Through the Eyes of a Mercutio

Chapter 3

Shoot Me Whilst I'm Still Aliveth

So it began. In the next few days, Luke began to inexplicably disappear, although, we had a pretty good idea of where he was sneaking off too. According to an inside source, Transfer-girl had been mysteriously missing, too. By Sunday, others began to notice Luke's continual absence. At lunch, his twin fifth year siblings, Sydney and James, confronted me on his whereabouts.

"I haven't seen him for three days," Sydney declared, hands on her hips. "He has my book on Greco-Roman architecture and I want it back."

"And he was supposed to help me with my Charms essay that was due Friday," James added.

"Cait, do you know where he is?" Sydney asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Yes," I replied flatly. "Well, not his exact location, but yes, I know where he is."

"Where?" Sydney was beginning to sound cross, not with me, but with Luke.

I looked at her and James, desperately trying to keep a straight face. "Making out."

The twins stared at me. "What?"

I exhaled loudly. "I think it's time to call a multi-family meeting. You check the dormitories and the common room, and I'll get the owlry and the library. Meet you in the Room of Requirement in fifteen minutes."

They nodded and disappeared. I whispered the plan to Chad, who nodded and rounded up the lot in the Great Hall. I made my way up to the owlry and found three Weasleys and sixth year Maybe Longbottom.

"Multi-family meeting," I informed them. "Regular spot in the Room of Requirement in ten minutes."

"Right," Maybe said, nodding.

I went back down to the second floor and was heading toward the library when I spotted Benicio walking the opposite way.

"Hey, Beni," I said, moving in front of him so he had to stop. "Have you seen Luke?"

He looked at me like I was mad. "Potter? Why on earth would I know where he is?"

I raised my eyebrows. I knew he had been thinking the same thing I had. He'd been wondering where Rosalyn was disappearing off to. "Fine. Do you know where Rosalyn is?"

He narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"Look, we both know that where you find one, you find the other," I said dryly.

He continued to glare at me. "No, I don't know where she is. And keep Potter away from her."

"Only if you keep her away from Potter," I snapped back. I stepped around him and continued to the library, now quite irritated. I hated dealing with Benicio Malfoy. Upon entering the library, I found eight more Weasleys, Dom, Sam and Bianca Finnigan, and Jack Wood. We hurried up to the Room of Requirement together, trying to be as discrete as possible. I shut the door behind us and turned to face the moderately lit room. It was furnished with couches, chairs, and tables, on top of which several small dishes held different varieties of M&Ms. Two alcoves on either side contained bookcases filled with many titles that I praised, and another alcove contained a large fireplace, the hearth ablaze. Maybe Longbottom arrived with her twin, Cyrus and their younger sister, third year Ravenclaw, Theodora. All six of Fred Weasley's current Hogwarts goers came in with Chad and his siblings, Riley and Benjamin. Thomas and Ashley ushered in two of George Weasley's offspring an d three of Charlie's. The two remaining Weasley's were escorted in by Jenson, who refused to be left out of anything. Every Hogwarts-attending Black, Weasley, Potter, Wood, Finnigan and Longbottom was present, except for one.

"Where's Luke?" asked Bethany Weasley, one of Fred and Angelina's children.

"That is what we are here to discuss." I stepped up to my post in front of the group, who circled around me in the little alcove, setting themselves up in chairs, couches, tables and the floor. "As many of you have noticed," I began, pacing in front of the fireplace. "Luke Potter has been mysteriously absent for the last few days. This is becoming quite a problem, in more ways than you know."

"So you know where he is?" asked Edward Weasley, one of the Charlie and Nymphadora clan.

"Well, not the exact location, but we have a pretty good idea." I exchanged glances with Chad. "Some of you have seen Luke in the company of the new veela-looking seventh year Slytherin. Some of you have heard rumors of these two being, er, 'more than just friends'. I have come to announce to you that we believe this is true. Her name, I regret to say, is Rosalyn Malfoy."

The crowd of 28 dropped their jaws and stared at me. Sydney gasped. James uttered a quiet, "Dude, no way."

