Disclaimer: Howdy! It's not sunny where I live but since I'm still alive, the day couldn't be any better!
Angelina scrunched up her face and bent down next to him to scrutinize the box more thoroughly. She reached out and brushed the dirt off the lid only to see some sort of writing on the lid.
"I can't make it out," she mumbled squinting.
"It says Nous toujours aurons Paris...which means 'we will always have Paris," he translated.
"I didn't know you speak French," Julius smirked and nodded.
"Johnson you will come to understand there are many things about me no one knows," he explained slipping the box delicately into his pack.
"What are you doing...Montague that's not yours," he just shrugged his broad shoulders.
"You can't just take it, that belongs to somebody else...I mean they left the damn thing in the bloody dark forest. Surely you don't intent on them being content with you taking it!"
"Johnson...by chance do you remember what time it is," he mocked ignoring her outburst.
"For Merlin's sake...my next class starts in five minutes," she gasped.
"I see you in the Common Room tonight we'll take a look at this thing together!" He yells walking in the opposite direction from her.
Angelina never responded she just took off to Hagrid's Hut where Gryffindor and Ravenclaw were rapidly gathering. The poor girl had taken off so fast that she hadn't realized that she had dropped her Care of Magical Creature and D.A.D.A books in the process...
Trelawney ran about through the entire forest in search of her box. It baffled her because she knew it didn't grow legs and walk away. Night was soon to delay her search as she spent her free period and the remainder of the day in the forest pulling out her hair. Millions of thoughts raced through her mind as her knees buckled causing her to the ground.
Where could it be?
Could You-Know-Who have stolen it?
Was it because she woke up on the wrong side of the bed?
Did one of the students discover it on their way to class?
Was Umbridge playing a nasty joke on her?
Was she dreaming?
Did she forget where the box was?
Did someone modify her memory?
Was she wearing the right glasses?
Did she even leave the box there in the first place?
Maybe the creatures of the forest destroyed the box and hid the evidence of their wrongdoing?
Did a gust of wind blow the box away?
What if the box did run away because it hated her?
WHERE COULD IT BE?
She quickly stood up and dusted herself of for her theories were getting her nowhere. She collected her emotion best she could as she began to head back to the castle. She went no more than a couple of feet when her foot knocked up against a rather large book. Trelawney frowned slightly picking up the book reading the front cover.
"Care of Magical Creatures 7th Year Edition and Defense Against the Dark Arts 7th Year Edition...very interesting," she whispered.
She clutched the book against her chest and scurried to the castle with great haste, never noticing a figure watching her every move...
After her tiring day had, past Angelina sulked back to the common room with sadness in her heart. When she arrived at Hagrid's Hut, she had realized that her course books had gone missing. To her demise Umbridge was there to greet the students saying she would fill in until Hagrid returned. What made it even worse was that Angelina lost 75 house points for not having her book. Alicia was more than happy to help out a friend shared her book with Angelina for the class.
In the middle of her Divinations class, she had remembered the box and then she realized that she must have dropped the books in her a rush to get to class. Right before dinner, she returned to the forest looking for her books. It didn't take her long for she spotted them almost immediately, as she was about to grab them she heard footsteps. Out of fear that it would be a professor, she ran deeper into the woods. Angelina waited for what she felt was an hour for the person to leave. She couldn't make out the person because he or she was wearing a cloak but what she did know was that that had found her books and returned to the castle with them.
Therefore, the journey to the common room was a hazy blurry experience making her queasy with every step. No food to off set her judgment and clear her mind forcing Angelina to make clouded decisions. When she was close, enough she practically sprinted the common room.
"Greatest Disaster," she whispered as the portrait swung open with Angelina practically falling in.
Julius who was sitting on the couch twiddling the box in his hand threw to the side and went to Angelina. She sat on the floor dazed and exhausted as he carefully picked her up and placed her on the couch.
"Johnson look at me," she complied.
"You haven't eaten anything all day...I had one of the house elves bring you dinner. You have to eat everything because there's no good in you fainting when we haven't seen what's in the box yet," he said putting tray in her lap.
