Author's note: Sorry guys, but this title
seemed to go with the piece a little better,
but sometimes stories take
on a life of their own. Like this one
for example. Did you know the outline
for this particular story I have had
to change for like the 3rd or 4th time now?
Another thing, in case you have not noticed,
or if you had and needed confirmation, I am
an American and sadly am not British; therefore,
am idle to use American terms and slang. Our
"biscuit" is more like a dinner roll sort of
thing, where as a European would think a "biscuit"
is more like a cookie. Sorry for confusing people
or stating the obvious which ever applies to you.
If you still don't know by now the disclaimer is
In Chapter one. If you read it you will know.
;-)
God bless,
S'Eleene Paris
*****************************************************
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman
Performed by Bryan Adams
Written by Adams/Lange/Kamen
Published by: Badams Music ltd./Zomba
Enterprises inc./ K-man courp/ New line
music co.
Produced by: Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Ba
(from the album '18 til I die.')
Mixed by Bob Clearmountain
spanish guitar performance by paco de lucia.
Copyright 1996 ltd/a&m records inc.
To really love a woman
To understand her-you got to
know her deep inside
Hear every thought-see every dream
n' give her wings when she wants to fly
Then when you find yourself lyin'
helpless in her arms
Ya know ya really love a woman.
(Chours)
When you love a woman you tell
her that she is really wanted
When you love a woman you tell
her that she's the one.
cuz she needs somebody to tell her
that is gonna last forever.
So tell me have you really loved
a woman?
To really love a woman
let her hold you-til ya know how
she needs to be touched
You've gotta breath her-really taste her
til you can feel her in your blood
n' when you can see your unborn
children in her eyes
Ya know you really love a woman.
(Chorus)
You got to give her some faith-
hold her tight
a little tenderness-gotta treat her
right
She will be there for you takin' good care
of you.
ya really gotta love your woman...
(musical interlude.)
and when you find yourself lyin'
helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman.
(Chorus)
Just tell me have ya really
really, really ever loved a
woman?
Just tell me have you really
really, really ever loved a
woman.
******************************************************
Chapter Fifteen
To Love A Woman.
The next day, Rodger and Virginia Nelson arrived back
at their home to greet their daughter after a long
time apart. "How's Hogwarts?" Virginia asked her
daughter as she stroked her head as she embraced her.
The group was at breakfast and was enjoying the pancakes,
biscuits and sausage gravy, eggs, and bacon. Heather raced
from her freshly squeezed orange juice (with pulp.) to
greet them.
"I'm glad your home."
"I'm glad we are too. Your coach called us. She said
you quit taking lessons?" Roger Nelson escorted their daughter
back to her seat and took theirs at the heads of the table.
"Yeah, I wanted to quit because I have Owls this year
and I have a lot of competition in the race to be Head
Girl. Studying would take up too much of my time."
Heather was sure this would work on her parents, but
apparently, it didn't.
"Heather, when in your entire lifetime have you
actually been able to sit down and study? Your
just write it down once and you got it." Her
mother cut into her sausage on her plate.
"Not with the life application stuff."
"Well, if you feel that you need to stop taking
the lessons, then so be it. I want you to do well,
so make sure we don't get too many calls from
Professor Gaddis about any pranks on the Western
House girls any time soon, comprende vous?"
"Oui, papa."
"We have a long day a head of us because we
have to finish making preparations for the
ball tonight." Virginia then noticed the
Weasleys sitting there. "Molly, your daughter
is beautiful."
Ginny blushed. "Thank you."
"What's your name, dear?" Virginia asked
her.
Molly answered for her. "Her name is
Virginia. I named it after a best friend
of mine from school." Molly smiled knowingly
at Virginia Nelson.
"Wait a minute, your friends?" Hermione seemed
to be the only one to catch on. "You guys went
to Hogwarts together?"
"We did. We also were friends with Harry's mum
and dad. Virginia was Lily Evans' best friend.
Once Lily and James were in their seventh year,
Molly and Arthur were in their Fifth." Rodger
finished this statement by looking at Mr. Weasley.
"Virginia and I were in the Sixth year as I recall."
The phone rang and Jonathon answered it. "This
is the Nelson residence, James Celtic speaking...Miss
Potter is having breakfast right now, may I take a
message?" James wrote the message and carried it
over to Heather. " Your boss, Jessica Branam called.
She said she is worried about you and she needs you
to come in to work today to discuss matters of you
staying."
"I was afraid of that." Heather sighed and she
turned to the group. "A.K.A I am getting fired."
"Well, do you want to go and get it over with?"
Ron asked.
"That might be a good idea. Let me go and
get changed and then we could hang out at the
mall for a few hours. We could go and see
a movie." She turned to her mother and father
"You wouldn't mind entertaining the others
would you?"
"Oh not at all. Today would be a lovely day
to take them up to Chicago to the Museum of
Science and Industry, don't you think?"
"The what?" Arthur looked interested.
"A muggle museum. Its really fascinating
what muggles can do with out magic." Rodger
smiled and remembered. "Heather, make sure
you attend the open house for the Chicago
Institute this afternoon."
"That should be fun." Heather rolled her
eyes. "You guys better not stay out too long
either. You have that ball to finish planning
today." Heather stood up to leave and
her parents stood up too, which lead everyone
else to follow suit. "May I be excused."
"You may." Her father said as they sat back
down. Heather ran out of the room to get
dressed for the day.
*****
After a few hours at the mall, the group
headed toward the Chicago Institute. "Its
too bad that Jeanikie's isn't open. I would
say hey, let's go grab a hot dog." Heather
drove to Subway to grab sandwiches before
heading to the school. Heather went inside
and came out with several bags of sandwiches
and chips. She plopped back into her father's
car and passed out the sandwiches. "I bought
the "Subway Club" for us all, so if there is
anything you don't want, just peel it off.
