The Accursed (chapter 1: Changes at school)

The Accursed
Chapter 1
Changes at school1

“Ahem,” Eliza Dawson, a tall redheaded Ravenclaw third year cleared her throat loudly, trying to gain the attention of her fellow Mischief Makers. “The meeting has started people,” she said, annoyance edging her voice. At that point her more crass twin Danielle jumped up, pulled her wand out and started pointing it randomly at the gathered group of rebellious students. An hour and a half past their curfew of nine pm.2

“Shut up and listen to Lizzy or I’ll curse the lot of you!” Everyone started, and turned to see Eliza raise her wand to the ready. Lizzy calmly, with an undertone of anger, told her twin, “Danielle Charlotte Dawson sit down, we already agreed I’m spokesperson due to the fact that I took the time to organise them, and I had everything under control.”3

“Don’t wave that thing at me, you know damn well I’m better with a wand. A lot better than you will ever be. And it really looked like you had everyone completely captivated with your, ‘Ahem the meeting has started people,’ little speech no-one heard.” She sarcastically mimicked Lizzy, then, mock-hurt, went on, “I was just trying to be a nice sister, I see how much I’m appreciated.” Before Lizzy could retort, Napoleon Straphang sprang to his feet, snatching Danni’s wand and pocketing it, trying to put on an innocent face as he stood between the malevolently glaring girls. 4

Danni made to grab her overused wand from Napoleon; however, he wasn’t quite ready to hand it over. Taking hold of Danni’s wrist, Napoleon casually looked around, but seeing the irritated look on both twins’ faces, dropped Danni’s wrist and instead changed immediately to a confused look.
”So…Danielle… What the Pygmy Puff are we doing here?”
”Napoleon,” Danielle sighed, “You really need to stop using made-up words! Maybe Muggle school would be more your learning capacity.”
Looking insulted, Napoleon sat down, thinking, ‘What’s a muggle?’5

“Firstly I’d like to state…” Lizzy started talking loud enough to shut out the other two, as Danni went to go on, giving her a ‘I-think-you’re-strange’ look,” that I’m a more than an even match against Danielle. Now The M.M’s stands for Mischief Makers, which a few of you would know. What a lot of you also know is that Danni and I have been working for the good of troublesome students since we first stepped off the Hogwarts Express as completely innocent first years.” Alex Davies, being the twin’s best friend, coughed disbelievingly. “We are the original Mischief Makers, and realising we won’t be here forever…”6

“Thank God”. Danni interrupted in her own brand of cynicism. Ignoring her, Lizzy continued.7

“…So we decided to train up some little Mischief Makers, hence the reason you’re all here, and the fact I need people to test any new concoctions we come up with.”8

“Yeah, do all the dirty work.” Once again Danni wasn’t being left out.9

“And who are you calling little? Eliza Jasmine Dawson.” Inquired Fred Weasley, towering over Lizzy.10

“You, and you are aware of the fact that that it would be way too easy to bring you down to my height in two seconds flat?” countered Lizzy, with an evil smile that would easily rival that of Fred’s. Fred backed out of the argument very quickly when he saw Lizzy’s hand wrap almost lovingly around one of the potions on her potions belt. 11

“Before we get to the fun stuff let’s see what we’ll be dealing with this year. The first notices of this year are abominable, so we’ll…” 12

“ARE YOU JOKING?” Danni jumped in before Lizzy could issue her opinion. “Abominable isn’t the word. First Quidditch is cancelled for the tri-wizards thingy-whatsit and they impose stupid age restrictions that stop the most talented students from entering.”13

“You wouldn’t be talking about yourself, now would you?” Alex Davies commented, and continued irritably, “and I know that my brother, Rodger, is entering, so Merlin forbid someone from Ravenclaw might win.”
Obviously, Danielle had a rather strong objection to that. Of course, she was fine with Ravenclaw students entering, and winning, but just the fact that it wouldn’t be her really stole her last nerve. Just as Danni opened her mouth Lizzy spoke, “well kind of…she means me of course, smartest one here,” and pointed her forefinger at her chest as she spoke.14

“Excuse me? What did you get in transfiguration last year? Besides, Alex was right: I was talking about myself, not you.” Danni countered.15

“ Oh right. You’re pure fluke.”16


“Try to convince McGonagall of that”, Danielle retorted in a singsong voice, which aggravated Lizzy to no end.17

“Hah, so you’ve got one teacher who thinks you’re great and one subject you can and do, do your work, whop-di-do, I ace all my subjects. Except maybe transfiguration, but who needs it,” Lizzy mumbled at the end. “Anyway lets get to the right topic of conversation here: The notices. Now that we…”18

Once again Danni butted in, “Besides the indignation of not even being allowed to enter the thing, us third years already have an essay to do for Professor Flitwick on stupid Cheering charms!”19

“Yeah it’s a foot and a half long.” Moaned Lizzy.” Now I know you hate homework but news flash, Danni, you’re not the only one, can we just…”20

“I thought you liked homework Lizzy?” Ginny Weasley, who was of average height with long ginger hair (A typical Weasley trait) and large, brown doe eyes. She was also a Gryffindor, so naturally she liked to annoy the twins, as they were both in Ravenclaw. Ginny was only a member of the Mischief Makers because she got good aim with cures and such, and also the fact that Weasleys were also old family friends of the Dawson’s.21

