The Arrival
“Are you crying again Lu, You've seen that edit like a billion times already come on get up we have to go buy stuff for the week.” My brother Niko said while yanking me out of my little cocoon I was comfortably wrapped in. “Niko it's just so sad he deserved better than everyone did but I can't stop crying when I see an edit of Alan Rickman playing Severus Snape the tears just fall out.” I mumble under my breath while getting up.
Niko just rolled his eyes at me “Yea I've heard it a million times already, hurry get ready before they close the supermarket.” he grumbled grabbing his jacket heading towards the door.
I quickly pull over my sweater and put my shoes on “I'm coming geez what's got your panties in a twist? It's still early the supermarket wont close for another 3 hours” I say glancing at my phone. I grab my keys and bags and follow Niko out the door.
“I know but it's our turn to do this week's shopping and I don't need Mom or Dad to start nagging us. You know how they get especially when we leave it to the last second so come on before either of us get a call from mom” I nodded mentally making a checklist of everything we need.
Now I know what you're thinking “you both still live with your parents”, yes in fact we both do. Maybe it's weird that I'm 22 and my lil brother Niko 18 are still living at home but not really rent here in nyc is bizarre and both my parents rather we save up for a house or even apartment building so we can live comfortably and honestly we both don't mind ……as much, there are some downsides to this arrangements though but there are upsides and for now the upsides beat the downsides.
“Eggs, milk, beans, tortillas, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos, garlic, onions, bread, chicken breast, ground beef and turkey I think that's everything we need from this supermarket we will have to go to the Mexican store for the chiles en vinagre, chiles chipotle and chorizo they are better price there ” I finish saying as we turn the street.
“You wanna split up so we finish earlier Niko it's Friday, so there may be a line at the supermarket already”
“Sure I'll go to the Mexican store and meet you home” a grin covered his face.
I shove him in his side he answers with a laugh
“Haha yes such a gentleman leave me carrying with most of the things to carry back home, Fine just because I was dumb enough to ask see you at home be careful Niko” I shake my head handing him a reusable bag.
“ hey you basically raised me so it's your fault I turned this way, and you always were dumb Lu” grabbing the bag from my hand “ I'll just take this and see you home you too be careful” as he rushed off across the street.
“ Oye look both sides dumbass” I shake my head and sigh “ I swear he's gonna be the death of me” and I begin making my way to the supermarket as I'm about to cross the sidewalk I hear a “Lucia watch out!”
I turned my head and everything seemed to slow down. I see a car about to collide with me, Niko running towards me, my heart seemed to stop as a scream left my lips. The next thing I knew was that I felt cold as something filled my mouth. I try squinting to open my eyes and I see my brother, tears in his eyes he's saying something to me but I can't hear him all that well “Lu– pl–e h-ld -n some— HELP- !! “ I try speaking to him but all that comes out is a bile of blood as I cough out “ni-ko its okay” I place my hand on his cheek “Niko tell mom and dad I love-e the-m” I cough out
“No you're going to be fine Lu the ambulance is going to be here at any moment just hold on you'll tell them that yourself” he hold me tighter tears still rolling off his cheeks
A part of me wants to believe that is true but I can't feel my legs. All I feel is my blood filling my throat and tears running down my cheeks hinting at what is going to happen.
I'm dying and the ambulance won't get here soon enough. I'll be dead before then. I still try to smile and nod my head to my brother. My brother, oh why couldn't I die in a less traumatizing way now he'll have to live with seeing me die, my parents I didn't get to see them today I didn't get to kiss them goodbye. I'll probably never see them again after this. None of them , I look at my brother trying to memorize his face as best I can. Flashes of my life passed through my mind as I quickly feel myself slowly lose myself so I muster up the last of the strength to say
“Niko you're the best little brother a sister could ask for thank you I- I love you-u” and with that darkness enveloped me. I could still hear my brother wails and screams as I was taken to the afterlife.
