Chapter Five: Truce and Abductions
"I'm not a stupid prick. I'm a stupid prick's best friend. So ha."
- Jenina Rivera (err.. me)
Skipping forward a few pages…
October 30
Mayhap one knight shall come to me and rest his sword at my feet to properly bow. His head shall be lowered and his body bent at the waist. Oh, power. How seducing you are to this mind—
Now that's just scary. Why'd I write that? Assuming I wrote that, of course… odd.
I've been having these crazy little visions all month. They stopped for a period of time the previous month, but the days leading to Halloween have been packed of the irritating things. I hope that they will die down after Halloween. I've concluded that I can see things happening in the Present. Probably some crazy magic that wishes to invade my mind for a bit before going to cruelly intrude upon another's mentality.
In addition, for the whole school year, every time someone asks me a question like 'Where is the Headmaster of Hogwarts?' or 'Who's that girl next to Malfoy at the Slytherin Table?' I always blank out for a moment. When I regain consciousness, the person I was speaking with was giving me an odd look. It's very strange, indeed.
Despite these, nothing remotely odd has befallen upon me. Black and I have argued (with no change), Lily and Potter have had spats (though the intensity has slightly lowered), Sandy and Damien have been vexingly dancing around each other (though getting just somewhat closer), and Lupin and Pettigrew laugh in the background (though I heard Lupin's been snogging some Ravenclaw sixth year). Oh, how wonderful.
It's a Hogsmeade weekend. Whoop-dee-freakin'-doo. Don't get me wrong, Hogsmeade is great and everything… but I have to leave with Lily today because Sandy has to catch up with homework (she was violently sick two days ago and just recovered) and Damien decided to go to the library around the time we're supposed to leave.
Like said before, where Lily goes, the Marauders are bound to be near. I heard Lupin was in the Hospital Wing though and that Pettigrew was struggling to finish homework for Monday, so that leaves us with… Potter and Black. Great, I have much more things to look forward to now. I could last with Potter and Lupin, but Potter and Black. You haveto be kidding me. Agh… Someone hates me up there.
That reminds me… There's going to be a Halloween Dance next week. It was supposed to be this weekend, but they wanted to give us a Hogsmeade weekend before the Dance for an opportunity to buy our outfits. We weren't informed of a Dance before the year. I guess Lily and James planned it at the very beginning and decided to set it up as a sort of surprise. I wasn't very surprised. I wasn't planning to go. But there's always that much hated word inserted in there! Lily forced me to go.
She and I were talking about it a little less than a week ago. In addition to being a Dance, it was a masked dance, formally known as a Masquerade Ball. I was reluctant to go partly because of the fact I hated formal occasions and partly because SIRIUS BLACK will most likely be there. He never misses a social event. He's practically a social butterfly… a masculine butterfly, anyways.
The explanation behind the latter reason is the last time I was at a social event with Black, the dress I had bought especially for the event ended up ruined, ripped in many places, and faded for eternity. That was when my loathing began for him. That was in our third year. We've clashed wits ever since then.
Damien is calling me downstairs. I must rush off.
- Delayna Warbeck
Delayna's Point of View, Third Person Narrative
Delayna's movements were like as a snake, smooth and self-confident, as she exited her dormitory and descended the stairs. As usual, the Slytherins in the Common Room glanced quickly at her before returning to their former activities without missing a beat. She was considered as one of the 'wannabe' Slytherins because of her status as an heir to a Ravenclaw family, and friends with two Gryffindors. She cared little about her position in the House of Snakes, though. She cared as close to none about her position in the social ladder. She could really care less if those like Severus Snape treated her less than they would a Muggleborn.
Greeting Damien with a Nod, they exited the Common Room side-by-side wordlessly. There was no need for words, really. They were practically siblings, the way they acted. They acted almost as close as she and Henry did… almost.
As they passed the concealed entrance in the walls made of stone to the corridors outside, Damien started up the conversation and the mood changed drastically.
Delayna's Point of View, First Person Narrative
"So, D, whom are you going with to the Halloween Dance?" he struck up. I didn't bat an eyelash. Damien was also a masculine social butterfly and he was practically the reason people went to the ball. Balls/Dances had a tendency to really… for lack of better word… suck. People turned their heads to Damien or the Marauders for entertainment. The reason might have been the previous Heads were boring little bookworms who had absolutely no imagination at all. My former friend Weston became a Head and turned into a hideous, boring, law's pawn. I'm not exaggerating at all.
"Damien," I replied slowly, as if talking to a small child, "the Dance is a masked dance; or in other words, a Masquerade Ball. We're not supposed to know everyone else." He blinked, comprehension finally arriving.
