A/N: So, I tried to have this up yesterday, but document manager wasn't working. So you can blame the site for that.

Updates have been hard, and work has been getting the best of me lately. I haven't had much time to do any writing at all. Because of that, updates are not going to be as frequent as I'd like. I'll do my best to get chapters up when I can, of course…but you may have to practice being patient.

Thanks for all of the reviews so far! =)

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything you recognize, including characters, plot points, settings, and scenes from the Harry Potter series, belong to JK Rowling.

Inadequately Katie

- CHAPTER THREE -

Explosive

Day Two

Day one hadn't gone as smoothly as I would have hoped. Not only did my friends all think I was mental keeping my tongue under control all day long, but I also managed to make a right fool of myself in front of Roger at breakfast. Nevertheless, I did manage to complete my task for the day. Overall, despite the minor setbacks, I'd still call it a success.

That meant I could progress to the next point on Roger's list.

When I woke up in the morning, I frowned at his scratchy writing on my four-poster bed. This one was going to take some creative thinking.

She thinks she knows EVERYTHING.

How was I going to combat that?

As I got myself dressed and ready for the day, I pondered over exactly how I was going to rectify this particular fault. It took a few infuriatingly stupid ideas before I finally settled on the one that made the most sense.

In order to cease thinking I know everything, I needed to do the exact opposite. That meant I was going to know nothing.

Ah, seems simple enough.

Satisfied that my task for the day was doable, I happily pulled my shoes on and bounded down to the common room. This time, Angelina and Alicia were waiting there for me.

"Morning, Katie," Angelina greeted warily. "How are you feeling?"

I could tell she was feeling me out, trying to decipher my general mood. I shot her a wide grin in an attempt to convince her I was fine.

She would see. Sooner or later a brand new—and much better—Katie Bell would soon emerge.

I shrugged.

"I don't know," I replied. I was going to be saying it a lot today. "I'm good I suppose."

The wide grin on my face certainly contradicted my statement. As far as she could tell, I was more than just good. I looked positively giddy. The prospect of becoming a better me was a little exciting. I only hoped Roger would think so, too.

Angelina's eyebrows rose in suspicion. Alicia's expression was very much the same.

"You're not still bothering about that list, are you?" Alicia asked suspiciously.

"Why wouldn't I?" I asked her, trying not to get defensive. It would ruin my good mood.

The two girls shared a look of exasperation, but said nothing. Perhaps they would have if Fred, George, and Lee hadn't bounded down the stairs interrupting us.

"Good morning, fair maidens!" George yelled, doing a ridiculous bow.

"Lovely to see you on such a fine morning!" Fred added, dipping so low he nearly lost balance and fell flat on his face. It didn't help that George shoved him in the back.

I laughed heartily as Fred linked his arm in mine, leading me toward the portrait hole door. I was thankful, because it saved me from seeing the disapproving stares I knew the girls were still sporting.

"Are you feeling any better today, Kates?" he asked cheerfully.

I smiled brightly at him.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am," I replied honestly.

A new day, a new outlook on life.

And, of course…a new task.

As we meandered down to the Great Hall for breakfast, Fred chattered happily. I was only half-listening, as my mind was trying to come up with scenarios in which I could prove to Roger I was changing. Obviously I couldn't walk straight up to him and demand he reconsider—he was far too disgusted with me to take anything I say seriously. I would just have to show him somehow…but how to make sure he saw?

The moment we stepped foot into the Great Hall, all of those thoughts went shooting out of my head.

I would have stopped dead in my tracks, had Fred not still been holding onto my arm, tugging me along.

At the Ravenclaw table sat Roger Davies—snogging a dark-haired Hufflepuff girl!

My eyes snapped away from the sight before I could cry out in outrage and disgust. Roger wouldn't like that. He'd yell at me, saying he has every right to snog whomever he wants…I suppose he does, considering we broke up.

But seriously, what did she have that I didn't? Sure, I could only see the back of her head from my angle, but from what I could tell she wasn't making much use of her vocal chords. If Roger only wanted to snog, he could have done that with me, no problem. I wouldn't have had to speak, either, which means he would never have found reasons to dislike being around me.

Dammit, Katie. Get a grip.

We claimed our usual seats at the Gryffindor table and everyone else chattered along obliviously. None of them took any notice of me—although Angelina and Alicia probably just figured I was simply holding my tongue the same as I had done yesterday.

