Chapter 84: A Heart of Stone
One of the best things about loving in the Wizarding world and actually being able to cast magic are the Holidays – Christmas, Easter and the best of them all, Halloween. Yes, Halloween, that special day of they year when Muggle children dress up as those in the Wizarding world such as werewolves, vampires, goblins and, of course, wizards and witches. But what do the witches and wizards dress up as during this eerie Holiday? Muggles? You've got to admit, some of them are pretty scary. But no. The gift of being able to cast magic comes with your creativity with spells.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is every horror story fanatic's dream of a building. It's tall stone walls and ice cold floors, the statues and suits of armor in every corner, not to mention the moving paintings and Peeves popping in every once in a while to cause mishap. The ghosts of the four houses with their shortcuts through the walls and the Bloody Barons' presence would send any Muggle crying to their mother.
Oh! But don't forget the young wizards and witches with their pranks and midnight duels, the school's moving staircases and secret rooms that would attract any Muggle to enter their doom. But of course, Muggles aren't allowed in Hogwarts.
When the sun finally rose from behind the castle and all the students woke up to greet the last day of the month of October, they jumped out of their beds, suited up in their best costumes and ran out their doors, wands at the ready. Today, for most of the morning at least, they were going to decorate the castle themselves (with the supervision of the professors of course).
In just a matter of minutes, the Hogwarts castle had taken a turn towards the spooky with its stone walls dripping mysterious glowing green goop, the ceiling holding curious gremlins that would swipe down at any moment and snatch whatever's in your arms. The statues and suits of armors would greet you at random moments, sometimes taking you in their arms and refusing to let go without the correct spell. Peeves, dressed up in his usual garments, came out every once in a while to throw balloons filled with rotten eggs at you and pelt you with toilet paper rolls until the professors shooed him away.
When Peeves was taken care of, the Weasley twins would come out and cause havoc. Dressed up as each other, Fred and George would cast naughty spells on who ever were unlucky enough to fall into their trap. Several students, particularly Slytherins, had fallen victim to the Weasley twins' pranks and ended up walking away with either a tail, scaly skin or neon pink hair! Some were even unlucky enough to be transformed into an animal before heading off to their next class.
Yep, Fred and George were having the time of their lives.
Little Zoey Emeraude, of course, was the last to wake up in her entire dorm. Pushing herself off her bed, she noted the scattered clothing, spider webs and the aftermath of certain spells decorating the dorm. She was careful enough to avoid stepping on some mysterious puddle on the way to the changing room where she calmly slipped her arms through her wizard's robes and placed her wizard's hat on the top of her head.
From her own little guess, the Emeraude figured that her dorm mates (and probably the rest of the female population of her house) left wearing costumes such as butterflies, princesses and a sandwich…. Zoey was late for breakfast. The girl decided to keep her costume, if you could even call it that, simple. She wore her Hogwarts uniform.
Leaving the room, the girl tucked her wand into her robe's pocket and skipped down the steps, leaving the Hufflepuff Common Room and making her way to the Great Hall. She easily avoided her hat getting snatched by the gremlins and she successfully jumped over what seemed to be swamps on the floor. She passed by several students trapped by the statues and maneuvered her way through the spider webs.
Feeling lucky, Zoey looked back and tried to see if she could help the other students in anyway when something latched onto her ankle, pulling her up above the ground, hanging her upside down by her leg. Screaming, Zoey made a quick move to hold down her skirt so no one would be able to see her underpants.
"Fred! Get me down from here!" Zoey cried out when the Weasley twins came into view, wanting to see who their next victim was. The scream was so familiar; they couldn't help but check the scene of their crime right away.
Seeing that it was the naïve Emeraude herself, they broke down in laughter. The girl furrowed her brows and tried to reach for her wand, all the while keeping her skirt covering what was should to be covered, only to have it fall out of her pocket and onto the ground beneath her. She wanted to curse.
"How are you so sure that I'm Fred?" Twin number one smirked, bending down to pick up the girl's wand, "I could very well be George."
"But…but your jumper has the letter 'F' on it," Zoey trailed off, studying the Weasley sweater before catching on, "Or are you George dressed up as Fred?"
"Maybe I am, indeed, George," Twin number two said, taking the wand into his own hands and twirling it, "Or I could be Fred dressed up as George."
"Or George dressed up as Fred." Twin number one leaned on twin number two's shoulder and took Zoey's wand back in his hands.
"Maybe Fred dressed up as Fred but claims he's George," the second twin placed his hands in his pockets and grinned up at Zoey. The Emeraude's brows were furrowed in concentration, trying to keep up with what they were saying.
"Or George dressed up as Fred claiming he's Fred but really he's George wanting to be Fred but Fred indeed saying he's George to begin with." They said in unison, ending with a triumphant laugh when Zoey let out a groan in frustration.
The Hufflepuff began to struggle against the rope around her ankle, causing herself to sway back and forth and all around. The blood rushing to her head along with the twins' confusing words were not helping her headache. She felt like she was going to be sick. Closing her eyes, hoping to ease the pain, she spoke.
"Well, whoever you two are, can't you just get me down?" she squeaked out, talking only made things worse for her. "I'm serious."
"We could get you down," the twin holding her wand said, walking beneath her, "But only if you say the magic word."
"Please?" Zoey tried, already knowing that it wasn't the word they were looking for.
The second twin made a noise similar to a buzzer beeping. "Nope, that's wrong," he snickered, staying in his place.
"Then what is it?" Zoey gasped out, feeling the rope begin to move and wrap itself around both her ankles until it reached her knees. "Wha – What is it doing?"
"For every wrong word," the twins said at the same time, "The further the rope wraps around you. Soon, you'll be a human sized cocoon."
"Are the professor's allowing this?" Zoey asked, panicking. Surely this was against Hogwarts' rules and regulations!
"Probably not," the second twin shrugged, his voice uncaring at the thought of breaking a rule.
"But since when did we do something the professors actually approved of?" the first twin then asked, "Don't worry, Zoe, we aren't going to hurt you."
Zoey's eyes snapped open and she tilted her head a bit to look at the twin beneath her. "You're Fred aren't you?" she asked, a small grin forming on her mouth, "You just called me 'Zoe'! You're Fred! Wait – FRED! Get me down from here! I figured out which one's which!"
The second twin, who was, by default, George, clapped his hands. "Very good, Zoey," his grin widened, "But we are asking for the magic word, not who's who."
The Emeraude let out a frustrated scream, wriggling violently as the rope inched higher and higher. "Wait till Echo hears about this!" she said with annoyance, not particularly liking the fact that she was soon to become a human butterfly.
Fred just chuckled at the state the girl was in before retreating to his brother's side, laughing along with him. Suddenly, two hands grabbed hold of Fred and George's necks from behind, making them jump about four feet in the air.
"Hear about what, Zwei?" Echo looked up at Zoey and smiled an innocent grin that was too innocent, creepy looking and weird for someone who doesn't smile much.
Zoey grinned down at her friend, dismissing the fact that the violet-haired girl was wearing a very lacey and detailed white dress that just reached her knees, and called out to her supposed savior. "Need I say it?" the girl cried out, "These two won't let me get down and I'm pretty sure that all the blood from the tips of my toes just reached my head!"
Echo released her hold on the twins and got her wand, which was placed in her sock, and pointed it at Zoey. With a quick swish, the rope began to disintegrate. Thinking she was safe, Zoey released a sigh before the feeling of falling passed through her, letting out a surprised squeak, the Emeraude slipped fast from where she was before colliding into someone else and falling on top of him. Fred groaned from the impact of the floor and Zoey.
"Serves you right," Zoey breathed out, hiding the blush sneaking its way to her cheeks by making her hair create a curtain to shield her face, her heart beating fast from the fall. Standing up, she pulled the Weasley with a letter 'G' on his jumper up and turned to Echo who was quietly slipping her wand back into her sock.
"What are you supposed to be?" George asked once his twin and Zoey reached him and Echo. He knew for a fact that he was dressed as Fred and Fred dressed up as him and Zoey was just in her uniform but Echo's costume was quite curious.
"Me? I'm supposed to be your worst nightmare!" Echo spoke in an equally high-pitched voice, "Being all innocent when you've got someone behind your back, but when you're alone…. Well, you know." She turned to George, "And you're dressed up as Fred. Why do I sound so surprised?"
"Hey, don't mock our creativity!" Fred said, nose in the air when his twin was too shocked by Echo's explanation to speak. The boy then turned to Zoey. "What about you, Zoe? Where's your Halloween spirit? You're not even wearing costume!"
"What are you talking about?" Zoey raised a brow at the boy, snatching her wand back. "I'm dressed up as a witch!" She then waved her wand in the air, making it shoot out small sparkles of different colors, falling on Fred's head.
"A witch? Really?" Fred stated, brushing the sparkles out off his ginger hair before looking Zoey up and down. He made a small tsk-ing sound, uncanny to how Mrs. Weasley sounds like when something doesn't go her way.
"How unoriginal," George added, finally getting over the shock Echo sent him into. He folded his arms across his chest and shook his head from side to side. "You could do better than that!"
"Really, George? Is it that unoriginal?" Zoey tested, putting her wand back into her pocket and folding her arms across her chest, imitating him. "How many students have you seen dressed up like a witch or wizard?"
"Everyday?" George now said, his eyebrow rising. "I see almost thousands, can't even count –"
"But never on Halloween!" Zoey interjected, a smirk playing on her lips. She smiled with triumph when she saw George's expression and heard Fred snicker into his hand.
"Point one for Zwei," Echo grinned.
As George was about to retort once more, loud shrieking erupted from the end of the hallway, catching their attentions. Lightning seemed to be erupting, white smoke coming out as well. Students fled and ran away, looking like they've seen a bloody troll! Zoey, Fred, George and Echo turned towards the retreating students and all wondered what was going on. The air around them seemed to grow colder and the sky darker even when it was still morning.
"Did one of your pranks cause that?" Zoey asked, looking back at the twins with wide eyes. She felt an eerie shiver go down her spine when the atmosphere around them changed. She felt like she was in a Muggle horror movie.
"No," Fred answered, raising a suspicious eyebrow towards the direction where the lightning and smoke were coming from. What room was by that hall? He wondered. The boy couldn't seem to remember at that moment.
"Not ours" the twins both shared a look of annoyance and shock. Who was this person trying to steal their thing for Halloween?
"Then what the bloody hell is their problem?" Echo squinted her eyes at the running students.
"Maybe Peeves is playing a prank?" George suggested, not truly believing in what he was saying.
Echo snorted. "Come on, you seriously think Peeves could cause that much of a havoc?"
"A poltergeist could only do so much…" Zoey trailed off, her brows knitting together with worry and fright. Halloween was never exactly her favorite holiday.
"They've got a point Fred," Fred now said, talking to his twin that was dressed up as him. "Well, if it's not us, and not Peeves then who's doing this?"
"A beast running lose? The professors scaring the students because it's Halloween? A prankster who is totally owning the twins' skills?" Echo guessed.
"HEY!" Offended, the twins shouted. They averted their glares towards the Veela who merely folded her arms across her chest and maturely made a face at them.
"Please don't tell me we're going to investigate on this," Zoey said, trying to keep a distance from her friends when she saw the twinkle in each of their eyes. She should have never spoke, the answer was obvious when their fellow Hogwartians' shrieks filled the air.
"No shit, Sherlock," Echo smiled, already grabbing hold of Zoey's hand in an iron grip.
"Echo!" Zoey scolded the girl, but was ignored.
The Emeraude was then dragged against her will to the scene of the 'crime', her friends excited to see who caused all the commotion. Turning a corner, they were greeted by a dark and cold hallway where things were only visible when the lightning flashed. White smoke was covering everything, making it look like a thick fog. The scene reminded Zoey of a cemetery. Wriggling her wrist out of Echo's hold, she took a cautious step back, not wanting to be dragged into the darker side of the hallway.
"What in Merlin's beard is this guy playing at?" George let out, feeling slightly creep-ed out by his surroundings.
"If it's scaring the spirits out of the students, he or she has definitely done it," said Echo.
"Well, it looks like no one's here. Why don't we just head to the Great Hall where everything's bright and cheerful?" Zoey offered but was sure no one was paying attention to her. She had the chance to run like hell but she was quite curious as to what was going to happen next. Curse her curiosity.
Before the Hufflepuff could do anything, a voice rang out. "Momma? Momma is that you?" sickeningly sweet like any little girl's voice it was. Zoey could have sworn her heart leaped to her throat at that moment.
