A/N-Ack! This took forever to write! Jeez! I decided to literally tell when
a flashback occurs just because in this the 'reality' and flashback sort of
start the same. Also, my beta reader is out of town so there are probably a
few grammar and spelling mistakes, bare with me.
Chapter 6:
Pudding and Portraits
"Fred!" A voice called from outside the dorm. "Fred?! Where are you?!"
The 17 year-old rolled over in bed. The muscles in his back and legs moaned in pain from being bedridden for so long. How long had it been? He opened one eye to view his surroundings.
The dorm room was completely empty. Sunlight beamed through the large glass windows next to the far bed. Clothes were still tossed all over the floor and on the various pieces of furniture. The peace in the room almost lulled Fred back to his dream-like state. Almost….
"Fred Weasley! What on earth are you still doing here?" Ron cried bursting into the dorm.
"Get out of my dorm room." Fred ordered, frustrated for being completely woken up.
"How about you get out of your dorm room." The younger Weasley brother shot back pulling the covers off his brother. "It's called class, Fred. It's why you're here. Remember?"
"I'm getting there. I just…um…I'm a little slow this morning."
"You'd better hope McGonagall buys that." Ron said crossing his arms over his chest, watching the sleepy teen get out of bed.
"I'll just tell her I was sick, that's all."
"And you didn't go to the Hospital Wing?" Ron didn't notice Fred wince slightly.
"I was too weak to."
"You didn't have George go get Madam Pomfrey?" Ron asked as Fred looked for some clothes in the pile.
"He left."
"Lee, then?"
"Gone. When I woke up this morning, I felt sick. I got up to get ready, but I fell back into bed. No one was around."
"And you're miraculously cured?"
"Ron, Do me a favor…" Fred began, retrieving a pair of clean black trousers and a white shirt from the floor. "Stop hanging around Hermione. She's made you inquisitive." He walked off toward the bathroom and added with a smile. "Not to mention other things…" Ron's traditional blushing of the ear commenced. As he fumbled for a come back, Fred continued. "Beside why aren't you in class?"
"I'm running an errand."
"And you just decide to check on your older brother out of love?" Fred asked from the bathroom.
"No," Ron empathically stated. "George sent me. Wanted me to smack you, too. He looked angry."
"Great," The twin answered with a sigh. "What time is it?"
"We've got an hour till lunch." Ron replied. "You missed morning classes."
"They're boring anyway." Fred retorted.
"Listen, Fred. I gotta get back or Flitwick'll kill me." The youngest boy said through the bathroom door. "Promise me you won't get back into bed."
"Give me one good reason."
"You love me?"
"Try again."
"You'll be in big trouble."
"Nope, not good enough."
"Mom'll find out…"
Fred emerged from the bathroom suddenly. "I shutter to think." He sauntered over to the bed and sat. "Alright. I promise."
Ron nodded. "See you at lunch."
*_*_*_*_*_*_*flashback*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Fred turned over in his bed. "Get off." The nudging continued. "I mean it. I'm not joking. Let me be."
"Shut up," A tired voice moaned from the other beds.
Fred huffed and sat up to confront his waker. "You're in for it…" No one was there. The confused twelve-year-old looked around the dark dormitory. No one…except for his sleeping roommates all of whom were soundly sleeping.
'Strange…' Fred thought wandering his eyes around the room. He could almost swear there was movement in the room.
Suddenly, a cool slow breeze blew across his skin, making him shiver. 'Better close the window.' He thought to himself, but as he turned to do so, he realized…the windows were already closed.
"It'll take more than that to frighten me, Peeves." The red head whispered nervously. No answer returned to his ears.
Instead, something pushed him. It surprised him so badly that he let out a small gasp.
"Who's there?" He whispered, more frightened than before. "I'm warning you…"
It pushed him again; this time with more force. So much force that his knees buckled.
