It’s not a beast, Ronald (Sure as hell isn’t a cat)
Sunlight shimmered against the dark brick buildings, and danced along the metal doorways and glass shelters. Laughter echoed down the alley as students made their way down the road with their parents in tow. The new term would begin soon at Hogwarts, where witches and young wizards hoped for a great year. A bell rang as a bright purple haired teenager shoved open the door of Florean Fortesque’s Ice Cream Parlor. She held it open for two other students, rolling her eyes as they bickered back and forth. They knew with their luck it would be anything but boring this term.
“Harry should be here soon, shouldn’t he?” Ron Weasley gulped down a large bite of Vanilla soft serve, the two other girls cringed as a line of cream dripped from his chin.
“Don't be daft, Ronald. We already told you he doesnt know we are here. We are just trying to catch him during his shopping.” Alsephina Tonks rolled her eyes and tapped on her watch. The infamous alley always messed with the time.
“Besides, They said he was just at Flourish and Bott. He should be coming down this way soon enough. Since you've got your ice cream Ron, how about we wait outside for him now?” Hermione Granger snatched a napkin from the counter, and wiped off Ron’s mess that he would have left on the table.
The three teens made their way into the alley, just in time to see a mop of disheveled, black hair bouncing down the alley towards them. The group rushed towards the figure as they seemed to be doing the same. A wide grin spread across his face as he greeted his best friends.
“Harry! HARRY!” Hermione yelled as he got closer.
The group grabbed chairs from the outdoor dining section and they sat down as Harry arrived. “Finally Harry!” says Ron, munching on the last bit of his cone.
Harry shook his head as the girls rolled their eyes. “We went to the Leaky Cauldron but they said you went to Flourish and Botts and-”
“I got all of my school stuff last week,” Harry explained. “And how come you knew I was at the Leaky Cauldron?”
“Dad.” Ron said simply.
Harry nodded. Figured , he thought to himself. His father, Arthur Weasley, worked in the Ministry of Magic. He would have heard all about Harry’s aunt fiasco.
“Did you seriously blow up your aunt, Harry?” Asked Hermione in a very serious voice, which earned a cackle from the girl sitting across from her.
“It's not like she exploded like a bomb, Hermione. I heard it was more like a balloon, right Harry?”
Alsephina chuckled as Harry’s cheeks turned a bright crimson.
“Yeah, you could say that Al. But I didn't mean to,” said Harry who shrugged as Ron lost control of his laughter. “I just - lost control, is all.”
“Lost control is all?” Alsephina chortled. “You could say that again, Potter.”
“Yeah, POT-TER!” Ron said in the mocking tone of Draco Malfoy. Hermione spat saliva as she sputtered from holding in her laugh. She quickly covered her mouth, which made the gang laugh even harder.
“It's not funny Ron,” Hermione said in a very serious tone, which made Alsephina and Ron burst out laughing once again. “He could have been expelled; I'm honestly amazed he wasn't.”
“That we can agree on,” admitted Harry. “Forget being expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested for a minute there.” he glanced over at a now flustered Ron. “Your dad doesnt know Fudge let me off, does he?”
Alsephina gave Harry a pointed look. “You're kidding right? Of course he let you off!”
Harry scrunched his eyebrows in confusion at Alsephina’s comment.
“‘Spose its cause it's you,” Ron shrugged. “ The Famous Harry Potter. Could probably get away with murder at this point honestly.” Harry rolled his eyes.
“I'd hate to see what the Ministry would do to me if I blew up my own aunts. Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first. Maybe twice if my aunt comes back to haunt me-”
“Anyways, you can ask his dad Yourself this evening.” Alsephina smirked, interrupting Ron, as Harry’s left eyebrow raised in question.
“As I was going to say,” Ronald glared at Alsephina,“We are staying at the Leaky Cauldron Tonight as well. Hermione and Alsephina too!”
Hermione nodded, beaming. “Mum and dad dropped me off this morning with all of my Hogwarts things.”
Alsephina shook her head as she looked down at the pile of bags at Hermione’s feet. Though, she couldn’t say much as she had almost just as many. “I had to beg my parents to let me stay. My mother never liked the Leaky Cauldron.” Alsephina shrugged.
“Excellent!” Harry smiled at Alsephina. “So, have you all gotten your books then?” Asked Harry. The group nodded in unison, Ron a little harder than the others.
“Look at this,” said Ron, as he pulled a long, thin box out of a bag and opened it. “Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. And we’ve got all our books-” He pointed towards a large bag under his chair.
