Destiny

Tests and Partial Truths

Chapter 5

When she had reached the Headmasters office door, Destiny knocked.

"Come in."

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. Inside sat the headmaster.

"Ah, Miss Black. Have a seat," he said waving to a nearby chair. She quickly sat down, eager to get it over with. "Now, you do realize how hard you will have to work to be able to remain in seventh year, don't you?"

"Yes Sir. But with all do respect, I'm smarter than most students that will ever come to this school are. And those I'm not smarter than, I can beat by pure determination." Seeing his amused, twinkling eyes, she continued, "I'm willing to take every test you want me to take. I want to be in seventh year. I want to graduate at the end of this year."

After a moments pause, the Headmaster nodded. "Very well, but you must take an exam in all of your classes. Follow me."

Hopping out of her chair, she asked, "What, now?"

"No time like the present. Besides, I'm sure you're eager to have this over with and if you don't pass the tests, I'd like to have you in your new classes by tomorrow."

While trotting to keep up with his long strides, she smiled. 'Yes! I know I can do this! Part one is almost complete!'

When Professor Dumbledore suddenly turned into a classroom, Destiny tried to stop so quickly that she tripped and fell into a suit of armor. Quickly jumping up, she ran into the classroom smiling sheepishly at the amused looks she was receiving.

"Miss Black-"

"You can call me Destiny, Sir. Actually, I'd prefer if you did. I feel like I'm in trouble when you say Miss Black."

"Of course, Destiny. Now, as I was saying, this is Professor McGonagall. She is our Transfiguration teacher. To make the exam last as short as possible a time, she will ask all questions aloud."

And so it started.

She asked questions that would have been on the written exam. They then started on the practical exam. She turned desks to brooms and quills to cats. As she went through the exams, the Professor's eyes widened in shock. In a quiet voice, Professor McGonagall whispered, "Turn the cat into a phoenix."

As soon as she heard her say that, warning bells began to go off.

'That isn't something they'd ask a student to do! That's what they ask a Mage to do when they graduate from a Mage school!'

Taking a deep breath- and hoping they'd believe that she had actually tried- she raised her wand and changed the cat into an owl. Feigning panic, she exclaimed, "That's not going to stop me is it? I mean, I got all the other ones right!"

Giving her an exasperated look, Professor McGonagall replied, "You passed my test with a 120%. You have the ability to skip your seventh year Transfiguration also." Turning to the Headmaster, she asked, "Albus, would it be possible to have her do some advanced placement work? She would, of course, do the seventh year work also, but I would like to teach her something a little more advanced too. It would be a wonderful learning experience."

Destiny groaned to herself. 'Should of messed up earlier. Now I've made more work for myself,' she thought grumpily.

"Of course you may, Minerva. But don't load her down to much. While she may excel in one area, she may struggle in another... such as potions," he said with a small smile.

As they left the Transfiguration room and headed towards the next classroom, she asked curiously, "So I take it you heard about my run-in with Professor Snape?"

Smiling, Dumbledore replied, "Yes, I heard, as well as the rest of the school. When a Professor is embarrassed, the news travels quite fast." Seeing her apprehensive face, he continued: " Not to worry! It couldn't have been you, do to the fact that your wand was still in your pocket!"

Destiny was more than a little relieved to finally reach the next classroom. She tried not to giggle when she saw the short, happy wizard.

"Well! This is exciting! A student eager to learn!"

Within the next twenty minutes, Destiny had completed everything that was thrown at her.

"Marvelous! You will have no trouble in my class this year! 120%! You scored even higher than Miss Granger!"

Laughing, Destiny replied, "Oh, Hermione's going to hate me now!"

As night began to fall and the exams continued, Destiny grew secure in the knowledge that she had nothing to worry about. She would most definitely be in seventh year.

The only class she had any problems with was potions. Even though she answered all the questions correctly, he only gave her a 90%. Though after that mornings escapade, she was happy to even have that. In Care of Magical Creatures though, she had had to cheat by using her powers to frighten the creature into submission. In Divination, she had to read a crystal ball and had been able to bluff her way through the exam without having to use her powers as a Seer. She had ended up with a low A. Trelawney had obviously not gotten over being told she was wrong.

Then came her final exam.

She had been looking forwards to this exam the most. She wanted to prove that she- while petite and feminine- could still fight off any evil creature thrown at her.

"Hi Professor Lupin!" she said happily as she bounced into the room.

"Hello Destiny. How have your other exams gone?"

"Passed them all with flying colors! Even Snape had no choice but to give me a 90!"

Smiling at her enthusiasm, he couldn't help but think of how much like Sirius she was. 'Dear Lord! She's just a girly version of how Sirius was as a teenager!'

