String 06: Plots
"Her speeches get worse each time." Lysander grumbled as he and his twin left Professor Ishigami's office. The Lovegood twins were heading to the lower levels of the castle where they would spilt at their respective common room.
"Tell me about it," Lorcan agreed, for once. "If I have to hear about the 'demon called youth' again I'll find that demon and hex it till he's an old man." He glared at Lysander. "Thanks a lot."
"Thanks yourself!" Lysander scorned, signaling the end of their brief armistice. "You were the one who nearly Bat-Bogey Hexed the Head Girl!"
"I was aiming for you! You deflected it towards the Head Girl!"
Lysander shoved his brother down, scoring a few good hits before Lorcan could kick him off. Lysander flinched, preparing for the punch Lorcan was about to give him when his brother stopped halfway. A seventh year Slytherin, Claudia Ruiz, walked by, glancing at them. The two smiled sweetly at her till she shook her head and left them alone again.
"This is pointless!" Lysander grumbled. "If we get caught again it'll be Detention."
"Detention with the DADA professor," Lorcan corrected. The boys shivered in tandem.
A wide grin suddenly tugged at Lysander's lips, making Lorcan nervous. "Actually, I know exactly how – and when – to settle this." His silvery eyes gained a mocking gleam as they challenged Lorcan. "That is, if your up to it."
Lorcan turned away from his gaze. "I-I don't know," he started. "Hufflepuff's lost enough points as it is thanks to us and that weird redhead first year. If we get caught we'll lose more points and I don't want losing the House Cup to be on my head."
"Fine, fine." Lysander said, continuing down the dungeons. He added oh-so-innocently: "but I bet Annie Weasley wouldn't be afraid to do it."
Lorcan turned red – with anger and with embarrassment. The Hufflepuff regretted now more than ever the time his twin caught him staring into the window of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes where the fourth year Gryffindor was helping out with her father's shop.
"But it's fine, really." Lysander drawled. "I'm sure when I tell her how you chickened out of our duel she'll be just as impressed."
Lorcan ran after his brother. "Wait –"
"Yes?" Lysander asked, expectantly.
Lorcan glowered at him but nodded. "But we're planning this out! If we're getting them involved, we have to be careful!"
"As you wish brother..."
While the class subjects were a bit different from the ones at her primary school – and her primary school never had elves or changing stairwells or nearly-headless ghost or talking portraits – Aimi noticed her first week at Hogwarts followed the same cycle. She made a few friends, she annoyed her neighbor Sarah, she got on some teachers' good sides, she got on a lot of teachers' bad sides, and she already had one note going home warning her parents about 'behavioral issues'.
One potion "accidentally" turns my partner's hair white and suddenly there's a crisis. Aimi giggled at an afterthought. Personally, I think Valeria looks better that way, it matches her attitude. She way too serious!
"Aimi hurry up!" Al called from the edge of the Forbidden Forest – I.E the-forest-Aimi-would-soon-explore-'cause-they-tem pted-her-first – near a cozy looking cabin. Al and Rose had invited her, Mei, and Scorpius to a tea party at Hagrid's. Having nothing but a mountain of homework to do, she gladly accepted the offer. Now her four new friends waited as she walked easily to them. When she finally reached Hagrid had opened the door.
"'Ello Al! And Rose!" He scooped them in a great bear hug, one they returned lovingly. Aft a minute the large man released them and the cousins ran into the wooden building. "Nice to see you girls again, everythin' set up already!" Mei and Aimi climbed inside but Scorpius looked slightly weary. Hagrid mirrored the Hufflepuff boy's discomfort. "I reckon your father might not be too pleased 'bout us meetin'…" he started.
Scorpius grimaced, reluctant to look at the half-giant's beetle-black eyes. "I figure he won't be too pleased about a lot of things." Aimi waited by the door, curious. Suddenly, Scorpius shook his head and gave the groundskeeper a small smile before entering.
The cabin looked crowded with its extra large table and extra large cauldron and even an extra large dog on a wide rug that was currently slobbering over Rose and Mei. Al already poured tea into a mug that looked twice as big as his fist. He passed a cup to Scorpius who kept glancing back to his cup and the door, as if he expected Papa Malfoy to burst through the entrance at any moment. Aimi patted him on the back for reassurance – the Hufflepuff nearly choked on his tea instead – and she nibbled on a piece of fudge she found waiting for them on the mantle.
