Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognize as anyone else's.
A/N: Yeah, I know I haven't updated in a while, but the musical kept me busy (It went great just FYI). Thanks to all who have reviewed and waited patiently (namely Amanda, Kala, and Kassy) for this chapter!
A/N2: Okay, so I borrowed the character of Professor Umbridge for this story. She only makes a cameo appearance in this chapter, but she was such an awesomely evil character that I had to borrow her. She's not the character you love to hate... just the one that you hate and love it. Do you know what I mean? Anyway, she's in here, as a person from Cadance and Cati's past. I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 3
"Jen, we really don't want to be any trouble," said Cadance. She and Charlie were moving boxes into Jen's house; Cadance's old house.
"Trust me, Cadance, it's no trouble at all," said Jen. Cadance, Charlie, and Melinda were moving in with her for a short amount of time. They were moving into the spare bedroom.
"So what do you think you'll do now?" asked Ginny. She was helping them move. "Aurors?"
"I don't know," said Cadance. "I think we'll try to find a permanent place to live first."
"Where's Sirius today?" asked Jen. "He's usually here at this time eating breakfast."
"He's with Wendy," answered Harry.
"Saying Goodbye?" asked Cadance.
"Haven't you heard?" asked Harry. "Wendy's staying. She clipped her wings. She's not a White Lighter anymore."
"What?!" exclaimed Cadance. She stormed out of the room and down the stairs. "We need Elders like her who can help us out instead of sitting on their asses and watching!" She went out the door, crossed the street, and went into Sirius's house. "WENDY!" she exclaimed.
She walked into the living room and saw Wendy and Sirius sitting on the couch. "Yes, Cadance?" asked Wendy brightly. Sirius, however, continued to stare at Wendy with love in his eyes. Cadance noticed this and she understood. She sighed and smiled.
"Wendy, I'm glad you're back."
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Cadance and Charlie had promised Professor McGonagall that they'd go to visit her at Hogwarts before the school year ended. Jen volunteered to baby-sit Melinda while they went one mid-afternoon about a week until the end of the year.
However, once they left (Cati was meeting them there), Jen grabbed a light traveling cloak and Apparated out with Melinda on her hip. They arrived in a Victorian House. A woman whom Jen had met before was walking down the stairs with a baby who was just a little older than Melinda. "Well, hello," she said smiling at Jen.
"Hi, Piper," said Jen smiling back.
"That's not your daughter is it?" asked Piper.
"No, this is Cadance and Charlie's. Her name's Melinda," answered Jen. "Is that Chris?"
"Yeah," said Piper. "Wyatt's upstairs, still sleeping." She was referring to Wyatt and Chris, her two sons. Piper Halliwell and her two sisters Phoebe and Paige were the Charmed Ones.
"I'm sorry to come so early," said Jen. "I forgot about the time difference."
"It's no problem at all," said Piper, still smiling.
"I wanted to thank you for your help," said Jen. "Wendy told us you vanquished the demons and saved Ginny."
"You guys would have done the same for us," answered Piper. "Come on, we'll put the babies in the play pen and you and I can talk."
"Alright," said Jen. When everything was situated, Piper and Jen sat down on the couch. "Wendy came back to tell us she was clipping her wings. She also told us that Cadance and Charlie were back. I'm glad to hear it."
"Piper, I didn't just come over to thank you," confessed Jen. "I need to ask you a question."
"Well, ask away," said Piper.
"You and your sisters helped us vanquish Voldemort," said Jen. "Is there any possible way for him to come back?"
Piper thought carefully for a second and then answered. "No," she said. "Not without the blood of a living relative. We put powerful ingredients in that potion and the spell called the powers of the dead to vanquish him. He's being kept by the dead now and a bone from his dead father won't bring him back. Only his blood could."
Jen was relieved to hear that. She was just about to tell Piper that when a young man walked in. He smiled at her as he stood behind the couch, behind his mother.
"Oh, Chris, this is Jen..." began Piper.
"Jen Weasley, I know," said Chris.
"Wait a second, Chris," said Piper. "This is Jen Dumbledore. Her sister is the Weasley. And I never told you that. You're getting your witches crossed."
"Maybe not," said Chris. "Mom, I'll talk to you later." He gave a nod to Jen and walked out.
"Alright, Piper, spill. Who's Chris?" asked Jen as soon as he left.
"I'm sure you already have it figured out," said Piper.
"Let's see," said Jen. "He has the same name as your son, called you mom, and speaks in cryptic messages. He's from the future, isn't he?"
"Yeah," said Piper. "He came from the future to make sure we kill a specific demon who wants to kill Wyatt in the future. He's already done what he set out to do, but we don't know how to get him back to his time."
"He seemed to have known me at some point in the future," said Jen. "Or at least my family."
"Perhaps. I'm sure our paths will cross several times in his lifetime," said Piper.
"Well, I must get going," said Jen. "There's so much to do and I better get home before Cadance does. I'm not sure she'll appreciate that I was doing some transcontinental Apparating with her 15-month daughter.
"Don't be a stranger," said Piper.
"If you guys ever need anything, don't hesitate to call," said Jen. She got Melinda from the playpen, said her final good-bye, and Apparated out. As soon as she was gone, Piper called, "CHRIS! CHRIS!" Chris orbed in in front of her.
