Growing Up Is Optional
"Take that bitch!"
Simultaneously all the eyes in the room turn to me.
Blue, green, brown, amber possibly even violet. All fixated on me. This isn't really an unusual occurrence. I mean I'm the daughter of 'that dude who lived and was then dubbed the chosen one' and his totally feminist wife. So yeah it's pretty normal to have people looking out of curiosity. It's not often that they spot me doing anything "delinquent like", maybe a couple of choice words here and there doesn't seem like such a big deal. But when you're me, Lilly Luna Potter, the perfect respectable daughter then it's your reputation at stake. Of course the main perpetrator of the stare fest is Caroline. Bottle blonde and bitch to the core I can see her sneering curled lips from the corner of my eye. She'd love to bring me down. Socially and physically.
"Umm," It's Connor, "Who exactly were you talking to?" Connor has a bit of a stutter. If I was more conceited I'd think it's because I'm some sort of intimidating goddess. Nevertheless I actually know that it's a medical condition.
So there! All you Lily haters see I'm not that self centred, and I definitely don't think I'm a goddess. I mean I've got freckles, carrot hair, murky, muddy eyes and I'm vertically challenged. So definitely no goddess. I do however have a reputation to uphold. No it's not a reputation for being stunningly beautiful. That one has definitely already been taken.
"Oh sorry," I finally answer Connor, realising that I've been staring into space for too long to be quite sane, " I was talking to …" I trail off racking my brain for a plausible excuse for why I was talking apparently to myself. Of course I know everyone in the Gryffindor Common Room is watching. They're all waiting for me to crack. Just like Rose. I mean she started dating Scorpius. Nothing personal towards Malfoy, I'm sure he's very nice but he's well, a Malfoy.
I decide that a swift getaway is probably the best way to avoid embarrassment. So of course I mutter a quick goodbye to Connor and rush out the Portrait hole. And yes as fate would have it I ran into someone. Extremely cliché but hey these things do happen. Unlike in the movies it isn't my One True Love. Mainly because I don't believe in those sort of things. Call me cynical but I'm more likely to have an arranged marriage then elope in a fit of passion. The fact that it's Hugo Weasley would also make that tale rather incestuous. And trust me that's something I am definitely avoiding.
"What the?" Hugo inquires, "Who you running from?"
"An angry mob," I answer quickly. Believe it or not I was once followed by one and trust me it's not an experience I'm looking forward to reliving. So I push past my cousin leaving him to stand there looking like a confused Orangutan. They do actually share a striking resemblance. Unfortunately his fan girls don't seem to mind this fact and continue to ogle him with utter adoration. Frankly it makes me sick.
Then again it's nothing compared to what James' girls did in his day. His day of course has passed. It's now just me and Hugo. Rose and Albus left two years ago and everyone else was already gone. It makes us the big fish in a way. But you can't help but feel a little lonely. I mean James had everyone while he was here. Just like he has everything outside of school too. He'll never have to work a day in his life if he doesn't want to. And well it's pretty obvious that he doesn't. I guess you could say he lives the charmed life. Thanks to him the rest of us are painted as snobbish pricks.
While I'm thinking I walk, lopsidedly, down the corridor. It's a miracle that I haven't bumped into anything yet, but I do regard walking while daydreaming and not falling over as one of my special skills. Eventually I sense someone walking beside me. They're tall and smell like peppermint. I turn my head ever so slightly and am greeted by Frank he gives me his unique crooked grin and his eyes crinkle. I smile back because everyone knows it's almost impossible to dislike a Longbottom. Especially Frank.
"Hiding again?" He queries, gently leading me into a secluded corridor. I nod softly before asking,
"Running again?" He grins back ruefully and chuckles,
"They won't leave me alone." I snort uncouthly with exasperation. The guy saved a fourth year girl in front of her friends. Did he seriously not expect them to start worshipping him? I shake my head, for a Ravenclaw Frank can be a little thick. At least when it comes to social matters.
"Just go a little psycho," I answer with a slight raise of my eyebrow. "They'll either go even crazier over you or transfer their affections to another willing male. Namely my egotistical cousin."
"You know he's not that bad …" Frank trails off when he sees the dangerous glint in my eye. Frank's my best friend he knows when he's crossed a line. Generally that means mentioning anyone of the male gender that is associated with my immediate family. Most of them are narcissistic jerks with too much money and too little brains. It's pretty obvious why I don't like them.
"So umm, any plans for the holidays," Frank tries to change the subject. I briefly wonder why on earth he's asking about my holiday. He already knows what I'll be doing. Playing the good girl while Mummy and Daddy finalise their separation and Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione retake their vows in an effort to instill some sense of togetherness within our family. Obviously that's why I've got to be the good girl. I mean imagine if I went off the rails now. And the tabloids don't even know that Fred's gay. What will they do when they find out about the other shit.
"Frankie," I ask timidly. "Will you come to the Wedding with me?"
"I thought I was already going with you." This time he's the one doing the eyebrow raising.
"Well, I wasn't really sure if you still wanted to, you know after what James said."
"You think I'd listen to James?" He actually sounds surprised at my statement.
"Well no but …" Yet again I trail off awkwardly.
"I'm your handbag for this event whether you like it or not Lilly." He says cheerfully, linking my arm with his. "You know I'm always here for you." I grin too because the sentiment is so utterly fitting it couldn't of been scripted better. Well it could have been if he proclaimed his ardent love for me. Now I know I said I don't believe in soul mates. Doesn't mean I can't fantasise about romance. I'm not that cold.
So I let Frank lead me out of the secluded corridor. A brimming smile fixated upon my face. Trying to forget all the shit that will soon make me poster girl for kids with difficult families. But I can't help feeling a small amount of satisfaction as I watch Caroline Chang stare at me in envy. It's my arm in Frank's not hers.
"Take that bitch!"