Voldemort was exactly where Honey left him. She took her wand out and revived him. Voldemort snapped opened his red eyes and sprung from the bed with his hand out stretched toward her. Honey's feet left the floor as her body levitated. She stopped mere inches from his face.
"Which one are you?" he demanded, studying her face.
"I'm Honey."
"I've heard that one before."
"Would you prefer to speak to Tom?"
Voldemort stared at her for a few seconds more and then backed away. "I'd rather have a few words with you first." He released Honey and gestured her toward a sitting area in a corner. He waited for her to sit down first before he did. "I must apologize for my rough treatment. Tom's unruly actions have left me upset."
"I can relate to that."
"Have you eaten? May I offer you refreshments?" he asked, playing the gracious host.
"I'm fine." She already ate at home before coming to him.
"Very well." he said charmingly. "Now, tell me. Do you remember anything about our previous encounter?"
"You took me from Potter cottage and told me I was you."
Voldemort nodded. "At first, I thought you and Tom were one and the same but it appears I was mistaken. You and he are separate beings that share one body. You are fused together. It is difficult to believe but allow me to elaborate. I saw the memory of your birth. Tom was present and he latched onto your body."
"He's possessing me?" she simply defined it.
"Yes."
"Like how you were possessing Quirinus Quirrell's body? It was said that you were a parasite living on the back of Quirrell's head. Devouring his soul every time he took a breath."
"Do not believe everything you hear."
"Interesting you would say that."
"I assure you that I only have your best interest at heart."
"Mines or Tom's?"
"Both."
"Then there is a conflict. He has been attempting to take my life. I, in contrast of his wishes, have not agreed."
"He does have those tendencies." he said as if they were discussing a wayward child that had misbehaved and not a murderer. "I shall speak with him at once about this matter."
"Going to lecture him on how to succeed?"
"No, no..." he waved his hand dismissingly. "In these short hours I have grown attached to you as I am certain Tom has as well. I do not wish for misfortune to befall you. I will order him to cease harming you."
"And you think he will listen to you?"
"Trust me. I have the ability to pursue him."
"Thank you for the offer but I must decline. Honestly, I don't mind it. He keeps me sharp."
Voldemort smiled at this.
"I think it's best if I return home." she informed him.
"Why?" he asked in alarm.
"I have an illness related to my mind. I need a healer to treat me. If you are not a healer then I see no point in being here." She spoke her words slowly and clearly for him to not mistake her.
"I am not a healer by trade but I assure you I have the necessary skills to treat you."
"Such as?"
He leaned toward her. "There are many things I can show you. If you stay."
"No."
He blinked, surprised at her lack of interest in him and what he could offer her. No one had carelessly dismissed him like she did. He must use different tactics to entice her to stay. He needed more time with her.
"You are free to leave whenever you wish but why should it be so soon? You have not formed an opinion of me as of yet. We should rectify that."
"Two days. After that I leave."
"Why not three?" he suggested.
"I would miss my parents too much."
Voldemort could force her to remain with him or use his magic on her but his pride prevented him.
"Two days it is."
"I have another request."
"Whatever you desire."
"I want to spend the first day in the home of the Gaunt's and the next in Riddle Manor."
Voldemort was taken aback by this but didn't question her since he had already agreed.
Voldemort lead Honey toward the humble home of the Gaunt's that was well hidden in the grove. The vegetation was dark since no light reached the area. The walls were mossy with tiles missing from the roof that the rafters were visible in places. When they reached the door, she paused to touch a rusty nail embedded in the wood.
Voldemort took out his wand to open it. As the door slowly swung open it creaked with age. He gestured her inside. Honey stepped over the threshold and recognized the odor of decay. She did not know how or why she was able to identify it but she did. There was a dead body in the shack.
"My apologies." said Voldemort. He cast a charm to light the room and clean the inside.
"There is no need." she said. She walked over from one wall to another and inhaled, without being too obvious, in an attempt to locate the cause of the smell. "It's certainly cozy." she stopped what she was doing and turned to him. "I want to spend the night."
"If you wish."
"In that room." she pointed to a door.
"Preparations have to be made."
"I don't require much." she went to open the door and walked into the small space. It as tiny but she was tinier.
He remained outside. He was too large to enter. "Are you certain you want to sleep in there?"
"I'm the right size."
"Excused me," said Voldemort.
