In his first year, Ronald Weasley risked his life in a deadly lifesize game of wizards chess so his friends could follow their own path. The year after he drove a flying car to Hogwarts and then entered the Chamber of Secrets to help save his sister. He faced his worst fear of spiders, broke into the Ministry of Magic and fought death eaters all before he passed 16.
Hermione Granger outsmarted the traps set by teachers to guard the Philosopher's stone, set fire to Professor Snape and went back in time to save the life of an unfairly convicted criminal (who also happened to be Harry's godfather). She helped to form a secret defense against the dark arts organisation called the D.A and most importantly she punched Draco Malfoy, Scorpius' father, square in the face all before the age of 16.
I am a Weasley. I am 16. I have yet to be a hero and I have yet to fight for something I believe in. A name is the only burden that one can't choose, so why is it the hardest thing to overcome?
Joined by Blair, Abby, James, and Leo, I marched down the aisle towards our usual speck in the centre of the Gryffindor table. Tonight the participants of the Agora Intertrials were to be announced. In honour of this momentous occasion house banners were suspended from an invisible ceiling which no longer sported floating candles - instead a thick layer of deep purple and navy littered with blinking diamonds indicated an endless, cloudless night sky. The banners waved magnificently above their matching bench, the swaying motion indicated a soft breeze had entered the room but no such sensation crossed my cheeks. In reality, it felt as if the room had absorbed half the black lake causing the air to be weighed down with a strangling humidity. Pulling at my white blouse I loosened the tie in a vain attempt to channel in more air. Chatter rose like hot air as anticipation filled the atmosphere. On every table there was at least one student stood up imitating a meerkat on the watch for cobras, well Professor Mortem is the closest thing to a cobra I've seen since the Malfoys. James had adopted his usual cocky confident demeanor, Leo had yet to say a single word (the silent brooding look seemed off place on his child-like features) and as for me lets just say there are only so many terrible jokes you can make before people start to see through the laugh into the underlying nerves.
Consumed in the havoc of worry I didn't notice the hall gradually falling silent from the back of the room. Sharp, blunt clacks filled the gap in the excited commotion. The precession had begun their assent to the golden eagle, as the single file progressed the students either side fell into a crippling silence yet their faces were alight with curiosity. Every pair of eyes that the gliding figures passed were glued on their imposing faces, examining every inch as if the announcement was written on post-it-notes and stuck to their steel expressions. Leading the advance was Mrs Kespion, the offensive shock of blonde on her head was wrapped into a tight knot and her hallowed features accentuated the storm of grey and lilac that swarmed in her eyes. Her slim frame carried a long-sleeved moss green dress and like before a slate black robe slashed the air caught in her path. Professor Mortem trailed behind swiftly in a surge of black, his tamed coal hair ordered to the side so his venomous eyes could unleash their full wrath upon whomsoever he chose. A couple of steps behind a black man clothed in garments of red, orange and gold cotton followed with shoulders pulled back, chest puffed out and pride spilling from his broad smile. To his right a young man of the same appearance strode onwards with a stale expression, his hair confined in dreadlocks and his clothes no less colourful - they too were a mosaic of red and yellow.
Red and yellow. Flames. I was on fire. The fiery touch tore away at my jumper. Agamenti, I remember saying that, but my blouse was soaked. I got another jumper. No. I was given one. It had the Gryffindor stripes I'm sure. Red stripes green eyes -
A searing pain enveloped my eyes forcing them to be squeezed shut. That same fragmented memory replayed in the underside of my eyelids which provided no relief to my persistent headache. The parade had reached the front of the hall leaving silence in its wake, they now filed along in front of the teacher's table and simultaneously each member rotated to face the sea of restless students. Mrs Kespion stepped forward to harness the power of the golden eagle, with an unhurried pace she surveyed the room like a hunter would scan a pack for the weak members to pick off. In an instant, a smile added more lines to her face but her eyes remained unyielding to any emotion.
