Chapter Text
-Lynz, your uncle Remus is here- My mother shouted, I ran down the stairs and into his arms
-How is my favorite niece, huh?
-Excited, did you get my letter? - I asked - I'm going to Howgwarts
-I knew you would, you'll be the best student in defense against the dark arts
-Smug- my mother muttered
My uncle Remus had spent a lot of time "training" me. He taught me potions, spells, how to fly on a broomstick. He was the father figure I didn't have. Since I was born, it had been him, mom and I against the world.
Apparently my father was far away, since he had been accused of a crime he didn't commit, betrayed by someone close to him, and today he was locked up in Azkaban, the maximum security prison for wizards. My mother avoided talking about him, since she believed that after 10 years there, he should be dead.
His name. Sirius Black.
Even so, I don't have his last name, when I was born he was a fugitive and taking his last name would have condemned my mother and i, nor my mother's last name, since she is Lupin, but I have her mother's last name. Fletcher. Something common but it served to not call attention.
-How were you? - I asked Remus, caressing the scars on his face
-Well, the last full moon wasn't as bad as I thought -
This is another detail to know, my uncle is a werewolf.
-Why don't you let me accompany you? I could...-
-Never Linsay, I won't forgive myself if something happens to you - he interrupted me
-But-
-No buts-
-Yeah-
-And how have you been behaving? I'm surprised that the house isn't on fire
-I had to set limits - my mother said
-And he obeyed you? - he was surprised
-I have my ways-
-Daughter and niece of marauders, what did you expect? - she laughed
-Marauders? - I asked
-You'll understand. Now come, im givving you some last lessons - he said getting up. I spent that afternoon with him, preparing a potion of the living dead.
-Perfect, you did it - he said ruffling my hair, which went from deep red to pink for a few seconds, due to my condition as a metamorphmagus, which I had inherited from my mother. It was the ability to change shape at my will and pleasure, which I used to drive people crazy - come on, your mother prepared dinner - We sat down to eat, but I could only think about going to Hogwarts tomorrow.
-You'll come with me tomorrow, right?- I said, looking at my uncle
-I wouldn't miss it for anything. I'll come early for you and your mother- he gave me a kiss on the forehead and headed for the door
-Sleep well, honey-
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-Come on, we're running late - I said running. It was 10:30 and the train left at 11:00. I looked at the wall between 9 and 10. 9 3/4
-Run- mum whispered in my ear. I ran towards the wall and felt like I was passing into another dimension. I looked around and I was in the station. A steaming locomotive to my left, a crowd of parents, children, adults, owls, bahules and shouts. Behind me, Remus and my mother appeared. My uncle loaded my things onto the train while I said goodbye to my mother.
-What's wrong? - she said, looking worried
-Which house was dad in? - I asked. She looked at me tenderly
-Your father was a Gryffindor, like your uncle Remus and I - she pushed the hair that fell over my face - why do you ask?
-And if they send me to Slytherin? I don't want to be a snake - she said sadly
-If that's the case, I'd be proud of you, no matter what, whatever house you're in- she hugged me
-Don't be afraid, okay? You're brave. And that's a very important quality - my uncle told me. I hugged them both
- You're going to write to me, right?- I asked
-All the time- they said
-I'll send you a toilet - I said
-I'll gladly wait for it - Remus laughed
-What was I thinking when I allowed you to be part of his upbringing - my mother joked
-Go - my uncle walked me to the train door - and don't get into trouble
-I can't promise anything - I said getting on the train and waving at them for the last time. I looked for an empty compartment and sat down. A few minutes later the train started moving
A head peeked through the door
-May I? -A girl asked a little shyly
-Sure- I smiled
-I'm Katie, Katie Bell - she said as she extended her hand
-Linsay Fethcer, but call me Lynz - I said shaking it
-Are you going in first? - I nodded - Me too. What house do you want?
-Well, my parents and my uncle were Gryffindor, I wouldn't mind being there - I said in a sigh
-Neither would I, I hope we stay together - she smiled
She told me about her family, she was the daughter of a wizard and a muggle, from Exxex, England. I told her a little about my family, omitting the parts that I clearly couldn't tell her, but at 11 years old, there wasn't much to tell. We bought sweets from the candy trolley lady. Mom had told me about her. The compartment door opened, revealing a redhead guy with blue eyes and a Gryffindor robe.
-Hey, you guys need to get ready, we're almost there - he stopped for a moment and muttered - I don't know why I have to do this, it's Charlie's job - he said as he left
Katie and I put on our plain black robes, black ties with the school crest, and got off the train when it stopped. They took us to the castle in boats, across a lake. We looked at each other in amazement, the imposing Hogwarts castle rise before us. Upon arriving and climbing an endless number of stairs, a woman, who introduced herself as Professor McGonagall, made us wait behind some huge doors, all the newcomers in rows of two. On the other side of the door, murmurs could be heard and a louder voice giving a speech. When the doors opened, they revealed a huge dining room, with 4 long tables, full of students of different ages, candles floating from an enchanted ceiling, and at the end of this another huge table, where the headmaster Albus Dumbledore and the rest of the school's teaching staff. We stopped in front of a stool with an old hat on it. The Sorting Hat.
-When I say your name, you will come forth. I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head, i you will be sortead into your houses - McGonagall said
-Katie Bell- she called. She trembled, sat on the stool and McGonagall placed the hat on her, which she exclaimed
-Gryffindor!- the table of said house burst into applause
-Cho Chang - - Ravenclaw!