Honey watched as he walked outside the shack and closed the door. She felt something touching her shoulder she turned around. There was nothing there. How odd, she could have sworn she felt it. She dismissed it as her imagination and went back inside her temporary bedroom. She closed the bedroom door and took out her cards. She shuffled them with shaking hands. She took a card out and nearly panicked. It showed her standing in the room. She was also holding the card in her hand. It was as if someone had taken her picture just now and put it on the card but that was not what was causing her heart to race with fear. There, standing on her left was a black figure. She slowly turned her head to her left and saw nothing. Looking back at the card, she saw the figure was still there. It was raising its hand to touch her arm that same moment she felt something cold on her arm and jumped off the bed.
"Who is there?" she asked. When there was no answer she looked back at the card. The figure was walking out the door. She followed the figure, every now and then her eyes were on the card and ahead to see where she was going. The figure was leading her to a door. She twisted the doorknob to open it as she walked through the threshold her gaze was pulled downward toward the floorboards.
"What is it?" asked Voldemort. He came back inside of the shack to see how she was doing.
She pointed at the floor. "I want to go to Riddle Manor."
Riddle Manor was larger compared to the Gaunt's shack but just as old and deteriorated. It was in a poor state, nothing like the lavished manor from Tommy's memories. While they were walking up the hill, Honey glanced at the village down below. She stopped walking and her body twitched from the familiar zap she had felt in her Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"You placed a curse on this property." she said.
"As a precaution."
It meant that he might have also placed a curse on the classroom in Hogwarts. She had to explore the classroom once she returned to the school to see what kind of curse it was. When they entered the manor Voldemort casted a spell to clean the area. The inside of the manor was completely different from Tommy's memory. None of the furniture was there, the walls were peeling, and the floor was moldy.
As she walked inside her surroundings swirled and the interior transformed into the one in Tommy's memories. Voldemort was gone and she was standing alone. Soft voices could be heard nearby. She walked toward the voices. There was Tom, two men, and a woman standing. Tommy was dressed in a dark clock while the others were in formal attire.
"My mother's name is Merope Gaunt. I was told you were my father." said Tom.
"Merope Gaunt?" said the middle aged man that strongly resembled Tom.
"You mean that whore who bewitched you?" said the elderly woman.
"She had a son!" said the elderly man and looked at the middle aged man. "You actually bedded It?"
"I-I-she drugged and took advantage of me! I don't remember anything!"
The elderly woman hugged the middle aged man. "Oh Tom! My poor child! Thomas you must do something about this!" she said to the elderly man. "Make her and her dreadful family of hers pay!"
"They are dead." said Tom.
The three people turned their heads to him.
"Serves them right!" said the Thomas.
"Good ridden to rubbish!" said the elderly woman.
The man pulled away from his mother and went to Tom. "How did she die?"
"Childbirth."
The man's eyes widen in shock.
"Wonderful!" laughed the elderly man and woman.
"That rodent deserved death for what she did to my boy."
"I hope they suffered." said the elderly man.
The light began to flicker as Tom tightened the grip he had on the wand in his hand.
The woman went to Tom and looked at him from head to toe. "You are fortunate you didn't inherit anything her family."
"The Gaunts were one of the greatest, well known family in the Wizarding world. Not like you Muggles!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Tom raised his wand and hissed the fatal curse that ended the elderly couple's life. As they dropped on to the floor, he pointed his wand at his father.
"I'm sorry." said the man, before Tom took his life as well.
Honey stepped out of the shadows and took Tom's hand. Tom turned his head to look at her.
"Was it worth it?" she asked him.
Killing his own father left a lasting scar on Tom. He was imprisoned in this particular memory, along with the emotion of rage, and feelings of rejection. It was the last thing Voldemort had left him with before putting him inside of the ring and isolated him from the outside world.
"I'd do it again." He admitted proudly.
Honey closed her eyes and opened them again. She was back in the present with Voldemort beside her.
"I think I'd rather not stay here or the Gaunt's home."
"Why?"
"I have seen enough and would like to go home."
"But you said you were going back in two days."
"I changed my mind."
"I can help you kill Dumbledore." He was desperate to prevent her from leaving him that he would resort to any means.
"I have doubts."
She was the only person whose non-magic words made Voldemort felt like she had physically and emotionally hurt him. He would prefer it if she had hexed him instead. That, he could deal with.
"Why is that?" he asked.
"If you had the knowledge and ability, you would have killed him yourself by now."
