Chapter Text
~1~
“Come on Isabella!” George called from outside.
“You’ve been studying long enough,” Fred yelled. “It’s summer!”
“Isabella!” Ginny’s sing-song voice sang from below.
“This is Percy’s last weekend with us before leaving home forever,” Ron called. “You know you will be sad you missed it!”
“I’m not leaving forever,” Percy replied. “Just for a while.”
I rolled my eyes with a sigh, closing the plant book Snape had given me nearly a whole summer ago. Outside the sun was just beginning to set and my siblings were heading into the woods to play our favorite Muggle game, Hide and Seek, but with Weasley flare.
Ron was right, Percy was moving out and I would miss picking on him and especially playing games with him…who would we even pick on once he leaves? Probably Ron. I laughed as I put the book on my desk and then I grabbed onto the tree branch next to the window. Climbing down with practiced movements, reaching the ground much faster than if I had gone through the house and out the door. My brothers cheered as I jogged over. Ron held his hand up for a high five, I slapped his hand, hard. He winced and looked at it as we walked.
“Teams or free for all?” I asked as we walked closer to our favorite spot.
“Free for all,” Fred and George answered in unison.
“Then that means you two can’t team up,” I replied.
“Us?” Fred asked.
“Never,” George replied.
“Yeah,” I said rolling my eyes. “You know the rules, no throwing the poppers in the eyes. Once you’ve been popped, you’re out. Counter attacks will be allowed, but respect the game. This isn’t War,” I said looking at the Fred and George.
“Yeah,” Ginny agreed. “Respect the game.”
“Fine, fine,” Fred agreed but a slight smirk and a glint in his eye told me, he was lying.
A few minutes later Percy was being blindfolded and spun in circles. “You guys cheated, I know you did,” he grumbled.
“It was completely anonymous,” I said holding back a laugh.
“Its rigged!” he yelled as he stumbled, George catching him and spinning him once more.
“Okay, ready? And…go!” I shouted.
We scattered in different directions, running as silently as we could through the forest while Percy began to count.
The goal was, Percy had to tag all of us before we could reach base, which was a large tree central to where we were. If any of us got past him, he would have to find us again in the next round.
Percy was right of course, it was rigged. It was only a matter of time before he was picked to be It anyway…and it was just more fun this way. Once Percy was on the hunt I began making my way to base. Percy threw a popper; yellow sparks flew out in the gathering dark. The counter attacks were basically blue poppers. Small, harmless, but fun to play with, two came at Percy from either side.
“No teams!” I yelled, completely giving myself away.
Percy turned and threw a popper at me. I fumbled for my counter attacks but was unsuccessful. Percy laughed. “Whoo! I got Isabella!”
I huffed and sat on the ground; unable to believe that I had been caught! Percy was on a roll, he popped Ginny and Ron as well. They joined me on the ground.
In the end Fred made it to base and we set up for another round. Percy’s stoke of luck quickly depleted and he spent the next four hours trying to find us in the woods. At some point during the game we all found each other and agreed to stay hidden so Percy would have to find us instead of cutting us off on the way to base.
“This isn’t fun anymore guys,” Percy called out as he stumbled once more. “Come out, come out, wherever you are!” We held firm to our hiding spots. “Fine, I’m going in!” he yelled annoyed.
We crept behind, following him silently back to the house, with varying degrees of silence. I shot another look at Ron as he stepped on yet another thing that made Percy pause and wonder all over again if we were playing a trick on him. Ron shrugged as he collected his poppers, all of us getting ready as we neared the house. As soon as Percy stepped out of the woods we ran at him, all five of us, pelting him with poppers. We laughed and ran on ahead to the house. Percy swore again that he would never play another game with us.
After Mum and Dad returned home from dropping Percy off in wizarding London, they called me to the living room.
“Isabella, could you come down here for a moment?” Mum called.
I stopped my studying and made my way downstairs. They sat on the couch together, tea and biscuits on the table between us.
“What’s going on?” I asked hesitantly.
“Please,” Mum urged. “Have a seat.”
