DISCLAIMER: JK Rowling owns Harry and his friends but Angela and her wizarding world are mine. Just the same, all inspiration came from JK Rowling's bloody brilliant works.
WARNING: This chapter can be pretty boring as there is not much love story here. Most of it is about Angela and how she ended up as Harry's neighbor. Please R/R.
Coolone007: Ginny and Harry? They might (*wink* *wink*).
Jessika Organa Solo: That will be revealed later.
Point of Information: Ate is a term of respect preceding the name of an older sister. Kuya is a term of respect preceding the name of an older brother.
Chapter 8: Angela's Heart
"We'll owl you as soon as we get there." Harry promised Ron as the three climbed to the top floor of the Ministry where the huge fireplace is located which is used for intercontinental travel.
Angela is still in a bit of shock as she followed the two boys. She was so pale that you wouldn't think there is a drop of blood in her veins. Harry clutched his backpack firmly over his shoulders as he helped Angela into the fireplace. Ron, who was holding Angela's suitcase, carefully handed it to her.
"You two take care of yourselves." Ron said as he gave Harry some Floo powder.
"We will." Harry said and held Angela's hand tightly. "Ready?" He turned to Angela.
She just gave him a tiny nod and the Ministry of Magic disappeared.
Angela's parents are waiting for them when they appeared in the SEA Ministry of Magic.
"Mama!" Angela ran out of the crate and hugged the witch in mint green flowing robes. "Si Patricia? (Where's Patricia?)"
The witch cried and Angela's dad, a tall, handsome wizard in flowing moss green robe put his arms around Mrs. Mercado. "Kinuha siya ni Matilda nung isang araw. Hindi namin alam kung saan siya dinala. Pero ikaw ang hinahanap ni Matilda nung dumating siya. (Matilda took her the day before yesterday. We don't know where she brought your sister. But Matilda was looking for you when she came.)"
Harry shifted his in his feet, waiting for Angela to introduce him. That was when she remembered that he was there.
"Mama, Papa, si Harry. Kasama ko sa trabaho. Pinapunta siya dito ni Dumbledore nung malaman niya ang nangyari kay Patricia. (Mom, Dad, this is Harry. He's my officemate. Dumbledore asked him to come with me when he found out about Patricia.)." She managed to calm herself.
Mrs. Mercado, though, in Harry's opinion, is about to go into a nervous breakdown, managed to smile at him. "Hello, Harry. We heard a lot about you here. And especially when Angela got to work with you."
Mr. Mercado just shook his hands and gave him a smile.
"We better go home to give you a chance to rest. I know it's been a long journey." Mrs. Mercado suggested.
They headed for the Ministry's rooftop, which Harry noticed was on top of a mountain, secluded from the view of the Muggle town by huge rubber trees. He and Angela shared the same broomstick, a local broomstick named Kidlat.
They landed at the back of a huge mansion at the middle of a huge gently rolling terrain. It's lucky that the sun hasn't started to rise. No one was able to see them fly in.
It was a Muggle home. Angela and her parents quickly shed their robes in one swift motion and their Muggle clothes appeared.
"Lilias!" Angela called. A young maid came from nowhere. "Please take Harry to his room." She turned to him. "I have to know for sure how Matilda got my sister. I know she's after me. I just can't forgive myself if something bad happens to her."
"I'll go with you." Harry insisted.
Angela eyed his clothes. "Then change. You can't go about here in robes. Witchcraft is still persecuted here."
Harry followed Lilias to the room Angela told her and quickly changed into Muggle clothing. Angela was talking on the phone when he came back downstairs.
"I know. But I'm only here for a short while, Drew. I can't meet you." She said. "Yes, I have forgiven you but… I'm sorry. This is my choice. I don't want to ruin your life. Please don't ruin mine." And she put the handset back to the cradle and turned around. She saw him and was quite shocked. "Have you been there for a long time?"
"N-no. No. Just came in." He was wearing a dark blue plain shirt, jeans and a baseball cap. He realized how hot it is in SEA.
Angela nodded and walked out of the house and into the balcony overlooking the plains below. The sun is starting to rise in the east. Harry stood beside her and gazed into the sunrise.
"Where do we start?" Harry asked.
Angela kept her gaze in the horizon. "Look at the horizon, Harry. And don't blink."
