Werecoyote-Thank you so much for your review, it made my day and prompted me to get this chapter out a lot faster. And don't worry Messalina is like a kicked puppy as James once told Remus and she won't be mad at Remus for much longer. Thank you so much for your support!
Whenever a healer came into the room all she wanted to do was pick a fight and it was all Messalina could do not to. She was boiling over with nervous energy, her body unable to completely stop moving.
Samuel and Gwen had left around nine the night before and Samuel had returned two hours ago to bring Gwen in for a 'brief' checkup on how she was doing after the attack. Aurors had been coming into their room all morning long checking up on how the two possible Aurors were doing. It wasn't until Moody arrived that Messalina began to feel like she could find out what happened. All the others brushed off her questioning but she knew that the man the twins looked up to so much would give her answers.
"What happened? Why were they fighting in the first place? They're not aurors yet! They haven't even been in the program for a year!" She stood up, shaking slightly seeing as she had refused to eat since dinner the previous day.
"You're a little spitfire aren't ya?" He asked, settling himself on the wall to look at the twins.
"Well?" She pressed and the auror looked at her suspiciously.
"And who exactly are you?" He asked, squinting at her.
"Messalina Lucien, I'm their little sister. Now you tell me why in the hell they were out there in first place!" She demanded making Moody scoff.
"Before we give you any details, you are going to need to answer some security questions." The door to the room was closed and Messalina turned slightly to observe both Moody and the scarred twenty-something who had just entered. "You are Messalina Lucien right?"
"Yes I am." She stated cautiously, looking him over like Moody had done her.
"I'm Savage and that's Moody. Ok, Fabian's question is," Savage pulled a small card out of the pocket of his pea coat. "For Messalina, the question is: What color was my underwear for the Halloween Ball when I was a sixth year?"
"And this is for Fabian?" She asked, receiving a nod almost instantly. "None then, Fabe went commando."
Savage furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head before nodding. "Correct. Gideon's question is: Who would I shag out of everyone in Hogwarts? We've really got to start monitering these questions, Alastor."
"Hagrid the groundskeeper." Messalina replied and Savage rolled his eyes.
"These two, dear Godric," Savage shook his head before going completely serious. "They were supposed to be observing the attack, we didn't realize that there were still active terrorists there."
"Active? You mean you thought it was simply an attack on an exit?"
"Exactly Miss Lucien. It wasn't however, it was a lure to bring in the first responders, also known as Fabian, Gideon, Raquer, Smoot and I. There were five civilians dead that we could tell, at least ten more wounded. Raquer and Smoot ran into get help first but the damn Death Eaters were waiting in a doorway across the street. Raquer and Smoot didn't have a chance. They died and before we knew it we were in a battle. It wasn't meant to be a fight, the twins haven't even finished four months of training yet. But it happened and now here we are." Savage told her in a calculated voice that she didn't care for at all.
"And?" Messalina asked, staring at Moody instead of Savage.
"And what Ms. Lucien?" Savage replied sounding irritated.
"Did you get the Death Eater?"
"We did manage to capture one of them, there were no more than four of them there." Savage replied, running a hand through his hair.
"And? Who was it? Where are they now? Why did they do it? Did you get any information out of them?" She pressed and Savage sighed.
"Ms. Lucien that is classified information that we cannot disclose." Savage told her haughtily and Messalina's eye began to twitch with anger.
"Don't you give me that 'classified' bullshit. They're my brothers and I want to know who the hell hurt them." She growled and Moody spoke up.
"We captured-" Moody began but Savage cut him off by speaking far louder than Moody did.
"That is completely classified Moody, you cannot share that with her!"
"Say Savage, why don't you go grab Lucien here something to eat from upstairs. She looks starved."
"Moody."
"Classified, yeah I got it." Messalina rolled her eyes as she spoke, Savage giving Moody a warning look before exiting the room.
"We got one of the Averys. Avery Senior." Messalina bristled, knowing the younger Avery to be a seventh year Slytherin at Hogwarts.
"And he's where exactly?" Messalina inquired, her fingers beginning to twitch.
"Azkaban, since last night. We've got two other Aurors questioning him right now, have been since last night. We've gotten nothing out of him, except for the fact that he has a tattoo on his arm that seems to burn every once in a while. We're trying to figure it out. Say do you know any rats over at Hogwarts with a skull and snake tattoo?" Moody asked, squinting at her.
