"So you heard about Marvolo right?" The twins asked as Scor and I descended the grassy hill to join the others on the practice range. The twins hadn't lifted their heads from the table they'd set up behind the firing line. There were rolls and rolls of blueprints scattered on the table alongside compasses and rulers and magical formulae paper.
"Obviously." Scor shot annoyed. "Louis and Rori haven't shut up about him and his lackeys."
"Nott and the others don't concern me. Its Marvolo who sends chills down my spine." I had dropped my books and bundled robes on the ground, shivering dramatically as the thought of Volo's hellish midnight eyes flashed in my mind. "I don't honestly know how i'd handle it if I had to study for finals on top of wondering what they're all up to."
"Blast the both of you! I can't believe you're exempt from finals. Genius twits" Rose grumbled as Scorpius's bow hummed and the long shaft of black and gold exploded outward, burying itself in the center of one of the farther targets along the field.
"Scorpius, I forgot how amazing you were at this" Aurora pouted releasing an arrow and watching it disappear into the dark branches of the forbidden forest, missing the target she'd aimed for by ten feet. "I forget though you're amazing at almost everything" she amended after a thoughtful pause. "Really It's a shame neither of you were here this year. I really thought you'd have been able to help us nab the quidditch cup."
"Next year Rori. We promise." I offered with a smile, watching as max shot off an arrow of his own. The twins were still laboring furiously over the blueprints and I could feel a breeze blow through me from the west. I breathed deeply enjoying the comfort of pleasant companionship. I loved the wind beyond all reason.
"Hey wait! I didn't promise anything! Quidditch is much too involved for me" spat Scor indignantly, as though he were above the act of playing. "I don't plan on playing if I can help it." Lazy bum... He's always too lazy for his own good. He had ambitions alright. He'd always had them, but he didn't ever need to work excessively hard to achieve any of them. He was intelligent enough on his own to avoid work. Like me. Maybe i should let him revisit the Godess's song...
"Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, you are magnificent on a broom and what's more you love playing quidditch" I started, nocking an arrow and drawing back half way. "Lys and Lorc what of the wind?" I shot interrupting myself to have the twins check the directionality and force of the wind.
"Dead still Al" they threw back in unison without raising their eyes from the table. I pulled the sting back the remainder of the distance, took aim and released, turning back to Scorpius before the arrow had reached its mark. "Shouldn't it be forty five degrees?" Lorcan asked, correcting his brother, who paused reflectively before nodding his agreement. They both scribbled furiously at the graph paper, plotting out god knows what.
"Besides It's not really up to you anyway. If I'm playing then you're playing" I finished hearing the thud of the arrow as it plunged into its target. It was the second farthest one set up. When I turned back i found it buried in the red of the bullseye. It was luck more than skill. I wasn't nearly as good as Scorpius.
"So you guys are taking care of the evil wretch right?" Louis had this quizzical expression on his face as he asked.
"Yes, yes, we'll be following him tonight. We have it covered. Nothing he might possibly be up to could cause either Scor or I trouble."
The west wind blew through the grass again and I felt strong, alive. I took another deep breath, letting my lungs fill with the mysterious aroma of the forbidden forest. Aurora's voice interrupted the energy bubbling inside of me and my eyes flicked open. When they had I noticed Scor could tell I was doing something strange with magic. I could see it in the way his eyes moved over me. I shrugged and he frowned, both movements conveying volumes to each other.
"Let's make this a little more interesting" peeped Aurora excitedly. "Lets bet on these shots. Whoever wins is allowed one unbreakable order over the losing party!" i chuckled that nobody had even allowed Scorpius the opportunity to respond to my decree that he'd play quidditch. He didn't have a choice though, he'd play quidditch with me because I asked him to.
"I'll go first!" She squeaked excitedly. "Who says I can't hit the farthest target?" She picked up her bow with an arrow in hand and headed back to the line. Before anyone had a chance to take her bet, Louis, (her Best friend) , began to laugh uncontrollably. Rori scowled at him, her eyes bombarding the blond with fire and daggers.
