Shape of Magic 14: A Years End

[center]<<<Amelia Carlson>>>[/center]

Time passed and sooner than anyone liked the end of the year was upon them, which also meant the last Quidditch game of the season and final exams. It went without saying the entire House was excited, and their excitement was catching.

Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. The winner didn’t determine the victor of the house cup, Slytherin’s loss to Hufflepuff and Gryffindor ensured that they couldn’t catch up that way, but it was still a big deal. If Ravenclaw won, they could claim to have won the only fair competition in the school, where if Gryffindor won the house would be assured that they had won in every way possible.

It also ensured the twins couldn’t get enough points docked that they’d come in second anyway, which was a bonus.

Still Amelia and Taylor would watch to support Hera, even if neither of them were really invested in the sport itself. Though admittedly Taylor had laughed whenever Finch ate shit, though she wasn’t entirely sure she believed Taylor’s claims of innocence.

“I will be honest,” Taylor said, watching the players flit about on their brooms, “I have no idea where the snitch is. But I can tell you that George hurt his hand on that last swing and I think they’ll be calling for a time out to make sure nothing broke.”

Amy nodded, “Yeah that sounds like a good call.” Now she just had to hope these Quidditch obsessed teenagers didn’t just keep on playing despite the possible injury.

Though to be fair, Wood seemed more likely to do something foolish like that. She didn’t actually spend much time around the fellow to get a measure of his personality though so she could be mistaken.

The timeout was called and indeed, George had sprained his thumb… but he decided to keep playing, just putting his hand in a brace and promising to not use it until it could get healed. One of his competitors even offered to help, the Ravenclaw keeper specifically, but George declined. “He said it was his own fault that he got hurt and, besides, it hit the chaser he was aiming at so he gave as good as he got,” Taylor explained, leaning on Amy gently.

Amy snorted, that certainly sounded like the Weasley twin, as she put her arm around Taylor and gave her a light hug. Looking around she finally spotted Hera… leisurely gliding through the air, making her snort once more.

“I swear she’s more relaxed in the air than on the ground.”

As the game resumed, Hera shot off, eyes narrowed. The Ravenclaw seeker saw it and gave chase, but they weren’t fast enough as Hera pulled up. She’d caught the snitch and, thus, won Gryffindor the game. “Mm, you know… the best thing for Hera and the others here, talent scouts will notice their performances.”

“True,” Amy said, “Wood would be thrilled to be scouted, without a doubt,” She added dryly.

“He likely already is,” Taylor replied, “They’re just waiting for him to graduate. If nothing else he’d make a good backup keeper, did you see that first goal he’d blocked? The gs he pulled killed one of the flies I have on him, but he caught the quaffle expertly.”

Amy nodded vaguely, not for the first time wondering if magic just somehow made humans tougher or what considering just how insane this sport looked.

“It’d probably kill anyone without magic,” She thought, “Unless they’re fighter pilots I guess.”

“But I congratulate your house on a game well played,” Taylor said, “I might have been rooting for Ravenclaw, but Hera pulled through excellently.”

Amy nodded, “Honestly? I was just here to show my support of Hera,” She said, “I don’t really care much for the sport.”

Taylor frowned, “I like it, even if I’m terrible at it,” She admitted, “I like the competition.”

Amy rolled her eyes but didn’t comment, though hearing Taylor wasn’t good at it wasn’t surprising. The girl subconsciously used her bugs to extend her perception as well as general awareness. So unless she made bugs that could survive moving at those speeds, yeah the Quidditch players would not know the fear of Skitter.

And she was terrible at controlling the broom, she’d tried to fly Hera’s Nimbus but it did not end well… because she fell off it and landed in the lake.

It was actually something that Hera actually teased her about, which goes to show just how relaxed Hera has become over the year. She’d certainly come a long way from that awkward girl they’d met on the train.

“So, want to go down and congratulate Hera with everyone else or wait for the crowd to leave?” Taylor asked as everyone rushed down.

“Let’s head on down there, at least so she knows we’re here,” Amy said, “We can talk to her later.”

Taylor snorted, glancing at her, “We’ve been around for every other game. Also she saw me wave at her.” Even as she said as much she stood, still using a cane… but not out of need. She had it because she liked how it looked.

Amy’s head shook, her friend was such a dork.

“Oh shut up nerd,” Amy retorted with a smile.

