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Chronicles of The Boy Who Lived	By : TheScarlettLetter Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 2072 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
*******

Her brain suddenly registered daylight as Chanel blinked behind her owlish glasses, slowly bringing everything into focus. And he was the first thing she saw, his billboard looming over the fine tangle of Plymouth's urban sprawl.

She must have been sitting in her bedroom window since Tori left the evening before; a pen and paper with nothing on it were still lying limp in her lap.

Chanel climbed down from the high, splintery sill and gave her legs a ruthless stretching. She peeked out into the empty living room, listening for other signs of life, but both Tori and Harry seemed to be gone. She hunted around the flat for empty boxes and freed up a couple of laundry baskets, then went about the business of carefully packing them with flowers.

The taxi driver very kindly did not ask questions, nor did Sharon when she rang Chanel up into the suite, watching the room slowly swell with bouquet upon bouquet of hyacinths. Sharon quietly looked over her moon-shaped glasses at the flowers, making her face very plain. But her teeth steadily worried her lower lip as if suddenly she pictured herself caught in a desperate, unavoidable train wreck.

A hot shower and several hours of sleep later, Chanel carefully applied a thin coat of mascara to her pitifully short lashes. She blinked back the slippery contacts, swiping away a clump of goop before it had the chance to smudge. Her eyes landed on the concert passes stuck to the vanity mirror of her dressing room. She hated herself for talking Tori into what could only promise to be another strange misadventure involving Draco.

She hated herself even more for getting pretty -- for him.

Defiantly, Chanel went back to glaring at herself in the mirror, not realizing her teeth were kneading the fresh coat of blackberry lipstick from her lips.

A beautiful train wreck indeed.

***

Just as Chanel expected, Harry was too preoccupied with all things technical to say but a precious few words before rushing off to re-inspect their instruments. Normally she would have grumbled over his anal retentiveness, but at that moment it was a relief. When Harry slowed down long enough to become suspicious, he asked questions -- cartloads -- and he was damned near unshakable until he got explanations he found satisfactory.

Not that Tori couldn't give Harry a run for his Galleons -- Chanel had heard Tori quizzing him that night ad nauseum about all things magic until she'd run out of steam. And it wasn't that Tori hadn't attempted to sort some things out through her once. But Chanel had a gift for adopting a rather stony expression on cue. This was the best kind of deterrence against the curious Muggle.

And she found herself using it again as Tori gave her a tiny frown of confusion over her shoulder. "Your last encounter with him didn't seem to go too well...and you want to go again?"

Chanel clasped two small gold hoops in her ears, glancing briefly at the other woman's reflection. "It's something you said the other day, about ignoring him. I think it would just make things worse if I did. Ready?"

"I guess..." Tori agreed, however reluctantly. "This will make for two interesting concerts tonight."

Chanel snatched the passes from the mirror and whirled around to hand one to Tori, moving towards the door. "I didn't notice until now, but...these are front row, dead center." She hiked a brow sharply.

Tori rolled her eyes as she stepped out. "He must want to make sure we see him."

Chanel shut the door, quickly setting the pace down the long winding hall, skirting the thick crush of people jammed behind the gate of the main entrance. Most watched them flit by with stunned bewilderment and a few screeched and hollered after them, waving notebooks and magazines. Wow. How the hell did we become "somebodies" overnight? she mused, though she already knew the answer.

They flashed their passes to two armed security guards and a set of heavy metal doors snapped open in front of them. They were suddenly whisked down the empty front center aisle under the cover of the murky pre-show lighting, immediately sinking into the plush seats and looking around in awe. The windows of the box seats glittered in the darkness.

"This is crazy. I've never seen a turn-out like this before," Chanel murmured, craning her neck to view the slowly-filling stadium.

"I thought I had just gotten over that...but you're right, this is huge..." Tori suddenly took a sweeping, anxious look of their area. "Are we going to be safe in the front? Will we be in one piece when it's our turn?"

Chanel snorted softly, grabbing two programs from a nearby vendor.

A warm-up band took the stage, launching into a pounding medley of classics from Queen while people began filing into seats. "Angus Angst," Chanel muttered, reading the program. "Never heard of them."

The band wrapped up their performance to a modest amount of applause as the lead singer bellowed into the whining microphone, "THANK YOU, ENGLAND!!" before scuttling off stage as the houselights dropped. A low, deafening roar suddenly rolled beneath their feet, trembling through their bodies like an earthquake.

Chanel threw a slightly startled glance at Tori. Even in the gloom, she could make out the other woman's pale face.

"Yeah, next time I�ll watch from backstage," Tori quipped thinly, shuddering at the wave of noise.

"DRACO. DRACO. DRACO. DRACO."

A deep hypnotic chant pulsed through the electric air, pushing Chanel's own heartbeat into a strange flux. An interminable amount of time passed and the stage remained suspicious empty. The steady, pounding call continued without breaking, growing louder and more thunderous.

Suddenly, a beam of brilliant green light shot high into the rafters and other eerie slivers appeared from all over the arena, meeting at a single point. A huge, glowing skull throbbed at the juncture of the lasers, a snake writhing from its mouth.

Chanel slumped back into her seat, completely awestruck. "It's -- the Dark Mark," she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

A loud, cracking explosion rocked the stage and everyone snapped their heads forward to catch a lone figure sauntering through a thick plume of smoke. The gleam of black boots and leather set off the sweep of stunning platinum hair and pale, luminous skin. A sleek silver guitar was slung casually over his left shoulder, jutting sharply against his hip with every step.

