JAYLA SILVIA DARKMORE
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Born: 7th May 1980, Darkmore Manor, Bath, Somerset, England, Great Britain
Blood Status: Pure-Blood
Nationality: British-American
Also known as: Lala (By Yazmin)
Jay (By Hades)
Darkmore (By Professors)
Know-It-All (By Harry)
Cousin (By Draco)
Ms Darkmore (By Professors)
Sweetheart (By Sophia)
Little Baby Girl (By Daniel)
Jayjay (By Mason)
JJ (By Ron)
JD (By Hermione)
Heiress (By Herself)
Cookie (By Cedric)
Jayslay (By Cedric)
Titles: Darkmore Heir
Chase
PHYSICAL INFORMATION
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Height: 4.11" (149.9cm)
Hair Colour: Black and blond
Eye Colour: Blue
Skin Colour: Light
Played By: Elle Fanning
RELATIONSHIP INFORMATION
Family Members: Sophia Celine Darkmore-Malfoy (Mother)
Daniel John Darkmore (Father)
Mason Jason Darkmore (Younger Brother
Yazmin Nicole Darkmore (Younger Sister)
Davina Silvia Darkmore (Paternal Aunt) (Deceased)
Michael Jason Darkmore (Paternal Grandfather)
Susan Nicole Darkmore (Paternal Grandmother)
Abraxas Malfoy (Maternal Grandfather)
Lucius Malfoy (Maternal Uncle) (Imprisoned)
Narcissa Malfoy-Black (Maternal Aunt)
Draco Malfoy (Maternal Cousin)
Flora (House-elf)
Ryder (Family Pet)
Hades (Familiar)
Romances: Cedric Diggory (Boyfriend)
MAGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Boggart: Fire
Wand: 10 1/2 inch, Yew Wood, Thunderbird tail feather.
Patronus: Baby Dragon
AFFILIATIONS
House: Gryffindor
Loyalty: Darkmore Family
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Gryffindor
Golden Quartet
Gryffindor Quidditch Team
APPEARANCE
Jayla is taller than the average girl and has grown out her hair which reaches her ribs, flowing in waves and flipping outward at the ends; she doesn't often have it down and puts her two-toned hair in different styles. Jayla has platinum blond and black coloured hair that she inherited as the firstborn heir of the House of Darkmore. Jayla has beautiful blue eyes and smooth, flawless fair skin, and the House of Darkmore's insignia is tattooed on her left inner write, which is magically imprinted upon birth.
Jayla no longer wears the Victorian gothic Lolita-type style that her mother made her wear, letting her daughter pick after talking to her out of dressing her but hates seeing the sad look in her eyes and appeasing her occasionally. Jayla still wears formal dresses, enjoying wearing knee-length vintage-type dresses with collars. Jayla likes wearing simpler clothes, similar to Muggle clothes. As a third-year student at Hogwarts, she wears the school uniform neatly in class, though she wears grey knee-high socks instead of white socks like the other girls. And untucks her shirt from her skirt and loosens her tie when she's at lunch, though Hermione scolds her till she complies, but is whining back to loosen up a little.
PERSONALITY AND TRAITS
Jayla has an incredible brain as she has a photographic memory that allows her to recall things she's read and seen, though she struggles with remembering things she has heard. Jayla is cocky, becoming comfortable with her surroundings, though she sometimes comes across as too cocky on the pitch. Jayla uses her intellect for sly planning, having helped her brother, Mason, with his pranks, often against her best friend, Hermione, over the summer holidays, trying to get her to loosen up. Jayla can be highly stubborn at the best of times, having shown this when she doesn't back down from Voldemort and Professor Quirrell. Jayla even showed why she was placed into Gryffindor when the Heiress helped Harry fight against the Basilisk last year and even told Voldemort he was wrong to his face. Jayla was seen as calm and collected by her peers last year as she was getting comfortable in Hogwarts, almost disguising herself. Jayla has long talks with Oliver over Quidditch and has shown her strategic and sly thinking as they plan for the season. It sometimes worries Harry, especially after she joined the team last year, showing bold moves against their opponents. Over the summer, Jayla and her family have spent time with Amos and his son, Cedric; the two teenagers have grown to care about each other. Cedric admires how kind and caring she can be with her family and towards him and loves sneaking kisses.
MAGICAL ABILITIES AND SKILLS
Defence Against the Dark Arts: Jayla comes from a family that studies the Dark Arts to help those in need, though the girl only knows the basics and loves to read books on the subject, wishing one day to become the next Professor. She loves the class, though she felt the last Professor ruined it and was losing interest and spent most of her time in the library reading books on Magical Creatures. Though she feels the new Professor is making the class more enjoyable and doesn't want him to leave soon, she even asks him if she can take extra lessons on top of her extra Potions lessons.
Flying: Jayla is a gifted flyer; having learned along with her siblings since they could walk, Jayla planned to join the Quidditch team as a Chaser next year. Her wish came true as she was the replacement Chaser for the season and loved winning, showing her competitive side. Jayla helps Oliver with strategy and trains with the other chasers, showing them moves from her favourite Quidditch Team, the Holyhead Harpies. Jayla doesn't get much pitch time as the other Chasers, though they don't mind switching out with her.
Zoolingualism: Jayla has the special and unique ability to talk to animals and understand what they are saying; this ability is unique to her as she inherited it from the Malfoy line, and it only shows in females. She's become a quick study, though she is learning to distinguish what animal is talking within a crowd and sometimes finds it a little tricky.