I am not too picky myself. Although I told them
no hot peppers."
They began down the road once again and didn't
stop until they got to the school. Douglas was
at the gate, again. Heather rolled down the
window of her father's car. Douglas spoke.
"Does Miss Potter have her I.D.?"
Heather dug into her pants pocket to produce
the form of Identification. "Will my guest need
identification, too, Douglas?"
Douglas said nothing as he handed Heather
four more badges. Each were labeled "Visitor's
Pass" and Heather gave one to each of her
passengers. Douglas handed Heather back her
identification card and she slipped it back into
the id holder around her neck. Douglas opened
the cast iron gates to the school and
the car drove through. Harry searched
for a building that could be the school. He
didn't see it until they passed the large
maple trees in the drive. There stood a
large white stone building. Majestically
inviting the group toward it were large
outdoor ribbon in the colors of the
Sifto-Salt and Western house.
"Is that your school?" Ginny asked.
"No silly. That is just the Student
union." Heather giggled. "We have
several buildings around the campus
in which are classes are held. Its
more like a college or a University, really."
Heather drove the car down the corner
and down "Phoenix drive" to get to
the Sifto-Salt house dormitories.
"Here we are. My home away from my
home." Heather parked the car in
front of a red brick building. Outside
of the building where two silver
phoenix statues, guarding the entrance.
Similar were the boys dormitories of
which were next door, across from the
walk way. Everyone exited the car and
took a look around.
"What are those buildings across the
street there?" Of course it was Hermione
who asked this question.
"Well, those over there are our
Charms, Transfiguration, and Potion
buildings." She pointed at several
white stoned buildings. Then she
pointed behind the group. They
turned around to look at the red bricked
buildings behind them. "Those are the
Ancient Runes and Divination buildings."
"Where is your Quidditch Pitch?"
Ron asked out loud and Hermione rolled
her eyes.
"They don't play much Quidditch here,
Ron. They play Quadpot, remember?"
"And here it's not a pitch; it's a field."
Heather added for good measure. "Its over
there across the street from the hospital.
There are two on campus of course." Heather
pointed to the large ovular shaped arena.
"We are fortunate to have a large indoor
arena. So the teams can play year round.
The one at the Cottage grove campus isn't.
"Haunting Field" is nothing compared to
the "Battle Grounds"."
"Haunting field?"
"The pitch at Cottage Grove is called
"Haunting Field". Ours is called the
"Battle Grounds" and the one at
Diversetech, which isn't an indoor field
either, is called "Omega Field."." Heather
informed them. "Its a tradition to name
all the buildings and areas on campus.
I don't know why, but it keeps things
organized I guess."
"I want to see your room, Heather."
Ginny bounced up and down in excitement.
"Me too." Hermione agreed.
"Come on then." Heather went up to
the twin phoenixes they twisted to look
at her and this opened the doors to
the dormitory. Her guest followed
her inside the dormitory until they
came to a flight of stairs. "I live on
the second floor. Room 214 and
unfortunately our stairs don't like to
change. They are just normal every
day boring stairs." Heather was halfway
up the stairs when she said this.
The four of them climbed the stairs
until they came to the second floor.
They went through the study/ television
room and then walked through the hallway until
they came to the room catty-corner to the
bathroom, of which was in the center of the
building. Heather took out her wand and
said a password. "Animagi." The door swung
open and everyone went inside. "We have to
keep the door open if the opposite sex is
in our room." Heather explained as she
kept the door open with a door stop. "Take
a seat. You guys want anything? I think the
house-elves put stuff inside already."
Heather indicated a small blue refrigerator
on top of one of the dressers. She opened it
up and took out a Diet Pepsi. She tapped the
lid, to make sure the contents didn't squirt
out at her, and opened the can completely open.
Harry opened the blinds for the window to
look out behind the building. He was quiet, as
if he was trying to take it all in. Harry was use
to the magical surroundings Hogwarts had to offer,
but this was surreal. "What's that beyond those
buildings?"
"Where is what?" Heather went to the window to
see where he was indicating. He pointed to a
garden like place in the center of the campus.
Where currently Danielle MacNeal and her posse
stood playing loud hip-hop music to dance to.
"Oh they so didn't! This is going to be too damn
easy."
"What?" Hermione asked as Heather left the room
and then a few minutes later, came back with some
of the other girls from Sifto-Salt house. Specifically,
Mika Salena, Amanda and Amber Miller. "It's going to be
too damn easy, guys. Look! They don't even have their
wands with them!"
"How stupid can they get! You'd think they would
have learned by now." Mika had an expression on her
face Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione had only seen
a couple of times and that was when the Sifto-Salt
girls where planning something.
"Don't underestimate them." Heather closed the blinds.
"I think they are expecting something. So we should not
disappoint them, now should we?"
"Heather, no way! You can't!" Hermione told them. "No
way! Besides, you promised your father that you wouldn't."
Heather rolled her eyes. "Do you actually think I am going
to pass up something like this? Me? Chaos? I don't think
so."
"But you promised your father." Harry added.
"How is he going to find out?" Heather glared at him.
"Especially, if no one tells."
"But Heather, you promised your mum and dad!" Ginny whined
as Heather went over to her closet and opened the door.
Heather pulled out a few vials of a bright blue potion.
"Heather, you have to be joking! A Mosquito Draft!"
Hermione blurted out. "You're awful!"
"Heather, you're evil, you do know that." Ron
admitted. "Brilliant, but evil."
Heather grinned and then turned to Mika. "Do you
have their new password? They probably changed it,
again."
