Chapter 82: In the End
The sun was up yet it did not melt the snow that decorated the roofs and grounds of Hogsmeade. The air was cold and the gentle breeze that came ever so often made the students close their eyes and enjoy its feel against cheeks. Some even had red noses.
The Hogwarts students nuzzled their face deeper in their scarves that donned their house colors as they stuffed their hands into their pockets and walked closer with their friends, trying to get warm. Most of them were heading to The Three Broomsticks to get a nice drink of Butterbeer to warm them up.
Outside the warmth of the shops, laughter filled the air and several gleeful screams were heard when one was attacked by a snowball thrown by a specific Marauder. It was James Potter.
James sniggered and dodged a snowball, made by none of than Remus Lupin, before bending down to scoop up more of the cold, white substance into his hand, forming another ball to attack with. He peeked his head out of his hiding place and got hit in the face.
"Bleh!" he exclaimed, falling back into the snow, dropping his weapon, "That was a sneaky attack, Natalie!"
"Your fault for being terrible at hiding, Potter!" Natalie laughed, flicking her wand and making the snow from the ground lift to her other hand and forming a ball shape. She tossed it up into the air before catching it and throwing it over to where she had hit James. It landed inches away from him.
"I thought you had an invisibility cloak for a reason!" she grinned and looked over to Remus, "Are you gonna hit him?"
Remus smirked and used his wand to levitate his snowball to fly over to James, landing on the fallen boy's head. There was a sound of spluttering. "I just did," he said.
"That's cheating!" James sat up straight, furrowing his brows at his friend. His already unruly hair had snow particles decorating it and his glasses were askew in his face. His cheeks and nose were red from the cold and his teeth slightly chattering. "You're not supposed to use magic!"
"Are you a wizard or not?" Natalie stuck her tongue out at him, "You're just jealous cause you don't know how to make a snowball using magic. You do it the Muggle way!"
"You're supposed to do it the muggle way! It's a muggle game!" James countered.
"Of course not," Remus sided with Natalie, "Muggles got it from us."
James gaped at his friend before standing up from his place and brushing of the snow that clung to his clothes and hair, he then made his way to Remus and Natalie and furrowing his brows at the former.
"Whose side are you on, Moony?" he asked, running a hand through his hair, stopping it at the back of his head and scratching.
"Obviously he's on mine!" Natalie answered for the werewolf, clinging onto his arm. "He doesn't need to side with people who can't even do a simple spell to form snowballs at the palm of their hand!"
"I can do the spell!" James retorted, "I just wanted to play the game the HONEST way!"
"Since when did you ever play games the honest way, Prongs?" Remus raised a brow at him.
"Since…. Since…. Since… Since now," James's cheeks were now flushed with embarrassment. He scanned the area, begging for a change of subject. He finally found one when he caught sight of Peter waddling his way through the snow to get to them. "Wormtail! Over here!" James hollered, waving his hand in the air, "Where's Padfoot?"
Peter winced a bit at the volume of James's voice, also from a sudden gust of cold wind, and quickened his pace towards his friend. Natalie made a face for a moment before busying herself by looking over to a random shop. She got a craving for sweets.
"He… He said he wanted to stay behind," Peter said, his hands busying themselves with each other. He sniffed the air for a moment before looking over to some students walking away with cheese sticks.
"Stay behind? Why on earth would he want to do that?" James asked, leading his friends towards The Three Broomsticks. He was getting cold and wanted a nice mug f Butterbeer and some chips.
"The – the Emeraude girl was there," Peter squeaked out, shivering from the cold. Even with the layers of clothing he had on, he was as twitchy as ever.
"Lucy?" Remus asked, ordering four Butterbeers from the man and distributing them, "What were they doing?"
Peter took a large gulp of his beverage before looking up in thought. "Sirius wasn't doing anything. Emeraude was studying though." At this, Natalie snorted.
"Poor bloke's gonna lose his mind," she said before drinking her drink in an un-lady like manner. She at least had the decency to hold in a burp. Natalie then wiped her mouth before continuing. "It's impossible to have a ongoing conversation with the girl when she's in her 'Studious mode'."
"You would know," Remus chuckled.
"Believe me, it's horrid when it's this close to exams. Lily's practically living in the library and Lucy is buried under books… why do you think I hang out with you guys?" Natalie then grinned.
"You mean you don't hang out with us for the sake of having fun?" James mocked shock.
"Pfft, of course I do," Natalie replied, "It's just having you guys for company when exams near is a bonus."
Moving away from Hogsmeade, not all students chose to spend their free day outside of school, looking in shops and hanging out with friends in the cold. Some, like Lily, spent their time in the library while others chatted in the Great Hall and the field. Those who were Second Year and below stayed in their Common Room, busying themselves with a nice game of Wizard's Chess and Exploding Snap.
Then there were people like Lucy who spent her free day sitting on the floor in front of the couch, reading by the fireplace. The fire wasn't as strong as it would be at night but it was fine by her. As long as the words on her book were readable, she had no complaints.
Well, she had no complaints on the book. The company; however, was a different matter.
"Bloody hell, Luce, you're just as bad as Evans!" Sirius whined, tugging at a strand of Lucy's hair, trying to get her to actually talk to him. He had been trying to get her attention for ages and none of his actions were working. This was his last resort.
Lucy sighed irritably and shut her book close, looking over her shoulder to see Sirius sitting on the couch behind her, his elbows on his thighs and a strand of her hair in his hand. Sirius grinned. He finally looked at him It was SOME progress.
"And why – may I ask – do you say that?" Lucy asked. It wasn't like she didn't like being compared to Lily. In fact it was an honor. It was just that they way Sirius said it, made her think different.
"You have your nose so deep in the book I'm beginning to think you're going to get sucked into it," Sirius said, dropping the strand of hair, "Seriously, drop the book, throw it in the fireplace for all I care, just go out with me!"
Lucy's eyes widened, her mouth hung open and her cheeks flushed. "G… Go out?"
"Yeah," Sirius shrugged like he said nothing wrong, "Hogsmeade or at least around Hagrid's house. ANYWHERE as long as we get out of this common room."
"Git!" Lucy exclaimed slapping Sirius' knee with her book. Her brows were furrowed and a healthy red decorated her cheeks. She had assumed he meant something else only to find out she was way of tract. The fact that she actually believed he was asking her out made her more embarrassed. She thumped his knee two more times.
"Ow! Bloody hell! What's gotten into you?" Sirius yelled, moving his poor kneecaps away from harm and bringing them to his chest as he readjusted his position on the couch so he took a fetal position. "You should have just said that you rather stay inside the bleeding common room!"
"You think this is about the common room?" Lucy asked incredulously, "You're so…. So… thick!"
"What else could it be about?"
"What – You know, FORGET YOU!" Lucy then sniffed, standing up from the ground and holding her head up high, "Let's just get out of here so you would stop bothering me."
Sirius remained silent. He was shocked by the sudden change of heart but the shock soon wore off and a smug smile graced his lips. He got up from the couch and slung an arm around Lucy shoulder, fighting against her trying to shrug him off.
"What a smashing idea, love," he said before dragging the Emeraude out of the common room, disappearing from sight.
George gave a low whistle as he looked down at the empty box of the "Reusable Hangman." He had just closed the shop for the day and was thinking of doing the restocking on the same day as to not be bothered by it tomorrow. He didn't want to be bothered by the fact that a customer would be wondering where the said product was and he would have to spend some time looking for stock.
The boy matured a little since leaving school and creating a business with his brother. He was thinking wisely and was doing better at making decisions. Never did he procrastinate when it came to restocking and managing the amount of money they've earned for the day. But don't think the twins were all "Percy –like" now. Never. The two were still the same pranksters everyone knows and loves. Of course they have to be. They owned a bloody successful joke shop.
George picked up the empty box and tossed it in the air, spinning it as it flew, before catching it and making his way up the stairs and towards the room he and his brother shared. They had an apartment above their shop and it was big enough for just the two of them. The reason why they chose to share the same room was because they used the others for a "Work Room" and "Experiment Room" and such. It was their way of being messily organized.
He tossed the box in the air one last time before reading the back of the box (something he found amusing because of the way he and his brother described the product) and pushing the door to the shared bedroom open.
"Hey Fred, do you know where we kept the extra supplies of – Merlin's pants! What happened to you?" George asked after he looked up from the box to catch sight of his twin's current appearance.
Fred looked up from the piece of parchment in his hand and raised a curious brow at his brother. He was leaning into his chair and his feet were propped up on the table, one leg on top of the other. There was an open envelope by his feet and behind that envelope was Eos, who cleaning her feathers.
