Chapter 9
With the Champions behind the side door, Hallie sat, remaining stunned that Peri had been selected. How? She is underage and not even allowed to enter her name. Cassie would never enter her child into the tournament. She could not even look up at the adults at the front. She heard Dumbledore speak, but it was just a buzz of words. Nothing clear or made sense, before she knew it Fred was beside her wrapping his strong arms around her, "Love? Are you alright?"
She tensed when his hands wrapped around her. She turned her head seeing him sinking into him, as she opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. The only noise that exited was a squeaking noise.
He held her close to him, allowing her to calm down as the other students around them left the Hall for their common rooms, or the carriage and ship if they were from Beauxbaton or Durmstrang. The students passing them were speaking about how they were shocked Harry and Peri managed to pass the age line. They believed they cheated their way by having an adult or student older than them enter their names. He held her protectively as she rested her head on his chest, her breathing shaky.
"You can go…with everyone," she squeaked with her head still on his chest.
He placed a single kiss on the top of her head, "No. I am staying right here till you are ready."
The two remained in the Hall alone as the light began to dim, he placed soft kisses on her head waiting till she was ready. She slowly raised her head to look at him, "You can walk me to the Ravenclaw Tower now."
"No…I will not hear this. You will stay with me tonight."
She raised a brow at him, "I am Ravenclaw though, and a girl. I cannot even be in your dorm."
"We will sleep in the common room then. You can have the couch, I will take the floor."
She smiled softly at him before placing a soft, slow kiss upon his lips, "I am lucky to have you."
They rested their heads together with Fred gently rubbing her cheek with his thumb, "Not as lucky as I am to have you." He stood up offering her his hand leading her to the Gryffindor common room.
Fred gave the password and the portrait swung forward to reveal a round hole in the wall. They walked inside the common room was full of cheers and celebration at this point, but grew silent as they heard footsteps approaching then realized it was simply Fred and Hallie and returned to the celebrations.
"Did you see Harry…or Peri?" George asked, approaching them.
Fred shook his head, "No…we just sat in the Hall and talked."
George nudged his twin with a wink, "Yeah, I am sure there was a lot of talking."
He eyed his brother as he took Hallie to sit on the empty couch, "Need anything?
Hallie looked around at the circular room with the blazing fireplace before her, the couch was very squishy to sit in. She felt she could sink into it. She turned to look out one of the large windows that occupied the room, seeing the pitch black of night.
"I am fine…thank you."
He kissed her head before pulling his brothers to the side, "I do not know what is wrong with her, but seeing Peri become a champion took the life out of her. She is staying here tonight."
"Here?" Ron questioned, "I do not think that is allowed."
"And when are you one to follow rules? If McGonagall or anyone has an issue with it I will gladly take the blame. Right now I would feel more comfortable keeping her here to watch her."
He turned to watch her simply sitting in front of the fireplace as Ginny and Hermione returned from upstairs, they looked at the boys confused. They approached her cautiously, she jumped becoming startled when Ginny placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You want me sending her to be alone from everyone who knows and loves her to the Ravenclaw Tower?"
Ron and George looked back at him shaking their heads, "No…leave her here," George insisted as Fred returned to Hallie sitting on the coffee table across from her, taking her hand.
She did not flinch or become startled when he took her hand, recognizing the feel of his rough hands in hers. Ginny and Hermione gave him a look of confusion, but he mouthed to them to go. They stood leaving them, and the rest of the room stayed away from them.
Hallie awoke the following day on the plush, red Gryffindor couch. She sat up squinting at the morning sun shining through the large window beside her. She looked at the ground seeing Fred sleeping on the floor next to the couch. She gave a small smile leaning over and running a hand through his hair, she heard footsteps coming from one of the dorms but did not turn.
"He never left your side," George's voice spoke.
She turned slowly standing and pulled the blanket around her, unsure where it had come from…though she did not even remember falling asleep. She stepped slowly over Fred crossing to George, "Sure he did…to celebrate Harry."
He shook his head, "He stayed near you but asked him a question or two with me. Otherwise, he remained by your side." He put his hands into his pants pockets, "I knew we would all find our one, one day…he did not have to search far for you. You were there for every Christmas card we received from your family now you are here. Sure it could have been a simple crush, but he is in love with you."
