Harry Potter and the Riasc Stone

Chapter One: Gemini Black

Adara smiled as her last class ended. Summer was upon them and it was high time that she got some sun on her face. She packed her school books away into her bag, thinking about how great it was that she didn't need to look at them for another three months.

Swinging her book bag over her shoulder, and pulling her long chocolate hair from out beneath it, she followed the other students out of the classroom, down the hall and out into the bright sunshine of summer vacation.

She was a little lost in thought as she walked across her school campus, the Salem Institute for Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was not a Seer by any means, fact her Divination skills were so horrible she had decided to drop the class. But she couldn't help feel like something was wrong. Somewhere, something was wrong, and though she didn't know what, it made her uneasy.

She finished packing quicker than her roommates did. She shared a suite in Dawson Hall with three other girls. One she knew was spending every remaining minute with her boyfriend, another was most likely still in class, and the last was walking through the door as she shoved her last book into her trunk.

"How was your last final, Adara?" the blond roommate asked. Adara shrugged.

"It went fine," she replied. "I mean, I'm sure my marks were decent, but..."

"But what?"

"Jenna, did something happen?" Adara asked, not able to ignore the feeling in her stomach. "I mean, has there been disaster or anything?"

Jenna thought for a moment. "Not that I know of. But we'll get the paper tonight at the Leaving Feast, and I'm sure they will mention something if anything has happened. Why?"

"I have a weird feeling is all," Adara replied. "I'm all packed, so I think I might have a nap. Wake me for dinner, will you?"

"Sure."

Adara smiled and retreated into her room where she fell onto her sheetless bed and dozed off quickly.

- - - - -

Harry Potter sat down on his bed and sighed. This summer was looking to be not much better than the rest. And now that Sirius was dead... no he was not going to continue that train of thought. He was not going to think about Sirius Black.

Harry sighed and lay back against his bed pillows. It had only taken a day for his Muggle relatives to put him to work. In his first day back at Number Four Privet Drive he'd already weeded the front, back and side gardens, washed Uncle Vernon's car, waxed the kitchen floors, and was now about to fall asleep on his uncomfortable bed. Two weeks later, he couldn't figure out how his aunt kept coming up with more and more chores.

A knock on his door pulled him back to reality and he stopped himself from groaning.

What now?

He opened the door to Aunt Petunia's bony face. "Yes, Aunt Petunia?"

"You will need to join us in the kitchen," she stated, not uncrossing her arms. "We have some things that need to be discussed." She turned and left his doorway promptly and Harry found himself a bit curious of her request.

Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were both seated at the kitchen table when Harry entered. His cousin Dudley, who took after his Uncle Vernon in more ways than were really fair to inflict upon a teenage boy, came into the kitchen shortly after and took a seat opposite his mother.

"Boy, your aunt and I are leaving tomorrow," Uncle Vernon began, not looking at Dudley. "I have a business trip in France and after signing this deal we will be in the market for a sunny summer home, so Petunia and I will be looking while we are there."

"Dad, what about-" Dudley began, but his father cut him off.

"You are not coming," Uncle Vernon said sternly to his son. "After the trouble you've caused us this past term, you should be happy we're not sending you off to the Royal Marines."

Dudley paled at his father's suggestion and Harry wondered what had happened to make his aunt and uncle have such a changed of heart towards their pride and joy.

"There are to be no visitors to this house while we are gone," Uncle Vernon stated. "This goes for you too, Dudley. Should we find any evidence of... that... funny stuff, boy, you will be locked in your bedroom for the rest of this year, and you will not be going back to that school of yours. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Uncle Vernon," Harry replied, but he knew that it was an empty threat; Uncle Vernon could control his return to school as much as he could control the weather.

"There will be no telly either, Dudley," Uncle Vernon continued, looking at Dudley. "The cable will be disconnected for the time we are away. Ms. Figg has agreed to look in on you from time to time. There is plenty of food in this house, and plenty of chores to be done to keep you both busy."

Dudley's face went even paler and his mouth dropped open. His parents ignored him and looked at Harry.

"When we return, if everything is in order, we will allow you to visit those... people... you visit each year, and stay for the remainder of the summer."

"How long will you be gone, Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked.

"Two weeks, if all goes well," he replied.

