Disclaimer: I don't own HP, I only own Evan and Iris. (And the 3rd song is kindly contributed by Chat GPT, because song writing is not my forte).
Hey, I'm alive! I got distracted by another story and college, but I'm back now that college is over until February, and I only have one or two more chapters of RoL left! This is just a small filler chapter to ease back into FS though.
Merry Christmas to you all, and enjoy the last few days of 2023, before we welcome in 2024!
24-12-2023
Chapter Four
Iris' Sorting
"Hey, hey, it's alright, little star, you're all okay," Sirius assured her in a soothing voice, rubbing calmly circles on her back as he rocked her gently from side to side as if she were still a five-year-old after a nightmare. "Is anyone hurt? Remus, how's Evan?"
"He's coming around," Uncle Moony replied calmly. "Come on, sit up, there's a good lad. Deep breaths, Evan. It's alright, it's gone."
"What was that thing?" Ron asked shakily.
"It was horrible," Susan whimpered.
"A Dementor," Sirius explained grimly, his voice coldly furious. "The Lords of the Black Alliance will be having words with our exalted Minister, I promise you that. They had no right to board a train full of defenceless children. If we hadn't been on board, they might've Kissed a student."
Aludra shuddered at the thought. Being Kissed was a fate worse than death, not that the body could remain alive very long without a soul in the first place.
"Who screamed?" Evan wondered. He was pale as Sir Nicholas, his hand trembling as he accepted the chocolate bars Remus was handing out to them all. "There was a woman screaming, and a baby crying. She was frightened. And then...I felt something snap, like a part of my soul was ripped away. It was terrible."
"Nobody screamed, Evan," Susan muttered. She looked like she was going to throw up. "It was a memory."
"Of that night," Evan guessed. "The woman was Grandma Dorea, and the baby...It was Aimee, wasn't it?"
Remus and Sirius exchanged loaded looks.
"Probably," Sirius stated after a moment.
Evan glanced around. "Did anybody else faint?"
"No," Sirius admitted, "But I know what you're thinking and you're wrong. It's not a reflection on your strength, Evan. Dementors make you relive your worst memories, and you went through a huge trauma that night. As for the bit about something snapping..." He trailed off, glancing at Remus, before sighing heavily and reaching out to rest a hand on Evan's shoulder.
"I suspect that you remembered feeling your twin bond with Aimee break," he explained gently. "That's a huge thing, Evan. Worse than you realize. It's a miracle you survived the trauma, especially without losing your mind. You might not know this, but you had to be admitted to St. Mungo's for several weeks to be tended through the shock and pain of losing her. It was a very close thing. Many adult twins who suffer a broken bond struggle with mental issues and other issues. Frankly, if you and Aimee's bond wasn't weakened by her illness, you probably wouldn't be here."
Evan looked down at his chocolate bar.
"It's true," Ron told him solemnly. "That's what happened to my Uncle Gideon. He and Uncle Fabian were ambushed by a group of twenty Death Eaters. Uncle Fabian was killed, and Uncle Gideon went mad from the pain and shock of the broken bond. His magic lashed out and killed all of the remaining Death Eaters, before his heart and core gave out from the pain."
"I'm sorry," Evan said weakly, but it was clear that he still felt frustrated with himself for fainting.
Susan spoke up next. "I remembered my parents screaming," she offered shakily. "They were killed by Death Eaters when I was four months old. They burned our house down with Fiendfyre and my parents shielded me with their magic and their bodies. They could've escaped, but I probably would've died from the effects of the fire even if we got away, so they chose to save me instead, and their cores were destroyed from the effort of changing the Fiendfyre to regular fire. Aunt Mia dug me out of the rubble, otherwise I would've died too.
When, when the Dementors came, I remembered their screams as they burned. It felt like I was choking on ashes and dust...It was terrible. I almost fainted too. If Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus hadn't come and chased the horrid thing away, I would've soon enough. I was seeing black spots and everything. Does that make me weak?"
"I remembered my parents being tortured," Neville added. "I could remember Dad screaming and Mum crying, and Lestrange demanding to know where Voldemort was. I was shaking so badly I dropped my wand. You're not weak for fainting, Evan. You're strong for surviving."
"They're right," Aludra told him. "And don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You are Evan James Potter, Heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Potter, and you are strong."
When they arrived at Hogwarts, raining pouring from the heavens so heavily Aimee's impervious charm couldn't keep them dry, Professor McGonagall came hurrying over, casting spells to dry every student she passed. She waved her wand over their group, drying them instantly, much to their relief.
"Aludra, dear, are you alright?" She asked in concern, scanning her from head to toe. "Your father sent a letter ahead saying what happened."
"I'm alright, Grandma," Aludra assured her grandmother. "Don't worry about me."
The Transfiguration Professor nodded in satisfaction and turned to Evan. "Potter, come with me. Madam Pomfrey wants to give you a check over."
"But I'm fine!" Evan protested, "I want to see Iris being Sorted!"
