CANYON MOON ▇▇▇▇ VOLUME ONE
━━ ❛ 𝒈𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅 ❜

chapter no. 001!

SCRIMGEOUR SUCCEEDS FUDGE

     RUFUS SCRIMGEOUR, previously Head of the Auror office in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, has succeeded Cornelius Fudge as Minister of Magic. The appointment has largely been greeted with enthusiasm by the Wizarding community, though rumors of a rift between the new Minister and Albus Dumbledore, newly reinstated Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, surfaced within hours of Scrimgeour taking office.

     Scrimgeour's representatives admitted that he had met with Dumbledore at once upon taking possession of the top job but refused to comment on the topics under discussion. Albus Dumbledore is known to (cont. page 3, column 2)

     Fawn Depraysie closed her copy of The Daily Prophet when her godfather tapped her knee lightly. The soles of her black converse hit the ground softly as she followed after him, navigating her trolley through the crowded train station.

     September was a blessing and curse all in one this year. On one hand, Fawn would return to Hogwarts for yet another year of studying and quietness, away from the red-tainted memories that happily greeted her when she was home. On the other, she was reminded that this would be the first year her parents wouldn't drop her off at platform nine and three quarters nor pick her up for the holidays.

     The sinking feeling in her chest was shoved to the side as she approached the familiar brick wall that she darted through every year since she was eleven. Unlike all the other years before, two grim-faced, bearded Aurors in dark muggle suits stood on either side of the wall. "Fawn Depraysie. Ravenclaw." Her godfather whispered, and one of them nodded curtly, walking towards the confused girl. Seizing her upper arm harshly, he steered her through the wall, leaving behind her trolley. Once they arrived on the platform, Fawn yanked her arm from his large hands roughly and sighed.

     Her sky-blue eyes scanned the once cheerful platform. Families and friends weren't scurrying around frantically, trying to get everything together and on the train like they usually were. There was a silence among the crowd of hardened and, in some cases, scared faces. Voices could be heard, but they were hushed and low.

     The wheels of a trolley squealed as the cart halted, the other Auror and her godfather behind it. Davey Gudgeon nodded to the suited men, and they eyed the two as they walked away.

     "Nervous?" Davey whispered to his goddaughter, and she shrugged, briefly making eye contact with him as they neared closer to the train. "This year will be better than last," he reassured her, but she hardly heard him over the sound of the whistleblowing. Students of all ages and houses boarded the train as their parents gave them silent but worrisome smiles. Things weren't okay, and everyone knew it. The end began months ago, and nearly everyone had known what was coming for them. The Wizarding community was growing quiet and fearful.

     "Fane," Davey called, using the nickname he had coined when she was three. Her blue eyes connected with his hazel ones. "Promise me that you'll try to make friends and have fun this year," he pressed, loading her trunk out of the trolley and onto the train.

     Furrowing her brows, the blonde crossed her arms. "I have friends," Fawn spoke indignantly. At her words, she received a pointed stare. "Fine. I promise that I'll try," she sighed, hanging her head slightly.

     "Good. Now, go find a compartment before they're all filled." Davey murmured, giving her a tight hug. Squeezing him lightly, she let out a breath of anxiety, letting him know in her own way that she would be okay.

     Once she'd boarded the train, the blonde waved at him through the window gently as the train gathered speed, leaving behind the families of students who were anything but buzzing with pure happiness.

     She went down the corridor and noticed Ginny Weasley chatting with some of her friends. Hands and faces were pressed to the windows of the closed compartments, looking at someone behind her, but Fawn didn't need to turn around to know who it was they were gawking at. "Fancy trying to find a compartment?" The familiar voice of Harry Potter echoed from behind the Ravenclaw as she continued to make her way down the corridor, sticking her head into compartments, trying to find an empty one.

     "I can't, Harry. I said I'd meet Dean," Ginny spoke brightly. "See you later."

     Once her eyes spotted an empty compartment, she slid in, hoisting her trunk onto the overhead. Fawn removed the bag that hung across her body and reached her hand down into it, roaming for her copy of Curses and Counter-curses (Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges). Over the summer, Davey taught her the Undetectable Extension charm and bewitched her school bag so she could carry more books and notes.

