***Nursie Note:***- This part took a little longer because of it's name. I was basically pulling out my hair trying to come up with an original song for the hat to sing for the sorting. Nothing seemed right for it. In the end, I either had to cut it or use one from the book. I didn't feel comfortable doing so... In other words, I spent some wasted time on a song for the sorting hat that I didn't even include. *lol*
I am posting this Interlude now, just before I go with my son to the PoA movie *doing happy dance* I am sure there will be further updates as soon as possible. After all, inspiration always hits me when I watch the first two movies. Let's see what a new one will do.
I hope you like this, if there are any questions or concerns email me at Nursie1126@hotmail.com.
Thanks for ALL the kind reviews. I will go through them and acknowledge you in some way.
~Nursie
Interlude 2: The Sorting Hat…
The first winter had been harsh to put it nicely. Several of the wizarding families opposing He Who Must Not Be Named were in constant fear of being caught and cursed.
It seemed that time passed rather quickly when hiding was all they did. Hogwarts still stood, as did most of the other wizarding schools, only they did not accept muggle born children.
Hermione had taken great care of her children but feared the constant running was wearing thin on their childlike innocence.
Willow grew into an almost carbon copy of herself at the young age of six and had seen more in her brief time on earth than Hermione had seen in a lifetime.
Sirus, Harry's only son, had also grown, and the true meaning of what was hidden behind his emerald green eyes scared his mother. He didn't much like Moony and he hated it when people would comment on just how much he looked like his father. He had caused his share of trouble in the small group of renegade wizards and witches hiding from the dark lord.
There was nothing that would have warned them of what was about to happen that Halloween night seven years after Hermione had lost her children's father and the man she loved more than life itself.
She was unprepared for circumstances of her death finding herself standing alone. She searched around for her children, even called out their names but only heard a malevolent cackle come back at her when she managed to do so.
Her arms were bound behind her to a wooden stack much as they used in the historic witch trials of history. Her eyes full of terror as she tried to wrench herself free. She muttered charm after charm, desperate to find the one that would set her free of the only thing keeping her on her feet. Her ankle was broken, and her eye was cut. Her hair was matted in the back, with dried blood from the blow to the head she had received from an old school nemesis, Draco Malfoy.
She heard the sound of footsteps and turned her head as best she could towards the sound. She heard a whisper next and she struggled once more to get loose from the binds.
"Momma?" A distinctly young and feminine voice cut through the foggy night, and Hermione's eyes started tearing up as she realized who it was.
"Willow?" She answered.
With that, the small little girl in dark blue robes stepped forward from behind a rock. She snuck to her mother's side and stared up at her with large green eyes.
"Momma… How can I help?"
Hermione thought for a second. Knowing that her daughter was too young to even duel, she couldn't expect her to get her down from the stake she was on.
An idea started forming in Hermione's head. It was a long shot but it was all she had. She leaned her head down the best she could.
"Here, Willow. Listen to me carefully. Around my neck is a special charm. It could be the answer to everything if used properly."
Willow looked up as a chain with an hourglass charm fell from the neckline of her mother's shirt.
"What do I do?" She asked, her eyes round as saucers, desperate not to let her mother see her cry.
"Take it from my neck… place it on yours. Do not turn it upside down… that is important. Do not do that until the time is right. You need to seek out Professor Albus Dumbledore… He is the head of an organization known as The Order of the Phoenix. He will be easy to find… he is the headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You and your brother are to attend school there when you are of age."
Willow stood on her tiptoes grabbing at the chain around her mother's neck. Finally the clasp gave way and it broke into her small hands.
"Got it Momma… now I need to go and get someone to get you down." She started to turn around.
"Willow… no. That's not important." She looked around noticing someone missing for the first time. "Where's your brother?"
"He talked to the scary blond wizard that hit you in the head." Willow's expression turned to the rocky ground.
Hermione gasped. "They didn't hurt him did they?" A million things went through her mind at that point. She couldn't stand the thought of that monster hurting her only son.
"Don't worry Momma… they didn't hurt him."
"What do you mean?" Hermione panicked.
"Impedimenta!" The word cut through the night with such force that it knocked Willow out cold.
Hermione stared in horror at her fallen daughter on the ground at her feet.
"Bastard!!!" She cried shaking uncontrollably. "She's no threat to you… YOU FUCKING MONSTER!"
There was a shrieking laugh and Hermione saw what she remembered as a Dementor seem to float towards her. At first he seemed to be having a conversation with himself until she had opened her mouth and screamed at it.
She soon found out it was no Dementor, as the Dark Lord approached her. He threw off his hood and shook his head at her.
"Tsk tsk… Miss Granger. You should know better than that by now. Such a well-behaved student, yet she chose to keep company with hoodlums. Ah well, yes… you do have muggle blood. That should explain some of it."
"What ever do you mean, Riddle... You yourself are a halfblood." She felt his eyes bore into her skin.