"Ow!" he cried and immediately resumed his quiet tone. "Alright! Alright! I'm going." Only question was where…
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
"No, Lee"
"But, Katie, see reason here…"
"Lee, I'd hardly call what goes through your head 'reason'" Katie said rolling her eyes. "And no,"
"Katie!" Lee whined as the two made their way to the Gryffindor table. "Please?"
Katie sighed, pausing her pace for a moment. "Since you put it so nicely……" Lee looked at her with excited eyes. "No." She smiled as she resumed her pace.
"It's just a little thing…" Lee explained hurrying to catch up with her.
"I will not take part in your silly practical jokes, Lee. I'm sorry." The chaser said and sat down beside Angelina.
"What does he want you to do?" She asked picking at her lunch.
"Don't ask." Katie stated and helped herself to the food.
"Ah!" George cried listening into the conversation. "You didn't ask her to plant the pudding, did you? I said trustworthy!"
Lee shrugged. "Katie's trustworthy."
"It's sort of implied that they'd be willing to do it." The twin sighed.
"Sorry," Lee replied. "Momentary lapse of judgment. I won't do it again."
"I should hope not." George answered his friend and smiled as Alicia sat down beside him.
"What are we talking about?" She asked looking around the table as she reached for food.
"Your hair," George replied playfully flicking a strand. "Are you ever going to get it cut properly?"
Alicia rolled her eyes and jokingly shoved the Weasley with her shoulder. "Shut up!"
"The clock strikes twelve and he appears." Lee said suddenly. The group's eyes raised to see whom he was talking to.
"Funny," Fred answered with an unusually serious face. "Really. Should go in a book or something."
"Where were you?" Angelina asked as the boy took his place on the other side of his brother.
"Antarctica," He replied smoothly. "Playing with the penguins and artic kneezles. What's for lunch?"
"I'm serious, Fred…" Angelina continued with a smile. "You missed all of the morning class."
"So am I," Fred replied taking a bit of an apple. "I'm starving."
"He slept in." George interjected.
"Only because I wasn't feeling well." He replied defending himself. "What are they gonna do? Give me detention?"
The group nodded their heads in agreement.
"I trust I didn't miss anything interesting?" Fred continued.
"Not really." Lee answered and then turned to George. "Can Fred plant the pudding?"
"No," He answered half-laughing at Lee's question. "He's the trigger."
"The what?" Alicia asked furrowing her eyebrows at the boy's last statement.
"Never mind." George said shaking his head at her with a half-smile.
"Can't he do both, then?" The quidditch commentator asked.
"Not unless he knows away to get from the corridor on the third floor to the first in less an 2 minutes." George answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
Fred froze in mid-chew. "By…the hospital wing?" The eldest twin asked slowly.
"Yeah," His twin replied. "You know a way?"
*_*_*_*_*_*_*flashback*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
The corridors seemed very creepy after curfew. The normal nighttime torches were all but spent as the twelve year old walked slowly through the stone hallway. Suddenly, it stopped him, yanking on his pajama sleeve. Fred let out a small yelp, feeling the tug out of nowhere.
"Alright." He whispered. "Now what?"
"What!" A surprised, thick Scottish voice called out in the darkness. "Who's there?"
"Who are you?" Fred whispered.
"Who are you?" The voice called back.
"Don't you know?" He asked looking around cautiously. "You did get me out of bed."
"What?" The voice sounded quite confused. "Get you out of bed? That's preposterous."
"No, it's not." Fred replied. "You did it."
"My dear stranger," the voice began. "I know for a fact I didn't. Nor could I. You see, I'm permanently… shall I say…lacking of a third dimension."
Fred's head quickly moved from left to right. "What?"
"Behind you."
He turned slowly and cautiously, fingering his wand incase he would be in immediate danger. When all the way around, Fred shrieked and jumped back.
"Did I scare you?" The portrait asked.
"No," Fred said quickly shaking his head. "I'm just jumpy."
The portrait was of medium size. In the picture was an old man with a curly white beard sitting on a wicker chair. He appeared to be in front of a pond and a swan beside him kept nipping at his hand. His dress was medieval and he held a golden cane in his left hand. "It's true. These halls are frightening in the dark. Which lead me to ask…why is a young boy like yourself wandering them at night."