"So, what are everyone's plans for next weekend?" Lee was asking. I was half-listening to the conversation, my eyes still trained on Roger and his new interest.

"The weekend?" Alicia asked.

"Hogsmeade weekend," Lee clarified, "had you forgotten?"

"That's right, next weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend," Fred said excitedly. He turned toward me suddenly, failing to notice my attention was elsewhere. "How 'bout you and me go together Kates?"

"Hmm?" I said, barely registering that he was speaking to me. I was still too focused on staring over at Roger and his bimbo to really take in what he was saying. "Yeah, sure, whatever you want, Fred."

"Excellent," Fred said, his voice elated. I could see him grinning at me from the corner of my eye. I sent him a half-hearted smile in return, just to let him know I was paying attention.

It's too bad I wasn't, or I would have noticed the angry glares I was receiving from my girlfriends across the table, as well as the grin (that was even brighter than usual) on Fred's freckled face.

By the time lunch rolled around, I hadn't succeeded in doing anything more than thoroughly irritating my mates.

It seemed no one was very happy with the fact that I had suddenly been struck deaf, blind, and dumb. They were growing quite furious with my constant use of the words I don't know. Frankly, I was a little amused. If I had known what fun it would be to better me and my personality, I would have tried it sooner. No one appreciated a good laugh quite like I did—except maybe the twins—and annoying my friends certainly was funny, to say the very least.

George had labelled me as insane, and Lee had resorted to avoiding me until I was relieved of 'whatever bizarre disease was plaguing me'. He didn't want to catch anything.

Fred didn't seem to be bothered by my change in demeanour. I figure he had chalked it up to being another one of my quirky Katie games. If it kept him off my back, I was fine with whatever conclusion he drew. I was already getting enough in the area of disapproval from Alicia and Ange.

Speaking of…Angelina had cornered me directly after lunch in an attempt to talk me out of my plan—again.

Sigh.

When was that girl going to give it a rest? Couldn't she cut me some slack for one bleeding minute?

"What in Merlin's name is your problem, Katie?" she asked, stopping me in the corridor on our way to Potions class.

Alicia stopped, glancing back at the two of us before deciding to listen in on the conversation. The boys cast a curious glance over their shoulders, but didn't linger. They were too busy laughing boisterously at some stupid joke George had made, anyway.

I sighed and rolled my eyes up to the ceiling. As funny as it was to watch everyone tripping over themselves because of me, it really wasn't helping my cause. With people constantly bombarding me, it was difficult to stay true to my task. I was seriously faltering with the whole keep my mouth shut thing.

"I don't know, Ange," I replied, glancing back and forth between her and Alicia. Leesh looked substantially less angry. In fact, she even looked a tad bit amused. Angelina looked positively terrifying.

"I would have thought you'd have more sense than this," she said. "Why in the name of Godric Gryffindor would you ever think pursuing this stupid list would bring you any sort of good fortune?"

I felt my lips twitch as I fought back a smile. Her face was red with frustration. It was only going to get worse. She wasn't going to beat me.

"I don't know," I repeated stupidly.

"Ugh, Katie!" she said angrily. "I should just pin that to your forehead. Maybe that would get Roger's attention."

I merely shrugged. It only seemed to egg her on further.

In all honesty, I was surprised to find Angelina actually disliked the way I was behaving today. On an average day, she was the one most irritated by my know-it-all behaviour. Why on earth she was protesting against my improvement was beyond me.

She was usually so annoyed by me, in fact, that our conversations often went something like this:

"Kates, you're doing it wrong."

"I know, Ange."

"You should really pay more attention."

"I know."

"Your grades would be a lot better, and maybe you wouldn't take so many Bludgers to the head during practice if your mind was in the right place."

"I know, Ange."

"Ugh! Of course, I'd forgotten. Why am I bothering to try to help you? You already know everything."

It had become somewhat of my catchphrase. It was more out of habit than anything else. But I couldn't really be blamed with Angelina. She did tend to hover over me like some sort of helicopter parent. I couldn't help but be snarky. I did know.

"Oh, and that Transfiguration essay you needed help with…would you like me to hand McGonagall a slip of paper that just reads I don't know instead?" she questioned, eyeing me meaningfully. "Because your little stunt wouldn't really be complete unless you applied it to every aspect of your life."

"I don't know, Ange," I said, trying my best to sound unfazed. "If you think it'll help my cause."

