Hey again, this story really won't leave me alone, so I'm just writing these out one after the other. Hope you like it :) All mistakes are mine, please review if you like.
After tickling the pear in the painting, Sansa opened the door to reveal a bustling kitchen full of house elves. One noticed their arrival immediately and, noting Dany's obvious exhaustion, fetched a chair and let her sit down.
"Can we possibly get something to help her, please?" asked Sansa, looking to the house elves, a group of five now, who were eager to help. They all nodded, bowing and curtseying before scrambling away, returning with a basket of bread, some meat, a mug of something and a banana. Dany looked a little overwhelmed, but took the mug first. It was full of sugary tea. She drank it down greedily and then tore off a piece of bread, stuffing her face rather ungraciously, but Sansa was just glad she was slowly regaining her normal pallor. Her long hair was tied back in its usual intricate braid while Sansa usually styled hers simply. As Dany devoured everything the house elves brought her – much to their delight – Sansa flexed her fist, wincing as she feared her knuckles were bruised.
"You alright?" asked Dany once she had finished and felt well enough to stand up. She was glad to note that she was no longer dizzy, just a bit tired.
"Yeah, my hand's a little stiff," she said.
"That was a terrific punch, by the way," said Dany, pulling off her coat. She was roasting in the heat of the kitchens. "Thank you," she said, spinning and smiling at the elves, who bowed before scampering back to work when they assured them they were okay now.
"It bloody hurt," grumbled Sansa.
"Don't you feel better now, though?" asked Dany as they turned to leave.
"I do, a bit," she admitted. They walked, Dany still moving a little unsteadily, but she had the colour back in her face, and her eyes were bright and sparkling again.
"Exactly! And it'll knock Joffrey off his high horse for a while, at least," said Dany. They rounded the corner and climbed the stairs. Halfway up, they saw the red stain of coagulating blood on the stairs. Sansa pulled out her wand and did as Dany had taught her, muttering the spell as the blood evaporated.
"Well done," said Dany, impressed.
"I just hope Joffrey doesn't cause trouble over this."
"I'm afraid that since its Joffrey, he probably will try to get his pride back somehow."
"Let's just stay on guard for a while," said Dany. Sansa nodded as they emerged from the brightly lit stairway, the fire brackets glowing comfortingly on the walls. They spotted more tiny drops of blood on the stone floor of the Entrance Hall as they headed to the Grand Staircase. Dany caught Sansa's worried expression, the red-headed girl biting her lip anxiously as she turned over thoughts in her head.
"Hey, don't worry about it," she said as they climbed. "Joffrey's a little git, we can take him." Sansa smiled, grateful she had decided to help Dany in the library that day.
Margaery looked into the mirror in the bathroom. Her eyes underneath her make-up were dark, and she covered them with some concealer. After fixing her long brown hair so it looked at least a little bit presentable, she straightened her creased clothes – she had fallen asleep for a few hours after her encounter with Joffrey. It sickened her to her stomach that she would have to spend more time with him, but it seemed the best idea. Margaery was under no illusions to how… charming… she could be, and was confident she could at least loosen Cersei's control over him just enough to cause friction between the pair, and thus weaken them. Sighing, she stood up straight, checking her blue shirt in the mirror again before turning and leaving, her boots clacking against the floor. Rubbing her stiff neck, she began her climb back up to Ravenclaw Tower. The rest of her dorm had expressed concern for her health, as she was up early and late back, even dozing off in the common room with her face buried in a book. However, as she returned to the common room, closing the door behind her, having answered the question easily, she found Professors Flitwick and McGonagall standing in the common room. Both looked grim, and their expressions didn't get any better when they saw her.
"What's happening?" she asked, trying not to let her tiredness seep into her voice. If this was some kind of intervention, she wasn't going to be pleased.
"Miss Tyrell, I'm afraid it's Loras," said Flitwick, carefully.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Margaery, looking back and forth between the teachers.
"Well… Miss Tyrell, I think we should do this in a less public place," said McGonagall, in a kind voice. Now Margaery was truly worried.
"Would you care to follow us to the hospital wing?" asked Flitwick. Margaery nodded, unable to speak. Something had happened to Loras.
"Hey, isn't that Margaery?" said Dany, pointing down the corridor. Sansa's head snapped in the indicated direction.
"Where?" she asked, wondering why Margaery would be this close to Gryffindor Tower.
"You so like her!" laughed Dany.
"Shut up! And I don't, you're being ridiculous!" said Sansa.
"If you say so," said Dany, in a tone that let Sansa know she had no intention of dropping it.
"Stop saying that! Besides, why are we always talking about me? What about you?" At this, Dany burst out laughing.
