"Why couldn't he send his own people to do this? I'm not a messenger. And I don't think I intend on signing up for any chores for him" Draco's complaining filled the air as they brushed their way through trees and bushes up a mountainside, with their wands lighted with a Lumos spell. "And why didn't they give us a portkey that'll take us directly to where these vampires live"
Elsa didn't bother to answer. At least he's showing that he's not really on Voldemort's side.
"And to think. Vampires. Couldn't he have asked us to invite some other creature" He went on complaining. "You, Maid of Silence, you ever make regular excursions climbing mountains?"
"No" She said, hoping that will make him quiet.
"That reminds me. I thought you made a transfer to the Baxton School"
While brushing through bushes, she tried to ignore that comment.
They stopped at a little fault, were a piece of land was fractured to slide about three feet below the other. Draco, now seeming adventurous, leapt down with ease. Elsa fixed her dress to carefully jump down, too. She noticed that he had his hand out, to "chivalrously" offer assistance.
Knowing it's just to irritate (given the expression on his face), she continued to carefully jump down by herself.
"You could've. They always have space for more homecoming queens"
"Don't you ever stay quiet?" She finally said irritably.
"That would've been easier than the OWLs. You left after you heard about the exams, didn't you?"
Elsa turned to face him. "I left after I heard that my parents died while on a business trip. I had to return home so to take care of my sister."
"They couldn't afford a babysitter?"
Frost began building up on the leaves around Elsa. "They were rulers of Arendelle, and there were servants. Anna needed me."
"That's not really an effective way of persuading someone" Draco carefully walked through the frosted bushes and hanging tree leaves. "And isn't it usually the case that a witch or wizard is loathed by muggle relatives?"
"Our parents did a good job in fostering the love between us." Memories began running through Elsa's mind again. "I used to use my powers to play with her" she said quietly.
"One thing is for certain, they did their best in raising a temperamental young lady" Draco's voice only grew a little politer.
"And she's right now trying her best to ignore the annoying chattering of a little Scottish Imp"
Draco raised his eyebrows.
They paused to gaze at a 10-mile mountainside wall a couple of meters ahead of them. "That must be where the Elite Vampires are"
"I don't see any tunnel up there"
"We'll be able to see one when we get closer" Elsa inspected the steepness of the cliff in the wall. "We can't just climb up there…. Ugh, why didn't I think of that!" She picked up a piece of stone from the floor. "Portus!" the rock glowed blue.
Draco just watched. "You learned spells?"
"Defense Against the Dark Arts was my weakest subject. I did pretty good in Charms classes"
"Serves you right" he muttered, but deliberately enough for her to hear.
"Unless you want to stay behind in this forest" Elsa indicated that the portkey will set off in a few seconds. Without waiting for Draco to listen, she grabbed him by the collar before the portkey set off.
They landed on the cliff side with ease.
"Did you drop out of finishing school as well?" Draco straightened his collar.
"There it is" They found an opening in the wall, resembling a tunnel. Elsa began carefully looking around the hole.
"This is a national park. But muggles didn't seal the area because, to them, the opening would appear to be a mere crack in the cliff side. That would make them more vulnerable to the vampires' attacks, in the event a muggle does go near this"
"Doesn't the world only need one Hermione Granger?"
Elsa was too busy taking out the envelope with Voldemort's letter out of her little bag she had slung around her shoulder to answer. She looked at the tunnel, then back at the envelope. "I don't think it'll be wise to just enter"
"I don't think so either" Draco's voice tinted fear.
Silence for a minute
"Why don't we just throw it in?" Draco finally suggested.
Elsa thought for a bit. She looked at the envelope in her hand, and then at the opening.
"You know what, let's"
She gently tossed the envelope into the opening, making sure it landed at least halfway inside.
"Let's get out of here now" Draco insisted.
They turned to re-activate the portkey.
Only to find a cloaked figure standing in front of them.
"We don't just let guests leave without showing them… hospitality"
"Only if hospitality does not include dinner, but we are in a rush anyway" Draco tried to sound brave, but he ushered Elsa to quickly reactivate the portkey.
But with a flick of the figure's grotesque hand the two were pushed back near the hole. Walking forward into the moonlight, it's pale face and red eyes confirmed that it was a vampire.
Another one walked out of the hole, with the envelope in his hands. "Looks like children couldn't find a better place to litter"
"No that's an invitation," Elsa quickly said. "to join the Dark Lord's army"
The vampires stopped in their tracks. "Lord Voldemort? He's returned?"
"Yes"
The vampires thought for a bit. "We can't just accept an invitation without confirming the integrity of the messengers" They walked closer to Elsa and Draco. "And wouldn't he send full grown and uniformed Deatheaters here, like before?"
The two began to breathe hard. Draco grabbed Elsa's wrist, as they turned back to back to face the vampires on both sides standing over them.
"This one is a brat"
But the one standing over Elsa had its eyes lit up. "But this one is a mudblood. And mudbloods don't belong in the Dark Forces"
"She's a special case" Draco quickly said, nudging Elsa to say something. Elsa quickly showed it how ice can grow in the palm of her hand.
"What, his men has been suffering too many concussions lately?" Both vampires laughed.
"Let us see your marks." The vampires seized their arms.
Both Draco's and Elsa's hearts dropped. Their left arms were bare.
Hunger gleamed in the vampires' eyes. "So how can we trust them?" one said to the other.
That snake didn't think this would happen?! Or did he want us both dead? "You can see that it's Lord Voldemort's own handwriting on the letter."
The vampire near Elsa looked at the envelope in his hands. "Even if it's the case that the Dark Lord is calling us, we would like to get back something for sacrificing some of our close ones for him last time"
Elsa stared at it. "Why don't you just say 'no' then?"
"We're vampires. Not humans"
Before the vampire could lunge forward and bite Elsa's neck, Draco had quickly shot a spell to make the one in front of him fall, and pulled Elsa to run. She shot an icy gust at the one in front of her. It wouldn't freeze its heart since it's a vampire, but it'll at least knock him out for a while.