"I don't know myself." Fred mumbled shifting his weight back and forth from foot to foot, still embarrassed at his outburst.
"Well, if it's adventure that you're looking for, I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place." The old man said. "Nothing exciting ever happens around here. Believe me, old Claus of Addegail longs for adventure as much as any. Instead, I'm stuck here guarding this secret passage. Terribly boring work. I doubt anyone even knows about it."
If Fred had been some sort of animal, his ear would have perked up. There are few things in life a Weasley of his nature can't resist and passages (especially secret ones) were a particularly big one.
"Passage?" The twelve year old asked. "What passage?"
"The one behind my canvas." Claus replied pointing his cane off toward the water behind him. "I'm not sure where it leads exactly. No one's used it in years. That person I believe was a young boy, a few years older that you, went by the name of…wait…I had it…darn my memory….John…no, Jeremy…that's not right…James…well whatever his name was he never told me where it goes. Only said he was visiting a friend. Strange boy, never combed his hair."
"How did he get in?"
"He knew the password."
"What's the password?"
"I can't tell you." The portrait said proudly. "It's my duty to guard this passage. No matter how boring it is."
Fred thought for a moment. "If you tell me the password," He began slowly. "I can go down it and tell you where it leads."
Claus looked at him with squinted eyes and thought about his proposal. Silently, Fred prayed that this man was as curious as he looked.
"Alright," The old man said. "But you must promise to come back and tell me."
"Promise"
"Alright, the password," Claus cleared is throat and proclaimed, "PLEASE!"
"That's the password…" Fred said rolling his eyes. "'Please'?"
"Politeness will get you everywhere, boy." The man said as the picture frame swung open revealing a crawl space big enough for Fred to crawl through. "And don't you forget it."
Fred rolled his eyes again and he began down the dark hole. He heard the portrait shut behind him and Claus's voice call out. "Remember your promise!"
The young boy continued his trek down the passage, not know who…or what…waited for him.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
A/N- Like always, R/R!!
Chapter 6:
Pudding and Portraits
"Fred!" A voice called from outside the dorm. "Fred?! Where are you?!"
The 17 year-old rolled over in bed. The muscles in his back and legs moaned in pain from being bedridden for so long. How long had it been? He opened one eye to view his surroundings.
The dorm room was completely empty. Sunlight beamed through the large glass windows next to the far bed. Clothes were still tossed all over the floor and on the various pieces of furniture. The peace in the room almost lulled Fred back to his dream-like state. Almost….
"Fred Weasley! What on earth are you still doing here?" Ron cried bursting into the dorm.
"Get out of my dorm room." Fred ordered, frustrated for being completely woken up.
"How about you get out of your dorm room." The younger Weasley brother shot back pulling the covers off his brother. "It's called class, Fred. It's why you're here. Remember?"
"I'm getting there. I just…um…I'm a little slow this morning."
"You'd better hope McGonagall buys that." Ron said crossing his arms over his chest, watching the sleepy teen get out of bed.
"I'll just tell her I was sick, that's all."
"And you didn't go to the Hospital Wing?" Ron didn't notice Fred wince slightly.
"I was too weak to."
"You didn't have George go get Madam Pomfrey?" Ron asked as Fred looked for some clothes in the pile.
"He left."
"Lee, then?"
"Gone. When I woke up this morning, I felt sick. I got up to get ready, but I fell back into bed. No one was around."
"And you're miraculously cured?"
"Ron, Do me a favor…" Fred began, retrieving a pair of clean black trousers and a white shirt from the floor. "Stop hanging around Hermione. She's made you inquisitive." He walked off toward the bathroom and added with a smile. "Not to mention other things…" Ron's traditional blushing of the ear commenced. As he fumbled for a come back, Fred continued. "Beside why aren't you in class?"
"I'm running an errand."