"A Potter and Malfoy?" demanded Mercedes Weasley haughtily. She was the eldest of Charlie's Hogwarts-enrolled offspring. "That's positively unheard of!" At sixteen, Mercedes was nothing short of drop dead gorgeous. Her ice blue eyes, jet-black hair, and ivory skin were identical to those of her grandmother, Andromeda Black. Mercedes was a true Black, one of the few remaining, and was often chased around by the male population at Hogwarts. When she was twelve, the child had chosen to follow in my footsteps and reach to the absolute extent of human learning. She didn't back down to anyone. She had been my life's pupil, my creation. All right, so that bit isn't exactly true, but I was very fond of Mercedes. She was intelligent, cunning, mischievous, and sarcastic. She perched nobly on the arm of her cousin Codicious's chair, her legs crossed, and one eyebrow raised.

"Yes, Mercy, it is unheard of. However, there has to be a first for everything." I stopped pacing and turned to face my compatriots, hands behind my back. "Something must be done."

"Bloody right," agreed James indignantly. "You know what my father will do if he finds out?"

"That's just it," Chad said grimly. "We don't want him to find out. So," he pulled a parchment out of his pocket, "we've come up with a little oath, swearing that you will never utter a word of this to anyone outside of our little family circle." He unrolled the parchment, upon which, written in his own typewriter neat writing, was our oath.

I swear, upon pain of being transfigured and stabbed repeatedly, that not a word of these protective doings shall leave my lips, but to the ears of those who already know. All the knowledge contained in my mind pertaining to the subject shall remain locked away for fear of being discovered by those who have the power to administer severe punishment. I do this out of sincere concern for our Luke, who has fallen victim to the age-old curse of "love".

"My, that is elaborate," comment Dom with raised eyebrows.

"Here's the deal," I continued, clapping my hands together. "You've all got to sign it. Chadwyck and I already have. We will not proceed until there are 29 signatures on that parchment."

Chad produced a quill and some ink and everyone lined up silently to sign it. I looked on with a strange feeling that this was the beginning of something that was going to get me into trouble. I was so intent on making sure that every one signed it, that I didn't notice a figure leaning on the bookshelf in the shadows beyond the right alcove.

"Right, that's all of us," Jenson said, wiping his hands. "You may continue, Caitie."

"Thank you. In order to save the life and sanity of our dear Luke, something must be done. Now, as we all know, Luke was, until recently, infatuated with Italian temptress Nicole Gabrielli. He referred to this infatuation as 'love', which it most certainly wasn't. So, once again, our dear Luke has gone and 'fallen in love' with a new strumpet. However, this time, it seems as though she returns his infatuation."

"And what, pray tell, does Benicio think of all of this?" Mercedes asked, one slender eyebrow rising.

I smiled wryly. "It's a stick up his butt. He's even meaner than usual, if that's possible, and he seems quite intent on keeping Luke away from Transfer-girl. He won't be able to, but he's sure going to try."

"Well, we're going to try too!" James proclaimed, pounding his fist into his palm determinedly.

"Damn right we are," Mercedes agreed vigorously. "Cousin or not, this chick has got to go."

A low, derisive laugh came from the alcove, and a figure moved in the shadows. "No, no, it's Potter that needs to be removed."

"What are you doing here?" I snapped.

A girl stepped out of the shadows. She looked very much like Mercedes, with the ice-blue eyes and jet-black hair of a Black. Her small mouth was smirking, and her eyes were narrowed in malicious delight. Her name was Sapphira Black. She came from what my father referred to as the "screwed end of the Black family". She may have resembled Mercedes in appearance, but Sapphira, well known amongst Hogwarts pupils for her extensive dark arts knowledge and abilities, was not exactly what you would call pleasant. Her father, Níccolo Black, was the only son of Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange, the sister to Mercedes' grandmother, Andromeda. Considering Black a far better name than Lestrange, Níccolo had had his name legally changed to Black. Sirius had since refused contact with his cousins, as had Nymphadora, and any mention of them under his roof was considered a sin punishable by death. Remus Lupin had once said that there were seven "true" Blacks left in the world: Sirius, Níc colo, Sapphira, Nymphadora, Dominic, Mercedes, and me.

