Chapter 16
Leaves crunched under my feet as I wobbled on my heels through the forest. As much as they looked nice, they were a pain in the ass. We had to head deeper into the forest, away from the centre as the younger students were led away by Whitehorn and her higher Prefects. The ones unchosen or unwilling were left to their own devices at the pole, letting them drink and socialise and do the ritual how they wanted.
Tonight was a night for us, about how we celebrate Magic in any way we wished.
Even with Blaise and Theo holding my hands and keeping me upright through the forest as we tried to find a spot that resinanted with our Magic, I still seemed to tumble with my heels. When I tripped over a root one last time, I gave up with the shoes.
"What are you doing?" Draco asked as I sat down on a thick log, uprooted from the ground and dead already.
"I'm taking these torture machines called heels off," I fiddled with the ribbon but it wouldn't come undone. I started to try to rip them off before Theo grabbed my hands, letting me see the red dents my nails were leaving in my skin.
"Let me see," Draco crouched before me, working on the ribbons quickly. His fingers were warm as he undid each ribbon, working them around my ankle until he could slide the shoes off.
Blaise raised a hand for me to take, letting me stand barefoot in the cold forest ground.
Something cracked in my chest, something urging me to the water, to feel myself sink into the cold depths before floating to the top. I needed the waves on my skin, chilling me under the crescent moon.
"Water…" I muttered before my attention snapped to the ground. Cold soil stuck to my bare feet. "We're supposed to do the ritual barefoot. That's why we're not feeling the right area. It's the water."
"You're saying we need to go to a pond?" Theo asked. "There's plenty in the forest."
"It's not just any pond," I snapped but retracted my sharp tone quickly. "It's something specific in the forest. Can't you feel it?"
Draco toed one shoe off, taking his sock off before doing the same to the other, letting his feet sink into the damp earth. He inhaled sharply, straightening his shoulders before sighing. He nodded.
"Take your shoes and socks off," he said, looking in a direction in the forest. It seemed random at first until all four of us were barefoot in the forest, all finally feeling where we were supposed to go.
There.
I didn't know what direction it was in. I didn't know what it exactly was either. I just knew it was this way. My Magic would lead me. I took a step and felt it rumble in my chest, telling me to go further and further.
We marched through the forest, working our way to the location our Magic was calling to. It could have been nothing short of the indulgent nature tonight had. There had to be something special about it, specially since it was calling not us but our own Magic to it.
It wasn't a far walk considering we had all been barefoot for the last half hour, there was a weight appearing each time on our chest as we started to be near the end. By nearing it, almost finding wherever our Magic led to, it was like hearing my heart in my ear.
When we did reach it, my heart was a drum. We found a door in the trunk of a centuries old tree, hidden between the roots and overgrown bush. It was at least seven feet tall and would let the boys in easily with their height.
I reached for it, seeing the familiar lion of Gryffindor carved into the wooden door. Blaise instantly held my hand back.
"You're not touching it," he said, then looking to Draco and Theo. "It's going to be one of us first."
"Then open the door," I said to them, crossing my arms tightly. It made my chest rise more in the structured torso, showing a bit more cleavage that all of their eyes glanced at but never settled on. They always looked me in the face when they spoke, treating me like an equal.
Theo went for the door first, letting it creak open as a glowing mist came from the cracks. He went in, disappearing into the silver fog, then an arm out came out again, gesturing for us to follow. When I went forward to be next, Draco took my arm and stopped me.
I glared at him.
"First Blaise then you," he said softly, watching my annoyed expression.
I sighed, "Fine."
Blaise smiled warmly at me, his lips curling up the tiniest bit to reveal a sharp canine, much like Snape and Draco. I didn't know why these men had such sharp teeth. Maybe it was due to their Magic. Why there was a connection between them all, I didn't know.
"My lady," Blaise bowed his head and walked through the door.
I had shoved my heels into my bottomless purse so I didn't have to carry them.
"Watch your step," Draco said as he gestured for me to go in. "I'm right behind you."
The glowing mist was warm on my skin as I worked my way through the door frame, letting it engulf me fully as Draco led me through the mist at a slow pace. The floor was damp beneath my bare toes, almost splashing with each step. Draco held his hand to the small of my back, guiding me through the mist slowly. He stopped when I stopped, moved when I moved.
I was glad I wasn't alone in the blinding mist because I could not see shit through it.
As it got brighter and brighter, we slowed until the mist suddenly disappeared.
A beautiful oasis of a hidden pool underground. The cavern walls were high, reaching several stories above us with thick tendrils of veins falling down to the pool before us. A walkway was set through the middle, letting us walk through the oasis and to the centre piece, a circle of pillars holding a pool of clear blue water.