Angelina scowled. I almost felt sorry for her.

Almost.

I knew what she was trying to pull. She was trying to make me slip-up. For some reason, Angelina had taken it upon herself to try and sabotage me.

Bloody Angelina. Didn't she realize how important this was for me?

She needed to realize that this was something I had to do. And…she would definitely have to try harder than that to break me.

Alicia watched on in quiet amusement as Angelina's disposition changed slightly.

"Don't you think that Goyle bloke is just breathtakingly handsome?" she said, staring at me with an almost defiant expression.

I almost laughed, but contained myself.

"This is really bothering you, isn't it, Ange?" I asked, with a wide grin on my face.

"You didn't answer my question," she countered.

"I don't know, Angelina," I said, my grin not faltering.

"You don't know?" she repeated. "Hmm, well, we can't very well let Roger hear the indecision in your voice. If you're not certain you're attracted to Goyle—"

"All right, that's enough," Alicia interrupted with a roll of her eyes and a wave of her hands. "Leave her alone, Ange,"

"Thanks, Leesh," I told her gratefully.

Angelina rolled her eyes.

At least Alicia was on my side…

"She needs to learn on her own that this whole idea is stupid," Alicia said authoritatively. "When it blows up in her face, maybe she'll realize how ridiculous she's being."

Er…maybe not.

Whatever, I didn't need them.

With a defiant look on my face, I eyed them both significantly, re-shouldering my bag.

"Coming to class?" I asked pleasantly.

They both shook their heads in exasperation.

"When will you learn, Katie Bell?"Alicia sighed.

I shook my head too.

"I don't know."

Here's a surprising fact. Potions class is actually much more enjoyable—actually, that's the wrong word—it's much more bearable when I am practicing being New Katie.

New Katie doesn't speak out in class gaining her detentions from Professor Snape. New Katie doesn't lose house points for making up ridiculous fake answers to questions she doesn't know the real answers to.

Unfortunately, being New Katie also raised some difficulties. I had begun to realize I couldn't just answer questions with I don't know. To be honestly true to my word, I was going to have to go out of my way to prove that I was different—that I didn't know everything.

In Potions class, that wasn't such a difficult thing to achieve.

"Hey Fred," I said, fiddling with the ladle in my potion.

Fred didn't look up from his spot next to me. His eyes remained on his cauldron, but he inclined his head a little to assure me he was listening.

"What is it?" he asked, sounding distracted.

He was effortlessly completing his own potion with his usual expertise. Fred was undeniably good at magic. Charms and Potions were two of his strongest subjects—although he excelled at Defence Against the Dark Arts as well. Everyone always said if he and George would put more effort into their school work, they would be top of the class, easily.

Sometimes I was absurdly jealous of him.

"Could you show me how to do this?" I asked. "I've mucked it up pretty good and I don't know how to fix it."

Although 'I don't know' had become my catchphrase for the day, I was actually telling the truth. Potions was definitely not my strong point. However, I have never been one to admit I needed help. It's not like I'm too proud, but rather too stubborn. I hate admitting defeat. And I really hate being wrong.

…looks like Roger's second claim definitely had some merit to it.

Stupid bugger.

"You want my help?" Fred asked, both looking and sounding surprised.

Usually, it wasn't until near the end of class that he would take pity on me and mutter instructions under his breath. It was only then that my potion would be suitable enough to hand in for marks. Clearly, Fred had anticipated today would be no different.

I nodded.

Obviously, Fred wasn't aware of my change in demeanour today.

"Sure, Kates," he said cheerfully under his breath (Snape demanded silence while we worked), "let's take a gander."

He leaned over from his desk, peering into my cauldron. His head was close enough for me to press my cheek against his face, and his breath blew stray strands of my hair around as he spoke into my ear.

"You really are rubbish at Potions, Katie," he chuckled.

I shrugged at him, smiling innocently. He surveyed me for a moment—his face unnervingly close—before a wide grin spread across his face. He turned away and began muttering quietly to me.

"Add two crushed porcupine quills, stir clockwise once, then counter-clockwise six times," he said hurriedly. "It'll turn green. Then add a hippogriff feather and presto, a perfect potion."

I couldn't help the smile that lit my face as he pulled away.

I mouthed my thanks, ensuring Snape didn't hear the exchange, and then began working on Fred's instructions.

