Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters, ideas and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Athena Gilbert: Nina Dobrev.
Elena Gilbert: Alexis Bledel.
Jesse Parks: Jensen Ackles.
Chapter 4: Family Ties:
Marlene quickly yanked the book from Tonks, unable to handle suspense of Stefan actually entertaining thoughts of killing his older brother, however, when she went to open the book to the correct chapter, it wouldn't budge, eliciting a confused frown. Cocking her head to the side, Marlene stared directly into Albus' twinkling blue eyes, "It's not opening, Albus."
"Are you quite certain, my dear," Albus inquired. He wandlessly summoned the book and also tried to open it, but at that precise moment, there was a golden flash followed by the lazy fluttering of a piece of parchment onto his lap. Alastor, who had taken out his wand and clambered up to his feet with an impressive agility despite his fake leg, harrumphed and scowled at the accusing parchment his old, trusting friend was currently perusing, "Humph, Albus have you at least checked it for any curses or dark hexes?"
"No need, Alastor. The missive is from our spiritual friend, Ayana," Albus informed him; looking up to address the entire room, Albus said, "According to Ayana, the Malfoys and the Lestranges, excluding Bellatrix are looking to defy Voldemort and are searching for means of escaping-"gasps filtered the room and amongst the shocked cacophony, there were a few crass expletives from Alastor, James, Sirius and surprisingly, the good-natured Frank Longbottom. Emitting purple fireworks from his tip of his wand, Albus gazed sternly at them and clarified, "Ayana explicitly stated that it is imperative we accept them into the fold and help them escape. If we choose to reject her advice, then the defeat of Voldemort will be nearly impossible to achieve."
Severus fidgeted uncomfortably before clearing his throat and deciding to speak up, "Dumbledore, if I may," ignoring the heated glares from Moody, the Potters and the Blacks, he plowed on, "Lucius, Rodolphus and Rabastan confided in me a few days ago of a matter that is… immensely disturbing and highly confidential. I was planning on informing you after the Order meeting, ensconced in your office for privacy," here he sneered at a few members, "The Dark Lord has been preparing for a Forbidden Ritual, I know not the intricacies of the Ritual, but only that the ingredients are extremely rare and quite expensive and that it would take months of preparation. The Lestrange brothers and Lucius know the entirety of the Ritual and chose to skim through it when explaining to me due to its nauseating and forbidden nature. However, it calls for a sacrifice, the individual must be pure and Bellatrix," he sneered her name and spat it out with tons of loathing that had him receiving grudging nods of approval, "Offered Draco Malfoy to be the one sacrificed."
Yells of indignation flooded the room; despite the Order Members and the younger Generation not being fans of the Malfoys, they found it to be atrocious to use a boy so young, the same age as some of their children, in a sacrifice and chosen by his maternal aunt by blood at that. Alastor Moody spat on the ground in revulsion and both his real and fake eye settled on Severus' pallid visage, "I can understand the Malfoys choosing to betray Voldemort, but why the Lestrange brothers?"
"That is a good point," Tonks pointed out, prompting a glare from her mentor.
Sneering at them in disdain, though it lacked its usual heat, Severus continued silkily, "If you allowed me to finish without your incessant interruptions, I can tell you. In this unknown Ritual, another individual must be used; again Bellatrix elected her son, Reinhard, stating it to be an honor to serve her Lord," he spat out with malice aimed at the deranged Death Eater, "Draco will be murdered as a sacrifice and Reinhard will remain in an unconscious state under a Preservation Charm for decades or even centuries. Unbeknownst to the Dark Lord, Bellatrix and the Inner Circle, they went to me for help. Somehow, Narcissa always knew I was never faithful to the Dark Lord, and they are hoping to switch sides and aid us in our endeavor in return for their safety and liberation from imprisonment."
"How do we know it's not a trick?" Arthur hesitantly inquired; surprising them all since they expected the paranoia from Moody and not the kind, tender Patriarch of the Weasley Clan. Pinching the bridge of his nose and murmuring to himself about dunderheaded fools, Severus snapped, "Believe me, it is no camouflage. I am the elected Potion Master the Dark Lord chose to create the toxic potion for the Ritual."
Albus nodded, and although his eyes were twinkling over the fact that repentance was possible for the Malfoys and the Lestranges, he felt curiosity stir, coupled with an ominous sensation in regard to the dark nature behind the Forbidden Ritual. Ayana was very clear in her advice, and he would be a fool to ignore the lending hand of one who had journeyed to the next great adventure. "I believe we should welcome them in. They might prove to be helpful since the Prophecy Child is far away and we find ourselves at a disadvantage. Disregarding Ayana's guidance would make us foolish, especially since she is aiding our plight."
Once everyone nodded in acquiescence, some wholeheartedly, and some grudgingly, there was a brighter flash of gold light, forcing them to shield their sensitive eyes and after a couple of minutes, six humanoid figures materialized in their midst despite the Fidelius Charm. Albus beamed at them and courteously stood up with both his arms widely extended while Minerva transfigured two three-seater couches, one for Rodolphus, his younger brother Rabastan and son, Reinhard who was in the same year as Harry, Neville, Hermione and Ron, and the other for Lucius, Narcissa and Draco.
"Dumbledore, what-, how? How did we get here?" Lucius frowned in puzzlement. Narcissa gasped, her cornflower blue eyes sparkling with recognition, "We're at Black Manor! It's been hidden from sight since Sirius took the mantle as Lord Black eight years ago."
Sirius shocked everyone all by flashing his cousin a charming smile, "Right you are, Cissy. Welcome to my humble abode." After all, Blacks protect each other, and although he hated Lucius Malfoy, he would protect his cousin and her son, even Bellatrix's son as Head of the Black Family; a covert part of him was glad to have all his remaining family, excluding the unhinged Bellatrix, away from the sociopathic Dark Lord's clutches.
After the six wary Dark Supporters took a seat on the transfigured couches, they focused their attention solely on Albus Dumbledore and ignored the hostile faces of a fair few, their emotions surmounting at the preposterous and highly incredulous tale they were hearing. Clearing his throat, Rabastan tried to veil his skepticism and summarized, "So, you mean to tell us that Harry Potter is not in fact, the Boy-Who-Lived, but your daughter no one knew you had with another woman who was rendered a squib after the backlash of the Killing Curse. She is living the life of a Muggle in a small town called Mystic Falls in the US in a town filled with different species of Vampires, and that a dead spirit lend you all aid by procuring a book of events that will happen two months into the future depicting the life of Athena Gilbert, the true Child-Who-Lived?"
"Excellently deduced, Mr. Lestrange," Albus jovially replied as though a class were in session. Lily fumed and was threatening to implode, but kept her thoughts to herself, not wanting to attract too much attention.
"Preposterous," Lucius scowled; Severus sighed, "Lucius, no matter how incredulously impossible it sounds, it is true. We have all met the spirit Ayana, and she guided us to you."
"Now that we're done with the damn pleasantries," Alastor growled, his fake eye never once leaving the newcomers, "Marlene, start reading. We can continue our chitchat later!"
Albus levitated the book back to Marlene's open hands and spoke, "Yes, if you don't mind, during the break I'd like a chance to converse with you on this Forbidden Ritual. Children," he gazed sternly at the troublemaking children of his Order Members, "I want none of you to begin arguing with Draco and Reinhard. We are no longer in the halls of Hogwarts, and are all on the same side. If you have nothing good to say to each other, then don't speak at all."