"What are you doing here, Sapphira?" I repeated, glaring at her.

She grinned. "This is a BWPWFL family meeting, isn't it? And I am a Black, aren't I?"

"Black or not, you're not welcome," Chad said, standing up.

Sapphira rolled her eyes. "Sit down, Weasley. I've come out of true concern."

"For what?" I snarled.

She drew her head up smugly. "My dear cousin, of course. Do you think I would let little Rosie be captured by the slimy little Potter boy that easily? Did you really think that I would let him steal the Malfoy veins running with Black blood? Besides, they are family. I'm related to the Potter rat somehow."

I could hear Sydney breathing angrily beside me. Her lips were pursed to keep her from cursing Sapphira to Iowa.

She seemed to be genuinely interested in keeping them apart. "Go on," I said darkly.

"Well," she said, her heavy lidded eyes casting around the room. "I am willing to do my part in keeping Rosie under careful watch if you will do the same with Potter."

"Name your terms," I instructed, my arms folded over my chest.

She grinned again. "Those are my terms. That, and I want to be kept up to date and included in these little fun-filled family gatherings."

"What?" Dom cried. "No way Saph, uh-huh."

"Over my dead body," Mercedes hissed.

"That can be arranged," murmured Sapphira.

I glanced over at Chad. His expression was rather dark, but he nodded. So did Ashley, Thomas, Jenson and, very reluctantly, the Potter twins. I turned back to Sapphira.

"Fine," I huffed. "However, you have to promise not to try to take control, not to tell Benicio, and to follow my lead. And you must sign our oath."

She chuckled scornfully. "I'll sign your little contract, and I'll take your initiatives, but I won't be treated like pond scum."

Oh, bloody hell, just shoot me already! "Deal."

"Alright then." She swung one leg over the side of a backwards chair. "Start talking, Black."

For a split second, I felt an overwhelming sense of respect for Sapphira. I can't explain the feeling, really. All I know is that for a moment, I looked at her and saw myself. For a moment, she seemed normal. For a moment, I saw her as a true Black.

But then I came back to life, and the feeling was gone. I was staring at a horrible creature with criminal impulses that ran deeper than the Marianas Trench. I shook my head and continued my spiel.

After another half an hour of discussing the dilemma, I released my comrades to enjoy what remained of their Sunday afternoon. I wandered my way back to Gryffindor Tower and flopped onto a couch. I seized a red pillow, covered my face with it and screamed.

"Luke, you idiot! You stupid bleedin' retard!" I cried in frustration into the pillow. Fortunately, it didn't howl back. "How can you do this? What do you think you're playing at? How can you be so ignorant, so blind, so - so - STUPID! AAAARRRGGG!!! WHY DON'T YOU JUST SHOOT ME WHILE I'M STILL ALIVE! YOU STUPID ROMEO! STUPID, STUPID, STUPID! GGGGRRRRR!!"

"Um, Cait, are you all right?" a voice asked slowly. I removed the pillow from my face to see Jenson's confused face looking concernedly down at me. He walked around to the other side of the couch, pushed my feet out of the way, and sat down beside me. I instantly plopped my feet into his lap. He looked at me very seriously, his eyes wide. "Caitie, do you have a problem?"

"Oh, shut up, Jenson." I threw the pillow at him and he started to laugh. "If I remember correctly," I said indignantly. "We all have a bit of a problem. Plus, to top off all my joy with a lovely cherry, my criminally insane cousin has demanded to join our group of renegades. I can't do it, Jens. I can't put up with her! I swear I'll end up accidentally putting a wooden stake through her blood-sucking heart!"

"Yeah, you have problems," Jenson said, patting my foot comfortingly. "But as long as you're not pounding any stakes through my heart, do whatever you want."

"Fat lot of help you are."

"I do what I shouldn't, and nothing more," he said, shrugging.

"I can tell."