     The Ravenclaw had already read and re-read the textbooks assigned for this semester, taking notes on each chapter of each book. She knew how important the sixth year was academically; her scores mattered more this year than any other before. Fawn wanted to get a head start so she wouldn't have to take as many notes during class, and she would know the answer to every question asked.

     Having nothing else to read, she settled on re-reading one of her favorite Defense Against the Dark Arts books. Flicking over a page, she heard a group of girls whispering and giggling outside in the corridor. Her eyes flickered up, and she slightly peered out of her compartment window to see a couple of fourth-year students standing outside the compartment next to hers.

     "No, you!"

     "I'll do it!"

     Fawn watched as a girl with long black hair boldly entered the compartment, her friends staring at her in awe and giggling quietly. "Hi, Harry, I'm Romilda, Romilda Vane," Romilda stated confidently, not to mention quite loudly too. Fawn closed the door to her compartment in slight annoyance. So many students gawked and whispered about Harry Potter. They had for six years. The blonde was one of those students until the second month into her first year when she decided she didn't care much about the boy and what he did, unlike everyone else.

     She preferred to keep to herself, stay out of the drama, and disbelieve nearly every headline The Daily Prophet proclaimed. Sure, she watched from the outside in at Harry Potter and his friends like everyone else, but she didn't obsess over or discuss them. The bumpy topic of the Chosen One was one she preferred to steer away from. However, that'd been difficult over the holiday, seeing as his face and the media-approved nickname were plastered everywhere.

     All Davey wanted to discuss for the first half of the summer holiday was her fifth year and what happened with Harry. Asking her questions as if she and the raven-haired boy were best friends, and she knew all the answers. The Ravenclaw knew him in passing, nothing more, nothing less. The same went for most of his friends, except for Hermione Granger.

     Hermione Granger was the only person out of that group she considered to be an acquaintance. They merely only knew the other's name because of their academic standings. The two of them were the highest ranked in their houses and were in the majority of the same classes together. Yet, Fawn never made any sort of move to talk to or interact with the bushy-headed Gryffindor.

     Looking back at her book, Fawn began to read the next chapter when she saw something fly by the train window. Closing her book, she scooted closer to the window, peering out to see a swoosh of black smoke dive underneath the bridge the Hogwarts Express was currently coasting over.

     "Fawn Depraysie?"

     Fawn turned her head to see a third-year Ravenclaw girl standing there breathlessly. "Yes?" she asked softly, giving the girl a small smile.

     The girl relaxed her shoulders and smiled back. "I'm supposed to deliver this to you," she held out a scroll of parchment with a violet ribbon entangled around the middle of it.

     "Oh, thank you." Unrolling the parchment curiously, her eyes swiftly scanned over the elegant cursive handwriting on the paper.

Miss Fawn,
     I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C.
         Sincerely,
           Professor H. E. F. Slughorn

     Furrowing her brows in even more confusion, the blonde began to rack her brain—trying to remember if she had ever heard of the name before. No, she hadn't.

     Taking in a deep breath, she hesitantly stood up, shoving her book back into her bag and placing it next to her trunk on the overhead. Exiting her compartment, the Ravenclaw made her way down the corridor toward compartment C.

     Upon arriving, she noticed that she wasn't the only one who had received the invitation from Professor Slughorn. Blaise Zabini, a Slytherin in her year, and two seventh-years: Marcus Belby and Cormac McLaggen, who sent her a cheeky wink when she walked in, had been invited as well. Over in the corner sat Ginny, who appeared quite confused about why she was there.

     "Miss Depraysie! It is so nice to finally meet you! Your godfather has told me much about you." A bald-headed man with a silvery mustache cheered happily, shaking her hand ferociously. The professor must have noticed the flash of confusion on the girl's face as he began to further explained himself, "Your godfather was one of my absolute favorite students back in the day, shall we say. He was quite brilliant in Potions, yes, yes, he was... Harry, m'boy!" The blonde turned her head to see Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom standing in the doorway as she sat down next to Belby. "Good to see you, good to see you! And you must be Mr. Longbottom?" Fawn glanced over at Neville to see that he looked quite pale and scared.

    The two Gryffindors sat down mutely at the only seats left, which happened to be the ones closest to the door, and it looked as if Neville was tempted to flee the compartment any second.

