Forsaking Fate

Growing to Lead

Chapter 8

Sitting in her room, flipping through a magazine, Destiny glanced up when she heard the creak of her door opening.

A month had passed since the end of school and Destiny had quickly fallen back into her habit of secluding herself from the living and spent a great deal of time in the nearby cemetery. Neither Constance nor Stanton had been seen since the last summer and Destiny had quickly lost all need for them. Since the beginning of summer Harry and Destiny had both gone to great lengths to avoid each other. With Harry, he would spend the day outdoors if the Black's were around and Destiny would stay indoors.

Watching as her mother stuck her head through the doorway, she waited patiently for her to speak.

"Honey, Harry's here. Don't you want to go play?"

Shrugging, she kept her eyes on the magazine. Sighing, Julia came in and sat beside her.

"Baby, I know it was a hard year but I think without anyone around, you two can patch up your friendship."

"He started it."

"And now you can be the mature one and finish it. So, go downstairs and talk to him. If you have something to say, tell him and move on from this."

Nodding thoughtfully, she rose to her feet and walked to where Harry sat in the living room. Alone, as they had not been in a year, awkward silence descended upon them. Sitting across from him, she waited. When he made no move to speak, she began.

"Why does it matter so much to you that I'm not a Gryffindor?"

"Who said it had anything to do with you not being a Gryffindor?"

"You hate me because of the Slytherin house."

Raising his head, from his Quidditch book, he gave her a blank stare.

"Why did you have to choose Slytherin of all houses?"

"I didn't," she snapped. "I was ambitious, that's why I'm their. My ambition outweighed any bravery I had."

"You know, I wouldn't have cared so much if you hadn't buddied up to Malfoy."

"Who else was I supposed to hang out with? You? You wouldn't even talk to me!"

"But anyone's better than Malfoy!"

"How would you know? You don't know him at all!"

"I know that he's going to be a Death Eater just like his father!"

"Nothing is certain until the mark has been burned and even then they can become good again."

"No, Death Eaters are evil!"

"But Draco isn't!" Destiny exclaimed.

"Good people don't come from those kinds of families. They never have and never will!"

Complete silence fell upon them as Destiny stared at him in complete disbelief. Leaning forward, she annunciated every word.

"Draco Malfoy is my second cousin. His mother's maiden name is Black. My entire family has been Dark Arts practitioners for centuries until my father dared to refuse to be part of it. You say that good people can't come from dark families so you must believe that Sirius Black is evil too. Am I right?"

Opening and closing his mouth in shock, his mind finally registered the question.

"Sirius is not evil!"

"So you admit that just because a family is a certain way, it doesn't mean the kids will be too?"

"Malfoy is just like his father," Harry replied stubbornly.

Staring coldly at him, Destiny hissed, "You are such a hypocrite."

Turning on her heel, she left without another word.

*****

Summer passed with frosty silence between the two and when school started back up, they where more than happy to avoid each other.

After being back at Hogwarts for over a month, Harry and Ron were entering the Gryffindor tower when they noticed an announcement posted on the wall.

"A dueling club!" Ron exclaimed. "We should join it."

Nodding excitedly, Harry hurriedly signed them up. Two weeks later the three arrived early to what appeared to be half the school. The Dueling Club was to be run by Professors Snape and Flitwick, and while waiting, the three waved to various friends of theirs.

"This is going to be so exciting," Hermione squealed. "Dueling is a major part of the Wizarding culture." Trailing off as the professors entered, she stood straighter, giddy with anticipation.

Explaining how a duel worked and how one was to bow to their opponent, the two teachers squared off and shot one simple curse at each other, each side-stepping easily. Soon after, they were asked to pair up. Choosing Ron, Harry watched as Hermione quickly chose Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff in their year, as her partner. Facing each other as instructed, they each shot their hex. Dancing about until the spell was removed, Harry turned back to the stage grinning widely.

Deciding another demonstration was needed, two students near the stage were called to the front: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.

Scowling at each other, they faced off and shot their hexes. Dodging a particularly nasty curse, Harry yelled the first disarming spell that came to mind.

"Expelliarmus!"

Watching as Draco was lifted clear off his feet by the strength of the spell, he stood helplessly as the blond flipped backwards, landing with a sickening crunch. Silence descended before loud murmuring arose from the crowd.

Stunned, Harry didn't even see the flash of light that hit him from behind, knocking him unconscious.

Becoming aware of the second boy passing out, Snape rose to his feet and looked around in anger.

"Who did this?" he growled. Not receiving a reply, he shouted, "If I find out who was coward enough to curse a man from behind, I will make sure you are expelled!"

As silence rang through the room, Destiny concealed her satisfaction and pasted on a confused expression, all the while pushing down the boiling anger growing inside of her.