I sat on the ottoman and reached for a biscuit.
“Isabella, your father and I had hoped this would come up naturally, but it hasn’t, and we would like to discuss this with you before you go back to school.”
“Discuss what?” I asked dropping to lumps into my tea and stirring with my biscuit.
“We would like to talk to you about your friendship with…Malfoy” Dad grumbled.
Anger flashed through my mind, which one of my siblings had ratted?
“My what with who?” I asked stalling.
“Percy told us,” Dad explained, his face stern.
“Everything,” Mum said, annoyingly finishing his sentence.
“Okay…” I replied slowly. “So, what happens now?”
“Now,” Dad began as his face became redder. “You find a new friend.”
“Arthur,” Mum interrupted.
“Really? I’m going into my forth year!” I retorted raising my voice.
“Isabella,” Mum said to me holding a hand up, telling me to wait as she turned to Dad.
“It’s too late to tell them they can’t be friends.”
“The hell it is!” Dad said visibly upset.
“He is nothing like his father,” I said reeling it in, getting upset wasn’t going to solve anything.
“Malfoy’s are rotten to the core,” Dad responded. “The lot of ‘em.”
I looked to Mum for support.
“Why didn’t you just tell us?” she asked.
“Because…I…I didn’t think you guys would let me.”
“You’re right kid, we won’t,” Dad fumed.
“Arthur,” Mum soothed, placing a hand on his arm. “Isabella is a smart girl; she is careful and compassionate.”
“I know all of those things, Molly.”
“Shouldn’t she be able to…find her own friends?”
My eyes widened and I held back my smile, waiting to see what Dad would say.
“Draco Malfoy will NEVER be welcome in MY house,” Dad said after a long pause, metaphorically putting his foot down as he leaned forward grabbing a biscuit.
Mum nodded at me. “You can always tell us anything, Isabella. Even if you think we won’t approve and especially when you’re in trouble. Okay?”
“Okay,” I replied and then I stood and walked around the couch, hugging them both from behind. “I love you guys.”
“We love you, sweetie,” Mum said as I skipped out of the room.
I would have to remember to pay back Percy the next time I see him.
“So, they know?” Ginny asked.
“They do indeed.”
“And?”
“And Mum somehow talked him into it.”
Ginny shook her head, puzzled. “Are you excited about…oh wait who am I talking to? Of course, you’re excited for school.”
“I have big plans for this year,” I declared boldly to our empty bedroom.
“Oh yeah? Like what?”
“Well, Slytherin will win the House Cup,” I declared as I folded up my clothes and placed them neatly into my hand-me-down trunk.
“So cocky,” Ginny said throwing a stuffed bear at me.
“And I plan to be the student with most points. I usually hold back my brilliance so that its fair, but this year all that is going out the window. This year everyone will know my name, they will see me coming, and crowds will part for me!” I said waving my hand in front of me dramatically.
“You do have big plans.”
I smiled. “And what about you?”
“I just want to make it through potions without feeling so…incompetent.”
I smiled and patted her shoulder. “You know if you want help in your classes all you have to do is ask.”
“Professor Snape will know if you help me.”
“Perhaps you should brush up on your potions before we return to Hogwarts.”
“Perhaps.”
“Here,” I said handing her a notebook. “These are my notes from my second year. They are very detailed and absolutely impeccable! Now I bequiffed them unto you,” I knelt down presenting the notebook to her as if it were the Elixir of Life.
“Thank you,” she said with a giggle.
I sent a letter to Draco, telling him about the events of the day, Percy being a dirty rat, and the verdict. His reply arrived later that day.
‘You come up with a plan and we can take care of your brother over Christmas. At least you don’t have to lie to your parents anymore. Are you going to the Quidditch World Cup? Maybe I’ll see you there, if not, I’ll see you on the train. Save me a seat…who am I kidding, I’ll definitely arrive first. Don’t send a reply, my parents have become suspicious. – Draco’
I smiled at the letter, missing him terribly and so excited that we were going back to school in just a few days. Since I couldn’t write him back and everyone else already knew anyway I decided to pour my heart out in a really long (several pages) of letter to Charlie. There was really no where left to hide and so I wanted to be open and upfront with everyone. Once I was happy with what I had written I sent the letter on its way.
