Chapter 80: Their Promise
"Hey," came a voice that belonged to a man. It sounded both happy and worried, an odd combination.
Zoey blinked her eyes several times before they readjusted to the light. She was in the Hufflepuff Common Room… only… it wasn't really the Common Room. The Emeraude slowly got up, for she was lying down on her back, and looked around. She saw Cedric lounging on one of the chairs. Her eyes widened.
"Ced…ric?" she said slowly, not believing her eyes. "Wh…What are you going here?" she asked in confusion. She hadn't seen him in ages. He had stopped appearing after she began taking her pills. The Emeraude closed her eyes. The last thing she remembered was being hit by the Cruciatus Curse, after that, everything was a blank. Was she dead?
"No you aren't dead," Cedric chuckled, reading her mind as he stood up from his seat and walked over to her, "Just unconscious"
"Uncon – oh," Zoey bit her lip. It was because of the Cruciatus Curse, of course, "Then… how come you're here?"
"That hurts, Zoey. I see you haven't missed me at all," Cedric joked, placing a hand over his heart.
"You know what I mean. I haven't seen you in my dreams in the longest time," Zoey swatted him.
"And that's a good thing," Cedric told her.
"How?"
"It means you're getting better," he replied, "You have been unconscious for the longest time now. You haven't been able to take your pills. Hence, why I'm here"
Zoey blinked at her friend, thinking quietly to herself. It made sense, sort of but it made her feel bad. She wanted to see Cedric more but she did not want to be sick in the head to do so. Cedric seemed to have read her mind once more for her patted her shoulder comfortingly.
"You know I'm always here for you, right?" Cedric asked, smiling at her.
"You're dead," it stung Zoey to say so, "How can you be there for me?"
Cedric chuckled softly. "You know how I'm here for you, Zoey. It's every cheesy movie line put into one. I'm here, in your heart."
"Does it really go like that?" Zoey paused, "What's a movie?"
"Muggle thing. I'm dead, I know everything," Cedric said vaguely before stretching. He looked up at the ceiling for a moment, thinking to himself before looking back at Zoey. "You know, you still haven't told Harry anything yet."
"I know," Zoey said guiltily, "I haven't found the appropriate time."
"Appropriate time? Zoey, these are hard times. Just walk up to him and spit it out!" Cedric told her.
"Yeah, that would be a pleasant conversation," Zoey then said sarcastically.
"Zoey, I know you need me here to tell you what to do. Don't deny it. I've noticed that I've been telling you what you need to do and I'm also here as your consultant, yes?" Cedric spoke.
"Cause you know what I have to do," Zoey agreed.
"I can't be here to tell you what you have to do all the time, Zoey, you need to learn how to make decisions on your own," Cedric sighed, "Bridgit's been taking my place as your 'therapist' hasn't she?"
"I ended up dragging her into my mess of a life," the Emeraude laughed.
"Then why not drag Harry into it as well?" Cedric asked, "He has the right to know"
"Ced –" Zoey began but was interrupted by her fellow Hufflepuff.
"No, Zoey, this is the last time I'm ever going to tell you what to do, okay? So listen up. Tell Harry. Please, just tell him," Cedric looked her in the eye, "Promise me you'll tell him."
Zoey bit her lip and looked away from her friend. She didn't know what to say. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"I promise I'll tell him," she began, "When I think the time is right."
"Zoey –"
"You said that was the last thing you'll ever tell me to do, Cedric and I'm taking over. I'll do it only when I feel it's right, okay?" Zoey offered a smile, "You're right, I have to make my own decision now…"
Cedric smiled. "Glad to see that," she messed up her hair before slowly disappearing
"You and George did what?" Zoey exclaimed, her eyes wide and her brows almost shooting out of her face.
A few days passed since Zoey had encountered Damiana and it was only recently that the Emeraude had awakened. She had woken up to find herself in the Hospital Wing surrounded by her friends and members of the DA, all very worried about her. Fred was on her side, his hand in hers, while George, Echo, Bridgit, Harry and Jane were circling around her bed while the rest were spread out behind them. When Zoey had opened her eyes, Fred's grip around her hand tightened while everyone let out relieved sighs and smiles. A few girls even broke into tears. They were all worried for Zoey, the girl felt loved.
Anyway, minutes turned into hours and soon everyone had already wished Zoey well and dispersed from the Hospital Wing, going back to their business. Soon, it was just Fred and her left. That was when she asked what he had been up to. Sure, her friends had filled her in on the events that had taken place while she was asleep but she was still very curious as to what has been happening in Fred's life. That's when Fred decided to tell her about the Inquisitorial Squad, made up of Draco and his cronies along with some other chosen Slytherin students, and what they have been doing lately. Which houses they decided to remove points from and for what stupid reason. Also, Fred decided to tell Zoey a little something he and his twin had done to Montague not too long ago. It was after the Inquisitorial Squad was formed and a little before their first detention.
"Don't act so surprised, Zoe," Fred snickered, "You know he deserved it"
"You could have killed him!" Zoey's eyes widened further, if possible.
"You know George and I wouldn't go that far," Fred rolled his eyes, leaning back in his chair.
"I know but you two wouldn't go as far as to actually hurt someone. Slytherin or not. You didn't know what the Cabinet would do –"
"It's a Vanishing Cabinet, Zoe, I'm not that dim," Fred interrupted.
"Yes, but still. That sounds a bit extreme, to push him into one of those. Why'd you do it?" Zoey asked with concern lasing her voice. Fred and George weren't the type to go as far as to put someone into a Vanishing Cabinet, even if that someone was Montague. They knew they could get into serious trouble for what they've done.
"George and I don't care about the rules anymore," Fred said simply.
"Have you ever?"
"'Course we have. We've never been expelled, right?" Fred shrugged, "We knew where to draw the line."
"What happened to that said line then? I'm pretty sure throwing Montague into a Vanishing Cabinet is way past that line," Zoey furrowed her brows.
"We don't care anymore," Fred then said, "With Dumbledore gone, George and I think a little mayhem is just what our new Head needs"
Zoey bit her lip when she saw the twinkle in Fred's eye. The 'oh so familiar' twinkle. Fred was enjoying this. Nothing was there to hold him and his brother back anymore. They were going to go all out in pranking and causing chaos in the school. Zoey was prepared for the worst.
"I still can't believe she's our new Head though," Zoey sighed, "Scares the bananas out of me"
Fred snorted at her use of euphemism before his face turned serious. He placed a hand on Zoey's cheek causing her to blush.
"I'm fine, Fred," Zoey whispered, reading his mind. He was still freaked out about what had happened to Zoey during their fifth DA detention. Everyone was scared, Zoey especially, but Fred was worried beyond belief. He wanted to curse Umbridge and Damiana right then and there, heck everyone wanted to but there was something stopping them, the invisible wall. By the time the wall disappeared, Damiana was gone and Umbridge had retreated into a different room. "I'm used to it. I can handle it," she added, smiling at him gently.
