Etched, Engraved, Everlasting (a Hogwarts Mystery Year 6 Retell)

19 - Clara

What started as a search for the Weasley twins soon turned into a session where I had to stop Charlie Weasley from dropping onto the floor, and more than once too.

There was no sign of the twins in the Grand Staircase, and we were soon redirected to the Gryffindor Common Room by Sir Cadogan, who was slashing away in his portrait at passing students just as he was always doing. Though he showed no joy or liking at the mention of Fred and George--rather, he called them two scoundrels with 'hair of hellfire and a devilish gleam in their eyes'--he eventually put aside his personal feelings to help us.

The Gryffindor Common Room was thoroughly empty, and the foul stench that hung in the air gave us enough reason for the quiet state of the usually rowdy place. All around the room we saw Dungbombs, nestled carefully in the cushions of sofas and also by the fireplace and wardrobes--however, there was no other clue to their present location.

Eventually, we decided to pay Peeves a visit in his room, but Peeves insisted that we appeased him with acts of childish madness and mischief--even go as far as cast the Tongue-Tying Curse on poor Charlie--in exchange for the information he had on Fred and George. Apparently he decided to go and forget everything I did for him last year, because he remembered nothing of the mischief masterpiece I put together for him in exchange for the vault portrait we needed so badly. I figured, with a new year came new people to one-up others' reputations. I just wasn't sure whether I should applaud the twins for coming up with such a clever way to amuse him.

And now we were at the threshold of the Forbidden Forest--the last place either of us wanted to be looking for the twins at such a late hour. The usual dense white fog had evaporated into a light mist, a long unbroken veil that snaked between the trees and barely grazed over the gnarly roots. The occasional howl broke the otherwise eerie silence. I glanced over at Charlie, whose face had turned all but pale yet again, and I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if we returned to Hogwarts empty-handed.

The entire time, Charlie had been in an absolute panic. Every new location we went to saw his hopes being smashed with the absence of his twin brothers, broken further and further until his guard had completely crumbled. Even if we managed to trick Peeves into telling us where Fred and George went, he didn't hold onto that confidence for long. The longer we were at this, the more I felt that he could potentially break again with all that happened in the span of a few hours. After all, we were now the eldest siblings with younger ones to care for. If anything happened to them--well, plainly spoken, nothing would ever be the same.

"It's hopeless, Clara," Charlie finally groaned, burying his head in his hands. "What if we never find them? The fact that Peeves mentioned a familiar face isn't making me feel better. What if it's Rakepick? What if it's..."

The pep that was usually in his voice whenever he talked of dragons was now long gone, replaced with pure fear and anguish that would relentlessly grip at any vulnerable soul. Catastrophe has affected too many of my friends. Charlie didn't deserve to feel any of this hopelessness that should have been reserved for me.

I turned to him and gently grasped his shoulders, my eyes locked with his. "Charlie, I'm just as scared as you are. We both have little siblings we have to look out for now, and with the curses running rampant it's not always easy to keep an eye on them all the time. But if we show weakness, the enemy will take advantage and go after them. Please stay strong, Charlie--not just for me, but for Fred and George, and little Em, and everyone we all care about so much."

Tear-filled eyes stared back into mine, and for a moment I thought Charlie was going to drop on the ground in exhaustion and despair. Then he unexpectedly pulled me in for a hug, his arms wrapped around me so tightly I could feel his rapid heartbeat against my clothes, warm tears falling onto my shoulder.