"I have had more than my share, I'm taking a break for a while," she said, with a little remorse. Sansa decided to drop it.
Margaery entered the hospital wing, brushing past Flitwick, who held the door open for her. The trio passed Madame Pomfrey, who gave her a sad, comforting smile.
"Miss Tyrell, I think you should sit down for this," said Flitwick, his eyes shining with concern.
"I'm fine, sir. Can you please tell me what's going on?" she nearly begged. The suspense was killing her. Flitwick nodded and looked at the floor as he drew back the curtain around the bed. Margaery couldn't suppress the gasp at the sight that met her. She haltingly stepped towards the bed, leaning her hands against the edge.
"L… Loras?" she whispered as tears formed in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Margaery," said McGonagall, placing her hand on Margaery's shoulder.
"What happened?" she whispered, not able to tear her eyes away from her brother. His face was paler than usual. His wrists were bandaged.
"He was found in his dormitory. It seemed he had… slit his wrists. Madame Pomfrey also found evidence of a Sleeping Draught in his system. It would appear he cut himself and then drank the Draught. If he hadn't been found when he was, then…" McGonagall tailed off. "He will be sent home to your parents. You may go with them-"
"No," said Margaery, a little abruptly. She recovered herself, wiping her eyes and biting back the tears. She turned to the teachers. "I'd like to stay, if that's alright," she said, her voice a little choked.
"Of course. An owl has been sent to Highgarden. Your parents are unfortunately unable to pick him up. We'll be sending him back tomorrow when he's stable." Margaery took a calming breath.
"Okay."
"Is there anything we can do for you, Miss Tyrell?" asked Flitwick.
"I'm alright, really. I just need to think," she said. The teachers nodded and Margaery fled from the room, trying to hold in her emotions until she got to a quiet place. If she returned to the Tower, shed be hounded by questions and pitying looks. She couldn't deal with that right now. She couldn't stay with Loras any longer. She was furious, upset and a whole host of emotions she would rather not address. She needed air. She strode as quickly as she could through the corridors and down the stairs, emerging five minutes later from the castle's front doors and then fled towards the lake. She stumbled down the hill and collapsed on the shore, ignoring the pain in her knees as she rested her elbows on her thighs and wept into her hands.
Dany and Sansa sat in the common room by the fire. It was relatively quiet for the afternoon, the sun had disappeared behind a bank of clouds, and the rain pattered gently off of the window. The inseparable pair were discussing their Defence Against the Dark Arts homework assignment for an hour or so before someone entered the common room.
"Hey, Larry!" the girl yelled, as she approached a boy sitting at the table behind the sofa that Dany and Sansa occupied. She threw herself onto the seat. "Did you hear? I was just down at the hospital wing, I was bitten by that Venemous Tentacula again and…" she tailed off, looking around furtively as she leaned closer. "That Tyrell boy, the Ravenclaw. He's in there, apparently tried to commit suicide!" she hissed. Sansa and Dany froze. They hadn't meant to listen, but the words floated over to them. Sansa couldn't help herself, shooting Dany a worried look. Dany looked equally concerned.
"His sister, Margaery, I think, she was there. He's being taken home tomorrow-"
"Emily, you shouldn't be spreading stuff like this-"
"I know, but it's not like it happens often, does it? Anyway, Lisa said she saw the sister running across the grounds a few hours ago, she hasn't come back yet."
At this, Sansa got to her feet, and dashed in her socks to the dorm. Dany followed behind.
"Sansa, are you going to look for her?" she asked.
"Yes," she replied, pulling on her boots and grabbing her jacket from the bedpost, shrugging it on. "You can try and talk me out of it-" She turned around to see Dany looking at her, trainers on feet and a leather jacket covering her torso. "I guess you're coming," Sansa smiled.
"Of course," replied Dany. "Two sets of eyes are better than one, after all." Sansa, grateful for her friend's concern, followed Dany out of the door.
"Right, I'll check down by Hagrid's and the Willow," said Sansa, not caring that her hair was already damp as they walked down the muddy path. Dany nodded. "I'll go by the lake. Meet back here?"
