Elsa and Anna were almost thrown out of a fireplace. Recovering from the violent ride, they slowly stood up.
Thank God we're still in one piece. Elsa thought to herself.
"Where's Kristoff?" Anna looked around in worry. She stopped when she caught sight of the soot-covered Elsa.
"Elsa?! You're a mess!" She then saw that her own hands, arms and clothes were covered in soot, too.
"Where are we?" Elsa began looking around, turning her flowing blue dress and cape into a simpler one that matched Anna's green outdoor dress. "This doesn't look anything like where I've been – or remembered"
It looked like an old, run-down, living room, or at least a room meant for sitting. The walls were darkened with time and wear. Whatever sofas or seats that were there were ragged and moldy. So was the only medium-sized rug that fairly covered the old, broken wooden floor.
Overall it looked like it once was a well-kept, grand house.
"What were you guys doing with the fireplace?" Elsa finally asked.
"We…um…wanted to surprise you" Anna sheepishly revealed their secret. "Don't get me wrong. The trolls were helping us too. They just needed to restock some things before they were done" Anna quickly explained.
Elsa shook her head.
The awful, humid smell of the place began pinching their noses "This place gives me the creeps" Anna shuddered.
They slowly walked deeper into the room.
"Come…come closer…"
Both sisters jumped and it was really hard to tell who grabbed who first.
"…I shall tell you…"
"What's that?" Anna shuddered.
Before Elsa could reply, they traced the sounds to a table nearby Elsa. On it stood various strange artifacts, haphazardly placed or emptied onto it. Among them was a grey-skull.
"…what you'd be if not what you are…"
"Anna let's get out of here" Elsa said, afraid it's a trap and Anna may also get hurt.
"Wait…"
"…what the waves of fate, family and place would've shaped if not so."
The voice that came from the skull was cracked and drained, some words missing – all the same eerie and bone-chilling. The mouth never moved.
"Just don't go near it…or even look at it…"
"Fairness, brains, curiosity too – finding place and acceptance, they'd never leave you.
The finest tastes, the finest things – selecting the best still affixes like strings
You may, dear child, bear the frost – but, see an alternative, you won't be lost.
Grass, like you fancy, under your feet – Green bleeds for blue to deplete.
True not princess, but in eyes still are – hard to reach, others stand afar.
Ravens and Snakes quarrel as so – over maidens alive such as tho
Maybe you'd gloat more, so to mask softness – family and sacrifice still wins your tenderness.
Start maybe more free – you'd more desire to see
How fear be more back – assurance like now so attack
While you still remember to not double – any unwanted chances of trouble
Take note: instead of unikinetic – warfare brings isolation and panic
Birthplace not Arendelle – be where your kind dwells
Just as sharp, just as a tease – maybe have your family more at ease
Those whom you choose to love remain
Elsa of Arendelle - Astoria Greengrass it may!"
Elsa could honestly not comprehend how she decided to hear this disoriented thing out. But she was curious, all the same.
"I wonder if I would still be there" Elsa heard Anna murmur to herself. At that moment she realized more about how much she loves the way fate did shape her life and destiny – it may be less bumpy, but always the same.
"Oh, can I see what's in for me?"
"Anna…" Elsa jolted back to the present, but Anna still managed to carefully step in front of Elsa without really going near the thing.
Once it sensed Anna's presence…
Its jaw threw open, red light emerged from its eye sockets, and a horrible shriek echoed.
Immediately their hands threw up to cover their ears.
"What does that mean?"
"That I'd love you no matter what you are. Now let's GO!"
They dispersed from the ghastly room, still with the skull shrieking. Upon emerging into the dark, humid narrow corridor they heard brisk footsteps.
"In here!" Anna found a nearby room. They stepped in, closing the door enough for them to not make a sound.
The two sisters, gasping for breath, listened through the door.
"Someone has activated The Skull of Ungratefulness." They heard a British man's voice. It seemed to belong to one of affluent nature but wasn't one that Elsa recognized.
"It activated its Muggle Alarm, meaning a Muggle is here…" another man said.
Elsa's hand tightened around Anna's wrist.
"And what does the Dark Forces do to intruding muggles?"
In a dark room, although well-furnished and draped, all was quite. Its usual inhabitants weren't present at the moment. Although with cold stone floor and many brass rings hanging on some parts of the stone walls, the furniture made the place flattering to the beholder. Couches and tables invite any who enter, and a large fireplace erected against the wall warms what usually would be cold, given the location of this particular room.
All of a sudden, the green flames coughed out someone, roughly across and onto the coffee table. While many walked in the corridors nearby, no one took notice.
"Man, I'm out of shape" Olaf said. After resting a bit from the ride, he then tried to rearrange his body and use his permanent flurry cloud to fill in the dents and holes that the fire burned on him.
He looked at the room around him. It was dark… but grand.
He carefully climbed off the table onto the ground.
"Ohhhh" Olaf became fascinated by nearby decorative vases.
"Can someone please tell me where am I?" a soot covered Kristoff wandered through a bustling crowd of kids, tweens and teens. However no one paid any attention whatsoever to him. The building they were in, something like a shop of various toy-like things, was too interesting even for them to notice his sooty appearance!
Kristoff looked around in irritation, obviously frustrated and worried about where the girls are.
Suddenly he ducked, as something flew over his head.
Seeing, he found that one kid has thrown a strange toy to another up on the stairs leading to another floor of shelves.
Only then did he notice the strange nature of this 'shop' – kids walking with ease on the walls and ceilings, others eating things that grow stuff on their faces, gadgets that look like…
"Can…?"
"Can I help you sir?" Kristoff turned to see a red-haired man in a dragon-hide jacket casually walk up to him. He was about his height.
"Yes" Kristoff said, relieved. "I…"
"You don't look like you're in a good state, mate" the man noted, scanning Kristoff from head to toe.
Kristoff sighed. "I know, now…"
"If you please sir, step into my office" the man led Kristoff by an arm around the shoulder, "you may just be lucky to have the honor of testing a new product that could solve your problem"
Kristoff groaned.
"How are we gonna get ourselves out of this?" Anna worriedly whispered to Elsa. Both were seated near the door of the smaller dark, musty room they were still hiding in. Elsa had casted a Silencing Charm on it for their safety.
"I don't know" Elsa was desperately trying to come up with an escape plan. If she was alone it was a different story. But trapped with someone like your sister…
"Honestly I didn't picture this when I agreed to…" Anna said quietly to herself, only to receive a tender hand on hers.
"It's the thought that counts" Elsa said softly, "just next time remember that I hate taking chances that'll get us into unnecessary trouble" she joked, thankfully receiving a small smile from Anna.
"Not that you can't handle trouble" Anna quipped.
"I just prefer avoiding it as much as I can"
That brought her to quietly think about what the disoriented artifact just said, nah, just coincidences...
They paused, trying to put their heads together in determining a way out of this situation.
"Is there a window here?" they both said. That made them smile and laugh very quietly.
"Good idea. I'll check." Anna slowly got up but Elsa stopped her, not wanting her to walk into something dangerous lurking in this room.
"I'll do it. You stay here" she firmly said. Anna obeyed and stayed seated.
Lighting a Lumos spell at the tip of her wand, Elsa carefully got up. Thankfully she had thought about changing her dress earlier, to easily move around.
Trying to tiptoe, she looked about the room. It seemed to be a former bedroom – except that many of the furniture were either tattered or missing. The hardwood floor creaked even with softest and most careful step.
Her few steps yielded no satisfactory sight of a window, even small. The glow was too low – just to prevent any chance of the unpleasant inhabitants from seeing it from under the door.
Elsa took a look back at Anna, who was safely watching her while still sitting.
Then she continued stepping into the room.
She noticed very small cracks of sunlight on a wall not very off from where she stood…it must be a window behind a curtain camouflaged against the wall thanks to age. She tried to make quicker but careful steps towards it.
She stopped, almost jumped.
She whirled around.
