II. A New Beginning
Disclaimer: The usual blurbs of NOT MINE goes here, except the plot idea, of course, and some minor characters that will crop up that is from neither fandom's 'verse.
Chapter Notes: This chapter fast-forwards to Harry and Gang's 7th year at Hogwarts. Certain events from the books occurred, but instead of the final battle happening in the 7th book, I fudged the timeline and pushed it to the year before -- their 6th year.
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A Very Lestrange Relations
by PhoenixRae
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = II. A New Beginning FAITH STOPPED AND TOOK A lungful of crisp, northern UK air. She just endured a rigorous trip from Kings Cross in London to Hogsmeade in Scotland.
She was the first to step off the Hogwarts Express and was welcomed by the hulking figure looming in the corner waiting for new students to disembark from the train.
"Aiyah, Faith!" Hagrid bounded towards her, a large lantern in one hand while he used his other free arm to scoop her for a giant hug -- no pun intended.
Faith chuckled and patted the giant's side (that was how far her arms could encircle him). She waited a couple of heartbeats before stepping away and giving the giant a well-deserving head-to-toe inspection. She heard of what he went through during the war against Lord Voldemort the year before.
"How are you, big man?" Faith's years spent in America nearly erased her accent.
"I'm good. And ye?"
Faith broke to a genuine smile. Nobody's asked her that since...oh God, it had been a while since he'd been asked how she was.
"You know what, big man? I think I'm finally better," she answered honestly.
Hagrid's eyes squinted and the giant gave her a long, hard assessing look before his booming laughter startled and scared the newbies that just disembarked from the train.
"Good te have ya back, Faith," he reached over and patted the woman's head gently. "Ya know how to get to the castle, don' ye?"
"You know what? I think I'm going to join the first years and catch a boat ride with the rest of you."
Hagrid's brow rose. "Are ye certain?"
Faith made a face at the giant. "It's been
years since I took a boat ride from Hogsmeade to the castle, Hagrid. I kinda missed it," she admitted.
"Oh, alright then. But don't be complainin' when ye get soaked," he warned.
"Don't worry, big man, I won't."
= = = * * * = = = FAITH WASN'T THE LEAST BIT SURPRISED when a near-scrawny looking seventh grader approached her followed by his two best mates.
Sirius's godson, Harry Potter, and his two cohorts, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, had been inseparable since their first year at Hogwarts. Faith only met Harry once, when she returned back to England after Sirius kept on boasting to her about his godson -- James and Lily Potter's kid -- and how he'd spoil the little rascal to bits. To humour her older brother, Faith agreed to return back to England and witness Harry's Christening. She didn't get in touch with either Sirius or Harry again until thirteen years later, when Harry and Hermione helped free her brother from receiving the Dementor's Kiss.
Sirius wrote to her as soon as he was safely in hiding with Buckbeak the Hippogriff. It was through her brother that she and Harry Potter became owl-friends, although their missives were few and far in-between; they both detested writing long winded letters and only bothered to send one another birthday greetings and Christmas cards.
"So you're really here, huh?" Harry stopped an arm's length from a soaking Faith Black. He gave his godfather's youngest sister an assessing look and shook his head. "Did Hagrid dump you in the lake on the way here by any chance?"
Faith cocked an eyebrow. "Hagrid wouldn't dare," she told the seventh grader haughtily. "He knows I'd be able to take him on -- giant or not," she added.
Harry believed her. In their limited correspondence before Sirius' demise and the numerous ones that followed shortly after Bellatrix Lestrange sent his godfather toppling in through the Veil, Faith told him about this other power she has. She was called a Slayer and she was fighting vampires and demons that he and his friends could only dream of. Not even the late Lord Voldemort matched the demons and vampires she came face to face with during her time in America.
"Oh Faith," Hermione sighed and with a quick swish and flick of her wand, Faith was dry once again.
"Whoa," Faith stepped back and grinned. "Thanks Hermione. You gotta teach me that trick."
The brunette witch rolled her eyes and tucked her wand away. "Didn't you learn it when you were in school?" She asked cheekily.
Faith made a face at the eighteen year old witch. "I tried to practice magic after I settled in America, but a Slayer rarely used witch magic so I kinda got rusty with it," she explained.
"Right, right. She uses her strength more than her magic, doesn't she?" Ron stepped up and stood side by side with Harry. Ever since he first met Faith when she came to England last year when she heard of what happened to Harry and the face-off with Lord Voldemort, Ron's been
taken by the feisty Slayer.
"That's right, Ron. I'm surprised you even remembered."
"I don't think Ronald will likely to forget a single word you uttered," Hermione said under her breath and stepped up on Harry's other side. If Faith had been closer to their age and a threat to her and Ron's recently established relationship, Hermione would be seething with pent up jealousy right now. But the brunette witch knew Faith wouldn't go out with a seventeen -- nearly eighteen -- year old boy.
Ron turned a few shades of red and looked away. Faith tried her best not to embarrass the redhead anymore by covering her chuckle. Harry mentioned to her -- quite by accident, actually -- that Ron fancied her. Faith was flattered that at her age (she just turned turned thirty-four a couple of months ago) she could still catch the attention of a hormonally driven teenager.
A familiar throat clearing startled the foursome and turned their attention to the elderly witch standing behind them outside the Entrance Hall.
"The feast is about to start," Headmistress Minerva McGonagall announced, eyeing the trio lingering around Faith.
"Oh, sorry Professor," Hermione apologized then turned to bid Faith goodbye.
Harry and Ron followed suit and disappeared into the Great Hall after Hermione.
Professor McGonagall waited until the three students cleared the hall before addressing Faith.
"I see that you made up your mind, Miss Black," the elderly witch smiled.
Faith couldn't help but feel the warmth she always received whenever she was around this woman. Her former Transfiguration professor now the Headmistress of Hogwarts after the death of its former Headmasters Dumbledore and Snape, was a woman to be reckoned with.
"Please, Professor, let's stick to calling me Faith. I have outgrown the formalities during my time in America that I feel most relaxed by being addressed by my given name."
"Very well," conceded the Headmistress. "Faith, if you'd be so kind as to join me in my office after the Feast so we can discuss your duties, I'd most appreciate it."
"Sure," Faith nodded. "Uuh...will you be giving me the password now or later?" she asked remembering that before she could knock on any doors leading to certain private rooms in the castle, the doorways were hidden and passwords are required.
Professor McGonagall chuckled and waved for Faith to follow her into the Great Hall to await the arrival of the first year students.