"Momma?" Zoey, Echo, Fred and George turned towards the sound of the voice and froze. At the end of the hallway stood a silhouette of a girl, a teddy bear in her arms and her hair reaching the floor. "Momma, Poppa?" the girl voiced out.
The lightning flashed and Echo screamed. The little girl was pale, dead looking pale, and was crying tears of thick red blood. Her teddy bear was ripped, springs dangling where the eyes were supposed to be and it seemed to be bleeding the stuffing inside. "Momma?" the girl asked, stepping closer to the group of four, "Poppa?" she continued, her head tilting to side, eyes wide open.
"Poppa, Momma, why did you kill me?" the girl now asked, standing in front of them. Her dress was torn, red spots covering parts of it. She had no shoes on and the blood continued to gush out of her eyes. Echo and Zoey wanted to make a run for it, what was going on? They thought they had known all the ghosts in Hogwarts!
The girl walked up to Fred and George, suddenly hugging them. "Momma! Poppa! You said you loved me!" The twins froze, in outrage and shock. The little girl was now staining their sweaters with the blood from her eyes. Zoey and Echo couldn't move an inch. "Don't worry, we'll be a family again soon."
In an attempt to lighten spirits, Echo spoke, low enough for all to hear. "Who's the mum?"
"I don't think that really matters right now, Echo," Zoey whispered, jumping a bit when the girl flashed a cold look towards both girls, having heard them speak. "We shouldn't ruin their family reunion…"
"Are you going to take my parents away?" the little girl cried out, angry and unbelieving. "YOU CAN'T!"
Fred and George wanted to cover their ears at the sound of the girl's shouts but were still trapped by the girl's hug. Echo began trembling, taking small steps backwards, not knowing whether she'll hit a wall or fall into something.
"YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM! THEY'RE MINE!" The little girl shouted once again, suddenly taking a knife out of her teddy bear. The four sets of eyes widened as she looked back at her 'parents' with anger.
"Now, come one," Fred began, raising his hands in defense. "You really don't want to kill us, right?"
"Really, Momma?" The girl shouted, George holding his laughter all of a sudden. "I didn't say that when you stabbed me with those knives, feeding me to the wolves outside!"
"FRED!" Zoey suddenly cried out, forgetting the situation they were in and letting her motherly instincts get the better of her. "How could you do such a thing to the girl?"
"WHAT? This isn't even my daughter!" Fred answered back, the girl intensifying her glare at the red head. Before anything else happened, Echo squinted at the armed girl. Her trembling stopped when she realized something. Ghosts couldn't hold knives… or teddy bears.
"You aren't a ghost, are you?" the Ravenclaw spoke.
The girl suddenly turned her attention to Echo once again and smirked. She had prepared for these situations, expected of a Ravenclaw. "Peeves can throw water balloons can't he?" she said, in a little girlish tone before turning to Fred and George once again. "So, Momma, Poppa, who's going first?"
"Alright, joke's over," George suddenly said, taking hold of the girl's hand. Her skin was cold to touch and her glare was indeed scary, but still he knew this was no real ghost. "You're obviously not a real ghost, so give up this lame prank and just stop."
Fred took hold of the girl's other hand, the one with the knife and found out the blade was real. What was this girl planning to do? He took the knife away before he and George swiftly placed her hands behind her like how a policeman would cuff a criminal. "I must say, almost believable for a few seconds there," Fred added.
The twins pulled out their wands and waved them in the air, making the smoke and lightning disappear. The lights also turned on, and only the little girl was left from the horrid scene that had just unfolded. Zoey even took note on how the atmosphere returned to how it was before. She sighed with relief. She then looked at the little girl and furrowed her eyebrows in concentration.
"Your eyes," Zoey began, noticing that once the tears of blood stopped flowing, the color began to change, "Were they blue to begin with?"
George wiped the 'blood' from the girl's cheek and tasting it in his mouth, earning many disgusted looks, and smiled. "Strawberry juice, creative." He commented, smirking down at the girl in his hands.
"Sadly, not creative enough," Fred added, making said little girl glare at him.
"Says the guy who traps people and making them cocoons!" The little girl shouted, her voice changing from very high pitched to a normal girl's voice. She smirked as Fred and George's face grew red with anger.
"At least ours was supposed to be funny!" George said, redeeming himself, "You failed at scaring anybody!" The girl's smirk grew.
"Really? Then why are your pants wet?" She commented, making George blush.
Zoey's eyes widened, making a glance at the twins' pants before quickly averting her eyes, a blush appearing on her cheeks. She saw Echo smirk. The Emeraude tried to cough in order to avoid the awkward tension but ended up letting out a giggle. She then covered her mouth with both of her hands when the twins averted their glare to her.
"Oh get off it you wannabe!" Fred answered back, rather loudly, making the girl glare once more. She was about to speak, when she realized that the blonde hair she was currently wearing was turning back to its original brown. "LET GO OF ME!" she shouted.
"We'd rather not," George answered, "We would very much like to find out who you are, wannabe."
The girl looked at Zoey and Echo for help, pleading that they give it to her. Zoey bit her lip and shared a look with Echo before sighing. She didn't know this girl but… "How about we let her go?" she said, a sheepish smile on her lips, "She was just playing a prank, like you guys. No harm done."
"No harm done?" Fred exclaimed, the girl worried as her hair was now almost completely brown. "She stole our thing!" He added. The girl had no other choice.
"Sorry," she whispered to the twins, before kicking their shins, forcing them to let go of her. "Thanks…" she muttered towards Zoey, making a run and vanishing from view.
The Emeraude ignored the twins' pained curses or Echo telling them how the mystery girl was better than them in doing pranks as she stared towards the direction the girl disappeared from. The girl had sapphire blue eyes and light brown hair. She was clever and thought her prank through. She was also not afraid to talk back to the twins or cause a prank so big that it could get her expelled from Hogwarts.
Who was she?
Cold pale manicured hands held themselves on the marble banister. On both sides were two curved staircases leading to an ever – magnificent and well-kept ballroom. The ballroom, which looked like a mini-mansion in itself, was not new to Damiana. The witch leaned against the banister and held out her wand, pointing it at every corner of the ballroom, casting silent spells as sparks flew from the tip of her wand.
The ballroom was, of course, the very familiar entrance hall of the Emeraude Estate. The walls expanded, creating more room in the middle for people to dance and mingle, tables appeared in their designated areas while the statues of the tortured were distributed around the room, looking as if they were telling a story rather than screaming in agony. The staircase Damiana stood on moved to make room for the three pillars sprouting in the middle, all of different heights. A steep staircase wounded itself around the pillars for people to climb if they wanted to see the statues perched on top of them.
Everything was decorated in the traditional Emeraude colors of emerald green and gold along with some scarlet red sprinkled on each and everything. Two statues lifted from their place, replaced by some other Emeraude, and appeared on the two pillars, the tallest remaining bare. Damiana furrowed her brows at the undecorated pillar and looked down to the middle of the ballroom where Lecso stood, arms at his sides, quietly observing the ballroom decorate itself.
"Lecso," Damiana began, twirling her hand and looking around the ballroom herself, "I can't help but feel like there's something's missing."
"Could it be that the third pillar lacks a statue, Madam Emeraude?" Lecso spoke, his voice gruff. "How about the one of Sir Edison?" he pointed to a statue of a man looking as if his limbs were just about ready to be torn out of his body. "He's a favorite."
"Yes, quite," Damiana trailed off, looking over to 'Sir Edison'. Soon enough, a wicked smirk appeared on her ruby red lips. She then turned her attention back to Lecso. "I know the perfect piece to put on that pillar."
She began to descend from the steps and stopped right in front of the Teleporter. "Would you be a dear and fetch my niece? I'm sure she'd love to see what I've done to the place."
A smirk broke on Lecso's lips as he bowed to Damiana and teleported away without a word. When the man left, Damiana gazed up at the third pillar, her smile growing more sinister. She then pocketed her wand and elegantly glided to trail her hand over each and every statue decorating the walls, humming to herself.
Echo stared at herself in the vanity and raised an eyebrow. Dyeing her hair blonde but keeping the same golden eyes is somewhat dumb. If Mary Sue were there, she'd be suspicious of her. She was wearing a strapless sweetheart floor-length that was covered with gold embellishments with a white sash at a natural waist and was standing in some high heels, hoping that it would disguise her height. She grabbed for a golden barrette and clasped it on her recently curled hair. Her tresses began to interlock, cross, and twirl until they formed a sweet romantic up do.
For makeup, Echo went as natural as possible and went through little of it. Just as she was going to apply gloss after a tiring fifteen minutes of endless application, she heard someone knocking on her apartment door.
"Echo are you — " George practically lost all the words and thoughts forming in his mind as he spotted his girlfriend standing in front of him. He looked at the beauty that now stood in front of him, then down at his own self. He now knew why Echo had made him choose this particular suit.
"So how is it that you—" George began, pointing at Echo. "—Could look more beautiful every time I see you?" A small blush appeared on the, now, blonde's cheeks as George smiled, proud at himself.
"Don't you dare look at me like I'm some recently-fried bacon, George Weasley." Echo then snarled a little menacingly, but started to laugh. "After all those months dating me — " the rest were engulfed in giggles.
The dress Echo was wearing matched his entirely. The gold detail would look great beside his beige suit, with the simple golden necktie. George honestly thought that they were 'a match made in heaven', but now they actually looked the part. "All those months of dating you and what?" The red head asked, looking at his still giggling beau. "And don't think you're bacon, cause I like bacon." George began. "But I love you."
"I love you most, Weasley," Echo looked him in the eyes for one moment then smiled.
George walked over to Echo, the smile seeming to be permanently plastered on his face as his arms wove its way around her waist. "You do now do you?" The confident Weasley asked. "Well then, why don't you show me?" George was just about to lean in when something disturbed them.
The door slammed open and in came an impatient looking Frederick Gideon Weasley. "Oh will you two save the snogging for tonight?" He called out, tearing George away from Echo, making the blonde glare daggers at Fred's head. "Got these from Bridgit," Fred now said, pointing at the bottle in his hand. George realized that it was the hair-changing potion that Bridgit had tricked them with in their second year.
"Drink it and get down! Jane's already waiting downstairs." Fred gave one more look at his brother before downing the potion in hand. His hair turned midnight black, accenting his blue eyes and black tuxedo very well. George would not admit that Fred might actually be the handsome twin after all. "Got that?" He asked, the two nodding as he closed the door behind him.
"Wait here for a moment." Echo whispered to George as she went into the bathroom and stayed there for a couple of minutes, she athen came out coughing with bright blue eyes. Holding up an empty flask, Echo spoke, "The best I could do without killing myself."
"So, is this how you originally look like?" George asked, eyeing Echo up and down. "Honestly, even if you have all that –" He said, gesturing towards the hair and eyes. "—You are nothing like Mary Sue, her beauty and attitude is way out of your league." He smiled as he said this.
"Your league is up here" The boy raced his hand up above his head. "And Mary Sue is here." Now placing the other hand to the floor.
"Hey, hey, I don't even know how I really look like!" Offended, Echo nudged George on the arm, "For all we know my blonde hair is lighter and my blue eyes more... intense."
Before anything else could happen between the two, there was a gentle knocking at the door. Not waiting for a response, it opened, revealing Jane who wore a flowy cream-colored satiny charmeuse, strapless empire waist gown with blue flower bead embroidery. She looked Echo and George up and down before smiling.
"You guys ready to go?" she asked pleasantly, "Fred is practically tearing his hair out waiting… and that's a waste seeing as black hair does suits him."
"Well, who knows?" George asked, shrugging his shoulders. "Bald might be a good look for him."
"If it fits him, it should fit you too," Jane laughed before pushing the door open wider and standing aside. "We should go before my mother starts to wonder what's taking us so long."
"Let's get going, then? Zoey wouldn't want us to be late," said Echo a little melancholically.
"Alright," George sighed, hearing Zoey's name hurt knowing that his twin was probably suffering so much right now. "Let's go."
Jane nodded her head in agreement and led the two out of the room and downstairs to where Fred was waiting. The older of the Weasley twins was pacing back and forth, muttering things under his breath as he waited for the three to arrive. Hearing their footsteps, he looked up and shouted: "ABOUT BLOODY TIME! What are you – girls?"
He then walked up to them. Jane and Echo were about to speak but before they could, Fred practically shoved them out of the door. "No time to waste now turtles, we best be going."
"No need to be pushy – literally," Echo snarled.
"Easy on the force, Fred," Jane said, pulling out her purse and taking out the invitation from inside, "It's not easy to walk in these heels!"