This place could use a heater because it's freezing in here. I thought I was supposed to feel peace in the afterlife, all I feel is my toes about to freeze off ,wait my toes? I opened my eyes and all I could see was the night sky. I lifted myself up and looked at my arms, no blood , and my feet were fine. I'm still in the same clothes I was wearing when I was in the accident. Did I dream of it? I look at my surroundings, a forest correction, a huge creepy forest. I begin walking attempting to find a way out I check to see if my my phone is still in my pocket and aha yes it is still there I turn on my flashlight and begin my making my way out
A few minutes later I made it out I lied its been about 30 minutes and my phone does not have signal and if the though of me dying sounded crazy well this view could top it
A castle, freaking castle and not just any castle Hogwarts castle I decide to pinch myself
“Oww well that hurt so it isn't a dream” I whisper to myself I begin walking towards the castle
The grass crunching under my feet while I mutter to myself “there's just no way this can't be real How just how?” I see a big tree oh well that's not sinister at all this must be the Whomping willow. I continue walking when I hear a howl I freeze up “ oh this can't be are you fucking with me, werewolves but there hasn't been one since……well Remus Lupin” I look up at the sky and yep I see a full moon I look around me and in the distance I see a pair of gold glowing eyes and they are locked on me. Soon enough I am running for my ass back into the forest when I hear barks.
I turn back to look, not before hiding behind a tree and see a the werewolf fighting with pretty big black dog, I see a deer with something small on its head “those are the marauders shit at least I know I'm back in time” I whisper to myself and fuck was that the wrong thing to do because it seems like Moony here heard the fuck out of me and looked at the tree I'm currently hiding behind in lightning speed he threw Padfoot like a rag towards James a loud thump could be heard and Moony was running towards me I quickly start running again although it seems useless when I could basically hear him getting closer and closer to me until I trip, I fucking trip oh I’m dead I’m so dead
I turn on my back and yep a pair of glimmering eyes find mine and time seemed to stop for a moment. Moony slowly creeped to me, a whine coming from him and his eyes looking towards my leg. I looked down and yes I scraped my leg badly. I could see blood gushing out of the wound and my ankle was swollen. I try to crawl back with my arms and wince.
I look up and see Moony in front of my face. His snout pressed closely to me to say I wasn't slightly scared would be a lie. He looked exactly like in the movies, maybe with more fur covering his body and the fact he hasn't killed me yet. I thought wolves easily hunted humans if they saw them during the full moon.
Now I know what I'm about to do is really stupid but for some reason my brain decided to stop working and we are going by purely instinct. I lift my hand and hold it out in front of me. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't him snuggling up to my hand much like how a dog would. A nervous giggle escapes me and I wince slightly the pain in my leg becoming very apparent I need to get help but how and and idea pops up maybe a stupid idea but fuck it “ I god um could you maybe help me I can't exactly stand up and this forest is giving me the creeps could you take me somewhere safe please” his eyes glow in an almost understanding and I swear I see him nod almost like he could understand me he picks me up carefully and begins heading to the Whomping Willow I see the rest of the marauders Prongs, Padfoot and Wormtail starting to get up from the knock down that Moony gave them and as they see Moony coming towards them their eyes go wide and Padfoot starts to bark trying to get Moony attention I’m guessing to let go of me. Moony just let out a slow growl towards Padfoot and he tightened his grip on me not enough to where it hurt.
