"We're done! We're done! We have a few weeks of play and it's summer hols. I don't think anything could ruin this day for me!" James exclaimed, jumping up and down on his bed. I cracked an eye open further and pulled my pillow over my face. All of fifth year stumbled into the common room at one am after our exam and basically fell into a coma with all of the stress collapsing into one exhaustive state of being. It was still far too early for James to be up and at 'em. I was still sleeping off the effects of the most stressful month of my life.
"James, go back to sleep!" Connor shouted, chucking something in the general direction of James' bed.
"But don't you all want to get up and celebrate? Celebrate our freedom from all things school?" James declared gleefully. There was the sound of several other things chucked in James' direction.
"Kent, will you get up and come to breakfast with me?" James questioned as a large weight was deposited on my bed, making me buck in the air.
"Noit'searlygoaway!" I grunted, burrowing under my covers.
"Tonight's the Ball! We should find someplace to hide now because the common room will be chaos with all the girls freaking out," James tried, bouncing incessantly on my bed. I kicked my leg blindly and made contact with something. James swore.
"That was my shin you blighter," James exclaimed, the jumping stopping.
"That was my message for you to go away," I declared, pressing my pillow firmer over the back of my head.
"Well fine then. I'm going down to the common room to see who's actually entertaining," James announced, getting off my bed.
"You do that!" Connor, Trevor and I exclaimed simultaneously. There was a scoff from James as the dormitory door opened and shut. I let out a sigh of relief and settled under my covers for another hour or so of sleep. I lay there and waited for sleep to overcome me again. And waited. And waited. I sat up with an almighty groan, chucking my pillow to the end of the bed.
"That bloody git!" I exclaimed, throwing back my covers. I heard Trevor give a sleepy little laugh and Connor's snores. I'm going to kill him. I stalked from the dormitory and lighted down the stairs two at a time. James was chatting with Fred in a corner; both still had bed head and were still in their pajamas. I stalked up behind James and smacked him in the back of the head. He raised his hand to his head and let out a shriek.
"I can't fall back asleep you twat!" I groaned.
"Sorry! Anyways, Fred had this brilliant idea about our sweet thing," James remarked, smacking me in the stomach and showing me the sheet of ingredients Fred was thinking of.
"This is a smart idea, but I don't know if the lacewings will counteract well with the rest," Kaylie declared, making us all jump. She plucked the sheet of paper and examined it critically.
"Yeah, the lacewings really won't work with that spell we were thinking of. There could be frog after effects," she sighed, handing it back to Fred who grimaced and began to mouth the words on the paper and walking towards the arm chairs.
"Good morning, you're up earlier then I thought, Kent," she stated with a small smirk.
"I blame James," I grumbled. "What do you guys want to do today?"
"I promised Victorie I'd be back here at around oneish, but I'm free until then. Though I do need to find Luke at some point," Kaylie replied.
"One? Doesn't the shindig start at eight?" James declared.
"Girl thing," Kaylie sighed. "I'll just head down to the Great Hall and see if I can find him. I'll meet you guys back here later, yeah?"
James and I watched her flit from the room. I looked at James. He was glowering after her. I gave him an incredulous look.
"I guess now that O.W.L.S are over she's fully devoted to Luke again, huh?" James questioned quietly.
"Probably. But there's only a month left really. And at some point he'll be training for O.W.L.S and he has a Quidditch game in two weeks so that will keep him pretty busy…" I deduced.
"So they might not work out?" James asked hesitantly. "There's just something about him Kent…that I don't trust at all."
"I get the feeling. But to be completely honest I don't know if she's going to last very long with him," I admitted. James raised his eyebrows at me and silently made his way towards the dormitory stairs with somewhat of a spring in his step. I rolled my eyes and followed him up to embrace a day where for once we were pretty much worry-free.
ӿӿKaylieӿӿ
"Oh, so you still want to go with me. That's good," Luke pondered his fists tight in his pockets.
"Of course I want to go with you…where would you get the idea that I wouldn't," I sighed, fiddling with the ends of my hair.
"Well, you've ignored me for a bit now," he started.
"Luke, I explained that!" I exclaimed.
"I know, but you know a hello once in a while would've been nice!"
"Sometimes I think you don't understand me at all," I hissed.
"Kaylie, I know you better then you think," Luke laughed. I blinked. There was something there that made my breath hitch in not so good of a way.
"You may know me better than you think but sometimes I feel like I don't know you at all," I whispered, my tone lowered to the point of almost being inaudible.
"Kaylie…" Luke sighed. I looked up at him, my eyes shark.
"It's true, Luke! What have you told me about yourself? Really?"
"You know plenty. You know all that you need to know," Luke replied.
"But…"
Luke cut off my words by blanketing his lips firmly over mine.
"You know all that you need to know, hen. Don't worry. I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall at eight tonight. I've got stuff that I need to do today," he declared, giving me a wry sort of smile and giving me another kiss on the lips. I knitted my brow and Luke sighed and a serene look came over his face.
"We will talk later, alright? You can ask whatever you want. How does that sound?"
"Alright, I guess," I replied with a small shrug.
"There you go. I'll see you tonight," he smiled, kissing my cheek and stalking off towards the Greenhouses.
