I ran back to the familiar Gryffindor commons. I had yet to catch my breath. When I found Albus.
"I need the cloak," I wheezed at him.
"Uh… why are you so out of breath?" He asked me.
"I was running."
"What from?"
"How come just because I was running it means I was running from something?" I asked indignantly.
"Who goes on a pleasure run in a sweater?" He asked while pointing at my attire, "So what was it and what were you doing." I sighed. I'm not going to get anywhere unless I tell him the truth.
"It was Malfoy and his gang."
"Why were they chasing you?" He started to sound irritated, "I know they're crazy, but they wouldn't randomly chase someone."
"I kinda snuck into the Slytherin common room," I said quietly. He stared at me for awhile and then he busted out laughing.
"Was it as damp and cold as everyone says?"
"Actually it wasn't," I started laughing too, "It was quite cozy."
"How on earth did you get in?"
"I watched someone go in before me," I answered truthfully, "But anyone could have guessed their password, it was Salazar."
"I have to tell this to Fred! We are going to have so much fun tonight" He grinned mischievously, "And now we have some reason to try out his Popping Parcels." Fred, like his father, had an inventive side. Popping Parcels were his latest of inventions and when touched by skin they pop. They are filled with a sticky orange goop that is a bugger to get off.
"Not tonight," I corrected, "I need the cloak tonight."
"Oh come on just take it some other night."
"No I will not take it some other night! I need it tonight and if you went on an escapade like that without James, he would hex you."
"Who would tell James?" He asked, his green eyes glinting.
"I would! Besides why would Fred want to go with you without James? Without James he might say you are too young."
"Fine, but what do you need it for so badly?"
"Just assume no good like I assume for you and James and leave me be." He sighed and grabbed the cloak for me.
"Thanks," I said tersely and slipped back out. It's past curfew so I better not get caught. I looked out a window to see the sun on the horizon. I hurriedly flung the cloak over myself and ran to the nearest exit. I found the door already locked. I pulled out my wand and prayed that it would work. My wand was a 9 1/2 inch wisteria wand with a thestral tail hair core. It had a twisting, almost ropy, appearance. It was as if twisting vines had grown around the wand's core. Despite its beautiful appearance and rare core, my wand is awfully temperamental. I took a deep breath and whispered.
"Alohomora," I let out a sigh of relief as the lock clicked. I still remember perfectly when I got my wand. My dad took me to Olivander's, while Mum was out with Albus getting him new robes. James was at Flourish and Blotts looking at books. When we walked in we were greeted warmly by Garren Olivander. Garren was the son and predecessor of Garrick Olivander and the continuation of the long line of wand makers. Garren, his wife, Tara, and his son Godden are close friends of ours. First, he handed me a birch wand with a unicorn core. All it did was spark and sputter. Next, he handed me a wand of cypress with a dragon heartstring core. This wand did absolutely nothing in my hand. At this point Mr. Olivander seemingly forgot about me and was deeply in conversation with my father. I put the wand I was holding back into its box. Suddenly a wand box fell from its shelf. At that Garren finally looked up. When I went to pick it up I found that the box had fallen open and the wand had fallen out. I picked up the wand and marveled at its spiraling shape.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Garren said, coming to stand behind me. I agreed vigorously.
"Its nine and a half inches long, made of wisteria and thestral tail hair. He reached for the wand when something curious happened. When his hand reached the wand he immediately pulled back, as if he had just touched something hot. The wand then made a hissing sound and emitted red sparks, as if it was angered.
"How curious," he muttered, rubbing his hand.
"What?" I asked.
"That wand has certainly displayed that it does not want to be separated from you," he said, "But its just…" He seemed lost in thought.
"Just what?" I asked more determinedly.
"Its nothing really," he replied, "Its just the core of that wand is extremely rare. It's the only wand in my possession with that core. There are very few wands that have thestral hair as their core. The most well known being the Elder Wand. I daresay this wand has made an excellent choice." I shook the memory off and walked into the cool evening air. I am so thankful that Hugo taught me the unlocking charm. I hurried as fast as I could towards the black lake. I soon caught sight of the two of them walking and I got as close to them as I dared.