Professor McGonagall frowned at him disapprovingly, and Aludra quickly cut in. "How about, Evan watches the Sorting and then gets checked out?" She suggested.
"Very well," the elder witch sighed after a moment's thought. "I'll fetch you after the Feast, Mr. Potter. Some food and drink will do you more good than any of Poppy's potions, I'm sure. Go along then."
They hurried into the hall, where they (save for Ron) said goodbye to Luna, who smiled, waved and skipped off to the Ravenclaw table, while the rest of them sat at the Gryffindor table. Aludra noticed that Ginny, although she sat on the edge of the second years' group, was ignored by them. She felt a bit bad for the younger girl, but it was really her own fault, and anyway, she'd probably be better off making friends in her new/own year.
They took their seats, greeting their fellow Gryffindor third years and discussing their summers (pre-breakout, at least, as most parents had responded to the escape by 'locking up' their children, as Seamus said) while the Hall filled. Finally, the new first years entered, leaving trails of water and mud behind them as they scurried nervously to the front.
"There's Iris!" Evan hissed, waving to his sister. The others also waved to the pale-ravenette, who gave a weak, but grateful, smile in response before focusing on the Hat, which opened its' rim and began to sing.
"In the halls of Hogwarts, where secrets unfold,
A third-year journey, brave and bold.
Wiser now, you've come so far,
To the Sorting Hat, beneath the star.
Oh, gather 'round, all witches and wizards,
In this magical moment, let's see who blizzards.
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin,
Which house will welcome you, let the Sorting begin!
Courageous lions, with hearts so true, Gryffindor awaits, a fiery hue.
For those with loyalty, patience, and cheer, Hufflepuff beckons, so draw near.
Ravenclaw's tower, where wisdom gleams,
For those with wit, in scholarly dreams.
Eagle's call, a pursuit of the mind,
Into this house, your destiny bind.
Slytherin, where ambition reigns,
Cunning minds, no room for chains.
Embrace the serpent, slither with pride,
In shadows and silver, your fate will reside.
Oh, gather 'round, all witches and wizards,
So listen close, to the Sorting Hat's song,
It knows your heart, where you belong.
Bravery, loyalty, wisdom, or sly,
The Sorting awaits, don't be shy.
Now, off you go, to your chosen kin,
In Hogwarts, let the adventures begin!
May your spells be strong, and friendships last,
For the magic of Hogwarts is unsurpassed!"
The Hall broke into applause, and Aludra noted fondly the relief on the first years' faces at the revelation that there were no terrifying tests to overcome.
"It was different from our song," Evan noted in surprise.
"Well yes," Aludra said reasonably, "After all, it probably doesn't have much to do other than wait for the next Sorting to come around. It probably spends all year working on making a song it's never sung before. In all fairness, after a thousand years that's probably a hard task."
"Shh!" Susan scolded. "They're starting!"
"Adams, Derek!" Professor McGonagall called, and a little boy with brunette curls stumbled up the steps to perch, trembling, on the stool.
"Ravenclaw!" The Hat called, and Aludra's grandmother removed the Hat so the young boy could make his way, shaking, to the cheering blue table.
The next student to catch Aludra's attention (though she cheered for all the Gryffindors) was Greengrass, Astoria, Daphne's younger sister. She was Sorted into Slytherin. Aludra decided to encourage Iris to be friends with the girl. Astoria was a sweet, clever girl with a sharp tongue, and she wouldn't care that Iris was the sister of the Boy-Who-Lived. She'd be a good friend for the younger Potter child.
After that, Aludra zoned out again, thinking over the strange memory drawn up by the Dementors. Who was the man shouting? What was he shouting about? Why was that one of her worst memories, when until today she hadn't remembered any of it? A part of her wanted to ask her father or uncle, or even one of her grandparents. The rest of her warned that she wouldn't like what she found out, if they told her.
The sound of her grandmother calling out "Potter, Iris!" Drew her from her thoughts again, and she watched as her younger friend hurried up the steps and perched on the stool, clutching the sides tightly. It took about a minute for the Hat to call out "Gryffindor!" Iris became the first student to gain a standing ovation from her brother and the Weasley twins, making her flush a bright red.
The Sorting finished with Vane, Romilda becoming the sixth girl and twelfth child Sorted into Gryffindor, and Aludra's grandfather summoned the Feast, allowing them to dig in. Aludra checked on Iris, who was chatting with Romilda and Maisy Reynolds (whom Aludra suspected was Muggle-raised, based on her Muggle-style shoes) as they tucked into the Feast, then turned to her friends to continue chatting. Not wanting Evan to be upset, Aludra skilfully re-directed the conversation every time it veered too close to Pettigrew, and they had a lovely evening. At least, they had a lovely evening after she stuck Malfoy's tongue to the top of his mouth and he was sent to the Hospital Wing.
After the Feast, Dumbledore gave the usual introductions and warnings along with one about the Dementors, then dismissed them. Evan was taken to be seen by Madam Pomfrey after congratulating Iris. Aludra and the rest of their group made their way the Common Room and took their usual seats around the fire to wait for Evan's arrival.