Chapter 2 of Year 2: "Hold Your Breath"

Hello! The title of the chapter is derived from a song I love.
Enjoy!

After the attack on our town, we watched as people who's houses were burned down were trying to rebuild their lives.
"Why have we got to bring misfortune on people, wherever we go? The meteor at Hogwarts and now this?" Susan asked
"I don't know, Susie. I just hope that people will readjust and live their lives normally!" I replied
"Maybe we should go to Sargent's or Susan's home for the rest of the summer. I fear we will bring more of what happened last night to this town!" Dan suggested
I thought about it for a while. A long while....
"I say we go! Daniel's right, we might put people in danger again!" I replied
"Let's go and pack our trunks and get ready to leave." Susie said.

We went into the house and packed everything into our trunks.
"Hey, where are you guys off to?" Dad asked
"We're going to the Sargent's for the rest of the summer. It will be easier for us to keep a low profile there." I replied without taking in air.
"Right, OK then. Behave yourselves there!" Mum replied
"What, did you think we won't?" Dan asked
"Especially after last night? Dad replied.
"Dad, I said sorry! I'm gonna try my best!" I groaned
"I was just winding you up." Dad answered with a cheeky smirk on his face.
I smiled and then laughed. He was well known in our town for winding people up.

We finished packing and left the house. As we walked down, we met up with Oliver (the guy from my class that was going into his first year at Hogwarts.
"Oliver, I heard the good news!" I smiled.
"Yeah, Hogwarts.... I wonder what it's like....." He wondered
"Better than High School. Trust me, a lot better. Just don't tell your mum I said that otherwise she'll hate me for the rest of my life!" I explained
Oliver laughed. "Yeah, my mother's kinda known for that! Don't worry, I won't say a word!"
"See you later, Oliver!" I finished the conversation and we walked down to the station.
"So, did you say that Oliver was joining Hogwarts?" Dan asked
"Yeah, after I helped Mrs Ashton from the Death Eater's flames, she told me. It's going to be great, having an old friend of mine at Hogwarts." I replied
"That's our train!" Susie pointed and we walked over to the train and bought tickets from the driver. There was something about his face that had put me on high alert.

We went to sit down in an empty carriage.
"There's something about that driver. It feels like he either he is a Death Eater or he just doesn't like kids." I said to Vera.

"You're right. But I guess he just doesn't like kids. I mean, why would a Death Eater be working among Muggles?" She replied

"Good point" 

*Susan*

After half an hour, the train stopped because of a technical hitch. But something about the technical issue that wasn't exactly "Muggle like."

The silence on the train was a little creepy and disturbing. We were stuck out in a middle of a bridge. 

"Strange place to stop!" Julie said. I didn't wait a second. I ran out of the carriage. But the train was a ghost town. Absolutely empty. 

"Guys, the train has been deserted. Something's not right!" I said and ran along. I then noticed that there was practically no air in other carriages. 

I cast the Bubble Head Charm on my head to be able to breathe easily. I walked along the carriages and as I walked, I was shocked to see that people left their belongings. But where did they go?

I looked out of a window and noticed everybody outside. I gave out a sigh of relief. 

"Hello there, Susan" the driver said 

The voice I knew so well 

"Barth Crouch Jr." I replied 

"Like my surprise?" He laughed 

"I get a laugh now. The air removal spell didn't exactly reach our carriage!"

"Oh crap it..." He spat out in anger 

"Levicorpus!" I shouted and pointed my wand. 

"End the spell and get us to King's Cross Station or you're going overboard into the River Forth!" I warned 

"All right!" He agreed. I lifted my spell and ended the bubble head charm. The air removal spell lifted and everyone came back on board. 

I returned to our carriage 

I sat down and crossed my arms. My facial expression must have been infused with anger as neither Julie or Dan spoke to me for at least half an hour. 

*Julie* 

"So, what happened?" I asked

"Don't ask. I don't want to talk about it!" Susie replied and walked out of the carriage. 

"OK, that was unexpected!" Dan said

"I wonder what happened! It really seems to have angered for Susie to act this way!" I replied

"Girls, when will they ever be easy to understand?"

"Don't start your comedy. It's not funny at this moment in time!" 

"Shush you. I'm always funny" 

"In your dreams!" I said and we looked at each other. We then laughter our heads off. 

"See? I am funny!" He said 

"And I am a pixie from the Wonderland. Not always funny!" I replied. 

*Susan* 

The train stopped violently again, which made me fall over. Everyone from the carriages took their things and ran for their lives. The electricity inside the train started to flicker. 

"Did you really think I'd let you get to your destination without causing a bit of chaos!" Barty Crouch Jr said as he towered over me. I rolled away from him and stood up. 

"Stupefy!" I shouted 

His body was thrown back and hit the driver's cabin door. 

A song that Julie played ran through my head "Oh I've got to turn and run from faces you'll never see"

I ran back to our carriage. 

I quickly shrank our trunks and I got the twins to put them in their pockets. 

"Come on! Now!" I shouted. It was as if I knew something bad was going to happen. 

"OK, what's going on?" Julie cut me off on my way out. I tossed her arms to the side and I ran out of the train. 

*Dan*

"Let's do as she asked, Julie!" I said

"I'd like to know what's going on first!" Julie demanded 

"Let's not question and just trust her with it! Come on, Jules!" I replied and put both shrunken trunks into my pocket. I took Julie's hand and dragged her out of the train. We were in a middle of no where. Or as Sargents would say: "Station Meadows, cattle come off!" (I still had no idea what that was supposed to mean)

*Susan*

"You two, over here!" I shouted and waved at Dan and Julie as they ran out of the train. 