"Oh," he said dumbly. Regaining his composure, he continued. "Are you going to the Dance?" I shrugged. I figured I would. If I didn't, Lily would make sure heads would roll around the ground with tongues lolling out. My head will most likely be one of them. My friends' heads are going to be some of the few, since she would reason that since 'they didn't encourage you to go enough', most likely.
Looking ahead, I spotted a familiar bunch of heads. "Oy! Lily! Sandy!" I yelled, not speeding nor slowing my pace. They both turned to look at me. It was hardly noticeable to the casual eye, but I was particularly looking for those sparkling eyes of Sandra Allen. I knew the reason they were glowing so, and he was walking right next to me. Lily turned a quizzical eye at my smirk and I raised my eyebrows and nodded imperceptibly towards the two we were with as we strolled. She quirked her eyebrows and stifled a giggle.
"Hogsmeade then, Layna?" Lily offered, glancing at Sandy and Damien. They hadn't noticed.
"Of course, Lily!" I chirped in a high-pitched tone, putting the fakest 2000-watt smile on my face. Both of our eyes flickered towards the pair beside us. Not a sound had emitted from them. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. Though I tried my hardest to keep it away from my face, a grin crossed my lips. Maybe today would be the day they'd get together. It was a good possibility…
We walked away in silence, quietly contemplating to ourselves. After a few moments, we both burst out, "You noticed that, too?" She giggled and I loosed a small smile in amusement. Great minds think alike, I guess. A mute agreement passed between us about the subject, and we began to argue about the most pointless things in the world… as always.
As we entered the hustle and bustle of the Hogsmeade village, Lily veered me by the elbow to the Three Broomsticks. She went ahead and reserved us a seat at a free table (fit to hold six, but the only table available) while I ordered drinks at the front. I waited until Madame Rosmerta was free to take my order because of a little spat I had with three of her assistants last year. It wasn't exactly… minor, either.
Okay, so I insulted their ability to remember anything. I might have also told the male of the group that he wasn't very equipped in the umm… lower regions… and I might've told the girls that hags felt better about themselves because they were around. That's probably why I'm trying to avoid them as much as possible.
Unfortunately, the crowds of students in the pub held up Madame Rosmerta. Irritated, I settled for one of her younger assistants, those of whom are actually fresh out of Hogwarts and earning a bit more money, most likely. Well, they may have been older than I am, but it doesn't mean I treat them with any more respect than I usually give anyone.
"Two Butterbeers, please," I droned, my tone emotionless. The girl seemed to be new around here, because she didn't cause a spat, didn't whine or groan in frustration. 'Madame, you must have been desperate to find all those others,' I mused as I waited as patiently as I could. It's a well-known fact that I'm only patient when I want to be. I'm not exactly the patient type now, with all these little midgets running around. That may have sounded hypocritical because I'm short myself… but bite me. I'm more mature… I think.
I grabbed the Butterbeers as the girl handed them to me and glanced around for our table. It would most likely be the emptiest larger table. Spotting none, confusion passed over me for a moment before I found a head of auburn hair that could only be Lily's. My eyes flickered to her new companions and I groaned inwardly. Two heads of black… which would be Potter and Black. Everyone is conspiring against me!
Thinking along the lines of manners, I grudgingly strode to the table, annoyance radiating off me in great waves that some glanced at me as I passed.
"Delayna, darling, how wonderful of you to join us!" Black exclaimed dramatically with a posh, lordly voice. "Do take a seat; there are plenty of room here!" He waved his hands to the free space surrounding him. Sneering, I did, placing Lily's Butterbeer in front of her gently and taking a sip of mine. For her credit, Lily didn't seem very happy to have the two sitting there either. She glanced at me, giving the 'I-Had-No-Choice-They-Forced-Themselves-Here' look. I gave a one-armed shrug in sympathy for us both.
An evil smirk was placed upon my lips that were hidden behind the mug of Butterbeer I was sipping. This could be a great opportunity to get the two Heads closer together. Quickly, a scheme formed in my head. Hey, I wasn't placed in Slytherin for nothing.
"So Lily," I struck up, leaning forwards and placing my left elbow on the table, cradling my head in my left hand, the corner of my lips pulled up in a smirk. "I noticed you were looking at one Ravenclaw seventh year named Wilson Height. Mind telling me more?" I spared a glance towards Potter, to see how he would react. He grew interested and I could see a trace of suspiciousness in his eyes. My own flickered towards Black, and I stared pointedly, wordlessly telling him of my plan. He nodded imperceptibly and turned to Lily, who was blushing as darkly as her hair as she fidgeted with the hem of her robes.