Charms: Jayla enjoys this class the most as she knows most of the basics from reading and finds the jinxes and charms she learns useful. She took extra lessons from her mother last summer to understand jinxes, though she promised not to use them on anyone at school. Jayla has shown that she can cast powerful spells but still struggles with control and has started to take lessons with Professor Flitwick before curfew.
Potions: Due to her photographic memory, she remembers everything she's ever read, and Jayla enjoys making the potions that the Heiress has read about. Snape last year began giving Jayla extra lessons after seeing her skills over the last two years and is surprised at how well she picks up the methods.
Transfiguration: Jayla finds the classes fascinating and plans to become an Animagus when she turns 16. McGonagall has commented on her interests and how she has excellent grades across the board and gives her new books to read that she knows she will find interesting.
Herbology: Jayla doesn't like the dirt very much, but she does enjoy the class as she learns about all the new plants and even sneaks out some rose seeds for her garden at home. Jayla finds she doesn't have a green thumb but likes to learn the magical herbs and studies what plants are suitable for healing and has found a new hobby of studying poisons.
Care of Magical Creatures: Jayla loves learning about the new creatures and how to care for them, and she even asks Hagrid if she can help feed them from time to time and goes on visits to see Aragog.
Study of Ancient Runes: Jayla finds Ancient Runes completely easy at first because of her Photographic Memory, and Professor Babbling has given her extra work during the lessons that are for high years.
Photographic Memory: Jayla can recall anything she has read, even from years ago; though she may be able to remember what Jayla has heard slightly, she struggles if it has been some time.
Quick Reader: Jayla can read 12,00 words per minute, and it spooks some of the other students from time to time as she reads in the common room or the library.
Singing: Having spent time in America over the summer, Jayla has grown interested in music and has started singing lessons, though she is nervous about singing in front of people.
Puzzle Solving: Jayla's grandparents gave her a puzzle cube that she solved quickly, and they started giving her a new puzzle to solve each month.
TRIVIA
- Jayla loves reading her books in the dark, not using any light source.
- Jayla likes reading books on Magical Creatures and Muggle fantasy books that Hermione has gotten her into.
- Jayla doesn't like reading the end of books and has started ripping the last page out of her story books.
- Jayla has people to read to her most of the time, not wanting to remember the book so she can hear it repeatedly.
- Jayla enjoys playing Wizard and Muggle games with friends.
- They are teaching each other how to play other games; Jayla plays with her siblings, too.
- Jayla finds the sound of rain soothing, sleeps better, and sometimes can't help but dance; Harry joins her and catches a cold.
- Jayla enjoys cold weather, especially snow and Christmas, though she wishes Harry would join her next year.
- Playing Quidditch is Jayla's favourite sport, having learned how to play since she could walk.
- Jayla's favourite candy is peppermint toads, though she likes to try her luck with Bertie's Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
- Jayla hates sweet-tasting foods apart from candy as she feels it's supposed to taste sweet.
- Jayla likes her teachers, though when it comes to Professor Snape, it seems to go off and on as he's mean to her friends, especially Harry, most of the time.
- Jayla loves cats, especially her cat, Hades.
- Jayla has an obsession with fire but hates it along with heat, hating hot summer weather, though she likes spending her holidays at the summer house.
- Jayla disagrees with Pure-blood purity beliefs, finding them ancient and prejudiced, speaking out against her uncle at the Ministery's Annual Party.
- Jayla doesn't like being on the receiving end of one of Mason's pranks, though she likes to help him sometimes as long as it's not on her.
Jayla gets tips from the Weasley Twins, relays them to Mason, and worries about when he comes to Hogwarts next year.
- Jayla doesn't like Cornelius Fudge, as her mother calls him a nitwit behind his back, and she finds him ridiculous and almost tells him to his face.
- Jayla is counting down the days until her 16th birthday, even having it on her calendar by her bed till she becomes an Animagus.
- Jayla's favourite Class is Defence Against The Dark Arts; her favourite teacher so far is Remus Lupin.
- Jayla loves going to Hogsmeade and drinking Butterbeer.
- In America, Jayla went to a Weird Sisters concert with Cedric.
- Jayla loves listening and dancing in her room.
- Jayla hates keeping secrets or people keeping secrets from others, but Cedric convinces her to keep their relationship a secret.
- Jayla hates Divination, saying it's junk and that there are only chosen to see the future like her mother.
- Jayla knows the truth about Sirius but has been warned not to tell Harry or anyone else.
- Draco and Jayla were much closer since America and Draco's father was imprisoned in Azkaban.
The Cast
Elle Fanning as Jayla Darkmore
Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter
Emma Watson as Hermione Granger
Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley
Emily Blunt as Sophia Darkmore
Henry Cavill as Daniel Darkmore
Jessica De Gouw as Davina Darkmore
Freddie Highmore as Mason Darkmore
Morgan Davies as Yazmin Darkmore
Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy
Ben Barnes as Sirius Black
Andrew Garfield as Remus Lupin
Writing Styles
"Animal Talking"
"Thoughts"
Writing
"Spells"
"Speech"
Flashbacks
XIX. Gorgeous
Splendid or sumptuous in appearance, colouring, etc.; magnificent:
Jayla Darkmore loves this summer, and this summer was her favourite; not only were she and her family currently in America visiting her grandparents, but the young Heiress misses her friends dearly. But a certain boy makes up for it. A boy a few years older than her. A boy she happened to meet at a Weird Sisters concert at the beginning of the summer. This boy was Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff Sixth Year, who had met the young Heiress at the concert with a pen pal he was visiting for the summer. The two got along well; even Draco Malfoy, her cousin, liked the smiley brunette boy, who made his cousin smile.