Theo and Blaise were dipping their feet into the pool, trousers tucked up to be shorts as they waited for us. We made our way over.
"What's this place?"
"Haven't got the foggiest," Theo sighed as the warm water reached his knees. "We've never seen this. It's all new to us too but it was calling for us."
I crouched by the pool's edge, dipping my hand in to feel the warm water. It was perfect for a swim, and the water outside of this pool was the same. I stood back up, working on the back of my dress.
"What are you doing?" Draco quickly asked. "Why are you taking that off?"
"I can't swim in a dress," I said. "I'll drown in this. It's too heavy."
"Swim?" Theo shot up from the water, reaching for his tie and collar, undoing them. "I'm getting in on that. You two?"
I undid my corset dress, letting it slip off my body to reveal the nearly transfigured lingerie set, changed to be a black bikini with a halter neck. The bottoms were a thong, my preference and it was comfortable.
Stepping out of my dress, I put it in my bottomless purse to keep safe.
Blaise nodded slowly, working on his buttons to come undone, "Might as well. Draco, are you joining us?"
He sighed loudly, "If the place called to us…"
"Time for a swim!" Theo shouted, standing his black swim trunks proudly, hands on hips before he looked at me mischievously. He lunged instantly, lifting me over his shoulder like I was a sack of potatoes before running towards Draco, where the entrance for the huge pool surrounding the circle was.
"Put me down!"
"No can do, madam," Theo said, strutting to the edge past Draco.
I held out my arms for Draco to help, hoping he would get Theo to put me down. Instead of that, Draco smiled and tilted his head, shoving us both into the water. We went in with a splash and Theo let me go, letting us float to the top with ease.
"I'm gonna kill you!" I spat at Draco, marching out of the water. He held his hands up.
"Give me a moment to change out of this first," he tried and I stiffly nodded, letting him slowly take his clothes off. Theo came out of the water, hooking his arm over my shoulders to watch Draco undress.
"He's a handsome boy, isn't he?" Theo said, leaning close to me.
"He'll be insulted if you didn't look, you know," Blaise laughed on my other side, wearing his own black trunks. "He's sensitive like that."
"Watch what bullshit you say," Draco snapped at him, unbuttoning his shirt partially before just ripping it over his head.
The three of us just watched him change, eyes glowing in the cavern. He was a handsome boy, especially with the way he flicked his blond hair out of his face. He was smooth-chested but that happy trail, a couple shades darker than his hair, was hot. Draco took off his trousers, his briefs turned to swimming trunks. I had caught a glance. Or two. I shifted on my feet, feeling the burn inside me, in my Magic.
"You've got five seconds to run," he warned Blaise. "Because I will tackle you into the water."
"Try it," Blaise turned his nose up with a smirk.
"One. Two." Draco started before beginning to sprint towards us. "FIVE!"
"THAT'S CHEATING!" Blaise screamed as he bolted away from all of us.
Just as Draco neared me, wanting to go after Blaise, I shoved him into the water. He sank in with a yelp then swam back up to the top before walking onto the shore. He slid his hands through his hair, shoving it back. He stared at me with hunger of a hunter, ready to attack.
I stayed still as he waded through the water. I was ready to sprint when needed.
He didn't touch me as he got too close, in my personal space as I felt the warm of his body near me. He leaned his head down to my ear, whispering a final word.
"Run."
I took all the years of running away from Dudley and his group and put it into running away from Draco. This time, he actually gave me a head start, but it wasn't much of one. I ran onto the bridge, watching him only be a few steps behind me.
Blaise and Theo were laughing their asses off as I screamed every time Draco would near me, pinching me somewhere, on my arm, on my stomach, on my back, on my thigh. His hands never wavered to places they shouldn't, only ever being playful. He let me run away more times than he should but it was a game to him.
I ran down the bridge, finding a vine low enough to grab. It was sturdy and would hold my weight. I took it, running down the bridge before putting all of my weight onto it and swinging into the deeper part of the huge pool.
I sank deep into the water, feeling the warm of it around me. I was a good swimmer, thanks to Silver's teaching. Petunia and Vernon were never going to pay for swimming lessons but my primary school had a small pool where we were taught the basics.
I broke the surface, laughing at the boys as Draco looked on in astonishment.
"You have to catch me first!" I shouted at him, treading water to stay afloat.
I felt something on my foot, something grab me as I tried to tread water. It pulled on me tight, getting my head under the water. I forced the water out of my mouth, reserving any oxygen I had to try to swim.
