Chapter Seven, Pink Toad

Arriving at the Platform, Dahlia stumbled - due to the transport as she hated that form of magical transportation, and because of the nerve damage that reared its head at the worst times - but was saved from anyone noticing by the steady hold of Jasper and her father. Despite being on the potion regime for the entirety of the summer she still had to take six high dosage Nerve Restoration and six high dosage pain potions daily, she had hoped to be healed before returning to Hogwarts but she had improved as she had started on eight of each.

Plus nerves were tricky and it didn't help her body had been put through hell for thirteen years from her relatives until her father adopted her. Ignoring all the stares and glares directed her way, Dahlia with her family in tow made her way towards the train, meeting her friends (Fred, George, Ron, Neville, Luna and Kellah) who were waiting for her standing outside of the carriage on the platform.
"Lia!" Neville and Ron exclaimed, relief and worry warring for prominence in their tone, as they rushed forward to embrace their best friend and sister.
"Ron, Nev, let her breathe." Kellah chastised, slapping their shoulders with the back of her hand.
"Right, sorry." Ron mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"But are you okay, Li-Li?" Luna asked.

"I'm," Dahlia paused as she searched for the right word. "Getting there." She finished lamely. "Anyway, are you all okay?" She asked concerned, embracing Luna and Kellah.
"We're fine, firecracker." Fred and George replied simultaneously, a grin spreading across Emmett's face as he finally got to meet his idols in person. To create his own joke shop, was his dream ever since he was thirteen himself playing pranks on his friends and big brothers. "Dad, Kel's Mum and Nev's Gran were so angry over that farce of a trial..."
"... that they put in a complaint." George finished.
"I have to tell you something relating to that once we're in a compartment." Dahlia whispered.

"Anyway, this is Jasper Whitlock. We're mates and he's courting me. And these are his siblings Rosalie Hale and her husband Emmett McCarthy, Alice Brandon-Cullen and her wife Zoë Vlahos-Cullen, and their parents Carlisle and Esme Cullen. You know my Dad and Papa. Everyone these are my best friends and brothers and sisters: Fred, George and Ron Weasley, Heir Neville Longbottom my God-brother, Heiresses Luna Lovegood and Kellah Johnson." Dahlia introduced.

"It's a pleasure-"
"Are you really starting up a joke shop?" Emmett asked eagerly, cutting off Jasper.
"Emmett!" Esme scolded. "Manners."
"Yeah that's the plan." Fred started.
"And thanks to Lia and her investment it's becoming more of a reality now. Thank you lil' sis." George said gratefully, kissing Dahlia's temple.

"I'll invest!!" Emmett exclaimed excitedly. "Sirius, will you help me set it up before you go to Hogwarts, please?"
"Of course." Sirius readily agreed. "Oh, boys before I forget you should get a letter from Gringotts tomorrow as we," he gestured to himself, Remus and Dahlia, "have officially invested into your shop, so anything you need feel free to ask."
"Really?" They asked astounded.
"Yep." Dahlia beamed. "I'm no longer a silent partner but a fully fledged one." She squealed as Fred picked her up and spun her around followed by George making them all smile at her laughter.

"Where's your parents?" Remus asked Ron, looking around for Molly and Arthur knowing how protective they were.
"Over there with Ginny and Hermione. We had to walk away before we did something we regretted." Ron scowled over at Hermione who was glaring at Dahlia and Luna every so often while talking to Ginny. Molly and Arthur were just behind them talking with Hermione's parents but keeping their eyes on them. While Augusta was standing on the other side of Sirius a few feet away with Xeno, Lady Rosanna and Lord Jeremy Johnson, Kellah's parents. Nodding Remus quickly asked them to make sure Lia took her potions and asked them to look after her (which they all promised they would do) before they went to say goodbye to their families as the whistle blew.

"Sweetheart, if you need your Papa or I, you know you can come to us at any time, right?" Sirius asked seriously, crouching down to stare into her beautiful eyes that were the perfect mix of emerald and silver.
"I know Dad." Dahlia nodded, embracing both of her fathers. "And you can do my First Rite too and could we... c-could we maybe do a family night." Dahlia whispered, silently cursing her stuttering.
"Of course we can Cub. As much as you want." Remus agreed, pulling her into his arms for a tight warm hug. After a while he let her go so she could say her goodbyes to the Cullens and Jasper.

