ENIGMA

Plot, new characters, new magical terms and abilities etc. are my intellectual property. If you want to borrow then please kindly ask. JK Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers.

Summary: AU: What if everything we ever read in JK Rowling’s books was real – including the people characterised? What would you do if you found yourself caught up in that reality knowing what was to come? SSnape, CDiggory, OFC

Authors Note: It has been mentioned in the story but now I am noting it here. I am a fan of Diana Gabaldon’s ‘Outlander’/’Cross Stitch’ series and definitely was influenced by that in writing this story – i.e. the Standing Stones and traveling through time. But I also love Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ series and the tv programme ‘Sliders’ and the alternate universes alongside ours idea comes from there no doubt.

CHAPTER NOTES: Yes I have been gone for quite some time. Unfortunately I had some very real-life problems to grapple with. But I will finish this and all my other stories. And more will be revealed about the clans in time…

Fantasy/Drama

This story is rated R/M.

ENIGMA

Chapter 037: The Yule Ball, Part I

The first task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament had come and gone and everyone was grateful for an opportunity to blow off some steam. There seemed to be no end to the work that needed to get done over the break, but no one really cared about that. It seemed that even the most unlikely of students was apt to be a bit rowdy now and the rowdiest were stark-raving mad with the excitement of the ball.

There were some exceptions to this, and one of them was Cho Chang.

xxxOOOxxx

The trouble that Marietta had caused had gotten around the school like wildfire and it was all anyone could talk about with the notable exception of the Yule Ball.

‘Honestly – anyone that follows that simp is just asking for it!’ Roger Davies sniffed. Roger was the most popular boy in school barring Cedric and it was thought what made him even more attractive were his Ravenclaw intelligence and cool logic. ‘She’s always got a vendetta against somebody and she’ll stop at nothing to use people to do her dirty work. Too bad some people just don’t have the common sense to see her for what she is.’

Cho felt sick to her stomach as she listened to the gossip about some of the more outrageous things that Marietta had gotten people to do, and almost always in her own House. It seemed as though most of Ravenclaw was actually sharing two brain cells and they were fighting each other.

And that included her.

Cedric meandered in and sat down at the far end of the Hufflepuff table in the Great Hall, holding his head. He wasn’t supposed to sit over there, she thought panicking; he was supposed to be sitting next to her. Cho watched for the third day in a row with her heart in her throat as Terry Boot walked over and asked him if he was alright. She could barely hear as Cedric mumbled something back. She heard something about Madam Pomfrey from Terry and then Cedric shook his head ‘no’ and said something about sleep. Terry frowned; he clearly didn’t agree and said something about ‘it carrying on for way too long’.


‘What’s the matter love?’ Marietta asked snidely as she strolled by. Cho had been avoiding her like the plague. ‘Boyfriend getting bored?’

‘I don’t know what to do!’ Cho blurted out.

‘Do about what?’ Marietta asked innocently. ‘Oh… you mean the potion?’

‘Shh! Keep your voice down!’

‘You do know that you have to keep on feeding it to him, don’t you? Without it… well what do you really have, eh? Although… that is a wee bit dangerous.’ Marietta yawned. ‘You see, prolonged use can actually be quite lethal given that most of the ones that actually do work are derived from poisons. And Merlin-only-knows-what was in whatever it was in that outrageously expensive love potion you bought!’

Cho looked horrified.

‘Honestly Cho – that’s Second Year Potions! Old Snape is right about you…’

Marietta got up and flounced off, not even trying to hide the self-satisfied smirk on her face.

xxxOOOxxx

Cho wanted Cedric to love her without it being forced. And whatever it was between them – it was forced, wasn’t it? He didn’t give her the time of day otherwise, not since she’d had to ease up on the potion. It just cost too much, Marietta was right about that. But Marietta had been so persuasive… and yet Marietta herself didn’t really like Cedric. A day didn’t go by without her making some kind of nasty comment. And all Cedric really did was let Cho get him off – and he didn’t really seem to even like what she did that much now. She still hadn’t managed to get him into bed properly and that bothered her a lot.

