Chapter 9: Revenge is Sweet Until Night Falls
A box of delicious looking chocolates was sitting on Legacy's bed, opened and unguarded, when Pansy and the other girls walked in. It was empty by the time Legacy walked back into the room. According to the girls, the pumpkin juice was a bit more yellow and bitter this morning. Even the guys had noticed, as Pansy had been sure talk to all of them about it. It seemed the house elves were slacking off.
An hour later, all hell broke loose. "Pansy, you're looking a little flushed," Legacy commented cheerily as Pansy's, and all the other girls', face turned a glaring red. Moments later, streaks of gold shot through the scarlet. Spring antennae, the kind usually found on cheap Muggle celebration headbands, sprouted directly from each girls' scalp only seconds after and proclaimed in glowing letters that "Gryffindors rock!" As far as Legacy knew, the guys were suffering the same fate.
Shouts came from all over the Slytherin dorms as Legacy made a break for the door. She knew it would not be a good time to be the odd one out. Fred and George were waiting just outside the entrance as she ran out. "Okay, okay. So it was a bit later than breakfast. Gimme a break." She then ran away so fast the boys almost considered it apparition.
The twins decided the wait was definitely worth it when the Slytherins came streaming out. The fact that each and every Slytherin had to go through almost the entire school on a Saturday mid-morning simply to get to the hospital wing made it just that much more amusing.
Meanwhile, Legacy was taking shelter in a deserted corner of the library. She threw herself unceremoniously into one of the few comfy armchairs the library offered and convinced herself not to pass out from the combination of long sprint and great entertainment. Her breath had just decided to reacquaint itself with her lungs when she received the first feedback from her little stunt. "That was completely immature, and I could take all of Slytherin's points for that prank," Hermione was saying. "Unfortunately, it was far too amusing to do that to you."
Legacy smiled up at the Gryffindor witch then motioned for her to take the seat next to Legacy's. Hermione complied happily. "So it was really that good, huh? I figured everyone, particularly you Gryffindors, would enjoy it. It was kinda a repeat of something I did at my old school, but I think this time was actually even better."
"Draco was looking particularly murderous. I thought you two were friends." Hermione's statement seemed more like a question than anything. Legacy simply threw her head back and laughed.
"Hey, I told him to expect retribution. His fault if he didn't believe me." At this point, Ron and Harry joined the group. "Hopefully he'll think twice before insulting anyone ever again. At least in my presence. As for the rest of the Slytherins, well, I think they'll just try to avoid me from now on. I hope."
Harry's brow furrowed curiously. "That's really what you want? For them to just ignore you? I mean, I personally wouldn't mind it, but I don't have to live with them. Living with a bunch of people that simply ignore you gets kind of depressing, don't you think?"
"It would be if I didn't have anyone else to turn to, but I have the people that matter to me. Draco, to start off with. I'm going to be in contact with my friends from the U.S. now. If you don't mind me saying, all ya'll have been really cool to hang out with also." Legacy smiled sadly at the thought of the people she didn't have with her physically. "And my family will always be with me, no matter what. I can always count on them."
The four teens sat in silence, contemplating that last statement, until Legacy pulled a disgusted face. "Wow. That was really corny and mushy, wasn't it? Ugh, and after I promised myself I would never reduce myself to a sappy mess like that." She laughed at herself then stood from her chair. "I'll just be going now. Check ya'll later." Before the trio even realized exactly what was going on, she was gone.
^+*+^
"You can't escape us." The voice that the twins heard was mocking them, knowing the girls had nowhere to go. Tears were flowing freely down Legacy's face. One glance at Prophecy revealed the same thing on her sister's features. Mama and Daddy were dead, never coming back. Neither girl could fully believe it.
"This isn't real, is it?" Prophecy's telepathic message invaded Legacy's mind. "We're just sharing a nightmare again. We're going to wake up soon and everything will be fine. Mom and Dad will still be alive, just waiting for us to get our lazy butts out of bed. Right?"
Legacy smiled sympathetically at her mirror image. She could almost trick her brain into believing Cece's wild hopes. If it weren't for the excruciating cramps shooting through her legs and back from being crouched in their tiny hiding place for so long. "I wish that were true, Cece. Gods, how I wish for that. Do you feel it, though? Everything Mama and Daddy knew is in us now."
The closet door was suddenly flung open, and the girls went silent. The secret panel they were concealed behind would keep them safe, so they prayed. Legacy and Prophecy hardly dared to breathe as a wand could be heard tapping on the walls of the closet.
The two became even more worried when the taps suddenly stopped. They clasped each other's hands, hoping beyond hope that their place would remain concealed. Their fragile hope was shattered when the panel was suddenly thrown aside. "So you thought you could hide? Pathetic."
"Jinx, he's the only one in the room. We can just get him out of the way then make a run for it."
Legacy looked at her sister, at the determination in Prophecy's eyes. It was the only chance they had for survival; both girls knew it. "Think he'd enjoy a bit of fire?" Legacy asked mischievously. Before her twin could reply, Legacy had thrown a white-hot fireball at the man's chest. His robes were quickly engulfed in the flames, and the girls pushed out of their spots and past the burning man.
Racing through the home they knew so well, Legacy and Prophecy prayed together for escape. They couldn't be caught. Legacy kept her mind on the dash through the halls, knowing they were only a short way from the front hall and therefore the front door. There. Just in front of them was the door. Prophecy's hand was on the knob when a shout of "Avada Kedavra!" erupted behind the girls. Legacy froze as Prophecy collapsed.
Screams pierced the hall, and Legacy vaguely recognized the screams were hers. With that realization came the ability to collect herself as she ran from the house. Prophecy was beyond her help, and Legacy had to save all of her parents' secrets now residing in her head.
Legacy bolted up in her bed, finally remembering everything that had evaded her before the nightmare. "Shit," she muttered. "Shit shit shit." Without realizing she was even moving, Legacy found herself once again at her favorite place in front of the fire. Her quiet sobs were the only sound invading the silence of the Slytherin common room.