Mika smiled evilly and pulled out her laptop computer.
"Actually, they have not changed it. I guess
they thought they would think we would think that
they did and leave them alone." She turned it on
and showed them what she meant.
"You hacked into the school's system?" Amber smiled,
"I was wondering who you got as your source. Who's
computer did you hack into?"
"Who do you think?" Mika rolled her eyes. "Who
is the only one with the passwords to all the buildings?"
"Professor Gaddis'?" Amanda looked impressed. "How
did you do it?"
"It's easy. Apparently, our headmaster maybe a complete
genius when it comes to magic, but when it comes to
common sense he's at the shallow end of the dream pool."
Mika explained. "All of his passwords to everything on
the computer systems, his office, everything is the same
password."
"What is it?" Amber asked expectantly.
"Now that is between me and Professor Gaddis." Mika
laughed. "Anyway, their password is still: Sifto-Sluts."
"How thick could you get?" Ronald added his two cents
worth. "I could have guessed that, with how often they
say that."
"So, how are you getting inside?" Harry asked as he
looked out the window. There was no obvious route
with out the group of Western house members noticing.
Heather thought about it for a second and then laughed.
"I know! Follow me!" Heather raced out of the room and
everyone one followed down the stairs to the basement.
"There is a series of tunnels buried under the dormitories.
Most people don't know about them, but they were build during
what the muggles call the "Cold war". They were to prevent
the magic students from being killed by a nuclear attack.
They are just filled with cob-webs and spiders now. I found
them last year when I was in the Headmaster's office,
going over the blueprints with him. All Prefects know about
them."
"If all prefects know about them, then how come
Danielle MacNeal isn't near-by, guarding the other
entrance?" Mika asked pulling out her wand from her
belt and uttered "Lumos."
"She has arachnophobia to the extreme. Besides coming
down here would ruin her "clothes." Heather rolled her
eyes as she opened the entrance to the tunnels with
her key. The doors obediently opened and the group
headed down the corridor.
Ron gulped and Harry pushed him inside. Heather noticed
they were trailing and asked. "What's wrong?"
"Ron hates spiders." Hermione told her. "To the
extreme."
"Granted in our second year we had to deal with
a couple hundred giant ones in the dark forest."
Harry mentioned.
"I thought the dark forest was forbidden."
Heather noted.
"It is normally." Hermione laughed. "But
since when do you have a giant snake
terrorizing the school and call normal?"
Heather grabbed Ron's hand and he started
to shake. "Get a grip, Ron. They're tiny
spiders. These don't have enough venom
to kill you, unless you come across a black
widow like the one on your shoulder."
Ron's eyes got big and he screamed. "WHERE?"
He began racing around, swatting at an invisible
arachnid. "GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF ME!"
Heather laughed. "Its okay, Ron, I was
only joking."
Ron's ears grew red with embarrassment
as everyone laughed. "Sometimes, I swear
you are as bad as Fred and George."
"No Ron, your wrong." Heather smiled
as she turned around to walk down the tunnel.
"I'm much worse."
Once they reached the end of the tunnel, Heather
pointed her finger at the door. "Alohamora!" The
door obediently unlocked and opened to allow them
entrance. Quickly, Heather transfigured their
clothing to look like the ones the Western house
members wore and raced up the stairs to the
main floor.
"Danielle and her gang live in the first floor.
I know exactly which room." Mika motioned to the
room closest to the other entrance. "Hermione, you
and Harry stand here to keep a look out. Ron, you, me
and Heather needs to work fast otherwise their party
in the quad might get interrupted and they will find
us."
"Amanda and I watch the other entrance, Ginny, so you will
need to keep and eye out in the bathroom. If anyone sees
anyone. Come and find us, we will quickly leave." Amber
planned. "Everyone got it?"
Everyone nodded and they went to work. Quickly as they
as they had come, they poured the liquid in the cloths,
the bedding, and bathrobes of all those who made Heather's
life a real pain. First Danielle, then her two lapdogs,
Dana and Dawn Mist. It was Amber and Amanda who
interrupted them in the last room. "Guys! They are coming up
the back. Let's get Ginny, Harry and Hermione,
and get out of here!"
Heather put the potion away and the four of them raced
through the door and to the other side of the bathroom
to get Ginny with out being seen. Then they raced down
the hall through the doors to get Harry and Hermione.
Carefully the group of them quickly ran for it back to
the Sifto-Salt Dormitory. "We better be getting out of
here." Heather explained. "Otherwise we might get into
trouble. Anyone else up to go to the dedication ceremony?
Granted they have to read that stupid list again."
The group nodded and quickly went to the dedication,
of which was being held in the student union. The
interior of the building mirrored its Gothic origins
on the outside. Giant glass doors hung in the entrance
ways on the main floor. Glass walls offered a look into
the dinning room. The upper floor, of which you could
see from the lower floor through the balcony looked like
it contained offices of some sort. Hermione squealed with
delight as she found out the school carried its own
book store. "Most of us don't buy our school books here.
Infact, they don't even carry our text books. You have to
buy them on Roger dive." Mika explained. "The store is full
of books that assist us with our learning and with books
that would interest us. I am a bit of a fan of the wild
west myself."
"We'd better be heading inside the cafeteria. It looks
as if it already started." Amanda pointed to where Professors
Gaddis and Dumbledore sat on the platform. Harry and Ron opened
the doors to the cafeteria and the group went inside and claimed
seats in the back.
*****
The sun fell and then rose again giving daylight once
more and showered again through the glass window of the room
which Harry slept. He squinted and rolled over to be greeted
by the sleeping form of Hermione who had claimed that spot from
the evening before when he had another one of his nightmares.
