A Flash of Retribution
The slumber party continued. Benedict sat on his bed and read his book while the girls chatted away in his sister’s room. At dinner, they all sat around the table together. Ben sat with his Hufflepuff sisters and across from Freya. Alyssa sat at the other end of the table, next to Bell. Ben tried to catch Alyssa’s eye, but she was studiously ignoring him.
Alyssa had not forgotten that Freya had outmaneuvered her and spent some one-on-one time with Benedict. Alyssa considered Ben to her boy, whether or not she had chosen to be affectionate with him. She was determined to punish him for giving so much attention to Freya, and she was eager to punish Freya, too.
Outside the sun was setting, and the air was slowly cooling. Ben helped clear the dishes, and the cousins Grace and Chloe helped their aunt rinse the plates and put them in the dishwasher. Elanor, a soft-spoken Ravenclaw with straight, champaign blond hair, watched the proceedings studiously. “You don’t have a House-elf?” she asked.
Grace and Chloe laughed. “Nope! No magic elves to do the housework for us. We’ve got to do it all ourselves.”
Once the dishes were cleared away, Mirabella brought out the birthday cake: a large rectangle of chocolate cake, covered in dark chocolate frosting, with thirteen candles on the top, and the words, “Happy birthday, Belladonna” in purple script.
Alyssa said, “Isn’t it Ben’s birthday, too? Shouldn’t there be 26 candles?”
“We get separate cakes and separate parties,” said Ben. “My cake will not be all chocolate. This one will be very rich.”
“But we have vanilla ice cream for everyone to mellow it out,” said Mirabella.
“And hot fudge!” said Bell. “Because you can never have too much chocolate!”
After cake and ice cream, Bell announced that it was time for a movie. She brought the group to a room with a large TV and many soft, comfortable chairs. Benedict joined them, taking a seat in the back corner.
Bell had selected a teen comedy from the 80’s, Pretty in Pink. The disc was already in the player. As Bell got it going, Elanor stood again and watched carefully.
“A Muggle movie!” said Elanor. “How cool!” She examined all the wires behind the player and the monitor.
Penny called out, “Stop being a Ravenclaw, Ellie, and enjoy the movie!”
This was one of Bell’s favorite movies, and because of that, Ben had seen it many times, as had Grace and Chloe. Most of the Godric’s Hollow crowd, however, had not. Though they were not as inquisitive as Elanor, watching any Muggle movie was still an unusual experience for them.
When the film wrapped up, it was nearly 10 pm. Mirabella said, “Alright, girls, let's get ready for bed.” The girls went into Bell’s room and into the bathroom to change into their night clothes. Ben helped his mother transform the TV room into a large bedroom. She transfigured each chair into a mattress, while Ben brought linens from the cupboard. Together they lined them up into two rows of six mattresses, leaving narrow trails between them for walking.
“Off to bed with you, now, son,” said Mirabella. “The girls will be out here soon.”
“I know,” said Ben. “Good night, mum.” He retired to his room and quickly got into his pajamas.
The girls began to return in pairs and clumps to the room. Grace and Chloe were two of the first girls to return. When Chloe looked around the room, she said, “Aunt Mirabella! Where are all the chairs?”
“They’re still here,” said Mirabella, smiling.
“Did you use magic?” asked Grace. Mirabella nodded. “We never get to see you do magic.”
“It’s just silly government rules,” said Mirabella, “but we have to follow them.”
Most of the girls dressed conservatively, nervous or embarrassed about the presence of Benedict in the house. One who didn’t mind was Penny. She wore knit shorts and a thin t-shirt. Freya, by contrast, wore a flannel nightgown that went past her knees. She gazed at Penny in disapproval.
Into the room sauntered Alyssa. She was wearing a bright pink nightshirt that just barely covered her. The fabric was thin and clinging. Freya gazed at her malevolently.
Alyssa surveyed the room with a dramatic sweep of her head. “Where’s Benedict?”
“Aunt Mira sent him off a bit ago,” said Grace.