And then she let out a deep breath.
Anna was just protectively creeping up from behind her, for both their safety.
"Stay close" Elsa whispered.
The two sisters continued creeping to the wall. With the tip of her lit wand she poked at it.
Yes it was an aged curtain. She breathed in relief.
Carefully she drew it more aside. The window seemed big enough for them to climb out, and wasn't too high to prevent them from doing so.
"Let's give it a try…"
They gasped and ducked, after a flash of blue hit the wall just beside Anna's head, shattering and spreading dust and shrapnel into their faces and clothes.
They immediately turned around…
…finding a bulky, deranged looking man standing in the doorway, with his wand steady at them.
Elsa firmly pointed her wand at his face.
"Make no move" she heard the same formal affluent male voice, belonging to one resembling a human-sized leprechaun now walking from behind the first man through the now wide open door.
Elsa lowered her wand. The men do not seem to recognize her, thankfully.
"So we know who's the muggle" a third man entered and gave a small evil laugh.
Elsa bit her lip. Now they cannot try to escape through the window, or risk a death curse thrown at them. She tried using the small amount of time to strategize. Anna just stared at her, wondering why she isn't shooting ice now.
Elsa just stayed attentive and focused on her opponents. She groaned after catching sight of the reason they may have found out about them – soot footprints on the floor.
She tightened herself when the bulky man suggested to the leprechaun-like man that they should kill them now.
He shook his head. "Rather wait for a consensus tonight, with the others"
"You expect us to follow your blimey procedures, Prius? We've survived decades…" the third man growled, receiving a glare from Prius.
Prius? Elsa thought, nope, not one I've seen before nor these other two…so we may have a chance…
"Chaos and lack of order did cause our downfall. Besides," he malevolently took a glance at Anna and then Elsa, "they may be spies. So we may find valuable use out of them"
"Your memory seems to already be failing. Don't you recall that because you blindly stuck with your formalities you're now dropped from Minister to…" the men bickered amongst themselves.
Oh I can see a lot of order here. Elsa thought.
In a blink of a second, as they may have moved to take them…
A giant slab of ice grew in front of them, smacked into their faces and causing them to topple over. Elsa just needed the right moment to act.
"Now!"
The girls turned to dash out the window.
However, they felt the wooden floor give away from beneath. It must have been too much rotten and aged to crack under the icy slab's weight.
"Elsa?!"
In the small, tiny time they had they grabbed each other's hands – before they plunged into the dark floors below.
As the events folded elsewhere, Hogwarts was buzzing on its own – as it underwent repairs, due to the heavy damages it incurred as this was the final location where the closure of the war occurred. Therefore, before the next round of the school term begins it must be rapidly repaired. To do so many volunteers spent days and nights restoring the castle to its former glory.
Many of such volunteers vastly comprised of the Hogwarts' staff and members of the Order of the Phoinex (that is if they are not busy at times elsewhere, in sweeping missions and recovering their own homes and lives from the war). Other spaces were reserved for convicted individuals serving their community service sentences under strict surveillance.
And, not surprisingly, amongst them were many Slytherin students – including Draco Malfoy.
Dust covering his white dress-shirt, and mud and enchanted cement crusted at the bottom of his pant legs, he trudged himself to collapse onto a sofa in the Slytherin Common Room. Besides his good clothes (which basically are the only ones he ever wears) getting ruined and he and his parents, the notable Malfoys, reduced to layman work (even in the premises of those they'd hardly even desire to call 'acquaintance'), fellow students and colleagues were jeering or amused at the sight of this family known for their snobbish, aristocratic pressures and presence onto the Wizarding Community – things just can't get any better.
And all this plus what he'd endured as a Deatheater don't bother Draco – they haunt him.
Exhausted and put off with agitating comments passed between his Slytherin classmates and the other students, Draco desperately took refuge in one of the rooms that hardly needs any attending or repairs – making it perfect to stay alone in. Faces in the castle at the moment do not resemble friends for him right now – not even these past few weeks.
He rubbed his head with aching hands, which were once clean, smooth and white. Drowsiness hung on his head and eyes. Not even bothering with trudging himself up to bed, he dozed off – and once again he hoped he'd stay there – escaped to the land of peace and dreams away from this horrid world of pain and humiliation...
Can I take back that last thought?
The scene was, to put it mildly, revolting. Flower garlands and ribbons vulgarly decorate what seems to be a Hall built especially for parties and balls. People in ball-gowns and coats swept around, some look like close to falling. And judging by the dismal (for him) atmosphere they were selecting partners for a dance commencing in a few minutes.
Then, that weird epiphany one often gets in a dream alerted Draco that it was some sort of 'Easter Ball'. "I don't recall such" he thought to himself, "there's that childish masquerade ball at Halloween, that ball for traditionally announcing an upcoming wedding…not that I've ever made frequent trips to such gatherings…Mother and Father would…in their prime days…"
'What in Salazar's name am I doing here?'
Feeling scratchy paper in the pocket of his dress-robes he 'remembered' that his parents had sent him there, with a list of potential candidates. But…Merlin's sake…it doesn't seem like even the half-breeds are willing to…
"I've already said that I don't dance."
That stern voice had him whirl around. He held his breath.
Just a few people to his side stood a very radiant, graceful young lady. The truest he'd ever seen. She wore an elegant green and pink gown. The skirt wasn't as big as the others but it made them look like they're trying too hard. Her hair wasn't too much done either – it simply spilled thick white-blonde softness over her shoulders and back, with just a small pretty bun nestled at the back of her head. A few strands of green and pink ribbons hung from that bun.
Her fair face was at the moment attempting to not start a quarrel with the evidently affluent man standing before her. Her sapphire eyes glared with such coldness that may give one the indication that she's capable of doing worse. Much worse.
The man simply laughed, "Very well." He arrogantly moved away. "But a princess with that attitude doesn't go very far"
She glared after him.
"Ma'am if I may remind you…" a supervisor from the Ministry started. Few of the people present here have such accommodations.
"No, you may not" she snapped in an authoritative manner, and moved away, creating pink glitters on her studded green lace sleeves.
That manner of hers struck him familiar, especially how admirably she can shrug off self-conceited people like a Ministry worker. She's now reached a wall lined with benches ghastly sprinkled with flowers. Irritated, she brushed some off and sat down. By the look of it all she seems to be here not by choice – he should understand.
"Deception is how the elite world works" Draco helped himself to sit beside her. "But one shouldn't get too much into that habit"
She turned to snap again, but she stopped, making a face of recognition.
"You can't really help that…being surrounded by opportunists" her bitter tone only grew slightly soft.
"You don't seem very happy here" he said curiously.
She scoffed. "Well, I don't really belong here"
"You don't?" he seemed surprised at her sudden honesty.
She shrugged, "I don't really know myself why. I think I should feel otherwise"
"We all have our ways of feeling out of place" he causally added. He should know that…whether or not others notice.
Then, for a moment he felt a smirk grow on his face, not really remembering the last time he felt this way. "I may not be that much of an opportunist, but I am curious, all the same."
She looked up at him, clearly knowing where he's going. After a while, "I'm afraid…"she got up carefully. A totally different reaction from the other offers.
He responded by rising and blocking her way. She glared at him. "Not that I'd think you're not a princess if you don't, but I do think you need some brushing up on your public conduct – generally speaking"
She kept her face neutral, but he could see the cracks of shyness. A few strands of hair had slipped over her face.
"Will you dance with me?" After brushing them away, he offered his hand. The response was them gracefully gliding across the hall, to the gentle charming music of piano and flute.
Never before had he felt such a wonderful moment worth his time – not even the Yule Ball in his fourth year was such. Come to think of it, he doesn't recall seeing her there.
She didn't do as awful as she may have gotten others to believe. No – she did perfect. Wonderful even. This allowed her to gaze at his amused face, only averting when she was made to spin, making her skirt open up like an umbrella. And only to Draco she seems to be doing a very bad attempt at masking her, how would you say it – lack of disappointment.