I stared after him, an unsettling feeling driving through my stomach. Things weren't right with him. Things weren't right with us. Our kisses weren't a driving force. They didn't have any meaning. They were just kisses. I looked up from my hands, all intent driven to calling him back to me but he was gone from sight. I sighed. I wasn't going to be another teenage dance statistic. The couple that breaks up and causes the drama. I furiously rubbed my brow with my fingers and set off towards the Greenhouses. The sun had yet to begin to blaze and the grounds were still dewy. I waved hello to a couple people from my year and squinted against the sun as the greenhouse rose into view. The first two greenhouses were completely empty. I peeked at the third one but it was occupied by Professor Longbottom and Lizzie. She looked up from the pot of earth she was working with and smiled, wiping her hand against her brow.
"Hey Kay," she smiled, a smudge of dirt left behind on her forehead.
"Hey, did Luke pass by here? I really need to talk to him," I sighed. Lizzie's brow furrowed as she looked at me critically.
"No, I would've seen him if he passed. Everything alright?"
"Not particularly," I sighed.
"What's up?" Lizzie whispered. Professor came up behind us, a genial smile on his face. We both looked at him and he let out a small sigh.
"I'll leave you two to it. Lizzie, before you and whatever his name is go to the Ball your mother wants pictures. See you in my office at seven forty?" He questioned, brushing the spare dirt off his hands.
"Dad…" Lizzie groaned.
"We're letting you go with him, aren't we?"
"Will you quit calling him, him?" Lizzie sighed. "His name is Dylan. You taught him!"
"I am well aware of that. But you're not getting out of pictures," he declared stiffly. She let out another groan and Professor Longbottom gave her a kiss on the forehead before wiping off the earth with a rag. Once he was back into the Greenhouse completely she turned to me, grabbing me by the elbow.
"What's up?" she repeated.
"I think I want to break up with Luke," I whispered, looking at my hands.
"WHAT?" Lizzie exclaimed loudly. I slapped my palm over her mouth. I removed it and she bit her lip, ushering me forward with her hands.
"It's just not there anymore. He doesn't really know me, otherwise he wouldn't get mad over me not talking to him during exam week. I know nothing about him! And when he kisses me it isn't there and it's starting to just get really stressful having to see him and-"
"Alright! I get it!" Lizzie exclaimed, giving me a small smile.
"Is there someone else?" she whispered. I gave her an incredulous look.
"Of course not…" I replied. She shrugged and looped her arm through mine again and started to lead me to the castle.
"When are you going to do it?" she questioned.
"I was going to do it as soon as I could," I admitted.
"Are you barking mad? Kaylie, you can't break up with him tonight! How low!" Lizzie exclaimed. I gave her a questioning look. She planted a hand on her forehead and let out a small huff.
"Kaylie, I thought you were the learn'd one here? How would you like it if you were completely dumped on the night of a dance? Lose your date completely?"
I furrowed my brow. She's probably right.
"So tomorrow?" I questioned hesitantly.
"That's a better idea," she laughed, looking at her watch. "Shall we take a kip or something before lunch? I have a feeling we're both going to need our strength tonight."
ӿӿJamesӿӿ
"I wonder where Kaylie got off to," Kent sighed. I shrugged as best I could while flipped upside down. I was laying in an arm chair with my legs flopped over the back and tossing a Quaffle in the air.
"Snogging with Luke, I expect," I snorted. Kent shot me a looked with raised eyebrows and I averted my gaze, kicking off the back of the chair with a back summersault.
"Mate, I suggest you control your little green dragon," Kent declared. I gave him a disgusted look and he threw a throw pillow at me.
"Your jealousy, James, your jealousy!" he exclaimed.
"You should've just said that instead of the dragon nonsense. It can be a euphemism for so much more. And I'm not jealous," I stated.
"James, if you can't admit it to me, your best mate, you should at least admit it to yourself," Kent snorted.
"Admit what to himself?" Kaylie questioned, as she and Lizzie stumbled into the room.
"That he is going to the Ball whether he likes it or not." Kent cut in smoothly. I shot him a grateful look.
"You really are James. Your parents are even coming," Kaylie replied with a small snort.
"What a first," I replied sarcastically.
"Well, it's our first year really going, you know dressing up and such… so you have to as well by default." She added.
"Can't I just stay here and mope? I'm going to be the only dateless sod there."
"Aweh, James. That's not true, I'm sure there are other dateless sods out there. You can band together with them," Lizzie teased. I pouted.
"What if I promise to dance with you?" Kaylie questioned, looking up at me through her eyelashes.
"I still don't want to go, but I'll take the dance. Only because I can't imagine what Victorie would do to me if I didn't," I shrugged, genially punching her in the shoulder. She shook her head at me and started towards the dormitory stairs.
"Don't try and skip out on me, James," she warned before starting up them, closely followed by Lizzie.
"So, are you going to skip out on her?" Kent questioned, rather cockily.
"Shall we go get our dress robes pressed?" I responded with a sigh. Kent smirked, clapped me on the shoulder and started for our own dormitory.
ӿӿKaylieӿӿ
"Remind me again why we get ready so early?" I questioned, sinking farther into the thick white foam of the perfects' bathtub. Lizzie mumbled a response, tapping one of the water taps and soaking a washcloth. She slung it over her eyes and leaned her head backwards.
