Hello, hello! It's another chapter again :) Thank you for all the lovely reviews, they really did their magic of overcoming writer's block. Yes and I too like her cold shell, I think it's a way of how Circe shows her authority and control. You should see when she tells Harry who she really is but that will come much much later ;)
I'm picking up good vibrations, she's giving me excitations
The Beach Boys
They were trudging back to the campsite and the first thought that came to Circe was how will twelve persons going to fit into the tent that looks like it could only fit two persons. She noted that no one looked as concerned as her and she supposed that some magic must be involved. So, when she stepped into the tent, Circe wasn't so surprised to see that she had walked into what looked like an old-fashioned, four-bedroom flat, complete with two bathrooms and a kitchen. There was a strong smell of good food that induced a loud growl from her stomach that Fred gave her a sly grin.
"Are you all back already?" Mr Weasley shouted from the kitchen and George came out to the table carrying a pile of plates.
"Stuck with mom, eh George?" teased one of Fred's brothers with a longer hair than Charlie. He was quite attractive, Circe noted, with his choice of clothing which was more suitable for a rock concert and an earring with a fang dangling on his left ear.
George threw him a look. "Oh, shut up, Bill! Ginny, help mom with the Plum Coffee cake, will you?"
Just then, Mrs Weasley came out with a bright smile on her face while carrying a large platter of blueberry and apple bread. When she saw Circe, she was clearly delighted. "Ah Circe, come, come, make yourself comfortable! Fred, grab an extra chair, won't you?"
Circe wasn't sure where should she be standing or doing because the rest were busying setting up the table or bringing the food to the table and Mrs Weasley was adamant that she needn't help. At last, she offered to pluck some flowers for table vase. When she came back with a few stalks of White Campions and Harebells, the table was almost set.
"Oh, that is so sweet of you, dear." Mrs Weasley said, thanking Circe for the flowers. "They're lovely."
"You're welcome, Mrs Weasley." Circe smiled. "It was no trouble really."
"'Molly', my dear!" Mrs Weasley reminded her then turning to Fred, who was urging her to scoop more of the egg and ham pie. "Fred, have you introduced Circe to the rest?"
"We know her, mom." Gritted Ron, glaring at her. "She goes to the same school with us."
"Not Bill and Charlie, Ron." She said with a frown. "Go ahead, Fred."
Fred cleared his throat. "Right guys, this is Circe Grace, a friend from school." He said, placing an arm on her shoulder and grinned when she was fighting the urge to slap him.
"Hello." Circe smiled politely with a little wave while deep in her heart; she knew she was going to kill Fred.
"Hi, I'm Bill. It's really good to meet you." The one with the red pony tail said as he got up and leaned over to shake her hands. "I didn't know Fred has a girlfriend."
Circe choked on her buttermilk and coughed. "Oh...err...Fred and I," she said, pointing at the both of them. "We're not-you know-" she looked at Fred desperately. "You're not my boyfriend." And then back at the rest while constantly shaking her head. "He's not my boyfriend."
"I see. Well, that is just too bad for Fred." Charlie smiled as he got up and followed his elder brother and took her hands. "I'm Dragon-Man." He winked.
"I heard that you work with dragons in Romania, it must be very exciting." Circe commented.
"Yes, it's really my passioin but some believed that I could be much better playing Quidditch professionally for England if I actually gave serious consideration for it. But I am more of an outdoor kind of person and my love for animals finally drove me to Romania." He said with a smile.
"It's a pity he has to be so far away from us, though." Said Mrs Weasley with slight disapprovement. "And with his work there, he rarely comes back."
"I write a lot, mom." Charlie said, putting on a sad face.
"It's different when we can't see your face. And that goes to you too, Bill." She said when she saw Bill bending his head low.
"Mom, England has got no tombs with curse, I can't help it." Bill said.
"Bill works as a Curse Breaker for Gringotts. He mainly resides in Egypt and only comes back every few months." George explained.
"What exactly does a Curse Breaker do?" Circe frowned.
"It's exactly what the name suggests." Bill said. "I break curses in ancient tombs and bring back gold and treasure to Gringotts. Of course, a tomb usually takes two, three weeks and we usually finished five tombs before we go back to Gringotts again, hence the why-I-don't-go-back-often, mom."
