Wicked Ways

Chapter 10 – “New Moon, Old Friend”


The sisters had been trying to get Professor Lupin alone to ask him about their “Uncle” Sirius, but he seemed quite keen about avoiding them. They were grumbling about it one day in Potions class while they were supposed to be making a potion to help wizards change their apperance at will. This was a potion neither had ever really had to make, as Elves had the special ability to change their hair and eye color at will.

“You girls haven’t even started?” Professor Snape drawled.

Tuardae, already testy because she’d been kept awake all night by Hermione and Parvati, spat, “Yeah, what’s it to you Greasy?”

He scowled down at her and said quietly. “Ten points from Gryffindor, and two weeks detention.”

Avari raised her eyebrows. “What?” she hissed. “Why?”

Snape didn’t look at them, but instead looked up at the board that had the ingredients list on it. “I’ll be working on a sophisticated potion for the next two weeks, so I’ll have Professor Lupin take up your detention. Report to him starting tomorrow.”

Avari looked as if she could kiss Snape, and happily went on making the potion while Tuardae just stared at the front of the room. “I just had to earn thosents nts in Transfiguration! And he took them away!”

Avari rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll win the points next class.”

“You’re in a different House!”

Avari grinned and looked at her sister through the corner of her eye and said, “Oh, be quiet. You can talk to Lupin, and I’ll stop by every night to see if you’ve gotten any farther.”

Tuardae grumbled.

The next night she hefted her bag and stepped into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, looking around for Lupin. “Professor?”

“Over here,” he said.

She walked over into a corner and found the office where Lupin was standing, looking at a creature in a tank full of water. Tuardae’s eye’s widened. “Where did you get a member of the merfolk?” she asked shrilly. “And why is it in a tank?”

Lupin stopped to consider her. “It was injured, and its parents, knowing of my nature, trusted her to my care. She’s almost healed now. I must say, I might actually have to thank Snape for sending you to me. Dumbledore’s told me about your . . . specific talents due to your heritage.”

“I know about yours too,” she said quietly, letting her bag slide to the ground. She saw him stiffen and relax slowly out of the corner of her eye as she kneeled in front of the tank, her hands stretched across the glass as she and the tiny mermaid stared at each other for a moment. After what seemed like an hour the tiny finned girl let out a series of clicks and chirps. Tuardae listened intently, keenly aware that Lupin left the room and came back a few moments later with a small tray.

Standing up Tuardae said, “She says she still get dizzy, and that her arm still hurts. And that you’re very kind.”

“You say that as if you didn’t expect it.”

“Well . . .” Tuardae said, before stopping and looking at everything on the tray. “What’s all that?”

“For the next two weeks her care is in your hands. I’m going to show you how to make her food. See? I’m not all bad.”

“Most werewolves aren’t,” Tuardae said as matter of factly. She was glad he didn’t get upset when she said this, and she was quiet until he was done showing her how to make the food. Dropping the little brown pellets into the water and watching the little mer-girl catch them as they fell and eat them, Tuardae said quietly. “Do you know where he is?”

“How did I know that’s what you two girls were after?” he asked with a sigh.

“You would have known a long time ago if you hadn’t avoided us for so long.”

“You know I can’t tell you that.”

“You can’t, but you will.”

Lupin looked at Tuardae with a long glance. “Why?”

“Not why,” she said with a smile, putting all of the containers away, making sure they were stored until tomorrow when she would make more food. “But when.” With a smile she opened the door to his office to see Avari sitting outside with a near-glare on her face.

“Where’s Sirius?” Avari asked.

“Both of you, stop asking. It’s dangerous, for both you and him.” He shut the door with a snap in their faces.

“What?” Avari asked, slightly surprised her sister was glaring at her.

“I was making progress!”

“Pffft,” Avari said, flipping her hair with an agitated air. “Did you find out where Sirius was?”

“No.”

“Then it’s not progress – OW! That hurt!”

Tuardae stomped off down the hall, leavinari ari rubbing a new bruise on her arm, mumbling to herself as she walked down the hallway.

* * * * *

The next few days went the same way. Every day Tuardae would go in after classes and make food and talk to the mermaid while slowly wearing down Lupin’s wall, only to have Avari make him slap it back up every night when she would wait outside the door and say “Where’s Sirius?”

The last night of detention Tuardae looked at Lupin and finally asked, “Where’s Sirius?” Lupin just shook his head and smiled.

“You are as persistent as your sister, only she’s more straightforward about it. You should both go work for the Ministry when you graduate.” He stopped to think. “But in different offices.”

