The empty dorm was dark as Willow waited in the still silence, tucked under her blanket seeming cozy in her bed, although she was far from slumber. Her lilac eyes were trained on the door that was barely visible by the dim moonlight filtering through the windows.
Jordan had been coming back to her dorm late ever since she cut ties with her old friends; this left Willow waiting in the dark for nearly longer than she could stand, her thoughts running rampant with steps of the intricate plan.
With a harsh creak that shattered the silence, Willow quickly closed her eyes, pretending as if she were asleep as the door swung open, revealing two booted feet backlit by the torches in the hallway. Jordan did not notice the strange-coloured eyes that followed her every step, until the feet kicked off the shoes and disappeared into the bed that stood across the room for Willow's.
Willow patiently waited until Jordan's breathing pattern had steadied to be rhythmic and heavy before quietly slipping out from under her covers and onto the chilled stone flooring. She slid and crawled over until she was face to face with the redhead girl who was deep in a slumber; Willow held her breath.
The fairy had just began to wrap her finger around the necklace that hung from the girl's shoulders when Jordan suddenly tossed around in her sheets. Willow's heart roared against her ribs like a caged lion when Jordan groaned and spun over in her sleep. Willow held her breath as she waited for the sleeping girl to still while she ducked underneath the ledge of the bed frame to hide.
Long moments of dead silence had passed before Willow decided it was safe to reach back out, her steady hands gripping around the warm, glistening silver chain. After unclipping the hook, she slowly and carefully pulled, although, it seemed to stick to the sleepy redhead's skin as if they had began to grow as one.
Willow held up the necklace in victory as it came loose, watching the deep green emerald as it glowed with the light of the moon shining just outside the window. The weary fairy girl wondered how such a simple piece of pendant could do such horrible damage.
She quickly shook the moment of hesitation before sneaking back out of the dorm hurriedly. Slipping through the empty, dark common room, she emerged out into the corridor to where Toby stood guard.
The boy greeted her with a look of relief as he carefully took the necklace from her grasp and placed it into a small cloth bag.
"I'll get this to Michael so he can conjure up a replica, meet me back out here in 20." Toby whispered in a low and hushed tone. Willow nodded in response before turning back into the dorm room and into bed. Jordan would surely find suspicion if she woke up to find her roomate missing, as well as her necklace.
Toby, being the most athletically inclined besides Willow, was the designated runner as he took off in a quiet sprint to the astronomy tower where Michael sat in the dark with his face in a book. The boy looked up through his glossy glasses and shaggy hair with a smoulder.
"Just in time, I've just mastered the replication spell." Michael whispered as he pointed out two identical books laying out in front of him. There were several objects behind him with what Toby could only assume to be the attempted replicas.
Toby approved as he pulled out the glowing green necklace, placing it down next to another necklace made of cheap metals and a fake jem.
With a wave of Michaels wand and the hushed words of a complicated spell, the cheap necklace changed from until it was identical to Jordan's.
"Now," Michael explained quitely, "the effects will only last 12 hours, meaning that by mid afternoon tomorrow, this necklace with change back into its original form. We have got to tell Jordan before that happens."
"It's like Cinderella!" Toby connected.
"I guess. Now quickly take this to Willow, and I'll bring the real one to Fawn and Tessa."
Toby nodded in understanding before taking off with the fake replication of the heirloom.
While Willow received the necklace and slipped it back onto Jordan's neck, Michael barged through the doors of the library where Fawn and Tessa sat at a dim table surrounded by open books.
"Good! You made it." Tessa whisper-shouted in relief. She clutched the necklace carefully in her hands before saying, "I can't seem to find the hex Draco used for the pendant. It's a very rare, an unknown type of spell that I am not familiar with."
"And without the hex, there is no way to find the counter hex." Fawn added.
"It's late and Jordan is already fixed up with replica anyways, we have time." Michael added, letting the 12 hour limit slip his mind.
"He's right, I say we pick this up in the morning." Fawn said with a yawn. "Then we can confront Jordan once the hex is taken care of."
"I agree." Tessa added, rubbing sleepy eyes. "We've had enough mischief for one night."
>>> • <<<
When Tessa awoke in the comfort of her dorm room bed, one thought shot through her mind sending her into a state of panic. In quickly jumping out of the covers and reaching out to her bedside trunk, she loosened the lock with a spell to counter the one she had put on it the previous night. Scrummaging through the jumble of lose trinkets and gadgets, Tessa's hand tightened around a small cloth bag that was held closed by a simple ribbon.
She let out a sigh of relief as she emptied it into her hand and found the shimmering emerald necklace, held together by a sterling snake and hanging from a shining silver chain.
Tessa clutched the necklace in her palm before carefully placing back into the bag, and into the pocket of her robe. Wasting no time, she hurried out of her dorm to meet with the others for breakfast; they were all already in the Great Hall at their respective tables.
Tessa ignored the stares as she defiantly sat between Fawn and Toby, who were both rubbing away sleep and giving gapping yawns. Tessa's harsh arrival awoke the two in a start - startling Toby so badly he spilt hot coco in his lap. Tessa simply ignored his yelps and grumbles as she asked Fawn quietly, "Will you come to the library with me? We need to find that hex before Jordan realizes something is up, because I'm sure she will - it's only a matter of time."