Harry watched Hermione sleep, but decided that it would be a
good idea if he woke her before Heather came inside to wake
him up. "Hermione, you'd better get up. Heather likes to
take it upon herself and wake me up."
Hermione looked at her watch. "It's 8 in the morning."
"Exactly my point." Harry kissed her on the forehead
and aroused her out of bed. "You know how Heather would
love to come in here and make a fuss over the two of us
in bed together."
"Its not like we did anything." Hermione gathered her
bathrobe from the floor and placed it over her white
cotton nightgown.
"I know, but she would just to drive me crazy. I suppose
its something siblings do." Harry sighed and rubbed the
sleep out of his eyes. "I've never had any before. Its
all new to me."
"I know." Hermione came back over and sat down next to him
on the bed. She kissed him on the cheek and then went to
her room. "I will see you downstairs for breakfast."
Harry sighed and went into his closet to get something
to wear for the day. He headed down to the dinning room
where he found Hermione, Heather, and Ron already there.
"Hey Harry." Heather greeted and Harry claimed his
seat across from Hermione.
"Heather was just asking if we wanted to go horseback
ridding today." Ron explained. Harry knew full well that
Ron had never set foot on a horse and knew nothing of the
sort. "It sounds like fun."
"It does, doesn't it?" Hermione agreed as she took a bite
from her toast. Harry helped himself to the sausage gravy
and the biscuits and said nothing as he dove into his
meal. Hermione watched and then decided it would be a
good idea to change the topic. "Are you excited about
the ball tonight?"
"Not really. Like I said before. It's a major snob fest
and I really don't know why my parents insisted that I go.
They left a message for me this morning that I had to
appear in full crown and sash for this particular event."
"Full crown and sash?" Ginny asked as she sat down
on the chair next to her brother.
"You know how I am Miss Junior United States?"
"Yeah."
"I have a crown and a sash that I have to wear to
any official gathering of which is formal." Heather
sighed. "Yet another reason to show off. You bet
your buttons though that I will get away from there
as soon as I can."
"Don't you think it is awfully rude to leave your
parents party?" Hermione pointed out.
"Not really." Heather dug into her breakfast and
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Don't you think you should attend this party
no matter how boring it is?" Hermione asked,
egging the conversation on. "Especially since
it is these people who took you in after your
parents died. They after all have been your
parents since before you could remember."
Heather rolled her eyes and volleyed back
to Hermione. "If I wanted your opinion,
Hermione, about being "proper" I would have
asked you."
Hermione said nothing, but Harry seemed
insulted. "Heather!"
"Harry!" Heather mimicked.
Harry sighed to compose his thoughts on
the current situation. "Heather, your temper
is not helping the situation much."
"Well, I just don't appreciate 'Little
Miss Manors' over here telling me to
mind mine." Heather tossed to Hermione.
"Isn't it rude to correct people with
their manors in public?"
Before Harry could answer, Mr. and
Mrs. Nelson came through the doors to
breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
"Good morning, gang. We have a long
day ahead of us. We have to help
decorate today and get things going
for tonight." Virginia sat down at the
table next to her daughter. "Now, Heather,
you must attend at least half of it tonight
because there is a lot of people that
we have to introduce you to."
"Do I really have to?" Heather whined
as she took a sip of her grape juice.
"Yes, Heather Lillian, You do." Roger
looked at her with an expression Harry
had never seen before. Harry got the
feeling that this was not an expression
Heather did not want to cross. Heather's
response was to say nothing, but she
stood up and left the room, pouting.
"That's part of our fault." Virginia
exclaimed once Heather left the room.
"We were never able to have children
before, so we spoiled Heather and gave
her what ever she wanted."
"She's not really that bad, 'Ginnia."
Roger said. "I have actually met worse."
"But her attitude problem..." Virginia
continued. "Lily never acted like that."
"That would probably be James." Roger
smiled. "He was a little self-centered."
Virginia huffed at the comment, but smiled.
She looked at her watch to check the time.
"Oh my! The decorators and the caterers will
be here soon to begin setting up for the
party tonight. The orchestra that is lined
up for tonight is the best in the area."
Contentedly, Mrs. Nelson sighed and Harry
caught something in her eyes that he could
only seem to define as pure pleasure.
"She missed her calling." Harry thought.
"She should have been a wedding planner."
After finishing her glass of grape juice,
Mrs. Nelson stood up and left the room.
"I must apologize for my wife." Mr.
Nelson exclaimed. "She gets a little
excited when we throw parties. She
probably is going to go and meet
with the servants to discuss how she
wants the ball room decorated. I don't
know why she insists on having a designer.
She won't follow any of the designer's
suggestions because she has in her own
head what she wants it to look like."
Mr. Nelson chuckled and went back to
his French toast. "It might be a
good idea after breakfast if you guys
went horse back ridding or something.
When in 'party planning mode', Mrs.
Nelson can get to be pretty demanding."
*****
After hours of avoiding the interior
of the house like Mr. Nelson had suggested,
it was finally time to begin dressing for
the ball. Harry straightened his dress
robes and looked at Ron. Ron combed his
hair, trying to tame it, but it did not
want to sub come to his owners' demands.
"You alright there, Ron? You aren't
nervous or anything?"
"No, no problem." He dropped the comb
when he had jumped from hearing his own
name.
There was a knock on the door, and Hermione
and Ginny walked into the room. "You guys
ready to go?"
"Yeah." Harry smiled at Hermione and greeted
her with a small peck on the cheek. He then
noticed someone was missing. "Where is my sister?"
"She's meeting us in the stair well before we
enter the ball room." Harry walked with Hermione
outside the door and Ron and his sister followed.
