A/F: NEW STORY ALERT! The updates will be sparse because I'm starting school and I'm taking an inordinate amount of credits AND I got a new job at Disneyland. But I'll make sure each of the updates is worth the wait. Secondly, this chapter will take place a few days before the preview I put out (if you read it). I'm still debating about actually putting that chunk in a chapter, I might just refer to the situation rather than put it in. We will see. So from here on out, enjoy!
Forever yours magically,
Emily
"Daddy, I'm sorry to interrupt but can you pass the salad please?"
"Of course sweet pea," Dad grinned, flicking his wand and making the large wooden bowl of salad float to our end of the table. Audrey smiled and hefted some onto her plate. I gave her a small look and took a big bite of the meat on my plate making her grimace. I loved teasing the vegetarian. Dad turned back to our lunch guest and eyed him appreciatively.
"So—I was telling Mario Talbert that his take on the last treaty between us and the Muggle President was simply genius. I enjoyed the information that he delved to the public. It was the perfect balance between what we want to keep to ourselves and what everyone needs to know. Great direction there, sir," Walker, The Head of Magical Cooperation, chirped before taking a big gulp of the wine sitting before him. I sighed and picked at the chicken on my plate. It was growing cold but this was so boring. I hate it when Dad's peoples come to lunch.
"Thank you very much, David. I did put some work with it. But I didn't invite you to lunch to speak business. I invited you to enjoy yourself after all that hard work you did on the treaty," Dad coughed, eyeing the man sagely. I resisted an eye roll. Walks was the biggest suck-up I've ever seen. It was like his lips were permanently attached to Dad's ass.
"Right, of course. Of course," Walker announced, jumping to agreement almost before the words came out of Dad's mouth.
"Audrey—you just finished your potions essay, didn't you?" Dad questioned, turning towards us. Audrey perked up considerably at the opportunity to brag about herself and beamed.
"Yeah—I did! It was completely fascinating! It was all about antidotes to poisons. I actually attempted to brew a solution earlier today. It's resting right now but I think it'll turn out alright," she blathered on. I actually rolled my eyes then. Oh for Merlin's sake—I take it back, Audrey (my younger sister) was more of a suck up than Walker was. Walker had a reason to suck-up—Audrey just did it for the hell of it. She already had Dad's approval, why try so hard?
"That's fantastic, dear! And what about you Addison, how's your summer work coming along?" Dad questioned finally shifting his gaze from Audrey and eyeing me. I sat up from where I was slouched in the chair and put on a falsely bright smile.
"Oh completely spiffing Father-dearest!" I started, temporarily ignoring the use of my full name. "I can't believe how stimulating the curriculum is for my History class! In fact, I managed to pull one of Walker's reports from his briefcase and use it as research! But I think I accidentally left an old magazine quiz in there. Oh don't worry—it was only the rating of one's blow job skills and I definitely learned something far more important than that from the report." I chirped, eyeing Walker out of the corner of my eyes. He froze for a second and looked at me with an alarmed look.
"Addison," Dad sighed, raising a palm over his eyes.
"What report?" Walker questioned at the same time.
"The one that was just being sent out. It wasn't important, was it? I left the report in there and I'm sure whoever is receiving it won't care about that silly old quiz," I gasped, my eyes wide. "Unless someone assumes it was your quiz! Although I'm sure there have already been whispers of that sort."
"You what?! That was going to the Muggle President! It was the final documents for signature!" Walker exclaimed, dashing from the table and out of the room.
"Oh blast! I just remembered I doodled your name on top of the quiz as well! Looks like they'll definitely think what they want here, Walks!" I shouted after him, dissolving into snickers.
"Addison!" Dad snapped, his voice sharp now that the company was gone from the table. I turned back to him and gave him an innocent look. Audrey was gaping at me with her jaw slightly open. Dad's ice blue eyes flashed angrily as he threw his napkin over his plate and I felt my eyes (of completely identical color) react in the same manner.
"I thought I requested you not use that name in my presence, Daddy. How many times do I have to tell you that that name is despicable and I much more prefer Adder," I sighed, sticking out my bottom lip a little.
"I'll call you what I please! I can't believe you did that! You probably just ruined six months of work," Dad roared, standing now. His face was a rather familiar shade of red—probably familiar because I was so used to it being directed at me.