* * * * *

Even though Tuardae didn’t have detention anymore she still stopped by Professor Lupin’s classroom to help with the mer-girl. Soon the snows were falling and classes were getting harder. All of the teachers were pushing the seventh years so hard that several people were sent to the Hospital Wing with the diagnosis of panic attacks. Ginny started screaming the wrong spell in Charms class and blew up a frog. Luckily she was only in the hospital wing for two days before Madam Pince allowed her back into class.

The week before Christmas Break in the middle of a heated snow ball fight between Avari, Tuardae and Harry and Ron (the poor boys loosing dismally against Avari’s superior snowball-making skills) a giant black hawk flew down to Tuardae while Avari was cackling, about to hit Ron with another snowball screaming, “I am the queen of snowballs!”

Stopping mid-throw when seeing Ron’s surprised face, Avari turned around to look at the black hawk holding out a letter to Tuardae. “Ugh, I hate it when Dad uses the express hawk,” she said, dropping the snowball on Ron’s face and trotting through the snow to Tuardae’s side.

She read over the note quickly:

“Girls, if you want to join us for Christmas you can, although we’ll be in Canada working with AMBLE on the new laws they’re trying to set up. Their trolls are a little more hostile than the ones we’re used to. If you don’t want to come, we’ll understand. In fact, we’ve already had your presents sent over to England. – Love Cieyua.”

Avari looked down at the letter before saying, “Good, because I am not going to Canada.”

“What’s wrong with Canada?” Ron asked, shaking the snow out of his hair.

“Snow,” was all Avari said with a shiver. “Nothing but snow.”

“But we get snow here,” Harry said, his breath fogging.

“Not like in Canada,” said Avari. “In fact, I’m done with snow for today, you guys have fun freezing.”

They watched her walk off before Ron asked, “So, are you going to Canada?”

Tuardae was trying very hard not to laugh at her sister. “She’s such a summer child, which is so odd for a . . . girl like her. And no, I’m not going to Canada. It’s boring. I love the snow, but when Mother and Father are in meetings all the time Avari and I usually have escorts everywhere, and after the first trip, they never gave us young, male guards again. How depressing,” she said, lost in thought. She suddenly snapped back with a smile, “Which means I’m staying here for Christmas! What about you two?”

“Mum and Dad are working for the O – ” Harry hit Ron in the ribs and Ron cringed.

“The Order of the Pheonix?” Tuardae asked cheerfully.

They looked at her with wide eyes. Before they could ask her how she knew it she said, “Avari knows everything at this school. It’s amazing the information she can find just by eavesdropping on every conversation she happens to hear snippets of, I mean, it really is – ”

“Has she told anyone?” Ron hissed.

“Pffft,” Tuardae said. “No, she’s not stupid.”

“She told you,” Harry said dryly.

Tuardae glared at Harry. “In my Family, what one person knows, everyone knows. One of the Family mottos being: If you take one to your bed, everyone else is invited along.’”

Harry and Ron looked at each other with wrinkled noses, not comprehending.

Tuardae rolled her eyes. “My parents were inducted into the Order not too long ago. The only reason they haven’t been able to before now is they’ve been working on their own business in the States. Now that it’s stable they can work against Voldemort – ”

Ron hissed and Tuardae ignored him.

“ – in America. He’s starting to plan things over there, and my parents have some of the best spies Dumbledore could ask for. Simple as that. Besides, once Avari and I graduate we’ll be in the Order as well.”

“Just like Fred and George,” Ron said. “And Harry, Hermione and I.”

“Your Mum threw a fit about Fred and George. She was so against them being in the Order at first, not after they flew out of school like that while that Umbridge monster was here,” Harry said.

Ron shrugged. “That’s what my family’s like.”

“Can we go inside if we’re just going to stand around and talk?” Tuardae asked, her nose bright red.

The last week before Christmas break spirits were high as classes ended. There was a loud party almost every night in Gryffindor Tower, wherery hry had to fight Tuardae to get butterbeer bottles away from her, usually losing. Usually Hermione could get her up to her room, and every morning Avari would tease Harry relentlessly about it.

The morning of the day the train was leaving back to London the mail was very light. Looking up Avari spotted two large packages held by hawks and falcons, her raven Sewiot carrying a letter. She stood up just as the large package hit the table, and ripped open the letter. “Early gift. – T’la and Cieyua.” She tore open the package and a scream echoed through the half-empty hall. “OH MY GOD! IT’S BEAUTIFUL!”

