OKAY. I HAVE A STORY/CHAPTER FOR YOU GUYS BUT FIRST:

AUTHOR'S NOTE. PLEASE READ. PLEASE READ. SUPER IMPORTANT. PLEASE.

OKAY. HELLO. PLEASE HOLD YOUR FLAMING TORCHES, WANDS, PITCHFORKS, BAZOOKAS AND OTHER DEADLY WEAPONS YOU SO WANT TO HURT ME WITH FIRST AND LISTEN. PLEASE.

IT'S BEEN MONTHS. MONTHS. I KNOW. SINCE I LAST UPDATED. DURING MY SUMMER BREAK, I ONLY UPDATED ONCE WHEN I PLANNED TO UPDATE A LOT MORE. I'M SORRY. IT'S UNFORGIVABLE. I'M IRRITATED WITH MYSELF TOO. PLEASE. LISTEN FIRST.

OKAY. FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO CLEAR UP THAT I AM NO LONGER ENJOYING MY SUMMER VACATION. I LIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES AND WELL, SCHOOL STARTED JUNE 13.

I AM A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL, I AM VERY BUSY WITH SCHOOL WORK AND THINGS ARE HECTIC.

I mean, I am the President of my school's Writing Club so I have to plan out activities to do and plan with our moderator. I also have tests to prepare for (I have a Science, Math and English test coming up along with CLE, Filipino and others). I am also part of my school's singing club and we have to prepare for all the activities coming up where we would have to sing the opening and closing prayers for the events and other songs. We, my school/class and I, also have to prepare for our principal's birthday where we have to sing for the mass being held for him. There are also posters to make (Writing isn't my only hobby/talent), inter-class/batch competitions to practice and compete for and some of those competitions, I am competing alone for and don't get me started on how much time is consumed for practices and what time I sleep due to all the homework and studying I have to do once I get home.

SECOND OF ALL I WANT TO SAY THAT UNFORTUNATELY, INSPIRATION FOR CROSSROADS HASN'T BEEN WITH ME FOR A LONG TIME AND THIS SADDENS ME GREATLY. I REALLY WANT TO UPDATE. I REALLY DO BUT IF I FORCE MYSELF TO CREATE MORE CHAPTERS AT THE STATE THAT I AM IN, I AM AFRAID THAT THEY WILL BE HORRIBLE AND WOULD NOT HAVE ANY HEART IN IT.

THIRD. I WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT I AM FULLY AWARE THAT THERE ARE OVER SIX HUNDRED PEOPLE READING CROSSROADS AND I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU AND I REGRET THAT I HAVE BEEN NEGLECTING CROSSROADS.

I check my email everyday and I tell the truth when I say that when I see that someone has reviewed Crossroads, I jump in joy and read it before all my other emails. I really appreciate everyone's love for Crossroads and it kills me inside everyday when I don't update. I wish I could go back to the days when I used to update everyday/every other day, but right now, it's not possible.

I AM VERY SORRY FOR BOMBARDING YOU WITH MY SCHOOL SCHEDULE AGAIN (AND BY MY USE OF CAPSLOCK. I JUST NEED TO KEEP YOUR ATTENTION. I'M NOT REALLY YELLING OR ANYTHING) BUT SIMPLY STATING "I AM VERY BUSY WITH SCHOOL" OR "THINGS ARE HECTIC" JUST DOESN'T CUT IT. I NEED YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND THAT STUDYING ISN'T THE ONLY THING TAKING UP MY TIME. I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A FIGHT NOR AM I MAKING THIS TO ANGER/OFFEND ANY OF YOU, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR PATIENCE (I'M SO SORRY IF YOUR PATIENCE IS ALREADY WEARING THIN) AND UNDERSTANDING.

If you are wondering why I'm suddenly saying all this, well, I was messaged by one of you yesterday and I was sort of offended by her message. It made me feel like a bad author (though I know I am at times) and do you know how when someone forces you to do something, you don't want to do it anymore? I'm sure you've seen other authors on this site saying that when someone demands an update from them, they don't want to update anymore. Well, her message made me feel so bad that it made me want to stop Crossroads entirely.

BUT I WON'T DO THAT.

I WON'T STOP CROSSROADS.

But still. I understand, I really do, that you guys have been waiting and leaving you with my last chapter being sort of a cliff-hanger doesn't help. I'm trying. I really am. Just. Please.

