1.
It was 3 years later when Hayden first met Bella. Bella was four at the time and Hayden was three. Bella had come to spend Christmas with her father and half-sister. Her mother did not want Bella to be in Forks, Renee had found out about Hayden when Charlie called demanding to see his daughter for the holidays. She had also found out that Hayden's godfather, Remus (who had become great friends with Charlie after he came to inform Charlie of the death of Lily and James and the imprisonment of Sirius), was coming for Christmas. Renee eventually agreed to drive up to Forks for Bella to spend Christmas with the small family, but she always had a 'but'. She demanded to meet Remus when she got to the home before she left, not wanting to be in Forks longer than needed. Remus agreed to the meeting, somehow understanding her reasoning.
December 23rd, Bella was due to arrive this day and it came very quickly. Remus had been staying at the house since the 20th so he was waiting and ready to meet Renee with Hayden, who was unaware of the anxiety in the room coming from Charlie. Though Remus caught up on it and addressed it."Charlie, what's got you so worried, Renee can not be that bad, she won't take your daughter away from you". Remus said seriously with a stern stare. Before Charlie could reply the doorbell was rung multiple times, causing Haden to hide her face in Remus' leg. Remus chuckled at the girl before giving Charlie a thumbs up as he stood and walked to the door. While doing so more rings came as well as a whine from Hayden who was now being picked up by Remus and being brought swiftly to the door to greet Renee and Bella. Just as Charlie opened the door, Remus arrived at the door and placed Hayden on her feet as she hid behind his legs, shy. As the door opened they were met with the face of an impatient woman who was glaring at Charlie and then to Hayden as she saw her. Bella, on the other hand, was standing to the side holding her mother's hand as well as a Hello Kitty backpack on her shoulders, she smiled slightly seeing Hayden, unlike her mother.
"Hello, Renee, Bella, how are the both of you?" Charlie said as politely as he could possibly be speaking to the woman who took his daughter away from him.
"Good-" Bella said before being interrupted by her mother.
"We were just fine until you called asking me to drive my daughter all the way up to this dreadful town just so she can't spend Christmas with her mother. Instead, she has to spend it with her father, his disgusting child, and their ugly friend. How do you think I am Charlie?" Renee said giving glares to the three in front of her. Hayden whimpered slightly at Renee's words, causing her to hide farther in Remus' leg. This was until Bella asked the question no one was expecting.
"Mommy, can I play with her please?" Bella asked her mother, looking up at her mother with wide eyes, innocent and pleading. Her mother couldn't resist those eyes as much as she tried. Renee looked from Bella to Hayden, who both had innocent looks on their faces, both hoping that Renee would say yes so they could go inside and let the adults do the arguing. Hesitantly Renee said, "yes, fine, go", and Bella ran inside with Hayden leading them both to the living room where the toys were. They sat down before introducing themselves to one another."Hi, I'm Bella, mommy says that you're my dad's kid. That makes us sisters right!" Bella exclaimed, making the connection.
"I think so! I'm Hayden, we're best friends now, right?" Hayden asked timidly getting more excited as she spoke. They could both hear Renee asking Remus questions and yelling at Charlie, but they both chose to ignore the woman and hug each other.
"Who's that man next to dad that mommy is being mean to?" Bella whispered to Hayden, shyly looking towards the adults who had no idea the girls were conversing about them.
"That's my godfather, Remus, he's staying for Christmas too, he's really nice". Hayden said looking to Remus and smiling before she asked Bella a question of her own."Is your mommy staying for Christmas?" Hayden turned to Bella with her head down, secretly hoping Renee would not be staying at the home. Her anxiety cleared as Bella answered.
"No, she said she didn't want to stay. I don't know why though, but she's picking me up on Christmas morning". Bella sighed before her mother called her over to say goodbye to her. Hayden frowned at the fact that Bella was leaving so soon. She got over it quickly though as they played the rest of the afternoon away. The small family had dinner before Charlie and Remus put the girls to bed.
The next day was uneventful. The girls played in the snow and watched a Christmas movie, by now the girls were the very best of friends, they really were sisters, even if they didn't have the same mother. That night though, they had dinner and soon opened a few presents as Bella was leaving before presents tomorrow. Hayden was told that she wouldn't even be awake at the time Bella was due to leave with her mother. That upset Hayden but she was happy once again when they started opening presents. Hayden only got to open one but that was good enough for her as it was a present from Molly, a purple sweater she got every year with her first initial. Bella opened all her presents from Charlie which was about eight small things as he didn't know until a few days ago that she was coming and got small things in case he had to mail them to Phoenix. Bella was happy though, she hadn't spent much time with her father in the few years since she'd been born but she loved him, she missed him, but she'd always love her mother. Bella and Hayden had said goodbye to each other hesitantly before going to bed that night. Charlie promised his girls that he would arrange with Renee to have Bella come up to Forks for two weeks every summer unless Bella didn't want to come. Bella promised Hayden she'd come every year, not wanting to leave her sister.