Opening the envelope, she took out a small postcard with the picture of the Emeraude Estate on it. It looked like any other mansion only larger, it had a white-green tint to it and one could see different pureblood witches and wizards already making their way into the building. The girl dropped the postcard onto the pavement, facing up, and pushed her friends back slightly as the picture grew in size and molded into the floor.
"Shall we?" she then asked, not waiting long enough to hear a response, she stepped into the picture and slipped right into it. Dropping to the floor, she was greeted by her mother.
"About time, Jane," Mrs. Chatsworth said, her neatly plucked eyebrow rising at her child, "Where are your guests?"
"They're –" Jane began, hearing Fred, George and Echo dropping through the postcard with surprised grunts from the sudden contact with the floor. "Right here," she ended with a smile, catching the postcard as it fell from the sky. She placed it back into her purse.
"I see. Well, they're presentable," the woman said, scrutinizing the three, "I believe I didn't quite catch your names. Jane said your old friends back in Hogwarts?"
"Hayley. Hayley Beaumont," Echo said at once, smiling. She was so thankful for her long name. Jane felt herself inwardly sigh with relief, when her mother seemed to know the name. She could only hope that the twins were fast thinkers and very creative with names.
"I believe there's another Beaumont attending the ball. Kassandra was it?" Mrs. Chatsworth said, "You know her?"
"Yes. My… cousin. We aren't on speaking matters, though." Echo faked a sad tone in her voice.
"A shame," Jane's mother said though she didn't sound at all sympathetic. She then turned her attention towards Fred and George. "I didn't have the pleasure of being introduced to my daughters date and his… twin?"
"I'm urgh –" Fred began, thinking of an appropriate name. "– Gideon Prince, yes that's right." He said, smiling widely and proud. "And this is my brother, Fabian Prince, pleasure to make your acquaintance," he added.
"Likewise. You're quite attractive," the woman said, squinting her eyes before turning her attention back to Jane who looked like she had been holding her breath throughout the whole introduction. "He's a much better choice than that mudblood 'boyfriend' of yours. Maybe you should consider… replacing him with someone else," she casted a look towards Fred before smirking.
"Now child, we must not keep the Emeraudes waiting. After all, they were ever so kind enough to invite us." Mrs. Chatsworth ended, walking away from the group and made her way towards the entrance of the estate.
When her mother was finally out of eye and earshot, Jane turned to her friends. "Glad that's over," she gave them a smile, "Clever naming."
"Well, we are the Weasley Twi –" George was saying, earning a whack on the head from his brother. " – Prince Twins."
"Yes, well, we better go," Jane said and led them towards the entrance. They were just about to take a step on the green carpet when an arm suddenly fell in front of them, causing the four to stop. Jane blinked curiously at the arm before tracing it up to the person who owned it. It was a guard. He raised a brow at her and Jane took a cautious step back.
"I have the invitation," she said, already reaching into her purse, "It said I could bring guests –"
"I'm well aware of what the invitation says, Ma'am," the guard said, clearing his voice. He then snapped his fingers causing four broomsticks, Firebolts, to fly to the floor, in front of Fred, George, Echo and Jane. "We just have to test your magical ability, if that's alright."
"Wait, so we have to be tested?" Fred asked, turning to the guard and squinting his eyes. "For what exactly?"
"Obviously not for intelligence," The guard muttered, shaking his head. "You would have failed that right away." Fred and George glared.
"Test our magical ability? For what use? We are purebloods!" Echo crosses her arms.
A realization crossed over both the Prince twins' faces – they smirked. They could get through this test no sweat for they were purebloods to begin with. Echo on the other hand, they were not quite sure. Sending a look towards the Veela, she appeared to stay as calm as ever, her eyes looking at the broomsticks with boredom.
"Just trying to keep the Emeraude ball clean, Ma'am," the guard said gruffly, getting impatient with the four. "The tests aren't hard. For the first one, all you need to do is get your broom by saying 'Up!' I believe you've done this in school?"
"So there's more than one test?" Jane asked, squinting slightly at the guard. "How many are there, exactly?"
"Three," the man replied.
"And how would we be tested with the other two?" she then asked.
"That's classified, Ma'am," the guard looked passed them and saw several other guests approaching. "If you don't get your broomsticks up from the floor and into your hands soon, I'm afraid I'd have to put you kids aside so the other guests can enter."
"Do we go one by one or all at once?" Echo asked, stoic expression on her face. She didn't want to get kicked out before she could even enter the estate.
Fred and George, or Gideon and Fabian rather, stepped up to the broomsticks at lightning speed, smirking. They held out their hands, smiling as the flying lessons in Hogwarts suddenly flashed into their minds. "Up!" They both exclaimed, both their brooms shooting upwards into their grasp.
"You may enter," the guard said, snapping his finger and the broomsticks in the twins' hands flew into his own. "Next?" he looked to Jane.
Not being much of a flier, Jane was slightly panicked, but the mere fact that her dainty mother got through this test gave her some courage. Holding her hand over the broom, she repeated what the twins said and the broomstick came flying into her hand within the second. She smirked and gave the broom back to the guard and stood by the twins' side, waiting for Echo to make her move.
Echo eyed the guard before going beside the broom. She held her hand hesitantly over it. Trembling with uncertainty, Echo spoke, "Up." The broom wavered a bit before shooting upwards into Echo's hand.
"You may proceed," the guard said, eyeing the girl as she and her friends made it to the next test.
Entering through the door, they were welcomed into a white room with marbled floors and walls, a chandelier hung above them and there was a regular sized mahogany table in the middle of the entire room with a healer sitting behind it. She gave them a smile.
"Welcome to the second test," she said, opening her arms wide and soon, four velvet-red chairs appeared. "I'm sure the guard gave you the reason why you need to be tested before entering, right?"
"Something like that…" Jane trailed off, slipping into her seat and motioning the other three to do the same. Slowly, they all sat down.
"Are we going to get operated or something?" George whispered to Echo.
"Shame. My dress is new," the girl replied, smoothing out her clothes and looking back at the healer, prepared to be cut open at any given time.
"Really now?" George asked, smirking at the given opportunity to flatter the lovely maiden once again. "It's a new beauty is nothing compared to you."
"Oh no, nothing like that," the nurse giggled, hearing what George whispered, "All we need to do is have a small sample of your blood. It would just take a second. Nothing too hard."
"And what will our blood be proving?" Fred scoffed. "That we don't have muggle blood in our system?" To Fred's shock, the healer nodded.
"Exactly, Mister…?" the healer asked, facing him.
"Prince," he answered, feeling his face pale when he saw the nurse dig into the drawer in the table, pulling something out.
"Well, Mister Prince, would you like to go first?" the healer asked holding up what seemed to be a syringe. The smile on her face was so sweet that it almost looked sinister.
"I – I…" Fred stuttered, staring at the healer and her needle. "I…think my brother would like to go first."
"Oi!" George suddenly piped up. "Who gave you that idea, git – I mean, Gideon?"
"You did say you were the braver twin," Fred answered, begging to his brother. George didn't take it.
"No, my dear brother, I am the better looking twin." He said, contrasting with his thoughts moments ago. "You, on the other hand, are the braver."
Jane rolled her eyes at how the twins were acting and tapped the healer on her shoulder, making her turn her attention to her. Jane offered her a smile, though it twitched a bit in the corners. She was getting impatient. "How about I go first while the gentlemen settle who's manlier," Jane said sweetly; showing her arm to the healer, ready to get tested.
"Perfect," the healer giggled, extracting a bit of blood from Jane before tapping the girl's arm with her wand, sealing up the small cut she created, and then tapping the syringe. The needle was replaced and blood inside disappeared.
Seconds later, the tip of the healer's wand emitted pink sparks. "You may pass," she said, smiling at Jane. The chair beneath the girl disappeared, almost making her fall to the floor if she didn't grab hold of the table.
"Great," Jane faked glee and made her way to the door, waiting for whoever wanted to go next.
"So who's next? The healer asked, not excited to face the bumbling twins once again, but had to keep the smile on her face present and pleasant. It was part of her job.
" – But, dear brother, don't tell me you're afraid of a little needle," George said, smirking at Fred's now reddening face. He sure knew how to get his twin worked up.
"Of course I'm not afraid!" Fred exclaimed. "And don't you remember who shouted like a girl during our first check up, Fabian?" He added, proud, obviously not remembering that day correctly.
"Of course I remember, Gideon," George answered, his smirk still playing on his lips. "It was you."
Echo released a sigh at their stupidity. "I can't believe I'm dating one of you," she then said, placing her palm to her face and shaking her head.
"Mister Prince? Mister Prince?" the healer called, turning the twins' attention to her once more. "I'm sorry to burst this little fight, but there are guests outside."
"Oh uhm…" Fred said, taking a breath and sighing in defeat. He couldn't waist anymore time. He needed to find Zoey as soon as possible. "Fine then, I'll just go first."
"Finally," Jane muttered shaking her head. She watched as the nurse continued to smile her perfect smile, showing her pearly whites, as she asked Fred to remove his coat and push up his sleeve.
The healer repeated to process of drawing blood, healing his cut and changing the needle, removing the blood from inside the tube. Her wand then released pink spark and the chair from underneath Fred disappeared. He caught himself by placing a hand on George's armrest.
"You may go now, Mister Prince," she said, without looking towards Fred's direction. The boy grumbled before straightening up, putting his coat back on and making his way to Jane, standing by her side.
"Well that was polite," Fred commented, dusting off his coat.
"You deserved it," Jane laughed, "You were taking too much time."
"I believe you're next, Mister Prince," the healer said, facing George. Without warning, she waved her wand and George's chair zoomed to her side, his coat soon off of his body and over his lap.
"What the –?" George said, shocked at the sudden development.
The healer then pushed up his sleeves and repeated the same process with only greeter speed. As soon as the pink sparks shot out of her wand, the chair beneath George disappeared and the boy fell to the floor with a harsh thump. Before he could even complain, Echo's chair came zooming to the healer's side.
Just as the healer was about to inject the syringe into Echo's arm, a voice made itself known. "Hurry up in there!" the voice came with a loud knock, "The guests are complaining!" The healer's eyes closed with irritation, looking like her patience was wearing thin. She was just about to insert the needle through Echo's skin when the girl made a quick grab for George's wrist, placing it under the syringe. Without noticing it, the healer had drawn out George's blood instead.
George yelped as the needle left his skin as soon as it entered (Fred had to hold back his laugh). The healer then opened her eyes and repeated the same process she did with the other three. When the pink sparks came, she sent a twitching smile at Echo. "You and your… boyfriend," she trailed off when she saw George's arm over Echo's while the rest of his body was slumped on the floor, "…May leave now. Hurry, please."
Jane thanked the healer, pushed through the marbled doors and the four of them exited the marbled room. They were walking down a long, dimly lit, hallway, wondering what the third test had in store for them. When they were finally out of hearing distance of the healer, Fred belted out his laughter like there was no tomorrow. How could he not? George's face was priceless! He wished he had a camera to relieve that moment forever, and for blackmail purposes of course.
"What are you laughing at?" George harshly asked.
"Well," Fred began, getting control of his laughter. "I know you didn't, but you should have seen your face! That was bloody hilarious!" the braver twin added.
"Oh, Har har!" Fred laughed at George's obvious irritation.
Echo whacked Fred's head with her clutch, obviously irritated as well. "Can we just go to the third test?"
"She's right. We were lucky enough to get Echo passed the last one," Jane said, her eyes adjusting to the dim hallway. The hallway seemed to go on forever but the further they went in, there seemed to be a bright light at the end accompanied by music one could dance to. She was suspicious of where in the mansion they could be.
"Fine, fine," Fred answered, rubbing his head. First Bridgit would whack his head, now Echo? Did his head look like a whacking bag or something? "But I still say that happened because you didn't want to go first." At that, George maturely stuck his tongue out at his twin.
Fred made a move to stick out his tongue as well but was stopped when Jane spoke in an almost terrified voice. Looking to his "date" he saw her eyes widen with both shock and disgust as she looked at something in the direction of the wall.
"Guys," Jane's voice trembled, "Did you notice these before?"
"Notice –" Fred began to say but his words weren't able to escape his mouth when he saw what Jane was looking at. It was a statue of a man, pressed up against the wall looking as if he was facing his worst nightmare and was stuck at a dead end. Looking back at where he and his friends came from, he saw more statues similar to the one Jane was looking at. He then turned his attention further down the hall; statues decorated the walls as well.
