Work Text
"J." She read looking down at her itchy red Christmas sweater from her mother last year. She decided not to pack it for school. Either she had gained more clothes or her cases had shrunk over the summer, she wouldn't've put it past one of her siblings to have charmed her trunks and cases to shrink but she didn't overly mind, she didn't have allot of clothes. They all had to pack in advance as the quidditch world cup was tomorrow, and for once the Weasleys were going, Hermione and Harry would also be there. So would Cedric Diggory hottest guy in Hufflepuff according to most. She had begged her father to let her invite Luna, her Ravenclaw friend who was also friends with Ginny both in the year below, but apparently they wouldn't all fit in the tent which she immediately called out for being total bushtit this landed her with a definite no and non magical chores for the rest of her summer.Harry had arrived earlier that day and completely ruined her flow. He could convince Ron to do almost anything and Ron was able to convince her to do it as well. Weasley twins were notorious pranksters and Ron and Jay had learned from the best, they weren't as good as Fred and George at pranking although they where undeniably better at driving, as seen when trying to break Harry out of his own house or trying to get to school when the boys couldn't get to the platform. In molly's attempts to have a daughter she clearly hadn't been satisfied with the first one. She went and had Ginny after and she had been exactly what their mother had wanted but her and Jay where quite similar so maybe it was something about her specifically.She finished her packing and went to bed, she had to share her room with Hermione so while Hermione was still reading the lights stayed on, she didn't mind it really. With the therapeutic sound of pages turning and Hermiones sighs as things don't go her way in a story she has no say in, she slowly drifted to sleep only to be abruptly woken up by a rough shaking. "Sephy, come on. Your worse than the boys." She rolled over slowly. "I'm up 'Mione, I swear." She mumbled into her pillow. Her hair was a messy birds nest atop her head, for some reason this particular Weasley had been blessed, or cursed, with tight bouncy curls instead of straight lifeless hair. It set her apart from her siblings, mollys own curls were lose and ratty not at all like Jays.Hermione left to have breakfast before they made their way to the portkey, Jay grabbed her wand and fixed up her hair before changing into her baggy jeans and t-shirt along with her favourite grey hoodie, She had requested molly knit a J into instead of making a whole jumper that she would never wear. She made her way down to breakfast almost pushing Harry down the stairs on her way as he walked so slowly. Molly had made them all kinds of food pobably so they had enough energy for their hike up catchpole hill, it was more likely because Harry was here. Mr and Mrs Weasley loved Harry like he was their child, like he was their only child, the rest of them were second to Harry. It was hard enough being one of the youngest and being one of the two girls out of all eight of them, nine if she were to include Harry.She tied up her hiking boots laces while the twins continued to fuel their bodies with the barley warm breakfast as Hermione had failed to wake them earlier. Ginny wore her usual trainers that where in desperate need of replacement and began to fill a small tub with bread rolls, Hermione was ready already, shoes on, bag packed; she loved a good hike. 'Mione and Jay frequently went on small walks around Hogwarts in their free periods and, occasionally Neville would join them, cataloguing plants and animals in one of his many notebooks. Harry and Ron where far from ready; they weren't dressed, their hair was a mess, and their bags for the trip where left unpacked just like their cases for Hogwarts. Arthur was hurrying everyone along even though he had misplaced his hiking stick and map.After her laces were bowed she decided to aid her father in the hunt for his map and stick giving him a chance to sort himself out and giving everyone who wasn't ready a chance to get ready.-Almost an hour after their original departure time the group left the burrow and began their walk to meet the Diggorys. Amos Diggory worked with Arthur in the ministry and Cedric was a sixth year Hufflepuff, he was a prefect and there were rumours of him dating Cho Chang, a Ravenclaw who was one of Jays dorm mates. She had heard allot about the young, strapping Mr Diggory and occasionally saw him around, she had never spoken to him before or anything like that. She didn't agree with the statements about him being the hottest guy in Hufflepuff but she had no one to counter act them so she never outwardly disagreed.-After walking for about half an hour a man came into focus in the distance, it was Amos Diggory there was not a second person but the group thought nothing of it. The twins had been walking out ahead, slightly behind Arthur, sword fighting with random twigs and branches they'd picked up along the way. Harry and Ron were walking right behind them at a safe enough distance talking about their summers; earlier in theirs the Weasleys spent some time in muggle London and went to multiple theme parks, of which they had never been before. Harry and the Dursleys had done nothing but celebrate Dudleys birthday. The girls Ginny and Hermione also spoke about there summers, they gossiped about Cedric and Hermione discussed her upcoming birthday. Jay walked behind them all, occasionally stopping to climb a tree before having to run back to the group and continue the walk.(1024 words)
