Chapter 6: Cursed
"No, no, NO! That's all WRONG! Talbott, the teal streamers need to CURL around the blue ones, not just wrap around them."
Talbott was exhausted already. Putting up with Penny's perfectionism was almost worse than dueling Deli. At least dueling her was interesting.
They were already dressed for the ball. Penny exquisitely wore a yellow mermaid style dress embroidered with glittery silver flowers, the end of her dress puffy with lace. A starfish pendant wrapped around her neck. Her golden hair pulled back into a fishtail braid. She was very bright compared to Talbott, who wore a plum suit. His jacket was single breasted with three buttons and a narrow notch lapel. A white undershirt and coffee colored tie completed the look. He wore his usual brown boots and slicked back hairstyle.
Silently, he attempted to fix his "mistake". Penny was so preoccupied with how he was twisting the streamers that she didn't notice him rolling his eyes.
"Ah, that's better. Thanks Talbott!" Penny skipped as best as she could in her tight dress away to manage other decorations. She talked a few third years into helping her set up the dance. She promised them private Potions lessons, although they probably assumed that meant she'd do their homework for them. The professors prohibited the use of magic to decorate for safety reasons. One year, the entire room caught fire from someone doing the wrong spell according to Professor Flitwick.
The Lacustrine ball was taking shape. It was in one of the dungeons' storage rooms. However, the room was bewitched (by the professors) to be immensely bigger. One of the walls was transfigured to be transparent glass rather than solid brick. Through the glass, you could see underneath the Black Lake. A few Merpeople were having their own party next to the ball. Grindylows, Murtlaps, and a couple of Plimpy swam near the Merfolk. The lake gave the rest of the room a seafoam green glow. Seashells, starfish, and a mix of sapphire and amethyst glitter coated the cerulean tablecloths. Rounded tables outlined the room, leaving empty space for the dance floor. The dance floor had a charmed mat featuring diminutive waves of water. The walls were plastered with teal and blue streamers and orchid colored balloons.
"Eek! It's perfect!" Penny quickly and daintily clapped. "Thank you, everyone, for helping. It means so much. I can't wait until you guys are fourth years so you can experience the ball too!"
As Talbott turned to leave, Penny rushed to him and embraced him. "Thank you especially, Talbott. You're such a good friend. " His arms remained at his sides. Her hug seemed to last for hours. Talbott heavily disliked affection. His mind, yet, still wondered what Deli's embrace would feel like instead. Curiosity killed the cat. He nudged her off til she finally released him.
Penny smiled and naively scurried to start the music before the guests arrived. She handed instruments, the lead instrument being an ocarina, to the group of trained Grindylows borrowed from the Merpeople. They resided in a spacious tank of crystal clear water. They would play until the Bent-Winged Snitches band arrived.
Maybe I could just fly away for awhile. No, Penny would notice her date is gone. Why did I say yes to her?
Talbott tried to blend into an alcove. His birdlike eyes browsed the incoming guests. Penny was quick to greet them all. After about 30 or so wizards turned up, his prey arrived.
Deli made her appearance dressed in a satin, off shoulder, short champagne dress. Her strappy high heels matched the dress's color. Her right wrist was wrapped in a white beaded bracelet. Deli's hair had never looked more put together, tonight it being in a braided updo and shiny. Instead of a typical flower, a jeweled feather rested in her hair.
He admired her for a few more seconds before he realized she was currently with someone. Her date had blonde hair, spiked in an upward fashion like a thick mohawk. The suit on him was blood red, undershirt ebony, shoes a sleek black. The little crimson bowtie aggravated Talbott, although he had no idea why. It wasn't until the couple moved closer to the dance floor that he realized Ben Copper was her date.
What the hell? Ben? Why Ben?
"Talbott! There you are. Stop hiding. Come dance with me, now." Penny grabbed his wrist and pulled him from his safe space. Her mood changed slightly from excited to annoyed.
Penny forced his hand into hers and his other to her waist. She led him into a basic routine, slowly spinning from time to time, while hanging onto his shoulder.
"Before you ask me what's wrong," she began as she read Talbott's puzzled face. "I wanted Bea to come see the decorations before the dance began. She's too young after all to actually attend. But, she didn't even come check it out! What did I do wrong?"
Her voice began to sound muffled as he grew distracted. Ben and Deli were dancing awfully fast for the tempo of the music. Her eyes reflected the soft light. Her smile contagious. He gave a little smile before Penny broke the veil.
"Talbott, do you honestly think that's funny?"
"Huh? Um, no. Why?" he stuttered as his smile faded.
"Because you're smiling. Look, Bea telling me that she doesn't need my two cents is just plain rude. How is that funny?" She let go of him and eyed him.
Talbott noticed Deli enjoying the show of Penny being upset at him. Her gracious smile turned smug. Ben didn't look much kinder.
Hm. Is that the game we're playing now? Without a second thought, he seized Penny's waist and hand and started dancing with her. It caught her so off guard that she almost lost her balance in her heels.