Harry followed Angela's instructions. And just as the sun detached itself from the horizon, he saw a mountain, a mountain that wasn't there before. As soon as it appeared, it had disappeared. "What the?"
"That's where Matilda's keeping her." She said, her eyes turning misty.
"We'll get to her, don't worry." Harry said, sounding more confident that he really is. Wizarding world in SEA is a lot different from Britain. He knew that. "But how do we get there?"
"The mountain will appear again when the sun sets later. It'll be visible for a longer time then. But it's easier to get there tomorrow from twelve midnight to three. The witching hour." Angela said. "We better rest, we need all the energy we need later."
And Angela led him towards the huge kitchen. Big enough to fit the whole Dursley house and have more space to park a car. A sumptuous breakfast is on the table. Harry hurriedly sat down across Angela. A maid, much older than Lilias, came in the kitchen with a pitcher of fresh orange juice.
"I hope you like it here." Angela smiled, obviously trying to be her usual cheerful self. "It's a tropical country, much hotter than Britain."
Harry nodded. "I think it's interesting. Interesting how wizards here are very much different from wizards in Britain."
Harry helped himself with a couple of sunny side up eggs and fried meat. He noticed the different kinds of spices used to treat the meat once it touched his tongue. "This is good."
"Horse." Angela said flatly.
"I'm sorry?" Harry asked. He stopped chewing his food. "What did you say?" Fighting the urge to throw up.
"Horse meat." Angela said, with a hint of laughter in her eyes.
Harry forced the food down his throat. He pushed the remains of it in the side of his plate. "Interesting." He scanned the table. "And what is this?" He pointed to a pinkish-reddish dish.
"Pork. Don't worry." Angela chuckled.
Harry continued on eating, careful not to mix his food with the horsemeat.
"Miss Angela," The old servant was holding a cordless phone. "It's Sir Drew."
Angela looked at the maid and took the phone. "Hello, Drew."
Harry eyed her as she her smile changed to a frown. She mouthed an "Excuse me" and went to the other room but he could still hear her angry voice.
"No Drew. How many times do I have to tell you to stop bugging me? My decision stands thus. This is the life I choose. If you can't accept me for what I truly am, then I'm sorry." Angela appeared in the kitchen again, handing the phone back to the maid.
Harry gulped down his orange juice and stood up. "Angela, would it be alright if I explore a bit?"
"Sure. Anything you need, just ring the bell." She pointed a bell on top of a table in the living room. "A maid will help you. I'll be in the attic. I have to prepare some things."
Harry nodded and set of to explore the huge house.
His room was located in the second floor of the house. From there he started walking along its long corridors. Huge portraits of people in gowns he haven't seen before was posted on the dark wood walls. Across his room is a balcony overlooking the beautiful pool amidst the big coconut trees. He walked along the corridor and found himself in front Angela's portrait. It's in sepia print and Angela is wearing that big uncomfortable gown. He run his fingers through it. He noticed the signature of the artist and realized that it couldn't have been Angela. The date was September 26, 1896.
"Who are you?" He heard a male voice behind him.
He turned around and saw a young boy, no more than ten years old, with short black hair and eyes just like Angela's, was looking at him straight in the eye.
"I'm Harry, Harry Potter."
"Patrick." He said. "You're Ate Angel's friend."
"Yes."
"You're here to help her get Trisha back." He said, not skipping a beat.
"Yes."
"Good." He finally smiled at him. "I think Trisha's a Squib. When I was seven, I was able to make things fly. Trisha can't even make anything move. Maybe that's why Aunt Matilda wants her."
"Aunt Matilda?" Harry asked.
Patrick looked at the portrait of the lady that looked like Angela. "Aunt Matilda. She looked like Ate Angel when she was younger. She's more than a hundred years old now."
Harry nodded.
"She wants Ate Angel's body and powers. You see Ate Angel is the most powerful witch in our family. Even more powerful than Mama. Her powers rival those of Aunt Matilda's." He explained. "As you may notice, she doesn't even need a wand."
Harry looked at the portrait again. Patrick was right; he hasn't seen Angela using a wand. She might even be more powerful than Voldemort himself. But what's curious is that he never knew that Angela is related by blood to the Dark Sorceress. And how the two of them are spitting images of each other.
