Rising

Chapter 1

Fifth year is O.W.L year, and O.W.L year is not something John Hale is going to let his daughter forget.

"I know Dad." she said annoyedly. "Can you stop complaining, we need to go over to the Potters'."

"I am not complaining!" John protested. "I am simply making conversation while waiting for your mother to hurry up and do her hair!"

"I am coming!" Giselle Hale called from upstairs. "One second!"

They heard a loud crack come from upstairs, and then from the kitchen. A second later, Giselle was next to her husband and daughter.

"Bouillabaisse." Giselle explained, holding up a plastoc container similar to the container Amelia used on her first day of Hogwarts. "Especially for James."

Amelia laughed, remembering back to that day on the Hogwarts Express. James really did bless her with great friends; him, Sirius, Peter and Remus.

Also known as the five Marauders.

"We will have to make him eat it today." Amelia vowed. "That is my mission. Everybody else, even Sirius tried it and liked it. James is just too much of a coward."

John grabbed his daughter's hand while Giselle grabbed her shoulder as they apparated with a loud *crack* to Potter's Manor.

"James!" Amelia exclaimed, going to hug one of her best friends. "How are you? I brought some of your favourite French cuisine!"

Everybody watched as James went green. "No..." he murmured. "Bouillabaisse."

"Exactly." Amelia replied with a mischievous grin. "I heard Lily loves French food, bouillabaisse in particular."

James looked uncertain. "Sirius likes it. He can eat it." he suggested weakly.

"I am full, thanks." Sirius commented. "Good old Walburga made sure of that."

"How about we have some for dinner tonight?" Euphemia Potter, James' mother, suggested.

"Good idea." Sirius and Amelia agreed with a smirk.

"No... bad idea..." James disagreed, his face tinted green.

"What's a bad idea?" Remus asked, walking in with his father, Lyall. A bright, shiny badge was stuck to the front of his jumper.

"Remus..." Amelia whispered horrified. "How is this possible?"

"Why did McGonagall allow this?" James cried.

"How could you do something like that to us?" Sirius wailed.

"Good to know what somebody will be keeping an eye on Amelia." John said, a hint of satisfaction. "If I hear the name Thomas Alder one more time-"

Amelia glared at her father. "He won't stop staring at me! It is creepy!"

Giselle gave her daughter a warning, but knowing look. "Tu es un Veela." she muttered in French. "Les garçons-"

"Mum, no!" Amelia yelled. "Sirius parle le français!"

"Tu dis que-" Giselle started.

"Remus. Et Sirius maintenant. Merci." Amelia answered her mother annoyedly. She looked up at Sirius' shocked face. "Ma grand-mère - elle est un Veela."

Sirius nodded slowly.

"What's going on?" James asked. "If you don't tell me - in English - then I'll go and learn French -"

"Tonight then." Amelia said exhaustedly. "But first, James, once Wormtail arrives, I believe the bouillabaisse will be ready."

"So, what were you and your Mum arguing about?" James asked Amelia later that evening. The five of them - Peter had arrived late - were sitting in the small sitting room.

"My grandmother on my Mum's side is a Veela." Amelia admitted. "That's why Snivellus called me a half-breed on the first day. Somehow he recognised the Veela features."

"Why did you tell Moony and not us?" Sirius asked curiously.

"Well Padfoot, I found out about Moony's furry little problem at the end of first year. I exchanged secrets with him." Amelia explained, resting her two feet on the sofa opposite her.
"I thought I could trust him before he betrayed us and became a prefect."

"At least he can get us out of trouble now." James said positively. "And get me on closer terms with my Lily-flower."

Amelia nearly threw up. "Poor Lily." she murmured. "Your flirting skills are vomit-inducing Potter."

"I am not half as experienced as Paddy over here." James commented, nudging his friend.

"Yeah Padfoot, who is it now?" Peter chirped up. "That Hufflepuff girl?"

Sirius waved his hand dismissively. "Nah. It's a pretty little Ravenclaw..."

"Girl present, talk about other girls elsewhere." Amelia ordered. "Sirius, imagine having to share a dorm with both your and your brother's little fanclubs? Emotionally harrowing."

"Does Lily talk about me?" James asked eagerly.

"She talks about how much she wants to punch you." Amelia offered. "Tone it down a bit mate."

James huffed, his messy brown hair falling in his face and his glasses falling off his face altogether. "Thanks for the help Mia."

"Glad to be of service." Amelia replied sarcastically.

"What about the O.W.L's Prongs? Are you going to try and impress Evans with your outstanding grades?" Remus asked.

"That's Mia's job." Sirius said. "She looked so shocked when Mia bet her in the summer exams."

"Good memory." Amelia responded, tapping her forehead knowingly. "Comes from my grandmother."

"So does that bouillabaisse recipe." James added. "It tastes just as horrible as it looks."

"It doesn't actualy look that bad. Better than my Dad's stew anyways." Amelia said with a shudder. "I am becoming a pesketarian if I have to eat another bowl of that again."

"And I will become a cannibal." Peter claimed proudly. He looked around puzzled, when his friends bursted out in laughter.

"Humans are herbivores. Do you mean vegetarian?" Remus snorted.

"Cannibalism means that you eat people!" Amelia cried, laughing even more.

Peter went bright red as he tried to hide in his jumper. "I meant vegetarian!" he told them, his voice muffled because of the jumper.

"Amelia!" Giselle called from the door. "Nous devons aller maintenant! Voyez!"

Amelia groaned loudly. "Mum says that we have to go now." she translated. "I'll talk to you guys tomorrow on the way to Hogwarts."

"Goodbye Mia!" the boys yelled as she walked out, and apparated back to her house with her parents.