"You rang?" he asked pleasantly.
"So what's the deal, Chris?" asked Piper. "How do you know the Dumbledores?"
"I don't know any Dumbledores," said Chris.
"Chris, I'm not dumb. You know Jen Dumbledore," said Piper.
"Mom, I know a Jen Weasley," said Chris. "And that was definitely her. What was she here for?"
"She was asking a question," said Piper. "And she brought her niece who she was babysitting."
"Molly?" asked Chris.
"No, Melinda," said Piper.
A look of shock came across Chris's face and he couldn't hide it before Piper caught it. She grabbed him by his ear. "Ow!" he exclaimed as she dragged him to the couch and made him sit. She stood in front of him.
"Talk," said Piper. "How do you know them?"
"I can't tell you," said Chris.
"I'm your mother," said Piper. "You can tell me"
Chris looked her in the eyes and gave in. "Alright. In the future, you're going to send Wyatt and I to Hogwarts and that's all I'll tell you."
"Something bad is going to happen and you won't tell me what it is. I can tell," said Piper, a little put out.
"Don't take it personally, Mom. I just can't tell you," he said.
"Well," said Piper, "does it have anything to do with why you came back to the past? Because if it doesn't then you can tell me."
"Kind of indirectly," said Chris. "Let's just say that Wyatt isn't the only force of good who died before their time in the future. It tipped the scales of good and evil in evil's favor and the future sucks and that's why I'm here now."
Piper reached up and brushed a stray hair out of Chris's face. He seemed to have grown upset talking about the future. They had talked about the future before and he had never been this upset, not even when they talked about Wyatt's death. She forced a smile and decided to get to the bottom of it herself.
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Jen put Melinda down for a nap when she got home. She flipped through the Book of Light as she thought about what had happened at the Halliwell's.
First, Voldemort couldn't come back. She tried repeating it to herself, but it still seemed unreal.
And then there was Chris. She wasn't sure why, but for some reason she felt like there was something about the future that just wasn't right. It seemed funny, she thought, that she was thinking about the future and feeling that something wasn't right. She decided to stop thinking about it. Her uncle had once written in memoirs recovered after his death that what would come would come and that everyone would just have to deal with it.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Sirius and Wendy came bouncing in. "Did you see the newspaper?" Sirius asked brightly. He opened one up to a page somewhere in the middle. The title of one article read "Weasley Family Returns to Wizarding World".
Charles and Cadance Weasley are once again in the Wizarding World after a period of 2 years where they were conspicuously absent. After the untimely demise of Albus Dumbledore, the uncle of Mrs. Weasley and the former Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the husband and wife retreated into the muggle world. Mr. Weasley is the son of our Minister Arthur Weasley. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley returned when Virginia Potter, the wife of the Boy-Who-Lived and only daughter of Minister Weasley, was kidnapped.
Mrs. Weasley had once been the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts, now replaced by Professor Dolores Umbridge, a former Ministry Employee. News of conflicts between the two women have reached us by an unnamed source. Undoubtedly, the Ministry will want to be looking into this, now that Mrs. Weasley has returned.
The real news, however, is not simply that they had returned but that they returned with an extra person. They now have a daughter, Melinda. Melinda is fifteen months old and will, without a doubt, be coming into sorceress powers inherited from her mother's side of the family.
Jen started laughing. Ginny's kidnapping had made front page news, but somehow Charlie and Cadance's return had not been mentioned and Cadance was glad. "Cadance is going to flip!" exclaimed Wendy.
"Hmmm..." said Sirius. "Where is Cadance anyway?"
"She's visiting Hogwarts..."
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Visiting isn't exactly the right term for it, though it had been intended as an innocent visit. Cadance and Charlie Apparated to Hogsmeade and then walked up to the castle hand-in-hand. The door creaked as they entered the empty Entry Hall. "It hasn't changed," commented Cadance."It's only been 2 years," said Charlie.
"Feels like forever," said Cadance. They walked through the doors at the other end of the Entry Hall into the empty Great Hall. They walked quietly and looked around in awe. Cadance put her cloak and bag down on a table and walked up to the Head Table, running her hand along it as she walked to the end. "I feel like I should be quiet and respectful."
Just then, Cati came bouncing into the Great Hall. She was wearing her black top, pants, and boots with her long khaki coat and Indiana Jones hat and belt with bullwhip and various other sharp knives and demon-killing devices attached. "HELLO!" she screamed.
Cadance and Charlie laughed. "Oh, Cati," said Cadance.
"What in heavens name are you wearing?" asked Charlie.
"Are you planning to vanquish demons while you're here?" asked Cadance giving the coat a gentle tug. "And is that my hat?"
"Hey, you left it behind when you left," argued Cati jokingly. "And for your information, I am dressed like this because I just came from demon- hunting."
"Why?" asked Cadance.
"Because I have to make sure that no demons are going to try to attack your baby," said Cati.
"What?" asked Charlie.
"We'll talk about it later," said Cati with a wink. "Because here comes Bill."
"Bill?" asked Cadance. "How do you know?"
"Cadance, for two years I chased demons all over the world... except France," she said. "It really heightens a lot of your sorceress powers."
