The Power of Four
Five years later
Chapter 1
Jackie tied her brown hair up in a high ponytail and began to get into her serious mode as she started to type on the computer in front of her. She had managed to snag a job as a journalist for a well-known muggle magazine called Vogue. According to her boss Mrs. Sanchez, she totally earned the right to work here for her love of fashion. Even though Mrs. Sanchez was a bit of a bossy suspender Jackie still loved working there.
Jackie had to write an article about cosmetics being tested on animals.She nervously bit her lip as she debated how to start. After a minute of staring at the blank computer screen she typed in ANIMAL TESTING- RIGHT OR WRONG? Jackie's eyes left the screen and retreated to a picture she had on her desk of her and Draco when they were seventeen. In the non-moving picture Jackie was giving Draco a piggy-back and was laughing because of how funny it was. Draco was smirking at the camera. Whenever someone asked Jackie who the hot guy was Jackie would say something along the lines of it was her friend who was in the army and fighting overseas. She didn't know if that sounded better than my friend is in jail! When they asked where overseas she changed the subject.
Although Jackie had dated some guys she couldn't help but feel that the way she felt about Draco. She could never share those feelings with another guy. Jackie sighed and turned her attention back to the computer screen. She had an important deadline to meet and Mrs. Sanchez would have her head on a platter if she didn't finish it on time. One time her friend Peyton Sawyer, didn't finish the lay-out in time and Mrs. Sanchez made a big scene about it; swearing at Peyton and making her run five laps around the office. Jackie did not want that to happen. She stared clueless at the screen. She smiled to herself. Danielle would have so many ideas for the article. Speaking of Danielle…
"Mm…Diego." Danielle said gasping for breath as she and Diego just finished doing the nasty. Yes! They had finally done the deed a couple months after they graduated from Hogwarts. It was a very special time for the both of them, just like how Diego wanted it.
Although Danielle did live in a condo with Jackie, Nehal and Heather, she would often spend the night at a guy's house. She and Diego had an on/off relationship. Danielle wanted to live her life to the fullest, but she was also still vulnerable and often found a flaw in any guy that liked her.
Diego smiled and tucked a strand of Danielle's hair behind her ear. "I can't believe were still together after all these years."
"Well we did break-up once and while." corrected Danielle.
"But then we get back together." Diego kissed her sweetly on the lips.
Danielle kept her eyes shut. "Diego you really should be going now."
Diego raised his eyebrows confused. "Why sweetie?"
"Because!" scoffed Danielle.
"Because why?"
Danielle rolled her eyes slightly annoyed. "You have your dance competition today remember? And the scouts will be coming to see you!"
"Oh yeah! Well I better get going then. Don't want to give a bad impression to the scouts. Love you." Diego kissed her on the lips again.
Danielle smiled through the kiss. "I love you too."
Diego then dashed out of the condo praying that he would make it on time.
Danielle groggily got out of bed. She got changed into casual clothes and went into the kitchen to get something to eat. This was how her day usually began. All her friends would be working while she stayed at home watching soap operas and cleaning up the house.
Danielle spotted a note on the fridge for her. She read it out loud.
Danielle
Had to go in early to help Jamie with something. He can never do anything by himself!He's hopeless I tell you. There's left over French toast if you would like some.
Love, Nehal :)
Danielle laughed. When were Jamie and Nehal going to realize that they were meant for each other? Although the couple had lost the spark they had in seventh year they always worked late hours in the office as Aurors. Danielle knew one day something big was going to happen between them, that would change their lives forever and making them realize that they belonged together.
"Hey James!" Nehal said cheerfully as she walked into Jamie's office.
Jamie looked away from his paper work and glared at Nehal. "How many times have I told you NOT to call me that?" Clearly Jamie was in one of his moods again.
Nehal laughed. "I just couldn't resist." Nehal enjoyed annoying people especially if she had known them for a long time.
"Okay jokes over. You're late!" Jamie added under his breath, "As usual."
"I'm not late all the time!" Nehal then thought about it. "Actually yeah I am kind of a hit-the-snooze-button kind of person."