The walked down the hallway, up a flight of stairs
and found Heather outside the doors that lead down
into the ball room.
Heather was dressed in a plain, white satin gown.
The only decoration adorning the dress was at the
train where a small snowflake pin adorned on her mid-
back. Her hair was pulled back, off her face and into
a French roll except for a few ringlets that draped
around her face. Upon her head was a rather large
diamond tiffany style tiara. Around her
shoulder and connecting at her waist was a sash
that read: Miss Junior United Sates.
"You guys ready to get board out of your mind?"
"We're still going with you and Mika to meet
her father, right?" Hermione mentioned.
"Yeah, I have a feeling we are going to have
to sneak out this time." Heather sighed. "Meet me
in my room in about an hour. I have plenty of
floo powder, but I need to find a moment where
I can get away from my parents." Heather opened
the doors and the group walked down the hallway
and then down the central stair way in the ball
room.
The room was circular in shape, with rather
large French windows from the ceiling to floor,
which was approximately 15 to 30 feet. The
windows and the doors where adorned with green
sashes and synthetic holly. In the middle of the
room, a rather large Christmas tree stood proudly
decorated with silver presents, doves, and balls.
As Harry was trying to take it all in, he
noticed the orchestra was playing the same
piece Heather had the night they had meet.
Heather's parents spotted the group immediately
and Mrs. Nelson rushed over to them from where
Mr. Weasley and the Minister of Magic, a certain
Cornelius Fudge, were busily talking about everything
and nothing at the same time. "It looks as if
Mr. Weasley and Mr. Fudge are getting along nicely."
Mrs. Nelson noted to Ron and Ginny. Then she turned
to Heather. "You wouldn't happen to know about a
certain itching potion at the Institute yesterday, do
you?"
"No," Heather smoothly said, but almost too quickly.
"Why would I?"
"Because Mr. MacNeal had to take his daughter to
Saint Alexandra's hospital today to get the medi
witches to get her to stop itching. Along with her
was Mr. and Mrs. Mist, whom of which you know your
father thinks very highly of, had to take their
daughters as well." Virginia sighed. "I know you
don't care for either one of their daughters, but
your father was hopping to talk to them about
supporting his campaign next year."
Heather said nothing, but looked off toward
the crowd. "Why are they here?" Heather motioned
to where she noticed Lucius and Narissa Malfoy
with their son Draco.
"The Malfoys are some of the most richest and
most influential families in England." Virginia
watched as Draco Malfoy shook hands with Mr. Nelson
once he had peeled himself away from Mr. and Mrs.
Weasley where they were talking to the Minister
of Magic.
"They are also allied with Voldermort." Harry
admitted. "Lucius is practically his bloody
lap dog."
"Harry, that is an awful thing to call
someone as generous as the Malfoys are!"
Virginia exclaimed; shocked Harry could
accuse someone of something that horrible.
"But its true, Mrs. Nelson." Hermione
countered. "Harry saw him in our fourth
year when Voldermort rounded up his death
eaters when he tried to come back to power."
"Yeah, it was like a bloody family reunion."
Ron rolled his eyes, but before Mrs. Nelson
could answer Mr. Nelson made an announcement.
"Good evening friends, family, fellow magically
inclined, and honored guest. Tonight is a special
night..." The Secretary of Magic continued
on explaining why the night was so special.
Heather rolled her eyes and leaned
over to Ron. "He's a bit long winded
sometimes." Ginny overheard her and
giggled softly. "He says the same
thing every year! I swear! It's momentous
really."
"When will we be leaving for the séance?"
Ron asked, fidgeting nervously with his
dress robes.
"Soon." Heather smiled. "Thank Merlin, but
before that though, you guys need to open
your Christmas presents. We can do that
before we floo over to Mika's house. By
the way, where is she?"
"She's over there." Ginny pointed to
Mika, whose attention went to Mr. Nelson.
"I don't know how she does it." Heather
admitted. "Every year it is the same speech
and every year she listens more and more
intently. She either has to be very crazy
or has a really short memory."
"I think it is the later." Ginny smiled,
then broke out into giggles once again.
"You know sometimes how she repeats herself
and all. India once told me that it was
because of an accident that happened quite
a few years ago. Something about a memory
charm and an old hag that use to books that
she took all the credit for."
"India has a really active imagination."
Heather rolled he eyes, again. "So you
guys ready to go open presents in my room?"
Ron nodded his head, but Mr. and Mrs. Nelson
had other plans. "As you may or may not know,
my only child, Heather is adopted," Mr. Nelson
mentioned, "and after what happened this past
fall at the Chicago Institute of Witchcraft and
Wizardry, family and friendships have become
more meaningful than before." he paused to smile
at his family then turned to the direction of
the Weasleys as the crowd nodded agreement.
"My daughter has a brother and of which either
one of them had last seen each other the night
their parents were murdered by the-most-evil-one."
there were a few shudders and screams at the mention
of this, but Mr. Nelson pressed on. "Tonight he,
her brother, and several of her friends of late
of old are here with us tonight to celebrate
this season of love and to her new friends and
to her brother, Heather and my wife and I
have presents to give them, so if you will
enjoy yourselves amongst yourselves and
the live orchestra we have for you tonight."
Miles, the Nelson's driver, walked out of
the crowd carrying a small white box. The
present was decorated with a silver ribbon
and a small silver bow up on top. Miles
handed it to Heather who had walked to where
her parents where at, in the center of the
room, and then Miles walked away quietly.
Heather then spoke. "I actually hoped we
could have done this when we had a little
more time to ourselves, but oh well..."
Heather glanced down at the box when she
said this but looked up to look at
Hermione. "Hermione would you come here?"
