Sugar n Spice
By: ComplexSimplicitY (yes, I couldn't stand the '10' after silver_star, so I changed it ^_^)
A/N: Hey, hey, hey!!! Look at that, it's been a week (okay a week and then some but still!), and I'M UPDATING!!! See, I told you I'd be better about it ^_^_^_^ Thanks for all the reviews again everyone! I'm so happy you all still like it ^_^ For all those waiting for the D/G action- aside from the flashbacks, it's only a few more chapters until they meet…^_^_^_^_^ Happy Reading!
Chapter 5: Two of a Kind
The next morning, with the help of the Marauder's Map of course, Tori, Nicole and Jessica all managed to sneak out of their dorms a bit earlier than normal. Quite a bit earlier than normal actually. As the clock on the wall chimed six times, the girls were already dressed and ready, all equipped with supplies, and drowsily headed off towards the staircase that led up to the Owlery.
"Are you sure she'll come?" Nicole asked a bit nervously.
"Of course she will. I've been watching her, every Friday morning before breakfast she always heads up to the Owlery to send a letter. I ran into her up here near the beginning of term, and she was here last week too when I sent my mum her present. She'll show." Tori answered confidently while pulling out a huge container of slick, clear gel.
"I just hope no other students show up." Jessica muttered.
"No one in their right mind would be up this early." Tori replied, stifling a yawn as she continued to take more and more items from her bag.
Too tired to talk any more, the girls spread out and started setting up. Nicole, the best at charms, managed to Wingardium Leviosa two enormous buckets of magical green goo into the air, and hid them strategically behind two huge banners bearing the Hogwarts crest. She also pulled out a few carefully selected Puffapod seeds, and levitated those up as well, not bothering to hide them since they were pale pink, and camouflaged easily in the bright sunlight that was shining through a nearby window.
Jessica, who was extraordinary with her wand, placed several Jelly-legs Jinxes at the start of the corridor, which would be activated upon contact. Finally, when all the girls finished, they took their positions. Tori, careful to avoid the hidden jinxes, stood near the entrance of the corridor while Tori hid behind a statue of a noble looking wizard where she could easily control the floating buckets and Puffapod seeds. Jessica, on the other hand, stood with Tori instead. When all the girls were in position, Tori uncapped the container of clear gel, and dumped it all over the floor. Magically, the gel immediately spread out to span almost the whole of the corridor, but avoided coming within two inches of Tori, Jessica and Nicole.
"Okay, no one move alright? The gel should be in place by now which means if any of us moves over 2 inches, we'll go slipping and sliding all over the place and then the plan will be busted." Tori said. Before she could check her watch though, she caught the sound of footsteps echoing through the still quiet castle, and smirked to Jessica. "Here we go."
After a few minutes of impatient waiting, the girls finally heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the empty, deserted corridors. As the footsteps grew closer, Tori caught the sound of a male voice, and then a few giggles as well.
"Oh no!! She's brought James with her!! Oh, he is going to kill me…" Tori moaned into her hands. Jessica patted her back sympathetically, but nevertheless looked slightly amused.
"Well, at least we'll be able to get her other friend as well, it's not a total loss." She mused aloud.
"Sh, here they come!" Nicole whispered from her position, peeking out from the side of the wizard's large belly. Regaining their composure, they continued to wait.
As the three Gryffindors rounded the corner, James spotted Tori.
"Oh, hey Tori, s'up?" he asked amiably . Tori and Ami just glared.
"Uh, nothing much." Tori answered nervously, not daring to move. Jessica gulped, and put a weak smile on.
"Um…where are you headed?" James asked, frowning a bit. Tori looked extremely nervous and was twiddling her thumbs, a dead give away that she was hiding something. Her friend also looked a bit suspicious, and he could see the tiny beads of sweat that had broken out on her brow.
"Oh, uh, no where actually. Yea…we were just…" Tori started.
"Waiting. Waiting for our friend Nicole." Jessica finished hurriedly, before Tori could blurt out some lame excuse.
"Yeah, that's about right. She…she said she had to send a letter to someone…" Tori rambled.