She picked up the new broom and cradled it, looking it over. “I’ve only ever heard about these,” she breathed before bounding across the hall, the majority of the eyes following her as she skidded to a stop next to Tuardae, who was looking at her own broom. “It’s a Firebolt X!” she started babbling. “Pre-released only in America! 10,000 Galleons! The fastest, most reckless broom ever built!” Just at that moment Draco walked into the hall and she pointed the broom at him, “And YOU, Mommah’s boy, don’t have one, nor can your daddy get you one! HAH!”

Tuardae looked at the broom. “It’ll fly faster right?” she asked simply.

“Are you insane?” Avari shouted. “I should hurt you! This is only the fastest model yet! They haven’t even released it in Europe because they’re trying to work spe speed control that isn’t so dangerously fast!”

“Then why was it pre-released in America?” Hermione asked.

“Because Americans are recklessly stupid,” Tuardae said simply. “And Quadpot. You gotta love Quadpot.”

“Ahhhh,” Avari said, hugging the broom. “A game with exploding parts AND the fasted broom every built! What more could you ask for?”

“A proper brain to fly it,” Draco drawled with a sneer. “Heavens know you’ll need one.”

“If I were you,” Avari spat, “I wouldn’t talk little boy. Remember the peanut butter?”

Draco turned bright red and stammered before walking out the door. Harry and Ron looked at each other, half-smiles on their faces. “Peanut butter?” they asked over Tuardae’s head. She looked up at them and said, “Please, whatever you do, do NOT ask that question. Ever. Please.”


Chapter 11 – “Firewhiskey”


Both of the Firebolt X’s were well hidden, and spelled against anyone but their owners touching them – just another part of the Firebolt’s cost: their parents had paid to have the spells installed. It was really easy to tell which belonged to which, they even had silver and gold engraving. Tuardae spent the first day of Christmas break riding it around the Quidditch pitch while those who remained of the Quidditch team watched on.

Avari on the other hand spent most of the time polishing the broom and parading it around in front of Malfoy, who just ground his teeth loudly in frustration.

The morning of Christmas dawned bright and early and Avari pounced on her pile of presents, ripping open each with a vicious glee. Her roommates had left for the daysdays, so she was happy she had a whole room to trash. The broom had been an early present from both of her parents, but T’la had also sent her an engraved Potions set and Cieyua had sent a silver chain made out of thin links that were strong. Her sister had sent a large box. Avari frowned, not sure if she liked this.

Just like her sister’s nature the first box was red and contained five sugar quills. Giggling she placed these in a small pile next to her bed. The next box was green and had an assortment of chocolate frogs. Before she moved to the next box she tore open the packages, letting the frogs jump around while she searched for the cards she didn’t have. After gleefully placing two new ones, and throwing the rest away, in her current stack, she went for the next box. It was gold and had a new Quick Quotes Quill; she’d broken her last one when she’d been frustrated with Draco. The next box was small and silver with a black bow.

She looked at the box, turning it over in her hands carefully before delicately removing the ribbon. Avari had a feeling this wouldn’t be just another simple gift. She opened the silver box and nudged aside black silk to see a single faceted opal with an odd symbol engraved into it with gold. The setting was silver, and with a raised eyebrow at the chain Cieyua had sent, she put the two gifts together and put the charm around her neck.

She slid into clothes that her two favorite uncles from her Family had sent her, a big black fluffy sweater over a pair of black velvet overalls that looked like they would have better fit a 500lb wizard than a lithe elf form. She opened a bright orange box and pulled out a pair of sneakers and immediately wrinkled her nose. “I hate sneakers,” she said before reading the note from her Aunt. “I know how much you hate ruining your boots in the snow so I’ve spelled them against water. – Aunt E.” With a squeal she jumped up and down and started changing clothes. The overalls, in her usual style, only had one side buckled. After pulling on the black sweater and sneakers she ran down the hallway.

She only had to wait a minute or two before Tuardae showed up with a grin on her face. “Dungbombs and fake-chicken-wands? Did you talk to Ron?” she said with a giggle. “I mean, the Sugar Quills I understand, we get those for each other every year.”

Avari just grinned and said, “You’ve been too nice here. Try to spice things up a bit.”

They laughed, and Avari poked at Tuardae, looking at her clothes, which were almost identical to her own. Olive green overalls, just as baggy with a black tank top and a cream colored sweater with a large neck. Looking down Avari laughed even harder and pointed out their matching black sneakers before saying, “Aunt E sent us the same thing again. If she could ever remember we’re two different people I think she’d die of shock!” They started laughing again before walking into the breakfast hall where trees and tinsel made a forest inside, unlike in the halls where they were every so often.