“Says the girl that likes playing Doctor Frankenstein,” She shot back with a smirk, “But that’s ok, you’re my mad scientist and when your creation inevitably turns on you I shall be at your funeral to mourn.”

“So, what you’re saying… is that you don’t want an Atlas the Second?” Amy asked, “Okay then.”

“I will be happy with whatever you choose to create, even if that is nothing,” She replied with ease, “I don’t pay you in anything other than hugs, after all.”

Amy chuckled, “Let’s go already.”

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Their exams were split between practical and theoretical tests, and she thought she did pretty well in the second of the two. It was just memorization and repetition, explaining different spells (or potions) and when they’d be used, alongside their downsides.

Though she was a little jealous of Taylor's abilities, especially regarding multitasking and information retention.

Then there were the practical exams and… they were complicated. She did the best in Transfiguration, turning a mouse into a snuffbox. Points were given for it being pretty and taken away for things like still having whiskers.

She’d been told, in private, that she’d gotten the only perfect score of the year.

Taylor tried her best but well… she’d made a snuffbox-shaped mouse. It was kind of disturbing to see honestly.

Then she turned it into a large beetle to much greater success, just to assuage her ego (something she happily admitted to, to her credit).

Potions was interesting, though Snape managed to make most people nervous as they tried to make a forgetfulness potion. It seemed like a useful potion in medical circumstances, but not anything she’d need.

Amy thought it was remarkably petty of the man, though Taylor found it darkly amusing and, strangely enough, reasonable. “If you can make a potion under stress then you know you’ve mastered it. It’s only logical,” She’d claimed.

Sometimes, she really wondered if Taylor was uncaring sometimes, then she spouted these unbelievably reasonable comments!

Charms class was interesting, they had to make a pineapple dance across a desk. It wasn’t hard, but it was fun.

Taylor even talked her into making their pineapples ballroom dance!

Herbology had them identifying poisonous look-alikes apart from useful, and tasty, counterparts. That class had ended with fruit salads… though they’d been prepared before the exam to ensure no one accidentally poisoned themselves.

But… Amy had to admit that the most interesting exam was definitely Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Moody had gotten fifth year students, who’d finished their OWLs earlier in the year, to act as dynamic targets for them. The older students had to defend themselves, but weren’t allowed to attack, while they had to get through and tag them with something effective.

Unsurprisingly, Taylor quite possibly got an Outstanding, given that she was a dirty cheating cheater that cheated!

“No one said I wasn’t allowed to use spiders,” She said with a grin, “And he certainly didn’t say I wasn’t allowed to airdrop one from a moth onto the student before the exam officially started, only that I couldn’t cast any spells on them first!”

“Shut up,” Amy grumped, “I’m still mad at you.”

Taylor grinned even wider, “Why, I’d almost think you’re jealous,” She teased, gently flicking her nose, “But you did fine, you almost certainly got at least an E for that transfiguration trick, that wall was clever.”

“I will make your period cramps utter hell,” Amy grumbled, why did she tolerate the lunatic again? “Oh, yeah… growing up together and trauma-bonding…”

“Bah, I know what’ll cheer you up,” She started, “The Terrible Twins managed to smuggle something in, something the kitchens don’t stock. Gelato, of multiple flavors. Some of those flavors might or might not cause magical effects.”

Amy was determined to stay mad, though… she really did like gelato…

“... Okay maybe a little…” Amy grumbled.

Taylor grinned, “And you weren’t the only one who didn’t get an O, Hermione didn’t. In fact, I think Hera was one of the only ones that managed it aside from myself.” Taylor paused for a few moments before saying, “I’d tell you what they did, but they’ll probably want to tell you themselves, after all they were inspired by what you did.”

“Oh shut up and take me to the gelato…” Amy said with a huff, trying and failing to stay angry.

The menace giggled for a moment before saying, “Of course, of course my dark vizier, right this way,~” and leading her away, down a corridor, and then into a secret passage that opened into a secret room.

Inside, the twins were surrounded by a few other students as they passed out the icy desserts.

“This one is Twisty Toffee Treat,” Fred informed with a grin, “It’ll cause your tongue to be extra flexible at the cost of being really, really bad at tongue twisters… which is a problem cause it’ll also cause you to keep trying to say them for about an hour after you eat it.”

It didn’t seem to stop a few students from getting some, a few second and third years mostly.

