I don't have much to say about this chapter, except that it's probably one of my favourites. Sorry, (to ya'll who know what I am talking about); Heather isn't going to have Draco in THIS story. I am making another story where Heather does get Draco though, so tune into that one once I get it posted. It just doesn't work for this story. I am also sorry if, (for those of you who know what I am talking about) you think Heather is a desperate girl who wants Draco and nothing else. Heather is only a name I am using; I am not using my friend's personality, which would be scary. Please forgive me! It had to be said. Please, please review!
Chapter Seventeen
It was a city underwater; there were archways and buildings. Candie swam a little closer. A creature jumped out at her, threatening her to leave.
"Why can't I stay? This place you live in is beautiful. Please let me pass." Candie said this as politely as she could; noticing the spear the creature had in his hand, or was it a her. The creature seemed to like her flattering and welcomed her through. Candie was welcome by these creatures. She said curiously, "If you don't mind me asking, what exactly are you?"
"We are mermaids. Would you mind me showing you around?"
"No, not at all." Candie said happily. Yet she wasn't sure she could trust these people. She followed the mermaid to one of the buildings. "By the way, my name is Candie."
"Wonderful to finally meet someone from above the ground, my name is Corri." The mermaid shrieked with laughter. This scared Candie even more. Could she trust them?
Corri took Candie inside a building that looked a lot like the Hogwarts Castle, (just underwater). She introduced Candie to everyone she passed giving them a sly look. They finally came to an opening; there were four thrones in the front of them. In one of the biggest thrones, there sat a rather handsome merman, he looked about Candie's age, he had brown, long hair, he had a strong chest, and brilliant brown eyes, on top of his head he wore a crown of gold, (he reminded Candie a lot of the skater guys in California). Candie suspected he was the king. The other chairs were full except for the other big chair next to the King.
Corri brought Candie up to the bottom of the stairs that led up to the thrones. "Stay here; let me ask the Price if he would like to meet you."
Candie stayed where she was as she watched Corri swim up to the Price. Candie thought to herself, "He's a price, and he's hot, why doesn't he have a Princess?"
Corri motioned Candie to come; she did as told and was now looking into those beautiful eyes of the Price. "This is Tony, he is our prince. Tony, this is Candie." Tony held out his hand, Candie smiled and took his greeting. Tony caught her eye contact and didn't break away from it for a few minutes.
"I am glad to have met someone as beautiful as you." Tony said smiling, "Corri, bring my guest her gift." Corri swam off into the depths of the palace.
"Gift? I don't want a gift. I was just going for a swim and ran into this beautiful city."
"That's what is so perfect about this incident. I have found my princess, and hope that she will never leave." Tony pulled Candie closer to his side.
"If you have a princess I should leave. You might not want her seeing me with you. She might uh…do something to me." Candie looked around the room for a princess.
Tony laughed, "I meant you. You are my princess. You wandered into my midst and are now my princess."
"I thought your father would have chosen some mermaid for you." Candie asked as she thought of fairy tale books that she had read when she was younger.
"My mother and father are dead. The reason why I look more human that merperson is because my mother was exactly like you. My father, the king, was exactly like everyone else here in the castle." Candie looked around at the creatures. "My father told me on his deathbed that I should rule the kingdom, and that when a young human girl wondered down here out of curiosity, she shall become my princess." Tony looked beyond Candie; Corri was coming down the corridors with a box. The box had crystals and shells all around the edges. The color of the box was aquamarine, one of Candie's favorite colors. Corri handed the box to Tony. Tony held the box in front of him and said, "This gift is for my princess, the beautiful Candie." Tony pulled off the top of the box, Candie gasped; it was a beautiful silver crown with green emeralds, aquamarine gems, and beautiful, little shells on it. It was delicate and shiny, Candie was definitely impressed.
Tony took the crown and placed it lightly on Candie's head. Then Tony took a bottle of, what looked like potion, from Corri and handed it to Candie. "Drink this potion and you will become a beautiful mermaid for the rest of your life. You wouldn't have to wear that bubble all the time, you would be able to breathe, and―" He stopped and listened. "What's that noise?"
Candie listened, "Its Gus!" She looked at Tony, who looked at her with a who-is-this-guy kind of look. "He's my muggle friend who came to visit me over break at Hogwarts." Tony nodded and went back to telling her about the potion. Candie however wasn't interested anymore; she was looking up at the sun through the lakes clear water.
"Candie, if you take this potion you will be able to live underwater with me and my people."
Candie was back to listening to Tony again and said, "Is there any way I can be a mermaid in the lake but not above the ground?"
This caught Tony's interest, "What do you mean? You don't want to be a mermaid out of water, only in water?"
