Twists of Fate: Entangled Threads || Sirius Black FF

Chapter 78: Gagged

N/A: Hello people! Sorry for the delay! It has been over two months since I last updated! Unfortunately, life got the best of me. I hope this little chapter begins to make up a bit for it. Enjoy!

***

Having to, once more, begin a school year without hopping onto the Hogwarts Express had been odd, to say the least. To many, both in the present and her time, Hogwarts had become a sanctuary. A place to seek refuge from threats happening in the outside world, or even from their own families. Now, it was Sandy's only residence, and it was becoming rather overbearing. Even more so because Hogwarts was not entirely a sanctuary for her. It had become a place that, from the second she stepped into the castle, she knew she'd be a victim of prejudice. In her original timeline (if that was even a term she was allowed to use anymore, due to her... unique family situation) her aunt and uncle nearly didn't allow her and Hermione to attend Hogwarts due to the Chamber of Secrets situation. Her cousin being petrified due to being a Muggle-born. That was followed by her 'first experience in the magical world' other than Diagon Alley (from what she could remember, as we are excluding her erased memories with her parents) was to get attacked by Dementors; the worst dark creatures in existence. The same creatures that would proceed to guard the school. Harry kept insisting that Hogwarts was a sanctuary. Dumbledore also would claim that Hogwarts was the 'safest place in the world'. Sandy, however, from the very first day, called bullshit. And it didn't help that in this new timeline she kept getting flashes of the Battle of Hogwarts.

Was the castle really the safest place in the world? That thought, truly, was bittersweet. There was evidence that pointed to yes, and evidence that pointed to the contrary. And Sandy was not one to ignore either.

Much to her dismay, Dumbledore, during the welcome feast, made sure to comment on the very same thing that had, in 'another life', almost prevented her from getting a magical education at all. "Settle down, please. Settle down." As soon as the Great Hall's voices lowered, Dumbledore addressed the issue. Of course... The bloody propaganda. What created a bigger target on Sandy's back. "As many of you may have heard, yes, indeed, my goddaughter, Sandy Reese, found the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, and together we vanquished Salazar Slytherin's monster, a basilisk. You can all rest assured that there is no longer a threat at the school. Fortunately, there was only one known victim to the basilisk, Myrtle Warren-" He gestured at said ghost, whom he had managed to convince to join the feast, and was currently hiding behind other ghosts. "Tom Riddle had controlled the basilisk in June 3rd of 1943, and blamed Hagrid. Fortunately, thanks to the evidence and investigation pointing to the truth, Hagrid has been exonerated. As for Tom Riddle, whom most of you will know as by his moniker, 'Lord Voldemort'-" There were several gasps and flinching at the use of the name, some fearful, and some surprised by the revelation. "Will no longer be able to use the basilisk to harm anyone, ever again. Let us all thank Sandy Reese for her efforts, and shall Gryffindor be awarded 100 points for her valour."

As he finished this speech, Sirius and James exchanged, grinned, and quickly lifted an unsuspecting Sandy over their left and right shoulders respectively. Letting out a small yelp while trying to regain her balance, the two boys stood up on the table, consequently making Sandy much more visible to the rest of the school, and began changing her name "Sandy Reese! Sandy Reese! Sandy Reese! Come on, everybody! Sandy Reese! Sandy Reese!"