A grudging silence met the Leader of the Light's statement and Marlene chirped out, trying to deviate the mood from the awkward tension the arrival of the Malfoys and the Lestranges created, "Chapter four: Family Ties."
The sound of a male voice speaking woke Elena from her peaceful slumber and she hastened down the stairs. "Hello? Jeremy? Athena? Hello?" She frowned when the light wouldn't open and found the power to be out except for the television. Focusing her full attention on the blaring television, she increased the volume slightly.
"This is Logan Fell coming to you live from the streets of Mystic Falls with breaking news of another deadly animal attack. The wild animal terrorizing the citizens of Mystic Falls has claimed another victim, local high school student Athena Gilbert.
"WHAT?!" nearly everyone bellowed, but none were louder than James who looked like he just had his heart ripped out.
"How-how, how did she die? Last chapter she was perfectly safe!" James choked out.
Nobody had an inkling over what to say, they all merely stared sympathetically at the grieving father while Sirius shook his head in firm denial. Shakily, Marlene continued reading, her voice dull, losing all her cheerfulness.
Police are certain that forensic evidence will confirm that this is the same animal responsible for recent attacks-" Elena shut the television off, tears pouring down her eyes when suddenly, a creak sounded from behind her and she whirled around, neon blue eyes widening at the sight of Damon, his chin coated with crimson.
"I'll kill him!" Remus snarled, sounding much like his inner werewolf despite there being two weeks till the full moon.
"You know what's coming next," he growled menacingly. Screaming at the top of her lungs, a terrified Elena dashed over to the front door and upon opening it, came face to face once again with Damon, slamming it shut in his face. Just as Elena reached the second landing of the stairs, a firm hand grabbed her arm and twisted her around, she didn't even have time to utter a word before sharp canines extended from Damon's mouth and he sunk them into her neck.
"NO!" nearly everyone yelled once again; Marlene however, recovered her happy disposition and bounced on the couch, "Wait, wait. Listen up!"
"Ahh!" Stefan shot up from his restless sleep; there was a heavy scowl plastered permanently onto his face as he dragged a hand over it and murmured to himself that it was only a dream.
"Thank god," Alice breathed loudly in relief. The Malfoys and the Lestranges were slightly perplexed at the many emotions displayed toward the squib and her muggle twin, that had yet to have been explained. How are the girls twins, yet only one of them is Potter's daughter?
Fabian grimaced, "What's with the morbid dream."
"At least he's not a seer," Gideon grinned in relief.
"Bad dream?" the smug nonchalant voice of Damon rang from in front of him; Stefan's forest green eyes narrowed in on him, recognition flickering on his features. A smirk slowly formed on Damon's handsome mien as he ambled toward his younger brother, "Do you know how easy it was to get into your head just now? You really need some human blood. It might even the playing field. Football reference," he grinned, blinking innocently, "Too soon?"
"That bastard! He planted the dream into Stefan's head!" James growled, clenching and unclenching his fists, ignoring Minerva and Molly's weak rebuke regarding his language.
Severus and Remus both looked enthralled however, and Narcissa slowly uttered, "So, these vampires not only have a form of mind-control called compulsion, need to be invited into a house and can somehow walk under the sun, but they can implant dreams… how unusual," she mused to herself.
"Yes, apparently these traditional? …traditional vampires are a lot more powerful than magical vampires with many advantageous attributes," Remus informed her amicably.
Growling, Stefan flashed out of bed, grabbed a knife and hurled it across the room, embedding it directly into Damon's stomach. Damon's face remained impassive and without wincing or even a sliver of pain, he yanked it out, twirling the knife in his hand,
"How can it not hurt him?" Jasmine squeaked out, clutching her stomach with a wince.
"Only a wooden weapon would have an impact on his pain threshold," Luna dreamily replied.
"All right, I deserved that. But I just wanted to let you know, they caught the culprit. The animal responsible for killing Coach Tanner and all those people."
Neville snorted, "I doubt that since you're still walking around." The children all snorted at his biting quip, and even Draco and Reinhard began relaxing slightly at the lack of lethal glares.
"What are you talking about?" Stefan growled, glaring daggers at the real culprit. A look of fake awe appeared on Damon's face, "It was a mountain lion. Really big one. It attacked a hunter this morning. It's all over the news," he theatrically captioned his hands, "'Deadly beast captured. All's well in Mystic Falls.'"
"Like Nev said, doubt it," Harry snarled, he was still seething over the dream the vampire implanted in Stefan's head regarding the death of his older sister.
Eyebrows knit together in confusion as Stefan suspiciously studied his brother's motives, "Why would you cover your tracks?"
"I've decided to stay a while," Damon shrugged before a sinister grin curled on his lips, "And I'm just having way too much fun here with you and Elena and Athena."
"No, James, you cannot apparate over to Mystic Falls and kill him," Minerva snapped, noting the expression on his face. Sirius nodded in agreement, garnering a look of betrayal from his best mate, "Minnie's right, Prongs. This is all happening two months into the future, Damon probably isn't even in Mystic Falls."
Laughter permeated the room and James cheekily grinned, clapping Sirius in the back; Minerva on the other hand, glared at her most troublesome student, her mien of satisfaction instantly morphing into a scowl and she murmured to herself, "Why did I even think for even a second that Sirius would think straight for once?"
"You get used to it, Minerva," Marlene grinned, smiling at her husband with a fond expression.
"Can't touch her now," Stefan smugly stated, though he was inwardly trying to figure out where Athena got a necklace filled with vervain from.
"Aren't we all," Remus mused.
Damon batted a dismissive hand away, his grin never faltering, "Well, the vervain keeps me out of their heads. Maybe that's not my target. Believe it or not, Stefan, some girls don't need my persuasion. Some girls can't resist my good looks, my style and my charm and my unflinching ability to listen to Taylor Swift," he drawled out towards the end,
"Taylor Swift?" Reinhard hesitantly asked.
"She's a famous Muggle singer," Hermione stated, shocked that the Number Two Bully in their year was acting so meek and… decent.
and before Stefan could even blink, a knife stabbed Stefan in the stomach, courtesy of a maniacal grinning Damon who glared down at him as he hit the ground with unmerciful electric blue eyes. "This is John Varvatos, dude. Dick move," Damon called out as he left the room.
"John Vervatos is a designer," Tonks chirped out before anybody could ask, especially Arthur who looked as giddy as a child in a candy shop.
Grimacing in pain, Stefan pulled the knife out; unlike Damon who fed on humans, being stabbed by steel wounded him easily, but he didn't care. Stefan would gladly suffer through the pain and remain weak if it meant he wouldn't lose himself to human blood and become a monster like his brother.
"Quite an honorable vampire. Very moral," Albus beamed brightly, his eyes twinkling tenfold.
"Unfortunately, his older brother isn't," Frank added with heat, receiving many agreements from the room.
Opening his diary, Stefan jotted down a new entry with mournful yet determined eyes.
The real animal is still out there, waiting for me, challenging me to fight back, to stop him. But how do I stop a monster without becoming one myself?
Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Fabian and Gideon shook their heads, unable to imagine themselves in Stefan's place… how does one decide to kill their brother? Even a murderous monster at that?
