Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A Respite
It was March. Some green grass was starting to peak through the remaining bits of winter. But the cold remained. Still, like many hungry for spring, we bundled up in our cloaks and scarves and planned on some time outside. Adrian took some convincing to leave the stone walls of the castle. Pleading sentiments and puppy eyes didn't work on him. I asked Hestia and Flora to go tell their dear cousin Adrian how much they wanted to spend time with him.
Adrian sent them back to me with the criticizing comment that such may have worked when the twins were eleven or younger. But at thirteen, it wasn't an effective tactic. He told them I would need to try harder if I was going to manipulate him. So, I did…The try harder part. As far as manipulation goes, my talents lie elsewhere.
"Holly", Adrian complained as I held his hand and dragged him down the steps of the grand staircase. He could easily break away from me. The inches he had on me assured that. But Fred and George walking close behind him meant he couldn't escape.
"You can't stay hidden away during every free minute of the day", I called over my shoulder as I stepped off the stairs. Without pausing, I made for the doors. Giving Adrian the choice of keeping up or tripping. "If you keep avoiding everyone, they're going to think the worst".
"They're scared", Adrian argued as we drew closer and closer to the doors. "It's better to give them space and not force my presence on them". Adrian was tired. I could hear it in his voice. See it in his walk. And I found it unacceptable.
"Scared of you?" Fred asked in a mocking tone as Adrian grumbled something rude at him. Probably because Fred kept pushing him forward. "Pucey… Adrian, that's like being afraid of a boggart".
"Yeah", George agreed as I opened one of the double doors and felt the sunlight that spilled over my skin. "Once people get to make a few jokes about the oh-so-terrible Reggie Black, they'll have a laugh and move on".
While unenthusiastic, it was less of a trial to get Adrian to step outside. Maybe he gave up. Maybe Fred using his first name was enough to stun him into submission. I'd take it either way. The door shut behind Fred and George with a heavy thud as we stood on the front steps; taking in the sights of melting snow, mud, and a little bit of green grass.
The cold still bit our noses and brought color to our cheeks, but it was worth it. Many also thought so. There was a group of first-years having a snowball fight with the last of the snow. A group of girls of varying years talked and giggled as they took the path heading for the lake. Clusters of people were splattered around the grounds as they talked, played, or just existed.
"There they are", I said; starting forward once I saw the group I was looking for. Harry stood between Ron and Cedric. The three boys nodded as I waved to them and we approached. But they couldn't return the gesture. Each had their hands full; carrying two brooms a piece. Though the others waiting with them; Montague, Baddock, Ginny, Chang, and Hermione, did not have their hands full and managed just fine.
"You planned this", Adrian hissed as we drew closer and closer.
"No", I argued as Fred and George left their rear-guard positions to jog ahead. Everyone had seen Adrian by now. So, it wasn't like he could flee back to the castle. At least, not without embarrassing himself. "I merely facilitated. You have Harry and Montague to thank for this plan. Though Cedric was all for it. Quite disappointed he hadn't thought of it himself, actually".
Once they reached the others, Fred accept his Cleansweep Five from Ron and George did the same with Cedric. "Adrian", Cedric greeted once we were close enough. Trusting our friends and my siblings to handle things from there, I moved back to join Hermione, the only person who wasn't holding a broom. "We thought we'd do some flying today. It's been an age since they canceled quidditch".
Harry held out Adrian's Nimbus 2001 to him; his jaw set in a determined line as he stared straight into Adrian's eyes. While the school brooms were available to everyone who passed the first term of flying classes, students' personal brooms were not. If they were being kept in the school broom shed, personal brooms were given special lockers that only the owners and the staff could access. But Fred and George had learned a way around that our first year when they wanted to borrow Charlie's broom. So, it wasn't a hardship grabbing Adrian's broom along with everyone else's.
I didn't turn my eyes away from Adrian until he wrapped a hand around the handle of his broom. "Shouldn't we head for the pitch if we're flying?" He asked; voice gruff as he tried to not focus on anyone for too long. Cho Chang was having a hard time looking at him while Baddock couldn't stop staring.
"They're doing something to the pitch", Ron answered; a slight glower on his face as he addressed Adrian. But that wasn't too different from how my little brother usually talked to my boyfriend, so… I guess it doesn't matter. "No one's allowed in".
"Is this all who's coming?" I asked Hermione as the fliers started discussing what game they'd play.
"No bludgers", Montague said quickly and left no room for argument. "Baddock's playing. No bludgers with first years".
"No", Hermione answered as she moved; leading the way over to a stone bench with a book tucked under her arm. "The Carrow sisters and Luna are planning on coming. And Lee too if he makes it out of detention in time". I followed her and claimed the spot next to her on the bench. It was better than sitting in the mud and snow.
