A/F: I'm going to do quite the time jump in the middle of the chapter because I want to hurry up the timeline.I hope my transitions are okay, so feel free to leave a comment if you find it choppy. BUT! I think this will be a very long chapter (instead of two shorter ones I just wrote it as one long chapter for over their break), so it'll make up for the long amount of time between updates this chapter. Regardless, I live off of feedback, sadly, even if I do mostly write for me.
XOXO-
Emmie Rose
WARNING: LONG ASS CHAPTER AHEAD! BUT NOT THAT ANYONE'S COMPLAINING!
Honestly it was going to be longer, but I didn't want to do that to you guys. I know I lose interest around ten pages so that's why I attempt to cap it at that.
"Kaylie, that's not funny," I whispered, avoiding looking at Mr. and Mrs. Potter because even as she said it I knew it was true. Kaylie gave me an incredulous look. I sighed. "Where do you get your brain, Kay? I don't know how you figured that out before he said it. I feel like I've been socked in the solar plexus with a bludger."
"I don't know, but…there was just…you know what, that doesn't matter," Kaylie announced, turning away from me and facing Mr. Potter. "Why?"
"Well, why anyone would commit a kidnapping? They figured that if they had you two your parents would give up anything to get you back," Mr. Potter remarked.
"But they wouldn't. They care more about their jobs then us. If they have to choose between keeping the ministry's secrets or us, they always chose the ministry. It's their child, more then we have ever been," Kaylie announced darkly. I looked at my twin. Is she honestly saying this?
"Kaylie, you know that's not true," Mrs. Potter sighed, taking Kaylie's hands again. She gently removed them from her grip and stared blankly out the window.
"We can prove it's not true," Mr. Potter remarked, taking a piece of paper out of the file folder. He held it out to Kaylie but her fists stayed clenched so I reached around her and took it carefully. It was a work schedule from the day Dad died and on it held two familiar names. Penelope and Jarred Scott.
"They were signed up to work that day. Both of them," I remarked. "But then why was Dad home with us?"
"To protect you. Your Mum said that they heard rumors that something was happening, so your Dad stayed home to protect you, but somehow they broke through. We even had Aurors stationed outside," Mr. Potter remarked, a grim look crossing his features. Mrs. Potter reached over and gave his knee a pat.
"I'm sorry, you two, I should've gone myself and kept watch. There was just so much going on at the time and I thought two of my best men could handle it," he sighed, bringing a hand up and roughly rubbing his scar. Kaylie softened at that point and hesitantly pat Mr. Potter on the shoulder.
"If they got by two Aurors and our dad, I believe they were probably really clever."
Mr. Potter smiled at her and let out another gusty sigh.
"I was just very relieved that you two were already so close with James by the time the accident happened because it gave me a logical reason to want to keep an eye on you two."
I furrowed my brow and Mrs. Potter laughed.
"It's because we care about you like you were a part of our own family. Us Weasley's have a habit of doing that, just adopting people into our already too large family," she stated.
"Are there still people looking out for us?" I questioned.
"Well you'll always be safe here. Professor Longbottom, Hagrid and Headmistress McGonagall are the only ones that really know what's going on, but trust me, we don't believe anything is going to happen. It's been too long of a time," Mr. Potter remarked.
"So we won't just be attacked walking down the street?" Kaylie questioned quietly.
"We don't think so. We haven't really left you all that alone," Mr. Potter remarked.
"You've had people following us for three years and nobody told us?" Kaylie snapped. James and I looked at her.
"Your mother thought you were too young to know and that the pain of your Dad was too fresh," Mr. Potter remarked.
"In my opinion, I think it'd be better to know that we're being tagged for three years of our lives. Just another thing Mum has to keep from us. Excuse me, I'm tired, I'm just going to go to bed." She snapped, standing up and pushing past both Mr. and Mrs. Potter and out the door. James and I stared opened mouthed at her path.
"I'm sorry…she usually isn't this cynical," I remarked.
"Well, at least not that upfront about it," James added.
"Oh, it's perfectly alright. She's going through a hard time, one similar to what I went through my fifth year. She's upset that she couldn't get answers and when she did it's maddening that you weren't trusted with them in the first place. She's in shock and doesn't know how to deal with it so getting angry is the easiest way to go. She'll come around," Mr. Potter remarked. "I am sorry we waited this long to tell you, I just couldn't go against your mother's wishes."
"I—well I understand—but it didn't make it any less difficult to hear," I sighed. Mrs. Potter pushed some hair out of my eyes.
"We know that. It's just going to take time. Trust me, things get better. And when Kaylie starts to feel less angry, you can let her know we're not mad at her or offended." Mrs. Potter stated with a small choked noise. She turned away and James immediately got out of his chair. He walked over and wrapped his arms around his mother. She held him to her, rocking slightly.
"You're a brilliant friend, James,' she whispered giving him kiss on the forehead, she had to stand on her tip-toes to do it. "I'm proud of you."
"This is kinda selfish. Isn't this meeting supposed to be about Kent?" James laughed, giving me a shrug.
"Yes James. This is all about me. Shame on you for hugging your Mum," I remarked with insincere anger.
"I know, I should just be hung from the gallows!" James announced. His Dad laughed and stood up, giving Mrs. Potter a kiss on the temple before turning to James.
"I'll be sure to arrange that," he stated.
"Albus can't have my broom. I don't care, I'm being buried with that thing," James announced.
"Can we please stop talking about your death James?" Mrs. Potter groaned.
"Kent started it," James exclaimed.
"Shall we walk you two back to Gryffindor Tower?" Mrs. Potter suggested, wrapping a sandwich with a napkin and handing it to James. He smiled but shook his head.
"Nah, I think we know our way around the castle by now, Mum."