"Sure," replied Sansa, before she took off down the path. Dany turned and headed down her path. She didn't know all that much about Margaery, but Sansa cared about her a lot, despite the fact she didn't admit it. And Margaery had helped her out, so it was the least she could do. Walking at a brisk pace, she found herself slipping down the steep path to the lake, the reeds growing high on either side of her, the large dark blotches of the Forbidden Forest to her right in the distance. The sky was beginning to darken slightly as she walked. She hoped things would work out for Sansa. She deserved it after Joffrey. As she drew closer to the lake, she heard faint sounds of movement. She quickened her pace, hoping it wasn't just a bird moving about or something. The pebbles crunched under her feet, knocking together as she stepped onto the beach. Looking around, she froze as she saw a completely soaked Margaery Tyrell sitting as close to the shallow lake water as she could without being in it, her knees drawn up to her chest, her forehead resting on her knees. Dany wasn't entirely sure what to do when she heard the small sniffing sobs. They were quiet but sounded painful. Dany suddenly felt like she was intruding where she wasn't wanted, like a spy, so she cleared her throat and approached Margaery. The girl stiffened for a moment, whirling round, her eyes wild for a second. She must have been ashamed, terrified of seeming this vulnerable in front of someone. But she recognised Dany, and relaxed a little. The rain caused ripples in the calm lake water.
"Are you alright?" asked Dany tenderly, carefully.
"Fine," replied Margaery, wiping her face as Dany stood beside her. Margaery looked out over the lake and Dany could see a fresh tear slide down her face, though it might be water dripping from her sopping wet hair.
"I don't need Veritaserum to tell that you're lying," she said with a slight smile.
"You know what happened, don't you?" asked Margaery.
"Yes," replied Dany. There was a silence, broken only by the rustling of the surrounding trees and the gentle pattering of the rain. "You should go inside, you'll catch a cold."
"I'll be fine," said Margaery. She sounded so tired. "I can't go back yet. You go though, I'm fine." Dany considered her words for a moment. Margaery expected her to go. Why would she stay? Instead, she felt a warmth envelope her. Looking up in surprise, she saw Dany sitting next to her, the leather jacket now draped over Margaery's shoulders. She began to tug it off.
"I can't take this, you'll be soaked-" said Margaery, but Dany waved away her concern.
"You are soaked," replied Dany, crossing her legs and drawing her wand. She pointed to the sky and muttered a few words, her wand drifting in a lazy circle. Margaery watched, intrigued, until she noticed that she could no longer feel the rain on her skin. Looking over the lake though, the ripples were still forming at the same rate as they had been.
"Clever," she said as she realised. Dany had created a sort of invisible umbrella over them. It did nothing for the cold, however, and Dany was already close to shivering. Margaery was completely frozen. She hugged the jacket closer around her body. "You're still cold though," she said, eyeing Dany's bare arms. Dany twirled her wand again, as if contemplating something.
"Promise you won't tell anyone about what I'm about to do?" she said with a smile. Margaery in her mood was amazed she could manage a smile in reply, and nodded. Dany did the same trick she had with Sansa earlier, ending up with a fistful of fire. She could have cast a fire on the beach but there was nothing to keep it burning. Margaery's eyes were wide with wonder.
"Is that Freezing Fire?" asked Margaery. She had heard about it, it was nicknamed Freezing Fire but what it really did was not burn the person who touched it. It was very sophisticated spellwork, and didn't require fuel.
"Uhm…" said Dany. Margaery clearly knew the theory of it, so Dany didn't know if she could bluff her way through it. Margaery reached out slowly to it. "It can't be," she said, her eyes wide with wonder as her brain worked furiously to solve this puzzle. "It doesn't burn," she said, drawing her pale hand away thoughtfully when she felt it too hot. Margaery's eyebrow rose as she turned, taking in Dany's appearance.
"You're a Targaryen, aren't you?" she asked. Dany nodded. Busted. "So it's true, then," said Margaery in awe. Dany held it closer so the pair of them could warm up by it.
"Can I ask you not to spread this around. Only you and Sansa know about it."
"Of course," said Margaery. They sat in silence, or talking amicably about random subjects. Margaery relaxed a little, her mind being distracted from Loras. Soon, the darkness had well and truly fallen.
"We should probably get back," she sighed, watching as Dany tossed the ball of fire in the air, as she had been for the past fifteen minutes.
"Are you going to be okay?" asked Dany, before she cursed herself for such a stupid question.
"I will be." Dany clambered to her feet, reaching down to help Margaery up. Margaery went to pull the jacket from over her shoulders, but Dany stopped her.
"I'm fine, you have it until we're inside." Dany quirked her head a little as Margaery looked a little odd.
"Thank you," she said.
"It's no problem, I have this to keep me warm anyway-"
"No, I mean for sitting with me."
"Again, it's no problem," smiled Dany. They got up and the invisible umbrella disappeared. As the pair headed for the castle, the fire in Dany's hand went out, casting them in almost complete darkness.
"Lumos!" they both said at the same time, and began their long and treacherous trek up to the castle as they got soaked again.
