TITLE: The Charm that Started It All
SUMMARY: The Weasley Twins and their fellow quidditch members, also their love interests were wandering around Hogsmeade when a massive crowd parted them from each other. George was left alone. So was Alicia. Only Fred and Angelina remained together, though both of them searched the busy streets for their friends. None of them knew that something very paranormal was about to happen. That they would be together again, only in another place, another universe. And it all began with Alicia's venture into an ancient charms store.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Alicia curiously pushed open the doors and stepped into the store. It was a rather desolate one selling ancient charms. She was letting her gaze travel around the store when a strangely carved gypsy-ish trinket gripped her interest. She softly walked over to it and instantly wondered why she cared about it at all. The wooden figure was carved in the shape of an old man leaning on a staff. His face wasn't kind or decent like many other grandfathers but contorted into a look of fury and anger. Alicia bent closer towards the dusty shelf. Her head tilted to one side as she examined the figure. Almost immediately, his wooden eyes flickered. Wondering if it was just her imagination or the reflection of the sun, Alicia moved even closer.
Those eyes stared back at her, unblinking and cold. She frowned, how could wooden eyes flicker? In less than a second, the doubt creeping into her mind was dislodged. It was neither her mind playing tricks on her nor the glaring white sun. Two eerily gleaming red eyes locked her in an unrelenting gaze. Shocked and slightly frightened, she tried to pull away. As if sensing her movement, a swirl of red shot out from the man's staff and wrapped her tightly. Her fingers immediately clutched at the biting lines but she couldn't get a hold on them, they just went through the ropes as if they weren't there.
She was about to cry out but something twined itself around her neck, instantly hindering her from doing so. The tight hold around her neck prevented her from breathing and Alicia was beyond the state of thinking rationally. Thick air hung heavily around her and a dark fog blinded her eyes. She didn't see or hear the door open, or the cry the newcomer gave. Instead, she felt a strong tugging and pulling and the next moment, she could feel the familiar tug at her stomach - the sensation of falling down fast. The red lines loosened its' deadly grip on her and just dangled in the air.
She screamed...nothing happened...she just kept falling, and falling, the luminous lines being the last thing she could see until they too faded from sight, leaving her alone with the realization that she must be falling into something really deep.
~*~*~*~*~
George wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted him when he opened the door. He blinked - was that Alicia being engulfed by a blinding scarlet blanket of fluorescent light? When his eyes flew open again, all was quiet and calm. No Alicia, no colossal brightness. Only one object lying hopelessly on the floor gave him a notion that Alicia had been there just a minute ago - her ring, the one her father gave her the year she got into the Quidditch team.
He picked it up; before he became aware of the fact that he was actually in a charm's shop where magical and weird things happen. "Caryl!!!" he cried, panicked and worried about Alicia. The aged and white-haired woman came hurrying out from the back, "What's wrong?"
George pointed to where he last saw Alicia, "Alicia was there and she was in this red light covering her...and- "
Caryl just ran over to the dusty shelf. George kept quiet and watched her as she carefully inspected the area. When she finally straightened up, the expression she wore on her wrinkly yet kind and likeable face, one of mixed horror and fear, made George feel as if he just swallowed a vomit-flavored jellybean. Bracing himself for the worse, he voiced the question hovering over his lips, "what happened?"
Caryl muttered a few words that George couldn't understand, "Zeusio considodian Maleveres. It's gone."
"What?"
"The figurine...of the evil sorcerer, Likensoris! Your friend must have done something!"
George remained confused, "What sorcerer? Caryl! What is going on?"
She sighed, cast an uncertain and reluctant look towards the shelf, and then led him to the back of her store. George followed her. Once, they were both sitting down comfortably, Caryl cleared her throat, preparing to enlighten George concerning Alicia's disappearance. Just then, the front door of the shop swung open.
"Fred!" George's twin appeared at the doorway to the back.
"Angelina! She's gone! She just disappeared, faded! Swallowed whole by streaming ribbons! It must be the candy I gave her! Do you think it had side effects? Where did she disappeared to?"
