The Rose of King's Cross - continuation story

[Bara]

In the Hufflepuff Common Room that night, young Parlier was being grilled by his housemates ..

"Aw c'mon, what did they ASK you?"
He shook his head.

"What did you TELL them??"
He shook his head.

"I saw the Sorting Hat ..?" he volunteered....

[johnnysauntie]

"Longbottom, you've been focusing on complex spells and have forgotton the simple ones." McGonagall said.

"Oh, yes. Clarifico, right? That spell makes any language understandable to the listener. It will work for American accents and slang, don't you think?" Neville wondered.

"Yes, Longbottom, it will." McGonagall said, making a note to move Longbottom back to Herbology next term.

[Bara]

Trelawney shook her head. She knew that her opinion would not be welcome ..

"But," she thought to herself and her spirit guides, "Clarifico works well in Sanskrit. Ancient Egyptian, even if rendered in hieroglyphics. It did well on the Rosetta Stone. Helped with the Mayans - and even Eric von Daniken.. but ..??"

"YES, dear?" Demanded McGonagall, sharply.

"Welll, but.." explained Trelawny, vaguely, "AMERICAN, Dear?? Do you really think so??"

[Lynne]

AW Fartblossoms.

I'm gonna have to read the books aren't I?

You guys are so talented and amazing. I'm in awe.

Slytherin.....hmmmmm

[brooks]

Well according to my word soft we have 18 pages!!

[johnnysauntie]

sidebar, Bara. I believe that clarifico does in fact work on 'Marekin.

[Bara]

DON'T have a go at ME! It was Trelawney! ;D

(cough) And THEN ...

Terrie, Thea and Brooks were awake bright and early, before the bell.

For each of them, the evening meal at their house tables had been strange and fun. The children had crowded around them, fascinated by these adults in their midst.

Lynne and Bara had enjoyed the company of their housemates, too, but they had whispered and giggled together in the dorm until the early hours, like – well like girls in a dorm.

So when the bell came, they both groaned and turned over, pulling the blankets over their heads.

“Excuse me?” A tall, fair, pretty girl stood between their beds, gently shaking each of them awake.

“Wha!?” said Bara. “GO ‘way!” mumbled Lynne.

The girl sighed. “I’m sorry,” she said, smiling apologetically. “I think it would be better if you start to wake up. I’ll keep you some seats at breakfast. But he can be an awful old grump if our house isn’t seated on time..”

She smiled again, and popped a cup of tea by each of them. She waved.

“Wait!” said Lynne, sitting up in bed. “Please wait. Thank you. What’s your name?” she asked.

The girl smiled again.

“Lucinda.” She said. Waved and walked away. “Lucinda Malfoy.”

Bara sat bolt upright, knocking her teacup flying. Lynne reached out and they clasped hands, eyes wide staring after the tall, fair girl.

[johnnysauntie]

"Bara," Lyne whispered. "Bara!" She reached out and shook her friend. "Stop staring!" She could see the distrust in Bara's eyes, and she felt it too, herself.

"Lucinda doesn't deserve any prejudice we may have towards her family," Lynne said. "Judging her because she's a Malfoy is just as bad as using the word "Mudblood."

"Lynnie, you're absolutely right!" Bara exclaimed. "What was I thinking. We should be kind to her, she's got to have so many hangers-on since that article appeared about her father in Forbes (www.forbes.com/2006/11/20/lucius-malfoy-money-tech-media_cx_de_06fict15_potter.html)If there was one thing we learned from those books is that people are full of surprises." She turned serious for a moment.

"The best example was Severus Snape. Lynne - he was real. All that, it actually happened. " The two looked up at the portrait of Snape that gazed down imperiously on the Slytherin common room. His gaze settled on the two friends, who gasped sharply as they met his eyes.

Then is expression softened, and he smiled.

***

[johnnysauntie]

McGonagall had spent hours pouring over the Hogwarts class lists, Who's Who in Wizarding and Wizarding Families for the Ages.

There was indeed a seventh child of a seventh child enrolled at Hogwarts this term, and she had just verified that there was in fact just one.

