Chapter Four: Death by Pocketbook
A whole week had passed since Zoey Emeraude moved into her house and the young witch had done nothing to change its wrecked state. For seven days Zoey had managed to walk around the broken glass, shredded pictures, ripped curtains and over turned furniture with no problem. Sure she found herself wincing whenever she found herself stepping on a shard of porcelain from one of the vases she smashed and it didn't exactly make her mood any brighter when she would accidentally ram her hip against the edge of a table or when she hit her elbow against the door but the young Emeraude couldn't do much about anything. Zoey couldn't exactly do any useful magic at her age and even if she did, she wouldn't feel any better when her house was fixed. The girl decided to live in the chaos. After all, no one came to visit her. Those who passed by her house wouldn't even guess that someone was living inside let alone know about the metaphoric tornado that blew in.
The young Emeraude found herself spending her afternoon sitting amongst the wilted roses in the middle of the floor with an aging photograph in her trembling hands. There wasn't much to do in her house and Zoey often found herself looking through the old photographs she had brought in her luggage, trying to remember the events that occurred in each picture though she was barely a year old in most of them. Majority of the photographs in the album she brought didn't even have her in them. It was from the days when her parents were still together. Young, happy and with their friends. The pictures held stories Zoey would never know of and the Emeraude found a small joy when she tried to figure out the stories herself.
The photograph Zoey held in her hands had eight people smiling up at her. The young Emeraude found her mother with ease, recognizing her mother's delicate features anywhere and standing next to her was Zoey's father. He stood tall and proud with his arm wrapped around her mother's shoulder, bringing her closer to his frame. Next to her mother was a beautiful redhead who had a baby in her arms. The baby was wrapped up in a blanket and seemed to giggle with glee when the spectacled man beside the woman swooped down to place a loving smooch on the redhead's cheek, causing the redhead to laugh out loud from the sudden action. Two people stood beside her father, a tired looking man, though still smiling, with battered clothes and wrapped around his arm was a cheerful looking lady who had the largest grin on her face and seemed to salute the photographer. The saluting woman had a toddler on her back, the child's short and chubby arms wrapped around the woman for dear life. Zoey recognized the toddler as herself with her trademark pink cheeks and unruly hair.
Biting her lip, Zoey felt her tears well up in her eyes. Everyone looked so happy in the picture. Like all the problems in the world did not matter to them. In fact, it looked like their world had no problems at all. The eight people in the picture seemed to have come from an entirely different world. A place where nothing went wrong and everyone was happy.
Looking at the picture, Zoey felt her lips trembled as she tried to suppress her sobs. Why did their perfect world have to end? Why did all of them leave her? Why did they take away her mother? Her father? Her family?
Why? Why? Why?
WHY?
Without realizing it, Zoey had curled her hand, the one that wasn't holding the picture, into a tight fist, her knuckles turning white and her nails digging into her skin, as she glared long and hard at the floor beneath her. Sad, angry, frustrated and confused tears streamed down her face as more questions swarmed in her mind. What had she done to deserve this fate? What had her parents done? Why were all these horrible things happening to her? Why was she taken away from her uncle? Her aunt? Why was she taken to a horrible house in a horrible village filled with horribly perfect people?
Her parents are gone. She was taken away from her family. She wasn't allowed to ask questions and she was given no direction. Forced into a foreign land at such a young age, Zoey didn't know what she was supposed to do. She was separated form her godparents so fast that they weren't given the chance to explain. Zoey was almost positive that they didn't even know where she was. If they did, they probably would have already saved her or at least written to her.
"M-Mummy….Da-Daddy…" Zoey mumbled, her voice tearful and cracking. "Mummy! Daddy!" Zoey said a little louder when the memories of her parents and how happy they used to be came rushing in. Bringing her fist up to her eyes to wipe away the tears that were now pouring out, the girl sucked in a deep breath and began bawling. "Please come back!" The young Emeraude bellowed. "Come back to me! Please come back! Save me! Mummy! Daddy! PLEASE!"
Zoey felt like she could go on forever. Screaming her little heart out in hopes that somehow her parents would hear and come back to save her. She prayed that this was just a horrible prank her father was pulling. Something he did to her mother often to get a rise out of her only to kiss her sweetly and apologize with a stupid grin on his face. She hoped that maybe everything bad happening to her was just a result of her magic going haywire. Maybe she casted an amateur spell without knowing and it had knocked her unconscious, bringing her to this nightmare.
The young Emeraude hoped, prayed, wished, screamed but nothing happened.
This was a reality.
This horrible life was her reality now.
The people in the photograph were just a memory now, a dream.
The doorbell ringing throughout the empty house was what made Zoey stifle her sobs. She bit hard on her lip, sure that if she wasn't feeling so numb at the moment, she would have realized that she was already drawing blood, and her hands where shaking when she moved to put the photograph in her dress's pocket, scared that whoever was at the door would take it from her. The bell rang again and Zoey tried to stand up, see if she could open the door herself but found out her legs were like gelatin. They refused to budge and when she did move it, a static sort of feeling ran up her leg and caused the young Emeraude to furrow her brows in frustration, tears forming in her eyes once more.