That face. Those eyes. He remembers them. Past the turmoil and fog of blood, screams, death and any sort of tormenting horror the Dark Forces ever held…something that subtly but often told him he can move on. That he's not destined to be landed in St Mungo's or Azkaban. When he had almost forgotten his own date of birth, broom model and mother's maiden name, he faintly remembered her – now so more clearly.
What is her name? He's only said it a few times throughout the times he's seen her. Would now be a bad time to ask her? It is very insulting to dance with someone without knowing the name.
The ghastly décor, to everyone's (except theirs) disappointment, vanished. In its place appeared beaded curtains of ice, snow-covered pillars, evergreen trees, and fresh snow coming from the ceiling – basically that's what he could catch for now. As if spring can be found in winter.
Her name! It had a certain sound to it. It had made him feel hopeful, for the first time in forever. 'Hope' is a girl's name, right? No, that's not hers. Hers had strength…exquisiteness… firmness… hidden tenderness… maybe a tad bit of pride…by God what was it?
"If I may say something…"
"What?" snow was lightly sprinkled on her face.
"You're beautiful. Forgive me if I'm being too blunt"
She blinked.
He kissed her on the cheek, and then shortly after he walked away quietly when the music stopped, without a formal sign of leave, for a dramatic effect, curious about what expression she'd make past the bustling crowd…
Now what was before a frosty fair face was a face right across on the next couch – literally made of frost?
Whatever that creature is sat patiently like a child, watching him carefully. Did he just make a huge grin?
MERLIN'S BEARD!
Shocked and wide awake, Draco fell off the couch, nearly colliding with the coffee table between them.
"Oh sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!" to his horror the absurd little thing rushed over to him. Did it just speak? "Are you alright?"
Draco looked at himself. Thank the Lord I wasn't sleep-dancing!
Then he gasped as the thing's wooden hands felt across his face. "Where does it hurt?"
"Right here if you don't…" he attempted to point at the creature's head, but was terribly taken aback at his finger being able to sink into its snowy form.
The snowy little monster cocked his head. "You don't look really happy"
Draco was about to make a response, when he heard footsteps. The last thing now is for a Slytherin to find him with…
"If you value your life I suggest you hide" Draco growled.
"Where?" the creature said after a gasp.
Before Draco could irritably reply he turned to see if the intruder had entered yet. Thankfully when he turned back the thing was gone.
"Malfoy? …I thought I'd find you here" it was just Blaise Zabini, looking tired and messy, but not really as much as Draco.
"Where else?" Draco replied bitterly.
Blaise dropped himself onto the couch. "Thank Slytherin this wasn't a life sentence…"
"Speak for yourself" Draco sat on the opposite couch. "No sooner will I rejoin my parents in reassembling those pitiable dwellings people like the Weasleys call 'homes'" Draco rubbed his face.
Blaise shrugged. True he kind of is better off, with his mother and him only sentenced for a few months of community service – not like the Malfoys who got not only over a year's worth of sentence but also half their wealth taken for community repairs and fines, not to mention their Manor under temporary siege and mass investigation."The sooner the better we finish rebuilding this stone hut…"
"Yes! It's really hard to imagine how this place is only made of stone"
Blaise looked confused while Draco made a face of exasperated defeat.
"I wonder which kind. Sandstone? Not Marble – how about biotite…"
They both rose, and turned their heads to the source of the voice.
"Am I right? Sorry I couldn't find anywhere to hide"
Shocked, Blaise drew out his wand, only to be stopped by Draco. "It's just a misplaced enchanted creature. He won't bite" he said irritably. Not that he cared. He's just taking his frustration out onto Blaise's reaction.
"I am?" the thing said in a fascinated way, looking at himself, "Well, I am kind of lost"
Blaise raised his eyebrows while Draco rolled his eyes.
Catching sight of their expressions, the thing said, "I think we got off to a bad start" He cleared his throat, "Let's start over. Hi everyone. I'm Olaf, and I like warm hugs"
He opened his wooden arms for a hug but they merely stared at him.
"Nice to meet you Olaf, I'm Blaise Zabini" Blaise said in a mocking way, stepping forward to shake his hand. However Olaf didn't catch Blaise's tone.
"And you are…" Olaf turned his attention to Draco.
"A poor lost soul" Draco said dramatically.
Olaf made a funny face. "That's not a name! It doesn't suit you"
Draco groaned.
"Is it 'Eustace'?
Draco made a face-palm. "No it's 'Draco'. Now will you…" he felt his blood pressure rising. However Blaise cut in, offering him to move to the side a bit.
"Malfoy, take it easy. All we need to do is find out where that thing belongs and take it back" he said like it was a simple solution.
"You expect us to waltz through the halls in front of the masses carrying that?"
"Good point – but at least let's decide where to stash him, then we'll find the best bag or box to do so"
Draco took a deep breath, "Fine. Now exactly where?"
"Why don't we ask him?"
Draco stared at Blaise. He shrugged.
"Excuse me, but where do you want to be?" Draco put on a fake polite voice.
"Ohhhh, maybe in the fields – so green and soft – with many pretty flowers to give to my friends – and have picnics with them –" Olaf went on dreamily.
"Not the best move" Blaise tried this time, clearing his throat to silence Olaf. "We mean where you want to be in - in this castle"
Olaf now went into deep thought. "Wait, give me a minute"
Impatient after what felt like five minutes, Draco took to taking an arm off of Olaf to inspect it, wondering what sort of bizarre magic is he. No sooner did it smack him.
"Hey! Stop it, Draco. I'm trying to focus here" Olaf grabbed back his arm. "What rooms are there here?"
"Blaise…" One hand rubbing his face Draco used the other to pull Blaise aside. "Let's just toss him into a classroom"
"How about that giant's hut?"
"Too long of a pathway. Someplace closer"
"Potions…no he'll find his way back here…"
"I can't read…or spell" They found Olaf gazing up at a silky green Slytherin banner, written in Latin.
"So we can't put him in the History of Magic or Arithmacy classroom" Blaise concluded.
"Why do you look so unhappy?" Olaf stepped in between them, worriedly gazing up at Draco.
"Does he look happy?" Draco irritably pointed at Blaise, having too much of this cushy nonsense.
Olaf studied him, "Well…yeah. I mean, not sad or really depressed like you"
Out of irritation, Draco didn't say anything.
"Maybe a warm hug will make you feel better" Olaf gave a tight hug onto his legs.
Draco had his fingers rubbing his forehead. This… can't… be… happening….
He glared at Blaise, who couldn't help to not snicker.
"You know, with a flick of this, you might just as well become a puddle, right at the spot you are currently standing on" Draco said in a cold, quiet voice, with his new wand held for Olaf to see.
That didn't quiver Olaf. Instead, fascinated, he began gazing at and gently feeling the wand. "Hey! Elsa has something like this too. Only more on the maroon side"
Of course…that's where this little cushy…wait…
"Should we stuff him into the Divinations' classroom? I think they'll love…"
Draco paused. "I'll think about it" he half-heartedly said.
If it weren't for the mound of snow Elsa quickly made under them they would have suffered fractures. Maybe concussions too.
They however couldn't prevent the ice slab from falling down with them, creating a greater height of fall through the many equally rotten wood floors.
That is until they hit hard cement. Perhaps in the strange house's cellar or basement.
Lying in the snowy mound after the fall, they rested a bit for recovery. Some planks of wood did manage to topple over them but at least they didn't do great harm.
Elsa leaned over to check on Anna. "Are you ok?"
"Peachy" Anna said, sitting up and not letting her spinning head get to her.
Elsa looked up at the many holes they created. Those men did fall for a while after they got hit – so hopefully they are knocked out for a while so we can get enough time to get out of here – that is if no one else is lurking in this place.
"Now what?" Anna carefully got up after Elsa, trying to not trip from the snow.
"Find a way out of this place" Elsa simply replied.