Draco and Jayla are relatively close now, with him spending the whole summer with her away from his family because of the mess his father got them into. Draco grew worried about Jayla because of her screaming fits, remembering everything that happened within the Chamber of Secrets with Riddle. Writing in her Journal helped express her fears and worries, but it didn't help with the nightmares that plagued her at night. Her parents grew scared for her, but after meeting Cedric, she smiled more and seemed happier with him.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Jayla smiles as she sits across from Cedric, a boy from Hogwarts who is also visiting his pen pal in America with his Dad. The couple smiles at each other as they sit at a cafe on a date. They awkwardly look at each other over a cup of coffee, to which the young Heiress is becoming eagerly attached, trying a vanilla flavour latte. "How are you liking it?" Cedric asks her, breaking the silence.
"Yeah. I think I could drink another one." Jayla answers, and by luck, a waiter comes by, taking another order. "Are you excited about next year?"
"Oh, yeah. More so now I'll get to spend more time with you. You'll come with me to Hogsmeade, won't you?" He asks her, sipping his coffee.
"Of course. I'd love to. You can show me around," The young Heiress smiles, gazing at the older boy.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Jayla walks along New York's streets, holding Cedric's hand when they visit her family's hotel for the holidays. "Only a few more weeks, and it's back to school." Jayla muses, coming to a stop.
"And we can go to Hogsmeade. I never asked. But what classes are you taking?" Cedric asks her, leading her inside, seeing the strange Magical look of the hotel. "What is this place?"
"It's a Wizard hotel. My grandparents own it." She answers, seeing a Witch in all purple run past them outside. "And I'm taking Care of Magical Creatures…."
"Of course." The Hufflepuff boy chuckles, knowing how she is about all types of animals.
"Study of Ancient Runes…" The young Heiress continues.
"Really?" Cedric frowns.
"What's wrong with Ancient Runes?" Jayla asks him.
"Nothing. I think it'll be easy for you and your mind." He jokes, making her giggle.
"I guess. Grandfather loves giving me new puzzles to solve. I've loved it. Some of them are rather difficult." She adds. "And Snape is giving me extra Potions lessons again."
"I'm surprised you'd want to spend more time with him." The brunette boy questions, frowning.
"Oh. I don't. But I want to learn. My grandfather got me into it. I've become really interested in different poisons." The two-toned-haired girl jest, trying to frighten the boy a little, and it works.
"Really?!" Cedric yelps, making her laugh.
"Yes, but to find a cure, of course." Jayla assures him. "I wouldn't hurt you."
"Thanks." He smiles.
"Mum says its fine. As long as you don't break my heart." She replies, grinning at him.
"I'd never do that." The older boy assures her, wrapping his arms around him. "I know my friends will be happy to know about you. Though, I don't want to tell them of you yet. Keep our relationship a secret for now. I don't want them to butt their heads in."
"Yeah… sure." The young Heiress replies, unsure about his request but knows he might be right.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Cedric asks her.
"Definitely." She replies, smiling dreamily at him, and he leans toward her, connecting their lips, leaving her a blushing mess.
"Gross!" Mason yells, startling the couple, who look at the young boy.
"Mason!" Jayla shouts.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Harry is a highly unusual boy in many ways. For one thing, he hates the summer holidays more than any other time of the year. For another, Harry really wants to do his homework but is forced to do it secretly in the dead of night. And he also happens to be a Wizard.
Harry lies on his front in bed close to midnight with the blankets drawn right over his head like a tent, a torch in one hand and a large leather-bound book: A History of Magic, by Adalbert Waffling, open against the pillow. Harry moves the tip of his quill down the page, frowning as he looks for something to help him write his essay. The quill pauses at the top of a likely-looking paragraph, and Harry pushes his round glasses up his nose, moving his torch closer to the book and reads the page. After reading, he puts his quill between his teeth and reaches underneath his pillow for his ink bottle and roll of parchment. Slowly and very carefully, he unscrews the bottle, dipping his quill into it and begins writing, and pauses every now and then to listen because if any of the Dursleys hear the scratching of his quill on their way to the bathroom, he'll probably find himself locked in the cupboard under the stairs for the rest of the summer.
The Dursley family are Harry's only living relatives and happen to be Muggles, having a medieval attitude towards Magic, these Muggles in particular. The most the Dursleys can do these days is lock away Harry's spellbooks, wand, cauldron and broomstick at the start of the summer holidays, forbidding him to talk to the neighbours. This is a real problem for Harry because his teachers at Hogwarts give him a lot of holiday work. Harry seized his chance in the first week of the holidays. Whilst his family had gone out into the front garden to admire the new company car, his uncle got and crept downstairs, picking the lock on the cupboard under the stairs, and grabbed some of the books and hid them in his bedroom. His aunt and uncle are in a nasty mood with him because he received a telephone call from a fellow Wizard one week into the school holidays.