"Bill, Charles. Percy. Fred, rest his soul. George. Ron. Ginevra. Seven Weasleys," she muttered to herself, looking at an old photo of the family. "Though goodness knows, Fred and George often felt like more than just two." She she fondly recalled the twins' antics and wit. Shutting the books, she leaned back in her chair, and refilled her teacup. Did the Potters know they had brought a sourceress into the world?

"Fifi" she called her favorite owl, a sleek brown bird with feathers tipped in black. Pulling out a quill and parchment, she penned a short note and tied it to the bird's leg.

"Take this to Harry Potter."

The bird flapped off into the night, and McGonagall's gaze settled on Dumbledore's portrait.

"Albus," she said quietly, as the portrait was asleep. A blue eye winked open. "Tell me what you know about sorcerers."

[brooks]

The Forbes Fictional 15 ;D ;D Too funny!!

[Bara]

Dawn was breaking by the time a bleary-eyed Minerva sat back, nodding thoughtfully at the portrait of her predecessor.

“Thank you, Albus,” she murmured. “I’m sorry to have disturbed you. But your knowledge is invaluable at a time like this. Who would have thought it, who would ever have imagined?” She shook her head wonderingly. The portrait was beginning to doze again, his chin sinking into his silver beard.

She tapped her wand to the muddle of papers on her desk. “Domicilarium” , she murmured. Obediently, the paper stacks scattered into the air, cascading into neat piles in alphabetical order. They marched across the floor and leapt up the wooden filing cabinets.

The books flew off the desk, heading for their rightful subject shelves, jostling aside their fellows who had lolled into the spaces they had vacated. There were squeaks and sqeals of protest as the books who had worked the nightshift settled to sleep.

Minerva walked to the castle window. She could see the Whomping Willow, stark against the lightening sky. She could see the Quidditch pitch taking shape in the dawn light. But she saw no sign of a small brown owl heading back towards her window.

Longingly she thought of her comfortable four-poster bed. She shook her head.. Too much to do, too much to organise.

“But what CAN it all mean?” she asked herself. The portrait of Dumbledore opened one eye : “The seeds are sown, Minerva, the owl is returning.”

[johnnysauntie]

Harry and Ginny hurtled through the air on their Nanobolts - brooms so fast and finely tuned they made Harry's old Firebolt feel like a Comet two-sixty in comparison. Though discomfited by McGonagall's urgent summons, Harry knew the news couldn't be that bad - the Maurader's Map and Invisibility Cloak were stowed safely away at home. He had checked again prior to leaving that morning.

Looking over, he saw a joyous grin on Ginny's face. Like him, she had played Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and one would be hard pressed to know who enjoyed flying more.

The two roared over the countryside, and flew low over Hogsmeade. If all went well at the school, Harry thought to himself, maybe they could stop there for tea before returning home. It had been years since he visited his old haunts.

Nearing the school, they both saw a sight that made their hearts leap. Hagrid was waiting by the gate to show them in, and he was waving madly. They shouted their greetings as they spiraled to the ground, and were immediately engulfed in a bone-crushing hug.

"Well naw, it's good to see yer two!" Hagrid was positively beaming. "I must say, yer kids are a real delight to this old being. A real delight. And I think that young Septimus has a real gift with magical beasts, just like his father!" Hagrid clapped Harry on the back. "Now come on, we shouldn't dwaddle, Professor McGonagall is expectin' yer."

The three friends entered the castle, talking rapidly. Inside, Harry took a deep breath and smiled at Ginny. Hogwarts appeared unchanged. This castle was the scene of his happiest moments - when he vanquished Voldemort, when he escaped the Dursleys, when he met the lifelong friends who rapidly filled the gaping holes the death of his parents and the isolation he endured with the Durseleys left in his life. Not even his wedding day or the births of his children could compare to the profound joys he had experienced within the walls of this castle.

The trip to the Headmaster's office was too short, and Hagrid bade them a fond farewell, promising to come visit them soon. They muttered the password the letter from McGonagall had contained, and the gargoyle guarding the door swung it open and ushered them inside.

Professor McGonagall looked much the same, but instead of the measured fondess with which she treated favorite students, she greeted the Potters with open arms and a warm smile.

"Harry, Ginny, it gives me such pleasure to see you," she said, looking them up and down. "It still seems like yesterday, doesn't it?" she said.

"Yes, Professor, it does, though it seems impossible that thirteen years have elapsed," said Harry.