They scanned the place. It was indeed a dark basement. Although it was filled with many boxes and objects, making it have various nooks and crannies instead of being simply an empty basement of an inhabitable house.
"There's a door there" Anna pointed to a far side of the place. She went ahead and tried to open it.
"Any luck?" Elsa asked, watching Anna make several attempts.
Anna turned to shake her head.
"Let me try" she made to move forward.
Elsa suddenly froze, hearing a muffled protest.
Whirling around, she saw that Anna was equally wondering where that sound is coming from.
Dust settled on basically everything. Some boxes even looked damaged from the falling debris.
It seems to be coming from…under a pile of toppled boxes just barely in the corner.
"Elsa?" Anna sounded worried, stepping away from the door.
Elsa stayed protectively in front of her sister. It sounded like a person was trapped somewhere under there. And given the unpleasant, murderous sounds of their pursuers, odds are 'most likely'.
Something that looked like a cracked coffin was shaking and trembling with each sound, like someone was desperately trying to get out.
The protests were indeed coming from the coffin.
"Elsa…"
Judging by the sounds, it must be an alive, sane and non-bewitched person…
Suddenly, with another powerful push the cement lid was forcefully pushed off. Anna gasped. Elsa just took a few quick steps back and tried to not scream.
Instantly a man stumbled out, looking very dusty and grubby. However it didn't mask his red-hair.
"Blimey that was a tight space" the red-haired man coughed "Should remember what it felt like the next time we plan another…"
He paused, catching sight of the girls. "Oh…so who do I owe the save for?" he climbed himself up, somewhat clumsily but that didn't falter his words. "Except that it could've been well off if you loosened that thing earlier. Oh well. Mum should be please that I passed a few weeks worth of patience in that darn thing"
Elsa suddenly had a hit of realization.
"Are you George Weasley?…or Fred?"
The tall Weasley laughed. "Take another guess"
She felt Anna walk up from behind her, feeling more comfortable that it was just someone Elsa knows – from the good side.
Before Elsa could, the man suddenly cut in.
"Oi! You must be a friend of Ginny's! One of them who she runs off for from me and George" he said while pointing a finger at her in certainty.
"So it's Fred?" Anna said.
Fred turned his attention to Anna.
"This is my sister, Anna"
"Had a feeling" he stole a glance at his clothes. "Shouldn't worry about not looking presentable, given we're all in need of a makeover" he joked, referring to the sight of the soot covered girls. "But it's equally a pleasure" he warmly shook their hands.
"How did you get into that?"
"Good question." He upturned a box to sit on it for a little rest. "During some bloody Rampage some snake scum quietly made off with me to their cozy little lair the Malfoys fashioned for them. They were more than delighted on killing me, except that some who thought themselves better decided to keep a hold on me – believing that I was one of those very close to Potter and may give them some useful info. Except that the only things me and George ever did for the Knight in Shining Armor was supply him with a couple of knickknacks here and there for emergency purposes."
He rubbed a bit of dirt from his hands. "So they fed me some sort of serum and I guess stuffed me in this lovely suite" he patted the coffin next to him, "and probably forgot me altogether. Maybe not…I only woke up a couple of weeks ago and waited for a hero to rescue me from this dreadful predicament" He looked at the girls. "How's that? Pretty sure Percy's going to demand a full-fledged Wizardgamot for the thugs who did that to his 'favorite' brother."
The girls giggled.
A thought crossed Elsa's mind, this can't be Malfoy Manor. Even if tattered it wouldn't look like this.
"Now what?" Anna asked.
Fred was too busy wondering, "I missed out an assumption I just had about where I was taken to" he looked around as he got up, "this is nowhere even near the marble-crusted Malfoy Pit. Maybe for 'security purposes' they dropped me off somewhere else. I must confess that I didn't have any Wheezes products on me at the time, so I couldn't have been potentially very dangerous. Come to think of it…I don't have my wand on me either" he fished through his pockets. "Percy should give me some time to practice my Claim…"
They heard noises from above.
"Ok…we can all figure out what to do next, after we get out of here" Anna politely stated, trying to reduce her nervousness.
"Listen to the boss" Fred joked, but then went to being more serious.
A sickly-brown colored flash of light shot from the holes above through the ceiling to the cellar below. The three were momentarily taken aback, seeing the spell immerse into the many whole and cracked boxes toppled throughout the room.
To avoid trouble, Fred stood where the girls are, in front of the door.
The wooden boxes shook.
They broke themselves into many pieces, scattering various contents on the floor.
The three stared at it all in confusion.
However…the planks moved…to form various…miniature…sharply clawed and bloodthirsty looking enchanted forms. They all made high-pitched snarls upon seeing the three.
"Wait…WHAT?" a shocked Anna cried.
They all advanced towards their targets. However, they were all…limping…perhaps their creator didn't do very well.
Elsa quickly tried an Alohomora on the door – yielding unsatisfactory results.
"Won't work mate" Fred glanced at the creatures now a foot from them.
What to do? What to do? What to…
Elsa glanced at the fractured ceiling.
"Brace yourselves!" she cried to the others.
Before they could ask, Elsa handed Anna her wand.
She formed a big ball of icy-blue light between her hands, causing the little makeshift monsters to pause.
Said ball…shot out as blinding sheets. This grew glowing cracks in the ceiling. The monsters looked up, but were too daft to retreat and avoid getting flattened for good. Thankfully she remembered to keep the one above their own heads from toppling on theirs.
"Wicked" Fred said in fascination under his breath.
"There's our way out!"
Soon, she made simple snow steps to climb to the next floor, careful to not step on any fractured platform.
"You know these guys are not as tough as I recall" Anna thought aloud as they climbed and walked their way through the musty corridors and rooms to the front door.
"You can say that again" Fred said, opening the door for them, "apparently the one in charge here I recall is some sort of sophisticated snot-rag, who didn't really pass in 'Human Resource Management' or something like that"
They paused to glance around. It was afternoon, but the sky and setting made it too gloomy to be one. Stretched before them at the base of the entryway stairs was a coarse pathway full of pebbles.
Alert, they carefully walked through.
"Do you think they left?" Anna asked.
"I don't think so" Elsa said.
She was right. For soon, a gruesome wind blew right in their direction, blowing leaves and tiny pebbles everywhere.
Trying to block the debris from entering their faces, they quickly retreated through the pathway. However they didn't notice the break in the path, leading them through a small steel gate.
When the wind died own they dropped their hands and arms.
Finding themselves in…
…a hilly graveyard.
"Before our time?" Fred quipped.
"I think they just want to get rid of us, while they retreat" Elsa concluded.
"It's only too bad that they left one behind to save their own bottoms." They whirled to find the bulky man leaning on a grave-stone.
"Run!" Elsa told the others. They took off, while Elsa remained behind to fight the man for them to get away.
He laughed "What are you going to…?"
He made a startled jump to the side, finding that the stone he was leaning on was now crusted in ice.
He shot a murderous stare at her, drawing his own wand.
"Avara Kadavara!"
She deflected that with another gust.
"A unikinetic?" the man was startled. But he quickly regained his focus for continuing their combat.
Meanwhile…
"Stay asleep, stay asleep, stay asleep…" Anna chanted as she carefully ran across the grave-stones.
"Even if they come out they can't hear you"
"Better than nothing…"
They screeched to a halt.
They heard and felt rumbling from below.
"Uhhhhh….."
The ground began cracking open at some parts. Anna gasped.
Vines began erupting from the ground, and reaching for them.
Fred looked down, to notice something on the floor.
"Love it when litter is put to good use" he picked up a thick rod, and began bashing away the thick vines within their reach.
While he was doing that, Anna began flicking Elsa's wand. "How does this thing work?"
"Won't if you're a mug…" he ducked. A fiery gust barely missed his head. It hit the front most vines and they began to burn.
"Ha! It worked!" Anna cheered.
But some, still on fire, continued to reach for them. They continue backing up.