"Mm hmm." Jamie handed Nehal some papers. "These came in for you. There from Mad-eye Moody. You know? HeadAuror?" Nehal nodded rolling her eyes at the same time. Jamie ignored her and continued. "He wants you to recruit new Aurors."
Nehal had a quick look at the papers. "Uh huh, okay, looks good." But in her head she was thinking, "Boring, boring, boring. When do I get to fight?"
Jamie sighed, taking his reading glasses off. "Nehal."
Nehal looked up startled. "Yes?"
"It's a good thing were not fighting. We're a peaceful nation again." Jamie looked directly at her. "I don't want a repeat of what happened five years ago."
Nehal stiffened. It felt like she had been slapped. Although she had been surviving without her family, she did miss them. She didn't think anyone really understood her pain so she didn't like to talk about it. It also hurt because when Jamie said five years ago she remembered their relationship. Jamie was the longest boyfriend she'd ever had, that she'd actually cared for.
"Nehal?" asked Jamie wondering if she was paying any attention to him.
Nehal came back to the harsh world of reality. "Right! Yeah of course we don't want a repeat of what happened five years ago." She glared at him and walked away to her own office.
Heather hopped up and down on the elevator as she waited for it to get from level four of the Ministry of Magic to the Atrium. Everyday it was the same thing.
Finally those golden grids opened and she zoomed out of there as if an Abominable Snowman had seen something tasty in her left hand. She ran across the hallway get through the golden gates that opened into the Atrium. Heather really wanted to get home. She had a fresh muffin with her name on it. But to her dismay, the gates wouldn't open! Heather roared in frustration and kicked the doors. She tried to push them open really hard and leaned against them but they wouldn't budge.
"What the deuce!" Heather tried kicking the door again but she just stubbed her toes. "Blast it! That muffin's really calling out to me!"
Heather desperately looked around herself for help and saw the heavy gold sticky thing that Eric Munch uses to register wands in the Atrium. Heather looked at it longingly. It was probably only a few minutes ago that it had happily been sitting in the Atrium, the only Apparition zone in the Ministry of Magic. Heather picked it up and tested its weight.
It was extremely heavy, and Heather nearly dropped it. "Excellent..."muttered Heather. She picked it up carefully and carried it as
she walked in front of the golden doors. She heaved it behind her head and prepared to throw it at the doors, but it was magically plucked out of her hands at the last moment.
"Wha..?" gasped Heather, mystified. She looked at her empty hands, and then turned around and saw a young man holding her weapon! It was Darren, of course. He was already walking back to where the golden sticky thing was kept and putting it down as if it weighed nothing. "Darren, you fool! If you do that we'll never get out alive!"
"Don't be silly," said Darren lightly, and he gingerly pushed at the golden gates.
They opened.
Heather screamed.
"What's the matter with you?" asked Darren.
Heather ran at him, but the darted away just in time and cart wheeled through the open doors into the Atrium.
"You're so strange!" Darren yelled after her, walking into the atrium.
Heather stood up in the middle of the hall and Darren noted with pleasure that she seemed to be waiting for him. He always had to judge in what state he was in with her day by day. He never forgot how he had spent all night with her and her crazy antics at Verona Ville and the next day shewouldn't given him the time of day in the streets. It wasn't quite as bad as that, now. She always talked to him, but some days it seemed like a lot more than friendliness and friendship. On those days Darren thought he had a chance, but they were the kind that rarely came.
Darren eventually wandered up to Heather and simply looked at her.
"Finally! It took you ONLY five million hours to get over here!" She said in an over exaggerated voice that was supposed to make him laugh.
"I knew you wouldn't leave without me," he said in a teasing voice. But sometimes if he tried to tease her she would get mad and
would refuse to talk to him for a week. Darren didn't know this, but this was because on those days Heather saw him flirt with her by that teasing. She didn't want ANYONE to start thinking she wanted that from him, but she shouldn't have tried. Heather had no way of preventing Darren from feeling that way about her. Some days she just didn't notice it as flirting.
"Hey! You shouldn't take advantage of me like that!" complained Heather. Darren relaxed - she was teasing back. "I was supposed to be eating that muffin by now! Someone might've eaten it already. It could have been Jackie! Or maybe even Timmy."