"You don't think…" Jane swallowed hard, turning to look at the twins and Echo, "If we fail the third test… we'll end up like…them?"
"What do you think?" Echo raised an eyebrow.
"How…how are you so sure that…" Fred answered, trying to form a coherent sentence. "That… they are real witches and wizards?"
"Yeah," George added. "Maybe, ugh, the owner just likes statues that show immense pain."
"Or that purebloods are really that stereotypical nowadays," Echo mused.
"Let's just hope that it's just that," Jane took a deep breath and headed down the hall, hearing the sound of a door opening and closing. "We better hurry before the other guests catch up. We might not have enough time to help Echo through the third test if they're right behind us."
The girl lifted her dress up slightly and made a near run towards the lighted part of the hallway. She wanted to buy them more time. She heard the twins make a surprised noise from her sudden dash but she didn't have time to talk. No later than a second, she heard them, along with a reluctant Echo, running behind her.
When they finally reached the end of the hallway, a tall arc with a translucent green curtain greeted them. They could see figures dancing and mingling just behind it. Next to the arc was a witch holding a clipboard to her chest. The smile on her face wasn't as wide and creepy as the healer's.
"Welcome to the third test," her voice was soft yet clear. "Well, I wouldn't really call it a test."
"Just…Just…what do we have to do?" Jane said, her voice evidently failing her. She wasn't used to running around let alone in heels. She glanced back and saw the twins standing tall, panting as well, and Echo trying to massage her aching feet without removing her heels. "So… sorry. We just thought we saw something down the hall and decided to make a run for the light." Jane tried to explain.
"Saw the statues did you?" the woman chuckled, "They do tend to scare anyone who's new to the Emeraude estate. Is this the first Emeraude ball you're attending?"
"Hopefully the only…" Fred muttered lowly, trying to catch a proper breath within his lungs. Lucky for him, the witch didn't hear his words.
"Well, this test is quite easy to do," the witch began, not seeing the grimace that came across the four's faces. "All you have to do is give me your name and I'll check them off the list."
"Li…list?" George asked, sharing a look with the other three. "What list?"
"Hold on a moment," Echo said between breaths. "How about the other people the guests brought?"
"That's simple, Ma'am," the woman chuckled once more, beginning to explain. "On this list is every pureblood family in the Wizarding world. If your surname is here, you're in. It's that easy!"
Echo, understanding the woman's clear explanation, nudged Jane in the side and tilted her head, motioning her to go first. Seeing what the Veela was trying to tell her, Jane cleared her throat. "Chatsworth, Jane," she said, her eyes blinking.
"Chatsworth… Chatsworth…" the woman trailed off, searching the list, before smiling. "Excellent. I believe your mother passed through not too long ago. Welcome to the Emeraude Ball! Next!"
"Good luck," George whispered, placing a comforting hand on Echo's shoulder before giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Beaumont, Hayley," Echo bit her tongue the moment she finished speaking.
The woman's eyes now scanned upward, muttering Echo's surname under her breath before stopping at the name she was looking for. "Right this way, Miss Beaumont, I think your cousin was one of the first to arrive! Next!" Echo turned to George and gave him a reassuring smile before joining Jane.
"Who goes first now?" George asked, making Fred turn to him with an 'Are you stupid' look.
"Obviously it doesn't matter, dimwit," Fred answered, his patience growing thin when he found out how close he was to getting Zoey back. "We're twins, meaning same surname." He added, making George glare at his brother.
"No need to be cocky," George replied, "You're making me miss Bridgit and Hermione."
"Names, please," the woman interjected, "I'm quite sure the other guests are about to arrive."
"Prince, Gideon and Fabian," Fred answered, hoping that his voice didn't stutter.
The woman nodded her head and began scanning the list, even flipping to the second page as her eyes went over every pureblood name on the list. Her mouth formed a tight line and a crease appeared on her forehead. The four began to panic. Had their luck finally run out? Before long, the woman looked away from her clipboard and back at the twins.
"That's funny." She said, her voice hard. "You're names are on the list but here's the thing…I do believe that there hasn't been a pureblood Prince in quite some time."
"Well..." Fred began, forming an explanation, but George had already begun to talk.
"We're, Long-lost-distant relatives hidden away in the deeps of the Wizarding world never to be heard of unless in such rarities where they attend parties like this," he said quickly.
Echo and Jane's jaws dropped, what did George just say? It seemed so fast to be understandable. Fred's face was of shock and disbelief as he looked at his twin, praying that those words did not just spray out of his mouth. Judging by the look George was giving and the reaction of Jane and Echo, what he heard was true. Groaning, he looked back at the woman.
"Hidden? For what reason?" the woman asked, not wanting to believe in that he was saying. She held the clipboard more firmly against her chest as she narrowed her eyes at the twins, slowly inching to block their way if they ever felt like running right passed the green curtains.
"Yeah, Fabian, why were we hidden?" There was an edge in Fred's voice. Not the joking kind. It was more like the 'make it good or you'll be sleeping with the fishes' kind.
"Exactly what you said!" George exclaimed, smiling at the woman. "There are no more listed purebloods, they hid us so that we would sustain our blood and keep it away from those...those...dirty muggles –" George apologized to any muggle born or half blood friend he had. " –And that's exactly why we are here with these purebloods, we're to be married and continue on in our family's honor."
A smile danced on Echo's lips as Jane and Fred both stared at him in outrage. Was he bloody of his rocker? Surprisingly, the woman bought George's explanation and stepped aside, granting him and his twin entrance.
"Well, Mister Prince, I can assure you that you and your brother would find lovely brides-to-be here," she said, opening the curtain. "The Emeraudes are of a lovely and pleasant race. You'd be lucky to have one of them as your wife."
As they passed by the woman and went through the curtain, Fred turned to George. "Did… did she just… believe you…?" he asked, making George smirk and turn to him.
"Apparently, now we know who the smarter twin is too," George retorted.
"Will you two stop it?" Echo spoke in a clipped tone while she got a handkerchief from her clutch and started coughing. There was a rather foul stench in the air. It was a perfume but it was strong.
"They have those stature people in here too," Jane commented, looking around the ballroom seeing a statue in every direction she looked. She even saw a couple perched up on some pillars but they were too high to distinguish. Looking back down to earth, she saw that the purebloods were scattered around. Some were dancing, mingling and eating while the four of them were the only ones staying put. She turned to the twins and Echo. "Should we split up and look for Zoey? We stand out if we just stand here, unmoving."
"We could –" George began to say but he suddenly felt the hairs at the back of his neck stand when a familiar squeal was heard. His eyes wide, he stiffly turned his head to look towards the direction the squeal came from.
There stood, or practically running, Mary-Sue with her long blonde curls flowing behind her. She wore a lavender A-line dress with a fully beaded bust and a halter neckline that went so low that it looked like her bongo drums would burst out. The fact that she was running didn't help either.
"Please don't tell me she recognizes you," Jane whispered out, remembering the girl from back in sixth year and how Bridgit played a prank on her in order to "stall."
"Oh dear Merlin," Echo whispered, wishing that what she was seeing was just a horrible hallucination.
"Seriously? She's here too?" Fred muttered, annoyed. The universe was not kind to him today.
Mary-Sue reached George in no time and not even a second passed before she latched herself onto her arm and pushed Echo away from his side, the latt9er stumbling back, only to be caught by Fred and Jane. The glare she was giving the girl… if looks could kill. The perfect princess's grip on George's arm was so intense that he felt all feeling disappear; he grimaced at the fact that he once again attracted the girl's attention. Glancing back, he tried to beg his friends to help him out.
"Hey there, handsome," Mary-Sue said, her voice low and sultry. "I've never seen you at an Emeraude ball before. Where have you been hiding?"
"Obviously somewhere safe if it kept him away from you," Fred whispered, making Jane laugh beside him. It couldn't be said about Echo though.
"What do you want, girl?" Echo snarled, pretending to not know Mary-Sue. Deep inside her pituitary gland, she wanted to kick her arse to Kingdom come, bring her back, skewer her, roast her in the flames of a thousand infernos and drop her charcoal bits into the water. And that was putting things nicely.
Mary-Sue's brow twitched a bit at what Echo used to address her as she slowly turned her attention to the Veela, not recognizing her due to her hair, eye and height change. The anger, though, seemed familiar. After all, Mary-Sue witnessed many like it. Looking her up and down, Mary-Sue smirked.
"Isn't that cute. The little girl wants to look like me so she can get your attention too, sweetie-pie," she already gave George a nickname. The boy felt his stomach churn.
"How old are you?" Fred finally let out, making Mary-Sue look at him. She furrowed her eyes at him, looking at Fred up and down before her smirk turned into s flirty smile. Twins. She was feeling lucky.
"Seventeen," Mary-Sue answered proudly, and Fred smirked. True, he didn't like Mary-Sue, but he would embarrass her in the simplest way possible. Hit her straight in her pride.
"Oh trust me, girl, I can get a hell lot more boys than you can in thirty seconds." Echo narrowed her eyes at the spoiled brat in front of her. "At least I'm legal."
"Also, girl," Fred added, deciding to use Echo's name for the annoying nymph. "She was born before you, therefore, she's not copying you at all. Quite the contrary, you could be the one copying her."
"Oh, burn," Jane couldn't help but say, laughing into her hand.
Mary-Sue was too appalled to speak after receiving her about three hundred degree burn. Her eyes went wide and her glossy red mouth hung open, gaping at the two. George took this as his chance to escape, wriggling his arm loose from her hold, he inched away from the girl and went back to Echo's side, wrapping his arm around her waist and leading her away from the girl and towards the dance floor. He was just about to take the first step when Fred coughed.
"Blending in," George told him, "You should try it."
Fred's mouth formed a tight line but he couldn't change his brother's mind for George had already dance Echo and himself far from Fred. Sighing, Fred was just about to escape in order to look for Zoey when Jane took hold of one of his hands and placed it on her waist. She laid her right hand on his shoulder and took his other hand in hers, gliding him to the dance floor. He sent her a confused look as they danced to the rhythm of the music.
"George has the right idea on blending in," She whispered to him, forcing Fred to spin her around as she took a good look at the people dancing around them before returning into Fred's arm. "I don't think the Emeraudes would be too pleased if they saw you sneaking around."
"I won't be sneaking –" Fred began, offended on how Jane described his art of 'snooping.'
"Then what would you be doing? Casually walking around their house? That's not very polite for someone who went into hiding to keep his blood pure and what not. Besides, are you so sure they would keep Zoey in the estate? I thought there were torturing her not pampering." Jane added, catching the eye of her mother who was dancing not too far away from her.
She seemed pleased. "Bring me away from my mother, please," Jane muttered under her breath, "She likes the thought I'm getting cozy with a handsome pureblood."
"Well, you are getting cozy with a handsome pureblood," Fred answered back, his expression smug. "Problem is, the pureblood is a blood traitor and in love with a girl named Zoey, while you're are pureblood in love with a bloke named Aiden."
"Whom my parents disapprove of," Jane sighed, tilting her head to point the ground. She watched as her feet and Fred's avoided each other with ever glide of step. "We should stop this dance soon before they think you're going to propose by the end of tonight."
"Sorry to disappoint your mother," Fred began, backing away and bowing as Jane curtsied. The song had ended and already a new one began to play. "I only have one girl I plan to propose to, and no offense, but it isn't you." Jane laughed as she playfully hit Fred on his arm.
"I'm pretty sure that the girl you want would say yes too," Jane added. "And besides, I already have someone to love, and he's much more dashing than you." It was Fred's turn to laugh.
"I guess it's true what people say about love." Jane raised her eyebrow at Fred's words. "It makes you blind, especially if you think Aiden is much more handsome than me." And the third girl in Fred's life whacked his head. Yup, Zoey was the only one for him. She would never abuse him like these other bloody women did.
The two were just about to leave the dance floor, hopefully to find clues as to where Zoey was being hidden, but were stopped when a small tug on Fred's coat caught his attention. Looking down, he saw a young girl; probably the age of nine, with large grey eyes and brown hair curled and held up in pigtails. She wore a flowy yellow dress with a black bow around the middle along with black flats. She grinned up at Fred who only gave her a questioning look.
"Hiya Mister!" the girl giggled, "My name's Evelyn!"
"Uhm… Hello…?" Fred answered, not really prepared for a nine-year-old to walk up to him.
"Say, Mister, you dance pretty well," Evelyn swayed, her eyes blinking at him. "Could you, pretty please, dance with me? I'm sure you're girlfriend won't mind, right?" she then turned her attention to Jane who's eyes widened at the sudden look the kid was giving her.