Anna's back hit a rather large tombstone, while Fred continued bashing them.
Suddenly…
"Eeek!"
Fred turned around, finding that a skeleton mounted on the tombstone grabbed Anna, lifted her up, and stopped.
"Help!"
He blinked. Then went back to the vines.
"What?"
"Better you stay out of trouble and distraction"
"Why you!?" At least Kristoff's nicer! Anna could have pointed the wand but her hands were too busy near her neck.
"Anna!"
A sudden gust of blue froze the vines mid in their attempts. Fred turned, breathing hard, to find Elsa now trying to break the skeleton off of Anna.
"There. She's safe and sound" Fred said.
Anna glared at him, just before she landed back onto the floor with a thud.
"Are you ok?" Elsa bent over Anna.
"Fine.' She rubbed her throat, "Here's your wand."
"Where'd our good chaperone go?"
"He just disapperated. I don't know…"
"Don't move!"
They found themselves surrounded (Anna threw her hands up in surrender) – by several uniformed men who broke through the vines and now kept their wands steady at them.
Elsa breathed in relief. She recognized the uniforms as Ministry Aurors.
She noticed that some others went straight to the strange house.
Elsa groaned, "Why does trouble always have to find me?"
Anna could only shrug.
Now they sat in a large dark office, the three of them sharing a single, large desk. In front of them were one more desk and then one shorter desk facing them, perhaps for an attorney or officer.
Now, looking at the desk, even though they all were terribly messy, they all made completely different reactions to their current situation.
Fred was just drumming his fingers and looking around – like he's used to getting into trouble; Elsa sat in the middle, composedly worried about what's going to happen now to them; Anna, now very annoyed with Fred, sat on the other side of Elsa and was equally worried although she's curiously gazing around the office, which is decorated differently than any room in Arendelle. And only one officer was in the room to monitor them until the others arrive.
Finally, the door opened, with a big bang.
The first to enter was a secretary and a tall, Afro-British man in a blue cloak.
Next coming in were a couple of more Ministry workers – ready to take notes or refer to pre-existing records.
Then…
Elsa stood up, surprising Anna and the worker supervising them. However, Fred too stood up.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, George, Ron, Ginny…basically the entire Weasley family, being led by Percy, entered. The Weasley Seniors stood in the most shock, upon seeing Fred.
It was George who stepped forward. Fred immediately got up from his seat, not bothering with asking for permission for doing so.
Elsa couldn't catch the exchange between the brothers. Because, she felt Anna move past her suddenly. "Sorry" she quickly said.
Then she noticed why. Kristoff stepped out from the crowd, looking a bit covered in suds.
"Anna!"
Anna grabbed Kristoff in a tight hug. He immediately responded.
Elsa smiled at the sight, managing to only catch that George was shooting detailed questions at Fred, receiving satisfactory answers. Then only after did he lock Fred in a tight brotherly hug. Mrs. Wealsey began crying and receiving comforting pats from her husband, before joining everyone in an emotional family hug around Fred. Only then did Elsa notice that Ginny was at first holding the hand of Harry Potter, like Ron was at first standing next to Hermione Granger.
Looking at Ginny, Elsa figured they're a perfect match – a tough but compassionate and smart girl with someone who's not only a magnet for trouble but also runs knowingly into it. As for Ron and Hermione – she doesn't really know them, so she cannot say.
After a while, Anna took a big sniff. "Kristoff…you smell like…coconuts?"
"Yeah…about that…" Kristoff still hugged Anna. "…don't ask"
"Actually…I like it" she said, still keeping him close.
"See sir, the Soap Bomb immediately, with one throw, reverses your state…" George said after the family hug finished.
"Excuse me?" Anna cut in.
"Isn't that a little contradictory to our company goals?" Fred inquired.
"Well, we were thinking of tapping ourselves into the chivalry market."
Anna rolled her eyes.
The sounds of a throat clearing jolted everyone back to the present. Elsa found it, unfortunately, from Umbridge.
"Let's begin our tribunal, shall we?"
"What? Tribunal? What in Merlin's beard…?" Mr. Weasley suddenly asked, only to be told to quietly sit down.
"Princess Elsa of Arendelle…" the tall man spoke after seating himself at the desk facing everyone.
Elsa could feel the surprised unanimous look directed at her. Thankfully she felt more comfortable after Anna and Kristoff took seats at her desk.
The man said something about information derived from a Deatheater during a recent Wizardgamot Trial…
"…that you were present in the folds of the Dark Forces…"
"Wait, what?"
"…in an attempt by the Dark Lord to obtain use from your unikinetic powers to aid their ill agendas and movements. Do you deny said claims?"
Before Elsa could reply, Anna stood up. "It's true but she was abducted and perfectly innocent"
The man looked at Anna in a stern but understanding way. It was Umbridge who told her to stay silent.
"It's ok Anna" Elsa gently said. Anna sat down.
"Then explain our inability to reach you via floo powder, to handle this outstanding issue earlier rather than few months late" Umbridge said like she was taking over the man's post.
"Because we destroyed both floo powder channels situated in our Arendelle castle in an attempt to prevent the Dark Forces from making any further entry into our home. Due to the heavy surveillance by the Dark Forces and the presence of a spy placed by Voldemort, by the name of Barty Crouch Jr to be exact, in our own home, neither we were able to call for help nor alert you afterwards. The minute we had a chance we drove out the spy and severed all links with Britain"
Everyone, impressed, stared at Elsa, who said all that straightforward.
"Then why now the floo powder system is working for you?"
"That…" Elsa looked at Anna.
"That'll be all, Umbridge" the man scolded her finally. "Let the Minister do the talking"
Wait…Elsa stared at the man. Oh…they must have gotten themselves a new one.
"Kingsley, it is obvious that these girls are innocent" Mr. Weasley stood up. "For one thing, they saved our Fred. And we thought he was killed during the war but it seems that it was an imposter place in our midst"
Ginny nodded firmly. Elsa smiled at her. She figured that maybe Fred is the reason they think that way…or at least Ginny would still know Elsa to not be one to join the dark side.
Kingsley, surprisingly, didn't get annoyed with him. Instead he nodded. "The evidence that supports them does outweigh the evidence against them, Arthur. The integrity of such evidence has been confirmed after the statement declared by the convicted" He began scanning the notes, so to counter the disappointed looks from many including Umbridge.
"First and foremost, signs of her presence and unikinetic powers were not detected during any major Deathear Rampage, nor during the final war at Hogwarts.
Also, while she was found recently at the old Riddle House, were it seems to be where Deatheaters still at large but shattered in their resources are trying to regroup and stash many stolen artifacts, many of which we've just recently uncovered, she was not found in their favor. Rather she was attacked with her sister, and escaped along with another prisoner."
Everything was quiet for a moment, as Kingsley shuffled through more papers. "However, I must agree with Umbridge," she stood proudly, finally, "that the sudden repair of their floo channels remains dubious. For obtaining unbiased results, we will now be sending some officers to Arendelle to examine the place. Just to ensure no other business was conducted for the Dark Forces – financial resources… you know"
The last was said with polite clarification to Elsa, like they just wanted to make sure.
"Can't they just read our minds?" Anna whispered to Elsa.
"You can tamper with the results" Elsa answered.
"In the mean time, it would be wise for us to continue with our recently implemented policies – and initiate a sentence of a few months worth of community service for you" Kingsley began wrapping up his papers, conscious of the unanimous look of surprise.
Before an annoying worker could protest, Kingsley announced, "The evidence and course of actions made evident in this Tribunal makes the need for a Wizardgamot, as well as a more severe sentence for any connection with the Dark Forces, unnecessary"
Everyone rose.
"May I ask the nature of the sentence?" Elsa asked.
Kingsley looked up…and smiled.
"How would you like to help in the restoration of Hogwarts?"
Elsa froze.
"We do need more volunteers…" Kingsley began talking with the other workers.
Hogwarts…music to my ears!
