Chapter 9: Dragons
Peri sat at the long wooden table in the Great Hall, sunlight filtering through stained glass windows to cast colorful patterns on her breakfast spread. The usual frenzy that once surrounded her had dissipated, leaving a serene quiet broken only by the gentle clinking of silverware and soft murmurs of conversations. Her plate was adorned with a variety of dishes, from golden-brown croissants to a steaming cup of fragrant tea that curled tendrils of steam into the air.
As she lifted the warm cup to her lips, grateful for the tranquility that enveloped her, a sudden flurry of wings disrupted the peace. An elegant owl descended gracefully, dropping a copy of the Daily Prophet before her. Before Peri could react, Pansy's voice sliced through the calm atmosphere.
"May I?" Pansy's tone held a mischievous edge as she reached for the paper.
Despite their complex history, there existed a fragile civility between them that prevented their interactions from escalating into open conflict.
"Look here! Rita Skeeter's piece on the Triwizard Tournament champions is finally out," Pansy exclaimed with genuine excitement.
Peri's eyes performed an exaggerated dance of disbelief, diverting her gaze to the bowl of steaming porridge in front of her just as Pansy let out a dramatic gasp that swiftly redirected everyone's focus to the newspaper clutched in her hands. "Look at this headline: The Unveiling of Periwinkle King," Pansy announced, thrusting the paper towards Peri.
The article featured a striking portrait taken during Peri's recent photoshoot. Eagerly seizing the paper from her cousin, Peri skimmed through the text with Draco hovering close by, his curiosity piqued.
"Go on, read it out loud," Blaise prodded her.
And so, with their peers gathered around, hanging on every word she uttered, Peri began to narrate the contents of the article
"Periwinkle King, also referred to as Peri, is the daughter of Cassandra Banks, better known as Cassandra Rice. Cassandra became a teenage single mother to Peri when she was just sixteen years old."
Peri looked up from the paper, "She was eighteen when she gave birth to me, not sixteen."
"Keep reading!" Pansy snapped.
Peri's eyes scanned the words on the page, her fingers tracing the sentences as she delved deeper into the story.
"She sought refuge in the land of endless possibilities, America, accompanied by her her daughter, Peri, and two goddaughters, Hallie and Holly Porter. Her quest led her to a prominent American known as Mr. Richard Banks, who is a direct descendant of the legendary Merlin himself. Despite facing familial disapproval for bearing a child outside of marriage, she viewed marrying him as a strategic move to ensure financial security for herself and her offspring. While it wasn't a union born out of affection, she recognized it as a pragmatic choice for survival in this unfamiliar land."
With frustration evident in her voice, Peri slammed the parchment onto the table and declared, "My mother's devotion to my father is unwavering!"
"Will you stop talking!" Pansy snapped again, taking the paper back from her, "I will read then…"
Pansy continued reading the article, "Similar to her mother, Peri has caught the eye of a wealthy pureblood wizard. Draco Malfoy, a fourth-year student in Slytherin House at Hogwarts, seems to have taken an interest in her. Could there be a budding romance between the prince of Slytherin and the Half-Blood Princess?"
The photograph captured the moment when she accidentally collided with Draco after their 'interview', their bodies pressed together and their hands intertwined as if they were two lovers. Their eyes, locked in an intense gaze, only added to the impression of a romantic connection between them. It was a perfect snapshot of the chemistry and tension that crackled between them, creating an image that could easily deceive onlookers into thinking they were deeply in love.
Peri's cheeks flushed crimson as she vehemently denied any romantic involvement, her eyes darting nervously around the room. The skeptical glances from her friends bore into her, silently accusing her of hiding the truth. Only Draco, with a knowing smile playing on his lips, seemed to trust her words, his gaze locked reassuringly with hers.
"But Dra?" Pansy whined, "I thought…"
A random Slytherin student took the paper from her hands continuing to read.
"Cassandra claims to never have known the father of Peri, but Peri's birth certificate says a different story."
The picture below showed a copy of Peri's birth certificate:
Name: Periwinkle Elizabeth King
Sex: Female
Mother: Cassandra Rice
Father: Severus Snape
Date of Birth: 24 March 1979
Peri's chest tightened, a deafening silence enveloping the room as all eyes fixated on her. The hushed whispers of her companions at the table mingled with the rustling of paper from those nearby who had already perused the document. Blaise reached out to reclaim the paper, his fingers deftly folding it for storage, only to have Pansy intercept it, her voice steady as she resumed reading aloud…
"The students around Hogwarts have questioned, 'Why does she look familiar?'.The answer is clear, her father is one of their professors. Peri shares the same temper as her father, easily defensive."