They were extremely lucky as about three seconds after they did, the train caught fire. Whole of it. 

"Run!" I said and I ran along the grass

Dan and Julie followed. 

"SUSAN!" Julie yelled. I stopped 

"What's happening?" She asked

"Probably should have told you earlier. You were right in suspecting that the Driver is a Death Eater. It was Barty Crouch Jr. He basically cast a spell on the front of the train to take all air out of the front carriages. Now he set the train on fire!" I explained 

"How do we get to Sargents now that the train is on fire?" Julie asked 

"Daniel, did you say that the Sargents live due south?" I asked

"Yeah but...." Dan answered

"Point Me!" I said as I took my wand out

"This way!" I continued 

They followed me for half an hour and we stopped for refreshments 

"So, we're going to walk to their home?" Dan asked. I nodded

"Well, not entirely. We'll walk to the King's Cross Station, which is about 3 and a half hours. But it's getting dark." I replied 

"I suggest we camp out and resume walking in the morning. Good thing I brought camping stuff with me." Julie said

"How did you manage to fit all that in your suitcase?" Dan asked

"Shrinking Charm" she replied. 

We built the tents (she took three with her) and went to bed for the night. But I wasn't able to sleep. My mind was just raving through the things that happened a few hours before. 

I walked out of our tent and walked to the land edge to sit and marvel at the beauty of the countryside. The stars were clearly visible and created many patterns in the sky. But one that cought my eye was the archer. An archer always pointed a witch or wizard towards danger. 

I heard rustling in the trees from where the archer's arrow pointed at 

I pointed my wand in caution. 

"We meet again, Susie!" Barty spoke in his deep, mysterious voice.

"Why are you following us?" I asked him

"Malfoy wants you three." 

"In your deepest imagination" I said and non verbally cast Levicorpus to drop him into the deepest part of the sea. 

He was struggling (but I did not bother.)

I went back to my tent and fallen asleep at around half one. 

Julie woke me up at 9am. I yawned widely as I stretched my arms upwards. I walked out of my tent and Dan already had our breakfast ready. 

"Wow Dan, you certainly have discovered a skill. Magic cooking!" I said as I tasted the camp fire toast he made. 

"It's not that hard Susie!" He replied. 

We quickly ate and packed up our camping stuff and went on our way. 

"So, Susan. Tell me about your adoptive family more!" Julie asked as we walked the path in a huge forest. 

"My mother works in a bookshop in Grenlanchs (fictional town). She would always bring me best-sellers and horror, Sci-Fi and Thriller books because the are my favourite books to read. Romance books aren't my go to books. 

My father is a research scientist for the University of Grenlanchs. He specialises in research of animals, their behaviours and their ways of living their lives. Their organisms and how their DNA is structured." I replied 

"Very interesting. So, you're practically surrounded by books!"

"There's nothing better than to take out a good book and read it with a hot chocolate before bed. Brilliant thing to do!" I smiled

"Same here!" 

After three and a half hours of a similar chat and walking alongside each other, we made it to the King's Cross Station. 

"Thank goodness we're here! Let me give  Sargents a call and they might be able to pick us up in their magic car from here!" Dan said and phoned his adoptive parents 

"Done. We'll just have to wait an hour for them to come!" 

After an hour, the Sargents came and took us down to the house I got to know so well the summer before that. 

I hope you've enjoyed this chapter and I'm hoping that you'll want to share it! I would love new readers to come on board! :) 

Chapter 1 of Year 2: "Summer With Siblings - Not As Expected"

Welcome to Year 2, guys! Hope you enjoyed Year 1 and I'm determined to make this one just as good (if not better and even more exciting) as Year 1.
The song I'm listening to is Broken Pieces - Apocalyptica  feat Lacey Sturm!


***Dransenden is fictional town***


Susie, Dan and I sat in my room
"So Jules, Muggle High School.... What's it like?" Susie asked
"Boring!" I giggled
"How?"
"Well, it's like Umbridge's read-the-textbook lessons only everyday. Apart from sciences - which are like Potions- everything else was extremely dull in comparison to Hogwarts."
"Interesting. So what music do you like to listen to when you're not at Hogwarts?" Daniel asked.
I put my iPod on in the dock. Broken Pieces started playing.
"Such a dark, mysterious sound. Her voice is powerful as well. It's my kind of music as well!" Susie said
"I agree. I grew up listening to Wizard and witch musicians but this is a lot better." Dan replied
"I thought you might like it." I answered them.
"Want to go outside? We should enjoy the sunny weather while it lasts." Susie asked
Dan and I nodded in approval.

We went to the nearby park and sat on the bright green grass (we already had books from the Diagon Alley) and we studied some of or second year textbooks.
"The new spells are so intriguing." I complimented
"Let's just hope Umbridge won't drown them in her "theory only" teaching." Susie replied.
"And let's hope that Professor Binns won't drown this interesting and battle filled Wizarding History in boredom of his voice. The past in the textbook is so well expressed. Not a boring lecture like he gives."
"I know! Hey look, isn't that Snowy?" I asked Susie
"Snowy!" she replied and caught the letter that it carried in her delicate, black beak.
"Well done Snowy! Here's your treat!" She handed the snowy owl a rat-shaped treat that she had in her shoulder bag.
I opened the letter that Snowy delivered.
"It's from Professor McGonagall."
"Dear Susan, Daniel and Julie,
There's a wave of evil magic making it's way to you. It is Malfoy and the Death Eater. They are expected to arrive near ***Dransenden around 4:30pm. I strongly suggest you stay indoors and don't look out of the windows for they will find you. I do not wish for you to be harmed in anyway. 
If they encounter you in any way, know that the Minister for Magic has relaxed the use of magic outside of school and in front of Muggles rule. You are allowed to use magic outside of school.
With regards
Professor Minerva McGonagall."
I looked at my watch. It's 4:15pm. "Come on, let's do what McGonagall said." Susan said and we ran over to the house.
"Hey guys. You all OK?" Mum asked
"Yeah mum. We just have to go upstairs!" I replied and we ran upstairs.