More vampires began coming out of the tunnel as they ran to the cliff edge. But before they turned into bats and charged after them, Elsa, with a sharp movement of her wand, created a thick blizzard to cover and distract them.
"It won't last for long." She began fishing for the rock they used as portkey. She just got it in her hand when she was pushed over the cliff!
A vampire had managed through the storm and attempted to push her so to catch her as a bat, which is now flying around the cliff.
Luckily Draco caught her. But the rock fell over the cliff. Draco shot an Incendio spell at the bat, causing its wing to catch fire and it to fall.
"Thanks" Elsa said, catching her breath. Her hair bun had opened because of the hard fall and vampire's push. A braid fell out and was slung over her shoulder, when she was jerked back onto her feet.
Draco paused, "You should keep your hair that way" Elsa gave him an irritated smile, given the current situation.
She looked down the cliff. "Wait". She made a little stomp at the edge of the cliff, and passed her hand over to form a long slide running down the cliff into the forest below.
"You're not thinking of…?" Draco asked in panic, as he saw few more vampires almost get out of the storm behind them.
"Go!" She pushed Draco, making him slide down. She immediately followed, while vanishing the slide behind her as she went.
"You could've made the path more smoother" Draco got to his feet, after going through a minute of having branches hit his face.
Elsa looked up to see if any vampire was following. "Well we did our best. He shouldn't have a problem that we…"
Draco gave out a cry of pain.
Elsa quickly turned, to see that the vampire Draco burnt the wing of, now with a burnt and blistered arm, dig its sharp fingers into Draco's arm. Draco's attempts to attack it with spells were foiled with panic.
Elsa quickly tried to push the beast with her ice magic. Nothing happened. Finally she was forced to shoot solidified ice shards and icicles. The vampire began screaming in pain and fell over. Elsa quickly ushered Draco to run from the spot.
"You ok? Ouch, that looks bad" Draco didn't reply. He kept staring at his arm.
They found an area where trees and bushes perfectly covered a bare patch of ground. They sat down, and Elsa began to apply pressure on his bleeding arm.
"This is the same arm as before"
Draco looked at her, "Third year still fresh in your mind?"
"Only this is the perfect time for a giant bandage"
Surprisingly Draco didn't groan or grunt again. He gave a small laugh.
Elsa paused. The blood seemed to have stopped flowing. For a minute she thought, then used her wand to cast a Diffendo at the bottom half of her left sleeve.
"What! What are you…?"
"Trying to get something to cover the wound" She opened the cut lace-sleeve to make it wider, then began folding it to form a thicker piece of cloth.
"Then you don't mind ruining that dress?"
"I can always get another. Besides, I don't really fancy black"
Draco raised his eyebrows. Then he began wincing when Elsa began tying the "bandage" tightly around his arm.
"It's not that bad, I need it tight to avoid further blood flow" Elsa said softly.
"Of course, Miss Snowy Nurse" Draco continued to try to fight the pain.
When she finished, Elsa took a look at the bandaged wound. The lace cloth doesn't cover the wound well.
She picked up her wand again and shot a Diffendo at the lower half of Draco's jacket sleeve on his good arm.
Shocked, Draco was unable to say anything as she cut and folded the cloth to make another layer of bandage.
"You…! Do you know how much that is…?"
"Desperate situations call for desperate measures" Elsa tied the cloth as tight as the first. "I suggest that you take a cheaper one the next time you walk into the wilderness or climb mountains"
After she was done, she quietly said to 'herself' "So much for a princess who can't take exams"
He just smiled, somewhat mockingly.
She asked Draco if he can move his arm. He did, while wincing.
"Doesn't look that bad" Elsa said. "But it's enough for using a portkey to be too dangerous. I'll try to see if I can find a safe route out" She attempted to get up, but Draco grabbed her by the arm.
"This maybe a bad time, given where we are and what time it is" He didn't look scared, for himself even. He looked more like Are you mad?
Elsa looked at him, while sitting down again. Isn't he the Draco who didn't even let anyone touch his arm after that Hippogriff scratched him?
The night air was cool. Everything was dark except for the moonlight that managed to pass itself through the tree canopies. Draco carefully rested his arm while sitting cross-legged on the floor, while Elsa sat hugging her knees. Only the sounds of leaves rustling can be heard.
"How do we send a distress signal without giving our position away?" Elsa asked.
Draco shrugged although he was too preoccupied in deep thought. Elsa went on hugging her knees.
"To think we're dragged into this just because Father's maintaining his ties with Voldemort. Mother's not really pleased with this little commitment either. They had to join the first time because they thought he only stood for utter disregard against muggles and muggle-born. But when they found out his other agendas, it was too late. I suppose everyone will be too preoccupied to mourn for us"
"We'll be fine," Elsa said firmly but calmly. "We just need to find a way out of this, ourselves."
"I guess it was all just the pressure. Winning father's approval, upholding our Slytherin identity…" Draco continued talking to himself.
Elsa watched him. I think he really needs some empathy.
"My early life in Arendelle wasn't really rosy either" she quietly said, still hugging her knees. "One time I accidently hit my sister's head with ice while playing with her. My parents panicked, and had her healed by a Stone Troll. But when the troll warned them about fear being my enemy and my powers getting out of control, they kind of interpreting it to having to lock me away from Anna and everyone else, and giving me the solitude to practice controlling my powers."
Elsa put her chin on her knees. "But it didn't help. Instead… it made me more scared. It made me… feel like a prisoner, just because I'm a unikinetic. It wasn't until Professor Dumbledore came, that I was somewhat freed from isolation. Yes, Hogwarts let me feel more comfortable around people…" She looked into the distance, "but I didn't really get to use my powers to my full potential. I still had to restrain myself, because of constant warnings about people like Voldemort lurking around"
She turned to Draco. "You'd probably know where it went off from there"
"I'm right now wondering why you keep Stone Trolls in your castle"
She quietly laughed. "They were in the forests surrounding Arendelle"
Draco smiled his smug smile again, "So we're both on the same page?"
