A/N: Hi, guys! How are you? I'm currently re-editing these chapters to correct any incoherences, but if you spot anything wrong, please let me know. Also, if you have any comments, critiques or concerns, feel free to contact me.
Chapter Fourteen – Ice Queens
It was the right thing to do. Being our Prefect and having so many responsibilities, it's only obvious that Chester would put his badge above everything. Not that I'm thinking that he did it to prove something or to show that he's a good Prefect. The fact the he did it proves that he's a good Prefect, because it's clear that, above everything, he was concerned about our safety.
I suppose that life isn't only the rise, but the fall as well. Balance must be kept, and Chester only did his job. It's no use to be mad at him, because, after all, I know he cares about me. He taught me how to duel, after all.
All I know is that I'm not dragging Rowan and Penny down the abyss with me. They were the truest of friends, helping me with that stupid quest that led us to more doubts and questions. If there's something that I'm grateful, is for having them as my friends. I'm thinking of them as I walk to the courtyard, with a terrible weight on my chest, and the righteous words of Chester rushing through my mind.
"I told you it's my job to know what's going on in Ravenclaw."
"I went alone," I told him.
The plan, as everything surrounding it, was flawed.
"Athena!" I hear Rowan's voice as she rushes in my direction. "I wanted to talk to you before your meeting with Dumbledore."
"I'm sorry, Row," I sigh. "But I can't ask him if he'll hire you as a professor someday."
"It's not about that," she says, smirking. "Although, if the opportunity presents itself, that would be really cool. But no. It's about the code we saw scrawled on the wall. I found an obscure book about ciphers. I think I know what it means."
I stop walking. "That's amazing, Row! What does it say?"
"The Ice Knight stands guard past the Vanished Stairs," she whispers, secretively.
"I saw stairs and a suit of armour in one of my dreams," I remind her.
"It's obviously ominous, and since we found it in the cursed ice, it must be connected to the Cursed Vaults."
I stand there, unaware of what to think. All I wanted was to find my brother and make things right again, but it only seemed to lead to more curses and more problems. I was already getting used – while walking to talk to Professor Dumbledore – to the fact that I'd have to abort this mission, but Rowan's words made me wonder where those words could lead us.
"We can talk about this later," I smile sadly, resting my hand on her shoulder.
"I want to go with you," she says. "You didn't act alone. I don't want you to get punished because of something we did together."
"I know," I say. "Penny said the same. However, we only went looking for the Vaults because of me. Because I wanted to find my brother."
"Want," she corrects me. "We won't give up, Athie."
It's dark in the courtyard. The sky is dotted with stars and Professor Dumbledore is wearing long robes that look just like the sky above him. With the exception, perhaps, that his robes are bright purple with orange trim. He's waiting for me near the fountain, holding his hands behind his back, absentmindedly staring at the sky.
"Thank you for meeting with me, Miss Lockhart," he says with the kindest of voices.
"Of course, Professor Dumbledore," I say. "I-"
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" he says, staring at the stars.
"Sir?" I raise my head, looking at the sky, wondering what this conversation is all about.
"The quiet night, the crisp air," he says, softly. "It truly puts your troubles into perspective, doesn't it?"
It doesn't, but I don't say that. I simply look at him, his half-moon glasses framing his bright eyes, the long white hair falling like a cascade over the back of his vests, and the white beard glistening under the moonlight.
"I oftentimes come here when I need to make an important decision," he confesses with a smile.
I swallow hard. "My Prefect said you wanted to see me. To discuss everything that I've done wrong this year," I say, a throbbing pain deep inside my heart. "And about what happened with the cursed ice."
"You are expecting a lecture, but I feel as though you want to ask me about something," he says, raising his white brows at me.
I look down, staring at the yellow flowers that are growing between the blocks of stones on the ground. The only thing that seems to cross my mind is Jake.
"Why was my brother expelled?" I ask him. "He refused to talk about it… and then he disappeared."
"That is a long and complicated story, Athena," I look at him, surprise for hearing him call me by my first name. "I was intrigued by your brother, but he gave me no option. Even I don't funny understand what let do his fall. Something tells me you'll learn more in your following years here."
"I'm not going to be expelled?" I gasp.
"You have made many, many mistakes this year," he says, smoothly. "But you have also demonstrated bravery, compassion and resourcefulness. You show great promise."
I blink a few times, not believing what I'm hearing. After Chester's lecture about my recklessness, irresponsibility, lack of judgement, among other things, I wasn't expecting to hear such kind words from my Headmaster.
"All things considered, I believe you have earned one hundred points to Ravenclaw," he winks at me and my jaw drops. "But in your years to come, you must be mindful of how your decisions impact others."
One hundred freaking points.
Unbelievable.
"Remember, Athena," he continues, his eyes going back to the starry sky above us. "It's not our abilities that show who we truly are. It's our choices."
Our choices…
Dumbledore's words follow me back to my common room, where Rowan is waiting for me, carefully finishing an essay, lying on the blue couch in front of the fireplace.
"What happened?" she stands up, dread in her eyes. "I shouldn't have let you say you worked alone. I should've-"
"Row," I say, making a gesture for her to stop speaking. "It's cool. Nothing happened."
"What do you mean?" she asks with a frown.
I sit next to her and begin telling everything about my short and awkward conversation with Professor Dumbledore. Her dark eyes can't get any wider as I mention the points that I have earned for being so irresponsible. Though I have said it out loud, I'm not even believing it myself.