This time, there was no mistaking that the whole situation was indeed very serious. Caryl's face had taken on a pallid hue, alarming George immensely. Instead of proceeding with her story, Caryl began questioning Fred.
"I don't think this has anything to do with candy. Tell me, was this Angelina a friend of Alicia?"
Fred nodded, still confused and totally in the dark.
Caryl wiped her forehead worriedly and led them both to the back while locking the main entrance with a wave of her wand.
Then, she prepared once more to launch into a lengthy explanation.
And interrupted once again.
This time, the interruption wasn't as mild as the first. Instead, it was loud and...shattering. The windowpanes, or what was left of them, glittered in the floor, twinkling in the sunlight. Caryl jumped up in shock. "No..." her eyes were wide and looking at the glass in horror, "It can't be, not that fast-"
Fred looked at her in surprise, "What is too fast?"
Caryl's attention snapped back to him. She seemed to have regained her composure and frenziedly ushered the twins out the back doors, "there is no time to explain, you have to go NOW."
Now, they were really confused. "Go? Where?"
Caryl wiped her hands on her robes and pulled out her wand. "Save your friends. When you find them, get in touch with Ofirese. Remember you need to remain unscathed by their power. Speed is essential. Do not delay."
With just those few vague sentences, she waved her wand. Fred opened his mouth to question her further, but felt himself being swept up in trails of colours similar to Alicia's. The next moment, he was standing on a lushly carpeted white floor. He looked around dazedly and saw George.
He was dressed in a smart suit. Fred gaped. Was that...? It was! Pure silver threads, intricately woven together. His glanced at his face and saw George looking at him in equal surprise. His gaze traveled down to his own outfit. Fred almost passed out in total shock. His suit was as grand as George's...only differently designed.
Instead of gold, his was sewn from an emerald tinged fabric, seemingly changing its shade as he moved. He fingered one of the glistening dots, genuine gems! And instead of the lightning bolts flashing down his white silk sleeves, Fred's was adorned with symmetrical abstract designs, with a distant Egyptian flare revealed by the Hawk head's crown at the corner of his long sleeves.
Fred was so engrossed in the details of his and his twin's richly decorated clothing that he didn't pay attention to his surroundings. George nudged him. He looked up. The room, no, more like dome, was even more luxuriantly garlanded, if that was possible. It was nothing like their furniture back home, no chairs, more like stretched sofas, delightfully soft when touched, with detailed and beautiful carvings ornamenting its sides. The covers were almost blindingly white, yet soothing to the eyes at the same time. Replacing the normal tables was a large glass one spread in the very middle of the hall.
Fred walked over to it, instantly feeling as if he was falling. He instinctively reached out to grab George but found himself still standing on the ground. He looked down; the carpet was still there. Fred tentatively took another step forward. Amazing, he felt as if he was walking on clouds. He couldn't feel the ground yet the carpet was hadn't disappeared to reveal clouds or water or something as spongy. George was looking around in awe too. Together they made their way to the table.
Another surprise awaited them. The glass covering the top revealed a grand utopia. Buildings were built so grandly they could pass as palaces. But far at the corner of the city, a much more splendid and glorious than those already superb houses, was a real palace which overlooked the whole city, floating in midair. Small models of a magnificent city rested comfortably under the glass, which under closer inspection, they found wasn't merely glass, but crystal. Fred was speechless. Where on earth were they?
He tore his eyes away from the crystal made city and focused on the paintings on the walls, which upon touched, felt like soft cushions. Paintings more brilliant than wizard portraits were hung. To name just a few of them decorating the large room, a unicorn with a magnificent mane in a tropical forest, neighing and tossing his head, with his clan of wives, equally as beautiful surrounding him, some sleeping and some drinking from the estuary, speaking of which, was clear and sparkling. The sound of the waterfall over the rocks could be heard clearly when Fred rested his gaze on it. The pawing of the hooves and silent brushes the leaves made were as pleasant and Fred felt as if he was really there. He could almost imagine the unicorn resting next to him.
