Chapter XVII
Cherry Syndrome
The weeks seemed to fly by after the first Hogsmede visit. Quidditch, classes and even the extra lessons with Dumbledore and the Elric brothers seemed to pass without so much as a hitch for Harry. He would even go as far as to say that things at Hogwarts had been quiet for the first time ever. He spent the time that he was not working by lazing around with his friends or going for walks in the grounds. Before they knew it, a month had passed. November was halfway over and the next trip to Hogsmede was approaching fast. The delight that came over the castle when the snow came was almost palpable. Students began to emerge from the castle despite the cold weather to admire and play in the blanket that had coated everything in white. Everywhere one looked, it become obvious that Christmas was drawing near.
Harry, Ron, Alphonse and Hermione were no exception to the sudden urge to be outside. On the Friday before the Hogsmede trip they found themselves wandering the corridor in an attempt to warm up after a particularly vicious snow ball fight they had been coerced into by their house mates. They had ended up soaked and on the verge of frostbite but at least they had experienced a staggering victory before they headed inside. The goose bumps and shivers remained even after they had charmed themselves dry but did nothing to rid them of the smiles they all showed.
"I just hope none of us catch a cold," Alphonse laughed, hugging himself.
"I don't think I would mind that. At least, it would give me an excuse to get out of tonight," Harry grimaced, mimicking Alphonse's attempts by edging a little closer to the boy. From his other side, Ron blinked at his friends words.
"Tonight? What's happening tonight?" He asked.
"The Slug Club, Ron," Hermione reminded him, "Alphonse, Harry and I, we've all been invited."
"Oh," The cheerful smile dropped from Ron's face in an instance but just as quickly he tried to mask it. "Too bad Slughorn can't recognize my inner genius." He offered and though Hermione's chuckle was a bit of a mean reply, it went unnoticed by the group because a much harsher scoff was heard from a passing pair. Ron and Harry growled as Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini swept past them with condescending glares and their heads held high. While Harry was glad to let it go with a frown and some dark thoughts, Ron was not.
"Oi Malfoy, I don't know what you're laughing at. It's not like you've been invited either." He snapped. Malfoy stopped in his tracks to turn around to glare at Ron. Zabini did not bother to halt until he realised that his companion was no longer with him a few steps later.
"There are no Slytherins in the Slug Club, Weasley. We're much better than that. And anyway I'd quite frankly rather watch paint peel off a wall than spend a night in the barbaric company of mudbloods and blood traitors." He sneered in reply. Within an instant, Ron had bridge the gap between them and seized Malfoy by the collar. Ron growled in an animalistic way, ordering the man to take it back but it had no effect. Malfoy just let himself be man handled.
"Let. Me. Go." A look so completely raked with pure hatred and disgust passed through his eyes, causing Ron to hesitate if only for a second. He had never seen Malfoy struck with so much emotion and it was only then that it hit him just how revolted the man was by him. It was enough to make him even more livid and draw his wand. Zabini, Harry, Hermione and Alphonse were at his side in a heartbeat. "I'm warning you Weasley." He muttered darkly.
"Leave it Malfoy, or we'll be using our wands." Harry warned, taking hold of Ron's hands and slowly easing them off the Slytherin.
"Oh I really wouldn't want to do that." Alphonse sighed in distress, his eyes trailing down to Malfoy's torso. The man was wearing a locket, a quite pretty one actually. It was blue, and at the centre was an incredibly stunning yet unusual stone. Though he was not one for jewels Alphonse did know enough to appreciate it. Noticing where Alphonse's attentions were, Malfoy scoffed once more and tucked the locket beneath his shirt. Alphonse's eyes were returned once more to his face but there was a new spark of interest in them.
"Of course you wouldn't Elric. You wouldn't have the first idea what to do with it."
"You fucking git!" Ron and Harry swore, brandishing their wands to jinx the snooty blonde. They never got to though, as Alphonse took the chance to step smoothly between them and smile disarmingly at Malfoy.
