Angel the Devil's Daughter: shouting MAGOR NOTE- NEVILLE IS THE BOY-WHO-LIVED NOT HARRY POTTER! NEVILLE'S BEST FRIENDS ARE RON WEASLEY AND HERMIONE GRANGER! EVERYTHING (well almost everything) THAT HAD HAPPENED TO CANNON HARRY HAPPENED TO HIM! SIRIUS WAS NEVILLE'S GODFATHER! VOLDEMORT DIED ON October 31, 1981 WHEN OLD VOLDIE TRIED TO KILL NEVILLE AND WAS BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE THE SAME WAY CANNON HARRY DID IN HIS 4TH YEAR!Also, I'd like to thank Bandit-Queen for being my beta (love u hun!). Ok. Now I got that out smiling brightly I'm good.
Septimus: Yeah you are. You're gonna be after you make us all go deaf and hand us over to the Dark Lord to kill us…
Angel: Sept?
Septimus: Yes?
Angel: Shaddap
REVIEWS! Thanx to every one who did review! I luff u lots!
Ty: Thanx- I
hate Dumbledore too!
Ljaybrad:
thanx- I will
Charlieangel:
OMG thanks! I feel so special!
W.V.F:
ya it was mean of him. I'll keep your idea in mind!
ERMonkey
Burner of Cookies: thank you
HeirOfSnake:
thanks
Meg:
when I said a while back that I was rewriting it, I didn't
change the beginning too much, but everything else has been changed
(and there's a lot more detail don't worry)
LaxGoalie:
thank you and I'll check it out
Mrs.Ginny
Weasley-Potter: thank you and here it is!
DebsTheSnapeFanNow:
not necessarily but u just have to wait to find out
XxVampire
EmpressxX: thank you and I'll check it out
Mistress
of Eternal Night: thanx and here's it is!
Chapter 2- The Journey Home
"It says that our dad has taken a job at Hogwarts and that we have to go there too!" cried Michelle, Erica, and Jessica at the same time.
"That means that you're coming with us!" Septimus gasped
"Yeah," Jesse sighed. "But I don't really want to leave this place."
"Me too but it's as some muggle once said, 'That's the way the cookie crumbles'," Sapphira replied shrugging.
"Yeah," they all sighed and went inside contemplating everything that had happened while they were at Durmstrang and what Hogwarts might be like.
"Damn! Time to go to the docks already?" Erica cried. She, Eric, and Matthew had been cursing their luck all week because of "that damned letter".
"Yeah, unfortunately. Let's go. We don't want to be late do we?" Michelle sighed and dragged Matthew down the hill toward the docks.
"Or do we?" Jesse muttered in reply, following Jessica who had already ran after Michelle and Matthew
"Come on already! I'll tell you about what I know about Hogwarts when we get on the ship," Sapphira encouraged, dragging Erica after the others. Sapphira and Erica seemed to be the only two out of all of them remotely excited about going to Hogwarts, but they still didn't want to leave.
"Let's go Eric. You know that if anyone doesn't make it to the docks by the time the ship leaves, they stay here for the whole summer doing unpleasant tasks like being a house-elf for part of the time," Septimus said giving Eric a look that clearly said "suck it up and get moving".
"Alright! Alright! I'm coming!" Eric cried out exasperatedly and followed Septimus to the docks and their waiting friends.
After about 10 minutes of waiting in line, they got their ship passes signed and were able to get on the ship, which was the size of two really big cruise ships put together. This whole day the gang hadn't been looking forward to because none of them really wanted to leave Durmstrang. Unfortunately, it was as Dumbledore had said to Septimus's father before, "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." Septimus had heard that line so many times from his father, even if Dumbledore had said it, he quoted it to the others sp they would suck it up, which they eventually did.
After storing their luggage in their compartment, they heard an announcement over the loudspeaker to sit down because they were preparing to leave the docks. When they heard this, the students all rushed over to the port-hole-size windows and watch Durmstrang Institute drift into the distance for, unfortunately, the last time.
