CHAPTER ONE: Ever Beta?
In a computer class at Norkam Secondary School the students of Desktop
Designs 11/12 sat at their desks: playing games, writing emails and other
sorts of things. In other words, participating in any blatant attempt to
avoid doing their class work and ignore their teacher.
"Are you still taking those damned quizzes?" Asked Skye peering over at Staisha's computer.
"Hang on. I have to choose between being a Draco or Harry fan.." Replied the brunette distractedly.
"Riddle,"
"That's not an option."
"Yeah well, it should be."
"I'm gonna go with Draco. He looks so much like Spike from Buffy."
"Spike's sexier." Skye replied mechanically.
"It's a matter of opinion."
"Actually I think it's a matter of whether you're a pedophile or like of adult ages,"
"I am not getting into this argument with you. Hold on and let me finish this quiz... Oh damn. I'm Ginny again," Staisha grumbled before clicking the back button.
"You better not be changing your answers," Said Skye, clearly more interested in discussing the morals of online quiz takers than debating which of the two 'Blond Bad Boys' (as she often called them) was sexier.
Staisha cocked one eyebrow curiously, but never removed the screen from her gaze. "And why is that?"
"Because. It's.. just.. Because that's just wrong."
"Uh huh. Aren't you the articulate one,"
"You are corrupting the integrity of taking the quiz in all honesty,"
"And I suppose you think choosing jumping out of a plane is more like you than going out for a 'pint' with your friends."
Skye shrugged her shoulders. "I could jump out of a plane. Da plane boss! Da plane!"
"You're afraid of heights," Staisha replied.
"I am not." Said Skye with attemptive dignity. "I'm afraid of falling from heights."
"Lets face it, the only way you'd be jumping out of a plane is if it was still parked on the ground." The blond stared at her for a moment and blinked. It seemed Staisha had actually managed to shut her up. It was amazing. Miracles did really happen.
After staring at her screen blankly for a few minutes (while Staisha took more quizzes) she finally spoke in a very matter-of-a-fact-tone. "I hope you realize it was the Harry or Draco question that made you Ginny."
"Yeah yeah. I know."
"Damn the fandoms love for Draco and Ginny ship," Skye smiled overly pleased with the results. "You just can't fight what JK hints at,"
"Shuddup."
"Not even Trelawney could disagree with that ship."
"Yes she could. But I give up. This is pointless!" She would have thrown her arms in the air if it wasn't so over dramatic. Arguing Harry Potter ships with her friend was like trying to get out of a speeding ticket. You could only delay the inevitable. It was like that song, the one that never ends.
"Damn right it is," Said the cocky blond. "I'm sending you over my latest HP fic okay?"
"Alright."
"I'm thinking of killing off the mass majority of OC's in a DeathEater attack."
"Are you serious?"
"I'm not sure yet,"
"Would you kill Draco?" Asked Staisha in all honesty.
"Possibly," Skye shrugged her shoulders again and clicked her mouse. "Can you think of the possibilities? Bad guy blown up to bits by another bad guy, could get pretty bad."
"That's it. For your next birthday I'm getting you a thesaurus."
"Gee.. Thanks, go and spoil the surprise."
"And besides, he's not bad. He's not even evil. He's a would-be-bad-guy- soon-to-be-turned-good."
"Why can't you embrace the fact he's evil?"
"He's a good guy at heart."
"He's a DeathEater. He has no heart. He probably gave it up to Voldy."
"He's not a DeathEater!" Defended Staisha.
"Okay, my bad. He's like one of those fan fics said; He's a DeathNibbler."
"No he's not. You'll see. When book five comes out, he'll be good."
"And Malfoy will actually wear leather pants,"
"I still don't understand why you keep on saying that." Said Staisha with a frown.
"You've got to read Cassie Claire's fic to understand. But that's besides my point. Malfoy going good is as likely as Oliver Wood dropping his pants in front of Quidditch Pitch full of people,"
"Now that's just stupid. Wood graduated. He can't do that. I'm telling you, Draco will be good. He'll go good, all because of-"
"Don't say it!" Skye interrupted.
Staisha grinned and continued. "All because of-"
"I'm warning you." Skye wagged her finger in front of her friends face.
