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Note: I had to tweak this chapter so I apologize if it sounds too confusing, let me know of course!
Panic at the Weasleys
"But Matt has…" Melinda ignored this as she got under the covers. "Are we even going to talk about the fates tonight?" I asked, feeling annoyed at this new approach of the kind cold shoulder.
"I'm tired" she replied turning over. And that was that. End of discussion. I didn't bother to try and pretend I wasn't. The next thing I knew I was drifting off.
Christmas morning was eerily silent. It was dawn when I woke up. I wasn't exactly surprised, my sleeping patterns shifted constantly. I was only too pleased to see Melinda awake next to me. Then I remembered she was still in an off mood with me. But now she wasn't. Now she looked…she absolutely terrified. And she was staring out the window. I didn't want to look, but I did, I couldn't ask her, she'd never answer. Out some distance, but somehow close stood three figures. An average figure, a tall thin figure, a short figure. My brain registered the connection a second after I said "Okay, so, what's the big deal?" which was a second before they disappeared. But then I heard voices. Like in the vision. Their voices. All echoing. "Moods and emotions have been tainted in this house, you refusal to depart has tampered with such even further, you will leave to restore balance."
"This isn't good…" Melinda chanted as she pulled her hands away from her eyes. This was the second time Fate told us something had interfered with the natural order. They were obviously talking about George this time. I knew he was being Sealed—or something. Granted it seemed like a mystery how. I went to say something to Melinda but she seemed to have gone into shock, I knew it was something the Fates were purposely doing. To 'correct balance'. Still.
"Hey, calm down, it's okay" I told her as she started rocking still staring out the window, her eyes glassy now. She stopped rocking. Time to panic. My brain said. I shouted for Fred and George first, both appeared on either side of me in a flash, they must have been awake wondering if we were awake.
"What's wrong?" Fred asked, pulling me closer to examine me as George slipped on the bed.
"Why is she so clammy?" George asked feeling Melinda's forehead.
"She won't budge or talk either" was all I could really get out. I hated seeing my friends freak out or mentally collapse. I wanted to explain the Fates outside but when I glanced over they were gone.
"What happened" George demanded, it wasn't a question, it wasn't a shout, it was a demand. He was angry. An angry I've never seen. Granted he had been acting weird this whole break so far. Fred seemed okay, at least away from Matt he did but Matt wasn't anywhere near us now, but yet George was falling apart.
"George, calm down, I'm sure she'll be okay, she probably just needs some water. Let me get mum" Fred said, he was halfway to the door when George started shouting again. "Tammie, what the hell happened?" he exclaimed. I was on my feet, no, being on my feet implied I was standing and I wasn't, I was lifted off the ground, George had his hands on either of my arms, he was shaking me. Not a light shake, not a friendly shake, but a shake that rattled my body, that could possibly snap my neck.
"What did you do?" George was still shouting.
"Let go of her!" Fred shouted his voice visibly between terror and confusion. "George, stop it!" I couldn't see anymore, George was still shaking me, harder. At this point my neck was really did feel like it was going to snap.
"I didn't hurt her, I swear!" I shouted, no, cried.
"Prongo!" I heard someone yell from the doorway. I went flying, backwards, hitting the dresser. It hurt. Fred was a few feet away, but he was looking at his brother who was holding Melinda who finally seemed to come around. About time. I said sarcastically to myself. I looked up, Hermione and Mrs. Weasley were at the door first, but it was Bill who had his wand raised. He probably knew this was coming, I saw it in his eyes, I should've said something, I should've asked. As soon as Mrs. Weasley found her voice and we had George calmed down and Melinda was back to her usual color we were gathered in the living room, still in our pajamas. It was quite, not a happy quiet either.
"I think it would be best if you two went to the Manor…we can do the presents before you leave, perhaps now, or I can send them along…but I think it's best if we just…" she trailed off.
"You can deliver them" I told her, walking over to Fred. I gazed back at Mrs. Weasley, but I should've known she wasn't going to leave.
"Merry Christmas" Fred said morbidly, pulling me close.
"Yeah…" I kissed his cheek.
"I wish you could stay, but mum's not gonna budge" his voice was clearly annoyed. I stated to respond but he shook his head. I glanced over at Mrs. Weasley; she was now wiping the table, but didn't let us out of her sight.
"I'll see you on the train." He said after a moment. I nodded as kissed me on the forehead and then walked away, hopefully to say goodbye to Melinda. But she passed him as she came to join me, he didn't even look at her. I didn't wait to say bye to the others, just hurried through the fireplace, Mrs. Weasley had sent an owl ahead, letting them know we'd be there.
I didn't want to keep my balance so as soon as I reached the Malfoy Manor fireplace so I let myself fall. I listened, waited for Mrs. Malfoy to start shouting but it never came. Instead Zes came from around a corner. He had oval shaped hazel eyes, his large floppy ears were hanging down. He was still young, not quite trained in the art of, well, whatever it is that house elves are trained in. "Zes, where's Mrs. Malfoy?" I asked, crawling over the chair.