"Bludgers should really only be used on the pitch", Cedric agreed as he cast a watchful eye at the other groups of students enjoying the grounds.
I could see Adrian doing the math in his head as his eyes darted from one player to the next. "There aren't enough people for full teams", he observed. Adrian sounded more like his old self. I wanted to believe it was due to current company. Though having a broom in his hand probably played a part. "We could play with just keepers and chasers".
"We play like that a home sometimes", Ginny added her two cents as many nodded in agreement. Keepers and chasers was a variant of quidditch many played as children. Without the bludgers, fliers were less likely to get hurt. Without the snitch, fliers were less likely to get lost. Especially where there was no pitch to keep the balls somewhat contained. Honestly, using just the quaffle, it was like football on broomsticks. Except you were allowed to use your hands.
"What are you reading?" I asked as teams were formed. Ginny, Fred, and George came to stand on the same side with Montague and Baddock joining them. Harry, Ron, Adrian, Cedric, and Chang made up the second team. That was a mistake, I thought. My fellow triplets and Ginny teaming up against Ron? Ron didn't stand a bloody chance.
Hermione took her time answering. And when she did, her tone was clipped. "Paper Charms; How to Write a Proper Essay". Sounds… boring. Though I had the sense not to say so. The two teams kicked up into the air; some with a little more poise than others as their scarves and cloaks blew and gushed around them; depending on how the wind touched them.
Montague threw the quaffle into the air and the game began. "Hermione…" I started slowly as Harry immediately stole the quaffle and made for the opposite team's goal. They had to be creative when it came to the goals. Harry's team was using the space between two trees for theirs. While Ginny's team marked theirs by the end of the grass. Meaning, if the quaffle ended up on or over the cobbled garden path, the other team scores a point. "You sound unhappy".
With a huff, Hermione slammed her book shut. She held it in her lap as she adjusted until her knees were pointed towards me; giving me her full attention. "I'm not upset about Adrian". She started off with. And… good. I didn't think she would be. As a muggleborn, she arguably had more of a right than most. But Hermione knew about Adrian's Regulus' days. She's known about that since her first year when Harry spilled the beans.
"It's just…" There was a furrow in her brow as Hermione collected her words. "That article wasn't necessary. Why Would Adrian tell Rita Skeeter of all people his story? It doesn't make sense".
Hermione, I decided, was too clever for her own good. "Lord Flint has a plan", I told her as Fred stopped Harry from scoring and tossed the quaffle to Ginny. "Apparently, telling Skeeter was a part of it".
"And the timing", Hermione kept going with a furious shake of her head. "To come out with all that right after the second task. What is Lord Flint thinking?"
"You could write him a letter", I suggested; knowing Lord Flint could deflect and redirect a lot better than I could. "Lord Flint loves to receive post. Trust me. I've sent him quite a few letters". And only one resulted in a howler.
Nostrils flaring, Hermione glared at me as she got to the real issue she had with Adrian speaking up about his past life. "The four champions worked together in the last task. They helped get all the hostages out of the lake. Not just their own!" Overhead, Ginny passed the quaffle to George, did some fancy spin to get around Ron, and managed to catch the quaffle once she passed him. "That should have been what everyone talked about. It's what we should want people to talk about because that's exactly what the United Party is trying to accomplish. But now all the attention is on Adrian. Everything that was written about the four champions working together was forgotten as soon as Skeeter's article came out". Hermione took a long irate breath before continuing. Meanwhile Ginny scored a goal. "If Lord Flint wants to preach for a society where everyone is equal and cooperates with each other, then he needs to mean it".
The slowest flier playing was Baddock. Given his level of experience and the school broom he was using, that made sense. As I thought, I watched Cedric slow down as he feigned losing the quaffle for Baddock to steal it from him. Laughing madly, the first year zoomed for the goal with Fred and George cheering him on. He didn't seem to notice that no one was chasing him.
The three pillars of UP: unity, loyalty, and unvarying consideration. I repeated them over and over in my head. Was Lord Flint promising equality with his platform? It was tricky wordplay. I could see how many could come to believe he was, but… unvarying consideration. I think Lord Flint had something different in mind. Something more along the lines of doing away with us vs. them thinking.
After Baddock got to score a goal, Harry took the quaffle and he worked together with Ron and Chang to get around my fellow triplets. Us vs. them thinking was fine… fun even for things like sporting competitions and school rivalries. But it was dangerous when it influenced identities, lead to dark marks, and typecasted whole blood statuses.
