Chapter 27: The Jarvin family 

The Hogwarts express thundered along the tracks back to King's cross with many students talking excitedly about Christmas break. They couldn't wait to get home and see their families and enjoy the long awaited holiday.

Sat in one of the compartments were Lucy and Matt. They were sat opposite each other, Lucy was staring out the window in awe while Matt watched her carefully as if someone was going to harm her. He'd heard about what had happened when Zuc had captured her on the train and although her father was on board he wasn't taking any risks.

He knew now that Lucy was a fighter and may be able to defend herself but Matt just wouldn't let anything happen to her. He was even adgitated and alert when he heard people run past their compartment as if they were going to come in and attack her.

Finally he plucked up the courage to speak. "Lucy." He said and Lucy faced him, taking one last glance out of the window before she looked at him properly.

"Yes?" She wondered, as though offended he had interrupted her while she was looking at the marvellous view.

"I want to apologise for making a fool of you last night," he replied. The train went over a bump, startling them both before they regained focus.

"Why are you apologising? Everything went fine last night."

"No," Matt shook his head. "Everything didn't 'go fine' ," he made little quotation marks with his hands. "I got drunk and showed you up. I mean, I was the one who's supposed to be helping you scare off the press for a bit! Then I went and got drunk...I don't know what got into me."

"It's okay," Lucy shook her head. "Besides, it was nice seeing Draco getting the slap he deserved."

The two of them laughed as a second year Ravenclaw opened the glass door to their compartment. "A paper for you, Sir?" He asked, holding up the Daily Prophet. Matt studied the front of it and saw an article on Lucy and her dress.

"Yes please," Matt dug in his trouser pocket and pulled out some coins. The boy handed him the paper and Matt gave him the money.

"Thank you," the second year smiled and then bowed at Lucy before leaving swiftly to the next compartment.

"Why did you buy that? I can just steal the issues off of my dad for free," Lucy grinned. "Considering he knows you now I don't think he'd have a problem."

Matt looked up from reading the article. "Of course he knows me, what are you on about?"

"I told him last night that we were really going out," Lucy shrugged and looked out of the window again.

Matt looked at her in disgust. "You what?!"

Lucy gave him a stern look. "Calm down, crazy. He was fine with it, he didn't even bat an eyelid."

Matt lowered the paper, he was in shock. "What in the world is going on...I'm trapped in an alternate universe aren't I?"

Lucy smiled then stood up and sat next to him, he put an arm around her and let her see the paper. She looked at the front page and saw herself. "What have I done to upset the press now?"

"You haven't," Matt pointed to a paragraph overflowing with compliments about Lucy and her dress. He then began to read it aloud. "Lucy Snape looked absolutely stunning last night in a turquoise dress. She definitely took into account the theme of the party. It just shows although you're a fighter — as she has now discovered, turn to page three for more details — you can still look amazing in such a simple dress."

"That's the nicest thing they've ever said about me!" Lucy frowned at the newspaper. "I think you're definitely right, Matt, we're stuck in an alternative universe."

The train pulled to a sudden stop, Lucy looked out the window to see they had arrived at King's Cross. She stood up and reached both her and Matt's luggage from the top shelf before Matt could get there.

"We're still in our school uniform, darn," Lucy sighed noticing everyone else was already in their own clothes.

"It's okay, my parents will apparate us both straight home from the platform so no muggles will be seeing us," Matt took hold of his and Lucy's luggage. "Why don't you go and say goodbye to your dad, Dean and Shona I'll be right outside."

"I'll see you in a minute then," Lucy waved goodbye to Matt, she reached up onto the shelf again and pulled down a bag of presents she had recently purchased. She then ran down the train excitedly and ended up pelting straight into Dean.

"Dean!" She squealed and hugged him tightly. "Where are you going for Christmas?" 

"I'm not going anywhere, I'm going back to Hogwarts with the Resistance. I only came on the train to say goodbye because it wouldn't feel right if I didn't say goodbye to you..." he looked at his feet awkwardly. 

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I wish you could come with me..." 

Dean's face suddenly brightened up. "It doesn't matter! I know you'll have a wonderful time with Matt and as long as you're happy, it makes me happy!" 

"Are you sure? I mean, won't you be lonely?" 

"The Resistance are actually great company, I've made lots of friends and I know we'll have a great time." 

"I'm glad," Lucy hugged him once more.

"Have a great Christmas, won't you?" 

"I will," Lucy handed him a present. 

Dean handed her a present also. "I'll see you after the holiday's." 

Lucy ran a little further down the train and saw Shona getting out of her compartment with her mum. "Shona!" Lucy smiled at her best friend. "Merry Christmas," she pulled out a present for her. 

"Thanks, Lucky!" Shona seemed incredibly shocked that Lucy had got her a present, Shona handed her one in return. "I wasn't expecting this!" 

Lucy winked. "There's got to be some Christmas spirit to take our minds off of things, right?" 

"I can say I agree to that, I'll see you after the holidays, okay? Don't have too much fun with Matt." 

"I won't," Lucy then leaned in and whispered in Shona's ear. "By the way, Ben's single," she winked at her before running off. 

