Iuga Sortis II

Six

"I don't think I'm supposed to be here . . ."

She looked around the dark alleyway with a sense of foreboding. The place gave her the creeps--quite literally. She pulled her robe closer to her as she walked backwards slowly. There were cobwebs everywhere and not a soul in sight--that was probably the thing that most unnerved her. There was a loud thud behind her, and she jumped, whirling around only to see a large cloud of gray dust billowing from a windowsill.

"Did Angie tell me to turn right? I know she still can't be mad at me for taking a picture of her and Fred playing strip poker! How was I supposed to know the pictures moved . . .?"

Angelina gave her money to buy her schoolbooks from Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley. It was apparent to Nia Angelina forgot she'd never been to Diagon Alley.

Then again, if your boyfriend's tongue was down your throat, it would be hard to concentrate much on anything.

There was another thud, and this time bats screeched from their hiding place. She gasped loudly and shrieked. Her heart was beating a wild, rapid cadence in her chest, and she began to tremble.

She wanted out and now.

"Who cares about buying books? What's the point of having a library at Hogwarts if we have to buy them here?"

She began to walk down the abandoned cobblestone street when she reached an impasse.

She didn't know which one would lead her out of this dark place.

"Hmm . . . eeny meeny miny moe . . ." Nia rolled her eyes and decided to go left, praying it was the right choice. She looked around erratically, hoping to find a familiar landmark that would let her know she was going the right way.

She heard the creak of a door opening, and her pace quickened. She reached into her robes and felt for her mother's wand, gripping it tightly when she found it. Nia felt the eerie sensation of eyes on her, and she grew even more agitated. It was all she could do not to break out in a full run. She would not show her fear, even if she was ready to wet her pants.

"Nia?"

She started and gasped again. A trickle went down her shaky legs, and she walked even faster. She was all but ready to cry.

"Wait! Little One! Slow down!"

She stopped and wheeled around. "Draco?"

He obviously heard the tremble in her voice, and he ran towards her. "What are you doing here? Are you all right?"

She was irrationally angry with him. "Do I look all right to you?" she snapped. She saw what little color he had drain from his face at the harshness of her voice, and her nerves wore out. "I was so scared . . ."

Draco pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly as he whispered words of comfort.

"What are you doing on Knockturn Alley anyway?"

"Oh good Lord, I'm not in Diagon Alley anymore . . ."

"No. You haven't been for quite a while, actually. What where you trying to find?"

"Flourish and Blotts," she sobbed.

"You must've made a wrong turn. You were supposed to keep straight . . ."

"I'm such an idiot!"

"Have you ever been to Diagon Alley?"

"No."

"Then it's not your fault. You got lost, that's all."

"Can we get out of here? I don't like this place at all."

"Sure, love. C'mon. Off we go." She grabbed his hand as if it were a lifeline as he led them out of Knockturn Alley.

The walk to Diagon Alley was quiet except for Nia performing a basic cleaning spell to clear her "accident." Finally, and much to Nia's relief, they were back at Diagon Alley.

Nia felt she could trust herself to speak again. "What were you doing there?"

Draco snorted. "My father has a Portkey that leads directly to one of the shops there. It's a fascinating alley, if I do say so myself, but then again I was raised around it . . ."

"You came all by yourself?"

He scoffed at the question. "What do you mean 'all by myself'? I'm sixteen years old; I'm a man now!"

Nia would've snorted, but she realized he was her only guide through the alley so she kept her mouth shut.

"Okay, Mr. Man, mind taking me to Flourish and Blotts now?"

He grinned at her and squeezed her hand in compliance. "How was your summer, love?"

"Boring."

"That's all?"

"Hmm . . . yes. Boring about covers it."

"Huh. Seem to have gained a little weight."

"Shut it."

"I'm just pointing out what's different about you. You're still short, though."

"You're still a punk, too."

"Now if I let go of your hand, you could get lost again. We wouldn't want you to end up back at Knockturn, now would we?"

"You wouldn't . . ."

"I will do whatever pleases me."

"Don't you love me, anymore?" she pouted.

Draco merely raised an eyebrow at her. "I should ask you that. You're the one who called me a punk!"

"You called me fat!"

"No I didn't. All I said was you gained some weight . . ."