"Well, good luck," Harry said, trying to control his excitement. Two whole weeks with no Dursleys! And Dudley on chore duty! "I hope you have a good time."

Uncle Vernon eyed him, but did not comment on Harry's pleasant tone.

"Well, I'm quite tired from my day of chores," Harry said standing up and yawning. "And tomorrow will be filled with more, so I'd best get to bed so I can be up early tomorrow ready to go." He bade his aunt, uncle and cousin good night before nearly skipping up the stairs.

- - - - -

"Malissa?" a voice called and she froze. She knew that voice. The dark haired woman looked up and matched the voice to a face of a man her age, sandy brown hair with wisps of silver strands.

"Remus, hi," Malissa said. She knew this would happen; she was bound to run into someone from school. She stood and gave her old classmate a quick hug before he joined her at her table.

"Where have you been?" Remus asked. "It's great to see you, but where have you been all these years? Everyone assumed you were dead. We searched for you, but after we came up with nothing, so we just assumed you had been killed. It's great to see that you are still alive. What have you been up to? Why are you in London?"

"No, I'm not dead," Malissa replied. "I've been in the states."

"Well that explains why we couldn't find you," Remus replied. "I can't believe your here! Wait till-"

"Don't tell Sirius I'm here," Malissa said quickly.

"I was actually going to say, that Professor Dumbledore would be glad to know you're alive," Remus said.

"You can't tell anyone you saw me, Remus. No one," she said. "Especially not Sirius. Though, he should be quite insane by now."

A wounded look crossed over Remus' face and she was taken back by his silence.

"You really have been gone haven't you?" Remus asked quietly.

"Yes, and I'm not back to stay," Malissa replied. "The less people who know I'm here, the better."

"Do you want to know what happened?" Remus asked.

"I know what happened, Remus," Malissa replied. "The whole wizarding world knows. Sirius gave James and Lilly to You-Know-Who. Then he blew up a street."

"He was innocent, Malissa," Remus said. "It was actually Peter who blew up that street. Sirius escaped from Azkaban three years ago."

"He escaped?" Malissa asked and glanced around, expecting to see Sirius jump out from behind a corner. "Where is he now?"

Remus didn't reply immediately. The wound of Sirius' death was still too fresh.

"Remus?"

"He died, Malissa," he said. "He fell through the Veil in the Department of Mysteries." Remus retold the events of Sirius' escape, innocence and the Ministry of Magic for Malissa, all the time still wondering why she was in London.

"I can't believe this, Remus," Malissa said. "I can't deal with this right now. I need to go."

"Malissa, wait," Remus said, standing. "If he knew you were alive, he would have looked for you. We all would have. We thought you were dead."

"It's a good thing you all thought that," Malissa replied. "What was I supposed to do? My husband had just blown and entire block into pieces. I was not about to stay around when he was going to prison. I wanted more for myself and my bab-"

"Your what?" Remus asked, his eyes going wide.

"Good bye, Remus," Malissa said. She swept past him and out of the restaurant. Once on the busy stone laid road of Diagon Alley she turned and walked quickly towards the Leaky Cauldron. She ignored Remus' voice calling after her, fighting the tears in her eyes.

Sirius was innocent? Sirius was dead?

She shook her head to clear her thoughts away and was grateful when the stone wall leading to the Leaky Cauldron came into view. She was almost away from her past; she was almost safe.

Almost.

A curse struck the side of the building beside her and the force of the impact knocked her to the ground. Her shield was instantly up, but her magical force field didn't work on falling stone.

"Malissa!"

She screamed as the stone crushed her. She couldn't move her legs, or her arms, or her upper body. She was completely crushed by stone. Around her she could see and hear people running and screaming. Black cloaked figures were running everywhere, white masks covering their identities, firing curse after curse at the innocent witches and wizards who were caught in their way.

Cowards, she thought.

"Malissa," Remus said, couching beside her. He put a shield up, covering them both in a soft blue orb. "Oh god, Malissa."

"Don't move the stone, Remus," Malissa said. "It's not going to help. I can't move and I can't breath."

"Hang on Malissa," Remus said. "The Aurors are here, they brought Healers. They can help you."

"Remus, I'm sorry I ran all those years ago," Malissa said.