Right on cue, Bill walked in rather sheepishly. "Hi," he said. Cadance ran and gave him a hug. Charlie clapped him on the shoulder. Cati lit a cigarette.
Bill hadn't been home from Egypt since when Ginny had been kidnapped and that was hardly a time for happy hellos.
"So, how are things?" asked Bill.
"Things are things," said Charlie.
"Are you planning on staying?" asked Bill casually.
"I think we're planning on it," replied Charlie just as casually.
Cati rolled her eyes. "Men," she said. "They've been separated for 2 years and they're talking like it's only been 2 days."
"Women will never understand the male species," said a voice from the doorway. They looked over and found Kala, the bartender from Tipsy's Tavern and their old friend, leaning against the giant door frame. "What's with this?" she asked. "You two have been back for a week and you haven't stopped into the bar to see me yet?!"
"They're slackers," said Cati taking a long drag on her cigarette.
Cadance sniffed the air and then turned around to look at her, finally realizing that she was smoking. "Catalin Marie Nuperson! What are you doing!? Where in heaven's name did you pick up that nasty habit!?"
"Bars," said Cati.
"Put out that cigarette," said Cadance. "You said you were out vanquishing demons to keep Melinda safe; well you're going to kill my baby with awful smoke."
"Sorry, sorry," said Cati. "It's a nervous habit."
Cadance took the offending cancer-causing stink bomb from her and stamped it saying, "Why the hell are you nervous?"
Before she could answer, another voice came from the doorway. "Well, what in the name of Merlin are you all doing in there?" It was sharp and clear and confident, yet full of wisdom and authority.
They all turned around and saw Professor McGonagall standing in the doorway.
"Minnie!" exclaimed Cati running over to her and throwing her arms around her dramatically.
"Don't touch me," said McGonagall. "And don't call me Minnie."
Cati grinned at her until Bill pried her off.
"Well, how about some tea?" asked McGonagall. "After that there are several things to discuss."
"What kind of things?" asked Cati casually taking a seat at the Head Table and propping her feet up on the table.
"Oh, just certain changes," said McGonagall. "Here and there."
"Here?" asked Cadance.
"Ummm..." said McGonagall, choosing her words carefully. "Well, yes. But we'll discuss that after tea."
"Alright, I'm just going to use the fireplace to call Jen," said Cadance. "I'll be right back."
"Okay, but hurry up," said McGonagall.
"I might stop in the Defense Against the Dark Arts room on the way," said Cadance.
"No!" exclaimed McGonagall suddenly. "Umm... well... your tea! It will get cold. Why don't you call Jen after tea?"
"Alright," said Cadance suspiciously. She sat down next to Cati. Professor McGonagall snapped her fingers and a few chairs appeared on the opposite side of the table so that they could all sit in a little group.
They began talking and catching up as they drank their tea. Cati downed the last of her tea and began looking at her tea leaves as they continued talking.
After a while, Cadance grew quiet. Professor McGonagall looked at her for a second then screamed, "Cadance!"
"What?" asked Cadance.
"Stay out of my mind," she said.
"I was just trying to figure out why you didn't want me to go to the Defense Against the Dark Arts room," said Cadance innocently.
"Try tea leaves," said Cati. "It's easier and you don't get caught poking around in other people's heads."
"Who said I didn't want you to go to the Defense Against the Dark Arts room?" asked McGonagall a little too confidently.
"Uh huh," said Cadance with a gleam in her eye. "So let's go then."
"Go? To my office? That sounds good," said McGonagall.
"See!" exclaimed Cadance.
"Yeah, Minerva, you do seem to be against going to the Defense Against the Dark Arts room," said Kala.
"Alright," said McGonagall. "Alright. We'll walk by but it'll be really boring."
They all got up and were walking down to the Defense Against the Dark Arts room. Cati linked arms with Kala and they skipped off singing a song about a wonderful wizard and going to see him.
When they all reached the Defense Against the Dark Arts room, Professor McGonagall tried to usher them past it, but Charlie opened the door and walked in.
"Excuse me, can I help you?" asked a sickeningly sweet voice as the rest of them filed in; McGonagall last.
"Oh my God," said Cadance.
"Oh my God," said the woman.
"Oh my God," said a 6th Year Gryffindor in the front row. He turned to face the boy behind him. "I told you she would show up here!"
Cati whipped a knife out of her pocket and held it up menacingly. Cadance already had her wand out and pointing at the woman, who was doing the same to her.
"What are you doing here?" growled Cati.
"I work here," she growled back.
"Minerva!" exclaimed Cadance.
"Headmistress!" exclaimed the woman.
"Cadance. Professor Umbridge. Please stop screaming," said McGonagall. "There are students present. Now if you'll just step outside and wait until class is over, then we can all talk this over like mature adults." She waited for Cadance and Cati to lower their guard and turned to go outside. Kala, Charlie, and Bill looked at her and shrugged.
"Cadance, come on," said Charlie putting a hand on her shoulder.
"I can't, Charlie," said Cadance. "I learned a long time ago not to turn my back when this witch is around."
