3 - Discussions & Diagon
15 August 1995
Grimmauld Place
“Alhena, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Professor McGonagall is here to talk to you,” Molly’s voice sounded throughout the house. Soon, the quartet were in the kitchen, having their fix of tea, coffee, scones, biscuits, or cake. Sirius and Remus were also in the room, but they were talking among themselves. And Moody had dropped by for tea.
Minerva’s voice had its usual sternness as she spoke. “Miss Potter, Mr Potter, due to your – however temporary – expulsion, you were erased from the charter. This means that you will have to be resorted, come September 1st. Miss Granger, Mr Weasley, while you do not necessarily need it, I am extending the opportunity for a resort to you as well.”
The quartet sat in silence, thinking it over. Alhena was the first to speak. “I’ll take it. No bother arguing, is there? I just know I’ll end up in Slytherin. The Hat does not really give you the opportunity to pick twice.”
“Then I’ll end up in Slytherin too. Merlin knows, the Hat wanted me there.” Harry sighed. “What about you, ‘Mione, Ron?”
“Probably Slytherin, to be honest. The Hat dithered between Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, in that order. I chose Gryffindor.” Hermione shrugged.
Ron looked at his scones. “Unfortunately for the family, Slytherin. I just really wanted to be in the same house as Harry when I was sorted.”
“Unfortunately? Cedrella Weasley née Black and Lucretia Prewitt née Black would be offended.” Alhena’s hand had come up to her chest in faux shock.
Hermione giggled at Alhena’s overly dramatic display. “So, we’re all taking the resort?”
“Absolutely.” The boys nodded.
Alhena sighed and turned in the chair. “Sirius, Remus, can you come over here, please. Bill, Fred, George, Charlie, Ginny, Dora, Kingsley, I know you lot are in the drawing room, you think bloody loud, so get yourselves down here, please.”
Sirius sauntered over, a witty remark on his lips, but it died at Alhena’s deadly serious expression. “What’s wrong?”
“You’ll see soon enough.”
When everyone was gathered around the kitchen table, Alhena took a copy of her inheritance test out of her pocket, holding it tightly. “I’m going to warn each and every one of you, this is going to be an entire paradigm shift where your opinions and ideas of me are concerned.” She put it down on the table, letting it unroll to show the contents, and stepped back as they read it.
Sirius was the first to respond. “Are you fucking serious? You’re my half-sister?”
Alhena just nodded, waiting for everyone to process the information. Eventually, Harry spoke up. “Are we even related at all?”
Alhena nodded. “Lily and Carina were first cousins, through their mothers. Raine – Carina’s mother – and Rose Gaunt – Lily’s mother – were the squib twin daughters of Morfin Gaunt and Allegra Armentrout, and were adopted by Elaine and Justin Edwards after the death of Allegra in the 30s. Raine ended up marrying Algernon Haydon, while Rose married Harold Evans.” Alhena sighed, massaging her temples. “This means that we are, ironically, related to the Dark Wanker. And, ironically, that actually explains why he can’t kill you, because the Gaunt family magics are essentially saying, ‘No, I won’t tolerate that,’ and rebounding the curse back.”
“So, the Parseltongue is actually all me? Thank Merlin.” Harry seemed to sag with relief.
“Is nobody going to mention that my father is still alive, despite by any and all accounts having died in 1979?” Sirius looked around, bewildered.
“I don’t think that’s more surprising than me being related to Voldemort – albeit distantly – or Alhena being an Honoured High Necromancer, her titles, her soul bond, or even that there’s a literal Necromancers’ Alliance, Siri,” Harry said softly.
“Linfred Aelfric de Stinchcombe, son of Aelfric de Stinchcombe, a May You Live in Interesting Times Curse? What in the names of Merlin, Morgana, Circe and all the gods did you do to piss off Chronos?” Alhena was staring at apparently nothing, and had her hands on her hips. To everyone in the room, it seemed as if she was talking to nobody, until she started swearing in Old English, apparently highly annoyed. The air turning frigid around them, however, did partially reveal a silhouette of a person standing roughly where Alhena was staring.
“My doubts about necromancers are forever laid aside,” Bill said in awe. “That’s scary.”
“Nah, that’s just Alhena being mad at Linfred. Happens approximately twice a month, on average.” Ron might’ve been jealous at Alhena’s money, but he firmly shoved that aside, because she was his friend. “She once turned the entire common room positively frigid from sheer annoyance in the middle of June. Oh, and quick guide to Alhena’s annoyance. If she swears on Circe, it’s generally like us swearing on Merlin. If it’s Merlin, Morgana and Circe, you’re in trouble. If she says Merlin, Morgana, Circe and all the gods, just pray, because she is on the warpath.”
“How do I tell she’s mad at me without those?” Sirius had taken a good few steps back.