"Oh relax Pops. I was only joking. I didn't actually leave evidence to Walker's homosexuality for the Muggle President to find," I sighed, rolling my eyes and flicking some hair out of my face. Dad's face went from bright red to a less violent shade as he sat down again.
"Minnie!" he shouted. There was a large crack as the tiny House Elf arrived in the dining room. She was flattening the bottom of her crisp white pillow case uniform. It was belted around the middle with a length of gold chord making the bottom half flare out like a party dress.
"Yes Master?" she squeaked, fluttering her foot long eyelashes at him.
"Addison is finished with her lunch. Don't do anything for her—she will be in her room. And thank you very much for lunch—it was delicious," Dad announced in a level tone of voice. I shrugged and stood, dropping my fork onto the glass plate with a clatter. Like I cared—I wasn't hungry anyways. Minnie turned her tennis ball eyes on me and gave a little squeak before taking my plate and scurrying back to the kitchen.
"Go to your room and give me your wand," Dad ordered. I froze. Like I was actually going to give him my wand without some sort of argument.
"Sorry, I lost my wand," I shrugged. Dad hefted another sigh and flicked his own wand at me but I dodged the disarming spell easily. He's just so predictable. "You really shouln't use such magic on your offspring—it could damage my psyche. I'm absolutely certain it's abuse in some way as well—shall I bring it to Perkins in the Misuse of Magic Offices?"
"Don't test me, dear. Just go to your room Addison. I'm putting a spell on the house so you can't leave. I'll speak to you when I get back from the office tonight and I'll know if you do magic so don't," Dad sighed. He was rubbing his eyes with his thumbs, making his small square glasses rise up onto his forehead in the process.
"Well fine then—it wouldn't be the first time I've been put on house arrest." I sang, giving Dad a mocking salute and sauntering down the hall to my room. I flopped face first on my bed. It was unmade—as always, considering Minnie was forbidden to clean it each and every day as I got in trouble. It's not like I ever really cared. I preferred it this way, really.
My plush bed held a canopy of gauzy black material strung around four spindly wrought-iron posts. I'd conjured some twinkling white lights and wound them around the curls in the headboard. The walls were covered in embossed wall paper (originally light blue but charmed a burgundy a few years ago) and the floor was dark wood (not that I could actually see the floor since it was completely covered in piles of clothes, books, my school trunk, piles and piles of magazines, and such). I hefted a sigh and sat up, running my fingers through my hair before grabbing a magazine from the floor. I was currently halfway through it when my sister started shouting my name.
"ADDIE! HAVE YOU SEEN MY PINK SWEATER!? I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE!"
I promptly ignored her, flipping casually through the glossy pages of the magazine.
"ADDIEEEEEEEE! I CAN'T FIND IT! LIKE FOR REAL! WHERE'S MY SWEATER?!"
I flicked my wand at my bedroom door and it slammed shut, blocking out my little sister's whining by a few decibels.
"SERIOUSLY! IT'S NOT IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM! IT'S NOT IN MY ROOM! WHERE IS IT?! DID MINNIE PUT IT IN YOUR ROOM?!"
I shot a silencing charm at the door and the noise stopped completely. I grinned to myself and rolled on my back, holding the magazine over my face so I could read it. I flipped the pages slowly, turning it this way and that so I could look at the brightly colored clothes on the inside. My door slammed open and I dropped the magazine on my face in surprise.
"A silencing charm?! Really?!" Audrey questioned, folding her arms over her chest. Damn, I didn't lock the door.
"You're annoying," I snorted, rubbing my nose where the spine hit it. "Now leave before I hex you."
"You're not allowed to do magic. You're not seventeen yet. Plus Dad just told you not to like not five minutes ago," Audrey sighed. I rolled my eyes and rolled my wand between my palms.
"Since when has that ever stopped me? It's not like I'm going to get in real trouble. You should loosen up a bit. Maybe try a summoning charm to find that precious sweater of yours," I sneered. Audrey's eyes narrowed at me and she stalked over to my dresser, yanking the drawer open.
"You know, every time you do magic Daddy gets in trouble," she sighed, riffling through my messy drawers.
"Right. Everyone is sooo going to challenge the Minister of Magic. He's not going to lose his job for his daughter being who she's supposed to be, magical. Just because I do things the convenient way doesn't mean I should change because of my age. Plus I'll be seventeen in October. Live a little, twerp."