When the food appeared, she quickly began eating with no fuss of any kind. She had seven helpings and though she felt like she was going to explode, her energy was back. Julius sat miffed at the idea that she could dispose of that amount of food in such a short time.
"You're finished," Angelina nodded.
"You had me worried there for a moment...I didn't think you would stop," Julius said with an eyebrow raised.
Instantly embarrassed Angelina rambled out excuses eyes downcast the entire time while her hands made wild jesters to go along with her incoherent speech.
Julius stared at her as if she was speaking in a foreign language, slowly his stone-faced expression cracked. The edges of his mouth began to quiver; his lips parted showing his white teeth. His shoulders went next trembling bobbing his head ever so slightly. Soon he could no longer hold it in from the pits of his stomach through his throat and out his mouth...laughter. Angelina froze to gaze at him as if he were a stranger or a long lost relative. Julius curled up fell on the floor shaking violently had tears forming and Angelina who was dumbfounded began to fume in anger.
"Stop it...stop it this instant! Why are you laughing," Julius only got worse.
"Johnson...I can't stop your hilarious...I've never seen a girl...eat like you...do your parents feed you," he choked out between his cackling.
"Wait...your laughing at me because of my eating habits...well I hadn't eaten all day and I was hungry...you said eat every bit...your an ass hole!" She screamed as his hilarity died down, but she retreated to the staircase refusing to linger in his presence.
"Johnson...wait I didn't mean anything by it," He yelled catching her arm.
"Why were you laughing," she whispered.
"What you did was funny, hell how you were eating was funny, and I don't get to laugh much but when I do I make count."
"You said I eat like a hippogriff!"
"I said no such thing!"
"Too bad...you implied it," she challenged.
"I've always been around women who thought less was more and that is how most of the pureblood society thinks. Being around you was a reality check...a comedic one at that."
"Your not help the situation any!"
"Johnson I'm not use to a girl eating quite the way you do but in a weird sort of way it was a pleasant surprise."
"Really, because I get enough of this crap from Fred and George I don't need it from you!"
"I enjoy a girl with an unusually healthy appetite...maybe we can have an eating contest one day?" He mocked laughing again.
Angelina stood there but instead of pelting him with hexes, she too now began to giggle along with him. After a few seconds, they both calmed down and Julius remembered the box. She followed him to the table as he picked up the box and carefully spread its contents in front of the fireplace. Angelina bent down on the floor next to him as they looking through the box.
"Wow...look at this Montague an old Daily Prophet," he looked.
"This is old...dates back to the 60's. What's it about Johnson?"
"Muggle family viciously murdered...brutal acts of violence...believed to be the workings of dark wizards unknown...for what the ministry has feared has happened...dark lord on the rise...the unknown dark wizard goes by the name Voldemort...pseudonym disguises true identity...aurors promise to have him and his assailants brought to justice promptly," Angelina reads as Julius rolls his eyes.
"Wonder who the family was?"
"What does it matter You-Know-Who probably did it for no reason?"
"Dates at little off because he didn't start his rise to power until the early seventies."
"He was getting an early start, so what? You-Know-Who probably did all his dirt low key but only this time he was caught in the public eye."
"I have a feeling there's more to the story than just that...lets keep looking."
They sifted through the old newspaper articles, pictures, mementos, and then the journal.
"What in bloody hell?"
"It only says Sybil on the front...the rest is scratched out," Angelina says.
"Look at this picture...the woman she looks familiar," she nodded.
"Maybe this was the family that the Daily Prophet was talking about," Angelina asked.
"What does it say on the inside of the journal say," Julius inquired scooting closer to her so that he could peer over her shoulder.
"The journal is ancient, pages completely yellowed you can't even read the writing...hold on there is no writing...you know Fred told me that...never mind," Angelina said.
"What?"
"It's nothing really."
"You can trust me," he said making eye contact.
"No I can't, you've taken over my life, shredded every bit of purity I have in me and we're not even friends. Not to mention you're in Slytherin which isn't an added bonus!"
"One I saved you life, I could have let you die in front of that mirror and on top of not all Slytherin are scum," he confessed.
"Bloody hell why don't you just tap into my mind and find out!"
