Chapter 4: Fun Confrontations?
I wake up at 6 o'clock for the second morning in a row. I have never done that before in my life. It will normally take me a day to recover if I get up early on any given morning. Strangely, this morning, I am not even tired. I think it's probably because I know I am going to see Kayleigh in a matter of minutes.
I don't know why this girl has the effect on me that she does. I used to think that love at first sight was a load of rubbish, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that, until recently, I was more concerned about leaving Hogwarts than what was going on in the here and now. I didn't bother to notice or think about anyone but myself. Maybe my solitude was more like self-centeredness. Well, I don't know. I am going to think about it later. Right now, I have to go find Kayleigh and go and visit Rose.
I throw on my school robes after brushing my teeth and taking a shower before rushing out the door. I stop in the kitchens prior to heading for the Hufflepuff portrait so that I can grab Kayleigh and Rose some breakfast. The house elves are more than generous, and I set off to find Kayleigh with toast and bagels, 3 different types of jam, and a huge flask filled with pumpkin juice; Rose is lucky I'm such a bloody nice person.
Kayleigh is standing outside of the portrait when I walk up, and I see a slight smile appear on her face when she sees me. There is hope!
"Good morning." I say smiling at her. She smiles back, somewhat mischievously.
"You wouldn't be smiling if you knew what Rose is like after sleeping in the hospital wing over night." The smile falls from my face and she laughs.
"Is she even more insufferable than usual?" I ask warily.
"That is an understatement. She is a cranky wench when she stays the night in the hospital wing, trust me. Food was a good idea, though. She is more agreeable with food. She may take mercy on us if we have a peace offering." I laugh, a little unsure of what is awaiting me in the hospital wing. "Well, come on. We mustn't keep the beast waiting." I nod in agreement and follow her down the corridor.
We enter the hospital wing slowly, trying not to make any sudden movements; Kayleigh says it is the safest thing to do. She also says to stay calm because Rose can smell fear. I snort at this; she's making Rose sound like some kind of animal. The door creaks a little as we enter, and then it starts.
"Whoever the bloody hell is out there better make themselves known or shut the bloody hell up!" I stifle a laugh and Kayleigh gives me a look that says 'I told you so!'
We both enter, and I hold the food out in front of me. "We come in peace with toast, jam, and pumpkin juice!" I peek my head inside of the door to see Rose sit up in her bed.
"Well, why didn't you say so! Bring it here. Let's get our grub on!" Kayleigh follows close behind me as we enter, leaving me in the line of fire, just in case she decides to blow up again. Rose looks calm enough, so I bring the food over to her bed. Her eyes light up at the sight of the parcel in my hand. I hand her some of the toast and jam, making sure to hide some of it for Kayleigh and me.
She eagerly takes about four pieces of toast and covers them with strawberry jam. I turn to give Kayleigh something to eat, and she smiles at me in appreciation. I return her smile before turning back to Rose's bed. "Where did all of the toast go? Didn't you just have four pieces?"
"Yeah, but then I ate them. That's what you're supposed to do. I thought that you brought me toast so I could eat it!" She looks at me questioningly.
"She inhales food. Honestly, I thought you would have known that by now. I don't even think she chews it. If I had to bet on anyway that Rose would die an untimely death, I think it would be from choking." Rose glares at Kayleigh while I laugh.
"Okay, alright, I admit it. I eat like a pig. But, don't forget that I didn't even get to eat much before Albus started being a git! So I haven't eaten any decent food since last night, thank you very much."
We joke around a bit until Madam Pomfrey comes back into the hospital wing at about 7 o'clock. She checks over Rose's hand with a quick spell to make sure that all of her bones have re-grown properly. After a few more quick tests and a pain potion, Madam Pomfrey gives Rose the okay to leave. I have never seen anyone look more relieved in my entire life. Kayleigh and I sit outside of the wing while we are waiting for Rose to change back into her normal robes when we hear footsteps coming down the corridor.
I turn to Kayleigh with a quizzical look on my face, and she just sends me her own confused looks in return. Albus is making his way down the corridor towards the hospital wing and he looks determined and somewhat furious. He walks right by us, without even a passing glance, and storms through the doors into the hospital wing. I glance over at Kayleigh before rushing out of my seat and standing next to the door so that I can hear what's going on. When the yelling starts, I realize that being so close to the door really is not necessary.
"What are you doing here?! Was my yelling 'shut the hell up' and storming out of the Great Hall not a huge hint that I don't feel like being anywhere near you!?" Rose yells. He better have a damn good excuse, or else she is liable to bite his head off before he can even get a word in edgewise.
"I heard you were in the hospital so I came by to see where you were. Thanks for telling me by the way." Uh oh, that is a bad idea.
"You lost all right to know about what happens to me when you started insulting and belittling my friends in front of me! It's one thing to gossip behind my back, but a whole other thing to say it in front of my face! It's only the second day of school and I already can't stand you. Why don't you just mind your own business?"
"I don't have any right? I'm your bloody cousin! I have every right. Not to mention that Uncle Ron would kill me if I let anything happen to you."
"I don't need you to take care of me! I am perfectly able to take care of myself. And, if in the future I ever do need help, I certainly won't be asking you, you big git. That's what I have Kay, and now Scorpius, for. So back the hell off and leave me alone."
I take Kayleigh's arm and pull her away from the door; I have a feeling that Rose will be storming through it in about one-point-five seconds. My head is reeling a little bit from the fact that I ended up in that last part of the conversation because I did not know that Rose trusted me so much.