In another, a stunning and angelic queen gazed down on him. Her countenance was so heavenly it made Fred wonder if she wasn't a Goddess. She was far more attractive than any veela. "A real Goddess," he breathed. George nodded mutely behind him.
A voice broke into their thoughts. Deep and as magical as their surroundings. "Of course she's real, what else do you think she would be?"
They both turned around, the sensation of falling right through the carpets tugged at them once more.
A man with pure white hair stood before, back rigid and proud.
He must have noticed Fred and George's surprised expressions because he bowed solemnly before them, a smile tugging at his mouth.
"Forgive me if I startled you, Son of Zeus," he nodded at Fred, "And Your Divinity Horus. His majesty awaits your presence in his study."
The twins exchanged puzzled looks. What did he just call them? Both of them felt as if nothing could surprise them more.
Fred frowned as he followed the man down long corridors still bedecked in white. In his trancelike state, he absently noticed that the bottom of the walls were lined with gold, even the occasional flowerpots and clocks were gold. Fred racked his memory, wasn't Zeus the King of Gods or something like that?
He vaguely remembered his mother telling them stories about a muggle story...the hero was someone like H-herc-... Fred couldn't remember. All he knew was that he had extraordinary powers and was exceptionally strong. Fred gulped, if those powers were what Caryl meant back in Hogsmeade, then he and George were in deep trouble.
A/N: For those of you who have so kindly bothered to stick with me until this far, I sincerely thank you. I am not an experienced author, therefore, I am afraid I haven't been too clear and my story might be confusing. I understand that I have entered too much description about the place but it is so vivid in my imagination that I felt I had to picture it to you in words. I don't think I succeeded though. Thank you for reading this once again. I hope to finish this story and will need encouragement, please kindly leave a review. Okay, all thanks and formalities aside:
FRED AND ANGELINA ROX! GEORGE AND ALICIA RULEZ!
*takes a deep breath* Thank You Folks! See you next chapter!
SUMMARY: The Weasley Twins and their fellow quidditch members, also their love interests were wandering around Hogsmeade when a massive crowd parted them from each other. George was left alone. So was Alicia. Only Fred and Angelina remained together, though both of them searched the busy streets for their friends. None of them knew that something very paranormal was about to happen. That they would be together again, only in another place, another universe. And it all began with Alicia's venture into an ancient charms store.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Alicia curiously pushed open the doors and stepped into the store. It was a rather desolate one selling ancient charms. She was letting her gaze travel around the store when a strangely carved gypsy-ish trinket gripped her interest. She softly walked over to it and instantly wondered why she cared about it at all. The wooden figure was carved in the shape of an old man leaning on a staff. His face wasn't kind or decent like many other grandfathers but contorted into a look of fury and anger. Alicia bent closer towards the dusty shelf. Her head tilted to one side as she examined the figure. Almost immediately, his wooden eyes flickered. Wondering if it was just her imagination or the reflection of the sun, Alicia moved even closer.
Those eyes stared back at her, unblinking and cold. She frowned, how could wooden eyes flicker? In less than a second, the doubt creeping into her mind was dislodged. It was neither her mind playing tricks on her nor the glaring white sun. Two eerily gleaming red eyes locked her in an unrelenting gaze. Shocked and slightly frightened, she tried to pull away. As if sensing her movement, a swirl of red shot out from the man's staff and wrapped her tightly. Her fingers immediately clutched at the biting lines but she couldn't get a hold on them, they just went through the ropes as if they weren't there.
She was about to cry out but something twined itself around her neck, instantly hindering her from doing so. The tight hold around her neck prevented her from breathing and Alicia was beyond the state of thinking rationally. Thick air hung heavily around her and a dark fog blinded her eyes. She didn't see or hear the door open, or the cry the newcomer gave. Instead, she felt a strong tugging and pulling and the next moment, she could feel the familiar tug at her stomach - the sensation of falling down fast. The red lines loosened its' deadly grip on her and just dangled in the air.