"Cadance," reprimanded McGonagall. "Out. Now." She saw that Cadance, Cati, and Umbridge had no intentions of moving and that Kala was getting ready to pull out her own wand and that Bill and Charlie wouldn't leave them. "Dolores, lower your wand this instant," she hissed.
She did as she was told. Cadance and Cati turned and walked out with Bill, Charlie, and Kala behind them. McGonagall followed and closed the door on the way out.
"Cadance, I'm surprised at you!" exclaimed McGonagall.
"I'm not," said Kala dully. "Would somebody please tell me what's going on? Because I almost joined you two and it'd be nice to know why."
"She's an oppressive bitch," spat Cati.
"Cadance, don't talk about Professor McGonagall like that," reprimanded Kala.
"Not her! Umbridge!" exclaimed Cati. "She was our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher when we were in our 6th Year!"
"Oh, the year you two never finished," said Kala.
"Yeah, we ran away," said Cadance.
"To my house," said Charlie.
"Yeah, you two still owe me a paper from that year," said McGonagall. "I'm just sayin'."
"Fudge was just appointed Minister..." started Cati.
"Is this going to be a flashback sequence?" asked Kala.
"Yeah, but it'll just be the Cliff's Notes version," said Cadance. "We don't have time to shove a whole year in one chapter."
"What are Cliff's Notes?"
--------------------Flashback--------------
And so we find ourselves in the beginning of Cadance and Cati's 6th Year. They are at Hogwarts and Minister Fudge had just appointed Dolores Umbridge as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. Her job was to investigate teachers and students to see if they exhibited "Ministry-approved" behavior. She was pure hell.
"Miss Dumbledore!" snapped Dolores Jane Umbridge.
"Yes?" asked Cadance.
"What is that you have in your hand?" she asked.
Cadance looked down at her hand and back up at Umbridge. "My wand?" she asked.
"Yes, your wand," said Umbridge. "Did I tell you to take out your wand?"
"But you just said we would be studying uncommon jinxes today," said Cadance.
"Yes," said Umbridge in her fake sweet voice. "Studying. Not performing. Everyone open your books to page 112 and take notes." Collectively the class groaned.
"All we've done so far is study!" exclaimed Cadance. "What good is studying a jinx if you never learn how to use it?!"
"Don't you take that tone of voice with me, young lady," she said. "Now if I hear one more peep out of you then you can go right down to Professor McGonagall's office and she can deal with you."
"Peep," said Cadance as she got out of her seat and walked out of the room.
She was shortly joined by Cati who had begun applauding her.
Shortly after this incident, the Professor from Hell was given power by the Minister to sit in on classes and review them. She had the ability to scare almost every teacher. Not even Dumbledore could hand out immunity from her scrutinizing. Cadance and Cati walked into Potions one day to see Umbridge sitting in a seat in the corner with her clipboard on her lap. Professor Snape was standing in the doorway sneering at everyone as they came in, except Cati. Cadance put her hand on Snape's arm. "I want you to know that even though we've had our differences, I'm rooting for you," she said. This earned her an extra-special sneer.
Snape had written a list of steps for a complicated potion on the board. He walked around as people began to prepare them. Umbridge followed closely behind him. At the end of the class, Professor Snape seemed to be finally showing his annoyance. She had asked him questions about how he taught the class and asked prying questions about his past.
"Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?" asked Snape in a voice that mocked her fake sweet one. "How long have you been working for the Ministry?"
"About 15 years," answered Umbridge.
"Uh huh," said Snape. "And how does that qualify you to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Professor Umbridge was struck speechless. "The next time you question a colleague's teaching, think about your own lack of qualifications."
Cadance and Cati stood up and clapped.
"Nuperson! Dumbledore!" snapped Umbridge.
"Peep!" they exclaimed.
And so most of the year continued until finally one day, towards the end of the year...
"Please begin reading on page 1442 and take notes," said Umbridge. "You will be tested..." She was caught off guard when the door was blasted off its hinges. Cadance and Cati jumped to their feet, fireballs in hand, as a demon walked through the door. He was big and rather scary looking. He waved his hand and Cadance and Cati flew at the wall, hitting their heads and being knocked unconscious.
Everyone began screaming and plunging their hands into their robes to get their wands. Several people tried jinxing or cursing it, however they were severely out of practice due to the fact that they had not performed them all year. The demon laughed and walked over to Cadance and Cati who were beginning to stir. He gave Cati a sharp kick and she groaned. "Which one of you is Dumbledore's niece?" he grunted. Neither of them said anything. He kicked Cadance and she groaned. "Open your eyes. Both of you." They both did. He pointed at Cadance. "You." He reached down and grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to her feet. While still holding her arm he plunged he pulled out a knife. A few of the people in the class (particularly the macho-men) started forward but Mr. Demon barked "Nobody move!"
"What do you want?" asked Cadance boldly.
"Where is your uncle?" he asked.
"I don't know," said Cadance.
The demon raised his knife above his head. "The Order of the Phoenix must not form again!" he exclaimed. He was about to stab her when Professor McGonagall came running in, her wand outstretched.
"Abraxas," said McGonagall.
"Ah, McGonagall," said the demon. "So we meet again. The Order of the Phoenix must not be formed again. You can take that message and the girl's dead body back to Dumbledore."