"Well! It is late, so let's finish this so you can go back to your friends," Professor Dumbledore said cheerfully. "I have no doubts that you will pass."

"I'm not sure what you've covered in practical lessons so I'm just going to let you have a go at some random creatures that I've collected for my classes to study. I've already seen your knowledge in the book department, so we'll skip those questions," Professor Lupin said. "To start, I'd like to see how well you can produce a patronus."

At this, Destiny froze. "A patronus?" she squeaked. Seeing Lupins' nod, she stuttered, "Th... that's... very advanced."

"Don't worry. I just want to see if you can do it. No loss if you can't. If you can though, you'll already be half way done with your exam."

'Oh, crap! This isn't happening!' she thought frantically.

She knew there was a very good chance that James or Lily Potter would come out of her wand. They were, after all, the two spirits who had taught her to be who she was today. They had protected her from being beaten up when she was little and kids hated her because of who her father was. They had taught her that if people refused to be her friend because she had been classified as "Not Human", then they weren't worth her time. They had taught her that no one was worth her tears...

Taking a deep breath to calm her panicking mind, she raised her wand and pointed it at the center of the room. Thinking of the worst experience of her life-and hoping that the spell would be a flop-, she exclaimed, "Expecto Patronum!"

Out of her wand came the shape of a person. When she saw it, she gave a smile. Others would assume it was only a weak Patronus but Destiny knew better. It was a ghost. She knew that even if she had cast the spell correctly, the ghost would still be indistinct. It represented to her, another world that nobody could harm.

Smiling, she turned to look at the two adults. She couldn't help but nearly burst out laughing when she saw the disappointment on their faces: they had expected something grand.

Giving her a reassuring smile, Professor Lupin announced with forced cheerfulness, "Not to worry! That was very good. Most people can only form an indistinct patronus... All right! Next, a boggart! This is a bit easy but I think if a person can conquer their fears, no matter their age, they have extraordinary talent."

'Oh this'll be easy!' Destiny thought happily.

As Lupin opened the crate for her, she lifted her wand. The boggart immediately turned into a grave.

She looked over at Lupin who nodded encouragingly. "Go on," he said. "Fight the boggart!"

Just then, the grave burst open and out climbed a rotting zombie. It started towards her slowly, making a growling noise.

"Ew!" Destiny cried putting a hand over her nose. "Deodorant much?"

"Destiny, FOCUS!" Lupin cried, exasperated.

Smiling lazily at the zombie that was now less than five feet away, Destiny raised her wand. Mumbled the incantation almost indistinctly, she gave her wand a half-hearted wave. "Riddikulus." A giant fan appeared and blew it backwards so that it stumbled and fell back into its grave. "Ha ha!" Destiny smirked. "Loser!"

After the boggart was forced back into the crate, they continued. Nearly an hour later, they finished.

"Very well done! 110%!" Professor Lupin said happily.

"Congratulations, Miss Black. Welcome to your seventh year!"

Smiling at her luck, she couldn't help but almost skip back to the common room.

"Oh, Des! I'm so proud of you!" Lily said bouncing around her enthusiastically.

Laughing Destiny exclaimed, "You're making me sick! Hold still!" Saying the password (chiperknicker!), she climbed into the common room.

"There you are!" Hermione exclaimed. "Where were you?"

"I had to talk to Dumbledore."

"For three HOURS!" Ron exclaimed.

With a smile she answered, "I had to go from class to class and prove that I was smart enough to stay in seventh year. I passed all but potions and Divination with higher than a 100%. Those two Professors hate me after today."

After smiling at her comment, Harry's smile faded slightly.

"We need to talk."

*****

"We need to talk," Harry said.

"About?" Destiny asked apprehensively.

Hesitantly Harry asked, "Who's your father?" Seeing how she suddenly tensed, he knew he was onto something. "Is it-"

"Not here," she hissed. "Do you have somewhere we can talk privately?"

Harry quickly got up and waved for them to come with him. They hurried down the hallways and out of the castle with only one close call with Peeves. When they reached the edge of the forest, Harry pushed the knot on the Whomping Willow and they entered the passageway. As they walked, Harry noticed that Destiny had never once asked where they were going. In fact, she seemed to be listening to a voice- or a world- that nobody but she could hear. When they finally reached the Shrieking Shack and had entered, he turned to face her.

"Well?"

He was a little shocked to see the sad look that passed over her face. The entire time he'd known her- even though it had only been a short time-, she had always had a smile on her face. Even when she had faced Snape, she had had a smile to give. True, she had gotten angry in Divination but she had still been smiling after she had said her piece. The worst thing was that the sad look looked more at home on her face. As if, only recently, she had learned how to smile. As if loneliness and sadness had always been a part of her...

