No Time Like the Present [ENG]

Titel: No Time Like the Present
Språk: Engelska
Typ av text: Fan fiction
Antal kapitel hittills: 2
Färdigskriven: Nej
Rating: PG-13
Beskrivning: Roxanne Weasley, dotter till Angelina och George Weasley, ska på släktkalas hemma hos sin farmor och farfar i det gamla kråkboet. Där stöter hon av en slump på en tidvändare, som hon av misstag har i sönder och hon skickas tillbaka till år 1977. Marodörernas sjunde och sista år på Hogwarts. Hon finner sig bland hjältar och skurkar. Phoenixordern och Dödätarna. Gott och ont. Så vad händer när Dödsätarna vill ha henne som en av sina egna? Varför vill inte Marodörerna veta av henne? Och hur i Merlins namn ska hon lyckas ta sig hem igen?

---

Chapter 1.1

"Fred - Fred! Stop that right now!"

"Oh, I was only having a bit of fun. You're such a killjoy, Roxie", Fred remarked, taking his finger out of Roxanne's ear. Roxanne huffed, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.

"Honestly, you have the maturity level of a three year old", Roxanne said. Fred only grinned, shrugging in an amused way. He picked up a striped gold and crimson tie, fastening it around his neck as he looked into the full-body mirror. Roxanne snickered. "You're really going to wear your school tie to visit gran and grandpa?"

"I don't own any others", Fred answered, "and mum told us to look nice."

Roxanne flipped over onto her back, staring at the ceiling of her brother Fred's bedroom. She was laying on his bed wearing a lavender colored dress, her dark hair curled and past her shoulders. Roxanne tugged at a long strand, imagining it being a bright aqua color. Because she had been watching Teddy change his hair color all of her life, Roxanne had a fascination with colors. She even dyed her hair bright red once, which caused her mother to have a conniption and charm it back to dark brown. Her dad thought it was funny, justifying it by saying "she's only trying to be a real Weasley!". Dad slept on the couch that night.

Fred glanced at her in the mirror, an eyebrow raised. "How are you ready already? I'd expect you to take at least three hours to do your hair."

Roxanne rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at his head. "Ha, ha. Very funny." Roxanne slid off of his bed and looked at her own reflection in the mirror, quickly straightening out her dress and hair before turning towards the door. She caught sight of Fred's trunk sitting on the edge of the bed, open with books and clothes spilling out of it. He clearly had forgotten to pack his things. Roxanne knew their mother would be annoyed to find Fred's half-way packing job, but Roxanne knew that that was the exact reason why Fred never finished packing.

Roxanne would be starting her sixth year at Hogwarts in September, while Fred would be starting his seventh. Gran had just turned seventy and had invited them all to celebrate that "she was seventy and still able to do a wonderful pumpkin-pie".

Roxanne followed her brother down the stairs of their home to the kitchen. Angelina was scrubbing dishes by the sink while George read the Daily Prophet at the table, sipping on his coffee. Angelina smiled warmly at Roxanne.

"You look beautiful, darling", Angelina crooned, reaching out to pat Roxanne's head. Angelina then caught sight of Fred's tie. She sighed. "I suppose that'll do."

"Nice to see you too, Mum", Fred winked, pecking her on the cheek. Angelina chuckled. George looked up from his paper, grinning cheekily at Roxanne.

"Trying to look good for a certain Lupin, are we?" George joked, his eyes on Roxanne's outfit. Roxanne flushed. Angelina swatted her husband's shoulder.

"Oh, leave her alone, George," Angelina told him, resuming her cleaning. George put the paper down, his focus now on Fred.

"Fancy a quick Quidditch match?" George asked his son, who nodded eagerly. Both Roxanne and Fred were on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Fred was a Chaser and Roxanne was the Keeper. It was a common known fact at Hogwarts that a Weasley should never be crossed in a match of Quidditch. Roxanne was a particularly good Keeper, as were Fred and James as Chasers.

However, they were the only ones in their family who were really any good at Quidditch. Albus was a fair Seeker, but Annabelle Wood (daughter of Puddlemere United Keeper Oliver Wood) often beat him in try outs. Roxanne was good friends with Annabelle. Her father Oliver was very good friends with her Aunt Ginny, as they faced each other in Quidditch. Oliver also visited her Uncle Percy and his family from time to time.

