up with the most ridiculous rumours. There was a ridiculous rumour that the boys had crashed a flying car into the Whomping Willow and were expelled. Aludra knew that was nonsense. There was no way the Boy-Who-Lived, Heir to House Potter, would ever be expelled.
Besides, Grandma would never allow Gryffindor to lose their star Chaser.
They were making their way up to the Tower when they heard their names being called. "Aludra! Neville! Susan! Wait up!"
They paused and turned, finding Evan and Ron. Ron was panting, but Evan had taken up running during the summer and was doing okay.
"What happened?" Susan demanded immediately. "People are saying that you crashed a flying car into the Whomping Willow!"
The boys cringed and Aludra groaned, just barely controlling herself to keep from burying her face in her hands. "You didn't," she moaned in despair. "What were you thinking?"
"The barrier shut and we missed the train!" Ron defended their actions. "We had to get to school!"
"And it didn't occur to you to take the Knight Bus?" Susan huffed, scowling at them with her hands planted on her waist. "Or better yet, wait for your parents?!"
The pair flushed.
"Your dad already gave us a right talking to," Evan sighed at Aludra. "He's scary when he's mad."
"You deserved it," Aludra replied unsympathetically. "You might've exposed magic!"
"The car has an invisibility booster," Ron said weakly.
"Did you use it?" Neville asked pointedly, though mildly.
The boys flushed. "We did," Evan insisted before muttering quickly. "It just stopped working a few hours in."
Susan looked up at the ceiling, as if begging Lady Magic Herself for patience.
"What did Granddad and Grandma say?" Aludra huffed.
"Detention for two months, starting tomorrow," Evan grimaced.
"I think I was punished enough without the detention," Ron complained. "Look at my wand!" He raised the old wand and the others winced. It was broken nearly in two, with just a strand of the unicorn hair and some wood holding it together.
It was an accident waiting to happen.
"I'm not looking forward to Mum's reaction to this," Evan sighed. "She's going to be furious with me."
"Your mum is going to be furious?" Ron scoffed. "Mum sends Howlers like they're going out of style! I'll end up in the Hospital Wing with burst eardrums!"
Aludra sighed and eyed the pair. A part of her felt like she should scold them more, but that wasn't really her place. She was their friend, not their mother. Anyway, they'd been scolded and punished already, and their parents hadn't even found out yet.
"Well, hopefully that'll teach you to think," she muttered, turning on her heel and beginning to lead the way to the Tower. "Come on. It's late, and if I'm tired then the two of you must be ready to fall over."