"Really, can you just not be such a surly brat for two seconds of your life Addie," Audrey sighed, planting a hand on her hip and turning to face me. I raised my eyebrows at her.
"Accio pink sweater."
She huffed and slammed the drawer closed.
"Sometimes I wonder if I'm really the older one! You don't listen to anything and all you ever do is cause problems," she snapped as the sweater came hurtling into the room. It draped itself over her face and she ripped it off.
"Like that color would even be able to survive in my drawers, the black would swallow it whole. Now get out of here before I hang you over the fireplace with a permanent sticking charm."
Audrey froze and pulled at her fingers. I sighed and lowered my magazine, eyeing her expectantly. She was going to say something and she wouldn't leave until I made my threats real, which I was internally debating on. It's not like I haven't done it before, just haven't done the stuck to the fireplace route. I'm actually quite proud of myself for the ingenious of the idea.
"I need some advice and since you're the only one here, it's going to have to be you," she sighed, plopping down onto the edge of my bed. I knitted my brows. I'm not really one to give advice in the first place. "Trust me, I tried fire-calling Mrs. Stevens, but she was off with the new family she's nannying for. I don't want to ask you, but I'm desperate."
"What do I get for being your savior?" I questioned, raising one eyebrow. She was right—without our childhood nanny Mrs. Stevens around, Audrey currently had to deal with me for any such advice. That doesn't mean I was going disclose information without milking Audrey for something that will benefit me as well.
"Next time you sneak out, I'll actually cover for you," Audrey deadpanned. That might be too alluring to pass up. Audrey was the biggest snitch in the whole wide world.
"Alright, but you have to unbreakable vow on that one," I grinned. Audrey rolled her eyes.
"As if that would happen. You'll just have to take my word for it," she snorted. I pouted and scooted against my headboard, eyeing the thirteen year old critically.
"Right, so I know you've had plenty of experience with this. But—I'm going out to a unicorn ranch tonight and Kyle Collins is going to be there. I really, really like him and I don't know what to do! I just end up acting all awkward around him and making a complete fool of myself," she spouted off, looking up at me with big eyes. First of all the whole situation was ridiculous.
"What the hell are guys going to a unicorn ranch for? They can't get anywhere near them in the first place," I snorted.
"That's beside the point! What do I do?! Do I talk to him? Ask about his life?" she questioned, bouncing slightly.
"You ignore him," I shrugged. Audrey blinked at me.
"Ignore him?"
"Yeah. Act like he doesn't exist and then suddenly you walk by, give him a compliment, maybe slightly brush your body against his and then go back to ignoring him," I ordered but then paused when I looked at her. "On second thought, forget about the body brush. Your lack of curves is a turn off."
"I have curves!" Audrey exclaimed, looking down at her chest.
"Audrey you're thirteen. You have as many curves as a plank of wood," I laughed, picking up my magazine again. Audrey huffed.
"You're advice is ridiculous. How will he ever know who I am if I ignore him?"
"You can take it or you can leave it, now get out. Oh and think about who you've asked. I can get any guy I want to with just a bat of my eyelashes. But go ahead and don't listen to me," I sighed. Audrey let out a peal of laughter.
"Addison Ryan, I think if your head was any more inflated, you'd be lucky not to float away," Audrey exclaimed, standing and crossing her arms over her chest. I raised my eyebrows at her and fingered my wand. Audrey's eyes widened as I tossed my magazine aside. She just broke one of the cardinal rules of the house. Don't ever call me Addison. I can hardly tolerate Addie as it is.
"I'd run twerp, unless you want to be a new decoration in the foyer," I growled and she scampered. I looked around my room. There were clothes heaped in plies everywhere and my curtains were permanently drawn, giving the light in the room a tinged redness. Merlin I was bored. I sighed and examined my nails. There wasn't much to do, even when one has the countries resources in her hands. I got up and exited my room, wandering down the long hallway. I ran my fingertips along the fabric lower half of the walls, feeling the grooves and swoops of each individual embroidered curly-cue. The narrow hallway was lined with pictures. I paused and looked up at one absentmindedly. The figure grinned down at me from behind the framed glass.
Her eyes were bright and coal colored with sweeping black hair that was thick and pin straight falling into her long lashes. Everything about her towering figure seemed to glow, even down to her bronze skin. I felt my blood boil at her face. She was just smiling at me with perfect white teeth, a dimple exposed on one side of her cheek. I gave an angry jab of my wand and the glass shattered, cracking in a dangerous spider web. The person in the picture gave a silent scream—only portraits could talk. I was grateful for this, really. It was bad enough merely looking at it. I don't know why Dad kept this picture hung—especially with the many times I've destroyed it.