"Maybe…"
"After you both have your blood sucked out" sharp hands grabbed both by the neck. They both let out deep gasps.
They were forced to stand up.
Vampires began transforming from their bat forms and surrounding the two.
"Anything you want to do before we feast?"
Draco, motioning Elsa to not move, slowly took out his wand. The vampires stood ready in case he attempted to attack. But instead…
"Pericula!"
A red beam of light shot into the air from Draco's wand.
"Not sure what that means" The vampires laughed. "Should we take them up?"
"How about we have them here?"
"We are the Elite Vampires. We don't just dine in the wild"
"Then maybe we should…"
Fire and spells bombed the clearing. The vampires scattered, some transforming back into bats and fleeing, some attempting to see the attackers. The one holding Draco and Elsa let them go.
They ran.
Until they felt themselves grabbed again, lifted into the air, and taken at a tremendous speed.
"You could have alerted us earlier, you know"
Elsa breathed in relief. It was just their rescue party.
Mrs. Malfoy was standing at the door of the Manor when the Deatheaters arrived with the children.
She grabbed her son in an embrace, despite his injured arm. Still embracing Draco, she pulled Elsa into an embrace as well.
When she let go, she gaped in shock at the state of the two. From their clothes to scratches and Draco's arm. She wanted to check how bad it was, but Draco pulled his arm away, afraid she'd touch it too hard.
"Come inside. We'll make some Wiginweld potion for you two." She lovingly said, leading them inside.
"It's only been a month and you're already treating the mudblood like your own, Narcissa" one of the Deatheaters said. She ignored the comment while Draco glared.
"The Dark Lord is not here, but he was informed about what happened" Bellatrix said as the two sat down and slowly sipped the potion. "He said that he will send a strike team to punish them for their ill behavior."
She left the room, leaving Mrs. Malfoy to make sure they are recovering. She'd have to wait until the best time to tell Elsa that, due to a potential upcoming thorough inspection of the Manor by the Ministry, she has a free week to stay at Arendelle.
Elsa, while sipping her potion, thought to herself, He's not as bad as he originally portrayed himself to be.
Draco kept taking shy glances.
That night, Anna, knowing that Elsa was not in her bedroom, decided to take a peek. Maybe I can find something that'll tell me more about what my sister is doing.
She carefully opened the door, making sure no one was in the bedroom or watching her going in. The hallway and bedroom were empty. So she went ahead.
Inside she found Elsa's bed to be the same one she had when they once shared a room. A normal picture of their parents was hanging on the wall, and the dresser top and drawers didn't contain anything suspicious.
Nothing in here, guess.
She turned to leave.
Suddenly, something caught her attention.
There appeared to be something under the bed.
Anna went and looked under the bed. It looked like a couple of rectangular and thick items were stashed under there.
Heart racing, Anna pulled them out. She found them to be old books. Older than the ones she remembered Elsa bring back each term from Hogwarts.
She read each cover: A Murder's Guide to Spells; Creatures Lurking in the Dark; What Lies Beyond the Law of Magic; Poisons and Potions…
Anna wished her eyes were betraying her. What's my sister doing with evil books?
Elsa paced her new bedroom, back in Arendelle. As per her request, the servants had just shifted her bedroom to her parent's, to accommodate her going back and forth from the Manor. The fireplace in the room was nice. Still, to Elsa it won't bring her parents back.
Her mind was filled with many unpleasant thoughts, shifting from one to another. Becoming queen. Being in custody under a very horrible and mad wizard who's forcing her to learn how to apply her powers for dark purposes. And, worst, Anna. Anna is already very disappointed that things did not turn back to normal, as promised before Elsa went to Hogwarts. And now, with their parents gone, this separation is crippling her more. Plus, constants thoughts of Anna's future (marriage, etc) are poking at Elsa.
Elsa had hoped that this free week would mean getting back to normal activities with Anna, for the time being. But Anna seemed to acting strange lately. She's been found mostly on her own, as if trying to avoid Elsa. She seems to be….suspicious. Hopefully that's not the case. The last thing Elsa needs is Anna uncovering and getting fully dragged into this mess-up with Voldemort.
She walked over to her bed, sat on it, and buried her face in her hands. The fire continued to crackle. How will I recourse Anna's life, with this nightmare of being exploited by Voldermort, of all people?
"So, this is what you do in your spare time?"
Elsa's head shot up, with a Oh no it can't be thought.
Draco was standing in the fireplace, brushing off his coat. Then he paused to examine the icicles from the ceiling that are now being thawed.
"What exactly are you doing here?" Elsa stood up. How does he know how to get here?
Draco stepped out. "My aunt is borrowing the main hall to interrogate some Ministry workers, despite warnings of a currently underway investigation. So, you can understand what that will be like even though you are 3 stories above"
"Don't you have some other place to go?" she asked, after an irritated sigh.
"None that is up to my standards" He began inspecting the room. "This is what servants have to offer?"
"This is Norway" Elsa said, clearly knowing that Draco isn't really familiar with the simple yet elegant Norwegian furniture, as opposed to the highly detailed and polished Victorian designs.
He nodded to himself. Then, as Elsa hoped to not happen, he began to make his way to the door.
"Don't!" Elsa almost came in between the door and Draco.
Draco looked puzzled. "What, you have interrogations of your own being carried out?"
"No… it's just…you can't just walk the halls in front of everyone…" she said while trying to stay firm so to discourage Draco from trying to push by.
Draco looked as if taken aback, "What, do I look funny?"
Elsa quietly groaned, "Maybe, but the servants and Anna will be alarmed by a stranger who didn't enter through the front gates"
"You can always introduce me to them"
"Do you have to be stubborn?" Tiny icicles began to re-grow on the ceiling. But that didn't bother Draco, this time.