Angelina shook her head as she washed the dishes. "Neither of you are going off. You'll ruin your clothes!"

"Yeah, but you could just charm them clean, Mum, can't you?" Fred pleaded, his foot halfway out of the door. Angelina pointed her wand at the door. It shut with a bang, leaving Fred cursing as he hopped on one foot.

"The answer is no. Besides, you lot need to go to the Burrow, your Gran is expecting you", Angelina said in a final tone.

Roxanne grabbed Fred by the wrist, towing him to the fire place. "Let's just go, Freddie," she said loudly, and then in a quiet voice, she added, "we can play when we get to the Burrow."

Fred beamed at her. "You're my sister for a reason, eh?" He waved at his parents once before reaching for the glittery Floo Powder on the mantle. "I'll see you there", Fred said as he stepped into the fireplace. "The Burrow!"

Fred disappeared in a whirlwind of green flames. Roxanne waited for them to die down before throwing her own powder in. She stepped in and followed her brother's example.

Roxanne stepped out of the fireplace at the Burrow to be hugged by her Gran. "Oh, Roxie, how you've grown!" her Gran shrieked as if she hadn't seen her in ages.

"Gran, you just saw me last week", Roxanne laughed, hugging her delusional grandmother back. Molly Weasley gripped her granddaughter tightly for a moment more before letting her go.

"You look so lovely, dear", her Gran said, smiling. She then clapped her hands together. "Come into the kitchen. Your cousins are here. I made a nice pumpkin-pie for you!"

Roxanne chuckled and followed her Gran to the big kitchen where nearly all of her cousins sat, eating loudly and talking all at once. She found a seat between Lucy and Louis. She put a piece of pie on her plate as she listened to the conversation her cousins were having.

"-and so the warlock said to his date, 'Gee, miss, pardon me, but you have absolutely no personality. I think you're cheating on me, as well. I think we should end things'. So the witch replies, 'Ask me any question and I'll be truthful'. The warlock looks her in the eyes and asks, 'Who was your first kiss?' The witch replies, 'A Dementor'", Fred told James, Hugo and Albus, who all burst out into laughter.

"I heard Joanie Edgecombe went on a date with Davis Finnegan?" Dominique was saying to Molly. Molly rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, and Richard Thomas, and Caddrin Boot and Langston Nott", Molly replied. Dominique scoffed.

"The Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes is having a serious withdrawal in potion related accidents", newly instated Ministry witch Lucy was explaining to Rose, who looked deeply interested. "They're referring all the people who complain about potions to St. Mungo's."

Roxanne grew tired of the different conversations and decided to excuse herself to the loo. She reached the disorganized staircase of the Burrow and started up it, pausing to glance into the rooms of her older relatives. When she reached a door that had Fred Gideon & George Fabian carved into the wood, she stopped. Roxanne lifted a hand to trace over her father and late uncle's names. Glancing behind her quickly, Roxanne opened the creaky door, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

The room smelled like aging gun powder. Roxanne saw several burn marks on the walls and ceiling. The room had several boxes lined up in front of the window, making Roxanne think that her father never cleared out his things after he moved. Roxanne picked up one of the boxes, peeking in it curiously. She sat on the edge of one of the beds in the room, setting the box beside her. She saw that the head board was engraved with the initials F.G.W and G.F.W. Roxanne reached into the box, drawing out a photograph. Seven teens in scarlet robes waved eagerly at her, grinning as they held a golden cup that said 'Hogwarts Quidditch Cup 1994.'

Roxanne recognized every one of them. To the left there was her mother, with Alicia Spinnet, both victoriously raising their broomsticks in the air, beaming at the camera. Next to them was Katie Bell, her hand resting on the shoulder of her future husband, Oliver Wood, who appeared to be crying. He was at the center, holding the cup along with Harry, who looked overjoyed. On the other side of them was her father, his arm around his late twin brother's neck, laughing as they pretended to hit each other with the Beater's clubs.

Roxanne put the picture down, reaching into the box and pulling out another. This one had her father and his brothers on it, sitting around the kitchen-table, as they did various grimaces at the camera.

Roxanne smiled, slipping the picture into her bra. She wanted to give it to her dad. He always made comments on how he had very few photos of himself together with Fred. Roxanne put the Quidditch one in her bra as well.