“Nickname? Not at all. Name? A bit. Name and surname? You’re in trouble. Full name? Prepare to run. Full name and son of? She’s on the warpath, prepare to die.” Ron supplied helpfully. “I’m sure Linfred is feeling thankful that he’s already dead, because I’m sure that Alhena’s glare would kill a bloody basilisk, she’s that mad.”
“Okay, she reminds me of my cousin.” Sirius had inched closer to the fire.
“Compare me to Bellatrix, brother dearest, and I’ll hex you impotent. In Parseltongue.” Alhena’s tone was dripping with danger, as her hair started shifting to a deep red.
“Yup, definitely a Black.” Sirius had his back against the wall next to the fireplace. “All women in the House of Black are terrifying. Yes, Dora, you and Andi included.”
“Thanks, cousin.” Dora smiled sweetly.
“Is it too early to get someone to yell at Cygnus and Druella in the afterlife? They royally screwed the Lestranges over,” Alhena asked no one.
“Mum used to talk about how the betrothal was initially set for her and Rodolphus, but Cygnus and Druella abruptly switched hers and Bellatrix’s, thus betrothing her to one of the Carrows. That’s shortly before she met Dad, and the decision to elope wasn’t a new one by the time they did.” Dora was thoughtful.
“And group trials are fucking illegal anyway. The Longbottoms was all Bellatrix, but all four of them were tossed in Azkaban on her word. Being a Death Eater is only punishable by a maximum of 10 years in Azkaban.” Alhena grumbled. “It was the lower ranks that generally resorted to the Unforgivables, not the upper ranks, for Circe’s sake.”
“How do you even know that?” Kingsley arched an eyebrow.
“Abraxas Malfoy. Talkative man, that. Although the Malfoy arrogance is apparently hereditary.” Alhena rolled her eyes. “They’re all a bunch of prancing peacocks, for sure.”
That sent the teens – and some of the adults – into fits of laughter. Even Minerva was hiding a smile.
Alhena looked around. “Nobody’s mad?”
“Alhena, mate, I couldn’t be mad if I tried,” Ron smiled. “Surprised? Yes, because, bloody hell, are you full of surprises. Mad? Nah, you don’t have any control over any of this.”
“Alhena, if you think I’m going to be mad, you’re not all there. We’ve been friends for years,” Hermione said with a smile. “We faced a troll, you practically spent all the time I was petrified beside my bed, cursing Fate, and saying that if there wasn’t a spell to make the mandrakes grow faster, you’d buy the whole lot yourself, even if it emptied your vault, or invent the spell yourself. You’re the one that corralled me into bed at wandpoint for most of third year, saying, ‘I don’t care what kind of time travel you’re doing, if you’re going to do it all year, you better use it to get some extra sleep, or else,’ and told me to make a list of how behind the Muggle Studies course is, while muttering that Muggle Studies should be taught by a Muggleborn or Muggle-raised half-blood, and not a Pureblood that has never set so much as a toe in the Muggle World. I’m pretty sure our friendship became interminable somewhere between the mandrake thing and the corralled into bed at wandpoint thing.”
“Pfft. If you think I’m going to be mad at no longer being the only living sibling here, you’re mad,” Sirius slung an arm over Alhena’s shoulder.
“We might as well be the next generation of friendship quartets consisting of a Quidditch fanatic, a temperamental arse – sorry, Ron – a genius, and a case of chaos personified,” Harry shrugged.
Alhena smiled as she looked around. “So, essentially, Marauders: Second Generation, Harry?”
“Perhaps.”
“Merlin help us,” Minerva muttered into her tea.
“Well, vive les nouveaux débuts.” Alhena made a flamboyant gesture.
“I didn’t know you could speak French,” Harry arched an eyebrow.
“Blame a spirit that communicates best in French,” Alhena shrugged.
21 August 1995
Diagon Alley
“Wilbert Slinkhard’s Defensive Magical Theory? Who in all tarnation? This book is written for eight-year-olds, for Circe’s sake,” Alhena started cursing under her breath in Parseltongue. “I’ll bet the new Defence teacher is godawful, toadlike, sadistic, and dresses only in pink.”
Hermione gave Alhena a look. “You saw it?”
“Unfortunately. Ministry toady too. You might want to stay out of detention with her, she’s an absolute piece of work.” Alhena rubbed the back of her hand. “Let’s just get the rest of our books and then get our robes and other stuff. And, if you spot a copy of Sheila Ergale’s Advanced Runic Syllabary: An Introduction to Cuneiform, do grab it for me. I’m pretty much fed up with the books in the Hogwarts Library. Also, grab a copy of Ernest Redrow’s Advanced Defensive Magical Theory: A Guide to Passing Theoretical Defensive OWLs and NEWTs. Redrow’s book is better than Slinkhard’s, and goes in-depth on spell theory, so if we can’t cast at all, at least we can learn something useful about how to cast, and practice in private.”