“What about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two.” Alsephina high fived Ronald, which earned a chuckle from Harry and a slight glare from Hermione.
“You two are just terrible, you know that?” Hermione sighed with a soft smile etched across her lips. The two smirked happily, their end goal being accomplished in front of them.
Harry pointed towards not one, but three bulging bags in the chair next to her, “What’s all that Hermione? Is your whole library there from home?”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “Well, I’m taking more new subjects than you are, aren't I? And it’s not just me who has this many books. Don’t let her quips distract you from the collection of books Alsephina has too.” She nodded towards the now flustered redhead.
“We are taking double the classes, together.” Alsephina sighed as if she was dragged into the schedule.
Alsephina Tonks to most was just a light-hearted ray of sunshine that didn’t have a morsel of a brain cell left in her skull. They weren’t entirely wrong, but she won’t argue with their opinions. It will be much more fun to confuse them later on when she’s a prefect.
“Those are our books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creature, Divination-” Hermione pointed at each spine.
“Unfortunate, I know.” Ron and Harry glanced at their purple haired friend. Alsephina shook her head as Hermione continued listing the classes off.
“What are you two doing muggle studies for?” said Ron, interrupting Hermione as he rolled his eyes at Harry. “You both are muggle-born! Your parents are muggles Hermione! And you grew up around muggles! You already know about them!”
“But it’ll be fascinating to study them from a wizarding point of view,” said Hermione earnestly. Alsephina nodded along with her.
“Honestly, I'm curious how just out-dated it is. Could be fun,” Alsephina shrugged. “ If anything it’ll give me something to talk to your father about instead of just about my family and how we’ve incorporated muggle ways into our lives.”
“Yeah, I’ve tried to tell him not to ask so many questions, but you know him.” Ron sighed.
“So are you planning to eat or sleep at all this year? What about quidditch, Al?” Asked Harry, returning the conversation back to their schedules. Ron sniggered. Hermione ignored them as Alsephina rolled her eyes.
“I’ll have plenty of time for quidditch. Especially since Katie backed out on joining.”
“So you are going for chaser then?” Ron asked.
“Obviously. It’s the only position open, until Fred and George graduate.”
“How’d you all afford so many books at one time, anyway?” Ron asked with his eyebrows furrowed together.
The three shared a look as they watched Ron mutter to himself. “We saved our birthday money from last year.” Alsephina shrugged sheepishly.
Birthday money? Ron asked himself.
“Actually, I’ve still got ten Galleons,” Hermione said, checking her purse quickly. “It’s my birthday in September, and mum and dad gave me some extra money to get myself an early birthday present.”
“How about a nice book?” Ron said innocently, which earned a shove from Harry.
Alsephina tuned out the group as two redheads ran by their table, looking back quickly behind them. She glanced back towards the other side of the alley as shouting grew louder.
“Bloody teenagers! This is the third time!” A loud crack followed along with more shouting. Alsephina chuckled to herself. Fred and George were something else. Always caused some old man’s troubles. The three stared at Alsephina, as they waited for her to rise out of her seat with them.
“Are you coming?” Harry pointed down the alley toward where the twins had run to. She looked at him and huffed.
“Where to?” She shuffled out of the seat and stood with her friends.
“You weren’t listening at all, were you?” Hermione sighed and pointed toward the Magical Menagerie street sign.
The group made their way into the store, each circled around a different aisle. She heard Ron bickering with the clerk about his rat.
Alsephina rolled her eyes and watched as the fish swam in circles in their tanks. They have a sad life, she thought to herself. Always in the same, lonely, place. Never getting to see much of anything else that life has to offer.
“Sounds familiar,” she whispered to herself, which earned a raised eyebrow from a worker organizing the shelves next to her.
She took her time admiring the different colored fish, matching her hair color with each one. They seemed to watch with wide eyes as her hair went from light orange to a deep sea green. It was a trait she was lucky to inherit like her older sibling, Nymphadora. But was I truly lucky?
She could only change her hair color whereas her sister could completely change her entire being. She used to be envious of Nymphadora until she arrived at school and heard of how in her first years she was bullied terribly. She had been given a curse in disguise as a gift as her hair was a reflection of how she felt. She could never fully hide it, sometimes when she focused, she could alter the shade. As she had done with the fish.
She shook her head as she rounded the corner, her eyes paused on the words ‘chameleon’.
“Like me, huh?” She sighed. Though it is a more accurate nickname, it’s not the one I was given. She made her way to the front of the store where Hermione and Ron seemed to be bickering.
