On her way back to the Slytherin dormitory, Niki stops in the Owlery. She pulls a long roll of parchment, her first letter to her father, from her pocket, and attaches to an owl's leg. As the owl flies out the owlery window, she looks up to see Nimue and Andy walk in. "Oh, hello," she says vaguely, picking up her potion to go. However, curiosity gets the better of her, and she asks shyly, "Who are you writing to?"
"We're both writing to Marvo - I guess we'll share an owl? Send it via the route he suggested in his letter bypassing the censors." she smiled at Niki Andy found a sturdy owl. "How are you anyway? Understand you had a rough time with that Katia being horrible about your mother and Professor Grimalkin."
"Don't even talk about Katia!" Andy snapped. "She's so...ugh! I just want to rip her head off!" He tied the letters around the owls leg tightly, and set it free into the crisp night air.
"It's rather cold in here," he said, shivering.
"You, me, and about everyone else..." Niki mutters to Andy. "So, Marvo's all right?" She thinks back to her nightmare. "I'm really glad to hear it."
"Yes, he's fine. He got a reprimand but his mentor Moody says that's not a bad thing for an Auror - almost a badge of honour. At least he won't be sent to ... you know where. " Nimue seemed reluctant to mention the prison by name. "But they've put him on a new physical training programme. Banned bacon from his diet apparently. Poor dear."
As Kat and Sarah walk to the owlery, they look around but they cannot see anything that might have made the wolf howls. Kat said to Sarah, "In answer to your earlier question. It is quite weird having a friend that is betrothed to your boyfriend. But then neither of them wants it and they are both hassling their parents to get out of it anyway. I guess there is time."
As she finished they arrived at the owlery, "Hi, Nimue. I caught you then. Can you send my letter too?" She smiled at Andy and Niki.
The door opens and in comes Nathan, stopping as he sees the assembly. "Uhmm..." He's got a little piece of parchment in his hand. "Sorry, won't disturb you long, just need to.. send this... thingy." He deeply blushes, rushes over to his owl, wakes him up and ties the message to its leg. "Off with you, Venny." He smiles nervously and hurries away again.
"Hi, Kat. Andy was in a rush and sent our letters together a few minutes ago. We can just get another owl to go. They can keep each other company on the way back."
Nimue looked rather wistful at the letter Kat held, "Full of good ole boyfriend and girlfriend things I'll bet. It's weird I know everything is mixed up right now with our families' plans and all plus I don't want that with Marvo or anything but I envy the freedom you have to express yourself to him. However this turns out, I'll doubt I'll ever have that with anyone."
Kat chuckles at Nimue. "I don't think I can say anything to him. After all he does scare a little easily. And I'm sure you will find someone. Didn't you have someone else you were interested in? And what about Marcus?"
Nimue looked at bit miserable at this question, "Yes but I don't ever seem to have feelings for people that can go anywhere. I think it's my curse. Marcus, well he ... I realised very quickly last year that my feelings were... you know ...not returned. Something of a crush I had for a bit I guess - pretty lame I know. He's another one who sees me like a sister. Lucky me all these brothers...."
"Oh," said Andy. "We just sent ours, but I can tie yours up and send it if you like."
He took Kat's letter and tied it up to a snowy white owl. He held the owl tight, stroked her a while, then set her free into the night. "Marvo sent me a letter too," he said. "I can't wait till he gets back."
As Andy took the letter she said "Thanks. Did he tell you anything exciting in his letter? Anything about the Fudge twins, for example?"
She tried to smile but it was a weak one. While Kat talked to Andy Nimue went over to the window and looked out over the grounds towards the lake remembering her encounter by the lakeside with Anders Grimalkin the previous night and thinking how impossible the whole situation was. Even if she could get out of the betrothal, no one was going to allow she and Anders the opportunity to have feelings for one another. They were doomed from the outset and the thought of that made her shiver more than the night air.
"I guess we should head in before they lock up the castle. I'd hate to be locked out with those wolves about."
Anders sat in the entrance to the bike shed, his gaze fixed on the Owlery, where he had seen her going. A half-smoked cigarette was slowly burning its way to ash in his fingers. He was transfixed, hypnotised - almost desperate to catch a glimpse of her, however fleeting it might be.
His fingers strayed to the pendant around his neck, and wished, not for the first time since he'd arrived at Hogwarts, that he had something of value that he could give to her as a gift, as something for her to think of him with. But he had very little that was actually his, apart from the clothes on his back, the bike...and...