Reaching into the box once more, Roxanne expected to find more pictures. Instead she pulled out a white sock. Roxanne grimaced and was just about to throw it back into the box, when she noticed it contained something. She emptied the sock and found a golden necklace. Frowning, Roxanne lifted the chain up. What looked like a small hour glass hung from it, glistening in the sunlight shining through the window. The words Time Turner was inscribed on the golden rim of the hour glass.

Fascinated by it, Roxanne didn't hear Teddy enter the room and so when he cleared his throat demonstratively, she jumped in surprise and dropped the hour glass. Roxanne looked up to see who it was, and saw Teddy looking surprised.

"Teddy, you scared me!" Roxanne exclaimed. The next second the world started to rewind. She tried to move, tried to make it stop, but found she couldn't. What looked like the silhouette of human shapes began entering and leaving the room at a unnaturally rapid pace.

Without warning the spinning came to an end and Roxanne fell on all fours. She trembled, looking around. She was still in Fred and George's room, but there were no longer any burn marks on the ceiling nor on the walls, their beds had been replaced by two cribs and all the boxes were gone.

As she got to her feet she caught sight of the hour glass on the floor. Gasping, she realized it was shattered. "What in Merlin's name did just happen?" Roxanne said under her breath, picking up the golden chain, twisting and turning it in her hands. Had she really just traveled back in time with a broken Time Turner? How was that even possible?

---

Sååå, vad tycker ni? Ska jag fortsätta? Har ett kapitel till redo, så det är bara att säga till!

Love it! Skriv gärna mera. ^^
*bevakar*

Tack du! Kul att du läser

Chapter 1.2

Roxanne put the necklace around her neck and opened the door to the room, her head peering out into the corridor. She could hear people talking downstairs. Maybe this was all just a joke. Perhaps Fred and James were just playing a joke on her and put a Spinning Hex on her.

Roxanne looked down the stair case, expecting her brother and cousin to emerge laughing and pointing at her. But they didn't.

Maybe she really had traveled back in time? Roxanne quickly made her way down the staircase. For safety's sake she stayed on a level just above the first floor. She could just see into the kitchen and what she saw made her nearly fall off.

A thirty year old Molly Weasley was serving two young children at the table. Roxanne assumed that the two children had to be her uncles - Bill and Charlie. Bill looked to be around six. His face was completely clear of scars, and he was eating eagerly out of his bowl. Roxanne watched the young version of her Gran smile as she patted her oldest son on the shoulder and said, "Easy now, or you'll get a stomach ache."

Charlie, on the other hand, hadn't even touched his meal. He was busy reading a picture book about dragons. Roxanne laughed to herself - some things hadn't changed.

"Good morning, dear."

Roxanne turned her head, spotting a much younger looking version of her Grandpa. Arthur Weasley held a small child in his arms with hair as equally red as his own. Was that her uncle Percy? Arthur set the baby down in a high chair and kissed his wife, causing Bill to laugh. Arthur then looked at his kids, his expression excited. "Hey, kids, do you want to see a real Muggle teleovison? It just came in last night!"

Bill popped out of his seat, eagerly following his father out of the door. Charlie followed suit, somewhat less eagerly, while Molly stayed in the kitchen.

As Roxanne watched her Gran, she started to feel her shock wearing off a little. This wasn't so bad. At least she was with family. Maybe Roxanne could ask her Gran how to go back to 2021? Making up her mind, Roxanne stood up, set on revealing herself to Molly. All of a sudden, Molly starting shouting.

"No, Bill! Stop kicking the gnomes!" Molly left the kitchen in a rush and headed outside. Roxanne sighed, resting her hands on the railing. Now what?

Baby Percy began to wail at the absence of his mother. The sound was unbearable to Roxanne. Without thinking, she ran down the stairs to make him stop. "Uncle Percy!" Roxanne shouted, feeling awkward referring to a baby as her Uncle. "Er…Percy? Shh, it's alright." Percy blinked at her, sniffling. Roxanne patted him awkwardly on the head. Percy became quiet. Roxanne smiled at him, turning around to walk back up the stairs. Her eyes caught sight of the Daily Prophet on the kitchen table. Roxanne stopped, picking the paper up and spotting the date. The First of September, 1977.

That's the first day of Hogwarts, Roxanne thought automatically, pondering. What had aunt Hermione said about her travels through time? 'Never let anyone who still exists in real time know who you are. It'll cause dire changes to the real time line.' One thing was for sure, she couldn't possibly ask any Weasley's for help.