When Rose slams open the doors and starts down the corridor, Kayleigh and I follow close behind her. I can hear her mumbling things under her breath as she makes her way toward the seventh floor.
"Where are we going?" I ask Kayleigh.
"Probably the Room of Requirement. We can't all go into the Gryffindor common room, and I know Rose doesn't feel like going into the Great Hall, so that's the next best place for us all to go." I nod as we continue on our way up the flights of stairs.
When we reach the seventh floor corridor that contains the Room of Requirement, Kayleigh and I stand back as we wait for the door to appear on the wall. When the door appears and Rose runs inside, we approach cautiously; I hope she doesn't start punching walls again. She just got out of the hospital.
We both enter the room and freeze at the sight before us. Rose is sitting on a sofa in front of a large fire, her head in her hands. I swear I hear what sounds like crying, but that's impossible. Rose never cries. Kayleigh immediately rushes over to Rose and kneels down in front of her. He shoulders are shaking, and I have to admit, I am a little worried. I walk over to the two girls and stand a few feet behind Kay.
"Why is he such a prat? He was supposed to be one of my best friends. I don't get it. I really don't get it. I just want to punch a bloody wall! I can't stand him. He is so thick headed. He never listens to anything I say. I'm just so confused!" As Rose gets angrier, she begins to cry harder and Kayleigh sits next to her on the couch holding her hand. I don't really like to be around crying girls; they make me uncomfortable.
"Did you ever think that he was jealous?" I hear Kayleigh ask. Rose's head pops up.
"Of Scorpius? Why? Is he really that absurd?" Rose is gaining back her composure.
"He's a boy. I wouldn't put it past him to be jealous that you have a new best friend that isn't him."
"Oh for the love of Merlin! Boys are so ridiculous! Everything is a damn contest!" She slams her fist down on the couch, making Kayleigh and I flinch. "I hate them, I hate them all. They are so stupid and immature and foolish." I cough.
"Um, boy standing right here."
"You don't count. You have half a brain and enough common sense that you know how to not be a bloody idiot." I smile warily.
"Thanks?" Kayleigh laughs and I feel happiness swell in my chest. Have I got it bad, or what?
I look down and check my watch, only to notice that classes start in about fifteen minutes. I am in no mood to go to class, and I know that the girls are not either.
"How much trouble do you think we would get in if we skipped classes today?" I ask the girls. I am not expecting the response I receive.
"Skip classes! Are you insane? McGonagall would skin us alive! Not to mention how much N.E.W.T reviewing we would miss! I'm already going to have that woman on my arse for that stunt I pulled yesterday at dinner. Why would we poke an irritated dragon by skipping classes? I thought I was the one who had taken tons of potions recently, not you. What has addled your brains so much?" Rose shrieks louder than anyone I have ever known.
I have honestly not pegged her as the resident Hogwarts nerd. I can't really say anything bad about nerds because I technically am one. But Rose? I never even considered her as being very intellectual. Then again, she didn't exactly get the Head Girl job for her spotless behavioral record. I know she has gotten into a lot of trouble over the years.
"I'm sorry I even mentioned it." I say, raising my hands in surrender. "We only have about ten minutes before Rose and I have potions, and Kayleigh has?" I stop, looking to Kayleigh to finish my sentence.
"Transfiguration." She finishes for me, her lips in a hard line.
"Not your favorite class?" She shakes her head.
"Well, I happen to like my first class. I will not let Albus's huge, inflated ego to get in the way of my school work. I always say schoolwork first, personal problems second."
"You do?" Kayleigh and I ask at the same time.
"Yes I do! Now let's move!" Rose is back to her shrieking. Side notes: do not get on Rose's bad side after she gets out of the hospital, do not mention Albus Potter, NEVER suggest anything that will get in the way of school.
Kayleigh and I part from Rose to head to our common rooms, seeing as we are on completely opposite ends of the castle. The two of us are practically running in order to get our things before the first bell. We wave to each other before she heads into the Hufflepuff common room and I race down to the dungeons. I gather my books an toss them into my bags before running out of the common room, not thinking about anything but getting to class on time.
As I am rushing down the corridor on my way to potions, I am unexpectedly knocked down by an unknown force. "Bloody Hell!" I hear someone whisper under their breath. I am pretty sure it's Rose.
"Rose, if that's you I think I'm going to die of laughter." I hear silence before the hysterical giggles start. "Are you okay?" Then the giggles spout into full on laughter, and I can't help but laugh along with her.
"We-are-one-ri-dic-u-lous-MESS!" Rose manages to say amidst her laughter.
I distantly hear the bell ring, but my sides are aching so much I can barely move. I think that a combination of sleep deprivation and the extreme amount of uncharacteristic emotions I have been experiencing lately are affecting my brain. Maybe Rose is right about there being something wrong with me. I laugh more, even though it hurts. I feel the goofy grin on my face as I hear Rose's laughter subsiding along with mine.
I did not even hear the footsteps echoing off of the walls of the empty dungeon corridors.
"Perhaps the two Heads would like to explain to the Headmistress why they are laying in the middle of corridors instead of attending their classes?"
I feel a shiver run down my spine, and I sit up slowly; I hear paper rustling as Rose does the same beside me. Our very surly Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, and my Head of House, Professor Warren, is staring down at us with a look of curiosity and astonishment plastered across his face.
A/N: Hey everyone! I hope that you're enjoying the story. I haven't been getting very many reviews, and I would really appreciate some feedback so that I can hear what my readers think about the story. So Please review!! It only take about 5 seconds :]