"That's the thing," Fred breathed out, "You're used to it. No one should be used to the Cruciatus Curse. It makes me cringe every time I wonder how many times its been used on you"
"And it makes me cringe every time I think about what you've done to the other students in order to cause mayhem in the school," Zoey joked lightly, making Fred crack a smile, "I'm fine, really, Madam Pomfrey even said I can leave tomorrow"
"Excellent. Then you won't miss George and I's special plan for Umbridge," Fred grinned from ear to ear.
"Wait," Zoey moved away from Fred, his hand dropping on the bed, "What special plan?"
"It's a surprise," Fred said, the twinkle never leaving his eyes.
"Fred…" Zoey whined a bit, giving him the best puppy dog look she could muster.
"Nope, that's not going to work on me," Fred laughed, looking away from her.
Zoey rolled her eyes and leaned back into her pillows. Her head hurt a bit but it was nothing serious. She looked at Fred. "At least tell me where you sent Montague."
"Let's just say, wherever he is now, it could take him weeks before he could return," Fred smirked, getting up from his chair, swiftly kissing Zoey on the forehead and left the room.
"Fred!" Zoey exclaimed but it was no use. All she could hear was Fred's laughter.
"Zoey! Check out what I found!" Ginny called as she ran over to the older girl. Zoey had just been released from the Hospital Wing earlier that morning and was making her way to the Great Wall when the Weasley girl called out to her. The Emeraude slowed down her pace and looked back to Ginny, waiting for her to catch up.
"Good Morning, Ginny," Zoey greeted her politely, tilting her head to the side curiously, "What have you found?"
"This!" Ginny said with a grin, holding up a photo album. It was of Gryffindor colors and was rather thick. Zoey raised a brow at it and took it from Ginny's hands, opening it. Her eyes widened.
It was a picture of the Weasley family that took up the first page. Zoey had guessed it was taken before Ginny's first year at Hogwarts. It had Mrs. Weasley with Fred and George behind each of her shoulders, Ron standing in front of her with Ginny next to him, Mr. Weasley behind Ginny and Percy standing between both of his parents. Then, there were two cut out pictures of Bill and Charlie, which were placed on either side of the photo. Zoey smiled.
"This is a very cute family photo," Zoey commented, toying with the page, ready to flip it, "Is this your photo album?"
"No. It's Neville's," Ginny said sarcastically before laughing, "There are more pictures."
"Really? I wouldn't have guessed," Zoey rolled her eyes before flipping the page.
The next picture was of Ginny standing next to the Hogwarts Express, a wide grin on her face. Behind her, you could see Percy already in the train, Fred and George entering the train and Zoey and Echo doing some last minute checking on their stuff. Zoey gave a small laugh.
"Has it really been this long?" she asked, "I was in fourth year when you came to Hogwarts. I'm in my final year now"
"Time sure flies, huh?" Ginny smiled, taking hold of Zoey's arm and began dragging her towards the Great Hall. "Come on, we can continue looking at photos in there. I'm sure the others would love to see them"
Zoey nodded her head, placed a finger on the page she was on and followed Ginny into the Great Hall. They quickly made their way to the Gryffindor Table were they saw the Golden Trio sitting together with Fred and George. Echo and Bridgit were nowhere in sight. When the two girls sat down, Zoey asked the locations of the Ravenclaws.
"Echo was called by Umbridge," George grumbled, "Said she needed to discuss something important with her."
"Important? What could it be?" Zoey asked, placing the photo album in front of her.
"Who knows," Fred shrugged, "But knowing Umbridge. It can't be good"
"Obviously," Ron muttered.
"What about Bridgit?" Zoey then asked, "Where's she?"
"I haven't seen her in the longest time, come to think of it," Ginny looked up in thought.
"Could she have gotten in trouble?" Hermione asked.
"What difference would it make?" Harry then said, "She was part of the DA. We're all in trouble until each and everyone of us graduates from this school"
"You really think Umbridge is going to be Head Mistress for that long?" Ginny raised a brow.
"With Dumbledore gone," Zoey shivered, "She could be."
"Glad this is our final year," George said, "The sooner we leave this place, the better"
"I agree," said Fred, "Heck, I'd leave tomorrow if I had the chance."
"You can't do that. You still have to take your final Exams!" Hermione told them.
"I thought we already told you, Granger," Fred began.
"We don't care about those things," George ended.
Hermione was about to say something else today when Zoey cleared her throat, holding up the photo album. Everyone eyed it curiously and hunched over a bit when Zoey opened it to the third page.
The picture had Ginny, Zoey, Fred, George, Ron, Harry, Hermione and Echo all standing in front of the Great Hall, laughing. Fred and George were wearing silly hats while Harry and Ron had foolish drawings on their faces, courtesy of the twins. Hermione and Ginny had balloons tied to their wrists while Echo and Zoey were wearing matching sweaters, with some sort of design that was hard to determine. In Zoey's hand was a cake with messed up frosting. The frosting was on the nose of Fred and the cheeks of George.
"Now isn't that a happy memory," Fred grinned, watching his picture self nudge Zoey causing the cake in her hands to fly to Ron, spilling on his clothes.
"Bloody amazing," George added.
"You're only saying that cause cake fell on me," Ron laughed as his cheeks took a deep red color.
"You got to admit, the cake was pretty delicious," Harry said with a smile. The picture made him feel better seeing as ever since the DA was found out, his life in Hogwarts has been going crappy-ly.
"Yeah, but I would rather have eaten it than stain my shirt," Ron then said.
"You deserved it to be on your shirt," Ginny rolled her eyes.
"She's right, Ronald," Hermione laughed, "You ate more than half the cake!"
"Which would have been fine on any other occasion," Fred then said, "But not on Zoey's birthday."
"Yeah, where are your manners, Ronnie?" George piped up, "The birthday celebrant should have gotten the first slice not the gluttonous monkey!"
"Like you're one to talk!" Zoey laughed, "You guys began playing with the frosting of my cake!"
"Us? Never!" The twins played a serious look. Ginny rolled her eyes and took the photo album away from Zoey and shoved it into her brother's faces.
"I'm pretty sure that that's proof," She told them.
"Next picture," Hermione then said.
Ginny nodded her head and placed the photo album back on the table, flipping it over to the next page. It was a lone picture of Zoey, gazing of into a distance, occasionally brushing her bangs of off her face. Decorating the page were glitters and charms that swirled when touched. Zoey raised a brow at the picture. She was about fourteen when it was taken.
"Why am I here?" she looked over to Ginny.
"I just found the picture pretty unique," Ginny laughed, "Watch what happens next"
Everyone looked back to the picture to see Fred pass behind Zoey and the Zoey in the picture blushing as he did so. The Zoey in real life bit her lip in embarrassment.
"Pretty unique, huh?" Zoey raised a brow at Ginny, catching a smug look on Fred's face from the corner of her eye.
"What? It shows your early crush years!" Ginny defended with another laugh. Zoey rolled her eyes before flipping the page.
Page after page and picture after picture, Zoey and her friends would laugh and reminisce. Their earlier years were filled with joy and carefree attitudes. Zoey missed those days when there seemed to be no problem with the world. She inwardly sighed as she compared the latest events that have been happening to those that happened before. If she had the chance, she would want to return to the better years.