"You think you're so smart don't you... you filthy mudblood. You don't look so smart now. Where are your books, and your boyfriend when you need him? Huh? Speak louder dear. Oh that's right. He's dead!" His cackle filled her ears, making them want to bleed.
She would not look him in the eye as his cold fingers traced her jaw line. She mustered every ounce of Gryffindor courage she had.
"What did you do with my son?"
"Well now… can't have any more annoying little Potters running around thinking they can destroy me." He laughed as he gave her cheek a firm smack.
Hermione felt lost. She searched around her surroundings, feeling the Dark Lord grab a handful of her hair. She winced in pain as he pulled harder still.
"HARRY!" She cried as she felt Voldemort's hands enclose around her neck. A brief second passed and she felt her neck snap, sending her mind black.
"That was the worst night of my life. I still have nightmares from it." Willow breathed out and wiped a tear from her cheek. She hugged her arms to her, trying to avoid the shiver now flowing sharply down her spinal cord.
"You watched Hermione die?" Lupin asked in a sorrowful voice, and stood to hug Willow, not knowing why he had the sudden urge to do so.
He stepped towards her and she accepted his offer.
"I watched my mum die." She corrected him.
Lupin pulled back. "How did you get here… If I believe what you're telling me."
Willow pushed him away and glared at him. "You sound just like my father." She grumbled.
"I thought you have never met your father."
"I've met Harry." She answered sadly. "Only he doesn't know who I am to him. I tell you Moony. He's awful thick in the head."
Lupin chuckled. "Yes… when it comes to emotional matters he is." He agreed. "Did Harry say the same thing?"
"Almost. Until I showed him this." She took out the time turner from her robes and held it out for Lupin to look at. "He hasn't said much of anything since. Unless you count what he said in Dumbledore's chambers."
"That's Hermione's." Lupin stared at the hourglass and his eyes narrowed intently.
"This is what she gave me just before she died."
"Why did Voldemort let you live?" He spoke just above a whisper and feeling thoroughly overwhelmed.
"Why not? I was insignificant. He had already killed my parents and he had my brother."
"He had your brother... What do you mean?" Lupin ran his hand over his face.
"Sir… Sirus." She winced at his name. "Sirus wasn't right even when we were young. I think Draco Malfoy did something to him after he knocked out my mum." Willow shrugged. "I don't really know. He always frightened Mum. She didn't understand the crazy look behind his eyes, even at the young age we were."
"Where is he now?" Lupin inquired.
Willow sighed heavily. "Do you want me to finish or not?" She took off the chain around her neck and handed it to Lupin.
"By all means." Lupin sat down. "Go ahead. I'm listening." He answered honestly as he examined the time turner in his hand.
"It was five years later when we went to Hogwarts and I found her trunk. She had kept it hidden for some time and when I found the letter, I knew what I had to do." Willow's eyes took on the distant look again and she turned to stare back into the flames from the fireplace.
"Give him back, Sirus!" Willow screamed as she heard the old cat hiss.
"No… I think I'll throw him in one of those doors that lead to nowhere and see if he's really as smart as everyone says he's supposed to be." The dark haired boy held the cat just out her reach. He was a few inches taller than his sister and his hair was black. They had the same eyes, but that was were the similarities ended.
Willow was kind and shy while her brother Sirus was conceited and hateful.
"You had better give him back or I'm telling."
"Go right ahead you little nark. I swear I can't believe we're even related." Sirus threw the cat at his sister and took off down the corridor to exit the train.
They were among a very small group of first year students to enter the hallway leading to the Great Hall at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Willow looked around in awe, while Sirus crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.
He wasn't at all thrilled to be there, having had at least a dozen people on the train gasp at him and comment something along the lines of "Are you really his son?" Sirus had answered them but made sure the person inquiring regretted asking the question.
A very old looking witch greeted the dozen students awaiting the ceremony. Her eyes fell on the twins and upon seeing the hateful look in Sirus' eye she felt her heart descended directly into her stomach. She introduced herself quickly and took them into the Great Hall.
The dozen or so frightened children formed a line at Professor McGonagall's request and stared a little less than impressed at the dingy, torn plain brown wizard's hat sitting centered on a small three legged stool.
A few of them smirked and turned to each other whispering remarks and rolling their eyes.
All but two of them jumped when the hat began to sing.
After it sang of the four founders and their respective houses, giving the first years a pretty good idea of what each house stood for...
The hat ended it's song and waited patiently on the small three legged stool centered in front of the house tables.
Several students came before the twins to be sorted and each went to one house or another. Most went to either Ravenclaw or Slytherin, leaving Gryffindor with few house members in the past decade. Sirus was the first of the two to sit on the stool as the old witch that greeted them stood behind him.
They had learned her name was Professor McGonagall and she was a stern looking old witch, but she also looked tired, as if she stayed on to teach simply out of loyalty. It was no surprise to Willow that she was head of Gryffindor house.
