Ready as I'll Ever Be
Hogwarts Mystery AU.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Disney. I just like the song.
A.N: I should be updating my other story, I know. I also should be writing my original book. Sigh. This wouldn'
t leave my head. This story is rated Teen, but to be honset, I was debating whether this should be rated Mature even though I'm a teen. Just a Bi teen writer.
Trigger warnings: This story contains light torture, death, cursing, gay couples, and angst, so if your sensitive to any of these things, scream and run away! I bet no one will get that reference.
Varian: Ben Copper
Rapunzel: Penny Haywood
King: Jacob Miles
Queen: Beatrice Haywood
St Mungo's around 1990
"It's okay, It'll be okay, just please wake up…"
The waiting room was predictably crowded. There were people of all ages there with all sorts of problems... Holly rushed up to the front desk lady. "Name…" She looked tired and overworked.
"Penny Haywood," Holly spoke quickly. "Look we really need a room immediately."
"Injury or illness?" The desk lady continued looking down at a stack of paperwork.
Holly slapped her transparent hand down onto the table soundlessly. "Penny's unconscious and was throwing up blood. This is serious and if you don't get a healer in-!"
"Your name?"
She growled in frustration. "HOLLY LUNA MILES! NOW, YOU WILL GET A HEALER TO ATTEND TO PENNY, BECAUSE I'M NOT ANSWERING ANY MORE QUESTIONS UNTIL YOU DO!"
Most of the witches and wizards in the waiting room jumped at the loud, irate ghost. The desk lady looked up. "Miss, you can answer and wait in line just like everybody else. Nobody's died by temporarily turning into a ghost."
She laughed. "Do you think that's why we came here? The woman I love is about to join me and you think we came here for what? My death certificate?" Her voice rose. "I'm already dead, and I can't let her die too, could you possibly understand that!? Would you like to die? I heard it's quite a painful experience-."
"Fourth floor, spell damage ward," Ben was at the desk now too. "Also get a muggle doctor as well if you can."
"What's going on here?" A man dressed in a professional white robe came up to the desk.
"Penny, she-she threw up blood and is unconscious," Holly replied voice shaky.
"We need help now, but she won't give us any."
"Bring your friend in. We'll get her taken care of." He turned to the front desk lady. "I would advise going to the Head Healers office, Ms Bird. She's been meaning to talk to you."
They quickly got Penny a bed in the Janus Thickey ward for Permanent spell damage. The healer, who had wanted to be called Healer Walter, asked them to wait outside so he could check her over.
"You're going to wear the floor in," Rowan said softly.
Holly kept pacing anxiously. "I'm worried. What if she dies? What if, it's really, really bad? What if she wakes up, but she's in pain? What if she never wakes up for a really, really long time? What if-."
"I'm sure she's fine Holly," Bill tried to reassure her. "Although I don't know what caused it."
Healer Walter came out just then and Holly quickly rushed over to him. "Penny, is she alright? Has she woken yet? She's not in pain is she?"
"Your friend is fine, Miss Miles. But," He sighed. "Miss Haywood is suffering from an internal stomach bleeding, and she has a bruise on the back of her head. Unfortunately, no one can be sure when she'll wake up." Healer Walter paused a moment, letting the information sink in. "If you may, I would like to take one of you in for questioning."
"I'll, go-."
"I'll do it," Ben squeaked. He got up and walked inside the room without another word.
They were finally able to convince Holly to sit down after the healer brought news on Penny's condition. She was sitting holding up her head with her hands, seemingly distraught. "Holly?"
"Yes, Jacob?" She snapped a little.
"Whoa, okay," He put his hands in the air. "I just wanted to ask- why did you think your death wouldn't matter to us?"
"I guess it's silly… After you left, our parents basically ignored me. They were always too busy grieving or searching for you. The kids at the primary school bullied me worse than ever. Until Hogwarts I was alone and, I guess I was just waiting for the penny to fall. Or the coin or, whatever." She sighed. "Why would I matter? You know, I never realized how true our family motto was before you went away."
He grimaced wryly. "He who expects nothing shall not be disappointed? That still stands as the worst family motto in the history of family mottos."
"You always hated it. I remember you complaining to mother about it one time."
"Speaking of our parents, I wouldn't go to harsh on them."
"And why not?"
"They went crazy after you died. That's what I heard anyway."
"Did you ever go back to the house?"
"Never. I couldn't face them after being gone for so many years. I found a newspaper clipping that said that they became complete nutters and had to move here."
"Here?"
"Should be on one of these floors."
"Oh." It was silent for a few moments. "What is it like being an adult?"
"What's it like being a ghost?"
"Wish I weren't."
"Yeah, perfectly sums up adulthood."
"Do you know what time it is?"
"We have been waiting for," Jacob looked at his watch. "A grand sum of ten minutes!"
She sighed. "Damn."
"Are you still worried about her?"
Holly nodded. "How could I not be?"
"Have you ever told her before-?"
"Yes. But it was the wrong time." She turned to him. "You know, the afterlife isn't so bad."
"I'm surprised there is an afterlife."
"Yeah, me too. It's not how many religions depict it as though. No clouds or great divine. It's more like a whiter, cleaner version of your favourite place and you could virtually do anything. You can even leave."
"Is that how you got here?"
"If someone you love is in trouble, apparently you come here automatically. When you leave, you move on."
"I see."
"You know, I can see every version of this lifetime."
"Is there a version where I couldn't be bothered about the cursed vaults?"
"Yes. You end up happy with a nice career and I have my brother…"
"There's a "but" isn't there?"
"Because you didn't look for the cursed vaults, I don't try to find you and I didn't meet our friends. I didn't meet Penny."
"Is there one where we're all happy?"
You still find the cursed vaults, but R gets thrown in jail, and by the time we've got you out our friendship group still remains. You end up the same as the life before, except with a different haircut. Keep your hair long, it looks better this way."
"I got Father's buzz cut didn't I?"
"Yeah. Penny and I ended up getting married if you can believe it. And everyone else's lives turned out good as well. Tulip and Tonks run a joke shop-."
"What about me?"
"Or me?"
"Okay, Charlie, you go to Romania to study dragons."
"Congratulations!" Barnaby congratulated him.
"Yeah." Charlie smiled. He couldn't believe it. So it was possible to get his dream job…
"And Barnaby-." Holly paused, realizing that she couldn't tell them that in that version of events, him and Charlie and wouldn't be together.
"Yes?" They questioned her.
"Barnaby escapes his parents and flees to Romania where he becomes a Magizoologist alongside Charlie," she lied, feeling guilty about being dishonest with her friends.
Barnaby smiled. "Wow, I've always wanted to a Magizoologist!"
Charlie exchanged a glance with Bill and Holly contemplated whether they bought it. But then he turned back to Barnaby.
"Congratulations!"
Jacob changed the topic. "Soo, do you know what happens when you move on?"
"I'm not sure about this universe, but in my old one, we were reincarnated."