"I guess we'll be seeing you soon." Ginny walked up, giving Elsa a tight and friendly hug after years.
"Hopefully" Elsa laughed with Ginny. Molly Weasley came forward gave her a motherly hug. "Take care, dear" she said as they departed from the room. The twins shot thumbs up and waved at her and Anna.
"Actually…would you please wait a bit, Arthur" Kingsley said, stopping the others from leaving. "We'd like to confirm if the deceased 'Fred' was indeed an imposter"
"Alright" Arthur replied.
"They actually replaced me? I feel flattered" Fred said, stepping out with George. They had arms slung around each other. "And I'd love to see the funeral accommodations you made for…" he received a punch in the arm from Ginny.
"Don't you think they're just covering up for their own mistakes?" Anna said.
"Mmm-Hmm" Elsa nodded, making sure the workers didn't hear them.
"Thought so. Dad did say a thing or two about their weirdness to Mom" Anna recapped.
What did Luna once said? Oh yes…'Politics'.
Now it was just Anna, Elsa and Kristoff left in the room, along with a few workers. They stood up to leave, only to be told to stay for a bit.
"We still have to make accommodations for your sentence." Umbridge said, with others now organizing and taking out new papers.
Elsa saw that Anna's face fell. "What's wrong, Anna?"
"Um…I honestly thought this trip was going to be, you know, more…pleasant"
Elsa's face stopped Anna; it had a look of surprise at what Anna was saying.
"Are you kidding me? I've been waiting for something like this in a long while, Anna!" she hugged her sister.
Holding onto this absurd little midget was a BAD idea, after all.
It was two days later. Said midget was now waddling between Draco and Blaise, through the most vacant corridors they could find. They desperately are now attempting to stuff him in Hagrid's hut – where he'd stay, hopefully.
And don't ask why Olaf is not in a bag or box – they tried that, and the rather fat snow-midget cannot stay still let alone fit in one.
Plus if the thing was not humming a cringing song about 'summers' and 'picnics' and 'bees', it was quarrelling with Blaise.
"You're just a little mound of snow"
"Yeah, why?"
"You're not from around here, are you?"
"No, why?"
"You don't seem to have a real brain"
"Yeah and no, why?"
"For the love of…!" Draco cut in, as he just couldn't take it anymore. Taking a deep breath, he retained his cool. "Alright, let's make a deal"
"Oh I don't have a wallet on me right now" Olaf searched himself.
Draco rubbed his forehead again. How thick can these creatures be? Blaise this time avoided snickering again.
He proceeded, "If you don't take yourself to Hagrid's Hut in five minutes then…"
"Where is that?"
"What do I look like? A map?"
"Wait…" Olaf went into realizing something – hopefully for Draco that he's figured a way out of his sight.
"I'm not leaving you until we find out a way to make you feel better!" Olaf firmly said, setting himself firm against his legs. "You have any ideas?"
Opening his mouth, Draco was certain it would be fire.
However neither fire nor words managed to escape, for just then the sounds of a commotion and a crowd gathering entered the corridors.
Excellent…very excellent…
A u-turn was unwise, given that now people were joining from behind them, pushing them to a location of interest.
"Stay in front!" Draco quietly growled at Olaf.
"Ok! Where are we going?" Olaf cheerily asked.
Draco and Blaise were too busy getting caught into the crowd to answer. Everyone seemed too preoccupied to notice them with…
"…an utter disgrace!..." they caught Professor McGonagall's angry voice.
Soon they reached the source. Apparently even staff and the Headmistress arrived at the place the enchanted cement was being mixed. The workers' clothes were crusted with splatters of the mixture – Hannah Abbot looking like she was literally dunked in it unlike the others.
"Do you acknowledge that your actions may have cost the life of a fellow student?!"
Although he couldn't see, Draco knew well she was yelling at some Slytherins.
"As for you, Miss Elsa, as remarkable as you're powers are…"
His ears shot up. Finally he noticed that the Slytherins in trouble were locked in ice up to their waists.
"…do you think it's wise to use them to inflict punishment?"
Draco and Blaise's heads snapped down, seeing that Olaf was making his way through the crowd forward.
"Leave him" Blaise said.
"We do acknowledge the fact that you've helped prevent Miss Abbott's demise, but…"
They heard a pause in McGonagall's voice. Evident, along with the murmuring among the crowd now, that the snowy monster had made it to the front to its owner.
"We cannot have more mess than we already are in" McGonagall concluded. Then she made orders for the Slytherin culprits to be put into extreme detention.
Soon the crowd broke. Before he left with Blaise, Draco took one glance, finding Elsa, now cuddling Olaf, almost alone and looking embarrassed and frustrated.
After gaining permission from McGonagall, Elsa went to have Olaf safely returned to Arendelle – through the Headmaster's office floo. And Elsa does not blame her for being so edgy and tense compare to before – she's been through and handling quite enough already.
She paused to gaze around the office. McGonagall certainly didn't alter it, although many of the strange trinkets and astronomical devices were replaced with more books and some transfiguration and simple decoration pieces (simple vases, etc) she recalled were in McGonagall's old office – where she often went to for her real DADA tutorials if not the DADA professor's office.
Her attention went back to Olaf when he asked her, "You'll be aright alone?"
She smiled, "I won't be alone. My friends will be here" she somewhat lied. They'd hardly be there, for as much as they loved to be here often, Ginny and Luna have their own homes to recover, plus as 'heroes' they're often summoned by the Ministry for discussions about chances of Deatheater retaliation.
"Ok" he went closer to the fireplace. "You know a lot of people here look sad"
"That's because they're still trying to get things normal after the war" she said, then tried to change the subject. "You were fine with it before?"
Olaf moved his hand in a 'so-so' way. "But at that time it was still broken"
"Now it isn't. Just remember to think of the one in the Banquet Hall" before Anna and Kristoff returned there they had the Ministry confirm if the fireplace was hastily repaired after the trolls learned of the accident – plus make accommodations this time that no unwanted characters sneak into Arendelle again.
She lifted Olaf into the fireplace. It was still a wonder that McGonagall trusted Elsa to use the place by herself, despite her 'association' with the Dark Forces. She's nice and sensible enough to know that she's perfectly innocent.
"One more thing…" Elsa handed him a letter capsule built especially for delivery through the floo. "For Anna"
"A letter?"
She nodded.
"Take care" they gave each other a tight and warm embrace, plus a huge smile from Olaf before he disappeared through the green flames. They shouldn't hurt him too much now.
She turned to leave. Before reaching the door she paused.
There hung a new portrait among those of predecessor headmasters.
Albus Dumbledore…seated in the warm red chair. He caught sight of Elsa and smiled.
She could only smile back. Before leaving. There's nothing to say or ask – at least for now.
Draco sat on damp rock, staring at a pitiful image reflecting off the water. He didn't even bother with sheltering himself from the pouring rain, unlike during his glorious days where he wouldn't have even sweet rainwater ruin his expensive, good-quality clothes and robes. He just sat there, at the edge of the cliff facing the Black Lake that stretched far and wide from the Hogwarts grounds.
Drenched, all he could see was something that only looked like a human. Practically worth nothing now. Something that used to think that his family name is practically his spear to privileges, attention…
Now that name is shattered. Tainted. No one pass by now without giving him or his parents a black or suspicious stare for their involvements in the Dark Forces – as if anytime they can strike the minute you turn your back. Be it teacher, student, colleague…
Basically, what else is left for this ex-deatheater who narrowly escaped Azkaban? He figured that things would be probably better off for him if he just died there, if not during the war. Rather than live to endure and witness basically the eternal stain and guilt his family now holds. His godfather Snape didn't deserved to die the way he did. Draco was even surprised that Snape was even ready to lay his own life for him, of all the pathetic, self-absorbed… Snape at least had a noble cause - no, two - in whatever he did for the Dark Forces…
Draco shuddered. Now he felt more than humiliated. He felt embarrassed. She was brave. Strong. Completely unlike him. The minute she had a chance she strutted out of Voldemort's sight. What did he do? Nothing. He didn't even have the guts to look at Voldemort's face. Let alone stand up to him or run off to join Saint Potter…
Draco let a fresh drop of tear onto his soaked face. Of all the things he regretted in his past…He nudged himself for not noticing how strikingly capable she was - during classes, exams, countering taunting…now she's a figure of what he's not…he wouldn't blame her if she sees him as the majority do – weak, cowardly...
