Тейлор Поттер и философский виал / Taylor Potter and the Philosophical Vial: Глава 9. Испорченное Рождество

Chapter 9. Ruined Christmas
*

Camrad_RIP 19.01.26 в 13:17

Taylor came to and realized she was in the second-year girls' dormitory at Herofindor. She raised her hand and felt her head, but no, there were no holes or lumps there. However, her long, almost black hair, Taylor's pride and joy, and a memory of her mother had been cut off in places. She began feeling her head when Lisa's voice rang out.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.26 в 19:24

"We snatched you from the infirmary," Granger said, coming closer. "Doctor Pomfrey had already cut your hair, attached electrodes, and was about to cut your head open and give you some kind of nasty stuff with hair floating in it."

Camrad_RIP 19.01.26 в 20:11

"Ugh," Taylor grimaced, feeling like she wanted to vomit.

Camrad_RIP 21.01.26 в 22:58

The events of yesterday came flooding back to my mind, and then Lisa, who was adjusting some invisible thread on her purple-lilac suit, said:

Camrad_RIP 19.01.26 в 20:11

"Merry Christmas, Taylor! Here's my gift to you – our plan worked!"

Camrad_RIP 21.01.26 в 22:58

She hugged Taylor, who was sitting on the bed, and whispered in her ear.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 07:45

"And you already gave me a gift, you covered me yesterday!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 07:45

"From what?" Taylor frowned. "I don’t remember anything!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 07:46

"Look at her, she doesn't remember!" a sarcastic voice rang out, and Amy Weasley stepped out of the darkness.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:18

Pale, almost completely freckled, uncombed, and dressed haphazardly, as if she'd forgotten how to zip up or button up, Amy nevertheless looked focused. Her gaze, at least, seemed fixed on Taylor.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:19

"Merry Christmas, Taylor!" Victoria burst through the door, beaming, holding something in her hands. "Everyone's gone. Wormwarts..."

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:00

She stopped and immediately screamed.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:00

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:19

"We actually live here," Amy said angrily.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:20

"And don't even think about shining your aura on us!" Lisa added. "You won't be able to use us!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:00

"Use?" Amy almost hissed back. "You used us! Blindly!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:01

"Actually, it was Vi…"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:01

"Actually, shut up! Enough! One manipulates brains, the other manipulates bodies, enough!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:04

"Amy?" Taylor asked, her head starting to hurt a little from screaming and trying to remember what happened yesterday. "What's going on?"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:20

"That two-faced blonde standing next to you set us up yesterday!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:07

"Victoria set us up!" Lisa replied in an overly high voice, retreating. "Hey, that's enough..."

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:16

"Yeah, enough of this manipulation," Amy growled. "You call yourself friends!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 17:20

"What am I guilty of?!" Taylor screamed, jumping up.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:16

"I'll tell you what you're guilty of! You used me!" Amy roared, jumping forward and trying to punch Taylor in the face.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:21

"Hey, don't touch her!" Victoria rushed to intercept.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 14:07

Taylor stepped back, jumping back reflexively, and the two Weasley sisters collided, sending Amy flying. She jumped up almost immediately, rubbing her shoulder where she'd hit the bed.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:19

"Lisa, you really didn't warn us about what was going to happen," Taylor breathed out, watching the Weasley sisters out of the corner of her eye, her head spinning. "I would have had time to prepare!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:21

"Traitor!" Amy breathed out, looking at Victoria, then turned her gaze to Lisa and Taylor. "And you are traitors! You all betrayed me!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:21

"Amy, I didn't betray you!" Taylor exclaimed sincerely, turning away from Lisa.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:22

"You influenced me!" Amy screamed, approaching. "You got into my head and subjugated me! I didn't get into your head, and you weren't ashamed of it!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:43

"Amy, I've never had any effect on you," Taylor said, throwing up her hands in confusion as she stepped back, feeling her feet hit the bed. "That's not how my superpower works!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 13:43

Amy now looked more like an angry ginger dwarf cat than anything else, advancing, hissing, and glaring, as if she had forgotten that Taylor could beat her, with or without her superpowers.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:22

"It's not how your powers work?" Amy burst out laughing. "And there, in the Great Hall? I knew it, I felt it in you! I felt that it would be like this!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 17:19

"I don't understand what you're talking about," Taylor replied firmly.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 14:07

"The Dark Capes are using the power of those around them! Everyone knows it!" Amy screamed. "Everyone who..."

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 14:15

There was a pause, and the Weasleys stopped.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 14:15

"Speak up," Taylor said, feeling a surge of anger as she gestured invitingly. "Everyone who grew up among capes, right? Well, I'm sorry, it's not my fault you ended up with a loving family, while I ended up with the family of an aunt who didn't have superpowers and who never cared about me!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 14:16

"If it's any consolation, Taylor," Lisa suddenly exhaled, "Amy is not Sarah Weasley's biological daughter.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:22

"What?" Amy stumbled and looked at Victoria. "WHAT?"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:23

"Don't believe me? Ask your sister!" Granger snapped.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:24

“Amy…,” Victoria muttered, throwing up her hands and retreating.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 14:16

"DID YOU KNOW?!!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:24

"She knew, she knew," Lisa confirmed with a smirk, "and she also influenced you with her aura, conveying the feelings of a Taylor fan, and..."

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 17:05

"Shut up, you smart-ass!" Victoria soared and crashed down on Granger like a meteorite.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 17:06

Taylor threw her baton and rushed forward, but Amy got there first. She screamed:

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 17:06

"I trusted you!" she lashed out at Victoria. "And you stabbed me in the back?!"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 14:21

Taylor saw firsthand how dangerous Amy could be. One touch to the back of her head and the invulnerable Victoria fell unconscious, right on top of a bloodied Granger, whose teeth seemed to be sticking out, dislocated by the youngest Weasley's mighty blows.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:26

"You think I'm Dark Cape?" Taylor asked darkly.

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 08:25

"Vicky, Vicky," Amy wailed, putting her hand on Lisa's face. "What have you done?"

Camrad_RIP 22.01.26 в 14:21