A brilliant idea came to Roxanne as she thought of her aunt Hermione. Hermione had said she had gotten her Time Turner from Professor McGonagall. What if Roxanne went to Hogwarts and got help from McGonagall? Silently cheering, Roxanne hurried to the fireplace, reaching into the flower pot that held the Floo Powder. In thirty years, some things had truly stayed the same at the Burrow.

Smiling triumphantly to herself, Roxanne threw a handful Floo Powder into the fireplace, stepping inside. "Professor McGonagall's Office!"

Nothing happened. Roxanne stood in the fire, waiting for the spinning to occur. She tried to repeat herself, but to no avail. Frowning, she stepped out of the fire, staring at the fireplace. Why wasn't it letting her go? Roxanne had to get to Hogwarts somehow.

She heard voices in the yard getting nearer and nearer. Desperate, Roxanne jumped in the fire, saying, "Platform 9 3/4!"

This time, it worked. She felt the familiar feeling of rapid spinning as multiply fireplaces glimpsed by. She reached the platform and stepped out of the fireplace, focusing on the scarlet train. Roxanne tried to blend in, moving along with the large crowd of eager and loud students. She felt several boys staring at her. Glancing down at her attire, Roxanne realized she was still wearing her lavender dress. She blushed, trying to ignore their stares as she got on the train.

It was harder for Roxanne to move once she boarded the train - the halls were packed with students waving to their parents. Trying to sidle past the teens, Roxanne was desperate to find an empty compartment.

"Nice outfit", a boy remarked to her, snickering at her clothes as he disappeared inside a compartment. Everyone was shouting and moving and it was making Roxanne feel extremely claustrophobic. With no options left, she quickly opened the first compartment door she came across and shut the door behind her. When she turned around, she found several mean looking boys, including the one who had commented on her dress.

The boy in question raised his eyes to her, leering at her slightly. "Sorry, sweetheart, this is a Slytherin exclusive compartment."

Roxanne didn't want to join the crowd again and it wasn't like she was going to stay in this year for long, so she lied and said, "I am in Slytherin." The boys just laughed.

"With all due respect," a pale boy with a hooked nose said to her with no respect in his tone, "I've never seen you before."

Roxanne tried to come up with a reasonable excuse, but she was running dry. Then, a boy in the corner sat up, his long black hair hanging over his eyes. "Wait… Aren't you Zabini's cousin? I heard he was out this year with spattergroit."

Roxanne knew the name Zabini. Alex Zabini was a Hufflepuff in her Charms class back home. Roxanne nodded eagerly. "Yes, I'm Roxanne Zabini. That's right," she replied, tucking her hair behind her ears.

Väldigt bra ^^ den förtjänar verkligen fler läsare.

Åååh fantastisk jag bevakar!!!

Tack så mycket! Superkul att ni tycker om den

Chapter 1.3

The boy nodded, his mouth upturned.

"You're more than welcome then," he assured her, gesturing to the seat next to him. Roxanne decided that this was better than nothing. She sat down carefully between the nicer boy and the one with the hooked nose. The one who had leered at her sat directly across from her while two other boys sat next on either side of him.

"I wasn't going to come on the train…" she started to explain. "I was going to just Floo into the school itself-"

"Floo into the school? Nobody would take the train if you could do that", one of the boys remarked, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

The boy that had let her stay offered her a Bertie Botts bean. Roxanne, not wanting to be rude, took it, popping it into her mouth. It was soap flavored. She coughed, scowling at him. He smiled apologetically.

"So, Roxanne, why didn't you come to Hogwarts for your first five years?" One of the boys on the other side of the compartment asked curiously. Roxanne swallowed, trying to come up with a story. However, the boy next to her, saved her once more.

"I heard you were home schooled all your life?"

"Yeah," Roxanne answered, nodding. The boys waited for a longer answer. Roxanne looked back at the boy. "My parents thought it would be too dangerous for me to go to Hogwarts, I guess."

The boy who'd asked the question raised his eyebrows. "A Zabini, afraid to go to Hogwarts? I'd expect you'd have nothing to worry about. You are Pure-blooded, right?" The boys seemed to lean in for this answer. Roxanne nodded. They all sat back, seemingly relieved.

