Serenity Silverwing & The Hogwarts Five

Chapter Five

Dealing With A Ghoul

Last Seen: Mrs. Weasley came to whisk Serenity away from Hogwarts. As far as we know, Molly and Arthur are old friends of Serenity's family. How they got to be such, we don't know. Maybe the link lies with the past.

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Quite suddenly, I was no longer in Professor Dumbledore's study, but in front of an unusual house. It had rooms built upon rooms that were added to the main stone house. The add-ons absolutely had to be supported by magic; otherwise any fair sized gust of wind could send them all toppling to the ground.

"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." Mrs. Weasley sings brightly, releasing my hand.

"You're right but my home is named Lune des Ailes, not The Burrow." I mutter and follow Mrs. Weasley to the front door.

Mrs. Weasley goes to the front door, opens it and gestures for me to precede her.

"Thank you." I say quietly and enter the house.

The first thing I notice is that the house hardly looked as if three kids living there, let alone five! It looked so tidy and neat: it looked much like my home in the states.

I should write to Liz and Lauren and Archie soon. Tell them I'm all right... for the least part. I think in a corner of my mind.

I look into the dining room and, sure enough, there was a table that could easily seat ten people, give or take a few. Beyond the table was a partisan wall that separated the dining room from a medium-sized kitchen. Mrs. Weasley is bustling around in there, cooking up a storm and, from the smell of it, a good storm.

"Mmm... that smells good. What is it?" I ask coming into the kitchen.

Mrs. Weasley had been about to answer when an awful racket starts up in the attic.

"What in all the dark days was that?!" I exclaim sharply.

"That, m'dear, was our ghoul in the attic." she answers, exasperation emblazoned on her voice.

"So why doesn't someone go and tell it off or something of the like?" I ask, looking upwards.

"It won't listen to anyone." Mrs. Weasley answers and sighs, turning back to her cooking.

"Well now. It hasn't listened to me, now has it?" I say maliciously, whirl on my heel and start going up the narrow stairwell. Liz had taught me a few tricks and, while I couldn't control Peeves like Liz could, I could definitely teach a ghoul a lesson.

I go up the seven flights of stairs, the banging getting louder all the way along with my feet stamping on the stairs.

When I reach the final landing, I open the door to find a dreadful mess, and something that reminded me strongly of Peeves was making the attic even messier, which is possible, I assure you.

The ghoul stops and looks at me with curiosity. "So you're the misfortuned girl that she went to get. Serenity Silverwing, correct?"

"I'm not totally misfortuned!" I deny loudly.

"Then what are you?" asks the ghoul.

"Okay! So I'm an orphan until my Aunt Lauren and Uncle Archie take guardianship of my sister and myself." I answer. "I doubt that though since they live in America."

"Oh really? Why don't they move here?" the ghoul asks.

"I don't know. Uncle Archie said something about his friends turning against him one day so he left for America with my aunt." I reply then ask, " Why are you making such a racket?"

"Do you know how long it's been since I've heard any decent music?" the ghoul asks. I start shaking with laughter.

"What is so amusing?" the ghoul asks me, confusion contorting his silver-opaque face.

"Why didn't you ask one of the Weasleys to put on some music?" I ask, my voice quivering with laughter.

"Well I did say 'decent', didn't I?" he asks, turning up his translucent nose.

I chuckle lightly. "Tell you what. If you'll promise to clean up this mess, I'll sing for you about a half-hour before dinner. You have to keep things quiet, too."

"You've got yourself a deal!" he exclaims, thrusting an opaque hand at me eagerly.

"Great... Er... One problem." I say laughing nervously.

"And what would that be?" the ghoul asks, looking slightly crestfallen.

"How am supposed to shake your... er... hand when I'm solid and you're... well..." I answer helplessly.

The ghoul starts laughing. His laughter is so infectious, I start laughing, too.

This is going to be a very interesting summer.

*             *             *             *             *

"Tell her to reap it in a sickle of leather. Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. And gather it all in a bunch of heather. Then She's bee a true love of mine." I sing the last verse of 'Scarborough Fair'. So it's one of the three songs I know by heart and can sing without an accompaniment. I brace myself for the final chorus.

"Are you going to Scarborough Fair? Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme. Remember me to one who lives there. She once was a true love of mine..." I let the last note die away for a count of twelve beats until I cut off on the thirteenth beat.

"Oh! Brava! Has anyone told you that you have a marvelous voice?" the ghoul asks, clapping madly.

"Yes. You did yesterday after I sang 'When Love Is Kind'." I answer. I didn't add that three very special people had said so after the Artene third terms' solo and ensemble contest.

"I need to go. I'll be back tomorrow. Thank you for cleaning." I say, my throat beginning to close from holding back a fresh wave of tears.

"I look forward to tomorrow, milady." The ghoul replies bowing.

I dash down the steps to the room I'm staying in. I had taken Ginny's room because I didn't want to intrude on one of the boys' rooms; what decent girl would; and I really didn't want to know what Ron or Percy had hidden in their drawers and especially not Fred and George's!