Ron Weasley, one of Harry's best friends at Hogwarts, comes from a whole family of Wizards. He knows more things than Harry does about that, but not how to use a phone because Uncle Vernon answered the call unluckily. Ron yelled loudly down the line and went into a shouting match with the man. Hermione Granger, another of his friends, wasn't in contact with him either, probably because Ron warned her. And then there's Jayla Darkmore. The girl he's had a crush on since they met their first year at Hogwarts. She hadn't called either, possibly because she was in America, and the time difference was a bit awkward.
So Harry hasn't heard from any of his Wizarding friends for five long weeks, and this summer is turning out to be almost as bad as the last one. There is just one tiny improvement after swearing that he won't use her to send letters to any of his friends; Harry is allowed to let his owl, Hedwig, out at night. Vernon gives in because of the racket Hedwig makes when she is locked in her cage all the time.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
A few days before Harry's birthday, Jayla takes a break from spending her summer with Cedric and the rest of her family, needing to find a present for her friend and decides to go around New York, searching for something special for someone back home because it's their birthday very soon. "If I was a teenage boy, what would I want for my birthday?" She mutters to herself and stops outside a shop window, spotting something unique. "Perfect!" She walks inside, finds the object on the shelf and contemplates, grabbing another for herself, needing a good night's rest.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Harry finishes his essay and walks across the dark room, past Hedwig's large, empty cage opening the window. He leans on the sill, the cool night air pleasant on his face after a long time under the blankets. Hedwig has been absent for two nights now. Harry doesn't worry about her - she's been gone this long before - but hopes she'll return soon. She is the only living creature in this house who doesn't flinch at the sight of him. He scans the starry sky for a sign of Hedwig, perhaps soaring back to him with a dead mouse dangling from her beak, expecting praise. Gazing absently over the rooftops, it is a few seconds before Harry realises what he is seeing. A silhouette against the golden moon, growing larger every moment, is a large, strangely lop-sided creature flapping in his direction. Harry stands quite still, watching it sink lower and lower. For a split second, he hesitates, his hand on the window latch, wondering whether to slam it shut, but the bizarre creature soars over one of the streetlamps of Privet Drive, and Harry, realising what it is, leaps aside. Through the window soars four owls, two holding up a third, which appears to be unconscious. They land with a soft flump on Harry's bed, and the middle owl, which is large and grey, keels right over, lying motionless. There is a large package tied to its legs. Harry recognised the unconscious owl at once - his name is Errol, and he belongs to the Weasley family. Harry dashes to the bed at once, untying the cords around Errol's legs, taking off the parcel and then carries Errol to Hedwig's cage. Errol opens one bleary eye, giving a feeble hoot of thanks, and begins to gulp some water. Harry turns back to the remaining owls. One of them, the large snowy female, is his own Hedwig. She, too, is carrying a parcel and looks exceptionally pleased with herself. She gives an affectionate nip with her beak as Harry removes her burden, then flies across the room to join Errol. Harry recognises the other to be Ryder, the Darkmore family owl and unties the package before he swoops to join the others. Harry turns to the last owl, a handsome tawny one, but he knows immediately where it has come from because there's a fourth parcel carrying a letter bearing the Hogwarts crest. When Harry relieves the owl of its post, it ruffles its feather importantly, stretches its wings and takes off through the window into the night. Harry sits on his bed, grabs Errol's package, rips off the brown paper and discovers a present wrapped in gold and his first-ever birthday card. Fingers trembling slightly, he opens the envelope. Two pieces of paper fall out - a letter and a newspaper cutting.
The cutting has clearly come out of the Wizarding newspaper, the Daily Prophet, because people in the black and white pictures are moving. Harry picks up the cutting, smoothing it out and reads:
MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE
Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw. A delighted Mr Weasley told the Daily Prophet, "We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a Curse Breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank." The Weasley family will spend a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley children attend.
Harry scans the moving photograph, and a grin spreads across his face, seeing all nine of the Weasleys waving furiously at him, standing in front of a giant pyramid. Harry picks up Ron's letter and unfolds it.
Dear Harry,
Happy birthday! Look, I'm really sorry about that telephone call. I hope the Muggles didn't give you a hard time. I asked Dad, and he reckons I shouldn't have shouted. It's brilliant here in Egypt. Bill's taken us round all the tombs, and you wouldn't believe the curses those old Egyptian Wizards put on them. Mum wouldn't let Ginny come in the last one. There were all these mutant skeletons in there, of course, Muggles who'd broken in and grown extra heads and stull. I couldn't believe it when Dad won the Daily Prophet Draw. Seven hundred galleons! Most of it's gone on this holiday, but they're going to buy me a new wand for next year.
Harry remembers only too well the occasion when Ron's old wand snapped. It happened when the car they had been flying to Hogwarts crashed into a tree on the school grounds.
We'll be back about a week before term starts, and we'll be going to London to get my wand and our new books. Any chance of meeting you there? Don't let the Muggles get you down! Try and come to London,
Ron
PS: Percy's Head Boy. He got the letter last week.
Harry glances back at the photo, seeing Percy looking particularly smug. He has pinned his Head Boy badge to the fez jauntily on top of his neat hair. Harry now turns to his present and unwraps it. Inside is what looks like a miniature glass spinning top. There is another note from Ron beneath it.
Harry - this is a Pocket Sneakoscope. If there's someone untrustworthy around, it's supposed to light up and spin. Bill says it's rubbish sold for Wizard tourists and isn't reliable because it kept lighting up at dinner last night. But he didn't realise Fred and George had put beetles in his soup.