"Talbott, since when do you take the lead?" she beamed. Penny finally caught up with his wide steps.
"Since I needed to." He glanced towards Deli and Ben again. He could have sworn he saw Ben's wand in his hand for a split second. Everyone began moving around so rapidly that his vision became blurred. He even thought he saw Barnaby and Charlie dancing together.
He slowed down and haulted Penny.
"Talbott, what's wrong?"
"I don't see her." His back was to Penny.
"See who?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Look, I know you always like being all mysterious and- Oh... You're looking for Lilah, aren't you?" She crossed her arms and grinned.
The one thing he enjoyed about Penny was that she never had feelings for him. She was just an obsessive friend.
"I know it's weird for her to be dating Ben, but to be fair you did turn her down first."
Talbott turned back to her. "Dating? I mean, I guess he is her date, but being a date and actually dating are two different things. Besides, I thought you and Deli weren't talking?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, come on. Everyone knows I'm the gossip queen. I could out-gossip even Rita Skeeter," she puffed up her chest in pride.
"So, they're really dating then? Where are they?" his voice shook.
"Ugh. Fine. They went over towards the punch bowl. Oh hey! The band has arrived. I'll catch up with you later anyway!" Penny hurried towards the Bent-Winged Snitches at the entrance.
Slithering between dancing couples, Talbott reached the punchbowl area. There was no sign of Deli or Ben. Did Penny lie? No, she isn't capable of lying. So, where are they? Why do I care so much?...
A vice like grip suddenly got his shoulder. The force of the hand turned him around against his will. There was Deli, exquisite, evil. Something, however, was off. Her once reflective eyes were a dull olive color. There was hardly any life to them.
"Meet me in the dueling room at ten o'clock." She grinned ear to ear. Talbott knew she was crazy and unpredictable, but this was taking the cake. "Or else you'll face the Ministry. "
"I thought you wanted to be my dance partner?" He swiped her hand off of him.
Her smile vanished. "Ten o'clock." She glided away.
He spotted a clock on the wall above the Grindylows. It was only nine. He had an hour to plan.
If she's threatening me with the Ministry, I have no choice.
Talbott headed towards the butterbeer table. He helped himself to one while he flipped through different spells he knew in his head. This time, he wanted to be fully prepared, and he had an hour to plan. He had an idea of Deli's style already. She was somewhat ruthless, but not unreasonable. She's not one to use unforgivable curses for example. Stunning should do just fine. Stun and escape. He put down his empty glass.
Alright, if I can just find Penny and tell her I'm not feeling well or something, I can get out of here-
Horror struck his heart. He didn't want it to be real. But why? Why did it matter? While searching for Penny, he instead found Ben and Deli. Her arms tangled around his neck and shoulders. His hands on her curvy waist. Ben had her pinned against the wall. Most couples snogged with their eyes closed, but Deli's were wide open with that same dull, ghostly stare.
His lips released hers as he opened his eyes, catching Talbott in defeat as he turned his head to him. His victorious smile convinced Talbott in the heat of the moment to pull out his wand. Deli caught on, drawing out hers as well.
There was no time to brood over what was coming next, or to look for Penny. Talbott turned to relocate toward the dueling room, Deli tailing behind him. Students and professors alike were too oblivious with enjoyment to notice them. Mr. Filch wasn't even visible, although he was probably cleaning up a mess somewhere else. Music from the band cloaked the noise of their footsteps. Ben's eyes were lit with joy before Talbott could no longer see them.
Through the narrow hall, to the left, he reached his destination. Deli practically tumbled into him. Talbott whipped around as she stepped backwards. Ben did not follow her. It was their first time truly alone tonight.
"Stupify!" A beam of red light hit Deli right in the chest, causing her to lose her breath. She did not defend.
"Everte statum!" she blurted when she recovered.
The force knocked Talbott back several feet, further away from the exit that Deli guarded. A sharp pain developed in his stomach and he hunched over. He was in pain and trapped in the back of the room.
"Then end is near, Talbott!" Deli jeered. Her wand was raised high, her body in an aggressive stance.
With as much might as he could muster, he straightened back up. "Are you an owl or an Augurey? Fumos!" A plume of grey smoke emerged out of his wand, creating a veil between the duelists. If he could impair her vision, he would have a better chance against her.
"Diffindo!" A beam of blue light rushed past Talbott, barely touching his cheek. A small paper cut-like wound caused his cheek to bleed.
"Diffindo!" Deli cried again. This time her attack missed completely. Her face twisted in aggravation once the smoke began to dissipate. "Everte statum!"
"Protego!" Talbott's white energy shield absorbed her attack. "Stupify!"
Deli was knocked back into one of the nearby suit of armors in the room, creating a loud clang and staggered to not fall to the ground. Her once neat hair fell into a tangled mess, and the jeweled feather fell out. She resumed her posture, breathing heavily.
"Obscuro!" A black pair of blindfolds shot across the room and wrapped around Deli's eyes. She struggled to get them off for a couple of seconds before giving in.