I actually felt happy with myself that I had asked for help. It was a new experience for me…and really wasn't as bad as I had expected.

I crushed the porcupine quills in my stone bowl, then added it to the potion. I stirred it once clockwise as Fred had told me. Then once counter-clockwise…twice…three times…four times…five…six…it turned green, but didn't look anything like the potion Snape had showed us.

I picked up my hippogriff feather, and saw Fred nudge George in the side from the corner of my eye. They both turned to me with wicked grins on their faces.

Before I even had time to grow suspicious, the feather had dropped from my hand and—

BANG!

I was very suddenly covered in green goop, and the room was filled with the hysterical laughter of Fred, George, and Lee…and quickly spread to every other student in the room.

Snape's glare almost burned a hole into my skull.

"Miss Bell, Weasley number one," he drawled in an almost bored tone. I didn't even manage to feel surprised that he knew Fred had something to do with it. "Detention tomorrow evening."

I wiped the crud from my face, glaring over at Fred.

The laughter didn't stop.

"You know, when we said this thing was going to blow up in your face, we meant figuratively," Angelina said, laughing hysterically.

"What were you doing, anyway?" Alicia asked. The three of us were in our dormitory. I had finally managed to get the green substance out of my hair. It took three showers, but I finally came clean. My good mood had officially gone down the drain with it. "You didn't have to let the potion explode in order to prove you didn't know what you were doing."

The girls had found the mishap positively hilarious, and had even gone so far as commended Fred for doing it. I suppose they thought it would dishearten me from my task at hand.

"You could have just handed in a rubbish mixture," Angelina said. "There was no need to make a scene."

"I wasn't trying to make a scene," I said defensively, flopping down on my bed, wringing out my dark hair. "I asked Fred for help. He thought it would be funny."

I frowned. It would be much easier to turn a new leaf if my friends weren't so keen on sabotaging me.

Although, I suppose Fred couldn't really be blamed. He wasn't in the loop like the girls were. He was only being his usual Fred-self. Not a day went by where he wasn't trying to irk me in one way or another. It just so happened that today was particularly devastating.

Still…I had a feeling even Fred—my best mate—wouldn't be supportive when it came to this. He truly despised Roger, and was strangely protective over me. Should he find out about the list, I wouldn't doubt he'd take it upon himself to slip the bloke a fainting fancy before his next Quidditch game. That definitely meant he would be on Alicia and Angelina's side when it came to this.

"You asked Fred for help?" Alicia asked, sounding just as surprised as Fred had been.

"I told you," I said, "I didn't know what I was doing."

"You never know what you're doing," Angelina pointed out with a roll of her eyes. "You didn't have to put it out there for the world to see."

"Yes I did," I countered as I crawled into my bed. I was hoping they would leave me alone and let me get to sleep. It didn't look like that was going to happen just yet.

"Why?" Alicia asked.

"You think Roger's going to hear that a cauldron exploded in your face and suddenly come running back to you?" Angelina asked, snorting with laughter.

"That's really stupid, Kates," Alicia said in what I assumed was supposed to be a kind and gentle tone. It didn't help.

"Plus, if Fred knew what you were doing, he'd have your head," Angelina continued, as if that was supposed to somehow deter me from my mission.

"He doesn't know," I told them.

"No, you don't know," Alicia said, laughing at her own joke.

Angelina wasn't amused, and neither was I.

"By using him in your stupid game, you're going to get him really angry," Ange warned, choosing to ignore Alicia's comment.

"No I won't," I told her. "You guys don't get it. I'm changing for the better," I stressed.

The girls exchanged a look of exasperation.

"No, I'm serious," I said. "This isn't just for Roger. Once I complete this list, everyone will benefit. Even Fred."

"Oh really?" Angelina asked. "What about number…eight, is it?" She leaned over to read the note on my bedpost. "Her friends are obnoxious? That one doesn't sound like it'll benefit Fred very much."

I stared blankly at her. Okay, she had me there.

"Why are you so concerned about Fred, anyway?" I asked.

They stared at me as though the answer were obvious. I glared back irritably.

"Seriously, what's the big deal?" I asked, beginning to grow extraordinarily frustrated.

Dammit, these two really were going to cause a setback in my plan. Already I was having difficulties keeping my mouth shut as well as I had yesterday.

Well, at least I was completely clueless. That was a plus for today's agenda, anyway.

