"Shouldn't you call Uncle Harry first, dad?"
Everyone looked at me as if I had lost my head. Even Hugo, who had been listening from the doorway, looked at me in confusion.
"He is Head of the Auror Department."
CHAPTER 26: NORMAL
For several days, Uncle Harry and the other Aurors looked and looked for Allen. While they searched for him, Adelaide and I had a few serious talks.
"Adelaide, what happened?"
She sighed, leaning her head against her headboard. I was allowed to spend the night at Adelaide's for a day or two so that we could talk, though mum came over frequently. Addie closed her grey eyes and began to talk.
"Ever since Allen gave me that mark, I knew nobody trusted me anymore." She paused, expecting me to interrupt, which I almost did. After a moment's silence, she continued. "He began to write letters to me, telling me that only he understood what I was going through. That he could help me… that he could make me great. We would occasionally meet in that secret room to talk, just talk. He really seemed to understand me.
"As time went on, I began to resent you. Sometimes I never wanted to see your face again but other times I wanted you to trust me again. Eventually, Allen told me that I couldn't talk to you anymore, not if I wanted to achieve my goal… not if I wanted to be great." Her eyes were still closed.
"It wasn't easy, not talking to you." Adelaide said with strong emotion in her voice. "But I believed it was for the best, for a while.
"Then he convinced me that Harry Potter was evil, that he was the reason daddy became a Death Eater… that he was the reason no one wanted to be friends with a Death Eater's daughter. I started talking to James, trying to get information out of him. He told me that he was very protective of his loved ones and I told that to Allen.
"When Allen took me to that camp, he wanted to capture you because he knew that Potter would come after you. Allen knew he could use you as bate. He'd be more inclined to save his niece than to save his arch enemy's daughter. I'm so sorry, Rose." Adelaide's eyes were open now and tears were leaking out of them. I wrapped my arms around her and let her cry into my shoulder.
"Shh, Adelaide. It's alright. Everything's going to be alright."
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After five days of searching, one of the Aurors found Allen. Within three days of that discovery, the Aurors were able to capture him. That was the day Scorpius, Adelaide, and I celebrated.
"A toast, to the capture of Allen," I said, raising my glass of butterbeer into the air. Smiling, the twins did the same.
"To the capture of Allen!" They chorused and we all took a sip out of our glasses. We were at the Malfoy Manor, sitting by the beautiful fountain in their backyard.
I looked at my two best friends and smiled broadly. "It's over. It's finally over!"
I stood and grabbed one of each of their hands, making them rise and dance with me. We spun in circles until the earth started spinning too and I laughed so hard I thought my ribs were going to shatter. Finally, the three of us collapsed onto the ground in a circle, still holding hands. We watched the clouds spin for a minute before Adelaide sat up.
"I, Adelaide Helena Malfoy…"
Getting the hint, I sat up, smiling, and said, "I, Rose Nymphadora Weasley…"
Scorpius rose, also smiling. "I, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy…"
"Do hereby declare," Adelaide said and Scorpius and I repeated her. "To stick by my friends forever and always."
"To stick by my friends forever and always…"
"And never forget where my true loyalties lie."
"And never forget where my true loyalties lie." We finished, tightening our grip on each other's hands.
We fell back laughing, a tickle fight immediately following. Scorpius, who usually scoffed at such "childish" behavior, joined in for once, creating the most perfect afternoon I had ever experienced.
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The rest of summer passed quickly and before any of us knew it, it was time to go back to Hogwarts for our third year. Over the summer, Allen had been tried and was sentenced to life in Azkaban for forcing a child to take the Dark Mark, kidnapping, and attempted kidnapping. Scorpius, Adelaide, and I were all curious to find out who our new Potions master was going to be.
The train ride to Hogwarts was as cheerful as ever and the three of us enjoyed ourselves, buying as many Pumpkin Pasties and Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans as we could eat. When we arrived in the Great Hall for the feast, I sat down at the Gryffindor table with Adelaide and sighed deeply. Finally, my chance to have a normal school year!
"A few announcements before the feast begins," Professor McGonagall said after the Sorting. "First of all, the students are reminded that the Forbidden Forest is, in fact, forbidden." A few people sniggered.
"Second, Mr. Filch begs you to remember that magic is not to be used in the corridors and any products from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes are strictly prohibited." She seemed to glare at all of us.
"And thirdly, it is my pleasure to introduce our new Potions master, Professor Cresswell." She began to clap as an extremely attractive man with curly blonde hair and kind brown eyes stood up and bowed toward the four house tables. Adelaide and I clapped loudly, hooting and hollering at the new professor. As the clapping died down, Adelaide and I began to giggle quietly. I glanced at Scorpius and he was scowling at the new professor. I just rolled my eyes.
Professor Cresswell sat down and Professor McGonagall allowed us to eat. Adelaide and I giggled when the first-years jumped as the golden plates were magically filled with food.
"Hey Rose," someone tapped on my shoulder. I turned to see Nathaniel facing me with a shy smile on his face. I sighed.
"Hey Nathaniel," I said reluctantly. He had been getting extremely annoying over the summer.
"Got any plans for tonight?" He asked. I tried not to roll my eyes.
"Yes, actually. Adelaide and I made some plans already."
"Oh," he said, his face falling. "What about tomorrow-"
"Actually Nathaniel, I'm going to be really busy for a while. I'll let you know when I'm free." As horrible as it was for me to say that, it needed to be done. I looked away from Nathaniel and focused on the plate of food in front me. All thoughts of Nathaniel soon melted from my mind as Jolie joined Adelaide and I at the table and we swapped stories and caught up with each other. Overall, it was a good night. I was so glad to be back at Hogwarts… to be back home.
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"I don't want to go to class!" Adelaide whined the next morning when I attempted to wake her up.
"Come on, Adelaide! We've got Herbology with the Ravenclaws first thing and I know you fancy that Ravenclaw boy. Charlie Dillion, isn't-" I was suddenly cut off by a pillow thrown in my face.
"Shut up, Rose!" I giggled.
"Come on, Adelaide. Let's go."
She reluctantly got out of bed and got ready for the day, adding a little extra eyeliner than usual. I smiled knowingly at her and she scowled at me.
"She so fancies him!" I whispered to Jolie, who nodded, smiling mischievously.
The three of us walked to Herbology with the Tallie and Suri who were being absolutely insufferable, as usual.
"You know, reading is supposed to make your face age faster." Suri said as Jolie, Adelaide, and I rolled our eyes.
"So do grey headbands," I said, eyeing the pieces of grey fabric wrapped around both of their heads. They looked at each other and gasped, quickly pulling off the headbands. I had to stifle my laughter behind two hands.
Once we reached the greenhouses, I spotted Charlie Dillion. Nodding to Jolie, I took Adelaide's right arm and Jolie took her left.
"What are you – Rose!" Adelaide whisper-yelled as soon as she caught on to what we were doing. "Let go!"
I just smiled and continued to drag her toward Charlie. As soon as we were a few steps away from him, Jolie mouthed, "one, two, three!" and we threw Adelaide toward Charlie, quickly scurrying away. We watched, amused, as Adelaide turned her head to glare at us and then turned to talk to a smiling Charlie.
"Oh, young love!" I sighed as Jolie giggled. We walked into Herbology then, glad to have everything back to normal.