An extra update because... well because I wanted to ?
You'll notice that Fred, George and Alec are finally going in the right direction!
LB
"I thought now that everyone is busy, I could sneak you into the prefect's bathroom." He said with a lopsided grin. No wonder why he's so popular with the ladies, that smile even made my knees a little weak. "I know you don't have the egg with you." He glanced at me. "You'll need the egg, right?" I nodded. "But at least you will know where to be the next time.
I nodded again as I followed him up the stairs, through a corridor. And another and another before I saw the statue he mentioned earlier.
"Bath bombs." He said and the door swished open.
"Bath bombs, really? A bit on the nose, isn't it?" I chuckled.
"Maybe." He shrugged with a tiny smile. "But I didn't choose the password this time." He stepped aside and motioned for me to go in first.
For gods' sake that bathroom was huge. It was like Cedric said, more a swimming pool then a tub. Even Beauxbatons didn't have a bathroom like this, or at least I hadn't found any in my years there. The castle was so large, there was a lot left to explore. But our bathrooms were bigger than in Hogwarts. With a tub and a separate shower, floor-length windows with a view of the mountains. Here a mermaid grazed the stained windows, flipping her long hair over her shoulder.
"It seems like Hogwarts still has a few surprises up her sleeve." Cedric grinned as he watched me look around in awe.
"Too bad it's only for the prefects. I would be here almost every day."
He laughed, the sound echoing in the room. "I think you just made the point as to why it's only available for prefects."
My lips twitched upwards. "I guess so."
Cedric then explained how to fill the tub and said once someone is inside the door is locked, so they won't be disturbed. He held out his arm for me.
"It's getting late. I should take you back to your common room."
"You don't have to walk me back, Cedric. I don't want to get you in trouble."
"I would never leave a lady on her own in this big, scary castle." He winked and I playfully rolled my eyes. "And besides, I am a prefect. I'm allowed to roam the halls late at night."
"Alright then." I looped my arm through his and we walked out. We talked about the tournament a bit, about how he missed quidditch this year. And a lot of other things. When we stopped in front of the fat lady, he bounced nervously on his heels.
"I had a great time tonight."
"I did too. Thank you for inviting me."
He took my hand in his and lifted it to his lips. "I wouldn't have wanted to go with anyone else."
"Not even your backup?" I teased, even though my cheeks flushed.
"I think I've would have left an hour into the Ball." He said. And I believed him. He still held my hand, his thumb slowly caressing the back of my hand. "Can I – Can I kiss you?" He asked quietly.
"Oh."
"It doesn't have to mean anything. I know the thing between you and -" He glanced around. "The Weasley twins is complicated but... But I really had a great time tonight. You are funny and smart. And absolutely breath-taking. And I really want to kiss you right now."
"Well, I guess one kiss couldn't hurt." I gave him a small smile. He tugged my hand, bringing me closer to him. His other hand rested on my waist as a hand of mine curled around his neck. We leaned in and our lips met. The kiss soon became passionate. It wasn't like how I felt with the twins, but De la Barre did it feel good. He was without a doubt an amazing kisser.
A few minutes later, when I said goodbye to the Hufflepuff prefect, I stepped in the common room. A lot of them had gone to bed by now. But it seemed the twins had brought their dates back here. The girls were sitting on their laps, kissing them without taking a breath. My heart cracked and I turned to Harry who was talking to Hermione near the fire. Hermione's cheeks still looked flushed from dancing all night.
"You seemed like you had a great night." I said to her as I sat down next to Harry.
"Except the fact that Viktor can't pronounce my name." She chuckled. "It was amazing. Viktor is so sweet and considerate." She said with a dreamy smile. I glanced to Harry, but he didn't seem jealous at all. "My feet are quite sore; I think I'll head to bed. Goodnight."
"Night, Hermione." Harry and I said in unison.
"How did it go with Jazz?" I asked, grinning.