"Patrick, how are you related to Matilda?" He asked. "And who's Drew?"
But there was no answer. Patrick was no longer there when he turned around. He remembered the paintings in Hogwarts sometimes guard secret chambers. He wondered if this portrait hid a secret chamber. He took his wand from his pocket and tapped the portrait at many different parts, but nothing happened.
Harry sighed in frustration.
"If you're looking for a chamber, you're hitting the wrong places." Patrick appeared behind him again.
"Will you tell me where?" He asked.
Patrick smiled. "You know what Ate Angel's weakness is? It's her heart."
Harry looked back at the portrait. And noticed a heart shaped pendant on Matilda's necklace. He tapped it three times. Nothing. His forehead creased.
"What is inside Ate Angel's heart?" Patrick asked.
Harry was lost. Then suddenly, he remembered Angela's pictures in London. The boy she was with in the Muggle picture. The boy who kept calling her the moment she arrived. "Drew."
Matilda's portrait disappeared and a thick wood door replaced it. Harry turned the knob and went in, with Patrick in his heels.
"You asked me about Drew." Patrick said. "You will find you're answers here."
Patrick turned around and went out of the room, leaving Harry behind.
The room isn't like anything in the Mercado mansion. It has old-fashioned chandeliers suspended from the ceiling. Tapestries hung on the walls. A spiral staircase leads to an attic upstairs. But what intrigued him are four mirrors hung on the wall before him. Two of them are somewhat silvery and fluid in appearance. But one is clouded, the other is very clear. The cloudy one has the name Matilda on top while the clear one, has Angela's name inscribed. Between Matilda and Angela's mirrors is another one but when he looked through it, he saw nothing but darkness. Above it was the name Mariana. The fourth mirror where he read Patricia on top was like a window. Clear but all he sees is the wall behind it.
Harry touched Matilda's mirror but quickly withdrew his hand. Instead of the cool surface he was expecting, it was hot, like boiling water. He reached for Mariana's mirror, it was warm to touch but was so hard. When he touched Angela's mirror, his fingers passed through it, and before he knew what was happening, the mirror sucked him in.
Harry tried to shout for help but no voice came out of his throat. He felt wind gushing through him. Light twirling around him and the floor seem to have left his feet. He was falling… After quite a long while, he felt a soft landing. He wasn't in Angela's secret chamber anymore.
He stood up quickly. He found himself in front of a classroom in what seems to be a Muggle university. "I'm sorry…" He started to mutter but the class wasn't paying him attention at all. Then he remembered Dumbledore's pensieve. Maybe this was Angela's.
He looked at the professor who was lecturing about the life cycle of what seems to be an earthworm and scanned the class for any familiar faces. His gaze landed on a girl in over-alls, her long black hair in a neat ponytail and wire-rimmed glasses. It was Angela.
He walked towards her and sat on the empty seat behind her, he peeked over her notebook where she was drawing the diagram on the overhead projector. A few minutes later he heard the professor conclude his lecture and the class started to pour out of the classroom.
He followed Angela closely, afraid to get lost in swarm of college students. Angela waved at the tall guy who was coming towards them. "Drew." He whispered.
"Angela!" He exclaimed. "You won't believe what I received this morning!"
Angela took her glasses off and shook her head. He kissed her on the cheek. "I got accepted to med school!"
Angela smiled even wider. "That's so cool, Drew! I'm so happy for you."
"I don't know what I've done to deserve all of these. A slot in med school. My laude standing. The best girl in campus…" He was so happy. "Let's go out tonight."
"T-tonight?" Angela was suddenly being pulled by Drew towards the side of the hall. "But…" Anxiety was clear in Angela's black eyes.
"Say yes, please."
Angela looked at him helplessly. "Okay."
And they parted. Angela walked pass Harry, who followed closely behind. She went inside an empty classroom. After making sure that no one was inside, she Disapparated.
Harry felt a swirl of colors around him and found himself in at the backseat of Drew's car. Angela was sitting in the front seat.
"I have a surprise." Drew said. He produced a black velvet box, not unlike Ron's box for Hermione.
Angela's mouth fell open. She opened the box and a diamond solitaire ring appeared.
"Will you marry me Angela?"
Angela shoved the box back into Drew's hands. "There's something you've got to know."