"Go ahead, Gideon, I don't mind," Jane said, her voice forcing a laugh as she stepped a few inches away from the little girl.
"I'd love to, but… I'm sort of…" Fred was flustered. Why would a nine-year-old girl want to dance with him? Surely there were some other pureblood wizards her age around? "Looking for someone."
Evelyn pouted, her eyes welling up alligator tears. "Please?" she begged, using a baby voice. The pouted her lips and made a whiny sort of noise with her throat. It was almost like she was imitating a sad puppy. "It's just one dance!"
"I'm really sorry, maybe later, okay?" Fred said, looking at the girl pleadingly. He did not want to deal with a crying girl tonight especially when he truly wasn't welcome in the Emeraude estate. A churn in his gut told him that something bad was going to happen soon.
Maybe wasn't good enough for Evelyn. She folded her arms across her chest, puffed out her cheeks and stomped her foot against the floor, making her body shake violently. When Fred made no move to take back his words, she glared at him.
"Is this because I'm younger than you?" she asked, her voice changing slightly. "Fine! I'll just dance with your brother!" As if on cue, George and Echo came to view and the girl tugged harshly on George's coat, tearing him away from Echo who was just as shocked as anybody at the nine-year-old's strength.
Evelyn took George's hand in hers and began to grow in height before their very eyes. Her yellow dress grew from her knees to her ankles as her flats turned into heels. Her hair changed in style and her eyes shrank just a tad. Everyone gasped at Evelyn's new appearance.
Not only were the four friends shocked but also a girl standing not too far from them. This girl had long auburn hair tied up into a tight ponytail and brown eyes with gold specs in them. She was just talking to her date, a tall, freckle covered, ginger haired man, when she saw the nine-year-old change. She nearly dropped her wine glass at the sight.
The night air blew, whistling as it hit the Yew hedges of the manor located within Wiltshire, England. The wrought-iron gates standing tall, intimidating those who even dared to sneak into the premise. Standing tall with high towers, pointed roofs, large windows, and castle like structure, Malfoy Manor did not look like a welcoming place what-so-ever. Perfect.
"How can we possibly get into Hogwarts? With Dumbledore there no less!" Antonin Dolohov shouted out, standing from his seat and staring at Pettigrew from across the hall. How stupid was this rat to believe in such poppy cock? His mind truly was as small as that of his Animagus.
"The only links to the school we have are these two –" Dolohov continued, now pointing a finger toward Bridgit and Draco's direction. "–And they're both just as useless as you!" Pettigrew looked like he was about to retort, when Voldemort suddenly waved his hand in a manner of silence.
"Now Dolohov," He began, turning to one of his most faithful Death Eaters. "You have no right as to belittle the talents of these two." He continued, facing Bridgit and Draco with a smile. Bridgit and Draco cringed under the piercing stare of his blood red eyes and shuddered at the sound of his dark, cruel, and merciless voice. "They have done well."
Bridgit and Draco shared a look and gulped. They did not like anything that was planned, nor did they like what was going to happen. "So, Bridgit, Draco, what have you both found out?" He asked, his voice seemed kind but disappointment was proven to be fatal. They had better prepared a good answer or suffer the consequences. "Something useful I hope."
Bridgit turned to Draco and saw that he was cowering, probably wanting to runaway and hide in his room. Narcissa and Lucius seemed worried for his well-being, and somehow, Bridgit was too. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder as she spoke.
"Draco has managed to find something very useful." The brunette said, turning to Draco with a comforting look. They had shared many fights in the past, the chicken prank included, but when they were both trapped within the walls of Malfoy Manor like this, it was only in each other they could find a friend.
"Really?" Someone voiced out, seeming to be in disbelief. It was Severus Snape. Bridgit and Draco nodded at the same time. They had both spent hours in Draco's room just to rehearse how to say this. Being Draco's first official meeting with the Death Eaters, he was nervous and had asked Bridgit for help. The Parker agreed, feeling his pain, but saying that the nerves never go away. Not really. "Do share."
"Last year, I found out about a cabinet within the Hogwarts walls," Draco began, Bridgit noting Snape's widening eyes, Narcissa's worried glances, and Nagini's irritating hisses. "It makes the things placed inside it disappear, A Vanishing Cabinet," Draco added, making Bridgit's hold on him tighten. He was getting nervous.
"And what is the importance of this Vanishing Cabinet?" Yexley asked, catching Draco off guard. "Relax, Draco." Bridgit whispered, squeezing his shoulder once more. "Just say what we practiced." She added, making Draco nod.
"This cabinet isn't just simply a Vanishing Cabinet," Now getting some self-confidence, Draco continued. "It has a partner cabinet within the safety of Borgin and Burke's, and it transports the objects within each other." He finished, and most of the Death Eater's seemed confused.
Bridgit rolled her eyes, they truly were as stupid as they looked. "Meaning that even people can get transported." She added for Draco, making the people within the room smirk and grin rather evilly, getting on to what the two teenagers were now saying.
"So, dearies," Bellatrix LeStrange's voice rang out. "Is this cabinet in tip-top condition?" She continued. The color faded from the two teen's faces. They obviously have not gotten to that part yet, and were now nervous once again.
"That's the point," Bridgit now said. "Peeves the Poltergeist damaged it in 1992 and Draco and I will need time to fix it." She continued, Draco nodded beside her. "We were planning to check out the one in Borgin and Burkes and find out what's wrong with the other, we will send a message through the cabinet when it is restored and finished." Draco now spoke, making Voldemort smirk.
"Very well then, you two may now take your leave." Bridgit and Draco hastily stood up as they heard the Dark Lord call Snape's name and did not stick around to find out what the matter of their discussion would be. They wanted to be away from them. From the Dark Lord, Nagini, Bellatrix, Dolohov, everyone! They just wanted to be out of that room.
Up the stairs, through the corridors, passed the house elves (Bridgit saying sorry as she hit one), and down the hall they ran and didn't stop until they were safe inside Draco's room. They heaved, trying to catch their breaths, and both sat on Draco's bed. Bridgit looked around and smiled at the fact that nothing had changed since the last time she was in there.
The bed was still Slytherin green, the walls were still silver, the curtains green as well, and the posters of some famous Quidditch teams up on the wall. It was probably the only thing that described Draco as Draco and not Malfoy.
"Truly do love your decorating skills you know Draco." Bridgit commented, offering the fifteen-year-old a warm smile. He smiled, but not as warmly. She could hardly blame him.
"I could say the same for you and your room." Draco answered, making Bridgit shake her head. It was true, when they both needed to escape the world of the dead and dark, they would hurry to her, well uncle's, house and play some Quidditch out back.
"Oh very funny," Bridgit said, throwing a pillow at Draco's direction. "For your information, you still owe me a new Backstreet Boys poster!" Bridgit added, making Draco confused. Bridgit rolled her eyes. "It was the poster with the five guys, you know, the one you poured spilt milk on!" She added, making Draco smirk at the memory.
"Not my fault your dog suddenly pounced on me!" He shouted, Bridgit, again, rolled her eyes.
"You stepped on his tail! What did you expect him to do? Lick you to say hello?" Both the teenagers shared a laugh at their situation. Moments ago, they were cowering in fear, now they were messing around like a couple of thirteen year olds having a sleep over.
When their laughter finally died down, Bridgit and Draco looked at each other with grins on their faces. True, in Hogwarts they were thought of as enemies, but they really weren't. What she had told Fred and George before, about Draco, all of that was true…well probably except the Drakie part. When he had seen her in Hogsmeade alone, he had confronted her about it and even said he would call her Cari if she ever used that putrid nickname ever again. She had cringed.
"Do you really think we'll get that cabinet fixed, Cari?" He asked, a smirk forming on his lips. They were just that kind of friends. Insults and annoyance won't really do anything but make the other fight back.
"Sure, Drakie, but I honestly don't want it fixed." Bridgit answered, making Draco frown at the name, but he shook it off immediately, replacing it with a serious look.
"Why is it that you got out of the Dark Mark, but I didn't?" Draco asked, wondering. He knew very well how persuasive Bridgit could be, but somehow he still wondered why he had not gotten than same privilege.
"Honestly, Draco, I don't know anymore. Maybe it's because I'm a half-blood." She answered, making Draco look at her apologetically.
"Really sorry I called you a Mudblood before, you really didn't explain your situation to me until a few weeks back."
Bridgit sighed at the mention of their heart to heart, brother to sister talk within this very same room. Draco had convinced her to tell him about her past. She seemed to know everything about Draco's; he just wanted to know the person he thought of as an older sister better as well.
Draco and Bridgit sat on the younger's bed Indian style and facing each other. They had taken a break from training with the Death Eaters and decided to take their deserved rest in the comfort of Draco's air-conditioned room. They both had asked for a glass of juice (Pumpkin for Draco while Strawberry for Bridgit) and were now gulping it down like there was no tomorrow.
"So Bridgit," Draco began, wiping the drop of pumpkin juice that escaped his mouth. "I heard that your Boggart is a burning house, why is that?" Bridgit almost choked on her drink as she heard Draco's words. How did he possibly find that out? She decided not to ask as she stared curiously at Draco.
"Why do you want to know?" She asked, and Draco shrugged his shoulders. "Just curious"
Bridgit sighed as she turned her attention to the window. She really didn't want to talk about it, but she couldn't lie to Draco either. No, he deserved the truth. "Well I guess you could say it's because of Lord No-Nose." Bridgit answered, making Draco laugh. The nickname never failed to make anyone who hated him laugh.
"You see Draco, my uncle had a sister. He tells me that she's really pretty. She had light brown hair, hazel eyes, peaches and cream complexion and a smile that was so contagious even the sun copied it." Bridgit began, Draco listening intently. "Her name was Cari Alexandra James, that was my mother's name." Bridgit continued, Draco looking at the tears that seemed to be building up in the girl's eyes.
"She fell in love with a muggle while doing a job for the ministry." She now said. "She bumped into him in a coffee shop and she spilled a hot White Chocolate Mocha onto his pants. She felt so embarrassed, but the muggle man decided that Cari was simply too beautiful and decided to buy her another drink. Cari insisted that he shouldn't, but the man insisted." The tears now were falling and Draco put a hand on Bridgit's shoulders. "She later found out that the man was named Adam Sean Parker, he liked to be called Adam though."
"Adam and Cari fell in love and had a daughter. Adam named her Bridgit after the powerful goddess Brigid." Draco somewhat regretted asking his question, but this was also the first time Bridgit had released so much about herself.
"Uncle Drew never liked Adam, but he would never say that out loud. He said that Cari had ended up pregnant once again, but they had never found out what gender the baby contained for the house of the family burning down had killed him or her."
Draco could see the tears that continued to flow as Bridgit closed her eyes, probably reliving the moments that she could remember. She squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "Bridgit wasn't killed though." She explained. "She was found in a magic dome, protecting her from the fire. The Death Eaters had taken her to their leader and he had decided to use her for his gain. She became his spy, but she hated them. Bridgit hated them cause they killed her family."
The blonde boy couldn't hold his own tears back as he now pulled his 'older sister' into a hug. She sobbed onto his shoulder as she released all the pain that she was feeling and shared it. "And her uncle can't even look at her without seeing the man he hated and sister he loved." She finished, Draco rubbing her back in a comforting manner. He was happy yet sad at the same time. He knew her better, but why did he feel so guilty for making her say all that?
"I'm sorry Bridgit" Draco whispered as Bridgit continued to sob.
"Hey Draco, I'm hungry." Bridgit all too suddenly said, deciding not to live in the past and focus on the present. Draco turned to her and asked what she wanted to eat. "I want a strawberry shortcake, let's go make one!" She exclaimed, taking hold of Draco's hand and pulling him out the room towards the direction of the kitchen.
The fifteen year old resisted. "Let me go! I don't know how to bake!" He exclaimed.
"Much more reason to learn, Drakie!" Bridgit reasoned, opening the door to the kitchen. The house elves greeted her warmly, seeing as she was one of the only people nice to them.
"Miss Bree-jeet" one said, making Bridgit laugh at the prolonged 'dgit' on her name. "What would you like?" The house elf asked.
"I would like to teach Drakie here how to bake a strawberry shortcake!" Bridgit answered, making Draco complain once more.
"I'll get you back for this one, Cari." He mumbled, but he couldn't complain now. They both really needed a good laugh. Maybe messing around trying to bake would give them that.