What muffin?" Darren asked. He discreetly laid his hands on either of her shoulders. She didn't shrug them off.
"THE muffin!" Heather exclaimed, looking up into his face. Darren fought back a shiver as he couldn't help but stare down into her brown eyes. He wondered if today was going to be one of the days where she let him kiss her. There was a pause as they stared (either up or down) at each other. Awkward for Heather, but for Darren it was an excellent chance to stare at her without feeling out of place.
Then Heather apparated to her muffin. Darren sighed, but he was used to it. There was always something else for Heather. He knew that Heather didn't love him at all, but it didn't really bother him either.He loved her and couldn't stop himself, so what else could he do but be around for any affection she decided to hand out.For all the time that Darren had loved Heather, he had known she was a wicked little boy-trap. But one of these days, things had to change. So he could be patient.
Darren walked home alone. Everyday it was the same thing.
Darren was in his jim-jams, sitting on the puke-green couch in his living room. He was curled up with the last big of the Daily Prophet that hadn't been read and a cranberry muffin. It was around midnight and he wanted to sleep because he had work the next day, but he wasn'ttired. His mind was still reeling with the way Heather had held his gaze in the Atrium.
Sometimes he felt bitterly resentfulof how desperate he had become. Every little thing that Heather did - touch his finger, looking at him a bit too long, if she took him to muggle films, or visited him at the office - would never be forgotten. He'd think about them for ages and think (or hope, rather) that it might mean that she felt something for him, more than what was already obvious. Sometimes he thought she might be leaning more in the direction of LURRRVE. There was the time they were walking in the streets of Soho in the rain together, and suddenly they were making out. And then that time he woke up one Sunday morning, and Heather was lying beside him, fully clothed, in the bed. She still wouldn't explained why or how she had turned up there. Sometimes Heather just baffled him.
But Darren also remembered how Eric Munch had rudely pushed Heather to get to work and that's why she had touched his hand, and the time she had been staring at him wistfully, someone had been walking behind him with a plate of muffins, and she had taken everyone she knew to that muggle film of Queen of the Damned. Sometimes Darren was angry that hewaswasting all this time loving her, and Heather had never showed any signs of committing.
But most of the time, he was okay. Most of the time he was cheerful because he was in love, and that wasn't a bad place to be. Heather still sent him 10 foot scrolls crammed with writing as memos when they were at the Ministry,(when a Department of Magical Creatures Beast Divisionwouldn't have any reason to send memos to the Department of Magical Games and Sports)and he knew almost everything about her life. Even if she made out with a guy name Fritz at some party, Darren still couldn't picture their relationship being that much different if they were married. She just didn't like to admit it, yet.
He was sitting up at night with his muffin in his pyjamas thinking about this. Heather apparated onto his coffee table just as he turned his mind back to the spontaneous kiss in the rain. There were a smattering of other like that throughout the five years they had known each other. The closer you were to Vlad's death the more often they were. They barely happened now. And whenever they had occurred over the years, Heather treated all of them like they had never existed. But not Darren.
Heather leaned over to Darren from her position on the coffee table and took his muffin. She bit into it. Darren noticed she was in her jammies too. She was wearing a purple t-shirt and pyjama pants with a pattern of dog shampoo bottles and bath tubs. Darren tried to calm himself down.
"So, did Jackie or Timmy take your muffin?" he said casually. He was used to Heather randomly strolling into his house like this. Heather thought, and correctly too, that she couldn't ever reach any boundaries with Darren. He was indulgent with her always, but she ignored that the reason for this was that he loved her.
Sometimes he didn't mind the fact that she used his place like a walk-in clinic.A few times he thought bitterly on how if they were just friends like she seemed to want it to be, she wouldn't be able to use him for all these things. She wouldn't be able to take his muffin.
"Diego did it! Damn him! He doesn't even live there!" Heather ranted.