Delight flickered across his blue eyes as he had a sudden thought. He dug deeply into the pouch he wore at his side and pulled out a bracelet. It was not expensive, it was not anything particularly stunning, but a simple, silver charm bracelet that had belonged to his mother, and that he had kept on his person since she had died. He turned it in his hands. She had loved animals and birds, and the charms that were on there were all of those. He pondered for a while, then his eyes fixed on one. It just seemed to cry out her name as he looked at it.
His luck was holding out, unusually for him, and a small owl was flitting slowly past on its way back to the Owlery. He whistled to it, and, handing the charm to his little feathered friend, whispered, "drop this to Nimue Hawkwood for me."
He considered penning a short note...but decided against it. Let her figure it out in her own time. He let the owl go, holding in its talons a tiny, but beautiful silver deer.
As Nimue waited for her friends to answer her about returning to the castle, a small owl fluttered into the owlery from some errand or another. As she turned to look at it, it flew directly to her and dropped into her hand the tiny silver charm.
*Where had it found this?* she wondered and looked out of the owlery into the night, which provided no answer. As she held it in her hand she recalled that in Celtic-Arthurian lore the deer was the messenger of the Otherworld and the Forest and also represented the pure power of love to overcome all obstacles. Thus, her heart was uplifted as she took the owl's gift as a sign from the universe not suspecting otherwise.
She placed it in her pocket and resolved to find a delicate silver chain to wear it above the larger pendant of the hawk. The symbolism of wearing the silver deer within the circle created by the larger pendant, which had been a gift from her father and was linked to a companion pendant worn by Marcus, her protector, was not lost on her. Indeed, it felt a fitting emblem for exactly what was. She turned back to her friends with her mood considerably lifted.
Kat had noticed the owl, and the effort whatever it had given Nimue had on her. She had also noticed Nimue's previous sullenness and had been just about to ask her why she felt so bad when the owl had turned up. As Nimue's mood had changed so much she was surprised, but decided not to ask. Nimue would talk if she wanted to, in her own time.
"Yes, let's get back." She leant closer to Nimue and whispered. "If ever do want to talk about what is so heavy in your heart, you talk to me." With that she headed for the door...
"Thanks, I will" replied Nimue, and gave Kat a quick hug before the girls started heading back to their dorms for the night.
Coming down from the Owlery, Andy and the others stopped off into one of the communal areas to see if anyone else was around. They noted Morticia and Arcadia was in the room watching a rather garishly made-up witch with tightly curled hair and jewelled spectacle who seemed to be trying to talk with Elia. The woman didn't quite look as though she belonged there. Andy, Kat and Sarah take off to their dorms though Niki and Nimue stick around. They realised the woman was no other than the Daily Prophets' ace reporter Rita Skeeter and she seemed to have cornered Elia hoping for an interview.
"So, Elia," started Rita, "how do you feel about having the daughter of your Father's murderer as a classmate?"
"Ohh! Rita!" smiled Arcadia realising who the woman was; "I've always admired your work."
Niki who is standing with Nimue flushes at the question and Morticia cries, "Lady, do you know what you can do?"
However, Elia herself seems disinclined to talk, "Leave me alone, you old bat."
"Now, now, Elia. This is for the paper. Now, the two of you...Yes, you Miss Pheidippides keep scowling. Lovely." Niki stops scowling.
Arcadia being nosy tries peeking over Rita's shoulder. "What's that, Rita? Doooo tell?"
Rita Skeeter looks delighted with Arcadia's question "You mean you don't know?" And pops the end of the Quick Quotes Quill in her mouth for a moment.
"No Miss Skeeter. I don't. She must be keeping it from us." smiled Arcadia. "Does my father know? He's the Minister of Magic you know"
Nimue and Morticia remain silent but Morticia's glare suggests some unpleasant thoughts directed to Rita Skeeter and Arcadia.
"Oh, Miss Fudge! So pleased to meet you." Purred Rita.
Arcadia basked in this attention; "I'm a big fan Miss Skeeter."
Morticia didn't hold back, "She's also the most annoying person in the school."
Rita's Quick Quotes Quill wrote: The two girls stand, glaring at each other.
Seeing this Niki protested: "I am not glaring!" Morticia took her arm, "Pah! Niki, come on, let's go over here."
Niki allows her to lead her away but makes a very rude gesture at Rita Skeeter.
Arcadia smiles at Rita, "Oh ignore Tish Miss Skeeter, she's just annoyed because she's secretly in like with Marvo Ward…
Quick Quotes Quill continued to wrote, "Nicola Pheidippides, 2, and Elia Concinni, 13...."
Rita Skeeter ignored the remark about Morticia, she wasn't her target. "Miss Fudge, would you give me a quick word?"
