Elsa stumbled out of the fireplace into the banquet hall. The green flames died out as she quickly brushed her dress. I hope Anna is still ok. She turned to attempt to destroy the fireplace. But she stopped. I first have to see if Anna is still…alive.
She quickly ran to the door, and emerged into the hallway. She found some maids standing in the hallway.
"Where's Anna?"
The maids' faces were grave. But before she could answer…
"Princess Elsa! It's good to see you are here!" The butler walked up.
"Please tell me where's…"
"Arrest her!"
Guards suddenly came and seized Elsa.
"What! What's going on?" Elsa demanded.
"For treason. Found collaborating with a dark army and responsible for the murder of Princess Anna"
Elsa stopped resisting the guards' grips.
"A peasant returned to the castle carrying the princess. When she was brought in, she said that you froze her heart. We tried everything to heal her but nothing work. She succumbed an hour ago." The butler solemnly said.
Elsa couldn't speak. If it weren't for the guards dragging her to the dungeons, she would have collapsed.
In the castle cellar, where emergency food supplies are stored, Anna shivered in one corner, too weak to move. Kristoff, Sven and Olaf were tied to the wall by conjured chains in another corner.
"That…rat…lied… to… everyone" Anna shivered between each word. Her hair had completely turned white by now. "Now… they'll… charge… Elsa…and… execute…"
"Shh, she'll find out." Kristoff tried to calm her down.
"Yeah! With all that magic training, I'm sure she'll sniff out an imposter" Olaf tried to cheer her up.
"I…don't…know…why…Percy…is…part of…this…"
"Maybe because the butler gets part of the rule over Arendelle after the princesses." Kristoff quietly said to himself. "I'm only sorry I had to play along. He could've killed you - and everyone else"
"Hey…don't feel…bad…it's…not… your…fault" Anna tried to sound reassuring. "I'm… the …one…sorry…that…you're in…this mess…too"
Kristoff laughed to himself, "Don't worry about me" he said.
"Hey guys, I'm pretty sure Elsa will get us out" Olaf tried again with failure to wiggle or detach his waist from the grasp of the chains.
While in the dungeons and locked in hand braces chained to the wall, Elsa cried.
It's all my fault. I never should have gone after Anna when she went out of the castle. Now she's dead, because of me! Maybe I should have said 'no' to Professor Dumbledore when he invited me to Hogwarts. I should have stayed hidden and locked up, so that no one would have found out about me.
"Enjoying yourself, your Majesty" the door opened to let in the cloaked figure. "Only wished the dungeons were more classy for a crown-princess."
Elsa stopped crying. Wait…who is this? Something is not right.
She stood up to face him. "Who are you?"
The man removed his mask. "Barty Crouch Jr. Humble servant of Lord Voldemort. Remember me? As the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher the year he returned. Was really impressed by your abilities but got landed in Azkaban again before I could tell him"
The man's introduction made Elsa remember the rumors of a fake Professor Moody from her fourth year at Hogwarts. But it also confirmed Elsa's theory. Anna must be still alive.
"Where's Anna?"
"Somewhere. Not in good shape I'm afraid."
"Percy said she was..."
Barty let out an evil laugh. "That lump of butter can't think for himself. Not after I put an Imperious curse on him. Now that both princesses of Arendelle are to face death, Arendelle and its pathetic muggle dwellers will slowly die away, in your own conjured ice storm! The Dark Lord isn't really interested in small, uncharted places, anyway"
Elsa stared at him. Voldemort actually placed a spy here, to watch us…has he been bothering Anna too?
She wanted to shoot icicles at Barty, but the bounds that covered her hands prevented her from doing so. She only managed to cause frost to start building onto the walls and floor.
The Deatheater, knowing that she's trying to but cannot attack, agitated her by giving a bow. "Love to chat but I must go and keep that butter's mind in my hands" he walked towards the door. "Feels good to walk in lavished settings again, after I lost my post at the Ministry" The door banged shut after him.
If Anna isn't in the dungeons, then she must be in some other private room in the castle. One that isn't very much used by servants. She couldn't have been taken to the Manor. I have to also find a way to reverse this storm! It must have worsened during my absences from Arendelle.
She began to freeze her bounds, in an attempt to burst them open.
Meanwhile, the butler issued a statement to the entire kingdom. "This growing frost on Arendelle is because of Elsa. She must be executed immediately, if we were to bring summer back."
"I got it!" Olaf managed to reattach his stomach and head directly onto his feet, leaving his waist behind.
"Good work! Now go find Elsa!" Kristoff said. "Make sure no one sees you"
Olaf tried to pick the lock with his carrot nose. But detaching his middle from himself made him only shorter.
"Uh…little help?"
Kristoff groaned.
The guards flooded the dungeon corridors, to carry out the butler's orders.
Little did they know that, ten minutes before they even reached the dungeons, Elsa had already busted the door open with ice and escaped.
She carefully but hastily wandered the corridors, looking for any possible room used to trap Anna. But almost every room she came to where either ones commonly used or currently filled with servants.
Where could she have been taken to? I hope she wasn't brought to the Manor…
She paused to gaze in horror at the frost and small icicles building up in the castle's ceilings.
What have I done?
That distracted her, allowing guards to arrive and block her way. Behind her, more guards and some maids gathered.
The butler, Percy, walked out from the guards in front of her.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" He said angrily to the guards. "Seize this traitor and…"
Suddenly, with a strong wisp of snowy wind, Elsa threw a spell at the butler's head. He fell over a bit, but a guard caught him. The maids gasped.