We went to Susie's room and shut the door.
"OK, so we have to hide! I wonder for how long?" I asked
"Not sure. It's 4:29pm right now. By looking through the window from the distance, I can't see anything happening." Dan replied
"Well, you won't see ANYTHING from a distance. Would you?" Susan questioned
"You could see things. Like strange green lightening that just struck the road!" Dan replied
"They're here. Let's sit on the floor and not make any noise. They'll just go past." Susie said in fear
"It's not gonna work like that. We must go out and fight!" I exclaimed, but not too loud.
"Um, are you mad? You know how that might end!" Susan said
"Susan, we are the only ones in the neighbourhood that can do something about this!" I replied
"No, Susan's right. We can't!" Dan approved her.
"We just came back from a battle. We must protect this neighbourhood."
"If we don't do anything, they'll just leave." Susan angrily said
"Um, remember the meteor? The silence from that? They've never stopped until they found us."
"Julie stop arguing with us! Seriously, what did McGonagall say to do??? Stay in and don't cause trouble!" Dan stomped his feet to the ground.
"You'd be the same if you lived here for as long as I have. You'd do the same if the neighbourhood around the Sargent family or around your home, Susie. What would you do?"
"Wait it out! If I was given an instruction from someone of a higher rank than myself I'd probably do as I've been told to!" Dan and Susan said simultaneously.
"You know, I never thought you would be THAT inconsiderate about people from your neighbourhood!" I stood up violently
"GO THEN! JUST KNOW THAT SHE WARNED YOU!" they shouted back at me.

I went downstairs.
"I think Death Eaters are here!" Mum said as soon as she saw me.
"Wait, you know about them?" I asked
"Your professor sent us a letter. I am not to let you out the door for your safety." Mum answered
"Mom, you need to let me! What if they set the town on fire? What if they torture people for information about us living here?"
"But we can't let you out! Professor McGonagall clearly gave us instructions and I'm not gonna let her down!"
"Mum, do you really want Mrs Ashton to die because of those freaks?"
Mrs Aileen Ashton was my mother's best friend and my Chemistry teacher.
"No, but our instructions were very clear!"
"Fine!" I chucked that word out of my mouth as I went upstairs and into my room.

I sat on my bed curled up. But then I realised that my family just wanted the best  for me. But I wanted the best for everyone else.
I went to get a hooded jumper out of wardrobe and put it on. I decided to pack a bag with a few spell books, DADA books and light reading material. A tent that I managed to shrink with the Shrinking Charm, food, a few sets of clothes (all of which were shrunk), a purse with Muggle money and a few more essentials and jumped out of my window (it wasn't high, so I managed to land on two feet without damage and ran along the road.
There wasn't much damage done (yet) although the green lightening bolts kept on striking the ground. The park we sat at an hour ago was in flames. Green Flames.
I hid under a tree and cast the spell to extinguish the flames from there.
As soon as the fire was out, I noticed Mrs Ashton covered in burns.
"Mrs Ashton!" I exclaimed as I ran up to her
"Julie!" she replied quietly.
I helped her to her feet and helped her to get home.
We were at her home.
"Thank you, Julie! I knew that you'd make an excellent witch. My son, Oliver has got his Hogwarts invitation yesterday!" she thanked me
"Oliver from our Chemistry class? The one I spoke to on the street when I found out I was a witch?" I asked
"Yes, m'dear! Thank you for your help!" She finished as she walked into her house.

*Susan*
"No way!" I said as I walked in to Julie's room
"What is it, Susie?" Dan asked
"Julie escaped through her window!" I answered
"Is she crazy? We must go and find her!" Dan questioned
"We have to do what McGonagall told us. We have to stay!" I said
"No way! I'm not staying knowing that Malfoy is on the loose!" Dan replied
"We just have to this time." I told him

*Julie*
I put my hood on and zipped my jumper up so only my eyes would be visible.
As I walked the streets, I heard cries of many families. The lightening bolts set some houses on fire and some people's businesses were trashed by magic. I felt it in the air. It was so thick and heavy with dark magic. The same sensation I had when I battled Malfoy for the first time.
The streets were empty. Everyone hid for their lives.
I looked up into the sky. The clouds were glowing with shades of green. 
 "Who are you young lady?" A guy asked from behind me.
I met his eyes.
"Cassie-Anne Lloyd" I lied in a deeper voice. It was Barty Crouch Jr. One of the former and present Death Eaters.
"Right. I suggest you go home. It won't be safe on the street in a few minutes"
I nodded and walked along the road.

I decided to give Susan a call
"Susan!" I said
"For heaven's sake! Are you OK?!" She exclaimed
"I'm fine. The streets are like scenes from a horror film. Empty, burning with green flames, dark...."
"Come back home! Please!" She begged
"I can't. There's so much darkness happening. I can't leave especially that there are many people probably still in danger"
She hung up without warning.