Angela looked outside. Harry noticed a gush of wind outside but Angela was oblivious about it. "I'm a witch, Drew."
"I'm sorry?"
"I'm a witch." As soon as those three words left Angela's lips, the wind outside gushed even harder. A flash of scarlet light came from afar, slowly making its way to the car.
"A witch?" Drew can't believe his ears. His attention was drawn to the scarlet light. As it drew nearer and nearer, Harry made out what it was. It was the figure of a woman, in red-hot robes, with red-hot eyes, her long fingers reaching for Angela.
"Drew…" Angela reached for him.
But Drew was quick; he was already out of the car. "Get off me, witch. I don't want to ever see you again!"
Angela jumped out of the car and ran after Drew but she failed.
"Angela…" The woman reached for her.
Harry didn't know how he got out of the car but just found himself behind Angela.
"Come with me…"
"No!" Angela shouted. "You killed my grandmother! I hate you, Aunt Matilda."
"You foolish little girl!" The woman flew towards Angela and seized her neck.
"Get off me!" Angela struggled to get Matilda's hands off her. Harry, forgetting that he's nothing more than a phantom, took his wand and pointed it at Matilda. But suddenly he realized that there was nothing he could do but watch. So despite wanting to help Angela, he just stood back and did what he was there for. To watch.
After much fighting, Angela managed to get out of Matilda's clutches. She reached inside Drew's car and took her purse. She put out three white crystals from it and quickly positioned two of them in the ground.
"What are you doing?" Matilda looked at her.
Angela looked at Matilda one last time and dropped the third crystal to form a perfect equilateral triangle. "Goodbye, Aunt Matilda."
Once the third crystal dropped into place, Matilda's red glow seems to be sucked in by the three crystals. Then a flash of bright light, Harry blinked. When he opened his eyes, Matilda wasn't there anymore; the three crystals are now one big white crystal with a red core.
Angela took the big crystal and put it in her bag. She got in Drew's car and drove away.
Harry felt the ground swirl again. And in mixture of colors, he found himself on Angela's secret chamber again.
"I see you've met Matilda." Angela said behind him. She was standing midway up the spiral staircase. "And Drew."
"How…" Harry started to ask. But Angela motioned him to follow her to the attic.
The attic was full of spellbooks and wizarding trinkets. He sat down the huge lounge chair before the big pewter cauldron where Angela's brewing something.
"Mariana is my grandmother. She and Aunt Matilda were twins." Angela threw some silvery powder in the cauldron and it simmered. "Granny was the most powerful witch then. She married my Grandfather, who used to be Minister of Magic here. Aunt Matilda, not as powerful as Granny, but powerful still, was envious of her unparalleled magic. She plotted to kill Granny. But it was foretold that in the family, the two greatest witches are yet to be born. One of them is I. The other is Patricia." She explained.
"But you said Patricia is a Squib." Harry was starting to feel confused.
"No. Patricia, just like me, doesn't want to be witch. We thought of it as a curse. Right after Patricia was born, Aunt Matilda showed up in our front step. Granny sensing she was after her, took Patricia and me, and transferred all her powers to us. So that even if Matilda gets to her, she won't have her powers. And she would still be alive in us." Angela stirred the cauldron, which started boiling. "Matilda did get to her. Performed a complicated spell, taking Granny's body and shedding hers, thinking that that body still possesses the powers she wanted. She was wrong."
"That's why she wants me and Patricia. She wants my body." Angela faced him. "She can't take Patricia's power till then because she needs to get me first. That's why I know Patricia's still safe."
Harry just sat there, trying to digest Angela's situation.
After dinner that night, Angela and Harry started getting ready for their face to face with Matilda. He waited for the sun to set in the horizon to take a glimpse at Matilda's mountain. Mr. and Mrs. Mercado talked with Angela in the mansion's blue room while Harry watched the sun set. He saw Matilda's mountain again for a couple of minutes before it disappeared again.
"Harry." He heard Angela's voice behind him. "We have to leave soon."
Harry nodded and followed Angela inside. She disappeared behind the grand staircase while he went upstairs to ready himself.
Easing to his favorite crimson robes, he grabbed his wand and stuffed it in his pocket. He glanced outside the window and saw the moon slowly rising. It was a full moon, which reminded him so much of his good friend, Professor Lupin.