She’d had to manipulate Cedric into taking her to the Ball by using another spell that she bought from the dealer in Hogsmeade. For so-called love and influencing spells both were pretty crap actually! No one respectable ever went into that stupid shop anyway and she had to be careful. For Merlin’s sake it was down that dingy alley next to the Hog’s Head!

And still Cho’s thoughts returned to Marietta, her supposed best friend. Best friends looked out for each other, didn’t they? Then why did it feel like her best friend was setting her up for a serious come-down. Cho had really stuck her neck out for Marietta; Merlin only knew that she had rubbed too many people in the House the wrong way. The parties Marietta was invited to, the outings to Hogsmeade and get-togethers over the Holidays – it was all down to Cho. Cho traded on her popularity to help out Marietta because she felt sorry for her. And when she really needed help, her so-called best friend was anything but helpful.

Had she made such a horrible mistake?

xxxOOOxxx

Cedric looked so green around the gills that Terry did the unthinkable and snuck into Hufflepuff Tower. He wished he knew where the hell he was going – the place was so large it could take forever to find him. After searching for an hour he found Cedric sprawled across the floor of his dormitory, breathing shallowly and coughing up bile intermittently. The Hufflepuff barely looked conscious.

‘Madam Pomfrey! Come quick!' Terry shouted frantically into the fireplace.

The Mediwitch stepped through and began to examine Cedric. She conjured a stretcher and sent him up to the infirmary so that she could check him out thoroughly. Only tests could tell why one of the most fit young men in the school was so horribly ill.


xxxOOOxxx

‘Venomous tentacula?’ Professor Sprout repeated incredulously. ‘Poppy my dear, are you very sure about this?’

‘As sure as I am standing here – he’s ingested a great deal of venomous tentacula…!’

‘He’s one of my prize students in Herbology; he knows better than most of them what it can do to you! No wonder he barely fought off that bloody dragon in the first task!’

‘See the results for yourself,’ Madam Pomfrey sighed as she handed over a thick folder.

Professor Sprout flipped through it and frowned.

‘Yes,’ said Madam Pomfrey, ‘Our Champion seems to have developed some very odd tastes… and not just with the company he keeps…’

‘Oh – what was that?’

‘Nothing dear. I would venture to say that we should confiscate all Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes products immediately. This isn’t the first time their more exotic products have gotten the better of some poor schmuck!’

‘Some what?’

‘Just an expression I picked down London way…’

‘I thought Cedric knew better than that!’ Professor Sprout sighed exasperatedly.

‘Holy Merlin, woman! The whole place is in uproar what with this Tournament and Ball business! Giving them a few days off before this dance was the worst thing the Ministry could do! Most of them don’t seem to have the common sense that the Goddess gave them…!’

‘I did tell him he ought to loosen up a bit and try to have some fun… He didn’t seem to be too happy, but I couldn’t get him to talk.’

‘Well now you can tell him to curb his enthusiasm! And thank young Mr. Boot there for trespassing. If it weren’t for him well… this could have been a lot worse believe-you-me!’

xxxOOOxxx

The Weasley twins were livid that their “sweet little earner” with Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes was being shut down. They were lucky to still be going to the Ball after Professor McGonagall got through with them.

‘We were doing a roaring trade with the Vomit Clusters!’ Fred roared in outrage.

‘Serves you right! Madam Pomfrey is still trying to cure Henrietta Grubstick!’ Hermione snorted. ‘You and your 7 days off school fool-proof package!’

‘Well she’s been off two months now!’ Fred said defensively.