"You may walk around now. The annual Dance Tournament will take place in the auditorium in 90 minutes. Judges, please report there now. Contestants, please go there in half-an-hour. That is all."
"Matt," Jesse asked after a few minutes of silence. "Do you know the theme for this year?"
"Yeah. It's something along the lines of 'Dirtiest Dancing Contest' I think," Matthew replied after a moment. "Am I right Miesh?"
Michelle sighed, "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that!" "Miesh" was her hated nickname that Matthew had called her since he was little because he had trouble saying "Michelle". Even though he's older and can now say it, he still calls her that anyways. "As to your question, I think it's something along that line. Damn! I can't remember! Ever since we got that damned forsaken letter, I haven't been able to remember much let alone think about anything different!" she cries banging her head on the back of her chair.
"Yeah, me too. And we should know it!" Erica added.
Jessica nodded, "We should."
"And why should you know again?" Eric asked raising an eyebrow.
"Boys!" Sapphira sighed. She rolled her eyes and looked at Eric, "We should know because we're in it smart one!"
"I remember you saying that last Saturday," Septimus nodded. Then his eyes widened and he sneered. "But you never said what song you guys were doing."
"Um…duh! Of course we didn't say," Jessica smirked. "Because you have to wait to find out."
"Please!" Matthew pleaded.
"No!" the girls replied.
"I can wait," Jesse said putting his feet up on the coffee table.
"Aren't you guys supposed to be down there about now?" Eric asked checking the time.
"Shit! You're right! Come on girls! Grab you stuff, we'll change there," Sapphira ordered and all the girls ran around getting their bags of clothing and makeup and what-not. They quickly said their good-byes to the boys, left the cabin, and headed towards the auditorium.
"Guess we have to wait," Septimus sighed.
"Yeah," the others agreed and started doing something. Septimus got out one of his Dark Arts books and read while Eric and Jesse played chess and Matthew gout out his sketch pad.
"Come on you guys! Don't you want good seats!"
To say that Matthew was anxious to see the girls perform would be an understatement. He was so impatient he couldn't focus on anything, even drawing! Usually drawing was one of the few things that he could focus on but today, he couldn't. He kept wandering around the cabin until Septimus threatened to curse him. Only then did he calm down a little bit, but not much.
Jesse and Eric were anxious but they were too focused on their chess game to express it. They still wanted to get good seats, almost as bad as Matthew, but they weren't going to embarrass themselves expressing it. Septimus on the other hand looked calm and collects, with an almost bored look on his face bit inside, he had more curiosity and anticipation welling up inside him by the minute. He just knew how to hide it the best. In the cabin, if one actually focused on him enough, one could actually see the muscles twitch in his face when Matthew wouldn't settle down and a twitch in his arm or leg when Jesse or Eric made a bad move or a difference in his breathing as the time of the contest approached.
When Septimus and Sapphira were little, they learned how to mask their emotions from others, but still show them, or display fake ones, at will. Unfortunately, or fortunately as some might say, the others mustn't have picked up that ability from them yet.
Minutes later, everybody had sat down, the lights dimmed around the rooms, and everyone fell silent. The lights on the stage shown brightly, the curtains lifted, and everybody applauded. On one side of the stage, there was a table where nine people sat. One of them, at the end, had a microphone, which indicated that he was the announcer. This year it was a 12th grader from Jinarr named Jason Armando.
When the applause died down, Jason took up his microphone and began to talk, "Good day ladies and gents! My name is Jason Armando and I would like to welcome you to this year's 'Most Original Dance Contest'!" and again, everyone applauded.