*****

As spring approached and summer finally arrived, Destiny found herself sitting across from Katherine arguing.

"Why won't you move on?" Destiny asked again for the tenth time, beginning to feel exasperated.

"I just can't!" the ghost wailed.

"WHY?"

"Because Remus is miserable!

"I'm sure he's not," she responded reasonably.

"He is and I can't move on until he's happy or at least able to move on from me."

Shrugging, Destiny replied, "So, we'll find him a girlfriend."

*****

"What about a Muggle?" Destiny asked.

"Yes, because Muggles respond so well to magic, I'm sure they'd welcome a werewolf with open arms," Katherine replied sarcastically.

"Okay, then who do you know that's good for him, Smart-aleck?"

Frowning down at her, Katherine said, "You sound like you mother."

Choking on the Skittle she was eating, she gave the ghost a disgusted glare. "Funny, really."

Shrugging, Katherine returned to the matter at hand.

"What about another werewolf?"

"Do you know another werewolf?" Destiny asked curiously.

"Um... no."

"Well then," Destiny replied, happily munching on her candy, "we'll just have to find one."

*****

By midsummer Katherine finally found a woman that met her standards for her living husband.

"She's a bit different," Katherine exclaimed excitedly, following Destiny into the bathroom and continuing to talk as the girl brushed her teeth. "She's a shape shifter that was raised in a mountain town that was made up entirely of other changers. I think she could really help him learn to accept himself."

Pulling the toothbrush out of her mouth, she asked around the foamy toothpaste, "So how do we get them to meet?"

Grinning, Katherine replied, "She's in town visiting Diagon Alley to pick up supplies for her people. Just make sure Remus is there tomorrow and we'll arrange a meeting."

After much nagging, Destiny finally managed to get Remus to agree to be the one to take her to get her school supplies. Smiling happily, she skipped along behind him looking around for the mysterious woman. After having visited Flourish and Blotts, Katherine pointed to a woman eating ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. Yanking on the werewolves' sleeve, she pointed to the ice cream parlor.

"Please?" she begged.

Agreeing, he went in to buy her a cone while she was to get a table and watch their purchases. Sitting beside the woman's table, she gave her most charming smile.

"Hi, I'm Destiny and I'm twelve."

Glancing over at her, the woman smiled, amused. "Dakota Lupe."

"I'm here with my Uncle Remus. He's not my real uncle but he's always around."

"Really."

"Yup, and he's really cute too. You should go talk to him."

"Nice Des," Katherine said, rolling her eyes.

Laughing, Dakota said, "You're so cute."

"Thank you." Spotting Remus, she waved him over. "Remus, this is Dakota." Hopping to her feet, she said, "I have to pee. I'll be back."

Running around the corner of the building, she peeked her head around to watch.

"Katherine, go listen in and tell me what's happening."

Grinning, the ghost floated over and hovered by their side.

*****

"Interesting girl," Dakota murmured, watching the child skip off.

"That she is. Almost as strange as her father."

"She's a special little girl..."

Giving the woman a searching glance, he asked her to sit with him.

"I'm curious to know why you would think she's different from any other child."

Gazing at him thoughtfully, she stated, "You're a made one."

"A made what?"

"Werewolf. You carry your gift as a burden; I can see it in your eyes."

Standing up swiftly, Remus snarled, "Who are you?"

Cocking her head to the side, she stirred her melted ice cream with her spoon. "A friend."

"I don't want your friendship."

"You should never turn down the offer of friendship. One day I guarantee you'll regret it."

"Who are you?" Remus repeated.

"No one." Rising to her feet, she grinned suddenly. "If you're ever lonely, give me a call." Stepping forward, she pulled out a self-inking quill and wrote her floo name on his hand. "Maybe we can talk about why you hate yourself so much." Turning away, she glanced back at him over her shoulder. "Your little friend is right though; you are cute."

Stunned, Remus watched in silence as the woman walked away, swinging a shopping bag.

*****

Smiling as the brunette woman strolled away, Katherine sighed in relief as total peace filled her for the first time since she had died over a decade ago. Giving into the tranquility, she allowed herself for the first time to believe that Remus had a chance to be happy once again.

*****

Watching the two Dark Creatures converse, Destiny's eyes were suddenly drawn to the now glowing ghost. As Katherine's form shimmered and vanished into the white light, she whispered goodbye and watched as her friend found her way to Heaven, no longer lost for eternity.

*****

Halfway through August, as the Blacks were enjoying the end of summer, Sirius got an owl. Sitting at the breakfast table with his wife and two children, he was attempting to stop the girls from kicking each other when the letter arrived.