Chanel quickly averted her eyes as Draco strolled forward, a tiny smirk playing on his lips, his cool silvery gaze indifferent yet puncturing.

He lifted a hand and waved it slowly over the air, the crowd immediately calming to a whisper soft lull. The random shriek of "I LOVE YOU, DRACO!!!" suddenly rung out from the upper deck. His brow jutted archly in her direction and she fell into a complete stupor. With a trained, almost bored patience, he paused in the silence before approaching his microphone.

"Well, hello, hello, hello..." he growled playfully.

The arena exploded in great whoops and screams and again he raised his hand, instantly muting the pandemonium.

"I know what you want -- but I'm not going to give it to you."

A low buzzing murmur of dissension swelled. Chanel darted a quick look at Tori from the corner of of her eye.

Draco continued smoothly, unfazed. "I'd thought I'd start off with something a little...different tonight. This song has not yet been released by Draco Rockstar, so you'll be the first to hear it. Think of it as a gift, if you will."

Draco's lip curled sardonically. "This is to Firewhiskey."

The audience erupted in cheers and bursts of green and silver banners.

The words echoed hollowly in Chanel's mind. Tori's eyes widened, her face blanching under the surging charge of the crowd. "Firewhiskey? Oh, no..."

On either side of him, two platforms rose from below stage, revealing Crabbe behind a drum set and Goyle poised behind a microphone, an electric guitar stiffly in hand. Crabbe immediately launched into an up-tempo rock beat of the early sixties. Draco swung his guitar around and leaned into the microphone, his voice a dulcet, snarling tenor:

'Little wild one...
My little wild one...
Oh, I love my girl fine
When I need a wild time...
Little wild one, I�ll come back to you...

All the girls in school
Were never quite as cool as you...
They would all tease and talk
And you were all
�C�mon� and �Let�s do�...

With them, I feel like I�m wasting my time
When you make me feel like I�m losing my mind!

Little wild one...
My little wild one...
Oh, I love my girl fine
But when I need a wild time...
Little wild one, I�ll come back to you' ...

Chanel's mouth slipped open and she lowered her head, her heart thundering in her chest. Her throat tightened as she swallowed convulsively around a lump that suddenly appeared. She could sense Tori's brow rising without turning to look.

"...I'm guessing he's talking about you," Tori began with a cautious amount of amusement. "You know I don't think�-well�-but that is...wow�"

She meant to snap a look at Tori, but her eyes caught Draco and he slyly tipped her a wink.

'With them, I feel like I�m wasting my time
But you make me feel like I�m losing my mind!

Little wild one...
My little wild one...
Oh, I love my girl fine
But when I need a wild time --

Little wild one, I�ll come back --
Little wild one, I�ll come back --
Little wild one, I�ll come back...to...you�'

Chanel drew in a shaky breath. "Tori, I need to go."

Tori eyed Chanel closely. "Alright, let's go...can't have you like this later." She gently took Chanel's arm and they eased their way through the frenzy and out of the arena.

Their heels clacked in the strange emptiness of the hall, the dull roar of music fading further behind them. Chanel quickly pulled up to her dressing room, turning to Tori. "I just need a minute. I'll meet you?"

Tori nodded before heading to her room.

The door clicked softly behind Chanel and she leaned against it, closing her eyes. "Firewhiskey," she muttered, stunned, and then fell silent, her mind whirling in a maddening blur of thought and color.

The Dark Mark.

She instantly felt the quake return to her chest as the image blazed before her again. It was like a teasing, horrible glimpse of the Dark Lord. Terrifying, and yet almost too enthralling to turn away from --

Harry.

Her eyes suddenly snapped open, the reverie broken. She twisted the doorknob sharply, swinging out into the hall. As she turned to thrust the key in the lock, the sudden clap of footfalls sounded directly behind her. She whirled around, nearly crying out, her face instantly crumpling in confusion instead.

"Draco?"

His arms were crossed firmly over his leather jacket, eyes glittering. "You never cease to amaze me."

"You shouldn't Apparate on people like that." Chanel squared her shoulders, glancing quickly in both directions down the empty hall. "What are you doing here?"

His expression hardened. "I could ask you the same."

Her eyes flickered. "I'm not the one who supposed to be on stage performing -- now."

"No, you're right. You're the one who's supposed to be watching."

She stared at him incredulously, an unintelligible noise nearly escaping her. Her arms stitched themselves tightly across her chest as she gave her head a helpless toss.

"Chanel Steele, actually at a loss for words?" He clucked his tongue, mocking softly. "Seems I have just the right sort of effect on you."

"Don't flatter yourself," she snapped. "You have a concert to finish -- or are you so �above it all� that money means nothing to you?"

Draco slowly uncrossed his arms, butting his shoulder against the wall. "Didn't feel like it. Besides, I gave them three great songs." He paused, a strange kind of smile warming his face. "Did you like yours?"

"What does it matter if I -�� she stopped abruptly, her mouth tightening. "That's not my song."

"Isn't it?" He hiked his brow gently.

"No," she expelled a long, irritated breath, wishing for a stronger retort.

"Hm. Methinks the witch doth protest too much."

"You�ve got some nerve --� she hissed.

His hand flashed before her face in a halting motion. She felt her jaws click shut, her tongue suddenly thick along the roof of her mouth. Her throat began expanding with a sharp gasp of air and then froze, as if she were waiting for a sneeze to pass. Only it didn't. She panicked, her eyes widening as she realized it prevented her speaking or breathing -- until she felt the frantic bursts of air from her nose.