"You attacked…" The guard said. But he stopped when a minute later the butler was shaking his head.
"What's going on?" the butler straightened himself. "What is the meaning of this?!" he said, referring to the guards grasp on him.
"Percy…" Elsa began, meaning to ask him about Anna.
"I guess I'm going to have to deal with you myself. Excuse me ladies" Barty Crouch Jr. pushed his way through the guards. Everyone, except Elsa, was shocked by the arrival of the stranger.
"You…"
"Not that I really care, but these muggles will go extinct in the end – due to your own conjured storm!"
The bystanders began talking nervously among themselves.
"Every spell has a counter-curse" Elsa squarely glared at Barty's face. I hope.
"Really? Well, except for…DEATH! Avara Kadavra!"
Barty shot out his wand to deliver the spell, only to have Elsa swiftly deflect it with an icy gust. It bounced to a nearby window, shattering it. Still, the power of the death-curse caused Elsa to be pushed back a bit.
"Unikinetics – they may be specialized but they're not invincible." Barty gloated as he readied for combat, "especially against the Dark Forces."
With a crash of her arms, Elsa pushed aside the bystanders. Now at a distance, they straightened themselves to watch instead of running for safety.
"We'll end this – right here" Elsa said.
"Oh – you intend on using what you learned from us, against us? In the end, you're still a mudblood! Crucio!"
Elsa deflected that spell, and in turn threw a handful of icicles at him. He deflected that to the walls with ease.
They exchange attack spells for quite some time. Occasionally Elsa used her wand (until Barty used an Expelliarmus to disarm her), but most of the time Elsa just let her unikinetic powers flow, freely. What makes her a witch, but 'her'.
The exchange of spells, ice barricades and blizzard-like screens had them moving down the corridors. The bystanders took care to ensure they weren't hit with anything, including taking refuge in rooms but watching through the doorways.
Barty took to agitating her, verbally.
"Wonder what your sister would be doing – if she were here"
"You will be the reason these defenseless muggles with perish!"
"You're so busy proving yourself that you've forgotten all about your sister"
"Avara Kadavra!"
The spell shot from his wand, only to lock itself and his wand onto a large icy shield Elsa conjured by extending out her hand and fanning out her fingers.
The pressure built up on both sides.
Finally, Elsa threw both the icy shield and killing curse to the ceiling above Barty, causing it to crash and bury him. He only let out a yell, and then went quiet.
Elsa stood there, breathing heavily.
"Your Majesty…forgive us" The butler bowed down his head. So did the guards and maids.
"Where's Anna?" Elsa immediately asked.
"She…"
"She's not dead. Where is she?"
"Ma'am, we cannot locate her. We searched every part of the castle."
Elsa racked her brains. Where could she be?
Suddenly an idea came to her. "Try the cellar!"
With every worried step Elsa took to the cellar, frost built up in the castle.
The guards and butler followed her.
"But, ma'am, what about this growing storm?" the butler said over running gasps.
"We'll handle that later" Elsa quickly said.
They reached the entrance to the cellar. Elsa tried to open the door, but only found it stiff.
"It must be frozen shut!"
The guards stepped forward. Quickly, they pushed and heaved against the door to tear down. After a few attempts, they forced the door opened.
Only to find the room halfway filled with icicles.
A wall was torn down from the ice build-up. It led to the outdoors of the castle, revealing a terrible snow storm building up outside.
Kristoff and Sven where alone in the corner, chained and trying to stay away from the icicles. Olaf's middle remained with them.
Elsa hastily thawed the icicles near them.
"That won't stop this storm" the butler said.
Knowing the counter-curse (thanks to all that dark magic reading), she destroyed the chains.
"Thanks" Kristoff said, getting up with Sven.
"Where's Anna?"
"She escaped through there with Olaf"
Elsa quickly approached the hole.
Only to be forcefully pushed out!
"Your Majesty!" the butler and guards cried. They had been pushed aside against the walls.
She tumbled outside, onto the castle grounds where the coast meets the sea. Except that where the sea was is now a thick floor of ice.
Elsa scrambled to her feet. Hardly concerned for what pushed her, she began walking out to the frozen sea, fighting the blizzard's winds.
Oh, where is she?
She tried to yell for her sister, over the loud howling of the blizzard's winds.
"Anna!"
Through the blizzard she caught a glimpse of flying black smoke.
"Anna! Where are you? ANNA!"
Suddenly, from above, she was hit with searing pain. She gasped in pain.
Another hit came. It was undeniably a curse. And with that second hit the storm came to a standstill.
Bending forward, she saw that the black smoke landed in front of her, transforming into Barty, who managed to free himself from the rubble.
"Crucio!"
From his wand he shot the curse at Elsa. After another shot, she fell to the frozen ground. She fought the urge to scream.
"We should have figured earlier that your little royal self would only be trouble for us" He made to hold the curse long on her. "I'd kill you now but I'd like to take my time. Catching up for those precious moments lost while at Azkaban!"
"NO!"
Barty suddenly fell over, lifting the curse from Elsa.
Elsa struggled to get up. She shot a quick hit of icy gust at Barty's head to knock him out for good.
Struggling to get up, she caught sight of the reason Barty fell.
An icy figure of Anna lay toppled over Barty – frozen as ice.
"ANNA!"
Elsa quickly limped over to push Anna off Barty.
Anna turned over, revealing her face to Elsa – her eyes frozen and blank, staring off into space.
