Chapter Five: Prisoner of Azkaban, Part Five
Bellatrix
Bellatrix Black was thirteen-years-old when she met eleven-year-old Lily Evans.
The girl had accidentally and unknowingly entered her compartment aboard the Hogwarts Express on their way back home for the summer. Instead of scaring the girl away and going to search for her younger sisters, she allowed the girl to stay.
That was the first time they talked.
She learned the girl was a muggleborn. She told the girl she was a pureblood.
She learned the girl had a muggle sister named Petunia. She told the girl she had two pureblood sisters, her younger sister Andromeda, or Andy, and her youngest sister Narcissa, or Cissy, who was in the same year as the girl.
She learned the girl enjoyed Charms. She told the girl she enjoyed Defence Against the Dark Arts.
When the Hogwarts Express finally arrived at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters in London, Bellatrix Black had learned a lot about Lily Evans. She admired her spirit, her curiosity, her determination, and her passion for all things magic. She didn't even care about her blood status.
Because Bellatrix Black knew Lily Evans was different.
Every school year after their meeting, Bellatrix Black crossed paths with Lily Evans. Aboard the Hogwarts Express. In the halls. In the girl's bathroom. And when they were alone, they would talk about everything and nothing. About magic. About professors. About students. About family. About friends. About boys. Every school year after their meeting, Bellatrix Black was glad to have met Lily Evans.
Because Bellatrix Black was seventeen-years-old when she fell in love with fifteen-year-old Lily Evans.
But with her family, the House of Black, falling apart from their association with the dark lord Voldemort, her sisters Andromeda and Narcissa going their own paths, the pressure to be strong enough to protect those she cared about, and their separate houses of Gryffindor and Slytherin, their secret friendship became more and more strained.
Because Bellatrix Black was eighteen-years-old when her heart was broken by sixteen-year-old Lily Evans.
But Bellatrix Black never blamed Lily Evans. Not when they didn't meet like they used to. Not when they didn't talk like they used to. Not when they kept their distance. Not when her sister Andromeda abandoned their family, her own sisters, and married the muggleborn Ted Tonks. Not when her sister Narcissa avoided them both and pursued Lucius Malfoy. Not when Lily Evans dated James Potter. Not when Lily Evans married James Potter. Not even when Rose Potter was born…
Bellatrix Black was twenty-two-years-old when she became a godmother…
Bellatrix Black was twenty-three-years-old when she lost her lion…
Bellatrix Black was now thirty-five-years-old…
Outside her former childhood home and her ancestral family home in London under the warm summer sun, Bellatrix Black abandoned her messy thoughts and glanced at those who stood beside her on the sidewalk… Her goddaughter, Rose Potter, the girl who resembled her father more but had her mother's eyes… Her lion's eyes… The weirdly normal American boy, Elliot Peverell, who unknowingly claimed her lion's daughter's heart… And her niece, daughter of the middle Black sister, her sister Andromeda, who she had yet to contact because of their complicated past… But the boy caught her eyes more…
Elliot Peverell…
She knew the Peverell family name. Every pureblood family did. At least, the pureblood families of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, or whatever number it was now, considering she'd been away in prison for more than a decade. But that pureblood family even had their own bedtime story centered around death… And the boy was pureblood too despite his obvious muggle upbringing… Not that she cared about blood status since meeting her lion… But from what she observed over their past school year, he was a normal boy. A foolish boy. A foolish brave boy. A bit dense too. And a bit too unsure about himself as well despite being capable, having a good head, and a good heart. Gryffindor, truly. But for her lion and for her lion's daughter, she would help him become who he was truly capable of becoming…
The Lord of the House of Peverell, the House of Potter, and the House of Black…
Nymphadora
Nymphadora Tonks was fifteen-years-old when she finally told her distant cousin Rose Potter of their familiar connection.