"You're from another universe?" Jacob asked, shocked.
"Oh, yeah. And the craziest part is that my time in Hogwarts, this world, it was just a free video game."
"Excuse me but what the fuck?" Tulip spat out the water she was drinking.
"I was a muggle, the wizarding world was apart of a huge franchise, like Star Wars. It was called Harry Potter, named after the boy who lived. In that universe, I was born in the extremely early twenty-first century. Long story short, I got obsessed with the Harry Potter books, got the game when it released in 2018 and wished it to be real. It was technically the first time I met all of you. I vowed that in my next life I would be reborn here. "Well not here, I would prefer to be alive, but, you know."
"Anything else?" Jacob asked dryly.
"My parents moved to America when I was young and I was an only child. Oh, and I died because the earth's temperature got wacky and the insects died off. And in another lifetime a century before but in the same universe, I was technically related to the Queen of England."
"That's a lot…"
"And ever since that life, I keep dying before I reach thirty!" Holly frowned.
"So, would it be rude of me to say that this is a weird dream, and I'll wake up soon?"
"It would make a lot of sense actually."
"I wonder what's taking the questioning so long?" Bill pondered out loud.
"I'm sure they're just asking a lot of questions," Jacob yawned.
"Holly, what are you doing?" Rowan spied Holly in front of the office door.
"I'm sure they won't notice if I peeked my head in," Holly reckoned.
"Nope, bad idea," Jacob went to his little sister."
"I'm too impatient." She stuck her head quite literally through the door, surprising everyone."
"I don't think I'll ever get used to that," Tulip said.
"Ben's asleep in one of the chairs and Penny's still out. There are two healers in the room and they have their heads stuck in a stone bowl thingy."
"A stone bowl thingy? That sounds like a pensive," Bill marvelled. "I've only ever heard about them!"
"Why would they need a pensive?" Jacob questioned.
"I don't know, but they look kind of creepy with their heads stuck inside. Oh! They're coming out now!" Holly quickly brought her head back outside the door.
Just then Healer Walter came back out. "I think the kid in there should spend a lifetime in Azkaban, but it's your call." He walked away.
"I think..." Rowan trailed off. "Holly, using pensives in Hospitals was banned in eighteen-forty-one!"
Before
Healer Walter came back into the room, with a stone basin, and what Ben could only assume was the certified legilimens. "We're back. Do you know what this is?"
Ben shook his head.
"This is called a pensive. You can view memories in it. Now what's going to happen is Ms Fiddle here is going to extract the memories and put them in this pensive."
"Don't worry kid," Ms Fiddle spoke. "This isn't going to hurt; I just need you to try to remember the events in clear detail."
"No, No, I don't want to!" Ben tried to leave, but they held him down while the witch lowered her wand to his temples. It was like his life flashed before his eyes. He saw the day in the courtyard when everything went wrong, Holly in her final moments, the painful memories making him scream. He saw the events from earlier on that night, sobbing as the memories went by one by one. "No, please stop… no more…" He saw himself at wand point confessing. He could hear their voices repeating, screaming in his head.
"I loved her…."
"How could I be proud of anything you've done?"
"What kind of a person are you?"
"They will pay."
"HOLLY!"
"No! Please don't do this!"
"I promise."
"We'll find a way to bring her treachery to light!"
"Yes. I love you."
"Hey Holly, I know it doesn't matter but… do you fancy Penny?"
And then they stopped. Just like that. Everything stopped. His heart burned and twisted painfully.
"Well done, Mr Copper. Would you like a piece of chocolate? The healer gave it to him, not giving Ben a chance to decline the offer. He picked it up. "Might as well," he thought, eating the square. He didn't dislike chocolate but he wasn't addicted to the stuff as he remembered Holly had been. Honestly, he preferred something savoury like chips. When he finished he felt unusually tired. "It's probably from the memory taking," he wrote it off as such and closed his eyes, falling asleep quickly.
After the criminal succumbed to the sleeping potion, Healer Walter and Healer Fiddle put the inky black memories into the pensive. They swirled around the stone bowl, dozens of scenes playing out. After a second, they both went in.
"What do you think they're doing?" Holly whispered to her friends.
"I don't know but if it's something illegal, we must stop them," Bill answered.
"No one's in the room. Should we see what's in the pensive?"
"Definitely not," Jacob replied.
"Ben should have been brought out by now."
"After everything we've been through, I wouldn't blame Copper," Charlie shook his head.
"Well I'm going in," Holly announced.
"So am I," Tulip stated.
"Count me in," Tonks insisted.
Holly, Tonks and Tulip sneaked into the room and went immediately to the stone basin, staring into the murky depths of the pensive.
"Wait!" Jacob called out to his little sister as him and the rest raced into the room. "If you really want to see the memories, fine. They probably won't be anything important."
"On the count of one, two, three!" All of them lowered their heads in.
They landed on a ground made of stone bricks and looked around noticing that they were back at Hogwarts, in the courtyard they used to hang out in. Holly was shocked to find themselves, younger by one or two years, relaxing by the great fountain in the middle of the courtyard.
"That's us!" Charlie exclaimed.
A younger Barnaby spoke up nervously looking down. "Hey Holly, I know it doesn't matter but… do you fancy Penny?"
"Oh," His older counterpart murmured, "It's that day, remember?"
Everyone was silent. That day was burned in their minds.
The courtyard was silent again, but with tension in the air. Everyone looked at the short girl with blue eyes and caramel-coloured hair. She was taking deep breaths, apparently scared and caught off guard. She fidgeted her hands nervously for a few minutes, the tense pause becoming almost unbearable. The girl closed her eyes to keep calm. "Yes," she opened them again, looking at Penny. "I love you," she mumbled. That was it.
Holly remembered mentally kicking herself for saying those last words.
The younger versions of the group gasped, and the slightly younger Holly walked a few steps toward Penny, cautiously, her legs like lead. "Penny, I,-." She began. But both Holly's knew that it wasn't the right time. Would there ever be?
Holly saw that the younger Penny looked anxious which was an expression that Holly had not seen often. She also looked eager. As if she had wanted to say something.
"Holly, Penny," A younger version of Rowan whispered, drawing their attention away.
The group's eyes followed the rest of the younger group's gazes until they rested on Ben. He looked slightly unwell, and his heavy breathing echoed in the otherwise quiet area.
"Are you okay?" The younger Holly asked. He shook his head and looked down for a second.
Holly could still see his face, a mix of fear, bitterness, and sorrow?
She didn't have time to think about it as Ben ran off, stumbling a bit as he made his way out of the courtyard. Then the scene turned to black.
"Why would they want to view that memory?" Barnaby asked confused.
Then the next scene formed around them.
"Goodnight!" Penny waved to Holly outside of the Great hall after dinner.
Younger Holly walked off to the Ravenclaw Tower, oblivious to the events that were soon to occur. Hidden in the shadows was a boy, no older than sixteen with short blond hair and a calm, collected look. But he was terrified, emotions brewing under his skin.