Just then, a knock made Elsa quickly shifted her head to the door.
"Your majesty…"
"Yes, Percy" Percy was the family butler.
She heard Draco close over her shoulder, talking quietly through his teeth "What is with 'Percy's and being intrusive"
"The chief guard is waiting for you. He has a question to ask"
"Tell him I'll be coming soon" Her head turned back to Draco
"You have to leave, now" she quietly demanded
Draco stared hard on her face. "But I allowed you to walk freely in my Manor"
"The situation is different here! Please leave!" Elsa tried her best to stay whispering
"Demands are not always to be followed. I do not exactly need your permission" He said coolly.
Clearly Draco is enjoying agitating her.
"What were you saying, your majesty?"
Elsa turned back to the door. "Nothing"
"Are you talking to someone, ma'am?"
"No…"
Elsa froze.
She felt a warm, long kiss on her cheek.
She slowly turned her face to Draco.
"As I was saying, one thing we both know as a fact of dignity is fairness" he softly yet cockily said. "It's not like big houses matter, anyway"
Half a minute later, he moved back and entered the fireplace. A few seconds later it burst in green flames, and he was gone. Elsa stayed standing there, blank. Her hand slowly reached up to softly touch the cheek he kissed.
"Ma'am? Is everything alright?"
The icicles had already melted away.
"yes… Yes. Everything is… ok"
"Elsa, can I talk to you please?" Anna asked Elsa after she returned from talking with the chief guard.
"Ok" Elsa said, hoping this wasn't going to be bad. She moved as if they were to head into a more private room than the Main Hall.
"No, we'll talk here"
"Anna, what's wrong?" Elsa said softly.
"Oh I don't know. Maybe my own sister seems to be lying to me about what's going on here" Anna said, clearly not making an effort to not be so obvious.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that, you may be saying that you are under legal pressure of learning more magic, but in reality, you may be doing something else"
"Anna, what are you talking about?"
"Elsa, please. People have been saying that you may be finding better company with people like you. And I happened to find books about evil magic in your bedroom…"
"You've been to my…"
"…please tell me, Elsa, what is going on? What are you really doing?"
Anna only grew louder and louder after every sentence, making a scene in front of the other members of the kingdom and not giving Elsa any chance to reply. They began talking among themselves.
Elsa felt an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach. Her sister is yelling at her in front of everyone, and what she saying can spark unpleasant suspicions in everyone; that she may be plotting against Arendelle.
"Anna…this is not a good time"
"No, why aren't you telling me?"
"Later, Anna"
"No! Why?"
"Enough, Anna" Elsa tried to be firm while walking away.
"What is it that you are hiding? What are you SO AFRAID OF?"
"I said ENOUGH"
To everyone's horror, ice grew in a half-circle in front of Elsa, because of her angry hand movement.
Elsa stared at her sister. Tears sprung in her eyes. She quickly ran out of the room, to her bedroom to lock herself in and cry.
Anna stood, breathing hard, thinking whether what she's just done was the right thing.
The temperature in the castle began to drop, slowly.
After staying in her room throughout the week, Elsa had to return to her trips to the Manor. And to make manners worst, Voldemort had learned about what happened. How, she doesn't know.
"That sister of yours seems to be ungrateful, isn't she?" Voldemort coolly hissed. "She should have taken advantage of that limited time with you"
Elsa didn't say anything. She stayed looking at her feet
"She must learn to behave herself around her older sister" Voldemort walked a little to the side. "You not speaking to her whenever you return home during this week should teach her"
Elsa suddenly looked up, "But that won't really convey the message. Instead it'll only…" Elsa protested, only to find Voldemort glaring at her.
"Lacking self-esteem is a weakness" Voldemort said. "You shouldn't let muggles take advantage of your filling in their inability to protect themselves" He said that while having his wand under her face, to cast his murderous look at her so to make her feel the gravity of the situation.
"Considering our last discussion did not really end well, I'm really concerned about Anna" Elsa tried to read another book on very complicated combat spells, of dark nature. "Especially since I'm not allowed to see her again for a week"
"She must be the "dream sister", since you're very desperate to be with her the minute you leave" Draco noted as he sat on the couch facing Elsa. "despite your recent episode with her"
"She's my sister and that's what matters", Elsa paused reading. She went deep into thought, recapping whatever memory she had having fun with Anna. "She's fun, energetic, loving… she's also a bit immature", she subconsciously spoke to herself, "Now that our parents are gone… she needs me even more"
"I'm pretty sure she knows how to feed herself"
Elsa closed the book. She found it very hard to concentrate on its content, whether or not Draco was talking.
"I mean that she still has a lot to learn about making judgments and decisions"
"And Your Highness already has the wisdom and smarts to pass on to the younger generation?" Draco rose.
Elsa scoffed at herself "I don't exactly have the smarts to get back to Arendelle without any trouble"
"Well, you're not the only one with problems"
Elsa looked at Draco.
"My parents are having a little dinner party with a few acquaintances, obviously those loyal to the Dark Forces" From Draco's tone, it was evident that he did not find it very exciting.
"Children are not allowed, then?" Elsa "innocently" asked
"If you mean Crabbe and Goyle, then no, they will be coming to"
"Oh, I thought they are your friends"
Draco scoffed, "It's hard to tell if even they are of the human variety"
Elsa tried to suppress a giggle.
"There won't be a dance, right?"
"Usually there'd be, but, fearing it might irritate the Dark Lord, Father avoided such social gatherings at home in his presence" He shot a I wonder why do you ask? glance at her.
"Oh I don't dance" she said.
He walked up to and stood over her, with the same charmingly-cocky expression on his face.
"Prove it"
Just then (luckily for Elsa), Bellatrix called for her.
"You've got ten more minutes to read, your Majesty" she said in a mocking tone, "before your next session"
Elsa took the opportunity to try to quickly get up from the draped sofa armchair, only to have Draco grab her arm.