Of course, Rose had not been happy with her keeping that fact to herself for almost three years but thankfully her future boyfriend and husband Elliot Peverell had been there to calm her down and prevent either of them from killing the other. After discussing her reason why she hadn't told her the truth years ago and revealing more about their familiar connection, Tonks felt an actual connection beginning to form between her and her distant cousin. Of course, Rose would never admit to that and, of course again, she knew about her cousin Draco Malfoy but it was different with Rose Potter.
Because she always wanted a little sister.
But of course once again, she would never say that out loud to Rose. After all, she enjoyed being alive and she enjoyed living. But she knew Rose was coming around to the idea of them being like siblings, being like sisters, especially after she offered relationship advice from her and her best friend Hestia Jones to help with the extremely dense Elliot.
And thus Rose Potter reluctantly recognized Nymphadora Tonks as family.
Outside her mom's former childhood home and their ancestral family home in London under the awesome summer sun, Nymphadora Tonks left her familial thoughts and glanced at those who stood beside her on the sidewalk… Her new soon-to-be sister Rose Potter… Her new soon-to-be sister's future boyfriend and husband Elliot Peverell… And her aunt Bellatrix Black… But her eyes stayed on her aunt…
Bellatrix Black…
She only knew a little about what happened between her mom and her aunt… Her aunt had been very interested in being the Lady of the House of Black… Her aunt had been very interested in the Dark Arts… And her aunt had been the favorite of her maternal grandmother… So when her mom pursued a relationship with her muggleborn father… When she married him in secret… When she ran away… Her maternal grandmother had not been very happy… And even when her aunt took her maternal grandmother's side… She couldn't imagine what her mom and aunt went through living with her… So for her family's past, present, future, and legacy, she would help them… Her aunt Bellatrix Black… Her mom formerly Andromeda Black… Her aunt formerly Narcissa Black… She would reunite them all…
The Sisters of the House of Black…
Rose
Rose Potter was one-years-old when she lost her parents James and Lily Potter.
Rose Potter was one-years-old when she lost her home.
Rose Potter was twelve-years-old when she met Elliot Peverell.
Rose Potter was thirteen-years-old when she fell in love with Elliot Peverell.
Rose Potter was thirteen-years-old when she had a home again.
Outside her godmother's former childhood home and her ancestral family home in London under the dreadful summer sun, Rose Potter left her thoughts and glanced at those who stood beside her on the sidewalk… Her future boyfriend and future husband Elliot Peverell… Her annoying distant cousin Nymphadora Tonks… And her godmother Bellatrix Black… She then looked at the building that would be her first home…
And Elliot's Peverell's home too…
Despite having wealth, he was legally not an adult and could not live alone. Nor did he seem like he wanted to anyway. So when her godmother offered him a home and she herself gave him a deadly glare, daring him to say no, he reluctantly agreed. They would live in the same apartment building. They would live in the same home. This… Grim… Old… Place… With more colorful muggle resident buildings beside it. But this would be her home. This would be his home. This would be their home…
They were practically married now.
She glanced at the quiet boy… He hadn't said much since their departure from Hogwarts… Not to her… Not to Granger… Not to the Weasleys… Not to Greengrass… Not to Davis… Not even to Tonks… Not since his release from the Hospital Wing… She knew he talked to Professor Dumbledore… He told her that much when she pushed him to tell her something… Anything… She would find out what was wrong… Because she cared about him… Because she loved him… She then remembered what almost happened in the Forbidden Forest… Before he saved her again… She then decided…
She would tell him her feelings over the summer…
Elliot
Live, Mister Peverell.
Professor Dumbledore's word stayed with fourteen-year-old Elliot Peverell since that night. Soon a year would pass since he arrived in another world. This world that was now his own. He had accepted he would never return to his old world. He had accepted he would never see his family and friends again. He had accepted this was his new life. And while he would do everything he could to stop Voldemort and his followers, he would remember Professor Dumbledore's words…
But he would not follow them.