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Upon arriving where Amos was standing jay surveyed the trees. She edged towards one closest to Amos and stood waiting to be informed how long Cedric would be as her dad greeted Amos.Everyone stood around waiting, there was a crack from above her as a person jumped out of the tree landing inches away from her. The shock and abruptness of their landing knocked her off her feet, she grunted as she hit the back of her thigh on a large sharp rock cutting through her jeans and her skin. "Mother fucker." Arthur turned "language missy." Fred and George copied their fathers stance. "Yeah missy, language." She flipped them off and the Diggory boy turned to her. "I'm so sorry." He stretched out his arm to help her up, she couldn't really stand so he supported her by hooking her one arm over his shoulder. "'mione." She whined and Hermione went over wand out. "Which spell JJ?" She thought a moment. "Vulnera Sanentur." Hermione cast the spell and Jay could feel how her wound began to heal, the blood had stained the backs of her jeans but she'd live.She unhooked her arm from Cedrics shoulder. "Sorry, thank you." He shook his head thoughtfully. "No, don't apologise, It was my fault I'm sorry." He then walked over to Arthur and shook his hand and the group began their hike. They had to go all the way to catchpole point because for some reason you cant put portkeys on lower ground.After talking to Arthur for a while Cedric joined the group of kids. He avoided the twins, who had been trying to look cool but had reverted back to sword fighting, he made his way to Jay. "So, Josephine right?" His sudden arrival beside her had made her jump slightly."Uh, yeah. Well not really, most people call me Jay, or JJ, or Sephy. But I don't really like Sephy, and only my family call me JJ, so just Jay is fine. Sorry I don't know why I said all that." He looked at her for a moment. "That's fine, I like ramblers." She smiled to herself. "Cho's a rambler." He turned to her. "Cho? You know her?" She nodded. "Yeah, we're dorm mates." Their pace slowed. "Your not a Gryffindor?" Her sorting was a touchy subject for her. "N-no, y-your a prefect right?" She had tensed slightly. "Uhm yeah." She was trying to tear the conversation away from her. "Do you get chosen or do you sign up?" He wasn't helping. "Wasn't Percy a prefect?" he wasn't helping at all. "Yeah but we don't really talk."She shivered as a gust of wind blew at the back of her thigh. "Cedric." They stopped. "Yeah." She pulled out her wand and handed it to him. "Do you know any sewing spells for my jeans." He took the wand graciously as his father was holding onto his. "Yeah, one sec. Oh, and Ced is fine." She stared confused. "Instead of Cedric, my friends call me Ced." Was she his friend now? "Oh okay cool." He cast the spell. "Tiaris Reparo." The cold breeze wasn't slicing at her closed wound anymore and she was suddenly feeling much warmer.-They caught up with the rest of the group and gathered around the portkey as Amos and Arthur began to count down.Harrys hand wasn't on the portkey by two so Jay made the executive decision to pull him forwards and hold his hand down on the deteriorating boot causing him to fall flat on his face before a feeling like something pulling at the back of their throats as the cool grass beneath them disappeared and was replaced with nothing. She was freefalling from an unknown height until a hand grabbed her waist and pulled her upright, her aggressive descent towards a new field of grass became graceful less like falling more like floating until her feet touched the floor. "Thanks Cedr- Ced." He let go of her and stepped back "No problem." A voice came from behind them rightly pissed. "Really Cedric?" Fred whined Cedric offered his hand. "She was the closest."The two families split to go find their tents and get settled before the games started. The gaps and paths between tents were full of people, it was so crowded they almost lost ginny but Jay decided that even though she was thirteen maybe holding her little sisters hand wasn't the worst idea. They arrived at the tent and went in Harry and Hermione, having been raised by muggles, were shocked at how much space was on the inside compared to outside. Jays hand immediately fell from Gins and she ran and dived into one of the only single beds. "Dibs! You lot can have the bunk beds." Fred and George ran to one of the sets. "Well we wanted one of these anyway." Harry and Ron groaned and hauled there bags to there respective bunks, Hermione and ginny seemed not to care.