Draco moved in closer. "A bit of wandless magic. You like?" he chuckled darkly.

She clenched her fists at her sides, trembling with silent fury.

He continued casually. "Learned it from a book I stole in Knockturn Alley my second year at Hogwarts. Seems rather easy, but it's amazingly hard to master. Quite a few house elves went unconscious before I got it right."

Fear instantly lit her eyes.

"Not to worry, Chanel. None of them actually died."

A short indignant huff escaped her nostrils.

He smiled upon her kindly. "You've returned my flowers. I want to know why." His hand briefly snapped across the air in front of her face as if swatting away a fly.

Her jaw suddenly swung open like an unlatched gate, her muscles feeling slack and slightly numb as she expelled a forceful breath. "I can't be bought. Unlike some witches."

"Care to clarify that? Vagueness really doesn't suit you," he growled.

"Pansy," she said evenly.

"Pansy? Yes, what about her?"

Chanel gave her chin an indignant tilt. "Sharon told me she's staying in the villa with the Veelas. Was she at the concert?"

"Yes." Draco took in a breath sharply. "But what has any of this got to do with her?"

"Everything," she answered calmly, throwing a glance towards Tori's room. "Look, right now's not a good time --�

He quickly closed the space between them, grasping her arm. "Now is the best time."

She swallowed thickly, caught between anger and weakness. "Please -- "

"A word I thought I'd never hear from you," he drawled.

�-- Let go," she finished, feeling slightly breathless.

His laugh was thick and husky. "I don't think you want me to."

The cool, gentle puff of his breath was on her lips. She shut her eyes, her heart crackling painfully against her ribcage.

Suddenly, the door next to them opened and Tori stepped out, running straight into the two of them. �Oh, damn,� she muttered, righting herself quickly.

Chanel's eyes flew open and she blinked against her shifting contacts. Draco snapped his head towards Tori, straightening himself, his fingers uncurling from Chanel's arm.

"Klug," he muttered brusquely. His eyes turned meaningfully on Chanel.

Her shoulders stiffened. "Later."

He considered Chanel for a moment before a slow-burning grin twitched at his mouth. "Later, Sweet." He pushed off, strolling coolly down the hall.

She cleared her throat, feeling a sting in her cheeks as she looked away from Tori's open expression. Tori considered a few different questions before only saying, �Come on, we have to get ready.�

***

Tori stood off to the side, backstage, by herself once more. Again, all three had been told they should expect a delay. Harry had gone to recheck the speakers, and Chanel had gone back to her room. But Tori found a spot where she could watch them.

Because there was something she was trying desperately to understand about the Veela's portion of the concert.

She�d heard from Chanel that they only sang one song and it stretched on for hours, while their all-male audience swayed drunkenly like mad zombies.

This concert, the girls came on stage and said nothing. And yet this low, eerie hum rose from the entire crowd. Their eyes were fixed and glazed on the three supernatural beauties, who alternately winked, blinked and blew kisses. One in particular began stroking her impossibly long corn silk hair and a fan near the front began shrieking like a madman.

Tori was horribly disturbed and tried to go back to her dressing room. It was harder than it seemed, as most of the stagehands were stuck like stone in their places and pushing against the dead weight was frighteningly like being caught in a meat locker.

Their portion of the concert took over two hours. Security had been called in to clear away the men, but then the male officers were soon standing around like listless oafs.

Sharon had the brilliant idea to cut off the lights in the arena. The sudden flooding of darkness seemed to snap them out of their daze. They all slowly filed out, like the walking dead, back to their worried families and anxious wives.
***
Tori knocked on Chanel�s door two hours later, having been told that the Veelas had finally left the stage and they were due on in ten minutes.

In her hand was the song list, which had her frowning, confused. It read:

4 Privet Drive
Witchy Woman
The Daily Profit
My Creature's Keeper
Do You Believe in Magic
Erised (instrumental)
Tears of the Phoenix
Movable Feast
Seal of Gryffindor (instrumental)
Snitch
**Untitled**

�Hey, what�s with Untitled? How come no one told me?� Tori asked as Chanel opened her door.

�Don�t worry about it,� Chanel said, stepping out of her room.

Tori sighed inwardly, recognizing the shut-up tone. �Are you feeling better?�

�Yeah,� Chanel answered after a moment. She coughed and spoke rapidly. �Thanks for going.�

�Sure. Glad you�re feeling better.�

�Sharon asked if I liked 'my song,' Chanel grumbled.

�Oh?�

�Yeah. I don�t remember my answer, but Sharon wiped the smile off her face and patted my hand.�

�Hm.�

�Where does he get off telling people that was my song?� Chanel burst out.

Tori stifled a laugh. He probably does get off from that� �Just by saying that would be my guess.�

Chanel shook her head tiredly as they approached the stage, where the glare from the lights was practically blinding.

They saw Harry on the other side of the stage, checking the speakers.

�That has got to be the third time he�s checked them; he was doing that when we got here.� Chanel said.

�Shouldn�t we tell him about Goyle?� Tori asked, as he caught sight of them and disappeared backstage.

Chanel fixed her with a look. �Want to tell him how we know?�

�Oh,� said Tori knowingly.
***
Five minutes later, they were situated and ready as the curtain rose and the crowd began cheering. Harry quickly apologized to the crowd about the �delay,� to which Chanel frowned.

Harry glanced back at the girls and nodded, snaring into the dark beat of 4 Privet Drive. The crowd roared suddenly, causing Tori to look up and key off momentarily. She caught Chanel�s warning glance and murmured �Sorry� to no one in particular.