     "Now, do you know everyone? No?" Professor Slughorn had barely given either boy a second to respond as he continued, "Well, Blaise Zabini here is in your year, of course, as well as the wonderful Fawn Depraysie." Fawn felt the two's eyes dart over at her, and she gave them a small, forced smile. "This is Cormac McLaggen; perhaps you've come across each other... No? Well then, here we have Marcus Belby; I don't know if you know him either. Finally, we have this charming young lady who says she knows you!" Ginny grimaced from behind the professor, and Fawn frowned— she felt bad for her. The ginger-haired girl had the man's entire backside facing her, and the blonde doubted that she was thrilled about that.

     Looking back at the professor, Fawn realized that she had tuned him out, which wasn't necessarily bad. Considering everything going on in the world, it was mildly bothersome that he appeared as happy as possible.

     "Pheasant, Belby?" The boy next to Fawn nodded vigorously and accepted what looked like a tiny, cold pheasant. "I was just telling Miss Depraysie here before you walked in, that I used to teach her godfather Davey Gudgeon. Quite an outstanding man! Quite outstanding, yes. Also, very intelligent. I was very impressed when I heard that he got the head position of the Auror Office at the Ministry!" Professor Slughorn beamed, and Fawn wasn't sure she had ever felt more uncomfortable in her life than she did right there at the table as a bundle of rolls was being passed around.

     "Didn't he lead the investigation of your parent's murder? Word travels through the Ministry, it does, yes, quite quickly, truth be told." Professor Slughorn hummed, and the blonde froze in her seat. Nobody knew that her parents were dead. Let alone murdered. Only the faculty at Hogwarts and those involved in the case at the Ministry knew. There was a reason why no one had heard about it; why their deaths weren't reported on in The Daily Prophet.

     "Er—yes, he did," Fawn mumbled quietly, shifting in her seat uncomfortably, aware that people were glancing at her.

     She tuned everything out for the next fifteen minutes, fiddling with her fingers under the table while Professor Slughorn continued to interview the other students.

     "And now, we have Harry Potter!" She glanced up to see Harry sigh quietly, seeming to know what was coming next. "Where to begin? That's a good question because there is so much to discuss! There truly is, yes."

     Fawn could help from rolling her eyes at his excessive use of the word yes. It was most likely his favorite word. Ginny snickered quietly from across the table, and Fawn looked up to see that the redhead was looking at her. A small smile cracked on her face, and the latter winked knowingly at her.

     "I feel as if I barely scratched the surface of your story when we met over the summer! 'The Chosen One,' they're calling you now! I see it all over the papers. Naturally, the press is interested in you." All heads turned to the raven-haired boy while Ginny rolled her eyes exasperatedly. The Professor scooted closer to the table, his velvet-covered belly hitting the table, causing the goblets full of pumpkin juice to slosh. "Of course, there have been rumors for years... I remember that night— that terrible night— of course. You were the only one to live, and I remember the whispers of how you had powers beyond the means of an ordinary wizard—" Zabini cut in with a cough that was clearly filled with amused skepticism.

     "Oh yes, Zabini, because you're so talented... at posing..." Ginny's angry voice sounded from behind the professor, and the Slytherin looked contemptuous. Neville snorted as Fawn bit back a smile.

     The rest of the lunch drew on slowly. The conversations became more meaningless and boring as time passed, and eventually, every student was tuning out the rambling professor, each to their own thoughts.

     "Good gracious!" Slughorn's startled voice seemed to capture everyone's attention as they all turned their heads. "It's already getting dark! I didn't even notice... Oh, how fast the time flies by when you're having fun, am I right?" The professor was answered with silence. "Well, you'd all better go and change into your robes. McLaggen, come by my office tomorrow to borrow that book on nogtails that I told you about! Harry, Blaise— feel free to stop by anytime! The same goes for you two ladies," Slughorn smiled brightly at the two girls, and they exchanged uncomfortable glances. "Well, off you go, off you go!"

     "Thank Merlin, that's over with," Ginny breathed as everyone tumbled out of the compartment, each of them eager to get as far away from the bald man as they could.

     "Strange man, isn't he?" Neville questioned as Fawn walked back to the compartments with them.