“Harry!” Mum exclaimed from outside.
“Harry’s here,” Ginny said with a smile as she stopped by our room.
“I heard,” I replied.
She ran on ahead and I moseyed downstairs. Harry was all smiles, his hair longer, almost shaggy. It looked a lot like Ron’s hair, I observed looking between them.
“Hey Isabella,” Harry said walking over with his stuff.
“Hello Harry,” I replied.
He and Ron went up to his room, Ginny trailing behind.
The next day we were all woken up before the sun and told to pack a bag. Hermione was in the kitchen when we came downstairs. She was entirely too awake for such an early hour. Mum and Dad were all smiles as we went about eating breakfast but neither of them would talk.
“Alright, kids,” Dad said after he kissed Mum on the cheek. “Let’s head out.”
“You’re not coming with us?” I asked Mum.
“I’ll be right here when you get back,” she said pulling me into a hug.
We left the house in one big clump and walked off into the woods. It was dark and gloomy inside, fog floated just above the ground as the sun was just beginning to wake from its slumber.
“Ron, where are we actually going?” Harry asked.
“Don’t know,” Ron replied, hitching his backpack up further. “Hey Dad, where are we going?”
“Haven’t the foggiest,” came Dad’s reply. “Keep up!”
Further into the woods a voice called out to us. “Arthur! It’s about time, son.”
“Sorry Amos,” Dad apologized. “Some of us had a bit of a sleepy start.” He looked back at Ron who was in the middle of another yawn.
“This is Amos Diggory, everyone. Works with me at the Ministry.”
Suddenly an impossibly tall fellow jumped down from the branches, landing by Amos. He had a flat face and chestnut brown hair. “And this strapping young lad must be Cedric, am I right?” Dad asked reaching out to clasp Cedric’s hand.
“Yes sir,” he replied smoothly giving my father’s hand a solid shake. “This way.”
As the golden light of morning graced the sky we emerged into a large clearing, rolls of hills stretched out before us. The sky was covered in what appeared to be one behemoth cloud, the sun only peeking out from the bottom, making the world around us, glow. The wind picked up; a storm was coming…I could feel it.
We gathered around the Portkey.
“Shall we?” Arthur asked the group.
“Come on, we don’t want to be late,” Amos said. “Get yourself into a good position.”
Harry was, as always, confused as we laid on our stomachs and each held onto the boot.
“Ready? After three. One, two…” Amos said.
“Harry!” Dad yelled to get Harry to join us before he got left behind.
“Three!”
Traveling by Portkey wasn’t awful, but I preferred Floo Powder. We swirled up and then down. Dad was all smiles as he told us to let go. The others didn’t understand, but I had done this before. I released the boot and moved my legs as Charlie had taught me. I landed gracefully with Cedric, Dad, and Amos.
“I’ll bet that cleared your sinuses, eh?” Amos asked with a laugh.
Everyone found their footing and then we walked over a short hill
“Go on, look at that,” Amos said as people zoomed past on broomsticks.
Tents were strewn about before us. People held flags and cheered for their favorite teams. Others had booths set up to sale their wares, some people were making food, others were juggling, and even more were riding around on their broomsticks. It was a lot to take in.
“Well kids, welcome to the Quidditch World Cup!” Dad said proudly with a huge grin on his face.
Amos and Cedric left us to go find their own tent while we followed Dad through the throng, and he led us to what appeared to be a tiny tent. Inside however, there were several bedrooms, a bath, a kitchen, a dinning area, and a common room.
Dad told us to choose bunks and unpack. I would be sharing a room with Hermione and Ginny. We were only going to be here overnight, but it seemed like fun to unpack what I had brought along into the small dresser that stood in the room.
Before long, the match was starting and so we made our way over to the stadium, it was the biggest I had ever seen, and it was packed! We climbed so many stairs and there were even more still.
“Blimey Dad,” Ron said looking over the railing. “How far up are we?”