‘And those boils are a definite improvement!’ said George.


xxxOOOxxx

As far as anyone was aware, Cedric had trained himself to the point of exhaustion and thanks to a rogue Tentacula Energy Bar he now needed some rest. As he lay in bed in his dormitory, he could only think that things were terribly messed up and he didn’t know how they had gotten this way. The past couple of months had hazy; there were moments when it was as though he was outside of himself watching someone who looked like him but who wasn’t him doing things that made him feel less than human.

And Cho – she may be alright for someone else, but so much about her and them being together just didn’t make any sense now that he seemed to be waking from his stupor. And yet all the lads were bigging him up because she was very popular and one of the fittest girls in the whole school. How they would take the piss if they knew that all that had happened were a few mediocre blow jobs. Cedric couldn’t even bring himself to sleep with her…

How was it that he and Jessica had split up anyway? Things had gotten so out of control, he thought at times he was going insane. He was losing his mind and there was no Jessica to comfort him. He just wanted to be alone and would avoid Cho as much as possible with the exception of confirming that they were still going to the Ball together.

It was too late to do anything about it now.

xxxOOOxxx

The day of the Yule Ball was finally upon them. There was undiluted excitement in the air for most, but for some it was yet another endurance test and they wanted it to be over.

Cho had gone to Hogsmeade one last time to get some more potions after a whining plea to her father that had been guaranteed to work – he never denied his Little Empress anything. Cedric was almost his old self again and that left no doubt in Cho’s mind that she was skating on thin ice. His behaviour seemed to vary, but indifference was still a huge part of his character – and she wasn’t having that, not any more.

She would get them drinks tonight, and slip some of the potion in. This potion was supposed to be the ‘end all and be all’ – this was the one to really break down his strong will. The dealer didn’t understand it, everything else should definitely have worked. But the ideal results were very short-lived. Cho’s pride wouldn’t let her accept that Cedric just did not love her and never would of his own free will. And she couldn’t go back to that shop for a while; she’d nearly been caught coming out of it by the Weasley twins as they plied their trade to the denizens of the Hog’s Head having been forced out of Hogwarts.

Tonight it was make or break. Come tomorrow morning everyone was headed home for the holidays. With that much time off, if he hadn’t ingested anything then she was going to lose him.

xxxOOOxxx

Hermione managed to get Jessica into Hogwarts unnoticed. It helped that Jessica was still listed as an official staff member and as such did not need clearance from Dumbledore or McGonagall. There were no security arrangements barring her from entering the grounds. But it was still a bit unnerving just how easy it was.

‘Are you sure we’ll be ok up here’ Jessica whispered as Hermione ushered her into her room in Gryffindor Tower and locked the door behind them.

‘Mmm hmm; the others are already there trying to one-up each other and the Ball hasn’t even officially started yet!’

‘Hah – wait till they see you my dear…’ Jessica said assuredly.


She and Hermione got work laying out Hermione’s clothes and the accessories she had tried on in the shop. Jessica took her time, carefully arranging Hermione’s hair and doing her make-up. She made sure that every fold in the beaded silk gown was just so and then stepped back to admire her handiwork.

‘You look amazing!’ Jessica said beaming.

Hermione took one look in the mirror and gasped.

‘Is that… is that really me?’

‘Her lips move when yours do – yes I’d say that was you…’

Hermione’s eyes started to well up and she threw her arms around Jessica and hugged her tightly.

‘Stop it before you get me going!’ Jessica said as she hugged Hermione back.

‘My mother… she’s not very good with this sort of stuff. She’s the reason I dress like I do. Getting my eyebrows waxed caused World War III… You’ll be there to see me, won’t you? ’

‘Well, looks like I revealed myself to you just in time…’ Jessica said before kissing her on the forehead. ‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world sweetie. You’re a smasher Miss Granger. Don’t be nervous and just enjoy yourself ok?’

Jessica adjusted Hermione’s tendrils and re-touched up her make-up. She showed Hermione how to do it herself so that she would finish the evening as immaculately as she was starting it. The final touch was the dress robe which had a ruby swan for a clasp.