-Arthur called them all to the biggest section of the tent to discuss timings and food. He gave each of his kids 10 Galleons to spend on food for the match, Harry brought money for himself and Hermione. They all had a light lunch of bread rolls and smushed sandwiches, Arthur said they couldn't buy hotdogs until the match started, which neither set of twins were happy about.She did her brothers face paint but Harry didn't trust her to do his. Hermione did Harrys and her own and they set of to the stadiums. They climbed the never ending stairs and spied the Diggorys at the top in their seats. Ron stopped at a balcony. "Blimey dad, how far up are we?" Lucious Malfoy felt the need to yell up, Jay normally ignored anything leaving a Malfoys lips. "Well, put it this way.." His voice was like scraping cutlery on a plate. "If it rains you'll be the first to know." Draco laughed at his fathers sorry attempt at a joke. "Father and I are in the ministers box.." He was insufferable. "By personal invitation of Cornelius Fudge himself." His father whacked him in the stomach with his cane "Don't boast Draco." Draco let out a shocked grunt, stopping him in his tracks. "There's no need with.." He paused and scanned the many faces situated above him. "These people." They turned away and as they tried to walk the snake headed end of Lucius's staff bit through one of Harrys hands that was still resting on the railing, he let out a pained gasp. "Do enjoy yourself wont you." His eyes stabbed through Harry like the snakes teeth. As he tried to pull his hand away Jay grabbed the staff and removed it from Harrys hand allowing him to leave. She pushed the staff away from her hard, hard enough for it to fall on the floor just behind Malfoy Sr. clattering loudly They walked off up another hundred flights of stairs before seeing a hundred thousand witches and wizards were taking their places in the seats, which rose in levels around the long oval field it looked smooth as velvet from their lofty position. At either end of the field stood three goal hoops, fifty feet high; right opposite them, almost at Jay's eye level, was a gigantic blackboard. Gold writing kept dashing across it as though an invisible giant's hand were scrawling upon the blackboard and then wiping it off again; watching it, she saw that it was flashing advertisements across the field. (1255 words)
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The players flew out onto the pitch and the stadium roared. Fireworks boomed and her ears almost bled. She loved it, her brothers screams of joy, her sisters hand around hers until it ripped away occasionally to be thrown into the air with and accompanying shriek of disappointment or pride.-The match was over and In the final game, Ireland, having defeated Peru in the semi-finals, played against Bulgaria. In the end, Bulgarian seeker Victor Krum managed to catch the snitch and salvage Bulgarian dignity, although Ireland won.They cramped into a single tent and began their own small victory party. Cedric was talking with Arthur and Amos and the rest of them where up on chairs and tables having been allowed a small amount of whiskey, ginny was an exception 'too young,' their dad had said. But the rest of the group weren't, so they drank.They cheered for Ireland, and they cheered for Krum.Ron loved the bloke, would've been his biggest fan if it weren't for the fact he's Bulgarian. Ron climbed up onto the table as the twins raised their flags and began to run around the tent."There's no one like Krum!" Ron started, and the boys repeated "Krum," in low toned voices like seagulls claiming trinkets. "He's like a bird, the way he rides the wind." The boys start to flap there arms about and circled the table imitating birds.Harry and Hermione stepped back, clearly not used to the large family dynamic and sibling bonds within.Jay noticed their dad had slipped out with Amos after a crashing noise from outside; probably a food stand.Ron was spinning on the table now, "he's more than an athlete, he's an artist." Jay and Ginny walked up to him throwing the Irish flag over his shoulders, "think your in love Ron?" they chorused in sing song voices. "Victor I love you," Fred started, "Victor I do," George joined. "When were apart, my heart beats only for you!" The whole tent screamed.Noises outside the tent grew, screaming and crashing. "Sounds like the Irish have got their pride on." George commented.Their dad came back into the tent telling Fred and Ron who were now wrestling over a flag to stop fighting. "Stop it!" He yelled, harsher maybe than he intended. "It's not the Irish." The sounds of joyous screams from outside morphed and moulded into fear terror and potentially pain "We have got to get out of here!" They just stood unmoving, "Now!" He demanded.They