"What do you want to know? Where should I start?"

"How about the beginning?" Hermione suggested gently.

"I'm not positive I know the entire story but I'll tell you what I can... My name is Destiny Black. I was born March 30, 1982 to Julia Snow. I grew up in US but we never ended up staying in the same place- we were constantly moving. I think I was about three when I finally asked why I had no 'Daddy' like all the other kids... My mother told me that my father was Sirius Black," she paused there when she saw Ron's eyes get huge.

"You're Sirius' daughter? Why hasn't he ever mentioned you before?" Ron asked stunned.

"Getting there. My mother hated me. She made it very clear. She never tried to physically hurt me but sometimes words are worse. She told me that I was a monster because I was his daughter, that I was evil. I never believed her. I always knew my father was innocent. I used to think that one day he would escape from prison and come to get me. That he would protect me... I think I was six when I finally consciously realized that he wasn't going to come for me. Turns out, he never even knew I existed. He still doesn't. He escaped from Azkaban when I was eleven. I heard that he was going to Hogwarts; that he was after the Potter's son, so I decided then that I would get to Hogwarts no matter how hard it was. Took me five years but hear I am! I had every intention of getting you to tell me where he was by befriending you." At this she laughed. "Luckily for me, I ran straight smack into you in the bookstore! I didn't even realize it was you I was supposed to be trying to befriend until I walked away." Grinning at her incompetence, she shook her head and gave a small chuckle. Looking back up at them with a hopeful expression, she continued. "Now I'm hoping for more than the chance to meet my father; I'm hoping for real friends..."

Needless to say, after Destiny's monologue, Harry was shocked.

'So that's why he never mentioned her. He doesn't know! Well, we'll have to fix that,' he thought with determination.

"We can introduce you to him!" Ron said excitedly. "We can-"

"Ron!" Hermione snapped. "Hush!" At that, Ron immediately shut his mouth. "You're not telling us something. Something big."

"'Mione, she's aloud to have her secrets! I'm sure you have some of your own," Harry replied, annoyed on Destiny's behalf.

Still, Hermione kept giving Destiny a searching look. Seeing how uncomfortable she looked under Hermione's stare, Harry said loudly, "Well, It's late. We should be getting back." Just then, Destiny's stomach announced itself by growling loudly. "Or, you two can go back while Destiny and I go raid the kitchens!" They all laughed and made their way back up to the castle in silence. As they reached the Entrance Hall, Harry and Destiny went in one direction and Ron and Hermione in the other.

As they walked down the hall, Harry was surprised by Destiny's sudden question. "What is he like?"

"Who?"

"My father. I have a friend that remembers him but... you know... Good memories are always better when they're over..."

"He's nice. I hope he's freed soon. I'm going to get to live with him, you know." Seeing her wistful smile, he added, "I guess we'll be related then..."

"Yeah. That'll be nice. I've always wanted a brother."

With a pang, he realized then that he didn't want to be her brother. He didn't want her to just see him as a friend...

'This is crazy!' he thought furiously. 'I've known her for barley forty- eight hours! And worse, she's Sirius' daughter. AND she's only fifteen!'

Quickly turning his thoughts away from that line of thinking, he asked slowly, "So... Hermione said you were hiding something. Care to share?"

With a giggle, she gave him a little punch in the shoulder. "Trying to get ahold of my naughty secrets?"

"Oh! Naughty secrets, I'm intrigued..."

As they climbed into the kitchen, they were both laughing.

"Harry Potter, Sir!" came a squeal and a little body threw itself at him. "Harry Potter, Sir! You came to see Dobby?"

"Dobby! Get off!" Harry cried, trying to detach the house elf from him. When the elf finally let go, he said, "Dobby, this is Destiny. She missed dinner; could she have something to eat?"

Within seconds of asking the question, a dozen house elves had piled a heap of food into his arms.

"Um... Thanks?"

As they hurried out of the kitchen, Dobby called, "Goodbye Sir!"

"Well that was entertaining. I do believe you have a fan Harry Potter, Sir!" Destiny said with a giggle.

"Oh, sod off."

Smiling evilly, she said, "You know, I've heard lots of girls talking about you. Maybe we should start a fan club! Yeah, that's it! I can steal your underwear too and sell it to the fan club for money!"

"Dear Lord, NO!"

As they continued their banter down the hall, he couldn't help but feel that, for the first time in his life, he had found someone he could truly talk to. That his happiness had found a home within someone else...