"Ok I know I may not have made a good first impression but actually I'm quite good with the wand you know?" He said.
"I'll believe it when I see it Elric." He replied.
"I'm getting the feeling that you don't believe me Malfoy." He countered.
"Well I have no reason to." He said dismissively while straightening his tie. "But who knows, you might not be as much of an idiot as you come across. Then again if that were the case you would have been sorted into Slytherin." With that, he turned on his heel to walk away, ushering Zabini along with him. Harry, Ron and Hermione were glaring daggers into the boys' backs and muttering obscenities under their breaths. However Alphonse, try as he might, could not wipe the grin off his face.
"I'm quite comfortable where I am thank you, but just you wait, next time I'm going to blow your mind." He shouted at their retreating forms and was delighted to see the snort that followed. To the disbelief of their spectators, Malfoy actually turned around and smirked at Alphonse.
"Prove it." He said. Alphonse's grin widened. Without another word, Malfoy rounded the corner and was gone. The Gryffindor trio was left stooped in a silence disturbed only by Alphonse's mirth.
"What the hell was that?" Harry asked once he had recovered.
"What was what?" Alphonse answered.
"You mate! You were nice to him." Ron pointed at him accusingly. Alphonse smiled and shrugged.
"Well I didn't…."
"Al have you not been listening to anything Harry said?" Hermione interrupted.
"Yeah, Al, what about him being a Death Eater." Harry hissed, whispering the last two words. Alphonse found himself retreating from the passionate arguments and stances his friends had suddenly taken.
"Well, if you think about it, at most he's a Death Eater in training isn't he? Not a full blown Death Eat.." He offered lamely.
"That's the same bloody thing!" Ron snapped. "And what about Hermione? He called her a…mudblood." Hermione's argument died in her throat as she turned to smile proudly at Ron for coming to her defense.
"Well, uh, sticks and stones am I right?" The laugh from Alphonse seemed to be forced, Harry noticed but it just caused them even more outrage.
"What is wrong with you all of a sudden? Don't you care about standing up against our enemies? It's us against them." Harry had to admit that Ron's words might have been a bit exaggerated. All that had been exchanged was a bit of good natured banter but then again, Hermione's appreciation of him had probably gone to his head. Alphonse's eyes lost their defensive edge.
"Well see that's the thing, Voldemort is our enemy, not Malfoy. He is just a child who has been raised in the wrong circumstances. I know he may have been horrid to you for years but perhaps you were too quick to judge him." Alphonse's words and resolve crumbled to reveal his true age. Nothing but pure honestly was left. "And quite honestly, blood status means little to me. Hell I don't even know what me and my brother are so what does it matter?"
"Quite right." The new voice addition to the group caused them all to turn around. Walking towards them were Edward and Luna. "You've let yourselves become obsessed with blood status too, wouldn't you agree?" She said. Harry, Ron and Hermione were struck by the words and all had to take a moment to process them.
"Hello Luna, Brother." Alphonse greeted cheerfully. Luna held the ever friendly smile on her face in a reply, but Edward seemed distracted. His eyes were darting hastily from side to side and he barely took the time to mutter a returned greeting.
"Professor Elric is everything alright?" Hermione asked picking up on Edward's agitated actions.
"Ah, no everything is fine," He replied absentmindedly "look while I would love to stand here and chat, Luna and I have something very important to talk about. So I'll see you at dinner alright?"
"Important? What are you…?" Harry began but Edward was already bustling down the hallway towards the courtyard. Luna went to follow him but after a couple of steps she turned to put the curious boys out of their misery.
"Oh there's nothing to talk about at all really. Professor Elric is just using me as a shield." She said and then happily returned to skipping after him.
"A shield? What does he need a shield from?" Ron muttered as they finally managed to get back in motion.
"I can tell you." Alphonse offered. Harry, Ron and Hermione raised an eyebrow each, prompting him to answer.
"What?" They asked simultaneously. Alphonse smiled and pointed subtly at two figures they were walking towards.
