Chapter 1: Prologue
Chapter Text
May 1st, 1998
The massive snake lay still on the forest floor - upon a bed of fallen leaves. The ground was woven with gnarly tree roots that excellently camouflaged her body, which was protectively coiled around her ten eggs. Her large body - roughly twelve feet long and as thick as a grown man's thigh - was covered in smooth scales that formed a reticulated pattern of irregular black-bordered nepeta green diamond-like shapes and other smaller markings.
The python had been dozing - basking in the sunlight that leaked through the interstices of the broad leafed trees that loomed above her. The large forest was teeming with vegetation - and hence it had been rather easy for her to find a safe place to lay her eggs, amongst the dense foliage. Had she laid her eggs out in the open in an exposed location, indisputably, they would have been vulnerable to the many creatures that dwelled in the Forbidden Forest.
The snake had been sleeping soundly up until the moment when she suddenly jolted awake to the sound of someone calling her name. It was unmistakably a human voice, but they were speaking in parseltongue, and so the python could understand what they were saying. She squirmed on the ground with indecision, reluctant to abandon her eggs, but simultaneously unwilling to ignore her Master.
After all, he was the father of her children.
Having come to a decision, with one final glance at her eggs, she swiftly slithered away from the nesting spot - with even her tail soon disappearing out of sight as she blended in with her surroundings and headed towards the sound of Lord Voldermort's call.
May 2nd, 1998
Less than 24 hours later, Nagini was killed during the Battle of Hogwarts - slain by the Sword of Gryffindor, at the hands of Neville Longbottom. Lord Voldemort's piercing scream of anguish at the loss of his final horcrux couldn't be heard over the roaring sounds of the ongoing fighting, but it was perceptible to the sensitive inner ears of the unhatched snakelets whose eggs were just beginning to crack - in the tenebrous depths of the Forbidden Forest.
Within a few hours, all ten eggs had hatched. The small snakelets wriggled out of their eggs after creating an opening in their shells by piercing them with their egg tooth. Nine of the newly hatched snakes looked like miniature duplicates of their mother. But the tenth newborn looked very unlike the rest of his nest. First of all, this creature was much larger than the other snakelets, who were all approximately 35 centimetres long, whilst their sibling was roughly the size of a newborn human child - about 50 centimetres in length. More notably, however, the hatchling possessed distinctly humanoid features - appearing to be half human and half snake! It had the physical build of a human, but the majority of its lower body, as well as its upper arms and shoulders, were covered in green and black scales that formed the same reticulated pattern that covered Nagini and the rest of her young. The half-breed had eyes the color of blood and slits instead of nostrils. Lustrous black scales covered its scalp, bearing a faint resemblance to human hair.
The creature rolled over onto its stomach and began crawling away from its siblings, with an expression of firm determination set in its gaze. An expression of resolve to seek vengeance. Somehow it knew - it knew about its mother, about its father. And how they had been killed. How they had been at the pinnacle of power, and how all that power had been stripped away from them. He would regain that power, make the murderers of his parents pay, and one day - he would rule the world.
Garfantell had been born.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 2: 'Daily Prophet' Article No. 1
Chapter Text
Daily Prophet
pg. 15 - Tragedies
Attack on The Leaky Cauldron!
E. Limus, Reporter
Sun May 2, 2004
1 DIAGON ALLEY, CHARING CROSS ROAD, LONDON
In the early hours of the morning, a surprise attack on the famous wizarding inn was carried out. The targets of the assault were the landlady of The Leaky Cauldron - Hannah Longbottom - and her husband, the Hogwarts herbology professor - Neville Longbottom.
The young, recently married couple were awakened at around four o'clock by the eerie sensation that a cold, sharp-edged item had been placed at their throats. They opened their eyes to the sight of a cloaked figure looming over them, holding a dagger to each of their throats, a malevolent smile upon his face. The attacker looked straight into the pleading eyes of Mr. Longbottom, and grinning maliciously, he drove the knife through Hannah's heart. The owner of the pub died instantly, as a result of the fatal wound.
The mysterious figure then vanished into thin air just as suddenly as he had materialized out of nowhere.
Shook and overwhelmed by grief, Longbottom staggered out of bed, intending to notify the authorities - and came face to face with a mass of gigantic pythons! The professor is currently being treated at St. Mungo's Hospital, having sustained multiple injuries during his ordeal with the snakes.
Three other people besides Mrs. Longbottom died during the assault (Madison Carter, Marcus Hitchin, and Susan Bones) - all three had been tenants at the inn and had presumably got in the way of the killer. Their bodies were found by another one of the lodgers, Mr. Nathaniel Boot, who then alerted The Ministry of Magic, whose personnel came to the aid of Mr. Longbottom, who was later found unconscious on the floor of his bedroom. It has been discovered that Neville had been injected with the venom of one of the snakes (who also disappeared without a trace), which is hindering the healing of his wounds, leading to severe blood loss, which could potentially be fatal. Here at The Daily Prophet headquarters, we are all praying for his survival.
The perpetrator of the attack is yet to be identified. A motive has also still not been established. All we know is that a murderer is on the loose - so we urge you to stay vigilant.
Note: Unfortunately, we haven't been able to interview any of the witnesses, as they are still rather shaken by the incident.
We will report any further news if it should arise.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 3: 'Daily Prophet' Article No.2
Chapter Text
Daily Prophet
pg. 15 - Tragedies
Attack on the residence of the Potter family!
M. Amerinus, Reporter
Sun Oct 31, 2004
12 GRIMMAULD PLACE, ISLINGTON, LONDON
There has been an attack on 12 Grimmauld Place, the residence of the Potter family! The same cloaked figure responsible for the attack on The Leaky Cauldron earlier this year, was behind today's attack that occurred early in the afternoon - at around 2 p.m. The Potters were seated at their dining room table, eating their lunch, when suddenly something crashed into the room through one of the large venetian windows, sending fragments of shattered glass flying across the room. One year old James Potter II was struck in the chin by one of the sharp glass shards, but fortunately the infant did not sustain any serious injuries. He has received stitches at St. Mungo's Hospital and was discharged earlier this evening.
It turned out that the mysterious cloaked figure previously seen at the famous wizarding pub had paid the Potters a visit. He effortlessly landed on the tiled floor of 12 Grimmauld Place's dining room, as gracefully as a black panther. He then swiftly stood up and advanced towards Mr. Potter, who had already recovered from the shock of the unexpected attack, and was now shielding his wife and child with his own body, wand raised.
After instructing Mrs. Potter to take their son and leave the room, Harry Potter engaged in a fierce duel against the intruder. Mr. Potter is renowned for his dexterity with a wand, but although he managed to capably defend himself against his combatant, his attacker proved to be a challenging opponent, revealed to not be merely a ruthless killer, but a proficient duellist as well.
The duel lasted for a rather long period of time, up until aurors from the Ministry of Magic, requested by Mrs. Potter, arrived to aid her husband. Immediately after the authorities arrived - before they even made it to the dining room -, the attacker fled through the same damaged window through which he had entered.
Apart from a few scratches here and there, fortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Potter were unharmed. Regrettably, the perpetrator of the attack has still not been identified up until this moment. Moreover, the motive for his actions is still unknown.
We will report any further news if it should arise.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 4: 'Daily Prophet' Article No.3
Chapter Text
Daily Prophet
pg. 09 - Politics
GARFANTELL: A New Dark Wizard Reveals Himself!
M. Amerinus, Reporter
Fri Nov 12, 2004
DIAGON ALLEY, LONDON
At around 10 o'clock this morning, a large crowd of people had gathered around a fountain situated at the centre of Diagon Alley. They were jostling each other out of the way to get a closer look at whatever was positioned at the fountain. As I walked over to see what had caused the commotion, I suddenly clapped eyes on the same cloaked figure who had been responsible for the two attacks featured in this newspaper over the past half a year or so. He was addressing the large congregation of people gathered in front of him. He was inviting them to join his cause: to promote wizarding - particularly pureblood - supremacy, as well as to take action to avenge those who were killed fighting alongside Voldemort during the Second Wizarding War. He declared that he had already gathered a few followers during his rally at Knockturn Alley, and that anyone else was welcome to join his gang of 'Nagini's Children' if they proved themselves to be worthy of his trust.
I struggled against the masses, trying to get close enough to the malefactor to be able to arrest him. But my attempt was futile - there were far too many people blocking my path. The crowd was raucous. Most people seemed infuriated by the dark wizard's words, and were firing all sorts of spells in his direction. Nevertheless, the man remained unharmed, since an invisible dome-shaped barrier seemed to surround him.