As the crescendo of the first song died away, they immediately picked up on Witchy Woman.

"Raven hair and ruby lips,
Sparks fly from her fingertips
Echoed voices in the night,
She's a restless spirit on an endless flight

Ooh, ooh, witchy woman, see how high she flies
Ooh, ooh, witchy woman, she got the moon in her eye

She held me spellbound in the night,
Dancing shadows and firelight
Crazy laughter in another room,
And she drove herself to madness with a silver spoon

Ooh, ooh, witchy woman, see how high she flies
Ooh, ooh, witchy woman, she got the moon in her eye

Well, I know you want a lover, let me tell you, brother,
She's been sleeping in the devil's bed."
Harry visibly relaxed as the song ended. �Thank you! Our next song goes out to all the Rita Skeeters in the world�Daily Profit.� He broke into a wild, angry lick on the guitar.

Chanel raised an eyebrow. We didn�t practice it like this� She glanced at Tori, who shrugged, amused.

The head-banging subsided as Harry ended the song with a few wah-wahs on the guitar, before wiping his brow with his sleeve. �Thank you�� he stopped, as five shirts came flying at him from the front row.

Chanel snickered, taking the opportunity to run over to Tori. �I made some changes to the line up,� she whispered, handing over the sheet music for the final songs.

�Okay�� Tori glanced at the music. My Creature�s Keeper, Do You Believe in Magic, Snitch, Untitled. She quickly rifled through the music, feeling panicky. �Where�s the sheet music for Untitled? We didn�t practice that! Chan!�

Chanel didn�t answer, but scurried back to the drums as a security officer picked up the last of the shirts and hurried off stage.

Harry immediately began the silly intro to My Creature�s Keeper.

"Well, he had the heart
Of a giant
The pride and laughter, too..."

Following that song was Do You Believe in Magic. Tori was too busy playing to think any more about the mysterious Untitled. Besides, Chanel would have her head if she keyed off again.

As the crowd sang the last repeat of the chorus, Chanel nodded at Tori, who began the opening to Snitch with a wild flourish, her fingers flying furiously up and down the keyboard, barely giving the crowd a chance to unwind and sit down. They immediately began screaming again, jumping up and down unabashedly as Harry began:

"Snitch!
What I find
I'm keeping
You best be believing...�

As the song faded out, Harry looked back at Chanel, slightly nervous. He was just as in the dark about this sudden change, having read through the song list moments before being ushered on stage. He had held back to ask what it was, but she waved him on ahead of her, telling him not to worry.

�Thank you! Thank you. Um, we�ve got a�special treat for you to end the show, courtesy of our manager, Anti-Sweet.�

Chanel stood up and waved at the crowd. The audience applauded, but the stage lights started to go down, and a silence fell over the crowd.

Harry quickly walked off stage left, but Tori stood there, confused. What the hell was going on?

Chanel grabbed her arm a little roughly and pulled her off to the opposite side of the stage. �Good job.�

Before Tori could gather her wits to say anything, an enormous image suddenly appeared, blazing against the background onstage.

The voice of the house emcee boomed: �Ladies and gentlemen, The Boy Who Lived presents to you this special feature�Ms. Mariah Carey!!�

The crowd went absolutely wild as the spotlight found the stage, revealing Madame Butterfly herself. �Thank you! Thank you! No, I love you!�

From backstage, Tori turned to Chanel, confused. �You didn�t tell me about this why?�

Chanel didn�t answer, but watched as Mariah thanked the band for having her tonight. Mariah turned to look at Harry offstage, who blushed. �Truly, you are an inspiration.�

The fans concurred with more screaming, and Mariah laughed. �Tonight, I dedicate this song to you, Harry. So you know that no matter what, through thick and thin, you�ve got a friend.�

The crowd quieted somewhat as her band began playing, and she began to sing:

�If you're lonely and need a friend
And troubles seem like they never end
Just remember to keep the faith
And love will be there to light the way

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it all right

When the shadows are closing in
And your spirit diminishing
Just remember you're not alone
And love will be there to guide you home

If you just believe in me
I will love you endlessly
Take my hand
Take me into your heart
I'll be there forever, baby
I won't let go, I'll never let go!

Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
It's all right, it's all right.�

The crowd sang along, waving more than a few lighters, some faces even wet with tears.

Backstage, Tori watched, feeling better. So it was a surprise for Harry, big deal� For a brief moment, she had thought that the �surprise� had had something to do with herself.

As the song ended and the crowd went wild, roaring and screaming, Mariah breathed, �From, BB.�

In all the chaotic cheering, no one in the crowd heard her. But the three people standing just off stage did, and their reactions were mixed.

Next to Tori, Chanel's heart came to a stop with a single solitary thud.

What. The. FUCK.

Her name had completely disappeared from the dedication. Her name, which had been first.

Tori froze, unable to turn and look at Chanel; her face started to burn. That was the reason for the secrecy? Was this her idea of a joke?

On the other side of the stage, Harry�s mouth had dropped, and he found that he couldn�t will it to close. He had already been planning to tell Chanel off for the surprise guest singing a song to him. But after hearing that�

He had noticed that Tori had been looking at him in a slightly different way lately, to which he assumed that it was because she had caught him looking at her more often than usual. He had never been too skilled at concealing things like that. But she hadn�t seemed put off by it, unless he was misconstruing her reaction to his apparently not-so-subtle staring.