Peri rose to her feet, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she wrested the paper away from Pansy's grasp. "No more!" Her voice echoed through the hall, each word laced with a potent mix of anger and desperation. "You've been let in on my family's most guarded secret! Remember this moment well, for if even a whisper of it escapes your lips, you'll rue the day you were born!" With a swift gesture, she ignited the paper in her hand, flames dancing along its edges as she exited the Great Hall in a whirlwind of emotions.
As she made her way through the corridors, she could feel the weight of all the eyes on her. The entire school thought her mother was a gold digger and they were aware of who her biological father was. They also believed she was dating Draco. Turning a corner, she felt a surge of panic and anxiety as thoughts raced through her mind before accidentally running into someone.
Holly's presence filled the room, her golden curls cascading around a face twisted with hurt. "Holly, I'm..." she hesitated, the words sticking in her throat. Tears shimmered in Holly's vivid green eyes as she questioned, "How could you?"
"Please, Holly, just hear me out," Peri implored.
But Holly turned away, refusing to listen. "No! I trusted you! You knew how I felt about him," she cried, anguish evident on her tear-stained cheeks.
Peri squeezed her eyes shut against the accusations. "It was a mistake. You have to trust me..."
"Stop with the excuses! I never want to see you again!Just go live with your real dad, you are enough like him."
Peri's eyes widened in shock, causing her to take a hesitant step backwards. "I must leave. I have a tournament to get ready for."
Peri strolled past Holly, her steps leading her towards the makeshift Quidditch training ground set up in an open field. The usual pitch was undergoing renovations in preparation for the upcoming Saturday competition. This temporary field, smaller in size, catered to students honing their flying skills during weekends or free periods.
As Peri neared the field, she caught sight of a fiery-haired figure soaring on a broomstick, playfully launching miniature fireworks into the sky. Each explosion created soft booms that echoed across the empty space. Drawing closer, the distinct features of the airborne individual became clearer—it was George. Unaccustomed to seeing him solo without his usual companions Fred and Lee. Peri figured that while Fred was likely entwined with Hallie as usual, Lee was probably off somewhere with his own pursuits.
George descended swiftly, his eyes locking onto her figure drawing near. "Hey..." His voice wavered, a hint of uncertainty tainting his words as he grappled with how to engage with her.
"Did you read the article?" she inquired, observing the subtle barrier he had erected between them.
"I got wind of it through Hermione's recounting of it. Harry's piece was full of lies...I want to assume yours is too. Judging by your reaction I don't think so?"
She took a seat on the damp ground from the morning dew, "All of it except the part about my father…" She lifted her gaze to the sky, taking in its vast expanse. She paused, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply as the cool autumn wind swept around her, before opening her eyes once more, "Professor Snape is my father…biologically that is."
He sank into a reflective silence, the moments elongating like pulled taffy in her mind until he eventually spoke. Seating himself next to her on the damp grass, his eyes wandered over to her. A waterfall of midnight-black hair spilled over her shoulder, filling the air with a heady scent of ripe raspberries intertwined with undertones of luxurious chocolate. His feelings swirled inside him.
This sensation was unfamiliar to him. He had felt drawn to girls in the past and enjoyed snogging them, but Peri was unlike anyone he had encountered before. Was this similar to what Fred felt for Hallie?
His warm breath caressed her cheek as he whispered softly, "You're nothing like him."
She began to respond, turning to meet his gaze. Amusement danced in his eyes, a gentle grin playing on his lips. Mid-sentence, she halted, a sudden realization washing over her. Intently studying his face, she noticed the subtle quirks of his smile - one side curving slightly higher than the other, creating an endearing asymmetry. Each intricate detail of his features seemed to narrate a tale, holding her captive with their allure. Enthralled by fascination, she found herself fixated on the delicate nuances of his lips, unable to break free from their magnetic pull.
"Peri?" he murmured, watching her through almost caramel-brown eyes.
"Yes," she replied softly, her gaze locked with his.
George, at a loss for words, cupped her face gently in his hands before leaning in to press a tender kiss against her lips. Her mouth was velvety against his own; he could taste the faint hint of orange juice lingering on her skin. Drawing her closer into his embrace, she tangled her fingers in his shoulder-length ginger hair. With a gentle tug from her, he shifted from kissing her lips to tracing a path down her neck. A soft nibble on the sensitive skin elicited a sharp intake of breath from her.
Pulling back slightly to inspect the faint purple mark left behind on her neck, he met her eyes and confessed sheepishly, "I... I left a mark."
