Chapter 12: The Courtyard

The Courtyard

Neve and Fi walked down the stone steps together, approaching the ballroom. Fi was laughing at what Neve had just said. The horror of the encounter yesterday hung in the air, but they had made an effort to keep the mood light. They were supposed to meet Dimitri and Kael at the end of these steps- they were going as a group- but Fi didn’t see them. Madame Yelain, however, was there. 

“Girls!” She exclaimed, “We’ve decided to move the party to the courtyard since it’s such a beautiful night. But the victors are being shown to the crowd- that’s you guys! Come right this way.” Yelain motioned them, and they followed. 

Neve was wearing a stunning white dress. They’d decided to wear white and black, just for fun. Since Neve owned a white dress and Fi owned a black one, it worked out nicely. Neve’s dress had thin straps. From the straps hung long strands of sheer, white material. They flowed behind her when she walked or the wind blew, looking elegant, like strands of spirits trailing behind her. The dress hugged down to her Neve’s waist, were it turned to a loose silk bottom that flowed and swished gracefully. The rule of “formal” attire was that dresses had to be ankle length, so both girl’s dresses gently brushed against the ground as they walked. Fi’s dress was fairly simple. It was high-waisted, hugging until right about her navel, where it flowed into black silk, much like Neve’s. The sleeves, like Neve’s, were sheer. However, they hung only to to halfway down Fi’s shoulder- like small flower petals. The only thing special about Fi’s dress was the hole in the back. It had a sort of figure eight in the back that revealed much of Fi’s skin. She’d been a bit worried about it, but it was the only fancy dress she had so she’d worn it anyway.

Madame Yelain led the girls into a small back room. All three teams were there- obviously Neve and Fi had shown up a bit late. Yelain pushed them over to Tanya and Levi. Tanya wore a slate colored dress- it was a bit lighter than eggplant color and suited her well. It had an empire waist and off the shoulder sleeves. Her hazel hair and sage eyes stood out. Levi looked handsome and dapper in a two-piece black suit that showed off his arctic-teal eyes. Several helpers walked around the room handing each member of every team something. Fi couldn’t see them until the helpers got to their team. The girls were each given a gold diadem with the gem of their team set in the front- the diadems of their team had a crimson, multifaceted oval-shaped ruby. The boys were each given simple gold crowns with the gem of their team. Fi looked around- the place looked like a medieval ball with everyone in their expensive clothes and crowns. 

Madame Yelain looked around, “Okay, everyone! Team by team, one by one, you’re going to walk out on that balcony-” she pointed to a set of stairs that lead to a curtain, which must have blocked off the balcony. “Everyone will clap for you. There are stairs leading into the courtyard from the balcony; after a moment, walk down those stairs. The third place team goes first. It doesn’t matter what order you go in.”

As each student walked out- Elian went first- the crowd erupted into applause and cheers. At last, it was their team’s turn. Tanya strode confidently up the stairs, doing some sort of cat-walk. As she stepped out, Fi could see her raising her arms for applause. Levi looked just about ready to puke, so Fi looked at Neve to go next. Neve gave her a playful, but nervous shove and Fi stepped forward. She walked up the stairs. 

Stepping out onto the balcony, she didn’t notice the whole school clapping as she smiled. What Fi noticed was the stars. She’d always loved nighttime and starlight- the dark and the light contrasted, the infiniteness of the midnight blue sky, how it was always more colors than just one, and the vastness- the possibilities- of the night sky. Fi smiled about the stars and looked out across the courtyard. 

The night breeze tickled the skin of her exposed back Why not give ‘em some fun? She thought. Fi let her fire wings spread out behind her. The crowd burst into cheers. Oddly, Fi noticed that her hair turned white under the diadem for a moment. She stood a second, wings out and snow-white hair gleaming. Then she walked down the stairs. 

Levi stepped on the balcony next, smiling a charming smile and black hair waving in the jasmine night wings. The crowd cheered frenetically. After a few moments, Levi exited and Neve entered. Her white dress was radiant under the moonlight and her dark hair gleamed. A grin on her face, Neve’s ice wings spread out across the balcony. All the students- FI included -clapped and cheered wildly. Fi saw- though she thought maybe it was her imagination- Neve’s hair flash daisy white as well.  

-=+=-

The night drifted on with dancing, joy electric in the calm night air. For the first time in a long time, Fi made herself forget about melancholy, loneliness, and fear. Alongside Neve, Kael, Dimitri, and sometimes Tanya or Levi, she danced in the starlight.

Chapter 11: The Final Threshold

The Final Threshold

Levi watched in horror as Neve and Fi, fire and ice, spiraled downward into the darkness below. 

He heard a man’s voice ring out, “Fia!” He recognized the panicked voice as that of Fi’s brother, Elian. Levi looked at Tanya frantically, a “what are we going to do!?” expression on his face. Tanya looked straight into the pit, giving no response or insight. Levi called on his water, trying to conjure up wings for himself. His efforts were to no avail. 

“Fi?” Levi yelled into the pit. He could just see the last flicker of fire from her wings dip into the pool of darkness. Suddenly a searing pain ripped at Levi’s back. He fell to his knees on the gravel, a bellow escaping his mouth. He doubled over, the claws of pain were still digging deeper and deeper into his back. Little tendrils of fire appeared in front of him. They floated, forming a pattern- no- forming words. Levi, grateful for this message as a distraction from whatever was happening on his back, tried to decipher the message. 

He could at last make out that it said, “I’m sorry. It was the only way I knew. Hurts, doesn’t it? Worse for you though, being water and all.” The message sounded like gobble-de-gook to Levi. It was obvious a message from Fi, the fire proved that much. 