"Well, you can't blame a mother's worry when her sons go gallivanting around the world." Mrs Weasley puffed.
"Sounds like an awesome job." Said Circe. "It must have been very thrilling."
"Yes, it is, actually. Did you know that Queen Nefertiti's tomb took almost six months and it almost caused one of our crew a head!" said Bill with enthusiasm. "But it was worth it. Gringotts raise our salary because that one."
"So, tell us about yourself, Circe." Said Mr Weasley, taking a sip of buttermilk.
Circe was stunt for awhile when she felt every eye on her. "Well," she started as she wiped off bits of crumbs at the side of her lips. "For some reason which I still cannot explain, I didn't get my letter from Hogwarts until the age of twelve. So I went straight up to second year when I finally went to Hogwarts."
"Must have been hard to go straight to second year. How did you fare?" Mr Weasley said.
Circe kept quiet for a moment, as though she didn't want to talk about it and Fred tensed. But then, she smiled. "I was bullied a lot." She nodded. "It was pretty hard at first but it was alright in the end."
"Oh, school bullies are never worth the while, Circe." Said Mrs Weasley with a wave of her hand. "The trick is to ignore them and they'll find someone else to be amused. Have another cinnamon rolls, dear."
"Oh, I have had quite enough, thank you." Circe declined politely, rubbing her stomach.
"But don't worry; I'm sure the Gryffindors were nice to you though having Professor McGonagall as head house can be quite suffering." Charlie joked.
"She's a Slytherin." Ron suddenly said loudly with a cold stare.
"Ron!" Hermione hissed.
"What? I was just clarifying things. Circe isn't in Gryffindor; she was sorted into Slytherin." And he left the word hanging.
Everybody was surprised. Mrs Weasley even put down her fork and twiddled with the ends of her hair and Bill blinked a few times while Charlie opened and closed his mouth but no words were produced. The room suddenly became very silent and for some reason, Circe found amusement in their shock.
She maintained her cool smile. "Were you expecting me to be in Gryffindor?"
"Oh...we were just...assuming, that's all." Replied Bill without his charm but with uneasiness. "But it's really okay if you're a Slytherin, Circe."
"Well, not all Gryffindors are good people, isn't it Harry?" she said, looking at Harry this time.
Harry looked as if he was jolted. "Oh...I, I guess so."
"Yes, we really shouldn't stereotype." Fred agreed, nodding his head.
"Circe is really a remarkable person." George defended her as well. "And she was always on our side in a Gryffindor versus Slytherin match."
Mr Weasley joined in. "You know, Horace Slughorn wasn't a bad boy and he was a Slytherin, wasn't he, Molly? He's even a good friend of Dumbledore. Taught us potions then, a wonderful teacher, he was."
Everyone started to nod their heads in agreement. "Yes, yes he was." Mrs Weasley said,nodding too. Smiling again, she offered Circe another slice of apple popover which she declined again.
"Anyway, Circe is really a nice person." Hermione jutted in despite Ron's glaring. "And she awfully good in Defence Against the Dark Arts. She's even better than Harry."
"Of course." said Bill. "We all know you're famous for defeating Nathaniel Burkeshaw. Ron couldn't talk about it after we heard it from dad."
Circe stared at Ron with a wide smile on her face and he couldn't swallow the rest of the plum coffee cake. "I was a little too rough on him, I guess. I didn't know it was just a first year level, I thought I was supposed to give my all."
Charlie laughed. "You could work with Bill after you graduate, Circe."
"You know, that is really a great idea!" Circe said brightly. "I mean, what he does for a living really gives an adrenaline rush, isn't it?"
"We'd love to have you in the future, if you're interested." Bill said. "I wouldn't be surprised if Gringotts offers you a little more than the usual apprentice pay and Egypt is really a wonderful place."
"So how is it like in Slytherin?" Mr Weasley asked.
Circe thought for awhile. "Endless drama, everybody always has to have the last word, most of them are sly, two-faced snobs (Charlie laughed) and spoiled, nasty brats who can't even get dressed without commenting on the others. Basically, they are people who need more attention and love from their parents." She said, nodding away.