"Oh…okay then." James answered slowly. Something was up…
"Go right ahead, don't mind us." Jessica answered, a forced smile on her face. Though James remained in his position, Ami shrugged, and took a step forward.
Instantly, the Jelly-legs Jinx took affect, and her legs started wobbling insanely. After letting out a little shriek, she started to slip and slide all across the floor, but not before she managed to knock into Nicole, who was still hiding behind the statue.
"Oh no!" Nicole cried. She too was gliding rather ungracefully across the floor, but more importantly, she had lost all control of the levitating items. Before they had the chance to fall though, she managed to regain her command over the objects, and let out a sigh of relief, then a yelp of pain as she crashed into the wall.
"AMI!" Tristan yelled, concerned for her friend. Before she could go after her though, James had shifted a teensy bit forward, and was down in a second, slipping all over the floor, and looking extremely annoyed as his legs continued to wobble even though he was now skimming the floor on his bottom. 'I knew something was up…' he muttered to himself. Poor guy.
"What the hell did you do?!" Tristan screeched, not daring to move even a muscle.
"Just having a little fun…" Tori answered, a smirk on her face.
"FUN?!"
"YUP!"
"AH!!" While Tristan and Tori continued to scream at each other, Ami had accidentally knocked into Jessica, and she too, was now gliding along, spinning in circles as the clear gel still managed to remain slick and in top notch condition.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
Oh no way…
OH CRAP!
It was Professor McGonagall. And she was not happy.
Before Tori and Tristan could stop her though, the Professor had barged right past them-and straight into the trap. As Professor McGonagall began her slippery journey along the corridor, Tristan and Tori simultaneously winced and shuddered as the Professor, absolutely livid now, continued sliding along, valiantly keeping her stance even though her legs were wobbling insanely. As she continued circling the room, one of her arms accidentally whacked Nicole's right arm-and in an instant, Professor McGonagall, Nicole, Jessica, James, and Ami, were all covered in slimy, gooey, thick, green goo.
In unison, the twins clapped their hands over their eyes, not even daring to look, when all of a sudden, several fat Puffapod seeds descended from the ceiling, and immediately covered all the students and their dear old Professor in an array of beautiful blooming flowers.
"THAT IS ENOUGH!!! EVANESCO!" McGonagall bellowed. A blinding white light filled the corridor, and when it finally cleared, the mess was completely gone.
"FINITE INCANTATEM!" In an instant, everyone's legs were back to normal, and three puffs of purple smoke rose into the air from where the jinxes that had not been activated, were hidden.
Then she turned her attention back onto Tristan and Tori.
Both girls gulped as their livid professor approached them, her eyes dancing with madness, and her tall black hat hanging off the side of her head.
"DETENTION!!! DETENTION MALFOY AND WEASLEY!! DETENTION FOR A MONTH!!!!" She shouted. Then, after straightening her hat, and tossing a menacing glare at the two cowering girls, she stalked off, still very much incensed, and muttering furiously under her breath.
~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~
Tristan and Tori were not pleased. The whole day all Tori could talk about was how her perfect prank had been ruined, and Tristan was still babbling about how unfair it was that she had to be punished as well. Quite frankly, their friends were pretty much ignoring them at this point, and come detention time, both stalked off huffily towards the entrance of McGonagall's office where the professor was already waiting for them
"Thank you for being on time. Your detention today will be in the Trophy Room, I want you all to wipe and polish the trophies, plaques, frames, everything that's in there; no complaints." She snapped as Tristan started to open her mouth in protest. It hadn't been her idea after all, and she was just as much a victim as her friends.
"You will have two hours to complete the task. I want to find everything in there spotless alright? And no quarreling either-frankly, I don't think the building can take much more." Professor McGonagall finished with a grim smile on her face.
As she turned and headed off in the opposite direction, Tristan and Tori both began the walk to the Trophy Room, deliberately avoiding each other's existence in general, and not making a sound. When they finally reached the Trophy Room, both girls dumped their book bags in opposite corners, quickly grabbed at the two overflowing buckets of soapy, sudsy water, and started working on their respective sides. Occasionally the sound of dripping water, or a sponge being rung out was heard, but other than that, the room was practically radiating silence.