"I don't need to see to kill you. Crucio!"
There was no escaping this spell. Talbott collapsed onto the stone floor let out a high pitched scream. The scream was loud enough to alert those outside of the room. Deli cut the connection between her opponent and her wand. He could barely breathe. His eyes misted over.
It took an enormous amount of effort for him to push himself back up. He expected Deli to be delighted, but instead she was frozen with shock. The blindfold fell off and her eyes were once again vibrant with color. She fell onto her knees and examined him from afar. Bewildered, she spoke.
"Talbott? D-Did we just duel? Your cheek is bleeding! What happened?"
As the bigger picture became clear to him, Professor Snape entered from behind her.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" A wry smile etched across Professor Snape's face. "Two Ravenclaws not where they're supposed to be. I suppose nobody gave you permission to be alone together in the dueling room? And I thought your House was the most obedient one. Fifty points EACH from Ravenclaw. I'm sure Professor Flitwick will be eager for an explanation." He pointed towards the exit, leaving room for the two students to leave. "Professor Flitwick will see you both tomorrow morning at eight o'clock. I'll make sure of it."
"But Sir," Deli spoke up. "It'll be Sunday. I'm sure Professor Flitwick will be too tired after partying to see us that early. Could we meet him later-"
"Not. My. Problem." His finger still pointed in a commanding fashion.
Without another sound, the two exited one after the other. Professor Snape followed.
"For now, you two will head up to your common room for the rest of the night."
"Yes, Sir," Deli replied softly. Talbott kept his lips closed.
Side by side Deli and Talbott walked on as Professor Snape turned back into the ballroom.
"T-Talbott? What happened?" Her expression was soft and sincere.
"Deli.." He sighed. His whole body was sore. Tears were still in his eyes, but they did not fall. He should be on the way to the hospital wing, not the common room. However, he couldn't risk having to explain himself to Madam Pomfrey. "I think you were under the Imperius curse. No, I know you were under the it." He cast a sideways glance to her.
"W-what? No, that can't be..." she replied in disbelief. "Who would do that to me?"
They climbed the stairs that led to their desired floor. "Ben Copper. I saw his wand out at the ball. He was the only person near you."
"Talbott!-"
He turned to her immediately and covered her mouth with his hand. "Keep your voice down." He let go. "I don't like you. You don't like me. That may even be an understatement." He paused. "Anyway, I don't believe you have it in you to go that far. You used the Cruciatus Curse on me."
She stopped walking. The hall was empty. The sheen on the floor reflected on her cheekbones. Rather than surprised, she was saddened.
"T-That can't be... It.. must have been too many butterbeers. Yeah, I was just really drunk. I'm so sorry, Talbott." She avoided eye contact. Her mind told her he was lying to gain pity, but her heart knew he was telling the truth. However, she wasn't sure how much truth there was. There was something odd about Ben, but someone like him couldn't use her like that. He was too kind. He cared about her, unlike the guy currently by her side. Deli was puzzled. Pieces had to have been missing.
"Deli, you were completely sober-"
"How do you know? You have never seen me drunk. You act like you know me so well and it bothers me. Stop acting like you know who I am. All I am is your enemy." Deli's lips pursed as she began walking onward again.
"That I do not deny. Damn, you are so stubborn. Fine, continue to get used by Ben. I will be sure to keep my distance from both of you." He held his hand to his cheek. The blood was dry under his fingers, but the wound still ached.
Talbott grabbed the eagle knocker on the Ravenclaw common room door. It spoke.
"Fruit without the letter i?"
"I am guessing you expect many drunk Ravenclaws later. The answer is frut: F-r-u-t." Talbott sneered.
"Nicely worded. Yes, the ball tends to skew the thinking ability of most students." The door swung open. Deli hurried forward first, followed by Talbott. As they reached the doorways to their dormitories, they each turned to face each other one last time. Deli spoke first.
"I am going by myself to Professor Flitwick tomorrow. I won't need you." Deli said coldy.
"No way. I can only imagine the things you are going to tell him." He clenched his fists.
"I am not going to mention you hardly at all. I'll tell him simply that we wanted dueling practice. He'll believe me. I have other matters I have to discuss with him." She was staring at the floor, thinking deeply.
"I don't care if he believes you. I don't believe you. Professor Snape will chew me alive if he finds out I didn't go in the morning."
"He isn't our Head of House. He can't do anything more than take House Points. If you come along, I promise I will tell Professor Flitwick that you are an unregistered animagus. If you stay put like I am telling you to, I have no need. Again, I have other matters more important to me."
"And what reason are you going to give that I didn't show up?"
"I'll cover for you." she replied. "I'll say you have too much of a headache and that it was my idea to duel anyway. I'll take the blame."
"I really don't trust you..." He relaxed his hands. "But I can tell you won't give me a choice in the matter. If I find out that you told him after all, you will be sorry you ever came to this school." Talbott entered his dormitory without another word. Deli entered her own with a grin.