"I'm trying to respect you...now please on my life I won't breathe a word to anyone...not all Slytherin are Death Eaters isn't that what your thinking."
"Fine but you have to swear; cross you hear hope to die stick needle in your eye," she demanded holding out her pinky.
"Completely childish I won't do it," he said.
Angelina gave him her best pouty face ever as her eyes watered while her bottom lip quivered uncontrollably. Julius caved at the site of her big browns penetrating his dark blues. He sighed uncomfortably glancing around the room, Angelina noticed his guarded state.
"No one's around and I won't tell a soul that you did this, cross my heart hope to die stick a needle in my eye."
"Fine...I cross my heart hope to die stick a needle in my eye," he repeated linking his pinky with hers.
"Remember when the Chamber of Secrets was opened well..." Angelina began the story of how the chamber was opened with full details on both Ginny and Harry's accounts. Julius sat closed mouth as he watched and listened to her vivid tale of the Boy Who Lived.
'She looks so cute the way she talks with her hands...what am I doing? I've got to pay attention,' Julius dismissed his thoughts and continued to listen to her story.
"So now you know the truth."
"Are you trying to tell me that the youngest Weasley was the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets? The red headed little mousy girl who sulks after Potter all the time? It couldn't have been that shutter bug!" Julius mocked.
"Well yes...I mean no...if you think of it like that then she did. For one she does not follow Harry around and she isn't a shutter bug!" Julius rolled his eyes.
"You missed one tiny little detail."
"What?"
"Shutter bug didn't open the chamber by herself, and if you want to get technical she didn't open it at all...Voldemort did," Angelina shuttered.
"No Tom Marvolo Riddle did, You-Know-Who can't get into Hogwarts."
"Same difference...I'll show you," Julius used his wand to spell out Tom Marvolo Riddle out in the air, Angelina looked unimpressed.
"So I can do too."
"Wait...if you rearrange the letters the name looks a little like this," Angelina gasped as he transformed the name to spell out: I Am Lord Voldemort.
"Oh so...wow," he nodded.
"When you said that Weasley used the diary to open the Chamber of Secrets I knew something was off because only the heir of Slytherin can open it."
"I know that but it still doesn't explain how she opened it since only the successor can."
"As you know the journal belonged to Tom Riddle but what you don't know is that he saved his memory in the journal, and when it fell into the hands of the Weasley girl he used the journal to control her actions. Tom Riddle was the heir to Slytherin," Julius explained.
"How do you know so much about this?"
"My father's private library and the rest is pretty much common Slytherin knowledge."
"Oh, how do we read the journal anyway?"
"Beats the hell out of me...it depends on by the looks of it...Sybil. Only the person who records the memory sees words."
"Maybe we should write in it," Julius stood only to disappear up the staircase to his room and within seconds, he returned with ink and a quill in hand.
"What do you think we should write," he asked handing her the items.
"I don't know...how about this," she answered scribbling down on the first yellowed page of parchment.
We want to hear your story; can you tell us what happened to you?
No, I cannot tell you!
Julius and Angelina looked at each other astonished and amazed. She handed to quill to him in hopes that he could persuade the mysterious girl.
Is your name Sybil?
Smart one you are...who are you?
I'm Julius Montague and the other is Angelina Johnson.
A Montague! What a beastly boy you must be...like Cassius you are, a pathetic blood obsessed arse!
"Wow! She knows so well...and who's Cassius by the way?" Angelina joked earning a glare from Julius.
"He was my grandfather...so they must have known each other."
I am nothing like him!
The apple does not fall from the tree...I want to speak to the girl.
Angelina took the quill back while Julius gave her an encouraging nod.
Angelina here can you tell me what year it is?
I know who you are...I can tell whose writing! The year is 1939 to be exact.
How old are you?
I'm eleven years old.
Are you a muggle-born half-blood or pureblood?
I am a pureblood witch.
You go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?
Yes!
We want to know your story...we need to know.
I dare not tell a soul but I can let you experience to for yourself.
How?
Simple, answer the conundrum properly and it's all yours but you get it wrong and the book will close forever to your eyes, deal?
Deal!
What has ears but cannot hear?