She turned to look at the couch only being able to see Fred's feet sticking out past the edge of the couch. She looked back at George, "I think everyone has a soulmate. I found mine sooner than some. He might be very different from me, but I love him regardless."
"And he loves you."
A week passed since the announcement of the Champions, and Hallie had a free moment between her classes. She walked up to the wall that had all the past and present prefects and head boys and girls. She stopped at the year for the 1977-1978 school year, she looked at the blonde-haired Ravenclaw girl with emerald green eyes standing next to a dark brown-haired Ravenclaw boy with brown eyes. She smiled to herself reading the gold plaque below
Ravenclaw Head Boy and Head Girl 1977-1978
Ann Griffin and Patrick Porter
She had drifted to her world when a small firework flew in front of her. It remained floating in front of her, "They would be proud of you."
She turned around to spot Fred approaching her, "I think they would be disappointed in me. I am not as smart as them or Holly."
"You are smart…in a creative aspect. Your voice is beautiful, you are in the process of designing Peri her outfit for the first task, and you love me."
She looked up at him with bright emerald eyes, "Loving you is not a feature that makes me creative."
"No, but it is true that you do."
She laughed, "I do love you."
He kissed her as soon as he pulled away Mallory ran up to them, "Hallie! You are needed upstairs for an interview…mama said to come to find you." Hallie nodded, walking away from Fred following Mallory as he grabbed the spark from the air. Smiling to himself watching her walk off with her sister.
Hallie had reached the large open room Mallory had brought her to. Cassie and Richard stood near the blazing fireplace with their youngest. Holly stepped out from a broom closet with Rita Skeeter. The witch's eyes scanned the room and then landed on Hallie before releasing Holly's arm and gliding over to her. Hallie's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree watching Rita Skeeter approach her, she was a fan of her writing even if it was gossip and false tales. She loved the spice she wrote.
"Hallie! Come dear!" Rita Skeeter spoke as she linked arms with her kindly moving her out of the room speaking, "I'm Rita…"
"Skeeter. I know, I enjoy your writing. Your columns usually appear in the international section of Witch Weekly."
"A fan?" Her smile turned to a pleased smirk, "Then you will not mind me asking you some questions for the Daily Prophet?"
Hallie shook her head, "No, I love interviews. I got them occasionally when I was at Ilvermorny. I am talented in…"
Rita Skeeter cut her off, "Music. Yes! I will touch on that. Shall we?" She nodded following her to a side room, it was small in size with a singular window allowing light to shine in. Rita Skeeter gave a wave of her hand a table transfigured before them with a white lace tablecloth floating to cover the table. "Tea?"
Hallie crossed the room taking a seat in one of the chairs, "Please."
A tea set appeared in the center of the table as it magically poured tea into two cups before gliding to their recipients. Rita Skeeter took the empty seat across from her, clicking open her handbag, "Faux?" She asked, eyeing the alligator-skinned fabric on the handbag.
Rita Skeeter removed a quill and notepad, "Yes…I got it from Paris. Do you like it?"
Her eyes switched from the alligator-skinned bag to Rita Skeeter's eyes, "I do not approve of harming animals or humans. The handbag slipped to the floor as the quill made notes, "Quick quill?"
"No…I do typically use one, but not this one. It is magically enchanted to use a similar technique, but follows my words."
"Holly uses one. She loves note taking."
"Holly is your sister, yes?"
Hallie nodded, "Yes, my twin. She got the brains."
"And you received the talent?"
She laughed, "That is what everyone says. Holly tells me we all have talents, mine is just creative instead of academic."
"What does your boyfriend think of your talent?"
"Fred? He loves my musical ability," she smiled to herself.
This brought back a memory of her and Fred in the music room of Hogwarts.
She was inside the music room playing the tune of Take My Breath Away by Berlin from the Muggle movie 'Top Gun'. A sparkle of light floated before her as she played, Fred loved to draw her back to reality with the sparkle. She looked at the sparkle glittering at her with a smile before turning her head to the doorway, where the tall ginger leaned against it.