Darren lied back on the couch and watched her as she went on. She was still standing on the table, and soon started pacing on it and gesticulating forcefully. Darren noticed as she moved her body to illustrate her point, that she wasn't wearing a bra. On some days he would have been bitter that she cared so little about impressing him as someone with even a crush would have, that she would apparate infront of him in dog shampoo pyjamas. But tonight he just enjoyed Heather - flowing wild and free. (LOL)
"You're just dating someone who lives in my condo! You can't just stroll around taking other people's muffins!"
Darren shook himself from his daydream when he heard that. "I see … because you'd never do that…" he said wryly.
Heather paused, looking at her stolen muffin. "Well, this is different!"
"How?"
"For one thing - you don't live in a condo! It's a house, buddy. And for another, Diego's just my friend's boyfriend …"
Darren felt a familiar lifting sensation in his stomach. So he was she admitting that he was more to her than Diego?
But Heather didn't elaborate. She took his stretched-out legs off the couch and put them on the floor so she had room to sit.
Neither Darren or Heather was quite sure what happened next, as they never really were when these instances happened, but thirty seconds later they were both lying on the couch, Darren on top of her. The kissing was rough and urgent, although Darren's hands were gentle and calm - one against her cheek and neck, the other against her hips. Heather's hands were tearing through his hair.
His hair was long, just the way Heather liked it. When she had first met Darren it was short and simple but he kept in long for her now. Heather was always trying to dye her hair purple, but Darren hated it like that, and he could sometimes convince her to keep it brown or dye it a different colour. The few times they made out like this, Heather kept his hands always in his hair, tangling it up and pulling hard on it. If it hurt, Darren didn't say anything. Heather didn't do this on purpose - the kissing just kind of happened. It was like fast forwarding a couple of seconds of her life and suddenly they were pressed up against each other.
These make-out sessions almost never happened now. Looking back to when she had just graduated from Hogwarts, just after Vlad had died, she needed someone the most and that's when the kissing times happened closest together. Back then, they were almost a couple. Heather would never admit it, but her friends would tease her about it and Darren had been truly happy then. Now, whenever these blind kissing fests happen, she would go home and regret it. When she next saw him she felt incredibly awkward and couldn't even bring herself to meet his eyes. She didn't know why exactly, but she knew she couldn't love him.
The next morning Nehal woke up only half an hour after Heather had staggered sleepily into their condo and collapsed on the couch. When she walked into the joint living room/kitchen, Heather was sleeping soundly on the dishwasher. Nehal grinned. Another late night "talking" to Darren, she thought. All the other girls knew about Darren and sympathized with the poor guy, and were amazed that he was still waiting for Heather. For Nehal she could get back at Heather for ever teasing her about Jamie by doing the same to her with Darren. Now, though, she had Westley, and the girls (except for Danielle) had let up about Jamie.
Arrow, Nehal's eagle, flew through the open window and expertly launched his bundle of letters at Nehal, and she caught them easily.
"Bills ... bills ... bills ... Okay, I've got to speak to Diego. I'm pretty sure none of us bought this mexican dancing tutu. Oh! A party!" Nehal had found an invitation.
You're invited to the Security Wizard Bash! Hosted by Eric Munch, the fifteenth consecutive winner of the Best Security Wizard of the Month Award.
Be there at 8:00 on September 12. Dress is Semi-Suspenders.
"September 12! That's today!" exclaimed Nehal.
Heather groaned and shifted in the dishwasher. It just so happened she shifted her back onto a sharp fork. "Ow!" she yelled and stood up.
"Are you okay?" said Nehal.
"OF COURSE! What were you yelling about?"
"I wasn't yelling. I was exclaiming."
"You were yelling."
"It clearly says up there, 'exclaimed Nehal.'"
"Whatever. I know what I heard."
"Anyways - Eric Munch is having a party tonight."
"Oh no! Doesn't he ever sleep?"
"I know. That guy's an animal. But we should go, still, because it's a Ministry thing."
"Ministry thing! It says it's a Security Wizard party."
"We both work at the Ministry, and the security wizards make the Ministry, Heather. You know that."
"We can't go," said Heather.
"Why not?"argued Nehal.
"It's Timmy's birthday!"
"I'm sure Timmy will love it!"
"Fine," said Heather grouchily.