"Oh bugger, I don't know I'm not at all good at riddles."
"And to think all this time you gave me the impression that Gryffindors could do anything!"
"Oh shut up...do you know the answer or not?" Angelina yelled scowling
"Tut tut...attitudes and frowning are very unattractive combination, but if you say the magic words I might help you."
"Fine...please Montague?"
"No...I want you to say Julius is the sexiest man alive and I could shag all day," Angelina glared glaciers in his direction.
"Make me say that and I'll never speak to you again," Julius smirked.
"Is that a promise?"
Angelina stared deep into his orbs making her eyes water and lip tremble. Julius once again caved making Angelina more than overly delighted that she didn't have to shed a tear in her endeavors.
"Oi Johnson, don't have a bloody cow I give you the damned answer. Men do all the work and get nothing in return!"
Before Angelina could stop herself Angelina lean over gazing her lips across his lightly. Julius was flabbergasted by her forwardness toward him but he wasn't complaining. Sadly as soon as the kiss started it ended because Angelina pulled away looking ashamed.
"Where did that come from?"
"I don't no...it just happened. I sorry," Julius frowned.
"Don't be I'm not," Angelina rolled her eyes.
"Let's just call it consolation praise for me not making you say the magic words," she nodded.
"The answer?"
"Corn," he said while writing the word down on parchment.
Bugger you've got it right.
Will you show us then?
Merlin you are a Montague! Fine I show you just, keep your knickers on!
The next thing Julius or Angelina knew the pages of the book began to glow brightly partially blinding them. Angelina felt she was being sucked into a huge vacuum cleaner she yipped as Julius grabbed onto her hand. It was as though the pair were falling headfirst through a tunnel. All of a sudden, Julius felt familiar hard cobble stone floor he opened his eyes to see that they had landed at the entrance of the Great Hall.
"Johnson!" He called out realizing she wasn't beside him.
"Montague stop screaming someone might hear us," she called out from behind him.
"For a complete swot Johnson you sure are dense...they can't hear us or see. We're invisible Johnson this is a memory," she looked around noticing the environment that surrounded them had a prehistoric twinge.
They stood cautiously, wands at the ready just in case the unexpected were to occur; voices in the distance interrupted the silence. Angelina and Julius ventured closer to the racket that seemed to vibrate off the walls, which made them more cautious with every step they took. They peeked around the corner a group of children waiting impatiently to venture deeper into the castle. None of them were decipherable to Angelina or Julius who had begun backing away from the group into the corridor that led to the great hall.
"First years follow me," A powerful but yet kind voice boomed from behind him.
"Dumbledore," they pair said in unison.
In the distance, eager first years followed the graying old man anxiously. They scurried past Angelina and Montague who had their backs plastered to the wall continuing on to the Great Hall doors. The group stood and listened as "Professor" Dumbledore explained what was about to happen, some nodded enthusiastically while others looked bored.
"Which one do you think she is?" he shrugged.
"We'll have to wait for the sorting to began," she nodded in agreement.
Before anything else could be said, the doors of the Great Hall slowly opened revealing room to the children making them impossibly keen on going inside. Dumbledore led the pack as they filtered out of the corridor, Angelina pulled Julius closer to the door when he pulled away.
"What's wrong?"
"Look," he said pointing to a first year lagging behind the others.
The first year in particular moved so slow that to one passing by she could appear to be standing still. She was a tiny little thing scrawny legs and arms with a heart shaped head that seemed far too big for her body. The girl had pale waxy skin, big bright blue eyes, thin rosy lips, and long locks of beautiful black hair. The girl suddenly froze paled further and began to shiver upon sight of the Great Hall doors. Angelina's heart went out to the girl, forgetting that she was in a memory Angelina reached out to console her. Right before she could make contact someone else had beat her to it causing the girl to squeal and fall.
"Alright there," a somewhat strong but dark asked pulling her to her feet.
She nodded furiously looking away toward the inside of the Great Hall where the Sorting Hat sung loudly.
"Then what's the hold up why aren't you in there with the rest of the first years," he inquired somewhat annoyed.
She shrugged her shoulders while her head tipped on a downward slope toward the floor.
