His Mark
[Knowledge is Power]

4th October 2016
Tuesday

Aileen

I felt like I had barely slept at all, when I was rudely woken up by an annoying tapping sound at my window.
I slowly pushed the heavy curtains aside to reveal a tiny black Northern saw-whet owl, blankly staring at me with its reddish-yellow eyes.

I vaguely remembered the tiny beings shrill screeching, and mistrustful glances towards Momo as I opened the window.

The tiny owl- whose name I didn't know, quickly made its way in, closely followed by a heavy looking packet and a gust of icy cold wind, and made itself comfortable on my bed.
It sat there, and looked accusatory up at me with its big round eyes as if it were silently blaming me for the short trip it had to fly through the icy winds.

"Poor little thing," I muttered lowly and reached out to smooth the tiny being's messed up feathers.
That gesture however only managed to turn its blank stare into the owl equivalent of an angry scowl as it dragged its tiny self closer to me, prompting me to release it from the heavy looking pacet tied to one of its feet.

I slowly untied the packet from the little bundle of joy, and the little owl made its way towards some leftover strawberry muffins, that were on my bedside table.
I quickly started to rip the package open, as the tiny owl that I had lovingly named Grumpy devoured a muffin almost the same size as him.

Two books a handful of some sort of strawberry sweets and a somewhat crumpled piece of parchment lay before me on the bed.

I opened one of the sweets, popped it into my mouth and quickly moved on to the neatly written parchment- immediately recognising Cordelia's neat handwriting.

Aileen,
Happy Birthday, ok fine, I know you dislike people acknowledging your birthday, but it goes against my code of honour of being a friend not giving friends birthday gifts. So...yeah.
You have to accept it.

But if you really don't like it, think of it as an
I-see-you-are-being-attacked-by-organic-appendages-so-I'm-trying-to-help-you-here gift with a You-have-to-read-this-book-or-you're-not-a-real-wizard book and an I-hate-sherbet-and-strawberries-so-I'm-dumping-them-on-you sort of thing that coincidentally came on the twelfth anniversary of your birth. Definitely not a gift to celebrate your birth.

C.

It must have taken her ages to write this...
I smiled slightly to myself, as I imagined Cordelia writing and crossing words out in the early morning hours.

"A You-have-to-read-this-book-or-you're-not-a-real-wizard book." I whispered shaking my head and picked up 'The Tales Of Beedle the Bard'

I flipped the book open on page 87 The Tales Of The Three Brothers, after one last glance at grumpy the owl, who had just finished eating two strawberry muffins twice its size and started reading:

'There were once three brothers who were traveling along a lonely, winding road at twilight. In time, the brothers reached a river too deep to wade through and too dangerous to swim across.. However, these brothers were learned in the magical arts, and so they simply waved their wands and made a bridge appear across the treacherous water. They were halfway across it when they found their path blocked by a hooded figure.

And Death spoke to them.

He was angry that he had been cheated out of three new victims, for travelers usually drowned in the river.

But Death was cunning.
He pretended to congratulate the three brothers upon their magic and said that each had earned a prize for having been clever enough to evade him...'
****
I found myself wandering through the corridor in the third floor after an exhausting hour of Defence Against The Dark Arts on this unusually sunny Tuesday afternoon.

Today's lesson had been a rather tedious one. For some reason Professor Crudwell had decided that today was a good day to teach us the Periculum charm, a charm that is used to signal when one is in need of help.
The charm itself can be compared to a Muggle flare gun shooting firework like sparks that have a vast range into the sky.

After about twenty minutes of practising- and half of the students failing miserably, Professor Crudwell made us go back to the classroom and write a two page essay on the right way of performing the spell, and warning us that we would have to hand it in as homework if it wasn't finished by the end of class.

How in the world am I supposed to write a two page essay on a spell that consists of pointing ones wand to the sky and shouting Periculum?
I sighed in annoyance, and continued my search for an- by her older brother abducted Cordelia.

The Slytherin prefect had showed up right after the bell signaling the end of class, with a rather unpleasant expression stamped on his face, and dragging a rather confused Cordelia away- thus stealing my chance to thank her for her non-birthday gift, and returning Mr. Grumpy- who had made its tiny self comfortable in my hair, back to her.
The blasted little devil had nested itself in my hair after Momos' several attempts of eating him.

Thank Merlin that the little devil is so small, otherwise I would have been the laughing stock of the year!
****
I finally heard Julius muffled angry voice- coming from behind a half closed abandoned classroom, after what seemed like an eternity of searching.