"I have more important matters to settle. Dumbledore is second on my list. My first priority is Harry Potter." he explained. "After Potter, it'll be Dumbledore."
"Excuses,"
"What proof do you need of my sincerity?"
"Nothing. I will put Albus Dumbledore in his grave on my own and I request that you do not interfere. It is a matter of family honor and I will be insulted if you did." ending her speech, she disapparate before his eyes in silence.
Passion, intelligence, determination, magic, and most importantly the pure-blood heritage, all things he admired were possessed by Honey. Voldemort swore he must have this little witch by his side not matter the cost.
"You're back? I thought it would be longer." said Melissa, when she found Honey in her bedroom.
Honey had changed her clothes into something light weighted and form fitting. She had a bag and was packing it with essentials. "I'm only here to get a few things."
"Oh, well...was he able to help you?"
"I have obtained new information." she closed her bag and kissed her mother's cheek before leaving.
Voldemort was a hindrance to her and Honey needed to be rid of him to investigate the Gaunt's and Riddle's home on her own. She went straight to the Gaunt's shack after testing to see if anyone was within proximity that would disturb her. It didn't matter if there was a corpse on the grounds. It was a common ritual. Old wizard families practice a ritual of burying the dead in their property. With a cloth tied around her face, she went into the bedroom, removed the wood, lighted the dark space with her wand, and jumped down. Insects scattered from the light, abandoning the mound of bones they were inhabiting. By the clothing on the skeleton one could tell it was a man. Since there were only two male members left, it was either Marvolo or Morfin resting there.
She took the card out of her pocket, just like before it was showing her where she was.
"Why do you want me here?" she asked it.
The figure went to the body lying on the floor and knelt before it with its head down. That was when Honey realized that it wanted to see the corpse. To pay respect. She kneeled on the other side of the body and went on her knees. She pressed her hands together, bowed her head, and recited the words she had been taught. It was an act of respect to the dead she had learned while living in Asia. One must bow and chant an incantation. It was to wish them well on their journey to the afterlife, to forget any animosity that existed while they were living, and find peace. When they do they would be allowed to undergo the process of reincarnation, the belief of returning to the living as a new being. She opened her bag and took out some chrysanthemums, the symbol of death, and placed them at his feet.
"I wished I can do more but this was all I can manage on short notice." she told the invisible figure and explained Asian death rituals to it. When she was done speaking she twitched as she felt a cold hand graze her cheek. She assumed it was out of appreciation.
Honey reached into her pocket and produced the stoneless ring and placed it under the man's skeletal hand. "I want to keep this but it should be returned to the possession of its true owner. I'm sorry. I don't know where the stone went." She felt the figure graze her right hand and grabbed it. The image of a man and woman flashed before her eyes and she knew who the figure was.
Alice Groston.
Which meant the man was not Marvolo or Morfin Gaunt. It was Cadmus Peverell.
Honey thought back to Cadmus and Alice's story. While he was gone in search for food, she went into the hearth and set herself on fire. The hearth. The Floo Network! The Floo Network had existed for many centuries. What if Alice used it to escape Cadmus? He went mad and sent himself on fire. The skeleton didn't look like it had been burned. It was still intact and not charred. As she had previously thought, the tale was not accurate.
"I am curious but I have enough respect for your privacy to not ask." said Honey, releasing Alice's hand. The amount of sorrow she had felt from those brief touches prompted her not to ask.
"Are you all right here? Is there anything you need?" Honey asked. "I will help you if I can."
"Maybe these can help you?" Honey took out her cards and shuffled them. She pulled out Death's card and was startled to see that his eyes were opened and moving. She believed he was looking at Alice. "Help her." She begged. "Please."
Death turned his gaze to Honey. She felt her hand tingling and heard Alice murmuring the words, "Thank you." Death closed his eyes.
Honey pulled down the cloth that had been covering her face and sniffed the air. The smell of decay was gone. She put the card back into the deck. Pressing her hands together she bowed her head and recited the incantation. This time it was for Alice. She dug into her bag and found a box of ribbons she had purchased months ago but never used. She placed the unopened box next to the flowers as an offering to Alice.