Whilst the majority of the onlookers were manifestly antagonistic towards the self-proclaimed 'Dark Lord', a handful of them stepped forward and pronounced their allegiance to the dark wizard. Upon swearing loyalty to their new leader, the traitors were able to pass through the barrier and take their place beside the Dark Lord.
Just when it seemed that the wizard had concluded his speech, he made a final announcement. He divulged his identity. Garfantell was his name; and he claimed to be the son of the previous Dark Lord - Voldemort himself - and his beloved snake, Nagini. Not once throughout the course of his entire speech did Garfantell remove the hood of his cloak to reveal his face. Therefore, this man - or should I say 'creature', if he is who he claims to be - is still as unidentifiable as he was prior to his grand divulgence.
Once he had finished speaking, Garfantell suddenly disappeared in a puff of red smoke. Once the cloud of crimson smoke dissipated, there was no trace of him left.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 5: 'Daily Prophet' Article No.4
Chapter Text
Daily Prophet
pg. 02 - Good News
The Next 'Chosen One'? - A Prophecy Has Been Made!
M. Amerinus, Reporter
Tue Oct 4, 2005
THE THREE BROOMSTICKS INN, HOGSMEADE, HIGHLANDS, SCOTLAND
Sybill Patricia Trelawney, former divination professor at 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry', has made two accurate predictions thus far (during the course of her career), both concerning Lord Voldemort. She has recently made yet another prophecy. This augury involves the former Dark Lord's purported son - Garfantell.
It states that: 'The one who will wield the wand which possesses the power to vanquish the spawn of the Dark Lord will be born at the dawn of the fifth month of the coming year. Their power will surpass that of any witch or wizard that has come before them.'
Trelawney disclosed that she had been at a reunion with other erstwhile Hogwarts professors - which took place at 'The Three Broomsticks' in Hogsmeade -, when she suddenly entered a trance and uttered the prophecy cited above, in a deep and resonant voice that was not her own. Official sources state that one of Garfantell's acolytes had been present during the former professor's declaration of the prophecy. Once the prophecy had been made and Ms. Trelawney's eyes had unclouded upon her stirring from her trance - the 'Child of Nagini' disapparated from the pub, most probably to report the news to his leader.
Garfantell was clearly greatly perturbed by this new information, since he was spotted fleeing the UK later that day. He was absconding to France by crossing the English Channel, accompanied by nine large snakes. The Dark Wizard seems to have become faint-hearted with the approaching threat of an adversary!
Will he dare show his face again?
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 6: Chapter 1. Introducing The Granger-Weasley Family
Chapter Text
Sunlight seeped into the room through the curtains, pouring in through every open space between the fibres of the material. Rose Granger-Weasley sat at the dining room table with her back to the window. Her hair soaked up the golden rays, scintillating in the morning light. Rose's thick, long, copper red tresses came cascading down her shoulders in gorgeous waves, crowning her pale face. She had rosy cheeks and a light dusting of freckles on her nose. The corners of her cornflower blue eyes crinkled as she smiled at her twin brother's joke. The entire family was seated at the table eating breakfast. They were chatting amiably, recalling embarrassing experiences, telling jokes - just like they always did during family meals.
The Granger-Weasley family - which consisted of Rose, her fraternal twin brother Hugo, and their parents Ron and Hermione - lived in a two-storey house of average size, on the edge of a small village near Tilehurst, in Reading. Hugo and Rose had been born in that very same house over eleven years ago - on May 2nd, 2006. Back then, people had still been anxious that the dark wizard Garfantell would unexpectedly come out from hiding and carry out another surprise attack. But for almost twelve long years now - Garfantell had not made a single appearance. He had been scared off by a prophecy that had been made late in 2005, which spoke of an unborn child that would one day wield a wand which possessed the power to defeat the dark wizard. People spoke of little else nowadays. Every single conversation - whether it had initially been about quidditch, or even something as random as kneazles - somehow always changed to the topic of the prophecy: either speculations about what child the prophecy referred to, or rumours about where Garfantell had gone into hiding.
The Granger-Weasley family paused their chatting momentarily so that they could focus on eating. Ron bit into his slice of toast - which was smothered in strawberry jam - and flipped the page of that day's issue of 'The Daily Prophet'. Chewing the morsel of bread that was in his mouth, he scanned the article - which took up the entire page - and gave a discontented grunt. The rest of the family looked up from their plates curiously - what could have vexed him so? Ron shook his head in exasperation by way of response to their silent question. "This child is getting on my last nerve!" He proclaimed. "His face is literally on every other bloody page of every single bloody issue of this bloody newspaper!" Ron grabbed the pile of newspapers positioned on top of the cabinet situated beside him - and one by one, he thrust them in front of their faces. There, on the front cover of each and every one of 'The Daily Prophet' publications, was Albus Severus Potter's photograph. Ron opened his mouth to resume his rant, anger brewing inside of him, bubbling up to the surface, threatening to spew out - when Hermione interrupted him. "Ron," she cut in, "stop it! Just stop it!" Ron, looking rather flustered, opened and closed his mouth a few times in succession like a goldfish, as if to say something, but seemingly unable to form the right words. Hermione glared at her husband, hands on her hips, daring him to say a single word in his defense. "It's not his fault, Ronald! It's not as though he's begging for attention - forcing himself in front of the reporters, thrusting his face before the cameras, pleading for an exposé! We should pity the poor boy, not detest him! You know Albus - he's your nephew for goodness' sake! He isn't one to seek the limelight!"
Ron hung his head in shame, and mumbled something under his breath. He spoke so quietly that his words were practically inaudible to Hermione and Hugo. But Rose, who was seated right next to him, managed to catch his words: "Isn't it enough that everyone is convinced that he is the one who will defeat Garfantell one day?" The young witch raised her eyebrows in bewilderment. What was her father's grudge against her cousin? Why was he so bothered by his fame?
Before she was able to fully comprehend her father's odd behaviour, a red plastic wagon drove into the dining room through the arched doorway which led to the kitchen. Its handle was raised, and it seemed as though an invisible creature were pulling the wagon along into the room. In actual fact, the wagon was steering itself! As if maneuvered by invisible arms, the broom, mop, feather dusters, sponges and rags lying in the wagon, leapt out of the vehicle and began to sweep, mop, scrub and wipe every single surface of the room - until the room was absolutely pristine, with not a speck of dust in sight. Once they had finished cleaning, Hermione clapped her hands and in one swift motion, all of the enchanted household articles simultaneously flew back into the wagon, which then automatically drove itself back into the kitchen.
Hermione turned to face the rest of the family - "Now, who would fancy a game of Exploding Snap?"
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 7: Chapter 2. Letters of Acceptance
Chapter Text
After clearing the table, Hermione went to fetch the deck of cards, and when she returned, the entire family sat down and began to play.
Suddenly, out of the blue - Pigwidgeon, a tiny scops owl that belonged to Ron - flew in through the open window. The diminutive bird was so small that the envelope that the owl was clutching in his minute talons obscured his view as he raised his feet in preparation for landing. Unable to see what was in front of him, the poor bird was oblivious to the approaching obstacle. The Granger-Weasley family watched in horror as Pigwidgeon collided with the ceramic vase standing at the centre of the dining table. The vase was knocked down; and upon striking the hard wooden surface of the table, it was smashed to smithereens.
Fortunately, Pigwidgeon had only suffered a minor blow to the head, and quickly collected himself - springing to his feet and ruffling his feathers. The owl proudly presented the envelope that he still held clenched in his talons. Miraculously, the envelope had remained uncreased despite the collision. Hermione looked in despair at the fragmented ceramic pieces lying on the table. "Oh, Pig!" She cried. "Look at what you've done!" Ron placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to console her - "It's alright 'Mione, you know that we can repair it with just one simple spell, right?" "But it will never be the same! It will be intact alright, but its structural integrity will have been permanently damaged! I told you that we should install an owl flap in the foyer; the owls could enter through there! That way, we could have avoided accidents like this one!" Hermione let out a long sigh, and withdrew her wand from her jean pocket. As she executed an inward spiralling motion with her wand, the shards of pottery steadily rose into the air and were pieced together like puzzle pieces - until the entire vase was reassembled. The cracks faded away, and soon the ornament was intact once more. It slowly descended back onto the table. A faint cracking sound indicated that the spell was complete. Hermione placed her wand back into her trouser pocket and turned to face Pigwidgeon. The owl did not look at all sheepish or contrite; on the contrary, he seemed to be rather pleased with himself, evidently proud of the fact that he had managed to deliver the letter that he was gripping with his talons. Hermione reached out for the envelope and Pigwidgeon compliantly released it into her open hand. "Who is it from?" Hugo asked inquisitively. He peered over his mother's shoulder - there on the envelope was the Hogwarts crest and the conspicuous red wax seal bearing the insignia of the school. "Could it be...?" Hugo's eyes lit up, full of hope, and his head swivelled to face his twin sister. "Our acceptance letter!" She finished his sentence. They looked on eagerly as Hermione prised the envelope open with her wand. She removed the yellowed parchment paper from within the envelope and unfolded it; the following message was written in green ink:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall (Head of Transfiguration)
Dear Mr and Ms. Weasley,
We are pleased to inform you that you have both been accepted at 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry'. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
The school term begins on the 1st of September. We await your owl by no later than the 31st of July.