"Once again I bid you all good evening, except this time each and every one of you knows my purpose in being here. Tonight, we will announce the participants who have been deemed exceptional enough to compete in the upcoming Agora Intertrials. To be selected is a great honour, however, participation is only one side of the coin. You all have a part to play. In honouring the life of Cedric Diggory, which the trials will commemorate, and forging international bonds with the representatives of each great nation. On that note, may I present the representatives of the Kenyan school of witchcraft and wizardry - Tembokundi."
With incredible grace her arm swung out to invite the two brightly dressed figures forward, each bowed their head respectfully and received astonished cheering and applause from the crowd. The older man began to speak, his voice boomed musically throughout the room with hearty excitement and was thick with an accent no doubt hailed from his country.
"My friends, we are delighted to have the honour of celebrating the Agora Intertrials with you all, no doubt these games will bring our two nations closer. I am Professor Okeke, headmaster at Tembokundi, if you already do not know, Jomo and I 'ave helped design the first trial, so we 'ave brought Africa to you. Maisha marefu!"
At the end of his speech, he revealed a gleaming set of white teeth through the biggest smile I have ever seen before taking his seat at the end of the staff table. Just like the rest of the crowd I clapped my hands together in applause, some of the Gryffindor table even emitted loud whistles and cheering. Apparently fond of the unrelenting attention Professor Okeke bowed his head and made the peace sign to several students, in contrast to him Jomo sank down in the oak chair allowing dreadlocks to conceal his embarrassed expression - I had the impression he would much rather be anywhere else right now. Under the torchlight, a faint white scar, starting on the left of his forehead through his eyelid ending just above his chiselled jawline, gained clarity. Something told me that there was a story behind that, probably one that he never wanted to tell, but a story nonetheless.
As the ruckus died down Mrs Kespion turned to Professor Mortem and nodded her head once, a motion as precise as every hair on her head. A flurry of black replaced the confusion of colour that had stood there only moments earlier.
"As you are all well aware, for the past week I have conducted tests on the possible candidates who showed enough promise to compete in the trials. These participants are final, at this point you are not allowed to withdraw or challenge my decision. First Hufflepuff."
Apart from Livia's name being read out and our swift side glance smirks at James, the Hufflepuff candidates were all names that were only vaguely familiar to me. Each of the eight names announced still received rippling applause by all the house tables, no matter how unfamiliar the names were to any of them.
"Now for Ravenclaw's participants."
Again each student called received tremendous cheering but the ruckus from the house table was by far the loudest - even Lily, Lucy, and Hugo were clapping like trained sea lions hoping to balance a ball on their nose. However, there was one student who differed from the others. He was very tall, over six foot two at least, with brushed-over auburn hair and thin framed glasses lining his defined brow but his appearance was not what caught my attention - it was his expression. At the announcement of his name his mouth didn't widen into a toothy grin nor did he turn to the students surrounding him to accept their celebratory marks, no, this pupil looked utterly shocked. Bewildered. Once his brain collected his thoughts he dropped his head to face the table, the light glinted off his glasses which shielded his eyes from my curious ones, then he mumbled something that provoked a clenched fist to slam on the table.
"Now for the bravest house, Gryffindor."
The corners of Professor Mortem's lips curled into a sly smirk at the angry muttering that rose from the Gryffindor table. Only an idiot would miss the sarcasm weighing down the word 'brave' like lead. The majority of the table now scowled intensely at his pale face wrought with cracks around those narrowed eyes. Clearly Professor Mortem enjoyed the standoff and had no intentions of ending the blinking contest, that is, until Professor McGonagall coughed loudly not intended to hide her irritation either. He swiftly regarded the list giving me enough time to dig my nails into the oak bench for moral support - well everyone says touch wood, right?
"First up the year 6 students, Abigail Carter, Blair Haynes, Scorpius Malfoy, and Rose Weasley. Now for the year 7 students, Leo Ames, Dean Morten, James Potter and Amanda Thomas."