"Anna! No…please" Elsa grabbed her sister's frozen face. Tears poured from her eyes.
The pangs of pain from the Crucio curse and the sight of Anna was too much for Elsa. Crying, she blacked out.
"We expected nothing much of you" Voldemort hissed to an exhausted Elsa brought onto her knees and hands, "and all you keep doing is showing utter disobedience."
Elsa couldn't bring herself to say anything.
"Very well. I will certainly have the honor of giving you…" he swept his hand to the right to signal something, "the moment you've been so working for"
Elsa lifted her head up to the right. Then, whatever breath was in her escaped.
Two masked Deatheaters walked in closer, dragging Anna in between them. She still had her outdoor winter clothes on, which was almost completely crusted with ice and snow.
With equally shocked eyes, Anna took a glance at Elsa, then Voldemort.
"How children misbehave – after their parents are gone. It does grieve me to think that Nature and Fate have preceded my own wishes of killing them – after learning about your insolent little existence" Voldemort's hiss made Elsa's heart beat faster, but feel like it's failing to catch any more air.
"As sisters, you deserve some time alone, for a while" Voldemort signaled the Deatheaters to drop Anna and follow him out of the room.
When sounds of the door locking ceased. Elsa and Anna got up slowly. But Elsa, who was too much filled with grief and frustration, couldn't get herself to hug Anna. Instead she turned a bit away and tried to not cry again.
"Elsa…I never knew things were like this" Anna confessed. "It was all my fault. You tried to keep me safe and I worsened everything for you. Please don't cry."
"I'm so sorry Anna" Elsa said in a broken voice. "I tried so hard to keep you out of danger…"
"You don't have to protect me. I'm not afraid" Anna's voice grew stronger and reassuring, and took steps towards her sister.
Elsa, fearing that anything they may do can give Voldemort an excuse to kill them, moved away.
"Just please don't shut me out again. Please don't slam the door" Anna stood, and raised her voice in song.
You don't have to keep your distance anymore
Because for the first time in forever
I finally understand
For the first time in forever
We can fix this hand in hand
We can escape from this darkness together
You don't have to live in fear
'cause for the first time in forever
I will be right here
Elsa then caught sight of an old fireplace in the corner. But at the same time she heard footsteps outside the door. Meaning to signal Anna to try to escape, she responded in song.
Anna, please go back home
Your life awaits
Go enjoy the sun and open up the gates
You mean well
But leave me be
Yes I'm alone
But one day I'll be free
Just stay away and you'll be safe from me
Anna made no move to leave. Instead, she started a small bantering, in song.
Actually we're not
What do you mean 'we're not'?
I got the feeling you don't know
What do I not know?
Arendelle's in deep…deep….deep…deep…snow
Elsa gave a hard sigh. "Yes I know"
"It's like an eternal winter – everywhere"
Elsa now grew alarmed. "Everywhere?"
"It's ok, you can just unfreeze it" Anna said reassuringly, taking more steps forward.
Elsa panicked "No I can't. I don't know how!"
"Sure you can! I know you can!"
"Avara Kadavara!"
"NO! ANNA!"
Elsa swiftly tried to deflect the flash of green. But in doing so, she lost control and everything went white with flying ice and snow.
An evil laughter, unmistakably Voldemort's, rang in Elsa's ears.
The erupted storm, made of ice and hail, grew worse. The cold that penetrated the air began to penetrate Elsa. It was the cold of bitterness. Of horror. Of hopelessness.
"Elsa! Elsa! Elsa! ..."
Elsa kept hearing her sister call her name, over and over again.
Blackness changed to blurriness in Elsa's vision. She felt herself half on the frozen ground still. It was still daylight.
She felt her head on something, but being held and jerked back and forth, along with her shoulders.
"Elsa! ELSA!..." continued to ring in her ears. The source sounded very close.
Slowly her vision cleared up, with her blue eyes flickering.
Anna had her sister's head in her lap, and was holding Elsa's face in worry.
Kirstoff stood over them, with Sven beside him. They were equally worried with Anna.
"How about some cold water?" Olaf, who was also standing nearby and had his middle rejoined, offered.
Elsa looked up, at Anna's worried face, which somehow had its color and warmth returned to it.
"Anna?!"
She quickly sat up and hugged her sister, while sitting.
"Oh, Elsa!"
"What happened? You…" Elsa asked, still hugging Anna. Olaf volunteered.
"While you were fainted, Anna magically unfroze"
Elsa smiled at Olaf. They stopped hugging, and then held each other's hands.
"You sacrificed yourself – for me?" Elsa lovingly asked.
"I love you." Anna lovingly replied. "And you lied all this time to keep me safe?"
"I love you" Elsa answered.
Olaf held his face up, in sudden realization. "'An act of true love will thaw a frozen heart'" he recapped Grand Pabbie's words.
"'Love will thaw…'" Elsa thought for a moment. "Of course!" She stood up. That must be the counter-curse of freezing!
"Elsa?"
"Love!"
Spreading and raising her arms slowly, Elsa's feelings magically swirled in snowy gleams and began penetrating the ice and snow that crusted the land, as well as stayed mid-air in the paused storm.
Love…that's all that was needed. Love. For her family. For her sister. For her kingdom. For Arendelle. For the Wizarding World. For magic. For being who you are.
The cursed winter vanished in a giant, beautiful snowflake above Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, who are now standing on a ship that once was under ice.
"I knew you could do it" Anna put a hand on Elsa's shoulder.