"Well, him." Three heads turned towards Katie Bell and Roy Mustang. The two paid them no heed as they currently seemed to be discussing the pros and cons of the weather for the Care of Magical Creatures course. Roy acknowledged them with a smile and a swift nod but did not stop. "My Brother has been avoiding him since the chocolate catastrophe." Alphonse whispered to his friends once Roy was out of ear shot.
"That long?" Harry asked incredulously.
"They haven't spoken in weeks" Alphonse nodded as they hopped onto an already moving staircase. "Brother is still embarrassed."
"Well can you blame him? It was pretty bad." Ron remarked. "It's no surprise that they passed that educational decree banning all charmed chocolates."
"I suppose that throws a wrench in your plans doesn't it Ron" Harry grinned, nudging his friend playfully as they stepped through the portrait hole of the Fat Lady. "How are you meant to pull now?"
"Who needs love potions? I do just fine without. I've even got a date to Hogsmede tomorrow." Ron informed Harry proudly, completely missing when Hermione stopped dead in her tracks.
"Really? Who's the unlucky lady?" Harry laughed.
"Lavender Brown. Oh and she's interested in me because of my wit and charm. Not because she thinks I'm the Chosen One." He added with a smirk that Harry mirrored.
"But Ron, I am the Chosen One." He said arrogantly. The two best friends laughed and made their way up towards the boy's dormitory, completely forgetting their company.
"Honestly, they can be such boys sometimes." Hermione huffed, crossing her arms indignantly to which Alphonse patted her sympathetically.
"Look on the bright side Hermione." Alphonse offered in support, leading her towards the cetee by the fire place. "At least you only have to hear it sometimes." He grinned.
"Alphonse, look I know you're all about your marks and responsibility but can't we just skip out on this one?" Harry pleaded that night as they both walked to the Slug Club as if to the gallows. It was just the two of them because Hermione had been otherwise engaged. None of them had known this until about an hour before the dinner was due to begin. No, not even Hermione had known but either way, it had ended up with just the two of them. So Harry had jokingly agreed that if Alphonse could not talk anyone else into it then Harry would help him save face and be his date.
"I'm sure no one will notice." He tried once more.
Alphonse allowed himself a brief moment of amusement at Harry's words, before his sense of duty kicked in.
"Harry you know we can't skip this one. Besides you need to do all the sucking up you can if you want to get hold of that memory of Slughorn's." Alphonse reminded him. Harry could only groan in frustration. It was true that he was getting nowhere as far as Slughorn was concerned. After his first attempt to sway the man (on which had failed miserably might he add) Harry had had little to no luck.
"I know, and that's why I have to go, not you…you just never switch off do you?" He smiled at Alphonse.
"That's an exaggeration. I switch off when I sleep." He replied.
"Well then, have you in your constantly brewing mind come up with a way to sway Slughorn?" Harry asked.
"Well the third times' the charm as they say," Alphonse said cheerfully opening the door for himself and Harry "although, next time you may need a bit of luck." Harry tutted at the boy but grinned anyway.
"You know Alphonse, I could've told you as much."
The next day things were beyond chilly within the group. The mood they had presumed would last only the morning stayed for hours despite them being in Hogsmede.
Harry had once again failed to coax Slughorn out of his secret memories. Hermione had had an awful time with her date and just wanted to pretend it had never happened. Ron had left for his date with Lavender and Alphonse was trailing behind wishing to be just about anywhere else. A cloud of misery settled above the group and refused to relieve its clutches even when Edward skittered up to them and snatched Alphonse away. The two brothers did not even halt to pretend that they were interested in sharing the persistent gloom of their company and made their excuses.
"We'll see you back at the castle in an hour yeah?" Alphonse said and then they both ran off, missing Harry and Hermione's grunted reply. The two Gryffindors walked together in silence for a bit, wallowing in their own thoughts and failures until Harry decided to speak.
"What do we do now?"