A voice broke through Levi’s thoughts, “Levi, stand up.” It was Tanya’s voice, cold and unfeeling. Levi stood mindlessly. His back was practically numb now, but that wasn’t so bad. 

Tanya’s eyes were wide, “She gave you wings.” Tanya’s voice was barely more than a whisper. Levi turned his head, looking over his shoulder. Surely enough, humungous wings of fire extended from his lithe, muscly back. He stared at them in awe and shock. The wings were beautiful- and terrifying. Levi tried moving them. Sure enough, the wings flapped in response. Levi practiced lifting off the ground a few feet and setting himself back down. Then, with reckless abandon, Levi took Tanya’s hand and leapt off into the trench. 

-=+=-

Fi had been reluctant to give Levi wings. They were her wings, as selfish as that sounded. She had made them and loved them. The freedom they provided was the one thing that had kept her sane these past weeks. But she’d heard the panic in Levi’s voice, and it had been the right thing to do. 

The darkness in the pit was truly infinite. Fi’s wings lit her way and she stayed close to the wall. 

“Neve?” Fi’s voice echoed all around her. She’d lost sight of Neve a moment ago. Fi hoped Neve was okay- there was no way Neve could see down here. Looking all around, Fi caught sight of a tunnel entry. She flapped over to it and stood in the threshold for a moment. Fi looked out into the inky darkness of the pit. She could see the smallest pinprick of light above her; the sky. 

Suddenly, Fi could see four figures descending the pit wall. They were across from Fi. In the darkness, she couldn’t tell which team it was. They were holding onto the wall easily with their hands and feet. Fi could see small green sparks come from their hands and feet, so they must have find some kind of spell or charm allowing them to cling to the wall. 

After a moment, Fi turned around and started to walk down the tunnel. She wasn’t sure why, but she had a feeling Neve had gone this way. Fi had to fold her wings in tightly to fit through the tunnel. They were behind her, so they did little to light her way. Fi called up a ball of fire in her hand. She realized then, surprisingly for the first time, that her team had an insane advantage over the other teams. 

“Neve?” Fi called again. Nothing- no one- responded. Fi continued down the path, hand grazing the rocky wall. This can’t be safe, she thought, this tunnel could cave in at any moment, couldn’t it? Fi’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a pain in her wings. She had realized long ago that she could feel her wings; they had become fully part of her. That had never been bad, until now. Fi screamed. It felt like a thousand knives were piercing her wings, tearing them to shreds. She managed to look over her shoulder. Fi saw, with horrifying clearness, that her wings were turning to ice. More accurately, the ice was actually burning them, spreading across the fire and almost extinguishing it. Little vines of frost crept around the wings like chains, binding and tearing them. Fi screamed again. She wondered how her fire did not melt the ice, and why she could not over come it. 

Fi stood there, unable to move as unimaginable pain shot through her. The worst pain was watching the wings- her wings -and all their glorious flame fade away. Tortuously slowly, the wings faded into ice. They kept their shape but they were brittle and immobile like statues. Fi felt a single tear drip down her cheek. 

She raised her shoulders, ignoring the weight of the ice pulling her back down. Fi titled her chin up, even though there was no one there to see. She waved a hand and the tear rolling down her face evaporated. This was her breaking point. When that single tear had crept away, Fi had felt something break deep inside. She was done. The Fi from the beginning of this year- optimistic, trusting, naive, was gone. No longer would Fi cower. No longer would she bend to the will of anyone else. Fi would rule her own life, wings or no. 

She took a shaky step down the tunnel. Slowly her steps grew stronger, until she was striding. Fi refused to let her wings touch the walls of the tunnel. She did not call Neve’s name. 

Instead, Fi growled down the tunnel, “What have you done with Neve?”

The voice of a monster pretending to be Neve found it’s way to Fi, “That, darling, is none of your concern.” The voice practically purred when it spoke.

Out of the shadows stepped Neve, mesh veil pulled over her mouth and nose, daggers strapped at her side. 

Fi spoke boldly, “If you want a fight, then come out and fight me. Stop cowering inside my friend.”

Alarmingly, Neve’s body crumpled to the ground. Standing next to her was a boy. He wore dark colored pants and no shirt. He had long, curling gold hair. His eyes were black and Fi could find no humanity in them. Immense wings extended from his back. They were not wings of fire, nor ice, water, or wind. They were white and feathered, like the wings of an angel. But Fi knew that this was no angel. The cruelty in his face revealed him to be something else  entirely. 

“Isn’t this what you wanted, girl?” He spoke arrogantly. 

“Why do you look so afraid?” He asked. Stepping forward, the boy grabbed Fi’s chin. Gripping it and titling her head so she looked at him, the boy said in a thunderous voice that made Fi think a storm was coming, “Do you know who I am?” 

Fi raised her icy eyes to meet his empty ones, “No.” She said it with a fierceness she’d never heard in her own voice before. Fi raised her hand and yanked the boy’s fingers off her chin. The boy’s eyes flashed, something between fury and awe crossing his face. He was clearly unused to being treated in such a manner. 

“I,” he purred, “am just like you.” When he said “you,” the boy tapped Fi’s nose lightly with his finger, causing her to glare at him warningly and take a step back. The boy lifted a hand, a ball of fire burning in it. 

“See?” he asked, eye’s flicking to the flame, “Just like you.” His gaze drifted lazily to Neve, who was still collapsed on the ground, but breathing, Fi noted with unspeakable relief. 