Angela was gazing at the swimming pool when Harry went out of his room. She was wearing a white flowing gown that seems to flow with the wind. A silver clip held her hair and she was clutching a white pouch bag in her left hand and a broomstick on the other.
"Hey Harry, are you ready?" She asked, sensing his presence.
He nodded and fell on a step beside her. He saw a single tear flow down her cheek. Harry sensed great fear in her.
"I'm not afraid to die, Harry." She said. "I'm afraid I may not be able to save Patricia."
"Don't worry. We'll do fine. You'll see." He assured her, trying to convince himself too. "If you don't mind me asking, Angela, how are we to go to the mountain? We can't even see it."
Angela took what seems to be flashlight from her bag and pointed to the direction where the mountain should be. They both saw the mountain through its light. "This will guide us."
They stood there, waiting for the Muggle community around them to fall asleep. At thirty minutes past eleven, Angela said, "It's time, Harry."
He and Angela flew towards the mountain with the aid of the flashlight. Angela pointed towards the peak of the mountain. Harry noticed a faint red light there.
"That's where she is." She said, tipping her broomstick to gain more speed.
They moved closer and closer to the peak of the mountain. Harry watched, as the faint red light became clearer and clearer. It was actually somewhat like a castle surrounded by glowing red light.
"That's her castle, Harry." Angela said then she closed her eyes for a while before opening it again. "She knows we're coming. We'll land on the top turret. That's where she's keeping Patricia."
They carefully circled the top turret of the castle and landed softly. He and Angela ran inside and indeed saw a young girl suspended in midair, with a red glow around her, unconscious.
"Patricia!" Angela moved towards her but as her hands touched the surface of the glowing red light, she was thrown aback, her head hitting the solid wall of the turret.
"Angela!" Harry ran towards where she landed and to his panic, she was unconscious.
"So my dear lovely grand niece brought a friend." A cold female voice said behind him.
Harry imagined the face of Matilda when he saw her in Angela's mirror. He slowly turned around and to his surprise; the lady was nothing like who he saw then.
It was a beautiful young lady, the mirror image of Angela. She was wearing a flowing white robe just like Angela's but one the thing that distinguishes her is the glowing red light around her.
"Give us Patricia back." Harry demanded as he reached for his wand and pointed it to Matilda.
"Foolish boy!" Matilda shouted, her toes lifting from the ground. "You shouldn't have meddled with our family affairs!"
Matilda took her own wand and pointed it to him; sending a beam of red light and propelling Harry towards the wall.
Fortunately, his head didn't hit the wall, though he can feel a throbbing pain in his left side. Clutching his wand and pointing it again at Matilda. "Expelliarmus!"
Matilda's wand flew out of her hand. Harry gave her a look of triumph as the wand reached his hand. But to his surprise, it bounced off his palm and went back to Matilda.
"You may have defeated Voldemort many times, but you haven't met a sorceress like Matilda!" She shouted.
Harry looked at her. It's amazing how she and Angela look alike but he can clearly see the difference in her eyes. Angela's was full of love and happiness. Matilda's was full of hate and anger.
"How did you know…?" Harry was curious at how Matilda could have known about him.
"Who wouldn't, Harry Potter?" She asked sarcastically. "Voldemort and I are made of the same material."
"The same filthy material." Harry shouted insultingly. He pointed his wand at Matilda again, sending yellow sparks. Matilda was taken aback for a moment when she lost her standing.
"You foolish, foolish boy!" She shouted and pointed her wand at him.
Harry was suddenly surrounded by a red glowing light like Patricia's. He felt energy slowly flowing out of his body. His grip on his wand loosened and eventually dropped on the ground.
"Leave him alone!" Angela was back. Though Harry can't see her quite well, he could hear her clearly.
"Oh my dear, dear Angela." Matilda faced her. "So glad you can join us. Now you can watch as I kill your stupid little friend."
"I won't let you!" Angela shouted, her arms spread, and gathering a bright yellow light she directed it to Harry with her fingers.
Matilda's red glow was replaced by Angela's yellow. Harry suddenly felt a surge of energy in his veins. When Angela withdrew her light from him, he quickly seized his wand and directed it to Patricia. The red glow around her was quickly replaced by yellow.
Patricia opened her eyes. "Ate Angel!" She shouted and ran towards Angela.