"Want to see if we can get hold of some Firewhiskey and get drunk in the common room?"
"Dear God yes."
After their speedy escape, Alphonse and Edward settled to a more comfortable pace. There was just enough time for a drink before heading back to the castle, so they made their way to the Hog's Head. Though not the best pub in Hogsmede it helped that it was much quieter. After all, the students of Hogwarts knew that one only met at the Hog's Head if you wanted to talk business. That is, if you wanted to talk business in secret.
"So, this may be on the vague side but is everything going alright Al?" Edward said as they sat themselves down.
"Well Brother, that depends. Which of the various challenges in my life are you referring to?" He asked with a smile on his lips.
"I meant Malfoy." Edward said curtly but all the will power in the world could not stop him from mirroring his brother's smile.
"Well in that case…I'm not sure. He told me how to break the spell last month but then after that he did not speak to me at all. Oh but he did smile at me today. I suppose that's an accomplishment." Alphonse offered.
"Well considering how rare an occurrence that is, I'd say it was." Edward replied dryly. "Is it too soon to be talking him out of his assignment?" He continued to ask. Alphonse sighed.
"I'd say it's too soon to even be considering it. I need to get to know him better. Honestly, I think he's actually a really good person Brother." Alphonse said then looked at his brother mirthfully. "I bet you're glad this responsibility is mine and not yours." He continued, knowing full well how terrible Edward was at dealing with delicate situations like Malfoy's.
"Trust me; it's no easy feat having to listen to you rabbit on about him like some loves struck girl either." He smirked. Alphonse gasped in mock outrage.
"I'm just doing my job here, besides at least I'm just acting love struck, you really are!" Alphonse accused, shoving a finger in Edwards's direction. His older brother scoffed and flicked the finger away.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He muttered darkly.
"Oh really? Because I can't help but notice that Professor Mustang has been ever so lonely recently. He's had to resort to the company of Katie Bell." Alphonse remarked. A smirk graced his lips when he saw the dark expression on his brother's face become downright homicidal at the mention of Roy and any female.
"Katie who?" Edward asked and Alphonse had to admit that he was impressed by how composed his brother sounded as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"You know, Katie Bell. She's a Gryffindor, my year." He provided putting Edward out of his torture.
"Oh her." Edward visibly relaxed at this. "The locket girl."
"Locket girl?" Alphonse prompted, grabbing his drink. Edward nodded and leaned forward.
"Yes she offered me a hand during the first week. I noticed that she was wearing a locket, quite a nice one actually, nice blue stone. Anyway when I forgot her name, I just decided to call her that." Edward explained, shrugging his shoulder and emptying the Butterbeer.
"Brother, I'm not an expert but maybe you should try memorizing your students' names. I know she takes your class." He said, fishing through his pockets and pulling out some sickles. Throwing the tip carelessly on the table, the two brothers rose to their feet and stepped outside.
"Besides that locket you described sounds an awful lot like one I saw just earlier on…" Though the Hog's Head was not the most luxurious pub, it helped that it was on the outskirts of Hogsmede. It also helped that any patron of the pub, upon leaving it would find themselves well on the way to Hogwarts. The pub was surreptitiously placed just off the path past the Whomping Willow. This was why when a scream broke the winter silence of the tree, both Edward and Alphonse heard it. Dropping their conversation, they ran. What they saw had two sets of eyes widen as Katie Bell (speak of the devil) rose suspended in the air. Her head lulled against her chest and the scream echoed as three students watched on in horror.
It was Harry and Hermione, Alphonse noted as he rushed towards them demanding to know what was happening. He did not need to worry about solving it because Edward had already drawn his wand and was tracing out the pattern.
"Finite Incantatem!" The spell was cast and the curse lost its effect but the saviour had not been Edward. The group watched as gravity took hold and Katie's body fell limply into Edward's arms. The blonde inspected her, searching for whatever it was that had cursed her.