“And her.” The boy added this casually, slowly lifting his other hand to show snow rising up from it. 

The boy motioned with his chin behind Fi, “And them.” Fi whirled around to see Levi, flaming wings rippling at his back and filling the whole tunnel. Tanya was gripped in his arms, one arm supporting her knees and the other at her back. Levi was holding her like she weighed nothing. 

Fi looked back to the boy, who was still holding his hands up. Now one hand held water, and the other a miniature tornado spun in. 

“And I’m like,” the boy said again in his deep voice, “the ones you don’t even know about.” A pile of dirt appeared in the boy’s right hand and a flower sprouted from it. In the other hand, electricity snapped and crackled. Fi gasped. She heard Tanya’s boot soles hit the ground as Levi set her down. Fi felt them both come up, one on either side of her, flanking her. 

The boy tossed out a feral grin, “But none of you know who I am.” He laughed and then waved a hand, disappearing. They all stood there for a few moments after the boy had gone, stunned into silence. 

Their reverie was broken when a voice rung out, “Guys?” Neve sat up. 

“Neve!” Fi exclaimed, then rushed over beside her, sliding onto the dirt ground next to her friend. 

“Fia.” Neve looked relieved and happy to see Fi, but very tired. 

“I was there the whole time,” Neve told the group, “watching through his eyes but unable to do anything- screaming but stuck inside.” 

Fi enveloped Neve in a hug, “But you’re here now.” 

Neve nodded, swallowing. She reached a hand into her pocket, pulling out a massive ruby, “He found this,” she told the group. Tanya took it, looking satisfied. 

“Neve,” Levi said quietly, gently, “who was he?”

Neve’s chocolate eyes rose to meet Levi’s pale ones, “Voldemort’s son.” 

-=+=-

“And the winner of the first task is…” Professor Finnegan spoke with unbridled happiness, “Team Ruby!” 

The crowd broke into cheers and the group of four did their best to smile and act joyful, despite the events that had just transpired. The group didn’t even feel like they deserved the win, what with Voldemort’s son- a wholly horrifying enough concept in and of itself- having found it for them. Professor Finnegan announced and congratulated the Uagadou team, having come in second, and the Ilvermorny team, who had been just behind.

“Tomorrow night,” Professor Finnegan told the students, “we will have a celebration for the teams. It starts at six forty-five in the ballroom. Formal party attire, please. Thank you all!”

-=+=-

Fi and Neve were in the universal common room later, talking. Neve spoke to Fi in her mind for the first time since she’d been possessed, and immediately, something extremely odd happened. Both girls noticed a slight stinging sensation on their wrists at the same time. As they both lifted their wrists to investigate the stinging, a small design appeared on both their wrists- like a tattoo. It was on Fi’s left wrist and Neve’s right wrist. The design was an intricate combination of black calligraphic lines, something neither of them had ever seen before. Panicked at this strange occurrence, they hurried to go see Professor Patterson about these strange marks. Since he already knew about their telepathy, they hoped he could find the root cause of the marks and would know if they meant something ominous. 

“Well, girls,” Professor Patterson said, “this does happen sometimes. But I can’t tell you why it happened unless you tell me the whole story, which I know you aren’t.” Fi and Neve looked at each other, sharing a sigh. They turned back to Professor Patterson and told him the whole story from the beginning. 

“This is very serious.” 

“We know, Professor Patterson,” Neve said.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Fi spoke up, “Would you have listened if I came running in, telling you that my friend was possessed by the son of the dark lord?”

Professor Patterson shook his head, “This is terrible. It could result in another Battle of Hogwarts… I have to tell the Headmaster.” Professor Patterson stood up, making to leave.

“Wait!” Neve said, “What about the marks?”

“They happen sometimes when two people are connected. It’s extremely rare. For the mark to occur, the people have to share many common things. For you two, it’s most likely because you both have elemental powers, you’re the same age, you’re telepathic, and you’re friends- you have similar personalities. I would also guess that when Fi fought the dark lord’s son for you, Neve, it created some sort of sister-bond; a warrior connection, so to speak. Fate and magic are both telling you that you two are meant to fight side by side. I fear, however, that fate is also telling us that a war is on the horizon. Now please, curfew begins soon. Back to your rooms, you two, and don’t tell a soul about this.”

The girls nodded and left. 

While walking together, Fi looked at her mark and said, “It’s like Parabatai from The Mortal Instruments series, isn’t it?”

“That’s the gist of it, I think,” Neve said, “but I also heard the words ‘Battle of Hogwarts,’ ‘war,’ and ‘horizon.’”

Fi shook her head, “The unrepeatable, repeating.”

Chapter 10: It's Time

It’s Time

“So this is what you meant

When you said that you were spent

And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit

Right to the top

Don't hold back

Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain-check…”

- “It’s Time” Imagine Dragons

“Where is she!?” Tanya screeched. She looked to Fi.

“As if I know the answer,” Fi replied dryly. 

Levi stood awkwardly to the side, looking- for the first time since Fi had met him- uncomfortable. The smoothness and mischievous grin were replaced by a kind of unsureness that unsettled Fi. Tanya sighed dramatically. Neve had yet to show up and the first task in the Triwizard Tournament commenced in only ten minutes. 

Fi looked around at her group- or at least those who had bothered to show up. Levi was wearing a dark brown leather jacket, a windbreaker; good items for a task like this. Underneath the jacket, a thin, white button-up shirt peeked out. His pants were black and appeared to be of a material similar to denim. He wore brown leather boots. Everything Levi wore was functional. Tanya, on the other hand, not so much. 