"The Order of the Phoenix is over and done with. We have no need for it," said McGonagall.
"Not now, but you will," said Abraxas. He made a move to stab Cadance again but he felt pain in his leg. He looked down. Cati had plunged a knife into his calf. He released Cadance and she fell to the floor. He pulled the knife out and was about the throw it at Cati in retaliation but he was stunned from behind. He fell over and disappeared.
"Everyone out," said McGonagall. All the students except Cadance and Cati filed out of the room. Umbridge was about to leave as well but Professor McGonagall stopped her.
"Is he gone?" asked Cati.
"For now," said McGonagall. "He used his powers and that's a violation of his demonic parole. He'll have to make a run for it now. He won't be back any time soon. Are the two of you okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine," said Cati.
"Cadance, perhaps you'd like to go and see your uncle after you and Cati explain what happened?" said McGonagall.
Cadance nodded and Cati explained what had happened; including how the class had been unprepared. "Professor McGonagall, we all could have been killed because of this woman," she said in conclusion.
"Miss Nuperson, detention," said Umbridge.
"What?!" exclaimed Cati. "Are you shitting me?!"
"Make it a week's worth of detentions," said Umbridge. "For disrespecting the High Inquisitor." Cati looked to Professor McGonagall for help. "She can't help you, Miss Nuperson. She's got no power over me."
"Dolores, be reasonable," snapped McGonagall. "After what they've just been through, I'm surprised that Cadance isn't snapping as well!"
"Can I go see my uncle now?" asked Cadance.
"No, Miss Dumbledore, there is still the issue of who broke into the Slytherin Common Room yesterday night," said Umbridge.
"That wasn't me," said Cadance.
"Yeah, right, detention," said Umbridge.
"Professor McGonagall!" exclaimed Cadance, appealing to the Deputy Head for help. "You know I at least admit it when I break into the Slytherin Common Room!"
"Dolores, she does always take credit for her handiwork," said McGonagall.
"I'll expect the both of you in my office for detention by 5 o'clock this evening," said Umbridge. "And I'll be writing home to your parents... oh wait, I guess I won't be. I forgot."
Cadance's eyes narrowed into tiny slits. "That was a low blow," she spat.
"Miss Dumbledore, are you aware of what the penalty is for harassing a Ministry Member?" asked Umbridge.
"So now you're going to send me to Azkaban?!" exclaimed Cadance.
"If I could, I would," said Umbridge putting her fake sweet voice back on. "I have connections, dear. I'm sure I could find something to send you in on."
"Let me get this straight," said Cadance in disbelief. "We get attacked by demons, almost die, get detention, and now you're threatening me with Azkaban?"
"Dolores, I never thought I'd live to see the day a Ministry employee abuses their power to the point where they are threatening two 16-year-old girls!" exclaimed McGonagall.
"Hold your tongue, Minerva," said Dolores.
"I will NOT hold my tongue, Dolores!" exclaimed McGonagall. "The Ministry is going to the DOGS! First you all try to tell everyone that Albus Dumbledore is crazy and you get him kicked off the International Confederation of Wizards AND the Wizengamot and then they appoint YOU to this position and give you power over all Hogwarts Employees! Now you know that these girls have done nothing wrong yet you're giving them detention anyway."
"This isn't about the detention, Minerva!" exclaimed Umbridge. "We all know this is personal!"
"When your teaching endangers the lives of my students, then yes it becomes personal!" exclaimed McGonagall.
Cadance and Cati exchanged a look. Cati's eyes darted towards the door. Cadance winked at her. They slowly turned around and started walking towards the door. "Not so fast, ladies," said Umbridge, pulling out a wand.
"Now she pulls a wand on us!" exclaims Cati. "When will it end?!"
"Cadance, Cati, you are excused," said McGonagall.
They turned around to leave, but Umbridge said, "Stupefy!"
Cadance and Cati whipped around and they each threw a hand out in front of themselves. Before the spell had even left Umbridge's wand, she had flown backwards and was knocked unconscious.
McGonagall, Cadance, and Cati all exchanged a look. "Well," said Cati. "Bye."
"Yeah, Professor, we appreciate everything you did for us today," said Cadance. "And when you're questioned about what happened later, you can tell them that we openly provoked her."
"And we're really sorry that we can't turn in our Transfiguration essays before we go," said Cati.
"Go?" asked McGonagall.
"Yeah," said Cadance. She waved her hand in front of McGonagall and froze her. "I'm sorry about that, too."
"Come on, she won't stay frozen long," said Cati.
"Where are we going to go?" asked Cadance as they walked out of the classroom. "And what do you think is going to happen?"
"Well, I think that the Ministry is out of whack enough that they'd actually try to arrest us," said Cati. "And that's why we're getting out of here. Let's go!"
"Where are we going?" asked Cadance.
"To get our broomsticks!" announced Cati.
Cadance glanced out a window to the sky which was rapidly darkening with rain clouds. "Grand," she said dully.
A few minutes later
McGonagall burst into Dumbledore's office. He looked up from his desk. "Albus, they're gone!" she exclaimed.
"What?" said Dumbledore.