"Oh of course miss Skeeter. I'd be honoured." Said Arcadia and she did sound as though she meant it as well.
"Right." Said Rita Skeeter, when did you first meet Nicola Pheidippides?"
"Oh" said Arcadia, "lets see... she was at the feast, when the WiBs took Marvo away to Azkaban."
Niki pulls out her wand but Morticia stops her "Leave it!" and grabs Niki's wand. "It's not worth it, Niki," said Nimue in support. Niki considers it, then nods.
Elia suddenly asks Rita, "How did you get in here?" However, Rita Skeeter ignores Elia's question.
Nimue starts: "Marvo isn't in Azkaban!"
Arcadia didn't take any notice, "He used Dark magic. An unforgivable curse you know! On another student I think."
Morticia touched Nimue's arm, "Nimue, just don't talk to her!"
Rita Skeeter smiled loving the conflict around her, "Has she ever tried any Dark spells when you were around? You know, daughter following in the mother's footsteps?" The Quick Quotes Quill writes like mad.
Nathan Lagrand comes rushing up *out of breath*, "Hello again." He sees Rita and frowns.
Nimue says to Morticia & Niki, "I hate people telling lies and Arcadia is…"
Niki wishes she could sink into the ground.
Arcadia ponders Rita's question, "Mmm... I'm not sure.. I wouldn't be surprised. She's always looking like she might. She's very jealous... Oh maybe that's how she got her boyfriend?"
Niki is unable to hold it in any longer, "Boyfriend?!
Arcadia just smiles, "Oh yes... the Welsh kid... Dylan I think, been alone with him a lot."
Nathan turns to Niki, "Is Arcadia gossiping? About you?"
Nimue says to Nathan, "Best to keep quiet. Arcadia is blabbing to the press - she's talking to Rita Skeeter. Nathan frowns.
The Quick Quotes Quill writes: .has already managed to find herself a boyfriend at Hogwarts, though she's only been there two days. "She's always looked like she might use Dark spells," says Arcadia Fudge, a stunningly beautiful third year student."
Nathan reads this remark and says loudly: "Do you know how much makeup she needs to look like that?" while Niki looks murderous and Morticia says "Shhhhh...." to her brother. Arcadia turns looking shocked at Nathan's remark.
Nimue turns to Nathan, "Nathan, you had a lucky escape there."
Nathan scowls and says to Nimue: "Why?"
Nimue says, "Arcadia seems to be quite - well - not a very nice person."
Nathan, "Yes, I noticed that when she went off on one about muggle-born people."
Rita Skeeter, "So how about this Dylan boy?"
Arcadia, smiled: "He's very quiet, but has a terrible temper, tried to hit me he did!
Niki mutters: "Can't imagine why..."
Arcadia enjoying playing this part, "and the Teacher didn't care! Professor Grimalkin gave ME a detention for it!"
Rita Skeeter loved this, "Anders Grimalkin? The one who was in Azkaban?" The Quick Quotes Quill writes feverishly.
Arcadia looked tortured, "That's right -the murderer.
Elia had had enough, "I'm leaving!" and slams the door behind her.
Nathan shakes head with disappointment.
Morticia whispers to her brother, "Wrote to Belle? Are you going to meet her?"
Nimue turns to the others, "I wish she hadn't brought Professor Grimalkin into it he has enough problems. "
"Grimalkin? Weirdo...." said Nathan.
Nimue quickly countered with "He is not!"
Nathan shrugged, "Well, he DOES behave a bit strangely. But you know him well, don't you? What is he like?"
Nimue blushed disinclined to admit she knew Anders 'well' and excused herself from the room with the intention of finding someone to advise of Miss Skeeter's presence.
Quick Quotes Quill continued its tract: "and it seems that Anders Grimalkin, the convicted murderer whom Dumbledore recently hired in an extremely controversial decision, seems to be siding with the daughter of his fellow Azkaban inmate and her boyfriend..."
Rita Skeeter looked back at Arcadia, "How about Elia?"
Arcadia smiled, "She keep very mush to herself... but...but she keep going invisible! I think she's up to something."
This caught Rita Skeeter's interest: "Invisible, eh?"
Niki said loudly, "She doesn't want to be cornered by the likes of you!"
Nathan points his wand at the Quill, "Wingardium Leviosa! There, that
should confuse the thing." However, the Quick Quotes Quill is enchanted to resist such things... D'you think no one tried it before? Nathan sighs - it was worth a try.
Rita Skeeter turns to Niki, "Would you care to give a statement, Miss Pheidippides?