“I’ll have the Chocolate Cream Delight!” Taylor requested, “And yes, I know about the effect. I want to know what I’d look like with a tan.”

A tan was one word for it, the girl’s color scheme practically inverted; her hair a stark white while her skin became a deep and dark gray-blue. Her eyes, naturally, followed her hair color and turned silver.

“Hmm, if it gave me long ears I’d have thought it was trying to turn me into a drow,” Taylor noted to blank stares. “It’s… a race of people from a tabletop game muggles play, I never played it myself, never had enough friends that were interested in it.”

“Well, at least you know what you can dress up as next Halloween,” Amy said, “And I’m sure we can find a group interested in playing. I’ll have the same,” She added looking at the twins.

“Coming right up,” George said with a smile, “Though… we do have non-magic stuff too,” He told her, “So if you don’t want any side effects…”

“Eh, I’m curious as well,” Amy admitted, “Though I’ll have the non-magic after this.”

The redhead shrugged before giving her a scoop of each, “And don’t worry, we made sure they’re all safe by testing on ourselves first. We’ve had a few muggleborns ask about that already… and some purebloods, for that matter.” Then he coughed. “And the bowls are under a freezing charm, so they won’t melt as you eat.”

“Lovely,” Amy said as she took her frozen treat and got her first bite, smiling in delight, ignoring the transformation completely as she savored the sweet treat.

“You look cute like that,” Taylor noted, “Love the hair.”

“Hmm? Ah,” Amy looked around and finally spotted a mirror and went over to look at herself, “Huh, not bad…”

Her hair wasn’t quite as stark white as Taylor’s, but it wasn’t far off. Her eyes were purple, a contrast to their usual amber, and her skin was a similar blue-gray as her friend’s.

“We could pass as sisters, couldn’t we?” Amy mused as she continued eating her gelato.

Taylor nodded as she threw her arm around Amy’s shoulder. “Yep, Though we already are if you really think about it,” She said.

Seeing as everyone was giving them some space Amy just relaxed against Taylor, “You know, I think Vicky would love it here,” She said with a wistful smile on her face.

“You would know best, pretty sure she wanted to rip my head off,” Taylor commented dryly, making Amy snort, “And tried to. Twice.”

“Well, you do have that effect on people,” She retorted, “And our first meeting was hardly ideal. What with you being a villain and robbing a bank?”

“In my defense,” Taylor started, “I didn’t think it would be busy that day and I didn’t think you’d be there, that was accidental.” The former villain paused for a few moments. “Also I was going to turn them in eventually, probably. I was trying to get information on them to give to the Protectorate. I was very stupid.”

“Tay, hun. I love you but you really didn’t think that through,” Amy said dryly, “Tay, Tattletale is a thinker. She probably had you pegged on the first day.”

“... She did. Also thought I was suicidal,” She agreed, “I probably was to an extent. But that’s in the past, this is now!”

“There is no ‘probably’ to it.” Amy said but nodded her head in agreement before she focused back on the mirror, “... How do you think everyones doing?” She asked quietly.

“... I hope they’re happy,” Taylor sighed, “I think they are, we left them a second chance.”

Amy nodded before she smirked playfully, “I bet some of them are worshiping you,” She teased, “All Hail Lady Khepri, Defeater of the Golden One!~”

“Ugh,” Taylor groaned, “I get enough of that from the spiders, I don’t need you chanting too. I swear, some of them asked me if I wanted them to sacrifice their first born children!” She looked ready to start ranting about that.

Amy just shook her head, “Only you Tay,” She said with a chuckle.

Looking down she realized she ate all her gelato and decided to get some more, this time non-magical and a different flavor.

And, despite her feelings about the tests, she decided that it had been a good day.

Then one of the students, a fifth year Slytherin by the looks of them, clapped Taylor on the shoulder and said, “That was a dirty trick earlier.” His voice was… amused, more than anything else. “But you should have used Engorgio on the spider.”

“It wouldn’t have helped with the venom load,” Taylor admitted easily, “Maybe next time if it was usually a safer spider.”

“Tay… what did you do…” An exasperated Amy asked.

“Oh, he was the target,” the seventeen year old snorted, “Professor Moody gave me,” She replied with a smile, “He took it well.”

Amy just massaged her forehead, “You’re a bloody menace,” She deadpanned

“I prefer to think of myself as the future dark hand of control, but that’s only because I have a few billion hands to use at any one time and most of them are underground…” Taylor smiled innocently, grin growing wider as several students took an extra step away.

