Forsaking Fate

Letters and a Diary

Chapter 5

September 7, 1991

Destiny,

How are you? Are you bored yet without me there to entertain you? I'm most certainly not! The first week has gone by very quickly and it was also very interesting. Let me start at the beginning though.

As soon as we arrived at the station, Mum began to freak out. She was crying and kept saying how she couldn't believe I was abandoning her or something like that. It was kind of hard to understand through the tears.

Anyway, once I was on the train...

*****

Flying out of the hearth, Harry stumbled and fell heavily to his knees. Behind him he heard the flames flaring up again and jumped out of the way. Almost immediately Harry's trunk fell out with James tumbling out after it. Dusting himself off, James laughed and pulled Harry to his feet, brushing some of the soot off.

"Enjoy the ride?" James asked mischievously.

"Oh yeah, it was brilliant," Harry replied sarcastically.

Behind them, the flames flared up again and out stepped Lily, calm and clean.

"How do you always manage to stay so clean?" James asked in disbelief.

Winking, Lily replied, "Magic." Turning to her son, she said, "Well now, we don't have much time before the train leaves so let's get your things into a compartment."

Nodding, Harry was following his parents onto the train when Lily suddenly dropped her end of the trunk, causing James to drop his own end on his foot, and yanked Harry into her arms.

"Oh no, my little boy's all grown up and leaving me!" she sobbed, squeezing the air out of him. "What am I supposed to do without you there?"

"Mum," Harry gasped, "I can't breath!"

"Lily, honey," James muttered, glancing about at the people who were beginning to stare, "You're making a scene."

"Mum!" Harry cried in annoyance as his mother planted a big kiss on his face, "You're embarrassing me!"

As Lily opened her mouth to give an indignant reply, a loud blast from the train cut her off and indicated that the children should be boarded by now.

"Now, Harry," Lily was saying with huge sniffs that covered up her husbands voice, "You be good, stay out of trouble and get good marks. I don't want to be receiving ANY owls telling me you're in detention."

"Harry, you have a legacy to uphold. I'm counting on you Son," James said, trying to override his wife's voice. "Make me and the Marauders proud!"

Giving him a look of disgust, Lily helped shove her son's trunk onto the train before saying a tearful goodbye and pushing Harry onto the train just as it began to move. Leaning out the door, Harry waved until the station's platform vanished from sight before dragging his trunk down the corridor.

After ten minutes of searching and not finding a compartment with any open space, Harry opened a door near the end of the train. Inside sat a girl with fuzzy brown hair, a boy with bright red hair and a large collection of freckles, and another boy who was fighting to hold onto his frog.

"Er..." Harry said, shoving his messy black hair out of his eyes and readjusting his glasses. "Hello, may I sit here? Everywhere else is full."

"Of course," the girl replied quickly. "Are you a first year too? Are you from a magical family or did you just learn of magic?" Before he could reply, she continued. "I just learned of it. It was ever so much of a shock but I was oh so glad. Nobody in my family has ever had a talent such as this!" Wide eyed, Harry glanced at the other two boys. Both were staring just as openly at the girl. "Well?" the girl said finally, pausing to allow them time to reply.

"Er, well," Harry started, "I come from a Wizarding family and this is my first year. I -"

"Oh, excellent!" the girl cut in. "And you?" she asked the brown haired boy.

"My parents are magical. They were afraid I wasn't going to be magical enough for Hogwarts. My Mum cried when -"

"That's nice," she cut in.

Babbling on for several more minutes, Harry finally managed to cut in.

"I'm sorry, but what are all of your names?"

"I'm Hermione Granger," the curly haired girl replied.

Smiling, the red haired boy said, "Ron Weasley."

"Neville Longbottom," the last boy replied.

"I'm Harry Potter." Glancing out the window, he noticed that darkness had descended. "I suppose we should change into our robes now. We're almost there."

Not much later, the Hogwarts Express slowed to a halt and the students poured from the doors and out onto the platform. At the sound of a booming voice calling the first years, Harry and the other children from the compartment followed the voice.

Before them stood a man that towered over them more than any normal man ever could have. With shaggy hair covering his face and head, the man looked quite frightening. As he smiled down at the children, it caused most of them to smile back cautiously.

"Whoa..." Ron murmured. "Who is that?"

"That's Hagrid," Neville replied. "He's a friend of my parents."

Nodding, Harry said, "Mine too."

Climbing into the boats that were waiting to carry them to the school, Harry waited eagerly for his first glimpse of the famed castle. Unconsciously holding his breath in his excitement, he leaned forward. With his first sighting, he was not disappointed. With high towers that disappeared into the clouds, Harry stared in amazement at the huge stone structure towering before him. It was just the way he had pictured it. For years James had gone on about the castle, with its secret passages, moving staircases and enchanted ceilings.

Coming to a halt, Harry and the others climbed from the boats and followed Hagrid up the stairs and into the Entrance Hall. Greeting them was Professor Minerva McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher and James' favorite teacher. After giving a short speech about the houses of Hogwarts and the point system, McGonagall turned and walked out of the Hall.

Nudging each other, the other first years began to speculate about how they would be sorted.