"I've missed you a lot," Finella's voice drifted towards me.
"Me too," Faolan agreed. My head started throbbing dully.
"We used to spend every second together. Every single second since we were born. We never felt the need to have many friends, much to Mother's distain, because we had each other. Now all I have is a bunk beside Lily Potter, who won't even talk to me." My arm started throbbing with the same dull throb as my head. I looked at it and realized that it was hurting where the scars were. This is the closest as I've been to this lake since the accident. I stared into the dark waters. A ripple moved through the water. I started to feel deathly ill.
"Do you think she will tell anyone?"
"I don't know, Fin. I wouldn't worry about it. Its not like she has proof." I felt legs start to buckle. My mind was screaming.
"Lily?" Finella asked into the air. She elbowed her brother, "Listen." She said, pointing into the air. He stopped and closed his eyes.
"I hear her," he announced. He then looked directly at where I was. I was shivering extremely hard.
"I can't move," I said aloud weakly, "I'm sorry for eavesdropping." Tears started to stream down my face.
"I know," Finella said gently, "Lily, where are you?"
"I'm three steps in front of your brother," I answered her, "I'm wearing an invisibility cloak." Faolan started to step forward with his arms outstretched. His thin fingers touched the cloak and he tentatively pulled it off of me.
"It's the lake," I explained, "Whatever being attacked me, I feel its magic." They each took me by an elbow and nearly dragged me back to the castle. Once we were safely inside its walls I opened my mouth to give an explanation.
"Oh, you don't need-" Finella started.
"To explain yourself," Faolan finished.
"We understand," they said in unison.
"We should probably-"
"Give you-"
"An-"
"Explanation."
"Stop it!" I shouted. They both seemed startled. "One at a time please!"
"Sorry," They said in unison. They looked at each other for a second.
"Sorry about that," Finella said, "We are both natural born legilimens."
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked suspiciously.
"We can ready your mind, silly. We know you're trustworthy," Faolan told me.
"Usually we keep our minds closed. It is a curse to be forced to hear and feel the thoughts and emotions of others. And what you just witnessed tends to happen."
"I am really sorry for… er… calling you weird. I was wrong of me to judge you so soon. I can't imagine how much you guys must miss one another. It must be terrible, so friends?" I stuck my hand out.
"Friends," they agreed at the same time and in their attempt to shake my hand at the same time, we all just ended up bumping hands. We all just stared at each other for a long time and then we laughed our heads off.
"Faolan and I have never really had friends," she told me once we had all quieted down, "Its always just been the two of us in our own little world. It has always been especially hard with our "special" ability. You can call me Fin by the way."
"Fin," I said, testing it out, "I like the sound of that." So we sat in that dark, empty corridor and talked and laughed late into the night. After awhile we became too tired to continue and each headed back to our respective dormitories.
"What are you kids doing out here so late?!" The Fat Lady shouted at us. We both hung our heads and tried to act remorseful, but inside we were both still giggling.
"Panthera leo," I spoke the password.
"Ooooh," she said, "Think of what your punishment will be when the prefects find out."
"How will they find out?" Fin asked menacingly.
"I'll tell them of course!"
"If you tell them I'll tell them that you smell bad," I said on the spot.
"You wouldn't dare!" She exclaimed.
"Its your word against mine," I answered.
"Fine," she muttered.
"Panthera leo," Fin said forcefully. The Fat Lady sighed and moved aside.
"Thank you," I said curtly and stepped inside. We snuck past a prefect who had fallen asleep on the couch and up into or dormitory. When we finally got back to our bunks we fell asleep instantly. The twins and I became fast friends despite our rough start, James was released from the infirmary after three days (He had broken his arm and two ribs.), and Anna and Myra continued to ignore me. Between schoolwork and quidditch I was so busy I almost forgot about finding out what Reid had been doing. Almost.
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