"Because we couldn't relax like this if we didn't. We need time to de-stress," Victorie replied lazily. I shrugged and let the hot water loosen my tense muscles. I wasn't necessarily looking forward to this night anymore, but Victorie and Lizzie sure were and I wasn't going to ruin their fun.
"So, you're going to break up with Luke?" Victorie questioned casually. I slipped under the water in shock and came up sputtering.
"Elizabeth Longbottom!" I exclaimed. She was looking at me sheepishly.
"Sorry, you didn't expect me to keep that bombshell to myself did you?"
"Yes, yes I did," I replied, pushing my sopping hair out of my face.
"Well, thanks darling, I love to know that I'm not your confidante anymore! It's not like it's my birthday or anything!" Victorie exclaimed.
"I was going to tell you! Just not yet! And you know I've acknowledged your birthday already." I replied.
"So what does it matter if I told?" Lizzie sighed.
"This is beside the point! I can't believe you're going to break up with him after all that time you liked him," Victorie exclaimed.
"It's just not there Vic. He was nothing like I imagined," I replied.
"I know. I'm sick that it took you the whole year, when you really could've been with-" she gasped and suddenly sunk under the water. I furrowed my brow and crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for her to resurface. She popped up about a minute later, gasping for breath.
"Been with who, Vic?" I questioned evenly.
"Nobody. Nobody at all," she sighed, smoothing her hair back and stepping out of the tub. She shrugged on a large terry cloth robe and smiled at us.
"Shall we get beautiful? I have the complete regime all set up and decided." She questioned with a small giggle. Lizzie and I rolled our eyes and sunk under the thick bubbles.
ӿӿJamesӿӿ
"First they spend about an hour in the bath then they come back here and spend another three on hair and face. Are they brewing Polyjuice potion and completely changing themselves or something?" I snorted, sitting grumpily on the couch. I fidgeted with the bow tie on my dress robes and Kent scoffed.
"They're girls," he sighed.
"Kaylie was never like this…until this year…" I replied.
"Are you complaining? I thought we tired this subject," Kent answered, giving me a pointed look. I shrugged. She looked pretty before, but now she was taking the extra steps during special occasions, and even I had to admit that it was very…nice. Those feelings were still circulating my brain and I didn't know how to make heads or tails of them. I tugged at the cuffs on my robes and let out another gusty sigh. Girls in long and elegant dresses were starting to trail down the stairs in giggles and clouds of perfume. Each time we heard the clack of heels on the stone floor of the stairs the male population of the room craned their necks in expectation.
"I swear if he got there early and my Dad is doing anything to embarrass me I'm going to do something awful in front of Professor Vector and get so many points taken from Gryffindor!" Lizzie was exclaiming, hurrying down the stairs.
"Victorie, what's the point of getting ready early if we're still running late?" Kaylie's voice followed.
"The lateness was included into the timeline," Victorie replied exasperatedly. Kent and I craned our necks as they came clattering down the stairs in a flurry of skirts. Lizzie emerged first and every eye was trained on her until Kaylie followed and my world dropped out from under me. She was a vision. Part Veela even. Her emerald green dress made her skin shine and her eyes were the greenest shade of blue I've ever seen. It just seemed be tight in all the right places, pulling over her curves and pushing up her chest…and Merlin…I just needed to…I—I—I don't know what I needed, but things were suddenly really hot in here and I don't know what's exactly going on anymore.
"James," Kaylie declared, waving her hand in front of my face. I blinked. When did she get so close to me? And since when did she smell so…this is the smell of my amortentia I'm sure of it. She looked at me with a concerned look on her face. Carefully she gathered the heavy bottom of her gown and swished the long train behind her so she could take my arm and lead me to an arm chair.
"James, speak to me! Are you alright?" Kaylie exclaimed, placing her hand on my forehead. I took a deep breath. Get a grip on yourself, Potter! How're you going to get out of this?
"He's still in shock that he has to go," Kent cut in roughly. I looked up at him and nodded.
"I hate being stuffed in this penguin suit!" I stated, finally finding my concept of speech.
"Oh for Merlin sakes James, grow up," Kaylie snorted, smacking my in the chest with the back of her hand. I looked up at her again and almost lost contact with the world. Who knew it got so bad so fast? She blinked her eyes at me, her heavy lashes fluttering and her perfect rosebud lips pursing and for the love of all things magical you'd think that I was a pansy or some girl with the way I was feeling. I need to get a grip on myself!
"Shall we head down then?" I questioned, standing up and offering Kaylie my elbow. She rolled her eyes at me but took it anyways, flicking her curls over her shoulder. They were pinned halfway up and intricately spun on the top half.
"Do you have a peacock feather in your hair?" I snorted. Kaylie shot me a dirty look and gingerly touched it with her free hand.
"It was Victorie's idea," she replied as we exited the common room.
"It looks very nice. All of you looks very nice," I stated, looking at her through the corner of my eyes. All of you looks nice? Why couldn't I just tell her she was beautiful? Was that so hard?
"Thanks, I think," she laughed. I looked over my shoulder for Kent. He wasn't there.
"Kent's waiting for Becca you git," she giggled. "And yes, I always know what you're thinking."
