Chapter 4-Oscar of the Year!

Chapter 4

DOREA POTTER nee BLACK

Dorea Potter nee Black sat alongside her husband as Her son explained everything to her, and with each word he said, her heart sank as she realized over all the years, little had changed in the House of Black, and from what Alden spoke it seemed that things had gotten worse, for the young Black girls.

"And that is why, the letter came to our home because Narcissa panicked and lied infront of her father because she didn't wish to marry Lucius Malfoy," he finished and she felt bad for badgering him in the morning for she could see he was quite stressed over this, given his friendship with Andromeda.

"That is awful, I didn't know things were so bad for Andromeda and her sisters" she gasped out and she could see that the tale had taken a toll on her husband as well as his face had hardened when he had heard about the allegations against Malfoy, allegations which if true could have far-reaching consequences.

"Honestly Andromeda is quite headstrong and uses her reputation to evade scrutiny in her family, but Narcissa is the youngest and caught the eye of Malfoy, and she doesn't like him. But Her father Cygnus and the eldest Bellatrix are pushing her into this match against her wishes," he explained and shrugged.

"When at the end of the semester things got out of hand, and Malfoy tried to make some overtures she bumped into me and kinda…." he seemed a bit embarrassed as he continued.

"…kissed me infront of him. And that was how it all began. Malfoy was mad at that, and then his father ended the match between him and Narcissa. When her father learned of this, he confronted her, and she used me as a scapegoat because she panicked," he said, and she nodded. She could understand Narcissa's situation and sympathize with her, yet still, she was Alden's mother, and it didn't feel right that he had been forced into a situation like this.

"And what of your supposed girlfriend?" she questioned and saw him bite his lip as he looked down, and spoke up with a shake of his head.

"It wasn't anything special and wouldn't probably have lasted anyway, so it doesn't truly matter," he said, and his tone made it clear that he didn't wish to talk about it.

And she would respect it.

"If everything you claim about Malfoy and his friends is true…." Charlus cut in for the first time since this had begun, as Alden cut in.

"It is!" he said as his eyes gleamed dangerously and his fists balled up.

"They are all part of large group, the same group that has been attacking muggles all over Britain and committing heinous crimes," he uttered, and she saw Charlus nod with a frown as he continued.

"Then are you sure that you want to continue with this ruse, for if they are as dangerous and criminal as you claim, they will not take this lightly and could target you," he began, and she gasped in worry as she looked towards Alden, who didn't even take a second to answer.

"Of course!" he said, much like a Gryffindor lion, as he looked Charlus in the eye.

"I am not happy with Narcissa putting me on the spot like this, but Andromeda has been my friend for years and I have known Narcissa for the same time as well. If this ruse buys her time, then I have little against it, and as far as Malfoy and his group are concerned," Alden said ominously as his eyes glew dangerously.

"I dare them to try," he challenged assertively.

"Alden!" she spoke worriedly. Yet he simply shrugged.

She looked at Charlus and she didn't miss how his lips had a slight upturn as pride beamed on his face as he gave her a small nod. Making her sigh, as she nodded despite the worry in her heart.

"Then so be it, I will do my part. But I want you to talk to both Andromeda and Narcissa and tell them that if they are ever in need of a refuge, my doors are always open to them, distant though they may still be family," she said, and Alden nodded.

"I will tell them that," he said, slapping his knees and getting up.

"Now, with that done, I am going to sleep. Is there anything else?" he questioned, and she shook her head before she recalled something that this whole thing had made her forget.

"Ohh and one of my friends at the Ministry told me that your results will be arriving tomorrow," and Alden nodded.

"That's good," as he yawned and left the room, picking up an orange from the basket before striding up the stairs and leaving her alone with Charlus, who broke the silence as soon as the sound of a door closing came from the second floor.

"We have raised quite a gentleman," he said proudly, and she nodded as she looked at the empty seat in front of her.

"We have," before she turned to face him.

"But still, it was quite irresponsible of little Narcissa to use him like this," and though it was unfair to the girl of fifteen, her son was only sixteen as well. Despite how mature he may seem, he was not much older than her.

"Indeed, but given her circumstances, I pity her more than I blame the little girl," he rose to her support, and she pitied her as well.

"And what of those allegations?" she uttered and saw him frown as his lips thinned. Gone was the proud father replaced by the seasoned Auror captain and veteran.

"I often thought he was exaggerating when he complained about the attacks on muggles but if this is true, this could be the start of something much larger and dangerous," she began. And Charlus nodded.

"Yes, and I plan to look into it all a bit more seriously on just what is going on with all these attacks and how students from Hogwarts are involved in all this," he said and she nodded.

And then there was silence for a time as both of them sat quietly different thoughts running through their minds as she uttered.

"Will he be fine?"

"I believe so, after all he is your son!"

0000

LILY EVANS

The newly promoted fifth-year Gryffindor walked through the throngs of people as she excitedly made her way towards the stationary Hogwarts Express.

A part of her couldn't believe that it had been five years since she had first stepped on that train, yet every second after that had been nothing but magical. Well, that was an exaggeration, but she had never felt more at home than at Hogwarts especially with Petunia growing more and more irritable by her very presence.

It was a shame, though, for sometimes she missed the eldest sister who would push her on the swing and help her steal cookies from the kitchen cabinets, yet it seemed not all things were supposed to last.

She had wished to arrive early given that she had been made Prefect this year and she didn't want to leave a bad impression but as she skimmed over the gathered crowd and found none of her usual friends she realized that she might have come a tad too early.