"You're a cheeky little pest, James." Mrs. Potter stated, but gathered up her bag and gave James another kiss on the cheek. She came over to me and held out her arms. I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a tight squeeze.
"That's for Kaylie too," she remarked. Mr. Potter held out his hand and gave me a quick handshake before bestowing his hand to James. James rolled his eyes and threw his arms around his dad, pinning his arms to his sides.
"I suppose I could hug you, you know in light of what's going on. But don't expect it often," he stated. Mr. Potter laughed and returned the hug.
"I'll keep that in mind," he answered. James gave his parents one last wave and opened the door for us to exit the office. We walked down the hall in silence for a bit until James cleared his throat.
"You think Kaylie is okay?"
"I'm sure she's fine. I think the reason she likes books so much is because she can control what she learns and what she doesn't. This is something she can't control and it's driving her insane. She's frustrated with herself." I sighed. The words were coming out of me before I could stop them. James looked quizzically.
"Where'd that come from?"
"I don't know, it just came out. Twin thing maybe?" I smiled, as we rode the staircase that would lead to the corridor in front of the Fat Lady. We stopped as we rounded the corner. Kaylie was sitting against the wall with her knees drawn up against her chest. She was examining a small vial of purple potion, tipping the liquid inside the glass bottle to and fro. James and I stopped and looked at each other. Quietly we sat down on either side of her. She looked between us and sighed.
"Sleeping Potion. Meant for a dreamless sleep," she announced, holding the bottle in front of her with her thumb and pointer finger.
"How'd you even get a hold of that?" James snorted, taking it from her and examining it in his palm.
"Stopped by the Hospital Wing. I was standing outside and contemplating whether to go in to ask for it when Professor Longbottom walked by. He went in and came out with it, I didn't even have to say anything," she answered quietly.
"I've been sitting here, contemplating if I actually want to take it. See, I was wondering if I knew that he was there protecting us if I would dream a good dream about him, but then I think of the nightmare. It's a vicious cycle."
"You look exhausted Kay," I stated quietly.
"You don't look too awake yourself," she replied, giving me a wry smile.
"I think it's been a long day," James put it. Suddenly I began to laugh and James joined in.
"I don't understand what's so funny…" Kaylie stated, looking at the two of us. She cracked a small smile and began to giggle.
"Stop laughing! You're making me want to laugh and I really don't want to laugh!" she giggled, smacking me in the stomach. I stopped laughing and looked at her.
"I think I'm delusional," I remarked with a small smile.
"I think you are too. Did you get hit in the head with a bludger and I missed it?" She snickered.
"I think we all just need sleep and Merlin, I'm starving," James announced, standing up and pulling the sandwich his mum gave him out of his pocket. It was slightly squished and he grimaced a bit, but shrugged and unwrapped it.
"Let's go to sleep. We've got that awful potions essay due tomorrow," he announced through a big bite of sandwich he chewed for a second and looked at the potion still in his fist.
"Take it Kay. Let yourself really sleep for the night, yeah?" he suggested, handing it back to her. She stood and took it, giving James a small smile. She stood on her tip toes and gave James a small peck on the cheek.
"I never really said thanks for last night and earlier with Luke and well everything," she stated, nodding slightly. James' ears turned pink and he mumbled something unintelligible and crammed the rest of the sandwich into his mouth. I smirked and stood up looking between the two of them.
"So I heard that you two slept together last night. Should I punch you James? Did you at least use protection?"
James choked on his mouth full of food and socked me in the stomach as Kaylie smacked me upside the head.
"Ouch! I was just kidding! You don't need to give me a concussion and knock the air out of me simultaneously!" I exclaimed, wheezing out the password. The portrait hole swung open. There were still a few people milling around the common room, not yet willing to let the day and the weekend slip away. Rory was sitting on the padded bench facing the portrait hole, braiding and unbraiding pieces of her hair. James and Kaylie stopped short and immediately started towards the staircases.
"James! Wait! And Kaylie…" She announced, jumping up. Kaylie tensed up but stopped in her place.
"Kaylie…I'm sorry about earlier. I was just in shock I guess," Rory commented. Kaylie gave her a stiff nod and turned to me.
"I'm going to write Mum before I take this. I'll wait till tomorrow so you can add something too, yeah?" She commented, rolling the potion in her hands.
"Yeah, sure. I have something started already, but I want to add stuff to it," I remarked, filling in the awkward silence as James glared at Rory. She was staring at him, seemingly at a loss for words.
"I'm sorry James. I didn't mean it like I said earlier. I was just jealous and it all came out wrong," she stated finally. James looked around and sighed.
"Can we talk about this tomorrow? When the whole common room isn't listening?" he questioned, raising his voice for the last bit. Everyone around us got fakely busy and I suppressed a laugh. I walked over and gave Kaylie a huge hug.
"Go to sleep. Don't worry, that potion will do the trick," I whispered. She nodded and buried her face in my chest for a moment before giving James a small wave and heading up the stairs. James took the boys staircase and I followed. Trevor and Connor were in their pajamas but were tossing a Quaffle bed to bed across the room.
"There you guys are," Connor smiled. James gave him a wave and began to change out of his Quidditch uniform. I joined him and as soon as I was changed I collapsed into my bed and burrowed under the warm covers. Instantly I was asleep.
I was woken up in the morning by the sun shining directly in my face. I felt like every part of me ached and I still had sweat dried on my face and body but I was far too tired to do anything about it last night. I sat up and blinked. No, my body didn't ache, it was my head. I felt like everything we learned yesterday was fighting to break free from my skull. I looked over at James' bed. He was still fast asleep, his arm thrown over his eyes, other than that the dorm was empty. I stretched and tried to get my muscles to pop. I was still too tense. I crawled to the end of my bed and lay on my stomach so I could pick through my open trunk. I had all my stuff spilling out, unfolded and some still dirty. I pulled my shower stuff and sniffed an old Quidditch practice shirt. Once satisfied it was clean I grabbed a pair of sweats and picked my way across the floor that was littered with the Quaffle and spare trainers and opened the door to the adjoined bathroom.