Hermione cautiously walked up to where
Heather stood and smiled. She gave
Hermione the box and Hermione opened it.
Inside lay, in a cushion of white leather,
was a silver Irish cladduah ring. It was made
of sterling silver and there was one emerald
chip inside of the center of the heart.
"The emerald, respectively, is suppose to
give the wearer wisdom. Even though your
the most clever girl at Hogwarts, I
thought even you could use more wisdom."
Hermione looked up and smiled. "Silver
is an usual choice, Heather. Especially
for something special like this. What
made you chose the sliver instead of
gold?"
"Gold is a soft metal. Inscriptions
rub easier over time on a gold ring
rather than a silver. Read the
inscription I had them put on it."
Hermione took the ring out from the
box and read in inside of the ring.
"H.G. and H.P. forever."
Heather winked at Hermione, then the head girl
of Hogwarts slid the ring on her finger
and vowed. "For as long as I breath, I
won't take this off."
"Okay, sounds good." Tears stung in
both of their eyes and everyone who
cared to watch clapped as the two girls
hugged. Once Hermione let go of their
hug, Heather turned to look at Ron and
Harry. "You guys' presents are too big
to get inside the house, so we have to
go outside. Right Dad?" Heather turned
to her parents who stood next to her.
"That is right. Follow me." Mr. Nelson
lead the way out the door, followed by
Heather and her mother, Harry, Ron, Hermione,
Ginny (who of which was towing Mika Salena
who carried a cup of punch) and then Mr.
and Mrs. Weasley.
Once outside, Harry and Ron stood on the
front porch with their mouths agape. Heather
smiled at the reaction to their Christmas
presents. "Harry, you get the 'stang and Ron
you get the bike."
Harry went to the forest green Ford Mustang
convertible with a tan top and leather interior,
still quite in shock and unable to put his thoughts
to words. For once, Ron stood in utter speechlessness
as he sat down on the Harley Davison. Mr. Nelson
smiled and mentioned. "Heather, Mrs. Nelson and I
hoped you two and Hermione would come and stay with us
this Fall when you begin your auror training at
the local academy." Harry, Ron, and Hermione glanced
sideways at each other; looking in shock and trying
to see what each other's reactions would be. "I pulled
a few strings with my brother, Wheaton, who
is my advisor and he pulled a few strings with the
right people and next fall the Great Lakes Academy's
auror training department will be adding three new
fresh aurors. That is, if you want to."
Before any of them had a chance to voice their
opinions, Mrs. Weasley spoke up. "Mr. Nelson, this
is way too big of a gift. I am afraid they cannot
accept them."
"Like bloody hell they will." a voice
called from a dark corner of the courtyard
where they stood. Out of the shadows came
a dark black shaggy haired dog. The dog
walked towards them, but Ron, Harry and
Hermione met the dog half-way.
"Sirius!" the trio exclaimed as the wizard
transformed back into his human form to greet
them. Hermione reached him first and hugged him
affectionately. As she did, Sirius patted Harry's
head and shook the hand of his godson's hand.
Once Hermione let go of her hug, Mr. and Mrs.
Nelson greeted each other. "Long time no see,
Rog, Gin."
"Way too long, Sirius." Virginia beamed, then
turned to Heather. "Come and meet your Godfather,
Heather." Heather obediently glided over, taking
off her sash and crown on the way and handing it
to Mika to hang on to. Heather took note of
Sirius' shaggy clothing and wondered why on earth
this man would be the choice of her parents for
him to be her Godfather.
Sirius smiled and breathed. "You look so much
like Lily." He chuckled and grinned. "You probably
get tired of hearing that, but I was your father's
best friend and best man at your father's wedding.
Not to mention, I am your Godfather, so I should be
allowed to say such things."
"She may have her features, but she has her father's
knack for 'finding trouble' as Professor McGonagall
often put it." Roger sighed. "The worse thing about
it is, she knows it."
Sirius chuckled and then handed a book to Heather.
"If you have a single drop of your mother in you;
you may enjoy this book."
Heather took the book and read the royal purple
leather bound cover. "Hogwarts: A History."
"Oh, that's a good book." Hermione piped up.
"I have read that one at least a half-a-dozen
times this last year for a bit of light reading.
It takes you on a complete history of the school
and the headmasters of it."
Heather looked at the rather large volume and
about laughed. "You call this light?"
"But Sirius, they can't accept those gifts!"
Mrs. Weasley complained, back on the topic at
hand.
"And why not?" Mr. Nelson asked her as he reached
behind Ron and embraced the boy. "You do want your
son to attend the best schools, don't you? I rather
think of your children as my own, since Gin and I
couldn't have any of our own." Roger went over and
embraced Molly, before she could protest. "Please,
Molly, let me do this. If anything, think of your
son's future. He could be one of the best aurors
there is and why would you want to deny him the
future he could have all because you think its
"too big of a gift"?"
Molly, this time, did not say a word. She only
looked at her husband and he nodded. "Ronald
would be more than happy to accept your invitation
to stay at your place next year." Arthur smiled
at his son. "We already know he will be one of
the best aurors there is."
Ron looked at his parents and then embraced them
to thank them. "You mean it! I can come?"
"Yeah," Arthur Weasley smiled. "Now why don't
all of us go inside and have fun at the party?"
Heather, Ron, Hermione, and Harry waited behind
with Mika to make sure all of the adults were
out of earshot.
"You guys ready to go?" Heather asked.
"Yeah, let's go." Ron agreed eyeing his
new bike.
"Alright then. We'll go upstairs, change,
and meet back into Heather's room where we
can floo to my dad's house." Mika pulled her
hair behind her ear.