"Ginny!" Ron exclaimed as the rest laughed at his red cheeks and ears, "Where did you get this picture?"
Zoey bit back a laugh as she recognized the picture. It was the one she took of Ron when the twins pulled a prank on him back in 12 Grimmauld Place. She broke out into a grin and apologized to Ron for taking the picture.
"Can't believe you'd do something like that. Seems so unlike you," Ron grumbled.
"Oh, let it go, Ron," Harry laughed, "It's a first for Zoey. Give her some credit."
Ron sighed and flipped to the next page. Zoey laughed.
The Ravenclaw was walking aimlessly along the hallways of Hogwarts during her Breakfast Period. She had just left Umbridge's office only to realize that her next class was with the same woman. She hated it. She had just gotten rid of the Toad – like face only to have to see it again in a matter of minutes. Echo, trying to distract herself from the annoying realization, was looking at the back of her hand as if it were a book. Red cursive lines were etched through the use of the blood quill.
It wasn't right.
She hadn't applied essence of Murtlap to it like the other students; for she will not give Dolores the satisfaction of Echo not going through the pain. Her status as Head Girl is no more; part of her feels so good, yet some feel quite bad. Echo had always expected to remain Head Girl throughout the year, but it seems that can't be fulfilled.
Echo didn't know how far she went, or why she hasn't hit a dead end yet; one thing's for sure, Blaise Zabini had stilled her walk. To her utter annoyance, Echo held her tongue, fearing to be taken away to that monstrous pink room.
Blaise sneered at Echo and warned, "Watch where you're going, Head Girl!"
Suppressing the urge to reach out her arm and slap him, Echo balled her fists and snarled, "I'm not even a Head Girl because of your stupid Inquisitorial Squad!"
"Well, you still act like one—"
"Act like one? Are you even using your peanut-sized brain? I just told you that I'm not a Head Girl!" Echo was utterly disappointed that she doesn't have a book with her to whack his face and rearrange it.
"I order you to tutor me in Potions, then," said Zabini, "so you could still be of use."
Echo was sure she turned red out of anger. She could not believe that the DA had been exposed, got stripped off being a Head Girl, and that this boy who asked her to the Yule Ball last year was actually ordering her to help him in Potions.
"WHAT? YOU BLOODY BUMP INTO ME AND ORDER ME TO HELP YOU IN POTIONS? ARE YOU OFF YOUR BLEEDING ROCKER?"
Heads turned their way, but Blaise just said, "Just help me in Potio—"
"I thought Snape was easy on you guys!" Echo spoke in a harsh whisper. Why couldn't Blaise find another person who's good in Potions? Echo was still boiling with anger, but before Blaise could retort something, Echo finally let her anger go and spoke in a much calmer tone, "Fine. I'll help you, just to get you out of my hair."
A few days had passed since Echo's agreement and already rumors spread throughout the school; from Echo helping Blaise in Potions to Echo is dating Blaise. Echo heard and merely rolled her eyes at them. George wouldn't particularly care about the rumors and completely disregarded them. Though, one day, George had no idea where Echo was, and looked everywhere, and even cut some classes to do so. She wasn't in the Great Hall during dinner, and finally went to the library for the last time to check if she was there, skipping dinner for books.
Echo was there; with books she got out from shelves, but right beside her was Blaise Zabini. They were sitting together alone, and George made it a point to stay put in the shadows. It was like they were sitting on a candle-lit dinner, which has that candle in the middle, but there wasn't any food, for opened books replaced that. Echo was laughing from time to time, and George's ears went red. Are the rumors Alicia and other people passed around true? Was Echo cheating on George? Fuming, George stalked out of the library.
"Then you add these Graphorn parts after you stir it counter-clockwise three times." Echo pointed to Blaise the diagram, after getting a nod from him, Echo stretched out her arms, "There you go, now are you out of my hair?" She smirked while slinging her bag over her shoulder before casually walking outside the library.
"Nice to see you enjoying yourself with a guy that's not me." A voice rang out making Echo turn in shock.
Echo saw George standing near the entrance to the library with his arms crossed. Side glancing at Blaise still looking at the notes Echo gave him, Echo pulled George until they were around the corner, "What are you talking about?"
"Oh I don't know, maybe I'm talking about the fact that my girlfriend is with another guy!" George retorted, his voice rising with his temper.
"What-? Oh, you thought Blaise and I were on a date? How could you be so-so thick?" Echo retorted, anger easily boiling up inside her.
"Thick?" George exclaimed. "You're calling me thick? Well I'm sorry if I'm angry about you, my girlfriend, hanging out with another guy behind my back!"
"Since when did you start believing those rumors? George, you know I would never cheat on you!" Echo exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air.
"I don't know what I know anymore!" George answered back. "I didn't want to believe in the rumors Echo, but you hanging out with him without me knowing, and you not even telling me, makes me ask myself if I really DO know you as much as I think I do."
"Why can't you trust me, George? Tell me why you can't trust me!" Echo knew she had tears in her eyes, and tried to not let them flow down her cheeks.
"BECAUSE YOU DON'T TRUST ME EITHER!" George shouted back.
"Fine! If there's going to be doubts in this relationship, we're better off not seeing each other!" Echo furiously wiped the tears from her eyes using her sleeve.
"Are...Are you breaking up with me?" George asked, his own tears building up in his eyes.
I-I don't know! You very much bleeding know that you we're special to me. Did you even know that my family thinks I'm dead? I don't know anymore because I don't know how to handle hurt!" Echo was jabbing her forefinger on George's chest.
"Your family what?" George suddenly said, his eyes widening.
"I have my own headstone, and I'm not even twenty yet!" Echo balled up her fists as she was handling too much pain and hurt right at this moment.
"Headstone? Twenty? Echo what are you talking about?" George said, trying to take hold of Echo's shoulder, but she slapped his hand away before it could make contact with her.
"Shut up! You just don't understand! YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND!" Echo shouted before turning and walking down the dark hallway, wiping her eyes with her sleeves.
"Echo wait-" George tried to shout, but Echo was too far away.
Echo was walking down the halls, up the staircases, made occasional jumps until she arrived at the Common room. When the door began to ask the obvious riddle, Echo barked the answer before shoving her way in.
"Woah! Is there an attack or something?" Bridgit asked, as Echo stormed into the common room. She looked up from her homework and was shocked to find her friend with tears flowing down her cheeks. "What happened?"
"Nothing. I'm absolutely fine." Echo hissed while stomping her way up the Girls' Dormitory.
Bridgit watched her friend's back going up the stairs and she immediately closed her book and rolled up her parchment following Echo up to their dormitory. She opened the door, and saw Echo lying on her bed crying.
"You can't tell me this is nothing." Bridgit began, putting her things down on her own bed. "Something must have happened; I don't even think I've seen you cry like this before." She continued.
"I broke up with George, alright?" Echo spoke in the calmest voice she could muster, but it cracked at the part where she said his name.
"What?" Bridgit exclaimed. "What did the bloody prick do this time?"
Echo sat up and told the story to Bridgit whilst fiddling with her fingers.
Bridgit listened as Echo spoke, and she felt anger begin to build up inside her. When Echo finished, she was about ready to explode.