Niki glares at Rita, "No, I would not care to give a statement. I would care for you to go away. How did you get in here?"
Rita Skeeter just ignores her.
Arcadia feeling the attention move away from her bursts out: "You see? everyone is against me... I think they have a spell on them... I bet that Anders Grimalkin did it! And Nimue keeps going all googly eyed at him!"
However, Nimue wasn't Rita's target either and so she ignored Arcadia's remark.Rita Skeeter turns to Nathan, "Mr. Lagrand, would you care to tell us something about Miss Pheidippides?"
Nathan smiles, "She's an adorable and very well-mannered girl, unlike Miss Fudge."
Arcadia pouts and Morticia stares at Nathan with amazement while Niki looks shocked. The Quick Quotes Quill conspicuously doesn't write this.
Nathan shrugs and smiles at Niki, Well, was worth a try."
Niki smiles back, "Thanks.
Rita Skeeter turns her attention back to Arcadia, "Miss Fudge... What do you think Miss Concinni's been up to? Plotting revenge against the daughter of her father's murderer?"
Arcadia considers, "Oh I would think so... yes... Maybe.... ererm... maybe she will..erm.…" she seems stuck for words.
Nathan says to Niki, "Well, I think Slytherins should stick together."
Morticia: "That was very nice, Nathan... thanks..."
Niki said, "Well, with that lump of rubbish masquerading as a girl, we need all the help we can get."
Arcadia turns and sees the others looking at her, "Er... Maybe I better not say any more."
Nathan sneers at Arcadia, "Too late anyway."
Rita Skeeter packs up the Quick Quotes Quill.
Arcadia feels she may have got caught up in the moment a bit too much.
Niki turns and says loudly, "Is that Professor Snape I hear in the hallway?"
Rita Skeeter turns at this, "I've got to be going now." And she hurries out the door. Of course Snape wasn't in the hall but Rita had no way of knowing and she wasn't meant to be there. Arcadia looks sheepishly at them all.
Niki calls, "Elia! You can come back now!"
Elia returns, "Is she gone?"
Morticia replies, "Yes, she's gone."
Elia heaves a sigh of relief.
Nathan says, "OK, I'm off now... got some nice ideas for some Potions." He glares at Arcadia.
Arcadia smiles at him, "Erm... sorry?" but has no effect on Nathan or the others.
Niki snorts: "Fat lot of good that does. That's the front page of the Daily Prophet."
Pantalaimon whimpers as Nathan glares at Arcadia. "Sorry. I just... got carried away."
Morticia quips, "Oh who cares about Rita Skeeter anyway?"
Niki replied, "When she writes about me or my family, I do." She turns to Elia, Elia, you're not really trying to kill me, are you?"
Elia look startled, "What? Who says I'm trying to kill you?"
"Arcadia" replies Niki.
Morticia jumps in: "She's stupid! She once wrote Papa had a secret affair! Just ignore her." She is referring of course to Rita Skeeter.
Nathan continues looking at Arcadia, "How could you talk to that trash?" Arcadia looks very scared. Elia glares at Arcadia who looks down. Pantalaimon whimpers and moves close to Arcadia.
Elia speaks very softly: "She wrote a lot about when my Father was murdered." and she looks darkly at Niki.
Niki turns, surprised, to Elia: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Elia rolls her eyes, and stalks over to a corner of the room where she sits down and goes invisible.
Niki turns her attention back to Arcadia, "Well, Arcadia, I certainly hope you're pleased with yourself!"
Arcadia wishes she could go invisible: " I... I'm sorry."
Nathan looks at her, "Learn to use this" he points to head, "before you use this!"
The door opens and closes. Elia has left the room.
Nathan continues, "Until you've learned it - well, I've got studies to do. See you later, girls. Keep your chin up, Niki, okay?"
Niki grins and him, "Okay!"
Arcadia says "But....." however, Nathan has left.
Niki smiles at Morticia, "I've really got to get off to bed," she says, taking her potion back to the dormitory with her. She drank it all, then climbed into bed and slept, for the first time in weeks, with no dreams. Well... that wouldn't be entirely true. She did have one dream, but it was very pleasant, and she was very glad the nightmares left to make room.
***********
Soon after Rita left Arcadia made her way to the Owlery, checking to try and find Nathan and Morticia's owl. 'Damn. It's gone' She frowns. " Never mind Pan, he wasn't much use anyway"
She walks back downstairs.
" Wow. We got to meet Rita Skeeter, wasn't she cool? And I don't know what the others were complaining about. It's not as if I told her any lies" She pats Pan and goes off to Slytherin House.