Athena's chocolate brown eyes remained engrossed on the television, listening to the newsman's report, and absentmindedly addressed her Aunt Jenna who stood beside her, oddly glaring at the television, "Huh, so a lion had been the perpetrator all this time? How the hell does a lion just appear in town and stroll casually down the streets?"
"I cannot believe Damon actually stole a lion and planted it in Mystic Falls," Hermione gaped.
Kingsley sighed, "It must be in connection to whatever plan he has. I doubt he returned to the town to torment his brother. He needs to cover his tracks since the attacks started happening once he entered the town."
"Good deduction, Shacklebolt," Alastor grunted, taking a swig from his drink.
"Scum ball. Scum bucket," were the heated words that met Athena's statement prompting her to stare at Jenna in confusion. At that moment, Elena descended the stairs and joined her twin, "Who are you talking to?"
"Him!" Jenna snapped, pointing an accusing finger at the reporter. Unintentionally using their twin speech, the girls intoned, "The news guy?"
An agitated Jenna nodded fervently, "Also known as Logan 'Scum' Fell." Turning to face her bewildered nieces, she calmed down slightly and said, "Did your mom ever tell you why I moved away from Mystic Falls?"
"Oh, no way!" Elena gawked, turning to study the reporter, "You and him? He's cute."
"Oh, so the ex returns to town," Ginny grinned.
Molly tutted sadly, "Whatever had he done to make her leave town. The poor girl."
Every single female, bar Lily and Narcissa since she had just arrived, felt sorrow and a sort of kinship to the young aunt who lost her older sister and was given the guardianship of three teenagers.
Gaping at Elena in utmost horror, Jenna stomped her foot and rebutted her observation, "He is not cute. There's nothing cute about him. Athena?" she turned to the eldest twin with hope shining in her hazel eyes. Staring at her aunt with mirthful eyes, Athena shrugged, "Gotta say Jenna, disregarding the scum part, you got yourself some fine piece of ass back then."
"What jargon is this," Minerva sniffed with disdain, prompting the children to stifle their laughter.
James groaned into his palms; he hated the overprotectiveness toward anyone of the male race that were in close contact of his daughter… he thought that he wouldn't have to feel such paternal protectiveness until Jasmine was at least sixteen or seventeen, and he was ashamed for completely forgetting his first daughter and eldest child's existence.
Watching as the twins fist bumped each other, Jenna shook her head and rapidly changed the subject before she imploded, "What are you doing with that?" Athena narrowed her eyes in on the cardboard box in Elena's hands as she dumped it on the kitchen counter.
"I went yesterday and got it from the safe deposit box. You know Thena, when you bailed on me to spend time with Jesse," Athena smiled unapologetically and Elena continued, rolling her eyes as Jenna snorted, "Mom had told Mrs. Lockwood she would loan it to the founder's council for their heritage display."
Jenna let out an impressive noise as she reverently held a round turquoise and quartz double ring with diamonds on a sterling silver band with an 18-karat yellow-gold setting, "Is that grandma Beth's wedding ring?" Also ogling the ring with appreciative eyes, Athena shook her head and stated, "Na-uh, that was originally great-great-grandma Mary's wedding ring. …Whew, our family tree is complicated."
"Hmm, to have such valuable heirlooms and events… the Gilbert Family must be archaic like the Sacred 28," Lucius mused out loud.
Bill nodded excitedly, uncaring that he was conversing with a Malfoy, "They are. The Founding Families come from a very old and very famous line pertaining the town of Mystic Falls. But we haven't gotten much information yet."
Elena chuckled as she rooted through the other belongings of their ancestors. Jeremy decided to pop in at that exact moment with a completely insensitive remark that would no doubt rile Elena up. "How much do you think this stuff is worth? You know, like on EBay?" Jeremy quizzed, prompting Athena and Jenna to roll their eyes in unison, and for Elena to retort heatedly, snatching a compass Jeremy picked up, "You're not gonna find out!"
"EBay?" Arthur inquired.
"It's like a market where one sells and buys things. Except through technology," Tonks tried to explain to the best of her ability; educating them on the intricacies of laptops, computers and internet would take eons.
"That stuff is mom and dad's. You can't just give it away!" Jeremy snapped with disbelieving eyes. Annoyed with, once again, adopting the peacemaker charade between her siblings despite her not being the middle child, Athena placed a soothing hand on Elena's shoulder to halt her reply and with her other hand, clasped Jeremy's, "Lena, he doesn't mean the selling remark, he's just fooling around. And Jer, we're not giving it away. Like all the other Founding Families, we're loaning them."
Jeremy grunted and stormed away without another comment, while Elena answered the front door and escorted Stefan up to her room with a giggle.
"Jenna should not allow Elena to bring a boy up to her room!" Molly snapped with indignation, promoting many rolls of the eyes from the children and a few nods of agreements from the parents.
Jenna laughed and faced Athena, "You're amazing with them, you know that? Only you and Jesse are capable of stopping world war three from beginning with those two."
In a joint effort, Hermione and Tonks tried explaining the first two wars to the purebloods who were baffled and in awe that muggles had wars that struck the nations and caused devastation.
Athena groaned and buried her head in her arms before looking up at her aunt, "Well, it's tiring. Elena is the middle sister; she's supposed to be the mediator here." Standing up, she hugged Jenna and called out, "I'm going to Jesse's place. If you need me to enforce peace again, call me. Bye!"
Caroline scrutinized her reflection, eyeing her dress with calculating blue eyes and just as she was about to smile with approval, Damon called out from his position on her bed, "No yellow. Jaundice. Go for the blue." Glaring at her boyfriend, Caroline snapped, "I don't like the blue!"
Barely sparing the nagging teenager a glance, Damon flipped the page from the book he was reading and firmly retorted, "Well, I do. And if I'm gonna be your date-"
"You cannot be my date," Caroline scoffed, giving him an incredulous look, "My mother is going to be there, and she is a very proud gun owner," she stated matter-of-factly. At times, Caroline Forbes wondered if her mother being the hardcore Sheriff of Mystic Falls played a big part in her lack of boyfriends. With her neurotic personality and low self-esteem issues, coupled with having a scary mother, if it weren't for Athena, Elena, Bonnie and Jesse, then Caroline would be very lonely, especially with her father running out on them.
Everyone wisely decided to keep their mouths shut, knowing that James was already beating himself up about abandoning his daughter.
Damon finally allowed eye-contact and glared at the annoying blonde who was honestly only a means to an end, "I went through a lot of trouble to make sure this party wasn't cancelled. It's very important I be there," dilating his pupils, Damon softly said, "Please take me."
"So this party is part of his plan," Ron stated in confusion. Everybody shrugged, not comprehending Damon's covert scheme in the slightest.
His compulsion instantly took effect as Caroline straightened her form and excitedly chirped out, "You should come to the founder's party with me!"
"So that's how the compulsion works. It may be similar to the Imperius, but I believe that one cannot beat compulsion," Rodolphus stated.
Damon smirked at his success, "Not if you're wearing that dress." Caroline pouted but went to retrieve her blue dress, leaving Damon to glare at the book in his hand in offense, "What's so special about this Bella girl? Edward's so whipped."
Hermione giggled, "He's referring to the Twilight Saga books I told you about before."
Much to Severus' disdain, Albus looked deeply curious.
Caroline giggled, smiling radiantly at her handsome boyfriend, "You gotta read the first book first. It won't make sense if you don't."