"It's very unladylike to slouch in a such manner...besides I can't see your pretty face if it's buried in your chest."
The girl looked up slowly to the voice and saw a boy not much older than her but defiantly not a first year. His skin matched hers, he had somewhat broad shoulders but his eyes were...different. She stared into the black pools but gasped and looked away feeling that if she held her gaze any loner she would have died.
"Now why all this sulking about the door? Go in put on the hat don't want to be caught without a house."
"I can't," she whispered.
"Why the bloody hell not, as long as you're not a mudblood it shouldn't matter what house you're in!" The girl flinched slightly.
"You are a mudblood...aren't you," he snarled pointing an accusing finger at her.
"No! I'm a pureblood," she screamed staring the boy down as if she was contemplating on striking him down for calling her such a repulsive name.
"Well if you are then why don't you march your arse into that room and claim a house," he demanded smirking.
"I...I...I'm afraid," she whispered.
"Afraid of what the hat...it won't bite. What kind of pureblood are you to be terrified of a talking hat," he scoffed.
"Had it occurred to you that maybe the hat isn't the problem!" She yelled poking him in the chest making Angelina smile. The opened his mouth to speak but the girl put a finger to his lips to prolong her rampage.
"No don't speak I'll enlighten you the problem is that I'm afraid of what house I'll get in to."
"Oh," he said.
"My grandmother wants me to be in Ravenclaw and my grandfather in Slytherin (he smirks) if I'm not in either they'll chuck me off the family tree for sure!"
"No worries the Sorting Hat won't put you where you don't belong just hope for the best and if you really want to be there you will," he said softly.
"Okay...I know where I need to be," spoke assertively head held high as she began to walk briskly into the Great Hall.
"I didn't catch name first year...be a pity if we were in Slytherin together and didn't know each other," he spoke forcing her to turn around.
"You're in Slytherin? (He nods) Well, where are my manners my name is-
"Everyone is in the Great Hall you two should join us there is going to be a lovely feast and as for you the Slytherin table has an empty spot with your name on it," Professor Dumbledore interrupted.
"Sorry Professor Dumbledore," the boy apologizes waltzing past the doors but not before winking at the girl, he had left behind.
Dumbledore watched the boy stroll to his table causally not caring that everyone's eyes were on him. Angelina and Julius looked closer, notice that the twinkle was missing from the old man's eyes, and saw his blatant distaste for the boy.
"Well shall we be going, we mustn't delay the process any longer some of your classmates are becoming quite unruly," he explained gesturing to the front where most of the first years wore expression of anger and impertinence.
Without a word, the two walked to the front of the Great Hall with a hidden speed that got them there in no time at all. Angelina and Julius were left in the corridor completely immobile as if their limbs no longer functioned.
"What are we waiting for lets go in and have a better look," Julius exclaimed taking her hand pulling her to the opening.
Suddenly everything around them began to fade and the familiar blinding light returned. This time it was different, instead of being sucked into a vortex they were sent flying backwards. The next thing either of them knew they were back in the common room with the journal in front of them closed.
"That was...brilliant," Angelina panted.
"Yeah it feels like we've been gone forever...but in actuality it was as if we never left," Angelina looked to the clock that read 9:30 the approximate they left.
"Of course...I guess I should go do Umbridge's...oh no," she wailed.
"What?"
Angelina sighed and proceeded to explain how she had dropped her books in the process of running to Hagrid's Hut only realizing that the only place they could have been was the Forbidden Forest.
"So the gatekeeper isn't here any more?" She shook her head. "Did he get sacked or something?" She shrugged her shoulders.
"What happened after that?"
"I went back to where we had found the box and looked and looked and before I knew it the dinner bell had sounded. I decided to keep looking but soon found I wasn't alone in my search. Someone in a cloak came running through the place throwing a fit then the next thing I know they stop and sit. After a while, whoever it was jumped up and was returning to the castle but they could actually get there my textbooks made their grand entrance. That wanker took my books back to the castle."
"They have your stuff...Johnson this isn't something to go mental over. You could always get more books," Julius commented.
"This isn't about my books...whoever was in that forest wants that box."