Evelyn was obviously an Emeraude. If she wasn't, then she was a metamorphmagus. The once nine-year-old girl aged about six years at most! By the time her hair, clothes and everything stopped changing, she looked like an entirely different person. When her transformation ended, she looked eerily familiar. Evelyn was now about fifteen years old, reaching just around George's earlobe with her heels. Smirking at their shocked stares, she placed a hand on George's chest, leaning her head on it as well.
"Now, don't you wish you accepted my offer to dance?" her voice changed into a low, smug tune as she giggled. "I'm pretty sure your brother here would be a much better dance partner anyway."
Finding out who the girl looked like, Fred snapped. At that one transformation, his already thing patience broke and something in him change. Something he couldn't quite control. He had experienced such a feeling before, but never was it this intense.
"Where. Is. She?" Fred shouted, walking up to the girl, taking her hands and pulling her away from George. "Where is Zoey?" he continued to shout, causing people within a five foot radius to turn to him.
Suddenly, the music ceased to play and everyone on the dance floor moved out, finding shelter behind the tables and by the walls. Those within the same age group as Fred and the others looked at them curiously while those older that them stared with disgust. How dare he disrupt the Emeraude ball! The children of the pureblood families retreated to their parents, hiding behind them, scared at what Fred might do in his angered state.
"Hey!" Evelyn squealed, her eyes widening with fear. She took a step back from Fred, trying to create a distance. "Let. Go. Of. Me! I don't know who you're talking about!" she then said, trying to break Fred's hold on her.
"Don't know?" Fred asked, tightening his grip on the girl's hand. Evelyn began to feel pain surge through her, but Fred refused to let her go. "How can you not know? You look exactly like her!"
George, Echo, and Jane stared at Fred not knowing what to do. He was causing a scene, something they did not need, but they also wanted to know why this girl looked so much like Zoey. Staying quite, they watched as the scene before them unfolded, ready to break it up if anything bad happened. One could only imagine what Fred would do if he didn't get the answers he wanted.
Before Evelyn could say anything, a hand was placed on top of Fred's, forcing him to release his hold. He looked up and was surprised to his older brother, Percy, standing behind the girl who forced him to let go of the Zoey look a like. She pushed Fred slightly, causing him to stumble towards his friends as she took hold of Evelyn's hand. The girl was trembling from shock at what just happened.
"Please, Mister Prince," she surprisingly knew his 'name', "You're upsetting Miss Evelyn and our guests."
"Upsetting?" Fred continued, bellowing out in full blast. He didn't give a damn about who heard him. He had enough. He couldn't contain it anymore. It was just too much for him to handle. His hands slowly formed into tight fists, his knuckles turning white, before he spoke once more.
"I DON'T FREAKING CARE WHO'S UPSET! THAT GIRL KNOWS WHERE ZOEY IS AND I'M BLOODY NOT LEAVING THIS SPOT UNTIL SHE TELLS ME!" George walked up to his twin, standing beside him and placed a hand on Fred's shoulder. Fred didn't notice this due to his rage. Upset? If they were upset, he was just about ready to explode.
"Mister Prince, is it?" Percy suddenly spoke, making Fred turn to him with a glare. At home, school or in a party, Percy was still a big pain in the arse. "You are out of control, please do find a way to keep your temper at bay or do leave the Emeraude estate. We do not want you causing such scenes here."
Fred smirked as he turned towards his older brother. Oh how long had he been waiting to do this. George was shocked, Audrey froze, Jane and Echo both stared bug eyed as Fred, the supposed brave twin, punched Percy making the older boy fall to the ground clenching his jaw.
"Our of control?" Fred bellowed out, glaring down at his brother. There was no forgiveness in his eyes, possibly no mercy either. "YOU'RE TELLING ME I'M OUT OF CONTROL? WHAT ARE ALL OF YOU HERE THEN? HUH?"
"YOUR ALL A BUNCH OF FAKE AND TWO FACED PEOPLE!" Fred continued, forgetting who he was. Who he was supposed to be on that day. He didn't give a damn if he was Fred Weasley or Gideon Prince. He just needed to scream. "ESPECIALLY YOU! YOU HANG OUT HERE WHEN YOUR MOTHER CRIES AND MISSES YOU AT HOME!"
George glared at Percy now too as he remembered how much tears their mother had shed for him. Him, Percy Ignatius Weasley, the blasted big head of the family. He remembered how Bill and Charlie were so devastated to lose their brother to the Ministry of Magic no less. Especially now, when it couldn't be trusted.
"And you–" Fred, now turned his attention back to Evelyn and Audrey. "You're hiding the only girl I loved and ever will love from me! Or so help me I don't care what happens to you!"
At his twin's words, George finally had enough and took hold of him. Fred looked at George with wide eyes, his breathing hard and his throat sore from all the shouting. He did not notice the way George's fists cleaned or how his hair casted a shadow over his eyes when he drew back his hand "I'm sorry. But this has to stop." George whispered, before landing a hard blow on his brother's cheek.
Fred landed on the floor near Percy, but George leaned down. "What you're doing isn't helping us, you could get us kicked out, and then we'd never be able to find Zoey. Remember, Gred, she's why we're here. Not because of you, or me, or even of Percy. We're here for Zoey," he emphasized the Emeraude's name, knowing it would strike a cord in his brother. At that moment, he saw Fred's eyes change.
George saw Fred's eyes hardened yet there was a trickle of water forming in them as his cheek began to swell slightly. The tears he refused to shred were caused by his mixed emotions together with the hard blow his brother sent him. It was obvious that all the emotions Fred was holding were finally showing, though he refused to cry. All the pain, loss, anguish he had felt when Zoey had disappeared that day. A breaking point, everyone had one, and for Fred, this was his.
"Calm down," George said in a soft tone, helping his twin up onto his feet. Fred thanked him and used his sleeve to quickly wipe away the tears before they could even fall and placed a hand on his cheek.
"That's a damn good right hook you have there, Forge," he said, trying to lighten up the mood. He winced when the bruise stung but said nothing else.
Percy groaned in pain, not recognizing the nicknames the twins used for each other, as he still clutched his jaw. Fred's punch had hurt, probably more than it should with all the guilt that managed to build with that one sentence Fred shouted at him. Audrey wanted to help him, honestly she did, but she was frozen on the spot and could not dare make a move.
George looked back at Echo, giving her a reassuring glance before turning back to his brother once more. He patted his brother's back reassuringly before moving to his girlfriend's side. Fred then faced Evelyn, who seemed petrified, and spoke. "Tell me where Zoey is," His voice was lower, but the intensity just as strong as when he was shouting.
"There is no…No one by the...that name here!" Audrey answered, her voice failing her as she looked back at the angered Fred who was now clenching his fists. Why wouldn't they tell him? It was obvious she was there! It was obvious that Zoey was somewhere within these walls! Why was it no one would help him?
"How can Evelyn look so much –" Fred was saying, about to get mad once more, but something stopped him. Another punch had managed to land on his face. Percy had managed to steady his footwork and land a strong one on Fred.
George knelt down beside his brother, Echo rushing up behind him, and glared up at Percy, whose nose was now bleeding. Suddenly, a sound rang out, a sound that no one was expecting to hear. It was the sound of Fred's sarcastic laughter filling the air that was stained with silence.
"Really think you could hurt me, Percy?" Fred said, forgetting about his façade as Gideon. "Really? You all think you can hurt me?" He continued, laughing once again. Percy looked at him as if he were crazy and belonged in St Mungo's.
"Well let me tell you something," Fred was now standing up once again. "When you lose the girl you want to spend the rest of your life with," he began, all his attention focused on his older brother. "Nothing, not even a Cruciatus curse, can compare to that pain." and with that Evelyn had enough. The little girl shrieked them to shut up before speaking in a softer voice.
"T – The third pillar," the girl said, trembling. She suddenly began changing in age and returned to her nine-year-old self. She was clutching onto Audrey's hand with an iron grip and refused to look at Fred as she pointed to the three pillars in the middle of the grand staircase. "I saw her at the highest pillar. She was there. She looked pretty. I wanted…I wanted to look like her too… so I… I…"
But it was no use. Evelyn was so frightened that she broke down in tears, refusing to go on. Several times she tried to tell Fred exactly what she did but she couldn't. It was just too much for her. In the end, she refused to even turn her body towards their direction.
Fred stared at the sobbing girl, and somewhere inside him, he truly felt guilty for letting her see that. She was just a child, what did she know about what was going on right now? He sighed as he listened to her sobbing, but Fred had no time for this right now. Taking hold of George and Echo, he made his way towards the pillar that Evelyn had pointed to, but everything suddenly grew dark.
Looking left and right, everything and everyone in sight vanished except for the grand staircase, the three pillars and all the terrorized statues. Fred dropped his hold on George and Echo's hands and briskly made his way to the winding staircase, hearing George and Echo following closely behind. He stopped at the first pillar and didn't even spare a glance before continuing up the staircase. He did the same for the second. The travel towards the third pillar seemed to take longer and by the time he, George and Echo reached their destination, they were out of breath.
True to her word, in the middle of the third pillar stood a girl about seventeen years old age wearing a simple sleeveless –neck dress flowing down to her knees, appearing to have been ripped. It had folded detailing but that didn't really matter to Fred and the others. What really mattered was who this statue was.
Zoey, it was obvious, stood in a stance that looked like she was shielding herself from an attack. Her feet were set firmly on the ground as her arms where held up, shielding her face. Her expression, it was a mixture of pain and determination. It was hard to decipher but it was easy to see that the girl was not pleased about being turned to stone.
Fred felt his heart skip a beat, a surge of happiness and anger coming through him. He touched the statue's, Zoey's, face caressing her now cold cheek. "I finally found you." He whispered, feeling his heart hammer violently against his chest.
"So how on earth are we going to get her to turn back to the Zoey you oh-so love?" Echo asked Fred.
"I...I don't know..." Fred honestly answered in defeated as he hung his head low. He had imagined saving Zoey countless of times but never did he exactly think that he would find her, rock hard and unmoving. What could anyone do at this point?
The echo of someone's clapping rang around the dark room, catching the attention of the three. They looked down at the staircase and saw Damiana, along with Mary-Sue who was sliding her hand across the railing, walking down with her hands still clapping. Stopping at the center of the grand staircase, the woman looked up at the pillar they were in and smirked, her clapping slowing down before fully ceasing.
"I see you three finally found your beloved Zoey. Very good!" Damiana mused, placing her hands on her hips, beginning to make her way up the winding staircase. "But judging from your faces, you're quite… what's the word? Disappointed to see that she isn't how you remember her, am I right?"
"No shit," Echo laughed before glaring at the woman who was now standing at the first pillar, gently trailing her fingers over the statue decorating it.
"What she said!" George continued, watching Damiana lean against the stature with boredom. Mary-Sue hadn't said a word yet. She was just further heading down the grand staircase until she reached the floor of the ballroom. Slowly, she pretended to be dancing with someone, humming a tune.
"Such foul words for a pureblood," Damiana's voice evidently showed irritating as she made a disapproving sound at Echo. "But… you aren't really a pureblood are you? Echo Acheflour Hyacinth Hayley Fournier Beaumont?"
Echo's eyes widened. "How on earth do you know my mother's maiden name?" She resisted the urge to grab her handkerchief to cough again; there was something in the air making her sick.
"It's quite simple, really," Damiana shrugged, the smile on her face growing wider. "Your dear Kassandra is very much fond of you."
"Isn't she your aunt?" George whispered to her. Fred still had his hand on Zoey, afraid that if we would let go, she would disappear once more. He needed to get all of them out of here before things got any worse.
"Oh no, George, she's my sister." Said Echo sarcastically before turning to Damiana. "And no, Kassandra is only fond of making my life miserable."
"A hobby we aunts tend to enjoy," Damiana said sweetly before averting her eyes towards Fred who was looking every which way. She assumed he was looking for a way out. Typical. "You know, boy," Damiana began, pushing herself away from the statue she was leaning on and resorted in just laying her hand on it, similar to what Fred was doing to Zoey.
"You best be careful with her. One wrong move and you could reduce her to smithereens." And with that, Damiana's eyes turned gold and the statue under the palm of her hand broke apart and crumbled at her feet. Mary-Sue laughed, dancing towards the other statues.
Fred's eyes flashed with anger as he gripped Zoey tighter. "You wouldn't dare…" his voice was filled with rage, pure, utter and uncaring hatred. His hand inched towards his wand, ready to draw it out if ever Damiana chose to attack at that very moment.