I swallowed and averted my eyes (which were currently roaming elsewhere from her face, man that dress) and felt the tips of my ears go pink. I certainly hoped she didn't know everything I was thinking, because then things could get awkward and trust me I wasn't thinking even remotely that awful things.
ӿӿKaylieӿӿ
I scanned the hall for Luke's head and let out a sigh of relief when he wasn't among the dapperly dressed students packed in the entrance hall.
"Where's Luke?" James questioned in my ear. I looked over at him and carefully tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear. It looked like he attempted to gel it down into a coifed state, like Kent, but it just didn't want to. The tips of his ears were pink.
"I don't know. He said he'd meet me here," I sighed. James cocked an eyebrow at me. "Long story. Don't ask."
"Stay with me until he gets here?" He questioned hesitantly. I gave him a smile and led us inside the highly decorated Great Hall. Gold and silver adorned every surface in glittering spheres and streamers and blossoming flowers. Fairies sat in the center of every table surrounded by flowers that bloomed and sparkled under the candle light.
"Impressive," James stated slowly.
"It's like we're in a gigantic Christmas snow globe," I added. James let out a snort of laughter. "Wonder where your parents are?"
"Probably with McGonagall. Shall we say hello before they go hide? They hate coming every year," James sighed. I gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. This Ball marked happiness as much as it did sad. It marked the death of an Uncle he would never have, the grandparents Lizzie couldn't have, the parent's Teddy will never see. The people that fought in the battle usually retreated to a private more somber affair rather early in the evening.
The music was already playing a contemporary mix between a more upbeat tempo with classical undertones. Couples were already twirling on the dance floor. We made our way around the outskirts. The path got thick so James dropped my arm and guided me in front of me with a touch on the small of my back. I felt goose bumps erupt all over my arms and shoulders. He was so close I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. Finally we broke through the crowd and I quickly took a step away from him. Deep breaths, there you go Scott. Professor McGonagall was sitting in her seat with a tartan rosette on the front of her traditional witch dress robes. The girls now traditionally transferred to more muggle finery but some teachers still kept it old school.
"Well look who decided to get into spirit this year. Your father told me you were going to, but I certainly didn't believe it," Professor McGonagall grinned, looking at James and I.
"We decided to see for ourselves what we deemed vastly overrated for the past five years," I shrugged with a small smile.
"Well you both look very handsome. I believe your parents stepped out for refreshments, James," McGonagall declared, watching the people swaying on the floor with a slight mist to her eye. She looked briefly at the ceiling. On it, along with its usual weather forecast were chains and chains of golden names, each one representing a fallen hero from the first war, the final war and everything in between. Every now and again, if you looked closely the clouds formed a face, gazing lovingly down at the dancers. The walls behind the head table shared similar decorations. They held banners that slowly scrolled through a moving portrait of a lost one with their name and heroic moment (in other words what battle they died in or if they went missing, ect, ect). We froze for a second when a carbon copy of James' Uncle George froze upon a banner.
"James! We were wondering if you were actually going to show, darling," Mrs. Potter exclaimed in a well fitted midnight blue dress that seemed to shimmer as she walked. She noticed the poster and stopped for a beat, a flicker of sadness crossing her face for the brother she lost.
"You owe me five galleons Ginny dear, they've showed." Mr. Potter put in with a smile, kissing her on the side of the head.
"Oh, you look lovely Kaylie! But I thought you were coming with your boyfriend?" Mrs. Potter questioned. James stiffened behind me.
"I don't know where he is. He wasn't in the Entrance Hall, so I'm hanging with James for a bit," I answered with a large smile. James cleared his throat and Mrs. Potter raised her eyebrows at him.
"Well, Neville is waiting for us. We will see you. Behave yourselves," she stated, giving James a kiss on the forehead and attempting to smooth down his hair. James swatted her hand away and she smiled, allowing Mr. Potter to lead her from the Great Hall and into the anti chamber. I caught a glance of myself in the reflective wall of the Great Hall. My gown really was completely fab, thanks to Victorie's sharp eye. The deep green silk was draped around my midsection securing at my hip with a peacock feather and then swooping down to a flowing train. It cut in at all the right places and made me look curvier and older and more mature. My makeup was done flawlessly, to the point where it didn't look like I had any on but made my eyes look larger and my cheeks rosier.
James gently placed a hand on the small of my back. I looked over my shoulder at him. He was gazing at the dancers, the tips of his ears still that shade of rose. I gave him a confused look and lightly touched his ear with my fingertip. He jumped and his eyes flashed to mine.
"What are you so embarrassed about?" I questioned, tilting my head to the side. His cheeks turned red now and he looked at his feet, removing his hand.
"I'm not embarrassed," he stated quickly.
"You're all red, James," I giggled. He bit his lip and tugged at the collar of his dress robes.
"It's just hot in here…" he declared, not catching my eye. I furrowed my brow and touched his shoulder. He looked at my hand and smiled. "You wanna dance?"
"With you?"
"No, with a House Elf. Yes, with me Kaylie. If you don't want to-"
I scanned the crowd for Luke before turning to James and giving him a genuine smile.