"Ah, I miss Anne Rice. She was so on it," Damon grinned, throwing the offending book onto the bedside table. Caroline paused in her scrutiny of her reflection and met Damon's entrancing electric blue orbs, "How come you don't sparkle?"
Damon scoffed, rolling his eyes for effect, "Because I live in the real world, where vampires burn in the sun." Seriously, fictions throughout the generations are abysmal and were becoming insulting towards actual vampires. "Yeah, but you go in the sun," Caroline pointed out, cocking her head to the side in confusion. Wiggling the finger with the huge chunky ring, Damon smugly uttered, "I have a ring. It protects me. Long story," he added upon seeing her look of confusion; he was really not in the mood to go into tedious explanations of witches and add it to her nonstop quizzing about vampires.
Silence filled the room.
"Witches? So Damon knows about us? How can he know of us when we know nothing about them?" Marlene inquired frantically.
Albus frowned in confusion, "I honestly have no idea whatsoever. Perhaps he befriended an American witch from Salem Institute."
"What I am interested about, Albus, is that ring? A witch spelled the ring to allow him immunity in regards to the sun," Frank spoke up, a scowl marring his face. Tonks' hair turned a vibrant red, portraying her anger, "What witch would befriend him? He probably threatened her or something of the sort."
Alastor growled, "We won't have any answers if we don't continue reading that blasted book with incessant interruptions!"
"Will these bites turn me into a vampire?" Caroline sadly stroked the souvenirs Damon left on her neck and upper back.
"It's more complicated than that," Damon droned, twisting his arms around her waist, "You'd have to feed on my blood, then die, then feed on a human's, it's a whole ordeal.
"That makes no bloody sense either," Gideon remarked in annoyance.
Albus sighed, "It seems there are different methods in becoming a vampire as well."
This book, by the way, has it all wrong," he sneered at the book before softly kissing her neck. A soft smile blossomed on her face, "You can be very sweet when you want to be."
"Yes, I can be sweet," he agreed, kissing the other side of her neck.
Quivering in his arms, Caroline whispered, "Are you going to kill me?"
"Mm-hmm. But not yet,"
"How comforting," Harry said sarcastically.
"No, I don't want her to die! I like her," Jasmine whined while Ginny and Luna nodded in agreement.
Turning her around to achieve eye-contact, Damon smirked, "There's something I need you to do for me. But first, tell me about this Jesse Parks," he spat the name out with disgust; Athena may not be Katherine, but she was a dead ringer for her and seeing Athena with that guy pissed him off.
"Who's Katherine?" Draco asked curiously.
Neville shrugged, "From what we have discovered till now, some woman from Damon and Stefan's past. Apparently Athena reminds them of her for some unknown reason."
His scowl deepened when the annoying blonde's visage lit up with joy at the name, "Jesse? He's amazing! He's like, the pacifier from our group of friends. Both his parents are wanderers and they've been traveling around the globe years before he was even born, so when he turned thirteen, they bought him his own place here and allowed him to settle down in Mystic Falls. He was left in the care of the Lockwoods at the start which is how he became best friends with Tyler and has been a part of our town ever since. Why?"
Scowling at her, Damon snapped, "Did I say you can ask questions?!
"Prat." "Ponce." "Bugger." Many expletives were uttered in regards to Damon and for once, Molly and Minerva turned a blind eye and didn't bother to scold them.
Now… how good are you at getting this little nose where it doesn't belong?" he smirked, playfully tapping her nose. Caroline giggled, "Oh, I'm excellent!"
Her words elicited a nefarious smile from the volatile vampire.
"I'm not going to like this," Alice moaned, burrowing herself deeper into her husband's arms.
Returning from Elena's, Stefan entered the Boarding House only to walk in on Damon and Zach in the middle of a heated debate; forest green eyes narrowed in on the bruise in the shape of a handprint materializing on Zach's neck and he glared at his cocksure brother, "What's going on?"
Departing the house, Damon smirked back, "Having a family moment, Stefan. Spending some quality time." The second he heard Damon close the front door behind him, he rushed over to Zach's side, wincing at the deep bruise Zach was massaging, "Hey, are you okay?"
"Damon threatens another member of his family. Why am I not surprised," Sirius drawled out while rolling his eyes.
"No, I'm not," Zach retorted hoarsely, choking slightly due to Damon nearly strangling him in his fit of rage, "And neither are you. How many more people have to die before you see that?"
Dropping his eyes to the floor with a contrite look on his mien, Stefan uttered, "I see it. All right, Zach. I see it."
"Then why aren't you doing anything about it?" Zach snarled. Stefan met the hazel orbs of his descendant's head on and desperately explained, "I can't, Zach. I can't. It would take human blood. It's the only way that I could stop him, and I can't do that."
An idea instantly began to formulate at Stefan's words and he lowered his voice down a notch, "The vervain could weaken him if he ingested it. It would help you get the upper hand." Stefan scrutinized Zach in perplexity while his shoulders slumped in defeat, "Vervain hasn't grown here since 1865. Damon saw to that. The little I had, I gave to Elena… what?" the vampire's suspicion grew as Zach quietly gestured to follow him. They descended the stairs to the basement and made a left toward the cellar; Stefan's eyes widened in awe and satisfaction, "You've been growing it."
"Bloody brilliant!" James, Sirius and Remus crowed out jubilantly.
Taking pity upon seeing the perplexed miens of Malfoys and Lestranges, Tonks rapidly explained, "Vervain is toxic to vampires. If anyone ingests vervain then they would be resistant to compulsion and a vampire would be weakened if they drank their blood giving them time to escape."
Narcissa smiled at her niece in gratitude while Marlene continued reading.
"It's just something that's been passed down through the generations," Zach explained in a neutral tone, "Blood only runs so deep when you're related to vampires. Damon would kill me if he knew that I had it."
"But you're telling me," Stefan stated, unable to comprehend the turn of events, "Why?"
"Because I trust you," Zach simply responded, "And you're gonna need it if you want to get rid of him."
The tension escalated in the room, hoping beyond hope that Stefan manages to stop Damon despite them being brothers.
Athena and Bonnie sat cross-legged on the floor waiting for Elena to return; Tyler, the douche ex-boyfriend of hers rang the doorbell to retrieve the box of their ancestors' possessions for the heritage display and Athena seriously wasn't in the mood for a confrontation with him.
"Delicate flower vs. naughty vixen?" Bonnie questioned; Athena pondered between the purple and the red, "Tough call."
"How about we mix them," Elena exuberantly offered as she plumped down on the floor beside her twin and best friend, an infectious smile threatening to split her face in half. Athena smiled fondly, she had never been more grateful for Stefan's timely arrival to Mystic Falls, and she was beginning to become the girl she used to be before their parents' death. Bonnie noticed too, and she grinned slyly at the blue-eyed Gilbert twin, "Look at you, getting all pretty for your date. You seem happy-ish."
"I am… ish," Elena smiled dreamily, perking up, "Tonight's going to be a good night. But-" here she sent Bonnie a knowing smirk, "-don't let that stop you from telling us whatever it is you wanted to tell us as soon as you walked in the door."
Athena snorted into her hand, "You wear your emotions on your sleeve, Bon. It was obvious… now spill, and don't even think for a second that you can deflect whatever it is you're trying so hard to hide."