Soon enough we are inside the Shrieking Shack and it's absolutely a mess. The least they could do is clean a little. Moony places me in the bed being careful with my foot and he grabs the blanket from all over the shack and attempts to smother me with them? No, it's like he's making a NEST! Hold up I may have missed something, nothing makes sense. I thought Harry Potter werewolves were different from the werewolves in fiction. It's almost like I'm his no. That's just crazy he already has a mate and I can 100% be sure that Tonks is his so why is he doing this. He plops by my side and spoons me a deep purr emits from him fucking hell I’m utterly screwed aren't I so I do the thing that makes the most sense I try to fall asleep and maybe when I wake up it will all be a dream. Yes a Dream…right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I stirred awake jeez that was such a weird dream Hogwarts werewolves. I try to stretch my arms but find myself unable to if someone is holding me by my waist. I opened my eyes in surprise. It wasn't a dream. I'm still in the Shack and now with Oh holy mother of Jesus it's Remus John Lupin sleeping without a care in the world a few fresh scars cover his face and chest and oop look up Lucia it's bad manners. I try to get out of his hold but his grip only tightens “Sleep” he groans out and I visibly still frozen in place that's his morning voice, I plop back down seemingly giving up and I just shamelessly stare at his face he's so pretty I start tracing the healed scars on his face with my finger and he snuggles closer to me if that's even possible. When I hear “You're alive, ha you’re really alive” I look from where I'm at and see Sirius Black in all his glory he slid on the wall to the floor seemingly in shock “Thank Merlin I don't know what I would've told Moony if you weren't” his head in his knees as he rocks himself back and forth soon enough two others come barreling through the shack and Jesus he looks exactly like Harry except the eyes of course and Peter well the movie did him dirty or maybe he just won't age well being a rat for 12 years may just do that to you. They both looked like they saw a ghost. James was the first to say “You You’re fine right?” I nodded “yes I'm fine though I believe my scraped knee and ankle isn't what you're worried about" I say sitting up Remus hands still locked on my waist “though it could help if I could get it looked at by someone it still hurts like hell” Sirius immediately by the foot of the bed “if you don't mind I could see what I can do if not we will have to send you to Madam Pomfrey”
I nod “I don't believe we've ever seen you in the castle I would have remembered you” Sirius said a smirk etched on his face as he looked at my leg uncovering it from the scrap of torn legging I was wearing “no I'm not exactly from around here I'm from America actually" I say wincing as he continues to heal my leg.
“So who exactly are you and why were you roaming outside of Hogwarts” finally Peter speaks out I turn to look at him and he looks towards Remus sleeping “My name is Lucia S. Gomez and for why I was roaming outside well it's because I woke up in the forest and I began searching for help and I ran into him” I look towards Remus. “Wait, how did you know I was here? I only saw a dog, a stag and a small rat with him yesterday so how?” I look towards all of the smirk threatening to escape me. They were Illegal Animagus but I had to play this off. I wouldn't want them to be more suspicious of me than I already seem.
They all turned a deadly shade of pale and they all started stuttering “uhh well you see Remus here is our best mate and well we saw you from one of the windows and yes that's how we knew” James stuttered out Sirius and Peter aggressively nodded I look at all of them god how did they get away with this for as long as they did they are horrible liars.
“Okay I'm going to act like I believe all of you but I do need help I don't know how to go back home or if I can” I whisper out the last part sadly I died was that real? could I come back? or am I in a coma it feels too real to be a coma. I’m taken out of my thoughts by a stir at my side.
“James shut up. It's too bloody early. Yesterday was weird. I remember bits and pieces and it didn't hurt as much transforming back what happened?” He muttered out pulling a blanket over his head as soon as he finished saying that he sat up immediately. His face turned pale “there was someone yesterday outside please tell me I didn't, please tell me that they are okay” he refused to meet anyone's eyes maybe that's why he didn't notice me or he was to shaken up I decided to place my hand on his shoulder “I'm okay you didn't hurt me” I look at him waiting for him to meet my eyes as soon as he did his eyes glowed like yesterdays gold flakes around his irises time seemingly seemed to stop for the both of us. I saw flashes of us together, like a piece of a puzzle was finally found and it all clicked like as cliché as it sounds like it was meant to be. His cheeks flushed red as he muttered out a “hi” I smiled “hello um Remus right? My name is Lucia and as you can see I’m still in one piece” I wince as Sirius applied some pressure on my wound cleaning it off I glance towards him a smirk covering his lips“ well almost I tripped in the forest and twisted my ankle a few scrapes never killed anyone right”
Remus looked towards Sirius and practically flung him to the floor as he strode in all his glory to where Sirius was, his eyes glowing gold as he let out a growl. I quickly went to cover my eyes, my cheeks feeling hotter by the minute.