"NO!" Matilda shouted, her red glow slowly fading and wrinkles started appearing in her face rapidly.
Angela hurriedly placed two crystals on the floor. Patricia kept eye contact with Matilda to keep her from moving with a spell.
"You won't dare drop that last crystal, Angela." Matilda said triumphantly.
Angela and Harry looked at her as she summoned something. From outside the turret came a boy, dressed in a white med school uniform.
"Drew!" Angela shouted and tried to reach for him but he disappeared almost instantly. "What have you done to him?" Matilda gave a high-pitched laugh.
Angela started to shake and fell unconscious. Patricia rush to her sister's side, losing the spell's eye contact with Matilda.
But just as Harry was about to throw a spell at Matilda, she Disapparated.
Harry watched as Angela opened her eyes late the next morning. They were in her room in the Mercado mansion. Patricia helped him bring Angela back to the mansion in a very complicated spell he never knew about, though he wasn't surprised when Patricia did. After all, Angela said that Patricia has powers even she doesn't have.
When they reached the mansion last night, he owled Dumbledore through Hedwig telling him of what happened and that a Muggle is now in grave danger. Hedwig hasn't returned yet, though he doesn't expect an answer in the next couple of days. Britain is very, very far.
Patricia is asleep on the chair beside Angela's four-poster bed. She looks so cute in her pink flowing robes. He can't imagine a seven-year-old girl having powers like her. Must be quite a burden for her.
"Drew…" Angela murmured.
Harry reached for her hand. "Angela, you must rest."
"But Drew…" She tried to get up.
"Ate…" Patricia sat down beside her and held her other hand. "Don't worry, we'll find Kuya Drew."
At that moment, the door of her room opened and in came Mr. and Mrs. Mercado, Patrick and two older boys he haven't seen before.
"Ate!" The two boys hurried to her side.
"We were so worried." The older of the two said.
"I told Kuya Angelo that we simply had to go home to see if you're okay." The younger one said.
Angela gave a small smile and turned to Harry.
"Harry, these are my other brothers, Angelo and Michael." She introduced him. "This is Harry Potter."
Michael's eyes widened. "No way!"
Harry was surprised with his reaction. But well, he reminded himself that he is Harry Potter. He just flashed Michael and Angelo a smile.
"I heard she got Kuya Drew." Angelo said.
Angela's eyes turned misty and nodded.
Harry got up and said he'll just stay in his room for a while; Angela still has to rest and think of what their plans will be. He'll just have to wait for that.
He got a pen that was on top of the study in his room. He laid a piece of paper and started writing to Hermione, asking for some advice regarding how to vanquish a Dark Sorceress like Matilda. Hermione and Ron was with him during his last clash Lord Voldemort. Now, he seemed sort of lost.
Somebody knocked in his room. It was Lilias.
"Mister Harry Potter, Mr. Mercado wants to see you in his study." And she quickly walked away.
"You called me—" He stepped in the study but was cut off by the surprise that he saw.
It was Ron.
"Dumbledore sent me to help you here." Ron said when they were alone. He looked around the study. "Nice house Angela has. Do all Muggle houses look like this?"
"This is a mansion, Ron." He informed him. "So how are things in London?'
Ron grunted. "I owled Ginny that I'll be coming here with you."
"And…" Harry looked at him expectantly.
"If you're talking about "her", no we haven't talked." Ron answered. Not believing that despite the big problem they have now, he has the nerve to ask about Hermione.
Harry sighed.
"So tell me about what's happening here." Ron asked.
Harry started telling him about their encounter with Matilda.
"Wait, so are you telling me that Angela here, is one of the most powerful witches here?" Ron couldn't believe it.
Harry nodded. "She and her younger sister, Patricia. And their Grand Aunt Matilda. But well, she crossed over to the Dark side. That's why Angela and Patricia need to vanquish her. They need help. Though Patricia and Angela seem to be powerful, they can't because they're too good."
"And how do we get this Drew fellow?" Ron asked again. "If you ask me, if he treated Angela that way, I'll say he deserves it."
"Be there as it may, Ron, he's still innocent." Harry insisted. "Oh, this will be easier if Hermione's around."
With the mention of that name, Ron cringed.
"Oh don't give me that look if you don't want your nose to fall off, Ron." Harry threatened. Ron just shrugged.