"No but I've got my suspicions." She replied and Moody nodded.
"Let me guess, all Slytherins."
"No, I've got my suspicions about people from every house." She stated and Moody nodded as though surprised.
"Including yer own?"
"Yes sir." She replied immediately, bristling at the suggestion in his tone.
"Ms. Lucien, here you go. Moody we need to go tell the parents." Savage burst into the room, tossing Messalina a sandwich that she barely caught and grabbed onto Moody's arm.
Moody and Savage began to bicker, leaving Messalina alone with the boys.
Messalina was attempting to sleep, lying down the uncomfortable couch in the room when a healer came in with a small stack of letters and papers. "Ms. Lucien?"
"Yes?"
"These are for you." Messalina thanked the older woman who smiled at her before leaving.
The first one had her name written on it in elegant unfamiliar writing and was surprisingly very thick. It came attached to a copy of that morning's daily prophet and Messalina opened the letter only to be shocked that it was a howler.
It began to shake symbolizing that it was about to explode at four times the average volume. She opened it with shaky hands and was surprised instantly.
"Hey Lina, it's Graham. I just wanted to let you know that everyone here is waiting for your return and that the twins should be expecting a hell of a lot of flowers over the next few days. The school's love for them had increased ten fold. I'm glad that you're okay, I also want you to know that we're here for you whenever you return to Hogwarts. Tell the twins and your mother that everyone says they're very brave. The twins made the front page of the Daily Prophet, I sent you a copy. Goodbye Lina, see you soon." The card ripped itself up and Messalina wiped what may have been tears from her eyes.
She turned her attention to the copy in which there were numerous photographs and plenty of words.
DEATH EATERS ATTACK MINISTRY
At nine thirty-six last night there was an explosion at the East entrance to the Ministry of Magic. The explosion killed five employees; Obliviator Nancy Edwardton, Obliviator John Treverson, Unspeakable Maximillian Burbage, Portkey Officer Knox Underwood, and the Head of the Department of Magical Transportation Adrian Granderson. Ten others were wounded in the initial attack and once Aurors Savage, Smoot, Raquer, Prewett and Prewett arrived on the scene, Bilius Smoot and Adrianna Raquer were killed by Death Eaters. Aurors Prewett and Prewett each sustained expansive wounds, both of whom are still in St. Mungo's...see page three for more details on this attack on the Ministry
Messalina lowered the paper to see Fabian smiling at her feebly. "Is that the Prophet? How'd the Cannons do?"
Messalina gave him a watery smile and hurried across the room to sit on his bed. "They won, it was a miracle. 230-190, Puddlemere didn't know what hit them."
Fabian smiled at her and Messalina eagerly showed him the small picture of him and Gideon solemnly standing together at their induction into the program.
"See Lina, I told you that I'm the better looking twin. Just look at Gideon's nose, its monstrous." Messalina rolled her eyes, snorting at the look on his face.
"That's what makes Gideon so much sexier though. I rather like the large nose," She teased.
"Well you know, we are twins. How's my nose make me look?" He asked sticking his nose out. Messalina laughed at him softly and leaned down, hugging him tightly. "Lina, I was being selfish before. You should go to Egypt the moment you're done with school, you've always wanted that."
"I'm not going to Egypt anymore Fabe, I don't want to." She said, her voice muffled since her head was in the crook of his neck.
"Lina, yes you do. It's all you've talked about since third year!"
"Fabe, I can't abandon life here. I've been thinking about not going to Egypt for a while now, it was a bloody pipe dream. I can't leave when there is about to be a bloody war over if wizards can associate with nonwizards. Blood isn't everything and I'm willing to die for that fact!" She told him, pulling away from their hug.
"Messalina Astoria Lucien, you are not safe here anymore. I want you to leave England and not return until it's safe for you!"
"And I want you to do the same thing you arsehole but I know that it isn't realistic so I'm not going to waste my breath!" She informed him, her dark eyes glistening. "I know it's pointless and you should know that you won't get to me leave. Not after yesterday. Not after they hurt you."
"Lina," Fabian began breathlessly, his heart leaping at the thought of her getting this worked up merely over a few scratches he had sustained. "Lina-"
"It's true! Gideon's in a bloody bed in a bloody coma and you are trying to tell me that in a year and a half I should leave and abandon this cause. This cause that I would put my life down over Fabian! What's going on isn't right and I don't want to be alive in a world where it's okay to feel that way about people. Where we're nothing but traitors who deserve to die. We don't deserve to die for doing the right thing!" She burst into tears at the end and Fabian sat up and she collapsed onto his chest sobbing.