"You've been missing all day Rori, ill take that bet." Louis offered with a smile. He was beautiful when he smiled, like Scor and Cyr. Suddenly Auroras expression changed transforming into the wickedest grin she'd ever produced. She ran up to him and shook his hand deviously "Done!" She rang out loudly. It had weight to it. A sickening weight that made the word fall through the air and smash into the ground with a crunching finality.
"So that was what you were planning all day Rori. Louis you just made an enormous mistake. Ill take this bet too. I wager Aurora hits not only the target but the bullseye as well." Scor added leaning against his exquisite bow. He wore his finest Slytherin smirk which made him look devilishly debonair. Well... in a sort of crooked sense. Scor was so young and adorable the smirk made him look more demonic than debonair.
As Scorpius's words sank in, realization dawned and Lou merely looked like he'd be sick. Rose, Max and the twins all started chuckling. Rori pulled her hair back behind her ears, nocked an arrow, drew back the bow and fired in the swiftest cleanest motion I'd seen in hours. She had already pounced on Scorpius whispering in his ear before the arrow landed on the edge of the bullseye. It wasn't dead center but it had hit the red.
"You want me to order him to do what? Are we ten years old or something?" Scor asked incredulously. "I'm a duke, and a genius I won't be party to this silliness."
"I have naked baby pictures of you." Rori added simply, extending her hand to casually examine her nails. He paused to think on what she had said before he began to sputter red faced and blinking.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"I would too. So, now you've heard my demands, get on with it." Rori was grinning and Scorpius looked like he had a bad taste in his mouth.
"Louis... As much as this pains me to... do. As distasteful and childish as I find this..."
"Get on with it snake!"
"I order you to kiss Aurora." he paused contemptuously to look at her before finishing the order... "on the mouth." At the pronouncement of the death sentence, Max barely managed to contain his laughter, while Rose had merely spewed her elderberry juice unceremoniously from her mouth like a malfunctioning sprinkler head. Mattheus looked a little upset and the twins merely grinned without pulling their heads away from their work. Rori immediately dropped her bow and quiver and raced over to stand in front of Louis, standing shyly with her hands behind her back and one foot playing with some invisible flaw in the dirt.
"Rori are you serious? I'm your best friend." Louis shot angrily, blushing redder than a tomato.
"All the more reason for you not to mind. Besides you knew I was insane the moment you met me." Louis smiled at that but his cheeks and ears stayed as pink as was possible.
"I will get you for this Scorpius Malfoy. Just you wait." Louis finished, leaning in to peck Rori quickly on the mouth. She grabbed him and fought to extend the kiss, laughing maniacally when Louis broke free. If it was possible he was even redder than before.
"See Lou that wasn't so bad now was it?" She asked of him as he stared dumbfounded at her. The silence would have grown too heavy to bear had Max not thought to speak up so quickly.
"What position would you play if Al beat you for seeker?" The blond Hufflepuff asked curiously of Scor, strategically ignoring the performance that was going on around him. "Oh and I'm betting on myself for this next shot in case anyone's interested."
"I'd probably hate keeping, and beating is definitely not my style, so maybe lead chaser? But I have a feeling I'd beat Al for the seekers position."
"I agree. If it came to it Scorpius would perform better" I offered towards Scor who smiled knowingly.
"Which target are you aiming for max?" Asked Rori curiously as her still bewildered friend fought to control his blushing.
"Cross field, third from the left, second to last row. At least within the yellow" he offered confidently.
"Really? You're shooting diagonally? Hmm ill take that bet." He pulled back on his yew bow to the full extent of its draw length, took a brief moment to aim, then released it with a twang. The arrow whizzed through the air with a distinct buzzing that only Max's arrows made, and imbedded itself tightly into the blue ring on the outer rim of the target.
"Dammit!" Cursed max, clearly annoyed. Whether he was more annoyed by missing or having become beholden to Rori's insanity I couldn't tell.
"Max, I order you to aid me with a prank of an undisclosed nature and scale at an undisclosed time against an undisclosed party." She paused carefully to consider her words before adding cautiously "or parties." She had calculated the wording to imply that she could call in this favor at any time hence. She was always playing the long game. It was frightening.
"Come on Rori that isn't fair. You could have me prank the headmistress for all I know."