Tanya was wearing spice colored jeans that hugged her legs so tight Fi doubted she could move. The jeans had little iron colored chains, one on either side, that hung on Tanya’s curvy hips. She wore black boots that hugged her calves and stopped just before her knees. The boots had small heels that were large enough that it probably wouldn’t be easy to run in them. Tanya’s shirt was perhaps the most dysfunctional piece of her ensemble. It was dark gray- like rocks in the rain- for the bottom half. Tanya’s upper-waist, just beneath her bra line, was hugged by a golden belt. It looked to Fi like taking a deep breath would be impossible in that belt. The top half of Tanya’s shirt was mist colored. The neck hung low and the long angel sleeves were off-the-shoulder. Tanya’s glinting shamrock colored eyes were winged by a thick line of black eyeliner and her eyelashes were drawn out with mascara. Fi wondered if Tanya planned on doing any kind of running, or movement at all for that matter. Even Tanya’s long and straight hazel hair was left down, smooth as ever. 

Fi herself wore tight-fitting, flexible black, high-waisted pants. She wore a white tank top with a small v-neck. It hugged her body and made movement like twisting, or flying, easy. Over the tank top she wore a jacket similar to Levi’s. It was thin, dark brown leather and stopped just at the hem of her pants. The jacket had a high, flipped-up collar that was good for protection against wind or rain. 

Pulled from her concentration on the group’s fashion choices (Fi had a tendency to zone out and start thinking about random, useless things), Fi looked around her. The group was gathered on a grassy knoll. It was early morning- too early. The sky was laden with a blanket of white cloud. Mist and fog swirled everywhere. Down the small hill was a collection of multicolored tents. The group was to report to one of those tents in- Fi checked her watch -four minutes. People and students milled about the tents. There were horse-drawn carts that would give some spectators rides to where the task would take place. There would be a large audience; almost the whole school attended Triwizard Tournament events. There weren’t enough carts to take all the students, so Fi figured the rest would have to walk. As for the three participating groups, there were covered carts. 

“Hello,” a voice as cool as a night breeze wafted into the consciousness of the group. 

“Neve!” Tanya screamed, “Where have you been?” 

Neve shrugged, looking neither apologetic nor interested. Fi took in Neve’s get-up. She wouldn’t have noticed it, were it not for the fact that it was very odd. Neve wore black pants like Fi’s, but that was where the similarities ended. Neve wore a tight, white shirt. The neck of the shirt plummeted dangerously low- something the real Neve would never wear- and string- like that of a shoe’s- laced up either side of the shirt. Over the shirt, Neve wore a long brown trench-coat. The sleeves were rolled up to her elbows and the hem of the coat almost brushed the ground. Neve’s hands were wrapped in some kind of tape-like substance. The tape was wrapped so it appeared as if Neve was wearing fingerless gloves. The oddest part of Neve’s wardrobe, however, was her veil. It was a thin charcoal colored mesh that covered Neve’s nose and mouth. The veil stopped just beneath Neve’s chin. It must have hooked behind Neve’s, but Fi couldn’t tell because Neve’s thick brown curls of hair hung over her ears. Neve’s dragon necklace, the one that she always wore, hung at her throat. 

“What are you staring at?” Neve snapped at Fi. Fi’s only response was the shake of her head. 

“Let’s go.” Tanya ordered. 

-=+=- 

Inside the crimson colored tent, the group was ordered to sit on a row of stools. They waited there for a moment and then an old man appeared. He was almost bald, save for a few wisps of clinging gray hair. The man wore long robes. He stood in front of the group. 

“I’m here,” the old man stated, his voice raspy with a hint of an Irish accent, “to tell you a bit more about your task. Then, I’ll let you pick ‘yer weapons.”

Levi interrupted with what Fi thought was the first thing he had said all day, “Weapons?”

The old man nodded, “Ye heard me. After I’m done talkin’ to you all, we’re gonna go out in that courtyard-” he pointed a bony finger outside, “and you’ll be assigned the jewel you’ve gotter’ find today.”

The old man paused and swallowed before continuing, “But I’m gettin’ ahead of me-self. First things first. I’m yer group mentor, Braden.” He looked to the group, expecting them to introduce themselves. 

Tanya cleared her throat, coughing. 

“I’m, uh, Tanya.” She said nervously. 

“Nice to meet you, ‘Uh Tanya’” Braden teased. 

Fi piped up, “I’m Fia, but you can call me Fi. Nice to meet you, sir.”

“Likewise,” Braden replied. 

“I’m Levi. Pleased to meet you.” 

Braden nodded his response, then looked to Neve, who had remained quiet.

She cocked an eyebrow, saying only, “Neve.” 

Braden glared at her rudeness, but didn’t say anything. 

“Alright,” Braden began, “You probably already know quite a bit about your task. You know that we’re going to the trench of Daemion and you’ll have to find a certain gem. The trench used to be a mine but then it caved in. Now there’s an enormous sheer drop that you’ll have to find your way down somehow, with the use of either magic or brute skill. There are numerous paths that lead off from the main drop, which is deep enough that you can’t see the bottom. The gem could be in any one of these paths.” 

Braden paused long enough for Fi to genuinely regret the lack of studying she had done. Sure, she could fly to the paths, but how was she going to find the gem? She would need some kind of locating spell for that, specific to a certain jewel. 

Braden carried on, “The first team to find their gem gets first place, second gets second, and so on. But what they didn’t tell you is that there are beasts in the mine.”

Levi asked, “What kinds of beasts, sir?”