I tapped the shower stall with my wand and the water immediately started, the steam curling over the top of the stall. I stripped my pajamas and tossed them into the barrel that will go down to the House Elves to wash and deliver back to us. I stepped under the spray and grabbed my wand from the shelf that held my towels and tapped the shower head twice, turning the water on as hot as I could stand it. I stood under the spray and bent my neck forward, trying to get the water to beat out the knocks that ran up and down my spine.
I think everything I was holding in to be strong for Kaylie was releasing itself as toxins into my body. I wanted to cry, because not only was my father killed but it was because of me and my sister but no tears would release themselves. I wanted to scream, but my throat was closing up. It was now that I knew I really needed to act out my father's words to me. I needed to be the man of the family and I needed to be strong because Kaylie was slowly losing her grip on things. A grip she thought she had all this control of.
I stabbed my wand at the wall, making the water stop abruptly. I roughly pulled my towel around my waist and practically kicked open the door back to the dormitory, the toxins releasing themselves as anger through my veins.
"Oh! There you are!" Becca declared from the doorway. The anger ebbed away and I looked down at myself, clad in only my towel and still soaking wet. She blushed and averted her eyes. "Sorry. I'll just be in the common room. I figured you slept late after the game so I thought we could go get you something to eat since you slept thorough breakfast and lunch."
I felt the back of my neck get hot. I ran a hand through my soaked hair and smiled.
"Thanks Bex, I'll be down in a bit. I've got my mess to take care of…" I sighed, motioning to my trunk. She looked at it and frowned.
"Would you like help with that? I don't even think magic could help you fix it by yourself," she laughed.
"That'd be nice. I've got things to catch you up on anyways. Let me get changed and we can work on it later this afternoon, yeah? Plus, James is still dead to the world. I should probably try and wake him."
Becca gave me one more smile and made her way back down the stairs. I pulled on my sweats and t-shirt and grabbed my pillow so I could pull my sheets flat, but then I thought about James' wakeup call several weeks ago. I didn't know the spell he used so I palmed the pillow mulling my options.
I threw the pillow in the air and banished it as hard as I could at the side of James' head. I was impressed at myself for the speed I got it at. It went so fast it hit James' side and made him fly to the floor with a loud yelp.
"Did you just banish a brick at me Kent?" He exclaimed, fighting to escape his bedcovers. I hopped on his bed and looked down.
"No, it was a pillow. But that was pretty skilled, I don't think that Kaylie could've done better," I laughed. James sat up and glared at me.
"Funny, hilarious. Now why did you wake me up so early and rather abruptly?"
"Because it's not so early," I laughed, "it's like one in the afternoon, mate. I woke up about an hour ago."
"Oh, well…I think I'm going to go stealth to the Prefect bathroom again. You should do it too, it's rather relaxing," James decided, hopping up and grabbing his bag of shower things. He started to grab some clothes from his trunk but stopped.
"I really need to clean this thing. Do I even have a pair of clean sweats?" He snorted, picking through the trunk. I sighed and grabbed my spare pair, chucking them over his head.
"You've got to wear your own boxers though. No way I'm lending you those," I laughed. James shrugged and stuffed his change into the bag, following me down the staircase.
"Do you think Kaylie's awake? I wonder what her new sleep addled body will provide us with? Do you think she'd look over my Astronomy essay or should I not even bother asking?" James laughed, stepping into the room.
"Don't bother asking me until I get food in me, honestly," Kaylie replied, just coming out of the dormitory stair case. Her hair was completely unbrushed and just thrown into a ponytail on top of her head and she looked like she grabbed the first clothes she could touch, a pair of my old sweats (she usually steals all my old pants to sleep in. Says they're more comfortable then 'stupid night dresses') with a gigantic hole in the knee and an overlarge jumper that was sliding off her shoulder and sleeves pushed up to her elbows. She looked well rested, for once in a long while. James was staring at her.
"You look really pale, Kay. When was the last time you ate?" he questioned, throwing an arm around her shoulder. She grimaced and pushed it off.
"James, you really stink," she remarked. "And, to be honest? Not for a while. I had one piece of toast yesterday before the game and that's it. I was just going to kip on down to the kitchens to see if the elves would make me anything," she remarked, joining us as we exited the common room. Becca was deeply involved in a book and waved me on as I shot her a look across the room.
"Sleep well?" James questioned with a small smile.
"Yes, very well actually. I only drank half the potion so I'll have more if I ever need it. Thank Merlin I didn't drink the whole thing, I would've slept till tomorrow," she laughed, stifling a large yawn. "Have you talked to Rory yet?"
"No, no I have not. I'm kinda avoiding that. Figured if I took a shower in the prefect's bathroom I could avoid it for a bit, anyhow. There's a part of me that wants to forgive her, but my pride is just so bruised," James replied with a small smile.
"James you can't avoid her-oh no! Hide me," she gasped, ducking behind the two of us and shoving us forward a bit. "Why didn't I take the cloak?" she moaned.
"And you're lecturing me for avoidance," James hissed, as Luke came down the hall. He was far too close to Gryffindor's tower to be a coincidence. Ravenclaw's was on the other side of the castle and the entrance was on the fifth floor. James stiffened, despite his dig at Kaylie, as Luke noticed us.
"James, Kent! Have you seen-Kaylie? Are you honestly hiding from me?" Luke announced, leaning to the side to look around James. Kaylie groaned and popped back up.