"You didn't answer, yet" he gave the same smug I've got the upper hand look.
After a few seconds of comprehending what to do, Elsa returned the look.
"Don't you think we'll get into trouble?" shyness hinted a little in her voice.
"I'm pretty sure he's got other things to worry about"
Draco only managed to catch a glimpse of her raising her right hand, which was closed.
Suddenly, she opened it and blew snow into his face.
As he jolted back to reality and brushed the cold snow off his face, she laughed and playfully ran away.
Anna stood at the door to Elsa's bedroom, for the fifth time that day.
Hesitantly, she knocked on the door.
"Elsa, I'm sorry about that argument we had… I shouldn't have been so rough and loud… in front of everyone…"
No answer.
"Elsa… please… there's no one else… just the two of us," Anna tried to stop the crying in her voice, "please don't stay mad at me… I need you"
Still no answer.
Maybe she's happier with people like her. Anna wiped her tears and walked away.
I'm still so worried about Anna, Elsa thought. She paced the foyer of the Manor while the Malfoys (and Bellatrix) were busy with the guests in the living room and banquet hall. Taking part in a formal party connected with the Dark Forces is not a part of Elsa's agenda.
I could persuade someone to transport letters through floo powder to Anna for me. They shouldn't harm her, since I'm trying my best to "cooperate".
Uh, I don't think they're that nice. I can't wait for a week. Anna may be constantly knocking at my bedroom door. Our feelings for each other are already strained, and now this "curfew" will make it even worse. She's already demanding me to explain what I'm really doing.
Just when Mom and Dad are no longer here…
Sounds of someone quickly but carefully coming interrupted her chain of thoughts. She found Draco entering the foyer from the banquet hall, as if he's trying to avoid someone.
"Who are you trying to hide from?"
"Not hiding," Draco straightened his dress coat. "Crabbe and Goyle are not the people you want to spend time with, given they don't even know their left from right"
"So you only use them as personal bodyguards, at school during your little excursions?"
Draco began eying her dress. It was a long, blue dress with a black lace layer on the skirt. Glittering on the lace were several dark blue beads. Blue ribbon borders the neckline and sleeves.
Finally something more presentable, and more her, Draco thought
Elsa took a glance at her dress.
"Oh, that" she blushed a bit. "I thought I should add a little touch to these dark dresses" her tone hinted she really thought they were otherwise undesirable.
He didn't say anything, though. He carried on eyeing her dress - also looking like he's thinking on what to say.
"For one thing," he took a step forward. "you don't seem to understand complementation"
That comment got her to pause her blushing. No sooner did she give him a skeptic, 'excuse me' look.
Draco finally shook his head. "Not to be rude, but even Mother looks older when she does her hair that way" That critic voice of his, actually, seems to have a bit of thoughtfulness in it. Maybe.
Elsa raised her eyebrows and touched her hair. "My hair just went messy that night because we were being chased." She sounded a little flattered.
Draco looked back at Elsa. Then at her hair again. His face was neutral. Although there was some contemplation.
Then…to her surprise…he began unpinning her hair bun. Soon, a braid fell out once again.
Elsa was left to only stand in surprise, as he moved her braid to be perfected over her shoulder. Some strands of hair also fell over her forehead and face. Draco easily brushed them aside. She couldn't help but blush.
After he was done, Draco looked at Elsa for a bit. Then…a small smile, albeit charming and cocky, grew on his face.
"There. You need to work more on your presentation, Your Majesty"
She looked up at him. Slowly, she smiled.
Just then, heavy footsteps made Draco almost jump. "We can talk more outside" he quickly ushered Elsa to the main door.
Right when the huge door closed, Crabbe (with a too-tight bow tie) and Goyle (looking not really well kept in his suit) emerged into the foyer.
"I thought I heard Malfoy here" Crabbe looked around.
"The door just closed, maybe he went out" Goyle said.
"Why would he go out? It's so dark out" Crabbe followed Goyle to the front door.
The sky was lit with thousands of stars. The air was cool, unlike a normal August night. The pathway to the Manor, starting at the giant iron gate, was lit from mini lights magically embedded into the hedges that line and fence the walkway.
Crabbe and Goyle closed the entry-door behind them, surprisingly without banging it shut.
"Wonder where Malfoy went" Crabbe whispered.
"I'm wondering why is he hiding from us. It's not usual that…"
"Shhh…look"
More than halfway down the mile-long walkway, stood Draco, with Elsa.
"Who's that he's with?"
They managed to catch snippets of anything they were saying.
Meanwhile, Draco stood wondering what is he doing here - in the first place. Later he resorted to glancing at Elsa.
"What?" he asked, at the sight of her gazing at the sky.
"Nothing" she half heartedly said. "It's just…" no sooner did she resume her gaze, "It's so lovely."
"You're like you've hardly ever seen the sky in your life" he asked, with curiosity.
She scoffed. "That's pretty much the case. Until Hogwarts, I'd hardly see the sky. You can sometimes catch the Northern Lights back at home" The last was said quietly.
"Isn't she that white-blonde haired mudblood?" Goyle whispered.
Crabbe shook his head, as if in disbelief of what he's seeing. "Can't be… but then why would he…" He lost his voice, after seeing what came next.
Draco had nodded, preoccupied in his own thoughts. That got paused, however, when he saw her now watching him.
"What?" he asked again, raising his eyebrows this time.
"Nothing" was the same answer. However, after some consideration she straightened her posture even more.
"So… you changed your mind?" she asked. Softly but with dare.
Draco scoffed. "Oh please" he muttered under his breath. He looked back at her face. She was raising an eyebrow.
That kind of faded, when she received another smile – another charming one. Only later did she manage to return with a shy one.
Crabbe fell over onto Goyle, leaving Goyle to watch them smiling.
Then for a moment Goyle tried to comprehend why it was gracefully snowing onto them only and not anywhere else in the grounds.