exited the tent in a hurry grabbing few belongings. The noise hit them as they got out into the field. Fire was spreading across the tents, people on the floor; anyone up on their feet was running, trying to get out or find people."Get back to the portkey everybody, and stay together!" Arthur assigned Ginny to Fred and George and everyone ran, except harry; he stood for an extra moment staring, only Jay noticed. "Harry! Come on." She grabbed his arm and pulled him.He began to run with the rest of them. Cedric and Amos joined them and Cedric took Jays right hand, Ron noticed and took her left and they ran. They were faced with a group running the opposite way and couldn't avoid them. They ran straight through the middle of the two boys pushing Jay backwards and ripping her from their grasps. "Jay!" Ron yelled, the panic in his voice was clear. She tried to force her way through the crowd to reach her family but it just felt like she was moving further away. She was too short to see over the hoard but she made out pointy black hoods and flaming torches.Everything was a blur but she ran.She didn't know the direction she was running in or where her family were, but if she ran with the crowd it would be safer.That was until she tripped, the people like dogs nipping at her heels, forcing her forwards had clipped her heel and sent her flying. She hit the floor hard and had little to no time to think before hundreds of feet where running over her, she brought her arms up to protect her face but before her view was blocked entirely she saw a flash of silver in the trees carving out a thin silhouette. A heavy boot hit her hard, it broke through her arms and struck her face. She blacked out. thinking only about the light in the trees.-As she opened her eyes there was a numbing pain she could feel all over, her head throbbed and her body ached. She felt wet, had it rained? she wasn't sure. There was a burning smell seeping into her throat and nostrils, she sat up to cough but noticed she hadn't moved. She couldn't move. Her arms, her legs, her core. She couldn't move.Her eyes focused and she saw the ruins of the campsite, the piles of ash where tents had been and the still burning steaks in the ground waiting to be smothered.There was a crashing sound a few feet away; someone was here and she assumed they weren't friendly. She wasn't sure if she could even talk but she definitely didn't want to. A scrambling sound from her other side caught her attention and she saw something crawling towards her, dragging itself across the charred floor, its face was ashen and she couldn't make it out. It got closer and closer and- "harry?" her voice grated her throat. "ginny?" He sped up, trying to get to her. When he got to her he moved her head upward so he could see more than just her fiery locks, "Jay?" She coughed slightly as he removed his hands from her cheeks, "sorry, I- I though you were ginny." Jay had mustered up a little energy and pushed herself up. She looked around before she heard a voice in the dark, "Morsmordre!" A cloud grew in the sky. She realised what it was before the skull was fully shaped and the snake was slithering through the darkened sky.The dark mark, his mark.Ghostly and grey above their heads. The figure that casted it turned to them and began to move, harry scrambled up but Jay was a lot slower to follow. There was a noise in the distance, "harry!" voices. "Jay!" Ron and Hermione."Follow their voices," her hoars voice barley hit his ears but they were off, the man following close behind. "Harry! Jay!" They where closer and the man had slipped back into the darkness, "god mate, we thought we'd lost you" Ron said talking to Harry, "and you, your a fucking dumbass." He was facing Jay now.Hermione shook her head slightly in disapproval. "It's good to see you too." Their reunion was cut short by at least twenty people apparating around them firing 'stupefies' in their direction. They all ducked, Ron pulled Jay towards him and covered her with his arms.The attackers kept firing until a familiar voice yelled, "stop, those are my kids!" Arthur Weasley barged past the men. "Ron, Jay, Harry, Hermione. Are you okay?" Rons hand moved from Jays head, "yeah, were fine dad. We came back for Jay and Harry." Barty Crouch Sr. ran forward, fearful expression drawn across his old face, wand raised, pointing at each of them. "W- which one of you conjured it?" Arthur immediately turned to defend them, "Crouch, how can you possibly-"Do not lie. You've been discovered at the scene of the crime."His wand lingered on Jay for to long and Arthur stepped Infront of her, "Barty, they're just kids." Harry was confused not understanding that a crime had been committed, jay leaned towards him. "Its the dark mark Harry, its his mark." She whispered to him, "Voldemort? those where-" Arthur cut across him "Deatheaters? Yes." Crouch Sr. ignored them and started instructing his people about.Jay stood shaking. She was bruised and bleeding and she had definitely broken a rib or two. Harry was probably the same, "dad?" she croaked "I think we should go to St. Mungos," he looked at her a moment before he saw the blood dripping from her temple, her slightly ripped clothes, mud covered her hair and and face and harry was the same."Yes," he said calmly, "of course."(1382 words)