"Exactly, I mean I still have to go to school and be with my friends. You understand don't you? Can you make a potion that transforms me into a mermaid only in this lake's water, and then above the ground I am still human?"
"I am not always in this lake. See that tunnel over there?" Tony pointed to a dark tunnel with sea-green gates. "I live there during the summer."
"What if you made the potion make me a mermaid if I were in any of the lakes you go to, and everywhere else I am human?"
"I can do that. Corri change this potion as fast as you can to fit Princess Candie's needs."
"Yes your majesty, I will be only but a minute." Corri answered as she bowed. A few minutes later Corri returned with a bottle full of a different red-like potion. She handed the potion back to Tony and left the room. Tony once again told Candie about the potion and handed it to her. Candie held her breathe, popped her bubble, and drank the potion. She had full trust in Tony, and thought that if she did this she would be able to breathe after she had taken the potion.
"Wait a few seconds after you have taken it." Tony said. Candie was struggling to hold her breath. Candie looked down at her hands, they were webbing, and her feet were growing together and turning into a fish tail. The searing pain of this event made her scream. She sucked in water and couldn't breathe, she gasped for breath, her hands were stinging, and her legs felt numb. She tried to wiggle her toes, but only a fish tail whipped around. Then her neck felt as if it had been shot, she felt the sides of her neck, small slits were forming. Gradually she could take in breath, after a few more painful minutes the transforming had stopped. She was beautiful; her tail was a metallic blue-green with a shimmering teal when she moved. Her hair had stayed pretty much the same except for the small gems and shells embedded into it. Her chest still had her bikini on it, but wasn't covering much anymore.
"What did this potion do to me?" Candie thought as she clutched her breast. "My bikini doesn't cover what it's supposed to be covering, it's like I've been inflated or something." She remember that she had her wand and pulled it out, she waved it over herself muttering a short spell which covered her exposed skin. Now, that she was more comfortable, she looked up at Tony, (who must have seen her cover her chest because his face was a little disappointed).
Corri swam up to Candie and whispered, "Sorry, that's a side affect to the potion since it was changed. I can give you this and it would fix that problem." Corri held a pink bottle with another potion in it. Candie nodded and drank the potion happily. Her chest went back to normal and she fixed her bikini top again.
Candie looked up and could still hear Gus calling for her. She thanked Tony for his generosity and started to swim away. Tony grabbed her hand and pulled her back into him. He looked into her eyes and said, "I thank you. If you would only let me kiss you good-bye? I hope that you will come often, and tell not a soul about this kingdom." Tony put his forehead on hers and kissed her lightly on the nose.
Candie laughed, "You may kiss me good-bye." Tony's eyes lit up and he kissed her on the lips for a long minute. Candie smiled and thanked Tony once more and headed towards the surface of the water.
Candie got to the ledge that she had dived off of. She climbed the rocky side, and quietly emerged from the water. As she did this, she could feel her hands and legs return to normal. She felt her legs spring apart as her waist touched the air. She quickly ran out of the waterbed and snuck up on Gus.
"Hello!" Candie shouted excitedly. This startled Gus and he fell backwards into the water. Candie gasped, and she laughed as she helped Gus out of the water. As she pulled him up she noticed his eyes weren't fixed on hers, but her chest. Candie cleared her throat and Gus looked up at her. "Like the view?"
"Oh! Uh…Sorry." Gus said ashamed. "We were all looking for you, its time to head over to the platform. Why do you have a crown on your head?"
"I guess I better change." Candie said as she started pulling down her board shorts. She ignored Gus's comment on the crown.
"Hey! Watch it! Guy here!" Gus said as he shielded his eyes.
Candie laughed, "I was getting my wand; I wasn't going to change in front of you."
"I knew that. What were you doing in your bikini anyways?" Gus asked as Candie waved her wand over herself, changing into regular street clothes. She took the crown off her head and carefully put it in her pocket.
"I wanted to take a swim; it would take all of my anger away."
"And did it take all your anger away?"
"It did…For now." Candie looked at the water; she longed to return to Tony.
"I'm sorry Candie; I didn't mean to hurt your feelings back at the castle. Who are you going to be a girlfriend to? You told me it wasn't me. Is that true?" Gus took Candie's hand and they walked over to the platform.
"I still don't know really. You just made me upset, and I thought threatening you would make you stop." Candie looked into Gus's eyes, "I was wrong."
"How many guys are after you now?"
"Well, you, Draco, and Neville." Candie looked down. She didn't mention Tony.
"Draco really loves you."
"I know that. And you love me to." Candie answered laconically.
"You better believe it." Gus laughed as he hugged Candie around the waist. He kissed her on the cheek softly and they reached the platform after a few minutes.