Bye - Ron
Harry puts the Pocket Sneakoscope on his bedside table, where it stands pretty still, balanced on its point, reflecting the luminous hands of his clock. He looks at it happily for a few seconds, then picks up the parcel Hegwid brought. Inside this, too, has a wrapped present, a card and a letter, this time from Hermione.
Dear Harry,
Ron wrote to me and told me about his phone call to your Uncle Vernon. I do hope you're all right. I'm on holiday in France at the moment, and I didn't know how I was going to send this to you - what if they'd opened it at Customs? - but then Hedwig turned up! I think she wanted to make sure you got something for a change. I bought your present by owl order; there was an advertisement in the Daily Prophet (I've been getting it delivered; it's so good to keep up with what's going on in the Wizarding World).
Did you see that picture of Ron and his family a week ago? I bet he's learning loads; I'm really jealous - the ancient Egyptian Wizards were fascinating - There's some interesting local history of Witchcraft here, too. I've rewritten my whole History of Magic essay to include some of the things I've found out. I hope it's not too long; it's two rolls of parchment more than Professor Binns asked for. Jayla says she's been looking into her Darkmore family tree and found some interesting things and added it to her essay.
Ron says he's going to be in London in the last week of the holidays. I also talked with Jayla, and she said she should be back by then too. Can you make it? Will your aunt and uncle let you come? I really hope you can. If not, I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express on September the first!
Love from Hermione
PS. Ron says Percy's Head Boy. I'll bet Percy's really pleased. Ron doesn't seem too happy about it.
Harry laughs again as he puts Hermione's letter aside and picks up her present. It is very heavy. Knowing Hermione, he is sure it will be a large book full of complex spells - but it isn't. His heart gives a huge bound as he rips back the paper and sees a sleek black leather case with silver words stamped across it: Broomstick Servicing Kit. "Wow, Hermione!" Harry whispers, unzipping the case to look inside. Apart from his friends, what Harry misses most about Hogwarts is Quidditch, the most popular sport in the Magical world - highly dangerous, fascinating and played on broomsticks. Harry puts the leather case aside and picks up his last parcel. He picks up the next present from his friend, Jayla, and he sees the delicate silver wrapping and rips it open to see a black candle wrapped around a pentagram, along with a few sweets. Harry sees a letter and opens it, seeing her delicate handwriting.
Dear Harry,
I hope your summer has been good. Mine has been lovely here in America; I wish you could see it, though I have taken loads of photographs for you to see. I found this candle in a shop; the Witch behind the counter said that it takes away bad dreams. I know in your last letter you said you weren't sleeping well, so I thought you'd need this. The sweets are only found in America; I thought you'd like them. Don't worry. I've got plenty for the trip to Hogwarts, so Ronald won't moan about it.
I hope to see you in the last week of the holidays. We're going to be staying at the Leaky Cauldron to get my things since we're not going back to the Manor before Hogwarts. I hope you enjoy your birthday and those Muggles aren't causing you too much trouble.
Missing you,
Jayla
PS. Ron told me about Percy, and I saw they were in Egypt. I'd love to go there one day.
Harry smiles at the letter, places the candle on his bedside table, and picks up the last parcel. He recognises the untidy scrawl on the brown paper at once: this is from Hagrid, the Hogwarts Gamekeeper. He tears off the top layer of paper and glimpses something green and leathery, but before he can unwrap it fully, the parcel gives a strange quiver, and whatever is inside it snaps loudly - as though it has jaws. Harry freezes. He knows that Hagrid will never send him anything dangerous on purpose, but then, Hagrid doesn't have an average person's view of what's dangerous. Hagrid has been known to befriend giant spiders, buy vicious, three-headed dogs from men in pubs and sneak illegal dragon eggs into his cabin.
Harry pokes the parcel nervously. It snaps loudly again. Harry reaches for the lamp on his bedside table, gripping it firmly and raising it over his head, ready to strike. Then he seizes the rest of the wrapping paper in his other hand and pulls. And out falls - a book. Harry just has time to register its gorgeous green cover, emblazoned with the golden title, The Monster Book of Monsters, before it flips onto its edge and scuttles sideways along the bed like some weird crab. "Uh oh," Harry mutters. The book topples off the bed with a loud clunk and shuffles rapidly across the room. Harry follows it stealthily. The book is hiding in the dark space under his desk. Praying that the Dursleys are still fast asleep. Harry gets down on his hands and knees and reaches toward it. "Ouch!" The book snaps shut on his hand and then flaps past him, still scuttling on its covers. Harry scrambles around, throwing himself forward and manages to flatten it. Uncle Vernon gives a loud, sleepy grunt in the room next door.
Hedwig, Errol and Ryder watch interestedly as Harry clamps the struggling book tightly in his arms, hurrying to his chest of drawers and pulls out a belt, which he buckles tightly around. The Monster Book shudders angrily but can no longer flap and snap, so Harry throws it down on the bed and reaches for Hagrid's card.
Dear Harry,
Happy Birthday! Think you might find this useful for next year. Won't say no more here. Tell you when I see you. Hope the Muggles are treating you right.
All the best, Hagrid
It sticks Harry as ominous that Hagrid thought a biting book would be helpful, but he puts up Hagrid's card next to Ron, Hermione and Jayla's, grinning more broadly than ever. Now there is only the letter from Hogwarts left.
Harry notices that it is thicker than usual and slits open the envelope, puls out the first page of parchment within and reads:
Dear Mr Potter,
Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross Station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock. Third-years are permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade at certain weekends. Please give the enclosed permission form to your parent or guardian to sign.