The boy next to her then laughed ruefully. "Ah, our manners are awful. I didn't introduce us," the boy said. "My name is Regulus. Black."

That was a name Roxanne knew. "Like Sirius!" she said without thinking. It was her cousin James' middle name. Regulus looked slightly displeased by this reaction.

"Yeah, he's my older brother," he replied sourly.

Roxanne paused, her mind putting the pieces together. "So… does that mean that Sirius goes to school here?"

"Unfortunately," the boy on the other side answered. Regulus chuckled.

"That's Severus. My brother and him don't get along. Actually, my brother and I don't get along," Regulus said.

Roxanne was astonished. If what she knew of her uncle's parents were correct, Sirius, James, and Remus Lupin were all in the seventh year in the current time. The pale boy next to her was none other than Severus Snape, her cousin Albus' middle name sake. Roxanne gasped, remembering what she knew about him. But before she could say anything, Regulus pressed on.

"Right, so there's me and Severus. By the window there is Jagger Mulciber-"

"Don't call me Jagger, please. Bloody parents have a wacky sense of humor," Mulciber complained, rolling his eyes. Regulus pointed to the boy nearest the compartment door.

"That's Preston Avery," Regulus introduced. Avery nodded. Roxanne turned her attention to the boy in the middle, the last to be introduced. Regulus looked at him. "And you can just call that thing in the middle Junior."

The boy in the middle glared at Regulus. "Since when have you ever called me Junior?"

Regulus laughed. "I haven't, but I thought it might be funny if she did."

The boy rolled his eyes. "Funny, indeed. She'd get a curse and a half using that name."
Roxanne widened her eyes at this. She was quite okay with the other boys, but the one in the middle frightened her slightly.

Regulus laid a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about him; that's just Barty Crouch the Grouch."

The boy named Barty scoffed. "Crouch the Grouch - you're a bloody riot, Black. I'm rolling on the damn floor laughing right now," Barty turned his attention to Roxanne, who leaned back. "Mind, you'll call me Barty if you know what's best for you."

Roxanne gritted her teeth. She had it up to here with Barty Crouch the Grouch. "I'll make sure I keep that in mind," she snapped. Barty winked and grinned obnoxiously, showing his teeth. Roxanne looked away from him.

Barty turned his attention to Regulus. "Speaking of your brother, Regulus… Did you find out anything of value over the summer?"

Regulus darkened. He glanced once at the compartment door, where students were still passing by. Severus lifted his wand a muttered, "Muffliato." Roxanne didn't notice anything different with the atmosphere, but the rest of the boys became more at ease.

"I'm almost one hundred percent certain that he's in the Order, as are his cronies," Regulus replied. Roxanne straightened. The Order? As in, The Order of the Phoenix? She remembered it vaguely as being the cause against You-Know-Who back in the day. Roxanne reminded herself that she was back in the day.

Severus leaned in, lowering his voice. "Whatever the case may be, The Dark Lord should know of any wanna-be Order members immediately. It would only be wise," he said, leaning back as he ended his sentence.

"Oh yeah? And have you ever met the Dark Lord?" Avery shot at him.

Severus bowed his head. Immediately, he held the attention of the entire compartment, including Roxanne . "Over the summer, I… encountered him, you could say. But he's not ready for us yet. He wants us to graduate Hogwarts first, to gain our power…" Severus trailed, lifting up his sleeve slowly. The boys leaned in eagerly, all except Barty, who was staring at Severus coolly. Severus succeeded in lifting up his sleeve. A thick red mark that looked like a burn was stained on his arm.

"What is it?"

"Did it hurt?"

"Why is it all red?"

"What is it?"

"It's a mark to show my loyalty," Severus replied solemnly. "I can't receive the Dark Mark yet. But once I graduate this year, I'll be ready."

Avery and Mulciber looked excited. Regulus looked slightly put out, while Barty looked livid. "You're kidding me; I have to wait two more years to get the bloody Dark Mark?"

Severus let his sleeve drop, nodding. "Have patience, Crouch," Severus warned. "It's a big decision."

"Like hell," Barty snarled. Roxanne began to feel sick. The Dark Lord… The Dark Mark… It could only mean one thing - Voldemort. She had come back to a time where Voldemort was at the height of his power. Roxanne paled, standing up abruptly. Regulus looked at her, concerned.