He tried to live. He had even changed events with Buckbeak and Bellatrix. But he failed to prevent Professor Lupin from transforming into a werewolf and being fired because of Professor Snape revealing his secret to everyone. They could have died. He could have died. And he didn't even realize Rose Potter didn't have the Horcrux scar until now. He didn't even try to find and destroy the other Horcruxes despite knowing their importance. He tried so hard to live and enjoy his second life, he ignored the coming events. Voldemort would rise. Many would die. Dumbledore, Snape, Moody, Lupin, Tonks, Cedric, Fred, Lavender, and more. He would have known. He could have prevented their deaths. How would he ever be able to live even if he succeeded in defeating Voldemort? So he decided…
He will kill Voldemort at the graveyard next year.
Outside the House of Black's ancestral family home in London under the summer sun, Elliot Peverell left his thoughts and glanced at those who stood beside him on the sidewalk… Rose Potter, Nymphadora Tonks, and Bellatrix Black… After an explanation and farewell to Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Daphne, and Tracey aboard the Hogwarts Express, Bellatrix took Rose and him to the place that would be their new home and Tonks had joined them to help clean for a few days.
And speaking of cleaning…
"Miss Black?" Elliot began carefully.
"Aunt Bella, dear." Bellatrix said with a wide smile. The older woman had pale white skin, long curly black hair, tired gray eyes behind black cat-eye sunglasses, and black nail polish and she wore a black dress and black high heel ankle boots. She also looked healthier than when they had met at the Shrieking Shack thanks to potions given to her by Madam Poppy Pomfrey at the Hospital Wing.
"Aunt Bella?" Elliot asked, confused.
"Yes, dear?" Bellatrix asked cheerfully, using her right ring finger to dip her black cat-eye sunglasses slightly down to look at him with her tired but bright gray eyes while chewing pink bubblegum…
"…" Elliot only gave her a bewildered look while Rose simply raised her right dark eyebrow and Tonks snickered behind her right hand at their interaction… "…Aunt Bella… Where… exactly are we?" He gestured his right hand lazily at the building he already knew to keep up his act of not already knowing.
"My childhood home! My ancestral family home! My home again! Your home! Rose's home! I welcome you all to… 12 Grimmauld Place!" Aunt Bella gestured with a wide smile, her arms wide open, and a loud and wicked laugh, drawing the eyes of several confused muggles who walked by… Elliot, Rose, and Tonks only gave her a look… "Anyway, our house elf Kreacher is still a tad bit crazy from our family's long absence and he'll need time to recover… So we'll have to be careful cleaning this old grim place of hidden curses! Now, let's move along now children! We have a long day ahead of us! Oh, it's so good to be home again after all these years! We're going to have such a wonderful summer together!" Aunt Bella said cheerfully before she skipped up the front steps, swinging her arms back and forth, and entered her former childhood home and her ancestral family home 12 Grimmauld Place…
Leaving behind a bewildered Elliot, Rose, and Tonks…
Elliot X Rose
Later at night, Elliot Peverell and Rose Potter awkwardly stood together in their pajamas in the dark hallway on one of the many floors of the building… Outside their respective bedrooms… Which were right across from each other… He wore all red pajamas… She wore all green pajamas… Their conflicted eyes simply glanced between each other and their own feet…
Silence…
Neither knew what to say after their third year adventure… After meeting at the Leaky Cauldron… After the dementors aboard the Hogwarts Express… After their first trip to Hogsmeade… After the Shrieking Shack… After the dementors in the Forbidden Forest… After what they almost did there… Elliot knew what Rose was going to do… Rose knew that he knew what she was going to do… But neither knew what to say… Until they did… In their own special way…
"Goodnight, Rose…" Elliot simply said with a small smile.
"Goodnight, Elliot." Rose said plainly.
Silence again until…
"I expect to see you downstairs for breakfast tomorrow morning. You have a bad habit of waking up late. So don't stay up too late. Don't forget our bedrooms are across from each other now…" Rose warned plainly.