Bell returned, wearing a yellow nightshirt over matching knit shorts. Alyssa said to her, “I was hoping to say good-night to your brother.”
Bell gave Alyssa an amused smirk. “I’m sure he would be thrilled to say good night to you, Alyssa.”
Alyssa went out into the hallway. The door to Ben’s room was shut. She knocked softly on the door. “Ben, are you in here?”
She heard his response through the door. “Um, yeah. Hang on a sec.” The door opened. Ben flushed deeply when he saw how little she was wearing. “I just wanted to say good-night,” said Alyssa.
“Oh, um, yes. Good night.”
She reached out her arms and gave him a firm hug. “I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
He nodded. His cheeks and ears were bright pink. He was too flustered for words.
Alyssa sauntered back to the room with the other girls. Freya accosted her immediately. “Where did you run off to?”
“I was saying good-night to Ben.” Freya scowled. She looked slightly ill. Alyssa continued, light-hearted. “If you hurry, you can catch him before he goes to bed.”
Freya glared angrily at Alyssa; Alyssa answered with a sly, confident smirk. Bell, observing this exchange and wanting to end the stare-off, said, “Let’s all say good-night to my brother!”
Grace and Chloe picked up the cue first. “G’night, Ben!” The Hufflepuff girls followed quickly with their own calls. The other girls followed suit.
“Good-night, girls!” came the answer.
Mirabella lowered the lights. The girls settled on their mattresses and began to gossip. Freya laid with her back to the wall and listened to the other girls talk about the handsome boys from school and which of the older students were couples.
Freya longed to slip out of the room and into the hallway. She closed her eyes and remembered her happy moment, sitting at the table with Benedict, talking and eating cookies. She imagined knocking on the door of Benedict’s room and talking to him again. Her cheeks flushed as she thought about him giving her a hug.
But she stayed where she was. She did not have the confidence that Alyssa had, to walk out of the room and ask for her hug. Freya’s nightgown was not nearly so revealing as Alyssa’s, but still, Freya would feel mortified wearing it in front of Benedict. Alyssa snuck away while everyone was still getting settled. Nobody realized what she was doing until she did it. If I get up now, everyone will know where I’m going, and they’ll tease me.
She let out a long, soft sigh. She listened for a while to the chatter of the girls, but sleep quickly, mercifully, overtook her.
Alyssa, however, was still not satisfied. She had punished Freya for sneaking off and talking with Benedict, but her own moment alone with Bell’s brother had been too brief for her liking. Freya spent an hour with Ben, and I just got a quick hug. After the conversation died down, Alyssa pondered her next moves.
Benedict woke up early the next morning. He dressed in a flannel shirt and a hooded sweatshirt and went outside to check on the horses. Once he had fed them and refreshed their water, he went back into the house. He avoided the area where the girls were, but went to the kitchen. His mother was making pancakes and frying up strips of bacon. Ben set the dining room table for fifteen.
Down the hallway, he could hear the girls begin to stir. There was the whine of water in the pipes. Someone was taking a shower. Freya came down the hallway fully dressed. “Do you need any help?” she asked.
“I just finished setting the plates,” said Ben. “Help me with the silver.”
Their moment alone was brief, for the dining room was soon full of girls, including Alyssa.
At the breakfast table, Alyssa was the quiet one, listening to the other girls as they talked about their plans for the rest of the summer. A few still needed to go to Diagon Alley to pick up their school supplies. Others were hoping that the good weather would last, and they would be able to visit the beach. Katie mentioned she would be spending some time in Druid’s Grove.
Freya said, “I’ll be heading up to Druid’s Grove, later today. My sister and I will be spending a week there, visiting our grandmother.”
This was just the insight Alyssa was looking for. She said grandly, “I would love to spend more time here in Tookborough. I had such a good time yesterday. It’s so beautiful here.”
Mirabella said, “Well, you’re welcome to stay if it’s alright with your parents.”
