Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters.
Note: This chapter may seem confusing but it will be explained later. Follow closely. I think it might drive you crazy though SiobhanPhelps.
That Weird Chapter
Before I could completely react to the sight I was seeing I heard the door open again, this time I swore a few girls let out gasps, some looked overjoyed. I knew that could only mean one thing. I slowly turned my eyes on Matt, but only for a split second because I saw two redheads next to him. "What the…" I asked myself as they looked around, Matt's eyes falling on his sister, Fred's on me but George kept looking around. I turned to look at Melinda but she was no longer in her seat.
Courtney looked at her brother in complete surprise, maybe too surprised. I stared at her as she rose from her seat, glancing back at Draco, giving him a sad look as Matt took her wrist and dragged her out. Draco turned to Fred who was approaching me. George was still by the door. "What's going on?" I asked. Fred opened his mouth to respond but a gust of wind made me jump as it slammed the door open. I started to make a joke about the wind being too strong but a feeling in my stomach told me it was nothing to joke about.
"Where's Melinda?" George shouted over the wind which was now louder and stronger than I thought it should be for this weather. Even though I hoped it wasn't Melinda causing this whirlwind I wouldn't have been surprised. If this was indeed Melinda, I knew she was only doing it to make sure Draco was knocked off his feet, the rest of us were causalities, and she knew we'd get over it if it was for the greater good. At the same time there was another feeling I couldn't place that made the situation even more curious.
Another gust picked up, this time taking me with it, which I figured would happen. I hit the wall with a light thud, now trying to get my wand out of my cloak but I could barely see, the wind was making my eyes tear up. "Tam—where—Melinda—" I could only here parts of what George was saying, he was still by the door, holding on to the counter.
"She was with me a minute ago!" I shouted, though I doubted he could hear me. I looked around the small tea shop again watching Fred motion for people to leave, though more than half were already gone. "Hey!" I shouted to the boys, motioning over at Draco, who was hanging upside down the wind pushing him back and forth like a leaf in the breeze.
"Lovely, makes such a wonderful addition to the décor, don't you think?" Fred asked sarcastically as he let himself hit the wall, inches from me.
"We should stop her" I shouted to him finally finding my wand and waving it him, as he took his out too. "How do we stop this?" I asked Fred who shrugged.
"If I knew what she was doing I'd tell you" he replied. George, who had finally let go of the counter, was now on the other side of me.
"Where is she?" he asked again but I shook my head. We all looked back at Draco who was fighting to get down but making no success.
Just then Matt came back in, took one look around and pulled out his wand, mumbling something that I couldn't hear. Another gust of wind came, this one stronger than first, knocking me off my feet. My head hit the floor so hard I was surprise I didn't cry out. I looked up, Matt's wand was making circular motions, he was drawing up the gust of wind into the vortex, or whatever he had created. Whatever kind of magic this was I was certain he didn't learn it at Hogwarts, which meant either Melinda had learned it somewhere else or I was missing something completely. I didn't get a chance to let my thoughts wonder off too much because I heard another thump, from higher up. I knew it was Draco before I looked over. Sure enough when I looked over Draco was on the ground. I looked around, wondering if I could make my way over before getting sucked in to the vortex, some part of me still wanted to make sure Draco was okay, no matter how much I wanted to blame him for this.
"Tammie" Fred shouted, holding out his hand. I laughed as he lost his balance and joined me on the floor. A yellow spark flew into the shop, bouncing off the table, off the walls, off the flowers. I ducked into Fred as it whizzed pass me. I looked up in time to see it hit a picture of white roses before the frame burst into pieces, flying all over. Another spark flew in, this one purple, slower. It landed next to me, ever so softly. Fred pulled me out of the way just in time, it burst, hitting the ceiling, tables, flowers, causing little holes to appear everywhere.
"You okay?" I asked Fred, searching him for any trances of holes. He nodded his head and looked over at George who nodded too, holding up his wand. Fred, looking determined he held his up too. I watched as they made their way to Matt who had stopped his vortex and was crouching in the corner. As the boys whispered I crawled over to Draco, checking him for holes. I only found one, on the side of his right pinky. It looked like a piercing that didn't belong.
"Draco," I said as I shook him, trying to see if he'd open his eyes. He made a face and then groaned, his hand going to his head before he opened his eyes.
"What happened?" he asked groggy. I started to reply but noticed a purple spark landing beside us, this one lighter than the first.
"Move!" I told him pushing him over, under a table. Seconds before the spark shot off the table fell so that it was in front of us, blocking us. I watched as a jagged sharp pierced the table, inches from where I just moved.
"What's happening?" Draco asked again, this time looking over at Matt, Fred and George who were now shooting spells. The door was closed, which meant the culprit, was inside or could have left. Thankfully the wind and sparks had stopped.
The door swung open again, my heart fell when I saw Professor McGonagall and Professor Madison standing there. "What in the name of Merlin?" Professor McGonagall started, her eyes not quite believing the sight. She looked at Matt, Draco and then me, I could've sworn her eyes skipped over the twins, she probably figured they were somehow involved and therefore didn't need to visually see them, I looked around too, where was Melinda? I couldn't help but wonder.
"Come" she said looking at me and then Draco. I stood up first, helping him to his feet as we walked toward the Professors. "All of you" she said, her voice flat as she looked at the counter and then off in the far corner where a single large garbage can stood. I looked too, watching Melinda emerge from behind the garbage and then Courtney from behind the counter.