"I heard we have to perform some type of spell," Neville said worriedly, chewing nervously on his lower lip.

"No, my brothers said that we have to wrestle a troll!" Ron exclaimed, shifting nervously from foot to foot.

Listening to them, Harry couldn't help but grin. His mother had told him how he would be sorted after his father had scared him so bad he hadn't wanted to come. Deciding it was time to cut in, Harry asked which house they wanted to be in.

"Gryffindor," Ron said. "My whole family is there."

Nodding, Neville agreed with him.

"I want to be in Gryffindor too," Harry replied, "but Ravenclaw wouldn't be so bad."

Hearing McGonagall telling them to line up, they got behind each other and followed her through a door and into the Great Hall. Just as his father had said, the ceiling was charmed to show the sky outside. Four long tables lined the hall, each with many people turning to watch them walk by. Lined with thousands of candles that floated over head, the place was magnificent.

Looking up at where the teachers sat, Harry watched as McGonagall placed a stool and an extremely battered, dirty hat in front of the first years. Staring at the hat, Harry jumped when a rip suddenly moved and it began to sing.

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those with wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use and means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

As the school burst into applause, the stern faced professor unrolled a long parchment scroll and announced that when their name was called, they were to come forward to be sorted.

"Abbot, Hannah!" she called.

Stumbling out of the line, a girl with blond pigtails sat on the stool and let the hat drop down over her eyes.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.

As the first years continued to be called, Harry watched as each was greeted enthusiastically by their new house. Smiling as Hermione and Neville made it into the house of their choice, Harry watched in disgust as Draco Malfoy was called and he swaggered up to the stool. As Malfoy was placed instantly in Slytherin, Harry swallowed nervously. Not many were left. Finally, he was called.

"Potter, Harry!"

Walking up slowly, he sat down and dropped the hat down over his eyes.

"Hm..." a small voice whispered in his ear. "Difficult, very difficult... There is plenty of courage and talent -oh yes, there is an abundance of talent. You're smart; you will do well in your studies. Ambition, oh yes, there is sufficient ambition to get you anything that you wish... So, where do I put you?"

'Please,' Harry thought, gripping the stool so hard he wouldn't have been surprised to feel it break in his grip, 'not Slytherin; anywhere but Slytherin!'

"Not Slytherin, eh?" the hat replied. "Are you sure? You would do well in Slytherin. With Slytherin backing you, you could be great! No? Then it best be GRYFFINDOR!"

As the word was shouted to the school, Harry felt his shoulders sag with relief. Climbing off the stool, he headed for the cheering table. Sitting down next to Neville and the five other first years, Harry cheered as Ron was placed in Gryffindor.

When the food finally appeared, Harry quickly began to fill his plate. After eating his fill and listening to the Headmaster's speech, Harry tiredly followed a Prefect, climbed the staircase and promptly fell asleep on his large four poster bed, a large smile on his face.

*****

...Classes are interesting but also very difficult. They're not good enough to write about though; you'll have to read my parents letter to find out more about them if you wish. The only thing that happened to me was that I got my leg caught in a trick stair.

I hope you're okay without me and are making new friends fast.

Your Bestest Friend Ever,

Harry

*****

September 10, 1991

Dear Harry,

I am fine. Nothing much is going on here. We go to visit your parents a lot but it's just not any fun without you here. I miss you. Will you come back for Christmas?

I may see you sometime up at the school. My parents want me to go to school starting next year and have been speaking to Dumbledore about it frequently. I know I won't be eleven until March but Daddy thinks that I'm some sort of genius and is insisting that I'm ready.

Will you do me a favor? Look up Necromancy in the library and tell me what it says about the most recent one.

Since nothing at all is happening around here, I'm going to go.

Destiny the Great! - Ha ha!

*****

September 10, 1991

Dear Diary,

My name is Destiny Alexandria Black and I am nine years old. I've never had a diary so I'm not really sure what to - or how to - write in one. I'll just start with what I know. What better topic is there than the one that you know best?

I am a Necromancer and I have been one for hundreds of years. Having the life expectancy of zilch, I learn faster and sooner than humans - and no, I'm not human. Daddy says I'm a genius; I know I'm not. I'm just trying to combine over 110 years of life into two decades.

Am I whining? No, it's what I am and I'm dealing with it. I'm supposed to have memories of a past life - past lives to be exact - but for the moment they're nonexistent. Stanton says that they take time to develop; I say that I don't have much more time to be wasting.

Which brings me to why I am bothering to keep a diary: I've asked my best friend Harry Potter to find out about Necromancers for me. In this diary I shall record my life and all about being a Necromancer - Why couldn't I be something that was a shorter word? -, so I won't have to have others search for how to be one in my next life. Plus I could really use someone to talk to...

So, what do I know about Necromancers? Well, first...

*****

September 12, 1991

Destiny,

I'll look up Necromancy for you as soon as I can. Before I do though, tell me why you want to know. I'm not going to risk getting in that much trouble without an explanation.

Harry

*****

September 14, 1991

Harry,

It's none of your business! Just be a good friend and look it up please!

Dessy

*****

September 16, 1991

Destiny,

Either I get an answer or there won't be one for you.