     "Yeah, he is a bit... How did you end up there, Ginny?" Harry questioned, and Fawn perked up at the question, for she was curious about that too. While in that room, she couldn't help but notice that the professor hadn't picked the lot of them randomly. Each of them had ties with someone in power or popularity. Not that Ginny didn't have any, but it was peculiar that she ended up in the same room with them.

     "He saw me hex Zacharias Smith." A small smirk formed on the Ravenclaw's face, but it faded as her compartment came into view. Neville snorted while Harry chuckled. "He was bombarding me with questions about the Ministry and what happened. Eventually, I got so annoyed I hexed him. Slughorn saw the whole thing and thought it was brilliant. He insisted that I go to lunch with him, but I didn't know that I would be attending that!"

     Fawn stopped at her compartment doors as Neville and Ginny continued walking. Noticing that the raven-haired boy wasn't with them, she glanced behind her shoulder to see Harry standing behind her. "I'll catch up with you later," he called to the two once they turned around. Ginny nodded, tugging on Neville's sleeve as they headed to their compartment.

     "I uh, I know we haven't ever had a proper conversation before, but I wanted to say that I'm sorry about your parents," Harry spoke nervously, and Fawn turned around to face him fully. The girl had avoided his face all summer, but she couldn't avoid it now.

     "Um, thank you," she murmured, and he frowned.

     "They were murdered?" Harry asked quietly, and she nodded.

     "Do you mind not telling anyone about that? Their death, I mean," she clarified as she played with her hands. He already knew more than he needed to.

     The Gryffindor boy didn't need to know why she asked him not to say anything, for he understood. If he had the chance for people not to know about his parents or Sirius and everything that happened, he would take it. He also knew that there was more to the story, but he didn't know Fawn Depraysie. No one really did. She rarely talked to many people and kept to herself, but everyone knew who she was regardless. Her parents were heavily invested in the Order. Harry had heard them mentioned once last year, but it was while he and the others had been eavesdropping on a conversation with Remus Lupin and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. All in all, it wasn't his place to press on the matter.

     He nodded, and Fawn released a breath of relief. "Thank you."

     "No problem. I understand what it's like to not want anyone to know." Harry nodded, and she frowned, realizing that Harry Potter truly did understand in many ways. Whether he knew the full story or not, he understood. She had more in common with the boy in front of her than she would ever admit out loud.

     There was an eerie silence between the two, and she nodded awkwardly before opening her compartment door. "If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. I know you don't know me, and I don't know you, but I do know what it's like to not have anyone to talk to at times. If you ever need or want a friend, I'm here." Fawn stopped and looked over her shoulder at the infamous boy who was rocking back on his feet awkwardly.

     The Ravenclaw knew he wasn't a bad person. In fact, he was the epitome of good. The girl may not like how he unknowingly connected to her parent's death, but that didn't mean she didn't like him. She avoided questions about the boy because they always brought back the memories of that night. She avoided everything that had to do with him because it reminded her of what was taken away right before her eyes.

     But standing right there, with him in front of her, she wasn't reminded of her parents. When he talked to her, she wasn't reminded, and the blonde hadn't noticed that until now.

     "You have a kind heart, don't let anyone change that," Fawn whispered, and his eyes snapped up to meet her sky-blue ones. "Thank you, Harry. I might take you up on that offer someday."

     The boy smiled and nodded awkwardly, "I'll see you later." She watched as he walked to his compartment, sending her a quick smile before disappearing from sight.

────

     THE FLAGGED STONE FLOOR OF THE GREAT HALL HAD BEEN POLISHED TO PERFECTION. The room was lit by thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, and the staff table sat at the top of the room, decorated with its usual tablecloth. All the tables were laid with empty golden plates and goblets; the feast had just ended, and dessert was served.

     Fawn sat in between a fourth-year and Padma Patil as she laid a slice of chocolate cake on her plate. The blonde looked up and over towards the Gryffindor table for what seemed to be the umpteenth time. Harry had been missing all dinner, and she had been thinking about his offer since their conversation on the train. He was the only person to ever offer her that, along with offering her a friendship.

     Her eyes landed on Hermione Granger, who was hugging a book to her chest; her eyebrows were furrowed with worry, and she hadn't touched her plate all night, which Fawn had taken notice of. On the other hand, Ron Weasley was eating his desert blissfully, looking around the room aimlessly. Just as she was about to begin eating her cake, the blonde spotted a blur of navy blue and denim flying by the Hufflepuffs and towards the Gryffindor table.