"Do you have any idea how long that tea shop has been there? Are you aware that they just finished decorating it?" We were all in McGonagall's office, as were Professor Flictwick, Professor Snape and still, for some reason Professor Madison. "Who would like to explain to me what exactly happened?" Professor McGonagall asked, looking around at us.
"I'm terribly sorry Professor, it's just that…" Courtney started, looking down at her hands. Her voice was the perfect pitch, ashamed, regretful, but sad. "I only went with Draco because he said the tea shop was a nice little place, and it's only our first date…" she trailed off again, trying to hide the smile. "I told him we didn't have to but he insisted. We had only just started talking and well, I kissed him, and well…" she trailed one last time, looking over at Melinda, giving her a look of sympathy. A part of me wanted to smack her; she knew what she was doing all too well. "I reckon she still has some sort of feelings for him, I don't know why though, George Weasley makes just as good of a suitor, maybe even better than his brother." She giggled as she said this; Professor Flictwick and Professor Madison instantly smiled. Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape on the other hand looked slightly intrigued. Had they caught on to her little game? I wondered. I looked back at Courtney, still feeling myself bubbling with anger.
"While I do see jealousy as a main cause of today's events, it doesn't justify any of today actions. It would've made more sense to, I don't know; take this jealousy out on the Quidditch field next weekend?" Professor Snape offered. I looked over at Melinda who looked angrier at Professor Snape's choice of words than she did with her actions.
"Professor Snape makes a good point" I jerked my eyes away from Melinda and looked at Professor Madison. Another surge of anger shot through my body so quickly I almost couldn't stop myself from grabbing my wand. I twitched as I forced myself to stay seated. Professor Madison looked at me. She wanted me to feel that anger, she wanted me to react. I closed my eyes and looked away; I had to stay calm, I had to relax. I couldn't let her drive me out of school, this was the only place I was safe. "I think what we need not overlook is the excellence in spell casting today" Professor Madison added looking from Matt to Courtney to Melinda, her eyes sparkling. Melinda stared at her, I did too, what was she playing at? I wondered. "However, I do think proper punishment should be executed, except perhaps, George Weasley, I didn't see him involved in any way." I took a moment to glance over at George who looked just as surprised.
"Excuse me Professor, but I was there, doesn't that count for some kind of involvement?" he asked. Professor Madison smiled at him.
"No, just those who actually performed spells—"
"I didn't cast—"
"Seems more appropriate to punish" Professor Madison continued, cutting Draco off. I wanted to shout that wasn't fair but I'd just be getting myself into more trouble. "Since George didn't actually cast any spells" she paused to look back at George. "You can go back to the Gryffindor common room" she said. George didn't move or say anything, but instead looked at his brother then Professor McGonagall, as if he wanted detention with the rest of us.
"Perhaps she's right Mr. Weasley—George, you should head back; I don't need you in anymore trouble today" Professor McGonagall said.
"But I was there!" he exclaimed though it appeared none of the Professors seemed to be listening.
"Just go…" Melinda said pushing him a little. It seemed regardless of anything else he wanted to say or do he decided not to and walked out, though I guessed he didn't go far, if anything he would probably tell Lee or wait for us.
"You lot on the other hand…" Professor McGonagall said turning back to face us. I wanted to protest about George, mainly because there was now an even amount of us, and whatever Professor Madison had in mind she was going to pair us off, and I knew that would not end well.
"Let us not forget that Mr. Malfoy and…Miss. Allen did not perform spells either" Professor Snape said not taking his eyes off Draco.
"Yeah, but we were there from the beginning, if I wasn't there with Melinda it wouldn't have happened and if Draco wasn't there with…her it there wouldn't have been any problems" I quickly explained; there was no way I was letting Fred and Melinda get stuck in detention with Matt and Courtney.
"Yeah, we were there from the start" Draco added quietly. I looked at him, trying to give him a small smile but he was focusing his attention on Professor Snape. Whatever reason he had for remaining with his punishment didn't matter, I was just glad there was a part of him that still cared enough to not want to see Melinda get hurt or hurt someone.
"Very true, and well, neither of you did nothing to stop it" Professor Madison said replied giving him an innocent smile.
"Regardless" Professor McGonagall said in an annoyed tone. "The six of you standing in this room right now will be serving detention; I am absolutely shocked that you destroyed an entire tea shop. Out of anger and jealousy? Two of you Prefects, you should really know better." I looked at Melinda who looked a mix between ashamed and anger. When Professor McGonagall realized no one had anything left she say she shook her head. "I think it would be fair to take away fifteen house points from each house" she said.
"And it would be best if you served detention separately. Allen and Miss. Knacks you'll be cleaning up the tea shop, tomorrow night so it's in proper order for next time. Mr. Knack and Weasley, I do believe the awards need a good polishing. Malfoy and Hennings perhaps you'd be so kind as to help me get rid of the excess skin and waste from the Breverbees" Professor Madison said. From where I was standing I couldn't see her smile but I still knew it was there. "Without magic of course…" she added.
"I think that's perfectly fair" Flickwick said nodding at everyone. "Though I hope next time you'll all restrict yourself and your talents to inside a classroom or a monitored duel" he continued. I looked down so I could smile; I always appreciated Flickwick's compliments, especially if they were geared toward insulting a less skilled professor.
"Go on, all of you, to your houses please" Professor McGonagall said touching her bun with one hand and motioning us toward the door with the other.