"Maybe you should just take the hint Luke? I don't want to talk to you," she answered, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Kaylie, can I just explain what I meant yesterday? I didn't mean it like that. I'm just so sorry, it came out all wrong," he sighed.
"How else could you have meant it, Luke? It was pretty obviously stated, you don't trust me and I don't want to be in a relationship where trust isn't there. Bottom line, end of story."
"But if we could just-"
"She said she didn't want to speak to you Luke, now go away before I make you," James declared calmly. Kaylie and I both stared at him for a second.
"James, don't put your nose into something that doesn't belong to you." Luke sighed.
"James may not have anything to do with it, but she's my sister-"
"She's basically my sister too," James interrupted.
"Not the point. I'm just saying that you should leave Kaylie alone. She doesn't want to talk to you," I finished. Luke looked longingly at Kaylie as she just gave him a steeled expression.
"Kent, can you bring me back some food? I'm going to go back to the common room," she finally asked.
"Yeah, go on," I replied, giving Luke a glare. Kaylie turned on her heel and stalked away and Luke started after her. I put a hand forcefully on his chest.
"Just go Luke, or she'll hex you again," I remarked levelly. He gave Kaylie's retreating figure another look and turned on his heel. We watched him slip through a tapestry that would take him down to the fifth floor before walking again. James was unusually quiet. One would think that he would be cursing the ground Luke walked on right now. I looked over at him. He had his fists clenched and they were shaking.
"James! Breathe!" I remarked, shaking his shoulder a bit. James took a deep breath and let it all out through his teeth.
"Next time Kaylie's not around, forget the wands, I'm going to punch him so hard he'll be back in his first year," he grumbled, stopping off at the corridor that would lead him directly to the prefect's bathroom.
"I'll meet up with you later. Bring me a chicken and ham pie?" he questioned, hesitating before turning the corner. I grunted a reply and made my way to the main staircase, lost in thought. I knew Kaylie should probably talk to him right now, but I was relieved. Her having a boyfriend and knowing there's a killer that might be out to get us somewhere is far too much to protect her from at the moment. I don't know how much I can take.
ӿӿKaylieӿӿ
"C'mon Kaylie, can you quit studying for two hours so we can go shopping? It's the holidays, you don't need to stay buried in your books," Victorie exclaimed, barging into my room. I looked up from my Muggle Studies essay and shrugged.
"Victorie, I'm not going anywhere," I sighed, flipping the page on my muggle fashion magazine so I could gather different ideas of characteristics of the muggle teenager.
"You need to get out of this room. Away from the owls that Luke keeps barraging you with and especially away from your books and into some fresh air."
"Yes, because London's air is completely fresh and clean," I remarked dryly.
"You know what I mean. We need to get dresses for the Victory Ball and I am not waiting until Easter holidays to do so. I'll be knee-deep in N.E.W.T.S and you in O.W.L.S so now is the best time," she announced, walking over and starting to gather my books.
"I'm not even going to that," I snapped. Victorie paused and looked at me.
"Yes you are. Kent and James are going for the first time and I will not let you be the only one not going. I'll physically force you if I have to," she sighed. I made a face. I didn't necessarily approve of James taking Rory back after she properly explained she was just extremely envious, but she was being nicer to me and far less like a jealous cow so I couldn't really complain.
"You'll do no such thing," I replied finally. She crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow.
"Watch me, Kaylie, just watch me."
"Is she coming?" Lizzie shouted running into my room. She was wearing a simple blue jumper that matched her eyes and jeans with a pocket book slung across her body.
"Kaylie…please?" She questioned, looking at me with big eyes.
"You got Lizzie to come guilt me into it?"
"No, I got Lizzie because we are all friends and friends go shopping together. Now, up. C'mon, before we have to force you," she declared.
"They will you know, I heard them discussing strategies downstairs," Kent sighed from the doorway. I looked up at him with big eyes. He of all people would know why I don't want to go out. He has the same reasons.
The only place we've been is home, for about three days, since Christmas holidays started and I wasn't so dense anymore to not notice the Auror in disguise when Mum picked us up from Kings Cross. But the house was cheerful, I suppose, all decorated for Christmas Eve in a few days. Mum promised we would be a family this year, since we've spent the last two years with the Potter's at Christmas. Mum always got scheduled to work the Holidays. Kent and I suspect it was because it was Dad's favorite holiday and it wasn't ever the same without him there. But being at the Burrow for Christmas lunch never bothered me because it was always too busy and active to let me get sad.
October flew by, the only drama being the copious amounts of school work we all received and the boys' intense Quidditch schedule. Ryan was determined not to lose the next match and was having practices every single day. Hufflepuff creamed Ravenclaw, making the snitch Albus caught again null and void pretty much but brining the score to the point where it was less pathetic, but Gryffindor was back in the running for the cup none-the-less. It made Ryan ecstatic, but rather manic.
"Kaylie, nothing's going to happen. Mum just said that nothing could happen," Kent whispered. Lizzie and Victorie exchanged confused looks.
"We don't know that…"
"We'll be downstairs," Victorie sighed, leading Lizzie out by the elbow.
"I know you're scared…" Kent remarked, coming over and sitting on the edge of my bed.
"It's actually not so much scared as totally and completely worried all the time. I'm blaming it on school more than our impending doom, I'm not even enjoying the work anymore," I sighed, leaning forward so my forehead was resting on his shoulder.
"Of course…a deranged crazy is after us and all you think about is school," Kent laughed.
"There's nobody after you two," Mum sighed from the doorway, "I explained that on the way home from Kings Cross."
"Well you've hidden the truth before, how do we know you weren't doing it now?" I groaned.
"Kaylie…I said I was sorry and very wrong for keeping that from you," Mum announced, sitting on the other edge of the bed. "But I'm telling you the truth. There hasn't been one whisper about anything involving you two for two years. It's safe."