The older of the twins put down the letter and ran a hand through his hair. His hand had several bite marks along with his face. He even had some scratches and the like while his shirt looked like it was brutally tugged. There were even some feathers resting on his shoulders and head.
"Ah Georgie my good lad!" Fred greeted, dropping his feet back on the ground, "What brings you here?"
"What's Zoey's owl doing here?" George didn't bother answering Fred's question.
"You mean Eos? Oh, she just dropped Zoey's letter," Fred sent a nasty look towards the owl before picking up the letter. Eos pecked his hand, seeing the look he gave her. "Ruddy bird," Fred muttered, dodging another attack.
George laughed and pulled out a biscuit from his pocket (how it got in there in the first place was to remain a mystery), holding it out for the Owl. Eos hooted with appreciation and flew to George's open arm, nipping affectionately at his ear before eating the biscuit. Fred swore under his breath.
"All animals seem to hate me," Fred then said, laughing at his own misfortune with his friends' pets. "First there's Bridgit's mutt and now Zoey's letter deliverer."
Eos moved his beak in a threatening manner and Fred held up his hands in defense.
"So what did she say in the letter?" George looked towards the letter, not really wanting to snatch it out of his twin's hand. It was something his girlfriend sent him personally. If he were to get something from Echo (he was really hoping to get something from her soon) he would not like it if Fred were to read it without permission.
They were twins, yes, and they did not keep secrets from each other but some things are just meant to be kept private.
"Zoe and the rest have just taken their NEWTS," Fred smiled a bit, knowing that Zoey was excited to tell him the news.
He could sense the excitement through her writing. That and there were numerous errors and erasures. The words that she tried to put into writing just spewed onto the paper inelegantly. You could practically sense the jittering joy.
"She's also inviting us to attend the graduation," he added, showing the invitation to George.
"Graduation…" George gave a whistle and scanned the letter, letting Eos fly away from him to take a spot near the window. She fluttered her wings and took a still stance. "It just seemed like we got our Hogwarts letters yesterday, doesn't it, Gred?"
"Hmm?" Fred hummed, making his way towards the door, "Yeah… do you still remember the prank we pulled on the train, Forge?"
"How could I forget? It practically told the entire school to watch out for the Weasley twins have come to Hogwarts!" George laughed and Fred joined in.
"We even dragged Echo into the prank!" Fred snickered.
"She was so pissed when we ran down the hall," George shook his head, smile on his face, "Separated herself when she had the chance –"
"– And it took us the entire train ride to find her only to see her sitting in the same compartment as Zoey," Fred ran a hand through his hair, remembering Zoey as an eleven year old girl. He didn't even look at her twice.
At what Fred said, George's smile slowly left his face and his brows furrowed in thought. Fred caught the change in atmosphere and cocked a brow at his brother, remaining silent, he knew what George's thinking face looked like and he also knew it was best to keep quiet until George spoke. Eos hooted and fluttered her wings in discomfort. Even the owl wasn't use to being in a silent room with the twins.
"Zoey… was in the same compartment?" George finally asked, his own eyebrow raised at his twin. Fred looked at him in disbelief.
"You didn't know?" he blinked in surprise, "She was even there when we were about to be sorted."
"She was?"
"How can you forget? Her name was called around four times before she got up," Fred tried to jog up George's memory. George usually was the one reminding him about certain things, with the roles changed, Fred was beginning to worry. How could George forget their first "meeting" with the Emeraude?
The Great Hall's doors opened and the First years entered in an orderly fashion, in two straight lines. Fred was on the left line while George was on the right. Echo was near the front of the line, hidden. He gawked at the sight before him and looked to his twin, grinning at him widely, George returned it.
This was it. Once they got up there and sorted, they were going to be official students in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Let the devious ideas of pranking begin.
The Sorting Hat was then placed on the stool in front and he opened his mouth wide in order to sing his song. The song he made special for the newest of students. Like wands, no two songs were alike.
He sang about Hogwarts and how he was made and what was his job. He mentioned what each house required and what you would achieve.
Soon, the song ended and McGonagall pulled out a scroll and read out the first name on the list.
The Sorting had begun.
Eleven year olds came and went with different speeds. Some stayed on the stool for less than a minute while others took longer. After their house was announced, many jumped off their seat to join their housemates while others needed to be snapped out of their shocked silence. Fred was overwhelmed with excitement and nervousness.
"Which house do you think you'd be sorted into, Georgie?" he leaned a bit in order for his twin to hear his whisper.
"Gryffindor, definitely," George grinned, watching Echo make her way to the stool, "Do you even need to ask?"
"RAVENCLAW!" the Sorting Hat announced for all to hear.
The twins clapped their hands, giving a "Whoop!", and followed Echo with their eyes until she reached her House table, sitting elegantly and nodding her head to those who welcomed her. Fred leaned once more to continue his and his twin's conversation.
"But just say that we were not sorted into Gryffindor –" he began but was interrupted but the Sorting Hat shouting out "SLYTHERIN". Fred made a face.
"We're Weasleys, Freddie, Weasleys are always in Gryffindor," George said confidently, pausing for a moment. He hadn't heard the hat shout out a house in a while, "Did it break?"
"Huh?" Fred looked back to the stool, craning his head a bit and saw that it was empty and several of the teachers and students were looking around. He looked back to George and the two of them shrugged at the same time, both not knowing what was going on.
"Emeraude, Zoey?" McGonagall asked in her loud voice, looking at the First years that stood in the middle of the Great Hall. No one approached the stool. "Zoey Emeraude?" she tried again.
Fred noticed that everyone was reacting to the name, looking for the owner, except for the small girl standing in front of him. The girl's head was slightly pointed down and it appeared that she was deep in thought. He looked over to George and his brother gave him a look, telling him that she could be the one.
"Ask her," George whispered, "I want to get sorted so we can end this."
"You just want to get sorted now so you can eat," Fred pointed out, hearing the low rumble of George's stomach.
"Being a Weasley is awesome except when it comes to sorting. We have to wait so bloody long before it's out turn," George grinned, "Besides, if I'm hungry, I'm sure you're hungry too."
"True," Fred laughed before looking back at the girl in front of him. He licked his lips and got closer to her, nudging her in the ribs. The girl jumped slightly in shock before regaining her composure. Fred watched with slight amusement as the girl's long brown hair whipped from side so side as she looked around herself, panicked by everyone's ogling stares. He was right. This girl was Zoey.
The girl swiftly turned around to face him and Fred took note of her deep red cheeks, flushed from embarrassment. He leaned down to her level, it was surprising how short she was compared to him, and whispered in her ear.
"Are you Zoey Emeraude?" he asked her. He needed to clarify first before telling her to get up there. It would be embarrassing if she took a seat on the stool only to find out that it wasn't her turn.
Zoey, he happily clarified, nodded her head. Fred grinned.
"You're up next," George suddenly spoke, sharing a grin identical to his brother's, "Don't want to keep the rest of us waiting." He was considerate and hungry.
"Your name has been called at least four times," Fred guessed, "Better get up there, love."
Fred felt the need to chuckle when he saw Zoey's blush deepen. She gave him and George a nervous smile before turning around and making her way to the Sorting Hat. She gave the professors an apologetic nod before taking a seat on the stool, hat placed on her head.
She jumped the moment the hat made contact with her brown looks and if possible, she looked almost scared. Fred wondered what was happening but before he could even ask George on his opinion, the hat took a deep breath and announced.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"That was her?" George gasped, his eyes widening at the realization, "No wonder I couldn't recognize her! She was so different!"
"Different?" Fred snorted, "She's the same as ever."
"I was probably blinded by hunger then," George said sheepishly, shrugging his shoulder. Fred laughed and thumped his brother on the shoulder before stuffing his hand into his pocket, making his way towards the door.
Fred wasn't even leaving the doorframe when Eos made a screech, flying to him and pecking at his head and arms.
"BLOODY BIRD!" Fred exclaimed, shielding himself with his hands. He did not dare get his wand from his pocket in fear that he would harm the bird. Zoey would not like that.
"I think she wants you to reply to Zoey's letter," George said, not even hiding his laughter.
"Where do you think I'm going?" Fred glared, "I'm going to get the blasted parchment to reply on!"
"What did you do to make her so angry anyway?" George asked; Eos already leaving Fred alone to take her spot near the window once more, her large eyes staring into Fred's soul, daring him to leave without giving her his reply.