"You might want to let go of me. If Draco sees you, you're dead." Gus removed his hand away from Candie with a disappointed look. He didn't want to leave her again.
"When will I see you again, over the summer?" Gus sadly said.
"Honestly, I have no idea. I hope to see you soon." Candie gave Gus one long, last kiss. Looked into his eyes and said, "I will always be with you."
"And I you." Gus loaded his trunk onto the train while Candie said good-bye to her other friends. Then he went over and talked to Draco for the last few minutes.
Candie didn't want any of her friends to leave, "Allyson, Lindsay, Miranda, I want you all to write to me, you hear? I will right back, tell me about everything that is going on in California." Candie looked over to Gus, "Use your quill, remember the one you gave me? Write to me with it during summer school or something." Then Candie went over to Heather, "I am still really sorry about you and Draco, are you mad at me?"
"No, how could I be mad at my best friend? Besides, you are a witch, no telling what you could do to me."
"I don't think I would do anything to you. Except for miss you. Give Caitlyn a hug for me and tell her that it wasn't as much fun as before because she wasn't here with us; if you can remember all of that. I want every one to promise write to me, okay?"
"Yes dear, we all promise." Gus said with a loving look. They climbed onto the train and slipped out of site. Candie and Draco stayed until the train was far enough away that it couldn't be heard.
"Gus is a cool guy, of course you know. He loves you a lot too." Draco said looking down. They were heading back to the castle.
Candie caught Draco's gaze and said, "He said the same for you, about you loving me."
"He did, did he? What do you think?"
"I don't know, I don't think I will ever be sure."
"Your friends are one of the greatest things that have ever happened to me. I am glad that the one I love has friends that love back. I still feel really bad about Heather though."
"I'm sure she will get over it, she really did like you though."
"I liked her too, but I just felt weird with her. I guess having you in my heart makes me have a guilt-gut when I go out with other girls." Candie laughed and kissed Draco lightly.
As they drew nearer Candie remembered Tony. "I guess I will see him tomorrow. If I can wait that long." Candie thought. She felt guilty, what would happen if Draco found out about Tony?
"What's on your mind?" Draco asked as he looked into Candie's green eyes.
"Nothing." Candie lied. "What about you?"
"I want to know what's going on in your life, preferably your heart." Draco hugged Candie around the waist.
"What do you mean, 'preferably your heart'?"
"I mean I want to know what's going on with your life emotionally."
"Oh, well in that case. Everything!" Candie rambled on and on about her troubles, (never mentioning Tony). Draco listened carefully. He asked questions and comforted her.
They finally reached the castle gates and they ended their conversation. They quietly walked through the corridors, and headed down to their common room. They were hungry and tired. Candie missed her friends already. She said good-night to Draco and went up to bed. Draco however didn't feel like going to sleep yet.
Draco looked around for Pansy. He found her with Goyle in the study hall. Pansy was rather mad at Draco for interrupting; by the way she cursed at him. Draco didn't feel the least bit sorry for her though.
"Can you do something for me Pansy? It's really important." Draco said seriously.
Pansy caught on fast, "Sure, what's up?" she whispered. Draco told her his plan and she accepted willingly.
"Are you sure you can do this?"
"I'm pretty sure. I'll be back in a second." Pansy tiptoed to Candie's dorm and quietly slipped inside. Pansy was about to enter Candie's dream. Draco wanted to know what Candie was really thinking.
Candie was dreaming of Tony, (along with Draco). She was underwater with Tony, not even knowing Pansy about to enter her dream. Pansy tried to stay quiet; the mermaids weren't as pleasant as the sounded. The creatures that they were were rather ugly. Pansy did notice the guy Candie was with and agreed that he was pretty hot.
Candie's dream was about Draco and Tony fighting over her. She was screaming at them to stop. Candie was on her knees crying and then Neville came into the dream. He was there comforting her and making her laugh and feel better. Neville left the scene, Tony and Draco calmed down but still gave each other horrible smirks. Gus then came into the dream, he was wearing a tux and the underwater castle had turned into a ballroom. Tony was now gone and Draco was fighting with Gus. Candie, who was now in a beautiful dress, was being ignored. She tried to get their attention, but ended up getting frustrated, and was once again on the floor crying. Neville came into the Dream and comforted her, again. The scene changed into the common room. Then, to Pansy's surprise, Pansy and Candie's muggle friends came into the dream. Her friends didn't look very cheerful though. They sat together at a table and watched Candie, who was now kissing Draco. Gus, who had left the dream, emerged from the darkness and punched Draco straight in the nose.