"First they were attacked by demons and then they got in a fight with Umbridge and she threatened them with the detention and Azkaban and then she tried to stun them, but they made it backfire and now Cadance and Cati are gone!" she said all in one breath.
Dumbledore had gotten up and walked to her while she was speaking. He grabbed her shoulders and said "Calm down, Minerva. I can't understand you. What's going on?" He looked in her eyes and realization dawned on him. "Oh, no."
Later that night
Cadance and Cati flew all night through the rain. At about two o'clock in the morning, they knocked on a door to a small house, situated far away from other houses. The door was opened by a very sleepy-eyed Charlie Weasley.
"Cadance? Cati? What the heck?" asked Charlie when he saw them.
"Hi Charlie," said Cadance throwing her arms around his neck and giving him a big wet hug.
"Get in here before you catch a cold," he said, stepping out of the doorway to let them through. They each had one small bag.
Cadance and Cati sat down on the couch. "Nice place you got here, Charlie," said Cati noticing the piles of old newspapers, empty chip bags and beer cans, and various other forms of clutter. "Is this what you call a bachelor pad?"
"I would have tidied up a bit," said Charlie as he sat down in the chair facing them. "But I didn't know I would be having company."
"We would have called, but we needed to make a quick getaway," explained Cadance.
"Oh dear Lord, what did you guys do this time?" asked Charlie. "You didn't blow up the Great Hall, did you?"
"No," said Cati. "We actually didn't do anything... well, not much of anything." She told him the story of what had happened earlier that day.
"Are you trying to tell me that they want to send you to Azkaban?" asked Charlie.
"Well, they'd never be able to pull it off," said Cadance. "They're just trying to scare us into obedience."
"I hate to take their side," said Charlie. "But maybe you two should start listening to the Ministry." They gave him nasty looks and he said, "Alright, never mind."
"What do you think we should do, Charlie?" asked Cadance.
"Well, I don't think they'll come looking for you here," said Charlie. "You guys can stay until things blow over. I'll call off work tomorrow and stay here with you."
"Oh, no, Charlie," said Cati. "We'll be fine here. Go to work."
"Well, then we better get to bed. Come on, you two can sleep in the big bed in my room. I'll sleep on the single bed in the guest room," he said.
"Thanks, Charlie," said Cadance giving him one last hug. "I don't know what we'd do without you."
"We'd probably have gone to Drew's and he'd be getting us drunk right now," said Cati.
"Well, I'm glad you came here," he said. They all said goodnight and went to bed.
The Next Morning
"CHARLIE!" exclaimed a voice as the person attached to it rolled out of the fireplace in Charlie's kitchen. Charlie was half-shaved with his shirt unbuttoned as he ran out of the bathroom and down the hallway. "Gwen!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"Where are they?" she asked looking under the table and then peering down the hallway.
"Where are who?" asked Charlie trying to look innocent.
Gwen held up a newspaper. "You're lucky Elaine didn't see this," she said. "I got the paper before she even woke up."
"Oh shit," said Charlie taking it from her. Cadance and Cati made headlines in the morning edition of the Daily Prophet. "They're in my bedroom."
Gwen walked down the hallway and into Charlie's bedroom. Charlie followed while reading the story. Cadance and Cati were sleeping. "Charlie, you animal!" reprimanded Gwen.
"I slept in the guest bedroom," said Charlie.
"Oh," said Gwen. They went back to the living room. "What are you planning on doing with them?"
"Well, they can stay here until this whole thing blows over," said Charlie.
"Charlie, the Ministry is hunting for them," said Gwen. "And I'm sure their uncles are worried sick."
"The Ministry won't find them here," said Charlie.
"You really think so?" asked Gwen skeptically. "Because this is the first place I thought to look."
Cadance and Cati came into the room, sleepily rubbing their eyes. "Gwen? What are you doing here?" asked Cati with a yawn.
"Nice shirt, Charlie," said Cadance eyeing Charlie's unbuttoned shirt.
Charlie looked down and started buttoning his shirt up. "You're in the newspaper," said Charlie nodding to the paper, which was now sitting on the arm of the chair.
"Oh my God, look at my hair in that picture!" exclaimed Cati. She paused a second and noticed Cadance giving her a weird look. "Sorry, I just went Uptown Girl on you there."
"Yeah," said Cadance going back to the newspaper. "Most of this stuff isn't true!"
Gwen put a hand to her face and faked a look of surprise. "Oh my God, the Daily Prophet isn't accurate! That's a shocker!" she exclaimed. "Well, I better be going before Elaine or Morgouse wakes up and finds out that I'm not there. The shit will really hit the fan. It's my day to make coffee."
"Gwen, you're 23 years old. Aren't you tired of living with your sisters?" asked Charlie.
"I'm a triplet. You don't just split up sets of three," said Gwen, as she disappeared into the kitchen to leave via the fireplace.
"That's it. I'm staying home today," said Charlie.
"Why?" asked Cadance in surprise.
"Come on, Cadance! If Gwen can find you here, then the Ministry definitely can!" exclaimed Charlie. "I'm not taking any chances and leaving you guys home alone."
"Charlie, just go to work; we'll be fine, I promise," said Cadance. "Cati and I brought the invisibility cloak from my uncle's office in case of an emergency."
