Disclaimer; Harry Potter nor Vampire diaries is mine.
Warnings; Mentions and use of Unforgivables, a bit of blood.
Chapter 13;
Jitterbug and Scripted Plays
Tuesday 8th December, 2009
"I spoke to the insurance company." Jenna informed Elena as she walked in, pausing in her cleaning up of the living room. "Car's totalled. Not that it matters much to you now."
Elena swallowed as she heard the fissure of ire in her aunt's voice and instead took note of the cute 50's outfit. "So you're coming to the dance?"
Jenna smiled. "Alaric asked me to help chaperone."
She walked around the couch and leant against it, her thoughts wandering to a certain pair of crinkled eyes and wry smile. Elena did not share her aunt's nonchalance. Her muscles were tense and she kept her back turned to the older woman as she deliberated about how to start the sensitive conversation. Elena nervously picked up an apple and was about to take a bite, but a sharp burst of irritation had her turn around and glare at Jenna, accusation in her eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me, Jenna?
Jenna, ripped from her absentminded daydreams of soulful blue eyes, and was slightly startled by this sudden change of topic. That was before she saw the hostility levelled at her, and her jaw firmed, "Do not take that tone with me, Elena."
Elena didn't take the reprimand to heart, instead the frustration from the last days burst from her with righteousness. "I have a right to know about this!"
As Jenna stared at Elena as if she'd never seen her before, Hadrian's last words he'd imparted on that vexing Thursday rang in her ears:
'Careful Jenna,' he'd cautioned, 'if you want any kind of respect in this house; you need to remain firm and stay adamant in your decisions. When you punish them you can't change your mind halfway through. If you have doubts talk to me, or the Sheriff, or anyone else… but don't show any of it in front of your two charges. Or they will capitalize on it. Teenagers are a vicious breed when it comes to getting what they want, so be prepared for the eventual guilt trips and sob stories flung your way. Honestly, I shouldn't need to tell you this; from what you told me, you weren't exactly an angel either.'
Hadrian was right.
Last night, faced with Liz in her full capacity as Sheriff and Officer of the Law, Jenna had been infinitely grateful for the wakeup call her saucy British friend had given her. She didn't want to think about how flat footed it would have caught her if he hadn't taken the time to forewarn her and rattle her preconceived notions of Elena and instead animate her to take a very close look at their interactions.
Now she had an ominous flash of a life without 'Ryan's influence, she had the sinking feeling that every confrontation would have ended with her feeling in the wrong, feeling guilty for not managing better, for not being her sister... As Hadrian would say; it was a shitty feeling.
She was still reeling from what happened after a mere three hours of not playing the watchdog, of taking time for herself for once. For a second there, after listening to her voicemail, she had considered climbing back into her tub and just drowning herself rather than face the mess. But she owed her sister better than that. And Miranda would probably have strangled her in heaven for doing so. Still her own niece had disobeyed her, stolen her car, and nearly turned her best friend into a pancake in the full view of the Mayor's son - the son of the woman who had taken Hadrian under her wing the moment he had set foot into town.
Elena had no idea just how lucky she actually was that the Liz had been there to mediate on her behalf.
So it was a bit of a struggle to keep her face smooth and her voice even as she answered. "Your mom was gonna do it eventually. I never thought I'd have to."
"If my mom were here right now and I asked, she'd tell me the truth."
"She would not." Jenna bit out. "If your mom were here she would send you to your room for taking that tone. Your parents agreed that they would tell you on your eighteenth birthday, I intended to follow their wishes."
"You can't just keep my birthright from me!
"I can and I will. As you have demonstrated so extensively these past days; you are far too immature to handle any hard truths and stress. We had the Sheriff over just last night because you not only stole my car, but nearly ran someone over with your reckless driving, four days after you totalled your own car and went on a irresponsible joy ride to a different State." Jenna rebuked with a livid stare, far from over the recent events. "You can thank your lucky stars we live in Mystic Falls, or having your driving licence revoked for a few months would have been the least of your problems."
Unforgiving hazel bored into shocked brown and Elena was unable to find a retort as she was struck speechless. She hadn't thought Jenna would react like that.