“Merry Christmas!” the girls shouted cheerfully.

Hagrid smiled and waved from the tree he was finishing decorating. Lupin grinned and trotted over to the girls, holding up two small bags.

“What are these?” Tuardae asked, surprised.

“A return gift. The cockroach clusters and the sweaters were very surprising. Thank you girls,” he said, hugging each of them.

Peeking inside the bags the girls’ eyes went wide. “Pearls?” Tuardae asked while Avari squealed and played with her new cache. “Where did you get this many?”

“The merfolk,” he said with a grin, putting an arm around her shoulders. “And I couldn’t have done it without your assistance. I must say, watching Snape’s face when I told him you were the best detention I’d ever put up with was wholly entertaining.” Tuardae giggled and hugged Lupin while Avari just nodded, not sure how to take this sudden niceness. Before the dark-haired girl could say anything he grinned at her and said, “No, I am not telling you where he is.”

Avari was laughing when Ron and Harry walked in, followed by the Crevey brothers. The eldest brother held up a camera and the group of them huddled in for a picture, Ron and Tuardae grabbing Avari so she couldn’t run off. After Collin promised to make copies for each of them he ran off to talk to a Hufflepuff. Avari growled at them and told them she hoped she always looked dejected in the picture, stuck out her tongue and sulked off.

After breakfast the group was allowed to wander wound and the Gryffindors and the lone Slytherin girl decided to take a walk down to Hagrid’s hut to say hello. Before they left the hall Dumbledore smiled and thanked both Tuardae and Avari for their wonderful Christmas gifts. When Ron asked what they could have possibly gotten the Headmaster to make him so cheerful, both girls simply responded: “Socks.”

Harry laughed while Ron still looked confused.

The red haired boy grinned and said, “Time for a run down to the kitchens! Wouldn’t want to be late for the deal!”

The girls raised their eyebrows but followed, Harry and Ron looking very pleased. They followed the boys down hallways and didn’t blink when Ron tickled a picture of fruit that was hung up on the wall. Both girls squeaked with surprise when a house-elf, gaudily dressed flew like a cannonball out of the portrait hole and landed hard on Harry’s chest. They watched as Harry struggled to get the creature off, learning the things name: Dobby.

“Dobby,” Ron said with a smile. “These are the Ladies Avari and Tuardae.”

Dobby looked at the girls just as they looked shocked at Ron. “But they aren’t Ladies yet! They have two more years,” he said wisely before looking closely at Avari. “Three more for that one. She’s younger. Trickster probably. A little Darkie, yes, yes.”

“Quiet!” Avari snapped viciously. “Why in the name of pissed off Hippogriffs are we down here?”

“To get the shipment,” Harry said with a grin.

Dobby’s eyes lit up and he scrambled back into the kitchen, the four following.

“What is going on?” Tuardae asked Avari, who shrugged.

“You’d think if it was devious I’d be in on it,” tarkearker girl responded. “I’m upset that I wasn’t in on it. I’ll have to give these boys a talking to.”

“You do that,” Tuardae said, rolling her eyes.

Dobby scrambled off into the depths of the kitchens and the four were immediately charged upon by the rest of Hogwarts’ house-elves. The girls accepted drinks and a pastry each, while the boys just grabbed the baskets that they were offered and put them on each arm. When Dobby came back swinging around a tiny basket the boys grinned and offered the house-elf a sock each, neither of them matching. The house-elves waved a cheery goodbye and Avari and Tuardae helped carry the baskets full of meat, bread, fruit and pastries, Harry carrying the closed basket that Dobby had given him.

“Shall we go up to the fourth floor Mr. Potter?” Ron asked, a large, stupid grin on his face.

“Why, Mr. Weasly! What an excellent idea!” responded Harry with gusto.

“They’ve gone insane,” Avari said flatly.

“For once, on the insanity issue, I will so agree with you,” Tuardae said, staring wide-eyed at the two six foot boys who were practically skipping down the hallway.

Harry put his hand on a door handle and said very loudly, “I do believe we are in requirement Mr. Weasly! We need a place to party!”

Avand Tnd Tuardae just looked at them as if they’d been knocked over the head and had lost all sense. “Has a Bludger gotten into the male dorm and beaten all common sense out of them?” Tuardae whispered.