"And you just decide to check on your older brother out of love?" Fred asked from the bathroom.
"No," Ron empathically stated. "George sent me. Wanted me to smack you, too. He looked angry."
"Great," The twin answered with a sigh. "What time is it?"
"We've got an hour till lunch." Ron replied. "You missed morning classes."
"They're boring anyway." Fred retorted.
"Listen, Fred. I gotta get back or Flitwick'll kill me." The youngest boy said through the bathroom door. "Promise me you won't get back into bed."
"Give me one good reason."
"You love me?"
"Try again."
"You'll be in big trouble."
"Nope, not good enough."
"Mom'll find out…"
Fred emerged from the bathroom suddenly. "I shutter to think." He sauntered over to the bed and sat. "Alright. I promise."
Ron nodded. "See you at lunch."
*_*_*_*_*_*_*flashback*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Fred turned over in his bed. "Get off." The nudging continued. "I mean it. I'm not joking. Let me be."
"Shut up," A tired voice moaned from the other beds.
Fred huffed and sat up to confront his waker. "You're in for it…" No one was there. The confused twelve-year-old looked around the dark dormitory. No one…except for his sleeping roommates all of whom were soundly sleeping.
'Strange…' Fred thought wandering his eyes around the room. He could almost swear there was movement in the room.
Suddenly, a cool slow breeze blew across his skin, making him shiver. 'Better close the window.' He thought to himself, but as he turned to do so, he realized…the windows were already closed.
"It'll take more than that to frighten me, Peeves." The red head whispered nervously. No answer returned to his ears.
Instead, something pushed him. It surprised him so badly that he let out a small gasp.
"Who's there?" He whispered, more frightened than before. "I'm warning you…"
It pushed him again; this time with more force. So much force that his knees buckled.
"Ow!" he cried and immediately resumed his quiet tone. "Alright! Alright! I'm going." Only question was where…
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
"No, Lee"
"But, Katie, see reason here…"
"Lee, I'd hardly call what goes through your head 'reason'" Katie said rolling her eyes. "And no,"
"Katie!" Lee whined as the two made their way to the Gryffindor table. "Please?"
Katie sighed, pausing her pace for a moment. "Since you put it so nicely……" Lee looked at her with excited eyes. "No." She smiled as she resumed her pace.
"It's just a little thing…" Lee explained hurrying to catch up with her.
"I will not take part in your silly practical jokes, Lee. I'm sorry." The chaser said and sat down beside Angelina.
"What does he want you to do?" She asked picking at her lunch.
"Don't ask." Katie stated and helped herself to the food.
"Ah!" George cried listening into the conversation. "You didn't ask her to plant the pudding, did you? I said trustworthy!"
Lee shrugged. "Katie's trustworthy."
"It's sort of implied that they'd be willing to do it." The twin sighed.
"Sorry," Lee replied. "Momentary lapse of judgment. I won't do it again."
"I should hope not." George answered his friend and smiled as Alicia sat down beside him.
"What are we talking about?" She asked looking around the table as she reached for food.
"Your hair," George replied playfully flicking a strand. "Are you ever going to get it cut properly?"
Alicia rolled her eyes and jokingly shoved the Weasley with her shoulder. "Shut up!"
"The clock strikes twelve and he appears." Lee said suddenly. The group's eyes raised to see whom he was talking to.
"Funny," Fred answered with an unusually serious face. "Really. Should go in a book or something."
"Where were you?" Angelina asked as the boy took his place on the other side of his brother.
"Antarctica," He replied smoothly. "Playing with the penguins and artic kneezles. What's for lunch?"
"I'm serious, Fred…" Angelina continued with a smile. "You missed all of the morning class."
"So am I," Fred replied taking a bit of an apple. "I'm starving."
"He slept in." George interjected.
"Only because I wasn't feeling well." He replied defending himself. "What are they gonna do? Give me detention?"
The group nodded their heads in agreement.
"I trust I didn't miss anything interesting?" Fred continued.
"Not really." Lee answered and then turned to George. "Can Fred plant the pudding?"