"That stupid git!" Bridgit said. "I can't believe he actually thought that you would cheat on him! Is he stupid?"
"Well, he did see me with Blaise studying. He thought he it was a date. I was just helping Blaise!" Echo said.
"But shouldn't he have asked what you were doing before downright accusing you?" Bridgit asked. "I should knock some sense into that no good excuse of a boyfriend."
"There were rumors too." Echo pointed out.
"Rumors? About you and Blaise?" Bridgit asked.
"Yeah, it went from me helping him to me dating him." Echo said.
"Stupid people with their idiotic gossip." Bridgit said, shaking her head as she did. "And George believed said rumors?"
"Well, I think he saw me and Blaise studying which probably made him to believe said rumors."
"He should have still asked for your side of the story." Bridgit now said, feeling her anger at the younger Weasley twin build up even more.
"I need time to think. I honestly don't know how I'll be able to move on." Echo finally said after a couple of moments before going to the bathroom to have a quick shower.
Zoey played with her bowl of cereal, something she enjoyed eating for dinner on occasions, as she sat on the Gryffindor table with the twins and Lee. It has been weeks since she's seen Echo and days since Bridgit has joined her in eating with the Gryffindors. The Emeraude looked over to the Ravenclaw table to see her friends sitting at the far end. She squinted her eyes a bit to see what they were doing only to find out they were simply eating. Why not eat with them? Zoey wondered before looking over to the twins. She raised a brow at George. Lately, he hasn't been joking around with Fred. In truth, George seemed to always be in a bad mood. Zoey decided to ask why.
"George?" Zoey cleared her throat a bit; "I haven't seen you with Echo lately. Did something happen?"
"Nope, nothing happened," George answered, stabbing his fork into the steak he was eating. Zoey caught a glimpse of Ron looking sadly at the piece of meet.
"Are you sure?" Zoey pressed. Usually, George would have scarfed down the piece of meat by now. Something was up. She looked over to Fred, silently asking him if what George had said was true.
Fred simply sent a sad glance at his twin and shook his head. "It isn't nothing, but it's not my place to say anything about it." Fred said, turning to Lee and continuing their conversation.
"Then what is it? George, you can tell me anything you know? We're friends," Zoey placed a hand on George's shoulder but he shrugged her off.
Zoey was not pleased by his lack of answer and was about to push the matter even more, trying to force George into telling her the truth, when she saw George stab the already damaged piece of meat once again, this time the fork going through the plate and sticking to the wooden table.
"George!" Zoey exclaimed in surprise, "Clearly something is bothering you."
George did not answer, causing Zoey to get frustrated, but she noticed something. He was glaring at something, and Zoey turned her head to see at what that was. That was when she saw it. She saw Blaise Zabini, one of Draco Malfoy's henchmen, wrap an arm around Echo's shoulder and kiss her cheek. Her eyes widened.
She watched as Echo turned towards the Slytherin and give him a light smile. She also saw Bridgit cringe at the scene, but she wasn't sure if it was because Echo was with a Slytherin, or because of the kiss he had landed on her cheek.
Zoey did not need to ask what the problem was anymore. She wasn't that dense. She slowly turned to George and placed her hand on his shoulder once more. This time, he did not shrug her off.
"George," she said softly, "What happened with you and Echo?"
"Like I said no-" George was about to say, when Zoey cut him off.
"Don't you dare to tell me that nothing happened, George Weasley!" Zoey said firmly, not wanting to draw attention. "If nothing was wrong she wouldn't be with another guy, a Slytherin no less, and you wouldn't be making that piece of meat more dead than it already was"
George sent a look towards Zoey, and he noticed that Fred was glancing at them every now and then even if he kept up his conversation with Lee. "Didn't you hear about the rumors?" George asked the Hufflepuff.
"You know I don't listen to those kinds of things, George. If you didn't know, rumors almost ended my 'relationship' as well," Zoey told him.
"Yes, well, this rumor wasn't actually a rumor since it was true." George retorted, and Zoey was sure that if looks could kill Blaise Zabini would be on the floor, dead, and continuing to suffer.
"What? You mean a rumor that Echo's into Slytherins?" Zoey asked.
"No," George answered, "The rumor that Echo was dating Blaise behind my back"
Zoey blinked once… twice… ten times before what George had said finally sunk in. The Emeraude quickly turned towards the direction Echo and slammed her hand on the table, standing up abruptly at the same time. The slam echoed through the entire Great Hall and everyone turned to Zoey.
"ECHO ACHEFLOUR HYACINTH HAYLEY BEAUMONT!" Zoey yelled out with no fail. The look in her eyes screamed utter furry, "GET YOUR ARSE OVER HERE!"
"Miss Emeraude!" Umbridge exclaimed, standing up, "Detention!"
"I don't care!" Zoey turned to her before looking over to Echo once more, "What are you waiting for? GET UP!"
Echo looked placidly to Zoey, and it was a moment after she shook her head and stood up to leave the Great Hall.
"Are you sure it's a good thing to avoid her?" Bridgit asked, before Echo could walk out. "I've never seen her this way."
Zoey glared at Echo's retreating figure before leaving her place and following. She took quick steps before switching into a run. It didn't take long before she caught up with the Veela. She grabbed hold of Echo's arm, stopping her from leaving. Bridgit simply stood there, shocked.
"Tell me," Zoey said slowly, "Tell me this is a big fat lie."
"This isn't a big fat lie," Echo spoke to her in a way she hadn't heard her speak. It was as if they were strangers.
"That depends, what are you hoping that's not a lie?" Bridgit butted in, making the two girls glare at her obviously telling her to shut up.
"It isn't? Then what the bloody hell were you thinking? Dumping George for a freaking Slytherin?" Zoey did not bother to use any more euphemisms.
"Did you really think that everything would be like a fairytale with happy endings and shit like that? No, Zoey. This is real life." Echo spoke, glowering at her.
"Oh, don't use that fairytale rubbish with me, Echo. I know first hand that nothing could be like those effing fairytales," Zoey folded her arms across her chest.
"Well in Echo's defense George was acting like a blasted bloody prick!" Bridgit said, turning towards the Gryffindor table and sending a glare in George's direction.
"Really? How then? Huh? What did he do wrong?" Zoey tested.
"He didn't even ask for Echo's side of the story!" Bridgit answered. "He just walked up to her and accused her."
"Oh? Then, Echo," Zoey turned back to the Veela, "Why don't you share this story of yours to everyone! Clear up this whole bloody mess, huh?" Zoey ended as she motioned to everyone in the Great Hall. They were all silently watching the three friends fight, this has never, publicly, happened before.
"Echo...come on say something" Bridgit said, wanting her friend to talk, to defend herself.
"You can't understand. None of you can," Echo spoke quietly.
"Oh yeah? Try me," Zoey told her, "I've been through a whole lot of shit and I'm pretty sure I can understand what you're going through. If you don't want the rest of them to hear, we'll go someplace else."
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE FEELING OF HAVING A FAMILY THAT BELIEVES YOU'RE DEAD!" Echo shouted for all to hear.