"You're pretty sly and a two-faced-Owh, Hermione!" Ron yelled, glowering at her.
"Sorry, Ron." She said with a smile. "But I'm just so excited that Circe will be sitting with us during the World Cup."
Circe's jaw drop. "I am?"
Fred slammed the table with his hand. "I forgot! You've got Top Box tickets from Bagman. Of course, you should join us!"
"Oh-oh! I wouldn't...I mean, I'm really not a fan of-"
"Nonsense, Circe! It's Ireland against Bulgaria, you shouldn't miss it." Said Bill adamantly. "We wouldn't take no as an answer."
"Absolutely." George said.
"The more the merrier." Fred quipped.
"Well then, we should really get going." Announced Mr Weasley. "C'mon boys, help your mother with the dishes."
Just then, a grey spotted owl flew into the room with a swish and settled on Circe's chair. He hooted merrily as he extended his right foot, where a letter was attached to it.
"Good boy." Circe said, breaking a piece of her rolls and fed to it. "Do you mind if I read this outside?"
There was a chorus answer that they didn't mind and Circe went outside to a silent clearing while the others washed up.
Southeast of the Mediterranean Sea. After Iberia, I travelled to Crete and stayed there for one and a half months where legend said that one of the gates to Niflheim, the Norse Underworld, was at the south of. I isolated myself in the Great Library and found out a great earthquake occurred at the south of Crete, sometime in the tenth century, the times of the Four Great Wizard. This earthquake might reopen the entrance to Niflheim, where the first gauntlet is kept.
This is so far the only information I could gather. I have a feeling that further direction to the other gauntlet is in there. Good luck.
The Mediterranean Sea it is, Circe thought to herself. How she was going to get there was another matter all together. Elphias said that it was under the sea which poses for difficulties. But she will figure it out somehow. taking out a quill and an inkwell, she turned to the other side of the letter and began writing.
Why it has to be this Norse Underworld is beyong my understanding but if you say that's where the first gauntlet is, then it's there. God, can you believe how much I trust you? Anyway, I'll find a way to retrieve it. Hey, Bagman gave me tickets to the Top Box. Funny, isn't it, that I'm actually watching the World Cup?
Circe rolled the letter and tied it to the owl's leg again before returning back to the tent where she saw Fred outside waiting for her.
"Hey, thought you ran off." Fred said when he saw her approaching.
"I'm not a coward and besides, I came this far with your family." Circe smiled.
"Didn't know you're the writing-letters kind of person." He smiled. "Who was it?"
Circe shrugged. "Just a friend of mine. C'mon, are we going or not?"
"A secret friend?"
"Are you jealous?" Circe smirked but Fred did not say anything. "Oh, don't tell me you're being protective."
"That's what a pet-brother does." Fred said.
"Okay, you're taking this pet-brother role a little too seriously."
"Hey, I was serious when I said that, all right?" Fred said solemnly.
"Look, it's just a friend and she's really a nice person." Circe said, sounding almost like a defensive teenager.
"She's a girl?"
"Who cares if it's a boy or a girl, Fred, just don't act like my father, okay."
"Alright." Fred smiled, putting his hands up in defeat. "I'm sorry, just that I never knew you write letters, that's all."
The rest finally came out from the tent and together, they strode up to the stadium.
As they were approaching the pitch, the atmosphere was feverish with excitement and Circe could see that everyone just couldn't stop smiling. She half-wished she wasn't so cold towards Quidditch just to feel part of the game like everyone was. They walked through the wood for twenty minutes, talking and joking out loud until they emerged on the other side and found themselves in the shadow of a gigantic stadium. Even though Circe could only see a fraction of the immense gold walls surrounding the pitch, she could tell that all the famous cathedrals could easily fit inside it.
"How did we ever manage this?" said Circe in awe.
"Well, the ministry task force of five hundred have been working on it all year." Fred replied. "Muggle-Repelling Charms on every inch of it. Every time Muggles have got anywhere near here all year, they've suddenly remembered urgent appointments and had to dash away again. It's really funny if you think about it."