"Is that what you came to tell us?" I questioned.
"No…I actually came with some rather bad news I'm afraid," she sighed. Kent groaned and flipped backwards on the bed across my legs.
"We're spending Christmas with the Potters again, aren't we?"
"I'm afraid so, sweetheart. See, someone made a breakthrough and they want me to come in. They were talking about how I was doing lately and they might want me to be head of the department after McGregor retires. I just want to put in a good impression," she announced, giving us a weak smile. She handed me the muggle credit card that connected to the account of muggle money my family has kept since the big war.
"Buy yourself some dresses. One for the Victory Ball and another for the Ministry's New Year's Eve party."
"Are you bribing me now?" I questioned, but taking the card anyways.
"Of course not, darling. I'm sorry that things have to be this way, truly I am," she replied, leaning over and giving me a kiss on the forehead. She bent down and repeated it for Kent before going out of the room.
"I guess I'm going shopping," I sighed.
"Yeah, you are. I was going to physically force you to go, really. Push you into the floo or perform the Imperius curse on you. Whatever it took, according to Victorie," he laughed, getting up and holding out his hand. I took it and he hoisted me to my feet.
"You wouldn't want to come with, would you?" I sighed, grabbing a pocketbook and shoving things in it.
"As much as shopping with three girls sounds appealing, I can't. Becca is coming over before her and her family go to France for the Holiday," Kent remarked, looking at my bed. I started to organize my books and Kent groaned.
"Go, I'll do it," he sighed, giving me a push.
"Do you want a mug that says 'World's Best Brother' for Christmas, then?" I questioned, draping my coat over my arm.
"Very funny, I'd rather take the galleons…new broomstick kit I have my eye on," he laughed. I lighted my way downstairs where Victorie and Lizzie had their heads bent together in deep conversation. They looked up when my footsteps hit the ground and both beamed.
"Alright, let's get this over with. Mum gave me money to get dresses for the Ministry New Year's party and the Victory Ball," I sighed, yanking my hair into a pony tail before I put on my gloves and wrapped a scarf around my neck. Some of these days I just want to chop it all off, but then I look at my shining mane reaching down to my waist and I just can't do it.
"You're not staying home for Christmas anymore?" Lizzie questioned. I locked my jaw and shook my head.
"Well good news is we all don't have to go to that stuffy Ministry party anymore. Teddy and a bunch of his mates from the MLE Academy are throwing a huge party in the grand room of the Cauldron, but I convinced him to make it completely dressy. Not necessarily tuxes and gowns, like the Victory Ball but we get to wear fabulous party dresses all the same," she smiled. "You know if I wasn't so dead bent on being a Healer, I would love to be a designer or a stylist even. I just thank the lord we grew out of those awful robes phases. Who says wizards can't dress well too?"
"Victorie, say something to the fire and stop rambling," I laughed, pointing to the emerald green flames.
"Oh right," she laughed, before clearing her throat, "The Leaky Cauldron!"
She stepped into the flames and twirled out of sight. Lizzie copied her.
"Kaylie!" Mum shouted as I brought my arm up to throw the powder into the fireplace. "You know I love you right darling?"
"The Leaky Cauldron!"
I threw my powder into the flames, gave her a curt nod and stepped into the roaring fire. I spun out of control for a second before hitting the stone floor of The Leaky Cauldron.
"Hullo Kaylie!" Mrs. Longbottom announced from behind the bar. I got my bearings for a second and shook my head. Victorie and Lizzie were sitting at the bar, sipping ginger ale through straws.
"Hullo Mrs. Longbottom," I groaned. She pushed the glass towards me and I sipped it carefully.
"So where are you three off to? Gladrags?" She questioned lightly.
"Mum, nobody wears robes anymore, only for school and work really. You hardly wore them yourself when you went to school," Lizzie laughed. Mrs. Longbottom swatted her playfully with her dishtowel and went back to drying a large flagon that could've sedated even Hagrid.
"So Muggle London then. You girls will be careful? Yeah?" She questioned hesitantly.
"Of course Mrs. Longbottom. Always. And I'm seventeen, so I can do magic just in case," Victorie stated.
"Yes, of course Vic. Why don't you three come here after and you can have some lunch?"
"Sounds great Mum. We shall be off," Lizzie announced, leaning across the bar to give her Mum a kiss on the cheek. We pushed out the door that led to London's streets. It was frigid cold and the snow piled up in the gutters, tainted gray by the soot from the cars. Victorie was already buzzing with excitement, grabbing us and pulling us into the apparition alley.
"Victorie, didn't you barely pass your apparition exam? Can you honestly transfer three of us?" I snorted. Victorie gave me an incredulous look.
"I take that as an insult to my magic. Now come along. Plus I can fix us if we do splinch," she announced, stalking to the clever little alley that everyone uses to apparate. She held out her arms to us and reluctantly me and Lizzie clutched on. Victorie's face scrunched up in concentration and she turned on her heel. We were suddenly squeezed through a hosepipe and wind rushed in our ears then our feet slammed on concrete. Lizzie and I exchanged looks as Victorie started briskly to the streets, I already had a feeling it was going to be a long day.
"So you got all your dresses girls?" Mrs. Longbottom questioned, placing large steaming sandwiches in front of us.
"Yes, yes we did. And Victorie successfully apparated twice, shaving two hours off of our trip," Lizzie declared, giving Vic a light applause.
"Oh shush. I told you two to have faith in my magic," she announced, happily taking a bite of a chip.
"Well I'm glad everything went well. Did you have any trouble at all?" She questioned, giving me a hesitant glance. I sighed and put down my fork.
