Bound By Blood

Chapter 4

CRASH. "AGE LINE?" I screamed, storming to the other end of my room and back. My wand slashed through the air as I paced. With every word I lashed out, sending more objects flying. "How can there be an age line? I travelled here all the way from FRANCE for an AGE LINE!" By now I had stormed from my room, toppling a book case in my unreserved fury.

My only thought was to go find Madame Maxine. Surely she would know what to do. As I continued to storm up the hall, the older girls scrambled out of my way, eyeing my wand cautiously. Suddenly I heard a familiar laugh from behind me and turned to see Fleur and her friend Bridgette, a smirk playing on Bridgette's features. "'Ayley, the babi won't get to play in the Tri Wizzars cup 'ames. Anyvay, Madame Maxine ez looking for you. I 'ope she sends the babies home." Bridgette said the last part mainly to Fleur, but it was loud enough for everyone else to hear.

Everybody in the room turned and began to laugh. I felt my face turn red as I glared down at Bridgette. "Laugh while you can Bridgette. Because tomorrow night, my name is going to be pulled from the goblet and when it is you're going to have to cheer for the "baby"." I put every ounce of spite and contempt I had into spitting that sentence at her before I spun around and stormed off to Madame Maxine's private quarters.

Finally I reached her door, my hand swinging up to come slamming back down on the hard wood. Under the force of the blow, the door creaked open a fraction. Figuring she had left it open for me, I strode silently into the room closing the door behind me. I moved forward to see that I was standing in Madame Maxine's office with a large oak door behind her desk, which I assumed went to her private room.

Moving forward I noticed a piece of paper with my name written in massive cursive. It was a note from Madame Maxine saying that she was out, and if I happened to stop in while she was gone to wait and she would be back shortly. I pushed the paper to the side, sitting carefully down into the chair, examining my surroundings.

I was surveying her desk when I noticed I paper sticking out from under a news article about Norwegian Polymorphic Grass and the effects it has on hair and skin. I began moving the paper out from under the article when a voice echoed up to me from down the hall. Instantly I recognized Gabrielle's voice along with Madame Maxine's! Taking a quick glance at the paper I realized it was about age lines! I began to pick it up, but the door handle was already turning. I slipped the paper back under the news article and darted to the other side of the room. Looking up I saw a portrait of several magical creatures all clambering about enjoying a sunny day. I pretended to study it as the door hissed open loudly and Madame Maxine walked in without Gabrielle at her side.

"'Ayley, I vas 'oping you vould be 'ere." Madame Maxine shuffled to her desk sitting down behind it. "It seems I overlooked the age line. I vas just talking to Gabrielle and she 'as opted to go 'ome, back to Beaubatons. I vas vondering vhat you vould like to do."

"I would actually like to stay here. I understand what an age line is and the workings of it, but I at least want to try. I want to look back years from now and say that I at least tried." I looked towards Madame Maxine and as she prepared to speak Hayley spoke. "Please."

Madame Maxine paused, considering Hayley's words. "Alright, but I expect you to try everything and anything. I'm not allowed to help you so you have to do it on your own."

"I will."

"Very vell. Continue about your day Miss Emerson." My features quickly turned upward as a smile broke across my face.

"Thank you Madame Maxine!"

A yawn escaped me as I flipped yet another page of another book, looking for any way around an age line. The lamps flickered around me as I moved back towards the library shelves, hoping to find the answer to my problems. I felt a blow to my chest as I suddenly fell through the air. Looking up I saw a hand, inches from my face. I continued to stare at the hand until a voice reached my ears.

"Well hurry up then. We don't have all night to sit here." The voice radiated with irritability. I grabbed the hand and was pulled to my feet.

Standing before me were two identical red haired boys, wearing identical sweaters. The only difference was that one sweater had a G on it, and the other had a F.

"I'm dreadfully sorry. My name is Hayley. Hayley Emerson."

"I'm Fred and-" "I'm George." "Aren't you that girl?" "The one that sat at the Gryffindor table instead of with the others?" I looked from one to the other, having already forgotten their names. I stood for a moment trying to process what they had said, finding it difficult since they were always finishing the other ones sentence or saying the same thing at the same time. "Well?" They both asked, looking expectant of me.

"Um... Yes? What are you doing back here?" I mentally slapped myself. Why did I always have to be so nosy?

"We were just..." "Looking up information for an assignment." "What about you then?" They both shifted, looking around.

"I was just um..." I paused; standing there nothing came to my mind. I looked around quickly to see if anyone was near, quickly making up my mind. "I'm looking for a way around the age line."

It seems I had said the right thing since no sooner had I said it than a devious grin spread across both their faces. They looked around again before tugging me back towards my table.

"We think we've found a solution." "Aging potion-" "Perfected to make us only a few years older." They flipped through a few pages before settling on an extremely complicated looking potion.

"I'm not sure an aging potion will work though. Won't an age line be able to sense the potion in your body? To feel the magical effect?" My mind was reeling, trying to remember all I had read about age lines, but it seemed useless, a classic case of information overload.

My gaze travelled back to their faces to see the grins gone replaced by borderline arrogant smirks. "Just wait and see Miss Emerson. And when it works we might even be willing to spare a few drops." Both twins stood, pushing their chairs in, and left the library.

I sighed. I was back where I started. Without a clue about how to make this work. My piece of parchment was still sitting in the same spot, my name and school scrawled on both sides. It might as well just stay there since I doubt it will ever make it into that damned goblet, I thought with my mood plummeting. I grabbed at my notes before, standing and deciding to retire for the night.

AN: So here's chapter four. I will say that I was disapppointed with the number of reviews for the last chapter. Thanks you to those two people who did review. Now all I want from you, the readers, is either a review with your thoughts on Hayley being in the triwizard tournament or else for you to vote on my poll. I can't continue writing until I get this feedback. Now I want at least seven reviews and three votes before I update again.

Thanks.

Pheonix