"Lina, it'll be okay, I promise." He assured her and she pulled away from him.
"That's just it. I don't think it'll be okay anymore."
Gideon awoke Sunday morning, his memory of the incident completely gone. He didn't even remember waking up at St. Mungo's. Students from Hogwarts were sending loads of flowers which brightened the room significantly along with Molly and Arthur bringing the boys by that afternoon. Gwen was far better than she had been, her face nearly back to normal with only a small sag on the left side of her face.
"Lina, read that part about how wounderful me and Gideon are again." Fabian called as a healer forced him to drink a blood replenishing potion. He wasn't as pale as he had been and Messalina found that she couldn't say no to either of the twins.
"'Fabian and Gideon Prewett, two Aurors in training whose mother Gwen was injured in the initial attack, fought courageously alongside Aurors Moody and Savage. They served their Hogwarts House of Gryffindor very well. Both are currently in St. Mungo's Hospital recovering from their numerous wounds. Fabian Prewett was hit with sectumsempra along with being involved in an explosion, while his twin Gideon has been in and out of consciousness since the attack.' I think this Fred Triten has a crush on you guys," Messalina read the bit of the article for the hundredth time and Fabian wrinkled his nose.
"I think it's time for you to go back to school Messalina," Gwen spoke up from her spot in the corner of the room where she was knitting. "You wouldn't want those splendid grades of yours to go down."
"Does she have to Mum?" Gideon whined and Fabian grabbed onto her arm.
"She can't leave Mum, I'll die without her." Fabian feigned dying and Gwen shook her head, rolling her bright blue eyes.
"You let Lina go Fabian. You're just trying to get her grades to slip back down." Gwen teased and Fabian only grabbed on tighter.
"She's too much of a nerd Mum. Make her skip school, she hasn't even pulled a prank yet!" He informed her and Gwen smiled appreciately.
"And I am so immensely proud of her for it Fabian. She needs to go to school so one of us has a good education." Gwen told the boys slightly sternly and Fabian released her.
"Fine Lina, I guess you can go back to school."
"Tell everyone how courageous we were will you? I fancy a few more vases of flowers and a few more love notes." Gideon told her as she hugged Fabian.
"Sod off Gid. If anything, I'll be telling them that you couldn't stop crying all weekend long." She grinned at him cheekily as she hugged him tightly. "Get better okay? Do you hear me? Get better or I'll kick your sorry arse."
She hugged Gwen goodbye, telling her how happy she was that she was okay before going to the fireplace in the middle of the wing. "Dumbledore's Office, Hogwarts."
She stumbled out of the fireplace, just then realizing that she was in the same clothes she had been in two days ago. Sighing she let herself out of the office and towards the kitchen before she was starved.
She felt a lot better leaving the kitchen. She had eaten and easily chatted to the house elves, light conversation was just what she needed. Messalina was dreading going anywhere public. People would stare and talk which was the opposite of what she wanted.
Messalina forced herself to go up to the dorm to change and sleep, which was all she really cared about at the moment.
Remus was shocked when the portrait hole opened to reveal a haggard looking Messalina. It looked like she hadn't slept seeing as she had purple bags under her eyes and she was wearing the same wrinkled outfit she had been in Friday. She didn't look at anyone, it looked like she was on the verge of tears after she just glanced at the Marauders.
"Lina!" She stopped completely at Sirius' voice and Remus could see her clenching her jaw and her hands curling and uncurling.
"What?" She asked as though daring him to say something. She turned to face him slowly, a look of pure irritation on her face.
"I'm sorry about Friday you know. My imitation. It was uncalled for." He yelled from practically across the Common Room.
"Yeah same here." James called out and Messalina burst out laughing. It wasn't normal; it almost sounded manic.
"That's so sweet and heartfelt. I'm touched by the utter sincerity of that. Even if that had been an apology it wouldn't have been accepted." She spat before throwing her hair over her shoulder and walking up the steps to the dorm head held high.
"Lina!" Remus scrambled to get up and rushed after her. He met her on the landing where the staircase broke into two, grabbing her arm. She turned around slowly and he could see that her eyes were puffy and red. "Lina, what's wrong?"
"Everything." She muttered, turning to go but Remus held fast.