By the following Wednesday, Luke had made it a practice to disappear after dinner, and not return until at least ten or eleven. He'd waltz into the common room with a giddy look on his face that made me want to throw up. Thursday, however, Chad and I dragged him to the first Quidditch practice of the year. He seemed torn between the two things he loved most: Transfer-girl and Quidditch. I took the liberty of telling him that if he skipped practice, Sean Stewart would kick his lazy bum right off the team. Sean Stewart was not the sort of person you wanted to tick off. He was a fantastic captain, but he wasn't exactly the merciful type.

"Right you lot," Sean said determinedly. "I've got big plans this year."

"You've got big plans every year," Jenson pointed out.

Sean stopped pacing, and turned to look at us. "As I should. We're taking home the cup again. We want to make it nine years in a row."

"Here, here!" I cried supportively.

"But," continued Sean, glancing at me. "We need a new Chaser. Any suggestions on who to look out for?"

"Bethany Weasley," Ashley supplied promptly. "I worked with her a lot over the summer, and she's very good."

"I'll second that," Chad said. "Beth's a knock-out Chaser. But it's sort of expected in that family, with Angelina as a mother and Fred as a father."

"She is really good," I agreed. I'd played thousands of summer Quidditch games with the BWPWFL league, and Beth had always shown impressive talent.

"Alright, sounds good. Our try-outs have been scheduled for Saturday morning at 10:30. I want you all there by 10:15 sharp, alright?"

We all nodded and muttered our agreement. Quidditch was the only thing any of us would sacrifice a good Saturday morning sleep for, but we wouldn't do it willingly. By now I'd had just about enough talking about stuff. I wanted to get out onto the field! I wanted to be one hundred feet up in the air!

"Okay, let's fly now," I said abruptly, looking pointedly at Sean.

"Be my guest," he replied. "We're right behind you."

I ran out to the field and soared ecstatically into the air. My hair flew back and the wind whipped my face. Man, did it feel good!

"Hey Cait!" Jenson shouted up at me from the other end of the pitch. "Catch!" He released one bludger and sent it flying towards me. All right, you little bugger. Bit closer, bit closer -

Whack! The bludger went flying back to Jenson at top speed. I stretched out my arms. Man, did I love to hit things.

After practice, I was making my way backup to the castle with Luke, Chad, and Jenson (Ashley and Thomas had mysteriously disappeared. No surprises there), when something came up and began to stalk me from behind. Then it slinked up beside me.

"Hey, baby. What's up?" asked Brandon, in what he must have thought was a seductive voice. I rolled my eyes and kept on walking.

"Get out of here, retard. I really don't think trying to hit on me is on the Head Boy's duties list," I said flatly. He stayed right beside me.

"Ooo, cold, Cait, very cold. How about I, say, warm you up a bit?" He draped his arm around my shoulders.

"Take it off, or I'll break it off," I spat threateningly.

"Admit it, you like it."

I turned to face him, beater's club in hand. "Oh yes, darling, I think you're dead sexy. Take me away!" I whacked him as hard as I could in the shoulder. He made a sort of grunting noise and winced. He stopped, clutching his arm in genuine pain.

"Next time, I'll aim lower, and then you'll really be sad. Happy trails, you deaf wombat," I called merrily over my shoulder, as I continued up the hill to the castle.

Luke, Chad, and Jenson were laughing heartily. Jenson recovered himself and said, "Man, Cait, you really are a mean little crap."

I shrugged and grinned. "I do what I shouldn't and nothing more."

Preview Chapter 4:

"Where were you then?" I demanded, throwing my bag down beside him and looking over at the scrawl he called an essay.

Luke hesitated. "I was - out," he mumbled slowly.

"Oh, right," I said. "Is in an empty classroom or behind a tapestry considered "out"?"

**

Transfer-girl frowned again. "How do you know if you're in love?"

I stared at her, holding my arubella plant in mid air. "What?"

**

"You guys are such idiots," Ashley said, shaking her head.

"Vosotros estaís idiots," Chadwyck the Spaniard added. "Dónde está sus brains?"

"Spanglish is retarded," I reminded him.

**

"So, Cait," Ashley began smugly. "How do you feel about Jenson?"

I looked at her in surprise. "What?"