Something was dragging me under, more somethings than I could ever think of. As my head went under water, I saw them.
Inferi, corpses reanimated with Necromancy, filled the bottom of the large pool. Bodies upon bodies were down there, acting as a guard. Their hands clawed into my skin, leaving gashes and cuts throughout my body. It burned in the warm, making it seem hot as hellfire before I could even think.
I slashed my nails at the hands gripping me, barely able to get to the surface before gulping some air and screaming, "Inferi!"
They grappled onto my ankles, forcing me away from the safety of the surface and everything slowed. As I held out my hand with hope of getting out, I went further and further down. As my hope started to dwindle, I saw something in the water, something that tried to reach my hand.
A figure lined in black robes, face hidden by the deep hood.
It had an arm reaching out for me, pale hands with fingers tipped in demonic claws. I didn't know who it was. It was too familiar to four things in my life, one of which tried to kill me.
It could have been Voldemort, reaching out a hand with a wand pointing at my chest, ready to send the curse that started this whole mess. I didn't want to be an awful person. I didn't hate Muggles or Muggleborns or anyone like that. He was the reason that I spent my years with abusive relatives instead at home with my own parents. He was the reason I had to change, the reason I had to hide parts of myself and find another, more intimate relationship with my own Magic. He was the reason I had to protect my brother.
It could have been Silver, hand reaching for me, ready to pull me up through the surface like he did to me as a child, playing in the deep end accidentally. He was always there, my companion, my shadow. He was my parent, my deepest link to anything important in my life. As more dangerous situations arose, he was always there, in the back of mind, hiding behind my shadow to keep me safe. He taught me about Magic before I even knew I had it. He was the reason I rose my hands in time to repel the Dementor, turning me into a Witch that faithful day. He was the reason I stood where I did in the world of Magic, creating a different me that was too familiar to my true form.
It could have been Snape, arm out to grab me out of the water, lips sneering, ready to lecture me on that the ritual was a fickle thing to be meddled with. Later, when I would be out, he would summon a cape and suggest I dry myself with a snide mark about my lack of dignity at times. As the situation with Dumbledore, he told me about being a double spy, gave me the chance to come to terms with a choice I didn't have. Training with him was always the highlight of my week, letting me advance my Magic with time and effort made. We duelled more often and I could hold my own with a hand behind my back while answering whatever question he threw at me. He was the reason I could handle myself in social situations because I knew I could fight my way out of it, letting me find more ways to infiltrate the ranks of Death Eaters, finding more ways to save my brother.
And, it could have been Death, ready to welcome me with open arms. Fingers reaching for my chest, ready to pry my soul from my body, taking my Magic, my very being from my body. Death was the reason I had to fear my life. If Voldemort decided to kill me, that was the end. I would either die by the Unbreakable Vow or by him. I wanted to believe that I could survive the war but I could just as easily be used as a ploy to lure my brother out to his own death. I would die before I would let myself to be so used, my entire image being so violated from the truth.
My heart yearned to find out who it was but it wasn't a corporeal form, barely a ghost of itself as it sank down towards me. I had to find who it was, if I could be finally safe.
As the hand came closer, I reached out my own, fighting against the Inferi that tried to drown me and make me one of their own. I had to try to escape them, I had to be my own reason to live. When my hand touched the one coming for me, I felt more hands on me, dragging me upwards.
Their grip was hotter than anything before, almost burning my skin as they pulled me upwards, my aching legs failing to tread water, leaking crimson into the misty blue around me.
I was pulled to shore, laying on the bridge as I coughed out the water in my lungs. It wasn't much but it helped. My lungs burned but my legs and hands were in such a state that I couldn't even figure out if I lost a limb.
I heard casting to my left, watching as Draco and Blaise were fighting off the Inferni that tried to come onto the bridge. Theo was kneeling next to me, muttering spells under his breath to himself, wand at the ready, glowing tip going over the edges of each cut and gash on my legs. I didn't realise they were that bad, needing Magical intervention at the speed Theo was going.
It didn't take long until I could feel my skin being knit together, gritting my teeth in agony as bones were set and tendons reattached. I had to keep it within me, the burning starting in my bloody hands. Nails had been ripped off, leaving my nailbeds empty. I could see the bone on some of my knuckles.
The anger raged on and I could feel it boil in my blood, my Magic reacting to my every thought, every tinge of pain I had to go through because I went in the pool. I had to keep it cool, change my thoughts to less destructive ones. I had to remain calm, let my Magic settle back into my very bones until I could control it.
But I couldn't.