"Hermoine Granger." Staisha finished. Skye clamped her hands onto her ears and began quietly howling, as if it pain.
"It burns us! It burns us!" She cried in mock anguish.
"You have got to stop with the movie quotes."
"I'll quote as many movies as I please, thank you very much." Skye turned and peered at her friend's screen. "Have you got my email yet?"
Staisha hit the refresh button, and then pushed up the nose rim of her glasses as she most commonly did. "Have you changed your email name lately?" She asked curiously.
"Uh. not that I know of. Why?" "Well I don't see your email. There's only one from-" She squinted at the sender's name. "Albus Dumbledore,"
"Another fan of Richard Harris?" Skye suggested.
"Probably. But, how'd they get my email?"
"How should I know? Open the email already." Said Skye impatiently.
"Pushy little person aren't you?" Staisha chuckled and clicked on the email.
"Hey! We agreed! No more jokes about my height." Skye pouted. Although Staisha stood a leggy 5,8' Skye was only 5,2 ½. Her height was always a universal joke subject for everyone but her. "Besides, all I ever get is spam. And it's not like I can even view it with this stupid net nanny."
"Okay, okay. Let see here. Dear Miss Ritchie, I have attached a copy of my story in hopes you might beta it. Sincerely, A.D."
"Wow. And I thought I was cracked. This person actually goes around calling themselves Albus Dumbledore."
"Not everyone on the Internet is trying to impersonate a famous character. It could stand for something else you know." Staisha replied and clicked on the attachment.
"Like what? Actually Delusional?" Skye replied, returning her attention to her own computer.
"Whoah." Said Staisha amazed. Her hand fell from the computer mouse and off of the desk. Skye leaned over to examine the attachment. On the monitor the colours seemed to be swirling together creating one gapping whirlpool.
"Hey Skye," Said Staisha quietly as she stared at the colourful display before them. "There's only one problem with this situation."
"What's that?" Asked Skye equally mesmerized.
"I've never been a beta."
END OF CHAPTER ONE
There are references to Cassie Claire's Draco series and Lord of the Rings in the chapter. Also a reference to the fic referring to Draco as a "DeathNibbler". I don't remember who wrote it, but it's their line so no stealing.
"Are you still taking those damned quizzes?" Asked Skye peering over at Staisha's computer.
"Hang on. I have to choose between being a Draco or Harry fan.." Replied the brunette distractedly.
"Riddle,"
"That's not an option."
"Yeah well, it should be."
"I'm gonna go with Draco. He looks so much like Spike from Buffy."
"Spike's sexier." Skye replied mechanically.
"It's a matter of opinion."
"Actually I think it's a matter of whether you're a pedophile or like of adult ages,"
"I am not getting into this argument with you. Hold on and let me finish this quiz... Oh damn. I'm Ginny again," Staisha grumbled before clicking the back button.
"You better not be changing your answers," Said Skye, clearly more interested in discussing the morals of online quiz takers than debating which of the two 'Blond Bad Boys' (as she often called them) was sexier.
Staisha cocked one eyebrow curiously, but never removed the screen from her gaze. "And why is that?"
"Because. It's.. just.. Because that's just wrong."
"Uh huh. Aren't you the articulate one,"
"You are corrupting the integrity of taking the quiz in all honesty,"
"And I suppose you think choosing jumping out of a plane is more like you than going out for a 'pint' with your friends."
Skye shrugged her shoulders. "I could jump out of a plane. Da plane boss! Da plane!"
"You're afraid of heights," Staisha replied.
"I am not." Said Skye with attemptive dignity. "I'm afraid of falling from heights."
"Lets face it, the only way you'd be jumping out of a plane is if it was still parked on the ground." The blond stared at her for a moment and blinked. It seemed Staisha had actually managed to shut her up. It was amazing. Miracles did really happen.
After staring at her screen blankly for a few minutes (while Staisha took more quizzes) she finally spoke in a very matter-of-a-fact-tone. "I hope you realize it was the Harry or Draco question that made you Ginny."
"Yeah yeah. I know."
"Damn the fandoms love for Draco and Ginny ship," Skye smiled overly pleased with the results. "You just can't fight what JK hints at,"
"Shuddup."