"ONE HUNDRED POINTS?" Chester shouts during the next breakfast, while I'm staring the immense quantity of sapphires inside our hourglass. It's so much fuller than the other three. "Bloody Dumbledore! Well, he's a genius, so he must know what he's doing," he glances at me with a frown. "Impressive… for a reckless brat."
"No," I say, smiling at him. "For a resourceful brat."
Of course, all my actions didn't go unpunished. All the professors seem to be laying unforgiving eyes at me, wondering what my next stupidity will be. I try not to give any attention to is, focusing on my assignments and studies, performing better than ever in Potions, for the complete dismay of Professor Snape, who was obviously waiting for an excuse to take points from Ravenclaw, now that we beat Slytherin on the House Cup.
The rest of the school year goes on smoothly, like the spring breeze. Except for Merula's deadly stares, probably wishing she had been the one to get one hundred points, everything seems well. I still don't know how everything happened, to be honest. I was so sure that Professor Dumbledore would give me a lecture, that his award completely surprised me.
Penny also seems to be exultant, even though Hufflepuff is third on the House Cup. She doesn't seem to care, though. If anything, she now seems even happier around Rowan and I, and it gives me an immensurable joy that now I have such great friends. Not bad for someone who could swear that would spend all seven school years friendless…
It's a nice warm night on June 13th, and I'm heading back with Rowan to the Great Hall for dinner, when she stops me with a secretive smile on her lips. From the corner of my eyes I see Penny rushing in our direction.
"Did you give it already?" she asks Rowan.
"No, not yet," Rowan answers. "I was waiting for you."
"What are you girls up to?" I ask, raising a brow.
"Well," Penny says, making a gesture to Rowan.
"Happy birthday, Athena," Rowan says, grabbing a parchment from her robes and handing it to me.
I look at them in complete surprise. I unroll the parchment and its content is the best thing in the world: a moving drawing of Rowan, Penny and I, sitting in a big throne of ice, crowns in our heads, and Merula kneeling in front of us, repeating "I am not worthy" over and over again.
"Guys," I say, a tear of joy coming down my eye. "You are the best."
"No, Athena," Rowan says with a smile. "We are the best. Hogwarts' true ice queens."
"I don't know what I'd do without you," I say, giving them a big hug.
It saddens me when the last day of June finally arrives, bringing with it the Leaving Feast. I feel bitter, because I'll spend all summer away from Rowan, Penny and Ben, but also delighted, because the entire Great Hall is decorated with the bronze and blue of Ravenclaw.
Rowan and Penny's drawing is already inside my trunk, ready to be placed in my corkboard at home. Well, at my grandparents' house. I suppose it will feel like home after a while.
"At last," Professor Dumbledore's voice fills the room, everyone's heads turn to face him, and a sudden silence falls over us. "Another school year has ended. I hope everyone succeeded in the final exams and I wish the most blissful summer to every one of you. And now it's time for another House Cup Ceremony. In fourth place, with six hundred in seventy points, it's Gryffindor!"
I see Ben joining his fellow Gryffindors in a round of applause, though their Prefect, Angelica, seems to be a big disappointed.
"In third place, with six hundred and ninety-five points, Hufflepuff!"
Penny stands up, next to Tonks, and applaud the great job of her house.
"In second, with seven hundred and seventy points, the house Slytherin!"
Merula isn't among the ones that are clapping. She's sitting at the edge of the table, far from her classmates, looking rather sad and defeated. I know it should bring joy to my heart, but it makes me feel sorry for her instead. I shake my head, erasing these conflicted thoughts.
"And finally," Professor Dumbledore says with a bright smile. "Ravenclaw, with eight hundred and fifty points. Ravenclaw wins the House Cup!"
It's the biggest round of applause so far, with Chester screaming at the top of his lungs, and the tables of Hufflepuff and Gryffindor joining us in our celebration. Slytherin's table, tough, is completely silent.
I join the Frog Choir for our last performance of the year, and we all hug our fellow seventh year companions, who won't be a part of the choir anymore. Andy puts his hands on my shoulders and places a kiss on the top of my head.
"Thank you for helping us win the Cup, Athena," he says. "You'll be a great witch someday."
I join Rowan to eat and from Ravenclaw's table I can see that Professor Snape is staring at me with profound distrust. I'm not sure exactly what in those raven eyes that make me feel so uneasy. It's like I've done something incredibly wrong. Rephrasing that, it's like I've done another thing incredibly wrong.
The ride back to London is quiet that night. Rowan carelessly sleeps with her head on my lap, and her black hair falls everywhere. A sudden opening of the door makes me move a little too fast, but Rowan just snores and continues to sleep.
"Hey," Ben says in almost a whisper. "I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me."
"My pleasure, Ben," I smile. "That's what friends are for."
"I guess I won't have to hide in the Artefact Room anymore," he giggles. "Thanks again, Athena."
I smile softly as he closes the door, leaving me alone with Rowan again. Though I'm worried, I'm also at peace. My first year at Hogwarts was better than I had anticipated, but it was also a challenge. I look out the window, wondering what the following years will have in store for me and if I'll be able to make it.
I lean my head against the window and close my eyes, thinking about how fortunate I am after all for having such great friends. I think of Rowan, Penny and Ben, and my smile widens. Though I'm still hurting with Jake's disappearance, I'll never forget him or give up on him, and the fact that my wonderful friends are willing to go with me to the ends of the world to find him, brings an immense joy to my heart.
It's our choices…
From behind the darkness of my closed lids, there's only one thing I see:
Jacob.