"And who's going to stop me? You? Please. I saw what you did to your brother down there. It wasn't much," Damiana began making her way towards the second pillar where she leaned against the statue there. She smirked as the three's eyes followed her wherever she went. "Besides, what good would it do for me if I turn her into rubble now?"
"You have no idea what I can do," Fred glared daggers at the blasted woman, his magic becoming so strong that some parts of the estate began to shake. "No bloody fucking idea."
Damiana raised a brow at the boy before pulling out her wand at the same time Mary-Sue did. "I would love to see what you can do but… I don't feel like getting my gown tainted with your blood tonight." She and Mary-Sue raised their wands up in the air and both exclaimed "Piertotum Locomotor!" causing all the statues to move from their place, eyes glowing gold, and began making their way towards Fred and the others.
The three looked down at the statues in shock, wondering how the hell they were going to be able to fend them all off alone. Damiana smirked at their faces and folded her arms across her chest. "Well, if you're so strong, let's see how you can defeat your precious Zoey," Damiana finished before quickly disappearing in the blink of an eye together with Mary-Sue. It appeared that they have Disapparated, but Fred knew better. They wouldn't leave knowing people could Apparate and Disapparate whenever they felt like it.
"Zoey?" Fred questioned, turning around to look at her statue but was shocked to see glowing gold eyes mere inches away from his. Without a word, the girl pushed him, his twin and Echo down the pillar and silently watched as they seemingly fell to their doom.
Fred's was so sure that they would crash violently to the ground but was thankful that Echo casted a quick spell which stopped them from touching the marbled pillar, levitating mere millimeters away from it, before they landed with a thump.
The Weasley then looked up as Zoey began to move, her arms going into a new position, dust falling with every movement she made. He was worried about their situation right now, especially with Zoey approaching them and looking like a menace, but he was much more worried about Zoey falling and breaking. After all, she wasn't indestructible.
"What are we going to do?" Fred asked, turning to Echo.
"I don't know!" Echo panicked, "I can barely run in this!" She was indicating her dress and how bad it was that she was going to battle dressed in such stiff attire. It just had to be an Emeraude Ball.
"You're Echo!" Fred said, exasperated. "How can you not know?"
"Fred, give her a break!" George answered back, standing up from his place on the floor, Fred and Echo soon following his lead.
As the three talked, the golden-eyed statue of Zoey, moved to the staircase and jumped from the step she was currently on. "Fred, watch out!" George shouted, taking hold of Echo's waist and pulling her away as Fred backed up and Zoey landed between them, the floor underneath her breaking and forming a crater where she had landed.
Fred panicked as he saw a crack on Zoey's leg, they could not risk another move like that, or they could lose a part of her foot. What was she thinking? Jumping from that height? Was her stone-brain not wired correctly? His eyes widened. Of course. Damiana knew he couldn't fight her, but Zoey, she had no control. She had no choice but to attack and kill.
"We can't lead her into jumping, we can't trip her. We can outrun her, but the force she will put to move might cause her to break apart!" Echo realized, trying to think of a solution to their problem. When she found none, she turned to the twin. "So what can we do?"
"Nothing!" Fred shouted, making himself heard. "We do noting but dodge!" The boy then began to run, urging his twin and the Veela to follow him
"Can we reach for the Zoey beneath all that marble?" Echo suggested but dismissed it immediately, running after Fred and away from Zoey. "What am I thinking?"
Zoey moved her head from side to side, the sound of the contact and friction of rock, causing Fred to look back. He had heard Echo's words. Reach for the Zoey beneath all that marble. That could actually work. Who else could get Zoey back but Fred? Who else could give a statue-fied Zoey a heart but the reason why it would even beat?
A stone statue of an old woman with three fingers on each hand and her head wrapped in bandages made its way towards George and Echo, and Fred knew that they didn't have enough time to save themselves. He didn't want to kill anyone at all, but his choices seemed to be limiting. Taking out his wand, he apologized for what he was about to do.
"Reducto!" Shouted Fred, the spell making contact with the statue behind them. Echo and George ducked as the pieces of rubble that came from the statue flew through the air.
"Fred!" George shouted, eye widening as he pulled out his own wand. "Behind you!"
Fred quickly turned around and came in contact with Zoey about to attack him with her stone fist. He dodged each punch, each kick, each blow that Zoey made. Not wanting her to get damaged and not wanting to get hurt all the same.
"George, Echo, now would be a good time to have your wands at the ready and help me out here!" Fred exclaimed, dodging another blow from his girlfriend, or what used to be his girlfriend.
"Stupefy!" George shouted, sending the statue that was sneaking up on Fred to the wall. It broke into pieces, and somehow he felt guilty for taking that man's life. His brother and Zoey were just much more important. He saw Echo destroy two statues, and realized that Zoey was now backing Fred up to a wall. Not good.
"You never came back for me, Fred Weasley!" Zoey's voice seemed to have a darker echo behind it with every word she spoke. "I waited. I hoped for you to come. For any of you to come and nothing! I was left there to rot! How could you?"
Fred felt as if he, himself, became a statue at Zoey's words. A stone cold kick made contact with his stomach and he fell to the floor, landing on some of the remains of the statues he had 'killed'. George and Echo were now defending themselves from the other statues, unable to help Fred.
"I never left you, Zoe, I never could." Fred answered, his voice strained and his hand on his stomach. He was trying to get Zoey, the real Zoey, to hear his words. "I came for you, I'm keeping my promise."
"What promise? The promise you broke all those years ago? Back at the garden of your house?" Zoey cackled, her stone mouth forming a sinister grin. "'I would never leave you.'" She coated him, mocking his words, "Rubbish! You left me as soon as you found out who I really was! I Black! The daughter of a murderer!"
"You have to understand Zoey, that was not something easy for me to take in!" Fred defended; waiting for Zoey to do something, anything to make him realize that the Zoey he knew was still in there. He got nothing. The statue of the girl only squinted her eyes at him, the glow intensifying.
"LIES!" Zoey cut in, aiming another blow at Fred's direction. He dodged it and instead, Zoey hit the wall beside his head, causing particles of herself to fall. "All of those are lies! What's there to take in, Fred? You always knew something was up! You knew that I wasn't treated like a special guest back home but yet, when you find out about who my father was, you just tossed that all aside and assumed I was exactly like him!" The girl withdrew her hand and her glowing gold eyes locked with Fred's.
"I… I was a good friend wasn't I? Kind…caring…protective. I never did anything wrong. I never wanted to hurt you. I was just being shy. I didn't want to hurt anybody…but you… You –" She then growled, "You just wanted a reason to finally get rid of me!"
Fred felt his heart stop beating at Zoey's old and cruel words. This was worse than any pain he's ever felt before. Worse than the time he thought Zoey agreed to go to the Yule Ball with Cedric and worse than the time Zoey began to compare him to other guys, not knowing how much it hurt him to hear her words. During those times, Zoey was naïve; she didn't know what she was saying. The same couldn't be said about what was happening now and that only hurt Fred more.
"No! Zoey, you know that's not true!" Fred tried to explain, glancing at George and Echo who seemed to be struggling against the growing number of statues attacking. He wanted to help them, but he needed to handle Zoey because she was his priority. "You know that what you're saying is nowhere close to the truth!"
"How could I get rid of you, when I loved you more than everything?"
There was a gasp and Zoey took a step back from Fred her stone face contorting into shock and confusion. Her gold eyes blinked several times as her head twitched to the side a bit. "NO!" she yelled, her hands reaching to cover her ears. "You're – You're lying! That's all you ever do! You lie!" Her eyes flashed a familiar grey before returning to gold.
"And the promise I'm talking about is the one where I save you from the dragon and become your dashing prince." Fred continued, seeing that his words were finally affecting her. Something struck Zoey; a feeling of realization was coming over her.
Fred smiled. Zoey was fighting. Zoey had heard him! She knew that he was there to save him. "I'm not lying Zoe, I never lie to you." He said, trying to stand up and get closer to the statue. "I hide the truth, but never have I ever directly lied to you." He continued.
"Hide the truth? What – What truth?" the dark echo in her voice disappearing and the melodic voice of Zoey came from the statue as the bits of rock began to fall revealing a portion of her long brown hair and her dress, which was revealed to be white. "WHAT TRUTH?" she screamed, taking a cautious step back. She was losing control.
"The truth about when I look at you, rain becomes sunshine and no matter what I'm going through, I'll make it as long as your there." Fred began, stepping closer. He watched as the stone began to leave her ears, her chin and the lower half of her face. "That when I hear your voice its like a bird's melody in the breeze." He took another closer. "That when I smell your coconut scent, it intoxicating, better than any other potion or drug."
He now stood directly in front of. He took hold of her shoulders, now softening and warming. "And that the promise I was talking about was that I would finally be your dashing prince and save you from the dragon." Fred leaned down and captured Zoey's lips in a passionate kiss.
The golden glow in Zoey's eyes slowly faded away and was soon replaced by the interesting grey of their original color. The stone encaging her soon fell to the floor in large bundles as the rest of her face began to soften up to her skin texture. Her brown hair flowed down her back and her dress stopped just at her knees. The buzzing sound in her head soon disappeared along with the hollow feeling in her chest.
Blinking away the confusion she originally felt after returning to normal, the girl felt the warmth of Fred's kiss spread across her entire body, giving her back the sense of touch she once lacked. The feel of Fred's lips against her own was too much for her to handle that the moment her arms were free, she wrapped them around Fred's neck for support as her legs regained the feeling within them. Fred's arms wove around Zoey, latching onto her waist, before pulling her closer, obviously showing how much he missed her.
When air finally became a problem, they broke apart. "I missed you, Zoe," Fred stated, as his eyes softened at the sight of the girl in his arms, his hand running through her long brown hair.
"Same here, Fred…FRED!" Zoey's eyes widened when she finally came to her senses. She placed her arms on Fred's chest and gently pushed him away before looking around and seeing George and Echo still fighting against the statues. There were statue remains all over the floor but their number seemed to be endless. "Wha – What's going on?" She gasped out, seeing Fred pull out his wand and attacking a couple of statues on his own.
"I saved you from the dragon! What else does it look like?" Fred answered, smiling widely. He finally had his Zoey back. The feeling inside him pushed away all negative emotions he felt before The anger, hatred and sorrow were soon gone from the Weasley twin, much to the relief of his twin and Echo.
"Dragon? What Dragon?" Zoey furrowed her brows in confusion, dodging a statue that tried to grab her. It sucked not having her wand at hand and her glasses. Everything besides her friends seemed to be a blur. "Are you off your rocker?"
"For once, Zoe, I am honestly saying I'm not." Fred turned towards her after destroying yet another statue and the love in his eyes was as obvious as winter in December. Zoey blinked at him, her eyes wide as she tried to catch on with what was happening all around her. She was so confused.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Zoey let a small smile escape but dropped it as soon as George and Echo flew towards her, having been hit by a statue of a man with a large beer-belly. "And what did you guys do to your hair?" she couldn't help but ask seeing the twins' familiar black hair and Echo's curious blonde hair. "I thought you hated having black hair?"
"Do you honestly think that this is the right time to ask?" Echo grunted out, standing up from the ground and quickly dusting off the dirt from her dress. "And welcome back."
"I'm not quite sure where I went but it's great – OW!" Zoey exclaimed, having felt something bounce off her head and land on the floor beneath her. Looking down, she saw her wand. The Emeraude picked it up, all the while rubbing the top of her head, looked up to see Audrey peering down below them, looking panicked.
"Audrey!" Zoey said a smile breaking out on her face. Fred, George and Echo looked up as well, faces not quite as trusting as Zoey's. Audrey gave a small wave to the enthusiastic girl; it was obvious to her that Zoey wasn't quite sure what was happening at the moment. She put down her hand; however, when George spoke.
"You were the girl with Percy!" George exclaimed, throwing a short glare at her. A quick blush appeared on Audrey's cheeks but she shook it away and continued to look down at them, trying to get them out of the ballroom and away from death as soon as possible.
Fred shook his head at George's exclamation. "Tell Evelyn 'Thanks!'" Fred suddenly said, looking up at the girl that was named Audrey. Audrey sent him a curious look at the mention of the transforming Emeraude. "Without her, I would have never found Zoey again."
"Found me? Where did I go?" Zoey asked, not knowing what was going on at all. "Last I remember, Percy asked Audrey out on a date and she passed by the house to give me some food."
The Emeraude then paused in thought when she saw the statues climb over the fallen friends and continued to make their way towards them. Fred, Echo and George blasted a few out of the way and Zoey was just about to do what they did when stone arms wrapped around her. She let out a surprised scream and was quickly saved when Fred sent a well-aimed spell at the statue, destroying it. Zoey let out a breath and held her wand more securely in her hand.