"Exactly! It's more fun this way!"
I concentrated intensely, pushing energy into my left hand until the ethereal bow took shape in my palm. It was like light and lightning made solid by the strength and will of my magic. Mr Malfoy had explained the theory to me when I'd stayed over for Christmas. I hadn't been able to do it then but now... The bow took full shape and I nocked the lightning arrow in place by merely drawing back the string. I nodded at Max and he released a golden snitch.
"Who says I can hit that?" I asked jubilantly, while everyone but Scor stared bewildered at my exquisite display of magic. Before anyone had a chance to comment on it, Scorpius had raised his white knotted elder bow and shot, taking down the golden object in an instant.
"Scor that's not fair! You're the best archer! You should have let me try it!"
He eyed the bow in my hand skeptically.
"That's cheating isn't it?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. He knew how dangerous the weapon could be if mishandled.
"It is not!" I shot loudly. As I yelled, my concentration wavering and the bows shape began to distort.
"Wow Al that's amazing. How'd you do it?" Asked Rose. I decided to ignore her, pulling Scors arrow out of the snitch and sending it back into the air. "Same bet." I said aloud to all.
"I say he can do it." Scor offered with a smile. Louis jumped up at the opportunity. "I'll take that bet if only to win myself a chance to get you back for Rori!"
Oh boy. I didn't want to imagine Scors punishment if I missed. Then again it was nearly impossible for me to miss. I drew back and a bolt of lightning stretched out in the shape of an arrow. I raised up and shot, watching as the snitch flew out of the way of my bolt. I twisted the fingers on my right hand suddenly and the arrow changed course almost as if to chase the snitch. Unfortunately my command of the magic was not entirely stable and the lightning, after a brief game of one sided tag, collided explosively with a tree instead of finding its mark. The tree had been blown to cinders and splinters... barely a stump remained and what was left of the branches and leaves burned furiously as they fell through the air. "Oops" I offered disappointedly. Scor looked concerned by my failure more than by losing the bet.
"Yes! Yes yes yes! I had no idea my opportunity for revenge would come so quickly!"
"Al! How could you miss?! I was counting on you! Who knows what this blonde cousin of yours will inflict upon me!"
"Oh calm down. Louis is a teddy bear! He doesn't have a mean or vengeful bone is his body." Exclaimed Rori, patting Scor on the shoulder.
"Since you made me kiss my best friend, I think its only fair that I should order you to do the same. Only this time I'm amending the rule. You'll have to extend the kiss for at least thirty seconds." Louis cackled fiendishly and my mouth dropped open in complete shock. Rori merely closed her eyes and faced Scor as though she had assumed they would be kissing.
"Are you mad Lou? Our parents would murder us if they ever found out! The ministry might order our arrest, or worse. How could you presume to ask such a thing, even in jest." I spat outraged. I hoped if I was outraged enough my anger might disguise my blushing.
"Oh shut up you. Nobody here is going to say anything, and it would be beyond unfair to back out of an engagement once agreed upon."
"Excuse me? I expected you to be more reasonable in your terms Louis!" I don't know why I was yelling so loudly, or why I was so upset. Scor looked a little uneasy as well.
"I think you're being unreasonably American about all this." Shot Rose towards all of us with a raised eyebrow.
"Al... It was my fault for doing that to Louis. Malfoys are treasonous, we have a reputation for breaking our words. I dont want to be like that. Al... I made a bet... I can't back out now. Even though the idiot is being childish for suggesting it." Scor finished, staring dangerously at Louis with slitted eyes. "I suggest Louis... that you don't ever do something like this again."
"Are you serious Scor? You're equating kissing me with reforming the worlds opinions of Malfoys?" I asked beyond stupefied by the illogic of his conclusion.
He stepped forward towards me, dropping the bow to the ground with a pained expression on his face.
"Scor you're not seriously considering this?" I squeaked reddening brighter. Scor stopped and turned back towards Louis, as if to consider telling him to fob off. He looked back at me irritated. My gaze shot down to his hands as he repeated a discrete wand motion with his finger. Oh… I mouthed silently, he rolled his eyes at me as though I should have caught on immediately. We could create an altered image of us kissing without actually needing to kiss. I raised my eyebrow at him the way his grandmother might have, then shook my head nearly imperceptibly at him. It was dangerous even without us really kissing. Even though they were all our friends... if they saw us do it, the school would hear about it and then so would the ministry, the Prophet and worse our parents.