I walked further down the hall and paused as it opened up into the living room. I stared at the figure in front of me. Same towering frame, same pin straight black hair, same bronze skin, but with piercing ice blue eyes. I jabbed my wand at the mirror causing it to mimic the picture—its fissures winding all the way to the edges.
I cocked my head to the side and repaired the mirror with a swish of my wand. I carefully tapped the crown of my head and my hair turned from jet black to ice blonde, I frowned and repeated it making it chestnut, a honey blonde and then finally fire red. Biting my lip, I fingered a lock of the new hair. It was alright, certainly better than before. I twisted the wand slightly making the color less crayon like and huskier; its better. Far better than before. I gave my reflection a slight nod and wandered into the kitchen.
Minnie was bustling around the stove, hovering pots and pans, the sink washing on its own accord. I flicked my wand at the pot she was holding—it was larger than her and looked to be filled with scalding liquid. She squeaked in surprise as I made it land gently on the burner.
"It looked heavy, Min," I shrugged, giving her a small smile.
"Miss shant be doing magic. Master says so," Minnie scolded. I shrugged and flicked my wand at the carrots she started to chop. They began to chop themselves. She gave an indignant squeak again and moved to the potatoes. "Miss!"
"I'm just trying to help you Min. I feel bad that you made me lunch and I didn't even eat it," I replied, twirling my hair around my fingers.
"Minnie is very much happy that Miss wishes to help but Master said you shant," Minnie growled. I held up my hands innocently and grabbed an apple from the bowl on the center of the island.
"Minnie—you know you don't have to call me Miss, right?" I questioned quietly. Minnie rolled her tennis ball eyes at me and I grinned. I was the only member of the family she sassed. It was refreshing and I knew it wasn't out of disobedience or dislike but comfort with me. Minnie has always been there. The fireplace flared suddenly and the rotund form of Mrs. Stevens spilled into the kitchen.
"Oh hello Minnie—stew tonight? Smells delicious. Does that mean Audrey won't be joining the family for dinner?" she questioned, sniffing at the pot of broth.
"Nope—she's going to a Unicorn farm," I declared, discord coating my words. It sounded like a horrific outing. Unicorns may be beautiful but it's not like they really did anything.
"Oh! Adder! I didn't see you there," Mrs. Stevens exclaimed, putting a hand to her heart.
"How could you not? I changed my hair to the color of a brush fire," I snorted, grinning at her. She was the only one that always called me by what I requested. It worked with Princess Pinklewinkle when I was five and Adder now. Audrey kept with it pretty well but mostly stuck with Addie and Dad—well Dad absolutely refused.
"I can see that. And as lovely as it looks your father isn't going to let you keep it that way," she sighed. I frowned and took a bite of my apple—chewing contemplatively.
"I don't see why not. It's just hair," I sighed.
"You know why," Mrs. Steven tutted. She ran a friendly hand over the top of my head and I gave her a slight smile. "Now what'd you do that your Dad asked me to come over and keep an eye on you?"
"I might have told Walker that I slipped a homographic quiz in the documents that were being sent to the Muggle President," I sighed. Mrs. Stevens groaned and pat her salt and pepper hair.
"Oh Addison, when are you going to learn to grow up? You're sixteen years old and you need to learn how to behave like it," she stated, looking me directly in the eye. I squirmed a bit. For some reason Mrs. Stevens could always make me feel guilty about my actions, not that she necessarily stopped me from doing it in the first place.
"I didn't really. I could've, but I didn't. It was just a joke," I squeaked.
"You really mustn't push your father's buttons. He's already under enough pressure. Can't you be more like your younger sister?"
"And be a stuck-up goodie goodie, no thank you," I snapped, sliding from the stool I was perched on. Mrs. Stevens gave me an even look and I found my will to fight her weaken. I swear she was a trained Legilimens because she always took my resolve away. I gave a rather immature whine and stomped my foot before stalking back towards my bedroom. I'm sick of people suggesting I act more like Audrey! I don't want to be like Audrey. I don't even want to be a little bit like Audrey. I'm the older sister. Isn't she supposed to be compared to me?