"Pinky promise?"
"Pinky promise".
Bella and Hayden were then put to bed and when Hayden woke up the next morning and ran to Bella's room, she was gone. She went downstairs in her christmas footy pajamas to her father and godfather sitting on the couch, waiting for her."Daddy where's Bella?"
"Honey, she had to leave early this morning, don't you remember?" Charlie asked his daughter, picking her up and placing her on his lap, just as he did when she was only a newborn. Remus smiled sadly at the girl, she was so happy when Bella was at the home, Renee just had to take her away.
"Yes but why so early?" Hayden whined, placing her head on her father's chest. Charlie looked down sadly at his daughter. He wanted her to be happy, both of his girls, and Renee certainly wasn't helping."They have a long drive back to Phoenix, Hayden they had to get back home so they could open presents at their house, just like we are. Now how about you open some presents, it's Christmas!" Charlie exclaimed Remus chuckled as Charlie picked up his little girl and threw in the air and caught her, causing Hayden to have a giggle fit.
March 13, 1991. It was Hayden's eleventh birthday today. By now she already knew about and understood all the witch and banshee stuff. She knew she wasn't the bad kind, Remus explained that to her. She remembered the day she first screamed.
The year was 1989, Hayden and Bella's grandmother, Charlie's mother, was in the hospital. The doctors said she had a fever but she was going to be fine. Hayden had a bad feeling about that though. She had been hearing whispers all day and they were just getting louder. She had a headache now and they were about to leave to check on her grandmother. Hayden was just about to walk down the stairs to meet her father outside, as her father was about to leave the home, Hayden screamed. She had enough of the screaming in her head and it was hurting her so she screamed. She screamed like a banshee. Charlie ran back inside the house and up the stairs to see his daughter with a blank face standing in her doorway.
"Grandma's going to die". Hayden finally said as she started to cry. As tears started to stream down Hayden's face, her father held her, whispering sweet nothings into her ear to calm her. He didn't let go until the tears went away.
"Now, let's go see grandma. We'll stay with her all day until she dies. I love you, Hayden, you just had your first premonition. I'll call Remus so he can explain it to you, but sweetie, you're a banshee, and so was your mother".
Grandma Swan died that afternoon while she was sleeping. The doctors said she fell into cardiac arrest in her sleep, which was common for people her age. Hayden and Charlie stayed until then just as promised. They went home after grabbing dinner at the diner and Remus was sitting at the dining room table waiting for them."So I hear you screamed like a banshee". He said with emphasis on 'banshee'. Hayden put her head down and said a quiet,"Sorry".
"No love, it's not your fault. You're a banshee, just like your mother. You have a gift that could save lives". Remus reassured as he could see her frown and hear the worry in her voice, thinking she was in trouble."Hayden, this gift of yours is very rare, it's not something you can control right now. As you get older you will be able to turn it on and off as you need the ability. You will always get the whispers though when someone you know or care about especially is about to die and as they get louder it means they're closer to death, and the need to scream will increase and you are just going to have to let it out, love, screaming will quiet the voices enough so that you can understand and hear them clearly". Remus told Hayden, explaining what he knew about the banshees he had met of her kind, which had only really been Merilyn, whom of which he had spent most of his life with as best friends. Remus knew of two others: a young girl who her parents thought to be insane so they sent her to an insane asylum in America. This girl, Meredith, was extremely talented and knew how to use her powers well. The other was Lorraine Martin, a middle-aged mother who was an avid researcher of banshees and other supernatural creatures. But that's a story for a later date. Remus was brought out of his thoughts by Hayden, who had asked a question.
"But you and daddy say I'm a witch. How am I both?" Hayden asked, curiously looking to both her father and Remus. She was confused, to say the least, but then she thought of her mother and what her father had said to her. Her mother was a banshee as well, and Charlie was not a wizard. Her mother had to be a witch!"Was mom a witch, like me?" Hayden asked looking up at Remus with wide eyes. Remus smiled, thinking of the memories they all had together as children and teens at Hogwarts.