"What's wrong with you this morning? Wake up on the wrong side of the ... dishwasher?"
"Yes! In fact, I have! And it's not at all because I made out with Darren last night."
"What! Oh no, Heather. Not again." Nehal sighed at Heather's antics.
"It's not my fault ... it just happened."
"That's why you always say. Heather - either stop leading him on or just go out with him."
"I didn't mean to! I just sort ... found myself ... doing that. As usual. But I haven't made out with him in a couple months, so I figure I've banked some good will."
"Do you hear yourself?" The other girl walked away, shaking her head.
That night, the girls along with Diego and Westley apparated into the coatroom of Eric Munch's party pad in their semi-suspenders. Westley was allowed in because he counted as Nehal's date, (and he worked temporarily in the sports section) but Diego, Jackie, and Danielle weren't supposed to be there because it was an exclusive Ministry part, but they were coming anyway. The only question was how to sneak them in.
Heather said, "Maybe I can pretend Diego's my date."
Danielle held Diego possessively.
Heather rolled her eyes. "Only until we get in. I'm on the guest list so they'll let us in."
"There's no point," said Westley. "Scrimgeour is a huge mexican dancing fan and Diego always says, 'I owe everything to my one true love, Danielle', whenever he wins a competition."
"Awww... you're so sweet!" said Danielle and she kissed his cheek.
"Scrimgeour likes mexican dancing!" exclaimed Jackie. "Really?"
"Focus!" said Nehal. "We need a plan." She looked up and suddenly smiled."I've got it!"
Nehal walked over to the person in charge, who so happened to be Jamie. Quick words were exchanged and Nehal came back smirking. Westley asked what she had said, and Nehal shrugged it off.
Inside the building...
"Wooh! That was fun," said Danielle. "I'm glad we're in the party."
"Oooh! Look! There's an open mic." said Jackie.
"Uggh," said Nehal. "Stand up comics from the Ministry are always terrible."
"Dance with me, seniorita!" Diego suddenly burst out and stampeded a giggling Danielle onto the dancefloor.
"We won't see them again," said Nehal.
"Oh no," said Heather suddenly.
"What's the matter?"asked Westley.
"Look!" Heather pointed at the mic. Everyone was cheering as Darren walked towards it with his guitar.
"Darren plays guitar?" exclaimed Jackie.
"Jaxs - you need to read up on everyone's hobbies, or something," said Nehal. "I go to the gym a lot."
"I go horseback riding," said Wesley helpfully.
"Thanks," said Jackie.
"Just kidding. I actually don't." said Wesley.
"If everyone lies to me about their hobbies how am I supposed to be expected to keep up!"whined Jackie.
"Shhh! Darren's going to sing!"
"Nooo! Keep talking!" said Heather.
"Why don't you want to see him sing? He's your boyfriend isn't he?" said Westley.
Heather smacked him upside the head. "NO! HE IS NOT! And I don't mind him singing. I just hate watching people sing."
"Aww..." said Jackie. "He's so cute."
Darren sang: "She said 'don't
Don't let it get to you head
Boys like you are a dime a dozen
A dime a dozen'
These grass stains on my knees
They won't leave or fade
the truth is you could slit my throat
and with my one last gasping breath
i'd apologize for bleeding on your shirt
all i need to know
im something you will be missing
maybe i should hate you for this
we never did really did ever quite get that far
maybe i should hate you for this
Everyone cheered.
"That's ... um ... kind of depressing," was all Jackie could say.
"Well, it's obvious what he's singing about," said Nehal, and they all glared at Heather.
"What! I don't think it's depressing anyways ... It sounds very upbeat. The lyrics are just... you know ..." Darren was about to sing after his audience had been cheering for another song. "Oh no, not this one ..."
"You know his songs?" said Westley.
"OMG!" exclaimed Jackie. "He sings to you?"
"He doesn't sing to me. He just sings the songs that he happens to have written already,for me ... Because I like music too ..."
"Yeah, right." said Nehal.