"With the implication I'm obese!"

He frowned. "Is it that time of the month?"

Nia narrowed her eyes. "Watch your mouth, Malfoy."

"I'll take that as a yes . . ." he muttered.

"Why is it a girl can't be in a bad mood without biology being the reason? I'm in a crappy mood! That's it!"

"Oh look! We're here . . ."

There were books everywhere, and it seemed there were as many people as books in this small shop. She and Draco were pressed tightly against each other as families shopped in the crowded space. Her eyes drifted to the second level and saw it as crowded as the first. There were books flying through the air and people on roller ladders as they found the appropriate texts.

"This place is a madhouse!" she whispered.

Draco snorted. "This is nothing. You should've seen it when Lockhart was here for a book signing. It was wall to wall with estrogen. Rather suffocating, really."

"Who is Lockhart? Angie mentioned him in passing."

Draco scowled. "A great big fraud was what he was. Of course Potter figured that out."

"Harry?"

He looked at her sharply. "First name basis, is it?"

"Don't start with me, Draco . . ."

"What's there to start? Seems as though something else changed over the summer . . ."

No. This change started way before term ended.

Throughout their time researching ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses, Nia's ambiguous feelings to the Boy Who Lived formed into so something more concrete, more easily defined.

Harry Potter got on her nerves.

He didn't listen to reason, was rash, stubborn, arrogant, moody--and he did this really cute thing with his nose when he was reading . . .

No! You can' think about that now!

She risked a glance and found Draco smirking at her.

Punk.

"Let's just hope you don't end up as bad as Ginger."

"Ginny? What did she do?"

He chuckled. "She sent Potty this ridiculous singing dwarf who sang a Valentine to him during my second year. Something about 'his eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad . . .' It was rather awful."

"And yet you're the one who remembers it."

"Ginny!" Nia squealed and ran to give the older girl a hug. Ginny laughed good-naturedly as she embraced her, both swaying from the force of it.

"Hello, Nia! Long time, no see!"

"I'll say! How was your summer?"

Ginny looked at Draco and smirked before she answered. "Interesting."

"Oh? How so?" Nia heard the edge in his voice, and she grinned.

"Oh, don't worry, Dragon. It concerns you."

"Does it, now?"

"Very much so."

Draco looked around the busy establishment. "Care to talk about it in a less crowded area?"

"Lead the way."

"But! But--but--grrr!" Nia sputtered as the couple left the bookstore.

"Once again left alone because some people want to do some hanky panky," she muttered and shook her head. She looked around and sighed.

This was going to be a long day.

Nia shrugged her shoulders defeated and began to squeeze through the throngs of people. She pulled out her book list and glared at it:

Numerology and Gramatica
The Monster Book Of Monsters (Year Three)
Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky
Predicting the Unpredictable: Insulate Yourself Against Shocks
Death Omens: What To Do When You Know The Worst Is Coming
Broken Balls: When Fortunes Turn Foul
Sites of Historical Sorcery
Modern Magical History
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
Ancient Runes Made Easy
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
The Standard Book of Spells (Year Three) by Miranda Goshawk
Powers You Never Knew You Had and What To Do With Them Now You've Wised Up
The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection

She didn't have any idea where to look.

"When in doubt, ask somebody . . ." Nia tapped the nearest person to her. "Excuse me, I was wondering . . ."

"Roberts."

Nia couldn't control her yelp, and his grin grew even more menacing.

"I'm sorr--"

"Get your filthy little Mudblood hands off me, you fat nig--"

"You better shut your mouth before I shut it for you, Crabbe."

She snapped her attention from Crabbe to the owner of the other voice.

Goyle!

Crabbe sneered. "What's it to you? Just because Malfoy likes her doesn't mean we have to! She's a Mudblood, for Merlin's sake!"

"She hasn't bothered you--not once! Let her alone!" Goyle warned and stepped protectively in front of her.

"I can't believe you'd want to hang out with a fat monkey like her!"

"Who are you calling a monkey, you great big tub 'o lard!" Nia exclaimed. She tried to get around Goyle, but he wouldn't let her.

"Unlike you, I am capable of independent thought; I can hang out with whom I damn well please."