A list of books for next year is enclosed.
Yours Sincerely,
Professor McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry pulls out the Hogsmeade permission form and looks at it, no longer grinning. It would be wonderful to visit Hogsmeade at weekends; he knows it is an entirely Wizarding village, and he has never set foot there. But how on earth will Harry persuade Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia to sign the form? He looks over at the alarm clock seeing it's now two o'clock in the morning, and decides to worry about it when he wakes up and goes to bed and reaches up to cross off another day on the chart he'd made for himself to count down the days left until he returns to Hogwarts.
Harry removes his glasses and lays down, eyes open, facing his four birthday cards. Glad for the first time in his life that it is his birthday.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
A few days after Harry's birthday, Jayla walks to a table with Mason, spotting Cedric waiting for her. "Sorry, I'm late. My Mum wanted me to take Mason off her hands." She explains and sits across from him.
"That's okay. Hey, Mason." Cedric replies, looking at the younger boy.
"Hey, Cedric." Mason greets him, and a waitress takes their order to their table.
"Still into those vanilla lattes, then?" He teases the young Heiress, who looks at the menu, feeling slightly hungry.
"It's your fault." Jayla replies, smirking at him and looks at her younger brother. "I can't believe it's only next year that you'll be at Hogwarts."
"I know. I can't wait to see what House I'll be in." Mason grins, thinking about all the pranks he'll do within those walls.
"If you prank me. I will get you back." She warns him.
"I didn't know you liked pranks?" Cedric frowns, realising he doesn't know her that well.
"Only as retaliation to Mason's." The young Heiress replies, looking at her younger brother, who can't help the smile spreading on his face.
"I don't know what you mean," Mason smirks.
"Yeah, right." Jayla huffs. "I forgot to ask. But I got my book list yesterday, and I saw this book. Does your Dad know what it is? It's called the Monster Book of Monsters." She tells him and sees the look of shock on his face.
"Yeah. I never thought someone would want to give it out. It's a bit of a violent book. I'd bring something to tie it up with." Cedric warns her.
"That sounds worrying." She frowns, and their drinks come. "Mase, Mum said no more sugar after you puked on the plane here."
"I won't. It's a bubblegum-flavoured milkshake." Mason argues and pushes it toward her. "It's good. Try it." She takes a sip.
"It is." The two-toned-haired girl smiles and looks at Cedric.
"Another thing to get addicted to, I see." Cedric jokes.
"Indeed. I'll have to get Hermione to try it. They might do it at Florean Fortescue's and maybe at Honeydukes." Jayla muses. "She loves bubblegum."
"Can we go to that shop we saw the other day, Jayjay?" Mason asks, sipping his milkshake.
"Sure." Cedric answers, grinning. "What do you say, Jayslay?"
"Jayslay?" Jayla repeats, looking at her boyfriend.
"I need to give you a nickname. I feel left out." He replies, making her laugh.
"I guess. I like it. Ceddy." She giggles, making him smile, and he places his hand over hers, and her brother rolls his eyes at them.
"Barf." Mason groans.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
After opening his presents the following day, Harry returns to breakfast to find the three Dursleys sitting around the kitchen table. They are watching a brand-new TV, a welcome home-for-the-summer present for Dudley, who has been complaining loudly about the long walk between the fridge and the TV in the living room. His cousin spends most of the summer in the kitchen, his piggy little eyes fixed on the screen. Harry sits between Dudley and Uncle Vernon, far from wishing him a happy birthday; none of the Dursleys gives any sign they notice him enter the room, but Harry is far too used to this to care. He helps himself to a piece of toast and then looks up at the newsreader on the TV, who is halfway through a report on an escaped convict. "... the public is warned that Black is armed and extremely dangerous. A special hotline has been set up, and any sighting of Black should be reported immediately."
"No need to tell us he's no good," Vernon snorts, staring over the top of his newspaper, looking sideways at Harry.
"The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will announce today -." The news reporter continues.
"Hang on!" He barks, staring furiously at the newsreader. "You didn't tell us where that maniac's escaped from! What use is that? Lunatic could be coming up the street right now!" Aunt Petunia whips around and peers intently out of the kitchen window into the back garden as if expecting it, wanting to call the hotline, being a big gossip and nose as she is. "WHen will they learn," He grumbles, pounding on the table, "that hanging's the only way to deal with these people?" He drains his cup, glancing at his watch and adds. "I'd better be off in a minute, Petunia. Marge's train gets in at ten." Harry snaps out of thoughts on his Broomstick Servicing Kit and returns to earth with an unpleasant bump.
"Aunt Marge?" Harry blurts out. "Sh-She's not coming here, is she?" He shudders at the thought of the horrible wand.
"Marge'll be here for a week," The large man snarls, "and while we're on the subject." He points a far finger threateningly at Harry. "We need to get a few things straight before I go and collect her." Dudley smirks, withdrawing his daze from the TV, and watches his Dad bully his cousin, another of his favourite pass times. "Firstly," Vernon growls, "you'll keep a civil tongue in your head when you're talking to Marge."
"All right," Harry replies bitterly, "if she does when she's talking to me."
"Secondly," Vernon adds, acting like he hadn't heard Harry, "as Marge doesn't know anything about your abnormality, I don't wand any - any funny stuff while she's here. You behave yourself, got me?"