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It has been less than forty eight hours since the attack at the Quidditch World Cup and the reporters have had a field day; any and every newspaper has it splashed across the front pages:SCENES OF TERROR AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP.Rita Skeeter reports.Jay was lost in thought as she read the article from her almost upright position in her hospital bed. She was being discharged currently, her mother having to sign tons of paper work.Her father had made his way to the ministry either early that morning, or late the night before but time was always funny in hospitals. She'd had to stay in bed while her ribs regrew; she had broken two and fractured three. She was lucky, the nurses had said, that the bones hadn't splintered and pierced her lungs and what with the force of the boot hitting her head she should've had a much bigger concussion and worse injuries in general.Her mind was dragged back to that glint of light the figure in the trees.¬_¬After her discharge they had taken the floo home Harrys injuries had been manageable so he hadn't needed the aid of St. Mungos. They got their luggage and left for Kings Cross station arriving just in time to barrel through the wall and scurry onto the train, the six of them all filling up the entry carriage as the train jolted and began to move out of the station.Ginny was the first to leave, "I'm going to find Ruth," she'd said. Harry, Ron and Hermione left next, "we're going to find an empty carriage. Jay your welcome to join." It was an after thought, she was an after thought."I'm alright thanks." She said walking of in the opposite direction. There was a thudding of footsteps behind her, "wait up JJ! we'll sit with you if you don't mind." She didn't, she would've ended up sitting alone as the carriages weren't big enough for her friends, her friends friends and her all in one. The twins pushed past her and decide to lead the way for her.She smiled to herself, she really did love her family sometimes.They sauntered into a seemingly empty carriage awaiting her entrance before they took their seats. "Window?" She shook her head, she slumped down on one side and they both sat on the other.She noticed a person sat on her other side, long-ish chocolatey brown hair and clear peachy skin. He was already in his robes, yellow tie situated carefully over his sternum reading Romeo and Juliet. It seemed he was re-reading his own personal copy, the pages dog eared and coloured tags stuck to them. It pained her to see a book treated like that although he obviously cared about it as the covers where pristine and flat, not a curled corner in sight.She had been staring to long-"Are you okay?" He turned to her looking up from his book, "the last time we saw each other I was very worried about you, even more so when I heard you'd ended up in St. Mungos." She coughed to clear her throat so her words came out in a flowing symphony, they didn't. "I- I uh th- thanks I guess..."she heard her brothers chuckle across from her, "you guess?" She knew she was blushing but tried to convince herself she wasn't, "s- sorry." She forced out he went back to his book but he was smiling slightly.Fuck the twins, she thought, fuck them and their stupid fucking faces.The train ride was mostly silent except for when the trolly came round or each Weasley, one by one, excused themselves to go change into their robes.They exited the carriage, Gryfindors Infront then the Hufflepuff then the Ravenclaw but someone caught the Ravenclaws wrist.Spinning around Jays fist made contact with a familiar face. He let go of her and her hand flew to her mouth as she began apologising profusely. He scowled holding his freshly bleeding nose, "fucking Weasley bitch. Out of my way." With that he shoved past her knocking her into a trolly by the door sending her and it flying.¬_¬After a bit of a kerfuffle getting of the train she was on her way to the castle with her friends around her. The Thestrals pulling the carriage slowed before the castle, "they're spooked?" Her friends ghostly calming voice cut through the cold night air. "What are?"Only people who have seen death can see a Thestral.Luna had seen her mother die, Jay had heard her parents talking about the Lovegoods after ginny had befriended the strange witch, but Nevielle hadn't. His parents wheren't dead, they weren't exactly alive either. Jay couldn't decide what was worse, she had never seen anyone die she just knew the creatures were there. "Whats spooked them?" Luna was already out of her seat and walking to where the Thestrals should be "Maybe they're just tired, I would be, pulling these carriages."