"Well, do you know the feeling of having a family who wants you dead yet keeps you alive for the soul purpose of torturing you and making your life a living hell?" Zoey said calmly, "Heck, I'm as good as dead in my family."
"Guys, I know that you two need to talk about this, but...uhm...everyone is watching so, it's best we take this somewhere else." Bridgit suddenly said, watching her words for she was afraid of both her friends in this state.
"YOU CAN'T UNDESRTAND! IF I WERE ALIVE TO THEM, THEY'RE GOING TO EXPECT THAT PERFECT BLOND HAIR AND BLUE EYES!" Echo shouted, tears brimming her eyes, "It's like I don't even have my own name!"
"You think I don't know how that feels? I live in perfect," Zoey then said, pushing Echo through the doors of the Great Hall. She had heard Bridgit's suggestion. "Why do you think I need those pills, huh? Why do you bloody think I destroyed that bloody perfect room? My house? They expect so much from me and I can't give them anything close to what they want."
"Okay people show's over! Get back to your food and don't pay this any more mind!" Bridgit said, looking at the crowd of dumb founded students and teachers. Before she left the Great Hall though, she turned to the twins.
"You two are not planning to do anything?" She asked, and the twins just stared with wide eyes. Bridgit shook her head and approached the two. She took hold of both the twins' ears and dragged them out of the Great Hall.
When the three of them reached the hallway, they could hear shouts coming from the Zoey and Echo.
"GO TO SOME DAMN PLACE THAT HAS A CEMETERY!" Echo shouted once more, "SEARCH THE FUCKING COUNTRY IF YOU HAVE TO! YOU'RE GOING TO FIND SOME HEADSTONE WITH MY NAME WRITTEN ON IT!" Echo panted for a few moments before continuing, "Don't you get it? I was supposed to die!"
"AND YOU THINK I WASN'T SUPPOSE TO EITHER?" Zoey was now shouting, "My mother… she sacrificed her life for me. I was supposed to die with her. At least you had a surrogate family to run to. The Weasleys. You had them from the fucking beginning! You know what I had? I had a bloody aunt who tortured me for years just to get a bloody box. And you know what? I have to return to that torture after this shitty year! I wanted this year to be memorable with all my friends!"
"Especially you, Echo," Zoey continued with a sob, "You were my first ever friend here and look at us… we're fighting. Just please… help me understand what you're going through."
"The Echo you see? It isn't me. I wasn't supposed to look like this." Echo began.
"Look like what?" Zoey then asked, "You look fine. There's nothing wrong with you"
"Violet Hair? Yellow eyes? Nothing's wrong with me?" Echo raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong with that? You're unique. I mean, look at me," Zoey released her wings. Over time, it had ceased to hurt. "I'm a bloody chicken," she ended with a soft laugh.
"Whoa, haven't seen those in awhile." Fred whispered, making Bridgit whack his head.
"Shut up, will you?" She whispered, as they watched the scene silently.
"When I was a toddler, a year before I met the twins, I accidentally mistook one of my father's potions for milk." Echo began, "It was poisonous, but I didn't know that, obviously."
"I didn't know that." George whispered, and Bridgit gave him a cold glare, telling him to shut up as well.
"What happened?" Zoey asked, her wings folding behind her.
"Well, my father found me, and yelled for my mother." Echo continued, "They didn't know what to do, they had less than a minute to make an antidote they didn't have a formula for. My father of course, did everything in his power. My once blonde hair and blue eyes began to turn into this," she pointed at her head, "They decided to cut me off from the whole world, made a funeral for me, and took me to the Weasleys."
"So does her family still know she's alive?" The twins asked at the same time, and once again Bridgit whacked their heads.
"Well, they began giving me every antidote known to wizards and witches, and, over time, my skin paled, I grew weaker," Echo continued, ignoring the unnecessary comments from the twins. "My parents began fighting when I told them I got my letter from Hogwarts. My father keeps yelling that he can't handle it anymore. My mother tells him that I'm still their daughter, and I'm their responsibility."
"I, occasionally, visit my headstone during summer," Echo went on, "Of course, I can't go to St. Mungo's if I was sick, they'd begin wondering how I came back from the dead."
Zoey didn't say anything for a while. She simply took slow, deep breaths as she looked at Echo. She never knew that the girl standing right in front of her experienced such things. Thinking back, it was all about Zoey and her problem. Not once did she ever think about her friends' lives. Sure, she asked Echo where her parents were and yes, she knew about Bridgit being a Death Eater but those facts seemed so little compared to her messed up life. The Emeraude took a step forward, approaching her friend as she reached up to one of her feathers.
"Do you want to return to 'normal'?" she asked softly, "Blonde hair, blue eyes. Do you want that again? I can give those back to you if you want."
"So she used to look like Mary Sue?" Bridgit suddenly whispered, making the twins the ones to whack her now. They just did it for their sweet revenge.
"But you won't recognize me," Echo looked up to Zoey's eyes.
"You'd still be the same Echo. Blonde hair, violet hair. Gold eyes, blue. Since when did appearance matter?" Zoey asked. "I don't care what you look like and frankly, I don't think the twins or Bridgit do either. You may have different hair and eyes than the rest of us and you may be a Veela but no one cares. We still love you the same way. Ask George"
"She's right you know?" George suddenly said, walking towards the two girls, one girl in particular more important than the other. "You could have white hair and pink eyes for all I care, but you'd still be Echo." He continued.
"You'd still be that sharp tongued, food loving, Quidditch playing, smart, and beautiful girl that I fell in love with." George finished, now standing in front of Echo.
"Really, George? Want me to look like Mary Sue and start acting like her?" Echo smirked.
George cringed at the blasted name from their sixth year, but smiled nonetheless. "Sure go ahead and look like her, but the moment you start acting like her, then you wouldn't be Echo." George answered, taking Echo's hand in his.
"I'm gonna be sick." Fred whispered, and Bridgit glared at him.
"Oh shut up will you, just be happy for them." Bridgit said.
"Like you don't act like that when you're with me, Fred," Zoey grinned t him.
"Oi! Word is going to go out that I'm a slag for dating you and Blaise." Echo then said.
"Well, then, why don't you dump him and take me back?" George suggested. "Unless, of course, you'd prefer to be with that Slytherin git."
"A Slytherin who only has looks?" Echo raised an eyebrow.
"You actually think he has looks?" George retorted. "Are you sure you don't need your eyes checked?"
"Then what does he have?" Echo stuck her tongue out.
"Money? Arrogance? Stupidity?" George answered.
"And what do you have?" Echo smiled.
"Charm, Looks, A sense of Humor, and not to mention Intelligence." George answered, offering Echo a smile as well.
"CAN'T YOU TWO JUST FREAKING KISS AND MAKE UP ALREADY?" Zoey asked, her blush on her cheeks. Their unconscious flirting was making her feel embarrassed for some odd reason. "Please?" she added as an after note. She had sworn more times than she ever planned to in her life in one day. She was regretting them deeply. Swearing led to a bad life in her book.
Echo turned her head to Zoey, "Love is an Art. Let's not rush the process, shall we?"
"Then please make the process go faster," Zoey laughed as her wings retreated into her back.