"Left her in the cold all night, I suppose. Just opened the window to get some fresh air and BOOM she pelted me with her beak before dropping Zoey's letter on the floor," Fred grumbled, rubbing his wounds before giving the bird a look.
Eos squawked at him and Fred took this chance to escape, slamming the door close on his way. George shook his head, chuckling to himself before walking over the desk and picking up Fred's and his new plans for a new product, Giggling Gumballs.
BOOM! CLATTER! SMASH!
Zoey groaned and let out a heavy cough once her body made contact with the hard floor of the kitchen. Several chairs where pushed out of the way due to her fall and objects that were placed on the edge of the kitchen table fell to the floor. The ash from the fireplace exploded everywhere and Zoey was covered by it. She tried her best not to take deep breaths but couldn't help it for all she could do at the moment was cough.
"Who's there?" came a strong voice from the other side of the kitchen door.
"M – Me!" Zoey gasped, trying to wipe away the floo powder from her eyes. Her glasses her pushed far up her head and everything around her was blurry. The particles of dust didn't help her vision either.
The creak of the door was then heard followed by several footsteps making their way towards Zoey. The Emeraude's eyes were squeezed shut and she did not see the person who was helping her too her feet.
"Geez, Zoey, what happened to you?" the same voice asked; only its volume was a bit softer now. Zoey felt something cold and wet wash over her hands and arms along with her face.
Zoey brought her now clean hands to her eyes and wiped away the water before placing removing her glasses from her head, cleaning it and placing them back on her face. The owner of the voice was her dad.
"Umbridge," was all Zoey said, making Sirius react immediately.
"What did that hag do to you?" his eyes darkened.
"Nothing… yet. I escaped when I had the chance," Zoey told him, her eyebrows knitted together and an uneasy smile on her face, "I broke the rules, escaped, was found the next day and escaped to here."
"Broke the rules?" Sirius' eyes widened.
Zoey vigorously nodded her head, pulling out a kitchen chair and gesturing to her father to take a seat as well. She began to play with the hem of her skirt as she retold all the events that led to her arriving to The Noble House of Black.
During the retelling, her father would occasionally nod his head whenever Zoey said something important, but he would never utter a word or distract her from her train of thought. Zoey spoke with a steady rhythm and no interruptions.
When the Emeraude finished her story, her father was still silent. This caused her to feel a small jolt of panic within her. Was escaping to here a bad idea? Did she interrupt an important order meeting? Had her father gotten sick and tired of her already?
Absurd thought after absurd thought ran through her mind before she finally got the courage to childishly ask her father: "Am I in trouble?"
Sirius' seemed to have snapped out of a daze for his head dropped slightly from the shock of Zoey's question and he had to blink his eyes several times before looking directly at his daughter. "Trouble?" he asked her, "Why would you be?"
"Well, I did go against school authority –" Zoey began, wincing at the thought. She couldn't believe that she actually rebelled.
"Umbridge isn't school authority. She's a frog," Sirius scoffed.
"Toad actually," Zoey cracked a smile.
"Hideous amphibian all the same," Sirius barked a laugh, "Let's get you settled into your room, shall we?"
Harry's heart pounded violently against his chest as he walked briskly down the halls, his mind in total chaos. He had been excused from the exam after screaming and falling to the floor, seeing into Voldemort's mind once again.
He needed to find Zoey, he needed her help.
A throbbing pain burned at Harry's temples and the boy had to squint his eyes, looking every which way for his godsister. He had already made a plan with Hermione, Ron and Luna to infiltrate Umbridge's office and to check if Sirius was truly safe in 12 Grimmauld Place.
All he needed to do was find Zoey. If Sirius was indeed in trouble, Zoey had to be with him when he saves the man.
Harry was beginning to get frustrated. Where was that girl? Left, right, up, down, back, front. She was nowhere in sight. He was just about ready to scream in anger when he saw Jane come to view. She was waving goodbye to her boyfriend, Aiden. Harry felt an ounce of hope jump in him.
"Jane!" he exclaimed, running to catch up with the Hufflepuff. Jane jumped at the sudden call of her name and turned around the see a disheveled Harry.
"Harry –" she began, concern lacing her words, but was interrupted by Harry's rushed words.
"Have you seen Zoey?" he asked her, his head looking left and right, praying to catch sight of the girl, "Do you know where she is?"
"She's not here," Jane told him truthfully, a strange feeling of guilt welling up in the pit of her stomach. Harry looked so panicked right now and she knew for a fact that what she had just told him did not help his stress levels in decreasing.
"What do you mean 'She's not here'?" Harry all but whispered, his eyes widening. Jane opened her mouth to explain further but was interrupted by another yell.
"HARRY!" it was Bridgit, looking just as stressed out as the boy who lived. She avoiding crashing into a statue and made a run towards Harry. All her attention and relief was focused on the boy that she did not even notice Jane's presence.
"Thank goodness I found you!" She exclaimed, wanting to embrace the boy who now stood in front of her. "I've got to-"
"Have you seen Zoey?" Harry suddenly exclaimed, cutting Bridgit off midway. "Do you know where she is?"
"Wait, huh? What?" Bridgit asked, confused as to what Harry had said. "No I haven't seen her, but I really need to tell-
"Where could Zoey be?" Harry shouted, frustrated now by his missing godsister.
"Harry I really need to-"
"How about Echo, do you think she knows where Zoey is?" Harry now asked, frustrating Bridgit as well. Why couldn't he let her finish her goddamn sentence?
"I don't know, but will you please list-"
"Fine then!" Harry said, running away. "I've gotta go find Zoey!"
"Harry wait!" Bridgit shouted, trying to stop him, but he was to far from ear shot now. "That idiot..." She whispered, suddenly realizing that she wasn't alone in the corridor. She turned towards Jane and asked her a question as well. "Do you happen to know where our little Zoey is?"
"Wow, it's still in perfect condition," Zoey joked the moment her dad led her to the room she and Echo shared over the summer and Christmas.
There wasn't much to it. It had the same forest green walls as all the other room and the same window that had a brown frame around it. There was a vine – ish design around the doorframe and on the furniture but that was about it.
Plain and simple room, clean too.
"Give me some credit, Zoey," Sirius chuckled, leaning against the doorframe to take a good look of the room, "I'm not a total slob."
"Aunt Maria says you are," Zoey said, plopping down on her bed and bouncing slightly due to the springs. "She tells me that if I entered the dorm you shared with Uncle Moony and James, I would have heart failure from the shock and stench."
"Don't believe what that blasted woman has to say about our room," Sirius paused, "In fact, don't believe what that blasted woman has to say about anything. It's all lies. Our room wasn't that bad, if you're rooming with Moony, some things do have to have some order to them."
At this, Zoey broke into a wide grin and let out a laugh. She often wondered how life was back in the day her parents and godparents still studied in Hogwarts. Was her mother anything like her? Shy and reserved or was Natalie like Bridgit? Loud but with tact? Were the Marauders' pranks anything like Fred and George's? How about Lily? Did her studying habits match up to that of Echo's?
All those question were left unanswered and unsaid for before Zoey could even utter something, Sirius shot up from his position and looked out to the hallway, his body tense like a dog when danger is approaching.
"Da –" Zoey began but her father held up his hand, signaling her to keep quiet for a while. The Emeraude bit her lip and stood up from her place, approaching the man.
"I need to get something," Sirius said when Zoey was about three feet away from him. He looked back to his daughter and sent her a weary smile, "Why don't you grab something to eat in the kitchen? I'm sure there's something edible there."
"I'll see what I can prepare," Zoey told him, giving him a nod. Sirius nodded his head as well before fully leaving the room and dashing off to a place only he knew where. The Emeraude took a shaky breath before going the opposite direction and making her way to the kitchen.
The journey down the steps and towards the kitchen did not take long. In fact, it would have been faster if not Zoey took the time to explore a bit and enter a room where she found a large wall dedicated to the Black Family Tree. The girl craned her neck and stood on the tips of her toes as she tried to trace back everyone to the very beginning and back. She used her finger to delicately trace her way down and around the vines until she stopped on her father's name.
His picture was nothing but a burnt hole. Even her name was not listed on the family tree.
This fact did not sadden her but it made her realize that on both sides of her family, she did not exist; her father's side did not acknowledge her while on her mother's, she was better off dead.
Zoey swallowed hard and left the room, going back to her original task in heading to the kitchen.
When Zoey neared her destination, careful to creep past her grandmother's portrait, she began to hear quick and hoarse whispering. She raised her brow in curiosity and pressed her ear against the door. How she wished she had her own pair of Extendable Ears right about now.