A minute later, she was brushing the snow off his head.
Anna now was having her turn pacing her own bedroom. Due to the strange drop in temperatures during August, she had to have a thick cloak over her shoulders.
Rather than fixing things I made them worse. Now Elsa is not even speaking to me. Now how will this end?
She paused to think.
Wait… If Elsa is really tangled up with something evil then she wouldn't be willfully. She may even be forced to not speak to me. Ugh, what if it's more the case that she found better company with 'her own kind'?
Anna went back to pacing.
And I didn't really do a good job to prove her otherwise. I have to be able to talk to her, properly. If she is in trouble I can help her get out of it. If she is telling the truth and just having tutors then I can just apologize to her. Then I can just be patient and encourage her to do good until the three years pass.
She may also be able to fix this strange weather. Now slowly it's snowing outside.
What's the best way to talk to her without any distractions and when she actually can find the time? She said that she practices in the mountains…
The guests were just getting ready to leave. While their parents were still talking with Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle finally caught Draco.
"Where have you been?" Crabbe tried to sound casual.
"Outside. As if it's of importance to you" Draco said irritably to his cronies.
"You were…talking to someone, Draco. Who was she?" Goyle's hard face asked curiously.
"Someone I like. You've got a problem?" Draco tried to brush the thugs off him.
"She's not that white-haired mudblood from school, is she?"
"Don't call her a mudblood!" Draco said maliciously.
Goyle looked at him, both surprised and concerned "You're not going loopy, are you?" he asked.
Knowing they had to leave, the two made to quickly end the discussion.
"You're a Slytherin, Draco. You shouldn't get yourself into this" Goyle said as they walked away.
Can't I choose what to do for myself? Draco thought.
Meanwhile, Anna was riding her horse through the forests towards the mountain. This doesn't seem so bad.
Except for the fact that snow falling off a tree scared her horse into throwing its owner off and running back to the castle.
"No! NO! Wait…!" Anna called after her horse, in vain. "Ooookay" she shivered.
She got herself out of a pile of snow. But having been under a pile of snow she needs to dry off and warm up. So for the next two hours she walked, searching for some sort of shelter.
I also can't climb the mountain myself. I need someone to help me. I couldn't find anyone who knew the mountains back at the castle.
She kept herself busy by talking to herself. "Snow. It had to be snow! She couldn't have gone tropical? Covered the fjords in white sand and warm…?" She later spotted a shack, with smoke coming from the chimney. "Fire! (Laughs)"
But it wouldn't have been too bad for Anna, if she hadn't slipped down the hill she was on, into a small creek with ice-cold water.
"Cold! Cold! Cold! Cold! Cold!" She said, walking all the way to shack, trying to hurry up before catching hypothermia.
Before entering, she brushed snow off and read the hanging sign.
"'Wandering…Oaken's…Trading Post'…oh and 'Sauna'!"
She let herself in. I terribly need to change my shawl and dress! Since they're of royal type I may just trade it with a simpler yet cozier one.
A jolly salesperson with a German-accent sat on the other side of the sales desk.
"Big summer blowout! I've got swimsuits, clogs, and a sun balm of my own invention! Ya?"
"Oh, uh, great! But for now, I need a new shawl, and dress. Winter dress" Anna said.
"That will be in our Winter Department" He indicated to a half-bare bench.
"Oh, um…" Anna went to pick out a folded shawl and dress. "Have you ever seen another young woman…Oh I don't know…a princess, perhaps, walk by through here earlier today? Or even almost regularly every other day?"
"The only one crazy enough to go through this weather is you, dear" the salesperson said politely.
Just then, a tall, thick, snow covered (despite the scarf covering half his face) man walked in.
"You and this fellow" The salesperson turned his attention to the man. "Big summer blowout"
The man didn't reply. Instead, he went to pick out some rope, a pickaxe, and a bunch of carrots.
As the man went to placing the items he wanted to buy onto the counter, Anna waited for her turn. "That will be forty" the salesperson said to the man.
"Forty! No, ten." The man's voice indicated that he was young, maybe a teenager.
"Oh dear, that's no good!" The salesperson said. "See, this is from our winter stock," he pointed to the rope and pickaxe. "where the supply and demand has problems…"
"You want to talk about a demand-and-supply problem? I sell ice for a living" the man indicated out the window, to a sleigh-carrier holding ice
"Wow, that's a rough business to be in!" Anna suddenly said. Only to receive a glare from the man. "I mean, ahem, that's unfortunate" she said sympathetically.
"Ten's all I got. Help me out." He said to the salesperson.
"Fine, I will get you this and no more" the salesperson pointed to the carrots.
"Um, excuse me, but you said that you sell ice. Does that mean you take regular trips…up the mountains?" Anna finally asked.
Out of irritation the man removed his scarf. He looked like he was around 15 to 16 years old. Like Elsa.
"Yes! Now back up. While I deal with this crook here" He said to Anna.
The salesperson stood up, showing that he is much taller that what one would have thought he'd be. "What did you…call me?"
In another minute, the salesperson threw the man out (literally threw). "Bye, bye!"
"I'm sorry for this violence. But I'll throw in a can of Lutefisk so we can have good feelings. Still the shawl and the winter dress, ya?"
"Uuuh…" Anna looked sympathetically at the man outside, who's by now heading into another nearby shack with his reindeer.
In another five minutes, Anna, who was able to trade her existing shawl and dress with the new ones and the items the man wanted, walked up to the shack were the man was now singing 'with' his reindeer. When he finished, she walked in.
"Nice duet"
"Oh! It's you. What do you want?"
"I want you to take me up the North Mountain" Elsa most likely would be using the tallest mountain in the fjords.
The man didn't really seem interested in helping Anna. "I don't take people places." He went to getting to sleep.
"Let me rephrase that…" she tossed the bag with the pickaxe and rope onto him. "take me up the North Mountain…please"
The man inspected the bag's contents.