"Hagrid, wait!" A voice cried from beyond the entrance Hagrid just shut. He opened it just a crack and peered through it. Jaime Potter stood carrying a large bag. "Let me in, will ya?"
"Err, I doubt that'd be a good idea Jaime, I ran out of fudge." Hagrid said, glancing at the group already inside. "If you come back 'bout an hour later'll –"
"Come off it Hagrid, I know they're there." Jaime beamed and held up his bag. "I've come to make a truce with them, see?" Hagrid conceded, a bit unsurely, and when Jaime entered he met the harshest glare five eleven year olds could muster. The teen laughed. "Aren't you lot adorable?"
"Bugger off Potter! We were having fun till you showed up." Scorpius said, forgetting his earlier awkwardness.
Jaime opened his mouth for another tirade but decided against it, smiling instead. "Look Malfoy, and you girls, sorry about bugging you at breakfast that time. I was being –"
"A jerk?"
"An arse?"
"A prick?"
"Alright, alright! The point is – here," Jaime gave Mei, Rose, Aimi, and Scorpius each a box of purple candy. "They're to make up for what I did."
"How come I don't get one?" Al asked.
"'Cause we're brothers, you're supposed to forgive me regardless." Jaime said, ruffling Al's hair.
"Who says?"
"Mum."
Al pouted and Hagrid laughed. "So how's yer firs' weeks been…?" The conversation flowed easily, everyone was glad for the tension's end. The only time the talk would stop was when they would sip a bit of tea, bite into a fudge block, or have some of the purple candy – something that caused Jaime to smirk ever so slightly.
That's odd. Aimi thought once her box was halfway empty. The treats didn't taste or smell bad, but Jaime was grinning too much for them to be totally innocent. He's up to something.
The answer hit her as Mei chatted amiably with Hagrid.
"I definitely want to take your class in third year! Is it true you had a Pegasus once?" she asked.
"Well no but I show'em a hippogriff in third year and 'hen its thestrals in fift'."
"Those sound ace! I wonder if I can gut une tue rede?"
"'Cuse me?" Hagrid asked.
Mei looked confused and tried again: "A suid eh rondeh ed kun gut une tue rede?" She blinked. "Whur raing rift mai?"
Rose ran over from were she was scratching Fang's belly. "Whur raing Bei?" She stopped. "Whur hubben tue mai?"
"Rugh!" The cry came from Scorpius, he dropped the empty fudge tray in shock. "Dye dung eh berpla in lambi!"
Aimi didn't bother speaking. She picked up the tray and stared at her reflection. Her features all looked the same – pale peach skin, light brown hair, dark brown eyes – save for when she stuck out her tongue, it appeared purple and covered in large bumps.
All eyes locked on to snickering voice coming from the corner.
"Jaime, what did you do?" Al questioned in a voice that said he was already dreading the answer.
Jaime clutched his gut. The snickers became full – fledged laughter. He pointed to them, breathless "You – you felt for it – aw, this is too good!" He doubled over on the floor in laughter before Hagrid picked him up and shook him.
"Jaime, what the devil did ya do to'em? Out wit' it!" The professor ordered.
The giggles subsided after a moment but Jaime still grinned ear to ear. When Hagrid let him go he pulled out a box of candy like the one he had given out earlier. "Babble Bits, they make the eater spout gibberish for a day or two, Uncle George won't even be selling these till next month but I managed to beg him for a couple boxes. I was saving them for a special occasion…" one glare from Rose and he was giggling again. "…so worth it! I got you guys back good!"
The cousins held Mei and Scorpius back when the latter brandished his wand – and the former seemed just a hair from punching him. Hagrid scolded Jaime as he ushered the teen out the cabin. Aimi grabbed a quill and parchment off the dresser. She was just as indignant as the Hufflepuffs but knew curses and punches would do no good. He was at the entrance when Aimi handed him the note and slammed the cabin door in his face.
Feeling pleased with his work, Jaime shrugged and headed back to the castle. The note made him curious however. He opened it up and read it as he walked:
Well played Mr. Potter, but I hope you realize, this means war.
Sincerely,
Aimi Kurauchi, Your Worst Nightmare
Mei twirled her DragonFlier as she waited. A vast green field was between her and Scorpius. He was still talking to Madame Robins but most of the other Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws had left their first flying lessons. September 14th had snuck up fast with Mei. She had only managed to send two more letters to her parents in the past two weeks. Her parents had sent her short tidbits about what was going on back at home. Her mom's bakery was having a sale, Uncle Reito was flying over, and absolutely everything was perfectly fine.
