The Challenge

Chapter 52

I need James's invisibility cloak, but I'm still mad at him for yelling at me. I decide to look for Albus. I find him the Gryffindor common room. "Albus, I need the cloak."
"Get it from James." Albus says.
"James and I aren't really in speaking terms right now." I say quietly.
Albus gives me a look. "What happened this time?"
I sigh, "the same thing that happened with Scorpius and I."
Albus sighs and stands up. "I'll go get it."
"Thank you, Albus." I smile a little.
Rose looks at me. "You know James just cares right?"
"I know." I run my hand through my hair. "I'm just stressed out and snapped at him. But right now I more important things to worry about. I figured out how to fix the Tom and Valerie situation."
Rose nods. "Okay. But make sure you and James clear things up. Same with Scorpius. They only care about you."
"I know. I know. There's just too many things happening at once." Albus walks over and hands me the cloak. "Thank you, Al." I walk out of the common room and head to the library. I hide in an empty section and put the cloak on. I go to the restricted area and begin to look for a potion book. It takes me about two hours to find a potion book that has the potion I need. I close the book and leave the library with the cloak on me. I go to the Black Lake where I am meeting up with Fred, Rox, Kaitlin and Andrew.
I find them sitting under a tree talking. I take the cloak off and join them. "I got it," I announce. "Pomfrey was right, this is a really complicated potion. The bright side is, it only takes five hours to brew."
"The sooner the better," Fred says.
"Let's see then." Kaitlin says motioning to the book.
I flip to the page with the potion we need. "I don't even know if Slughorn has these ingredients in his supply cupboard." I look at the ingredients list, "Re'em blood, Witch's ganglion, Asian Dragon hair."
"We'll just have to hope Slughorn has it." Andrew says. I can tell they are all scared, I'm scared. I don't want to mess up this potion, if there was only another way we can fix our Tom problem.
Fred looks at the list. "Okay. Sapphire, you're going with me to get all of these ingredients. Andrew, Kaitlin, Roxanne, make sure Tom doesn't do anything."
"Besides snog the life out of Valerie?" Rox question. "I really wouldn't be surprised if they shagged."
"Shut up Roxanne!" Fred exclaims in anger. I'm scared for Fred. He really loves Val.
Rox's eyes widen in shock. "Okay. I'm sorry."
Fred grabs the book and stands up. "Come on Sapphire." He walks off without waiting for me.
"I'm worried about Fred," Andrew says. "This has been effecting him a lot."
I nod in agreement. "I know. Let's just pray this potion works. I hate seeing him like this." I stand up and run to catch up with Fred. I want to ask him if he's okay, but the answer is clear. I've never seen him so angry, worried and scared all at the same time.
We go to Slughorn's supply room and gather all of the ingredients. The only thing we could not find is Re'em blood. Fred was frantically looking for the blood and I had to calm him down. "Let's go ask Hagrid," I say to Fred. "He has seen many creatures. Maybe he has Re'em blood."
"It's one of the most rare creatures in the world Sapphire!" Fred exclaims. "The Ministry of Magic classified it with four X's! It's extremely dangerous and requires a specialist's knowledge!"
"Hagrid has had a lot of experience with all kinds of creatures and beasts, Fred." I remind him. "He had a pet acromantula! They have five X's! He has handled dragons. Hagrid's the best shot we've got."
Fred sighs, "fine. Let's go to Hagrid's."
We leave the supply room and head to Hagrid's hut. I knock on the door and it opens. Hagrid smiles happily. "Sapphire! Fred! Come in!" We go inside his hut and Hagrid takes a kettle from his fireplace. "Would ya like a cuppa?"
Fred and I shake our heads. "No thanks," I smile at Hagrid. "We came here because we were wondering if you've ever seen a Re'em before."
Hagrid nods, "ah. Re'ems. Nasty beasts they are. Very rare beasts, native to the wilds of North America and the Far East. They look like a giant oxen with a golden hide. Why'd ya ask?"
I bite the inside of my cheek. "You wouldn't happen to have Re'em blood would you?"
Hagrid frowns at us. "Why'd ya need Re'em blood?"