"So, you just ignored everything that I've told you to do?!"
"Julius, we're just friends for Merlin's sake! It's not like-"
"Oh, friends now? What's next, you two are going to elope?" Julius replied scathingly.
"You're taking this too seriously, I've judged his character and he's fine-" Cordelia replied despairingly.
"You judged his character? Cordelia, you're only eleven, what do you know of boys overall? You're so naive-"
"I'm not naive! I know he has no bad intentions, Julius! I've got to go to orchestra," Cordelia replied to him stiffly, but only to hiss angrily,
"Julius, let go!"
"Just so you can ogle him? I heard that you recommended Aileen to Li..."
"What the heck are you trying to imply! I recommended him because we need a pianist! And Aileen fitted the bill, so I told him to audition!"
"Er- sorry for the intrusion..." I called into the room, and pushed the half closed door open.
"Cordelia- your owl seems to have found a permanent home in my hair..." I poked at my hair, and the tiny creature promptly emitted an ear deafening screech- thus making its presence known.

The two stared wordlessly at me, each daring the other to do something.
After what seemed like an eternity, Cordelia finally wrenched her arm from Julius iron grip and stalked towards the door, the bird fluttering to her shoulder as she passed me.

"I...should probably be on my way to that surprise birthday party..." I muttered in the direction of- an extremely angry looking Slytherin prefect, slowly making my way towards the door.

Maybe I can still catch up with Cordelia if I leave n-

"I presume you heard our conversation?" Julius's frigid voice froze me on the spot.

Damn it! I should have left when I had the chance...

"Would you believe me if I said no?" I asked, immediately regretting my choice of words.
I probably shouldn't have had that much rum spiced Butterbeer...

"If I was as naive as my sister, yes.
She may have forgotten that night but I haven't. If I were you, I would stay away from her." Julius was ominously fingering his wand in his pocket as he spoke.

I almost broke out into laughter at his ridiculous attempt of intimidation.
I could take on any spell that he threw at me, well I wouldn't probably know how to counter some of the more advanced ones, but as long as he didn't use an unforgivables I would probably be fine...
I took a deep breath, looked Julius straight in the eyes and said the first thing that came into my- slightly with Rum spiced Butterbeer intoxicated mind could think off, "Well, she's the one who insists on making me enjoy life?"
I mentally slapped myself for my choice of words.
I shouldn't have gotten out of bed this morning...

"And what do you mean by..." Julius started dangerously,"enjoy life?"
"Well, she keeps making me go out and interact with people...like now for example, she planned a surprise birthday party for me together with my friends- although that might not happen anymore after her storming away like that..."
I answered- my slightly intoxicated self not picking up on the meaning of Julius' threatening undertone on the 'enjoy life' part.
"I don't care, she's too damn naive for her own good. Stay away from her, am I clear or not?"
"Naive? We're both kids..." I looked at him questioningly.

I don't like the effects that the rum is having on my brain, but I have to admit that I couldn't have played a better clueless twelve year old even if I really put my mind into it.

"Age doesn't have an effect on motives, Aileen. I don't have time to listen to your pathetic assurances of being innocent of those motives, but mark my words, if I hear a whisper of you two together there will be hell to pay." Julius stormed out of the door in a similar fashion to his sister, thought with an obvious flair added for effect.
"What motives?!" I called after his retreating form, which made him stop dead in his tracks for a moment- seemingly thinking if he should reward my question with an answer.
At the end he choose to simply shake his head- hopefully asking himself why he was even wasting his time on me, and walked off to wherever he usually goes to.

I don't know what Julius thinks that I'm up too, but I sure as hell will try to find out.

I should probably find some place to rest for a while...
I made a silent vow never to drink anything containing Rum again, as I rubbed my aching head, and slowly walked in the opposite direction of Julius.

Cordelia

I am so over life, I thought dejectedly to myself as I dragged my weary self to the common room after a gruelling two hour orchestra practise added on to the initial stress of Julius yelling at me.

Juliet and Rosaline would already be there, preparing for Aileen's party so there's no need for me to go. I don't think I have the energy to pretend I'm happy...I don't want my sour mood to ruin Aileen's birthday.

All I want to do is read manga in bed...

All of a sudden, the echo of someone's unsteady quick steps could be heard, in the otherwise deserted corridor followed by slightly slurred whisperers that sounded suspiciously like my name.