"Were there really, Mrs. Longbottom?" I questioned wearily. She looked at me wide eyed.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about dear," she declared, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Don't worry, I was going to fill them in. I figured they could be trusted with it and it's honestly only a matter of time before they do find out what with Victorie being a Weasley and such," I announced quietly. Lizzie an Victorie were both staring at me as I looked expectantly at Mrs. Longbottom.
"Well, yes, but that's just because Harry is so paranoid," she announced, throwing up her hands and walking back to the kitchen.
"Start talking Kay," Victorie commanded. I took a deep breath and did what she asked me. I started talking and didn't stop until I was done. They stared at me, mouths slightly open and food forgotten on the table in front of us.
"Oh Kaylie! How perfectly awful!" Victorie, exclaimed, scooting over on the bench so she could put her arm around me.
"Is that what your night terrors are about?" Lizzie questioned quietly. I nodded silently and looked at my hands.
"But you guys can't tell anyone. Not that I think you would, but only James really knows what's going on. Well I'm pretty sure Kent's shared some of the details with Becca, but nothing really truly in detail. Oh, and Luke…he knows that we witnessed it but that's really all. Guess I made a mistake trusting that one," I explained. They both sighed. They knew the story. They've seen him harass me every day begging for forgiveness.
"Well you didn't make a mistake trusting us, at all," Lizzie declared, taking my hand. I felt my nose start to burn.
"So this is what it's like to have a really close girlfriend. All I've really had was James and my brother. I'm so glad we've started to become really close this year Liz," I exclaimed, throwing my arms around Lizzie's shoulders. She hugged me back tightly.
"And Victorie, well you become friends with Victorie because it's fate I think," I laughed through my misty eyes.
"What can I say? I think Professor Trelawney rubs off on me, even though I've never taken her course," Victorie laughed. I let out a loud laugh and clapped my hand over my mouth.
"I don't understand why anyone takes that class," I announced through my fingers.
"It's an easy O.W.L., I heard. Really, all I want to do is Herbology like my Dad. I could care less about Divination, it's gone next year," Lizzie laughed. "Plus, it's an extra lesson to catch up on homework."
I looked at my two friends, two I never thought I'd be close enough to share my secret with, but I surprised myself this time. I was actually wrong.
ӿӿJamesӿӿ
"Ow! OW! OW!"
An explosion just came from the fireplace. I put down my magazine and slid off the bed, walking downstairs towards the sounds. Kent was hopping up and down and holding one of his feet, completely covered in soot.
"Since when did you get a fireplace grate?" he questioned through clenched teeth as Kaylie came spinning into view. She landed gracefully, but looked green around the gills. The offended grate, that she luckily missed, was lying sprawled on the carpet.
"I didn't even know we had that," I remarked, looking bemusedly at Kent as he plopped down on the ground and jumped up with a yelp again. He nudge aside one of Lily's dolls with his foot and sat down again, peeling off his trainer and sock and examining his foot.
"I think I broke my toe. I thought it impaled me or something," he grumbled, clutching his foot in his hands.
"You're early," I remarked. Kaylie sighed and shot me a look.
"What?"
"She decided to get a head start on it," she stated darkly. I gave her a small smile.
"Hullo! Boy with foot falling off," Kent declared from the floor. I looked at him and smirked.
"Shall I get you ice mate, then maybe rock you to sleep?" I questioned. Kent gave me a rude hand gesture. I laughed and went to our kitchen, scooping some ice out of the drawer and into a dish towel. Kent had moved himself to the couch but was still intently examining his foot.
"I'm going to lose this toenail," Kent announced, pointing to his middle toe,
"That's disgusting, Kent," Kaylie sighed.
"It's the truth. I detest your mother's design taste," Kent groaned, plopping the ice on his foot.
"Thank you Kenneth, I appreciate the criticism," Mum announced from the kitchen. Funny, I didn't even hear the pop in the garden of her apparating home.
"It was the grate Mrs. Potter. It destroyed my foot!" Kent replied. Mum came in and took a look at Kent and Kaylie, both still covered in soot and Kent with his leg plopped up on the coffee table. She smirked and waved her wand at them, vanishing the soot.
"Thank you Mrs. Potter," Kaylie sighed, pulling her hair over her shoulders.
"You're welcome, dear. You two are early. We didn't expect you until this evening," she smiled, putting her bag on the chair.
"Yeah sorry, our Mum wanted to get a jump start on things," Kent remarked, giving Kaylie a warning glance.
"Oh, it's perfectly fine! We're so happy you're joining us this year."
"Yeah, the Burrow is always great," Kaylie smiled, fiddling with her fingers.
"I'm sorry your mother couldn't be there," Mum announced suddenly. Kent shrugged and lifted the ice to look at his foot. Mum pursed her lips and turned to me.
"James, will you three go get your sister from primary? She gets out partial day today in light of the holiday," she questioned. I opened my mouth to protest but swallowed it.
"Yeah, I guess. Al went by Roses' for lunch, he told me to tell you," I replied, going over and grabbing my coat. Kaylie was already unzipping her bag and pulling her coat from it. She started to grab Kent's for him, but hesitated at the bulging bag.
"I'll just get it. You should've just packed for me if it was going to bother you so much." Kent sighed, getting up and unzipping his bag, which practically exploded from the things he stuffed in there. They're Mum always says it'll only be till the day after Christmas but they usually stay for the rest of the holiday. Kent quickly grabbed his coat and stuffed back two other sweatshirts before he could finally re-zip it. He threw on his coat and turned to us.
"Toe seems fine. Guess it's not in danger of falling off," Kaylie remarked as we stepped out into the cold. Kent shoved her and she almost fell into a snow bank. She gathered a handful of snow and shoved it into his hair, laughing as he yelped when some of it slid down his collar.