Patrick walked in the room and said hello to Ron. "I'm Ate Angel's youngest brother. Will you help them get Kuya Drew?"
"We have to. Why do you ask?" Ron answered.
Patrick shook his head and walked out of the room.
It took two days before Angela finally went out of her room. All those times, Ron and Harry would stay there with her or explore the environs of their huge mansion. When Angela was finally up and about, she led the two in her secret chamber, behind Matilda's portrait.
"Drew was my boyfriend in the University." Angela explained as they climbed the spiral staircase towards the attic. "When I told him I was a witch, he didn't spoke to me for about a month. That's when I was able to trap Matilda in the crystal. He told me he'd still be willing to marry me if I never use my magic again. I can't do that. I know I am destined to live this life. Patricia and I are, although we're quite reluctant. But we don't have a choice. Then I left for London when the Ministry sent me there to represent SEA. Thinking that Matilda would not be able to return not unless someone frees her from the crystal."
"Then who?" Ron's forehead creased.
Angela shook her head. "I don't know. All I know that whoever freed her is in this house. I don't know who."
"Could it be one of your family members?" Harry was curious.
Angela shook her head again. "No. All of us hate her. My guess is one of the servants. Some of them are grandchildren of Aunt Matilda's old servants. Who were cursed to serve her until she herself dies."
Harry and Ron fell silent.
Angela moved to her large cauldron and mixed the potion brewing there. "Witchcraft here is very Dark. Even if you are a white witch, we still use the Dark Arts sometimes. But I don't know why I can't. Maybe granny gave all the knowledge in the Dark Arts to Patricia. I don't know."
An explosion came from the cauldron and Matilda's head appeared.
"Angela…"
"Where is Drew?" Angela asked.
"Come and get him, Angela." And she disappeared.
Angela's face grew dark like never before. Almost like Matilda's. "We're going back to the castle tonight."
Ron gulped but Harry's face remained emotionless.
Angela insisted on not letting Patricia go even if the three of them know that it would be easier to vanquish Matilda if Patricia was with them. Angela said that the next thing they need is another opportunity for Matilda to get Patricia so she stayed behind.
Mounted on their broomsticks, they flew towards the castle the moment the clock struck 12 in the midnight. Instead of landing on the top turret, they landed on the huge front doors.
It opened automatically. They went up the grand staircase and entered a huge chamber. There was huge cauldron there, boiling. Drew is suspended over it, unconscious.
"So brought more enforcements, my dear, dear niece?" Matilda said. Now she still looked like Angela, only a hundred times older. Her hair was silvery white, skin was all wrinkled and instead of white flowing robes, she wore a black one, with red linings.
"Free Drew right now, Matilda and I'll give you what you want." Angela said.
Matilda looked at her keenly, as if she was trying to bluff her. Harry and Ron gripped their wands tight, ready to cast a spell in case Matilda does something foul.
Matilda gave her a crooked smile. "Very well." She pointed her wand at Drew and he fell onto the ground. Harry and Ron seized him immediately to get him out of the way.
"Now, Harry!" Angela shouted.
Harry cast the Full Body Bind curse to Matilda and she fell on the ground. Ron hurriedly tried to wake Drew up to be able to take him home easily but to no avail.
Angela levitated Matilda and put her in her own cauldron. Ron, finally giving up on reviving Drew, threw flames under the cauldron, something he got from Hermione.
Angela quickly seized her bag and got the three crystals and put it in a triangle around the cauldron. The crystals levitated and with a loud scream from Matilda, it sucked her in. The three crystals were one again, it fell inside the cauldron. The three watched as the fire melted the crystal.
"Will she be able to come back still?" Ron asked.
Angela shook her head. "I don't know. Let's just go home."
There were festivities in the mansion the next day. Drew was finally conscious and was eating with Michael and Patrick while Angelo hang on to Harry's every word. Patricia, who was clearly very fond of Angela kept running around with Ron.
When the day came to a close, Angela, Ron, Harry and Drew was wading by the pool when Hedwig swooped down Harry's lap with a letter from Dumbledore.
"Oh no." He said. "They need us in London. Ginny's kidnapped."
*** That was a very long, boring chapter. Forgive me. But I need that part for later chapters. Anyway, please R/R. Thanks!!***