Chapter 6: Covenant of Flame

Covenant of Flame

“Neve!”

The wall of brown hair swiveled around to face Fi. Neve’s bright brown eyes widened at the sight of her. Fi ran towards Neve, arms open for an embrace. Neve stepped back, looking frightened. Fi dropped her arms, eyes turning stormy. 

“Neve… What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry,” Neve’s voice sounded painfully distant, “do I know you?”

Fi felt her stomach drop, heart rising to her throat. 

“Neve,” she said, “this isn’t funny.” 

Neve’s brown eyes flashed, “No, it’s not! How do you know my name?”

Fi caught on- Neve really didn’t remember her. 

“Neve, no… Oh my gosh.” Fi brought a hand to her mouth, eyes filling with salty droplets of the pain she felt. Her worst fear; losing Neve. Neve’s face remained a mask of confusion.

“Neve,” Fi said gently, “it’s me- Fia- Fi. Don’t you remember?” 

“No. Should I?”

Yes! Fi wanted to scream, You should!

“What about Kael?” 

“Vaguely. He’s my brother’s friend, right? How do you know that?” Neve’s voice was as icy as her name. 

“He’s one of our best friends.” Fi’s voice had turned pleading.
“Look,” Neve said, her tone chilling Fi to the core. “I don’t know you, and I’m not sure I want to. Right now, I need to go meet a friend.”

Fi was too stunned to ask anything but, “Who?”

“Her name is Tanya, if you care that much. Goodbye.” Neve turned away, walking with almost a robotic stride. 

“Neve! No! Wait.” Fi begged. Neve didn’t even look back. 

-=+=-

Fi trudged into the Gryffindor dormitory, her bare feet stinging on the frozen tile. The ends of her overly long pajama pants tickled her angles. At least I have something to still be part of. Fi thought. Her friend group- a source of happiness she relied heavily on, was dilapidating. Fi was struggling to complete homework on time in some of her classes, what with quidditch practice. 

To Fi, everything had a somewhat misty quality about it; everything was dulled. The lightning flashes through the windows seemed dim, and the growl of thunder was more like a whisper to Fi. Dimitri was occupied with Neve, since he was the only one she cared about anymore. Kael was- actually, Fi didn’t know where Kael was. 

Fi was walking melancholily into the dorm when she smacked directly into someone. 

“Oh, sorry.” She said without surprise or emotion. Hands gripped Fi’s shoulders, “Fi?”

Fi looked up, “Allifair?” 

Seeing the other girl’s look, Fi amended her mistake quickly, “Allie. Hi. How’ve you been?” 

Allie’s smile did some good to chase away the shadows in Fi’s heart. “Good! What about you?” 

Fi knew that things weren’t always easy for Allifair. Yet, she was always happy. “Pretty good,” Fi lied, “done anything fun lately?” 

Allie shook her head, “No. But some of my friends and I are going to Hogsmeade this weekend. Wanna come?” 

“No thanks.” Fi didn’t feel like being around people, but she was grateful for Allie’s offer. “Maybe some other time though.”

“Alright! Definitely. It’s dinner time-“ the other girl moved towards the door, “are you coming?” 

Despite Fi’s mood, the growling in her stomach insisted she head to the dining hall. “Yeah, I am.” Allie and Fi walked silently to the dining hall, feet scuffling on the crimson carpets and the soft glow of enchanted candles lighting their way. The paintings on the wood paneled walls watched the girls as they passed. 

One hallway away from the hall, a painting yelled at the girls, “Hey! You two there. Stop a moment.” The girls halted. Allie asked the painting, somewhat rudely, “What do you want?” The painting looked at Fi and grinned, “You there, girl. I’ve heard about you. Show me.” Fi paled. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes you do, now show me or I’ll tell every passing student.”

Fi’s temper, already short by nature, snapped. She stepped so close to the painting that she was almost touching it. Holding a hand in front of her, a mere two inches away from the painting. Fi let a large ball of brilliant, orange flame flicker in her hand. One thing Fi had learned about her fire was that it got stronger with emotion. Right now, Fi was drowning in feelings. She hissed at the painting, “This what you wanted to see? Now don’t bother me again or this flame of mine might just-“ Fi moved the fire even closer, “eat you up.” With an evil smirk, Fi extinguished the flame before Allifair could even see. Fi told Allie, “Let’s go. I’m starved.”

In the dining hall, Fi saw Neve and Dimitri across the hall. Ever since Neve had gone rotten, Dimitri had been at her side every second, trying to appease her; which was impossible. Neve was munching on a lime green apple, a dissatisfied frown on her face. 

Someone came up beside Fi, surprising her. Fi whirled around, “Oh! Kael. It’s you.” Kael watched Neve and Dimitri. “What happened to her?” He asked. Fi shook her head, “I don’t know. I don’t understand.” Fi felt her fingertips get hot. Looking down, she saw little ember-like sparks floating from her fingers. She quelled the flame quickly, but a fire of panic stayed burning inside her. Fi hadn’t been unable to control her magic since she was very young. But what Fi did know was that once magic was even a little out of control, everything deteriorated. The magic gets a little out of control, the wizard or witch freaks out about it, their emotions get out of control, and the magic gets more out of control. 

Luckily, no one had seen the fire except Kael. His eyebrows furrowed, “What does that mean?” Fi grimaced, “It means, that things have to get worse before they can get better.” 

-=+=-

Mid-dinner, headmaster Weasley stood up. He held up his hands and the whole hall quieted. The students had a certain respect for the headmaster, what with his past of being a prankster, loosing his twin, and fighting in the Battle of Hogwarts. “Students.” The headmaster began, his voice echoing throughout the cavernous space. The floating candles seemed to shake with the weight of his voice. “I have a very big announcement.” A small wave of murmurs swept the hall. The headmaster continued, “There is going to be-“ He stopped a moment, letting the anticipation rise, like a tidal wave pulling back. “A Triwizard Tournament.” A tidal wave of voices entered the hall, some students were cheering. Others booed, some discussed their thoughts with one another. The headmaster spoke up, silencing the hall, “All students will be available to enter. But, this tournament is different. There will be three participating schools, as usual- the students from the North American school of Ilvermorny and the African school of Uagadou will be here tomorrow afternoon.” Another wave of excitement washed over the students- this was big. “But,” The headmaster spoke again, “Instead of one student from each school participating, there will be three groups of four. Only one group can win. This is why we asked friends to put their names on slips of paper the other day. Mind you, you can still enter, any groups of four. However, if you already entered the other day, you cannot do so again.” The headmaster turned and faced the dias in front of him. He raised his hands to the night-sky ceiling, and a circular, gold plate in the floor moved aside. From it rose a towering goblet, taller than most of the students. A glorious blue fire roared from the middle of it. Fi felt her hands tingle, wanting to create their own flame. The headmaster looked out over the students, “Any groups who want to enter can but a slip of paper in this Goblet- the Goblet of Fire. That is all.” As soon as the headmaster sat down, the hall burst into noise. Kael looked at Fi, and they both shared a bewildered look. Kael said, “What if-“ Fi cut him off, “No. Don’t. It’s not likely. There’s no way we’ll be chosen.” She risked a glance across the hall to Dimitri and Neve. 

-=+=-

Fi left the hall early, needing some space. She walked up to the highest tower of the school that the students were allowed on. She opened the trap door, entering the top of the tower. Fi looked around at the snow coating the tower. It reminded her of Neve. Crying out, Fi threw both hands out, releasing huge streams of blue flame into the freezing night air. She stood like that until, weakened, she fell to her knees. Fi fell asleep in the snow, hands burned and stinging.