As they reached the west entrance, there was already a swarm of witches and wizards shouting away as they rushed in to get the best seats. Many of them were carrying banners and large posters and flags of Ireland.
"Prime seats!" shouted the Ministry witch at the entrance as she tried hard not to get trampled. "Top Box straight upstairs, Arthur! And as high as you can go."
The stairs into the stadium were carpeted in rich purple and as they clambered upwards with the rest of the crowds, they were slowly filtered away through doors into the stand to their left and right. Finally when they reached the top of the stairs, they entered a spacious corridor with five doors on the right, where Circe was sure that each door leads to the private boxes. Looking at the tickets in his hands, Mr Weasley led them to the second door. "Well, this is ours." Mr Weasley said with a large smile and the rest entered the private box with anticipation.
"Weasley!"
Immediately, Ron turned to the left and there, Draco Malfoy stood with his usual sly grin. "Sold your house just for this?"
"Shut your mouth, Malfoy!" Ron spat back, his face quickly changed to a flushing red.
"Tsk, tsk...with manners of a farmer's boy, you shouldn't be here at all, Weasley." Malfoy said with every intention of belittling them.
"MY FATHER IS NOT-
Hermione held him back. "He's not worth it Ron." She said calming him down before turning to Malfoy. "Just go back where you came from, Malfoy!"
"No one's talking to you, Mudblood." Malfoy sneered. "You better watch out, don't want them to know someone like you are wandering about here."
"Just shut it, Malfoy and go back to your father like you always do!" retorted back Harry.
"I'm just saving your Mudblood friend here, Harry, surely you could summon a simple thank you." Malfoy said light-heartedly.
Circe's ears picked up the key words as she stood there listening to their spats. "Who are 'them'?" she suddenly said, stepping out from behind Fred.
Malfoy's face changed to a sour look when he saw her. "What are you doing with them?"
"Good question but that's not an answer. What are you talking about?" Circe said and she stepped in front of Ron.
"That's none of your business." He said with despise. "You're just as a traitor if you are in the company of these...Mudblood-befrienders!"
Circe stared at him without a hint of anger. In fact, she was absolutely calm and composed. "Fine, whatever." She shrugged.
"Draco, darling!" a lady with a voice of elegance called out and behind Malfoy, Circe saw a tall woman with gorgeous brunette curly locks. She had a high cheekbones and a rather beautiful smile until her eyes landed on the Weasleys. "Darling, don't get yourself dirty." She said coolly.
"Don't worry, mother, I'm far enough." Malfoy sniggered.
Just at the same time, Mr Weasley came out. "What are you still doing hanging about?"
"Arthur, what a surprise."
All eyes turned back to the end of the corridor, where Lucius Malfoy appeared beside his wife.
"Lucius." Mr Weasley said with an uncomfortable smile, clearly wishing that they hadn't met.
"What miracle have you conjured to get your family here?" he said with a smile almost similar with the one Malfoy had on his face as he walked down the corridor towards them.
"I have my ways, Lucius." He replied. "We all want to have a good time tonight, don't we? C'mon, children, let's get in."
"Running away already, Arthur? Well, I wasn't expecting much." Lucius Malfoy said, faking disappointment. "We all have our fear and weakness towards certain...superiority, isn't it?"
Mr Weasley kept his silence though Circe could see the anger and humiliation in his face. "C'mon, children." He said as he ushered them inside. But that didn't stop Harry, Ron and Hermione from darting glares at Malfoy who seemed to enjoying himself very much. However, when Circe passed by him, he frowned with resentment. "You traitor!" he hissed. "Being with the Weasleys will be one of the sorriest things you will ever do!"
Circe swished her long, brown hair, letting him getting a whiff of lavender scent. "Buy me roses then, Draco. Oh, and I like them black." She smiled coyly before disappearing behind the doors, leaving Draco Malfoy stunned with his father confused.
Shorter than my usual but just wait till the next chapter (hopefully it comes fast)! Drop a review and tell me how you feel about this. Thank you in advance!
lOVE, Wildreams
Ps, excuse any grammer or spelling mistakes, I was just too excited to post this one up :)