Braden shook his head, “I’m not allowed to tell you that, my apologies. Furthermore, you’ll have to fight these beasts. That’s what the weapons are for. That’s basically all I can tell you. For now, go pick your weapons- only one each” Braden stood and motioned for the group to go through the sheet that separated the other half of the tent. 

Fi lead the way, with Tanya and Levi a step behind, and Neve dragging further back. Pulling back the sheet, Fi saw a huge wall of weapons. Swords, bows, daggers, chakras, axes, everything. She went straight to the wall, knowing she would have a terrible time making her decision. 

When everyone had entered the little room, Braden spoke up. “Choose carefully. Besides your wand, it’s all you’ll have. Oh! And I forgot to tell you- you get to keep your weapons after the task.”

After saying this, Braden murmured quietly, “Bunch ‘o teenagers with weapons; sounds like a terrible idea to me.” Fi had to stifle a laugh, despite her nerves.

Fi looked over all the weapons. Her first inclination was the bow and arrow, which she was trained in. But, Fi realized, a bow would be no help in close quarters, especially if something snuck up behind her. 

Fi’s next desire was an axe. The handles were long and curved. They fit just right in her hand. When Fi swung the axe, she felt powerful. She could even throw an axe. Fi was about to speak up and say she had chosen her weapon when she thought about close combat with an axe. She could do lots of damage throwing an axe but when Fi tried to imagine hacking at some bear-like creature close up, the axe didn’t seem like such a good choice. Stuff would go everywhere and Fi doubted an axe could cut very deep if one was swinging it instead of chopping with it. Reluctantly, Fi returned the axe to it’s spot on the wall. Fi considered a dagger, but then decided against it. 

At last, Fi went to the very far right of the wall. Tucked in neatly was a beautiful sword. It was long and gleaming- a silver-white color, looking almost like frost. The guard- or chappe- of the sword was made to look like elegant wings. They fanned gently outward, and Fi couldn’t help but think of her own wings. The wings she had grown so attached to and couldn’t bear to live without. Between the wings of the sword was set a small cerulean gem. It was smooth, clear, and rich in color. 

Gripping the sword tightly- it was very heavy -Fi turned around. Facing Braden, she said “I’m ready.” 

-=+=-

The group walked out onto the courtyard, tips of their boots getting wet with dew. Fi noticed that Neve had chosen a belt of small knives and daggers as her weapon. Levi seemed to have reluctantly chosen a longsword like Fi’s. Fi could understand why his face was grim; the thought of having to injure- or even kill- any creature made her stomach turn. Tanya had chosen a razor-sharp, whip like thing.

Elian’s group was just leaving when Fi’s group approached. Fi caught his eye, and Elian looked worried, his eyes going to the sword in her hand. She saw that he had chosen a bow and arrows. 

A woman stood, holding a black burlap sack. 

“Welcome,” she addressed the group. The woman’s voice was smooth and flowing like water. 

She continued, “I’m Arya. One of the people in your group- you decide who- will reach in this bag and retrieve one of the gems inside. This will be the jewel you have to find in Daemion. It, however, will also become your team name. The other teams have already chosen, so there’s only one left. Someone reach in.” Arya held out the bag, holding it open. Levi stepped forward and slid a hand in. When he pulled it out, a dark ruby was gripped in his hand. Arya folded her bag. 

“Ruby,” she said aloud. “Is now both your team name and the jewel you’ll have to find. There’s a cart waiting for you; go ahead.” Arya motioned towards a lone covered wagon several feet away. The group began walking towards it, all in step. 

Levi, next to Fi, turned towards her.“For you.” He held out the ruby, his trademark wry grin plastered on his face. His charming self seemed to have returned, but it appeared slightly forced, something Fi figured was most likely nerves. She wasn’t sure if the ruby was a peace offering or another attempt at flirting. Fi supposed, however, that Levi knew better than that now. 

Taking the ruby, Fi said, “Thank you,” and tucked it in her jacket pocket. 

-=+=- 

-=+=-

The group stood on the lip of the trench of Daemion. It was alabaster colored stone, rugged and uneven. They awaited the sounding of a horn that would tell them they could begin their task. Fi looked across the monumental opening, eyes landing on Elian. His team was Peridot. The Uagado team had been assigned Amethyst. Fi took a deep breath. 

The horn sounded.

Before Fi could even move, Neve leapt forward into the abyss. Fi opened her mouth, just about to yelp, right as two enormous figures emerged from Neve’s back. Wings, Fi realized. Wings of ice. They were arctic blue, almost white. Each aspect of them appeared like a pixel; tiny bits of ice, just like glass. Neve swooped, spiraling down into the tunnel, the crowd screaming. Fi leapt off right behind, wings ablaze at her back. 

Chapter 9: Wings of Flame

Wings of Flame 

Fi took a deep breath. Her back burned whenever she inhaled, but she didn't care. This was what she’d practiced for. This was why she’d devoted hours to levitating a few feet off the ground and dropping herself back down. This would be the moment that changed everything. That was the thought in Fi’s head as she stepped off the side of the North Tower, hundreds of feet above the ground.

Fi almost screamed as the rushing wind tore into her face and skin. She flailed her arms, panicking. Fi made herself breathe and extend her burning wings. In retrospect, she realized, this was a terrible idea. But, she was a teenager.

Fi had felt nothing, nothing, like the moment her wings caught the updraft and rocketed her into the starry indigo sky. It was a kind of freedom unknown to anyone but her; as far as she knew. The burning in her back faded and Fi flapped her huge wings, which spanned a ridiculous amount of space. She flew amongst the stars. In that moment of freedom, only one negative thought clouded Fi’s joy. She missed Neve- really missed Neve. Fi had been too busy being furious and wounded, but now she realized that Neve was a huge puzzle piece in her life; without her, the picture wasn’t complete.  