Yours sincerely,
Doyle Deluxe
Deputy Headmaster
Rose slipped her hand into the envelope and drew out another sheet of parchment paper which was neatly folded into a small square. After unfolding it, the young witch smoothed out the creases with the palm of her hand and began to read:
UNIFORM:
First-year students will require:
- Three sets of plain work robes (black)
- One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
- One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL CLOTHES SHOULD HAVE NAME TAGS ATTACHED TO THEM.
COURSE BOOKS:
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
- 'The Standard Book of Spells' (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
- 'A History of Magic' by Bathilda Bagshot
- 'Magical Theory' by Adalbert Waffling
- 'A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration' by Emeric Switch
- 'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi' by Phyllida Spore
- 'Magical Drafts and Potions' by Arsenius Jigger
- 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' by Newt Scamander
- 'The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection' by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT:
- 1 wand
- 1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
- 1 set of glass or crystal phials
- 1 telescope
- 1 set of brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, either an owl, a rat, a cat, or a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK.
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
"Ha! They finally removed that ruddy hat from the uniform list!" Ron exclaimed exultantly. "We barely wore them anyways," Hermione remarked. "I always surmised that it was mostly a formality that every student had to own a proper pointy wizard hat!"
Suddenly, a russet-coloured screech owl swooped down onto the table, having flown in through the window, producing a shrill squawk. "Who's this?" Rose ruffled the owl's feathers. The bird released the envelope that it was clutching with its talons. It was addressed to Hermione.
The aforementioned witch picked the envelope up and opened it, availing herself of her wand. She removed the sheet of parchment paper from the envelope and read it in silence. Once she had finished perusing the letter, she looked up to face her family. Her eyes were glistening with tears. "Mum..." Rose reached out for her mother, concerned about her. But then Hermione smiled and wiped away her tears - tears of joy. "It's from 'Obscurus Books'!" She declared. "They say that my translation of 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' was so well received - an international bestseller, would you believe it! -" she blushed beetroot red, "that they would gladly welcome another one of my books with open hands!" Hermione took a deep breath - "My book advocating the rights of house-elves and other underprivileged non-humans is getting published!" She frowned - "They don't like the title that I selected though... Why on earth would they think that the title 'Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures' is too long?" Hugo stifled a laugh - "Beats me!" Rose and Ron smothered their laughter in a feigned bout of coughing. Hermione raised her eyebrows in confusion, "Did I say something?" That one comment was enough to send all three of them into hysterics, with Ron guffawing and the children howling with laughter. "Oh, I see now," Hermione feigned crossness, "am I really that funny?"
Once the trio had calmed down, Ron took Pigwidgeon to his and Hermione's bedroom, to ensure that the owl would not cause any further damage. The reddish-brown screech owl that had delivered the letter from the publishing house 'Obscurus Books' had already departed a few minutes earlier. When Ron came back, Hermione cleared her throat in order to attract everybody's attention. "There is just one difficulty though..." She hesitated for a moment, "The book launch event takes place at 'Flourish and Blotts' on the 1st of September... It starts at around 10:30 a.m." She locked eyes with Rose. "I won't be able to see the two of you off at the train station..." Hermione's gaze drifted to Hugo. Rose felt like she had been punched in the gut. Her heart constricted painfully. She was happy for her mum - she truly was. But selfishly, she was devastated by this news too... She had always had this vision of both of her parents sending her off to Hogwarts. Helping her find the most comfortable compartment aboard the train, and then waving goodbye to her and her brother from the platform. Notwithstanding, she locked away all of the negative emotions that had been swirling inside of her, and put on a brave face for her mother. She knew how extremely important the publication of Hermione's new book was to her. Her life's work was finally being shared with the world. Rose steadily lifted her chin, and finally looked intently into Hermione's chocolate brown eyes, which were glistening with tears. "It's okay, Mum," she said - and she smiled.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 8: Chapter 3. Diagon Alley
Chapter Text
Later that morning, whilst Hermione was preparing her 'thank you' speech that she was going to deliver at her book launch, Ron and the twins got ready to leave for Diagon Alley.
Rose slipped into a navy and red checkered flannel blouse. She was wearing it over a plain white crop top. She tied her hair back into a high bun. Because of the unruly nature of her curly hair, a few stray fiery red strands came out of her bun and dangled down the sides of her face. Subsequently, Rose headed downstairs to the foyer, removed her pair of sneakers from the shoe rack, and put them on. Once she was fully ready, she walked over to the living room, where Ron and Hugo were already waiting for her by the large fireplace. The firebox opening was nearly as tall as Ron! "All ready?" Ron asked. Rose nodded, "I'm ready to go!" "About time!" Hugo muttered under his breath. He had been ready within minutes of Ron's announcement that they would be going to Diagon Alley to purchase their school supplies. That had been approximately half an hour ago. Ron - incognizant of Hugo's comment - picked up the small terracotta jar which stood on the stone mantlepiece. He removed the lid and handed the container over to Rose. "Remember -" he told her and Hugo, "you must speak very clearly. And be sure to get out at the right grate! We don't want you ending up at Knockturn Alley!" "We know, Dad! We've done this about a million times before!" Rose rolled her eyes in exasperation. She then scooped up a pinch of the glittering powder from the jar, stepped closer towards the fireplace and scattered the silvery powder into the flames. With a thunderous roar, the scarlet flames transformed into an emerald green. The fire rose high above the young girl, who stepped right into it. The flames licked her face, hands and legs; the floo powder had caused them to become completely harmless, and they felt like a warm breeze washing over her. Rose took a deep breath and shouted, "Diagon Alley!"
Suddenly, it felt as though she was being sucked down a giant drain. She was travelling at whirlwind speed, descending further and further downwards, spinning very, very fast. Rose kept her elbows tucked in (to avoid banging them on the passing fireplaces), and her eyes shut (to keep the soot out of them) - just as she had been taught, and soon it was all over. She suddenly stopped to a halt. She cautiously opened her eyes and came face-to-face with a pair of blazing amber orbs. The eyes with thin-slitted pupils belonged to a spotted silver tabby cat that was peering curiously at the witch who had just arrived in the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron. Rose dusted herself off and emerged from the fireplace, looking around at her surroundings. Nothing much had changed since she had last visited Diagon Alley a few months ago, to stock up on household necessities. The interior of the pub was very dark and shabby. The stone walls were extremely grimy and were in desperate need of a good scrubbing down. The rickety wooden tables were in a dilapidated state and the bar counter had numerous stains from alcoholic beverages that had accumulated over time and were by now incapable of being removed. Immediately after Rose came out of the fireplace, the fire was rekindled and burned brighter than ever, crackling merrily. The dining area was packed as always, teeming with all sorts of individuals. A wizened old witch - who looked suspiciously like a hag -, with a woolen babushka head scarf draped around her head and tied under her chin, was rapidly devouring a plate of raw pig liver. A venerable-looking wizard was smoking a pipe and perusing that day's issue of the 'Daily Prophet'; a young man with golden brown hair was conversing with the barman; and a young witch, around eight years old, was sheepishly crawling from under one of the tables with an indignant-looking siamese cat in her arms.
Suddenly, without warning, the flames in the fireplace were extinguished once again, and a ginger-haired tween boy came tumbling through the firebox opening. He slammed into Rose, and the two came crashing down onto the tiled floor. Rose winced at the pain that she felt upon impact, and the dreadfully uncomfortable weight of her brother sprawled across her back. Hugo quickly scrambled to his feet post-haste. He looked on sheepishly as Rose stood up and dusted herself off. She turned to face him, anger and annoyance written all over her face. Hugo smiled at her ruefully, "Sorry, sis!" He apologized. Rose opened her mouth to chastise him when suddenly Ron appeared behind them. The twins spun round upon hearing the dull thud of his feet hitting the hearth. "Hey, kids! Ready to do some shopping?"