Afterwards, she climbed from the pit and closed it. She may never know the true story but was happy that she could help Alice. No one deserved to feel that amount of misery. She left the shack and went to Riddle Manor her feet leading her inside and into a bedroom before she knew it. She walked about the bedroom, wondering why she was pulled there. She stopped walking when she notice that the wood beneath her feet sounded hollow. She took out her wand and pointed at the floor. It pulled back to reveal an aged gold box. She used a spell to check for curses before picking it up and opening it. Inside was a faded, old Muggle photograph of a man, strongly resembling Tom Riddle, with a woman in a bridal gown. The woman had dark hair, pale skin, and eyes that pointed to different directions. She looked at the back of the photograph where 1925 was printed. She put the photograph back in the box and put it in her bag.
Bathilda Bagshot had been bewitched...or was demented or both. Was Honey's first thought after knocking on the woman's door and asked to speak with her. Bathilda invited Honey in and offered her some tea. Three minutes into the conversation, Honey discovered to her disappointment, her favorite author was not quite right in the head. This was not the historian who had written all of those books. But for one thing, the woman knew a lot about the Dumbledore family. Some of her stories coincided with what her grandpa had told her. As for the rest of the tale, she would remain skeptical until proven otherwise. After she had gotten what she had come for, Honey bid the woman goodbye and left.
Honey walked down the street to the graveyard. She had a pouch of unpolished amber stones she wanted to give as a gift for the graves she was visiting. When she reached it and stopped, a man walked up and stood beside her, looking at the array of headstones.
"Emptiness." said the man.
Honey turned to look at him. He was tall, dressed in dark robes, with blond hair, and a tanned face.
"Pardon my rudeness. I'm Siri-um...I'm Siri Sinclair." he stuttered his name.
"I'm Rini." Honey told him. Before she returned to Godric's Hollow she had used a glamour charm to change her appearance. Her hair and eyebrows were black and her skin was honey tone. She made her eyes and nose larger.
They turned back to look at the graveyard after introducing themselves. There was a long pause. Siri left her side and placed two messy bouquet of flowers tied together by a string on the Potter's headstone.
"I'm a...an admirer. I don't know them personally." he explained and quickly added the last part.
"Likewise." she untied the pouch and took out two yellow amber stones and placed them next to the flowers. "Amber is the stone of the sun. It dissolves negative energy."
"Really?"
"Would you like one?"
"Sure, why not?"
Honey gave him a stone. It was a yellow translucent one with little clouds of black. Siri took the stone and looked it over. "It looks like a bird."
"Pardon?"
He turned the stone and pointed to a little puff of black on the surface of the stone.
"It's more of a leaf."
"Wait," said Siri. He flipped the stone over.
"Oh! I see it now." she smiled.
Siri grinned in return. "Thank you for this. It's um...brilliant."
"You're welcome."
He put the stone in his pocket. "I must be leaving. It was a pleasure meeting you."
"Me too."
They went their separate ways. Honey pondered where she should go next. Maybe she should consult with the cards? She found an empty alley and took the cards out.
Where should I go? She asked while she shuffled them and pulled one out.
The card showed the Hogwarts castle. The cards want her to go back. Back to Hogwarts it is.
On the blackboard, Honey drew examples of number charts form her Arithmancy book. She turned away from the board, distracted by her friend's chattering. They were borrowing one of the classrooms to study in.
"What are you talking about?" she asked them.
"The mysterious Shafiq heir." said Evie.
"Everyone is trying to figure out who he is." added Becky.
"They say he's in our school but one has seen him." said Meredith.
"How are you sure he's here? Maybe it's a false rumor?" asked Honey.
The girls looked at each other.
Meredith shrugged. "Maybe,"
Honey turned back to the board and continued drawing the chart with shaking hands. After they were done, Honey left the classroom and entered the corridor. Her stride came to a halt when she was intercepted by Pansy and Millicent. Pansy ran up to her with a large smile on her face.
"Did you hear the Shafiq heir is in Hogwarts?"
Honey was slightly irked that a secret of hers was discovered. Marvolo had once tried to manipulate her into believing that her family's fame was the only reason she had friends. Deep down she knew it was partially true.
"Umm..." Honey pressed her lips together. She had entered the school using Sheridan as her surname when it was actually her middle name. Her full name was Honey Sheridan Shafiq.