Then how come I they have to keep reminding me everything's fine? Mei thought glumly. It's just making me feel more nervous, like something really big's about to happen.
Not wanting to worry Scorpius, who was running back to her with a NightWing 5000 in tow, she smiled weakly and asked: "So, what did she say?"
"Yes!" He said with bated breath. "She said I could try out for Quidditch too!"
"Ace! So that's me, you, Rose and a girl named Zita going to tryouts!" They did a high five. "Too bad about Al though, he really wanted to be a Seeker…"
"My father didn't get on the team till second year. Al just needs more practice is all." Scorpius said with a shrug. "Speaking of which, we should get started too! We've only got a few weeks to beat out a bunch of older gits."
"Scorpius," Mei said in a warning tone. "You remember we're all on the same team right?"
"Sure, sure but that's for after tryouts." He told her. "But still, I've been thinking – besides class we aren't going to get much practice are we?"
"Probably not, but it'll be enough I'm sure."
"Well I'm not." Scorpius said surely. "Mei, wanna sneak out tonight?"
Mei laughed but Scorpius's steady gaze made her frown soon after. "Are you mental? I just got back the ten points I lost! I don't wanna cause anymore trouble!"
Scorpius shushed her, only fueling her anger. "It'll be okay, look – I asked my parents, no one really gets caught sneaking out at night. Well maybe once or twice –"
"Once or twice? How many points would we lose then?"
"It'll only be half an hour, we can go by Hagrid's cabin and fly around a bit. I'm sure he'll cover for us if we explain."
"But Scorpius…"
"Please Mei?"
She was shocked by the sincerity in his voice. He was really begging her to do this with him. Urgh, I can't say no when he looks so sad!
"Okay." Mei said. "When and what time?"
"Tonight at midnight." Scorpius said, all pleading in his tone vanished like smoke."Most people will asleep and we'll just avoid most of the prefects!" He beamed. "Thanks Mei."
"No problem." Mei said smiling back. I just hope I don't regret it.
September 6th was a cool autumn night. One could feel a nice breeze from the Gryffindor Tower but there were no clouds in sight. The stars glittered around a bright, full moon and Victoire hated the sight.
That's it! Victoire decided after a good hour of tossing and turning. She tip-toed out of the seventh years girls' dorms and quietly made her way across the common room. For the most part her journey to the kitchens was undisturbed save for a Slytherin prefect, a sixth year boy left too stunned by her veela charm to report anything. She tickled the pear of an old painting and a doorway appeared and she greeted by several house elves. They knew to expect her and her sweet tooth often.
"Cookie has gotten your usual miss!" A slightly large house-elf brought Victoire a tray of blueberry muffins, Sugar Quills, and a cup of warm milk. "Does miss need anything else?"
"No Cookie, thank you for always doing this." She said honestly.
"It's Cookie's honor! No need to worry yourself miss."
If you say so. Victoire thought as the eldritch creature went off to carry out some other task. She rubbed the bandage Madame Cahier - Chang had given her for the random cut she got this morning across her wand arm. Full moons have always been a sore time for her. Her father, Bill Weasley, was bitten by some werewolf about two years before she was born. While neither she nor he was a werewolf, they both had certain issues when the full moon was up. Sometimes - like tonight - Victoire got sickly, other times she craved raw meat. She hardly complained about her symptoms anymore since she knew Teddy had it worse.
Teddy. Just thinking of him brought a smile to her face. These lunar problems were something they bonded over when they were kids. Since his father was a full werewolf, Teddy was always ache-y a little before and after the full moon – he was always ill the day of. When they hadn't known what Fernir Greyback had done to their fathers, Victoire had jokingly suggested it was his 'monthly friend' coming to visit.
Poor thing, we needed Greengrass's strongest wake draught to get him to come to that time. After they had learned about the attacks Victoire and Teddy were attached at the hip at those times. They'd make each other laugh through the pain and infirmity. Sometimes, when neither of them could sleep, they'd meet in the Common Room and keep each other company. Many times Victoire would wake up snuggled close to him, not that she minded in the least.
But he's not here anymore, Toire, you have to do this on your own. She scolded herself. It was times like this she regretted Dominique and Louis being in separate houses. She worried about them by themselves. Are they getting any sleep? Are they hurt? I told them to come here if anything…Her mind buzzed with motherly concern which then turned to wounded pride. I'm their older sister, if they can deal with it on their own then I should too, right?