"Come on Lou that was going a tad far" Max offered, eyeing us all quizzically.
"Yeah? Why? I think it was beyond Improper for Scor to have done that to me. Why shouldn't I get to do this in return?" Louis shot angrily at max. It wasn't like him to be mean or to act so pettily... Maybe he really had feelings for aurora and he didn't want-
"Well we need to get to class don't we guys." Shot Rose at Lorcan, Lysander and Max. Mattheus had quietly packed his things as well, even though he didn't have class with the ravens or badgers. Books, inkwells and eagle quills had been shoved into bags, and robes had been pulled hastily over clothes and suddenly everyone was walking up towards the castle without a word spoken towards us. They didn't want to be part of this. Wether we agreed to Louis's demand or not they neither wished to witness our humiliation nor be party to Louis's behavior.
"Lou... Maybe you should let them out of it."
"Please. Meme pas pour moi? (Not even for me?)" I asked sadly eyeing the blonde. His eyes softened and he looked horrified at the expression written on my face.
"Whatever. Faites ce que vous voulez, (Do as you like). A bet is a bet but, it makes no difference, Rori, ill be up in my common room. Don't follow me." Louis shot stomping up the grassy hillside.
"Louis come on! Wait! Come on!" Rori cast, chasing the blond farther and farther towards the castle. All of sudden we were alone. We were always alone.
"You're crazy Scor."
"Me? Louis was being a shit. It would have worked by the way. No one would have suspected."
"Ugh lets not discuss this. Can you just show me how you made that ridiculous shot" I asked awestruck, pointing at the snitch.
"We will discuss it… later perhaps… but for now I suppose we can make do with a lesson." Scorpius's sigh told me he was thinking more than about a mere prank. The Malfoy name. Mal Foi, or bad faith. They had in times past betrayed their friends, reneged on promises made, ignored rules, broke all bonds and vows that were of disservice to their house. Scorpius's concern may have been misplaced in this instance since it was just a childish dare but I understood the need to-
"Come on sleepy head show us again that magnificent weapon you conjured." I smiled at that. "You really weren't going to tell me you mastered the first half of the technique? A Malfoy weapon no less!"
"It was going to be a surprise Scor. Still what good is Zeus's lightning or Apollos fire if I cannot with it hit my mark!" I was pouting now, disturbed by my incompetence with the magical instrument. I drew back and fired at a tree, watching as the bolt swerved off mark and went spiraling violently towards the depths of the forbidden forest. It exploded with a sickening crack, scattering the blood crows like a miasma. The murder took flight in every direction, a cloud of wine red feathers, crimson eyes and scarlet beaks. Scorpius started to laugh at my poor control over the spell so I turned towards him with a deadly glower as the magic wavered and dissipated. "If you're so bloody accomplished why don't you do it" I spat distastefully. He lowered his right arm, allowing Mercury to run down its length and leap onto the bundled robes that lay on the soft grass.
"Come, you're doing it wrong Al." He smiled, laying the bow beneath the branches of a large pine, walking over to stand directly behind me.
"Pull back your right arm like this, the drawback motion is different for this kind of bow." I set aside my self assuredness and merely listened to his instructions. I pulled back slowly like Scor had asked when he began to curse angrily.
"No, no, don't let your elbow fall so low" He chastised, clicking his tongue in frustration. He came closer then, his hands moving around to grasp at my limbs. "Like this you idiot." He whispered, locking his head over my shoulder, in the crook of my neck. From there he guided my hand and aligned it down the sight of the ethereal shaft. "Merlin Al, will you always need me to help you with every endeavor you embark upon?" He asked into my ear. His words tickled me as he spoke them.
"Perhaps I'll yet be free of you? But I think not... I hope not. I hope I am as incapable in all tasks as I am in this, then you'd always be there to teach me." I whispered back. He almost laughed at that.