Pansy watched closely and she saw Goyle come into the dream, he said, "hello" to Candie, and nudged the 'dream Pansy' on the shoulder. 'Dream Pansy' left smiling, holding Goyle's hand, and kissing him over and over again. Pansy then noticed Candie's expression of disgust as they walked out of the dream. Heather, Miranda, Allyson, Lindsay, and Caitlyn came over to Candie, who was now alone. The scene was now at Hogsmeade; the whole lot of the girls were laughing and talking. They looked as if they were having so much fun. They were in the joke shop, and HoneyDuke's Candy shop. The muggles disappeared and Candie was alone in the common room with Draco. Now, Pansy was really surprised, Candie was breaking up with Draco, then the same with Tony, and Gus, and Neville. The last scene was Candie sitting in the middle of the Quidditch field crying. She cried and cried, lying on the green grass, she rolled over on her back and…
"Aaaaaahhhhhhh!" Candie screamed aloud. Pansy jumped out of Candie's dream and ran out of the dormitory just as Candie bolted up out of bed.
Pansy ran back to the study hall where Draco and Goyle were quietly talking. She was short of breath and had to wait a moment before she said anything to Draco. Part of the whole reason to spy on Candie's dream was to record them to show Draco. Pansy had done this and replayed Candie's dream. Draco was almost horror stricken. His face was pulled into a disgusted look.
Candie ran out of her dorm and looked around the common room for Draco. She searched the library, and the Great Hall. She was on her way to the study hall as Pansy, Goyle, and Draco were walking out. Candie gasped as she saw Draco's face.
"What's got your wand in a knot?" Candie said strictly.
"Pansy just shared some information to me, and I wasn't very pleased." Draco smirked at Candie and brushed past her. Candie was confused; she took a hold of Goyle's hand to hold him back.
"What the bloody hell was that all about!" Candie said in a firm whisper.
"Well, do you really want to know?" Goyle was clearly avoiding the truth.
"Yes, so pluck up the courage and tell me!" Candie shouted.
"Keep it down. Alright I'll tell you." Goyle said pulling Candie over to a dark corner. "Draco asked Pansy to spy on one of your dreams. Pansy recorded the dream you just had and came here and showed it to us. Everything that you dreamed, we saw." Candie was about to faint, she pulled a chair over and collapsed.
"You're telling me, that the dream I just had, which I might add was a horrible one, was shown to Draco?"
"Er, well, yes." Goyle looked down, "I think he's really upset about what he saw."
"He's really upset! He's really upset! What about me? I was the one who dreamed the dream!" Candie was angry and wanted to smack Goyle, (just because Draco wasn't around).
"Well you'd have to admit, he did seem a little worried about you. He was just looking after you."
"He was looking after me by spying on my dreams? Why didn't he just ask me what was wrong?"
"I think he was afraid of you not telling the truth."
"The truth, I always tells him the truth."
"Right, but do you tell him the whole truth? What about that other guy in your dream? He was the uh…Mer-guy."
"Tony." Candie whispered. Goyle looked at Candie mysteriously.
"So what are you going to do? You aren't going to break up with Draco are you?"
"No, definitely not. I haven't a clue what I am going to do." Goyle hugged Candie. For the first time, Goyle felt like a real brother to Candie. He hugged her for a long time, whispering comforting things into her ear. Candie cried a little, but she didn't know if they were sad or happy tears.
Goyle and Candie walked back to the common room together talking about their separate childhoods. Candie was in a great mood until the portrait hole opened to the common room. She saw Draco leaning on the fire mantel, his head buried in his arm. Pansy ran up to them and told Candie that Draco wanted to talk to her. Goyle left with Pansy to leave Candie alone with Draco in the empty common room. Candie walked cautiously over to Draco's side.
Draco looked up just as Candie reached him. Was it Candie's imagination, or was Draco crying? Bewildered, Candie took Draco's hand and led him over to the couch. Candie couldn't believe it; Draco was breaking down in front of her. He cried to her, his problems were all let out. Candie listened, she ended up crying too. She had no idea that Draco had been through so much. Most of it was about her. He confessed about a million times that he loved her. Candie was touched and still hurt that he did something as horrible as spying on her dream.
Draco finally looked up; both of their eyes were red and puffy. Candie was almost laughing.
"Look at us, we're pathetic." Candie laughed as she rubbed a last tear out of her eye.
"I'm sorry for my spying. I wanted to know what was going on. I was afraid to ask you directly, so I thought I could get the information out of a dream."
"But dreams are fantasies, nothing in a dream tells the full truth. A dream makes your mind linger on what you want it to be. In my dream, I didn't want you guys to fight. I really want you to know one another."
Well I hope you liked this one! Please review. And if you can't review on the site, just e-mail your review to me and I will post it for you. It isn't a problem; I have been doing it for my friend in Texas. Hope you will like chap. 18!