I actually think about Crossroads everyday, if you guys could believe that. I would look around me and think "Hmm, what would Zoey/Echo/Fred/George/Bridgit do if they were in that situation" and I actually treat them as real people because I MISS THEM. I REALLY DO MISS THEM. I MISS WRITING THEIR STORY. IT KILLS ME. REALLY. But no matter how much I think about Crossroads, I cannot stay up some nights typing a bit of it because I need my rest (I am greatly lacking in it) and when I sleep, my mind is swarming with The Cell Theory, The Epic of Gilgamesh, Math problems, Florante at Laura and all my other school things. I cannot mix Harry Potter/Crossroads with that. I just can't.

Harry Potter/Crossroads is my escape. I cannot mix it in with my real life. I just can't.

Also, if you're still with me, my co-author ZoomSkater14/DresdenDoll15/Reignstein has some words to say. (She knows about the message I received. So does HayleyParadox/RenakhiteInk but I'm afraid she can't say her piece at the moment. Her life is more hectic than mine.[Imagine my class schedule and triple it])


REIGNSTEIN:

There are times when writers have to think about things other than writing, especially when writing is mainly a freelance activity. As students we have VERY real work to do…such as: Projects, Assignments, Reports, and all the what-not that students do that I'm sure all of you know about. If you don't, then…uhm…I'm sure you can sympathize with how busy we are.

We do appreciate that so many people have favourited, alerted, and reviewed Crossroads, and trust us when we say words will never be enough to express our gratitude, but sometimes there are other more important things to worry about rather than posting the next update.

Your patience must be wearing thin, but please do wait a bit more. It pains us that you all are sitting there and waiting, but as we said, sometimes there are just more important matters at hand. As foreupdating, please do not bother AnimeFlowerGirl with comments, reviews, or messages that would only make her feel guilty. Have you ever tried writing with heavy feelings? It usually gives you heavy chapters. So go ahead and continued to pester her if you want Fred suddenly ending up dead or worse Zoey suddenly ending up dead and ending the series with no sequel whatsoever.


Okay, we've said our piece (HayleyParadox/RenakhiteInk had the same thought/message as ours but if we use the exact words she used, believe me when I say, she has the wrath of Echo when Echo is pissed beyond belief + deprived of food + angry at George + in the same room as Mary Sue + a shit load of other things. You do not want to see/hear/experience that. You don't. Trust me.) and I hope you all will enjoy the snippet of Chapter 86 that we have for you :)


PS

BTW. I am actually slowly rewriting Crossroads. I have already rewritten the first few chapters and I will be uploading them soon. I just want to have some consistency because when I reread some chapters, honestly, I died a little inside. So if you want to check them out, you're free to :)

Okay, I'm done keeping you all. Enjoy the next chapter!

Don't forget to review and the like and advance apologies for any typos/grammar mistakes you will fine :P


Chapter 86: Cat fight in WWW?

Zoey craned her neck and gazed up at the large Weasley Twin head (briefly wondering which twin was used for the contraption), removing its hat to reveal a rabbit before putting it back on, when it took it off once more, the rabbit was gone. She felt herself smile, loving the fact that even though the rest of Diagon Alley was grey and dull, the Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes was bright, lively and (Zoey inwardly laughed at this) very, very orange! She looked at the curious sign by the door and blinked her eyes at its message. Was what she read correct or were her eyes playing tricks on her again?

"WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO?

YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT U-NO-POO!

THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION!"

The Emeraude's brows shot up after rereading the sign about four times. They were going to get themselves killed in their sleep! What were they thinking? She let out a ragged sigh and quietly admitted that it was funny, but not safe at this sort of time. Zoey stood in between Bridgit and Fred and when she looked up at the former (much to her despair, she was still the shortest among her friends), she saw that she wore a devious smirk. She wondered what Bridgit could possibly be plotting, but before she could even voice her wonderings, Fred and George opened the door.

"Welcome ladies, gentleman, and dog!" The twins exclaimed, their hands extending towards the inside of the shop. It was any prankster's dream come true! There were Reusable Hangmans on the shelves, Portable Swamps on display, and Puking Pastilles offered free at the counter. Bridgit's eyes were like a two-year-old's in a toy store (having already forgotten the twins' comment about her gender).

"This place is amazing!" Zoey grinned, looking around and taking in the colorful products and designs. Even though she wasn't a prankster herself, she could see why anyone would get excited upon entering. She didn't say it out loud but even she wanted to test some of the pranks and gizmos on display, just to see how they worked.