"Out with it," Elena added, noticing the telltale signs on Bonnie's mien. Huffing loudly in defeat, Bonnie began tracing random patterns on the carpet and spoke up, "Okay, but it has to go in the vault, because Caroline will kill me if it gets back to Damon that she squealed," at the mention of his name, Athena stiffened perceptibly but remained quiet, "Apparently, Stefan has a very interesting back story… Do you know what happened to their ex-girlfriends, Katherine and Eliane?"
"So… I guess now we know what Damon compelled Caroline to do," Alice huffed angrily, not liking the way Damon was using the poor girl.
"He's trying to plant doubt with whatever lie he's having her tell," Narcissa commented, knowing too well the intricacies of Slytherin cunning coupled with having a manipulative streak.
Elena shrugged nonchalantly, but Athena was adept in reading her twin's emotions and she could tell that she was tense. "I know that they both dated them, and that's why they have issues…"Elena trialed off at the dubious expression on Bonnie's visage.
"Yeah, they both dated them. Katherine was with Damon while Eliane was with Stefan, only Eliane also had feelings for Damon, and that drove Stefan mad, so he did horrible things to try and ruin Damon's happiness with Katherine. He manipulated her and filled her head with all these lies until finally it worked, and she turned against Damon. And since Eliane wholeheartedly trusted her sister, so did she, leaving Damon alone," Bonnie rushed out to say, her cheeks flushed and eyes wide.
"What utter hogwash," Ginny cried out.
Luna tilted her head and blinked a couple of times, "There are some truths in his lie though. I can tell."
Ron scoffed loudly, but upon seeing Jasmine and Ginny's lethal glares, snapped his mouth shut.
Athena scoffed loudly, clearing the tension in the room, "That sounds like one person's side of the story, meaning Damon." She didn't trust Damon as far as she could throw him, and it didn't escape her attention of the deep animosity brewing between them; Jesse was deft in reading people and he warned her about Damon trying to split Stefan and Elena up. "Look Bons, Damon's trying to rile things up. Whatever problem those two have, it's between them, you shouldn't believe rumors so easily, and besides, Stefan's past relationships aren't any of our business."
Elena nodded in agreement, but Bonnie wasn't so easily deterred, "Unless he's a calculating, manipulative liar. That is Elena's business."
"Stefan is none of those things," Elena adamantly retorted, her voice firm and expression unwavering.
"Just a vampire. The manipulative liar is Damon," Harry flippantly commented.
Tilting her head to the side, Bonnie simply said, "Yeah? How do you know?"
"Because since when do the four of us keep secrets from each other?" It suddenly hit Athena like a ton of bricks, her eyes widening at the two girls, "Think about it, Care never keeps anything from us, and she knows that if she confides in you something pertaining to us, you'll immediately squeal… Damon is manipulating her, and in turn, manipulating us!"
"My daughter is a genius!" James whooped, joined by Sirius who crowed out that his goddaughter was a genius. While everyone was staring at the two Marauders in amusement, Servers was covertly observing Lily Potter, and he didn't fail to notice that the 'compassionate' witch was boiling with envy and anger, her emerald orbs narrowed into slits and her fists clenched.
Elena and Bonnie's eyes widened in recognition and comprehension before heavy scowls materialized on their visage. Athena hated being manipulated by others, but what she hated most of all, was when somebody manipulated or harmed her friends, and Damon just messed with the wrong person!
"You show him, sister!" Jasmine cheered boisterously.
A strained silence permeated the air as the three girls donned on their dresses and added the finishing touches to their makeup when suddenly, Elena's phone rang and she answered with a confused expression overtaking her face before it suddenly turned to fury and she left them without a word, barging into Jeremy's room with a concerned Athena hot on her heels.
"The pocket watch. Where is it?" Elena demanded, ignoring her twin's rebuking face. Acting nonplussed, Jeremy shrugged, "What watch?"
Not believing his innocent act for even a second, Elena snarled, "The one you stole from mom's box-"
"Elena!" Athena snapped in a chastising manner; massaging her temples and shooting their incensed younger brother an apologetic look, Elena softly said, "Look, Mrs. Lockwood just called me, freaking out. It was on the list, Jeremy. And she can't find it, and she thinks she's the one who lost it."
In a completely blasé tone, Jeremy retorted, "Maybe she did. Maybe Tyler took it."
"Oh yeah, Jeremy definitely took the watch," Harry smirked; he was familiar with the sidestepping technique to transfer the blame onto others.
Deciding it was time for her to intervene and play mediator again, much to her joy, Athena butted in, sending a silencing glare to her twin who was beginning to open her mouth with a sharp jab. "Jer-Bear, as much as I would love to blame Tyler for petty theft, we both know you took the pocket watch. Just tell us why. We cannot understand if you don't let us in," Athena placed an arm around her baby brother's shoulder in a camaraderie fashion.
Unshed tears began to glisten in Jeremy's wounded chocolate brown orbs, "It's supposed to be mine. Dad said it goes to the firstborn son. His father gave it to him, and now… Dad's gone. He's not here anymore to pass it down to me." Guilt consumed Elena and she joined her twin in embracing Jeremy; they only had each other left, and fighting amongst each other was not healthy.
The room turned gloomy at Jeremy's words.
James knew the feeling; the Invisibility Cloak had always been passed down to the first son on their eleventh birthday or before the first year at Hogwarts. The pocket watch must be a family heirloom as well, and James felt a kinship with his daughter's adopted brother.
"You know what," Elena perked up, speaking in a chipper tone, "I could have sworn that pocket watch was in the box when I gave it to Tyler. Mrs. Lockwood probably overlooked it. It's sad really."
And for the first time in god knows how long, Jeremy burst out into laughter with his sisters and beamed at them, "Thanks you two."
"Elena has a mischievous streak as well? God help Jenna," Alice tittered good-naturedly. James, Sirius and Remus beamed proudly.
"For what?" Athena shrugged in mock-confusion, pointing her index finger at her and then Elena, "We know nothing about the pocket watch." And with one last wink at her baby brother, the twins departed to meet up with their dates. Making Jeremy smile and laugh was a big improvement, and Athena and Elena finally had hope in their brother's happiness, maybe it would be an aiding factor in having him give up drugs and his unhealthy obsession with Vicki Donovan.
While the Gilbert siblings bonded for the first time since the loss of their parents, Stefan began to lay out the beginning of his plan in trying to stop his lethally volatile brother.
"This ought to be good," Sirius grinned, leaning forward and rubbing his hands together.
"It's cool not growing old. I like being the eternal stud," Damon smirked, joining Stefan in the living room. Stefan deadpanned, "Yes, being a 150-year-old teenager has been the height of my happiness."
Damon's eyebrows actually rose in surprise, "You cracked a funny, Stefan. I should have a drink to celebrate. 1864," he suddenly mused, and despite his trademark smirk, his posture was tense as he reminisced that year, "You and Katherine were the perfect couple. It was hell watching you dance with her."
"Finally, we get factual insights on the enigmatic Katherine and Eliane," Hermione huffed.
"My happiness was short-lived, as you well know," Stefan sighed, not wanting to rehash the past. Stefan wanted to ask Eliane to the dance, unfortunately she already had a date, so when Katherine asked him, he readily accepted; Stefan had been captivated by Eliane the second their eyes met, and even though Damon was enamored by Katherine, he also had a faint interest in Eliane.
"Seriously? Damon liked both sisters?" Lily sneered in revulsion.