"Where has Sirius gone?" someone yelled, "Kreacher, has he gone to the Department of Mysteries?"
Department of Mysteries? Zoey blinked in wonder, pressing her ear closer to the door. She knew that by entering, she would disrupt the curious conversation and would never know what it was about. But dad was just with me a minute ago… she furrowed her brows in concentration, straining to hear the exchange of suspicious words clearer.
"Master does not tell poor Kreacher where he is going," a croaky voice said.
Zoey's eyes widened and she was half tempted to burst into the room and see who the house elf was talking to. It could not possibly just be Kreacher talking to himself again. If so, did the elf learn how to entirely change his voice?
"But you know! Don't you? You know where he is!" the other voice shouted once more. The Emeraude began to wonder if she just pulled her ear slightly away from the door, would she still be able to hear the yelling?
A loud cackle made Zoey jump in her place and go back to paying attention to the conversation. "Master will not come back from the Department of Mysteries! Kreacher and his Mistress are alone again!"
The sounds of footsteps leaving the room made Zoey react immediately. She quickly pushed the door open just in time to see Kreacher leave the room and Harry's face disappear from the fireplace. The Emeraude's brows shot up and she quickly slid against the floor to get to the fireplace faster.
"Harry!" she exclaimed when the smoke began to clear up, "Harry! Dad is still here! He's not in the Department of Mysteries or anything!"
But it was no use, Harry was no longer in the fireplace and he could no longer hear Zoey's message. The girl's breath quickened and she began to look every which way. She should have interrupted the conversation sooner, if she did, she would have been able to tell Harry the truth.
Yet, why was Harry asking Kreacher all those questions in the first place? What gave him the idea that her father was in the Department of Mysteries?
Zoey looked over to the pot of floo powder and debated whether she should run after Harry or not. Knowing the boy, he was going to look for trouble or in his words; trouble was looking for him.
"Don't be daft," Zoey whispered, "The only place he would be able to use the floor network is in Umbridge's office,"
Grey eyes widened and Zoey shot up from her seat on the floor and quickly ran out of the kitchen, screaming for her dad in an adrenaline panic. She did not care than she had woken up her grandmother's portrait, she did not give a damn that her yells, mixed with her grandmother's, woke up the other portraits and caused more ruckus than necessary.
Zoey did not care.
She needed to find her dad and fast.
Up and down, left to right, all around and yet Zoey still could not find her father. The Emeraude could not believe how many rooms 12 Grimmauld Place held and she was angered by the fact that some rooms were impossible to open. She could not just scan every which room for her dad. She had to be thorough with her search.
"DADDY!" Zoey screamed, her panic levels rising to the very brink of her sanity. She did not know how many minutes or so had passed and she was getting frantic (if she was not already frantic to begin with). Her head whipped from side to side, scared that what Harry had thought was right, her father was indeed in the Department of Mysteries.
Tears threatened to fall and Zoey took deep breaths before continuing her search. She could not stop now. She had to continue. "DA –" she was ready to scream once more but her words were muffled when her face made contact with a soft fabric and a hard chest. She stumbled a bit and took a few steps back before jumping to embrace her father.
"You're here! You're here!" She said with glee, releasing him from her hold. She suddenly realized why she was looking for him in the first place. "Dad… Dad… Harry… he's – he's –"
"In the Department of Mysteries, I know," Sirius said, his face holding an emotion Zoey never saw before.
"He's there?" Zoey nearly screamed, not noticing that her tears were already sliding down her cheeks, "But… But he said you were there!"
"He thought I was there. I'm heading there now," Sirius told her, looking behind him. Zoey leaned to her right a bit to see familiar Aurors standing behind her father.
"Mad – Eye… Tonks… Uncle Moony," She whispered before looking back to her father, "Why are you going there? You're supposed to stay here! Where you're safe!"
"If I stay here, then Harry wouldn't be safe," Sirius tried to make her understand.
"You can't possibly be letting him do this?" Zoey looked to her Uncle pleadingly, "The Department of Mysteries is in the Ministry of Magic, isn't it? He could get caught!"
"We need every ounce of help we can get, Miss Emeraude," Mad – Eye said gruffly, "Believe me, we rather have him stay here but we're going to go against Death Eaters and a whole lot of them."
Zoey's breaths were raged and she couldn't believe what she was hearing. She bit her lip, trying to stop anymore of her tears from streaming down. She then looked back at her dad and saw that he had a pained yet determined expression in his eyes. He brought a hand up to her face and wiped away her tears.
"Please don't go," Zoey begged. She had a painful feeling in her stomach that something bad was going to happen if her father left. "At least let me go with you," she offered when Sirius shook his head.
"I have to go," Sirius told her, "And you have to stay here."
"No you don't!" Zoey exclaimed, "There are a whole lot of Aurors in the Ministry of Magic. Let them handle it. Harry's strong. He can handle Death Eaters. He defeated Voldemort when he was barely a year old for crying out loud!"
"Zoey, listen to yourself. You'd never react this way if you're in the right mind," Tonks said gently, "Harry is strong but not strong enough for these Death Eaters. Word is that Bellatrix is with them."
"Let's get a move on!" Mad - Eye then said, "We're wasting money. Lives are at stake!"
"We have to go," Remus looked at Zoey, telling her to let them leave.
Sirius nodded his head to his old friend and looked back to his child, brushing her bangs away from her face and laying a kiss upon her forehead, ducking low and whispering comforting words into her ear.
"I promise I'll be back. When I return, I'll have Harry with me safe and sound. We'll all be alright and we'll all be a happy family," he told her, a smile gracing his lips, "I promise you that."
"Promise you'll come back?" Zoey asked him.
"I give you my word."
"Promise Harry will be with you, safe and sound?"
"Better if possible."
"We'll be a happy family?" Zoey looked very much hopeful.
"We'll be jumping with glee every five seconds and dancing every two seconds if you want," Sirius chuckled, "But yes, I promise."
Zoey took a breath and closed her eyes, trying to relax her mind. She opened them and kissed her father on the cheek, giving him a small smile.
"I'll be waiting," she told him, "Good Luck."
Sirius grinned, a spark in his eye, before turning around and running past the other Aurors, excited to finally be able to leave the dreaded house, go into the open and save his godson. Tonks and Mad – Eye followed the man out while Remus looked to Zoey and sent her a smile. Zoey returned it and bid him farewell.
She prayed for their safe return.
Lucy drew in a quick breath as her eyes shot open and her leg jerked. All around her was darkness and she could feel a calm breath on her neck. She blinked her eyes several times before they readjusted to the dimness of the room and she could finally distinguish what lay around her.
She was in a room, on a pillow, beside her husband Sirius who was fast asleep. Her right hand was placed in front of her face while her left lay below the right making it look like she was praying. Sirius was facing her, his head near her neck and his arm thrown over her waist, holding her close. Their position as rather awkward but it was comfortable.
The Emeraude shifted in her place and took in slow deep breaths, trying to clam down her beating heart. She had just woken up from a nightmare. Wait, no, she had just woken up from a vision. Having the Emeraude gift of "Seer's Knowledge" kept Lucy on edge with every prediction.
"Sirius," Lucy whispered, her voice a bit rough. She readjusted her position and placed a hand on her lovers shoulder, shaking him a bit. "Sirius," she said once more, "Wake up."
A low grumble emitted from the man and he shook of Lucy's hand, turning to his back and continued his slumber, soft tired snores stopped the room from having complete and utter silence. Lucy furrowed her brows and lifted herself from her position, propping her body with her elbow. She shook him once more.
"F…five more… more minutes," Sirius mumbled, shifting in the bed to shake off Lucy. The Emeraude squinted her eyes at him. She changed her position on the bed and sat with her legs tucked under herself. She tried other tactics in fully waking up her significant other but none seemed to be working.
Lucy then glanced over to the bedside table and saw her wand peacefully lying on its place. Should she use a spell to wake him up? The Emeraude shook her head. It seemed too violent. A devious grin played on her pink lips and she stretched her arms a bit before doing the following.
"SIRIUS!" Lucy shoved him, making Sirius loose his balance and fall to the ground with a loud thump, pillows and the blanket falling after him. Sirius yelled when his behind made contact with the hard floor and a groan soon followed once he was buried under the soft material of the pillows and blanket.
"Bloody hell, Luce, it's four in the morning," Sirius said, sitting up and rubbing the back of his head. The blanket hung over his left leg while the pillows stayed on his lap and floor.
"I'm sorry," Lucy sincerely apologized, realizing that what she had done was very dangerous, "I just wanted to talk to you."