Cheering, whistling and clapping erupted into the air and filled the room quicker than smoke. Everyone grinned at our group, those closet reached over to donate congratulatory pats on the back, even the other tables seemed to approve of the choices as they too celebrated as much as they had their own participants with wolf whistles and thunderous clapping. Only the Slytherin table seemed more resigned, yet even still all clapped and some even wore a smile - which seemed more sinister than overjoyed.
Elation overwhelmed every muscle in my body, a euphoric feeling no drug could replicate, the support from the other students only fuelled this feeling as their pride mingled with my own. Finally. Finally, after 16 years I could be remembered. I could be a warrior. The smile that had involuntarily grown on my face parted for a second as relief swept over me and laughter escaped. Naturally James was lapping the attention up. He now stood pointing and winking at various people with a narcissism which could rival even the Greek god Narcissus. Leo, who was sat right next to that embarrassment, appeared tired but still had that characteristic smirk of a smile plastered on his face. Although one glance at James was enough to sicken him almost as much as me, in a flash he seized James' sleeve and tugged him back into his seat like the present he was. Turning my attention to my left I saw Abby entirely befuddled, her face would be an apt description of the word in the Oxford Dictionary, over the roar I called her name. Instantly she turned round and seized me in a tight hug, even with the blur of voices I still managed to make out the words she echoed into my shoulder.
"We did it Ro, we've got this."
Abby's arms loosened from around my shoulders and as she moved away I caught a few words fade into the clamour, words that I guessed were only intended for herself.
"I failed the test, how - why me?"
Just looking at her perplexed state momentarily filled me with concern but it seemed intrusive to press the issue since her thoughts were swimming so close to the surface of her mind. Out of respect, I turned my torso to face my right. Immediately, Blair's defined face took centre stage of my vision. On first glance, it appeared as though she was completely expressionless and for someone who hadn't known her for a third of her life, they would continue to assume that. They probably would miss the balled fist quivering under the table, overlook the clenched jaw and be oblivious to the carefully measured breathing. But for me, those tiny subtle movements revealed her true state. She was furious, and when I say furious I don't mean the 'I want to throw a brick at you' furious, I mean the 'I would destroy the human race to eliminate you' kind of furious. Talking to Abby felt intrusive and attempting to talk to Blair would be the equivalent to diffusing a bomb - one wrong wire and boom. Before my eyes returned to the safety zone of James and Leo a pair of green orbs snagged my attention.
That expression.
I had seen it before, despite the coldness of those eyes they bled with concern.
His gaze didn't waver from mine when our eyes lined up.
"I don't understand you."
The words fled my lips before I could recall their meaning, but Malfoy understood it immediately, his expression abruptly changed to that of a startled animal facing a vicious pair of fangs. Without warning the room was flooded in a thick darkness. Except the room wasn't the great hall anymore, beds with metal bars as frames lined the walls, only a couple had white ghostly curtains wrapped around them. That same searing pain returned at the base of my skull but the scene intrigued me too much for the pain to deter my concentration. Moonlight bounced off Malfoy's face as he spoke softly into the silence.
"Try and hate me all you like, but at least be sure about it."
Before I could register what his words meant my mouth began to move on its own, the body I looked out from was definitely my own, yet I had no control over it. None whosoever.
"I don't understand you." I felt the breath leave my body to expel the words but they were so unfamiliar. The pain soon took over and grabbed the full concentration of my conscience, as if being dragged from underwater the dense air surrounding me began to move swiftly.
"I'll be there next time, I promise."
"Ro! Ro! Albus was chosen as a Slytherin participant!"
The pain gradually subsided as the violent shaking of my shoulder brought me back to reality. Eyes squinted open when the pain had faded enough, rubbing the back of my head I registered Abby trying to get a response as she continued to abuse my shoulder.
"They announced them already?!"