Stroking his long silvery beard, Albus frowned, "I sense there to be a lot missing from the Salvatore brothers' history with the two sisters."
Damon busied himself with pouring a drink for himself, "I remember. I left the party early, I was waiting for her. The night you dropped her off, I was waiting just inside. You were such a gentlemen, gave her a kiss on the cheek. And what she really wanted was… Oh, well," he lifted his glass in the air, "Here's to history repeating itself, huh?"
Stefan was on tenterhooks as he watched the glass nearing his brother's lips, unable to convey his hopes over it being so easy to trick Damon when suddenly, the drink was dumped onto the floor and he met incensed electric blue eyes that contrasted greatly with the deeply etched smirk, "I admire your effort, Stefan. Pouring yourself a drink then spiking the bottle with vervain. I'm not some drunk sorority chuck. You can't roofie me.
"Roofie?" Reinhard asked.
Tonks scowled in disgust, her hair changing from reed to green to red again, "It's the date-rape drug."
But I can't help but feel a little used. I thought we were having a moment," Damon faked a pout, his eyes still burning with rage, "I have to go to the party angry. Who knows what I'll do."
A few minutes after Damon left, Zach joined Stefan, "That was his favorite scotch. I'm sorry. I thought it would work."
Stefan however, shook his head, "I wasn't counting on it." which was exactly what he expected. Zach's eyebrows rose, his face shining with disbelief, "You knew it would fail?"
"Did what I wanted," Stefan donned on his suit jacket, "It lowered his guard. He won't expect me to try again so soon."
"Smart," James grinned evilly. He wouldn't be able to breathe better until the threat of Damon was eliminated.
Zach smirked at that and handed out a small vial filled to the brim with transparent liquid, "I doubled what I put in the scotch."
"Jesse, don't you look dapper," Carol Lockwood beamed, embracing the boy she perceived as a second son in a hug, "Oh, and Athena. My, my, exquisitely stunning as ever! Elena's already in with her date."
Jesse put on his debonair façade and smiled cheekily as he took her hand and placed a chaste kiss on the back of it, "Carol, superbly beautiful as ever. It seems I have my work cut out since I'm going to have to scare the men away from you." Athena giggled into her hand while Carol cuffed him lightly, "Oh, you! Get inside you two. Athena dear, I'll leave Jesse in your capable hands."
"Jesse has this certain quality about him. He seriously is the definition of perfect," Tonks sighed wistfully. Remus growled lowly in his throat, unable to quash his jealousy.
"I'll try," Athena grinned, ignoring Jesse's pout and walking in, immediately being sucked in to Mayor Lockwood's embrace, and after a few compliments and boring chitchat between her ex's father and her boyfriend regarding sports, they began scouting the place for their friends and Elena. "Oh look, there's Logan Fell trying to flirt with Jenna, bad call," Athena commented before her eyes narrowed in on Caroline, "And there's Care with… Damon. Joy."
Jesse was torn between going to Jenna's rescue and threatening Damon who gave him a really bad vibe, "I don't like him either, but we aren't Carrie's parents, Athy. How about we interrupt Logan's failed attempt in charming Jenna?"
"He really is extremely protective over them, isn't he?" Narcissa smiled in amusement.
Rolling her eyes fondly at her overprotective boyfriend, Athena dragged him over to the registry, "Or, how about we join Elena and Stefan. Hey guys," she chirped, smiling at Stefan, "Whatcha guys doing looking at that old thing?"
"Elena being her usual scholar self," Jesse drawled, smirking when Elena smacked him atop the head in offense, "Kidding Lanes, jeez. Those twigs you call arms really packs a punch. Athy, your sister is harassing me."
Laughter resonated around the room; Jesse really had a way of alleviating the mood into a humorous atmosphere.
"Would you prefer I have Stefan beat you up instead?" Elena jested, drawing out a pout from Jesse and laughter from Athena and Stefan before she turned back to examine the registry, "'The founding families in Mystic Falls welcomes you to the inaugural founder's council celebration.' Wow, look, it's the original guest registry," her neon blue eyes lit up in fascination; Elena had always found a fascination with history, but lost interest when Tanner began teaching.
Bill grinned widely at that, him being a history addict as well.
"Oh look Bill, you found your soulmate," Ginny drawled out, her brown eyes twinkling in amusement
"Funny, Gin," Bill deadpanned; he already found a woman he could grow to love in the French Beauty, Fleur Delacour.
"Thena, look at all these familiar names – Sheriff William Forbes, Mayor Benjamin Lockwood. Is that-"she squinted her eyes and edged closer at the sight of the next names, "-Damon Salvatore? And, Stefan Salvatore?"
"Like that won't risk exposure," Harry rolled his eyes, "Why didn't they just create fake names?"
"Mindboggling," Jesse drawled, though he too looked interested at the turn of events. Suddenly, the voice that successfully managed to grate on Jesse, Athena and Stefan's nerves resounded from behind them, getting closer with each word, "The original Salvatore brothers. Our ancestors. Tragic story, actually," Damon smirked.
Athena was seriously considering if Damon Salvatore had any other facial expressions beside that damn smirk of his. Jesse snaked a protective arm around her waist and drew her flush against his chest, an action that didn't escape Damon's sharp eyes.
"Good. Protect her," James firmly stated, inwardly wincing, never having had expected himself to ever accept a boy initiate skin contact with his daughters.
"We don't need to bore them with stories of the past," Stefan dismissed him, imitating Jesse by drawing Elena closer to him. Meeting her boyfriend's forest green eyes, Elena smiled gently, "It's not boring, Stefan. I'd love to hear more about your family."
Caroline chose that moment to huff in agitation, "Well, I'm bored. I want to dance. And Damon won't dance with me," she pouted.
"I'm sure he compelled her to say that," Arthur grimaced.
Every time Caroline uttered a word, they were all brutally reminded of the Unforgivable Imperius Curse.
"Really?" Jesse inquired, giving Damon a flinty stare, all mirth gone from the clear gray, "Only a lesser man would deny his date a chance for a dance."
The room was filled with tumultuous applaud at Jesse's barb.
"Definitely Marauder worthy!" James and Sirius yelled with glee, completely accepting Jesse Parks into their fold.
Minerva actually chuckled, "The boy makes a perfectly explicit point."
Silence met Jesse's revile before a smirk appeared on Stefan and Athena's mien; Elena coughed awkwardly and Caroline remained quiet. Damon however, glared at Jesse, the statement 'if looks could kill' instantly coming to mind before he forced an irritable smile on his face, "Well, you see Jesse, Caroline's just too shy to dance with me in front of her mother, you know… her being the Sheriff and all."
Nodding slowly, Jesse sarcastically drawled out, "Riight. Whatever you say, man."
Harry and Jasmine whooped with joy.
"Could I just borrow one of your dates," Caroline chirped, not sensing the tension engulfing them in the least bit due to her compelled state. Tightening his arms around Athena, Jesse smiled at Caroline, but kept his steely eyes focused on Damon, "Sorry Carrie baby, but I'm all Athy's today."
"I don't really dance," Stefan murmured, glaring daggers at his brother who had yet to cease the staring contest with Jesse. A lazy smirk crossed Damon's face, incensed for being the first to yield as he stared at his brother condescendingly, "Oh, sure he does. You should see him. Waltz, the jitterbug, the moonwalk. He does it all."
Caroline batted her eyelashes at an uncomfortable Elena, "You wouldn't mind, would you, Elena?"