Before long Lucy was running down to the teachers carriages, she found her father and Jessica at the teachers door just getting onto the platform.

"Dad!" She called.

Snape turned around on the platform and saw Lucy standing in the doorway. "Lucy, I didn't expect you to turn up. I thought you were going to the Jarvin's for Christmas?" He held out a hand.

Lucy took it and hopped onto the platform. "I am, I just wanted to say goodbye before I left."

"I wanted to say goodbye as well but I didn't think you'd want me walking down to your compartment in front of everyone."

"Don't be silly, I'm not like other teenagers I don't get embarrassed by my dad," Lucy shrugged, she then turned to Jessica. "You make sure dad doesn't drink wine by the gallon, okay? In fact, keep him away from it all together."

"Indeed! After the episode in the summer he won't be touching any wine while I'm around!" Jessica put her arms around Lucy. Lucy hugged her back and she suddenly realised the bond that had formed between the two of them and how far Jessica had really come since they first met her in Lucy's third year.

"Good, you two have fun, okay?" Lucy waved goodbye. "Have a great Christmas!"

"You too, Lucy!" Jessica waved.

Snape then reached into his briefcase and pulled out a present and tossed it to Lucy. "And open this too, will you?"

Lucy then revealed a present from behind her back and she tossed it to Snape. "Open that as well. I hope you like it!"

Lucy ran back onto the train, as she was a prefect it was her duty to make sure everyone was alright. So she scanned the train back and fourth before she decided everything was in order. She then walked to the door where Matt had got off to join his parents. She got off of the train and looked around in search of Matt and his parents.

" — Where is this girlfriend of yours, Matt?" Lucy turned around and saw Matt's mother looking around for Lucy though she didn't know it yet. "Or did you make her up?"

"You can't make these things up, son," Matt's dad shook his head. "We know you're not right in the head at the moment because when you saw us you looked pleased. So it's alright to tell us now if you made her up."

"I didn't make her up! I swear!" Matt hissed angrily. "Look! I've even got her luggage!" Matt tapped Lucy's suitcase with his foot. "Her cat would be here too but he's gone home with her father!"

"Come on Matt, lets go h — " Matt's mother began to say but then she looked up and saw Lucy. Her eyes widened. "IT'S LUCY SNAPE!"

Lucy's eyes widened also at the sight of Matt's mother running towards her. As soon as she approached Lucy she enclosed her in a suffocating hug. Lucy was an animal frozen in fright and she had no idea what to do. She saw Matt running over with his father while carrying the luggage. He hauled his mother off of Lucy who was quite shaken up.

"Slow down! You're going to kill the poor girl!" Matt laughed. He then turned to Lucy. "Sorry about that, Lucy. Anyway, these are my parents, Anastasia and Scott."

"Please," Anastasia gripped Lucy's hand and shook it, her American accent as prominent as Matt's. "Call me Anna, hardly anyone calls me Anastasia it's just Matthew being modest."

Anna's hair was a dirty blond, it was thick, wavy and hung to her shoulders. Her lips were painted the deepest red and her eyes were highlighted with coal black eyeliner. She had curves that any woman would die for; she was incredibly pretty.

"Scott Jarvin!" Matt's father announced proudly and shook Lucy by the hand also. This time however, Lucy thought she was going to loose her right arm for good. "It's an absolute pleasure to meet you, Miss Snape."

Scott had chocolate brown hair that framed his face in the most perfect way imaginable. His eyes were blue and the laugh lines on his face did not make him look old at all. His teeth were a brilliant white and just like Matt he had brilliant muscles.

There was no doubt that Matt was a perfect mix of his parents and it was a mystery no longer to Lucy as to why Matt was so handsome to her as his parents features reflected back on him. Lucy felt like a troll next to the Jarvin family.

"It's nice to meet you as well," Lucy smiled as she let go of Scott's hand. She didn't have chance to say another word as Anna began to speak again.

"Her voice is so beautiful! It's the most perfect British accent I've ever heard!" Anna covered her mouth. "She's so beautiful! Everything about her is beautiful!"

"She's exactly what we thought she would be!" Scott joined in. "Can we adopt her? You wouldn't mind, would you, Matt? I'm sure she's the perfect company!"

"Actually — " Matt began to say.

"We're only joking, sweetie," Anna laughed. "But she's so lovely and I'm so glad I've finally met her."

"Mother — "

"Me too! I mean, she's the one who's going to save us all! She needs some support," Scott sighed. "All she gets is negative comments and that's not fair!"

"Dad — "

"I mean she's just so heroic! She's everything you need in a girlfriend — "

"MOM!" Matt yelled, Lucy tilted her head at the way Matt pronounced 'mum' but she loved American accents and dismissed it instantly. Anna and Scott looked at their son waiting for an elaboration on his sudden outburst. "Lucy is my girlfriend."

Anna gasped. "Really?! Oh wow...I had no idea."

Scott frowned. "How could someone as angry as you get someone as calm as this?"

"I wouldn't have if Lucy didn't teach me manners," Matt shrugged.