In the sixteen hundreds, a thief, Eldon Elsrickle, was robbing rich families. No one was able to catch him because when they do he would bribe them by teaching them his Unlocking Charm, Alohomora. It was when the spell was first introduced. Afterwards, all of England was plagued by thievery. Elsrickle kept all of his stolen goods in his home. It was guarded by a Nundu, an enormous mammal that resembled a leopard. It was considered one of the most dangerous creatures alive. Its breath was toxic and filled with disease that could kill entire villages. Hundreds of wizards and witches have to work together to subdue an adult. As luck would have it Elsrickle's Nundu had eaten him, escaped from the home and attacked the town, many lives were lost. Her great-grandpa Edmund Shafiq was a valiant wizard who courageously sacrificed his life slaying the beast. He saved his fellow Aurors and the town from it. His funeral was overflowed with people who sang his praise for centuries. He was a hero among the Wizarding World, particularly popular with rich pure-bloods families. They were the main targets of the robberies. In the end of the ordeal they had received all of their possessions back.
"How did you find out about...about him?" asked Honey.
"I heard it from Flora and Hestia Carrow. They were telling everyone in our House." Pansy took her arm.
Pansy took Honey's arm and dragged her off. Millicent followed. Pansy led her to a group of girls in Slytherin uniform that were sitting at the edge of a table in the Great Hall which was in chaos. Pansy placed her down on the bench and sat next to her. A girl with dark hair looked at Honey and then at the open book she was holding.
Honey inclined her neck and saw what they were looking at. It was a photograph of a portrait that was hanging on her wall at home. The portrait was of her famous great-grandparents, Edmund and Winifred Shafiq, holding each other. He was wearing white robes while she had on a green pastel dress. The couple was young and carefree, unaware of the tragic that was to come. Seeing the photo, she understood why the girl was eying her. She had been told by many of her family members that she was the reincarnation of her Great-Grandma Winifred. There were similarities between them but she believed she was nowhere near as beautiful or graceful as her.
"He is so handsome!" said a girl.
"And she's gorgeous!"
"You look like her." said the girl holding the book.
The other girls stared at her like she was a rare mythical creature and then back at the book.
"You flatter me." said Honey. "But I'm nowhere near as beautiful as her."
"Yeah, she isn't." one of the girls remarked and the others agreed.
"Will you excuse me? I have a meeting with one of my teachers." Honey stood up and left the Great Hall. While walking down the corridor she could students spreading rumors about her family in one form or another.
"I heard the Nundu was so huge it took thousands of wizards to remove it." said someone.
"I heard the Ministry has the corpse hidden in the building somewhere and perform experiments on it."
The voices were so loud, it gave Honey a headache. She hurried out of the castle and went to the Qudditch changing rooms. She walked into the pitch with her broom, wearing her Quidditch outfit. Zacharias was already dressed and waiting for her with a large wooden crate of Bludgers next to him.
The first Quidditch match of the season was fast approaching and the training was getting tougher. In her new lesson, she had to fly from one end of the pitch to the other, while try to dodge as many Bludgers as she could. If one hits her, it'll turn red and return to the crate. Zacharias gave her a bat and sent her off.
Honey mounted her broom and flew up in the air. From the ground Zacharias waved his arm, asking if she was ready. After she mimicked his signal she began to fly. She spotted one Bludger coming and maneuvered out of the way, only to be hit by two on her back and on her side. As he had told her, the balls turned red and disappeared. They didn't hurt one bit, but it irked her that she got so many hits this early. She continued to fly, swinging her bat, to her destination and the Bludgers continued to bounce off her as well. By the end she lost count of how many times she was hit by. When she returned to the ground, Zacharias, with a clipboard in hand, confirmed that it had been thirty-one out of a hundred. It was a great improvement from her last few lessons.
Zacharias wrote the number on the clipboard. "If you manage to only get hit by twenty or less, I'll introduce you to the rest of the team. You have the potential to make a great Beater. Pretty good balance on your broom but your arms aren't strong enough yet."
Honey had read about the traits necessary for each player to have. What he said was true. she really didn't have the strength to be a Beater which were mainly played by men.
"What about a Chaser?" she suggested. Chasers were swift and agile flyers, second only to a Seeker.
"You do have the physique for it. You are a good flyer but you miss the Quaffle more than you can catch it." said Zacharias, looking her up and down as he considered her. "And we already put a lot of effort for you to be a Beater...how about this: we'll see how you do with a team. If I think you're better as a Chaser then I'll change your training. Sound good?"
"Okay."
When they were finished, she helped him carry the crate back to its place. He could have done it himself with magic but thought it was a good exercise for her to do.
"Keep up with that exercise schedule I gave you and you'll be ready in no time." he said while they were walking.