Zoey then heard a familiar, nagging sort of voice and looked up to see a little toy riding a unicycle on a thin string, carrying two buckets of water on a pole on its shoulders. Squinting her eyes, she saw that it looked a lot like Umbridge. She looked back down and saw that there was a certain section in the shop titled "WonderWitch Products". Zoey saw love potions, cute little puffskeins (Fred called the Pygmy Puffs) with pink and purple fur and something like a pimple remover cream.

Zoey made her way towards the "WonderWitch Products", curious about the Pygmy Puffs when she passed by a large bowl of Jelly Beans. She saw an eye-catching lemon colored bean and picked it up, only to hear something protest from the bowl.

"Oh sure! Pick the yellow bean!"

The Emeraude dropped the sweet back into the bowl in shock and stared at it cautiously before looking back to ask the twins what the Jelly Beans were for. Everyone was at the other side of the shop. Zoey opened her mouth to yell out to them when the voice came back. "Come on, sweet cheeks, why don't you pick me?"

Zoey closed her mouth, furrowed her brows and looked back into the bowl. She noticed the lime green jellybean and picked it up. There was no sound of protest and Zoey squinted her eyes at the bean. Maybe she was imagining things? Suddenly, the bean jumped from her hand and entered her mouth when she gasped, forcing its way down her throat. Zoey staggered back and coughed violently at the sudden action of the bean. Her friends heard her and quickly made their way towards the hacking Emeraude.

"Zoe, are you alright?" Fred asked, rubbing Zoey's back soothingly. Zoey tried to catch her breath to reply but instantly lost it when she saw someone standing behind the pimple remover cream, wand out.

"Fred, there's someone else in the shop," Zoey said worriedly and felt her heart skip a beat when the wand move. She inched her hand towards her own wand when the person stepped away from its place and stepped into the light.

It was Natalie.

The Emeraude stopped. What was her godmother doing here? Zoey's eyes then widened. What in the world was Natalie wearing?

"Why hello, darlings!" The woman greeted, voice high, slightly slurred and coated with a stereotypical British accent. Natalie approached the five; her arms open wide as if she expected someone to hug her.

No one moved from his or her place. All frozen in their spot in shock except for Zoey who actually took a step back, cautious with her godmother. She appeared to be drunk. In fact, Zoey was positive that Natalie indulged something to make her act in such away. What kind of substance, she wasn't so sure.

Natalie's long auburn hair was tied into neat half-pigtails (the rest of her hair falling down her back in soft waves), secured by ribbons. Her makeup was quite heavy, with bright blue eyes shadow and bright pink blush. She also had glitter sprinkled all over her face. She resembled a clown and Bridgit, too, took a step back upon realizing this. Natalie's clothes appeared to be made for someone half her age (skinny jeans, tight fitting halter top and wedge shoes). Something was up. Did a drink really cause Natalie to dress in such a way or was she already clothed that way before she drank? Was she jinxed?

"Aunt Maria…?" Zoey asked slowly, not all too sure what to say at that moment. Where in the world did Natalie get her clothes? It looked like something cut out of a muggle magazine! Did she use some kind of spell to get them? Surely she didn't buy it in Diagon Alley. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Why of course I am! Why wouldn't I?" Natalie giggled, enveloping Zoey in a tight, bone-crushing hug. The Emeraude gasped, remembering the hug she received from Mrs. Weasley just last night. This was tighter. It almost cut off all circulation. The world around her began to swirl. She now knew how Fred felt after being continuously shaken by a panicked Bridgit. Zoey was just about to yell for air when Natalie whispered something in her ear, making the girl's heart skip a beat.

"Hey, Zoey darling," Natalie said in a soft slur, her breath tickling Zoey's ear, sending a shudder down her spine. "Fred's looking a whole lot hotter now… in his uniform and all."

The Emeraude glanced to the older of the twins; Fred wore magenta robes as he looked around his and his brother's shop, trying to see if he needed to restock anything. Did he really look hot? Of course Zoey's opinion would be biased since she was going out with him, but even so, she knew that his magenta robe definitely clashed with his ginger hair. He wore it to be eye-catching.

"Mind if I make a move on him? Just for today. Please?" Natalie slurred, her voice going up an octave in order to sound younger. It hurt Zoey's ear.