"I spent years trying to put them into you and then this wonderful girl — " Anna put her arm around Lucy with a smile. "Comes along and sorts you out, how perfect! How did you do it, Lucy? Tell me how you did it, I've been dying to know for years."

"You're so quiet! How did you manage to do it?" Scott wondered as he too put an arm around Lucy. "Well never mind, it's just good he has manners now."

Anna suddenly let go of Lucy and put her hands on Matt's shoulders. "You listen to me and you listen good, young man. This young lady is a keeper and I want you to be good to her because she seems like the only one around here that can talk any sense into you."

"Don't worry I will! I swear!" Matt held up his hands in defense. "I think I have been too."

"He has," Lucy admitted. "He's been helping me out with the press a lot."

"Honey, are you sure you're dating our Matt and not some other boy?" Scott asked gently.

"I'm sure I'm dating Matt, he really has changed. Please don't doubt him."

"We try not to it's just that he used to be a horrible boy, he got kicked out of two schools and I don't want it to happen for a third time," Anna sighed. "Never mind that, shall we head home?"

Matt shrugged. "Well I wasn't planning on spending the holidays at King's cross."

"Oh the sarcastic boy is back," Scott sighed. With one hand he took Lucy's luggage and with the other he took hold of Lucy's hand and apparated. The two of them headed off to the Jarvin residence.

Lucy had no idea what she expected the Jarvin's to live in. Perhaps a large house with modern decor or a cosy little flat where they socialised with everyone in the building. Or maybe even a house that was based on one of the skyscrapers in New York, the place where the Jarvin's hadn't lived and Lucy would love to see. All these scenarios seemed all very Jarvin like.

But they were not the case.

You see, the Jarvin's lived in a cottage...

In a forest...

In the middle of no where.

Anna and Matt arrived with Matt's luggage immediately afterwards but nobody spoke. Lucy knew because of the awkward silence that they had apparated to the wrong place. She cringed and thought about the muggles who lived inside the cottage. They had just seen four people appear literally out of no where.

"Are we in the right place?" Lucy whispered.

Anna blinked. "Why of course!"

"Are you sure?"

"We're sure!" Scott chimed in.

"It's all very...un-Jarvin like," Lucy laughed nervously at the word and she knew as soon as the words had left her mouth that the Jarvin's would send her back to the train station and she'd have to wait for Snape to pick her up.

Matt tilted his head at the cottage and nodded. "I agree!"

"Oh me too," Anna smiled. "It's not us at all! I mean look at it! Right in the middle of no where with no one to talk to! And look at how small it is. I'm actually surprised how we fit all of our possessions in there!"

Lucy looked at Anna to see if she was being sarcastic when in fact she wasn't; she was being completely truthful.

"Why don't we go inside and see if it's un-Jarvin like in there too," Scott winked at Lucy as he pulled out a set of keys from his pocket almost gracefully. The four of them walked over to the front door of the little cottage and Scott slid the correct key into the slot. It un-locked with a faint click after he turned the keys and Scott led them inside.

Inside the cottage, however, it was full of Jarviness. From the American fridge/ freezer to the strange coloured drinks on the kitchen side; this was definitely the Jarvin's house. Lucy looked around in awe, it looked as though every object had come from a different state in America. This was an extremely big change compared to Snape's dull coloured home with objects solely inherited or purchased in England.

"Is this Jarvin enough for you?" Scott asked as he noticed Lucy's open mouth as she took in every single object.

"It's simply the most wonderful thing I've ever seen..." Lucy gasped. "I love it."

"It's not just us then," Scott grinned. "You take a seat, beautiful, Anna will get you a drink."

Lucy slowly sat down on the middle part of the three-seater sofa and Matt sat down next to her happily. Lucy was shocked at how quickly Anna and Scott were treating her like one of their own and how they couldn't wait to show off their hospitality.

"Can I interest you in some ice tea?" Anna asked.

"Some what?" Lucy was confused, you couldn't possibly get ice tea.

"Ice tea, dear, it's rather nice."

"Really, mom?" Matt frowned at his mother disapprovingly. "She's British not the local resident from Florida!"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Anna cringed. "Is there anything that suits your fancy?"

"She likes wine," Matt pointed out as he switched on the television, it was just like the one Dean had. Lucy was surprised to see it in a pure blood wizard house.

"She does?!" Scott laughed and sat down in the single chair directly in front of the television, he reached down by the side of the chair and pulled out a wine bottle from the drinks cabinet. He offered it to Lucy.

"Oh goodness, no thank you. The last time I had wine I got terribly drunk and that was when I was trying to drown out reality," Lucy flinched away from the bottle.

"How about a cup of tea?" Anna suggested from the kitchen.

"Yes please," Lucy smiled at her saviour.

"Sensible girl," Scott winked at her before placing the wine back in the cabinet and pulled out a can of beer instead for himself just as a game of American football came on the television. Scott tossed a can of beer to Matt as well and he caught it effortlessly. "Don't drink it all, son, it's not good for you."