“Well, put it this way,” Lucious Malfoy spoke suddenly from a landing below us. “If it rains, you’ll be the first to know.”
Draco slid up next to him, he was dressed in all black, making his beautiful platinum blonde hair pop. He wore a silver ring on one of his fingers and his eyes slid up to meet mine. I bit my lip to keep from smiling. He then let us all know they had been invited by Cornelius Fudge himself. Lucious then scolded his son for boasting, poking him in the chest with his fancy walking stick.
“There’s no need with these people,” he finished sneering up at us.
Draco caught my eye again as his father insulted Harry, my heart leapt, and I wanted nothing more than to throw my arms around him and breathe in that smell that was so uniquely Draco.
The match itself was pretty boring. But the tricks Victor Krum preformed while flying, made me feel as if I had been slacking this whole time.
Later we returned to our tent, winding down before getting to bed. When a ruckus outside caused Dad to go check it out. My brothers assumed it was the Irish, partying late into the night. Ron was still going on about Krum and his deep love and admiration. I was tired of hearing about it as this point.
Dad burst into the tent, eyes wide, a frantic look on his face as he came to each of us, speaking quickly. “We’ve got to get out of here. Now!”
There was no time to grab anything, we left the tent and emerged into a world on fire. People were running and screaming.
“Get back to the Portkey everybody, and stick together,” Dad said to us. “Fred! George! Ginny is your responsibility. Go!” he yelled as he took off in another direction.
I tried to keep up with the others, but in the panic I was pushed in another direction and before I knew it, I was alone. On the fringes of the action, watching Death Eaters converge and then they began to divide and conquer. My eyes were wide as I stood there, watching it unfold. This was bad…
“Isabella,” Draco called as he run up to me. “I can get you home, do you trust me?” he asked, his hand out.
I took his hand firmly in my own. “Always Draco.”
We made it to the Portkey but no one else was there.
“We can wait for them,” he suggested.
“What if they already went?”
“They wouldn’t leave you.”
“Probably but…”
We could hear what sounded like explosions and the orange glow of fires could be seen from here.
“I think we should go,” I said making a judgement call.
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I am.”
We used the Portkey, and we were back in the clearing. He reached for my hand and I took it, squeezing it as we walked.
“Oh no!” I nearly shouted as we made through the woods.
“What?” he asked turning to me.
“My sketch book…I left it and…” I shook my head, devastation taking over. “All my pencils…my charcoal…it all got left and now there is nothing to go back to.”
Before he could respond Mum was running out of the house, calling to me.
“Isabella? What’s happening? Where are the others?” she asked, her voice full of concern.
“We had to get out of there, Mum and I got separated. Draco made sure I made it home safe.”
She turned her attention to him. “Draco.”
He dropped my hand and stepped forward, extending his hand to her. “Mrs. Weasley.”
She took the outstretched hand. “Thank you for bring her home…I’ll give you guys a few minutes, but you should get going before Mr. Weasley returns.”
Mum hugged me and then she went inside.
“Well that’s not what I was expecting,” I said pulling Draco over to the side of the house where my window was.
“Is this the famous tree?” he asked looking up at it.
“Yes,” I replied with a smile. We had spoken extensively about the tree outside my window.
“Can you climb up as fast as you claim you can climb down?”
“Not quite, but I’m getting there.” He smiled at me. “You sure you can get home?” I asked.
“If you have any Floo Powder I may even beat my father home,” he said.
“We do.”
“Then I’ll be okay.”
I grabbed him, pulling him into a hug. “I’ve missed you.”
He laughed, his hand in my hair. “I’ve missed you too.”
I pulled back, looking into his gray eyes. “You should get going.”
“I should,” he replied as he followed me inside.
“Can Draco use the fireplace to get home?”
“Sure,” Mum said with a nod.
He nodded his thanks and then took a handful once he was in position. “See you on the train," he said as his eyebrows jumped up the way they did.
“See you.”
“Malfoy Manor,” he said clearly and then he threw the power to the ground, disappearing in Slytherin green flames.