She finished her milk and immediately a house-elf came to take her emptied tray she left the kitchens. The halls of Hogwarts were dark and quiet. She whispered "Lumos" and the tip of her wand lit.
At the end of the hall a tuff of red hair silently slipped out of view.
Uh oh. Victoire followed the ginger, slowly as not to scare her off or alert the prefects. Good Merlin, they're sneaking out already? Uncle George would be proud.
With the dim light and the distance between them, Victoire couldn't tell which of her little cousins had broken curfew. She looks a bit too short to be Annie, Dominique's sorta blonde like me, and her hair's not bushy enough to be Rose. That leaves either Molly or Lucy… When she saw the girl headed for the Forbidden Forest, Victoire's panic increased. Whichever you are, you're dead when I catch you!
Thankfully the girl stopped at Hagrid's Hut, giving Victoire the chance to speed up. Her bandage fluttered in wind before falling off completely. Victoire hadn't notice that the wound had already healed. Instead she gripped the girl's shoulder and made her face Victoire. "What do you think you're doing?"
Mei flinched, Victoire blinked. Oops.
Mei's initial shock gave way to anger. "You're not a prefect! Prefects have Ps on their robes! Who are you?"
"Well shows all you know 'cause I…am…an undercover prefect!" Victoire lied.
"Really?" Mei was so fascinated that she hadn't even remembered she was caught past curfew. "That's so cool!"
"Er, yeah kid…" Victoire thanked her lucky stars she was dealing with a first year. "Don't I know you from somewhere?"
Mei had a pensive look for a second before she told her: "You're Al and Rose's villa cousin!"
"Veela, you mean. But yeah I'm Victoire. And you're Mei, the Hufflepuff girl who threw her breakfast on Jaime."
Mei blushed. "Sorry 'bout that."
"No problem, he probably deserved it." Victoire dismissed. "But since you're cool with my family and all if you go back to your dorm right now I won't report you to Lumpsack."
"Okay!" Mei started walking forward and Victoire sighed in relief. It was only a breath later when Mei looked at the broom in her hand and remembered: "Wait, my friend's out here! I can't leave without him!"
Victoire scanned the area, besides the two of them there wasn't a soul in sight. There wasn't even a light from Hagrid's cabin, meaning that he was either asleep or gone. Either way this isn't good. Victoire glimpsed at the forest ahead and jumped.
A young boy, or at least he appeared to be young, stood on the highest branch of a tree. His smile was mocking and his bright red eyes were playful. His hair was as white as the moon but the rest of him was obscured by shadows. "Don't mind me." He said serenely. Mei looked up when she heard the voice. "I'm just here for the show."
"What show?"
"The one Mei-HiME's about to perform." Victoire stared at child who could only stare back, as confused as she was. The stranger walked across the branch as he continued. "You see, there's a boy lost in these woods, he heard voices in the night and he ran. Sad thing really," the stranger didn't look the least bit upset. "With all the monsters inside, he was probably safer here."
"Scorpius!" Mei cried. She didn't hesitate to drop her broom and run inside the Forbidden Forest.
Victoire ordered her to come back but she was deaf to them. She gave up and glared at the stranger. "Who are you? What do you want from them?" She spat.
He grinned wider. "Sorry, but you're no princess. You might want to leave before things fun."
"Fun?"
An echoing hiss broke the silence of the night. Victoire dashed into the forest. "Mei! Mei! Come out!" she narrowly avoided running into tree after tree. She saw a light in a clearing and ran towards it. "Mei! Are you here?"
Mei gulped. "Yes." She said weakly.
Victoire found the girl on the floor, next to an unconscious blond boy. Mei was gaping at creature in front of her. A ten foot chimera with lumpy green skin, its arms were tipped with claws that probably sliced the fallen timbers behind it. Its mouth, what Victoire hoped was its mouth, spilled out a gushy liquid that burned the ground beneath it. It hissed again, this time towards Victoire as it crept towards her. Meanwhile she was frozen in shock.
"W-What is that thing?" She thought aloud.
And what the hell have I gotten myself into?
A/N: Urgh. There's no excuse for how ridiculously long it took me to update. Forgive me? At least the action starts next chapter. Since its summer you should be seeing updates a lot faster.
Thanks to all those who favorited me! You all rock!