As the silence prevailed, the two girls continued working diligently on the numerous plaques and trophies, never acknowledging the other's presence. In fact, it wasn't until they were nearly finished until something happened.
As Tristan hurriedly wiped away the dust from the trophies on her side of the room, she was just about to dust the last one, a large Quidditch cup, when her shoulder accidentally knocked into it-and immediately started a domino affect all the way down the wall.
"OH CRAP!" Tristan yelled, running ahead of the collapsing trophies, trying to stop the effect. Tori, startled by the sudden outbreak of noise, stared after her for a while before coming to her senses and rushing forth to help her. Together, the two girls managed to hold up the line of falling trophies, and after taking a moment to catch their breaths, Tristan was the first to speak.
"Thanks." she said, giving Tori a grateful smile.
"No prob." Tori answered casually, flashing Tristan an identical grin.
As they slowly moved back up the wall, replacing all the trophies, and straightening them out, the silence was back again, but the tension was long gone.
When they finally got to the trophy that started the whole mess, both girls had to grab a handle and heave it back upright. Finished and relieved, they wiped their hands on their robes in unison and both let out a deep breath at the same time as well. Eyeing each other cautiously but with curiosity, both girls turned back to admire the large trophy.
The giant Quidditch cup gleamed back at them, the sparkling, newly polished surface glittering spectacularly.
"You know, you're a pretty good chaser." Tori commented offhandedly. Then she looked up and smiled.
Tristan laughed. "You're not too bad yourself-some of your moves were great! Most of mine I learned from my dad. Did yours teach you as well?"
"Well…I don't really have a father." Tori said, a bit put out.
"Oh, I'm so sorry…" Tristan started, truly sorry she had brought it up.
"No…it's alright. I mean, I suppose I had one at some point, but he and my mum broke up when I was really, really little. I love my mum though, I wouldn't give her up for the world." Tori replied, a bit brighter.
"That's so awesome how you have a mum to share everything with. I suppose I had a mum at one point too, but she and my dad split up when I was really young as well." Tristan said longingly. The girls shared a smile, both of them knowing how it felt to be lacking a parent. Tristan's stomach rumbled just then, and she giggled a bit, making her way over to her book bag.
"Hey Tori, do you want some thing to snack on? I always get hungry after classes end; I can never wait until dinner," Tristan chattered, bringing her book bag over to Tori who was sitting on the floor.
"That would be great, I'm starved! I'm the same way, but I usually just wait it out till dinner." Tori said, making room for Tristan next to her and tugging her book bag onto her lap.
When Tristan was settled, she opened her book bag and pulled out a package of Cauldron Cakes and a jar of peanut butter.
"I know it's kind of weird, but they're just so good together! Something about the cakes and the peanut butter-my dad's always harping on about how unsanitary it is to be dipping cakes into jars of peanut butter," Tristan started, giggling at her strange tastes and her dad's antics.
"Oh, I LOVE Cauldron Cakes with peanut butter!! My mum always steals the cakes from me and gives me interesting looks when I pull out the peanut butter too!" Tori exclaimed happily. After taking a Cauldron Cake each, the girls both took turns dunking it into the peanut butter, and then popped the treats into their mouths after sharing a smile.
"This is so cool! I don't know anyone else who likes this-most of the girls in my dorm just go after the cakes." Tristan said, laughing.
"Me neither! I still love them though. I've loved them ever since I was little, once I got into the kitchen and got hold of some peanut butter and decided to dip my cake into it-my mum was just angry that I got hold of her peanut butter! She loves peanut butter. " Tori replied while reaching out for another cookie.
"Your mum sounds great. What does she do?" Tristan asked curiously.
"Oh, she's a designer-she's really great actually, her business is really booming now. She designs Muggle wedding gowns and wizarding robes as well; she's actually the one who popularized Muggle wedding gowns here in the wizarding world and she's looking to design Quidditch robes now as well." Tori rambled, going over past memories of traveling with her mum.
"That's great! My dad's a designer too-only he designs Quidditch brooms. He started out designing Quidditch brooms of course, but then expanded his business so he now makes toy brooms, long distance brooms, all different types. His Quidditch broom sales have just recently surpassed the caliber of the Nimbus and Firebolt too so we're doing really well. He also sponsors the Chudley Canons." Tristan said with pride.