Jenna softened slightly. "All Miranda ever wanted was to be a mom and was so happy to have you as her daughter. That is all you need to know for now."
Giving a jerky nod, Elena turned and quickly made to get back to her room, her throat feeling tight.
That confrontation survived, Jenna immediately pulled out her phone to call up Hadrian, his grumpy answer bringing an instant smile to her face.
"What?"
"I just wanted to remind you that you have to be in the school parking lot at eight, so you don't forget."
Jenna felt her mood lift further at hearing the long suffering groan on the other end, she knew it! That little weasel had wanted to turn up a few minutes before the end and then feign innocence! She had seen him pull that trick several times when he wanted to snub someone or just had absolutely no interest in a mandatory event. And somehow he always got away with it! Well not with her. This was for his own good after all.
"Why are you so bloody persistent in dragging me into that hell hole?"
"Why are you trying so hard to avoid it?"
Hadrian's opinion of her intelligence was clear in his voice as he deadpanned flatly, "It's filled to the brim with teen drama."
Jenna laughed. "You deserve it for ruining my Monday spa evening, hours of relaxation and pampering all ruined with one voicemail from you, I had half a mind drowning myself in the bathtub."
"Oi, I resent that! That was all that niece of yours. I was almost turned into a pancake, I'm the victim here."
"And I have to live with her."
A wince. "I told you, you should have just stayed in Prague."
She couldn't deny that the thought of the far away Czech Republic was looking rather appealing lately, especially the part where there was an entire ocean between there and Mystic Falls.
She knew she couldn't, though; she had a duty to her sister and what remained of her family. Miranda would never forgive her if she took the easy way out. They needed her, that much was as clear as never before.
Jenna scoffed. "And leave you and Carol Lockwood free reign in this small defenseless town. She is scary enough without an unchecked enabler, you are not getting rid of me." The very real probability that she wouldn't recognise her own hometown upon her return, was incentive enough to ensure that never happened.
"Be there at eight." She stressed before hanging up.
...
Hadrian stared at his phone, stupefied.
She'd just hung up on him!
He truly was a bad influence on her! First emotional blackmail, then actual blackmail, and then that commanding assertiveness with the very rude implications thrown in on the sly... he would have felt proud had she not used it against him so callously. It wasn't until he'd slept a night on it and Tyler used a similar heartless threat that it finally clicked and he remembered just how Jenna had pressed him into this latest idiocy. Really, threatening to set a determined Mayor's Wife on him was unnecessary cruel, compelling and effective argument or not, he hoped it wasn't going to become a trend. Carol had already called him twice full of concern as she had felt his absence so keenly the past days. It turned out being the de facto leader's darling had it's shadow sides.
And that was before the fiasco last night. If the two calls this morning were any indication, Carol's subtle mother-henning had only gotten worse after that close call.
He was so going to find a way to get back at that wannabe Pancake Maker! Just because she was such an abysmal cook that she had to resort to such murderous means to succeed at anything - she still failed though - , didn't mean he would let such an insult stand. Far more formidable people – men and women with actual power – had tried to murder him but non had had the audacity of trying to turn him into something as plebeian as roadkill. Even Quirell had had more class!
Hadrian released an explosive sigh and went back to his matching of curtains, suddenly finding his evening two hours shorter than five minutes ago.
Attending stupid teenage low-budget event… Oh, how the mighty had fallen.
As long as Draco didn't find out, he could manage one evening of concentrated Adolescent Stupid. Besides how bad could it possibly be?
-)§(-
Tuesday 8th December, 2009
20:50...
Hadrian regretted.
He regretted deeply. He regretted jinxing himself. He regretted severely underestimating the amount of senseless drama Mystic fall's teens seemed to contain in their pinky alone. But most of all, he regretted not pressing down on that accelerator and just speeding past this incarnation of hell. Maybe those Catholics had it right after all, hell definitely existed and it was right here in Mystic Falls.
Did that make the 'Prom King' Satan?
Dear Merlin, just standing there, he could feel his brain cells dying.
