At this point I want to thank you all for your reviews again :)
In this chapter I try to give you a clearer picture of Jack's character, and I'm preparing for a little more action for the next chapter. I'm not sure how long this one will be, but the next one is already written, and I can promise you it's longer than the last to ones.
Also, I have to apologize for ending things with Viktor Krum as I'm going to in the first few sentences of this chapter, but he didn't fit anywhere in my future plans and I wanted some closure on this. You can hate me all you want for this, I deserve it, but it's going to be like this and I'm not going to change it. Maybe I'll give the Bulgarians a bigger role in the sequel, but I don't know about that yet, so yeah.
Oh, short update on my writing progress: I've officially finished this crossover. There are 5 chapters left, and I will try to update at least once a week. I've started a new work and I'm not sure how much time I'll have for the internet.
Warnings: Again language and more creepy behavior.
Disclaimer: I don't own HP or Frozen
Enjoy!
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I almost couldn't believe my luck as one day two wonderful things happened. The first one shouldn't have made me so happy, but it did, as it was the first good news in months.
Viktor Krum had been killed when he had tried to break into a vault at Gringott's. That meant at least one of my minor worries was gone. The Bulgarian threat had been in the back of my mind, and now I could scratch it from my 'To-worry-list'. Of course the death of a man wasn't something to be relieved about, but at this point I couldn't get myself to be sad about it.
The other thing was something I haven't thought about in years.
I've already forgotten Madame Maxime's promise to send me a picture of my mother. It's been almost three years now, and a lot of things had happened in all of our lives, so it just slipped my mind.
So I was quite surprised to receive a letter with the a seal of Beauxbatons. Making sure I was alone in my study, as Jack had the tendency to appear uninvited, I carefully opened it. It contained a few ripped out pages of yearbooks, all with photographs of a certain witch.
I couldn't help but smile. It was true, we looked pretty much alike. And despite being mad at her for what she did in the past, I was happy to finally see pictures of her. I couldn't read the articles as they were in french, but it didn't matter. At least until I noticed something scribbled in the corner of one page.
-DeFoncières-
Frowning, I tried to translate it. It looked like a name, but what kind of name was it? And why was it scribbled on this page? Maxime didn't leave a message, only the yearbook pages. A short explanation would've been nice...
I was a little disappointed for not knowing the name, but it also could've been just random scribbling, not meaning anything. I shrugged it off for now, deciding I'd write to Maxime later.
Carefully folding the pages I put them in my magic bag, where I stored Draco's Pensieve and his memories too. It was small, but on the inside it was big enough to hold a thousand things. It was really practical for situations like these, when I didn't want anyone – namely Jack – to find something. I still wasn't trusting him, and I'd rather not share any information about my mother with him. At least until I could be sure he wouldn't do anything stupid.
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It's been one week since Jack's arrival at Arendelle. Most of the time he was just keeping up his childish and careless behavior, keeping himself busy with creating a chaos in the castle, making it snow inside so he could slide down the stairs. It was annoying, but I'd rather have him annoying than creepy.
Then from time to time he had these silent phases, and that was dangerous territory. Most of those times he was just sitting or standing there, looking at me with this weird indefinable expression. With his tendency to just creep up and appear out of nowhere I've more than once almost got a heart attack when I turned around and had him staring at me from right behind me.
One time was especially creepy. We were curious about his powers, as they seemed to be a little different from mine. Sure, he could create ice sculptures, let it snow, all the things I could do too. But that couldn't be everything, could it? As the Spirit of Winter he must've greater powers. So we asked him to show us a little bit.
In the garden, he made a bit of a show with creating a huge block of ice and forming it into some sort of house. I didn't worry about the villagers, as it was hidden from sight by our castle. I was impressed by the size and detail in it.
"Wow..." I nodded at Kristoff's exclamation as he and Anna looked around in awe. I had no idea if I was able to do that too, as I've never created anything bigger than those stairs back in my first year, or the slide I used to escape the castle back then.
"Can you do that too?" Anna asked me with big eyes as we left the house and Jack thawed it. I gave a small shrug.
"I don't know... I could try I guess." Kristoff and Anna stepped back a little as I stood there, biting my lip in concentration and creating a block of ice, similar to the one Jack made.