The ringing increased, sounding both frantic and impatient. Zoey felt her heart skip a beat when a foolish thought entered her mind. Maybe it was her parents! Maybe they heard her screams after all! They're here! They're here to save her! This was all just a horrible dream! Zoey was going back to her perfect world! The world where everyone was happy!
Zoey suddenly found the strength to stand up, ignoring the static sort of feeling shooting up her leg, and felt the need to run to her door, swing it open and fall into her mother's embrace when the ringing ceased. The Emeraude's eyes widened and she fell back to the ground when her door was blasted open by a spell casted by the person from the opposite side. Smoke filled the room and when it cleared up, Zoey realized that she was a fool to even think that she was saved.
Standing at the door wasn't her mother nor was it anyone from the photograph.
It was the devil herself.
"Zoey… Zoey… ZOEY!"
The Hufflepuff felt herself wake up from her trance and nearly fell off the Hospital Wing's bed when Echo yelled into her ear. Zoey looked around frantically, trying to remember where she was and how she got there, her mind still fuzzy. Seeing nothing but the white beds, a shelf filled with different varieties of potions, a cauldron, the Nurse's Office and Echo, Zoey felt herself calm down. Suddenly, the events of the Weasley Twins' prank hit the Emeraude's head like a raging Bludger and the girl felt her cheeks warm up when she remembered the laughter.
"Fiddlesticks," The Emeraude muttered under her breath, her eyes moistening. "It really did happen."
"Yes it did. Now I do hope you weren't in a catatonic state or I'll have Madame Pomfrey over here," Echo said as she brushed away her bangs only to have them fall back on her face.
"Ca – Catatonic?" Zoey breathed out, having already forgotten that Echo was with her.
Echo rolled her eyes. "Someone who can't speak because of trauma… or something like that."
"Right." Zoey nodded her head, taking note of what Echo said, and looked down at herself. She still had feathers and glue stuck to her skin and robes. "What am I suppose to do about this?" She asked, her voice wavering when she felt herself get frustrated. She didn't want to start her year in Hogwarts like this. Nobody does.
The Ravenclaw sat down beside Zoey and started plucking the feathers out of the Emeraude's hair before sternly saying, "I know I'm not your mother or anything, but do your part – It's your hair."
Zoey nodded her head, not really knowing how to reply to Echo, and removed her glasses, hanging them on her sweater. Closing her eyes, Zoey brought her hands to her hair and carefully felt for the feathers, removing them one by one. When she could no longer feel them, the Emeraude opened her eyes and looked at her friend. Echo was perfectly clear but everything that stood behind her was a blur.
"Where is Madame Pomfrey?" Zoey asked, her eyes wide, trying to see if she could make the shelves behind Echo clear. No such luck. "Isn't she – Well, uhm… Doesn't see usually attend to those who come here right away?"
Echo sighed, plucking out a stray feather on Zoey's tangled ponytail. "Someone who came before us was dim enough to drink a potion in class. Didn't turn out the way he wanted it to. Really, are the students here reckless or what?"
"I don't think you should be saying that." Zoey laughed, turning her attention to her sweater and began removing the feathers that stuck to the fabric. Without magic, it would never be the same again. "I mean… you are a Hogwarts student after all, Echo."
"The other students here."
"What about your friends? You know, the twins?"
"Reckless." Echo deadpanned.
The Emeraude snorted and giggled under her breath, having found Echo's automatic response very funny. She looked down at her legs and feet and was happy to see that that feathers didn't cover them – they were just soggy. Zoey frowned when she saw that her yellow legwarmers were now soaked. Those were her favorite pair too.
Sighing, the Hufflepuff looked back at her Ravenclaw friend and her eyes widened when she realized something very important. "Echo!"
"Yes?" Echo asked, having jumped a tad at Zoey's sudden outburst.
"Shouldn't you be in class?" The Hufflepuff's brows knitted in worry.
"Not really. I came in early and finished my activity during break."
"So it's your free period?"
Echo nodded her head.
The two sat in silence and Zoey was just about to start a new conversation, not liking the quietness of the room, when Echo shot out of the bed making Zoey jump. The Ravenclaw's mouth twitched upward in a small smile before gracefully sitting back down.
"Are you okay?" Zoey asked her friend, wondering why she was smiling all of a sudden. It wasn't at all sweet and innocent.
Echo waved her off. "There are two people I would like you to meet."
"Okay…"
"Tweedledee! Tweedledum!" Echo bellowed, her head facing the Hospital Wing's door. "Come over here and apologize… NOW!"
Zoey fell out of the bed, not expecting Echo's shout, and cautiously peaked over the mattress as the doors swung open. Entering the Hospital Wing were the redheaded twins, Fred and George Weasley. Zoey's eyes widened upon recognizing them and immediately reached out to tug Echo's robe, quietly calling her attention.