Godric's Hollow was quiet but the town was a bustling beyond the path of our house. We passed the gigantic statue of my dad and grandparents. All three of our eyes flicked to it as we walked past it, that was always the acknowledgment anyone gave it from my family. As we entered the town, sound and life surrounded us. The kids were streaming out of the primary school as it just started to snow lightly.
"Do you see Lils?" I questioned, trying to see above the children flooding out of the school.
"KAYLIE! I THOUGHT YOU WEREN'T COMING TILL DINNER!" Lily shouted as she barreled into Kaylie, her bright copper hair streaming behind her.
"I think she's right here!" Kaylie laughed, hugging my little sister.
"Thanks Lils. Glad to know you love me picking you up," I laughed.
"Yeah, well I see you every day and it's usually not fun. You're definitely more my favorite then James is," she replied, taking Kaylie's hand.
"Ooh, the squirts learning cheek. Congratulations Lily, you just jumped ahead of James in my list of all time favorite people," Kent remarked. Lily grabbed his hand with her free one and beamed.
"Hear that James? Even your best mates like me better then you," she giggled. I rolled my eyes and grabbed her around the middle, flipping her upside down.
"JAMES! YOU'RE MAKING MY SKIRT FLIP!" she bellowed, holding down her purple skirt over her green tights. The hood on her winter coat was covering her eyes.
"Sorry goblin, can't put you down. You insulted my character," I laughed, walking over to the school's field which was coated in at least three inches of snow.
"JAMES, STOP IT!" She declared starting to wiggle.
"Take it back Lils. Say that I'm your favorite in the whole entire world," I replied. She wiggled more fiercely until a gigantic electric shock ran through my body. I dropped her and Kaylie shrieked, but Lily somersaulted mid air and landed on her bottom in the snow.
"You shocked me!" I exclaimed.
"Well you wouldn't put me down and I didn't mean to!" She exclaimed, crossing her arms over her chest and beaming at me. I rolled my eyes and turned around to Kaylie and Kent. Both of them stared at me wide-eyed for a second before bursting out laughing.
"What?" I questioned.
"Oh Merlin, that has got to be the best unintentional magic I have ever seen!" Kent gasped, putting his hands on his knees and doubling over in laughter.
"What did you do?" I exclaimed, turning on Lily. She had gotten up and brushed all the snow off herself, before flouncing back to the path. Kaylie came over and pulled the sweatshirt hood under the coat over my face and zipped it up all the way.
"Keep your head down, Mary, otherwise the spare muggles in the village will see," she snorted. I gave her an incredulous look.
"Why the hell did you just call me Mary? And what will they see!" I exclaimed as she started back towards Lily. She only laughed harder. Kent was looking at me and attempting to hold in his laughter, only causing tears to fall down his face. He started laughing again.
"Sorry mate, I just can't help it! It's so funny!" he exclaimed, grabbing my arm and toting me back in the direction of our drive.
Mum was standing at the front door already. I lifted my head and she clapped a hand over her mouth. I thought it was in shock so I was really alarmed until I noticed her shaking in silent laughter.
"What the heck did Lily do to me?" I exclaimed, pushing past Mum into the house and pulling my hood off. I looked into the mirror in the hall and gave a gargled shout. My face was covered in flowers. FLOWERS! All different kinds and colors and shapes and oh Merlin, flowers! I touched my face. Yeah, they were real flowers sprouting from my face.
"MUM! LOOK WHAT LILY DID TO ME!" I shouted, turning to Mum who started laughing again. "STOP LAUGHING AND FIX IT!"
"You kind of deserve it James, teasing Lily like that," she sighed, coming over to me and taking my chin in her hands. She gently plucked one from my cheek and I yelped. It actually felt like someone was pulling something out of my skin.
"Don't do that! Jeeze, if that's how they feel I'll never pick a flower again!" I exclaimed slapping my hand to the spot she picked when I pulled it away there was blood on it.
"I think we're going to have to go to St. Mungo's," she sighed, taking her pocketbook and going quickly to the fire. She threw a pinch of floo powder into the flames and bent down.
"Hermione? Ron? Oh hullo Hermione, can Albus stay there for a little bit longer? I've got to get James to St. Mungo's…No, it's not fatal, he'll be alright. Lily made flowers sprout all over his face…yeah I'll just take her with us, Kay and Kent are here they can watch over her when we're there…thanks Hermione. Yeah, I'll owl with the results, or rather the pruning," Mum laughed. I scowled.
"Can we please take a picture with him before we go?" Kaylie sniggered from the living room.
"I think that's a justifiable punishment," Kent added. Mum laughed and grabbed the camera off the mantle. Lily, Kaylie and Kent came running over. Kaylie and Kent gathered an arm a piece and Lily stood proudly in front as Mum captured the photo.
"Alright, shall we floo?"
"James, I think that was quite the look for you," Kaylie giggled as we walked towards Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione's place. We just got done with dinner at a small restaurant that was close to the hospital then flooed back to Godric's Hallow. Mum and Aunt Hermione were always going on about how convenient it was they settled in the same village, but everyone knows they all did it on purpose . I scowled at her.
"I agree James. It suited your personality, all springy and such," Dad put in. He met us at St. Mungo's as soon as we got there because Aunt Hermione flooed him. He thought it was dire until he actually saw me. I was laughed at a lot tonight.
"The Healer said it was very impressive magic. Did you hear her Daddy? Very impressive. She said I'm going to be quite the witch," Lily announced proudly from Dad's shoulders.
"I heard her, my little fairy. She was right you know, I believe you'll be the top of your class when you get there with Hugo," Dad laughed.
"Why doesn't she get punishment for turning my face into a nursery?" I grumbled, touching my cheek and still thanking the gods that it was petal free.
"Because it was accidental magic, you doof," Lily sighed. Kaylie giggled and looked up at her.