"I will if she does," He replies through gritted teeth.
"And thirdly," The large man adds, his mean little eyes now slitting in his big face, "we've told Marge you attend St. Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys."
"What?" The ravenette yells.
"And you'll be sticking to that story, boy, or there'll be trouble." Vernon spits, and Harry sits there, white-faced and furious, staring at his uncle, hardly believing it. Aunt Marge coming for a week-long visit - it is the worst birthday present the Dursleys have ever given him, including the pair of Uncle Vernon's old socks. "Well, Petunia," He says, getting heavily to his feet. "I'll be off to the station, then. Want to come along for the ride, Dudders?"
"No," Dudley answers, his attention on the TV now that his father has stopped threatening Harry.
"Duddy's got to make himself smart for his auntie," Petunia coos, smoothing Dudley's thick blond hair. "Mummy's bought him a lovely new bow-tie." Vernon claps Dudley on his shoulder.
"See you in a bit, then," Vernon says, leaving the kitchen.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Draco runs through Central Park with Yazmin chasing him as the Darkmore family plus Draco have a picnic in the park a few days later, and Jayla writes in her Journal as her Mum ties her long hair into a plait, keeping it out of her face. "No! Drakey! "Yazmin cries, laughing as the young Malfoy carries her over his shoulder to the picnic blanket.
"Draxo dear, put her down. Foods ready." Sophia tells her nephew, and they sit down as Daniel gets the food out of the basket, enjoying their time together.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Back at Privet Drive, the doorbell chimes in the first week of August, making Harry's stomach drop, knowing who will step through the front door any second. "Harry!" Petunia shouts in her shrill voice. "Harry!" He bounds downstairs into the front hall to see his Aunt Petunia and his cousin, Dudley standing stiffly, both seeming to hate the idea of the woman about to arrive at their house. Petunia flicks a bit of fluff from Dudley's sweater, glowers crossly at Harry and jerks her head toward the door. "Well, go on. Open it." Harry reaches for the doorknob when - BLAM! - it burst open, revealing a large, waddling woman, known as Aunt Marge and a large waddling bulldog, called Ripper, barges inside. Uncle Vernon lurches forward out of the teeming rain with an enormous suitcase and drops it on Harry. "Marge! Welcome! How was the train?" Petunia asks her politely.
"Wretched. Ripper got sick," Marge replies, walking down the hallway.
"Ah. How… unfortunate." She replies, looking at the dog.
"I would've left him with the others, but he pines so when I'm away. Don't you, darling?" The large woman coos at the bulldog, puckering her lips at Ripper and leading him down the hallway.
"Uncle Vernon. I need you to sign this form," Harry informs him, following the man down the hall.
"What is it?" Vernon asks, taking off his water-soaked coat.
"Nothing. Something for school…" He replies, and his uncle suspiciously eyes the parchment in his nephew's hand.
"Later perhaps. If you behave," The large man says, walking into the living room.
"I will if she does," The ravenette says, following and standing in the doorway, seeing Aunt Marge turning toward him, eyeing him.
"So. Still here, are you?" Marge questions in a harsh tone.
"Yes." Harry replies curtly.
"Don't say "yes" in that ungrateful tone. Damn good of my brother to keep you, if you ask me." She grunts at him and looks at his aunt and uncle. "It'd have been straight to an orphangage if he'd been dumped on my doorstep." Dudley laughs at something on the TV, alerting them to him still sitting on the sofa in a TV coma. "Is that my Dudders! Hm? Is that my neff poo? Come and say hello to your Auntie Marge." Marge flashes a thick fan of money, making Dudley blink and waddle forward, extending his plump palm obediently. Harry looks on, seeing Ripper snuggling about his ankles.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Sophia Darkmore sits across from her husband in a daze, and Daniel knows why; she has a vision, and it's a long one from how long she's been sitting like that. "It's really true…." Sophia breathes in deep shock and looks at him.
"What's true?" Daniel asks, frowning, moving to sit next to her on the couch of their hotel room. "What did you see?"
"I can't believe it's true…." She mutters again.
"What's true?" He repeats, growing scared.
"I saw him… Dan. I saw him…" She whispers, and he looks at her.
"Who?" He asks her.
"Sirius…" The Darkmore Matriarch answers. "I think he's gone to find him…"
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Dinner comes around, and Harry clears the dishes as the rest of the family enjoys their food; then, Vernon brings out a bottle of brandy. "Can I tempt you, Marge?" He asks his sister, showing her the bottle.
"Just a small one," Marge replies, and he pours a small one. "A bit more…" Vernon continues. "...a bit more…" He pours more. "That's a boy." She takes the glass and sips sloppily at it. "Aah. Excellent nosh, Petunia." She snaps her thick fingers at Harry, pointing to the plate on the floor she gave to Ripper. "It' normally just a fry-up for me, what with twelve dogs." She smacks her lips, lowering her brandy to the dog that happily licks up the alcohol and catches Harry looking at her with a small smile. "What are you smirking at!" She snaps at him. "Where is it that you send him, Vernon?"
"St. Brutus'. It's a first-rate institution for hopeless cases." Vernon answers, and hearing this, Harry frowns, glancing at his uncle, who glares darkly back at him.
"I see. And do they use the cane at St. Brutus', boy?" The large woman asks, looking at Harry.
"Oh, yes." Harry replies sarcastically. "I've been beaten loads of times."