"Well… get talking," the man urged, pushing himself off of the floor and sitting back on the bed, dragging the pillows and blanket with him. "What's so important that you have to break my arse to wake me up?"
Lucy laughed softly and pulled Sirius' arm so that he would move closer to her. She then laid her head on his shoulder, her long brown hair cascading down her back and hanging inches from the mattress.
The Emeraude tried to get her thoughts together. The moment she woke up from her slumber, they were scattered all over the place, each one wanting to be shared with the public. She closed her eyes and sorted each vision frame in order before drawing a breath.
"I had a vision," she whispered, opening her eyes to stare at their bedroom wall, "It scared me."
"What happened?" Sirius said in a quiet voice, wrapping an arm around his wife, squeezing her arm.
Sirius knew about Lucy's Emeraude power. He knew a lot about it. The man knew how much it scared his wife to know what would happen in a matter of minutes, days and years. It frightened the woman to know such things before they actually happened.
Some things were meant to be a surprise. People should not be given the privilege to know things before hand when they are not supposed to. If one knew something that would happen in the near future and knows that he or she could do nothing to stop it, it could kill the person. Slowly but surely, it would harm them both physically and mentally.
"Did you see any of our comrades hurt in battle?" Sirius asked, knowing that a war was soon to come. Everyone in the Order knew it, heck; everyone in the Wizarding and muggle world knew something was wrong. They knew that something dangerous was going to happen. "Was it James? Lily? Dumbledore?"
Lucy shook her head at each name Sirius gave her. The man furrowed his brown in thought and lifted Lucy's head from his shoulder. The girl's eyes were downcast and looked almost empty. What she saw was greatly troubling her.
"Luce, how can I help you when you aren't telling me what you saw?" Sirius gently brushed a stray strand of her hair away from her face, "Was it Zoey? Did something happen to Zoey?"
"No… she's fine," Lucy whispered, remembering her latest moments with her daughter. The one-year-old was blissfully asleep on her bed, surrounded by her soft toys and snuggled up in her blanket. Lucy vaguely wondered if her child was still as peaceful as she left her.
"Then what?" Sirius was getting worried. He always hated it when Lucy couldn't give him a straightforward answer. She always had to beat around the bush, keep him guessing.
"Sirius, do you remember that promise you gave me the night you proposed?" Lucy suddenly brought up, looking at her husband in the eye. His grey eyes were wide with shock from the unexpected question. He shook himself out of his trance and nodded his head.
"I said that I would always be with you," he remembered the night like it just happened seconds ago, "Through thick and thin. No matter what kind of shenanigans we get into – well, what I get into – we would still be together."
"And do you remember what the priest said when he wed us?" Lucy asked him.
Sirius scanned his memory and closed his eyes, trying to distinguish the old man's muffled words. Lucy wasn't being clear with him. The Priest had said loads of things during the process of wedding then. What could she have possibly meant? After a minute or so had passed, Sirius finally got what he was looking for.
"He said... 'Till death do us part'," Sirius told her, his eyes widening once more at the realization, "Is that what you saw, Luce? Did you see one of us…you know…"
Lucy could only nod her head.
"No… you could be wrong," Sirius said, panic rising in him, "This vision, you could be wrong. Heck, it could have just been a nightmare. It can't possibly be true. One of us… dying. It's… it's –"
"Sirius, this was no dream. Visions and dreams… they come to me differently. What I saw was no lie. You know how my visions always come true," Lucy chocked, her tears welling up in her eyes, "I'm scared."
"Just this once…just let it be wrong," Sirius swallowed hard, wrapping his arms tighter around the girl. Even he was scared. Who wouldn't be after finding out that you and your wife are going to die? Sure, everyone dies, it's the circle of life but the way Lucy was acting, they weren't going to leave the world in their old and wrinkled age.
The room was quiet. All that was heard was Lucy's strangled sobs. She did not want to cry but she couldn't help it. She saw. She actually saw how she was going to die and saw how Sirius was leaving the earth as well. Zoey… Zoey witnessed her death. She died right in front of her daughter's eyes. How could she? How could she go in such a way? Scarring her child for all her life?
Seconds turned into minutes and minutes soon became hours before Lucy regained composure and wiped her eyes dry. She felt tired and dreadful but she needed to tell Sirius more. He needed to know.
"I'm… I'll be the first to go," she regretfully told him, "You and Zoey would still be living after I've left."
"Living?" Sirius asked incredulously, his brows furrowing. He was outraged by his wife's words but he did not dare lash out on her. It was not her fault that she had seen all this. "What makes you so sure I'll still be alive after you've gone?"
"You have to be!" Lucy yelled before covering her mouth and continuing in a quieter tone, "Who's going to be there for Zoey? She NEEDS you to be there for her."
"Then who's going to be there for us? Lucy, we need you just as much as you need us. We can't go on without you," Sirius told her.
"But…. But I can't –"
"If you're gone… I don't think I would ever be the same again," Sirius continued, interrupting her, "Yes, I said 'If'. No matter what you say about the accuracy of your predictions, I'm not believing this one bit. I'm not accepting it."
"You would have to in the end!" Lucy cried.
"Then we better pray that the end isn't coming anytime soon," Sirius gave her a smirk and kissed her on the forehead, running his hand through her long brown hair.
Lucy sucked in a breath and her eyes slowly closed as she relaxed against Sirius' touch. He could pray all he wanted but her end was coming very soon. The Emeraude felt her husband's arms tighten their hold and he cradled her against his chest as they collapsed back on the bed, ready to get as much sleep as possible before they would have to wake up and get ready for the day.
"We should take Zoey on a family outing tomorrow," Sirius mumbled against the crown of Lucy's head, sleepiness evident in his voice, "Just the three of us."
"I would love that," Lucy whispered, a smile gracing her lips as she took in a breath and succumbed to dream land.
"MISS EMERAUDE!" a booming voice bounced against the walls, waking Zoey from her deep slumber. A screech of chair against floor was heard after followed by a soft thud of a stuffed toy falling to the floor.
Zoey jumped in her seat and nearly toppled over her seat from shock. She looked around the kitchen before her eyes fell to the fireplace, raising a curious brow at it.
The last thing the Emeraude remembered after her father and the Aurors left was visiting her old room, retrieving her Ginger colored dog from her old toy chest, entering the kitchen and waiting. She didn't even know she had fallen asleep until a voice, uncanny to Madam Pomfry's, awoke her.
"MISS EMERAUDE PLEASE REPORT TO THE HOGWART'S HOSPITAL WING IMMEDIETLY!" the voice yelled, making Zoey react immediately. She ran to the fireplace and knelt in front of it, placing her head in it. She closed her eyes for a second before reopening them to see Madam Pomfrey looking as stressed out as ever.
"Thank goodness you heard my message," the healer sighed with relief, "Come on, into the fire with you."
"Madam Pomfrey, what's going on?" Zoey asked, feeling a forbidding lurch in her stomach, "Is someone hurt?"
"Not just someone, Miss Emeraude, several students have been sent into my Wing and I would be needing of your assistance," Madam Pomfrey said with authority, "Now please would you go into the fire?"
Zoey nodded her head in pulled her head out of the flames before standing back up on her feet. She took a look around the kitchen and saw that no one had entered the house since she had fallen asleep. Could Harry have been harmed? Without thinking more on the subject, the Emeraude stepped into the flames, squeezing her eyes shut and flooing back to the school.
Not even a second after her feet touched the familiar Hogwarts floor; Madam Pomfrey tugged at her arm and began dragging her off to the injured individuals.
"Madam Pomfrey, would you please tell me who are injured?" Zoey puffed out, after being dragged by the healer towards the Hospital Wing, only stopping when they finally reached its doors.
"I rather you have a look yourself," Madam Pomfrey told her, a solemn expression on her face.
"What do you –" but the Emeraude never got to complete her question for the healer had pushed the wooden doors open, revealing Harry, Neville, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Luna and Bridgit bedridden. Hermione and Ron were unconscious while Ginny's leg was propped up on a pillow Luna and Neville seemed to be having their own conversation but were interrupted when the doors were opened, same with Harry and Bridgit.
Zoey's eyes widened at the sight of her friends and she quickly entered the room, standing in the middle where she could be seen by everyone who was still in a conscious state.
"What happened?" she asked worriedly, sending a look towards Hermione and Ron slumbering. She then directed her attention to Neville's healing nose, Ginny's broken ankle and Luna, Bridgit and Harry's scrapes and bruises. "Where are the others?" she was referring to the Aurors.