‘I feel like… I’m ok…’ Hermione said breathlessly.

‘You are much better than ‘ok’. Don’t let the haters get you down and just enjoy having someone as nice as Viktor treating you like the queen that you are. I think it says a lot about his character and intentions that he paid the sycophants no mind. You’ll be fine with him, you’ll see.’

Hermione and Jessica clasped hands and took a deep breath.

‘You’ll be right down…’ Hermione asked worryingly.

‘Just as soon as I scrub up and prepare for my grand entrance. Remember, you are as surprised as everyone else, eh?’

Hermione nodded and they wished each other good luck. The Gryffindor made her way downstairs and Jessica set to work.

‘I’m doing the right thing, I am…’ she whispered hoarsely.

xxxOOOxxx

She hadn’t prepared herself, not really. She hadn’t thought about what it would be like to see him – and with her. Jessica tried not to hate Cho Chang, but she did. She would never forget what happened that night, and that the young lady was the reason why her whole word had been torn apart. Try as she might, Jessica couldn’t understand what it was for him. Cho stood there running off at the mouth with other equally vapid girls, talking about hair and make-up. The dress that she chose wasn’t particularly memorable in a good way; it was a typical Chinese-style dress on top. But oddly enough it was grey and very meringue-like. Cedric wouldn’t be able to get near her especially with the bustle in the back.

She looked at Cedric and wondered if she’d lost her mind.


For someone who had the world at his feet and one of the hottest girls at Hogwarts he didn’t look particularly pleased to be there. Or was it just wishful thinking on her part? Did she just want something to be wrong between them when nothing really was – or were her eyes and instincts not deceiving her at all? Other couples were particularly tactile, but not he and Cho Chang. She was expecting passion, a spark – something.

But there was just this emptiness on his part and frustration on the part of Cho, she was sure of it.

Jessica settled into her hiding space and watched as the music for the Dance of Champions began to ring out and Hermione processed into the Great Hall on the arm of Viktor Krum.

xxxOOOxxx

The dancing was in full swing and Jessica had been right, Viktor was the perfect partner for Hermione on such a special occasion as this. He cared for her regardless of the face she presented to the world, and the former Librarian knew that it was something that resonated deeply within his chosen companion for the Ball. Everyone else was marvelling at the beauty of the resident know-it-all from Gryffindor and how she had managed to pull the most desired of all the young men.

There were a select number of invited guests as there had always been for the Tournament in centuries past. The Ormessinis were there as Minerva and Liam’s special guests along with Fergal. It was a gesture welcomed by Minister Crouch, who at least saw some sense in making contacts within the wizarding community in Italy, even if The DaVinci School was nowhere as prestigious as the elite three.

Jessica’s eyes flickered over the room looking for the familiar figure swathed in his requisite black but she did not see him. He was probably skulking around out of doors – punishing students for having the gall to have a good time just as she’d read in Book 4. She shouldn’t care where he was and yet now that she was back here she couldn’t help but to think about him even though she had nothing to prove anymore. Dumbledore was there along with Hagrid and the rest of the Professors and staff. A heavy shiver went down her spine and she admonished herself to not be afraid.

Most of the principal characters were in place; she couldn’t wait any longer.

Her time had come.

xxxOOOxxx

‘Are you going to ask me to dance at all?’ Padma Patil demanded heatedly.

‘Nope’ said Ron, paying her no mind.

‘You have any intention of dancing or are you going to be as useless as he is?’ her twin Parvati asked Harry, making it clear she had no interest in doing so with him.

But there was no answer.

Harry’s eyes were glued to the white marble staircase that everyone had come down to get into the room. He had to wipe his eyes just to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating.