"True enough," commented Ginny. "Though I'm happy to put as much distance between that frightening time and my family as possible!"

There was a slight commotion behind the desk, and Harry saw Dumbledore and Snape slide into their portrait frames. In addition to pictures in the Ministry, the their portraits also had pride of place at the Potter's house, which is where the two spent a fair share of their time, especially when the children were home. Harry smiled at both, and couldn't help but think back to that day thirteen years ago.

He hadn't said a word to anyone of it, but after the victory was won and the exhausted victors had collapsed in their beds that night, he had crept out to the forest, and Summoned the Resurrection Stone. There was one more piece of business to which he had to attend.

Holding the Stone that night, he once again was surrounded by his loved ones, and the crowd had sadly increased in size. Mad-Eye, Tonks and Fred now stood with Lupin, Sirius, Dumbledore and his parents. Hedwig flitted around in the background. Harry had turned to the newest resident of the world behind the veil.

"Professor Snape." Harry had said, choking up. His mother and father had each come to Snape's side, and Dumbledore stood close by. He had stared at Snape, eyes streaming, unable to say a word through his closed throat.

Recovering, he croaked, "I'm so sorry I misjudged you, and suspected you and ... " his voice trailed off. "You were spectacularly selfless and heroic. I don't know what to say, I don't know how to begin to thank you."

"We've all been trying to express our gratitude, Harry. And there really don't seem to be the right words to capture our regret and our thanks, do there?" his father said, laying a ghostly hand on Snape's shoulder.

"You are all kind, too kind," Snape had said. "I long harbored unkind and selfish feelings for most of the present company. But not all." He cast a sideways glance at Lily, who smiled and patted him on the arm. "But I also realized long ago that, out of spite, I had chosen the wrong side, and I'm grateful to you, Dumbledore, for letting me redeem myself. And to you, Harry. My chief regret is that I squandered the opportunity I had to get to know you better. "

"Severus, your service was truly extraordinary. I will not be surprised if you are named an Oracle." Dumbledore said. "I am sure the Wizengamot will canonize you very shortly indeed, and that honor is most deserved."

With a full heart, Harry had bid his loves farewell, knowing that they traveled constantly by his side, just out of view. He threw the tiny stone far into the woods and turned back to the castle.

And Dumbledore had been right. As soon as he was able, he shared his memories, and Snape's, with the Wizengamot. In due corse they had named Severus Snape an Oracle - the wizarding world's highest honor. Only four wizards had been accorded that honor before him - and their names were Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Gryffindor.

Harry snapped out of his reverie as McGonagall passed him a cup of tea.

"I should explain my urgent summons," she said, stirring her cup."Have you noticed anything unusual about young Septimus?" she inquired.

Harry and Ginny glanced at each other. "He came into his magic early," Ginny said, "Right after he started to walk. And we think that he may have the makings of an Animagus."

"Mmmm." McGonagall nodded. "Anything else?" Harry and Ginny glanced at each other again, and shook their heads.

Fixing them with a firm look, McGonagall said, "How many children have you?"

"Why, seven, of course." Harry was befuddled.

But next to him, Ginny was still. "That old myth, it's not true... Minerva, I've never heard of such a thing..."

McGonagall was slowly nodding. Harry looked at the two women wildly. "Um, excuse me? What are you two talking about?" His Muggle upbringing had left gaps in his wizarding knowledge that were still evident, even all these years later.

"Harry, I'm a seventh child. Septimus is a seventh child." Ginny tried to make it plain.

"And?" Harry insisted. "I'm sorry but I'm not following you."

"Harry, it has long been believed that the seventh child of a seventh child born to a Wizarding family has the potential to be a sorcerer - a powerful source of original magic. It's not guaranteed but the only Sorcerers history has ever known have shared that generational birth order."

"Well, so there's a chance, but there's nothing to lead us to believe that Septimus is a Sorcerer, right?" Harry's head was spinning.

"Actually, that is why I summoned you," McGonagall said. Reaching into her robe, she withdrew a small, fog-filled glass ball.

[brooks]

[Goalie]

This thread is definitely a high pointfor me to come an d read. You ladies are awesome. ;D

[Bara]

I'm really sorry. Next bit got a bit long. I was in a really boring meeting - so what could I do??