"Hands down, this is the best moment of my life" said a melting Olaf. "and quite possibly the last"
"Oh, Olaf! Hang on, little guy" with a swish of her hand, Elsa rebuilt Olaf, and created a permanent mini cloud to snow over him.
"My own personal flurries!" Olaf said, laughing.
Suddenly, the sounds of Barty waking up jolted everyone from their happiness.
"Oh, no"
Elsa quickly shot an icy gust, creating a bound of ice that wrapped Barty from the shoulders to the waist, causing him to fall from his attempt at getting up.
"I thought you froze his head" Kristoff said, after being stopped by Anna from clobbering Barty.
"He's a wizard" Suddenly Elsa remembered something. "There's something else we have to do"
Guards followed the five, dragging Barty to the castle's banquet hall behind them. His struggles to free himself were foiled by the ice bounds.
"Filthy muggles! Get your hands off me!"
They dragged him in front of the fireplace, after Elsa started the green flames. "We don't have much time. We have to hurry" Elsa quickly got up and brushed her hands.
The fireplace in the Banquet Hall was the only one to destroy. According to the servants, it seems that Barty had already destroyed the one in her bedroom, in an attempt to ruin her chances of returning to Arendelle behind Voldemort's back.
It also came clear to everyone, including Anna, that is was Barty who was mostly the one, through controlling the butler, igniting suspicion and distrust throughout the kingdom. He also was the one who made the attempts to harm Anna when Anna attempted to meet Elsa in the mountains and Elsa left against Voldemort's commands to make sure she's safe.
"You think you can just blindly trust her? Just wait!" Barty's deranged face gave a murderous look at everyone. "Once you have your backs turned she'll have your frozen hearts on plates!"
"The only frozen heart I know is yours" Anna said at Barty's face. "As well as your friends' and master's"
Barty looked menacingly at her.
Suddenly, Anna gave him a quick punch in the face, causing him to fall from the guards' grips and into the fireplace. A second later the green fire roared, taking him back to the Manor.
After Barty was gone, Elsa filled the fireplace with ice. Everyone backed away as she burst and crumbled it, destroying it for good.
Everyone cheered and clapped. Anna and Elsa then locked themselves in an embrace. While hugging Elsa, Anna shot a nice smile at Kristoff.
"That was to make sure you'll always stay safe" Elsa said, tightly holding her little sister close.
Meanwhile, students sat in the Great Hall, returning for their next year at Hogwarts.
Both Ginny and Luna, although more alert about chances of an incoming war, were grateful that now the Ministry accepted the fact that Voldemort is once again at large. But with the Minister now resigning, chances are a better or worse, or even an undercover Deatheater, minister takes his place. Still, they were able to notice that a very good friend was no longer there with them, sitting on the Hogwarts Express and beginning the next term while standing their grounds against Voldemort.
Professor Dumbledore began his welcome speech to the students after everyone had dinner.
As he babbled away about Tom Riddle being once a student, Dark Forces are everywhere, and that everyone must be united, Draco is found to, instead of sitting ready to mock Harry Potter across to the Gryffindor table, leaning his head on his hand and having thoughts of his own.
To kill Dumbledore…to not isn't even an option… although one with no slightest intention of joining the new Malfoy banner of tending to Voldemort's needs and wishes, he is sent to Hogwarts almost primarily to eliminate, who everyone else believes is, the greatest wizard of all time. Most likely even Voldemort doesn't have the guts himself to do this task. And yet he's sending a 16 year old to do it.
It's not like the famous Dumbledore will never find out. And Potter… he's going to be on my nerves more than ever. Defending his mentor and probably taking me in as a trophy to get his Auror license.
Although sitting at his own house table, Draco didn't feel like he's at home and at the top of the Slytherin house anymore. Instead, it felt like a wall was erected between himself and everyone around, even his own Slytherin classmates.
Strangely, at one point he attempted to scan the Ravenclaw table.
She's different. Not because of her abilities. Everyone else either looks up to him too much or dismiss him entirely as an irritating slime-ball. But Elsa… she at first did take him as a wayward imp… she still does, but… maybe it's just because of her own past… or does she understand him more, and see what he doesn't see? Sees things he tried to fill himself by proving himself superior throughout his years at Hogwarts?
Draco then began remembering that night when they both were sent to the vampires. The way she handled his injured arm. How she softly but firmly bandaged and spoke to him despite his cringing and whimpering. Not even Madame Pomfrey deals with him like that. Yes she tore a sleeve off a very expensive jacket, but even then, she knows how to put a spineless, self-glorious bugger in his place, as if he can do things right.
Initially when he said everyone will be too preoccupied to mourn for us, by us he meant him and his family. Elsa kind of misinterpreted as those two themselves. 'We have to find a way out of this…ourselves' her voice said firmly without a single crack. What was she even thinking? What chances do they have against the most feared Dark Lord of all times?
One thing that really surprised him is that he'd never seen her cry or quiver, during her sessions with Bellatrix, right after receiving threats from Voldemort, even at Hogwarts (unlike many like Hannah Abbot and Cho Chang). Instead, her face would be set in ice…she seems strong, stronger than he thought, or him at least…often it only took a fellow student to draw a wand at his face for him to tremble…she'd stand if faced with a similar situation, ready with something to say. She never babbled helplessly or defended herself lamely, or huff off like Granger, or even flat out insult…it's like she'd shoot well-aimed snowballs or icicles…whichever fit the occasion. If it's too much then she'd retreat, but not as a coward – more like a tactic…she only lets terribly overwhelming things to get to her…could she have been made Slytherin, if not Ravenclaw?