I walked further along the road I was going. The chill of the rain was starting to fall around. The rain was black. The drops were just so dark. Filled with dark magic.
It was completely dark outside as well. It was now 6pm. It was meant to be very light outside at this time in July.
"Help!" I heard a scream from a nearby home. I ran over to see what was going on.
"Laura!" I exclaimed
"Julie! Do you know what that is?" She asked in panic, pointing at the opposite wall to us. It was a black serpent made out of the Senpersortia spell.
"I do." I pointed my wand at it and mumbled the Finite Incantatem spell to make it perish. It was huge.
"Thank you, but what did you do? What is happening today? Green lightening bolts, green flames...."
"I can't answer that. I know what it is but I'm not allowed to mention anything." I replied and left.

I walked back down to the park but hid behind a tree because I've spotted Malfoy and Barty Crouch Jr talking in the center of the park.
"We must find them! Have you seen anyone around here?!" Malfoy commanded.
"I've just spoken to a young girl by the name Cassie-Anne. But I have a feeling she isn't who she said she is! She was nervous a little bit when I asked for her name!" Crouch Jr replied
"It must be her. Bring that girl to me at once!"
"I can feel her presence around here."
I shook a bit. But it is hard to find someone in the area I was in. It was just bushes and trees. I pointed my wand at them both and used a Memory Charm to erase what happened.
I quietly sneaked around the trees to find my way back.
"There's someone in that bunch of trees!" Malfoy said and quickly ran up and caught me.
"Who are you? Why are you sneaking around here?" He asked
"I'm Cassie-Anne and I'm not sneaking. I was just walking along the path between the trees." I lied
"I don't believe in anything you just said. Where do you come from?"
"Edinburgh. I'm on my summer holidays from school and I'm visiting my family." I lied again.

He pulled my hood off.
"Julie Sharmons! I knew that it was you! Tell me, where's the rest of your dear family."
"NEVER! I'D BE MAD TO TELL YOU WHERE THEY ARE!"

*Daniel*
"I'm really worried, Dan. It's 7:30pm and she's not back yet. I'm just really...."
Then she heard Julie's desperate cry.
"NEVER! I'D BE MAD TO TELL YOU WHERE THEY ARE!" Julie screamed.
"Julie's been caught! What do we do?!" Susan asked
"We can't go outside. It will reveal our location so easily!" I answered.

*Julie*
"Tell us where your siblings are!" He asked again
"NO WAY! I'LL NEVER TELL YOU." I said and quietly whispered the Memory Charm to implant a false memory in their minds. He let me go and I put my hood back on.
"Sorry Cassie-Anne. We thought you were someone we came here for."
"No problem" I said and walked back home.


I walked in.
"Mum, dad, Dan, Susie!" I said
"Julie!" They said as they hugged me
"We heard your scream and we were freaking out about you!" Dan said
"I'm alright. Thanks to a Memory Charm!"
"Thank goodness!" Mum and Dad said.

We talked through what I've seen on the streets. The chaos, the devastation to some people's homes.
Then we noticed that the storm let up.
"They must have moved on. Phew!" I said, relieved
"Never do something like that again, Julie! The past three hours were torture!" Susan replied
"OK!" I agreed

What do you think of this for the first chapter of Year 2? Good, bad, OK?
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Chapter 18 of Year 1: "Fire! Fire! Fire! (Aim Your Wands High)

Another title derived from a combination of two song titles! Enjoy!
Please share on Google +, Twitter, Facebook and everywhere you can! Than more readers, the better!

*Susan*
"Fire!" Dan said
"Fire your first year spells all you want, but you'll never beat us! We are more advanced in our magical skill than you are, kiddos" Ron replied.
"Try again. Stupefy Maxima!" I answered him and fired a series of shots at him until he was thrown into the wall. Hermione immediately ran over to him.
"You evil Mudblood kid!" She cried
"Um, newsflash! You aren't a Pure Blood either! Expelliamus!" Vera said and Hermione's wand flew out of her hand and Vera caught it without a problem.
Then, Ron fired Accio to get Hermione's wand back and battle recommenced.
"We need to get Julie to safe place before Malfoy decides to show up!" Dan shouted at me.

*Julie*
I got up from the floor. I was able to stand up through the internal pain.
"No need for it! I've had it! Flamme Cirlins!" I shouted.
A ring of blue, cold flames surrounded the trio. Those flames can't be put out with the water charms because they are cold flames so they can't be put out by cold or hot water. Only by a End The Spell Charm (finite incantatem)
"You are pushing it guys!" Harry said
"That's us, Potter!" Susie said
The trio used the Carpe Retractum to escape the flames.
"We can outsmart you children!" Hermione said.
"We'll just see about that!" Susie giggled

*Susan*
"Susie, what the heck are you thinking?!" Julie hissed
"Split up, run to hide, get them to join back together and fire! Trust me, it will work like a charm. Just be careful that we don't meet Malfoy on the way." I replied without stopping for a single breath.
"Good plan! Not Let's get this show on the road"

We ran in all possible directions, spreading out all over the Hall of Prophecy. Hermione was always on my tail. 

"Stupefy!" I whispered as I pointed my wand at her. The spell quickly hit her and I ran even faster to hide. 

"Where are they?" Ron asked Hermione and Harry as they met in the middle. 

In my hiding spot. 

"Julie, how lovely to see you..." Malfoy whispered. 

"Great, why do I always jinx it?" I've asked myself. 

"Expelliarmus!" I whispered and his wand was now in my hand.  