As Theo finished on my legs, I stood on trembling limbs as he tried to make me sit down. I had to shove him off, leaving a blood imprint on his chest as I turned to the two fighting off the Inferi with fire spells.
I stood at the edge of the bridge, raising my torn hands towards the oncoming army of Inferi, forcing my Magic to slice through my wounded fingers and bleed until I could not anymore.
I didn't need to even mouth the words, letting fire pour through my bones, forcing out at the creatures which tried to take what wasn't theirs. I could not let them live, or have whatever type of afterlife they had in this place. They deserved everything I could do to them. They had to suffer because I did.
The fire glided over the waves of the pool, morphing higher and higher, achieving shapes of mythical creatures. Lions roared as the fire engulfed the Inferi. Serpents slithered through the water, targeting the deeper ones, ready to drown them like they tried to drown me. Even a Dragon came from the flames, wings pulled back as it blew more on the corpses above, scorching them beyond any concept of afterlife they had.
The flames began to die when they were all gone.
As soon as I let the flames go, releasing my hold on my Magic, I felt the effect immediately. My hands were black, scorched beyond belief until I couldn't move my fingers. My knees were weak, still trembling like a baby lamb trying to stand. They couldn't hold my weight for long and I took a fall.
Hands grabbed me before I could touch the ground.
"Up you get," Theo said, lifting me with Draco on my other side. "We're not sitting on the bridge. I can heal you at the circle."
It was a short walk, letting them carry me over before I sat down. Silver stood at the ledge of the pool, looking down at the small pool.
"Dip your hands," he said to me.
I didn't question him, scooting over to the ledge before the boys could stop me. I shoved my hands in, seeing how my blood-soaked hands coloured the water red. Then the blood turned silver, shining in the water as it all came back to my hands like a warm hug. It was so comforting, the feeling ready to send me asleep after the night I had.
I took them out with a sigh of relief. I turned them to see both sides, finding my skin healed. No more gashes. No more blood. My long nails returned too, letting a smile come back onto my face after all of that.
The rumble of a gong echoed throughout the cavern, and one pillar, the furthest one from the entrance, glowed gold. A symbol appeared on it, a hand reaching out of the water.
"Funny," I rolled my eyes as I stood slowly. All three of them jumped up to make sure I didn't fall. I held up my hands. "Relax. I'm not gonna fall."
I stretched out my limbs, feeling my muscles flex. I felt better, almost stronger now.
"This place is weird," I said, looking at the pillar. "I want to leave."
I tore open my bottomless purse, going through it and pulling my dress from earlier and a pair of flat boots. The boys found their trousers and shirts, sliding them on and beginning to button them out.
"A hand, please?" I said, turning my back to them. As soon as my dress was partially on, the bikini turned back to lingerie. I knew they would be able to see the lace of my bra but I didn't care. I just needed help doing up the snags at the back.
Blaise helped me, warm fingers tracing my back gently as he did up each snag, working his way up like a pro. I wondered how many corsets he had put on others and taken them off. Each time he moved onto the next one, his fingertip would brush my skin, heating me up from the inside.
"That was impressive," he said when he was finished. He started to work on buttoning his shirt so I had a glimpse of his chest and stomach again. He smirked as he worked upwards, finally leaving the collar open a few buttons. "A controlled summon of Fiendfyre, with a wand, mind you, is impressive. You achieved a summon without a wand and controlled it until the end. You didn't even speak."
"I'm good at wordless and wandless Magic," I answered as Theo rolled his sleeves up and left his shirt open. He crossed his arms tightly, letting his bare arms flex slightly. I returned to the statement I was making. "My first spell was like that too. I used my hands as conductors instead of a wand. I didn't have one. I didn't even know I could do Magic, let alone the fact I was a Witch."
I laced up my boots and stomped on the ground, feeling how sturdy they were. It would be much easier to walk in these.
"We heading back to the castle?" I asked them.
Draco nodded, "After your reckless spell, I think it's best we do. Less chance of destroying something here with your summoning."
"Hey, I summoned that and controlled it," I turned up my nose a little.
)(-)(
We reached the castle and sat in the common room for a few minutes, letting us relax for a bit in the safety of our House as people filtered in from the Forbidden Forest. Some of them went back to their rooms in pairs, continuing their festivities, others just waltzed straight to their own beds.
When Pansy and Daphne walked in, smug and satisfied smiles on their faces, shoes in their hands, I knew it was time to regroup with them and spend some time with the girls who had become my friends and mission. They went through the dorm doors first, letting me catch up soon enough.
"I best be going," I said standing up. Just as I did, Theo was before me in seconds, raising my hand to his lips and pressing a kiss to my knuckles. It was a sign of respect.