Giving up, he took the parchment and watched the owl sail away without waiting for a reply. Turning it over, he glanced at the official Ministry seal before tearing it open. Reading the contents, he cleared his throat and motioned for Julia to follow him. Before leaving, he turned to his daughters and snapped, "Stop it or you're both going to be scrubbing this kitchen on your hands and knees."

Freezing, the girls watched wide eyed as he stomped into the living room and shut the door. Leaning against it, he moved to face his wife.

"Sirius, what happened?" Julia asked, fear creeping into her voice.

"Nothing bad," he hurried to assure her. "It's just an order I don't want to comply with."

"You threatened the girls. Honey, you never raise your voice to them unless they're trying to kill each other or have set something on fire."

Not replying, he handed her the letter. Frowning sadly, she whispered, "Oh Sirius, the girls are going to be heartbroken."

*****

Pressing her ear to the bottom of the door, Destiny listened carefully to her parents of the other side.

"Move!" Rosaline hissed shoving her sister in an attempt to move her.

"Shut up, you brat!"

"Your big butt is in the way!"

Glaring at her, Destiny put her ear to the floor just as the door opened. Yelping, Sirius tripped over his daughter and went sprawling into the carpet.

"Destiny, Rosaline, what are you two doing there?" Julia asked, hands on her hips.

"Spying?" Rosaline smiled.

"Couldn't you have found a less dangerous way to do it?" Sirius groaned.

"It wasn't dangerous," Destiny snapped, "until you fell on me!"

Stifling a laugh, Julia motioned everyone into the room. Sitting down, she waited for her husband to pick himself up off the floor and tell them what was going on.

"Girls," he began, rubbing his elbow, "I just received my new assignment from the Ministry and we're going to be moving soon."

"Moving?" Destiny asked. "But won't Voldemort get us?"

Wincing at the use of his name, Julia replied, "Of course not! It's been years since You-Know-Who has shone any interest in any of the people who live in this neighborhood."

"Where are we going then?" Rosaline asked.

"London." Julia replied smiling.

"We're going to live in the city?" Destiny squealed. "That is so neat!" Looking relieve Julia sighed. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow."

*****

The next day chaos reigned as the Blacks, the Potters and Remus Lupin ran about trying to shrink and pack all of the belongings before apparating them to the new house that had been arranged for them to live in.

Tossing a pile of newly shrunk clothes into her trunk, Destiny smiled happily. This was her chance; she could get away from the constant bickering with Harry and finally have some peace.

Hearing a knock on the door, she called for them to come in. Seeing Harry standing in the doorway, she frowned. Shifting awkwardly, he motioned to her trunk.

"My mom said I should help you carry that down. It's time to go."

Nodding, she grabbed the end of the trunk and pulled it down the stairs as Harry pushed from behind. Reaching the bottom, Destiny muttered a goodbye before running off to say her farewells to the others.

*****

Settling quickly into the new home, it was soon time to return to Hogwarts for her third year. With Rosaline starting school this year, Destiny was forced to endure her sister tagging along behind her as she made her way to the Slytherin compartment that her friends were sitting in. Stopping outside the door, she looked up at her sister who was a good inch taller than her.

"Hey Roz, why don't you find some first years and get a head start on making friends?"

Nodding, the younger girl hurried off. Going into the compartment, she flopped down next to Blaise and grinned at the Slytherins.

*****

By the end of the week, Destiny had fallen back into her routine of trying to attract Harry's attention only to be snubbed and hurt. After a particularly explosive incident, Destiny stormed into the nearly empty common room and sat forcefully in an arm chair across from where Draco was studying.

"What happened this time?" Draco asked annoyed at what was the third encounter in two days.

"Harry, he's- he's so- uh!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air. "He thinks he's so much better than me-"

"He might as well be."

Sitting up straighter, she narrowed her eyes indignantly. "Excuse me?"

"Look," leaning forward, Draco looked her in the eye, "I have had enough of this. This attempting to be his friend when he obviously doesn't want you is beyond pathetic. Let it go! You were friends once but it's over. Get on with your life! The way you keep following him around is embarrassing and degrading to yourself."

"Sorry," she replied stiffly, "It's a habit."

"Then break it. And another thing, I don't know what is wrong with you lately but this whole being angry at the world for God-knows-what has to stop."

"I am not angry at the world, "she protested.

"Yes," he replied, "you are. I know what you are." Lowering his voice, he continued. "I know you're not human but nobody has ever treated you badly because of it."

"But my people have been."

"Then do something about it. Stop being bitter at the world and boo-hooing about it. Make a plan and execute it." Grabbing her hand, he said, "Des, you were born to be a fantastic leader but you can't lead in silence."

"Make a plan."

Nodding, he finished, "Then execute it. What are you going to do?"

Glancing up from where she had been staring unseeingly at her hands, she replied, "I'm going to be the leader I was born to be."