"Aunt Maria!" Zoey pushed the woman away from her, grey eyes wide with confusion, disgust and jealousy. What was she saying? Was she serious? Was she as drunk as Zoey thought she was or was the slur something Zoey just never minded before? Was Natalie really attracted to Fred? "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I've been single for far too long, cub." The older of the two smirked, her lips painted a bright red. She folded her arms across her chest and leaned forward, making Zoey take another step back.

"I need someone in my life. Someone younger preferably." Natalie looked over to Fred and winked at him, sending a kiss his way.

Fred felt himself cringe at the thought of his girlfriend's godmother hitting on him. He didn't even understand why she would do such an absurd thing! Has she finally lost the final grasp she had on sanity? He ignored the fact that George was finding his current situation amusing.

"Uhm…" Fred mumbled, unable to really speak. What was he supposed to say? The woman in front of him was crazy but today… she seemed to have lost her mind! What was she even doing in the shop? How in the world did she enter? Did he leave the door open or something?

"Thanks…?" he managed to say, not seeing the effect a simple comment had on the Emeraude.

Zoey's mouth hung open, not wanting to believe what was happening in front of her, what she was hearing. She knew deep down she was overreacting, but it seemed like at that very moment, she had no control over her next actions. She sent her boyfriend a look and actually punched his arm, making Fred stumble back from the unexpected force.

It hurt! It actually and positively hurt! Zoey's punches never hurt! Fred gripped his injured limb and shared a surprised look with his friends. The Emeraude knew that he didn't deserve the punch, but she couldn't bring herself to hurt her aunt. But, if things got out of hand, Zoey knew she wasn't going to stop herself from slapping the daylights of Natalie.

Something had to be done and if things needed to get physical, Zoey wasn't going to shy away this time. She just faced being kidnapped (the events of her kidnapping still a blur), being saved, realizing her memory was messed up and cleaned up barf. The Emeraude did not want to deal with her godmother hitting on her boyfriend.

"Don't accept the compliment!" Zoey said, her cheeks red. Whether it was from anger or embarrassment, she didn't know. All she knew was that she wanted her aunt to return to her old, overwhelming self. The woman who didn't need a man in her life. The woman who was proud to say that she could live the rest of her life without being tied down. Without finding prince charming.

Natalie once said she was her own prince charming!

Zoey was about to turn her attention back to her godmother when the latter actually moved to Fred, cooing over his arm (sneaking a pinch here and there to feel his toned muscles under his robes), making a disapproving noise.

"Poor Freddie." She said in a high voice. Caressing him. "Does it hurt? Do you think a kiss will make it feel better? Make the pain go away?"

Echo furrowed her eyebrows and spoke, "Immoral. That's what's in front of me," she turned to Zoey and spoke in a pitiful tone, "Make it stop. Punch your aunt, whatever, just make it stop!"

Natalie was trying to continue on her attempts to seduce the eighteen-year-old, but the redhead did not respond at all. Fred pushed Natalie's face away; she was trying to plant one on him right now! Did she have any idea what she was doing or was she under the Imperius curse?

"I feel flattered." Fred began seeing that Zoey seemed ready to land another punch. Was she under the curse as well? When did she get so violent? Was jealousy driving her actions? "But I already have a girlfriend."

"And she's actually in the same age group, just saying." George commented, holding back the laughter that wanted to escape his already painful stomach.

Natalie pouted at Fred's rejection and crossed her arms. "So?" The woman walked towards her goddaughter and took hold of a strand of her hair. "I have prettier hair than her! I'm more mature than her! I'm a red head too, and it keeps up with your family tradition, and to add to that I would actually put out –"

"Natalie! You're thirty-freaking-six years old!" Bridgit exclaimed, still scared by the face of what Natalie now was. "He's eighteen!"

Zoey took this chance to make her move. She grabbed hold of one of Natalie's pigtails, tugging it. Natalie made a strangled cry and glared up at her goddaughter. Zoey returned the glare. So this is what a catfight felt like. Or at least how one began. She was thinking back to all the muggle romance books she had read and tried to see what she could do. How did the protagonist get her man back again? What did she do? Pull out an earing? Break the other's nail? Zoey didn't think those kinds of things would affect Natalie. The woman was driven.

"Echo! Hold my glasses!" Zoey suddenly exclaimed, tearing them away from her face and shoving them into the Veela's hands. She didn't feel like fixing them up later if they were to get into the middle of a fight. "Things are just might get ugly!" Inside, she really hoped that things didn't come to that. Maybe Natalie was just playing a joke and would return to her normal self before anything got too serious.

"Zoe!" Fred shouted.