To beat it, we needed to be able to cross lines that we did not draw. We had to consider the individual and not the group they came from. Everyone needed to be an us in our eyes instead of a them. "You're right", I told Hermione as my eyes zeroed in on Adrian. He did a barrel roll to avoid Montague as he raced after the quaffle. "It was rubbish timing. I'm not sure Lord Flint considered what the four champions accomplished when he told Adrian to do that interview". Harry passed the quaffle to Adrian and Adrian made a goal before Fred could do anything about it. "Really, you should write him and tell Lord Flint what you think. I don't know what he'd say. But I'd be curious in finding out".
We spent most of the afternoon outside. The players stayed airborne for most of it. Hestia and Flora arrived with Ginny trailing dreamily after them. "I don't see how they can fly when it's this cold", Flora said and Hestia and Luna worked to levitate a bench over to join us. The three on them scrunched close so they could all sit on it. "It's probably even colder in the air".
I shrugged; agreeing but also feeling that the cold was worth baring if it meant Adrian got the chance to enjoy himself. "At least they'll be tired tonight; flying as they are. Now maybe I can finally get back at Fred and George for sticking my shoes to the carpet if they're unaware". All I got for that comment was three very long stares and one dreamy one.
Lee came next; skidding in the mud as he tried to go from running to halting in a matter of seconds. Hestia and Flora protested with a series of shrill squeaks as mud splattered the ends of their robes. Panting, Lee slumped over; his hands on his knees keeping his balance. "I ran straight here", he said between breaths. "Before Filch could make me polish one more ruddy trophy".
"What did you do to get detention?" I asked. It was rare for Lee to get in trouble without Fred and George right alongside him.
Lee had to take a few more breaths before he was back to normal. Though that didn't stop him from smiling broadly at us as we waited for him to answer. "Yesterday, after transfiguration, I caught Crabbe and Goyle trying to curse Adrian in the halls". My eyes widened as my spine stiffened. Adrian never said… "They didn't manage anything", Lee assured; locking eyes specifically with me in that moment. "I stopped them with a couple of horned tongue hexes before they could mutter one incantation. It's just unfortunate that Professor Burbage saw me do it".
Hestia and Flora seemed to forgive Lee for the mud as they regarded him in a new light. "Did you know the horn tongue hex was invented by a goblin while enjoying his summer holiday?" Luna piped up. But other than a few disbelieving stares, she was ignored and Luna didn't seem to notice; staring over our heads as she was.
"Crabbe and Goyle are impossibly thick", Flora said as her face darkened. "Attacking when his back is turned is the only way they would ever be able to best Cousin Adrian".
Hestia nodded in agreement; the corner of her lips turned down in a grim frown. "But they're becoming bolder. Everyone with rumored ties to…" She trailed off; her eyes searching our surroundings. From above us, the game of keepers and chasers continued. Their laughter drowned the seriousness of our current topic.
"Let me guess", I said.
But Hermione bet me to it. "Everyone with parents who Adrian can name as Death Eaters".
Flora pursed her lips as Hestia nodded. When Adrian spoke up, he didn't just make enemies of those who feared the dark days of You-Know-Who's war. All the families Regulus once fought alongside with now branded Adrian as a traitor. A dangerous person, who may have secrets that could hurt their families.
"How bad is it?" I found myself asking. "In Slytherin house?" It was something I wondered about before. But Adrian had been tight-lipped, the fool.
Sighing, Hestia took her time in answering. "Most just ignore him and avoid him at all costs. The first and second years are afraid of Cousin Adrian. Except Baddock that is. Montague told him Adrian was a friend. And Baddock is loyal to Montague so…"
Flora picked up where her sister left off. "The third years know better than to stir any trouble. We won't allow it. And the NEWT students seem indifferent. Though Stimpson tends to cry whenever she sees him and only Montague is willing to talk to Cousin Adrian".
I ran a hand over my face as Ron let out a particularly loud whoop as he zoomed over our heads. "That leaves the fourth and fifth years", Hermione summarized.
"Zabini, Bulstrode, and Davis are helping. They've stopped Malfoy and his friends from some of their attempts. But now they're being targeted too", Hestia said.
Luna briefly turned her face away from the sky; her vision sharp. "A shame Flint graduated", she said.
The utterance was strange and felt out of place. Lee, Hermione, and I eyed Luna weirdly because we thought it so. But the Carrow twins nodded in agreement. "Flint would never have allowed Malfoy to get away with this when he was still here", Flora elaborated.
And then I remembered; Marcus ordering Malfoy around and the little prat actually obeying. Adrian had said something about the Flints having more pull in their social circles. "We can handle it", Lee said; a heavy certainty in his voice made it easy to believe him. "That's why YUP was made, right?" It wasn't. But who was I to dissuade anyone who thought so?