A series of slurred, "Corrrdeelia..." and, "Darn it, that's her name isn't it?" Echoed throughout the candle lit corridor, prompting me to turn around.

"Trent?" I forced a polite tone in my voice in order to prevent it from sniping at Trent.
"May I help you?"
"Errm...w-well," he started seemingly at a loss of how to continue.
"You see, the party...we kind of don't know where the birthday boy ran off to...and well you can call me Simon." He finished with a lopsided smile.
I took in Simon's slightly disheveled appearance, and the light pink tint on his cheeks, those two things added up to his- more than usual, weird behaviour could only mean one thing.

"You've got to be kidding me. You can't be...drunk?!" I exclaimed incredulously, eying the suspicious bottle in his bag.
"W-what? No way!" He claimed hastily.
"That's just Butterbeer, no alcohol in it whatsoever!" Simon quickly added, after noticing my suspicious glances at his bag.

I yanked the bottle from his bag, twisted the cork open and took a sniff, my nose meeting the suspected sharp scent of alcohol.

Oh my god...no wonder Aileen was stupid enough to face Julius...he was tipsy...
Oh God, are they serving this at the party?

"You brain dead idiot, this is spiked with alcohol! Where did you get this? Alcohol is forbidden on Hogwarts grounds, do you want to get expelled you twat?" I halved yelled, realising that my plans for relaxation were going to be replaced by binning illegal alcohol.
"Hey! There's no need to get rude- besides none of the teachers noticed anything..."
Simon trailed off, obviously avoiding my question.
"If I cursed you into oblivion the teachers wouldn't notice but that doesn't mean I should do it! You obviously got this from an untrustworthy source! I would have thought at least Aileen had enough sense to stop you idiots..." I threw the bottle into the trashcan, ignoring Simons's protests and then stormed off towards a staircase.
"Aileen was otherwise preoccupied..." He muttered, clutching a green wrapped present tightly against his chest, closely followed by a half whispered, "Aberforth is so going to murder me." And quickly catched up to me.

"If word gets out that Mayel's supplying under aged kids with alcohol, he'll be expelled," I retorted angrily.

Idiots the lot of them! What happened to the pumpkin juice from the kitchens?

"Aberforth got it from some blond Slytherin third year... He thought it would be a good idea to cheer Aileen up- and correct me if I'm wrong... but has Aileen ever acted more normal than today?" And then quickly added, "And besides he actually seemed somewhat happy for a change."

"We'll see how happy you guys will be with hangovers the next morning-if you're not expelled," I replied curtly, which thankfully prompted him to shut his mouth.

We entered the Room of Requirement, where Rosaline was putting up purple banners that spelled out 'Happy Birthday Aileen' written a thousand times in fine writing and Juliet was arranging the food around a purple and bronze table. Daniel grabbed the green wrapped present that Simon had been holding on to, and placed it next to the rest of the small gifts on the table while Aberforth made his slightly drunken friend sit down, and proceeded to lecture him on the importance of keeping his mouth shut.

"Don't drink the butterbeer," I muttered to Rosaline, grabbing the offending object and dumping up in a large plastic bag.
"Why?" Rosaline asked, confused at my dark mood.
"It's spiked with rum. Notice how they," I pointed to the boys, "are acting all weird? Simon is already slurring his words."
"And Aileen...is probably holed up somewhere, half drunk as well," Rosaline said, realisation dawning in her voice.
"Probably. Actually it's best if we get out of here-if Aileen's not here,there's no point in having this party and if someone catches these idiots drunk, we don't want to be involved." I noticed Juliet bouncing towards us, probably ready to bombard me with all the latest gossip she's heard.
"Go tell Juliet, then help me collect the butterbeer, then we'll go," I started towards the drinks table and began to bin every bottle of butterbeer I could find.

If this room really provides everything I need, then it shouldn't be too hard to wish for a magical rubbish bin.

"I dare you to get the guys' drinks," Juliet murmured to me as she placed two bottles in my bag.
"You do it please, I really can't be bothered dealing with them," I replied in a resigned voice and surveyed the room for any stray bottles.
All was clear apart from two bottles in the boys section of the room.
"Nah. You go," Juliet replied and pushed me towards them.
"No! Please...I already had to deal with my brother then Simon..." I trailed off, hoping that she's catch my drift.
"Fine. Rosaline, let's go!" Juliet and Rosaline approached them, leaving me to turn around.

Ok. I need a bin that really takes care of things...so no one can get to it...