"Excellent. I won't have this namby-panmy wishy-washy nonsense about not hitting people who deserve it." She sneers and takes another sip. "Still. Mustn't blame yourself for how this one's turned out, Vernon. It all comes down to blood. Bad blood will out. What is it the boy's father did, Petuina?"
"Nothing." Petunia answers, seeming agitated. "That is… he didn't work. He was - unemployed." She lies, unable to tell her what her brother-in-law really did, considering the large woman is a Muggle with no idea about the Wizarding World.
"Of course. And a drunk, I expect -." Marge replies, scoffing.
"That's a lie." Harry slips angrily, and she pauses on her brandy, eyes narrowing on him.
"What did you say?" She asks, glaring at him.
"My Dad wasn't a drunk." He replies, popping the glass in the large woman's hand as it explodes everywhere.
"Oh my goodness! Marge!" Petunia cries in fright, knowing her nephew's doing caused the glass to explode.
"Not to worry, Petunia. I have a very firm grip." The large woman assures her, and Harry stares at the shattered glass in surprise.
"You go to bed. Now," Vernon orders the skinny boy.
"Quiet, Vernon. You clean it up." Marge snaps, and Harry cleans away the glass shards. "It doesn't matter about the father. In the end it comes down to the mother. You see it all the time with dogs. If there's something wrong with the bitch, there'll be something wrong with the pup…"
"Shut up!" Harry explodes, throwing the towel and glass shards onto the floor. "Shut up!" Aunt Marge turns to him, unfazed by his anger and turns to reply.
"Right, let me tell you…" She begins to scold him when she sees her finger swell up, startling her as she begins blowing up slowly, her clothes expanding around her, the seams groaning, and her cheeks billowing out. Marge looks around for help from the Dursleys, but they quiver in fear as the threads snap, and her whole body swells around as she begins inflating like a horribly monstrous balloon. The buttons on her dress ping off, hitting Dudley in the forehead, sending the TV-watching boy to the floor, and her beaded necklace spreads across the table. Marge yells in fright as she begins floating out of her chair. It breaks under the strain of her growing hips, and another button flies off, hitting the boy to the floor again.
"MARGE!" Vernon shouts, jumping from his seat toward her, and Ripper leaps over to him, ripping into his trouser leg, stopping him from approaching his owner. Harry watches the scene in fright at what he's done, and Marge floats onto the ceiling, taking the tablecloth with her, screaming. The skinny boy moves toward the door slowly but stops as she moves toward the conservatory and out the open doors. Harry moves closer to see Marge pulled down by Vernon, who keeps her barely grounded as Ripper thrashes around on his trouser leg. "Don't worry! I've got you…." Vernon assures his sister, but he slowly rises into the air and keeps trying to kick the dog off his leg.
"Vernon. Don't you dare -." Marge warns him, looking at her dog.
"Sorry…" He replies and accidentally lets go, falling into the garden on his knees and watches as his sister floats away. Harry watches Dudley watching the TV again and his aunt and uncle in the garden crying up to the sky for Marge and racing upstairs to his room to get away from them.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Harry slams his door shut in anger and kicks his chest of drawers before sitting on his bed, hanging his head in shame at what he'd done and sees the picture of his parents dancing in front of a fountain in the snow, calming him, and he knows what he has to do next. Harry gathers his things, puts them into his trunk and removes his wand from its hiding place under the loose floorboard before taking his photo frame of his parents.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Harry tows his trunk behind him down the stairs as he makes his loud booming escape when Uncle Vernon appears angrily, waiting for him. "YOU BRIGHT HER BACK! YOU BRING HER BACK AND PUT HER RIGHT!" Vernon screams at him, pulling at his shirt, and Harry pulls out his wand, pointing it at his cowering uncle.
"No!" Harry answers, moving down the steps. "She deserved what she got! And you… you keep away from me." Vernon shrinks away nervously from the skinny boy as he points his wand at him.
"You're not allowed to do Magic out of school. They won't have you now. You've nowhere to go." He warns the boy, and Harry knows it is true, faltering briefly, but he doesn't care; he wants away from the Dursleys.
"Anywhere's better than here." The ravenette spits and storms out of the door.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Jayla sits in her hotel room with Yazmin, the little one already asleep in the bed next to hers, as the young Heiress writes in her Journal, the book more extensive than before with all the added pages from the last few years.
Friday, August 6th 1993
Dear Journal,
Only a few more days here in America, and we'll be back in England, and I'll be going to Hogwarts again. I can't wait to see my friends. We're going straight to Diagon Alley to get my things for school and staying at the Leaky Cauldron for the rest of the time till school starts. Mum got a funny look on her face the other day, and here and Dad walked off to talk to each other in hushed voices.
It makes me worry about what she saw; I know it's one of her visions, and it seems it is something about someone else. I don't think it has anything to do with my friends and me. But I still worry, especially if my parents are so worried about it.
I will find out about it. Dad always says to be honest, and I know they'll eventually tell us what Mum saw.
I should get to bed now. I have a busy day with Draco; he's been with us the whole summer; Aunt Cissa wanted to get him away from all the trouble and gossip at home. He's gotten much better. Though he is still a moron, acting all tough, even when I caught him crying the other week.
Heiress
Jayla closes her Journal and jumps into bed before closing her eyes and sleeping, dreaming of snakes, spiders and the Chamber. The dreams are coming more vividly since last year, but the candle next to her lights up, replacing her dark dreams with sweet dreams and soothing the young Heiress.