"There's no talking to you--either you or Malfoy. My father was right--the Malfoy name will become a disgrace all because of that sissy Draco!"

Nia saw red, and she went around Goyle to get to Crabbe. She shoved him hard.

"Leave!"

Suddenly Crabbe was airborne and didn't land until he was on the other side of the store. Nia looked on in horror at the sight as shrieks and screams sounded from other patrons.

"I need to get outta here . . ." she said hurriedly.

"Come on! This way!"

Goyle grabbed her hand and led her quickly out of the bookstore. He didn't stop walking until they reached the fork where Knockturn met Diagon.

"There, the shop at the corner," she said breathlessly.

"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes? I dunno if that's a good idea . . ."

"My sister's in there! C'mon!" It was her turn to do the leading, and she walked them inside. She saw the twins attending to customers, and she sighed in relief. Nia steered them to the backroom where the supplies were kept. Angelina was there taking inventory.

"Cheerio, Nia! Did everything work out all right?"

The ridiculousness of the question prompted Nia into a fit of hysterical giggles.

"What's wrong with her? What did you do, Goyle?" Angelina asked.

Goyle threw up his hands in surrender. "I didn't do anything! She's the one who sent Crabbe flying!"

"What?"

"I said she--"

"Wait a minute," Angelina said. She pointed her wand at Nia. "Silencio!"

Nia was surprised, yet relieved, that her giggles were muted. She gave a thumbs-up sign.

"All right, start from the beginning," Angelina ordered Goyle.

He sighed heavily. "So there's this bloke in our House, Crabbe--"

"Oh yeah, he hit Potter with a Bludger after the Gryffindor/Slytherin match. Arsehole. Continue . . ."

Goyle visibly gulped. "Ah . . . okay . . . anyway, he was about to call her something really foul--"

"What was he about to call her?" Angelina's eyes narrowed threateningly, and even Nia was scared.

"Uh--it's not my place to say."

"I asked you a question. Answer it."

Goyle looked to Nia for help, but she merely shrugged.

"He--he--he was about to call her a nig--"

"WHERE IS HE?! I'LL SHOW HIM A NIG--"

"What's all the ruckus, love?" Fred asked, concern lacing his voice. "You're scaring the customers!"

"Some wanker was about to call my sister something very foul!"

"Andamonkey," Goyle said quickly in a soft tone.

Fred's eyebrows rose nearly to his hairline. Angelina looked ready to shed some blood.

"Move out of my way, Fred. I have a little Slytherin to kill . . ."

"After what Nia did, I'd be surprised if he wasn't dead already!"

"What did you do? What did you say?" Angelina asked her.

Nia began to speak and realized no sound came out. She pointed to her mouth.

Angelina huffed and rolled her eyes. "Finite Incantatum!"

Nia moved her jaw before she spoke. "I told him to leave, and I shoved him. I don't know how he got airborne like he did."

Goyle looked at her suspiciously and shook his head. "No, you didn't. You said something in a foreign language, and gold sparks left your palms as you pushed him. I've never seen anything like it!"

"What?"

I don't remember any of that happening . . .

"Is this true, Nia?"

"Don't you need a wand to do magic?" she asked lamely.

Angelina shook her head. "Not if you feel emotion great enough. I take it Crabbe calling you all those names sent you over the edge."

"Well I do know I can't go back in there, and I still need to get my books!"

"I'll get them for you, Nia," Fred offered.

"Thank you, Fred," Angelina said, and she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Am I going to be in trouble for this?" Nia asked softly.

Angelina looked at her sadly and came to sit next to her. She ran a comforting hand through Nia's hair. "I don't know, love. Did anyone see you?"

Goyle shrugged. "It was so crowded in there it's possible no one else but me saw what she did, though it was hard to miss a flying Crabbe . . ."

"I wish I could've been there. I would've loved to see it!" Fred said with a grin. Nia saw his face suddenly pale and his eyes widen.
Oh no!

"Nia Roberts? Is there a Nia Roberts here?"

Nia immediately tensed at the deep, hard sound of the man's voice.

"What's this about?" Angelina asked as she stood. Nia made to get up, but Angelina stayed her.

"She's to come with me," the man said.

"Why?"

The man ignored Angelina's question and crouched down before Nia. She was trembling madly, very close to crying again.

