Revelations And Graduations
He was there. Standing with a masked figure. Why? Why was he not running? Run gods damn it!
"It's okay, my loves. We're almost there. Just hold on a little longer."
Ma and Pa. They'll get us out and we can call him to us. He's a jerk but he's still a Laner.
MA! PA!- I love you Powder. I love you. I love you. I love you- Don't look- You won't make a coward of me- Vander- Safe- Wait… he was leaving with them…
…
"...vi got to him first…"
"... oh my little wolf…"
"... I know Cas…"
Consciousness came in stages. First was the darkness. Then the sting of a fading headache. Then a buzzing feeling as her body started to awaken. With all the power she had she willed her hand to twitch.
"...Vi?"
She heard someone whisper- Caitlyn- her mind supplied. Ever so slowly her eyes blinked open, gray meeting cerulian. The face of her best friend was all she needed, a small burst of energy was enough to stretch her lips into a playful smirk.
"Hey Cupcake." Vi whispered with a sleepy drawl.
Tears of relief and joy pooled under Caitlyn's eyes and Vi reached up, gently cupping her cheek with a calloused, rough, hand.
"I'm okay." Vi reassured her.
"Y-you. T-that man. He got away. H-he-" Caitlyn stammered, unsure of what to say until another voice cut her off.
"Relax Caitlyn, good morning my little wolf." Vander steps into the medical ward, calm and warm smile on his face. His strides were wider and faster than normal betraying the elation and relief he truly felt at seeing his daughter awake.
"Morning dad." Vi groaned as she willed herself to sit up, the soreness of her back told her there was most likely a bruise.
"What the fuck happened last night." She looked to Vander, eyes still droopy.
"Well while you and Caitlyn were blatantly breaking the rules-" Caitlyn and Vi had the decency to look a little guilty. "-you found someone at the border of the protective spells. Caitlyn tells me he likely knew not to cross it since it would wake all the staff."
"I still think he was looking for a way in." Caitlyn interjected.
Vander nodded. "Yes but we can't be sure." He focused back on Vi. "You ran at him, pinning him to the ground after Caitlyn disarmed him. According to her, you froze after pulling off his mask. Everything else happened in a blur, Caitlyn was too far to see what was going on and didn't want to risk lowering her wand by switching. In the end he got away, running into the Forbidden Forest. Cait sent her patronus to wake me, Sil, Cas and Toby while she rushed you to the medical wing."
Vi took a moment to let the words settle in. The memories from a couple hours back returned. Her hands clenched the blanket that covered her lower half. She felt a wave of calm when Caitlyn laid her hand over one of her own.
"Vi. What happened?" She asked but it bordered on a plea.
"It was Deckard." Vi hissed with pure vitriol.
Vander's eyes went wide and Caitlyn could only look between the adoptive pair, completely lost.
"Are you sure? He's alive?" Vander challenged Vi's words.
"Yes. I'll never forget the coward who walked away with them. I thought they'd killed him but he was fucking dressed like them. Dad, I think he's the one who sold us out. Lead those people to Zaun." Her voice stayed stead, stern, and unshaken.
Vander sighed."Keep going Vi. What happened once you pulled off the mask."
Vi steeled her resolve. "Once I saw it was Deckard I froze up. Then he bit into something. Something like the cyanide pills spies used when they were caught in movies. Seems like the fucker didn't die from it though." Vi growled the last line.
"Whatever he ate it made him go all crazy. Purple glowing eyes and purple veins popping up. Then… then I think he used wandless magic…" Her last words were said in a whisper.
"Vi are you su-"
Caitlyn squeezed Vi's hand as she cut Vander off. "I can vouch for her. When he was holding her by the neck I tried to curse him with a full body bind but my spell just bounced off."
Vander looked between the two girls and silently cursed whatever higher power exists that he was gifted with such brilliant chaos bringing children. Before anything else could be said three figures enter the medical ward, two from the front door and the last from the nurses office.
"Violet!" Tobias was the first to notice the pinkette sitting up on her bed and rushed over. "How are you feeling?"
"Hey Mr. K. I'm good thanks to your magic." Vi put on a grin and a playful tone to reassure him.
"That's a relief, here I thought I would be telling Powder her darling sister won't be making it to the graduation dinner." Silco gently patted Vi's head. The man had a hard time showing emotion to anyone but Powder and Tobias but Vi knew well enough that he was just as relieved as Vander.
"Violet." All heads turned to Cassandra.
The Headmistress once swore that if her daughter was hurt again she would not spare the Wicks. She sighed. "Reckless children… I'm glad you're alright Violet. You and Caitlyn both."
Though it was barely noticeable the end of her lip curled into the faintest smile. Everyone in the room relaxed.
"I would punish you both but your little escapade has brought to light a concerning development. In addition I believe Violet being slammed into a tree was punishment enough for both of you." Vi and Caitlyn looked at each other and shared the faintest grin. They would be okay.
"For now you can rest here. I'm sure you can convince the others that you've been out in your animagus forms." Vander gently ruffled both Caitlyn and Vi's heads.