"I know," Matt nodded, he turned to Lucy when Scott wasn't looking and cringed. Lucy laughed a little bit. She remembered last nights episode and she knew she would never bring that up in front of his parents.

Scott held up his can. "And as Lucy's folk say: cheers!"

Lucy couldn't help but smile at the friendly gesture before turning to the television. She had never seen a game quite like this before, even if it was American. The way the men in bulky costumes and tight cropped white jeans tackled each other for an egg shaped ball and attempted to get it over a strange pole. It all seemed too simple...but one thing was for sure; it didn't involve brooms.

"This is very simple compared to Quidditch, isn't it?" Lucy commented as one of the teams scored  — if it was appropriate to say — a goal.

"Of course," Scott nodded. "Despite all of us being pure bloods, we do enjoy the odd muggle sport."

"Matt said he enjoys javelin," Lucy pointed out casually.

"He did until he listened to those stupid old friends he had back in Durmstrang when they told him it wasn't cool. He's excellent at tosing the javelin and I have no idea why he listened to them idiot boys."

"He'll have to show me some time," Lucy winked at Matt just as Anna walked over with Lucy's cup of tea, she thanked her for it.

"Well Lucy's the Quidditch captain for Gryffindor!" Matt added quickly. 

"Isn't that amazing! Good going girl! I'd have loved to be captain of my house back in my old school!"

Lucy blushed a little and turned back to the game, continuing the original conversation. "Well I'm glad you're not the stereotypical snobby pure bloods. All the others consider muggles scum."

"We don't consider muggles scum," Anna frowned as she sat down next to her husband on the arm of the chair. "We'll talk to anyone."

"I don't believe in all this you can't marry a muggle, marry who you want. Marry a muggleborn, marry a half-blood, marry a pure blood even marry a goblin; love is love."

"It's true," Anna whispered as she stroked Scott's arm softly. "Love is love."

"Especially if it's in New York," Scott joked and Lucy gasped automatically.

"You met in New York?" Lucy asked excitedly.

"Oh yes," Scott nodded. "Anna's from New York, I'm from Los Angeles. We met because I was on holiday in there and of course we got hooked up. I took her back to LA and we settled down there."

"I've always wanted to go to New York," Lucy sighed, suddenly overwhelmed by her fantasy.

"Maybe Matthew can take you there one day," Anna smiled at the pair of them. "It would be incredibly romantic..."

"Well the whole country ships us already," Matt opened up the newspaper he purchased earlier and showed his parents the front cover which showed him and Lucy together.

"Oh isn't that the cutest thing?" Anna sighed and took the newspaper from Matt and held it between her and Scott. "They're so adorable together!"

Scott on the other hand, looked upset. "The press follow you that much?"

"I don't get any privacy," Lucy sighed. She opened her suitcase and pulled out another newspaper that Snape had given her. "This was taken a couple of days ago."

She handed over the newspaper which showed her in the outfit that Snape referred to as the 'assassin' getup. With the headline 'SNAPE STRIKES BACK' Lucy watched sadly as her boyfriend's parents read the article in disgust.

"That's terrible!" Anna frowned. "How do you put up with this?"

"I don't, at school they've even set up a newspaper so that people can still read about me when the Daily Prophet reporters can't get into school. But Matt's helping me out, he publicised our relationship so they'd stop talking about what three meals I have every day."

"But we're laying low now that that Christmas party is over," Matt joined in. "But they'll probably still chase us. I'm surprised the reporters didn't follow us here."

"Don't jinx the situation," Lucy groaned and looked sadly into her empty teacup.

She felt Matt's arm around her. "Don't worry about it, it's Christmas."

She shuffled closer to him and lent her head on his chest but didn't say anything. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about how badly the press would chase her when she returned to school. "I just wish they'd go away."

"I promise they will when we get back to school, even if I have to smash every one of their cameras and burn their notebooks. I'll do whatever it takes to get rid of them."

"Not before I get Merlin's sword and chop them all up," Lucy grinned.

"Slow down, Satan!" Matt laughed. "But it sounds like a good plan."

"How about I join in too? I'd like to get them all away from you, you don't deserve to be chased by an angry mob everyday," Scott cracked his knuckles.

"I'd love that but there's just too many of them," Lucy huffed.

"There won't be when I'm finished with them," They all laughed and Scott handed the newspapers back to Lucy and Matt. "So, I was thinking, it's Christmas eve maybe we could go and enjoy ourselves and have a meal out." 

"Oh I totally agree!" Anna clasped her hands together in excitement. "Go on, kids, go and get changed and we'll meet out here in a minute. Matthew, show Lucy to her room." 

Lucy and Matt stood up, Matt led the way out of the living room and down a hallway. They stopped abruptly and Matt pushed open a door on the left side of the hall and held it open for Lucy. 

"I hope you enjoy your stay at the Jarvin residence," he bowed treating her like everyone else did when they met her. 

"Shut up," she laughed and punched him playfully in the arm. He flinched a little. 

"What?" She frowned. 

"I wasn't expecting that." 

"Why should you? I was only joking anyway." 

"No, it's just that you've got stronger," he shrugged. 

She tilted her head. "I have?" 