"Why do I feel like I'm in danger now?" Elliot chuckled nervously.
But his small smile disappeared… When Rose boldly stepped closer to him… Her green eyes stared into his brown eyes… His brown eyes stared into her green eyes… They could feel each other's breath… They could feel their hearts beating faster… Elliot opened his mouth to speak… But Rose kissed his right cheek quickly and backed away to the darkness of her bedroom… Leaving a wide eye and open mouth Elliot behind in the dark hallway of a grim old place…
"Oh, Elliot… You've always been in danger with me…" Rose answered plainly with a ghost of a smile on her lips as she gently closed her bedroom door…
(Don't Stop - Gin Wigmore)
Twinkle toes, I think I found the soul
To make me happily ever after
Twinkle toes, I'm glad you shot your bow
Into the arms of my savior
Can I say that I am somebody's world?
How do I live alone with nowhere to go? No
I say I love you
And I'll say it more
My one and only
I can't lose so
Don't stop doing what you do
Have I paid my dues just to be with you?
Don't stop doing what you do
I will be your something old, new, borrowed, and blue
Don't stop doing what you do
'Cause that makes you my man
Gatekeeper, I am down on my knees
I need your key to free my stranger
Gatekeeper, I will knock down your door
And I don't care if you call yourself the Reaper (the Reaper)
Tick-tock clock, I say bye-bye
I found a reason to be done with time
I say I love you
And I'll say it more
My one and only
I can't lose so
Don't stop doing what you do
Have I paid my dues just to be with you?
Don't stop doing what you do
I will be your something old, new, borrowed, and blue
Don't stop doing what you do
'Cause that makes you my man
Can you understand
That baby, you're my man?
I say I love you
And I'll say it more
My one and only
I can't lose
No, don't stop being what you be
Doing what you do
Don't stop being you
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Don't stop
No, I can't
No, I can't lose you so
So don't stop doing what you do
Elliot Peverell, Rose Potter
Have I paid my dues just to be with you?
Don't stop doing what you do
Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley
I will be your something old, new, borrowed, and blue
Don't stop doing what you do
Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis
Don't stop doing what you do so
Don't stop doing what you do
Nymphadora Tonks, Bellatrix Black
'Cause that makes you my man
Rose Potter, the Self-Insert, and the Prisoner of Azkaban
About a year ago, just after watching Wednesday, I couldn't help but be reminded of Hogwarts when it came to Nevermore. I'm guessing I drafted the first chapter to be a crossover... Then I simply forgot about that draft for an entire year... While looking for story ideas to write again, I came across that draft and decided to give it a try... And I'm glad I did. Had a few bumps along the road with Rose's character, how much would I tell, and whether the story could really work. But I'd say so far? Surprisingly better than I had thought. I thought Rose being too similar to Wednesday in appearance and personality would be too distracting so I gave her the standard femHarry appearance without the scar and kept the latter's personality. I also thought readers would find her personality annoying. Then there's the SI, Peverell, who I was uncertain of keeping from the beginning but having a straight-man to Rose's personality worked especially with how different this world would be. Tonks was also fun to write but I wish I included more of her and the same with other characters. Bellatrix was fun and interesting to write even though she only appears at the end of this story but like other characters, I wanted to write her differently. I will say I did write her thoughts and her outward personality and appearance to be conflicting on purpose. She will have her own pov story during Goblet of Fire relating to her sisters and what truly happened years ago. Tonks will also have her own pov which will be semi-related to Peverell and Rose. And without spoiling who, I have a lot of interesting minor characters who will also have povs... But that story will come some days later because I don't want to repeat the mistakes I made writing this story so far and it's generally going to be bigger. And I might have another story like this planned for another fandom... But that's all you're getting for now. Anyway, I'm happy with how many people have enjoyed reading this story so far because I really didn't think this story would or could work but I'm glad to be wrong as I had a lot of fun writing it for you all. So, to be continued with...
Rose Potter, the Self-Insert, and the Goblet of Fire