The first half hour had been bearable; he had made snide comments about all but Jenna, had Jenna supply him with a stream of amusing anecdotes from her past decade dances and then he'd been introduced to the new flavour of the month; Alaric Saltzman. A quick scrutinizing glare, a noting upon the lack of sexual tension, and the man had been all smiles and (unfortunately) Hadrian had yet to find anything to criticise. Other than his incessant need to talk about his dead wife, of course, but seeing as the history teacher was cognisant of the flaw there was no fun in poking at it.
Rather, since Jenna seemed to actually be enjoy herself, and watching the two get along awkwardly started to make him sick, he excused himself in hopes of finding something strong to drink – he knew any hope for firewhiskey was blasphemy in this muggle town, but with how big a thing underage drinking was in this town; he was keeping his fingers crossed for a stiff drink hidden amongst all the fruity punch. A desperate man can dream can't he? Maybe the whole thing would be bearable with a little bit of alcohol in his system. Morgana, he hoped so.
That had been the second mistake of the evening – the first being actually coming – having any kind of faith in alcohol served at a high school.
Memo for all future events; stay away from the bloody punch. Not only did it taste like a potion reject but the tiny sip that had made it down his throat before he spat the rest out, had roiled around his stomach unpleasantly for a nauseating twenty minutes, before he discreetly vanished it from his stomach. It was only with a look of total incomprehension that he observed everyone else voluntarily drink that disgusting swill, some brain-damaged twats even coming for seconds and thirds. Conjuring a pipette, he took a sample for closer examination later. Strange powers seemed to be at work here.
Now back to the start; 55 minutes in and he had found a nice corner, where he was left alone and could while away his sentence. With an apathetic gaze he stared at the trio of girls because those were the some of the few he recognised and he had nothing better to do.
The fact was so painful it was almost physical, as just watching the drama of Princess Elena and her entourage - Perky Barbie Caroline and her BFF aka pet witch - made him want to bang his head against the next available hard surface. It did not get better when the Salvatores came back to buzz around the little fallen Queen Bee. Hadrian turned away, was a little bit of fine alcohol really too much to ask?
Who set these dances on a Tuesday anyway? What happened to good ol' Friday, or was it suddenly not good enough for the illustrious Mystic Falls High School? Then again, who wanted to spend their Friday like this?
Now it made sense.
-)§(-
The figure pouted in irritation, tucking a flyaway blond strand behind their ear, pale eyes watching intently as the vampire and human trio scrambled about. It wasn't fair. After the very productive October and even more bountiful November, they suddenly go all paranoid and cut off any openings to get at that high grade black market item that is a human doppelgangers blood.
That insipid Noah… he deserved quality time acquainting himself with the crucio for putting the two guarddogs on high alert, therefore bringing their sly nightly visits to an abrupt end.
It was pathetic! They had such a valuable resource, directly under their nose, and didn't even see it because they were captured by doe eyes with the depths of a kiddy pool. Truly tragic. It was like some know-it-all mudblood who ignored all warnings, because they 'knew better', and proceeded to poke a sleeping dragon, never comprehending that he/she would be a piece of ash fluttering in the wind in 2.5 seconds, but you knew and had to watch all the same. It made their fingers itch to cast a nice bone-breaking or blood-boiling curse at such blind stupidity, before leaving them to their fate.
But, as the saying went; their loss, my gain.
Now what to do about this bumbling Noah…
…Ah but they didn't need to bother; he wouldn't survive to hear the stroke of midnight.
Reclining, they leaned back, relaxing against the wall, a small frown marring their perfectly smooth face. Icy eyes slipping closed as they let the images flit by. Elena's stricken face. Stefan on a wild goose chase through the High school corridors. Good. A panicked Elena running through empty halls being chased. Very good and funny to boot. Elena getting stab happy with wooden writing utensils. Not so good. Stefan with the Hero Hair triumphing over evil and staking Noah after finding out about the Gilbert Journal. Anna lurking in the shadows, watching, before bolting. The history teacher Alaric Saltzman skulking around knowing far more than what was healthy.
It was the scene after that they focused on. It was in the Gilbert House, just Elena and Stefan:
Elena on the couch distracting herself with pulling the silky material of her scarf through her hands when the silence is broken
"Doing ok?"
Elena turned around and rested her arms on the of the couch to look at Stefan in the kitchen preparing her tea, a thoughtful look on her face as she observes him.
"Is it weird if I say yes?"
