Chapter 8
The rest of the weekend Etta decided to read the book she had gotten. It seem to be a journal of some sort.
June 12, xxxx
Rowena has come to see me in the village. She is worried about me, I know. It has been hard since my Seraphina died. My Seraphina, may her soul rest in peace, had not been the same since our youngest had died. He was so small and sickly there had not been much any of us could do for him. I blame myself but my eldest Eleazar tells me I shouldn't. Better I blame myself then hurt anyone. It was better that I left the school. I could find children out there who needed our help. Rowena tells me I should go back, that Godric hasn't been the same. My poor dear friend with all his dramatics. I write to him when I can but he tells me it is not the same.
June 29, xxxx
Rowena has come again. She tells me about how she will miss the children she teaches when they leave. She fears for them, her and Helga. I comfort her telling her that they had been taught well and they will be able to protect themselves. She tells me how her daughter is getting more adventurous as if she were made for Godric's house with all of the trouble she seems to get into. She seems annoyed by it, but I could tell that she is happy.
July 27, xxxx
I have asked Rowena a favor. Calliope, my dearest friend and familiar, my basalisk needs to sleep. It is inevitable, but I will not be returning to Hogwarts. Since Rowena can not speak the language of the snakes I have asked another dear snake friend to repeat my instructions. My son to far to do it for me. When Rowena returns with the news she tells me of Godric's breakdown. How he begs her to take him with her to see me. My poor dear sweet friend. I suppose I could write to him more.
August 1, xxxx
Rowena comes to the Lughnasadh festival as it is also her birthday. Her daughter Helena had left for a small trip with Helga and will not make it back in time. Godric spends his day with his wife and child. We dance and laugh and drink ale. Far to much ale, as we find ourselves wrapped in my bed together clothless. We did not remember much. I had woken first and stared at the woman whom had been my friend for four decades. Her long black hair like silk and her skin like alabaster. Her dark blue eyes open to see me and she smiles.
October 31, xxxx
Samhain. Tonight Rowena has told me that she is with child. A child. We had been spending most of her free time together. She tells me the child will be born on Beltane. That would be a good day. A strong child indeed. Rowena and I were both magically strong wixen and our child would be the same.
"Ms. Potter I am going to close up soon dear you should get ready for bed don't you think. First day tomorrow. All the excitement will keep you awake." Tom the innkeeper told her. She had been so into the journal that she didn't notice the time.
"Oh yes thank you Tom. Goodnight.
The next morning Etta woke with Nyx pecking at her nose.
"Yes, yes, I'm up, I'm up." Nyx seemed more excited then she did. Etta wasn't excited at all, her dreams would show bits and pieces of each house she chose. In Gryffindor, everyone would gather around and she would feel uncomfortable, and controlled. In Hufflepuff she would be underestimated. Slytherin would expect things, some would fear her and others would think her evil. She had might as well choose Ravenclaw. Neutrality. Yes that would be best for her.
Etta gathered all her things, showered and dressed in her new school uniform and blue winter coat. It had been practically freezing when she opened the window for Nyx to fly to Hogwarts. She gathered all her books and hid the journal in a secret compartment in her luggage. She pulled her luggage down the stairs where Tom had waited for her.
"Here why don't you use the floo. Just say platform 9 3/4. It will take you straight to the express train. Good luck at school and make many friends." Etta nodded and Tom smiled.
The floo had made her dizzy again. Luckily she didn't eat that morning and throw her food up, that would have been embarrassing. The train was a beautiful red and ginormous. Pulling her luggage she made it in to the train. The inside was covered in reds and greens, yellows, and blues. Opening one of the doors she found a small blonde girl with an upside down newspaper. The Quibbler it read.
"Hello. Your paper is upside down do you know?" The girl put a corner of the paper down and had a trance look on her face.
"It's supposed to look like this. Daddy thinks it's cute." She replied.
"Can I sit here with you?" Etta asked. The girl smiled and nodded. "I'm Harrietta Potter but you can call me Etta if you want."
"Oh well then I'm Luna Lovegood you can call me Luna." Just then the compartment door opened. "Hello cousin Draco." Luna said. It was the boy from Madam Malkin's shop.
"Luna I have been looking everywhere for you. Mother said to keep an eye on you." He turned to Etta and sat next to Luna. "Who are you?"
"You don't remember me fron Madam Malkin's. You had told me you wouldn't be caught dead with me, remember?" The boy paled a little.
"Draco this is Harrietta Potter. You were mean to her?" Luna asked.
"I didn't mean to. I had just come from seeing uncle Lucius and he had made me mad. I didnt mean to take it out on you, I apologize Lady Potter."
"Uncle Lucius isn't a kind man. He was a member of the death eaters and was supposed to marry auntie Cissy but auntie Cissy liked Uncle Nicolas." Luna said.
"It was never my intention to be mean to you and mother was very disappointed in me." He said. "So I apologize." Etta nodded.
"That's alright forgive and forget. What house do you believe you will be in?" Etta asked them.
"Slytherin. Mother was a Slytherin and father was a Ravenclaw. Mother says my determination will most likey put me in Slytherin."
"Ravenclaw. Mother was a Ravenclaw and father went to school in France. I like to learn things. What about you?"
"Ravenclaw although i could always be put in Slytherin." Etta replied.
"Most would say Gryffindor." Draco said.
"I am not very brave. Like Luna i like learning new things. So yes Ravenclaw would be perfect." Etta told him.
"I hope you can take care of Luna, people tend to make fun of her because she is a little different. She sees things differently than others." Draco told her. Luna went back to her paper and Etta pulled out her new book.
"That is a strange book. Did you get it from Shadow Alley?" Luna asked. She moved close to the edge of her seat. "You've been to Umbra Libri haven't you?"
"Umbra Libri! You were called in there? Did you meet the owner? What was he like?" Draco spat out questions rapid fire. Luna smacked him in the stomach lightly.
"Um yes I was called there, I did meet the owner, he looked young but said he wasn't and he seemed very nice." Etta answered all his questions.
"I once heard the nargles say he was Loki before he was cast from Asgard." Luna said in a soft voice. Etta turned her head much like a confused dog would.
"Nargles? What are those they sound fascinating." Etta asked wanting to know more. Draco watched her like a hawk almost tempting her to call Luna weird.
"Followers of Loki. Mischief makers. They like to take things and then give them back after a few days. Father and I hope to catch them in the act but they are fast and silent creatures." Luna replied.
"Like I said Luna is a bit strange. That's why people make fun of her. Her father is from a lost Fey line but he is less than half. For some reason Luna got a little more than half. This is a secret but since you are to be friends i would need to tell you." Draco told her. Etta nodded and smiled.
"Everyone in uniform please five minutes to Hogsmead." A loud voice came. Draco was very excited bouncing in his seat. Luna and Etta watched him silently.