“Are we sure she isn’t going to try and take over the world?” One of them asked, “Cause she acts like a comic book supervillain sometimes.”

“Nah, she’s not rich enough,” Another countered, “Everyone knows that to be a supervillain you need to be rich, otherwise you can’t afford the evil lair.”

Taylor’s finger raised for a moment, clearly thinking about that. “Does a warlord count? Someone that just takes over a small nation?”

The boy’s head shook, “No, that’s just being a warlord. Supervillains have lairs and elaborate plots. If all Doom did was take over Latveria and sit there he wouldn’t be a supervillain either.”

“You know, I can’t actually argue with that,” Taylor admitted with an absolute lack of shame. “I guess I’ll just need to make a lot of money really quickly, does anyone know where a good bank to rob is?”

“God, you fools! Stop giving her ideas!” Amy exclaimed, sounding both exasperated and amused.

“I don’t know,” Fred started, “I think I like it when she gets ideas, don’t you George?”

His brother nodded importantly, “Oh yes, if nothing else it means our competition is fierce,” He agreed. “Speaking of, do you have anything planned for the end of term feast?”

“Oh no,” Taylor replied with a shrug, “Kinda blew my load after coming back from the dead, hard to top that. Now, if I’d slain a dragon recently I could ride its corpse in, but that sounds like a lot of work. I mean, where do you even find a dragon this time of year?”

Amy just gave up and decided to focus on her gelato.

“Good point, good point. We were thinking of fireworks, but we haven’t been able to smuggle any in,” Fred replied, “Too expensive.”

Taylor sighed forlornly, “Such a shame, such a shame. Well, if you need a partner one of these days feel free to ask!” Saying such, she gave the two a hug. “I like you guys, you’re fun.”

“Of course, of course. Never let it be said we hesitate to include friends!” George said exuberantly. “And if you need help, just ask.”

Amy felt an inexhaustible sense of Dread from that idea, but it wasn’t like she could really stop it. At best she could moderate it, but she didn’t expect much success for that idea.

Still… she had a feast to look forward to, and the last two were something to remember, even outside of the evil wizard on Halloween.

“And then we’re going home,” Amy thought, though they wouldn’t be staying at the orphanage long… just to pick up a few things.

Clothes and the like could be left behind for another unfortunate kid, though she wasn’t looking forward to the goodbyes. Taylor might not have noticed it, but the two of them had become something of a stabilizing presence. And she wasn’t sure how things would go with their adoption, but…everyone knew it would happen eventually.

They would have gotten adopted some day, or just aged out of the system entirely.

“Hey Ames…” Taylor started, nudging her, “Want to go bother Hera, Ron, and Athena?”

“Yeah, that sounds like a plan,” Amy said, “And Athena? Well… it’s certainly better than Owl.”

“Athena’s holy animal is an Owl, she’s the goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge, and Hermione is a massive nerd,” Taylor explained, “So it fits perfectly.”

Amy nodded, “Yeah that fits.” Though it’d be very ironic if her animagus form turned out to be an owl as well, but the chances of that were so small they might as well be impossible.

“Right they are… enjoying the lake!” Taylor announced, “Come on, there’s a secret passage that leads underwater this way, wanna scare em? I picked up a charm recently, two of them, that would be perfect for it…”

“... You would do it anyway, even if I said no, wouldn’t you?” Amy asked dryly.

Her head shook, “It’ll be funnier with you going up too, we could go out one at a time, you or I first and distracting them then the other of us popping in to surprise them a second time.”

“... Sure, why not?” Amy shrugged, “Might as well have some fun with it. So what’s the plan?”

“I learned the Bubble Head charm and a water repelling charm from Flitwick because I asked about diving in the lake to play with the giant squid,” She explained as she started leading Amy away, “I cast both on us before we enter the lake, then we pop out and scare em.”

Amy snorted, “You’ll have to guide me up, you know,” She pointed out, “So you’ll have to go up first.”

“Yeah, makes sense to me. Just hold on,” Taylor said with a grin, “It’ll be great! They’re completely relaxed and not even paying attention!”

She sighed and followed, head shaking in amusement. Sometimes, just sometimes, she did enjoy Taylor’s insanity.

It was probably stockholm syndrome. 

Probably.

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