"They're in a meeting with Dumbledore," Luna said, her voice had its usual dreamy tone to it but Zoey could here something different. Like she was hiding something. It was the same with how Neville, Harry, Ginny, and Bridgit were looking at her. There was something that the Emeraude didn't know but was soon going to find out.
"You lot went to the Department of Mysteries didn't you?" Zoey asked, making her way to Ginny's ankle and studying it. Madam Pomfrey had already treated it along with Neville's broken nose and the rests bruises and the like. What was she here for? "Did Dad and the rest catch up? What exactly happened?"
No one said anything. They all stared. Zoey began to worry. Her Dad said that they were going to save Harry and the others and from what Zoey had guessed and seen, everyone was pretty much saved. Why weren't they clarifying her guess though?
Soon, there were sounds of shifting and of feet making contact with the floor. The Emeraude turned to see that Harry had left his bed and was now standing.
"Zo...Zoey, Sirius he...he..." Harry stuttered, approaching Zoey slowly while his body shook and his eyes seemed lost. It was as if this person was merely a walking shell that no soul receded inside of it.
"Harry?" Zoey tilted her head a bit, raising her brows at him, "You shouldn't be out of bed! You're hurt!"
"No Zoey" Harry replied, a choked sob coming out between his lips. "I'm fine, but...but Sirius he...he isn't." The room remained silent as this came out of Harry. Eyes turned, hands were held, and tears were shed. Harry looked at Zoey with guilty eyes, his green eyes that seemed to be asking for forgiveness.
"Dad… he's hurt?" Zoey gasped, looking around frantically, "How bad are his injuries? Where is he?"
Intakes of breath were took as everyone stared at Zoey and Harry sadly. How could they tell her the most horrible news when they weren't sure she could take it? How could they tell her something so horrible, knowing that it could probably cause her so much nights filled with sadness and agony.
"He's...he's not here anymore, Zoey," Harry replied, not finding it in himself to tell his godsister the painful reality that had happened.
"Not here…is he at the meeting?" Zoey asked, her confused little head not gripping the message Harry was trying to send. She blinked her eyes and shook her head slowly at him, showing him that she was not entirely sure of what he was saying. She looked over to Bridgit and gave her a questioning look, asking her if she knew what Harry was saying.
Bridgit had tears in her eyes as she got off her bed and approached her friend. She put a hand on Zoey's shoulder, as she planted herself beside Harry and looked at her with pained eyes as well.
"He's...he's dead Zoey." Bridgit whispered, making everyone in the room shed every tear that they were trying to hold back. Sobs could be heard, and it was as if the news came crashing down. Now that someone had said it, it had become real. It wasn't just something that could have happened, or possibly happened...now it was something that really happened.
Zoey stayed still, her eyes wide and unblinking. Her eyebrows knitted together and she just simply shook her head as if telling Bridgit that she had said the wrong thing. That her answer was not the one she was looking for. The Emeraude's breaths quickened ever so slightly as she turned away from Bridgit and Harry to look to Ginny, Neville and Luna, begging them to tell her that this wasn't so. Neville guiltily looked down to his lap while Luna gave her a sympathetic gaze; after all, she knew what it was like to lose a parent.
"I'm so sorry, Zoey," Ginny cried, wiping the fears that slid down her cheeks.
The Emeraude bit her lip and looked back to Bridgit, finally blinking her eyes to free some tears.
"You… you're joking right?" Zoey squeaked out, her lips quivering. She just couldn't accept what she had heard. She refused to accept it. Even after everyone clarified that what Bridgit and Harry said was true, Zoey just didn't want to accept it. "You lot are just pulling my leg. He's alive. He's just hiding somewhere." The girl looked around the hospital wing. "Come on, Dad! Show yourself! The joke's up! It's not funny!"
But no one revealed himself or herself. Everyone in the Hospital Wing remained. No one left and no one came.
"Stop Zoey..." Harry whispered, pained by the sight of his godsister like this. She called out for Sirius to come, every time answered by nothing and no one. "Stop it!" He shouted, pulling Zoey into a hug. He felt terrible, he felt useless, and somewhere in his being, even if others had told him otherwise, he knew it was his fault why he died. He knew it was his fault why Zoey was now without parent.
"No, Harry!" Zoey struggled to push him away. She was swallowing her sobs and made a sound of distress when Harry wouldn't let go. "He – He's not dead! He promised!" she yelled out, successfully detaching herself from her godbrother, the force pushing both of them to the ground on opposite sides of each other. "Dad can't be dead. He promised! He promised he'd come back and when he did we will be a happy family!" she told him, nearly screaming, "ALL THREE OF US WOULD BE A HAPPY FAMILY!"
Bridgit knelt down beside Zoey, her eyes showing nothing but sympathy and sorrow, and she took hold of Zoey's shoulders. She knew that this could possibly end up hurting not only Zoey, but Harry as well, but she needed to make Zoey realize it. She needed to make Zoey come to make peace with the fact that her dad was indeed gone.
"Listen to me Zoey," She began. "I know he must have promised you, I know he probably said all those things, but this is true Zoey! He's gone, and he's not coming back." Crying as she was, Bridgit tried to keep her demeanor strong. All of them needed to be strong for Zoey and Harry.
"But he has to come back!" Zoey cried out, "Why do you keep saying he's not? He's Sirius – freaking – Orion Black for crying out loud! He doesn't give a darn about death!"
"We don't have his body Zoey..." Harry suddenly whispered, sitting up from his position on the floor. "He just fell through it..." He continued, as if he was back in the Department of Mysteries, watching him die all over again.
"Fell through what?" Zoey asked, her chest violently rising and falling with each raged breath she took.
"He fell through the Veil Zoey..." Harry answered. "They say that it's the portal to the land of the dead."
Zoey didn't say anything else after that. She merely stared at Harry, begging him… just pathetically begging him to tell her that all this was a big fat lie. That everything she was hearing was planned out, that her father was fine and was at the other side of the Hospital Wing's doors, joking around with her Uncle Moony. Just… she just needed to know what everything was fine.
When nothing more was said, the truth was finally starting to sink in. When no one dared to tell her anything further, Zoey's walls broke down and the impact of everything just hit her like a rogue Bludger. It hurt like hell and she couldn't do anything about it. Zoey folded her arms around her stomach and leaned forward, letting out a painful cry.
Her cry was like the one she gave out when she saw Cedric's body crippled on the ground beneath her only this time there was no body, just the same feeling of loss. Zoey's cry was so loud that the opening of the Hospital Wing's doors was unheard along with the rush of footsteps across the marbled floor.
Strong arms wrapped around Zoey's body and delicately lifted her off from the floor and placed her on the bed beside Harry's. Zoey gripped onto her Uncle and sobbed onto his shoulder.
"Please!" she begged him, sounding uncannily like Lucy and Natalie when they cried out of despair, "Please tell me it's not true!" She urged to hear something different.
Remus didn't speak; he stroked Zoey's long brown hair and whispered words of comfort. The words he uttered were incoherent and probably held no true meaning to them but the soft tone of his voice and the steady beating of his heart was enough to calm Zoey ever so slightly. The Emeraude blinked her tears away and looked at everyone in the room. They had given her some respect and looked away.
"Is… is he really gone?" Zoey's voice was barely above a whisper, almost like she had never spoken.
"Yes," it broke Remus' heart to tell her the truth. No, it broke his heart to tell Natalie the truth (the woman was being comforted by Tonks in a different room. She had already cried all her energy away and was now drinking tea to calm her down) it simply killed him inside to tell Zoey.
"As in… never coming back?" Zoey continued, knowing that the more she learned, the pain in her heart increased.
"Never," her uncle replied.
"Just like my mother?" the Emeraude looked at him in the eye.
The werewolf gulped. Zoey was the splitting image of her mother only with her father's eyes. It was a horrible combination considering the circumstances. Remus had to take a deep breath to compose himself before replying.
"They're together now," he told her.
"Are they happy?"
"Very much so, now that they're reunited," it was like explaining death to a child. Zoey was a child. Sure, she was of age but since when did age tell the level of maturity a person had? Age is but a number. In Remus' eyes, Zoey was still that baby girl he was afraid to carry, afraid to hurt like he was doing now.
"Would they be happier if they were with me?" Zoey then asked.
"They would be happier if you lived your life to the fullest," Remus said, knowing what Zoey had in mind. She wanted to be with them. He didn't exactly have an idea on how she planned to be with them once more but he knew that whatever the child had in mind, it was not the right one.
"How do I do that?" she asked him.
Remus didn't reply. He didn't know either.