"Is it true?
Keeping her hands busy and playing with her scarf, there was now a faint note of consternation in her tone when she answered. "I should feel more upset or scared or something, but I...feel kind of exhilarated.
"It's the adrenaline. You'll crash soon enough." Stefan cautioned, picking up the steaming cup and returning to the living room.
"Yeah, I guess…" Elena then smiled proudly, her lips taking on a pleased tilt as she stared up at her vampire boyfriend, "I fought back tonight. It felt good."
Elena feeling proud… stronger… she was actually growing a spine.
Now we can't have that. We wouldn't want Miss Gilbert getting ahead of herself, that just wouldn't do. It wouldn't do to have muggles think they could rise above their station, not to mention it would be highly inconvenient and counterproductive; if in the future they got bored of dancing around in the shadows unseen and just grabbed the walking-bottomless-pouch-of-gold full of the priceless blood that only made it's appearance every 500 years, they didn't want to deal with tedious escape attempts and a bad attitude. Contrary to those fools that liked to bait, torment, and break their captives, they preferred them to be silent and meek and they weren't sure how valuable the blood would still be if tainted by the Draught of Living Death.
No best to nip this in the bud.
Decision made, a dissolution spell smoothly obscured their form from view as a plan formed in the devious mind. How fortunate that they knew exactly where they had to be.
With a catlike grace the nigh impossible to discern form glided through the school halls like a ghost, not a single sound heard from them as not even vampire ears would be able to hear the faintest flutter of the strong steady heartbeat reverberating under the clothed chest.
-)§(-
Rapid footsteps could be heard just outside the door before it swung open and a small dishevelled form slid herself inside, drawing in loud panicked pants of breath as she raced for an escape.
Elena ran across the room and tries to open another set of doors, only to realise, with a sinking feeling of dread, that they were also locked. The harsh sound of doors hitting the walls makes the terrified Gilbert whirl around. Across the room, Noah strode through the flung wide doors in his confident prowl, the sight sending a bolt of primal fear through the teenage girl, one that, unknown to her, was picked up by the enchanted room and amplified, freezing her in place as her mind shut down with the pure, unadulterated panic that lanced through her. She couldn't breathe.
Barely a second had passed, and she was already drowning.
The doors clanged shut, the sound echoing through the large room, and before the last note had ended; Noah was there, right in front of her. The shock jolted her instincts and Elena made a desperate attempt to bolt… she only managed a step, before an unyielding hand grabbed her by the hair and reeled her back in, the vice grip yanking her head back painfully and pulling a shriek from her throat.
Elena struggled with all her might, but there was no escape and the next moment she lost the floor from under her feet and she was airborne as she was flung through the air like a rag doll, sliding across a table. The reunion with the floor was hard as her hip and shoulder impacted painfully.
There wasn't much time for the teen to collect herself as Noah once again advanced on her tossing the table aside and stalking towards his prey whose heartbeat was erratic and frantic as it beat in her chest exciting the vampire and elevating his feral instincts. His movements were languid as he drank in his preys fear and futile struggles, prolonging the joy of the hunt.
It was this escalating terror that drive her forward, as she frantically grabbed at the strewn papers, trying to find a single pencil amongst the mess.
Calculating eyes watched the events unfold on the stage they had set, unblinkingly. The figure remained still and unseen, but the little evil smirk curling the corner of their mouth was telling, their thoughts sadistically gleeful as the watched the frantic search for the runespoor in the pit of snakes.
Weren't they generous? They had left the muggle one of her weapons, they'd vanished the rest though, as soon as they touched the ground. No need to overdo it with the goodwill.
In silent enjoyment they observed as Elena continued scrambling and crawling across the floor, hands reaching but failing to grab hold of the small mini stake, as each time her grasping fingers came too close a little magic tug saw the slim piece off wood rolling just out of reach.
Then it was too late; too strong hands clenched on her shoulders and a brief feeling of vertigo overtook her, before her back was roughly slammed against the wall. A scream was wrenched form her throat at the pain and terror as she saw the figure now looming above her, vampire features on full display. Elena struggled with all her might despite the rising hysteria but only received a backhand for her efforts, the unnatural strength behind it having her sliding across the cafeteria and her ears ring as she crashed into a bucket by the vending machine.
