CHAPTER SIXTY SIX: 𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐑𝐒-𝐈𝐍-𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆
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These past few weeks were just basically Sirius, Draco, and I quarantined inside Grimmauld Place.
And I thought I'd get a pass on Covid in another world.
Remus would drop by at times, keeping us company and bringing us the best croissants we've tasted. He'd tell us news about his mission on keeping lookout for the other werewolves.
Tonks, however, was too busy since she was one of the highest paid Aurors in the Wizarding World. Sometimes, she'd send us letters telling us how her day went like, it must've really sucked to be professional.. well she's probably used to it by then.
The twins were really busy on the shop, it was crammed with people every single day, which doesn't surprise me at all because they do make great products. I've sent a letter to George to ask why they'd send me a Love Potion and how comical it was. He only sent a reply saying, "You seemed to be needing it a lot, goodluck!" And it completely annoyed me.
Maybe they've gone bonkers after all.
I would've gone to Hogwarts, I'd rather study and walk around and everything else, but that'll mess up everything considering that I wasn't there for almost two years, which means I don't have any idea on what they're studying, and I'm a walking zombie which will probably scare the kids more than they're scared of Voldemort.
It really is crazy, isn't it? Years ago I was just a teenager fan-girling over her favourite book, now she is inside the book, living like she really does exist in it.
I just miss Mom, truly. She might not come to my mind at all times because of these challenges I was supposed to do, but I know that deep inside, I'll always be thinking about her. What could she be doing back in California? Is she thinking about me too? Is she looking for me? Do I even exist there?
I just can't believe I went through three different worlds in a span of one and a half year. In those three worlds, I met my own families, and it was all worthwhile. I better stop forming bonds now, because the more I get attached, the more it hurts when it ends.
Will this end? The same question was still in my mind since third year, is this real? Or was it all just a dream I'm living in? What state of life am I in right now?
The more I think about it, the more I get even more confused. I was too focused on this timeline to even think about my own timeline. At first, I thought it would be great if I was to live inside a fictional world, but the longer it lasts, I happen to realize that it is fictional, but it doesn't mean it won't affect me at any course.
It's surprising that I still haven't gone crazy, right? With all these things happening, it's shocking that my mentality is able to consume all of these madness.
It's either I have a really strong mind, or I was born crazy to handle all of these things. I don't even know if I'm alive or I was just dreaming. But it all feels real, so I have no other choice but to live in the moment.
I used to be a very normal girl in California who surfs and watch movies on Netflix. Now, I overcame through two worlds, becoming a witch and being able to withdrew magical powers.
If anyone told me this would happen to me, I wouldn't even believe them.
As much as I liked to be here, I didn't wish for things to go this way. I'm really grateful to meet these wonderful people, but I didn't actually belong here, that's what is wrong.
Well, after the war, I'd be taking a leave and try to go find Mom.
My thoughts were broken down when I heard a loud knock on my door.
"Jills!"
I stood up, wearing my slippers before opening the door, revealing a frustrated Draco.
"What's up?" I raised an eyebrow as I combed my hair.
"What's up? I've been knocking for almost five minutes now! If you didn't open the door, I would've used a Bombardo on your door." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Alright, let me rephrase that. What could be the reason you're knocking at my door for five minutes now?" I teased him.
"Mr. Weasley's downstairs, with some stranger. He's asking for both of us." Draco deadpanned.
"Okay." I gave him a thumbs up as I dropped the brush on the dresser next to the door, before grabbing my wand.
Draco and I went downstairs, hearing hushed voices in the dining room. We walked inside and saw Sirius with Arthur and another guy I didn't know. He has long hair in a ponytail and he's wearing scarlet robes.
"Sirius, I thought you were feeding Buckbeak?" I asked as we sat down on the chairs.
"I was before they came looking for you two." Sirius shrugged.
"Hello, Mr. Weasley. What'd you need from us? We're not wanted, right?" Draco asked in confusion.
"Oh, dear boy, no worries." Arthur chuckled a bit before clearing his throat. "This is Williamson, he's an Auror and Moody sent him. I'm just here to help him navigate this place."
"Oh, yes, it must be something about training you two to become outstanding Aurors in the near future, seeing as you weren't able to take your N.E.W.T.s, this is a really rare thing to happen." Williamson nodded with a small grin.
"If I may ask, I don't understand. Draco was the only one promised a job at the Auror office, why am I included?" I frowned, confused.
"Because you're an Order member, Nicolette. It's required to be able to defend yourself with spells." Sirius spoke up, I was about to speak up but he raced me to it. "Using your wand."
I let my head fall down in embarassment.
"Now, shall we get going? I assume you have a spare room seeing you're not allowed to go to the Ministry." Williamson asked.
"Yes, we do have a spare room. It is on the second floor, the biggest door on the right." Sirius nodded.
We started to walk upstairs, I could see Draco's excited smile as he played with his wand.
I was wondering which room we're going in, until Williamson opened the door, it was Walburga and Orion's room. I let out a silent snicker.
Sirius, you sly dog.
Williamson looked around the room before pointing his wand around, the walls turned black and the light was only coming from a small lantern Williamson placed at the center of the room.
"We shall begin the training." Williamson announced. I quickly set my wand down the floor, gathering my hair to put it on a low ponytail, when Williamson struck me on my hand when I reached out to my wand.
"Ow!" I yelped when I felt the quick surge of energy on my hand.
"Rule number one; Always be prepared and keep your wand on your hand. We won't be tying our hairs in the middle of the battle, won't we?" Williamson said sternly.
"Right, sorry." I pursed my lips.
"We don't apologize to dark wizards, Ms. Cullen." Williamson said.
I didn't say anything as Draco and I watched him.