But no matter, she could save a compartment for them on the Express, and just as she was about to enter the train, an infuriating voice called out from behind.

"Lily flower!" and that title made a shiver run down her spine as she groaned internally, for, unlike many things, this was becoming ever-lasting.

She turned around, and she was right; it was the insufferable face of the pest that had been pestering her since the first day.

James Potter, with dark hair and dark brown eyes, was rather easy on the eyes, lean and tall with a sharp mind, and as many of her friends would often mention, with his gold-filled vault, was a boy of dreams for many at Hogwarts. The girls would throw themselves at him for some reason yet the boy in question paid them little attention and instead continued to pester her for a damned date.

He gave her his roguish smile as he jumped around excitedly.

"You are early today, Lilly Flower. Don't tell me you were waiting for me," he said, and she rolled her eyes.

"I would die rather than wait for you, Potter," she retorted, and he gripped his heart and stumbled back dramatically.

"Ahh, you wound my heart, my fiery princess. Let this lowly knight carry your luggage for you," he said, and she folded her arms as she shook her head.

"Why don't you go and pester someone else for a change, Potter," she nearly pleaded, but he just smiled.

"Ahh, but, how can I do that when I have already dedicated my heart to you," and she heard a girl coo at his words, making her shake her head.

"Ahhh," a rather familiar voice from behind cut in, making her straighten up.

"It seems young Mr. Potter is still trying to score his first date," spoke their Potions professor, Professor Slughorn from behind.

"And failing," cut in Poter's insufferable tail, Sirius, with his curly black hair and grey eyes.

"Good morning, Professor," she greeted the man, who smiled at seeing her and returned her greeting quite enthusiastically. He was rather fond of her for her skill in the art of potion-making even though she was much more partial to charms than to Potions.

"Indeed, though I must say I am not surprised to see you with that badge, Miss Evans, you deserve it," and it was the first time both Marauders noticed it, as Sirius's mouth hung wide open.

"You became a Prefect, Evans!" he gasped, and she nodded as she straightened up.

"Yes, and keep your group in line, Potter, because if I catch you, it's detention for you," she warned them, but Sirius just smiled.

"Yes, she did," another voice cut in, and she saw James' smile drop. She looked up to find another person standing behind the two marauders. His face was similar to James Potter's, but he was taller and leaner, with much lighter hair. Yet the most characteristic difference between them was his eyes.

While James Potter boasted brown eyes, the person behind had a pair of gray eyes, much like those possessed by Sirius Black, as he looked at the two troublemakers with a narrowed gaze.

"And if you didn't have a record as tainted as you do, you would have gotten it as well," chastised the other boy, Alden Potter, James's cousin and the only person in the school who could reign him in.

"Was he bothering you again, Evans?" the Ravenclaw prefect asked, turning to look at her. She saw James's smile drop as he silently pleaded to her, and she decided to take mercy on him.

"No, he wasn't," she lied in the end and saw James sigh in relief.

"Good," he said before he turned towards the two troublemakers again.

"Alden, my boy," Professor Slughorn's cheerful voice cut in as he walked towards the Ravenclaw boy with a massive smile.

"I must say I was very impressed by your OWL result, nine outstanding. I must say I haven't seen such a result in ages," the man's words made her still as she felt the ground beneath her feet vanish.

"Nine!" she gasped out as the Ravenclaw senior smiled at the Professor.

"It was nothing, Professor," he said, and her eyes widened.

He didn't deny it. He really got nine Outstandings on his OWLs. Hogwarts didn't even offer ten electives, she thought as James Potter scooted to her side and whispered into her ear.

"Thanks for the save," he said, and she didn't deign that with a reply as she asked a question of her own.

"Did your cousin really get nine Outstandings?" she questioned and saw James nod with a roll of his eyes.

"He did," he answered as both Professor Slughorn and Alden got into an animated discussion.

"How?" she questioned.

"Because he is a damned freak," Sirius Black cut in from the side, and she frowned as she pinched his arm, making him squelch.

"Don't talk bad about him," she chastised him and saw Sirius raise his hands as he turned towards his insufferable blonde friend.

"It seems you have got competition, Potter," he said, and Potter shook his head.

"Nah, my cousin's already picked his lady," he said. And such a shame it was. It was pretty well known that Alden was dating Victoria Parkinson from Slytherin, a tragedy according to many in the school. Alden was quite popular. He had the looks, the brain, and most importantly, a very attractive personality. At the same time, Victoria Parkinson, well, the less she said about her, the better.

"Actually, he has not," suddenly, Black cut in from the side.

"I heard a rumor just now that both of them had a fallout at the end of term, and he is back on the market," Black added, and she frowned as she saw James's eyes widen.

"Really?" and Black nodded.

"Yeah, they say that he cheated on her with someone else, and she broke up with him," but then suddenly, another person joined them all.

"Alden! Alden," they all saw as Alden Potter was approached by none other than one of the infamous Black sisters; it was well known that he was friends with Andromeda, and there was even a rumor that they were in a secret trust, but no, this was not Andromeda.

This was the youngest of the Black sisters, the one in their own year, Narcissa Black.

And she watched as the half-blonde girl approached Alden, who smiled at her and then wrapped her arms around her in a very conspicuous manner, leaving them all shell-shocked.

"What the hell is going on here?" Black gasped out. And the same thought was going through her head, yet she didn't voice it out, unlike Black beside her.

0000

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