"I could be wrong, it might just be my imagination." 

"May well be." 

Matt handed her her suitcase. "Have you got anything to wear tonight?" 

"I'm sure I'll find something, don't feel disappointed when you see me wearing that fighters getup again." 

"You really do like that outfit, don't you?" He snorted. 

"Why wouldn't I? It's the best thing I've ever owned!" 

"See you a minute," he winked and closed the door behind him and then walked into his bedroom that was directly opposite Lucy's on the right side of the hall. 

Lucy set down her suitcase on the double bed that had fresh white sheets that Lucy couldn't wait to sleep in. She un-did her case and opened it up revealing the contents of it. She didn't need a big suitcase as Snape had cast a charm on it so that she could put more objects in the case than it could actually hold. 

She lifted out Merlin's sword and placed it underneath the bed, she then took her wand out of her pocket and put it into the suitcase so she wouldn't be tempted to use it along with the present Snape gave her earlier. Lucy began unpacking all her clothes into the drawers provided until she came across the last object in her suitcase which was wrapped in brown paper with a note on top written in black ink. Lucy didn't recognise this font. But she picked the little note up and read it: 

Open this as soon as you get to the Jarvin's, I know you'll need it. Consider it an early Christmas present. 

— Jessica x 

Curiosity overwhelming her, Lucy tore off the brown paper from the object and was stunned to find the light pink dress she had tried on in the dress shop. If it wasn't for the turquoise dress Jessica had chosen, she would have worn this to the Christmas party. 

"Thank you so much, Jessica," Lucy sighed, hoping that she would hear her. 

She slipped the dress on and then stole a look in the mirror on the wardrobe, it tied up at the back of her neck and hugged the top half of her body but then flared out up until her knees where it cut off. Lucy tied her hair up into her one signature plait. She didn't know what else to do and thought that it was acceptable enough. She then slipped on a pair of ballet plaits and walked out of her room at exactly the same time as Matt. 

"Nice suit," she granted at the suit he wore. It was very similar to the one he wore last night but this time he'd decided to wear a waistcoat and tie underneath the jacket and over a brand new white shirt. 

"Nice dress," he granted back. "Shall we?" He asked and held out his arm, she took it and they walked down the hallway to find Scott and Anna already ready to go out. They looked even more stunning than before (if that was possible). Anna looked absolutely flawless in her dress and Scott looked amazing in his suit. 

"Ooh! They're so adorable!" Anna almost wept. "Scott! Get the camera! I want a picture of them — ! Oh sorry, Lucy, this isn't press related it's just that I promised myself as soon as Matt got a girlfriend I'd have to get a picture!" 

Scott bent down in front of them with a camera in his hands and immediately started taking photos. For once Lucy truthfully smiled as she had her picture taken. It was over soon enough and Anna and Scott immediately marvelled over the pictures. 

"Can we go?" Matt groaned. 

"In a minute, dear," Anna waved his comment away and looked over Scott's shoulder at the pictures. 

Scott put the camera away and then took hold of Lucy's arm again. "Ready to apparate?" 

"Ready as ever," Lucy smiled. 

Anna and Matt arrived a minute later at the wizard restaurant where Scott was already arranging a table. Matt walked over to Lucy and stood protectively at her side. Anna took Scott's side who seemed to be quite frustrated. 

"I always come here! There must be a table spare! I'm Scott Jarvin! I demand a table!" Scott spat at the man. 

"I'm sorry, Sir, but there are no more tables you'll have to wait," the waiter sighed. 

Another waiter approached the one that was speaking to Scott and pushed him aside. "How can I serve you today, Mr Jarvin?" 

Scott grinned. "How are you, Tony?" He held out his hand and shook hands with the waiter. 

"Splendid," Tony replied. "A table for three as usual?" 

"Four this time, if you don't mind," Scott put an arm around Lucy so the waiter could see her. 

"Bless my soul...it's the descendant of Merlin!" 

Lucy for once did not bother to act pleased that someone else paid attention to the papers, instead she looked away as the waiter bowed and kissed the back of her hand. 

"I am blessed in the pleasure of meeting you — " the waiter began to say but Scott saw Lucy's bored face and pushed him away. 

"We want a table, please." 

"Of course! Right this way!" Tony grabbed four menu's and scurried through the restaurant to a table which had a reserved sign on. Another party was about to sit there but Tony shooed them away. 

"Shoo! They're our greatest customers and they have Merlin's descendant with them!" 

They ordered drinks, they ordered food, Lucy couldn't force herself for a dessert and watched the Jarvin's eagerly eat theirs. Lucy had never had a normal evening in what felt like an eternity and it was wonderful to feel like a normal human being for once. 

But not for long. 

She saw the restaurant doors open and watched as a group of five people in long black coats walked in, all carrying cameras. Lucy hissed at them which turned all of the Jarvin's attention to the door. 

"That's it, I'm going incognito," Lucy snarled as she matched Matt's hair colour and made it the same length as Anna's hair. She replicated Scott's eyes and eye colour and made all the rest of her features like Anna's. It wasn't evident yet but when she spoke she'd have an American accent like the rest of the Jarvin's. 