"Nia?"

She nodded slowly.

"I'm Kingsley Shacklebolt, an Auror. It would be in your best interest to come with me--"

"But she didn't do anything on purpose!" Angelina insisted. Kingsley looked at her sharply, and she became quiet.

"As I said, it would be in your best interest to come with me. Please . . ."

Nia gripped the edge of her seat tightly. "Where am I going?"

"With me. I can't tell you anymore than that."

Her eyes flitted to Angelina who shrugged helplessly.

"Am I in trouble?" Nia asked softly.

Kingsley exhaled a slow breath. "It would best if we left now; all of your questions will be answered when we get there."

"Well, what do I tell my parents when I go home and they discover she's not with me?" Angelina asked angrily.

Kinglsey sighed an exasperated sigh. "Caleb and Elle already know. They were alerted before I even got here. Come with me, Nia. No one will hurt you."

"But--"

"Angel, love, it's best if your sister goes with Kingsley. She's in good hands," Fred insisted. The worry never left Angelina's face, but it did relax as Fred placed a soft kiss on her temple.

"I'm ready," Nia proclaimed with a bravery she didn't feel. Kingsley smiled kindly at her and offered a hand. Nia eyed it wearily before putting hers in it, feeling strangely comforted as his large hand surrounded hers. He led them to a broom in the corner of the storage room.

"Be warned, you'll feel a tugging sensation at your navel. It's perfectly natural, I assure you. I'll be there shortly," he told her. Nia looked at him confused, and he smiled slightly. "Touch the handle, Nia."

She looked skeptical but did as she was told.

"Tug" was an understatement.

Nia was all but jerked into the broom handle and flung through space like a rag doll before landing heavily on a black chaise lounge in an unfamiliar room.

Where am I?

"WOOF!"

"AAAAH!"

Nia jumped so quickly she fell off the lounge into a heap on the floor. Suddenly a large, black dog bounded into her field of vision, its teeth bared threateningly.

Today is just not my day!

Upon seeing her, the dog calmed, its lips closing over his teeth, and his head cocked to the side. Her head matched its action.

They were sizing each other up.

Apparently thinking her a non-threat, the dog began to walk closer to her in a nonchalant fashion. Nia, not entirely composed at the sight of a dog as big as she was, backed away until her back hit the foot of the lounge.

She was cornered.

The dog seemed to notice her distress and howled, almost as if it here telling her it would not harm her. Nia's body relaxed, but she kept a wary eye on him. The dog began to walk towards her again until she could feel his breath against the back of her hand.

He lapped at it.

Nia jumped at the unexpected action, and she drew her hand away. The dog looked hurt.

"I'm sorry," Nia said and offered her hand again. The dog put its nose to it before burrowing its head in her palm.

"Good boy . . . you're a nice doggie . . ."

The dog growled his thanks low in his throat. Suddenly he laid his head in her lap, and she continued to pet him.

"I would really like to know where I am and why I'm here. That Kingsley guy said he'd be here shortly . . ."

The dog's black eyes looked at her in confusion.

"Of course you wouldn't know anything; you're just a dog . . ."

"Truer words were never spoken, love."

Nia gasped both at the unexpected voice and the dog's sudden hostility to the visitor. He bounded up and growled, this time primed and ready to fight.

"Oh do shut up Snuffles . . . I'm here to talk to my daughter."

Snuffles bared his teeth even more.

"Come here, Snuffles! Come here!" beckoned another voice. Snuffles snapped at the first visitor before bounding over to the second.

"Kingsley has something for you in the sitting room," the older voice said. Snuffles inclined his head at Nia before leaving.

"Grandpa Albus! Daddy!" Nia rose and ran to her father. Snape hugged her tightly and caressed her head.

"It's all right, Little One. Everything will be okay," Snape said gently.

"Quite a day you've had, Nia. Getting lost on Knockturn Alley, shoving a boy all the way across the room, befriending a dog . . . I thought you didn't like dogs," Dumbledore said with a hint of amusement.

"That one didn't seem too bad," Nia sniffled.

"Appearances can be deceiving," Snape muttered.

There was an indignant bark from the other room.

"Damn him . . ." Snape drawled, and Nia giggled.

"Language, dear boy; Nia is but a child."