The hat settled down on young Potter's head and he rolled his eyes as it started to speak in his head.
"SLYTHERIN!" It cried out then shook itself pointing it's tip downward and looking thoroughly upset.
Willow let out a surprised gasp although she knew she shouldn't be surprised one little bit. Sirus had always had a nasty streak and she had never felt like a sister should towards her sibling… let alone to a twin. They did have certain oddities but Willow shrugged them off. She had no intentions of seeing what exactly was inside that mind of her brother's. Especially now, after seeing the look upon the sorting hat's face. She heard her own name called and came forth to sit down.
She nervously waited as she felt the hat fall over her ears and just obstruct her eye line, allowing her to see only the inside of the hat. She could smell the musty smell of storage and held her nose so she wouldn't have to breathe through it. And then she heard it speak to her.
"My dear Willow… so you've come at last. I've seen your brother's mind you know. I had no other
choice you see… He'll be the downfall of your plans you know."
"What plans?" Willow found herself talking back to the hat's voice in her head. "Aren't you just supposed to sort me and be done with it?"
"Ah yes Miss Potter… very true… but I feel it is my duty to warn you. I told you I can see everything you are planning inside that head of yours and although I should be trying to refrain you from doing so, I find myself encouraging you."
"What do you mean?" Willow inquired nervously.
"Your mum took great lengths to make sure you would be here this day. You are to go to a room on the seventh floor and knock twice. It will appear to you then. All that is required in the Room of Requirement is that you think of the one thing you are seeking. Seek out your mother's old school trunk. There you will find what you need. Take the possession she last gave you and what you find in the chest to the head master. From there you can change history."
"You mean I could see my mum again… I could meet my dad?" Willow eyes grew wide. then she closed them tightly, trying to get the old dingy hat to answer her.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat bellowed and Professor McGonagall snatched it from her head.
Willow grabbed onto the stone ledge of the fireplace to catch herself.
"Willow?" Lupin jumped up again ,rushing to catch her from falling to the floor or worse yet into the fire.
He picked her up and laid her down on the sofa close by. Willow opened her eyes a bit and smiled weakly. "It's getting to be too late. Pretty soon, it won't matter what I've come back here to do. I won't even be born."
"Young lady, I must say you are rather confusing. However, I can tell you don't mean anyone any harm. So if you will help me understand what's is going on… I will help in any way that I can."
"My mum and dad need to um… well… you know…" Willow covered her face with her arm to hide her embarrassment.
Lupin moved her arm to look her in the face. "I get the picture."
"Do you? If they don't do something soon… I won't be born which means I can't do anything when everything goes down this summer."
"Hermione needs to become pregnant? How soon are you talking about?"
"I was told she lied to Madame Pomphrey and concealed us for a bit before she could no longer hide it. I have maybe a month until the future is changed and not for the better. Only I wonder… if I'm not born… then he won't be either. Maybe that would be a good thing. Yes. That would definitely be a good thing." She whispered weakly, her eyes closing slowly.
Willow's head turned to the side and her breathing became shallow and regular. Lupin removed his arm from under her neck softly releasing her from his hold.
"By Merlin, this is some serious shit here. Messing with time, Dumbledore knows better than that." He ranted, but conceded to the wiser man's knowledge. "Harry dying… Hermione…How does all this happen?" Lupin shook his head trying to clear it from the questions cropping up. " I do wonder about this twin though. Something doesn't add up there." He stood up watching her sleep. "I guess you'll have to finish your story later, Willow." He leaned over, collecting his cloak from the chair. His eye caught the fire reflect off something and he cleared the area between him and the material Willow had been holding when she first started the conversation.
He picked it up and threw it over his shoulders. Looking down he saw his body had disappeared.
~Invisibility cloak…~ He took it off and started to fold it the best he could, finding a small piece of tape inside.
~Property of James Potter~ Lupin winced stroking the cloak fondly then forced himself to lay it down while slowly stepping away from it. He found himself wanting to stay were he was and when Willow woke, he would hear the rest of the tale. He wasn't just curious anymore, it was more like he had to know what she knew. He had his own reasons and they were possibly more dangerous than anything Dumbledore had hidden from Harry. Lupin definitely knew that the right information in the wrong hands could be and was quite literally deadly. Lupin knew this all too well, he had lost almost everyone close to him and he was deathly afraid he'd loose himself. That possibly would be worse than having died. He pushed his thoughts from his mind. That was all he needed. Opening up old wounds that felt as if they were brand new still and pouring salt into them.
He shook his head cursing himself rather indignantly. He knew better.
The rational part of his mind forced him to mechanically pulled on his own cloak and went towards the doorway. He needed to check in with Harry, for it was already after midnight. He stretched, causing himself to yawn. He definitely needed some sleep as well.
To Be Continued…
Part 9: Luna-