"It's up to Stefan," Elena said neutrally. Caroline yanked Stefan by the arm and toward the dance floor, "Well sorry, but I'm not going to take no for an answer." Jesse sighed loudly in annoyance but smiled comfortingly at Elena as she edged closer to her twin.
Annoyed beyond belief that Caroline dragged the wrong date for a dance, Damon forced a benign smile on his face and addressed the twins, vehemently ignoring Jesse's looming presence, "I want to apologize to both of you for being a world-class jerk since we met. There's no excuse. My therapist says I'm … acting out, trying to punish Stefan."
"Therapist? Really?" Hermione scoffed.
"What's a therist?" Arthur asked giddily, despite the situation.
Grinning at the exuberant man, Tonks explained, "They are similar to Mind Healers."
"Then explain you trying to kiss Athena?" Jesse brusquely snapped, "If you're trying to punish Stefan, you went for the wrong sister. Unless, of course, it was intentional." Damon gaped at the human, stupefied and rendered speechless, prompting a smirk to appear tenfold on Jesse's visage, "What? You thought Athy wouldn't tell me?"
"Yeah, I tell Jesse everything, but we'll bite," Athena sneered, "Why are trying to punish Stefan?"
It was at that moment that Damon Salvatore learned that breaking up Jesse Parks and Athena Gilbert would be no easy feat, and so, he decided to return to his original plan of tormenting Stefan for an eternity. Focusing on the registry, Damon tried to act nonchalant, "It's all in the past. I don't even want to bring it up. Let's just say that the men in the Salvatore family have been cursed with sibling rivalry. And it all started with the original Salvatore brothers… the Salvatore name was practically royalty in this town. Until the war. There was a battle here-"
"The Battle of Willow Creek," Elena blurted out excitedly, ever the history addict, "I know; we talked about it in class. Confederate soldiers fired on a church with civilians inside."
"What the history books left out was the people that were killed," Damon continued, subtly using Elena's thirst for knowledge to drive her apart from his brother, "They weren't there by accident. They were believed to be union sympathizers. So some of the founders on the confederacy side back then wanted them rounded up and burned alive. Stefan and Damon each had someone they loved very much in that church. And when they went to rescue them, they were shot. Murdered in cold blood."
"So that's how Stefan and Damon died… I don't get it," Jasmine frowned.
"Neither do I, my dear, neither do I," Albus sighed, hoping that the next chapters would be more illuminating.
"Let me guess," Athena cut in with a heavy scoff, disconnecting the electric and neon blue eyes from the steady eye-contact, "They were rescuing the woman they loved, huh?"
Damon arched an eyebrow at her, "Doesn't it always come down to the love of a woman?"
Sensing Jesse tense up, Athena grabbed her twin's hand, "Lena, come with me to the bathroom," she pecked Jesse softly on the lips and gave him a warning look before fleeing with her sister. She had been friends with Jesse years before they finally started dating; therefore, she was deft in reading his mind, sensing his emotions and knowing his ticks by heart. And it was glaringly obvious to her, that Jesse wanted to speak with Damon alone.
"Oooh, he's going to threaten him," Tonks said chirpily.
Alastor glared at her, "Yes, it is very exciting to read a human threat a vampire that could easily tear him to shreds. How exciting!" each word was heavily laced with sarcasm.
"Listen up, Salvatore, because I'm not overly fond of repeating myself and I'm only going to say this once," Jesse snarled with a flinty stare, "Whatever is going on between you and Stefan, leave Elena out of it, you got it? The Gilberts are under my protection, and I'll be damned if I'm going to allow a cocky, arrogant founding family member who randomly appeared into town to ruin the progress they have been making since Grayson and Miranda's death!" Jesse was now a hairsbreadth away from Damon as he snarled lowly, "You trying to kiss my girl, wrong move. I'm not just overprotective toward my loved ones, but I'm also a possessive bastard, so I'm giving you one last chance, I urge you not to blow it off. As for Caroline… you hurt her, I find even a little hair missing from her head, I'll destroy you!"
"I love that guy!" James cheered over the thundering applause.
"Wait, wait, he's not finished!" Marlene yelled excitedly, immediately engulfing the room in silence.
Damon scoffed; how dare the human think he could threaten or scare off a vampire! He could easily rip his heart out before anybody could even blink and stash the body away, lost forever. "What makes you think I'm so easily threatened? You don't scare me, Jesse," he smirked, crossing his arms against his chest.
Jesse chuckled darkly, "Then you're an idiot. I may be the easygoing guy around town with a good humor and very, very facetious, but mess with my loved ones and those I care about… wrong move buddy. Take it from me, Damon Salvatore; you don't want me as your enemy. I hold a lot of clout with the Mayor and the Sheriff and I can easily make your life a living hell without even having to lift a finger. So if I were you, I'd reconsider your options here," and suddenly, as though there was a switch, Jesse smirked good-naturedly, all intimidation diminished from his devastatingly handsome face, "Well, it was nice talking to you, Damon. How about we not do this again."
"An honorary Marauder for sure," Sirius smirked, wiping away a fake tear.
"An honorary Potter," James smiled proudly, receiving many wide smiles from the Order Members and the children, and an incensed glare from Lily.
Watching Jesse Parks' retreating back, Damon clenched his fists hard enough to draw blood. Nobody threatened him and got away with it with their heart still intact. Jesse would be the first to go once his evil machination came to fruition.
"Told you," Alastor grunted, prompting many lethal glares onto his person, however, nobody responded as they began to fear for Jesse Parks' life.
The second Caroline rejoined Damon, he pulled her up the stairs and began searching through the antiquity collections. "What are you doing?" Caroline hissed, ensuring nobody walked in on them. Barely sparing her a glance, Damon murmured, "I'm looking for a very important crystal-, aha, got ya!"
"How did you know that was there?" a perplexed Caroline inquired, her eyes staring entranced at the crystal necklace. Damon smirked in victory, "Because I put it there a long time ago. Tonight, I'm taking it back thanks to you."
"You can't just steal it," Caroline insisted in a hard tone. Damon rolled his eyes and dragged her back downstairs, "It's not stealing if it's mine."
"So part of Damon's evil plan was taking back a necklace into his possession? A necklace he himself hid there years ago? Does that make any sense?" Ron dumbly asked, receiving shrugs and exasperated looks in return.
Huffing, Caroline ditched him and made her way to the bathroom, squealing happily at the sight of Elena, "Where's Athena?"
"Here," Athena called out, coming out of the cubicle and washing her hands. Turning the tap off, her eyes narrowed in on a weirdly shaped scar on her neck, "What's that?" not even bothering to wait for a reply, Athena yanked off the scarf wounded tightly around her neck and gasped aloud.
"Finally! Thank Merlin somebody found out about the poor girl's suffering," Molly yelled out.
"Oh God, Caroline! What happened?" Elena yelled, appalled as she too joined her sister; bite marks littered Caroline's skin from her neck, to her shoulders and even her back. Pulling herself from the twins' firm grip, Caroline heatedly spat out, "Nothing, okay?!"
"That is not nothing, Caroline Forbes!" Elena yelled back. Athena gaped at her best friend, tears threatening to fall down, "Look Care, either you tell us, or I'm telling Jesse. Speak! What. Happened?"