Terror seized her heart as the dark chuckle that had followed her all the way. With the last rallying of all her strength and bravery Elena grabbed the fallen mop, desperately trying to break off the wooden broom handle, but despite her increasingly vehement attempts she wasn't strong enough as the shaft of wood didn't even bend as it bruised her knee over and over again. This time there was no time for her to react; the mop was snatched from her violently and with a crack her wrist snapped in admonishment, the clattering of the mop hitting the floor mingling with her scream of agony as she clutched her broken wrist to her chest as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Uncaring Noah clenched an unyielding fist in her hair and wrenched Elena's head back, exposing the pale column of her throat.
This time there was no rescue at the last second: One little muffling spell and the two Salvatore's were delayed, still stumbling about dark corridors, having no useful beacon of shrieks and clatters to draw them to their damsel in distress.
A piercing scream echoed within the confines of the school cafeteria as fangs pierced the delicate skin, ramming deeply into the vulnerable flesh.
Perfect!
With a quick flex on the imperious, Noah released her and sped off, making a generous amount of noise as he went, firm instructions in his mind to delay the two Salvatore brothers as long as he could before giving up Elena's location. A stunner swiftly shot across the room, striking the whimpering mess that had been left behind.
A amused laugh with chilling undertones rang out through the room, the disillusionment charm dropped and revealed the cloaked figure sitting atop the vending machines, slowly clapping at the wonderfully played out script. Far better than the original. With only a few touches of magic the little teen drama had morphed into something far more entertaining and authentic considering it starred a vampire – never mind that it was a wiccan one – against a female muggle. The original 'script' they had observed in the vision had been severely lacking in blood and the casual, almost playful, violence of a superior predator.
Even as they laughed they could feel the change in the air; the threads of fate coming loose as the present snipped the garn off the set future and re-wrote the now never-would-be future irrevocably.
The lounging figure watched in anticipation as the future realigned itself, spinning onto a different path, one so similar but still fundamentally different at it's core. It was a thing of beauty.
Noah still got staked while Anna watched, Stefan and Damon still scented the importance of the Gilbert Journal like a bloodhound on an injured deer, and Alaric still had his little revelation of the power of vervain as he stared his wife's would-be murderer in the eyes. Yet there would be no smiles in the Gilbert Residence tonight; Elena Gilbert was a quivering mess as she awoke groggily in her bed after Stefan had healed her massive blood loss, broken wrist and mangled neck with his own blood. Stefan would also stay the night, standing sentry in the closet as Elena begged him not to go as she relived her first close encounter with a vampires fangs. It was only a fretful sleep that would greet her tonight.
Hmm. so much better. Muggles should know their place.
If the muggle female insisted in meddling in the supernatural and entangling her life with that of vampires this was a price to be paid, doppelganger or no. Life was no sunshine and daisies especially for the powerless.
Cool eyes assessed the smeared neck.
There had been very little drinking involved, as the neck was mangled with the intent to cause pain and traumatize rather than to sate the thirst. Lips pulled into a moue of irritation at leaking crimson that was starting to stain the cold floor. "Tsk. Such a waste of valuable resources."
Reaching into the moleskin pouch from amidst their dark robes they withdrew more of their staple rune inscribed containers. Waste not, want not, and this time there wasn't even a need to limit themselves as long as they left Elena with just enough blood in her system to survive until the cavalry stormed in. They didn't even need to waste one of their specially attuned blood-replenishers. Tonight they truly hit gold.
With a sharp eye they watched as the containers filled with the only thing of value the doppelganger possessed, the stasis and unbreakable runes on the surface lighting up as they were activated.
Satisfied as the spell did it's work to perfection and transferred the crimson liquid, arctic eyes lost their edge as the focus switched to something only they could see.
It was just over ten minutes later that it was time to retreat, erasing the evidence of their presence and the profitable bloodletting with a wave of their wand, they meticulously stored away the bulging blood bags
Pressing the wand tip to the human doppelganger's temple, they engraved a last message into her memories before twirling on their heal and disappearing with a crack, taking all their enchantments with them. Five seconds later the double doors banged open two frantic forms blurred inside and to Elena's prone form, a pained grimace on Stefan's face as he couldn't step closer with the potent scent of blood sawing at his ever tenacious control, black veins ghosting under his eyes as he watched Damon feed Elena his blood upon his behest.