"I would love to. We never got to finish our dance from New Years," I stated, holding out my hand. James stared at it for a second before gently taking it and threading his fingers through mine. For some reason I blushed. He led to the floor and we faced each other. James looked really quite handsome all dressed up and with the absence of grass stains or dirt. Hesitantly he placed his hand on my waist and lifted our hands to shoulder height. It was a beat of us standing there, just staring at each other before I was shoved from behind. I teetered and fell into James' chest. His grip tightened on my waist and my eyes flashed up to his face before glancing over my shoulder at my culprit. I just spotted a sheet of sliver blonde hair connected to Victorie in her gown. She looked like a water nymph, all dipped in silver in her simple haltered gown. By the time I opened my mouth to shout at her, she and Teddy disappeared. I looked back at James, who had a smirk on his face.
"What are you smiling at?" I questioned as he gently began to lead me to the music.
"Nothing in particular," he replied, his grip tightened a bit as he smiled down at me and my mouth went dry. I attempted to look into his eyes, his deep brown eyes that I could get lost in, but I wandered. To his long fluttering lashes that swept his powerful cheekbones which led to his strong jaw, his straight nose and thin mouth. I swallowed quickly. When I looked back up, I longed to swipe that chunk of jet black hair that almost always fell into his eyes. To bury my nose into the crick of his neck and take a deep breath of everything that was familiar and safe. James' scent was as in tune to me as ink on parchment. I carefully rest my head on his chest and discreetly took a deep wiff.
"Kaylie?" James' voice rumbled against my chest making my skin vibrate.
"Hmm?"
"When I said you looked nice…well I lied."
I looked him in the face. It was unreadable. It was smoldering?
"Well, see I didn't have to guts to actually say that you looked more than nice. Kaylie, you look…" James cut off and took a deep breath. We stopped moving and stood there, holding each other.
"Just say it James," I smiled.
"Kaylie, you look beautiful. Stunning. I—I—just…was too scared to say it," James admitted. I felt my cheeks heat up. I looked down at my feet before looking back at James.
"You didn't need to be scared James. It's just me," I replied, giggling slightly.
"KayKay…I just…I've been…" James started. He bit his lip and looked at his feet. Carefully I took his chin and lifted it so I could look in his eyes again.
"What James?"
He took a deep breath and rested his forehead against the top of my head.
"Kaylie, things have been going on lately and I haven't really been able to put them together," he started, his breath warm across my skin. I closed my eyes and tiled my face upwards towards him. I realized now that I could kiss him. I really could. If I wanted to. Did I want to? This was James. James. My best mate. The one that I couldn't place as yet a brother but still more than a friend. I knew this could be a disaster. It could be fluke. What I was feeling now could be gone when I wake up in the morning, only to blame everything on the magic of our surroundings.
"What's been happening?" I questioned finally, daring my voice to hitch. I opened my eyes. There was that look again. It made my knees want to go weak and stop functioning. James' lips parted only slightly. I should just kiss him. Take the chance that this wasn't a fluke, that this could work, that our feelings were becoming something more. A different kind of love that neither of us knew was there.
"Well, lately I've been feeling…and thinking-"
"Kaylie!"
I was yanked away fiercely. Luke's face looked mutinous. In the world that I was living in I forgot that I was still in a relationship. Though I should be just as angry with him as he was at me now. James caught my arm as I was being pulled away.
"Don't touch her like that," he hissed, just loud enough for the three of us to hear.
"She's my girlfriend! I'll touch her as I like," Luke replied.
"Luke! You're an hour late! We were dancing. Will you get a grip on yourself?" I put in. the two of them looked at me. "I'll be right back. Luke, we need to talk right now."
"Right, I think we do." Luke nodded. I shot an apologetic look at James, who looked like he either wanted to punch Luke or grab me and pull me away.
"I promise, I'll be right back James," I stated with a small smile. James' jaw was locked and he gave me a stiff head shake.
"No…go have fun with him…I'll just see you tomorrow," he whispered.
"James, please, just stick around. We'll finish our dance," I pleaded. James looked me in the face and softened a bit before nodding slightly. I gave a look to Luke who's jaw was jumping as he grinded his teeth together.
"Shall we go to the garden? It'll be quieter," I suggested. Luke nodded and began to clear a path through the dancers so we could exit the Great Hall. I followed the best I could in my heavy gown but eventually we made it out into the fresh air where the erected rose garden sat, the grounds inky black beyond.
"You were an hour late. Did you expect me to stand around?" I questioned suddenly.
"No. But I didn't expect you to be snogging another boy," he replied.
"We weren't snogging."
"You were close," Luke snorted, looking over his shoulder to the grounds. There was a crash as a giggling couple burst out where we were standing, clutching and laughing. Luke looked sharply at them and I heaved a deep breath.
"I didn't really want to do this tonight…I wanted to have a good time with you…" I began. Luke's sharp look transferred to me and he started grinding his teeth again.
"Let's not do this here," Luke stated sharply. He grabbed my wrist and led me further out in the direction of the greenhouses.
"I think we're far enough, Luke," I announced as he pulled me across the grounds. I started to trip on the hem of my dress, but Luke kept pulling. "Luke, let go of me! We're far enough out!"
Luke stopped and turned on me. His face was contorted and ugly, not the guy that I knew. It was the flashes I saw pass over his features, but it had taken permanent groundings now. I massaged my wrist as I looked wide-eyed at Luke.