"Thanks for treating us to dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Potter," Kent piped up when he noticed me mumbling choice words under my breath.
"Of course. It was the least we could do since you spent your first night of holiday with us as St. Mungo's weeding your mate," Mr. Potter chuckled.
"Alright! How many more flower related jokes do you all have?" I exclaimed.
"About a handful from me," Mum declared, shrugging slightly.
"I, actually, probably have a lifetime of them," Kaylie announced.
"Yeah? Well too bad nobody gets your intellectual jokes. What did you even mean by calling me Mary?"
"It's a nursery rhyme, James. Mary, Mary, quite contrary,/ How does your garden grow?/With silver bells, andcockleshells, /And pretty maids all in a row." She explained slowly.
"Yes because everyone knows that, Kay," I snorted.
"I know it," Dad shrugged.
"Me too, but from where?" Kent questioned, looking quizzically at Kaylie.
"Dad used to say it to us when I helped him plant the garden in the spring, remember," Kaylie replied, looking at her fingers.
"Ohh! Right! He called you his little Mary Contrary, other than Kaylie-Kat," Kent smiled. Kaylie shrugged and looked up as soft snowflakes began to fall. They landed on her cheeks and melted against the heat. She took a deep breath and sighed before looking back at me again. I gave her a small smile and shrugged.
"I'll just run up and get Al then we can go decorate the tree, that is if little one can stay awake," Mum declared, shaking Lily's foot casually.
"I can stay awake forever! I can stay up till New Years!" She remarked confidently.
"How about until ten?" Dad questioned as Mum let herself into the house. She came out a couple seconds later will Albus in toe.
"Hey Kaylie! Kent! Is it true?" Albus exclaimed running up to us.
"Yeah. It was wicked," Kent giggled, throwing me a look.
"How much longer do I have to endure the torture?" I exclaimed before stuffing my hands back into my pockets. Mum sighed and put her arm around my shoulders.
"How about until the hot chocolate is ready?" She questioned.
"Hot chocolate? REALLY?" Lily squealed.
"Until we reach the doorstep?" I countered.
"But that gives me absolutely no time to take the micky out of him," Al whined. I socked him in the arm and Mum smacked me upside the head.
"Don't hit your brother or I'll make flowers sprout where other people one see them" she warned, taking out her wand and casually flicking it at the door. It glowed briefly and Dad stopped in his tracks. Quickly he took Lily from his shoulders and took out his own wand. He exchanged a look with Mum and quickly gave Albus and Lily a smile.
"Why don't you guys all build a snowman so it's ready for tomorrow morning?" he questioned lightly. Albus furrowed his brow.
"Dad, it's dark out," he snorted. Mum quickly conjured some lamps and set them floating in the air.
"Now it's not! Lily, go play while the snow is still fresh," she suggested, nudging Lily's back. Lily obliged with only a small glance at Mum and Albus followed after.
"Dad, what is it?" I whispered. Dad looked at me and smiled.
"It's nothing, don't worry," he remarked quickly. Kaylie who was hanging by the gate, briskly walked up to us, her arms wrapped tight around herself.
"It's Homenum Revelio isn't it?" she whispered, looking wide eyed at my parents. "Someone's in the house."
Mum put her arm around her and sighed as she looked at my Dad.
"The house is usually sealed against anyone but our families' blood line, but just to make sure I'm going to call Ron and Neville to back me up. It could be someone from the Ministry, they know how to get in as well," he replied, going to the side and sending out two glittery stags.
"You're here with us, but I'm sure it's nothing you two," Mum remarked, looking at Kent and Kaylie. Kaylie nodded and knotted her fingers together, beginning to pace. I walked over to her and put my hands on her shoulders.
"It's like I've been waiting for this since November. I've been waiting so hard for it to happen my bones hurt," Kaylie hissed.
"Kaylie. You heard my Dad it's probably someone we know," I sighed, stooping down so I could look at her in the eyes.
"Plus, you and I both know that my house of all places is just as safe as Hogwarts. You're having irrational fears. At least I hope they are," Kent added, walking over to our little huddle. He looked at me with slight alarm and I took a deep breath. It wasn't exactly a secret that they spent the holiday with us and I couldn't think of anyone that would be in our house without us there. But it couldn't be anyone. Dad kept the best security charms there is on this house.
"Then why would your Dad send for your uncle and Professor Longbottom?" Kaylie squeaked.
"Because my Dad is an overprotective paranoid nut, but I love him for it," I laughed as two loud cracks sounded in the air. Uncle Ron and Neville appeared and ran directly over to Dad. They whispered for a second before splitting up and going into the house at different directions. We watched as the lights of their wands shone through the windows. After three tense minutes, Dad came outside.
"Miles just dropped off a file from work. He took the floo directly from my office into the house. Said he didn't want to disturb us with the family emergency so he was just going to leave them here on my desk. Scared the living daylights out of him when we cornered him in the study," Dad laughed as Uncle Ron, Neville and a guy from dad's department came out of the house.
"Sorry for the scare Ginny!" He shouted, giving us all a wave and walking to the apparition point and leaving with a crack.
"Let's go in and warm up, shall we?" Mum smiled, calling for Lily and Albus and leading them into the house. Dad walked over to us and sighed.
"I'm sorry for scaring you. I just wanted to be-"
"Safe, I know Mr. Potter," Kaylie smiled and gave Lily a small wave as she shouted out the door for us to hurry up.
"Shall we go decorate the tree before Lily crashes and burns?" Dad laughed, motioning for us to go first. I gave Kaylie a hesitant look. She gave me a tight smile and went into the house, followed closely by Kent. I wanted to do something for them, to make them not afraid anymore, but I didn't know what I could do. All I knew was that this scared them far more than they actually let on, which meant they've been living in more fear then I suspected for the past two months. I have to figure out something to do.