Growing up he'd see smiles as a sign of triumph or mockery. From his dad, from Potter…
But Elsa's smile and laughter…was real…was something else. It was sharing true laughter and happiness during even dark times – that there are still things to laugh bout. Even the way she made him smile…was different. It was like happiness, laughter and hope that maybe he didn't even deserve.
The Malfoys were always referred to as having icy demeanor – icy glances, icy tones, and even icy steel-colored eyes. They, in their own ways, would simply and quietly cast their presence like bone-chilling, icy winds found on the cloudiest day (it'll be hard for victims to determine if it is in fact daytime) in winter. Now, with Voldemort hitched along, it seems that the winds have gone colder and more turbulent – even for the Malfoys themselves to take.
It's like Elsa had a different approach – a different lesson to teach on what winter is really like. That her sapphire eyes see that sun rays can shine through a frosty morning. That ice doesn't necessary only bounds or restricts; it glitters on things that don't usually glitter.
Draco did have good memories as a child playing in the snow around Malfoy Manor, with his mother, the only other person who's able to get close to him. Elsa somehow made those feelings back then rise back over his years of self-glory…only for that brief period of time she was at the Manor…maybe that's why he left the Manor during her short absences, at the dinner party and her week back in Arendelle, when he'd maybe be expected to be another face for the Dark Forces. He remembered her tossing and blowing fresh snow into his face, as if she makes snow…or is snow.
"So…did you change your mind?" she said that as if she knew by reading. Isn't breaking through barriers a tactic used by enemies? Her royal highness doesn't seem to make it that way.
Still she wouldn't be foolish enough to be near a murderer, even potential…or will she?
"Now off to bed! Pip-pip!"
Sounds of everyone getting up from the table jolted Draco back to reality.
After ridding Arendelle of a spy, the whole kingdom made many rounds searching the castle and village for any remaining trace of Dark Magic or hidden items/charms that can cause further harm or reconnect Arendelle with the Dark Forces.
After one or two rounds, Elsa went to clearing her own bedroom of the few knickknacks she got from them – including those dark textbooks.
She was just sorting out which books to burn and which ones maybe can be useful, when a knock came on her door.
"Elsa, are you still busy?"
"It's ok. Come in Anna."
Anna opened the door and walked in, obvious on her face that she wants to talk with her big sister about something.
Her eyes fell onto the books, distracting her. "You won't be needing those, right?" she playfully teased.
"Nope." Elsa replied. "Well…maybe these could come in handy" She placed her hand on the pile of books to keep, which included Creatures Lurking in the Dark and Potions and Poisons.
"Are they interesting to read?" Anna asked.
"So-so" Elsa shrugged. "The books I got from Hogwarts are better. You can read those if you like"
Anna's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Sure"
"We can arrange a time for reading them together – you and me both!"
Elsa grew excited. "That would be perfect!"
They laughed. Then Elsa said. "I need a break. Let's sit down"
They cleared a spot on her bed to sit on. For a while it was quiet.
Then Anna, who remembered the initial reason she came, spoke. "Elsa…I know I already apologized to you…but I still feel bad"
Elsa looked at her and put an arm around her sister. "Why, Anna?" she asked softly.
"Well…it's just that…you know it was only after six years that I got to see you again. But even then, the times with you were very short. I loved the holidays from your School that you spent with me and Mom and Dad…but they were still so short compared to the rest of the months and years I spent wandering this place…alone" She put both her arms around her sister. Elsa placed the side of her head against Anna's forehead.
"I really missed you"
"I missed you too, Anna. Only heaven knows how much"
"Plus, that awful man was making everyone talk like you were going to abandon and shut us out. I was honestly fine with your… "tutoring"…before. But he constantly made me feel scared…"
"Shh…It's all over now" Elsa whispered, knowing Anna was going to cry. "They're gone now"
Anna sniffed. "I'm very glad they're gone" Then a quiet pause that lasted a few minutes came. "I miss Mom and Dad"
"Me too" Elsa agreed. Then she thought about something. "I'm glad it wasn't the case that they were still here and Voldemort…killed them… and left you spared so the threaten me"
Anna straightened herself. "He would have done that?!" She exclaimed quietly.
Elsa nodded. "He's a very horrible person. Not even human. I could have tried to fight him off…but he threatened me with you before I could even try."
"And you had to put up with him for more than a month" Anna grew a bit angry. "I ought to punch him, right in the nose"
Elsa began giggling. "Actually he doesn't have one"
Anna looked at her. "He doesn't?"
Elsa shook her head, and they both began to laugh.
While they were doing so, the moon was radiantly casting full beams onto Arendelle, illuminating and glittering it as if after a long time.
Hello old friend
It's good to be with you
Time is standing still
Our love
Shines true and bright
It always will
My wishing star
Has guided all you do
My empty heart you fill
Will still feel
Forever young
Looking back
We're just the same
As we were when we began
This love will keep protecting us
Reach for me
And I'll take your hand
When we're apart
Just close your eyes
And you'll see me waiting there
You can always count on me
I will always care
My special friend
Inside my heart you stay
You'll be with me until
The sun
Shines through the night
It never will
My little star
You'll never fade away
The hands of time are still
And we'll be
Forever young
Leaning against a tree, she paused to rub her fingers against her palms, which were stiffening from the ice that kept shooting from her hands.