Alyssa turned to Bell. “Would that be okay with you? I don’t want to be a nuisance.”
“Of course, you’re not a nuisance, Alyssa,” said Bell. “We’d love to have you stay a bit longer.”
Alyssa turned and gave a sly smile to Benedict, who blushed, and then a smirk to Freya, who was glowering at her again.
Alyssa’s mother was not pleased when they reached her via the Floo Network. “I was really hoping you would come home with Freya or Penny,” she said. “It’s a far trip for us to go and get you.”
“Oh, but Mum, you’ve got to see it. It’s beautiful up here.”
“I don’t want you to be a burden and overstay your welcome.”
“Can I stay through the afternoon at least?” To this, her mother assented.
Parents began to arrive to pick up their children. Mrs. Mooncrest, Sophie’s mother, picked up all the girls going back to Godric’s Hollow. “Aren’t you coming, too, Alyssa?” asked Mrs. Mooncrest.
“No, my parents will pick me up later.”
Within the hour, the house had emptied out. Even the cousins had gone home. All that were left of the party was Alyssa, Belladonna, and Benedict.
“What would you like to do, Alyssa? It’s still a bit chilly for a swim.”
“Can we go horseback riding again?” asked Alyssa. “I didn’t get much of a turn yesterday. I’m sure with some more practice, I can get my horse moving.”
So, the trio went out to the stables. Ben and Bell set the saddles, bits and reins. They gave Alyssa the brown horse, who was more forgiving and less apt to take advantage of an inexperienced rider. Bell took the black horse and Ben the palomino.
Instead of trotting around the corral, Bell led them on a trail that went all through the property. Bell was in the lead and Ben took up the rear, keeping Alyssa between them. They rode past a vegetable garden, through groves of trees, and over to the pool. The rising sun sliced through the trees and shown in the mist rising up from the dew-damp grass.
At the pool, Alyssa stopped and gazed at the water, shaded by the many trees. There was a creek running in and out. All around them were the sounds of water running over smooth stones. “I had fun swimming here yesterday. We’ll have to come back and do that again sometime.” She saw the blush on Benedict’s cheek and laughed.
“I’m never going to be able to leave you two alone, am I?” said Bell.
After an hour of riding, the three returned to the stables. Bell showed Alyssa the proper way to brush the horses, while Ben put the tack away. Once inside, the girls decided they needed a shower. Ben retreated to his room to read, though he kept his door open.
A few minutes later, Alyssa appeared, wearing Bell’s pink terry cloth robe, her hair still wrapped in a towel. “Hello,” she said softly as she walked by.
Benedict had kept a respectful distance from his sister’s friends while they were swimming or changing, but Alyssa was too much of a temptation for him. He could hear the water running in the pipes, so he knew Bell was still showering. He stuck his head out into the hallway and saw the door to his sister’s room was open. He slipped out into the hallway and, as if he were just walking by, paused at the threshold of his sister’s room.
There was Alyssa, perched legs-crossed at the edge of Bell’s bed. The towel was off her head, and she was brushing her wavy blond hair. A long slender leg and delicate foot held his attention.
“Hullo,” she said again. She was struggling to run the brush through a tangle. “Be glad you don’t have long hair.”
“Bell and I don’t have curls in our hair,” said Ben. Immediately, he wished he had said something cleverer. Her beauty was making him tongue-tied. Chills ran up and down his spine. He had fantasized about having a moment of intimacy with Alyssa, but he never really thought it would ever happen.
She gave the brush a firm tug, and the tangle suddenly loosened. With the forceful movement of her arm, the robe came open. Into Ben’s vision came one perfect breast, a pale apple tipped in pink.
Alyssa pulled the robe closed again. Her cheeks were flushed, and she scowled at him. “Go away,” she said.
Ben retreated to his room to read. At lunch, he joined the girls. He ate a sandwich and an apple, but though he listened to their conversations, he made no comment. Bell noticed the change and sensed that something had come between Alyssa and her brother, but neither spoke about it.
