Q: How often do I upload?
A: I tend to aim for the weekend once a fortnight. I try my best to extend the chapters or get above at least 1000 words, but with my other hobbies, studies, and personal life in account, sometimes it may be longer. I do not intend to stop this fanfic, and I want to take it to the end. I started this fanfic about 3 years ago, so I do get a bit tired from time to time, but as I said, I don't want to stop until it's done.
Anyway enough rambling! Enjoy the chapter!
Lucy always felt soothness from the rocking of the train. The soft engine rumbling beneath, the faint calls of sweets from the sweets trolley, the sweet cloudy air whispering softly through the cabin. Gave her time to think about events. Specifically the Quidditch World Cup tragedy. Luckily Natsu and Grey were there to delay the inevitable. Just for a little while longer. But the letter she received… Did Hermione know about them now? Well, guess they'd have to discuss it when they see the others again...
Blugh!
And just like that, Lucy's peaceful train ride turned to annoyance.
"Natsu get off me!"
"I can't help it! Blugh!"
"Gajeel help me-"
"Blugh!"
"Why do I ask you to help me?!"
"Ok that's it!" Lucy pulled down her bag from the overhead compartment and scavaged through her bag. "Where is it…?" Lucy finally pulled out a box of pills, holding it up like it was bestowed by the Gods themselves.
"Gray here." Lucy tossed Gray the box, the Ice mage reading the box. "Motion sickness pills?" He asked. "Yeah, I found them at the chemist. Thought they'd be useful for these kinds of scenarios." Gray hummed, looking at the two motionsick boys. "Alright. Hopefully this'll work. Hey! Dragon breath, Gajeel, take these."
"Who are you calling-"
"Yeah yeah shut up!" Gray shoved a pill down down his hot throat, the dragon gagging at the shove. Gajeel on the other hand, took the pill without any qualms, chuckling at Natsu's flailing and gagging self.
"Oh, hey I feel so much better!" Natsu yelled with a jump in the air. "This is so cool! We don't have to rely on Wendy if she's not here! Hahahahaha!"
Knock knock knock
"Um, excuse me…"
Everyone looked to the entrance, slightly shocked as Hermione was loitering outside the cart, biting her lip slightly. The fairies felt a rush of worry seeing her standing there. More specifically the duo who were absent from the Quidditch World Cup. "Ok, deep breaths Lucy… try to shake her off without getting suspicious…."
"Hey Hermione! What's up?" Lucy asked with a smile. "Hey Lucy, I was wondering if I could talk to Gray and Natsu for a second?"
Lucy raised her eyebrow in confusion, then snapped her head towards Natsu and Gray with a cold glint in her eye. "W-What?" Gray gasped, holding his hands in surrender. "Did you two do something?" She asked with grit. "W-Why do you think that?!" Natsu was sweating now. Damn a woman's look can be scary. "Force of habit…" She said in a deadpanned expression.
"We didn't do anything Luce, swear it." Natsu crossed his heart and held up his hand in oath. Lucy hummed, sighing in relaxation. She turned to Hermione, smiling sweetly. "Sorry about that Hermione. He has a habit of trouble. Always been that way since we were kids."
"Right."
Lucy felt cold after that response. It felt like Hermione just cut her off from the conversation. "Anyway, Natsu, Gray, can I talk to you before we get back to Hogwarts?"
"Yeah sure." Gray grunted from the force of standing up, Natsu about to follow post haste. Lucy looked down, a worried gaze sweeping over her eyes. "Hey Luce…" Lucy gasped, feeling a warm hand on the top of her head. "Don't worry, it'll be okay."
Lucy stared at Natsu's kind smile, and sighed once more. "Alright, if you say so. Just keep us updated." Natsu bared his toothy smile, kissing Lucy on her temple before jogging after the other two.
Hermione burst the door open, a blast of cold wind hitting the back of their heads. Not that it bothered them. They had faced death for crying out loud this was a literal breeze for them. Hermione stepped onto the tiny platform, signalling Natsu to close the door when all parties involved stepped through.
"So, how long has this been going on?"
"Straight to the point I see…" Natsu leaned his back on the cold railing and the heavy clacking of the rail tracks covering the conversation. "...We can't tell you that." Gray said with a straight face.
"Why not?"
"We don't know what to do with you yet, that's why?"
"So you plan to kill me, is that it?"
"No, Natsu and I are a lot of things, but we aren't-"
Gray suddenly stopped his sentence, his head buzzing and pounding. His mind couldn't process that sentence! After all he had done, how could he not call himself a killer? His eyes buzzed, his mind fuzzing in and out, Lucy and Ginny's abuse two years ago, Ur vanishing because of his stupidity… He was a killer…
A killer, a killer, a killer….
Pat…
Gray gasped, Natsu's hand placing gently on his shoulder. An unspoken understanding sparked between the two, Gray standing back, letting his rival take over the conversation. "We aren't like the Death Eaters. The max punishment would be erasing your memory. But Gray is right. We can't tell you everything yet. We need to get past…" Natsu paused, shaking from fear and swallowing saliva down his dry throat. "Her at least."
"Her?" Hermione repeated, eyebrows raised. "She's an absolute monster, even though she's not in charge. I don't want to upset her. I don't wanna go through that again!"
Gray's colour drained from his face, another horrible flashback unlocking in his mind. "No way! I'm not going through that again!" He screamed.
"What are you talking about?! What's that?!" Hermione demanded, slightly more afraid now. "It's too awful, we can't talk about it! Makes me sick thinking about it!"
"Ugh fine! Don't tell me! But tell me why I shouldn't go back in there and tell Ron and Harry the truth right now!"
"Because you have to trust us right now. We'll reveal everything if the others agree with the decision."
Hermione stayed silent, her fists bawling in frustration and confusion. "Mmmmm argh fine! I'll wait till your explanation." And with that, Hermione disappeared back into the train. "Man, Erza's not gonna be happy with us…" Gray sighed, rubbing the back of his head.
"Hey Gray?"
"What Dragon Breath?"
"You know you're not to blame right?"
Gray froze in place, staring Natsu in the eye. "I know… I guess I'm still a little shaken from Voldemort's control…"
Natsu nodded, understanding completely. "I know. But don't worry! Everyone's ok!" Natsu beamed, whacking Gray hard on the back. "Ooof!"
"Sorry." Natsu laughed. "Oh, looks like we're gonna pull up soon." Gray pointed towards the castle glistening in the distance. Natsu took a deep breath in, and a calming breath out. "Ready to face the music?"
"Well, we don't have much of a choice. Come on lava brain."
"What did you call me Ice Princess?!"