She snuck up behind Harry and whispered in his ear, “Seems I missed quite a bit.” She stared at the furball in Hermione’s arms, as Harry jumped slightly. “What the bloody hell is that?” Harry snorted at her response.
The cat's ginger fur was thick and fluffy, but it was definitely a bit bowlegged and its face looked grumpy and oddly squashed, as though it had run headlong into a brick wall. It purred happily in Hermione’s arms as Ron grabbed Scabbers away, glaring at Crookshanks. Ron swooped back to the counter, snatching up his Rat-Tonic.
“Are we off then?” Harry asked, which earned nods from the group as they made their way to the Leaky Cauldron. They found Mr. Weasley sitting in the bar, reading the Daily Prophet.
“Harry!” He said, smiling as he looked up. “How are you?”
“Fine, thanks,” Said Harry as the four others joined Mr.Weasley with all of their shopping.
Mr. Weasley put down his paper, and Harry saw the now-familiar picture of Sirius Black staring up at him.
“They still haven’t caught him, then?” Alsephina asked as she took a seat next to Arthur.
“No,” said Mr. Weasley, who looked extremely grave. “They’ve pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but not luck so far. Black’s not going to be caught by a thirteen year-old wizard. It’s the Azkaban guard who’ll get him back, you mark my words. “
At that moment, Mrs. Weasley entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by the twins, Fred and George, who were about to start their fifth year hogwarts; the newly elected Head Boy, Percy; and the Weasley’s youngest child and only girl, Ginny.
The twins and Molly bickered back and forth in the bar as Alsephina toyed with her new school books. She perked up as Mrs. Weasley snapped, “You ought to set a better example for your sister!”
“Ginny’s got other brothers to set her an example, Mother,” said Percy Loftily. “I’m going up to change for dinner..”
He disappeared and George heaved a sigh.
“We tried to shut him in a pyramid,” He told Harry. “But mom spotted us.” Alsephina and Hermione snorted in response, earning a smirk from each of the twins.
The rest of the evening went on without a hitch until after dinner when they were all sent to check their things for the next day. Alsephina and Hermione paused near the bathroom between the rooms where they could hear multiple arguments going on at once.
“Whos all yelling?” Alsephina whispered into Hermione’s hair. Hermione sighed, “Arthur and Molly are at it again. I can't hear what about though.”
Harry hurried past them, making his way to the tables they had sat at earlier. “Did he look alright to you?” Alsephina asked as she and Hermione made their way to the banister where Fred and George were hiding. They were crouched down in the shadows in the landing, heaving with laughter.
“We’ve got it,” Fred whispered to Harry. “We’ve been improving it.” George held up a small, round badge.The prefect badge now read ‘bighead boy’.
The girls watched, concerned, as Harry seemed to force a laugh for the twins.
“Are you alright, Harry?” Hermione tried to reach for him, but he held up the rat tonic instead.
“Getting this to Ron before he freaks.” He shrugged and ran down the corridor. After a few minutes, they heard his door get slammed shut.
“Bit dramatic, I’d say.” George snickered, Alsephina shoved him in response.
“Like you can talk, Mr. But M-O-m I don’t want to be a prefect, Weasley .” George placed his hand on his chest, and mocked how hurt his feelings were.
Alsephina and Hermione gasped,“You have feelings?” Hermione whispered in shock. The girls erupted into a fit of giggles and made their way to their shared room. The twins shook their heads, but smiled in unison at the girls that waltzed down the hall.
“You’re rubbing off on me, Al.” Hermione chuckled.
Alsephina spread her arm over her friend’s back and said, “That was all you, Granger. All you.”
The girls took their places on their beds. Alsephina tugged her blanket over her head with a loud sigh she said, “I have a feeling this is going to either be the worst or best year of our lives.”
☽☾
Alesephina was startled awake as a soft voice whispered her name. Her head throbbed as her eyes adjusted towards the bright white walls that now surrounded her. She covered her eyes with her hands and gasped as she noted their size.
“It wasn’t real, well not entirely. Perhaps once, long ago.” Her head shot to the right of the room where the doorway once stood. “You’ve grown.” Her lips tugged into a large smile as she studied the man in front of her. His hair flowed across his shoulders in neat curls, his eyes were no longer hallowed – shining brightly back at her. He reciprocated the smile, with a lopsided grin.
“Not going to give me a welcome hug?” He asked, raising a teasing eyebrow. She giggled as she scooted off the bed and ran towards Sirius.
“Where are we? What has happened?” She asked as he gripped her tightly into a hug.