"And yet Albus Potter, you find yourself more capable than I in most things."
"Many things and more, but not all."
"You really couldn't endure thirty seconds of that for me?" He grumbled softly.
I released the string in shock, watching the arrow race outward like a rabbit escaping a snare. I must have imagined it.
"What did you say?"
"I said. You really couldn't endure a third or second shot like that if not for me. Your form needs work. Your magic is so powerful that repetitive shooting might beak your arm. You tense up too quickly. The bow doesn't need to be so perfect until you actually fire. Don't waste your energy and concentration keeping it fully formed, perfection will come with practice." Could I have misheard him? I nodded, lessening the hold over the stream of magic that poured into my hand. The glowing bow flickered and warped in response. I gazed outward towards the targets. His hand tugged at mine as the wind blew and we drew back together. His own spells had mixed into the shaft changing the color and shape. It looked like a cluster of pink and purple stars held loosely together by silver threads. "Now" he whispered releasing his fingers. My eyes squinted dangerously with intense purpose and my mind finished the details of the weapon in my head. The arrow beamed outward in a stream of continuous light that bent the very air and space around it. I had only intended to hit the farthest target, but once I had the beam twisted and turned, burning its way through bullseye after bullseye. I turned around and Scorpius had all ten fingers in a spider like dance. They pulled at invisible strings like those on a marionette, until every target had been hit.
"We make an effective team. You are powerful enough to summon that ancient thing and I am skilled enough to use it."
"Humph. I have greater power and imagination, yet you have unyieldingly precise control."
"And which would you say was better?" He asked as he sent the beam speeding harmlessly upwards to fly high into the sky. To fly higher than the sun.
"Well. To use an analogy... I'd say it was the difference between blasting open the most secure door in the world vs picking its lock. Your way is more elegant, not to mention quieter."
"So I'd make the better spy or thief and you the more accomplished Warlock?"
"Not necessarily. Warlocks require equally precise control."
"Humph to you. I'd put it another way. Control, you can learn over time, while power you are born with."
"Then bow before me my lord Malfoy, for the Marquess Peverell has already outdone you."
Scorpius smiled, walked up to me and tapped me on the forehead with his wand.
"What was that?" I returned.
"Point to Scorpius You- lose-."
"What? How is that remotely fair?"
"You're obviously not powerful enough. A real Warlock would have stopped that."
"What? I was neither ready nor would I have expected you to hurt me."
"Thats why you lose. If someone ever captured one of us… I shudder to think what leverage that person would have over the other…" I paused to think about that. He looked so serious as he spoke.
"Its a good thing nobody knows about our friendship… not really..." I had offered the words without thinking. He snapped his head back towards me, gazing intently with those eyes of his. I almost kicked myself in my fury. He had tricked me into validating his point. I still wanted to tell my aunt about the accident and he wanted this all kept secret. For now at least he'd managed to get me to agree out loud that it was the right idea.
"Don't ever try and trick me again Scorpius. Its mean and an abuse on your part. I already agreed not to tell anyone. I made a promise to you. I'm not a Malfoy. I keep my promises. Shall we go back now? We can sit in on DA DA or Charms or even an upper level Potions class. Come Ion." I didn't wait for Scor's response, I merely extended my arm allowing Hyperion to fly up it and onto my shoulder. I was furious with him.
SPOV
He doesn't get it. He's smarter than me and he doesn't get it. The only reason I was able to trick him was because he expects me not to try. If anyone figured out how to use one to get to the other, we would be completely at their mercy. I sighed at that… thinking of Marvolo. This spying business might get us into enormous trouble. Then again it would give us both something challenging to do together... I was getting too bored of the way things were.
Nobody has reviewed the last five chapters... I'm simply going to have to stop uploading until people review. T_T
I have hundreds of pages written and could upload faster if people left me nice or nasty commentary... anything...
this many views cannot possibly translate to no feedback.
Next chapter Al and Scor get into trouble in the forbidden forest. Cloaked enemies, ancient magic, Marvolo and the real plot starts in the next chapter Shdows: Enemies in the Night.
Anyone who goes back and reviews one of the last five chapters will get something special written for them.