"It's in the past," he replied.

"Promise me something," she said and he nodded.

"Anything."

"Take care of my children."

"Children?"

"In Salem. Make sure they know about their father."

Remus shook his head. "You can tell them."

"No I can't," Malissa replied. "Promise me, Remus."

"In Salem," he repeated. "I promise."

A Healer arrived at that moment. She banished a few of the stones that had crushed Remus' school friend.

"I'm Healer Jefferys," the witch said.

"I'm Remus Lupin, and this is Malissa Black," Remus said. "She said she couldn't move or breathe." Malissa had dropped in unconscious and her breathing was unsteady.

"Four of her ribs have punctured each lung," Healer Jefferys said, feeling along the side of Malissa's body. She cast another charm over Malissa's chest and looked lost. "And another has gone straight into her heart. Her lower abdomen has been completely crushed and both her legs are shattered.

"What can you do?"

"Mr. Lupin," Healer Jeffery's started slowly. "She can't be saved. She's in no condition to transport to St. Mungo's, and she has massive internal bleeding."

Remus looked at Malissa's body again, and fresh tears sprang to his eyes as he watched her take her last breath.

He nodded and stood up, noticing for the first time he had blood all over himself.

"Are you injured, Mr. Lupin?" the Healer asked, noticing his stained robes.

He shook his head. "It must be Malissa's. Please, do what you need to do with..." he waved his wands at Malissa's body. "I... I need to see Professor Dumbledore."

The Healer gave him an odd look but didn't question him further.

Remus made his way through the chaos that was the aftermath of the attack in Diagon Alley. Many buildings had suffered damage, and there was stone and rubble covering the street.

He pushed his way through the barrier between the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley, and once outside the wizard pub, he Apparated to the Hogwarts gates.

- - - - - -

"Rigel, catch!"

The dark haired young man turned and easily caught the pigskin ball being thrown at him. He laughed at his friend and dorm mate. Trey was a Muggle born wizard who had a passion for the Muggle sport.

"See, after five years, you're getting the hang of it!" Trey laughed and trotted along side Rigel. Both boys walked into the Main Hall on their way to the Leaving Feast.

"You and the Muggle football," Rigel said. "When will you see that Quidditch is the way to go?"

"When your sister says she'll go out with me," Trey replied.

Rigel made a face. "Oh, okay, so never?"

"You seem to have no faith in my ways with the women," Trey replied.

"No, I have no faith in your ways with my sister," Rigel corrected him. "Women and Adara are two different things."

"Not to me, Rigel my friend."

"Then I think this goes without saying," Rigel replied. "Touch, look or even think about my sister with even the slightest amount of impurity, and you will find that your Muggle pigskin is some how charmed to not come out of your-"

"Mr. Black," said a voice strong with authority, and Rigel turned to see the Headmaster addressing him.

"Yes, Headmaster Quick?"

"As I'm sure that Mr. Johnson would like to further discuss your plans for his football, I must have you come with my immediately."

"I'll save you a seat," Trey said and fell back into the sea of students on their way to their last meal.

"We will continue this in my office, Mr. Black." Headmaster Quick lead the way and Rigel followed behind him quickly. He had never been to the Headmaster's office, and wondered what he could have done this time to earn such a reward.

Headmaster Quick held the door to his office open and Rigel's eyes quickly fell onto his twin sister's face.

"Adara, what's going on?" Rigel asked. She shrugged and turned back in her seat. It was then that Rigel noticed three people standing in the Headmaster's office, three people he had never seen before.

"Save Merlin," the witch said, who couldn't have been much older than himself and his sister. "He looks just like him. When he was younger, of course."

The older wizard had a long white beard, and was smiling at the two of them with approval and affection. The third was a middle aged wizard with sandy brown hair, and his face looked like he's seen a ghost.

"Allow me to introduce Adara and Rigel Black," Headmaster Quick said. "Adara and Rigel, please meet Professor Albus Dumbledore, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks."

"Just Tonks, if you please," Tonks said and shook their hands.

"Nice to meet you," Adara said.

"Sorry, but you said I looked like someone," Rigel said to Tonks. "Who is it that I look like?"

"Like your father," Remus replied. "Like a fifteen year old Sirius Black."