After lunch, Ben was reading again when Alyssa stuck her head in the door. “My parents will be here in about a half hour. Can we talk?” she asked.
“Sure.”
“Let’s go outside, okay?”
“Yes.” They went outside, and Ben led her away from the house, on the trail towards the pool. Alyssa was silent, which was unusual for her. Ben thought she was waiting for him to say something. “I’m sorry,” he said meekly. “I didn’t do it.”
“Yes you did,” she pressed. “You looked. I know you did!”
Benedict flushed deeply, as the memory of that moment came back to him. “I mean, I didn’t use magic to make it happen.”
She laughed. “That would be a neat trick. I’m sure there’s such a spell. If you find it, let me know so I can learn it, too!” She laughed again. “Well, it was bound to happen, wasn’t it? I’m glad it was you and not some other boy.”
“I’m glad it was me, too.”
She touched his arm and gazed into his eyes, solemnly. “You can’t tell anyone,” she said. “I don’t want you bragging to your friends about this. Especially not someone like Patrick.”
“I won’t tell them, I promise,” said Ben. But right away, he began to worry. Does she love Patrick more than me?
The Pitchfork family arrived in a blue sedan: Mr. and Mrs., plus elder daughter Desdemona. “Isn’t it beautiful up here,” said Alyssa. “I really wanted to stay. Thank you for letting me.”
“Yes, it’s quite rustic out here,” said Mrs. Pitchfork. “Even more so than in Godric’s Hollow.”
Bell said to Desdemona, “You’re the same age as Freya’s sister, aren’t you? Morwena told us she was elected Prefect.”
“Yes, I heard,” said Mona dryly. “Believe me, we heard about it.”
“She’s in Slytherin, though. Who’s the Ravenclaw Prefect?”
“It’s a big secret,” said Mona. “Seriously, I don’t know.”
The mothers were talking. Alyssa looked to Ben. “Well, I’ve got to go.” She gave him a hug and another to Bell. To Mirabella, she said, “Thank you for inviting me over, and for letting me stay a bit longer.”
“You’re welcome to come back any time,” said Mirabella.
As soon as they were gone, Bell asked, “What happened between you and Alyssa?”
“She said not to tell.”
“You can tell me. I’m your sister.”
This made sense to Ben, and since he truly did want to talk to Bell about it, he told her everything that happened. Bell gazed at him with her brown eyes, the same shape and shade as his. “I thought it was something like that,” said Bell. “Alyssa was pushing the envelope with you, flaunting herself a bit more than she would have normally. I think things went a step too far.”
“She said not to tell Patrick. Now, I’m worried that she’s in love with him and not with me. That she thinks of me as a brother, like you do, and not as a boyfriend.”
“Well, she may like Patrick Wren. I don’t know. We were talking about boys last night, but mostly about the older boys like Liam Wren and Paul Hewson. Not boys like you and Patrick. Certainly not creeps like Reginald Dennison.
“But I’ll tell you this: She was very jealous that Freya spent all that time with you yesterday and she wasn’t part of it. She showed herself off to you last night, as much as she dared, because she wanted you to be thinking about her and not about Freya.”
“Freya and I were just talking. Anyway, we’re just friends.”
“Would you ever consider being Freya’s boyfriend?”
Ben shook his head. “I like Freya. I really do. She’s smart and witty. Get her by herself and she has a lot to say. But I don’t feel the same about her that I do about Alyssa. I love Alyssa. She’s beautiful.”
“I know.”
“But she probably doesn’t love me. She likes Patrick better. He’s the leader. He’s more confident and athletic than I am.”
Bell huffed. “This is exactly how she wants you to feel right now, confused and worried about her and Patrick. You embarrassed her, and she’s punishing you for it. She’ll want you to make a grand gesture on her behalf so that the other boys know that she’s your girl. That’s what you get for falling for a Slytherin girl.”
Ben smiled. He knew Bell was telling him the truth. “If this is just punishment, then I have hope.”
“No,” said Bell. “You’re hopeless.”