Someone stood at the top of the stairs in a fitted strapless white silk and velvet sheath of a dress beaded with sparkling crystals and matching gloves that came up just past her elbows. If the dress weren’t incredible enough, whoever it was wore an ornate Venetian mask decorated in red and gold with swirls of colour around the eyes. Beautiful white feathers and beads were part of the decoration and they also figured prominently in the girl’s hair and shoes. Her dress robe was a white fur with a porcelain and jewelled mask as a clasp. The jewellery – this was a girl who’d gone to a lot of trouble and Holy Merlin the effect was dazzling.

‘Who the bloody hell is that?’ Ron gasped.

Couples stopped dancing and the conversation settled to a low hum and then stopped altogether as the lone figure made her way gracefully down the stairs. Her skin was luminous and she looked so delicate, like something out of a fairy tale. It was too much for one night – first Hermione Granger and now this!

No one noticed Cedric’s reaction as the figure reached the bottom of the stairs and walked slowly towards the front of the room where the Professor Dumbledore and the other teachers were gathered. She did not acknowledge him as she glided past he and Cho and then past the table where Harry and Ron were still ignoring their dates. Next was Hermione with the young man that was Viktor Krum. The Gryffindor bit her lip and commented to Viktor that no, she had no idea who that was. Jessica smiled after hearing his reply back that whoever she was – the girl was not half as beautiful as Hermione was.

‘Now he could be my son-in-law,’ Jessica thought and then admonished herself for thinking such foolishness. After all, it was fairly obvious from the books that Ron was going to end up with Hermione (although Jessica was in the camp that thought he was all wrong for her and she could do better).

Dumbledore stepped forward slightly, but said nothing as he studied the unknown girl. The girl (or was she a woman) stood there, silent and unmoving. There were faint footsteps to her right as a figure moved into view and then bowed. His face was obscured by an opulent mask of black decorated with silver and gold. Jessica returned his greeting with a curtsey and looked at him, not daring to speak.

‘Would you do me the honour of having this dance, My Lady?’ he intoned in a rich and surprisingly deep baritone that caught her off guard.

‘I… I will,’ she answered in a faint whisper that only he could hear.

The band struck up a slow one, and Jessica and her partner began to dance.

xxxOOOxxx

They were a sight to behold, the man in midnight black silk and velvet robes twirling the striking lady in white, both with beautiful yet contrasting masks and attire.

‘I looked everywhere for you,’ he said as he leaned into her and spoke softly in her ear. ‘I even went to Venice.’

‘And you never found me?’ she replied in a trembling voice.

‘I was called away just when I was certain I had found you; and when I was able to return it was too late,’ he said sadly drawing her close. ‘You’re trembling my love…’

A lone tear rolled below the mask.

‘You really came for me?’ Her lips were trembling now.

‘Ca’Macana – as with the shop in Hogsmeade. That is where you were, was it not?’

‘But how…?’

‘I will always come whenever you need me; I swore it with my blood and I will honour the vow I made to you in your absence.’

‘I’m sorry… I don’t deserve your loyalty, you must know that surely.’

Her saviour stroked the moisture away as it escaped the confines of her mask.


Still no one noticed Cedric, incandescent with rage. The room was a hive of whispers and comments. Students and staff jostled each other for a good look.

And Cho Chang used it to make her move.

‘It is me who does not deserve you. I drove you to do things I will have to live with. It has taken me this long to come to terms with it,’ Jessica’s saviour replied.

His hands, those beautiful hands also curiously soft drew her ever closer.

Jessica reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her waist.

‘I won’t let him hurt you, ever,’ he whispered. ‘I won’t let anyone hurt you or come between us ever again. I won’t hurt you ever again!’

‘I’m scared; I’m so scared…’

‘Don’t be; you are one of the bravest people I have ever known and you have me… always.’

He lifted the mask slowly, taking great care with the precious thing. Without a word he placed on the table nearest them. Viktor picked it up carefully and gave it to Hermione who sat wordlessly weeping as she watched her Potions Master remove his.

Severus looked at the woman he had nearly gotten himself killed over. Jessica’s big brown eyes were filled with tears.