"Because we do!" Fred snaps. Hagrid's eyes widen.
I put my hand on Fred's arm, but he shrugs me off. I sigh and look at Hagrid. "We need it to make a potion."
"What kinda potion needs Re'em blood?" Hagrid questions.
"The kind that will bring my girlfriend back!" Fred exclaims in anger. "Do you have the blood or not?!"
"Fred!" I scold. "Hagrid, I'm really sorry. You see, Tom casted a really powerful spell on Valerie. When she looks at Tom, she thinks she sees Fred. When she looks at Fred, she thinks she sees Tom. Pomfrey told us about an advanced potion that will restore her sight, it's a very complicated potion that requires a lot of rare ingredients." I open the book and show Hagrid the potion.
Hagrid studies the pages and nods. "Alright. I do have Re'em blood." Hagrid goes to a cupboard and pulls out a small clear jar containing deep red liquid. "Be careful ya hear." He warns as he hands me the jar.
I nod, "thank you so much Hagrid."
"Good luck." Hagrid smiles warmly.
I nudge Fred. He looks at me and glares. I glare back and he sighs. He looks at Hagrid, "I'm sorry for yelling at you."
"It's okay Fred." Hagrid smiles at him. "I understand. Now go brew that potion."
"Thank you so much Hagrid." I smile at Hagrid and pull Fred out of the hut. I punch Fred's arm. "I know that this situation is hard, but you did not have to yell at Hagrid like that!"
"I'm just stressed out okay?" Fred exclaims.
"I know you are! I am too, but you can't just yell at people like that!" I yell back.
Fred glares at me, "you have no idea how I feel about this! Valerie is my girlfriend!"
"And you two are my best friends!" I exclaim, "I hate seeing you hurt so much Fred! I know how much Valerie means to you and I am doing everything I can to fix this!"
Fred sighs, "I know and I can't thank you enough."
"Let's go make this potion." I grab his hand and squeeze it. We walk to the castle. We go to Moaning Myrtle's loo. I had already asked Andrew to put the equipment we need. Fred lays out the ingredients out on the floor. I sit down in front of the cauldron. I open the book and start the potion.
Fred sits down and leans back on the wall. "Do you really think this will work?" He asks quietly.
I sigh, "it's the only thing we have." I put porcupine quills into a bowl and begin to crush them into powder.
"Have I ever told you that I hate Tom?" Fred questions.
I nod and smile a little. "You might have mentioned it a few times."
"Well, I do." He says. "I hate him so bloody much. Sometimes I can't believe that you're actually keeping his kids."
I glance over at Fred. "They're my kids too."
"What happens when they want to know who their father is?" He asks.
I shrug, "I'm just hoping that I'll find someone who'll truly love me before they get old enough to notice something."
Fred smiles a little. "James loves you."
I shoot him a look, "I don't want to talk about him."
"Sapphire."
I shake my head. "Don't."
"Fine." Fred rolls his eyes.
I continue to brew the potion. I am aware of James's feelings. I am aware that everyone wants me to let him in, but after what Tom did to me, I am terrified of letting anyone in.

Albus's pov
I watch as James and Lily play Wizards chess. I couldn't stop thinking about what had happened between James and Sapphire and between Scorpius and Sapphire. James and Scorpius both care a lot about Sapphire. I know they do. I don't think Sapphire realizes that she has a lot of people caring for her. She keeps telling herself that it's her against the big bad world. The truth is, she has a best friend who will stay with her no matter what and has a guy who is completely in love with her.
I know she's scared. I know that she doesn't want to let James in. I know that Tom destroyed the little want she had in relationships. I know that she doesn't want to be with James because of what Tom did to her. What I don't know is, why she let one guy destroy her.
I want her and Scorpius to make up. Ever since the fight happened between them, Scorpius has been so distant. He doesn't talk to Rose, Lily or I as much as he used to. I miss him. I miss hanging out with him. It hurt so much. It hurt to see him look at me and walk away. It hurt to feel ignored by him. To be ignored by someone you love.

//a/n// AHHHH i finally updated!!!! Sorry it took so long! Comment what you think! Love ya :*