Nia would've glared at Dumbledore if she wasn't so content in her father's embrace.

"She's hardly a child, Headmaster, as she demonstrated today."

A thought occurred to Nia. While she was sure Angelina and Goyle recounted the events in Flourish and Blotts, they knew nothing of her getting lost. "How did you know about Knockturn Alley?" she asked Dumbledore.

His eyes twinkled, and he winked. "I have my ways . . ."

Nia looked at Snape, and he shook his head. "Don't ask. Whatever you do, don't ask!"

"What wa--"

Snape put his hand over her mouth, and she began to laugh. There was another bark, but this one was clearly of approval. Snape looked at her pointedly before glaring at the wall Snuffles was behind. Even Dumbledore chuckled.

"Glad to be the source of your entertainment," Snape scowled.

"Oh dear boy, you need to, as Muggle teens say, 'lighten up,'" Dumbledore insisted.

"I will do that once the war is over."

"War?" Nia asked, alarmed.

The mood turned serious, and Snape walked her to the lounge. Dumbledore sat in an easy chair perpendicular to them and put his hands in his familiar steeple.

Severus exhaled heavily. "You read Potter's expose in The Quibbler, correct?"

Nia nodded as if that was a stupid question. "Who didn't?"

"Cornelius Fudge?" Dumbledore offered sarcastically. The corners of Snape's mouth quirked.

"Yes, well, there is a possibility another war is brewing . . ."

"Will Hogwarts close?" Nia asked.

"That is not the intention. The best way to fight the dark forces is to train the students--here. Hogwarts is now more important that ever," Dumbledore replied.

"Right, but that still doesn't explain why I'm here. School doesn't begin for another week!"

"You exhibited a formidable display of magic today, Nia," Snape began.

"Am I in trouble?"

"No, Little One. In fact, the Improper Use of Magic Office didn't even register what you did."

"They didn't?"

"No."

She was silent for a moment. "Why?"

Snape and Dumbledore exchanged glances. "Tell us everything that happened, love," Dumbledore asked kindly yet seriously.

"Uh, Crabbe was saying those--those th-things, to me, and . . . I just saw red--literally. Then I told him to leave, and I shoved him. Next thing I knew, he was flying through the air. I hope he broke a hip--"

"Nia!" Snape warned quietly.

"I'm not takin' it back. He deserved it, even if I didn't meant to do it."

"If term had started, I would've awarded you twenty points for that," Dumbledore said. His face showed his anger, and Nia felt a chill go down her back.

"Grandpa Albus?"

"He had no right to call you that. No right!"

"But--"

"There is one thing I do not tolerate, Nia, and that is that word. It's just as bad as Mudblood, if not worse, and I will not tolerate my great-great granddaughter being called such a thing."

"But Grandpa--"

He was too far gone to hear her. "I remember those men, those men surrounding my Asenath, taunting and beating her body as she screamed with the pains of her labor . . ."

"Headmaster!"

A green aura surrounded Dumbledore. He was halfway out of his chair, clearly in a trance. The arms of the chair had the indentations of his fingers from where he gripped so tightly.

"Albus, calm down. Calm down, Albus," Snape cooed. Dumbledore closed his eyes and began to tremble before finally sitting in his seat again.

"I am sorry, Nia. I didn't mean to--"

"It's all right, Grandpa Albus, I understand . . ."

Snape looked at Dumbledore with concern. "Are you well, Headmaster?"

Dumbledore nodded. "I apologize for my lack of control. Continue."

Snape hesitated a moment before doing so. "When you said those words, Nia, were you speaking English?"

She remembered what Goyle told her earlier, and she shrugged. "I thought I was, but apparently I wasn't . . ."

"Apparently?"

"Goyle said I was speaking in a foreign language, and gold sparks came from my palms. I didn't notice any of this."

"Gold sparks?" Snape asked, looking worriedly at Dumbledore.

"Dear Heavens above, that means--"

The door opening interrupted Dumbledore.

"Grandma?" Nia asked, shocked.

"Kingsley just told me what happened," Jamilah said as if she didn't hear Nia.

"Now do you understand why I asked you here?" Dumbledore asked.

Jamilah nodded and turned her attention to Nia.

"You, my dear, have some training to do . . ."