     Harry squeezed himself between the two, and her eyes automatically noticed the blood covering most of his face. Fawn's eyes widened slightly, and she watched as Ron and Hermione whispered to him, worry and concern written across their faces. Her gaze lingered on the anxious brunette before she glanced back at the Gryffindor, who caught her stare. He gave her a soft nod, his way of letting her know that he was okay.

     Turning her attention back to the food, she continued to eat until Professor Dumbledore got to his feet at the staff table. The talking and laughing that carried across the room faded, and all attention shifted to the man standing before them.

     "The very best of evenings to you!" Dumbledore said, his arms spread wide, and everyone's eyes darted toward his right hand, which was blackened. Whispers swept around the room, and Fawn frowned slightly. "Nothing to worry about," he breathed airily, and the whispers ceased. "To our new students, welcome! To our old students, welcome back! Another year full of magical education awaits you tomorrow morning. I am excited for the year ahead of us. Now for some school announcements; as usual, the Forbidden Forrest is off-limits to all students. Professor Sprout has asked me to remind younger students that the Greenhouse is not to be used as a play area and that the Bowtruckles are not pets that you can take back to your dormitory after class. Mr. Filch, the school's caretaker, has also asked me to announce that there is a ban on any item purchased at the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes shop."

     "Bloody hell! What am I supposed to do with my Skiving Snackboxes now?" Trent Blankley asked dramatically, and Marietta Edgecomb snorted from beside Padma.

     "Those of you wishing to play Quidditch for your House should give their names to the Head of House. We are also looking for a new Quidditch commentator this year, seeing as our last one graduated." Dumbledore announced, and half of the Ravenclaw table looked down at Trent as he shoved a piece of cake into his mouth.

     Realizing that dozens of eyes were focused on him, the ginger-haired boy looked up. "What?" he asked innocently, voice muffled. Fawn held back a snort as she turned her attention back to the front of the room.

     "We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn—" the professor stood up, his bald head reflecting the candlelight, "—is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to assume his old post as Potions master." The fork Trent was holding fell, clattering loudly against his golden plate as his mouth hung open in shock. Everything and everyone seemed to freeze at the news.

     "You know, maybe it isn't too late to catch the train back home..." Mabel Ebonywood mumbled, glancing at everyone.

     Shaking his head, Ethan Calarook leaned forward. "Screw going home. We might as well pitch ourselves off the Astronomy Tower," he interjected, and Marietta snickered before quickly covering her mouth with her hand.

     "Potions?"

     "Potions?" That one word echoed around the Great Hall as students gave each other nervous glances and mumbled side comments.

     "Professor Snape will be taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year," Dumbledore announced next, and Fawn watched out of the corner of her eye as Theodora Lily slammed her head down on the table, grumbling colorful words under her breath.

     Mabel gasped, and her eyes grew wide. "You have got to be kidding me. After having Umbridge last year, that wasn't enough? Do they want to torture us again? Is that it?" she asked indicatively, and the blonde shrugged.

     Suddenly, the sea of voices was smothered by one much louder and recognizable. "No!" A voice protested loudly, and everyone stopped talking to look over at Harry Potter, who had opened his mouth.

     "I'm about to go over to the Gryffindor table and join Potter. There's no way in hell I'm going to class if Snape is the one teaching us," Theodora muttered from halfway underneath the table, her forehead still pressed to it.

     "Me too," Trent grumbled unhappily, no longer interested in eating his piece of cake. He had lost his appetite.

     The Headmaster cleared his throat and the room silenced after a few seconds, students' upset and wavering eyes landing on him. "Now, as everybody in this Hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining strength. I cannot emphasize enough how dangerous the present situation is and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways.

     "However, we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I, therefore, urge you to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose, however irksome you may find them to be. Should you see anything strange or suspicious in or outside of the castle, I implore you to report it to either me or any staff member. I trust that you will all conduct yourselves with the utmost regard for your, and everyone else's, safety. But now, your beds await! There are as warm and comfortable as you wish them to be, and I know everyone's top priority is to be well-rested for tomorrow's lessons. Therefore, let us say goodnight. Pip pip!"