"To finish the Lupercalia ritual, we must do what we agree on, unless you do not wish to anymore," he said to me. "Indulge us with a kiss."
"A kiss and only a kiss," I told him carefully before I leaned in to his face. I placed a soft kiss on his cheek and watched his face warm up with a smile.
"A kiss by you is a gift from the gods," Theo grinned, kissing my knuckles again before letting Blaise replace him. He tipped my chin upwards, guiding my face towards his. He turned his cheek to me but I turned his face, pressing a light kiss on his lips. They curled up while Theo gasped and complained. "Why does he get a proper kiss?"
I gave him a soft glare. "He didn't make fun of my kisses."
"I didn't make fun of them," he retorted, leaning in close. "I was complimenting them."
I kissed his other cheek.
"That's all you're getting," I said before turning to the final boy, still sitting with his ankle on his other knee and arms on the back of the chair. His tie was done up properly now. "Draco?"
He used two fingers to gesture me over. The bastard. I went over and stood before him. He gestured again and I leant forward a little, grabbing his tie and forcing him to lean towards me.
"I bow to no one," I said, pulling him close enough to let my breath hit his ear. He slipped my hand off his tie before pulling my hand to his lips, placing a kiss there. He abruptly stood up, towering over me since I didn't wear heels, whispering his lips over mine before the briefest touch.
He sat back down instantly, watching me through bright eyes. There was a sign of admiration in his eyes but I didn't know if it was for my power or my beauty. I didn't care.
I turned and left for Daphne's room, finding Pansy and Daphne ready to gossip the night away. A tray of drinks were ready by the fur rug on the floor, letting us warm up with the blazing fire as we drank alcohol.
The mood darkened as the night went on and we got onto the topic of Muggles and then my blood relatives.
"How's living with Muggles, Viktoria?" Pansy asked me, swishing a glass of firewhiskey in her hand. We sat up, leaning against the sofa in Daphne's room, the plush rug beneath us.
I sighed and drew my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them as I kept my glass balanced in my hand. "To be truthful, it's pretty shit. Both of us are hated but Harry had Hogwarts to escape to. He showed Magic and then it got worse for me. They used to treat us equally as horrible but since Harry got the letter and was able to leave the house during the year, I was left with my aunt and uncle. My cousin goes to his own boarding school so I was left with them. Nothing was good enough for them."
Everything was quiet as I spoke, and I knew this was an opportune moment to seed some good will into them by confession how much I hated my Muggle family. I truly did hate them but not because they were Muggle but it was worth the little lie added in.
"The chores, the house, my appearance, my grades, nothing was good enough," I said. "They found reasons to starve me, to beat me. They hated me before Magic and now they despise me. They never had any love for me. Every time Harry messed up at home, for doing Magic, especially blowing up Aunt Marge, it backfired onto me. I did nothing and I was the one to be punished. Harry had the gall to tell me that it was my job to do so, being half-starved while he got to have feasts every day at Hogwarts."
The look on Pansy's face was sorrow, hidden by pure rage in her eyes. She placed a hand on my arm, trying to comfort me in any way she knew.
"Filth like that don't deserve to live," she spat. "Torturing a child for something they can't help. They're adults. They should care for you and your well being and they starved you? Beat you like an animal?"
I closed my eyes, a single tear dripping before I wiped it away, "I think they'd treat an animal better than they did me. An animal would be allowed to lash out. If I did, I'm scared I wouldn't be alive."
"You can't go back there," Daphne pleaded, hand on my arm. Her eyes were shining with tears. "You can stay with me or Pansy if you have to. You can't go back to a place like that. You're not an animal. You shouldn't be treated like that."
I shook my head, "I don't have a choice. They're my legal guardians."
"They can't force you to go back during Yule or Ostara," Pansy agreed, looking to Daphne and then back to me. "You can stay at mine for Ostara. It'll be worth it. It'll be your first introduction to Pureblood society, even if you are a Halfblood. You'll be better received than your brother would be. You're pretty, polite and powerful, that's all a woman needs to be to win in our world."
I smirked, "Aww, you think I'm pretty…"
She shoved my shoulder with a laugh, "You know what I mean."
I nodded, "it might be worth it. I'll think about it."
That meant I had to devise a plan and tell Silver about it.
We spent the rest of the night like that, talking about our families. The depressive theme of mine was overcasted by the way the two girls spoke about their families. Pansy had no siblings while Daphne had one younger sister. Astoria was in Hogwarts, two years below us and it was fantastic to hear them talk about their family like that. They were treated well and loved them dearly.
I had never been loved like that.