He ruffled her graying hair with his palm before he sighed, “You’ve entered the veil.”
“You don’t mean-” She glanced around at the white floors that were once mahogany. He nodded solemnly as he motioned to follow. She stayed tucked into his side as they reached the hallway. Whispers filled the air as they stepped into a large room.
“I’ve been sent to guide you.” Sirius glanced at her sadly as her eyes widened.
“So it’s true then. I’ve passed.” She sighed as she looked away from him quickly, wiping away the stray tear that cascaded down her cheek.
“Not yet, my little chimera. You can continue to fight, if you wish. But you may also find peace, if you choose.” He motioned towards the white doors ahead. She had never believed in heaven or hell, but she knew she would only be worthy of the latter.
“How can I be at peace knowing my friends are out there fighting for their lives and there is not a single thing I can do to save them?” She asked, voice clipped as she stopped walking suddenly.
“You can’t.” He looked at her with tearful eyes. “It’s a punishment, of sorts. Until all is over, the many of us that have died from his hands will not be at peace. We cannot pass on.” Her head turned quickly to look at him.
“You’ve been here all this time?” She asked.
He had to be lonely. She thought to herself as she glanced around at the emptiness before them.
“We don’t have much time, Alsephina. You must choose now.” Sirius’ eyes darted towards the doors as the whispers’ volume began to grow.
“I wish to fight, for my friends, for-” He yanked her arm, pulling her towards a small closet door as a loud howl of the wind echoed from the large doorway that loomed closer.
He opened it quickly, glanced towards the large doors with a smirk and said, “Good luck.” and shoved her inside the small closet.
☽☾
May 2nd, 1998
With a gasp, Alsephina’s eyes shot open. She coughed as the settled dust filled her lungs. Her body was covered in debris as she stumbled, doing her best to stand.
It was a dream . Of sorts. Her hair rose on her neck as she remembered her cousin.
Her fingers paused on a set of bricks, drenched in a thick goo.
Oh god, is this mine?
She looked downward into the rubble where jeans and large feet lay limp under the stone.
Not mine, not mine.
Ginger hair poked through the cracks between the rocks. Her eyes widened as she quickly grabbed and tossed the rocks so she could get to him.
No, no, no. Fred.
Faster. Faster. She said to herself as she rushed to remove the rubble off of his body.
Not like this. Don’t leave us like this.
She screamed in agony as she removed the last rock covering his blood drenched face. “Somebody help! We need to get him to Madam Pomfrey!”
A young Slytherin boy rushed to her aid along with an older Ravenclaw girl. They froze as they each noted his hair color.
Weasley.
They each grabbed his limbs, carrying him across the school as they made their way to the hospital ward on the first floor. His hands dangled over the rocks as they stumbled through the courtyard to safety. She watched as his freckles dimmed with the passing of time.
He’s too pale. Oh god. She thought to herself as the warmth left his skin behind.
“Come on Fred. Don’t leave us just yet. I know you can hear me. Hang on. You have a lifetime of jokes to pull on your youngest siblings. Especially Ron.” She tried to chuckle but it stayed within her swollen throat. The two other students sniffled in response.
He would have laughed, and planned another prank against him. If only he could have.
“Oh my, George! What happened? Is he still breathing? Oh,please tell me he’s still breathing! Madam Pomfrey!” Mrs. Weasley cried out as they entered the main hall.
They entered the ward slowly, noting the many who laid on cots, unmoving. Her eyes lingered on Lavender Brown’s mangled corpse as a student slowly covered her with a linen sheet. Fenrir Greyback
She recalled seeing her fighting him in the hall – she should have helped. She should have done more.
Alsephina watched Fred carefully as his eyelashes fluttered open. She gasped lightly as he glanced slowly towards her, then back towards his mother.
“Wow, my own mother couldn’t even tell us apart.” Fred whispered slowly. Mrs. Weasley slaps his chest lightly and then moves the hair falling into his eyes behind his ears.
“Turtles speak faster than you, Freddy.” Alsephina jokes. Fred chuckled quietly as he began to cough.
“I should have always known.” Mrs. Weasley mumbles to herself as she glanced away from him swiftly.
“Where’s George?’” He asked, coughing hard inbetween words. Alsephina and Mrs. Weasley shared a look of worry as Madam Pomfrey approached.
She waved her wand across his body, using a diagnostic charm. She glanced cautiously at Mrs. Weasley – who was on the verge of losing her wits. She shook her head slowly and said, “I’m so sorry, Molly. You must gather your family members,” She looked down at Fred who’s eyes had widened slightly. “Do not be afraid, Freddy, my boy. You will see them soon. All will be alright.”