"We will use a few basic spells you learned at your first year to your fourth year. Now step up, you two, you will have a duel." Williamson timidly said.
Draco and I reluctantly stepped forward and faced each other, holding our wands.
"You should know how to use defensive spells and attacking spells equally. Now, start." Williamson nodded at us.
I squinted my eyes at Draco as I thought of a funny joke.
"Scared, Hobbs?"
"You wish." Draco smirked.
I thought of the first spell that came to mind.
"Deteriotatio!" I chanted, pointing my wand at Draco who's eyes widened in surprise. He dodged my spell and pointed his wand at me.
"Stupefy!"
"Protego!" I swung my wand back.
"Protego horribilis!" Draco chanted back.
"Expelliarmus!" I said, and his wand flew to my feet.
I gotta thank Harry for that simple idea.
"Nice one, Jills." Draco clapped as I jokingly bowed.
"Brilliant for the first try, now, to our second rule, never keep your eyes or your attention away from the person you're duelling. In terms of duelling, unless you're doing it with a friend, you're free to do harmful spells to the opposing person." Williamson said.
"For our third rule, analyze the situation, don't just say or use spells you could manage to think about, you also need to use your knowledge to get out of a certain situation. When I said keep your attention on your enemy, it doesn't mean you shouldn't focus on your surroundings, you'll never know if a boulder hits you or another enemy will struck you from the back." Williamson explained. "Now, I want you, Mr. Malfoy to initiate the duel, switch places please."
Draco and I walked around as I went to where he was standing earlier.
I waited for his chant as I clutched my wand.
"Periculum!" Draco's wand shot red sparks, which I immediately countered.
"Incarcerous!" I said, ropes tying around Draco's arms but he had the chance to undo it.
"Finite Incantatem!"
"Serpensortia!" Williamson said behind Draco, which shocked us both.
The snake slithered over to Draco, but before it could be close enough, he pointed at the snake.
"Evanesco!"
The snake disappeared in thin air as my jaw dropped in amazement.
"Quick reflexes, Hobbs!" I hollered.
"Well, I couldn't speak to snakes, can I?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Well done, Mr. Malfoy. Excellent thinking!" Williamson praised him as I cheered.
"Now, rule number four; Do not be afraid to use spells that can be used for multiple people, whether it may be magical creatures turned evil or dark wizards swerving in fours." Williamson cleared his throat, pointing his wand at the corner of the room and conjured dementors and shadow figures holding wands. Williamson disappeared in our sight after that.
Draco and I looked at each other in panic.
"Do you think they're real?" I asked in panic as the dementors came closer.
"Jills, I don't know how to do a Patronus charm!" Draco stepped back in fright.
Shit.
"Just think about your most happiest memory, and say Expecto Patronum from your heart!" I yelled as I shielded ourselves from the shadow figures' hexes.
"Alright.. happiest memory." Draco breathed in and out as he closed his eyes, we slowly stepped back from the flying dementors.
"Anytime now, Hobbs!" I turned to him as I chanted a quick 'Impedimenta' at the shadow figures before using an 'Evanesco.'
"I'm ready!" Draco nodded at me as he exhaled deeply.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Both of us yelled at the same time as we pointed our wands at the dementors. Light went out of our wands as it made the dementors disappear.
"We did it!" Draco hugged me in excitement as we watched our patronuses, a phoenix and a magpie fly around the room.
"We did.." I smiled before frowning.
"What's wrong, Jills?" Draco looked concerned.
"Nothing.. it's just, from what I could remember my Patronus is a cheetah, not a magpie.. it's weird." I tilted my head in confusion as our patronuses disappeared.
"It did?" Draco looked confused as well.
"Remarkable! You've done so well in your first official training!" Williamson clapped, appearing in the shadows as the lights of the room went back to normal.
"How'd we do, sir?" Draco asked as he looked like an excited puppy.
"Clearly one of the best! I've never had such great trainees, Moody would surely be ectastic when he hears about this!" Williamson said as the lantern disappeared.
We walked out of the room as we went back downstairs where Remus and Sirius were drinking tea.
"So..how were they?" Remus asked as he held a book.
"They incorporated great magic! They weren't able to get their N.E.W.T.s but they're well knowledgable about jinxes and defensive spells! I deeply enjoyed training these two, but I'm afraid my time has run out for this training." William wore his small suitcase, before bowing at us.
"Thank you for the cooperation, Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Cullen!" Williamson gave us a salute before apparating.
Draco and I sighed in relief as we gave each other a high-five.
"Was it too difficult?" Sirius asked us.
"Nope, not difficult at all. It was really easy." Draco grinned.
"Oh, please. You panicked when you saw dementors, you should be thanking me." I gave him a smug smile.
"Fine," Draco rolled his eyes. "Thank you, Jills."
"As you should." I said jokingly.
"Who knows, maybe 10 years from now, both of you would be great Aurors!" Sirius announced proudly, earning an eye-roll from Remus.
"Nicolette doesn't want to be an Auror, Padfoot." Remus shook his head, smiling.
"I didn't know that..?" Sirius turned to me in surprise.
"It's because you don't pay attention." Remus smirked.
"By the way.." I spoke out, the two adults turning to me. "What could it mean when your patronus changes? Because mine changed from a cheetah to a magpie without any reason."
Remus and Sirius widened their eyes at each other, before shrugging.
"It was probably because you were revived from the dead, Nicolette. Earning you a new patronus." Sirius spoke.
"Oh, okay. Thanks! I'll go take a small nap, I think that training exhausted me. Bye Hobbs!" I nodded at them before standing up and leaving the dining room.
Unbeknown to me, I didn't see Remus and Sirius' knowing looks when I turned my back against them.