-=+=-

Glory. Freedom. Escape. That was what flying was. Fi snuck away every night to practice her flight. It was a monotonous and tedious task, consisting of spending about twenty minutes constructing the wings in the air (with attention and detail paid to every feather of flame), and then about five minutes of agony as the wings melded to Fi’s back. Yet, the flying made up entirely for the pain Fi had to endure. There was nothing like bolting into a cobalt sky, untethered, and soaring about the stars. Flight was freedom, freedom was joy, and joy was all one could ever ask for.

-=+=-

“Stop doubting me,” Elian told Fi.

“I’m just saying… I don’t think you’re going to find the gem on broomstick- they won’t let you.”

The first task for the Triwizard Tournament had been announced. It was to take place in a week. Any type of magic was allowed. The task was to find an assigned jewel (large and uncut) in the trench of Daemion. The trench was a massive hole leading into the depths of the earth. Tunnels branched off from the main hole, but were virtually inaccessible since the trench was a sheer vertical drop. It had originally been used as a mine, with broomsticks being used to access the tunnels. Now the task was for each team to retrieve a certain gem (they would assign colors at the commencement of the task) from any one of the tunnels. The first group to do so would win. 

-

Luckily for Fi, she had wings she could summon. The only issue was how long they took to form- by the time Fi had affixed her wings, the other groups might have already found a way into the tunnels. She’d tried time and time again to will the wings to appear instead of having to create them all over again and then burn them onto herself (a process which Fi had become surprisingly numb to). 

Elian’s voice broke Fi’s reverie, “So what are you gonna do?”

“Huh?”

“To get the gem- how are you gonna do it?”

“Oh… Uh, I dunno.” Fi wasn’t sure she wanted anyone to know about her wings yet. 

She glanced up and noticed the time, “Sorry, Elian! I gotta go.”

“Bye.”

“See ya.”

-=+=-

Fi arrived late- and panting- to the third corridor. 

Tanya glared at Fi, “Took you long enough.”

Levi smiled from a few feet away, “Hi!” 

Neve, who was leaning against the stone entrance to the tower, gave no acknowledgement of Fi’s presence. 

Fi simply said, “Are we going up? To practice?”

“No,” Tanya said sarcastically, “we’re just going to stand here all day.” She pushed the monumental door open and lead the way up the spiraling stone staircase.

Once at the top, the four of them stood awkwardly looking at each other. They had no idea what to do. Fi wished that she was with Kael, Dimitri, and the old Neve. They were her best friends and things were always comfortable around them. Fi felt like she could be herself around those three, but around Tanya, Levi, and this Neve the open-air tower top was charged with discomfort. Neve refused to acknowledge her, Tanya glared at her, and Levi wore a jovial smirk. 

Neve’s cold, robotic voice broke the silence at last, “What do we do?”
Fi asked, “What can we do?”

“We’ll have to find a way to fly without using broomsticks,” Levi chimed. 

Fi swallowed. She needed to use her wings, but they felt like her own secret- something that was hers alone.

Neve looked at Fi and said in the same clinical emptiness, “She’s hiding something.” 

Tanya and Levi looked at Fi at the same moment. Fi stood frozen like a deer in the headlights. 

Neve cocked her head like a dog might.  She said, “I don’t know how, but you can fly. Somehow. Some way.” 

Fi made no move.

“Show us,” Tanya ordered. 

Fi was in the spotlight now. For some reason, she froze entirely. She didn’t move at all- and neither did Tanya or Levi-when Neve crawled onto the enormous stone ledge of the tower. She crouched there for a moment, then stood up. Fi watched in horror as Neve turned to face them all. 

She looked directly at Fi and said, “Now you’ll fly.” Then Neve fell backwards off the tower. Fi felt a scream tear from her throat.

“Neve!” Fi jumped onto the stone ledge. Right as her feet left it, she felt a massive spread of heat across her back- wings. 

-

Plummeting down, down. Faster, faster. Fia pulled her wings in all the way, condensing the massive things as much as she could. At last, after what seemed at the same moment like both an eternity and yet a second, Fi opened her wings. She grabbed under Neve’s arms, catching her. Without a word, Fi flapped back up to the tower. She dropped Neve gently there, and flew away. 

-=+=-

Somehow, Fi found herself at the edge of the forest- no longer forbidden- leaning against the trunk of a massive tree and, of all things, crying. She must have been there a very long time, because the sun had moved overhead and the light had grown dimmer. Wiping her eyes, Fi was startled by the sound of footsteps behind her. She made no move to see who was behind her- Fi didn’t care. Something- someone- plopped down on the leaves next to her. At last she turned to face the person and found that it was Levi. Fi shook her head.

“Where are the others?”

“They both left, as soon as you dropped Neve off.”

“Just left?”

Levi nodded. 

Fi asked, “Was Neve okay?”

“Yeah, she was fine. Thanks to you.” 

Fi shrugged. Levi took her hand, but she was too caught up in her thoughts to notice this gesture.

“Fi, look at me.” Fi looked at Levi and found herself caught up in his icy blue eyes, which were somehow always brimming with emotion. They reminded her one her favorite TV show characters; Neil Caffrey from White Collar. A breeze rustled the trees around them, and one small black curl of hair fell between Levi’s eyes. Hair… Like on of Fi’s favorite fictional boys, Rhysand, from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Levi smiled, bright as Fi’s fire. He inclined his head forward a bit and- kissed her. His lips were soft against Fi’s. She pulled back immediately. 