I looked at Dan, Vera and Susan, who were all ready to 

"Fire!" I shouted and we jumped out and fired our Stupifys at them. 

Now MalFoy walked out of the shadow. 

*Daniel* 

"There's Malfoy!" Susie said 

"Who are you, young lady?" He asked

"Your worst nightmare. Triple trouble for I am their older sister, Susan!" She replied without taking in air, standing proudly. 

"Susan Sharmons! I knew that you would be hiding somewhere."

"Glad that you're amused by it. So, have you had any plans for the summer? Because you're gonna be spending it in a hospital because we are gonna kick your butt back to where you belong, you nasty excuse for a wizard!" 

"Julie, she's worse in yelling at him than you. She just practically gave him a lecture!" I said to Julie. 

"Just because you never heard anyone giving someone a row!" She replied to me 

"Hey, I've heard a row before but that was simply a beginning of one of Mr Binns History of Magic classes"

"And you can't stop talking!" 

"You two! We're in a middle of a battle and you are squabbling like kids in a supermarket! Stop it!" Susan complained. 

Awkward silence fell. All four of us fell into laughter. 

"Right. Let's show Malfoy what we are all about!" Julie shouted 

*Susan* 

"Fire! Stupefy" we shouted and Malfoy hit the concrete wall. 

I walked up to him and pointed my wand at his neck.

"You separated me from my parents. I'll never let you get away with it!" I said

"You've not missed much" Julie replied. 

"And from my siblings. My brother and sister. You are the cruelest. You've attacked them too. But trust me, you won't be able to handle whatever is hidden" 

"Don't start an essay!" Dan said

"Daniel! Seriously, shut up!" Julie hissed 

But then, Malfoy disappeared into black particles. 

"He's gone!" Julie punched out in anger 

"Come on, the least we can do is break the spell that he cast on the trio!" I answered her. 

*Julie*

"Finite Incantatem!" I said as I pointed my wand at the trio. 

As soon as the spell hit, they were confused as to what they were doing there. 

"Julie, Daniel, Vera..." Hermione said in confusion 

"Susan. Julie and Daniel's sister." Susie replied

"Pleasure to meet you. What happened?" Harry asked

"Well, Malfoy used the Imperius Curse on you all. But it must have been partial because Hermione was able to contact me in my thoughts. She made them very much a puzzle as they were just few lines from my favourite songs put together. Ron had his input in the last message that put everything together. McGonagall was a little surprised when I said it makes sense. It all makes sense." I explained

"Yeah. I was able to somewhat communicate with you by songs. Other way was purely impossible" Hermione answered. 

We walked to the door and helped to put the shied up again. 

After returning to Hogwarts, it was around midnight. Umbridge was shocked to see us all still alive. We all just smiled at her cheekily and walked past her. 

The next few weeks were exam times and we barely had time to talk to each other. 

After we finished our exams.

"Offt, those exams were the beast." Dan said

"They were super easy." Vera, Susie and I said together 

"That's because you're all bookworms" 

"It's not because of that. It's because you kept on playing the exploding wizard card game instead of actually studying" Vera laughed. 

"Hey, I just went through one talk about school exam rules. Spare me another!" Dan replied. We laughed as we remembered the moment in the Hall of Prophecy where Dan made a similar comment. 

"Do you want to come home for the summer? I'm sure our parents will be delighted to see you!" I suggested. 

"Such a fantastic idea!" They replied. 

We went to our dorms to back our trunks (in my case a suitcase) and went off to the train.

We arrived in London and we went on another train to Scotland. 

I phoned our mum after Vera met her parents at King's Cross. 

"Hi mum!" I greeted

"Julie! Long time no hear! Are you OK? How was your first year? We're so sorry, we shouldn't have tried to keep you from where your destiny lies!" She shouted in happiness

"I'm fine mum, honestly! The first year was eventful and informational. And I've got a surprise for you two. A HUGE surprise. Part of which is why I will make my own way home!" I said and smiled at the others. 

"Really? Are you sure you don't want us to pick you up?" She asked 

"I'm fine mum, really! It's only a five minute walk. See you soon!" I replied. 

"OK sweetie. See you soon!" She said and I finished the call as we bought our ticket to Dramsemden (fan created town)

It was a long 8 and a half hour trip back home. In the mean time we slept, played card games, read books and laughed as we still couldn't get enough of that slip up in the Hall of Prophecy. 

"When will we ever let go of it?! It's kinda embarrassing." Susie asked

"Knowing Dan, probably never" I answered her, not caring of what he thought. 

He just looked at me and laughed. 

"Guys come on, our stop's here!" I said and we packed up the stuff we has out and got off the train. 

I lead them to our home. 

"It's a big house in comparison to our hut near London" Susie said in amazement 

"Stay here for a bit. I need to go in first" I answered her and walked in to our house 

"Mum, dad!" I shouted. Our parents came running to hug me in a speed of sound. 

"I missed you!" I said as I embraced them. 

"We have as well! So what have you been up to? What's the surprise you want us to see?" Dad asked. 

"Ah, let me just step outside for a second!" I said and walked outside. 

"Come in!" I shouted at them 

Susan and Dan walked up the steps and into the house. 

I closed the door. 

"Mum, Dad. I want to introduce you to Susan and Daniel. My siblings." I explained. 

"Daniel, Susan.... Is it really you?" Mum asked 

"Yeah, I think so." Daniel giggled. 

"He likes to be a comedian." I whispered to her. 