-Eddie Carmichael - Ravenclaw!
-Linsay Fletcher - was nervous, but sure. The hat spoke to me
-Well well, Fletcher eh? Is this how the Blacks hide now? All that lineage was Slytherin except one... curious... yes, I see.... what a head you have, rebellious, you like to get into trouble but you are also intelligent and faithful, you would be perfect in Ravenclaw, but no, it does not feel good, I know - there was a pause and my heart stopped - GRYFFINDOR! - he shouted. I exhaled and felt like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. I got up and ran to the house table, next to Katie and hugged her. At the end of the ceremony, Albus Dumbledore told us some things.
-... and remember that the forbidden forest, is clearly forbidden for everyone, unless of course, you want a certain death. Now yes, enjoy the banquet. Now, enjoy the feist - plates with all kinds of food appeared in front of us. After the banquet, the prefects of our houses took us to the tower where the Gryffindors would live during our stay at the school. When we entered our rooms, which were shared, our things were already there. Katie took the bed to my right. We both looked at each other and said in unison
"Roommates" in a shout.
Sleep quickly overtook us.
-Lynz, Lynz wake up - I opened my eyes. Katie shook me - get changed, we have to get breakfast - I got up and looked for my uniform, adjusted my tie, now red and gold. When we managed to find the dining room, after an intense fight with the castle's changing stairs, we saw that most of the students were already there. We sat a little apart, since Katie wanted me to show her how my metamorphmagus powers worked. Some students looked at me surprised while I did tricks with my hair or changed my facial features.
-Look at this - I said. Katie gasped. I changed to an identical copy of her
- Awesomeee - she said touching my hair, as if not believing it was real - this is going to be very useful
-Hey-
-Are you twins? - someone asked behind me. I turned around and found myself facing a tall red-haired boy, very similar to the one I had seen on the train. At his side, a boy who looked like him, but different, since I recognized him as the one I had previously crossed paths with - incredible, other twins, will have competition - he said looking at his brother
- I don't think so - I said returning to my original form
- What the hell - they both said, startled
- I'm a metamorphmagus - I said smiling
- Great - they both whispered - we are Fred and George Weasley - they introduced themselves
- Which is which? - asked Katie
- He's Gred - he pointed at her brother - and I'm Feorge - they said changing their names. People often get confused-
- Nice hair - I said while making my dark red tone be replaced by a carrot orange like theirs.
- Another Weasley? - we heard a Ravenclaw boy passing by
- This will be very useful, don't you think Gred?
-I was thinking the same thing as you, Feorge- they said, staring at me as they spoke
-What are you talking about?
-Nothing. See you later
-Hey, what's Filch's problem? His cat has been chasing me all morning- I asked Angelina Johnson, a student a year ahead of me
-He's the caretaker, he's quite grumpy and doesn't like students very much. No one likes him and he's usually the target of some students' jokes
Oh yeah?- I found myself rummaging through my trunk, looking for the stink bombs I knew I had packed. When I found them, I hid some in my robes and ran through the castle until I found Filch's office, thanks to Angelina's instructions. I quickly went inside and hid them. I went out and hid. Filch came in followed by his cat.
-These brats - I muttered- you'll see, they won't keep messing with me
BOOM!
I saw the smoke coming out of the office and laughed. Big mistake. Filch came through the fog and saw me
-You! - I couldn't escape now - you're in trouble, young lady- He grabbed me by the cloak and dragged me with him to Professor McGonagall's office
-The first day and I already have to ground you? - she sound disappointed
-You can't blame her, Minerva - Dumbledore appeared at the door - after all, she got that from his father - that comment froze me, did he know who my father was?
-You will still have detention, - McGonagall added - you will clean the trophy room, without magic. Starting tomorrow - I nodded - now go to class - as I passed by, Dumbledore winked at me. I ran to the dungeons for potions class
-Fletcher, you're late. 10 points from Gryffindor - said Professor Snape when he saw me arrive
-But I was...
-I'm not interested - he interrupted me - now take a seat - I sat next to Katie
-What happened? - she whispered
-Grounded -
-And your punishment will be worse if you don't pay attention to my class - said Snape, startling us. This class will be hell.
At lunch time, I felt many eyes on me as I walked to the dining room. When I got to my class, it erupted in shouts and applause. I didn't understand what was happening. One of the twins I had met that morning put his arm around my shoulder. It was Fred. I looked at him, waiting for a clue or explanation.
-What's happening?
-What you did to Filch, everyone knows. They adore you - my hair turned pink, like every time I was embarrassed. Lee Jordan, also from Gryffindor, congratulated and high-fived me.
-You were faster than these two - he pointed at the twins - in their first year, they drove Filch crazy-
-That's why we have a proposal for you - the other twin, George, put his other arm around my shoulder, leaving me between both of them - a unique and unrepeatable proposal in life
-I listen-
-The chance to be our partner and accomplice in pranks, we will give Filch a bad time and joy to the whole school, people will cheer our names and history will talk about us - Fred exaggerated. I smiled as i looked them
-Im in- I said. They both hugged me and several students who were paying attention to that moment, applauded.
From that moment on, the three of us became inseparable. Wherever there was trouble, we would be there. Hogwarts was witness to our jokes, punishments and moments of brotherhood, which did not seem to stop.