¬_¬After a ten minute rest and an awkwardly silent ride the trio arrived at the castle, late, and hurried into the great hall.The door opened and a deafening silence blanketed the hall, all eyes where on them. Neviel scurried of to the Gryffindor table sitting opposite Dean Thomas and next to Seamus. Luna and Jay walked over to Ravenclaw; the furthest of the four houses from the doors.The eyes followed them and the silence didn't subside but as Luna skipped to their table most eyes where trained on Jay, she had forgotten about the events of the world cup. Her friends in the carriage had decided not to bring it up which had, now that she thought about, it probably been the reason for the silent journey.She had checked in the mirror earlier that morning, she didn't want to hide the bruises and scars and Ron had thought she looked cool, so cool in fact that he had requested the nurses didn't fully heal it. He'd assumes his sister would've appreciated the cuts and bruises that littered her face.He had been correct.When she had seen the large bruise on her forehead and the cut on her cheek she had remarked how 'super awesome,' they where.She took her seat across form Padma, one of the Patil twins who was sorted into Ravenclaw. They where quite similar, both of their respective other halves had been sorted into Gryffindor.Dumbledore began to speak and it seemed that they had missed the sorting ceremony. He Started to talk about the Triwizard tournament and a new rule or something, but Jay wasn't really paying attention. "What happened to your eye jay?" She looked round to her friend, "oh I was at the world cup." Padmas face scrunched slightly, "shit you all right?" she nodded, "at least I look pretty badass now huh." The other witch laughed but it was cut short when the ceiling rumbled and spat out a storm of rain.A familiar looking man emerged from the dark space in the corner behind the teachers tables wand pointing at the ceiling restoring the charm. He was an averagely tall man with thin greying dirty blonde hair that stopped just above his shoulders. She knew him, she was sure of it. He walked with a limp and he had a glass eye.Who was he? She couldn't put a name to the face."This is Alister Moody, the Auror. Famous dark wizard catcher. Thank your for coming old friend." The man just grumbled and walked to an empty space at the table before taking a seat next to the groundskeeper.Bartemous Crouch senior took to centre stage and began to speak, "this year for the Triwizard tournament, no one under the age of seventeen can put their names in the goblet!" A wave of groaning swept through the hall and Jay could just make out the sound of her brothers yelling, "that's rubbish!" and "no way!" Dumbledore had some trouble quieting the group of rowdy teens before delivering the next parcel of news. "Hogwarts will be host to the two other wizarding schools wishing to take part in the tournament." There where some murmurs around the large space. Eleven schools but only two will be taking part except for Hogwarts "and their students will be inhabiting the school. They will be staying for the full year as that is how long the tournament will be, only a select few from each school. They will be attending lessons with their respective years and they will be welcomed with open arms.""Which schools?!" The noise came from the Slytherin table. The hall doors flew open and a distressed Argus Filtch lathered in sweat ran into the hall and down the length of it to the headmaster. He ran back out moments later and door slammed behind him before Dumbledore raised his voice and gestured towards the door before a new table appeared on the other side of the Ravenclaw one."The brilliant boys from Durmstrung Academy, all the way from Bulgaria!"A bunch of large boys entered the hall slamming sticks on the floor, each hit send sparks flying from the impact points. They took long strong strides and behind them six girls also hitting sticks on the floor just as strong and firm as the boys had. The whole school was clearly built like a gym as everyone she could see had bulging biceps, triceps and pectorals. She assumed that if they had walked in shirtless their abs would've shone in the candle light.Their headmaster behind them, Igor Karkaroff. A turned death eater, although jay wasn't to sure as he eyed Moody with an air of caution before stepping next to his students."And the lovely ladies from Beauxbattons Academy!"A group of girls glided into the room like preforming swans sighing and leaning to each side, butterflies appearing at their fingertips as their hands cut through the air. They wore blue fitted dresses and lovely hats. Their hips swayed as they walked and their sighs echoed of the walls. All the boys seemed entranced; more so than when the Durmstrung students had filed through. Behind the girls where four boys walking stiffly in darker blue uniforms, and behind them their headmistress. A half giant, Maddame Maxine. Who seemed to be making eyes at someone sat at the teachers tables."All the way from France."(1713 words)