"No," He answered half-laughing at Lee's question. "He's the trigger."
"The what?" Alicia asked furrowing her eyebrows at the boy's last statement.
"Never mind." George said shaking his head at her with a half-smile.
"Can't he do both, then?" The quidditch commentator asked.
"Not unless he knows away to get from the corridor on the third floor to the first in less an 2 minutes." George answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
Fred froze in mid-chew. "By…the hospital wing?" The eldest twin asked slowly.
"Yeah," His twin replied. "You know a way?"
*_*_*_*_*_*_*flashback*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
The corridors seemed very creepy after curfew. The normal nighttime torches were all but spent as the twelve year old walked slowly through the stone hallway. Suddenly, it stopped him, yanking on his pajama sleeve. Fred let out a small yelp, feeling the tug out of nowhere.
"Alright." He whispered. "Now what?"
"What!" A surprised, thick Scottish voice called out in the darkness. "Who's there?"
"Who are you?" Fred whispered.
"Who are you?" The voice called back.
"Don't you know?" He asked looking around cautiously. "You did get me out of bed."
"What?" The voice sounded quite confused. "Get you out of bed? That's preposterous."
"No, it's not." Fred replied. "You did it."
"My dear stranger," the voice began. "I know for a fact I didn't. Nor could I. You see, I'm permanently… shall I say…lacking of a third dimension."
Fred's head quickly moved from left to right. "What?"
"Behind you."
He turned slowly and cautiously, fingering his wand incase he would be in immediate danger. When all the way around, Fred shrieked and jumped back.
"Did I scare you?" The portrait asked.
"No," Fred said quickly shaking his head. "I'm just jumpy."
The portrait was of medium size. In the picture was an old man with a curly white beard sitting on a wicker chair. He appeared to be in front of a pond and a swan beside him kept nipping at his hand. His dress was medieval and he held a golden cane in his left hand. "It's true. These halls are frightening in the dark. Which lead me to ask…why is a young boy like yourself wandering them at night."
"I don't know myself." Fred mumbled shifting his weight back and forth from foot to foot, still embarrassed at his outburst.
"Well, if it's adventure that you're looking for, I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place." The old man said. "Nothing exciting ever happens around here. Believe me, old Claus of Addegail longs for adventure as much as any. Instead, I'm stuck here guarding this secret passage. Terribly boring work. I doubt anyone even knows about it."
If Fred had been some sort of animal, his ear would have perked up. There are few things in life a Weasley of his nature can't resist and passages (especially secret ones) were a particularly big one.
"Passage?" The twelve year old asked. "What passage?"
"The one behind my canvas." Claus replied pointing his cane off toward the water behind him. "I'm not sure where it leads exactly. No one's used it in years. That person I believe was a young boy, a few years older that you, went by the name of…wait…I had it…darn my memory….John…no, Jeremy…that's not right…James…well whatever his name was he never told me where it goes. Only said he was visiting a friend. Strange boy, never combed his hair."
"How did he get in?"
"He knew the password."
"What's the password?"
"I can't tell you." The portrait said proudly. "It's my duty to guard this passage. No matter how boring it is."
Fred thought for a moment. "If you tell me the password," He began slowly. "I can go down it and tell you where it leads."
Claus looked at him with squinted eyes and thought about his proposal. Silently, Fred prayed that this man was as curious as he looked.
"Alright," The old man said. "But you must promise to come back and tell me."
"Promise"
"Alright, the password," Claus cleared is throat and proclaimed, "PLEASE!"
"That's the password…" Fred said rolling his eyes. "'Please'?"
"Politeness will get you everywhere, boy." The man said as the picture frame swung open revealing a crawl space big enough for Fred to crawl through. "And don't you forget it."
Fred rolled his eyes again and he began down the dark hole. He heard the portrait shut behind him and Claus's voice call out. "Remember your promise!"
The young boy continued his trek down the passage, not know who…or what…waited for him.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
A/N- Like always, R/R!!