"Finally," he thought. Tonight was the night, and he needed to have a talk with Penny. He couldn't talk to Holly, couldn't watch her smile disappear as he told her his plan. Tonight... Tonight was the first step in his plan to stop being a coward and start being brave. He was sick of disappointing everyone; he wanted to make them proud of him for once. Or at least remember him fondly knowing that he had finally started acting like the Gryffindor he was.
He walked out from the shadowy corner where he had been hidden. "Penny," Ben spoke up.
Penny jumped and turned around fast, whipping her wand out. "Oh, it's just you," She lowered her wand a little.
"I need to talk to you," he began.
"It's late, could we please talk tomorrow?" Penny asked.
Ben shook his head. "No Penny. This can't wait until morning. Please."
Penny sighed. "Alright."
"Follow me." Ben led them to the Artefact room. He charmed the walls to be soundproof and the door to be locked.
She took a breath. "I don't trust you."
"I don't blame you. I don't trust me either," Ben stole a nervous glance at her. This is important." He stood firm and had an aura of confidence that almost made her shrivel back a little. Almost.
Penny realized that he was shaking. She lowered her wand slightly and then all the way. "So. You've finally decided to be brave."
"Yes."
She sighed. "What is it that you wanted to talk about?"
"First, you have to promise to never tell anyone what I am about to share with you, not a soul. Especially Holly."
"Why?"
"Please whatever you do don't tell Holly!" Desperation dripped from his voice as he was pleading with her.
"Fine! What did you want to tell me that couldn't wait until morning?"
"Rakepick is R."
Penny sighed. "Ben-."
"No. I know that she is." He rummaged through a stack of papers until he pulled out one to show her. "In our second year, R started sending letters to me, threats and warnings. She stopped sending them toward the end of our third year. This- this was the last one. She said that she would be making an appearance at Hogwarts next year, and then Rakepick showed up wanting to search for the vaults. "It is her."
Penny looked at the evidence, not wanting to believe it. "But Holly trusts her!"
"Which is why she must be stopped. She wants to either kill Holly or one of us... I've been worrying about this all year! I can't let her die, or kill her while being controlled!" He started pacing, not looking in her direction. "I tried to reveal Rakepick today after class remember? None of you believed me!" He looked at her. "Which brings us to tonight. I can't stop R from being in school, but I can make sure that she never hurts or kills anyone. I'm going to make sure that Holly is safe and lives a long life. Tomorrow night, I'm going up to the Astronomy tower."
Older Holly and the other's gasped as they watched the scene play out.
It took Penny a second, but her eyes widened as she realized what he meant. "No! You can't!"
"Why can't I?" My life has been a complete waste until now. This... This is my purpose."
"Please don't do this! You don't have to sacrifice yourself!"
Ben shot back. "Or what? Keep living on as a coward?"
"I don't know! We'll find a way to bring her treachery to light, I promise!"
"Do you fancy her?"
Penny blinked, confused at the sudden change of topic. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Do-do you fancy her? Do you fancy Holly?" Ben stammered as he repeated his question, making himself clear.
"Well, I..." The question made her blush. "I'm in love with her," she finally admitted.
"Even better. Penny, please take care of Holly. Protect her. Keep her safe." Although Ben said it determinedly, his cheeks grew red, blushing as he spoke.
"Holly doesn't need anyone to-." Penny was caught off guard for a second. "You... You love her too, don't you? That's why you want to protect her."
"Whether I do or not, doesn't matter." He looked away. "Holly would never pick me. But you... She even admitted to being in love with you!" He paused for a moment and the room was just filled with their breaths. He spoke once more. "It's either me or her. And I couldn't imagine what would happen if she died instead of me."
"I'm sorry, but I don't think that I can keep this a secret!" Penny had to tell someone about this. Ben needed to be stopped before it's too late.
"No! You have to keep this a secret!" Ben pleaded with her desperately. "Please!"His voice cracked." You have too. If someone tried to stop me..." He shook his head.
"I promise," Penny assured him.
The memory dissolved and reformed. Holly gasped recognizing it. "Why would Ben remember this?"
"Psst Holly," Penny whispered to the younger Ravenclaw's counterpart during Herbology.
"Yes Pen?"
"I think something's going to happen at the Astronomy tower tonight. Go there as soon as you finish dinner. Don't worry," Penny added quickly when she saw that Holly looked apprehensive. "It's not related to R or anything. Just don't tell them I sent you."
"Why? Is it dangerous?"
"Maybe a little bit... Not to you though. Someone's life is at risk."
"Please tell me the truth, Pen." Holly stopped watering the plant she was accidentally drowning. "Why do you want me to go?"
"Fine," Penny sighed. "Meet me near the Great hall at lunch. I'll tell you everything, I promise."
Penny was hoping that Holly wouldn't make it. But sure enough, she was there by the time lunch rolled around. "Hello," Holly greeted Penny.
Holly's shoulder-length hair was messy, her cheeks red from running to and from classes all day. She also nervously bit her lip.
"What is it?"
Penny realized that she was staring at her. She blushed. "Oh, Nothing. Come with me quickly and don't say anything." She nervously grabbed Holly's hand and half walked half pulled her along.
"Oh, o- okay."
Penny looked over her shoulder as they walked, afraid that Ben had been spying on them. She found a broom closet and got them quickly inside, closing the door so that no one else could get in. She cast a few soundproofing charms worriedly.
"Are you okay, Pens?"
"It's Ben. He promised me not to tell you any of this."
"Oh! If that's the case then maybe I should go-."
"No! I have to tell you. Ben- he plans to jump off the Astronomy tower tonight. He thinks that if he doesn't, R will kill one of us." She doesn't mention that he wants to do this to protect her.
"No," Holly's expression quickly grew from slightly afraid to nervous. "We have to stop him!"
"That's just it Holly. I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't listen to me! But I think if you stopped him he would listen. He would listen to you."
"Will you please come with me? I need someone to watch for any staff members." Holly turned to leave.
"Sure, and Holly?"
"Yes?" She turned back around.
"I- er, thank you for doing this," Penny mumbled.
"Of course."
The scene changed, turning to nighttime.
Holly walked with Rowan and Penny to the Astronomy tower immediately after dinner. She needed to stop Ben, needed him to stay alive.
"Are you sure?" Rowan whispered pushing up her glasses.
"No," Holly whispered back uncertain. "Wait for me here. If I'm not back in ten minutes get a Professor.
"Got it."
With Rowan and Penny keeping watch, Holly carefully climbed the steps leading up to the tower, clutching her wand tightly in her hand. She had wanted to write it off as foolishness that Ben, who was afraid of heights, couldn't possibly be up there. But when she reached the top, she saw a sight that made her heart stop.
A tall, lanky, Gryffindor boy with short blond hair and brown eyes was there on the balcony taking off his shoes. Holly held her breath. It was him. "Ben!"