His ill-conceived �plan� had been to wait until after they had been on tour for a bit, give her enough time to adjust�he was strangely hopeful, seeing her reaction thus far, even though he knew that she wasn�t being exposed to what he had told her about. He guessed in the back of his mind that if and when the magic popped up, undoubtedly somewhere unexpected, her reaction would change�probably drastically.

Deep down, he knew he was most likely crazy to think that, but perhaps the way she looked at him meant the same thing as him looking at her. He had meant to figure it out, among other things, after she�d had a chance to absorb it all� perhaps if she wasn�t still struggling with the magic aspect�maybe, just maybe�

But, this-�this was surprising. This had caught him off-guard�-way off-guard. Harry wasn�t sure what to make of it; it didn�t seem like something she�d do, which meant that it was probably Chanel�s idea. Even so, it didn�t seem like something that Tori would agree to; which meant that she probably had been in the dark just as much as he had been. Did that mean what he thought it meant? What exactly did he think it meant? Was he supposed to do something? What was he supposed to do? What was he supposed to say?

They were standing there, Tori and Harry, shell-shocked, looking like a couple of starved kittens. Chanel snapped her eyes from both of them, swearing hotly under her breath.

Tori�s legs felt like Jell-O. How could Chanel have done this? Oh, God, oh, God, oh God..no...I wasn�t going to do this, I wasn�t going to do anything about it� She managed to turn to Chanel, her mouth opened, but nothing came out.

The house lights came up as the emcee thanked the audience and bade them good night. They could both see Harry on the other side, transfixed, unmoving, looking across the way at them.

Terribly flustered, Tori turned and started walking. Chanel quickly turned to stomp away and nearly stumbled over some wiring.

Apparently, Harry had had the same idea, as they all arrived at Chanel�s dressing room at the same time. Tori stopped, looking anywhere but at Harry. They all stood there, mute, until Chanel pulled her door open and walked in, quickly followed by Tori and then Harry.

�That�that was the�surprise?� Harry managed, as if he�d forgotten how to use his voice.

Chanel caught the brilliant green eyes, waiting, and she strangled something dark and churning that was rising in her throat.

"Yeah. Sure," she muttered tautly, flashing him a tight smile. "Right. So the next stop is Cologne. We leave tomorrow; unless Draco changes anything. Gotta make sure the flat is packed and empty --� Taking a breath, she looked at Harry. �Is that it?� she asked forcefully, trying to keep her voice neutral.

Harry nodded dumbly, to which Chanel said, �Let�s go,� and practically flew through her door. Tori hurried to follow, but Harry cleared his throat, and she paused, just at the door. Shakily, she turned around. �Yeah?� she said hesitantly, her voice hoarse and cracking.

�Uh, that was�uh, thanks,� he said, trying a brief smile, causing Tori to freeze and blink, her stomach pausing mid-churn.

It wasn�t my idea, her mind shouted. It really wasn�t�

�S�sure,� she managed to choke out after a brief pause, meeting his gaze quickly before turning and hurrying after Chanel, unable to say more.

*******

Tori woke up late the next morning with the blanket pulled over her head, debating how long she should hide under it. A second later, she sat up, and pulled the blanket off. �Stop being stupid,� she told herself. �The song said �friend.� �Friend.��

Still, she remembered the car trip home�another quiet one. In between blushing, Tori was confused by Chanel�s stony demeanor. Why wasn�t she smiling smugly�the job had been done. She, Tori, had been embarrassed hugely. Wasn�t that the point -�a jab at her silly looks at Harry, which Chanel had interpreted correctly, and which Harry knew, obviously, or he did now.

But then she�d find herself watching Harry, hands folded in his lap, and she�d make herself look away, in case he looked up.

Tori swung her feet off the couch, where one of them came into to contact with something hard, flat and cold. Stifling a yelp, she pulled her feet up and peered over to see a small, green book lying on the floor next to her cellular.

Picking it up, Tori read the cover. �Quid�ditch�Quidditch through the Ages�hm,� Was it something of Harry�s? She looked inside the front cover and found a scribble which bore his name.

Curious, she settled back into the old couch and flipped through the book, glancing at the pictures.

Sometime after noon, Chanel opened her door and stepped out. �We�re meeting HP at the High Browsmen Tavern tonight�eight o�clock,� she grunted irritably.

Tori looked up, and closed the book. �Okay,� she said, debating whether to ask Chanel why she had done what she did last night. And why she was not in good spirits about their reactions.

Chanel eyed the thin book as Tori reached for her notebook. �What�s that?�

Tori glanced down, the book already forgotten next to her lap. �Oh. It was on the floor by the couch. I think it�s Harry�s.�

Chanel grunted noncommittally, then turned back in her room, slamming the door shut.
***
Tori didn�t see Chanel again until it was after eight. She had thought about knocking on her door at ten after eight, to see if she was ready, but decided against it. It did not seem like a good idea to bother Chanel in any way right now. Instead, she had picked up the green book again and started to flip through it once more when Chanel came out of her room, said, �Let�s go,� and crossed the threshold in three steps. Tori jumped up and grabbed her bag, book still in hand, and hurried after her.
***
Harry was already there as they entered the casual dining room. �You�re late,� he said to Chanel.

Chanel shrugged as she slipped into her seat. �Yeah, well, I'm here. Consider yourself lucky.�

He turned to Tori. �Hi,� he said, trying to act normal; they hadn�t said a word to each other since the concert. At the very least, his greeting was oddly formal.