‘Severus; what I’ve done…’

‘Shhh,’ he said softly as his lips lightly brushed her forehead and they clung to each other while the music played on. ‘I love you, Jessica. I have always loved you; and if it means that I spend the rest of whatever time I have left alive proving myself to you, then I will do it. I will do whatever I have to for the honour and privilege of your love.’

The room was in uproar around them. Minerva and Liam were decidedly in shock and faintly disappointed. Harry was ecstatic that Jessica had come back – but she was with that bastard Snape – Snape of all people after everything he had put her through. This was just some momentary bit of madness, it had to be! Dumbledore didn’t know whether to cry or to give Jessica a bloody good hiding, but thank Merlin she was back! They were going to have to have a talk… The twins and many of the other students were whooping it up with joy believing she was finally recovered from her illness and was back at her post. Still others in their number were paralysed with the shock of it all.

And Snape – oh motherfucking Merlin, Snape!

Cedric downed the drink that Cho handed him in one go and returned to ignoring her. Memory after memory of he and Jessica washed over him and then came the memory, the true memory of That Night. He started to move forward, shouting; but no one could hear him with so much going on in the room. Viktor saw him moving towards Jessica in a what was no doubt a blind rage and whispered to Hermione. With the help of two of his comrades from Durmstrang they heaved the protesting Hufflepuff outside.

xxxOOOxxx

‘Go sleep it off!’ Viktor roared in heavily accented English. ‘Do not ruin this night and disgrace yourself and this school! You are a Champion, remember that!’

‘You don’t know what you’re talking about! He’ll hurt her! He will! This isn’t supposed to be happening! It isn’t!’ Cedric howled uncontrollably. Merlin’s Beard – what was happening to him?

‘You’re drunk Cedric! You’ve had too much! Now get out of here before I get McGonagall!’ Hermione screamed.

‘I haven’t had anything! I swear I haven’t!’

Marietta watched Cho who hung back, horrified.

Why wasn’t it working on him? Cho thought angrily. She’d done what she was told with the potions. Damn Cedric and his resistance anyway. They should be inside with him holding court and her at his side. It should be them that everyone was making such a fuss over, not Snape and that bitch! And what was that all about anyway?

Cedric looked over at her. ‘Get out of my sight! You make me SICK!’

He vomited heavily and Marietta started laughing so hard she welled up with tears.

‘Poor little Cho – how much did you spend on that lot?’ she cackled before running after her latest victim.

‘What did she say?’ Hermione asked incredulously as she peered closely at Cedric and then the goo that tainted the fresh snow. ‘Cedric are you ok?’

The Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain began to take deep breaths and then slowly brought himself into his full height, albeit shakily.

‘Of course I’m ok,’ he said slowly. ‘Cho? Where’s Cho?’

‘Right here Cedric!’ Cho simpered, resisting the overwhelming temptation to whoop in triumph. She stomped over through the snow and made sure she eliminated as much of the evidence that Cedric had heaved up as she could. There wasn’t that much to do as Cedric was doing much the same himself, feeling very embarrassed.

‘I obviously had something that didn’t agree with me,’ he reasoned. ‘But I only had one glass of Hot Butterbeer and nothing else…’

‘Right…’ Hermione said suspiciously as she eyeballed the snow.

‘What’s it to you anyway?’ Cho sniffed angrily, her eye narrowing.

‘Come on – no need to get into a fight and over nothing,’ Cedric sighed.

‘Nothing. None of my business,’ Hermione replied.

‘Exactly – now you’ll have to excuse us,’ Cho snapped as she let Cedric put an arm around her shoulders and then led him away.

‘Strange,’ Viktor commented, shaking his head in disbelief.

‘Yes, yes they are…’ Hermione replied vaguely as her eyes quickly swept the ground one last time. ‘But nevermind them; let’s get back to the Ball, its bloody freezing out here.