"You're right about that. And less time than you might think."
Michael had come up behind the two girls, and this time is was Fawn that jolted, knocking over a porcelain cup of Earl Grey. Her complaints were drowned out by Tessa demanding, "What do you mean Michael?"
He winced a bit under both of there fiery gazes, but replied steadily in a whisper. "The replication spell only lasts 12 hours. I told Toby, but I guess in my drowsiness, the message failed to reach you two."
The two girls swiveled to stare at Toby, who was in the midst of pouring himself another cup of steaming coffee. "Hey, don't look at me - I was tired too." He defended.
Fawn lets out a groan as her head falls in her hands. "We have classes all morning, we'll never be able to find the hex in time."
"Then we've got to tell her." Tessa stated quietly. 'It's the only way."
The group pondered the suggestion.
"At least this way we have the real enchanted necklace as proof." Michael admitted.
"But she's only been without the real necklace for about 6 hours, how do we know if the effects have worn off?" Toby questioned.
"We don't." Michael quickly answered.
Tessa rolled her eyes, "Comforting."
"Well, we would know for sure if someone had found the hex!" Michael whisper-shouted accusingly.
"Maybe I would have been more motivated to find it if you had told me we only had twelve hours! Yet instead you said, 'it's fine, we have time', No we don't!" Tessa argued.
"I'm sorry that four hours to daybreak is not my ideal brain functioning time!"
"Oh don't fool yourself, your brain is never properly functioning!" Under her breath, Tessa continues the insult. "Soy amiga de un tonto."
Michael grumbled in annoyance. Where their conversation had once been kept at a whisper, it had now risen to full volume as Michael defended, "I shouldn't have to be in charge of everything! Meanwhile, Fawn was just sitting with you doing nothing! Who knows what you two were up to! You could have been giggling and braiding each other's hair for all I know!"
"Don't you talk about Fawn like that, she did plenty! Unlike Toby. He's the one that insisted on staying guard for his beloved girlfriend instead of actually helping anyone! If you're gonna accuse anyone, accuse him!"
"Don't bring me into this."
"Well at least he didn't fail at the one task he took on."
"EVERYONE STOP!" Fawn screamed at all of them, causing Michael and Tessa to freeze in a startled silence, "Stop fighting. We won't accomplish anything like this."
The group was left slightly taken aback by Fawn's uncharacteristic stance of control as she now simply continued on sipping her tea, leaving the rest of them to sit in a itchy quietness.
Willow suddenly arrived at the untimely moment. "Morning everyone!" She said cheerily as she took a seat next to Toby before bringing her voice down to a whisper, "How'd it go last night?"
Michael let out a groan as he got up and left the table while Tessa shut her eyes as if fighting to keep the anger inside. Toby bit his lip when Fawn rose from the bench, her face hard as she spoke. "Toby, you can tell her."
>>> • <<<
Once Willow was informed on what had happened, and Michael and Tessa had finally cooled down, the group conjuered up a plan to confront Jordan at lunch. It was only a couple hours before the spell threatened to wear off; it was cutting it close but it was better than nothing.
The five students split up as soon as classes for the morning where over, Michael and Willow went to find Jordan alone seeing as they were the ones she had trusted most, and they didn't want her to feel intimidated by bringing the whole gang. Tessa and Toby where given the task of separating Draco and Jordan without raising suspicions. They had to keep the Slytherin boy distracted until the other two were done talking with Jordan. That left Fawn to the books, continuing to look for the hex that caused this mess.
Leaving the Veelan at the library, the remaining four did not have to go far before they found Draco and Jordan. Michael and Willow stood pressed against a hidden wall as they watched Toby and Tessa step out to distract Draco.
Willow took a deep breath, every bone in her body wished and hoped that this plan would work, that Jordan would believe them and things could go back to normal. Or, at least as normal as this group of friends could get. Yet, part of her still lingered on the arguments they have had, the cold glares and heavy words of disencouragement.
She had to try at least, and with that in mind she pushed herself fasted to find Draco. Lately Jordan was always by his side, lounging in the comfortable coils of his charm and deceit. Willow had hope though, and all she and Michael had to do was pull her out the second Tessa and Toby led the snake away, then they'd have a chance.
There was a shout, and then a bright flash from around the corner where Willow was hiding. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Tessa with her wand raised, and Toby on the ground. Professors were quick to intervene as Tessa turned to slash her wand at Draco, prepared to cast a spell on the unarmed boy.
Seriously? Her plan was to hex Toby? Willow thought before spurring into action, gesturing quickly to Michael. As he leapt out and tugged on the arm of a distracted Jordan, the fae girl muttered to herself. Tessa and her were going to have a serious discussion about what counted as a good distraction, and then maybe a lecture on friendly fire - especially towards her boyfriend.
The redhead struggled as Michael forcefully led her in the opposite direction of the commotion. Jordan stopped dead in her tracks however when she recognized Michael's voice telling her to calm down. She turned to face them, putting a smug and disgusted look on her face.