Meanwhile, almost on a different edge of the Lake stood the boathouse, near completion of repairs. And while everyone took refuge in the vast rooms of Hogwarts, Elsa remained behind on the upper floor of the boathouse, watching the sheets of water fall and create circles onto the lake's surface while she repaired boats up there. She hardly even noticed that fellow classmates who were with her in this task had already left before the rain started. But with the castle literally half empty, and the majority of people there are those you either don't know or are quite more than unfriendly, plus your friends not always present there too, one couldn't help find a better place to try – than outside watching the rain.
Isn't it amazing that, all this time it was Voldemort who attempted to seal chances of me coming back? Am I really that much of a threat? That's a good thing, in some ways. I can't really believe that I'm really back! Back to this beautiful place.
She recapped her visit to the graveyard with the Weasleys, after the 'accommodations' paperwork was finalized. While Fred and George were shooting crude jokes and admitting that George had a funny feeling about the fake Fred being an imposter (i.e. his answer to George's question "You ok, Freddy?" on the night of the war was too straightforward – it could have been something like 'never better'), Elsa stared at and placed flowers on the graves – of Remus Lupin and Severus Snape. It was a bit of a shock to find her favorite DADA professor dead. It was more so tragic to find that he was killed after only a year of marriage (and recently having a son). She does not know Nymphadora Tonks, but while placing flowers on hers too she figured they were once a happy couple, and knew that they died together.
About Snape…he must have been brave. She was told by Ginny that he worked undercover with the Dark Forces. Undercover…I guess that's why she never saw him at the Manor or even if he did find out he couldn't do anything to help. Yes, brave and noble…for someone cold like him…indeed.
I missed Hogwarts. But things kind of feel weird here…I don't feel different with my friends, but everyone else seems otherwise…
Rainwater dampened the wooden structure of the boathouse. This created a humid but somewhat pleasant odor.
Now it's kind of bugging me, she thought to herself, now that Anna is settled and her safety is guaranteed, what else I can strive for in life? I guess it's getting more used to being who I am (laughs) compare to how reserved I was at Hogwarts. To explore what other fascinating things with and beyond my powers exist for me to uncover and call my own.
After a while she got up and walked closer to where the edge of the canopied wooden floor meets the outdoors. She extended her hand out to feel the falling water.
It's fascinating how things simply fall from the sky.
Satisfied she made her way to the ladder that leads to the first floor of the boathouse.
She grabbed the rigs, climbing down carefully.
At Arendelle, things have gotten better. But before, I was taken as a potential hazard because of my powers. Now, being back here, I am only known and greeted for my reason to drop-out of Hogwarts. Thank God only my friends and sister knows the real me, but they are not always there compared to the world of…at least they aren't as obnoxious as the Ministry regarding my unpleasant time with… but everyone else seems to remind and identify me only for my reason to leave Hogwarts. My parents' death, my sister… And not just the childish Slytherins…I don't expect praises but…
Reaching the first floor, she walked over to the end of the boathouse. At the point where it meets the outdoors so boats can row in or out of the structure.
She sat down at the edge, her feet barely touching the surface of the water. Gazing at the falling water, she stole a glance at her reflection.
…can't I ever be taken for who I am, not what I've been through or what I am?
Draco would be sticking his fingers in his ears, but he's too busy plastering the doorway in a dungeon corridor to do so.
Today was a Saturday. Saturdays are not normally bad. No not at all. Except that it has become the most dreadful day of the week.
The ghosts dwelling in Hogwarts get to sing so to enlighten and boost the spirits of the volunteers.
Yes. Indeed. Of course. Boost them to desperately want to throw something at them or demand silence. Truly unfortunate that anything thrown flies through them. Not only that, it incites the ghosts into not only singing more but even louder.
Not that Peeves isn't found leading a depressive chorus. Just luckily not the one which is positioned over the group of students plastering the holes in the dungeons.
Draco was having his own woes from the dismal voices ringing in his ears from noticing how the others are taking it. He just knows that most of them share his feelings.
He made a startled gasp, clinging onto the ladder he was standing on.
"Watch it!" he angrily retorted on the Slytherin classmate who was supposed to be holding the ladder steady but was too preoccupied in airing his own grievances.
Before he could reply, Draco climbed down. "Have your share"
Being a younger classmate he obeyed. However Draco didn't make to hold the ladder steady for him. Instead, he slinked away from the group, to recover himself from the curse placed above them.
That proved to be much more difficult than he thought. Every ten or twenty steps he took only decreased the miserable sounds by so, so little. They basically echoed throughout the dungeons! Like the cold stone walls and floors are singing with them!
Draco figured that he should run back to the common room, up his dormitory and bury himself in the covers. If he retreated to any other part of the castle he'd have to face the others playing the same horrible notes. Not even the grounds are safe.
Should I first grab a sleeping serum to ensure the plan works…
Something that sounded much more angelic mixed with the devilish notes, causing him to look around in a startled way. Am I dying?
He caught sight of a white blonde-head emerge from one corridor down his own, however she moved in the opposite direction.
Carrying a big bag Elsa walked down the corridor. Her face was like she was politely cringing from the dismal notes echoing through the dungeons.
But despite her set jaws, he faintly heard music escape from her mouth. Beautiful music…like she was replacing the horrid notes from entering her ears…they may need to take lessons from her.
Following her, staying a bit far behind, he could only catch some lines.
Don't let the world tell….
When you follow your heart, there's no heart you can't win
…Don't fear to fall
Take a chance, it's better than nothing at all
…you've just begun
Don't let them tell you it simply isn't done…
To his dismay she stopped, upon reaching the door to the potions classroom. She entered in.
When the door closed, he half-mindedly stepped ahead to grab the handle.
He paused, his hands just barely touching the handle.
His mouth tightened. Oblivious of the echoes…
Finally, after a few seconds, he pulled on the handle, and stepped in.
The Potions Classroom was filled with people, scrubbing heavily soiled cauldrons. All the desks and chairs were pushed aside. Even those cauldrons which have already underwent scrubbing last few times needed more. Draco recalled that they were used recently for brewing various potions and poisons of dark nature for fulfilling the new curriculum Voldemort had set for the Hogwarts students. And many were too corrosive or thick for the cauldrons used here – so this is another task to restore…
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy! Would you mind scrubbing a few here" Professor Slughorn, who was supervising and chatting with many, caught sight of Draco in the doorway and pointed to a pile of cauldrons. Draco's shoulders slumped. "We could use another hand."
He heard some of the volunteers that were present snicker.
"We all don't want to be late for dinner. I hear there will be a musical presentation tonight." Slughorn joked.
Oh I'll take my time…rather be refilling cauldron holes Crabbe burned rather than hear that 'Lift the Bricks of Glory' nonsense…again…like I'll memorize it to recite on my funeral…
Soon Draco had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and was painfully bending over to scrub every nook and cranny of each cauldron he was assigned. By painful he was spending a few hours plastering walls and high doorways just a few minutes ago.
The frothy water would have been soothing on his hands if it was not for the hard handle of the brush he was holding. Thankfully the corrosive stuff was already removed. Now they just got the time from other tasks to remove the scum and grits.
How on earth did he get here in the first place?
Draco took a quick scan of the room – at all the heads bending over their cauldrons.
In another part of the classroom, amid all the scrubbers, Elsa just grabbed her second cauldron for now. That is after she briefly left and returned from fetching a couple of stuff needed for the cleaning – including some Vemonous Tentacula leaves from Professor Sprout, which Professor Slughorn enthusiastically asked for as he said they're excellent when mixed with the soap to remove tough stains but are not irritable on the skin.