He jumped and raised his head to look at her, white with shock and fear. "Holly! What are you doing up here? It's dangerous, go back!"
"The Cursed Vaults are dangerous," she replied. "What are you doing up here at night?" Holly knew well what he was doing.
"Penny sent you her didn't she?" He swore under his breath. "Fine. I-, I need to show you that I'm brave. That I can do good things." He stepped out of his shoes, and carefully climbed onto the railing.
"No! Please don't do this!" Holly choked out. She would never forget the look he gave her, full of sadness, fear, and determination.
"I'm sorry." Ben looked at Holly, hating the sadness and shock written across her face. He wished that he could scoop her up in his arms and hold her until she felt better. "I- It's alright," he whispered, voice wavering, betraying him.
The older Holly noticed the way he looked at her younger counterpart, almost the same way she looks at Penny. Except… His gaze also holds sorrow, as if his heart had been broken. She held her breath.
He pulled the hood over his head, hoping that would make him braver. He certainly felt braver around her, which he decided was a good thing now. "Defeat Rakepick. Save your brother." His voice was hoarse from crying.
Younger Holly couldn't believe what was happening. She couldn't let this happen. She couldn't let one of her best friends die. Making a split second decision, she climbed onto the side railing and jumped before he could even start to fall.
"HOLLY!" Ben screamed. He quickly got down from the railing and raced down to the cold grass below, all thoughts of his ruined plan pushed away. Oh god. OH GOD. No, no, no. NO. His worst fear was becoming a reality.
Shocked and frightened, he ran right past Rowan and Penny, who immediately went to go get a Professor. He ran down the staircases in the great hall, getting complaints from the portraits on how noisy he was being. But Ben didn't care. All he could hear was his heart thudding loudly in his ears, and the sinking feeling in his stomach. He couldn't even process what was happening, shapes and colours blurring around him. "Please don't be dead, please don't be dead..."
As soon as he got outside he spotted Holly. The grass under him pricked his bare feet as he ran towards her. He sped up with his heart pounding in his chest, more fearful than he had ever been in his life. No. No! It can't be! As the figure grew closer the more still it looked, and the more wrong the situation felt.
Anguish came over Ben as he got close enough to see her face, tears burning his eyes, a lump forming in his throat. Her beautiful blue eyes were open, staring at the sky, all life drained from them. NO! He heard screaming which sounded like his own voice. NO! She couldn't be!
He ran to her, his heart shattered into a million pieces as he felt the cold skin of her hands, his own covered in red from her hair. She couldn't be! Tears streamed from his eyes, and time seemed to have stopped. Not her. Not her! Never her! Always her... He had wanted to make her proud, be proud of him, and not disappointed. But now she's dead! Because of him... No. Because Penny had betrayed him. Because Pen-HAYWOOD had to tell her. She had to spill everything and now it was too late. He hadn't wanted for Holly to see him die, but he wasn't about to back down. He hadn't expected for her to jump instead. "It's all Haywood's fault," he thought bitterly, hate and anger coursing through him. Haywood and Jacob, it's all their fault. They caused her to die. He was going to make them pay. He was going to make them pay if it was the last thing he ever did...
The memory changed once more. They were silent, but all of them recognized the scene. Beatrice whimpered and went closer to Holly and Jacob, not wanting to relive the events from earlier on that night.
"Go back up Beatrice. You don't have to watch this again," Holly reassured her. She nodded and then went back to wait by her sister.
"What's going on?" The past Beatrice Haywood woke up groggily in an unknown darkened room of a seemingly rickety house. She took in her surroundings, or as much as she could of them anyway. The cold wooden floor that she had been laying on was not exactly clean, but not much covered it except dust. The room was not exactly small yet not large and had a bookshelf to her right.
"Ah." An unknown voice spat out. "You're awake at last."
She jumped as a loud voice sounded, full of anger and hatred. It seemed familiar, but she didn't know why. She stood up confidently instead of cowering in fear. "I'm not afraid of you; I know how to defend myself."
The owner of the voice smirked from the shadows at the naive girl. She was only a child, going into her third year at Hogwarts. "Oh, you mean with this?" He held out her wand.
Finally, the figure stepped into the moonlight, which filtered in through the only window in the room. She squinted, finally seeing her captor for the first time. Short blonde hair, an oval face, and dark eyes, which from the lack of proper lighting she couldn't tell whether they were brown or black. But she recognized him immediately. Beatrice gasped. "Ben Copper." She also noticed that he had her wand, most likely have taken it off her during the kidnapping. "My sister will come and get me," she declared confidently. "And you will suffer the consequences for any pain that you cause me."
"Oh, don't worry. You're not going to be the one in pain."
"Then why the HELL kidnap me then?" Beatrice wasn't afraid to yell in front of people who deserved it. And he was most certainly one of those people.
"You honestly don't know?" Ben's voice was filled with anger and venom. He came closer to her and levelled his gaze. "Your sister is why you're here. It's all part of the plan." Ben stood up and looked at the clock on the wall. "They should be here any moment now. Believe me, I know, I've sunk pretty low," he looked at her. "But whatever I've done, you deserve."
"Ben-."
"Quiet!" He started getting the room ready as if expecting guests. "I'm the bad guy and that's fine."
Beatrice noticed that his voice cracked on the word "Fine." As if he was unsure. As if he was regretting it possibly.
"It's no fault of mine, and some justice, at last, will be served." He redoubled his efforts of not showing any sign of possible regret, gritting his teeth on the first word.
"Please, listen." Beatrice tried to reason with him, but it was no use. She had thought that maybe if he was regretting it, she could get him to stop this wretched plan.
"It's time to step up, or it's time to back down, and there's only one answer for me." Ben tried to gather as much courage as he could. It was too late for him to turn back now. He knew he was the villain, but they had forced his hand. That bloody Haywood. He clenched his fist.
"And I'll stand up and fight, cause I know that I'm right." He raised his wand in the air. "And I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready." He drew out the note on the last line and looked darkly at Beatrice. "Ready as I'll ever be."
The Burrow
Meanwhile, at the Burrow, Bill was lying on the couch doubled over in pain. It must have been something he ate. How unfortunate. He looked over at his friends. They were all there, with the exception of Penny, who, they had planned would sneak her sister out before they got to kidnap the kidnapper.
"Bill, you sure you're up for this?" Charlie looked at his brother with concern.
"Actually I don't think I am," He admitted. "I'll only slow you down."
"But- how are you going to lead the attack?" Barnaby questioned.
Bill breathed in deeply. "I'm not." He looked at the door. "She is."
"Hi guys- why are you looking at me like that?" Rowan came in and froze seeing the odd reactions.
"We're going to fail..." Charlie sunk against one of the walls away from the others, his face in his hands.
"Then we'll fail together," Barnaby whispered sitting down too.
Charlie gave him a small smile.
The Charlie from now flushed red, seeing the memory play out.