"Susan..." Dad said as he hugged her 

"Dad... I never thought I'd meet you!" she replied

"And I never thought we'd see you after all that time." Susan said to him. 

"How did you find them, Julie?" Mum asked 

"Can I explain over dinner? It really is a long story!" I said and we put our suitcases and trunks upstairs and went down for dinner. 

Year One officially complete! So happy with how it turned out! a lot going on, but Year 2 will hopefully be just as good! 

Stay tuned for that! 

Chapter 17 of Year 1: "Danger All Around Us - And A New Secret Revealed (Or More Than One)"

Yet another title derived from a song title. I'll let you guess this one, this time! :)

So, I explained to Vera the message I've heard in the Pensieve.
"Wow. that is very, very strange!" Vera said
"I know. Who knows who sent me that. I was thinking that it could've been you but you were under a spell. Since it not you, who is it. It was definitely a female voice." I replied
"OK, let's go to bed. We'll try to think of it more tomorrow." Vera said and we went to bed.

I sat in my bed all night, trying to figuring out who it was that tried to communicate with me.
"Sorrow lasts through the night.
I felt it deep within me,
And set apart this dream for me
Freedom, oh freedom.
Both end up dead"
I was trying and trying to figure it out but nothing. Absolutely nothing.I walked out our dorm as quietly as I could and slowly and silently sneaked downstairs to sit on the couch in the Common Room.
There was something about the air in the Common Room. It was so heavy and thick. It was heavy - with dark magic. The wind coming into the Common Room was cold and breezy. I just knew that something was wrong outside of Hogwarts. Something dark.
I stepped outside of the portrait and Professor Umbridge stood right in front of it.
"Where are you going, Miss Sharmons?" She asked
"Just going to sit on the stairwell, Professor. I can't sleep."
"Come with me." She said.
"Sure....." I replied and followed her to her office.

Her office was even more pink than I remembered. With even more cats meowing from the enchanted plates hanging on the wall.
"Sit down." She invited and pointed at a cushioned chair. I cautiously sat down at her desk. She locked the door, which clicked my alert levels on. She came over to the desk and sat down.
"Is there anything I can help you?" she asked.
"No, thank you!" I replied politely.
She walked over to me and grabbed my arm. I tried to pull away from her grip but she was too strong for me.
"What are you doing?" I asked her, shooting an angry look at her.
"I'm just getting ready to hand you over to Draco Malfoy."
"Stupefy Maxima!" I shouted with my wand pointing at her. She was thrown backwards
"Bombarda!" I yelled and the door shattered into a thousand pieces. I ran outside and as fast as I could back to the Common Room and into the girls dorm, where Vera was waiting in impatiently.
"Jules, where did you go? I was freaking out that Malfoy got to you" she said and walked over.
"Almost did. Umbridge was ready to hand me over but I blasted her away. By the way, you've not seen Dan before we went for bed, at all during the day, haven't you?"
"No. No I haven't. Not after you came to see us in the Great Hall."

We haven't slept all night. The whole Umbridge situation was a shock to my system.

We went down to breakfast in the morning.
Dan was at the table when we arrived.
"Dan! We haven't seen you since I've seen you yesterday early afternoon." Vera and I said together
"Yeah, sorry. I was studying for exams" he replied
"Studying? Since when did you decide to study."
"We do have exams soon!"
"Good point"
"Good morning!" Umbridge shouted from behind us.
"Morning, Professor Umbridge. Came back to hand us over to Malfoy have you?" I asked calmly
"If you mention to anyone what happened last night, I will personally kill you. Right here, right now." She replied with anger in her tone
"I already have, you can give up hope for that not happening." I giggled.

I then walked off to Charms with Vera, Dan and Susan.
"Professor Umbridge is a monster. How dare she say she will kill you? A first year?" Vera said in disgust.
"She works for Malfoy. I'm sure of it. Why would she otherwise say that?" Dan replied
From the corner of my eye, I've seen Umbridge follow us.
"We have company. On Three, fire Carpe Retractum on the lantern and jump."
"WHAT?" They shouted.
"One, two....Three. Carpe Retractum!" I fired the spell at the hanging lantern above the dungeon entrance and jumped.
The rate that I was pulled at was quite fast but I managed to land on my feet. Soon, Dan, Vera and Susie joined me.
"Susie!" I exclaimed
"No time to explain. We have got to go before she catches up on us."

We ran across the dungeons and hid in a small room that we used to hide from the Prefects in the first term.
"Susie, please explain!" I begged
"I'm your older sister! I was born 6 months before you two through IVF."
"No way! Third of March?" Dan asked
"No cheese, Sherlock. Of course, March 3rd!" Susie replied
"So, what happened to you?" I asked
"According to my adoptive parents, it was for my own protection as Malfoy would come after me for our aunt and uncle's treasure too! I was given away for adoption a month and a half after birth, so I've grown up not knowing our real parents"
"I've wondered why we had two spare bedrooms in our house" I said
"Susie, has your adoptive parents mentioned anything at all about what the treasure could be?" Dan asked
"No, but speculated that it could be the Magical Pendant of Traeh (heart spelled backwards.) Pendant so powerful and rich in magic that it can protect the wearer and destroy their enemies. So rich in magic that the heart feels instant connection with the pendant's immense power (explains the backward spelling of Heart)
But if the person who is not willing to love wears it, the pendant will destroy them."
"This is so interesting. You mean that this pendant could be what Malfoy wants us for?"
"This is just speculation. I don't know if that's it."
"Shhh!" Dan said.
"I'll find you four." Umbridge shouted. She walked over to where we were.
"You won't escape. I've got you four"
I looked at my siblings and Vera. We nodded and fired an Expelliamus together. She was thrown back at such force, a few bricks fell on her from the pillar that she hit.
"Let's get out of here!" Dan and Susan shouted and we ran out of the dungeon and to the grounds.
I sat on the grass and felt the same feeling of being communicated with as last time.
"Someone is communicating with me. I feel it" I pulled my wand out and pointed it to my head and pulled out the light
"What the heck is that?" Susie asked
"Don't ask but I must go to find McGonagall." I said and ran back into the Hogwarts castle to find McGonagall's office.