Just as I was about to start forming it, I felt warmth behind me as Jack grabbed my arms from behind to guide them. Losing my concentration I let the block of ice break, shards crumbling to the ground as I stumbled away from him.
"What is it? I was trying to help you." Jack said, innocently tilting his head. Swallowing hard I shook my head.
"I've got work to do." And with that I had left the garden, making my way inside, trying hard not to think too much about it. He had been trying to help. This was not creepy at all. Convincing myself got harder and harder.
Another day he had one of his quiet phases, as we were sitting in the library, Anna showing Kristoff one of her Potions books while I read up on some complicated business case.
"So about this boyfriend..." I paused reading, not daring to look up at him.
"Yes?"
"Where is he? I mean, you've been at this castle for a few months now. Isn't it hard not to have him around? Does he know about you becoming a queen?" I didn't like this interrogation at all, especially with Anna and Kristoff in the same room. Still I was grateful for their presence, hoping he wouldn't try anything with them close by.
"I already told you there was a wizarding war going on. He's part of it."
"Aren't you worried? That he won't make it out alive?" I gripped the papers on my lap a little harder before forcing myself to look up at Jack calmly.
"No. He's going to be fine." Anna gave me a worried look, knowing all too well about my fears concerning Draco. Jack must've sensed the hostility Anna sent him, because he leaned back in defense, shrugging.
"Alright, alright. Just curious. It's good to know you have so much trust in him."
"I have. As soon as the war is over he will come and stay with me." That was a lie, but I didn't want to tell Jack the truth about the uncertainty of it all.
If he made it out alive, I didn't even know what we'd do. I didn't know if he would like to live here with me and become a king. We'd have to deactivate the shield somehow. And I wasn't sure if I could just go live with him and rule Arendelle from somewhere else. But none of us had planned that far ahead yet, as there were way more important things to take care of first... like staying alive.
Jack's eyes narrowed again as he stared at me, but he didn't say anything. I decided to ignore him best I could, concentrating on the papers on my lap.
Until then it had been easy to put everything of as exaggeration. I could keep telling myself he was just a father trying to help and be there just fine. As long as I ignored those stares. Until that one clear night a few days later.
"Hey, let's go to the stargazing room!" Anna told Kristoff after dinner. They had spent much time up there after the funeral, and even now, months after it she still went up there every now and then.
"Stargazing room?" Jack asked, playing with some spoon he stole from the table before it had been cleared.
"Uh yeah. Here in Arendelle we have an awesome view of the stars up there." Anna explained as she stood up and grabbed Kristoff's hand. "Do you wanna see it?"
Jack nodded enthusiastically and jumped to his feet from where he was lounging in an armchair. "You're coming too, right?" he looked at me.
"No. I'm busy." Anna let out a heavy sigh as she snatched the papers from my hands.
"You've been working the whole day. Come on, you haven't been there in ages!" She gave me a hard look and I immediately knew I'd lose the argument anyways.
"Fine. But only for a little while. I need to have these papers done by tomorrow morning." I gave in, letting myself be pulled to my feet and dragged towards the stargazing room.
By the way it looked up there, Anna's been here way more often than I've thought. There were several pillows and blankets strewn around, along with some candy stolen from the kitchen. Anna made us all lie down as she pulled a lever that opened the roof.
I couldn't help but smile in awe at the display. My sister had been right; it's been ages since I've been up here. The last time had been in the summer between my third and fourth year, when I was at Malfoy Manor(1). For a while we watched in silence, until Jack got bored and told us stories about some constellations. Some of them were funny and most of them were probably made up, but it was delighting to hear Anna's and Kristoff's laughter. Even I had to chuckle here and there, finding myself enjoying the peace of the moment. At least until the youngest ones' laughter quieted down, being replaced by soft breathing as they fell asleep.
"We should get them to bed... and I need to finish those papers." I said and sat up, only to find a hand on my shoulder.
"Come on, those papers can wait for another few minutes. There's another story I wanna tell you. Just relax for a while, hm?" I looked at him, not really feeling all too comfortable. I should kick myself for being so suspicious. Glancing at sleeping Anna again I sighed before nodding and laying down again.