***** Flashback *****

"Now where eez ma little humming bird?" Anthony Lunez asked, looking through the crowd around him although not looking to his right.

I tugged on his sleeve. "I'm right here, Pere."

"Ah ha! Zere you are!" Pere exclaimed like he'd only just noticed me, "Zere eez my musical angelle!"

"Terra, Lavendar and you were great!" Mere said, beaming at me.

I puff out my chest proudly. "Professor Staffner said that we're the best of the third terms and better than most fourth and fifth terms."

"No doubt about that!" Grandpere Stephan said proudly, "I can't remember a group that looked so professional and so fun at the same time since I was here."

"Where's Diana?" I asked, looking around me.

"Why do I have to be so short?" Diana asked, looking up at me pitifully.

I sigh with a laugh. "Oh Dia."

"You have such a lovely voice. I hope you never stop singing. Mind, I won't make you." Grandpere said, cupping my chin in his hand then let go.

"It eez no wonder zat zey wanted you for the choir." Pere said.

"Terra, Lavendar and I have started working on our own songs." I said as Terra and Lavendar come up behind me.

"And they're not half bad either." Terra added, putting her arm around my shoulders. Lavendar nodded in agreement.

"Well, if they're even half as good as what you performed tonight then I look forward to hearing them." Mere says, "Tony, we need to get going. It's a long drive home. Bye bye Birdy."

"I'll see you this summer, sha-girl." Grandpere said then leans down and kissed my forehead.

"Bye Mere, Pere, Grandpere, Diana! I'll write soon!" I called out as my family walked away.

***** End Flashback *****

A tear makes its way down my face. 'Sha-girl', 'Birdy', 'Little Humming Bird'; all names that they called me and will never be uttered again. No one could call me by those names; not Diana, Lauren or Archie. Only them and they're dead.

I break down into sobs as I fall, face-first onto Ginny's bed.

Oh how I miss them... Why did they have to be killed... Dinner's soon. I'd better get ready. I think and dab away at the flood of tears.

I reach under Ginny's bed and take out my hope chest, which was where it was hidden, and without regard for the incense packets, candles or jewelry, I dig for a certain muggle picture that was most certainly worth a thousand words.

It had been taken right before I had left for England. Everyone had been there. Lavendar was taking a plane out to Colorado so she could go to American Star. Terra was taking the same plane as Lavendar out to California so she could attend Catswings since after it stopped in Denver it would go to Sacramento. Lauren and Archie each had a hand on one of Diana's shoulders. Diana, my dear sister, was looking on top of the world in her Artene red and orange uniform and was holding my hand. I was in my blue and green Artene uniform. The reason our uniforms were different colors was because the colors would change every year. The year behind me had worn purple and blue and the year behind that had worn red and purple.

And then there was them, my lost family. All of them were gathered around us newly discovered witches. Two muggle-borns and a daughter of squibs.

"Serenity! Dinner's on the table! Molly calls from somewhere below me

I stow the picture deep in my right pocket and head downstairs. My face must look horrible but there's no time to fix that. I think and sit down at the table.

I murmur a small prayer in French and begin to eat a meal, though smelling delicious, didn't taste much at all.

"So how was your day Arthur? Any luck with Sirius?" Molly asks.

Arthur sighs heavily. "None at all. No clues, no sightings, no anything." He sets his copy of The Evening Prophet. The picture on the front page catches my eye.

"May I see that please?" I ask, pointing to the newspaper.

"Sure Serenity." Arthur replies, handing it to me.

Straggly, matted, dark brown hair hid most of the face of Sirius Black but still... I brush a finger lightly along the edge of Black's gaunt face then take out the picture of my family and friends.

I stare hard and Uncle Archie then at Sirius. "So much alike." I mutter.

Arthur perks up. "What was that Serenity?" he asks.

"Sometimes I wish I had a bike." I lie quickly.

"A bike? What's that?" Arthur asks leaning forward, almost dipping his elbow into some gravy.

"Two wheel conveyance for short or long distances. Muggles get suspicious if you carry a broom around." I answer.

"Oh! I'd love to see that! Can you draw one? What parts would it need? Maybe I could make one." Arthur asks his barrage of questions in a matter of seconds.

"Oh dear." Molly sighs as I begin to list off the parts of a bike.

"Gears, pedals, a bike chain, narrow wheels, a bike frame, oh! And we can't forget training wheels!"

"Training wheels?" Arthur asks, looking thoroughly disgusted.

"Yes, and visible ones at that. Now don't you complain! Wouldn't you think it a bit odd to see a grown man riding a bicycle down the road at an angle fit to fall? I thought so. Going on..."

I sigh heavily. Dummy! I think harshly, You just had to go and mention something mugglemade!

Correction: this is going to be a very long summer.

*             *             *             *             *

"You shouldn't keep brooding like this." says one part of my brain. "But you can't just forget them like that." argues the other half of my brain.

I stare at the two pictures in my hands; one of my uncle, Archie, and the other of Sirius Black. Sirius and Archie look so much alike; same dark brown hair, same deep brown eyes, same facial structure. Cousins? Relatives of any sort?