*****
Once Harry had changed, he walked down the
hallway toward Heather's room. The sounds of
the ball were still playing down on the other
end of the house, so the five of them should
not been interrupted. Harry had grabbed his winter
Hogwarts cloak on the way out along with his scarf
to keep warm in the cool night air.
He knocked on the door and Heather opened it.
"Hi, Harry. You ready?"
"Yeah." As Harry entered his sister's bedroom fully for
the first time, he noticed the fireplace had
two wooden bookshelves mirroring one another.
Not to his surprise, hundreds of books littered
them, but they were not completely covered in
books. Several expensive looking jars, filled
with only Harry could guess what, contently
sat on a few of the shelves. "What's in those
containers?"
"They are potion ingredients. My dad brought
them back from India and Egypt on his last visit
to them. I think the one from Egypt is ground
up bones or something. I'm not too sure what they
contain because all my dad said that they were
potion ingredients. I was going to show Professor
Shift this fall, but I forgot about it." Heather
seemed to have read his mind.
"Maybe you could take it back wit you."
Ron commented as he walked into the room
with Hermione in tow. "Are those your trophies?" He
pointed to a couple of the shelves and decorations
on the wall.
"The most recent ones because the others are
o display in the library." Heather grabbed a
cobalt-blue glass container. The lid was decorated
with several silver engraved roses. She opened
the container and offered it to Mika.
Mika took a handful and entered the fireplace.
"777 Campbell Avenue." She threw the gray dust on
the floor of the fireplace and disappeared in
a wall of green flames.
Heather offered the floo powder to Hermione
and she copied Mika. Ron came next and then
Heather turned to Harry. "Your next."
Harry took a handful of the powder, and
spoke the location. "777 Campbell Avenue."
Then the familiar tug at his head spin
and he disappeared through the same wall
of flames. Harry closed his eyes and soon
he arrived at Mika's home.
Once the dizzy sensation stopped, Harry's
vision blurred. He took off his glasses and
wiped them. Once he put them back on, they
still looked blurred. "It's just really
foggy in here because of all the incense
Mika father burns." Heather's voice floated
into his ears as she stopped next to him.
"Her father is probably outback in his teepee.
That's probably where the rest of them are at."
Heather led the way, through the living room,
the kitchen, and back door. Along the way, Harry,
through the fuzzy din, noticed several Native
American artifacts including dream catchers,
medicine wheels, and arrowheads. There was
also several artifacts that he was not familiar
with and assumed that they were only for
decoration.
Once outside of the house, Harry and Heather
made towards the teepee. As the crossed the yard,
he noticed Ron and Hermione had made it safe and
were entering the teepee. Harry pulled back the
curtain and allowed his sister to enter first.
A black haired, closed-eyed man sat cross-legged on
the floor; meditating. He wore the traditional garments
of an Indian Shaw man and his peace pipe smoked in its
holder. He was chanting a song in his native tongue,
in which the only person who seemed to know what he
was saying was Mika. "It's a blessing of peace and
prosperity." Mika whispered and once the song ended,
he smiled. "The spirits told me you would come again,
my Mika. You have brought friends with you, I see."
Mr. Salena turned to Heather. "Welcome Little Eagle
Feather. The spirits were smiling on you, on your
quest for your blood brother. Your parents are pleased
or at least they will be once we contact them again
tonight."
"Yeah, this is Harry." Heather gestured to the boy
standing beside her.
"Pleasure." Harry shook Mr. Salena's hand.
"Please, call me by my name: Cloud Dancing." He
smiled. "And I think I will call you "Swift as Eagle"
because my Mika says you fly faster than one."
Cloud Dancing turned to Hermione. "I will call you
Snow owl, for you are as rare as a Snow owl and twice
as lovely." He turned to Ron. "I will call you "Red bear"
for your hair is as redder than a berry, but you are
strong like bear. " He gestured them to sit around
the fire in the center of the teepee and the five of
them reclined on the five Indian blankets surrounding
the fire.
"We're going to contact Harry and Heather's parents
right?" Ron asked out loud.
"Patience, Red bear. You will see." He grabbed his
daughter's hand and she followed suit and took Heather's
hand. The group joined hands and Cloud Dancing began
chanting and throwing dust onto the fire. Soon, the
room filled with a cloud of blue smoke and two figures
formed above the fire. The figures of James and Lily
Potter."
Lily looked over at Heather, then at Harry. "I see
you found him." Lily smiled and gestured to James.
"James, look, its Harry."
Harry smiled back at his parents, who beamed with
pride at their children. "We are so proud of the two
of you." James began. "But you two must live. You can't
stop because we died. These meetings must stop, you see,
we will see you guys again, when it's your time."
"I hope not too soon." Lily countered, then smiled at
Harry. "You have a fine girl, Harry. She's the one. Keep
her and she will honor you. Love her and she will keep you."
James turned to Ron. "Ronald, please let your brother's know
about the real identities of the Marauders. Also, please thank
them for finding our map. I hated seeing it in Filtch's office
wasting away."
Lily turned to Heather. "My child, your young and most
people do not find their true love at such a young age,
but you have. Do not let the past take that away from you."
James looked at his wife. "Hector and Rachel, by the way,
would have like to speak to you, but was not able to join us."
Lily looked at the reaction of her daughter and smiled, but
said nothing. "Now for the thing we need to tell you."
Lily took this moment to speak. "This prophecy, spoken
several years before you two were born is your destiny,
Harry, Heather. You, I think might of heard of it spoken
by house elf named Douglas."