“Levi! What the heck was that?” 

Levi looked entirely flustered. “Um- uh, I don’t know. I thought… I mean. It was a kiss.”

“Do you just go around kissing people?” Fi knew she was being a bit hard on him, but we were barely friends. 

“No- I just- I really like you.”

“Levi we just met. And I’m fourteen. I don’t need a boyfriend. I like you a lot, but as a friend. I’m sorry if I have you the wrong idea.” Fi stood up and summoned her wings. After having to save Neve today, Fi was surprised that they just appeared again. No more building and fusing them, she supposed. 

“Fi, wait!” 

It was too late. Fi was gone. She flew to one of the school’s many towers. Fi prayed no one saw her- the girl with wings of flame. She sped down the staircase and into the school hallway. Fi sighed and pushed her hair away from her face. Her lips still burned with the imprint of Levi’s lips. She was not expecting that. At all. 

-=+=-

“And then he kissed me!” Fi recounted the day’s events to Kael. He seemed to be listening with half interest. Not really caring if Kael wanted to hear about her day, Fi continued on.

“I mean, who does that?”

Kael at last participated in the conversation, “This is the most passionate I’ve seen you about something in a long time. You used to always be this way. Lately you’ve been so-”

Fi mimicked his British accent, something she usually didn’t bother to do around him,“apathetic?”

“I guess so. Whatever that means.”

“Yeah, I guess I’ve made myself numb lately, so I wouldn’t have to deal with losing Neve and Dimitri. It’s been hard for you too, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah. But we’ll get them back.”
“You know it.”

Chapter 8: Deception

Deception

"No, Elian."

"Fi! You have to. You can't do it. It's too dangerous."

"Elian..." Fi trailed off, sighing. There wasn't a thing she could say to sway him- Elian believed that the Triwizard Tournament was no place for her. Fi decided to give the subject a last ditch effort. "Elian, you know what I can do. I can take care of myself. I have been. All year."

"School isn't the same thing as a Triwizard Tournament, Fia. People have died doing it."

"Yeah, I know. But it's my choice, okay? And I'm going to do it."

Fi walked away before Elian could say anything else. She rarely fought with her brother. Fi felt flustered, confused, and somewhat alone. She was speed walking, hurrying to curl up in the library with a book, or maybe go to the North Tower and let off some steam- or, that is, fire. She rounded a corner, not looking where she was going, and ran smack into someone. Fi stepped back in surprise. "Sorry," she murmured. Fi looked up to see who she had run into. Whoever it was, they were tall and thin. Fi was surprised to see blue eyes matching her own. "Levi."

"Fi." Levi smiled.

"Uh... Sorrry about that."

"No worries. So when are we all gonna meet?"

"Meet?"

"Yeah, to practice."

"Oh. I don't know..."

"Okay. Well, you know where to find me." Levi tapped the house badge on his jacket and Fi realized for the first time that he was a Gryffindor too.

"Yep- uh, bye."

"Bye."

-=+=-

Fi arrived at the door to the Gryffindor common room only to find Kael standing outside. She opened her mouth to greet him when he said, "Finally."

"Hey Kael- what are you up to?"

"You're in the Triwizard Tournament."

"Yeah...?"

"I thought you might want these." Kael passed Fi a stack of books on various subjects, all of which would be helpful for the tournament.

"Oh! Thank you!" Kael shrugged. Kael always had a way of knowing people and knowing what they want, always as what they would need. He was the friend you expected to get nothing from for Christmas and actually got something you really loved from him.

"I'm headed out to practice for quidditch," Kael said, "wanna come?"

Fi nodded, "Sure."

-=+=-

Very sweaty from quidditch with Kael, which Fi thought sounded like the name of a TV show, Fi returned to the Gryffindor rooms. After a quick shower, she had no idea what to do. She had already read for hours, she'd exhausted her one leftover friend source, and her laptop was off getting repaired.

Fi pulled a sweatshirt on over her pajamas and headed out into the hall. Her socks scuffed against the brown carpet. With only the soft light of oil lamps to light her way, Fi navigated through several hallways and up several moving staircases (which always left her out of breath). At last she arrived before the heave spruce door to the North Tower. Relieved, she trudged up the spiral staircase and into the cold night. The stars shone brilliantly against the dark of the night sky and Fi thought about just how beautiful Hogwarts was. Bored, she plopped down on the stone ground and began to play with fire.

Fi crafted all sorts of beautiful things: tiny flame pegasi, a life size fire TARDIS, and more. A sudden thought came across Fi's mind. All her life she'd wanted nothing more than to be able to fly. Not on a broomstick, in a plane, or even on some sort of mythical creature, but by her own power. Fi wished for sprawling, massive wings extending from her own back- wings that she could control. To Fi, flying was the ultimate freedom. Fi wondered if fire could make wings. It wasn't solid, but...

First, Fi crafted a little bird of fire. She practiced detail in the wings; bones, feathers, everything. She made the bird flap and dip and soar. Then Fi looked around for anything of weight. It took her a moment to remember the loose brick on the left side of the tower's top. Fi strode over and wiggled the brick. After what seemed like hours of wiggling and pulling it, the brick broke free. That left Fi wondering how she would affix wings to the brick. She tried it, going on instinct, and found that she could actually melt the wings onto the brick. Fi took a deep breath and stepped away from the brick. She manipulated the wings, willing them to flap and lift the brick. To Fi's utmost surprise, as well as the denial of both logic and gravity, the brick rose gently.