Honey nodded. She could not wait for the Qudditch season to begin. She would experience the taste of her first match. She had owled her parents about her flying lessons but restrain from telling them that she was going to participate in a match. There was a small possibility that she would not be ready in time. She was going to wait until she was certain that she would be playing first before she invited them to watch.
After they put the crate away, they parted and went to separate changing rooms. After changing her clothes and shrunk her broom to fit into a small case in her pocket, she sat on a bench to steady herself. Flying made her felt a little better after a terrible day but when it was over she had to face reality.
Honey's musing was interrupted by a noise outside. She opened the door a little and peeked to see what it was. A group of Slytherin boys were walking into their changing room. She had stayed there too long and the Slytherins had come to the pitch to practice. Closing the door, she waited until the last of the boys entered their room and shut the door. She peeked outside once more and saw no one. Carefully, she opened and closed her door and silently walked pass the Slytherin's door to the exit.
"Did you hear the Shafiq's hair has come to Hogwarts?"
"I wonder if they really have the Nundu's head mounted on their wall."
"I'd give anything to see it."
Honey had enough of people talking about her and her family. She quickened her feet but came to an abrupt halt.
"No you're wrong! They have it as a lawn ornament."
How did he know that? Wondered Honey. The Nundu's carcass was petrified and put on her front lawn as a decoration. Its hide was removed and made into two coats, a hat, a pair of shoes, and a blanket for her great-grandma. It was a gift from the Ministry of Magic to her family for her husband's outstanding bravery and sacrifice.
"How do you know that?"
"My grandfather's an old friend of theirs. Talks about them all the time."
Oh's and awes were heard through the door. The other boys were impressed by the boy's familiarity with her family. Her surname was listed in the Sacred Twenty-Eight, a list of British families that were still truly pure, in the Pure-Blood Directory. Everyone knew of them through their pure-blood heritage, wealth, and fame. It would improve one's status to be associated with them.
"So who is the heir?"
"What house is he in?"
"He's a close and personal friend of mine." said a boy.
The noise quieted down when he said this. The only Slytherin boy Honey had encountered was one. The person boasting that he know her didn't sound at all like Blaise. He was lying. This was the very reason why her family had kept their name a secret.
"Can you introduce me?"
"Have you seen the Nundu?"
"Can you talk him into letting me see it?"
"He's kind of secretive. Doesn't like all the attention. I'll ask him for you. His answer depends if he's having a good day or not."
Honey giggled. For someone who didn't know her, he certainly knew her. Hearing enough, she left the hall and made her way back to the castle only to hear more rumors about her. Her only consolation was that everyone thought she was a boy. How that rumor was concocted was a mystery to her but a misunderstanding she didn't mind.
As weeks went by the rumors about the Shafiq heir had died down much to the relief of Honey. It was replaced by the arrival of Qudditch, Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Because of practice and other activities, Honey hadn't seen Fred and George as often as before. They were Beaters for the Gryffindors team. On the morning of the match, she spotted them and wished them luck. As for Luna, it was difficult to find proper time to talk to her. She was always busy doing something. The last time Honey spoke to her she said was making a hat shaped like a lion's head. She saw the finished product and thought it was well crafted and told her so. Luna thanked her and they part ways.
Honey was sitting in the stands with Meredith, Becky, Evie, and Zacharias. She had a clipboard, parchment, and quill that Zacharias had gave her to take notes on the match. He said it was important for her to observe the other teams and know their strengths and weakness. She had two columns for each team and a list for the players: Chasers, Beaters, and Seeker. When the match started she began to write as the match started. The balls were released and the players went flying. While she was watching them play Slytherin began loudly singing a song.
"What's happening?" she asked her friends, whose jaws were hanging open. She focused on the lyric and her mouth formed an 'O' as she realized what they were singing about.
'Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring,
That's why Slytherins all sing:
Weasley is our King.
'Weasley was born in a bin
He always lets the Quaffle in
Weasley will make sure we win
Weasley is our King.'
In the Slytherin column, Honey wrote: use dirty tactics to intimidate others. Under Gryffindor she wrote: Keeper isn't very skilled. After a few moments for those on the stands to recover and began to talk. The spectators where half and half about the song. Some thought it was genius while others were offended on the Gryffindor's behalf.
"Oh. My. Goodness..." was all Evie could say.
"Those Slytherins have gone too far." said Becky.
"Even I'm embarrassed for them." said Meredith.
"I'd die if they did that to me." said Zacharias.