James spoke up. "Two children of half breeding, born
in the death of June and the death of All Hollows Eve,
will be the only key to battle the most evil wizard
of the age. Only they can defeat him, once they have
been reunited through tragedy. Separated by sea, the
two children cannot defeat him, for they must be together
to defeat him." Once he had finished, his parents began
to fade. "We love you, Harry, Heather. Remember that together
and you can do anything." Then the two vanished from
their view.
******
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Heather returned to the
Nelson's house. It was almost midnight and the party
was still going on. "I don't know about you, but I am
pretty tired." Heather yawned. "I think I am going to
turn in."
"Sounds good to me." Harry agreed. "We have a long
day ahead of us tomorrow."
"Yeah, after tomorrow we have exactly on week
before we head back to Hogwarts." Hermione calculated.
"Well, good night everyone." Hermione grabbed Harry's
hand and they walked out of the room, leaving Ron
and Heather there together.
After a few minutes of silence, Ron walked over
to Heather and kissed her on the cheek. "Good
night, Heather. I will see you in the morning."
Ron walked out of the room, leaving Heather touching
the spot where he had kissed her, not really
caring that the cloths she was picking out to
wear to bed didn't match.
As soon as her head hit the pillow, she had fallen
asleep. The surroundings around her changed and
then it was all white. Heather gasped for air
once the image of her dead Hector stood in front
of her. She ran to him and he opened his arms
to collect her into his embrace. Tears filled
her eyes as she looked up into his eyes. "I
miss you." She admitted.
"I know you do and I miss you too." Hector
looked down at her, into her eyes. "Heather,
do me a favor."
"Anything, Hector."
"Take off my ring. You don't need it anymore.
You have to move on with life before Ron pushes
you away."
Heather backed away from him and looked at
him. "But, I loved you, Hector."
"And that is exactly it, my love." Hector
came toward her and held her hands in his.
"You have to let me lie in peace. You can't
be living like this! Move on, Heather."
She looked back up into his eyes and smiled.
"I will do what you ask." Hector smiled back
at her and she woke up from her dreams. Heather
knew what she had to do. She took her set of her
Mom's car keys and she put on her bath robe to
leave for the graveyard.
*****
Ron was not having an easy time, like Heather
had falling asleep. He lay in his bed wide awake
and after a few minutes, he rolled over in his
bed on to his side. After about fifteen minutes
of trying to fall asleep, Ron decided to put
on his bathrobe and walk the halls.
He wandered down the hallway toward Heather's
bed room, but stopped by Harry's room to see if
he was already asleep. To his great surprise,
Harry's bed was empty and not even turned down.
Ron grinned ear to ear and knew exactly where his
best friend was. Ron walked down the hallway to
Hermione's room and first listened through the
door to see if his friends where "busy" with
certain activities. When he heard nothing, he
opened the door slightly to peer inside. When
he saw Harry and Hermione peacefully asleep
under the covers. He was too far away to notice
if any other evidence of them "not doing anything"."
Ron closed the door quietly and then heard another
close rather loudly. At first, Ron thought he had
closed Hermione's bedroom door too loudly, but once
he saw Heather cross the hallway to go down the stairs,
he gave a sigh of relief.
Ron then wondered what on earth Heather was doing
up this late at night if she was so tired a hour ago.
So, quietly, Ron followed her down the stairs, through
the hallway and outside. She went over to the garage
and opened the door to get one of the cars. She pulled
out her mother's car and sped away from the gate. He
decided to follow her, so he put on his helmet, turned
on his bike and sped off after her.
After a while of driving, Heather pulled up to a
cemetery and drove inside of the cast iron gate. Ron
watched as she pulled up next to some newly buried
graves and decided to follow her inside. Heather
stepped out of the car and went toward some of the
trees next to a small creek, not too far from her
car. Quietly, Ron walked his bike to where Heather was
and hid behind the car slightly to make sure she didn't
see that she was followed.
Heather looked down at the twin graves before her
and the moon loomed above them. The trees swayed in
the gentle breeze and that was when Heather knew this
was the place her two best friends were laid to rest.
Heather smiled at the graves and knew in her heart
her friends were at peace laying side by side one another
With Hector on the left and Rachel on the right.
Hector Michael Grey III
Beloved Son and Friend.
Died defending his people
August 24, 1981-September 11, 1996
Rachel Catherine Wido
Beloved Daughter and Friend.
Died defending her people
April 15, 1981-Septermber 11, 1996
Tears filled her eyes as she read her friends
lasting words. She fell to the ground and wept
for their death; finally allowing those bottled
feelings out into the open. Once she stopped
shaking, Heather knelt down beside Hector's
grave and placed his school ring on the small
tombstone. Heather stood up and stared at the
grave. "Good-bye, Hector."
By this time, Ron had moved toward her.
Once she stood up, he watched as a single
tear left her eye and fell down her crimson
cheek. Ron reached out and embraced her. "It's
going to be okay, Heather. I promise." He escorted
her back to her car and she stopped.
She opened her car door and he thought she was
going to start the car and drive home. Instead,
she turned on her car and turned on the radio.
"I owe you a dance." She stood up out of the car
and shut the door. The song "Have You Ever Really
Loved A Woman?" by Bryan Adams began to play.
"Dance with me?"
Ron stared into her deep chocolate brown eyes
to see if she was thinking straight. Heather gazed
back into his and he knew his answer. He took her
hand and they began to dance to the song, slowly
All the while, never breaking the look in each other's
eyes. As the song entered the last refrain,
Heather tilted her head upwards and kissed him on the
lips. He closed his eyes and kissed back.
*****
End of Chapter Fifteen.
Here's what's to come:
Surprises for Hermione and Harry.
A Kickboxing Hermione?
A talent/ Fashion show.
And a Kidnapping.
That is all for now peeps. Catch ya
later!
God bless,
S'Eleene Paris