"Wow, that's awesome! I LOVE the Canons! They made such a comeback last season-my Uncle Ron was ecstatic, he's supported the Canons for forever!" Tori replied excitedly.
Together, the girls laughed, but stopped once they realized the similarity. A bit more uncomfortable now, Tristan reached for the heart shaped pendant around her neck for comfort.
"What's that you're holding?" Tori asked curiously, and a bit freaked out as well.
"Oh, it's a necklace my parents got me when I was born-it has a "T" on it for my name." Tristan replied, still rubbing the smooth cover of the pendant lovingly.
"I have one too! Only the "T" on mine stands for Tori…" she trailed off after she took out her pendant, and realized, after close observation of Tristan's necklace, how similar the two actually were.
Tristan seemed to notice as well, and she stopped rubbing the necklace, a frown slowly crossing her face. It wasn't possible….or was it?
"So, you don't have a father, and I don't have a mother," Tristan started.
"You live with your dad, and I live with my mum," Tori said thoughtfully, a tiny frown still on her face.
"This is so weird…" Tristan laughed offhandedly.
"Have you ever seen a picture of your mum?" Tori asked, a bit anxious to hear the answer.
"Yea I actually have one…do you have a picture of your dad?" Tristan asked in return.
"Well, yea, but you don't want to see it, it's this really old, weathered photograph, and it's ripped right down the middle too, it's not even a whole picture," Tori rambled. When she looked up, she noticed Tristan was standing now, and she was clutching a picture in her hands, pressed to her chest.
"I only have one picture of my mum as well…and it's ripped too." Tristan gulped, her heart racing.
"Right…down the middle?" Tori asked slowly.
"Right down the middle." Tristan replied nervously.
Tori immediately shot up and crossed the room over to her book bag. Rummaging through it, and throwing out random rolls of parchment, she found the slightly wrinkled, ripped picture, and rose as well, pressing hers to her heart. Crossing the room a bit slower this time, Tristan started walking towards the middle as well.
When they both reached the middle, each of them eyeing the other's picture, the girls stopped.
"On 1…" Tristan started softly.
"2…" Tori whispered in return.
"3!" At the same time, both girls whipped out their photos. On one side, a young woman with dark red hair and beautiful brown eyes was smiling at the girls, her dimples showing faintly in the worn photo. She wore a white dress and looked radiant, but there was nothing in the background-and her eyes looked distant as well. In the other photo, a young, handsome man, with silvery blonde hair was looking back at them, his gray eyes penetrating, and deep with thought. His mouth was quirked up in a semi-smile, and he too looked distracted and lonely in the empty photograph.
Shaking, Tristan and Tori both touched the halves of the photo together, and instantly, a flash of light temporarily blinded them both. When their eyes stopped blinking, the girls looked at the picture again.
The two halves had formed a whole picture, and now, the picture was of two very happy looking people, both wrapped in each others arms, dancing along to the silence. In the background, a large number of people looked on at the happy couple, some of them smiling, others holding their own loved ones close. As the dancing couple stopped and noted the two girls above them, the two figures waved and smiled, still wrapped up in each other's arms.
"That's my mum!" Tori shouted excitedly, a laugh rising in her throat.
"And that's my dad!" Tristan giggled loudly.
"Oh my god…This means we're like…like sisters!" Tori said excitedly.
"Sisters? Tori, this means we're like twins!!" Tristan shouted happily.
"Oh my god!" Tori laughed,
"Oh MY god!" Tristan said in return.
Letting go of the picture, Tristan happily pulled her sister into a huge hug, both the girls laughing ecstatically at the same time. Tori returned the hug, tears forming in her eyes.
After 11 long years apart, the two sisters were finally back together again.
~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~
As Colin admired the spacious lift that was carrying him, he straightened his tie, and double checked his portfolio to make sure all his photos were in there. If he played his cards right, this could be a GREAT job opportunity for him-in addition to the other guaranteed job he had advertising Ginny's robes and dresses of course. It wasn't like Colin was in need of any extra cash, especially after all the Galleons he made playing for Puddlemere United, but a few extra here and there couldn't do any harm…right?