"What is with you? This is my point! Sometimes I don't know who you are Luke! I'm sorry it has to be here and now and on this night but I can't do this anymore. It's not there anymore," I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around myself. I figured Luke would turn now, get angry and stalk off and I could go cry in peace but he snatched me around the waist and hefted me over his shoulder. I started squirming, pounding on his back.
"Will you let me go? Have you gone completely barking mad?" I shouted, hoping my voice would clear across the grass and to the loud din in the distance.
"Stop struggling Kaylie, it'll only get more difficult for you," Luke declared, setting me down and pressing his wand to my back. I froze, stiff as a board, well aware that he slipped my wand out of the slit in my dress when he picked me up.
"Walk," he declared harshly.
ӿӿKentӿӿ
I stopped twirling Becca mid-twirl and doubled over. There was a constricting feeling in my chest, like I wanted to scream but couldn't get a grip on myself to do so. Becca was eyeing me curiously. She grabbed my face in her hands and shouted my name. I smelt grass and dew, not sweat and the mixture of perfumes.
"Kent! What's wrong?" Becca questioned.
"It's Kaylie…I think something's wrong. I'm so sorry…but I've got to go," I gasped, roughly rubbing my forehead.
"Kent, go." Becca replied, giving me a small shrug. I gave her a quick kiss and started pushing through the crowd.
ӿӿKaylieӿӿ
"Luke, I know this isn't the best time to end a relationship…but do things have to be this drastic? Why can't I have my wand?" I questioned, trying to control the shaking in my voice.
"Kaylie, do you honestly think I'm going to give it back to you?" Luke laughed. He was pushing me past Hagrid's hut and towards the Forbidden Forest. I was starting to shake violently. Was it just a few minutes ago that I was dancing with James and completely and utterly blissed out? Now I don't even know what's happening and I'm completely defenseless and in a stupid gown that I couldn't run in if I ever got the chance to run away.
"Where are we going?" I questioned.
"You'll see. It's a surprise," Luke answered, chuckling again.
"Please…Luke. Let's just go back?"
"No, I don't think so. I'm not really one for dancing and parties to be completely honest."
"Luke…please…" I whispered, starting to feel myself tear up. I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. It was like my nightmares come true. The shadows were starting to creep up at me and I felt my chest restrict.
"Kaylie, I wish you would understand that begging is going to get you anywhere right now. See like you said, the feeling just isn't there. It wasn't ever there," Luke laughed as the trees closed around us. I could just see the top of the castle in the distance. Suddenly something grabbed at my ankles making me pitch forward into the dirt. The scream was lost in my throat. I twisted around to see Luke bearing down at me with his wand pointed directly at my chest.
"I don't understand, Luke…why me?" I choked out.
"Because Miss Scott, it was always you," a voice came out through the trees. I twisted around and really did scream then. A tall man in a dark cloak was walking towards us and as his cloak swished aside you could see a bright knife glinting in the moonlight beside his wand.
ӿӿJamesӿӿ
I watched Luke and Kaylie push through the crowd to the door of the Great Hall; my heart had bottomed out in my stomach. I almost said it. I almost admitted what I was just coming to terms with. I wanted to kick something. I know I said I was going to stick around but I couldn't stand here and watch them giggle and snog once they made up. I stalked through the crowd attempting not to tread on trains and shoes. It was a rough job but I finally got through to the main staircase, when a hand yanked my shoulder. I turned around to see a rather frantic Kent.
"Have you seen Kaylie?" he questioned.
"Yeah, Luke dragged her out of here about five minutes ago. Probably finding a nice bush to snog in," I snorted.
"James, something is wrong." Kent replied. I gave him a confused look.
"What do you mean?"
"Something is wrong. I think Kaylie is in trouble," he replied desperately.
"How do you know?" I questioned.
"I just do! We need to find her," he exclaimed. I gave him a nod and started running up the stairs. Kent was close on my heels.
"Where are you going? We need to go look for her!" he panted.
"The map, you prat! The map!" I exclaimed, sliding on the stone floors as I rounded the corner. This idea seemed to bring new life into Kent because he put on such a burst of speed he overtook me, climbing the last staircase two at a time. The portrait hole was already opening when I reached it. I stopped to catch my breath and whipped out my wand.
"Accio map!" I exclaimed, holding my wand in the air. It came whoosing down and out of the portrait hole, followed closely by Kent.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good," I coughed, clutching the stitch in my side. Kent and I scoured the map. I caught Kaylie's dot just as it disappeared off the map and into the Forbidden Forest.
"Accio CLOAK!" I exclaimed as Kent took off to the staircase. I caught my Invisibility Cloak just as I was turning to run and took off after him. It seemed like the path would take forever but soon we were flying across the grounds. Kent almost collapsed as we reached Hagrid's Hut. He was clutching his head and attempting to run.
"She just screamed," he gasped, his voice choked with emotion. "She just screamed!"
ӿӿKaylieӿӿ
"Who are you?" I managed to question, hurrying to move my dress so I could tug at my ankles. They were tightly wrapped in a thick red vine that was placed directly in my path. It looked like some form of Devil's Snare.
"I thought you said she was bright, Lucas. Thought she would've figured it out by now," the man sighed, crouching down and un-belting his knife. He ran the tip of it from my hairline, trailing down my cheek to my jaw. He paused at the hollow between my chin and my neck, pressing the point just firm enough until I felt a trickle of blood ran down my neck. I was trembling all over. He smiled an awful, sick smiled and with a flash the vines were cut. I stood up faster than I ever thought I could in this dress and spun around to run. Luke caught me by the top of the arms, squeezing tightly.