A few minutes later the trio was standing in front of an antiquated shop, whose exterior was slathered with mauve coloured paint in an attempt to conceal its decrepit state. A tarpaulin awning was stretched over the store's doorway, and right above it, painted in gold lettering, was the name of the shop: Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. The bell on the door clanged as Ron swung the door open and held it ajar for Hugo and Rose to enter, and then slipped into the building himself. The bell chimed melodiously as the door slammed shut. "Here for school robes, dearies?" The lady at the counter asked. Rose surmised that the squat witch dressed all in mauve was Madam Malkin. "Yes," the young girl replied. "Alright then! Let's get you fitted!" Madam Malkin walked out from behind the counter and beckoned over a young man with golden brown hair and bright blue eyes. Rose had an odd feeling that she had seen him somewhere else before... "Martin here will get you sorted," Madam Malkin declared; the young wizard nodded at the two children and their father, not quite meeting their eyes. "Please follow me," he said rather frigidly and led Rose and Hugo over to a pair of stools. Ron stayed behind by the shop counter, asking Madam Malkin about winter cloaks. The shop assistant gestured for Hugo and Rose to get up on the stools and they complied. He slipped a robe over each of their heads and began to pin them to the right length.
Martin was soon finished. He stepped aside to allow the children to step down from the stools. Once on the ground, Rose's view was temporarily obscured by the dark material of her robe as she lifted it over her head to remove it. When she regained her eyesight, she realised that Martin - who had been standing right next to her just a few seconds before - was gone. He had disappeared into thin air. Hugo had also noticed the shop assistant's sudden disappearance, and both twins looked around in bewilderment. The young wizard was nowhere to be seen. Slightly unsettled, the duo walked over to their father. "Great!" Ron remarked, giving the robes the once-over. "We'll need two more sets of each," he turned to Madam Malkin. "Of course," the elderly witch took the two robes from the wizard's outstretched hands, and withdrawing her wand from her robe's pocket, she cast a spell on the garments, causing each of the items to triple in amount. "There you are!" She said handing over the robes. "Six sets of plain black robes, two pairs of dragon hide gloves, and two black winter cloaks - that will be 121 Galleons, 13 Sickles and 10 Knuts!"
Shortly after, Rose and Hugo had already procured almost everything that they needed for their first year at Hogwarts. "Look! There's a pet shop across the street! " Hugo observed, pointing at a small store squashed between two larger buildings. "Then let's go and buy you some pets!" Ron said in reply.
The Magical Menagerie was teeming with all sorts of creatures; every inch of the wall was covered by cages that were packed tightly together to occupy almost the entirety of the store space. Inside it was very noisy and rather musty from the fetid odour emitted by the shop's occupants. Upon entering the store, Rose came face-to-face with a pair of bulging copper-coloured eyes that belonged to a creature that resembled an enormous tortoise with a jewel-encrusted shell. "A fire crab!" A cheerful voice clarified. Rose looked up to see a dark-skinned middle-aged woman. Mrs. Tuttle - the owner of the shop - had tight waist-length curls and clear pale brown eyes. "A protected species. They are rather dangerous, but I assure you - they make wonderful pets!" The witch smiled broadly, flaunting a set of pearly white teeth. "Thank you very much for the recommendation," Rose smiled politely. "But I'm looking for a pet that is slightly less...umm...remarkable." "Ah! You're looking for toads, owls, cats and such, huh?" Mrs. Tuttle deduced. "Come with me," she gestured for the girl to follow her as she made her way through the winding labyrinth between the innumerable cages that filled the shop. Following the shopkeeper, Rose looked back to see Ron and Hugo disappear into the sea of feathers and fur. "Rose!" Ron called after her. "We'll meet you at the counter in about twenty minutes, ok?" The young witch could just about discern her father's words over the cacophonous screeching, squawking, squealing and caterwauling of the animals in the shop. Rose and Mrs. Tuttle eventually arrived in the section of the store that housed typical household pets. These included toads, owls, ravens, rats, ferrets, cats, kneazles and puffskeins. "Here we are! The ravens are rather tetchy, mind you - so I wouldn't go sticking my finger into their cage if I were you!" Mrs. Tuttle informed Rose as a parting warning. The girl eyed the ebony black birds warily, and flinched back in fear as they started gnawing at the metal bars of their cage, squawking malevolently. Rose continued down the row of enclosures, and peered into each of them in turn. She passed a sizeable cage of squirming silvery grey rats that were eager to escape, a basket of puffskeins that were humming loudly, and several cats. One cat caught her attention in particular. It was a ginger and white norwegian forest mix, with kind sage green eyes. But suddenly two small hands whisked the cat away, and soon the little girl with light blonde pigtails disappeared into the distance, the cat nestled in her arms.
With a dejected sigh, Rose turned her gaze to the next animal. She met the bright yellow eyes of a gorgeous tawny brown great horned owl. The owl's eyes were the colour of the rubber ducks that her grandfather Arthur was so fascinated with. The bird ruffled her feathers and then took off into the air from the perch that she had been sitting on and landed on Rose's shoulder. The girl almost squealed with delight; she had found the perfect pet! She fondly caressed the owl's head, and the bird chirped gaily in response. "Now let's find you a cage - shall we?" Rose sweeped the store with her eyes, searching for bird cages. She finally descried a stack of cages lying on the left side of the shop counter. She made her way over to the pile and selected a spacious cage for her new pet - she wanted her owl to have plenty of space to move in; she didn't like the idea of animals being confined to a cramped, restricted living space.
Suddenly, Rose was startled by the sound of her brother's screams. Having previously placed the owl in her new cage - Rose took the cage into both of her arms and hurriedly ran in the direction of the cries. It turned out that the rat that Hugo and Ron had been looking at, had suddenly launched itself at Hugo's index finger and sunk its teeth into it. "Help!" Hugo wailed. "This nasty beast is killing me!" He frantically waved his hand back and forth with swivel-eyed panic, in an attempt to detach the rodent from the finger. Notwithstanding, the rat obstinately remained anchored to the limb, and clenched its teeth around the finger even more firmly. "Arghhh!" Hugo howled. "It's killing me! It's killing me!" At last, Ron managed to remove the ruffian from the hapless boy's finger, and Hugo exhaled in relief. "Maybe I won't die after all," He remarked breathlessly. "No, I don't think that you will!" Rose chuckled. She looked down at Hugo's mutilated finger; blood was dripping from the bite wound. "But perhaps you'll need a plaster," she grimaced. Mrs. Tuttle, who had espied the commotion, was just heading towards them with a gauze and a plaster. She opened her mouth to apologize for the animal's behaviour, when suddenly the rat that had previously bitten Hugo, transformed into Garfantell.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 9: Chapter 4. What in the name of Merlin's most baggy Y-fronts is going on?
Chapter Text
For a split second, the world around her froze. Time came to a standstill. All of the people around her were frozen solid - rendered motionless by fear. The wind outside of the store stopped blowing. The Earth stopped turning. Rose's eyes were as immobile as the rest of her face. Her eyelids were too paralysed to blink, her irises too stationary. It was as if her brain was suffering from a massive short circuit and was struggling to compute. But whilst the rest of the world was frozen, his scarlet red eyes were still blazing brightly, like incandescent orbs of fire. Garfantell's eyes bored into Rose's - his scorching gaze conveying pure, unadulterated hatred. And then the Dark Wizard disappeared in a sudden burst of vermillion flames.
The black smoke twirled upwards towards the ceiling and assumed the shape of a large snake. The occupants of the store gasped in unison. The snake flicked its forked tongue out into the air, stretched its jaw wide open - revealing all of its fifty razor-sharp teeth -, and hissed. Taking everyone in the emporium - including herself - by surprise, with a sudden surge of boldness and courage, Rose stepped forward and forcefully blew at the smoky apparition. The smoke particles dissipated and then vanished without a trace.
The silence in the store was deafening. No one even dared to breathe. It was only after approximately a minute had passed that pandemonium erupted. The shop became a madhouse - people were shouting, children were crying, a baby was wailing, but the caterwauling of the animals transcended all of these cacophonous noises in terms of volume. Rose was in a state of shocked stupor, her feet were rooted to the ground. She only snapped out of her daze when she felt Ron tugging at her hand and leading her and Hugo towards the exit.