"Roxanne ?" he asked, standing up as well. Roxanne couldn't look at him; he was a Death Eater. Not now, of course, but soon he would be. All of them would. Roxanne shook her head.

"I have to use… the loo. Sorry," Roxanne said shortly, looking past the boys as she exited the compartment in a rush. Once she shut the door behind her, Roxanne began hyperventilating.

This was too much to handle. First, she is accidentally transported to a time where both of her parents don't exist yet, let alone her siblings or cousins. Then, she is forced into the presence of soon-to-be Death Eaters? Roxanne wanted to go home. She just wanted to go back to the Burrow and forget this entire situation ever happened. All she had to do was to go see McGonagall. And for that she had to get to Hogwarts, and soon.

As Roxanne moved away from the compartment to go to the bathroom, two tall figures pushed by her, barely looking over their shoulders to acknowledge that they had just bumped into her. "Excuse me," one of them muttered, while the other one said, "Careful there!".

Roxanne looked back at them, noticing the ginger hair on their heads. Frowning, she neared them slightly, watching them turn as they headed into a compartment. She gasped loudly, her eyes widened in shock.

Heading into the compartment was none other than what looked to be her father and his late twin Fred Weasley.

Amazin'

Wow! Dina fanfictions är så grymt bra!

TACK!

Chapter 1.4

Roxanne did a double take. How could her father and uncle be alive? How could they be here? She did the math in her head quickly. It didn’t add up. The twins she had just seen looked to be around seventeen years old. That would mean they were born in 1960. Roxanne knew for a fact that her father and his twin were born in 1978, the next year, in fact. There was no possible way they could be on the train.

Confused and shocked, she followed the twins, stopping outside of their compartment. She peeked in, seeing a few other shapes with them.

Opening the door, Roxanne entered the compartment. Instantly, she realized that these two men were neither her father nor her uncle. The two boys looked almost identical to Fred and George, there was no denying. But Roxanne had grown up with George as her father and she’d seen Fred in pictures. She knew instantly that neither of these boys were her father.

One of them looked at her, an annoyed look on his face. ”Look, we didn’t mean to bump into you-”

”-it really wasn’t our intention,” the other twin finished, crossing his arms. Roxanne felt a little faint. They sounded so much like her relatives. She knew they had to be Weasley’s.

”I’m not here to yell at you…” Roxanne assured them. The boys relaxed. The second one who had spoken sat down next to a tubby looking boy with watery eyes, but the first one kept looking at her. ”Who are you two?”

”The question is,” one of the other boys in the compartment with wavy black hair said, ”who are you?” He waggled his eyebrows at her flirtatiously. Roxanne was reminded vaguely of Regulus. She realized that this boy must have been Sirius.

”Lay off her, Padfoot,” a boy in the corner said in a resigned tone. With a pang, Roxanne realized this was Remus Lupin, Teddy’s father! The likeness was striking. She wished Teddy were there with her. It felt so unfair she got to meet his father and he didn’t.

Turning her eyes to the boy next to Sirius, Roxanne found herself looking at the splitting image of her cousin Albus and her Uncle Harry; James Potter.

The twin who was still standing tapped her on the shoulder to regain her attention. ”I’m Fabian Prewett,” he told her. Fabian then pointed at his brother. ”This is Gideon.”

Gideon raised a hand in greeting. Roxanne gaped. They weren’t Weasley’s, but they were close enough. Prewett was her Gran’s maiden name. These were her brothers!

Roxanne hovered by the door, not sure if she should stay for much longer. She wondered vaguely if the Slytherin boys would come find her if she didn’t show up after a while. But as soon as Fabian shot his warm brown eyes at her and asked, ”Why don’t you stay for a while?” Roxanne was completely taken in. There were no more seats left, so she kept standing awkwardly until James Potter kicked the tubby looking boy and ordered, ”Move, Wormtail.”

Wormtail… Roxanne knew the name from somewhere, but she couldn’t connect it. The boy shot up immediately and offered Roxanne his seat next to Gideon. Roxanne took it, murmuring a soft, ”Thank you,” as she blushed. Wormtail gave her a struggled smile.

”So, I believe Sirius was right in asking who you are, because I’ve never seen you before,” Gideon remarked as he took some Fizzing Whizzbees out of his pocket. Roxanne decided that she might as well keep up with the fake Zabini story. It’s not like she was going to be staying. Once she saw McGonagall, she would be brought right back home.