Tori managed to return the greeting, and was saved from an awkward silence and Chanel�s eye rolling by noticing the green book she still had in her hand. �Oh, I think this is yours. It was lying by the couch,� she explained, holding it out to him.

Harry stared at the book, caught off guard. �Well, yeah. I thought you�d like it. It�s about the history of Quidditch�I mentioned something about it when we�talked��

There was a pause before she answered. �...Right.� Tori said quickly, before she remembered. She had still been too caught up in the whole idea of the magic that night to remember exactly what he had said about it. Oh, wait, a sport, he liked it�or played it�on broomsticks?

Chanel, who was ordering a scotch, darted a quick look at the book as Tori pulled it back towards her.

Harry looked relieved as Tori put the book back into her bag. �Thanks. I�ll read it as soon as I have a spare moment and get it back to you.�

�No rush,� he replied quickly.

Chanel suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Oh goody, now we're on to gift exchanges. She cleared her throat, starting somewhat irritably. "Look, guys, about last night -- "

A brief jarring bump to the back of her chair stopped her. She snapped her head up, pausing in the middle of a few choice words.

Harry and Tori looked up as well; Harry�s anger flared, as it always did upon the sight of Draco Malfoy. And Pansy Parkinson was with him as well.

Chanel's eyes narrowed dangerously at Draco as he waggled two fingers playfully at her, steering Pansy in the opposite direction. The slender witch pressed closer into his side, her long nails curled possessively around his arm.

Harry�s eyes narrowed. �What are they doing here?�

Chanel recovered smoothly as Tori stared after the two. �We're on an island, HP. What are you gonna do?�

�Who was that with him?� Tori asked, as the waiter arrived with the drinks, which Chanel snatched quickly.

�Pansy Parkinson.� Harry said levelly, as Chanel gulped down half her scotch.

Tori said nothing more, having made the connection with that name and the earlier conversation with Chanel about Draco�s visitor.

�So, did you hear how they finally got the audience to come to after the Veelas?� Harry asked them stiffly, turning back to the table, trying for normal conversation.

Tori shook her head; Chanel finished her drink and hailed the waiter, signaling for another one.

�Apparently, they had to shut off the power. That woke them up.�

�That�s what Sharon said,� Chanel remembered, making a face. �Something needs to be done about that.�

The waiter appeared just then, but Chanel didn�t see a glass. �The gentlemen from that table over there would like to buy your party this bottle of house wine,� the waiter said, gesturing behind him and presenting the wine with a flourish.

Harry turned to see Draco tip his head. Glaring, he turned back. �Tell the�no thanks.�

Draco�s brow rose clearly as the waiter approached him and relayed the message. He whispered something back, and the waiter turned and dutifully returned to the first table.

�Pardon me, but the gentleman insists. He says that it is for a Ms. Steele, and begs that she does not refuse him.�

Chanel whirled around to glare at Draco, and found Pansy ensnaring him like a piece of Devil's snare. Chanel turned rigidly to the server. �Fine," she said crisply. "I�ll accept. But please tell the gentlemen that he�s going to need a better napkin than the one he�s got in his lap.�

Tori abruptly ducked her head and spat out the soda she had just sipped. Sitting up and wiping her mouth, she bit her tongue and covered her mouth as she watched Pansy. Harry coughed to avoid smiling, having been stunned out of his anger.

Chanel caught Draco�s eye and spoke loudly. �Yes, let us toast our kind admirer.�

As if to grab the bottle, she moved her arm in a wide sweeping arch, but caught it with the flat of her hand. It tipped over the edge of the table and the dull splatter of liquid and sharp tinkling of glass made for a very satisfying sound. Chanel turned two very wide and owlish eyes on Draco.

Draco�s face immediately drained of all color, and with a sharp nudge, Pansy stilled herself.

�I am so sorry,� Chanel intoned apologetically, feigning shock. �How much was that wine, sir?�

The waiter choked on his words as he quickly knelt to clean up the mess. �One�one thousand, three hundred and seventy-six pounds, Madame.�

Harry snorted, but it only sounded in his throat. Tori�s hand dropped from her mouth, shocked, but she was still smiling.

Chanel blinked, her mouth nearly slipping open. She snatched a fresh glass of scotch off the tray of a new waiter, sitting back stiffly. �Well, my condolences to the gentleman. I'm sure it was a very good year.�

Tori bit her lip as she became aware that Draco was still watching their table. She quickly averted her gaze and looked at Chanel.

�I don�t believe you did that.� Harry said suddenly, causing both the girls to look at him in surprise.

�I�m glad,� he said, smiling, �but I don�t believe it.�

Tori glanced over at Draco�s attempts to push Pansy away discreetly from his lap, and she closed her eyes, trying to will away the oncoming threat of laughter.

Chanel closed her eyes briefly against the sting of alcohol as it slid down her throat and quietly asked the waiter for another.

***

The sleek alpine white owl that had been tapping at her window for over an hour. For nearly that same amount of time, Chanel had been pretending not to notice.

She finally jumped up from the bed and quickly snapped the paper thin curtains across the glass. The bird struck harder. She dove under the covers, swaddling them around her brew-sloshed head, but it barely muffled the sharp insistant noise. Biting back a strangled growl, she snapped the blankets away and trudged out of the room.

The owl now stared plaintively at her from the large rectangular window of the living room. Chanel caught the flimsy strings of the blinds and gave it a strong yank, managing only to launch them towards the ceiling in a tangled mess.

Fuck. Me.

The owl cocked its head as if laughing and rapped the glass.