Once they were outside in the fresh air, Rose closed her eyes and drew a deep breath to clear her head. What was Garfantell doing at Diagon Alley? He had been gone for 12 long years... many had believed him to be dead... and now he had made a sudden appearance out of the blue? What was he planning to do...? Thousands of anxious questions cropped up, swirling around in her brain, threatening to engulf the young witch... Why had Garfantell paid particular notice to HER? Why had he been staring straight into HER eyes and nobody else's? Rose shook her head, refusing to accept the notion of Garfantell singling her out. 'I must have imagined it,' she tried to convince herself. But deep down, she knew that this wasn't true.
Ron hurried his children along the cobblestone street in the direction of the Leaky Cauldron. They were walking briskly, taking wide strides, but Ron had cautioned them not to break into a run, so as not to draw attention to themselves. The rest of the shoppers at Diagon Alley were completely oblivious to the fact that Garfantell had made an unexpected appearance after having been in hiding for over a decade, and Ron didn't want to give rise to mass hysteria that would only provoke a non-conducive and undesirable commotion that would be beneficial to no one, and could potentially result in someone getting injured. Instead, Ron had conjured a patronus and sent it off to dispatch a message to the British Ministry of Magic imparting the news of Garfantell's appearance.
As they made their way towards the old wizarding pub, Rose looked up at the previously clear blue sky, now obscured by thick grey clouds obnubilating the sun. Suddenly, a flock of ravens darkened the sky like thunder-clouds. Their ominous cries made her blood run cold, and she let out an audible sigh of relief when they passed over them. They got smaller and smaller until they disappeared into the distance.
The Granger-Weasleys soon arrived at the Leaky Cauldron and hastily made their way inside. As Rose stepped into the roaring emerald green flames in the fireplace, she cast her gaze across Diagon Alley one last time, and called out "Primrose Cottage!"
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 10: Chapter 5. The Return to Primrose Cottage
Chapter Text
When she finally felt herself slowing down, Rose threw out her hands to prevent herself from falling face forward out of the living room fireplace at Primrose Cottage. Her hands hit the ice cold stone floor and she winced at the pain that shot through her arms at the impact. A long mane of curly brown hair, that seemed almost alive, loomed above her. A hand brushed it away to reveal Hermione Granger's concerned face. The bushy haired witch reached out her hand to help her daughter to her feet, and then, once Rose was upright, Hermione enveloped her in a hug. The embrace took Rose by surprise, but she soon relaxed into her mother's arms and began to breathe more slowly, her body melting into Hermione's as every muscle in her body lost its tension to the air. She hadn't realised that her heart had been racing until she felt it race alongside her mother's.
Rose gently pulled away and met Hermione's eyes. "We saw him." Her voice came out much more steady than she expected it to. She didn't need to clarify who she was talking about. "I know." Hermione's voice quivered slightly on the last syllable. "I received a message from the Ministry."
A sudden surge of warm air erupted from the fireplace, and a second later, Ron and Hugo were ejected from the firebox alongside a cloud of soot. Coughing up the smoke, Ron brushed off the dust from his jeans, and subsequently cast a spell to clear away the fumes. Hermione rushed over to Hugo and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing his shoulders. When she finally released him, all eyes turned to Ron.
Hermione was visibly shaking when she asked - rhetorically, almost as if she was speaking to herself, barely above a whisper -, "What was Garfantell doing at Diagon Alley?"
"Some shopping?" Ron offered jokingly, but he too was evidently unsettled.
Rose and Hugo giggled nervously, but Hermione had a distant look in her eyes, as if her mind was far, far away. Her forehead creased with worry and she knitted her eyebrows together in deep concentration, patently cogitating potential motivations for Garfantell's sudden appearance. Her parents' discernible anxiety tightened the knot in Rose's stomach. She clasped her hands behind her back to stop them from trembling. Drawing in a long, deep breath, she plastered a fake smile on her face, and said, "He could have shown up for another reason...Not necessarily just to find the child mentioned in the prophecy, right?" She already knew the answer to her own question before the words even emerged from her mouth, but she was desperate to convince her family - as well as herself - that everything was alright, even though she knew that her attempt to achieve this was futile.
She steeled herself for the response. "I don't think so." Hermione's face was unreadable, but her gaze was steady when her deep brown eyes met her daughter's.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 11: Chapter 6. It's All About Trust
Chapter Text
"We need to give you your wands." Hermione suddenly snapped out of her trance-like state. "Our wands?" Rose asked, bewildered. "But we didn't have time to buy our wands at Ollivander's...," she pointed out. "Oh!" Ron appeared to be somewhat flustered. "Actually...," he began tentatively, then broke off and turned to look at Hermione, a silent question written across his face. She responded with a resolute nod. "We already bought your wands years ago, when you were just babies." Rose was stunned into silence and Hugo looked equally nonplussed.
When she finally recovered from the shock and managed to regain her voice, she said evenly, "You never mentioned this." Her twin brother nodded in agreement, "Whenever we talked about how excited we were about getting our wands this year, you never mentioned the fact that we already had our wands," - Hugo paused for effect - "since we were INFANTS!" Hermione flinched at the acidity in his voice. "There's no need to get all het up about this," she attempted to mollify her children. " We just didn't feel the need to tell you if we weren't going to give them to you until you were older anyways," she justified. "And it was simply more convenient for us to get your wands when you were so young - it eliminated all of the unnecessary fuss!" She continued. She spoke so unwaveringly and in her characteristic rational, matter-of-fact manner, that Rose found it extremely difficult to cast doubt on her words. "Can we get our wands now, then?" She asked, giving up on her doubts and reservations concerning her parents' actions.
Both Rose and Hugo looked imploringly at their parents. "Pleeease...?" "Of course!" Ron laughed good-naturedly. He walked over to the old wooden cabinet standing in the corner of the room. The polished surface of the armoire was arrestingly ornate - embellished with engravings of leaves, autumn berries and birds in flight - so beguiling as to invite the fingers to take it in just as much as the eyes. Rose reached out to brush her fingers against the surface of the cabinet, but her father instantaneously batted her hand away. "Remember what we told you!" He berated her, eyes flashing. "Don't EVER touch the cabinet!" Rose was taken aback - Ron had never been this furious with her. She staggered backwards - "I-I-I'm sorry...I-I-I forgot...I didn't think that..." Indeed, ever since they were old enough to understand, the twins' parents had repeatedly reminded them not to touch the archaic armoire. Rose had always been curious about the rationale behind this request, but nonetheless, she had always obeyed her parents' wishes.
Until now.
Considering that the motivation behind the demand had been divulged, Rose surmised that the ban on touching the cabinet had been lifted, and so she had finally allowed herself to succumb to her temptation to touch the ornate armoire. Clearly she had been mistaken.
Ron's eyes softened. He smiled almost apologetically. "It's alright," he reassured his daughter. "I should have been clearer," he admitted. He then drew open the intricately carved doors of the cabinet and took out two slender boxes. As Ron handed the twins their wand boxes, Rose couldn't suppress the urge to ask her parents a question - "Why did you keep them in there?" She queried, gesturing at the old armoire. "It's all about trust," Hermione replied cryptically, and then exited the room. "Lunch will be ready in about twenty minutes!" She called out from the kitchen. Rose was left even more discombobulated following Hermione's mystifying response to her question. But sensing that she was stepping into dangerous territory, due to the palpable tension in the air, Rose bit back any further inquiries that she had.
After informing the children that the wand polishing kit was in the top drawer of the small cabinet in the antechamber, Ron left the living room to join Hermione in the kitchen, and to assist her in preparing lunch. Hugo immediately opened his wand box. He wrenched out the wand post-haste, his fingers moving with great speed and immediacy, as if he were in a rush to get somewhere. "Going somewhere?" Rose asked jokingly. Hugo pursed his lips and gave her a reproachful look. "I've been looking forward to this day my entire life! Give a guy a break!" He grouched. "Sorry, sorry!" Rose chuckled, raising her hands in mock defeat. "I understand - so have I!" His anger abating, Hugo proudly showed Rose his wand. "It's made of holly wood, and it has a unicorn hair core!" He disclosed, pointing at the label on the leather-bound box. "Open yours!" Hugo urged his sister. Just as Rose was about to pry open the lid of her own wand box, Hermione called out that lunch was ready. "Coming!" Rose called back in reply, and set down the box on the living room table.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 12: Chapter 7. Rose's Wand
Chapter Text
Lunch was served outdoors. The blazing sun, moored in the pale blue sky, stretched out its golden arms. Rays of sunlight illuminated the verdant meadows. Under the sun's rays, every hue of the blades of grass, petals of flowers, and leaves of trees, was kissed into brilliance. The symphony of honeyed tones caused joy to seep into Rose's skin once again, and her heartbeat to regain its steady rhythm.