"Well, alright," said Charlie. "But be careful."
"We will, just go to work," said Cati.
Two Weeks Later
Charlie Apparated to his front door after work. To his shock, he found four people standing there; his own father, Lucius Malfoy, and two people he didn't know. "Dad, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"Waiting for you to get home," he said. "I'm sorry, but they have to search your house."
"What? Why?" he asked, but he already knew.
"Come off it, Weasley, you know that those two miserable brats have gone missing," said Malfoy. "We have reason to believe that they might be here."
Inwardly Charlie prayed for two things; that Gwen hadn't gotten drunk recently and that Cadance and Cati were hiding right now.
"We have the proper papers," said one of the two people Charlie didn't know. He handed him a search warrant.
"This isn't signed by Cornelius Fudge," observed Charlie as he looked over the paper.
"No, it's signed by Dolores Umbridge," said Malfoy. "She is the Senior Undersecretary to the Minster and the Hogwarts High Inquisitor. She is using her resources at Hogwarts to help conduct this search and as a School Governor I have gotten involved."
"Thanks for the History Lesson," said Charlie dully.
"And, as you can see, this warrant was cosigned by Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall," said Malfoy, pointing to the page.
"I can read, thank you," said Charlie. "I'll let you in." He put his key in the lock and jiggled it around a little, hoping that Cadance and Cati would hear and catch on to what was happening. Then he opened the door and stepped in first saying, a bit louder than normal, "Right this way. Would anyone like a drink or anything?"
"No, we'll just get this over with," said Mr. Weasley. "Let's start in the basement." They all went down. Charlie was about to follow when he was grabbed from behind and pulled in the other direction. The door seemed to close on its own. Then Cadance and Cati appeared; Cati holding an invisibility cloak. She tossed it on a nearby chair.
"What the hell are they doing here, Charlie?" asked Cadance.
"Oh I just thought I'd invite them over for a bit of tea," said Charlie. "Why do you think they're here?!"
"Damn," said Cadance.
"Go into my bedroom," said Charlie. He ushered them down the hallway and into his room. He handed them the search warrant. "Cadance, your uncle cosigned this. He must be really worried about you or else he wouldn't have cooperated."
"I miss him," said Cadance. "I miss everyone... even Snape."
"Hell, I even miss Percy!" said Cati.
"I'm not going to trial," said Cadance. "We've got to hide."
"I'll get the invisibility cloak and we'll hide in the closet," said Cati. She poked her head out the door and then left. There was a few seconds pause and then they heard Cati loudly string off a line of swear words; a few of which Cadance and Charlie had never heard before. Then they heard another voice shout a spell.
"Shit," said Charlie. He pointed his wand at the door and it slammed and locked magically.
"Charlie, what are you doing?" asked Cadance. "The game is over. I don't want to get arrested, but I'm not going to let you get arrested either as an accomplice."
"But..."
"No buts. I can handle this. Look, Charlie, the Ministry is like a game of solitaire," said Cadance. She held out her hand. A deck of cards had appeared in it. "Every ministry member is different, just like every card. In order to beat the game, you just have to get your cards in order." She bent back the top of the cards and shot them in Charlie's face just as they heard pounding on the door. "Thanks for everything, Charlie." The door got blasted off its hinges. Lucius Malfoy walked in.
"Wonderful," said Malfoy as he directed the two people with him and Mr. Weasley to grab Cadance. On their way out of his room, Charlie heard Cadance telling Malfoy just what she thought of him. Charlie looked down and saw that all the cards had landed in a pile. He bent down and picked them up and looked at them. They were in order, starting with the Ace of Spades and ending with the King of Hearts.
-------------End Flashback ----------
"Wow, that was corny," said Kala tossing the rest of her popcorn behind her head. "What ended up happening?"
"Well, we got hauled into the Ministry and Cati told half the Wizengamot exactly what she thought of them," said Cadance. "Then Snape showed up and hoodwinked them."
"How?" asked Charlie.
"He sneered. Very scary," said Cati.
"I can't believe you hired that woman," said Cadance to McGonagall. "I wouldn't have left if I would have known! I wouldn't have left those students in her hands."
"She was the only one to apply. I can't find a Transfiguration Teacher either! I'm still teaching it! And Hagrid wants to retire from teaching and just work on the grounds, but he won't until I find a replacement. Guess what... there isn't one," said McGonagall.
"What next? Malfoy teaching Potions?!" exclaimed Cadance.
"Umm... Actually," said McGonagall a little sheepishly.
"OH GREAT!" exclaimed Cadance. "THIS PLACE IS GOING TO THE DOGS EVER SINCE MOLDIE-VOLDIE WAS VANQUISHED HERE!"
"Gee thanks," said McGonagall. "You know, I am doing the best I can."
"Ah, Minerva, I'm sorry," said Cadance. "I wasn't implying that you're a bad Headmistress. I was just trying to say that people are too creeped out to work here."
"Oh, you should try offering a good dental plan!" exclaimed Kala. They all gave her a weird look. "What? I own a demon bar! It's hard for me to get employees, too! That's what I do."
"Right," said McGonagall eyeing Kala strangely.
"Well, perhaps we should get going," said Cadance.
"You're not going to stay and talk with Umbridge?" asked Cati.