"Look. I know how to stop this winter"
The man still went to getting to sleep. "We leave at dawn. And you forgot the carrots for Sven" Sven was most likely the name of the Reindeer.
So she tossed the bag of carrots…accidently in his face.
"Oh, sorry, sorry! I didn't mean…ahem…we leave now. Right now" Anna exited the shack, then stood listening for if the man will indeed help her.
Elsa had just returned home that night. She didn't have dinner at the Manor. She wanted to stay having dinner at home. There, at least she's allowed to look at Anna.
But when dinner was served, she noticed that, not only was everyone wearing thick shawls, but Anna's seat was vacant.
"Where's Anna?"
One of the servants answered. "She…went out."
"Out? Where? At this time?"
"She didn't say, she only said something about going to the mountains."
Elsa froze in disbelief. She went to the mountains?! Into the wilderness? She might get herself killed!
"Are you ok, Ma'am?"
"Sorry, excuse me."
Elsa left the banquet hall. She now doesn't feel like eating.
Why? Oh great, because I told her that I do my tutorials there! Now what should I do? I'm not even allowed to speak to her.
In another ten minutes, they were all on their way through the forests, on the man's sleigh. Only out of good manners did he introduce himself as Kristoff.
"Sit tight. We may be going fast"
"I like fast" Anna said, resting her feet onto the front of the sleigh.
"Easy there. It's fresh Lacquer" Kristoff pushed her feet off. "Seriously, were you raised in a barn?" he spat to regain the sleigh's polish. Some of it went into Anna's face.
"No, I was raised in a castle" Anna replied, wiping her face.
"So, what exactly made the princess go all ice crazy" Kristoff finally tried to start a friendly conversation.
"Oh, it was my fault. I pushed her too much. You, see, I yelled at her…in front of everyone. She went to this magical school, only she had to stop because our parents died. But then she suddenly kept disappearing from the castle. I mean, not that we'd not know about it. But we don't really know where she goes. Anyway she says that she is taking tutorials in the mountains because it's by 'magic' law she has to know everything. But I found some evil-looking books in her bedroom..."
"You went into her bedroom without asking?"
"I wanted to make sure she wasn't lying"
"And you said that she went to a magic school?"
"Yes"
Kristoff began thinking, as if trying to remember something. But he quickly went back to asking Anna. "You really yelled at her in front of everyone?"
"I couldn't help it! She wasn't spending any time with me nor preparing to be queen"
"What made you think she's practicing evil magic? What if she's just learning how to defend against dark magic?"
Anna paused. That could be the case, she thought. Great! I just made a scene based on an assumption!
"Didn't your parents tell you how to talk to your older sister?"
Anna now was wondering why this total stranger was attempting to lecture her. "Yes…they did. But Elsa didn't need to hide from everyone!"
"Oh yeah, she's not supposed to use magic in front of non-magical people"
"But…wait…how do you know about the Code of Conduct of witches and wizards?" Anna now became skeptic.
"I…uh…" Kristoff seemed that he wanted to answer, but would be embarrassed if he did. "…I have friends who know magic."
"And they just freely talked to you about it?"
Now Kristoff wasn't paying attention. He made Sven stop running.
"Shh, be quiet" He put a gloved hand on Anna's mouth. She pushed it away and attempted to continue their argument. "No seriously! Be quiet!"
"What is it?"
Growls and red-glowing eyes peered through the forest.
"Sven…GO!"
"What are they?" Anna asked while bracing herself.
"Wolves"
"Wolves!?"
Sven sped as fast as he could, but still some were able to catch up to the sleigh. Kristoff prepared to fend them off with a club.
"Let me help!" Anna attempted to sit up too.
"No stay put"
"Why?"
"Because you may yell too much"
"Excuse me?"
"Well that's how you asked your sister about something in front of everyone"
"I…was…UPSET!" she grabbed his guitar to smack some wolves.
But some wolves ended up pulling Kristoff off the sleigh. Luckily he held onto the carrier cord at the back. Still with wolves attempting to bite him at the back.
"Christopher!"
"It's 'Kristoff'!"
Anna suddenly lit a rolled blanket with the torch connected on the sleigh, and then threw it onto the wolves on Kristoff. When they let go, she pulled him up "You could've got me burned!"
"I saved you, didn't I?"
"Oh that's not good" Kristoff looked ahead to see that they were running into a trench!
"Jump Sven!" Anna said.
"You don't tell him what to do!" He put his bag of belongings in Anna's arms and tossed her onto Sven. "Jump Sven!" Kristoff said, severing the rope connecting Sven to the sleigh.
Sven made it to the other side, while Kristoff barely did. The sleigh tumbled down the trench while he hung onto the edge. The wolves, not being able to jump across, snarled and left.
The sleigh caught fire and exploded.
"But I just paid it off" Kristoff said with a sadly-frustrated sigh.
Before he slipped down, Anna tossed the pickaxe tied to a rope for him to climb on. "Grab on!"
After climbing back up, Kristoff laid in frustration in the snow.
"I'm sorry about your sleigh," Anna said. "I'll replace it…and everything in it…and…I understand if you don't want to help me anymore" she sadly and slowly walked away.
Sven gently pushed Kristoff to get up. "Of course I don't want to help her!" He said to Sven. "In fact, this whole mess wouldn't have happened if I never helped anyone." Then he 'engaged' a back and forth conversation with Sven (including providing Sven a voice)
"She'll die on her own"
"I can live with that"
"But you won't get your new sleigh if she's dead"
"Sometimes I really hate you" Sven thumped his hooves in satisfaction. "Hold up! We're coming!" Kristoff reluctantly called after Anna.
"You are! I mean…sure. I'll let you tag along"
Kristoff laughed a little, and then got up to follow her with Sven.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the trench, the wolves turned back into stone.
Elsa paced the hallways, wondering what to do.
I know! I can just quickly meet her in the forests or mountains. She may most likely be getting help. But I still can't just leave her alone.