The wooden table on the veranda was laden with mouth-watering dishes, including roast chicken, lamb chops, boiled potatoes, as well as an asparagus salad with feta cheese and a lemon vinaigrette. Once everyone had finished eating, their stomachs full - all of the platters, plates, glasses and cutlery were magically cleared from the table. Rose thanked her parents for the delicious meal and went back indoors. She collected her wand box from the living room and then headed upstairs to her room to open it in private.
Rose gently removed the lid off the box and drew out the wand, which was cushioned against the soft velvet lining of the container. The wand was slender, 10 ½ inches long and supple. As her fingers wrapped around the handle of the wand, she felt a sudden rush of warmth flood into them. Her heart beginning to race with excitement, Rose raised the wand above her head, brought it swishing down and then around through the air, and gave it a little flick. A few golden sparks shot from its end, and then one of the feathers that Rose's new owl had shed earlier that day, rose approximately 10 cm into the air, before falling back to the ground. A broad grin spread across Rose's face - she had just cast her first spell! And, moreover - it had been a success! Much to her surprise, Rose found that her wand box had no label stating the wand's wood and core as Hugo's had, but she wasn't that bothered by this, as she was sure her mother would know what materials her wand was composed of. Hermione knew everything!
Rose found Hermione in her study, biting on the tip of her quill whilst deep in thought. "Whatcha doin', Mum?" The sudden sound of her daughter's voice announcing her presence in the room startled Hermione. She jumped up in her seat and her elbow knocked over the ceramic inkwell standing on her desk. The jet black ink pooled on the leather surface of the desk and was beginning to become absorbed by the material. Hermione instantly conjured a cloth and used it to wipe off the ink. She turned to face Rose, who was standing in the doorway with an apologetic smile on her face. "Rose! You gave me a fright!" "Sorry mum," Rose apologised, glancing at her sheepishly. "I didn't mean to startle you..." Hermione nodded her head in silent agreement for her to proceed. "I have a question...Do you know what my wand is made of?" Rose asked. "There's no label on the box," she clarified hastily. Rose thought she saw a trace of fear cross Hermione's face, but it was soon replaced by a look of ostensible confusion. Rose's mother knitted her brows and tilted her head quizzically. "That's odd," she said, "it should have a label." "It didn't," Rose assured her. "I'm afraid that I don't remember what your wand is made of," Hermione smiled apologetically. "We can ask Mr. Ollivander next time we visit Diagon Alley," she proposed, seeing Rose's face fall and attempting to raise her spirits. "Yes...That's a good idea," Rose offered Hermione a half-hearted smile. Leaving the room, Rose mulled over the fact that Hermione didn't have an answer to her question. She had been confident that her mother would be able to recall the wood and magical core of her wand. And yet - she hadn't.
It looked like Hermione didn't know absolutely everything after all.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 13: Chapter 8. A Night-Time Conversation
Chapter Text
As Hugo's soft snores echoed around the room that he shared with his sister, Rose lay wide awake in her bed. Her eyes remained open, fixed on the ceiling above. Hugo had fallen asleep almost as soon as his head had hit the pillow, as he was so exhausted by the day's events. Although Rose was equally tired, sleep remained elusive as she battled to quiet the cacophony of questions and concerns swirling around in her head. Even as fatigue weighed heavily upon her, she was unable to give into the warm and welcoming arms of sleep, thoughts racing through her mind like wildfire. Hugo's steady breaths filled the quiet room as Rose rolled onto her side to look through the window at the blanket of stars overlying the night sky.
A few minutes later, Rose heard hushed voices coming from the dining room. Slowly she crept down the stairs and discreetly peered through the doorway. Her parents were standing by the wooden cabinet that had previously held the twins' wands. "Thank Merlin McGonagall's protective enchantments lasted for all those years," she heard Hermione say to Ron. "Who knows what would have happened if...," her mother's voice broke off and Rose could see Ron gently place a reassuring hand on Hermione's shoulder, offering silent support. Hermione cleared her throat and took a deep breath before she resumed speaking. "If the charms hadn't been strong enough, Garfantell undoubtedly would have taken the wands long ago. There is nothing to stop him now -," she inhaled sharply, abruptly turned away from her husband, and hurried out of the room. Rose quickly slid into the broom cupboard to the right as her mother rushed past. Ron looked helplessly after his wife's retreating figure and remained standing in the room. His eyes brimmed with pain and Rose longed to offer him comfort through a hug, and yet she was unable to bridge the distance that separated them without betraying that she had been eavesdropping on his conversation with Hermione. So instead she climbed back up the stairs with a heavy heart. Once in her room, she slipped into bed, pulled the covers up to her chin and squeezed her eyes shut, desperate to find solace in sleep.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 14: Chapter 9. Departures (Part 1)
Chapter Text
The days flew by and soon it was the morning of the 1st of September - the day that Rose and Hugo were to depart for Hogwarts for the first time. Rose strained under the weight of her hefty school trunk as she lugged it down the stairs, her ginger curls bouncing around her shoulders with each lurching step. Her copper tresses caught the light streaming through the window and shimmered with hints of gold, framing her freckled face as it contorted in concentration. She gripped the brass handle firmly and hauled the trunk down the last stair. Hermione was waiting for her in the foyer.
"Have you got everything?" She asked in an unconvincing feigned tone of light-heartedness. The smile plastered on her face was visibly strained as she reached for Rose's trunk. Rose nodded, handing the chest to her mother. "Gravitas penna," Hermione murmured, tapping the trunk gently with her wand, causing it to instantly become as light as a feather. With a slight tilt of her head, Rose tried to catch her mother's gaze. Their eyes met and Rose silently implored Hermione to share her secrets with her. The young witch's gaze held a quiet intensity, a subtle plea for openness between them. Fleetingly, the hardness in Hermione's eyes softened and cracks of vulnerability materialised in her demeanour. But then, just as quickly as the ice in her eyes had thawed, it froze over again, shutting her daughter out. Hermione averted her gaze and dropped her eyes to her wristwatch. "Oh, is that the time?" She said, straightening her skirt. "I'd better go - I don't want to be late for the book launch," she handed the trunk back to Rose, who grabbed the handle with her pinkie.
"I love you, Mum," Rose blurt out, her voice trembling with sudden emotion as she buried her face in her mother's bushy brown hair. Hermione's arms wrapped around her, enveloping her in a hug. Rose clung tightly to the warmth of her mother's embrace, finding solace in the familiar scent of Hermione's perfume. When Hermione reluctantly broke the hug a few seconds later, Rose felt a palpable absence where her mother's arms had been on her back.
"I love you too, sweetie," Hermione cupped her daughter's chin, "but I really must go now." She kissed Rose tenderly on the forehead and turned away to bid farewell to Hugo and Ron, who had just joined them in the foyer. "Goodbye, my loves," Hermione said, before disapparating with a barely audible pop.
In the taxi on the way to King's Cross railway station, Rose rested her forehead against the cool glass of the window, lost in thought. The flurry of rain outside mirrored the turmoil within her mind as she recalled the hushed conversation between her parents that she had overheard several weeks ago. An image of Garfantell's piercing red eyes boring into her soul flashed in her mind. The haunting vividness of the image sent shivers down her spine. The intensity of the Dark Wizard's gaze was suffocating, and Rose felt as if every fibre of her being was laid bare under the scrutiny of Garfantell's scarlet eyes, blazing like two burning coals. As the passing scenery blurred by in the window, Rose's imagination ran wild with fear, her fiery waves of hair curling along the bottom edge of the window frame.
"So we just run at the barrier?" Hugo asked doubtfully, eyeing the dividing wall between platforms nine and ten with suspicion.
"Or you can just walk through it," Ron replied. "But it's probably best to do it at a bit of run if you're nervous."
Hugo blushed beetroot red as he scoffed, "I'm not nervous!" However despite his protest, his fidgeting fingers betrayed a hint of unease beneath his bravado. Hugo walked towards the barrier with a feigned air of nonchalance, not daring to look back and reveal the fear etched on his face. He couldn't help but close his eyes and wince as he neared the brick wall, but no collision came and he effortlessly passed through onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. As the back of Hugo's ginger head disappeared into the wall, Rose turned towards her father.