"Professor!" I shouted as I have seen her going into her office.
"Miss Sharmons! How can I help you?" she asked
"I need to use your Pensieve. I've been communicated with again!"
"Come in!" She said and she welcomed me in.
I dropped the light into the Pensieve. The light was bright blue this time.
I've put my head into the basin.
The same scene appeared as last time.
"We played for peace tonight
Bleeding because you knew the fight was right
Save me
Time for surrender (spoken: more like control)
All my twisted thoughts free float into everlasting memories (spoken: controlled by those memories)"
Yet again, parts of songs I knew well.

I took my head out. Now that this clue was sang again with male voices speaking the last spoken, everything started to make sense from the last few days. Everything. The last communication, the Imperio cast on Vera, Umbridge's desperate attempts to get us all to Malfoy. It was making sense.
"It all makes sense. It makes sense!" I said and ran out. McGonagall stared at me, confused.

I went on to find Vera, Susie and Dan.
"Guys! Guys!" I shouted.
"Here, Jules!" Dan whispered.
I walked over and sat on the grass beside them.
"What's up, Jules?" Susie asked
"Everything that happened in the last few weeks makes sense. Those messages have put everything together. 
The meteor, the silence, the Umbridge's attempts to get us all to Malfoy, the Imperius curse on Vera....It makes sense. The messages are from Hermione. And from what the last message just said, Harry, Ron and Hermione are under Malfoy's control.
Vera listen to this:
'We played for peace tonight, bleeding because we knew the fight was right. Save me. Time for surrender with a male voice saying more like control. All my twisted thoughts free float into everlasting memories and a male voice saying controlled by those memories!' "
Vera remained silent until:
"You're right. Everything makes perfect sense!" she replied
"No, it doesn't. How can she contact you through your thoughts?" Dan asked
"McGonagall said that I and now apparently Hermione, have an uncommon ability to contact each other through our thoughts. Anyone with it is able to communicate with me through it although a Pensieve -a magical basin containing memories- is required to read them"
"OK, so what do we do now?" Vera asked
"We go to the DoM!" I replied
"How do you know for sure that they will be there?" Dan questioned
"Remember last time? What other place could Malfoy possibly choose to fight us? The Malfoy Manor proved to be too rusty for big spell fights." Vera answered
"Exactly" I replied
"Let's go. But how do we get from here to London?" Susie asked
"Simple. The fifth floor corridor passageway." Vera answered her.

We walked over to the fifth floor corridor statue.
"Raisin Cases" I whispered. The statue opened the passageway and we all stepped through and walked along the path.
"Brr, it's so chilly down here" Susie said, shivering.
"It wasn't as cold as this last time we were here. It was breezy, but not this cold!" Vera answered.

After an hour of walking, we were at the MoM.
"This place is so so cool. After the renovations from the Wizarding War 2, I think it looks pretty awesome" Vera said.
"Come on guys, we have to go to the DoM. Can we admire the walls later?" I asked
"DoM? You've got to be joking. We can't even bypass the security system." Susie answered in shock
"Julie can" Vera smiled back at her as we walked into the lift to take us to floor 9.

We quickly made our way to the DoM after we got off from the lift.
"This is the door. Jules will you...?" Dan asked
"Step aside!" I replied but I noticed something about the door.
I tried to touch the barrier. But no barriers were there.
"Guys, the barrier isn't here. Malfoy must already be inside!" I said and we walked in.
We quickly walked over to the Hall of Prophecy.
"Well, well, well. Isn't it the Sharmons' kids" Ron said
"So is. Come on, it's time to give them a little lesson in Defense Against the Dark Arts" Hermione replied as they stepped out of the shadows.

*Hermione*
It felt as if I've completely lost my mind. To Malfoy's Imperius curse. There was no use in fighting it. I was spelled to do his bidding (which was to destroy them all, which wasn't what I wanted to do)
"Sectumsempra"  shouted and fired the spell at Julie

*Susan*
Julie flipped backwards twice and hit a big stone wall. We couldn't run to her otherwise we would've got the same thing.
As we stood with our wands pointed at Harry, Ron and Hermione and theirs at us, we looked at each other to see wherever to attack or to run. Julie wasn't moving. She laid on the floor, frozen with blood pouring out of her hand and neck
"Attack or run?" Dan asked.
"I don't know! We can't run otherwise we will be fired at." I replied
"Fire!"