Without letting any of the servants know, she quietly climbed out of a large window, using a slide made of snow, to a point where the castle meets close to the border of the forest. Then with her wand, she quietly closed the windows and made the slide vanish.
She began walking briskly through the forest. It wasn't very thick, but the lack of moonlight made the trees silhouette and shadow the ground. For safety, she had her wand out.
But…what if I get caught? Uh…a few hours away shouldn't hurt. As long as I make it back before noon. I just only care about if Anna is safe and ok.
Walking alone through the forests, up the mountainside, she took the opportunity to think about what's happened these past few years. She remembered that all this trouble came because of her unikinetic powers, which she tried to conceal all these years. Now she's got herself landed with an evil lunatic, who's also putting the life of her sister on the line. The sister who Elsa bases her entire life on. The reason why she's there, in the middle of the night, looking for her.
The war resurfaces on the world
Not an Auror to be seen
The armies are readying their wands
And I'm standing with the enemy
The Darkness shadows me only for the storm inside
Couldn't hide it for long, heaven knows I tried
Don't let them in, don't let them see
Or be the servant and slave they want you to be
Conceal, don't feel
Don't let them know
Suddenly, a strange feeling overtook Elsa. Despite the fact that she knows the risks of being caught disobeying Voldemort, she felt a sudden rush of freedom. Like a cold, sudden but gentle gust of wind in the face. For once she is able to show that she cannot be controlled by an evil force. She can be herself. She can choose for herself. She can be free.
So what they know!
Let it go
Let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go
Let it go
Turn away and slam the door
I don't care
What they want or say
Let the storm rage on
The Mark never burns me anyway
It's funny how some distance
Makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me
Can't get to me at all
It's time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No Dark Force laws
or rules for me
I'm free
Let it go
Let it go
I'm one with the wind and sky
Let it go
Let it go
You'll never see me cry
Here I stand
And here I stay
Let the storm rage on
My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I'm never going back
The past is in the past
Let it go
Let it go
And I'll rise like the break on dawn
Let it go
Let it go
That terrified girl is gone
Here I stand
In the light of day
Let the storm rage on
The Mark never burns me anyway
And in case Anna needs to find her way…
Dawn broke, to find Anna, Kristoff and Sven still climbing the mountain. The more they climbed, the more they found the place covered in snow. "We must be getting close"
"How do we know which side or place on the mountain your sister is?" Kristoff asked.
Anna paused, "Maybe where there's more snow…I don't know. She said that she goes here. You're the expert"
"Oh, ok. I thought at least you had some idea"
They reached a point where the land was flatter, and held trees and a creek. The water and waterfall of the creek were sparkling with ice, and the willow trees hung like beaded curtains of ice.
"I never knew winter can be so beautiful" Anna said as she and Kristoff gazed in awe at the scene.
"Yes. It's so beautiful, but it's so white" a voice said. "How about some color. Oh how about some crimson, chartreuse, or how about yellow… no not yellow… yellow and snow… Blghhh"
Anna and Kristoff looked to see who said that. When the voice laughed, they heard it come from below them.
It turned out to be a live snowman. With real eyes…
"Am I right?"
Anna shrieked and kicked its head off, landing it in Kristoff's hands.
"Hi!"
"You're creepy"
They tossed the head to each other for some time.
"I don't want it"
"I think we got off to a bad start"
"Put it back!"
"Ew, ew, ew, the body!"
Anna finally threw the head back onto the body, but causing it to land upside down.
"Wait, what am I looking at now? Why are you all hanging off the earth like a bat?" the snowman said, bewildered at what he's 'seeing'.
Anna then offered to rotate its head. "Oh, here, let me help"
"Oh, thank you. Now I'm perfect"
"Well… almost" Anna pulled a carrot out of Sven's sack, and pushed it… a little too hard… into the snowman's face. It stuck out on the other end.
"Oh sorry! Are you alright?"
"Are you kidding me? I… am wonderful!" the snowman said excitedly. "I've always wanted a nose. It's like a cute little baby unicorn" he said squeakily to the 'nose'.
Anna fixed the nose for the snowman. "Oooh, I like it even more. Now, let's start over. Hi everyone. I'm Olaf, and I like warm hugs."
Anna paused. "Olaf?" As Olaf made ready for a hug, Anna slowly recapped flashbacks of her and Elsa as kids building a snowman and naming it Olaf. "That's right! Olaf!"
"And you must be Anna."
"How do you know… wait… did Elsa built you?" Anna asked excitedly.
"Yeah, why?"
"Do you know where she is?"
"Yeah, why?"
Meanwhile, Kristoff took to trying to figure out how Olaf's arm moves. It ended up giving him a whack. "Hey stop it! Trying to focus here" Olaf refitted his arm back in place. "Wait… oh sorry! I didn't ask your name!"
"It's Kristoff" Kristoff rubbed his cheek where the arm whacked. "And this is Sven"
"Oh he's such a cute reindeer!" Olaf began petting Sven's face.
"Olaf, do you know where Elsa is?"
"Yeah. In fact, I'll show you where she is." He stopped petting Sven and ran ahead of the others. "Come on!"
Voldemort stood in the Manor's back lawn, contemplating his plans for the next few years.
Access to Potter is limited, given the heavy security around the pathetic boy. Before we even consider attacking him directly, we must weaken and disable these barricades. The Ministry is already in turmoil, and not really the key protector of the boy… perhaps it's time we hit the snake by the head.
His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Bellatrix.
"Yes, Bellatrix?"
"The girl did not show up for her rounds today"
Voldemort faced her. "You mean she didn't even come?" he hissed.
"Y…Yes my Lord. We checked every place in the Manor"
Voldemort gave an evil smile. "It is evident, isn't it? That she's attempted to see the well-being of that muggle sister of hers." Voldemort walked back to the Manor. "The girl's disobedience won't last her long"
~TO BE CONTINUED...~