Remaining alert she scanned the area for any sign of the presence of her opponent, who had disapperated just a few seconds ago. Not far off in the Dark Forest the Deatheaters were locked in ice, unable to move.
Careful to not create sounds, even from stepping on a twig, she slowly got up and began moving away from her little resting spot. The cape of her blue dress trailed behind her with every step.
Then, the sound of an apperation crack had her quickly form a thick icy shield around her, protecting her from the fiery gust that aimed to fry her for good.
A few minutes passed with her keeping the shield from melting. Then, sensing that her opponent paused for a break, she vanished the front part of the shied.
Voldemort stood there, furious pale-green eyes attempting to hide the frustration and exhaustion that was building up in his face.
She returned the look with a confident, icy glare.
"So you have improved your abilities, during your well-too-brief time with us" a murderous smile curled on his face, obvious that he's trying another tactic.
"I only needed to trust and believe in myself - which is I'm pretty sure is the strength of every fortunate unikinetic"
"Such ungratefulness" Voldemort shook his head. "I was only giving you the best of things – things your parents denied you"
Rage built up in Elsa, "They gave me a chance to study at Hogwarts when the opportunity came. They kept the love for me in my sister, despite our years apart. They gave me things you of all people would never understand to be 'the best'" Her eyes stayed narrowed onto her opponent.
"You'll never understand, my child. Such things only hinder one's power and abilities," he placed the other end of his wand in his left hand. "which is, I'm sure, what your sister is doing to you"
Elsa's teeth clenched. She's tired of him using that line 'my child' again and again. "First and foremost, don't call me that. Second, my sister is the one who made me who I am today, even during the 'well-too-brief' time with your pathetic thugs"
She paused. "You meant for that to happen, didn't you? The Manor being empty, Nagini's attempt on my life, Barty Crouch Jr. at Arendelle…" she walked a bit to the side, mimicking Voldemort's own movement when he would be the one threatening her. "…you wanted that either we all die or I am completely out of your picture"
Regaining his composure, Voldemort lifted his face up a bit, "As I've said before, 'we don't want the opposition to utilize such a gift', in the event you don't fit in our favor"
"You're afraid, aren't you?" Throughout, Elsa's voice slid like chilling ice, with such confidence and malice that seemed to now undermine Voldemort's own.
Finally getting the weight of it all, Voldemort began twisting and tightening both hands onto his wand in fury. In no time he let out a frustrated yell, and once again shot a death curse at Elsa.
She deflected that with an icy gust, causing it to sear a nearby tree in half. Finally, in swirls of snow she was gone.
Elsa woke up, finding herself once again in her own room, back in Arendelle. She shifted from her side to gaze up at the canopy of her bed.
I'm not a master at apperating – yet. And do I really have the abilities to do all that which I did?
She let in a victorious breath. I may have not been given, or never will be, the chance to fight you like that – but yes. Indeed I won.
The next few years went by fairly quickly. Elsa, now knowing more defensive magic and the counter-curse of freezing a heart, felt certain that she's learned enough magic, at least for keeping Arendelle safe.
Elsa and Anna managed to catch up a lot of missed time together. Birthdays and holidays (including some from the trolls) went by like a breeze (well, maybe a bit gusty for the first birthday party Elsa organized for Anna – before, Elsa would be able to take the Pepper-up Potion at Hogwarts before it got really bad, but without having the ingredients, Elsa put it off thinking that it wouldn't really be that much of a bother).
With no more fear of the Dark Forces coming to Arendelle (thanks to the destroyed fireplaces), Elsa no longer needed to hide from anyone. Now the only troubles to deal with were from troublesome trade partners, as well as nosy kingdoms. Still, she felt that it's ok for them to know about her ice powers, as long as she doesn't elaborate her being from a secret society of witches and wizards. The rest of her time was spent in preparing for her coronation.
Olaf was an excellent addition member to the family. His warmth, love and happy-go-lucky attitude brought joy to the kingdom (as well as maybe a few accidents with the chefs, florists and so).
To thank Kristoff for his contributions, Elsa declared him to the Official Ice Deliverer. Anna also got his sleigh and equipment replaced, with the latest and most expensive models, of course.
As for Kristoff and Anna, they got to know more about each other over the years. They seemed to be getting along fine (just normal occasional disagreements but they dealt with them fine.)
On Anna's 16th birthday, which was a mountain-climbing party for the family, Kristoff proposed.
"Princess Anna, it's time to get up"
Half sleepy, Anna sat up. "Of course I'm up, I've been up for hours" she began snoring again, but she jerked herself to not fall asleep again. "Who is it?"
"Um…still me…ma'am" the butler said behind her door. "It's time to get ready"
Stretching, Anna asked with eyes still closed, "Ok. Ready for what?"
"You're…wedding…ma'am"
"My…wedding…" she slowly opened her eyes to see the traditionally white, ankle-length gown and veil near her wardrobe. Her eyes jerked open with a gasp. "I'm getting married today!"
She had no trouble getting ready. In her dress and veil, she ran out of her room and around the castle, singing:
The window is open, so's that door
I didn't know they do that anymore
Who knew we owned eight thousand salad plates
For years I've roamed these empty halls
Why have a Ballroom with no balls?
Finally we're opening up the gates!
There'll be actual real life people
It'll totally be strange
But, wow, am I ready for this change
'Cause for the first time in forever
There'll be music
There'll be light
For the first time in forever
I'll be dancing through the night
Don't know if I'm elated or gassy
But I'm somewhere in that zone!