Commit these words to memory So carry me around You can show up at my house Where there are no words We'll let the screen go black Who we ever met
For when you find yourself
Pinned under his demands
I am still an option that you have
Like a picture in your purse
Pull me out when things are at their worst
Completely unannounced
We'll have that movie kiss we talked about
Just a soft and gentle score
Our ears will ring from all the strings
And watch the credits run
And see the names of every one
And who we ever missed
Each one had a role in this
"Awww!" chorused Westley and Nehal, to annoy Heather. Heather crouched down onto the floor and covered her ears.
Jackie didn't say anything. She was just thinking of Draco. She felt exactly the same way. She just couldn't bring herself to think of any other guy. Even if Draco broke it off and was stuck in jail, she couldn't fall out of love with him. If he would come back, she'd drop everything in a second to be with him.
"Come on, darling let's go get something to drink," said Westley to Nehal.
"You guys look really weird," said Nehal to Heather and Jackie. Jackie was looking like she was about to cry, and Heather was rocking back on forth on the floor with her hands clamped shut over her ears.
"Is it over yet?" asked Heather.
"Yeah," said Nehal.
Heather glanced at Darren for a second. It looked like she was safe because he was walking off the stage. For a second she thought he looked very hot - with black fingerless gloves, his long hair over his eyes,and dark sweater vest. For a second. Just as Heather stood up she noticed that guy Gilbert from the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad. He winked.
"Hey, Jackie. Let's go talk to that guy over there ..."
Nehal and Westley, meanwhile, were having an awkward conversation by the punch bowl.
"Like, OMG! Can you believe it! Deigo Luna! He's here! Here in this very room!" exclaimed Scrimgeour.
"Oh ... yes ..." said Nehal.
"He is, like, like - TOTALLY my idol. He's such a great role model for young girls."
"Er - what?" said Nehal.
"He's so grounded," exclaimed Scrimgeour.
"Right ..." said Nehal.
Hours into the party, Darren was tired of mingling. He had been waiting and looking for Heather the whole time, but she was nowhere to be seen. He hoped she hadn't heard him singing. She got really annoyed when he song those "motivation moment songs" in public. The first person he had sung them to was Heather, even when he was still ashamed of wanting to play music from his Quidditch-obsessed family.
Finally he saw Jackie.
"Hey Jackie!" said Darren. "So ... um ... where's Heather?"
"Uh ... she's asleep!"
"What?" said Darren, confused. Jackie looked nervously behind her, as if she was standing guard for something. Darren followed her eyes and saw Heather. She was slipping out of the bar and sliding out the back door.
"Heather!" he shouted, and she turned around. He jogged up to meet her, but noticed too late that she was with - who was that? - Gilbert!
Darren sighed and reminded himself that Heather didn't love him, so why shouldn't she do this? Heather went up to Darren without Gilbert.
"Umm ... Hi, Darren. Listen -"
Darren just shrugged. "Don't even try to find a line, this time, Heather. You're still divine."
Heather groaned. "Darren - stop that -"
"So who's this other guy you've got? Does he know what he's getting himself into? I can fill him in."
"What guy?" said Heather innocently.
Darren looked at her.
"Okay, okay! I know you think I shouldn't be ... Doing sandwiches ... But I swear, no more."
"Are you serious?"
"For sure. The next time I got out with a guy, we'll be in a serious relationship."
Darren couldn't believe his ears.
"Right after I'm done withGilbert," and she skipped away.
What do I believe her for? Darren wondered.
-
Authors' Note: Hey guys! Hey guys! Yesss! It's so much fun writing this now b/c I can ACTUALLY correct the defiantlies now! That's right ... if you look for all the definatlies, there aren't any! They are all spelt correctly now: definitely. are you kidding? I found soooooo many spelling mistakes! Hey! I'm not that bad a speller. SHUT UP! Anyways, its great to have these girls back and about..and even though their not at Hogwarts, the drama continues..its great to share right cue? So share your reviews with us, you wonderful reviewers! all you have to do is press that nice purple button below!All Hail the Chipmunks!that was exhausting! and the sooner we get reviews, the sooner we'll update...
Crazygurl833 has posted her fic! So go to her account if u want 2 read and review it. And...yeah that's all i have to say. Lates!
hissrizcue