Zoey thanked him with a smile but the fact that they weren't able to concentrate with escaping due to the statues eating away their time by attacking, Zoey got an idea on how to temporarily stop them. It was simple. A spell that a mere first year student in Hogwarts could do but it just might work. She pulled at Fred's coat, causing the boy to dip down to her level as she whispered into his ear. When he finally understood what she was saying, a smirk played on his lips and the twinkle in his eyes returned. He then went to his brother, backing him up and told him what Zoey had in mind.
"You think that would work?" George said, shooting another spell at a statue causing it to fly back into two others like it, breaking all three of them. "We did that how many years ago? And for what? Pranks! This is dark magic we're facing."
"Not really," Fred answered, lifting a statue of a man up in the air, throwing it off only for it to land on its friends, destroying al of them in the process. "If Old McGonagall can cast the spell then it isn't really dark magic. I'll bet you twelve Galleons that she would use the same exact spell in the near future."
"You're really going to bet against me at a time like this?" George asked in disbelief before his own smirk formed on his lips and an identical twinkle in his eyes. "Good to have ya back, Gred."
"So, you up for it?" Fred asked, facing his brother, the smirk on his face turning into a wide grin. He almost looked like a young child in a candy store. Or a young Weasley twin in Zonko's Joke shop with a bag full of Galleons, Sickles and Knuts.
George did not need to reply with words, holding up his wand, Fred imitating his actions, the two casted a silent spell that cause brown, rope like objects to shoot out of their wand and spread all over the ballroom. Zoey briefly glanced at what the twins were doing before turning her attention back to defending herself along with Echo, who though seemed irritated, looked to be having fun destroying all the stone like Emeraudes. They weren't really how they were before. They were fighting the mere crust of the past Emeraudes. They have all long passed by now.
When the twins finished casting their spell, they placed their wands at their sides and watched the scene unfold, by the time Zoey and Echo defeated the statues attacking them, the rest, who were still making their way towards the floor, were now hanging upside down by either their ankles, legs, the lower half of their body or their arms, struggling against the rope-like binds attaching them to the ceiling, the floors, the walls and each other. The Emeraude grinned at the sight.
"Brilliant," she said, looking back at the twins, glad to see that her idea worked. "Just brilliant! Love the added features." Echo nodded with approval at the sight, pocketing her wand and looking back to the twins and Zoey.
"Well, we simply can't use the same spell we used back in first year," Fred said, his tone smug, folding his arms across his chest.
"That would be embarrassing!" George ended, his voice equally smug as he and his twin admired their wand work.
"Yes, that would be embarrassing," Audrey interrupted them with a roll of her eyes. Of course she didn't know what they were talking about but at that moment, she didn't really care. The clock was ticking and if they didn't hurry up, they would run out of time. "Now could you four just jump up and get out of there?"
"Jump?" Fred asked before realizing something. He looked around the dark ballroom quickly before looking back at Audrey. When they had found out where Zoey was, everything went dark and everyone vanished. Evelyn, Percy, Audrey and Jane. If Audrey was up there… "Where's Jane?" he questioned, his brows furrowed. They couldn't leave without the very girl who helped them by bringing them there.
"Jane's here too?" Zoey asked, eyes wide. She had never expected her fellow Hufflepuff to travel to wherever they were. Where could they be with moving statues? The girl couldn't think straight. Her head was still fuzzy from her sudden transformation into her human form. "What am I missing?"
"Zoey, right now is not the time for explanations. If you aren't going to jump, I guess I have no choice," Audrey sighed irritably before waving her wand in the air. The four gasped when their feet left the ground and were soon entering the hole Audrey was looking down at them through. When they were finally by the side of the older girl, the hole closed. "Come on, let's get you guys out of here!" Audrey said, prepared to leave at that very moment.
"Wait, wait, wait!" George suddenly began, refusing to leave just yet. Audrey gave him a flabbergasted look. Didn't he want to leave? Wasn't his and his friends' only mission accomplished? What else could they want? Why did they need to wait?
The auburn haired girl then watched, eyebrows furrowed with confusion and irritation, as he and Fred shared a look of disbelief mixed with shock before looking back at her. Audrey took a step back after seeing their expressions. What was up now?
"Did we just hear what we thought we heard?" George continued, his eyes squinting with suspicion.
"Percy. Percy Ignatius Weasley asked you out on a date?" Fred spoke next, staring at Audrey like she was an alien from another dimension. "Please tell us you turned him down!"
"Was it a date?" Zoey then mused, not really knowing the danger they were still in. She was still in a slight daze. The buzzing in her head had ceased but it still felt a tad heavy. Like something wasn't right with her just yet. "You stayed with him for about two days didn't you?"
"Merlin's pants!" The twin's exclaimed, their blue eyes wide and disbelieving.
"Two days? You lasted with that prat for two days?" George asked, his face scrunching up. "How'd you live through it?"
"Actually, how'd he get you to say 'yes'?" Fred added, still not believing his ears. Only one girl, one girl in the history of his memory, ever said agreed to go out with Percy and that was Penelope Clearwater. He did not want to believe that another girl would do the same thing. It was unfathomable!
"Is this really the time for an interrogation?" Echo now snarled, pushing the twins out of her way. "You're on our side, yes?" She turned to Audrey, her eyes piercing.
The Veela wanted to get out of there as soon as possible so she could head back to the Burrow, remove her disguise and help herself to one of Molly's home cooked meals. If they were delaying over such a thing as Percy, she had to do something to get them moving.
Audrey slowly nodded her head and held out a postcard. It showed the familiar crooked structure of the Burrow and in the image, they could vaguely see Mrs. Weasley out on the porch, looking up and around, most likely waiting for them to return. Zoey's eyes widened. Beside the woman, she saw her luggage and her mother's box. Briefly, she saw Jane leave the Burrow, gave Mrs. Weasley a reassuring smile (she guessed) and apparated away. At least she knew Jane was safe.
"We should head back now," Zoey spoke once more, looking back to her friends. "Mrs. Weasley looks worried, we should head back."
"Finally! Someone who's with me on this," Audrey turned her attention to the twins. "You should follow our girlfriends' lead. They not what to do in these troubled times." The auburn haired girl huffed, placing the postcard on the floor beneath them and stepping back as it grew in size and molded into the floor.
Audrey then placed her hand on the small of Zoey's back and gently guided the girl into the postcard. Zoey, already being used to Audrey saving her, did not need to say anything as she slipped through the floor. She sent the auburn hair girl a smile before getting a surprise present from the girl. Audrey had quickly placed Zoey's glasses on her face before the Emeraude fell right through the postcard and landed on the soft grass in the Weasley's backyard. She slowly gut up from the ground and dusted off her white dress, looking back up and waiting for the next person to come.
Echo, glad to finally be leaving the Emeraude Estate, fell right through the postcard and successfully landed on the ground gracefully before walking to Zoey's side and waited along with her. George came soon after and when he finally got back on his feet, he and Echo made their way to the Burrow, Echo making a comment on how hungry she was and how she didn't get the chance to eat anything back at the ball (not like she wanted to).
Zoey smiled at the retreating figures of the couple before looking back and waiting for Fred to come right through as well. Her memory was hazy and she didn't know exactly what was happening or where she was to begin with but she was sure Fred and the others would fill her in.
The Emeraude figured she was somewhere in the Emeraude Estate seeing as Audrey was there, but she didn't exactly know where in the estate or how she got there and even why her friends were there, 'saving' her. Everything was happening so fast that she couldn't catch up. Zoey didn't need to know all the answers that night, she was just glad that she was back in a familiar setting with her loved ones.
"Thanks, for everything," Fred said, half his body already through the postcard. "And… good luck with Perce. I bet he isn't that much of a prat to you if you're staying by him." He ended awkwardly, slipping through the postcard and landing just mere inches away from the Emeraude.
Fred groaned from where he fell and looked up at the night sky, the hole he just passed through already gone, not believing how young it looked was when he felt like he had been in the Emeraude Estate for weeks! Turning his head, he saw Zoey looking down at him with a small smile. She held her hand out to him, ready to help him up.
"By the way," Zoey began, still waiting for Fred to take her hand, "I like the black hair. It suits you in a way…but it's not exactly Weasley." Fred gave a chuckle before reaching up, taking her hand in his.
"I love you," Fred muttered, a goofy smile on his face as he let Zoey help him stand back up. When he was finally back on his own two feet, he looked down at Zoey, seeing as she was shorter than him, and saw how her cheeks flushed and a bashful smile traced her lips.
Zoey looked right up at him, her eyes sparking as her bashful smiled soon turned into a grin. She had forgotten how much she needed Fred by her side. Not like a life support, saying she couldn't live without him was too cheesy for her sake. She just couldn't be without him. She wasn't Zoey without Fred right by her.
There would be no one to laugh with, scold at, and get embarrassed because of his sweet words. There was no one like him. Not even George, Harry or Cedric could compare to how Zoey felt about Fred. She squeezed the boy's hand and began leading him to the Burrow where she saw Mrs. Weasley already running towards them.
"You know, Fred," Zoey began, glancing at him to see if he was listening. "I love you too."
I JUST HIT THE WALL!
I JUST HIT THE BLOODY FREAKING WALL!
ALL OF THEM! JUST CRASHED THROUGH ALL. OF. THEM. TRYING TO FINISH UP THIS CHAPTER WITH DRESDENDOLL15 AND HAYLEYPARADOX (Who I send my immense gratitude for the help with this chapter!)
IT'S DONE. THIS CHAPTER (NOT STORY) IS FINALLY DONE!
I waited since the beginning of my sembreak to start and finish this but the Universe kept finding away to stall my friends and I.
BUT WE FOUND AWAY TO BEAT THE UNIVERSE.
Yesterday, November 3, we started this at 1pm and worked on it all the way to 5am the next day
You can see how many walls we (though HayleyParadox claims she passed right through them) crashed into just trying to finish this up.
After finishing this at 5am, we took a three hour sleep, woke up around 8 something am and began to BETA this story like there was no tomorrow (Cause we couldn't wait for tomorrow)
We added details, quotation marks and much much more just trying to make this chapter for you all to like it!
TWO MONTHS!
TWO BLOODY MONTHS THERE WAS NO UPDATE! O_O
When I went to my Doc. Manager, it said my Chapter 83 file only had ONE day left before being deleted.
LUCKY US THAT WE HAD CHAPTER 84 READY IN TIME.
My schooling resumes on November 8 and I will be busier than ever with the upcoming events my school has planned so I don't know how long it would take before the next update.
I'M PRETTY SURE IT WOULD BE A MONSTER CHAPTER TOO!
WOULD YOU TAKE A LOOK ON THE SIZE OF THIS THING?
IT HAS LIKE, WHAT?, 22 THOUSAND SOMETHING WORDS IN IT?
IT TOOK UP 30 SOMETHING PAGES IN MY WORD DOCUMENT!
That should have broken a bloody record!
Anyway, it's 5pm now and I'm just glad to be finished with this chapter.
I almost forgot what it was like to update Crossroads until I had to work on this chapter with my friends.
THE WALLS NO LONGER EXIST! THEY HAVE TO REBUILD THEMSELVES NOW!
Okay…. I don't think there's much for me to say now except
I hope you enjoyed the chapter
(And how we FINALLY saved Zoey and how she FINALLY said those THREE FREAKING WORDS TO FRED – STRAIGHT TO HIM!)
Please tell me what you thought
(PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE. We worked mega hard on this and we all want to know how you guys found the chapter. Please share your thoughts. Even though it doesn't seem like it, we ALWAYS ALWAYS read your reviews)
Excuse my typos and the like
(Even though we beta-ed this… Some of those little devils just find their way into the story…)
Don't forget to review and the like
Stay tuned for the next chapter
(CAUSE THERE WILL BE ONE!)
And
I only own what I own
(PS: Sorry if I sound a tad bit extreme in this Author's note. I just hit a freaking wall so hard! I'm sort of concerned for my sanity at the moment :P)
EDIT: It's 8pm now and I had to improvise on my editing here because isn't agreeing with me right now….. the page breaks = improvised. If you see any errors, believe me when I say that they weren't there before I uploaded it to .
THE UNIVERSE IS HATING ON ME!
SECOND EDIT: 9pm = SIGH! I had to edit this entire thing in my old computer. Glad to see it came through for me in the end. :)
Anywho, now that everything's settled... I hope you all enjoyed the story. Tell me what you think and all that! :D