As the singing grew louder, Evie, Meredith, and Becky became uncomfortable.
"Ignore it like Honey is." Zacharias said, pointing his thumb at her. He leaned over to see what she had written on the parchment. She was doing better than he thought she would. "Say, do you know where the Snitch is?"
"Hovering over there." she pointed.
He took out his binoculars and looked toward the direction of her finger. Increasing the magnification, he spotted a speck of gold flashing in the air that moved swiftly in an pattern the golden ball was known to do. When she claimed she was able see the Snitch in the rain he thought she was bluffing. As it turned out she wasn't.
"How did you see it?" he asked her.
"I have good eyes."
"You can fly but as a Beater you can hit some Bludgers but you can't dodge them." he said thoughtfully. "As a Chaser you can't catch. You can see the Snitch but probably can't catch it either."
According to his assessment, she possessed only half of the skills necessary for each of the positions.
"I invested a lot for you to be a Beater. We will stay with that but I do want to see how you'll do in a team situation."
"Who is the other Beater on your team? I should meet that person. I want to play like the Weasley twins, working in harmony."
"You're right. I'll introduce you to him in our next lesson."
After they made their agreement they turned their attention back to the game. The Seekers for were diving toward the same direction, they spotted the Snitch. The crowd watched in anticipation as they waited to see who was going to capture the Snitch. Within minutes the announcer shouted Gryffindor's victory. The crowd cheered.
"Go Harry!" screamed Becky, jumping from her seat.
Her happiness was short lived when a Bludger hit the Gryffindor Seeker's back. He flew forwards off his broom. Becky screamed, Meredith and Evie rush to comfort her. Honey added another note under the Slytherins: unsportsmanlike conduct. She handed her notes to Zacharias and joined the others in soothing Becky.
"It's not fair!" screamed Becky, pacing the floor of Honey and Evie's dorm room. The others were sitting on empty beds with their potion books opened.
News had broken that Harry Potter, Fred, and George Weasley had received a lifelong ban on playing Quidditch for fighting with the Slytherins.
"The Gryffindors were probably provoked." said Evie.
"I'd hex them too if they sang a song about me like that." said Meredith. "Those Slytherins are vile and Umbridge is a megalomaniac."
Honey closed her potions book and put it to the side since her friends were not in a studying mood.
"We need to do something about them!" exclaimed Becky.
"There is no way we'll let them get away with this!" said Meredith.
"Even if it's unjust, we shouldn't involve ourselves in their fight. It has nothing to do with us." reasoned Evie.
"Yeah, our alibi has to be an innocent." said Meredith. "And you're perfect Evie."
Evie was confused by what she was saying. "What?"
"When we do this, you can stay in your dorm all day and say we were with you. People will believe you. You've got the rule abiding, good girl image going." said Becky.
Evie opened her mouth as if to protest but closed it. "Do what you will. I'm leaving the room." she got off her bed and left.
"It's so she can safely say she doesn't know anything about our plans." said Meredith. "Honey, come closer."
Honey stood up from her bed, having just realized that she was included in the we of the two scorned Ravenclaw's revenge plan. She joined the two schemers, completing their circle. Fred and George were her friends and she wanted justice for them.
"I've got a cousin who lives near the coastline. Last year, he told me about a swarm of Mackled Malaclaw near his house. He thought they are cute and keep some as pets." said Meredith. "I'll owl him and asked if he send a few dozen to us."
Mackled Malaclaw was a land creature that resembled a lobster. It had light grey skin with green spots. Anyone who eats the flesh of a Malaclaw will come down with a nasty fever and develop a green rash. A bite from a Malaclaw would cause the victim to be unlucky for up to a week.
"After we receive them, we shrink and hide them in the Slytherin common room. Their whole house will have bad luck." Meredith laughed maniacally.
"But wouldn't it be suspicious if the whole House was unlucky?" inserted Honey, seeing holes in her plan. "Also, how are you going to put them in the Slytherin common room?"
"Have you forgotten my little sister is in there? She's a bit of a princess but not mad like some of them." said Becky.
"Darn! I was hoping to use her to put the Malaclaw in their common room." said Meredith.
"No way! I won't let her get hurt."
"Oh, all right. We'll change the plan. We still use the Malaclaw but we'll change the method of how to put them in their common room. And narrow down the list of those to give the Malaclaw to."