"There you are, my love," he said with a smile crossing his face. He moved swiftly across the room to her, his arm wrapping softly around her neck. He rested his head on her shoulder capturing her light pink lips in a kiss.
They each pulled away slowly as he moved to sit next to her his back to the keys, "What are you playing?"
"It is a song from a no-maj movie."
He raised a brow, "Movie?"
She giggled, "It is like a picture here in the wizarding world that moves and has sound."
"Could we watch one?"
She laughed again, "Maybe…I think the muggle studies classroom has a television, but not sure if there's any electricity."
"Electricity?"
A voice spoke bringing her from the memory, "Miss. Porter?"
"Sorry…Yes. He does like my musical ability. Although we spend a lot of time outside though. Especially when it rains…it has special meaning to us. Rain."
The quill wrote her words down on the notepad. "You are in love?"
"Yes."
"And Peri?"
She shook her head, "I am sorry? What?"
"My apologies. As much as I would love more information on you, I am needing information about Peri."
She nodded, "Yes…of course…as for Peri dating anyone? No, I do not believe she is dating anyone. She spends a lot of time with Draco Malfoy though."
The quill quickly wrote this down, "Thank you, so much, Miss. Porter."
The two stood up shaking the other's hand, "Hallie, please."
"Hallie. Of course, please call me Rita."
She stood up, never touching her tea before leaving the room to where Cassie and Richard stood with Mallory and Alicia. She gave them a small nod before making her way to the Great Hall.
Fred was already in the Hall, he had gone there after Hallie had been pulled away by her sister. He took a seat at the Gryffindor table spotting a copy of the Daily Prophet left on their table from breakfast. He picked it up and began to slip it into his inner robe pocket when he noticed a small circular word box in the top right-hand corner with red and green writing.
"Don't forget to get ahead of your Christmas shopping. Ideas for gifts on Page 5."
He flipped to page five searching the page for ideas for girlfriends, the number one option was a ring. He was truly considering giving her a promise ring. He was reading over the list when a hand was placed on his shoulder, "Christmas shopping early?" George asked as Fred looked at the hand, seeing a bloody hand.
"Really? The bloody hand? I came up with that prank. Try again."
George chuckled, taking a seat next to him, "Shopping for mum, Ginny, or someone more special.
Fred gave his twin a side-eyed look, "No one is more special than mum."
His twin rolled his eyes, "A ring? Hallie mentioned you were going to get her a ring."
"I do not know if I really should. I met her what…three months ago? I love her though."
George turned his attention back to the paper, "How many times are we going to discuss this? You have loved her since before you knew what love was. You know you are going to end up married to her one day."
Fred's eyes stared at the paper, "It is not good enough. A cheap ring from an ad. No. Hallie loves sparkles and shiny things, she deserves the best of the best."
George frowned slightly, "So no?"
Fred shook his head before closing the paper, "I will find something perfect for her. What about the Slytherin Princess?"
"Slytherin Princess?" George questioned.
He nodded, "Yes. Everyone believes she is attached to the Slytherin Prince, Malfoy, but she is not. She is attached to you…of course, only I know and maybe Lee."
George twirled his wand in his hand, "It is just some fun. You will surely become intimate with Hallie at some point."
"I will, but we are discussing you and Peri, not me and Hallie."
He continued to play with his wand, "I do not date…never thought you would either."
"Yet here I am with the most beautiful witch of our age."
"That is a debate, Freddie. We have a Veela here this year."
Fred chuckled, "Maybe, but I find her beautiful, and that makes her the most beautiful witch in the world."
Hallie entered the Hall at this point smiling to herself hearing him call her the most beautiful witch in the world. She approached them, "What are you two discussing?" She teased sitting on the other side of Fred.
He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek then looked into her emerald eyes, "You and your Christmas present."
Her smile faded, typically she loved birthdays, Easter, and Christmas as they came with gifts. She loved receiving gifts and having the attention on her for even a brief moment, but since meeting Fred her views of attention changed. She still enjoys attention for her musical ability but otherwise gifts…No, she longer had the interest.
She shook her head before speaking, "No…no gifts."