"Not even Trelawney could disagree with that ship."
"Yes she could. But I give up. This is pointless!" She would have thrown her arms in the air if it wasn't so over dramatic. Arguing Harry Potter ships with her friend was like trying to get out of a speeding ticket. You could only delay the inevitable. It was like that song, the one that never ends.
"Damn right it is," Said the cocky blond. "I'm sending you over my latest HP fic okay?"
"Alright."
"I'm thinking of killing off the mass majority of OC's in a DeathEater attack."
"Are you serious?"
"I'm not sure yet,"
"Would you kill Draco?" Asked Staisha in all honesty.
"Possibly," Skye shrugged her shoulders again and clicked her mouse. "Can you think of the possibilities? Bad guy blown up to bits by another bad guy, could get pretty bad."
"That's it. For your next birthday I'm getting you a thesaurus."
"Gee.. Thanks, go and spoil the surprise."
"And besides, he's not bad. He's not even evil. He's a would-be-bad-guy- soon-to-be-turned-good."
"Why can't you embrace the fact he's evil?"
"He's a good guy at heart."
"He's a DeathEater. He has no heart. He probably gave it up to Voldy."
"He's not a DeathEater!" Defended Staisha.
"Okay, my bad. He's like one of those fan fics said; He's a DeathNibbler."
"No he's not. You'll see. When book five comes out, he'll be good."
"And Malfoy will actually wear leather pants,"
"I still don't understand why you keep on saying that." Said Staisha with a frown.
"You've got to read Cassie Claire's fic to understand. But that's besides my point. Malfoy going good is as likely as Oliver Wood dropping his pants in front of Quidditch Pitch full of people,"
"Now that's just stupid. Wood graduated. He can't do that. I'm telling you, Draco will be good. He'll go good, all because of-"
"Don't say it!" Skye interrupted.
Staisha grinned and continued. "All because of-"
"I'm warning you." Skye wagged her finger in front of her friends face.
"Hermoine Granger." Staisha finished. Skye clamped her hands onto her ears and began quietly howling, as if it pain.
"It burns us! It burns us!" She cried in mock anguish.
"You have got to stop with the movie quotes."
"I'll quote as many movies as I please, thank you very much." Skye turned and peered at her friend's screen. "Have you got my email yet?"
Staisha hit the refresh button, and then pushed up the nose rim of her glasses as she most commonly did. "Have you changed your email name lately?" She asked curiously.
"Uh. not that I know of. Why?" "Well I don't see your email. There's only one from-" She squinted at the sender's name. "Albus Dumbledore,"
"Another fan of Richard Harris?" Skye suggested.
"Probably. But, how'd they get my email?"
"How should I know? Open the email already." Said Skye impatiently.
"Pushy little person aren't you?" Staisha chuckled and clicked on the email.
"Hey! We agreed! No more jokes about my height." Skye pouted. Although Staisha stood a leggy 5,8' Skye was only 5,2 ½. Her height was always a universal joke subject for everyone but her. "Besides, all I ever get is spam. And it's not like I can even view it with this stupid net nanny."
"Okay, okay. Let see here. Dear Miss Ritchie, I have attached a copy of my story in hopes you might beta it. Sincerely, A.D."
"Wow. And I thought I was cracked. This person actually goes around calling themselves Albus Dumbledore."
"Not everyone on the Internet is trying to impersonate a famous character. It could stand for something else you know." Staisha replied and clicked on the attachment.
"Like what? Actually Delusional?" Skye replied, returning her attention to her own computer.
"Whoah." Said Staisha amazed. Her hand fell from the computer mouse and off of the desk. Skye leaned over to examine the attachment. On the monitor the colours seemed to be swirling together creating one gapping whirlpool.
"Hey Skye," Said Staisha quietly as she stared at the colourful display before them. "There's only one problem with this situation."
"What's that?" Asked Skye equally mesmerized.
"I've never been a beta."
END OF CHAPTER ONE
There are references to Cassie Claire's Draco series and Lord of the Rings in the chapter. Also a reference to the fic referring to Draco as a "DeathNibbler". I don't remember who wrote it, but it's their line so no stealing.