"Yeah, you were looking at him like a starry-eyed nitwit," he carried on without missing a beat. Lily's ears began to redden. Oh, this was too much fun. I decided to look at Potter for a reaction. He was struggling to keep his emotions behind a mask (which I had to say, was not that bad for a person like him) but was failing. I could see jealousy radiating off his form.
"Didn't he promise he'd give you a dance at the Ball if ever he recognized you?" I continued, raising my eyebrows. She mumbled under her breath incoherently.
"Come on, Sirius," Potter said gruffly, his face slightly flushed from his effort. He nudged Black with his arm. "Let's leave the girls to their Talks." Potter got up, and Black muttered 'Meet you at Quality Quidditch Supplies' in my ear before following him.
"That was cruel!" Lily cried, burying her face in her hands. "To bring up Wilson in front of James and Sirius!"
"Don't you mean 'Potter and Black'?" I inquired innocently. She growled in frustration. Even though I couldn't see myself in the mirror, I knew amusement was dancing in my eyes. This was great entertainment… and I'm sick of them dancing around each other like Sandy and Damien!
"Come on, let's go to Quality Quidditch Supplies," I urged. She agreed, having nothing else to do. "I have to get some new Keeper gloves. I want to keep my football skills on high just incase I don't make it as a journalist. Ever since Malfoy," I spit his name out like vermin flying into my mouth, "took away my Keeper gloves and had the governors ban playing it on the field, I haven't been able to practice at all." I began to rant a string of curses, using words that would no doubt bring McGonagall a heart attack if her ears had ever heard.
"There, there," Lily soothed to ease my temper. I glared at her, and she stared right back until I gave it up. I sighed. My attention turned from our conversation to the sight of two eager seventeen-year-old teenagers we both knew. Lily, in turn, glared at me and I shrugged helplessly.
"Some friend you are," she murmured harshly.
"A very good one I am, thank you very much," I shot back cheekily. As Lily glared at me once again, I could just see her imagining daggers and all sorts of pointy things flying into my figure. I just grinned slightly.
The smile was knocked clean off my face as an anonymous person pulled me into the alley between Quality Quidditch Supplies and the apothecary. A hand clamped over my mouth and a familiar voice hissed for me to shush in my ear. I found my muscles tense, so I relaxed them, letting him know I wasn't going to deck him or anything… yet. He turned me around and gripped my shoulders painfully.
"Listen, if we're going to get Lily and James together, we can't keep on arguing," Black whispered urgently. His deep gray eyes flickered around nervously. Obviously, he's never confronted anyone in an alley.
"So you're proposing a truce," I deduced the clever person I am. He nodded. I bet he's expecting me to refuse. Heh. I'll just surprise him now, won't I?
"Sure," I shrugged indifferently. In truth, I agree with him. We can't let our own fights get in the way of getting those two together. They're starting to get sickeningly close… and a jealous Potter and an overemotional Lily is more than this girl can handle.
"You're serious." Black's – it should be Sirius now, shouldn't it… -- tone was incredulous.
"Aren't you Sirius?" I teased playfully. He's always cracked that joke that I just couldn't resist! His lips melted into a smile. He nodded and let go. I rolled my shoulders back in forth.
"Ow," I moaned as I placed a hand tenderly on the places that he had gripped my torso. "Why do men result to such violence these days?" He loosed a grin. I smiled slightly. This could work out just fine.
"That was fun," I deadpanned. Next to me, Sirius agreed, commenting about the stuff he got from Zonko's. The two boys had left with Lily and I with reluctance from both Lily and James, as I have to call him now because or me and Sirius's truce. I had my arm linked to Lily on her right, and Sirius had forced James to stay on his right. Lily and James were now in the middle of the group of four we formed, both being courageous in their endeavors to get away from Sirius and I. Oh we were good. We kept them right there.
"James and I have to run ahead and get with Remus and Peter," Sirius said, apologizing to me under his breath. I nodded once, shooing them off. Beside me, Lily sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness they're gone," she breathed.
"What, nervous around them now?" I poked mercilessly. She glared daggers at me again. Hehe.
"I don't get why you're suddenly being all buddy-buddy around him anyways," she began to rant. "Both of you hated each other before…" I heard from her that day those last words.
A hand had clasped over my mouth and another closed over my wrist. I struggled as I was dragged backwards into the Forbidden Forest nearby but it was too no avail. A sickening, slimy voice whispered "Stupefy," and my world turned black as I felt a whooshing of air collide with my spine.
Author's Notes: Hehe. Very long chapter, yes. My appreciation goes to all those that reviewed. Please don't hesitate to send me an e-mail concerning questions, comments, or anything else. Look to the bottom of my profile for it.
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- Cerulean Aphodel