Barnaby leaned in, but Charlie jumped, moving away slightly. His ears went pink. "Um, it's just," He nodded towards the others, who were luckily not looking at them.
"Right, you want to keep it-," Barnaby started, accidentally a little too loudly.
"Just for now," Charlie whispered shushing him. "I'm just not sure how my family will react. We're both boys and you're a Slytherin… I don't care about your house, but my family…"
"It's okay," he nodded.
"You're going to lead the attack, Khanna," Bill gritted his teeth in pain. "I'm too weak. And you're the only one in this room confident enough to lead."
"Okay, uh," She cleared her throat and tried to think of something motivational to say. "Now it's time to rise up, or it's time to stand down, and the answer is easy to see."
She grabbed the sword on the edge of the couch, brandishing it above her head. "And I swear by the sword if you're in get on board. Are you ready?"
"I'm ready," Charlie piped up.
"I'm ready, we're ready," the rest of them said.
"Ready as I'll ever be." And with that said, they left.
Penny was waiting outside the Burrow leaning against a tree, worried sick for her sister. She knew where they were going was dangerous, so she had gotten her friend, Jacob, to go with her. After R had been revealed as Rakepick, she was forced to reveal that she had kept Jacob in her clutches and she had been forced to let him go. Jacob was nothing like his sister, with brown hair, greenish eyes, and a more olive complexion. But he was the only thing that Penny had left of Holly. "It's a good thing that they were both talented curse breakers," she mused. Penny knew that the person who kidnapped her darling sister must be a witch or wizard. When she spotted him walking towards her she was relieved, wanting to save her sister as soon as possible. "There you are."
"Yes, yes, I just had to get something from my luggage. I've been told you're pretty handy with these."
He tossed her something that Penny caught immediately. She grinned to herself while looking at it. She was indeed quite useful with potion balls. "Are you quite sure we can do this?" She doubted their plan, worries clouding her mind. What if she never got her sister back? What if it was too late?
"Together we will succeed!" Then they walked off, hurrying to the nearest place they could apparate from. They knew where Penny's sister was, based on her tracking charm. Beatrice was being held in the Shrieking Shack.
Once they arrived at Hogsmeade they ran to the building. The Shrieking Shack was decrepit and old, almost like what a haunted house might look like. It wasn't easy for them to get inside and Jacob had to break several charms and curses before he deemed it safe to enter. Once they got inside the chilly decaying house, they cast a Lumos, illuminating the otherwise dark area.
"I'll make them hear me, just you wait. They will pay for all of it! That bloody bitch will pay for everything she's done and SO. Will. HE."
Jacob and Penny listened to hear the muffled yelling above their heads. "Stay behind me," he whispered trying to act brave. They quickly made their way up the creaking stairs and turned the handle to the first room.
When they opened the door, Penny saw her sister sitting on the floor, arm's bound with a rope. She rushed to her, pulling her sister into a big hug. "Oh, Beatrice! I've been soo worried! Are you okay?"
"She is, but you won't be." Penny's eyes widened in horror as she quickly turned around to see the person looming over her. Ben smiled maliciously. "Hello, Haywood. Nice to see you again."
Jacob raised his wand only to have it silently fly through the air and into Ben's outstretched hand. He laughed. "Do you really think you're going defeat me that easily?" He then summoned Penny's wand as well. "Now we don't have a lot of time, so let's get started." With one flick of his wand, he knocked them all out.
Upon waking, Penny and Jacob found themselves with a rope bound around their ankles. Penny sat up quickly, wincing at the sharp pain of having fallen onto the hard ground. "Jacob?"
"Yeah, what's going on?" The wind from outside was raging and whipped their hair and clothes out of place as it flew in from the cracked windows.
"Your punishment." Ben glowered at them. "I've been waiting a long time for this."
"And what the HELL did we ever do to you huh?" Jacob demanded. "What kind of a person are you?!"
"The person you made me," Ben snarled. "Whatever happens to you, you only have yourselves to blame."
Penny looked up at him, wincing as the rope rubbed against her skin. "I'm sorry I told -."
"You're sorry? You're SORRY?! WHERE THE BLOODY FUCK WAS THAT APOLOGY THEN?!" Ben yelled madly, kicking her in the stomach. She yelped out in pain. "YOU MADE A PROMISE AND YOU BROKE IT! YOU LIED! I THOUGHT I COULD TRUST YOU, AND THEN... AND THEN YOU MURDERED HER! I TOLD YOU SPECIFICALLY NOT TELL HER ANYTHING! I TOLD YOU TO NOT LET HER NEAR THE TOWER!" He pushed her into the wall. "YOU. MURDERED. HER. I wonder how you can still sleep at night with everything you've done," he spat out bitterly. "Your lies...Well," Ben smiled. "Now you're going to pay."
"And you!" Ben turned to face Jacob. "You're just as guilty! If you hadn't gone missing... If you hadn't opened the Cursed Vaults in the first place... You took EVERYTHING away from me!" The only thing that could be heard in the room was Ben's heavy breathing. "This- this is for her!" He shakily pointed his wand at Penny. "CRUCIO!"
Penny screamed in agony, knifes stabbing her whole body. Just then a seemingly bright figure appeared.
"LET THEM GO!"
Jacob gasped, and then Ben, whose wand skewered off course, the spell hitting the wall and dying. "Hol-." A lump formed in his throat. He swallowed and then looked down.
Penny was left speechless and in pain after the curse. She couldn't believe it. Holly was... she was back.
"LET THEM GO THIS INSTANT, COPPER!" The angry ghost roared. "DON'T YOU DARE HURT MY FRIENDS!"
The Holly from now watched tensely, as the events from before unravelled. Now that the "her" from earlier was back...
Ben gazed apathetically at the enraged ghost. "Well- uh, it's a little late for that. You see, Haywood's already started paying."
"YOU BASTARD!" She cried. "No. I won't let you hurt them any more!"
A thousand emotions ran through Ben at this moment. "They deserve EVERYTHING THEY GOT!" His voice rose as he clenched his teeth to stop his voice from breaking.
"WHAT DID THEY EVER DO TO DESERVE- THIS?" Holly gestured around her.
"They killed you. She-." Ben pointed at Penny angrily. "SHE KILLED YOU!"
"PENNY DIDN'T KILL ME! SHE WAS TRYING TO SAVE YOUR STUPID ARSE FROM JUMPING!"
Ben was caught off guard for a second but then got more infuriated. "Some attempt," he sneered. "I told her not to tell you, I TOLD HER NOT TO TELL YOU! IF SHE HADN'T TOLD YOU, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE GONE UP THERE! SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP YOU SAFE; SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT YOU! I-." He became mortified when he realized something. Raging, he yelled," I BET SHE TOLD YOU EVERYTHING, DIDN'T SHE?!"
"No! I only told her that you were going up to the tower! I didn't say, I didn't say!" Penny shook her head repeatedly.
"Didn't say, what? Penny?" Holly questioned her, confused.