"It's the locket." Four heads span around to see Roy Mustang walking towards them, a rarely seen serious look on his face. "Take it off." Edward nodded dumbly and removed the locket. He subtly held it at an angle so that Alphonse could see it from where he was stood behind them.
"What do you suppose it's cursed with?" Edward mumbled, looking intently at it.
"I don't know. We'll have to leave that to Severus. I think it'd be best for now to take her to the Hospital Wing." Roy replied but Edward was already in motion towards the castle. Roy smiled at him then turned towards the girl's friend who was stood to the side, looking more than a little terrified. "Could you please go and find Professor Snape and Flitwick? I think it's best they know." He ordered then turned to follow his colleague. The girl nodded quickly then scampered off back towards Hogsmede. The teachers were having a meeting at The Three Broomsticks.
The moment they were alone, Hermione and Harry burst into a tirade of theories and questions concerning the locket. They completely missed Alphonse's reaction as he silently fell into step with them. One glance at the locket had him sighing with disappointment. It was the exact one he had seen on Malfoy just the day before. It both annoyed and hurt him to think that even after all his efforts they still had a lot more work to do. It was either that or face consequences Alphonse knew he was not ready to.
"Stupid Malfoy." He muttered darkly under his breath, kicking the snow dejectedly.
Hermione did not hear him. But something in the twitch of Harry's head indicated that he did.
It was obvious that Hogwarts was having a slow year. The peacefulness of the past couple of weeks was enough but what went to confirm it was just how many of the teachers turned up at the Hospital Wing. All of them were keen to offer their help and advice as they crowded around the bed. Either they were all bored out of their minds, or Katie was incredibly popular among the teachers. For some reason, Edward was veering towards the first excuse. It must have been something to do with their eagerness, he mused. There was something very wrong with a system if teachers turned up to investigate a cursed locket just for kicks. Although he was one to talk, really. Edward just hoped Alphonse had got a good look at it before he had left because they most definitely would not be getting it back soon.
After explaining to his colleagues multiple times what he had seen of the incident, Edward quietly took his leave and slipped out of the heavy doors of the wing. Katie was in many safe hands and Edward was busy. He needed to find Al and confirm certain suspicions. Edward wrung his hands in distraction as he started down the corridor, only vaguely aware of the presence at his side.
"Merlin they can natter can't they?" Edward nodded in response.
"They need it. A bit of excitement will do them good." He remarked. Roy fell into step with him, grinning. He casually threw his arm around the other man's shoulder. The contact made Edward stop dead in his tracks and the grin on Roy's face widened as Edward began to mentally decimate himself for being caught out.
"So does that mean that your life is all spells and explosions?" He prodded with a smirk but it fell at the jerk Edward made to rid them of contact.
"Look, I'd love to talk but…I can't…I've got things to do…like um, setting my desk on fire." Edward rushed before resuming in the way they were headed only at three times the original speed. Usually Roy would have laughed at Edward's brilliant excuse but he could honestly not muster anything more than a frown.
"You can't avoid me forever Edward!" He shouted after him. "We're going to have to talk at some point." Edward turned to face him but only barely. He kept his form hunched and defensive. Just before he turned the corner he turned to meet Roy's gaze defiantly.
"We have nothing to talk about Roy." And then he was gone. It was quite childish of Roy but he could not help it. He crossed his arms and his frown deepened ever so slightly.
"We'll see about that." He muttered darkly under his breath. It was getting ridiculous. Of course, he had been embarrassed about the chocolate situation too but he had not taken it this far. Neither should have Edward. Roy clenched his fists in determination. No matter what, he was going to get Edward to speak to him again, even if it meant tying the man to a chair to do so.
Roy did not stop one single moment to ask himself why on earth he cared so much.
So if you need anyone to blame for the atrocious wait for this chapter blame my cat. Everytime I tried to write he would do the obnoxious thing of sitting his on the keyboard. So yeah….totally Alan's fault. Oh and this chapter is 4000 words too. I'm getting good at this.
Thank you so much for standing by me and reviewing. I'm ever so grateful.