Jack moved a little closer and pointed at some stars.
"Two of the brightest stars in the night sky are Altair and Vega. They were deeply in love, but their parents didn't approve, because Vega was immortal and Altair was not. So they were separated by the celestial river of the Milky Way."
I frowned, watching the two brightest stars left and right from the Milky Way.
"That sounds horrible." They were separated because she was immortal and he was not. I couldn't help but compare them to me and Draco. But I didn't know how extensive my immortality was. I was aging, so I would die eventually, wouldn't I?
"It does. But once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, Vega cries so hard that all the magpies in the world fly up and create a bridge with their wings so the two lovers can be together for a single night of passion."
"Wow..." It was a really romantic story. Tragic, but touching.
There was an unpleasant shiver when I felt breath tickle the side of my face and I almost didn't dare to turn my head. Those icy blue eyes were fixated on mine, half-lidded.
"Yeah... wow." Jack breathed and before I knew what I was doing I jumped up, pretending to dust off my dress.
"Well, it was a nice story, but I really got to get going now." Without glancing back I left the room. When I passed Kai I asked him to wake Anna and Kristoff and to close the roof. Nothing would get me to enter this room again as long as Jack was in there.
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From that moment on it was useless trying to find excuses. Jack seemed to have feelings for me. It was disgusting, as he really was my biological father, despite his young appearance. I could understand he was attracted to me when I really looked so much like my mother, but that didn't make it any less creepy. Or legal.
I really didn't know what to do. I should confront him, tell him clearly that this was creeping me out and he should stop it. He already showed more than once that he didn't care about ethics or morals on earth, and I had a feeling he wouldn't take a No lightly. Then again, he said he couldn't seriously harm anyone on earth, so I didn't really need to be afraid of him hurting me or using Anna as blackmail. Still, I couldn't know for sure if he was telling the truth about not being able to harm any human, so I decided to just wait and see for a while.
With a sigh I closed the door to my bathroom and leaned against it. The past days have been rough. Breakfast, business meetings, lunch, reading, spending time with Buckbeak, dinner; every single minute Jack was there. It was barely tolerable when we were on our own in the castle, but during meetings with Arendelle's business partners it was hell.
He was just so annoying when he was bored, and wouldn't let himself be thrown out of the conference room. And instead of being quiet when he was tolerated there, he gave smartass comments that left the partners uncomfortable. I was really wondering if he was trying to ruin me. But how did you get rid of a Spirit?
This walking headache may be my father, but I really wanted him to leave now. Aside from his annoying antics, there were still these creepy possessive looks he gave me every now and then, getting too close for comfort and his sick obsession with me.
I was looking forward for some alone time now, just wanting to relax in a hot bath for a while to sort out my thoughts and soothe the persistent headache. I looked into the mirror as I opened my braid before rubbing the crease between my eyebrows.
The worst part was that Jack wasn't my only problem. Not knowing what was going on with the rest of the world was horrible too. People were dying, and every day I was afraid to find a familiar name on the list. I wanted to know what was going on at Hogwarts, with Snape as headmaster and Death Eaters as professors. It must be torturous. And dangerous. Was Harry at school? Probably not, as Voldemort would have him dead by now. And what about Draco? He must have an awful time trying to stay strong the whole time, doing everything to please Voldemort as to keep himself and his family alive. At least he didn't have to worry about his girlfriend being in danger... or that's what I'd like to think.
Shaking my head to clear it I started to slip out of my dress.
"It's really astounding how much you look like your mother." I gasped and spun around when I heard Jack's voice. The man was leaning against the wall next to the door, a cheeky smirk on his face.
"Get out!" I shouted, hurriedly slipping my arms back into the sleeves of my dress. It was unbelievable.
"Hey, calm down, I've bathed you and changed your diapers."
"Maybe when I was a newborn baby, now I'm seventeen and can bathe myself just fine!" He gave an uncaring shrug, but turned around to leave.
"Don't hesitate to call if you need someone to wash your back." Ice hit the door and spread there just as it was pulled closed. Taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart from the shock I sat at the edge of the tub. This was getting out of hand. No, enough was enough. Didn't he know any boundaries?!
