Red hair and a Hand-Me-Down robe? You must be a Weasley!

Chapter 18: The Darkest I've ever seen

"Lola, have you seen my anklet?" Asked Amber at breakfast. "Anklet? Whats an anklet?"

"It's like, a bracelet that goes on your ankle. Get it? Ank-let? Ank- for ankle, let- for brace-let."

"...Uhu..." I answered. Could it be the bracelet Em found on Amber? "What were the colours on it?"

"Oh, just a simple silver circle with amethysts embedded inside. It was really pretty." I dropped my fork in shock. "Um... did you put it on yourself?"

"Duh! Why wouldn't I? Do you think some random idiot would go up to me, grab my leg and put on the Anklet?" Replied Amber, stuffing pie into her mouth. That was exactly what I thought. "Um, no. How did you get it? Was it in a letter with a flattering note inside?" Amber gave me a confused expression. "What's with all the weird questions? No, a boy gave it to me." I looked at her sharply. I picked up my fork and started eating. "What did he look like?"

"A boy who kind of looked like Liam but with black and purple-ish hair and in Slytherin." Amber described, starting on her sausage. "Slytherin you say? Who are his parents?"

"No idea. He just said that Liam wanted to give me the Anklet. Thats all." I stored this information in my mind for Dawn. "Okkkk..." I started eating my pancakes. "By the way Amber. Why do you always have dinner for breakfast?" I asked, watching Amber practically pour the spaghetti bolognese into her mouth.

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"Tonight will be the Yule ball, everyone! It starts at 9:00 and ends at Midnight. Make sure you've got you're appropriate clothing and you're partners because you'll need them! Food and Dances will be held, and if you're lucky enough, a silent date." A loud babbling broke out. It was Lunch and everyone was super excited. "Didn't she say something about food?" Amber asked, perking up in her seat. I giggled. The only thing Amber heard in that announcement was that there was food at the ball. "Yes. Come on, we're leaving to our common rooms. We're having a rest in them so we can get ready for the Yule Ball."

"Yule Ball? IS IT NOW?" Cried Amber. "No, No! It's at 9:00 and it ends at midnight." I reassured her. "Phew!" We got to our common room and everyone rushed about, picking up dresses from hidden corners, suits from under seats and many people up the stairs to get dressed. I got to the dormitory and grabbed my cardboard box from under my bed. I pulled out the dress and went into one of the bathrooms in the dormitory. I grabbed a nearby iron and ironed the dress till it wasn't bent and wrinkled anymore. Amber was in the same room as me, ironing her dress as well. I looked out the window. It was 8:40 now. Yes, we've been spending the whole time getting ready for the ball. I kept on looking out the window, hoping it would be a nice clear night. It was. I stopped getting my shoes and accessories ready and went to the window. "Amber, look how lovely this night is." I sighed. She came over to the window. "Yes, yes. Nice isn't it? The grass is bright and green, the trees are dark but shiny, and the moon is glittering."

I punched Amber slightly. "Idiot."

"Hey look! It's a horse running toward the forbidden forest!" Cried Amber suddenly. "What?!" We were on the floor level of hogwarts, so our window wasn't actually that high up. Only a few meters from the ground itself. I saw running feet come out of the great big oak doors and run across the grass. I saw loose hair wave about in the wind. "No, Amber, thats not a Horse, It's a girl! Well, a woman. She's much taller than us."

"But the forbidden forest is forbidden to all students and teachers except for the gamekeeper!" Yelled Amber. I nodded. "Yes, you're right. Well, do you see who it is?"

"Tangled, knotty hair, triangle-like face, lavender robes... hey! It's Lavender!" I cupped my mouth with my hand. "WHAT? Amber! We need to follow her, NOW!" I shouted. Amber jumped up and down excitedly. This was her very first dangerous adventure. It was the same with me. I ran to the door but Amber just opened the window and climbed out. "Come here! The jump isn't that high!" Called Amber's voice. "Ok, thats a better idea than mine. Coming!" I went to the open window and looked down. It definitely wasn't that high up. I leapt out and landed on my hands and knees beside Amber. "Nice. Come on, let's go!" Pleaded Amber. I smiled and we ran into the night, avoiding all the bright lights we could from the windows. Soon, we were in the forbidden forest. We saw Lavender disappearing into the forest. "Um, Lola, do you know where she might be going?" Whimpered my sister, looking into the darkness.