"Didn't Fred ask you to go to Hogsmeade with him this morning?" Alicia asked sceptically.

I frowned. I vaguely remembered some sort of conversation arising at breakfast. But I couldn't recall exactly the topic of the talk. I had been preoccupied with something else. What was it? Oh right, Roger. He was with that nameless bimbo that infuriated me so much. I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. I had forgotten about that. Damn, I hated her. Sure, I didn't know her name, exactly…but the way he was all over her! I just wanted to—

"Katie?"

I met Alicia's stare again realizing I had failed to answer her question.

"Uh…I don't know," I said honestly.

"Ugh!" Angelina said, throwing her hands up in frustration. "I have no bloody idea why we even bother trying to understand you, Katie Bell!"

"What's there to understand?" I protested. "You know perfectly well what's going on. You were there when I made up my mind!"

"Then what's all this about going to Hogsmeade with Fred and asking him to help you in Potions?" Alicia questioned.

"I told you," I said. "I asked him for help because I was admitting to the universe that I, Katie Bell, do not know everything."

"And Hogsmeade?" Alicia persisted.

"I always go to Hogsmeade with Fred and George. What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is, he didn't ask you to go with him and George," Angelina put in. "He asked you as a date."

"Pff," I said, waving my hand airily at her. "Rubbish. Don't be stupid, Ange."

Angelina rolled her eyes. I ignored her entirely. There was absolutely no way Fred had meant his invitation as a date. The prospect was absolutely ridiculous. Bogus.

"Fine," she said, sounding both defeated and exhausted. "But you know, Roger's the one who wants you to be a bloody bimbo," she said in her authoritative voice. I knew then I was in for a lecture. "I don't see how asking Fred for help will accomplish anything."

"Yeah, he didn't write the stupid list. You aren't going to convince Roger of anything by trying to impress Fred," Alicia said wisely.

"Unless," Angelina said, eyeing me speculatively, "unless Fred's the one you're after."

I scrunched up my nose in distaste.

"No!"

"Good," Alicia said, "because if you were, you'd be going about it all wrong."

"What are you talking about?" I asked impatiently. What did any of this have to do with me and Roger?

"None of the things you're trying to do now would ever impress Fred Weasley," Alicia explained.

"Yeah," Ange agreed. "You'd be better off trying to plant Hagrid's undergarments in Snape's office…again."

Alicia snorted with laughter and I beamed with unabashed pride.

"Yeah, that was a good day," I mused, momentarily distracted by the memory.

The girls rolled their eyes.

"I don't see why you're so keen on Davies anyway, Katie," Angelina said. "He's clearly not your type."

"Excuse me?" I asked, feeling incredibly offended. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Calm down, don't start losing your temper," Angelina warned me. "I only mean he clearly doesn't think you're his type. He wrote a whole bloody list of things he thought you needed to change. Of course he's not your type."

I opened my mouth to protest, but Alicia stopped me.

"Katie," she said bracingly, "your type wouldn't try to force you to change. Someone your type would embrace all of those things about you, not make you get rid of them."

I frowned at her. The logical part of my brain saw the sense in her words. But, of course, the illogical, hopelessly emotional part of my brain refused to believe it entirely. Roger did care about me. He was my type. He was just trying to help me improve myself. It wasn't just for his sake. He wanted me to change for me. He wanted me to be a better person. Isn't that what a relationship is supposed to do for people, anyway? Make them into better human beings?

"What are you saying?" I asked, deciding against voicing my opinion. I was positive they'd have a rebuttal, and I didn't really want to hear it tonight. My day had been trying enough as it was.

"We're saying," Alicia said, eyeing Angelina as though to ascertain what she was going to say, "that you shouldn't bother with Roger."

"Exactly," Angelina said. "You shouldn't waste your time on someone who doesn't want you for who you are."

I rolled my eyes.

"In case you two haven't noticed," I said huffily, "No one has ever wanted me for who I am."

"That's not true," Angelina said wisely. "You've just got your head too far up your arse to realize it."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked angrily.

"It means," Alicia said.

"That you should spend less time trying to win back Roger," Angelina said, "and more time focusing on the attention you're getting from people who actually like you as you are, Katie."

"Namely, a certain Weasley twin," Alicia said pointedly.

They both fixed me with stares that were full of meaning.

It only left me feeling flustered and confused.

I went to bed that night realizing that my best mates are more mental than I am.