“Uh mate we came to check on you and give you an extra pair of clothes since you’re uh “ James said
“shit” I heard Remus say after some quick rustling “you can look now princess Moony is decent now” Sirius teasingly said
I put down my hands and turned to look at Remus all dressed up face turned red even his ears “uhm I’m sorry about that I forgot about that I wasn’t well decent”
“I’d say Moony I almost forgave you for knocking me down with that show you put on” Sirius laughed out Remus just seemed to get redder by the second and James and Peter tried not to laugh but I broke first a giggle escaped me and Remus smiled.
“It’s okay though like I was telling your friends here I need help could I speak to someone here I don’t exactly know how I got here last night I mean I woke up in the forest when I saw the castle in hope of finding help but um I bumped into you” I looked at him then Peter" and a rat” then looked at James “ a stag” And finally “a dog” as I stared at Sirius “ or at least I think so” I grin I just couldn’t help myself and it was really worth it the shock in all of their faces was priceless that I wish I could take a picture
wait I can I quickly fumble through my pocket and take a picture of all of them I laugh as I look at the photo in front of me zooming in and out each of their faces my laugh gets deeper to the point my stomach hurts and tears are in the corner of my eyes “You what did you do what is that?” James was the first one to recover “ this is my phone and I just took a picture of your faces look it was too funny not to” I hand my phone towards him and he cautiously takes it “is this a muggle thing because I don't think this looks like any of the Teli phones I’ve seen, Remus?” Sirius asked “no I haven’t seen one that looks like this” Remus said taking out the phone from James hand.
“Of course you guys wouldn’t these haven’t been built probably not for a few years yet oh shit” I clamp my mouth shut fuck I said too much
“What do you mean by that Lucia?“ Remus asked, holding my phone hostage as I tried to lean and grab it ignoring the pain in my ankle.
I have to pretend to be oblivious right now, not messing with time and stuff but I mean my presence has already changed some things. It wouldn’t hurt to tell them but what about Peter has he betrayed them yet or is there a way to save them from the future I know. “Okay first how old are all of you? I need to figure something out?”
“We’re all just 16. Why would you need to know that?” Sirius said
16 I’m gonna be sick I just ogled a 16 year old no nope this cannot be happening. A 22 year old woman just slept in the same bed as a 16 year old but Peter couldn’t have betrayed them yet even if he is rather quiet.
“Oh well you see just needed to know if you’ll go blabbing to anyone after all you gotta be at least a little mature to handle what I’m about to tell you”
“Mature you barely look a day over 15 how could you be more mature than us” Peter exclaimed
“15 what the hell are you talking about I know I looked young for my age but not that young I’m 22 for your information so yes mature more than you guys' huffed out
“Bullocks if you’re 22 I’m fucking 24 I’m telling you you don't look 22 at all” Sirius exclaimed
“Remus I need my phone please I just have to check something because you guys are making me kind of scared I’m telling you I’m 22” Remus finally caves in and passes me my phone and I turn on the camera portrait mode and use it as a mirror and fucking hell on a stick they were right I don't look a day over 15 my face isn’t as round as it was my eye bags are nearly gone and my hair how didn't I notice it before is longer way longer than the shoulder length I had. The scar that I got at 19 gone. The piercings I got at 20 disappeared as well as all of my tattoos I went to check my arms and yes all of them were gone simply vanished as if they had never been there before, it's not possible but a lot of things that aren’t possible have happened already. A whirlwind of questions flooded my mind to the point that it felt like someone put a bunch of bricks to my chest.
I look back at Remus my mouth going dry “I really need to speak to Albus Dumbledore If anyone knows what is going on with me is him”
“Please Remus When I said I’m not from here I meant as this time I was born On October 31,1999 and I was with my brother on October 27th, 2022 when the accident happen and the next thing I know is that I woke up in the fucking forest and now I don't know if I can go home or if I’m even alive” I whisper out I feel my vision becoming blurry before everything goes black.