But Chanel heard nothing. The repetive drilling stutter of a jackhammer from street muted the bird's obnoxious tapping. A slow, triumphant grin twisted her lips.

"Eat that, you flying rodent."

She went to her dresser and swirled through a mess of items in a drawer until she found a pair of dark sunglasses. She returned to the living room, promptly flopping onto the couch.

"Sorry, ole girl," Chanel grunted towards the window, closing her eyes.

"Hear no evil, see no evil."
***

At ten o�clock, Tori opened the door to the flat with breakfast in hand and found Chanel dozing on the couch, sunglasses on. She set down Chanel�s black coffee and the bag of muffins. She had wanted doughnuts, but the little store at the corner only had jelly-filled. The rain had prevented her from walking five blocks north to the petrol station.

Chanel started suddenly, and sat up, noticing Tori. �Thanks,� she grumbled, reaching for the coffee.

�Sure.� Tori sat down on the floor and opened her Diet Coke. �How you doing?�

Chanel shrugged irritably. �Been better. Where�s HP?�

�Looking for a translator,� Tori said, picking out a blueberry muffin. �He said we�d need one in Germany; we�re supposed to meet them at the arena. How are we getting to the airport, by the way?�

�Shuttle. We leave in two hours�that reminds me; got to check and see what time they�ll be here.� Chanel got up and went to her room to get the reservation ticket.

Tori could hear her punching in the automated number, followed by silence and then swearing as Chanel angrily slammed the phone back in its receiver and stormed out. �Fuck. The shuttle�s been cancelled. There was an accident en route -� the rain.�

Tori looked out the window at the rain, which had gotten heavier. �Great. What are we going to do?�

Chanel grabbed Tori�s cellular from the foot of the couch and quickly dashed off a number. After speaking tersely, she hung up and tossed the phone to Tori. �Come on, we got a cab to catch.�
***
Sharon opened her door quickly, looking somewhat surprised even though Chanel had just talked to her. �Girls, is everything alright?" she asked, peering closely at Chanel.

Chanel adjusted her sunglasses and mumbled, �Been better. Our shuttle�s down, and we need to figure out how to get to Heathrow. That, and HP�s at the arena talking to our�translator.�

Sharon shook her head and stepped back to allow them in. �Oh, my. Well, we were actually supposed to leave last night. Draco called from the Cornwallis this morning. I'm guessing he had a difficult night.�

Chanel�s mouth tightened at this, which Sharon noticed; she glanced at Tori, who shrugged. �Really? Is everything okay?� Tori asked, feigning innocence.

Sharon frowned slightly. �I�m not sure. He didn�t sound quite like himself. But I don�t think Pansy is with him.�

Chanel coughed irritably. �That�s the breaks. Anyways, what time are you leaving now?� she spoke quickly, before something else came out of her mouth.

�Draco sent a limo. It should be around in twenty minutes.�

�Great,� Chanel mumbled. �HP�s still at the damn arena.�

Sharon was silent for a moment. �Well, I�m sure Draco wouldn�t mind giving you girls a lift to the airport. Perhaps Harry and your translator can leave from the arena instead of doubling back to your flat.�

A tiny sigh escaped Chanel�s throat. �We had standby tickets. We were already supposed to be on our way.�

�I�m sure that there�s something we can do to help.� Sharon patted Chanel�s shoulder maternally as Chanel slumped into a nearby chair. �Tori, dear, why don�t you call Harry and tell him there�s been a change of plans; see if he can manage getting to the airport on his own.�

Tori glanced down at her hand, clutching her phone. �Uh, sure.� She flipped open her phone and hit the number two.

Harry answered after two rings, sounding surprised. ��Hello. Everything okay?�

Tori paused, the recent memory of the concert refreshing itself in her mind. She pushed it out. �Not really. Uh, you still at the arena?�

�Yeah, why?�

Tori glanced at an irritable Chanel. �The shuttle got cancelled; there was an accident.� She moved back a couple of steps as Chanel coughed loudly. �Can you get to the airport?�

�I�m sure that someone here can drop us off. What about you two?�

There was an anxious pause, and then Tori started to speak quickly. �Well, um, SharonsaidDracocouldgiveusaridetotheairport��

�What?� he said loudly, unbelieving. �Malfoy?�

�Well, we really don�t have a choice.� Tori cursed inwardly, for not being able to slip that by him. �Even if you got a ride and came back for us, we�d miss our flight. We have standby tickets.�

�I know, but that doesn�t matter. We�ll find a later flight.� Harry said sharply, sounding irritated. Malfoy probably instigated all this�he thought, holding up a finger as someone near him began speaking.

�Well, I wouldn�t mind�er,� she stopped in her attempt to placate him, as a loud huffing sound came from Chanel�s direction. �But�we really should get there as soon as we can...You know, the more we can get done today, the less to do tomorrow.�

�That�s not the point,� he admitted grudgingly, although he felt it would be stupid to say exactly what the point was. �I don�t like that he�s taking you to the airport.�

Tori glanced at the back of Chanel�s head. �Agreed,� she said, not able to ask more. �We�ll be fine, and we�ll see you when we get there.�

She said good bye and closed her phone quickly. �He says he can get a ride to the airport.�

Sharon picked up her phone and dialed Draco�s hotel, listened in silence and then hung up. �It seems he�s left the hotel already.�

Chanel shifted uncomfortably in her seat. �Look, maybe we�ll figure something else out. You don�t have to go through the trouble��

Sharon held up a hand, politely cutting Chanel off. �Nonsense. What trouble? The driver will drop you off at the airport.� She rummaged in a large handbag, coming up with a tin of biscuits and a thermos of hot tea.