"How did you get them to come here? Wait. No. When?" The Hufflepuff asked, glancing at the twins who were now moodily standing a few feet away from her and Echo. The Emeraude was under the impression that Echo had not left her side since bringing her to the room.
"You spaced out for a long time. I took the opportunity to get them here. When? Hmm… about five minutes into when you were staring at the wall."
"How long was I staring at the wall exactly?"
"Twenty or so minutes."
Zoey's mouth hung open.
Fred cleared his throat when nothing was said after several minutes had passed. Zoey was still on the floor, mouth hung open and Echo was doing nothing about it. He and George were wasting precious prank planning time. Echo heard the clearing of his throat and looked up at him with her eyebrow raised. It was almost as if she had forgotten that they were in the same room. Staring at him for a few more seconds, she slowly nodded her head.
"Right. Now I remember," the Ravenclaw said softly. "Anyhow, this is Tweedledee and Tweedledum." She pointed a finger at each twin. "Strictly speaking, I meant Fred and George Weasley."
"I remember," Zoey said quietly, looking up at the twins from under her bangs. Quickly putting on her glasses, the Emeraude rose from her spot on the ground and tried to give the twins a polite smile despite what they had done to her. "Hello," she greeted them. They didn't seem to hear her.
"Uhm – Err, Hello." Zoey tried again. "I'm Zoey Emeraude," her voice was wavering, "The Hufflepuff you decided to – uhm, chickenfy."
"We know," George said, a grin on his lips. He dropped his moody façade and nudged his twin in the ribs. Fred rubbed the area that was nudged and frowned at his twin before laughing under his breath.
"Hi," Fred said, grinning at Zoey as well.
The Emeraude moved to say something when she looked into Fred's eyes. She gasped when she saw how blue and familiar looking they were. It was the same blue the person she bumped into had. Zoey felt her cheeks warm up again when she realized she was staring.
"You two should apologize you know," Echo said, moving to get the pocket book that rested on the bedside table or Zoey's bed.
"Apologize?" One of the twins asked, Zoey didn't know who. She was no longer focusing her attention on them. "Apologize for what?"
"You are so thick." Echo glared, holding the book with an iron grip. "For your recklessness of course!" She was now swinging the book threateningly at the twins. Zoey took a step back, not wanting to be hit. "I have had enough of your mishaps! Besides, Zwei is my friend!"
"And what does that make us?" George's words slipped out without his consent. His eyes widened but he did not dare take back his words.
Echo's eyes twitched and, if possible, her hold on the book tightened. She swiftly appeared behind the twins' backs (Zoey couldn't believe her eyes. She thought Echo had Apparated before reminding herself that it was impossible) before saying in a dangerously silent tone. "You should have apologized."
Zoey made a move to stop Echo. She wanted to say that the twins didn't have to apologize. It was her own fault for getting so worked up over a harmless prank when Echo launched her book and started whacking the heads of both Fred and George with inhuman strength. "NOW DIE OF INTERNAL HEMORRHAGE!"
Fred and George held up their hands to defend themselves but it was no use. If Echo couldn't hit their heads, she settled for bruising their arms and backs. Zoey tried multiple times to stop Echo but with every hit, Zoey felt herself wince. It was almost as if she could feel the hits Fred and George were taking.
"Bloody hell, Echo!" Fred exclaimed, trying to block the book.
"We're sorry!" George managed to yell out, also trying to keep the book away.
"Not to me," Echo said without mercy. "To Zwei!"
Fred and George looked over to Zoey and Zoey took another step back, scared that they'd run to her and Echo would end up hitting all three of them with her book without realizing it. The book was big, hardbound and without a doubt very painful. The twins tried to get their words out when Zoey saw someone approaching the Gryffindors and Ravenclaw.
"Miss Beaumont!" The figure said, voice hard and with authority. "What do you think you're doing?"
HELLO.
AnimeFlowerGirl here :) Welcome to Chapter 4 of Crossroads, my first Harry Potter Fic!
If you are one of my old readers, the people who have read this fic when it began back in 2011, WELCOME BACK! Nice to see that you stopped by to see how things are going. Want to sit down, have some Butterbeer?
If you are a new reader, WELCOME!
Please, new reader, come join me and old reader :)
So yeah, new reader, this is actually a rewrite. My old reader/s was/were notified about my rewriting project in Chapter 86. So please bear with me. You can continue on if you want. I hope you enjoy :D
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter.
Please tell me what you thought.
Excuse my typos and the like.
Don't forget to review and the like.
And
I only own what I own :)
PS
I will try my best to reply to everyone who reviews/messages me. I regret I wasn't able to do this in the past, so I'm going to try it now :)
PPS (As of October 28, 2012)
I have reached 700 reviews, 225 Favs and 223 Follows...
I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY VERY MUCH!
I CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH!