But what do I do? Telling him to leave wouldn't cut it. He wasn't following any rules and obviously he was going to take his little game up a notch, now that he knows I'm avoiding him at all costs.
A determined expression on my face, I braided my hair again before leaving the bathroom. I paused at seeing Jack sitting on my bed, throwing a snowball in the air and catching it repeatedly.
"Done already? Damn, that was fast. Or you changed your mind about me wa-"
"I want you to leave." I stated simply, crossing my arms and holding my head high. He sat up, a frown on his face.
"Why?" I couldn't believe this. Why?! Wasn't it obvious?
"Because I don't like your attitude towards me."
"What? I'm not doing anything! I'm just trying to be a father for you!"
"A father doesn't try to kiss his teenage daughter under the stars, or sneak into her bathroom!"
"Woah, I was not trying to kiss you. Are you insane? And I'm sorry about before, but I never had a daughter. I was just trying to help!"
He was standing now, gazing at me innocently. Was he being serious? He had to be lying. I was so confused. I shook my head; this was too much for me. No, I haven't been imagining things. The creepy feeling had been there the whole time.
"Look, I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable." He walked up to me and put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it lightly. "Why don't you go take your bath now and calm down, take a nap and sleep over everything and later we can talk, alright?"
I glared at his hand on my shoulder until he pulled away. "Fine. We'll talk tomorrow." He nodded with a smile before making his way out the door, hands up as if to tell me he meant no harm.
I waited until his footsteps were gone before I got changed in a more comfortable dress that ended at my knees and was more casual. It was one of those I've worn in school. Grabbing a hooded cloak and my magical bag from my wardrobe and storing my wand in my sleeve, I left my bedroom.
Carefully sneaking I made my way down the hall to Anna's room. She was sitting on her bed, flipping through a book for Charms. I knew she missed Hogwarts, but she also understood it was too dangerous and impossible to go back.
Kristoff was nowhere to be seen, but I heard him laughing outside with Jack as he whirled Sven in the air with a tiny snowstorm. He was occupied, good.
"Elsa! What's up?" Anna asked, a concerned look on her face when she saw my clothing. "Why are you dressed like that? Are you leaving?" I sat down on the bed next to her, sighing.
"I need to see Draco. I have to make sure he's okay..." My sister looked at me for a while before nodding.
"Alright... you're going to be careful, yes?" I smiled and nodded, pulling her into a hug.
"Listen, Jack can't know where I am. I'll try to be back as soon as possible, but it's going to be at least two days. If he asks, just tell him I needed some time to think and took a flight with Buckbeak to clear my head. That I am on some spontaneous business meeting at some kingdom you don't know." She nodded again, saluting.
"You can count on me, sister! And don't worry, we'll be fine!" I gave a relieved smile and sent her downstairs to make sure Jack wouldn't come find me anytime soon. When I was sure Jack was distracted enough by them I made my way outside through the front gates on the other side of the castle.
Despite the noise Anna and Kristoff were making I was being as quiet as possible until I stepped onto the rather crowded street. I pulled the cloak deep into my face as not to be recognized by anyone.
As I reached the forest twenty minutes later, Buckbeak was already coming towards me. I smiled as I pet his beak before climbing on his back, careful not to rip any feathers.
"We have to go to Malfoy Manor as fast as possible." I told him, not really knowing if he understood, but he had found Arendelle too, so it was likely he did. He gave a cawing sound before moving his wings and running away from the trees before he started to fly.
I clung to him, grateful he flew low for the start and away from the castle. It was unlikely Jack saw us. Only when Arendelle was far behind us I allowed myself to relax, trying to keep my excitement at bay. I couldn't wait to see Draco again...
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Okaaay, everyone creeped out by Jack yet? Good!
Again, I'm sorry for this incredibly short and dumb chapter. I don't like it one bit, and it was hard to write. But I needed it to show Jack's nature and well... here we are.
(1)This is one of the scenes that I thought of after I've written this particular summer in this story. It will appear in my Oneshot collection, so keep an eye out for it.
The next chapter we leave Arendelle with Elsa and have her visit Draco... we'll see how that goes for them!
See ya then!
Xoxo, B.
