Disclaimer: If something seems familiar I don't own it.

(A/N: I know, I shouldn't be writing this author's note right now, but I couldn't help it! This story is starting to become something I enjoy writing, very much so. I don't really like the beginning of this chapter 'cause it sort of drags on, but I love the middle and ending sections. This is probably the longest chapter I've ever written, period. Thanks for the reviews and keep them coming please, it makes me realize I have to keep this story updated often for you!)

Chapter Four, "Run-Ins"

It turns out that what Delson predicted did happen after all. Soon every seventh year I saw looked at me in an odd way. The rumor had gotten worse too. I went from the quite girl who had a simple crush on Oliver Wood to that crazy girl who's obsessed with Oliver Wood. Some people had even gone as far as saying that I kept pieces of his hair in a secret scrapbook that I dedicated to him. Now I really do like him, but I'm not that psychotic.

Lately the teasing had been out of hand in the common room so usually I would just walk mindlessly around the school until I felt that everyone else had gone to bed. This took valuable homework and sleeping time which made me a very cranky person practically all day. I would work on homework whenever I could find time and I tried to avoid heavily crowded places. I had become somewhat of a recluse.

My rushed footsteps were hushed by the sound of my socks. I took my shoes off ten minutes earlier to muffle the clicking of the heel of my shoe against the stony floors. I knew I shouldn't be out of the common room this late at night, but I seemed to have lost track of time at the library and my wandering didn't help either.

I was almost there, the portrait hole just yards beyond my reach and that's when I heard it. The soft meowing of a cat. I closed my eyes tight for a moment for I knew who and what it was, Mrs. Norris, Filch's tattle-tell feline. Whatever Mrs. Norris saw she was sure to drag Filch right on over. I turned around slowly hoping thathe wouldn't be standing there.

Things just had to get worse, didn't they? There was Filch, glaring at me looking crazier than ever. I had always joked with Amber about how I thought he looked like the homeless man who slept in the park around my neighborhood, but now I took it back because obviously karma was trying to get back at me. Filch stomped over while Mrs. Norris nobly followed.

"Do you not know what time it is? Students shouldn't be out this late and you don't look like you'd be a prefect either."

"I-I was coming back from the library and I seemed to have gotten lost," Oh great, I thought, He'll never believe that!

And he didn't, "Don't give me that garbage! You must be at least a sixth year and your trying to tell me some fabricated story about forgetting your way around?"

Well, that shut me up.

"You will have one night of detention for tomorrow evening. Don't be late and no more wandering. Do you understand or is that too much information for your fragile little mind to handle?"

"Yes, I understand," I gulped Filch scared me to death and I felt offended by his comment.

"Don't just stand there. Get to your dorm room immediately!"

I scurried off, muttered the password, and practically sprinted inside the common room. I collapsed on the nearest couch and had a hard time trying not to fall asleep. I was exhausted and homework-loaded, but I guess I would get that done in the morning. After struggling off the couch and trudging upstairs into my dorm I crawled under my covers and knocked out cold.


Light shined into my eyes as the curtains of my four-poster were drawn back. I turned around trying to get rid of the unwanted brightness and then I was greeted with a sharp poke in my back. Something like a grunt emitted from my throat as the poke turned into a jab in my side. Sighing I sat up in my bed and looked around bewildering at Amber who had a cheery smile and an armful of clothes.

"If you don't hurry up," she said, "We're going to be late."

"Maybe if I vomit all over you I'll be able to sleep in today," I said cheekily as she looked at me questioningly.

"You are a very odd girl, Char. You know that right?"

I smirked, "Of course, Delson tells me all the time."

Most of the day was me anticipating what detention would be like that night. I had never really been to detention before and from what I heard it wasn't a horribly awful thing, but more like some manual labor and work. During Muggle Studies, Delson explained to me that the first time he got detention he had to clean the floors in all the boys lavatories, you know, the loo. I grimaced praying that Filch wouldn't make me do such a unsanitary task.

I skipped lunch again to get all my backed up and current homework done so I could finally be able to sleep at night. Most of the time nobody bothered me in there, but today there was a group of girls who I had to pass on my way to my usual seat and I dreaded it. They were apart of the crowd who took turns staring and whispering about me. So I looked down and walked on hoping they wouldn't say anything. Too bad whatever I hoped for never came true.

"Oh, hello Charlene," one of them said sweetly, "What are you doing here? Writing more poems about your dearly beloved Oliver perhaps?"

The rest of her ignorant cronies giggled which I thought was unnecessary, but I chose to ignore her and moved on. So that was the newest rumor of them all, eh? Now I was writing love poems about the boy? Even to me that was interesting, I wonder who comes up with these. I rid myself of their idiotic laughter by concentrating on my work. Being so focus let me finish two worksheets, one diagram, and an overdue short essay. Feeling accomplish and somewhat confident I gathered my things and walked out of the library headed to my next class, but not before saying something to Brenda, which I learned was her name.

"Oh hello Brenda," I said mocking her sweet tone from earlier, "Thanks for motivating me to finish my work and I do hope you enjoyed being an evilbitch today."