Jesse whispered to Matthew next to him, "Wow, you and Michelle were way off"
"Yeah"
After the applause had died down again, Jason continued enthusiastically, "And this year, our judges are 10th grade Sarah Diversan and 11th grader Christopher Allens from Jinarr, 11th grader Rachael Jakobs and 10th grader David Siana from Sinra, Megan Terra and Brett Michaels, both 11th graders from Crinto!" Here he had to stop because there was so much applause. "And from Vinaree we have 11th graders Zachary Davis and Rosemary Nympt." He added with much less enthusiasm and was greeted with less applause, but was applauded mainly from those in Vinaree. A lot of Vinaree students, Jesse, Matthew, and Eric included flipped Jason off because he was showing favoritism. Jason ignored them and continued, "Now on with the show! Our first performance, out of 12, is the 'Muggle Fans' performing Lifehouse's 'Hanging by a Moment'!"
In Septimus' opinion, he thought that the 'Muggle Fans' were okay, as they preformed, but there were probably better ones to come and that they had a slim chance of winning.
When they had finished and the polite applause had died down, Jason continued, "And now here's 'Armageddon' performing Linkin Park's 'Hit the Floor'!"
'But then again,' Septimus thought, 'these guys aren't much better.'
After then was "Mary and Kerry" with Ashlee Simpson's "Lala", "Devil's Daughter" preformed Bowling for Soup's "1985", "Jen and Jon" with "Merry Merry Merry Frickin Christmas" by Frickin'A, Green Day's "American Idiot" was preformed by "The Dudes", and Usher's "Burn" was preformed by "Bob the Builder"
When Eric herd the last group he whispered to Septimus, "Mudbloods"
The list continued with "Diva Star" performing "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day, "Babi's Gurl" performing Eminem's "Just Loose It", "Satan's Hell" with Linkin Park's "Numb", and "Heaven's Rose" with "Broken" by Seether Feat. Amy Lee.
"So far," Eric whispered to Septimus, "None of them are good."
"I know," Septimus agreed. "it's either gonna be this last act, Heaven's Rose, Satan's Hell and I'd like to remind you those last to were the best of any of them so far which was pathetic considering how bad they did. And we still have to see the girls perform."
"I know."
"Now we've come to our last act. 'The Redeemers' will be performing 'Bring Me to Life' by Evanescence!" Jason called to the crowd.
"The Redeemers" just happened to be Sapphira, Jessica, Erica, and Michelle. The guys stared as they started their dance and Sapphira began to sing. Their dance style was so unique it would be impossible for anyone to learn it and do it as perfectly as they did. As an added bonus, they're style fit the song so perfectly. Sapphira's voice matched Amy Lee's voice perfectly and everyone could tell that they were going to win. When their song ended, they bowed at the amount of applause they received and left the stage.
After a few minutes of quiet debating amongst the judges, Jason walked away from the judges' table, walked to center stage and announced, "Before we announce this year's winners, we'd like to invite all our contestants back on stage." The audience applauded as they filed back on stage. Jason continued, "In third place we have 'Satan's Hell'!" there was a round of applause as they received they're trophies. "In second place we have 'Heaven's Rose'!" and again, more applause. "And in first place and our winners of this year's 'Most Original Dance Contest' is… 'The Redeemers'!" An uproar of applause met this announcement, even if the winners were from Vinaree. The Septimus, Eric, Jesse, and Matthew all stood up, still applauding, which gradually lead the rest of the school to do so as well. After the girls received their awards, they had a group hug on stage, laughing at their unbelievable luck.
"Thank you everyone for coming and congratulations to our winners!" Jason finished as the applause died down just enough for him to be heard only to have the applause grow in volume again as everyone left the stage and people slowly began to make their way towards the exits.
"Why didn't you tell us!" Matthew shouted as he ran over with the other guys towards the girls and gave each of them, in turn, a huge hug in congratulations.
"Payback for startling us last year I suppose," Sapphira answered kissing her brother on the cheek. The boys sang Ryan Cabrera's "True" at the school's singing contest this time last year, in honor of their newfound relationships within the gang. As of now, Septimus and Michelle were dating as well as Matthew and Erica, Jesse and Sapphira, and Eric and Jessica.