"Oh Lina." He could tell that she was trying to hold back tears, her face was slightly scrunched up and her lips were quivering.
"I'm just so mad and sad and I could kill to have things back to the way they were last week. I'd give anything." She admitted, refusing to look at him. "I'm sorry Remus, I'm sorry that I made such a big deal out of it. I shouldn't have blown it so out of proportion and I'm so sorry."
She pulled away from his grip which had loosened the longer she talked and hurried up the stairs, the door slamming in Remus' face.
A scalding shower and a clean pair of pajamas later, Messalina was snuggled into her bed doing the homework she had been given to do over the weekend. She was sure that her teachers would give her an extra few days to complete it but she was enjoying the fact that she was focusing on something a lot more boring and a lot less stressful.
Her roommates had came and went, each time she would whisper 'nox' and immerse herself in darkness. She liked the roommates apart from Shatter but she was not up to talking to any of them. She wasn't up to talking to anyone really.
Finishing up her last essay, Messalina set out her uniform for the next day. Fully knowing that it was no later than six o'clock, Messalina fell into a calming and dreamless sleep.
She awoke the next morning to the sound of Lily and Marlene whispering loudly to one another.
"Should we wake her up?" Marlene staged whispered from just outside her bed.
"I don't know. She might not be planning on going to class today." Lily replied quietly.
"But her stuff's all laid out." Messalina sat up in bed and the rustling of the covers silenced the pair. Yanking open the curtains, Messalina frightened the two girls who jumped backwards in surprise. "Are you up to class today Lina?"
Messalina nodded, pulling herself out of her bed. "Yes."
"We'll wait for you to go down to breakfast. We're a bit early anyways aren't we Lils?"
"Yes, it's only seven-fifteen." Lily responded as she applied mascara to her long lashes.
Messalina dressed quickly and messily, she had no desire to look even remotely put together. Throwing her hair up in a ponytail, she announced that she was ready to go only twenty minutes after waking up.
"Lina, your robes are inside out," Lily informed her with a laugh. After five minutes Messalina at least had her clothes on the right way and they left their room.
The three girls walked to breakfast together chatting about nothing in particular until Graham ran up to them and the other two girls hurried off giggling to breakfast without Messalina.
"Lina, hey. Do you want to talk about it?" He asked and Messalina shook her head quickly. "Did you happen to do the Transfiguration essay? I couldn't figure out what the third outcome would be."
"It's um the rarest outcome that the creature will be transfigured for a short time, the longest recorded has been three hours, before returning to its original form instantly." She recited, biting her cheek trying to remember and staring at the ground. Graham grinned at her and the pair began to walk towards the Great Hall.
"Hey lookit Wilkes, two blood traitors out on a nice morning stroll!" Messalina kept walking, her eyes staring ahead of her dully at the taunts but Graham turned around to see a gang of fellow Slytherins.
"What are you gonna do Pucey? Defend her sacred honor?" Antonin Dolohov called after them, getting a few laughs from the others.
"She doesn't even have a shred of that anymore Antonin. Not since she was bloody disowned." Messalina stopped walking the moment she heard the deep voice of her cousin and Avery's strangely high pitched voice. Slowly she turned around, her eye beginning to twitch and suddenly she was aware of everything. The way the air smelled, every individual heartbeat, the number of boys there were taunting them.
"Graham go to the Great Hall. I've got this." Graham looked at her disbelieving her every word but she jerked her head at him. "Get help." She murmured and he looked torn before taking off sprinting.
"Is he your little pet now Prewett?" Antonin asked smirking at the sight in front of him.
"Just like Marcus will be the pet of dementors in a few very short weeks, Antonin. Or should I call you Anty? You always loved that when we were little." She smirked and Antonin glared at her.
"We always liked you better when you had scrofungulus and you couldn't get out of bed or talk. We hope that comes back soon, don't we Severus?" Antonin laughed at the enraged look on her face. "You always were an ugly little thing, you certainly haven't grown out of that."
"You were always a scared little thing Anty. Remember when your parents went to Azkaban and you had to come live with me? And you couldn't sleep on your own so you'd sleep outside of Marcus' room? Remember how you cried yourself to sleep and pissed yourself at night until you were ten? I hope you haven't grown out of that."