To make up for lost time I started to cheer loudly and clap towards the centre of the Slytherin table where he sat, James seemed to take it one step further and chanted 'Albus' (to the disapproval of all the staff seated above us - apart from Professor Okeke who joined in until he was met with Jomo's glower of disgust). Albus had never looked so perfectly content in all his life. A serene smile crossed his face and his eyes were framed with wonder. He almost, almost, seemed happier than I did. Being a Potter must have definitely given the same grief it gave me for being a Weasley - especially with his big brother being so well known and the image of his father. Maybe Albus wanted to be a hero too. No, needed to be a hero.
In a graceful swoop, Professor McGonagall took pride of place behind the golden eagle and despite Mrs Kespion's clear efforts to look much younger than she was, our Headmistress suited the position much more than she did.
"Congratulations to all our contestants! I have no doubt each and every one of you will exhibit the intelligence, determination, and bravery that led you to be chosen as a participant in the Agora Intertrials. But remember, as a participant you are not alone, rely on others for support. Hogwarts is kept in balance through our loyalty to each other, and it is this loyalty that protects us all more than any spell ever could. My office door is always open. Now, enjoy the celebrations."
Food mounted in tremendous pyramids before our eyes, every mountain caused jaws to fall open in shock and eyes to widen in awe. Piri piri chicken wings spiralled towards the ceiling their glaze glinting in the light; spiced prawns gathered in a small army; charcoaled kebabs leaving the vegetable chunks indistinguishable form the meat cubes; and numerous bowls of stews and rice. Hundreds of hands lurched towards the offering on the table. Soon plates were piled high with all the favorites from various African cuisines. Struggling to get through the chaos and maintaining her early infuriation, Blair plunged her hand through the tussle and drew back her fork with a speared piri piri chicken wing on the end. Just before Blair could take a bit of the sauce soaked meat hovering near her mouth a rogue elbow knocked the meat between her upper lip and nose. Laughing would have meant a swift kick in the shin for me and luckily no one else appeared to notice. Her fork vibrated from her arm which was quivering in anger. Quickly I grabbed my napkin and bent round to dab the thick red sauce off her nose. Usually, Blair would have laughed at me and done it herself, but not now, not this time when her mind was absorbed with rage rather. She faced straight ahead as I kept dabbing like a mother tending to an injury.
Red transferred onto the white napkin ease but remained imprinted on Blair's skin like blood. From a distance it probably looked like she was having a nosebleed and something about that thought made my stomach churn but the image would not leave my mind. Instead the sauce started to warp into a thicker substance consisting of a more sinister red. A trail of liquid pain fell from the nose to the lip. The napkin I was holding started to swell with red, seeping onto my hands and crawling up my arm. My hands went numb. The napkin fell to the floor. Blair called my name. I called Albus' name. No I screamed his name as he rushed in front of James with a jet of magic simultaneously shooting towards him. The great hall no longer surrounded me. I was in the courtyard shielding myself with a film of silver. The heart restrained inside my chest pounded frantically against my ribcage as if trying to shatter itself to regain control of its fate. Albus fell to the ground unconscious. My legs traversed the grass to kneel at his side, even though my wand was an extension of the tremors claiming my hand I muttered 'episkey.' A trail of liquid pain fell from the nose to the lip. I turned to where I had stood only moments before. A shock of blonde hair coupled with drained green eyes, red stripes coated his uniform in places where his blood seeped through from various cuts underneath. Looking at him, then looking at the mop of black hair beside me robbed my heart of all control as it tore into two. Each half beating feebly in isolation. For the first time, the blistering pain positioning my head was surpassed. The excruciating pain in my chest claimed my body, eyes closed physically unable to suffer any more and body burdened with so much pain that it became limp. Scorpio was not my enemy - he had already won.
I know it's been a while but Rose Weasley and The Agora Intertrails is finally back up and running. If anyone is still following the story thank you so much! I'm really grateful to you all reading this fanfic, please review and have a great day