"Mrs. Master came down at the sound of the owl hooting, Mrs. Master scolded Zes for not quieting the owl. Zes was to punish himself." I bit down on my lip. I got Zes in trouble. It wasn't a first, I hated it.
"Are you okay?" I asked, he nodded his head, too quickly, as if that's what he was supposed to say if he ever got hurt.
"Are they sleep now?" Zes nodded again.
"Draco too?" he nodded and I glanced over at Melinda who looked a little more than relieved at this news.
"Do they know Melinda is here" I thumbed over at Melinda who gave Zes a wave. Zes started to wave back but then remembered he technically had no permission to start communications with people. He was at the table before I realized it, slamming his head on the side. "Zes, stop it!" I hissed, grabbing his tiny ankle and pulling him away.
"Zes had to punish himself, Zes is supposed to remain silent, in the background. Zes is a servant, Zes not meant for social interaction." He pulled out of my grip, now running off toward the kitchen.
"Zes…" Melinda called after him, she sounded like she might cry at what she saw but I waved a hand at her.
"Let him, it's better than him attempting to kill himself" I said morbidly. I had just gotten to my feet when I noticed it. A very tall, very shiny, very sliver tree was by the front door; how I missed it was anyone's guess.
"Wow" Melinda said looking at the tree too. For a moment, I forgot all about the problems I had, I forgot the twins and their weird moods, I forgot about Melinda and her minor freeze up. I forgot about a lot. Even, what was her name?
"It comes enchanted with spells to lift spirits and moods." The voice was snotty, it irritated me slightly, it didn't fit with my good mood. Still, I turned to see Draco standing there in his silky black robe. I was over hugging him before I even knew I was hugging him regardless of his tone. "Happy Christmas" he said, voice clearly not used to be hugged even though I had hugged him a few times before. Melinda however didn't move. I knew she was planning on taking the guest room, possibly locking herself in there all day, but I knew she didn't expect to be face to face with Draco, not on Christmas, not at seven o'clock in the morning.
"Merry Christmas Draco" I said pulling back. Now that I wasn't looking directly at the tree it seemed so less effective.
"It kinda wears off if you've been around it longer than two days" Draco said looking over at Melinda who refused to look at him. "What are you doing here?" he asked a hint of true concern in his voice.
"Oh you know, popped in to have a spot of tea, butterbeer or firewhiskey if you got it. Then you know, we'll be on own way, our morning stroll through town." Even I thought Melinda's tone with a bit more bitter than it should've been.
"Melinda, c'mon, they're helping us" I thought about it. "They're giving us shelter" I decided on saying instead.
"What happened?" Draco asked again. I looked around. "They're sound asleep, on the other side of the house; but if you're that worried, come on." We followed Draco up the stairs, through a Parlor, a sitting room, a long hallway and finally Draco's room. Well, second room. His first room, across from this room was my room. I quickly checked my door to make sure the lock charm around it was still activated. One of the first charms Melinda taught me.
"Okay," Draco said going back over to his king sized bed, waving a wand at the door. I didn't need to be reminded that our voices were now muffled, we could talk as loud as we wanted and choice whatever topic and no one outside this room would hear us. "Alright, what happened?" I looked at Melinda who nodded; she must still be shaken if she was letting me explain. That or she just didn't want to speak in front of Draco. Regardless I quickly ran through the story, lingering only on the important details. I had just gotten the part about Matt's gifts when there was a tapping sound on Draco's window. Three owls were hanging outside, two were ours, the other was Hedwig. We took their packages; they all flew out, probably out to search for food. I folded the letter up, I'd read it later.
"Speaking of presents…" I finished out Draco's present and pushed it toward him. "That's the one I was talking about. It's from Matt." Draco looks down at the box, he's frowning a bit. "What's wrong?"
"It's silver, I've never really seen a silver box like this" he said, slowly admiring it. I looked over at Melinda, she didn't look interested, instead she was starting at the bookshelf, no, not staring, scanning. Of course she was scanning the bookshelf. Probably checking to see how dark Draco was planning on going. Or perhaps she was looking for something about the fates, which she still had yet to explain to me. I wonder if the twins knew, or any of the Weasleys. Granted they had Hermione so they'd be okay, but still, I worried. "What the-?" I looked back at Draco who was closely examining his coin.
"What does it say?" I asked, trying not to sound eager.
"Not all who follow seek reward, some just care' and then this one—I mean, this side says 'Accept'" I wanted to laugh, mainly because of Draco's split expression, half stunned and half furious, though he couldn't be sure which he wanted to deal with first. "It's stupid" he said, though his words didn't have half the impact they usually did. It was more like he was trying to convince himself of something. "It's stupid to keep fighting against it…" his voice was barely audible, I wasn't even sure I heard it. But I know I did. I know Melinda heard it too even if she was acting like she didn't. Her body was tense, the first sign, she was tilting her head and most of her body toward him, second sign. She was staring at a fixed point on the bookshelf so she could avoid even looking at him, third sign. And the fourth sign was that she spoke.
"We need to talk about The Fates" she said, looking at me her words slow, as if each one needed to be elaborated on. My first instinct was to be sarcastic, but now, after she ruined Christmas and probably felt quite guilty herself I didn't need to make the situation worst.
