A/N: Hey guys, I hope you're having a good day! I hope you're loving the story as much as I am, anyway, I've been updating and revamping previous chapters and so far I've added around ten thousand words by adding to and expanding on the first nine or so chapters, so if you're interested, go back and give it a look before letting me know what you think!
(Jakoba POV)
"There was a three headed dog?"
"Yeah."
"Did you fight it?"
"No, that was Henry Darken and Harry Potter."
"Wow, and they killed it?"
"No, they put it to sleep."
"Then Voldemort got them?"
"Yeah, but you're not supposed to say his name." I bit my lip as I sat cross legged on my bed, my best friend, Axelle across from me as we ate from a cheese platter and talked.
After having her find out about magic a little over three years ago, before I'd gone to Hogwarts myself, I'd been filling her in on all the things that I knew about the world that was still so new to her. When I'd first met her, I'd thought she was just a muggle kid that lived in the orphanage through the forest from our property, but when she'd stumbled into our orchard as if the protective spells around it had little or no effect on her, Dad had suspected then that she might be a witch and thus, hadn't wiped her memory after I'd stupidly revealed magic to her.
Going around and revealing magic to muggle kids had been like a weird pastime for me growing up and my father had been so frustrated by my need to show everyone who'd listen how magic really existed. I hadn't been able to believe that there were millions of people out there that didn't know. My mother claims that it was my lack of good and healthy friendships at the time, but my father hadn't believed her, until after I'd become friends with Axelle and seemed to completely stop trying to reveal magic to any muggle that I befriended.
Once I was friends with her though, we'd gotten really close over time and by the time I'd gone off to school we'd been best friends. When I'd left, it hadn't been easy and we'd both cried, but she'd been adopted for a time. I'd written to her every week until I came home. It was in June when she got her letter to Hogwarts, that her adoptive, very religious muggle parents got angry and chucked her out. Having been home by then, I went with my father and got her. Since then, she's been staying with my family, until my dad can find a more permanent home for her.
Every day thus far, since she'd gotten her letter, I've sat with her for hours and hours as we talked about the world that she was about to enter, because there was a lot to talk about. I told her about Hogwarts first of course and about all the forever moving stairs, and the houses and the food, then I told her about the Hogwarts express and then about Quidditch— I knew it was a lot to take in and sometimes, it was overwhelming for her, so we'd have to take a break from it, but mostly, she seemed to want to know everything to be as prepared as possible. Axelle did not like surprises and finding out that magic was real and she was a witch was the biggest surprise to her, yet.
"Why can't we say his name, again?" She hated calling him 'You-Know-Who' and thought it was stupid, but I knew that if there was any possibility of one of the darkest wizards ever alive coming back, no chances could be taken.
"When he used to be in power, he put a curse on his name, so that if said, the person that spoke it would be easily traceable and then when they were tracked… yeah, you get it."
"Oh yeah…" I'd explained this to her already but I also knew that she'd had so much information stuffed into her brain over the past few weeks, that she was bound to forget some stuff.
"You-Know-Who sounds really scary… and he's coming back?" At my nod, she looked down, suddenly finding a piece of cheese on the platter rather fascinating. "I thought you said blood doesn't matter?" I nodded once more. Having told her about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his followers, I'd had to tell her about how, to some wizards, blood did in fact, matter a lot.
"It's not completely certain he's coming back, but he's got the Sorcerer's stone, so yeah…" I said, then trying to be brighter and not scare her so much, I decided to use a comparison I thought would help her understand. "They're just Nazis." I told her. "Blood doesn't really matter, but to them it does, because they've got egoes ten times bigger than their IQs." I huffed and then smiled at her. "It's like in World War II, how the Nazi party cared so much about whether or not you were Jewish or Aryan— looks don't really matter, but some people just like to feel superior." I took her hand and squeezed it to comfort her. "No matter what, we're still going to be friends, okay?" She nodded as she played with the hem of her dress with her free hand, her other still in mine.
"I can't believe I'm actually going to school with you." Her gray eyes met my blue ones and I grinned.
"I'm really glad that you're a witch if I'm being honest, my dad was so tired of having to wipe muggle kids of their memories after I exposed them to magic."
"I remember you told me that and I was so scared of him for a long time, scared that at any moment I would lose my memories." She smiled and I laughed, causing her to hit me.
"It's not funny, idiot."
"Sure it is." I said and she rolled her eyes at me.
I looked up suddenly, when there was a knock at my door. "It's me." I heard my fathers soft voice call and nodding, I replied that he could come in.