She kept making deep breaths, inhaling the familiar cool air of the Hogwarts dungeons. Its dark depths were intriguing, even to a reserved and cautious first year like she was once a long time ago. She was still ready and excited to explore and experience the world – especially the magical world beyond her bedroom.
She noticed that quite a lot has changed in her absence – the Headmaster (McGonagall is fitting for running Hogwarts now), the Potions teacher, Trelawney and the centaur Fraize working together at Divinations – she felt bad that Professor Snape was no longer there. Yes he was bitter, cold and frightening, but he did give a good and fitting face to the study of potions. Not to be rude, but it now felt more silly than intriguing.
Scrubbing, she recaptured her first potions lesson. Right here in this classroom. Sitting neatly with her books on one side and a cauldron on another. The room being lightly lit, at least less than now. The first lesson was she recalls the Wiginweld Potion, or one similarly easy. The pleasure and interest in preparing ingredients, carefully opening, pouring from and closing tiny glass flasks, dropping things in a boiling cauldron, stirring, the sometimes strong fumes…
"I can teach you how to bewitch the mind…bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper to death"
It's like she could hear Professor Snape. The very first introduction he'd say for first years to interest even the most bored student. As if he was alive and standing before all of them in the front of the classroom.
"Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts knowing so much, to not - pay - attention"
She snapped her head up. Then she felt like laughing at herself, going back to her cauldron. He said that to Harry Potter years ago but it still felt like…
"Alicia dear…"
She looked up at Professor Slughorn. He's an old man so she doesn't blame him for mispronouncing her name.
"Miss Parkinson has finished her turn" Elsa took a glance at her now grumbling and making it evident that she's ruined her nails. "Would you be so kind to take the next batch?"
Apparently the most soiled cauldrons were set aside to be scrubbed in his office, as they need a different solution to be cleaned with.
"Yes, Professor" she stood up, wiping her hands with a cloth and headed for the Professor's office.
The office was lined with shelves and shelves of potion ingredients, many of which are new additions added by Professor Slughorn's interest of collection. Many of the shelves were pushed to the side along with the other furniture so to accommodate the scrubbing of rather numerous cauldrons.
Thankfully Pansy Parkinson was smart enough to add her completed ones in the 'done pile' – not to mention properly clean them rather than leave them for others. Now it looks like two more rounds are left.
So Elsa kneeled to begin her first pot. The solution she poured smelled strong with a flowery scent. She inhaled, identifying it as lilies. Oh well…he's very passionate about using different…
After a few minutes, sounds of the door closing again made her pause her scrubbing. She carefully turned.
It was Draco, pale face watching her and looked like it wanted to smile or say something but didn't know how.
It felt very awkward so it was quiet for a bit.
"Need anything?" she asked, unable of coming up with something else to say.
"Yeah…" he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Bat enamel"
She looked at him.
"Professor Slughorn said something about removing the blemishes in the cauldron interiors… like they're to be inverted and placed on a showcase"
She gave a small laugh. "Should be somewhere over there" a soapy hand pointed to a nearby shelf.
He raised his eyebrows. "Already know the place?"
"It's pretty much organized" she shrugged, going back to her cauldron.
Draco headed in the direction she pointed. He took note of her tone – it seemed satisfactory and safe so far.
Apparently some minutes past, with lack of results for him.
She shook her head, wiped her hands from her fifth cauldron, and rose. Now standing next to him she noticed that he's sprouted another inch or two. At least higher than she did over the years.
"It should be somewhere here." She began scanning the shelves herself. She made a small pause catching the sight of a jar of Olgan Sap, however a shelf above her reach.
She paused from that too after he came right behind her.
"What are you doing?" he asked curiously.
"I'm…I just noticed that" she indicated to the jar. "Was just thinking that I must use some for the tough areas."
He nodded. She took a deep breath.
In no time she found the jar he's looking for. "Here" she handed it to him. "They must be wondering where you've run off to" she smiled a bit.
He just made a small smile at that remark. Few make such well-crafted ones like that.
He didn't make any move of leaving though. Instead, Draco then caught sight of the dress she was wearing. It was obviously a maid's one, which she decide to borrow on each trip to repairing Hogwarts.
"What have you been reduced for?"
She looked at him, a bit surprised at his choice of words.
He made a face acknowledging that. "What I mean to say is that, did you get caught, as well?"
"Hmm" She turned to retrieve her own item. "A sentence they've put on hold for quite some time, that is until after I finally showed up. Said at the Tribunal that they've found out the pleasant times I had with the Dark Forces, so I have to make up for not telling on them – as if I had the chance to" How can I get it down?
She glanced up, wondering how to reach it. She paused once she sensed Draco quietly watching. She glanced at him to find he was curiously determining what she was trying to do. However she felt fine when he then made a small smiling expression on his pale face, though not knowing it was for her natural conduct.
"So I've heard. That is during our own pleasant time at the Wizardgamot." He stretched just above her head to get it down for her. "The imbecile who told on us was just outraged that we weren't joining him to Azkaban"
He handed it to her. "At least you didn't go through the Wizardgamot. They're losing their tolerance" he added quietly.
She took it, reading his face. That means he's got a more unpleasant taste of consequences…
"The only thing interesting about his vocalization was that we were accused of wrongful detainment of a foreign royal princess." He said with an air of exaggeration.
"You knew didn't you?" she headed back to her cauldrons.
"How deep we've made our home the snake's den? Not really" He followed, sitting opposite to her and placing his jar on the floor beside him. "Surprised in exchange for releasing her as little as they could they've put her through a great load of servant-work"
"There're worse things than scrubbing cauldrons" she immersed her hands back in the lily-scented solution.
"Such as the warm welcome from the Hogwarts staff?"
She frowned at him, knowing now that he must have seen the scolding she got from McGonagall. She couldn't help it! They wanted to gleefully run away after Impedament-ing Hannah into a deep mixing bowl of thick cement! How can she help it? It's a natural phenomenon that magic can become overwhelming when you're very angry or scared, isn't it? More so for unikinetic magic.
"Worse than that I mean" she handed him another brush. "Since you're already here…"
He laughed. However he didn't really move to scrub some while she continued hers. He noticed she seems to not reach for using the Olgan Sap. "So why would her Royal Highness walk herself right into the authorities. Guilt build-up over the years?" he plainly asked.
"No…a floo powder accident after my sister tried to fix one of the fireplaces"
He nodded thoughtfully. Then he made to say something like a thought hit him.
"Mr. Malfoy did you manage to retrieve the…"
Just then, they turned to see that Slughorn has entered his office.
He made a sudden pause. "Oh…my apologizes for intruding…" he apologetically said, before turning around and waddling himself out of the office.
Elsa, feeling her face warm with embarrassment, place the back of her hand on her forehead. However she failed to notice that that side too had suds.
She didn't know whether to feel relieved or more embarrassed by the fact that Draco is having a smirk grow on his pale face. Maybe the latter…given that now on impulse Draco was wiping the suds from her forehead.
"I guess we can all agree on how much we miss our revered Potions Master"
She made a small grin in agreement.
"Can we have a replacement presentation tonight?"
She looked at him in a confused way.
"I'm sure we'd all be delighted to hear what you've been singing" he said with cockiness that returned to his voice.
Her eyes flicked away, coupled with an irritated sigh. "I think you've left some cauldrons unattended"
Draco was about to say something when sounds of crashing from the other room stopped him, along with grumbling.
"Malfoy!"
She subtly watched him leave reluctantly, remembering to take the jar with him. Then she took a small breath of relief, thinking 'that was close'. How often do coincidences like that happen? However she did notice his face…but as she can't really do anything else she went on with her scrubbing. Soon she began humming to herself.
Don't let the world tell, show the beauty within
When you follow your heart, there's no heart you can't win
~TO BE CONTINUED…~