"I-. You tell her Copper." Penny narrowed her eyes. "We suffered. Now it's your turn. Tell her."
Ben looked mortified a second before regaining his anger. "You suffered? YOU SUFFERED? YOU DIDN'T SEE HER JUMP! YOU DIDN'T SEE HER DEAD! YOU DIDN'T SEE EYES, STARING AT NOTHING! HOW COULD YOU HAVE POSSIBLY SUFFERED? He choked this out weeping, apathy be damned. "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY YOU SUFFERED! YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED! YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE PAIN, AND AGONY I HAVE!"
"I didn't think-, I thought my death wouldn't affect anyone. I-No. That doesn't give you an excuse for you to torture my family and friends!"
Jacob's eye twitched. "You didn't think... You didn't." He shook his head. "You death affected so many people, Holly. Your friends- me, did you think we wouldn't care?"
"Holly- I love you," Penny choked out. I had been- am still in love with you, I just couldn't say it then. I-I miss you so much!" Penny's breath caught in her throat. "I never wanted this! I never wanted you to die! And it's my entire fault, it's all my fault! I never should have told you. I never should have tried to save Ben!" Penny shook with sobs and collapsed onto the ground.
Holly rushed to be by her, saddened and depressed by Penny's confession. If only she didn't die that night. If only she could have stayed alive... But she also knew that wishing wouldn't change the past. Holly couldn't stop herself from taking Ben's place. "I'm so sorry! I never wanted you to hurt! I never ever wanted you to be sad! I love you too."
Ben watched Holly attempt to comfort Haywood with his fist clenched tightly to his side. So. Of course, she would immediately side with Haywood, even after hearing the "full story." He had known she would. He knew as well as anyone that Holly had loved her. So why did this bother him? Of course... he could use this to his advantage. He strode over to where her pathetic brother was and pointed his wand. "AVADA-" His voice rang out, cold and enraged.
Just then an orange figure darted out of nowhere and elbowed him hard in the chest, making him fall over onto the ground. Chaos was all around him as lots of people burst into the room. No... Even though his ribs felt like they were on fire, he stood up quickly ready to dual his attacker. Ben saw that the figure that had knocked him over was already in a duelling stance. Ben realized who it was immediately. Charlie Weasley stood before him, unmistakable with his red hair. Ben narrowed his eyes and hit him in the shoulder with a loud "Bombarda!"
As they were fighting, the rest of the group undid the charms cast on the ropes and cut through them, freeing the captured victims. "Are you okay?"
Penny looked up surprised and quickly wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "Rowan? What are-?"
"Bill couldn't lead, so he asked me too. What happened? Do you need to be taken to the hospital?"
She swallowed, feeling guilty. "I'm okay. I'm the one who got us into this mess anyway..."
"You, Sick, son of a Biscuit Eater!" Charlie panted in-between spells. "You're a slimy piece of fried fish, that's what you are! Confringo!" Charlie aimed it at the ground beneath Copper's feet. It exploded, sending both of them backwards. Charlie's wand skidded across the floor. Charlie was up on his feet in less than a second and quickly started looking for his wand.
"Need this?" Barnaby handed Charlie his wand back.
"Thanks love." Charlie immediately summoned Copper's wand, which flew into his hand almost immediately. He then froze cold sweat running down his face as he realized what he had just said out loud. Luckily, his family wasn't here.
Ben tried to get up, but his back was aching and his head was spinning. He felt a cool tip on his neck and looked up nervously.
"Don't move or you'll get hurt." Rowan held her wand to his neck. Everyone had surrounded Ben so he couldn't escape.
"This ends now, Copper." Holly's soothing, yet deadly voice surrounded him. "You torture my loved ones, you used the unforgivable curse on Penny and you attempted to kill my brother. Who knows what you've done to Beatrice. Being sent to Azkaban should be the least of your concerns."
"I don't care! In fact, I hope I do!" It's my fault. He had known, somewhere inside that it was. "Then I won't have to look at any of your faces again!" Ben struggled to get up, the wand still on his neck. Charlie knocked him back down again, but he sat up defiantly.
"Tell us... Why are you doing this?" Rowan asked with a low and dangerous voice.
"You really want to know, don't you?" Ben spat at them. "It's them." He angrily pointed his fingers at Jacob and Penny, who backed away. "It's their fault!" It's your fault, the persistent thought echoed. He tried to shoo it away, only making the pain and guilt stronger. "They murdered Holly. They killed her, him and that bloody Haywood!" He gave a small laugh. "You know, all I wanted to do up there was to prove I was brave. So that I could protect her. And maybe I would also impress her. Maybe she would finally be proud of me!"
"How could I be proud of anything you've done?" Holly replied coldly.
Something changed in him once she had said that. "It was either Holly or me that R had really wanted to kill. She couldn't have two students die, or the staff would start to suspect her. So... I was ready to die." He glowered at them. "It should have been me," he said tensely. "IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!" Ben finally screamed, letting out the feelings that he had bottled up for years now. "I SHOULD HAVE DIED UP THERE!" Tears poured from his eyes, dripping down to his chin. "Because- because... I loved Holly..." He looked at his hands, tears falling onto them. "I loved her..."
Everyone stared at him silently.
Present Holly mentally slapped herself. There had been signs in the previous memories when he had run away, what he had said when Penny had asked him about it when he had said it when the scene had played the first time... And now... Her eyes widened as everything fell into place. When he had run away from them... that hadn't been because of some letter he forgot to write! It had been because she said that she was in love with someone else! Someone Ben had respect for... In the Artefact room, he was so desperate to not let her die, because just like her with Penny, he couldn't imagine a life without her alive. And then one of the few people who he trusted, the person he trusted to protect her, had double-crossed and lied to him. Penny had noble intentions Holly knew, knowing that she would have done the same thing if it had been her instead of Penny in that situation. But from Ben's perspective, it had seemed as if she lied to him and then murdered her... Even though he had said, she had just assumed that when he said that he loved her, that he meant it in a friendshippy way. Ben loved her… Since when? Her mind was reeling with all the new information.
"And now she's dead." Ben raised his head. "Because of Haywood. Because if she hadn't broken our promise, Holly wouldn't have gone to the tower in the first place! She wouldn't have known! Haywood was supposed to protect her!" His voice started shaking as it rose higher. "You have no idea what it's like. Seeing her face, dirt covered and pale, her lips as blue as her glassy eyes staring into nothingness, YOU HAVE NO IDEA!" He cried. "I COULDN'T EVEN SAVE HER!"
The silence in the room seemed to stretch on forever, no one saying anything as the vengeful wizard finally broke, breathing rapidly.
"Who am I kidding?" Ben spoke quietly and shakily as he buried his face in his hands as he brought his knees to his chest. "Haywood might have gotten her killed, and Miles might have started this whole thing... but I'm to blame too... I should have just gone ahead and jumped... I should have not bothered with Haywood... and now... What did I do!?" His voice cracked, and he started sobbing. "I became the villain! I-I hurt the people that were the first friends I ever had! And even worse than that... "I hurt the people that Holly had cared about the most! I used an unforgivable curse! I-I almost killed someone! I almost killed them...