As soon as the door opened and my father walked in with our lists of required school items, I jumped to my feet. "Are we going to Diagon Ally?" I asked eagerly and he shook his head.
"I am, I came to talk to the two of you before I left. Your mother and I will be going without the two of you." Before I could protest, he held up his hand and continued. "It's not safe, Koba." I shut my mouth and looked up at him, my blue eyes saying what I didn't want to in front of Axelle. Of course it was dangerous, the wizarding world seemed to be falling apart at the seams and one of the darkest wizards to have ever lived was most likely returning to power with the help of the Sorcerer's stone.
There had been so many things that had contributed to my worry over this summer, whether it be reading the news, hearing stories, or even just finding things out from people I wrote to from school, but the very fact that my father wasn't allowing me to go to Diagon Ally spoke more volumes than anything that has happened thus far. I sat back down on my bed and exchanged an uneasy look with my father.
Glancing at Axelle, I looked back at my father and nodded at him. "Thanks Dad." I said as he turned toward the door. I felt very lucky in that moment that I was even still getting to go to school. I loved Hogwarts and I don't know what I'd do if I was told that I couldn't go.
(Axelle POV)
"Nine and three quarters?" I looked at Jakoba as we headed for the train station after having gone through the fire place to get to where we were at— we were running late because I'd refused to go through the thing at first, but then Jakoba had gone and so I'd had no other choice but to follow. I was still rather grumpy at him about just leaving me like that, but nonetheless, now I was focused on another peculiar part of this whole endeavor— the peculiarness never seemed to end— Now we were heading for a platform that I knew for a fact didn't exist.
My friend stopped and looked at me with that grin of his that always made me both want to smile and roll my eyes at him. "Axe, you've seen magical creatures by now and brooms that can fly and moving pictures and even our family's house elves and you're worried the platform doesn't exist?"
I scowled at him, apparently not as amused as he was, but after a moment, I relented as I moved to follow him. It was ten forty-five, so we wouldn't have long at all to all say goodbye to Jakoba's parents before we left though sometimes, that was better. I wasn't a huge fan of hugs and such, so I'd honestly probably just get on the train to find a seat for my friend and I. In any case, it would probably be better for Jakoba to have some alone time with his family. I mean, with the way everyone has been acting since Jakoba came home from school, I was starting to worry that this might be the last time my friend would see his parents again.
"It's that brick wall, the one between platforms nine and ten. You've just got to run right through it." I stopped along with the others as we now stood before the looming wall, it's bricks looking sturdier and more solid than ever. There was no way in heck I was running through that thing.
Shaking my head, I took a step back. "You can't pay me to run at a solid wall." I said and Jakoba rolled his eyes.
"I can just leave you here." I glared at him, offended and a little hurt that he could just threaten to leave me like that— Again. Deep down though, I knew he was just saying it to get me to follow him, so I grit my teeth as he added. "Or, you can hold my hand and we can go through together." My friend held out his hand and after staring at it for a moment, I finally let out a breath and took his fingers into my own, squeezing tightly as I moved to stand by his side.
Jaedon Skyknight had our trunks floating in the air behind us, as Jakoba's two older brothers trailed behind him. As I faced the solid wall and sucked in another breath before letting it out, I closed my eyes tightly. I took a tentative step forward and as I felt my friend moving beside me, I suddenly felt as if I were seven again and I'd just discovered magic was real. I ran with him at the barrier and within seconds, we were slowing.
Wait?
Had he noticed how scared I was? Was I not supposed to close my eyes? Suddenly, as if the memory were right there, I heard Jakoba's voice in my ear, his high voice gentle even for an eight year old. "Axelle! Open your eyes and look around! This is magic! Real magic. You don't think it's real, because muggles aren't supposed to know about it…" his voice suddenly got quiet. "I showed it to you, because I wanted to show you my world. I wanted to share my life with you." I sucked a breath as my gray eyes flew open and I looked at Jakoba.
"You okay?" He asked, now sounding normal, not like the boy I remembered from so long ago, but I could barely breathe let alone speak as my eyes roamed the area before me. All around me, there were hundreds of people, kids, parents, relatives… there were also animals— cats, owls… it was all so much, but most spectacular of all was the large red steam engine that sat before me as smoke billowed from it, making the platform appear foggy.
"The Hogwarts Express…" my voice shook and I turned to Jakoba who was beaming.