"You aren't nearly as clever as you think you are, my darling Mess. That's what all the other kids used to call you seeing as you were such an excessive sweater when you had scrofungulus. 'Mummy I'm so hot, I can't go on like this I'm burning up' I'm genuinely surprised you ever made it into Gryffindor, you were always a spineless child." The other Slytherins grinned and laughed, which only made Antonin puff out his chest. Messalina could feel her bottom lip starting to tremble at the thought of how horrible all the other children had been to her growing up. "Are you going to cry o'brave one?"
"Like the time you cried when Mummy wouldn't let you sleep with the house elf anymore? That was always a bit strange."
"Say Mess, how are those darling blood-traitors of yours doing? It was certainly a shame that a couple of hairs on their ginger heads were harmed." Avery threw in and Messalina laughed hollowly.
"I'm sure they're doing a hell of a lot better than your daddy is."
"What's going on here?" Messalina turned her head to see Professor McGonagall giving them all a stern look.
"Oh nothing professor. Just a little family catching up right Anty?" Messalina smiled charmingly at the woman who looked to the gang of five Slytherins.
"Couldn't have said it better, Mess." Antonin stated and McGonagall tusked at them.
"Get to your classes you five. Ms. Lucien, a word please." The five boys walked away talking conspiratorially and Messalina watched as they walked down the corridor together.
"Yes professor?"
"How are the twins and your mother?" Messalina blinked at the woman, not having expected that to be what she would say.
"Gideon's in a coma of sorts. He wakes up a few times a day then passes out again. Fabian's alright, he sleeps a lot and is cut up really bad. Mum's alright again. They should all be okay."
"Good I'm glad Ms. Lucien. Go on to breakfast." As Messalina walked towards the Great Hall, there was the sound of five pairs of shoes racing towards her.
"Lina, oh thank Merlin are you alright?" James asked and Messalina raised her eyebrows at him.
"No, I'm currently dying." She stated, pushing past Peter and Graham.
"Lina." Remus called after her concerned.
"What do you want me to say Remus? That a shit load of bad memories have been brought up? That my brothers are in bloody St. Mungo's? Or maybe that I'm terrified for Saturday because it means that I'll have to play after what happened last year? Or maybe its the fact that all my friends are going to the bloody dance and I'm not!" Remus stared at her, not knowing what to say.
"Why aren't you going Messalina?" Peter piped up and Messalina turned to him eyes blazing.
"Maybe because no one fucking asked me!" She growled, turning around and walking quickly into the Great Hall. She plopped down next to an oblivious Lily and a practically sleeping Marlene. "Can you pass the pumpkin juice?"
Lily did as asked and Messalina felt herself growing calmer as the Marauders and Graham returned to their tables.
"Did you hear Lina? I'm going with Hollister McKenley to the dance." Lily gushed a moment later and Messalina scanned the room to see the handsome Hufflepuff talking to his friends.
"Lils that great!" Messalina glanced at Marlene and Lily grinned.
"Marlene's going with Gabriel Bones." Messalina's eyes moved only a few feet from Hollister to see the handsome yet shy Gabriel preparing to leave. "You ought to come with us Lina."
"No, that's alright. I don't think I'll be going," Lily gave the brunette a look and Messalina quickly made up a lie. "I think I'm going to see Fabe and Gid after the match and since no one's asked me I can."
"How are they?" Marlene asked, sulkily biting into a piece of toast.
"They're going to be okay." Messalina gave Marlene an odd look, prompting Lily to explain hurriedly.
"She thinks that Gabriel asked her just because Hollister asked me."
"Marls don't be stupid. You're so pretty, I'm sure he wanted to ask you." Messalina assured her hollowly, trying to sound sincere but knew that she sounded angry.
"Oh Lina, I'm sure someone will-" Messalina stood up suddenly, grabbing a piece of toast.
"I'll see you guys in DADA." She put her bag on her shoulder and hurriedly left the Great Hall.
"Oh Lina." Lily sighed and Marlene jerked her head back to Remus Lupin.
"We should get them back together. He's not going with anyone either."
"What about Graham?" Lily asked, glancing behind her to see him eating with John Higgs.
"What about him? They'd never work out. Lina needs someone like Remus not Graham." Marlene said pointedly, looking down the table at Remus who looked miserable. "Plus he's miserable too Lils."
"Marlene."
"What? Let me be matchmaker again. It's so much fun." Marlene sighed at the thought and bit into her toast with renewed zeal.
Please review! The next chapter is a disastrous Quidditch match followed by two people missing the dance. Thank you!