"Try to run, huh? This is the last time you make a fool out of me Kaylie Scott," he growled, roughly grabbing my hair and ripping it back so I was forced to look at the sky. I let out a scream of pain as Luke ran his finger up my neck, collecting the trickle of blood. He shoved me forward and I hit the ground hard, the rocks cutting into my palms and elbows.
"Stand up Kaylie…I want to see how much you look like your father," the man growled. The tears broke free and started streaming down my face.
ӿӿJamesӿӿ
"Kent, calm down," I shouted, dashing to him and grabbing him around the shoulders. I looked to the edge of the forest and stopped. I lit my wand and examined the ground. A smooth path was cleared from the train of Kaylie's dress. I said a silent shout of thanks and whipped the cloak around my shoulders.
"Get under here and be quiet," I hissed, pulling Kent under the cloth with me. His breathing was labored as we followed the path. I listened hard against the night for any noise that would alert us to Kaylie's whereabouts. Soon we heard a shriek of pain. Kent and I looked at each other and broke out in a run the best we could while shielded under the cloak. We finally arrived to a clearing. Kent started to shout out but I clapped a hand on his mouth and pulled him behind a taller bush. Kaylie was curled in a ball on the ground. Her dress ripped and her hair falling out. Tears were silently coursing down her cheeks, making the makeup run in rivets across her face. Two men were facing her, their arms crossed and backs' to us. I bit back against the bile that rose in my throat. I wanted to hurt them. I wanted to kill them. I wanted to do anything to stop her pain.
"We've got to get to her," Kent hissed in my ear. I nodded but elbowed him hard so he would stay quiet.
"So we just wait?" one of the figures questioned.
I felt my jaw drop. Kent was red in the face in his attempts to not make any noise. The smaller of the two was Luke. I knew. I knew it. He was bad news.
"Yes, the other one will come," the older man stated.
"But Dad, all I have to do is go back and tell him she's in trouble. He'll come running," Luke exclaimed. Dad?
"He doesn't trust you. You know that. We need both of them though. They're the last key to that infernal lock their father set. As soon as we have them, Lucas, we will be the master of death itself."
Kent was shaking now, his fist clenched tight across his wand. I bit my lip. I wouldn't be able to stun one without alerting the other.
"Kent, go back. Quietly. Go get McGonagall and Longbottom," I whispered.
"I'm not leaving her!" Kent hissed back, our voices covered by the conversing men.
"They want you too, Kent. Go. I'll think of something to get her safe," I declared, a hard edge notable even through my whisper. Kent looked torn. "It's the best thing you can do right now. Go, I promise to protect her with my life," I declared. Kent looked at me, then Kaylie one last time before creeping away through the trees. I looked back at them. Kaylie looked so scared and weak. I noticed something glint off the moonlight creeping through the trees. It was a long, silver, knife that was crooked with age and stained red with fresh blood. I almost let out a scream as I frantically searched Kaylie's body for any form of knife cuts. When she rolled slightly I saw a slash on her upper shoulder. It had a steady stream of blood flowing from it.
"I'm going to go check the arrangements to get them out of here. You watch her," Mr. Masters declared, backing up slowly.
"But what if Kent and James show up?"
"You told me she was the clever one. You can take both of them if they show up. I've trained you remember," he replied before disappearing into the woods. Luke looked down at Kaylie with deep scorn. He bent down and grabbed a fistful of her hair and started to drag her through the rocks and twigs to a tree. Kaylie let out a shriek and I felt tears prick against my eyes. I bit my lip hard. Now was not the time to get all emotional, James.
I took this as my chance. Keeping the cloak tight around me I crawled around the bush, making my way to the back of the tree where Luke was tightly securing her. A twig snapped under my foot and I froze. Luke stiffened and looked wildly around him before calming down again. I went slower this time. Finally I made it to where Kaylie's hands were. Hesitantly I reached out to touch her. Please don't scream, Kay, please. I touched her hand and felt her jump and tug against her bonds, a scream erupted from her mouth and Luke stuffed a gag in her throat. I took out my wand. I wanted to do a severing charm but my hands were shaking too much. I took a couple of deep steadying breaths and quickly performed it before retreating a few steps. I trod on another branch, which echoed a large crack. I froze as Luke stood straighter.
"Is that you Kent? Or is it James? I know you're under that cloak! And yes I know about the cloak," Luke exclaimed, walking around and waving his arms in front of him. "Kaylie didn't tell me, of course. But I knew."
Kaylie let out a muffled spree of grunts. She was cussing him out.
"I'm responsible for a lot this year, Kaylie love. The visions for a start," he started, still searching for me. Kaylie kept her hands where they were, not giving away that I had freed her. They were shaking violently. I grabbed it through the cloak and held it tight. I can't attack him just yet.
"Those flowers I gave you on our first date were the key. It's old Greek magic, you see. You touched it out of devotion to me, giving me the key to your mind. I planted the visions to make you think I was your savior so you would take me back. I planted the ideas that you were lonely and needed to sneak out at night to see me.