Elena remained unaware, her unconsciousness plagued by Noah's menacing drawl that echoed through her mind. "Delicious. Thank you for the meal Mini-Katherine, I'll come visit again soon. Bye bye… for now.
-)§(-
Jenna was barely in the kitchen when the bell rang, startling her. Had Alaric forgotten anything? But it was not the history teacher on the other side, but her leering Brittish friend who strutted inside as soon as the door was open.
"Okay spill Jen," he grinned at her obnoxiously, "Give me aaaaaalll the details of you and the history teacher. Did he give you a proper good night kiss? With how lovely you looked tonight he better have."
Jenna spluttered at the onslaught of words and indecent expression on the young males face as he threw himself on the couch and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
At her failure to answer, his countenance changed as his brow lifted and his face darkened. "He didn't do anything to give me a reason to castrate him, did he?"
"No he didn't." she denied with an eye roll. Then bit her lip as she looked into the expectant emerald eyes. "He did say something that bothered me, about hs wife-"
She started, but Hadrian cut her off emphatically.
"No, no, NO! We are not talking about that ex-wife of his, he has sufficiently filled that quota for tonight all by himself. You can tell me that tomorrow, I want the dirt now."
"'Rian!"
Hadrian nodded. "That's me."
Jenna groaned. "I give up."
"Ah the white flag." Hadrian nodded sagely. "Now be a good little soldier and surrender all the goods; I want all the details after I left you to your 'we're just chaperoning' date."
"You were there."
"Like I cared enough to eavesdrop or even pay all that much attention after I had that absolutely horrid run in with what they tried to sell as punch-"
"It was free."
"It tasted like a rats arse." Hadrian deadpanned with a shudder. "Now don't interrupt, it's rude. Where was I! Ah, Jeremy seems to have a new flame." he grinned as Jenna perked up. "One that follows him around like a puppy for a change. One that helped with the even though she doesn't even attend Mystic high."
"She's not a student?"
"Home schooled, apparently. Smart girl."
"Don't give me that I saw you dance like a pro and having the girls practically through their hearts at you after a single dance. You smiled." She emphasised with a grin.
He threw her a look that told her plainly she wasn't off the hook that easily, but rolled his eyes at her persistence.
"Fine woman, it wasn't as bad as I thought. But that's just because I can't resist the 50's the jitterbug, the jive, the Rock n' Roll, the swing moves mixed in… that can't be ruined, even with whiny teenage drama playing violin in the background." Hadrian didn't mention the surreptitious and continuous supply of premium firewhiskey and scotch that had found it's way to him, Jenna didn't need to know everything. If house elves had a salary, Kreacher would have more than earned himself a cushy pay rise.
Sometimes the sun seemed to shine out of that wrinkly, green arse.
Thanks so much for all the Follows, Favs and especially the Reviews and suggestions!
IrisTurner; We all know Elena is a whiner of the highest degree, she was always going to moan and complain no matter her punishment. I just love the fact that this time there was no compelling her out of the situation like usual. As for Hadrian and the Mikaelsons; the plot will really take off once the originals stroll into town, despite the name change this is still Harry Potter who attracts chaos like flies.
RebelliousOne; I'm glad you enjoy my Hadrian and since his 'inception' I always thought him and Kol were a match made in Heaven - or rather Hell as far as others are concerned. There will be so much fun and Chaos where ever they meet lol
I have plans for Caroline, I never liked how poorly she was treated by her 'friends' no matter her flaws.
To be honest I never thought about Vicki after she was killed off and much less about her mom but what you said gave me so many ideas... *evil grin*
As for Katherine she's by far my favourite doppelganger and female TVD char. I'm an unashamed Team K fan, so you she will have a lot of screen time once she sets her healed feet into Mystic Falls. As you can see our mystery figure in the shadows is getting a bit restless and has taken to amusing themselves while stuck until the time is right for them to strike
ninjamonkey5684; Always nice to meet a fellow Kol fan! No worries, like I mentioned above, he will get his time to shine.