”I’m Roxanne … Zabini,” she added. This didn’t gauge the same reaction out of the Gryffindors as it had the Slytherins. James and Sirius both looked surprised, while Remus leaned forward to get a better look at her. Roxanne flushed. Fabian and Gideon looked at each other, their expressions questioning. The Wormtail boy just looked uncomfortable.

”You’re a Zabini?” Sirius asked, then his expression became quite hostile, ”so what are you doing here?”

”I-I…er, I don’t know,” Roxanne started, but she was cut off.

”Are you aware that Damien Zabini is the reason why Sirius and I kept getting detention last year?” James asked, scowling. ”Little prat kept ratting us out.”

”Hey!” Wormtail said, affronted.

”Oh… sorry,” James amended, looking at him apologetically.

Roxanne stared at them, unsure of what to say. Luckily, Fabian saved her. ”So what if she’s a Zabini? It doesn’t mean she’s a Slytherin, does it?” He gave her a swift smile. Roxanne was instantly comforted, and also a tad nostalgic. Dad…

”Why are you asking me, Fabian? Ask her yourself,” James replied, sitting back in his seat roughly.

Fabian looked at Roxanne kindly. She gulped, knowing she’d regret this answer. ”What house are you in?”

”Er… Slytherin,” she said under her breath. ”But this is my first year at Hogwarts, so I don’t think-”

”I think you’d better leave,” Remus offered quietly, looking at her. Roxanne gaped at him, unsure of what to say. Was there really this much house rivalry back then? Roxanne got along with a ton of Slytherins in her time!

”But-” she started, trying to salvage the situation.

”No, really. Go,” James told her, pointing at the door. Roxanne felt tears swelling in her eyes. She wasn’t used to being bullied. As awful as it sounded, she was used to being treated like something special. The Weasley family held a certain respect at Hogwarts in her day and age; now, she was being stepped over by her cousin’s relatives.

Roxanne did as he said, stepping up and moving to the compartment door. She turned at the last second, looking at Gideon and Fabian. Did they want her to leave as well? Neither of them was looking at her. Gideon was focusing on his Fizzing Whizzbees. Fabian seemed to be interested in something out of the window. Roxanne bit her lip and turned away, leaving the compartment. She shut it with force behind her.

Roxanne let the tears fall; there was nobody else in the hall of the train. She wiped them away to the best of her ability before she re-entered the Slytherin compartment. They all turned to look at her as she came in, something she was hoping they wouldn’t. Of course they’ll look at you! You’re a freak! You don’t belong here.
She took her seat between Severus and Regulus. Barty smirked at her. ”That was quite a long time in the bathroom. Issues?” he asked, sticking his tongue out at her. Roxanne didn’t even have the energy to glare at him. She just shrugged and replied, ”There was a long line.”

Regulus didn’t buy it. ”What happened?” he pressed, turning completely to face her. Roxanne looked at him. He wasn’t as obviously handsome like Sirius was, but Regulus had a protective look to him that reminded Roxanne of her brother Fred. Regulus fastened his hands around her wrists. ”Tell me, Roxanne … Where were you?”

Roxanne couldn’t help the tears flooding down her cheeks as she explained what the Gryffindors had done. She felt so ashamed, as if she were tattle tailing on her own family, who just happened to hate her.

A fierce look came upon Regulus’s face. He stood, looking to Barty, who also looked extremely menacing. ”Well, you know what we got to do,” Regulus said quietly as he made to leave the compartment, Mulciber and Avery standing up behind him. Roxanne shook her head.

”No! You mustn’t!” she pleaded, trying to tug Regulus back down, but Severus held her hands back.

”Go along, Regulus; I’ll stay with her,” Severus told him. Regulus shook his head.

”No. You’re coming with us. Both of you are,” he ordered. Severus sighed; Roxanne doubted he wanted to go any more than she did. Barty jumped up out of his seat and clapped Regulus on the back. ”Finally! I’ve been looking for an excuse to pick a fight with the Marauders all day!” he then turned his attention to Roxanne . Barty winked at her. ”Thanks for being the reason, love.”

”Oh, yeah. I was thinking about your sake the entire time,” Roxanne answered dryly. Barty was unabashed. He just kept his dark eyes on her, playful and yet so full of menace.

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