Whimpering, Caroline began crying, her whole body trembling, "It's nothing, it just… my mom would kill me-"
"Did Damon hurt you?" Elena spoke in a hushed tone, her words succeeding in blinding Athena into a rage; with attitude, Caroline snarled, "No! Of course not! Just leave me alone, okay?!" and she stormed out of the bathroom.
"I don't think I want them to confront Damon," James muttered.
"Come on," Athena growled, pulling Elena alongside her. They ignored Jesse and Stefan who had been waiting by the door for them and made a beeline toward Damon, and before he could even blink, Athena slapped him hard across the face, evoking an echoing sound. Elena stomped over to him, "There is something seriously wrong with you. You stay away from Caroline or I will go straight to her mother, the Sheriff. You got it?"
"Stay away from her! And stay the hell away from us!" Athena sneered at him and quickly turned away from him before she punched him next.
"As impressive as that is, I fear Damon's reaction," Minerva sighed forlornly.
Neville however, had a wide grin on his face, "Everyone seems to be in a threatening Damon mood."
Jesse instantly appeared by their side with Stefan close behind. Cradling his shaking girlfriend in his arms, Jesse tried soothing her, "Hey, hey, what is it, what's wrong? Talk to me baby."
Shakily, Athena spoke out, trying to articulate her words between heavy sobs, "There are bruises all over Caroline's body. Bite marks, and he has her all confused and messed up in the head-"
Elena suddenly interrupted her twin, her neon blue eye focused intently on Stefan, "You don't look surprised." Grimacing, Stefan said, "I'm… handling it."
"Handling it? Jeez, Stefan, you should have him arrested! Jesse what do we do?" Athena turned around to her boyfriend knowing that he wouldn't let anyone get away with hurting the hyperactive blonde they all adored despite her neurotic flaws.
"Stake to the heart," Draco drawled out.
"Yeah, but they don't know he's a vampire," Ginny pointed out.
Luna smiled dreamily, "Even if they did, it's no easy feat to kill a vampire, especially if you are human."
"Way to kill the mood, Lu," Jasmine shook her head, though a fond smile played on her face.
Leaving Stefan and Elena to quarrel amongst themselves, Jesse and Athena began searching the manor for Damon or Caroline and five minutes later, an enraged Elena joined them.
"Where's Stefan?" Jesse asked suspiciously. Elena grimaced and shrugged, "Looking for Damon. Whatever, we fought. I don't think it'll work out, he's too secretive." Jesse and Athena decided not to deem her statement with a response knowing that Elena wanted to wallow in silence.
Stefan however, noticed Damon dragging a hysterically screaming Caroline outside and into the yard, and he stealthily followed them, ensuring he remained in the shadows.
"No!" Jasmine and Ginny yelled while Alice, Marlene and Alice clutched onto their respective husbands' hands eliciting a pained wince from them in return.
"Don't!" Caroline pleaded with tears streaming down her puffed up face, terror the main emotion on her visage, "Athena took it off and I got flustered, okay?! I didn't know what to say. But I swear, okay? I did not tell her or Elena anything. I just told her that you didn't mean to hurt me."
Damon had her back flush against his chest and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, "You make me crazy, you know that? It's okay," he cooed, "I forgive you."
"I swear I didn't say-"
Damon interrupted her rambling with soothing hushes, "It's okay. It's over. Unfortunately … I am so over you now," he menacingly added; his face transformed to its vampire one and he sunk his teeth into the soft flesh of her neck. His body began weakening and he suddenly collapsed onto the grass, barely able to move. "What the hell," he murmured, eyes widening when Stefan materialized in front of him with a grimace.
"You know, I couldn't spike your drink… so I spiked hers," Stefan informed him and before Caroline could wake up, he grabbed his fallen brother and flashed away back to the Boarding House.
"Thank Merlin!" James breathed in relief.
"Finally that bloody bastard will get locked up," Sirius snarled.
Albus smiled benignly, "Alas, Stefan would not allow his brother to kill Caroline. No need to fret."
Looking around at the oddly empty lawn, Caroline dazedly shook her head and grabbed the crystal necklace from the ground just as Jesse, Athena and Elena arrived.
"Caroline? There you are, we've been looking everywhere for you," Elena called out in relief, immediately embracing the blonde in a tight hug. Athena joined her sister, "Care, are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine," Caroline said shakily. Jesse sighed sadly and joined the twins; he cupped Caroline's face and tilted her head up to meet his stormy gray eyes that were filled with worry and concern, "Carrie, what happened?"
The tenderness of her best friends broke the dam and Caroline collapsed onto the ground, her whole body wracking with sobs, muttering incomprehensible words into the crook of Elena's shoulder. Athena suppressed her own tears at seeing her bubbly, vivacious blonde friend so torn up and she knew that Jesse was near implosion. "Care, you're sleeping over at our place, c'mon. I'll text Aunt Liz." Without needing to be asked, Jesse carried Caroline into his strong arms, bridal style and into his car with the Gilbert Twins following close behind.
"Stefan seriously has a lot of explaining to do!" Athena snarled as she shut the door of the passenger seat.
"It's not like he can tell them the truth. He'll risk exposure," Kingsley sighed.
In the Salvatore Boarding House, down by the cellar, Stefan and Zach quickly locked up the unconscious vampire in the cellar and injected him with another strong dose of vervain. Once Zach retreated to his room, Stefan muttered, "I did what I had to do… to protect Elena, to protect Athena, to protect everyone. Yes, Damon, the headline reads 'Deadly beast captured. All is well in Mystic Falls.'"
"Nice. Ironic huh," Harry smirked, "He turned Damon's own words onto himself."
"Would a cellar hold him in?" Jasmine asked uncertainly.
Alastor grunted, "Yes. Especially with the vervain in his system. Good question, Potter. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"
Once the last guests departed from the Lockwood Manor, four people convened in Mayor Richard Lockwood's office. "Thank you for staying so late," Richard Lockwood smiled wearily.
Most were confused at the odd change in perspective and curiously leaned forward.
"Did you get the Gilbert watch?" Sheriff Liz Forbes asked Carol. Shaking her head, Carol Lockwood said, "She claims it's packed away in her parents' things."
"I can get it," Logan Fell resolutely spoke up. Sherriff Liz Forbes nodded, "Good, we're going to need it."
"Why would they need Jeremy's pocket watch?" James demanded angrily, not liking the fact that they were planning on stealing the boy's cherished family heirloom.
"Are you sure?" Richard Lockwood looked uncertain, keeping an arm around his frightened wife.
Raising an eyebrow, Sheriff Liz Forbes stated in a matter-of-fact tone, "Five bodies all drained of blood? I'm certain."
"They've come back," Logan Fell grimaced.
"They know about vampires," Albus spoke up in a hush.
Alastor surprised them all by breaking out into guffaws, "The Founding Families, the adults, they all probably ensure the town is vampire free. That's their purpose!"
Marlene shoved the book into Sirius' hands, "Quickly read! I want to know what happens next!"
None of them expected such a twist, and they were curious over the other shocking discoveries waiting for them.
A/N: How did you like this chapter?! XD
I brought in the Lestranges and the Malfoys for a reason (other than me loving them LOL) they play an important part in the future chapters, and the Ritual will be explained in the next two chapters.
The story of Katherine and Eliane, for however is confused, will be made clear soon. Be patient! ;)
More plot-twists to come! Mind-boggling ones! ;) Can't wait! XD
R&R.