'Cause for the first time in forever
I'll never be alone
Tonight, imagine me gown and all
The whole town gathered like a wall
Seeing the meld of heroic grace
Ooh!
I suddenly see him standing there
My brave big Kristoff, tall and fair
I wanna stuff some chocolate in my face!
The rings, the cake, the starlit evening
This is totally bizarre
Nothing like the life I've lead so far!
For the first time in forever
There'll be magic, there'll be fun!
For the first time in forever
A whole new life has just begun
And I know it is totally crazy
For my stomach to flip and dance
But for the first time in forever
We've got our only chance!
And it all starts today
It all starts today!
It's agony to wait
It's agony to wait!
Tell the guards to open up the gate!
The gate!
For the first time in forever
I'm getting what I'm dreaming of!
The final stop to my lonely world
A chance to seal our love!
We don't know what lies tomorrow
Hey first go through today!
'Cause for the first time in forever
For the first time in forever
Nothing's in my way!
"Anna! Thank goodness we didn't have that dress made too long" Elsa, dressed as the Maid of Honor, walked in on Anna. They both laughed.
"You're all excited" Elsa said.
"I am! I can't believe this is happening" Anna replied.
"I was hoping this would happen" Elsa happily said. The sisters embraced each other again.
That afternoon, the wedding was held in the Royal Church. Kristoff's troll family sat in the first rows. Behind them were members of the kingdom, and those invited from other kingdoms.
Standing with Kristoff was Sven, in a red bowtie around his neck as the Best Man. Olaf was the ring-bearer.
"Kristoff, will you take her to be your wife?"
"I will"
"Princess Anna, will you take him to be your husband"
"Of course!"
Anna's sudden reply brought the Bishop baffled, Kristoff sighing in happy embarrassment, the crowd in silent shock, Sven glancing around, Elsa hiding her embarrassed laughter with a hand on her mouth, and Olaf asking "Uh, is the bride supposed to say that?"
Realizing what she did, Anna cleared her throat and went to being more sophisticated. "Um, I mean, 'Yes, I will'"
Everyone laughed and the rest of the wedding ran smoothly. Olaf had no trouble holding the ring pillow high enough for them to reach. Before dinner, the couple shyly cut the cake together.
Elsa couldn't have been happier for her sister.
But while she watched them dance (alternating between slow and fast) with trolls dancing their own traditional moves around them, her thoughts kept returning to the Manor.
In the end, after the storm settles, you'd realize that you'd put off satisfying your own hunger for affection, belonging, and understanding to your ideal, finest expectations in life.
It struck to her that the Sorting Hat had whispered that line in her ear, although she never thought of its significance when recording her thoughts and memories in her diary. Not until eight years later…
"Is there something troubling you, Elsa?" Grand Pabbie asked her the next day in the garden. Kristoff and Anna had left for a little sleigh ride together.
"No…not really" Elsa tried to not seem obvious. But after receiving a fatherly "Are you sure" look from the troll, she hesitantly answered.
"I was just wondering…if there's a possibility if…" Elsa tried while walking with the troll. "we can reconnect with the Wizarding World back in Britain"
Grand Pabbie thought for a bit, watching her face. "It's not certain if things are safer now there"
"I was just wondering" Elsa carefully said, meaning to not sound rude but to maybe change the subject.
They stopped at the fountain. She gazed into her own reflection in the water. Before she'd see a girl, who's been trying to limit and hide who she really is, trying to cope with the Dark Forces that offered to define her for herself, only for their sake. Even her hair… with her family she enjoyed a braid and headband as a child. Later she made to a bun, maybe in an attempt to her efforts of hiding and limiting her true self during Hogwarts and the moments with the Dark Forces (buns are not bad, by the way, it looked good and suited Mom, even to Dad). Somehow Draco kept indicating that it wasn't for her, as if he knew she wasn't trying to be herself…
"Is there something you want from there?"
Little did they know that Olaf was also in the same garden, sniffing on flowers. When he heard the conversation, he quietly stood to listen.
Suddenly, Olaf had an idea.
"Sounds like a good idea." Anna said when she, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff managed to talk alone, while Elsa was busy with some royal management tasks. Sven nodded in agreement.
"But we don't know if it's safe there right now" Kristoff said in a concerned tone.
"She did ask Grand Pabbie." Anna said. "And she seemed to really want to try to go there"
"I wonder what's there in Britain that she really wants to see again" Olaf wondered aloud.
"Friends…magic…ghosts…"
"Oh Kristoff!" Anna gave a soft tap on his knee. "That's not is!"
"Friends most likely," Olaf said, "especially since things were dangerous there, so she'd want to see if they're ok"
Anna also had a hunch, based on the subtle hints in the many chats Elsa shared with her. But she didn't think it was ok now to tell it to the others.
"So, is everyone in on this?" Anna extended her hand out for everyone to signal teamwork.
Olaf and Sven almost immediately joined. Everyone waited for Kristoff to give his final thought.
Silence.
"Ok, let's give it a try" he finally said, joining his hand in too.
"In a few hours, this will be working in no time!" a lady troll said to Anna, who watched the trolls start to repair the fireplace in the Banquet Hall.
"I just hope this will work." Kristoff said, "And that if it does it doesn't take us directly to trouble."
"Come on! Where's your sense of adventure?" Anna playfully punched his arm.
"In the mountains" Kristoff laughed and put an arm around Anna. "Not in urban streets crawling with creepy wizards in black cloaks."
