Sugar : Fred Weasley

55: Remembering Cedric

March 2nd, 1997

[victoria's pov]

Since I told Fred and George about Mattheo almost four months ago, we'd grown more cautious about who we were around. Fred had never been more paranoid, as he had his eye on every person that entered the shop. He even got a sensor at the door that prevented anyone with the dark mark from entering and if they were to do so, they'd be blasted with a curse.

I also told Hermione what had happened a little past the New Year.

"You did what?" Hermione exclaimed when I told her, her hands over her mouth.

"Well, Fred was the one who erased Remus' memories about the entire situation," I explained as her mouth was still slightly agape. "I'm starting to wish he hadn't. Dumbledore hasn't been much help since he's stopped responding to my letters."

"I also don't think it's best if you mention the magic that Mattheo- what did Lupin call it? A temporal pocket?"

"Yes, a temporal pocket," I explained. "Sorcery in which a wizard can manipulate a certain space and slow or speed up the time."

"Right," Hermione said, still amazed. "I've never heard of something so- it's almost like a myth... but Victoria, you don't think he's all that powerful do you? If he were that powerful, you would probably be under a strong love potion. Or an imperius curse rather than trying to persuade you to join the dark side."

"I don't know, Hermione," I said with clouded thoughts. "But if there's anything I know, it's that he's a death eater and considering what happened at the ministry last year, there's no way of knowing what he's capable of."

Hermione ruffled her hair with the same headache. "This is maddening, I've got to tell Harry and Ron."

"No one else, though," I said.

"No one else," she had agreed.

I hadn't seen Mattheo, to my luck. So my final studies remained at the ministry with Mad-Eye and Tonks, who I noticed was disappearing more and more. Her hair was now a faded pink, barely visible. And her smile was gone–since Sirius died. I suspected she blamed herself for not finishing off Bellatrix Black, who had killed him when she sent him through the veil.

I eventually learned she was on Hogwarts grounds, just like a few other members of the order such as Snape. Harry and I had talked about his suspicious motives, but Remus had shut our conversation down, mentioning that if Dumbledore trusts Snape, it would be alright.

Dumbledore's silence slowly began to frustrate me, until Harry had told me about his frequent disappearances and private lessons with Harry about Voldemort's past life. There was something to do with horcruxes, something I had yet to learn more about.

I didn't dare to ask Mad-Eye, though I wasn't surprised if he knew anything about them. It was early in the morning as I was arriving from my night shift at the ministry. My apparition skills were getting better, thanks to my brother, who had bid Charlie goodbye earlier this year.

Magnus remained at home with our parents and my owl, Peaches. As far as I knew, Magnus was not talking to anyone.

The streets of Diagon Alley were so empty in the morning, it would've made you think it was early in the evening if not for the great clock tower that chimes every day at eight in the morning. I had appariated to the pub, as that was the farthest I could usually go before tapping the stone wall with my wand.

It was almost like deja vu when I saw the cobblestone streets everyday when I first went shopping for school supplies. I quietly strolled through the long neighbourhood of small businesses. It was quiet until I heard feet clapping up ahead as I neared the flat.