"You talking is slowing it down so shush!" Bridgit suddenly said, turning to Zoey.
"Don't talk to Zoey that way!" Fred now said.
"Sorry, I just want them to make up before I'm taken away by Umbridge," Zoey bit her lip.
By this time, Echo turned to George. "Well? Lean!"
George smirked and did exactly what Echo told him. He leaned down and crashed his lips on top of hers.
The kiss wasn't one described in books that had erupting fireworks, butterflies inside their stomachs, and all that other things that seem so unrealistic. Their kiss was simple, sweet, and most importantly it was them. It was a kiss that only Echo and George can share with one another. It was a kiss of two people who truly loved each other, nothing more, nothing less.
Time seemed to stop and everything seemed right with the world only… it wasn't. Before Echo and George could break the kiss on their own time, a clearing of the throat interrupted them. They broke the kiss and along with Zoey, Bridgit and Fred, looked over to the source of the throat clearing.
"Now that everything seems to be fine and dandy between all you five," Umbridge said with a strained smile on her face, her wand tapping on her opposite hand by every second that passed, "Miss Emeraude, would you please come to my office while the rest of you go to your respective classes."
"We don't have class," Bridgit answered back, her voice taking a harsh tone. "We just had dinner Professor Umbit- Umbridge."
"Then go to your Common Rooms," Umbridge's lip twitched as she giggled, "Your own Common Rooms"
"Like I'll be doing that, we aren't machines, Toad Queen," Echo sneered.
"And besides, with all the books you make us read, I bet even these two could enter the Ravenclaw Common Room." Bridgit continued, pointing at Fred and George.
"What was that, Miss Beaumont? Miss Parker?" Umbridge looked over to them, smile still on her face.
"They said nothing, Professor," Zoey interrupted before her friends could get into any more trouble. "So... Your office, Ma'am?"
Umbridge nodded her head, squinting at the students behind Zoey before walking to her office. Zoey obediently followed after she sent her friends a look. "Don't provoke her," she whispered to them.
Zoey was quietly walking down the halls, rubbing her left hand. She had just finished her detention with Umbridge and was making her way to the Hufflepuff Basement when she caught sounds of silent crying and whispers of comfort. She bit her lip and cautiously walked towards the source, her curiosity getting the best of her. The closer Zoey got to the source; she began to see three figures. One was of a second year boy while the other two were Fred and George. Zoey stopped dead in her tracks, hiding in the shadows.
"Hey, it's alright. Don't cry," she heard Fred tell the boy, "The pain goes away."
"And the scars would fade. See? Ours have already faded," George continued, showing the boy his own hand.
The boy muffled is sobs, trying to calm himself. Zoey felt a small smile play on her lips as she watched the twins soothe the boy. She then saw Harry approach the three. She raised her brow, wondering where he came from, when Umbridge came into view and cleared her throat.
"As I told you once before, Mr. Potter, naughty children deserve to be punished," Umbridge said slowly, ending with her annoying little giggle, before turning and walking away from them.
When the clacking of her heels ceased, Fred and George stuffed their hands into their pockets.
"You know, George," Fred began, "I've always felt our futures lay outside the world of academic achievement."
"Fred, I've been thinking exactly the same thing," answered George, clicking his tongue as he did so.
At this, Harry approached the second year and helped him to the Gryffindor Common Room. Fred and George were about to follow but Fred caught sight of Zoey who had stepped out of the shadows.
"Hey," Zoey waved at them, taking a few steps closer, "Mind if I take Fred off your hands for a while?"
"Sure, as long as you return him in one piece," George answered, excusing himself and followed after Harry back to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Of course," Zoey laughed before facing Fred, "Care to walk with me?"
"I'd rather sit, but since it's you… I'd love to," Fred answered, straightening up and offering his arm to the Hufflepuff.
Zoey laughed again before taking his arm and leading him down the hallway. They walked side by side down the hall in silence as to not disturb any of the snoozing paintings or catch any unwanted attention. The Emeraude looked out one of the many windows and watched the moon shine brightly. She looked back to Fred and saw how the moon casted shadows on his face, making his blue eyes shine. She blushed.
"You know, I never knew you were so good with kids, Fred," Zoey smiled, her blush still on her cheeks.
"Well, growing up with Ron and Ginny makes you have quite the talent," Fred answered, giving Zoey a sweet smile.
"Oh, you mean like turning Ron's teddy bear into a spider and not letting Ginny play Quidditch with you guys?" Zoey raised a brow, laughing. "You were really nice to that kid."
"Just because I did those to them doesn't mean I'm a horrid brother." Fred said. "I mean. We couldn't let Ginny play cause if she got hurt we'd never hear the end of it, and well I have no good excuse for the spider." He continued, letting out a chuckle. "What's so shocking about me being good with kids anyway?"
"It's not really about being nice to kids… I think what really surprised me was that you and George were gentle," she told him, "Usually you'd be making kids laugh with your games and such. I never saw the gentle Fred when it came to the younger ones."
"Well you can't expect me to be harsh and joke around with an injured kid can you?" The Weasley now said. "And he was really in pain you know, I mean, to us older students sure, but to a second year? That toad woman is taking things to far."
"I know she is," Zoey said softly, releasing her hold on his arm and instead laced her fingers with his. She really loved this boy. She wanted to tell him but there was this little something that was holding her back. She didn't fully know what it was she just knew it was there for a reason. She squeezed his hand before gazing into his eyes. "I really love your eyes, you know that?"
"Really? Well I bet I lover yours more than you love mine." Fred answered. "But it's not just your eyes. I love your nose, I love you ears, I love your smile, I even love how you bite your bottom lip when you think."
Zoey gave a laugh and bit her bottom lip to quiet herself down. She did not want to wake anyone. She couldn't help but grin though. Sometimes, Fred could say the sweetest things to her and get her all embarrassed. It was a talent. "Can you believe it's our final year already?" Zoey asked as she remembered Ginny's photo album and how she realized how much time has passed by. "In a matter of weeks, we'd be graduating from Hogwarts. Become alumni"
"Yeah, but I'm sort of wishing for it not to come," The red head said, bowing his head slightly, "Cause it means that… that you'll have to got back to her"
"Hey, it's a beautiful night. Let's not ruin it by thinking about my Aunt," Zoey told him, smiling, "So are you and George still going to be owning a Joke Shop?"
"Of course! Especially since Mr. Potter's gonna be co-owner." Fred answered, but the smile still not returning to his face. "Speaking of which...I need to talk to you about something Zoe."
"Alright," Zoey said slowly, noting Fred's serious aura. Something was up.
"Well...George and I we think…uhm...we plan to..." Fred was saying, but he couldn't seem to find the right words.
"Fred," Zoey began, squeezing his hand once more, "What's wrong? You can tell me. I'll understand"
"We're planning to drop out of school, Zoe," Fred finally blurted out, not even daring to look Zoey in the eye.
The Emeraude's eyes widened as her mouth hung slightly agape. Her breath was caught in her throat and she slowly released her hold on Fred's hand, taking a step away from him. She blinked several times, trying to process what Fred had just told her.