"I guess that makes sense," Jesse shrugged and led the gang back to their cabin to get changed into Muggle clothes and pack everything they took out in the cabin since they were due at the docks in half-an-hour.
"Everyone knows that our dad's picking us up this year, right?" Sapphira asked the others with about ten minutes to go until they were to arrive.
"Yep," they all replied as they locked their trunks.
Minutes later a voice came over the loudspeaker, "We are preparing to dock. Everybody, please be seated until we have finished docking. I will announce when you can move about the ship again. Thank you."
Septimus looked at his watch. "We're early this year. Normally we don't arrive for another 7 minutes or so," he said as they sat down all facing away from the windows, not wanting to look at it or through it.
"We have arrived. Thank you for being so patient. Congratulations to our contest winners and have a happy and safe summer!"
"Sure we will," Eric muttered as he left the cabin ahead of the others, trunk in hand.
"Eric you nut! Wait up!" Erica shouted after her older brother and they all ran trunks in hand, to catch up with him. They only caught up with him when they had gotten out onto the pier.
They found Professor Snape, or "Mr. S" and Matthew normally called him, at "the meeting place", which was in front of an arcade along the pier. At 6'1" they could see him from the ship Professor Severus Snape wore black dress pants, black loafers, and a loose black long-sleeve tee-shirt. His obsidian black eyes betrayed no emotion nor did his pale stern face and his shoulder-length black coal black hair, much like Septimus, hung loosely above his shoulders giving him, especially his face, a look of a vampire gone muggle.
When they met up with him, Septimus and Sapphira nodded their heads and said quietly but respectfully, "Father." The others did the same but said, "Professor" or "Mr. S." in Matthew's case. It was a tradition amongst the four families to do so.
"Children," Professor Snape acknowledged them with a nod as well and continued, "Let's go. We don't want to miss our flight."
Sapphira did her best to hide her snigger as she followed her father with her brother next to her and their friends following them to the annually rented 15 passenger van. She was only sniggering because she knew as well as her brother that their father only wanted to get back quickly so that he could get changed back into his robes.
When they all arrived at the van, they stowed their luggage in the back row and in the trunk and all got in. Professor Snape and Septimus sat in the front, while Michelle, Erica, and Matthew sat in the first row, Eric and Jessica in the second, and Jesse and Sapphira in the back.
It didn't take them too long to get to the airport and return the rented van. They took what they wanted for the multi-hour flight, which wasn't much considering that they all would probably sleep for most of the flight. Professor Snape also had a bit of muggle money for food incase anyone wants any. Within half-an-hour they had checked their baggage in and had gone through security. Their wands had been secured in leg hostlers on the side of their calves' wile their weapons were in their trunks. Septimus was very reluctant to go on the plane without a few knives handy, but he complied, as usual, with a bit of coaxing from his sister.
A few hours and a lot of caught-up sleep later they finally arrived at the London airport. After getting their luggage, it took them about 15 minutes to walk to the far side of Diagon Alley and eventually, to the Leaky Cauldron where they flooed to Snape Manor.
Once they had left the grate, Professor Snape said, "Go to your usual rooms. Diner shall be ready in an hour." And the kids took their trunks and went upstairs. Every year, depending on who picked the eight of them up from the docks, they stayed at that house for a week and then head to their own homes.
At Snape Manor Matthew, Michelle, Eric, and Erica's rooms were all on the second floor along with the library and a spare guest room. On the third floor were Jesse, Jessica, Septimus, and Sapphira's rooms as well as 2 children's nurseries, Professor Snape's rooms, and Professor Snape's study, which everyone was forbidden to enter except for "live or death" situations or they were told to. On the ground floor were the old play room, a dinning room, banquet hall, ball room, food pantry/snack room, and the coat closet. In the dungeons were the House-elf's quarters, potion's lab, meditation room, dueling room, dojo, the former wood shop which Septimus had turned into a mini skate park and board repair shop, kitchens, potion store room, Sapphira's art studio, and the entrance into the court yard.