"The main one we have to get is Malfoy and his gang for getting Harry Potter ban from Qudditch. Umbridge for banning him and giving him all of those detentions." Becky paused to think about it, "You know, I think that's all of them."
"I suppose getting those four is easier than getting their whole House." Meredith said. "Now, how to give them to them?"
"Polyjuice Potion? We can turn into one of them and put it in their dorm room."
"That's brilliant Honey!" said Becky.
"But who's hair are we going to get?" said Meredith.
"I know two Slytherin girls." admitted Honey.
"Who?"
"Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode."
Meredith clapped her hands. "Perfect! Parkinson is always fawning over Malfoy. You can steal her hair, pretend to be her, sneak into his room and put the Malaclaws in there. If you get caught make up some lame excuse and get out of there quickly."
"I've never met this Malfoy and his friends. What do they look like?" she asked them.
"We'll show you who they are."
Her friends led her out of the Tower in search of the Slytherins. They went to the courtyard. Becky waved her hand at her younger sister, Cara, who was a miniature Becky with braids. Cara left her group of first years and went to them. They went a stone table and bench to sit. Becky took a saltwater taffy from her pocket. She unwrap it and put it in Cara's mouth. Cara accepted the offering and chewed.
"Do you know where Draco Malfoy and his goons are?" asked Becky.
Cara swallowed the candy and answered. "Last I saw they were in the common room."
Meredith bought out a toffee and gave it to Cara who gladly accepted it. "Do you know where he likes to hang out?"
"I can find out." She popped the candy in her mouth.
"Do it and we'll give you some more." said Becky.
Cara cupped her hands and stretched her arms out. "How bad do you want to know?"
Becky and Meredith dug in their pockets for more candy and filled Cara's small hands.
"Feels light." commented Cara.
"That's all we have. We'll get you more later."
Honey stuck her hand in her pocket. She brought out a small colorfully wrapped box tied with ribbons and put it on the table. The three girls curiously stared at the box.
"What's in it?" asked Cara.
"Open it and see for yourself."
Cara pulled the string from the box, eight blocks of large chocolate bars appeared in its place. The first year grabbed the bars and read of the types of flavors they were. Honey brought out two more boxes and lined them on the table. Cara pulled the ribbons. She looked close to faint when she saw what they were: a brand new silk red dress with matching shoes, and sweets she didn't know the name of but loved the taste. "Becky, Meredith try it! Try it!"
Becky and Meredith tied them and moaned at the taste.
"They're called Pocky sticks, comes in different flavors."
"How did you get all of these?" asked Meredith.
"I have a big family." Honey explained. "They send care packages every week from all over the world. Sometimes I receive sweets, clothes, shoes, fashion accessories…and more. If you help us, I'll share with you."
"Deal!" Cara gathered her presents. She paused and looked at the dress and shoes. "These are too big for me. Here Becky." she pushed the items toward her sister and ran to put the rest away.
"She's going to be our slave now." said Meredith.
Becky shifted in her seat. "You don't have to give her so much. She's spoiled as it is."
"Don't get all moral on us, Becky, you're the one who trained her to be like that." commented Meredith. "At least she shares with you."
Becky ran her hand over the soft fabric of the dress and shoes before giving them back to Honey. "I can't accept this."
"Please take it. It'll look great on you." Honey insisted.
"It looks expensive." Becky whispered.
"I'll take it." offered Meredith. She reached for the dress but Becky pulled it to her chest. "I thought you said you didn't want it?" she playfully teased her.
"Well...I..."
"It's a present I gave away. I won't accept it back." Honey told her firmly. "If you don't want to wear it put it in your closet for Cara. She'll be able to fit it in a few more years."
"Okay."
"Becky! Becky!" shouted Cara as she came running back to them. "I saw them. They got called to Snape's office."
The three witches stood up.
Honey gave her another box. "Good work."
Cara took the box and skipped off to see what it was.
"Let's go to the dungeons."
They went down to the dungeons and waited against a corner near professor Snape's office. The Slytherin boys should be out any moment. After ten minutes have passed the door swung open and three boys walked out. They were familiar but Honey could not recall where she had seen them before.
"Walk faster! Want him to come out and scold us again!" sneered the blond boy in the center. The two large dark haired boys fasten their pace.
Honey and her friends turned their faces when the boys walked passed them.
"The skinny blond is Draco Malfoy. The other two are Crabbe and Goyle." said Meredith.
Honey remembered them now. Draco was Pansy's boyfriend. The boy that had winked at her.