"You're… dropping… out?" her voice cracked a bit in the end as it went to a higher pitch. "W- Why?"
"We...We just can't take this anymore Zoe." Fred tried to explain. "Malfoy and Snape were worse enough, and Umbridge added to that is just...too much for us." He continued.
"B – But it's your last year!" Zoey's lip quivered as her hands began to shake, "C – can't you guys hold on for a bit longer? Fred, I'm… I'm never going to see you again after this. Please… just… finish the year. Please?"
"Don't you think I know that Zoe?" Fred asked. "I promised that I'd make this year memorable for you, and it's eating me inside to know that I'm breaking my promise to you, but I'll make you another promise, and I swear I won't break it this time...I promise, I'll find a way to get you back okay? I'll find a way to save from your aunt."
"Fred… I…" Zoey began, lost of words. She licked her lips and her brows knitted together as she smiled softly at him. "Fred… you saw what she did to me… she can do that to you. She will do that to you."
"I'd rather she do it to me than to you." He said, now raising his head and looking her straight in the eye. "I'd rather suffer through all that than to see you scream one more time." He continued.
"I can't let her do that to you," Zoey whispered, her eyes closing a bit as she unconsciously stood at the tip of her toes, her face inching closer to Fred's. Her body was moving without thinking.
Fred met her half way, and the next thing they both knew, their lips were together and a kiss was being shared by both of them.
Zoey tried her best to put all her feelings into the kiss. Tell Fred all that she was feeling, thinking, wanting into one breath-taking kiss. She knew he understood her when he returned the kiss with just as much passion. The kiss could have lasted minutes; hours even, before Fred and Zoey broke apart. They were catching their breaths as their foreheads touched. Zoey looked into his eyes.
"I'll hold you up to that promise," she breathed out, closing her eyes once more.
"And I'll die before I break it," Fred said, letting out a small smile.
"Please don't die," Zoey laughed softly, "I would love to have you very much alive when you rescue me, the damsel in distress, from the evil dragon, my aunt"
"Well, since you asked me, I'll try my best to stay alive just for you," Fred smiled and kissed Zoey's cheek before giving her a tight hug.
"Promise?" Zoey asked.
"Promise," Fred answered.
Weeks passed since Fred and Zoey's conversation and during that time period, Fred and Zoey had tried their best to make their time together the most meaningful. During every free time they could manage, they would hang out in the Great Hall, Quidditch Pitch and even in the halls to talk and have the occasional kiss (something Zoey did not want to do with people around to witness). A few days after Fred had told Zoey of his and George's departure, George had told Echo. Yes, the Veela was not impressed about the thought of them leaving but unfortunately, she could do nothing to convince them to stay. She had to suck it up and do what Fred and Zoey had been doing. Make the most of it.
Sooner than what Zoey and Echo would have wanted, it was now the final weeks of George and Fred's time in school. The twins had wanted to spend their final weeks planning for the prank. The products they'd use and invent. They needed this time to focus. Sure, Zoey and Echo understood that but obviously they weren't happy about the fact that their boyfriends were dropping out.
Zoey was sad at the fact that she would be seeing less of Fred now and was concerned at what they were going to do after leaving. They would have not taken their final exams and how could they find a good job if they didn't complete their schoolwork? Yes, they didn't care about that and sure, they were going to have their own shop but that didn't stop Zoey from worrying. The Emeraude just hoped that the twins had a clear idea on what they were doing.
"Are you ready Fred?" George asked, facing his twin with a worried look.
"Yup" Fred answered, taking a gulp as he looked back at his twin. "Are you?"
"Let's just hope we get through this without getting injured." George answered, now looking at the Ravenclaw walking towards the Charms classroom. They watched as she was talking to her friend, Aiden, and when she waved goodbye to him and was passing by them, they grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards an empty classroom.
"LET ME GO!" Bridgit yelled as she was being dragged for the second time this year. "FRED! GEORGE! LET ME GO!" She shouted once again, but no matter what she yelled, they wouldn't let her go.
"Would you just keep quiet?" Fred requested, trying to cover the Ravenclaw's mouth. Too bad Bridgit wouldn't follow and bit Fred's arm. "AH! Have you been hanging out with that dog too much?" Fred asked, glaring at the angered Ravenclaw.
"LET-ME-GO!" Was the only thing Bridgit answered, and George, having had enough, put a Silencing Charm on her.
Bridgit grumbled and mumbled but the twins smirked at each other as they finally reached an empty classroom. They pushed the girl inside and checked if anyone had seen them, when they were sure no one did, they closed the door and turned to the Ravenclaw girl.
"We'll take out the silencing charm, but will you promise to stay silent to hear us out?" George asked, and Bridgit just glared, but nodded. George removed the silencing charm, making Bridgit approach the twins and whacked them both hard in the head.
"What do you two want and you had to kidnap me from my Charms class?" Bridgit asked, outraged. "You should have done that in POTIONS!" She continued, turning around and heading for the empty teachers desk.
"Yes, well sorry if we didn't think about timing, Bridgit." Fred said, rubbing his aching and throbbing head.
"Besides, there is a pretty good reason why we brought you to this classroom." George now continued, making Bridgit turn to them with her arms crossed in front of her chest. She was tapping her foot in impatience, and the twins knew their reason should be good enough to not make the Ravenclaw practically kill them. They were friends, yes, but Bridgit was still a Death Eater, and was not one to be messed with.
"How interested are you to participate in a prank against Miss Toad-Woman?" Fred asked, and Bridgit's mouth twitched, she wanted to smile at the idea.
"Very" Bridgit answered.
"Well then would you mind helping us out?" George asked, and at this Bridgit relaxed and let the smile take over her face.
"What do you need me to do?"
After much scheming, it was finally the day, the day that Fred, George, and Bridgit were excited and terrified about. The day they would pull the mega-prank that would cause utter mayhem in the school. The day the Weasley Twins drop out would be a day to remember. Heck, it should even be a holiday!
The three pranksters were currently hanging out in the empty classroom, doing their final preparations for their prank.
"So when you do sell this in your shop, you have to cut me in on every sale." Bridgit said, placing one more charm on the triangular object that was on the empty teacher's desk. It was a little invention the three of them have come up with over the few weeks and Bridgit was currently arguing about how selling the item in the twins shop would be also beneficial to her.
"We told you, we'll just inventory and give you your cut!" Fred answered, making Bridgit turn to him with her eyebrow raised.
"Yeah like you two would actually inventory!" Bridgit said.
"You have so little faith in us." George said, pretending to be hurt by what Bridgit had said.
"Yes, well you are the Weasley twins after all." Bridgit answered, letting a small smile appear on her face. "I'm gonna miss you two you know." Bridgit suddenly said, getting a tad bit sad that this would be their final prank as the three of them.
"We're sorry we can't say the same for you." The twins answered, making Bridgit laugh and walk up to the two of them. She pulled the two of them into a hug and it shocked the hell out of the Weasley twins.
They were both dumbfounded. They have known Bridgit for her whacks and occasional teasing with her arms wrapped around their shoulders, but never did she full on hug the two of them.