"What could you two possibly want?" She groaned as if she was bored already.
"Jordan," Willow said calm and gently, "We have to talk to you."
She examined Willow before glancing over at Michael who wore the same look of worry. She sighed, crossing her arms in front of her, "Fine. But better make it quick because Draco is not going to be happy when he sees that I'm gone."
Jordan grew bored as the two standing in front of her seemed to forget how to form words, so she began to walk back to the still chaotic scene of the hexing. Michael finally managed to speak, and stepped in front of her path. "Your necklace, how often do you wear it?"
Both girls looked confused. "I don't know? Most of the time."
Michael continued to question, "So you take it off when you sleep?"
"Nope. Is that all?" She rolled her eyes as she asked sarcastically before turning away to walk down the empty hall. In her irritation she didn't notice that she was walking away from where Draco waited for her.
"What about when it doesn't match something you're wearing?" He questions, hurrying to catch up with her annoyed stride.
"I was never one for coordinating colours."
"How about if it's uncomfortable?"
"Never is."
"Do you take it off when you bathe?"
Jordan widened her eyes at the slightly shocking question, although it was once a perfectly normal topic between the two.
"I'm not here to answer personal questions, Klukovich!" She snapped, although he continued to pry.
"If not then, when do you take off the necklace?"
"This is about your jealousy isn't it?" She scoffed. "You just can't cope with the fact that I've moved onto another guy because you could never admit your feelings!"
Willow then chimed in, "No, Jordan. It's not. Please just listen." The eye contact between the former best friends, although mildly uncomfortable, brought Jordan to a closer state of cooperation as she remembered why she had once put so much trust into a single person.
If she could do it then, she could do it now, just for a moment.
"Fine, Michael you win. I never take the necklace off." Jordan admitted.
"Don't you find it a little weird that you've never found a need to take it off? That it hasn't left your body since you received it three months ago?"
Jordan furrowed her eyebrows, not finding it strange in the slightest as she reached to the pendant for comfort in the midst of the unsettling conversation. Although when she found none, her features creased into a distressed manner as she looked to it for it's usual glow. Yet that also didn't work, she brought her eyes up to the two walking in front of her, facing her cold glare as she hissed, "What did you do!?"
"Jordan, we have proof that the necklace Draco gave to you is hexed."
"Well of course it's hexed!" She snarled as she stalked towards the confused pair.
"Do you honestly think I wouldn't notice that my own necklace glows brighter than a highlighter!?" Jordan screamed at them, making each of their bones shake. "It was enchanted by his father for Mrs. Malfoy's when they were teenagers because she had anxiety, and Draco gave it to me for the same purpose if you must know!" Her steps brought her so close to Michael that he stumbled back, dragging Willow with him.
"No, Jordan-"
"Shut it Brodigan, there is nothing you can say that will fix this." Jordan yanked the false pendant and chain off her neck and held it up in their faces screaming, "Where is my necklace!?"
Without giving the pair time to answer, Jordan began to yell. "This was you!" She viciously accused Willow, her hissing voice echoing off the walls and into the fairy's mind over and over again. "You betrayed me!"
Jordan pulled out her wand, directing it straight at the Willow's neck and pushing her backwards until she was flat against the dark oak doors of the Library entrance.
The icy Slytherin girl suddenly remembered her parents warning of a girl with a strange heritage that was clever and cunning enough to plot against the Dark Lord. Despite her defending the half-blood and setting Draco and Professor Snape off her tail, she was now beginning to think it was a mistake as here the traitor stood in front of her now.
Suddenly she heard a soft voice call out that was forced to be heard, "Wait!" Fawn called, "It wasn't her idea. It was mine."
Jordan glared at her through a dead, blank stare that said, 'how stupid do you think I am?' However, her features suddenly dropped to a state of horror when Fawn held up the real necklace. Jordan's large dark eyes peered into the Veelen's soul, giving the girl no source of peace, not even a blink to separate their gazes from the intensity.
A switch clicked in Jordan's mind. Fawn, a female student with a strange heritage and family background, someone with the capacity to plot against the Dark Lord and challenge those who help him. She fit the description perfectly.
Just when Fawn thought she might break down into tears from the intense glare, Jordan's features cracked into a smile so wide, yet it didn't reach her eyes. It sent painful shivers down the girl's spine as it was so foreign on her and unnervingly vile. Seeming almost as though the look was stolen from someone else's face and placed on hers, the look made Fawn feel sick to her stomach as she stood there unable to move, choking on her own fear.
Fawn was so encaptured by her poison coloured eyes that she failed to notice the Slytherin's advance on her trembling form. Like pieces at a time like a scratched record, Fawn vision flickered until she found herself face to face with the fiery haired girl.
All Fawn could see was that eerie smile, and the venom in her eyes. All she could feel was the cold touch of a hand on her cheek. All she could hear was the whispered promise, laced with poison. "You will pay for that, Veela scum."
Still paralyzed, Fawn could only watch as Jordan swept the necklace out of her hands and stalked away. The weary girl trembled once released from the serpent's gaze, and could only watch in horror at the creature Jordan had become.
Word Count: 3238