"Yes, Hayden, she was and a very good one too, top of the class next to Lily Evans, your mum and I were very good friends. As well as Sirius Black, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Lily Evans. We were so close at Hogwarts. Granted, we were all in the same house, Gryffindor. Everyone who knew Merilyn thought she was supposed to be in Ravenclaw, and the sorting hat made a mistake. Not us though, we knew her well, she was a true Gryffindor. Very brave, astoundingly kind and loyal, energetic, she was always pushing boundaries, the number of times she convinced us to go into the Forbidden forest with her to look for unicorns". Remus paused to laugh at the memory."Your mother even transformed herself into an animagus with the rest of my friends, excluding Lily. She was a small red fox, adorable she was as an animagus, but we never told her that, other than me, only a few times though. Your mum struggled with her abilities but we helped her and you'll find friends that will help you too. I promise". Remus said as Hayden got up from her seat that she had moved to and squeezed Remus into a hug.
Hayden remembered that day vividly. she was so scared about what people would think, if they found out, at Hogwarts. Now though she had accepted who she was, and her abilities. It was her birthday today, she was turning eleven. In just a few months she would be off to Hogwarts, and she was going out of her mind waiting for her letter. Bella was due to come this summer as well, which gave her another thing to be excited about. She missed her sister and she wished her birthday was in the summer so she could celebrate with Bella. Remus was coming though, and he should be here any minute now. Remus was going to apparate her and Charlie to the Weasley house so we could all celebrate together. I had become friends with Ron and the twins, as well as Ginny. Molly was the mother I never had, and Arthur was a third father (since Remus was second, always).
"Hayden! Remus is here!" Charlie yelled to his daughter. I ran at my godfather, attacking him in a hug."I missed you, Remmy". I said, using the nickname I've had for Remus for as long as I could remember.
"I missed you too, little one. Are you ready to leave?" He asked, smiling down at the young girl. Hayden smiled up at him and nodded her head fiercely. Charlie smiled at the two, they were so close, so was his daughter and him though. But Hayden could relate to Remus, they were both a part of the wizarding world, they were also half-breeds. Remus was a werewolf and neither Charlie nor Hayden respected him any less."Ok, Hayden, Charlie hold on to my arms, tight now, don't let go. Ok ready?" Remus asked the two as Hayden nodded immediately and Charlie hesitantly.
Just like that they were gone, with a loud crack they arrived at the Weasley household. Hayden ran to the door and knocked as Remus and Charlie followed behind her. Molly Weasley opened the door a second later with a bright smile.
"Happy birthday my dear, its the big eleven!" Molly exclaimed as she gave Hayden one of her signature hugs, something she was known for."Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Percy! Hayden is here!" The first four sprinted down the stairs hearing their mother's words, while Percy walked, not caring too much for the girl. One by one each Weasley family member, excluding Percy, gave Hayden a big hug, and a "happy birthday", to which Hayden thanked them. For the rest of the day until late afternoon, they all played a great quidditch match, something the boys had taught her to play when she was nine. they all said she was a perfect chaser. At dinner time, they ate a signature Molly Weasley meal, another thing she was known for. They then sat down in the living room so Hayden could open her presents. She had gotten candy from Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny. From Molly and Arthur, she got a new book. From her father she got a necklace, with her initial on it, he said he would give her the other at home. Remus had gotten her the one thing she wanted most, a broom, specifically a Nimbus 2000."Remus, you shouldn't have". Hayden told her godfather, hugging him tight."I did though, you've been admiring it since it was released". Remus told her, hugging her just as tight.
All of the children, including Percy, admired the broom until it was time to go home. Before she went to bed though, her father took something from his room to hers."Your mother told me to give this to you, before she died." Charlie said these words while sitting on the edge of her bed and opening a small box, inside it held a ring and a note. The ring had a small 'm' on it, she assumed it stood for Merilyn, it was her mother's name. She read the note, it stated...
"Hayden,
I hope you know I love you. I never wanted to leave you, or your father. I was being hunted by what we in the wizarding world call, death eaters. They were followers of an evil man. During the time when you were born, a war was going on. My good friends were in hiding as well, and they had a child just a few months after you were born. His name is Harry Potter, I hope you get to meet him one day. You're probably wondering how I know that, well being a banshee has its perks. I had seen everything that would happen in the month before I would die. You will be able to see it too, but I hope the time doesn't come in a very long time. Your powers are something you must use carefully, but always let out your scream when the need becomes urgent, if you don't, someone could die. Many people take the scream of a banshee as a warning, it can be heard for miles and the person you are trying to reach out to will always hear you. I love you, darling. I hope Remus and Sirius were able to meet you, they are both wonderful friends of mine, as well as Lily and James. Goodbye my little Hayden, I'm always with you.
With Love, Merilyn McEwan".
By now tears had come to Hayden's eyes and were streaming down her face. Her father hugged her long. Then finally, when the tears stopped and she had fallen asleep with the ring on, Charlie left the room after tucking her into bed and placing a kiss on her head.