Before Lizzy had her mouth half open, Danni, who was always up for a fight, jumped in.
“Just because she pays attention in class, actually does her homework and gets better marks than you does not make her Hermione’s clone!”22

“You leave Hermione out of this.” Ginny replied in a deadly whisper. 23

“Why? Is she too close to Harry? Are you afraid that Harry is going to be dragged into this argument?” taunted Danielle with a sly, all-knowing smile.24

“Why would she be worried about what you say about Harry?” inquired a thoroughly confused Napoleon, looking from an agitated Danielle to a scarlet Ginny and back again waiting for an answer.25

“I don’t know, ask Ginny. I’m sure she would LOVE to talk about HARRY,” mocked a now cheeky Danielle. But, on the other hand, when was Danielle not cheeky?26

“Cut it out right now, this instant or you’ll both not talk for a week while Madam Pomfrey tries to work out how to lift my new improved silencing charm.” Lizzy snapped at the two who had stolen her light. “O.K people attention where it’s supposed to be, on me, I’m head of this meeting and controlling sister.”27

At this Danni cocks her head towards Napoleon and mutters, “Or so we let her believe anyway.”28

“Ok now we all know this alliance is a top secret organization, therefore no one but Danni and I are able to induct new members, you must have our strict approval on the individual. There’s no way around it as I am the secret keeper. The schedule that Danni…”Lizzy paused slightly, giving her twin a significant look who jumped up and waved a stack of purple parchments around. “…Will hand out.”29

“There’s not only purple schedules, are there?” Objected Tyron Bradston, a first year boy.30

“No.” Lizzy replied with a proud smile. “There’s an enchantment on them that will make them the favourite colour of the person whose name is on them. They’re purple now because there’s no name on them so they’ll be the favourite colour of whoever’s holding them.” Taking a breath she continued, “The schedule is set out like a study planner, except they’re all connected to the master copies, which only Danni and I have access to.” Eliza held up two planners, one pink and one purple. “Now when Danni or I write the time of the next meeting in either of ours, it’ll appear on all yours and in the subject column you’ll find what subject that what we’re studying is connected to. Even if it is a little far fetched.”31

“ Okay, you’ll see the colour has changed according to your preference.”32

“Oh look at Tyron’s paper, its pink.” Laughed George Weasley, holding his own aqua parchment.33

“Nothing’s wrong with pink,” Lizzy insisted.34

“Speak for yourself, I still vividly remember Mum forcing me into that revolting pink muggle dress,” Danni snarled in disgust.35

“What about that purple… thing that she tried to call a dress I had to wear? ” Lizzy shuddered.36

“Just be thankful that you two didn’t have to wear a Tuxedo,” countered Alex.37

“I would rather have worn that than wear the pink/purple dress;” chorused the twins38

Everyone broke out in hysterical laughter. it took a lot to get people focused so Lizzy went back to her be fail-safe. “Ahem”, She coughed loudly to get everyone’s attention. “Alright, now all you have to do is write your Name where it says ‘this belongs to…’ and it’ll stay that colour no matter who has it. Former meetings won’t get erased, makes it look more authentic if there's more than one time on it, but don’t get worried if the paper gets too full because when it’s at the end it’ll erase and be like new again.” She took a big exaggerated breath and abruptly changed subjects.39

“Now Danni is going to show you guys some curses and jinxes and stuff that we’ve come up with since we started.” The second Lizzy said her name Danni had pounced onto the stage-like area they had made and pranced around.40

“Alrighty people, now you gotta listen to me.” Daniell sounded smug and completely at home with being in charge. She pulled out her wand and swung it round eyeing the slightly anxious crowd.41

“Ginny I want you up here so I can demonstrate some of the curses, jinxes and charms on you,” Danni ordered. Ginny however had other plans that did not include being the guineapig that allowed a bad tempered Danni to curse her, especially after her comment about Lizzy.
“Not a chance Dawson, do you honestly think I’m stupid enough to let you curse me? Especially when you are in such a fowl mood,” Ginny said as she shook her head.
“I don’t think that you are that stupid, gosh, even Rodger isn’t that stupid, but I do expect you to follow orders when I give them. So you either get up the front so I can demonstrate the jinx properly or I will curse you from here,” Danni snapped, growing impatent with Ginny’s incessant obnoxiousness.
“You wouldn’t dare,” muttered Alex in disbelief, knowing full well what Danni was capable of when in possession of a wand.
“Wouldn’t I?” questioned Danni, pointing her wand directly at Ginny’s chest.42

“ngkrthy fiug dgdojrgh jfgjrfbvgh shgd jhg hgrsf,” Babbled Ginny, looking dumbstruck.
Everyone roared with laughter, except Alex who malevolently glared at Danielle.
“Dawson you remove that curse and get on with the spells we don’t know or the meeting won’t end before midnight. At the rate we’re going we’ll be lucky to finish at all.” Alex snapped, fully aware of what Danni was capable of.43

Danni casually flicked her wand with a sigh of frustration for having her fun thwarted, and the charm was instantly lifted.
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