She knew Molly or Arthur or even one of her parents gave Fred money each time a Hogsmeade trip came up for him to treat her to a proper date at the Three Broomsticks. She never said anything because he was always proud to treat her. Sometimes he would assist McGonagall with tasks to earn a small profit, never a lot but it made him happy to take care of her in one way or another.
The two looked at her confused, "But it is your favorite holiday," the two boys spoke together.
"I know, but…" she paused, noticing Fred had slight disappointment in his eyes, "Why give me a gift when I have the greatest gift already? You."
George snorted as Fred tilted his head to the side, "Hallie, I want to give you something."
She bit her lip to think before speaking, "Tell you what, make me something. Something no one else will have. You can't buy it in a shop, because it's personal to us."
He hugged her happily, "You are very clever."
This made her smile seeing him happy, "It will mean more to me."
That Sunday the Daily Prophet was released, this edition was larger than usual. It had interviews with the families of the champions. The other champions' families gave the usual responses.
"Oh, he has always been such a brave young lad. Even as a boy."
"She is bright for her age. I am positive she will succeed."
"He is a seeker for a professional Quidditch team, he is going to win."
Hallie who was snuggled into Fred not paying much attention as he nuzzled her neck making her laugh, "Shouldn't you be at your table," Holly asked, skimming the words of the paper as she set her coffee cup down on the table, not even glancing at the couple.
Hallie turned into Fred looking across at her, "You are just bitter because I have a boyfriend."
"Ooo, being naughty," Fred teased her, making Hallie laugh again as he went tickling her sides. Holly rolled her eyes, skipping to the piece on Peri.
The two became distracted engulfing themselves in kisses, but she pulled herself from Fred as he was beginning to kiss behind her ear, she shooed him off when she heard that Rita Skeeter had written mostly lies. "What? She seemed so kind."
"Really? She used a quick quill to change words to make the stories more interesting for the readers which in the end is usually lying."
Hallie frowned, "She did not use one with me. Seems she listened to you more. She mostly asked me about my talent as a singer and designer…as well as my dating life," Fred looked at her with a raised brow which she ignored, "I think she tried to mention I am a clueless Ravenclaw with the only thing in my brain being my hormones and creative ability. You inherited the brains where I inherited the creativeness…although that is not false. You are a talented singer, but nowhere near as talented as I am."
"You are professionally trained in music, so of course, you are better. We both inherited our musical abilities from our mother."
Hallie gave a small nod trying to push the topic away, "Fred, let's go. I think we should go take a walk or go flying today."
She grabbed her copy of Witch Weekly, which she had yet to read. They made their way to the makeshift Quidditch field, smaller than a normal field but it worked for this school year. They sat on the field as he worked on a new prank for the Weasley Wizard Wheezes, she opened her magazine to read. Rita Skeeter had written a special piece in this edition about a new musical star. She flipped to the page and there flashing back at her was a picture of her. She gasped seeing it before her, "Hal?" Fred questioned not removing his eyes from his work as he assumed it was some sort of new outfit being released or celebrity gossip. Even her horoscope.
"Me."
"Yes, you…I'm talking to you."
She looked at him, "No! Me!" She shoved the magazine in front of him.
He looked down from his work, seeing her picture, "You."
"That's what I said. Me!"
"How?"
"I don't know. Rita Skeeter wrote an entire article here about me being the next magical star."
He moved his gaze over the words written in pink lettering
Hallie Ann Porter
She is known best for being the goddaughter of Cassandra Banks née Rice, who is married to American Royalty Richard Banks. Her parents received the same fate as many others from the Wizarding War. She continues her parents', Patrick and Ann Porter née Griffin, legacy with her twin sister, Holly.
A picture of the twins was posted off to the side of the paragraph from their 'official' portraits taken by the Banks Family for their back-to-school portraits. The family tried to create yearly back-to-school portraits to be shared within the American papers and throughout their own home.
The Banks family returned to England during the summer after Cassandra and Richard had accepted jobs with the Ministry of Magic after previously working with the Magical Congress of the United States of America. Where Hallie was sorted into Ravenclaw, the same house her late parents had been sorted into. Her knowledge though is different from what others would consider knowledgeable. She contains quite a bit of knowledge of music, design, and writing.