A playful smirk graced her lips as she replied teasingly, "I like marks."
He chuckled softly before suggesting with a grin, "Class?"
Her response was lighthearted yet hesitant, "Do we really have to?"
Another laugh escaped him as he shook his head playfully. "No," he conceded, "but it wouldn't look good for a champion to skip classes now, would it?"
Peri straightened, her reluctance palpable as she rose from the grass. "You're not wrong, but I'd rather stay."
As they made their way towards the castle, students bustling to their classes. George's eyes flickered to Peri's neck, a silent question hanging in the air. Before he could voice it, Hallie appeared, burdened with a stack of books.
"Peri... Hi George... These are for you," she announced, thrusting the books into Peri's arms.
Peri's gaze flitted over the titles and landed on the first one: "Dragons?"
Hallie's eyes drifted to the mark on her sister's neck, "Wait, is that... did you two?"
Peri stammered, steering the conversation back to safer waters, "So these books are about dragons?"
Hallie grinned mischievously before darting off to share the latest gossip with Fred inside. Ignoring George's curious glance, she disappeared through the entrance with a warning glance over her shoulder – "Not a word."
Peri immersed herself in the books Hallie had provided her with. Their pages filled with intricate illustrations and elaborate descriptions of dragons. The text meticulously detailed various dragon species: the fearsome Hungarian Horntail, the fiery Chinese Fireball, the elusive Common Welsh Green, the majestic Swedish Short-Snout, and the formidable Ukrainian Ironbelly. Each page was a treasure trove of information on dragon behavior and vulnerabilities, offering insights on how to defend oneself against these mythical creatures. Peri's mind was consumed with curiosity as she pored over the books that Hallie had given her. Before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, Draco's presence interrupted her.
Draco leaned in, his silver eyes gleaming with curiosity as he peered at the ancient tome spread out before her. "Dragons? Are these the creatures of your fascination now? I wasn't aware dragons were part of our current Magical Beasts curriculum. If you are trying to read about the origin of my name I would suggest an astronomy book," he mused, a playful grin tugging at his lips.
She let out a musical laugh, the sound like wind chimes on a breezy day, and without looking up she replied, "Oh Draco, not everything is about you."
His laughter mingled with hers as he pointed to an intricate illustration on the page she was engrossed in. "What sparked this sudden interest in these specific dragons? Have you discovered the mystery of the first task?"
Her gaze lifted from the pages, eyes widening with realization. "Merlin's beard! Draco, you've cracked it! The first task involves dragons!" With a swift motion, she closed the book decisively.
"Pardon me!"
"Dragons! The first task is dragons!"
Hallie's hurried exit from the common room left Draco's unanswered questions lingering in the atmosphere. The sound of her swift footsteps reverberated along the corridors until she finally reached the Astronomy Tower.
"Hallie!" Her urgent voice echoed as she climbed up the stairs.
There, Hallie was engrossed in conversation with Fred, discussing the intricate patterns of stars in the night sky. Although Fred was supposed to be observing constellations, his gaze was fixed on Hallie, his eyes reflecting deep affection as he listened to her speak.
Hallie felt the familiar presence of her sister Peri drawing near, causing their friend Fred to instinctively take a slight step back. Without a word spoken, Hallie's keen intuition picked up on Peri's unease.
"What's wrong?" she inquired softly, noting the hint of distress in Peri's eyes.
Gasping for breath, Peri managed to convey her urgent need, "I need an outfit. Fireproof."
"Fireproof?" Fred questioned.
In a seamless motion, Hallie produced a tape measure as if by magic and began expertly measuring Peri without delay. "What style are we aiming for?" Hallie probed gently, her focus solely on catering to Peri's tournament requirements.
"It's for the upcoming competition," Peri disclosed between breaths.
With unwavering confidence, Hallie reassured her, "Consider it done by Saturday morning. I already started it."
Perplexed by Hallie's swift response, "How?"
With a sly chuckle, Hallie crept closer to her sister, her eyes shimmering like emerald jewels brimming with untold mysteries. "You know," she murmured playfully, a mischievous smile dancing on her lips, "having a twin in Gryffindor and being on good terms with Fleur definitely comes with its advantages. Not only will you look absolutely enchanting, but you'll also have some formidable protection."
"Thank you."
"Of course. Now shoo. I was enlightening Fred about the constellations."
Peri arched an eyebrow, "Oh yes, because Fred has discovered a love of the stars."
"For one," Fred replied, his gaze fixed solely on Hallie.