"She's... a whirlwind." He laughed. "But it was fun. Parvati had already left with a guy from Durmstrang, so I walked Jazz back to the carriage."
"How gentlemen-like of you." I nudged his shoulder.
"Well, I am a gentleman." He said almost proudly, then he blushed. "When we arrived at the carriage." He looked around to see if anyone was listening before he leaned closer and whispered. "She asked if I ever kissed anyone." A smile tugged on my lips. "I told her about the kiss I gave you, but she said that wasn't a real one." I chuckled. "And asked if I wanted to learn."
"She always liked to teach." I couldn't help the large grin that appeared on my face. Harry turned extremely red, and I couldn't help the laughter that broke out. "Let me guess, you accepted her offer?"
The blush deepened and he wiped his hands on his dress trousers. Harry opened his mouth to reply but closed it when footsteps came closer. Without looking behind me, I knew who it was. Harry gave me a tight smile, his cheeks still red before he bounded up the stairs.
"So, where is Diggory?" Fred asked as they stepped around me and sat down in front of me.
"I imagine in his common room. Where are your girlfriends?"
"Upstairs." Fred grinned. George looked at the wall besides me.
I rose from my seat. "Well, then I should let you get back to whatever you were doing earlier." I couldn't help but snap.
Fred's grin turned into a smirk as he jumped up, grabbing my hand. "Are you jealous, my little Fae."
I pulled my hand of out his. That new nickname shot flutters through my stomach. "As if. Why should I be jealous of you two shagging two dumb bimbos?"
"I think you are. And I think you like us."
"Fred." George murmured a warning.
I almost said, And what if I do? But the words that came out were. "If I liked you as more than friends, why would I have kissed Cedric earlier?"
They both went still, and Fred smirk was gone in a flash. George said quietly. "You kissed him?"
My gaze went to him, he looked... devastated. But they were kissing their girlfriends not even two minutes ago and they were waiting upstairs for them to do more than just that. They shouldn't look like I just fucked Cedric right in front of them.
"Maybe you are the ones who are jealous." Their jaws twitched. I sighed and closed my eyes for a second. I adjusted their collars without looking at their faces. They're my friends. They're George and Fred, Fred and George. I couldn't stay mad at them even if I wanted. "Let me just say this. You two look insanely handsome tonight. I dare say, the most handsome men I've seen tonight." I leaned up and kissed their cheeks. "Goodnight."
I didn't wait for them to answer. I rushed up the girls' staircase. I climbed in my bed and when the curtains closed around me, I screamed into my pillow.
LB
The day after the Yule Ball it was like nothing had happened. Like the conversation with the twins didn't happen before I went to bed. But it still played in my mind, on repeat. I pushed those thoughts away when Cedric approached me after lunch a few days later.
"Hey, you." He smiled.
"Hey, I was actually looking for you."
"Is that so?" He raised an eyebrow.
"I wanted to ask you for the password for the Prefect's bathroom. I want to go tonight."
He looked a little disappointed but put on a wide smile. "The password is still the same. Do you still remember it? I know it was a hard one."
I laughed and nudged his side. "What was it? Bubbles? Bath oils?" I teased.
He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "If you don't remember bath bombs, I'm not sure if the Goblet made the right choice in choosing you."
"Oi!" I jabbed his waist as he laughed. Suddenly, Fred and George's girlfriends charged up to me, murder in their eyes. "Hello?"
Then they slapped me. The noise echoed in the corridor and Cedric stood frozen next to me. It stung hard, both of my cheeks must've been bright red.
"This is all your fault!" Lorena nearly screamed.
"Bitch." Amy snarled.
"Five points each from Ravenclaw." Cedric said as the girls turned to leave. He looked at me, cupping my cheeks in his large hands. "And report to your head of house after classes. Are you okay?" He whispered.
"Yeah, they hit like little kids." I lied because damn those girls had a mean slap. Cedric looked like he didn't believe it. "I should go to the common room."