The group of five men stormed towards the Jarvin's table on a mission to find Lucy. For good measure Lucy tried something she didn't know she could do before and turned her dress black just before the reporters arrived. 

"Where's Lucy Snape?!" They demanded as they reached the table. 

"Lucy Snape?" Lucy asked as if stunned, she almost grinned when she heard her American accent. "Why would she be here?" 

"Who are you?" One of the reporters asked her. 

"Tiffany Jarvin, Matt Jarvin's younger sister. Why?" 

The reporters looked at each other in shock. One of them almost yelled in dismay. "Who was the whistle blower?!" 

"Please leave us alone," Scott intervened. "We're trying to have a family meal here!" 

Another reporter glared at Matt. "I thought you were dating Lucy Snape and you took her home for Christmas?!" 

"I am dating Lucy Snape but she's decided to spend her Christmas elsewhere as she couldn't come for the holidays. Sorry to disappoint you all." 

The five reporters left miserably, cameras as their sides and they muttered sadly as they left. Lucy watched them leave, she didn't feel any sympathy towards them. She didn't bother to change her appearance back. 

"Hi, I'm Tiffany, pleased to meet you," Lucy smiled at both Scott and Anna who were in hysterics. 

"That was amazing, Lu — I mean, Tiffany! How did you do that?" 

Lucy lent forward and spoke in a whisper. "I'm a metamorphmagus so I can replicate or make new features and the first idea I had was to make myself one of your own...if that's alright with you." 

"Anything to keep those horrible people away from you," Anna nodded. "Do whatever it takes but it would be wonderful to have a daughter as well." 

Matt didn't look pleased, he crossed his arms. "I never wanted a sister." 

Lucy crossed her arms, also. "I never wanted a brother." 

"Stop fighting, both of you!" Scott joined in, still laughing. 

"Well I want my girlfriend back," Matt sighed. 

"She's elsewhere right now, sorry," Lucy shrugged. 

"Shut up, Tiff," he joked. 

"Shut up, Matt." 

"Well I say we head home," Anna checked the clock on the wall. "I don't want to risk Tiffany getting caught again." 

"Agreed, lets go." 

They all arrived back at the Jarvin house after a moment of apparating. Matt took the keys from his father and began to walk towards the cottage, Lucy walked behind with Scott and Anna. She couldn't wait to sleep. She couldn't wait until her head the pillow and — 

"MATTHEW!" Anna yelled in absolute terror. Lucy looked up and saw Matt just as he hit an invisible barrier and was flung back by the force of it. He landed on the ground, stunned. Lucy ran over to him as he groaned. 

"Matt!" Lucy's appearance returned to normal and she bent down next to Matt along with Anna and Scott. 

"What the hell happened?!" Scott demanded as Anna suddenly started choking on her sobs as she held her son. 

Lucy stood up slowly and watched as the front door of the Jarvin's house opened and there stood a goblin with some kind of armour on. It stopped in fright as soon as it saw the Jarvin family. It then saw Lucy and the creature and her locked eyes. 

Lucy was confused at first as to what was going on but then through the windows she could then see more of the creatures and a couple of knights. That was when she realised they were something to do with Zuc. 

Lucy saw a slight wave around the Jarvin's house as if it were underwater and that was when she realised that the people inside had set up a force field while they looked for something inside the house. 

"The hell...?" Lucy whispered when she realised Merlin's sword was inside the house. 

That was when she knew what she had to do. She ran directly toward the Jarvin house but her body was suddenly paralysed by the force field and she flew back. Luckily it didn't stun her as much as it did to Matt. 

"LUCY!" Anna shrieked in pain, tears were streaming down her face. 

Lucy got up quickly and flung herself at the shield but the same thing happened again. She continued to throw her body against the force field until it broke. When at last it did she felt exhausted and pieces of non-existent matter from the force field stabbed her skin. She got up quickly and ran towards the Jarvin's house. 

The goblin had already shut the door and had evidently locked it, Lucy ran towards it and then kicked the door by the lock, it flung the door down and she ran inside. The Jarvin house was a mess. All their belongings were everywhere, vases were smashed, plates were shattered, sofas were destroyed. The group of them all remained still as they saw Lucy. 

Lucy ran to her bedroom and reached under the bed and, luckily, found Merlin's sword. She returned swiftly to the living room where the two knights and group of goblins were still standing. They saw Lucy holding the sword and were absolutely shocked. 

"One of you better tell me what's going on here otherwise I'll kill you all," determination burned in Lucy's eyes as she grabbed the nearest goblin and put the sword against his throat. "You, tell me why you're here!" 

The creature squeaked out something in it's own language which didn't make a word of sense to Lucy. She rolled her eyes and sliced the creature in half, the others continued to stare at her as if she was the alien here. 

"I warned you," Lucy shrugged. 

Before long every unwanted thing that had entered the Jarvin's house was dead apart from one goblin. Lucy put her foot on it's chest, making it squeal. Lucy bent down and stared into it's terrified eyes. 

"Now, why are you here?" 