Ben didn't notice as someone placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know how this will end," he murmured. "I'll get sent to Azkaban for life. I may even get the dementor's kiss. There is no excuse for what I've done, none at all."
"But you're not even out of school yet?" Charlie asked quietly, not sure how he felt or what to do about the broken boy in front of him. Barnaby squeezed Charlie's hand, reassuring him.
"Copper is right, Weasely," Rowan replied sharply. "By the wizarding criminal justice law as long as you're not a minor, you can go to Azkaban," She swallowed. "And he's seventeen, the wizarding coming of age."
"Ben," Holly commanded, stepping closer to the boy. He looked up with a fearful expression on his face. "What you did is wrong, awful, and horrific, and by all accounts, you should go to Azkaban, but..." She was unsure whether she was doing the right thing or not. She shouldn't have sympathy for him. He hurt both her brother and the woman that she loved. She should want to see him suffer, but… She had always been too damn empathetic. "You also seem to realize the weight of what you did and have remorse for it. You were hurting, and… grieving because of something I did." She stood tall, regal, almost like a queen. "I am willing to give you a second chance."
"WHAT!?"
"She can't be serious," Charlie and Barnaby were whispering.
"Um, Holly?" Rowan questioned her friend, confused.
Penny and Jacob stood silent, knowing far too well that they could not talk her out of it. Penny didn't say, but her head felt dizzy and she felt sick from when Ben had kicked her and pushed her into the wall. She hoped that it would pass soon. It wouldn't.
"No, Holly. I have to face the consequences for my actions."
"Um, Holly can we speak with you for a moment?" Rowan asked. Holly nodded and followed her and the others to the far corner of the room, still keeping an eye on him. "Are you sure about this?"
Holly sighed. "It's difficult." She gazed at Penny. He hurt you, and for that, he should get the highest level of punishment. He used an unforgivable curse! But… he's also hurting; he needs help, not a cold cell. If we help him, give him a second chance, he might just be able to get back on his feet and stop hurting. I think it was R who started all this. If R didn't happen, I would still be alive, and Ben wouldn't have stooped so low. And maybe in time, he'll be able to forgive us and himself too."
"But so much could go wrong…"
"That's a chance we'll have to take," Holly stated determinedly. She walked back over and the rest of them followed. "The offer still stands. We'll help you through this, and we won't turn you over to the ministry."
"Sounds too good to be true."
Holly resumed as if Ben hadn't spoken. "Of course you'll have to let us help you, and not hold back if we ask you something."
"And if I turn myself in?"
Holly hadn't considered that. She thought for a moment. "Who knows," She shrugged. "But you'll never get this chance again."
"I- er, fine! I accept your offer."
"Great!" She leaned in close. "Just know that if you hurt any of my friends again, we won't hesitate to get you your own cell. Is that clear?"
"Y- Yes," he stammered.
"Good. Now lets-."
"What did I miss?" Bill burst in through the door panting heavily. "What-." He saw Holly and paled.
"Are you alright? You look as if you saw a ghost."
Tulip elbowed Tonks in the ribs.
"Guys, maybe we should discuss this elsewhere?"
"Good idea," Jacob nodded. "I will apparate Penny back to the Burrow. Bill, would you be as kind as to apparate Beatrice?"
"Er- yes."
"What about Holly?" Penny worried.
"Don't worry," Holly smiled. "I'm sure I can find it." She realized something. "Someone has to apparate Ben. Who wou-."
"I'll do it," Barnaby announced.
Holly nodded in approval. "Okay, so have we got everyone accounted for?"
"We think so."
Once they arrived back at the Burrow, Holly and the others got warm blankets and they sat down in the living room. Penny excused herself to the toilet. Charlie went to make them some tea so they could calm down after the events from earlier. Barnaby followed him into the kitchen, claiming that "the Hogwarts school supplies list should be arriving soon." It was midnight, and the letters weren't due for another week. Needless to say, tea took longer to brew than they had anticipated.
"You two haven't died yet right?" Tulip called out from her place on one of the couches. They heard a crash, and a head banging against the cabinets.
"Shoot, right, we have to get the tea ready."
"Will you please pass me the teacup?"
"I think we made a mistake leaving them alone." Bill sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"The funniest thing about it is that they think we don't know," Tonks laughed.
"Sooo, who's gonna tell them?"
"Tulip!" Holly chided.
"What? Their faces would be priceless!"
"You knew all along?!" Charlie asked, shocked.
"You didn't really hide it well mate," Bill yawned. "Honestly, you should have told us you two were dating!"
"Er- Holly," The Ben in the memory started quietly. His cheeks turned red. "About what I said earlier I-."
"Holly! Something's wrong with Penny, you've got to come quick!" Rowan ran through the door. "She's throwing up blood!"
"Blood!?" Holly shot up in alarm and raced out of the room quickly. Once she got to the bathroom, she saw that the door was closed. "Penny!" Holly called.
Rowan tried opening the door. "It's locked. Alohomora!" Rowan unlocked the door and the two burst in.
If she were alive, Holly's heart would have been racing. On the floor, was an unconscious Penny, still clutching her stomach. "Penny!" She screamed. "Penny!"
"We need to get her to St Mungo's, fast. Quick, tell the others!"
"No, I can't leave…"
"Holly, you're our only hope of getting her help. I'll stay and try to wake her, you go tell the others."
"But-," She started, frantic and worried.
"Penny's a strong woman. She'll be alright, now go!"
Holly nodded and raced back to the Weasley's living room. "We need to get Penny to St Mungos immediately! She's unconscious!"
"Unconscious!?" Bill said in alarm. "I'll apparate her there right away!" He rushed off.
"We're coming too, Holly, Penny's our friend!" Charlie and Barnaby ran out of the kitchen. The group pretended not to notice their blushing cheeks or dishevelled hair.
"All of us are," Tonks replied.
There was a short silence as they looked at Ben. "He raised his head realizing something. "I need to go there with you! I think I know why Penny's like this. I- I did this." He clutched his stomach out of nervousness and fear.
"Will you please explain for us once we get there?" Holly asked him, her tone more demanding than questioning.
"Do I have a choice?" He asked sardonically.
"None in hell," Tonks interjected.
The scene dissolved again to the hospital. It appeared to be when Ben was being questioned.
"Alright, er, if you may sit here," Healer Walter gestured to one of the chairs around her bed. Ben sat down, and he did after, positioning his clipboard on his lap. "Do you know what happened?" The boy was silent for a few moments, gathering courage. What he said was almost unbelievable.
"I did this…" He spoke quietly, and Healer Walter had to lean in close to hear him.
"No you didn't child, what could you have possibly done?"