It was June of that same year when Hayden got her letter to Hogwarts. It came as a surprise, in the form of Albus Dumbledore. Now Albus Dumbledore knows most things, he did not know that Charlie knew of Merilyn being a witch and banshee, causing Hayden to know as well. In fact, he was surprised."By the looks of it, Merilyn told you of her heritage before she died". Albus said to Charlie, seeing Remus Lupin play a game of quidditch with Hayden. Albus smiled, seeing Remus happy was something he himself hadn't seen in many years."May I speak to her for a moment?" Charlie responded with a nod and called Hayden over quickly. Charlie then walked over to Remus, leaving them alone."I take it you know that you are a witch, as well as a banshee, correct?" Albus looked over to the girl saying these words. She looked up at him and smiled slightly.
"Yes, I do, I found out about my banshee side when it showed itself, I was nine when it happened, my grandmother died a few hours later". I frowned as I said these words. Professor Dumbledore gave me my letter to Hogwarts before speaking again.
"If you ever get a feeling, even the slightest, come to my office or Professor McGonagall's, you'll meet her on your first day at the castle, if we can catch it early enough we can save them". I looked up to Dumbledore's stern, serious eyes.
"I don't know how to control the voices, they get louder the closer the person is to death but I can't understand them, it takes time, I can't just scream, once the voices get loud enough, it just happens". I said staring off with a blank look.
"You'll get there in time, I can help you at Hogwarts. I do hope to see you in September, but I must go now. It was a pleasure to meet you, you look just like your mother you know". Dumbledore looked down at the girl and extended his hand to which she shook.
"Goodbye Professor".
"Goodbye, Ms. Swan". And with that, he was gone, apparated away.
~~
"Hayden are you ready to go?" Remus called. They were going to Diagon Alley today to get her school supplies. I was over the moon with excitement as I ran down the stairs.
As I saw my godfather, I ran to hug him."Yes". I smiled widely up at him. He smiled back. We said our goodbyes to my father, then apparated to Diagon Alley.
"Stay close, little one". Remus stated sternly. I nodded and grabbed his hand tightly. They walked to Flourish and Blotts, where she would get her books for the year, after stopping at Gringotts bank to get money from her mother's vault. They walked into the book shop and Hayden looked in awe. She took the list from Remus to look on her own as he spoke to the shopkeep. As she was walking, looking up and down the shelves for the books she needed when she bumped into someone making her fall.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention". The two girls said in sync as they helped each other up.
"I'm Hermione Granger". The girl said putting out her hand for me to shake. To which I took gladly.
"Hayden Swan". I smiled at the girl, who was about two inches taller than I, causing me to tilt my head slightly upwards. I was about to start a conversation when I heard Remus call me.
"Hayden, come on. I found your books, you've been looking down the wrong aisles darling". Remus chuckled at me as I looked down sheepishly before turning back to Hermione.
"That's my godfather, I'd better go, but I'll save you a seat on the train". We waved to each other before going our separate ways.
"Did you make a friend?"Remus asked his goddaughter as he smiled down at her. I looked up at him and smiled before replying.
"I think so". I said with a nod.
The rest of the day went on like a blur. We got my robes and other supplies before going to the wand shop where the strange Mr. Ollivander helped me to find the perfect wand, a twelve-inch, holly wand with a unicorn hair core. A wand he said would suit her well with her small frame and large personality. After getting her wand they headed to The Magical Menagerie. After speaking to both her father and Remus she got permission to buy a pet. Remus told her she should get an owl, but I didn't want an owl. As she walked into the shop she looked around and spotted a small creature, a kitten. The cat was playing in his cage, happily though ironically. No one wanted the small kitten as he was young, all black with light brown eyes, and the shopkeep said he was strange. That didn't matter to Hayden, she told Remus, she wanted that one, and she got him.
"What will you name him?" Remus asked as the kitten was placed into my arms by the shopkeep. I took a good look into his eyes before a name came to me.
"Jasper, his name will be Jasper". I said, still looking into the small kitten's eyes. I felt as if I knew those eyes from somewhere, but I put that thought to the back of my mind as Remus and I walked out of the shop.
"Your father should have dinner ready by now, let's head home, shall we?" Remus looked down at the girl with a small smirk as she grabbed his hand with her free one.
"We shall".
Let's just say Charlie's reaction to the kitten was better than expected. He was glad she hadn't picked an owl, he would have had a heart attack if he saw her come in with one. Hayden went to bed that night with just under a week until she would leave for Hogwarts. To say she was excited was an understatement.