"Zuc! Zuc!" It squeaked, it seemed to be the only English it knew. Lucy shook her head and killed it anyway. She then picked one of the knights helmets and walked out carrying it in one hand and Merlin's sword in the other. 

"I killed them all!" Lucy yelled to Scott and Anna as she held up the knights head. Scott and Anna were about to thank her for her heroic efforts when out of the corner of her eye she saw a figure in a cape and a suit. Her attention was drawn towards it and she stared. 

"Oh good evening, Lucy dearest! How are you!" Kingston called. "Long time no speak! Did you enjoy your stay on the medieval islands?" 

"KINGSTON!" Lucy yelled. 

"I've missed you too, honey, shall we go and speak to Zuc? If we're quick we might catch up with him!" 

"ZUC'S HERE!" Lucy shrieked. Her heart began to pound and her thoughts went haywire. The only thing she could register in her mind was that she wanted to kill Zuc. 

"Don't shout, you'll hurt his feelings," Kingston sighed. 

Lucy didn't say another word. She dropped the knights helmet and gripped Merlin's sword tighter, she readied and then she pelted towards Kingston as quick as she could. Kingston ran off into the forest surrounding the Jarvin's home. Lucy chased him but before she did she sliced the fore field Kingston had just put up with her sword. She then followed him into the forest.

Pine needles scraped her face as she chased the vampire who dashed effortlessly through the forest. Lucy jumped over roots and ducked under low branches. She avoided the cold snow and didn't care when it froze her face as it fell. Just as a branch tore her dress and another tree branch scratched her face, Matt awoke. 

"Lucy..." he whispered holding out his arm towards the forest as if he'd just seen what had happened. "Lucy," he said a little louder this time and life drained back into him. He got up quickly and terror filled him. "LUCY!" He yelled and ran into the forest. 

"MATT!" Anna screamed chasing after him. 

"ANASTASIA!" Scott bellowed as he chased after his wife. 

Deeper in the woods, Lucy started to loose sight of Kingston but she continued to run even though her body ached and blood seeped from the wounds the branches had made but she didn't care. Her dress was ruined and so were her shoes but she didn't care. She just had to catch up with Kingston. 

"Come on, Lucy! Don't you want to see Zuc?" Kingston taunted as Lucy slowed down a little momentarily before speeding up again. "He sure wants to see you!" 

"SHUT UP!" Lucy screamed just as she arrived in a clearing. She halted as she saw Zuc standing there along with Kingston. She readied her sword and ran towards both of them when they disappeared into thin air. 

"ZUC!!!" She yelled at the top of the lungs, arousing birds that slept in the trees causing them to cheap in panic. 

Lucy saw one goblin standing there, her heart pounded in anger and she yelled out in annoyance then flung Merlin's sword at it so it's head was chopped clean off. The sword landed in the snow just as Matt entered the clearing. 

Her heart began to pound and the sound filled her ears. Her eyes went blank and she saw Zuc do exactly the same thing on the medieval islands to a knight. They heard each other yell out in rage and kill someone out of pure anger. The two of them when they heard their actions which happened to be the same.

Lucy was turning into Zuc.

She'd learnt how to fight and she was turning into Zuc.

"Lucy! Oh thank God!" He ran towards her and pulled her into an embrace, his heart was pounding also and the two of them held each other in shock. Lucy had no idea what to say to anyone, not even to Anna or Scott as they too entered the clearing. She had to apologise to them but she couldn't find the right words. 

"You're hurt! We have to get you back immediately!" Matt protested, looking at all of the scratches on her body. But she wriggled free from his grip and put her face in her hands and fell to her knees, the snow stinged them immediately. 

"I've gone mad," she sobbed. "I've gone absolutely mad." 

"No you haven't," Matt protested as he bent down next to her. "You haven't gone mad." 

"I have, I have, I have," Lucy continued to sob. "I saw Zuc and Kingston and they weren't really there. I chased after them which caused you to come after me. Because of me your possessions have been destroyed just because they wanted my sword. I can never forgive myself for this..." 

Scott walked over to her and bent down in front of her. He removed her hands from her face and held them in his. "We forgive you. We don't care about our possessions, we care about you more than we care about a bunch of stupid souvenirs. You're more important than any of that. You're more valuable than anything else and a few shattered belongings are nothing in comparison to you. You're here to save the world and while you're staying with us you can run into this forest as many times as you please as long as it means you saving the world from the medieval scum." 

Anna joined his side. "Souvenirs can be re-purchased but you can't, there's only one of you and we'll do anything to help you on this journey if you need us. We'll always be here for you. It doesn't matter the situation, we'll help out." 

"That's what Jarvin's do," Matt shrugged. "And even if my parents aren't there you've got me and I promised I'd do anything for you and I will." 

"T-That's nice of you," Lucy managed to say through her shock and through the cold that was seizing up her body. "But don't you think I've caused enough trouble already? Becoming associated with my name means danger. I don't want you to do that." 

"We want to, we don't care about the consequences. We're you're biggest supporters and if there's something we can do to help you, we'll do it," Scott nodded. 