Graduation. The marking of the end of your schooling, the day you can finally kiss your dreadful assignments goodbye and good riddance. The day every Seventh year in Hogwarts awaited for. The day you would get your diploma and find out if you actually graduated or not. To find out if all the effort you put into your work was worth it. Graduating was the goal a child would set for him or herself once they entered school; heck, once they've received their Hogwarts letter! It was something they worked hard towards for. Something they earned. It was a day to celebrate.
Outside the Great Hall's doors, the students of Hogwarts were standing in two straight lines, one for the boys and one for the girls, grouped into their houses. Ravenclaws were first, followed by the Gryffindors, then the Hufflepuffs and lastly, the Slytherins. Each student wore their Hogwarts uniform under their House robes, which they proudly showed off their House emblem.
Today was going to be their last day donning their house colors, wearing their neat uniform and polished shoes. This was going to be the last time the professors pointed their wand at specific boys to tuck in their undershirt and wave their wand at some girls to tie their hair properly.
Everything was going to be different after today. Nothing will ever be the same. Hogwarts' walls, classrooms, statues, suits or armor, vandalized tables, strict teachers and the like, the Seventh years would never see again after their summer. They'll no longer ride the Hogwarts express going to their second home, never sit through another Sorting Ceremony or watch their House go against another during a Quidditch game.
Music began to play and the Great Hall's doors opened wide, revealing to the Seventh Years what lie within. A long carpet was rolled out before them, the pathway that they were to take before splitting the boys and girls, boys on the right side and girls on the left, so that they can head off to their respective seats in an orderly manner.
The Ravenclaws were their first to step in and the sight was overwhelming. They were allowed to look anywhere but straight ahead but if they were to break the rules (their final chance to do something the teacher's don't want them to) they would be able to see proud parents looking down at their children from the bleachers and balcony that the Professors magic-ed into the Great Hall.
Down the front, the Ravenclaws' girls and boys split up and stood in front of their chairs, still staring straight ahead as the Gryffindors entered the Great Hall, repeating what the Ravenclaws had done. Hufflepuff did the same and so did the Slytherins.
Once everyone was inside, Dumbledore (who had finally returned to Hogwarts) went up the stage and looked proudly at each and every one of his students. He instructed them to take their seats and the Graduation Ceremony continued.
Zoey was sure that Dumbledore was saying something very important for everyone remained quiet. She was also very much sure that the wise old man cracked a joke or two for she heard laughter from the people around her and from the crowd. The Emeraude just wasn't sure what exactly Dumbledore was saying. She looked at him, her back straight and her mouth shut like rehearsed, and saw his mouth moving and his hands doing gestures in trying to explain but she just couldn't hear his words.
The girl couldn't hear much anymore.
Yes, she could comprehend laughter, applause and the shifting sounds people made when they moved but those sounds were easy, you never really had to comprehend what they meant. Words; however, were a different matter. Zoey didn't want to understand what was being said, she refused to listen for she was now under the belief that every single word that she would hear was going to be bad news.
Even on Graduation day, she was so sure that if she paid any real attention, she would hear something that would upset her.
Someone from the Ravenclaw girl's batch stood up and made her way towards the stage. Zoey recognized this person as Echo. The Veela walked over to the podium and held a rather long sheet of parchment in her hand before giving a quick scan of the crowd. She looked almost strict but there was relief on her face. She was glad she made it through all her seven years of Hogwarts in one piece.
"As we leave Hogwarts as graduating students, you should know that the world outside these walls are different, " Echo began her Valedictorian speech, eyeing each and every one of the students before her.
She spoke with authority – she never got rid of her Head Girl attitude – and made every word that left her mouth clear and smart. The words she spoke really made everyone think, wonder and fidget. Her words sunk in and made them understand what truly lied ahead of them.
The girl spoke about her first few days in Hogwarts, telling everyone that studying at Hogwarts seemed hard at first. She told them about the difficulties that she was sure everyone when through and the like changing experiences everyone encountered. She told them that life is hard but along the way of fighting through the obstacles, we form unbreakable bonds. People, objects, lessons, they don't just pass by. Without knowing it, those things become important to us. We don't realize it but our life would have been entirely different if we did not encounter them along the way.
Though Echo's words were big, long and inspiring, her speech had to come to an end.
"Lastly, upon leaving Hogwarts, we're free to do whatever it is we want, and don't be afraid of making mistakes and go paranoid. Everybody makes them every once in a while," Echo ended, bowing after her final words and leaving the stage as everyone erupted into applause.
Zoey remained unmoving. Like the rest of the talks, she wasn't fully listening. Yes, that was her best friend up there, making her speech but Zoey just couldn't help but space out. Only Echo's first and final lines managed to sink into Zoey's system, making her wonder what the speech was truly about.
We are free to do whatever we want.
The Emeraude had to disagree. After leaving Hogwarts, she was anything but free. She was going to be trapped, hidden behind closed walls enduring who knows what kind of torture. Zoey sighed and readjusted her position on the chair, her eyes forever on the stage, watching as Flitwick was now approaching the podium.
"Introducing the House of Ravenclaw!" Flitwick said proudly as he began to read off the names on the roll of parchment in front of him. "Roger Davies," the professor began to call out., "Quidditch Team Captain from 1993 to 1996, played as Chaser."
Roger proudly buffed out his chest and made his way onto the stage, shaking hands with Dumbledore, receiving his diploma and bowing in front of everyone before going back down and heading back to his chair to wait for the rest of his housemates.
"Aiden Durham," Flitwick said right after and announced Aiden's achievements for his seven years in Hogwarts. The process continued without interruption and in a matter of ten minutes or more, Flitwick moved onto the girls.
"Echo Acheflour Hyacinth Hayley Beaumont," Flitwick then drew in a breath as the girl made her way on stage once more, "Chaser for the Quidditch Team, Head girl and Valedictorian." The Veela accepted her diploma and did the same thing the boys did after bowing, she headed back to her seat and waited for the rest to follow.
"The Ravenclaws sure have a lot of Achievements," Jane whispered from beside Zoey, trying to bring the girl out of her numb state, "Poor Professor Flitwick's gonna lose his breath and voice saying all of them."
Zoey didn't reply, she merely continued to stare, unfeeling and unthinking. She was like a rock. She had no soul in her and her clapping seemed to be on autopilot. Jane sighed worriedly and looked back on the stage, noticing that tons of girls have already gone by and soon it was Bridgit's turn.
"Bridgit Cari Parker," Flitwick said, a comical grin gracing his lips as he read her achievements, "Keeper for the Quidditch Team, Highest marks in Potions, Receiver of Charms internship for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and also… Miss Parker is Awarded Best Prankster of year 1989 – 1996!"
"WHAT? BLOODY HELL! NO!" two loud voices yelled in unison, disrupting the Graduation Ceremony. The background music abruptly stopped and all heads turned towards the source of the exclamation.
It was Fred and George.
"What are you two up to?" Bridgit asked, her hand halfway to getting her diploma from Dumbledore. The eyes were all on Fred and George, whose faces could be mistaken for the Hogwarts Express.
"You can't award that to her!" Fred shouted, his outrage very much evident in his voice.
"We've been pranking way before her! That award belongs to us!" George continued, making Bridgit let out a hearty laugh.
"Well it's not my fault you two left! But still, I'm pretty sure I would have gotten this award anyway..." Bridgit answered, making the twins even angrier than they already were.
"Do you think your a better prankster than both of us?" The twins shouted in unison, and Bridgit smirked.
"I said it second year once, and I say it again..." Bridgit started, the graduating students beginning to get nervous. "I know I am."
As Bridgit said this, she shook hands with Dumbledore, thanked him, accepted her diploma and bowed down with a smile on her face. As she got down from the stage, she never got back to her seat for the twins dragged her to who-knows-where. Flitwick, who was shaking his head and laughing as well, decided to continue on by calling the next name and continuing the ceremony.
Zoey watched as the twins and Bridgit disappeared. She had almost got up from her chair to chase after them out of habit. She bit her lip and held her ground, waiting for Flitwick to finish calling out all the students so that they could move onto Gryffindor then to her house. The Emeraude swallowed hard as Fred's voice ran in her head. She had not realized that he had come to the graduation. How long were he and George staying? Would she still be able to catch up with them?
"Witches and Wizards," Flitwick announced, rolling up the class list, "I give you the Ravenclaw house of year 1989 – 1996!"
Everyone burst into applause and the Ravenclaws all took their seat at the same time while the Gryffindors stood up and made their way to the stage, ready for their names to be called out. McGonagall now stood at the podium with her own class list and began to read out name after name and achievement after achievement.