“I don’t think so,” Avari whispered back as Ron and Harry walked joyfully into the room while the girls stayed out in the hallway. After a moment they heard music coming from inside, vaguely echoing down the hallway. “Although, I could be wrong.”

A hand shot out and grabbed Avari and she yelped being pulled into the room and spun around. Ron was laughing by the time Avari stopped spinning and was holding her temple. She slumped into a chair and glanced around the room and her eyes went wide. It was decked out in holiday cheer with boughs of holly and silver bells and a giant fireplace that was roaring. Black furniture was all around and the table on the far wall next to the window was covered in the food they’d brought up from the kitchens, and the little closed basket Harry had carried.

“What’s going on here?” Avari asked. “You holding a party?”

Ron grinned and held out his hands wide as Harry walked over to join them, his arm around Tuardae. “Of course! It’s our last year, thought we’d celebrate the holidays with a bang! Everyone’s invited, even the Slytherins!”

“But Avari is the only Slytherin that stayed this Christmas,” Tuardae pointed out.

“Exactly!” Harry said, pinching her noise lightly The They spend the rest of the day setting up the room completely and moving the furniture around a little more to their liking. That night they ate dinner with the staff that had stayed behind at the school for the holidays. Afterwards Dumbledore bid them all goodnight, and told them not to stay up too late, winking at Harry as he ushered everyone out the door.

“Does Dumbledore know about this?” Avari asked.

“Oh,” Harry said, “Dumbledore knows everything. Surprisingly he trusts Ron an I.”

“Surprisingly,” Avari said dryly.

Harry laughed and hugged her with one arm, leaving it draped around her shoulders as they ushered everyone up to the Room of Requirement. There was one Ravenclaw sixth year, and two fourth. Three Hufflepuff fourth years, and a second year who was slightly nervous at all of the older children were also in the group. Avari looked at Harry’s arm and sighed before deciding not to move it. Although she did think about biting it.

Everyone looked at the food and sighed, having already been stuffed from dinner. Harry smiled and picked up the closed basket while Ron made sure the door was locked and put a silencing charm around it to make sure that no sound would escape the room.

“No, Harry,” said Ginny, her hand on her belly. “No more food.”

A few people called out agreement and Harry just shook his head with a grin before opening the lid and pulling out a bottle of firewhiskey. Someone whis, an, and a Hufflepuff squeaked in surprise. Harry grinned and reached in again, pulling out another bottle of a different kind. The older students took a moment for this to sink in, while Harry kept pulling out different kinds of alcohol.

“Well then,” Ginny said. “I do believe that first bottle is mine. Pass it over.”

Someone laughed and everyone loosened up, claiming bottles as they went. The second year Hufflepuff was a little uncertain at the prospect of getting drunk, but Harry smiled warmly and offered her a butterbeer, telling her there were more if she needed them. Soon the music was loud and everyone was singing or shouting, laughing in their drunken holiday merriment.

“Ronald Weasly!” Avari shouted, pointing at the red-haired boy with a hand that held a bottle. “I challenge you to a drink off! Let’s see how many shots you can take pansy boy!”

Shouting ensued and Ron accepted.

Tuardae picked up a bottle of butterbeer but it was snatched away from her. Pouting she looked up and saw Harry, who pushed a shining green bottle into her hands. “Nuh uh,” he said, already tipsy, half of his own bottle gone. “Not tonight. You don’t get to sleep tonight.”

“She better do something else!” Avari shouted before downing a shot, Ron laughing into his shot glass.

Harry laughed while Tuardae tipped the bottle back.

* * * * *

Avari rolled over and nudged Ron. “Wake up you lousy, good for nothing Lion-boy,” she said, her speech only slightly slurred. She pushed him, as she’d been sitting next to him on the couch.

Ron’s head rolled around and he said, “Hnuh?”

“C’mon, everyone else is passed out. Wanna go for another round?”

Ron looked down at his bottle. “But minssempty,” he slurred.

Avari got up and tottered around the room, poking around people for bottles not empty. She’d checked Harry and Tuardae, who’d drank four and half bottles themselves and had promptly passed out after making out and picked up that one, leaving her own empty bottle on the floor next tem wem with a thunk. She poked around a little more, shoving Hufflepuffs over and shoving the older Ravenclaw off of his own bottle which was still half-full.

With a triumphant grunt she walked back over to Ron and pushed the bottle into his hand, saying, “You know, I never thought yacould drink thamuch Weasly,” she said, blinking several s.
s.

He clinked his bottle’s mouth to Avari’s and said, “Anican thodrink more.”