Upstairs Septimus looked around his rooms and sighed. He put his trunk at the foot of his bed and sat on it, looking around. His desk, next to the window on the back wall, had pictures and old bits of parchment from old homework assignments, empty ink bottles, and broken quills sprawled across it. Above his desk was a shelf that held old books and a few odds and ends he had.
At the foot of the bed in front of him lay a fireplace and above, on the mantel were three photographs; one of his father with himself and his sister, one of his friends at school during Christmas when they were 12, and one of his mother holding him, before she died. Also, to the right of the fireplace, towards the door, was his dresser, and in between were his skateboard and his home cane. Next to his bed was his nightstand which held an empty pitcher that filled with water when needed and never got dusty or dirty, an empty goblet, and a goblet that he quickly recognized was filled with a muscle strengthening potion for his leg. Septimus drowned the potion quickly, despite the sour taste which he was accustom to.
He, as well as everyone else in the gang had an ailment of some sort. Eric and Erica were both blind in one eye, Eric in his left while Erica's right and a lot of the time wore eye-patches, except for performance, because of constant head aches. They both had to take head ache prevention potions every day once before breakfast and once before dinner.
Jesse and Jessica were both deaf in one ear, right and left respectively, and wore hearing aids that worked off of magical batteries so that they would work in the wizarding world. They didn't wear them on Tuesdays and Fridays just to study how well their hearing was returning. They had to take cell restorative potions and sound recognition potions both once a day at breakfast.
Matthew and Michelle both suffered from shoulder injuries, left and right respectively, and wore heavy bandages on their shoulder to keep them from moving their arm too much so as not to cause anymore neuronal damage. They had to take muscle strengthening potions once a day at breakfast and cartilage rebuilding potions once a day at lunch.
Both Septimus and Sapphira suffer from an odd, rare, and magical form of muscular dystrophy which ails their legs, and only their legs. It weakens their leg muscles very slowly, but eventually, because of it, they won't be able to stand up, let alone walk. They both wear muggle leg braces but Sapphira walks with a cane frequently and almost all the time at school while Septimus uses the kind of muggle crutches that clamp onto his arms because he has a more severe case of it but walks with a cane at home and sometimes at school, even though he should be using his crutches. Unfortunately it's a genetic condition that the family suspects Sapphira and Septimus got from their mother who carried the condition recessively. The only time they don't use the cane or crutches is when they're skateboarding but they wear the braces all the time. They take the muscle restorative potion once every 4 hours and muscle strengthening once and hour before breakfast and once an hour after dinner.
Septimus quickly unpacked his belongings, grabbed his skateboard, and went downstairs into the mini skateboard park to release some energy.
To Septimus, it seemed like no more than five minutes but actually it had been almost an hour when his sister came down.
At first, Sapphira did nothing to stop her brother from boarding. When she entered the room and was about to tell him that it was time for dinner, she saw a look in his eyes of pure joy and happiness that she hadn't seen since before Septimus left for Durmstrang, and couldn't bring herself to end the moment.
When Septimus had finished grinding one of the rails she finally spoke up and said, "Sept." His head shot up giving her his "what now" look. "Dinner time," she all but whispered. Septimus nodded and followed her out after putting his board on the shelf where it should have been all last year.
When the two of them entered the dining hall, every body else had already arrived and they stood behind their chairs until told to sit by Professor Snape. As soon as Septimus and Sapphira had taken their places behind their chairs, Professor Snape nodded and every one sat down. Just before they began to eat however, Septimus quietly said, "Well, we're back."
Angel the Devil's Daughter: well, glad that's done!
Sept: Yeah, that took a while
Angel the Devil's Daughter: shut up.