"Alright," I looked over as Jaedon set a hand on Jakoba's shoulder, his brothers having quickly left after saying farewell to their father. Even though I'd known him now for four years, I would never get over how imposing this man was. Jaedon Skyknight wasn't tall by any means; in fact, he was only 5'4", he wasn't broad or particularly tough looking, and in fact, he was rather soft around the edges, but his face, and his eyes, they held secrets that I knew not even his family could fathom. He was a man that rarely showed too much emotion, and was very seldom affectionate. Jakoba seemed to be the one of his three children that he truly cared about, even though I was staying with them, I knew that it was mostly because of my friend that I was even allowed to stay there.
"I'll take our trunks and go wait on the train, okay?" I looked at my friend and though he looked as though he wanted to stop me, I shook my head. I wanted him to have these last few minutes with his father and nothing he could say would change my mind.
"Okay." He nodded as I turned away. "Save me a seat!" He called after me and I rolled my eyes, already having planned on doing just that.
Hurrying toward one of the many doors, I waited as a couple of boys got on, then grateful that Jakoba's father had gotten us trunks with featherlight charms on them, I hoisted them onto the train. Deciding it would be easier than pulling them, I pushed the trunks in front of me as I peaked my head into various compartments. I didn't want somewhere super full, but with us being so late, most compartments already had several people in them.
It was near the back of the train that I found a relatively empty spot. The whole compartment was empty except for a girl about thirteen or fourteen, who was fast asleep, curled up in a seat like a cat. Glad that I wouldn't have to talk to her, I made my way inside, put away the trunks, then sat across from her, next to the window. That's when I looked out and saw Jakoba and his father looking as though they were having a rather intense conversation.
I only watched for about two seconds when my curiosity got the better of me and I opened the window ever so slightly, then turned away as if I weren't intending to listen. I knew very well what I was doing though, but I couldn't help myself. There was so much I didn't know still and when I wasn't in the loop, it was my instinct to gather information.
"Dad, are you sure he's back? Is that why parents are pulling their kids from school?" Jakoba sounded worried— really worried and as I listened, my heart skipped a beat. Jakoba had told me much about Voldemort— was I even allowed to think his name? Was the curse back on it? Could he get me at Hogwarts? Jakoba said it was one of the safest places on earth, but was that true? I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate on the conversation I was listening to instead of my frantically racing thoughts.
"Yes, word is spreading fast, Koba. His followers are beginning to gather now. I have been approached by two. I can confirm that he has quietly returned to power."
"Why am I going back to school?"
"Your grandfather has advised me to keep all three of you boys in school. It would do me no good to strip you of your education and going back to Canada would do us no good."
"You-Know-Who wants our family to join him?"
"Yes."
"The Skyknight family is one of Canada's oldest and purest."
"Yes, but Jakoba, no matter what you do, do not get mixed up in a blood supremacist cult." I knew that Jaedon Skyknight wasn't saying that because he cared so much about muggles— he actually thought those with magic were innately better, though that was where his bias stopped it seemed. He had had no problem taking me, a muggleborn in, when my adopted family had kicked me out. Jaedon Skyknight believed magic was better, yes, but he also didn't seem to have a bias when it came to anyone that had magic.
For Jaedon, it was purely a smart move not to get mixed up with Voldemort and his band of Nazi Death Eaters, he had told Jakoba and I that with what they were doing, they could not win. Many pure blooded families were already very much results of inbreeding and if too much more happened, most wizards would have more problems than even they could fix.
If wizards wanted to survive, they needed muggles. That fact made me smirk to myself as Jaedon went on. "Be careful with whom you associate and with whom you trust. I heard that last year you were hanging around with Malfoy— stay away from him."
"Dad, Draco really isn't that bad."
Jaedon was quiet for a moment before repeating himself. "Just be wary of whom you trust, okay? These days, no one is safe, not even your brother, Dan." I bit my lip, knowing that Jaedon wasn't saying that for no reason. This last summer, Dan and Ian— both now going into their sixth years, had come home with Jakoba from school and Dan had gone on and on about his Slytherin friends and how the 'mudbloods' were annoying him to no end. I'd asked Jakoba about that word and that's when I realized that for several weeks, Dan had been using a slur without me even having realized it. "Koba, please be safe." Jaedon said. "If He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned and with the Philosophers stone, we have got ourselves a second wizarding war on our hands and this time, it may very well become a global war. I want you to write to me every three days, okay? Even if it's mundane stuff, just let me know that you're alright."
"I will dad." He promised as he hugged his father then turned toward the train. It was three minutes until eleven so he had to be swift in getting on. Already, workers were coming through and shutting doors. I closed the window as my friend got onto the train.
A/N: Don't forget to Revieeewww