“Good thinking, Alhena.” Hermione wandered off, while Alhena grabbed copies of The Grindelwald War: From Beginning to End, Advanced Numerology and Grammatica, An Ancient History of Magic, and British Magical Families: A Compendium. She and Hermione met up and paid, before heading over to Madame Malkin’s.
On a whim, Alhena corralled her friends into buying casual robes as well, shushing Molly with her statement of, “I have two vaults that are doing nothing except gathering interest, and have been for centuries, and more money than I know what to do with. Let me.” And so, Alhena, Hermione and Harry left Madame Malkin’s, being followed by several dumbstruck Weasleys.
Alhena gave the premade potions kits in Slug and Jigger’s a barely-concealed sneer, before setting out to pick her own ingredients. At Hermione’s look, she explained. “The ingredients on the shelves are much fresher, whereas the kits are usually under heavy preservation charms. And freshness is typically conductive to potency. It’s more expensive, though.”
“Ah. I’ll go with the kits anyway,” Hermione smiled.
“Then pick one closer to the back. Those are more recently prepared.” Alhena barely missed the look of surprised pride on the store owner’s face.
They paid, and then went back out on the main street, discussing where they wanted to go now. Alhena sighed as she shrunk her bags and put them in her pocket. “Do you mind terribly if I go do some business in another alley? My wand has been on the fritz since last November and it was the only match in Ollivander’s. I’ve been putting off having one custom made since our third year, to be honest.”
“Alhena, dear, are you sure you want to go alone?” Molly was incredibly concerned.
“I’ll be alright, Mrs Weasley. The store I’m thinking of is in Craftsman Alley.” Alhena smiled. “Practically just around the corner.”
“Okay. Meet up in front of Fortescue’s?” Harry suggested.
“Sure. I don’t know how long I’ll be, though. Custom-made wands take a while.” Alhena played with the ring on her finger.
“Can I go with you? It sounds intriguing,” Hermione asked.
“Sure, come on.” Alhena smiled, linking arms with Hermione. “See you later.”
The duo made their way into Craftsman Alley, looking around at the different stores. There were bakeries, trunk stores, tailors, practically any store they could think of. Alhena eventually stopped and opened the door Alyssa Argent – Wandcrafter. The store owner looked up from where she was paging through a book. “Here for custom-made wands, dears?” Alyssa Argent had red hair that was liberally streaked through with grey, and warm hazel eyes.
“No, just me, Ms Argent. My friend is just curious about the process.” Alhena smiled.
“May I have your names?” Alyssa’s smile was a tad too sharp.
“No, but you may call us Alhena and Hermione.” Alhena gestured between the two of them as she said their names.
“Smart girl. Many customers fall for it. What gave it away?” Alyssa smiled as she gathered several boxes.
“I’m a malignant Legilimens. No thought passes by me.” Alhena liked the fae almost immediately.
“Fair. It’s been a while since I had one of those here.” Alyssa spoke as she set several blocks of wood out. “Here’s the process. I lay several items on the counter, you close your eyes and hover your hand over the items. Pick the ones that feel the most comfortable to you.”
Alhena nodded, closing her eyes as she hovered her hand over the blocks of wood. Most of them were unresponsive, but as she neared the rarer woods, two pretty much sprang into her hand, and startled her into opening her eyes.
Alyssa switched the woods on the counter for the cores, before taking the two blocks from Alhena. “Elder and snakewood, interesting. Carry on.”
Alhena repeated the process with the cores, once again feeling two practically jump into her hand, and opened her eyes to Alyssa’s snickers. “What?”
“Oh, this is priceless. Thestral tail hair and basilisk horn. Necromancer, natural healer and Parselmouth, I assume?” Alyssa’s eyes were glistening. “Give me half an hour, and you’ll have your wand.” She disappeared into the back.
Half an hour later, Alyssa brought out a box and handed it to Alhena with a reverential look. When Alhena opened the box, she gasped.
Her new wand was in the middle of it. It looked marbled, and was beautifully carved. There was what felt like a constellation engraved – she recognised it as Gemini, with her star displayed prominently – and what she instantly recognised as the Peverell crest. There was also a rune – which she recognised as Othala. The rest of the wand was filled with elaborate swirls. “It’s beautiful.”
“Treasure it well, Alhena. This is the most beautiful wand I have ever made in my life, and I have made many.” Alyssa smiled. “21 Galleons, 25 if you want to add a holster.”
“Can I have three additional holsters?”
“37 Galleons, then.”
Alhena paid gladly, and the duo left to meet up with their friends in front of Fortescue’s. They brought ice cream, before hurrying back to Grimmauld Place. She didn’t notice the thoughtful gaze of Corvus Lestrange following them.