The look on her face and her carbon copies' faces was priceless. From then on I knew I would have to start speaking up for myself because if I didn't, who would? Amber couldn't always be there for my rescue. Just when I felt powerful enough to rule the world in some sinister way my stupid clumsy self bumps into someone causing me to drop my papers.

"Good grief! This is just a wonderful day," I say absentmindedly.

I kneel down to pick up my belongings and am gracious that the guy I collided with is being nice enough to help me collect my things. Looking up to say thanks I'm stopped mid-sentence when I realize who it was that I bumped into. Oliver Wood! Panicking I look around the hallway making sure no one can see this and quickly snatch the papers from his very lovely hands.

"I am so sorry," I say as he stands up and offers his hand to me which I sadly decline.

"Don't worry about it, I'm not hurt. But are you okay, Charlene?"

I could've melted then, "Yeah … yeah I'm fine, I guess."

"Well I think I'll be going now. You know, have to get to class."

I just nodded like an idiot and probably had a cheesy smile the whole time too.

"See you in Potions tomorrow."

He walked off as I realized one more thing about my pathetic, rumor-filled life, I loved the way he said my name. Heck, I just loved his voice period. Maybe I was going nuts over Oliver, but if this is how being crazy feels then label me clinically insane.


Entering Filch's "office" I noticed two other boys in the room sitting in uncomfortable looking chairs that were placed in a row. As I took a seat next to the boy nearest to me I knew who he was, or at least who he was related to. They were twins, completely identical, I couldn't tell them apart really, but I knew they were Weasleys because of their ginger tinged hair.

"Now that you're all here," Filch spat, "I can get you delinquents to work."

We followed him into the dungeons that is Snapes' classroom where we found all the tables filled with cauldrons. I groaned silently. What were we going to have to do? I dreaded instructions remembering what Delson had told me about the horrors of detention.

"Clean every single one of these cauldrons. When I come back you all had better be done or you'll be seeing more of me in detention."

With that said he half walked, half limped out of the room Mrs. Norris bringing up the rear. I stood there wondering how we could possibly clean all those cauldrons in the indecent amount of time Filch was sure to give us. It was like the twins had read my mind because as soon as Filch was well out of hearing distance they finally spoke up.

"I'm Fred."

"And I'm George."

"Weasley, right," I finished for the two who seemed to talk one right after the other.

"Yeah," said Fred.

"But don't get us too caught up with our other siblings," said George.

Fred nodded, "We're the normal ones."

I smiled, them normal?

"So how do you think we should accomplish this," Fred said pointing at a cauldron nearby.

"We could try to scourgify it, but I'm not entirely sure it'll work out right," George said thoughtfully, "Perhaps you have something we could try out?"

I thought for a little as the perfect idea came in mind, "I learned something in Charms awhile ago. Come here let me show you."

The Weasley twins followed me over to where the nearest cauldron was. Clearing my mind and trying not to think to hard I took out my wand and hovered it over the top of the messy cauldron. Circle counter-clockwise once, circle clockwise once, flick your wand to the right and left quickly, and finally jab it forward without penetrating the liquid inside. There was a slight sloshing noise as the grayish muck drained away from the edges and sides of the cauldron into nothing. It was all gone and clean within thirty seconds. The twins stood there astounded.

"That was brilliant," George complied.

"Definitely stunning," Fred said dreamily, "This could improve detention for every prankster in the world."

I laughed a bit, "You'll learn it during your seventh year. It's easy, sort of."

Within the next five minutes they manage to learn the trick and were able to drain one cauldron each. As we "cleaned" cauldrons we talked about school, teachers, and home. Conversations with Fred and George were entertaining. They were both intelligent yet funny and I couldn't stop from laughing every ten minutes.

Thirty-six cleaned cauldrons later, Filch reappeared looking quite heckled and told them their work was done after inspecting every single cauldron. He found no mistakes, but couldn't resist the opportunity to threaten defenseless students before the end of his night. Noticing the smile on our faces he went on in a harsh tone.

"I'm sure you Weasleys will be in this position again tomorrow," I stifled a giggle as I thought about how much of a drunken pirate he sounded, "And you," he said facing towards me, "I have a feeling you'll end up becoming trouble. Probably these two," he jerked his head towards Fred and George, "Who've corrupted you. … All three of you back to your common rooms… now!"

Filch was long gone yet the three of us still walked on in silence. I could only assume it was due to our tiredness from wand swishing for the past hour and a half. I yawned reluctantly, and then Fred opened his mouth wide and let out a loud yawn. A couple of steps later George too, yawned. I laughed a bit, so yawns are contagious.

I notice Fred looking at me strangely, "What," I ask.

"Oh nothing. It's just that Wood was right, you are short."

I looked at him both shocked, confused, and offended.

He noticed my discomfort, "Not like it's a bad thing," he replied sleepily.

"Yeah," George butted in sounding more up than the rest of us, "Who ever said being short was bad?"

"But," I said trying to think about what I just heard, "Why would he say that? He doesn't even know I exist," and then those two sneaky little twins took off around the corner leaving me baffled.

As I climbed into bed that night I replayed everything in my mind. Maybe he does know more about me than I thought. At least he knows my name, but what the hell did they mean about nothing was wrong with being short? And why were they telling me? Boys, they were so confusing.