"You mean fight with her?" asked Cadance. "No, I'm not. Sometimes you just have to put your past behind you."
"That's not at all like the Cadance that I used to know," said Kala. "Is this a product of motherhood?"
"It's just like the Cadance I know," said Cati. She turned and stormed off.
"What was that all about?" asked Charlie.
"I'll go with her," said Bill. "To, you know, make sure she's okay." He followed in the direction she had gone off in.
"Old rumors will start up again," said Cadance.
"I bet they're snogging," said Kala.
"See," said Cadance.
Just then the door to the classroom opened and students began filing out. They looked at the four adults standing in the hallway. Most of them looked like they wanted to say something to Cadance but stopped at the sight of their Headmistress standing with her. One boy, however, went as far as to flash her a thumbs up and nod his head.
Cadance however stood perfectly still with a stony look on her face identical to the one McGonagall wore as they watched the students walk by. Kala and Charlie exchanged a look.
As soon as all of the students were gone, Umbridge came to the door. "We're leaving," said Cadance, turning towards McGonagall. "We'll keep in touch."
"What did you say to make her give up, Headmistress?" asked Umbridge with mock innocence.
"She came to this mature decision on her own, Dolores," answered McGonagall. Cadance, Charlie, and Kala were already walking down the hallway. Charlie had his arm around Cadance's waist and Kala looked disappointed to be walking away from a fight.
"I understand," said Umbridge loudly. "She never would talk with anyone more powerful than her when that Nuperson girl wasn't around to back her up. I don't see her anywhere now. Is she off getting knocked up by mudbloods like her mother? Or perhaps by that son of muggle-loving fool Weasley boy."
Cadance, Charlie, and Kala whipped around instantly. They started back down the hallway, their eyes narrowed. "Dolores," McGonagall reprimanded. "Those comments were entirely uncalled for and inappropriate and unacceptable for a Hogwarts instructor!"
"Yeah, and it completely pissed me off," said Cadance.
"Well, what are you going to do about it, Tinkerbelle," asked Umbridge.
"Nothing," hissed Cadance.
"Really?" asked Umbridge.
"No," said Cadance. Then she punched her in the face.
"And the maturity goes right out the window," sighed McGonagall.
"Listen up, Umbridge, because I'm going to say this once and only once," said Cadance. "I will kick your ass if I find out that you treat these kids the way you treated us. And I'm sure that Minerva will want to be looking into what you're teaching them."
"You can't talk to me like that!" exclaimed Umbridge with her hand over her bruised eye. "I'm the Deputy Headmistress!"
Cadance looked at McGonagall for an explanation. She shrugged and said, "Flitwick didn't want the responsibilities."
"Headmistress, are you going to let her talk to me like that?" asked Umbridge.
"Dolores, please just let them walk away in peace," said McGonagall. "And while they go find Cati and Bill, you and I can have a nice long talk about appropriate behavior for a Hogwarts professor and go over your lesson plans. You wouldn't want Cadance to kick your ass, now would you?"
Umbridge was struck speechless and the three young witches and wizards walked away. As soon as they were out of hearing range, Kala burst out laughing. "With all the horrible, twisted things you could have done to her using your Sorceress powers, you chose to punch her?" she questioned as she laughed.
"Kala, that would have been personal gain," said Cadance.
"Personal gain my foot," said Kala. "You were given those powers with a lot of responsibilities. You should at least be allowed a little personal gain to make up for it."
"You know that's not allowed," said Cadance.
"Since when did you care about what's allowed and what's not?" asked Kala.
"Since I became a mom," said Cadance. "I really wish Cati could see that."
"Don't worry," said Charlie, putting his arm around her. "Once she spends time with Melinda, she'll understand that being a parent changes you."
"Maybe coming back here was a mistake," sighed Cadance. "We turned everything up-side-down. We've invaded my sister's personal space, pulled Cati out of a life she was used to, and got in a fight with a Hogwarts professor."
"Not to mention putting your daughter in an environment that could potentially kill her, and get in a bar brawl in Australia," added Kala. "But you know you're happy here so deal with it."
-------------------------------------
Cati and Bill walked around the Quidditch Pitch in silence. Students were getting of class and several had decided to enjoy sunshine. It was late May and finals were over and they would be going home for the summer shortly.
Bill had tried to strike up conversation but Cati seemed unwilling to talk so he gave up for a while. Eventually Cati seemed to grow tired of the Quidditch Pitch so without a word spoken between them they left and walked down by the Forbidden Forest.
"It's oddly quiet," said Cati. The lack of silence startled Bill for a second.
"Yeah," he said. "It's nice and quiet. Romantic even."
"No, no, no Bill," said Cati. "Listen."
"I don't hear anything," he said.
"Exactly," said Cati. "A minute ago the birds were singing and you could hear other animals from the forest, too. It's never this quiet."
"Hey, yeah," said Bill. "That's odd."
"Something very weird is going on here," said Cati. Her hand went instinctively to her pocket and her fingers tightened around her wand.
Suddenly the sky grew dark and it began to pour.
"This is not normal," said Cati.
End Chapter
Wow, that was a long chapter. Not one of my best either. Oh well. Please Review!