Fifteen minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Sharon got up to answer it. �Oh, good,� she said, seeing that it was the driver. �These young ladies will be coming with us. Be a dear and grab their things.�

The driver grabbed their bags and all three women followed him out to a black limo that was larger than the one they had been in a couple of days ago. He packed their belongings in the trunk before opening the door for them. One by one, they slid inside.

Draco was stretched out in a rather slack position, wearing a neat woolen coat and leather gloves. Upon seeing Chanel, he straightened up and glowered menacingly.

Tori scooted in, trying to be unobtrusive, but Draco rounded on her. �What�s this all about?�

Surprised that he was actually speaking to her, Tori smiled thinly. �This is about you giving us a ride to the airport,� she said, her tone mockingly polite. �Thanks, by the way.�

Draco snapped his head towards Sharon, who remained solemn. He returned his glare to Tori. �And how do you intend to pay for this?�

Impressed that he managed to address another sentence to her, Tori simply said, �I thought this was your limo.�

Draco fixed her with a most toxic look. �If you are looking for an act of charity, go beg elsewhere.�

God, you are a snot. She pretended to be taken aback. �I�m not confusing you for an act of charity. I know what kind of act you are. And Sharon is the one who kindly offered us the use of the limo.�

There was a thick silence before she continued. �But if you�re truly concerned about looking magnanimous, which could ruin your reputation, then by all means, we will pay for the limo.�

Draco�s eyes turned impossibly flat and cold. He snapped open his mouth, but Sharon firmly patted his leg, interrupting the potential onslaught. She turned to Tori and spoke kindly. �Really. There�s no need. We�d be only happy to help.�

Tori shrugged, the fight gone, and she stared out the window. Draco made a low, threatening noise and glared out a window as well.

Sharon watched Chanel, who was watching Draco. �I�m sure we�ll get there shortly, so you�ll have time to make your standby.�

Draco snorted. �Ha! You�ll be lucky if you get there sometime next week. There�s been an accident on the motorway. People with regular flights will be backed up.�

Chanel suppressed a deep sigh. �Shit,� she muttered.

Draco turned away from the window, suddenly amused. �I�ll say.�

Sharon shot him a patient look. �Well then, the least we can do is fly you over to Germany with us.�

�What?!?� Draco hissed.

�What?� echoed Chanel, thrown.

�Uh, n-no, no,� Tori stuttered, her face full of worry and apprehension. �We should make it there in plenty of time.�

Sharon waved her hand. �You said earlier that the more you got done, the better. And you do have a very short time to prepare for the concert.� She continued calmly. �Sooner would help. So, everyone, relax,� Sharon finished, smiling gently.

Chanel mulled over the logic; Tori had said it earlier. Suddenly she felt extremely tense. �Why would it make any difference if we left with you or chanced catching our standby?�

A tiny, confused smile appeared on Sharon�s lips. A tiny, confused smile appeared on Sharon�s lips. �Because, dear, we are flying by private jet.�

Draco�s mouth twisted in a deliciously Slytherin smirk.

Chanel turned to stare at Tori, who spoke. �Harry knows we�ll be at the airport. We�d rather travel with him if possible.� She didn�t even want to imagine his reaction to them flying out with Draco. And I�m not getting on a private jet with him�she thought, narrowing her eyes at Draco, who was clearly enjoying this.

Draco�s lips curled in amusement at her thought. �Good luck there, Klug,� he drawled. �I mean, getting through all the miles of mangled vehicles and all.�

Tori scowled and stared at the carpet. Chanel frowned at Draco, contemplating.

He continued nonchalantly. �It seems Muggles can�t even manage the rain. One car goes smashing into another�� he trailed off with a bored sigh. �Never happens when you Apparate.�

Chanel was quiet for a moment, trying to fight off the creeping desperation. �You know this for sure?�

He stretched lazily to snap on the 21 inch TV across from him, flipping the channels before stopping on one where news choppers were whirling over the scene of the mass accident. Chanel turned to look at Tori meaningfully, who shot back a look of exasperation.

�This is not going to go over well,� Tori muttered to herself.

�Mm. Potter will lose his mind,� Draco chuckled.

Again, Sharon pressed a hand to his leg firmly. Chanel glared at him before reluctantly settling back into the soft rich leather. The inhabitants of the limo fell silent as time passed.

Chanel found herself being shaken awake by Tori; they had arrived at the airport. Chanel stumbled from the limo, blinking at the sleek jet. Tori was glaring at it, clearly not happy.

Draco was already stomping determinedly up the boarding steps. Chanel followed, and had just barely caught a glimpse of the gorgeous cream and gold interior, the plush carpeting and the chardonnay waiting on gold platters when she felt a hand on her arm.

Tori dropped her arm quickly as Draco disappeared, and said quietly, �Do you really think this is our only option? Or even a generally good idea?�

Resigned, Chanel fixed her with an even look. �It looks that way, doesn�t it?� she said, watching Tori stand resolutely at the top of the boarding steps.

Tori stood defensively, knowing that Chanel was right, but hating it. �I still get the distinct feeling that this isn�t the best idea,� she continued, not wanting to mention Harry�s name while Draco was in earshot.

�What�s done is done,� Chanel said, and she firmly pulled a still-reluctant Tori into the cabin. �We all have to eat shit from time to time. Let�s just get this over with.�
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Chronicles of The Boy Who Lived