"Dad, is there anything you'd like to tell me?" She asked, meeting his gaze. "Anything about...our wands?" As she waited for his response, her eyes searched his face for any flicker of recognition or understanding about what she was hinting at. Ron remained silent, the weight of her inquiry hanging in the air. However, Rose observed a subtle furrow in his brow and a faint tightening around his lips - small but unmistakable signs that he comprehended what she was alluding to and that this realisation had evidently concerned him. The young witch's heart chilled. What were her parents so afraid of? What did Garfantell want from their family? Why did he want their wands? She looked beseechingly at Ron.
Her father gave her a sad smile, "I'm afraid I can't tell you, Rosie. But you'll find out soon enough." He gently nudged her in the direction of the barrier. "We better go now, pumpkin - or your brother will start thinking we've abandoned him!" Rose nodded weakly and walked towards the wall, her father following close behind her.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 15: Chapter 9. Departures (Part 2)
Chapter Text
Emerging onto Platform 9 ¾, Rose was met with a sea of students bidding goodbye to their families before departing for the start of a new school year. The Hogwarts Express had already arrived at the platform, its idling engine puffing out white clouds of steam. Rose glanced around, her eyes narrowing as she spotted her twin brother and his best friend and cousin, Albus Potter, moving with mischievous purpose through the bustling crowd. The two boys were carrying trays of seemingly ordinary custard creams, darting between families and offering the biscuits with wide grins and exaggeratedly polite gestures.
"Here, have a custard cream! They're freshly baked," Hugo said with an air of practised charm, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Hot from the oven!" Albus added, his face flushed with barely contained laughter. The recipients of the confections looked a bit puzzled by the random giveaway of biscuits, but nevertheless accepted the treats with gratitude.
It was not long before all hell broke loose.
The first person to take a bite of a custard cream was a stout witch with a basket full of potion vials, who, seconds after chewing, let out an astonished squawk. Her surprise quickly turned to panic as she began to grow bright yellow feathers and transform into a large canary. Her initial cry of alarm was soon joined by a chorus of similar sounds from those around her who had also sampled the custard creams. The platform erupted into mayhem. Students and their families flapped their arms, unable to suppress their rising horror. Soon the air was filled with brightly coloured songbirds fluttering about, their frantic movements only adding to the pandemonium. Rose shook her head in exasperation; she had been a victim of the troublesome duo's practical jokes many times herself.
"Did you two think this was funny?" Rose heard her aunt's raised voice before she saw her marching across the platform. Ginny Weasley stormed over to her son and nephew, her face a mix of sternness and frustration. Around her, the chaos created by the two boys was only just beginning to settle, with the people who had been turned into birds slowly reverting back to their human forms. The unfortunate victims grumbled as they brushed feathers from their clothes and shot indignant looks at the two pranksters. "Albus Severus Potter, Hugo Rubeus Granger-Weasley!" Ginny's voice cut through the hubbub like a knife. She was a formidable presence, and both boys could feel the weight of her disappointment even before she reached them. "What on earth were you thinking?" Albus and Hugo shuffled their feet, their heads hanging low as they exchanged guilty glances. Hugo managed a sheepish murmur, "We were just having a bit of fun..." Ginny's eyes flashed. "Fun? You turned people into canaries! Did you even consider how distressing that could be for them?" Just then, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley arrived by Ginny's side, their expressions mirroring the witch's disapproval. Harry placed a firm hand on Albus' shoulder. "We talked about pranks and their consequences," he said, his tone calm but firm. "This wasn't harmless fun. People could have been hurt." Ron, standing beside him, added with a heavy sigh, "And before you even started the school year. Not exactly a great start, boys. You both need to apologise." The boys nodded, their faces flushed with shame. They approached the now-human victims, who were still trying to smooth out their ruffled clothes and shaking off the last remnants of their avian experience. "We're really sorry," Albus said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, sorry for the trouble," Hugo echoed, looking down at his shoes. The affected wizards and witches, though still visibly annoyed, accepted the apologies with varying degrees of grace. Ginny, Harry, and Ron then offered their own apologies. With the matter settled, Ginny ushered Albus and Hugo towards the Hogwarts Express. "Come on," she said, "you need to join your siblings. Rose, Lily and James are waiting."
Before boarding the train, Rose gave her father a final hug. She looked up at Ron with earnest eyes. "Dad, can you tell Mum that I love both her and you, and that I'll miss you both very much?" Ron nodded, his own eyes softening. "Of course, Rosie. I'll tell her." He bent down and kissed her forehead, his smile full of fatherly pride. With a final, affectionate squeeze, Rose pulled away, climbing onto the train's step. She stepped inside, her heart racing as she found her place next to Hugo in a compartment. As the Hogwarts Express began to move, the children waved through the compartment window at their parents, who stood on the platform. The scenery outside blurred into a swirl of colours as the train picked up speed, and Rose, Hugo and their cousins settled into their seats.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 16: Chapter 10. The Next Chosen One
Chapter Text
The rhythmic clacking of the train wheels rolling along the tracks almost lulled Rose to sleep as she stared out the window, lost in her thoughts. Beside her, Hugo was engrossed in a Muggle comic book, while Albus sat quietly, looking out at the passing countryside. Lily and James were chatting animatedly about the Quidditch game schedule for the upcoming school year. The compartment door slid open, and the trolley witch peeked in, her cart brimming with an array of tempting treats.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?" she asked with a warm smile.
The children's eyes lit up at the sight of chocolate frogs and cauldron cakes, and they all eagerly selected their snacks. After accepting their payment, the trolley witch moved on to the next compartment.
A short while later, Rose descried a small screech owl fluttering frantically outside the window. She soon recognised the owl, with its rufous plumage and anxious lemon yellow eyes, as Sabine - her mother's owl. Rose hurriedly slid the window open. Sabine hopped inside, dropping an envelope directly into Rose's lap before flying out once more, disappearing into the distance within a matter of seconds. Rose looked down at the envelope, noticing it was addressed to her in her mother's handwriting.
"Hey, what's that?" Hugo asked, reaching for the envelope as soon as he noticed it.
Rose held it close, her heart racing. "It's for me," she said firmly. Suddenly, a soft, melodious voice filled the young witch's ears, startling her. The voice was not loud but had a commanding presence.
"You must be alone when reading the letter."
Rose's breath caught in her throat. The voice was hauntingly familiar, but Rose couldn't quite place it. Shaking off her unease, she addressed her brother and cousins. "Could you all please step out for a moment? This letter is private."
Hugo's brow furrowed in confusion, but he and the others stood up and filed out of the compartment with murmured questions. As the door clicked shut, Rose felt a wave of apprehension wash over her. The compartment seemed to close in around her as she opened the envelope.
The voice spoke again, more clearly this time, cutting through the eerie silence.
"In the envelope you will see a sheet of white paper, but when you colour it red or some other bright color, white writing will become visible. I know it's an old Muggle trick and not very sophisticated; but that makes it all the more difficult to guess if someone were to intercept this letter."
Rose's hands trembled as she pulled out a blank sheet of paper from the envelope. She rummaged through her trunk and eventually found a ruby red crayon - the one she had used to colour in Hermione's jumper in a portrait drawing she had gifted her mother last Christmas. Her hand moved swiftly, colouring the page with strong strokes. Rose watched with growing awe as the words began to materialise.
"Dear Rose," the letter started, "I cannot keep this secret from you any longer. You are the child from the prophecy. Only you can save us from Garfantell. But for now, he's the one hunting you. He's looking for your wand - you can probably guess why."
Rose's eyes widened in disbelief. Her mother's words seemed impossible. She, Rose Granger-Weasley, was supposed to be the Next Chosen One? That couldn't be true. Then she remembered how her parents had hid her and Hugo's wands for eleven long years. Could it really be true?
"There was an attack," the letter continued. "Garfantell and his acolytes were searching for your wand at Flourish and Blotts because I was there for my book launch. They somehow got onto my trail. I suspect that it had to do with his appearance at the Magical Menagerie a few weeks ago. Several people were killed. Fortunately, I managed to escape. I lost some blood due to an injury but I am fine. I am now at St. Mungo's Hospital. Do not worry about me, sweetie, I'll see you the night before the school year ends, in the Monster's Chamber. Look after yourself, Mum."