"I- I was blinded by anger- and vengeance, I wanted to," He gulped. "I wanted to make her suffer as I did when Holly died, I- I blamed Hay- Penny for her death." His hands were shaking and he held them together. "I- She apologized, and I kicked her…"
"By any chance, did you kick her in the stomach area? Or perhaps, the head?"
He stayed silent for a few moments longer. "The stomach… I- also pushed her into the wall… and I-," swallowing hard Ben admitted something else under his breath.
"Sorry young man," Healer Walter, said almost mockingly. "I couldn't hear the last bit."
"I used a curse on her…"
"And what may I ask, curse did you use?" The distressed boy shook his head rapidly. "Young man, I asked you what curse did you use!"
"The Cruciatus Curse!" He blurted out. "I cast the unforgivable curse on her…"
"Miss Haywood also has blisters on her wrists. Was it you're doing too?"
"I k-kidnapped her sister, so Penny and Holly's brother would try to save her… I used rope's so they couldn't escape… As he spoke, he realized more of the full weight of what he had done. I almost used the killing curse on her brother…"
"Almost?"
"One of her friends knocked me over before I could finish casting it…"
"Do you realize you could get sent to Azkaban for what you did?!" He hissed at Ben.
"I'm fully aware of the consequences for what I've done."
"I'm going to get another Healer to watch over you while I go get a certified legilimens to extract your memories so that we can see for ourselves." He started walking out of the room.
"Sir?"
"Yes, child?"
"Can you obliviate me too? I d-don't want to remember…"
The group pulled their heads out the pensive, breathing heavily.
"So…"
The door handle started turning, making them hastily hide in the room. Rowan, Holly, and Jacob hid behind Penny's Hospital curtain. Holly looked at her, noticing that she was still unconscious. "Please wake up," she silently pleaded.
Healer Walter walked in, walking towards Penny. He was going to find them. Holly had to reveal herself. Slowly, she crept from behind the curtain.
"Hello, Healer. Would you fancy telling me why there's a pensive in here?" She questioned sardonically.
"Especially, since it's illegal to view a patient's memories." Rowan came out from behind the curtain too.
And what are you doing in here?" Healer Walter asked.
"We figured something was wrong when Ben didn't come out of the room after he had gone in for questioning," Holly began. "And when we saw that pensive we knew something was definitely wrong. Why did you take Ben's memories and how did you get the rest of them."
"You seem to know so much about pensives… It's a shame you didn't recall that a Legimens can look at your memories with simple eye contact."
A loud gasp was heard and the rest of the group came out from their hiding spots.
"Isn't this a nice surprise," Healer Walter spat out.
Suddenly, Ben stepped between Holly and the Healer. "I won't let you hurt her!" He felt weak from the potion and wobbled a bit where he was standing.
"Well isn't this precious."
"Well, isn't this copied from every single villain ever made," Tulip jeered.
"Really, come up with something original, the typical villain talk is really boring,"
"Tonks, really not helping the situation right now."
"Eh," Tonks shrugged. "Someone needed to tell him."
Healer Walter cursed. "I knew I should have given him more sleeping potion..."
"So that's why I fell asleep," Ben glowered at him.
"Yes, You and Haywood. I couldn't have her wake up and discover my plan. You more than anyone should understand that," He told Ben soothingly.
"I- No!" He weakly attempted to push the Healer back. "You're an awful person!"
"If Ben had been put under the sleeping potion and he's awake, then that means-…" Holly ran back to Penny's bed. "Penny?" She whispered softly.
Penny's eyes fluttered and she let out a moan. "Holly…"
"Shh. It's alright. Just relax." Penny nodded at Holly's calm words and she fell back asleep.
"Why? Why did you do this? Why did you take her memories?" Ben accused the Healer.
"You know, being a Healer is really boring. So I took up writing. The only problem is my stories suck. So do you want to know what I do?"
"You leech other people's stories…" Bill realized.
"Smart man. And your story is far too interesting to pass up. Now I can't let anyone else know about this." He grinned and drew a knife out of his pocket. "See this? This is a Muggle weapon." Now… Who's first?"
"All too happy," Ben walked forward determinedly.
"No!" But as Charlie pushed the Healer over, Ben gasped and then rolled onto the ground, clutching his stomach tightly.
"Ben!" Holly ran over and kneeled beside him. "What happen- you're bleeding!"
"One- less- villain- in- the – world," Ben gritted his teeth in pain.
"Don't you get it?" The "Healer" spat at her. "He wanted to die."
Ben gasped once more. "Holly, you know earlier before we got to St. Mungo's?"
"You had wanted to talk to me about something," Holly acknowledged weakly.
"Yes… I- I was in love with you. I have been since our second year, I-." Ben stopped a moment, wincing at the pain. "I know you're in love with Penny. And that's… fine. I never stood a chance. Did you see the memories inside the pensive?"
Holly nodded guiltily. "I shouldn't have but-."
"No. I'm kind of glad you saw it. Of how much an arse I was being." Ben sighed. "I never wanted this to happen."
Holly looked at Rowan desperately. "There must be some way we can save him!"
"I'll go get a trustworthy healer." Rowan then used the unlocking charm to open the door and ran out.
"Thank you for giving me another chance…. Although I don't deserve it," Ben told her, his voice growing faint. "Thank you for being by my side when you were alive. Thank you for… Everything."
"Holly! I got a healer! I think Ben will-." Rowan stopped, seeing Ben, pale and unconscious. "I'm too late," She whispered.
The healer pushed in a cart with lots of potions on it. She surveyed Ben's body and levitated him to the bed next to Penny's. "How long had he been dead for?" She asked in a classy London accent.
"Just a few moments," Holly replied.
"That's good."
"Good? Ms No magic can bring back the dead?" Rowan was confused.
"No magic can bring back the long dead. We have up to five minutes to help him." The healer then proceeded to use her wand to sew up the wound and heal him. "He should be alright."
"Has he just passed out?" Holly asked.
"His brain should be reviewing all of his memories." Here, can one of you please hand me a pepper up potion?"
Rowan handed her the potion and watched as she poured into Ben's mouth.
"He should wake up in a few minutes."
"That's good." Rowan looked over to where Holly had been standing. "Holly?"
"She must have left," Bill noted.
"Because Penny isn't in danger anymore," Jacob finished.
"Healer" Walter had been fired from St. Mungo's and sent to Azkaban.
Penny stayed in the hospital for a week but then went home with her sister, Beatrice. Between that, her father visited her sometimes. After she finished Hogwarts, she dedicated her life to Voldemort's downfall, becoming a potioneer for the Order of the Phoenix, alongside Snape. On the second of May, nineteen-ninety-eight, she finally saw Holly again, both with Holly being a ghost and among the clean, pastel, seashore in the coastal village where Holly grew up.
Ben also had to stay in the hospital, but for less time. As promised, the rest of the group never got him sent to Azkaban. He eventually managed to forgive himself, Penny, and Jacob.
END.