"In the meantime Silco, Vander and I will discuss our next moves. You must keep the events of last night a secret. Both to keep information from possibly leaking and to minimize panic. Are we clear?" Cassandra looked down on the duo.
There was a burning flame in their chests. They were far too involved to just let this go. They had been involved since Vi saw that kid get taken away. They can keep their silence for the greater good but they would not be kept in the dark.
"We will, as long as you keep your promise." Caitlyn shot back, Vi glaring daggers as if challenging Cassandra to take back what she'd said.
The Headmistress and Vander lock eyes. There is a second of mental conversations before Cassandra looks back at the girls and nods.
"Yes. If there are any new developments in the case we will tell you."
An hour later Vi and Caitlyn would join their friends at breakfast. Vi happily bragged that they'd been out all night without getting caught. Her bravado and Caitlyns unshaken calm demeanor kept anyone from asking questions.
For the rest of the day Vi and Caitlyn refused to leave each other's side for longer than they had to. When Vi returned to her dorm to pack her things for the trip home the next day, Caitlyn was in her cat form draped across her shoulders like a feather boa. Knowing Vi couldn't enter Ravenclaw tower as a wolf, Caitlyn decided to hold off packing till after the closing feast.
After lunch the group spent their remaining hours together under their tree by the lake. Sharing stories, goals, promises and plans for the future. In truth it was rather bittersweet but they refused to allow their final hours to be tainted with sadness.
"You know I'll really miss these guys." Vi whispered to Caitlyn.
"Even Jayce?" Caitlyn teased with a grin.
Vi sighed but her smile remained. "Even Jayce."
Cassandra stood behind the podium in the Great Hall. The last of the graduating 7th years having settled back in their house tables after receiving their diplomas.
"Another year has come and gone, along with another exemplary batch of students. Without further adieu it is time to announce the winners of this year's House Cup."
Silence fell over the room, tensions rising every second.
"In 4th place with 319 points. Hufflepuff!"
The yellow and black clad table cheered humbly. Patting each other on the back. Honestly nothing could bring down that house.
"In 3rd place with 329 points. Slytherin!"
The green and silver clad table was less enthusiastic. A few grumbles of dissatisfaction joined the polite applause of the other tables. It was down to the two houses who's rivalry was stuff of much betting.
"In 2nd with 393 points… Gryffindor!"
The Lions cheered while turning their eyes to the final table.
"In first place with 397 points. Ravenclaw!"
Hearing this the eagles burst into their own round of yells and applause, sharing the moment with their rival. The 4 point difference was just as thrilling as the one point difference from the previous year.
Before the cheering even began to die down the sound of humming echoed in the corridors outside the Hall. Suddenly 5 students dressed in muggle clothing and animal inspired masks fly into the room with what could only be described as hoverboards (much to the amazement of the muggle borns and some half bloods.)
Sounds of awe joined the cheers. Even the teachers were dumbstruck. The other Firelights knew well that Jinx and Ekko were amongst the 5 students. Ekko with an owl mask and Jinx with a fox mask. The group's jaws hit the ground.
"You fucking geniuses. You fucking did it." Vi breathed.
At the Ravenclaw table one could catch Viktor and Jayce holding each other close, Mel watching them fondly from the Slytherin table. This was for them. Three years of hard work had led up to this moment. A showcase of what the 4 scientists had done together. An honorable send off.
At some point the teachers shook themselves out of their stupor and prepared to apprehend the troublemakers. Luckily they retreated and hid back at base. The feast continued and eventually all 5 students would be able to sneak back in. (Much to Vi's surprise one of the 5 was Lucius Bolbok himself, the boy had joined the Firelight ranks just early this year.)
The next day was filled with sappy goodbyes and firmer than usual hugs. After all these years even Jayce finally got a hug from Vi. (In the future she would vehemently deny this.)
"You guys take care of yourselves alright?" Vi smiled fondly at the older Piltovans.
"We will." Mel replied with her own beautiful smile.
The group would then separate. The Zaunites joining Vander and Silco at the carriage and the Piltovans off to prepare for their own trip home. This left Vi and Caitlyn together.
"You be safe out there, Vi." Worry and a tinge of fear laced Caitlyn's voice.
Suddenly Vi pulled her into a strong and warm hug that eased her worries, if only slightly.
"I will, Cupcake. Becareful alright?" Vi pulled away just enough to look into Caitlyn's eyes. The bluenette nods slowly and that was enough for Vi.
She took hold of her Wolf pendant and held it out to Caitlyn. Smiling like the sun Caitlyn took her Lamb pendant and locked it with the Wolf. The duo basked in the soft glow. Then they glanced at each other. They were so close.
'KISS HER YOU IDIOT!' Both their minds screamed.
Either one could lean in. Acknowledge what had been brewing since the day they met. Go farther. Be more.
They pulled away at the same time.
"See ya, Cupcake." Vi grinned casually, shoving her feelings into the back of her mind.
"See you soon, Vi." Caitlyn replied and watched the pinkette walk away.