The woman awarded Lee Jordan for his suburb commentary during every Quidditch match and surprisingly Fred and George had their names announced as well. Though they were not called up on stage or awarded diplomas, they were still acknowledged for their pranks (the ones that the school would be able to mention out loud without getting into trouble) and were awarded for handling a "toad infestation".
After the twins' names were through, McGonagall moved onto the girls. Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet were acknowledged for their excellent playing as Chasers for the Quidditch Team (the former getting an extra Achievement for being a Captain). Soon, McGonagall rolled up her scroll and said with a slightly teary voice:
"Witches and Wizards, I give you the Gryffindor House of 1989 to 1996!"
Zoey rose from her seat the moment the Gryffindors sat down and she turned to her left, following behind Jane as they made their way towards the stage. Professor Sprout wore her extra clean robes today and it was a curious wonder on what kind of spell she used to get her shoes so clean on a count that they were usually covered with mud and leaves.
Professor Sprout smiled at the audience and pulled out her own class list and straightened her back as she began to read out the names one by one. Zoey paid no mind to who was getting up on stage and what they were acknowledged for. She didn't particularly care. All she could do was stare up at the parents and see a family of redheads somewhere in the crowd.
The Weasleys. They attended the Graduation. They were there. Beside them, Zoey could make out her Uncle, her Aunt and even Harry. A fluttering feeling of relief welled up in Zoey and she did not even notice how long she had been looking at them until someone nudged her in the ribs, making her realize it was now her turn on stage.
"Zoey Anastasia Emeraude – Black," Professor Sprout said, making majority of those in the crowd gasp at the mention of Zoey's true last name, "This has been the third time I've called your name. We aren't repeating history now are we?"
"No, Professor," were the First words Zoey uttered in a long time. She remembered her eleven-year-old self during the Sorting Ceremony. She, like now, had dazed off and had not heard her name being called until someone nudged her in the ribs.
The Emeraude stepped onto the stage, shook hands with Dumbledore (the latter sending her a secret wink) and waited for her Professor to finish reading out her achievements.
"Played as Beater for the Quidditch Team, Highest Marks in Charms, Voted Best Ballroom Dancer of her year, Loudest voice when she wants to be and Kindest Heart in the room," Professor Sprout ended with a laugh as did the rest of the people in the room.
Zoey bit her lip and blushed deeply as she bowed on stage and headed down and went to her place beside Jane, waiting for the rest of the girls to finish so that they could sit back down.
It didn't take long for Professor Sprout to finish the list, announce to everyone the Hufflepuffs of the year and for them to sit down just in time for the Slytherins to stand up. When the Slytherins' names were being called out, Zoey tuned out once more and began to think about what was going to happen after the ceremony. Was she to catch up with Fred and George or would she look for Harry?
She didn't know.
Sooner than what Zoey expected, the Slytherins where finished and everyone had to stand up for the finally speech. Dumbledore returned to the podium and cleared his throat before speaking in a loud and clear voice.
The man's words were relatively the same as Echo's only his held more wisdom and he told more stories. He spoke of the surprises in life and the changes in course depending on the choices you make. He said things like forgetting all the things you learned in your seven years but remembering all the experiences you had. Books and the like did not matter if you did not understand.
Live your life to the fullest he says, though cliché held a lot more meaning when Dumbledore said it.
"Now I say this to you all for the last time," Dumbledore ended with a twinkle in his eyes, "Pip pip! Cheerio!"
Whoops and cheers were heard along with laughter and cries. It was over! It was finally over! Seven long and exciting years in Hogwarts, finished in a blink of an eye! The students didn't know whether to be sad or happy or maybe even both. Each and everyone one of them were filled to the brim with clashing emotions.
Jane turned to Zoey and brought her into a backbreaking hug before sending her a grin and running off to look for Aiden. Zoey let out a soft laugh and stayed where she was, looking at parents going down from their seats to congratulate their children. Left and right Zoey saw proud parents, fathers shaking their sons hands while mothers smothered them with kisses. The daughters disappeared into the combined hugs from their parents and younger siblings were twirled around from the adrenaline rush of those who graduated.
Zoey sighed and took a few steps back, trying to look for an escape. The longer she stayed in the area, she was afraid she might breakdown. Parents… everywhere…. Zoey was jealous. Just… she just wanted one of her parents to be there for her when she graduated. Sure, she had the Weasleys but they had their own children and Echo to be proud of. Yes, Remus and Natalie where there but… it just wasn't the same.
The Emeraude bit her lip and scanned the area for a door, when she finally found one she squeezed through the whole lot of people just to make her way towards it, she was almost there when she caught sight of a flash of ginger hair. Out of habit, Zoey followed it and found Fred joking around with Echo, Bridgit, Lee and George. Zoey couldn't help a grin from spreading across her face. She had not realized she missed Fred so much until she saw him.
"Fred!" she exclaimed up her voice was muted by the cheers of everyone else around her. Fred looked up a bit but then continued with his chatting, shrugging of the sudden feeling of someone calling him. Zoey furrowed her brows and was lurched forward when someone bumped into her. She didn't bother seeing who knocked her off balance for a split second for her main focus was getting her boyfriend to notice her.
"Fred!" she tried once more and took in a deep breath and cupping her hands around her mouth, "FREDERICK GIDEON WEASLEY!"
Fred's, George's, Echo's, Bridgit's and Lee's head shot up and looked towards Zoey. Zoey gave them a sheepish grin and wave and Fred's smile grew even wider if possible.
"ZOE!" he yelled out with the same volume Zoey used, he then gestured the others to follow him in making his way to Zoey. Zoey stood at the tips of her toes so that she would still be visible when they approached her.
Just a few more feet and she could talk to him again, hold his hand and kiss him. Just a few more feet.
"Come on… just a little bit closer," Zoey couldn't help but mutter out loud.
"Just a little bit closer to what, dearie?" a venomous voice said from behind Zoey, causing the girl to gasp and whirl around.
"Aunt Damiana!" Zoey's eyes widened, seeing her Aunt just a few inches away from her with another Emeraude at her side. Zoey recognized this man. His Emeraude's power was "Timekeeper's Teleport".
"Time to go, honey," Damiana's smile was anything but sweet. Her long manicured nails punctured Zoey's skin when she wrapped her hand around the girl's thin wrist. Zoey felt panic rise and she looked back to see Fred and the others yet to reach her. She caught his eyes and he saw the distress in hers.
"FRED!" Zoey screamed but that was it. She was gone. Faster than the speed of light, the man with the Timekeeper's Teleport took hold of her and Damiana and brought them out of Hogwarts. Yes, you can't Apparate in and out of Hogwarts but who says you can't teleport using your own gift?
DUN DUN DUN!
AND DAMIANA APPEARS ONCE MORE TO TAKE ZOEY AWAY!
Special thanks to ZoomSkater14 (now known as Dresdendoll15) and HayleyParadox for the major help in this chapter :D
Sorry it took so long to update again, like I said school's eating up my time D:
Well, I hope I made it up to you guys with this EXTREMEMLY long chapter.
TWO reasons for its incredible length.
1. I wanted to show that I really try to work hard in pleasing you all so if I can't update as much as I used to, I can at least spoil you guys with long updates
2. I reaaaly wanted to end their final year with this chapter. It's been long and hard. I tell you, this year was the HARDEST for me to write. It's mind blowing.
Now, what else can I tell you guys? Well, sad to say that you won't be getting another update anytime soon because school's getting rather serious with all the requirements its throwing at me.
Being the leader sucks like hell. Yes, it pays off but sheesh.
Also, hmm…. I just wanted to say that I'm working/helping on two other fanfictions made by Dresdendoll15 and HayleyParadox. Yeah, good friends of mine, love giving them help because they give this story so much help :D
Also, I would like to say that I read a very nice fic by: When the clock strikes twelve and I just wanted to share that fact with you lot :D
Over 600 reviews already? Thank you everyone for your continuous support on this story. I'm glad that you haven't gotten sick and tired of it yet seeing as it's going VERY slowly with it's 80+ chapters and the like.
Geez louizzz I've got a lot to say but sadly I can' t say them all because I still have some assignments that I need to be attending to. So let's go back to the usual routine shall we?
Well, I guess that is all. I have nothing more to say except
I hope you enjoyed the chapter
Please tell me what you thought
Excuse my typos and the like (I really wanted to show you guys the new chapter and did not have time to beta. Like I said, I don't have time to do such things anymore D: )
Don't forget to review and the like
Stay tuned for the next chapter
And
I only own what I own
