"Operation Lionheart"
After the incident with Draco, Frank had not pushed the subject and allowed me to try and forget what was said and what happened: the situation with Mikey meanwhile, well, that was becoming more difficult.
I still had not found the right time to tell him about how I felt and yet, he remained as distant as he had since the night when Draco had… I had tried to talk to him as if nothing had happened, only to have a reply of the most basic form, which was frustrating – seeing as how he and I, since Frank and Gerard had started their relationship, had been as close as brother and sister.
Bella and Sophia had noticed the problems that Mikey and I were having and were intent on addressing them on the next trip to Hogsmeade, I however had more pressing matters. I had hoped that on said trip, we as a group would be able to put together the skeletal bones of our Triwizard Plan – Operation Lionheart.
Fred and George had been piecing plans for aging potions together, while, night after night, Ray, Bob and Kerry were researching, as best as possible the whole Tournament; including how the Champions were chosen and the manner of the tasks.
It was to be, however, that, while Fred had been helping his twin, he had somehow found more time to cause havoc – for the most part, helping an already over active Peeves to cause more hell: this therefore meant that he was to be spending the trip stuck in the Castle on detention; on Professor Dumbledore's orders, for once.
So, we agreed to meet in the Three Broomsticks, hoping that the packed building would give us the cover that we needed so that we would not be discovered: Harry, Ron and Hermione arrived first and got a selection of tables for us all.
Frank, Gerard, Mikey, Bella, Ellie, Sophia and I arrived next. While our Ravenclaw counterparts brought up the rear: Bob and Kerry closely intertwined around one another so as to avoid getting lost… At least, that's the story that they were telling everyone, when we all knew the real reason, I personally found it rather fruitless.
Anyway, we were gathered around the tables and the eyes of our gathering turned to me…. Ah, right: of course, I should have expected that they would… it was my plan of action, so, it would seem fitting.
"So, thank you for coming." I began bravely. "You, of course know the reason for this meeting – today, we are to start piecing Operation Lionheart together."
I faltered and looked around the gathering for someone who could outline what I meant.
"I think what my sister is trying to say, is that we need to hear how your research has been coming along." Frank told the group, nudging me in the ribs as he spoke.
"Thanks, Iero!" I hissed under my breath. His face was 'outraged' for a second and then he pulled his tongue out at me.
Those who had been researching the tournament pulled sheets of parchment from their bags and began assembling in front of the rest of us.
George seemed at a loss as, without his twin at his side – yet, he stood first and coughed to get the group's attention.
"Okay, Fred and I have been doing a little research and we've found the perfect Aging Potion. It will add just enough to your age to fool Dumbledore's precautions, but, it won't enough to be noticeable." He finished with a flourish and hurried back to his seat.
"Thanks, George." I said gratefully, turning my attention to our next group - the Ravenclaw intellectuals who had been researching how the Champions were chosen.
Finally, we had put everything that had so far been collected, together. In the short space of time we had been working on the Tournament, we had collected quite a lot of information, including the fact that the champions were chosen using something, ominously, 'the Goblet of Fire'.
We congratulated ourselves on what we had discovered and began the slow and, what felt like endless, trudge back up to the castle.
|| BACK AT THE CASTLE: AURORA-JASMINE ||
I was stuck in detention because that old bat of a so called 'Professor' who taught Transfiguration… She had accused me of not listening during her lesson. What she didn't seem to understand was that I had already sat through this lesson back at home, therefore meaning that I knew what she was saying. It wasn't that I was ignoring her, far from it! But, the second my punishment had been declared, I could not argue: she had taken the case to the highest possible authority – the Headmaster.
Now, I sat at one desk in an abandoned classroom, my wand had been taken from me on entry, on the head's orders… Therefore, I was sat at this desk, staring around the dismal room – the only other piece of furniture was a second desk and chair, pair… I wondered vaguely who was to fill that seat.
No sooner had that thought condensed itself in my mind, did the door to the room swing open and another person was shoved roughly inside.
He muttered a string of profanities and curses to the dusty floor, before spinning on his heel and startling as he saw me.
"Who the Hell are you?" He spat, eying my uniform with distaste. I followed his gaze down and saw the green and silver of my tie glimmering.
"For God's sake: my name's Aurora: I am considerably more than a damn House in this school." I said quite calmly. "Look, if Dumbledore has his way, we're likely to be in here for the next however long, so, I think you should rethink that introduction, don't you?" I warned carefully.
My red-headed companion seemed to think over my words very carefully, until, eventually, he reached a hand across the open void between us. "I'm Fred, Fred Weasly." He waited, almost as if he expected me to laugh. I did no such thing.
I shook his hand. "Good to meet you, Fred: like I said, I'm Aurora Tsar."
His expression relaxed and quite suddenly, I remembered his face from across the Great hall: him, sat alongside his twin and their best friend.
I searched in the pockets of my robes and brought out a set of muggle playing cards. "Can you play at all?"
|| SUMMER ||
We had returned from Hogsmeade in high spirits and thankfully, Frankie had stopped his incessant singing. Maybe my warning had worked… Or maybe he was just fed up of singing which, knowing my brother was unlikely.
He and I sat at a table in the common room, trying to make a start on an essay for Snape and, given that Hermione had gone to bed, we were stumped. So, I shoved my notes back into my bag and kept from launching it across the still crowded common room and into the fire.
I crossed my arms on the table and rested my head against them, staring across at the fire and mulling over my thoughts…
"What's the matter, Sum?" He asked quietly, leaning down next to me and blocked my view of the blazing fire.
"Your face." I grumbled quietly.
"I'm being serious: you're not yourself tonight – what's wrong?" He persisted, turning my chair so that I faced him fully.
"You aren't usually this persistent, big brother: what's the catch?"
His cheeks tinted pink and I took a stab at what was behind this. "If this is because you're worried about me, Frank: I don't need you to worry about me – I can handle myself." I told him, forcing my voice to sound bright and cheerful, while inside, I was cheering that he had finally noticed that there was something wrong with me.
"It's not that, baby girl: I know something that might make you feel better." He smiled playfully as he nudged me in the ribs.
"Cough up what you know, Iero: or I will hurt you." I sighed.
He continued to smile playfully and wrapped and arm around me as he whispered into my ear what he knew. "Mikey absolutely adores you: he loves you, Sum."
"If you're doing this for some kind of sick joke, Frank, I swear you will be in pain."
"This is not something that I am likely to joke about. He's my best friend." He said acutely. "He loves you and, as much as you are going to try and deny it – you love him too."
He left me, with a pat on the back to join Gerard in one of the comfortable chairs by the fireside. I watched them curl around one another and felt myself smile: it was nice to see that he was no longer afraid to be himself in front of our fellow students, particularly since Malfoy's public apology. Frank's parting words had given me a lot to think about.
I pulled my feet up and hugged them, deep in thought. I had barely scratched the surface of my dilemma when I noticed the small group of boys who had fallen through the portrait hole.
Seamus smiled at me as he and the others, (Neville and Dean,) strolled on the stairs that led to the boys' dormitory. Ahh, now, there was a problem: despite the fact that I knew I loved Mikes, I had to try and figure out my feelings for Seamus.