I roll over onto my side, still on Ginny's bed and still trying to ignore the ongoing argument that's taking place. Last day alone, I think in the hopes of putting a cease-fire on the war in my head.

"Fred and George'll be back." says the optimistic me. "But so will Ron." argues the pessimist side of me.

"Serenity!" Bluemoon calls form outside the window. A moment later, she flies in the window with three letters clutched in her talons.

"Sunsmear's right behind me." she chirps, gliding to perch on my trunk.

"What do you have?" I ask, taking one of the envelopes.

"One from Fred and George, one from Liz, and the other's from Professor Snape." Bluemoon spits out the name of the Head of Slytherin House like it left a bad taste in her mouth then for affect, she snaps her beak and ruffles her feathers.

"INCOMING!" cries an orange and gold hawk as it zooms in through the window.

"Hello Sunsmear." I sigh. Uncle Archie gave him sugar again. I think, grinning. Bluemoon's going to have a fit with Archie on the wrong end.

"How many cups of sugar did Archturus give you THIS time?" Bluemoon sighs.

"Just a spoonful of sugar helps the mail 'cross the sea!" Sunsmear chirps cheerfully.

"Oh dear." I sigh. You're as good as dead, Archie. Bluemoon will hurt you now. I think.

"Can you just take Lauren's letter so I can catch the eleven thirty flight back?" Sunsmear asks, fluttering his wings lightly.

"All right, all right." I answer, untying the letter from his leg.

"Bye now!" Sunsmear calls, zipping back out the window.

Bluemoon looks tired and old compared to the hyper thing that just left even though she was a good ten years younger than Sunsmear. Me, I'm just plain left breathless.

"Well ... that wasn't very pleasant." Bluemoon ruffles as I start to remove Liz's letter.

"Oh hush, Moonie." I snap, "Any news from Lauren, even if Sunsmear is the one who delivers it, is good."

"Fine! Take Slimeball's letter and I'll be off." Bluemoon sniffs.

I take Snape's letter, muttering to her, "Just because it's the truth doesn't mean you have to say it."

Bluemoon flits out the window muttering something wicked about waking Archie up at three a.m.

I pick up Snape's letter and open it. "Why not? I don't think my mood can get any worse." I mutter to myself.

'Miss Silverwing,

               The following is a list of your summer assignments.'

             "It just got worse." I mutter. "Note to self. Never challenge worse."

'Ancient Runes- Describe all runes and their meanings from Chap. T (must be three rolls long)

Arithmancy- Read and Summarize Chap. Eleven and do all even problems therein.

Astronomy- Star Chart of Northern Hemisphere, Summer '

                        

             "Thank you, Snape." I mutter sarcastically, setting his letter down and picking up Fred and George's.

               I open theirs and read.

`Serenity,

           Hello! We just figured we'd better check up on you. After all, you did leave in pretty bad shape. Has mum started mothering you? What George means is 'has she started your Weasley sweater?' That's what I said. I was just clarifying. You'd probably stick out like a sore thumb among us Weasleys, what with your black hair and all. We've got to go pack. See you tomorrow! Fred & George

P.S.

Gavin says, "See you soon!" and Gwen says, "Get better, girl!"´

I smile. They're so nice... when I'm on their side of the pranks they pull. I think then reach for Liz's letter.

'Serenity,

It's great at the Weasleys. I'm sure you'll like it. Mr. Weasley's a real hoot. And gods know that you wreaked enough havoc with the twins! In all the time I've been at Hogwarts I have only seen Salazar get up to that level of anger Draco and his gang were at these last weeks! Harry's going to be up at the Burrow a little later on for the Quidditch World Cup. I'll try to come by sometime to the Burrow this summer, and I'll find some way to sneak into the Cup even though I'm somewhat banned, which is a long story that I'll tell you later.

                                                                                                           See you soon!

                                                                                                                      Liz'

Thanks Lizzy-girl. I think then snag Lauren's letter, tear it open and read.

'Dear Serenity,

             How are you? I heard you're at the Weasleys. Arthur is an old friend of ours. Say 'hi' for us. I hope everything's fine for the most part. Sorry about Sunsmear. I told Archie to stop giving him sugar but it doesn't matter, he keeps giving Sunsmear more and more. I'd stop buying it but tea wouldn't be the same without it. Diana misses you lots and she can't wait to get out there. Oh and Archie says 'hi'. By the way, that key that was in that letter you received was the key to a vault in Gringotts. Specifically, vault number three hundred thirty-three. Luv ya lots, witchgirl!

                                                                                                                                                      Sincerely, With Love,

                                                                                        Lauren & Archturus Blacksun'

            

             Oh no! The ring and key!!! I left them on my plate!!! I scream in my mind. How could I have been so stupid as to forget them?

               "Because you had just found out that your family had died in a train wreck." answers a part of my mind. Maybe someone grabbed them and will send them to me when they get back from school. I think, desperately hopeful.

I grab Fred and George's letter and put it on top of Lauren's and Liz's then place them in the 'Third-Fourth Year Summer' section of my letter packet.

               "Oh well. Might as well get started." I sigh, grabbing Snape's letter and head for Ginny's desk.