Lucy reached out and hugged Scott tightly. "I can't thank you enough for that, I really can't. There's not enough words available to tell you how grateful I am." 

"You don't need to thank us, you need to thank yourself for being so brilliant," Anna smiled as Lucy hugged her too. 

"It feels like I've just been adopted," Lucy laughed shakily as Matt picked her up and carried her. 

"Whatever, Tiffany," Matt grinned and they walked back into the forest but not before Scott picked up Merlin's sword and they headed home. 

That night Lucy got into the bed in the guest room in her nightgown. She had laid Merlin's sword by the side of her bed so she felt safe. She didn't think any of the Jarvin's were going to kill her but she knew that Zuc had access to the portal of England and had to take as many safety precautions as possible. Especially after the episode that had happened in the forest. 

Scott and Anna had both healed all of her wounds and had repaired her dress and shoes so that they were as good as new. She knew there was no point in protesting as the Jarvin's would just shove her comments away and continue to help her. They had also repaired all of their house so it looked as good as new again which reassured Lucy a bit.

She pulled up the beautiful smelling covers around her and relaxed a little. Sleep came easy to her and before long she found herself in dreamland. But that didn't last for long. That night's events were played over and over in her head except this time the Jarvin's didn't want to help her, they wanted to kill her. Lucy was paralysed in shock as Zuc appeared, stole Merlin's sword from her and chopped her in half. 

Lucy sat bolt upright, sweat decorated her brow and she heaved in air as though she hadn't breathed for hours. She saw a figure in the doorway and shifted back against the headboard. Her heart pounded and adrenalin filled her as she reached for Merlin's sword. The figure switched on the light and Lucy screamed a little.

"Woah, are you alright?" Matt asked. He held up his hands in defense when he saw Lucy holding the sword. "I'm not going to hurt you, you know that?"

"How did you hear me?" Lucy demanded, pointing the sword at Matt. "How did you know I was having a nightmare?!"

"I didn't know, I got up to get a drink and I heard you making strangled cries and I came in to see if everything was alright. I wanted to make sure you weren't being murdered."

Lucy didn't say anything as she continued to gasp for air and waited for her heart beat to slow down. Matt switched the main light off before he walked over to her as she continued to aim the sword at him. He then switched on her side light and took the sword off of her. He shoved it under the bed as her arm continued to remain as it was when she held the sword.

"These nightmares really do shake you up, don't they?" Matt frowned as he studied Lucy's bloodshot eyes. "But it's not surprising," he added. He sat next to her on top of the covers and held her hands. "Do you want to go back to sleep or do you want to get up?"

"I want to kill Zuc," she whispered in a shaky tone. Matt rested his back against the headboard of the double bed and held her close.

"You can't kill him just yet, the time will come when you can kill him though."

"I don't want to think about 'that time' I want to kill him now. I don't want the war to happen, I just want him dead now."

"I can't take you to the medieval islands to do that," he admitted as he stroked her hair. "Unfortunately, nobody can apparate there so we can't get you to kill him."

"I don't want this war! Nobody needs this war! It'll come and destroy us!" Lucy began sobbing uncontrollably as she buried herself in Matt's chest.

"You don't feel safe here, do you?" Matt asked, he tried to keep his voice as soft as possible in case Lucy freaked out.

"I-I don't feel s-safe anywhere!" She sobbed even harder.

"Tomorrow I promise my parents will put up a shield like the one those medieval people had so you feel safer. That way nothing will get you."

"But I'm bringing this on you! And it's Christmas I can't get you to do all these things for me, you've already done enough. It's not fair if I keep letting you do all this for me."

"I promised I'd do everything for you and I'll keep that promise, I swear," he whispered.

"But it's not — "

"Shh...go back to sleep," he whispered. He helped her lie back down despite her protesting. He slowly got up and began to leave when Lucy's voice stopped him.

"Stay with me," she pleaded.

He looked at the door and then back at Lucy. "Of course."

Matt walked back over to where she was and laid down next to her on top of the covers. He put an arm around her and she held onto his arm just to reassure herself that he was still there. Matt kept incredibly still until he knew Lucy was definitely asleep.

When he knew she was he got up slowly and removed his arm from Lucy's grip. He kissed her forehead quickly before he crept out of the room back to his own room and he crawled back under the covers. In that moment he knew how truly scared Lucy was of everything and somehow she remained strong.

Matt admired her for this and couldn't blame her in the slightest when she woke up from nightmares. He couldn't deal with one nightmare like that, never mind frequent ones.

He fell asleep with thoughts of Lucy in his mind and every minute he hoped she was safe on her own in a dark forest in the middle of no where. She was unfamiliar to the area and Matt didn't want to think about what could happen to her. 

But Lucy felt a little more safer now that she had the Jarvin's support, even if she did sleep with Merlin's sword next to her bed. She would be eternally grateful for their help and it filled her up with hope that she did have real fans. Even if it was just the Jarvin family she knew that someone other than her dad truly believed her. 

It gave her the determination to believe.

It gave her the power to love.

But most of all it gave her the strength to defeat Zuc.