I grabbed the simple black notebook with the hard leather cover and the tin of pencils off my nightstand and plopped stomach first onto my bed. I flipped open the cover and gently turned the delicate pages until I got to the most recent one. I ran my pinky along the edge of a line, smudging and shading its harsh points and strokes. The picture was gently forming in slopes and swirls but it wasn't done yet. It wasn't complete in my head. I bit my lower lip and pried off the lid to the metal tin before eyeing my choices critically and finally choosing a slender stick of charcoal. Slowly I began to continue down in a slope, using one fluid line to complete the back of the shoulders down to the curve of the back. With a few more sure strokes I had the body placed out on the vestiges of a face I had already created. The face was still blank though, only its bare structures pressed to the paper. It had no life. It was hollow.
I blinked at it, debating on where I actually wanted to take this portrait. Suddenly my wrist was moving with such quick movements I could scarcely believe I was controlling it. Shading over the face was easy—simple and haunting almost. Blank staring eyes. I couldn't give life to my portraits lately. I roughly ripped the page from the book and crumpled it into a ball before throwing it into a corner.
I was still reattempting to sketch this face in my mind hours later. I knew what it looked like almost as much as I would know my own face—but I couldn't do it justice. I couldn't make it spark and grow on paper. It ended up an angry version of the vision in my mind's eye. I ripped and chucked another scraped piece and threw my sketchbook at the foot of my bed—it bounced off the mattress and clattered to the floor. I couldn't begin to care. There was a small knock on my door. Lazily I waved my wand at the mahogany surface. It flew open to reveal Dad standing there, a slight disapproving look on his face. His eyes flicked across the room as he made his way in, sweeping the piles on the ground and landing on reject pile.
"Your picture still giving you trouble?" he questioned, waving his wand at my curtains. They slid open followed by the soft bump of the window cranking open. A soft breeze played across the room, making my bed hangings sway slightly. I nodded blankly as Dad perched on the edge of my bed, pulling a throw pillow underneath his butt and tossing it next to me.
"Addison—we need to talk about lunch," Dad started slowly. I flicked my eyes over to him before looking back at the wall.
"What's there to talk about? I did bad. I get punished. We've been through this," I sighed.
"That's not what I want to talk to you about. Your behavior—it's well…less than desirable. If you're not sneaking out and showing up in the tabloids at some bar, you're embarrassing me in front of the Ministry and my staff. It's not—"
"Acceptable. I get it Dad."
"Addison—Adder," he relented. I really looked at him now. It's one of the first times he's actually called me that. "I know that since your moth—"
"This has nothing to do with Mom so don't even suggest it," I snapped cutting him off. His lips grew thin for a moment before he spoke again.
"I see you changed your hair again. Red this time," he stated, motioning a hand to my head. I raised a hand to it. I forgot about that.
"I hate my hair color," I grumbled.
"It's not presentable to dye your hair," he sighed. He gave his wand a rap over my head and I felt it shiver. He'd changed it back again. "Now—I'm afraid that if you don't do something about your behavior there will be some drastic consequences."
"Like what Dad? Not going back to Rowlings to finish school? I doubt that's much of a punishment," I snorted.
"No, I have other options at my disposal. This is your last warning Addison, one more toe out of line and I won't just contain you to your room," he stated. His voice was low and dangerous—like he was trying someone in a court and not talking to his eldest daughter. I blinked at him. I'd like to see him try. He wasn't going to snap my wand; it didn't do anything for his image. I honestly didn't think he had the capacity to think of any sort of punishment worse than what he was doing now.
"Right Dad, I'll behave," I stated finally—mentally rolling my eyes and snorting. Dad got up from the edge of my bed and gave me a light kiss on the forehead.
"I only do this because I love you, Addison. What you do—the risks you take to merely get a reaction aren't worth the consequences they cause. Remember that," he stated, leaving the room. I chucked my pillow fiercely at the back of the door with a frustrated shriek.
"It's Adder!" I shouted at the wood. But I doubt he heard—he was probably back in his study for the night, protecting his image further. Like he even actually cared.
A/A: So there it is! The first chapter of Destined to Implode! I hope you all liked it. Bear with Adder, she'll grow on you, I promise. She's just going through things. The next chapter is another Adder centric and then Fred will be in the picture after that. I just have to develop the exposition a bit more. Tell me what you think!
Forever yours Magically,
Emily