Walking out of the lift, and making sure he was on the right level, Colin walked haughtily down the hall, lightly whacking the flying memos, and throwing condescending looks at the younger office assistants who were always busy, rushing to and fro with cups of coffee or heavy files. His attitude only worsened when the young witch at the desk noticed him, and begged him for his autograph. After flashing her a smile that obviously made her go weak in the knees, Colin continued walking until he reached the end of the corridor-and stepped into another lift.
As the lift clicked into place on the next level, Colin stepped out and approached the frosted glass door of the office. Knocking lightly on the glass, Colin waited a moment until he heard,
"Come in." Taking a deep breath, Colin pushed the door open, and placed his award-winning smile on his face.
"Hello Mr. Malfoy, thank you for seeing me today."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next day in detention, which consisted of cleaning up the Professor McGonagall's office, the girls talked avidly about their family lives and what their respective parents were like. Rushing to finish their work so that they could leave, Tori and Tristan were both exhausted when they finished. As they trudged into the Great Hall for dinner, they decided to sit at the Gryffindor table today-though their friends were actually getting along quite well, some of the older Slytherin students weren't as accepting. Plus, with Tori over at the Gryffindor table, it gave her a chance to catch up with James as well.
"I can't believe you two are twins…this is mind boggling!" he said, shaking his head.
"How so?" Tristan and Tori replied, both with identical expressions on their faces.
"Now that you mention it, I wonder how I missed it," James muttered to himself while taking another heaping serving of steak and kidney pie.
At this both girls laughed at the same time, then laughed again when they noticed it. Both of them were eating the exact same things-and both avoiding the strawberry cheesecake as they were both allergic to strawberries. Before they could start talking again though, Professor Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat loudly. That simple action commanded the whole school's attention, and the Hall was silent in an instant.
"Now that we are all fed and watered, I have a few announcements to make. First of all, a reminder to everyone that Christmas is soon approaching, and that means it's time for a Hogsmeade visit to all those in third year and above. Secondly, all students planning to go home for the holidays, please sign up on the list posted in the Entrance Hall and turn in your notes to your Heads of Houses. Thank you."
When Dumbledore finished, Tori and Tristan both turned to each other and said, "Oh, by the way, I'm going home for the holidays." in perfect unison. Tori giggled a bit before turning back to her dessert. Tristan on the other hand seemed a bit distracted.
"So you're going home as well…" Tristan said.
"Yes…" Tori replied. A few minutes later…
"I've got the GREATEST idea EVER!!!" Tristan shrieked.
"What?" Tori asked, confused and continuing to finish off her helping of chocolate pie.
"Well, think about it Tori! You want to see dad right?"
"Right…"
"And I want to see my mum! So how about we," Tristan paused and raised an eyebrow at her twin.
"Oh my gosh-Tris, no WAY, we could never pull it off!" Tori said, putting down her spoon and reaching out for her goblet of pumpkin juice.
"No sis, come on, hear me out! It's perfect! All we have to do is learn about each other's lives-and I doubt that will take very long, and we'll be able to pull it off! I mean, come on, we are twins!" Tristan rambled excitedly.
At this, a smirk immediately crossed Tori's face.
"You know what the beauty of this whole thing is don't you?" she asked slyly.
"When they find out that we've switched on them," Tristan started, an equally evil smirk on her face.
"They'll have to switch us back." Tori finished victoriously.
"And if they have to switch us back…" Tristan continued.
"Then they'll have to meet again." Tori whispered in awe.
"After all those years…" Tori finished, a look of wonder and admiration on her face.
"I know, I'm a genius." Tristan said happily, grabbing her book bag and rising from the table, pulling Tori up with her.
"You're a genius." Tori laughed, pulling her sister into a one armed hug.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Finite! Hope you liked it! I was going to continue and make this longer, but decided not to because that was a good place to stop, and because now I have a head start on the next chapter muahahaha! ^_^ Remember to REVIEWREVIEWREVIEW!!!!!!!! I'll love you forever if you do!!! ^_^_^_^_^_^_^
.:*Priscilla*:.