In the corner of my eye, I noticed a black rubbish bin around a metre high materialising out of thin air. I strode to the bin, impressed that the room could materialise virtually anything that one wished for- well anything except food.

Juliet returned with the collected butterbeer and together, we watched the bottles disappear without a trace before they hit the bottom.
"This room is so cool! I wonder..." Juliet trailed off, her gaze looking a little far off.
"Come on, let's go-we need to start on that damn essay," I replied,thinking of the different areas I would need to research on the Periculum charm.

"Let's go Rose," I called out to Rosaline,who was having a conversation with...Daniel I think.

"Think about what I said," I heard Daniel mutter to Rosaline, as he- lightly held her by the arm.
"And don't forget Aileen... Merlin only knows where he ran off too- he wasn't in our room, or in the Hospital Wing."

"Right," Rosaline replied, obviously startled by his touch.
"What's up?" Juliet butted in, taking the words right out from my mouth.
"We were just talking about Aileen... and how we-"
"Can't find him." Aberforth butted in from where he was standing- cutting Daniel off mid sentence.
"I'm sure he's holed up somewhere, nursing a hangover thanks to some illegal alcohol that someone brought in," I suggested with a pointed look at Aberforth, who in turn rolled his eyes at me and followed it up with - an obviously fake, cough that sounded suspiciously like: "Killjoy"

I suddenly noticed that Rosaline's normally serene composure was marred by a slight flush on her dark skin and she was avoiding Daniel's gaze, whom intensely watching her.
I flickered my gaze back at Daniel's grip on her arm and realisation slowly began to flow into me.

No wonder Daniel stares at her in class, I thought silently in my mind.

"I'm sure he's fine Daniel, and I'll think about your request," Rosaline said and eased her arm from his grip.

A sudden string of cuss words slithered its way into the- after a rather loud crashing sound, that seemed to come from a floor below us, dead quiet room.

Please don't let this be Filch, I chanted over, and over again inside my head, as I sent a fleeting glance over at Juliet and Rosaline who seemed to have stopped dead in their movements.

"Cordelia, with your special pass...can it cover us too?" Juliet asked slowly after a tense pause.
"I could say that you two were needed to hold my potion," I replied tersely , realising with an icy cold shock the late hour.

"Doesn't Aileen need to be with you for it to-" Simon's slurred words were cut off by a slap to the back from a pale looking Aberforth.
"You're not helping mate!" The blonde muttered in a low icey voice- that could almost rival Aileen's cold tone, as the entrance to the room started to materialise on to the far off wall.

I was frozen solid to the ground, the seconds seemed to swim in syrup as the door opened achingly slow, as we waited for Filch or whoever it was to bring down their wrath upon us.

A blur of white fur shot into the room, quickly followed by a, red faced Aileen- wearing a bright blue woollen sweater with a big silver A at the front.

"Well, there's your answer," Rosaline said with a relieved sigh, gesturing towards the ditsy Aileen.
"Am answer to wafth?" Came Aileen's- by his scarf muffled attempts at a question.
He quickly removed- his Ravenclaw coloured scarf, revealing his bright red cheeks, and looked expectantly at the people present in the room.

"They've been looking for you," I answered, feeling a sense of relief that he wasn't going to be found dead in the snow.

Just as I had finished that sentence, the still visible door was suddenly wrenched open, making way for a flurry of red robes and auburn hair to rush into the room- and smack head first into Aileen's back, sending the two of them tumbling to the ground, the door closing behind them with a soft clicking sound.
Aileen's muffled protests that sounded suspiciously like; "Get the bloody hell off of me!" didn't go unnoticed by the female redhead on top of him, and she hastily detangled herself from him, mumbling a quick; "Sorry," as she offered to help him up.
Aileen however got up rather quickly, brushing the offered hand aside with- a look of slight disgust, that was immediately replaced with one of apology- making me reconsider if I had imagined that first expression.

Seeing Aileen and Lily Potter tangled together was like a dormant volcano exploding after centuries of inactivity. Hot, bubbling anger started flowing through every vein in my body unexpectedly and violently, erupting from a magma source I didn't know I had. I dug my nails into my palm and, with resigned exhaled breath, tried to cool down the sudden rage inside. Suddenly, I wanted this day to be over,to be rid of this confusing anger and the day's stress.

"I'm tired. Let's go," I stated softly, averting my eyes from the scene.
Juliet and Rosaline nodded their agreement after a shared look and together we left Lily, the boys and the remains of a birthday party behind.