-=+=-

 Fi had gone up every night for the last three days to practice her wings of flame. She'd practiced quidditch with Kael several times, read two books, and gotten a good grade on a potions quiz. She stepped out of the shower, hurrying despite her early morning extreme-slowness. Fi had History of Magic in less then an hour and it was all the way across the school. She wrapped a towel about herself and made a beeline for the clothes she'd left on the bed. Fi grabbed them and was just about to run back to the bathroom to change. 

A voice echoed from behind her, "Fi. What is that?" Fi froze in place. 

She turned to Allifair behind her. "What's what?" she said cheerily. 

Allie's gaze was- for once- serious. "Fi. You know what I'm talking about- those huge red welts on your back."

"Oh. Those. It's nothing... Really!"

"Fi, how did you get those."

"It's nothing... really." Fi felt rapid panic rising. How on earth was she going to explain that she had been using fire magic and trying to affix wings to her back!? It even sounded crazy to her.

"Fi. Tell. Me. You can trust me- I promise." Fi exhaled, mind racing for a believable lie. Enough people knew about her magic, yet she still wanted it to be her secret, to some extent.

"Don't tell anybody," Fi began, "but I was trying a new potion, one we aren't supposed to try. I turned away for a minute and it bubbled up; it burned me. I really am fine though. Just- please don't tell anyone. I don't want Gryffindor to lose points because of it."

Allifair nodded understandingly, "Okay. I won't tell anyone. Just don't let it happen again, please."

Fi agreed heartily to this and ran off to change.

-=+=-

"Fi!" A cheery voice came from across the common room that night. "How've you been?" Fi looked up to see Levi standing above her, hands comfortably in his pockets. 

"I've been good, you?" She shifted in her chair to look at him and fought back a wince. Her back was in a special kind of agony after tonight's attempt. Levi's eyes turned dark for a moment, as if he saw her wince.

"I've been good... I'm heading out to the East Tower for some-" he lowered his voice so no one in the common room would hear, "Element practice." Levi threw a wry grin her way. "Wanna come?"

Fi shook her head, "Thanks, but not tonight. I'm kinda tired."

Levi replied, "I understand! Join me if you feel like it."

-=+=-

The following day was Saturday, and Fi found herself completely lacking anything to do. For some reason she found herself incapable of sleeping in and had awoken long before breakfast. Anxiously awaiting food, Fi lounged in the Gryffindor common room, reading. The morning sun slid through the high, curved windows in the rare way it did only in the early hours of the day. Fi's thoughts kept wandering all over the place, preventing her from focusing on her book. With a sigh, she set it down on the coffee table. Fi rose and left the Gryffindor common room, deciding that even wandering the halls without purpose would be better than the restlessness she was experiencing.

As she scuffed along the scarlet carpets alone in the wee morning hours, Fi found herself singing. She'd always loved to sing, but never in front of anyone. Her voice found its way gently through a song she knew well; one in the minor key with lots of shifts and fun twists for her to navigate through. Without even realizing it, Fi's voice gathered strength until it echoed in the arched, high-ceilinged hallway. It doesn't matter, she told herself, no one is awake to hear anyway. Her lilting voice traveled independently and Fi let her thoughts meander where they wished.

"Beautiful," a smirking voice awoke Fi from her reverie. 

She could not see the source of the voice, but she recognized it immediately. "Levi."

The voice drifted again from unknown corners of the hall, "Did you miss me?"

Suddenly, a large question-mark formed from water was floating in front of Fi. She didn't feel like playing Levi's games today. Fi waved a hand and Levi's water almost instantly turned to steam as fire collided with it- Fi's fire.

"Hey, don't be rude."

Levi stepped from behind a corner up ahead, pale eyes shining brightly, black hair in waves perfectly slicked, and clothes as crisp as always. Fi put on a mock-apologetic face and a burning (literally) image of the word "sorry" appeared above her head. Levi laughed and Fi let the fire dissipate.

"Always a morning bird?" she asked Levi.

"Yes, you?" Fi shook her head.

Levi glanced at his watch, "Well, sorry to leave so soon, but I better be going."

"Bye."

"Bye- see you around!" Fi waved to Levi as he walked off.

-=+=-

At breakfast, Fi ate with Kael and Allifair (whom Kael tolerated but didn't like). She dunked her sausage link in maple syrup and bit into it, enjoying the grease dripping down her chin. Fi wiped away the grease after a moment, finishing her sausage. She visually perused the dining room. She'd chatted with Elian at the Ilvermorny table earlier, but left him when he was flocked by girls again.

Fi glimpsed Neve standing amongst a gaggle of girls, Dimitri at the table near them. Fi thought about how un-Neve this was; they'd both once said they wouldn't have any friends that were girls, were it not for each other. Girls were too much drama- too much trouble. Neve seemed to be the focal point of all the girls, who were giggling and tittering. Fi could see Neve talking to the girls, and if her mouth-reading was correct, Neve said something like Really? Dare me to? The girls all around her nodded. In response, Neve stalked over to the Hufflepuff table. She stood next to a boy that looked about their age, someone Fi didn't recognize. Neve must have said something to him, because the boy stood, looking flushed. Neve gently rested her hands on the boy's shoulders and Fi watched as... Neve kissed him. Fi winced visibly- as much as she loved romance novels, real relationships were something she'd vowed to stay away from for a very long time. Neve had harbored the same disinterest in them before, but now...

It was in that moment when Fi realized for the first time- something she should have known for a long time- the girl she was looking at was not Neve.