"What? How do you know that?"
"While they went on their little tirade he or she kept mumbling something about the box...and repeating that phrase you translated for me," Julius sat unnerved.
"Did you put your name in the books yet?" Angelina shook her head.
"So they can't trace it back to you case closed...whoa boy I'm beat think I'll head to bed, night!" he said getting up only for her to block him.
"No there still another issue to deal with here Umbridge is going to skin me alive when she finds out about books seeing how she is teaching both classes now... and not to mention the Gryffindor house will hate me if more points are taken," she whispered.
"This has what to do with me?"
"So you want her to skin your prize possession alive, do you?"
"Well when you put like that, give me...twenty four hours and trust me when you wake up in the morning you won't believe your eyes," he promised gliding toward the staircase then into his bedroom.
Angelina sat staring at the closed door confused by Julius' meaning but she quickly brushed it off collecting the box and all its contents. As she was about to leave a feathered object and some ink caught her eye.
'He must have forgotten them," Angelina thought retrieving the quill and ink from the floor.
She closely examined his items concluding that there was nothing extraordinary about them the way he flaunted his money and parents esteem around. The thing that confused her was that though Montague was a powerful family they weren't prominent like the others in Slytherin, yet they feared him the most. Where does the money come from? Angelina went up the stairs slowly contemplating Julius for when she arrive at his door fear coursed through her. Would he be mad? Would he make her have sex with him? What was he doing? Choosing that knocking was the healthiest plan of action she slowing raised her fist to the door preparing to knock when a voice stopped her cold.
"Come in," she sighed and opened the door.
Glancing around quickly she know how insanely clean the room was completely immaculate. Every piece of furniture polished, his belongings tucked away somewhere not visible to the human eye, then her eyes landed on her bookcase where is saw a large arrangement of old tattered books that contrasted everything in the room. Julius cleared his throat causing her to tear her eyes away from the bookcase to him. He was at the other end of the room on the balcony now in only a pair of silk bottoms.
"You forgot your stuff," he nodded.
"You have a really clean room," he raised an eyebrow. "Not that you're filthy or anything but certainly not like other boys are you?"
"Cleanliness is next to godliness," he stated as his burned holes into her head.
"Right...well I just though I would bring this up to you," she muttered uncomfortably.
"I not mad that you barged in on me...I have no interest in touching you tonight...what I do in my room is none of your business...oh and by the way if bragging about my money offends you then maybe you should live with Weasels they'll make you feel right at home! Now if you don't mind vacate my room immediately or is it you who needs a good shag," he spat at her from the balcony.
Angelina stood utterly bewildered at how he went from somewhat caring back to cold and uncaring. No longer having the nerve to remain in his presence she slammed the ink and quill on the dresser then retreated out of the room without a word slamming the door behind her.
Storming back to her room Angelina threw herself on her bed tucking the box under the pillow. Kicking off her shoes Angelina stretched out facing the ceiling she pondered his reaction to her thoughts. How he went from almost sweet to the monster he had always been toward her. Why would he want now when he never showed interest in her before? With all that running through her mind, she had yet to think about the ten-foot essay due in two days, and then it clicked.
"I wonder what the big surprise is going to be," she whispered pulling back the sheets.
"No use worrying about it now," she voiced removing her school clothes replacing them with pajamas.
She climbed tiredly into bed no longer caring what would await her in the morning. No sooner then she had hit the pillow Angelina was fast asleep.
The next morning Angelina felt slight purring in her ear she giggled slightly swatting the nuisance away. It stopped for a moment only nuzzle itself in her neck cause her to roll away. Not realizing that she was already on the edge of the bed Angelina fell hitting the floor with a thud. The sheets came with her landing on top; she swore lightly opening her eyes as the sun greeted her. Squinting she felt around her attempting to gain her surrounding from the heap she was laying in. She felt her head, floor, upper body, sheets and then...
Angelina jumped up fully awake and scarred to death finally looking around the room she froze unable to do nothing else but scream...
Reviewing does the body good! Oh yeah the chapter was longer than this but I had to cut it down or was going to look like the last chapter I wrote for 'Life'. Have nice read!
-Spiggi