Alsephina gulps as she watches a tear fall onto the sides of his face. Molly left quickly at her words with a small ‘pop’. She grasps Fred’s hand tightly, and tells him, “You’re not alone, Fred. You won’t ever be. George will be here soon.”
She watched the doors in anticipation.
Hurry.
George and Percy arrive first; next Charlie and Bill; Arthur arrived with Ginny; Mrs. Weasley popped back in with Ron.
“Tell us what happened, Alsephina.” Said Arthur as he tucked his wife into his side.
“It was Rookwood, he aimed for the ceiling above him and it collapsed. I didn’t get to him in time to stop it. I-I should have stopped it.” She cried into her hands as she sat in a chair next to his cot. Bill rubbed her back in comfort.
“Don’t put this on yourself, dear. You did all you could. We all have.” Molly whispered against Arthurs chest.
“Gred,” says George as he took his best friend’s hand into his own. “We’ve got the store that’s only just begun. You’ve never told her how you feel, which is such a git move by the way. You can’t leave now, there’s too much left to do for you here.”
“I’m the git?” Fred tried his hardest to give an attitude but it fell flat. “I would happily haunt you all, especially you, Ronald.” The group chuckled in unison but stopped as Fred began to cough – this time agonizingly dreadful.
Dark red blood splattered on to his lips – to the blankets that now covered his chest to his legs. “Now, Forge, don’t be a git and name a product after me.” Fred tried to laugh but stopped suddenly, eyes wide. His grip tightened on his twin's hand. “I don’t want to go, George. I’m not ready.” He cried.
“I know Fred.” George hugged his brother to his chest one last time. Molly sobbed as she watched his arms fall limp to George’s side. He held him for a good while, until Bill laid him down on the cot.
“This can’t be!” Ginny screamed as she slapped her hands against the bed. Charlie tucked her into his side, brushing her hair with his fingers. She grabbed his jacket tightly and sobbed into his side.
A tear trickled down Alsephina’s cheek, combining with the ones that fell before, as she stared at his once lively body. It looked like he had never been alive in the first place. The color from his hair and skin grew blue as Madam Pomfrey came to comfort the grieving family. She wiped away the tear quickly and turned away from her second family.
How were they going to make it without him? Especially George. Oh, god…George.
She glanced at the ginger, breath caught in her throat. He was already staring. ‘I’m so sorry’, she mouthed. He shook his head and motioned for her to come to his side of the cot. She shakes her head ‘no’.
She slowly backed up as George watched her, confused. She continued to shake her head until she had collided with Charlie who now stood behind her. Her eyes widened as her back touched his shoulder. She looked up just as he was about to steady her with his hands. She gulped and bolted out of the infirmary.
Blasts echoed along the corridor as she ran blindly through the school. “Wotcher!” a student yells as rubble flies in front of her. She turned a hard left into the secret passageway George had shown her third year.
Oh, George. I’m sorry.
She couldn’t tell him, especially now. She ran across the corridor away from her hidden sanctuary into Professor Mcgonagall’s office. Her eyebrows scrunched together as she stood in front of the room. The office doors were never left ajar and certainly not unlocked. She raised her wand, as she prepared for the worst.
She slowly peaked her head around the corner, and saw matted black and gray curls slightly above her desk. The figure glances up quickly, making eye contact with her.
“Avada ke-” “Stupify!” she screamed. His body was thrown back against the stone wall. He staggers slightly but smiled widely, as he displayed his sharp teeth
Fenrir.
She froze for a millisecond under his gaze. He jumped with his claws coming towards her. “Reducto!” She yelled as the edge of his claw made contact with her clothes. She staggered back as his body turned to dust. She leaned against the wall as she caught her breath.
For Lavender.
She glanced down at the desk, drawers ajar and their innards tossed onto the floor.
He hadn’t found it then , she thought to herself.
She clicked a mechanism under the desk, which shot out a hidden compartment. She reached in, Oh thank god. It was still there . She stuffed the time turner in her pocket and darted out the room back into the hidden passage.
“If I do this right, just a couple hours back, I’ll be able to save Fred.” She mumbles to herself as she twists the hour glass. “Diffindo!” a voice yelled from the corridor. The day rushed by her, but didn’t stop as the time turner was cut in half in her hands. There was another shout and figure ran to her as the room began to spin, taking them with her.
“No!” She yelled as she was thrown into a dark abyss.