I doubted this myself. "Um, yes. Follow me." I grabbed Amber's hand tight and we lumbered into the forest. I followed the sound of running feet and footprints in the mud to try and end up where Lavender was. "Ha! I wish when she stepped in that mud, she would splatter it ALL OVER her robe!" Cackled Amber. I grinned and kept on following footprints. When I heard voices and a dark shape coming up behind us, I pushed Amber into a bush and jumped in myself. "LOLA WEASLE-" I cupped my hand over her mouth to stop her from saying anything else. I shuffled about to get in the right position then peeked out the leaves to see what the dark shape was. The dark shape came into the light and low and behold- "ABBADO-?" Amber clapped her hand over my mouth to stop me from screaming. Luckily, he didn't hear us. Another shape came up behind him and a boy with purpleish black hair appeared. He looked like he was in our year and he walked on behind Abbadon. "Lola! He's the guy who gave me my anklet! I'm going to ask him if I can have it back-"

"No!" I whispered back. "Abbadon is Evil and so should be this guy!"

"I don't agree with you but I wont ask him then. He looks like an Edward. Let's call him Edward." I rolled my eyes. Abbadon and 'Edward' walked forward together and stopped in a small clearing. They seemed to wait for something and they started a small conversation. Footsteps arose and Lavender appeared. "Ah, boys. Welcome. Edward. Abbadon." She bowed to the boys each turn. "See! I told you he looked like an Edward!" Whispered Amber fiercely. She too was watching what was happening. "Have you seen the girls?" Lavender asked. "No, Madam." Answered the boys. I raised an eyebrow. Why were they formal? Another set of footsteps occured and two females, Woman and Girl, entered the clearing. "Ah, Dolores! Delphi! Nice to see that you two are here." They bowed in respect. Was Lavender boss of them all? No, she couldn't be. Even though Delphi the girl was young, she seemed to enforce enough to become a leader. I was right.

"Ender, Don, Ward and Res. We have victoriously succeeded. Harry was paralysed and he is now on the brink of death. Dawn though, I need to figure it out. She's hard to beat. Harry's easy! One lie and I win. Though Dawn thinks through everything. I need to be smart about her. Well, Ward, what's your report?" Delphi grinned wickedly. Amber and I held our breaths. This was...important information! Edward spoke up. "I have done my task. I gave Amber the anklet and she took it. I watched her put it on her ankle. She will be fainting once a day now." Delphi sighed. "Yes. Well done. Do you wish to take on an eviler mission?" Edward quickly shook his head. "Very well." I stopped Amber from gasping. "Ender, how is you're plot going?" Asked Delphi in a hiss-like manner. "Oh, I- I'm doing very well, thank you." That was all she said. Delphi's smile faded and was replaced with baring teeth. "Report, please!" She spat.

Lavender almost melted. "Nothing doing." She whimpered. "Dawns hard to convince-"

"YOU'RE THE ONLY TEACHER IN THIS GROUP! MUST I MAKE ANOTHER REPLICA OF MY FATHER'S SUMMONING AND PAIN?" Screeched Delphi. Lavender fell to her knees. "Please, please Delphi! Spare me! Give me another job and let Abbadon do it! He hasn't any job! None! Spare me and hand me another!" Lavender pleaded, fighting for life. Delphi hissed and nodded angrily. "FINE! If you fail on the next job I give you, I will bring you to our Army and soul suck you!" Lavender fell over and cried happily. She wasn't going to die. "Don, you must fulfil Lavender's job or your soul will be sucked too!" Abbadon shrugged and nodded. "Ward, you're job is to keep spying on Amber and make sure she trusts you so much that she will do anything for you."

"But how-?"

"You will use this." She held up some Amber earrings and gave them to him. He gazed at them and put them into his pocket. "Yes, you will keep working with the Army. Convince them! Then they'll join me. I'll work on Lola." I held in a gasp. "Next meeting is same time same place in a fortnight. Got it?" The group nodded and one by one they left. Edward ran away as fast as he could. Abbadon strolled away, Lavender walked and Dolores went in the opposite direction. Delphi stayed for a minute, her elf-like ears twitching here and there. Finally, she left and all was quiet. I got out of the bush, shaking from head to toe. "Back to Hogwarts! Now!" I whispered, and Amber darted away. I was about to follow when something gripped my back and forced me to the ground. "I caught you. Finally." Delphi's voice hissed, and sharp pain struck through me as she pierced earrings into my high lobes. "Now. Leave and don't tell Dawn anything." Delphi spat in my ear.

"...Yes Delphi. I will not tell a soul." I left on command and then wondered why on earth I had said that.