We were first formally introduced to her musical abilities here in Europe at the Opening Ceremony for the TriWizard Tournament where she performed a muggle song by a band called Queen at the ceremony for Beauxbaton and Durmstrang, along with her twin, Holly Porter, and TriWizard Champion, Peri King. Before she gained attention here in Europe, she was quite the little songbird, slowly rising to fame in America.
I had the pleasure of getting to sit down with Hallie as she discussed her love for her boyfriend. She discussed how supportive a boyfriend he was when it came to her musical talent. She spoke about how the two shared a deep connection to the outside. Rain in particular.
Below the paragraph was a picture of the two dancing in the rain. It showed Fred spinning her both smiling with laughs clearly shown as he dipped her leaning in for a kiss before the picture restarted the movement.
Fred raised his eyes from the magazine towards her, "
Weeks passed after Rita Skeeter's disgrace of introducing the champions' families to the world, she followed it up with a segment about the champions themselves right before the First Task. Peri's piece was titled The Truth Behind Peri King. Hallie was seated with
"She already ruined Harry, what has she written about Peri?" Hermione asked as she began to read over her copy as she also reached the piece on Peri.
She cleared her throat and then read it aloud to their small group,
Periwinkle King or better known as Peri, comes from the daughter of Cassandra Banks, or as many may know her, Cassandra Rice. Cassandra became a single mother to Peri at the young age of sixteen.
"She was seventeen," Holly muttered under her breath, but to begin the article was not completely wrong. Just got Cassie's age wrong.
Hermione continued.
She whisked herself off to America, where she married Mr. Richard Banks. A wealthy American wizard, considered to be almost royalty. She married him simply for his money as her parents had disowned her for having a child out of wedlock.
Holly gasped, "Lies! Cassie and Richard are very much in love."
Hermione looked at her, "We know that, but she likes spice though."
"Drama it sounds like more," Ginny commented as she was listening in.
Much like her mother, she is finding herself in the arms of a wealthy pureblood wizard. Draco Malfoy is a fourth-year student in Slytherin house at Hogwarts. The young lovebirds are beginning to blossom between the two.
There was a picture to the side of this portion of Draco and Peri wrapped in one another's arms and their eyes looking into one another's. Hermione paused her reading, giving a side-eye look at Holly, who looked to be in tears. No one said anything, as Hermione continued reading on.
Cassandra claims to never have known the father of Peri, but Peri's birth certificate says a different story.
The picture below showed a copy of Peri's birth certificate
Name: Periwinkle Elizabeth King Sex: Female
Maiden Name of Mother: Cassandra Rice Name of Father: Severus Snape
Date of Birth: 24 March 1979
"Oh, my Merlin!" Fred and George gasped looking towards the Slytherin table at Peri, who at this moment was currently sitting down to read her paper.
"I knew she looked like him, but she is also related to the Parkinson family. She has just as dark hair, as does her mother…well Cassie's hair is lighter in color so maybe browner. But…Holly, did you know?"
Holly looked up at everyone from the paper in shock, "It was supposed to be a secret."
"It is not anymore," the twins spoke, searching the Great Hall as others began discovering the same information turning to stare at Peri. Holly stared at the picture of Draco and Peri wrapped in the other's arms before standing up and leaving the Hall as quickly as she could in tears. Hallie gave a soft sigh and then stood placing a kiss on Fred's cheek before following her sister out.
"Holly…Holly Cassandra, will you please stop walking? I cannot catch up with these heels."
Holly paused, turning to face her sister, tears rolling down her cheeks, "He betrayed me. She betrayed me."
Hallie sighed, stepping towards her, "Sis…it was a picture. We do not know the full story."
"How would you feel if Fred was pictured in the arms of…Angelina."
Her eyes darted down towards the ground, "He wouldn't do that."
Holly rolled her eyes then let out a long sigh, "Because he has more respect for you than Draco does apparently."
"Talk to Peri at least…look I got to go, but do not get mad at them for something that was taken out of context in the papers. Or at least till you know the truth." She gave her sister a quick hug before heading over to Fred, who had come out of the Hall to wait on her.