When Bridgit released the two of them from her hug, she turned towards the teacher's desk and took up the triangular object.
"So where are we planting this little bugger?" Bridgit asked. Fred and George took it from her.
"We'll handle that, but just be sure to be in the corridor near the Room of Requirement by three in the afternoon." George answered, making Bridgit nod. As she was about to walk out of the classroom, she heard the twins call her name.
"Bridgit!" They called, and Bridgit turned towards them with a questioning look.
"How did you –" Fred began.
"– get the password –" George continued.
" – to the Gryffindor Common Room?" They both finished. It was a question that has been bothering them since their second year. The year Bridgit had decorated their Common Room with Slytherin colors.
"Peeves" She answered, making the twins raise their eyebrows at her. Bridgit laughed at the sight of the confused boys. "Peeves knows everything in the castle, and if you knew what I knew about Peeves, then you could make him tell you anything." She explained, and the twins' jaws dropped.
"PEEVES?" They both exclaimed, but before they could question further, Bridgit had left the room.
As Bridgit was walking away from the classroom, she held two pieces of parchment in her hands. They were notes. Notes for Zoey and Echo. She looked down at letters and sighed. She was not excited to hand those letters to her two friends. She didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, and she knew that she was the one who had to deal with the aftermath. Boy did those twins owe her when they see her again.
As time ticked by, Bridgit was running around the castle like crazy. "Have you seen Zoey?" She asked a random student, who looked at Bridgit like she was crazy. Bridgit was about to ask again, when she saw Zoey and Echo walking down the hall towards her way.
"ZOEY! ECHO!" Bridgit shouted running to her two friends, quickly stuffing the pieces of parchment into her pocket. When she reached them, the two girls stared shocked at her.
"Bridgit," Zoey said, blinking her shock away, "What's the rush?"
"Fred…" Bridgit huffed. "George…." She continued. "Prank" she finished, and she finally got her breath in tact.
Zoey and Echo shared a look before looking back at Bridgit. "What about Fred and George's prank?" Zoey asked.
Bridgit didn't reply and just took their hands in hers. She began to run, dragging the two, and made her way to the corridor near the Room of Requirement. When they got there, they saw Fred and George placing something on the ground.
"What…?" Zoey didn't really know what to say. She knew that they were going to pull a prank but what exactly happens during the prank. She didn't know.
The students around them, who were reading and just walking around, grew shocked as the floor began to turn to mud mixed with water, they began to sink and frogs were also bouncing around the corridor. Bridgit looked around like an excited kid, while Zoey and Echo were both wearing surprised expressions. Echo calmed down from hers and laughed when a Slytherin slipped while Zoey just remained frozen with shock.
The swamp. It was brilliant.
Zoey, Echo, and Bridgit were just about to call Fred and George over, when they saw Umbridge and her gang of Slytherins approaching. Harry had just walked into the corridor before Fred and George summoned their brooms.
"This is it… isn't it?" Zoey whispered to Bridgit. She knew the answer; she just didn't want to accept it.
"Yeah…" Bridgit whispered, reaching into her pocket to feel the two pieces of parchment present there.
The twins mounted their brooms, George's still having a chain attached to his and kicked off from the ground in order to get into the air. They didn't fly off right away; however, they stayed a float, scanning the area with grins playing on their mouths.
"If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, our new premises!" Fred shouted out, as students were applauding.
"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going to use our products to get rid of this old bat," George continued, jerking his head towards Umbridge who shriek-ily yelled out something about Filch or anybody to catch them, no one listened.
They both turned towards Zoey and Echo, and they both had sad faces. Peeves suddenly appeared beside the trio of girls, saluting the two twins. Fred and George both waved towards Zoey and Echo before turning towards Peeves.
"Give her hell for us Peeves." They said, before flying out into the sunset.
Zoey bit her lip as she watched them disappear. She suddenly brought a hand to her face to wipe away the silent tears. She hadn't realized she was crying. How long has that been going on? She caught from the corner of her eye; Echo ushering everyone away and Bridgit looking at her. She offered Bridgit a sad smile.
"I knew that they would leave… I just… I just didn't want it to happen," she gave a weak laugh.
"He...he left this for you." Bridgit said, stopping her own tears from falling. She took out the piece of parchment that was labeled 'Zoey' and handed it to her. "He...told me to...to tell you that everything you need to know and he has to say is there."
The Emeraude took in a breath and saw Bridgit hand Echo a similar piece of parchment. The Veela looked at it silently before walking away. She wanted to be alone in reading the letter, Zoey; however, was not prepared to be alone just yet. She slowly opened the letter and read.
Dear Zoe,
I'm so sorry I couldn't say goodbye to you personally, well technically ever since I told you I think we would say goodbye everyday, but for some reason, I couldn't face you. I couldn't take the thought that I was leaving you alone there with Umbridge on your back. I know you have Echo and Bridgit, but Echo would be missing George, and well Bridgit is...Bridgit, so I still don't feel very safe for you.
I know that you would think that I shouldn't worry about you, but you know I can't do that. Telling me to not worry about you is like telling me to stop pranking and you and I both know how impossible that is.
Anyways, I've been rambling about this kind of nonsense, when I just really wanna tell you one thing.
I just wanna tell you that...that I love you, and that I swear I'll keep my promise.
I'll save you from the dragon and I'll be your dashing prince. I can't promise you a happily ever after, but I can promise you that I'll work my arse- Zoey I don't care what you think of language- off to try to give it to you. You deserve it with all the things you've gone through.
If you ever miss me, just think that I'm always with you okay? Cause I am...I'm always with you in your heart right? Unless of course someone's already in there then I'll make sure I kick them out of there.
I'll miss you, I love you, and I'll see you soon
Love,
Fred
Zoey gave a laugh at the end of the letter and wiped away her remaining tears. She folded the letter and pocketed it before facing Bridgit. A sad yet happy look was in her eyes as she looked at her friend. It was an odd mixture but it was true.
"You know, Bridgit," Zoey began, "I really love Fred"
"I know that." Bridgit said, giving her friend a smile. "But do you know what the oddest thing for me is, after all that's happened?"
"What?" Zoey asked.
"Shinji's been moping in my pocket." Bridgit answered, taking the dog out. "I think he's gonna miss he's chew toy named Fred."
Zoey laughed harder than before wiping away her laugh – tears. "I'm going to miss him too," she grinned before looking away, "I need to find Harry, tell him something."
Well, This Chapter came out soon than expected. I hope you're all happy with the results :)
I Love to Thank ZOOMSKATER14 and HAYLEYPARADOX
for the amazing help with this chapter.
Also, love all of you who reviewed, favorited, alerted, and read this story.
I really appreciate it :)
Did I do this chapter instead of my Homework? Why, yes, yes I did.
PROCRASTINATION.
Anyway, school again tomorrow so probably would take some time before the next chapter is out. Hopefully it won't take TOO long. I would hate if it did.
Well, I guess that is all. I have nothing more to say except
I hope you enjoyed the chapter
Please tell me what you thought
Excuse my typos and the like (Even though I beta-ed it already)
Don't forget to review and the like
Stay tuned for the next chapter
And
I only own what I own