He frowned, his thumbs caressing the red skin softly. "Alright." He kissed my forehead. "Find me if you need anything."
"I will." I smiled, giving him a kiss on the cheek before I walked up the staircase.
The twins were relaxing on the couch, their legs sprawled out in front of them. I walked over and plopped on the couch between them.
"I guess you broke up with your girlfriends?" I asked, staring at the fire.
"How do you know?" George asked, then his gaze turned to me. "Fuck, Alec. What happened?" He gasped, cupping my cheeks in his hands, his eyes roaming over the still sensitive, red skin.
"Amy and Lorena just came up to me and said it was my fault you broke up with them."
Fred kneeled in front of me, his hand on my neck and I looked at him. He swallowed hard, his eyes even more murderous than the girls. "They hit you." He breathed.
"Both slapped me on the cheek. I guess it gives me a bit of colour to my face." I tried to smile.
"They won't get away with this." Fred seethed.
"I'm okay." I took both of their hands and intertwined our fingers again. Another jolt ran through my body, I don't know if they felt it too, but they squeezed my hands in return.
"I know something that could help the sting." George said quietly. I turned to him, and he gave me his famous lopsided grin that did weird things to my heart and stomach. He leaned closer and gave my cheek a kiss. A kiss so soft it felt like a phantom. I closed my eyes as he turned to the other cheek, letting his lips linger for a moment. "How does it feel?" He breathed, his lips still so close to mine.
"Better." I managed to get out.
"Maybe this will help." Fred had taken his place next to me again and kissed me the same way that George did. My eyes involuntarily closed again. "And?"
"All gone." I breathed out. I opened my eyes slowly and they both looked at me with darkened eyes. "Who knew I just needed my twins to make it all better." I smiled.
They both let out a ragged breath as they looked at me. Then they shifted closer until I was squished between them, and it was the best feeling in the world. Fred's arm around my waist, George's around my shoulder, his hand playing with my hair. I closed my eyes and revelled in their touch, in their scent and let it consume me.
LB
That night when I came to the Prefect's bathroom, I let the tub or rather pool fill with water and soap. Even though Cedric said nobody could enter when someone was in, I still placed an extra locking charm on the door. I undressed when the pool was full enough. I soaked in the water for a long moment before I grabbed the egg from the edge of the tub and dropped it in the water.
It sank and sank until it reached the bottom. Even with all the water, I could still hear the heavy thump when it touched the tile floor. I dove under water and turned the egg open. Gritting my teeth, still afraid it would start screeching, I relaxed when a slow melody filled my ears.
Come seek us where our voices sound, we cannot sing above the ground.
And while you're searching, ponder this: We've taken what you'll sorely miss.
An hour long you'll have to look to recover what we took.
But past an hour — the prospect's black, too late, it's gone, it won't come back.
I closed the egg, grabbed it and resurfaced. Taking in a long breath and repeated the words again and again. I summoned paper and quill from my bag and scribbled the song down.
"Come seek us where our voices sound." I murmured, letting my head fall back on the tub's edge. Were there any merpeople in the black lake? I wrote down another note to check that in the library. I was only at Hogwarts for a year and a half. I only knew about the giant squid and grindlelows. That were the things I've seen drift by in the Slytherin common room.
"We have taken that you'll sorely miss." So again, we needed to find and collect an object. All within an hour. If it turns out to be the black lake, I needed to find a way to stay under water for at least an hour. I could barely hold my breath under water for a minute, swimming in the dark lake, the thought had sent a shiver through my spine. A few ideas popped in my head but none of them could help Harry. The time and effort for him to master the spell wouldn't be enough. We needed to find another option for him.
Forgetting about the egg, I sank deeper in the water and for a moment relaxed. I didn't think about the egg or the tournament. I didn't think about the twins, or Sirius. I let my mind go completely empty and drifted.
LB
For an easier read, you can find this story, as well as all my others, on Wattpad and Ao3. But that's just personal preference ;-).