She screamed...nothing happened...she just kept falling, and falling, the luminous lines being the last thing she could see until they too faded from sight, leaving her alone with the realization that she must be falling into something really deep.
~*~*~*~*~
George wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted him when he opened the door. He blinked - was that Alicia being engulfed by a blinding scarlet blanket of fluorescent light? When his eyes flew open again, all was quiet and calm. No Alicia, no colossal brightness. Only one object lying hopelessly on the floor gave him a notion that Alicia had been there just a minute ago - her ring, the one her father gave her the year she got into the Quidditch team.
He picked it up; before he became aware of the fact that he was actually in a charm's shop where magical and weird things happen. "Caryl!!!" he cried, panicked and worried about Alicia. The aged and white-haired woman came hurrying out from the back, "What's wrong?"
George pointed to where he last saw Alicia, "Alicia was there and she was in this red light covering her...and- "
Caryl just ran over to the dusty shelf. George kept quiet and watched her as she carefully inspected the area. When she finally straightened up, the expression she wore on her wrinkly yet kind and likeable face, one of mixed horror and fear, made George feel as if he just swallowed a vomit-flavored jellybean. Bracing himself for the worse, he voiced the question hovering over his lips, "what happened?"
Caryl muttered a few words that George couldn't understand, "Zeusio considodian Maleveres. It's gone."
"What?"
"The figurine...of the evil sorcerer, Likensoris! Your friend must have done something!"
George remained confused, "What sorcerer? Caryl! What is going on?"
She sighed, cast an uncertain and reluctant look towards the shelf, and then led him to the back of her store. George followed her. Once, they were both sitting down comfortably, Caryl cleared her throat, preparing to enlighten George concerning Alicia's disappearance. Just then, the front door of the shop swung open.
"Fred!" George's twin appeared at the doorway to the back.
"Angelina! She's gone! She just disappeared, faded! Swallowed whole by streaming ribbons! It must be the candy I gave her! Do you think it had side effects? Where did she disappeared to?"
This time, there was no mistaking that the whole situation was indeed very serious. Caryl's face had taken on a pallid hue, alarming George immensely. Instead of proceeding with her story, Caryl began questioning Fred.
"I don't think this has anything to do with candy. Tell me, was this Angelina a friend of Alicia?"
Fred nodded, still confused and totally in the dark.
Caryl wiped her forehead worriedly and led them both to the back while locking the main entrance with a wave of her wand.
Then, she prepared once more to launch into a lengthy explanation.
And interrupted once again.
This time, the interruption wasn't as mild as the first. Instead, it was loud and...shattering. The windowpanes, or what was left of them, glittered in the floor, twinkling in the sunlight. Caryl jumped up in shock. "No..." her eyes were wide and looking at the glass in horror, "It can't be, not that fast-"
Fred looked at her in surprise, "What is too fast?"
Caryl's attention snapped back to him. She seemed to have regained her composure and frenziedly ushered the twins out the back doors, "there is no time to explain, you have to go NOW."
Now, they were really confused. "Go? Where?"
Caryl wiped her hands on her robes and pulled out her wand. "Save your friends. When you find them, get in touch with Ofirese. Remember you need to remain unscathed by their power. Speed is essential. Do not delay."
With just those few vague sentences, she waved her wand. Fred opened his mouth to question her further, but felt himself being swept up in trails of colours similar to Alicia's. The next moment, he was standing on a lushly carpeted white floor. He looked around dazedly and saw George.
He was dressed in a smart suit. Fred gaped. Was that...? It was! Pure silver threads, intricately woven together. His glanced at his face and saw George looking at him in equal surprise. His gaze traveled down to his own outfit. Fred almost passed out in total shock. His suit was as grand as George's...only differently designed.
Instead of gold, his was sewn from an emerald tinged fabric, seemingly changing its shade as he moved. He fingered one of the glistening dots, genuine gems! And instead of the lightning bolts flashing down his white silk sleeves, Fred's was adorned with symmetrical abstract designs, with a distant Egyptian flare revealed by the Hawk head's crown at the corner of his long sleeves.