Tears brimmed in Rose's eyes. She read the letter over and over again, trying to grasp the enormity of the message. Her mother was hurt, and it was her fault. Garfantell was after her, not anybody else, and now her mother was suffering because of it. The weight of the revelation bore down on her like a million tonnes. How could she be the one to save everyone? The idea seemed impossible, far beyond her capabilities.
Rose blinked back her tears and quickly folded the letter, hiding it back in the envelope. She felt immense guilt for not being able to protect her mother. But she knew she had to be strong. She had to believe in the possibility that she could make a difference. When she let her brother and cousins back into the compartment, her expression was a careful mask of composure. Despite their probing questions, she offered only vague answers. The rest of the train journey was a blur of chatter and laughter amongst her brother and cousins that Rose barely registered. As the Hogwarts Express approached Hogsmeade Station, Rose resolved to keep her head high and her mind sharp. She would face whatever challenges lay ahead with the courage her mother had always believed she had.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 17: Chapter 11. Arriving at Hogwarts (Part 1)
Chapter Text
Several hours later, Rose peered through the compartment window, and through the murk of the oncoming night, she descried the silhouette of a tiny platform not far into the distance. She turned to Lily, who was sitting across from her.
"Is that Hogsmeade Station?" she asked. Lily leaned closer to the window.
"Yes, we're almost there, guys! We better change into our uniform. Come on, boys, step outside the compartment so that we girls can change first."
"Why don't you ladies step out first?" James stretched his arms behind his head, leaning back comfortably, and propped up his feet against the wall next to the window - just above Lily's head. He was clearly in no hurry to move. Lily shot him an irritated look.
"Out you go!" She commanded, reaching over to give him a gentle shove. James raised his hands in mock surrender, a playful grin on his face.
"Fine, fine," he said, sliding off his seat. The boys shuffled out of the compartment, leaving the girls to change in peace. A few minutes later, the boys and girls switched places, and soon the train's whistle signalled their arrival at Hogsmeade. Smartly dressed in their school uniform, the five of them filed out onto the platform along with the other students. The chill in the air hit Rose like a wave, and she shivered, pulling her hood up over her head. The sound of the students' chatter and laughter mingled with the whistling of the wind. Rose glanced around the platform, trying to take in the scene. Her gaze landed on a giant figure standing by a lamppost, his massive frame wrapped in a tattered coat. The warm light illuminated his shaggy hair and long, bushy beard - black, peppered with gray. Her eyes widened in recognition. It was Hagrid! She had heard so many stories about him from her parents - how he was the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, but more importantly, a dear friend to Hermione, Ron and Harry.
"First years come on over!" Hagrid called, his voice booming over the crowd of children. "Leave yer trunks by the train; the house-elves will take 'em ter the castle for yeh!" Lily ushered Rose, Hugo and Albus in Hagrid's direction.
"Go on, you three! Hagrid will take you to Hogwarts. James and I will meet you in the Great Hall!" She soon disappeared in the throng of older students heading in the opposite direction towards the carriages.
As Albus, Rose and Hugo approached the half-giant, Hagrid's eyes widened, and he knelt down to get a better look at them.
"Blimey! Look at yeh lot!" He exclaimed. "You look just like yer parents back in the day!" His gaze swept over them. "I almost thought Hermione, Ron and Harry were standin' here like they were eleven again!" For a moment, he seemed almost overcome with emotion, his eyes glistening. He blinked back his tears, before shaking his head and standing back up. "Ah, we best get goin' if we want ter make it in time fer the feast! First years, follow me ter the lake!" He beamed down at the trio one last time, his face a mix of joy and nostalgia, before he turned around and led the first-years down the hill to the bank of the Black Lake.
As they walked, Rose noticed a boy with icy blonde hair and pale skin jog up to Hagrid. "Why do only the first years sail across the lake while all of the other students take the carriages to Hogwarts?" he asked, an avid curiosity evident in his tone. His blue eyes twinkled in the darkness as he waited for Hagrid's answer. Hagrid chuckled, pleasantly surprised by the boy's inquiry.
"Ah, that's a good question, lad! An old tradition, it is! Goes way back to the foundin' of the school. Could be an initiation rite, yeh know? Not sure how it started, but the journey across the lake is about showin' yeh that yer time at Hogwarts won't be all fun and games. It takes hard work, dedication, and a bit of courage to graduate from Hogwarts!" The boy nodded solemnly, pulling out a small notebook and quill from the pocket of his robes and jotting down Hagrid's explanation. Rose recognized him now - it was Scorpius Malfoy, the son of Draco Malfoy, her parents' childhood nemesis. There was something strikingly earnest about him in that moment, as he was writing down this newly discovered fact, a look of focused determination on his face. Rose felt an inexplicable certainty that Scorpius was a kind soul, despite his father's infamous cruelty. It was a judgement she couldn't quite explain - a gut feeling.
They soon reached the edge of the Black Lake, its dark waters shimmering under the light of the moon. Hagrid gestured to the line of small wooden boats bobbing gently in the water. "In yeh go, everyone!" Rose climbed into a boat with Hugo and Albus. Hagrid, due to his size, took a boat of his own, but even still, the boat looked almost comically small beneath his bulk. Once all of the students had settled into their boats, the boats began to move, gliding across the water towards the magnificent castle that loomed in the distance. The towering stone spires seemed to touch the clouds, and the castle's many windows glowed warmly, illuminating the darkness. The boat journey was tumultuous; the waves rocked the boats as they cut through the water, and Rose couldn't help but imagine the Giant Squid lurking beneath the surface.
"What if one of the merpeople pops out of the water and grabs us by the legs?" Hugo joked. "Shh! They'll hear you!" Albus shot back, his eyes wide with fear. At one point the trio had to grip the edges of their boat as it tipped precariously, but thankfully it did not topple over, and they made it to the shore unscathed.
Hagrid led the first-year students to the main entrance of the castle. "Welcome to Hogwarts!" He bellowed, and as he spread his arms wide, the massive doors swung open magically, revealing Professor McGonagall waiting inside.
"Good evening, students," the headmistress greeted them, her voice firm but warm. "Welcome to Hogwarts," she echoed the gamekeeper and groundskeeper. "You will soon be sorted into your Houses. Follow me."
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 18: Chapter 11. Arriving at Hogwarts (Part 2)
Chapter Text
The stone walls seemed to whisper with history as the first year students eagerly followed Professor McGonagall down the long, torch-lit corridor. The Headmistress' tartan robes swished as she led them forward with brisk steps, her heels clicking sharply on the hard floor. The glow of the torches cast flickering shadows across the students' excited faces. Rose's fingers fiddled nervously with the envelope in her robe pocket. Hugo and Albus were a few steps ahead of her. They were laughing about something - probably some prank they'd already planned for their first night at Hogwarts - but she couldn't focus on the words that they were saying, her thoughts constantly drifting back to the letter.
"You are the child from the prophecy," her mother's voice echoed in her head.
"Only you can save us from Garfantell."
Rose's fingers absentmindedly traced the edges of the envelope again as she walked, the paper smooth beneath her touch. Suddenly, the envelope slipped from her pocket and fluttered to the ground, landing softly on the stone floor with barely a sound.
Before she could even react, a pale hand appeared, quickly snatching it up.
It was Scorpius.
Rose blinked in surprise as he straightened up, his blue eyes briefly meeting hers. His expression was nervous, his cheeks flushed, but his hands were steady as he handed the envelope back to her.
Their fingers brushed for a fraction of a second, and Rose's heart skipped, though she didn't quite understand why.
Scorpius didn't say anything, just nodded awkwardly before rushing ahead to catch up with the rest of the students. His back remained hunched as he hurried away, clearly trying to avoid drawing any attention to himself.
Rose stared after him for a moment, unsure of what to make of the interaction. Scorpius wasn't someone she knew well, but there was something unexpectedly kind in the way he had picked up the envelope for her, without a second thought, especially considering their families' history as enemies... She felt a strange mix of gratitude and something else - a flicker of something she couldn't quite put her finger on. She blinked, slightly flustered, and quickly stuffed the envelope back into her pocket, tucking it deeper than before, determined not to let it fall out again.
She then hurried to catch up with Hugo and Albus, who were too absorbed in their conversation to notice her fall behind.
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
AardwolfLover993 (Guest) on Chapter 13 Thu 20 Mar 2025 11:40PM UTC
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Newt672 on Chapter 13 Wed 28 May 2025 06:52AM UTC
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VulcanRider on Chapter 17 Sun 27 Jul 2025 09:10PM UTC
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Newt672 on Chapter 17 Tue 19 Aug 2025 10:05AM UTC
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