Offt, this was a horrendously long chapter. I wanted to make sure that I can fit everything -the battle and the ending of first year- into the next chapter.
The song references will be easy for certain people to guess. Have fun.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please, comment and share on G+, Facebook, Twitter and everywhere you want! I would love to have more readers! :D

Chapter 16 of Year 1: "Deep Silence (In)Complete

The title is derived from one of my favourite songs. Nightwish fans will know it! :)

The next few weeks were relatively quiet. No major incidents (OK, rebellion against Umbridge rose... even Slytherins had trouble standing her. Whole class literally walked out when she lied about her involvement with the Death Eaters).)
But -to me- the silence from Malfoy, the Death Eaters and so on was worrying and distressing. The deep silence from them all was very confusing (after the meteor, the silence was NOT what I expected.)
I sat on the grass of the Gryffindor courtyard and read the book I borrowed from the Hogwarts Library: "The Connection" by Sylenthia Adder Salem. It was a magical philosophy and psychology book, looking into behaviours and beliefs of the wizarding world for Muggle Born witches and wizards. But one thing that caught my eye in the book was a diagram of how a Pure Blood, Slytherin mind works. The cycle described in so much detail and the precision of writing stunned me by a mile. In the page footnotes, was a quote by a famous Muggle Born wizard Edwardo Polline - "If an evil witch or wizard is silent and not continuing their attacks, beware. He or she are looking for the right moment to strike. Do NOT take silence as a sign to give up your guard. But always be on your toes for surprise attacks."
"Hey Julie! Wow, that book has got to be interesting. You've not looked up from it all morning!" My friend Susan giggled. She was a Muggle Born, just like Dan and I.
"It's greatly fascinating! Have you seen Vera and Dan on your travels?" I replied, smiling. Everyone knew I was a bookworm.
"I've seen both of them in the Great Hall!"
"Thanks Susie!" I replied and went on my way there.

After just a few steps, I heard a large bang coming from the Great Hall. I ran across the entrance courtyard and into the Great Hall. I was hugely relieved to know that it was just Professor Flitwick testing a new cleaning spell he invented but it backfired and turned him into a Christmas tree, The funniest thing was, it even had lights and baubles on it. Even a star at the top too! I looked around, but no sign of either of them anywhere whatsoever.
"Over here, Jules!" Dan sad and waved from the furthest table down. I calmly walked over.
"Hey. I just came to check up on you and to tell you to be on your guard. The Connection warns about silence from the forces of evil." I sad as I sat at the empty table.
"That book talks rubbish! My mother works for the British Aurors Association. She warned me about this book" Vera huffed.
"It's not! Vera, it's not! The librarian said that it's the best book to read for any Muggle Born witch or wizard. I'm into books myself and I know a good book!" I shouted and I angrily punched to the table with my fists.
"No, you wouldn't. Not the books on the wizarding world!"
I picked my book and walked back to the courtyard.
I suddenly heard something in my head. Something or someone was trying to communicate with me. I couldn't make out the message. It was so quiet and muddled up. It was as if it was a Cornish Pixie was talking. Quite high-pitched too.
"Are you OK, Julie?" Professor McGonagall asked as she walked past me.
"I'm getting a very vague message from someone. I can't hear the words or even from whom it is"
She pointed her wand to my head and as she pulled it away, a lilac liquid-like light came along with it.
"Come with me!" She said, sharply. I followed her without a word to her office. She placed her wand inside a stone container which contained similar lights but of different colours.
"This is a Pensieve." she said
"A what?" I asked
"A Pensieve. It reviews memories. But also can be used to review messages. You and the other person have an uncommon natural ability to send each other messages via the mind"
"You mean we are connected to each other through our thoughts?" I asked, slightly freaked out.
"Yes and no. You have a connection through the mind. You cannot read each others thoughts but you can connect through them. You can't create visual images either, unlike Harry Potter. You have an easier job then him for it is easier to shield thoughts. You need to put your head inside the Pensieve"
I did as she said.

An image of a blackened out figure appeared.
"Help, help, help help. Out out out out. Now now now NOW!" a voice screamed the words of a song I knew so well.
"Sorrow lasts through this night,
I felt it deep within me
And set apart this dream for me
Freedom, oh freedom
Both end up dead"
The voice sang and the message stopped. The lines were parts of my favourite songs. But the whole thing just didn't add up. I took my head out of the liquid and shook my head in clear it a little bit. I was just purely confused.
"What did it say?"
"I'd like to keep that to myself, if that's OK."
"Sure. If you get anymore let me know and I'll let you use the Pensieve at any time."
"Thank you"  said and walked out of the office.

I sat in the corner of the Gryffindor Common Room, curled up.
"Hey" Vera said
"Hi" I said
"What's wrong?" She asked and she sat beside me.
"I cannot say."
"Yeah, you can!"
I looked at her.
"Um, someone thought messaged me a few hours ago. Help help help help. Out, out, out, out. Now, now, now NOW! Sorrow lasts through the night. I felt it deep within me And set apart this dream for me.
Freedom, oh freedom. Both end up dead"
"That doesn't make ANY sense. Are you sure it's not just you singing these in your head?"
"Vera! What's wrong with you? You've been insulting me all day!"
"I think that it's just me growing up. You are not." She giggled and walked away.
It hit me.
"Finite Incantatem!" I said as I pointed my wand at her. The spell directly hit her.
Vera shook her head, in immense confusion.
"Julie!" She ran over and hugged me
"I am so sorry. I can't remember what happened" she continued
"Someone has probably cast the Imperio on you." I replied, happy to have a friend back.
"All I remember is when I said that the book The Connection that you are reading is rubbish. Truth be told, my mum has read the book and said that the magical world works exactly as the book has described. So, what's wrong with you?" She explained.

I hope that you enjoyed the chapter and I will hopefully complete the Year 1 today! :D
Sorry for such a huge wait. I've been extremely busy. It was worth it. I passed the Art & Design course and I've helped to lead a Christian Teen Camp last week and all the prep that went in to that. A Leadership training camp in June as well. Loads of stuff.