Anna smiled at Kristoff. "Don't worry. Those monsters may have forgotten us by now"
"How about we step out and rest a bit" Grand Pabbie offered. "and let them work without distractions"
"Sure" Anna politely accepted. "and to not make this so obvious for Elsa. It's supposed to be a surprise"
The three of them left the Hall, and found some benches lining the hallway.
"Isn't Elsa the only witch in our family?" Anna managed to finally ask Grand Pabbie. "I mean, why would there be magical fireplaces in our castle?"
"Actually, Elsa isn't the only witch in the Royal Family" Grand Pabbie replied. "Your grandfather and some uncles and aunts I recall also had magical abilities. I remember teaching your uncle once" he paused to recap memories, "lucky he wasn't in line for the throne. He had a greater interest in studying magical creatures, instead."
"Where any of them…?" Anna started.
"Unikinetics…no." Grand Pabbie finished for her, and then laughed when he saw her surprised look. "That's why your parents were very nervous when Elsa showed growing abilities in only one element. That sort of magic was very different for them" He paused, "But they loved her all the same, regardless"
Anna smiled.
"Grand Pabbie" a young troll briskly walked in on them. "Oh, sorry for interrupting…"
"Nothing to worry about, my child" Grand Pabbie said. "Is there something wrong?"
"Yes…" the two trolls talked for a bit, using terms and words Anna couldn't understand. Kristoff, who did, translated for her quietly.
"They ran out of a couple of supplies"
"Oh…ok"
When they finished, Grand Pabbie turned to the two. "I'm afraid they have to stop for now. We need to replenish some of our tools needed to repair the floo system." But his voice grew serious, "However…the fireplace is currently unstable. That is, it wouldn't be wise to activate or test it right now"
Anna listened attentively. "Ok"
"We shouldn't take that long" Grand Pabbie began leaving for the Banquet Hall to signal them to return home. "But until then, you keep your distance from the fireplace" He walked ahead of them.
"You heard him" Kristoff said as they later followed Grand Pabbie.
"Alright" Anna laughed reassuringly. "I'll stay ten miles away from it…where are we going to eat, then?"
"Ooookay, that doesn't look good"
They stared at what looked like a hollow space bordered with a slightly deformed mantle. What made the scene obvious and weird was the ugly green and grey that's almost choking out of the fireplace. The trolls had already left the castle.
"That's too obvious" Anna added. "Elsa will find out"
"How are we going to hide that?" Kristoff said
"Let's scatter it with flowers" Olaf suggested.
Kristoff shook his head, "We don't want it to look like a grave"
"Let's just hang a cloth over it" Anna suggested. "Elsa shouldn't mind, that much. Then we'll replace the furniture" Everything (table and all) was pushed against the wall farthest from the fireplace, to make more room for the trolls to easily work.
"Ok, I'll get a ladder" Kristoff said.
"I'll find a cloth." They both left the Banquet Hall. "Remember to be careful" Anna teased Kristoff.
He just smiled back.
"And I'll wait here and make sure no one comes in" Olaf called out.
He sat down. Then began walking around. Sat down. Walked around.
They are taking very long, Olaf thought.
Twenty minutes…half an hour.
Olaf made another round pacing the Banquet Hall.
But this time, while doing so, he accidently went too close to the fireplace. Close enough for the awkward dust to tickle his nose.
"AAAA-CHOO!"
Olaf let out a tremendous sneeze, causing his nose to fly off – and fall into the fireplace.
Luckily nothing was ignited. But Olaf was still left in staring at his nose in shock.
Oh no! What am I going to do? He bit on his wooden fingers. If I ask them to help me get it out their big hands may…
Olaf looked down at his own small wooden hands. Ahh…that's it!
He detached his left arm for his right arm to hold, and try to carefully extend and reach into the fireplace.
Almost…there… he had to balance on one foot to reach more.
…and…
Olaf's arms grabbed onto his carrot nose. He carefully pulled it out.
"I got it!" He replaced his nose back on his face, after dusting it off, and did a happy dance.
Then we was about to continue his walking…when sounds from the fireplace came.
Olaf turned to it, discovering that displacing the strange powder with the carrot has cause a strange reaction to occur.
Small green sparks began to crackle. They grew bigger and louder.
Uh…oh
Olaf tried to run away. But he wasn't fast enough for a big gust of green fire to sweep over him.
Just at that point, Anna and Kristoff were returning with the necessary items. Approaching the door they saw flashes of green.
"OLAF!"
They dropped whatever they were holding and ran inside, pushing past the door.
But by the time they came in, the fire and sparks died down, and Olaf was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh no" Anna said, staring at the fireplace.
"He must have done something to ignite it" Kristoff said in worry.
"Is everything ok in here?" Elsa entered in. She was alerted by some servants, when the green flashes first came.
She stopped in her tracks, staring at the fireplace. "What happened?"
"Long story" Anna began towards the fireplace.
"Wait, Anna…!" Kristoff and Elsa cried.
"Someone has to get Olaf back"
"But Grand Pabbie said to stay away from it as far as possible" Kristoff said.
Anna paused. "Oh…I forgot"
"We have to go and tell him. Maybe he can help, safely"
They just took a few brisk steps away from the fireplace, when the green flames started to crackle wildly again, on their own.
"Oh no!"
"Run!"
They flinched as fast as they could. Elsa held onto Anna as they tried to escape, but they weren't fast enough to avoid the giant, wild green flames that overtook and engulfed them.
Not again!
~TO BE CONTINUED…~