"I'll write to you as much as possible, darlin' and let me know when the first Hogsmeade visit is." Jasper whispered into her blood-red hair.
"I promise Jazz and I'll write to you too. I'll miss all of you." She whispered sadly to the others.
"Oh sweetie," Esme whispered, quickly hugging her again. "We'll miss you too, but we'll take it in turns to chaperone so we can all see you. Now I want you to study hard and ignore everyone else, there will always be nasty insecure people in the world but that doesn't mean we can allow them to break us and make us like them. Now do you have everything?"

"Yeah my trunk is shrunk in my bag as well as Hedwig's cage as she's flying to Hogwarts." Dahlia replied, pulling her messenger bag further up her shoulder.
"Alright then have fun and we'll see you soon." Rosalie bid, kissing her head as her eyes filled with tears. Climbing onto the train, Dahlia waved out of the window to her family until the train pulled round the corner and she could no longer see them, turning a smile pulled at her red lips when she saw her six best friends standing beside her waiting, their trunks already in a carriage just ahead of them with Lee standing in front of the door, saving it for the seven of them.

"Right, come on I have to tell you something important, then I want to know all about your summer holiday. Hey, Lee." Dahlia smiled, hugging Lee once she reached him.
"Hey Lia, now that you're here can you do those cane-rolls while you tell us?" He asked, holding the door open for them all to enter. Once everyone was in and seated, Lee was already on the floor before the seat beside the window on the left hand side of the carriage ready for his hair to be braided, Dahlia removed her rowan and elder wand from the holder.

"Muffliato! Clausūra!" She enchanted, she'd learnt the new spell in the Peverell Grimoire.
"You have to teach us that!!" Fred, George and Lee exclaimed excitedly as Dahlia stowed away her wand and took her seat.
"It's from one of my family's Grimoire," she said, causing their faces to fall but an understanding look also appeared on their faces.

"I never said I wouldn't teach you, I was explaining where I learnt it. It tightly locks something that not even the advanced forms of 'Alohomora' can open a door locked by the spell, only the counter charm." She added hurriedly when she saw Fred and George's sullen but understanding faces. "Of course I'll teach you. The six of you are my family as much as my Dads are."
"We love you too, Li-Li." Luna voiced for all of them, everyone adding their own proclamations.

"Now what is it you wanted to tell us? I suggest you hurry before the Wrackspurts return." Understanding what her friend meant, Dahlia - while plaiting Lee's hair - explained all about what was revealed at Gringotts, what happened in Diagon Alley, the trial (including how they tried to catch them unawares by sending out a late letter to the time changing, and certain members). Finally, she explained Alice's vision from not an hour ago.

"Bloody Hell!" Ron groused, a dark look upon his face which was repeated on everyone's face throughout the compartment. "If the so-called Ministry or this... woman tries anything I'll Hex them!" He complained, pulling out his wand.
"We'll help!" Fred, George and Lee added. "No one messes with our Firecracker."
"If she or anyone thinks they can do a repeat of how they treated my sister in second year and last year they have another thing coming." Neville promised, a scowl on his kind face. "I'll get Fred and George to teach me some good pranks and Hexes."
"Good on you Neville." Lee praised.
"Welcome to the Dark side." George teased.
"We have cookies." Dahlia finished teasingly, trying to lift her friend's moods.

As one they all turned to stare at the red headed female before the roof of the compartment was almost blown off from the sudden loud laughter that filled the small compartment. Once they had calmed down, wiping the tears from their eyes, they continued their serious conversation.
"If this pink toad thinks she can infiltrate Hogwarts so easily she has another thing coming." Kellah promised darkly.
"Now Kellah," Luna reproached. "You mustn't say that it's an insult to Trevor the Toad." Once again they dissolved into laughter as a blissful euphoria filled the compartment as they relished in the light they had in that moment for they knew in the back of their minds that dark times would soon be upon them.

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Spell translation from Latin to English:

• Clausūra = lock.