Harry

*****

September 20, 1991

Harry,

Fine, but don't expect a hug from me when you come home for Christmas!

I'm a Necromancer and contrary to what you're going to read, we're not as bad as we're made out to be. If you want anymore info., look up my question!

Destiny

*****

October 14, 1991

Destiny,

That is so cool! Can you really do all that the book says you can do? Wait, you haven't read the book, so never mind.

I've included several pages of what I could find on the woman. Sorry it took so long. I had to break into the Restricted Section to find anything.

Harry

*****

October 24, 1991

Dear Diary,

The text is long and boring but very informative. So far I know how long to expect to live, what I can do - or at least what I could do three hundred years ago - and what to expect when the world finds out what I am. None of it is pleasant. Mostly, I already knew all of this but one thing I didn't know is that my talent in Divination was passed on from my previous life.

In the practical parts of Necromancy, I grow stronger everyday. By next summer I will no longer need instructing and will begin to take on my role as Queen of the Dark Creatures as soon as my memories return...

*****

December 26, 1991

Dear Diary,

Christmas was a lonely affair. Harry decided to stay at Hogwarts with his new best friend Ron Weasley. There s also a girl named Hermione Granger that is his other best friend but she went home to be with her family for the holidays. From what I can tell they hated her at the beginning of the year. Draco, the boy from the bookstore, was picking on her and Harry came to her rescue after he called her a Mudblood. Personally, Draco just got a good rating in my book if he doesn't like Harry's new friends - I know I don't. Ever since the grand rescue, they've all been buddy-buddy and Harry has pretty much stopped writing unless I write him first.

Unfortunately, I have other things to worry about, darker things. My parents didn't think I was listening, didn't know I was there, but I heard: Voldemort is winning. The ministry tries to put a good face on everything but how can you when there is nothing left that is good?

I don't worry about the Ministry or Voldemort winning; I worry more for how my people will be treated, whoever wins...

*****

April 14, 1992

Destiny,

Happy Birthday! I know this is late but I forgot with all my homework.

Have you talked with Dumbledore yet? Will you be coming to Hogwarts with me next year?

Harry

*****

As May arrived cool and sunny, Destiny and her parents were soon on their way to Hogwarts to meet with Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of the school. After months of arguing with Sirius about placing Destiny in school early, Dumbledore finally asked to meet with them at the school.

Skipping up the steps and into the building, Destiny looked around at her surroundings.

"Isn't it magnificent?" her father asked, looking around fondly.

"Um, yeah," she replied, all the while thinking, 'I've seen bigger and better.' Shaking the thought away, she frowned. Where had that come from?

Following her father down the corridor and up a flight of stairs, she remained silent as they reached the stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the Headmasters office. Knocking on the big wooden door at the top of the stairs behind the gargoyle, Sirius reached out and gripped his daughter's small hand.

When Dumbledore opened the door for them to enter, Destiny looked around curiously at her surroundings. The room was circular with portraits of witches and wizards lining the walls, small and large knick knacks lying on tables and shelves, and books scattered about in organized chaos. Overall, the room gave off a homey feel, a feeling of well being.

"Well now," Dumbledore exclaimed, clasping his hands together, eyes twinkling merrily, "is this our little genius?"

"Yes, Sir," Sirius replied proudly, "This is my little girl."

Smiling down at her, the old man asked, "Do you want to start school early?"

Shrugging, Destiny continued to examine the room as she said, "I don't care."

Frowning slightly, Dumbledore said to her father, "I thought you said she wanted to start early."

"Destiny won't do anything unless you make her."

Walking around to sit behind his desk, the Headmaster steepled his fingers and placed them under his chin. "This is most unusual. We have had many talented students come and go at Hogwarts, several geniuses in fact, but never has one wanted to begin early. Few have ever wanted to be advanced faster than their peers either."

"I know," Sirius said, "but Destiny is ready. She can already do most first year charm work."

Sighing, Dumbledore asked for when she would turn eleven.

"March 31^st," Destiny replied, never taking her eyes off of the molting bird on the perch in the corner.

Clasping his hands together , the old man smiled widely. "That does it then! She may come! The cut off is December but I'm sure we can make a bit of an exception in this case." Turning to the little girl, he said enthusiastically, "Destiny Black, welcome to Hogwarts!"

*****

May 5, 1992

Harry,

Guess what! I'm going to Hogwarts with you next year! I really hope I'm sorted into Gryffindor with you. I really, really want to be able to hang out with you. You will hang out with me right? I know that I'll be in a younger year than you but that won't change anything, right?...

*****

June 14, 1992

Dear Diary,

Harry will be returning from school tomorrow and I can't wait. I hope he still likes to play hide and seek. Maybe we can play Quidditch if my Mum will let me. Harry became the Gryffindor Seeker this year, the youngest Seeker in a century and I want to see if he's really as good as everyone is always going on about. I don't think he will be even if he did help Gryffindor win the Quidditch Cup thing. I guess I'll just have to wait and see...

*****

As the Hogwarts Express came to a stop at Platform 9 ¾ and Harry stepped from the train, summer had finally arrived...