Fred was so engrossed in the details of his and his twin's richly decorated clothing that he didn't pay attention to his surroundings. George nudged him. He looked up. The room, no, more like dome, was even more luxuriantly garlanded, if that was possible. It was nothing like their furniture back home, no chairs, more like stretched sofas, delightfully soft when touched, with detailed and beautiful carvings ornamenting its sides. The covers were almost blindingly white, yet soothing to the eyes at the same time. Replacing the normal tables was a large glass one spread in the very middle of the hall.
Fred walked over to it, instantly feeling as if he was falling. He instinctively reached out to grab George but found himself still standing on the ground. He looked down; the carpet was still there. Fred tentatively took another step forward. Amazing, he felt as if he was walking on clouds. He couldn't feel the ground yet the carpet was hadn't disappeared to reveal clouds or water or something as spongy. George was looking around in awe too. Together they made their way to the table.
Another surprise awaited them. The glass covering the top revealed a grand utopia. Buildings were built so grandly they could pass as palaces. But far at the corner of the city, a much more splendid and glorious than those already superb houses, was a real palace which overlooked the whole city, floating in midair. Small models of a magnificent city rested comfortably under the glass, which under closer inspection, they found wasn't merely glass, but crystal. Fred was speechless. Where on earth were they?
He tore his eyes away from the crystal made city and focused on the paintings on the walls, which upon touched, felt like soft cushions. Paintings more brilliant than wizard portraits were hung. To name just a few of them decorating the large room, a unicorn with a magnificent mane in a tropical forest, neighing and tossing his head, with his clan of wives, equally as beautiful surrounding him, some sleeping and some drinking from the estuary, speaking of which, was clear and sparkling. The sound of the waterfall over the rocks could be heard clearly when Fred rested his gaze on it. The pawing of the hooves and silent brushes the leaves made were as pleasant and Fred felt as if he was really there. He could almost imagine the unicorn resting next to him.
In another, a stunning and angelic queen gazed down on him. Her countenance was so heavenly it made Fred wonder if she wasn't a Goddess. She was far more attractive than any veela. "A real Goddess," he breathed. George nodded mutely behind him.
A voice broke into their thoughts. Deep and as magical as their surroundings. "Of course she's real, what else do you think she would be?"
They both turned around, the sensation of falling right through the carpets tugged at them once more.
A man with pure white hair stood before, back rigid and proud.
He must have noticed Fred and George's surprised expressions because he bowed solemnly before them, a smile tugging at his mouth.
"Forgive me if I startled you, Son of Zeus," he nodded at Fred, "And Your Divinity Horus. His majesty awaits your presence in his study."
The twins exchanged puzzled looks. What did he just call them? Both of them felt as if nothing could surprise them more.
Fred frowned as he followed the man down long corridors still bedecked in white. In his trancelike state, he absently noticed that the bottom of the walls were lined with gold, even the occasional flowerpots and clocks were gold. Fred racked his memory, wasn't Zeus the King of Gods or something like that?
He vaguely remembered his mother telling them stories about a muggle story...the hero was someone like H-herc-... Fred couldn't remember. All he knew was that he had extraordinary powers and was exceptionally strong. Fred gulped, if those powers were what Caryl meant back in Hogsmeade, then he and George were in deep trouble.
A/N: For those of you who have so kindly bothered to stick with me until this far, I sincerely thank you. I am not an experienced author, therefore, I am afraid I haven't been too clear and my story might be confusing. I understand that I have entered too much description about the place but it is so vivid in my imagination that I felt I had to picture it to you in words. I don't think I succeeded though. Thank you for reading this once again. I hope to finish this story and will need encouragement, please kindly leave a review. Okay, all thanks and formalities aside:
FRED AND ANGELINA ROX! GEORGE AND ALICIA RULEZ!
*takes a deep breath* Thank You Folks! See you next chapter!