"Kaylie, you were my little puppet this whole year. I was happy Dad gave me this mission, it wasn't difficult for me to kiss you and touch you. I wish I could've gotten farther than that to be honest, you're just such prime territory, but you never let me that deep.
"Never farther than that first date. You didn't trust me after that. And I saw whatever was happening with James. I blocked your feelings Kaylie. Made them so they wouldn't show themselves, so you thought your devotion was only to me. It was difficult, you fought but I won in the end. Didn't I?" he laughed.
I couldn't take it anymore. I jumped up and stepped forward to stun him when I tripped over a vine that wasn't there before and snaked its way around my ankle. I was just able to scream out the disarming spell before my wand fell out of my hand. Luke's wand flew in a large arc and landed somewhere in the darkness. The cloak had fallen off of me and was in a heap on the ground. Luke turned to me and smiled.
"Playing hero like your father, eh James?" he laughed. "But what are you going to do without your wand?"
I launched myself at him and my fist connected with his jaw and then his nose. Kaylie screamed again. She had given up pretending restraint and de-gagged herself. Luke over took me now, sending a nice jab to my temple. He landed another one and got his hands around my neck.
"Famous James Potter. Well who's the winner now? Huh?" he shouted to me as my breathing became labored. I felt my lungs seizing up.
"Luke! Leave him!" Kaylie exclaimed, somewhat launching herself onto Luke's back. He grabbed her harshly around the waist and threw her to the ground beside him. She let out a large shriek of pain and clutched her ankle. I got the break I needed and was about to send another punch in Luke's mouth but paused and immediately went to Kaylie, but was taken over by a kick to the stomach from Luke and then a sharp one to my temple. I gasped and doubled over. He was barring himself over me as I sunk to the ground. I crawled backwards like a crab and my hand came in contact with smooth wood. It wasn't a tree, it was a wand. I found my wand.
"Stupefy!" I shouted, the red jet of light hitting him square in the chest. He keeled over, unconscious and still as stone. I crawled over to Kaylie, who was getting to become hysterical.
"Kaylie, it's alright. Let's go. We've got to get out of here," I panted, still reeling a bit from the kick to the abs and head. I blinked and shook away the stars, before pushing her hair out of her face. The wound in her arm was still bleeding freely. I hastily ripped off a strip of my robes and wrapped it around her arm.
"Okay, let's go. Let's get out of here," I commanded, offering her my hands. Kaylie grabbed me and clutched me with dear life, attempting to stand.
"James, I think I broke my ankle. I think I broke it when I fell earlier," she gasped, grabbing at it.
"I'll carry you. C'mon, we've got to go," I exclaimed, starting to lift her up.
"Where do you two think you're going?" a voice boomed. I looked up. Mr. Masters was advancing on us, his wand pointed straight at me.
"Expelliarmus!" I declared before even thinking. His wand flew out of his hand and into the dark. I started to lose my grip on Kaylie as he suddenly charged us, the tip of the knife glinting against the shadows. I attempted to drop Kaylie and get in front of her when the knife was brought down with a flash and then again. Kaylie let out a gurgled shriek as a red jet flew through the night and hit Mr. Masters square on the forehead. He keeled over. I sunk to my knees in relief with Kaylie still cradled in my arms. I wanted to hug her and hold her. We were safe. Professor Longbottom and my Dad were already running to us, I can hear their voices. I looked down at her then and the smile slipped from my lips. Blood was blossoming out of her stomach, staining her dress a dirty red. She was stark white, her lips chalky.
"Kaylie! No! Stay with me!" I exclaimed, grabbing her face in my own and already feeling the tears roll down my cheeks. She looked at me with big eyes that read only confusion. She opened her mouth to speak but started to cough, spurting out blood.
"Kaylie, baby. Please. Stay here. I haven't said what I needed to say! KayKay, please baby stay with me! It's you I need. It's only you, always you," I shouted, my voice hoarse as the tears came faster. I was clutching her to my chest, the blood seeping through my shirt and spreading warm on my chest. I brought a hand down and instinctively held it against her wound, my hand quickly becoming slick with blood.
"Baby, no. Not now. It's not your time, stay here. We'll fix you! I need you! I love you!" I declared kissing her forehead and her cheeks and finally her lips. She tasted rusty. I'm so scared. I never got to say so many things. I never got to admit what I realized earlier.
"James! Let go! She'll be fine, but we've got to get her up to the castle!" Dad was shouting. His voice seemed too travel to me from underwater. I was ripped from her. I screamed.
"No! She's dying! I need to save her!" I declared, struggling to let go.
"We've got her. She'll be okay!" Dad whispered, holding me tight to him.
Professor Longbottom had already conjured a stretcher. Kaylie was unconscious now, her hand flung off the side of the stretcher lifeless and unmoving. I broke down against my restraint, feeling the tears course down my cheeks.
"I'm taking him back to the castle. Restrain these two," Dad ordered to the air. I was being toted back to the castle, my feet moving underneath me automatically. I wanted to run and throw myself across her, making sure no other harm came to her but it was too late.
"She's gone," I sobbed, barely being able to walk. "She's gone!"
A/A:
Kaylie's Victory Ball Gown: .
Victorie's Victory Ball Gown: .
Just thought you'd like to see them! Hope you enjoyed the update!